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A Scotts Bluff County District Court judge has sentenced an Alliance man to 40 years to life in the stabbing death of his brother.

Judge Leo Dobrovolny sentenced William Reed, 40, during proceedings Thursday. In March, a jury found Reed guilty on charges of second-degree murder, a Class IB felony, and use of a weapon to commit a felony, a Class II felony, in the April 22, 2016, death of his brother Christopher Reed.

Dobrovolny sentenced Reed to 40 years to life on the murder charge. He was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 10 to 20 years years in prison use of a weapon to commit a felony. He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.

During trial, the primary issue for the jury to weigh was whether or not William Reed intentionally killed his brother and acted with or without intent. Prosecutor Dave Eubanks maintained that Reed acted with intent, while defense attorney Bernard Straetker said Reed did not intend to kill his brother. Reed claimed he did not remember stabbing his brother and that no disagreement had preceded the stabbing.

Reed testified that the two men had been under the influence of alcohol, saying they had purchased a large bottle of Canadian whiskey earlier in the day. However, Eubanks pointed to Reeds history of assault, including a violent encounter with his mother in which he threatened to kill her with a knife.

Dr. Pete Schilke testified that Christopher Reed died as a result of a stab wound above the left collarbone. Christopher Reeds carotid artery had been severed and his left lung punctured. He described Christopher Reed as having bleed out and said that blood in his chest cavity showed he had been breathing for quite awhile after the stabbing.
THUMBS UP! To Heritage Behavioral Health Center. The center's Individual Placement and Support Employment Services program assists those with mental health issues find employment. Cheers to those who work their way through the program, and cheers to those who direct them on their path.

THUMBS DOWN! To Gov. Bruce Rauner's television campaign ads. To be sure, the governor denies the duct tape commercials are not campaign spots. The claim is they're just providing information about which side to blame for the state's ongoing fiscal embarrassment. We call shenanigans. Even if the commercials aren't political in nature, the finger-pointing doesn't serve any practical purpose, and by its very existence solidifies positions on either side of the discussion.

THUMBS DOWN! Again to the state legislature in Springfield, as long as we're on the topic of complaining about politicians. Now the victims are students waiting to find out what kind of financial aid they can receive via the state's Monetary Award Program. Some colleges and universities have found themselves capable and/or willing to accept students under the assumption that state money comes through. But there's no guarantee of the state doing its required portion. Some institutions, including Decatur's Richland Community College, are not accepting those students. The budget deadlock has lingered for 21 months, bringing to mind the image of politicians fiddling while Illinois burns.

THUMBS UP! To Decatur Celebration. The organization's decision to fence the downtown area during the first weekend of August for the huge street festival is nothing to celebrate, of course. But if budgetary issues have made necessary the decision to require a $5 wristband purchase, better that than a diminished lineup or extinguished festival. This year's lineup has received excited reaction that hasn't been seen since Vanilla Ice's appearance was announced.

THUMBS UP! And happy trails to Judge Scott D. Diamond. Senior among 6th Circuit judges, Diamond retired this month after more than 36 years as a judge. He's served justice in Macon County since 1971. He will be missed  how could he not be? But he leaves with our best wishes.
Chadron Police are seeking an 18-year-old man as a suspect in burglaries and thefts that occurred in Chadron.

Police are seeking Laney Bacon, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and believe he may be in the Pine Ridge area, possibly in a stolen black Chevy Equinox.

According to a press release, Chadron Police were called to a report on Wednesday of several people inside a garage at a residence in the 700 block of Lake Street. The caller had advised that four people, wearing black hoodies, had ran south from the home. Police were unable to locate the people.

Hours later, at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday, police received a report of a burglary that had occurred in the 500 block of West Eighth Street. Police searched the nearby area and located a backpack, which had been reported stolen during a rash of several thefts in Chadron. The backpack contained several more stolen items and keys to vehicles in Chadron and Gordon that had been reported missing. The vehicles had not been stolen.

About three hours later, a caller about a block away reported a man in a hood walking in the area where police had earlier recovered the stolen items. Police made contact with the man, a 17-year-old juvenile from South Dakota. He was arrested in connection with the burglaries. He has been charged with burglary, attempted burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle and trespassing. He was transported to a detention center in Madison, Nebraska.

Police determined two other 17-year-old teen boys and Bacon, all of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, were allegedly involved in the early morning burglaries and thefts.

Police are seeking the publics help in locating Bacon and have issued a warrant. Anyone with information regarding Bacons whereabouts or the crimes is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency. People can also contact Nebraska Crime Stoppers, www.nebraskacrimestoppers.com and report information anonymously. Callers may be eligible for a reward.
During their April 12 luncheon, members of the Panhandle Business and Professional Women (BPW) honored two exceptional woman and two extraordinary companies for their service to the community and promoting the role of women in the workplace.

Awards committee co-chair Kendra Lauruhn said for the Young Careerist Award, they were looking for someone who was a young, upcoming leader. They found the winner in Jennifer Urdiales, branch manager and originating loan officer with Castle and Cooke Mortgage.

Urdiales is on the board of NEXT Young Professionals, a member of the Scotts Bluff County Board of Realtors and had attended Leadership Scotts Bluff. She also volunteers her time to Hoops for Heroes, Best of the West Beer and Wine Festival, Thanksgiving in the Valley and more.

Urdiales, who admitted she wasnt used to public speaking, said its important for businesswomen to stand out.

Im in a very male-dominated profession, so it feels so much better to be successful, she said. This is truly an honor.

The 2017 Panhandle Business and Professional Woman of the Year is Tanya Bosche. Shes a cosmetologist and owner of Indulgence Salon in Scottsbluff. She was recognized for her work with Look Good, Feel Better, a program that helps women dealing with cancer adapt to the changes in their physical appearance as they undergo treatment.

She recently received her certification to train other cosmetologists and help grow the program in western Nebraska.

Working with women in that program really inspired me, Bosche said. The little things Im doing are making a real positive impact in the community.

BPW also recognized both large and small employers who are responsive to the personal and professional needs of their female employees.

These businesses provide opportunities for professional development for women, assist with child care issues and more, Lauruhn said.

The Small Employer of the Year Award (30 or fewer employees) went to the Panhandle Public Health District. As a result of their work, the organization is the second local public health district in Nebraska, and among the first 150 nationally, to receive National Public Health Accreditation.

Accepting the award were District Director Kim Engel and Assistant Health Director Jessica Davies.

This award is even sweeter knowing we were nominated by our employees, Engel said. Were so lucky because were surrounded by a great team of talent. Our women have so many responsibilities in their lives. Its incredible to see.

BPWs Employer of the Year for large companies (more than 30 employees) was Brent and Susan Holliday of Nebraska Transport Company. Brent Holliday said while much of the trucking industry is male dominated, his only criterion is a desire and ability to do the job well. Consequently, many women have spent 20 or more years with the company.

When people think about NTC, I want them to think we not only have great employees, but also that were a Christian organization, Holliday said. If we get that right, everything else falls into place. Were proud to be part of a community that supports each other.
Scottsbluff Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Lavon Hood might say she has a small part in what the school district does but she also handles many different aspects of what keeps students at the district.

Hood is going to be honored at the Nebraska Association of School Business Officials 2017 banquet later this month as the Outstanding Business Official of the Year.

For me, of course, you are flattered and honored and everything else but the whole thing is that I couldnt do it without the support of Mr. Myles, the business team, family and friends, and the whole community, Hood said.

She was nominated for the award by Rick Myles, superintendent of Scottsbluff Public Schools. After that she went through the application process and was selected.

On a daily basis, Hood and her business team could deal with a lot of important details in accounts payable, human resources, purchasing, payroll, food services, transportation and fixed assets for the school district. In her job, she touches almost everything that is at the district level with the exception of the curriculum.

Hood said its a fun job but the challenge to her is finding a balance between what is best for the students and making sure that the school district is spending tax dollars in the most efficient way possible.

Hood started as the chief financial officer in 2009 and since that time there has been an increase in 600 students.

Theres a lot of strategizing you have to do and a lot of work that goes into making sure you have the funding for all of that growth, Hood said.

Hood said many people in the school district have been fiscally responsible that allowed the school district to do projects like the high school renovation.

Hood said the SHS renovation definitely added a new aspect to the workload. She said it has been interesting to do the bonds at Bluffs Middle School and then this past year they just started another process of bond payments.

Hood said the school district has been thoughtful and strategic over the past three years to build those reserves so that they can build the type of school they wanted with a smaller bond issue. She said in that way theres not as much impact to the taxpayers.

Around a week after she was hired the voters of Scottsbluff passed a referendum to pass the bond for the BMS renovations.

She has had experience working with construction philosophies of construction manager at risk with the BMS renovation and design-bid-build with the Scottsbluff High School.

Hood was doing a lot of traveling prior to coming to the school district and one of the things she found interesting was how there was not as much travel. At the time, she had a child in kindergarten so it seemed appealing to her to work for the school district.

Prior to coming to the school district, she worked at Hewlett-Packard for 17 years. She was a program manager and a people manager in all areas of business.

In a job I did right before I came here, I managed a global team, Hood said.

She is originally from a small town in Colorado called Yuma.

Hood said a benefit to a school district having a person with a business mindset is primarily to look at the fiscal oversight and make informed decisions.

Theres so many things that you only get to do once. It doesnt really a get old, Hood said.

One of those things is the budget for the school district. Hood said she also gets to work with different groups of people, plan, strategize, and figure out what some of the goals are for schools and how to fund them.
Twin Cities Development is hoping to fill a key position at the organization. Sean Overeyender, community development director, submitted his resignation to TCDs board last week.

Overeyender shared his letter in a press release. The letter noted that Overeyender is resigning to deal due to family matters.

This choice was not made easily as I have struggled with this decision for quite some time. ... I want to thank (TCD) for the opportunities that have been given me by the organization, the relationships created with such a professional board, and the opportunity to challenge myself and grow within my profession.

Overeynder said considers the staff and board of TCD as a part of his family, stating that I have struggled with it for the last couple of months, and I love TCD, it is my family. I love my job, what I do, the progress made over the last 16 months; it has truly been an honor to serve those in Western Nebraska.

Rawnda Pierce, Twin Cities director, said the organization has been pleased with Overeynders work over the last 1 1/2 that he has worked with TCD.

Sean has been a great fit, she said. I wish him all the best.

As TCD looks to fill the community development director position, Pierce said she anticipates still working with Overeyender as he is able.

Filling the position is critical, she said. The community development director oversees small business retention and expansion, working with already existing businesses in the community; oversees the entreprenuer (E-Center) program; the LB 840 program and overseeing the TCD website. Pierce has been focusing on housing programs, downtown revitalization grants and programs, and working with larger businesses.

TCD is the economic development organization for the communities of Scottsbluff, Gering, Bayard, Mitchell, Morrill, Bridgeport and Terrytown. Over the years, some of the areas and programs that TCD works in have expanded, including working with grant programs, housing and Brownsfield programs. The expansion of programs is one of the reasons feeling the community development director position is important.

The things that TCD does have expanded due to demand and needs of the communities and the businesses, she said. We have based our programs on what community leaders and businesses have asked us to do.

Pierce said the TCD board will be approving a job description for the position. In the meantime, she said, she has been pleased to have already had some people inquire about the position and express interest.

Applications are currently being accepted for the position. Resumes and letters of interest can be emailed to twincitiesdev@tcdne.org, to the attention of Pierce.

Overeyender will continue in the position through the end of the month.

More information about TCD can be found at www.tcdne.org.
Scottsbluff Public Schools is trying to broaden students learning opportunities and have them learn at all phases of the year by offering expanded learning opportunities this summer.

Expanded learning opportunities are new for Scottsbluff High School and Lincoln Heights Elementary.

Lincoln Heights Elementary will be doing a summer program similar to what Roosevelt Elementary does. There will be many opportunities for students to learn during the day as well as be involved in engaging activities that are fun and exciting.

Jeremy Behnke, assistant principal for Longfellow/Westmoor Elementary, said Roosevelt Elementary has done it for the last two summers so various administrators along with Jana Mason, principal of Roosevelt Elementary, decided Lincoln Heights could benefit from a similar type of program.

Im glad to see the opportunities Lincoln Heights students will get and Im excited to be part of it, Behnke said.

He will be directing the summer program for Lincoln Heights.

Behnke said 120 students are going to be enrolled in the summer program. Lunch will be free for the students.

Students will be working on reading and writing skills in the morning and science activities, field trips or guest speakers in the afternoon. There will also be enrichment opportunities through partnerships with Western Nebraska Community College, Riverside Discovery Center, Lied Scottsbluff Public Library, and others.

Behnke said a benefit for the students is to extend learning opportunities for all students so they can continue to grow throughout the summer. The Lincoln Heights program will last four weeks starting on May 30. It will run 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Being there all day will be a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and grow, Behnke said.

Behnke said he is excited to see all of it come together.

We wont know the benefits right away but we know the results at Roosevelt have been positive and we are hoping for the same thing, Behnke said.

Scottsbluff High School is going to be offering a variety of classes this upcoming summer. Classes are going to be held in a shorter time frame which is comparable to classes college students see in the summer.

Andrew Dick, Scottsbluff High School assistant principal of teaching and learning, said with the new learning environment and specialized courses the school saw the program as an opportunity to enrich students academic experience as well as extend their learning.

In the past our summer school program has been all about remediation and credit recovery. We wanted to provide more enrichment and acceleration type activities, Dick said.

Credit recovery and remediation course will still be offered but the additional classes this year will contribute to amount of credits students have. The classes are five credits a piece.

Students can take the classes for free.

Looking at other schools in the Lincoln or Omaha metro area, they all charge for these classes, around $100-$150, Dick said.

Dick said the summer program is an opportunity for students to take an elective that they might not be able to fit into their schedule during the regular school year.

Dick said students can do something creative or learn a new skill. Included in the classes is graphic design, music technology, Sociology and foundations of law. There are also classes that are required for students to take which are going to be offered in the summer as well. Those classes are American Government, physical education, and personal finance. Altogether, there will be eight courses provided.

Dick said for the first year of doing the program three or five classes that have enough students would be outstanding. Fifteen students are required to be enrolled for the classes to be held.

We are really trying to open some doors for some students schedules that will allow students to complete a course and then take a dual credit course because they will have more availability during the regular year, Dick said.

All of the staff for the program will be Scottsbluff Public Schools employees. Dick said the teachers who are involved are excited to provide unique specialized opportunities as well as open doors for students to accelerate their academic course of study.

Weve had an enthusiastic response from our teachers that are interested in teaching, Dick said.

Students or parents who are interested in learning more can give a call to the Scottsbluff High School counseling office at 308-635-6243.
LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers signaled Wednesday they intend to pull rank on local elected officials when it comes to regulating guns.

The Legislature voted 32-12 to advance a bill that would require state law to override municipal gun regulations in Nebraska. Supporters of the measure narrowly defeated a filibuster by senators who argued that cities and villages ought to control firearm possession and require handgun registration in their communities.

The bills advancement to the second round of debate puts Nebraska closer to passing what likely is the most significant expansion of gun rights since lawmakers enacted a concealed carry law in 2006.

It helps citizens in our states to bear arms, which is guaranteed to them under our Constitution, said State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, who both sponsored and prioritized the bill.

Among the local regulations that would end if the bill passes is Omahas handgun registration ordinance, long despised by many gun owners who argue that it infringes upon their constitutional rights while doing nothing to reduce gun violence.

The measure carves out exceptions that allow Omaha to continue its prohibition on the open carry of firearms in public places. It also allows Omaha to require those without a concealed handgun permit to case and store firearms out of reach when transporting them in the city.

Those exceptions prompted the Omaha Police Officers Association to drop its opposition to the bill, which played an important role in its advancement. But the exceptions apply only to Omaha, meaning the bill would prohibit most of the gun ordinances in Lincoln and other cities.

That prompted concern that the bill will allow gun owners to openly carry handguns into the jail, the police station and domestic abuse shelters, places where they are banned under Lincoln regulations.

Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln said he believes Pinnacle Bank Arena would no longer be able to prohibit concertgoers from bringing guns past the door, in conflict with the contracts of many performers, including Billy Joel, who recently played at the arena. In addition, the bill specifically allows individuals and gun-rights groups to sue for damages if a local government tries to enforce a more restrictive gun rule.

This is not responsible lawmaking, Morfeld said, adding that the bill was opposed by Lincolns police chief and many sheriffs across the state.

Omaha Police Sgt. Aaron Hanson said the police union took a neutral position on the bill after negotiating with Hilgers to keep some of the tools police use to combat criminal gangs in the city. But Hanson also said they would have preferred to maintain the status quo.

Hilgers said gun owners werent universally happy with the exceptions either.

In all good compromise comes pain, he said.

Hilgers pointed out that private property owners and businesses would still be able to control guns on their properties. He also said it is not his intent that Lincoln be forced to allow guns in the arena.

Hilgers said hes willing to work on an amendment during the second round of debate to more clearly spell that out.

The bill needs to pass two more rounds of debate this session before it goes to the desk of Gov. Pete Ricketts. Although the governor has not commented on the bill, he is generally a supporter of gun rights.

Opponents will likely mount another fight when the bill comes up for second-round debate.
Things in the Legislature have finally began moving along. Since the beginning of session, 678 bills and substantive resolutions have been introduced. To date, 35 bills have been passed by the Legislature. Out of the 678 items being brought to the Legislature, only 5 of them have been brought to a full filibuster.

This session I introduced twelve bills. One of my bills has already been passed and two more sit on the final round, called Final Reading, before being debated. Another of my bills has been amended into one of those on Final Reading making a total of three. I expect to have at least four of my bills passed before the end of session.

The four bills I expect to have passed are LB99, 101, 151, and 222. LB99 is a bill that will require business entities to give notice to their lenders when they convert their form of incorporation. It has already been passed and signed into law by the Governor. LB101 makes the bidding process for the States main administrative arm, the Department of Administrative Services, more competitive by putting limitations on contract renewals and extensions. It has been amended into LB151.

LB151 would add oversight measures to state agencies during the auditing process by empowering the State Auditor to conduct post-audit reviews. As mentioned already, it has LB101 amended into it along with three more bills appropriate to the theme of responsible state agency management.

LB222 also follows along the theme of responsible agency management. It has been one of my most anticipated bills of the year. It would restructure the Nebraska Tourism Commission into an 11-district system based on lodging revenues. It would implement oversight measures by requiring the adoption of formal rules, regulations, and would clarify its innovative grant program to promote the tourism industry in Nebraska.

Ever since first arriving to the Legislature in 2015, I have worked hard implementing oversight measures into the Commission to save taxpayer dollars. Many of the issues I witnessed came to a head when its Director was fired last year for misuse of state funds and unethical management behaviors. LB222 is the culmination of those efforts to realign the Commission to its mission and purpose.

As most are likely aware, the biggest discussions this year will be on the states budget. We originally faced a $910 million dollar shortfall which was addressed through a deficit budget request early in the session for the end of fiscal year 2016-17. The preliminary budget for the 2017-18 & 2018-19 biennium demonstrates that a $134 million shortfall needs to be addressed with a transfer from the Cash Reserve Fund, or what is known as the Rainy Day Fund. The Forecasting Board met in February and increased the revenue shortfall by $153 million, leaving a $287 million shortfall to be resolved.

As the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, it is my responsibility to ensure that the Legislature fulfills its responsibility to balance the states budget, as set out in the Nebraska Constitution. There has been much impassioned discussion already on what the states priorities should be. The Appropriations Committee has put in many long days and nights to prepare our proposal before sending it to the Legislature as a whole.

In addition to the $287 million shortfall, we will have to make adjustments as legislation is passed. Any changes in the states budget either through additional expenditures or revenue may change the number we have to work with.

In the coming weeks, the Legislature will debate not only the state budget but also a number of tax bills on the revenue side of the ledger and an education bill. Some of those bills that will be discussed are LB409, 461, and 640. LB409 is an education bill by Senator Groene that would adjust the state aid to education formula (TEEOSA) to match the Appropriation Committees proposed state aid to public schools. State aid to public schools is our biggest budget item and remains a priority in our proposed budget.

LB461 is a comprehensive tax cut proposal by Senator Smith. Under Senator Smiths proposal, the top individual and corporate income tax rates would be cut from 6.84 percent to 5.99 percent. Currently, this threshold is reached at roughly $30,000 for individuals and $59,000 for married filers. The bill would also cap increases in agricultural land valuation at 3.5% annually. In addition, it would raise the earned income tax credits for low-income taxpayers to 12 percent of federal earned income tax credits and compress four tax brackets to three, giving middle income taxpayers additional relief.

Lastly, LB640 is a bill introduced by Senator Groene that is intended to address property tax burdens. Under his proposal, $224 million of the property tax credit fund would be added to state aid to school districts with the heaviest reliance on property taxes. Increasing state aid to those schools will ease the pressure put on them to fund their schools through property taxes. In theory, they would lower their property tax levies.

One other bill I have had great interest in comes from Senator Williams. His bill, LB518, would address the rural workforce housing shortage that many communities face, such as those in Scotts Bluff County. Under his proposal, it would create a rural workforce housing grant program with a one-time transfer of $7.3 million to assist in building low and middle-income homes. Smaller communities have a lower supply of housing due to higher costs and less return. This bill will incentivize construction companies to build much needed housing to attract workforce to rural areas.

My bill, LB496, is related to Senator Williams bill and would be a great compliment to his legislation. LB496 would allow the construction of workforce housing to be eligible for tax increment financing (TIF) in cities with a population of 100 to 100,000 people. Like LB518, LB496 would address workforce shortages in rural Nebraska by incentivizing investment in housing developments. Without affordable housing, workers are less likely to move to our communities.

As always, I remain open to your feedback on how I may address the issues that mean most to you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions you may have. Thank you to those who have taken the time to express their views on various issues. My contact information is: Senator John P. Stinner, District 48 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68209-4604; telephone: 402-471-2802; email: jstinner@leg.ne.gov.
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.
By MARK EVANS STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD Scott Schmieder, county road and bridge foreman, reported to the county commission last Thursday that temperatures are getting too cold at night for much more asphalt work to be done. He said potholes had all been patched. His crews were working on Bodine Road and made call-ins to locate
" " Attila the Hun in battle DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

Many fierce warriors slashed, burned and blazed their way through the ancient world in an attempt to conquer and dominate  Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, to name a few. But perhaps no ancient warrior was as brutal and storied as Attila the Hun.

Over a 10-year span, Attila and his army invaded the territories that today encompass Hungary, Spain, Italy and Greece. They burned towns and villages after stripping them of their belongings. One historian wrote that "Attila and his army seemed genuinely to enjoy warfare, the rigors and rewards of military life were more appealing to them than farming or attending livestock."

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But a portrait of a rampageous barbarian is not a full picture of Attila. Although he could not read and write, he was born into a powerful Hun family. He knew a lot about human nature and how to rule with cunning rather than force. Exaggerated stories of his viciousness, some of which he may have spread, also helped him conquer without necessarily killing a lot of people.

Attila was born around 406 C.E. in Pannonia, then a province in the Roman Empire. Today, it's part of Hungary. The nomadic Huns, who were animal-herders, had migrated to Europe from Central Asia in 370. By the time Attila arrived into the world, the Huns had been long feared throughout Europe.

They were known for their exceptional skill as horsemen -- their steeds reportedly joined in the battles with their teeth and hooves -- and as mounted archers. Their weapon of choice was the famed Hun bow, a recurve bow whose ends curved back on itself, creating more torque and the ability to pierce armor 100 yards (91 meters) away. The bows were also smaller than traditional bows, and thus more maneuverable. Additionally, the Huns were infamous for their strategic, ferocious battles and impressive mobility [source: Andrews].

Growing up in a privileged household, Attila and his brother Bleda were taught sword fighting, archery, equestrian skills, and military and diplomatic tactics. Sometime around 430, when Attila and Bleda were young men, two of their uncles jointly ruled the Hun Empire. The brothers took over as co-rulers in 434. But 11 years later, in a power-grab, Attila murdered his brother to become sole ruler of the Huns.

By the time Attila became king of the Huns, the tribe had quit the nomadic life and were based in the Great Hungarian Plain, where they had developed an infantry army. Over the next two decades, Attila and the Huns pillaged and destroyed innumerable Roman cities in order to expand their kingdom, which eventually included large portions of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. (On today's map, the Hun Empire at its greatest would stretch from Germany in the west to Romania in the south, the Netherlands in the north, and Russia and Kazakhstan in the east.) Because of his barbaric, bloody battles, Attila became dubbed "Flagellum Dei," or "Scourge of God."

Although a fierce warrior and looter, Attila is said to have lived humbly in large a log house decorated with animal skins. By contrast, his subordinates often adorned themselves, their homes and their horses with gold, silver and jewels. He is also said to have treated his own people justly. He died in 453 under mysterious circumstances and his oldest son, Ellac, was his appointed successor. But Ellac wasn't the strong leader his father was, and he soon scrapped with his brothers for control. The Hunnic Empire fell apart by 469 and never revived [sources: Mark, Biography].
If you are anything like me, you have a wide array of thin, holey, worn-out t-shirts specifically for farm use, and they are cluttering your closet. Most of them have been worn for years and have seen better days.

My personal favorite farm shirt is littered with small holes, covered in tractor grease stains, and has been through the war of corn silage harvest for at least five years now. Dont kid yourself; we all have similar shirts, pants, and even shoes that match this description, but we cant ever seem to part with them.

Being the frugal person I am, its hard to bring myself to purchase the new farm clothes I so desperately need. Luckily, there are a few ways to add to your farm clothing collection which cost little to no money at all.

Out with the old. That favorite, ripped to shreds t-shirt of mine mentioned above is currently sitting in my trashcan. As hard as it was for me to throw it away, I knew it no longer was serving a purpose for me. Two pairs of jeans, my beloved holey farm tennis shoes, and some overalls from seventh grade are also being retired.

In with the new. Maybe not new, new, but close enough. While sorting through my closet, I found several t-shirts which I hardly ever wear. Since I was not getting much use out of them, I decided to put them in my farm drawer. I did the same with a few pairs of pants and even an old sweater.

Nothings wrong with second hand. After throwing away a few pairs of farm shorts and not having anything in my closet to replace them with, I made my way to the second hand store a few weeks ago to see what they had in stock. On a college student budget, I walked in knowing I only had $10 to spare. After 20 minutes, I walked out with three new pairs of shorts which I had no problem knowing would be trashed in a matter of months.

Biting the bullet. As for my farm tennis shoes and overalls, I came to the conclusion that I actually would have to purchase these items brand new. With summer on its way, overalls and shoes at my local farm store have been on clearance for a few weeks now. Even though these items are still on the pricier end for my budget, knowing they will last me several years has helped ease the sticker shock.

Take a look at your farm wardrobe. If you find your threads are in shreds too, it might be time to update your closet.
The excitement started to bubble about a year ago, as soon as the St. Louis Actors Studio put August: Osage County on the schedule for its 2016-17 season.

Certainly, Tracy Letts drama about an unhappy Oklahoma family had already received plenty of acclaim, including the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in drama and a slew of 2008 Tony Awards, including best play. A film version was released in 2013, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

And no question, it was an ambitious choice, demanding a big, capable cast and an imposing set to represent the familys three-story house. Until this production, which opens Friday, August: Osage County hadnt been performed here professionally since the 2010 Broadway tour played the Fox Theatre.

But none of that fully explains the thrill that ran through part of the St. Louis theater community  the female part of it.

There are, after all, very few plays with seven good roles for women.

It seemed as though everybody wanted to audition.

Theres not much like this, besides The House of Bernarda Alba and The Women, says director Wayne Salomon, citing two famed dramas with all-female casts. Even The Three Sisters is mostly men.

Its a remarkable achievement  even more remarkable because it was written by a man. You get to see the actors do things that female actors dont usually do  like destroy a set.

Plus, they all have strong roles in this family drama  a play that actor Rachel Fenton describes as a Greek tragedy wrapped in bacon.

Actor Wendy Renee Farmer concurs.

Even in plays with a lot of women, the parts arent always wonderful, she observes. But these are all meaty roles  roles with lots of range.

That appealed to so many actresses, making auditions a very tender process, says William Roth, founder and artistic director of the St. Louis Actors Studio. He also plays one of the men in the cast; the others are Drew Battles, Larry Dell, Greg Hunsaker, Stephen Peirick and David Wassilak.

The actresses all had an attraction to this play, Roth says. One woman flew in from Los Angeles just to audition! It was insane. But theres a lot of talent in St. Louis.

Ultimately, all the roles were cast right here, with performers who, among them, have appeared on nearly all of St. Louis professional stages.

Calling the play a black comedy focused on storytelling, Salomon says it requires a lot from all the performers  as well as from scenic designer Patrick Huber. Huber often designs for the St. Louis Actors Studio, which is based at the sleek but extremely small Gaslight Theater in the Central West End.

This house (onstage) is not quite as big as it was in New York, Salomon says. But we do have all three floors and Johnnas room.

We have enough room for the comedy of family horror.

And who are the women in this family  the loud, angry, strong-minded women who dont know when, or possibly how, to stop? Heres a scorecard to fill you in on the characters and the women who portray them.

Violet Weston

The matriarch. Suffering from oral cancer, addicted to prescription drugs and still a smoker, Violet would claim that shes just honest. Anybody else would call her vicious. Early in the play, her husband, Beverly, an alcoholic poet, disappears; later his body is found and most of the action takes place around his funeral.

Played by Kari Ely: Violet is complicated. She has a lot of pain  physical pain but also psychic pain. She and her husband are smart people, but their marriage goes sour because of the dysfunctional ways they deal with their problems.

Last year, Ely received the St. Louis Theater Circle Award for her Actors Studio performance as another exceptionally difficult woman, Martha in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This play reminds me of Virginia Woolf, Ely says. They both belong to the handful of plays that I could see over and over again, because I love the writing so much.

Barbara Fordham

Violet and Beverlys eldest daughter, shes a professor in Colorado, a controlling woman who wants to seem perfect. In fact, her marriage is falling apart. But she wants to keep that a secret, and her husband seems willing to cooperate.

Played by Meghan Baker: I was lucky enough to see August: Osage County on Broadway, and it was one of those life-changing theatrical experiences. I just had to be part of it here!

Some of it is very melodramatic, and some of it everyone can relate to. Difficult teenagers? A difficult relationship with a parent? The need to be in control all the time? Everybody can hook into something there.

Ivy Weston

A librarian, shes the middle child and the only one who remained in her hometown. But her quiet, dutiful demeanor hides a secret passion. Shes romantically involved with her cousin Little Charles and plans to move to New York with him.

Played by Emily Baker: At the beginning of the play, Ivy hides her feelings. Shes grasping for the happiness she never had. But she has to be careful around her mother, who will use anything as ammunition.

Rehearsal has been quite a process. I had never worked with Wayne before, or with several of the actors. I have learned so much! I love seeing the other characters come to life and turn into a family.

Karen Weston

The youngest Weston daughter, she lives in Florida with her new fiance, Steve. He seems sleazy, but Karen ignores that in dreams of her own happy future. Shes kind of self-absorbed.

Played by Rachel Fenton: Wayne keeps telling us, this is a soap opera  and you dont want to play these characters small! Karen, for example, lives only in the present. Her expectations are rooted in nothing but her own imagination.

She thinks she can convince her sisters to be her best friends, convince her family to come to her wedding. This woman is so hungry, she decides to invent her own truth. Its the role of a lifetime  well, they all are.

Jean Fordham

Barbara and Bills 14-year-old daughter, shes a vegetarian who likes smoking cigarettes and pot. Her parents break-up troubles her more than she lets on.

Played by Bridgette Bassa: When I went to audition, I thought there was no part in this play for me. But I am very petite, which lends me to young roles like Jean. I was absolutely over the moon when I was cast.

The other night I was watching Kari and Meghan in rehearsal, and I thought, They are mesmerizing! You can lose yourself in this play. So, as extreme as it is, working on it has really been fun. Its great to just let loose.

Mattie Fae Aiken

Violets sister and the mother of Little Charles. Shes not much nicer than Violet, particularly when it comes to her husband and son. She doesnt know Little Charles secret, but she has secrets, too.

Played by Kim Furlow: Tracy Letts script is a dream come true, a potpourri of strength, dysfunction and sass. Mattie reminds me of a lot of women I knew when I was growing up in the South. She isnt afraid to say what she thinks.

I wanted to present August: Osage County at Dramatic License. (Furlow was founder and director of that company, which gave its last show in 2015.) We were always interested in plays with great womens roles. Then I thought, theres no way we can get it up on our tiny stage. But even though its a big challenge (at the Gaslight), Wayne is making it work. He knows how to make a story move.

Johnna Monevata

A member of the Cheyenne nation, shes the live-in housekeeper whom Beverly hires just before he disappears. Violet, of course, dislikes her and has no qualms about expressing her ugly feelings.

Played by Wendy Renee Farmer: Johnnas not tainted by the poison in the house, like the others. Shes an observer  I think Im in all the scenes but two  who supports the whole family.

She really supports the women  Violet and Barbara, Ivy and Karen, Jean and even Mattie Fae. And all of them are great characters  the kind of parts you really want to play.

No wonder a lot of us jumped at the chance.
All dogs go to heaven; scrap-iron ones come back home.

After a two-week (or so) absence, the one-leg-up sculpture of a relieving dog that had long graced the Venice Cafe parking lot is back again.

"I honestly never thought I'd lay my hands on this again," said Jeff Lockheed, owner of the art-laden lounge at 1903 Pestalozzi Street in the Benton Park neighborhood.

Lockheed spoke of a 100-pound metal mutt that was installed 15 years ago as a tribute to Lockheed's late business partner, Paul Cuba.

Lockheed said along with the connection to Cuba, the sculpture was the work of Mark Coghlin, a local artist who died about four years ago and was Lockheed's friend.

But someone stole it earlier this month from its spot near a bus stop on the north side of Pestalozzi.

On Thursday, this bureau published a story about the case of the confiscated canine. Results came almost immediately.

"My dad called me early (Thursday) morning and said 'Do you still have that dog in your yard?'" said Justin "Dutch" Harris of Alton.

"Then he said, 'Well, it was stolen from the Venice Cafe,'" Harris said as he closed the tailgate of the truck he used to haul the dog back home about 4 p.m. Thursday.

"I got it as a gift from a crazy uncle, who's one of those guys who always knows a guy," Harris said. "I've been calling him all day to talk to him about this, and he hasn't yet called me back."

Harris said he never hesitated or wavered on what course of action to take.

"I felt awful, especially when I found out it had special meaning," he said.

Venice Cafe has been a familiarly funky joint for about 40 years. It opened as an art gallery of sorts in 1978, and then as a lounge about 1989.

Lockheed said the dog will have a new home  up against a tree, naturally, inside the cafe's courtyard, which is locked at night.

"I could tell he felt bad about the whole thing," Lockheed said of Harris. "I even offered him the reward I was going to give for its return. And he turned it down."

Said Lockheed, "My belief in human beings just got better today."
JEFFERSON CITY  Days before the U.S. Supreme Court is due to hear a pivotal case over whether Missouri can use public money to aid religious institutions, Gov. Eric Greitens announced that he's instructed the Department of Natural Resources to allow such organizations to apply for and receive DNR grants.

Before we came into office, government bureaucrats were under orders to deny grants to people of faith who wanted to do things like make community playgrounds for kids. Thats just wrong," Greitens said in a statement. "So today we are changing that prejudiced policy."

He's referring to a landmark case that originated in Columbia, Mo., when Trinity Lutheran Church applied for a state grant for its preschool playground in 2012.

The church was denied by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on the grounds that the grant, which allowed recipients to use rubber from repurposed tires to build safer playscape surfaces, couldn't be awarded to a religious organization.

They cited what's known as the "Blaine Amendment" in Missouri's constitution, which bars public money from going to churches:

That no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion, or in aid of any priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof, as such; and that no preference shall be given to nor any discrimination made against any church, sect or creed of religion, or any form of religious faith or worship.

Depending on how the nations high court rules in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, Blaine Amendments could be called into question in Missouri and more than 30 other states.

But the court hasn't yet heard the case. Oral arguments aren't set to begin until April 19.

"These grants are for non-religious programs. We are confident that this policy is in line with the state and federal constitution," said Parker Briden, a spokesman for Greitens.

Greitens doesn't expect his action to affect the Trinity Lutheran case because it in involves a DNR decision that became final years before his administration took office, according to Thursday's release.

Chad Flanders, a law professor at Saint Louis University, said that the governors actions add another layer of intrigue around the Trinity case. But he said it probably doesnt head off the Supreme Court case next week because that suit is based on a previous act by the state of Missouri that the church claimed was discrimination against religion, and Trinity Lutheran still doesnt have the recycled tires it wants.

Greitens could also invite a fresh lawsuit based on the Blaine Amendment because of his new actions Thursday.

What this probably leads to is a suit by a taxpayer claiming that the new projects being funded are a violation of Missouris state constitution, Flanders said.

Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri have already expressed outrage, saying Greitens chose to "blatantly ignore" Missouri's constitution.

Gov. Greitens' political decision to blur the lines between church and state is dangerous and directly goes against what our nations founders intended: to protect religious freedom by keeping it separate from government, said Jeffrey Mittman, executive director at the ACLU of Missouri. This new policy compromises constitutional principles and puts religious freedom for all at risk."

But Greitens has already instructed the DNR to move forward on applications from three religious schools who applied for funding for field trips to state parks.

Groups like the Missouri Catholic Conference praised Greitens' move, having long argued that the states Blaine Amendment is rooted in religious bigotry.

The education and safety of our children should be considered foremost in these grant programs, not the type of school the children attend," said Mike Hoey, its executive director.

Regarding the case before the Supreme Court, religious groups also insist that a scrap rubber program is neutral and in no way amounts to a state government endorsement of a religion.

Attorney General Josh Hawley, a Republican who spoke out against the states Blaine Amendment while running for office, has recused himself from the case.

James Layton, who served as solicitor general under Hawleys Democratic predecessor, Chris Koster, will be making oral arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court next week.

Even as its chief executive and top law enforcement officer publicly side with the church, the state will contend that Missouris constitution clearly prohibited tax money from being awarded to Trinity Lutheran.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Chuck Raasch contributed to this story from Washington, D.C.
KINLOCH  Kinloch has made its interim fire chief permanent, and hes hoping he can persuade firefighters to return to work.

About 20 volunteer firefighters went on strike Saturday, saying they say have been disregarded by leadership of the Kinloch Fire Protection District amid tumultuous weeks in the district.

Last month, Darren Small and his wife, Jayna Small, were charged with wire fraud for allegedly stealing money from the fire protection district. Jayna Small was president of the board. The district now has a newly formed three-member board with one elected member and two appointed members.

In the turmoil, firefighters became concerned about their jobs. A rumor circulated that many were going to be demoted, or that new black firefighters would be replacing white firefighters. Most of Kinlochs firefighters are white, though the city is majority black.

Firefighters believe the positions may become paid with new tax income coming from development at the NorthPark business park.

Firefighter Willie Pryor was made interim chief last week, and the position was made permanent Thursday. He said hed be talking to the firefighters to learn about and address their concerns. Two have quit and two are on leave, but he hopes to get the rest back to work soon.

Im going to reach back out to the guys who didnt quit today to see if we can work something out, he said. At this point its all about trying to work together. At the end of the day we all have the same goal  we like to fight fires and we are here to help people. We know the citizens of Kinloch need us.

The Kinloch Fire Protection District works with the Ferguson, Berkeley and Northeast Fire & Ambulance fire districts. Pryor said those departments would serve Kinloch until the strike was resolved.
Its important for college students to take control of their financial future by saving wherever and whenever they can. Proper budgeting and avoiding unnecessary expenses now can help reduce added financial burdens when they graduate.

To help college students get an early start on securing their financial future, First Bank offers the following 10 tips to build a stronger money management foundation:

 Create a budget. Youre an adult now and are responsible for managing your own finances. The first step is to create a realistic budget, or plan, and stick to it.

 Watch spending. Keep receipts and track spending in a notebook. Pace spending and increase savings by cutting unnecessary expenses, like eating out or shopping, so your money can last throughout the semester.

 Use credit wisely. Understand the responsibilities and benefits of credit. Use it, but dont abuse it. How you handle your credit in college could affect you well after graduation. Shop around for a card that best suits your needs.

 Take advantage of your banks resources. Most banks offer online, mobile and text banking tools to manage your account 24/7. Use these tools to check balances, pay bills, deposit checks and monitor transaction history.

 Be on the lookout for money. There's a lot of money available for students  you just have to look for it. Apply for scholarships, while looking for student discounts or other deals.

 Buy used. Consider buying used books or ordering them online. Buying books can become expensive and often used books are in just as good of shape as new ones.

 Entertain on a budget. Limit your hanging out fund. There are lots of fun activities to keep you busy in college and many are free for students. Get the most from your student ID. Use your meal plan or sample new recipes instead of eating out.

 Use only your banks ATMs. Avoid fees by using ATMs owned by, or affiliated, with your bank. If you must use an ATM that is not affiliated with your bank, take out larger withdrawals to avoid having to go back multiple times.

 Expect the unexpected. Things happen and it's important you are financially prepared when your car or computer breaks down or you have to buy an unexpected bus ticket home. You should start putting some money away immediately, no matter how small the amount.

 Ask. This is a learning experience, so if you need help, ask. Your parents or your bank are a good place to start and remember  the sooner the better.
JEFFERSON CITY  A bill supporters say will help keep the St. Louis Zoo a largely free attraction won initial approval from both chambers in the Missouri Legislature this week.

The zoo would remain completely free for residents from St. Louis and St. Louis County, who pay property taxes that currently support the popular, 100-year-old institution. But the bill would allow the zoo to charge admission to newly built attractions for any visitors living elsewhere.

The proposal began as a new sales tax authorization in St. Louis and surrounding counties, which received pushback in the GOP-led Legislature.

After negotiations, backers changed the proposal to make use of a current sales tax authorization that allows any county in the state to put a sales tax on the ballot at half of a percent.

An example is Proposition P, a half-cent sales tax increase for public safety, which St. Louis County voters approved in the April 4 election.

Under this bill, any local sales tax approved by St. Louis voters for the zoo after Aug. 28 could not exceed one-eighth of 1 percent.

A provision in the law requires part of the revenue generated by such a tax to be redirected to municipalities. If St. Louis County uses the authorization for the zoo under the compromise zoo proposal, it wouldnt have to give up that revenue.

Zoo officials have lamented the inability to bring in enough revenue to keep up with necessary renovations and maintenance, but they have been reluctant to charge admission to the zoo, which is consistently ranked among the best free attractions in the country.

Sponsoring Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, said the bill would help bring in much-needed funding for the zoos infrastructure and conservation projects.

I think this is a win-win for all involved, Walsh said.

Both proposals would require one more vote before moving to the opposite chamber.
WASHINGTON  A surge in new donors over the last three months has delivered a $2.8 million fundraising haul for Sen. Claire McCaskill, a spokesman for the Missouri Democrat said Thursday.

McCaskill will end the first quarter with more than $3 million in her campaign account. She is preparing to seek a third term in a state President Donald Trump won by about 19 percentage points.

McCaskills announcement came shortly after Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, a potential opponent in 2018, said she had raised about $800,000 in the first three months this year and had $2.8 million in the bank.

The large fundraising hauls for McCaskill  and her potential rivals  reflect how pivotal Missouris 2018 race will be. Republicans hope to flip one of the states last offices held by a Democrat and build on their 52-seat majority in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the early days of Trumps administration have shown signs that Democrats are upset, and ready to vote. Earlier this week Republicans watched a special election in one of Kansas reliably red congressional districts come down to the wire. Liberals hope next weeks special election in Georgia will flip a Republican-leaning seat where millions of dollars have poured in to support the Democratic candidate.

In Missouri, those forces have translated into fundraising totals that are more typical of a campaigns final stretch than its beginnings. The last time McCaskill raised this much was in the final months before her 2012 re-election.

McCaskills campaign said the past three months brought more than 5,500 new donors from Missouri. The average donation to McCaskill since the beginning of the year was $59, and nine in ten contributions were less than $100, according to the campaign.

One reason campaigns like small donors is that they can contribute multiple times before hitting the federal limit of $2,700  providing a well of support the candidate could potentially tap for the entire race.

Earlier this year, McCaskill predicted that more than $200 million would be spent on Missouris Senate race, with most of that money coming from outside groups rather than the candidates.

Wagners first-quarter haul also demonstrated the network of donors she can tap as a past fundraiser for President George W. Bush and former chairwoman of the Missouri Republican Party.

Attorney General Josh Hawley has also seen support from prominent state Republicans, with a letter urging him to run circulated this week by former Sen. John Danforth and former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
JEFFERSON CITY  A new law paving the way for ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate throughout Missouri is headed to Gov. Eric Greitens desk.

On a 144-7 vote, the House gave final approval to a proposed law outlining regulations for app-based transportation companies, including licensing fees, background checks and inspections.

The measure is expected to be signed by the governor, who has called the new regulations an economic development tool for the state. Uber has said its expansion into Missouri could create 10,000 jobs.

Theres going to be moms and dads across the state who now have another opportunity to put food on the table, said Rep. Paul Curtman, R-Washington.

The measure moved through the Senate earlier in the week on a 31-1 vote. If approved, it will go into effect Aug. 28.

Without the proposed law, Rep. Kirk Mathews, R-Eureka, who sponsored the proposal, said the companies would have left the state.

In Springfield, local officials approved regulations last year that allowed the transportation network companies to operate. The advent of having Uber and Lyft in the area has helped bring more people downtown, said Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield.

It has revitalized that area, Haahr said.

In previous years, the measure has been blocked by taxi companies who argued that it would allow drivers with questionable backgrounds to drive passengers. The proposal allows Kansas City and St. Louis to audit drivers and allows airports to charge equal fees to ride-hail service drivers and taxis.

Drivers also 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.

Taxi companies remain concerned about the law because Uber and Lyft drivers wont have to pay license fees, meter inspection fees or operate under a cap on how much they can charge.

The measure had been a priority for House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

This will end the patchwork of regulations from city to city and instead give ridesharing companies a consistent framework to operate within, Richardson said.

The legislation is House Bill 130.
Yaksap, the graffiti bandit who has left what many consider infuriating and illegal marks on the sides of numerous St. Louis buildings, could take a valuable lesson from Paco Rosic.

This 37-year-old Bosnian immigrant took his teenage love for graffiti way beyond the delinquent tagging of buildings. Hes become famous for his painstaking and vibrant trompe loeil murals created exclusively out of spray paint for both public and private spaces.

Now hes in town shaking it up with hundreds of cans of paint to create a mural celebrating St. Louis history on the ceiling of a soon-to-be-opened restaurant in Benton Park.

Like any hard-core artist, hes a bit obsessive about it. Hes set up an air mattress in the basement of the building at Arsenal Street and Lemp Avenue so that he can paint whenever he pleases. He has a wall in the lower level of the building dedicated to draft renderings along with his massive graffiti lettering for inspiration.

I cannot stay in a hotel, he said Thursday while wearing a full camo outfit and a black skull cap striped with bands of glittery silver thread. His necessary air mask hung from scaffolding nearby.

I get inspired. And when it hits me, its usually around two or three in the morning.

Rosic is a bit of an art folk hero in Waterloo, Iowa, where his family settled in 1997 when he was 18 after years of refugee status to escape persecution in his hometown of Sarajevo. His parents  his mother Catholic and his father Muslim  fled to Germany in 1992 after living in a series of safe houses to survive. Even after the civil war in their native country ended, the family knew there was no chance they would be accepted back because of religious persecution. So when their asylum status was revoked after five years in Germany, the family uprooted again to America. Waterloo, it turns out, was very welcoming to Bosnians.

In Iowa, broke from years of displacement, the family saved every penny from 10 years of working at a Hy-Vee grocery to buy a dilapidated building and open a restaurant.

The food at Galleria de Paco is fusion, but the ceiling is sky-high Renaissance because Rosic spent five months atop scaffolding to recreate a roughly half-scale version of Michelangelos Sistine Chapel ceiling in Krylon spray paint. Media from around the country have highlighted the mural. But even before that attention, Rosic was making a name for himself.

He did his first mural when he was 14 and living in the suburbs of Sarajevo. As an impressionable teen, he became entrenched in the graffiti art and break dance street culture in Germany. He was devastated when the family relocated to Iowa and said he fell into a deep depression.

In his isolation, he began doing graffiti art on Masonite board because he could not afford canvas. Over time, he got the attention of art teachers at the local community college, and later the support of the city to do murals on dilapidated buildings and other structures. But one of the more interesting connections he made early on was an arts leader in Waterloo.

She loved his graffiti art and commissioned him to make two pieces for each of her teenage sons. He was paid $400  a fortune at the time for him. One of her boys was Scott Scully, who now lives in St. Louis. He is part owner of the building on Arsenal in which restaurateur Vito LaFata plans to open a casual Italian eatery called Cafe Piazza this summer. Formerly home to Benton Park Coffee Bar, its across Lemp from Gus Pretzels.

LaFata told Scully he wanted something visually unique in the restaurant to spur conversation and laid-back social gatherings  in the spirit of an old-school authentic Italian cafe. Scully introduced him to Rosic.

Rosic has spent the past 3 weeks on scaffolding spraying out his glossy vision of St. Louis history. The mural, about three quarters done, is in the style of Andrea Pozzos Apotheosis of St. Ignatius. That series of trompe loeil frescoes, painted to fool the eye into thinking the work is three-dimensional, was done by Pozzo between 1688 and 1694.

Rosics mural relies heavily on columns to give the illusion dimensionality. Stand in the middle of the restaurant and the columns appear to rise skyward. Move toward one end of the room and the columns flatten out, but three Clydesdale horses appear to crash out from under an architectural arch.

Rosics mural focuses on five eras of St. Louis history. Each is marked by a random floating page from a book and enhanced by landmarks and portraits of key places and figures.

The book pages are also an ode to Michelangelo, Rosic said. In the front corner of the restaurant, Rosic has spray-painted a painstaking replica of the Libyan Sibyl, one of 12 prophets and sibyls Michelangelo included in the Sistine Chapel. The sibyl, labeled Libica, is holding an open book behind her shoulder.

Rosic said the pages floating on the ceiling were from the book. Visitors can piece together the history among iconic images of St. Louis places and people over time, he said.

But lest one think the artist is too classical and too prim, he said he was also inspired by one other St. Louis landmark: the graffiti-laden flood wall along the Mississippi River.
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?
Former president and army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that only dialogues can create peace between Pakistan and India.

Musharraf, on US tour, expressed his views while addressing a ceremony at George Washington University.

Pervez Musharraf said that America, in its friendship with India, should also keep Pakistans wellbeing in mind. He said that the decision of Kulbhushan Jadhavs execution is completely according to the law. The former president added that if India tries to stop Pakistans water, then we will consider it war against us.

Talking about terrorism, Pervez Musharraf said we are victims of this evil ourselves, and peace shall only be restored by completely crushing all wicked activities of such kind.

He also stressed that Pakistan and Afghanistan should work together to reinstate peace in the region, as peace in Afghanistan will bring peace in the entire zone. Musharraf further added that no one should be worried about relations of Pakistan and China.

Talking on international affairs, Pervez Musharraf said that the attack of US on Syria over using chemical weapons is right.
China has approved additional financing for infrastructure projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), taking the investment volume to $62 billion from $55 billion, announced Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair on Wednesday.

New investment has been approved for projects in various sectors including [establishment of] industrial zones, said Zubair while speaking at a conference on Infrastructure demand and financing organised by credit rating agencies Pacra (Pakistan) and Dagong (China).

We are also in talks to place the Karachi Circular Railway under the CPEC banner, he said.

China has been increasing investment in Pakistans infrastructure and power projects since it unveiled CPEC programme worth $46 billion in 2015.

The volume of investment was pushed to $55 billion when Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and chief ministers of provinces visited China about three months ago.

This [$62 billion investment] is good news. People will reap dividends of the investment, remarked Zubair, who is an active member of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs core economic team.

A major chunk of the multibillion-dollar investment, $34 billion, is going into electricity production and distribution.

According to Zubair, other countries are keen to become part of CPEC projects. They may become part of the project by investing in industrial zones, he said.

Additionally, CPEC projects also have huge indirect benefits as well. Information technology firms from across the globe have arrived in Pakistan as each and every project under Chinas investment would require IT assistance.

Zubair added China had become one of the worlds economic superpowers by investing in huge infrastructure projects like highways, railways, power production and gas pipelines at home.

We are doing exactly the same thing. CPEC will create massive economic momentum in Pakistan, he said.

The governor pointed out that Pakistan was not the only country whose exports had gone down in recent years as China and India had also registered a significant decline in their exports.

The uptrend in international fuel oil prices may widen Pakistans current account deficit, he said.

Zubair announced that the federal government would soon unveil a financing plan for new projects across Sindh including Karachi, adding the Green Line public transport project would be completed by the end of the year.

Speaking on the occasion, Ministry of Finances former secretary Dr Waqar Masood pointed out that besides Chinese governments investment in CPEC projects, the private sector of China was funding different schemes in Pakistan, which did not fall within the purview of CPEC.

The volume of Chinas investment in Pakistan would be significantly higher than $62 billion if its private sector investment was also counted, he said.

Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (Pacra) Managing Director Adnan Afaq emphasised that the establishment of power projects would help overcome shortage and play a positive role in achieving the required economic growth of 7% in the next two to three years.

He was of the view that managing such a huge investment of $62 billion or higher under CPEC would remain a big challenge for Pakistan as it had never done that before. We need to make sure the process [of utilising the finances] remains transparent, he said.

Dagong Chairman Guan Jianzhong stressed that infrastructure development would support economic growth in Pakistan over the long run, adding it would open Islamabad to the world and bring investment.

Other speakers urged the authorities concerned to float infrastructure bonds in order to attract public investment. The government should play its role of providing incentives for the proposed bonds to stimulate investment from new avenues.
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People across the world were shocked this week by footage from a United Continental (NYSE: UAL) regional flight. Cellphone videos showed a paying passenger being dragged from his seat and down the aisle after getting bumped from a Chicago-to-Louisville flight to make room for four airline employees who needed to be in Louisville to crew a flight the next morning.

This incident sparked a wave of outrage on social media and quickly became front-page news. Yet investors don't seem too concerned. United Continental stock has fallen just slightly this week and remains near its all-time high.

United Continental investors may regret their complacency in the long run. This complete breakdown in protocol -- and common sense -- represents a huge setback in United's multiyear comeback effort.

Starting from a place of weakness

Since taking over as United's CEO in late 2015, Oscar Munoz has focused on rebuilding the carrier's reputation. He had a lot of work to do, as the 2010 United-Continental merger was bungled by the prior management team, leading to huge disruptions for customers.

In the past year or so, United Airlines did start to regain customers' trust. However, it still lags the industry average -- and especially top rival Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) -- in most objective metrics of customer service. The Airline Quality Rating report covering 2016 found that relative to Delta, United had a lower on-time percentage, "bumped" more customers, lost more bags, and was the subject of dramatically more official complaints.

Furthermore, United had already stirred up social-media criticism last month when it forced two teenage girls who were traveling on "buddy passes" to change out of their leggings before boarding. Many people found the policy to be sexist.

The bottom line is that United Continental was treading on shaky ground a week ago. The forcible removal by law enforcement officials of a passenger from one of its flights and the airline's initial unwillingness to take full responsibility simply added to United's customer perception woes.

Customers are angry

In the past few days, United has been the subject of a huge social-media backlash spanning the globe.

In the U.S., numerous customers canceled their United credit cards and cut up their frequent-flier cards, vowing to never again fly United. Others called for a complete boycott of United Airlines flights. The social-media backlash was even greater in China, perhaps because of a rumor that the passenger who was forcibly removed was singled out for his Asian ethnicity.

Some pundits believe that this outrage won't affect United much because consolidation has reduced air travelers' options. However, there are very few routes for which United has a true monopoly. If passengers are willing to pay somewhat more or to take a connecting flight, they'll have other options most of the time. United Airlines isn't so indispensable that it's immune to changing customer preferences.

United's financial performance hasn't been great, either

Even leaving aside the customer backlash that United Airlines is likely to face, the company hasn't looked like a compelling investment opportunity lately.

Earlier this week, United projected that its unit revenue was approximately flat on a year-over-year basis during Q1. That was slightly better than the 0.5% decline Delta logged. However, United expects to post a first-quarter adjusted pre-tax margin of just 2% to 2.5%, compared with 9.3% for Delta.

Meanwhile, United Continental shares trade for slightly more than 10 times forward earnings. That level represents a slight premium relative to Delta Air Lines stock.

The sharp rally in United Continental stock since mid-2016 has been driven by optimism that the company is poised to close (or at least narrow) its margin gap relative to Delta. After this week's fiasco, United seems more likely to lose ground in the coming years. Until the dust settles, investors would be wise to steer clear of United Continental shares.

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Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
Clayton Mitchell

New Zealand First MP

Our water and our land are under threat, with the same Minister in charge.

Our water ways have had the bar lowered to make fouled by animals and full of germs the new swimmable.

Our drinkable water is being given away, for foreign consumers to enjoy, while the exporters only have to make sure their local rates bill is paid. This blue government describes charging them for the privilege as too hard or farcical, depending on whether its the current Prime Minister, or the Environment Minister speaking.

And now this same Environment Minister, Dr Nick Smith is calling concerns over Resource Management Act reform nonsense.

So lets look at the so-called nonsense to see if we should be concerned.

The submission period for New Zealanders to share their concerns and have their voices heard, closed last year in March 2016. But now, in 2017 we have the Minister slipping in changes to require agreement from local iwi and hapu that will have far-reaching consequences for local Authorities. Where is the transparent democracy in this kind of underhanded manoeuvring?

Effectively iwi and hapu could have a veto on regional development. The legislation requires agreement but with no clarification on what agreement looks like, nor how it is supposed to be reached.

And while there might be 5 or 10 or 20 iwi in a region, there are potentially hundreds of hapu, which would mean hundreds of unelected groups capable of slowing down the consent process as they see fit. And wasnt making the process more efficient the whole point of the reforms?

New Zealand First has offered our 12 votes for comprehensive RMA reform time and again, as long as the changes were good for all New Zealanders. But the two race-based party votes seem to be worth more to the Minister and this blue government, no matter the long-term cost to democracy.

They may have sneaked it over the line before the election, but New Zealand First will repeal it and fix it properly when we are in government.
The Rotorua-based BayTrust rescue helicopter will remain in Whakatane for the duration of Cyclone Cook to assist with any emergencies that may arise.

The news comes after the helicopter was dispatched to Ruatahuna on Tuesday night.

The helicopter and on board team were called to assist with relocating a family to Minginui, who require on-going medical care. The Whakatane District Council Civil Defence team requested the helicopter due to the flood and slip damage in the area.

As the storm intensifies, bringing an expected 300mm of rain over the next three days, the Insurance Council of New Zealand is urging people in the Bay of Plenty to prepare for flooding.

We want to help communities to reduce the risks they face. If you can get as much of your home contents out of harms way, secure heavy outdoor objects and park vehicles in garages if possible, says Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton.

Pre-flood tips:

Move valuables from lower ground including electrical equipment if possible

Secure outdoor possessions

Have emergency equipment like portable radio, torch, mobile on hand

Keep your insurers contact numbers on hand

Taking photographic evidence of the flooding and damage to your property will help with your claims assessment and if you need to move damaged or contaminated goods from your house for health and safety reasons.

Tips for recovery:

Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property

Contact your insurer, or insurance adviser. Do not be concerned if you cant find your insurance papers. Insurers have electronic records and need only your name and address.

Avoid entering flood water, on foot or in a vehicle. Flood water can contain raw sewage and contaminants, can conduct electricity, mask hidden hazards, and pose a serious hazard to health. It may be deeper, or moving faster, than you expect.

Try to make the buildings safe and weatherproof but dont make any emergency repairs unless it is safe to do so.

Dont start non-essential repairs without your insurance companys approval.

If water has entered the property, dont turn on your electricity until it has been inspected by an electrician

Do what you have to make your home safe and sanitary. Remove and discard any water or mud-damaged goods that pose a health risk, such as saturated carpets and soft furnishings.

Take photos of damaged property to help speed up the assessments and claims process.

Do not drive your vehicle if it has suffered water damage

The extent of the insured damage will not be known for some weeks.

Flood recovery support package from Ballance

Ballance Agri-Nutrients has also confirmed a support package for local farmers and the community, to help in the recovery from recent flooding around Edgecumbe and other areas of the Eastern Region affected by flooding.

Chief executive Mark Wynne says the focus is on practical support, tailored to the immediate need and worst affected areas.

Our people and our Edgecumbe Service Centre are at the heart of this community, and we want to do what we can  working together with others  to help everyone get back on their feet.

He says local farmers have welcomed the early contact over the weekend about flood recovery decision support tools, and Ballance nutrient specialists are now working directly with farmers to discuss the state of pastures and soil along with the best approach to recovering productivity.

Ballance is offering S0A (sulphate of ammonia) at a special discounted rate of $350/tonne exclusively for locally affected farmers. The sulphate sulphur and nitrogen in this product is ideally-suited to generate a rapid response in pasture following heavy rainfall and flooding.

As part of the support package, Mark says Ballance will be contributing $10,000 to the Edgecumbe & EBOP Mayoral Flood Appeal (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ebopmayoralfund), and has distributed 300 ponchos to help keep people dry as the rains continue. Local staff are directly involved on the ground and Ballance has three loaders on standby do some of the heavy lifting during the clean-up.

Farmers needing advice should contact their local Nutrient Specialist or call Ballances Customer Service team on 0800 222 090.
JUNEAU  A 49-year-old Randolph man and former state of Wisconsin employee was found guilty Tuesday of storing child porn on his work computer.

Sean E. Robillard appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger who accepted Robillards no contest plea to three counts of possession of child pornography. Seven additional counts of possession of child pornography were read into the record.

According to the criminal complaint, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, conducted a search warrant at a residence in Randolph May 3.

Officers interviewed a man who identified Robillard as his stepfather. The man told officers that Robillard possessed a laptop computer that he took to work with him daily. Officers also learned that Robillard had left for work that morning. Robillard was employed as a technical engineer for the Wisconsin Circuit Court Automation Program at the time of his arrest.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on Robillards vehicle in the city of Eau Claire. Two laptop computers and two USB drives with approximately six terabytes of storage capacity were confiscated as a part of the search warrant. During the search Robillard told officers they would find child pornography on the devices.

Officers located multiple files containing child pornography with prepubescent victims including photos and videos. Officers believe that at least one of the children depicted in the files is under the age of 13.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21.
As rural Bay of Plenty braces itself for more heavy rainfall today, the Ministry for Primary Industries is working alongside Civil Defence Emergency Management, the local Rural Support Trust, Federated Farmers, industry bodies, and volunteers to help farmers and growers get through the floods.

Farmers are taking the latest forecasts seriously and evacuating livestock to higher ground again. NIWA forecaster Ben Noll says New Zealand may see another round of heavy rainfall from today as Tropical Cyclone Cook tracks southeastward in the open waters of the South Pacific.

"A plume of heavy downpours will target the North Island from today ranging from Northland all the way down to the Central Plateau," says Ben.

"There are 2 peaks  one late this afternoon and this evening and the second tomorrow afternoon and evening. The areas most affected are likely to be Bay of Plenty and Coromandel where rainfall may generally range from 200mm to 400mm in the hardest-hit areas.

"Soils that are already saturated, and bloated waterways mean a higher risk of flooding, as water may run off and not be absorbed by the ground."

The Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust has been working with Urban Search and Rescue and the current rural adverse event network (Federated Farmers, Fonterra, ANZ and DairyNZ) to visit every farm in the affected area and carry out a rapid needs assessment.

Visit details are being put into a real-time app as they go door to door, building on feedback from the Kaikoura/Hurunui/Marlborough earthquake to reduce repeat visits by different groups and volunteers, and making sure that information on needs gets action right away.

With 3500 head of cattle already evacuated from Ex-Cyclone Debbies floodwaters since Thursday, ongoing inundation and road closures are hindering access for milk collection and the local Fonterra factory has suspended operation.

"Fonterra and Open Country have contacted all their suppliers and are making sure that every dairy farm has a safe place for their animals, evacuation help if they need it, and a way to milk safely and have that milk collected," says MPI Director Resource Policy Kate Hellstrom.

"Farmers are also being reminded of the boil water notice in place, which for those milking means extra safety measures need to be in place for plant and silo cleaning."

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) chief executive Nikki Johnson says the focus at this stage is on pumping water from orchards to enable harvest to take place and to limit the long-term damage to the plants.

The increased chance of additional flooding from further rain would make this task more difficult."

Kiwifruit growers with significant damage or who require assistance are being asked to contact NZKGI on 0800 25 25 05. Other numbers are:

local Rural Support Trust  call 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP) with information on the impacts on your farm, or requests for personal help

Federated Farmers  call 0800 32 76 46, option 3 for feed offers or requests, or option 4 for other on-farm help, including stock movements

HortNZ  growers other than kiwifruit growers can call 0508 46 78 69.

DairyNZ  for dairy farmers, 0800 4324 7969.

Other producers should contact their industry body if they have questions.

A flood recovery response event for all rural residents is on today from 1pm to 4pm at Awakeri Hall, White Pine Bush Road.

A collection of organisations and networks will be there with a BBQ, for information and help for rural people as we begin flood recovery.

All rural residents are welcome to drop in for a chat and something to eat.
Tauranga drivers are being praised by police because of their improved behaviour during the recent bad weather.

Were finding we are actually having less crashes at the moment because people are paying more attention to their driving because of the weather conditions, says Western Bay of Plenty Road policing manager Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter.

Its been pretty good.

While the NZTA is considering closing the Auckland Harbour Bridge later today, if forecast winds of 130-160km/h associated with former Cook eventuate, there are no plans to close the Tauranga Harbour Bridge at this stage.

No ones even mentioned that, says Wayne. I cant see that happening at all.

The variable speed signs are activated on SH29 over the Kaimai Range. Speed on the top quarter of the road was reduced to 60km/h yesterday, says Wayne.

We wont be closing the Kaimai road, we can down grade the speed limit using variable speed signs.

The conditions are monitored and the speed limit is adjusted.

Wayne advises people to drive to the conditions and watch their following distances

SH25 between Thames and Coromandel remains closed today because of a slip covering both lanes, between Waioumu and Tapu.

Access to Coromandel via the eastern side of the peninsula remains open, but there is a washout at Pumpkin Hill near Sailors Grave.

Traffic management is in place and there is a 30km/h speed restriction.

Meanwhile, the NZ Transport Agency is warning that if the Auckland Harbour Bridge is closed later today, it will have flow on effects across Auckland.

If the bridge is closed to traffic  motorists should expect long delays, and avoid travelling if they dont need to, says Auckland Highway Manager Brett Gliddon.

We encourage people to think ahead and start planning alternative ways to get home or to their destinations later today and to consider delaying any non-essential travel across the bridge.

Other road closures

SH2 through the Waimana Gorge is closed as a result of a major slip just east/south of Stanley Road. Its expected to remain closed for some time.

The Pekatahi Bridge is also closed. People are being warned to avoid any unnecessary travel in this region.

SH2 through Edgecumbe remains closed due to flooding.
Firefighters are battling flooding in Matamata as heavy rain causes water levels to rise.

A tweet on the NZ Fire Service Twitter feed says two houses on Ashworth Pl, Matamata, are being threatened by large lake forming at back of properties. Urgent need for sand bagging.

Overnight, firefighters dealt with 40 weather related incidents across NZ. About 192 firefighters were deployed to these incidents.

Cyclone Cook

The latest analysis of position of Cyclone Cook puts it around 300km northeast of Cape Reinga at 6am this morning.

MetService forecasters have now issued an updated forecast track for Cyclone Cook.

It looks likely that it will continue moving southwards today over the central North Island, with its centre lying close to Cape Palliser in the early hours of Friday morning, and be located to the east of Kaikoura around 6am Friday, before continuing southwest and offshore the South Island later on Friday.
People in low lying areas of Coromandel are being asked to evacuate. The NZ Fire Service Tweeted 11 minutes ago, saying fire crews are now being activated across Coromandel Peninsula with evacuation. People in properties in low-lying areas on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula or areas inundated in the past by king tide flooding, please self-evacuate immediately, says the Thames Coromandel District Council. This specifically refers to beach-front properties, and properties on estuaries who have been flooded before in very high tides combined with storm surges. Civil Defence Centres are set up at and open as of 10am for a safe place to wait for further information: Coromandel St John Ambulance - 355 Tiki Road Coromandel Whitianga Town Hall  22 Monk Street Whitianga Tairua Hall  210 Main Road Tairua Whangamata Town Hall - 320 Port Road Whangamata Thames Civic Centre - 200 Mary Street Thames The Waikato Civil Defence group emergency management office in Hamilton is monitoring weather-related developments around the region closely, ready to support local civil defence responses as required. Our group emergency co-ordination centre is operating 24 hours a day to monitor developments. We will act to support local responses to the weather situation as required by, for example, providing advice and logistical support where required, says group controller Lee Hazlewood. This is a serious weather event and its important for agencies and communities to work together closely to help keep people and infrastructure safe. Support your neighbours and be ready to self-evacuate to friends and family if needed. Other general civil defence messages include: Check guttering, stormwater drains and culverts - make sure they are clear to help the water run freely.

Stay up to date with official warnings and forecasts by keeping your mobile device fully charged.

Take extra care on the roads, and be on the look out for slips and flash flooding.

Make sure you have enough food and water for 7 days.

Take care of each other and your animals, check your neighbours are OK. Farmers are encouraged to move stock to higher ground where necessary. Be alert for possible power losses, the loss of roofs and any downed powerlines. Its also a good idea to have extra batteries for torches and portable radios. More information is available from www.civildefence.govt.nz Meanwhile, the Waikato Regional Council hazards team is reporting no major problems with river levels and flood control assets around the region. However, rivers are elevated and are expected to stay high for some days, says team leader Rick Liefting. People need to be aware of the potential this brings for surface flooding and river flooding hazards. Well provide advice as required. But, for the time being, its good to see the flood management schemes are working well with no significant problems reported. The councils flood room in Hamilton is activated to monitor developments. The latest weather warnings this morning for the Waikato region include: Coromandel Peninsula: 80-120 mm of rain in 12 hours (9am to 9pm today), with 150km/hr wind gusts and 5m waves from this afternoon into the evening.

Waikato and Waitomo: 70-90 mm in 12 hours (9am to 9pm today), with 120km/hr gusts from this afternoon into the evening.

Taupo: 70-90 mm in 15 hours (9am to midnight today), with 140km/hr gusts from this evening into Friday morning.

High tide this evening (2102 for Firth of Thames and 2100 for Whitianga) coincides with a period of high rain intensity. Therefore, extreme care should be taken around low lying areas at this time.

The Kauaeranga River flood management spillway across state highway 25 south of Thames could operate at this time, closing that road. This media item was current at its release date. The facts or figures it contains may have changed since its original publication.
People living in low lying areas of the Western Bay of Plenty are being urged to evacuate their homes as soon as possible, and in daylight hours.

The storm surge is predicted to be at 2.5m higher than normal along the coast and 0.8m in Tauranga Harbour.

Areas identified below this level and which may be most affected are:

Waihi Beach

Bowentown inner harbour

Athenree

Ongare Point

Little Waihi

Maketu

Pukehina Beach

Matakana Island

Residents should self-evacuate with their pets, to friends or family in other areas, says an Emergency Operation Centre spokesperson.

They should avoid driving long distances if possible, and take their get-away kits: medication, warm clothing, water and food for three days, basic first aid supplies and important documents.

If you do not have a safe place to go to nearby, head to one of the following welfare centres for shelter:

Omokoroa Community Church: 139 Hamurana Rd

Waihi Beach RSA: 99 Beach Road

Katikati War Memorial Hall: Main Road, Katikati

Tuapiro Marae: Hikurangi Road

Pongakawa Hall: 956 Old Coach Rd

Maketu School: 8 School Road

Matua Hall: 110 Levers Road, Matua

The welfare centres will only be able to welcome pets if they are in a cage.

If you decide to self-evacuate please register with your council so we can keep in touch with you.

To register contact the Western Bay of Plenty District Council by calling 07 571 8008 or 0800 WBOPDC or email customerservice@westernbay.govt.nz

For Tauranga City Council call 07 577 7000 or email info@tauranga.govt.nz

A live map has been set up to show road closures and known incidents such as slips, and flooded areas, along with open welfare centres at http://arcg.is/1mLTTj
Concerns of dairy farmers about the way their industry was portrayed in TVNZs Sunday programme The Price of Milk have been made known to its producers and the TVNZ executive by the shows sponsor Mazda NZ.

Some farmers were so concerned they called for a boycott of Mazda and its removal from the Fonterra Farm Source Rewards Scheme and Duncan Coull, chairman of chairman of the FonterraShareholders Council says Fonterra took those concerns to Mazda.

Mazda responded with the following statement: The views expressed in this story are those of the Sunday programme, and not of Mazda.

Mazda has always been a strong supporter of the rural sector. We appreciate the vital role the dairying community plays in the New Zealand economy and were proud of the contribution we make to this industry through our relationship with the Fonterra Co-operative Group. That is why we have taken all the feedback and comments about this Sunday Special very seriously and forwarded them to the producers of Sunday and for their awareness. Duncan says he didnt watch the full programme. But comments from farmers that I have spoken with show they were upset that the programme in no way portrayed what dairying was to them with what seemed to be a deliberate effort to portray the extremes to expose dairy in bad light, Duncan told SunLive.

I have only had one call from a farmer asking for such a boycott. Im sure Mazda has no input into programme content as sponsor of the programme.

That said it has hardened farmers resolve to tell their own personal story promoting all the good things they are doing as guardians of the land and contributing to the wellbeing of their local communities.

In the programme TVNZ current affairs journalist Cameron Bennett spent time with two dairy farmers; Jasmine Purnell who operates a low intensive farm, with a focus on soil health and mixed pasture, producing raw milk for export, and Gavin Flint of Ngatea who uses more conventional farming management.

The programme can be viewed at: www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/sunday-special-price-milk-our-love-affair-dairy-farming-over
A Testimony to Design

Carlo Riva was an icon of his age, he still is and will be for some time, explains Donald Starkey. The very name Riva conjures up an image of classy, stylish, extravagance, a dashing and exciting life style. A brand name many years before the current trend for brands.

He was a master, continues Starkey, a brilliant engineer and contradicted many of his competitors by making beautifully styled and detailed fast wooden pleasure boats."

Carlo Rivas work was the epitome of Italian style for generations, adds Tim Heywood. I am pleased that when Cakewalk (now Aquila) was built, I had the opportunity to view the, then, latest of his creations, a Riva Cento, a stunning craft that lived aboard, as the owner's personal tender. The attention to detail was remarkable, a great tribute to the man whose talent will live on in his work for many years to come.

The world has lost a brilliant creator of boats, comments Alberto Galassi, CEO of the Ferretti Group. A master of style, a giant in Italys industrial and business history. To me, this is a personal loss of a master, an example of brilliance, of commitment and dedication to work.

Carlo Riva taught us the meaning of vision, creativity and passion. His vision and inexhaustible innovative energy make him the leading personality in the 20th century yachting world, a man whose extraordinary creations have already become legends.

The Golden Age of Aquarama

It was the beautifully crafted Riva pleasure boats that gave the master designer iconic status. These sleek, wooden symbols of style graced waters around the world with yacht owners and film stars on board.

This style famously came to the fore with the first-ever model Ariston, which gave way to the legendary Aquarama in 1962; built for the likes of Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Liz Taylor, Sean Connery, Jean Paul Belmondo, Richard Burton and Jackie Stuart.

The flawless lines of the Riva pleasure boat originated from Carlo Rivas view of changing a boat into a luxury craft; opening a shipyard in 1954 which is today protected by the Italian Institute of Artistic and Architectural Heritage.

Responsible for a golden age of design, which has maintained its timeless elegance to this day, Carlo Rivas brand evolved to include large yachts and his final model of the beloved powerboat range, the Rivamare; launched only in 2016.

A Move to Superyachts

Constantly launching a new fashion with each design (creator of the worlds first fiberglass boat) Carlo Rivas move into the superyacht market was an impressive new arm for the brand, and brought about many new projects.

Carlo Riva had a view of superyacht design since the 70s, bringing forward a 50-metre angular and ultra-stylish project, as well as a sleeker 122' Mythos.

The 50-metre Riva was the first of the Riva Superyachts Division, and is currently under construction in Ancona; a launch that will become a milestone for the brand responsible for contributing marine heritage to Italy's longstanding creative culture.
Pamela Hudson, Managing Agent of Noyo Harbor Inn, tells us everything about the estate, the experience and the surrounding beauty of Mendocino County.

Is the area primed for a yachting revolution?

"Absolutely. Its proximity to the Bay Area, conveniently located between San Francisco and the Oregon border, offers short yet breathtaking trips along the coast, accompanying migrating whales and in view of miles of unspoiled landscape, rocky coves, giant redwood trees and historic ruins of the logging industry's days past. Thousands of acres of forest and rugged wilderness, minimal population, historic significance, wineries and outdoor activities are at a half-day's drive throughout the region."

Can you tell us about the yacht club and the harbor itself?

"The private yacht club was previously the Noyo Harbor Inn. The structure built in the 1800's has been meticulously restored. Eight private luxury suites, commercial kitchen, bar and meeting rooms, it could easily be a private residence like no other. The property also has an additional building with seven private rooms, along with the infrastructure to construct an additional six "treehouse" suites and nine additional private rooms. There are also plans in place for a spa. Access to the river and floating docks are in the permit phase."

How is Noyo Harbor Inn a new start for yachting in Mendocino County?

"There is no existing yachting culture. We would be the nucleus for what will come next. It would be the first of its kind, both the property and the harbor's reincarnation. The harbor has been a longstanding, multi-generational commercial and sport fishing hub. The harbor's activity currently is approximately 60 percent sport fishing. As the commercial fishing industry continues to be strictly regulated, the opportunity for expansion of the sport fishing culture is prime."

San Francisco to Noyo Harbor is approximately 180 miles via boat, and the key for yacht owners looking to explore the West Coast and tie the line in Noyo. The yacht club is a potential haven for future yacht owners, and an exciting investment for those looking to build on the regions unbridled beauty.

The raw, unspoiled nature of the coast will excite any boater. The ocean can be calm one moment and challenging the next. Entering the harbor is a breathtaking experience reminiscent of the sailors and explorers that have come before. Now is the time to purchase this untouched masterpiece, restored and augmented to perfection!

For more information on Noyo Harbor Inn, please click here for more details and an in-depth video.
The Badgers mens and womens basketball teams will not sport their usual cardinal and white uniforms for all games this season. The look of their alternate uniforms are believed to be a first for UW.

You voted:
As Russians seized parts of eastern and southern Ukraine in the opening stages of the war, mayors, civilian administrators and others say they have been abducted, threatened or beaten to force their cooperation. In some instances, they have been killed. Human rights activists say these actions could constitute a war crime. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said he was abducted from his office and the bullying and threats did not stop for a minute." He said they tried to force him to continue in his role but he refused. After six days in detention and an intervention from Ukraine's president, he was exchanged for nine Russian prisoners of war and expelled from the occupied city.
farm

The farm where the new brewery and cafe will be constructed. The brewery will be right behind the flag.

(Provided photo)

POMPEY, NY - After working in finance for 20 years, Dan Palladino moved from Rochester back to Pompey in 2010 to take over the 525-acre family farm after his father's death.

In the next seven years, Palladino, now 42, doubled the size of the farm, eventually partnering with a neighboring farmer and expanding the farm to 2,600 acres. He operates an organic crop farm and also grows non-organic barley, which is turned into malt barley. He also raises cattle and pork for beef and pork, while his partner has a dairy farm.

In January, Palladino opened a retail farm store on the property to sell the farm's own beef, pork, organic flour, bread and pasta; and other locally made products.

Dan Palladino's daughter, Natalia, right, helping customers sample items in the farm's new Food Store.

Next up is a farm brewery selling craft beer made with malt barley and hops from Palladino's farm. Palladino is starting Hill Country Farm Brewery with his high school friend, John Frazee, whose family has a dairy farm just a few miles away.

The pair also plan to open a farm-to-table cafe on the premises serving their farm-raised beef and pork, along with a variety of other locally grown products.

The new brewery, at 3149 Sweet Road, will be 6,000-square-feet with a 1,500-square-foot tasting room. There also will be a 1,200-square-foot screened-in patio overlooking the hillsides.

The farm dates back to 1845, although the Palladino family bought it in 1951.

Frazee, who went to Fabius-Pompey High School along with Palladino, moved to Colorado to work as an engineer and in 2012 founded Gravity Brewing. He will be the brewmaster - his beers have won several national and international awards, including the Silver Award for Belgian Fruit Beer at the 2016 World Beer Cup.

The pair plan to start with a handful of craft beers, including traditional and experimental styles, Palladino said. The beer will be made using the farm's own malt barley and hops.

"I've always wanted to open a brewery, and this one will be a true "farm" brewery, because I'll use my own malt barley and hops,'' said Palladino.

Palladino is one of the largest barley growers around- he currently has 400 acres of barley. He has a partnership with the 1886 Malt House in Fulton to help supply it with malt barley for New York state's growing number of craft beer makers.

Dan Palladino in The Farm Store

He will have enough malt barley to meet his own needs this year.

In the spring, he's also planting hops and by 2022 says he'll have nearly enough to meet all his needs.

Palladino, who is president of the Onondaga County Farm Bureau, said he doesn't want to sell into commodity markets, preferring to grow and produce items that can be used locally.

"We sell a lot of local products, so I thought why not beer too?,'' he said.

The brewery and cafe will be located on 15 acres of the farm - the rest is protected farmland meaning it can't be developed.

The town of Pompey passed a farm-friendly law in 2015 called the 'farm business overlay' which allows qualified farmers to have commercial enterprises on their farm if they meet certain criteria.

Palladino is working with the town of Pompey on site plan approval, and also hopes to tap into some Empire State Development grant money as he progresses.

The pair hope to open the brewery and cafe sometime during 2018.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Hundreds of manufacturing jobs are available in Central New York.

Novelis, an aluminum company in Oswego, has openings for a mechanical technician and an electrical engineer, among others.

SRCTec, a Cicero company that makes advanced military equipment, needs a variety of engineers.

Manth-Brownell, a precision machined parts company in Kirkville, wants to hire machine operator and engineers.

Across Central New York, thousands of people lost their manufacturing in the past decade, so what's the problem? It should be easy to fill these manufacturing jobs, right?

It's not. Many unemployed manufacturing workers and those looking to enter the field don't have the skills required to do the jobs, according to labor experts and manufacturers.

Most companies are seeking applicants who have completed a two-year program or a trade school. Even some advertised entry-level jobs require multiple years of experience or some sort of training.

This skills gap is a problem for dozens of local manufacturers and it's a problem that's only going to grow, said Randy Wolken, president and chief operating officer of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, a trade group that represents local companies.

An aging workforce means more retirements and more vacant high-tech manufacturing jobs, Wolken said. And CNY doesn't have a large pool of eligible, skilled employees, he said.

Community colleges, BOCES and MACNY are stepping in to try to train people to fill the vacant manufacturing jobs. They are offering certificate programs, two-year degree programs and apprenticeship programs to train more workers. Companies themselves are trying to train workers.

Many no- or low-skill manufacturing jobs gone

The days of walking out of high school and into a factory job are rapidly diminishing, said Art Wheaton, director of Western NY Labor and Environmental Programs for the Worker Institute at Cornell University.

Wheaton said CNY lost many of the entry-level factory jobs that required a worker to only have a strong back and be good with his or her hands. Those jobs are not coming back.

Automation, robots and computers have replaced the worker in those situations.

"Workers still have to run the machines," he said.

Some jobs were also lost when manufacturers left CNY for other states and other countries to take advantage of cheaper labor.

The low-tech jobs are gone and high-tech workers are now in high demand, Wheaton said.

The manufacturing sector in CNY shrunk from 58,000 jobs in 1990 to 30,000 in 2015.

Still, there are 269 openings for production workers during April and hundreds more engineering positions open, the state Labor Department said.

Salaries for production workers, which does not include engineers, were $23,330 for entry workers and $45,670 for experienced workers in 2015, state data shows. The state calculates that the average salary for all CNY manufacturing employees, including engineers, was $67,264 in 2015.

The manufacturing sector in CNY has been holding steady over the last few years, but some parts are starting to turn around slowly after a long decline.

Plastic manufacturing had 1,694 jobs in 2012 and grew to 1,903 jobs in 2015. Food manufacturing also grew from 1,397 jobs in 2012 to 1,740 jobs in 2015.

"These are high-paying, good jobs with benefits," Wheaton said. "And more are going to be available."

Wheaton said one reason there will be more jobs available is workers with specialty skills are in their 50s, 60s and 70s. They will be retiring, he said.

"We're having a graying of the workforce," he said.

The average age of manufacturing employees in the country in 2016 was 44, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average age of a highly skilled manufacturing worker is 56, according to a 2012 report from the Boston Consulting Group.

Wolken, of MACNY, said this aging work force of highly skilled workers concerns him.

"This type of worker is the one most manufacturers are in dire need of and that will only grow in the years to come," Wolken said. "Our apprentice program -- and the efforts of others -- focuses on a middle-skills to high-skills workforce."

Community college steps up

The State University of New York was awarded nearly $15 million to create worker training programs at 30 community colleges. Cayuga Community College received $629,306. The college tried to identify the skill gaps that left workers without the skills the companies wanted.

"We focused on examining jobs and skills that were going to be needed in the year 2020 and beyond," said Carla DeShaw, dean of the of the Community Education and Workforce Development at CCC.

The grant, in part, helped create the college's Advanced Manufacturing Institute, which debuted in January 2016. The college introduced four new options within its existing mechanical technology degree program -- mechatronics, facilities design, computer-aided design and precision machining.

The State University of New York also picked CCC to lead the state's plastic technology education program because of the college's proximity to plastic manufacturers such as Currier Plastics in Auburn and Tessy Plastics in Elbridge.

The plastic companies have the same problem of other manufacturers: Workers don't have the right skills, DeShaw said.

The college created a two-year plastic technology degree program and a one-year certificate program to train workers.

John Currier, president of Currier Plastics, said the company struggles to find trained workers. The company, which makes plastic packaging for several markets, employs 150 people.

"We do a lot of internal training, but when we get really busy we steal our trainers," he said. "We're good manufacturers. Sometimes we're great trainers too, but sometimes we're not."

There are a lot plastics jobs in Central New York, he said. Right now, the company often has to go out of state to fill jobs, he said.

He said he hopes the college program will create a steady stream of trained applicants in the next few years.

Currier Plastics also sends employees to CCC to take the classes, he said. That helps the company train workers and gives the employees skills needed to qualify for higher tech jobs with higher salaries, he said.

Currier said the manufacturing world has changed.

"We adopted new technology and that's harmed the entry-level jobs," he said. "Automation is now doing jobs that's were once entry-level jobs."

Currier said this has improved the positions for the technicians and engineers, but they have to have the training.

100% job placement, but few students

Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES started offering an advanced manufacturing technician program for adults in 2013.

The program had a 100 percent job placement rate - every graduate found a job - in its first two years, said Matthew T. Tarolli, BOCES adult education.

The program exposes the students to a variety of manufacturers in CNY. Students benefit from job shadowing and internships.

"Most of the time our manufacturing internships are paid internships and they land them a job," Mari Ukleya, the director of adult education.

OCM BOCES instructor Craig McKinney (right) helps a student in the manufacturing technician program, in this file photo.

The program at BOCES' Liverpool campus costs $7,700 and requires 758 hours, which equates to less than six months. It also includes a 4-week internship. Students often can apply for grants and other financial aid.

After two successful years, the program has struggled to find students, coordinators said. It was not offered two years because not enough students signed up; recently only three students took part in the program, the said

Ukleya said she believes the issue is fear - fear that there are no manufacturing jobs in CNY and that even if they land a job there will be no job security.

Part of the problem is it's hard for job seekers who haven't worked in factories or the manufacturing industry to visualize the job, Tarolli said.

"When you say you want to be a welder, someone can visualize what it's like to be a welder, but when you say you want to get into manufacturing there is no one thing that people can relate to," Tarolli said.

Misperception that there are no jobs

Laura Miller, general manager of Darco Manufacturing in East Syracuse, said public's perception of manufacturing is part of the problem. Darco, which employs 35 people, makes precision machined components.

The messaging that manufacturing jobs are being eliminated by automation and offshoring is outdated and oversimplified, Miller said.

"More jobs are coming back," she said. "And we are in need of interested people. We still need the human touch."

Miller said she believes most companies are actually at or near peak automation, meaning they have the right technology, but now they need people to run their machines.

"We are creating an impression that manufacturing is equivalent to technology," she said. "The truth of the matter is that we use technology as tools and we bake technology into our finished products but that's just one element of what it takes to make intermediate or finished goods."

Soft skills, people skills also needed

Dave Lloyd is an instructor with the advanced manufacturing program at Cayuga Community College and has worked in manufacturing for 30 years. He said the program at CCC also addresses another issue that plagues manufacturing.

"Sometimes it's not the technical capabilities that hold a person back," Lloyd said. "Sometimes it's the soft skills."

The CCC manufacturing program also teaches teamwork, communication skills, basic problem-solving, interview skills and more. Lloyd said manufacturing is often early hours and for workers to be successful they must be on time and ready to work.

The program has a high success rate: 91 percent of students finding employment after finishing the certificate program.

Lloyd said training programs and college programs are now important to get the skills to land a job.

"We're not talking about minimum wage jobs," he said. "These are good paying jobs with good benefits. If they want them, they have to make an investment in themselves."

Another approach: Train your own

Miller, at Darco, believes that companies can train their own employees and fill higher-tech jobs by moving workers up the ladder.

At Darco everyone who comes in starts at the bottom, Miller said. If they have training, experience and desire, they are likely to rise faster.

"We automatically start a new person with a seasoned person on Day One," she said. "They're learning in real time. They're helping produce. It's very efficient. In times when were under a lot of pressure, there may not be that much time for learning, but they are building muscle memory."

Miller said not all college programs are equipped to teach the specialized tasks that are needed by small and medium-sized manufactures. The benefit of on-the-job training is manufacturers are grooming workers for their specific methods, she said.

"It does take a long time to train an experienced employee, but it's worth it," she said.

MACNY offers apprenticeship program

Not all manufacturers believe they have the time to train their own employees and when a seasoned employee retires he retires with his knowledge, said Wolken, of MACNY.

This is why MACNY has created an apprentice program to help member businesses with their training needs. Thirty manufactures have signed up for the program that starts this year.

Wolken said many local manufacturers have some of the same needs when it comes to training and learning, and those needs can be combined in the classroom. Apprentices learn the company's specialized skills with on-the-job training.

"This program, CCC, OCM BOCES and all of these programs are all trying to do the same thing," Wolken said. "We're trying to create an ecosystem of more skilled laborers."

The Post-Standard | Syracuse.com is featuring a year-long initiative called CNY's Job Hunt to explore the Central New York job market. This series examines the ins and outs of our local job market, analyzes data and discusses topics that affect job seekers and employers.
HUNTER, NY -- If you're looking for a mirror that reflects the enormous surge in the number of breweries operating in New York state, look no further than the annual TAP New York beer and food fest.

This year's TAP New York fest, April 29-30 at the Hunter Mountain ski resort in the Catskills, expects to host more than 135 different breweries, pouring more than 400 different beers. That would be a new record for the event -- and it's almost half the roughly 300 breweries now operating in New York. As recently as 2012, the fest boasted a then-record 50 breweries.

"Every year, there are more breweries in New York, and so every year there are more at TAP," said Bill Woodring, one of the co-founders of the fest.

This is TAP's 20th year. It started in 1998 as the Hudson Valley Beer and Food Festival, and was held at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park with just nine brewers.

It moved to Hunter Mountain in 2000 (with about 25 breweries) and in 2001 changed its name to TAP New York. That's when it became a true statewide event, with brewers from Long Island to Buffalo. It hosted 117 brewers in 2016.

Along the way, TAP New York has grown from using one or two rooms at the resort to taking up just about all its indoor space and a bunch of outdoor tents, too.

The surge in the number of New York breweries took off in a big way following the passage of the 2012 Farm Brewery law, which cuts fees and eases regulations for brewers who use New York-grown and produced ingredients. The number of breweries has tripled since then, though many are very small.

Woodring, who watched a surge and then collapse in the number of New York breweries in the late 1990s, thinks the current wave is stronger.

"This new crew, the farm brewers, they understand who they are," he said, noting that most of them "have no desire" to make tons of beer or deal with big distribution channels. "They make the beer they want and they can sell every drop. That's the ultimate satisfaction in their business model. They know their limits."

It also means makes going to an event like TAP New York attractive: "You'll see a lot of brewers whose beer you may have never tried unless you live in their neighborhood."

This year's TAP NY has about 25 to 30 breweries participating for the first time, Woodring said. Among them: Industrial Arts Brewing of Garnerville; Thin Man Brewery of Buffalo; War Horse Brewing of Geneva; Equilibrium Brewing of Middletown; Willow Rock Brewing of Syracuse; Oval Craft Brewing of Plattsburgh and others.

Each year, TAP New York also awards prizes to the top breweries and beers in both the Hudson Valley and the state as a whole. The 2016 brewery winners were Big Ditching Brewing Co. of Buffalo as best in the state and Crossroads Brewing of Athens as best in the Hudson Valley.

In the individual best beer contest, there are two new categories, sour beers and barrel-aged beers, both of which wil lhave at least 20 entries, Woodring said.

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
2015-10-09-gw-mardones0214.JPG

Syracuse band Hard Promises opens for Benny Mardones at the Palace Theater in Syracuse on Friday, October 9, 2015.

(Gary Walts)

Syracuse band Hard Promises opens for Benny Mardones at the Palace Theater in Syracuse on Friday, October 9, 2015.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Local classic rock band Hard Promises will perform its 5th annual Petty Fest at the Palace Theater on Saturday, April 29.

What started as an intimate gathering of fellow Tom Petty fans at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has grown into a large celebration, with an opening set from "Runnin' with the Pack: a Tribute to Bad Company."

Hard Promises has been performing around Central New York for five years and has shared the stage with Cheap Trick, Loverboy, Lou Gramm, John Waite, Bret Michaels and Eddie Money.

Three of the musicians in Hard Promises are part of the Hurricanes, Benny Mardones's backing band.

From "Refugee" to "Free Fallin,'" from "American Girl" to "Don't Come Around Here No More", the members will play many of Petty's hits in this two-hour set with special guests including:

Robyn Stockdale and Bob Kane (Vinyl Albums Live)

Joanna Jewett (Crystal Visions, Mix Tapes) and Maureen Henesey (Crystal Visions, Mere Mortals, Easy Ramblers)

Michael Frisina and Ben Sumner (Simplelife)

Todd Stiles (Country Swagg, Scars and Stripes) and Chad Mac (TJ Sacco)

Scott Sterling (SAMMY Hall of Fame Inductee)

Julia Goodwin

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets ($10) can be purchased through CCtix.com or Ticketfly.

Tickets will cost $15 at the door on the day of the show. The Palace Theater and 105.9 The Rebel sponsored this event.

The real Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will headline Mountain Jam 2017 and will bring their 40th-anniversary tour to CMAC on July 2.

Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook
Korean Register releases new KR-CON version

IACS class society Korean Register (KR) has released its latest KR-CON software.

The 15th edition of KR-CON has been developed in-house and offers a comprehensive electronic database program containing the latest IMO conventions, codes, resolutions and circulars, in either English, South Korean or Chinese. KR-CON users include shipping companies, shipyards, design houses, surveyors, and Port Control Inspectors, the software allows them to pull up the regulations relevant to any individual ship by simply inputting its details. It is easily accessed via the KR-CON website, on a USB stick and via a mobile app. This edition offers a new cloud function, which is claimed to be a significant enhancement, allowing users around the world quick and easy access to the most up-to-date information on the IMO convention database. The cloud function will be supported by new cloud network servers across six continents, including the US and Europe, which will be operational by mid- 2017. This edition also includes a new flag administration marine notice browser function. It provides users with full details of any relevant local rules and offers specific detailed information from the major flag states, including Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands. Lee Jeong-kie, KR Chairman and CEO, commented: We are proud to launch the 15th version of KR-CON, our latest version offers even better functionality and data access to its users. Equipped with cloud network support and the new flag administration marine notice browser, our customers around the world will be able to access KR-CONs database quickly and accurately to find the information they need. We will continue to develop our user- friendly software, with new functions based on users feedback to ensure that we meet all of our customers needs. The most recent amendments adopted at the 96th and 97th MSC, the 69th and 70th MEPC, SOLAS, MARPOL and IMDG Code are all included in this 15th edition.




Long-haul trades to gain from oil demand forecast

In the recently released International Energy Agency (IEA) medium-term outlook, the agency forecast global oil demand will rise from 96.6 mill barrels per day last year to 103.8 mill barrels per day by 2022.

This demand growth will mainly come from non-OECD counties, as the forecast oil demand growth for these counties, according to the report, is expected to rise by 8.5 mill barrels per by 2022, while in contrast, OECD demand is expected to decline by 1.2 mill barrels per day over the same period, Gibson Research said analysing the report. More efficient oil use and the shift towards alternative energy sources are cited as part of the reasons behind the slower demand growth. So effectively, the bulk of future oil demand will continue to come from the Asia/Pacific region. IEA estimated that Asian crude demand will increase by around 5 mill barrels per day by 2022. Over the past few years, Asian crude producers have experienced a continual decline in domestic production, in part due to the low oil price environment (cheaper to buy on the international market), as well as depleting oil fields and lack of fresh investment. The latest analysis said that this situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Research pointed towards further downwards pressure on Asian oil production, which is set to fall by more than 600,000 barrels per day by 2022, an equivalent of 1% of global oil demand. Half of this production decline is accounted for by the largest producer, China, but many fields are mature, drying up and extraction is becoming more expensive. According to the IEA, Chinese production has reached its lowest level in nearly a decade and shows no sign of recovering. The report predicted a drop to 3.7 mill barrels per day by 2022, compared with 4 mill barrels per day in 2016. The situation is the same for other Asian countries. By 2022, the IEA believed that in addition to Chinese losses, other Asian producers will see a 410,000 barrels per day drop in production with the biggest decline from Indonesia (falling by 125,000 barrels per day). Smaller losses are forecast for Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and India over the outlook period, but nevertheless adding to the picture. Of the Asian producers only Australian production is set to grow. This situation could provide support for the crude tanker market in the medium-term, in particular the VLCC sector. The IEA report claimed that not all the additional barrels will be met by Middle East producers, as more production will be absorbed by the local refiners. Consequently, barrels will have to be sourced from other regions including the US, Gibson said. Other developments in the Asian region include expanding refinery capacity, which will naturally require feedstock whether sourced domestically or otherwise. An illustration is the 200,000 barrels per day Vietnamese Nghi Son refinery expected to receive its first shipment of crude in May. Nghi Son is 35% owned by Kuwait Petroleum and will eventually produce 8.4 mill tonnes of product annually meeting around 40% of growing domestic demand. These developments will support long-haul crude trades but could impact on the short-haul Aframax market in north Asia, which are already being impacted by pipeline developments. In addition, new refinery developments may support the crude import sector but could compete with long haul product flows into the region. As the tanker market starts to feel the impact of the recent OPEC agreement, the industry continues to seek some good news to boost spirits, Gibson concluded.




Markets - Asia dirty tanker market - a glimmer of hope

At the beginning of the second quarter of this year, Asias crude tanker market finds itself flooded with a flurry of newbuilds that hit the water in the first quarter.

According to Lloyds List Intelligence, new tonnage delivered hit 15 mill dwt in 1Q17 and is expected to reach 8.7 mill dwt in 2Q17. In addition, the gradual but steady unwinding of floating storage in global hotspots, due to a flattening Brent futures curve, is likely to release a constant stream of tonnage into the market, exacerbating the situation of oversupply, Ocean Freight Exchange (OFE) said in its weekly report. The negative impact of unusually heavy refinery turnarounds in Asia, as well as OPEC production cuts, seemed to have been offset by increased tonne/mile demand from a surge in long-haul shipments, which has put a floor under tanker spot rates. Around 2.6 mill barrels per day of Asian refining capacity is expected to be offline in April (up by 87% year-on-year), before easing to 2.1 mill barrels per day in May and 974,000 barrels per day in June. According to a Platts Survey, OPEC compliance has been robust, averaging 115% between January and March. Amidst such bearish factors, a recent spike in long-haul trades from the Americas has provided a much-needed boost to the Asian VLCC market. Around 27 VLCCs are heading to Asia in April, with not all cargoes confirmed. Of the 27 VLCCs, 11 are ex Caribs, seven ex-Brazil, three ex-Uruguay, three ex-USGC, two ex-Venezuela and the remaining one from Mexico, OFE said. While such arbitrage trades remain dependent on crude price spreads, Asian buyers are expected to continue turning to sources from afar to make up the supply shortfall from the OPEC production cuts. Some recovery in VLCC rates might be seen at the end of this quarter, as peak turnaround season comes to an end and a slowdown in newbuilding deliveries takes place. Lower cargo flows from Iran and Iraq are expected to add downwards pressure to the Suezmax market in 2Q17. Iraq has been steadily trimming its crude exports in accordance with its pledged production cuts. Iraqi crude exports averaged 3.33 mill barrels per day in 1Q17, down by 5.2% from Decembers record high of 3.5 mill barrels per day. While Iran is exempt from the OPEC output cuts, it has been grappling with raising crude exports due to sharp drawdowns of floating storage, as well as depleting mature oil fields according to Thomson Reuters Oil Research. A relatively weaker VLCC segment is also likely to put a lid on further growth in Suezmax rates, as it is currently around $3.67 per tonne cheaper to load cargoes on VLCCs, OFE said. The Asian Aframax segment may find some support from growing exports from Kozmino which are expected to expand by 10.2% from 1Q to 655,500 barrels per day in 2Q. With ADNOCs 127, 000 barrels per day RFCC unit at Ruwais out of commission until 1Q18 as reported by Reuters, increasing fuel oil flows out of the AG may lead to an incremental increase in demand for Aframaxes. In recent months, ADNOC has been exporting on average four to five Aframaxes of fuel oil from Ruwais per month since the shutdown of the RFCC unit, OFE concluded. In thecharter market, TEN has announced the delivery of Sola TS, the sixth in a series of nine Aframaxes from Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries built on the back of long term contracts to Norway's Statoil. In addition, the company announced the initiation of a new strategic alliance with a major US oil company for the chartering of a series of crude tankers, primarily VLCCs and Suezmaxes, for periods of up-to three years. "Following our tested policy of long term co-operation with significant international end users, we are proud to announce the initiation of a commercial relationship to further solidify the company's cash flows and earnings visibility," said George Saroglou, TEN COO. "Such industrial alliances, attracted by the company's operational experience over the years, assures the high utilisation rate of the fleet, at well above industry averages, while enhancing our commitment to our shareholders for long term attractive returns." Brokers reported that the 2017 and 2016-built Suezmaxes Pollegos and Milos had been fixed to Vitol for 12 months at $18,500 per day each. Undisclosed charterers were said to have fixed the 1998-built Suezmax La Mer for six months at $21,000 per day. The Aframax FPMC P Hero, built 2011, was believed taken by ST Shipping for 121 months at $15,500 per day, while the 2004-built LR1 Merkur O was reported fixed to Koch for six months at $13,250 per day. In the MR sector, Maersk Tankers was reported as fixing the 2011-built Miss Mariarosaria for 12 months, option another 12 months for $13,500 per day and $14,500 per day for the option period. Clearlake was believed to have fixed the 2010-built Alpine Liberty for 12 months AT $13,100 per day. In the newbuilding sector, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Daewoo Shipbuilding (DSME) have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to build five, option five, VLCCs for a price thought to be around $79 - $80 mill each. A formal contract is expected to be signed by the end of July. Local South Korean sources have said that behind the deal is both HMMs and DSMEs largest shareholder - Korea Development Bank (KDB) - which has been providing financial support for both companies. However, HMM reportedly refuted that KDB was behind the order, saying that the decision was made via its Investment Deliberation Committee. The shipbuilding order was based on a Won2.6 trill ($2.3 bill) shipbuilding programme, which was created as part of the government's plan for South Koreas maritime industry competitiveness enhancement announced last October. Odfjell has followed up its letter of intent for two stainless steel chemical tankers at Hudong-Zhonghua with a firm order. The two vessels will be of 38,000 dwt each and both fitted with 40 tanks with a cargo capacity of about 45,000cu m. They will be designed for possible dual fuel operations. Odfjell said that the capital commitments will be about $116 mill. The first vessel will be delivered in June, 2020 and the following vessel three months later. CSSC was thought to have won an order for two LR1s from an affiliate for 2018-2019 deliveries. In the S&P market, a 1999-built Teekay Aframax, believed to be the Kanata Spirit was reported sold to undisclosed interests for $7.8 mill. The 2008-built MR Busa was said to have been sold to DSD Shipping for $17.3 mill, while the 2001-built Handysize Freja Maersk was believed sold to Indonesian interests for $8.5 mill. Reported leaving the fleet was the 1997-built LR1 Arietis committed to Bangladesh breakers.




MISC in ECDIS type specific training

MISC Berhad (MISC) has chosen eMaritime Group's ACAT online courses for the companys ECDIS type specific continuous personal development training solution.

This agreement has enabled MISC to sign up their entire fleet whilst being able to monitor all students progress via an online portal on the three different ECDIS systems throughout the fleet - JRC 901, JRC 9201 and FURUNO FEA. ECDIS Annual Competency Assurance Training (ACAT) is based on the top 20 questions for inspectors and is a continuation of the ECDIS training courses and costs the equivalent of only 8 per officer based on average crew turnover and numbers. "We're delighted to sign up MISC to ECDIS ACAT. The courses will allow MISC crew members to stay current, refreshed and competency assured in the key elements of their navigation systems," said George Ward, project support, ECDIS Ltd. eMaritime Group was launched recently and includes ECDIS Ltd. It is claimed to be the world's first single website and app bringing together all the groups maritime discounts under one source. The website was developed in three years reflecting its diversity and range of choices; from cost effective on-line training to heavily discounted simulators and MCA approved STCW courses, on-line only distribution of cheap S57 ENC charts and a free social network for seafarers offering hundreds of jobs, regulations and the latest breaking news. The group website also publishes new videos, as well as relevant articles, press releases and white papers. In addition, the group has introduced a Beta Version for the world's first Live Constructive Simulation (LCS) maritime simulators. Life-like graphics and connecting live data from the shipping industry directly into the simulator create a fully immersive training environment, the group claimed. This next generation simulation will vastly increase not only training realism, but also safety, as artificially generated training scenarios are limited by the instructors imagination. However, injecting live real-time information into the scenario gives truly genuine situations by which to conduct training. eMaritime Group has worked closely with a 3D environment developer to ensure both realistic graphics and physics engine thus creating a natural environment for both the instructor and students. An additional feature with the new simulators is the energy and component saving benefits. Each simulator can be powered and controlled by one high-end PC rather than a entire server room currently required. This also means far simpler running, requiring less man-power and zero support to control a full mission bridge simulator. "It has been a long time in the making and is a complete rebuild of the way simulators work from the ground up. Live Constructive Simulation (LCS) is the next generation in maritime training and will revolutionise the current global maritime simulation market," claimed Neil Savage, LSC projects lead technician.




Navios signs EGCS LoI

Navios ShipManagement, part of the Navios Group, has issued a letter of intent (LoI) endorsing DuPont Clean Technologies as the preferred supplier of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) for its vessels.

Under the LoI, Navios and DuPont Clean Technologies will carry out a joint feasibility study and techno-economic analysis of marine scrubbing units for retrofits or newbuild installations on a variety of vessels, including tankers. The planned feasibility study will examine the viability of fitting patented DuPont Marine Scrubbers on both retrofit and newbuild projects. Talks with Navios reached this point because both companies are focused on efficiently reducing emissions. With our technical capabilities and flexible, reliable exhaust gas cleaning systems, we are able to ensure that Navios maintains its emissions standards with full confidence, said Marco Dierico, DuPont Marine Scrubbers business development manager. Navios Group operates a fleet of 163 owned and long-term chartered-in vessels ranging from Capesize to Panamax, Ultra-Handymax and Handysize bulk carriers, container vessels and MR2, LR1 VLCC and chemical tanker vessels deployed worldwide. DuPont Clean Technologies specialises in the project management, process engineering, design, construction and commissioning of the DuPont exhaust gas cleaning system.




OCIMF releases TMSA3

As highlighted in last weeks news, OCIMF released its 3rd edition of Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA3) on Monday.

The TMSA programme sets out 13 elements of management practice that are essential for the effective management of operation of vessels. Originally launched in 2004, TMSA has rapidly gained international credibility and is used across the industry, OCIMF claimed. As well as this printed guide, the TMSA programme includes an online tool for recording self assessment, plus a database for sharing reports, providing ship operators with an interactive platform to monitor and improve performance and attain high standards of safety. A useful complement to IMO conventions and codes, this 3rd edition has been comprehensively updated to reflect current legislation and emerging issues, and incorporates feedback from companies and users of previous TMSA editions, as well as providing guidance on OCIMFs view of industry best practice. TMSA3 Includes: Updated industry legislative requirements, including the Manila Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, the Polar Code and the Ballast Water Management Convention.

A new element 13 covering Maritime Security.

Expanded best practice guidance to complement key performance indicators and remove ambiguity and duplication.

Streamlining and merging of elements to improve consistency and make conducting the self assessment easier.

Revised Environmental and Energy Management Element, which now incorporates the OCIMF Energy Efficiency and Fuel Management paper that was a supplement to TMSA2. TMSA3 will be available in the SIRE programme and the book is now available to purchase from Witherbys (www.witherbyseamanship.com).




VesselMan joins Kongsbergs digital platform

Kongsberg Digital has signed a partnership agreement to bring VesselMan into its digital ecosystem for the Kognifai platform.

As a result, VesselMans applications for drydocking and repair management will now be added to Kognifai. There is a great difference between being a small Norwegian company on its own and being part of the global distribution platform that Kongsberg represents, said Stig Linna, VesselMan CEO. For us, it is very important to be part of a secure, scalable platform. As part of Kongsbergs digital platform, we can concentrate on our core business and let Kongsberg handle scalability, security issues  and all the other important things that customers have to take into consideration with global, cloud-based solutions. VesselMan is the perfect match for both our ecosystem and Kognifai, our digital platform, said Jrn Seglem, senior vice president digital platform and analytics at Kongsberg Digital. One of the key aspects of our digital platform strategy is to bring innovation from third parties to our customers to enable them to optimise efficiency and break the cost curve. VesselMan will add new, valuable innovation and collaboration to our ecosystem, and their applications will go hand in hand with the segment of applications for the maritime industry on Kognifai. Matthew Duke, vice president digital platform at Kongsberg Digital pointed out that drydocking and retrofitting constituted a considerable part of the expense for a typical shipowner, and that any tool that can disrupt that and help both owners and shipyards with a more efficient process is very important. In Kongsberg, we believe that having an open digital platform and an open ecosystem is essential for the customers benefit, Duke added. VesselMans solution is an example of a product that we wanted to add to our digital platform because it can digitalise a difficult and paper-based process. Our platform will guarantee added support for the solution and make it available to many customers that we truly believe are going to benefit from using it. VesselMans cloud-based management system facilitates defined planning processes, remote process monitoring, and online information sharing, among other things. Customers can use it on top of their existing Kongsberg and other partners systems on the Kognifai platform.




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After more than three decades of wear and tear, Wisconsin's first Wal-Mart will unveil its new remodel Friday.

The Monroe Wal-Mart at 300 6th Ave. was remodeled to make the store easier to navigate while also adding new features like a modern electronics department, expanded ladies' intimates section and a streamlined Money Services counter with faster service, the company said.

The two-day grand re-opening ceremony at the store will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday. The event will include samples and giveaways for area residents on Saturday.

Wal-Mart will also award five grants to local organizations Friday. The Monroe School District, Green County Food Pantry, Next Generation 4-H, Green County Health Department and Family Promise, an organization that helps homeless families, will each receive a check for $1,000.

The Monroe Wal-Mart opened in 1985 and currently employs 262 people.
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The ability to run Android apps natively in a Linux desktop environment is a step closer to realization, thanks to Anbox, a new open source project.

Simon Fels, who is the lead software engineer at Canonical, last week debuted a pre-alpha release of the Anbox platform, which he has been working on independently since 2015.

It was born out of the idea of putting Android into a simple container based on LXC and bridging relevant parts over to the host operating system while not allowing any access to real hardware or user data, Fels wrote in an online post.

There were quite a few problems to solve on the way to a working version, but the project is now at a point where hes ready to share it with a wider audience, he said.

Pent-Up Interest?

Anbox takes Linux namespaces  such as user, network and cgroup  to isolate the Android system from the host, Fels said.

For Open GL ES support, Anbox takes code parts from the Android emulator implementation to serialize the command stream and send it to the host, he noted. It is mapped over existing Open GL or Open GL ES implementations.

The source code is entirely open source, Fels added. Most features are licensed under the terms of the GPLv3, but a few are Apache 2.0., due to compatibility reasons.

In its current pre-alpha state, crashes and instability are expected, he said, but the next phase will deal with those issues and add additional features to improve integration with the host operating system.

There has been community interest in running Android apps on Linux systems for a long time, Fels told LinuxInsider. There have been several attempts, including Shashlik, but none of those earlier efforts were successful.

With Google launching an initiative to bring its Play store to Chrome, he said, there is a really good opportunity to use changes like freeform mode, which was added in Android 7, or multimonitor support, which is coming in Android 8.

Groups like UBports and the Sailfish OS community have been working toward using Anbox for delivery of Android applications on their mobile OSes, but Fels could not provide any specifics regarding those efforts.

Anboxs Promise

There may be potential for Anbox to succeed where other attempts have fallen short.

By making it possible to run mobile apps on a PC, you get to tap that rich application ecosystem, noted Al Gillen, group vice president for software development and open source at IDC.

This is in effect a virtualization and/or emulation system to provide an Android-like runtime environment for mobile apps, he told LinuxInsider.

Anbox might help increase the size of the Android developer community, as the ability to create new apps will be easier, said Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

However, it will displace current tools for app developers that dont need direct access to sensors, he pointed out.

In this early phase, only input, audio and display interfaces are supported, as well as network access, so if developers need access to radios, accelerometers, cameras and other platform-specific hardware, for the time being they are better off staying with their current tools, Teich told LinuxInsider.

The use of snaps and LXC containers is impressive, as they make running Anbox so fluid, he said.

Anbox should be one of the easier options for building mobile apps once interfaces are implemented for the major classes of sensors, said Teich.

Its unlikely that Anbox will be a game-changer from the standpoint of applications, however, said Peter Christy, research director at 451 Research.

Android applications, I think, are intended to run on smartphones  and I dont think many people use Linux in that kind of form factor, he told LinuxInsider.

Running Android apps on Linux would not be as useful as enabling the apps to run in Windows or MacOS, Christy said, and even there the impact would be limited.
Samsung on Wednesday said that Bixby Voice will not be operational when its Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones hit the market.

Some Bixby features  Vision, Home and Reminder  will be active when the phones become available on April 21, Samsung said, but the Bixby Voice capability wont show up until later this spring.

The delay may be due to a weakness in Bixbys English language chops, according to some reports. Its voice recognition in English apparently lags its Korean language capabilities substantially. That mismatch might be worrisome to Samsung, as it could cast its new artificial intelligence assistant in a negative light.

Its also possible that Samsung wants to round up more third-party apps to support Bixby Voice before it makes its debut.

Slow and Easy Wins the Race

Whatever the reason underlying it, Samsungs decision to delay the feature likely is prudent.

The S8 and S8+ are make-or-break products for Samsung to successfully rebound from BatteryGate, said Cliff Raskind, a research director at Strategy Analytics.

The S8 offers a lot of industry firsts. Everything, including Bixby, has to be perfect on this rollout, he told TechNewsWorld. A launch date slip for Bixby would, in the final analysis, be more palatable than a sub-par experience.

Voice recognition requires an immense orchestration of software and services, said Ramon Llamas, a research manager at IDC.

Bixby is generation one, was built from the ground up by Samsung, and doesnt extend beyond its walls, he told TechNewsWorld. Im OK with their giving it a pass until its ready for prime time instead of ending up with egg on their face.

Its important for Samsung to ensure that Bixby works correctly, noted Gerrit Schneemann, a senior analyst at IHS Markit.

Samsung is already behind, and a sloppy launch would have a negative effect, he told TechNewsWorld, but a delayed start  not so much.

However, the longer Samsung delays in pushing out Bixby Voice, the more this will erode consumer confidence, IDCs Llamas cautioned. The S8 runs on Android Nougat, which has Google Assistant built in as standard. Google Assistant does a lot of things very well.

More Than a Voice

Bixby is a contextual service, not just a voice assistant, and even if the Voice component isnt there yet, Bixby can still learn about you with Bixby Home and Bixby Vision, Llamas noted. Theres value in that, because Bixby has to build up a library of experiences in order to make the contextual connections.

Bixby is very much a new wave of opportunity for Samsung, observed Jeff Orr, a senior practice director at ABI Research.

Its not a point solution  having a certain set of features and functionality for a particular audience at a particular price point, he told TechNewsWorld.

The concept underlying Bixby is to make intelligent machines learn and adapt to humans, instead of having humans learn how machines interact with the world, explained Samsung EVP InJong Rhee, when announcing the new service last month.

With Bixby, Samsung is positioned in the interaction layer which is used to engage with other services, noted IHS Markits Schneeman.

If Samsungs successful with its execution and broadens Bixbys scope as announced, itll be an engagement tool for a broad range of devices, regardless of the operating system they run, he added.

This concept of Bixby being able to interact with the environment around you just using your voice is a powerful thing that other brands havent even begun to articulate, ABIs Orr pointed out. Its very bold and a major undertaking.
UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd on Sunday called for greater government access to encrypted content on mobile apps.

Apps with end-to-end encryption, like Facebooks WhatsApp, should not be allowed to conceal terrorists communications from law enforcement, Rudd said in an appearance on The Andrew Marr Show, a BBC broadcast.

There should be no place for terrorists to hide, she said. We need to make sure that organizations like WhatsApp  and there are plenty of others like that  dont provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other.

Khalid Masood, who killed four people outside the UKs parliament building last week before being shot dead, reportedly used WhatsApp a few minutes before going on his murder spree.

On this situation, we need to make sure that our intelligence services have the ability to get into situations like encrypted WhatsApp, Rudd maintained.

Backdoor Law in Place?

Even though she supported end-to-end encryption as a cybersecurity measure, Rudd later said in an interview on Sky News, it was absurd to have terrorists talking on a formal platform and not have access to those conversations.

We are horrified at the attack carried out in London and are cooperating with law enforcement as they continue their investigations, WhatsApp spokesperson Anne Yeh said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld.

During her appearance on Marrs show, Rudd disclosed that she would be meeting with Facebook and other technology companies on Thursday to discuss ways to meet the information needs of security officers. She did not rule out new legislation to regulate encrypted messaging if the government and the tech companies were unable to reach an accord.

However, that law may already exist. The UK last year adopted the Investigatory Powers Act, which compels tech companies to provide a technical capability to remove electronic protection within their products. That law has been interpreted in some quarters to mean that tech companies can be compelled to install backdoors into their products in order to decrypt data when necessary.

A backdoor would not have helped prevent Masoods attack, however.

To use a backdoor, you have to identify somebody as a target and hack them, explained Matthew Green, a computer science professor specializing in cryptography at Johns Hopkins University.

With this terrorist, they identified this person and decided he wasnt a threat and stopped monitoring him, he told TechNewsWorld. Nothing is going to help once you look at a guy then look away.

No Door Secure Enough

Backdoors have been criticized as a means to meet the information needs of law enforcement because they undermine the purpose of encryption.

Many technologists and even many in law enforcement have acknowledged theres no secure backdoor, said Chris Calabrese, vice president for policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology.

You simply cannot build a door that only the good guys can walk through, he told TechNewsWorld. If you start building backdoors, they will be exploited by hackers; they will be exploited by terrorists.

Tech companies have been skeptical of creating backdoors to break the encryption used by their products and then turning over the keys to law enforcement.

Another idea floated is that the companies should create the backdoors but retain control of the keys to prevent abuse.

That wont work. The systems are too complicated and the backdoors too difficult to keep secure, Calabrese said.

Companies dont want to have to worry about their employees misusing these keys, and they dont want to have to secure them, said Johns Hopkins Green.

Application Hopping

Even if backdoors were installed in applications like WhatsApp, they most likely would miss their mark  assuming that mark is to prevent terrorists from communicating securely.

If the bad guys feel that this application has been compromised by government officials and backdoors become available, this leads to a simple response by the bad guys  use a different application, explained Paul Calatayud, CTO at FireMon.

WhatsApp is a third-party application on a mobile device, he told TechNewsWorld. Nothing prevents the bad guys from moving to a lesser known third-party application.

While WhatsApp cant crack the encrypted contents on the parliament killers phone, it still can provide authorities with information about the terrorists phone activity  such as the time a message was sent, who it was sent to, and the physical location of the sender and recipient.

It doesnt matter what this guy said before he did this thing, said Bruce Schneier, CTO of IBM Resilient. What matters is who it was, and WhatsApp doesnt protect that.

Investigators can access all kinds of information without recourse to backdoors, he told TechNewsWorld, but that would require a real conversation about the problem, which you dont get from these people who grandstand after tragedies.
JANESVILLE  As a portion of a manifesto written by a Janesville felon who is the subject of a nationwide manhunt was made public Thursday, police eased their concern about threats toward area schools after they arrested another man for a gun incident near a school in which the fugitive had been a suspect.

But Joseph Jakubowski, 32, who allegedly stole 18 guns, mailed a 161-page anti-government manifesto to President Donald Trump and others and then went into hiding, is still considered extremely dangerous and was urged to turn himself in before his adventure turns bloody.

Nobody has been harmed yet and we think that is a great opportunity for him and his family to bring closure to this and to do the right thing, Janesville Police Chief David Moore said at a news conference Thursday.

Local, state and federal authorities have been chasing close to 800 clues and leads but have no idea where Jakubowski is hiding, Moore said.

We dont know if he is in the southern Wisconsin area or in places far, far away, Moore said.

There was one bit of comforting news for many families, however, as Moore said initial fears that Jakubowski may be targeting schools appeared to be unfounded based on Wednesday nights arrest of a man in connection with an April 6 incident at Janesvilles Lincoln Elementary School. Witnesses saw a man stop his car to pick up a rifle from the schools terrace area and put it in the trunk of his car before driving away.

We do not have any indication that he intended any harm to anyone with these guns, Moore said. It was just a theft.

That incident occurred shortly after a person told Janesville police it was Jakubowski who burglarized Armageddon Supplies gun shop and that he heard Jakubowski make threatening statements about schools. The two incidents led police to alert schools in south-central Wisconsin and many closed or went into partial lockdowns.

The arrest, coupled with little mention of schools in Jakubowskis manifesto, should give some comfort to our communities and certainly give comfort to our schools because they appear to be two separate incidents that unfortunately happened on the same day, Moore said.

School officials were heartened to hear that police no longer believe schools are a target. We are very relieved that they arrested a different person connected to the gun being left outside Lincoln Elementary and picked up, Janesville School District Superintendent Karen Schulte said.

Schulte said the district does not plan further cancellations or lockdowns when school resumes Monday after this weeks spring break, although security is always a concern.

We want to make sure all questions are answered and concerns aired before we let the principals loose in their schools, she said.

Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden acknowledged that copies of Jakubowskis manifesto have surfaced recently but couldnt confirm that they were authentic.

The manifesto, portions of which WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee said it obtained and posted on its website, appears not to target anyone in particular but rather rails against a system that the writer says is skewed toward protecting its own interests while making slaves of people like him.

The screed targets government in general, contemporary society, mass marketing and the lie of currency, among other things. In it, he claims he had no choice but to steal the weapons because his felony record prohibited him from buying them legally  another instance, he wrote, in which the system was oppressing him.

Trump is the only person specifically mentioned in the manifesto and there was no specific threat made to him, according to Moore.

Jakubowskis biggest gripes also didnt seem to focus on where he lived.

There seems to be a larger federal concern. He talked about making systemic change and revolution. That seems to indicate that its something larger than a local issue, Moore said. But law enforcement has an increased presence of deputies at the Rock County Courthouse and local colleges at their request, Spoden said.

Spoden said law enforcement wont release a copy of the manifesto any time in the near future and expressed surprise that Jakubowski didnt send copies to media outlets. Asked why more people didnt come forward to warn police about the manifesto after they received it, Spoden said that the length of the missive may have kept some from reading it.

When you start reading it, to be candidly speaking, it rambles on, Spoden said, and it doesnt always make a lot of sense.

Even though Jakubowski wrote in his manifesto that religion, as a whole, is bad and is used for financial gain and to keep people enslaved and alter their thinking, Spoden said Jakubowski doesnt make any specific threats to churches in it. But law enforcement will be visible around Rock County churches and places of worship this week and on Easter, he said.

Go and worship as you usually do, Spoden said. We will ensure that people can worship in a peaceful manner and safely.

Janesville police said Thursday night that Waukesha County authorities are investigating a threatening letter sent through the U.S. Postal Service indicating unspecified violence at churches in the Sussex area on Easter Sunday, The letter was purportedly sent by Jakubowski, but its authenticity is in question, police said.

Moore said Jakubowski was researching some survivalist tactics before he went into hiding and owned some survivalist equipment. But he said he was unaware if Jakubowski took any of that equipment with him.

Moore and Spoden said area lakes and rivers have been searched as well as abandoned or empty cottages and homes in the area where Jakubowski allegedly burglarized Armageddon Supplies and burned his car on April 4. Authorities continued to search new areas Thursday, they said.

So far, none of Jakubowskis friends or family have been contacted by Jakubowski, according to Spoden.

Right now we dont have the information or the evidence of anybody who is assisting him, he said.
If you're rich enough to afford a trip with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin spaceflight company, you should bear in mind that there are some dangers involving bodily functions while in the capsule: peeing, puking, and pooping.

Speaking to the crowd at the 33rd annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Bezos warned passengers: "Go to the bathroom in advance."

"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."

Although the flight itself will only last around 11 minutes, there's always the possibility some people could find the stress triggers an accidental bodily response. Mark Shelhamer, former chief scientist at NASA's human research program, told Gizmodo that anyone concerned about soiling themselves might want to copy what the Apollo astronauts did on the moon: wear diapers.

"You can't be squeamish about body functions if you want to go to space," Shelhamer said.

As for the stuff that could come out of the top end, Bezos says he isn't concerned about the risks of people vomiting. "[Space travelers] don't throw up right away," he explained. "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."

It seems Shelhamer disagrees with the Amazon CEO on this one. There have been cases of highly experienced pilots vomiting due to extreme motion sickness.

Even if the New Shepard vehicle had a bathroom, the size of the capsule would mean it'd be minuscule and not offer much in the way of privacy. Maybe Bezos will change his mind and hand out free puke bags and incontinence pants with every $100,000 to $200,000 flight.
California has been instrumental in the adoption of electric vehicles, offering prospective buyers various incentives to ensure their next ride won't require regular trips to the gas station. While the discounts have been successful (California accounts for roughly half of the country's EV sales), they won't run in perpetuation.

Autoblog is reporting that the Golden State will begin charging a one-time registration fee of $100 for plug-in vehicles starting with the 2020 model year. It doesn't end there, however, as the state will also impose a $25 annual registration fee for vehicles with a market value of less than $5,000. Those with higher-end rides valued above $60,000 will see that fee climb to $175 a year.

It's not that California hates electric vehicles and those that buy them; it simply comes down to basic economics.

The EV fees are designed to help the state recoup tax revenue generated from the sale of gasoline. With fewer people buying gasoline, stations are obviously generating less revenue than before - money that is used to help pay for road repairs and other infrastructure improvements.

California will be following the lead of Nebraska and Missouri which implemented $75 annual fees for plug-ins way back in 2011. Several other states have since done the same including Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming while half a dozen others have proposed similar bills.
In most parts of the country, choices for broadband internet is pretty limited. Typically consumers have the local cable company (usually Charter or Comcast), AT&T U-verse, or one of the slower dish networks. Occasionally you can happen across a city that has its own broadband service, and that is the case in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Chattanooga has its own fiber optic infrastructure and the company that provides service through the fiber, EPB, offers 100 Mbps, 1Gbps, and 10Gbps plans for $58, $70, and $300 respectively. As a comparison, Comcast Xfinity offers customers 10-250 Mbps plans in most areas for rates starting at $30 and going as high as $90. Comcast's 100 Mbps service is about the same price as EPB's, but for the $70 you would pay for Chattanooga's one gig line, you could only get 200 Mbps from Xfinity.

So, Chattanooga has very fast broadband at competitive prices, but according to Motherboard, the rural areas on the outskirts are stuck with satellite, dial-up, or no internet service at all. Chattanooga was prepared to rectify this situation by expanding and building its fiber optic lines into outlying areas.

Chattanooga's EPB is government owned, but the company is fully self-sufficient. It was willing to bring high-speed internet to the neighboring countryside at no cost to the taxpayer. However, the Tennessee legislature passed a law a few years ago that makes it illegal for EPB to expand into the surrounding areas. The telecom industries lobbied for the law, and Chattanooga spent years trying to get it overturned.

Many attempts were made to get the law repealed, including petitioning the FCC before Tennessee lawmakers finally introduced a bill that would allow EPB to expand. Rural Chattanooga residents were finally going to get decent internet coverage.

However, in a move that Senator Janice Bowling describes as "crony capitalism," the legislators turned down the bill and enacted the "Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017" instead. The TBAA will give $45 million in grants and tax breaks to companies like Comcast and AT&T to build inferior cable infrastructure or even worse, DSL to rural areas.

To put it another way: Chattanooga taxpayers will first pay $45 million over the next three years to large corporations that will then turn around and charge them for inferior internet services, as opposed to getting faster internet from EPB for about the same subscription price, but without having to pay to build the infrastructure.

"Tennessee will literally be paying AT&T to provide a service 1000 times slower than what Chattanooga could provide without subsidies," said Christopher Mitchell of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Think about how many internet providers that you have in your area. Do you think your lack of options is by accident?

Motherboard reports that the Tennessee legislature "has repeatedly bent over backwards for large ISPs."

While this may seem to be a localized problem for Chattanooga, it can be applied across the country. Think about how many internet providers that you have in your area. Do you think your lack of options is by accident?

As far as Senator Bowling is concerned, "What we have right now is not the free market, it's regulations protecting giant corporations, which is the exact definition of crony capitalism."

Internet providers have long held customers between a rock and a hard place. Most of the time they overcharge for unreliable service with bloated bundles and poor customer service. They can get away with this not only because they have limited competition, but because lawmakers have their backs with restrictive regulatory demands.

By all appearances, it will get worse before it gets better. More and more people are dumping providers' internet/TV bundles for on-demand streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the upcoming YouTube TV. Look for big broadband providers to gouge consumers to make up for the losses.

Top image by Softnetics, Body image by Vanderbilt University
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its previous decision regarding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in men aged 55 to 69 with no symptoms or history of prostate cancer.

The upgraded guidelines now state patients in this demographic should discuss the tests' potential benefits and side effects with their doctors and decide on their own accord whether to pursue this option or not.

The adjusted proposal  currently awaiting feedback from the public before it is finalized  changes the former D rating, which discouraged screening, into a C, leaving the choice up to personal "values and preferences."

However, the federal task force still advises against PSA testing in men older than 70. For this age group, the D rating is maintained because the potential benefits of routine screening continue to be outweighed by the side effects, shows the draft recommendation.

PSA Screening Pros And Cons

PSA screening is a commonly used blood test that measures the levels of a protein produced by the prostate gland. The problem is high levels of this protein may indicate in equal measure two conflicting outcomes: they can be construed as a sign of cancer but could also signal an infection or a benign enlargement of the prostate.

The biggest shortcoming of the PSA test is that, although it can detect small prostate tumors in their incipient, most treatable stage, the screening doesn't distinguish dangerous malignant cancers from the ones that have small chances of progressing over time and becoming a health threat.

The test, widely adopted for almost three decades, "misses as many prostate cancers as it finds", says Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

Consequently, it has been associated with a high percentage of false alarms, putting patients with benign tumors at risk for aggressive treatments. Even if the test detects an actual malignancy, many prostate cancers grow so slowly that they never become life-threatening.

In many situations, men faced with a positive result often undergo unnecessary biopsies or even radiation therapy and surgery for prostate removal, which can both cause urinary incontinence and long-term impotence.

This explains why, in 2012, the panel issued an official statement recommending against PSA testing for all patients, irrespective of their age.

What Happens After PSA Screening?

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers among men. It is the second most widespread type of cancer in U.S. men, after skin cancer. Roughly 3 million American men are currently living with prostate cancer, with nearly 180,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2016.

Moreover, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in men. A minimum of 26,000 patients succumb to the disease every year.

But with no effective way to tell the dangerous prostate cancers from the harmless ones, most men undergo surgery or radiation after diagnosis. Another option of dealing with prostate cancer is active surveillance, which essentially means monitoring tumor growth rates to see whether they become alarming or not.

A study published last year concluded that all three cancer treatments are equally effective, revealing the survival rate for early stage prostate cancer is 99 percent after 10 years, regardless of whether the patient has opted for surgery, radiation, or active monitoring.

The only difference between the three alternatives resides in the quality of life outcomes  procedure, side effects, and how they impact the life of cancer survivors.

New Evidence Supports PSA Test's Benefits

The USPSTF is basing its turnabout decision on the results of several studies performed in the last five years, which corroborate the advantages of PSA screening.

One in particular  the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC)  discovered the test reduces the likelihood of developing advanced prostate cancer, as well as the risk of succumbing to the disease, by approximately 30 percent and 20 percent respectively.

"The new evidence allowed us to say that, on balance, we think now the benefits do outweigh the harms," says Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, USPSTF chairwoman and a professor at the University of California.

In addition, the task force points out that the increasing prevalence of active surveillance minimizes the harms of screening. This is why the panel recommends that patients talk with their doctors and evaluate if PSA screening is the right choice for them.

"This is not a recommendation that says men should go get screened. This is a complex decision. Some men will want to avoid the chance of dying of prostate cancer no matter what, while others, given the side effects, will not think the benefits are worth it," explained Bibbins-Domingo.

Positive Reactions To The Guidelines Change

The revised draft recommendation was met with approval by urologists and U.S. cancer associations.

The American Cancer Society, for instance, also supports "shared decision-making" in which men and their doctors discuss the pros and cons. Dr. Brawley believes the new guidelines "would decrease confusion" about the screening procedure and what follows after a positive result.

"Some men who are very concerned about prostate cancer will elect to be screened, and others who are less concerned will elect not to be screened; either decision should be supported," he said.

The American Urological Association described the draft as "thoughtful and reasonable," mentioning its own guidelines are now in "direct alignment" with the USPSTF.

However, the association doesn't agree men 70 and older should be advised against PSA screening, suggesting these patients could benefit from the test.

At the same time, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center states the guideline shift reflects the increased use of active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer.

"That's an antidote to overdiagnosis and overtreatment," said William Nelson, the center's director.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Nurses at a hospital in Denmark are being lauded for going above and beyond the call of duty and granting the final wish of a dying patient.

The nurses at the Aarhus University Hospital, which is near Copenhagen, disregarded the rules to fulfill the last desire of 75-year-old patient Carsten Flemming Hansen.

Hansen, who was admitted to the hospital last week, expressed the desire to smoke a cigarette and drink a glass of wine, before he breathed his last.

Hansen's Last Wish

Hansen was admitted to the hospital because of an aortic aneurysm, followed by internal bleeding in his stomach.

Doctors at the Aarhus University Hospital declared Hansen was too sick to undergo a surgery. They told him that he had only a few days, possibly hours left to live.

On hearing this, Hansen expressed his desire to nurse Rikke Kvist. He told her that he wanted to smoke a Green LA cigarette and drink a chilled glass of white wine, while enjoying the beautiful sunset from the balcony.

How Was Hansen's Wish Fulfilled?

Though smoking is banned at the hospital, the nurses decided to bend the rules to give Hansen his desired farewell.

Given that he had a few hours to live, nurses and Hansen's family were in agreement that the fulfillment of the patient's desire was more important in such a situation, vis-a-vis the adherence to the rules for smoking.

On Tuesday, April, 4, the nurses wheeled Hansen out to the balcony so that the 75-year-old could drink the chilled wine, smoke the cigarette, and watch the sunset one last time as he lay on the hospital bed. Hansen was surrounded by his loved ones as he sipped the wine.

"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," said Kvist.

Initially, the authorities at the Aarhus University Hospital were reluctant to share the picture of Hansen on social media. However, with the permission of the family members, the hospital authorities shared the image.

In the poignant Facebook post, which has since gone viral, the hospital shared that Hansen passed away peacefully on Friday, April 7. The hospital shared he had a "dignified" death.

Aarhus University Hospital's post of Hansen enjoying his last drink and smoke has garnered over 72 thousand likes. It been shared more than four thousand times on Facebook.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As the much-awaited April 21 release of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ inches closer, rumors are rife that some customers may get their hands on the devices a few days early.

According to a message from T-Mobile, which was sent to a customer who preordered the Galaxy S8 smartphone from the carrier, the handset will be shipped a couple of days earlier than expected.

T-Mobile Galaxy S8 Shipping Out Sooner Than Promised?

According to a TmoNews report, a user received a message from T-Mobile which indicated that the handset would start shipping on April 19, two days prior to it hitting the U.S. shelves. The message also noted that the customer should expect their credit card to be charged soon for the relevant payment.

"Get ready! The Samsung Galaxy S8 releases April 21st. We're packaging your T-Mobile [Order Number] so you might see applicable charges on your card. We will start shipping April 19 prior to its release," stated the message from T-Mobile.

This news finally confirms what many people were expecting from the network operator. T-Mobile has a track record for early releases and routing rivals. In the past, the carrier has made available preordered devices to its customers days, sometimes even weeks before the product from rival carriers is shipped out.

T-Mobile's History Of Early Releases

When the Galaxy S7 launched, T-Mobile started to ship the device around a week prior to its official release date in 2016.

More recently, the company started pre-sales for the LG G6 from March 24, almost two weeks before the official shipment date of April 7.

However, this time round, T-Mobile has opted to ship the Galaxy S8 just two days prior to its nationwide release. This small window will not make much difference to many customers because in most cases the shipment will take at least two days to reach them. However, a user who has opted for overnight shipping will likely get the Galaxy S8 smartphone on April 20, a day prior to its release.

This is a good opportunity for the carrier to maximize the preorders for its variant of the Galaxy S8. Following news of this early shipping, many consumers may be lured to pick up the handset from T-Mobile instead of other carriers.

No other network operator apart from T-Mobile seems to have a pre-sales event for the upcoming Samsung devices, although Sprint customers who preordered the Galaxy S8 will get an eCertificate worth $100.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Burger King released an advertisement that was looking to take advantage of the growing popularity of Google Home, raising questions on whether the commercial was a clever marketing stunt or an invasion on the privacy of owners of the Google Assistant-powered device.

Google has since responded to the advertisement, but users should now be even more wary on what companies and brands may do with the Google Home.

Burger King Ad Activates Google Home

The controversial advertisement starts with a Burger King employee, who reveals that the commercial will only last for 15 seconds. That amount of time, the employee says, is not long enough to explain all the ingredients of the fast food chain's trademark Whopper burger.

The Burger King employee then leans forward and asks, "OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?"

Viewers with a Google Home device located near their TV will then hear the Google Assistant activate with the OK Google wake words mentioned in the advertisement. The device will then read the first sentence on the Wikipedia page of Burger King's Whopper.

Is The Burger King Ad Ingenious Or Annoying?

The advertisement could be seen as a clever way to get the attention of viewers, as the 15-second clip will lead to more information regarding the Whopper beyond its allocated time.

However, it is also being seen as an annoying one. The advertisement by Burger King is not the first video that hijacked the smart speakers of viewers, as a news report from a local TV station triggered orders for dollhouses across San Diego for Amazon Echo owners.

However, the Burger King advertisement is the first commercial that deliberately takes advantage of a smart speaker in a wide-reaching campaign.

Google Not Involved In Creation Of Burger King Ad

The advertisement was not done in partnership with Google, which has disabled it from functioning the way that Burger King wants to just a few hours after the video was released.

Google Home will no longer respond to the question being asked by the Burger King employee in the commercial, but will still do so when somebody else asks the same questions. Google likely blocked the specific sound clip from the advertisement from launching Google Assistant, similar to what it did for its own advertisements for Google Home.

Google was quick to respond to the problem, similar to how it addressed the advertisements for Beauty and the Beast that Google Assistant started mentioning when a user asked what was in store ahead for their day. Google also said that it was not involved in getting the advertisements into Google Home.

Advertisements Coming To Smart Speakers?

Brands may be looking toward taking advantage of the increasing number of Google Home and other smart speakers in households. However, with the overly negative response against Burger King's attempt, hopefully the move will not be further considered by companies, and even Google itself, as another way to inject advertising into the daily lives of users.

Google Home and smart speakers are supposed to make things easier for users and their families, but they will soon become major annoyances if they started spewing advertisements more often than helpful information.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Riley Hancey, was denied a life-saving lung transplant by the University of Utah Hospital, according to his family.

The family claims that the hospital denied the transplant to the teen because they found traces of marijuana in the 19-year-old's system.

Riley was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia, which caused both his lungs to collapse. As a result, a double-lung transplant was required to save his life.

Why Was The Teen Denied Treatment?

Following Riley's complaints that he felt unwell, his father Mark Hancey, took him to a local clinic. It was discovered in an X-Ray of his lungs that Riley had signs of severe pneumonia.

As a result, he was admitted at the University of Utah Hospital, where he was kept on the life support system for nearly 30 days. To save his life, an immediate lung transplant was needed. However, the authorities at the hospital denied the transplant, as Riley tested positive for THC, which is one of the major intoxicants in marijuana.

"[The doctor] was willing to let him die over testing positive for marijuana. This is what shocked me," noted his father.

The teen's father also stated that Riley seldom smoked pot, but had done marijuana with his friends on Thanksgiving.

"It's not like he's a smoker for 30 years and (had) deteriorating lungs because of that," said his father to KSL.

Though the hospital authorities gave the following statement to KSL.

"We do not transplant organs in patients with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use or dependencies until these issues are addressed, as these substances are contraindicated for a transplant," noted University of Utah Hospital.

Riley's Progress

After being denied treatment at the University of Utah Hospital, Riley's family members looked for hospitals throughout the country, which would treat their son.

The University of Pennsylvania Hospital agreed to treat the teen and perform the double-lung transplant.

Riley was taken to the hospital without wasting any further time. The hospital authorities at the University of Pennsylvania successfully conducted the lung transplant.

Riley is currently being kept under observation. His father is quite relieved post the operation and shared that Riley would have to stay in the hospital for a year for further recovery.

Some of the Utah teens created a page on YouCaring to raise funds for Riley's treatment.

The case brings to light the apathy, which plagues some of the nation's hospitals. A person taking legal substances has the same right to seek medical treatment as those who do not.

Riley may have been lucky to find an alternate hospital willing to perform the lung transplant. However, many others may not be so lucky.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Most likely a massive believer of a future that involves soft robotic spacecraft, artificial gravity devices, and technologies that could give science fiction a run for its money, NASA has funded 22 interstellar projects that could change the face of space science and exploration.

The innovative concepts received money from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts or NIAC program.

Winning Projects: What Future Space Exploration Looks Like

The program gives fellows the opportunity and funding to explore visionary aerospace concepts that we appraise and potentially fold into our early stage technology portfolio, said NASAs Space Technology Mission Doctorate associate administrator Steve Jurczyk in a statement, adding that NIAC seeks to engage researchers, scientific innovators, and agency civil servants in this initiative.

NIAC Phase 1 grants were awarded to 15 of the 22 concepts and provided about $125,000 for nine months of initial definition and analysis work for each project.

A Synthetic Biology Architecture to Detoxify and Enrich Mars Soil for Agriculture, an initiative by University of California Berkeleys Adam Arkin along with his team, seeks to harness bioengineered microbes on Earth in order to potentially give rise to crops on planet Mars.

John Brophy, from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, aims to use potent lasers for illuminating solar panels on traveling spacecraft, which would make the vehicless ion-propulsion systems lighter, far more efficient, and therefore faster in its probe.

So-called vacuum starships that do not depend on helium or hydrogen but instead keep an air-displacing interior vacuum could soon fly on Martian sky, if John-Paul Clarke of Georgia Institute of Technology succeeds in his Evacuated Airship for Mars Mission development.

Other innovative concepts feature interstellar spacecraft solely powered via Mach effects, a Pluto-hopping space vehicle, a Turbolift system for inducing artificial gravity, and a tiny probe hovering above the surface of Martian moon Phobos, to name a few.

NIAC Phase 2 Grants In Focus

Seven more concepts, which previously received a Phase 1 grant, also received NIAC Phase 2 grants worth up to $500,000 for two more years of development.

This years Phase 2 portfolio, according to NASA, comprises a wide range of concepts. The lineup involves a Venus probe harnessing in-situ power and propulsion for investigation the Venusian atmosphere, a high-powered laser for studying the composition of asteroids and other heavenly objects, and an ultra-robust rover that can win against harsh conditions on Venus, Mercury, and other planetary bodies.

The hope is for the grantees to change the possible as what NIAC does best, according to program executive Jason Derleth.

This Thursday, April 13 at 2 p.m. EDT, NASA is holding a major press briefing to reveal the latest results on ocean worlds in our solar system. At the mysterious event, the agency will reveal findings on its broader search for life beyond our planet, along with discoveries that could affect future exploration of ocean worlds.

The announcement is tied to data from NASAs Cassini spacecraft and its Hubble Space Telescope. While held at the NASA headquarters, it will also involve experts positioned in different parts of the country.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Madison police are investigating a 25-year-old mans death at a Southwest Side residence that occurred about a month before a Madison couple were allegedly found overdosing on heroin while their three feces-covered young children were left unattended.

Referrals for additional criminal charges are possible for Brittany K. Pearson, 31, and Will E. Weaver, 58, who already face drug possession and multiple child neglect charges for the April 1 incident in the 5000 block of Hammersley Road, Madison police spokeswoman Kimberly Alan said.

On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant ordering examinations of Pearsons four children for evidence of any physical maltreatment, injuries or traces of toxins or drugs not prescribed by the childrens doctors, Alan said.

Weeks earlier, around 9:30 p.m. on March 4, police were called to the couples rented house for a death investigation, according to Madison police records.

Pearsons four children  ages 7, 2, 1 and an infant  were at the residence at the time of the mans death, which was from a drug overdose, according to the oldest childs father, Kenn Goldsby. He said police told him that his daughter alerted Weaver to the mans condition after she noticed he had a bloody nose.

Neither Madison police nor the Dane County Medical Examiners Office would identify the dead man or confirm that he died from an overdose.

Goldsby and Pearsons mother, Cynthia Pearson, questioned why the children werent removed from the house after police discovered the body. How is that possible? Goldsby said. I didnt find out about the dead body until after the overdose (involving Pearson and Weaver) happened.

Goldsby said his daughter has been living with him, while Cynthia Pearson said her daughters three youngest children are in protective custody.

Brittany Pearson and Weaver have been evicted from the Hammersley Road house, which they were renting at a reduced rate, because of the incidents and a failure to pay rent for months, said their landlord, Bob Keller. The couple moved in last summer after Keller responded to a letter from an advocacy group asking for landlords to find a place for a homeless family, Keller said.

A criminal complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court on April 3 described deplorable living conditions at the residence that included rooms smelling of human feces, some of which was observed on floors and walls. Entrances to the home were barricaded, and there was no food in the house suitable for children, the complaint said.

The criminal complaint said that Cynthia Pearson, who discovered her daughter and Weaver overdosing and found the children, told police that the infant was covered head to toe in his own feces and the 2- and 1-year-old both had large amounts of fecal material around their buttocks and legs. The oldest child was staying with her father at the time.

But Cynthia Pearson said police strongly exaggerated her descriptions of the children in the complaint. She said the infant had a dirty diaper and the other two children were wearing pajamas and were in good spirits when she arrived.

Cynthia Pearson also claimed the house was in bad shape when her daughter moved in. She said her daughter was a functioning addict who took good care of her children and kept the house in good condition until the overdose.

Keller said the house was in good condition when the family arrived and stayed that way until recently, when it was apparent that Pearson and Weaver were fighting addiction.

It wasnt all bad, Keller said. At the beginning, (Weaver) had a good job and I thought things were going fairly well. My maintenance man said every time he had gone there he thought the place was clean.

Cynthia Pearson said she had been pleading with county and local agencies to help her daughter and her grandchildren for at least a year but got little or no response. This is what I was trying to prevent from happening, before something got worse, she said.

She expected Dane Countys Child Protective Services to step in and take the children out of the house after the man died there in March. You know how after there are so many accidents at a four-way intersection before they put up stoplights? she said. You would have thought that would have been it.

But the county is limited in what it can do by state laws that hold that parents should be able to parent and government shouldnt interfere, Dane County Human Services Director Lynn Green said.

We have very strict guidelines when we can legally intervene and what evidence we must have, Green said.

Dane County offers many early intervention and prevention programs, but parents and families must agree to take part in them, Green said.

If they dont want us in their lives we have to wait until something happens, she said.

Cynthia Pearson said her daughter, who she said nearly died twice on April 1 but was revived by an overdose-countering drug and a shock to her heart, is open about her addiction and has been seeking help for years.

She always has been told that she needs insurance or some money that she doesnt have, Cynthia Pearson said.
Chinese Company Replaces Workers With Little Orange Bots | TechTree.com

Chinese courier giant Shentong Express has cut down its reliance on humans by implementing bots. Built by Chinese company Hikvision, these tiny machines called "Little Orange" sort over 2 lakh packages per day.









Since they lack common sense, a few workers are still required to feed them packages. By scanning the barcodes, these machines drop the packages in the right chutes placed under the floor. According to the These bots incredible accuracy when sorting stuff. You don't even have to worry about charging them, as they know when to return to the charging station for power nap. Unlike us humans, these Little Orange bots can work around the clock. They never complain about the work at all.Since they lack common sense, a few workers are still required to feed them packages. By scanning the barcodes, these machines drop the packages in the right chutes placed under the floor. According to the South China Morning Post , these robots helped Shentong cut cost by half.

In the past, phone and laptop OEM Foxconn replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots. Makes us wonder how much of it makes sense in a country like China where labour is dirt cheap.

TAGS: Robots
Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are just a few examples of dozens of high-impact American entrepreneurs who have become household names. Yet, in our globalized twenty-first century economy, some of the worlds most inspiring entrepreneurs can be found beyond our borders.

Three little-known entrepreneurs in particular are shaping the emerging regions of the world in countries where many American entrepreneurs see tremendous opportunity. So, it is important that todays emerging entrepreneurs learn about the business pioneers in these once remote corners of the world  regions that recent technology has integrated into the same global economy that we all participate in.



1. Funke Opeke

These days, some of the most impactful entrepreneurs alive are leaving their mark not only outside of the U.S. but well beyond the boundaries of the developed world. Among the most remarkable of these individuals is Funke Opeke, a former Verizon executive, educated at Columbia University, who returned to her native Nigeria after living in the U.S. for decades.



Her executive position at Nitel, the countrys now defunct state-run telecommunications provider, was marred by the countrys inadequate infrastructure. Disappointed but determined, Opeke resigned from Nitel and raised over $200 million for her own company, Main One. The latter successfully established an underwater fiber-optic cable connection between Europe and Africa.



By the end of 2010, West Africa, home to some of the worlds fastest-growing economies, had its first broadband connection thanks to Main One. In turn, this has paved the way for foreign e-commerce companies to make inroads into the region while also enabling more domestic high-tech entrepreneurship: Whats really fulfilling, Opeke told a Nigerian newspaper in 2014, is when I see companies like Konga.com and Jumia.com, and educational institutions with access to the Internet, working. Clearly, we have made a difference.



The Entrepreneurial Takeaway: it is notable that Opeke was well into her forties when she left the telecommunications industry boardroom for the entrepreneurial life. The success of Main One demonstrates that, with enough vision and energy to see something through, one is never too old to establish something new.



2. Wang Chuanfu

By some metrics, China is the worlds largest economy and, by others, it is the second largest. In either case, entrepreneurs throughout the world would be wise to keep an eye on the trailblazers of Chinese enterprise. Among the most impressive of these is Wang Chuanfu, the son of farmers who climbed the entrepreneurial ladder to become Chinas wealthiest person.



In 1995, the 29-year-old chemist caught the entrepreneurial bug. Starting with the equivalent of $500,000 raised from family and friends, he left a steady job at a research institute to co-found BYD (Build Your Dream). BYD soon proved that sound engineering, coupled with low-cost labor, could produce cell phone batteries for a price that would extend the Chinese cell phone market beyond the elite to the countrys rapidly expanding middle class.



Notably, BYD gained efficiencies by replacing the expensive automated factory with a lower-tech assembly method involving only one robot and six hundred people. By 2003, BYD had laid claim to almost half of the global mobile phone battery market and began making aggressive forays into the automotive industry, where it is now one of the largest manufacturers of electric vehicles.



To illustrate, in recent years, both the City of London and Long Beach, California have made large purchases of electric buses from BYD. BYDs success in multiple industries attracted a $232 billion from Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway in 2008. Today, Chuanfu, the man described by Berkshires Vice Chairman Charlie Munger as a combination of Thomas Edison and Jack Welch, is estimated to be worth roughly $5 billion.



The Entrepreneurial Takeaway: Chuanfu did not so much invent something new as devise less expensive ways of producing existing products. Like many successful entrepreneurs, he did not reinvent the wheel. Instead, he came up with significant efficiency improvements and had the tenacity to bring those improvements to the market.



3. Marcos Galperin

In 1999, a 28-year-old Argentinean was completing his MBA at Stanford and attending a guest lecture presented by John Muse, a private equity professional from Dallas. When Muse concluded his presentation, Marcos Galperin offered to drive him to the airport. Along the way, Galperin sold Muse on his vision for an eBay-like auction platform targeted squarely at the Latin American market.



By the time they reached the airport, Galperins MercadoLibre had a commitment of seed capital from Hicks, Muse, Tate, & Furst. By May of 2000, the Buenos Aires-based technology startup had raised over $50 million from the likes of JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, General Electric, and Spains Banco Santander. Once the site went live, responding to the feedback of its users, Galperin shifted MercadoLibre from auctions to more of a fixed-priced model.



Initially, MercadoLibre launched in Argentina and Mexico and MercadoLivre, a Portuguese version, in Brazil. Today, the brand is wildly popular in those countries as well as Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Portugal. The company generates over $650 million in annual revenue and Galperins net worth currently exceeds $1 billion.



The Entrepreneurial Takeaway: The story of MercadoLibre is one of boldness and focus. How many people would have been bold enough to offer to drive a guest lecturer to the airport and then pitch an idea along the way? On top of that, Galperin had a very clear vision of what he was building and what he intended to accomplish with it long before MercadoLibre ever went live.

Opeke, Chuanfu, and Galperin all took the initiative to identify and address an important unmet need in their respective countries. These were all enormous challenges that few people have the energy and persistence to resolve successfully. That is why these entrepreneurs are just as inspirational as the iconic entrepreneurs that we all know. As Marcos Galperin likes to say, think big and execute!

About the Author

Joe Carlen is the co-founder of Value Guards, LLC and a practitioner of business valuation, patent valuation, and market assessment. He is the author of A Brief History of Entrepreneurship: The Pioneers, Profiteers, and Racketeers Who Shaped Our World. For more information, please visit, www.value-guards.com and connect with him on LinkedIn, www.linkedin.com/in/jcarlen

Edited by Alicia Young
University of Wisconsin System leaders are asking the Legislature to change how proposed new higher education funding in the next state budget would be distributed, saying the Board of Regents  not lawmakers  should write the rules for dividing that money among UW campuses.

Their idea would be a major shift from Gov. Scott Walkers 2017-19 budget, which laid out a detailed plan for distributing $42.5 million in new funding for UW based on how campuses ranked against one another in a series of metrics meant to gauge their performance.

System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said Thursday that letting the Board of Regents decide how to measure UW institutions would be more effective.

The devil is in the details when you start trying to figure out how to tie the distribution of dollars to these metrics, Blank wrote in a blog post. To do this right  without unforeseen and negative consequences  requires some real thought and some knowledge of the UW System schools and how they operate.

It remains to be seen, though, whether lawmakers will defer to UW on how to spend the proposed new money, or if they will look to keep strings attached to that funding.

Walkers budget includes a plan that would measure universities on 18 performance criteria, including graduation rates, the number of degrees awarded in high-demand fields and how long it takes students to get a degree. The Regents would have limited authority  they would write two of the performance measures, and would also determine how much each position in the rankings would be worth.

Under a plan Cross described Thursday during testimony before the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, the Regents would define all of the performance metrics  based around general areas such as affordability and efficiency  and decide how to distribute the $42.5 million in Walkers budget.

Rather than giving campuses money based on how they rank against one another, Cross said, the Regents could measure UW schools against peer institutions or against their prior performance in that category, in an effort to reward both excellence and improvement.

Those rules would be sent to the Legislature for review next spring, he said.

Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the governors plan lays out reasonable metrics to ensure students are getting what they expect.

Because all of Wisconsin has an interest in the performance of public higher education, the metrics should be set independently from the UW System, Evenson said when asked about the proposal by Cross and Blank.

Tailored approach sought

Researchers who study so-called performance-based funding, also known as outcomes-based funding, have cautioned against using the same funding criteria to measure different types of universities.

Cross and Blank echoed that concern. Since there is a wide range of UW institutions  from the large, selective, research university in Madison to smaller comprehensive campuses  they argued performance metrics should be tailored to the universities roles.

We cannot promote or incentivize innovation well if we create a one-size-fits-all set of metrics, Cross told lawmakers. That would homogenize our System and the diversity of our institutions, and ultimately make them all look alike.

Madison and Parkside will never be the same, nor should they.

Cross said institutions should instead be able to choose which metrics they would be graded on, noting the Wisconsin Technical College System uses similar rules in its performance funding model. He acknowledged, however, that could open the door to universities only measuring themselves on criteria they know will make them look good, though he suggested the Regents could address that by making some categories mandatory.

Thats something we have to work on and figure out, Cross said.

Will Legislature support?

A question from committee chairman Rep. David Murphy, R-Greenville, hinted at potential barriers the UW officials proposal might face.

Murphy noted that the Board of Regents has always had the power to implement a performance-based funding system but hasnt  so some might question whether lawmakers should rely on the board to do so now, he said.

Theres a different approach within the board, and a sense of embracing this, Cross responded. We believe this is an area where we need to improve.

Murphy said after the hearing that he is open to finding a compromise between the prescriptive plan in the governors budget and UWs call for greater authority.

A performance funding plan could be passed off to the Regents with some guidelines from the Legislature, Murphy said.

I think thats certainly a possible path, he said.

Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, said he supported letting UW leaders write the funding rules, since lawmakers would have a chance to review them. More broadly, though, Hebl questioned whether legislators should take such an active role in UWs rules given the declining funding for higher education in recent state budgets.

The funding (UW gets) from the state is really a very small portion of what the cost is for university operations, he said, so the idea of us in the Legislature micromanaging the university system is something thats alien to me  I dont like that idea.
An Easter egg hunt held each spring at the Governors Mansion has been canceled because of threats to the security of Gov. Scott Walker and the public, according to an email sent Thursday afternoon from first lady Tonette Walker.

The hunt was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Walkers Maple Bluff home but was called off on Thursday due to a threat toward top government officials as law enforcement in the area and across the country continue to search for a Janesville man who allegedly stole a cache of guns and wrote an anti-government manifesto threatening public officials.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause due to the short notice, the Walkers wrote in an email from Tonette Walkers official email account.

We are sad to miss what is one of our favorite events at the Executive Residence.

Joseph Jakubowski, 32, has been missing since April 4  the day police say he stole the guns and mailed a 161-page letter to the White House threatening government officials.

The FBI on Tuesday doubled its reward to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the fugitive in the nationwide manhunt.

A criminal complaint filed in Rock County Circuit Court on Tuesday charges Jakubowski with burglary, felony theft and possession of burglary tools after he allegedly broke into Armageddon Supply in Janesville and stole 18 guns before setting his vehicle on fire.

According to a portion of the alleged manifesto obtained by Milwaukee television station WTMJ-TV, the fugitive called for spilling the blood of government officials.

Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the hunt has been held for several decades and has been canceled one other time during Walkers tenure as governor because of snowy weather.
The world's largest forest must be protected through a coordinated, efficient, and active process, President Nicolas Maduro stressed. | Read More
The state will pay federal authorities nearly $7 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by making false claims about its food stamp program.

The Department of Health Services has agreed to pay $6.99 million in federal penalties over allegations that it received monetary bonuses it was not entitled to because the agency falsely claimed it had a low rate of errors in administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Andersons office.

DHS spokeswoman Julie Lund said the agencys settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice relates to practices adopted by DHS in 2009 under former Gov. Jim Doyles administration, related to determining FoodShare eligibility, that were identified by staff as unallowable in 2011 after Gov. Scott Walker took office and changed soon after.

DHS officials admitted as part of the federal settlement that beginning in 2008 the agency used a South Dakota-based consulting firm owned by Julie Osnes, a former South Dakota Social Services food stamp administrator, to review cases in which a person received or was denied benefits in error.

At that time, DHS staff followed the guidance of a well-known and widely used consulting company, in an effort to reduce error rates, Lund said. In 2011, new leadership at DHS recognized the issues with the outcome-driven methods, and took steps to end these practices. DHS leadership explicitly disavowed the unallowable practices, and held remedial trainings to ensure staff use proper procedures, several years before the (Food and Nutrition Service) audit.

Under Osnes advice, DHS officials discouraged food stamp beneficiaries from cooperating with information requests; selectively applied requirements and policies to overturn and reduce errors; asked food stamp beneficiaries leading questions to obtain desired answers to eliminate error potential; arbitrated differences with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which coordinates SNAP; scrutinized error cases with the goal of getting them dropped; and omitted information in documents sent to the USDA, according to Andersons office.

The practices improperly decreased the agencys reported error rate and therefore the agency received performance bonuses for 2009, 2010 and 2011 that it did not earn honestly, according to Andersons office. The USDA pays bonuses to states that report low and improved error rates.

Lund said the agency received about $6 million in bonuses each year between 2009 and 2011, but that the amount also reflects new practices adopted in 2011 that did not violate federal law. The agency also received a bonus in 2012, she said.

The investigation was conducted by the USDA and Andersons office, prompted by a nationwide audit by the USDA.

Lund said that, after identifying the problems in 2011, the agency replaced outdated equipment and made improvements to the FoodShare eligibility system using the money received from the federal government in bonuses.

Wisconsin is the second state this month to pay millions in penalties over its administration of food stamps after using Osnes consulting firm. The Virginia Department of Social Services also agreed to pay about $7 million over similar allegations.

Osnes did not respond to a Wisconsin State Journal request for comment.

While I am deeply troubled that these actions happened within a state agency entrusted with assisting vulnerable and needy Wisconsin residents, I am heartened that WDHS has cleaned up its act and that it cooperated with our investigation, Anderson said in a statement.
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Central Fire Chief Bill Porche, Deputy Chief Charles Mondrick and District Chief Derek Glover pose with Robin Peters of Firehouse Subs today after Firehouse Subs awarded Central Fire Department a public safety grant in the amount of $30,618.00 for a new truck.
A Baton Rouge neighborhood plagued by gun violence was the scene of another shooting Thursday morning.

A 26-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the 2300 block of Jefferson Avenue, said Sgt. Don Coppola, a Baton Rouge police spokesman.

The victim was transported to a hospital around 8:30 a.m. and he is expected to survive, Coppola said.

That area has been plagued by gun violence in the last two years. Six people have been fatally shot in the blocks where North 23rd Street meets Jefferson Avenue, behind B's Seafood and Deli Convenience store in the Fairfields neighborhood.

Coppola said there may be additional patrols in that area in the future.

"Residents in the area may see an increase of marked, along with unmarked, police units patrolling the area," Coppola said. "We would like any resident with any information regarding criminal activity to contact Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867."

Neighbors said Thursday's shooting followed an argument outside the victim's house around 7:45 a.m.

Coppola said police have no information on the shooter.

The victim, who lived with his girlfriend and helped to care for his stepson, was in surgery late Thursday morning for the gunshot wounds, said Terri Spars, 51, whose brother lives on the same block. She was taking her son to school when she saw police investigating the shooting.

Spars said she often saw the victim sitting outside on his porch, and he was always friendly.

"That boy doesn't ever mess with anyone," Spars said. She said he did a good job taking care of his stepson, who is in elementary school.

But she worries about the violence in the neighborhood around her brother's house, where her 11-year-old son often walks after school.

"It's dangerous," Spars said. "We need the church to come down here and save someone.  It's getting bad."

Her family was hoping to have a gathering for Easter at her brother's home, but she said she is reconsidering the location.

"It isn't the people in the area, it is people coming through  coming from somewhere else and having problems," Spars said.
An Indianapolis-based charter school group which runs an elementary school in Baton Rouge is coming to the rescue of a larger but lower-performing charter school in town that, unless something changes soon, will close in May.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is scheduled to consider a proposal at its April 18 meeting from GEO Prep Academy to take over Baton Rouge Charter Academy at Mid City.

Large Baton Rouge charter school ordered to close in May A Florida-based for-profit charter management company that operates nine schools in Louisian

In December, BESE voted to close Baton Rouge Charter Academy at the end of the current school year. In the process, it rejected a request by the schools operator, Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Charter Schools USA, to extend its charter for another year.

Charter schools are public schools run by private organization via charters, or contracts.

Jada Lewis, the BESE representative for the area, said GEO Prep has a good track record and should be able to help advance Baton Rouge Charter academically.

I really wanted to find a solution to keep these kids together, Lewis said.

After BESEs rejection in December, Charter Schools USA sought to interest the East Baton Rouge Parish school system in taking over the schools charter. It looked like the schools nearly 700 students were going to have to find somewhere else to attend school next year.

BR charter school appeals to EBR school system to avoid closing A low-performing charter school in Baton Rouge that the state has ordered to close in May ha

Linda Johnson, president of GEO Preps board of directors, said she took notice at the December BESE meeting when she saw a room full of parents who didnt want their children to change schools.

Johnson, a former BESE president herself, said she reached out in late January to Charter Schools USA. By late March, the two sides had worked out an agreement for GEO Prep to lease Baton Rouge Mid Charters campus in the former Remington College building at 1771 N. Lobdell Blvd.

They have an extremely nice facility, Johnson said. Theyve invested a lot of time and energy in that building.

GEO Prep will have some work to do. Baton Rouge Charter Academy in Mid-City, which opened in 2013 and offers grades kindergarten to eight, has never scored above an F letter grade. Its most recent school performance score is 38 on a 150-point scale. State policy calls for closing F-rated charter schools after their fourth year, unless BESE grants a reprieve.

GEO Prep, by contrast, is in its second year of operation. It earned a C letter grade after its first year, based almost solely on how its 30 third graders performed on standardized tests. Its 77.2 school performance score is roughly double the score of Baton Rouge Charter.

Charter school group buys building for school A national charter school group has purchased a school building off Greenwell Springs Road a

GEO Prep has about 250 students in grades kindergarten to four at its 4006 Platt Drive school. It plans to add a grade each year, stopping at eighth grade.

GEO Prep has long had plans to expand beyond Platt Drive. Its agreement with BESE allows it to open two more charter schools. GEO Prep is asking BESE to amend that agreement so Baton Rouge Charter can match that schools K-8 grade configuration and so it could educate 630 students, about 200 more than allowed by GEO Preps current agreement.

Dana Peterson is set to present the item to BESE on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Education. Peterson was recently promoted to assistant state superintendent and serves as chief executive officer of the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone, a loose confederation of charter schools launched in 2012 that seeks to turn around public education in north Baton Rouge. GEO Prep is one of about a dozen schools in the zone.

Peterson said he quickly saw the value of having GEO Prep take over Baton Rouge Charter.

We started looking over their record over at GEO Prep and we thought it would be a good fit for that school, Peterson said.

He also recently visited the GEO Prep campus and said he came away impressed with what he saw.

GEO Prep is one of four schools across the country operated by GEO Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Charter Schools USA, based in Fort Lauderdale, is a for-profit educational company and is much larger. It manages 77 schools in seven states, serving more than 65,000 students. Nine of those schools are in Louisiana and three are in the metro Baton Rouge area.

Messages left Wednesday with Charter Schools USA officials were not returned.

GEO Prep's Johnson said it took some discussions to persuade Charter School USA leaders to let GEO Prep take over the school.

Im not going to tell you that Charter Schools USA was interested in losing their school, she said.

Johnson promised that, if approved, the Baton Rouge Charter would offer what GEO prep offers. That includes Core Knowledge, a knowledge-focused school curriculum that grew out of the writings of E.D. Hirsch Jr. Teachers also make use of the techniques popularized by Doug Lemov, managing director of the charter school group Uncommon Schools, in his 2010 book Teach Like A Champion. Finally, GEO Prep subscribes to the Teacher Advancement Program, or TAP, a whole school reform model developed by the Milken Family Foundation that is being used in a number of public schools in Louisiana.

All of those things require training, Johnson said.

Johnson said shes leaving personnel decisions to Sandra Douglas, our outstanding principal, who will be promoted to a supervisory position.

(Douglas) is going to oversee both schools, Johnson said. Were looking to hire a principal for our Platt Drive school and our Mid City school.
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Partisan battles over nominees pose real danger for Supreme Court, chief justice says: Robert Barnes has this article in todays edition of The Washington Post.

In todays edition of The Record of Troy, New York, Nicholas Buonanno has a front page article headlined Supreme Court Chief Justice speaks at RPI.

In todays edition of The Times Union of Albany, New York, Bethany Bump has a front page article headlined At RPI, Chief Justice says high court isnt partisan; Roberts addresses issues ranging from diversity to transparency.

Maria Espinosa of The Polytechnic, the student newspaper of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, reports that Chief justice of the United States visits RPI.

And Cristian Farias of The Huffington Post has an article headlined Neil Gorsuch Is Neither Republican Nor Democrat, Says Chief Justice Roberts; The Supreme Courts chief really, really dislikes the confirmation process.
Louisiana lawmakers on Wednesday aired their frustrations over the state's recovery from last year's historic floods and the aid that's being provided to its victims.

Chief among their complaints: A federal rule that prohibits homeowners from receiving grant assistance if they took on Small Business Administration loans that they must now pay off, and questions about what is being done to prevent a similar disaster from happening in the future.

"It's irresponsible to talk about rebuilding the community without talking about what we are going to do to prevent it from happening again," Rep. Valarie Hodges, a Denham Springs Republican whose own home flooded in August. "If we don't do something about this ... To me, it should be criminal."

The House Select Committee on Homeland Security met for more than three hours to get an in-depth update on where the recovery stands.

Louisiana has received nearly $1.7 billion in federal disaster recovery aid, the bulk of which will go toward helping homeowners rebuild. The state is in the process of setting up the homeowner assistance programs. The first construction work is expected to begin next month, said Pat Forbes, who is leading the recovery planning as the director of the Office of Community Development.

Homeowners will have the option of using a state-selected contractor for repairs, choosing their own contractor or getting reimbursed for work that they've already done.

The programs will be rolled out in phases, with the elderly and disabled in the first priority phase.

But legislators said they are concerned about people who have already taken out SBA loans to repair their homes. Because of federal aid restrictions that treat the loans as disaster assistance, the loan amount would be deducted from any grant award those homeowners may otherwise receive.

"A guy that has just retired just got on the hook for a 30 year loan and he could have qualified for something like this," said Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria. "It's just sad in my opinion."

Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, said he thinks the federal law should be changed to eliminate the quirk.

"I think our congressmen need to start working on that," Ivey said. "It doesn't make any sense to me. It's just not right."

Rep. Rogers Pope, another Denham Springs Republican whose home flooded, said he would rate the federal SBA assistance as "a colossal failure" following the flood.

"I don't think there's anywhere on the alphabet that I could give SBA a grade," he said. "It's that low."

The Wednesday hearing served as a general update from Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration on the flood response and recovery efforts.

Louisiana launches initial flood aid application process for impacted homeowners Homeowners affected by the historic floods that swept Louisiana in March and August can now 

Several of the members spoke of their own experience of that of their constituents. Leaders estimate that at least 84,900 homes were impacted by the flood that swept south Louisiana in August and an earlier flood primarily in north Louisiana last spring.

Edwards' administration is seeking an additional $2 billion in assistance from the federal government, nearly half of which would go to complete homeowner assistance programs. Forbes said that amount would need to be increased if the SBA rule were to change, to account for the additional availability of money for homeowners.

The governor is also seeking federal aid to complete projects that experts say could help prevent future floods, including the Comite River Diversion Canal project.

"This is going to happen again, if we don't do something about it," Hodges said.

Sen. Bodi White, a Central Republican who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he thinks that the state has been too slow in the recovery effort and should have a plan that kicks in when disasters happen, speeding up the process of seeking federal aid.

"We should have a master plan, 'This is what we do,'" White said. "It's not like we don't have a disaster every year in this state."

White and others questioned why the state only began taking basic information from flood-affected homeowners this week. "I feel like we could have been farther along with people in our database," White said.

Forbes said that the state only received access to the federal money with HUD's final approval this week, and state leaders didn't know exactly when that would happen. An earlier intake process, he said, could have created confusion or frustration as people waited for an undetermined amount of time.
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IEM, a North Carolina-based disaster management company, has for a second time been awarded the contract to oversee the state's $1.6 billion flood recovery plan, after previously winning and then being stripped of the contract in a botched bid process last month.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the selection Thursday morning, adding that the controversial move to scrap the first bid award would ultimately save the state money. His spokesman Richard Carbo said the second round of bids had lower labor and total cost estimates than the initial round. However, no firm estimates were provided by Thursday afternoon about what the total cost to the state would be. A copy of IEM's latest bid proposal, provided to The Advocate, was heavily redacted and contained no labor rates.

Carbo said negotiations with IEM are ongoing but the full contract would be available within the next two days.

The contractor selection comes just three days after the funds appropriated by Congress were finally made available to the state.

"It was our goal to hire a contractor that would provide quality work with rigorous oversight at the most cost savings for the people of Louisiana," Edwards said in a statement. "IEM has made that commitment to the state, and I am personally going to hold them to it. This is a difficult process, and sometimes takes longer than anyone, including me, would like, but I do believe it's important for us to get this right."

Last month, the state voided a contract solicitation that yielded five bids to run the flood recovery program. IEM was initially selected as the contractor with a contract of $250 million, but was later disqualified after the State Licensing Board of Contractors ruled that IEM and two other companies did not have the proper licenses in place.

The decision came under scrutiny, The Advocate reported, because the attorney who advised the state licensing board has a son who worked for the employers of the third-placed bidders. That company, SLS, did have the proper licenses.

State officials said restarting the solicitation was necessary because of the widespread confusion over what licenses were required, and because the bids all came in higher than officials had estimated.

The contractor selection snafu fueled intense criticism from some members of the state's Congressional delegation, such as U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy.

Graves has attacked Edwards in recent weeks, saying the state was left unprepared to administer the federal allocation because a contractor had not yet been selected.

The $1.6 billion Congressional appropriation to Louisiana's flood victims was made available to the state on Monday. The state is still surveying victims for eligibility, and those interested in participating in the program can complete a survey at restore.la.gov. Edwards' team has been adamant that the state's timeline for recovery has been unaffected by the process of selecting a contractor.

Robert Bruno, an attorney for IEM said their team is ready to hit the ground running.

"We were ready to start work a month ago," Bruno said. "We're ready to roll and we understand the staffing needs. We understand every aspect of the procedure. We really feel like our main goal is to get people back in their houses."

IEM filed suit last month after the contract award was revoked, challenging the licensing board's decision.

Bruno said he expects that lawsuit will be dropped.

Tim Barfield, a manager with PDRM, the company which filed the complaint about IEM's licensing in the first round, declined comment.

IEM was founded in Baton Rouge, but later relocated. After Hurricane Sandy, IEM helped manage a $1 billion recovery housing program in New York, where it disbursed $100 million for reconstruction and repairs in the first two months. The company also worked as a subcontractor for Louisiana's Road Home Program after Hurricane Katrina.
Facing a raft of civil lawsuits, Will Smith's convicted killer this week filed his own suit against the former Saints player's widow and another man his attorney has portrayed as the fatal incident's primary instigator.

Cardell Hayes on Monday filed a lawsuit in Orleans Parish Civil District Court seeking damages from Racquel Smith, whom he wounded and whose husband he gunned down; Richard Hernandez; and their insurance companies.

Racquel Smith and Hernandez had sued Hayes on Friday. Hernandez's wife and brother-in-law had filed similar suits against Hayes before that.

Hayes' lawsuit claims the insurance companies, Hernandez and Racquel Smith  as the manager of her late husband's estate  owe him damages for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Hayes' lawsuit offers a version of events that is similar to the one he asserted at the trial in December where he was found guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.

According to Hayes' suit, after Will Smith had drinks at the French Quarter Festival, Barcadia and Sake Cafe on April 9, 2016, Smith drove Racquel Smith, Richard Hernandez and Hernandez's wife  Rebecca Dooley  in his Mercedes-Benz SUV down Magazine Street.

Will Smith hit the back of Hayes' Hummer as Hayes slowed for traffic but then drove away without checking on whether he had caused any damage, the lawsuit alleges.

Hayes' suit says he and a passenger followed the Mercedes in an effort to jot down its license plate number. Smith then "slammed" on his brakes on nearby Sophie Wright Place, and Hayes inadvertently rammed into the back of the Mercedes, the lawsuit says.

The Mercedes was pushed into an Impala being driven by Dooley's brother, Jonathan Whipple.

The lawsuit says Hernandez then took off his shirt and charged at Hayes while screaming profanities. The lawsuit also accuses Hernandez of wrapping a shiny object in his T-shirt and twice swinging unsuccessfully at Hayes.

+2 Will Smith companion sues ex-Saint's widow, convicted killer for damages A member of Will Smith's group of friends on the night the former Saints player was slain la

Meanwhile, Will Smith threw "his entire alcoholic beverage" at Hayes' face and punched him, according to the lawsuit. A toxicology test found the ex-Super Bowl champion's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, the suit notes.

The lawsuit doesn't mention that Hayes eventually fired a gun nine times after the angry confrontation. One bullet struck Racquel Smith in both legs. Will Smith died after being hit by eight rounds  seven of them to his back.

Hernandez soon hopped into a taxi and fled the scene by himself.

Hayes was later charged with murder and attempted murder. At his trial he claimed he fired in self-defense. Prosecutors countered that the evidence recovered by investigators didn't support important aspects of his story.

Jurors ultimately convicted Hayes of the lesser offenses of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter, though they acquitted him of a charge of criminal damage to property, pertaining to Smith's Mercedes. He faces between 20 and 60 years in prison when he is sentenced, tentatively scheduled for later this month.

For most cases in Louisiana, there is a 12-month deadline to file a lawsuit seeking civil damages. But because the one-year anniversary of the shooting fell on a Sunday, attorney John Fuller said Hayes had until Monday to file his lawsuit.
DA: N.O.'s lessened marijuana penalty is 'stupid' legislation; users, dealers will flock to city

DA: New Orleans' lessened marijuana penalty is 'stupid' legislation; users, dealers will flock to city
Effective management of expectations is fundamental to political success. It is counterproductive, if not fatal, to create expectations and then fail to deliver. This was certainly the defining aspect of Barack Obama's presidency. It is a principal reason for the collapse in Malcolm Turnbull's standing in the polls.

However, as obvious as this may be, our politicians seem incapable of learning the lesson. They are all too anxious to grab an issue, raising the expectations that they can "solve it".

Treasurer Scott Morrison is especially concerned about Australians such as teachers and nurses who we need to live in the cities they serve but who are having trouble keeping up. Credit:Jessica Hromas

An excellent example is housing affordability. Gladys Berejiklian has sought to make it the hallmark of her premiership. Scott Morrison is happy to make it the focus of his budget this year. Yet, realistically, they can only hope, at best, to make a marginal improvement in the crisis, although admitting it as a crisis may allow them to do somewhat more than would otherwise have been the case.

The housing stock is $6.5 trillion, nine million homes. Demand has consistently outstripped supply, so house prices in Sydney and Melbourne have run away to the point that many younger Australians can't afford to buy a home and also face a difficult rental market.
Our job is not to sanitise what's going on in the world, but to inform, both about what's wonderful about our pale blue dot and also what's not.

It was not an image that would have brightened readers' breakfast experience, but I encouraged her to do so.

Last Friday morning our Saturday newspaper editor Margaret Easterbrook asked me what I thought of publishing on our front page this harrowing picture of a desperate Somali boy ravaged by hunger being weighed next to his distraught mother.

I was at school when Bob Geldof turned the world's attention to the disastrous famine in Ethiopia in the mid-80s, while the extraordinary photograph of the dying young girl with a vulture standing a few metres behind her taken in Sudan in 1993 is an image I will never forget.

As it turned out, we didn't publish the picture of the starving boy on the front of the paper because Donald Trump ordered the bombing of a Syrian military base.

The bombing was an act that the Australian Prime Minister - and The Age - supported, but put the world on edge.

Matt Wade's story about the crippling poverty and malnutrition in Somalia instead ran in our Insight pages and at the top of the homepage once interest in the Syrian bombing subsided a little.

The situation in Somalia is critical after three years of drought, and none of the four African regions either in or on the verge of famine receive the attention they deserve or need.
The Queensland government needs to "get competent" and submit a proper application for disaster relief funding for farmers and small businesses hit by Cyclone Debbie, acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says.

Tensions have escalated between the state and federal governments after the latter rejected a request for category C funding - which gives affected farmers access to payments of up to $25,000 - saying the application form did not include the correct information.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has insisted the information was being gathered by officials, and Mr Joyce had previously assured her the funding would be given the green light.

But Mr Joyce on Thursday accused the Premier and her deputy of acting like "smart alecs", and suggested they spent too much time giving "a thousand and one" press conferences instead of properly completing the critical paperwork.
The former senior member of the Hawke and Keating Labor governments also called on the government to put "more bucks" into defence spending, potentially including nuclear-powered submarines, to be more self-reliant.

Mr Evans labelled Mr Trump as "manifestly the most ill-informed, under-prepared, ethically challenged and psychologically ill-equipped president in US history".

Former foreign minister Gareth Evans has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, urging Australia to reduce its dependence on the US alliance and accept China as a legitimate "global rule maker".

"Less United States does not mean walking away from the alliance, from which we, of course, profoundly benefit in terms of access to intelligence and high-end armaments," Mr Evans, now Australian National University chancellor, said in the speech to the National Press Club on Thursday.

Former foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has some choice words for President Donald Trump. Credit:Evan Vucci

"But less reflexive support for everything the US chooses to do is long overdue."

Mr Evans said Australia's support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the immediate backing of last week's American missile strikes against Syria were examples where Australia had been too quick to back the US.

"My own experience strongly suggests that periodically saying 'no' to the US when our national interests are manifestly different makes for a much healthier and [more] productive relationship, [rather] than one of craven dependence," Mr Evans said.
Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, recently overtook master investor Warren Buffett on the "richest person in the world" list, to now be second only to Bill Gates.

To be fair to Buffett (not that he cares), he's slipped a few places because he's given billions away to charity. Regardless, Bezos' rise  on the back of Amazon's astonishing and continued success  is extraordinary. So, when reports surface that Amazon is apparently due in Australia by the end of next year, people take notice.

Costco has grabbed a 1 per cent share of the grocery business. Credit:Michael Clayton Jones

Humans notice the big, the new and the flashy. And while Amazon will undoubtedly make a splash when it arrives  and thereafter  one of the most significant challenges is already here, in the form of Costco.

Yes, Aldi gets all the press in the grocery sector, and for good reason, but Woolies and Coles should, and I'm sure do, have their eyes firmly on the US-based warehouse store chain, Costco.
Police searching for a 19-year-old woman who disappeared on a bushwalk in the Royal National Park have found a body at the base of a cliff on Thursday morning.

Sydney woman Shazia Edah-Tally and her boyfriend set out on Wednesday along the track from Bundeena towards Wedding Cake Rock, a scenic and popular viewing point about four kilometres south along the cliff-top walking track.

Ms Edah-Tally's boyfriend phoned police just before 5pm that day to say he had become separated from his girlfriend during the afternoon, and she had not returned to their nominated meeting point.
Donations to the Cyclone Debbie appeal have come in at $2.8 million so far, a small drop in the ocean compared to the 2011 floods.

Figures provided to Fairfax Media show only $2.8 million has been donated to charity since the appeal was promoted two weeks ago, starting with a $1 million donation from the Queensland government.

Donations for the Cyclone Debbie and flooding appeal have reached $2.8 million. Credit:Jorge Branco

GIVIT has provided 20,093 items to impacted communities and 28,931 items were available to be matched with needy people.

But in 2011, more than $100 million was raised for the Premier's disaster relief appeal within six days of the Brisbane River peaking on January 13 - including $31 million from everyday Australians. It launched in December 2010.
RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Richie said traffic had been building early on Thursday afternoon as holidaymakers made their way to the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast for the four-day weekend.

"Traffic is going to be very slow, probably from this afternoon into tomorrow morning as people head off on their Easter long weekends," she said.

Holiday traffic: the RACQ said people should pack their patience when heading north or south on the long weekend. Credit:Andy Zakeli

"Everyone's got the same idea, we're already starting to see traffic build on the M1 on the Gold Coast.
Beleaguered pastry chain Pie Face has been bought by petrol and convenience company United Petroleum.

United announced on Thursday it had acquired the intellectual property and retail network of Pie Face for an undisclosed sum.

Pie Face has been sold to United Petroleum. Credit:Justin McManus

Founded in 2003 by former Wall Street banker Wayne Homschek and interior designer Betty Fong, Pie Face had taken on Australia, the US and Singapore. Store openings were planned for the Middle East, Japan, Korea and the Philippines.

But its collapse in 2014 left a trail of destruction, with 20 stores closing and 130 part-time employees losing their jobs.
Announced over a year ago, the HP Elite X3 took its time coming to market. It's an ambitious "three in one", a phone, laptop and desktop replacement, with enough power to accomplish most regular tasks in any configuration.

As a phone, the Elite X3 is a beast of a device. It's a big, beautiful object, bearing the new (awesome) death metal HP logo. The company has lifted its design game over the past few years, and this product is one of the better looking devices on the market. The chrome encased screen comes in at just under 15cm, with a stunning 2k display, flanked by Bang and Olufsen speakers. Inside, the X3 comes with 64GB onboard storage and 4GB RAM, making it a powerhouse with no expense spared. There's a choice of fingerprint or iris scanner to keep data safe.

A long time coming, but worth the wait.

The Elite X3 can be bought with a desktop dock ($1199 as a starter kit). This provides power, an ethernet connection, display port adaptor and three USB ports, to morph the phone into a desktop workstation.

And it doesn't just want to replace your desktop. The third leg in this three-in-one design is a laptop "dock". It's actually just a laptop shell: monitor, battery and keyboard. The brains of the unit is still inside the handset. You connect to the "laptop" wirelessly, or via USB-C. The wireless connection is solid, I was happily tapping away at the keyboard with the X3 tucked away in my bag. It makes for a good looking, svelte machine, with a comfortable keyboard. Battery drains pretty quickly when connected wirelessly, though, so I wish there was an easier way to lock the device into the shell.
Beirut: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has broken his silence over a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed scores of civilians, describing it as a "fabrication" to justify American military action.

In a combative Agence France-Presse interview subject to strict restrictions by the Syrian regime, Dr Assad dismissed photographs and video footage that moved President Donald Trump to launch retaliatory strikes on a Syrian air base. He insisted that his government would never use banned weapons.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists," Dr Assad told the news agency. "They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

The comments were Dr Assad's fullest since the April 4 chemical assault on the north-western town of Khan Sheikhoun. According to victims, rescue workers and monitoring groups, it took place shortly after 6am, killing more than 80 people and causing hundreds more to convulse, choke and foam at the mouth.




NEW YORK

April 12, 2017

-- Thewas declared theat a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and Autoneum.

This is the second consecutive World Green Car win for Toyota Motor Corporation. The Toyota Mirai won last year's World Green Car title.

Jack Hollis, Group VP and General Manager of Toyota division commented, "It is a great honor to have both the Prius Prime and C-HR nominated for World Car of the Year awards. For global automakers like Toyota, consideration for this award is a testament to our focus on developing products that both stir the emotions and meet the mobility needs of our customers in all corners of the world."

Toyota Motor Corporation is no stranger to the World Car Awards program  now in its 13th year.

The Toyota Prius previously earned "Top Three in the World" status in 2010 for both the World Green Car and the overall World Car of the Year categories. The Toyota GT86 was a "Top Three in the World" finalist for 2013 World Car of the Year; the Toyota iQ in 2009 for the same category and the Toyota Harrier Hybrid for 2006 World Green Car.

The TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME was chosen from an initial entry list of 12 new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced in Geneva: the Chevrolet Bolt, the Tesla Model X and the Toyota Prius Prime.

To be eligible for the 2017 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new, or substantially revised, in production and introduced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending May 31, 2017. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

Vehicles in all award categories are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 75 top-level automotive journalists from 23 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulates the jurors' ballots.

Previous World Green Car winners were: Toyota Mirai (2016), BMWi8 (2015) and the BMW i3 (2014), then the Tesla Model S (2013), the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (2012), the Chevrolet Volt (2011), the Volkswagen BlueMotion (2010), the Honda FCX Clarity (2009), the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics (2008), the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (2007) and the Honda Civic Hybrid (2006).

The Road to World Car began in Paris on September 29, was followed by test-drives in Los Angeles in November, continued in Geneva with the Top Three in the World announcement, and finally ended today with the declaration of the winners in six categories at the New York International Auto Show.

2017 marks the 11th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New York show, and the fourth consecutive year that the World Car Awards have retained their ranking as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented annually by Prime Research and Autoneum, was also released today.The report is the culmination of research and insights across the past six months. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "The auto industry is in the midst of an upheaval that goes far beyond anything it has experienced in the past 100 years. Emerging industry trends such as autonomous driving, electric mobility and connected cars are changing not only vehicles and their technologies but also their concepts and forms. As the market leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, Autoneum today already offers a large variety of multifunctional and lightweight technologies and components to meet the requirements of modern mobility. With our recently established "Competence Center for New Mobility" in Sunnyvale, California, Autoneum is taking a committed and active role in driving vehicle advancement by developing innovative technologies and components for all forms of mobility."

World Car of the Year is more than just an awards program. The World Car community brings together a large cross section of experts and professionals from every segment of the automotive industry. World Car connects the global industry around the very best of today and inspires, with insights, the ideas and trends of tomorrow. Thus defining The Road Ahead platform shared with our presenting partners Bridgestone Corporation, Prime Research, Autoneum and, most recently, Brembo.

"As the world's largest tire and rubber company, we are proud to partner with the World Car program for the 9th consecutive year," said Mike Martini, president, original equipment tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "This is an important forum for leaders in the automotive industry to celebrate achievements in innovation, performance and sustainability. As new mobility preferences emerge, we must continue to collaborate across our industry to deliver cutting-edge technology and world-class products that meet the needs of a changing global customer base."

In a rapidly changing automotive world, Brembo is also focused firmly on the future and the vehicles it will bring to market. Brembo is committing significant resources to perfecting ever more sophisticated virtual simulation methodologies that includes the study of forms, materials, technologies and surface treatments able to meet the needs of the new-generation vehicles, with a particular focus on environmental impact aspects, which drives all of Brembo's development activities.

As the global nature of the industry continues to strengthen, and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, World Car is proud to be a part of this amazing journey along with the New York International Auto Show, Prime Research, Autoneum, Brembo, Bridgestone Corporation, KPMG and Newspress  our official media partner.

For additional information either visit our web site (www.wcoty.com).

About World Car Awards

Now in their 13th year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the fourth consecutive year based on Prime Research's 2016 media report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.

The awards are administered by a not-for-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee: Peter Lyon (chair  Japan), Jens Meiners (vice-chair  Germany), Mike Rutherford (vice-chair  UK), Tamara Warren (director  USA), Siddarth Patankar (director  India) and Gerry Malloy (director  Canada and president, WCOTY Association)

About the New York International Auto Show

Owned and operated by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the New York Auto Show is an awesome combination of new ideas, technological innovation, exceptional concept cars and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks. Over one million visitors are expected to visit the show this year to see what is truly possible from the automotive industry.

Important 2017 Auto Show Dates



Press Preview, April 12 & 13 (credentials required)

Public Sneak Preview, Friday, April 14

Public Show Dates, Friday, April 14  Sunday, April 23, 2017

THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR:

BEGAN IN PARIS SEPT. 29, 2016. ENDED IN NEW YORK APRIL 13, 2017.

FOLLOW OUR 70+ INTERNATIONAL JURORS : wcoty.com #wcoty










NEW YORK

April 12, 2017

-- Thewas declared the 2017 World Car Design of the Year today at a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and Autoneum.

This is a second design award for Jaguar. The Jaguar F-Type previously won the World Car Design of the Year award in 2013.

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar, said: "The F-PACE is our first ever SUV but it is clearly recognisable as a Jaguar and for it to win the 2017 World Car Design of the Year trophy vindicates our decision to bring our unique design principles and dynamic qualities to a new sector of the market."

The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, are meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.

Candidates for the design award may be on the overall World Car of the Year list OR may be included as a stand-alone entry provided the vehicle is available in quantities of at least 10 in one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending May 31, 2017. Candidates may be pre-production or all-new production.

A design panel consisting of six highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors. The design experts were:

Masatsugu Arimoto (Japan  Freelance design journalist)

Anne Asensio (Vice-President, Design - Dassault Systemes)

Gernot Bracht (Germany  Pforzheim Design School)

Patrick le Quement (Designer and President of the Strategy Committee, Sustainable Design School)

Sam Livingstone (U.K. - Car Design Research and Royal College of Art)

Tom Matano (USA - School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco)

The experts commented that, "The design of the F-PACE is both sensuous and expressive. It maintains the visual link with recent models of the brand, whose expressive pitch has leant towards low road hugging proportions. It is a stand alone attraction when parked on the curb side next to any of its contemporaries."

The 75 World Car Awards jurors then voted on the expert's recommendations in February and their ballots were tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.

A short-list of three finalists was then announced earlier this month at the Geneva International Motor Show in March: the Jaguar F-PACE, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet and the Toyota C-HR

Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the Mazda MX-5 (2016), the Citroen C4 Cactus (2015), the BMW i3 (2014), the Jaguar F-Type(2013) , the Range Rover Evoque (2012), the Aston Martin Rapide (2011), the Chevrolet Camaro (2010), the Fiat 500 (2009), the Audi R8 (2008), the Audi TT (2007) and the Citroen C4 (2006).

The Road to World Car began in Paris on September 29, was followed by test-drives in Los Angeles in November, continued in Geneva with the Top Three in the World announcement, and finally ended today with the declaration of the winners in six categories at the New York International Auto Show.

2017 marks the 11th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New York show, and the fourth consecutive year that the World Car Awards have retained their ranking as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented annually by Prime Research and Autoneum, was also released today. The report is the culmination of research and insights across the past six months. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "The auto industry is in the midst of an upheaval that goes far beyond anything it has experienced in the past 100 years. Emerging industry trends such as autonomous driving, electric mobility and connected cars are changing not only vehicles and their technologies but also their concepts and forms. As the market leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, Autoneum today already offers a large variety of multifunctional and lightweight technologies and components to meet the requirements of modern mobility. With our recently established "Competence Center for New Mobility" in Sunnyvale, California, Autoneum is taking a committed and active role in driving vehicle advancement by developing innovative technologies and components for all forms of mobility."

World Car of the Year is more than just an awards program. The World Car community brings together a large cross section of experts and professionals from every segment of the automotive industry. World Car connects the global industry around the very best of today and inspires, with insights, the ideas and trends of tomorrow. Thus defining The Road Ahead platform shared with our presenting partners Bridgestone Corporation, Prime Research, Autoneum and, most recently, Brembo.

"As the world's largest tire and rubber company, we are proud to partner with the World Car program for the 9th consecutive year," said Mike Martini, president, original equipment tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "This is an important forum for leaders in the automotive industry to celebrate achievements in innovation, performance and sustainability. As new mobility preferences emerge, we must continue to collaborate across our industry to deliver cutting-edge technology and world-class products that meet the needs of a changing global customer base."

In a rapidly changing automotive world, Brembo is also focused firmly on the future and the vehicles it will bring to market. Brembo is committing significant resources to perfecting ever more sophisticated virtual simulation methodologies that includes the study of forms, materials, technologies and surface treatments able to meet the needs of the new-generation vehicles, with a particular focus on environmental impact aspects, which drives all of Brembo's development activities.

As the global nature of the industry continues to strengthen, and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, World Car is proud to be a part of this amazing journey along with the New York International Auto Show, Prime Research, Autoneum, Brembo, Bridgestone Corporation, KPMG and Newspress  our official media partner.

For additional information visit our web site (www.wcoty.com).

About World Car Awards

Now in their 13th year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the fourth consecutive year based on Prime Research's 2016 media report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.

The awards are administered by a not-for-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee: Peter Lyon (chair  Japan), Jens Meiners (vice-chair  Germany), Mike Rutherford (vice-chair  UK), Tamara Warren (director  USA), Siddarth Patankar (director  India) and Gerry Malloy (director  Canada and president, WCOTY Association)

About the New York International Auto Show

Owned and operated by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the New York Auto Show is an awesome combination of new ideas, technological innovation, exceptional concept cars and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks. Over one million visitors are expected to visit the show this year to see what is truly possible from the automotive industry.

Important 2017 Auto Show Dates

Press Preview, April 12 & 13(credentials required)

Public Sneak Preview, Friday, April 14

Public Show Dates, Friday, April 14  Sunday, April 23, 2017

THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR:

BEGAN IN PARIS SEPT. 29, 2016. ENDED IN NEW YORK APRIL 13, 2017.

FOLLOW OUR 70+ INTERNATIONAL JURORS: wcoty.com #wcoty
Mercedes-Benz - 2017 World Luxury Car

NEW YORK - April 12, 2017: At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and Autoneum, the MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS was declared the 2017 World Luxury Car. This is the 3rd World Luxury Car win for Mercedes-Benz having captured today's title, plus two back-to-back titles in 2015 (Mercedes-Benz S-Coupe) and 2014 (Mercedes-Benz S-Class).







Mercedes-Benz made history in 2015 with a triple win in three out of five categories: World Car of the Year (C-Class), World Luxury Car (S-Coupe) and the World Performance Car (AMG GT).

The company has also won two World Green Car awards: 2012 (S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY) and 2007 (Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec) in 2007.

This year's winner was chosen from an initial entry list of nine prestigious cars from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced in Geneva last month: the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the Volvo S90 / V90.

Vehicles in all award categories are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 75 top-level automotive journalists from 23 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulates the jurors' ballots.

Previous World Luxury Car winners were the BMW 7 Series (2016), the Mercedes-Benz S Coupe (2015) and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2014). The award was first created in 2014 to acknowledge higher-priced premium models selling in more limited numbers worldwide.

The Road to World Car began in Paris on September 29, was followed by test-drives in Los Angeles in November, continued in Geneva with the Top Three in the World announcement, and finally ended today with the declaration of the winners in six categories at the New York International Auto Show.

2017 marks the 11th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New York show, and the fourth consecutive year that the World Car Awards have retained their ranking as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented annually by Prime Research and Autoneum, was also released today.The report is the culmination of research and insights across the past six months. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "The auto industry is in the midst of an upheaval that goes far beyond anything it has experienced in the past 100 years. Emerging industry trends such as autonomous driving, electric mobility and connected cars are changing not only vehicles and their technologies but also their concepts and forms. As the market leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, Autoneum today already offers a large variety of multifunctional and lightweight technologies and components to meet the requirements of modern mobility. With our recently established "Competence Center for New Mobility" in Sunnyvale, California, Autoneum is taking a committed and active role in driving vehicle advancement by developing innovative technologies and components for all forms of mobility."

World Car of the Year is more than just an awards program. The World Car community brings together a large cross section of experts and professionals from every segment of the automotive industry. World Car connects the global industry around the very best of today and inspires, with insights, the ideas and trends of tomorrow. Thus defining The Road Ahead platform shared with our presenting partners Bridgestone Corporation, Prime Research, Autoneum and, most recently, Brembo.

"As the world's largest tire and rubber company, we are proud to partner with the World Car program for the 9th consecutive year," said Mike Martini, president, original equipment tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "This is an important forum for leaders in the automotive industry to celebrate achievements in innovation, performance and sustainability. As new mobility preferences emerge, we must continue to collaborate across our industry to deliver cutting-edge technology and world-class products that meet the needs of a changing global customer base."

In a rapidly changing automotive world, Brembo is also focused firmly on the future and the vehicles it will bring to market. Brembo is committing significant resources to perfecting ever more sophisticated virtual simulation methodologies that includes the study of forms, materials, technologies and surface treatments able to meet the needs of the new-generation vehicles, with a particular focus on environmental impact aspects, which drives all of Brembo's development activities.

As the global nature of the industry continues to strengthen, and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, World Car is proud to be a part of this amazing journey along with the New York International Auto Show, Prime Research, Autoneum, Brembo, Bridgestone Corporation, KPMG and Newspress  our official media partner.

For additional information either visit our web site (www.wcoty.com).

About World Car Awards

Now in their 13th year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the fourth consecutive year based on Prime Research's 2016 media report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.

The awards are administered by a not-for-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee: Peter Lyon (chair  Japan), Jens Meiners (vice-chair  Germany), Mike Rutherford (vice-chair  UK), Tamara Warren (director  USA), Siddarth Patankar (director  India) and Gerry Malloy (director  Canada and president, WCOTY Association)

About the New York International Auto Show



Owned and operated by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the New York Auto Show is an awesome combination of new ideas, technological innovation, exceptional concept cars and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks. Over one million visitors are expected to visit the show this year to see what is truly possible from the automotive industry.

Important 2017 Auto Show Dates



Press Preview, April 12 & 13 (credentials required)

Public Sneak Preview, Friday, April 14

Public Show Dates, Friday, April 14  Sunday, April 23, 2017

THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR:

BEGAN IN PARIS SEPT. 29, 2016. ENDED IN NEW YORK APRIL 13, 2017.

FOLLOW OUR 70+ INTERNATIONAL JURORS : wcoty.com #wcoty










NEW YORK

April 12, 2017

-- At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and Autoneum, thewas declared the inaugural winner of the 2017 World Urban Car award.

"We are delighted and honored that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car," said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. "This award highlights BMW Group's commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW's first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fiber. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) provides more range paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world."

2017 marks the first year for the World Urban Car award. World Car vice-chairman, Mike Rutherford, commented, "It's an award whose time has come. Everyday cars in many - perhaps most - parts of the world will have to become smaller if road and parking space is to be found for them in increasingly packed towns and cities whose populations are swelling annually. This year's winner in our inaugural World Urban Car category proves that these small vehicles don't have to be cheap, undesirable and unpleasant to drive. Quite the opposite. It is among the best value-for-money products on the market."

This year's winner was chosen from an initial entry list of 7 cars from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced in Geneva last month: the BMW i3 (94 Ah), the Citroen C3 and the Suzuki Ignis.

Vehicles in all award categories are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 75 top-level automotive journalists from 23 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulates the jurors' ballots.

The Road to World Car began in Paris on September 29, was followed by test-drives in Los Angeles in November, continued in Geneva with the Top Three in the World announcement, and finally ended today with the declaration of the winners in six categories at the New York International Auto Show.

2017 marks the 11th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New York show, and the fourth consecutive year that the World Car Awards have retained their ranking as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented annually by Prime Research and Autoneum, was also released today.The report is the culmination of research and insights across the past six months. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "The auto industry is in the midst of an upheaval that goes far beyond anything it has experienced in the past 100 years. Emerging industry trends such as autonomous driving, electric mobility and connected cars are changing not only vehicles and their technologies but also their concepts and forms. As the market leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, Autoneum today already offers a large variety of multifunctional and lightweight technologies and components to meet the requirements of modern mobility. With our recently established "Competence Center for New Mobility" in Sunnyvale, California, Autoneum is taking a committed and active role in driving vehicle advancement by developing innovative technologies and components for all forms of mobility."

World Car of the Year is more than just an awards program. The World Car community brings together a large cross section of experts and professionals from every segment of the automotive industry. World Car connects the global industry around the very best of today and inspires, with insights, the ideas and trends of tomorrow. Thus defining The Road Ahead platform shared with our presenting partners Bridgestone Corporation, Prime Research, Autoneum and, most recently, Brembo.

"As the world's largest tire and rubber company, we are proud to partner with the World Car program for the 9th consecutive year," said Mike Martini, president, original equipment tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "This is an important forum for leaders in the automotive industry to celebrate achievements in innovation, performance and sustainability. As new mobility preferences emerge, we must continue to collaborate across our industry to deliver cutting-edge technology and world-class products that meet the needs of a changing global customer base."

In a rapidly changing automotive world, Brembo is also focused firmly on the future and the vehicles it will bring to market. Brembo is committing significant resources to perfecting ever more sophisticated virtual simulation methodologies that includes the study of forms, materials, technologies and surface treatments able to meet the needs of the new-generation vehicles, with a particular focus on environmental impact aspects, which drives all of Brembo's development activities.

As the global nature of the industry continues to strengthen, and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, World Car is proud to be a part of this amazing journey along with the New York International Auto Show, Prime Research, Autoneum, Brembo, Bridgestone Corporation, KPMG and Newspress  our official media partner.

For additional information visit our web site (www.wcoty.com).

About World Car Awards

Now in their 13th year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the fourth consecutive year based on Prime Research's 2016 media report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.

The awards are administered by a not-for-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee: Peter Lyon (chair  Japan), Jens Meiners (vice-chair  Germany), Mike Rutherford (vice-chair  UK), Tamara Warren (director  USA), Siddarth Patankar (director  India) and Gerry Malloy (director  Canada and president, WCOTY Association)

About the New York International Auto Show

Owned and operated by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the New York Auto Show is an awesome combination of new ideas, technological innovation, exceptional concept cars and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks. Over one million visitors are expected to visit the show this year to see what is truly possible from the automotive industry.

Important 2017 Auto Show Dates

Press Preview, April 12 & 13 (credentials required)

Public Sneak Preview, Friday, April 14

Public Show Dates, Friday, April 14  Sunday, April 23, 2017

THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR:

BEGAN IN PARIS SEPT. 29, 2016. ENDED IN NEW YORK APRIL 13, 2017.

FOLLOW OUR 70+ INTERNATIONAL JURORS : wcoty.com #wcoty
2017 Shanghai Motor Show: Citroen's SUV Offensive

PARIS - April 13, 2017: Citroen confirms its worldwide offensive in the SUV segment with the presentation of two new models at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show. C5 Aircross makes its global debut, alongside the C-Aircross Concept that previews the brands future compact SUV: C3 Aircross. These two new models represent a new generation of Citroen SUV focused on comfort. The Citroen brand also expresses its expertise in the sedan segment, which remains a key category in China. New C5, produced and marketed in China, has received a design and technology update for extra occupant well-being. The advanced CXPERIENCE Concept also makes its first appearance in China. This concept car features all the elements of the Citroen Advanced Comfort programme and previews future large Citroen models.

China is a key market for Citroen. The brand sold more than 250,000 cars in the country in 2016, accounting for roughly one in five Citroen sales worldwide. Dongfeng Citroen is expanding its range with the world premiere of the New C5 Aircross SUV. Set for launch in China in the second half of 2017, this new model will subsequently see production and its commercial launch in Europe at the end of 2018.

Alongside New C5 Aircross, the brand will showcase the C-Aircross Concept which previews Citroen's future compact SUV. Citroen can announce today that the production version will be called C3 Aircross. New C3 Aircross will be launched in Europe before the end of 2017.

In China, these two new models will sit alongside the Citroen C3-XR, an SUV with an assertive personality and Dongfeng Citroen's second best-selling model in 2016, with nearly 150,000 units sold since launch in 2015.

Dongfeng Citroen also boasts a complete range of sedans, including New C6, launched late in 2016 and C-Elysee, which was recently restyled and updated. More than 300,000 C-Elysee models have been sold since launch.

Citroen is further strengthening its position in the sedan segment with the renewal of the C5 for China, which is a modern and prestigious model with benchmark comfort that is making its debut appearance on the motor show stand.
City of Columbias Pet of the Week Meleas is a five-month-old pit bull puppy who is looking for a home to call her own. Meleas is happy to hang around with her humans, sunbath, snooze on a...

For Dogs, its Trick and Treat Its almost Halloween, a great time to teach your dog a trick and give him a treat. Most trainers are fans of trick training. Its not as silly as it...
After Tuesdays unforced Hitler error and then a series of clumsy corrections about Holocaust centers, Wednesday was full of calls for White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer to be fired.

To be sure, the timing of his gaffe during Passover made it even worse, but Spicers sin was being in over his headnot some sort of deliberate maliciousness. Hes not even the first person to have bumbled into this trap.

As I noted on CNN Tuesday night, Chris Matthews embroiled himself in a similar controversy back in 2013, when he said that even Hitler didnt use chemical weapons. In that case, it was primarily conservatives who corrected him. In this more recent instance, liberals have speculated that Spicers line was derived from reading articles in conservative outlets. Conservative media givesand conservative media takes.

My guess is that both Spicer and Matthews were thinking about how Hitler (who had been the victim of mustard gas while fighting in World War I) did not employ these horrible weapons against the Allied forces in World War IIprobably because he feared retribution.

Spicer ceded the ability to make that particular argument, however, when, in the process of explaining his remarks, he noted that Hitler was not using gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing.

Some critics took the phrase his own people as a Kinsley gaffe that inadvertently revealed a deep-seated and pernicious, if unexamined, worldviewone in which German Jews were not his his own people. Which is an interesting but terribly uncharitable theory. Nobody called Chris Matthews an anti-Semite for the stupid thing he said in 2013, and that same grace should be extended to Sean Spicer.

I think the outrage over what Spicer said is at least partially a phony, ginned-up story meant to fuel the outrage machine that helps pay my salary. If Spicer wasnt dog whistling or accidentally exposing his soul, youre left with a story about a guy who said something stupid, and thenin a desperate and even pathetic attempt to stammer his way out of itkept compounding the problem.

It is perversely fun to watch the video of Spicers original statement (trust me, Ive seen it many times), and a certain amount of schadenfreude is probably because of the uncharitable things he and his boss have said about the pressbut, at some point, you start to feel sorry for the guy.

Yes, Spicer has made numerous gaffes during his short tenure as press secretaryones that have been compounded by his inability to earn the trust and confidence of the press corps. In recent days, he seemed to suggest that barrel bombs are a red line in Syria. And in an attempt to apologize for his Hitler remarks, he mistakenly told Wolf Blitzer that Trump was trying to destabilize the region.

We dont need to invent Freudian reasons to explain his propensity for saying stupid things. To paraphrase Thank You for Smoking, Michael Jordan plays ball, Charles Manson kills people, and Sean Spicer spouts nonsense.

One certainly could argue that Spicer is not suited for this jobthat hes in over his headand that his general incompetence is grounds for dismissal. If Donald Trump wants to fire Sean Spicer for the cumulative mistakes he has made, then thats his prerogative. But removing him for what was obviously a horrible mistakenot an act of maliciousnesswould be yet another mistake to add to this administrations ever-growing list.

If the boss does decide to re-accomodate Spicer, dont expect it to happen anytime soon as this would be a tacit admission of Mr. Trump having made a mistake.

Revenge is a dish best served coldand so are pink slips.
While the rest of the world was off debating if women can have it all, Kelly Rowland went and did the damn thing. After reaching her girl group peak as one-third of Destinys Child, Rowland splintered off with a solo music career, television and film roles, and a host of side-projects ranging from philanthropic causes to her own makeup line.

Now Ms. Kelly is adding author to her jam-packed Instagram bio with WHOA, BABY: A Guide for New Moms Who Feel Overwhelmed and Freaked Out (And Wonder What the #*@& Just Happened). Co-authored by her personal OB-GYN, Dr. Tristan Emily Bickman, Whoa, Baby is the every-womans guide to everything after What to Expect When Youre Expecting. For Rowland, who confesses that writing a book was never in my plan, its a gift to all the new mothers who also call their OB-GYNs at least eight times a day.

Having never given birth or had an OB-GYN on speed dial, I can still honestly say that Kelly Rowland is exactly the sort of comforting presence I would want in my life postpartum. When we meet up in a hotel restaurant at the end of her New York book tour, Rowland is as friendly and forthright as her literary debut. Shes wearing a denim-on-denim ensemble with heels, and has the luminous, lightly enhanced skin of a self-professed product whore.

Famous ever since she was a teenager, Rowland continuously struggles with the notion that whats normal to her is incomprehensible to others. Shes deeply amused when I ask if her son Titan has playdates with Beyonces daughter Blue Ivy, and says that its the question she gets most often, even from strangers. I literally have been asked that on the street! She laughs, explaining, Heres the thing, were genuinely like family, so how could you not see them together? Solange and B and Angie, were all sisters. Tina I call mom. Theyre my family, and I dont look at them as anything else. They just happen to be extraordinary women at what they do and everybody else takes notice, too.

In other words, of course Titan and Blue Ivy hang out, and please dont stop Kelly Rowland on the street to ask her such an obvious question.

Over tea with lots and lots of honey, Rowland tells me about motherhood, raising a black son in Trumps America, and the new music that shes working on. Shes predictably eloquent and astoundingly honestexcluding when she tells me that I too could totally pull off a Canadian tuxedo, which is an outright lie. Here is a condensed version of our conversation.

So youre here promoting your new book, Whoa, Baby! How did that project come about, and what was the writing process like?

I never thought to write a book. But after I had my son I was looking for a book to help me figure things outphysically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. All of it! There were so many changes and I was like, Nobody prepared me for this! And so I talked to my OB-GYN, and I was like, I just have so many questions now, I had none before! She said someone should write a book and I said, Oh, were gonna write that book. And so we did it together. And its such a great project, and I think what I love the most is the fact that I didnt want to do it by myself, and I didnt want to have just my experience in there either, I wanted to have the wisdom and knowledge of other doctors and professionals in their field, and thats what I got. And Im really excited about it.

You talk about some pretty nitty-gritty body stuff in this book, like loose and floppy private parts, weight gain, and other physical changes. Why do you think its important to talk about formerly taboo subjects like sex, sexuality, and female bodiesnot just as a woman, but specifically as a mother?

For so long so many people thought that women should just be quiet about certain things, or women thought that they should be quiet about certain things. Im still a lady, Im still a woman, I just happened to go through all these crazy, gory details after I had a child. And if Ive gone through it, then other women have gone through it. Thats the reason why I decided to be completely honest and forthcoming. Because people were not honest and forthcoming with me! And I was just stuck in the dark thinking, literally, whoa baby! Like, what just happened?

Which physical changes were you must caught off guard by?

Every physical change! Whether it was putting almost fifty pounds on to the color of my stomach turning the color of this little black tape recorder here. Seriously! I was literally two-toned! It was so many different physical changes, and the things that I was feeling emotionally, the ups and downs of hormones, everything. I didnt experience postpartum depression, but I met women who did, and we elaborate on that in that part of the book, and I just really wanted to be honest.

I feel like in terms of celebrity coverage, theres this obsession with post-baby bodies. Youll see a star on the cover of a tabloid like four weeks after giving birth, wearing a bikini.

That is just not fair. And whoever those women are, theyre freaks of nature. But Im happy for them! Teyana Taylor is one of them. I said to her when I met her, You know its not fair. Its just not fair. Your bodys just a freak of nature, and she was just like, Are you kidding me? Your body! and I said, Listen, no. It took a year to get this. But I think its important for all women to know that everybodys body is going to be different, and going to adjust differently. For some it may take a little longer.

Right, and then in tension with all of the body image pressure is this stigma against plastic surgerybut youve been honest about getting a breast augmentation, and also possibly getting another one in the future.

Im a very open bookno pun intended. I dont feel the need to hold things back, and I own them. And for me, Ive been very open about plastic surgery. Well one, I had no choice, shoot, the paparazzi got one picture and then they got a completely different other picture! But I did say in the book, whenever I decide to have another child and the life is sucked out of my bosoms again, then yes, I want them to be knocked back up!

You recently Instagrammed a bikini picture as an homage to Kendrick Lamars Humble, where he talks about the beauty of stretch marks.

I love that song! We already hadem, and there was nothing we could do to changeem. Some of us get stretch marks. They might not even come from babies; you might just have stretch marks. And I love the fact that he was just bringing light to it. Like please, show me that! I dont want to see anything else! And thats not to downplay any other woman whos possibly had plastic surgery and wanted her a plumper butt, thats her prerogative! But Im just so happy that he said, This is ok, ladies, dont shame yourselves and dont shame each other. It better win an MTV Video Music Award. It better!

As not just a mother but a celebrity mother under constant scrutiny, are there any other moms you model yourself after?

I dont know if I model myself after them, but I love how Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashianthey all have had these moments when they havent allowed anyone to take away their sexuality. And they look even better than they did before baby, and they still own their sexuality. Ill never forget being so inspired by B during her concert, I think it was when her and Jay were on tour together, and she had the most beautiful outfits on, and I was like, She doesnt have a child! She looks amazing! And I remember I was pregnant at the time watching her on stage, and that was so inspirational to me. I was like, Thats going to be me, Im going to get my body back and still own my sexuality. Because there are a lot of people who say after you have the baby you should just sit down. No. You should cover up. No. They try to put you in your place, and I dont own that. Thats their shit.

So is there a camaraderie between all these celebrity moms?

I dont know really J.Lo. But absolutely, its an admiration. Kim and I have met, we have the same mutual friends, and shes so sweet. And of course Bs my sister, so that one I have a front row seat to. Thats my sister.

Do you have a plan to keep your son and any future children grounded and normal, when their mom is Kelly Rowland and theyre off having play dates with Blue Ivy and doing other extraordinary things?

Well the thing is, they dont get on stage and sing.

Not yet!

Thats right, thats very true. But they dont get on stage. I heard that either Will Smith or his wife Jada, their kids asked them about something extraordinary and they said: No I go to work, thats my job. Youre not famous. And I thoughtfirst of all, I think that they have raised such extraordinary kids. If theres any mom that I look up to, its Jada. Jada is like the ultimate mother, and when you meet her mom, you see why. Her mom is just the coolest mom. I mean, we just try to keep things real and we always keep lines of communication open with Titan. So whenever he has questions, or hes looking at these photographers like why are they surrounding us, he doesnt even have to say anything, hes just looking, and I say, They want to take mommys picture. Or my husband will say, Theyre going to take mommys picture and were going to go over here. We just try to make it as normal as possible, whatever that means.

I saw that you expressed support for the Womens March. Were you there?

I was out of town, but I remember being so charged up that day. I think that there was something in the air that day that made women hold their heads up a little bit higher, and have a stronger spirit because we felt united, we felt like we were backing each other up. I remember I wrote a song about it, it inspired a song. Im still working that song out now. It was such a remarkable day, and Ill never forget it. I made sure my son watched itand he did, for a second. To him it just looked like little dots on TV, but my heart was full. Because that was a lot of women, and we were all on one mission. And I wish that we would unite like that on everything that we experience as women, as mothers. I do think that we should be more united, and we should always travel like that, it should always feel that heavy. Because there is power in numbers.

And issues of motherhood and politics are so inextricably tied, which we might not talk about enough.

People dont talk about it enough. I do think it goes hand in hand, and I think mothers go through a lot, and we worry about our children every single daytheres a lot going on out here, and we just really need to support each other, and not shame each other.

Have you had personal experience with mom-on-mom shaming?

I havent encountered it. Ive spoken to another mom who did. And I think Chrissy Teigen just experienced some mommy-shaming. Im like, come on ladies, we know better than that. Dont do that. No judgment, and no pointing of fingerswere figuring this shit out as we go, so no judgment.

But going back to the Womens March, then theres the topic of Donald Trump, which we talk about constantly.

Everybody else talks about it, and I dont think he deserves any more light. I think its time to stop talking and just start putting things into action, to where there can be some sort of shift.

But do you have fears about raising a son in this political climate?

Yes. Raising a black son in this political climate. In this climate right now, with the last eight or seven years. I think that why that happened under our President [Obama] I will never know, but I do know that he was the President with integrity, he was the President with heart, who felt like every single last one of those boys that we lost, he said, Thats my son. And I love the fact that he said that, because anybody else wouldnt give a crap. Anybody elseAnd Ill keep it at that.

[Titan]s only two now, but my husband has made it very clear to me that as soon as he starts asking questions, hes going to give him answers. And he says, If hes old enough to ask me, then we have to give him answers. And I do think thats fair. One of my best girlfriends, her son asked her about it, and she said, I didnt know how to answer him but I just had to be honest. And it made him cry, it made him scared, and that makes me scared. I dont want my nephew, my son, I dont want them feeling like they have to be fearful in the world that were raising them in.

The one silver lining in all of this, potentially, is that its an incredibly interesting time to be an artist. Theres so much politically charged music out there, specifically by black artists.

It makes me feel proud, but I dont think its a new thing. I think that Marvin did it, I think that Stevie did it, Paul McCartney did it. So many people did it in a time like this one, and I think that time always repeats itself in some sort of way, and thats exactly whats happening right now. I think that this is a time when things are charged up, and emotions are high, and people dont know how to feel about politics and the government and they question everyones intentits so weighing, youre trying to figure it out, and youre trying to find some good. I really think that everyones trying to find some good, and trying to help the younger generation feel comforted. And thats a part of it, through music, because if they dont understand why things are going on, you say, Well, let me sing about it. Let me get you woke real quick, let me wake you up.

So can we expect to hear some politics in the new music that youre working on?

I think that thats a part of it. Thats a part of my feelings, and I can only write about what I feel and what Im going through, the things that I sympathize with, the things that are on my brain. And with this record, I just wanted to dig beneath the surface. My last record was sensualityand when I say Im working on a new album, someone sends me a sex song, and then somebody sends me another sexy song. And Im just like, Im so freaking over that! And of course, thats a part of me, Im gonna talk about that: women love to feel sexy, I love to feel sexy, why wouldnt I put it on the album? But its not going to be the whole freaking record. Thats not where I am mentally at all. I want to make music that makes you feel good but that also makes you think, that pushes the envelope and starts a conversation.

You have a makeup line, F.A.C.E, that you designed for a range of skin tones, and I wanted to talk to you specifically not just about race but about colorism.

I just heard this model talk about how she went to do a fashion show somewhere overseas, and she sat in the chair and the woman said, I dont have your color. Thank god the model had it in her purse, but its just the fact that, you really dont feel like you need to have that color? Who are you? Why are you a makeup artist? Makeup artists that I know are painters. They literally paint faces. They take pride in their work, and I admire makeup artists when they understand every skin type, every facial shape, they know what youre doing, they dont need to cover you up. So if you dont really know how to be an artist, please sit down. I love makeup, and I did feel the need to have more colors for women of color.

I remember going to Europe for the first time with DC, and there was a makeup artist there, and she was so sweet. But she made me look pink, because she didnt know my skin type. It was very frustrating, because here I am thinking I look one wayI mean, in the mirror I was like I look weird, maybe it wont photograph like this, shes from Europe, she knows what shes doing. Like, Im sixteen years old. And I look back on that picture and I think, You look crazy! And its what really pushed me to learn my face, and learn how to do my own makeup.

Do you think its harder to be a part of a girl group now, as opposed to when you were coming up? It does feel like girl groups like Fifth Harmony are more volatile and/or have a shorter shelf life.

I think that if you want to be in a group, you have to really want to be in the group. Theres nothing wrong with having that goal [of going solo] eventually, but communicate, and talk to the other ladies about it. I think that you can do whatever you want, but never let your head get too big! Fifth Harmony is making such great headway, and theyre such sweet girls, and they can sing. And here they are, showing female camaraderie which is what I love the most. Im just grateful that me and the ladies are still close. If anything, we get together to form our sisterhood, our friendship. And its just sad because I dont know if they have that. But I know the other four ladies do, I sat and talked to them, and yeah its just really sad. But I dont know why the shelf life is so short. Maybe social media plays a part, but Im not sure if it really does.

Heres the thing: What five people do you know that travel together, sing together, work together? Its a lot. I think that me and the ladies were very smart to do what we did how we did it, and were still very close. Take a break! And come back together, why not, for the Super Bowl? Find certain things that are really breakout moments, where its like, Oh my god, I didnt know they would do that. Thats for the fans.

You know I have to ask about a possible Destinys Child reunion.

We havent talked about it at all! That hasnt been a part of conversation.

How do you think you guys managed to avoid the stereotypical girl group drama or child star meltdowns? Youve all had successful careers, and seem really focused and grounded.

Because we kept our lines of communication open.

With each other?

Mhmm. We talked about itits like a marriage. Theres a point in a marriage where youre like, Im really frustrated with this or I really want to try something new. Whatever it is, theres nothing you cant talk about. And I think thats how you have to enter being in a group. Its not about anybody else, the label, the management. Its about the group. Yall should have an understanding amongst each other.

And I think another part of it sometimes is guys. Or relationships! Its not just guys, it doesnt matter if its a guy or a girljust infiltrators. Be wary of infiltrators and people who want a piece of what you have. Because they figure if they have you to themselves, that might change things for them too. Find people who got their own shit.

Is that what you did?

I meanyou have to filter those people out. Or, your sisters will be like, Its wrong. Thats the kind of relationship me and the ladies have, whether its friends or dudes, the girls will be like, I dont like them, I dont think thats a good idea. You have got to trust your girlfriends. Theyll have your back.
If embattled Fox News star Bill OReilly believed that his Tuesday night vacation announcement would quell his mushrooming sexual harassment scandal, he was wildly mistaken.

OReillys troubles grew exponentially Wednesday, and even spread across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, as the 67-year-old cable television personality began what his crisis communications consultant, former Clinton White House scandal manager Mark Fabiani, insisted was a long-scheduled spring break with his teenage son and daughter.

Fabiani dismissed media speculation that the besieged OReilly, who renewed his contract just before the latest controversy erupted, hastily dropped off the air to escape the gathering storm and possibly wont be back.

Weve been clear on this, Fabiani told The Daily Beast. The vacation was planned last October. Its planned with a group of people. He generally takes time off during his childrens spring break around Easter. And anything to the contrary is just complete fabrication.

OReilly has been in the crosshairs since a front-page April 2 New York Times story detailing allegations of his unwelcome sexual advances to female coworkers, workplace retaliation against women who rebuffed him, and legal settlements totaling $13 million to resolve the womens complaints. Although he paid a portion out of his own pocket, OReilly has denied the allegations.

Fox News, which plans to install a series of substitute hosts in the top-rated 8 p.m. time slot during OReillys absence, said hes scheduled to return to The OReilly Factor on April 24. But the damage is mounting.

Along with a continuing exodus of advertisers (more than 60 so far), increasing demands for OReillys termination, a late-afternoon street protest staged outside Fox Newss Manhattan headquarters Wednesday and led by New York Public Advocate Letitia James, and new petitions calling for state and local government investigations of alleged sexual misconduct and racial discrimination, OReillys detractors are also using the corporate crucible to attack the financial jugular of Rupert Murdochs media empire.

On Wednesday morning in London, representatives of the global citizens advocacy group Avaaz met for an hour with officials at Britains Ofcom, the communications industry regulators who will recommend whether or not to approve the long-attempted $14.1 billion acquisition of Sky Plc, Europes dominant and highly profitable pay television and internet platform, by 21st Century Fox, Fox Newss parent company.

We were arguing that 21st Century Fox, Fox News, and the companies in general have shown a pattern of defiant non-compliance, and therefore should not not be given the green light, said Avaaz advocate Alex Wilks, who is steering the groups campaign against the transaction. The meeting went well. The officials were very much in listening mode. They were scribbling notes and taking it very seriously.

Wilks urged the regulators to investigate the allegations before making their recommendation, expected on May 16, to Tory M.P. Karen Bradley, Britains secretary of state for culture, media and sport, who will make the final call on the Sky acquisition.

Murdochs original bid seven years ago to increase his companys stake in Sky from 39 percent to total control had initially seemed assured, given his clout with the Tory government of Prime Minister David Cameron. But the acquisition was abruptly thwarted by the British phone-hacking scandal, in which Murdoch was forced to shut down his popular News of the World tabloid amid criminal charges and public disgust over the papers illegal hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowlers cell phone.

But this time Wilks predicted the Murdochsnot only Rupert but his sons and fellow executives, Lachlan and Jameswill use all their political influence, to say nothing of their newspapers, to achieve their desired outcome.

The Murdochs are very powerful and they dont leave a lot of things to chanceand theyve been building up to this for some time, Wilks said, noting that Prime Minister Theresa May made a point of meeting privately with Rupert in New York during her visit last September to the United Nations. The Murdoch pressnotably The Sun and the Times of Londoncan be pretty vitriolic and tough.

Armed with lengthy dossiers alleging Fox Newss and OReillys history of violating protections against sexual harassment and racial discriminationincluding one prepared by Los Angeles activist lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents OReilly accuser Wendy Walsh, and another sent by the racial justice non-profit Color of ChangeAvaaz also submitted its own detailed, 19-page compendium of workplace problems at various Murdoch subsidiaries, especially the conservative-leaning cable networks alleged misconduct under its disgraced founder and former chairman, Roger Ailes.

The compendium was titled: Sexual harassment, denials and cover ups: evidence of a rotten corporate culture at Fox.

A spokesman for 21st Century Fox referred the The Daily Beast to a previous statement: 21st Century Fox takes its regulatory and compliance obligations very seriously. We have a strong record of compliance in all our markets, including in the UK. We are confident that our proposed transaction to acquire the outstanding shares of Sky that we dont already own will be approved following a thorough review by regulators.

Color of Change executive director Rashad Robinson was dubious, claiming that the workplace culture of Fox Newswhich is coping with racial discrimination complaints from three African-American employees against payroll executive Judy Slaterhas shown little improvement.

Despite the networks vow that we take complaints of this nature very seriously and took prompt and effective remedial action in terminating Judy Slater, Robinson told The Daily Beast: We continue to learn about the culture behind the scenes that feeds into what we then see on TV, promoting racial stereotypes, and its something we cant take lightly.

Robinson, who has been calling for OReillys firing for years, noted that he helped organize the 2009 campaign to pressure then-Fox News personality Glenn Becks advertisers to leave Becks show after he called President Obama a racist with a deep-seated hatred for white people, ultimately leading to Becks 2010 departure.

Lisa Bloom, meanwhile, said her pro bono client, Los Angeles radio personality Wendy Walsh, was finally contacted and interviewed on Monday by lawyers at Paul, Weissthe law firm retained by 21st Century Fox ostensibly to investigate the OReilly allegationsafter Walsh phoned in her complaint to the corporate sexual harassment hotline.

I am outraged and disgusted at the widespread harassment and retaliation against women at Fox News, and the many repulsive allegations against OReilly since 2004, Bloom said. The most disgusting part, for me, is that womens careers were ruined when they simply said no.

Bloom added: Coincidentally, Im on my way to vacation right now with my family, just like Bill OReilly. The difference is that on Monday, I will definitely be back at work. Im not so sure about him.
Ever since Donald Trump unleashed 59 Tomahawk missiles in Syria in response to the Assad regimes sarin gas attack on civilians, frustration has been intense on the right. There is total confusion about just what Trump supports. Conflicting views from Rex Tillerson, Nikki Haley, and H.R. McMaster over last weekend veered from arguments that the strike was a one-time tactical move and that the administration was not averse to allowing Assad to stay in power, to later arguing that no peace or stability could take place without his removal.

Among conservatives, conflict is also rampant. Three different groups are fighting among themselves, each hoping that their vision is the one Trump really supports.

First, you have the neocons and their allies, people like Max Boot and Gabriel Schoenfeld; then you have the non-interventionists like the writers and editors of The American Conservative; and finally, pure opportunists who switch along with Trump and support whatever his most recent tweet or position is.

To keep his anti-intervention base supportive, the Trump team came up with a new rationale that would perhaps satisfy those who believed Trumps policy was America First. Hence no interventions abroad would ever take place unless the situation directly affected Americas national security. Now anti-interventionists are being told that Trumps actions are in the national interest because ISIS or other terrorist groups might get ahold of the sarin gas.

The controversial White House aide dealing with national security, Sebastian Gorka, said on Breitbart News Daily, a radio program, that the raid on the Syrian airfield is not a full-throated war deployment. It is a surgical strike using missiles. It was only meant to tell Assad that the use of chemical warfare was not a permissible use of his power, and nothing more. The clear message is that the now skeptical neo-isolationists should back the action, knowing that it was limited, and rejoice in knowing that America is back, America is leading, and America will not be a feckless, spineless non-actor in the international community. Those days are over. His words may temporarily have had the intended effect, but since he had said them, they quickly became irrelevant.

Such talk is having an effect on the Mercer family, longtime funders of Bannon and Breitbart who also helped finance the Trump campaign. According to Rick Wilson, the Mercers are already restive and nervous that Trump has been co-opted by (((them))) [the establishment] and lured into being a more conventional president.

One way to see how much of Trumps core constituency views the airstrike on Syria and the potential rupture with Russia is to go to alt-right and others conservative websites and read the type of negative attacks on Trump that are beginning to appear. These all serve one major purpose: they can be shown to Trump by Bannon and his allies to scare him that this one limited raid was enough to cause former core supporters to jump ship.

As for Breitbart itself, on Tuesday, it ran a lead column defending the new tough anti-Putin stance, and praising Trumps new position especially in comparison to the previous administrations of Obama and Bush 43 before him, which made some tough noises but quickly pursued a policy of appeasement. No more, it seems, is the site created by Steve Bannon urging a new cooperation with Putins Russia and calling for it to be an ally with the United States in fighting ISIS.

The toughest negative article critical of Trump came from filmmaker Ronald F. Maxwell, (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, and Copperhead) who wrote in Breitbart that Trump had promised that our military would be used only in the defense of our own country or our closest allies. Maxwell, who is now filming in China, told me he did not consult anyone in the White House about submitting the article; he wrote it on his own because of his anger at the raid, and the publication ran it immediately. That column, however, ran a few days ago, and one must wonder whether had they just received it, the editors would have featured it.

Trump ran and won on a platform summarized by the slogan America First, Maxwell noted, which meant no more wars of choice; no military interventions to liberate other countries, to intervene in so-called humanitarian crusades, to force regime change, to coercively spread democracy, or to take sides in other peoples wars or civil wars.

Maxwells position reminds one of that taken by the pre-World War II America First Committee, whose members, composed of people both on the left and the right, (Norman Thomas, the Socialist Party leader, and the conservative aviator Charles Lindbergh) united to oppose armed intervention in the European war for much the same reasons advanced today by Maxwell. America would and could not be the policeman of the world, Maxwell wrote, which meant no intervention in intractable conflicts that would never be settled.

Maxwell also argued that we do not know who dropped the poison gas, although on site observers saw that it could only have been Assads planes that used the sarin gas on Syrian civilians. I wonder what those who agree with him think today, given the release by the Trump administration of the intelligence proving that the bombs were dropped by Assads air force. Maxwells goal was to prevent the Trump administration from engaging in a neo-Cold War. Now, however, Maxwell argues that Trump justified the attack with words that could have been spoken by Hillary Clinton. In other words, Trump had betrayed him and many of those who voted and worked for him. Maxwells fear is that Trump might now be in bed with his most ardent critics, having chosen the path of America last. Harsh words indeed from one of Trumps most vociferous supporters, who was close to Trump the entire campaign, and who was responsible for Dave Brats victory in Virginia in which Eric Cantor failed to get the primary nomination.

Maxwells views are essentially the same as those of Robert W. Merry, the historian who is now editor of the Buchananite American Conservative. What Trump had done was not the foreign policy Trump campaigned on, he wrote. Merry went so far as to write that Trump is looking more and more like a phony. Indeed, he writes that his foreign policy is now more aggressive and adventuresome than Obamas. He reminded his readers that Trump had said that joining the struggle against Syrian President Bashar-al Assad would put the United States on the side of the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations. He had promised to work with Russia toward an end to the horrendous Syrian bloodshed. Now, he and others see a very different Trump.

Having promised that he would buck the conventional wisdom of the elites, Merry writes, Trump was now doing precisely what the globalists and interventionists desired. Like Maxwell, he argues that Trump hadnt even given Americans actual proof that Assad was in fact the perpetrator of the sarin attack. Now, Merry concludes, the United States is seemingly set to embark on yet another adventure in regime change. At least, Merry argues, Trump should have shown his base political gratitude, instead of allowing the old elites and interventionists to start taking over his administration. Merry now fears Trump has no real principles; that he is just winging it, and is not, as some of his supporters thought, a man of ironclad conviction.

True, there are conservatives who are sticking with Trump and have responded favorably to his Syria action. David Horowitz, who has written a best-selling book on Trumps agenda, has fiercely come to the Presidents defense, calling the strike an international game-changer, one that has disproven leftist charges that Trump is Putins puppet and, given support by key Democrats, proves that Trump is not out of the mainstream. Horowitz, however, does not address the arguments of that part of the Trump base that feels betrayed.

Similarly, at PJ Media, Roger L. Simon writes that Trump is doing precisely what Obama should have done after his famous red line against chemical weapons was violated. Trump took it to Assad. Obama did nothing. It means to Simon that America as world leader is back. Neither take up the irony that effectively, they are making the same case as many of the neocons they have fiercely opposed, such as the editors of The Weekly Standard and Commentary.

The truth is that at present, no one knows what position Trump will take on Syria or on Russia or Iran soon. Will he move further to taking the kind of steps advocated by Hillary Clinton, such as creating no-fly zones and safe spaces for refugees, or will he make this a one-time raid and then revert to the policies he enunciated during the campaign? For the moment, it seems that the Mattis and McMaster group is in the ascendant, and that Trump is mostly listening to them. As of today, it seems that the anti-Putin position has been decided upon, and the overture to the Russian leader is finished.

Knowing Trump, however, this could change at the drop of a pin. In Wednesdays Observer, Brian Darling writes that If President Trump morphs from an America First foreign policy to interventionism that would fit perfectly into a Hillary Clinton or John McCain Administration, then he should expect a large swath of his supporters to be despondent and to walk away from supporting him. Perhaps Trump is listening to these warnings. On Monday, Trump told Michael Goodwin of the New York Post : No, were not going into Syria. This comes one day after Tillerson and Haley were supporting regime change. No one can predict what is coming next from Trump and his administration.
NOGALES, ArizonaThey found the first drug tunnel in 1995 near an old abandoned church. The church is gone now, replaced by a Burger King, but the tunnels keep coming.

More than 110 have been discovered snaking from Mexico into the city of Nogales since then, says Tony Estrada, the Santa Cruz County sheriff, who expects more to come.

It doesnt really stop, he said.

The day after Attorney General Jeff Sessions toured the border at Nogales (without media), Estrada took The Daily Beast for a short drive along the burnt-red metal fence that stretches for miles between the southern border of Arizona and the northern Mexico state of Sonora.

The sky was clear, the fence was quiet, and the handful of Border Patrol agents standing around an SUV a ways away from us looked calm, relaxed, and maybe a little bored. Estrada noted all of thisthe perfect zero-humidity, 80-degree weather; the calm.

Its nothing like what Donald Trump described on the campaign trail.

Estrada, a Democrat who gave Bernie Sanders a tour of the fence during the Democratic primary, has spent 50 years working in law enforcement on the border. And hes an inconvenient figure for the presidents law-and-order message. While Trump billed has himself as every cops dream come true throughout his entire campaign and now into his presidency, Estrada views him as completely ignorant about his signature issue, immigration. And he sees Sessionsa former U.S. attorney who spent 20 years in the Senate before becoming attorney generalas a babe in the woods when it comes to the border.

And while Arizonas most famous sheriff is the now-defeated Joe Arpaio, who stumped for Trump, Estrada has found himself in a different kind of spotlight: perpetually having to explain to outsiders that Trump doesnt, in fact, speak for all Arizona sheriffs.

Estrada said President Trump and Sessionss strategy to fight the cartels there is based on a myth that hes heard for decades: that if there are enough raids and crackdowns and checkpoints and barricades and arrests, the drug smugglers will give up.

We created the cartels because of the demand that we have here, Estrada said.

As long as Americans want drugs, he said, the cartels will oblige. Estrada isnt alone in this view. In background conversations with The Daily Beast, numerous federal law-enforcement agents have shared the same sentiment: that the only thing that could seriously, permanently weaken the cartels that have increasing power in northern Mexico would be Americans doing less heroin and meth. As long as Americans buy drugsincreasingly, drugs laced with dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanilthe cartels will be around. And its an emerging consensus that helped fuel the backlash to Trumps proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Actlegislation that would have eliminated the requirement that government-subsidized health-insurance policies include coverage for addiction treatment. The bill generated so much controversy, it didnt even get a vote on the House floor.

The new tough-on-immigration approach to the cartels may have an easier time in Congress, where Republicans are loath to oppose funding hikes for defense, immigration personnel, and law enforcement. Sessions and Trump are selling their fight with cartels as battle to take on invading forces who poisoned Americans because of Obamas feckless border enforcement. The way to vanquish them, in their view, is more law enforcement and more border security: thousands of new border patrol agents, Reaganite priorities for federal prosecutors, a big beautiful wall.

Sessions used bellicose language the day before to describe Americans relationship to cartels.

When we talk about MS-13 and the cartels, what do we mean? the attorney general said. We mean international criminal organizations that turn cities and suburbs into warzones, that rape and kill innocent civilians and who profit by smuggling poison and other human beings across our borders. Depravity and violence are their calling cards, including brutal machete attackseven beheadings.

They threaten the very integrity of our nations in our hemisphere, he added.

But in Estradas view, that threat wouldnt exist without the eager complicitness of the millions of Americans who buy what the cartels sell. And the cartels, as he sees them, arent completely lawless; theyre beholden entirely to one law: the Law of Supply and Demand. In his view, no wall will be able to stop the cartels from just giving Americans what they want. As border security became more professionalized over the last two decades or so, he said, drug smuggling got professionalized toohence, the rise of the cartels. The wall will just make them more resourceful.

I dont know if it will make them stronger, he said. I just think theyll be more creative. Theyll probably corrupt more people on both sides of the border.
How do you think the GOP-controlled Alabama Senate would respond to a mega mosque asking to form its own armed police force? Keep in mind Alabama is where Republicans pushed for an anti-Sharia amendment to its states constitution that easily passed in 2014.

And just imagine what you would see on Fox News, Breitbart.com, and the other media outlets that profit off stoking hate against Muslims if such a request were made by the head of a U.S. mosque? They would be calling this not only an attempt to impose Sharia but also likely claim its an attempt to establish religious morality police like we see in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But when the Briarwood Presbyterian Church, a megachurch in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, asked for special permission to create our nations first ever church-run police force, it sailed right through Alabamas GOP-dominated Senate on Tuesday. Its expected that the bill will pass the Republican-controlled House and become law, empowering the Briarwood Church to hire actual police officers in the name of the church.

The Briarwood Church police officers would be required to be certified by the Alabama Peace Officer Training Commission. Consequently, they will be armed and fully empowered as police officers in Alabama, although church officials explained that its officers would be restricted to the churchs campuses and be able to respond to emergency situations while coordinating with local authorities. No word yet if the churchs police officers would wear large crosses on their uniforms that conjure up Christian crusaders, but since they are church employees that could be part of the uniform.

Why does this 4,100-member church that also operates a school with 2,000 students want its very own police force? The head of the church cited the 2012 horrific Sandy Hook massacre as the primary reason. Of course, there has been no call to revise Alabama gun laws, which currently get an F rating from The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence because they are so dangerously lax.

Will this church-owned and operated police force go beyond secular law and also enforce biblical law, which I call Christian Sharia law? Its unclear. But I would imagine that Robert Bentley, the former Republican governor of Alabama who resigned earlier this week because of an extramarital affair and crimes connected to its cover up, must hope not. As Bentley has to know, considering he loved to quote Bible verses while a member of the Alabama Legislature to enhance his arguments, the penalty for having an affair with a married woman is that both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

To be clear, the people of this churchjust like every person attending any place of worshiphas the absolute right to be safe. These are truly scary times. We have seen countless threats lately against Jewish temples and even seen mosques burned to the ground. And in 2015 there was the horrific murder of nine African Americans by white supremacist Dylann Roof at a church in South Carolina, and in 2012 six Sikhs were brutally killed at their Wisconsin temple by another man with ties to white supremacist groups.

But do you think if Muslims in Alabama asked to create their own police force to protect their mosque we would see the GOP members of the Alabama Legislature be as supportive as they are to the Briarwood church? And in reality the Muslims in Alabama have good reason to be concerned for their safety. In February an email was to sent to the head of a mosque in Birmingham with the subject line: Your one warning. The email then contained this misspelled threat:

MUZLIMS MEXICANS BLACKS WE WILL HUNTED NATION WIDE UNTIL ARE ARE DEAD OR GONEPLAN TO RUN OR DIE, THIS IS A KINDNESS THAT WE GIVE YOU ALL WARNING, TAKE IT AND GO.

Thankfully the local police swiftly provided the Muslim community with extra protection.

While GOP politicians are on board with Briarwood churchs push for their own police force, the ACLU believes its unconstitutional. A memo drafted by the ACLU contends that vesting state police powers in a church police force violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. It adds: These bills unnecessarily carve out special programs for religious organizations and inextricably intertwine state authority and power with church operations.

The ACLU has also raised questions about the possible lack of transparency with the church employing its own police force. Will the church cover up crimes that occur at its school or by church employees to protect the reputation of the institution? And some have cited as a cautionary tale the volunteer police force run by the ultra orthodox Jewish community in New York that is currently being investigated for bribery and corruption.

My hope is that if Jews or Muslims needed protection from a threat, the Republicans in Alabama would be just as quick to protect them as they are to help those who attend the Briarwood church. But deep down I worry they wont be.
TBILISI  Beka Gabadadzes cell phone rang again: another gay teenager was in big trouble. A 16-year-old from the Zugdidi region of Georgia was begging Gabadadze, an LGBT activist and human rights advocate, to rescue him.

The boys family members were determined to drag him to a doctor for hormone treatment against homosexuality; when he was at home his older brother severely beat him. The teenager, who we are not naming to protect his identity, escaped home and is now hiding at a friends house in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, terrified to return home.

Coming out of the closet is an act of heroism for LGBT people all over the Caucasus, a region dominated by deep homophobia. The LGBT population of the Caucasus suffer from increasingly horrifying hate crimes.

A particularly vicious crackdown is reportedly underway in the Republic of Chechnya, where authorities have initiated the most violent anti-gay campaign since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The Daily Mail reported that Chechen authorities had set up what it called concentration camps near the town of Argun where gay men are being tortured with electric shocks and beaten to death.

While the presence or not of the camps has yet to be independently verified, Tatiana Lokshina, program director for Human Rights Watch in Moscow, told the Daily Beast: Chechen authorities did not build special 'LGBT concentration camps'--this information is misleading. But dozens of presumed gay men have been rounded up by local security officials and tortured in holding facilities, which are apparently maintained by Chechen authorities in several districts of Chechnya. People detained arbitrarily, abduction style, are generally taken there for interrogation, which practically always involves torture and cruel, degrading treatment."

Graphic reports of persecution have been received by the Russian LGBT Network. The Network told NBC News they had received around 30 calls for help from those targeted since April 2.

According to a report published in Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, several gay men have been killed in the past few weeks and dozens have been arrested and tortured.

To all media requests for clarification and comment, Chechen authorities responded that there were no gay men in Chechnya.

According to Russian LGBT activists, the cleansing campaign was provoked in March by series of requests from GayRussia.ru addressed to local authorities to allow LGBT Pride demonstrations in four regions of the Northern Caucasus.

This current wave of persecution followed, sweeping through all regions of Chechnya. There are special rooms at police stations in every Chechen district, where unwanted prisoners get tortured and Russian authorities do nothing to stop this unlawful massacre, a Chechen advocate for LGBT rights told The Daily Beast. Then police bring the victims back to their families and welcome the executions of not worthy men, the activist added.

Chechen authorities dismissed Novaya Gazetas report.

If there were such people in Chechnya, law-enforcement agencies wouldnt need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning, Alvi Karimov, an official spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, told reporters.

Elena Milashina, the Novaya Gazeta journalist who broke the story about the anti-gay crackdown has been forced into hiding, she told the BBC.

On Tuesday, advocacy group GLAAD called on Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, to speak up against the reported #LGBTQ concentration camps in Chechnya.

In a statement released to Buzzfeed News, the State Department has asked the Russian government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into the alleged killings and mass arrests, and hold the perpetrators responsible.

A demonstration to support those targeted was held outside the Russian Embassy in London on Wednesday night.

In 1933 Soviet authorities criminalized homosexuality, with the penalty of up to five years of hard labor in prison (lesbians were not mentioned in the law). Russian authorities scrapped the criminal law in 1993 after the Soviet Union fell apart, and for several years Caucasus gay men lived quietly, mostly in the closet and out of the focus of public attention.

The Daily Beast spoke with LGBT people in Northern Caucasus of Russia, in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan about the nature of Caucasus homophobia that inspires the violent and terrifying attacks on, and executions of, gay people.

Alongside the official persecution they suffer, family members in the region hunt LGBT relations, who they believe bring shame to the entire clan.

My job is to connect the victims with state social workers, who are authorized to help underage LGBT in trouble; but often officials do not understand that homosexuality is not a disease, not a disorderand that is according to the World Health Organization, Gabadadze said.

Georgian LGBT activists are presently helping an ethnic Chechen gay man from Pankisi Gorge, an extremely conservative Muslim region.

The man was desperately trying to escape the country, as his life was in serious danger. The Chechen ethnic population of Pankisi region is extremely homophobic and violent towards the tiny LGBT community living discreetly in the mountain gorge, Gabadadze told The Daily Beast.

The Georgian teen victim from Zugdidi was threatened with eviction from his family. He was the 27th LGBT victim of violence Gabadadze was trying to help in the last few weeks.

The recent reports about violence in Chechnya has deeply traumatized LGBT communities all over Caucasus.

What a barbarian society they have in Russia, even in our Muslim country gay men feel much safer, a gay hairdresser in Baku told The Daily Beast. We have a club; our gay youth, even transgender people find jobs at state companies, said the hairdresser, who still did not want The Daily Beast to use his name.

Activists from Pink Armenia, one of several Armenian NGOs fighting for the rights of LGBT people, were also upset by the alarming reports coming from Chechnya.

Armenian LGBT people live deep in the closet, too. The main reason for such overwhelming homophobia in the Caucasus is not religion but scapegoating: instead of talking about corruption and failing policy, local authorities choose us as their target--it does not matter whether they are Muslims or Christians, Nvard Margaryan, chairperson of Pink Armenia, told The Daily Beast. The more we fight for our rights, the more society is aware of our struggle, the more they blame Gayropa or the homosexual West for the bad influence and oppress us even more.

Not long ago five gay and transgender people got attacked and beaten by radical activists in the center of Armenian capital of Yerevan. In 2012 Yerevans only gay bar DIY was attacked and burnt with a homemade bomb.

Georgia is the only country in the Caucasus that has welcomed LGBT parties for hundreds of people from all over traditionally homophobic region.

In the past year, Tbilisis LGBT activists organized 12 thematic parties at Bassiani, a basement club, where LGBT men and women of all ages coming from Azerbaijan, Iran, Armenia and Russia could meet and feel safe.

The organizers invited their guests, so no stranger could sneak into Bassiani. The clubs managers and LGBT organizers made sure that nationalist radicals did not attack their guests. To get in the visitors had to fill in a special form and present an ID.

But there are still many issues Georgian LGBT are facing. Since I came out of the closet and spoke about LGBT rights on TV in 2012, I have been constantly scanning the space around me, aware of danger and risks, LGBT activist Levan Berianidze told The Daily Beast at the gay-friendly Gallery club in Tbilisi.

Christian fanatics and nationalist radicals attacked gay pride activists and beat dozens in 2012 and 2013. Some nationalists beat me right in downtown Tbilisi last year, Berianidze told The Daily Beast.

This month authorities considered a change in the Constitution that would restrict same-sex marriage. Berianidze, a 26-year-old leader of LGBT movement said that Georgian homophobic policies were inspired by Moscow.

Our leadership follow the homophobic road paved by Russia, where gay propaganda is banned by law, where gay men are being killed, Barianidze said. We would like to call on our authorities to stay human and give shelter to Chechen LGBT people.
President Trumps private kitchen at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach was cited for 13 health code violations in January, reported the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. This news comes right after the president met with Chinese President Xi Jinping there (and shared beautiful chocolate cake with him while discussing the bombing of Syria ). The president is also expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, at the questionably clean club.

Mar-a-Lagos violations include basic issues, including the outside location of the ice machine. Three high priority issues included undercooled and improper sanitation of meats and fish, and fridges not working properly. High priority violations mean there could be illness-causing bacteria on plates served to patrons.

A spokesman for the Trump Organization said that they take food safety seriously: All of the minor adjustments were made immediately. Additionally, the report by the health inspector was updated on the same day to reflect that the Mar-a-Lago Club was in full compliance.

Still, for a club that charges $200,000 in membership fees per person, and that is owned by the president of the United States, youd really hope its cleanliness would live up to higher standards.
LONDONThe story of Dina Ali Lasloom is the story of a struggle that feels as insurmountable as it does desperately urgent. This is a story of religious theocracy meeting royal patriarchy. It is the story of Saudi womanhood, denied.

Twenty-four-year-old Dina left Saudi Arabia full of hope. Most 24-year-old women the world over dream of the usual things young women do at that age: how to live the full, independent, and exciting life that lies ahead of them. But Dina just wanted to be. Have you ever felt utter, total, and overwhelming helplessness? For Saudi women, such a feeling is a matter of law. They feel it every day. In Saudi Arabia, they are the permanent legal wards of the men in their lives. Powerlessness is a state of being for Saudi women, who lack the lawful agency to study, marry, divorce, work, or travel without formal permission from their father, brother, husband, or son. It is enforced by the system. And the system is a total and absolute religious monarchy.

Dina chose emancipation over slavery. She chose to live as a foreign female refugee in a distant land rather than as a citizen-slave in her own. She chose to try and escape Saudi patriarchy via the Philippines to Australia. There she had hoped to claim asylum.

But Dina failed.

Officials at her transit stop in Ninoy Aquino International Airport have denied all knowledge of Dina. But as the recent United Airlines debacle reveals, in the days of the internet, this tactic is becoming increasingly redundant. As has been reported by activists of a movement called Saudi Arabian Female Empowerment (SAFE), Dina was a passenger of Philippine Airlines flight PR 669 from Kuwait to Manila. What is clear is that she made it to Manila, arriving at 3:30 a.m. Monday. But it appears that Philippine airport officials at Terminal 2 had been instructed ahead of time by the local Saudi embassy to extract her. While still in transit for an 11 a.m. flight to Australia, Dina was off-loaded at Terminal 2. At this point, Philippine security officials confiscated her passport. We know this because Dina told us herself, over her last video to the world, as she desperately pleaded for help. Eyewitnesses in Terminal 2 also began to report stores of a Saudi woman having her documents confiscated. Then Saudi men from the embassy appeared.

The last seen video of Dina was taken by a witness, and it depicts her screaming that is not my father as Philippine officials attempt to hand her over to the Saudis. What happened next will send a chill through the spine of every Saudi woman, and outrage every human being beyond. Detained in the lounge, activists report that Dina was viciously beaten, bound by her arms and legs, wrapped in a sheet, and had her mouth duct-taped shut. She was then kidnapped by Saudi men and put on a 10:30 p.m. Saudi Airlines flight from Terminal 1 back to Jeddah.

In Jeddah, Saudi activists report that Dina was seen at arrivals being rolled off in a wheelchair. Her fate remains unknown.

Such is the overwhelming power of the patriarchal Saudi system that no amount of outrage is likely to secure Dinas release any time soon. Even Saudi men, such as prisoner of conscience Raif Badawi, who was flogged merely for blogging, cannot escape the tyranny that is born of a fundamentalist monarchy. Just as her Pakistani family did to the late Qandeel Baloch, already fundamentalist Saudis have taken to social media demanding that Dina be killed for dishonoring her family.

This is what it means to be a Saudi woman today. And though the rest of us may feel powerless, we are not. We are the voice that Dina has been deprived of. Raising our voice is unlikely to free Dina in the near future, but it is certainly likely to help shift public opinion firmly away from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and any other theocratic throwback to medievalism thats insecurely lashing out in this quickly modernizing world.

Shame on the Saudis and shame on the Philippines. Enough. Enough with using religion to silence, deprive, beat, and kill. Enough with the backwardness. Enough with the darkness. All we can do is continue to speak in the hope that a butterflys wings that flap in one corner of the world will eventually build a storm that sweeps clean the disease that is known as Saudi fundamentalist patriarchy. To remind us, we have Dinas last desperate words, made in her online video, as she pleaded helplessly to the ether, begging for anybody, everybodyand thus nobodyto help her.

No, we are not helpless. That is what helplessness feels like. And this is what a feminist looks like.
U.S. Special Operations Forces dropped one of the worlds most powerful non-nuclear bombs on ISIS fighters in eastern Afghanistan on April 13, defense officials told The Daily Beast on Thursday.

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The bombing could mark a shocking escalation of America's war in Afghanistanone that places more civilians in greater danger than ever before, though military officials insist they wouldn't have acted if they had spotted civilians nearby.

American forces were trying to root out deeply entrenched ISIS fighters when a U.S. Air Force MC-130 commando transport dropped the Massive Ordinance Air Blast munition in Achin district in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan at 7:32 in the evening, local time.

ISIS has an estimated 600 to 800 fighters in Afghanistan, many of them in Achin, according to Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump, who said the strike was aimed at limiting their freedom of movement.

One U.S. commando died in a firefight in the same district just a few days ago, on April 8, but officials say this was no act of retribution.

"This operation was planned prior to the loss of a 7th Group Green Beret last week, U.S. military spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Salvin explained from Kabul.

Pentagon officials say the generals have had the authority to launch whatever ordnance they had in theatre against ISIS since January last year, but President Donald Trump's comfort level with delegating new decision-making on counterterrorism strikes surely played into their thinking. General John Mick Nicholson ordered the weapon during the Obama Administration to use during Afghans fierce spring and summer fighting season, but it was only delivered in January this year, Salvin said.

While he may have had the authority to drop the bomb, its likely he notified commanders above him that he was about to use the munition, but its not clear how high that went. Appropriate notifications were made, U.S. Central Command spokesman Col. John Thomas emailed emphatically to the The Daily Beast. This does not reflect a new policy or authority."

CNN, which was among the first to report the strike, assured it viewers that military officials in Afghanistan felt that they could use this [MOAB] without risking civilian casualties in the area.

U.S. officials insisted that they took measures to protect the innocent. There was an extensive planning process to ensure there were no civilians in the area, which includes surveillance long before the target was hit, Salvin said. But as the target was a cave structure, that seems hard to ascertain with 100 percent certainty.

The Massive Ordnance Air Blast munition is 30 feet long and weighs more than 11 tons. Its a fuel-air bomb, meaning it works by spreading a cloud of flammable gas and then igniting it. U.S. troops dropped older-style fuel-air bombs during the Vietnam War in order to flatten large areas of forest for helicopter landing zones, and the Bush administration dropped at least one daisy cuttersa MOAB precursoron al Qaeda at Tora Bora in Afghanistan, in an attempt to flush out Osama bin Laden and his fighters from their cave complex.

As the gas can spread into bunkers and even underground, a fuel-air weapon can also collapse fortifications and tunnel networks over a radius of potentially hundreds of yards. "In its destructive capability, it is comparable to low-yield nuclear munitions, one Russian military scientist wrote in the Russian trade journal Military Knowledge.

The Pentagon rushed development of the MOABalso known as the Mother of All Bombsin early 2003 in order for the weapon to be ready for the invasion of Iraq. But the MOABs proved either unnecessary or too risky to use in Iraqs mostly densely populated areasthey remained in storage until yesterday.

David Hambling, an independent munitions expert, said that in dropping MOAB, the military was hoping for a combination of psychological and kinetic effects.

Its not the obvious choice of weapon to destroy a cave complex, Hambling told The Daily Beast. It may generate a massive over-pressure causing lethal effects to some depth, but is much less obvious than weapons like the smaller thermobaric BLU-128, which is designed to take out tunnels and caves with blast.

The Pentagon is certainly playing up the MOABs fearsome power. Within hours of the bombing, the Defense Department had posted a press release describing the attack and its alleged effect on ISIS positions. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive, Gen. Nicholson said in the statement.

Of 12,000 bombs U.S. dropped on Afghanistan in past 5 yrs, MOAB the first to be honored with its own press release (posted w/in hours), the Council on Foreign Relations Micah Zenko quipped on Twitter.

The huge bombing could provoke a backlash. After years of limiting air strikes in order to minimize civilian casualties, Gen. Nicholson has seemingly made good on Trumps promise to bomb the shit out of ISIS.

The Pentagon is hitting suspected militants faster and with less vetting by the White House than under the Obama administration. U.S. air strikes reportedly killed hundreds of civilians in Mosul in Iraq in March 2017, though Iraqi military officials blamed the casualties on ISIS explosives they say were stored in or near the target in the densely packed city. Trump authorized U.S. troops in Somalia to call in air strikes without asking permission from officials in Washington, D.C.

A Pentagon official told The Daily Beast that Thursdays strike had nothing to do with the Trump administration expanding its campaign against ISIS, but was the commanders call. The official, who was briefed on the operation, spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss military strategy.

Had there been any civilians present, there would not have been a strike, CENTCOM spokesman Col. Thomas emailed, adding that there was comprehensive surveillance of the target before the strike.

At least one peace advocate said he is unconvinced. Was it really necessary to drop the Mother of All Bombs on Afghanistan? Zeshan Hamid, president of the New York-based Council on Pakistan-U.S. Relations, asked The Daily Beast.

I feel there is nothing better than having a peaceful Afghanistan free of terrorist for both Pakistan and America, however, my fear is that something of this nature will cause many civilian casualties, Hamid added.

In deploying the giant fuel-air bomb, the United States rejoins a notorious club that currently also includes Russia, Iraq, and Syria. After surrendering most of its purpose-made chemical weapons beginning in 2013, the regime of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad switched to using fuel-air weapons against civilians.

In September 2013, a regime warplane dropped a fuel-air bomb on a school in Ar Raqqa, killing 14 people including 12 children. Some of the bodies were apparently thrown against the courtyard wall, which suggests they were forced there by the blast wind, a Human Rights Watch researcher reported.

Russia developed a ground-launched fuel-air rocket that blasted militants and civilians alike in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Iraq bought copies of the devastating weapon and has deployed it in the current war on ISIS.

In a 2000 report on Russian fuel-air munitions, Human Rights Watch pointed out that the nature of [fuel-air] explosions makes it virtually impossible for civilians to take shelter from their destructive effect.

Even the impression that U.S. forces are endangering civilians risks alienating the people American troops rely on for support in Afghanistan. The greatest risk we can accept is to lose the support of the people here, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, then commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told 60 Minutes in 2009.

Votel echoed McChrystals sentiments in 2016, after a U.S. warplane mistakenly fired on a Doctors Without Borders clinic in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, killing 42 patients and medical personnel. I can assure you that we are committed to learning from this tragedy and minimizing the risk of civilian casualties during future combat operations, Votel said.

Deploying one of the worlds most powerful munitions is inconsistent with that assurance, Hamid said. Dropping bombs will not be the answer to a war that has gone on for over a decade. The answer is collaborative intelligence operations and protection of civilians at all costs.
ISTANBUL  Russia has expanded its role in the Syria conflict and is now by far the dominant power in the air war, according to rebel military commanders and a leading Syrian human rights monitor. Commanders say that as a result even if the U.S. were to knock out the entire Syrian Air Force, that wouldnt turn the tide of the war.

President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military intervention in September 2015 when the Assad regime was said to be on the brink of collapse after rebels captured Idlib province in northern Syria, and since then dependence on Moscow has grown steadily.

Russias lead role in the air war is evidenced by the airstrikes against Syrian civilian targets since last Friday, when the U.S. fired 59 cruise missiles at Shayrat, a Syrian airbase in central Homs province. The U.S. government said Shayrat was the launch point for a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib province, in which more than 100 people died, according to local officials.

Over the five days between Friday and Tuesday evening, Russian airstrikes caused the deaths of 56 civilians, including 10 children and eight women, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported Thursday. Syrian government forces, including foreign militias, killed 42, SNHR said.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Russian warplanes took the lead role in airstrikes in Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, according to opposition media and local officials.

Russia and Syria divided up the task of targeting public buildings and medical facilities. All are protected under international law, making each strike a potential war crime. According to SNHRs accounting of the first five days. Russian aircraft bombed two mosques, one school and three medical facilities while Syrian aircraft  some of which are now piloted by Russians  attacked two mosques, two schools one medical facility, one market and one civil defense center, SNHR said.

No one has accused Russia of using banned chemical weapons, but U.S. officials say they suspect Russian military officers were aware that the Assad regime was deploying them. Russia had its own forces stationed at the same Shayrat air base.

In fact, according to SNHR, Shayrat was the second most used airbase by Russian warplanes after Hmeimim in Latakia province on the Mediterranean.

In the attacks on civilian targets since Friday, Russia has deployed banned cluster munitionssmall bomblets that are intended as an antipersonnel weaponat least four times, and incendiary weapons in at least six attacks in those five days alone, SNHR said. The Qatar-based SNHR is often cited by the State Department as a source of data on war crimes.

Theres no question that Russia plays the lead role in the air war, according to defected Syrian military officers who track the movements of regime and Russian warplanes in order to warn civilians of impending air strikes.

When theres heavy fighting in northern Hama and southern Idlib, at least 175 of the 250 warplane movements in the area are Russian and the rest Syrian, Col. Mustafa Bakkour, who heads the warplane tracking operation in North Hama, told The Daily Beast. The numbers include helicopter movements as well as fixed wing, and count aircraft that often stage several attacks on each sortie, he said. Throughout Syria, when there is fighting on several fronts, there can be as many as 500 sorties daily, he said.

The problem for us isnt the Syrian Air Force so much as the Russian Air Force, said Major Muhammad Mansour, commander of the Nasr Army, one of the main rebel groups in north Hama. It is the Russian warplanes which are shifting the balance in the battle for the regime side. The Nasr army receives covert U.S. support.

We have a dire need for air defense weapons to be able to confront the Syrian and Russian warplanes, Col. Yusuf al Mirie, the spokesman of the rebel Southern Front said. The Obama administration refused to provide air defense to rebel forces, even those obtaining other forms of military aid through the CIA program.

Moscows role in the air war poses a quandary to U.S. military planners hoping to head off another Syrian chemical warfare attack. In an effort to avoid a direct confrontation last Friday, the Pentagon sent a warning to the Russian military, which was able to remove its officers from the Shayrat airbase before the U.S. attack.

The challenge is how to get the message across to President Bashar al Assad, who in an interview Wednesday denied that Syria has ever used chemical weapons and disputed reports that anyone had died in the April 4 gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

The White House and the Pentagon earlier this week threatened further retaliation against the Syrian military if it mounts another sophisticate chemical weapons attack or continues dropping barrel bombs, crude weapons sometimes loaded with chlorine, an industrial chemical.

Administration officials said the Syrian army lost 20 per cent of its operational air force in Fridays missile attack on Shayrat air base.

Noting those losses, Defense Secretary James Mattis warned Monday that the Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons. White House spokesman Sean Spicer expanded the warning to include continued attacks with barrel bombs against civilians.

The President has made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States, Spicer said.

But Assad is living in a different world. In his interview with the French AFP news agency published Thursday, he also denied that Fridays U.S. missile attack had caused any damage to his forces. "Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike, he claimed.

And while he was most probably rattled by the U.S. intervention, he appears determined to play it down, for domestic consumption at least.

On Friday, some hours after the U.S. missile attack, the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in a military encounter with rebel forces in Qaboun, a neighborhood in east Damascus, according to SNHR. It said regime soldiers threw two hand grenades filled with poison gas into the rebel frontline. The grenades, suspected to contain chlorine gas, caused symptoms bronchial damage, severe coughing and breathing difficulties, SNHR said.

But this is part of a pattern of multiple violations of the Syrian regimes pledge to abandon all use of chemical weapons. SNHR said it had documented 168 regime chemical attacks since September 2013, when chemical weapons killed more than 1,000 civilians in Mouademiyeh, a Damascus suburb, according to the U.S. government.

The regime also has used barrel bombs in its battle against rebel forces in Daraa in southern Syria since Friday, as well as in other locations in northern Syria, according to the Local Coordination Committees and opposition media there.

Assads denials in the AFP interview put him at direct odds with his Russian backers. Referring of the U.S. government, he said: They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack. This reflects, in fact, the line being put out by Iran, which may try to back Assad even if Russia eventually forsakes him.

As for the deaths of the children and the images of victims foaming at the mouth and convulsing, Assad declared: We dont know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?

He said the story of Khan Sheikhoun is not convincing by any means.

This contrasts with the statement by Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, during an otherwise contentious news conference after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday. Lavrov referred to the Idlib incident, where chemical weapons were used, and the subsequent U.S. missile strike on April 7.

This wasnt the only time Assad and the Russians were on different wavelengths. The Syrian high military command said Thursday that many people were killed in an airstrike late Wednesday by the U.S.-led coalition attacking an ISIS chemical weapons depot near the east Syrian city of Deir Ezzor. The coalition denied the report, and Maj-Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry, said he had no information about an airstrike or casualties.
Tom Dixon designs luxury Johnnie Walker

Diageo has revealed The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Capsule Series, which has been created by British designer Tom Dixon OBE. The release previewed at the Teatro Manzoni theatre as part of Dixon's exchibition at Milan Design Week.

Inspired by the rarity, craft and heritage of the luxury Scotch Whisky, the exclusive Johnnie Walker Blue Label Capsule Series by Tom Dixon encompasses a bespoke bottle design, ice bucket, coaster and bottle cap. The copper accents in the Limited Edition Design are characteristic of Dixons contemporary designs and are also a deliberate nod to the art of whisky-making, the copper theme evoking the pot stills used during whisky distillation.

The Limited Edition series will be available to purchase from October 2017 in selected markets across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Johnnie Walker global brand director Guy Escolme says: Toms expertise and artistic vision make him the perfect person to put his mark on this new design for our pinnacle blend. This collaboration expresses the creativity and passion behind two world-famous luxury brands.

Speaking about his collaboration with Johnnie Walker at Milan Design Week, Tom Dixon says: The parallels between Johnnie Walker master blender Jim Beveridge and a designer might seem tenuous but when you think of it in terms of taking excellent raw materials and using patience and experimentation to extract a product with real resonance, then you can start to see the similarities.

I also believe it is important not to remain static  like the Striding Man logo  with all its historic references it still looks contemporary and represents progressing forward and looking to the future. The copper stills, the oak barrels, the supreme expertise needed to produce a classic product  this was all instrumental to my thinking.

This is the second year that the two have partnered at Milan Design Week, following a collaboration in 2016 that saw Dixon create a one-of-a-kind Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottle art installation.

Johnnie Walker master blender Jim Beveridge says: What Tom and I each do in our work starts with an idea and an urge to create something meaningful. The ideas part is easy, the real challenge is in the trying and the relentless experimentation before, eventually, things begin to come together.

For me, it is our experience and dedication to our craft that make Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Tom Dixon feel like a really natural fit, and Milan Design Week is a great moment to announce this latest collaboration.

As part of this years collaboration, Johnnie Walker is also hosted mentoring sessions at Teatro Manzoni. Global brand ambassador Tom Jones showed VIPs through the flavours that define the Scotch whisky and guests were invited to enjoy a Johnnie Walker cocktail serve at the bar.

The Limited Edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Capsule Series by Tom Dixon will have an RRP from 180 when released later this year.

13 April 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
Press Promotion

Steklarna Hrastnik reveals competition winner

In response to its international design competition, organised in collaboration with partners DekorGlass, a Polish glass decorating company, and Paragraph Publishing, Steklarna Hrastnik received submissions from 81 designers in 14 countries.

The competition was aimed at finding innovative ideas and solutions for standard bottles to be included in Steklarna Hrastnik's HighGlass collection. The three winners were selected by a jury of nine industry experts. First place went to Max Stefen from Belgium, Adam Klein from the USA ranked second, while Marino Funakoshi from Japan placed third. In the last week of March, a festive award ceremony took place at the prestigious Whiskies and Spirits Conference in London, which is attended by participants of the spirits beverage industry.

The competition was aimed at finding ideas for the HighGlass collection of standard bottles, which currently includes 11 standard bottles of super premium quality. They were looking for bottles that would stand out for their creativity, aestheticism, decoration and story.

In addition to super premium quality, the HighGlass collection is distinguished by adaptability, a characteristic that gives buyers the option to add their own decoration, giving the bottle a unique mark or their brand logo for added authenticity.

Competition winner Max Stefen from Belgium said that his inspiration for the creative idea behind the winning bottle came from Art Deco elements. While the main property of his bottle is simplicity, the shape nevertheless gives a feeling of premium quality, making it possible to upgrade the product and adapt it to the buyers' needs by adding decorations.

When it comes to working with Steklarna Hrastnik, the winner says: "The fact that Steklarna Hrastnik offers a partnership to the winners shows that they are not just looking for a new product, but for a long-term partner. This was the reason I entered the competition."

Ivan Vucetic, sales and marketing director at Steklarna Hrastnik, says: We recognise that 80% of the end product's success in the premium segment on the shelves depends on the packaging.

Andrej Bozic, general director of Steklarna Hrastnik, says: "Our flexibility makes it possible for Steklarna Hrastnik to produce smaller batches, replicate the highest quality and provide the full range of services.

13 April 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
A little more than a month after the executive director of the state's environmental agency decided that an air permit application needed for a local manufacturing plant's expansion meets legal requirements, two requests have been filed requesting he reconsider the ruling.

A letter issued March 7 by Richard A. Hyde, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, determined that a permit application for Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics Inc. to expand its Independence Avenue ceramic catalyst manufacturing plant meets legal requirements. The decision, though, doesn't yet authorize the construction or operation of the proposed six kilns at the Bryan plant. A 30-day period for feedback on the decision concluded last week with two requests that the ruling be reconsidered.

The plant's proposed expansion has piqued public interest, with the plans bringing about 50 residents to a TCEQ-coordinated meeting last July. Among the objections raised by residents then and in the two requests for reconsideration are the potential health impacts that could result from the proposed expansion, which would increase Saint-Gobain Norpro plant's annual emissions by 111 tons.

Harry Wright, attorney for the Bryan school district, wrote in his request for reconsideration that the district is "extremely concerned" about potential adverse health impacts the approval of the permit application could have on students and staff at nine campuses within a 5-mile radius of the plant.

The executive director's response to dozens of public comments about health concerns stated that based on air dispersion modeling, "predicted ground level concentrations from the proposed facility are not likely to adversely impact off-property receptors."

The other request for reconsideration came from Bryan resident Robert Rose, who has addressed several local governing bodies about the permit application at public meetings. Rose also wrote about the concern of air pollution near schools, particularly Jane Long Middle School, which is located in close proximity to the plant.

The school district general counsel's request outlined the district's two other concerns -- that Saint-Gobain Norpro hasn't met the TCEQ requirements involved with requesting an expedited processing of an application, and that the air quality model "did not utilize representative data."

The company's application to expand does not demonstrate how the application will benefit the local and state economy as outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, Wright wrote, and the TCEQ should not have expedited the processing of the application.

"Finally, the meteorology data that was used in the Company's model was from Austin and thus not representative of Bryan/College Station area," Wright wrote in his request. "The Commission has argued in their response to comments that it was appropriate to use meteorological data from Austin because of Austin's proximity to Bryan area. However, in making this argument the Commission has failed to take into account vast differences in the landforms that surround Austin and Bryan which effect meteorological data."

Rose also listed the air dispersion modeling used for the permit application among his many concerns.

In addition to the two requests for the executive director to reconsider his decision on the permit application, a TCEQ spokesperson said 16 requests for contested case hearings on the matter also were filed. She said the application will be scheduled for a future meeting of the TCEQ commissioners to determine if any of those requests "meet the applicable requirements." At that time, the commissioners also will consider any requests for reconsideration.

The requests for reconsideration, the executive director's response to public comments and decision letter and more information about Saint-Gobain Norpro's application can be found on the TCEQ Commissioners' Integrated Database at www.tceq.texas.gov. The company's air quality permit number is 20006.
According to Bryan police, officers were looking for Aaron Montrel Bazy, 22, who had three active warrants for evading police and drug charges. On Tuesday, five officers surrounded Bazy's apartment and waited for him to drive up and get out of his car. According to police reports, after officers told Bazy to get on the ground, he ran inside his apartment and slammed the door. An officer kicked the door down and saw Bazy run out the back patio, authorities said. Police chased Bazy throughout the apartment complex in the 1100 block of Southwest Parkway before tackling him and subduing him.
Members of the Texas House of Representatives' Committee on Higher Education met for nearly five hours in Austin on Wednesday to discuss several proposed bills.

Although much of the conversation surrounded potential changes to the tuition and fee benefits offered to Texas veterans at state higher education institutions, members of the committee also heard about and discussed topics including the Texas A&M University System's Irma Rangel College of Pharmacy, assistance and information about the transfer of credit hours between institutions, proposed requirements to include serious policy infractions -- such as sexual assault -- on student transcripts and more.

As the representative of the district serving as home to the Irma Rangel College of Pharmacy, committee chairman Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Portland, took time during the meeting to explain his proposed House Bill 2002, which, if passed, would create a legal requirement that the college remain in Kleberg County and permanently retain its namesake.

Lozano and witness Indra K. Reddy, founding dean of the Irma Rangel College of Pharmacy, also took the opportunity to talk about the college's growth and successes over the past decade.

"I'm happy to report that after 10 years and seven cohorts ... we have built an exceptionally strong program," Reddy said. "In just 10 years of our existence, our researchers have brought in more than $6 million in research grants and contracts. We have cutting-edge research in diabetes, asthma, precision medicine, drug delivery systems, 3-D printing and so on."

Reddy added that with the addition of Carrie Byington as dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine, senior vice president of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and vice chancellor for Health Services at The Texas A&M University System, the college has "redoubled" its efforts for the future.

Seeking to address recent high-profile cases of sexual assault in higher education, committee member Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, presented House Bill 3142, which, if passed, could require all higher education institutions in the state to note violations resulting in suspension or expulsion on a student's transcript.

"Frequently, and for various reasons, sexual assaults and similar offenses never go through the criminal justice system, [and] therefore the university adjudication system can be the survivor's only source of justice," Turner said.

"My bill would simply ensure that if a student committed a conduct violation serious enough to warrant suspension or expulsion, a notation on the student's transcript will prompt the next institution to which that student applies to inquire about the reason for that [punishment]," he said. "This will ensure that a student accused of assault or a similarly serious offense cannot simply withdraw from the institution to avoid the hearing process and/or the determination and subsequent notation."

Along with Turner's presentation, Texas university student Sierra Smith shared her personal story of sexual assault and the subsequent failings of her school to reprimand the man responsible.

Although she said her attacker was ultimately found to be responsible for the incident several months after an investigation by the school began, he already had transferred to another institution that was unaware of his involvement in the situation.

"If my university had kept its transcript, if they had let the other universities know why this boy was trying to leave, then maybe I would be the one doing great things and he would be the one facing the consequences," Smith said. "Today, I go to a school that I do not feel safe at. I do not feel that my school did what they could to protect me, and I do not feel like they are doing what they can to protect other girls."

Smith did not mention during her testimony what university she attends.

Institutions including the Texas A&M System, the University of Texas System and Texas Tech already have implemented similar procedures to some degree, Turner said.

Other legislation discussed included two bills seeking to help students to have a better understanding of the path before them as they pursue higher education, beginning with their time in high school and continuing through the completion of their degree.

Both introduced by committee member Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, the first bill focuses on connecting high schools with institutions of higher education to better equip students with the knowledge they need to effectively pursue their desired degree, while the second puts an emphasis on developing a clearer path to understanding the transfer of credits between institutions.

Closing out the meeting, Lozano also presented a bill to establish the Texas Higher Education Innovation Accelerator, which he said would give universities a state-sponsored avenue for trying new methods and avenues for education.

"This bill would promote more innovation at institutions of higher education in Texas by supporting an accelerated innovation in educational delivery to advance state education and workforce goals through access, improvement and degree attainment," Lozano said. "This will hopefully help Texas meet the challenges [and shortages] that are in our STEM fields."

Local Rep. John Raney -- who serves as vice chair of the committee -- was present for the meeting. He did not participate in the presentations of the bills discussed Wednesday.

No action was taken by the committee on any of the proposed bills. Further discussion and possible action is expected as the 85th session continues over the coming months.
Three new cases of mumps have been reported in Brazos County following a recent statewide health advisory issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Brazos County Health Department officials said all three of the locally reported cases -- one of which has been confirmed -- are among college aged adults.

State health officials said reported cases have reached a 20-year high of 221 cases so far this year following multiple outbreaks across the state. The previous record was 234 in 1994.

Among the outbreaks, officials said they are investigating possible exposure on South Padre Island during the spring break period of March 8 through March 22.

As of Wednesday, 13 cases from across six state have been accounted for among travelers to the island during that time frame. Two of the cases are in Texas residents.

According to local officials the three local cases do not currently appear to be connected to individuals who traveled to South Padre Island.

State officials recommend that health care providers take extra care to consider mumps as a potential diagnosis when evaluating patients with "compatible symptoms" and to question them about recent travels out of state or to South Padre Island over spring break.

Officials said symptoms of fever, tiredness, muscle aches and swollen or tender salivary glands typically develop 16 to 18 days after coming into contact with the virus, but can sometimes take up to 25 days to manifest.

Those who suspect they may be effected should immediately contact their health care provider and should stay home to prevent spreading the virus for five days after swollen glands occur.

Officials said the virus is considered "highly contagious" and is spread in a number of ways including through coughing and sneezing and sharing cups and utensils.
Dogs get ultrasounds, too.

On Wednesday morning, four veterinary professionals gathered around a 14-year-old male mixed-breed Scottish terrier at Texas A&M University's Small Animal Hospital. They shaved a rectangle into the dog's stomach, removing a small portion of his black and gray spotted fur, before using new ultrasound technology to monitor the spread of his cancer.

Thanks to their collaboration with health technology company Philips, the College of Veterinary Medicine tried out the Philips Lumify mobile ultrasound technology on about 15 dogs Wednesday. The collaboration is a part of the Texas A&M 'One Health' commitment, which links approaches in medical, veterinary and environmental sciences for the advancement of all three areas, officials said.

Kerrie DeMarco, director of Texas A&M's Center for Global Health & Innovation, said the goal is to answer a crucial question: "Does it work like it works in humans?"

The new technology is smaller, more mobile and weighs less than what is currently used for ultrasounds. Tony Gades, a clinical scientist of ultrasound at Philips, estimated the new technology weighed around half a pound, compared to current machines that can weigh 1,000 to 2,000 times more.

A&M's vet school will use the technology on animals to see if Lumify -- which already is in use on human patients in hospitals across the country -- is as effective on animals as it is on humans; they will relay their results to Philips, which will analyze the feedback and strengthen its product.

The technology is about the size of a Nintendo Wii controller. The wands plug into personal or professional Android smart devices and transmit images through the Lumify app that users can download. According to the Philips website, the app "brings diagnostic capabilities to your compatible smartphone of handheld device."

Gades said the use of Android technology allows for health care professionals to share images quickly.

"It's more connected [than current ultrasound technology,]" he said, adding that another important quality of the new technology is that it doesn't get hot, as current ultrasound technology does.

As of now, Lumify can only be used on Android devices, since Apple products do not support standard USB interfaces.

The lighter technology allows health care professionals to use Lumify in the field. If, say, a dog were hit by a car and couldn't be transferred to a room with ultrasound machines, health care professionals could bring the mobile Lumify technology to the injured animal and determine the extent of its injuries. In addition to dogs and cats, Lumify could conceivably be used someday on larger animals such as cows and horses.

Lumify could even attract attention from the Department of Defense, offering the opportunity for advancement of their care for service dogs.

"It advances care in veterinary medicine," said Andrea Voges, clinical associate professor of veterinary radiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Voges praised the new technology, saying it has "so many potential uses."

The school will have its own set of three Lumify portable ultrasound machines for the next year; the equipment will be left with the vet school upon completion of the study.

Thanks to products like Lumify, Voges said, "Texas A&M is on the forefront of using innovative technologies."

Texas A&M University and the North American Veterinary Community will co-host a Veterinary Innovation Summit from April 28-30. For more information, visit http://veterinaryinnovationsummit.com/.
October 22, 1945 - April 11, 2017

Carl James Bussell, 71, of Bryan, passed away quietly and peacefully on Tuesday April 11, 2017 at home, while surrounded by family and love. A time for family to receive friends will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday April 14, 2017 at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 15, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Bryan, with Rev. David Henry officiating.

Carl was born on October 22, 1945 to Dr. James and Dorothy (Tostmann) Bussell in Long Beach, CA. After the end of WWII, the Bussell family settled in Marlin, Texas, where they raised their four children: Carl, Carol, Stanton, and Robert. After graduating from Marlin High School, Carl joined the US Navy and served two tours in Vietnam on the USS Ingersoll. He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Curry, on May 24, 1967. After his time in the Navy, Carl and Nancy moved to Austin, where Carl attended The University of Texas and was trained to be a jeweler by Charles and Erna Leutwyler. Carl and Nancy settled in Bryan, Texas in 1973 and opened Carl Bussell's Diamond Room, which served as his livelihood and creative outlet for his artistic talents for 35 years.

Carl was an active member of the College Station Morning Lions Club for over 40 years, and he loved deer and squirrel hunting, bay fishing, woodworking, knife making, and arrowhead knapping. He and Nancy were members of The First United Methodist Church of Bryan and founding members of the Wesley Class. Carl particularly loved family time at their lakehouse on Lake Belton, phone calls with his siblings, and reading whenever he could. When speaking about Carl, you might remember him for his ability to be diplomatic, slow to anger, thoughtful, and to make you laugh.

Carl is preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his loving wife of 50 years, Nancy Bussell; daughters: Stacey Tepera and husband Michael of College Station, and Betsy Dodson and husband Rob of Grapevine; siblings: Carol Jones of Conroe, Stanton and Susan Bussell of Waco, Robert and Sharon Bussell of Conroe, and grandchildren: Patrick, Caroline, Libby and Fisher.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to College Station Morning Lions Club, PO Box 9890, College Station, TX 77842 or to Hospice Brazos Valley.

Please share memories and tributes to Carl at www.hillierfuneralhome.com.
January 20, 1935 - April 10, 2017

Services for retired LTC Louis M. Klement, 82, of Troy will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 14, at the First United Methodist Church in Troy with Reverend Leslie Byrd officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Temple.

Mr. Klement passed away Monday, April 10, at a local hospital.

Louis Moore Klement was born January 20, 1935 in Hearne, Texas to Alfred William Klement and Elizabeth Moore England Klement. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1957 and served during the Vietnam War, receiving numerous awards and decorations. Upon his retirement in 1978 after over 20 years of service, he worked for Royal Seating Corporation in Cameron for approximately 20 years and for Patriot Homes in Waco for a number of years.

He married Martha Elizabeth Kennedy on August 26, 1956, and they were married for 24 years. On July 11, 1981, he married Janet Ruth Maedgen. They were married for 31 years until her death on June 27, 2012. Mr. Klement enjoyed hunting and target shooting and was a member of the National Rifle Association, the Texas Rifle Association, the North American Hunting Club, and the First United Methodist Church of Troy.

Survivors include two daughters, Molly Elizabeth Klement Erpenbach and Sally Evelyn Klement Bittick; and one son, Louis M. "Skip" Klement, Jr.; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to flowers, memorials donations may be made to the Janet Ruth Klement Scholarship Fund at Troy High School in care of Extraco Bank, 31st Street, Temple.

Visitation will be 6 -8 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.

Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple is in charge of arrangements.
As an applied ecologist who has co-managed a large wildlife disease investigation with the Institute of Zoology at ZSL, London, I had some relevant background for reviewing the RBCT.

To start with, the science relating to badgers moving around more extensively during and after culling looked reasonably straight forward field study and well documented. The change in number of foxes, expanding into empty badger setts though predator release effects; literally the empty niches left by depleted badger populations, seemed well recorded.

So where did they go wrong?

Moving onto the guts of the main 2007 Independent Scientific Group (ISG) report and the published statistical papers of 2005-2007 and beyond to 2013 was next.

This was trickier. It took four months of evening and weekend reading to get fully into the near 300 page summary of the 50 million research project, and a further period with help from senior statisticians to get better grip on what had been done. Along the way, checking with biologists studying mammals, diseases, or natural processes, there were few who had studied it closely, as opposed to just parts of it and most were just generally aware of the various conclusions.

The RBCT distinguished two types of badger culling - 'reactive' and 'proactive' - each planned in ten areas of around 100 square km in size. Reactive culling is where badgers are killed only on land within a few km of a new bTB cattle herd breakdown and not widely over a large area, as in proactive culling.

But from 1998, reactive badger culling experiments had a faltering start, further hampered by the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001, restricting access to farms. The result was a depleted dataset due to these unforeseen circumstances. The ISG report nevertheless had come up with its hypothesis that badgers were giving bTB to cows rapidly, by catching and passing it on via a 'perturbation effect'.

Yet for many, the speed of bTB transmission from badger to cattle involved looks unrealistically rapid for it to be a genuine phenomenon. The work did not seem to have taken into account when the data on cattle TB incidence was taken - which was immediately after the first proactive badger removals.

The sequence of events proposed after badgers killings would be:

increased badger mobility and transmission of TB amongst badgers. Newly infected badgers becoming infectious (a process taking months or longer),

then infectious badgers making contact with cattle somehow in a mechanism that is unknown,

cows establishing new bTB infection in vulnerable individuals, over months or longer, sufficiently to trigger responsiveness to the tuberculin test

detection at slaughter / post mortem culture / microscopy; breakdowns might need to wait six months on average and up to a year for the next testing period to be detected, during which there was a 20-50% chance per cow of it being missed and possibly picked up after a further year or longer.

on testing, checking for non-visible disease by culture will then take several months.

Notably, this entire sequence of events requires a considerable time to play through.

Safe science? Growing doubts ...

Reviewing the literature on BTB and badgers, there was a group of six academics including Professor Simon More from the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Dublin who had studied the ISG and published an immediate critique of several aspects.

In addition, the record showed Sir David King (Chief Scientist at the time) set up his own expert group that effectively challenged the strength of the statistics concerning reactive badger culling increasing cattle breakdowns via a badger / bTB perturbation effect.

More recently, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has drawn similar conclusions as those before her (see video after 34 minutes and BBC report). So now there are three separate expert appraisals suggesting independently that reactive culling and its related badger / bTB perturbation effect are not safe science.

All in all, the suggested increased bTB transmission would have been likely to take years, if indeed it was real at all. The cold fact is that the reactive culling studies were too interrupted to prove increased bTB herd breakdowns resulting from reactive culling.

This was a fatal blow to the ISG conclusions in 2007 and in fact to badgers, because the other main finding of the RBCT in relation to proactive badger culling was that killing badgers reduces bTB herd breakdowns by around 23%.

So by 2010, during the preparations of the 2011 Government Policy on bovine TB eradication, it was only the proactive cull 'benefit' that was foremost in the minds of the cull designers. This too was the message to the politicians and the farming industry at the time.

A Catch 22 that snared the scientists, campaigners and celebrities

The irony of this situation is that in 2012, the anti-cull movement of charities, voluntary bodies and celebrities got behind the 2007 ISG report findings, and the statements by scientists associated more closely with the research, perhaps not realising or recognising its flaws.

They used the 'no meaningful contribution' and 'government ignoring science' as their campaign headline. But in doing so they were in fact saying: "we agree that it is badgers spreading bTB significantly and with the perturbation effects increased bTB spread by badgers to cattle, and that badger culling can work."

And so those scientists involved were trapped in a Catch 22 of either: agreeing their bTB perturbation hypothesis was unproven, and that proactive culling works to reduce bTB; or trying to prop-up the perturbation effect story, as a balance to the proactive cull bTB reduction.

In the end, most of the anti-cull movement campaigned, unaware of this paradox and without really knowing the details of the real scientific uncertainty underneath.

Checking the science of proactive badger culling

Slightly taken aback, it seemed important next to turn to the aspect of the RBCT that had been suggested was more robust; the proactive badger cull 'benefit' of reducing bTB from mass badger culling across a wide area. This involved looking at the methods and analysis of proactive culling.

The first, and rather shocking thing to notice is that the raw data shows that in four of the ten proactive culling zones, bTB actually went up and not down when compared with its control area. There was no 'benefit' nearly half of the time in terms of what the farmer and veterinarian might see 'on the ground'.

How could that be? To find the answer I next had to tackle mathematical modelling and the assumptions and adjustments made to the raw data that had turned this into a 'significant' result. After a lot of hard work by a statistician who had volunteered to retrace the analysis, there was nothing in the analysis that actually looked 'wrong' in terms of the mechanics of what had been done.

However a number of serious problems began gradually to emerge. Using an alternative but equally valid model on the RBCT data indicated a lack of statistical significance from the proactive cull data. This was simply using, for each comparison between cull and control area the years over which proactive culling was actually carried out, rather than the average number of years, as used in the ISG analysis.

This was a very simple adjustment, using the time that each set of herds had actually been exposed to change rather than the average. As such it was an equally valid, if not more valid approach, to that used in the study.

Confounding variables and unjustified exclusions of data

Other issues cropped up, such as the wide range of confounding variables such as changes to testing and cattle movements that were likely to have been uneven within and between study areas and controls. The RBCT had not been a double-blind trial and landowners had known whether badger culling was taking place or not in the cull and control areas.

However, without proof of variables causing statistical skew within and between triplets, it is hard to prove the relevance without tracking down new data from the RBCT period. There was no time to do that - something for the future, perhaps government would take an interest.

It also became clearer that the RBCT had actually been a study in a period during which bTB was very rapidly increasing, not declining. Many of the study areas were very heavily infected before the study had started. What was being concluded upon was not an actual decline but a slower rate of increase.

However, perhaps the biggest shock of all was that the RBCT analysis had only used 'confirmed' herd breakdown rather than 'all' cattle breakdown data in its final 2007 presentation. This is highly significant because our understanding of disease prevalence has improved since the 2007 ISG report.

The lack of visible lung lesions or laboratory 'culture test positive' made during cattle slaughter and post mortem checks, is no longer viewed as meaning that the animal is free of bTB.

Furthermore, whilst the tuberculin skin test misses many infected cows, it very rarely gives false positives. Those RBCT reactor cows with no visible lesions at post-mortem had, all along, been infected with bTB.

The fatal RBCT / ISG proactive culling oversight

This dilemma comes up in the 2007 ISG report (see pages 93-96). It points towards difficulties with post-mortem culturing of bTB as the reason that the disease would be overlooked in unconfirmed reactors.

In hindsight, and what may be seen now as the disastrous move, the ISG analysis decided just to use 'confirmed' breakdown-only data as opposed to 'all' breakdown (confirmed and unconfirmed). Simon More in Dublin had also spotted this.

What happens when you add all the unconfirmed test results back into the model as being correctly identified as having bTB is that there is no statistically significant effect of proactive culling of badgers on new herd bTB breakdown.

Here was a lethal blow to the ISG proactive cull analysis and conclusions. The ISG should have concluded that the RBCT had failed to find a link between proactive badger culling and a reduction in bTB herd breakdowns - the exact opposite of its finding.

Instead it concluded that badgers do pass bTB to cattle at a significant rate. It also said badger culling was not worth doing because of a balancing effect resulting from perturbation effect causing herd breakdown. That was a story that the public and government of the day embraced - but one that extended way beyond the limits of safe scientific conclusion, and one that the government kicked into the long grass.

An inconvenient truth becomes increasingly obvious

The strength of the RCBT had slowly crumbled to bits over my year of study. Several scientists along the way advised me that the RBCT was 'not strong science'. But busy with their own issues, they had tended to see the 'pro-badger' ISG conclusion that the advice not to cull badgers was possibly 'right for the wrong reason' and so fairly harmless - not realising what a change of government might then do.

Others had entertained doubts but felt no need to comment over the bTB 'hot potato', especially as much of their funding was provided by government.

By August 2016, as more badger killing was announced, the awful truth was becoming ever more obvious. The badger protection movement, with few exceptions had joined with the ISG scientists to uphold 'the ISG science', based upon badgers giving bTB to cattle with significant frequency.

They were supported by several Oxford University related academics, although I noted this was often cautiously on more general terms than the ISG specific findings. Speaking out were some who were behind the scenes of the 1997 Krebs review and its RBCT.

On checking and double checking, and testing the frailties, many closest to the issue did not want to talk about it, which just seemed suspicious. Some wanted it covered up for tactical reasons. The phrase 'reputational damage' was used.

A lack of mutual understanding between veterinarians and modellers?

Looking back to the RBCT design, it does seem odd that John Krebs and Roy Anderson at Oxford University had concluded the need for a trial of the kind undertaken, given the clear uncertainties at the time over the disease and the role of wildlife.

Robert May (Oxford and Imperial) who was Chief Scientific Adviser (1995-2000) at its origination, and who worked closely with Krebs, has acknowledged that (see page 302) the use of mathematical models during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic had created controversy based on a "lack of mutual understanding between veterinarians and modellers."

It looks perhaps as if the RBCT may have been a prelude to such problems, but this time involving zoologists. Krebs was recently quoted at the Royal Society as saying "We must acknowledge as scientists that we don't always get it right. Models make assumptions, labels slip in freezers."

Was this perhaps a message regarding the trials that bear his name? Now is the time to find out - before 100 million that would be better spent helping cattle farmers is used to kill and injure 100,000 or more English badgers, all because weak science, and weaker statistics, failed the farmer, cow and badger.

Tom Langton is a consulting ecologist to government, business and industry who provides advocacy support to charities and pressure groups seeking justice where environmental damage is being caused to species and habitats.

This article is co-published with the Badger Trust. It is scheduled for publication in the next edition of Badger News.

Other articles by Tom Langton
"It's time to swallow the alarm clock!" This was how former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres launched Mission2020 this week, a new campaign to ensure that 2020 is the year global emissions start to decline.

The launch event took place at Google's glitzy London office and featured the likes of renowned climate economist Lord Nick Stern and Astro Teller of Google X, the mysterious 'moonshot factory' that comes up with the company's more ambitious projects like Google Glass and driverless cars.

He spoke via video link up from, what I liked to imagine, was some top secret subterranean lab under the mountains of California.

However the star of the show was Figueres, the veteran Costa Rican diplomat who stepped down as Secretary General of the UN's climate change secretariat following the successful Paris Agreement in 2015.

She has launched this new venture so that the good work of Paris is not lost and to ensure the sense of urgency about global decarbonisation is internalised - hence her clock-swallowing metaphor.

A big challenge - but an achievable one!

Mission2020 is a three-pronged call to arms: peaking global emissions within the next three years is "necessary, desirable and achievable". It's a daunting task. Scientists insist that we must start to bend this emission curve before the next Olympic Games. But Figueres, with the zeal of an evangelist, made the case that the challenge had to be confronted head on:

"Is this challenging? Absolutely it is. But we're on our way. For the last three years we've seen flat global emissions while global economic growth has increased 2-3 % a year."

She listed off some of the progress already made, such as the need for 30% of global grid electricity to be renewable by 2020 and how we're already at 23.7%, as well as some of the intimidating tasks to overcome. She said we had to end deforestation by 2020 and cited plans by the Indian Government for the country to have 100% electric vehicles by 2030.

Such high ambitions sound unlikely, sitting where we do in the second quarter of 2017. But Astro Teller used history to shed some useful light on the kind of unlikely achievements we've already accomplished:

"When I was a child at the height of the Cold War, we were making nuclear weapons at a ferocious rate. The idea that in 35 years time, there would be one sixth of the nuclear weapons would have been laughable, but, as a species, we managed it.

"There was also the idea, back in the 19th Century, that we thought we would run out of fertiliser and run out food and that millions of people would starve. However in 1909 artificial fertiliser was created in a lab, and just four years later it was in mass production through the Haber-Bosch process. For every story about technology ruining our lives I see stories of how technology can save them."
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
Nazi Germany had to decide who was and who wasn't a Jew in order to know who could be targeted under its racial laws.

The United States had to make the same sort of decision about who was and who wasn't "Japanese."

Who do you think was stricter?

Obviously, I wouldn't be asking the question if the answer weren't surprising: the United States was stricter. By a lot.

Under the Nuremberg Laws, a person with at least three Jewish grandparents was a Jew, no further questions asked. A person with only two Jewish grandparents was a Jew only if certain further conditions were met.

The rule in the United States was that any person with a Japanese ancestor was Japanese. Regardless of degree.

U.S. Army Western Defense Command, "Japanese Evacuation from the West Coast, 1942: Final Report," p. 514.

And in actual operation the rules on curfew, exclusion, and detention touched people who had only one Japanese great-grandparent.

Final Report, p. 145.

This is a question (who was "Japanese" for the purposes of internment?) that is often asked but surprisingly hard to find the answer to. So I thought I'd share it here.
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 ...
What issue do Iowa voters most often say is critical? You might be surprised
See who's on the ballot in Iowa's 2022 midterm election

From the races for governor and senator, all the way down to county offices and judicial retention, here's what's on Iowans' ballots this year.
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WILTON  Local beauty professionals without the wherewithal to open a business can now rent a space at Sola Salon Studios in the Wilton River Park Shopping Center.

The 18-studio office at 5 River Road offers licensed beauty professionals 24/7 access to an outfitted space with cabins, sinks, shelves and individual air conditioning and heating units.

Each studio ranges between 100 and 200 square feet that can be retrofit and personalized for any kind of beauty professional, from hairstylists to nail technicians.

Since Sola Salons opening in late February, two businesses have moved in and several studios are on reserve.

Everything is ready to go. They just have to bring their product in and get going, said Holly Bobrow, of Westport, who owns the business with her husband Rich. And so people come in here and theyre now business owners, theyre in control of their financial destiny, theyre in more control of their life in a much more flexible way than they ever have been before. And its a life-changer for many.

The Westport couple decided to open a location in Wilton because of the towns central location in Fairfield County and overall reputation of being welcoming to new businesses, Rich Bobrow said.

Its a new concept for the Northeast and it was a new concept for Fairfield County, and therefore a new concept for Wilton, Rich Bobrow said. And they were extremely helpful in trying to work it out and figure how this concept would apply to Wilton under their rules and regulations.

The Bobrows spent 25 years developing real estate in New York City and Fairfield County before delving into the shared space business a year ago, with the opening of their first Sola Salons location in Westport at 495 Westport Road E.

Since then, theyve made it their goal to help beauty professionals reach success through Sola Salon Studios.

Were not only just renting out studios. We are offering business support of all kinds and artistic education in terms of continuing education for hairstylists and the other beauty professionals, Holly Bobrow said.

Were here to support the people that are working at Sola and the community, Rich Bobrow added.

Wiltons got a very strong sense of community and thats important to us.

Sola Salons has more than 300 locations nationwide with a network of 7,000-plus beauty professionals. For more information about the Wilton location, call 203-885-7652.

SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim
HASTINGS  A former Hastings police officer was sentenced for theft by deception on Wednesday in Adams County District Court.

Jerry Esch, 46, of Hastings will serve 10 days in jail and 24 months probation and must perform 100 hours of community service.

In June 2016, Esch was charged with theft by deception involving more than $5,000, a Class 2A felony. Esch had created a GoFundMe page in which he asked for money to cover medical expenses he claimed to have incurred due to cancer. The offense date is listed as March 25, 2016, according to online court records.

Esch had melanoma, according to a previous feature in the Hastings Tribune. He was diagnosed in 2009, and doctors later had to amputate his right leg below the knee.

While Esch did have cancer, he did not have the medical bills he claimed to have incurred, according to the Nebraska attorney generals office.

During an interview with the Nebraska State Patrol and according to the court affidavit, Esch said he raised in excess of $30,000 after posting his GoFundMe request.

Eschs attorney, Steven M. Delaney, confirmed his clients sentence of jail, probation and community service.

Esch pleaded no contest in January in exchange for the felony being reduced to the Class 1 misdemeanor. At that hearing, Esch was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution, which Delaney said was paid before Wednesdays sentencing.
Under a plea agreement, former Shelton school superintendent Brian Redinger pleaded no contest Wednesday to two misdemeanors in Hall County District Court.

The plea was entered to charges of third-degree domestic assault and reckless driving.

The charges stem from a dispute between Redinger and his wife, Kelleene, on April 10, 2016.

As part of Wednesdays agreement, three felony charges were dropped. Those charges were attempt of a Class 2 felony, strangulation and making terroristic threats.

The 46-year-old Hastings resident will be sentenced by District Judge John Marsh at 10 a.m. June 8.

The agreement was offered to me this morning, Redingers attorney, Richard Alexander, said Wednesday afternoon.

Alexander said that he personally believes charges were trumped up against his client.

I think that law enforcement, once they found out it was the superintendent from the Shelton public schools ... just took it upon themselves to make this whole thing into a mountain from a molehill, Alexander said.

Hall County Deputy Attorney David Medlin, who prosecuted the case, could not be reached for comment.
Dear Annie: My husband and I live in a small town and belong to a small church, which is struggling. I like our minister, but a lot of people do not and have left our church for other churches, including a megachurch in a nearby town. It is hard to compete with that!

But several months ago, I found out that it is not just because of the minister. A couple in our church have been running people off. They are involved in everything and are rude to other people and downright mean to the minister. I started watching their behavior, and I am just amazed that people who act this way can call themselves Christians. Their behavior is getting worse as the months go by.

We are going to be sharing a minister starting in July because we cannot afford to pay a full-time one any longer. He is already a minister at a church in a nearby town. I was hoping that would be an end to our problems, but now I am not so sure. A few weeks ago, the wife left in the middle of the service, angry over something. She sat in the car the rest of the service. Her husband always runs the computer during worship and thinks no one else can do it right, but last Sunday, they were both gone and someone else did it just fine.

She wrote a post on Facebook about how they attended the church where our future minister already preaches. Awesome message! So refreshing, were her comments. My greatest fear  and I am not alone  is that they are trying to get in good with the new minister before he even gets to our church. I am hoping that he is smart enough to see through these people. My question is: Should someone discuss these people with him, or should we just pray and hope for the best?

 Trying to Save Our Church

Dear Trying: Ill answer your question with another: What would Jesus do? By all indications, he would turn the other cheek and pray for this couple, showing them only mercy and kindness. Everyone is on a different path when it comes to faith and worship. If the couple are driven by ego and attention, that is between them and God.

It is not something you need to worry about and resolve. These types of things always have a way of working themselves out. If they are truly being fake and kissing up to the minister, he will probably see through that.

Dear Annie: I agreed with your advice to Always a Bridesmaid, Now a Bride, whose sisters-in-law had all chosen her as a bridesmaid and who was deciding whether to use them as bridesmaids or to use four of her friends. You said the writer should do the former, but you did not tell her what to do with her friends.

She should use them to help out in other areas of the wedding  serving punch, cutting cake, being greeters and so on. They could even help with the decorations and bouquets.

 Em

Dear Em: Great idea, and help with preparation would no doubt be beneficial for brides and grooms on a budget.

Annie Lane, a graduate of New York Law School and New York University, writes this column for Creators Syndicate. Email questions to dearannie@creators.com.
Rows of Westridge middle-schoolers cheered as they waited to hear about money from Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg on Wednesday in the school auditorium.

More than 100 students at Westridge heard from Stenberg, who also spoke to Barr and Walnut students earlier in the day. Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen and Westridge Principal Brad Wolfe spoke before introducing Stenberg.

The state treasurer talked to the students about the financial literacy program Vault, which is available to Nebraska schools through the treasurers office. Grand Island sixth-graders are some of the first students in the state to complete the Vault program, which started last fall. Now, more than 1,330 students across Nebraska are taking part in the program.

Stenberg also congratulated them on becoming Nebraska NEST Financial Scholars, an online financial literacy program offered to Nebraska schools at no charge to schools, students or taxpayers. Those programs aim to help students understand personal finance so they can be responsible with their money early on.

The best money management advice I can give you is to spend less than you earn, Stenberg said. That sounds easy enough, but many adults have trouble doing that. How does someone spend more than he or she earns? By borrowing money. So, you need to look for alternatives to borrowing money.

Jensen and financial literacy teacher Phil Zlomke said they didnt have much financial literacy when they were younger.

Zlomke, who later shook students hands along with Stacy Sybrandts, Jensen, Stenberg and Wolfe, shared some of his misfortune.

When I went to college, I already had $5,000 in credit card debt, he said.

It took him seven years to recover and pay off that debt.

The reason Zlomke teaches financial literacy to his students?

I dont want you guys to make that same mistake, he told Westridge sixth-graders.

Stenberg shared a story of a woman who had a dad and a stepdad. One of the men worked for the post office, while the other was a surgeon. Stenberg said the one that has financial problems is the one youd least expect: the surgeon. He said thats likely because that person is living a more expensive lifestyle for himself.

Although the post office worker made less, Stenberg said, he was actually richer because he saved more.

Stenberg left the students with this advice: Dont spend all your money in one place. Never spend more than you earn. And make wise choices, because once you spend the money you have, you dont have any more to spend.

Nebraska State Treasured Don Stenberg talks to Westridge middle school students a/b financial literacy: https://t.co/TcG854HBqy  Kelli Rollin (@KRollinIndy) April 12, 2017
LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers signaled Wednesday they intend to pull rank on local elected officials when it comes to regulating guns.

The Legislature voted 32-12 to advance a bill that would require state law to override municipal gun regulations in Nebraska. Supporters of the measure narrowly defeated a filibuster by senators who argued cities and villages ought to control gun possession in their communities.

The advancement of the bill puts Nebraska one step closer to passing what likely is the most significant expansion of gun rights since lawmakers enacted a concealed carry law in 2006.

Senators adopted an amendment that provides exceptions that allow Omaha to continue to ban open carry of handguns in public places. It also permits Omaha to keep certain rules on transporting firearms through the city that wont apply to other places.

But the bill would end Omahas handgun registration ordinance, long a source of irritation to gun owners who viewed it as a blatant infringement on their Second Amendment rights.

The bill also would end local gun ordinances in all cities smaller than Omaha, which is the states largest metropolitan area. That prompted concern by opponents who say it will allow gun owners to openly carry handguns in public buildings, including Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The bill needs to pass two more rounds of debate this session before it would go to the desk of Gov. Pete Ricketts. Although the governor has not commented on the bill, he is a supporter of gun rights.

Opponents will likely mount another fight when the bill comes up for second-round debate.
The Regional Planning Commission is taking on a sensitive issue as it considers agriculture district zoning.

The proposal is to use a siting matrix that takes into account farmers work to protect the environment and their livestock as well as neighbors concerns about water quality and odor issues.

Our states agricultural producers are very cognizant of the impact of their operations on the environment. In most cases, they live where they are raising their livestock, so they benefit from soil, water and air quality protection as much as their neighbors do.

And its important to our states economy that they be able to make a profit in operating their businesses.

Under the siting matrix proposal being considered by the planning commission, livestock operations would be permitted as long as they meet Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, meet setback and operation requirements and ensure proper management of their operations.

The biggest issue so far as the commission has heard comments on the proposal has been with odor concerns raised by people living less than a mile from existing livestock feedlots.

Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity has proposed that operations with 1,001 to 3,000 head of cattle have a 3/8-mile setback instead of the current 1/2-mile setback requirement. Operations with 3,001 to 5,000 head would have to have a 1/2-mile setback on an open lot. For dairy and hog confinement facilities, the setback would remain at a mile, regardless of the number of cattle or hogs.

This is actually more strict than the Nebraska zoning matrix the state developed last year. But it is a reduction in the setback requirement for smaller operations.

Commission member Greg Robb said he believes the proposal is fair to everybody involved, holding livestock producers accountable but also recognizing the importance of their businesses success as it takes into consideration neighboring landowners concerns.

The commission needs to take it slow as it considers all the impacts of a switch to a siting matrix.

The commission heard comments at its meeting last week and chairman Pat ONeill encouraged the public to submit written comments, which he said will be reviewed before any decision is made. People impacted by this process should take the time now to speak up.

The Regional Planning Commission, which is responsible for planning-related services for the city of Grand Island, Hall County and the villages of Alda, Cairo, Doniphan, and Wood River, meets at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the Grand Island City Council chambers. Comments can be submitted to Nabitys office at City Hall. Nabity can be reached by phone at (308) 385-5240.
In February 2016, Gov. Pete Rickets appointed a task force to address the growing violence in Whiteclay, Neb. The task force included two beer store owners, several elected officials, a pastor, the Sheridan County attorney and the county sheriff.

Subsequently, the task force made six recommendations. At the top of the list was the need for full time law enforcement. The recommendation by itself was an admission that current law enforcement is inadequate.

Thursday at the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission hearing, Sheridan County commissioner and task force member James Krotz tried to minimize the task force recommendation and argued aimlessly that they had adequate law enforcement. Krotz then acquiesced and acknowledged that Sheridan County doubled the law enforcement budget for 2017, giving the appearance that the elected officials were providing cover for the beer store owners.

Tribal Attorney General Natewin Means, the chief law enforcement official of the Ogalala Sioux Tribe (OST), told the committee that Pine Ridge residents were asking her for help with alcohol-related crimes being perpetrated in Whiteclay. She told the committee that she does not have any jurisdiction in Whiteclay and there is not any cooperation from Sheridan County officials. Supporting her testimony was a four-page resolution passed unanimously by the OST executive committee, asking the NLCC to refuse to authorize the re-issuance of off-sale beer licenses at Whiteclay.

With the ongoing murder investigation of Sherry Wounded Foot since August 2016, lawlessness in Whiteclay is on the rise. It is in the best interest of Nebraska and Pine Ridge to not reissue the four beer licenses at Whiteclay.
More than 100 world leaders are about to discuss a worsening problem that scientists call Earths biggest challenge, yet observers say it will be hard to make progress given all the other things happening in the world. Dozens of heads of states or governments Monday take the stage in the first day of high-level international climate talks in Egypt with more to come in following days. Much of the focus will be on national leaders telling their stories of being devastated by climate disasters. But leaders of China, India and Russia will be missing and the U.S. midterm elections will be grabbing headlines.
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 National Park Service invites the public to celebrate 101 years of service during Junior Ranger Day and National Park Week, April 15-23, 2017. Free, family-friendly, interactive programs focusing on national parks will be available at the Old Courthouse, part of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Junior Ranger Programs: Daily, April 15-23

Kids ages 5-15 can earn two limited-edition Junior Ranger badges at the Old Courthouse by completing activity booklets for the National Park Service Centennial and the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. A third Junior Ranger badge can be earned at the Gateway Arch.

Happy Birthday, National Park Service!: April 15; 12:00 p.m.

Join park rangers in celebrating 101 years of preservation and protection with a slice of birthday cake (while supplies last).

Junior Ranger Night Explorer Workshop: April 15, 16 & 23; 10:00 a.m.

Kids ages 5-12 and their families can join Ranger Richard to learn more about the night sky. Hell help them earn the special Junior Ranger Night Explorer Patch that is only available these three days.

A Kids and Family Total Eclipse Primer: April 15, 16, 23; 1:00 p.m.

Ranger Richard will give kids and their families tips on where and how to view this summer's total solar eclipse, the first eclipse visible from the continental United States since 1979 and the first visible from St. Louis since 1442. Kids will receive a free set of eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last.

Henry Chouteau vs. the City of St. Louis Mock Trial: April 15, 16, 22 & 23; 2:00 p.m.

Ever wonder how the Old Courthouse became part of a national park? Abandoned in the 1930s, the Old Courthouse, full of important American stories and history, was dilapidated and in need of preservation. Visitors will participate in this historic trial that began a chain of events that led to the Old Courthouse becoming the first National Historic Site.

Find Your Park Anywhere: April 15, 16, 22 & 23, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where is the closest national park? Ranger Karen will illustrate the diversity of over 400 sites to prove there is an NPS site for everyone. She will highlight some lesser-known parks and share her passion for national parks with the public. Pick up free park bookmarks, NPS trading cards and more when you stop by her table.

Find Your Park in Missouri: April 15, 16, 22 & 23; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Ranger Isaiah highlights the six National Parks in Missouri by using natural objects, artifacts and puppets. Learn surprising things you can discover when you visit these special places, and be inspired to take a road trip within your own state this spring or summer! Giveaways such as temporary tattoos, stickers and activity sheets are available to participants.

The History of the National Park Service: April 15, 16, 22 & 23; 11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.

When Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1906, he went to work preserving Americas national treasures for future generations. In just three years, he established 15 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, through executive order. Please join Ranger Isaiah as he reveals how presidents and average Americans worked to protect these areas for all Americans to enjoy.

Dress Like a Ranger Selfie Station: Daily, April 15-23

Kids can dress up as park rangers and pose with a life-size cut-out of former Park Ranger President Gerald Ford, work on a national park puzzle, collect stickers and learn about national park stories, icons, and symbols.

Every Kid in a Park Free National Park Pass: Daily, April 15-23

This special initiative gives fourth graders and their families a chance to visit hundreds of Americas special placesincluding the Gateway Arch!with the Every Kid in a Park pass. Go to www.everykidinapark.gov before your park visit to print off your voucher. There will also be opportunities at the park for kids with no computer access to earn this pass throughout National Park Week.

ARCH TRAM RIDES SUSPENSION REMINDER

Journey to the Top tram rides at the Gateway Arch are temporarily suspended to replace the motor generator sets and upgrade the trams electrical system. The Visitor Center, The Arch Store, Monument to the Dream documentary film and riverfront via the Arch Grand Staircase remain available to visitors during this time. Tram rides will resume in spring 2017. Please note: During the temporary suspension of tram operations, entrance to the Arch Visitor Center is free, and tickets are not required.

PARKING AND ROAD CLOSURES REMINDER

A list of downtown St. Louis parking locations within walking distance of the Old Courthouse is available at http://getaroundstl.com. Metered street parking is also available around the Old Courthouse. Visitors are encouraged to check www.gatewayarch.com/directions for up-to-date information on road detours and construction news before their visit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.nps.gov/jeff or www.gatewayarch.com; or call 877-982-1410. Reservations are not required, but large groups should call 314-655-1614 to alert the Old Courthouse of their attendance.

ABOUT:

The Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse are part of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. The Gateway Arch Visitor Center features The Arch Store and Monument to the Dream documentary movie. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the winter. The Old Courthouse, which features restored courtrooms and gallery exhibits about the Dred Scott trials, westward expansion and early St. Louis, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The Courthouse is located at 11 North Fourth Street, St. Louis, MO 63102. Programs are free and made possible by the generous support from Jefferson National Parks Association and Bi-State Development.
The Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education approved the amended 2016 tax levy (for 2017-18) during its meeting Monday night.

The new rate, which captures both the 55-cent education fund tax rate increase recently approved by voters and the current 3 percent EAV growth rate, is $4.64 and is 13 cents less than what had originally been estimated it would be post-referendum approval.

Dave Courtney, District 7's Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, explained how the amended tax levy was actually lower than had been expected.

When the referendum was brought forward the district had a tax rate of $4.22 and with the 55 cent increase that tax rate would have been $4.77, he said.

But in March the district received information concerning the EAV for the '17-'18 school year and that was higher than the district had projected.

This new higher EAV was essentially going to slightly lower the tax rate for the district for the 2017-18 school year from this year's $4.22 rate to somewhere between $4.10 and $4.14.

But closer to $4.10 for next school year, Courtney noted.

The amended tax levy captures the impact of the passing of the referendum as well as the new projected 3 percent growth in EAV.

"So what we've done on the amended tax rate certificate that we're requesting be approved is just add the 55 cents to that lower tax rate estimate which, like I said, would have been around $4.10, he added. So under this proposal, the tax rate, instead of being $4.77, would be $4.64.

Courtney also pointed out that all other components of the original levy, such as Social Security, IMRF and the tort levies, remain unchanged.

Answering questions posed by board members about the effect of this new tax levy on the district's future budgets, Courtney explained that it will allow the district to have a balanced budget more quickly as well as begin paying back the district's debt. As long as it can be adjusted, which is why we're filing it, if that were to occur, then yes, we would have a balanced budget for '17-'18 and it would allow us to begin paying back the debt as opposed to running another fiscal year with a $3 million deficit... it would prevent us from going $9 million in the hole in the education fund next year as opposed to the $6.5 that we have this year. And at the same time it begins the process of debt repayment and balances the budget which is one of the first requirements of the state board to start moving towards removal from the financial watch list, Courtney noted. The first component was a balanced budget so that would be achieved next year.

But he stressed that it will likely take three years before the district recovers from its $6.7 million debt projected at the end of this school year. He pointed out that the state of Illinois currently owes District 7 $1.7 million, is behind about nine to 10 months in payments, that the district will still need to borrow for the education and transportation funds and will definitely need to borrow in May.

Turning to a more positive subject, District 7 Superintendent Lynda Andre confirmed that the programs and services that had been on the referendum cut list had the education tax increase not passed, would all be retained. We will continue with all of those services  those will continue for the '17-'18 year without any interruption, Andre assured.

In her superintendent's report, Andre also again expressed gratitude to the citizens of District 7 for their support of Proposition E. The success of Prop E ensures that students today and in the future will continue to have all the valuable opportunities  both academic and extra-curricular  that we as a collective group of citizens want our students to experience. This historic vote allows the Edwardsville School District Number 7's plans to ensure it's ongoing financial stability and academic excellence, Andre said.

Now that Prop E has passed and funding is available, Andre noted that the district's plans for the funding include ensuring a balanced budget before June of 2019 to avoid a potential state takeover, eliminating the education fund operating debt of $6.7 million and beginning to establish cash reserves. Other plans already underway include replacing aging textbooks, restoring the curriculum review cycle, upgrading technology, infrastructure and hardware, and updating failing school security issues.

In other board action, Courtney was appointed treasurer through June 20, 2018.
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Linkedin Hendri Yulius (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017

On the night of March 28, unidentified vigilantes invaded a house to arrest two men aged 20 and 23 for allegedly having same-sex relationships. A video circulating in social media shows the vigilantes kicking, slapping and insulting the pair before they were brought to and detained at a sharia police facility. Reports said the chief inspector has pushed the men into confessing that they were gay and thus would be detained before being tried under Acehs Islamic Criminal Code (Qanun Jinayah).

Homosexuality continues to become Indonesias obsession. In 2016 conservative groups tried to outlaw homosexuality at the national level, but the eventual penalty against the above men would be the first caning of men declared to be gays  a punishment under sharia, which is authorized in Aceh under its special autonomy law, following the agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that brought peace in 2005.

The law criminalizes liwath, defined as anal penetration between men and carries a punishment of 100 lashes, a fine of 1,000 grams of gold or 100 months in prison. Female homosexuality and heterosexual extramarital sex are also inescapable from the law. The former is penalized by categorizing and defining female same-sex relations as musahaqah the act of two or more women rubbing their body parts or vagina for sexual pleasure, while the latter can be criminalized just because of ikhtilath, intimacy in the form of kissing, touching, and hugging.

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Linkedin Jean-Charles Berthonnet (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017

During their meeting on March 29, visiting French President Francois Hollande and President Joko Jokowi Widodo expressed their wish to pursue common initiatives towards a green and sustainable growth model.

The two heads of state also encouraged bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, responsible agriculture, forest preservation and prevention of natural disasters.

On all these issues, France and Indonesia, which both have ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, are committed to working together in order to find win-win solutions. And palm oil is no exception.

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Linkedin Kuan-lin Liu (The China Post/Asia News Network) Taipei  Thu, April 13, 2017

Taiwan tech giant Asustek Computer Inc. saw a drop in worldwide PC shipments this past first quarter, according to separate reports from two IT research and analysis firms International Data Corporation (IDC) and Gartner.

The reports, released Tuesday U.S. time, suggested that Asus suffered a year-on-year first-quarter decrease of 11.4 percent to 14 percent.

Garner's estimates found Asus to be the world's fourth-largest-selling PC vendor, shipping 4.547 million units for a 7. 3 percent market share, whereas the company fell out of the top 5 in IDC's list.

According to Gartner, Asus suffered a 14 percent decrease in shipments from the same period last year, when it shipped 5.287 million units and had a market share of 8.3 percent.

By contrast, IDC grouped the PC manufacturer in its "Others" group, which comprises all vendors other than those in the top 5 and which the group said had total shipments of 16.967 million units for a 28.1 percent market share.

Local experts have suggested that the poor first-quarter performance was due to an increase in component costs and the resulting adjustment of production distribution.

How Did Others Fare?

Overall, the growth of the global PC market was either relatively flat or negative, depending on how the shipment units are calculated.

IDC, which counts Chromebooks, desktops, notebooks and workstations but not tablets or x86 servers as PCs, found that the market saw year-on-year growth of 0.6 percent with 60.3 million units in the first quarter.

Read also: Gaming and VR gadgets to star at Computex

Gartner, which includes desktops, notebooks and ultramobile premiums but not Chromebooks or iPads in its calculations, found that the market's total shipments fell by 2.4 percent to 62.2 million units, reportedly marking the first time since 2007 that "the PC market experienced shipments below 63 million units in a quarter.

HP topped IDC's rankings, followed by Lenovo, Dell, Apple and Acer, with all of them posting year-on-year growth.

In Gartner's rankings, Lenovo took the top spot, followed by HP, Dell, Asus, Apple and Acer, with all except Asus and Acer reported to have seen year-on-year growth.

The Age of PCs No Longer

Despite the firms' somewhat different outlooks on the PC market, representatives from both reported slower growth and a delayed replacement rate for PCs.

"The PC simply isn't as in-demand as it once was," U.S. technology website VentureBeat noted.

The website quoted Gartner's principal analyst, Mikako Kitagawa, who said that "vendors who do not have a strong presence in the business market will encounter major problems ... and be forced to exit the PC market in the next five years."

According to Kitagawa, the consumer market for PCs will continue to shrink, which is why "maintaining a strong position in the business market," especially as "specialized niche players with purpose-built PCs, such as gaming PCs and ruggedized laptops," will be critical for sustainable growth.

IDC research manager Jay Chou expressed a similar sentiment. He was quoted by VentureBeat as saying that "consumer demand will remain under pressure, although growth in segments like PC Gaming as well as rising saturation of tablets and smartphones will move the consumer market toward stabilization."

Lenovo, HP and Dell, according to Gartner, will be the main contenders for "the large-enterprise segment" of the PC market, leaving limited opportunities for other vendors, except Apple, which Kitagawa said has "a solid customer base in specific verticals."

This article appeared on The China Post newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin I Wayan Juniarta (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Thu, April 13, 2017 10:30 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8f8b99 4 Environment bali,drought,clean-water Free

At the height of the rainy season in early February, when torrential rain fell on a daily basis and triggered floods in Bali, more than 50,000 homes in Denpasar found themselves without any clean water for days.

The tap water company PDAM, owned by the Badung regency administration, cut off its water supply after discovering two of its water purification facilities were clogged with mud, trash and uprooted logs carried by overflowing rivers. It took the PDAM days to clean up the facilities and restore water quality to an acceptable level.

The episode spurred public outrage on both mainstream and social media, with some pointing out the irony of a water scarcity taking place during the rainy season. Others accused PDAM  which last year booked an annual profit of Rp 26 billion (US$1.95 million)  of negligence for failing to anticipate the floods and providing insufficient response as it deployed only seven water trucks to aid its customers during the crisis.

However, the ordeal, which forced many households to spend huge sums of money to purchase bottled water, did result in one good thing: it facilitated the birth of greater public awareness of the islands water scarcity problem.

A waiting game: Residents of Tianyar village, Bali, place buckets in front of their homes to collect rain water.(JP/Anggara Mahendra)

Lack of water has been Balis pink elephant in the room for decades. Discussions on the growing gap between the islands water supply and the everincreasing demand have been a staple among academics, environmentalists and NGO activists.

Read also: Rus Alit: Keeping water flowing in rural areas

As early as 2009, research by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) warned that the southern part of the island would suffer from a water deficit by 2015. It projected a deficit of up to 2,500 liters per second. Other studies carried out by local scholars yielded similar results.

However, the realization that Bali was suffering from a lack of clean water did not gain traction outside the realms of academia, environmentalism and NGOs.

A majority of the islands population, especially those being spoiled by easy access to clean water, were not even aware of the problem. Those who were mistakenly concluded that the problem was exclusive to Balis poor and arid regions in the east and north.

When nature fails: Children walk home from school under the scorching sun.(JP/Anggara Mahendra)

It was this ignorance that for years has made water scarcity one of the islands most unrecognized and therefore most neglected problems, said activist Viebeke Lengkong.

Dubbed the matriarch of Balis AntiReclamation Movement, arguably the islands biggest pro-environmental grassroots campaign, Viebeke is the founder of Im An Angel, a charity organization that provides aid to poor villagers in Karangasem regency, East Bali.

Karangasem boasts some of the islands most impoverished and arid villages, where water scarcity has been a real problem for decades.

In Tianyar, a poverty-stricken region on the slopes of Mount Agung, Im An Angel has assisted villagers in constructing at least 50 cubang, a water storage tank for harvesting rainfall. Each cubang costs around Rp 23 million and can provide water for up to 25 families. During severe drought periods, the organization usually sends water trucks to fill in the empty cubing. It also provides free health services to women and school supplies to their children.

Read also: Foundation campaigns to help East Sumba tackle water, electricity issues

In yesteryears, many Balinese people thought that water scarcity was a problem for the poor regions; now they begin to see that it is their problem, too, Viebeke said.

It is also a truly pressing problem, she added, with three of the islands four lakes suffering from silting, 260 out of 400 rivers drying up during the dry season and saltwater intrusion expanding at settlements along Balis southern coast.

The island needs to get its act together fast. A comprehensive solution must be followed through with real actions, senior lecturer Stroma Cole from the University of the West of England said during a recent workshop on water scarcity.

Painful symptoms: The lack of clean water in Tianyar village, Bali, has lead to various health problems.(JP/Anggara Mahendra)

Co-organized by Im An Angel and Udayana University, the workshop brought together scholars, environmentalists, NGO activists, government officials and figures from the tourism industry and traditional communities to draft an action plan to deal with the problem.

Stroma, who studies water use at various tourism regions across the world and has previously carried out studies in Bali, warned that a failure to act would put local residents in a collision course with the tourism industry  Balis economic backbone and one of the primary culprits behind soaring demand for clean water.

In her paper, Stroma pointed out that 100 tourists consume in 55 days an amount of clean water that is enough for 100 rural families to last three years. Now, picture Bali: a tiny island of around 4 million people and annually receives more than 11 million tourists, and imagine the toll on the islands water resources.

The solution for [Balis] water scarcity problem will have to include a paradigm shift in our tourism approach. We must abandon the existing mass tourism approach and embrace quality and sustainable tourism, Viebeke said.

Other actions recommended in the workshop include lobbying for unified, island-wide water management; tighter regulations on land conversion and ground water use; campaigning for ecofriendly practices targeting the tourism industry; and continuing assistance for NGOs working on the preservation of water resources, such as IDEP Foundations initiative to construct recharge wells in strategic locations across Bali.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 10:27 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8f8792 1 Lifestyle jakarta-fashion-food-festival,jakarta,events,food,fashion,Kelapa-Gading,#food,#fashion,#JFFF,festival,#festival Free

The annual Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival (JFFF) returns for its 14th installment and will run until May 7 at Summarecon Kelapa Gading mall, North Jakarta, providing a wide selection of local culinary and fashion events by local designers.

The fashion event, dubbed Fashion Village, slated to run until April 30, features more than 90 booths selling ready-to-wear collections in the ground floor corridors of Mal Kelapa Gading 2, 3 and 5. Many brands, small medium enterprises and fashion schools will participate in the event, including Itang Yunasz, Oemah Etnik, North Jakarta Handicraft Council (Dekranasda), Indonesian Batik Foundation, and Indonesian Fashion Designers and Fashion Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI).

The festival will also present a series of fashion shows from local designers and brands, as well as the JFFF Awards, which are held to appreciate celebrated figures in the Indonesian fashion scene. Among the designers scheduled to take part are Danny Satriadi, Irsan, Ivan Gunawan, Lulu Lutfi Labibi and Musa Widyatmodjo.

As for the food festival, JFFF returns with Kampoeng Tempo Doeloe (KTD) at La Piazza. Set in a village-like ambiance, KTD features more than 100 booths that will serve traditional cuisine, starting from meatballs and soto (aromatic soup) to local snacks.

Read also: Annual Yogyakarta art fair to return in May

Ragam Nusantara Dance begins the opening ceremony of the Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.(Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival/File)

JFFF deputy chairman Cut Meutia said that all the participants in KTD had been chosen by a special team from the festival. We didnt recruit them based on region; we chose them based on peoples favorite foods. [They) usually have delicious menus but lack promotion, she recently told The Jakarta Post.

Visitors to the festival can also join the Wine & Cheese Expo slated until May 7. Located within the same area of KTD, this year's event offers various high-quality wines from inside and outside the country, including from Hungary, Slovakia, France and Spain. It will also host competitions for sommelier, wine dinners with renowned chefs and the fifth installment of the Jakarta Wine & Cheese Run.

However, unlike JFFF's previous installments, the Gading Nite Carnival will not be held due to the construction of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) in Kelapa Gading.

Those who want to visit the JFFF can view the complete schedule of the festival on its official website (jfff.info/). (kes)
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Linkedin Marcel Thee (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 12:00 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8fdbd8 4 Art & Culture R-Yuki-Agriardi,painting,exhibition,local-artists Free

Bandung artist R. Yuki Agriardis unique style is easy to spot.

Whether working with ceramics, various installations or on paintings, his main creative medium, Yukis highly detailed pieces are likely to have some kind of blueish hue adorning them.

A graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technologys interior design program and the Central Saint Martin art school in London, Yuki finds inspiration in nature and childhood memories.

His latest project was a co-exhibition with fellow artist Wedhar Riyadi and Wisnu Auri at the Ark Galerie in Yogyakarta, called When I Think about the Death of Painting, I Play.

On whether the title has any personal meaning to him, Yuki said death was something he often thought about. In general, I still have no clear idea about death. It could be a big black wall you have to face one day, but it could be also a big black wall you have to face with a hammer or shovel on your hand  something you have to work out, he said.

Read also: Sketches that capture the subtleties of both worlds

However, he has no intention of talking about the death of painting in the contemporary art world.

For me, painting is one medium I like to work with to visualize my ideas. My work feels alive to me, but in the end, I leave it open to the viewers interpretation [as] they have their own values and thoughts [and] their own experiences, he explained.

Right spaces wrong place by R. Yuki Agriardi(Ark Galerie/File)

For this exhibition, he worked on his paintings in parallel, waiting for a layer on one painting to totally dry, before working on the other.

As an artist who works with different mediums, Yuki doesnt find it hard to decide which medium to use at different times.

My professor once told me that I didnt have any religious attachments to any particular materials or medium, he said, laughing.

I work with any medium I think would best present my ideas  either ceramics, wood, paper, drawing, painting, furniture, installations or anything. When I work on an idea, I give it a try and experiment with several mediums, and decide later which one best represents the idea. So experimentation and process plays a big part in my work. As for that love of blue, Yuki said that between 2009 and 2011, his work was largely generated by intuition.

Read also: Annual Yogyakarta art fair to return in May

He did not begin using blue as his main color until working on his Dive Series in 2011, because my intuition told me blue had this special, visual value that worked with my art, but I cant describe or put it into words.

He simply followed his gut, allowing his fingers to draw ocean creatures with a lot of blue.

Into the blue: Works by multidisciplinary artist R. Yuki Agriardi utilize the color blue to evoke the natural beauty of the environment.(Ark Galerie/File)

When he obtained his masters degree from Londons Central Saint Martin art school, Yuki came up with what he considers his calling card, the Native Island series. It was, among others, influenced by a time visiting the London Zoo.

This idea of a Native Island is like a habitat from which my works are collected. This island is a space I observe, a space within borders, an island between domestic life and wildlife. Its like, if you were standing next to a fence, and on the other side of it were these wild, lifelike figures  like animals and shrubs, he explained.

Well, the space Im observing is the one inside the fence, the space within two borders where our curiosity is transferred onto the object of our curiosity. I discovered this space when I was at the London Zoo and spent most of my time in front of the gorilla enclosure, observing [the gorillas] behavior.

His research made him realize that although the human eye recognizes a wide spectrum of the color blue in nature, blue doesnt actually exist as a pigmented color.

"Almost every naturally occurring blue tone qualifies as a structural color. Structural colors occur because of the miscroscopic structure of an object's interference with light. It's like the sky or the sea; they're blue, but if you look at them closely, the blue does not exist," he said, realizing that does this was a eureka moment.

Yuki uses this project to talk about the barrier, density, conflicts, curiosity and also the process of identification and observation.

For him, all of his art is a deeply personal process. Through it, he observes and reflects his environment as a journey to pursue self-awareness by looking at nature.

Personally, this is also reflected when we see something that looks simple but was built from dense, intricate elements. Its like when you see yourself in the mirror. First, you see whats on the outside  the fence, the barricade, Yuki said. But when you start to know yourself, you realize that you were built from lots of smaller fences raised by your life experiences. Thats why, if you observe my paintings closely, you will see the inhabitants or hidden details inside. We are built to observe and to be observed.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 10:47 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8f9fa2 4 Science & Tech telkom,Netflix,#Netflix,video-streaming,Streaming,streaming-service Free

State-owned telecommunications and internet provider Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has announced a new partnership with US-based streaming video service Netflix, allowing Telkom subscribers to access the service in Indonesia.

Kompas.com reported that the two companies will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the partnership.

We agreed to have a partnership and Netflix has promised to obey the regulations in Indonesia, said Telkom director of consumers, Dian Rachmawan.

Read also: Five Netflix reboots to watch

In Jan. 27 last year, Telkom began to block Netflix on all its platforms, namely IndiHome, WIFI.id and Telkomsel, due to permit issues and unfiltered content. At the time, Dian told The Jakarta Post that Netflix should cooperate with fixed broadband in Indonesia like IndiHome, which allows the provider to filter the content in accordance with regulations in Indonesia.

Other than Telkom, Netflix reportedly has cooperated with local internet providers in other countries, such as Singtel in Singapore and Telecom in Italy. (jes/kes)
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Linkedin Ian King (Bloomberg)  Thu, April 13, 2017 18:05 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde912e3b 2 Science & Tech robot,#robot,pizza,food,technology,#technology Free

While Silicon Valley touts new robots that will greet you at the airport, deliver Cheetos to your hotel room or get you a pizza in a hurry, other machines have had more-serious jobs for decades.

Take Northrop Grumman Remotecs products. The robotics division of the defense contractor started life more than 20 years ago as a maker of machines that move radioactive materials around government research labs. From there, the devices evolved into bomb-disposal aids, and were sent into other situations that the military or law enforcement deemed too risky for humans.

The Remotec bots were also given the ability to rip open a car, sniff out hazardous chemicals, cut a vest off a suicide bomber, blast an explosive with water to render it safe and fire guns at people. They can see in the dark, climb stairs, communicate with hostages and hostage takers, and lift more than the weight of an average person with ease.

In addition to their use in Israel and Iraq by the military, more than 400 police departments in the U.S. have them. Northrop Grumman reckons that number will rise as perceived threats increase, creating demand more powerful and capable robots.

For the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies nationwide, robots were one of the tools they acquired in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. The CHP team charged with keeping the state capitol safe uses a Northorp Grumman robot it got in 2005 for bomb disposal and other security tasks.

``Unfortunately, there are bad guys that are planting, or making these things, and they see us and what we do in terms of how we handle these packages, and what they are continually trying to do is find out ways to circumvent our technology,'' said Sergeant Dave Kessler, who heads the CHP's bomb-disposal unit. ``The need for this technology is there, and the need for further, more advanced technology, is always there.''

Read also: Meet Sally, the robot who makes perfect salads

In an assault course at the back of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s plant in Clinton, Tennessee, the latest robot, the FX, climbed stairs and squeezed through narrow spaces with ease, despite its 900-pound bulk. Built with feed-back from customers, it is much larger than predecessors and has an arm capable of almost balletic articulation -- even while lifting a car door by grasping the thin window frame.

``In the past, a robot could pick up normally 100 pounds,'' said Walt Werner, director of Northrop Grumman Remotec. ``Some of the bombs that have been placed in cars are much heavier." The bomb planted in New York's Times Square in 2010 was too heavy for robots to pick up, he noted.

It's dangerous work, even for robots. When the FX rolled out to the test range, it passed an older model still showing the damage it sustained trying to defuse a bomb in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 2016. The company is proud of its robots' record in saving lives. Engineers are on call night and day to diagnose problems and make sure the robots are there for customers in emergencies. They also restore machines that have been damaged beyond economic repair because their owners have become attached to them and want them back.

The most controversial use of one of the robots came in Dallas last July when a U.S. army veteran killed five policemen and wounded seven others. A Remotec robot was used to detonate an explosive next to the shooter. He saw it coming and shot at it but couldnt stop it. The unit survived his assault and the explosion which killed the man. Northrop Grumman doesnt discuss such incidents and refers inquiries to the owners and operators of its products.

Some tech companies are trying to create a world where everyone has an autonomous robot helper. Northrop Grumman says its robots won't be left alone to take the life-or-death decisions that their human operators sometimes have to make. Northrop's customers agree that a future where robots can perform the full range of law enforcement jobs isn't going to happen in our lifetimes.

``There's just too many steps, too many issues involved there in terms of safety and ramifications to actions to just send a robot,'' said the CHP's Kessler. ``You need the human element involved."
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2017 14:46 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde907895 1 Business ISPO,palm-oil,oil Free

The governments effort to create a sustainable palm oil business still has a long way to go, as currently only 12 percent of the 11.9 million hectares of oil palm plantations in the country are Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified.

Indonesia, the worlds biggest palm oil producer, must increase its efforts to practice sustainable oil palm cultivation amid a mounting push from the international community to reduce deforestation caused by the commodity.

Various challenges in ISPO implementation should be accommodated by guiding smallholders and cooperating well with all stakeholders, said Bambang, plantation director general with the Agriculture Ministry in his opening speech during the first international conference on ISPO on Tuesday.

Thirty-eight firms and two smallholder groups obtained ISPO certificate in the event, making a total of 266 institutions that have obtained the certificate to date. The conference runs until Wednesday and also hosts the first international forum for smallholders.

On April 4, the European Parliament issued a resolution to only import sustainable palm oil after 2020. The parliament called for a single international sustainable palm oil standard, which sparked objections from Indonesia and Malaysia, the worlds two biggest CPO producers.

Local businesspeople said they considered 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 produces competing oils from rapeseed and sunflowers. (ags)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Ivany Atina Arbi and Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 07:04 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8e9615 1 City anies-baswedan,ahok,#2017JakartaElection Free

The much-awaited final debate in Jakartas gubernatorial election was not a fiery display of mutual antipathy as some had expected. Instead, it turned out to be a somewhat tedious affair as the candidates debated the citys multitudinous problems in a manner that lacked substance, offering no concrete or detailed solutions during the two-hour contest.

Compared to the other official debate organized by the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) on Jan. 13, last nights fight night was decidedly less memorable.

Both incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and his rival Anies Baswedan had to respond to a plethora of specific questions prepared by a diverse community of Jakartans consisting of fisherfolk, transportation users, low-cost apartment tenants and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, Ahok and Anies were only permitted a short amount of time to answer the questions and often failed to fully delineate their positions and policies.

The debate was also not as combative and gung-ho as when the two camps locked horns and took off the gloves during a live debate aired on Metro TV on March 27. In that febrile affair, both teams hurled acrimonious remarks at one another and were quick to address highly sensitive issues including religious blasphemy, fueling revulsion and bitter resentment among their supporters.

Squaring off exactly one week before Jakartans go to the polls, the two remaining candidate pairs, Ahok-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anies-Sandiaga Uno, discussed transportation, housing, reclamation, education and business issues.

During the debate, which carried the theme From Residents For Jakarta, Ahok admitted that his administration had failed to build a sufficient number of good quality low-cost apartments in response to complaints expressed by a resident of the Jatinegara low-cost apartment complex in East Jakarta.

That was a mistake that we are now trying to fix. I apologize and I hope Bapak and Ibu will be patient, Ahok said.

Commenting on Ahoks apology, Anies sarcastically criticized the incumbent, saying that leaders should use their hearts when managing a city.

Later on in the debate, Anies talked about his program OK OCE, which he claims will improve the quality of life for Jakartas under-privileged residents.

If elected, Anies promised to not only provide good quality low-cost apartments, but also give residents the opportunity to buy their own houses with his zero down payment program.

The reaction to the debate on social media was also much less intense. On Twitter, some netizens questioned and commented on the responses given by both camps, but the responses were relatively calm and controlled in their demeanor compared to previous occasions.

However, when Sandiaga discussed his trademark OK-OCE Mart program for SMEs, where each mart needs about Rp 200 million (US$15,053) in capital, a Twitter feed going by the handle @ abetdaniel disparaged Sandiagas idea with some degree of venom.

Sandiaga is talking gibberish. Do you think its easy for UMKM [SME] community to have Rp 200 million all at the same time? Please think [before speaking], he said.

Meanwhile, the Ahok-Djarot tactic of presenting data and statistics to support their arguments seemed to satisfy some of the citys netizens. Ahok has planned it well. I am amazed, @edwinachen tweeted.

Outside the debate arena, the gap between the two candidates has narrowed considerably over the past week. The latest Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) survey  with samples taken between March 31 and April 5  shows Anies leading by a whisker, having secured just 47.9 percent of likely voters.

The survey says Ahok has secured 46.9 percent of likely voters, while 5.2 percent of respondents refused to provide a response. The survey has a margin of error of 4.7 percent.

Deni Irfani, a SMRC researcher, said 87 percent of voters viewed the debates as an important means through which they could weigh and evaluate the programs offered by the candidates.

Separately, pollster Usep S. Ahyar, director of the Populi Center, told The Jakarta Post that the final debate would be decisive and would influence around 10 percent of undecided voters and 15 to 20 percent of swing voters. He made this claim after analyzing voter reaction to the earlier debates held on Metro TV and Kompas TV.

According to a survey conducted by the Populi Center, voters responded badly to Anies and Sandiagas decision not to attend a Kompas TV debate moderated by Rosiana Silalahi last week.

The decision not to attend the debate was poor strategy as some residents deemed that he [Anies] was scared and unprepared for the debate, Usep said.
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Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017

Next weeks Jakarta gubernatorial runoff might be one of the tightest races in the capitals history, as incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama is closing the gap between him and his rival, Anies Baswedan, with just 1 percentage point separating the two tickets in the latest opinion poll.

The survey, conducted between March 31 and April 5 by Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC), puts Anies as the frontrunner in the election, with 47.9 percent of the respondents saying they would vote for him.

However, Ahok trails closely behind, securing 46.9 percent, with the remaining 5.2 percent of the respondents still undecided.

Eight months ago, Ahok entered the race as a shoo-in for the capitals top seat, with various polls showing no one could match his electability.

However, his popularity took a massive hit last November when the National Police declared him a suspect in a blasphemy case.

The largest gap was in December, when Ahok only got 31.7 percent and Anies stood at 43.9 percent [in terms of electability]. Since then, Ahok is slowly narrowing the gap, SMRC researcher Deni Irfani said during the launching of the survey on Wednesday, a week before the voting day.

While Ahok won the first round of the election with 42.96 percent of votes, Anies came in a close second place with 39.97 percent, with only 164,255 votes separating the two. The third candidate, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, meanwhile, came last with just 17.06 percent.

However, two surveys released after the first round showed that Anies had managed to secure most of Agus votes, leaving Ahok playing catch-up. A survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) from Feb. 27 to March 3, for instance, found that Anies had the highest electability with 49.7 percent, while Ahoks electability stood at 40.5 percent.

Recently, however, Ahok narrowed the gap. According to SMRC data, support for Ahok increased by 3.1 percent, while backing for Anies decreased by 2.8 percent over the last month.

Ahoks electability is expected to get another jolt after the final gubernatorial election debate on Wednesday night.

Almost all Jakarta residents believe the debate between the candidates is important for them to decide which candidate would get their vote, so there is a high possibility that the number will change after tonight, Deni said.

The survey also found that religious sentiment played an important role in pushing Anies toward his current frontrunner status, with 32.4 percent of his would-be voters citing a shared religion as the reason they would vote for him.

Anies, who had repeatedly argued that he would not play the religion card in the election, kicked off his runoff campaign by visiting the headquarters of prominent Muslim group Syarikat Islam.

Since then, he has made several visits to Islamic boarding schools and attended various mass prayers and Quran recital events.

On the other hand, proven track record is the strongest factor behind Ahoks electability, with 41 percent of his voters citing that as the main reason for wanting the governor to retain his seat.

Ahok campaign team spokesman Maruarar Sirait said he was optimistic that Ahok and his running mate, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, could win the election based on the surveys result.

Im glad that there are still a lot of people who can see Ahoks good track record and leadership. This positive trend must continue. Id be nervous if I was on Anies side now, he said.

Meanwhile, Anies campaign team member Riza Patria said he had no reason to be worried, because the survey clearly showed that people wanted a candidate who was trustworthy and had leadership qualities.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 13:15 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8ff162 1 City ahok,anies-baswedan,#2017JakartaElection Free

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate pairs Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno have expressed their commitment to uniting residents after the election runoff amid public divisions as a result of the election.

Djarot said in the last official debate on Wednesday night that he and Ahok would phone Anies and Sandiaga after voting day no matter what the result was.

"The election is an exciting festival of democracy. No matter what the runoff election results are, the first party we will phone is Anies and Sandiaga," Djarot said.

The pair will also visit public figures after the runoff to talk about tolerance and diversity, he said.

Anies Baswedan also said he and his running mate would try to make the city peaceful.

"Indonesia has been built upon unity and diversity. We will continue the tradition to fight corruption and develop unity and justice," Anies said.

During a press conference after the debate, Anies said he and Sandiaga had shed their signature white shirts for blue shirts to convey a message of unity.

"We want to unite Jakartans. Insya Allah, Anies and Sandiaga are ready to unite residents," he said. (dan)
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Linkedin Henry Wibowo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13 2017

We reiterate our overweight view on Indonesian banks as we believe the commodity-driven gross domestic product (GDP) recovery  from 5 percent in 2016 to 5.3 percent in the 2017 forecast  will drive loan growth from 8 percent annually in 2016 to 12 percent annually in 2017, and improve asset quality (declining non-performing loan and credit cost).

There are three events that should be the catalysts in the near-to-medium term that can push banking stocks higher, from currently at around five-year mean levels to +1 standard deviation (SD).

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Japan  Thu, April 13 2017

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti is leading negotiations in Japan to increase cooperation in the fisheries sector.

We are here to follow up Prime Minister Shinzo Abes pledge for cooperation in the fisheries sector. Were also here to offer a number of other initiatives that will benefit both parties, Susi said in a statement on Tuesday.

The minister is currently on a five-day trip to Japan to follow up on previous Japanese commitments made during Abes visit to Indonesia earlier in January, where both partners agreed to increase cooperation in several sectors including the maritime sector and the fisheries sector.

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Linkedin Suherdjoko, Agus Maryono and Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Banyumas and Makassar  Thu, April 13 2017

The man alleged to have injured three policemen in a knife attack in a police office in Banyumas, Central Java, on Tuesday is believed to have links to Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which is affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Police suspect Muhammad Ibnu Dar, 22, the alleged attacker, made contact with the suspected terrorists killed on Saturday in a shootout with police in Tuban, East Java, as well as terrorist convicts in Kedungpane Penitentiary in Semarang and Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java.

There is information and evidence showing that Ibnu made contact with Karno. They came from the same place, Candinata village, Kutasari district in Purbalingga, Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said on Wednesday.

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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 16:49 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde91103c 1 Business bank-indonesia,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,ignasius-jonan,energy,subsidy,prosperous-family-card Free

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bank Indonesia (BI) to expedite the integration of energy subsidies that will be channeled through the Prosperous Family Card (KKS).

The KKS, which is expected to promote non-cash social assistance with proper distribution, will be linked to an integrated system connecting various state-owned lenders under the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said it was difficult to monitor the distribution of subsidized 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters on the field as such canisters were often purchased by ineligible customers.

Hence, the subsidy for the 3-kg LPG canisters will no longer be given to [state-owned energy firm] Pertamina. Instead, it will be distributed directly to those really needing it through the KKS, Jonan said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Jonan expects the implementation of the new subsidy scheme for the 3-kg LPG canisters and electricity to begin in January 2018, or in March at the latest. However, we might need to wait for the full implementation of the single identification number system before we can impose a similar scheme for kerosene and biosolar, Jonan said.

Data from the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation (TNP2K) show that there are only 25.7 million households eligible to purchase Pertaminas subsidized 3-kg LPG canisters. However, the canisters have been distributed to almost 60 million households. (ags)
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java  Thu, April 13, 2017 20:48 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde918093 1 National explosion,firecracker,firecracker-explosion,firecrackers,Central-Java,Central-Java-Police,Ambarawa Free

A firecracker explosion occurred near Santo Yusuf Catholic Church in Ambarawa, Central Java, at around 2 p.m. local time on Thursday.

The explosion shocked local residents and church guards who were working together to prepare areas around the church for a scheduled Easter mass event at 5 p.m. The church guards immediately reported the explosion to Sabhara quick response unit personnel, who were on duty at the church during the incident.

The police moved quickly, arresting the alleged perpetrator, identified only as MF, 37, an unemployed man from Bergas Lor village in Bergas district, Semarang regency.

Semarang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Vincentius Thirdy Hadmiarso confirmed the incident. We have taken the suspect into custody and confiscated firecrackers and other items as evidence. We have also summoned his family and the community unit [RW] head to get information, he said.

According to local residents and RW head Supono, MF suffers from a mental illness, which Supono said began after his father died six years ago. We will call a psychiatrist to confirm over whether or not he suffers a mental illness, said Thirdy.

Only one out of several home-made firecrackers prepared by the alleged perpetrator exploded. The incident caused neither injury nor damage as MF allegedly set the firecrackers on the side of a road outside the church, which is located on the Semarang-Yogyakarta highway.

Sixteen pieces of evidence, including firecrackers and used supplement drink bottles, have been confiscated. Our personnel will further investigate the case, Central Java Police spokesperson Djarod Padakova said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang  Thu, April 13 2017

Financial woes hampering national flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia became an important factor driving a major overhaul within the companys management as the government installed a new figure as its top boss.



Banker Pahala N. Mansury was appointed as Garudas president director in a surprise announcement after the carrier held its annual general shareholders meeting on Wednesday afternoon.



The nerdish-looking 45-year-old replaced Arif Wibowo, who held the top job from 2014. Prior to the announcement, Pahala served as Bank Mandiri finance and treasury director.



State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry deputy for financial and business services Gatot Trihargo said the main reason behind the replacement was the need to carry out a financial restructuring and integration of Garudas business units for efficiency.



The government hopes that Pahalas reputation as a banker could somewhat persuade creditors and lessors to stay with the financially troubled firm.



However, the companys history shows that the presence of several bankers as its top boss has not completely solved its issues.



Garuda has been entangled in financial difficulties triggered by the 1997-1998 economic crisis. The government appointed then Bank Niaga (now CIMB Niaga) president director Robby Djohan as Garudas leader in February 1998. Robby only stayed until October and was replaced by Bank Duta president director Abdul Gani.



Abdul lead the firm until 2002 and was replaced by Indra Setiawan, a 25-year veteran in Garuda. In 2005, Indra was replaced by Emirsyah Satar, who previously worked as Bank Danamon vice president director.



The company went public in February 2011 and managed to book profit until 2013, despite fluctuating profitability. However, it was unable to pay dividends to its shareholders for several years as it prioritized the use of profit for loan repayments.



In 2014, the government replaced Emirsyah with Arif, who previously headed Garudas subsidiary, the low-cost carrier PT Citilink Indonesia.



Garuda ended in the red with a net loss of US$373.04 million in 2014. Its financial report shows surging liabilities and falling equities, reflecting higher financial responsibility.



It took Arif a year to turn Garudas bottom line around, leading the company back in the black with a net profit of $76.48 million in 2015. It continued to earn net profit last year, but at a smaller figure of $8.07 million.



That, however, was not enough to keep him at Garuda.



Pahala has two main tasks, which are the financial transformation and integration among Garudas business units, including Citilink and the Garuda Maintenance Facility [GMF], Gatot said after Wednesdays meeting.



The yield of airline businesses has gradually declined due to increasing competition. In the short term, we as the new management team will review the costs of [Garudas] fleet, routes [and] fuel, Pahala said.



Regarding efficiency, the government plans to review the low-load factor in some international and domestic routes operated by Garuda and Citilink.



If demand for a certain route is higher among low-cost carriers, Citilink may be ordered to take over operations.



At the same time, if a Garuda flight is cancelled, its passengers can be transferred directly to a Citilink flight, Gatot said, adding that such a transfer requires a separate booking mechanism.



Besides Pahala, the government appointed two other directors, namely Puji Nur Handayani as production director and Nina Sulistyowati as marketing and IT director, and dismissed technical and IT director Iwan Joeniarto, operations director Novianto Herupratomo and commercial director Agus Toni Soetirto.



Meanwhile, Arif said he was ready for his next chapter.



It has been 27 years, two months and 11 days since my first day at Garuda Indonesia. [] I am ready for the next task. I am a fighter, so I am ready to fight in any assignment.

_______________________



Pahala N. Mansury, 45.



Educational background



* Bachelors degree in accounting from University of Indonesia (1994)

* Master of Business Administration in finance from Stern School of Business, New York University, US (1999)

* Qualified as a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA), charter holder of the CFA Institute (2003)



Career



* Financial advisory services at PwC (1994)

* Change management consultant at Anderson Consulting Indonesia (1994-1997)

* Senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton (1999-2000)

* Project leader at The Boston Consulting Group (2002-2003)

* Senior vice president (SVP) economic and financial research at Bank Mandiri (2003-2005)

* SVP accounting, concurrently as SVP of change management office at Bank Mandiri (2005)

* SVP corporate development at Bank Mandiri (2005-2006)

* Executive vice president (EVP) coordinator finance and strategy at Bank Mandiri (2006-2010)

* Finance and strategy director at Bank Mandiri (2010-2015)

* Treasury and markets director at Bank Mandiri (2015-2016)

* Finance and treasury director at Bank Mandiri (2016-April 2017)

* President director at Garuda Indonesia (April 2017-)

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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 14:03 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde90582a 1 Business Trade,Angola,Africa,investment,Indonesia Free

Indonesia and Angola officials have met to discuss ways to boost their economies through trade and investment, especially in the industrial sector.

Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto urged local businesses to expand trade to Angola, especially for transportation, defense and electronics equipment, expecting to see more gainful trade between the two countries that was worth about US$292.8 million last year.

Angola can be the central spot for us to promote industrial products to western Africa, he said during a meetings with Angolan Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti and delegations on Wednesday.

The ministries exchanged information on investment regulations in their respective countries. We hope there will be further commitments to cooperate comprehensively to develop each others economies, Airlangga said.

Indonesia's government offered some products, including locally made airplanes, military passenger transportation, sea vessels and train cars all made by state firms.

Angola, meanwhile, asked for training assistance to increase its production capacity in textiles and food from Indonesia, just like the archipelago had given to Nigeria and Mozambique previously.

In the meeting, the African minister also invited Indonesian investors to invest in Angola's fishery, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, food and mineral sectors.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 2001. Angola is Indonesias third biggest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa and Nigeria. Indonesias main exports include iron pipes, soap, zinc, fire lighters, vehicles, margarine, processed fish, pharmaceuticals, paper and palm oil.

Angola, meanwhile, exports mostly oil and gas. (ags)

Topics : Trade Angola Africa investment Indonesia
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 18:17 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde914586 1 City Sandiaga-Uno,colleague,embezzlement Free

The Jakarta Police detained a business colleague of Jakarta deputy governor hopeful Sandiaga Uno at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Thursday early morning for ignoring a police summon.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the colleague, Andreas Tjahjadi, was detained at the airport because he avoided two summon letters from the police regarding a case of alleged land embezzlement.

"The point is that we had called him twice but he did not show up. Last night, we got information saying he was at the airport, so we picked him up," said Argo as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday.

However, he added Andreas' status in the case was still only as a witness, like Sandiaga.

He is currently being questioned by the police at the Jakarta Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

Andreas and Sandiaga were reported to the police over allegations of embezzlement of a plot of land in Curug, Tangerang, Banten, by their former colleague Djoni Hidayat.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 16:48 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde91053f 1 Business ramadhan,impromptu-visit,trade-minister,Agriculture-Ministry,StapleFood,market Free

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita made impromptu visits to several traditional markets in Jakarta on Thursday to check on the prices of staple goods ahead of the upcoming Ramadhan festivities in May.

Amran said the government had provided sufficient stocks of staple foods nationwide, with rice stock having reached two million tons, enough to meet demand for 10 months, while sugar stock and beef stock stood at 360,000 tons and 40,000 tons, respectively.

Even the chili price has decreased from above Rp 100,000 to around Rp 40,000 per kilogram at the moment. Some vendors are even selling it for Rp 20,000 per kg, he said.

Meanwhile, Enggartiasto said with the sufficient stocks, he was optimistic that the prices of the goods could be stabilized, supported by his administrations effort to crack down on illegal vendors.

Especially for rice, Enggartiasto said he had obligated all distributors, sub-distributors and agents nationwide to register their businesses and report their stocks.

If there are reports of soaring [prices] in rice due to illegal hoarding, we will soon send extra goods to the area. Well prevent [illegal] players [from operating] by doing that, he said, adding the same tactic would also apply to illegal beef vendors.

The two ministries were cooperating to periodically monitor the prices, Enggartiasto said, adding their administrations would evaluate the prices in November. (yon/ags)
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali  Thu, April 13, 2017 19:55 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde917029 1 National drug-abuse,drug-addicts,DenpasarDistrictCourt,denpasar,New-Zealand,New-Zealand-citizen,CrystalMethamphetamine,crystal-methamphetamine,CrystalMeth,#drugs Free

The Denpasar District Court on Thursday sentenced a New Zealand citizen, Myra Lynna Williams, 27, to two-and-a-half years in prison for drug possession. The sentence was lighter than what was demanded by prosecutors, who sought a three-year prison sentence for her.

The courts judge panel, presided by Ni Made Purnami, stated in their verdict that the defendant was guilty of violating Article 127 of Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics.

[We] find the defendant Myra Lynna Williams as legally and convincingly guilty of abusing drugs, the judge said.

Purnami said that in making the verdict, the judge had considered several factors. The defendants act has caused restlessness and is against the Indonesian governments policy on drug eradication, she said.

The judge said she gave a lighter sentence than what was demanded by prosecutors as Williams admitted to being guilty and expressed remorse for what she had done.

Williams was arrested upon arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport from Melbourne, Australia, on Air Asia XT-803 on Aug. 31, 2016, by a joint team comprising personnel of the Customs and Excise Agency, the Immigration Office and other airport authorities during a security check, in which they found 0.43 grams of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as sabu-sabu, on her. (ebf)
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Linkedin Suherdjoko, Agus Maryanto and Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Banyumas/Semarang/Kupang  Thu, April 13 2017

As part of its deradicalization efforts, the government has courted moderate mainstream Islamic organizations to curb hard-line groups that aspire to transform Indonesias pluralist democracy into a theocratic state.

In an apparent move in support of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the police have joined Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the youth wing of the countrys largest Muslim organization, in removing banners and curtailing the activities of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

The HTI is an Islamic group that seeks the implementation of sharia via the reinstatement of khilafah, the caliphate, or Muslim rule.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 07:45 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8e9625 1 National #KPKAcidAttack,novel-baswedan Free

The National Police have launched an extensive manhunt across the country to track down the drive-by assailants who threw acid into the face of prominent Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan early on Tuesday morning.

A special task force established by the Jakarta Police has questioned at least 14 witnesses as of Wednesday evening to shed some light into the attack that has been condemned by President Joko Jokowi Widodo as a brutal act.

Security arrangements have also been deployed to secure Novels place of residence and the hospital where he is receiving treatment.

Following the attack, Jokowi ordered National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to immediately arrest the assailants.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono said Novels household assistant had told police investigators that a man visited Novels house a week ago.

The man, who was described as burly, asked the assistant if the house was selling gamis [long robes worn by Muslims] for men, Awi said. Adi said Novels wife, Rina Emilda, only sold gamis for women in a shop opened inside the house.

Awi said, however, that investigators were still deciding whether or not the testimony was relevant.

We cannot disclose the identities of the witnesses. The investigators are gathering all the statements [from witnesses]. They will be able to sort out the important ones.

Novel, a lead investigator in the e-ID embezzlement case, was doused with acid by two unidentified men riding a motorcycle after he had performed morning prayers at a mosque nearby his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

The attack comes as the Jakarta Corruption Court continues the trial into the embezzlement of state funds from the e-ID project. The case, which some estimate caused state losses amounting to Rp 2 trillion (US$150 million), has also dragged in senior politicians including Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto.

Novel was also an important investigator in several other highprofile graft cases, including a bribery case implicating 39 legislators in the appointment of Bank Indonesia (BI) senior deputy governor Miranda Goeltom. He was also in charge of the investigation leading to the arrest of National Police traffic chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo.

Following the attack on Novel, anti-corruption activists have joined a nationwide campaign voicing support for the KPK and encouraging the anti-graft body not to be deterred by the incident.

Novel told the police he felt he was being followed for several days prior to the assault.

Former KPK chairman Busyro Muqoddas said Novel had survived six attempts on his life during his time at the commission.

Aside from questioning several witnesses, the police have collected several pieces of evidence such as recordings from surveillance cameras, a cup that was allegedly used by the perpetrators to carry the acid and Novels clothes during the incident.

Residue from the acid that burned up parts of Novels face, neck and eyes has been taken to the polices forensics laboratory for testing. The police, however, said the test results were not available for publication.

On Wednesday, Novel was flown to Singapore for medical treatment for injuries to his eyes. Novel has reportedly suffered a loss of vision in his left eye.

KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said KPK officials had consulted with doctors from the Jakarta Eye Center (JEC) in Menteng, Central Jakarta, and decided to transfer Novel to Singapore for better treatment.

JEC president director Johan A. Hutauruk said Novels eyesight had improved since the attack.

The decision to move Novel to Singapore was also based on a request from Novels family, Johan said.We contacted the doctors there so [Novel] could be treated immediately, he said.

In 2011, a female politician under electronic surveillance for suspected corruption was heard calling a shaman. She instructed the shaman to use black magic to hurt top officials at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The black magic turned out to be useless as the woman was eventually convicted of corruption and sentenced to years behind bars.

The agency, formed in 2002 to fight graft in one of the worlds most corrupt countries, has its share of occupational hazards.

From witchcraft to death threats, law enforcement officials assigned to the frontline of the war against corruption have seen it all.

Witchcraft and death threats are common, said former KPK acting chairman Busyro Muqoddas on Tuesday.

One example is when all staff members working on the same floor simultaneously suffered from an illness that could not be explained in October 2014, said Busyro, who, like most Indonesians, believes in supernatural forces.

The KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, is also littered with ritual offerings such as yellow rice, bones and amulets as part of presumed spiritual assaults.

But nothing has jolted the nerves of graft-busters as much as when two unidentified assailants on a motorbike threw acid into the face of ace KPK investigator Novel Baswedan on Tuesday, causing severe injury to his eyes.

Physical attacks against KPK officials are uncommon and the commission has recorded no fatalities or casualties since its inception.

This probably explains the lack of security for KPK leaders and investigators, who are only equipped with a handgun for everyday protection while out of the office.

What often undermines the commission is the threat of prosecution by the National Police for petty crimes. A recent example of this occurred in early 2015 and the kerfuffle forced then KPK chairman Abraham Samad and his deputy Bambang Widjojanto to resign.

The attack against Novel, who has already suffered countless death threats and acts of terror, has forced the KPK to review its security measures to protect its staff amid an attempt to ramp up the pursuit of major corruption cases involving many of the countrys most influential politicians and business people.

We will review our security procedures by adding more personnel to provide security to our staff members, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said.

The National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have been quick to react by offering help to better protect the safety of KPK investigators.

I have talked to the KPK chairman. The police are always ready to provide maximum protection, said National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.

However, he said not all KPK investigators would want to have security personnel nearby because some of them were involved in undercover operations.

The police, he said, had deployed personnel to permanently protect Novel and his family.

TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo also said the military was on standby if the KPK needed protection, particularly at a time when the agency was dealing with big cases.

The KPK is currently handling corruption surrounding the e-ID project, which analysts believe to be the biggest case ever handled by the anti-graft body in terms of state losses and the parties involved.

About Rp 2.3 trillion (US$173 million) is believed to have been swindled from the country by influential politicians.

Golkar Party chairman and House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, a key ally of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, is implicated in the case.

Before Tuesdays act of barbarism, Novel was attacked in mid2016 while investigating the e-ID case. He was riding a motorcycle heading to the headquarters of the KPK when suddenly he was hit by a car. He was thrown from his bike but only suffered minor injuries.

In 2015, another KPK investigator named Afif Julian Miftah received a bomb threat and his car was splashed with acid. At the time, he was handling several big cases, including money laundering allegations involving former Democratic Party politician Muhammad Nazaruddin.

Terror is our cup of tea, former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar said in February, recalling some of the threats he had received when he led the commission from 2007 to 2009.

Antasari was forced to resign from the commission after he was convicted of murder, but his 18-year sentence was recently reduced by Jokowi due to indications of a miscarriage of justice. Antasari was released from prison in November last year.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Thu, April 13 2017

The North Sumatra Police are on the hunt for a 34-year-old man who has officially been named a suspect in the murder of an entire family, which took place on Sunday in Medan Deli district, Medan, North Sumatra.

Andi Lala, who is reportedly a relative of the victims, fled as officers tried to arrest him at his home on Jl. Pembangunan, Lubuk Pakam district, on Tuesday.

North Sumatra deputy police chief Brig. Gen. Agus Andrianto said officers had found evidence in Andis home that pointed to him as the main suspect in the death of five family members.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 15:36 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde90b5a3 1 City robbery,public-minivan Free

Acting Jakarta governor Sumarsono on Thursday granted a reward to East Jakarta Police officer Adj. First Insp. Sunaryanto for his recent actions in resolving a hostage situation in the municipality.

Sunaryanto recently arrested the man, who held hostage a woman and her young boy using a knife in a public minivan on Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai in East Jakarta, after the cop shot the man's arm.

For his actions, the cop was granted a charter and Rp 10 million (US$754) from the Jakarta administration.

"We have given recognition to the police officer. Hopefully it will raise his spirits," Sumarsono said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday.

Sunaryanto, he added, deserved the recognition because at the moment of the incident, he was not on duty but only passing by in the area.

Previously, Sunaryanto also received recognition from Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan for of his actions. (agn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 19:28 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde917022 1 National e-ID,#e-ID,Andi-Narogong,graft,corruption,Fatmawati-team,BPPT,Home-Ministry Free

A witness from the technical team of the electronic ID (e-ID) procurement project during a hearing of the e-ID graft case on Thursday acknowledged the alleged existence of a "Fatmawati team," which was believed to have been integral to the alleged corruption taking place within the project.

During the hearing, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) official Tri Sampurno said the Fatmawati team existed when questioned by prosecutors about an alleged series of e-ID project meetings held on Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta. Tri was one of the project's technical team members from 2009 to 2013.

Tri said he attended the meetings five times alongside several other BPPT staff members and that he met Vidi Gunawan, the brother of graft suspect Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong, for the first time at one of the meetings. However, he said he did not know who Andi and Vidi were.

(Read also: KPK questions Miryam as suspect in e-ID graft case)

Tri said he never received money during the meetings, but claimed he received money from Vidi when he drove him home after he attended an e-ID system demo held at the State Printing Company Consortium, one of the consortiums bidding for the project.

Vidi gave me Rp 2 million [US$150.82]. He said it was just a transportation fee.

Additionally, Tri said he received $20,000 from Johanes Marlin, one of alleged Fatmawati team members, when he and Husni Fahmi, a Home Affairs Ministry official, attended the Biometric Consortium Conference in Tampa, Florida, United States, in September 2012.

"One of Johanes' assistant came to me and gave money inside an envelope. When Husni and I were on the plane, we found out it amounted to $20,000." (rdi/ebf)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 14:01 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde904fc9 1 Business bank-indonesia,World-Bank,GDP,growth,growth-forecast Free

The World Bank has revised its estimated rate of Indonesian economic growth down to 5.2 percent in its April edition of the East Asia and Pacific Economic Update report, compared to the 5.3 percent set in the January edition of the Indonesia Economic Quarterly.

However World Bank Indonesia economist for macroeconomics and fiscal management Dhruv Sharma said the 10 basis points (bps) decline was largely mechanical. The more important thing was that it projected Indonesia's economy would grow in the next three years.

"We have an upward trajectory for Indonesia over the next three years as the economy reached bottom last year," he said in a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

The report forecast 2018 and 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) to grow to 5.3 and 5.4 percent respectively, higher than the 5.02 percent in 2016. That is in line with global economy growth, which is predicted to be 2.7 in 2018 and 2.9 percent in 2019, compared to 2.3 percent in 2016.

World Bank Indonesia acting lead economist Hans Anand Beck said Indonesia's growth will be supported by credit growth and higher oil prices, which also boost commodity prices. "We see developments in the credit markets are supported by demand for financing because of foreign investments," he said.

The credit growth would be supported by a lower credit rate as Bank Indonesia cut its policy rates six times during 2016. However, the transmission to the bank lending rates in the industry would be seen in 2017. (ags)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Thu, April 13, 2017 16:52 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde911923 1 National Cessna,Cessna-Caravan,Grand-Caravan,aircraft-crash,AircraftCrash,AircraftIncident,Oksibil,Papua Free

A Grand Caravan plane belonging to airline company PT Spirit Avia Sentosa (Flying SAS), which was reported missing, has been found in a search operation conducted by the Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) Papua on Thursday.

Piloted by Capt. Eric Brandon Roberts, an AMA aircraft found the body of the Grand Caravan plane destroyed and in pieces in Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua. The aircraft was suspected to have hit the side of a mountain in Kampung Kubipko, Kiwirok district, before crashing to the ground on Wednesday.

The position has been discovered but no search and rescue [SAR] team has landed at the crash site because it is located on a steep mountain slope. It was smashed to pieces possibly because it hit the mountainside, SAR Jayapura head Suyatno said.

(Read also: Contact with Cessna lost in Papua)

He said the crash site of the aircraft was around 10 kilometers from Oksibil, the capital of Pegunungan Bintang regency. There is no road access there. One of the only ways to reach the location is via a helicopter.

Suyatno said the SAR team was coordinating with US-based giant copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia, hoping it could borrow a helicopter from the company. The team had also asked that the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) lend a helicopter to them for the rescue operation.

The SAR Jayapura team, which comprises 11 people, flew to Oksibil this morning to join with the joint SAR team of the Indonesian Military and National Police that has been ready in Oksibil. The operation will be conducted once the helicopters needed for the rescue activities arrive there, Suyatno said. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Bangkok  Thu, April 13, 2017

The traditional Thai New Year's holiday has turned out to be anything but fun for more than 1,000 would-be travelers who were stranded at Bangkok's international airport after their cut-rate tour packages to Japan turned out to be an apparent scam.

Police said hundreds of people lodged complaints after finding themselves at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday with no flight to board. They said they had booked six-day tour packages with WealthEver, better known as a multi-level marketing company.

Victims told Thai television interviewers that they paid 9,730 baht ($280) for a package including airfare and accommodation. One way-fare from Bangkok to Tokyo alone typically costs more than $400.

Thai media reported that WealthEver boss Pasit Arinchalapit was detained by police late Wednesday in Ranong, a border province, after a manhunt was launched for her. They also reported that Pasit had been the object of fraud complaints before, and has changed her name several times.

Read also: United to compensate people on flight when man dragged off

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, asked about the incident, warned his fellow Thais against gullibility that makes them victims to such scams.

"Thai people believe others too easily," Prayuth said. "When I say something, people really don't believe me, but they believe it when other people talk, and then they get scammed. I'm not saying I am better, but I don't cheat people."

Thailand's Songkran holiday is usually a time for merry-making, though the death in October of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and an official one-year mourning period are expected to put a damper on the fun this year.

Many people take the opportunity of the holiday  officially three days long but in practice extending up to a week  to return from the big cities to their families' home villages. The mass movement of people, along with the drinking that accompanies the revelry, leads to a surge in traffic deaths in a country already noted for having the second-highest traffic fatality rate in the world.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 16:15 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde90ed2c 1 News Pacific-Eden-Cruise-Ship,Benoa,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism,#tourism,cruise,#cruise Free

After five days of sailing across the ocean, on April 13 at approximately 11 a.m. local, the Pacific Eden cruise ship carrying 1,500 tourists from Australia finally arrived at Benoa Port in Bali.

The cruise ship that is 220-meters-long broke new ground by being the first to dock in the Port of Benoa.

Arriving at the port, the tourists were welcomed by the Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and treated to an arts and culture performance and a workshop. After Bali, the tourists will travel to Lombok, Komodo Island and Labuan Bajo.

Read also: Pacific Eden cruise ship sails to Benoa, Bali

Welcome to Indonesia and enjoy the culture and natural wonders of Indonesia, said Arief.

The head of the Wisata Bahari Indonesia tourism department acceleration team, Indroyono Susilo, said before that according to the P&O Cruises director of operations, this maiden voyage to Bali would not make any profits. However, the company was willing to take the risk because the project has huge potential.

With the success of this first voyage the ministry hoped to attract more yachters from other areas such as Darwin, Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Fiji. (asw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13, 2017 18:11 2035 a291276806121264c0bd211cde913b79 4 News Tidore-Islands,Tidore-Festival,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,tourism,#tourism,festival,#festival Free

Scores of people flocked to a field in Kadato Kie, Tidore, on April 12 to celebrate the 909th anniversary of the city as well as the closing ceremony of Festival Tidore 2017, which began on March 29.

The festivity was attended by the 37th sultan of Tidore, H. Husein Syah, Tidore Mayor Ali Ibrahim and Ternate Mayor Burhan Abdurahman. Tidore has everything, from natural resources to sea and maritime history. President Sukarno even visited this place twice, so please come to Tidore, the sultan said.

Echoing what Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo have said before, tourism is the core of this nations economy. The Indonesian people need to be more welcoming of tourists because it will also affect our prosperity, he added.

Read also: Ternate-Tidore invites Spanish tourists to relive 16th century trade expedition route

Moreover, Ibrahim said as the plantation and mining industries were struggling, tourism could help improve the economy in the region.

Two Dubai nationals will build a villa here and it would be great if we could someday have a hotel. This town has 10 maritime sites and each historical building has its own interesting story to tell, Tidore tourism department head Yakub Husain said.

According to Arief Yahya, 60% of foreign tourists come to Indonesia to explore and experience its cultures; 35% come for nature; and 5% come for events, such as sporting events and music concerts.

Tidores got everything, from culture and nature to events. Whats left for us to do is to improve facilities and access to Tidore, Yahya said. (asw)
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Linkedin Hasyim Widhiarto (The Jakarta Post) Benoa, Bali  Thu, April 13, 2017

Indonesia's tourist industry has reached a new milestone after a Pacific Eden cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 passengers docked on Thursday at Bali's Benoa Port, the first to do so.

The 220-meter-long vessel departed on Sunday from Fremantle Port, Australia, and headed to the popular resort island before making stops at other tourist destinations in the archipelago such as Lombok and the Komodo Islands.

The docking was made possible after state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III, which manages Benoa Port, upgraded the facility into a cruise terminal.

"Previously, cruise ships stopping in Bali have to moor quite far from Benoa Port, but this time we have one docking for the first time ever," Tourism Ministry's deputy for Asia-Pacific tourism promotion, Vinsensius Jemadu, said.

Pacific Eden, operated by P&O Cruises Australia, needed about 30 minutes to dock in Benoa Port with help from two tugboats.

Indonesia has been intensifying efforts to boost its tourism, aiming for the arrival of 20 million foreign tourists in 2019.

The development of the Benoa cruise terminal is expected to boost the number of tourist arrivals by cruise ships to 500,000 by 2019.
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Linkedin Don Babwin (Associated Press) Chicago, United States  Thu, April 13, 2017

United Airlines sought to quell the uproar over a man being dragged off a plane by announcing on Tuesday that it would no longer ask police to remove passengers from full flights and would compensate customers who were on the flight when the man was removed.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" aired Wednesday, United parent company CEO Oscar Munoz said he felt "ashamed" watching video of the man being forced off the jet. He has promised to review the airline's passenger-removal policy.

Munoz, who leads United's parent company, apologized again to Kentucky physician David Dao, his family and the other passengers who witnessed him being taken off the flight.

"That is not who our family at United is," he said. "This will never happen again on a United flight. That's my promise."

In the future, law enforcement will not be involved in removing a "booked, paid, seated passenger," Munoz said. "We can't do that."

In an effort to calm the backlash, United also announced that passengers on United Express Flight 3411 would be compensated equal to the cost of their tickets. United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said Wednesday that the passengers can take the compensation in cash, travel credits or miles.

The flight was loaded and preparing to leave Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Sunday when the man was dragged off. Video shot by passengers showing the man's bloodied face went viral on social media, prompting a storm of protest.

Also Wednesday, a Chicago alderman said representatives from United and the city's Aviation Department have been summoned before a city council committee to answer questions about the confrontation at O'Hare Airport.

Alderman Mike Zalewski said he did not know who will represent the airline before the Aviation Committee, but Munoz has been notified of the hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Chicago Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans will also speak.

Munoz called the incident a "system failure" and said United would reassess its procedures for seeking volunteers to give up their seats when a flight is full. United was trying to find seats for four employees, meaning four passengers had to deplane.

It was at least Munoz's fourth statement about the confrontation.

After the video first emerged, he said the airline was reaching out to the man to "resolve this situation."

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 whats broken so this never happens again.(AP/Richard Drew)

Read also: Everyone is trolling United for their horrible passenger treatment

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 events, Munoz issued another apology.

"No one should ever be mistreated this way," Munoz said.

The passenger was identified as Dao, a 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Attorneys for Dao filed court papers Wednesday asking the airline and the city of Chicago to preserve evidence in the case. Those documents are often the first steps toward a lawsuit. His legal team planned to hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the matter with reporters.

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. The department announced Wednesday that two more officers have 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.

The event stemmed from a common air travel issue  a full flight.

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.

That's when three Aviation Department police officers boarded the plane. When Dao refused to leave his seat, one of the officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from his window seat 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 was reviewing Sunday's events to see if United violated rules on overselling flights. The four top-ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee asked the airline and Chicago airport officials for more information about what happened.
Actor and local resident Neal Young is taking the lead in The Blue Hill Troupes upcoming production of City of Angels, at El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio. The Tony Award winning musical comedy is an homage to the 1940s Hollywood era of film noir.

The Blue Hill Troupe, now in its 93rd season, is the only musical theater group in New York City to donate its net proceeds to charity. Its history is rooted in a tradition of performing an annual Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, and now presents an additional musical theater production as well as a concert series each season.

Young appears as Stine, a crime novelist who lands in Hollywood with a three picture deal based on his detective series, but becomes conflicted between his art and desire for success on the big screen. The show includes a jazzy score and a humorous and biting script that veers between Stines real life journey and the film noir detective script he is writing.

City of Angels runs April 21  April 29, at El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street). Tickets range in price from $30.00  $110.00. All proceeds from the Blue Hill Troupes production will benefit Rocking the Boat.
A woman, believed to be in her 20s, was struck by a vehicle early this morning on Delancey Street.

The incident happened at around 4:15 a.m., near Forsyth Street. According to the Daily News, the woman was knocked down and suffered a deep gash to the back of her head. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with what was described as a non-life threatening wound. She was conscious and talking with emergency workers and police officers.

No charges have been filed against the driver.
This years University Challenge champions have entered a war of words with the Daily Mail, accusing the newspaper of being a "fascist rag" and publically announcing their boycott of the tabloid.

Between their semi-final match and Monday's final, which saw Balliol College Oxford defeat Wolfson College Cambridge, members of Balliol's team were contacted via Twitter by a Daily Mail journalist, who appealed for their personal contact information.

Freddy Potts When history studentwas contacted, he replied to the journalist saying that although I have nothing against you personally, but equally I have nothing to say to the fascist rag which employs you. Potts has made his Twitter account private in the last few days.

Benjamin Pope The same journalist also reached out to D-Phil student, who also responded on Twitter explaining that the team had talked to one another and decided to ethically boycott the Mail.

Stop Funding Hate Astrophysics student Pope has also publically declared his support for the anti-Daily Mail campaign,, telling them to 'keep up the good work', and admitting that the team are 'big supporters' of the movement, which also targets the Daily Express and the Sun. The campaign was born following the three papers' coverage of last year's EU referendum and aims to challenge 'media hate speech' by pressuring companies to pull advertisements from these papers.

Pope has received an influx of critical tweets as well as those in support of the team's stance. Replying to one user who complimented the team's handling of the situation, he expressed sympathy for people working at the Mail.

@zoe_samuel Miffed it wasn't reciprocated, but sympathy for anyone working in such an awful environment in such an awful industry.  Benjamin Pope (@fringetracker) April 11, 2017

published an article Joey Goldman On the day of the final, the Daily Maildrawing to light the all-male teams that made up the programme, leading to an online outcry by Balliol College captainwho referred to the paper as 'the Daily Heil'.

The Daily Heil decided to frame the principled refusal of @fringetracker and @FJPotts to talk to them in the following way. And they wonder. pic.twitter.com/os3Y8Tdszt  Mouse Aesthetic (@JoeySwearwords) April 10, 2017

The Balliol team have, however, enjoyed some media coverage since they were awarded the winner's trophy by Stephen Hawking, appearing on BBC Radio Oxford and engaging in some friendly Twitter banter with a Guardian journalist.
On-going reports that gay men are being aggressively targeted in Chechnya have reached new and shocking heights. Russian newspapers have reported that men are being rounded up on the grounds of having non-traditional sexual orientation and imprisoned in concentration camps.

Pictured above: Vladimir Putin on a state visit to Chechnya

Chechnya has a long history of instability and conflict along both ethnic and nationalistic lines. This latest divisive fault line has resulted in the imprisonment of over 100 homosexual men, many of whom have been tortured as authorities reportedly attempted to force them to reveal the locations of other gay men.

Reports indicate that so far at least three of the men in question have been killed by the Chechen authorities.

Chechnya is a Muslim-majority region of Russia; while it has its own government and President it is essentially beholden to Russia as a federal subject state.

Ali Karimov, speaking on behalf of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, argued that are no homosexuals in Chechnya. The spokesperson insisted: If there were such people in Chechnya, law-enforcement agencies wouldnt need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning.

Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch had this to say:

A brutal campaign against LGBT people has been sweeping through Chechnya. Law enforcement and security agency officials 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.



In light of brutal repression in Chechnya, we cannot reveal our sources for fear of compromising their security. The fear of devastating reprisal is so intense that we cannot even provide detail on specific cases as the victims could suffer even more as a result of the exposure.

While coverage is lacking in detail emergent coverage is, in itself, an important step, as the repression of gay Chechen citizens has gone largely un-reported. Hopefully a growing media swell will force the Kremlin into action.

While a spokesman for Putin stated that reports would be investigated, the Russian authorities seem to lack motivation in terms of pursuing a rigorous investigative process.

Meanwhile state-imposed fear in Chechnya keeps citizens from speaking out, as Tanya Lokshina notes: Filing an official complaint against local security officials is extremely dangerous, as retaliation by local authorities is practically inevitable.
Following the 'largest student rent strike in British history' - under the banner of the 'Cut the Rent' campaign - that their university halts the ever-growing financial strain being imposed on them due to rising accommodation costs.



According to campaigners - who are now officially backed by Bath Students' Union - rental fees at the university have risen 150% since the appointment of renowned social psychologist Dame Glynis Blackwell as Vice-Chancellor back in 2001. This has left just two of its 12 halls of residence - Osbourne House and Eastwood - offering board at a cost that is lower than 50% of the maximum maintenance loan available to students.

Due to an increase in the proportion of luxury accommodation on offer, which in turn has resulted in a reduction of affordable housing, students wishing to live on campus can expect to incur weekly costs of up 154 for a single en-suite room.

Second-year Politics & International Relations student Ross West, who comes from a low-income background, feels that these costs are "increasingly becoming a barrier to equal access in education" and that "it's easy to see why any students who cannot rely on their parents for financial support are discouraged from entering university.

Research conducted in 2015 by student newspaper BathImpact found that the average yearly spend on accommodation by students at the university, was a full 400 more than their average maintenance loan, supporting the assertion by Lloyds Bank that Bath is the fifth least affordable city in the country.

Furthermore, the campaign has found that the University of Bath has exceeded its target operating surplus every year since the target was first set in 2012, the same year from which an NUS study showed an exponential increase in students suffering from mental health issues caused by financial problems.

The campaign aims to use the endorsement by the university's Students' Union as the impetus for further action, with final year student Clementine Boucher stating that she wants "students in Bath to be galvanised by the example of students in London campaigning successfully for reduced rents", adding that "radical student-led political action is the most potent weapon we have to achieve fairer rents at Bath University.
Its taken less than a week for a kid who just really loves chicken nuggets to come within touching distance of the most retweeted tweet of all time.

Nevada teen Carter Wilkerson, 16, needs 18 million retweets to get a years worth of free chicken nuggets from fast food chain Wendys, and the Twitterverse is doing everything it can to get that boy his nuggs.

The tweet was sent on April 6 and has amassed almost 2.7 million retweets  still some way off what Carter needs, but very close to Twitters current top tweet.

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3  Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017

Wendys has actually been pretty good at sharing a lot of the attention the tweet has received, which might be why it is coming so close to the record-breaking tweet sent by Ellen DeGeneres at the 2014 Oscars, which hit 3.2 million.

After all, when was the last time Wendys was in the news this much?

Microsoft threw their support behind the tweet, and encouraged Amazon and Google to do the same.

United Airlines, who have been in the news recently themselves (although for reasons very different to Wendys), offered Carter a free flight to a city with a Wendys if he achieves his goal.

If you get the 18 million RTs, we'll give you a free flight to take you to any @Wendys in the world in a city we serve. Good luck! https://t.co/igxnPg1JUF  United (@united) April 8, 2017

And other brands have also been quick to seize on the opportunity.

The CEO of T-Mobile made a pretty unusual, and slightly petty, move.

And Aaron Paul is finding the whole thing pretty inspirational  we reckon his character Jesse from Breaking Bad would very much approve.

It looks like its shaping up to be a pretty great year for Carter.
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About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the companys live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industrys largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the companys fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices; the companys digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The companys Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nations largest media representation company, and RCS, the world's leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
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.
"Im a firm believer in not being greedy and giving what you can when you can."
Actor Akshay Kumar has hosted a get together for Amazon head Roy Price and Amazon Video team head.

Taking to Twitter, the 49-year-old star shared a group picture which also featured his wife and actress-turned-writer Twinkle Khanna.

Wonderful to catch up with Amazing Amazon head @RoyPrice and the @AmazonVideoIn team Brad, James and Nitesh. Thanks for coming over, Akshay wrote alongside the photo.

Price was also impressed with mangoes the actor offered to him at the gathering.

Great mangoes and company @akshaykumar! See you soon, he tweeted.

Though the reason behind the meeting is still unknown, rumour has it the two might collaborate in future.

Akshay is currently shooting for his wife's maiden- production Pad Man alongside Sonam Kapoor.

He has also collaborated with Salman Khan and Karan Johar for a film, which will be directed by Anurag Singh.
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, who was awarded the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Award on Tuesday, says that she did not feel bad for not winning the National Award for Best Actress this year.

Alia's performance in Udta Punjab was received well by critics and audiences alike. At the media interaction after the awards, reporters expressed their sympathy for Alia not getting a National Award.

"Please don't feel bad. I am not going anywhere. There is lot of time. I did not feel bad so even you don't feel bad about it," the Student of the Year actress said.

"It's a moment to celebrate as Hindi and Marathi cinema won so many awards and it's a very big moment to celebrate talent," Alia said.

Expressing her joy on winning the Lokmat Award, Alia said, "It's a great moment. Winning this award shows that you are now in the heart line of your country. So it's great."

Alia was last seen in Badrinath Ki Dulhania, a romantic comedy film directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by her mentor Karan Johar.

Asked when she would start working for her next film Dragon, she said: "Ranbir is here, I will ask him when he will finish his shooting for 'Dutt' so that we can start the film, I will go and ask for the dates."

Dragon, a superhero film, will see Alia and Ranbir together on screen for the first time. Written and directed by Ayan Mukherji and produced by Karan Johar, it also stars Amitabh Bachchan.


Retirement fund body EPFO's subscribers will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs.50,000 at the time of retirement for contributing to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years, the EPFO board has decided.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), has recommended a minimum sum assured of Rs.2.5 lakh in the event of death of a subscriber.

The CBT has recommended amending the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) to provide for minimum benefit of Rs.2.5 lakh and loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs.50,000 at a meeting held yesterday, a senior official said.

The suggested benefits will be available to members after government approval. Initially, these will be provided for two years on a pilot basis and will be reviewed thereafter.

According to the proposal, loyalty-cum-life benefit will be provided to all those members on retirement at 58 or 60 years who have contributed to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability. In these cases, the members who have contributed to the EDLI scheme for less than 20 years will be eligible.

Those members whose average basic wages are up to Rs.5,000 will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of Rs.30,000. Similarly, the members with wages of Rs.5,001-10,000 Will be eligible for Rs.40,000 benefit.

All those members getting more than Rs.10,000 monthly wage will be eligible for Rs.50,000 loyalty-cum-life benefit under the proposed scheme.

The board has recommended such benefits in view of a huge EDLI corpus of Rs.18,119 crore following addition of interest that accrued on investment of this fund.

At present, the dependants of the deceased get a sum assured of up to Rs.6 lakh. There is no provision of minimum insurance and any benefit for surviving members or in cases of permanent disability under the scheme.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya launched Aadhaar Seeding Application after the meeting. The EPFO has developed this application with support of Common Service Centres (CSCs) and C-DAC.

The CSCs are ICT-enabled front-end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of government and private services.

With implementation of the seeding application, a PF member or pensioner can now walk into any of the field offices of EPFO or CSC outlets with UAN and Aadhaar and seed them.

The EPFO enrolled 49,39,929 workers during January-March 2017. It had launched a special enrolment scheme to cover leftout formal sector workers from January 2017.
Clearing hurdles for timely implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday gave nod to four supporting GST legislations.

The four bills, Central Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, Integrated GST Bill, Compensation GST Bill and Union Territory GST Bill 2017, were passed by the Parliament last week.

The Union government wants to implement the GST from July 1.

Once implemented, the GST will subsume various taxes, including excise, services tax, and other levies. The taxes will be shared between the Centre and the states.

Meanwhile, instead of the goods being taxed multiple times at different rates, goods would be taxed at the point of consumption under the new GST regime.
What a positive start to end the financial year 2016-17 for the energy sector in India! Renewable energy is weaving a new growth story. With smooth yet giant steps, renewable energy is nearing to surpass the traditional source of power, thermal power in India, currently enjoying a dominant place in the power sector.

As per a recent report, thermal power capacity has slumped to almost 50 per cent in last one year, giving way for growth in renewable energy.

A combined report by the New and Renewable Energy Ministry (MNRE) and Bridge to India, the renewable energy capacity addition, together with solar, wind, biomass and hydro, has achieved a tremendous growth by around 11.2 Gigawatt (GW), in the financial year 2016-17 against 2015-16.

Even the figures by MNRE revealed that in a single month, renewable energy recorded an addition of 5.8 GW capacity as implementing agencies pushed for commissioning of projects before the close of the financial year.

As renewables continue to grow, prospects for thermal capacity addition seem limited and we expect renewables to decisively beat thermal capacity addition in the coming years, Bridge to India stated.

Here is why renewable energy capacity is likely to beat thermal power capacity in next few years.

Wind power

Wind power in India stands at fourth position in global wind power installation. In April this year, the New and Renewable Energy Ministry, in a new report, stated that Indias wind power capacity addition surpassed the set target of 4,000 MW, and successfully added over 5,400 MW capacity in 2016-17.

First ever off-shore wind projects would soon be installed in Indias coastal regions of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. A total 1 GW capacity of off-shore wind power project is being planned.

Solar power

Not only wind, but also solar power capacity has grown by 5,526 MW in 2016-17 against 2015-16, as per MNRE report.

The New and Renewable Energy Ministry, last year, announced compulsory utilisation of rooftops for solar power installations at all industrial, governmental and private institutions. As per the new solar policy, an installation of minimum 500 MW capacity solar rooftop is made mandatory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, 2017approved the enhancement of solar capacity from 20,000 MW to 40,000 MW under the Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects. This has given a boost to ultra solar park and solar power projects across the country.

The scheme will enable setting up of at least 50 solar parks each with a capacity of 500 MW.

The famous National Solar Mission, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), under the revised policy, has gone up from 20,000 MW to 100,000 MW, for deploying grid connected solar power by 2021-22.

According to a report, India will soon overtake Japan as the worlds third largest solar power market in 2017.

Other renewable energy

Small hydro power capacity has achieved 4,323 MW, biomass 4,882 MW and waste-to-energy 114 MW, so far.

The New and Renewable Energy Ministry report has set target for various renewable energy sources for next three years. The targets are shown in the table below.

Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Solar Power 12,000 15,000 16,000 Wind Power 4000 4600 5200 Biomass 500 750 850 SHP Grand Total 225 16,725* 100 20,450* 100 22,150*

*(Capacities in MW)

India's overall ambition is to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, and that includes 60 GW from wind power, 100 GW from solar power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power.

Meanwhile, thermal power generation has fallen from 1,258 million units in 2014-15 to 5,870 million units till date, according to a statistic. With such depleting numbers, renewable energy is surely to beat the traditional and conventional thermal power generation in next few years.
Services sector is likely to attract a higher tax rate of 18 per cent from the current 15 per cent under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, thus making services "slightly" more expensive, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said.

"Yes, for the services sector the standard rate may move to 18 per cent," Adhia said in an interview here.

However, those exempted at present  like healthcare, education and agriculture  are likely to remain so.

"Whatever is in the present exempt list, we will try to continue it. We would recommend this to the Council and it will take a view on it. Most probably they should agree. Our attempt is not to upset too many things in one go," he said.

At present, the services sector is taxed at 14 per cent with two additional cesses  Swachh Bharat Cess and the Krishi Kalyan Cess attracting half a per cent each  taking the burden to 15 per cent.

The GST law says that agriculturalists  who employ themselves or their family members  will not come under GST even if their turnover is over Rs 20 lakh annually. Those who are employing persons and have a turnover of over Rs 20 lakh a year will have to register under the GST.

Currently, sericulture, floriculture, dairy, horticulture, fishing that usually employ outside labourers on a large scale are exempt from service tax as they come under agriculture. But whether these will attract tax under the GST is still debatable.

"Those who are dealing in anything except what we have defined as 'agriculturalist' will have to register (under GST). But whether their products are taxable or not will have to be decided by the Council," he said.

"We have not yet decided on the exemption list. That will be decided separately by the Council, I don't think it will want to tax many agriculture products," Adhia told IANS.

He also said that some services which currently have less than 15 per cent tax rate may attract lower rates.

"Wherever the services at present attract lower than 15 per cent rate of service tax because of certain reasons, we will try to maintain that. Transport sector, for example, attracts lower than 15 per cent tax right now. We will put these in either 5 per cent or 12 per cent," he said.

The Revenue Secretary also noted that since petrol and petroleum products have been kept zero-rated under the GST regime, transport can be a good candidate for 5 per cent tax rate.

Currently, there are about 60 services which are exempt from service tax, including education, healthcare and religious pilgrimage.

In terms of goods, Adhia said that whatever is the exact incidence of excise plus VAT, the fitment will be into a tax slab closer to that. But depending on whether the goods are put in the higher slab or the lower slab, the taxes may increase in a few cases.

"Most of the items will be as per formula, only a few items will need discussion. In a few cases, the taxes may increase, but not in all cases. Every year, the Council will meet and revise rates," he said.

Though the GST Council took 13 meetings to decide on the enabling laws, Adhia said that since fitment of goods and services is a straightforward thing, it should not take too much time.

The Council is slated to meet on May 18-19 in Srinagar to decide on GST Rules, after which the fitment discussions will be taken up.

Adhia said that the government is determined to roll out the GST regime from July 1 despite some industry stakeholders demanding further postponement of the new tax regime.

"We are determined to roll out GST from July 1, it doesn't seem to be a problem. The live testing of GST is scheduled to begin from first week of May," he said.

Adhia agreed that GST will have a greater compliance burden as companies having physical presence in more than one states need to do multiple registrations and pay taxes separately to each state.

"I won't say it will complicate, but yes there is a slightly greater compliance burden on the centralised service sector operators because they have to pay tax to all the states. Centralised registration is not possible in the GST model," he said.

"GST is a consumption-based taxation model, in which states want to calculate how much services are provided in their jurisdiction. That's why the returns have to be filed separately for every state," he added.
The World Bank on Thursday said it estimates a 6.5 per cent growth rate for China in 2017, and a moderate slowdown over the next two years amid changes in the country's economic model.

During the presentation of the report "East Asia Pacific Economic Update", World Bank's chief economist for the region, Sudhir Shetty, said Beijing will address the significant risks that threaten its economy, Efe news reported.

The report warns of issues arising from corporate debt in China, whose companies closed 2016 with a debt amounting to 170 per cent of the GDP, according to data from international organisations.

The World Bank has encouraged Beijing to confront this problem through the restructuring of state corporations and recalled the importance of tightening regulations on the shadow banking system and addressing growing mortgage indebtedness among households.

The bank predicts China's economy will continue "to slow down gradually", forecasting a growth rate of 6.3 per cent in 2018 and 2019.

The slowed growth reflects "the impact of the government's measures to reduce excess capacity and credit expansion", it says, adding that an expected result of this will be a slowdown in activity in the real estate sector.

Exports, however, are expected to increase moderately after two years of decline.

The study also says the government's commitment to change the economic model to make it less dependent on its external sector and public investments and instead focus its growth on domestic consumption along with sustainability, will continue to bear results at a gradual pace.
Just 221 votes were cast on Thursday in the first two hours at 38 polling stations where re-poll is being held in Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency on Thursday.

The voting process started at 7 am.

Authorities have imposed restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area.

"The restrictions have been imposed to prevent violence in the district," authorities said.

For security reasons, polling stations at many places in the district have been clustered together in one building.

Three hundred police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been deployed.

Re-poll was ordered in 38 polling stations of Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah tehsils of Budgam district where violence had disrupted the process on April 8.

Sunday's polling at these polling stations was disrupted by massive violence in which eight civilians were killed in clashes with the security forces.

Alarmed by the unprecedented violence, the Election Commission decided to defer the south Kashmir Anantnag Parliamentary seat by-poll to May 25.

Voting in Anantnag constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.

Former chief minister and opposition National Conference President, Farooq Abdullah has challenged ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency.

Counting of votes will be held on April 15 and the result would be known the same day.
Meghalaya will start constructing the assembly building to replace a 125-year-old Burmese teak building reduced to ashes 16 years ago, officials said on Thursday.

From March 2001, assembly sessions have been held at the state's central library auditorium and later shifted to arts and culture auditorium within the premises of Brookside, the house where Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore began writing his "Shesher Kobita" in 1919.

On Thursday, a high-powered committee of Meghalaya assembly, headed by Speaker Abu Taher Mondal, met to decide on a company to construct the building.

Mondal said nine firms had presented their architectural designs before the assembly's high-powered committee in the presence of technical staff.

"The committee will select the best among the nine designs and the chosen firm will be asked to prepare the structural design as well as a detailed project report for constructing the new building," he said.

However, the Speaker said the new building would not be a replica of the heritage assembly building in Gothic style built by the British in pre-independent India.

"We (government) targeted to start the construction of the new assembly chamber and the assembly secretariat within this year and complete it by 2019," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.

"We need to have an assembly building befitting the aspiration of the people and legacy of the state, keeping in mind that Shillong was the seat of power for a long time both pre and post independence."

Sangma said the proposed new assembly building would be built at the New Shillong Township in Mawdiangdiang, 12 km from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya.

He said the central government had declined to allocate any funds to the State.

"The state government will earmark funds from its own resources for the building, which initial cost will be Rs 70-75 crore," Sangma said.
The people of Andhra Pradesh can now directly reach out to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu through their smart phones by downloading a free app.

All they have to do is to install 'Kaizala', a free mobile chat app developed by Microsoft that enables interaction with a large number of people at the same time.

This app is being used exclusively by Chandrababu Naidu. Citizens can share their satisfaction levels with the government as well as offer suggestions and feedback for improvement of government programmes.

The app will be formally launched at the State Secretariat here on Friday.

This feedback will be reviewed by Naidu directly and based on the feedback analytics, government policies will suitably be improved for betterment of citizens, said a statement from the Chief Minister's office.

The CM will take feedback and inputs from citizens on the problems they are facing in their day to day life including pension, ration, water, climate or anything else. These inputs will be used to review the workings of that particular department.
The authorities on Thursday again suspended broadband internet facilities in the Kashmir Valley, fearing spread of rumours and instigations for violence on social media, as re-polling was being held in parts of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The broadband internet connections were restored two days ago but the ban on mobile internet continues since April 8.

The ban on internet was imposed ahead of Sunday's by-poll in the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency. Eight civilians were killed in clashes with the security forces during the polling.
Roadways employees in Haryana on Thursday called off their four-day strike after the state government succumbed to the demand of the protesters and announced to withdraw its new policy wherein provision was made to grant permits to private players to ply buses on 273 routes.

The decision came after nearly a six-hour-long talk between a panel of the state government headed by Transport Minister Krishan Panwar and the leaders of eight employees unions protesting to oppose the move of granting the said permits.

Panwar said that the state government would soon come out with a new Transport policy that would be drafted with consultation of roadways employees.

Apart from this, the state government would also submit an affidavit in the High Court for withdrawing the existing Transport policy.

Meanwhile, over 800 private buses, already plying on these 273 routes would be allowed till the new policy comes. The state government has also withdrawn its decision wherein it had suspended 120 roadways employees for going on strike without prior notice.

On April 10, the roadways employees from across 24 depots had gone on indefinite strike opposing the state government for giving profitable routes to the private buses, saying that the decision has not only affected the roadways revenue adversely, but also resulted into conflicts between the roadways employees and private operators clashing on the same roads.

Nearly 4,200 Haryana roadways buses were not plying on 1,300 routes for the past four days, giving tough time to commuters as over 13 lakh passengers use to travel in Haryana roadways every day. The strike also caused a loss of more than Rs 3.5 crore per day to the roadways.

According to the official information, in the 2013 Transport policy, there were 3,519 permits to private operators for 1018 routes, but in 2017 Transport policy, routes were decreased to 273 but provision was made for unlimited private permits. This was strongly opposed by various employee unions, alleging that instead of inducting buses to its own fleets, the Transport department wanted to promote private players.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has praised Sonam Kapoor as she got a special mention at the 64th National Film Awards for her portrayal of slain air hostess, Neerja Bhanot, in Neerja.

The 66-year-old actress, who essayed the role of Bhanot's mother in the movie, said she is glad to see the Raanjhanaa star's growth as an artiste and that the prestigious honour will motivate her to do better work.

"Sonam is like my own bachcha. To see her growth as an artiste is a very fulfilling experience for me personally. The National award for Sonam is such a glorious validation of her talent.

"It just makes her so much more confident to do better work. I am very proud of her," Azmi said in a poster which was shared by Sonam on social media.

"This made my day year and everything! Thank you @AzmiShabana and thank you @RamKMadhvani for showing me this," Sonam wrote alongside the photo.

While, Madhvani, who directed the movie, said, "High praise from @AzmiShabana and well deserved @sonamakapoor. Very happy for you."

Neerja also won National Award for the best Hindi feature film.
A sense of scepticism is looming over the out-of-court-settlement between the parties on the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue as suggested by the Honble Chief Justice of India. The idea is noble but scepticism finds its ground to the pre-condition suggested by Subramanian Swamy that the Ram Temple should be built at Ram Janmabhoomi while the Masjid should be on the other side of Sarayu river. A bargain before mediation promises its failure making a way for BJP to pass legislation in Parliament for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, which in fact is easier.

The Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue is so trivial that even the Presidential reference seeking the Supreme Courts opinion under Article 143(1) of the Constitution on whether a Hindu temple or any Hindu religious structure existed prior to the construction of the Babri Masjid was returned unanswered by a five-judge Bench. Several moves in the past to settle the issue through negotiation including one attempt by the Shankaracharya and religious leaders from Muslim community resulted in failure. Muslim organisations, including the Babri Masjid Action Committee are sceptical about the out-of-court settlement because of past experience.

The Ayodhya dispute is mixed with mythology and history. Faith contradicts facts. The issue remained unsolved even after a quarter century after 1992 and when in all elections the Ram temple issue provided oxygen. Religion still works magic in Indian elections and the promise of a Ram temple polarised votes to the aid of BJP to great extent.

Muslims offered namaz in the Babri Masjid till December 1949 when one night idols were clandestinely installed inside the mosque prompting the lodgment of an FIR. A declaratory suit seeking entitlement to visit and worship was filed. As a temporary measure the Civil Court, Faizabad, ordered refraining from removing the idols and interfering with the puja etc. although the rights were in dispute. Thereafter the Nirmohi Akhara filed a suit in 1959 followed by Muslims filling a case in 1961 praying for a declaration regarding the land.

Another suit came to be filed in 1989 by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Eventually Allahabad High Court ordered that all the suits regarding the dispute be transferred to the High Court. During the pendency of the cases the country witnessed Babri Masjid demolition at the hands of kar sevaks in 1992. After 18 years, the Allahabad High Court (by a 2:1 majority) and without passing judgment on the title of the disputed land partitioned the property into three parts; one-third to Sunni Waqf Board, one-third to Nirmohi Akhara and one-third to Ram Lalla. This resulted in a more complicated legal tussle in which the Supreme Court intervened in 2011. The matter is pending before the Supreme Court wherein the Chief Justice of India proposed to explore an idea of out-ofcourt-settlement through mediation between the parties.

BJPs spectacular victory in the state of UP and with Yogi Adityanath as the new CM, possibility of construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya is seemingly high. Yogi Adityanath himself a vocal proponent of the Ram temple belongs to the Gorakhnath Mutt, which has been associated with the Ram temple movement since 1949. This makes the balance tilt towards the one disputing party. The mediation might see a blank as the Ayodhya dispute is not merely a land dispute; it has parallel criminal proceedings in which many prominent BJP leaders are facing charges. The dispute which saw the demolition of the Babri Masjid highlights a problem deeply rooted in religious faith of two communities in the country. Out-of-court-settlement on the title of the disputed land between the two warring religious groups would not per se allow the government to withdraw itself from prosecuting the criminal cases against the prominent BJP leaders, matters which are at an advanced stage of hearing. This may not be a palatable position for the BJP.

Supreme Courts suggestion has rekindled a debate on Ayodhya dispute. Different interested groups have welcomed the decision of CJI. An exception is the Babri Masjid Action Committee which though it welcomed the move, also expressed its scepticism on the settlement. Given its past history, private negotiation is unlikely to yield results in this sensitive and sentimental matter. Mediation, even if it prompts a solution cannot negate the eruption of fanatism on either side in future. Further, when BJP is at a much advantageous position of passing legislation in the Parliament to erect a Ram temple, mediation seems to be a weak tool to bring peace. Most welcome therefore would be a judicial pronouncement that would not only seal the dispute but also preserve the secular fabric.

The writer is an Advocate-on Record, Supreme Court of India and Life Member, Indian Society of International Law.
Actor Jude Law has been roped in to essay the young Albus Dumbledore in sequel of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

David Yates is directing the followup to last year's Harry Potter spin-off which is slated to release next year.

Actors Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler are returning for the sequel, with the script written by J.K. Rowling. Unlike the initial movie's New York City setting, the followup takes place in Paris and Watford, England.

Law's character will be cast against actor Johnny Depp's, who was revealed to be the infamous wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the first film, reports Hollywoodreporter.com.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald were friends when they were teens, but grew apart after Dumbledore suffered a devastating family loss. Grindelwald then grew into one of the most powerful dark wizards in history.

"Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. There's lots to unpack in that relationship," Rowling said at a press conference.A

"You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man. We'll see him at that formative period of his life," she added.

Rowling previously revealed that Dumbledore is gay while she was on a press tour for her book.


Unhappy even after meeting the President and five central ministers, Tamil Nadu farmers protesting in New Delhi for a month on Thursday expressed their anger against the BJP.

The farmers, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here, have been demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

"The BJP is completely against farmers and is pro-corporate. They can waive of lakhs of crores of loans of the corporates but not farmers," said P. Ayyakannu, President of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association.

Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.

Claiming that nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water, the protesting farmers said the BJP and its central government were apathetic to their suffering.

"Only President Pranab Mukherjee seemed serious about our issues, but none of the five ministers we met seemed really concerned," he said.

"Worse is that the Prime Minister is not even ready to meet us though we farmers stripped ourselves outside his office. Our action was meant to say we have nothing We will continue our agitation."

The farmers had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley thrice. He gave them assurances but the farmers don't see their demands being met yet.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Tamil Nadu.

But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.
The stage is set for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meeting here over the weekend, during which the party leadership is expected to strategise on further expanding its organisational base.

During the April 15-16 meeting, the party would focus on expanding its base especially in states where its performance in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls had been dismal.

The BJP leaders are upbeat about making its presence felt in Odisha and other areas, which were earlier seen as weak for the saffron outfit.

Following its spectacular performance in the panchayat polls in Odisha, the party is to strategise to dethrone the Naveen Patnaik government, which is in power since last 17 years, said a BJP leader.

The BJP leadership is also likely to deliberate on preparing a road-map for the 2019 general elections.

"We want to strengthen our base in Odisha as well as other states. The party will deliberate on this," said Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and several senior party leaders would attend the executive meeting.

Modi is to felicitate members of 16 families associated with the Paika rebellion of 1817 during the meet. Paika rebellion is considered as the first armed mutiny against the British rule in the state. The move is expected to boost the BJP's standing in the state.

The capital city has been decked up for the meet with roads getting a facelift and hoardings, banners and flags seen all over.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across the city ahead of the two-day visit of the Prime Minister.

"A total of 100 platoons of police and two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be deployed in the city. Besides, four IG rank officers will be in-charge of the five sectors in which Bhubaneswar has been divided for security reasons," said Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh.

Special Protection Group (SPG) officers will also provide support to the four IG rank officers to provide security cover to the Prime Minister, he added.

The security personnel on Thursday carried out a dress rehearsal of the Prime Minister's convoy from the city airport to Raj Bhavan and to Janata Maidan, where the executive meeting will be held.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said churches in Kerala should not indulge in politics.

Naidu, who is on a visit here, touched upon various issues during a chat with reporters.

"Churches should concentrate on spiritual issues and not indulge in politics," said Naidu in reply to a question if churches in Kerala are an impediment to the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

He said there would be no appeasement of the minority communities, but all are welcome to the BJP.

The BJP has one member in the 140-member Kerala Assembly. It is yet to open its account in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha from Kerala.

"I am here as part of our party's programme to be in the 120 Lok Sabha constituencies where we finished second in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. I will be meeting with my party leaders," said Naidu.

Hitting hard at the Congress party, Naidu said no wise person can remain in the Congress as it's a "sinking ship".

"We however are not making any efforts to target Congress leaders in Kerala to join the BJP, but there are so many people from various parties approaching us," said Naidu.

In the past one week there have been numerous media reports that a few senior leaders from the Congress party would join the Kerala unit of the BJP.

In reply to a question that Kerala does not have a representation in the Narendra Modi cabinet, Naidu shot back saying there are no seats in the cabinet for many who have won the Lok Sabha polls and hence Kerala will have to elect someone.

On the meeting of Congress leaders with the President of India on Wednesday, Naidu said the memorandum that they gave to the President is "very true of what the Congress did when they ruled the country".

"Now they have a problem with the Electronic Voting Machines( EVMs) and it's because they lost states like Uttar Pradesh very badly. They however are not able to convince leaders like Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and senior leader M. Veerappa Moily.

"When they win elections, the EVMs are fine and when they lose, there is a problem. We did not bring in EVMs, instead it was first used in 1989 and the Congress won elections in 2004 and 2009. The Congress is devoid of issues and hence raises non-issues. It's an absurd and baseless allegation that they are levelling," said Naidu.
Following last week's chemical attack in Syria that claimed over 80 lives, India on Thursday reiterated its position against the use of chemical weapons anywhere in the world.

"You know that India is a signatory of the chemical weapons convention," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said in weekly media briefing here.

"It has been our consistent position that the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere under any circumstances should not happen," he said. "And any perpetrator of such an act should be held accountable."

On April 4, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others.

Two days later, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shairat military base in central Syria, where from, according to the US, airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off.

On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a UN resolution that would have required Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to cooperate with international inquiries into the attack.

On India's position vis-a-vis the rest of the world on the issue, Baglay referred to a statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday which said: "We both believe in a unified and stable Syria and we agree we want to deny a safe haven to terrorists."

He said that India believed that it was important to defeat terrorism "which in that particular theatre is represented, among others by the IS (Islamic State) and cooperation of all countries is vital to achieving this objective".
Celebrating 70 years of friendship with Russia, India on Thursday kicked off year-long celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The celebrations would be taken to different cities and towns of the country through organised cultural events, business meetings and other activities.

During the launch function here, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) President Lokesh Chandra said the last 70 years since independence had been of a "very close friendship", which actually dates back around 200 years.

"We hope that this friendship that we share would continue for years to come," he said.

Joint Secretary (Eurasia) G.V. Srinivas said India was ready to celebrate the festival of friendship in partnership with the Russian community and other stakeholders throughout the coming year.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to come clear on the issue of triple talaq.

"It is said that after Uttar Pradesh the maximum number of women affected by triple talaq is in West Bengal. What have you (Mamata) got to say about these victims of triple talaq," Prasad said.

"We want to ask the Chief Minister of West Bengal as to what is her stand as far as rank injustice to the victims of triple talaq is concerned," Prasad said.

Mamata Banerjee has sided with Muslim organisations opposing the ban on triple talaq.

"This (triple talaq) is not the question of worship or faith. This is question of gender justice, gender equality, gender dignity. Should a large number of women in India after 70 years of independence live in such injustice that mere three words end their marriage," Prasad said.

He said the practice of triple talaq is as "unconstitutional" as discrimination by an upper caste Hindu against a Dalit.

"We respect faith and worship. But every pernicious practice is not a part of worship," he said.

The Law Minister said that more than 20 Muslim countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, have regulated divorce, so why can't the same be done in a secular country like India.

"If Islamic countries can regulate triple talaq and it is not deemed against shariah, then why can't we do it in a secular country like India," he said.

He said that the Narendra Modi government has challenged the practice of triple talaq in Supreme Court and the apex court is slated to hear the matter soon.
A special court here on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant for arrest against controversial preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik after he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate despite four summons issued to him.

Naik is currently away in Saudi Arabia.

Informed sources said the Enforcement Directorate may now seek Letters Rogatory, or letters of request, from the same court for Saudi Arabia. These letters are a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court.

The ED first issued summons to Naik in January, after which three more summons were issued at regular intervals. The agency had submitted an application for issuance of fresh NBW on Monday.

The central agency registered a criminal case against Naik and others in December last year after taking cognisance of a National Investigation Agency (NIA) complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Sources in the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said the 51-year-old preacher established dummy companies in India and abroad for diversion of funds.

As part of its ongoing investigation, the ED last month attached property worth Rs 18.37 crore belonging to the IRF.

The Islamic preacher is also accused of promoting enmity between groups on religious and racial grounds, which are being investigated by the NIA.

The NIA also has sent him several summons to appear at its headquarters in Delhi but he has allegedly avoided them.

All the notices by the Enforcement Directorate and the NIA were served at Naik's Jasmine Apartments in Mazgaon area of Mumbai.

Naik first came into the limelight when his name cropped up during investigations into the terror strike at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 1 last year.

One of the terrorists involved in that attack allegedly claimed to have been inspired by Naik's speeches. Naik is evading arrest after his activities came under scanner.

Though Naik offered to speak to the Enforcement Directorate via videoconferencing or answer a questionnaire, the sources said the agency is not keen on the idea, saying it will "set a wrong precedent".

The Enforcement Directorate revealed that videos of Naik's provocative speeches were produced and exported to Dubai to be telecast.

The agency has recorded the statements of Naik's siblings  his sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. They two said they were unaware of Naik's financial dealings.

The sources said Naik's overseas properties were also under the ED scanner.
India on Thursday came down heavily on Pakistan over Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentencing saying Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian and that Pakistan has no evidence against him.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy and Pakistan has no evidence against him," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

"These facts were communicated to Pakistan over an year ago. We had, in fact, made 13 requests to Pakistan to release him since he was arrested last year," he added.

He further said that the Pakistan government has not shared any specific details about Kulbhushan Jadhav's condition.

"We are not aware of where he has been kept and Pakistan has not told us. As soon as the information about his death sentence was passed, the Pakistan high commissioner was summoned. We told him that there is nothing concrete and the farcical nature of the case against him was wrong. We said that we would treat it as premeditated murder," he added.

On 10 April, India had summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit saying proceedings that led to the sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav are 'farcical'.

Jadhav was reportedly arrested on 3 March, 2016 in Balochistan's Mashkel area on claims of his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday condemned the definition of a "perfect female body" in a class 12 textbook as "sexist" and has ordered action in the matter even as the private publisher has decided to stop the printing and sale of the book.

Excerpts from the Physical Education textbook defining "36-24-36" as the "best body shape for females" on Thursday created an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.

The book titled "Health and Physical Education" written by V K Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

CBSE, however, clarified that it "does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools".

"I condemn the remarks in the book as sexist. The text is non-defendable and unacceptable. We have taken serious note of it. I have instructed the officers to take appropriate action in this regard," Javadekar told reporters.

"It is not an NCERT book but by a private publisher and action will be taken against them. We are also asking CBSE schools to follow NCERT books rather than private publishers in interest of earning profit," he added.

The publishers also announced that they have "stopped the printing, selling and distribution of the revised book with immediate effect".

"We do review our books from time to time but some points have remained uncorrected due to an oversight and hence the book will again be reviewed by our editorial board and any inconsistencies found will be corrected," the publishers added.

The excerpt from the chapter "Physiology and Sports" which is going viral read, "36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration".

Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.

In a statement, the CBSE had said, "Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them".

The Human Resource Development ministry had last month said that CBSE has no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers and it has no mandate to prescribe or recommend textbooks other than those published by NCERT.
Chunky Pandey has stunned everyone as a menacing guy in Begum Jaan trailer, and the actor says he was not sure if he would get that part in the film.

After the release of Housefull, I was auditioning for Begum Jaan and people on the sets were telling me to say dialogues like Aakhri Pasta (his character in Housefull). At the back of my mind I thought I would not get the film, Chunky told.

But Srijit was sure he wanted me to play this evil part. He wanted me to lose real Chunky Pandey he wanted the world to see my evil side. He saw the evilness in me and he wanted to bring that out in 'Begum Jaan', he says.

Chunky, who is known for his comic timing, is playing a villainous character of Kabir in the Vidya Balan starrer but the actor says it was not tough for him to get into the dark zone.

He is not a villain this is the face of evil. Evil will always exist in this world. I always had a wicked streak in me, the sadist side in me also comes in my comedy films. But to do something like this is crazy. It came very naturally to me and I am most scared about that, he says.

Sporting a bald pate, kohl-lined eyes and tobacco- stained teeth, Chunky reveals his wife failed to recognise him in this new avatar.

My wife couldn't recognise me. The whole personality has changed. She always thought I am a villain and I had to prove her right so I did 'Begum Jaan', he says.

I was little resistant (about the look) after seeing myself I was happy. You don't get a film like Begum Jaan everyday in your career. Srijit compelled me to lose my identity, with this creepy, almost-bald look.

I was earlier asked to cut my hair short, later Srijit just took all my hair off he also asked me to shave off my eyebrows. I told him no as I was travelling for work and could be stopped at immigration.

He believes his 'repulsive role' will get him critical acclaim, something he says he misses since his Tezaab days.

The film also features Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi and Gauahar Khan.

Calling them power house performers, Chunky says, These are actors with whom you have to be on your toes. You have to up your performance. I had to be best. It was a delight to work with them.

Srijit's 1947-set film Begum Jaan which is a remake of his Bengali movie Rajkahini, will release this Friday.
Music festival Ultra Worldwide's Road to Ultra will start here from September 8, and then move on to Mumbai in February next year.

Organised by Percept Live, the electronic music festival will take place first at India Exposition Mart here and will then travel to Mumbai, read a statement from the organisers of the event, Percept Live.

Road To Ultra events are single-stage events with the same focus as all Ultra Worldwide festivals.

Each event showcases stage productions including world-class visuals, lighting, cryogenics and pyrotechnics. Stage designs are developed by the Ultra Music Festival creative team and adapted to accommodate the needs of both indoor and outdoor venues.

The music fest has had top artistes like Tiesto, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Alesso, Steve Angello, Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Fedde Le Grand and more has headliners in the past on foreign shores.

Ultra Worldwide is also set to host events in 23 countries and across six continents by the end of 2018.
The Congress teamed up with Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad in the Bihar assembly elections to defeat the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, however, the alliance of the Congress with Akhilesh Yadav could not prevent a massive win by the BJP.

While the two results were very different, in both cases the Congress had to bear the adverse consequence of its base among people getting badly eroded due to the fact that an overwhelming majority of the seats were simply not contested by its candidates. When a majority of the seats are not even contested, the mobilisation capacity and organisational structure of a once dominant party of these states is further rusted and eroded.

This lowers the morale of even old timers and loyalists. Several committed cadres find themselves ill at ease when they are asked to extend support to and seek votes for candidates of parties with whom they do not agree. These and related factors need to be taken into account while planning the election strategy of the Indian National Congress for 2019.

This is a critical time for the most prominent political party of India in historical terms which now has to adjust to its new role in opposition. Despite all its recent adversities, it remains by far the leading opposition party in terms of its nationwide presence. Even in the middle of a difficult and adverse phase, the Congress won the most number of seats in three out of five states in which elections were held recently. It is another matter that it could form government in only one out of these three states.

So clearly while the Congress has more than its share of problems all is not lost and a resurgence is still possible. For this efforts have to be made at several levels. One important aspect is to formulate a careful strategy regarding electoral alliances after consultations that involve not just leaders but also grassroots supporters.

One mistake which cost the Congress a lot in Uttar Pradesh was to enter into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party merely on the basis of talks at the top level without proper consultation at the grassroots level. The idea behind the alliance was not bad at all, as the prevailing circumstances of Uttar Pradesh demanded some sort of alliance to defeat the well-oiled, efficiently managed election machine of the BJP which was aiming aggressively at sweeping the election through any means.

The mistake Congress made was in reaching the agreement so late that the supporter base could not be taken into confidence and could not also convey the ground realities to the leadership.

The ground realities indicated that a late agreement would not result in conducive conditions that were needed for the supporters of the two parties to establish a genuine understanding with each other. The ground reality also indicated that some of the most powerful and resourceful leaders of the Samajwadi Party would not only hesitate to support the alliance but may even disrupt it.

The Congress cannot afford to go on repeating its mistakes particularly in such important states as Uttar Pradesh. Some leaders are now talking of organising a Bihar-like mahagathbandhan to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in the next Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2019.

Even if such a broad alliance of the SP, the BSP and the Congress becomes possible in UP (this itself is very doubtful) this will leave only about 10 to 15 per cent seats for the Congress. After the debacle of the Congress in the 2017 assembly elections, any decision to contest a small number of seats will be nothing short of catastrophic. Contesting a few seats amounts to leaving the battle before the bugle has been sounded. So before talking of a mahagathbandhan in UP leaders should think of implications properly. Any attempt to defeat the BJP by liquidating itself can only be called foolhardy from a longer term perspective. The proper strategy for the Congress would be to announce that it will contest not less than 80 per cent of seats in all the states in the next Lok Sabha elections. This will help to mobilise party workers and supporters at least to some extent in important states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where there is so much uncertainty that there is hardly any incentive for party leaders to prepare for Lok Sabha elections.

However any such determined decision to contest a majority of the seats in the next Lok Sabha election also implies that the Congress will be able to get only smaller parties as electoral allies. There is nothing unfortunate about this. This is the way it should be for a truly national political party. It should have only smaller allies who will be content with a few seats. This is the right time for such a firm decision to send a clear signal to party members and supporters.

However the party should maintain cordial relations with all opposition parties which will also be helpful for post election efforts to form a government.

The writer is a freelance journalist who has been involved with several social movements and initiatives.
It isnt a 21st century version of the Cold War, but there has been a dramatic change in Donald Trumps dealings with Syria ~ the Russian Presidents ally till the other day. The unmistakable tension between Washington and Moscow has surfaced barely six months after the Russian President strained every nerve to get Trump elected and, one is tempted to add, Hillary Clinton defeated. To the astonishing extent that the Kremlins game theory marked a momentous reversal of Cold War perceptions, a kind of meddling that has recently been confirmed by the FBI.

The US cruise missile attack on Bashar alAssads country has happened in the immediate aftermath of the chemical gas carnage. And the storm clouds were gathering thick and fast last weekend when Russia mobilised its warship, Admiral Grigorovich, in the direction of Syria following the first direct strike by the US on the Assad regime. Subsequent events will bear out whether the sailing of the warship was intended only to be a threat to the US. Suffice it to register that the partners in Election 2016 have now conveyed the impression that they are gearing up for a confrontation over Syria.

Not wholly unrelated to the build-up of tension is the reported suggestion by Assads aides to seek the refuge of a bunker. Not that President Trump is overly keen on removing Assad; the US administration has in a bizarre justification described Assads rule as political reality. We do not know whether the missile strike was intended to unnerve the presidential palace in Damascus. Yet we do know that the nerve gas has had a calamitous effect.

Markedly, the White House has been anxious to present last Fridays sudden offensive as a contained response to a specific atrocity. In a sense, there is a thread that links Barack Obama to Donald Trump. The incumbent is as loath as his predecessor to rock the boat. Indeed, Obama was always unwilling to use military options to remove Assad. Ergo, a regime change in Syria doesnt appear to be on the US agenda quite yet.

Of course, Trump had a compelling reason to emit a signal ~ after 70 people, notably children, perished in a chemical gas attack. Equally, the sailing of Admiral Grigorovich might serve to bring the curtains on the Trump-Putin bonhomie, which had blossomed with a terribly critical agenda last November.

The Kremlins strategic interest in backing the Syrian regime, and its willingness to use every tool at its disposal to support Assad ~ from its jets to its Security Council veto ~ means he is unlikely to be dislodged any time soon. As Simon Jenkins, former Editor of The Times, puts it succinctly in The Guardian ~ President Trumps emotions have been stirred, but his bombs wont help Syria.
In all likelihood, United States President Donald Trump views his decision to launch a missile strike against Syria as a one-off event, a singular retaliation for that countrys use of chemical weapons against its own people, rather than the start of a bigger American military involvement in the Middle East.

Still, the Syria missile strike will go down as a seminal event in the history of the Trump presidency. For it represents the first time an isolationist American leader who came to power dismissing all foreign military interventions as follies publicly acknowledged the fact that some military operations are justifiable and that some key international humanitarian values  again, not a favourite Trump concept  are worth fighting for.

And this comes after a number of other, subtler policy changes in the White House which all go in the same direction: towards the creation of a presidency which is less unusual and radical and more conventional than we initially feared.

Dare we say it? Could it be that Mr Trump is being tamed?

The past few months were exhausting, for both Americas friends and foes. First came the shock realisation that the man everyone dismissed as, at best, a comical outsider, ended up holding the keys to the White House. Then came the even more shocking realisation that the newly-elected President actually had every intention of implementing many of the policies he espoused during his electoral campaign.

There was also the gruff, unpredictable personal manner of Mr Trump, which made every contact with him a journey into the unknown, an exercise in psychology as well as diplomacy.

Some leaders, such as Japans Shinzo Abe or Britains Theresa May, engaged with Mr Trump early, and appear to have established a personal rapport. But others, such as Germanys Angela Merkel, fell flat on their faces when they tried to engage with Americas new leader.

During her recent meeting in the White House, Chancellor Merkel, who runs Europes biggest nation and economy, not only suffered the ignominy of an American President pretending not to notice her offer to shake hands in public, but was also presented by Mr Trump with a bill calculating the money Germany allegedly owed the US for Americas military protection since World War II. It was the sort of childish prank which did no favours to either Mr Trumps knowledge of history, or his familiarity with accountancy.

And then, there were the almost daily scandals, the policy flops and the infighting in the White House which proceeded with such fury and created such a bewilderment around the world that it felt as though the Trump administration has been around for ages, when in fact Mr Trump has been in charge for just a quarter of one out of his four-year mandate.

The scandals are still there. But there is also plenty of recent evidence that the administration understands the mess it is in, is prepared to learn from its mistakes and is willing to change both policies and behaviour.

Last weeks removal of Mr Steve Bannon, Mr Trumps chief strategist, from the National Security Council is one such example; the controversial former fringe journalist with a self-proclaimed mission to destroy what he calls the administrative state which apparently includes everyone classified as a liberal, was the generator of many of the administrations recent disasters, including the half-baked ban against travellers from some Muslim countries.

Yet of equal importance is the fact that Mr Trump reversed his previous decision  also inspired by Mr Bannon  to marginalise the US intelligence chiefs; they are now restored to their position as members of the National Security Council, a step which is not only logical, but which is also guaranteed to improve decision-making in security matters.

Talk of overhauling the intelligence community, another pet obsession of Mr Bannon and Mr Michael Flynn, the three-star general who lasted barely 24 days as Mr Trumps national security adviser, has also mercifully disappeared.

Unlike many other decisions undertaken by the current administration, last Fridays missile strikes on Syria should serve as textbook examples of an exemplary military mission. The targets were carefully chosen, attention was given to minimising civilian casualties, Americas allies were consulted while its opponents were informed, the operation was precise, the communication with the media short and clear and enough ambiguity is being retained about future US actions so as to keep all enemies on their toes.

Furthermore, some pretty impressive people are now joining the administration. The appointment of General H. R. McMaster as the new national security adviser was received with enthusiasm in most Western capitals, where the military scholar is respected for his strategic foresight and organisational skills.

And while most of the medias attention concentrated on allegations of supposedly nefarious links between Russia and some White House officials, the Trump administration appointed Dr Fiona Hill as its chief Russia policy adviser. Dr Hill, a Brit by birth, is regarded as one of the best brains on Russia, a woman who commands respect with most governments and think-tanks. Arguably, the current US administration now has access to superior Russian expertise than its predecessors.

What accounts for this transformation? Partly, the self-corrective mechanisms of the American constitutional system. As Mr Trump has discovered, while he enjoys wide discretion on foreign and trade policies, he cannot achieve very much domestically without the support of Congress as well as the acquiescence of judges; hasty presidential decrees and furious tweets in the middle of the night cannot enforce visa bans or reform Americas healthcare system.

Mr Trump was also quickly confronted with the potentially catastrophic implications of his initial plans to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, discard Americas adherence to Nato or brand China a currency manipulator; mercifully, he has refrained from doing all these things. And, as the old saying goes, American presidents dont search for crises; the crises search for them. He did not intend to spend any time on Syria, but events presented him with an opportunity of differentiating the current administration from the previous one, which stood idly by as the Syrian regime gassed its people.

Besides, it is worth recalling that the portrayal of the Trump administration as a team of weirdos incapable of brewing their own tea, may be a favourite one in the US liberal media but is just wrong. While there are some questionable characters in the administration, there are also some serious heavy-hitters, such as Defence Secretary James Mattis or Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who managed the recent Syria operation.

Mr Tillerson may be criticised by foreign governments for spending too little on overseas trips and showing no enthusiasm for the shuttle diplomacy of his predecessors. But he has wisely decided that, at least for the moment, his most important job remains at home in Washington, where the State Department needs defending from proposed financial cuts, and where the enduring influence of the diplomats needs to be reasserted.

For both Mr Tillerson and Mr Mattis, the latest Syrian episode was an opportunity to remind their President that there is no substitute for professionalism, and that, in a crisis, it is experience which counts for more than gut instinct.

To be sure, Mr Trumps process of accommodation to the realities and practicalities of power is still in its infancy. Many lower-rung government positions remain unfilled, because the President insists on vetting candidates, and picks only those he approves of. The infighting within the White House has yet to be resolved. The positions of Ms Ivanka Trump and Mr Jared Kushner, the Presidents daughter and son-in-law, still need to be clarified. And Mr Trump himself is unlikely to abandon his image as the perpetual contrarian, the man who simply rejects conventional wisdom, almost regardless of the topic.

Nevertheless, there is no question that the administration knows it needs an overhaul; as a senior official recently put it in language borrowed from Silicon Valley, America is currently run by the beta White House, implying that a patched-up version will soon be released.

And that, too, will be entirely in keeping with Americas recent history. For it is by now largely forgotten that both Mr Jimmy Carter and Mr Bill Clinton had a chaotic and largely ineffectual start to their presidencies, and both had to make huge personnel and policy changes within months after coming into office.

Mr Clintons makeover worked as intended, launching a presidency which is now largely remembered positively, while Mr Carters never recovered from its initial disastrous start.

A message of hope there, but also one of warning for the current President.

The Straits Times/ANN
There is little doubt that unity among Nagas and unification of all militant factions is the sine qua non for lasting peace in Nagaland. Not that no efforts in this direction have been made, it is just that faction leaders themselves have dealt severe blows to such unity hopes. As early as June 1999, NSCN (IM) general secretary Th Muivah put paid to any pretension of unity/unification when he said others were irrelevant to the process of finding a solution to the Naga problem. The reconciliation process, initiated by the opinion-forming Naga Hoho in December 2001, folded up within months of its formation after the NSCN(IM) leadership objected to the inclusion of two members who belonged to the Angami community of Naga National Council president, the late Zapu Phizo.

Muivah is on record as having said reconciliation cannot be forced, it must come naturally. He wants his bete noir, the Khaplang faction, to admit its mistakes, meaning the killings of several comrades-in-arms at the time of parting company in 1988. Khaplang, on the other hand, claims it is the Muivah group itself which had made the mistake, so it must atone for it.

Not much is heard these days of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation that came into being in 2008 and whose efforts helped reduce fratricidal casualties. It also succeeded in bringing together the leaders of all the three warring factions ~ the NSCN(IM), NSCN(Khaplang) and NNC/federal government of Nagaland ~ at a meeting in Dimapur in September 2010. It was described as the priceless gift to the people of Nagaland. Though a signatory to the 2009 Covenant of Naga Reconciliation (Chiangmai, Thailand) arranged by the FNR, Khaplang did not attend the meeting. The FNR must involve itself in furthering the peace process.

After unilaterally abrogating the 14-year-old ceasefire pact with the Centre in March 2015, Khaplang today leads the United Liberation Front of Western South-east Asia. Its members include the Ulfa (Independent), several Meitei armed groups as well as Bodo and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation rebels. Khaplang is safely ensconced in Myanmar after signing, in 2012, an accord with Yangon.

However, for overall peace and harmony in Nagaland, his presence cannot be wished away. Given this, the Centres insistence that for the final settlement, all stakeholders must come together is a pragmatic approach.

Ultimately, peace depends entirely on whether Muivah, the sole Naga leader left to shape the Nagas destiny, will be prepared to come down from his high horse and soften his somewhat aggressive and rigid demands.
There were many who believed the Pakistan army would never confront the militants in North Waziristan. Too many strategic assets were located there, they said. And the cost of appeasing the West by dismantling the militants infrastructure would be too high. But the predictions were wrong. Eventually  after years of hesitation  the army did move in. Its easy to forget now that back in 2007 it was not uncommon to hear Peshawarites say they were moving their children out of the city for fear that the state could not provide sufficient security. And even if many of those parents still worry today about the risk of their offspring being kidnapped, there can be little doubt that the situation is vastly improved.

Many of those who doubted the armys resolve also thought it would never make a genuine effort to control the Pak-Afghan border. After all, for years the army had said it could not control the movement of militants from Pakistan into Afghanistan because the border was so porous. But now that the flow is reversed it turns out that the border can be controlled. There are new posts, forts and radar systems to stop militants getting into Pakistan from Afghanistan.

It all prompts the question: are these developments in northwest Pakistan a one-off? Or are they a model for what might happen in the rest of Pakistan?

The army would doubtless argue that its fight against militant violence is by no means restricted to the northwest. The Fata campaign has been matched by a commitment to tackle militancy in Karachi. And even if many might see the Baloch insurgency in a different light to violent jihadism, from the militarys point of view, in Balochistan too, the state has confronted those who violently oppose the state.

And yet elsewhere in the country some militant outfits remain untouched. There are three types of groups to consider: those active in Afghanistan, the sectarian groups and the India-facing outfits.

Despite all the impassioned official denials, the world has little doubt that the Afghan Taliban leadership has sanctuary in Quetta. Given that foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz said as much its difficult to believe anything else. And there is a reason for this policy. In the minds of some of Pakistans military strategists the protection offered to senior Afghan Taliban leaders and their families serves Pakistans national interest. The international community, the argument goes, will be unable to get a peace deal Afghanistan without going through Pakistan.

Similarly, the links with India-facing groups are plain for all to see. The idea that Pakistan can rely can on the indigenous movement in Kashmir may be gaining ground in some official circles but as long as Modi is in power the Pakistani militants are going, at the very least, to be held in reserve.

Which leaves the sectarian groups. Even for the most hard-bitten supporter of the states use of jihadi proxies, support or toleration of the sectarian groups is very hard to understand. The sectarian groups cause huge suffering. They deepen a potentially disastrous rift in Pakistan society. They are already the subject of outside interference and financing and thereby undermine Pakistan sovereignty. In addition, they offer a potential route for the militant Islamic State group to get into Pakistan society. While many analysts believe IS lacks the infrastructure or popular support base to become a major force in Pakistan, there is still a risk that the organisation could become established by forming an alliance with anti-Shia groups such as Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Despite all these serious considerations the sectarian groups continue to operate. The most likely explanation  beyond sectarian prejudices reportedly held by some senior officers  is that these groups are now so numerous that confronting them head-on would risk something approaching civil war in the key province of Punjab.

There are other reasons to believe that various types of militant groups active outside the northwest will not be touched. The civilian government has still failed to adopt a clear position on militancy. Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, one of the leaders of the Lal Masjid rebellion, remains in charge of an institution that became a byword for antistate violence and which was cleansed of violent elements at a high cost to human life. Nor has the government instituted sufficiently thorough reforms to undermine the militants by providing people with schools, hospital and courts.

But the failings are not by civilians alone. The lack of resolve is also creeping into military parlance. Increasingly, the military is moving away from saying militancy reflects internal divisions in Pakistan. Instead, it is taking the much easier and convenient line of blaming it all on foreigners. Even if such claims are sometimes justified, they run the risk of become a catch-all explanation that will undermine the clear thinking needed to take on such a difficult adversary.

The writer is a British journalist and author of Pakistan: Eye of the Storm.
The Assad regime in Syria has long been accused of unconscionable severity and cruelty to its opposition. Mr. Assad rules over a divided and fractious country, and his efforts to restrain his opposition have led to severe measures against political dissidents in an ever-escalating cycle. As a result, Syria, a jewel of a country, has been in irremediable turmoil which has only been compounded by ill-judged foreign intervention. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the rising fundamentalist tide within the region, the regime has been able to retain its hold on power, and to maintain its secular character. The severity of the opposition challenge and the measures adopted by the regime have made it impossible for matters to settle down; the civil war rolls on with no end in sight, and with new groups entering the fray to add fuel to the flames.

The international community has been witness to these events, has deplored them as well it might, but has been unable to do much to bring a halt to the strife. The UN has tried but it has not been granted the necessary authority: ceasefire agreements have repeatedly fallen by the wayside, and the combatants have been able to pursue their aims without being held to account by supra-national pressures and demands. There has been nothing like the coordinated external intervention in Syria that had brought down the Saddam Hussein regime next door in Iraq. Mr. Assad's foes receive support from abroad but not to decisive effect. The result of the battle therefore remains undetermined and there is no present sign of crumbling on either side.

The crisis in Syria took on an unexpected dimension last year when refugees from the war set out for destinations in Europe in quest of peace and safety. This happened at a time when a flood of migrants was headed for Europe from their homes in North Africa and West Asia, driven by economic necessity, and many destitute refugees from Syria were able to join them, slipping across national borders in their journey. A good part of the Syrian population had already become refugees in their own land and in neighbouring countries like Lebanon, and now some of them were headed for the affluent lands of Europe. They were to receive an uncertain welcome as they advanced and this became one of the most pressing public concerns as European countries grappled with their consciences and with the prejudices of some of their citizens to give succour and asylum to the immigrants at their gates.

Meanwhile, the civil war has been prolonged and become more intense as a result of foreign intervention. Russia, a historic friend to Syria and a major power in the vicinity, has been drawn deeper into the struggle and has taken a direct part in it as a principal backer of Mr. Assad, keeping company as it happens with Iran, the inveterate foe of the aggressive anti-Assad militias of the Islamic State (IS). The parameters of this struggle have more than local, or even regional, significance, for ideological factors have become ever more obtrusive in a manner that prefigures the desire of the most implacable elements to bring about global jihad.

The civil war has been marked by a number of atrocities, the most horrifying of these being the use of chemical weapons. There have been many accusations against Syria in past years, which have been denied but not effectively rebutted, and the demand for action against the perpetrators remains strong. The international community, divided though it may be, is greatly exercised and pictures of Syrian children fatally affected by chemical attacks have drawn a horrified reaction. Among the global powers, the USA has been highly condemnatory of Syria but until very recently had refrained from intervening militarily against it. It had seemed at times to be on the verge but was apparently held back by former President Obama, who sensed that his country was in no mood to be drawn into yet another military engagement overseas.

There matters might have remained, for it had seemed likely that President Trump with his well-advertised aversion to external entanglements would not permit his country to be drawn into military engagements abroad. But this proved to be a short-lived expectation. Just a few days ago a shower of US missiles came down on Syria in a dramatic statement of US readiness to intervene as and when it felt it should, turning away from its policy of the previous many years.

The missiles did much damage; more important, the attack changed the parameters of the situation and opened up the possibility of the USA becoming an active participant in the Syrian imbroglio. The display of US military strength and readiness to use it changes many of the assumptions that have hitherto driven policy in and around Syria.

The strike itself, perhaps deliberately, was not a decisive intervention, and it does not appear to be a prelude to further attacks from the air or by ground troops. Nor has it had the effect of destabilizing Mr. Assad regime, but it has put the regime on notice so far as the use of chemical weapons is concerned.

The missile attack has also had the effect of hardening the lines between some of the important players. It had been expected that with Mr. Trump in charge there would be some easing of the US-Russia relationship that had run into difficulty, and the initial signs were encouraging, but after strong Russian criticism of the missile attack the distance between the two countries has stretched further. Iran too, which had cautiously advanced towards a rapprochement with USA, has denounced the attack and the careful work of reconciliation between the two countries seems to have been largely undone. It is an even tougher, harsher setting now in which the Syrian war proceeds.

The newly activist USA seen in Syria is visible elsewhere too. So far as India is concerned, a senior US diplomat's observations on Indo-Pak matters have revived some unwelcome ideas about a US role and if unchecked could affect the currently satisfactory India-US relationship. Elsewhere, too, what may be random observations by US officials have provoked strong reactions and raised questions about US intentions ~ in this context, one can look at North Korea which has felt it necessary to make threatening noises against the USA, which may not be convincing but cannot be ignored as they come from a nuclear armed country.

This combination of events is disturbing to the kind of ordered existence traditionally sought by the international community. Maybe this style of US activism will blow over, to be followed before long by a more restrained method of functioning.

The writer is Indias former Foreign Secretary
Seminars, lectures, special programmes for Dalits, and other activities marked the quasquicentennial birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar last year. Parties and personalities across the political spectrum were involved in a competitive display of their high regard for the man, while true Ambedkerites wondered how far such projected adulation actually flowed from a genuine understanding of the man and his mission, his scholasticism and dogged determination for ameliorating the conditions of depressed classes and creating a truly democratic social order in India.

Excessive glorification or lionization of Ambedkar is only a relatively recent phenomenon and indicates an agenda of coopting the increasingly assertive strand of Dalit politics. During his lifetime, Ambedkar was a much misunderstood man. For many stalwarts of our freedom movement, he was a renegade and his preoccupation with the Dalit issue was viewed as an obstacle towards attainment of freedom at the earliest. His biographer Dhananjay Keer in his celebrated book, Dr Ambedkar: Life and Mission, has dwelt on the unwavering commitment of Babasaheb to the emancipation of the depressed classes from centuries of inhuman exploitation, his tireless striving to reach that goal and his unhesitant rejection of the politics of the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi. Ambedkar felt that the BaniaBrahmin dominated party was not genuinely sensitive to the miseries of the Dalits. At a time when the entire country catapulted Gandhi to a messianic stature, when the world viewed him as the supreme benefactor of the Harijan, Indias dispossessed untouchables, Ambedkar would not be swayed by what he viewed as conciliatory, placatory treatment of the untouchables by Gandhi. He would not accept anything less than a substantial share of political power for the Dalits as the means to usher in a social revolution. Despite stiff resistance from Gandhi behind whom stood the currents of mainstream politics in India during the second Round Table Conference, Ambedkar secured a separate electorate for the depressed classes, and consequently incurred trenchant criticism from the Indian press which even branded him unpatriotic. But nothing could shake his commitment to his own people.

A maverick, a scholar of high caliber, a social reformer, a Constitution maker, a jurist, sociologist and a political economist of the first degree, Dr Ambedkar was all of these and more. His brilliant mind was strengthened by a fearless heart and acerbic tongue, as he minced no words in condemning the hypocritical approach of the so-called liberals towards the Dalit issue.

At a time when majoritarian exclusivity is being used to define the contours of Indian nationhood, one should recall Ambedkars conceptualization of the nation, not as a transcendental entity, personified by a Goddess whose victory needs to be hailed by all citizens, but as a community of diverse groups, bound together by ties of mutual respect, concern and commitment. The cow vigilantes and the crusader against eating beef might find it unpalatable that Ambedkar analysed the taboo associated with such consumption to beef eating as a tool devised by the Brahmins to humiliate and degrade the depressed classes. Although Brahmins themselves ate all varieties of meat earlier, they later moved towards vegetarianism and glorified it just to shame the dispossessed and poor Dalits for whom it was an affordable option. Disparaging treatment of the food habit of the depressed class was a tool of legitimizing the cultural domination of the upper caste Hindus. At one point of time, he was so exasperated with the inflexibility of Hindu society, particularly the deeply enmeshed caste system, that he abandoned the hope of ameliorating the condition of Dalits within the matrix of the Hindu social order and decided to convert to Budhhism which he viewed as a more egalitarian and democratic religious order. The attempt of the Hindu right to appropriate him as one of its own militates against the disillusionment of an embattled Ambedkar.

While many in India consider Gandhi as the man who worked wonders by paving the way towards Indias freedom through his Satyagraha, Civil disobedience and Quit India movements which generated mass mobilization on an unprecedented scale, Ambedkar felt otherwise. In an interview given to BBC in 1955, much after Independence, he aired his unconventional belief that Netaji Subhas Bose and not Gandhi gave us our freedom. With his characteristic candour, he spoke about the Indian National Army raised by Netaji, The British had been ruling the country in the firm belief that whatever may happen in the country or whatever the politicians do, they will never be able to change the loyalty of soldiers. That was one prop on which they were carrying on the administration. And that was completely dashed to pieces. They found that soldiers could be seduced to form a party ~ a battalion to blow off the British.

Ambedkar was not only at odds with the liberals of the Congress and the Hindu orthodoxy, he did not agree with the Marxists either and considered their view of caste as essentially an issue of economic inequality to be a reductionist perspective. He strongly felt that inequality within Hindu society is not only economic but also social and psychological and represents a civilizational crisis.

He cautioned his own community as well, observing that centuries of oppression and denial of access to education have bred among Dalits evil habits and bad ways of living, ugly customs, passivity, a sense of helplessness, the tendency to pursue their narrow self-interest, hierarchical gradation among themselves, low ambition and so on. He exhorted them to receive education, to do away with evil practices, to develop solidarity with fellow members of the community and be worthy of the rights and social respect they are aspiring and fighting for. He rued the deplorable tendency of those members of the community who after gaining access to education and social respectability, moved away from their community instead of serving their less fortunate brothers and sisters.

At his insistence, the Drafting Committee incorporated the principle Fraternity in the Preamble to our Constitution, in conjunction with Justice, Liberty and Fraternity. As he told the Constituent Assembly, Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians, of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. How difficult it is for Indians to think that they are a nation. The realization of this goal is going to be very difficult. In India there are castes. The castes are anti-national, in the first place, because they bring about separation in social life. They are anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste. But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a nation in reality. For fraternity can be a fact only when there is a nation. Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint. Treating people with respect, even if they are less privileged, is still a distant reality. Public flogging of Dalits in Una, the suicide of a bright young scholar Rohit Vemula who could not avoid the catastrophic ill effects of the accident of his birth, and similar other unfortunate events are a grim reminder of the unfulfilled work of Ambedkar. As we have failed to realize the goal of fraternity, can we claim to be the protector of his legacy?

Ambedkar never ceased to think critically, never hesitated to dismantle even his own works and ideas if he felt that the context has changed radically, and despite being widely revered as the father of the Indian Constitution, did not bat an eyelid to comment that he would not hesitate to burn the statute if it failed to live up to its avowed objectives. Perhaps, we need to ponder his poignant and almost prophetic words in the windingup speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25th November 1949 ~ In India, Bhakti plays a part in politics which is unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be the road to the salvation of a soul, but in politics, Bhakti or hero worship is a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship.

The writer is Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Womens Christian College, Kolkata.
More than merited was every column-centimetre across which the media recently splashed the courageous recovery of Mr Chetan Cheetah, a CRPF officer, who after being comatose for 16 days was discharged from hospital ~ after sustaining no fewer than nine bullet wounds in an anti-militancy operation in Hajjan, Jammu and Kashmir, on 16 February. Doctors at the AIIMS, New Delhi, to where he was transferred after preliminary treatment at the Base Hospital in Srinagar, hailed his steely resolve, and said it was nothing short of a miracle that the Commanding Officer of the paramilitarys 45th battalion had survived the multiple injuries.

Though one eye has been saved, he may lose sight in the other. The dedication of the doctors has been lauded by the home minister, Mr Rajnath Singh, who tweeted fortune favours the brave. Like a true warrior, Mr Cheetah has expressed gratitude for the goodwill messages, and made particular mention of the Chief of the Army Staff and the minister of state for home affairs having visited him in hospital: such moments are unforgettable. No doubt gallantry awards and other honours will be bestowed upon the man who has done his nation proud, yet as his wife noted, normality in our lives will return once he wears the uniform and goes to work again.

That is where the CRPF leadership must step in: assigning Mr Cheetah desk-bound duties may cater to financial and allied needs, but will not fully compensate for his willingness to go the extra mile for his countrys cause. The nature of the job could well be restricted by his physical condition, but quality leadership would demand that his exemplary conduct be harnessed to inspire other men and women in uniform to emulate the lofty standards he has set.

Traditionally the military and allied services are rule-bound when it comes to financial rewards for gallantry, distinguished service, etc., ~ the babus who deal with such matters are unable to look beyond files, standing orders, formulae, etc. As the cases taken to tribunals and courts suggest, there is limited scope for flexibility and innovative out-of-the-box thinking. Heroics are soon forgotten, promotions and postings, indeed longevity of service too, are linked with the evaluation of medical boards.

For how long will even those in the CRPF remember the gallantry of men like Chetan Cheetah and the tribute paid to him by ministers, the Army chief, etc? What also goes against the grain ~ in all matters relating to recognising the soldier ~ is that the ceremonials are essentially sarkari. When last were Opposition leaders involved in the homage paid to soldiers being transported to their native places for the Last Rites? Something is very wrong somewhere.
Recently, WTOs Director General, Roberto Ezvedo, visited India. During one of his meetings with some experts and organizations associated with trade and commerce, he was asked about the WTOs future, after Trumps taking over as US President and how he would deal with his ( Trumps) disenchanting free trade system? His quick response was that if a member nation violates WTO rules, the affected members could make a complaint against the delinquent and on this basis action could be taken under the WTO dispute settlement provisions. The WTO itself cannot take suo moto action.

After the WTO came into existence in 1995, world trade began to be operated under its rule-based system. Tariffs started decreasing and nontariff barriers began to move away. But the effect was not the same on all countries.

Although the reduction of import duties and removal of obstacles had increased trade of all countries, the trade balances of most countries had worsened. Although American industries faced the heat, business of big American corporations continued to grow throughout the world due to the USs diplomatic influence and economic power. The revenue of the American government was also growing due to this reason, as these corporations were contributing hugely to the public exchequer. The new patent system also benefitted American companies. So, the United States was the main beneficiary of globalisation and WTO. The US dollar also strengthened vis-a-vis other currencies.

However, this honeymoon with globalisation did not last long in the developed world; America and other developed countries started getting disillusioned with globalisation. The participation of these countries in WTO meetings started diminishing and these meetings were also slowly reduced to rituals. After the economic recession since 2007-08, the USA and other developed nations apparently started adopting a conservationist approach.

Last year, in the UK, a referendum took place and Britons decided to part with the European Union (EU). In the meanwhile, Donald Trump started gaining popularity in the United States and was then elected as president of USA. These changes reflected changed attitude of developed countries towards globalisation. Now, whereas Britain is moving towards bilateral agreements after its imminent exit from EU and the US is attempting to impose heavy duty on imports from China. All these developments depict dumping of WTO by the same set of countries that were its fierce supporters.

With America separating itself from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and adopting a protectionist approach, it seems the WTO is taking a back seat now. In such a case, when the country that advocated for free trade and multilateral trade agreements the most is withdrawing itself, naturally a debate about the new trade system has sprung up.

With new developments in US and Europe, and changed thinking of the policy makers there, nervousness is quite visible amongst supporters of WTO and globalisation. They are also scared that this trend will accelerate. At the same time, they are busy explaining that the WTO and multilateral trade agreements would ultimately survive. They give three arguments:

First, after the WTO came into existence, the alternative trade system ceased to exist and the biggest change came when China also subscribed to the WTO. Earlier European integration also contributed to strengthening of the WTO. Supporters argue that due to the abandonment of TPP by the US and the absence of any alternative trade system after Brexit, European nations will have to accept the WTO as a readymade forum for trade agreements. In such a situation, WTO will become important again, because this is the only forum for trade negotiations.

The second argument of WTO supporters is that while the United States under Trumps leadership has decided to impose tariff and nontariff barriers on imports from different countries, the affected member nations of the WTO would complain against US only at WTO forum. And WTO can only effectively curb the protectionist attitude of the US. Therefore, WTO will gain prominence once again and emerge as a more robust institution directing world trade.

Their third argument is that although it is true that regional trade agreements will move forward in Asia and other areas in the near future, this requires a new leadership at the global level. Since there is no such leadership in the world today, nations will again have to turn towards WTO.

These supporters of the WTO say that many countries including India, South Africa, Brazil, China, Australia and Indonesia will come to the rescue of the WTO, because their interests coincide with free trade as nurtured by multilateral agreements.

We have to understand that due to the unemployment, poverty and inequalities in United States, Britain and other parts of the globe (generated by trade-led globalisation), peoples sentiments are getting reflected in an upsurge against globalization. In France too, similar feelings are being revealed. Not only the people, the governments have also started realising that due to free trade, there is not only an imbalance in foreign trade, but industries are shutting down and employment opportunities are eroding due to heavy imports in the name of making available cheap products from China and other countries. Rise of poverty and unemployment is the natural outcome.

Therefore, protection of industries by way of import restrictions is important. Though, supporters of globalisation look upon protectionism with contempt, there is no better way to save employment and industry than protectionism.

The writer is Associate Professor, PGDAV College, University of Delhi.
With lack of awareness on Parkinson's Disease, 60 per cent of people mistake its symptoms for those of old age, thus causing a delay in diagnosis and leads to irreversible position of the disease, doctors said on April 12.

"People misunderstand Parkinson's Disease to be old age problems whose symptoms are similar, like shakiness in limbs, tremors, slowed movements, loss of automatic movements. Parkinson's Disease affects only one side of the body unlike in the case of age-related problem where affects the complete body.

"This misconception leads to delayed diagnosis causing complications worse to treat. Our idea is to create awareness among all," said Sumit Singh, director and head of Neurology at city-based Artemis hospital at a awareness lecture on Parkinson's Disease.

The neurosciences team has started a special OPD only for Parkinson's Disease patients from April 10 to 16 at the hospital between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. where patients will be getting free consultation.

According to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, more than 10 million people worldwide are living with the disease. Medication costs for an individual are $2,500 annually, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient.

Aditya Gupta, director, neurosurgery at Artemis hospital said as the stage advances, the effect of medication tends to stop and hinder quality of life and the frequency of medication increases due to several on and off phases.

"This leads to end the medicine effect unpredictable and hence people with advanced stage have to go for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. It is most often offered to people with advanced Parkinson's who have unstable medication responses. DBS can stabilize medication fluctuations, reduce or halt involuntary movements (dyskinesias), reduce tremor, reduce rigidity, and improve slowing of movement," said Gupta.
Google has introduced Areo, one single app for food delivery and home services, currently live in Bengaluru and Mumbai on Android devices.

"Areo lets users search for local restaurants and home services like electricians, plumbers, and painters, and schedule their deliveries or appointments through the app," the company said in its Google Play store.

The app also provides customer reviews of the available companies, eateries to help you make informed choices from product quality to timeliness of service.

The app has pay by card, netbanking or cash on delivery services.
Popular director AR Murugadoss and actor Mahesh Babu have united for yet another big project with the duo recently revealing the title of the movie, SPYdar. The team has also released a motion poster featuring a classy Mahesh Babu, whos carrying a gun in his hand.

Minutes after the poster was out, it went viral across social media, thanks to Mahesh Babu's ardent fans. Fans even created many hashtags about the film including #spyder, @armurugadoss and #spyderfirstlook.

The film will be released in Tamil and Telugu and both the languages carry the same title and the movie will also be dubbed in Malayalam as SPYder. Promotional activities are in full swing with Mahesh Babu even starring in the cover page of popular Tamil magazine Vikatan.
The second season of Big Little Lies will concentrate on actress Zoe Kravitz's character, Bonnie and her abusive father.

The writer of the HBO miniseries, Liane Moriarty has revealed that they are in talks with the studio to develop

more ideas for the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"(I would like to) bring in more of Bonnie's story from the book. And also what happens next (for Nicole Kidman's

Celeste). That's the question that's also a really interesting thing, when you've been through a relationship like that, how

do you feel now? How would she feel?  I think that would be a really interesting thing to explore. So there's a whole lot

of different storylines," Moriarty said.

She also said that she has heard positive feedback from the cast, with star and executive producer Witherspoon

lobbying for more of the show.

"I think everybody is pretty keen. They all loved working together, but I think the thing is the story has to be right,"

Moriarty said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that he will take unprecedented steps to end the political division between his West Bank-based autonomy government and the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

Abbas did not explain, but could try to use financial pressure to extract concessions from the Islamic militant Hamas which seized Gaza from him in 2007.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said today that the language of threats and dictating orders would not be accepted.

The escalating rhetoric comes ahead of a planned meeting between Abbas and President Donald Trump that will likely focus on a possible resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations about Palestinian statehood.

No date has been set, but a Palestinian advance team heads to Washington later this month.

Hamas control of Gaza weakens Abbas, undermining his claim that he speaks for all Palestinians.

Abbas and his supporters seek a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967. Hamas wants an Islamic state in historic Palestine, including present-day Israel, though a new political program suggests the group would accept a state in the 1967 lines, for now.

Hamas drove pro-Abbas forces from Gaza in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliament elections. Since then, repeated attempts at reconciliation have failed. A national unity government set up by Abbas in 2014, after a deal with Hamas, never got off the ground in Gaza.

Hamas refused to relinquish control to pro-Abbas security forces, particularly at border crossings with Israel and Egypt, while Abbas refused to incorporate tens of thousands of civil servants and troops hired by the Hamas government since 2007 into a new administration.

Last month, Hamas set up an administrative committee for Gaza, further angering Abbas.

He signaled earlier this month that despite Hamas control, Gaza is economically dependent on payments from his donor-funded Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Citing donor concerns, the Palestinian Authority slashed by one-third the salaries of former government employees and members of the security forces who had served under Abbas in Gaza before 2007.

These 60,000 ex-employees continued to receive salaries for staying home after the Hamas takeover, as a way of ensuring their loyalty to Abbas.

However, their spending also helped support the Gaza economy, inadvertently propping up Hamas.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian Authority noted that it spent USD 17 billion in Gaza since 2007, including for salaries and development aid.

Abbas told Palestinian diplomats in Bahrain yesterday that this policy would change.

These days, we are in a dangerous and tough situation that requires decisive steps, and we are to take these decisive steps, Abbas was quoted as saying by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Therefore, we are going to take unprecedented steps in the coming days to end the division.

Barhoum accused Abbas of trying to pressure Hamas ahead of his meeting with Trump.
President Donald Trump has praised China for its decision to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning last week's chemical attack on civilians in Syria, terming it an honour for the US.

I think it's wonderful that they abstained. As you know, very few people expected that. And no, I was not surprised that China did abstain, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Very, very few people thought that..that was going to happen. So we're honoured by the vote. That's the vote that should have taken place, Trump said, responding to a question on his relationship with China.

Later, a senior White House official described this as a positive step.

China's abstention at the UN was another significant victory for all civilised peoples because it really showed how isolated the Assad regime and its international sponsors are, the official told reporters.

Trump also praised China for taking steps against North Korea.

We have a very big problem in North Korea. And as I said, I really think that China's going to try very hard and has already started, he said.

The vast amount of coal that comes out of North Korea going to China, they turned back the boats. That's a big step, Trump said.
Without blaming India by name, Pakistan on Thursday said "foreign intelligence agencies" may have kidnapped a retired Pakistani Army officer who has gone missing in Nepal.

The Dawn quoted Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria as saying at the weekly press briefing that retired Lt Col Habib Zahir had been trapped in Nepal "after being lured into a job offer".

He said Pakistani authorities were in touch with the Nepal government to trace Zahir and Kathmandu was cooperating.

Zakaria, however, warned against linking Zahir's disappearance with the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an alleged Indian spy sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage and sabotage.

"It is unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Habib Zahir," he said.

Zakaria appeared to be referring to Indian media reports that say that Zahir was part of the team that picked up Jadhav.

Pakistan says Jadhav was caught in Balochistan and he was working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). India says Jadhav was abducted from Iran.

Zahir, who retired from the Army in 2014, went missing on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near the Indian border.

The Pakistani reached Nepal after he was lured with a job offer by someone by the name of Mark Thompson.

The spokesman said clear evidence existed of Indian involvement in Pakistan's internal affairs and India's attempts to spread terrorism in the country.

"India has been caught red-handed interfering in Pakistan," Zakaria said.

He claimed that India had interfered in Pakistani affairs in the past as well.
In a major U-turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is no longer obsolete, asserting that he is committed to the military alliance.

I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against the ISIS, he said about NATO which was formed in 1949.

Since then its member states have more than doubled, increasing from 12 to 28. On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism, Trump said.

Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack using the most horrible weapons.

The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home, he said.

In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that, he said.

Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of GDP to defence.

If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger, he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.

Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world, he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds.

Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom, he said.

Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer, he said.

Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way, he said.

NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May, the NATO Secretary General said.
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has launched legal action against opposition leader Alexei Navalny over an accusation of bribery in his report into alleged corruption by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a court said on Thursday.

Usmanov has launched action against the Kremlin critic for the protection of his honour and dignity at Moscow's Lyublinsky court, the court's press service told TASS state news agency.

Navalny, who has announced he intends to stand for president in 2018, in March released a report claiming Medvedev controls a property empire through shadowy not-for- profit organisations. The video has been viewed more than 18 million times on YouTube.

Medvedev has denied the claims, which he described as malarkey.

Navalny's supporters last month held the largest unauthorised demonstration in Moscow in years, protesting over the accusations against the prime minister, one of President Vladimir Putin's closest associates.

Usmanov was listed as Russia's third richest businessman by Forbes magazine in 2016 with a fortune of USD 12.5 billion. His interests range from metallurgy to social networking sites Mail.ru and VK and business daily Kommersant.

Navalny's report says Usmanov donated a mansion in an elite suburb of Moscow whose value it estimates at USD 70 million to a foundation it links to Medvedev.

The report says: We know very well what such a gift means: it is a bribe.

Usmanov is personally suing Navalny and his Anti- Corruption Foundation which produced the report, according to the website of Moscow city courts.

In an interview with Vedomosti independent business daily yesterday, Usmanov said he gave the house and grounds to the foundation in exchange for land it owned, which he bought at a nominal price.

He said the house and the land were worth approximately the same  around USD 50 million.

This is no bribe! Usmanov told Vedomosti.

He said he planned to sue Navalny over the lying in the report.

Navalny, who is a lawyer, responded defiantly on Twitter, saying he would call Medvedev as a witness.

He rejected Usmanov's description of the deal, saying the billionaire bought the land from commercial companies.

Navalny has been targeted in a number of legal cases he describes as politically motivated. This year he was convicted of fraud in a retrial after the European Court of Human Rights quashed the original verdict. This conviction would bar him from standing for public office.
A steam train clocked (100) miles 161 kilometres per hour on Britain's mainline railway network for the first time in almost 50 years.

Tornado, a Peppercorn-class A1 steam locomotive, reached the landmark speed during a test run on Wednesday aimed at proving it can operate passenger services at 90mph (145 kph).

A steam locomotive has not hit 100mph in Britain since 1968, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Built by heritage enthusiasts, Tornado hit the three- figure speed on the East Coast Main Line  the route between London and Edinburgh  during a run between Doncaster and Newcastle in northern England.

The test run was part of a bid to raise Tornado's speed limit for passenger services from 75mph (121 kph) to 90mph by the end of this year.

Preservation steam locomotives have been restricted to 75mph since the end of steam services on the main lines in the 1960s.

Tornado was the first steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost half a century when it was completed in 2008.

If Tornado can run at 90mph it will be able to fit in better with other trains on the busy main railway lines.

Pulling passenger carriages yesterday on a secret run, it ran at 10 per cent above the 90mph mark to demonstrate a sufficient safety margin.

"We are delighted to have completed the test runs that move us one step closer to 90mph operations with Tornado," said Graeme Bunker-James, operations director for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

"This will allow us to ensure that the locomotive continues to haul trains on the busiest parts of the UK network, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy travelling with Tornado.

"As part of these tests, the locomotive operated at 90mph for a sustained period and also achieved 100mph under these special conditions and running with clear signals."

Workers on the locomotive, their faces blackened, celebrated with a cup of tea after hitting the landmark.

The world speed record for a steam locomotive is 126mph (203kph), set by the Mallard further south on the same railway line in 1938. (AFP)
America's relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low", US President Donald Trump has said, but he hoped that it would be wonderful if the two countries got along.

"It would be wonderful as we were discussing just a little while ago, if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all.

We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"This has built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia.

Russia is a strong country. We're a very, very strong country.

We're going to see how that all works out, Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has just concluded his maiden visit to Russia during which he met his Russian counterpart and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I'll be speaking in with Rex Tillerson in a little while, calling in. I think he had a very successful meeting in Russia. We'll see. We'll see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is what's most important, not just talk. And I think that based on everything I'm hearing, things went pretty well, maybe better than anticipated, Trump said.

Trump hoped that the European countries would have nothing to fear from Russia.

"I want to just start by saying hopefully they're going to have to fear nothing ultimately. Right now, there is a fear. And there are problems. There's certainly problems. But ultimately, I hope that there won't be a fear and there won't be problems and the world can get along. That would be the ideal situation, he said.

Stoltenberg said NATO and its member countries need to find ways to talk with Russia.

"We believe that the precondition for a political dialogue with Russia is that we are strong and that we are united. That based on that, we can talk to Russia because Russia is our neighbour. Russia is here to stay. So we have to find ways to manage our relationship with Russia, he said.

"I am absolutely certain that the US supports this approach, partly because the United States is contributing with forces to our enhanced presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and also in the southeast of the alliance in Romania.

And the US and the President has clearly expressed that they want dialogue with Russia, but based on unity and strength in the alliance, the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg said he strongly believes that the only way to deter Russia is to be strong.

"But the only way to avoid a new Cold War, avoid the arms race, and avoid increasing tensions is to continue to engage Russia in a political dialogue and to make sure that what we do is defensive and proportionate in response to a more assertive Russia," he said.

"The most important thing is to have a strong alliance, to stay united and be firm and predictable in our approach to Russia. And that means that we have to invest in our collective defence. That's exactly what we are doing; deploy more troops in eastern part of the alliance; increase the readiness of our forces; and increase defence spending, he said.

Stoltenberg welcomed the very strong message from Trump on the importance of increased defence spending.

"We have started to do this, so we are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, providing credible deterrence, he said.

But at the same time, we have to find ways to engage with Russia, to talk with Russia. Because Russia will not go away. Russia will be our biggest neighbour. We have to find ways to live with them and to try and avoid a new Cold War, a new arms race, Stoltenberg said.
Botticelli show features works never before seen in the US


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A field of giant solar panels is being erected across the street from the DPW building on town-owned land on Elm Street.
No more Monday to Friday, nine to five? Why these N.L. businesses are choosing a four-day-a-week work model

When it comes to those who work nine-to-five jobs, most will tell you the same thing: the weekends are never long enough. In recent years, especially since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more talks of hybrid workweek models.
Foreign crisis after the Cold War In honor of Veterans Day, this is part 2 of a 3- part series on the confl ict in Iraq, containing interviews with two local men who served. Christopher Jones and Gregory Fitzgerald Robinson are two Burke County men who served with the military in Iraq. Jones entered the U.S....

Making history As always, the community showed up to support D.O.O.R. 2022 marks the most money raised in Celebrity Waiter Night history with a whopping $18,365, including the largest single top in history at $1,250!

BOC refuses to stop talking trash The Board of Commissioners may be inching toward a decision on how to manage the Countys solid waste. The panel met Tuesday, October 25 during a work session to address the issue once again. County Manager Merv Waldrop presented the board with a comparison of the proposals the County received...

Cycling event returns to burke county The Bird Dog100 Gravel Cycling Event returns to Burke County for its second year on Saturday, November 5th. The event, coordinated by Cycling Quests, begins Friday night with registration and prerace activities at First Liberty Market, in downtown Waynesboro. The race will be held on Saturday beginning at Liberty Market...
The high profile Income Tax raids in Chennai on April 7 at health minister Dr C Vijaya BBhaskars house have spilled links to what happened inside Apollo hospitals when Jayalalithaa was admitted for treatment from September 22 to December 5, 2016 and the money transactions associated with it.

The payout list leaked to the media by the Income Tax department after the raids on April 7 and subsequently, after the enquiries with Vijaya Bhaskar, reveals the money distributed to several VIPs in the state right from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami to the well-known doctor who acknowledged Jayalalithaas thumb impression during her hospitalisation last year.

The inquisitive name in the list of payees in the documents seized was Dr P Balaji. Given to Dr Balaji for expensesHM (home minister) instructionsRs 5 lakh," it read. This entry has raised eyebrows as to why a government doctors name was in the payout list of the health minister and if the doctor had actually taken money from him.

Dr Balaji, Professor of Minimal Access Surgery at Madras Medical College, came into the picture when he attested Jayalalithaas thumb impression in Form B that was submitted to the Election Commission in November 2016, for bypolls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies.

In his statement then, Balaji had certified: "Since the signatory has undergone tracheostomy and has an inflamed right hand, she is temporarily unable to affix her signature. Hence, she has affixed her left thumb impression on her own in my presence.

Balaji had also written the same in the document he certified and sent to the Election Commission. Apparently, the date mentioned in the payout list records November 1, 2016, which is just three days after Dr Balaji had got the attestation.

Though the doctor in his statement had refuted to have taken any money for his services, he accepted in an interview to a Tamil newspaper that he had taken money but to settle Dr Richard Beales hotel bills at Taj Coromandel in Chennai.

He said Dr Beale was supposed to stay at Rain Tree hotel, booked by Apollo. He was not willing to stay there and wanted to be moved to Taj Coromandel. Apollo was not willing to get Dr Beale moved as the price was high and so health minister Vijaya Bhaskar agreed to pay and came into the scene. So, hotel bills of Dr Beale were directly settled by the ministers personal assistant, he told the newspaper.

He further said the bills at Taj Coromandel could also be verified if anyone needs proof of Dr Beales hotel expenses and who paid it. However, in that case, a curious question arises about the hospital's claim of settling Dr Beales hotel bill, during his stay at Taj Coromandel.

Interestingly, these questions and the murky dealings mentioned in the payout list seized from Vijaya Bhaskars house have thrown much light into the mysterious days of Jayalalithaas hospitalisation. If sources from the Madras Medical College are to be believed, Dr Balalji had always been health ministers favourite, which is why he was one among the panel of government doctors constituted to monitor Jayalaithaas health.

Apparently, Balaji headed the committee formed with the concurrence of Vijaya Bhaskar and other top leaders in the AIADMK. Though his specialisation was in laproscopy, which had nothing to do with the illness of Jayalalithaa, he was allowed to head the five-member team that had not given out any reports on Jayalalithaas health till date.

In fact, even when health secretary J. Radhakrishnan, whose houses were also raided by the Income Tax sleuths on April 7, had put in much efforts to bring out Jayalalithaas health report issued by the team of AIIMS doctors, it was surprising that he did not ask the state governments doctor team to speak on this.

Also, a few days after the attestation and submission of Form B, Dr Balaji was elevated as the member secretary of the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as TRANSTAN, this government agency is the key to organ transplants as it monitors and regulates the organ and cadaver transplants in the state.

These transplants are mostly done through private hospitals and as per the data available with the state government, Tamil Nadu leads in cadaver transplants. Moreover, TRANSTAN is the most regulated body in India when it comes to organ transplants.

It is in this context that Chennai-based NGO Change India had petitioned Tamil Nadu governor Dr Vidyasagar Rao against Dr Balajis appointment. It had alleged that the appointment reeked nepotism and favouritism. It is pertinent to note that Dr P Balaji possesses no knowledge about organ transplant and cadaver transplant, and his appointment reeks of nepotism, favouritism and no proper procedure was followed by the health minister and health secretary in appointing him, says Change Indias director Paadam A Narayanan in his petition.

He further claimed in the petition that Dr Balaji was just an assistant surgeon at the government-run Stanley Medical College and promoted as professor in Dharmapuri Medical College. Subsequently, he was brought to the Madras Medical College and a special department called Minimal Access surgery was created to accommodate him, overlooking several senior surgeons. This, the petition alleged, was only to assist the health minister in his dealings.

In fact, the whole drama enacted by M.G.R. Medical University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr S. Geetha Lakshmi in the course of IT officials' summons and her appearance before them on Wednesday after the high court dismissed her plea, had raised eyebrows. Geetha Lakshmi was appointed to the post only in December 2015. Reportedly, she was one among the VCs who had called V.K. Sasikala soon after Jayalalithaa's demise and had advised her to take over the reins of the state.

While the top leader of the state Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami has not spoken about the raids or the probe held by the IT department in his cabinet members residence, sources in the state secretariat said the entire political set up is shaken post the incident. In fact, the chief minister's name also figures in the payout list for R.K. Nagar cash for votes, seized from Vijaya Bhaskar's house.

Moreover, the state government, after the trust vote on February 18 and passing of the budget in March, has once again slipped into a pause mode, similar to how it was during Jayalalithaas days of hospitalisation. Apparently, there are not any new policy decisions or new schemes announced by the government. In fact, Palanisamis silence, according to people close to him, is because his statements on this could bring out more skeletons on board from his side, which would only bring more discredit to the already unpopular AIADMK government.
Is former chief minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane all set to bid Congress a good bye? Corridors of Mantralaya are abuzz with speculations on 'when Rane will quit the Congress'. A few months ago the speculation was 'whether Rane will quit the Congress'.

[File] Narayan Rane | PTI

A former Shiv Sainik, who still worships Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thakeray, Rane appears to have made the journey from 'whether' to 'when' when Congress leadership in Maharashtra was busy in its Sangharsh Yatra against Devendra Fadnavis government's indecision over the issue of farm loan waiver.

On the day when Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan was addressing farmers during the 'Sangharsh Yatra' in the scorching summer heat in Nanded district, Narayan Rane was having a closed door discussion with junior minister and BJP leader Jaikumar Raval when the latter was visiting Sindhudurg, Rane's home district.

At a time when Congress-led opposition in Maharashtra has finally managed to get its act together and has successfully cornered Fadnavis' BJP government on the issue of loan waiver and farm suicides, the grand old party continues to fight its battles within. Rane, who has been the chief minister of the state and was also industries minister in Congress reign, had chosen to stay away from the 'Sangharsh Yatra', opposition's grand show of unity against ruling dispensation in Maharashtra. Rane finally made an appearance on April 4, the concluding day of the Yatra.

Rane's elder son Nilesh, a former Congress MP, recently resigned from all posts of the party. It was his way of protest against Ashok Chavan's leadership. Soon after he had quit party posts, his supporters flooded social media with posts which declared 'Ashok Chavan-Maharasthra Congress President' as missing.

That Ranes are not happy in the Congress has been known for quite some time now. Rane senior even met Rahul Gandhi a few days back and conveyed his grievances.

Reports have now surfaced that he and his legislator son Nitesh met BJP president Amit Shah in Ahmedabad on April 12 night. The meeting took place after chief minister Fadnavis spoke to Shah and was present at the meeting, according a prominent news channel. Ranes flew to Ahmedabad from Goa while Fadnavis went there from Mumbai. The two are said to have met Shah at latter's residence and the meeting is reported to have lasted for over an hour.

There are obvious reasons why the BJP is so keen to welcome Rane in its fold.

The party was routed recently in local body elections in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district where it did not win a single seat. If Ranes join the BJP, all his loyalists from Congress will soon follow suit thereby strengthening the BJP in the two districts where Rane calls the shots.

Ranes' entry into the BJP will be a severe blow not just to Congress but to entire opposition as Congress is trying hard to stitch together opposition unity against the BJP-Sena government. Congress also does not have any aggressive leader in the upper house of state legislature except Rane. The BJP is hoping to make Rane a senior minister in Maharashtra cabinet so that he complements the chief minister in countering the opposition on the floor of the house.

At present only the CM is able to aggressively defend the government in the legislature because of his grasp of issues and legislative rules. With Rane as his senior colleague, it will be a deadly combination. Certain BJP ministers may feel insecure, but if we have to win assembly elections in 2019 Ranes will be able to contribute a lot, said a senior BJP leader in the know of developments requesting anonymity.

Soon after he returned from Ahmedabad, Rane denied the news reports that he had met Amit Shah along with Fadnavis. He claimed that he had gone there for personal work with his son. The BJP's offer has been there for a long time now. If I wanted to become a minister, I would have become a union minister long time ago, said Rane even as he claimed that the reports were misleading.

A lot, however, depends on what the BJP has to offer to Ranes. It is doubtful whether Rane would work under Fadnavis who is too junior to him in politics. Fadnavis was mayor of Nagpur when Rane was Shiv Sena chief minister of Maharashtra. During his first term in the assembly, Fadnavis was groomed by Rane and Gopinath Munde as they were quick to see a spark in the young legislator from Nagpur.

There are also issues about political future of Rane's two sonsNilesh and Nitesh. Nitesh is the legislator while Nilesh is a former MP who will want to contest from the same seat currently being held by Shiv Sena's union minister Anant Geete. The BJP sees no problem in accommodating younger Nitesh.

The BJP is well aware that Rane is a fiercely ambitious person. And Rane knows well that his political career graph has already hit a plateau and as such he can not afford to make any move that will backfire. Will he take the plunge?
On this Baisakhi day, 98 years ago, a cowardly brigadier opened fire on an unarmed crowd of peasants in Amritsar and killed 389. The officer, Reginald Dyer, was court-martialled. His civilian boss, the divisional commissioner of Punjab, Michael O'Dwyer, was later assassinated by Udham Singh. Because of the similarity of the names, many wrongly believed that it was Dyer who was killed by Udham Singh.

That apart, the significance of Jallianwala Bagh largely evaded popular imagination. To most people today, it was another bloody atrocity, the kind one reads about in history lessons.

But Jallianwala Bagh was much more. It was actually the turning point in India's national movement after the revolt of 1857the first nail driven into a coffin that was being readied for the British empire.

One has to understand the provincial, national and global context in which Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened. The British empire was at its high noon by the turn of the 20th century; the ruthless colonialism that had marked the rise of the British had morphed into what appeared to be enlightened imperialism.

Most of the regions under their domain had been rendered peaceful by clever deployment of military force, along with introduction of enlightened laws and progressive administrative measures. Thus, by the end of the 19th century, British rule, in India as well as across the globe, had gained a certain legitimacy even in the eyes of the enslaved public.

The colonial wars had ended. There was a semblance of progressive administration. The people were seeing less of the British soldier, and more of the British civil servant.

This was true of Punjab more than anywhere else. The Sikh empire that the illustrious Ranjit Singh had built was dismantled in the two bloody Anglo-Sikh wars in the first half of the 19th century. But Dalhousie, the imperious governor-general, understood the value and valour of the Sikhs. I shall send you the best men,he told the natives of Punjab. And he did.

He sent men like Sir John Lawrence who again said, I shall rule you with the pen and the sword.

With the sword, he ended the banditry in the countryside and established the rule of law. With the pen, he rewrote their laws and gave the people a progressive administration. With his administrative acumen, he built canals to irrigate their lands.

Punjab reciprocated. For close to seven decades from the 1840s, the otherwise rebellious Punjabis stayed loyal to the paramount power in India. This was perhaps a first in the history of the Punjab, whose sons had fought even the mighty Mughals.

The British employed the same technique that they used in Punjab in the rest of India. Just like Sikh power was crushed in the two Anglo-Sikh wars, the revolt of 1857 was suppressed with sheer force and ruthlessness. But, as in Punjab, the British soon realised that they couldn't rule India with the use of sheer force. The ruler had to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the subjects. It was now that the British began to focus on improving the administration of the empire, rather than conquering territories.

To gain symbolic legitimacy, they even conducted two oriental-style durbars in the old Mughal city of Delhi rather than in their seat of power, which was Calcutta. The defeat in Mesopotamia in early stages of the first world war was a setback, but the British salvaged their prestige by finally winning the war in Europe.

It was in this background, and in the year that the first world war ended, that Jallianwala Bagh happened. Till then, most Indians had reconciled with the progressive nature of the colonial rule. Even the national movement was essentially an attempt to seek greater say for Indians in the administration, rather than seeking dominion status, let alone independence.

British rule was largely viewed as just, humane and progressive. If there were flaws, those could be addressed through discussions, petitions and also by creating better awareness all around.

Jallianwala Bagh shattered the faith that the people had in the British sense of justice and fairness. To most native Indians, the massacre of the unarmed was a betrayal of the trust that they had placed on the British to rule them wisely, justly and with fairness. In the eyes of the average Indian, the just, fair and liberal Englishman suddenly turned into a ruthless, bloodthirsty tyrant who couldn't be trusted. Jallianwala Bagh revealed the evil that resided in the 'enlightened' empire.

Since then, it was a slow but sure downward slide for British rule in India. It was on this sense of betrayal that Gandhi built his mass movement, which put a premium on breaking the laws made by the rulers. As the people began to wilfully break the laws made by the state, the state itself became illegitimate.

Yes, when that bloodthirsty brigadier shot dead those protesters, the British empire was shooting itself in its foot. Those shots led to their ultimate collapse.
Ruling party Trinamool Congress won Contai seat by around 42,500 votes in the bypoll even as BJP stood second with 30 per cent vote share in the West Bengal.

With the win, Chandrima Bhattacharya, former law minister of Mamata Banerjees cabinet, who had lost the 2016 election from Dum Dum, is set to return to West Bengal government as minister. Bhattacharya received about 89,000 votes.

However, the BJP visibly made significant inroads in the byelection in the assembly constituency pushing Left to the third place. While Trinamool Congress continued to dominate since the beginning of the vote counting, Congress could manage only a little more than 2,000 votes. Left-backed CPI candidates got around 16,500 votes. BJP on the other hand got around 48,000 votes.

This proves we are making a big gain. Wait till 2019, we would be major force in Bengal and win maximum Lok Sabha seat, said Biswapriyo Roychowdhury, general secretary of state BJP.

The assembly by election was necessitated after Dibyendu Adhikari vacated the seat to contest Tamluk Lok Sabha assembly vacated by his brother Suvendu, who became transport minister in Bengal and contested 2011 assembly election.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday that his attempt to compare the Holocaust and Syrian President Bashar Assads use of chemical weapons was inexcusable and reprehensible and was made all the worse by this being a holy week for Christians and Jews.

He said the comment, made Tuesday at the White House briefing, was personally and professionally disappointing, and he asked for folks forgiveness.

To make a gaffe and a mistake like this is inexcusable and reprehensible, Spicer said during a previously scheduled appearance at a forum on the presidency and the press sponsored by the Newseum. Christians are preparing for Easter on Sunday, and Jews are celebrating Passover.

It really is painful to myself to know that I did something like that, Spicer said. That obviously was not my intention. To know when you screw up that you possibly offended a lot of people  I would ask obviously for folks forgiveness to understand that I should not have tried to make a comparison.

It was Spicers second apology in as many days, following an initial mea culpa Tuesday during an interview with CNN.

Earlier Tuesday during the daily White House briefing, Spicer told reporters that Adolf Hitler didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. The comment drew an instant rebuke from critics, who noted the remark ignored Hitlers use of gas chambers to exterminate Jews during the Holocaust.

Reaction to Spicers initial comment continued Wednesday, with Jerusalems Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial inviting him to visit its website.

In the CNN interview, Spicer said his comments did not reflect Trumps views but were a distraction from him and frankly were misstated, insensitive and wrong. He added, Obviously it was my blunder. Spicer reiterated that sentiment at Wednesdays forum.

After making the initial comment, Spicer was asked about it again during the briefing but offered a garbled defense in which he tried to differentiate between Hitlers actions and the gas attack on Syrian civilians last week. The attack in northern Syria left nearly 90 people dead. Turkey said 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 center I understand that.

After the briefing, Spicer emailed reporters a statement that 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.

Reaction from around the world continued Wednesday. A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said comparing Nazi war crimes to present-day situations leads to nothing good.

Robert Rozett, director of libraries at Yad Vashem, said Spicers comment implied a profound lack of knowledge of the events of the second World War, including the Holocaust and are liable to strengthen the hands of those who seek to destroy history.

In the U.S., Democrats and Jewish organizations condemned the comments.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a statement that Spicer was downplaying the horror of the Holocaust and should be fired. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said on Twitter, Someone get @PressSec a refresher history course on Hitler stat (hashtag)#Icantbelievehereallysaidthat.

The New York-based Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect also called on Trump to fire Spicer, saying he denied that Hitler gassed Jews during the Holocaust.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Jewish Republican from New York, said in a statement that the comparison could be made a little differently and it would be accurate, but its important to clear up that Hitler did in fact use chemical warfare to murder innocent people.

But Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said that while using the issue of the Holocaust or Hitler is problematic on many levels, he believed Spicer had genuinely and sincerely apologized.

Spicers comments came on the first 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. Earlier in the year, the White House generated criticism by issuing a statement on international Holocaust Remembrance Day that did not mention Jews.

Tuesday was the second consecutive day in which Trumps principal spokesman appeared to struggle to articulate Trumps foreign policy at a critical time.

On Monday, the White House clarified remarks Spicer made from the podium that the use of barrel bombs by Assads government might lead to further military action by the United States. Until Monday the administration had maintained that last weeks missile strikes were in response to the Syrian governments use of chemical weapons against its citizens.

A White House spokesman said later that nothing has changed in our posture and the president retains the option to act if its in the national interest.

(AP)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Peleg Yerushalmi prisoners Yungerman Tzvi Dov Friedman and Yeshiva Bochur Yisrael Meir Toledano on motzei the first day of Pesach were compelled to return to prison having been released to attend Seder. The two were arrested by military police for failing to report to draft centers.

They did not register for the draft in line with instructions from HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita.

The two were treated like true heroes until the last moment, being returned to prison in a limousine which made its way through the crowd of supporters while music filled the air, reminiscent of a hachnasas Sefer Torah. On the limo were signs      (We admire the prisoners of the Torah World). At one point, Toledano addressed the event, explaining he used the time in jail to complete the mesechta he was studying in yeshiva. No one will take the Torah from me. No one will succeed in preventing me from clinging to the Torah he exclaimed.

During their leave, they met with Rav Auerbach in his home, where they were received with warmth and given words of chizuk.

The event later turned into another Peleg protest on Bar Ilan Street in the capital, which included attacking a frum soldier passing through the area.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A large force of police and volunteers is continuing the search for three missing swimmers in the Kinneret. The search includes divers from the Zaka and police diving teams.

The three missing men are Itamar Ochana, 19, from Kiryat Shmona; Nachman Itach, 21, from Betar Illit; and a 17-year-old from Netanya. They are missing since Wednesday. It appears the strong current pulled the three in separate instances while swimming in the Kinneret.

Chananel, a brother of Itamar, used his Facebook page to ask the tzibur to be mispallel for his brother, Itamar ben Rachel. Police boats continued the search during the night.

Authorities report that marine police on Wednesday pulled out 80 swimmers who were overcome by the strong current.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Police Spokesman Unit)
Police have arrested a suspect who attacked chareidim at Gan Yehoshua in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the first day of Chol Hamoed Pesach with an iron rod.

The man in custody, a 21-year-old Yaffo resident, allegedly attacked visitors to the park following a dispute involving bicycle rentals. During the dispute the suspect grabbed an iron rod and began striking chareidim in the area. The man was arraigned in the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Police believe that the man was assisted by a colleague and one of them used the iron rod to assault the chareidim. No one was in need of medical attention.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The international body on chemical weapons control is testing samples from a suspected nerve gas attack that killed at least 87 people in Syria last week and could produce a report on the matter within three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday.

The report comes one day after Russia vetoed a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a speedy probe into the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the veto left Moscow with a lot to prove.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has a standing fact-finding mission on Syria to investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks, but does not apportion blame. The OPCWs executive council held a session of its executive council on Thursday to address the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, in the rebel-held province of Idlib, northern Syria.

Britains delegation to the OPCW tweeted from the executive session that the Fact Finding Mission is working to gather evidence and has already started testing samples in a lab.

The U.S. blamed the Syrian government for the attack and fired 59 missiles at an air base in central Syria killing nine people.

Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Thursday he expected the OPCW to conduct an extensive probe into the attack, and insisted the organization visit both Khan Sheikhoun and the air base struck by U.S. missiles. But Moscow vetoed a Security Council resolution that would demand a speedy investigation a day earlier. Russia is a steadfast backer of the Syrian government amid that countrys bloody 6-year civil war.

In northern Syria, U.S.-backed Kurdish forces announced they launched the fourth stage of their operations against the Islamic State group, amid reports from activists that the group has suffered a spate of casualties.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Arab fighters, say they are working to clear Islamic State militants out of the Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa, a city held by the extremists with an estimated population of 300,000. The SDF say their goal is to ultimately recapture the city, which has served as the de facto capital the so-called Islamic State.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is within 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. It is unclear how many stages are planned for the SDF campaign.

The campaign has come at a cost to the predominantly Kurdish forces, which receive ground and air support from the U.S. military and other allies. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle, while the activist-run Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently group said on Wednesday that three days of mourning were to be held in a border town held by the SDF after the arrival of the bodies of 15 fighters from the battle. There was no comment from the SDF.

The Syrian army meanwhile issued a statement saying that the U.S.-led coalition attacked a position of the Islamic State group in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, killing hundreds of fighters and civilians, many of them from poisonous gas.

It said after the airstrike left white smoke billowing from the area then then turned to yellow most likely because of the explosion of a large warehouse containing large quantities of toxic substances. It said that the airstrike showed that militants have chemical weapons in their possession.

Opposition activist Omar Abu Laila, who is from Deir el-Zour and currently lives in Europe, denied that hundreds of people were killed in the village of Hatla as a result of poison gas. Abu Laila who is with Deir Ezzor 24 activist group that has reporters throughout the eastern province that borders Iraq also denied there was such such an airstrike.

(AP)
The Simon Wiesenthal Center releases the following statement on Thursday:

was shocked by White House Press Secretarys absurd and inappropriate statement alleging that Syrian President Assad is worse than Adolph Hitler. The comparison, which was made just before the annual commemoration of Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day was beyond inappropriate. The Simon Wiesenthal Center endorsed President Trumps decision to bomb a Syrian airbase after Assads forces deployed chemical weapons that targeted and killed Syrian civilians, including women and children. Our Center also has called on the international community to try Assad for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

However, Assads crimes pale in comparison to the unprecedented scope of the genocide, murder, mayhem and global conflict unleashed by Hitler and his supporters in Germany and across Europe.

 20 million Russians and other citizens of the former Soviet Union were killed by Hitlers forces during WWII.

 The first victims of Hitler were his German opponents who were dispatched as early as 1933 to brutal concentration camps.

 German Jews were the earliest targets for brutal Nazi mistreatment starting with stripping them of their rights and culmination with many of them murdered in the gas chambers in Nazi Death Camps. Hitlers Final Solution of the Jewish Question unleashed a unique campaign to murder every Jew under Nazi controlwherever they lived and whatever their age. Six million (two out of every three) European Jews perished, many in the gas chambers at Sobibor, Majdanek, Treblinka, and Auschwitz Birkenau.

Mr. Spicers goal was to rally support for President Trumps tough stand on Syria. It may have had the opposite effect among Russians, Jews, Slavs and other victims of the Nazis. Vladimir Putin will certainly use this grotesque misstatement to further bolster his pro-Syrian position among his citizens.

For 40 years the Simon Wiesenthal Center has been teaching millions of people about the lessons of the Nazi Holocaust. One key lesson is that it is inappropriate to compare Auschwitz, or the Warsaw Ghetto to contemporary events. The goal of Holocaust education, indeed the goal to standing up to evil leaders like Assad is to avoid future catastrophes and avoid the unfathomable scale of Hitlers genocidal crime.

That is the lesson that all our leaders should take away from Holocaust Memorial Day later this month.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Why do banks ask such stupid questions?

This, I imagine, is a thought that will have gone through many readers minds on occasions when their bank attempts to verify their identity.

The scenario is a familiar one. You call your bank and the person in the call centre utters the dreaded words: I just need to ask a few questions to take you through security.

And the chosen subject is you! Passing bank security can be Mastermind on your memory as you are required to recall haphazard and arcane information

At times you may breeze through, as the bank asks you a few seemingly relevant and simple to answer things.

The pain comes on the other occasions, when you endure a quiz on selected letters from memorable places, old pets, and your best friend at primary schools mums name.

(I admit, I made that last one up but wouldnt be surprised to be told someone had actually been asked it).

To pass muster you will also need an encyclopaedic knowledge of payments in and out of your account, the exact amount of bill direct debits, and whatever daft names your bank chose to call those now almost zero-rate savings accounts that you are fool enough to still hold.

This process is only made more painful when it was the bank that phoned you in the first place... and then asked you to verify that you really are you.

The banks, of course, argue that all of this is done to protect us and our accounts security.

Yet, I have long thought that the practice of a short hit-or-miss quiz on elements of our past and financial lives actually has the opposite effect.

My theory is that if your bank regularly asks you questions that can often seem haphazard, you think less of answering questions that come from a fraudster fishing for information.

I reflected on this recently as I watched two family members fail security, as they were asked questions they couldnt answer by impatient customer service staff.

And just to be clear these questions did not come because they hadn't managed to answer any on passwords - they were the security process itself.

One was asked by Lloyds for the limit on her main credit card. To which she replied that she didnt even have a card with Lloyds and was then forced to guess which provider the question was about, before being ordered to make a stab at this still unconfirmed card's credit limit

The other was asked by Nationwide how she had originally opened a joint account almost 15 years ago.

Met with befuddlement in both cases, the bank workers responses amounted to: Of course you should know the answers to these questions.

I imagine these minor frustrations of modern life will strike a chord with many readers.

The problem is that some of them may one day get a call from a fraudster posing as their bank and think to themselves: Well why wouldnt they ask me this  they are always asking stupid questions.

Now, what was that memorable place again?

The answers to some of those questions....

For the benefit of our banks and building societies, who I dont doubt believe they are absolutely right in playing the arbitrary questions game, here are the answers to some of them that illustrate why they are so daft.

Can you give me the third and sixth letters of your password?

I can, but surely any fraudster worth their salt would just pretend to need to call me more than a couple of times and thus manage to pick up the whole password.

What is your memorable place?

I dont have one apart from places that are blinding obvious and any fraudster can guess. Ive also been told not to use the same answers for different companies, so I had to think one up on the spot when I set this answer. I havent the faintest idea what it is. Shall I guess?

What is your credit card limit?

Who knows? Most likely whatever you raised it to last time without asking me first.

What is your overdraft limit?

Dont know. I always have to log into my internet banking to check that.

Can you tell me the exact amount of x regular payment?

No. I can guess, but I have better things to store in my brain than my list of direct debits.

Can you tell me where you opened your account?

Umm, the internet maybe? Ive had it for donkeys years and I have a lot of accounts.

Can you tell me the name of some of your savings accounts?

Beyond the temptation to flippantly answer Trevor, Barry and Charlotte, no. I could hazard a guess that it would be e-savings or similar with a number, as thats what seemingly every bank calls their endless list of accounts. Or you decided to call it something with the words Smart or Hi in it?

All I know is due your endless issuing of new accounts while cutting the rates on old ones, is that I have a lot off them with small amounts of money in. These now pay such pitiful interest that if I were you, I wouldnt draw attention to them.

And the question we all want answered

Hello Mr Lambert, Im calling from Bank X. Before we start I just need to take you through security and ask a few questions to verify its you.

Me: But you called me, how do I know who you are?
Some 31 million motorists are expected to hit the road in the next four days as Britons look to make the most of the bank holiday weekend.

Unfortunately, the price of fuel has started to increase just in time for their getaways.

The AA said the average UK petrol price had risen to 118.25p a litre on Wednesday, while diesel was just shy of 120p at the pumps. And it could continue to surge over the Easter break.

Bank holiday fuel price surge: The AA said the price of petrol and diesel have started to increase over the last week due to the wholesale cost of fuel rising by 3p

Just a week earlier, the average petrol price was 117.61p, while diesel was 119.50p-a-litre.

It means the average price of fuel has risen back to the same level seen three weeks ago, which was before the big four supermarkets engulfed themselves in a battle to slash pump costs by up to 4p per litre.

But with wholesale prices rising by more than 3p in the last week, many retailers have responded quickly to ramp up costs at forecourts to retain their profit margins.

By mid week, the average price of fuel in London, the South East and East Anglia had risen to 118.5p per litre for petrol and 120.3p for diesel.

Across the North, prices reached 117.4p and 119p a litre for petrol and diesel respectively.

For those heading for the Channel to enjoy a holiday overseas, the price of petrol at Dover port has jumped by a penny in the last week, reaching 118.9p on Wednesday.

The increases couldn't have come at a much worse time, with a surge in traffic numbers predicted over the Easter bank holiday.

Price comparison website Confused.com estimated that more than two thirds (68 per cent) of the UK driving population - the equivalent of 31 million vehicles - will be travelling up and down to country in their cars over the four-day period.

Much of this will be via motorways, where fuel prices are notoriously inflated.

Confused.com said 31 million motorists are expected to hit the nation's roads over the four-day weekend - half of those will be en route on Saturday

The AA, which monitors pump prices across the country as part of its Fuel Price Report, said prices at service areas have remained steady so far, though there is a huge variation in costs depending on where you're driving.

SATURDAY ROAD CHAOS PREDICTED Confused.com said Saturday 15 April will be the busiest day on the roads over the Easter bank holiday. It said that half of the 31 million bank-holiday drivers will be making a trip on that day. For those who want to avoid jams, today (Thursday) might be the best time to travel, with 21 per cent of bank holiday drivers expected to depart for the weekend getaways. That works out at around 6.5 million drivers.

For instance, anyone heading to Wales from England will have to pay 132.9p per litre for petrol on the M4 east of the border. However, the price of unleaded is 10p-a-litre cheaper once in Wales at Magor services.

On the M25, petrol on the motorway costs as much as 130.9p a litre, but drivers going into the West Country can find motorway fuel as cheap as 118.9p a litre on the M5 at Tiverton.

According to Confused.com, the average journey distance over the four-day weekend will be 78 miles - that distance will cost almost 14 for a family-size petrol hatchback that returns 30mpg.

With prices fluctuating across the nation, the AA said there was a 14p-a-litre difference between now and the price of petrol last Easter, when it averaged 103.98p a litre.

It added that drivers would be at the mercy of providers on their holiday excursions this weekend and remained hopeful that supermarkets delayed their increases until after the break.

Drivers will now be hoping that supermarket fuel providers like Asda do not increase their prices dramatically over the next four days

Spokesman for the motoring group, Luke Bodset, said: 'Drivers instinctively avoid filling up at motorway service areas because they expect the fuel to be so expensive. However, there are some with prices close to what drivers are paying off the motorway.

'Sadly, without the level of fuel price transparency now available across much of Europe, UK Easter holiday motorists are at the mercy of the rip-off merchants.

'Our best advice is to fill up at a supermarket on the way out and keep your eyes open for a cheap forecourt along the holiday route, to fill up at on the return trip.'
Shock: A trainee discovered the pair in a filing room (picture posed by model)

Saucy drama over at City legal giant Clifford Chance, where a married partner has been caught romping in the office with a company secretary.

The unpleasant business occurred in one of firm's foreign outposts, where a trainee discovered the pair in flagrante delicto in a filing room.

The amorous lawyer has since returned to London.

A spokesman for the firm remarks solemnly: 'It is not possible to comment further beyond underlining that we expect all of our people to meet high standards at all times.'

Panmure Gordon's incoming boss, boyish-looking Ian Axe, 45, was, until recently, running his own consultancy firm called Axe Capital.

Viewers of Sky's enjoyable US drama Billions will know that's also the name of the hedge fund belonging to the show's scheming protagonist Bobby Axelrod.

Played with wolfish charm by British actor Damian Lewis, 'Axe' is as ruthless as he is opportunistic. A former colleague assures me: 'Ian is none of those things.'

Should Barclays boss Jes Staley be forced to quit over his mishandling of a recent whistleblower, it would be disastrous for his board who've appointed three chiefs in the past six years.

Staley is also much respected by staff. Far more so than his flimsy predecessor, Antony Jenkins, whose elevation a Barclays employee described to me as like 'the boy in charge of half-time oranges finding himself captain of the rugby team'.

Too harsh, surely.

Ex-Walt Disney president Michael Ovitz hosted a fundraising soiree for New York's Museum of Modern Art this week at the Los Angeles home he shares with his maitresse en titre, Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon.

While Ovitz introduces hot-to-trot Mellon, 49, as his fiancee, there's still no sign of him taking her down the aisle.

Despite the couple's two-year engagement, the mega-rich father-of-three, 70, remains obdurately married to wife of 48 years, Judy.

A Tesco ad reads: 'Great offers on beer and cider. Good Friday just got better.' Meanwhile, Waitrose encourages customers to 'enjoy Easter' with its alcoholic spirits, just 15 a litre.

Is nothing sacred?
The boss of troubled tool rental firm HSS Hire is to step down after eight years at the company and 19 months in the top post.

The announcement of John Gills departure comes a week after HSS posted losses before tax of 17.4million last year, higher than losses of 13.8million in 2015 and 8.5million in 2014.

Shares in the small cap company fell more than 5 per cent in early trading to then recoup some ground and trade 2.3 per cent, or 1.5p lower at 62.50p.

Widening losses: John Gills departure comes a week after HSS posted 17.4m loss last year

HSS said Gill will leave the company after a handover period once a permanent replacement has been found.

Chairman Alan Peterson said Mr Gill had made an important contribution since joining the firm in 2009.

He added: As CEO from September 2015, he has led the company through a period of significant change as we implemented our new operating model.

With this work now largely complete, the focus shifts to driving sales growth through the new network and the board believes it is the right time to look outside the business for a new CEO who can lead this next phase of our recovery.

Since HSS floated on the London stock market in 2015, shares have lost almost 70 per cent of their value following a string of profit warnings as the group struggled in a weaker construction market.

Posting its annual results, HSS said last week that it had made good progress in its services arm over the past year, but not in its core rental business. It said wider losses reflected a year of investment in the new distribution network structure.

The company has been trying to turn around its fortunes by closing down branches and distribution centres and opening a new 190,000 sq ft distribution centre near Oxford.
The IMF argued poor economic policies were holding back successful businesses

TAX PLEA Taxes must be simplified to boost growth, the International Monetary Fund has said.

The body argued poor economic policies were holding back successful businesses and stopping failing ones from going bust.

It called for an end to unnecessary red tape and said this could increase expansion in advanced economies by 0.7 percentage points a year.

JOBS JOY Employment has reached a record high in the developed world.

The OECD said 555m people are in work across 35 industrialised countries, or a record 67.2 per cent of the workforce. Britain has one of the highest employment rates of 74.6 per cent.

MILLENNIAL PUSH PZ Cussons, maker of Imperial Leather soap and St Tropez fake tan, is launching new skin products  to be sold in Boots stores  to woo millennials.

Tycoons stake Indian tycoon Anil Agarwal has completed his 2billion purchase of an 11.4 per cent stake in Anglo American.

It makes the 63-year-old the second-largest shareholder in the mining company.

TRADE UPDATE Technology tools group Oxford Instruments has said trading is in line with expectations.

It said a good performance from Nanotechnology tools, had mitigated a slowdown in its OI healthcare business.

EXCHANGE SHUTS US trading giant CME Group is closing its five-year-old London exchange after it struggled to compete with established European rivals. The firms London office will remain open and few jobs will be lost.

GOLD GLEAMS Gold prices surged to a five-month high as investors fret about French elections and US President Donald Trump failing to deliver.

The price of the metal jumped by 1.1 per cent to $1,286.46 an ounce in trading yesterday.

DELTA REVIEW US airline Delta has dealt a blow to Airbus by announcing it will review an 11.2billion purchase of new, wider planes.

The carrier is pulling back from larger-capacity models as it fears the long-range market is saturated.

OIL FORECAST Demand for oil is set to slow for a second year in a row, the International Energy Agency has said.

The IEA expects demand to increase by just 1.3m barrels a day in 2017, to a total of 97.9m barrels.
You wait years for a place to see all your pension details at once... and then several come along at once.

Keeping track of pension pots can be a tricky business as we now have an average of 11 jobs over our working lives, each one with its own pension scheme.

Government and industry have finally been working to do something about this and recently unveiled a prototype of a pensions dashboard, which will collate all of a workers pension information so they can see it in one place.

Due to be launched in 2019, the dashboard will give everyone a projection of what their annual income will be in retirement, followed by a breakdown of what they will get in state pension and from individual work and personal schemes (scroll down for a video showing how it could look).

The original prototype: The industry has come up with a basic pensions dashboard, which will show workers all of their pension pot details in once place

But yesterday it was revealed that there will be not just one but several dashboards that workers will be able to choose between.

The basic dashboard information will be incorporated into apps or websites designed to offer workers other tools and functions as well.

For example, an app could show your pension information alongside other details of your savings, current accounts and Isas.

Another app might allow you to make small frequent deposits into your pension, for example rounding up the cost of a cup of coffee and putting the extra cash straight into your nest egg.

Another might show your pension details while offering robo-advice  standardised investment advice to fit your financial situation.

In Avivas so-called Digital Garage in Londons ultra-hipster Hoxton, over 20 technology firms, with consumer groups and policy experts, are in competition to come up with the best uses for the pensions dashboard.

On Perspex chairs surrounded by exposed-brick walls illuminated by strip lighting, groups in shirts and jeans are immersed in blue-sky thinking to come up with the best prototypes.

Entry page: You will first have to confirm your identity using a sign-up process like the Government's gov.uk/verify

Blue sky thinking: Industry experts discuss the potential and the challenges of the pensions dashboards, at Aviva's Digital Garage in London's trendy Hoxton

Launching the event, hosted by the ABI and HM Treasury as part of UK FinTech Week, economic secretary to the Treasury Simon Kirkby said: I want to emphasise that I am not talking about building the dashboard. I am talking about dashboards with an s.

Because to realise the huge benefits of this technology, we cannot prescribe a single way for people to access their own data.

Firms need to be able to innovate to answer a whole range of users needs. There is no monopoly of wisdom.

These dashboards may be simple websites, plugins to your mobile banking app, or components of complex robo-advice software.

And as technology continues to advance apace, I am sure there are uses and implications of dashboards which we havent even imagined.

He added that the original pensions dashboard that has been created was the plumbing to which a variety of fittings could be attached.

Still in the realm of tech sprints and creative collaboration, the development of pensions dashboards may seem light-hearted and a chance to harness the ingenuity of fintech firms to shape up an industry not renowned for innovation.

How it might look: Pension dashboard prototype shows total income at the top, followed by a breakdown listing the state pension and other pots

But Simon Kirkby added that while voluntary for now, if pension schemes dont sign up they could be forced to.

I am also clear that dashboards will only be viable and useful if a critical number of pension schemes step up to meet the data standards, he added.

And people have a right to easily see their own data when making vital financial decisions. So I am discussing with the Minister for Pensions to see how this might be made compulsory if schemes do not do so by choice.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PENSIONS AND FINTECH MET It was about time that pensions and fintech finally met. The world of pensions is typically slow and bumbling, still reliant on mounds of paperwork, and weighed down by ancient fee structures, crusty IT systems and complexity. While other areas of financial services have already been transformed by new technologies  online banking, budgeting apps, DIY investing  it can still takes hours of painstakingly phoning and writing letters to pension providers just to find out how much money youve got in your pension pots. All of a sudden this looks likely to change. Industry, government and regulators are working together to use fintech to overhaul pensions, so that, for starters, we can all find out with ease how much money weve actually got and what its likely to be worth when we retire. Seeing the two worlds of fintech and pensions collide was a sight to behold. At Avivas 'Digital Garage', economic secretary to the Treasury Simon Kirkby joked that although civil servants had done their best to fit in, donning their cool jeans and shirt combos, they still clearly stood out. At a q&a session to launch the event, those of us who dont live in the tech world took some adjusting to the system of throwing a ball with an inbuilt microphone around the room to the next person who wanted to ask a question. But the comedy of this old/new world collision aside, what a relief it was to see the pensions industry chasing innovation, thinking about the ways in which younger people could be engaged with their retirement saving plans and how pension saving might look not just now but in ten, 20, 30 years time. Theres so much that a few clever apps wont fix. The challenge will be keeping people engaged, making sure that those who are less tech savvy are not excluded, making sure that no doors are opened to scammers, finding ways to display complex information in a clear way  but without oversimplifying. But thank goodness its started and it wont be too long now before we can see whether weve a retirement ahead of us of cruises and sundowners or daytrips to the seaside  before its too late to change it if we want to.

At the moment, a lack of transparency is seen as a real barrier to pension saving.

You can only find out how much youre likely to retire on by approaching the government for a state pension estimate and contacting each pension scheme individually to ask for details of all your pension pots.

This can be a painstaking task  its no surprise that there are pension pots worth around 400million that people have lost track of and never bothered to claim.

It is hoped that once people are able to discover their likely total retirement income with little hassle  and whether it meets or falls short of their future needs  they will be more motivated to plan ahead for old age.

Seeing pensions in one place will also allow people to see the fees they are being charged, which may also drive competition, chief executive of The Pensions Regulator Lesley Titcomb suggested at the events launch.

Michelle Cracknell, chief executive of The Pensions Advisory Service, also hopes the dashboards will encourage people to feel like their pensions are their own.

She believes that at the moment people are using pensions freedoms to take money out of their pension and put it into a cash Isa  even if that ends up costing them over the longer term  because people feel like their Isas are theirs but they dont feel they own their pension.

She said: People in the UK dont think of their pension as theirs. They will take money out of this pension and move it to my bank account so a key thing for the dashboard to deliver is for people to own their pension. Visibility is a key part to that.

She added that there was a reason why there were pension scams and not property scams  people feel greater ownership over their homes as an asset than they do their pensions.

The issues faced by the industry go way beyond trying to come up with the best-looking app. They are considering issues such as creating a range of products to suit people at all different stages in their working lives, finding a way to standardise pension information so that people are comparing like for like, and finding a way to engage people of all different age groups, some of whom will be less confident with new technology.
ZANDONDO  Parents were compelled to withdraw their daughter from school after complaints that she would make prophecies to pupils and teachers alike.



Her condition is said to have been treated as a serious case after she allegedly beat up a teacher during the Christian gathering at schools known as Scripture Union (SU).

Drama unfolded at Ka-Zandondo Secondary School after the pupil who was supposedly possessed by demons allegedly beat up a female teacher in front of traumatised pupils just after the SU service had ended.

The 18-year-old pupil is allegedly possessed by a demon that dislikes people who bleach their skin as that, according to her, is associated with evil.



*Simphiwes questionable behaviour is said to have begun at the Scripture Union when she went up to the podium to testify as per the teachers request. The assaulted teacher, Fortunate Nkambule, is also the SU President.

Nkambule said it was normal that most people did not know how to testify in church but Simphiwes testimony was quite strange as she called out a couple of pupils and interrogated their behaviour during her testimony.

When she started talking, she introduced herself in a boastful manner. She mentioned all her names and all her nicknames. She then pointed out to one of the girls at the union and told her to stop the things she was doing. When a male pupil tried to start a song, she stopped him and reminded the pupil of some things they had talked about in private, said Nkambule.



The teacher said after the service, she spoke with the pupils who were called out by Simphiwe but they said they did not know what was going on with their schoolmate. Out of concern, she ordered them to call Simphiwe so she could establish if anything was wrong.

We had a normal conversation with her. I asked her about school and how everything was at home. I even asked her which church she went to and she told me. She also told me that her parents did not attend church with her. She seemed fine at the time. Just before school was over, a teacher came to the staff room to report that Simphiwe was in a classroom and acting strangely.

We went up to the class and when we got there she was soaking wet, Nkambule recalled.

The teacher said Simphiwe was praying loudly on her knees, with her hands in the air and she reportedly kept on repeating the devil is a liar. She said she pulled a chair, sat next to her and asked her what was going on, but she was met with hostility and slaps on her thighs. Nkambule said Simphiwe used all her might as she slapped her across the lap but she remained calm.
MBABANE  A referendum could be the only solution to end the cold war that is brewing between the countrys legislators and the executive.



This was an observation made by a concerned citizen following the ongoing debates about legalising the cultivation of cannabis in the country.

Currently, the country has joined many countries which are advocating the legalisation of the cultivation of the herb for medical and industrial purposes as opposed to smoking it. However, dagga remains illegal in the country

While the country waits in eagerness for the outcomes of the research of the uses of dagga, the concerned citizen seems to be ahead about same.



According to his statement sent to this publication, Sifiso Ndlangamandla registered his concerns about the ongoing debates which he termed as a cold war over the legailisation of the cultivation and manufacturing of the herb for medical and industrial use.

Like Nkilongo Member of Parliament Hans Steffen, who advocated research to ascertain the uses of the herb in Parliament, Ndlangamandla opined that if the cultivation and manufacturing of dagga was to be legalised, the country could earn over E24 billion per annum.



Figuratively, he said this meant that the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be triple in two years time after the commencement of the project.

The cold war of dissent among our MPs has escalated to dizzying heights as I shall prove and quote the prime minister saying in the Times of Swaziland Asingafihlelani kute I draft lesitayenta. Forget about legalising dagga, Ndlangamandla said.

He lamented the fact that on the other hand, the legislators were scampering around a five-man task team to go to Israel among other counties to source information on how to legalise dagga.

The concerned citizen admitted to the fact that cannabis had some disadvantages just like other products, however, he wondered why they were not treated equally as dagga.

He has since written a letter to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs , Edgar Hillary where he is applying for the holding of a referendum on the legalisation of cannabis.

Ndlangamandla urged the legislators to consider the will of the electorate, who elected them to Parliament.



They should not ask if we can but how we as the electorate asking that cannabis be legalised can have enacted stringent laws to safeguard them as per the findings of the task committee, he said.
LOBAMBA  Police officers yesterday scored a victory as Members of Parliament (MPs) passed a law that if an officer is acquitted by court on a criminal charge they cannot then face an internal disciplinary hearing.



This was after the MPs amended Section 71 of the Police Bill of 2017 when they finally passed the Bill yesterday after it had been in Parliament for almost three years.

The original Section 71 which is under the heading Disciplinary action after acquittal on criminal charges had read; where a police officer has been acquitted on a criminal charge, such acquittal shall not operate as a bar to disciplinary proceedings being instituted against such officer arising out of the same facts if such facts disclose a disciplinary offence under this Act.



The amendment was raised by Hhukwini MP Saladin Magagula, who said it was unfair and wrong that a police officer can be taken in for a disciplinary hearing yet the very same officer had been acquitted by a court of law.

This is wrong, its an injustice and it must be removed, said Magagula.

He was supported by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, who said in vernacular that the clause inekukhohlakala (not fair in the law and wrong).

He said if anything, the entire clause should be removed.



Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini said this clause was a thorn (linyeva) to the police officers as this was what was happening on the ground.

He cited current and recent cases where police officers had been acquitted by the courts and the national commissioner ordered to reinstate them, but for some reason they werent.

Only the officers who have money can afford to appeal, but not everyone has money so this clause must be amended, said MP Dlamini.



The MP said the problem with the police was that they were quick to arrest their own without proper investigations and as a result officers even if they were guilty were acquitted by the courts.

However, the acting Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, said amending such a clause would be going against the Constitution as Section 21 (13) (d) read to the effect that persons in a disciplined force even if acquitted by a court could still face disciplinary action.

Khumalo then read the section to the MPs but his advice was not accepted by the MPs.




MBABANE  Immigration officers based at Ngwenya Border Gate have since filed an urgent application where they want the court to stop government from making them work 24 hours over the Easter holidays.



The officers filed the application through their union, the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU).

Further details of it will be heard today in the Industrial Court at 10am but it was confirmed that their grievances bordered around their impasse with government regarding overtime payment and shift allowance.

Information gathered is that the Immigration workers will be represented by a lawyer from Sithole and Magagula Attorneys. In an interview, the officers said nothing formal had been communicated to them regarding their pending issues with government.



They alleged that one of their seniors said he would work alone from 7am till 8am.

However, this allegation could not be verified.

The officers, who fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said they still stood by their decision that all three shifts will start work at 8am and knock off at 12.45pm today. Oshoek/Ngwenya Border Gate opens at 7am everyday and the workers said they would start work like other civil servants an hour later and knock off at 12.45pm because it will be a half day.

Yesterday they held a meeting with their superiors where one of them (superiors) allegedly said he would be opening at the normal time and if he is to work alone he would do that. When they enquired from the supervisor as to what would happen at 12.45pm, he allegedly did not have a response as the workers informed him that they were adamant they would not work if they do not get a positive response on putting them in the shift system.

We have different supervisors for the different shifts and it is only one who said he will work. They have not said anything to us so we are going ahead with our decision to knock off like civil servants tomorrow, one of the staff members said.



Meanwhile, Acting Chief Immigration Officer Makhosi Simelane said it would be unfortunate if the workers continue disagreeing with what they had agreed on last week Friday.

Simelane said they would open the border gate at 7am and continue with the extension of hours regardless of who decides to do what. He emphasised that what they have committed themselves to will happen come rain or sunshine.
The front view of Interwaste Environmental Solutions licensed hazardous waste treatment facility in Power Street, Germiston where the expired drugs from Swaziland were destined to. (Sourced from the internet).

HARTEBEESKOP  Expired drugs amounting to over E1 million in transit from Swaziland were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS).



Two Swazi men were arrested for transporting the drugs, which were enroute to Germiston in Gauteng. The arrest occurred on Sunday, April 2, 2017. The two are employees of InterWaste and were transporting the hazardous drugs for destruction since they were expired. The two were arrested for violating the South African Medical Act.

The men are Zakhele Alex Mndawe and Duma December Mlimi.



The drugs have been forfeited to the State and are currently being kept at Heertbeeskop Police Station, which is situated a few kilometres from Oshoek Border Gate. During a visit to the police station by reporters, the massive boxes containing the expired drugs were found placed outside, in preparation to be taken by officials from the Ministry of Health in South Africa.

A source said the boxes contained a variety of drugs, and some of them were labelled as Brufen, a well known painkiller. The source of these drugs could not be ascertained as they were being transported by a waste management company. The source disclosed that these drugs will now be destroyed by the State.

The discovery of the massive boxes containing the expired drugs was initially made by South African Revenue Services (sars) officials based at the Oshoek Border Gate.

It was during a search of the truck that the SARS officials discovered that the consignment being transported was expired medical drugs. They then handed the consignment over to the SAPS, who subsequently arrested and formally charged the duo for violating the countrys laws governing the transportation of expired drugs.



The law of South Africa clearly stipulates that such drugs (expired drugs) must not be transported by road as they are deemed dangerous or hazardous. The two men appeared before the Eestehoek Magistrates Court in Elukwatini, a day after their arrest, and they were taken back into custody since their matter was postponed to April 7, 2017. According to Mpumalanga SAPS Acting Spokesperson, Brigadier Gerald Sedibe, the two told the court that they were transporting the drugs for destruction. On April 7, the charges against the men were withdrawn, and instead the manager of the company which had sent them was charged.



The Manager Jason Guy Davis was fined a sum of E2 000 and the name of the company where the drugs were being transported to is Interwaste, said Brigadier Sedibe.

Information gathered is that the drugs were to be destroyed at the Germiston Branch of Interwaste.




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By Gina Martinez

Police were searching for a missing woman in Murray Hill.

According to police, Young H. Chung was last seen on Monday, April 10 inside her 36-20 168 St. home at 10 a.m.

Police are describing Chung as Asian, four-foot-nine inches tall, 105 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. She was last seen wearing all black clothing and pushing a red shopping cart.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
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By Bill Parry

The 5Pointz artists, who had their hearts crushed in November 2013 when the owner of the building that hosted them for more than two decades ordered their work whitewashed in the dead of night, will have their shot at revenge.

Brooklyn Federal District Court Judge Frederick Block handed 23 of the artists a victory in their lawsuit against developer G&M Realty, owned by Jerry Wolkoff and his son David, on March 31 when he ordered their case would go to trial next month.

A jury will decide if the whitewashed artwork at the now-demolished, world-famous graffiti mecca in Long Island City falls under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, which provides for damages if the works are of recognized stature. In 2013, the Wolkoffs told 5Pointz curator Jonathan Meres Cohen that they intended to tear down the old warehouse complex at 45-46 Davis St. and build two luxury towers in its place. The artists sued to stop them, seeking protection under VARA in an attempt to preserve the 350 murals that covered the buildings walls.

The same judge listened to arguments and testimony for three days before deciding the rule of law was on the side of the owners and their right to develop the property. Once the restraining order was lifted, Jerry Wolkoff ordered the whitewashing.

Cohen was furious, claiming Wolkoff destroyed priceless pieces in what was the greatest art murder in history.

The artists filed a new lawsuit in 2015, again under VARA, seeking damages for the destroyed work.

Now, two years later, with one of the towers rising 21 floors, the suit will go to trial.

While Cohen and the artists would not comment on advice of counsel, their representative said, The artists are humbled and excited to get a jury trial and we are hoping the trial can be ground-breaking in art history.

This is the first time VARA has been used in protection of graffiti art. Newspapers around the world, especially in graffiti-art hotbeds like Berlin and London, are watching.

Jerry Wolkoff has long held that the art was never permanent, and that the artists, themselves, painted over their own artwork all of the time.

VARA means the art stays and cant be destroyed, but theyve done that for decades: Paint a piece, leave it for a few months, and than paint over it with a new piece, Wolkoff said. They did that themselves, over and over again for more than 20 years.

He still cant believe he is being sued by the artists.

Its my building and they always knew we planned to tear it down and develop, Wolkoff said. In fact, the only reason I whitewashed the building was I heard they were all going to encircle the building and hold hands and stop the bulldozers. So I whitewashed it to keep them from being arrested. I did them a favor, and they call me an art murderer.
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By Mark Hallum

Amtraks chief executive officer has admitted to letting the whole region down when he revealed the tracks in Penn Station have been in need of repair for a prolonged period of time and were the cause of two recent derailments that disrupted LIRR travel in a transit calamity that played out across several states.

Last week LIRR, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak riders experienced extensive delays and cancelations, which reverberated beyond the scope of the city into New Jersey and the Northeast Corridor. Eight of the 21 tracks in Penn Station were shut down by a Jersey Transit derailment April 3. The tracks were not up and running again until last Friday, upending commutes for many passengers on the LIRR. It was the second derailment in the station within 10 days.

Minor derailments are not uncommon in Penn Station, but the latest occurred at a switching point where multiple tracks converge.

Ten to 14 LIRR trains were canceled as work continued.

Its our job to make sure that commuters and intercity passengers can safely and reliably travel along the Northeast Corridor and we know we let them down with these recent derailments, CEO Wick Moorman said. Our customers and partners deserve better.

The April 3 derailment appears to have been caused by a wide gauge condition due to defective wood ties.

At a news conference last week, Moorman admitted Amtrak had prior knowledge the ties were giving out.

We had notations that these timbers needed to be replaced, he said. We clearly did not have the understanding that there was an imminent failure.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stressed the effect Amtraks repair backlog has on Queens and those commuting through the borough on the LIRR.

Commuters count on the Long Island Rail Road to get them to their jobs on time and back home again, DiNapoli said. While the LIRR reports that only a relatively small percentage of trains were late or canceled, too many commuters had a different experience. While on-time performance improved a bit in 2016, it slipped during the first quarter of 2017. Recent derailments at Penn Station have brought attention to the role played by Amtrak, which is responsible for properly maintaining Penn Station and the four East River tunnels that connect Manhattan to Long Island.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded to the incidents by calling for better investment in rail systems to prevent future derailments or other transit disasters. Not only does Amtrak face a state-of-good-repair backlog of $28 billion, but the MTA and New Jersey Transit may have similar issues in terms of regular maintenance, he 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 undercapitalized 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.

Investment in transit is not on the to-do list for many officials in Congress, Schumer said, but the need is paramount. Amtrak is operating on bridges well over a century old, such as the Hell Gate Bridge, which just reached its centennial. It is also using tunnels built in the early 20th century and signal systems dating to the 1930s.

We learned this lesson in New York in the 1970s when we systematically disinvested in the MTA and the system broke down, Schumer said. We had delays, derailments, dirty trains and ridership fell to historic lows. But when we made the change and invested into the system, ridership went through the roof and maintenance vastly improved.

Schumer cited an infrastructure report that said most of the Northeast Corridor infrastructure is beyond its useful life, the main cause of maintenance costs and unreliable train service.

The average age of major NEC backlog projects is 111 years old, including 10 moveable bridges, three sets of tunnels, and one viaduct, the study said. Upgrades and repairs to basic infrastructure items like signals, power systems, and tracks, as well as service improvement projects to add capacity, are needed to meet growth in the northeastern economy and related travel demand.

In a letter to Moorman and the Federal Railroad Administration, the governors of New York and New Jersey pointed out their states had not been invited to a review of Amtraks repair and maintenance procedures and asked to be included.
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By Bill Parry

The Durst Organization is moving forward with its Hallets Point mega-project in Astoria now that a replacement for the 421-a tax abatement for developers is in place. The newly branded Affordable New York housing program will provide tax breaks to developers in exchange for desperately needed affordable housing.

When the original program expired in January 2016, one day after Mayor Bill de Blasio helped break-ground for the $1.5 billion complex, Durst scaled back its plans for seven buildings with 2,400 units, 484 of them affordable, to just one building with 163 units. The latter amount was what had been financed before 421-a expired. With a new deal hammered out by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, The Real Estate Board of New York, and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York that expands the production of affordable housing and provides fair wages for construction workers, Hallets Point has received the green light.

The passing of Affordable New York allows the Hallets Point project to continue, Durst Organization spokesman Jordan Barowitz said. We are full steam ahead.

The same cannot be said of a second giant development project nearby that was shelved when 421-a expired. The massive Astoria Cove plan  which promised to bring 1,723 units, 460 of them affordable, in five buildings  is the subject of a state probe for illegal dumping by 2030 Astoria Developers. The landowner Alma Realty recently hired Cushman & Wakefield to sell the site for $350 million, according to the business journal Crains.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the use of 8-01 26th Ave., Astoria, Queens, for the illegal dumping of hazardous substances and solid waste, DEC spokeswoman Erica Ringewald said. The investigation is ongoing.

According to Environmental Conservation Law, perpetrators found guilty of illegal dumping of hazardous substances and solid waste are subject to criminal fines up to $37,500 for each day the violation continues, as well as imprisonment and civil penalties of up to $22,500 per day of violation.

Allegations concerning unauthorized waste handling are completely untrue, 2030 Astoria Developers said in a statement. The work that has been done recently at the site involves the deconstruction of a building under a demolition order by the city. All permits for this work are accurately filed and all regulations pertaining to safety and environmental requirements have been complied with. No violations were issued in connection with this work. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders in the community as we move forward.

On April 6, a group of activists from Build Up NY, along with Charlene Obernauer, the executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, toured the trash-strewn site in a cold rain, finding many sources of potential contamination. These included leaking drums among dilapidated buildings with shaky scaffolding, exposed wiring and a lack of fencing and security that pose a danger to nearby residents.

You could have kids walking through here, Obernauer said, pointing to a barrel. We cant concretely say this is hazardous waste, but we can say we dont know what it is and it needs to be labeled. Its unsafe for the community.

Afterward, the group was joined by Borough President Melinda Katz and City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), the chairman of the Councils Environmental Protection Committee.

Allowing this unscrupulous developer to continue to operate unsafely, without permits, with toxins in the water, is not what should be going on here, Constantinides said. It continues to be a polluted and contaminated site. Thats not what should be going on here.
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By Patrick Donachie

The budget for New York States upcoming fiscal year drew an array of plaudits and criticisms from Queens elected officials, with many approving of the criminal justice reforms enacted while others decried the lack of substantial ethics reform.

The budget passed a week after the original April 1 deadline, with Cuomo calling it a successful negotiation between himself, the state Assembly and Senate.

The result is a budget that advances the core progressive principles that built New York: investing in the middle class, strengthening the economy and creating opportunity for all, Cuomo said in a statement.

The budget will increase the state operating funds spending by 2 percent, and will include a $1.1 billion increase in education spending to $25.8 billion. The budget addressed several controversial issues, including a decision to raise the age when most criminal defendants can be tried as an adult to 18 years old; an agreement on 421-a negotiations to give tax breaks to developers to build affordable housing, and a new initiative that makes state and city colleges tuition-free for students in families making under $125,000.

The budget was originally expected to pass by the end of March, but the Legislature and governors office had difficulty agreeing on an array of issues, including raising the age and the proper allocation of charter school funding. The Legislature passed a budget extender, funding the government at the previous years levels until May 31, prior to passing a full budget last weekend.

The budget also gives the states budget director the authority to react to significant federal budget cuts if enacted. If federal support is reduced by more than $850 million, Cuomos budget director can institute cuts unless the Legislature passes a plan within 80 days. During an April 5 press conference, Cuomo expressed frustration with the annual budget model, saying it could make it more difficult to react to what were likely to be onerous spending cuts from Washington.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli praised many aspects of the budget, including its criminal justice reforms, but criticized that it was late and did not allow for public review.

The budget does not include needed reforms to the states procurement practices to better ensure spending accountability and transparency, he said. Hopefully, before the end of session, the procurement reforms my office has advanced will be addressed.

State Assemblyman Alan Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) touted the agreement to release $1 billion in support of developing 6,000 new units of supportive housing in the next five years. Cuomo has expressed support for building 20,000 supportive units in the next 15 years, according to Hevesi. Supportive housing offers services in or near residential units to help ensure stability for vulnerable tenants.

It is the logical solution to homelessness  supportive housing provides stable homes and support services to those in need, Hevesi said. It will save taxpayer dollars as it is far more cost-effective than relying on homeless shelters and, most importantly, it works.

State Sen. James Sanders (D-Rochdale Village) said the budget was a mixed bag of successes and failures. He cited the increased aid to school districts, as well as an agreement to let ride-sharing businesses like Uber or Lyft operate upstate. However, he cited the failure to pass the DREAM Act for undocumented immigrants and the lack of substantive ethics reform as stumbling blocks.

The budget negotiations were difficult, but in the end we were able to make some advancements in the areas of education, economic development and criminal justice, Sanders said. Though we can and should do more, this gives us a foundation upon which we can build.

Mayoral control of New York City schools was not included in the budget, which means the Legislature will have to take the issue up separately. Mayor Bill de Blasio received a one-year extension in a deal reached in the closing hours of last years Legislative session last June.
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By Gina Martinez

Queens politicians are standing up for a Flushing-based union.

Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest), state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) and state Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) wrote a letter to Charter Communications CEO Thomas Rutledge, demanding Charter negotiate fairly with Local Union #3 International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers.

The union went on strike March 28, saying it wanted a new contract that did not undermine members health care, retirement and security. The more than 1,800 union workers had been working without a contract since 2013. Charter has proposed eliminating crucial benefits like pension contributions, overtime pay on weekends and the companys 401k, according to local officials.

Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable last year, making it the second largest Internet provider in New York, with 2.5 million subscribers. The state attorney generals office filed a lawsuit against Spectrum,Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, for defrauding customers by failing to deliver promised Internet speeds. The AGs office concluded that executives knew that networks were incapable of delivering speeds promised to subscribers.

According to the elected officials, Charter placed the blame on Local 3 technicians, even disciplining technicians over repeat service calls to customers who were unable to get Internet speeds they paid for.

Officials and IBEW Local 3 members are also upset about Charter plans for a wage increase while also cutting health benefits, retirement contributions, and job security. In the letter, officials called this wage increase a red herring to distract from the cuts.

We urge you to return to the bargaining table with a new approach, they wrote, one that will lead to a speedy and fair resolution of the contract dispute. You must protect the workers that make your company function and the New York consumers who rely on your service with as much fervor as you protect your bottom line. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

A spokesman for Charter Communications released a statement claiming that the pay increase is more beneficial for employees.

Spectrum is dedicated to providing great service to our customers and investing in our workforce is a critical part of how we do that, a spokesman said. This is why Spectrum is offering our field technicians a pay increase larger than the union has demanded, along with competitive and robust health care and retirement benefits. We believe this greater compensation to be more beneficial to our employees and allows us to grow a well-paid, highly skilled workforce for the benefit of our customers.
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By Gina Martinez

A contractor from Yonkers has been arrested in connection with the five-alarm Elmhurst fire that damaged 112 units in a brick apartment building Tuesday afternoon, FDNY officials said.

Declan Mcelhatton, 53, of Maintenance Asset Management, was charged with arson and reckless endangerment, the officials said. According to the Fire Department, the cause of the fire was an open flame in close proximity to combustibles.

The fire began around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Martinique Plaza at 56-11 94th St., blocks away from the Queens Center Mall. By 7:30 p.m. the blaze had escalated to a five-alarm fire, officials said. A total of 200 firefighters were at the scene to put out the heavy fire and had the blaze under control at 10:30 p.m. Eleven firefighters were injured, FDNY said, but all of the residents escaped unscathed. The fire spread throughout the top floors of the seven-story building and there was a partial roof collapse, according to officials.

Chief of Department James Leonard was on the scene. He told reporters that new technology helped firefighters extinguish the fire.

Miraculously, there were no injuries to civilians, Leonard said. The tragedy here, though, is that there is extensive damage to over 112 apartments, so were working with the Red Cross to get into that. One of the things we used here for the second time was our new drone, which was highly effective for our strategy and our tactics.

The Red Cross has set up a reception center at PS 13, directly across the street from the apartment house and was meeting with affected residents, providing them with food, beverages, health assistance and emotional support. According to a Red Cross spokesman, the agency has connected with 100 families and has case workers meeting with families one-on-one to address specific needs. He said the Red Cross was not sure how many of the apartments were occupied.

On Wednesday morning, firefighters were allowing residents to get important belongings from their apartment. Bart Navani, who lived on the fifth floor, and his neighbor and friend, Robin Lama, were waiting on line to get what they could salvage from their apartments.

I lived on the fifth floor, Navani said. My ceiling has collapsed, furniture gone, kitchen and bathroom are a mess. Its pretty bad. I would say half my stuff is gone, half is salvageable, but I consider myself lucky because people on the sixth floor lost everything. Its all gone.

Navani and Lama stayed over at a friends house, but were receiving help from the American Red Cross, which they called amazing and very helpful.

Lamas sixth-floor apartment was damaged in the fire and was unlivable, he said. For now, Lama does not know what happens next.
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By Patrick Donachie

A man has been charged with hate crimes for allegedly burglarizing several houses of worship in Flushing, Woodside and Elmhurst due to his hatred of religion and God, the Queens district attorney said.

Churches and temples were targeted.

The defendant is accused of acting on his hatred of god to brazenly but ecumenically target various houses of worship in Queens County to break into in order to steal cash and other items, Brown said. The defendant now faces serious prison time if convicted.

Joseph Woznik, 23, allegedly committed the burglaries between March 21 and April 10. He is accused of breaking into the Bangladesh Hindu Mandir Temple in Flushing, Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians in Woodside, St. Marys Roman Orthodox Church in Elmhurst, and St. James Episcopal Church in Flushing, which Brown said had been burglarized three times.

According to Brown, Woznik said in sum and substance at the time of his arrest that he was mad at God, that he did not like church or religion and purposefully targeted houses of worship, breaking in to get back at God.

Woznik was charged with burglary and grand larceny as hate crimes, as well as forgery and criminal possession of a forged instrument, among other charges, the DA said.

The first burglary took place at the Flushing temple, when an employee arrived March 21 to find that three donation boxes had been forced open. Fingerprints recovered at the scene were later matched to Woznik, according to Brown.

The first St. James burglary was discovered on the morning of March 24, with subsequent burglaries occurring April 3 and April 10. On April 10, a board member at St. Marys found that a gold-plated drawer used for communion and the churchs corporate seal embosser were missing.

That same day, an employee at Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians found a window had been broken on the churchs office door. She found a donation box opened with pry marks on it and a hammer on the floor next to the open box. Police analyzed security footage which allegedly shows a man they say was Woznik insider the church on the night before, wielding a hammer to use on the donation box.

Woznik is also wanted for burglary by authorities in Orange County, Fla. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges in New York, according to the DAs office.
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.
QUEENSBURY  A Herkimer County man who pleaded guilty to taking part in the murder of Kevin Jenks was sentenced Thursday to 18 years to life in prison, Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan said.

County Judge John Hall imposed the sentence of Kevin Chapman, 50, of Ilion. In addition to the time, Chapman is expected to pay restitution of $1,085.
Eight p.m. Sunday in East Palestine, Ohio. Dad is in bed after working all day. Mom, also exhausted, falls asleep on the couch. Even though they've had dinner earlier, the 8-year-old son and his 4-year-old sister are hungry  for McDonald's.

But instead of the waking up his parents, the boy decides this is a problem he can handle by himself.

East Palestine Police Officer Jacob Koehler told FOX 8 News what happened next:

The boy seated his sister in the back of the father's work van before he got behind the wheel. He drove about a mile from his house, through four intersections and over railroad tracks. The trip required several right-hand turns and one left-hand turn.

Witnesses in other vehicles spotted the underage driver and called police. They reported he obeyed traffic rules, stopped at red lights, adhered to the speed limit and didn't sideswipe a single garbage can.

After reaching the drive-thru at the fast-food restaurant, the boy paid for the cheeseburgers with money from his piggy bank. The McDonald's workers thought the kid's parents were pranking them.

"The workers thought that the parents were in the back, but obviously they weren't," Koehler told the Weirton Daily Times.

Police arrived, but not before the children got to eat a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets. Meanwhile, the kids were spotted by a family friend who notified their grandparents, who drove to the restaurant to take them home.

How did an 8-year-old learn to drive?, Officer Koehler wanted to know. YouTube videos, the boy responded.

Apparently he was tall enough to reach the pedals.
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The Bethlehem town board approved a $3 million contract with Rifenburg Construction of Troy Wednesday night that sets in motion the long-anticipated "streetscape" and water main replacement project along Delaware Avenue in Delmar.

The streetscape project, which has been a decade in the making, will add new sidewalks, curbs, landscaping, bike racks, street lamps and other enhancements along Delaware Avenue from Adams Street at the Four Corners northward to Elsmere Avenue, a stretch of businesses, homes and churches that lacks traditional sidewalks and curbs in places.

"The purpose of the project is to implement design improvements that will help strengthen Delaware Avenue's main street character and provide for safe and convenient travel and access for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and transit users," Bethlehem Town Supervisor John Clarkson wrote in the letter going out to residents in the area of the work.

The improvements will come at the price of convenience, with one-way lane closures and detours as needed that will likely begin in early June and last through October.

"It's a project that's going to yield a generation of benefits, but it's going to require a summer of discomfort," Bethlehem town board member David VanLuven said.

As part of the streetscapes project, Rifenburg is also replacing the 70-year-old water main pipe along that stretch of road.

Town officials said that during construction there will be lane closures, although traffic along Delaware Avenue will always be able to travel in one direction, with traffic from the other direction being detoured around the work on either Kenwood Avenue or Hudson Avenue.

Easing the commuter rush will be a priority, town officials said, and residents will be able to get text updates on the traffic patterns through the town web site and social media.

Information on how to get updates is available here .

"As with all major construction projects, traffic and travel will be impacted, so I ask for everyone's patience during the construction phase," Clarkson wrote in his letter.

The combined cost of the street upgrades and the water main pipe replacement projects, which will happen at the same time, could be as high as $4 million, a price tag that includes the engineering and inspection work being done by Albany-based CHA.

Some of the street work will be offset by state funding. The town won a $1.2 million grant from the state Department of Transportation for that part of the project, and is looking at getting an additional $222,000 from the DOT and NYSERDA, the state's renewable energy agency, to cover costs above the project's original budget.

The water main project, with total costs of about $682,000, is being paid for through a town water fund capital reserve.
People and their pets in Schenectady County may be able to endure a much more peaceful and quiet Fourth of July night.

That's because the County Legislature is considering banning so called low-level fireworks, like sparkling devices, after it allowed them last year  then got swamped by complaints about skittish dogs and lost sleep.

On May 1 the legislature conducts a public hearing in what may be a step toward a ban.

Legislature Majority Leader Gary Hughes said the panel decided Tuesday to revisit the matter after a spike in fireworks-related emergency calls around Independence Day, as well as complaints of excessively loud and long celebrations.

"Massive fireworks displays" lit up Schenectady City Council President Leesa Perazzo's Bellevue neighborhood until around 3 a.m. last Fourth of July.

"It was like people's dogs were losing their minds, kids were crying, it was awful,"

Perazzo said. It's also a safety worry: In many city neighborhoods fireworks could ignite homes made of older housing stock that are very close to each other.

Two years ago, the newly enacted state law said low-level or small-scale fireworks were excluded from a ban on the sale and use of fireworks. Counties were allowed to opt into the measure to legalize the pyrotechnics.

After debate, Schenectady County and a few other Capital Region counties, including Saratoga, Rensselaer and Montgomery were among those who did.

Legislator Randy Pascarella, who introduced the proposal to repeal the fireworks, said 911 fireworks-related calls to the Schenectady Police on July 4 were "escalated at a higher rate ever in the history that I can remember."

And there was uncertainty. County residents thought legislators had legalized fireworks.

"We believe what was happening is that people would go outside our county, go outside our state, bring illegal fireworks in, and then there was some ambiguity about what was legal and what wasn't and it was just a strain on law enforcement," Pascarella said. "It was the old, 'we gave an inch, they took a foot'."

Hughes said if legislators decide to pass the law, fire and public safety officials would make a clear statement that "all fireworks of any type are always illegal in Schenectady County all the time," he added.

Pascarella also said the advantages of any sales tax revenue the county collected were far overshadowed by complaints about the harm pyrotechnics had on residents' quality of life.

County Legislator Brian McGarry agreed on holding the public hearing, but called the idea of banning fireworks a "knee-jerk reaction" that will only make police even busier going after people who flout the new law. He recommended a public education campaign.

Glenville Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle said he initially supported the fireworks law but after hearing horror stories from some residents he favors making some modifications but not forbidding them altogether. He said the bigger issue is a lack of oversight and the sale of the fireworks. The municipality has no control over where the dozen or so vendors set up shop, he said.

Montgomery County Legislature Chairman Roy Dimond said even with some new legislators on board, he feels that the law allowing the low-impact fireworks "has a good chance of being repealed" more so because it seems to have benefited out-of-state vendors setting up tents rather than local businesses.

Schenectady Fire Chief Ray Senecal, citing the rise in emergency calls and risks even from fire sparklers said he supports a ban  "without question."

After the public hearing, Schenectady County lawmakers could decide to vote on May 9 to repeal the local law allowing the fireworks, Hughes said.
Moscow

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with President Vladimir Putin of Russia for nearly two hours Wednesday, but the two men appeared unable to agree on the facts involving the deadly chemical weapons assault on Syrian civilians or Russian interference in the U.S. election  much less move toward an improvement in basic relations.

"There is a low level of trust between our countries," Tillerson said at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, after the first face-to-face meetings between Russian leaders and a top emissary of the Trump administration. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson said.

Both he and Lavrov said a range of issues were discussed  most notably the crises in Syria, North Korea and Ukraine  and that both sides had agreed to establish a working group to examine, as Lavrov said, "the irritants" in relations between the United States and Russia.

Tillerson reiterated the U.S. view that President Bashar Assad of Syria, Russia's chief Middle East ally, was responsible for the chemical weapons assault in Syria on April 4 that left more than 80 people dead and sickened hundreds.

Lavrov reiterated the Russian view that the facts about the chemical weapons attack had yet to be determined, and denounced what he described as the "media hysteria" surrounding the assault.

Asked about President Donald Trump's description of Assad as an "animal," Tillerson said that characterization "is one that Assad has brought upon himself."

Tillerson said Russian interference in the presidential election was a settled fact. In response, Lavrov gave what amounted to a long lecture on what he described as an extensive list of U.S. efforts to achieve "regime change" around the world, from Serbia to Iraq to Libya. He described them all as failures  an implicit warning against any efforts to achieve the same end in Syria.

For hours after Tillerson's arrival in Moscow, it was unclear whether Putin would even meet with him because of the tense state of relations, which have worsened just in the past few weeks.

Their meeting lasted almost two hours and ended just before 8 p.m. local time.

In the 24 hours before Tillerson landed in Moscow, the White House accused Putin's government of covering up evidence that Assad had been responsible for sarin gas attacks on its own people, launched from a base where Russian troops are operating.

Putin shot back that the charge was fabricated and accused the administration of Trump, who U.S. intelligence agencies believe benefited from Russian cyberattacks intended to embarrass his Democratic rival during the election campaign, of fabricating the evidence to create a fake confrontation.

"This reminds me very much of the events of 2003, when U.S. representatives in the Security Council showed alleged chemical weapons discovered in Iraq," Putin said, referring to an intelligence failure that Trump has also cited in recent months. "The exact same thing is happening now," he charged.

But the diplomatic theater playing out in Moscow on a rainy Wednesday morning was far from boring: Putin, operating on home turf, was looking for any way to shape the narrative of Tillerson's first trip here as secretary of state.

The outcome could well decide whether Trump's oft-stated desire to remake U.S. relations with Moscow will now disintegrate, just as similar efforts by Barack Obama did early in his presidency.

Russia said earlier this week that Putin would not meet with Tillerson, but on Wednesday the Russian leader's spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, held out the possibility of a meeting later in the day.

Russian leaders have greeted virtually all new secretaries of state since the end of World War II, but Peskov said any meeting would depend on how Tillerson's other talks went.

The drama appeared to be an effort by Putin to show that he was in control.

As Tillerson entered the foreign ministry here to meet Lavrov, an experienced and wily veteran of many of Russia's post-Cold War encounters with Washington, the Russian government released another salvo against U.S. intentions here.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria V. Zakharova, said it was "useless" for Tillerson to arrive in Moscow with "ultimatums" and suggested that if he wanted any progress, he should start by getting Trump and his administration on the same page about Syria strategy.

"It is not clear what they will do in Syria and not only there," she said on Dozhd, Russia's independent television network. "Nobody understands what they will do in the Middle East because it is a very complicated region, forgive me for saying such a banal thing. Nobody understands what they will do with Iran, what they will do with Afghanistan."

Then, to suggest this was a symptom of broader disorganization, she added, "Nobody understands what they will do with North Korea."

Tillerson had hoped, several weeks ago, to make the battle against the Islamic State a focus of this trip, working with Russia to seal off the last escape routes from Raqqa, in hopes of killing the remainder of the Islamic State force there.
Chicago

Local bans on artery-clogging trans fats in restaurant foods led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in several New York counties, a new study suggests.

The study hints at the potential for widespread health benefits from an upcoming nationwide ban, the authors and other experts say. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015 gave the food industry until next year to eliminate artificial trans fats from American products.

New York City enacted a restaurant ban on the fats in 2007 and several counties in the state did the same. Albany County has since 2009 banned the use of trans fats in food served at local restaurants and food-service establishments. Hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes in those areas declined 6 percent starting three years after the bans, compared with counties without bans. The results translate to 43 fewer heart attacks and strokes per 100,000 people, said lead author Dr. Eric Brandt, a Yale University cardiology fellow.

His study was published Wednesday in JAMA Cardiology.

Trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated oils, enhance food texture and structure. They were once commonly used to make restaurant fried chicken, French fries, doughnuts and other foods and found in grocery items including cookies, crackers and margarine.

These fats can boost blood levels of unhealthy cholesterol, increasing risks for heart problems. The FDA in 2006 required them to be listed on food labels and the food industry has been switching to healthier oils.

The researchers examined hospital admissions data from 2002 to 2013 in 11 New York counties that adopted bans and in 25 counties that did not. Admissions for heart attacks and strokes declined in all counties, going from more than 800 to less than 700 per 100,000 people, but the drop was steeper in counties that enacted bans.

Alice Lichtenstein, a heart and nutrition specialist at Tufts University's Boston campus, said the results are encouraging but that other changes could have contributed, such as smoking bans and mandatory calories on menus.

Dr. Mark Creager, former American Heart Association president, said the results echo previous studies "and are consistent with the thinking of most scientists" on potential benefits of these bans.

"Policies such as these when adapted on a nationwide level will be good for our entire population," said Creager, director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's heart center in Lebanon, N.H.
A violin recital at EMPAC feels like a step back in time. More typical programming at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute venue brings together digital technology and analog humanity to bravely explore new frontiers of the arts. Violinist Anne Akiko Myers performs on a violin dating from 1741. But when she performs with pianist Akira Eguchi on Tuesday in Troy, it will be a program heavily weighted toward new works.

Audiences will recognize the names of Beethoven and Ravel, but there's also Part, Rautavaara and Lauridsen on the bill, plus a recent work by Jakub Ciupinski that calls for violin, electronics and video.

"The program is incredibly innovative," Myers said. "To work with living composers and champion their music is imperative to me. Their artistry leaves me in awe. They juggle voices in their heads, like so many pieces of a puzzle, in order to say something that moves people and is not just a technical exercise. That's what I'm always searching for."

Instead of "searching" for music, Myers could just as easily and accurately say that she "chases" it. As proof, listen to how she got the 74-year-old California composer Morten Lauridsen to finally write for her.

More Information If you go Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers with pianist Akira Eguchi When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Where: EMPAC, Troy Tickets: $6-$18 Info: 276-3921; http://www.empac.rpi.edu See More Collapse

"I'm a longtime fan of his and asked him many times to write something for me," Myers said. "He said 'Get to the back of the line, I don't have time.' He had a list of commissions. But I was really tenacious and invited him to a performance of mine in Los Angeles. After that he said, 'I'm all yours.' I bucked the line!"

The Lauridsen piece is a reworking of one of the composer's most popular choral works, "O Magnum Mysterium."

The urgency that Myers puts into securing new scores from composers does pay off. Just weeks ago, with the Kansas City Symphony, she debuted "Fantasia," one of the final works of the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara who died last August at 87. A violin/piano version of the "Fantasia" is also on the EMPAC program.

"When I visited him in Helsinki, I was shocked by the feeling of being on the edge of world. And the piece has that feeling, with a very poetic and impressionistic use of color," Myers said. "When I played it for him, he turned to me and said, 'Wow, I did write a beautiful work.' It's so true, and we all laughed."

Both the Lauridsen and the Rautavaara will receive their New York premieres at EMPAC. After appearing in Troy, Myers repeats the program Thursday at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan and again on Sunday, April 23, at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

With Lauridsen and Rautavaara, Myers was going after known quantities. There was more risk involved when she commissioned Ciupinski in 2009. The 35-year-old composer was born in Poland and lives in New York, where he attended the Juilliard School. While in his teens and still in his home country, Ciupinski garnered a record deal with Sony for his electronic dance music.

"He's a very adventuresome person and goes deep sea diving," Myers said. "That's how he saw the wreck of the Umbria."

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That's the name of the piece Ciupinski wrote for Myers, "Wreck of the Umbria." The title refers to an Italian ship that was sunk in the Red Sea by the British in June 1940, just after Italy's entrance into World War II. The video component of Ciupinski's composition was filmed underwater in the remains of the Umbria.

"Hundreds and hundreds of bombs were on the ship. Now it's a ghost ship, with fish everywhere and coral," Myers said. "What was so full of munitions is now full of life that's wet, dark and creepy."

Myers said she's lost count of the number of pieces that she has either commissioned or premiered. But she has kept track of how many CDs she's recorded. That number is 34.

When it comes to new music, Myers isn't just focused on the future. Her thoughts go to the composers that got away.

"There are many composers that I wish I could have worked with  Chopin, Ravel, Gershwin," Myers said. "Rachmaninoff's birthday just passed (April 1). Maybe it would have taken just one tenacious woman for him to have him write something for violin."

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
THE ISSUE:

Mistreatment of an airline passenger underscores multiple problems with air travel.

THE STAKES:

Is it too much to expect Congress or the administration in Washington to improve the situation for air travelers?

More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com or at http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion See More Collapse

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United Airlines is understandably enduring with a public relations meltdown after millions viewed a video showing one of its passengers being bloodied and forcibly dragged from a Chicago flight. It's only the latest reminder for airline travelers that a once enjoyable experience has become an unpleasant, expensive ordeal.

It's now routine for passengers to pay exorbitant fees for their baggage or to change a booking. Space between seats has shrunk so airlines can squeeze more seats onto flights. To keep planes full, generating bigger profits, airlines have reduced the number of flights. That leaves fewer options for travelers when weather or mechanical problems result in flight delays. All this comes on top of the added stress of the security checks in the post-9/11 era, which subject both you and your luggage to searches.

A decade ago, airlines were struggling to stay in business, but thanks to mergers that were not blocked by the federal government, they are enjoying record profits. A big part of that is the proliferation of baggage and related fees. An industry forecast predicts global airlines will reap profits of $30 billion this year.

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That only makes the outrageous incident Sunday in Chicago even more disturbing. The flight was "overbooked" because United needed four seats to get its employees to another location. One can only wonder why the airline allowed the flight to board before attempting to use offers of compensation to lure four passengers to give up their seats. When the offers failed to recruit volunteers to give up their seats, United should have raised the offer until it got four takers. Instead, it randomly chose four paid customers to, in the airline's jargon, "re-accommodate." Three exited but the fourth, a physician heading home to Kentucky, refused. That's when the airline called in outside help to pull the passenger out against his will.

Such ongoing abuses by greedy airlines are renewing calls by consumer advocates and politicians for the Federal Aviation Administration to enact rules expanding the rights of airline passengers. These efforts have had some successes, like the reduction in the allowable time a plane can sit on the runway awaiting clearance for takeoff. It took another outrageous incident for that to happen  the stranding of passengers for 10 hours in 2007 on a JetBlue flight at Kennedy International Airport in New York.

It would be a just response to the incident in Chicago if the FAA took new action to bolster passenger rights, though under the pro-business, anti-regulation Trump administration that seems unlikely.

A Congress up for re-election next year, however, might be more motivated to explore ways to increase competition and to insist on some minimum standards of customer treatment. Thou shall not beat and bloody passengers or throw them off just for the airline's convenience seem like fine places to start.
Jennifer Nickerson of Tipperary Boutique Distillery, Cahir, Co Tipperary, will be one of fourteen start-ups taking part in the AIB Start-up Academy Final in Dublins Lighthouse Cinema on Thursday April 20th

The 2017 AIB Start-up Academy, a national competition comprising of a selection of Irelands most promising start-ups, will draw to a close on 20th April at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin 7. Hosted by Grainne Seoige, the final event will see fourteen start-ups deliver a 5-minute elevator pitch followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with judges.

Jennifer Nickerson is the founder of Tipperary Boutique Distillery which has produced a new single malt whiskey made from her own barley, grown on Ballindoney farm in County Tipperary. The company currently has planning permission for a distillery on the Ballindoney farm and will offer a field-to-bottle spirit. With only 1,916 bottles produced of their first whiskey, The Rising, it will be the only company to produce whiskies cut to bottling strength with water from Ballindoney farm in Tipperary.

Starting in September, almost 500 entrepreneurs put forward their business ideas to an expert judging panel. These entries were narrowed down to a shortlist of 22, from which 10 were chosen. A further four start-ups were selected at the regional AIB Start-up Academy Summits in Galway, Cork, Dublin and Belfast.

The finalists have completed 8 weeks of a strategic training and mentoring from topics like networking, data analytics, design thinking, finance, marketing and social media. They have also been honing their pitch skills in preparation for the final pitch event.

Now in its third year, the AIB Start-up Academy provides start-ups with crucial business support and networking opportunities designed to help entrepreneurs bring their business to the next level. In addition to the competition element, AIB, in association with The Entrepreneurs Academy, will also hold over 80 Start-up Academy Bootcamps across the country in 2017. These free workshops are open to start-ups from all backgrounds and at all stages of development.

Speaking ahead of the final, host Grainne Seoige said, In January I hosted the AIB Start-up Academy Summit in Galway and having recently started a business myself I found it to be a rewarding experience. The learning process never ends and Im eager to hear what the fourteen entrepreneurs have learned on their journey to date and their plans for the future.

Brian Keating, AIB Group Propositions and Brands Director, said, The AIB Start-Up Academy is going from strength to strength with a year long programme of support for Start-ups. Not only is our national competition attracting entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors including fashion, food, medtech and healthcare, earlier this year our inspirational summits saw over 1,000 Start-ups gain access to support and tools to grow their business. In addition our AIB Start-Up Academy Bootcamps are taking place in towns across the country to ensure more and more entrepreneurs gain access to the Academy training programme.

The final will begin at 6pm at the Lighthouse Cinema on Thursday April 20th. Keeping with the theme of entrepreneurship, previous AIB Start-up Academy finalists Peter Mulryan of Blackwater Distillery and James Winans of Vanguard Beer Collective will be supplying refreshments on the night, along with Neil Shirt Catering and Cornude Popcorn. A limited number of tickets are available on aibstartupacademy.ie, with proceedings streamed via the AIB Facebook page.

For full information on the AIB Start-up Academy and Bootcamps please visit www.aib.ie/startup and follow us @AIBBiz on Twitter.

For information on products and services for Start-ups, please visit aib.ie
Nenagh's Cllr Seamus Morris has made his own submission to the National Planning Framework, Towards 2040 plan.

The Sinn Fein councillor told the Tipperary Star he had done so because he felt the submission by Tipperary County Council was weak.

I wouldn't have to make this submission if I thought the Tipperary one was strong enough, he said.

And Cllr Morris said he had asked for the Mid West regional submission before he made his own, but didn't get it.

He has now asked the council to supply him with any submission made by other bodies, including other councillors.

In his submission on behalf of Nenagh Sinn Fein, Cllr Morris wants the framework to include the development of Foynes as a major port as it could be one of the regional assets used to drive growth as it could unlock huge economic benefits.

The Shannon Estuary is one of the most valuable natural resources for Ireland. It has a depth in excess of 18 metres, making it Ireland's premier deep water resource, capable of handling vessels of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnes and is connected to all major international shipping lanes, he stated.

Cllr Morris also wants central government to halt plans to extract 300 million litres from Parteen basin and pump it to the Greater Dublin Region.

It will only reinforce the unbalanced regional development of the country. It also has the potential to destroy forever, huge amounts of agricultural lands and effect the economic development of the farming community along the corridor, he said.

Cllr Morris also believes Tipperary could have a huge influence on Mid West development and that Nenagh should be earmarked as a zone of influence.

Nenagh has an abundance of industrial units , up to 1000 housing planning permissions, a strong educated workforce, strong educational facilities, very strong sporting facilities. Nenagh can provide the perfect work life destination for workers and their families, he said.

Meanwhile, Tipperary County Council has called for the retention of the Limerick to Ballybrophy rail line which passes through Nenagh and Birdhill, in its submission.

The council says that while Tipperary is very well served by the Dublin-Cork-Limerick railway line, the county also benefits from rail lines from Limerick to Waterford and Limerick to Ballybrophy.

However, services on these rail lines are not operating to their potential and the recent proposal by the National Transport Authority to close the lines is a matter of grave concern to the council, the submission states.

The NPF must include an objective to retain both these rail links, and service provisio should be enhanced and aligned with strategic economic objectives, it says.

It further seeks provision of the Killaloe bypass / Shannon Bridge and R494 improvement and upgrade of the Nenagh to Thurles road, and improvements to the N52.

While the plan calls for investment in town centres, it is short on specifics for Nenagh, merely stating that a civic improvement plan is needed.

It sets Clonmel as the heart of core development, with Nenagh as a district town. Nenagh's hinterland is designated open countryside, though the tract from Terryglass to Ballina along Lough Derg is described as a primary amenity area.

In terms of jobs, the submission says that the council, along with partner agencies such as the IDA, actively supports the economic development of towns in a number of ways, including the identification, development, and marketing of strategic employment land banks, including those in Nenagh.

The submission also says that the National Planning Framework needs to recognise the contribution of Tipperary to national tourism development.

It calls for the NPF to promote the towns of Ballina / Killaloe and Nenagh as the gateway to the Lakelands region of the country.

On health, the submission calls for the retention of Nenagh Hospital.
A lucky Roscrea woman who wishes to remain anonymous is laughing all the way to the bank today, after scooping half a million Euro in the Lotto.

Lottery players filled their boots today with some very lucky winners arriving in Lottery HQ today, ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

One lucky winner from Roscrea in Co. Tipperary has claimed her cheque for 500,000 after winning the EuroMillions Plus top prize on Tuesday 11 April.

The lady who has worked for 26 years in the same factory will now be looking to buy her first home after her life changing win. The Roscrea woman was the biggest winner of this weeks Lotto winners.

Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!!! It will totally change my life, gushed the winner. I checked my ticket on the App on Wednesday and I got a chill right down my spine. I didnt know who to tell.

Ive been a regular player of Lotto, EuroMillions and Telly Bingo for years. I even bought my ticket for Friday nights EuroMillions draw on the way up here in the car she said.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold at Mathew Keane, Main St, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. At a cost of just 1 extra per line, the EuroMillions Plus draw gives players an extra chance to win 500,000.

Accompanied to the National Lottery by her son, the lady plans to enjoy the win with a weekend away with her partner for Easter and will begin to tell close family and friends of her good fortune over the coming weeks.

Separately today, a Meath man has claimed a cheque for 55,750 in last nights midweek Lotto draw for matching five numbers and the bonus. The online player always plays the numbers of his family members birthdays and they paid out handsomely in Wednesday nights draw.

Want that Friday Feeling to last forever? Fridays EuroMillions jackpot is a guaranteed 17 million. Play in store, on the National Lottery App or online by 7:30pm by Friday evening for your chance to win.

Playing National Lottery funds good causes across Ireland. In 2016 alone, the National Lottery raised over 200 million good causes. This level of funding has made a significant difference to communities, projects and individuals in the areas of Youth, Sports, Recreation, Amenities, Health, Welfare, Arts, Culture, National Heritage and the Irish Language.
A Cappawhite man is undertaking the challenge of a lifetime as he embarks on a mission of mercy to Haiti.

Haven, a prominent Irish NGO working on the ground in Haiti, is undertaking its eveventh annual volunteer trip to Haiti from 21-29 April 2017.

Johnny Ryan from Cappawhite in west Tipperary, joins 39 other volunteers from Ireland and abroad in setting off on this life-changing trip with Haven.

This years Volunteer Programme sees the group travel to the small town of Carrefour Dufont, located two hours south-west of Haitis capital, Port au Prince. There, they will focus on the refurbishment and upgrade of the local school, which serves 220 children and nine teachers, and which suffered significant damage in last Octobers Hurricane Matthew.

Over the course of eight days, Havens volunteers will repair the roofs and replaster the walls of the schools buildings, which were badly impacted by the most powerful storm to hit Haiti in over half a century. As well as this, volunteers will build a new kitchen on the school grounds, and a covered area for children to eat in and shelter from the searing afternoon heat. The construction of a new toilet block will greatly improve the schools facilities, and ensure clean sanitation and good health for its students.

Meanwhile, the volunteers will enable additional learning and skills for students through the development of an unused space into a school library.

They will also create a safe area for children to play with a colourful and interactive playground. Every year, a key aim of the Volunteer Programme is to immerse volunteers in local communities in Haiti. Lying close to Leogane, the epicentre of the 2010 earthquake, people in the town of Carrefour Dufont are still working to rebuild their lives. During their time there, Haven volunteers will not only work closely in partnership with the local community, but ensure that its children can make the most of their right to education for many years to come.
Motivational speaker Robert Orner portrays Judas Iscariot during the Presbyterian Womens annual Lenten salad bar luncheon on Wednesday, at Titusvilles First Presbyterian Church.
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.
Council approves rules to limit self-storage growth Future self-storage facilities in the city of Thousand Oaks will be excluded from prime commercial areas, according to a new ordinance adopted by the City Council this month. In a...

Dealership does Distinguished thing SPECIAL TRIPChildren from Boys & Girls clubs in Camarillo, Simi Valley and Moorpark, and Oxnard and Port Hueneme attended Misty Copelands Oct. 18 appearance in the Distinguished Speaker Series at...

Stagecoach Inn honors veterans The Stagecoach Inn Museum is honoring those who served with a Veterans Day exhibit featuring museum volunteers who have served in the military as well as family members who have...
From supporting Lily Allen on her Australian tour to being one of the key influencers who shot Shannon Noll back into fame, Allday is an important cult rap artist.

Ahead of the release of his new album Speeding next Friday (which you can pre-order here), heres 20 things he did that built him such a massive following.

1. Refuses to let his team touch his social media channels

2. Became the most hipster kid to ever be a hipster in 2014

3. Since the very beginning, he asked his fans the important questions

4. Supported Lily Allen at her Splendour sideshows in 2014

5. Teamed up with producer Japanese Wallpaper for new single In Motion

6. In a hip hop scene of this

And this

Allday was this

7. Relocated to LA, arguably the mecca of music in the world

8. Was the Australian Drake before Drake was cool in Australia

Lovin @alldaychubbyboys album so much, srsly Australias Drake. Get on it yall  Startup Cult by Allday https://t.co/zKuYlQB6pJ  Cub Sport (@cubsportmusic) July 4, 2014

9. Hit #47 on the largest music poll in the world in 2016, the triple j Hottest 100

10. Charted at #3 on the ARIA chart with an LP that featured the sound of bongs being ripped (Startup Cult)

11. Doesnt GAF about your preconceived gender bias towards fashion

12. Was one of the key influencers who shot Shannon Noll back into fame

13. Featured on the Troye Sivan track for him.

14. Named one of his singles Send Nudes in 2016

15. Was a stand-up comedian

16. Was once possessed and found out by going to a psychic

Went to a psychic and she told me i have a demon in me, getting cleansed on Sunday so yeah, nice non-demon Allday is on the way  Allday (@alldaychubbyboy) March 29, 2017

17. Played in a punk band in high school called Sissycunt

18. Got the name Allday following a bout with the munchies at his local IGA

I didnt realise how long I was taking to choose my tiny teddy flavour or whatever, Allday told SMH. Then as a joke they started calling me Allday because I took forever, and so yeah, thats that.

19. Has his own web series called the Chubby Chronicles

20. His new album Speeding, out April 21, will debut at #1 on the ARIA chart. Pre-order the record with some sweet extras here.
TKC EXCLUSIVE: ALTERNATE HOTEL PROJECTS & PRIVATE INVESTORS NOW ON DECK SHOULD THIS EFFORT FAIL!!!

More local cash is at stake for a long-anticipated 1000-room convention hotel project that has yet to meet with much investor support.Here's the happy news version of today's city council meeting and press release coverage . . .Meanwhile, let's not forget that the. . . And . . . What we know for certain is this . . .Developing . . .
DOWNPLAYED BY KANSAS CITY MAINSTREAM MEDIA, ROCKHURST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SUICIDE RESONATES THROUGHOUT METRO FOR MANY LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE!!!

It's Holy Thursday and tonight Catholic throughout Kansas City will gather to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Gospels. However, the celebration will take place in the shadow of death for many of the local faithful.To wit . . .Students in Shawnee Mission High Schools and a few other local Catholic schoolsThe reality is thatand most parents, regardless of religious affiliation, are woefully unprepared to cope with the trend.Whileconfronting pop culture trends has always been a challenge posed to the faithful.Real talk: The key to lower Catholic suicide rates might not be the hope that Church attendance provides but the fear of God that is instilled within most denizens of this sect. Old school Catholics have always been taught that suicide is a one way ticket straight to Hell with no mercy, forgiveness or chance at redemption for all eternity. It's a cruel teaching that contradicts current mental health care guidelines but it has mostly proven effective . . . Until now.and during this Holy Week, Catholics in Kansas City are forced to confront the impact of this trend on their community as well.Developing . . .
"Police say a woman called around 2:15 a.m. Thursday to report seeing a woman being dragged into a van near Elma and Prospect. According to the caller, several individuals got out of a white van and dragged a young lady from an alley into the van that had a handicapped tag."

Police investigate after woman abducted in KCMO Police are searching for a woman after she was abducted early Thursday morning. Officers say five men forced a woman into a minivan with a handicap plaque in the window and then took off.

Scary scene in the urban core this morning . . .Read more:
KCPT Old School Ethnic Profiling

Suspended In Time Anthony "Tony" Gizzo mug shot. (Kansas City Public Library) "That's quite a pair of shoes that Tony Gizzo has on...do you remember him?" Flatland Special Projects Reporter Mike McGraw asks, looking at a photo of a man in a police lineup.

Kansas City Drowning Aftermath

Drowning victim's family speaks out about 22-year-old KC man's life, their loss KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Wiebusch family is struggling to fully accept what happened Tuesday night. Just after 9:00 p.m., 22-year-old Zakkery Wiebusch was hanging out with some friends at Blue Valley Park when their remote-control boat stopped working in a pond. That's when he tried to swim out to get it and went under.

Sleaze Summit Scare Last Night

Gas line break forces evacuation of several Lee's Summit homes A gas line break Wednesday afternoon in Lee's Summit forced the evacuation of several homes. The City of Lee's Summit said the break happened around 3:30 p.m. near Patterson Drive and Todd George Parkway. A private utility company was working in the area when they struck a gas line.

Show-Me Political Push For More Cash To Find Missing Missouri Youngsters

Missouri budgeters plan for reboot, expansion of Amber Alert JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri House and Senate budgeters want to spend $100,000 on the state's Amber Alert system. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday locked in a House plan to replace and expand the alert system for missing children.

Suburban Gun Shop Robbery Overnight

Merriam gun store burglarized early Thursday, police say Merriam gun store burglarized early Thursday, police say Store owner tells police several guns taken Merriam, Kansas, police are investigating after a gun store was burglarized early Thursday. Police said officers were called just before 2 a.m. to Signature Manufacturing in the 9800 block of West 67th Street on an alarm.

Tragic Life Lesson

Family: Bullying caused Sedalia teen's suicide SEDALIA, Mo. - Classmates, friends and family members are mourning the death of a Sedalia, Missouri teenager who took her own life over the weekend. Sixteen-year-old Riley Garrigus took her own life on Saturday. Family members told 41 Action News the Smith-Cotton High School sophomore was bullied continuously.

Salvy Needs A Break

A modest proposal for the Kansas City Royals Get expert analysis, unrivaled access, and the award-winning storytelling only SI can provide - from Peter King, Tom Verducci, Lee Jenkins, Seth Davis, and more - delivered straight to you, along with up-to-the-minute news and live scores.

Pamela Anderson is pushing 50 but she's not only thebut also the leader of the. And so the old girl inspires the start to our TBT . . .is our song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
Wasteful Kansas City Legacy

History of the 'City of Fountains' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains. There are more than 200 fountains in the metro area. Forty-eight of them are city-owned. Fountains were originally meant for horses, birds and dogs to drink from. The first city-built fountain was at 15th and Paseo in 1899.

Sunflower State Against Peru Dude

Kobach Says Non-Citizen Has Pleaded Guilty To Voter Fraud Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he has secured his first conviction of a non-citizen for voting illegally. In a news release, Kobach says that Victor David Garcia Bebek, a native of Peru, pleaded guilty last week in Sedgwick County District Court to three misdemeanor charges of voting illegally.

KCK Election Time & Nobody Cares

Four candidates now vying to be mayor/CEO of Unified Government of KCK, Wyandotte County With seven weeks left until the filing deadline, the mayoral race in Kansas City, Kan., already has grown to four candidates. Janice Grant Witt, a financial services broker defeated for the post in 2013, became the fourth candidate when she filed this month. Political newcomer D.

Deadly Meth Town Blast Aftermath

Family of man killed in Lake City Army Ammunition Plant explosion 'heartbroken' INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The man who died after an explosion at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant Tuesday has been identified as 55-year-old Lawrence Bass from Blue Springs, Missouri. According to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Bass had worked at the plant for 36 years.

Deadly Kansas City Gunfire Case

Man charged with 2016 shooting outside a KCMO club A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside of a KCMO club back in October 2016. Juan J. Bravo-Leon, 24, has been charged with murder second degree, assault first degree, and two counts of armed criminal action.

More Midtown Neighborhood Drama

Hyde Park residents fight to erase growing graffiti problem KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hyde Park property owners say they're seeing an alarming increase in graffiti, particularly along Troost Avenue. Many neighbors call it a frustrating problem. Just this week several businesses and apartment buildings from 33rd to 47th streets have been hit by taggers.

Sick Kangaroo Life Lessons

UMKC confirms case of mumps on campus Officials with the University of Missouri - Kansas City say a case of mumps has been confirmed on campus. A student was diagnosed with mumps by a private physician on Tuesday. Officials said that student was sent home, and will remain home on rest until they are fully recovered.

NATION FEARS ANOTHER DEADLY ALLEGED KANSAS HEAD CASE!!!

Woman decapitated ex-boyfriend's mom, cops say A woman decapitated her ex-boyfriend's mother, who came to her home to collect his belongings, police in Kansas said. Rachael Hilyard allegedly began attacking Micki Davis, 63, when she and her grandson dropped by Hilyard's Wichita home Sunday afternoon, ABC affiliate KAKE News reported .

Tragic Kansas City Teaching Moment

Stop Trafficking Project raises awareness about minor sex trafficking in KC KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Grandparents that are part of the Northland Grandfamilies program were shocked when they heard about the increasing dangers of domestic minor sex trafficking. "It is scary, and it is sad," Bridgette Drake said. "It was just unbelievable that people would take children."

Tune In To Kansas City Community Talk

Northeast Newscast Episode 6 w/ Central Patrol Division's Major Rick Smith By Paul Thompson KANSAS CITY, Missouri - In this week's episode of the Northeast Newscast, KCPD Central Patrol Division's Commander, Major Rick Smith, joins Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson to talk about the Tuesday, April 11 sentencing hearing of notorious Northeast criminal Tyler Sutton; KCPD response times and the

Fear Local Season Of Snacking

KC Health Department gives tips on how to know if a food truck is up to code KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There are more than 450 food trucks registered with the KC Health Department. So how do you know if your favorite one is up to code? 41 Action News is asking officials what to look for. ----- Kevin Holmes can be reached at Kevin.Holmes@KSHB.com Follow @kholmesKSHB

hotness and social media winning keeps us on task and inspires this midweek compilation of all the important Kansas City mainstream media for tonight. Take a look:And this is thefor right now . . .
Kansas City Power Play Backstory

Energy In KC; Aldo Leopold When you flip a light switch or plug something into an outlet, something usually happens. Lights come on, iPhones get charged. But where does that energy come from in Kansas City? How are we using it, and what is the future of energy here?

Blue Springs DWI Hard Time

Man to go to prison for 25 years for killing 2 children in Blue Springs I-70 DWI crash INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- The driver in a Labor Day 2016 vehicular accident that killed two children and injured two others pleaded guilty Thursday in Jackson County to two counts of murder and two counts of assault and DWI charges.

Show-Me Execution Investigation

Groups ask Missouri's high court to resolve execution drug debate A media advocacy group and the ACLU want Missouri's highest court to settle whether the state's prison officials must publicly reveal the source of the drug used to execute prisoners. The nonprofit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the American Civil Liberties Union and other plaintiffs on Wednesday asked the Missouri Supreme Court to resolve an issue that's produced conflicting rulings.

Golden Ghetto Blaze Aftermath

5 displaced by fire at Overland Park duplex Cause of fire under investigation

Kansas City Fanboy Booze News

Royals fans upset after Budweiser a little harder to find at Kauffman Stadium After the Royals home opener, some fans wanted to know 'where's the Bud?' They complained they couldn't find their favorite brand of beer at the ballpark. KCTV5's Abigael Jaymes went to Kauffman St...

KCI Doggie Friendly Improvements

Sneak peek at new KCI Terminal C upgrades Kansas City aviation department deputy director Justin Meyer gives a tour of new enhancements to Terminal C at Kansas City International Airport. Upgrades include a new nine-gate departure lounge, an expanded security checkpoint featuring four lanes, additional electrical outlets and a dedicated service animal relief area.

Cowtown Fight Night Coming Soon

UFC on Fox Kansas City -- Johnson vs. Reis: Fight card, predictions, preview, odds, picks Demetrious Johnson is looking to make history on Saturday night

hotness and her social media winning inspires this link collection for the bright and sunny midday. Take a look:And this is thefor right now . . .
INSIDERS FEAR A JACKSON COUNTY JAIL RAPE REPORT COVER-UP!!!

FACT: THE JAXCO JAIL REPORT WAS PROMISED LAST YEAR BUT HAS YET TO BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC!!!

Remember when Jackson County hired former US Attorney Todd Graves to issue a report on the repeated rapes and assaults at the county jail? Insiders report that the written report was completed in late November, but THE FRANK WHITE ADMINISTRATION has been sitting on it given that it includes EXPLOSIVE details of his administrations TOTAL INCOMPETENCE that have directly lead to the victims being assaulted, and his administrations inability to fix the problems that are still ongoing . . .

TEAM FRANK WHITE has been constantly "tweaking" and rewriting the report to remove any references to incompetence or misconduct. It will only be released to the public when the content is "acceptable" to the County Executive's Office. Once again, this is the kind of stuff the KANSAS CITY STAR and their lazy hacks used to be interested in covering, but now public incompetence and rapes seem to be unimportant topics unworthy of investigation to the former paper of record.

Allegations of Jackson County jail rape still confront the office of. A report commissioned on the crisis has been delayed and, many fear, rewritten to avoid responsibility.To wit . . .More important than the politics of this post . . .Amid election season and the passing of time, there has been little to no accountability for the crisis at the jail despite promises that and investigation and ensuing report would be the first step in solving prison problems.Here's the word . . .Developing . . .
The Israeli look on the INIOHOS 2017 international exercise conducted in Greece:

"A large-scale aerial joint training exercise, led by the Hellenic Air Force with squadrons from other countries including the United States, UAE, Italy, and Israel, was held this month in Greece. The Scorpion and the First Fighter Squadron, which operate the Barak (F-16C/D) fighter jet and the Nahshon Squadron, which operates the Nahshon (Gulfstream G-550) joined forces for the purpose of intensive, mutual training in a challenging and complex aerial arena. The exercise combined many operational aspects alongside mental challenges, shared Capt. Emanuel, a pilot from the Scorpion Squadron. All of the obvious elements entailed in flying in Israel are completely different outside of it  from the runways to the radio communication, which is performed in a language we are not used to. All of these elements make us operate in uncertainty, a fact which better prepares us for combat, an experience which essentially involves uncertainty.

Before leaving Israel for the exercise, the IAF delegates all participated in a preparation workshop. We tried to focus on properly dealing with foreign experiences, said Lt. Aviad, a pilot from the Scorpion Squadron. The aircrews performed exercises in which they communicated only in English and rehearsed complex missions in accordance with NATO combat doctrine.

The Spearhead of Aerial ATC

This is not the Nahshon Squadrons first international training exercise. The squadron, which specializes in aerial air traffic control, is world renowned for its capabilities. The squadron sent a Nahshon (Gulfstream G-550), which performed the Air Traffic Control for all the participating squadrons, to Greece. Our air traffic controllers are the spearhead of aerial ATC and the deployment is an opportunity for mutual knowledge sharing with the foreign air forces. We are exposed to the way they think and plan their missions, an experience that greatly enriches us, described Capt. Guy, Commander of the Nahshon Squadrons Operations Department. The cooperation with the Nahshon Squadron is a power multiplier for us, added Capt. Emanuel.

The Elephants Squadron and the Desert Giants Squadron also took an active part in the exercise. The Elephants Squadron, which operates the Shimshon (Super Hercules C-130J) rehearsed parachuting forces in deep enemy territory and in cooperation with the fighter division, faced SAM (Surface-Air-Missile) and Air-Air threats. The Desert Giants Squadron, which operates the Reem (Boeing 707) performed challenging aerial refueling missions in accordance with NATO combat doctrine and in a foreign language.

Mutual Learning

A deployment of this scale is not a common occurrence and requires many hours of preparation. There is no doubt that the investment is large, but it also holds extremely valuable results, which cannot be obtained in any other way. The first goal we set for ourselves was mutual learning between the participating forces, shared Capt. Emanuel. Mutual work with them opens our horizons and challenges our creative thinking.

When you participate in an international exercise, you have the opportunity to train with systems you are not used to seeing on a daily basis. The forces that participated in the exercise in Greece operate, among other things, F-4 Phantom and Mirage jets and SAM batteries that are foreign to us, elaborated Capt. Emanuel. This is a unique opportunity which creates a high quality training exercise.

Source: israeldefense.co.il

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reached a critical juncture in negotiations to end the decades-old division of their island and only a small number of issues remain to be resolved, the United Nations envoy for Cyprus said on Thursday.

We are at a crossroads, UN envoy Espen Barthe Eide told Reuters in an interview.

I think the leaders know that we are at the crossroads and at the crossroads you have to take the right turn, or the alternative is the wrong turn, he added.

Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister, has been overseeing the talks between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for about two years.

Eide and his team facilitate the discussions between Anastasiades and Akinci to reunite the island under a federal umbrella of two semi-autonomous zones.

He said there was no doubt that the two had come closer to a solution than ever before. But he was more cautious when asked whether he thought a peace plan could be agreed by the two sides and then put to a popular vote in a referendum this year, saying that depended on the leaders. I believe its possible. Whether it will happen, I think I will remain open. Its doable.

Outstanding issues

There are a relatively small number of outstanding issues, the vast majority is done, said Eide, whose office is within the compound of now-abandoned Nicosia airport, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the 1974 war that led to the islands division.

Although the number is small, they are significant, he added.

Eide said the issues that still require resolution include finalizing the nature of the presidency that will govern Cyprus, a final deal on territorial adjustments, some property-related questions and security.

Greece, Turkey and Britain are guarantor powers under a 1960 treaty that granted the former British colony independence. It was cited by Turkey as a basis for the 1974 invasion, and Greek Cypriots and Greece want the system dismantled. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots want the system to remain intact.

On that one I am quite optimistic, thats within reach, Eide said on the prospects of a deal on security.

Although there is no timeframe for a settlement, Eide said it was understood that the process could not go on indefinitely. There is no time limit ... but there is a shared understanding that we do not have oceans of time and that there is no time like the present.

Source: Reuters

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
Cyprus has sent 18 so called foreign fighters back to their home countries, the Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alexandros Zenon told CNA on Thursday.

Zenon said that the foreign fighters, who were arrested, had plans to cross into the Turkish occupied areas, to head to Turkey and then to Syria, join the so called Islamic State.

The Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary noted that many countries, including Cyprus, are also in very close cooperation to prevent terrorist actions in European and other cities, adding that, as a result, many terrorist attacks have been prevented in several countries. Fifty such attempts were prevented in a country where a terrorist incident took place recently, he added.

Referring to the trilateral cooperation which Cyprus and Greece have with countries in the region, Zenon noted that our mid-term and long-term goal is to establish a forum for dialogue, consultations and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East region, which will contribute to the promotion of stability, security and prosperity, stressing however that political problems must be solved and political conditions must become mature for this to happen.

As regards Brexit, Zenon said that we will be ready to promote our positions once real negotiations get underway. Furthermore he noted that after the result of the referendum in the UK in favour of Brexit, Cyprus is considering, despite any difficulties which may exist, to officially express its interest to host the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency, which are currently located in London.

We are looking into the various technical and financial aspects of the issue. There are difficulties. These organizations must be easily accessible to people who travel from continental Europe countries, he said, noting that such organizations receive a large number of visitors every day.

This is a major investment. We have to evaluate all issues, the required infrastructure, the connectivity with the rest of Europe and other parameters, he added.

Referring to the battle against terrorism, Zenon underlined the importance of prevention, noting that due to our geographical position we are in close cooperation with various security and intelligence services of countries in our neighbourhood and beyond that.

Joinimg the forces of the so called Islamic State

He added that this cooperation has been quite effective, since we have sent back to their countries of origin more than 18 so-called foreign fighters who wanted to pass to the occupied areas of our country, in order to go to Turkey and then to Syria to join the forces of the so called Islamic State.

Zenon said that these people were bearers of European passports and came to Cyprus from Western countries, and that these events took place in 2015. As he noted, it seems that these so called foreign-fighters have stopped using this route, because on one hand Turkey has become stricter and does not want them to pass through its territory, and on the other hand it has been proven that Cyprus is not a country via which these people can easily travel to Syria.

Recalling that the British Bases in Cyprus have been used by the UK for launching operations against the Islamic State, and that Cyprus offers facilities to countries that participate in the fight against terrorism, Zenon said that the international community has recognised the islands role in combating this global threat.

He noted that Cyprus has good relations with countries in its region, and can be useful both for them and the EU, maintaining at the same time its reliability.

Zenon also elaborated on Cyprus` actions with a view to effectively address the issues that have come up due to Brexit, noting that the Foreign Ministry Task Force that was set up to deal with Brexit has already reached certain conclusions, while a Ministerial Committee was established to politically guide negotiations. Moreover the private sector got engaged in this endeavour, he added.

The Permanent Secretary said that, in view of Brexit, Cyprus and the UK will hold bilateral consultations with a view to reach an arrangement regarding the British Bases in Cyprus, which will be ratified during negotiations between the EU and the UK. He stressed that the Cyprus government is aiming to ensure that the rights of the inhabitants and the employees at the Bases will remain unaffected.

He also referred to Cypriots who live and work in the UK, but do not have the British citizenship, noting that our efforts aim to secure that that they will not be negatively affected. Furthermore, he said that Cyprus is holding consultations with other countries which have traditional and historic bonds with the UK, as Malta and Ireland, looking together with them into any possible arrangements that need to be made.

Zenon noted that, due to the specific relations which Cyprus has with the UK, there are certain issues which particularly affect the island, and competent ministries are looking into them, in cooperation with the Law Office of the Republic.

Referring to Cyprus' EU membership, Zenon said that as an equal partner, the country is actively engaged in all EU activities and consultations on all issues, expressing well-founded positions. He cited the example of the sanctions imposed due to the issue of Crimea, noting that Cyprus expressed modest views, contributing to the adoption of rational and balanced positions by the EU.

Moreover he noted that the trilateral cooperation which Cyprus and Greece have developed with countries in the region, as Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, has been facilitating the dialogue between these countries and the EU.

Geographical position, tradition and mentality

Zenon noted that Cyprus and Greece are two EU member states which, due to their geographical position, their tradition and their mentality, are in a position to better understand the problems which countries in their neighbourhood face. And all these countries see us as a distinguished interlocutor who understands them and can convey some of their concerns and messages to the EU and this is what we are doing, he added.

He went on to say that Cyprus also discusses separately certain issues with each of these countries. For example, he added, Lebanon asked Cyprus to help him upgrade and harmonize its products with the European standards, so that the country can export them more easily to the EU.

At the same time, he noted, there are certain issues which concern all of these countries as energy, combating terrorism and security.

Zenon said that Cyprus stabilising role in the region, through this network of cooperation schemes, is being recognised by the EU and its member states, and by countries beyond the Atlantic Ocean as well.

In addition, Zenon noted that some other EU countries, as Malta, Italy, France and Spain, which are not part of these trilateral cooperation schemes are on the same wavelength with Cyprus and Greece, and recalled that both the trilateral cooperation schemes and the group of the seven southern EU countries were set up at the initiative of Cyprus.

Asked about the opening of new Embassies of Cyprus abroad, Zenon recalled that some embassies were closed in 2013, due to the financial crisis, noting that during the last years the Republic opened an Embassy in Saudi Arabia, an Embassy in Ottawa last year, and will now re-open its Embassy in Prague.

Source: CNA

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Greece's natural gas transmission system operator, DES.FA, and Albania-based Albgaz are eyeing the establishment of a joint company to assume the operation and maintenance of the portion of the TAP natgas pipeline that will be constructed on Albanian territory.

A relevant memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides was signed on Wednesday in the Albanian capital of Tirana.

The joint company will be based in Tirana, while the exact details regarding share capital will be presented in the coming period, following work by a joint committee set up for this purpose.

The MoU was signed by DES.FA CEO Sotiris Nikas and Albgaz Managing Director Klodian Gradeci.

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
"We must now learn from the State of Israel, a country with more experience on how to protect citizens from terrorist attacks"

Contact Editor for israelnationalnews.comTobias Petersson wrote the following article after the recent terror attack in Stockholm:

"Sweden has now suffered its first major terrorist attack in its capital Stockholm, with four killed and many injured. A suspect for the terror attack, an Uzbek citizen by the name of Rakhmat Akilov has been arrested. He has confessed that he is the one who carried out the terror attack on orders from ISIS. The terrorists of ISIS belong to an ideology that repeatedly has attacked the democratic world recently including Orlando, Paris, Brussels, London, Jerusalem and now Stockholm. I refer to radical Islamism.

Violent Islamism is represented not only by ISIS that has attacked democratic Europe but also by terror organizations like Hamas that want to wipe Israel from the map, because its a Jewish state and a democracy. Unfortunately terrorism is often relativized by politicians and journalists. It is important that we wake up realizing that we must have zero tolerance for all terrorists. We must also understand that people involved in Islamist terrorism do not necessarily have a membership in a terrorist organization, they may only sympathize with its ideology and its hatred of democracy. On the other hand, however, just because Islamist terrorists have declared war on us we mustnt generalize about our Muslim citizens and apply a broad brush approach to them. We who stand up for the values of democracy today against the violent Islamism come from all kinds of religious and non-religious backgrounds, also Muslim.

We mustnt allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorists in a way that we avoid living our lives. No, we must continue to do everything that angers the terrorists and we must do it with all our might. What they cannot abide is our lifestyle, our democracy, that we are a country that is characterized by equality and secularism, and that we are a country open to minorities, like LGBT-people who are persecuted outside the Western world. What probably also annoys them is that Sweden supports efforts against terrorists like ISIS.

Let us never change who we are, what we do and what we stand for to avoid terrorism.We should not stop living.

But on the other hand, we need to change our view on security so that it will be more difficult to succeed in attacking us and instilling fear among us. We must have better security arrangements around the metro, central stations, airports, the parliament, shopping centers, public holidays and major events, all of which are important terror targets for terrorists. Extensive security arrangements are a part of the everyday life in countries like Israel that for decades lived with the threat of terrorism. We must now learn from the State of Israel that has more experience on how to protect her citizens from terrorist attacks. Because the latest terrorist attack in Stockholm will probably not be the last in the Swedish capital.

We also need to understand that behind the terrorist attacks, there are ideological motives not related to socioeconomic factors. The ideological motives, we must now dare to find out and learn about.

Another important discussion we need to have in Sweden is whether we should criminalize membership in terrorist organizations and expressions of sympathy with such organizations. Should we allow the members and sympathizers of ISIS, Hamas, PFLP, Hezbollah, al Qaeda or other terrorist organizations to spread hatred and extremism in Sweden? Our politicians must now act against everything and everyone promoting terrorism and violent extremism. Today they do not.

Associations that teach children that violent extremism is a tool to achieve political goals, Swedish politicians should crack down on with full political force. Believe it or not, such associations unfortunately exists in Sweden. For over a year now Ive been trying to get Swedish politicians and the media to talk about the violent extremism that exists in Sweden in certain Palestinian and Islamist associations that spread hatred against Jews and Israelis. Subjected to the violent extremism are those children of migrants in Sweden who have been fed this terrorist propaganda.

Civil society organizations teach young children that they should initiate violence in order to protect the Al Aqsa-mosque and die in terror activities against Israel. This propaganda has been spread on the municipal school premises in Malmo and also in municipalities like Amal where violence-promoting textbooks have been distributed to children. The majority of politicians, I tried to talk to about it have not wanted to listen and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which has been responsible for the fight against violent extremism offers no solution to the issue.

Not fighting all violent extremism in Swedish society, turning a blind eye to certain manifestations of it, will lead to the normalization of violence as an instrument to achieve political and ideological goals.

Its time for Sweden to wake up and face the reality. All terrorism and violent extremism must be condemned, fought and never relativized.That is the turning point, where we, the Swedish people, must realize and admit that we find ourselves today."

Source: israelnationalnews.com

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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 29th edition of the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (Getex), the leading student recruitment platform in the Middle East and Asia, has opened in Dubai, UAE.



The three-day show was inaugurated by Dr Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education at the Sheikh Saeed Halls of the Dubai International Convention Center.



The regions top education, training and professional development event is being held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Education and organized by International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E). The exhibition will focus on general, undergraduate, post graduate, occupational and industry, professional development and continuing education and training.



Getex 2017 is attended by education providers from around the world intending to achieve their student admission targets and enrolment quotas by recruiting students at the event. Admission officers and education counsellors are at hand to address students concerns as well as offer career guidance on suitable programs.



The show is expected to be attended by 30,000 learners who are keen to decide on their further study, explore campuses and universities, and check out fees and scholarships opportunities.



Dr Al Falasi commended Getex for being one of the most important exhibitions for the education sector--which is currently witnessing rapid development and continuous growth. He also stressed on the significant role it plays in the continuing efforts to provide the labour sector with highly qualified and trained human resources, conforming to set international standards.



In addition, Dr Al Falasi stated that the event opens many potential opportunities and perspectives for students, which in turn, encourages them to embark on a journey towards professional success and reinforce their commitment to play a part in the move towards comprehensive development.



The seminars at Getex will provide students with enriching information that can help them in making informed decisions on their higher education Delivered by leading industry speakers and experts, the seminars are highly relevant in todays job market as well as for future opportunities.



The Activity Zone, the newest feature at Getex, is a platform to engage students in an out-of-the-classroom environment where students will be encouraged and inspired to pursue hobbies or learn new skills that can be turned into career choices.



Anselm Godinho, managing director, IC&E, said: Getex has continued to evolve and add new features to remain relevant to address the enquiries and concerns of the regional student fraternity.



This year, we are hosting over 300 institutions from the region and beyond to offer over 2,000 programs and courses in various fields of academics, vocation and training. We are optimistic that our collaboration with some of the reputed names in education will be able to provide the right guidance and direction to students looking for more options in higher education. - TradeArabia News Service
South Korea-based Hyosung Corp, a leading chemical and textile company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran's state-run National Petrochemical Company for setting up a polypropylene (PP) plant in Iran.



The South Korean company said that it has been in talks with its Iranian counterpart to determine the feasibility of a PP business in the country, but has not made any conclusion yet, added the Iran Daily News report, citing pulsenews.co.kr.



Industry experts expect Hyosung, looking to expand its offshore manufacturing network, would set up a PP production base in Iran. The company also 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 world's 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, South 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 South 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.



Iran has signed a flurry of deals with Western companies over the past year since the easing of international sanctions on Tehran after an accord was reached over its nuclear programme.



Iran needs foreign investment for repairs and upgrading of its oil and gas fields. It also seeks the transfer of technology to its oil industry after a decade of sanctions, added the report.
More than 150 top executives from across the regional tanker business, as well as global participants are expected to attend the second annual Maritime Tanker Conference, later this year, in Dubai, UAE.



The event is expected to take place on October 24, at the Grosvenor House Hotel.



A high level group of expert speakers and panellists is being assembled by The Maritime Standard, and will include representatives from leading tanker owners and managers, port operators, trade organisations, brokers and analysts, law firms, financiers and technology providers, said a statement from the organisers.



The event has also secured sponsorship support from a number of high profile maritime companies and organisations, including: Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, DNV GL, Bahri and International Shipping and Logistics.



Supporting Associations for the event include: Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries (DCMMI), UAE Shipping Association (UAESA), Organisation of the Islamic Shipowners Association (OISA), Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA), Womens International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ceylon Association of Ship Agents (CASA), Pakistan Ships Agents Association (PSAA), Conqueror Freight Network, Globalia Logistics Network, Mission to seafarers, Specialist Freight Network, The Cooperative Logistics Network World Freight Network.



The one-day conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities that remain open to the tanker sector in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent today.



Speakers and panellists will assess global and regional economic and trade trends that will affect the movement of crude oil, products and petrochemicals. After key note speakers, individual sessions will highlight key issues, and solutions, and will assess likely investment patterns in ships and terminal facilities, as well as the development of technology and other support services.



Trevor Pereira, managing director of The Maritime Standard, said: The inaugural event in 2016 was such a success that we have decided to return to the same venue and date to build on what proved to be a successful formula.



We will have some big names from the industry speaking and the high quality audience of decision makers and influencers, which will make this a conference that will add real value, in terms of information gathering and networking, he said.



The event is certain to generate a high level of interest so I would urge people to book now, as spaces will be strictly limited, he concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
Microsoft has called for IT professionals across Bahrain and the wider Middle East to prepare themselves for a cloud future by sharpening their skills in Microsoft Azure, through the companys cloud trainings and certifications.

Azure trainings and certifications run as a blend of scheduled and on-demand online courses, covering generalised and niche, cloud-focused subject areas for getting up to speed with Azure. IT pros can choose to learn in Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) with labs, or study for a test and take a certification exam. Completing any MOOC includes a digital certificate of completion, and passing a certification exam earns IT Pros the related certification and its digital badges.

Microsofts cloud trainings allow IT professionals to broaden their horizons by gaining practical, instantly applicable cloud skills, said Necip Ozyucel, cloud and enterprise business solutions lead, Microsoft Gulf.

Whether beginner or expert, we have the course to help them level up in their cloud career. We have invested heavily in Azure training, because our global reach and Azures versatility means it is a platform that can fit any need, no matter the business scale, no matter the industry; so anyone who takes our courses will learn things that relate directly to their existing job and allow them to add value. Our trainings will show you guide IT Pros to build hybrid or open-source solutions, and the courseware provides tactile learning experiences that you can employ immediately, while earning technical certifications that prepare you for rewarding career advancement.

A recent worldwide survey conducted by Microsoft showed a marked increase in the salaries of cloud professionals, as companies recruit for their digital transformation journeys. The survey also noted that 37 per cent of respondents in the Middle East and Africa region cited a skills gap as the main barrier to cloud adoption.

In the GCC, governments have initiated bold economic-development visions centred on technology, said Ozyucel. Much of the activity in the private and public sectors around these programmes  especially given the emerging constraints of the petrochemical price dip  is about doing more with less. In the context of digital transformation, that means cloud, so the surge in demand for cloud specialists is to be expected.

An IDC forecast from 2015 projects that by 2020, more than one in three IT positions worldwide will be cloud related and that the cloud-readiness of professionals will start to have a significant impact on operations. The report also suggested IT employment worldwide will grow by around 4 per cent every year up to 2020, and that all growth will occur in cloud-related positions.

Azure training courses ready participants for Microsoft Certified Professional exams, which allow them to earn the kind of accreditation that opens new doors. Acquiring cloud skills has become a critical component in organisational success. Our certifications will enable IT experts to reimagine their firms IT infrastructure, preparing them for a competitive digital future, added Ozyucel.

But it is not just infrastructure that can be transformed in the Azure cloud. With their newfound skill base, Azure professionals will be able to show their organisations and customers how to build transformative solutions from Microsofts tried and tested AI platforms. Business intelligence and analytics solutions can reinvent customer engagement strategies. Natural-language processing modules can automate and streamline customer service through chat-bots; and communications tools can ensure that organisations keep their employees connected and collaborating, wherever they may be in the world.

An IDC White Paper sponsored by Microsoft Corp. shows global demand for cloud-ready IT workers will grow by 26 percent annually through 2015 and onwards, with as many as 7 million cloud-related jobs available worldwide. According to the study, IT hiring managers report that the biggest reason they failed to fill 1.7 million open cloud-related positions in 2012 was because job seekers lacked the training and certification needed to work in a cloud-enabled world.

Training is one of the best investments you can make in your career, said Ozyucel. Azure Certifications can be the first step in your journey towards cloud expertise. Then you will be in a better position to add value to your employers business or to help your customers with their own journeys to digital transformation, where they can benefit from Microsoft Azures global coverage across 36 regions.  TradeArabia News Service
Batelco, a major player in the regional telecommunications industry and the leading digital solutions provider in Bahrain, has been recognised by world leading statistical data organisations for its delivery of the fastest mobile internet speeds and high customer satisfaction rates.



In November 2016, Batelco was recognised by Speedtest by Ookla for its outstanding performance as Bahrains Fastest Mobile Internet provider.



Speedtest by Ookla is the global leader in broadband and mobile speed testing and web-based network diagnostic applications. The company's software and methodologies set the industry standards for accuracy, popularity, ease of use and the subsequent development of statistical data. Speedtest.net is one of the most popular web sites on the Internet.



Batelco also came out ahead of its competitors in the recent Ipsos survey carried out in Bahrain to rates customers satisfaction with their telecoms provider. Batelco scored 8.5 out of a possible 10, and was the only player in Bahrain to exceed the global telecom satisfaction norm which is 8/10.



Batelco Bahrain CEO Engineer Al Hashemi said Batelco was very proud to be rated so highly by such world leading and reputable organisation as Ookla and Ipsos.



Batelcos investment in new and upgraded networks ensures that our customers have access to fast speeds and reliable services. Additionally, we have invested in establishing the largest Customer Contact Centre in Bahrain and in training hundreds of staff in handing customer issues efficiently. With the Centre being operational 24/7 every day of the year, our customers can depend on the highest levels of customer care, Eng Al Hashemi added.



Eng Al Hashemi continued by saying that Batelcos investments also support Bahrains efforts to develop the ICT industry and ensure it remains a viable business hub in the region.



As a result of the continuous investment and efforts by various organisations to grow ICT in Bahrain, the country continues to hold first place among Arab states and internationally is in 29th place, according to the ITUs 2016 ICT Development Index. These are very impressive statistics, it said.



Additionally, in the World Economic Forums most recent Global Network Readiness report, Bahrain was ranked 28th out of 139 countries in terms of overall network readiness in 2016. With 92.7 per cent of its 1,378,904 population having an internet connection, Bahrain is the most connected country in the Middle East according to the highly reputable report.



Ultimately, our efforts and plans are in line with the Kingdom of Bahrains vision to be a Middle East hub for ICT solutions through the delivery of innovative services based on superfast internet connectivity, Eng Al Hashemi concluded. - TradeArabia News Service
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has flown 38 leaders from 11 of its properties across North Africa and the Middle East to Morocco where they are attending the firms prestigious Business Academy.



This three-day intensive training event, which teaches its top executives invaluable business leadership strategies, is part of the companys ongoing commitment to training and development.



Movenpicks president and CEO Olivier Chavy and Craig Cochrane, senior vice president Human Resources, opened the latest edition of the companys Business Academy, which is taking place at Movenpick Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech Hotel & Palais des Congres from April 10-14. It involves participants from Movenpicks hotels in Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier, El Gouna, Gammarth, El Quseir, Sousse, Sharm El Sheikh, Accra, Cairo, Taba and El Sokhna.



Our business is about people  the successful interaction between our employees and our guests  as we strive to create memorable moments that last a lifetime, Chavy told Academy delegates.



To make this magic happen, it is essential that we inspire and engage our colleagues at every level, using innovative and thought-provoking training techniques that empower them to deliver excellence across every guests touch point.



The 38 Academy participants are attending three workshops covering topics that are essential to Movenpicks ongoing success: Process-driven Strategy & Innovation, Business Financial Acumen, and Mastering the Leadership Code.



The leaders invited to attend these sessions are encouraged to discuss their views to gain a rounded perspective. Complementing training with idea exchange helps participants to devise strategies that ultimately enhance the guest experience.



The Business Academy demonstrates our unwavering commitment to training, development and career progression and its what sets Movenpick Hotels & Resorts apart as one of the worlds leading and most progressive hospitality firms, said Cochrane.



Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has staged Business Academy sessions over the last seven years, running events several times annually in locations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa where the company now operates 83 properties. Three additional Business Academy events will be taking place during 2017 in Dubai, Amsterdam and Bangkok. - TradeArabia News Service


Bernard Mercier has joined Corinthia Hotels, the collection of luxury hotels around the world, as general manager for Corinthia Hotel Khartoum in Sudan.



He joins Corinthia this month from his previous role as managing director, Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.



Mercier is an internationally experienced hotelier with senior roles in renowned hotel chains and groups including InterContinental, Sheraton, Orient Express, Kempinski and members of The Leading Hotels of the World.



Swiss by birth, Mercier attended the Hotel School in Lausanne.

His senior positions have taken him to Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, China, Mexico, French Polynesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong, resulting in a deep understanding of diverse and distinct cultures.

We are delighted to welcome Bernard Mercier at the helm of our operations in Khartoum. Sudan is entering an exciting new phase in terms of economic development and the Corinthia Hotel is well poised to consolidate our leading role in the citys hospitality sector, said Simon Naudi, CEO of Corinthia Hotels.



Khartoum is a gateway to Central Africa and the five-star Corinthia Hotel Khartoum is located in the heart of the citys commercial district. With 230 bedrooms, eight meeting rooms, six restaurants and cafes plus a spa and gym, it is the leading hotel in the city and overlooks the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers. - TradeArabia News Service
United Airlines has been facing a backlash from people around the world after a video of a man who was forcibly dragged out of an overbooked flight was posted online. Now, lots of netizens are calling for a United Airlines boycott.

The videos and pictures of the 69-year-old Asian-American man who was seen to have blood all over his mouth went viral on different social media sites. Initially, people thought that the man was Chinese which caused an outrage from Chinese netizens, many of whom were calling for a boycott.

Shanghailist reported that the Chinese hashtag which stated "United Airlines forces passenger off a plane" garnered 169 million views and became on of the top trending topics on the microblogging service called Weibo. Thousands of Chinese users are not only bashing the airline company but also the United States.

Chinese-American comedian Joe Wong even posted on his own microblog, "Many people of Chinese heritage feel that they've been discriminated against, but they don't say anything because they're worried about losing face." Wong's posts went viral and got a lot of likes and shares.

However, after finding out that the man was Vietnamese, people from Vietnam appeared to have joined the movement along with the Chinese to boycott United Airlines. The man was identified as David Dao and was born in Vietnam.

According to Time, the issue didn't really get enough sympathy from Vietnamese netizens when the man was first distinguished as Chinese, especially that there' tension between the two countries. But when reports stated that Dao was indeed Vietnamese, there was a sudden change of tune from Vietnamese netizens.

Following the disturbing footage of Dao being dragged across the floor with blood on his face, United Airlines' stocks went tumbling. Now, CEO Oscar Munoz issued a formal apology stating that the company is taking full responsibility with regards to the issue.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Planning for a holiday vacation is not just all about travel destinations, ticket fares and hotel accommodations. Travelers need to take note that keeping your homes safe while you're away is also important. Well, here are a few home safety tips that might just help you out whenever you plan on traveling.

Keep It Low Key. According to Mapping Megan, don't tell everyone that you're going on a vacation. If you really need to, choose the ones whom you really trust so they can keep an eye on your home from time to time while you're away.

Make Friends. Whenever you move into a new neighborhood, it pays to get to know the people near you and establish a good relationship with them. You can have them watch over your house if you're away. In fact, you can even leave your keys with them and it's much safer than leaving it in the mailbox or under a mat.

Load Your Luggage Covertly. Even if you don't tell people about your vacation, they'd probably figure it out if they see you loading your luggage in your car. If possible, do it in your garage or do it at night when no one is watching.

Make Your House Look Occupied. Saga suggests that before you leave for your trip, try to mow the lawn or cancel newspaper deliveries. You don't want people to think that the house is empty because of the tall grass and piled up newspapers on your doorstep.

Keep Valuables Safe. Make sure that you have your jewelries, money and other important things kept in less-obvious places. It would also help to keep your valuables in separate locations. It helps to think like a burglar.

Before you go on your trips, make sure that you follow these tips. You don't want to come home to an empty house.



See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Albania will let tourists step foot on its mysterious military island used during the Cold War to boost the tourism industry of the country. From May to October, travelers can have a walking tour on Sazan Island and two other military bases, Pashe Alimani and Orikum, which has archaeological sites found in the area.

Sazan "Military" Island is still operating under the country's Defense Department. Nonetheless, Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli signed an agreement with Economy Minister Milva Ekonomi to have the place turn into a hotspot destination. Stuff.co.nz reported Kodheli as saying, "No doubt Sazan Island is a tourist attraction due to its position."

Many tour operators have suggested on tourists visiting the military island already, especially with some travelers already stepped foot on Sazan since 2015, according to Travel and Leisure. Currently, the island has bunkers and tunnels to resist nuclear attacks since the 1930s. About 3,000 military personnel used to live there, but now, it houses only a couple of officers.

Sazan Island was originally built to prevent Western invasion. But when communism fell in the '90s, the buildings fell into ruins and still contain old beds, utensils, and furniture. Other reasons why travelers were so intrigued with Sazan Island is its azure waters and the diverse species of flora and fauna thriving in the island's environment.

Despite the announcement, there have been no plans on how tourist walks will be managed and conducted. Any news whether the island will hold establishments for tourists haven't been conjured up yet. However, the government has ideas on turning the war tunnels into wine cellars.

Economy Minister Milva Ekonomi told Stuff.co.nz that the deal between Kodheli proved to be marked as an important event in Albania for its economy. In 2016 alone, about 4.7 million tourists have visited the military island. The tourism industry has been the number one source of income for Albania.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
The Taiwanese Government had declared that the cooking, buying, selling and consumption of dog and cat meat is now illegal under its new animal protection laws that could see offenders fined from 50,000 to two million new Taiwanese dollars ($1,636 - $65,434). Taiwan is the first Asian country known to consume both types of meat to introduce a legislation against it.

According to China Post Taiwan, Taiwan's Animal Protection Act amendments approved by the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday would punish buying, selling or consumption of dog or cat meat. Aside from introducing fines for consuming the illegal meats, the Act has a sub-clause that could see people who intentionally harm animals in Taiwan for two years of imprisonment and fines of 500,000 to 5 million new Taiwanese dollars ($16358 - $163,586).

CNN cites Humane Society International representative Wendy Higgins praising Taiwan's "progressive ban." She said it "is part of a growing trend across Asia to end the brutal dog meat trade." The amendment to the Animal Protection Act would also punish animal cruelty against pet owners who "walk" their pets while leashes are pulled by cars and motorcycles with fines up to 15,000 new Taiwanese dollars ($491).

Dog and cat meat consumption is a huge industry in Taiwan with most restaurants serving specialized dishes for the special meats. However, the amendments to the new laws became needed when animal rights advocates in Taiwan raised a series of animal abuse cases pertaining to military personnel beating up a defenseless dog and throwing its body into the ocean and the inhumane manner dogs and cats are imprisoned, fed and treated before they are killed for their meat.

Animals Asia Foundation CEO Jill Robinson said the new amendments to Taiwan's Animal Protection Act send a signal to China and South Korea to ban the killing and consumption of dog and cat meat. China's southern region is known for celebrating the Yulin festival, a dog meat consumption festival that sees the killing and eating of 10,000 dogs, which was widely condemned in social media worldwide.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Oprah Winfrey's fans can grab the chance for an adventure and even vacation with their idol. The media mogul invited fans to join her as she's scheduled to cruise with Holland America Line on her first trip to Alaska.

This rare opportunity has been made possible with O, The Oprah Magazine's "Year of Adventure" which announced its two-year partnership with Holland America Line. Those interested to join the talk show superstar can choose from the five series of "Adventure of Your Life" cruises. The first trip will sail from July 15-22 (from $1,499) bound for Alaska, somewhere even Oprah herself hasn't set her foot in yet.

According to TRAVEL+LEISURE, Oprah will meet and greet with fans for a two-day trip and even share an intimate dinner with the guests. Fans can book with the American-British cruise line and select from the adventure sailings slated November 2017, March 2018, August 2018, and October 2018. The cruises will also embark on Oprah-inspired activities like O's onboard book club, healthy eating tips, daily meditation sessions and tai chi exercises.

Oprah will be bringing in her team of editors from the O magazine as well as select SuperSoul 100 stars. Such cruises with the stars have been gaining popularity, according to The New York Times. Different cruises now feature fan trips wherein fans can hang out and even learn something from their idols.

Just like Oprah's cruise adventure, fans of other niches can also grab a chance to take a trip and share activities with their idols. Fan trips cover a wide range of niches including literature, films, sports, music and cuisine. Sixthman, in particular, partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines to organize music cruises that featured Kid Rock, Pitbull, Diplo and much more. Sixthman Chief Executive Anthony Diaz claimed their business thrives because of their repeat customers who "come as fans and leave as family."

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee, on Thursday, gave his assent to four supporting legislation related to Goods and Services Tax (GST), according to media reports.

The Central government aims to roll out the GST from July 1 under the One Nation One Tax regime.

The legislation were The Central GST Act, 2017, The Integrated GST Act, 2017, The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, and The Union Territory GST Act, 2017.




Kolkata, Apr 13 (IBNS): Birla Sun Life Insurance (BSLI), the life insurance arm of the Aditya Birla Financial Services Group (ABFSG), a significant non-bank financial services company, has launched a pan India campaign 'Swabhimaan' to educate, empower and employ women in India.

The second chapter of the campaign was launched in Kolkata , which witnessed women from various walks of life attending the program and being inspired. Swabhimaan introduced the women to the rewarding career opportunity of a life insurance advisor / protection counsellor, aiming to build a strong team of women advisors in Kolkata.

Speaking about the initiative, Anil Kumar Singh, Chief Actuarial Officer, Birla Sun Life Insurance said, We at Birla Sun Life Insurance believe in counselling and protection for our customers. Taking ahead this philosophy, we have launched Swabhimaan, a distinctive initiative for women which provides them the opportunity to start their career as protection counsellors. Our endeavour is to contribute in making women of Indian more self-reliant and help them contribute to their family income. Through this campaign, we aim to tap the huge talent pool of women professionals and help us strengthen our sales force across cities, enabling productivity.

A recent study conducted by Birla Sun Life Insurance has proved that woman advisors are more productive than their male counterparts.

The research reveals that nearly 1/4th of DSF (Direct Sales Force) advisors are woman. South & West Zones have nearly 1/3rd advisors as woman. Highlighting their achievements, it has been noted that nearly 50% of the advisors are women among top 100 and 40% among top 200 advisors. Out of BSLIs total advisor base in West Bengal around 25% are women advisors who contribute over 33% of the premiums generated from the state.

For Kolkata, while 30% of their advisors are women, they contribute close to 37% of the total premium earnings from the city. This clearly proves the fact that women here are high performers and have huge potential to emerge as very successful advisors.

Once selected as an advisor, the women will be given extensive product training to equip them with need based selling and help them suggest the right solution for the right customer. While they get to touch upon lives of friends and family, and provide much needed financial planning; the initiative will offer women a flexible and long lasting career. As an entrepreneur, the opportunity will allow flexible work hours that will not only supplement family income but will also provide ample time to manage their household.
Especially designed for the hospitality sector, the new application integrates seamlessly with any website, allowing businesses to set up an easily manageable online shop for gift and cash vouchers.



(TRAVPR.COM) MAHARASHTRA - April 13th, 2017 - Especially designed for the hospitality sector, the new application integrates seamlessly with any website, allowing businesses to set up an easily manageable online shop for gift and cash vouchers.

The latest from STAAHs stellar range of products that improve hotels online distribution and maximise revenue, Gift Voucher Engine is simple to use and easy to install. It allows hospitality businesses to sell gift or cash vouchers on their own website or from the front desk. By using this product, hotels can manage their own gift promotions and payments directly, generating much-needed additional revenues.

Gift Voucher Engine is fully customisable to suit a propertys unique needs. Its modern, intuitive design is suitable for any device. Once integrated, it instantly generates bespoke e-vouchers with a unique customer code, which can be easily entered at time of redemption and will automatically update the system.

Gift cards are very lucrative for properties looking to boost their revenue  particularly during the low business periods  and promote customer loyalty, says Tarun Joukani, Managing Director, STAAH India. However the typical cumbersome back-end management associated with such schemes has kept businesses at bay from fully integrating it in their marketing toolkits.

Gift Voucher Engine is an effective and efficient solution that reduces time spent processing gift voucher sales, while enhancing guest experience.

STAAH is among the few specialist companies that has developed a gift voucher system that has been designed to meet the unique needs of hospitality businesses, particularly accommodation providers. India was among the key markets tested while developing this product. Among the properties that have been using it successfully from inception and through the test period are The Resort, Bawa Group of Hotels, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts and CPG Hotels.

We started using the STAAHs Gift Voucher System in December 2016. The results have been phenomenal. Our voucher sales have gone up by 120% and customer feedback has been excellent. The system was installed within 20 days and is extremely simple to use  it has cut back the time spent in voucher management considerably, says Satyajit Kotwal, General Manager, The Resort, Mumbai.

You dont have to be a user of our channel manager or booking engine to reap the benefits of Gift Voucher Engine, says Joukani. It is completely flexible to seamlessly integrate with your existing system.

About STAAH Ltd

STAAH Limited is a New Zealand-based technology company that specialises in cloud-based channel management and booking engine for accommodation providers to maximise online revenue. Founded by Gavin Jeddo in 2008, a pioneer in the field of distribution technology, STAAHs industry-leading technology powers a propertys distribution through online travel agencies (OTA), direct bookings and digital marketing services. For more information visit: staah.com.

KEY STAAH FACTS

- Processing more than 700,000* room nights every month (4.5 million bookings* annually) for more than 3500 accommodation providers*.

- Partners with more than 1000 properties in India.

- More than 200 integrations* with OTAs, GDS, payment gateways and other critical suppliers to power the distribution.

- Winner of the prestigious Innovation Showcase Award in 2016 for partnerships in India.

*STAAH 2016 Data

###
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In great news for manatees, researchers predict that the gentle 'sea cows' will endure for at least another 100 years as long as threats continue to be managed.

Its a strange world we live in when we celebrate the idea that a species might actually survive through the next century. Its all become so fragile that small victories can feel like big wins  but regardless, a new study predicting that Floridas iconic manatees can survive another 100 years is cause for cheer.

Today the Florida manatees' numbers are high. Adult manatees' longevity is good, and the state has available habitat to support a population that is continuing to grow," said US Geological Survey (USGS) research ecologist Michael C. Runge, lead author of the report. "Still, new threats could emerge, or existing threats could interact in unexpected ways," Runge said. "Managers need to remain vigilant to keep manatee populations viable over the long haul."

Tracy Colson/USFWS Endangered Species/CC BY 2.0

A subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Florida manatee has the gloomy distinction of being one of the first animals to be listed as endangered when the federal Endangered Species Act went into effect in 1973. At the time, only 1,000 of them were left. But after 40 years of manatee-protecting measures like boat speed limits and habitat protection, there are now more than 6,600 of them.

The manatee experts involved in the study predict that the population will double over the next 50 years and then plateau, with very little chance of the numbers dipping to below 500, as long as conservation efforts are maintained.

The main threats they face will continue to be collisions with watercraft and the loss of warm-water habitats where they are protected from cold water in the winter. Red tides could also become a serious threat if they increase in intensity and frequency.

"If the rate of mortality from watercraft collisions were to double, the population's resilience would be compromised," says Runge. If that were allowed to happen, the chance that the population would drop to under 500, the crucial number, would be around 4 percent. "We looked at all the other pressures people have mentioned, and we did not find any combination of threats that raised the risk of a decline to fewer than 500 animals on either coast above nine percent."

David Hinkel/USFWS Endangered Species/CC BY 2.0

Of interest is that the populations will likely shift around the state thanks to regional environmental changes. According to a summary of the report:

For example, some southeast Florida power plants are expected to shut down over the next 40-50 years, and if they do, manatees will lose the warm water refuges created in the plants' discharge canals. Manatees in southwest Florida are likely to be increasingly affected by red tide and may also lose some warm water refuges. So southeast and southwest Florida may see their manatee populations decline.

Those losses will be balanced by increased manatee numbers in northeast and northwest Florida, where warm natural springs are capable of hosting more manatees.



"Manatee populations will continue to face threats," Runge says. "But if these threats continue to be managed effectively, manatees will be an integral and iconic part of Florida's coastal ecosystems through the coming century."
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday saluted the martyrs of the brutal killings of innocent people at Punjab's Jallianwala Bagh by British soldiers in colonial India.

The incident drew wide outrage as several notable Indians critised it openly, the most significant being Rabindranath Tagore, the Noble Prize winning poet, denouncing his Knighthood.



"Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour & heroism will never be forgotten," Modi tweeted.

Image: Narendra Modi Twitter page
Image: twitter.com/narendramodi

New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted his countrymen on the occasion of Baisakhi.

"Greeting to the citizens on the occasion of Baisakhi," his tweet in Hindi read.

Baisakhi, the spring harvest festival, is celebrated by both the Hindu and Sikh community.

It also marks the Sikh new year and is celebrated annually on either Apr 13 or 14.
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Posting pictures on Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour & heroism will never be forgotten."

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre or the Amritsar massacre took place in 1919, as a group of nonviolent protesters were killed by the then British rulers.

The incident mobilised the Indian freedom movement and also led to Rabindranath Tagore renouncing his Knighthood.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has added 19 new domestic and three new international flights this summer, offering more seats and connecting key metros and cities as a part of its enhanced network.

With the introduction of the summer schedule, the airline will increase its operations to 360 daily flights on average.

To cater to the peak summer rush, from March to October, SpiceJet has launched daily direct flights for sectors like Surat-Jaipur, Surat-Hyderabad, Surat-Goa, Jammu-Dehradun, Jaipur-Chandigarh-Jammu, and Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi- Thiruvananthapuram.

In purview of both the leisure and business travellers and considering the tourist and commercial interest attached, the frequencies have been enhanced on sectors, including Dehradun-Delhi, Bengaluru-Vijayawada and Bengaluru-Kochi.

SpiceJet has also launched three new flights on the international sectors of Delhi-Bangkok, Kolkata-Dhaka besides a flight from Bengaluru to Male via Thiruvananthapuram with the least connecting time.
Chandigarh, April 13

An 18-year-old Class XII student of SD School, Sector 32, suffered 24 stitches after a group of youths, including Rattan Lubana, who was earlier arrested for allegedly extorting money from school students after befriending them, thrashed him. The police have booked Rattan Lubana and his brother Inder Lubana among others.

The victim, Shirin Mahajan, a resident of Sector 32, had gone to appear for the final exams at Government School, Sector 33, the examination centre, on Wednesday.

Shirin alleged that soon after the exam, Karan Walia approached him and told him that he wanted to discuss something. Karan then left claiming that he would be back in two minutes, he said. The victim said soon, two cars stopped outside the school and Karan Walia, Rattan Lubana, Karanbir Singh, Jaildar, Inder Lubana, Sharan Baba and others caught hold of him. The victim said Inder Lubana slapped him. Rattan Lubana also slapped him.

Sources said the victim offered resistance following which the youths assaulted him and one of them hit him with a brick. The victims aunt, Mamta Mahajan, said Shirin suffered injuries near his eye and cheek. He suffered 24 stitches and a fracture near one of the cheeks, she said.

The victim was rushed to the hospital by his friends.

Acting on a complaint, the police have booked all six youths. The police said all accused were at large.  TNS
B.R Ambedkar

On January 26, 1950, India will be an independent country. What would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again? This is the first thought that comes to my mind. It is not that India was never an independent country. The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a second time? It is this thought which makes me most anxious for the future.

What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people.

In the invasion of Sindh by Mahommed-Bin-Kasim, the military commanders of King Dahar accepted bribes from the agents of Mahommed-Bin-Kasim and refused to fight on the side of their king. It was Jaichand who invited Mahommed Gohri to invade India and fight against Prithvi Raj and promised him the help of himself and the Solanki kings. When Shivaji was fighting for the liberation of Hindus, the other Maratha noblemen and the Rajput kings were fighting the battle on the side of Moghul Emperors. When the British were trying to destroy the Sikh rulers, Gulab Singh, their principal commander sat silent and did not help to save the Sikh kingdom. In 1857, when a large part of India had declared a War of Independence against the British, the Sikhs stood and watched the event as silent spectators.

Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realisation of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds, we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost for ever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.

On January 26, 1950, India would be a democratic country in the sense that India from that day would have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The same thought comes to my mind. What would happen to her democratic Constitution? Will she be able to maintain it or will she lose it again? This is the second thought that comes to my mind and makes me as anxious as the first.

Democratic system

It is not that India did not know what is democracy. There was a time when India was studded with republics, and even where there were monarchies, they were either elected or limited. They were never absolute. It is not that India did not know Parliaments or parliamentary procedure.

A study of the Buddhist Bhikshu Sanghas discloses that not only there were Parliaments  for the Sanghas were nothing but Parliaments  but the Sanghas knew and observed all the rules of parliamentary procedure known to modern times. They had rules regarding seating arrangements, rules regarding Motions, Resolutions, Quorum, Whip, Counting of Votes, Voting by Ballot, Censure Motion, Regularisation, Res Judicata, etc. Although these rules of parliamentary procedure were applied by the Buddha to the meetings of the Sanghas, he must have borrowed them from the rules of the political assemblies functioning in the country in his time.

This democratic system India lost. Will she lose it a second time? I do not know. But it is quite possible in a country like India  where democracy from its long disuse must be regarded as something quite new  there is danger of democracy giving place to dictatorship. It is quite possible for this new-born democracy to retain its form but give place to dictatorship in fact. If there is a landslide, the danger of the second possibility becoming an actuality is much greater.

Three warnings

If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do?

The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives. It means we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It means that we must abandon the method of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha. When there was no way left for constitutional methods for achieving economic and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for unconstitutional methods. But where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us.

The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not "to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions". There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered life-long services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. As has been well said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O'Connel, No man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.

The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy.

Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things. It would require a constable to enforce them.

We must begin by acknowledging the fact that there is complete absence of two things in Indian society. One of these is equality. On the social plane, we have in India a society based on the principle of graded inequality. We have a society in which there are some who have immense wealth as against many who live in abject poverty. On January 26, 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics, we will be recognising the principle of one man, one vote and one vote, one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man, one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this Assembly has so laboriously built up.

The second thing we are wanting in is recognition of the principle of fraternity. What does fraternity mean? Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians  of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. It is a difficult thing to achieve. How difficult it is, can be realised from the story related by James Bryce in his volume on American Commonwealth about the United States of America. The story is  I propose to recount it in the words of Bryce himself:

Some years ago the American Protestant Episcopal Church was occupied at its triennial Convention in revising its liturgy. It was thought desirable to introduce among the short sentence prayers a prayer for the whole people, and an eminent New England divine proposed the words `O Lord, bless our nation'. Accepted one afternoon, on the spur of the moment, the sentence was brought up next day for reconsideration, when so many objections were raised by the laity to the word nation' as importing too definite a recognition of national unity, that it was dropped, and instead there were adopted the words `O Lord, bless these United States." There was so little solidarity in the USA at the time when this incident occurred that the people of America did not think that they were a nation. If the people of the United States could not feel that they were a nation, how difficult it is for Indians to think that they are a nation?

A great delusion

I remember the days when politically minded Indians, resented the expression "the people of India". They preferred the expression "the Indian nation." I am of opinion that in believing that we are a nation, we are cherishing a great delusion. How can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation? The sooner we realise that we are not as yet a nation in the social and psychological sense of the world, the better for us. For then only we shall realise the necessity of becoming a nation and seriously think of ways and means of realising the goal. The realisation of this goal is going to be very difficult  far more difficult than it has been in the United States. The United States has no caste problem. In India there are castes. The castes are anti-national. In the first place because they bring about separation in social life. They are anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste. But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a nation in reality. For fraternity can be a fact only when there is a nation. Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint.

These are my reflections about the tasks that lie ahead of us. They may not be very pleasant to some. But there can be no gainsaying that political power in this country has too long been the monopoly of a few and the many are only beasts of burden, but also beasts of prey. This monopoly has not merely deprived them of their chance of betterment, it has sapped them of what may be called the significance of life. These down-trodden classes are tired of being governed. They are impatient to govern themselves. This urge for self-realisation in the down-trodden classes must not be allowed to devolve into a class struggle or class war. It would lead to a division of the House. That would indeed be a day of disaster. For, as has been well said by Abraham Lincoln, a House divided against itself cannot stand very long. Therefore the sooner room is made for the realisation of their aspiration, the better for the few, the better for the country, the better for the maintenance for its independence and the better for the continuance of its democratic structure. This can only be done by the establishment of equality and fraternity in all spheres of life. By independence, we have lost the excuse of blaming the British for anything going wrong. If hereafter things go wrong, we will have nobody to blame except ourselves. There is great danger of things going wrong.

Times are fast changing. People including our own are being moved by new ideologies. They are getting tired of Government by the people. They are prepared to have Governments for the people and are indifferent whether it is Government of the people and by the people. If we wish to preserve the Constitution in which we have sought to enshrine the principle of Government of the people, for the people and by the people, let us resolve not to be tardy in the recognition of the evils that lie across our path and which induce people to prefer Government for the people to Government by the people, nor to be weak in our initiative to remove them. That is the only way to serve the country. I know of no better.

Excerpts from the last speech by B.R Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949.
Harish Khare

On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court set aside the election of an incumbent powerful prime minister. It was a cataclysmic verdict. At the heart of the matter was the very fundamental requirement of a parliamentary democracy that no unequal advantage should accrue to any one candidate, group or party in an electoral contest. Though many historians since have thought that the Allahabad High Court judgment was excessive and disproportionate, it nonetheless set in motion a desire to make our electoral democracy a fair proposition. That quest remains only partially achieved.

It may be worth recalling that our first general election was spread over four months, from October 1951 to February 1952; there was no code of conduct; the governments at the Centre and in the States carried on with their normal business; the Election Commission itself was a very limited affair. But no one doubted the fairness of the exercise; and, India achieved one of the primary benchmarks of a democracy  the winners and the losers attested that the contest was fairly won or lost. But India was to change, from Nehrus India of 1952 to Indira's India of 1971. The political class had lost its post-Independence legitimacy; political parties were deemed as brutal instruments of a brutal pursuit of power; and, the political leaders  including those who presided over the national seat of government  were perceived as power-hungry, selfish and self-aggrandising. Democracy was no longer deemed a gentlemans game.

Once Indira Gandhis election to the Lok Sabha from the Rae Bareli constituency in the March 1971 polls was set aside, the polity came to be deeply engaged with the idea of a level-playing field at the election time. What was lacking was an empowered referee, someone who will have yellow and red cards in his hip pocket and will have the courage and the guts to send an offending player off the field. It was not until an alchemist TN Seshan came to Nirvachan Sadan and discovered the Election Commissions karmic potential. The country applauded Seshan as he sought to enlarge the Commissions institutional autonomy, even if it meant taking on the political executive of the day. That search for autonomy and effectiveness remains a work in progress.

Irrespective of its constitutional mandate and despite periodic support from the Supreme Court, the Election Commissions performance as an institution came to hinge critically on the quality of the leadership the three commissioners were able to provide. In a polity that was happily becoming more and more uncivil, more and more partisan and more and more cantankerous, the Election Commissioners  till the other day pliant bureaucrats  found themselves in an unaccustomed role that demanded an exacting neutrality and detachment. Not all Commissioners proved equal to the task. When a chief minister slyly suggested that because a chief election commissioner was named James Michael Lyngdoh he could not be a neutral umpire, the institutional prestige of the Commission was sufficiently sturdy to stare down such an insinuation. But the Commissions prestige was not enhanced when a former chief election commissioner chose to accept a partys nomination to the Rajya Sabha and then to become a Central minister.

Every institution gets its mojo from the high priests who preside over it. So is the case at Nirvachan Sadan. Happily, the Commission has acquired sufficient momentum that the commissioners individual failings and weaknesses rarely impinge on the Commissions institutional image of a robust guardian of the integrity of the electoral process. This is a major democratic consolidation. Yet it needs to be remembered that the Election Commissions metamorphosis from a politicians lapdog to a pugnacious bulldog took place in the context of a weak political executive.

When the political executive is weak or allows itself to become weakened by its own decency and doubts or internal dissensions, it becomes easier for the other institutions to assert, even attempt to overreach themselves. But no institutional equilibrium remains cast in stone; when the political power in society gets redistributed, institutions find themselves having to renegotiate their place and their efficacy.

Since May 2014 when the electorate empowered a political party with an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, the Constitutions institutions are engaged in a silent struggle over their space. It is in this context of a contest between institutions that the role of the Election Commission has become a cause for concern. The controversy over the EVMs is only the latest expression of this gathering disquiet.

The Commission was duty-bound to speak up in defence of the EVMs, though it spoke up rather testily. Perhaps the losers are simply being sore losers. But there was something less than reassuring in its response to reports of malfunctioning of the EVMs in various BJP-ruled states. The Commission has put its faith in a certain technology; we should all be humble enough to understand that no technology is foolproof. If a doubt has arisen about the EVMs, the Commission has an obligation to go out of its way to put all doubts to rest.

It is not so much the inviolability of the EVMs that has caused considerable disquiet among the various stakeholders; the rub rather is the perceived pusillanimity at Nirvachan Sadan. For instance, in the recent Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections, the Commission was seen as both hapless and helpless in the face of numerous saffron excesses.

The challenge before the Commission is to be vigilant and watchful against the collusion at the lower level of civil and police bureaucracy in favour of the ruling party of the day. Such collusion is a perennial possibility just as it is a constant threat to the very idea of a level-playing field. All political parties end up trying to use unfair means; it is the Commissions job to create the necessary conditions and caveats to prevent unfairness.

As in the past, the present Commissions working, vigour and vitality would be deeply contingent upon the Commissioners personal rectitude and fortitude, individual sense of vulnerability and strength. It is an imperceptible calculus  no outsider can ever be in a position to make a fair assessment of how wholesomely a decision got made at Nirvachan Sadan. The benefit of the doubt must always go to the Commission. And this very institutional protocol imposes on the Commission and its authorised custodians an obligation to assure the polity that it does not feel itself intimidated by the authority of the day.
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13

The Haryana Roadways employees union leaders on Thursday announced to withdraw their strike forthwith after the state government accepted their demands.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Haryana Transport Minister Krishan Panwar said the government has agreed to withdraw its new transport policy.

Earlier, two rounds of meeting between the government and roadways unions failed to end the deadlock over the issue of private permits.

The government had offered to review its Stage Carrier Permit policy to issue permits to private buses, but the roadways unions were adamant on complete scrapping of the policy.

Transport Minister Krishan Panwar, ACS (Transport ) SS Dhillon and CMs Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar represented the government.

Representatives of various roadways unions participated in the talks.

Employees went on a flash strike on Monday demanding scrapping of the policy under which permits were given to private operators.

The strike was called off by the eight unions of the Haryana Roadways this evening, giving relief to commuters who were badly affected after public buses stopped plying on their regular routes.

Buckling under pressure, the state government said it would frame a new transport policy in which suggestions of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and office-bearers of state roadways employees unions would be included after discussions.

The decision to call of the strike came after marathon talks held between the unions leaders and state government here.

"The government has decided to take back the policy under which permits were given to private operators," Haryana Roadways Workers Union president Sarbat Singh Punia said.

"Our demand has been met and we have decided to call off the strike with immediate effect," he said.

Panwar also told reporters here that the government has decided to revoke the decision under which 120 roadways employees had been suspended.

The Stage Carriage Permit Scheme drafted by the Haryana government was recently challenged by a private operator in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he said.

The state government would file an affidavit in the High Court to withdraw the case related to scheme (policy) of 2016-17 which is pending in the court, Panwar said.

"Secretary Transport will file an affidavit before the High Court stating that the state government wants to withdraw the 2016 scheme (transport policy) and intends to bring a new scheme," he said.

When asked if the government had buckled under pressure of the Roadways unions, Panwar said "that is not the case. The step has been taken in public interest".

However, when asked if the government decided to scrap the existing transport policy because it was not in the interest of the public, he said, "Sometimes, some lacunae come to the fore afterwards because of which we have taken this step."

"It won't be fair to say that bureaucrats had not formed a good policy earlier, but there is always room to better it," he said to another question.

The minister said that 853 private buses were operating on 273 routes in the state and they would continue to ply.

He said the permit holders would have to allow persons of 39 categories such as freedom fighters and students, who have been granted the facility of free or discounted travel in state Roadways buses.

Over 13 lakh passengers travel in the state Roadways buses daily. About 4,200 buses, which include luxury Volvo bus service, had come to a halt in the state due to the strike.  With PTI inputs
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Nagpur on Friday to celebrate the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

In a series of tweets from his Twitter Account the Prime Minister said, I am extremely honoured to be visiting Nagpur tomorrow, on the very special occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti

In Nagpur, I will pray at Deekshabhoomi, a holy spot that is very closely associated with Dr. Ambedkar. "

"A series of development projects are going to be inaugurated in Nagpur tomorrow, which will have a positive impact on people's lives," Modi posted.

The development projects include IIIT, IIM and AIIMS and launch of Koradi Thermal Power Station.

He will also address a public meeting.

"Will join culmination of the DigiDhan Mela, where I will present awards to Mega Draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna. We are unwavering in our efforts towards creating a strong, prosperous and inclusive India of Dr. Ambedkars dreams," said the PM.
Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, April 13

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) wants the Centre to revive Chamar Regiment in the Indian army to boost morale of Scheduled Castes.

Early this year, three ex-servicemen from Haryana, all 95 years of age, had filed a petition before the Commission to reconstitute Chamar Regiment for recruitment of Scheduled Castes youths in the army.

Three persons  Jogi Ram from Bhiwani Chunni Lal from Mahendragarh and Dharma Singh from Sonepat  had furnished documentary evidences to the NCSC of them serving in the Chamar Regiment between 1943 and 1946.

Ishwar Singh, member of the NCSC, told The Tribune today it was caste discriminatory and NCSC had written to the Union Defence Minister last month to look into the issue.

During the World War II in 1943, the then British government in India had constituted Chamar Regiment with Jabalpur as its headquarters.

Chamar Regiment ceased to exist after three years of its formation. As at that time untouchability was widely practised in the country, the regiment was apparently disbanded due to prevalent caste biases, said Singh.

He said as there was no provision of job reservation policy in the army, the socially weaker sections continue to be deprived of their rights.

The SC community constitutes insignificant part of the Indian army, including the officer ranks, he said.

The regiment dedicated to socially marginalised sections should be formed as there is no job reservation in the armed forces. The step will help improving financial status of SCs and lead to their confidence building.

After independence, trend of Jat Regiment, Sikh Regiment, Maratha Regiment, etc., continued on the basis of caste and religion. But only Chamar Regiment was disbanded. The Centre should consider the demand for building confidence among the socially marginalised class, said Singh.

He said there were numerous evidences to buttress the historical fact about an army regiment exclusive of SCs.

Research scholar of JNU, Satnam Singh has written a book on the role Chamar Regiment. Also in 2011, senior Janata Dal (U) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha of formation of the regiment, said the NCSC member.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 13

The CRPFhas identified the area where its men were heckled by unidentified youth during the bypoll on Sunday in Budgam district. The CRPF has formally lodged a complaint with the police about the assault.

A video had emerged in the social media after the bypoll in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, showing unidentified protesters heckling, slapping and kicking CRPF men carrying EVMs in Budgam district. The district had witnessed the worst ever violence on the polling day that left seven protesters dead in forces action.

We have identified the CRPF men in the video and the place where they were heckled, said Inspector General, CRPF, Ravideep Singh Sahi. The incident took place at Kralpora in Chadoora. We have lodged a complaint at the Chadoora police station and legal action will be taken against those who assaulted the CRPF men deployed on poll duty. We are sure the attackers will be identified by the police and action will be taken.

In the raw video, CRPF men were seen showing restraint and not reacting when being heckled by unidentified youth, who were shouting pro-separatists and anti-India slogans. Some of the CRPF men were forced to shout Go India, Go back slogan. The video was uploaded on the social media after the Internet services were restored on Tuesday evening. There were, however, some youths in the crowd who asked the attackers not to target the security personnel and allow them a safe passage.

Nearly 80 CRPF men were injured on April 9 during the clashes in Budgam, said another officer of the paramilitary force.

On the polling day on Sunday, 80 of our jawans were injured and two of them had to be airlifted from Chadoora. The cavalcade of the CRPF IG was also pelted with stones but we showed the maximum restraint, he said.
Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 13

Nearly 50 per cent of the polling staff was absconding till Wednesday afternoon in violence-hit Budgam, indicating their fear to be a part of the election process after the violence during bypoll in the Srinagar constituency on April 9.

Officials deputed for the poll duty in Budgam, where repoll at 38 polling stations took place on Thursday, had not reported to their duties. However, after assurance of security and threat of suspension by the government, the officials showed up in the evening.

Imran Nazir, an official, was deployed in the Chadoora area of Budgam for poll duty on Sunday. A night before, Nazir could hear the sound of stones rolling on the rooftop of the school housing the polling station. The sound faded away immediately but he had to spend the whole night with guilt of doing the poll duty.

As the dawn broke, angry youth started lining up near the polling station. Early morning some youth came to the polling station and asked us to leave, but we resisted, Nazir said.

With the day growing warmer, the number of angry youth increased and added fuel to the situation. They barged into the polling station and took away the voting machines, he said.

At least 25 EVMs were broken by youth in Chadoora, where violence necessitated the repoll at 16 polling stations.

Eight civilian protesters were killed and over 200 injured in firing by security forces in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency on Sunday.

He left the polling station and took refuge in the Chadoora police station, where from they were shifted to their homes.

Nazir said he was again called for duty on Thursday but refused to attend it. I was feeling guilty of being part of a process to legitimise civilian killings, he said.

Another official, Wasim Ahmad, who was posted in Beerwah, said the government was forcing them to risk their lives for conducting elections. Fortunately, the stone-throwers only broke the EVMs and gave us safe passage, he said.

Ahmad said the ECI should not have held polls in Kashmir, where peace is fragile. You cant kill civilians and then go on to legitimise your activities by holding elections, he said.

Budgam ADC Anshul Garg said there was some communication gap which led to the delay in reporting of officials for poll duty. Almost all the officials reported their duties on Wednesday evening, Garg said.
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

India and Pakistan today hardened their stance on the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistan alleges he is an Indian spy, while India maintains he is innocent.

India reiterated that if Pakistan went ahead with the death sentence, it would amount to a pre-meditated murder.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it has no information on Jadhavs location in Pakistan or his condition, noting that it was in touch with the government there on this immensely important issue.

In Islamabad, top military generals held a meeting and decided there would be no compromise on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav. Sources say India is exploring options, both soft and hard, for ensuring that Jadhav is brought back home.

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The rift within Pakistan between the civilian government headed by PM Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa is also evident. Rawalpindi barracks seem to have taken the initiative and are leading the discourse on the issue. Todays corps commanders conference in Islamabad was presided over by Gen Bajwa, the militarys media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.The generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts, the statement said. The Ministry of External Affairs put the ball firmly in Pakistans court, calling in question the legality of the sentence and in essence harping on two facts. One: If Jadhav was indeed a spy, why would he be carrying an Indian passport ? Two: Pakistans obstinate insistence to not grant India consular access violates international norms and raises questions on the authenticity of charges.

Consular access is usually expeditiously granted, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said. We need to verify how this gentleman got to Pakistan; we dont know the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. For that we need to meet him which is part of international law, he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan claimed foreign spy agencies, may have trapped and then abducted Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir who disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli. Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him.
Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13

Hardening his stand against Canadas Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, whom he had dubbed a Khalistani sympathiser on Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said not only Sajjan but Canadas other Sikh ministers and MPs  including Navdeep Bains, Amarjit Sohi, Sukh Dhaliwal, Darshan Kang, Raj Grewal, Harinder Malhi, Ruby Sahota and Randeep Sarai  were known for their pro-Khalistan leanings.

Canada, meanwhile, termed Capt Amarinders comment that five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government, including Sajjan, were Khalistani sympathisers as disappointing and inaccurate. Rejecting Canadas defence, Capt Amarinder said he stood by his principled stand and would not meet any Khalistani sympathiser.

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The CM seems to have politically scored over the Aam Aadmi Party, the main Opposition party, whom he had during electioneering accused of aligning with radical Sikh groups.

Reacting sharply, AAP said the CM has not only insulted Sajjan, but Sikhs in particular, who have proved their mettle in foreign lands.

The CM said Sajjan was welcome to attend conferences in Punjab and visit the Golden Temple but he would not play host to him as he had information that like his father Kundan Sajjan, a board member of the World Sikh Organisation, he too was sympathetic to the Khalistan cause. "The state government will provide security to the minister

and ensure that he is treated as per the protocol," Amarinder said.

He lashed out at AAP and Dal Khalsa for attacking him on the issue, accusing the two of playing into the hands of forces inimical to India. He said his sole concern was the future of Punjab that had lost 35,000 innocent lives during militancy.

The CM said he had never believed in public posturing and "from breaking away from the Congress in the wake of Operation Bluestar to resigning from the Lok Sabha over the SYL issue," he had only upheld values to protect the interests of Punjab and its people.

The CM said AAP's criticism only proved that its national convener Arvind Kejriwals had a soft corner for Khalistanis. "Kejriwal had shown his extremist leanings by residing in the house of a former Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) militant during one of his election tours," Amarinder pointed out.

QUOTES

The CM should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgement and refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan and other Punjabi representatives in Canadian parliament. Sukhbir Badal, SAD

The CM has not only insulted the Canadian Defence Minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, who have proved their mettle in foreign lands, not only in business but in the political arena too. Sukhpal S Khaira, AAP
Mumbai, April 13

A special court to hear cases under the PMLA here issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik today in connection with a money-laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate sought the NBW against Naik, saying that the preacher has not joined the investigation so far.

The central probe agency, which moved the court earlier this week, had said that although Naik was served summons repeatedly, he had failed to appear before it.

It said Naik needed to be questioned in connection with the money laundering.

The ED registered a criminal case against Naik and others last December after taking cognisance of an NIA complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The ED is looking into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused in the case and the subsequent proceeds of crime thus generated.

Naik, 51, who is said to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after some perpetrators of the Dhaka terror strike last year claimed they were inspired by him, has been booked along with unnamed Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) officials under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) of the IPC, besides various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).  PTI
Yash Goyal

Dholpur, April 13

The ruling BJP on Thursday wrested the crucial Dholpur Assembly seat as Shobharani Kushwaha won by a margin of 38,673 votes against Congress five time MLA BL Sharma in the bypoll which was held on April 9.

Shobharani, wife of convicted former BSP MLA BL Kushwaha, got over 91,548 votes while Congress candidate Sharma secured 52,875 votes.

mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>91,548 votesvotes.

Thirteen candidates deposits would be forfeited by the Election Commission.

The BSP did not field its candidate for the bypoll.

The poll battle was considered to be neck and neck but it proved false as the BJP secured a landslide victory.

With this success, the BJP raised its tally of MLAs in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly to 161.

The by-election was necessitated following the conviction of BSP MLA BL Kushwaha in a murder case.

It is a victory of development of Raje governments 41 month rule and Modi governments pro-poor schemes, BJP state president Ashok Parnami told a press conference in Jaipur.

BJP contested this bypoll on the plank of development issue and avoided caste-based politics. Electors have expressed their faith and confidence in Rajes governance, Parnami said.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had been camping at her Raj Vilas Palace since March 31 and even stayed back on the polling day.

Despite Election Commissions direction the chief minister stayed put due to a sprain in her leg on the last day of campaigning when she held a road show.

A medical board constituted by the chief electoral officer had also confirmed that the injury rendered her immobile for next three days at least. Raje is still in Dholpur.

Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were used for the first time in the constituency.

As many as 77.14 per cent of 1.91 lakh voters had exercised their franchise in the bypoll.

BJP workers and leaders were seen celebrating the victory by bursting fire crackers and smearing gulal on each other at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur and Dholpur.

Addressing a huge crowd of party supporters at her Raj Vilas Palace, Raje said it is a victory of Dholpur Pariwar.

In 1985 I had a victory margin of 24,000 votes defeating Congress BL Sharma, now it is a historic victory after 30 years when Shobharani won by margin of 38,673 votes, she said.

Now 20 months are left in my second term of rule and every developmental work would be done in Dholpur, she assured.

An overwhelmed Shobharani, who was hugged by Raje at her entrance gate of the palace, said, Everyone in the party supported me. I will work for the development of Dholpur.
Bengaluru, April 13

The ruling Congress in Karnataka on Thursday retained both the Assembly seats of Nanjangud and Gundlupet where the bypolls were held on Sunday.

Congress Kalale N Keshavamurthy defeated his nearest rival V Srinivas Prasad (BJP) by over 21,000 votes in Nanjangud.

In Gundlupet, Geetha Mahadevaprasad (Congress) trounced BJPs C S Niranjan Kumar by over 10,000 votes, an election official said.

Both the seats were held by the Congress.

With the Assembly polls slated to be held in about a year, the Congress and the BJP had played for heavy stakes in the bypolls.

The by-elections were necessitated in Gundulpet following the death of Cooperation Minister Mahadevaprasad while in Nanjangud, it was caused by the resignation of Srinivas Prasad as Congress MLA after he was dropped from the ministry.

Srinivas had switched over to the BJP, while Keshavamurthy had contested the 2013 Assembly polls on a JD(S) ticket.

Geeta is the widow of Mahadeva Prasad.

Remaining neutral, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda- led JDS had not fielded its candidates.  PTI
Srinagar, Apr 13 (IBNS): Authorities have ordered to resume services of broadband and the mobile internet immediately after the re-polling was over in 38 polling stations of Budgam district in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency on Thursday.

The services were snapped since April 8 midnight as authorities feared that rumour mongering on social media networks could trigger violence during polls which was held on April 9.

Broadband internet services was again suspended on Thursday on security grounds in view of the re-poll in 38 polling stations of Budgam district in Srinagar parliamentary constituency.

The service have been resumed in the evening.

Despite snapping of internet services in the Valley, eight protesters were killed due to massive violence in Budgam district during polling on Sunday.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
New Delhi, April 13

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea filed by the BSP challenging the use of EVMs without paper trail.

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A Bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar issued notices to the government and the ECI and asked them to respond to the plea by May 8, the next date of hearing.

During the hearing, senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for the BSP, told the Bench that use of EVMs without voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) in the elections creates a serious doubt about the accuracy of voting and paper trail was required so that a voter can get a feedback of the vote cast by him.

He said that to assure accuracy in the voting process, paper trail is needed as there were chances of tampering with EVMs as there were reports that both the hardware and software of these machines are vulnerable.

There is no way that a voter can verify as to whether the vote cast by him has gone to the right candidate. Without a paper trail, there is no way to verify it. In EVMs, a voter is only pressing the button and he does not know whether the machine is recording his voting correctly or not, he said.

At the fag end of the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the apex court that Congress party also wants to intervene in the matter.

Nowhere in the world, except in one country, these EVMs are being used, Sibal said, adding, Every technology can be hacked and that is our concern.  PTI
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

Suspended for keeping a beard in violation of service rules, a Maharashtra policeman on Thursday turned down the Supreme Courts offer to allow him to resume his service on sympathetic grounds and his petition would be decided in due course.

We feel sorry for you. Why dont you join, the CJI asked his lawyer Mohammed Irshad Hanif who wanted an early hearing of the case.

Hanif  who represented the Maharashtra Reserve Police Force cop Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade  rejected the top courts offer to let him work for now.

There is no concept of a temporary beard in Islam, Hanif told the bench which rejected his prayer for an early hearing.

The policeman was initially allowed to sport a beard, provided it was trimmed and kept neat and tidy. However, the permission was later withdrawn by the commandant as it was against the rules. Later, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him.

The Bombay High Court had on December 12, 2012, rejected his plea on the ground that the force was a secular organisation and discipline required him to stick to the secular rules.

The High Court ruled that keeping a beard was not a fundamental right as it was not a fundamental tenet of Islam.

Bedade challenged the high courts order in the top court, which had stayed the disciplinary proceedings against him in Jan 2013. The case has been pending since then.

His counsel had cited a 1989 circular for the armed forces to argue that the rules spoke of permitting a beard provided the person kept it for the rest of his service.

The service rules were aimed at ensuring that the identity of servicemen remains the same throughout the service. His lawyer also argued that keeping a beard was obligatory under Islam.
Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, April 13

Leaders of the Akali Dal today challenged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to fulfil the vows he had taken holding a gutka in his hands.

Addressing the partys Baisakhi conference here, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the Congress of winning the elections on the basis of pure lies and false promises, while Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal motivated the party cadre to consider the defeat as hot air and rise with it.

Cornering the government on desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, Sukhbir said before the elections, the SAD-BJP government was accused of masterminding such incidents. If our party was doing it, why are such cases still coming up?

Challenging the Congress government to arrest SAD leaders it accuse of being involved in drug trade, Sukhbir said the Congress had claimed that it would end drug menace in a month. The government is about to complete one month and now they are saying that drugs are smuggled from Pakistan. Where are the jobs that they had promised for the youth of Punjab? he asked.

Sukhbir called the Congress debt waiver plan another false promise.

Badal skips rally

Muktsar: Former CM Parkash Singh Badal skipped SADs Baisakhi rally today. Instead, he visited the houses of party activists in Lambi. The former CM, who had recently fractured a rib, would spend most of the time by commuting between his Badal village residence and familys Balasar farmhouse in Haryana, till he gets fit.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13

Taking on Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh over his refusal to meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan citing the latters alleged Khalistani links, AAP today claimed that the CM had attended a function organised by alleged Khalistani sympathisers in Canada in May 2005.

AAP announced that it would organise a welcome function for Sajjan during his forthcoming visit to the state.

HS Phoolka, Leader of Opposition, and senior AAP leader posted a photo of Amarinder speaking from a stage in Canada with Khalistan Jindabad slogan painted prominently in the background on Twitter. Phoolka said the CM had no locus standi to question Sajjans links with anyone when he himself had attended a function organised by Khalistani leaders.

Though Amarinder had clarified that he was not aware of the banner in the background, Phoolka sought an explanation from him. Phoolka said the CM had insulted a Sikh leader who rose to the rank of Defence Minister of a powerful and developed country. He said Captains refusal to meet him was deplorable as Sajjan was visiting the state to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP chief whip, said the party would felicitate the Canadian minister as he represented Sikhs in Canada and it was an honour not just for Sikhs but for the entire Punjabi community.

He said: Amarinder outburst against Sajjan proves that he is vindictive towards him. He (CM) wanted to take revenge from NRIs in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit there.

CMs remark deplorable: Sukhbir

Chandigarh: Terming Amarinders remark as irresponsible, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to be large-hearted and not petty when dealing with Sajjan. In a statement issued on Thursday, Sukhbir said Amarinder should rather give him as much honour as the dignitary deserved. SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said the CMs statement was driven by his ego. Sajjan is not only a Canadian defence minister but a symbol of Punjabi diaspora, particularly Sikhs, who have made the community proud with their achievements in their respective countries, said the MP. TNS

Will welcome him: SGPC

Amritsar: Sikh leaders termed the CMs remark terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser as uncalled for. SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar said the SGPC would accord a befitting welcome to amritdhari Sajjan on his visit to the Golden Temple. Former SAD general secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta said, In case the CM does not welcome the Minister it will hurt the sentiments of the community. TNS
Chandigarh, April 13

Devotees across Punjab and Haryana on Thursday thronged gurdwaras, including Golden Temple at Amritsar, to mark the festival of Baisakhi which is being celebrated with joy and enthusiasm.

For the predominant Sikh population of Punjab, Baisakhi is a big festival as it marks the foundation day of Khalsa panth or Sikh order by tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.

Farmers are jubilant over the festival as for them it marks the start of harvest season.

The Sikh community celebrated Baisakhi by participating in the special prayer meets and Baisakhi processions.

In Amritsar, several devotees paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple.

In the villages of Punjab and Haryana, cries of Jatta aayi Baisakhi reverberated in the skies as gaily-dressed men and women moved towards the fields to celebrate the occasion.

In some villages, performance of traditional folk dance bhangra and gidda was performed by men and women respectively.

Taking an early bath in ponds or rivers, people visited gurdwaras to express gratitude to the Almighty for the bountiful harvest and to pray for prosperity and good times in future.

At several places in Punjab colourful Baisakhi fairs were also organized to celebrate the day.

People participated in these fairs with a lot of enthusiasm.

After Ardas (prayer as per Sikh rituals) and distribution of Karah Parshad (sweet pudding), langar (community kitchen) was served.

People greeted friends and relatives by exchanging a box of sweets or other traditional gifts.

The Khalsa Panth was founded in Anandpur Sahib in 1699.  PTI
Chandigarh, April 12

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would not meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan during the latters visit to India later this month. In an interview with a Delhi-based TV channel, he dubbed Sajjan as a Khalistan sympathiser.

The CM claimed five ministers in the Trudeau government were Khalistanis and would have truck with neither. These Khalistani sympathisers had last year prevailed upon the authorities to block my entry into Canada. I only wanted to meet my Punjabi brethren there, he said.

In protest, Amarinder had written a letter to the Canadian PM and later refused to meet the Canadian High Commissioner in India.  TNS

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Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, April 13

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal today asked the people to have faith in the government and give three more months for fulfilling its promise of farm debt waiver and eradication of drugs menace.

Addressing the Congress political conference here today, Manpreet said the government was working on a roadmap to revive the states economy and finding a solution to the crippling problem of farm debt.

The state is in a deep economic crisis as it has been plundered ruthlessly during the 10-year regime of the SAD-BJP. I am telling you about this harsh reality without any exaggeration under the solemn oath standing close to the Takht Damdama Sahib, he said.

After three months, the debt-ridden farmers in Punjab would get a better deal than what the farmers in Uttar Pradesh have got, he said. The UP Government has announced to waive Rs 1 lakh loan of all farmers in the state.

Lal Singh, former Finance Minister, said the Akali-BJP government had left the state under a mammoth debt of Rs 1.85 lakh crore. At the end of the Congress previous tenure in February 2007, the states debt was Rs 51,155 crore, he said.

On the drugs menace, Manpreet said the STF was working overtime, but since this scourge had deep roots in the state, it needed more time to wipe it out completely.

He said the government would soon pass a strong and effective Lokpal Bill with a view to bringing more transparency and accountability in governance. Even the Chief Minister and his team would also fall under its ambit.

Hoping for an out-of-court settlement on the SYL issue, Manpreet said Punjabs case was not represented appropriately in the apex court. With the intervention of the Prime Minister, we are hopeful of an amicable settlement of the matter, he said.

Manpreet said a large number of public assets were mortgaged with banks and other financial institutions and for the next several years, the entire income of the state would not be sufficient enough to repay those debts.

Advocating subsidised power supply to the industry, he said the Chief Minister was working to propel the economy of the state by inviting major industrial houses to set up their ventures in Punjab. In three days, the CM had met representatives of 27 business houses in Mumbai to evince their interests to be a part of the states economy, Manpreet added.
MR. A. Usaf Ali, retired Indian Civil Servant in England, gave a lecture at the School of Oriental Studies, London, on the "Importance of Hindustani" and urged the claims, linguistic and tradition, of the combined languages of Urdu and Hindi which was spoken by no less than 136 millions of people. Linguistically he said Hindustani had a most interesting history and sociologically it represented many deficient social, customs and circles of ideas. It had, he said, many interesting features as language and literature as it was flexible and growing daily by a liberal addition of foreign words and rapidly assimilating them. After explaining the literary wealth of Hindustani, Mr. Usaf Ali pleaded for a deeper study not only of the structure of the language but of the ideas, the collecting psychology and social systems of the speakers.
Dakar, April 13

A fire ripped through makeshift shelters at a Muslim religious retreat in Senegal, killing at least 22 people and triggering a stampede, firefighters said on Thursday.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday as worshippers gathered in the town of Medina Gounass in the southeastern region of Tambacounda, a senior official with the firefighting service said.

The cause was as yet unknown, the official said.

Images of billowing clouds of smoke, the charred corpses of animals and devastation at the site circulated online, testifying to the fire's impact.

While some victims were badly burnt, others were hurt in the panicked stampede triggered by the blaze, the firefighter added.

Around 20 of the injured are in a serious state and are being treated at the regional hospital in Tambacounda city, around 80 km away.

The fire ripped through straw shelters constructed for the multi-day event, according to Senegal's local press, allowing it spread rapidly through an open-air gathering packed with people.

Senegalese Muslims gather in their hundreds, even thousands, to worship at the site every year, and pilgrims were weighed down with food and luggage, the local press reported.

A similar incident at the same site in 2010 caused the deaths of six people and several injuries, Le Quotidien newspaper reported.

Senegal's poor record on fire safety was also thrown into the spotlight in 2013 when a fire in a Koranic school killed nine children, triggering an outcry and calls for tighter regulation.  AFP
New York, Apr 13(Just Earth News): In the wake of yet another dire turn in the Syrian crisis, the United States and the Russian Federation amust find a way to work togethera to stabilize the situation and support the political process, the United Nations envoy for the war-torn country told the Security Council on Wednesday.

In his briefing, Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria added that last weeks reported chemical weapons attack, the subsequent airstrikes by the US and intensified fighting on the ground have put the fragile peace process is in grave danger.

This is a time for clear-thinking, strategy, imagination, cooperation, said de Mistura.

We must all resolve that the time has come where the intra-Syrian talks move beyond preparatory discussions and into the real heart of the matter, across all four baskets, to secure a meaningful negotiated transition package, he added.

Prior to the reported chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun area of Idlib, modest but incremental progress were made, the UN envoy noted, highlighting that though there no breakthroughs, there were also no breakdowns. The most recent round of talks, facilitated by the UN in Geneva, wrapped up two weeks ago.

However, the reported attack and subsequent events have placed the country between two paths: one leading more death, destruction and regional and international divisions; and the other of real de-escalation and ceasefire, added de Mistura.

He informed the 15-member Security Council of his appeals to Russia, Turkey and Iran  the guarantors of the Astana ceasefire  and urged all with influence over the parties to the conflict to restore the credibility of the ceasefire, and to ensure that the UN can reach the millions who are trapped in besieged and other hard to reach areas.

The Security Council briefing comes as the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Moscow.

Hailing the visit and the discussions, de Mistura called on both the US and Russia  the co-Chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG)  to recognize their common interests and responsibilities and find a way to work together to stabilize the situation, in a deliberate, realistic and concerted way, in support of the political process.

The ISSG established respective taskforces on humanitarian aid delivery and a wider ceasefire that have been meeting separately since early 2016 on a way forward in the crisis. In addition to Russia and the US (the co-chairs of the taskforces), the ISSG also comprises the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries.

Concluding his briefing, the UN Special Envoy reiterated that there are no military solutions to the strife in the war-ravaged country.

You have heard it countless times, but I will say it again: there can only be a political solution to this bloody conflict [] regardless of what some say or believe, he expressed, noting that this is what Syrians from all walks of life also say and something that the Security Council had agreed upon.

So, let us use this moment of crisis  and it is a moment of crisis  as a watershed and an opportunity perhaps for a new level of seriousness in the search for a political solution.

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Seoul/Pyongyang, April 13

South Korea said on Thursday it believed it would be consulted by the US before any possible pre-emptive US strike against Pyongyang and China urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for greater protection from Beijing.

With a US aircraft carrier group steaming to the area, tensions on the Korean peninsula grew this week amid concern that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

China, North Koreas sole major ally and benefactor, has called for a peaceful resolution after a sharp rise in rhetoric between the United States and Pyongyang.

On Thursday, an influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un was to give up its nuclear programme.

As soon as North Korea complies with Chinas declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime, said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist partys Peoples Daily.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about possible threats from North Korea, telling parliament in Tokyo that Pyongyang could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

While US President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he wont tolerate provocative actions by the North, US officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Trump has diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive, in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with major commemorative events.

The possibility of US military action against North Korea in response to such tests gained traction after the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike against the North.

Under the South Korea-US alliance, any important measure on the North is taken under consultation with the South Korea government and it will continue in the future, Yun told a parliamentary hearing.

A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the Norths Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that showed it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said on Thursday there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, although they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

Day of the Sun

Around 200 foreign journalists gathered in Pyongyang for North Koreas biggest national day, the Day of the Sun, were taken to what was billed by officials as a big and important event early on Thursday.

It turned out to be the opening of a new street in the centre of the capital, attended by Kim.

North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday. In 2012, it tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

North Koreas official KCNA news agency reported early on Thursday that Kim Jong Un had guided training of the armys special operation forces jumping from aircraft.

Watching the brave combatants mercilessly blow up the enemy targets, he said with pleasure that the commanding officers made correct decisions, adding those combatants carrying out their duties independently and pro-actively were reminiscent of fierce tigers crossing the mountain ranges in the southern half, KCNA reported.

On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy both countries.

US officials said Trump was considering tougher sanctions that could possibly include an oil embargo, banning North Koreas airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang.

Theres a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to whats essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea, one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters in Washington on Wednesday.

Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed that Chinas coal imports from North Korea plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago.

China suspended issuing permits for importing coal from North Korea on Feb. 18 as part of its efforts to implement UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the US for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a very good discussion of the menace of North Korea. He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China if necessary.  Reuters
Lahore, April 13

A 45-year-old Pakistani man has been arrested here for running an international child pornography racket online for which he exploited 25 children on the pretext of imparting them computer education, officials said, calling it a first-of-its-kind scandal in the country.

We have arrested Saadat Amin, 45, from Sargodha district of Punjab province on the charges of selling child pornography on Internet, Federal Investigation Agency cyber crime wing Lahore chief Shahid Hasan said.

He said the FIA has taken action after receiving a letter from the Norwegian embassy that its police had arrested a man  James Lindstone  in connection with the child pornographic content and Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan.

We traced Amin with the help of the lead provided by the Norwegian embassy, the FIA official said and added that this scandal is a first-of-its-kind unearthed by FIA in the country.

The official further said the suspect had been selling child pornographic content online for last few years to customers in Norway and Sweden.

The suspect used to lure children on the pretext of imparting computer hardware and software education and even paid their parents. So far we have the information that some 20 to 25 children have been used by the suspect for the sexual act he filmed for the purpose. Besides he hacked thousands of porn child content from the inaccessible websites of Russia and Bangladesh which he sold online and made good bucks, the FIA official said.

So far we have recovered more than 65,000 porn content from the suspects computer system, the FIA official said and added the statements of the affected children will also be recorded.

The FIA said the suspect who is an engineering graduate and a very good hacker.

A thorough investigation is underway and we will also expose other persons involved in this heinous crime, the FIA official said.  PTI
United Nations, April 13

Russia blocked a Western effort at the UN Security Council on Wednesday to condemn last weeks deadly gas attack in Syria and push Moscows ally President Bashar al-Assad to cooperate with international inquiries into the incident.

It was the eighth time during Syrias six-year-old civil war that Moscow has used its veto power on the Security Council to shield Assads government.

In the latest veto, Russia blocked a draft resolution backed by the US, France and Britain to denounce the attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun and tell Assads government to provide access for investigators and information such as flight plans.

The toxic gas attack on April 4 prompted the US to launch missile strikes on a Syrian air base and widened a rift between the US and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that trust had eroded between the two countries under US President Donald Trump.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson echoed that comment after meetings with Russian leaders in Moscow, saying that relations are at a low point with a low level of trust.

Tillerson called for Assad to eventually relinquish power.

China, which has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the civil war began, abstained from Wednesdays UN vote, along with Ethiopia and Kazakhstan. Ten countries voted in favor of the text, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting no.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned Moscow against protecting Assad, who relies on support from Russia and Iran in his conflict with mostly Sunni Muslim rebels.

To my colleagues from Russia - you are isolating yourselves from the international community every time one of Assads planes drop another barrel bomb on civilians and every time Assad tries to starve another community to death, Haley said during a Security Council meeting earlier on Wednesday.

Haley added: Iran is dumping fuel on the flames of this war in Syria so it can expand its own reach.

Attack investigation

A fact-finding mission from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is investigating last weeks attack in a rebel-held area of northern Syria.

If it determines that chemical weapons were used, then a joint UN/OPCW investigation will look at the incident to determine who is to blame. This team has already found Syrian government forces were responsible for three chlorine gas attacks in 2014 and 2015 and that Islamic State militants used mustard gas.

Britains UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the Security Council that samples taken from the site of the April 4 attack had been analyzed by British scientists and tested positive for the nerve gas sarin. He said Assads government was responsible.

During a heated Security Council exchange before Wednesdays vote, Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov told the 15-member body that Western countries were wrong to blame Assad for the gas attack.

Im amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that? he said.

Syrias government has denied responsibility for the attack.

Diplomats said that Russia has put forward a rival draft resolution that expresses concern at last weeks gas attack and condemns the U.S. strike on Syria. It was unclear if Moscow planned to put the text to a vote.

Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said Syria had sent dozens of letters to the Security Council, some detailing the smuggling of sarin from Libya through Turkey on a civilian air plane by using a Syrian citizen.

Two litres of sarin were transported from Libya through Turkey to terrorist groups in Syria, he said, adding that the government does not have these weapons. Western powers say the April 4 gas attack was carried out from the air and that Syrian rebels do not have any aircraft.  Reports
Beirut, April 13

The Syrian Army said an air strike late on Wednesday by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to Islamic State, releasing a toxic substance that killed hundreds, but the coalition denied carrying out raids in the area.

A statement by the army, flashed on Thursday by Syrian state TV, said the incident in the eastern Deir al-Zor province proved that Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked militants possess chemical weapons.

The report could not immediately be independently verified.

US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in that area at that time.

The Syrian claim is incorrect and likely intentional misinformation, he said in an email to Reuters.

The United States launched cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week, in response to a deadly poison gas attack in the west of the country that Washington blamed on President Bashar al-Assads government.

Syria and its ally Russia deny Damascus carried out any such chemical attack. Moscow has said the poison gas in that incident belonged to rebels.

The US strike on the Syrian air base was the first time Washington has deliberately and directly targeted the Syrian government. It is separately waging an air campaign against Islamic State in eastern Syria.  Reuters
Washington, April 13

After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.

Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a grand champion of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.

But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats.

I said it was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete, Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House on Wednesday.

The reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US allies in Europe who were rattled by Trumps overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the Presidents talk of bonding with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US allies are fearful of a rising China.

Trumps apparent shifts toward a more conventional foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. If he says great things about me, Im going to say great things about him, Trump said last September.

On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russias support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia, said Trump, who ordered the firing of US cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week to punish Assad for suspected use of poison gas in Syrias civil war.

While criticizing Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese Presidents visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks. Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted difficult discussions on trade.

The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.

Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra during was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US military.

Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defence in the Obama administration, said Trump had a steep learning curve on foreign policy when he came into office but that it was beginning to even out. Hes starting to have a more nuanced and deeper understanding of a lot of issues, Wormuth stressed.  Reuters

Prez has change of heart, says NATO no longer obsolete

In a major U-turn from what he said during his poll campaign, President Donald Trump has said NATO is no longer obsolete and reaffirmed his commitment to the military alliance amid a deepening war of words between the United States and Russia over Syria

I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change. Now they do fight terrorism. In the coming months and years, Ill work closely with all of our NATO allies, he said

Trump, who repeatedly questioned the value of the military alliance during his presidential campaign, is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit

Russia not getting along

Americas relationship with Russia may be at an all-time low, President Donald Trump has said, but he hoped that the two countries could get along

Right now were not getting along with Russia at all we may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship, he said at a White House conference

Were going to see what happens. Russia is a strong country. Were a very, very strong country. Were going to see how that all works out, Trump said

Bromance with Xi
New York, April 13

The first black woman appointed to the states highest court has been found dead on the bank of the Hudson River. Sheila Abdus-Salaams body was discovered along the riverside near Harlem yesterday, a day after she was reported missing, the police said.

The police said her body showed no obvious signs of trauma, and they declined to speculate on the cause of her death. The medical examiner will study her body to try to determine what killed her.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the states Court of Appeals in 2013, called her a trailblazing jurist. As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the states Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer, Cuomo said.

Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague would be missed deeply. Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her, DiFiore said.Abdus-Salaam, who was 65 years old, graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School.

New York State Bar

Association president Claire P Gutekunst said Abdus-Salaam grew up poor in a family of seven children in Washington, DC, and rose to become one of the seven judges in New Yorks highest court, where her intellect, judicial temperament and wisdom earned her wide respect.  AP
WASHINGTON, April 13

The United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb it has ever used in combat, in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday against a series of caves used by Islamic State militants, the military said.

It was the first time the United States has used this size of bomb in a conflict. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.

Also known as the "mother of all bombs," the GBU-43 is a 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war. The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, with a number of militant groups trying to claim territory more than 15 years after the US invasion which toppled the Taliban government.

General John Nicholson, the head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said the bomb was used against caves and bunkers housing fighters of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, also known as ISIS-K. It was not immediately clear how much damage the device did.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer opened his daily news briefing speaking about the use of the bomb and said, "We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area."

Last week, a US soldier was killed in the same district as the bomb was dropped while conducting operations against Islamic State. "The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said.

He said the bomb was used at around 7 p.m. local time and described the device as "a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon." The United States took "all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage," he said.

US officials say intelligence suggests Islamic State is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighboring Kunar province.

Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. US officials have said they believe the movement has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500.

Islamic State's offshoot in Afghanistan is suspected of carrying out several attacks on minority Shi'ite Muslim targets. The Afghan Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, are fiercely opposed to Islamic State and the two group have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence.

The US Central Command said they took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties in the strike. American forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan.  Agencies

Non-nuclear, most lethal

The US Air Force calls it the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb (MOAB). Based on the acronym, it has been nicknamed the Mother Of All Bombs

According to the Pentagon, the MOAB, which is the largest non-nuclear bomb, has been used in combat for the first time

GBU-43 is a 9,797 kg GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003, around the time of the US-led invasion of Iraq

When the MOAB was first tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 32 km away, said the US Air Force

A MOAB is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command

The bomb was used against caves and bunkers housing fighters of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, also known as ISIS-K

Aim is to defeat militants

The United States takes the fight against IS very seriously and in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did. The US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation.

The GBU-43 is a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon. We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area. Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary
Caracas, April 13

Venezuelans in poor areas blocked streets and lit fires during scattered protests across the country on Tuesday night, and two people were killed during the growing unrest in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.

In a worrying sign for leftist President Nicolas Maduro, groups in Caracas traditionally pro-government hillside slums and low-income neighborhoods took to the streets, witnesses and opposition lawmakers reported.

Maduro foes were galvanized by footage of a crowd in the south-eastern Bolivar state heckling and throwing objects at the closely-protected leader during a rally on Tuesday, before state television cut off the broadcast.

In the western Lara state, two people, aged 13 and 36, were killed during unrest on Tuesday, the state prosecutors office said in a statement. Laras opposition governor Henri Falcon blamed violence on infiltrators and delinquents who roamed on motorcycles after an energy blackout.

They go by neighborhoods and shoot people who are protesting, said Falcon, a former member of the ruling party, urging a negotiation to end Venezuelas political crisis.

The opposition says Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader who took office four years ago, has morphed into a dictator after a Supreme Court decision in late March to assume the functions of the opposition-led congress.

The court quickly overturned the most controversial part of its decision, but the move breathed new life into the fractured opposition movement.

Two young men had already been killed in protests during the last week, according to authorities. Many are bracing for further violence in a country that is racked by crime and has one of the worlds highest murder rates.

Witnesses said residents of a number of working-class Caracas neighborhoods blocked streets with trash or burning debris on Tuesday night, describing confused street melees and clashes with security forces. The capital appeared calm on Wednesday, although some roads were charred and littered with broken glass.

Government officials did not provide an official account of the events, and the Information Ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Maduro has said that under a veneer of pacifism, a US-backed right-wing opposition is encouraging violent protests in a bid to topple his government and get its hands on Venezuelas oil wealth.

On Wednesday night, he said the heckling incident a day earlier in the city of San Felix was an opposition attempt to ambush him that was thwarted by his loyalists.

They had prepared an ambush and the people neutralized it, he said. I want to thank the people of San Felix for their expressions of fervor, passion, love and support.

Maduro dictator

Maduros adversaries are demanding the government call delayed state elections, which polls suggest would not go well for the ruling Socialists. They also want an early presidential vote after authorities quashed a recall referendum against Maduro last year.

A ban on opposition leader Henrique Capriles from holding office for 15 years drew broad criticism as he was seen as the oppositions best presidential hope.

But it is Venezuelas extended economic crisis that has ordinary people fuming.

Venezuelans have been suffering food and medicine shortages for months, leading many to skip meals or go without crucial treatment. Lines of hundreds form in front of supermarkets as people jostle for hours under the hot sun hoping price-controlled rice or flour will be delivered.

The crisis has especially hurt the poor, long the base of support of Maduro and his predecessor the late Hugo Chavez.

Protesters say they have also been encouraged by stronger condemnation from American and European nations in the last two weeks.

We cannot accept that the regime is willing to sacrifice Venezuelan lives to remain in power, said Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States, in a video posted on Wednesday, urging elections.

Another round of protests are planned for Thursday in Venezuelas more than 300 municipalities. Opposition leaders are calling for the mother of all marches on April 19.

Arrests, looting

Amid what the opposition coalition says is a crackdown on dissent, some 71 people were arrested on Tuesday, according to rights group Penal Forum.

In total, 364 people were arrested between April 4-12 during the most sustained protests since 2014, with 183 people still behind bars, the group added.

A group of young men and teenagers were arrested for throwing sharp objects against Maduros vehicle on Tuesday night, according to a report by a local National Guard division seen by Reuters. Two sources told Reuters the protesters were hurling stones.

Local media reported lootings overnight in the working class bedroom community of Guarenas outside Caracas, as well as in parts of the capital.

State officials have tweeted images and videos of demonstrators vandalizing public property and throwing rocks at police.

Despite the spiking tensions, many in the opposition worry extended protests will not spur early or fair elections, but rather increase clashes in the already turbulent country.

Major anti-government protests in 2014 eventually floundered, though the opposition at the time did not have as clear-cut demands, poor neighborhoods largely abstained, and the economy was in better shape.  Reuters
New York, Apr 13(Just Earth News): New policy guidance from the European Commission aimed at improving the protection of migrant and refugee children has been welcomed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN refugee agency.

It is the first EU policy to address the situation and rights of all children in migration  refugee and migrant children, children alone and with their families  linking migration, asylum and child protection, Noala Skinner, Director of UNICEF's Brussels Office said.

The guidelines include boosting child protection at all levels, improving data collection to ensure children are properly tracked and the appointment of guardians for children. The guidelines also encourage member States to refrain from invasive age assessments and to increase cooperation among states.

Dianne Goodman, Deputy Director of the Europe Bureau of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said: These important guidelines will help EU States better respond to the needs of refugee and migrant children. We strongly hope that these guidelines will contribute, in a very concrete manner, to the protection of the many children who arrive to Europe after having been forced to flee their homes due to violence, war and conflict. Many have suffered incredible hardship while on their journey and afterwards.

In a joint press release, the two UN agencies stressed that children should never be detained, irrespective of their legal or migratory status, or that of their parents. They also welcomed the EU's policy commitment to prioritise national child protection systems for children displaced beyond European borders.

According to UNHCR, children make up over half of the world's refugee population. Both agencies are looking forward to the policy's implementation and an end to the violence and poverty that often precipitates displacement.

Photo: UNHCR/Zsolt Balla

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Apr 13(Just Earth News): With a anoa vote from permanent member Russia, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a resolution that would have condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and called on the Government to cooperate with an investigation into the incident.

While 10 of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, Russia rejected the text, as permanent member China, as well as non-permanent members Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained. A negative vote  or veto  from one of the Councils five permanent members means a resolution cannot be adopted.

The proposed measure  drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the United States, the Councils other permanent members  would have strongly condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in the [Syria], in particular the attack on Khan Shaykhun, the site of last weeks incident that has drawn increasing global attention.

The measure would and also had called on the Syrian Government to comply with relevant recommendations of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission (FFM) and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

In February, Russia and China vetoed a measure that would have imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and entities linked to the use of chemical weapons in cases where responsibility was established by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

Although the Council came together on 19 December to unanimously adopt a resolution demanding that all parties to the Syrian conflict ensure immediate and unhindered access for the monitoring of evacuations from eastern Aleppo, over the past five years, Russia has vetoed eight Council texts on the Syrian conflict, while China has vetoed six of those eight.

As the Syrian crisis enters its seventh year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 13.5 million people require humanitarian assistance. Moreover, some 6.3 million have been internally displaced by violence.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has been facilitating the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the latest round of which wrapped up in late March. The discussions are guided by Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), focusing on matters of governance, including a new constitution for Syria and the holding of elections.

Briefing the Council in a meeting earlier on Wednesday, de Mistura said the US and Russia must find a way to work together to stabilize the situation and support the political process. He said that last weeks reported chemical weapons attack, the subsequent airstrikes by the US and intensified fighting on the ground have put the fragile peace process is in grave danger.

This is a time for clear-thinking, strategy, imagination, cooperation, said de Mistura.

The meeting on Wednesday comes as the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Moscow meeting with top Russian officials.

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Apr 13(Just Earth News): Accessible social and health services, with dedicated human and financial resources must be addressed and made available for persons with disabilities in the new global framework on refugees and migrants, a group of United Nations human rights experts have urged, as UN-led intergovernmental talks on the issue are set to launch consultation in 2018.

The framework, entitled Global Compact for Migration will set out a range of principles and commitments among governments to enhance coordination on international migration and is due to be adopted in 2018. The Compact is one of the key outcomes of last years UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants.

The new Global Compact is a unique opportunity to address the shortcomings of a migration and refugee system built on policies that lack consideration for persons with disabilities, said Theresia Degener, the Chair of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Dedicated human and financial resources, she stressed, should be included in the new framework to identify persons with disabilities in reception and detention centres and to provide adequate standards of living and healthcare, including psycho-social support.

However, we are deeply concerned about the precarious situation of persons with disabilities in the current migration crisis, said Catalina Devandas Aguilar, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

She added that many countries lack formal procedures to identify migrants and refugees with disabilities and, consequently, fail to provide them with protection and essential services, such as shelter and medical care that are accessible and responsive to their needs.

Persons with disabilities face exclusion and discrimination due to a lack of accessibility, including with respect to humanitarian assistance, and denial of reasonable accommodation, according to a joint statement on Addressing disabilities in large-scale movements of refugees and Migrants, issued by the Committee on Migrant Workers and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The joint statement further called on Member States to realize the rights of migrants and refugees with disabilities in accordance with their international human rights treaty obligations.

We need to be sure that, when world leaders commit to saving the lives of refugees and migrants [] they dont forget about persons with disabilities, said Jose Brillantes, the Chair of the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and members of Their Families.

On 6 April, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the modalities for negotiations for the next 13 months in the run-up to the adoption of the Global Compact on Migration.

Photo: Jodi Hilton/IRIN

Source: www.justearthnews.com
A social media photo of his mailbox with an invitation for civil disobedience contributed to the cancellation of a Tuesday evening town hall meeting in Tahlequah, 2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin said Wednesday.

This lady posted my personal address on social media with the message, Anybody feeling like getting arrested?  Mullin said by phone as he traveled between town halls in southeastern Oklahoma.

The three-term Republican said the message also included a hashtag referencing civil disobedience.

Someone wants to get arrested, Mullin said.

He did not name the person who posted the message.

As he did Tuesday, Mullin said the overarching reason for the cancellation was a disagreement about security measures at Sequoyah High School, which is operated by the Cherokee Nation.

The three-term Republican would not say precisely what the disagreement was about, but other sources have said it had to do with the red and green cards audience members have been using to signal agreement or disagreement with statements.

Mullin said threats received from the Tahlequah area added to uneasiness about people confronting each other in the audience.

I was never concerned about me, Mullin said. When a crowd starts with that intensity and then gets riled up, people eventually get engaged with each other. We have to have strict security procedures to keep control.

On Thursday, Mullin will conclude 25 town hall meetings in six days over two weeks. He said most have been uneventful, but he seems to have irritated constituents with his declaration that he doesnt work for the taxpayers because hes paid more in taxes over the years than hes earned in congressional salary  and for chewing out a woman in Pryor he said was being disrespectful to a police officer.

The town halls can be seen on Mullins Facebook page.

Mullin said Wednesday that a group of people he associates with the Indivisible movement have followed him from town hall to town hall over the past two weeks.

Theres no question they have an agenda theyre wanting to push, Mullin said.

But that in itself is not unusual, he said.

For the most part, everybody who comes to a town hall is passionate or they wouldnt be there, Mullin said.

The Tahlequah meeting will be rescheduled, but a date has not been arranged, he said.
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News): Against the backdrop of almost two billion people around the world relying on sources of drinking-water contaminated with faeces, the United Nations has called on countries to aradicallya increase investments in water and sanitation infrastructure not only to protect their populations from deadly diseases but also to ensure that they are able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause more than 500,000 diarrhoeal deaths each year and is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases, including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, said Maria Neira, the Director of Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in a news release on Thursday.

The UN report, Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water 2017, notes that while countries have increased their budgets for water, sanitation and hygiene at an average annual rate of about 4.9 per cent over the last three years, 80 per cent of countries have reported that the increase is still insufficient to meet nationally-defined targets for those services.

Therefore, in order to meet the ambitious SDG targets, which aim for universal access to safely managed water and sanitation services by 2030, countries need to use financial resources more efficiently as well as increase efforts to identify new sources of funding.

The Global Assessment also highlights that these efforts are particularly important for developing countries where current national coverage targets are based on achieving access to basic infrastructure and which may not necessarily provide continuously safe and reliable services.

The report has been issued by WHO, on behalf of UN-Water  the inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues, including sanitation.

Funding gap is vast but countries have the ability to mobilize resources

According to estimates by the World Bank, investments in infrastructure need to triple to $114 billion per year  a figure which does not include operating and maintenance costs.

While this funding gap is vast, there are recent examples of countries having demonstrated the ability to mobilize the needed resources to meet development targets.

For instance, 147 countries around the globe were able to successfully mobilize the resources required to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of people without an improved source of water, and 95 among them met the corresponding target for sanitation. 77 countries met both.

According to Guy Ryder, the Chair of UN-Water and the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), nations have the ability to address the challenges of meeting the ambitious SDG targets.

Increased investments in water and sanitation can yield substantial benefits for human health and development, generate employment and make sure that we leave no one behind, he said.

Photo: John Hogg / World Bank

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Film Victoria has announced funding for a number of screen projects, some of which have been previously announced.

It includes season seven of Offspring and season two of The Wrong Girl, both for TEN.

WTFNs Ask The Doctor is funded for the ABC. It was also funded by Screen Australia with significant philanthropic support via Good Pitch Australia.

Australias amazing and enduring marine sanctuary will be explored on the giant screen in December Medias Great Barrier Reef 3D while the life of Australian writer, broadcaster, filmmaker and social commentator, Anne Deveson is unpacked in Paper Trails.

Victorias longest running animation studio Viskatoons received funding to bring their second season of Jar Dwellers SOS to life. In a further boost, Film Victoria will also provide a traineeship support package which will assist five trainees employed on the series to build their skills using the worlds best practice software.

Chocolate Liberation Front (The Adventures of Figaro Pho) will get tails wagging with their new series Larry the Wonderpug. In partnership with WTFN the show explores the real and imaginary worlds with a delightful pug Larry and his sixyearold owner Sasha.

The 16 screen projects (including film) share a total of over $3.2 million in funding and will generate more than $44 million for Victorias economy.
Next week SBS premieres the latest culinary adventures of a favourite TV chef with Rick Steins Taste of Shanghai.

Rick Steins latest food adventure takes him to one of the biggest cities in the world as he finds out whether Shanghai, having almost doubled in size over the last 20 years, has managed to hang on to its culinary roots.

Proving theres more to Chinese food than the tried and tested familiar takeaway favourites, he shares new recipes for the delicious Shanghainese dishes he discovers during his exploration of the city and its coastal suburbs.

From an ordinary family home, through the back streets with their fast food cooks and their flaming woks, to soup dumpling joints and eventually to the most glitzy restaurant, Rick gets a real sense of what food means to the residents of this massive city.

Thursday, 20 April at 8.35pm on SBS.
Washington, Apr 13 (IBNS) The United States has dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb in an area in eastern Afghanistan now populated by Islamic State terrorists, according to media reports quoting Pentagon.

According to CNN, a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, nicknamed MOAB, was dropped at 7 p.m. local time Thursday.

The Pentagon said the strike was the first time the 21,000lb weapon had been used in combat operations, reported The Independent which confirmed from a US Defence spokesperson that the mother of all bombs was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft.

According to CNN, the "weapon is known in the US Air Force by its nickname MOAB, or "mother of all bombs". MOAB stands for massive ordinance air blast.

CNN said the bomb was targeting Islamic State tunnels and fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar.

USA is engaged in a long term conflict in Afghanistan invading the country after the 9/11 attacks of 2001 in America, with the public aim of dismantling the al Queda first along with the Talibans.

In Dec 2014, NATO formally ended combat operations in Afghanistan and transferred full security responsibility to the Afghan government. In early 2017, thousands of American and other NATO troops remain in Afghanistan as military advisors and for counterterrorism operations without any formal plans to withdraw.

ISIS is the new enemy now after al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden was killed by the US Navy Seals in Pakistan in 2011.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
Haysam, 30, from Aleppo Syria, and his wife Nazli, who will soon become a mother, are overwhelmed by the welcome they received in the middlesized Greek city of Livadia. They are now living in a flat allocated by UNHCR.  UNHCR /Christos Tolis

LIVADIA, Greece - Spring is in the air and 30-year-old Haysam is in high spirits as he strolls through the streets of Livadia, a small town nestled under the snowcapped mountains of central Greece. He has good reason to be; after more than three years of uncertainty in Turkey and Greece, the refugee is living in a flat provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as he waits to join his family in Belgium.

To cap it all, his young wife Nazli, aged 21, will become a mother later this year. She got pregnant in Livadia  I am very proud of that, he confides. Its the talk of the midsize town, where the affable Kurdish-Syrian from Aleppo has made many friends since being transferred here earlier this year from the crowded Cherso site in the north.

After nine months, UNHCR called and said we have found a place for you in Livadia, explains Haysam, who had in 2013 flown to Istanbul with his family after the war came to their district.

 I stayed at home without food, electricity.

He explains that the first floor flat, which is provided by UNHCR under an ambitious accommodation programme funded by the European Commission is equipped with all he and Nazli could need, including furniture, appliances and kitchen goods.

They were also given clothing and help with the groceries as well as access to a wide range of social services. A far cry from Aleppo, where there were bombs everywhere and  I stayed at home without food, electricity, water. I was forced to go, he says.

Haysam and Nazli were overwhelmed by the welcome they received by the people of Livadia, whom he said were there for them, despite their own economic problems. They dont look at us like refugees. They deal with us like other Greeks, says Haysam. I made many friends.

Livadias decision to accommodate asylum seekers, alongside the much bigger Athens and Thessaloniki municipalities, was spearheaded by Giota Poulou, its visionary mayor. The pugnacious pragmatist consulted with all sectors of society, including the church and political opponents, to build consensus in the town and obtain agreement.

The result is a win-win situation

The town has agreed to host some 400 people for placement in 70 apartments. The result is a win-win situation with the town making moral and economic gains, the asylum seekers living in a real home rather than a crowded site and UNHCR supporting the Government of Greece in finding a solution to a challenging problem.

Livadia is an example that could persuade other mid-size towns to follow suit. UNHCR, which works closely with the Greek Ministry for Migration Policy, is keen to form partnerships with more municipalities and is engaged in discussions with mayors in Crete and Thessalia..

To date, UNHCR in Greece has provided accommodation for close to 30,000 asylum seekers under a programme which was initially designed for people selected to benefit from the EU relocation scheme but was subsequently expanded to include particularly vulnerable asylum seekers.

This was achieved through a complex and difficult operation that also provided a whole basket of services and protection beyond simple provision of a safe and clean place to live. The Greek Government would like to see the programme continue and expand through this year as efforts to move people out of the camps continue.

This accommodation programme is part of larger efforts aimed at ensuring that a sustainable and adequate reception system is put in place by the Greek Government. This requires the provision of more accommodation opportunities in urban areas such as the one made available to Hysam and Nazli, improving reception conditions on the islands and on the mainland, the provision of greater security in all sites, and ensuring that all unsuitable sites are quickly closed.

UNHCR is also urging EU Member States to increase the pace and number of people relocated and reunited with family members in other EU Member States. While relocation has picked up recently, to date only 12,407 individuals out of an initial target of 66,400 have been relocated from Greece.
Samira visits one of UNHCR's community centers in Aleppo.  UNHCR/Qusai Alazroni

ALEPPO, Syria  Samira recalls the day at the end of 2012 when she and her husband Wael took their newborn son and fled their home in eastern Aleppo. Without a valid marriage certificate or ID, they had to dodge checkpoints as well as pockets of fighting, transforming the short journey to the west of the city into a long and dangerous trek.

It was a difficult and complicated journey, she remembered. Trying to avoid the checkpoints and taking dangerous alternatives. Despite reaching safety in western Aleppo, where the family has been displaced ever since, their lack of documentation threatens to have serious consequences for the couple and their young children.

Married shortly before the conflict erupted, Samira and Wael were unable to travel to his hometown some 50 kilometres away near Idleb to register their marriage due to heavy fighting along the route. We hardly made it from east to west Aleppo. Going that far outside the city would have been a mission impossible, Samira explained.

It was a difficult and complicated journey."

Without a marriage certificate, they were unable to register the births of their two children, Mohammed, 4, and Shaza, 2. Without birth certificates, my children may not be able to have proper education or healthcare support, Samira added.

As well as displacing 6.3 million people inside the country and driving a further 5 million into exile across the region, Syrias six-year conflict has also left hundreds of thousands of citizens without valid civil documentation.

Syrian refugees who have been born outside Syria and have no birth certificate run the risk of joining the estimated 10 million stateless people worldwide, especially if their fathers are not able or willing to certify their parentage for various reasons. For others, including those displaced inside the country, such as Samira and Wael, the lack of documentation can also prevent family reunification and hinder movement.

The lack of documentation also makes people more susceptible to harassment, extortion and exploitation, explained Abdul Karim Ghoul, UNHCRs Deputy Representative in Damascus.

With many unaware of the procedures involved in obtaining documentation, or unable to afford its recently increased costs, UNHCR  the UN Refugee Agency  is providing legal aid to those in need to help remedy the situation. It is also providing assistance for birth registration to reduce the risk of statelessness and ensure access to services.

Syrian mother Samira visits a UNHCR community centre in Aleppo for legal help registering her child's birth.  UNHCR/Qusai Alazroni

In Samiras case, legal aid support is provided through a lawyer to represent her and Wael before the courts and civil registration authorities in order to officially register their marriage and issue birth certificates for the children.

In one notable example at a UNHCR community centre in the coastal city of Tartous, the agency and its legal partners helped 5,000 displaced people from Aleppo and Deir-ez-Zor to get new ID cards. The efforts of the lawyers working for local NGOs funded by UNHCR, coupled with understanding and cooperation on the part of the civil registry department, resulted in the IDs being issued without the need for the concerned individuals to make the dangerous journeys back to their home cities.

Khalaf, a displaced Syrian from Deir-ez-Zor, who lives with his family of five in a collective shelter in Tartous, explained the significance of getting a new national ID card, after he lost his previous ID when fleeing his home.

Without my ID, I could not move freely or search for a job, he said. Now I can walk through checkpoints without any concerns about my safety. Khalaf was also able to register the birth of his newborn daughter.

Without my ID I could not move freely or search for a job."

It is a great success, said Mr. Ghoul. These people had either limited or no access to work and healthcare, and their movement was severely restricted. Now they can get a job or access healthcare, basic services and humanitarian assistance and can document their and their childrens civil status and citizenship.

Through a network of currently ca. 120 local lawyers across Syria, UNHCR provided legal aid to 75,000 IDPs and affected host community members in 2016. In addition, 54,700 persons benefitted from awareness-raising sessions on different legal issues. These activities were carried out as part of the community-based protection response that UNHCR is implementing through a network of 74 community centres run by national NGOs, two legal clinics and more than 1,770 outreach volunteers, including specifically trained legal outreach Syrian volunteers. The community centres provide a portfolio of integrated protection services, including legal aid and are supported by mobile teams providing legal aid in collective shelters and remote/hard-to-reach locations with a high number of IDPs. Despite challenges in accessing displaced people in insecure or hard-to-reach areas, UNHCR aims to increase legal aid provision in 2017 by increasing its network of lawyers and outreach to underserved communities, and ensure that more Syrians receive the services and support they so desperately need.

For more information on the #IBELONG campaign to end statelessness, please visit: http://www.unhcr.org/ibelong-campaign-to-end-statelessness.html
On a warm weekday afternoon, the Argentine city of San Luis is an oasis of calm. Majd and Lana, married Syrian refugees from Damascus, are killing time before their Spanish lesson. It is hard to believe they only arrived here five weeks ago.

It already feels like home, grins Lana. In Argentina we have learnt how to be human again, adds Majd, taking a deep drag on his cigarette.

The couple had little choice but to flee Syria. Two years earlier Majd, a cook, narrowly escaped with his life after a bomb hit his parents' home in the Old Town of Damascus. He and Lana, a sculptor, got married and bought a flat further from the city centre. But it quickly became the most dangerous neighbourhood in the whole city, remembers Majd. Everyone was scared.

In February 2017, they arrived in the central province of San Luis under a humanitarian visa programme for Syrian refugees offered by the Government of Argentina. The tranquillity of the provincial capital, also called San Luis, is in stark contrast to the death and destruction of Damascus. With a population of 200,000 people, its streets thrum with activity in the morning; in the afternoon most shops close while locals take a siesta, or afternoon nap.

More than 8,000 miles from home, the couple are flourishing. As the first Syrian refugees to arrive in the province in central Argentina, they have become celebrities. They are even starting to get recognised on the street. Sometimes I feel like a Pokemon, laughs Majd.

"In Argentina we have learnt how to be human again."

Established in 2014, Argentinas humanitarian visa programme offers a vital escape route to those fleeing Syrias war. It requires Argentine citizens, organizations or institutions to act as sponsors and commit private funds to provide newly-arrived refugees with accommodation and financial assistance.

San Luis has gone one step further. It is the first province to pledge public funds to support the resettlement of at least 50 families in the province, 30 of whom will be selected by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Those who are resettled are offered free Spanish lessons, accommodation, further education (including the option of studying for a university degree), health insurance and public transport. They also receive two years worth of financial support to help them adjust to their new life in Argentina, while they find a job.

The offer came just in time for Lana and Majd. Many of their friends were killed after being conscripted into the Syrian army. Countless others died in the fighting. As the violence worsened, the couple considered fleeing overland to Europe.

But their religion  both are Orthodox Christians  made the journey impossible. The route, through Idlib or Aleppo, would have brought them into contact with extremist militias, who would have killed them for their faith. Concealing it was not an option: Majd has a crucifix prominently tattooed on his right forearm.

Artist Mario Lange has volunteered to help newly-arrived refugees in the Argentine province of San Luis, as part of the local government's resettlement programme.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

Mario works on a painting in his workshop in San Luis.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

Majd and Lana embrace outside the entrance to their new apartment block.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

Majd and Lana play with their puppy, given to them by the governor of San Luis Alberto Rodriguez Saa, outside their new apartment.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

Majd and Lana talk to their new friend and neighbour Pedro Liborio, 36.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

The opening of RefugiArte, an exhibition in the bus station in San Luis, which aims to raise awareness of the plight of refugees around the world.  UNHCR/Jack Aldwinckle

Once accepted onto Argentinas humanitarian visa programme, the couple left Damascus and flew to Buenos Aires. After arriving in Argentina the couple enjoyed practising their religion freely. We cried when we went to our first church service, says Lana. They often pray in their new flat, part of a student accommodation block at the University of La Punta, a half-hour drive from the city of San Luis.

The couple is settling in well. They share their flat with Blackie, a rambunctious puppy gifted to them by the provincial governor, Alberto Rodriguez Saa. Twice a week they take the bus into the city for a Spanish class with Claudia, their teacher. They are making extraordinary progress. We understand everything, we just dont have the vocabulary to be able to respond yet, explains Lana.

Locals are eager to help. Under the relocation scheme, the provinces residents are encouraged to offer practical support to the new arrivals. Many are stepping forward. Linguists can volunteer as translators, entrepreneurs can offer jobs, even families can find a way to help. They can meet for dinner together or celebrate a birthday, explains Liliana Scheines, who co-ordinates the Syrian Refugee Committee, which operates the provincial programme named 'Humanitarian Corridor San Luis'.

Mario Lange is one of those to put his name forward. An artist with a workshop on the edge of town, his bright and colourful paintings and murals also adorn San Luiss public buildings. He sympathises with Majd and Lanas predicament. I was born into extreme poverty, he explains. I lived in the middle of the countryside and when I came to San Luis it was tough.

The plan is to receive four or five families every couple of months."

Shortly after their arrival, Mario invited Lana along to help him with a public art installation and presented the couple with a pair of hand-painted bicycles. He warns that adjusting to life in San Luis take time. After few weeks they will begin to realise they are in another country. Thats when they will really need our help.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20 last year, Argentine President Mauricio Macri, pledged to resettle 3,000 Syrian refugees. Priority would be given to families with young children, he announced. The images we are witnessing hurt and worry us, he told world leaders. Reality compels us to do more.

In San Luis, the scheme is only just getting started. The plan is to receive four or five families every couple of months, says Scheines. The ambition is to settle them in 60 of the provinces municipalities to better integrate them with San Luiss residents.

UNHCR believes more needs to be done to help some five million Syrian refugees, uprooted by six bloody years of conflict. The provincial government is winning plaudits for its progressive approach. Its an amazing programme, says Michele Manca di Nissa, Regional Representative for UNHCRs southern Latin America office. We hope it can be a model for other provinces in Argentina and other countries in the region. The regional office is advising the province on local integration issues and raising awareness of refugees by organising workshops for journalists and mounting 'RefugiArte', a touring art exhibition.

Majd and Lana have not forgotten about Syria. They use social media to follow the news and keep in touch with friends and family. The couple hope to help some of them follow in their footsteps. Their parents are too old to leave Syria, says Lana. But some cousins are interested. Majd and Lana are collating their names and passing them onto the Argentine authorities. Its like a chain," explains Lana. We are to trying to help as many as we can.

The couple are brimming with optimism about their future. Lana hopes to find work as an artist and Majd, an enthusiastic cook, would like to open a restaurant one day. We are going to start again and be successful, declares Lana. They are determined to build a new life in Argentina. This is our home now, says Lana, squinting at the jagged foothills of the Andes in the distance. I cant imagine going back to Syria.
Sandra fixes her gaze on a family sitting beneath a makeshift shelter. Tears stream down her dusty face, leaving tracks on her cheeks.

Thousands of people lie around on the ground around her, exhausted. Men are busy making a shelter for the night. Mothers and young girls hurry to ready porridge for lunch. Sandra is alone in a sea uncertainty and intense emotion.I have no news about my parents and my siblings, she sobs. I prefer not to think about them. It makes me sad. I fear that I may not see them ever again.

Sandra, 14, fled to Uganda on April 3 after the South Sudanese army launched a deadly attack on Pajok town, forcing tens of thousands of people to leave their homes and hide in the bush. More than 7,000 crossed to Uganda at Ngomoromo in the course of a week.

Among them are 600 children, separated from their parents. They made the perilous journey alone. Some were girls who were far away from home fetching water or collecting firewood when the attack happened; others are teenagers selling fruit and vegetables at the local market; or students like Sandra.

When the gunshot began, I was in school."

When the gunshot began, I was in school. We were learning English vocabulary. I was so afraid. I never heard that sound before. The teacher shouted to get out and ran. My classmates and I were in the front. He was the last one to leave the classroom, making sure that no one was left behind.

South Sudanese refugees walk towards the Ugandan border crossing at Ngomoromo carrying their belongings. They are fleeing the town of Pajok after it was attacked by armed groups.  UNHCR/Rocco Nuri

Sandra and her fellow students arrived in Ngomoromo two days after a long walk through the bush without food and water. She is still wearing the uniform that she had put on to go to school the day of the attack. When we reached this place, we found many people sleeping on the ground. Some were sitting on the sides of the road. But they were all strangers to me.

Since the onset of the emergency, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has been running a protection desk at the border to identify and assist the most needy: survivors of sexual violence, people with disabilities, the elderly, single mothers, and separated children and unaccompanied minors like Sandra. Working closely with refugee representatives, the UNHCR team on the ground in Ngomoromo was able to reunite some of these children with their parents and arrange temporary foster care for the rest.

Sandra was briefly reunited with her Aunt.

I wanted Auntie to stay with me, but she went back to South Sudan the following day to look for my parents, says Sandra. I am alone again.

"I dont know where my husband is. Who is going to take care of my children?"

Christine Achan, 26, sits on a dusty straw mat under the shade of an old concrete waiting station, cradling her newborn in her arms. But her face hardly reflects the joy of bringing a new life into the world. I thank God that the baby is healthy, but I dont feel good. I dont know where my husband is. Who is going to take care of my children? I dont feel good, she says with a sense of guilty.

Christine was in her last week of pregnancy when the violence split Pajok, where she used to be a teacher.

I was at home getting ready to go to school when I heard the gunshots. Everything happened suddenly. I run to the bush with my two children and my grandmother. We walked for three days without food and water. I thought I would deliver on the way. I had pain in my stomach. I feared I would lose my baby, she says.

Uganda: South Sudanese Baby Born into Conflict

Christine gave birth to Anwech Varsity two days after arriving in Uganda. In the midst of this chaos, I found my sister Beatrice. At least I have someone to share my worries with. My children keep asking me about their father. I told them that he is alive and he will soon join us. But I have a bad feeling deep inside.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in South Sudan in 2013, families have been torn apart. Violence, hunger and indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations continue to prompt mass exodus, putting the number of internally displaced people and refugees at respectively 1.9 million and 1.7 million.

Women and children bear the brunt of this senseless war.

Uganda currently hosts more than 834,000 South Sudanese refugees, with over 194,000 new arrivals in 2017 alone. Eighty-six percent are women and children, including some 21,000 minors without parents or a legal guardian.

Women and children bear the brunt of this senseless war, says Bornwell Katande, UNHCRs Representative in Uganda. While it is imperative to pursue a political resolution to the conflict, in countries of asylum like Uganda it is vital to provide special support to women and children who have experienced violence, trauma and abuse. But the funding situation is dire.

UNHCR and partners need more than US$558 million to respond to the needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, including food, water, shelter and livelihoods.

Four months into 2017, we have received less than 10 percent of the funding. The international community should show share more responsibility towards the worlds fastest growing refugee crisis. What is at stake here is the future of an entire generation of children, who have lost one or both parents, who are unable to go to school or do the ordinary things all children deserve.

Donate now
"I don't know if my husband and daughter are alive." South Sudanese refugee Susan, 20, sits weeping by the roadside at Ngomoromo border crossing, Uganda with her son, Robert strapped to her back. The family were cut off from each other when armed forces attacked the town of Pajok. Susan walked through the bush for three days before reaching the border.  UNHCR/Rocco Nuri

KAMPALA, Uganda  UNHCRs Representative in Uganda today assured the Government of the international communitys commitment to assist refugees and the communities that host them, and to support the country to pursue its refugee protection, management and social integration policies.

Bornwell Kantande was speaking at a ceremony, where the Ugandas Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, Hon. Hilary Onek and the Inspector-General of Police, General Kale Kayihura were guests of honor. During the ceremony, UNHCR handed over 30 vehicles to the Government and to NGO partners.

The main reasons that people  women, men and children  flee their homes and communities are conflict, general insecurity and human rights, said Kantande. Without exception, Uganda opens its doors to refugees and provides them the security and protection that they are no longer able to enjoy in their country.

The UNHCR Representative lauded the role that the Uganda Police plays in receiving and protecting refugees. We see police officers working day and night to ensure that those seeking safety find it, he said. He noted that the vehicles were intended to enhance police mobility so that refugees and nationals could benefit from the security services.

Kantande requested the Government of Uganda to deploy more police officers to refugee hosting areas, and asked for an increase in the number of women officers.

The Inspector-General of Police welcomed the additional support and gave his assurances that refugees would always find safe sanctuary in Uganda. These are our brothers and sisters, said Kayihura, adding that despite resource constraints and spiraling refugee numbers, Ugandas police will continue to redouble their efforts to secure refugee hosting areas. He outlined a range of needs to enhance security including logistical support to patrol border areas.

The Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees lauded the Governments partnership with UNHCR in the quest to support people who have fled their countries. Describing the refugee influx as overwhelming, he commended the police for their vigilance and good work.

The Minister noted that Uganda has set aside Government land for use by refugees to settle and cultivate, and that in many cases host communities have done the same. He described initiatives by the Government and its international partners to boost the social and economic situation of refugees and the communities that host them.

Uganda has a long history of providing safe asylum to refugees. With more than 1.2 million, it is currently Africas leading refugee-hosting country. The majority hail from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Somalia.

- END -

For more information, please contact:

Teresa Ongnaro, [email protected]
Shepherd Unviersity has announced that they will dedicate a new on-campus center for 180 student veterans on Tuesday. They are also set to do the first lecture in a new series honoring the late Shepherd alumnus Brig. Gen. Wayne "Speedy" Lloyd.

Ribbon cutting is scheduled at 6:45 p.m. in the new veterans center off the first-floor main entrance at Gardiner Hall. The lecture will be held in the Erma Ora Byrd Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The lecture's free and open to the public.

The veterans center's main goal is to help student veterans make the transition from military life to college life. From the historic Free School on Princess Street in Shepherdstown they decided to move the location after student veterans said they needed more space.

The veterans center's vice president, Cody Munro, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and also a junior working on a degree in criminal justice said they were invited to a panel discussion to talk about overall issues affecting veterans. Shepherd President Mary J.C. Hendrix gave her full support for the campus veterans and catered to the things that were needed at the center.

Munro added that many veterans didn't use the downtown center because they didn't know it existed. They center needed to be on campus to reach out to more student veterans who are not aware of what it offers. The university should inform incoming veteran students as well about the center at orientation.

The Herald Mail Media reported that Maj. Gen. Eric Vollmecke, deputy director for strategic plans and policy at the Pentagon, will be the speaker launching the lecture series on Tuesday. He was a friend and former colleague of Lloyd and delivered the eulogy at Lloyd's funeral.

Lloyd graduated from Charles Town High School in 1962 and had a science degree at Shepherd University. In 1977, he joined the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. He flew C-130 cargo planes for more than 30 years, ranked up and took over the Martinsburg base as its commander in 1989.
Researchers at McGill University worked with a group of women who were abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) during the Uganda war. The purpose of the study is to compare their situations during the battle and their lives after it. Sadly, a lot of them considered the war to be better than peace, but they have no plans on giving up the fight for real freedom.

First, LRA is a known rebel group led by Joseph Kony during the civil war in Northern Uganda. The bloody years took place between 1986 and 2007. Now, the respondents used in the research were interviewed when they were aged between 12 and 19. A lot of them grew up in captivity.

According to McGill, the experts partnered with Watye Ki Gen questioned a total of 60 children. The majority of these people have stayed in prison for up to seven years after being born. Per the same source, the researchers supplemented the interviews with arts-based psychological workshops.

Surprisingly, when the participants were asked to draw their families before and after the war, the sad faces were seen on the post-war outputs. The experts were truly shocked and puzzled so they decided to ask the children directly. Apparently, the respondents revealed that their lives were actually better during the war in many ways.

Per Science Daily, the study found out that the drawings were the results of multiple forms of "violence, stigma, rejection, social exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization." Sadly, the people who survived the war had to face tougher challenges after it. Lead author Myriam Denov from McGill University explained in the study that the victims of war see violence, terror, and starvation as easier challenges compared to the moral abuse they are experiencing now.

Additionally, these people have seen a "greater sense of family" during the hard times. Unfortunately, the war victims experience abuse from their own uncles nowadays. For one, their family members do not want "Kony" children at home. The youths stressed that they need a livelihood, psychological support, and community sensitization.
Cass Tech graduate, Historian and University of Michigan professor, Heather Ann Thompson, was among the winners of 2017 Pulitzer Prizes for best written works on Monday. Thompson won for the book called "Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy," a history of the 1971 Attica prison uprising.

According to historians, the Attica uprising is a civil rights touchstone equal to Watts and Detroit's 1967 riot. Thompson's first book was "Whose Detroit?" Thompson won the award in the category of Letters, Drama & Music.

MLive reported that according to the judges she won for a narrative history that set high standard for scholarly judgment and tenacity of inquiry in seeking the truth about the 1971 Attica prison riots. Some said it was for being able to break new ground and telling the story that few have ever heard before.

More than a decade ago, Thompson did an extensive research on Attica using New York state files to find what happened in September 1971 when 39 prisoners died and hundreds were injured after state police stormed the prison with tear gas and guns to end a hostage crisis. Prisoners took guards and civilians hostage and demanded for better living conditions.

Thompson said there was a wall full of records of Attica, which included all kinds of stuff that she wasn't supposed to see, such as key documents. It allowed her to really document those who had committed terrible crimes at Attica but were protected.

Her book claims and shows documentation that New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller knew that inmates would die. Despite warnings they hatched a plan to send armed state troopers into the prison. She said the prisoners and guards inside the prison were dispensable if it meant the governor could retake the prison.

Thompson found out about the Pulitzer Prize while she was teaching at UM Detroit history class. Her students cheered for when she heard the news. She said it was a complete surprise and she didn't imagine she'd get that kind of nomination or award, Click On Detroit reported.


The Great Barrier Reef has been bleaching for two consecutive years due to the warming ocean. Now, footage from a helicopter reveals that it is the middle part that is suffering from bleaching. But scientists are trying to save this natural wonder with a better monitoring strategy that involves the ordinary people.

Coral bleaching is when the warm waters of summer disrupt the balance between corals and symbiotic algae. Due to this condition, the coral expels the algae, turning it into white. It is very serious, and a lot of journalists are jumping in to the issue saying that the Great Barrier Reef is at its terminal stage, The Guardian reported.

Coral bleaching may be very serious, but scientists say a bleached coral doesn't mean dead corals. This means there is no reason for panic and despair since bleached coral can heal, which means there is hope.

A lot of people are overwhelmed with the trending news that the Great Barrier Reef is at its terminal stage. But people who are concerned have a way to help scientists monitor the majestic marine natural structure. Fifteen years ago The University of Queensland started the CoralWatch citizen monitoring program, The Conversation reported.

It was created to help scientists monitor the environment a wider range and inform the people about marine science. People around the reef, snorkelers, and divers can inform scientists if they spot any coral bleaching around the Great Barrier Reef. This gives the experts a more detailed picture of the reef's health.

People who are concerned about the reef can participate through the CoralWatch app or site where they can color charts to measure the type of coral bleaching. The chart features 75 percent of corals, which means people can use it even without training. People will also be asked to enter what kind of coral is suffering from bleaching, where it is located, and the weather at the moment.
The influence of social media to the lives of many people, especially to young adults can no longer be denied. It even changed the way soon-to-be college students look at the college admissions process, and it holds true for one senior student from Wentzville, Mo.

Taylor Baumstark, a senior high school student who attends Timberland High School, is torn whether she will be attending Maryville University and Missouri State. 5 On your Side reported. And that is when she turned to Twitter to finally arrive at a decision. She knew it was a tough decision to make because it is about where she will be spending the next four years of her life.

The 18 year old Baumstark was already decided to attend Missouri State University when got a letter she was not expecting from Maryville University. The letter says she was accepted to the school, and that the reason why she never got their letter was because they had a technology problem. She even said that she was offered a scholarship and was asked if she might want to go for a tour.

That was when she started struggling with making a decision. She already paid the dorm for the MSU but could hardly even decide. The next thing she did was to post two pictures of herself on Twitter showing that she is in front of the two universities, with the caption "send help".

A Twitter war started thereafter as her post was followed by multitude of comments which were not only coming from students, but also from the college's staff and presidents. After the whole Twitter War that went on, she finally made a decision later that day and Maryville University was the one who won the war.
Union Pacific Plans to Invest $135 Million in its Arkansas Rail Infrastructure

Union Pacific is boosting safety and efficiency with an approximately $135 million infrastructure investment in Arkansas this year. Projects funded by Union Pacific benefit Arkansas's overall transportation infrastructure without taxpayer funds.

Union Pacific's investment plan funds a range of initiatives: $119 million to maintain railroad track and $7 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

$20 million investment in the rail line between Rison and Camden to replace 47 miles of rail.

$14 million investment in the rail line between Little Rock and Benton to replace 61,005 railroad ties and install 16,838 tons of rock ballast.

"Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Arkansas," said Brenda Mainwaring, Union Pacific vice president  Public Affairs, Southern Region. "Maintaining a healthy railroad is the foundation of our ability to serve customers and communities across the state."

This year's planned $135 million capital expenditure in Arkansas is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, Union Pacific invested more than $588 million strengthening Arkansas's transportation infrastructure.

Union Pacific plans to spend $3.1 billion across its network this year. The company has invested $51 billion since 2000, contributing to a 40 percent decrease in derailments during the same time frame.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2016, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.
Published: April 12, 2017

Hammerhead Shark Research Pushes Senior to Think Outside the Tank

Haley Amplo 17 loves rock climbing, especially in the Southeast. She likes the way the rock formations have created climbing routes that keep her intrigued.



I love climbing. Its a game. Its a challenge, a puzzle to figure out, said Amplo, vice president of UTs rock climbing club, a University club sport. Even when youre in the gym, and theyve got marked off holds, its still how can I figure it out in a way thats different than how everybody else is figuring it out, which I think relates a lot to science.



She should know. Amplo has been problem solving her way through the hammerhead shark research shes been conducting these past two years with Daniel Huber, associate professor of biology. They are studying why the shape of hammerhead sharks heads have evolved as they have.



Hammerheads are really strange, said Amplo, a marine science-biology major with a minor in chemistry. They have a wing strapped to their face. Why would they have that?



Huber explains that hammerhead sharks are characterized by an extremely unusual head shape called the cephalofoil, or head wing. Past studies have focused on the sharks sensory systems and how the head shape might be advantageous in terms of the range of vision, turning radius and ability to pick up different electrical impulses as compared to other closely related sharks. But the issue of the sharks fluid dynamics and how they impact its evolution has been ignored.



In this study, six hammerhead species were examined to determine if cephalofoil shape affected fluid drag during locomotion. Head models were 3-D printed from reconstructed CT scans and fluid drag measurements were performed at varying angles of attack in a recirculating flume, from which drag coefficients were derived, Huber said. It was hypothesized that cephalofoil size and shape will influence fluid drag, and ultimately swimming performance.



Amplo, who is participating in this research independently, was attracted by the topic and by the professor.



When I first met with Dr. Huber I kind of fan-girled a little bit because he was on Shark Week, she said laughing. (Huber and his colleagues are the first to have successfully measured voluntary bite force in free-swimming sharks, and he has been featured several times on Discoverys Shark Week.) But its been a lot of work  in research on her own and then most Fridays in the waterfront Marine Science Field Station.



Haley has a tremendous work ethic and the intellect to understand connections between different fields of science, Huber said. This project uses engineering principles (fluid dynamics) to understand the evolution of one of the oddest structures in all of biodiversity, the hammerhead cephalofoil.



Amplo has spent hours working with computer programs that read the CT scans of frozen sharks (collected from a colleague of Hubers), cleaning up the scans in one model and using another to layer on the sharks skeletal structure, the muscles and the skin. From there they had the data to 3-D print a shark head using the high caliber 3-D printers through Hubers connection at USF Healths Department of Radiology. The heads were then set up in a flume where the team (Huber, Amplo, Taylor Cunningham 18 and Sara Casareto 20) was able to take measurements of how the fluid moved around the heads at different angles.



Were thinking hammerhead sharks, with this huge cephalofoil, also swimming at a higher angle of attack than most sharks are doing, potentially creating such a huge decrease in force or such a huge increase in lift, that that might be why cephalofoil evolved in the first place, Amplo said. Maybe all these sensory benefits are all secondary.



Amplo said one of her biggest takeaways from this research project is learning how to be creative with fixes, as well as adaptable.



One of the big things Ive learned from this project is that science is not this straight line. Its a lot of troubleshooting, she said. I had to learn how to think like a scientist, where theres not a lab manual in front of you telling you the steps to go by. A lot of it is problem solving on your own. Coming up with an idea when youre in the shower and writing it down really quick because hey, that might be a good angle to come at it. You have to think outside the box and slightly different than everyone else is thinking.



The hammerhead shark project will continue next semester with Cunningham taking the lead. For Amplo, of Jamesburg, NJ, coming to UT was a good choice.



Id pick UT again solely based on how awesome my professors have been. I do have the ability to go into their offices and they know my name, they know my face, they know about my work ethic  what Im good at, what Im not good at, even if Ive only taken one class with them.



Amplo presented her research at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference back in February, along with several other UT students, and shell be presenting at the upcoming CNHS Undergraduate Research Symposium April 28, which is part of UTs Undergraduate Research Celebration Week. Later this summer she hopes to submit her work for publication.



An experience like this is paramount in helping students decide if they want to pursue research as a career. Accumulating knowledge in the classroom only gets you so far in this regard, Huber said. Students need to experience the creative process of developing ideas and collecting/analyzing/interpreting data to know if research is right for them. It also helps students to develop the analytical skills needed to critically evaluate information and make evidence-based decisions, which is crucial to our competence as a society in this day and age.





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Central Asian Awareness Day April 23 at UW

The Central Asian Student Organization (CASA) at the University of Wyoming will celebrate Central Asian Awareness Day and New Year (Navruz) Sunday, April 23.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. The program will feature a musical show, including guest performers; speakers, traditional performances, a clothing presentation and other visual presentations about Central Asia. Traditional cuisine also will be served.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be distributed Wednesday and Thursday, April 19-20, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Wyoming Union information desk.

CASA, established in October 2011 as a recognized student organization at UW, was formed to create and promote a better understanding of Central Asia and its rich culture and history among students, faculty and local community through involvement, and participation in various social and cultural activities.

The organization has presented many cultural events on campus and in the community. CASA has won three times for top country display during International Education Week at UW. The groups table was voted the best cultural display by organizers of the event.

By showing Central Asian heritage, our students develop close relationships and deepened intercultural understanding, says Dilnoza Khasilova, CASA president.

For more information about Central Asian Awareness Day, email Khasilova at dkhasilo@uwyo.edu.
UW Masters Degree Student Receives Fulbright Award to Conduct Research in Indonesia

During her graduate studies in Indonesia, UW student Thao Nguyen posed with a fish mascot from the organization Rare, which works with local communities around the world to develop environmental stewardship practices. (Thao Nguyen Photo)

A University of Wyoming student is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program Award to conduct research in Indonesia for the 2017-18 academic year.

When she graduates from UW this spring semester -- with a double masters degree in political science, and environment and natural resources -- Thao Nguyen, originally from New Orleans, La., will spend 10 months based at the Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang, Indonesia, starting in September.

She will collaborate with Professor Hartuti Purnaweni to expand on ongoing research comparing environmental management in two marine protected areas: Wakatobi and Karimunjawa national parks. This will build off the work she began during her thesis research to assess changing management practices in the national parks.

The Fulbright award will cover her international travel, living expenses and research expenses.

I am interested in narrating the stories of the community members, Nguyen says. My research is qualitative, and I will focus on the narratives that can sometimes be left out of more quantitative studies.

Unlike U.S. national parks, in Indonesia, people live within the borders of nationally protected areas where they consume resources like fish and other seafood for subsistence. Nguyen will interview park managers, conservation organization representatives and, importantly, local fishermen to gather information about the ways that management does and does not sustain protected area biodiversity while permitting resource consumption.

Her work comes at a critical time as Indonesias new president, Joko Widodo, is promoting mass tourism in Wakatobi National Park, one of the two national parks in Nguyens comparative study.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program immerses students and recent graduates in host countries through direct community engagement in an atmosphere of academic integrity and intellectual freedom.

Nguyen also has applied for a Critical Language Enhancement Award, which would provide her with three months of intensive language training before starting her research. She will learn later this spring whether she also earns the award.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.

More than 360,000 Fulbright recipients from the U.S. and other countries have participated in the program since its inception in 1946. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

The UW International Programs Office coordinates and advises students interested in pursuing Fulbright program options. Mary Katherine Scott, acting director of the International Programs Office (IPO), and Shawn Bunning, IPOs project coordinator, are official Fulbright advisers.

Participating in a Fulbright program is a prestigious opportunity for UW students, allowing them to serve as cultural ambassadors for our institution, our state and our nation while they are overseas, Scott says. Thao is an ideal representative of this award, and her project will certainly help promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.

For more information, call Emilene Ostlind, UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources communications coordinator, at (307) 766-2604 or email emilene@uwyo.edu. For more information or to set up a Fulbright advising appointment, call the UW International Programs Office at (307) 766-3677.


Golden Nugget Las Vegas welcomes the hottest entertainers to the stage this May through July as part of its acclaimed 52 Fridays series. Headlining acts will include 60s pop sensations, 70s blues rockers, 80s hair icons, 90s rock superstars, and more (Pictured: Johnny Rivers).

Upcoming artists performing live in The Showroom include:

MAY

May 5  A Flock of Seagulls

May 12  Johnny Rivers

May 19  Gin Blossoms

May 26  Little River Band JUNE

June 2  Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone

June 9  Gary Lewis & the Playboys

June 16  April Wine

June 23  The Buckinghams

June 30  Foghat JULY

July 7  The Grass Roots

July 14  Felix Cavalieres Rascals

July 21  Quiet Riot

July 28  Ambrosia

May 5  A Flock of Seagulls

English new wave performers A Flock of Seagulls became international sensations and hair icons with the 1982 release of their eponymous debut album. The hit single I Ran (So Far Away) was a global success and to date the song and its music video remain the gold standard for all things 1980s. In 1983, the group was awarded a GRAMMY for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the song D.N.A.

May 12  Johnny Rivers

American rock artist Johnny Rivers has many hits including Mountain of Love, Poor Side of Town, and Summer Rain. Rivers has had nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over 30 million records. In 2015, Rivers was inducted into Americas Pop Music Hall of Fame and continues to perform to sold-out audiences.

May 19  Gin Blossoms

Formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona, the Gin Blossoms are a pop/rock band known for their southwestern sound and dominating the alternative rock era in the 90s. With hits like Hey Jealousy, Found Out About You, and Follow You Down, the Gin Blossoms have earned several platinum albums and a GRAMMY nomination.

May 26  Little River Band

Little River Band is one of the most successful acts to come out of Melbourne since they formed in 1975. Known for their mellow country-pop sound, they were the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial success in the U.S. During their career, they have sold more than 25 million albums and charted 13 Top 40 Hits.

June 2  Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone

Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone dominated the 60s along with such big names as the The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Beginning in England, April 1, 1964, the group has accomplished over 23 his singles, 10 hit albums and 3 major movies. Their top hits include Mrs. Brown (Youve Got a Lovely Daughter) Silhouettes, Dandy, and Henry VIII.

June 9  Gary Lewis & the Playboys

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were an American 60s-era pop and rock group, fronted by musician Gary Lewis, the son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single This Diamond Ring, which was the first of a string of hit singles they had in 1965 and 1966. The band had an earnest, boy-next-door image similar to British invasion contemporaries such as Hermans Hermits and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The group folded in 1970, but a version of the band later resumed touring and continues to tour, often playing for veterans benefits.

June 16  April Wine

70s and 80s rock sensations April Wine began their impressive journey in 1969 when they formed in Nova Scotia. Their first studio hit, Fast Train propelled them to international stardom. They went on to record 15 studio albums, three live releases, and perform thousands of concerts. April Wines most memorable hits include You Could Have Been a Lady, Just Between You and Me, and If you Believe in Me.





June 23  The Buckinghams

After changing their name from The Pulsations to The Buckinghams to reflect the British Invasion craze, this American Sunshine pop group became an overnight sensation. The group put out the wistful Kind of a Drag, which ending up being a million-selling pop chart-topper. Other major hits for the band include Dont You Care, Hey Baby (Theyre Playing Our Song), and the pseudo-psychedelic Susan. The group showed off their R&B roots on the jazz standard Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, their second-biggest hit.

June 30  Foghat

Move to the music, we can move all night. Boogie-blues rockers Foghat will take fans on a journey through their favorite hits including Slow Ride, Drivin Wheel, I Just Want to Make Love to You, and more. The group, which has performed together for more than 40 years, has earned eight gold albums, one platinum album, and one double platinum album. The bands rollicking performances have garnered it lifelong fans from around the world.

July 7  The Grass Roots

American rock band The Grass Roots have sold more than 20 million records worldwide. With two gold albums and 13 gold singles, The Grass Roots found their success without obtaining a number one hit, although they got close with three Top 10 singles, three Top 20 and eight Top 40 hits. After the passing of early member Rob Grill in 2011, The Grass Roots still continue to tour and perform for audiences across the United States.

July 14  Felix Cavalieres Rascals

The Rascals are considered the best blue-eyed soul group to come out of the 1960s, as well as one of the groups with the most record sales. The Rascals has a string of hits, including the mega hit Good Lovin, which struck number one in February 1966. They followed suit with a string of hits like Ive Been Lonely Too Long, Groovin, How Can I Be Sure, A Girl Like You, A Beautiful Morning, and People Got to Be Free. The Rascals disbanded in 1972 and Felix Cavalieres solo career thrived throughout the decade.

July 21  Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band best known for their hit singles Come On Feel the Noize and Metal Health. They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet Riot in May 1975. The current lineup features lead vocalist James Durbin, drummer Frankie Banali, bassist Chuck Wright, and guitarist Alex Grossi. They are ranked at number 100 on VH1s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

July 28  Ambrosia

Los Angeles quartet Ambrosia, whose founding members included guitarist/vocalist David Pack, bassist/vocalist Joe Puerta, keyboardist Christopher North, and drummer Burleigh Drummond, fused symphonic art rock with a slickly produced pop sound. The group was discovered in 1971 by Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Zubin Mehta, who featured Ambrosia as part of a so-called All-American Dream Concert. Their first record Ambrosia was released in 1975 and spawned the chart singles Holdin on to Yesterday and Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Ambrosia followed this success in 1980 with another number three hit, Biggest Part of Me, and the number 13 follow-up Youre the Only Woman.


Over 575 Clark County girls will pour their heart and sole to participate in the 2017 Girls on the Run Las Vegas 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, April 30 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. A favorite among locals and students across the city, Girls On The Runs (GOTR) record-breaking 5th anniversary will bring in the largest group of volunteers and participants to date.

Shared among 39 teams across the valley, the 10-week character building program is aimed at enhancing self-esteem and increasing healthy lifestyle choices. With a new location, big numbers and even bigger goals, Health Plan of Nevada has proudly joined GOTR as a new 5K event sponsor.

Girls on the Run Las Vegas celebrates our five year milestone anniversary this season, serving close to 600 3rd-8th grade girls throughout Clark County, says executive director Brigette Kirvin. Empowering these young women with a positive sense of self, connection to peers and community and the knowledge that they can accomplish big things with consistent effort is at the driving force of our program. Its not just an after-school program, its a movement!

Girls on the Run is a nationally recognized youth-development program that inspires young girls to build self-confidence, teamwork and independent thinking through physical activity. This season, the local council achieved the largest growth in the chapters history, serving 577 girls in 3rd-8th grades.

The race will include:

A pre-event dance party featuring high-energy DJ JayR Beatbox

The Sparkle Zone  An area to glitz and glam the program participants with colored hairspray and face painting

Selfie Stations that include a large running shoe designed by a middle school participant

Special visits from a collection of mascots including The Coca-Cola Polar Bear and UNLVs Hey Reb!

Support from local groups such as UNLVs Cheer, Soccer and Basketball teams, Coronado Band

Registration is now open for the 2017 Girls on the Run 5K: $35 for adults and $15 for children under 18. The participation fee includes an event T-shirt, a commemorative 5k medal and mouth-watering refreshments. GOTR superhero capes and cowbells will also be on sale at the merchandise tent, with all proceeds supporting the companys scholarship fund.
Yen was the winner of the Vietnam Supermodel contest in 2008. She was the second in Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 and represented Vietnam in Miss Universe 2009.

The contestants catwalk skills may not be even because they come from countries with different levels of development in fashion and performance, and the frequency of holding beauty pageants, not to mention religion, said Yen. But the crew and I are ready to train each of them so that they can shine and compete fairly on stage in the final night of the competition on July 1, 2017.

The programmes accompanying the contest are going to see the participation of experts and celebrities from countries in the ASEAN. Vietnamese artists that are going to be present include music director-composer Huy Tuan, executive director Hoang Cong Cuong, director of contestant admission supermodel Ha Anh, director of the catwalk supermodel Hoang Yen, contestant management consultant Miss Southeast Asia Phan Hoang Thu, MC Vu Manh Cuong, and more.

Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 aims to honour the beauty of Southeast Asian women and is going to be a platform for cultural exchange, with the purpose of increasing cooperation among countries in the bloc, promote trade, tourism, and introduce the sceneries of Phu Yen, Vietnam, and other ASEAN destinations.

Eligible applicants can contact the contestant selection board through Facebook, email, the events website or the hotline. The contestant selection board will work with the applicants and their representatives to verify their information and ensure their applications are complete before forwarding them to the organising board, then carry out all necessary procedures so that they can arrive at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat International Airport on June 10, 2017.

Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 has been promoted in Vietnam and other countries in the ASEAN. At the moment, the competition is open for applications. The choosing of contestants will be finished on May 25, 2017. Applications for the pageant need to be submitted to Gala Viet Event Organisation and Tourism JSC at 70 Phan Dang Luu Street, Danang city (0511 3626 566) or floor 6, P604, 7 Dao Duy Anh, Dong Da Street, Hanoi (043 533 5191). On the envelope, please write in clear, legible letters: Application to join the Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 contest. The envelope can be bought to these locations directly or sent by post.

Vietnamese applicants will be subject to stricter criteria than contestants from other countries: they are required to have won titles in domestic pageants. Applicants from other countries will need to meet simpler requirements: they need to be taller than 1.68 metres, not wear braces or glasses, be high-school (or equivalent) graduates, not be transgendered, and have a clean criminal record.

Applicants may access more information and apply at:

Website: hoahauhuunghiasean.com ; Facebook: facebook.com/hoahauhuunghiasean/

Hotline of the contestant selection board: 0948315525

Hotline of the organising board: 0915 33 4648 - 0984 390 040
A farmer harvest pepper in Cam My district, Dong Nai province

This idea was agreed on by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh and representatives from the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) at their working session on April 11.



VICOFA General Secretary Nguyen Viet Vinh said that enterprises and farmers currently do not connect well because of intermediaries who benefit much from business deals.

In 2016, Vietnam ranked second in the world in coffee exports. It sold 1.78 million tonnes of coffee for US$3.34 billion, up 32.8% in volume and 25% in value. However, export value remained low as most coffee beans were exported unprocessed. Similarly, Vietnam mainly exports raw pepper, but a lack of varieties and diseases are causing a decrease in the quality of Vietnamese pepper. VPA Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Mai Oanh said that although the ministry of agriculture and rural development established a pepper research centre in Gia Lai province, Vietnam has to date have no standard set of varieties. She requested more efforts to find good pepper varieties suitable for Vietnams land and weather. Foreign partners are willing to pay 10%-20% higher than normal if Vietnam can provide clean and safe pepper, she added.

According to Deputy Minister Doanh, 98% of Vietnamese pepper is shipped abroad. Therefore, he asked businesses to work with farmers to ensure safe and sustainable pepper production.

In 2016, Vietnams pepper exports reached 177,893 tonnes, earning US$1.43 billion, an increase of 35.3% in volume and 13.5% in value year-on-year.
Doctor examines a patient in central Nghe An Provinces Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. The new technique will soon be transferred to city and provincial-level obstetrics hospitals to reduce overloading at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology.- Photo: VNA/VNS

The National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology announced successful testing of the new technique last week.

It said the technique was studied and carried out by Tien, known as the golden hands of Viet Nams obstetrics discipline.

The technique involves using a catheter to broaden the internal orifice of the uterus via an endoscopy through the womb and abdomen.

After more than 10 years of study, the technique was successfully deployed on two women diagnosed with secondary infertility.

The first patient, Nguyen Thi Loan from the central province of Nghe An, was diagnosed with secondary infertility 8 years after shed had her first baby.

Doctors found that the she had an occlusion in the internal orifice of the uterus, preventing her from getting pregnant.

Both women were in good health following the surgery.

A month after the operation, the womens internal OS have become normal. They can have babies in the natural way after more than seven years of suffering secondary infertility, Tien said.

According to the doctor, the infertility rate in Viet Nam was 7.7 per cent at present. While either the wife or the husband or both can be the cause of infertility, leading causes for the woman were blocked fallopian tubes, occlusion of the internal orifice of the uterus, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine malformation and endometriosis.

Recent studies have found that the rate of secondary infertility was about 60-70 per cent of all cases of infertility.

The percentage is very high. Helping these couples have babies became a concern and a responsibility, he said.

After many years of working as doctor specialising in fertility treatment, I empathized with couples wanting babies, Tien told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.

Fertility treatment is usually costly and takes many attempts to succeed, and many couples are left feeling hopeless.

In-vitro fertilization was an option not all couples could afford. In many cases, couples took five to 10 years to save the money. But, unfortunately, the womens ovaries aged during this time, the doctor said.

The patients despair pushed Tien and his colleagues to find an effective, affordable solution.

After years of research, the doctor was able to fashion a new technique based on endoscopy of the womb and abdomen.

I am really confident about the new method. Based on my experience, I am sure the patients will be able to have babies normally, Tien affirmed.

He said the new technique was very safe and the side effects were minimal. The operation itself just took a hour and a half.

Other methods carry high risks of complications, he said.

Thanks to the new technique, the Center for Reproductive Assistance is able to help dozens of patients every day.

I can confidently say that with this technique, IVF or surrogate pregnancies can become a thing of the past, Tien said.

He said the technique will soon be transferred to city and provincial-level obstetrics hospitals to reduce overloading at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

However, one thing that concerns me now is that infertility treatment is not covered by health insurance, Tien said.

In many developed countries, childless couples are covered for up to four IVF attempts, he said.

But in Viet Nam, even tests are not paid for by health insurance.

In my opinion, the treatment has a humanitarian purpose, and we should consider this, the doctor said.
According to BT Tee, general manager of SES Vietnam Exhibition Services, the Vietnamese tourism industry is set to grow for the foreseeable future as Vietnam continues to establish itself as a leading holiday destination in Southeast Asia. In the period between 2010 - 2016, the average annual growth rate of international visitors to Vietnam was reported to be higher than that of the 2006 - 2010 period. It is further predicted that the country expects to receive up to 17-20 million international visitors and 82 million domestic visitors by 2020.

This steady growth in both international and domestic tourism has accelerated the opening of more international-branded properties and tourist accommodation establishments in Vietnam. Statistics show that by the end of 2016, there is a total of 21,000 accommodation facilities with a total of 420,000 rooms across the country, up 11 per cent in the number of facilities and 18 per cent in the number of rooms compared to 2015. Among them, there are 797 three to five-star hotels with more than 80,000 rooms, including 104 five-star hotels, 230 four-star hotels and 463 three-star hotels.

At a time when the tourism and hospitality sectors continue to flourish, the biannual Food&HotelVietnam trade event provides a valuable sourcing opportunity for the products and services catering to the food and hospitality industries, ranging from the finest and most unique food ingredients, to food service, kitchen and catering equipment, hotel amenities and software solutions, he noted.

Within the framework of the exhibition, the conference program covers a series of industry topics so delegates can glean in-depth knowledge, keep up with the emerging trends and further understand evolving customer needs to stay ahead of the curve.

This year, the Vietnam Hotel Association will join forces with Food&HotelVietnam to organise Vietnam Hotel Business and Investment Conference with an estimated participation of over 300 senior delegates from luxury hotels. The conference expects to offer opportunities for industry insights, knowledge share, best practices and business networking with various professionals from all facets of the hospitality industry.

Other highlights of the show include the highly-regarded culinary and barista competitions - opening up a wealth of opportunity for participants to test their skills in an intense and action-packed series of challenges.
A view of Hai Phong Port, where logistics services play an important role in connecting transport and economic development.-Photo haiphongport.com

Le Duy Hiep, VLA chairman, said that VLA had been assigned to complete several tasks of the plan.

In February, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved the action plan, which aims to have the logistics sector contribute 8 to10 per cent to the countrys GDP, with annual growth of 15-20 per cent by 2025.

The plan also calls for Viet Nam to become one of the worlds 50 leading logistics services providers.

The plan recommends new policies, more investment in infrastructure development, and better co-operation between local and foreign logistics companies.

The aim is to have logistics companies that can be competitive in both domestic and international markets.

Under the plan, Viet Nam will enhance connectivity with neighbouring countries and develop regional and international hubs.

The plan calls for building level-1 logistics hubs (the highest level) in Ha Noi and HCM City, and level-2 logistic centres in Lang Son, Lao Cai, Hai Phong, a Nang, Quy Nhon, and Can Tho.

Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Import-Export Department, said the countrys logistics development has been modest, as there are only 1,300-1,500 firms in the sector.

More than 70 per cent of the businesses are small- and medium-sized with average capital of about VN7 billion (US$320,000).

The countrys logistics effectiveness has been low, while available resources have not been fully exploited, Hai said.

The action plan would provide short- and mid-term solutions to improve the logistics sector in the next seven or eight years, he added.

The initiatives taken by the Government to strengthen the logistics industry and increase efficiency have been supported by industry insiders.

Christoph Matthes, managing director of logistics firm DB Schenker in Viet Nam, said, We strongly support the plan as the logistics has become more important than ever before.

In addition, increasing consumer demand requires a faster and more reliable way of delivery of goods.

For many customers, logistics is no longer a matter of moving boxes from one location to another, but creating a highly efficient and reliable supply chain which enables them to be competitive in a fast-changing world.

International trade is growing rapidly as well, and thus, a need to connect to other markets via air, ocean and road freight.

Some of the largest export markets for Viet Nam include the ASEAN region and Europe, where Viet Nam competes with other countries and where logistics costs play a vital role.

Trade with Europe is expected to increase with the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) coming into force next year.

Experts said more steps were needed for smooth implementation of the agreement and to make sure businesses can fully benefit as soon as the treaty takes effect.

The commitment of the Vietnamese Government to strengthen the logistics sector is an important step towards making this possible.

Nestor Scherbey, general director of logistics firm Customs, Trade and Risk Management Services Ltd Viet Nam, said the national action plan would play a critical role in raising competitiveness.

Logistics costs in Viet Nam are among the worlds highest, at 25 per cent of GDP, which hinders the cost competitiveness of Vietnamese firms, according to Logistics Insight Asia.

Logistics costs in the US, Europe and the rest of the world are around 9, 13, and 15 per cent, respectively.

The efforts necessary to achieve a national action plan for logistics must be undertaken in co-ordination with diligent efforts by Viet Nam to implement the commitments of the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), Scherbey said.

Many of the major commitments of the WTO TFA were contained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and EVFTA.

Full implementation of trade facilitation by Viet Nam would reduce the countrys international trade transaction costs by 20 per cent.

It is the combination of the benefits of trade facilitation, with the benefit of reducing domestic logistics costs, that will allow Vietnamese products to become fully competitive in global markets, he said.
Located in the Tien Son Industrial Zone, Misumi Vietnam Co manufactures and distributes standard components for factory automation, press die and plastic mold.-VNS Photo Thu Tra

Located in the Tien Son Industrial Zone, the company manufactures and distributes standard components for factory automation, press die and plastic mold.

In Viet Nam, foreign direct investment, especially in areas such as mobile phones, electrical machinery or electronic manufacturing, is still growing. MISUMI Vietnam is targeting the capture of customer needs in those industries, particularly focusing on Japanese and Korean companies, by leveraging our existing business relationship in Japan and Korea, company general director Yasuo Shimokura told reporters.

He said, in the long term, the company also wanted to penetrate Viet Nams local manufacturing sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

I believe MISUMI Vietnam can contribute to further development of supporting industries in Viet Nam by providing various high quality products in short and accurate time and with reasonable prices, he noted.

During the event, vice chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Huu Thanh spoke highly on the companys debut, saying it would contribute to fostering the provinces industry development.

He vowed local authorities would create the most favourable conditions for the company in doing business in Bac Ninh, which was striving to become an industrial province by 2020.


Travel firms all reported that the sales of outbound tours at the HCMC 2017 Tourism Festival were much better than domestic tours.



At Ben Thanh Tourism, tours to Taiwan, Bali, Dubai and Bhutan with attractive fees of around VND10 million or more were the most wanted. The tours to Japan and South Korea have been closed soon because of full bookings. Tours to Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia have also been chosen for the summer.



Other travel firms including Vietravel, Saigontourist, Du Lich Viet and Tugo have also reported sharp increases in bookings for outbound tours.

Vietnamese now tend to prefer outbound tours instead of domestic ones as it has become less costly to travel abroad and foreign agencies are more professional in promoting tours.

The steady high two-digit growth rate in outbound tours at some travel firms has encouraged foreign tourism agencies to come to Vietnam to promote tourism.



Most recently, JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization) has opened the representative office in Vietnam with an aim to attract more Vietnamese travelers to Japan.



A survey of the organization showed that within five years, from 2012 to 2016, the number of Vietnamese travelers to Japan increased by four times to 230,000 by the end of 2016.



JNTO Hanois Chief Representative Ayumi Takahashi said Japan considers Vietnam one of the 20 key markets.



Prior to that, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea all had set up representative offices in Vietnam to approach Vietnamese travelers.



According to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), 251,000 Vietnamese visited South Korea in 2016, while it hopes the number would surge to 300,000 in 2017. Meanwhile, Thailand attracted 830,000 Vietnamese travelers to the country last year.



High airfares make domestic tours less attractive



Nguyen Thien from Tan Phu district in HCMC, said she tends to choose outbound tours, because outbound tours are getting cheaper.



The airfares are low, the expenses on accommodations and food in foreign countries are not high, while foreign travelers are not overcharged, she said.



A return ticket on HCMC-Da Nang route, for example, is priced at VND1.5 million. The fee for a tour to Thailand is now just equal to a tour of Hue or Da Nang in Vietnam.



Phan Xuan Anh, President of Du Ngoan Viet, said that outbound tours have low fees partially because of low airfares.



While travel firms still have not found solutions to reduce air transport costs, air carriers have announced an increase of airfares, commencing from late March and early April.



The move, as analysts warned, will make domestic tours become even more expensive, and therefore, less competitive than outbound tours.
The decree will make sure less buyers get their fingers burnt

Among the big projects to be launched is An Khanh New City Developments sale of its first phase this quarter. The mega $2 billion project is developed by South Koreas Posco E&C and Vietnams Vinaconex, located in Hanois Hoai Duc district, along the Thang Long Boulevard.

Scheduled for completion in 2013, the city is expected to supply 6,440 apartments, equivalent to 392,319 square metres of accommodation, enough for 30,000 people.

Even though Hoa Phat Group, the investor in a more than 1,000 apartment Mandarin Garden in Cau Giay districts Tran Duy Hung road, refused to release its launching time, real estate experts predicted the project would be soon launched.

At the beginning of this month the CT7D, located in Le Van Luong street and invested by Nam Cuong Group and the FLC Landmark Tower of FLC Group will also be launched, with a total of 200 units and prices ranging from VND23 million ($1,200) to VND28 million ($1,470) per square metre.

In Gia Lam district, over the Red River, the second lot of Rung Co Residentials belonging to the Eco Park is also being launched, with around 1,500 apartment units.

In addition, Victoria Van Phu, Star City, Diamond Tower and Song Da City View will also add apartments to the mix.

Real estate consultant CBRE Vietnam expected that there would be 3,000 units in Hanoi launched this quarter, compared to 1,950 units in the third quarter. There were more than 4,600 units launched in the second quarter.

This decline, according to CBRE Vietnam, could be due to the Decree 71, effective on August 8, 2010 providing guidance on the Housing Law, which caps the proportion of units sold via capital contribution contracts at 20 per cent with the remaining 80 per cent sold on transaction floors.

This decree, CBRE Vietnam said, had put a pressure on developers with low financial capabilities and enhanced market transparency.

However, CBRE Vietnam executive director Richard Leech said new project launches would continue trending towards more affordable options.

With the opening and improvement of major infrastructure routes, the capitals western and southern districts are attracting new residents with easier access for commuting into the core urban districts, Leech said.

He said that the Decree 71 was expected to benefit the market by enhancing transparency, placing pressures on developers with low financial capabilities, lessening the threat of price bubbles and limiting speculative forces.

Tran Nhu Trung, Savills Vietnam associate director, said the Decree 71 had showed off its advantages to clearly regulate five types of mobilising capital investment. However, Trung said the procedures to implement Decree 71 were still complicated and wasted customers time and energy.

The more simple it [decree] regulates, the more it is practical in the real life, Trung said.
File photo of a dog in captivity in Taiwan. (Photo: AFP/Ed Jones)

Parliament passed legislation to outlaw the consumption, purchase or possession of dog and cat meat, with offenders facing a fine of up to Tw$250,000 (US$8,170).

Authorities can also name and shame those who break the law.

"This shows that Taiwan is a society with advanced animal welfare," said lawmaker Wang Yu-min who proposed the new rules.

The bill also hiked the penalty for killing or abusing animals to a maximum two-year jail term and a stiff fine of Tw$2 million.

Dog consumption -- believed by some in Taiwan to help boost male potency -- was common on the island decades ago but has become less popular amid growing calls to protect animal rights.

In 2001, Taiwan amended its animal protection law to ban the slaughter of pets -- which included dogs and cats -- for food, although there was no penalty on eating or buying the meat.

Sales of pet meat were banned at the end of 2003.

But a string of much-publicised animal abuse cases have continued to triggered deep public concern and demands for tougher protection laws.

Last year, the military was forced to apologise after a video surfaced of three soldiers torturing and strangling a stray dog to death with an iron chain, prompting several street protests.

And in 2014, a male hippo famous for regularly performing at a private zoo in central Taiwan died after breaking a leg and sustaining other injuries during transportation, sparking a public outcry.

Reactions to the new law were mixed, with some deeming it unfair to only single out cats and dogs for better protection.

"This is the cute animal protection law? only cute animals are protected while the rest deserve to die?" read one message posted on Apple Daily's website.

"Why doesn't the parliament amend laws to toughen punishment on drunk driving, fraud and homicide? what a lousy job it is doing," said another post.

Dog meat consumption is also common in countries such as China, Vietnam and South Korea.

Last year, China's most notorious dog meat festival drew crowds despite international outrage, as more than 10,000 dogs were killed at the event in conditions activists described as brutal.

South Koreans are believed to consume somewhere between 1.5 million - 2.5 million dogs every year, but the meat farming industry is in decline, with little demand among the younger generation.

In Vietnam, cat meat -- known locally as "little tiger" -- is also a delicacy and although officially banned it is widely available in specialist restaurants.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after a press conference in Moscow. (AFP/Alexander NEMENOV)

In the wake of the meeting Russia then vetoed a US-backed resolution at the UN demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of a suspected chemical attack that the West blames on Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad.

US president Donald Trump's White House victory had raised hopes in Moscow that some kind of rapprochement was possible between the former Cold War foes.

Trump had spoken warmly of Russia on the campaign trail, but since he came to office in January ties have chilled and the fallout from the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria threw them into crisis.

Trump envoy Tillerson's talks with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have been haunted by the incident that saw the US launch punitive strike against Assad's forces.

On the alleged attack, and issues like Russian intervention in Ukraine and alleged interference in the US election, the viewpoints of Moscow and Washington remained far apart.

"We frankly discussed the state of US-Russian relations. I expressed that the current state is at a low point," the US envoy and former oil executive told reporters.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he warned.

Lavrov had begun the day with the more combative tone, but at the pair's joint news conference it was he who stressed the areas where closer cooperation remains possible.

"Despite the quantity of existing problems ... there are considerable prospects for joint work," Lavrov said, after he took Tillerson for private talks with Putin.

"Russia is open to this, open to dialogue with the US in all different areas," he insisted, citing the capitals' shared vision of an "uncompromising" war on terrorism.

And he said that Russia was open to restoring a "deconfliction" hotline to enable US and Russian military commanders to avoid accidental clashes over Syria.

But neither side cited much in the way of concrete new avenues of cooperation, beyond establishing a working group to address what Tillerson called "smaller issues."

The news conference was dominated by points of contention, chiefly Moscow's deep aversion to US interventionism and Washington's disgust at the carnage in Syria and Ukraine.

Tillerson was once a familiar and friendly face in Moscow as the chief executive of oil giant ExxonMobil, but he pulled no punches on his first visit as secretary of state.

He restated the US beliefs that Russian hackers and propagandists interfered in the US vote and that Assad's forces were behind the latest chemical weapons attack.

MISSILE SALVO

He did play down suggestions from some US officials that Russian forces could have been complicit in last week's slaughter of 87 civilians in the town of Khan Sheikhun.

But he was firm that only Assad's forces could have carried out such a strike and insisted that Russia must do more to help strip the regime of its chemical arsenal.

Lavrov parried the accusations, noting that Moscow wants UN weapons investigators to probe not only Khan Sheikhun but also the Syrian air base that US missiles hit in response.

And he declared that many of the divisions between Moscow and Washington were the result of "timebombs" left behind by former president Barack Obama's administration.

"We are realistic and understand the need to overcome these obstacles we have to make efforts. And we seek to do that," the veteran diplomat said.

Putin, in a television interview ahead of the talks, was more blunt about the new chill in ties, and firmly rejected Washington's view of the Syrian attack.

"You can say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military side, has not improved but most likely worsened," he said.

"Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons? There isn't any. But there was a violation of international law. That is an obvious fact."

Tillerson had said he would challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers, an idea that the Kremlin dismissed as "absurd".

RUSSIA VETOES UN RESOLUTION

And - even as Tillerson, Putin and Lavrov discussed their differences in Moscow - a fresh storm broke at the United Nations Security Council in New York.

Russia vetoed a resolution tabled by the US, Britain and France tabled on the alleged chemical attack in Syria.

It was the eighth time that Russia has used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block action directed at its ally in Damascus.

Putin meanwhile accused Assad's opponents of planning to stage chemical attacks to be blamed on Damascus in order to lure the United States deeper into the conflict.

In a sign the Kremlin is not ready to drop Assad, Syria's foreign minister will jet in to Moscow to meet Lavrov on Thursday before a three-way meeting with Iran on Friday.
The annual Vietnam Expos 2017 edition is expected to welcome businesses whose brands have been awarded Vietnam Value-the symbol of prestige, quality, and being a representative for Vietnam in the domestic market as well as active brand development in international markets. Highlighted names at expo include Binh Minh Plastics Company, Duy Tan Plastics Manufacturing Company, Danang Rubber Manufacturing Company, Tran Phu Electronic and Mechanics Company, Vietnam Electric Equipment Company, and Habeco, among others.

Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo), organised annually by Vinexad under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) over the last two decades, is recognised as the most effective trade promotion event as it brings about a lot of values for organisations, enterprises, and individuals both in Vietnam and overseas.

During the exhibition, the forum on Vietnamese exports, the industrial park fact-finding tour, and the business connection event will be held to add further values to businesses.

Bui Huy Son, director general of Vietrade, said the coming exhibition will be a good place for local and foreign businesses to forge new connections as well as help them to improve the design for their business and products.

Vietnam Expo 2017 expects to host 500 enterprises from 23 countries and territories, including APEC members, covering an area by 600 booths. So far, the organiser has received acceptance letters from businesses from Belarus, Uganda, Singapore, and the Czech Republic, Japan, Malaysia, India, South Korea, China, and numerous local companies.

This year, South Korea will be an honourable guest at the expo, celebrating the time-tested trade relation between the two countries. In 2016, Korea sent 111 enterprises in cosmetics, food, beverage, textiles, commodities, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and industrial manufacturing machinery to the exhibition. These products will see tax exemption under the FTA that came into effect in December 2015. Via this accord, 11,679 tariffs applicable to Vietnamese products and 8,529 tariffs applicable to Korean products will be cut. These tariffs are expected to be ultimately removed to facilitate trading between the two countries.

Last year, the event attracted 500 firms from 23 countries and territories and consisted of 620 booths. Particularly, there were six national booths belonging to Algeria, Belarus, Cuba, Korea, China, and Vietnam and 14 trade promotion centres from participating provinces and cities.
By Press Trust of India: Shillong, Apr 13 (PTI) The BSF has seized over 3000 cattle and contraband items worth lakhs of rupees from the un-fenced stretches along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya this year, a senior BSF official said today.

"During this year more than 3000 cattle have been seized at the International border," Meghalaya Frontier BSF Inspector General, P K Dubey said.

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He said the BSF has seized contraband items worth more than Rs 23 lakh while being smuggled out from India to Bangladesh on the International Border along the unfenced sectors in last four days itself.

Today, a cattle smuggler was held by the BSF personnel in South Garo Hills district with cattle meant to be smuggled from India to Bangladesh, Dubey said.

The BSF IG claimed that the border guarding force have "plugged" some of the vulnerable patches on the border by not only increasing troop strength but also deploying new technical gadgets and equipments.

Dubey said the BSF has "intensified" its operations on the Indo-Bangladesh border to prevent trans-border crimes. PTI JOP RG LNS

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Sonam Kapoor tried to troll Abhay Deol after the latter named and shamed her among other actors for appearing in fairness cream ads. However, Abhay Deol proved to be too smart for Esha Deol.

By India Today Web Desk: Yesterday, Abhay Deol went on a Facebook rampage as he kept posting images of fairness cream ads featuring Bollywood stars and pointed out how racism and disdain for dark skin was getting normalised in India thanks to patronage from celebrities and public figures.

To this effect, he named and shamed some of Bollywood's top actors who featured in fairness cream ads. Abhay's hitlist included Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor and Vidya Balan among others.

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ALSO READ: Abhay Deol destroys Bollywood stars who appear in fairness cream ads

While most of these stars kept quiet and did not respond, Abhay's co-star in Aisha and Raanjhanaa, Sonam Kapoor, tweeted her defense for featuring in a fairness cream ad.

And it was the most ludicrous defense of all time. Sonam Kapoor literally dug out a picture of a fairness cream ad featuring Esha Deol and tried to outsmart the actor. But Abhay, as assured as he was in his conviction for the cause, did not get flustered.

Sonam tweeted...

And Abhay replied...

Then Sonam said, "I shot this campaign ten years ago and didn't understand the ramifications. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront."

To which Abhay asked her to take the cause further than the forefront. Ha!

And Sonam got mad. But turns out, she later deleted her tweets!

That's right. Sonam Kapoor deleted all her tweets and as of now, if you go on her Twitter page, you won't see any of the tweets. Though luckily, you can see the screenshots above you.

The debate on racism in India hit the roof when a few Nigerian men were viciously attacked by locals in Greater Noida. As allegations of xenophobia towards dark skin and Africans became prime time-debate material, BJP MP Tarun Vijay said on a television show, "If we were racist, why would we have all the entire south...Tamil, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra...why do we live with them? We have black people around us." So far, only Sonam Kapoor has responded. It remains to be seen whether the other actors Abhay called out respond as well.

ALSO SEE: All of Sonam Kapoor's digs at Deepika, in one place

WATCH: Abhay Deol protests against T-Series, gets Bollywood's support

--- ENDS ---
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Prime Minister Hun Sen has encouraged Cambodians to read a book about the leadership style of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hun Sen launched the Khmer-language book, titled Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, on Tuesday morning at the Peace Palace, his cabinet office.

Jiang Jianguo, a spokesman for the Chinese government who attended the event, said the book was largely a compilation of Xis speeches and visions, which included a desire to serve the people of China, organizing political society, and egalitarianism.

Hun Sen, who in recent years has grown increasingly close to China, Cambodias biggest aid donor and lender, said the book was instructive and Xis leadership style could teach Cambodians about good governance.

The book launch comes after the foreign ministry released a scathing rebuke of United States policy towards Cambodia, in which it accused critical media, NGOs and the opposition of conspiring with foreign powers to foment regime change.

Chheang Vannarith, a Southeast Asia analyst, said the book launch was a further indication of Cambodias developing special relationship with China.

Cambodia wants to give a signal to the West that the Wests interference in the country will not influence or change anything, because China is an important strategic partner, he said.

In October, Xi visited Cambodia and signed more than 30 agreements related to development, investment and trade in his first visit to the country as president and head of state.

During the visit, China agreed to cancel some $90 million of debt and supply more military aid and loans.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday issued an open letter to the Cambodian people wishing them a happy new year and pledging a commitment to maintaining peace and public order ahead of local elections in June.

The letter touted the governments achievements in building infrastructure, increasing the minimum wage, and raising per capita income from $1,215 to $1,300 between 2015 and 2016. Analysts said the letter was an attempt by Hun Sen to attract support ahead of what is shaping up to be a tense electoral campaign.

Every achievement that the government has made in the past relies on the rightful political leadership, with participation of the legislative body members, government officials at all levels and all types of armed forces, in fulfilling their duties and with strong support from people across the country, the letter said.

Sok Eysan, ruling Cambodian Peoples Party spokesman, said the letter was issued to highlight government achievements to make people feel warm and comfortable under the governments leadership and continue to vote for [Hun Sen] to be prime minister.

San Chey, country director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, said the issues faced by ordinary Cambodians would not be remedied by a letter.

The current issues have not been solved in a timely manner in response to peoples demands and needs, such as agricultural product prices, transportation or increasingly bus fares and other problems that people are facings such as land disputes, he said.
Afghan religious leaders on Thursday strongly refuted pro-Taliban remarks by a top Pakistani religious and political leader, classifying them as an "intelligence spin."

In response to recent remarks by Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, leader of Pakistani's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), a conservative religious party accused of maintaining links with various militant groups, the Islamic Scholars Council of Afghanistan called for an Islamic conference to be held in Kabul to debate the religious legitimacy of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

"Genuine and pious clerics from Pakistan, along with renowned Islamic scholars from the Muslim world, should convene for a religious debate with Afghan religious scholars to assess the situation in Afghanistan, based on the book of Allah [Quran] and teachings of the Prophet [Muhammad]," the Afghan clerics council said.

The statement added that the Pakistani cleric has attempted to legitimize the "inhumane and heinous" actions of militants who have targeted schools, hospitals and mosques throughout the country in their bloody insurgency, killing tens of thousands of innocent Afghan civilians over the last decade.

U.S., NATO presence cited

The JUI-F leader last week linked the Afghan Taliban's insurgency to the presence of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, in an effort to justify the Taliban's continued violence in the country.

Rahman said peace in Afghanistan would not be achieved as long as foreign troops were in the country.

"International forces must withdraw from Afghanistan for stability and peace in the region," said Rahman, while speaking at a formal gathering where more than a quarter-million people, including foreign guests, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the conservative party.

The JUI-F is an offshoot of a Muslim Sunni clerics' political movement founded in former British India by the Deobandi madrassa, or religious school, in 1919.

Rahman's father, Mufti Mahmoud, was one of the leading members who parted ways with the movement in 1945 and established what was originally known as JUI after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The party has been an adamant supporter of the Afghan Taliban, a majority of whom have been educated in hundreds of religious seminaries run by the party across Pakistan.

The Islamic Scholars Council of Afghanistan argues that the JUI-F leader lacks the credentials to issue jihadi verdicts (fatwa) legitimizing the insurgency in Afghanistan.

'A hostile stance'

"We do not recognize Fazl-ur-Rahman as a religious scholar, but rather he is closely associated with Pakistan's military establishment," Mohammad Qasem Haleemi, the spokesman for the Islamic Scholars Council of Afghanistan, told VOA's Afghan service last week. "It is a hostile stance against Afghanistan."

Haleemi said that ironically, Fazl-ur-Rahman and his party want peace in Pakistan but instigate people against a legitimate government in Afghanistan.

Last week, the JUI-F secretary general, Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, who was denied a U.S. visa in February, called on the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) to lay down their arms and join his Islamist political party to pursue its objectives through political means.

Analysts charge that several religious groups like JUI-F are actively helping achieve Pakistani military policy goals in the region.

"Pakistan's security establishment would want to combat India's influence in Afghanistan through Afghan Taliban. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and many other politicians support the security establishment and thus keep a different stance for Afghan and Pakistani Taliban," said Khadim Hussain, a political and security analyst in Peshawar.

Pakistani officials deny having used these political parties to lure militant groups to violence in places like Afghanistan and India.
The Afghan Taliban says that it does not support Russia-sponsored multi-nation talks on Afghanistan because the process seems to be motivated solely by the political agenda of the organizers.

The Islamist insurgency issued its reaction a day before delegates from Afghanistan as well as its immediate and far neighbors are due to meet in Moscow to resume what Russian officials refer to as consultations on prospects for Afghan security and national reconciliation.

Fridays round of discussions will be the third Moscow has hosted since December, saying the effort is to encourage the Taliban to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government to end the protracted conflict.

But the Taliban is dismissing Russias assertions about Moscow's Afghan peace initiative, saying Fridays meeting is one of many gatherings that routinely take place on Afghanistan without producing any results.

We cannot call these negotiations [in Moscow] as a dialogue for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told VOA.

This meeting [in Moscow] stems from political agendas of the countries who are organizing it. This has really nothing to do with us, nor do we support it, Mujahid added.

He reiterated insurgents traditional stance that U.S.-led foreign troops will have to leave Afghanistan before any conflict resolution talks are initiated.

Everybody knows that foreign occupation of Afghanistan is the fundamental problem, said Mujahid.

While China, Iran, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan participated in the last meeting of the Russian-sponsored talks that took place in February, former Soviet Central Asian states have been invited to to attend Fridays meeting for the first time.

The United States was also invited to the event but Washington turned it down, saying it was not informed of the agenda beforehand and was unclear of the meetings motives.

American military officials suspect Russias so-called Afghan peace diplomacy is aimed at undermining the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and have accused Moscow of arming the Taliban.

Russian officials have strongly rejected allegations they are providing weapons to the Taliban, though they have publicly acknowledged maintaining contacts with the insurgents.

Moscow insists the contacts are meant to promote Afghan peace and reconciliation, and to ensure the protection of Russian citizens in the country.

In a separate statement issued on Thursday, the Taliban also denied receiving military aid from Russia, though the group defended political understanding with Afghanistans neighbors and regional countries.

The Afghan delegation will again urge participants at the Moscow meeting to support a government-led reconciliation process, said Ahmad Shakib Mustaghani.

Reiterating Afghan objections over Russias overt contacts with the Taliban, the spokesman told VOA on the eve of the talks that Kabul will emphasize that only state-to-state relations can help promote peace in Afghanistan and the Moscow process cannot be an alternative for Afghan-led reconciliation efforts.

Russia's stepped-up Afghan diplomacy apparently stems from concerns that continued Afghan hostilities will encourage Islamic State militants to expand influence in the country to try to infiltrate neighboring Central Asian states to undermine Moscows regional security interests.
Greg Barron, an award-winning radio producer, was 32 when he reported the despair of Cambodian refugees fleeing across the Thai border to escape the Khmer Rouge genocide in late 1979.

Barron knew he did not completely understand what had happened to the refugees. Last year, in Minnesota, he connected with three Cambodians like those whose stories he started to tell nearly 40 years ago.

"I started to realize I never told the full story in that original report.  Back in 1979, very few people knew the facts of the terror, fear and starvation, and the oppression that Khmer people had lived through," Barron told VOA Khmer.

At least 1.7 million Cambodians were killed by the Khmer Rouge or starved to death from mid-1975 to early 1979.

When the Vietnamese invasion toppled the Khmer Rouge, thousands of Cambodians fled across the Thai border, their first step in seeking refuge in places like the United States.

Bodies hauled away

In November 1979, Barron accompanied American medical teams to Sa Keo and other refugee camps in Thailand and Cambodia. For more than two weeks, he reported on Cambodians who had survived.

Crippling lung disease sickened many. Weak mothers could not feed their babies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many infants and young children.

It was particularly shocking, Barron said, to see trucks come daily "to haul away the dead bodies of [Cambodians] who had made it there but didn't survive. There were children who were nothing but skeletons, barely breathing."

At that time, Barron was reporting for Minnesota Public Radio. Upon his return to Minneapolis, he produced a radio documentary about the Cambodian refugees' story called "Trampled Grass."

"We had, the reporters, genuine sympathy and sorrow for what we had seen," he said. "But we weren't affected in the same way as the refugees were affected. It was easy to move on."

'Follow the Moon'

Almost 40 years later, something magical happened, said Barron, now 70 and a retired public radio producer, a Peabody Award winner and a pioneering proponent of in-depth radio storytelling in the United States.

A Cambodian museum opened across the Mississippi River in St. Paul. There, Barron met three Cambodian refugees, and the four determined they had been in the same camps at the same time.

"It occurred to me that my story then in 1979 didn't even know the ending.  I didn't know what had driven the people across the border to freedom," said Barron. "I wanted to tell that story. I needed to finish the story I had started nearly 40 years ago."

Pichsanthor Kim, Hoeun Hach and Sokurt Sous agreed.

Barron produced "Follow the Moon," a radio documentary. The title refers to how Cambodians followed the moon west to border camps, where hope of survival and freedom emerged, he said.

The 56-minute documentary will debut on Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media on April 17, 42 years after the Khmer Rouge assumed power.

"The young Americans know nothing about the disaster and the horror that the Khmer people faced. There are so many similar circumstances in the world today. People need to know how this kind of thing happened." said Barron.

'This horrible history'

For the survivors, digging into their memories carried the possibility of renewing traumas they hoped time might have quelled. But they said they were willing to speak with Barron because they did not want history to repeat itself  anywhere.

"It is difficult to recall this painful past," said Kim, 61. "But I realized I am getting old and that younger generations need to know our stories and this horrible history."

Kim was 19 when the Khmer Rouge assumed power. They killed her mother and her oldest sister. Kim remains "grateful" to the United States for admitting her and her surviving family, whom she has cared for since their arrival in July 1980.

Khmer Rouge soldiers keep chasing Hach in his dreams, a vivid memory even though he couldn't recall how his 12-year-old self was separated from his family. "But after talking to Greg, I felt somehow relieved, knowing that this would help other nations to learn about the genocide in Cambodia, and prevent such tragedy," said Hach, 55, who works for a health care organization.

The only person in his family to come to the United States, he has since reunited with his four sisters in Cambodia, who told him the Khmer Rouge killed their parents.

"Talking to Greg allowed me to recall the painful memory," said Sous, 58, who lost his father and his brother, the oldest of his seven siblings, to the Khmer Rouge. "I had tried to forget, but in fact, history matters. Because it helped me realize the light of hope and humanity, despite horrible things that happened in Cambodia."

As more survivors tell their stories, Barron hopes "the community can start to heal again." For him, making the radio documentary made him more "whole," Barron said.
One afternoon when she was about seven years old, Linda Poolaw and her older brother, Robert, stepped off of the school bus to find their father, Kiowa Indian photographer Horace Poolaw, waiting in ambush, his camera in hand.

He put cowboy hats on our heads and gave us pistols to hold, Linda remembers. Whether the photo was meant to be ironic or not, Linda isnt sure. All she knows is that she never much cared for it.

No, its not because of the cowboyness of it or the whiteness or racism or anything like that, she said. Its just that Dad made us pose for him all the time. We had to be still. We had to wait for him to get the shot just right when all we wanted to do was go play.

That photo is among a collection of more than 80 currently on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington in an exhibit entitled For a Love of His People: The Photography of Horace Poolaw. The collection documents the gradual  if enforced -- assimilation into Western concepts of modernity and challenges, say critics, conventional views of Native Americans as others.

From tipi to mainstream

Horace Monroe Poolaw was born in 1906 in Mountain View, Oklahoma, a small town that grew up around the railroad.

Up until the late 19th Century, Oklahomas Indian Territory belonged to the tribes that lived or had been relocated there. In the 1860s, the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache were consigned to a nearly three-million-acre reservation. But 20 years later, a law known as the Dawes Act allowed Congress to divide communal land into plots of up to 160 acres in size, which they assigned to individual Indians. The rest was opened up to non-Native settlers.

Horaces father, Kiowa George, was the son of a distinguished warrior and is said to have kept a tribal calendar, a record of historic events that Kiowa traditionally painted onto buffalo hide or in ledgers. Horaces mother was descended from a Mexican woman who had been captured during a Kiowa raid.

It was a way to make up for a shortage of women, Linda said. The truth is a little more complex than that. A diminishing buffalo population and outbreaks of smallpox and cholera among the tribes led the Kiowa and their allies to conduct a series of devastating raids on Texas and Mexico for horses and human captives.

At first, the Poolaw family lived in a traditional tipi, but they eventually moved into frame house that remains in the family today.

The recently-built Rock Island railroad line brought an influx of settlers from the east, including itinerant photographer George W. Long, who set up shop in Mountain View. He served as a mentor to Poolaw and gave the youth his first camera.

Poolaw would spend the next 50 years of his life documenting the daily lives of family, friends and fellow Kiowa at work and play, as they made the transition, says his daughter, from tipi to mainstream.

He developed his own pictures, even though there was no electricity or water in the house back in those days, said Linda. He had to send to Chicago for film and developing supplies.

The high cost of paper and film meant Poolaw worked hard to get his shots right on the first try, and he only developed a fraction of the photos he took. He took all of his photographs outdoors because it eliminated the need for flashbulbs.

Horace would occasionally print photo postcards on large sheets of paper, which his children would trim and peddle at the bus station for five cents apiece as a way to make money.

We were poor, dirt poor, said Linda. But we didnt know it because everybody around us was poor too.

Today, those postcards sell for as much as $50 on internet auction sites.

Poolaw married twice; Linda is the daughter of his second wife, Winnie Chisholm (Delaware/Seminole/ Creek). He wore many hats in his life, he was a farmer and raised cattle. For a time, he worked for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Then, in 1943, he enlisted in the Army, where he was trained in aerial photography. At the end of World War II, he moved to Anadarko, where Linda was born.

Poolaw continued taking pictures until the 1970s, when his eyesight began to fail. In 1979, the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko organized a retrospective exhibit of his photographs. It would be the only showing of his work during his lifetime.

When he died in 1984, he left behind 2,000 negatives. In the late 1980s, his daughter collaborated with Stanford University to develop and catalogue his photos. The resulting exhibit and accompanying catalogue, War Bonnets, Tin Lizzies and Patent Leather Pumps: Kiowa Culture in Transition 1925-1955 toured the United States and was the subject of a documentary film.

Challenging stereotypes

Today, art historians and critics view Poolaws work as equal to many better-known photographers working in the Western frontier in the early 20th Century. His photographs are most often described as documenting the transition from 19th Century traditional ways of life into mainstream Americana.

But Laura E. Smith, art historian and author of a book on Poolaw, sees him through a different lens.

One of the things that I would like to refute is this idea of transformation between traditional and modern, as if something historic had died and as they modernized, they became less authentic as Indians, she said. Indigenous people survived and they continue to live and thrive. Sure, not everything is the same, but neither is any culture the same as it was in the 19th century.

His work documents the tribal community as it really lived and evolved, said Smith, as both Native Americans and American citizens, simultaneously assimilating and resisting.

If we situate his work within the legacy of Kiowa art, then Poolaw maintained ancestral practices of visually documenting Kiowa history, she said. If we situate his work within documentary photography, then Poolaw puts a face on the 20th Century Kiowa experience.

And if viewers regard his work simply as portraiture, then, says Smith, Poolaw gives thoughtful, loving, sometimes comedic and ironic representations of his modern community.
By Press Trust of India: (EDs: Incorporating additional info)

Lucknow, Apr 13 (PTI) The State Election Commission today urged the EC to allow it to hold elections for the posts of mayor and corporators of various civic bodies in Uttar Pradesh using the traditional paper ballots if it could not provide EVMs in "good working condition".

"I had a word with Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and requested him that the EC must provide latest EVMs which are in good working condition. Else, it should allow us to conduct the urban local bodies elections using paper ballots," State Election Commissioner SK Agarwal told PTI, adding that he was awaiting a reply in this regard.

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The poll process for the urban local bodies across the state will have to be completed by the second week of July, he said, adding that the the State Election Commission was currently working on delimitation of wards on a war footing.

In 2012, EVMs were used in the elections for the posts of mayors and corporators in 12 municipal corporations, while paper ballots were used in 194 nagar palika parishads and 423 nagar panchayats.

"In November 2016, we wrote to the EC requesting allotment of EVMs from Madhya Pradesh. Later, we were told by the Chief Electoral Officer of that state that the EVMs were sent to Maharashtra as per orders of the EC," Agarwal said.

The SEC had then urged the EC to provide EVMs from somewhere else.

"Then we came to know that the EVMs supposed to be used for the urban local bodies polls were pre-2006 models. The machines had outlived their utility and were discarded by the EC.

"I told Zaidi that if the EC considers the EVMs discarded, why was it giving them to us. This is a sensitive matter. If you are not able to give us the latest EVMs, we can conduct the urban local bodies elections with paper ballots," Agarwal said.

He added that he has urged the EC to give him in writing that the EVMs are old.

"Using discarded EVMs to conduct elections is not right. In the absence of latest EVMs, we may have to conduct the mayoral elections using paper ballots," said Agarwal.

Some political parties, including the Congress, have raised the issue of reliability of EVMs in the aftermath of recently-held Assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. PTI NAV SMI RC

--- ENDS ---
Ahead of a June deadline to renew Darfur's joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said her administration wants "proof" Sudan's government is making progress toward peace and protecting civilians in the region.

The Darfur mission, known as UNAMID, costs $1 billion per year. The Trump administration has expressed interest in cutting back on the overall U.N. peacekeeping budget. But analysts say while the mission merits some streamlining, it still serves a purpose.



Sudan's foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, argued conditions in Darfur have improved significantly from 2003, when the conflict began.

"Now there are no rebel movements in Darfur, no fighting in Darfur, IDPs are returning back to their places, and peace is prevailing in Darfur," he said.



Amnesty International's Sudan researcher, Ahmed Elzobier, disagreed, saying the benchmarks for progress outlined previously by the Obama administration have not been fulfilled. "We see reports every day that there is attacks on IDPs in Darfur," he said.

"The second benchmark is facilitation of humanitarian access in different parts of Darfur, especially in Jebel Mara, and this is not taking place at the moment, added Elzobier. "The third one is progress on the peace talks, between the armed groups in Darfur and the Sudan government. This was suspended since August 2016.And nothing has happened. And the fourth one, which is inter-communal fighting ... this is still happening every now and then."



Peacekeepers deployed to Darfur in 2007. Violence broke out in the region in 2003 when Khartoum was accused of unleashing local Arab tribes on ethnic Africans rebelling against the government for alleged discrimination. Unrest has continued in the years since.



Progress eases sanctions



The United States lifted some sanctions against Sudan in January, with then-President Barack Obama citing "positive actions" by the Sudanese government, including progress in ending military aerial bombardments in Darfur.

A State Department official said there could be a permanent revocation of sanctions in six months if progress continued, a timeline that coincides with the renewal of the UNAMID mandate.



Zach Vertin, a fellow at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center, said the U.N. mission in Darfur could be updated to reflect "current realities."



"Things have definitely changed, but it remains a complex security environment with lots of overlapping security concerns, criminality  these kind of things," he said."So I think the Trump administration has been pushing for major peacekeeping cuts and while streamlining the mission is welcome, gutting it is not."



Analysts worry that a large, abrupt cut to the UNAMID presence could impact humanitarian assistance and civilian protection in Darfur.



"UNAMID has been a failure by any reasonable peacekeeping standards, but failing doesn't mean they haven't provided some protection," said Eric Reeves, a senior fellow at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University.

"That protection would disappear with the kind of cuts that are being mooted within the debates at the Security Council," he added.



The government of Sudan does want UNAMID to leave, but carefully, said its foreign minister.



"We want a careful exit strategy in accordance with the agreement signed between us and the A.U. and the U.N. And on the basis of that, we are accepting any reasonable evaluation in all places where UNAMID is based," said Ghandour. "So we are not talking about an immediate, total exit. We are talking about an exit strategy on the basis of conditions on the ground."



In March, Ambassador Haley accused the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, of "aiding a government that is inflicting predatory behavior against its own people." She also said the United Nations should have the "decency and common sense to end this."



MONUSCO's mandate was renewed at the end of March, but with a reduction of 3,600 in the troop ceiling.



The mandates for peacekeeping missions in Mali, southern Lebanon, and the Central African Republic will also come up for renewal before the end of the year.
With economic growth rates close to 7 percent, Laos is a star in South East Asia, buoyed by investment and business ties with China, the countrys largest investor.

In a new assessment the Lao government and Asian Development Bank predict the country's good economic fortunes will continue.

The ADB said national output (GDP) should reach 6.9 percent in 2017, and 7 percent in 2018, despite fiscal constraints and weaker global demand for minerals in recent years.

Rattanatay Luanglathbandith, Vientiane-based ADB public management specialist, said, "The key driver of Laos economic growth is mainly the resources sector, hydropower and mining, namely copper, silver and gold."

Laos ambition as the battery of South East Asia has seen development of hydro-power dams with 10 now operating. Three more proposed for the Mekong River are moving forward despite criticism from conservationists because of their environmental impact, especially on fish stocks.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Department says tourism contributed $724 million to the national budget in 2016. Visitor arrivals stood at 4.23 million, down from 4.68 million a year earlier, but Laos is spending $61 million to expand Wattay International airport.

Service sector growing

Rattanatay said the tourism industry is a key to absorbing rising numbers entering the workforce.

The expansion of the services sector is happening right now. [It will] start to absorb labor into the total labor employed, but it happens slowly in the hotel, restaurant and retail trade and then some service provider in the IT sector, Ratanatay told VOA.

China is Laos' largest investor with more than $6.7 billion in 760 projects, according to a report by the Xinhua news agency. Behind China, the other key trade and investment partners are Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Martin Stuart-Fox, emeritus professor of history at the University of Queensland, says Laos must manage the interests of China and Vietnam.

The problem for Laos is balancing the Chinese money against the Vietnamese, the traditional Vietnamese influence, particularly the Vietnamese influence through the military. And theres the Chinese money coming in and the special economic zones  some are a complete set up run by a single Chinese company [for] casinos, money laundering, and prostitution and gambling, Stuart-Fox told VOA.

China is also contributing 70 percent of the total cost of the $5.8 billion China-Lao railway. The 410-kilometer segment is part of Chinas Kunming-Singapore rail link. Chairman of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oudeth Saouvannavong, told Lao media the rail link is seen as crucial in boosting development, generating jobs and income for local people.

Growth impacting society

But economists say rapid growth has led to fiscal and budgetary issues, as well as social considerations. In 2017 budget expenditures are forecast at $3.92 billion against revenues of $2.89 billion, a deficit of $1.07 billion.

Buavanh Vilavong, a Lao scholar at the Australian National University, said the Lao economy suffers from chronic fiscal deficits due to a narrow revenue base and macro-economic mismanagement. He said the government is taking steps at reform with improved economic governance and fiscal consolidation.

ADBs Rattanatay says for the long term, The government has to create a favorable business environment to encourage the development of small and medium enterprises in order to diversify the economy from the resources sector to more labor intensive manufacturing and service sector.

The Asian Development Bank says the 23 percent of Laos' seven million population living in poverty needs to be addressed.

Holly High, a senior research fellow from Sydney Universitys department of anthropology, says promising prosperity is a cornerstone of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party platform.

So if they are generating a lot of economic growth that is certainly a step towards delivering on their promises, but its not going to be adequate if this isnt delivered in a way thats perceived to be equitable, High told VOA.

Analysts say Laos faces high rates of corruption. The Berlin-based Transparency International in 2016 ranked Laos at 123 of 176 nations on its corruption perception index. Stuart-Fox says corruption and the black economy, that disregards government rules, remains a major issue.

Its massively corrupt. Absolutely massively corrupt. If you are the top of the party you get a lot of money, and theres a lot of Chinese money coming in, of course, and there are top people in the politburo who are extremely wealthy, said Stuart-Fox.

High says with the backdrop of growth, there is also a need for more venues for political dissent for public debate on social and economic issues.

"Even when theres good news, about say economic growth or poverty declining, people are still suspicious because theres not a lot of trust in the political sphere in Laos, she said.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is remaining defiant amid widespread accusations his government carried out a deadly chemical attack last week, as monitoring groups say his forces along with Russia have escalated attacks on civilians in a clear challenge to the international community.

In his first interview since scores were killed in an April 4 chemical weapons airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, Assad told the French news agency AFP the incident was a "fabrication" to justify a U.S. military strike.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack, It wasn't an attack because of what happened in khan Sheikhoun. It's one event, its stage one is the play that we saw on the social networking and on TVs, and the propaganda, and the stage two is the military attack," he said, adding that his country's forces handed over all of its chemical weapons in 2013.

Assad said the "firepower" of his forces has not been diminished by the April 7 U.S. Cruise missile strike on al Shayrat, the airbase from where Washington says Syrian jets took off from to carry out a sarin gas attack.



WATCH: Assad on use of chemical weapons in Syria

Rise in attacks



In the week since the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, the Syrian Network for Human Rights says there has been a rise in the use cluster munitions, incendiary weapons and barrel bombs by the regime, resulting in the deaths of at last 98 civilians, including 24 children. It also claims in a report released late Tuesday that toxic-gas grenades were launched by government forces in the Damascus suburb of al Qaboun. There has been on independent confirmation of that report.

On April 7, 2017, around 16:00, Syrian regime forces used two hand grenades loaded with a poison gas on the eastern battlefront of al Qaboun, which injured two fighters from the armed opposition factions, SNHR says in its report. The group says it cannot confirm what kind of toxic substance may have been used but that the injured fighters exhibited symptoms such as suffocation, heavy breathing and severe coughing.

The monitoring group, whose reports are used by the United Nations, describes some of the regimes military operations as deliberately targeting residential areas and facilities, including mosques, rather than just being indiscriminate. It judges that the attacks are partly in retaliation for the April 7 U.S. Cruise missile strike on al Shayrat, the airbase from where Washington says Syrian jets took off from to carry out a Sarin Gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun. That attack left more than 90 civilians dead and hundreds injured, according to activists and first responders.

The Syrian regime will continue to challenge the international community, testing its limits the same way the regime gradually elevated its use of weapons until we reached chemical weapons, warns Fadel Abdul Ghany, SNHR chairman.

Four mosques, three schools, four medical facilities and a market were struck by Syrian or Russian warplanes and helicopters from April 4 to April 11, says SNHR. Five attacks saw cluster bombs dropped and half-a-dozen were carried out using incendiary weapons. According to the monitoring group, Syrian government helicopters dropped 125 barrel bombs in Daraa, 23 in Hama, four in Idlib and five apiece in Aleppo and Homs between April 7 to April 11.







White House: further intervention possible



On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in Washington that the Syrian government's use of barrel bombs could prompt further U.S. military intervention. 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 a daily press briefing.

He added: If we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action.

Several hours later, though, Spicer appeared to clarify his remarks about barrel bombs  and not just chemical weapon attacks  triggering further punitive intervention by the U.S., but added to confusion, saying, Nothing has changed in our posture.



Barrel bombs



Barrel bombs, cheaply-made improvised containers packed with explosive and metal fragments, have been dropped frequently by Syrian government forces during the course of the six-year-long conflict. This VOA correspondent witnessed the use of barrel-bombs during several trips inside northern Syria in 2013 and 2014. Last year alone nearly 13,000 barrel bombs were dropped from government helicopters, according to monitors and rights groups.

In an interview with the BBC in 2015, Assad denied his forces ever dropped barrel bombs. I know about the army. They use bullets, missiles and bombs. I haven't heard of the army using barrels, or maybe, cooking pots," he said.

One of the biggest incendiary-bomb attacks came Sunday night with Russian strikes on the rebel-held towns of Latamneh and Saraqeb near Khan Sheikhoun. Video footage purportedly of the attacks were posted by activists online and showed enormous fireballs.

Laith Ahmed, a rescue worker with the White Helmets in Saraqeb, told reporters: The bomb exploded at a height of about 150 meters above the ground, and then the sub-munitions began to fall. At every point one touched the ground, it sent flames in all directions.

Another watchdog, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in London but oversees a network of activists on the ground in Syria to gather information, also reported Thursday a surge in Syrian government and Russian military activity with more than 120 airstrikes in the northern countryside of Hama in the past 24 hours.

The Observatory claimed government helicopters dropped barrel bombs overnight on the towns of Tayyibat al-Imam and Soran, both off which were targeted in heavy artillery shelling Thursday by regime forces.
For some in Brazil, the decision by a Supreme Court judge to place many top politicians under investigation for suspected corruption, including leading contenders in next year's presidential race, clears the way for a new era in politics.

The sweeping probe ordered by Justice Luiz Edson Fachin encompassed all the likely presidential candidates from Brazil's main political parties, including left-leaning former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is leading in the polls.

"A chance for a clean start," O Globo, an influential Rio de Janeiro daily, said on Wednesday's front page.

But many familiar with the workings of Brazil's multiparty system and its sluggish courts said the investigation may bring little beyond more instability  especially if an untested maverick steps in to fill the political void.

"It's good we have institutions that are battling corruption but this opens up a gaping leadership vacuum that for now creates further instability," said Rafael Cortez, a political scientist at Tendencias, a consultancy in Sao Paulo.

The massive investigation that opened three years ago into kickbacks at the state-run oil company Petrobras has already shaken Brazil's political establishment. It contributed to the impeachment of leftist President Dilma Rousseff last year, and has dogged the new government of President Michel Temer.

Yet the investigation ordered by Fachin on Tuesday, based on plea bargain testimony by employees of engineering company Odebrecht, marked a major escalation of the political fallout.

Eight government ministers and 12 state governors were swept up in the probe, as well as dozens of sitting lawmakers  including the speakers of both houses of Congress  and four former presidents.

After emptying out Tuesday afternoon when the probes were announced, Congress remained largely vacant on Wednesday as nervous lawmakers weighed the repercussions.

Skeptical of change

The investigations were welcomed by many citizens in a country wearied by daily reports of corruption and in dire need of political progress to revive an economy saddled by two years of recession.

"I would like to see new leadership, a new electoral option," said Jurandir Ferreira dos Santos, 32, an administrative assistant in Sao Paulo.

Like many Brazilians, he was skeptical about the political class' ability to change. "We are seeing no one emerging in Congress to provide leadership, no new parties capable of offering us an option we can believe in."

On a practical level, the popular mood may force major political parties to rethink the political calculus behind the various possible candidates.

The center-right Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) saw two of its possible choices, senators Aecio Neves and Jose Serra, named in Fachin's probe. A third possible PSDB contender, Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin, was referred by Fachin for investigation by a lower court.

Some politicians portrayed the investigations as a welcome chance to clear their names. Neves, who lost the 2014 election to Rousseff, said in a statement it would now be possible to "unmask the lies and show the absolute propriety" of his conduct.

With an antsy electorate, though, the uncertainty could open the door to newcomers casting themselves as agents of change.

PSDB members are already speculating whether Joao Doria, a wealthy businessman and upstart politician who surprised rivals by getting elected mayor of Sao Paulo last year, may be the party's only untainted option.

There could also be an opportunity for brazen populists like Jair Bolsonaro, a renegade conservative who espouses a nationalist, law-and-order agenda and has stirred controversy with his views on gender and race.

"You never know who might take advantage of the electoral mess," said Carlos Melo, a professor of politics at Insper, a Sao Paulo business school. "An outsider might make the best president ever or maybe they'd be the worst."
Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid $40 million to President Michel Temer's party and another party to ensure a contract with the state oil company, according to testimony from a former Odebrecht executive.



Marcio Faria's accusation came in plea bargain testimony released late Wednesday as part of the biggest corruption probe in Brazil's history. The investigation, known as Operation Car Wash, has already unveiled billions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes paid to politicians by Brazilian companies.



But this week, the Supreme Court announced a new wave of investigations into top politicians, including eight of Temer's Cabinet ministers, dealing a major blow to his presidency and raising questions about whether he can continue to effectively govern. In opening the investigations, the court released recordings of the plea bargain testimony that underpins the probe.



Other former Odebrecht executives testified that Temer was involved in the solicitation of another bribe, worth $3.2 million.



Temer is not under investigation since, as president, he has temporary immunity from any crimes committed before he took office. He has denied wrongdoing.



In his testimony, Faria said he met with Temer and some of his allies at Temer's office in Sao Paulo in 2010 in order to "bless'' an arrangement whereby Odebrecht would make a contribution to the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party in exchange for its help smoothing the approval of a pending contract with Petrobras.



When asked whether it was clear that this money was a bribe or an illegal gain, Faria responded: "Totally an illegal gain because it was a percentage on top of the contract.''



Faria said no figures were discussed at the meeting, but the deal was clear: Odebrecht would pay the party 5 percent of the value of the Petrobras contract. That amounted to around $40 million, he said.



Faria said Temer's party later decided to cut in the Workers' Party. At the time, Temer was the vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Dilma Rousseff of the Workers' Party as the presidential candidate. In the end, Faria said Temer's party received 4 percent of the contract's total, and the Workers' Party received 1 percent.



In a video released on Thursday, Temer acknowledged that he had a conversation with Faria in 2010, but flatly denied the rest.



"I am not afraid of the facts. What disgusts me are lies,'' Temer said. "The lie is that in this meeting I heard a reference to financial resources or shady business by the company with politicians. This never happened. Not in that meeting and not in any meeting in my public life.''



Two other former Odebrecht executives described a similar scenario they say occurred in 2014. According to court documents, the executives had dinner that year with Temer, who was then vice president, and his current Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha.



During the dinner, they say, the company agreed to pay $3.2 million in supposed campaign contributions to Padilha and another Temer ally and in exchange, Temer's party agreed to help Odebrecht win airport concessions. Padilha is under investigation in this case.



Former Odebrecht CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, one of the executives present, testified that he closed the deal with Padilha after dessert and before coffee was served. Temer had stepped away from the table at the time.



"Temer never mentioned the 10 million (reals, or $3.2 million) to me,'' Odebrecht said in the recording released by the court. "But obviously at the dinner he was aware.''



Padilha has denied wrongdoing. Temer's office said that he "categorically denies any involvement of his name in shady dealings.''



The corruption unmasked by the Car Wash investigation has shocked even the most cynical Brazilians for both the vast amounts that traded hands and the way in which it has spared no party. Odebrecht testified that his company also contributed to the presidential campaigns of Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, both of the Workers' Party, in exchange for favors.



In one instance, in 2009, Odebrecht met with Silva's finance minister, Guido Mantega, to discuss an executive order the company wanted from the government. During the conversation, Mantega allegedly wrote down the number 50  which Odebrecht said he understood meant the company should contribute 50 million reals ($16 million) to Rousseff's upcoming campaign.



"On illegal campaign financing, Lula and Dilma knew the amounts,'' the former CEO testified. "Not the precise amount, but they had knowledge of the dimension of all our support through the years.''



Silva and Rousseff have both denied the accusations. Rousseff was impeached and removed from office last year on charges she broke fiscal laws.



"I don't know what will happen to me, but I am fighting and I will prove that this country can be happy again,'' Silva said in a radio interview on Thursday.
Cambodia's foreign ministry has issued a broad rebuttal to accusations of human rights abuses and political repression that have dogged the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen for decades.

Titled "To Tell the Truth," the report released Tuesday describes the allegations of abuses and repression as a campaign of misinformation spread by a conspiracy of foreign powers led by the United States.

Local and international investigators have documented many of the abuses, which Cambodia claims are a "distortion of facts, lies and amplification of minor issues" aimed at discrediting the government while rallying NGOs and the opposition.

"Cambodia has been submerged, months after months, years after years, by reports from opposition media, biased NGOs and misinformed institutions, which twisted the 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 lengthy  and rare  governmental statement is a move to offset growing criticism by the international community, NGOs and critical media outlets of the crumbling of Cambodia's democratic institutions. Analysts are suggesting the release is a by-product of Cambodia's growing closeness with China and rising tensions ahead of elections.

The report points to "democracy promotion" by the U.S. in countries such as Ukraine and Honduras as evidence that Cambodia's sovereignty is at stake. The paper opens by quoting former U.S. Representative Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas, who said the U.S. sends "billions of dollars to push regime change overseas."

Cambodians are due to go to the polls in less than two months to choose new local representatives, while a general election is scheduled for 2018. And the paper came two weeks after the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released an analysis of increasing restrictions on political freedom.

David Josar, deputy spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, said: "We encourage the government of Cambodia to expend less energy propagating unfounded conspiracy theories and instead devote its resources to addressing the needs of the Cambodian people and ensuring its upcoming elections are free and fair."

'Break' from U.S.

Sok Eysan, spokesman for Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party, said the paper was issued because rights groups, civil society and the media base their reporting on a "subjective mind-set and opposing the current government."

Sok said the government decision to release the report was the need "for the explanation to both the national and international communities. If we had not  there might have been misunderstandings and accusations that the government did not do its job properly, violate human rights or abuse multi-party democracy, etc.

"If we said nothing, they would have accused us of hiding things," he added.

Cham Bunthet, a political analyst and adviser to the newly established Grassroots Democracy Party, saw the paper's release as a gesture "to show that America is not Cambodia's big brother.

"I believe the government's aim was to break away from the U.S. and partner with the Chinese to change the Cambodian government into a new governmental form  single-party government," he said.

But Eang Vuthy, executive director of Equity Cambodia, who regularly observes the country's social and political developments, pointed out "Cambodia remains a poor country and it needs both technical and financial assistance, so China alone is not sufficient for the country's development." Cambodia, he said, needs "to cooperate with other big countries, especially the European Union and the United States."

Rhona Smith, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur to Cambodia, was singled out for saying last year the "time to blame the troubles of the last century for the situation today is surely over." The government paper called her statement "reckless" and demonstrated "sheer contempt" for "the suffering from crimes against humanity and genocide."

Report 'essential for meaningful dialogue'

The report also targets Wan-Hea Lee, the country director of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), saying she violated the U.N. Standards of Conduct by making "totally prejudicial" statements against the government.

Lee had said that the government's decision to prevent the then-opposition leader Sam Rainsy from returning to Cambodia from self-imposed exile in France was "unjustified and arbitrary."

In an email to VOA, Lee said she welcomed the candid nature of the paper as "essential for meaningful dialogue."

It also describes U.S. government-supported outlets, the VOA and Radio Free Asia, as "two die hard pro-opposition radio stations" that are broadcast nationwide without censorship.

VOA director Amanda Bennett said in response that "Voice of America has been known for decades and around the world for being a fair, neutral and objective news service. That is the way we operate in Cambodia as we do in the rest of the world."

The report accused the country's English-language press  with the notable exception of the fledgling Khmer Times  of printing "unsubstantiated accusations on a daily basis."

"Printed press is so free that the Cambodia Daily and the Phnom Penh Post, the two main English newspapers with a Khmer version, publish on a daily basis strong criticisms and unsubstantiated accusations against the Government, based on pure suspicions," according to the report.

Stuart White, acting editor-in-chief of the Phnom Penh Post, the oldest English-language newspaper in the country, said: "Our mission is, and will continue to be, reporting fairly and without bias and holding those in power to account in the interests of transparency and the public good."
Malala Yousafzai is using her honorary Canadian citizenship to call on the country's leaders to take real action to improve educational opportunities for girls.



The teenage Nobel prize winner spoke to the Canadian Parliament after becoming an honorary citizen Wednesday. She asked lawmakers to make education for girls a top priority when it hosts the G-7 summit next year.



Yousafzai was 15 when she shot in the head by Taliban militants in Pakistan in 2012. She was targeted due to her advocacy for women's education.



Yousafzai was originally scheduled to receive the honor on October 22, 2014, but the ceremony was cancelled after a gunman attacked Canada's Parliament Hill that day.



The 19-year-old also spoke of her friends' excitement for her to meet youthful Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She smiled while referencing Trudeau's tattoos and practice of yoga.
Chinese authorities are offering big rewards - as much as $73,000 in some cases - to people who provide information about foreign spies.

Officials are highlighting the seriousness of the situation, with some saying there is a need to protect national secrets. Others are poking fun at the campaign, which state media are promoting on social media and through a playful cartoon video just days ahead of National Security Education Day.



V meets Spy vs. Spy

In the video, spies, secret agents and bad guys are depicted as a colorful combination of Western pop-culture characters such as V, from the movie V for Vendetta, with his Guy Fawkes mask, dementors from the Harry Potter series and Mad Magazines Spy vs. Spy.

To report spying foreigners or their accomplices, citizens in the capital can call a hotline, write a letter, or visit the Beijing Municipal Security Bureau in person. The definition of spying is broad and includes any activity that harms the national security of the Peoples Republic of China.

In many ways, the broad scope of the law and definition of spying are strikingly similar to the charge of picking quarrels and provoking trouble that authorities frequently use to silence dissent.

In promoting the campaign, examples of spying provided by authorities include stealing or buying state secrets, pointing out targets for enemies, and attempting to turn state employees traitor.

Informers who play a key role in helping prevent or detect major espionage cases can receive awards of 100,000 to 500,000 RMB ($14,700 to $73,500)  As long as the cases are verified and accurate, informers will be rewarded, the video promotion explains.



How to catch a spy?

On the streets of Beijing, none of the residents VOA interviewed saw a need for the reward offer.

Some said that it was the duty of citizens to report suspicious behavior, while others doubted the ability of ordinary people to discover spying.

One man surnamed Zhao, who works in legal affairs, said that while the reward was quite large, intelligence authorities were better suited for the work.



We dont really know the exact circumstances or why spies would come to China, Zhao said. Everyday citizens really have no idea about such things, such inside stories. Thats the sort of thing that comes through the investigations of national security departments and other relevant agencies.



An elderly pharmacist surnamed Zhu said spies are not ordinary types.

If you dont understand whats going on behind the scenes, how could you? she asked. But in general, weve all never had any contact with this type of people, that kind of international stuff.

Another man surnamed Zhang, who works in the travel industry, said people need more awareness about national security.



There are a lot of spies now (in China). China is developing very fast and the West is on the decline, the East is rising, so spying activities are quite normal.



More pressing issues



Others pointed to more pressing concerns, like the difficulties of buying a home.



Most people are more concerned about the basic necessities of life, said a woman surnamed Xie who works in finance. Transportation, housing prices, salaries, air quality, whether pollution is severe or not, these are the kinds of things everyday common citizens pay attention to.



Online, such as on Chinese social media, some called for more focus on corrupt officials and used the hashtag "#Report a spy and get a reward" to call attention to investment scams and other social issues.

One comment in response to a Tencent News article about the rewards said, Be cool if you run into a spy, first confirm his (her) identity as a spy. Second, ask if he (she) would be willing to repay your mortgage; third, if so willing, take the money and leave, if not, then report them directly!

On Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like microblogging service, one user wrote, This trick would work wonders if it was also used for anti-corruption.



Others online were more suspicious and fearful.



One said, I love the country, not the party-state.

Another saw parallels with the political upheavals of Chinas past.



Feels like [were] going back to the days of the Cultural Revolution, a time when everybody felt like they were in danger. Those you dislike were all counter-revolutionary or agents of the America or Chiang [Kai-shek], the post said.



Hostile foreign forces

The measures come against a backdrop of Beijings increasingly active campaign against hostile foreign forces. It also comes as China prepares to mark its second National Security Education Day on Saturday, April 15.



Last years inaugural day saw a campaign warning of the dangers of spies, including cartoons posted in subway stations cautioning young women on dating handsome young foreigners. The campaign was called Dangerous Love.

While there may be concerns and certainly increasing suspicion about foreign actors in China, some analysts have suggested that the campaign could offer justification for increased security and the ongoing civil rights crackdown, especially as the Communist Party prepares to host a major leadership meeting later this year.

As for why Beijing was chosen, the popular government backed daily The Beijing News stated that the capitals status as the countrys political, cultural, tech innovation and international communication center makes it a top location for foreign spies and hostile forces to harm China.


A Civil War film by Sofia Coppola, a Ukrainian road movie and a drama about AIDS activism are among 18 films competing for prizes at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which organizers hope can help counter nationalist sentiment.

The festival is embracing virtual reality and cell phone video as it marks its 70th birthday this year. Festival general delegate Thierry Fremaux and President Pierre Lescure announced the dozens of films competing and showing during the May 17-28 festival at a press conference in Paris on Thursday.



Contenders for the Palme d'Or include Coppola's spooky Civil War drama "The Beguiled," starring Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst; American director Noah Baumbach's family saga "The Meyerowitz Stories," starring Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler; and fellow American Todd Haynes' 1920s-set drama "Wonderstruck."



Also in the top competition are "Okja," a fantasy thriller by South Korea's Bong Joon-Ho starring Tilda Swinton; French director Michel Hazanavicius' tribute to the French New Wave, "Le Redoubtable"; sex-trafficking drama "You Were Never Really Here" from Britain's Lynne Ramsay; and "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," a thriller from Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos starring Kidman and Colin Farrell.



Austere Austrian director Michael Haneke, a two-time Palme d'Or winner, returns with "Happy End," whose title, Fremaux noted, bears little relation to its content.



French filmmaker Robin Campillo's "120 Beats Per Minute" looks at the rise of AIDS activism, while Fremaux called Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa's "A Gentle Creature" a road movie "about the situation of Russia."



The festival is embracing changing technology, with inclusion of Alejandro G. Inarritu's virtual reality short "Meat and Honey," reported to be about migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.



Fremaux said it was "a beautiful film, you are shivering when you come out of it." He compared the wonders of virtual reality to the wonders unleashed by cinema founding fathers the Lumiere brothers more than a century ago.



Security will be tight for the French Riviera festival, just down the coast from Nice, where an Islamic State group-inspired truck attack killed 86 people in July.



Lescure said security was "at its maximum'' in 2016 and "there were no serious incidents."



"I hope to see the same results this year," he said.



Global events will cast a shadow over Cannes' Croisette, the town's picturesque seafront promenade, after a year that has seen Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the election of unpredictable U.S. President Donald Trump. France will have a new government by opening night, with the final stage of its two-round presidential election set for May 7. Far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen is among the front-runners.



Lescure said he hoped that "North Korea and Syria will not cast a shadow on the 70th edition, which we hope will be stable and happy."



Fremaux said he hopes the festival can "look to the future" and hold "the promise of living together in harmony."




Mexico is mobilizing to resist President Donald Trump's policies in ways that range from the sensible to the strange.

Mexican negotiators are hammering out a trade deal with Europe in a bid to reduce reliance on U.S. markets following Trump's pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and his efforts to stop companies from moving U.S. plants south of the border. The U.S. receives three-quarters of Mexico's exports and supplies half its imports.

Faced with the U.S. president's anti-immigrant stance, Mexico has set up workshops and hotlines to educate migrants about their rights in the face of deportations, though those have fallen about 13 percent since Trump took office.

So common are the public-service announcements about what migrants should do if U.S. immigration agents show up at their door  don't open it, ask for the agents' names and search warrants  that radio-listeners in Mexico City now likely know more about dealing with U.S. agents than with corrupt local cops, or about other pressing public issues like fighting dengue and Zika.

But Trump's policies and comments about Mexico have also stirred up some odder suggestions and awakened some very old ghosts.

For the past 30 years, lawyer Guillermo Hamdan has spent his free time preparing legal arguments for declaring null and void the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, under which Mexico received $15 million from the U.S. but ceded California and most of Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. The territories have been part of the United States for almost 170 years  about seven times longer than they were part of independent Mexico.

Hamdan argues the treaty is invalid because it was signed under duress as the result of the 1846-1848 Mexican-American war launched with a U.S. invasion. A Mexican victory would require the U.S. to return much of the territory or pay reparations that Hamdan calls "incalculable."

'Let the ghosts out'

While Mexico's governments have shown no interest in taking up the case, his case has gained public attention lately in the country.

"The outrage over the humiliating treatment [of Mexico] by Trump" was the spur for dusting off the 170-year-old case, Hamdan said.

"What Trump did was to let the ghosts out by attacking us," he said. "He poured turpentine on a wound that has never healed."

Another old case  this one little-known even inside Mexico  has been brought up by Sen. Patricio Martinez, who claims that the present borders in southwestern New Mexico and Arizona are wrong due to a surveying error after the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, in which the U.S. acquired almost 30,000 square miles (77,000 square kilometers) from Mexico in exchange for $10 million.

Martinez has drawn up maps claiming that border markers were mysteriously moved sometime between 1853, when they were laid out and reviewed by both nations, and 1896, when another survey was done. He said the lines should have been drawn further north and that Mexico was robbed of almost 210,000 acres (85,000 hectares) of land.

He argues the U.S. should return the territory or pay for it.

This comes as a surprise to Gabriel Duran, a consultant for the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. In his 35-year career at the commission, he had never heard of the claim.

"As far as we know no monuments have been moved," said Duran. "They are where they should be."

He said officials of both nations have supervised, tracked, mapped and agreed on the border markers for generations, most recently, with GPS technology.

Corn imports

But the proposal that has drawn the most press coverage has been a somewhat quixotic idea floated by a single renegade senator, Armando Rios Piter, who wants to stop Mexico's imports of U.S. corn and replace them with suppliers from Brazil, Argentina or other countries.

Rios Piter suggests that would be a way to defend Mexicans against Trump and show displeasure with his policies.

While Mexico buys about a quarter of U.S. corn exports  it is the largest foreign buyer  it would also mean considerable price increases for impoverished Mexican consumers, since transport costs would be steeply higher for South American grain.

Tom Sleight, president of the U.S. Grains Council, noted that, including transport costs, Brazilian corn would be 10 to 15 percent more expensive, meaning Mexicans would also have to pay more for beef and pork.

And that's not counting the huge cost of building new grain storage facilities and transport terminals to receive grain shipments arriving aboard large ships from South America, as opposed to the rail freight that delivers much of the U.S. corn directly to feed millers in Mexico.

"You have buyer-seller relationships that have built up over decades on very good infrastructure logistics," Sleight says. "To replace that overnight is not going to happen."

Treatment of migrants

The chief  and most plausible  representative of Mexico's old resentments is Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the two-time leftist presidential candidate who came within a hair's breadth of winning the 2006 election. While Lopez Obrador vows he is not anti-American, he has filed a complaint against Trump's treatment of migrants with the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.

The fear and loathing Mexicans feel for Trump could translate into more votes in 2018 for Lopez Obrador, who advocates a sort of return to the hyper-nationalist days of the early 1960s personified by ex-President Adolfo Lopez Mateos.

"We are not accustomed to getting down on our knees," Lopez Obrador said of U.S. relations. "We are going to defend our migrants. We are going to defend our human rights."

It is the specter of a Lopez Obrador presidency that has the current Mexican administration eager to start any renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement now  and not in next year's presidential election season.

"We think there are better conditions for reaching a commercial agreement with the United States or any other national in 2017," said Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray. "As the election year opens, particularly the presidential elections, it becomes more complicated for any type of international negotiation."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has raised questions over Election Commission's open challenge to hack Electronic Voting Machines. Kejriwal suggested that reports about poll panel's challenge could have been 'planted'.

By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is at war with the Election Commission over Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering, has now questioned the poll panel's 'open challenge' to hack its voting machines.

"Why are these stories ascribed to "sources"? How credible are they? Why hasn't EC issued any formal statement? Or is it just a plant?" Kejriwal said suggesting that reports about Election Commission's open hacking challenge may have been planted in media.

Why are these stories ascribed to "sources"? How credible are they? Why hasn't EC issued any formal statement? Or is it just a plant? https://t.co/Cxvu4nBUg8- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 13, 2017

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Kejriwal had recently challenged the Election Commission to allow him to pick a random EVM and he will prove within 72 hours that the machines could be tampered with.

At least 16 Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, have alleged that the EVMs were tampered by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the just concluded Assembly elections in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand. The BJP formed government in four of the states which went to polls in February-March.

Earlier this week, 13 Opposition parties had 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.

"Through our memorandum, we drew his attention to the recent critical developments which have seriously undermined governance and institutional integrity. The environment of fear and insecurity has been prevailing in the country and voices of dissent are being muzzled," Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, had said.

WATCH: EVM tampering row: Is AAP unable to concede defeat in Assembly polls?

ALSO READ:

Hack an EVM challenge: Election Commission dares anyone to tamper voting device successfully

After Moily, now Capt Amarinder from Congress says EVMs cannot be tampered

How EVM tampering row flared up: Truth behind Bhind experiment of Madhya Pradesh

--- ENDS ---
Opposition candidate Guillermo Lasso filed a complaint Wednesday challenging Ecuador election results that show he narrowly lost to President Rafael Correa's handpicked successor.



The former banker is demanding a recount of all votes cast in the election, repeating accusations of fraud and saying if Lenin Moreno takes power he will head an illegitimate government.



"It's necessary to be in the streets,'' he told supporters at an event announcing the election challenge.



Official results released Monday show Lasso lost to Lenin Moreno by less than three points. The election was closely watched in Latin America as an indicator of whether the region would continue to shift right after recent conservative candidate wins in countries including Peru and Argentina.



Correa has served as Ecuador's president for more than 10 years and the country has been deeply divided on whether to continue his "Citizens' Revolution.'' In polls leading up to the election, a majority of Ecuadoreans said they were eager for change and frustrated with a staggered economy and Correa's iron-fisted rule.



Hundreds of outraged Lasso supporters protested outside the electoral council's headquarters on election night April 2. Some remained camped out until being removed by police Tuesday.



Lasso said Wednesday his campaign has presented evidence showing 4,200 irregular voting acts, "and that's just what we've found so far, that's why we're asking for a review of 100 percent of the votes.''



In the initial hours after the election, three exit polls showed Lasso winning. One by pollster Cedatos, which accurately predicted the results of the first round, gave him a victory by six percentage points.



Yet despite the accusations of fraud, international observers including the Organization of American states said they found no irregularities. The Washington-based regional group said its mission of 480 voting centers nationwide found no discrepancies between the tallies and the official results.



In presenting the results of a partial recount, Juan Pablo Pozo, president of the electoral council, said officials had found no evidence of ballots being incorrectly tallied.



The percentage difference between the two candidates after a recount of nearly 300,000 votes is "identical,'' he said. "That's our conclusion up to this moment.''
An errant airstrike by a U.S.-backed coalition has killed 18 allied soldiers who were fighting the Islamic State militant group in northern Syria.

U.S. Central Command, which directs U.S. forces in the Middle East, said Thursday allied forces members inadvertently carried out the attack Tuesday south of Tabqa, a strategically important town near the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

Raqqa is the self-declared capital of IS and is the largest Syrian city under the group's control.

Central Command said the predominately Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gave coalition aircraft pilots the wrong coordinates, resulting in a strike that hit an SDF position instead.

Several countries are providing air support to the coalition in the battle against IS. It is unclear which air forces carried out the strike.

In a statement, the coalition expressed its "deepest condolences" to SDF members and their families.

"The coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident," the coalition said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

The statement added "appropriate safeguards" would be implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

A monitoring group in Syria said last month dozens of civilians had been killed in a U.S. attack outside Raqqa. The military said it had no proof of civilians being killed.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that Russia failed to adequately minimize risks ahead of a 2004 attack by Islamic militants on a school, and that the actions of security forces contributed to the deaths of hostages.

The three-day siege and massacre that started on September 1, 2004, at School Number One in Beslan, a town in the republic of North Ossetia, left more than 330 hostages dead, including 186 children. It is one of the bloodiest terrorist acts ever in Russia.

A group of Russians filed lawsuits accusing the government of failing to protect the victims against a known threat, mounting a deficient rescue operation, and not effectively investigating the attack and response.

The ECHR sided with the plaintiffs, saying authorities had specific information about a planned attack but did not boost security at the school. The court said afterward investigators did not properly examine how victims died, and "failed to adequately examine the use of lethal force by the authorities."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the ruling, calling it unacceptable given that Russia had been the victim of terrorist attacks.

The attack began on the first day of the school year. About 30 mostly Chechen and Ingush Islamic militants seized the school and killed several adults before taking more than 1,100 people hostage, including nearly 800 children. During a 52-hour standoff, most of the hostages were held in the school's gym, where temperatures soared and no food or water was provided.

On the third day, some of the hostages were released and the bodies of some adults killed on the first day were collected. But a sudden series of powerful explosions was followed by a fire that engulfed the gym and caused its roof to collapse. In response, Russian security forces backed by tanks stormed the building and fought a battle against the hostage-takers, leading to the deaths of more than 330 hostages and 186 children. Hundreds of other people were wounded, and others were reported missing.

The group that carried out the attack was allegedly controlled by Chechen separatist leader Shamil Basayev, who was killed in 2006. Basayev worked with jihadist militants such as Ibn al-Khattab, a Saudi national with close connections to al-Qaida.
After years of experimenting and refining, robotic devices that could help disabled people walk may soon be available to rehabilitation centers. The Japanese auto company Toyota says that before the end of this year, elderly and infirm people in Japan will be able to have therapy sessions with a walk-assist robot.
Polls showed France's presidential election campaign tightening further on Wednesday as financial markets fretted about the rising popularity of a far-left candidate who wants to put France's European Union membership to a vote.

Investors have long been anxious about election frontrunner Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, who has promised a referendum on whether to quit the EU and ditch the euro.

She has been joined on the list of investors' concerns by far-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, who has surged in the polls after strong performances in two candidates' debates.

The Communist-backed Melenchon also wants a referendum on EU membership after an attempt to renegotiate the EU treaties.

Fillon stable in poll

The latest Ifop-Fiducial poll on Wednesday showed Le Pen winning 23.5 percent in the April 23 first round, one point ahead of centrist Emmanuel Macron.

Both Le Pen and Macron's support dipped by half a point from Tuesday while conservative Francois Fillon was stable on 19 percent and Melenchon unchanged on 18.5 percent.

The top two candidates go through to a run-off on May 7, where polls say Macron would easily beat Le Pen.

Traders cited the French election, as well as U.S. relations with Syria and North Korea, as reasons why investors switched to safe assets, such as gold or U.S. Treasuries, on Wednesday.

Risk sentiment is not strong at the moment because of tensions in North Korea and also risk of a ... rising Melenchon, said Nomura currency strategist Yujiro Goto in London.

German foray

Concern about a Le Pen victory, which would put further pressure on the EU after Britain's decision to leave the bloc, led to an unusual foray into French politics by Germany, France's traditional partner at the heart of the EU.

We need a pro-European France, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in Berlin.

I hope Le Pen does not become French president, he added.

Outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande is also concerned about Melenchon's rising popularity, according to Le Monde newspaper, and this has fed speculation he could endorse Macron as the best hope to win rather than official Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, who is doing poorly in the polls.

Hollande won't offer support yet

In an interview with Le Point magazine published on Wednesday, Hollande kept silent about his choice, saying he would endorse a candidate before the second round of the election.

But he spoke highly of the decision by Macron, a former economy minister in his government, to launch a new party, saying I think politics needs renewal and he spoke out against demagoguery.

There is a danger in simplifications and falsifications which make people look at the ... speaker rather than the content of what he is saying, he said.

Hollande, an unpopular president who did not seek a second term, said ruling parties should not hold primary elections in future, because it was impossible to be president and candidate at the same time.

'The French Chavez'

The conservative Le Figaro newspaper called Melenchon the French Chavez, alleging in a front-page story that his plans were inspired by the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Melenchon mocked his new notoriety in a blog on his website.

They announce that my winning the election would bring nuclear winter, a plague of frogs, Red Army tanks and the landing of the Venezuelans, he said.
Germany's foreign minister urged Kosovo's political parties Thursday to approve the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to end their status as the only Western Balkan country without free travel rights in Schengen zone countries.

Minister Sigmar Gabriel was in Pristina on Thursday as part of his regional tour.

Opposition parties say Kosovo loses territory in the border agreement signed two years ago, and have blocked the governing coalition from ratifying the deal by continuously disrupting parliament.

U.S. Senator John McCain also visited Kosovo on Thursday, urging Pristina to resume its dialogue with Serbia, saying that's the only way to a prosperous and safe future.

"Taking ahead the dialogue ... is in Kosovars' and Serbs' interest, vital for their joint European future and for the stability of southeastern Europe," McCain said in a speech at the parliament.

Gabriel, who was in Serbia a day earlier, advised Kosovo and Serbia to continue their talks and "first of all to avoid provocations; second, to accept the reality; third, to care about how to make life easier for the people. This has to be the focus of the negotiations."

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It has been recognized by 114 countries but not by Serbia. Their relations have been especially tense since December following a series of provocations.

McCain assured lawmakers that "a U.S. commitment for a complete, free and peaceful Europe has not changed."

Gabriel and McCain also called on Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders to cooperate and convince the country's Serb minority to approve the creation of the country's armed forces.

"Kosovo, like all other sovereign states, has the right to form an army but it should not be used to raise the emotional tensions," said Gabriel.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci sent a draft law to parliament last month to transform the nation's security force into a regular army, sparking concerns at NATO and the United States.

Thaci bowed to international pressure and agreed to postpone the army transformation.
As the U.N. Security Council prepares to vote Thursday on whether to end its peacekeeping mission in Haiti in favor of a smaller police detail, the prospect of international troops departing has evoked concern about security gaps. But there's also widespread enthusiasm to send off the peacekeepers, who've been accused of everything from indifference to sexual predation.

"We face insecurity at night. There is a lot of shooting after 5 p.m. when MINUSTAH troops are not present in the streets," Menard Eliphete, 54, a mason in Hinche, told a VOA reporter. He used the acronym for the U.N. Haiti stabilization mission.

"My message for the peacekeepers is bon voyage, good riddance," said Marleine Bastien, executive director of the Haitian Women of Miami.

Women 'abused over and over'

The Florida-based nonprofit advocates for Haitian women in the diaspora and "in the motherland," said Bastien, a native of the Caribbean country.

Speaking by telephone from her office Wednesday, Bastien said she'd collaborated for years with Haiti-based rights groups complaining of peacekeepers not intervening to halt acts of violence and, in some cases, of sexually exploiting vulnerable women and children themselves.

"Women were abused over and over, then impregnated, and they [peacekeepers] refused to pay child support," Bastien said.

Bastien's comments echo the findings of an Associated Press expose released Wednesday. Its review of U.N. peacekeeping missions over the past 12 years revealed roughly 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse globally that were perpetrated by peacekeepers or other U.N. staff. Some 300 of those accusations involved child victims. But few people were ever prosecuted.

The AP also noted a U.N. report acknowledging a child sex ring in which nine Haitian children were victimized by 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers from 2004 to 2007. Most were deported to their home country. None spent time in prison.

As AP reported, the United Nations "has no jurisdiction over peacekeepers, leaving punishment to the countries that contribute the troops."

UN force in Haiti 13 years

More than 2,300 peacekeepers currently are in Haiti, coming from 53 countries. More than 900 have come from Brazil alone, with contingents from other Latin American countries  especially Chile and Uruguay  as well as India, Jordan, Nepal and Pakistan.

Peacekeepers have maintained a steady presence in Haiti since 2004, when they were sent in to quell violence after then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown and exiled. They have stayed through deadly natural disasters, including a 2010 earthquake and last fall's Hurricane Matthew. They also have been accused of introducing a cholera epidemic that has killed at least 9,300 people.

Those 2,300-plus troops would be pulled out over the next six months if the mission is pared, and its current budget of $345 million would decline, too.

The Trump administration's plan to make deep cuts in foreign aid is a concern for the United Nations. The United States is the top financial contributor to U.N. peacekeeping and its 16 missions, assessed for more than a quarter of the costs in 2016.

Peacekeepers strengthened police

The proposed reduced U.N. mission would have no more than 250 police and civilians supporting the country's national police, Sandra Honore, the U.N. special representative to Haiti, told VOA in a phone interview Tuesday.

Honore said she was satisfied with the U.N.'s work "in helping professionalize" the Haitian national police force, the justice system and other Haitian institutions. "We promoted democracy, the electoral process and human rights in the country."

"The United Nations will continue to strengthen the capacity of the national police," Honore added, noting the current force is 14,000 strong  about 2,000 short of a goal set for last year. She said the U.N. would continue pressing for more female police officers.

Honore, noting protesters threw stones at Haitian President Jovenel Moise's motorcade last week, acknowledged that "the security climate today in Haiti is not perfect," but, she added, there has been "considerable progress."

Revive national army?

Some Haitians have called for addressing security issues by resurrecting a national army, disbanded in 1995.

"We have a lot of insecurity problems," said Kesnel Casimir, a stone breaker in Hinche. " ...The Haitian government should remobilize the Haitian army to replace the U.N. forces."

"The Haitian police can't play the military role," Jean Renel Senatus, chairman of the Haitian Senate's justice and public safety committee, told VOA in a radio interview. " ... Haitian security can't be guaranteed if our port and airport are not well protected. ... The Haitian army is a must" for security after MINUSTAH's departure.

The United States, Haiti's biggest benefactor, opposes such a move. Earlier this year, Kenneth Merten, the State Department's special coordinator for Haiti, told VOA, "We've spent a lot of money so Haiti could have a police force that is competent and transparent."

This report was prepared by VOA's Creole Service, with correspondent Josue Joseph contributing from Hinche, Haiti.
Restaurant inspectors found 13 violations at Mar-a-Lago, the exclusive Florida resort owned by President Donald Trump, the Miami Herald reported.

Undercooled meat, potentially dangerous raw fish and two broken coolers were among the problems found at the private club that charges $200,000 in initiation fees and has become known as the Southern White House, the newspaper reported late Wednesday.

Neither Mar-a-Lago nor the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which last inspected the club on Jan. 26, immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment Thursday.

Trump bought Mar-a-Lago in 1985. This weekend, he is to make his seventh trip to the Palm Beach property as the 45th president of the United States.

Violations found just days before the state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe included failure to use proper parasite destruction on fish intended to be served raw or undercooked, the Herald reported, quoting the inspection report.

Inspectors ordered that the fish be cooked immediately or tossed out.

Inside the broken coolers, inspectors found raw meats meant to be stored at 41 degrees that were potentially dangerously warm, including ham at 57 degrees, raw beef at 50 degrees, duck at 50 degrees and chicken at 49 degrees, the newspaper said.

Other violations included sinks with water too cold to sanitize hands and rusty shelves inside walk-in coolers.

Three were "high priority" violations, meaning they could allow for illness-causing bacteria in meals served in the dining room, the newspaper said.

Mar-a-Lago was issued a citation for the broken coolers, which the club was ordered to empty and repair.

It was not the first time a Trump eatery has gotten negative publicity since his November 2016 election. The restaurant in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City was reviewed by Vanity Fair in December 2016 under the headline "Trump Grill Could Be the Worst Restaurant in America."
The two women charged with killing the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader appeared in a Malaysian court in bullet-proof vests on Thursday, as one of their lawyers warned they feared "trial by ambush" with police not sharing evidence.

Indonesian Siti Aishah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, face the death penalty if convicted of murdering Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur International airport on Feb. 13.

The two women have been accused of smearing Kim's face with the toxic VX nerve agent, a chemical described by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.

Aishah and Huong have told diplomats from their countries that they had believed they were carrying out a prank for a reality television show, and not a murder.

U.S. and South Korean officials say the murder was orchestrated by the North's leader, Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated, nuclear-armed nation.

Lawyers for Aishah and Huong told the court on Thursday that police had not responded to requests to provide evidence including CCTV recordings and statements from three North Korean suspects allowed to leave Malaysia.

The three were allowed to go home late last month, along with the body of Kim Jong Nam, as part of a swap deal with North Korea, which had banned nine Malaysians from leaving there.

We've lost an opportunity to cross-examine them ... There should be no trial by ambush, Aishah's lawyer, Gooi Soon Seng, told reporters outside the court.

Gooi also said one of the three suspects who was allowed to leave Malaysia, Ri Ji U, also known as James, was a key witness and his departure had "compromised" the defense.

Hisyam Teh, Huong's lawyer, requested police to furnish evidence such as photos and communications from the two phones seized from her.

Malaysia's inspector-general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar, denied that police had "compromised" the case or refused to cooperate with the defense, saying some evidence "can only be provided during the trial."

"We can't be producing all evidence here now," Khalid told a news conference.

Four other North Koreans have also been identified by Malaysian police as suspects. They are believed to have left Kuala Lumpur for Pyongyang on the day of the killing.

The magistrate court was set to hear a prosecutors' request that the two women be tried jointly in a higher court, but the hearing was deferred to May 30 after the prosecution asked for more time to collect documents.
More than 50 U.S. cities will be hosting Make Music Day, a free one-day outdoor festival celebrating music and music-making.

The annual event is June 21, the summer solstice.

Highlights of Make Music Day in the U.S. will include Sousapaloozas in Chicago; Cleveland; Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis-St. Paul; New York; and San Jose, California.

Part of Make Music Day is an event called Mass Appeal in which musicians play together in single-instruments groups. Featured instruments will include guitars, harmonicas, accordions, trombones, bassoons, French horns and harps. More than 150 are scheduled.

Street Studios in Atlanta; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; New York; and Philadelphia will give passers-by a chance to collaborate in producing original music.

The festival began in France in 1982 and has since spread to 750 cities across 120 countries.
Availability of cash in ATMs has worsened in some parts of the country. Hyderabad, Pune and Faridabad are among the worst affected cities, where hundreds of people said that cash dispensing ATMs were hard to find.

By Prabhash K Dutta: Exactly a month ago on March 13, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted restriction on cash withdrawal limit from the banks and ATMs. The RBI's decision was based on its sustained push for remonetisation, which was going on in full flow since November.

And, now a survey has shown that despite the best efforts from the RBI, there are not enough cash available in ATMs, the least. People are facing fresh round of cash crunch in ATMs, the survey found.

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According to a survey, conducted by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles covering 11 cities and over 10,000 people, 83 per cent respondents in Hyderabad said that they could not find cash dispensing ATMs between April 5 and 8 (the period of survey).

Similar situation was reported by the respondents from Pune, where 69 per cent of people said that they were unable to find ATMs having cash.

Delhi recorded the highest availability of cash in the ATMs. Only 11 per cent of participants from Delhi complained about non-availability of cash in ATMs.

It seems the cash crunch worsens as one travels farther from Delhi. However, Gurgaon and Faridabad are exceptions.

While 63 per cent people complained of cash shortage in ATMs in Faridabad, 42 per cent respondents from Gurgaon said ATMs did not dispense cash in their locality.

Overall, 36 per cent people complained about non-availability of cash in ATMs. Another four per cent said that they got cash after standing in queue for up to 30 minutes outside ATMs.

A similar survey conducted between February 14 and 16 had shown that only 22 per cent people complained of not finding ATMs having cash.

The April survey is the first time, when cash crunch situation has shown worsening trend since demonetisation was announced in November. In the first week of demonetisation, 66 per cent people complained of cash crunch. But, the cash availability kept improving till February.

It was expected that with strong push for remonetisation by the RBI, things would only improve. But, it seems cash crunch was addressed in places like Delhi, which is the centre of not only political power but also of media scrutiny.

WHY CASH CRUNCH

Remonetisation data shows that by March-end, currencies worth Rs 13.35 lakh crore were in circulation. On November 8, when demonetisation was announced notes worth Rs 17.98 lakh crore were in circulation. Back then, 86 per cent notes were declared invalid. Cash crunch set in but situation improved.

Now, the fresh round of cash crunch has led to all kinds of speculations.

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The RBI's move to lift restriction on cash withdrawal is being blamed for the renewed cash crunch. It is being said that people are withdrawing money in greater amount after the RBI lifted restriction leaving the banks with less money to refill for ATMs.

The decision by the banks to impose transaction charges has further aggravated the situation. Even though, the bank transaction charges are not huge, a large number traders and people involved in businesses that thrive on cash are not re-depositing the money withdrawn from the banks. This has also hit the cash availability with the banks and hence the ATMs.

The RBI has slowed down the speed of printing currencies and it is expected the process of remonetisation will be complete by May-end.

ALSO WATCH | No limit on cash withdrawal from today, weekly limit of Rs 50,000 lifted

--- ENDS ---
A lawyer representing the man who was dragged off a United Airlines flight earlier this week said he is likely to sue the airline after he suffered serious injuries from the incident.

The lawyer, Thomas Demetrio, said the airline has "bullied" passengers for a long time and he will "probably" file a lawsuit on behalf of Dr. David Dao, who will now have to undergo surgery to correct the injuries he sustained.

Demetrio said Dao will need reconstructive surgery to fix a broken nose and two lost teeth. Dao suffered a concussion during the altercation with police, Demetrio said, but he has already been released from the hospital.

The incident took place Sunday when Dao refused to give up his seat on a full flight from Chicago to Louisville.

Cellphone video of the altercation shows Dao, limp and bleeding from a facial wound, being dragged from a United Airlines flight by three police officers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Dao was one of four passengers bumped from the flight to accommodate four airline employees. He supposedly was chosen at random after all the passengers spurned the airline's offer of cash payments if they would agree to disembark and take a later flight to their destination in Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Dao's lawyers filed preliminary paperwork asking an Illinois state court to order United to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

The lawyers want United and the city of Chicago, which oversees the airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, and other materials related to the flight.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has said he was ``ashamed'' when he saw the video, and said the airline would refrain from forcibly removing passengers from future flights.
Recently hundreds of people volunteered for a mind experiment. The execution was simple. All the participants had to do was watch a movie while wearing a headset that reads their response in real time.

This type of experiment has been done before, but never at this scale "where we can look at thousands or in this case, 1,000 people's brain activities as they're all involved in the same activity," said computational neuroscientist Tim Mullen.



Hundreds of people in Los Angeles and in New York watched the movie, MindGamers at the same time.



It is no coincidence that MindGamers explores what happens when the human brain is connected to a computer. In the movie, physical skills could be transmitted to a quadriplegic and allow him to move again. But the technology also opens the door to mass-mind control in the film.



The results of the real world experiment, along with the answers to a questionnaire filled out by every participant, could help scientists better understand how the human mind works among various creative personality and demographic groups and how they react when presented with the same situation.

Watch: Thousand Subjects React to Same Video





Mass analysis

The headset allows neuroscientists to read the electrical activity inside the brains of a mass collective of people. Cloud technology records various metrics, including a measure thought to be associated with focus and how that changed as the audience watched the movie.

"If you look for a hot color, hot colors mean that there was a big increase in focus," Mullen said as he shared the collected data on the big screen immediately after the movie ended.

"There is a peak here," he said, referring to a dark color on a graph shown on the screen.

At that point in the movie, the audience was watching a scene in which a woman was about to jump off a building.

To further illustrate the technology, Mullen put two different colored rings on the big screen and asked the New York audience to focus on mentally pushing the yellow ring outward, and the ring started moving in that direction.

"As this is changing it's related to how the entire group is changing their focus state," explained Mullen.

Mullen says the future of brain-computer interface technology could lead to brain-to-brain communication. Research also is being conducted of plugging the brain into the cloud, and from there to an internet-connected device.

Mullen emphasized that the live analysis and demonstration shown were only very preliminary and exploratory, and that careful data validation and deeper analysis would be needed before any conclusions could be reached.

Where it leads

"I think that sooner or later we're eventually going to move to this point where everything is going to be linked to some big server. We're going to be interconnected regardless of the country we're living, or citizenship. We're all going to be integrated into something bigger. Humanity is going to be united," said experiment participant Andrey Nazarbekian.

But not everyone is as optimistic.

"I think humans will exploit it. I mean you're basically, we're losing control of our privacy," said experiment participant Adda Wong.

"I'm fearful of the fact that where this could lead? Whose hands hold the power to this kind of information and data? But it's very exciting to see the wavelengths of everyone's brain connection," said experiment participant Charnelle Martin.

"We know there are great outcomes that can come from this type of work, but it's a yin-yang world that we live in so for every sort of positive capability that you create, there likely is a nefarious or negative outcome and we have to be conscious about that as we develop these things," warned Todd Richmond, Director of Advanced Prototype Development at University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies.

Mullen will be analyzing the data collected from the experiment for weeks to come, as research continues into the brain-computer interface.
North Korea appears to have a placed a device in a tunnel at its nuclear test site that could be detonated Saturday or even sooner, U.S. government and other sources said Wednesday.

"U.S. intelligence is always on alert for a possible North Korean weapons test," a U.S. Intelligence official told VOA on Thursday "Kim Jong Un wants his country to be validated as a nuclear power and a test would further that goal."

North Korea on Saturday will observe the "Day of the Sun," marking the 105th birth anniversary of its founder, Kim Il Sung.

Commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from Wednesday showed continued activity around the north portal, new activity in the main administrative area and a few personnel around the command center, according to the 38 North website, which is run by the U.S.-Korea Institute of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

The nuclear test facility is "primed and ready" for what would be North Korea's sixth nuclear test, according to an analysis by Joseph Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu.

South Korea has no indications a military provocation by the North is imminent, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Roh Jae-chun told reporters in Seoul on Thursday morning.

Conversation with Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump, at a news conference Wednesday with visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said he had spoken with China President Xi Jinping the previous evening and "I think he wants to help us with North Korea." If that does not occur, "we're just going to go it alone."

Trump echoes that sentiment on Twitter Wednesday morning

Xi told Trump that China believes the issue of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development should be resolved through peaceful means, according to Chinese media reports.

A U.S. naval strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, following a regularly scheduled assignment in Singapore, was ordered to head north "as a prudent measure" instead of heading toward Australia, as had been planned.

Officials of the Pacific Command told VOA the new position of the vessels off the Korean Peninsula would come at a time when the "number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilizing programs of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability."

The carrier strike group, according to sources, includes the USS Ohio submarine, armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

'An armada'

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump told the Fox Business Network on Tuesday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump, speaking about North Korea, said "you cannot allow a country like that to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction."

The president added that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the grandson of Kim Il Sung, "doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he will. In many ways, that's the easiest thing."

There is also speculation that North Korea could imminently test-fire another intermediate- or long-range ballistic missile, tied to the upcoming holiday.

In April 2012, North Korea tried to launch a long-range rocket ahead of Kim Il Sung's 100th birth anniversary.

That launch failed.
Deep in the jagged red mountains of Oman, geologists are searching for an efficient and cheap way to remove carbon dioxide from the air and oceans  and perhaps begin to reverse climate change.

They are coring samples from one of the world's only exposed sections of the Earth's mantle to uncover how a spontaneous natural process millions of years ago transformed carbon dioxide into limestone and marble.

As the world mobilizes to confront climate change, the main focus has been on reducing emissions through fuel-efficient cars and cleaner power plants. But some researchers are also testing ways to remove or recycle carbon already in the seas and sky.

The Hellisheidi geothermal plant in Iceland injects carbon into volcanic rock. At the massive Sinopec fertilizer plant in China, carbon is filtered and reused as fuel. In all, 16 industrial projects currently capture and store about 27 million tons of carbon, according to the International Energy Agency. That's less than 0.1 percent of global emissions _ human activity is estimated to pump about 40 billion tons a year into the atmosphere _ but the technology has shown promise.

Many efforts needed

"Any one technique is not guaranteed to succeed," said Stuart Haszeldine, a geology professor at the University of Edinburgh who serves on a U.N. climate body studying how to reduce atmospheric carbon. "If we're interested as a species, we've got to try a lot harder and do a lot more and a lot of different actions."

One such action is underway in the al-Hajjar Mountains of Oman, in a quiet corner of the Arabian Peninsula, where a unique rock formation pulls carbon out of thin air.

Peter Kelemen, 61, a geochemist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, has been exploring Oman's hills for nearly three decades. "You can walk down these beautiful canyons and basically descend 20 kilometers [12 miles] into the Earth's interior," he said.

The sultanate boasts the largest exposed sections of the Earth's mantle, thrust up by plate tectonics millions of years ago. The mantle contains peridotite, a rock that reacts with the carbon in air and water to form marble and limestone.

"Every single magnesium atom in these rocks has made friends with the carbon dioxide to form solid limestone, magnesium carbonate, plus quartz," he said as he patted a rust-colored boulder in the Wadi Mansah valley.

"There's about a billion tons of CO2 in this mountain," he said, pointing off to the east.

Rain and springs pull carbon from the exposed mantle to form stalactites and stalagmites in mountain caves. Natural pools develop surface scum of white carbonate. Scratch off this thin, white film, Kelemen said, and it'll grow back in a day.

"For a geologist, this is supersonic," he said.

Drilling project

He and a team of 40 scientists have formed the Oman Drilling Project to better understand how that process works and whether it could be used to scrub the Earth's carbon-laden atmosphere. The $3.5 million project has support from across the globe, including NASA.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas driving climate change, which threatens to cause meteorological, agricultural and political problems worldwide, according to the U.N. climate body.

Natural carbon levels have risen from 280 to 405 parts per million since the Industrial Revolution, and current estimates hold that the world will be 6 degrees C (42.8 degrees F) hotter by 2100.

In 2015, 196 nations signed the Paris climate accords, agreeing to curb greenhouse gas emissions to levels that would keep the rise in the Earth's temperature to under 2 degrees C.

That has injected new urgency into the work underway in Oman, where Keleman's team recently spent four months extracting dozens of core samples, which they hope to use to construct a geological history of the process that turns carbon dioxide into carbonate.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle," said Nehal Warsi, 33, who oversees the drilling.

About 13 tons of core samples from four different sites will be sent to the Chikyu, a state-of-the-art research vessel off the coast of Japan, where Keleman and other geologists will analyze them in round-the-clock shifts.

They hope to answer the question of how the rocks captured so much carbon over the course of 90 million years  and to see whether there's a way to speed up the timetable.

Watch: Scientists Hunt in Oman Mountains for Clues to Capturing Greenhouse Gas

A cycling of carbon

Kelemen thinks a drilling operation could cycle carbon-rich water into the newly formed seabed on oceanic ridges far below the surface. Just like in Oman's mountains, the submerged rock would chemically absorb carbon from the water. The water could then be cycled back to the surface to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, in a sort of conveyor belt.

Such a project would require years more of testing, but Kelemen hopes the energy industry, with its offshore drilling expertise and deep pockets, will take interest.

"Ultimately, if the goal is to capture billions and billions of tons of carbon, that's where James Cameron comes in," he said, half joking, referring to the "Titanic" and "Avatar" director who has also pioneered undersea technology. Cameron himself piloted a submersible to the deepest point on Earth in 2012 and retrieved samples while filming "Deepsea Challenge."

"He hasn't responded to my messages yet," Kelemen said.
A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to helping smuggle dozens of people from Pakistan and Afghanistan into the United States.

Sharafat Ali Khan, 32, who U.S. officials say also is a legal resident of Brazil, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Washington courtroom.

Prosecutors say Khan was part of a human smuggling ring that brought an unspecified number of people north by plane, bus and on foot through the Colombian jungle. Court records show the travelers paid between $5,000 and $12,000 each before their journeys.

"The average traveler took approximately nine months to get from Brazil all the way to the United States. During the voyage from Brazil through South and Central America, aliens were subjected to harsh conditions that caused a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death," court records stated.

Khan is set to be sentenced in July.
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has cancelled a planned visit to an island the Philippines claims in the disputed South China Sea, after Beijing warned him against the visit.

The brash Philippine leader last week announced his plan to raise the Philippine flag in the island of Thitu and fortify it with barracks, setting off alarm bells.

Because of our friendship with China and because we value your friendship I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag, Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Riyadh late Wednesday.

They said, do not go there in the meantime, just do not go there please. I will correct myself because we value our friendship with China, he said, adding that he might just send his son to the island.

China claims most of the South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Duterte said Beijing warned him that there will likely be trouble if every head of state of contending parties will go to the disputed islands and plant flags.

The popular president is on a week-long state visit in the Middle East to facilitate trade and investments, and meet with Filipinos overseas. The Middle East is the second largest source of remittances, with more than one million Filipino workers sending home $7.6 billion in last year, government data showed.

Duterte, who led the warming of ties with China, had blamed the United States for the current maritime tensions for not intervening to stop China building and arming artificial islands in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines will reinforce, but not military, areas in the South China Sea controlled by Manila to maintain the geopolitical balance, Duterte said on Monday.
Polish leaders welcomed a new multinational NATO battalion to Poland on Thursday, with the president calling it "a historic moment for my country.''



The near-permanent deployment of a NATO battalion under U.S. command marks the first time NATO troops have been placed so close to Russian territory, a step the Kremlin denounces as a threat to its own security.



But Polish President Andrzej Duda said the deployment, to Poles, stands as a symbol of liberation and inclusion in the Western democratic world.



"It's not an exaggeration to say that generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of the Second World War,'' Duda said in the northeastern town of Orzysz as he addressed the troops and the U.S. and British ambassadors.



The battalion of about 1,000 troops is led by the United States, but includes troops from Britain and Romania. Croatian troops are expected to join later.



Their base of operations, Orzysz, is 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the border with Kaliningrad, a Russian territory on the Baltic Sea separated from the Russian mainland.



While NATO has held exercises in the region in past years, the deployment marks the alliance's first continuous troop presence in the area that was considered by defense experts as vulnerable.



Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said the NATO presence guarantees the security of NATO's eastern flank.



The NATO deployment is separate from a U.S. battalion of 3,500 troops that arrived in Poland earlier this year and which is headquartered in southwestern Poland, near the German border.



Both missions are responses to calls for greater U.S. and NATO protection by a region fearful after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support for a rebel insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
Authorities in Spain and France have seized millions of dollars worth of assets owned by Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Prosecutors allege his property empire, which is worth more than a half-billion dollars, was built using money embezzled from the Syrian state in the 1980s.

As a commander of a specialist unit, Rifaat al-Assad also is accused of overseeing the Hama massacre of 1982, when the Syrian army crushed a Muslim Brotherhood uprising, killing up to 40,000 people. Its a charge he has consistently denied.

After allegedly leading a failed coup against his brother - then President Hafez al-Assad - Rifaat was exiled to Europe.

For three decades, Rifaat al-Assad, a former vice president of the Syrian regime, a man that many hold responsible for an atrocity in Hama in 1982 where tens of thousands of people were butchered, has wandered around Europe on the ill-gotten gains that he has taken out of Syria, says Chris Doyle of the Council for British-Arab Understanding.

That freedom could now be coming to an end. Spanish police last week raided houses belonging to the former vice president and his family. Spanish courts have ordered the seizure of more than 500 properties worth $740 million.

Investigators believe Rifaat al-Assad embezzled more than $300 million of state funds. So far no one has been arrested.

Never benefited

Rifaat al-Assads family issued a statement saying they had "never benefited from financing that in any way wronged the Syrian people." In 2013, at the outset of the investigation in France, Rifaat al Assads son Siwar said his fathers fortune came from wealthy Saudi backers.

Rifaat al-Assad also owns a $12 million house in Londons Mayfair district. Critics want Britain to follow Spains lead and seize his property.

Rifaat al-Assad cannot be allowed to enjoy these billions while others are suffering, says Doyle.

But analysts say London is renowned as a hub for so-called "dirty money," and it is doubtful that Britain will make an exception of Rifaat al-Assad. Nick Kochan is an author and expert on financial crime:

Are the British authorities prepared to go that one step further and put all criminals, all oligarchs who have got criminal money, on notice  we are after you? Or do we select one because they are temporarily the whipping boy of the West, namely Assad?

Kochan notes that British legislation requires a conviction before property can be seized.

For money laundering, for theft, for corruption, for some form of economic crime where the authority can say, the property was acquired with the proceeds of crime and therefore they ought to be confiscated.'

New legislation in Britain, the so-called Magnitsky Law, allows courts to seize the assets of human rights abusers. But legal analysts say proving that Rifaat al-Assad is responsible for past crimes would be extremely difficult without the cooperation of the Syrian government  and that of his nephew, President Bashar al-Assad.
Authorities in Spain and France have seized millions of dollars worth of assets owned by Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Prosecutors allege his property empire, worth over a half-billion dollars, was built using money embezzled from the Syrian state in the 1980s. Now pressure is growing on Britain to freeze his properties in London, as Henry Ridgwell reports.
When Lubna Abbas arrived in the United States as a refugee six years ago, there were days she could not walk because of a spinal disc problem which could not be treated in her native Iraq.

After the war, many doctors were kidnapped, killed or ran away. There was nothing, no good treatment or hospital, she told VOA. When we came here, I was just surprised with a clean hospital.

Clean was not all she found at the International Family Medicine Clinic in Charlottesville, Virginia. She also got full use of her legs back after her disc was treated. She now has no trouble walking and more. I can work. I have two part-time jobs, she says.

The clinic that helped Abbas is dedicated to refugees and immigrants  and all the baggage they bring with them: years of poor or non-existent medical care and the strain of living in a violent or repressive society.

WATCH: Clinic Dedicated to Helping Refugees

A physician at the University of Virginia (UVA) Department of Family Medicine came up with the idea.



When they come, they have many problems often both medical and psychological, said Dr. Fern Hauck. I felt that could be best done in one setting in our clinic where then I could train other doctors, our nursing staff  all to have a much more comprehensive approach to the refugees.

Hauck established the clinic at UVA in partnership with the local health department and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the international refugee resettlement agency.

First Visit

A stately old city by U.S. standards, Charlottesville is also one of 22 American cities that work with the IRC to resettle refugees from around the world. UVA has long attracted foreigners, so their presence is nothing new here.

The IRC set up an office here in the late 90's and ever since, Charlottesville has been welcoming refugees at the rate of 100 to 200 a year. In the beginning, the Bosnian war had recently ended, so many of the first arrivals came from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Since 1998, Charlottesville has accepted some 3,000 refugees from 32 countries, a lot for a small city of 50,000.

Most of them have been treated at the clinic.

The first visit is a big deal. Patients are provided with an on-site interpreter and spend a full hour with doctors, which is highly unusual in U.S. health care; but, the need to translate takes time, and doctors have a lot of health history to cover and often, a lot of explaining to do.

A lot of the women, for instance, have never had a mammogram, have never had a pap smear, so we are explaining these tests, why do we do them here, why do we recommend them. So we do also a lot of patient education, says Hauck.

Follow-up visits are half as long, and interpretation is provided by phone.

Illnesses

Hauck says the clinic sees most of the ailments that it would see in American patients, like high blood pressure and diabetes. In addition, refugee patients report other problems including body pains, headaches, dizziness and stomach aches. Sometimes, these symptoms signal underlying physical problems. Sometimes they point to mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression.

The physical symptoms are often easier for patients to talk about than what they have experienced.

You can imagine someone has been in a country in the midst of war and seen a family member killed in front of them and maybe threatened themselves and had to flee. They've gone through trauma, said Claudia Allen, clinical psychologist in the UVA family medicine department.

So they may be having nightmares. They may be having flashbacks, maybe having intrusive thoughts. Allen adds that refugees do not thrive in the U.S. unless these problems are treated.

Treatment is paid for by Virginia's Refugee Medical Assistance Program, which is funded by Medicaid and provides medical coverage to refugees for eight months. By then, most refugees have found jobs or started business and either have employer-provided health insurance or buy it on their own.

Healthy members of society

Bimal Chhetri gets a regular checkup at the clinic. Last year, he underwent a kidney transplant at the UVA hospital.

I would have been dead by now, Chhetri says, because I didn't have resources to get dialysis and transplant  in the refugee camp.

Chhetri spent 20 years in a refugee camp in Nepal after he fled Bhutan where he was born. I was among those 110,000 people that left the country out of the fear of persecution.

He is now working at a grocery store, and is a Nepalese interpreter for IRC.

Hauck says the clinic's goal is to produce healthy and productive members of the Charlottesville community, like Chhetri.

When I've seen a kid when four or five years old and now they're going to the University of Virginia going to medical school, Hauck says, it's so gratifying to see the successes and seeing how much we have been able to help.

Helping starts with a doctor, an interpreter and lots of time to listen.
By India Today Web Desk: With just two weeks left for the grand release of Baahubali: The Conclusion, SS Rajamouli's film has once again landed itself in a fresh controversy.

According to reports, over 2000 pro-Kannada groups led by Vatal Nagaraj are threatening the release of Baahubali 2 following actor Sathyaraj's controversial speech during the Cauvery row. For the same, the group has demanded Sathyaraj to apologise to Kannadigas before the release of the film.

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Speaking about the issue, Vatal Nagaraj was quoted by Bangalore Mirror as saying, "We will not allow any theatre in Karnataka to screen Bahubali. We are not against the film, but against Sathyaraj who plays the character of Katappa in Bahubali."

Several groups, including the President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and Dr Rajkumar Fans Association, have showed their support to Nagaraj.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, KFCC President Sa Ra Govindu said, "Till now neither the actor nor the producers have approached the Chamber to discuss the issue. Unless the actor apologises, the screening will not take place in Karnataka. He has insulted Kannadigas."

It must be noted that Katappa, the slave warlord, is one of the important characters in Baahubali. In fact, after the stupendous success of Baahubali, the most sought-after question is: Why Katappa killed Baahubali?

Last month, reports suggested that Baahubali 2 is likely to be dubbed in Kannada after the members of the Kannada Grahakara Okkoota (KGO) urged the Kannadigas to support their cause for a Kannada dubbed version of Baahubali 2.

Made on a lavish budget of Rs 250 crore, Baahubali is touted to have earned more than Rs 500 crore even before its release through its satellite and distribution rights.

Directed by SS Rajamouli, Baahubali 2 takes the story forward from where Baahubali: The Beginning ended. Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan star in pivotal roles in this instalment of Baahubali too. The film is slated to release on April 28 this year.

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2- Film distributor moves Madras HC seeking stay on release

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 new poster- Prabhas's film is a perfect blend of jealousy and betrayal

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 at the box office:-Would The Conclusion be as huge without its marketing?

ALSO WATCH: Everything you wanted to know about India's most expensive film, Baahubali

--- ENDS ---
Republicans escaped a special House election in Kansas with a single-digit victory in a district where they have romped in the past, an early warning sign for the GOP at the start of Donald Trump's presidency.

The narrow win in Kansas, where CIA Director Mike Pompeo prevailed by 31 percentage points last fall, emboldened Democrats ahead of a more competitive special congressional election in Georgia next week that could serve as a test of their ability to marshal anti-Trump forces.

"Democrats are showing up and Republicans have to energize their base," said Tom Davis, a former Virginia congressman who once led the GOP's House campaign arm. "A win is a win but this should have been relatively simple and it wasn't."

The special election was the first major contest since Trump's inauguration and could be an early indicator of Democrats' ability to mobilize against the president's policies and whether Republican failure to the overhaul health care policy might sap party enthusiasm. Trump's job approval ratings have hovered around 40 percent, creating unease among Republicans looking to maintain their congressional majorities.

Republicans have had a difficult stretch, with the health care debacle, federal and congressional probes into Trump campaign contacts with Russian officials and contentious town halls in congressional districts. On Monday, Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who shouted "You Lie!" at President Barack Obama during a 2009 health care speech, heard chants of the same phrase at a town hall from constituents angry about health care and his voting record on violence against women.

In a tweet, Trump praised Republican Ron Estes' "great win" and for "easily winning the Congressional race against the Dems, who spent heavily & predicted victory!"

But that was hardly the case. The seven-percentage point margin was closer than initially expected in a district that Trump won handily last November and Republicans have held since 1994. The Democratic candidate, James Thompson, was a political novice who couldn't attract big-dollar donations from Democrats around the nation.

In a sign of concern for Republicans, Thompson edged Estes in the district's most populous county surrounding Wichita, a county Trump won by 18 points last November. Wichita is home to Koch Industries, the company led by conservative billionaire political donors Charles and David Koch.

Fearing potential fallout, Republicans injected last-minute money to help Estes while Trump and Vice President Mike Pence recorded get-out-the-vote phone calls on the candidate's behalf. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz campaigned with Estes on Monday, warning of complacency.

In Kansas, one factor was Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who remains unpopular because the state has faced serious budget problems since the governor and GOP lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013. Thompson portrayed Estes, the state's treasurer, as a close Brownback ally even though the governor never publicly endorsed Estes.

Republicans, who hold a 237-193 majority, will be defending seats in special elections in Georgia, South Carolina and Montana, where Donald Trump Jr. is planning to campaign for a GOP candidate next week. Democrats are expected to maintain a California seat vacated by former Rep. Xavier Becerra, now the state's attorney general. Races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey next fall could also provide a window into Trump's popularity.

In Georgia

Georgia's April 18 contest to replace former Rep. Tom Price, who is serving as Trump's Health and Human Services secretary, is expected to be more competitive than Kansas. Trump barely edged out Democrat Hillary Clinton in the district last year.

Democrat Jon Ossoff, a 30-year-old former congressional aide and investigative filmmaker, has raised more than $8 million, a massive amount for a special election, and has tried to galvanize Democrats who hope to turn it into a referendum on Trump's performance.

Next week's outcome could be significant in a field of 18 candidates from both parties on the primary ballot. Polls have shown Ossoff leading in the first round of balloting but Republicans are hoping to keep him below the majority needed to win outright, which would create a two-person runoff on June 20.

Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio who leads the House Republicans' campaign arm, said Ossoff's best chance of claiming the seat is to win outright next week, "and he knows that. That's why he's raising expectations on himself."

Karen Handel, Georgia's former secretary of state, has led the Republican field but the race has turned nasty, with GOP rivals accusing her of being a political opportunist and the conservative Club for Growth spending six figures on ads to defeat her.

The suburban Atlanta district is the type of place where Democrats are pinning their hopes on recapturing the House next year.

"Republicans in the era of Trump have a problem even with Trump voters in the suburbs," said Jesse Ferguson, a former strategist for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "That doesn't predict or guarantee victory for Democrats in 2018, but it's a road map."
The Kremlin says it is "too early yet" to know whether U.S. and Russian relations will improve after hours of contentious talks Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the tone of the Moscow meetings had been "fairly constructive," and reflected a need for the world's two biggest nuclear powers "to maintain a dialog to search for solutions." But he said Putin used the meeting to tell Washington why there is a "deadlock" in their current relations, chiefly in the dispute over last week's chemical weapons attack in Syria and the missile attack ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump in response.

Trump declared Wednesday that U.S. relations with Moscow "may be at an all-time low," a sentiment Tillerson echoed at a news conference after meeting with Putin and Lavrov. Tillerson pointed to a lack of trust between the two countries.

On Thursday, Trump adopted a more optimistic tone, saying on his Twitter account, "Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!"

Putin told an interviewer on Russian state television on Wednesday that relations between the two countries have deteriorated this year since Trump took office three months ago.

The immediate point of contention between Moscow and Washington is how an April 4 chemical weapons attack that killed more than 85 people and sickened hundreds in Syria occurred. Tillerson said the United States is "quite confident" that it "was planned and it was directed and executed by Syrian regime forces." But Lavrov gave no ground on the Russian claim that the sarin gas assault was either a provocation by Syrian rebels or was triggered when Syrian warplanes struck a rebel munitions depot holding sarin gas.

Call for 'thorough, honest' investigation

"We have insisted that we have a very thorough investigation," Lavrov said at a news conference with Tillerson. "We want an honest investigation."

Russia's top diplomat said Moscow will not "shield anyone" responsible for the attack.

Trump, in an interview, said Putin was partly to blame for the Syrian conflict, now in its seventh year, for backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he called an "animal."

Tillerson's trip to Moscow represented the highest-level contact between the United States and Russia since Trump took office in January. The two countries are at odds over multiple issues, including Moscow's continued support for rebels in eastern Ukraine battling against the Kyiv government, and the U.S. intelligence community's declaration that computer hackers, acting on orders from the Kremlin, interfered in last year's U.S. presidential election.

Tillerson said Wednesday Russian meddling in the U.S. election was a serious problem that has been "fairly well established."

Lavrov protested that Russia is the victim of "very slanderous attacks," and added, "I have to say once again ... no one has shown us a single fact. Give us the evidence of Russia's illicit involvement in U.S. politics," Lavrov said, "and we will respond."

'Potential' for improved relations

The U.S. cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase last week escalated tensions in the Syrian conflict, Lavrov said. He added, however, that he believes Moscow and Washington have "great potential" to improve their relationship.

Tillerson said, "We need to attempt to put an end to this steady degradation which is doing nothing to restore the trust between our two countries or to make progress on the issues of the greatest importance to both of us."

The U.S. envoy said the two countries "have agreed to establish a working group to address smaller issues and make progress towards stabilizing the relationship. So that we can then address the more serious problems. Foreign Minister Lavrov and I agreed we would consider further proposals made about the way forward in Syria, including consulting with our allies and coalition members and we will continue discussions about how to find a solution to the Syrian conflict.

Alexander Vershbow, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, professed a guarded optimism  with a caveat.

"I think it's a good thing that the Russians and the U.S. have agreed to re-establish the deconfliction line, because it's in no one's interest to have an incident in the skies over Syria that could make a very difficult relationship even more difficult," he told VOA during an interview at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. "That being said, I'm not sure there's all that much meeting of the minds on what needs to happen to bring about an end to the war in Syria."

Regardless of U.S.-Russian ties, Vershbow, a former deputy secretary-general to NATO, said the April 4 chemical weapons attack precludes any political future for Assad.

"The problem of Assad is still very fundamental. It's not a question of 'we don't like him in the international community,' it's that the Syrian people, after all the destruction he has committed against them  and then even using chemical weapons despite supposedly giving them up  it's just inconceivable that he could be accepted as part of a solution by the people of Syria. So, Russia used to say they're not wedded to Bashar al-Assad, but it looks like they've gotten remarried again. And that's going to be a difficult issue going forward," he said.

"The situation is more difficult today, bilaterally, than it was three, three-and-a-half years ago, and the stakes are higher," Andrew Kuchins, a Eurasian affairs expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA's Russian Service, referring to Syria's largest chemical weapons attack of August 21, 2013. "But I think that sort of structural dynamic [of U.S.-Russian diplomatic ties], and therefore the possibility of a way out, is still there."

Putin: 'Where's proof against Syria?'

Putin discussed the general decline in U.S.-Russian relations with the state television channel Mir before his meeting with Tillerson.

"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. "Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons? There isn't any. But there was a violation of international law. That is an obvious fact."

Trump had praised Putin as a strong leader during his long campaign for the White House, but on Wednesday he highlighted the Russian president's role in the Syrian civil war. "Frankly, Putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person," Trump said, referring to Assad. "I think it's very bad for Russia. I think it's very bad for mankind."
At least 10 times in the last two months, crackling gunfire just outside the Uere special needs school has sent students and teachers diving to the floor as heavily armed gangsters warred among themselves and sometimes with police in the Rio slum of Mare.

With rival drug dealers on practically every corner and a militarized campaign by authorities to take them out, shootouts have become so common that the school holds drills for students to practice taking cover quickly.

"After [a shootout] it's not possible to teach," said Yvonne Bezerra de Mello, the founder of Uere, which offers classes for underprivileged students with learning difficulties. "So we just play and talk, because some of the children get really nervous."

Brazil's most famous city has long struggled with violence, particularly in the hundreds of slums controlled by drug traffickers. But amid a punishing economic crisis, some studies suggest 2016 was Rio's most violent year in decades despite a police pacification program that was meant to curb slum violence ahead of last year's Olympic Games.

Crime still seems to be rising: In January and February, homicides rose 17 and 24 percent, respectively, compared to the same months last year, according to Rio state government crime statistics.

And schools are increasingly caught in the crossfire.

Every day, shootouts force the closure of between 20 and 30 schools or day care centers, according to Cesar de Queiroz Benjamin, the city's public schools chief, resulting in 6,000 to 7,000 children being sent home. If this rate continues, Rio will far exceed the 1,500 closures it saw last year.

"It has clearly gotten worse," Benjamin said.

Girl shot, killed

The toll the violence takes on children attracted national attention on March 30 when a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed at a school in Acari, a poor northern neighborhood, when she was caught in the crossfire of a lengthy shootout between police and gangsters.

Maria Eduarda Conceicao was hit by several rounds at the school entrance as she walked to the water fountain after physical education class. Large bullet holes can still be seen on the school's outer wall and front gate, a grim reminder for students, teachers and parents arriving every day.

An autopsy confirmed one of the bullets that hit Conceicao was a 7.62 mm round, fired from a military-grade rifle in the hands of police. Cellphone video shot by a bystander and widely circulated in local and social media showed two officers continuing to fire at armed but apparently wounded suspects lying on the ground in front of the school. The two officers have been indicted in the killings.

When the video is magnified, Conceicao's lifeless body can be seen on the school grounds.

"We should all feel very humiliated and ashamed," Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella said after attending Conceicao's funeral this month. "This cannot happen again."

Roberto Sa, the head of security for Rio de Janeiro state, has opened an investigation into Conceicao's death, and civil police are also investigating. But Sa said there is little military police can do other than shoot back when they confront heavily armed suspects. He said lawmakers should impose harsher penalties for possession of illegal firearms.

Children 'aren't safe anywhere'

Security in Rio de Janeiro is the responsibility of the state, not the city government, limiting what Crivella can do to address the problem. But he has promised to apply special bulletproof coating to walls around at least 10 schools in areas considered conflict zones like Mare.

Benjamin, the education secretary, and Bezerra de Mello, the Uere school's founder, argued that bulletproofing would just paper over the root causes of the violence. And Bezerra de Mello said such a wall won't necessarily keep her students safe, since the rounds sometimes come from above.

Last month a helicopter taking part in a police operation hovered over her school and opened fire for several minutes, with some of the rounds striking the building. Nobody inside was hurt, but afterward she installed a bright yellow sign on the rooftop that reads, in big, black capital letters: "SCHOOL, DON'T SHOOT."

Bezerra de Mello said that beyond the question of whether bullets breach the school's walls, her 300 students still have to deal with rampant crime in their neighborhoods when class lets out. Up to 90 percent of them, she estimated, have learning disorders linked to the violence and trauma they experience on a daily basis.

She recently asked a class of 14 students in their early teens how many had lost a family member to gun violence. Six raised their hands.

"The children aren't safe anywhere," Bezerra de Mello said, "They wake up to the sound of gunshots and go to bed to the sound of gunshots. ... They see death at every corner."
"Star Wars" is beefing up its girl power through a new series of animated short movies featuring the sci-fi saga's heroines including Princess Leia, Rey and Jyn Erso.

Walt Disney Co. and Lucasfilm announced on Thursday that "Star Wars Forces of Destiny" will focus on the "untold stories of everyday heroism that shape the destinies" of the main female characters in the franchise.

The move is the latest by Disney to broaden the male-dominated audience for the "Star Wars" series, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original 1977 film starring Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill.

The 2-3 minute shorts will be launched on Disney YouTube in July and will be followed by more shorts on Disney Channel television in the autumn. A range of new action figures and dolls, as well as other merchandise, will also be released.

"'Star Wars Forces of Destiny' is for anyone who has been inspired by Leia's heroism, Rey's courage, or Ahsoka's tenacity, Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, said in a statement.

Actors Daisy Ridley (Rey), Felicity Jones (Jyn) and Lupita Nyong'o (Maz Kanata) will voice their characters. The voice for Princess Leia, played in the movies by Carrie Fisher, will be supplied by Shelby Young following Fisher's sudden death of a heart attack in December.

Disney was criticized when Ridley's fearless Rey in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was barely featured in toys and merchandising even though she was a lead character in the 2015 film. The uproar sparked the social media campaign #wheresrey.

John Frascotti, president of toymaker Hasbro, said in a statement the "Star Wars" fan base has broadened over the last 40 years, and the "Forces of Destiny" toy line would "help connect with new audiences as well as appeal to existing fans."
A group of about 40 students traveled 1,600 kilometers over spring break to demonstrate inclusiveness in front of the White House on Thursday.

Together with parents and other adults, the group locked arms and encircled part of Lafayette Square in front of the executive mansion to demonstrate that We Belong Together. Their campaign focuses on the impact of immigration policy on women and children. Many in the group have been directly impacted by deportations and family separation.

Elena Marquez, 17, wanted to tell U.S. President Donald Trump  who has couched his immigration policy as a matter of national security  that not all immigrants are criminals, rapists or drug dealers.

Born in the U.S., she was 12 when she witnessed her father being arrested and deported back to Guatemala for driving without a license. Her mother, who is also undocumented, has been a single mother taking care of her and siblings.

"When my dad was here, he would pick us up from school. He would [cook] dinner when it was his turn.  My mom here is all alone [but] she tries to do her best," Marquez said.

Marquez said it is now her turn to protect her mother. "I want to go to college. I want to study law," she said.

The idea to travel to the nation's capital was born after elected officials in Miami-Dade County, Florida, decided to abandon its sanctuary status. Sanctuary jurisdictions are selective about how they cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

"The kids delivered a big fat 'F' to Mayor Gimenez for failing to protect immigrant families, and we set off on a three-day journey," Andrea Mercado, director of the We Belong Together campaign, told VOA. The caravan departed from in front of the office of Miami-Dade's mayor, Carlos Gimenez, on April 10.

"These young people are present and future leaders. That's the kind of leadership that we need to take our country forward," Mercado said.

WATCH: Hundreds Converge on DC

The demonstration comes days after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions declared a new era in immigration enforcement.

Sessions vowed to crack down on unauthorized immigrants during a visit Tuesday to the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona.

"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.

Still, 10-year-old Jasmine, whose mother preferred not to share the family's last name because her father is undocumented, said she is on a mission to tell Trump that separating families is wrong.

"This is actually my mission and many other children's missions," Jasmine said.
The international body on chemical weapons control is testing samples from a suspected nerve gas attack that killed at least 87 people in Syria last week and could produce a report on the matter within three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday.



The report comes one day after Russia vetoed a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a speedy probe into the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the veto left Moscow with a lot to prove.



The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has a standing fact-finding mission on Syria to investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks, but does not apportion blame. The OPCW's executive council held a session of its executive council on Thursday to address the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, in the rebel-held province of Idlib, northern Syria.



Britain's delegation to the OPCW tweeted from the executive session that the Fact Finding Mission is working to gather evidence and has already started testing samples in a lab.



The U.S. blamed the Syrian government for the attack and fired 59 missiles at an air base in central Syria killing nine people.



Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Thursday he expected the OPCW to conduct an extensive probe into the attack, and insisted the organization visit both Khan Sheikhoun and the air base struck by U.S. missiles. But Moscow vetoed a Security Council resolution that would demand a speedy investigation a day earlier. Russia is a steadfast backer of the Syrian government amid that country's bloody 6-year civil war.



In northern Syria, U.S.-backed Kurdish forces announced they launched the fourth stage of their operations against the Islamic State group, amid reports from activists that the group has suffered a spate of casualties.



The Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Arab fighters, say they are working to clear Islamic State militants out of the Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa, a city held by the extremists with an estimated population of 300,000. The SDF say their goal is to ultimately recapture the city, which has served as the de facto capital the so-called Islamic State.



The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is within 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. It is unclear how many stages are planned for the SDF campaign.



The campaign has come at a cost to the predominantly Kurdish forces, which receive ground and air support from the U.S. military and other allies. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle, while the activist-run Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently group said on Wednesday that three days of mourning were to be held in a border town held by the SDF after the arrival of the bodies of 15 fighters from the battle. There was no comment from the SDF.



The Syrian army meanwhile issued a statement saying that the U.S.-led coalition attacked a position of the Islamic State group in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, killing hundreds of fighters and civilians, many of them from poisonous gas.



It said after the airstrike left white smoke billowing from the area then then turned to yellow most likely because of the explosion of a large warehouse containing large quantities of toxic substances. It said that the airstrike showed that militants have chemical weapons in their possession.



Opposition activist Omar Abu Laila, who is from Deir el-Zour and currently lives in Europe, denied that hundreds of people were killed in the village of Hatla as a result of poison gas. Abu Laila who is with Deir Ezzor 24 activist group that has reporters throughout the eastern province that borders Iraq also denied there was such an airstrike.
President Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires only the best people. But his personnel choices keep coming back to haunt him.

One of the people Trump hired for the White House was working as a foreign agent while advising him during the election. His campaign chairman caught the Justice Department's attention for similarly surreptitious work. And a third campaign adviser was reportedly surveilled by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether or not he was a Russian spy.



The tales of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page  none of whom still work for Trump  have created a steady drip of allegations that have clouded Trump's early presidency and raised persistent questions about his judgment.



At worst, Trump's personnel picks appear to have left his campaign  and perhaps his White House  vulnerable to the influence of foreign powers. At best, they expose the long-term implications of his understaffed and inexperienced campaign organization and undermine his promises to surround himself with top-notch talent.



"Vetting new hires is standard procedure for presidential campaigns for exactly this reason," said Alex Conant, who advised Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign. "Every employee is also a potential liability on a presidential campaign."



Manafort, Flynn and Page have indeed become political liabilities for Trump that he can't shake in the White House. All three are being scrutinized as part of the FBI and congressional investigations into whether Trump associates helped Russia meddle in the 2016 election. The president has denied any nefarious ties to Russia and says he has no knowledge that his advisers were working with Moscow during the election.



The president's culpability appears greatest with Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who traveled with Trump frequently during the campaign and was tapped as national security adviser after the election. Flynn had been lobbying for a company with ties to Turkey during the 2016 election and even wrote an editorial on behalf of his client that was published on Election Day.



"No one expects them to do the equivalent of an FBI background check, but a simple Google search could have solved a lot of these problems," Dan Pfeiffer, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trump's team.



After Trump's victory, Flynn's lawyers alerted the transition team that he may have to register as a lobbying for a foreign entity, according to a person with knowledge of those discussions. The White House hired him anyway. After the inauguration, Flynn's lawyers told the White House counsel's office that the national security adviser would indeed have to move forward with that filing.



Flynn was fired in February after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States.



Lobbying for foreign interests is legal and lucrative. Both Republican and Democratic operatives offer their services to overseas clients. But the Justice Department requires Americans working on behalf of foreign interests to register, disclosing the nature of their work, the foreigners they dealt with and the amount of money they made.



Willful failure to register for foreign lobbying work can carry up to a five-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department rarely brings criminal charges and instead urges violators to register.



On Wednesday, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Manafort said that he, too, under pressure from the Justice Department, would formally file for prior foreign lobbying. Manafort's work for political interests in Ukraine occurred before he was hired as Trump's campaign chairman, spokesman Jason Maloni said, though the U.S. government raised questions about his activities after he was hired by Trump.



"The work in question was widely known, concluded before Mr. Manafort began working with the Trump campaign and was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government," Maloni said.



Manafort was pushed out of Trump's campaign in August after The Associated Press reported that his consulting firm had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling political party without disclosing that work to the U.S. government.



The White House did not respond to questions Wednesday about when Trump learned about Manafort's foreign lobbying work and his discussions with the U.S. government about registering as a foreign agent.



The questions surrounding Page are perhaps the most serious. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Justice Department obtained a highly secretive warrant to monitor his communications because there was reason to believe he was working as a Russian spy.



In March, Trump personally announced Page as part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Page's ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the little-known investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him.



The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department only obtained the warrant after the campaign distanced itself from Page.



In an interview Thursday with ABC's "Good Morning America," Page described his affiliation with the Trump campaign as having served as "an informal member of a committee which was put together  a team of individuals who were looking at various foreign policy issues."



Page said he does not recall if he had conversations with Russian officials about sanctions during that period. He first suggested that he never told any officials that Trump would ease sanctions on Russia, and said no Russian officials suggested that to him, but then he said he doesn't remember.



"Something may have come up in a conversation," he said. "I have no recollection."



Chris Ashby, a Republican elections lawyer, said that while it's easy to blame Trump for missing red flags about his campaign advisers, it's not always possible to dig up details that potential hires aren't willing to disclose on their own.



"In the ideal world, you could rely on paid background checks, but you'd have to have the money and the time," Ashby said. "The farther down the ranks you go and certainly when you reach the ranks of unpaid advisers, that becomes impractical."
Paul Manafort, who served last year as U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign manager, is planning to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

Manafort's lobbying for a foreign client ended before he began working on Trump's presidential campaign "and was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government," spokesman Jason Maloni said in a statement.

Manafort's ties to Russia are part of probes underway by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional intelligence committees into Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to reports by the New York Times and other media.

Manafort has denied any impropriety and has volunteered to be interviewed by the House intelligence committee. Russia has deny interfering in the election.

"Since before the 2016 election, Mr. Manafort has been in discussions with federal authorities about the advisability of registering under FARA for some of his past political work," Mr. Maloni said, referring to the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

"Mr. Manafort received formal guidance recently from the authorities and he is taking appropriate steps in response to the guidance. The work in question was widely known," Maloni said. He declined to be more specific.

Manafort previously worked on behalf of the political party of Viktor Yanukovich, the former Kremlin-backed leader of Ukraine.

Manafort resigned from Trump's campaign last August, days after documents surfaced in Kiev suggesting he had received millions in undisclosed payments from Yanukovich's party.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that it had obtained financial records confirming that at least $1.2 million in payments were received by Manafort's consulting firm in the United States in 2007 and 2009.

"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 told the AP.
President Donald Trump hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises.

In several interviews this week, the president has forged new positions on topics ranging from NATO to Chinese currency manipulation. They come as other campaign promises lag, including Trump's vow to build a concrete wall along the length of the southern border and have Mexico pay for it.



"One by one we are keeping our promises - on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations,'' Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Big changes are happening!''



Here are some of the areas where a president who prides himself on his flexibility has been willing to dispense with past positions:

NATO



Trump cemented his shift in posture toward the 28-nation military alliance as he stood alongside its leader at the White House on Wednesday.



As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete,'' saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense.



He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts.



"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete,'' Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office.



Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg.



Currently, just the U.S. and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2 percent target.



___

Labeling China a currency manipulator



During his campaign, Trump insisted that one of his first acts as president would be to direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. It was part of a "contract'' with American voters that he pledged to fulfill.



Only days ago, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump reiterated that campaign pledge.



"You know when you talk about, when you talk about currency manipulation, when you talk about devaluations, they are world champions," he said of China. "And our country hasn't had a clue, they haven't had a clue."



By Wednesday something had changed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump declared point blank, "They're not currency manipulators.''



Trump told the paper he'd changed his mind because China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months. He said a U.S. declaration of Chinese manipulation could jeopardize efforts to secure the country's help in containing the threat posed by North Korea.



___

Ex-Im bank



Trump also appears to have grown fond of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which has been a rallying cry for conservatives who consider it a mechanism of crony capitalism. The conservative political network established by billionaires Charles and David Koch has railed against the agency.



Trump opposed the Ex-Im Bank during his campaign. But he said in the Journal interview that he supports the bank, which helps U.S. exporters by making and guaranteeing loans. Congress allowed the Ex-Im bank's charter to expire in 2015, then eventually revived it over the objections of some conservatives. But it still isn't able to conduct major business due to vacancies on its board, hurting top exporters like Boeing and General Electric.



Trump told the newspaper he plans to fill two vacancies on the board, adding, "It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies."



___

Russian President Vladimir Putin



As the U.S. relationship with Russia careens from cozy to frosty, Trump is keeping his distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin.



"I don't know Putin,'' Trump said Wednesday at the joint press conference with Stoltenberg.



Trump has made conflicting statements about his ties to the Russian leader in the past. At a press conference last July, he said: "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."



But during the Republican primary he boasted of their ties. He said at a November 2015 primary debate, "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night." The two appeared on the same program, but their segments were taped in different countries.



Trump had also previously said the pair met once, a "long time ago."



For Trump, dealing with investigations into possible contacts between his campaign associates and the Russian officials, keeping Putin at arm's length may be the best political play.



___

US military prowess



The man who once slammed the U.S. military as a "disaster" is singing its praises now that he's in charge.



In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday morning, Trump talked up U.S. military strength, sounding almost in awe of its prowess.



"It's so incredible. It's brilliant. It's genius. Our technology, our equipment, is better than anybody by a factor of five," he said. "I mean look, we have, in terms of technology, nobody can even come close to competing."



Just a couple of months ago, the president was bemoaning the military's state at rallies across the country.



"We're going to rebuild our military. Our military is in shambles," he said at a rally in Delaware last April. "We're going to make it so big, so strong, so powerful that nobody, nobody, nobody is gonna mess with us, folks."



___

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen



During his campaign, Trump was critical of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, accusing her of keeping borrowing rates low to help rival Hillary Clinton and Democrats. Trump said at the time that he would likely replace Yellen when her term as chair ends next year. At the first presidential debate in September, Trump said the Fed was "being more political than Secretary Clinton."



But that was then. Trump, in the Wall Street Journal interview, left open the possibility of re-nominating Yellen for a second four-year term. Asked whether Yellen would be "toast" when her term ends, Trump said, "No, not toast."



"I like her, I respect her," Trump said, adding that they had met in the Oval Office since he became president.


The U.N. special envoy for Central Africa visited Cameroon this week to seek an end to the months-long stalemate on the strike and unrest in English-speaking parts of the country.

Francois Lonseny Fall, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and head of the U.N. Regional Office for Central Africa, called on the government of Cameroon to take two steps to facilitate the reopening of dialogue with strikers in the English-speaking regions.

The United Nations cannot be indifferent when there are issues that could threaten the peace and stability of a sovereign state, he said, recommending that all detainees be liberated. He said the U.N. believes that if detainees are freed, peace will quickly return to Cameroon.

He also reiterated the U.N.'s call that the internet be reinstated in the northwest and the southwest. He called the internet blackout a violation of the freedom to access information.

Government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma declined VOA's request for comment on the special envoy's Wednesday statement, but said President Paul Biya is aware of the situation.

The government has announced some reforms to address the strikers' grievances, but talks broke down earlier this year after the government refused to release detainees. Dozens of people have been arrested in connection with the strike, including three activist leaders currently on trial for charges related to violent unrest in December. If convicted, those three leaders could face death sentences. Schools remain closed in the affected areas; the internet was cut in January.

Tensions began in November when English-speaking lawyers and teachers in the two regions refused to work, demanding reforms. The situation intensified as the strike pulled other activists who say the country's English-speaking minority is marginalized and those regions should declare total independence.

Biya has ruled out any discussion on the question of national unity.

The U.N. special envoy told reporters that the U.N. will not get involved on questions of secession or a return to federalism in Cameroon. He said Cameroon has strong institutions and a functioning democratic parliament to address political matters.
By Piya Hingorani: Vidya Balan starrer Begum Jaan, written and directed by National award-winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji, has been banned in Pakistan. Produced by Mahesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films, the movie is a story of survival set against the backdrop of the India-Pak partition and its impact on a brothel.

Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, Mahesh Bhatt explained that Pakistan does not screen films which revolve around the partition era. "I was told by my distributor that Pakistan has a policy does not permit the import of films which deal with the issue of partition. On learning this I requested the key officer of the censor board of Pakistan to at least view the film and then take a decision. I was assured that they would look into the matter. Sadly, I have not heard from them after that," he said.

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Bhatt also added, "Later my distributor informed me that his office has been intimated that Begum Jaan should not be imported by him into Pakistan."

Co-starring Naseeruddin Shah, Chunky Pandey, Ila Arun, Gauahar Khan in key roles, Begum Jaan, the Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Bengali film Rajkahini (2015) is all set to hit theatres on April 14.

Interestingly this news comes just days after Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal did not hit theatres across the border. The Pakistan censor board reportedly asked the film's makers for two cuts, the scene where the Indian national anthem was played and portions showing the Indian national flag. Producer Aamir Khan refused to abide by the two cuts and chose not to release the film in the neighboring country.

More recently, Tapsee Pannu's Naam Shabana didn't see the light of day in Pakistan, due to 'terrorism-related scenes,' and Jolly LLB 2 too irked the Pakistan authorities since it had discussions around the Kashmir issue. Films including Neerja, Tere Bin Laden amoung others too haven't been released, since they reportedly shows Pakistan in poor light.

ALSO READ: Naam Shabana to Dangal, Bollywood films in Pakistan have been banned for ridiculous reasons

OPINION: No Dangal in Pakistan and you though Aamir Khan was anti-national?

WATCH: Pakistan bans Bollywood. Here are the films our neighbour won't see

--- ENDS ---
Lawyers for the passenger dragged from a United Airlines plane in Chicago filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court on Wednesday to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, Dr. David Dao, the lawyers want United and the City of Chicago, which runs O'Hare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

Chicago's Aviation Department said on Wednesday that two more officers had been placed on leave in connection with the April 9 incident, during which airport security officers dragged Dao from his seat aboard a United jet headed for Louisville, Kentucky. One officer was placed on leave on Tuesday.

Paul Callan, a civil and criminal trial lawyer in New York, said the public outcry over Dao's treatment would likely push the airline to a quick and generous settlement.

"Because United has such a catastrophic PR problem, this case has a much greater value than such a case would normally have," he said.

Never again

United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz on Wednesday apologized to Dao, his family and United customers in an ABC News interview, saying the company would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights.

"This can never, will never happen again," he said.

Munoz is under pressure to contain a torrent of bad publicity and calls for boycotts against United unleashed by videos that captured Dao's rough treatment by airline and airport security staff.

Dao was removed to make room for additional crew members, United said.

Footage from the incident shows Dao, bloodied and disheveled, returning to the cabin and repeating: "Just kill me. Kill me," and "I have to go home."

As of Tuesday, Dao was still in a Chicago hospital recovering from his injuries, his lawyer said.

On Wednesday, United said it would compensate all passengers on board the flight the cost of their tickets.

Munoz said United would be examining the way it compensates customers who volunteer to give up seats on overbooked planes, adding that it would likely not demand that seated passengers surrender their places.

Calls for new rules

Some U.S. lawmakers called for new rules that could make it more difficult for airlines to overbook flights as a tool for increasing revenue.

U.S. President Donald Trump said it was "horrible" that Dao was dragged off the flight, according to an interview from the Wall Street Journal. Rather than calling for an end to the practice of overselling, Trump said that instead, there should be no upper limit to incentives carriers can offer passengers in exchange for their seats on overbooked flights.

Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate committee that oversees transportation have questioned United's actions.

But Delta Air Lines Inc CEO Ed Bastian on Wednesday defended overbooking as "a valid business practice" that does not require additional oversight by the government.

"It's not a question, in my opinion, as to whether you overbook," Bastian said on a call with analysts. "It's how you manage an overbook situation."

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycotts of the No. 3 U.S. carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.

Shares of United Continental closed 1.1 percent lower at $69.93. They fell as much as 4.4 percent on Tuesday.

Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon. Munoz told ABC he had no plans to resign over the incident.
As the United States and Russia clash on Syria, another war-torn nation could play out as a renewed theater for the U.S.-Russia rivalry: Afghanistan.

Thursday, U.S. forces dropped what was being called the largest non-nuclear bomb on a reported Islamic State militant complex in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

The U.S. strike came a day before Russia is to host multi-nation talks on prospects for Afghan security and national reconciliation, the third such round since December.

Eleven countries are set to take part in Friday's discussions in Moscow, including Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan and India. Former Soviet Central Asian states have been invited to attend for the first time.

The Afghan Taliban said Thursday that they would not take part.

"We cannot call these negotiations [in Moscow] as a dialogue for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA. "This meeting stems from political agendas of the countries who are organizing it. This has really nothing to do with us, nor do we support it."

The spokesman reiterated insurgents' traditional stance that U.S.-led foreign troops would have to leave Afghanistan before any conflict resolution talks could be initiated.

The United States was also invited to the Moscow talks, but Washington declined, saying it had not been informed of the agenda beforehand and was unclear about the meeting's motives.

Undermining NATO

American military officials suspect Russia's so-called Afghan peace diplomacy is aimed at undermining NATO and have accused Moscow of arming the Taliban.

"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," U.S. Central Command Chief General Joseph Votel told members of the House Armed Services Committee in March. He said he thought Russia was "attempting to be an influential party in this part of the world."

For its part, Moscow has denied that it is supporting the Afghan Taliban.

"These fabrications are designed, as we have repeatedly underlined, to justify the failure of the U.S. military and politicians in the Afghan campaign.There is no other explanation," said Zamir Kabulov, the Kremlin's special envoy to Afghanistan.

In a separate statement Thursday, the Taliban also denied receiving military aid from Russia, though the group defended "political understanding" with Afghanistan's neighbors and regional countries.

Anna Borshchevskaya of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said reports of Moscow supporting the Taliban were not new.

"The official Russian position on the Taliban is that they see it as a group that could help fight ISIS, but this is something that even some Taliban spokesmen have denied, since ISIS and the Taliban reached an understanding about a year ago," Borshchevskaya said.

Putin's motive

She said that if the allegations of Russian support for the Taliban were true, Russian President Vladimir Putin was most likely motivated by his desire to undermine the West.

"Certainly one motivation could be taking advantage of regional chaos, and to assert Russia's influence at the expense of the U.S., taking advantage of a U.S. retreat from the Middle East and elsewhere and [to] undermine NATO and the U.S." Borshchevskaya said, "This has been Putin's pattern."

U.S. President Donald Trump has made few public statements on Afghanistan, and his administration is still weighing whether to deploy more American troops to try to reverse the course of the war.

Thursday's strike in Nangarhar marked a major step by the Trump administration in Afghanistan, in which there has been a U.S. military presence since 2001.

During a March 31 NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reaffirmed U.S. support for the alliance's mission in Afghanistan.

"NATO's work in Afghanistan remains critical. The United States is committed to the Resolute Support Mission and to our support for Afghan forces," Tillerson said.

Some 13,000 NATO troops, including 8,400 Americans, are part of the support mission, tasked with training Afghanistan's 300,000-member national security and defense forces.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia expert at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center, said he expected continuity in U.S. policy toward Afghanistan between the Obama and Trump administrations.

"The statement made by Tillerson at a recent NATO meeting could well have been uttered by an Obama official," Kugelman said. "The focus on training, advising and assisting and the call for reconciliation mirror exactly the Obama administration's priorities."

More troops

But the South Asia analyst noted one important policy difference: U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.

"Obama was an anti-war president who was never comfortable keeping large numbers of troops in Afghanistan. Trump is unlikely to be as constrained," Kugelman said.

"Look for Trump to send in several thousand more troops," he said. "This is a request that the generals in Afghanistan have made for years, and Trump is more likely to defer to the U.S. military's wishes on this than Obama was."

As for Russian involvement in Afghanistan following the former Soviet Union's occupation of the South Asian country from 1979 to 1989, Kugelman said that even if Russia were engaging the Taliban to undercut U.S. influence, the two nations ultimately hope for the same outcome in Afghanistan.

"The ironic thing is that Washington and Moscow both want the same endgame in Afghanistan  an end to the war, preferably through a reconciliation process  but they simply can't get on the same page about how to proceed," Kugelman said.
The United Nations Security Council took action Thursday to begin shutting down its 13-year-old peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

The current 5,000-strong mission will begin drawing down its troops and transition in mid-October to a smaller force of just over 1,200 police personnel. It will focus on the rule of law, building Haitian police capacities and monitoring human rights.

"As the stabilization mission in Haiti draws down and the new mission gears up, the Haitian people will be set on the path of independence and self-sufficiency," U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told council members.

The council said in its unanimously agreed resolution that the transition recognizes "the major milestone towards stabilization achieved" with the peaceful transfer of power in elections held in February.

"This new stage does not mean that it is the end of the commitment to Haiti," said France's deputy U.N. ambassador, Alexis Lamek. "It shows quite the contrary, that we can develop, change and adapt our activity to the situation on the field, while guided by the need to meet the aspirations of the people."

History

The U.N. stabilization mission, known as MINUSTAH, was deployed to Haiti in June 2004. It succeeded a Multinational Interim Force authorized by the Security Council in February 2004 after then-Haitian President Bertrand Aristide departed the country for exile following violence that spread to several cities across the nation.

By 2010, the country was regaining stability when it was rocked by a massive earthquake. More than 220,000 people were killed. Among the dead were 102 U.N. personnel, including the head of the MINUSTAH mission and his deputy.

In response to the needs following the earthquake, the Security Council added 3,500 more troops and police to support recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts.

In 2016, Haiti again faced another natural catastrophe when Hurricane Matthew devastated the southern part of the Caribbean nation and killed hundreds.

Cholera outbreak

In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, the country suffered a cholera epidemic. U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal were blamed for bringing the disease into the country. Haiti's Artibonite River was infected with cholera through human waste believed to be from the peacekeepers' camp. The river is the main water source for tens of thousands of Haitians.

Subsequently, more than 8,500 people died of the water-borne disease, which can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, and hundreds of thousands more were sickened.

Last year, the United Nations acknowledged it played a role in the epidemic and said it would set up a trust fund for victims. It has appealed to member states for $400 million to fight the disease and support those most directly affected by it. The trust fund, however, is severely underfunded, with only $2.6 million of the $400 million requested having been received.

Sexual abuse and exploitation

U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti have also come under criticism for the rape and exploitation of children and women they were sent to protect.

In 2012, three Pakistani peacekeepers were sent home after the rape of a Haitian boy at their base. Only one peacekeeper reportedly served a brief jail sentence in Pakistan.

This week, the Associated Press reported that at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers repeatedly sexually abused nine Haitian children as part of a sex ring from 2004 to 2007. None of the peacekeepers has been jailed for the alleged crimes.

Peacekeepers from Bangladesh, Brazil, Jordan, Nigeria and Uruguay have also faced allegations in Haiti.

The Haitian cases are part of a wider problem in U.N. peacekeeping of sexual exploitation and abuse that the organization has been trying to stem for years. Despite a "zero tolerance" policy and the repatriation of offenders, the inability to stop often poorly trained and ill-disciplined troops from abusing civilians has been a major stain on the U.N.'s credibility and reputation.

The United States, which pays nearly a third of the annual peacekeeping budget of almost $8 billion, has demanded that the abuses stop.

"These peacekeepers are sent into vulnerable communities to protect the innocent, not to exploit or rape them," Ambassador Haley told council members. "Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and the financial compensation will end."
It was one of the most exclusive tickets in town: Only 800 were made available, and those lucky enough to score one were told they would have to show photo ID at the gate, where they would be issued a wristband and a number. No signs bigger than a sheet of notebook paper allowed, so as not to obscure anyone's view.

The rules weren't for a rock concert but for a town hall meeting Wednesday evening between Republican Rep. Mike Coffman and his suburban Denver constituents.

Town halls have become a risky proposition for GOP members of Congress since President Donald Trump's election. Liberal groups and constituents angry about the Trump agenda have flooded public meetings, asking their representatives tough questions, chanting, heckling them and even shouting them down in skirmishes that have made for embarrassing online video.

On Monday, for example, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, who became infamous for yelling "You lie!" at President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress in 2009, was himself confronted at a town hall by constituents chanting, "You lie!"

As a result, some Republicans aren't holding town halls. And some of those who are going ahead with such events are taking steps to keep things from getting out of control.

In Texas, Rep. John Culberson barred signs and noisemakers from a March 24 town hall, required those attending to prove they were constituents by showing utility bills or other documents, and insisted that questions be submitted in advance. He was still shouted down repeatedly by a crowd angry about the GOP push to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In Arkansas, Rep. French Hill will hold his first town hall of the year on Monday  but in the middle of the afternoon, and with the state's Republican junior senator, Tom Cotton, at his side. Nevada's Dean Heller, one of the more vulnerable GOP senators in 2018, will also hold his first town hall of 2017 on Monday, in the morning. And he, too, is apparently seeking safety in numbers by including Republican Rep. Mark Amodei.

Democrats, for their part, have felt the heat from anti-Trump constituents at town halls and are also taking precautions. Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California, for example, is banning signs at her town hall in Los Angeles next week.

Coffman is a politician perennially in the hot seat. His swing district has slightly more Democrats than Republicans, and he is always a top target in elections. For years, he has avoided town halls, instead holding private, one-on-one meetings with constituents during "office hours" at libraries in his district.

In January, one of those events was flooded by hundreds of constituents and activists who filled the library lobby, sang, chanted and demanded Coffman emerge from his private conversations to address them. The congressman ended up slipping out the back.

One of the rules for his Wednesday town hall was no standing in the aisles or blocking entrances and exits.

Coffman's spokesman, Daniel Bucheli, said the congressman decided to hold the event because he knows constituents are anxious. Coffman has said his office spent weeks trying to find as large a venue as possible before securing a hall at a satellite branch of the University of Colorado that could hold 600 people and an overflow room to accommodate 200 more.

"Because of the big demand and a lot of people wanting questions answered, this was a great forum," Bucheli said.

Smadar Belkind Gerson, an activist in Coffman's district who was helping to organize protests outside the town hall, said that she was glad Coffman moved to a more open format but that he has a long way to go. The event, she noted, was scheduled to last only an hour, and Coffman's staff planned to draw numbers to determine which constituent could ask questions.

"Yes, people are upset," Gerson said. "But the more you do this and the more you restrict people, the more they will be upset."

She noted that a Democratic state lawmaker who may challenge Coffman in 2018 planned to hold a town hall on the same campus Wednesday evening with no restrictions on attendance or questions.

Coffman held two town halls via telephone before Wednesday's in-person event. Those appearances are far more controlled, with questions submitted in advance and an operator cutting off the questioner so the politician can respond.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has maintained a hiring freeze at the State Department even though it was lifted for the rest of the federal government, a spokesman said on Thursday, as the agency begins to downsize before Congress approves funding cuts.

Acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed that the hiring freeze would remain until the plan to downsize and reorganize had been fully developed. He could not give a timeline for the reorganization.

"We can't be onboarding people when we don't know what our reorganization is going to ultimately look like," Toner told a briefing for reporters.

Trump's budget proposal for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 would cut 28 percent of the budget for U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress, which approves the budget, have rejected the prospect of such cuts.

It was not known whether the White House directed Tillerson to keep the hiring freeze in place for the State Department or whether other agencies would also refuse to lift the hiring ban.

Two State Department officials said Tillerson plans to downsize staff over a period of two to three years.

Tillerson informed State Department employees of the decision on Wednesday, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

While Trump's original hiring freeze notice on Jan. 23 excluded political appointees, it has stopped the hiring of rank-and-file workers and the replacement of others who have resigned or retired.

William Hoagland, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, said the Trump administration may have to seek congressional approval if the hiring freeze changes the function of programs congress explicitly voted to fund.

Hoagland said the administration would have to send what is known as an impoundment resolution if the State Department "jeopardizes what that agency is there to begin with by not filling positions that are vacated."

Congress would then have to approve the resolution, Hoagland said.

The State Department's Toner said Tillerson was not breaking any federal rule by maintaining the hiring freeze.

"My understanding is that [Tillerson] has the jurisdiction to keep this freeze in place as we go about this presidentially-mandated" reorganization, Toner said.

The Office of Management and Budget, which handles federal budgeting, did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump's budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Tuesday that the hiring freeze would be lifted but that agencies will be asked to remain mindful of Trump's goal to reduce the federal work force.

Tillerson said in March that the State Department's current spending was "simply not sustainable."
A U.S. warplane dropped the largest bomb in America's arsenal  a 10,000-kilogram device known as "the mother of all bombs"  on an Islamic State bunker complex in northeastern Afghanistan on Thursday.

No details of damage or possible casualties from the massive blast in Nangarhar Province are available. The Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, developed more than a decade ago, had never been used in combat. A spokesman for Nangarhar's governor, Attaullah Khoghyani, told VOA that local officials had not been told of the bomb plans in advance.

From Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the military strike against IS extremists had his full approval. He dodged a question about the mission's goal, but hinted it may have been intended to send a forceful message to North Korea, which is rumored to be planning another nuclear weapons test shortly.

"I don't know if this sends a message [to North Korea]. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not," Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House. "North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of."

The Pentagon said in a statement that a GBU-43 bomb  its formal military designation  was dropped earlier in the day on an IS tunnel complex in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first use of the 11-ton bomb in a combat situation. The "mother of all bombs" nickname is derived from the bomb's alternate name, a Massive Ordnance Air Blast device.

Trump said the airstrike in Afghanistan was "another successful event," and noted, "We are so proud of our military."

A short time earlier, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the mission against the IS complex was necessary because the U.S. and its allies "must deny them operational space, which we did."

General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said IS extremists in Afghanistan have been increasing their use of tunnels and underground bunkers to "thicken their defense," and added: "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive."

References to North Korea that arose in connection with the Afghan bombing were due to increasing tensions in the area around the reclusive communist state, since there have been signs Pyongyang is preparing to mark an important national anniversary in the coming days  possibly with a long-rumored sixth test of one of its nuclear warheads.

Meanwhile, thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops and heavy weaponry have been mobilized for their largest-ever joint military exercise.

North Korea has threatened war if it sees signs of "aggression" south of the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. Trump has warned that the U.S. will no longer tolerate any provocative activity by Pyongyang  presumably by imposing even tougher economic sanctions, but comments by the president and other senior officials have left open the possibility of more direct confrontation.

China, North Korea's only staunch ally, has said tension in the region cannot be de-escalated militarily and has urged Pyongyang to halt its nuclear program in exchange for Chinese protection.
The BJP has emerged as the principal opposition in Bengal replacing the left front for the second place.

By Indrajit Kundu: The Trinamool Congress has won the by-election at Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency in West Bengal. Trinamool candidate Chandrima Bhattacharya won by a massive margin of 42,526 votes, improving her party's tally in the last elections in 2016.

"People have once again kept their faith on the good governance of chief minister Mamata Banerjee," said winning TMC candidate Chandrima Bhattacharya.

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When asked if the BJP's rise in vote share will have any effect on next year's panchayat polls, Bhattacharya said the only factor that will have any effect is the development work done by the Trinamool government.

The BJP has emerged as the principal opposition in Bengal. BJP candidate Sourindro Mohan Jana has replaced the Left for the second position with 52843 votes. The Left Front candidate, Uttam Pradhan of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has been pushed to the third spot with 17423 votes while the Congress has got a meagre 2270 votes.

The Kanthi Dakshin seat had fallen vacant last year after the sitting Trinamool legislator Dibyendu Adhikari got elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tamluk seat last year.

BJP WINS ASSAM's DHEMAJI

In Assam, the BJP emerged successful in winning the Dhemaji constituency by a margin of 9285 votes. BJP candidate Ranoj Pegu polled 75,217 votes while his Congress rival Babul Sonowal managed to get 65,932 votes.

Reacting to the result, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "Congrats Dr Ranoj Pegu on winning Dhemaji Assembly By-poll elections. I am grateful to Dhemaji for their constant support to us."

Dhemaji went for polls after its sitting BJP MLA Pradan Baruah got elected to Lok Sabha from the Lakhimpur seat.

ALSO READ| Bypoll results LIVE: BJP wins Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal seats; Congress takes Karnataka

ALSO READ| West Bengal bypoll: Trinamool leads, BJP ahead of Left Front

--- ENDS ---
During two weeks of intense fighting within the Trump administration, the United States have illegally attacked the air base at Chayrat (Syria), then multiplied contradictory signals before showing their hand - finally, they are relaunching their imperialist policy.

In less than two weeks, the Trump administration has defended 7 different positions concerning the Syrian Arab Republic [1].

On 12 April 2017, the United States made their great about-face.

At the same time, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson travelled to Moscow in order to attempt a final peaceful approach  the UNO Security Council met and took note of the conflict  and President Trump sent NATO against Russia.

President Trumps special advisor, Steve Bannon, and his assistant, Sebastian Gorka, were preparing themselves to join General Michael Flynn, while the once pro-Trump Press drew up an account of their activity. Rumours claim that the Presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is the only person who now has the Presidents ear, without this information being verifiable.

It seems that the White House has folded under pressure from the British, who are determined to preserve at any cost the jihadist system that they have created [2]. UK Minister for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson relied upon the European leaders who had already allowed themselves to be convinced by the neo-conservatives during the Security Conference in Munich on 19 February [3].

In order to justify the agression of a sovereign state which is a member of the United Nations, Rex Tillerson could do no more than refer to a synthesis of the US  Intelligence  service documents about the incident in Khan Shaykhun. This synthesis offers no indication which could allow anyone to suspect Syria, but refers in turn to classified information, and ends up by an appeal to overthrow the  regime  [4].

The irreversible nature of this about-face may be measured by the reading of the draft resolution presented to the Security Council by NATO, to which Russia opposed its veto [5]. Presented in the West as a simple request for a neutral enquiry into the chemical incident in Khan Shaykhun, it was in reality the placing of the Syrian Air Force under the control of the N2 of the UNO, Jeffrey Feltman. This ex-assistant of Hillary Clinton is the author of a plan for the total and unconditional capitulation of Syria [6].

The text of this resolution duplicates that of the draft presented on 6 April, but which the United States had not submitted to vote, since they were so uncertain of themsleves. They took no notice of the attempt at mediation by elected members of the Security Council, who tried to steer it back to a normal request for a UN enquiry [7]..

The principle for placing the Syrian Air Force under UN control uses the tactic that had been used in 1998, 19 years ago, against Serbia, until the illegal military intervention of NATO.

President Donald Trump finalised his about-face by receiving at the White House the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. During a shared Press conference, he indicated that he no longer considered the Alliance as obselete, thanked it for its support against Syria, and was prepared to work in close collaboration with his allies [8].

In response, Russie announced that it has up-dated 60 % of its nuclear arsenal, and is ready for war [9].

So we now find ourselves in the same position as six months ago, when Obamas United States refused to work with China, Russia and their allies (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Collective Security Treaty Organization ). They were thus proposing to cut the world into two distinct parts, neither one communicating at all with the other [10].
Bill Nye, science guy. Photo: Eddy Chen/Netflix

Itd be hard to come up with a reasonable hypothesis that explains the trajectory of Bill Nyes career. The 61-year-old started out in the aeronautics industry  he studied mechanical engineering at Cornell  before, via a series of personal and professional twists and turns, arriving at his beloved show Bill Nye the Science Guy, which aired on PBS from 1994 to 1999. Since that show went off the air, the childrens TV icon has become one of the countrys leading advocates for science literacy and, as Tucker Carlson can attest, a prominent and feisty public opponent of climate-change skeptics.

Hard as it may be to explain Nyes career, its all too easy to think that someone with his passions might be disheartened by the current administrations attack on science and disregard for climate change, but hes doing what he can to provide a little optimism. To wit: his upcoming Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World. Each 30-minute episode of the show, which debuts April 21, explores a single scientific issue through Nyes conversations with expert guests, field segments with correspondents (Karlie Kloss among them), and his signature scientific demonstrations.

Speaking on the phone from his apartment in Manhattan, Nye talked about the state of science in 2017, a (maybe not so) friendly wager hes offering to Fox News pundit Carlson, and what makes him excited for the future.

Your show is called Bill Nye Saves the World. I dont mean to be glib, but what do you actually think you can accomplish with it?

Change the world. Thats the goal. Our six-and-a-half hours of television are going to change the course of human history. Were going to do that by promoting science literacy, showing people that the issues were discussing can be thought about from a scientific point of view, and by helping people to reach logical and well-reasoned conclusions about those same issues. And of course, itll be fun.

Do you think, broadly speaking, the public is particularly receptive to logical thinking these days?

No, actually. I think well find that in 15 or 20 years the number of people who are scientifically literate or simply who respect science will increase. The evidence I have for this is three things: First, The Big Bang Theory is this hugely popular show. Being a nerd is being considered cool again and that show reflects it. Second: The number of people that used to watch my show, my goodness, it takes me aback. The third thing is that at some point the millennials will dominate the electoral map, and its been my experience that they have more respect for science than the generations just prior to them.

Not to be a wet blanket, but the idea that those three factors will converge and make American society more rational in its attitude toward science seems awfully contingent.

Time will tell, wont it? Time will tell.

How do you think we arrived at a place as a country where people are so comfortable treating science as a debatable subject? Whether were talking about climate change or evolution, theres this sense that people are okay dismissing the relevant science by saying, I dont believe in that. Its nuts.

If you like to worry about things, youre living at a great time. I think that these anti-science people have been greatly influenced by the fossil-fuel industry and their lobbyists, and skepticism has bled from one issue to another. Climate change and evolution, for example, have become entwined regionally. Its an extraordinary thing: If youre a kid brought up by people who continually tell you the Earth is 6,000 years old  its extremely hard to change that mind. Nevertheless, were fighting the fight. That said, a certain conservative faction has worked very hard to introduce the idea that scientific uncertainty is the same thing as doubt about the whole issue.

That argument was the crux of Tucker Carlsons debate with you on his show a little while back.

Tucker, what happened? You used to be such a happy guy. Now youre so miserable! Carlson, what happened to you?

You mustve known that he wasnt going to be the most receptive audience for a discussion about climate change. Arent you worried that going on a show like his, where youre almost guaranteed to get treated dismissively, is going to end up doing more harm than good to the issue of climate change?

Well, maybe I didnt change anybodys mind, but I think going on there and arguing with him is motivating or empowering to my colleagues and like-minded people  to fight the fight a little harder. It also raised attention to the problem, and the problem is this denial of the science of climate change. The evidence for it is overwhelming. The evidence for the efficacy of vaccines is overwhelming. The evidence that genetically modified food doesnt hurt you in any way is overwhelming. And yet people still argue against those things. I dont know  progress is a process. I believe we are moving forward.

Do you think someone like Tucker Carlson really and truly believes that climate-change science is as debatable as he makes it sound on TV? Or is he just in an ideological and political position that makes it necessary for him make that claim?

The speculation, on my part, is that its this thing you get in psychology called cognitive dissonance  when youre shown evidence that you then reject because it conflicts with your worldview. You deny the evidence, and along with that, you accept the premise that the authorities providing the evidence  people like me  are worthy of being discredited. Thats why Tucker Carlson was saying things to me like, Do you know anything about science? What the hell are you talking about, Tucker? All I did was physics for years! Did he take courses in heat transfer and thermodynamics and fluid mechanics? I did!

There have been polls showing that people on the right identify climate change as being much less important than people on the left do. Is there a problem with the way the issue of climate change is framed? I could imagine it comes off like a bunch of coastal know-it-alls scolding the rest of the country about various industries or lifestyle choices.

This is where I think we need leadership, somebody to say, Everybody, we can no longer get our energy from coal. But, you know, I was in a family with an academic tradition of achievement; I grew up in the East. It doesnt make me a bad person or a condescending coastal elite if I say we as a country cant be mining coal anymore. I want the United States to lead in the discovery of new technology! Nobody wants to be mining coal in the future. Look, my cousins are in the explosives business. They sell a lot of explosives to coal mining. I understand that and I love them and so on, but I dont think you want to be in the coal-mining business 50 years from now. We need innovation. Lets be part of the future, not part of the past. Lets put wind turbines up in Iowa. You cant outsource those to Mexico.

Is there anything about Trumps administration, and here Im thinking specifically of Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, that leads you to believe the government will support the kind of innovation youre hoping for?

Im going to wait to see on Scott Pruitt. I want to engage you on this question, but I think maybe youre politicizing something that doesnt need to be politicized. I mean, the EPA was created by Richard Nixon. The EPA and the National Parks were set aside by conservatives. With respect to Scott Pruitt, I wouldnt be surprised if the bureaucracy just sort shrugs its shoulders at his directives and says were going to be here long after youre gone. Were going to carry on doing what we were doing.

That reminds me of the saying, The function of an institution is to perpetuate the institution.

Thats not what Im talking about. Im talking about laws.

Im agreeing with you that the EPA is entrenched; I was just suggesting that big, bureaucratic institutions are by their nature tough for one man, or one administration, to change.

Yeah, except I think this specific institutions primary function is to analyze the environment and recommend regulations that will improve quality of life for a safer, healthier world. Theres a great many people that Ive met at the Environmental Protection Agency who dont consider their job to be keeping their job. Their job is to protect the environment.

To go back to an idea you raised earlier, that millennials embrace scientific thinking more than the older generations: So is the long-term plan for promoting science literacy simply to wait for a sweeping generational power shift? Is there anything we can do to move that process along more quickly?

Id ask you, the hard-hitting reporter, but instead Ill remind everybody that I am so old. Im so old I remember when Nixon resigned and he was replaced with another conservative, but the EPA just kept going. Changes can be affected way sooner than waiting for a generational transfer of power. But you have to be optimistic or youre not going to get anything done. Sooner or later, everybody will realize the wisdom in protecting the environment. Everybody will see the economic benefit of not having to import fossil fuels. I was just in Congressman Bridenstines office in the First District in Oklahoma. Hes very proud that his state gets 20 percent of their electricity from the wind  and this is in the heart of the energy sector.

What was the meeting with Bridenstine about? Hes a Republican who doesnt think human activity contributes to climate change. He doesnt believe there should be public-survey questions about greenhouse gases. Is the conversation youre having with him about getting him to understand climate change?

Well, we were there to talk about space policy. My claim is that space exploration brings out the best in us, and NASA is the very best brand the U.S. has around the world. There is no other aspect of the United States or organization thats part of the U.S. government that is more respected than NASA. So talking about that is why we were in Congressman Bridenstines office: Hes sponsoring a bill to use space assets or perhaps new balloon technology to monitor extreme weather. He told us his goal is to have no one die from extreme weather in Oklahoma. So I will let you, the hard-hitting reporter, determine if Congressman Bridenstine is sponsoring that bill because hes concerned about extreme weather or for some other reason. I think its important to him. I believe an issue like that is where theres a convergence of people on the right and left. Note, too, that Congressman Bridenstine is in an overwhelmingly Republican district. In regard to climate change, hes playing the hand hes dealt.

The rhetorical move that some pundits and politicians, like Bridenstine, make now where they say they believe in some aspect of climate-change-related science, like the link between extreme weather and global warming, but deny another seems new to me. Its like, Tucker Carlson might admit that the global temperature is rising, but not that humans have anything to do with it. Its just this empty nod towards credibility.

I know just what you mean. Ill bet Tucker Carlson $10,000 that the next decade will be the hottest decade on record. I will do that right here. Im putting my cash on the barrelhead. Its easy money, Tucker. And I chose $10,000, by the way, because thats the amount Mitt Romney chose in his famous bet with Rick Perry. Rick Perrys an interesting example: Steven Bannon wants to destroy the government, so he and the current administration has sought people, like Betsy DeVos, like Rick Perry, who are singularly unqualified to hold their current cabinet positions. But Rick Perry showed up at the Department of Energy and realized whats involved, that hes in over his head, and now hes going to let the thing run the way it was being run. But in contrast, Mr. Scott Pruitt  its not that hes unqualified, its that he thinks the EPA shouldnt exist. Anyway, I think weve got to be optimistic and think this Bannon idea of tearing the government down will not work.

In terms of our shared scientific future, what are you most optimistic that well be able to accomplish?

Theres no single thing. As we increase science literacy, we will address climate change, we will find clean water, and renewably reproduce electricity, and provide access to electronic information for everyone. I think when the U.S. government gets back on an environmental track, we will change the world. We can make this a better world. We can do this. Cmon everybody, lets go!

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Imperator Fast and Furious-a. Photo: Universal Pictures

I have a very important and pressing question that only Charlize Therons Fate of the Furious character can answer. Where does one, while flying thousands of miles in the air in a stealthy evil airplane lair, get their 18-inch mini-locs re-twisted?

I was pondering that hair because Fate doesnt give Theron much else to do, as far as masterminding goes. She talks in circles about choice theory and accountability, makes out with Dom Toretto in front of his beloved Letty, and then barks commands to a nuclear submarine. Otherwise  and the actress has even admitted this  Therons supervillain hacker Cipher just sits around a lot, serving up the occasional scowl when it suits her.

The dreads, then, are a quick and appropriative way to add some dimension to her character. (Director F. Gary Gray told Vulture they were Therons idea.) Those mini-locs chew up more scenery than any other man, woman, or automobile in this movie. Just when you think, This cant be happening, or Charlize, girl, really?, there they are again, braided up or gathered in a high ponytail. Fate of the Furious commits to a lot of things  thats always been this franchises charm  but it really commits to the locs.

A little bit of outrage to get out of the way, for the sake of housekeeping. Havent we, as a culture, moved beyond white dreadlocs? Shouldnt we know by now? White locs are the ultimate self-own: Your hair will break off. Then theres the underlying subtext of white dreads, that they usurp Rasta culture, and expose a double standard: Black women are penalized for our dreadlocks; white women get to use them to add an extra bad-girl dimension to the characters they play in blockbuster movies. So, yeah. No more white-lady dreadlocks.

But back to Cipher and her loc maintenance. As one car chase turned into another, my mind kept returning to all the outrageous methods Cipher could be using to tend to her culturally appropriated tresses. YouTube is a mecca for black women sharing hair-care tips  whose videos is she watching? Cipher didnt always have these locs. Her government watch list profile shows her with Therons usual close crop. In fact, her whole look is different: less goth Free People chic, more Actual Adult Villain HBIC. In that same scene, Kurt Russells Mr. Nobody reveals Cipher spent some time in Greece. Maybe she picked up the dreads there? She wouldnt be the first white woman to return from an overseas jaunt with some ill-advised locs.



To make matters even more farcical, Ciphers diverse team of millennial hackers includes a black man who also has locs  the movies way of saying that at least some people know how dreads should be worn. How many times a day do you think that guy has to dodge his bosss manicured nails from picking at his scalp? How many microagressions does that man experience before lunch? Does she ask him how his hair grows that way at a company meeting, in front of everyone? When she runs out of jojoba oil or shea butter, does she launch a secret mission to break into his private quarters and snatch some?

In our current Boss Baby world, its very easy to see art made well before the election as some kind of Trumpian commentary. But maybe these dreads are Charlize and director F. Gary Grays attempt at some subtle racial commentary: a series that lets a bunch of nonwhite actors do awesome stunts was bound to attract a wacky Rachel Dolezal character eventually. If Cipher cant have clear motivations or a discernible arc, at least shes got a fascinating, ahem, twist.
Survivor. Photo: Jeffrey Neira/CBS

A day after CBS aired a controversial episode of the reality series Survivor: Game Changers in which one contestant, Jeff Varner, outed a fellow tribe member, Zeke Smith, as transgender, the network has released a statement that stands by their decision to broadcast the episode. After the tribal council scene in last nights Survivor was filmed, we consulted with Zeke Smith and with GLAAD in advance of the broadcast, including the issue of how Zeke would tell his story after the episode aired, CBS said in a statement, noting that this was Smiths second season appearing on the series. From his first season through the current edition, we have always been guided by the principle that this is his story to tell, and it remains so. We support how Jeff Probst and the producers handled a very sensitive situation and marvel at the grace Zeke exhibited under extraordinary circumstances.

Varner, who was indeed eliminated at the end of the episode after contestants rallied around Smith in support, has already written a lengthy apology on social media, which CBSs statement acknowledges. We also have respect for how Jeff Varner has expressed remorse for his mistake, both in the episode and in his subsequent dialogue with the media, the statement continued. In the end, we believe this episode, accompanied by Zekes own remarkable writing and speaking on the subject, has provided an unexpected but important dialogue about acceptance and treating transgender people with respect.

Read Zekes full account of his Survivor experience at The Hollywood Reporter.
At least two people ask Lucious in this episode, Is your ALS acting up again? I feel like thats exactly what you need to know going into a summary of this episode.

Apparently, Lucious suffers from myasthenia gravis, and this is the first that any of us are hearing of it. Thirsty is overseeing Luciouss medical care, and by medical care, I mean shouting at a doctor to perform medical procedures in a mans bedroom. Thirsty knows its illegal (and unsanitary), but hes prepared to offer money and legal compensation to the doctor to provide this preposterous service. They have to put a breathing tube down Luciouss throat, and before hes got a tube shoved down his throat, he croaks to Grandma Walker, Watch my family. Theyre snakes. Father of the Year, everyone. Jamal is in the studio, and hes working with Delphine, played by the ever-charismatic Estelle, on the When Cookie Met Lucious album. Theyre going to make a music video inspired by the good times in the 80s-Cookie-and-Lucious relationship. Cookie wants to shoot a music video approximately now, while Lucious is dying from a touch of the myasthenia gravis.

Meanwhile, Tianas girl  primarily known as Kennedy, who got punched in the goddamn face  is holding a press conference because shes going to sue Empire Records for $50 million, and Hakeems response is, That bitch trippin! I have a daughter. This attempt to demonstrate the a-woke-ening of Hakeem actually shows a very particular type of dude. Its infuriating to watch Hakeem storm around demanding that someone explain basic feminist concepts to him. HOW CAN SOMEONE THINK I HATE WOMEN WHEN I KNOW A WOMAN

Andre and Nessa are meeting with Nia Long, who appears to exclusively wear bustiers and blazer-capes with her titties all the way out. (Nia Long is 46. She looks better than I ever have or ever will, and I am not mad at her. Im mad at myself.) When Andre gets up to fetch Nia Long a drink, she says that shed love to maybe get together with Nessa and Andre in the boudoir. Nessa rightfully freaks out because no one wants to walk into a surprise threesome situation.

On the When Cookie and Lucious Were So in Love, But Its Not Gonna Last Because Lucious Is an Unstable, Cruel Man video set, Jamal and Delphine look like theyre cosplaying 80s Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. Cookie looks wistfully into the middle distance, as she talks about what Lucious and his music meant to her. The Lyon children go to visit Lucious, and he wants to know why they havent solved this issue with Kennedy yet, and Hakeem just stomps around. He keeps screaming, I HAVE A DAUGHTER!!! Hakeem. Settle the fuck down and read some Audre Lorde.

Boo Boo Kitty comes to visit Lucious, and he types out a message on his iPad, asking why she hasnt worn a wire yet. She responds by folding his breathing tube and threatening to kill him. Lucious pulls out a gun from underneath the duvet, and shakily holds it up to threaten her right back. Boo Boo Kitty runs out of there to go see Cookie, and asks her to watch Bella in case something happens to her because something is definitely going to happen to her.

Andre is taking advantage of Luciouss illness to seal the deal with Gino, a generic mobster character. Andre uses Xzibit to intimidate Gino into accepting an extremely terrible deal on the Las Vegas dealings. Cookie and Angelo are voting for him in the primary. Yeesh, were only at the primary! This fictional mayoral election is starting to feel like the actual election. Two random girls want to take a picture with Cookie because theyre rooting for her to get back together with Lucious. Their couple name is Coucious. Thats the worst couple name. It sounds like someone cant pronounce couscous.

Hakeem realizes that screaming at a woman and trying to shame her to distract from mens faults isnt a moral choice. So he runs to Jamal and screams, WHATS VICTIM BLAMING?!?! IS THAT BAD?!?! Jamal suggests that Hakeem go in a different direction from his usual songs Cant Trust Em and The Clap Back to get back on the publics good side. So Hakeem heads to the studio to make a song for HIS QUEENS. The song is like a copy of a negative of a demo of a J. Cole song. Its like the ad agency that tried to make that god-awful Pepsi ad tried to make a song about feminism.

Feminism: Because you should only treat women like people once you have a daughter!

The song ends, WE ALL CAME FROM A WOMAN. Hakeem is canceled.

Lucious finds out about everyones dealings, and he calls a board meeting in his bedroom. He wants to fire Andre, but didnt bother to figure out if anyone would back him up. This is getting embarrassing for Lucious. Hes in his pajamas and cant get a second. Andre continues to take advantage of the moment, and hands out a pamphlet about the Las Vegas deal. The rest of the board murmurs with approval. Andre is set to make money hand over fist for Empire for years to come, so the board is going to approve anything he wants to do. Im looking forward to this development.

Its the end of primary day, and Cookie is throwing Angelo a party in Leviticus, but hes still feeling a little sensitive about the whole CousCoucious thing. Cookie promises that Lucious wont show up, which causes him to materialize in his pajamas and velvet loafers. His tiny ponytail is twitching because he can sense hes fucking things up for Cookie. When Angelo makes a victory speech, Lucious interrupts to play a song on the piano about Cookie. Shes reacting like its the most romantic moment of her life, but lets all remember that the song includes the lyrics, Im watching you like a camera dude.

Before the longest primary in history wraps up, Nia Long strolls in with her blazer-cape billowing in the wind behind her, and Lucious looks her in the eye and says, Youve got a hell of a lot of nerve.

THEY HAVE A SORDID PAST. IM BACK IN, EMPIRE!
These women are nothing alike. Photo: HBO

At her first appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour, where stars talk about their upcoming projects, Lena Dunham was already on the defensive about her show, Girls, being compared to Sex and the City. She told reporters they were two totally different shows, even though both of them are about four single women in New York. Still, Dunham had to soften the blow. There is no Sex and the City revenge plot, she said. I revere that show just as much as any girl of my generation.

Despite her protests, it seemed like every single person writing about the show had to conflate the two anyway, even if only to note that there were absolutely no similarities at all. Here is a handy list of all the ways the two were compared before Girls had even graced screens in 2012, eight years after Carrie Bradshaw and her gaggle had signed off.

Whats surprising is that six seasons later, in the run up to its final episode, the comparisons still haunt Girls. The Boston Globe reminds everyone that the two shows are often compared. Vanity Fair starts an article about the Girls finale with yet another dissection of the comparisons. The New York Post, always the antagonistic tabloid, whines about how Girls made us hate millennials and then yearns for the Manolo Blahnik and Cosmopolitan days of yore. At least that HBO show made the behaviors of a generation of women seem glamorous, Jennifer Wright scoffs. Even Lena Dunham, when asked about a possible Girls movie by the Guardian, said, Ill have to examine how long they waited before that Sex and the City movie. Lena, you are not helping!

These shows were never alike at all, other than the fact that they were both on HBO and were about women in New York. Even those similarities are flimsy considering that Hannah and her cohort are of an entirely different generation than Carrie & Co. And the dingy, barely employed Brooklyn world of Girls is a universe away from the sparkly surfaces and burnished Manhattan of Sex and the City. You cant even compare Carrie Bradshaws Upper East Side one bedroom with Marnie Michaels crappy Chinatown squat, but, as recently as 2016, the New York Times did just that. Describing Carries ridiculously large, completely unaffordable apartment with a walk-in closet to Marnies dinky studio with a shower in the kitchen, Ronda Kaysen writes, But the real estate landscape has shifted so profoundly over the last two decades that this generations girl-about-town occupies a very different kind of space.

No, this is not about New York real estate. This is about the creative decisions of two very different shows. Carrie lived in a fantasyland, and Marnie lives in (something closer to) reality. There are many ways you could describe Marnie (beautiful, narcissistic, controlling, self-centered, delusional, egotistical) but she has never been a girl about town. Sure, maybe in season one when she was trying to be a gallerina and sleeping with skeezy artist Booth Jonathan, but there is nothing about her quasi-folk starving artist lifestyle or her doomed marriage to Desi that could be considered girl about town. The one gown we ever see her wear, she bought second-hand in a thrift store and it made people think she was a Russian hooker.

I could tick down a list of ways that the shows are not alike, like Carries fetishized outfits to Hannahs insistence on wearing rompers that are especially unflattering for her body type. Or the fact that, compared to the rotating list of hookups and boyfriends on SATC, the girls of Girls are practically chaste, usually jetting from one monogamous relationship to another. (Even Jessa, the Samantha of the group, doesnt get it on very often in comparison.) And while Sex and the City always focused on its central quartet, Girls, particularly in its later seasons, was equally as invested in the inner lives of its male characters, particularly Adam, Ray, and Elijah.

But the major difference between the two is one of tone and craft. Sex and the City is a sitcom in a very classic vein. Sure, it can sometimes be bittersweet, but most episodes end with the story lines tied in neat little bows and a sense of uplift. Week to week, season to season, we knew exactly what wed get when tuning in. Girls was never as interested in that, vacillating wildly in terms of focus and quality (sometimes to its detriment) and willing to experiment with form in a way many series never do. Its most classic episodes are the bottle episodes with Hannah (or Marnie or Shoshanna) off on their own escapades. Even when Carrie goes to L.A., she needs to bring her girls along for the ride. Girls also never had the same illusions about trying to play nice with its characters. Carrie Bradshaw is a somewhat monstrous person that were supposed to love; Hannah Horvath is a somewhat monstrous person that were supposed to hate (although sympathetically).

Thats not to say that Girls shouldnt be compared to anything in television history. My colleague Jen Chaney compared it to Sex and the City when writing about how it broke the rules of the friendship comedy, but put it in the context of Friends, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace as well. The Globe also notes that Girls is more appropriately compared to Friends. What both of these articles get right is that Girls belongs alongside the greats, not just other shows about women in New York.

The saddest comparison between these two shows in recent days was when Heat Street starts off an article comparing Girls and Big Little Lies by, you guessed it, bringing up Sex and the City, as if any show that features four women needs to be compared to SATC, particularly if its on HBO. You never see critics comparing Silicon Valley to Entourage, two very different shows, just because theyre about four dudes who all work together. Heck, they dont even compare Entourage to Ballers, and those shows are essentially Siamese twins.

This is the real, depressing reason the two shows always have to stand shoulder to shoulder: There just arent enough other shows that focus on women (particularly young women). And the cycle continues: A similar narrative played out last fall when Issa Raes HBO series, Insecure, which follows two black women living in Los Angeles, premiered. Ahead of its release, the show was constantly compared to Girls, and Rae herself to Dunham. I dont like that, Rae told Vulture last fall. Thats the dumbest and laziest thing to do. Its insulting to me and to her, especially to her. Were not telling the same stories. Yeah, were both young women on HBO, but  I wish I could think of men on HBO  they dont do that shit with them.

Back at her first visit to TCA, Dunham said of her show and Sex and the City, I knew that there was a connection because its women in New York, but it really felt like it was tackling a different subject matter. Gossip Girl was teens duking it out on the Upper East Side and Sex and the City was women who figured out work and friends and now want to nail family life. There was this whole in-between space that hadnt really been addressed.

There is still a lot that has yet to be addressed in the whole wide space in between, and until it is, Carrie and Hannah are going to have to stand side by side as sisters, even though they have absolutely nothing in common.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

After its finale, the question for the stars of Girls is pretty much the same one that Hannah faces: After you leave Brooklyn, what comes next? The series, boosted by regular waves of controversy, earned its actors a level of name recognition far beyond what its relatively small ratings numbers suggest. Now, after leaving behind the characters that have, for better or worse, become synonymous with their own public images, the stars of the show are all on to something new. So, whats next for Lena Dunham and the rest? Heres what we know.

Lena Dunham

In a recent Nylon cover story, Dunham said she was taking a break after Girls, though in point of fact, the writer, director, and actress seems as busy as ever. Shes overseeing her newsletter Lenny Letters new book imprint, living out Hannahs dreams by writing a collection of short stories about female friendship called Best and Always, and overseeing a new all-female production company with Girls EP Jenni Konner. Nylons story also references unnamed film and theater project that Dunham plans to research in London, as well as her involvement in creating a series of Lenny Letter short films for HBOGo. In 2015, HBO ordered a pilot about the early feminist movement produced and directed by Dunham that would star Zoe Kazan, though its unclear whether that is still going forward.

Allison Williams

Williams made her feature-film debut as the ultimate clueless white girlfriend in Jordan Peeles Get Out, which  spoiler alert  just earned her an MTV Movie and TV Award nomination for Best Villain. Williams hasnt publicly signed on to any future projects yet, and we imagine shes probably done with live musicals after Peter Pan Live!, but surely there are plenty more Marnie-level oblivious characters and/or Rose-style schemers left to play.

Zosia Mamet

A few weeks after the Girls finale, Mamet will head to the theater for a role in The Whirligig, a new play from Hamish Linklater, continuing to build on the theater cred she accumulated with Really Really in 2013. Film-wise, her thriller with Jessica Biel, Bleeding Heart, will come out in November, and shes sticking to relatively indie projects in the future, with roles in David Robert Mitchells L.A. noir Under the Silver Lake, Sophie Brookss comedy The Boy Downstairs, and to crown it all off, the biopic Mapplethorpe, where shell play the photographers sometime lover and best friend Patti Smith.

Jemima Kirke

Of all the Girls stars, Kirke has tended to have the uneasiest relationship with her place on the show (she tried to quit before season 2), and acting as a career in general, as shes also a painter and was one before the show began. Still, Kirke has at least two acting jobs lined up after the Girls finale: one in All These Small Moments and another in Untogether, where shell appear alongside her sister, Mozart in the Jungle star Lola, who will play her sister in the movie as well.

Adam Driver

Perhaps the biggest name in the Girls cast by now, Driver will next appear in a little movie called Star Wars: The Last Jedi as the villainous Kylo Ren. Outside of his standing commitment to holding a lightsaber and yelling, Drivers also lined up several prestige projects, including Steven Soderberghs NASCAR-heist movie Logan Lucky, and Holy Motors director Leos Caraxs English-language debut, a pop-star movie called Annette. Drivers also supposed to be the lead in Terry Gilliams The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, though time will tell whether that movie ever gets made.

Andrew Rannells

After wrapping Girls and a turn in Falsettos on Broadway, Rannells told Vulture he is mulling a bunch of different ideas. Ive been so lucky with Lena and Jenni that I guess Im looking for, or hoping for, a collaboration on the level I had with them, he said, noting that hes not currently looking to play a one-dimensional gay best friend.

Alex Karpovsky

Karpovsky had a career as an indie director and actor before he started playing the misanthropic Ray, and after the show ends, it looks like hell continue in a similar vein, though on a bigger scale. He recently appeared in Hail, Caesar! and Netflixs Girlfriends Day, while Folk Hero and a Funny Guy, in which he teams up with Everybody Wants Some!!s Wyatt Russell will be out soon.
James Monroe Iglehart.

After years of playing the Genie in the Broadway musical Aladdin, James Monroe Iglehart is getting out of the bottle: On April 14, he will take over the Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson role in Hamilton. Iglehart started out in Aladdin as it was being workshopped outside New York in 2011, and won a Tony in 2014 once it came to Broadway. In the wake of Igleharts last Aladdin performance, on February 19, Vulture caught up with him to talk about perfecting his speed rapping, his love of Batman, and what its like to play Tituss rival Coriolanus on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

First of all, how were the last set of performances in Aladdin?

Absolutely fabulous. The audiences were so hyped, and my family was there for most of those days. Ive been with the show since 2011, all the way from Seattle to New York. To be able to go out like that, to go out in a good way on my own terms and still have a lovely relationship with Disney? It was wonderful. I saw that movie when I was 17, and to go out like that was great.

What were the highlights of the experience?

Opening night was great, because when we left Toronto, the feeling in New York was that we werent coming in with a good show. I got home, and people were like, Hey, I heard the show didnt go too well. All my associates who kind of wanted Disney to fail were looking forward to some problems. Then we came in opening night and the world just loved it. Then, of course, a highlight was being nominated for a Tony and winning.

A lot of the character is so tied up with Robin Williamss performance. How did you make your take different?

I think for every character youve got to put yourself into it. With the Genie, the Genie is Robin, because this man pretty much is this character. But then I went back into a little bit of history, Howard Ashman originally wanted the character to be like Cab Calloway or Fats Waller. I was like, Oh, thats right in my wheelhouse. So I put myself into it, and I put in jokes that I thought were funny. So it was Genie-esque, but I wasnt feeding off Robin. And whats funny is I heard from some friends he saw some of my clips, and he dug it. He said, I like what the kid is doing. Hes not copying me.

You got to add in a lot of improvisation to the show. Did you have any favorite impressions?

I liked to do things people didnt think I was gonna say. Like, by the last week, I brought in  whats that line? Meet me outside? That girl from 

Oh! The cash me outside girl.

Yeah. I was like, Cash me outside. I would do that. We couldnt really do impressions. They didnt want me to do actual people impressions, because they didnt want stars to get mad. But I would hint at those people. Like, I hinted at Dr. Phil. I hinted at Michael Jackson. I hinted at Oprah. I definitely hinted at most of the hip-hop stars from Eminem to Fetty Wap to Soulja Boy. I hinted at a bunch of them, cause kids got it. Some of the parents were like, I dont get whats going on.

Then what is it like to shift into Hamilton and to join that show?

Its really, really fun, but its a totally different beast. As I was leaving Aladdin, I realized when I was onstage I only spoke to Al. I did not talk to anybody else until the last scene of the show. With Hamilton, its an ensemble show. You are a principal, yes. But once youre not doing your solo, youre in the ensemble telling the story with everybody else. Its very intricate, where Aladdin was very big and flashy.

The challenge with Lafayette is that youve got to do that speed rapping.

Im okay with that, because Ive been rapping freestyle for years. I think the thing that surprised me was the preciseness of it. Somewhere in my head I was like, Oh cool, I can rap fast. But its like a puzzle piece, and if youre not specifically in the puzzle, youll miss the next move.

Daveed had such a specific strut and look for Lafayette and Jefferson. Have you come up with your own approach to the characters?

The fun thing is Daveed is also in the group Freestyle Love Supreme that Im in. We had a conversation before I took the job. He gave me his blessing and he said, Man, take and run with it, and do what you do. And thats what I have done. So Im hoping that the audience embraces it the way they embrace him. I want to keep the integrity of what he did, but I also want to bring a little of the Iglehart swagger to those roles.

You were in the early Lincoln Center concerts of Hamilton, so whats it been like to be in the early production, see the show grow into this massive thing, and come back?

Its been awesome, actually. I have some of the most talented friends in the world. When we first heard what Lin was doing, we didnt know how big it was gonna be, but we knew it was cool. Then after Lincoln Center, I got Aladdin, and I was working on that. There was a shot of me coming to Hamilton. I was like, Guys, I think Im going to stay with Aladdin and see where it takes me. Then I would watch from our hit show as their show become the juggernaut that it became.

Outside of Broadway, a lot of people know you from Kimmy Schmidt, where you play Coriolanus Burt, Tituss rival. How did that come about?

I got the call from my agent that they wanted me to come and audition. They said, You would be the rival of Tituss Burgess. Ive known Tituss for a while, but we never got to work together. We both did Disney shows. He was Sebastian [in The Little Mermaid]. We never even auditioned against each other, because were the same type, but were such different voices. Hes a very high tenor, and Im a baritone. We sang at the same places, but that was it.

So when I auditioned, I read what they wanted the character to be, and I told my wife, I think Im going to go in a little bit of a different direction with this. I know the timbre of his voice, so Im going to go so opposite and be deep. Then when Tina saw me, she said, You know, when I saw you in Aladdin I thought, Id like to see if he could play this part. I was like, Thank you, Tina.

Ive had so much fun playing with Tituss because hes such a nut. He will go anywhere with you. And when youre with him, you better go someplace. Because hes gonna take you. He just goes. Its a lot of fun to play with that dude.

After going between shows as well-known as Aladdin or Hamilton, are there other roles you want to take on?

Well see what happens. If new shows come around I would love to. Theres a few revivals that would be fun to do. Im a huge Music Man fan. I love The Music Man, and if someone wants to think outside the box and decide they would like to put me as Harold Hill, I would love to do that. I love stand-up comedy, and I love musicals. So I was trying to figure out a way to mix the two. I just did my solo show, which is a solo cabaret show, at 54 Below. I also did it in California and in Jersey, and it did really well. Its basically my story of me growing up as a kid. And when people usually do solo shows, its like therapy in front of people. Mine is straight comedy. Mine is let me talk about how stupid I was as a kid.

What were some of the stupid things you would talk about doing?

I really thought that it was going to be easy to become a performer. I remember singing in church is so easy. I shouldnt say easy, but church people are nicer. If youre a kid, when youre singing in church the adults go, Oh, thats so precious. Oh thats so nice. He sounds just like his mom. Then when I turned around and decided to sing for my elementary school, those kids were mean as hell. They were bored and throwing stuff, and I was like, You people are terrible. You dont know Jesus! So basically I learned quickly that the secular world was a lot harder on performers.

Were people as critical once you came to Broadway? Or were the elementary-school kids the harshest critics?

You know whats funny? I would say the elementary-school kids are the harshest critics. Because adults lie to your face. Adults will look and you and go, You were great, and then go tell their friends, He was awful. Kids wont lie. Kids are like, Hey man, youre terrible. Youre the worst thing Ive ever heard. You should never sing.

Before were done, I wanted to ask about Batman, because from your Instagram and Twitter, it seems like you really love Batman.

When I was a kid, I used to watch the Adam West show a lot, and somehow that just stuck with me. But The Muppets and Batman would come on after school, and I would watch it. And I loved Adam Wests Batman, but as I got older, my friend introduced me to some comic books when I was about 11, and I loved the duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman. I didnt like elementary school because, like I said, kids were mean, and Im kind of a sensitive guy. So I created two personas: The persona that I used at school and the real me. It reminded me of Batman, where Bruce Wayne is the persona. Thats what people want to see. Batman is actually the real him, thats who he really is. And I just latched on to that, through school, junior high through high school, I did the persona of what James Iglehart was supposed to be so the kids would leave me alone. I got cool. I could rap, I could sing, I could dance, and whenever people would step to me, I could use my words to defend myself. But deep inside I was always afraid of confrontation. As I got older I grew out of it, but Batman was  If Linus had a security blanket, Batman was mine, so hes always had a very special place in my heart.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Michael Ballhaus, the famed cinematographer who died Wednesday at 81, was responsible for Goodfellas most famous shot. Early in the film, Henry Hill takes his future wife Karen on their first proper date. As he hands off his keys to the valet and leads her down the kitchen entrance of the Copacabanana, the camera trails behind them. Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco stay in the center of the frame as they move between chefs and busboys, until the camera glides a little ahead of them. From somewhere offscreen, a table and tablecloth seem to float in for the couple to sit at, right in front of comedian Henny Youngman (Take my wife!). Its the height of romance: the whiteness of the tablecloth, the way the table seems to levitate in. The moment teases a tacky little slice of heaven for both Karen and the audience.

You dont have to know anything about steadicams to feel the specialness of that scene. Its the crowning moment of Ballhauss long collaboration with Martin Scorsese. The cinematographers career was launched from his work with the German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, but his style was an ideal match for Scorseses dizzying camera movement. The Goodfellas shot feels dazzling and effortless all at once.

Ballhaus created other great scenes with Scorsese, ones that play much simpler but were complicated to perfect. The Copacabana long take gets all the attention, but, for me, their first collaboration, After Hours, is even better. The film moves fiercely and freely around a wild portrait of downtown New York City in the mid-80s, zooming in on and whizzing between absurdities. Its a long nightmare thats hilarious and frenetic and anxious all at once. Our hero Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne) is chasing a girl around Soho, trying to pin her down and seduce her. Once that goes south, hes just desperate to make it back home uptown.

Ballhauss camerawork gets at the underlying insanity of the movies comedy. At what I assume was Mr. Scorseses direction, Mr. Ballhauss camera takes on an aggressive, willful personality of its own, Vincent Canby wrote in his New York Times review. Racing across images, like a dog straining at a leash, to scrutinize small details, or watching with rapt attention as a $20 bill floats to earth, the camera plays the role of a narrator whose manner is amused, skeptical and not at all inclined to allow itself to become sentimentally involved. In one scene, the roommate of the woman Hackett is after drops down the keys to the apartment so he can get in. This shot, more than anything in Goodfellas, seems purely Ballhauss device. It was a quick shoot, according to Roger Eberts review, and had to come up with the rapid crane movement on the spot to make it happen. The camera watches the keys fall, then takes the keys point of view to look down at Hackett, and finally were seeing them from Hacketts perspective, looking up at them. When they hit the concrete, the camera zooms in for a close-up. Its manic.

Ballhaus worked with other directors  and Scorsese, other cinematographers  but their collaborations were always exciting. The Departed and Gangs of New York used Goodfellas same visual grammar, but without the earlier movies romance. The Age of Innocence finds a different kind of richness in the candle-lit living rooms of 1870s New York. The Last Temptation of Christ was some of the most rigorous work of both mens careers. (Its going to be a tough movie. Every shot is going to be working against us, he told Scorsese on set) And The Color of Money  its a hokey script, but Ive always found it an exciting movie to watch because of Ballhauss work. He found the bright greens and reds and blacks in every smoky pool hall, and the pool cue POV, combined with Thelma Schoonmakers editing, is great to look at.

Marty is my favorite director because hes the most visual filmmaker Ive worked with in America, Ballhaus told the American Society of Cinematographers just after Departeds release. Ballhaus created the 360-degree tracking shot with Fassbinder, but his collaboration with Scorsese was just as meaningful. It was Age of Innocence that Ballhaus named as his favorite of his career: His ideas on how to shoot a scene are worked out very precisely. And for me it was an absolute joy to realize those ideas.
Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan today issued a suo-moto judicial order against Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and six other Supreme Court judges. Karnan directed the "erring Judges" to appear before him at his "Rosedale Residential Court" for the next hearing of the case.

By Indrajit Kundu: In yet another unprecedented move, Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan, who faces contempt charges from the nation's top court, today issued a suo-moto judicial order against Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and six other Supreme Court judges.

"Suo Moto Judicial order in the interest of the National to protect the General Public of their life, property and justice to all," Justice Karnan's order read.

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Karnan, a sitting High Court judge who has been barred from discharging his duties by the apex court, ruled that all the seven Supreme Court judges - Chief Justice J S Khehar along with Justices Dipak Misra, J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur, Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Kurian Joseph - were "offenders" under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act.

He said that they had "jointly insulted" him in open court.

Karnan also directed all the seven judges to appear before him at his "Rosedale Residential Court" for the next hearing of the case on April 28 to give their views regarding the "quantum of punishment for the violation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act."

In his order, Justice Karnan has directed the Airports Authority of India's Delhi airport-in-charge to not allow these seven judges to travel abroad. He has also ordered that they must surrender their passports to the Director General of Delhi Police within 15 days.

Also, the order bars them from moving any court against the judgement.

It states: "The Hon'ble 7 Judges as mentioned above are not permitted to move any Court against this Court's order since the first accused namely the CJI who is controlling all Courts in India."

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES 'ERRING JUDGES,' 'NATIONAL OFFENDERS,' SAYS JUSTICE KARNAN

However, the order allows the "erring Judges" to approach Parliament in case they aren't satisfied with the order and want to challenge it.

In his order, Justice Karnan has also appealed to the central and all state governments to not avail the services of these judges since they were "national offenders" due to their "caste prejudice".

He has also appealed to foreign countries having cordial relations with India to not issue any visas to them as they may "spread the virus of caste discrimination" in those countries.

Here are three pages from Karnan's order.

CS Karnan's order

CS Karnan's order

CS Karnan's order

Earlier, the Supreme Court had initiated contempt of court proceedings against Justice Karnan, after he wrote to the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister's Office, the Union Law Ministry and others levelling corruption charges against the chief justice of Madras High Court.

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The apex Court, in an unprecedented move, had issued a bailable warrant against the sitting Calcutta High Court judge in March to ensure his presence before the court after his repeated non-appearance.

On March 31, Karnan finally appeared before the Supreme Court which then gave him four weeks' time to either tender an unconditional apology or provide in writing his stance on the matter.

ALSO READ | Supreme Court issues bailable warrant against Calcutta HC judge CS Karnan for contempt

ALSO READ | Why Jethmalani told Justice Karnan I am convinced you have lost your mind

WATCH VIDEO | Supreme Court questions mental state of Justice Karnan

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Jason Sudeikis in Colossal. Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Photo by Voltage Pictures, Brightlight Pictures

(This post contains spoilers for Colossal.)

Nacho Vigalondos new movie Colossal is not quite conventional. Its a creature-feature comedy starring Anne Hathaway as a failed adult who realizes she is psychically linked to a kaiju wreaking havoc on Seoul that shifts suddenly into a nerve-racking drama about what happens when women become the emotional and physical hostages of insecure men. The trailers sell you the comedy because thats an easier pill to get down, but its the examination of male entitlement that will keep the movie noodling around in your head long after it ends. It also provides us with the most acutely frightening example of Hollywoods new favorite villain  the toxic nice guy. Vigalondos greatest sleight of hand isnt smuggling a dark character drama inside whats ostensibly a monster movie. Its how he packages the movies surprise villain inside the amiable Jason Sudeikis.

Sudeikiss Oscar at first seems to be a supporting character in a quirky adult coming-of-age story. Like Allison Williams in Get Out, the first image of the comedian in Colossal is entirely in sync with his star image. Hes wryly funny but supportive, sensitive but still protective, attractive but still approachable. He puts you at ease, but hes also an utterly believable cad. Theres a palpable undercurrent of darkness that runs through all Sudeikiss roles, a way he fixes his gaze that suggests if something goes wrong, a switch will flip and his ingratiating exterior will crumble to reveal something cruel and threatening. Its the same quality possessed by Jason Bateman, who played the crowning example of the evil nice guy in 2015s The Gift, and Justin Theroux, who pulled off a similar trick in last years Girl on the Train.



Both The Gift and Colossal have Trojan-horse villains in the form of monsters  a literal one in the former and a human one, Joel Edgertons maladjusted Gordo, in the latter. Both Gordo and the kaiju are outsiders, destructors; compared to them, Bateman and Sudeikiss characters are steady, good men seeking to protect their homes and the women in their lives. Except, at their cores, theyre also both deeply damaged.

What makes both actors so effective at selling the nice guy is that they both present a post-masculine image that seems on-trend in 2017. As America shifts to an economy defined by white-collar and service jobs, the beta male has become one of our most identifiable onscreen archetypes. Alongside actors like Zach Woods, Thomas Middleditch, and Adam Scott, Sudeikis and Bateman play men who are physically nonthreatening, diffuse tension with humor, and prefer weaponized wit over pure brawn. But even the most snarkily detached guys are beholden to internalized gender mores, and in both films Bateman and Sudeikiss smug mockery can turn into vicious barbs with just the slightest shift.

The author Margaret Atwood had an oft-quoted exchange with a male friend once in which she asked him why men feel threatened by women. He told her, They are afraid women will laugh at them, undercut their world view. When Atwood asked a group of female students why women feel threatened by men, they responded, They are afraid of being killed.

This is exactly the dichotomy we see in Colossal. When Oscar meets Anne Hathaways Gloria, he quickly becomes her provider and protector, bringing furniture to her empty home and giving her a job, a purpose, and companionship. After many nights of carousing over beers, Gloria finally decides shes going to dry out: Shes tired of blacking out, waking up after noon, and realizing shes destroyed portions of Seoul with her monster alter ego. But the idea of Gloria choosing to take control of her life and make steps toward self-improvement infuriates Oscar, who has also realized at this point shes attracted to his sweet, sex-idiot friend. He drunkenly taunts her, insisting that she drop the self-righteous act and get blitzed with him like they always do. He says and does a lot of terrible things, prompting Gloria to go to his house the next morning, after hes sobered up, so he can apologize.

Even more jarring than Oscars sudden dark turn, though, is the image of his home. Its filled with the belongings of a dead relative and looks like something from Hoarders. As Oscar stands in his dirty kitchen and apologizes to Gloria, his shame is laid bare; the moral high ground he had previously enjoyed disappears. Its not something Oscar can let go, which leads to a violent confrontation in which Gloria must channel her monster counterpart to vanquish this toxic man once and for all. Its a heightened version of an everyday dynamic: A woman flying herself all the way to Seoul so she can mind-control a gigantic alien is far-fetched; a woman forced to go to extreme lengths to protect herself from a domestic abuser is, sadly, not.

In perhaps the purest sign the toxic nice guy is a trope to watch out for, creators are already starting to play with it. Without getting into spoilers, Big Little Lies viewers knew Alexander Skarsards Perry was a manipulative abuser from the very beginning, but there were just enough hints that something was off with Adam Scotts frustrated Ed  remember that confrontation with Nathan?  that it seemed possible he would turn out to have a secret dark side as well.

Though these characters often turn out to be villains, its easy to sympathize with them. In a sense, theyre caught in a trap: They live in a social system that insists men adapt to modern conventions of vulnerability and sensitivity, but doesnt help them unpack the dangerous definitions of masculinity that theyve picked up along the way. But of course, that sympathy doesnt make them any less terrifying. What makes these guys so threatening isnt that theyd break down your door. Its that by the time youve realized youre in peril, theyve already been invited into your home.
Its not the first time Aisha Hinds has worked with director Anthony Hemingway. The pair collaborated on True Blood several years ago, and since worked on Foxs racial-justice drama Shots Fired. It was during the latter experience that Hemingway shared with Hinds that he was returning to helm several episodes of Undergrounds second season, and that shed be perfect to play iconic freedom fighter and former slave Harriet Tubman. (I was like, Oh yeah, Ill fight for that, she recalls.)

What Hinds didnt know for some time subsequent to landing the part was that episode six, Minty, would stand alone as a virtually uninterrupted hour-long oratory delivered by Tubman to a small room of abolitionists in Philadelphia. The resulting performance is remarkable and inspiring, and in lieu of a traditional recap (those shall resume next week), we felt it more fitting to speak with Hinds in depth about such a daunting and duty-bound task. On the eve of it airing, the 41-year-old veteran of stage, screen, and film discussed the feeling of Tubmans spirit moving through her, implicitly trusting Hemingway and writers-producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, and not giving critical reception of the episode a second thought, at least not yet.

This was the last episode filmed. How did you manage your nerves knowing it was looming all season?

In the beginning, I didnt wrap my head around what The Harriet Episode actually was. When I learned it was what it was, it was something Id never seen before. Its challenging audiences to look at television in a way they never had before. I had grown used to the structure of episodic television. They were using language like, Youll be doing a TED Talk. In my mind, I thought it was max ten minutes, somewhere in the middle of the episode. [Laughs.] When the full revelation was given that, no, you are giving a one-hour TED Talk as Harriet Tubman, then the nerves began to expand. But I come from a theater background, so I was excited at the possibility of bringing theater to television. As we drew closer, I started to get anxious. I wanted at least a month in advance to do all of my homework, but I didnt have that luxury, and that turned out for the better. It forced me to be a servant of the story and rely less on my craft and education and to rely way more on being open and available and allowing Harriet Tubmans spirit to consume me and use my vessel as her voice box.

That notion of Harriet speaking through you is a very personal connection that I cant necessarily identify with. But is there any way you can put into words what that tangibly feels like?

The funny thing is, I can identify with what youre saying. As I was researching about Harriet Tubman, so much of what she was able to accomplish seemed foreign to me. Im like, Am I reading a biography about Harriet Tubman or am I reading a comic book? [Laughs.] It was superheroic, the way she transcended the obstacles before her and woven into her. But the more I started to learn, I was like, This could only be possible if theres a force greater than her guiding her. I got the first half of the script ten days before we were supposed to shoot and the second half seven days before. I e-mailed an old professor and said, Is it possible for me to memorize 45 pages in a week? He wrote me back two words: Not possible. I was like, Thats the wrong answer. [Laughs.] I ended up having to create what I call my crisis curriculum. I approached the first day trying to get ten pages in my head, and my brain would not go beyond four. I would try to run what I learned and it wouldnt retain more. I was so afraid to consume any other information in the world because I didnt have space. I get on the plane and feel nauseous. I pull out the bag in front of me  Ive never used that bag  and I throw up in the bag. I land, go to a fitting, and my temperature is over 100 degrees. They call me back for another fitting, and I was like, Im not feeling well. So now theres a company-wide e-mail with the subject line: Aisha is sick. [Laughs.]

So Im losing all this time I wanted to use for rehearsal. Now the anxiety is setting in big. The next day, I show up to set, and I start lying, like, Im good, Im ready to go. They said, Well get you a teleprompter and an earpiece, so I memorized with the idea that there would be a safety net in place. I put the earpiece in, and theres all this static. Instinctually, my hand reached for my ear, pulled out the earpiece and handed it back, and it was in that moment that I began to feel an overwhelming sense of her presence. Something had filled me up, and all the nerves settled. I walk to the stage and Im mumbling to myself, I dont know what this is gonna be. Our director, Anthony Hemingway, comes up to me and holds my hand and prays with me before, which is not customary. I was like, Wow. Just to know how foundational God and spirituality was in Harriet Tubmans life, there couldnt have been anything more significant he started the day with than to hold my hands and pray. I sat down in the chair, he went back to the camera and called action, and every single word of that story came out of me as if it were my own. That continued to happen again and again, and the ease with which the story was just flowing, I started to feel like I wasnt even present. When he called cut on that final take, I felt emptied, like I could have used an IV gag. It felt like her spirit had inhabited me, shared her story, and as I was sharing the story, parts of her were coming out of me, and I was empty.

Its almost like a birth, bouts of sickness included.

Exactly. And the funny thing is, people are lauding this as a solo performance, but when I think about it, Im like, This is a solo performance much like childbirth is a solo performance. The mother is given credit for bringing the child into the world, but theres doctors, nurses, so many elements to making sure theres a delivery. So, yes, it definitely was childbirth, replete with all of its symptoms.

At the end of the monologue, Harriet breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience. How subtle did you need to be making that shift midstream?

Luckily, we shot in order chronologically, so at that point, not only am I trusting Misha and Joe and Anthony, but Im trusting these people to populate the area as local abolitionists. We built an intimate relationship. Even the cameras have become a part of that, so shifting to connect with the audience that is out in the world was a natural, instinctive invitation to our audience to activate. Will you stand by as a citizen watching the injustice thats happening, or will you engage and contribute to the world, leaving it better than you entered it, as a soldier?

At the risk of sounding trivial, how do you focus on the responsibility at hand without occasionally drifting to thoughts of public reception? This is the kind of performance that invariably creates critical and awards buzz.

When I first walked into this, I was full of so much reverence. I dont know how to explain it except to charge you to think about the most influential heroes in your life, or who you think about when you think about the fabric of who you are as a person. That was what Harriet Tubman was for me. My singular thought was to do everything I can to bring honor to her legacy. Because I was learning so much about her, I was like, My god, this is a revelation. I get excited about the fact that I am the chosen vessel to bring this wealth of education to a new generation. I was a troubled teenager until somebody guided me in the right direction, so its important for me to know where Im positioned in the world and what Im doing here, and how that can impact troubled teens. Thats just a fraction of the audience Im considering, but Im thinking about those girls who are in the position I was, and if I could have looked onscreen and seen someone who looked like me and walked like me and talked like me, telling the story of someone I dont have much context for  that was the riveting thing. I have shied away from watching the episode because I dont want to step out of the moment we had yet. I dont want to move into the place youre talking about. I know its human, its inevitable. I work in this industry. Im acutely aware of the conversations surrounding this level of work, but I also want to hold onto what was precious. Maybe in a few weeks, Ill move into the next level of that conversation. [Laughs.] Its not trivializing, because any acclaim that comes to this performance ultimately comes back to a woman who didnt get those awards and was rightfully deserving of a platform that could speak to many. If she continues to use me so that her message is spread and legacy is spread, I would be honored.
Alleging that the Karnataka government is trying to redirect the Cauvery water, Ramadoss said that the water that has been released but has not reached Hogenakkal falls as yet.

By Akshaya Nath: The war between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water continues with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss now making a fresh allegation against the Karnataka government.

Alleging that the Karnataka government is trying to redirect the Cauvery water, Ramadoss said that the water that has been released but has not reached Hogenakkal falls as yet, (water from Hemavathi dam (150 cusecs), Krishnarajasagar dam (873 cusecs), Kabali (100 cusecs) and Harangi (9 cusecs). He also said that Karnataka is trying to make sure no water reaches Tamil Nadu.

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He made these allegations on the ground that the water always flows through Hogenakkal even when there is a drought-like situation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The two states have been facing the worst droughts in the country.

The Karnataka government has been refusing to release water to Tamil Nadu on the pretext that the state was itself facing drought since the last couple of years. They had even disregarded the Supreme Court's order and restrained from releasing the water. This time around again with an order passed by the Supreme Court, Karnataka is in a situation where it is forced to release water. However, the water has still not reached Hogenakkal, hence the PMK leader was forced to speak out.

"When Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was alive, the state government fought for our rights, but now we don't know what to do. Our farmers have been protesting in Delhi for over a month now but no one has taken due note of our needs. As farmers we should all commit suicide, we are the unwanted second class citizens of the state," said Kumaresan, a farmer from Trichy, a Cauvery-delta region.

ALSO READ | Cauvery water dispute: Karnataka's U-turn after inflow in reservoirs increased

ALSO READ | Cauvery water dispute: Karnataka's U-turn after inflow in reservoirs increased

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By Press Trust of India: law: Dattatreya

Hyderabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said the Centre will "examine as per law" the Telangana governments proposal to raise quota to backward sections among Muslims, after the state assembly passes an act to this effect and sends it for approval.

He said though the BJP is not against Muslims, but at the same time it is against granting quota on the basis of religion.

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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao yesterday said his government would convene the Legislative Assembly on April 16 to pass a bill to increase quotas to the STs (Scheduled Tribes) and backward sections among Muslims.

Rao also said that the state Cabinet would meet on April 15 to decide the percentage of reservations.

"The Chief Minister has been talking about reservations to Muslims. The Telangana government wants to implement it (quota) on the lines of Tamil Nadu government. The BJP is not against Muslims. We (BJP) are against religion-based reservations. The Supreme Court had also ruled that religion- based reservations are not legal," Dattatreya told reporters.

"The state government may ensure the passage of the (proposed) Reservation Bill as they have the majority. (However) when it comes to the Centre, it will be examined in the constitutional and legal point of view. I cannot tell now what the Centre is going to do," the Union minister said.

He said that the Congress party, which had promised a similar kind of reservation in the past, failed to implement it due to legal issues.

"The criteria for reservations for any section of people should be based on discrimination or exploitation of that particular community, but not by considering economic backwardness," he said.

Responding to a query, Dattatreya said the Centre had sanctioned tourism projects worth Rs 275 crore to Telangana.

Rao had said his government would urge the central government to help in the implementation of its decision to raise quotas, as it was done in case of Tamil Nadu in 1990s, as total percentage of reservation would go beyond the cap of 50 per cent.

"We are copying Tamil Nadu as it is. Because the Centre took it (Tamil Nadus request) up, gave assent and put it in the 9th Schedule (of Constitution, as it cannot be challenged in courts), We are asking the Centre to do the same," Rao told reporters yesterday.

He said that the government was only seeking to raise the percentage of reservations currently being availed by backward sections among Muslims in Telangana.

The BJP has been opposing the TRS governments move to hike quotas for Muslims.

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Increasing the quotas for minorities and STs was a promise given by the TRS in its election manifesto. PTI GDK NSK ZMN

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A tough Texas anti-"sanctuary cities" bill that threatens to throw county sheriffs and small-town constables in jail if they refuse to help enforce federal immigration law looks to be on the fast-track toward passage in the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.

The proposal cleared a House committee 7-5 without debate Wednesday, setting up a floor vote soon. Opponents had hoped the House would soften a strict bill approved in February by Texas' Senate, but those tweaks made in committee shouldn't mitigate much.

Untouched was a hotly debated provision allowing for criminal charges against city or county officials who intentionally refuse to comply with federal authorities' attempt to deport people in the country illegally who already have been jailed on crimes unrelated to immigration. Elected officials could face up to a year in jail and lose their posts if convicted of official misconduct.

"By implementing this, we'll be able to remove these individuals from office," said Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican who led the House effort to makeover what the state Senate approved previously. He said doing so "puts teeth in" the bill.

There also would be fines on local agencies, starting at $1,000 for a first offense and reaching $25,000 for recurring violations.

The Senate rushed to pass the bill despite the pleas of hundreds of opponents who waited hours to decry it as promoting discrimination and ultimately hurting law and order since it will make immigrants fearful of contacting police to report crimes. The House moved more slowly, but now appears poised to approve the proposal, too. Differences between each chamber's version will be reconciled in conference committee.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a sanctuary cities crackdown a top priority, and President Donald Trump has made stricter federal immigration policy  and vows to wall off the entire, nearly 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border  a centerpiece of his administration.

There are some differences between the Senate and House bills.

The Texas House proposal only allows police officers to inquire about immigration status if someone is arrested, rather than simply being detained, like what the Senate approved. Local governments are also no longer threatened with losing their entire state grant funding for non-compliance.

"I believe the changes are mostly cosmetic," said Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democrat from Dallas. "They don't really solve the problem with the bill. The immigrant community will still be afraid."

The term "sanctuary cities" has no legal definition, but Republicans want local police to help enforce federal immigration law as part of a larger effort to get tough on criminal suspects who are in the United States illegally.

Trump has promised to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities and the fight has raged on the state level in Travis County, which includes Austin, where Sherriff Sally Hernandez has refused to hold jailed inmates for possible deportation except in cases of certain violent crimes, like murder.

Abbott has already ordered the state to withhold $1.5 million from Travis County, money that also supported projects such as family violence education and a special court for veterans. If the House version passes, withholding state funds would get tougher  but Abbott could likely still withhold money controlled by his office from Hernandez and other officials following her lead.

A spokeswoman for Hernandez declined comment Wednesday, but the sheriff has said that if Texas approves the sanctuary city law, she will begin holding all jailed suspects for possible deportation.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler said the bill will block law enforcement's ability to "follow their professional experience to set priorities locally in order to determine how best to create trust relationships."

"Ultimately, it will make communities less safe," Adler said.
Though Waco High School seniors like Colton Lee will have only a short time with the new equipment in their automotive technology lab before graduation in June, he said the tools are giving the students a leg up in their future career fields that they didnt have before.

The Texas Workforce Commission presented a check for $220,870 on Wednesday in front of the schools vocational building that will help about 400 students and more in the future train for careers in the automotive profession.

Waco Independent School District trustees approved the TWC Jobs and Education for Texans grant in September. Though some of the new equipment is already in use, this will give the program a chance to prepare students for the field for years to come, school officials said.

Waco Highs grant is part of nearly $5 million awarded to 25 school districts and colleges to target high-demand jobs in new and emerging industries.

Every year, car dealerships across the state say to us, Send us qualified technicians, and they stress the word qualified,  Superintendent Bonny Cain said at the presentation. Anybody can send a technician, but youre not qualified because youre not on the latest equipment used to service cars. This program fills that request by providing equipment  current, updated, modern and useful equipment  to train 175 students for jobs available right now, right here in our community.

While Lee enjoys the schools new tire-rotator machine and new car lifts, he loves the labs new Snap-On tool chest the most. The chest is complete with key-card access, touch-screen technology and the ability to find out who used what tool last.

Before we had this, we just had to go check out tools from tool rooms and backrooms, and we couldnt find all the tools we needed, Lee said. Now, its all right here in this little box. I use it all the time, and its so convenient that the cars pull up right here and its right here. When youre trying to see what tool it fits, its right here instead of you going around and looking for everything.

Eventually, Lee wants to own his own automotive business, but first he will graduate with aspirations to attend Texas State Technical College, he said. TSTC is expected to offer credit through the grant-funded classes and already has a partnership with Waco ISD.

While TSTC may be a state agency, we all live here, and these are the technicians who service our cars and take care of our automobiles. We want them to do it well and we want them to be professional and qualified when they go to do it, TSTC Provost Adam Hutchison said.

This kind of grant represents how a community can partner with school districts, local employers like automotive dealers, and other agencies like the Texas Workforce Commission to bring money back into Waco and move the economy forward, Hutchison said.

You guys are doing great things here in Waco, with an unemployment rate of 4.5 (percent), said Julian Alvarez, the Texas Work Force Commissioner over labor. The face of manufacturing is changing every day as we know it.
The new Wal-Mart store in Hewitt operated its first full month in February, and its presence showed up in the sales tax rebate the city received this week from the Texas Comptrollers Office.

Rebates received in April reflect sales in February that are reported to the comptrollers office in March.

Hewitts refund totaled $168,896, which is almost 31 percent more than the $129,188 it collected in April of last year.

Waco, meanwhile, experienced a rare dip in its rebate, which fell almost 5 percent from $2.83 million in April of 2016 to $2.7 million this week. The slide comes one month after Waco received a check for March that was 7 percent larger than the same month a year earlier, the comptrollers office reported.

Statewide, Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed more than $620 million in rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special-purpose taxing districts, a 4.9 percent increase from April 2016, according to a press release.

Ups, downs in state

The cities of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin saw noticeable increases in sales tax allocations, Hegar said in the press release. The cities of Sugar Land, McAllen, Irving and Grand Prairie saw noticeable decreases.

Hewitt City Manager Adam Miles said the new Wal-Mart at Interstate 35 and Sun Valley Boulevard is performing as the city hoped it would in generating sales tax revenue.

Im not going to give it credit for all of the nearly $40,000 increase we saw in this months rebate, but I will give it credit for most of it, Miles said.

City officials estimate the store will contribute at least $60,000 a month to rebate totals. They also have tossed around monthly estimates of $80,000 to $100,000.

They are a good addition to the community, and were glad to have them here, Miles said.

The rebate Waco received this week reflects the sluggish spending that Amarillo-based economist Karr Ingham referenced in his latest report on local trends, including general retail spending.

Ingham has said total sales receipts in February reached about $360 million, almost 2 percent less than the total of $366 million a year earlier. He said the slight decrease does not alarm him, and the area would have to experience declines for several months to a year to become a trend that might cause concern.

For the first two months of the year, general real spending is flat compared to the January-February total, and the total for the 12 months ending January 2017 is up by a modest 1.8 percent compared to the prior 12 months, Ingham said.

Across Central Texas

Elsewhere in McLennan County, rebates reflected a mixed bag, with Bellmead, Lorena, McGregor and West collecting rebates that were less than last years, while Beverly Hills, Lacy Lakeview and Woodway received larger rebates.

Beverly Hills hit the jackpot, receiving a rebate of $132,453, compared to $39,421 a year earlier.

West suffered the biggest decline, seeing its rebate drop from $82,743 in April of last year to $35,499 this month.
Lacy Lakeview resident Andrea Owen had just wrapped up a neighborhood tradition when she noticed half the bridge on her street was missing.

A tornado, heavy rains and high winds had swept through Central Texas on Monday night, and by Tuesday morning it was still raining. Heavy rains have flooded White Rock Creek before, sending water above the bridge on Ruby Dell Lane and stranding neighbors who live on the private road.

Families in the small neighborhood are used to brief stints cut off from their connection to Gholson Road, and the children in the area knew what to do. They raced to Owens house at the end of the dead-end street.

Just a little fun tradition with the neighborhood kids is they come to my house for pancakes, she said of days when the bridge is flooded. Its kind of our snow day since we dont have snow days. The kids get real excited.

About 10 a.m. Tuesday, everyone was full from breakfast, and Owen decided to take a look at the bridge.

Im videoing it and going, Oh, that doesnt look right,  she said.

With water still rushing over the bridge, it wasnt immediately clear how much of the bridge had fallen away, but as water receded, Owen and her neighbors were struck by the damage.

A section of the bridge is out. The citys waterline also was damaged, leaving the whole street without water, and cable and internet lines are damaged.

But instead of complaining or going to stay at a friends house until someone else resolved the problem, the multigenerational community on Ruby Dell Lane started looking after one another.

Many of the neighbors immediately set to work building a walking ramp, with handrails, to allow residents at the end of the street to cross to the other side.

We have a neighborhood that is just absolutely the most awesome neighborhood that comes out and helps one another whenever they can, said Dana Strickland, who lives on the street. Its just a neighborhood that truly just cares for one another.

One neighbor started delivering bottled water to everyone. Another delivered mail, and when city officials came to inspect the bridge, another neighbor brought them fried chicken, Strickland said.

We all pitch in

Life throws you curves like this. It does, he said. We all pitch in to do whatever is necessary to make things happen.

Owen said her immediate and extended family purchased the 18 acres of land that has become the neighborhood. They named the street after her mother-in-law, Ruby Dell Owen, who is still one of the hardest-working individuals she knows, Owen said.

Since the road and bridge are privately owned, it is not up to the city to make the repairs, but that doesnt mean it wont assist, City Manager Keith Bond said.

Were going to help them by doing a little hauling for them to fill in the gap thats gone, Bond said. Theyll go in there and concrete and cement the top and complete the roadway.

The waterline, however, is up to the city to maintain, and by Wednesday afternoon, residents had water again. But, the 25 residences on the street will remain under a boil order for about three days until the city gives the all-clear, he said.

Owen said she was actually looking forward to being forced to stay home once the bridge was impassable by vehicle, but life beckons. On Tuesday, a neighbor with a four-wheel-drive SUV was able to make it to the back of her property, cross a neighbors land and drop off residents on Spring Lake Road.

I was telling someone today, even with everyones water being off and internet and cable, which is not a big deal in the scheme of life, no one has complained, Owen said.

Everyone has just seen it more as an inconvenience and said, Gods in control and hes taking care of us. Also, the city of Lacy Lakeview has worked tirelessly to get everything back in order, and they have just done an amazing job.
Chetan Shah, who was arrested by Mumbai police under section 419 for creating a fake identity card with Interpol logo, was summoned and questioned for at least 6-7 hours by the Enforcement Directorate.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: Since last two days, Chetan Shah, the diamond merchant and now also known as "fake Interpol agent" was interrogated by the officials of Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai. Currently, Shah is being investigated for Rs 342 crore loan default case, under FEMA.

On Monday night, Shah was arrested by Mumbai police under section 419 for creating a fake identity card with Interpol logo, but next day, he managed to get the bail from local Court. Without any delay, the ED decided to interrogate him.

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On Wednesday, Shah was summoned and questioned for at least 6-7 hours. Next day, he was again called and interrogated for about 3-4 hours. At one point of time, Shah, who is also known for living a lavish lifestyle was seen dosing inside the ED office.

BANKS GEARED UP WITH SARFAESI ACT

Just few days before the ED conducted searches on Shah's premises on April 1, 2017, the consortium of four banks had decided to release a public notice in all the leading newspapers, informing that Chetan Shah and his company Decent Dia-Jewels Pvt Ltd., could face an action under SARFAESI Act.

India Today has the copy of that public notice in hand. The notice was issued under section 13(2) of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI - Act).

The notice was basically to inform the borrowers/guarantors/mortgagors that in case they do not pay back the entire amount of around Rs 342 crore within 60 days, then banks would auction all the collaterals (assets of these entities/individuals) deposited while taking the credit limit.

The main borrower of this loan is Decent Dia-Jewels Pvt Ltd, promoted by Chetan Shah and his wife Hema Shah. The guarantors of this loan amount were: Chetan Shah, Hema Shah, Ramniklal Shah, Shailesh Shah, Diamar Construction Pvt Ltd, Nakshatra Fin Lease Pvt, Diacentre Finance & Leasing and Fortune Intech Pvt Ltd.

Last year, the notice under SARFAESI Act was sent to these individuals/entities, but only few of them had acknowledged it. "Due to non-payment of dues and non-fulfillment of terms and conditions of the loan, a default has been by the borrower/guarantor. Thus, the loan account has become NPA, as per the RBI guidelines," the notice said.

The collaterals which were deposited before the banks while taking the credit limit of Rs 342 crore were:

1. Commercial flats of Shreeji Building in Surat (owned by Decent Dia Jewels)

2. Office in Bharat Diamond Bourse at BKC (owned by Decent Dia-Jewels)

3. Residential flats in Urmi Cooperative Building, Worli, Mumbai (owned by Nakshatra Finlease Pvt Ltd.)

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4. Office in Laxmi Finance at BKC with four car parkings space (owned by Dia-Centre Finance and Leasing Pvt Ltd)

5. Office premises at Kamla Mills Compound, Mumbai with one parking lot (owned by Shruti Re-rollers Pvt Ltd also known as Fortune Intech Pvt Ltd)

Deadline of 60 days has been given to these borrowers/guarantors to pay the loan amount with interests. "Failing which the banks will be constrained to enforce its security interest without intervention of the Court/Tribunal by taking recourse to one or more of the measures under Chapter III of the Act," the notice warned. The action includes selling off all the properties mortgaged before the banks.

Dena Bank is heading the consortium of all four banks, with highest exposure of Rs 146 crore. While, Union Bank of India (Rs 80.2 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 25.7 crore) and Syndicate Bank (Rs 90.19 crore) had sanctioned the credit limits with an expectation that "Shah would never default the payment of those banks with whom he had a relation with since last 15 years".

BANKS COULD FILE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Few days back, consortium of all banks had done a meeting to decide the fate of Decent Dia Jewels and Chetan Shah & Co., in order to recover its loan amount. Unilaterally, it was to file a suit against the company and directors.

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But if sources from these banks are to be believed then there is a high possibility that the consortium could file a criminal complaint against Chetan Shah to support the hands of investigative agency for the strong action.

"Even the ED has been suggesting these banks to come forward and file a criminal complaint against Decent Dia Jewels and borrowers/guarantors. It would help the agency to investigate the matter under stringent act of money laundering i.e. PMLA," one ED official said.

At present, the case is getting probed under FEMA, having less stringent actions.

OPERATIONS OF DECENT DIA-JEWELS

In 2014, rating agency Brickwork Ratings had reaffirmed "BWR A3" rating for existing and enhanced bank credit facilities aggregating to Rs 331.90 crore of Decent Dia-Jewels Pvt Ltd.

Decent Dia-Jewels (DDJ) was set up in 1995 as a partnership firm by Chetan and Hema Shah. It got reconstituted in 2010 as a private limited company. DDJ was involved in polish and trading of rough diamonds. The company claimed to derive its entire revenue through exports to Hong Kong, the Middle East, Europe and USA. The company has its manufacturing facility in Surat.

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The investigative agency suspects that Chetan and Hema Shah who are the directors of at least dozen of shell companies are involved into diversion and laundering of money showing fake exports.

Also Read:

ED raids: Mystery of a fake Interpol agent who had stripped naked before I-T team

(UPDATE: As per an order dated 24.07.2018 passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, 62nd Court, Dadar, Mumbai, the accused was discharged from the question, according to information provided his lawyers.)

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A Mart Independent School District graduate was arrested a second time Thursday, and now faces a charge of online solicitation of a minor charge stemming from his relationship with a 13-year-old girl. He already faces sexual assault charges for the same relationship, according to an arrest affidavit.

Dominic Greene, 18, of Mart, turned himself in to authorities Thursday morning on the online solicitation of a minor charge after he was accused of soliciting sex from a 13-year-old girl earlier this month. Greene was arrested April 6 on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault before police discovered electronic communication where Greene enticed her to send nude photographs to him, the arrest affidavit states.

"The initial cursory search revealed that Greene possessed multiple pornographic photographs of the 13-year-old victim," the arrest affidavit states.

Last week, Greene was arrested outside Mart High School after the girl reported the sexual assault. The girl was confronted by her parents after she exited her house through a bathroom window on April 4 and met Greene at the high school, the arrest affidavit states.

The girl said Greene was a friend and she had consensual sex with him. Police were notified of the arrangement and arrested Greene as the girl was not legally able to consent to sexual activity because of her age.

The investigation remained ongoing, and police were given consent to search his phone.

"(An officer) observed Instagram messages between (the girl) and Greene," the arrest affidavit states. "Greene sent (the 13-year-old girl) a picture of his penis and enticed her to send nude photos of herself to him via Instagram. (The officer) observed Instagram messages that showed Greene was aware of her age and that the relationship was inappropriate."

Police reported that in one message Greene told the girl that he would like to talk with her if she could keep their relationship a secret, the arrest affidavit states. Greene made plans to meet the girl for sex as well, according to the affidavit.

Mart High School Principal Betsy Burnett confirmed that Greene graduated from The Learning Center program late last week and is no longer a student with Mart ISD. TLC students attend a drop-out prevention center served by Falls County Co-op to help students recover credits and graduate.

Greene was booked into McLennan County Jail on Thursday morning. He later posted a $10,000 bond and was released from custody.
Limestone County Judge Daniel Lee Burkeen was arrested Wednesday in McLennan County on a Class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge, a Mart police arrest affidavit states.

Burkeen, the Republican county judge who was elected in 2010 and won an unopposed re-election bid in 2014, was stopped after an officer saw the muffler of a white Chevrolet Impala dragging on the street as the car traveled east in the 400 block of West Texas Avenue shortly after 2 p.m., according to the affidavit.

Burkeen stopped a few blocks away, near the intersection of South Front Street and East Limestone Street, the affidavit states.

Burkeen, 59, got out of his vehicle and approached the officer, according to the affidavit. Officers ordered Burkeen back to his car, and he complied.

(The officer) observed that the driver had slurred and slow speech, the arrest affidavit states. When asked the date, he gave the wrong one and explained that he had asthma.

Officers reported they initially thought Burkeen was in medical distress. When they spoke with him, they could smell alcohol on him, according to the affidavit.

Burkeen failed a standard field sobriety test, which led officers to think he was intoxicated, the affidavit states. Burkeen was arrested on suspicion of DWI, was taken to McLennan County Jail, and his vehicle was impounded.

He agreed to a preliminary breath test about 4:40 p.m., which measured a blood alcohol concentration of .112 percent, the arrest affidavit states. He also submitted a blood sample that will be analyzed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Burkeen was booked into McLennan County Jail on Wednesday evening and released by Wednesday night on a $1,000 bond.
United lost more than a half-billion dollars in market value in response to outrage over the forcible removal of a passenger who refused to give up his seat Sunday.

And thats after some improvement on Wall Street.

But its probably going to take longer for United to reclaim its reputation, especially because the more we know the worse the episode seems. And it was plenty bad: a knock-down, drag-out incident that left the passenger bloodied and delayed Sundays flight from Chicagos OHare International Airport to Louisville. Video of the confrontation aboard Flight 3411 rocketed through social media.

For one thing, United now says the flight wasnt overbooked, as it had initially said. Overbooking is when the airlines sell more seats than they have to compensate for possible no-shows  a practice thats not just legal, but sensible, too. Restaurants and hotels do the same thing with reservations. Turns out the airline wanted the seats for crew members it said needed to be in Louisville on Monday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, under its section on Fly Rights, spells out the rules on overbooking for airlines and passengers who have valid reservations to fly. These include the commonsense requirement that the airlines must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats, and that a passenger who is bumped must receive compensation. But the DOT leaves it up to the airlines to specify what form and how much compensation a passenger should receive. The DOT also says that if a passenger misses the check-in deadline, he might not just lose his seat; he might also forfeit the right to compensation.

But now we know that this was a flight where all the passengers who had paid for a seat, survived TSA, and reached the ticket counter and the gate on time, were seated and ready for takeoff. As paying customers, they had done their part.

It was the airline that, for whatever reason, found itself scrambling at the last minute to put four of its employees on board. In other words, the company didnt plan ahead, apparently. And then it became intent on violating that cardinal rule of business about putting the customer first.

Unless those four United employees were also brain surgeons needed to perform emergency surgery in Louisville two hours later, United should have found another way to transport them when no passengers volunteered to surrender their seats. Uniteds employees could have taken the next flight. Or rented a car. In a pinch, United chief executive Oscar Munoz  who hauls in about $5.5 million a year, according to a business profile from Hoovers Inc.  could have paid the United crew to take an Uber. Uber, which has had its own run of bad publicity, might have been willing to offer a big discount.

And now the passenger removed from the flight has taken an additional beating, too. First, Munoz  in what CNBC says was a leaked email from inside the company  blamed him for the fracas. And then it came to light that the passenger has a troubled past,according to some media reports.

To which we say: So what?

Its natural to want to know more about what happened and everyone involved  including, we hope, the Chicago Department of Aviation officers who dragged the man off the plane. But unless he had a history of assaulting people, his past doesnt change the fact that he was dragged caveman-style off a plane after he declined to volunteer his seat.

Since then, Munoz has made a turnabout. In Uniteds latest statement, Munoz said he would order a review of company policies.

Meanwhile, the United Airlines jokes keep coming  on Twitter, on late night, such as Jimmy Kimmels standup and spot-on parody of a commercial for the beleaguered airline  and no doubt MBA candidates are revising their theses on how not to deal with a public relations meltdown.

Not everybodys laughing: D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has called for a congressional hearing into the incident.

Marketwatch reported Tuesday that shares of United Continental Holdings had fallen 3.7 percent in morning trading, or about $830 million, from its $22.5 billion market value, despite having weathered the first day of its public relations disaster fairly well. By mid-day, the airlines stock was off only about 2.56 percent on Wall Street  or about $576 billion.

For that much money, United should have bought each of its four employees a new car.
WAHOO  Work on the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget is already underway for Saunders County.

Saunders County Clerk Patti Lindgren said when she starts working on the budget, she starts with the template of last years budget, but there are also many variables to look out for based on potential legislation changes.

Lindgren said much of the legislation being looked at now on the state level with valuation changes would not have an effect on this years budget or valuations, but possibly next years budget.

Saunders County Assessor Cathy Gusman said some of the legislation changes that might take place have to do with valuations based on an agricultural use, not based on sales as it is now.

But, she said that change would not take place for another year, as theyre too far into the process this year for valuations to change.

Gusman said the state equalization board starts meeting next week and will have approved valuations in the following weeks afterward.

This puts the County Board of Supervisors working with similar numbers as to last year, Lindgren said.

The total tax request for the 2016-2017 budget was $8,992,692.97.

Supervisor Ed Rastovski said they hope to make the same tax request again they have made in the last two years, which will lower the tax levy if valuations increase

Rastovski said one of the largest expenses in the budget is salaries and benefits.

With the three-year benefits contract signed with the Michigan Teamsters last year by the roads and courthouse staff, Rastovski said there are no major changes there that will affect the next two budgets.

However, the board is still in ongoing negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police union for the sheriffs department and corrections.

Rastovski said that in their planning for this years budget, adding a four percent increase for their salaries and insurance should cover any changes within the negotiations.

To this point, almost each county office has submitted its own budgets to Lindgren to aid in the process.

The sheriffs department, which includes the department of corrections, and the register of deeds office are yet to submit budgets.

The sheriffs department and the department of roads have the two largest budgets within the countys overall budget, Lindgren said.

With what Lindgren sees as imminent changes in the upcoming years, this might be the last year to make a major push for roads projects.

The roads budget increased from $8.4 million to $9.2 million from the 2015-2016 budget to current budget.

Rastovski, who sits on the boards finance committee, said they put a lot of money into roads and bridges, and will continue to do so.

But, if the county gets into a bind where they need to cut one or two million dollars, Rastovski said they could slow the progress in roads and bridges to hold off an emergency.

A major expenditure looming for the board is the replacement of the heating and cooling system in the Saunders County Courthouse.

Rastovski said the system is past time to be replaced, but that the board is financially prepared for the process of the purchase.

Another looming change for the board to look in regard to budgeting will be the consolidation of the county assessors office and the register of deeds office.

Assessor Cathy Gusman and Register of Deeds Don Clark both said the board has not discussed any plans for consolidation with them, but that consolidation would not affect the upcoming budget.

Lindgren said they are not looking at consolidation issues regarding this years budget, as it will not have a direct effect on it.

Rastovski said the board has discussed options for consolidation in committee meetings or in pairs of two, but that its just discussion at this point.

Rastovski said theyve looked at several options and are looking at other counties that have consolidated.

Its not something were worried about for budget purposes, he said.

The budget process is far from over, as they final budget for 2017-2018 will not be approved until September.
BRAINARD  The request for proposals on the Prague school building has been terminated.

At the advice of the East Butler Public School District attorney and Superintendent Sam Stecher, the East Butler Board of Education opted to begin negotiating with prospective buyers to purchase the Prague facility without stipulation.

That sounds pretty easy, Stecher said. I could probably get some viable offers that I could bring to the board and make a recommendation on by next month if its just selling the building outright.

Negotiations will be made with the contention of bringing a proposal to the Boards May 10 meeting.

The board had been holding onto a formal bid submitted by Dan Havlovic of Prague, pending further information.

In the meantime, Stecher received a late sealed bid, which has remained unopened. One other bid was also received prior to the deadline.

With the decision to terminate, the board will be able to open that sealed bid.

What I would do is reach out to that individual, let him know the process had been terminated so that bid doesnt really matter, but were negotiating now, so what would you like to offer, Stecher said.

Wednesday nights board action came after members were provided a cost of demolition on the old portion of the school building.

The board hired Gana Trucking and Excavating during its March monthly meeting to provide a thorough estimate of demolition.

That estimate determined cost of demolition to be $299,760.

The board also discussed concerns voiced from Prague Village Board members and community members regarding school memorabilia.

Havlovic said from what he understands the village board is interested in the memorabilia, not the facility.

The idea of auctioning school memorabilia was mentioned at a previous school board meeting, but seemed to be unfavorable among the Prague community.

The board said they would be interested in displaying some of the Prague memorabilia at the East Butler School in Brainard, but envisioned the majority remaining in Prague.

Id be in favor of the majority of the memorabilia staying in Prague in some fashion and being displayed, because it should be there, said Board President Megan Kozicek.

The board said they would be interested in seeing a formal recommendation regarding school memorabilia from the Prague Village Board before making a decision.

Discussion on a potential resolution for the school memorabilia is expected to continue at tonights 7:30 p.m. Prague Village Board Meeting.
The verdict came in case filed by businessman Amit Kejriwal and his family who had endure a six-hour flight bearing the stench from an Air India aircarft's choked toilet.

By Harish V Nair: The holiday trip Pitampurabased businessman Amit Kejriwal planned with his family and other relatives - a total of nine members - to Singapore, began on a nightmarish note, thanks to the pathetic conditions onboard their Air India flight.

It was such a terrible experience for Kejriwal and family that they were not prepared to take it lying down, and dragged the national carrier to a consumer court.

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Five years later, the judges, in a recent verdict, pronounced Air India guilty of 'deficiency in service' and ordered Rs 15,000 to each member of the group for 'mental agony'.

The passengers had also complained about inadequate food, lack of basic amenities, refusal to give consecutive seats for the entire group despite booking seats much earlier when there were sufficient vacancies, and rude staff.

But Air India denied all the allegations and admitted to only locking up of one of the jammed toilets and opening it later due to demand from passengers. Ordering the compensation, judges N K Goel and Naina Bakshi too took a serious view of only the stinking toilet.

The airline admitted that during the course of flight, the sink of one of the two toilets at the rear was choked, and to avoid overflow, the door was locked from outside.

However, when a lot of passengers wanted to use the toilet, the door was unlocked with the instruction that the tap should not be turned on.

COURT POKES HOLES IN AI's DEFENCE

But the court said, "It is a six-hour journey. During this period, travellers may feel the need to use the facility of toilet in the aircraft frequently. A toilet can never be chocked within the short span period of six hours."

"Therefore, the probable cause for it is that the aircraft had been brought in re-use for undertaking air journey from Delhi to Singapore after it had completed its first journey from one destination to IGI Airport and for that reason the airline could not clean the toilets at IGI airport," the court further observed.

"Apparently the passengers, including the complainants, were bound to undertake a journey from Delhi to Singapore in an aircraft that was in fact not ready for re-use," the judges added.

"It was for that reason that crew members of the aircraft had locked the rear toilet from outside and when there became a rush of passengers to use the toilet, the door was unlocked with the instruction that the tap should not be turned on," the court noted.

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"If the passengers were not allowed to use the tap, intolerable stinking smell was bound to be there in the toilet and ultimately in the whole aircraft," the court said.

"The journey was not a charity from their side.We had paid for the journey and all the facilities. We felt harassed and disgusted at the low standard of services," Kejriwal, the complainant, told Mail Today.

ALSO READ | Airlines can't empty toilet tanks mid-air as waste is landing in residential areas

--- ENDS ---
By Greg Morehead

Already admired and respected for their beautiful Douglas C-54 Skymaster, Spirit of Freedom, the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (BAHF) is ready to fly the only certified and airworthy Boeing C-97 in the world. The Stratofreighter will be the organizations second heavy cargo aircraft dedicated to honoring USAF Cold War heritage. Similar to the C-54, the new aircraft will make use of the interior cargo area to present an on board Cold War museum/exhibit. The Angel of Deliverance museum will include areas highlighting Cold War events, including the Berlin Airlift, Korean War, the Red Scare and McCarthyism, Cuban Missile Crisis, Space Race, Vietnam War, arms race, and the Fall of the Soviet Union. These significant milestones represent the period from 1948 through the dismantling of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Boeing C-97G ser. no. 52-2718 came off the Seattle, WA assembly line and was accepted by the USAF on April 27, 1954. She was manufactured as a KC-97G aerial tanker and was assigned to air refueling units across the United States. From 1954 until being retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 1976, her home stations and deployment locations included bases in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New York, Wisconsin, and Utah. After being dropped from USAF inventory as surplus in 1977, 52-2718 was auctioned on the civilian market in 1986 and converted to a C-97G with the removal of the refueling equipment and the addition of cargo doors. In 1988 the big girl was seized by the US Marshal Service and subsequently auctioned to Grace Aire, Inc., which used 718 on humanitarian missions to South America and to carry fish in Alaska.

The BAHF purchased 718 on April 22, 1996, and had it paid off by November 1997. In October 1998, BAHF transferred the cargo plane from Moses Lake, WA to Greybull, WY for inspection and restoration. In September 1999 the FAA signed off on the Approved Inspection Program and in 2000 the aircraft was painted in the colors of YC-97A 45-59595, the sole C-97 used in the Berlin Airlift. In 2001 she was moved to Aberdeen, SD and Millville, NJ, and then the aircraft was flown to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, NY in May 2002, where she currently resides.

The restoration reached effective completion by the time the first engine runs took place in October 2016, and crew training began in earnest. Although the original plan was to fly Angel of Deliverance in late 2016, the delay has allowed BAHF founder Tim Chopp and his team to continue their efforts to improve and beautify their portly angel. The final speed bump to the first flight is obtaining final determination from the FAA on the crew currency requirements. Technically the aircraft needs pilots current in the type; however, no one in the entire world is current in the C-97. Pilots and flight engineers with extensive experience and type ratings are ready to go as soon as the FAA confirms their acceptance.

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation appeals to C-97 veterans and their families, as well as families and friends of Cold War veterans, and all patriotic Americans to help Angel of Deliverance achieve her mission of becoming the only flying C-97 and to educate people across the country about a pivotal time in American and USAF history. Tim Chopp said, Kevin Kearney, the Foundations Vice President and member of the board of directors, coined the very appropriate phrase: Be part of something BIG.

The C-97 is certainly big, and so is the mission the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation is dedicated to. To learn more and to provide financial support, visit: www.spiritoffreedom.org

Thanks to Greg Morehead and Warbird Digest for allowing the reproduction of this article. Subscribe to Warbird Digest  Each issue comes with 68 full color pages.Restoration News  Stunning Photography  World Wide Warbird Coverage, including: Fighter, Bomber, Jet, Trainer & Liaison, Museum News, Operator Information Request your subscription today, click the banner below!
By Stephen Chapis

Ezell Aviation in Breckenridge, Texas, is currently in the final stages of a five-year restoration of an F8F-1 Bearcat for the Texas Flying Legends Museum (TFLM) of Houston, Texas. During its career, Bearcat BuNo 95356 served aboard USS Tarawa (CV-40) as 209 B. It first appeared on the U.S. Registry when Vernon Jarvis registered it as N7247C in 1963. It was on its fourth owner on April 26, 1969, when it was heavily damaged in an off-airport landing in a swamp near Madison, Wisconsin, after a complete engine failure. The aircraft ended up on its back, trapping the 43-year-old pilot in the cockpit. He was extracted after rescuers cut a hole in the fuselage. The fighter has not flown since.

TFLM acquired the wreckage of 95356 and F8F-2 BuNo 121528, along with a multitude of used and new old stock parts from John Dusty Dowd of Syracuse, Kansas, as well as the remains of the late-Howard Pardues XF8F-1 BuNo 90446 and an F8F-2 that belonged to the late-Robert Kucera. Because it was the best candidate for restoration, Ezell Aviation began to work on 95356 in 2012. One of the key elements of this restoration was the construction of a new stainless steel spar to replace the original aluminum spar. Chad Ezell recently spoke to Warbird Digest about the inherent design flaws of the original spar. The technical aspects are beyond the scope of this report, but in a nutshell the new spar is heavier but is twice as strong as the original. Ezell added, Weve made steady progress on it and currently we have the engine on it, the gear is in it, as well as 90% of the sheet metal. One of the big challenges we are working on now are the exhaust panels that run from the exhaust stacks and overtop of the wing. Its a stainless steel piece that is about 28-30 inches long and it has a lot of curves in it.

Currently, Chad and his crew are working on the electrical systems and fitting the gear doors, windscreen, and canopy. TFLM and Ezell Aviation intend to have the aircraft judged at Oshkosh, therefore great attention is being given to the installation of original equipment, including the instrument panel and the shelf-mounted radios in the tail. Chad explains, We havent nailed down yet how we are going to do the avionics but it will be a balance of originality and safety. Although Oshkosh is the goal, Chad said they are not going to rush in order to make it to AirVenture.

To whet the appetites of enthusiasts worldwide, Ezell said there are enough remaining parts to build two more Bearcats, one of which could be built as a dual control aircraft, while the other could be packaged and sold as a project. That being said, Texas Flying Legends Museum and Ezell Aviation have given fans of the Grumman Iron Works much to look forward to.

Thanks to Greg Morehead and Warbird Digest for allowing the reproduction of this article. Subscribe to Warbird Digest  Each issue comes with 68 full color pages.Restoration News  Stunning Photography  World Wide Warbird Coverage, including: Fighter, Bomber, Jet, Trainer & Liaison, Museum News, Operator Information Request your subscription today, click the banner below!

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CRPF will be filing an FIR against those locals in Nashrullahpora, Budgam, who assaulted eight Jawans while they were returning from poll duty.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Hours after a series of amateur short videos went viral on social media showing CRPF jawans being heckled, hit and kicked by a mob in Nashrullahpora, Budgam, the CRPF has lodged a complaint with Jammu and Kashmir Police.

"We are in process of lodging an FIR against the hecklers," said Ravideep Shahi IG CRPF.

Multiple videos showed locals assaulting Jawans who were returning from a polling station in Budgam district of Srinagar, which went to the bypoll amid widespread protests and violence on Sunday.

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Videos show remarkable restraint shown by CRPF personnel, despite highest provocation.

EXCLUSIVE : Indian CRPF soldiers , kicked , slapped , punched on head & made to say GO INDIA ..GO BACK by #Islamists in #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/4API68KDfg- Kolahoi (@PawanDurani) April 12, 2017

"The CRPF men showed remarkable restraint. It shows our men do not respond despite provocation. Only if there is threat to life or property," said Shahi.

In one video, a youth in the crowd whacks one of the jawans in the head, whereas another can be heard saying "haya layus ma (hey, don't beat him)". Another attacker then flips off the Jawan's helmet.

As some of the stone pelters chant 'Go India, Go Back' while walking with the jawans, others capture the assault on their mobile phone cameras. The jawans stay calm and do not react.

Officials tell India Today that they back the response of its men. "They did not get provoked," one says.

One of the jawans who is attacked, can be seen walking calmly with an INSAS rifle in his hand. He is reported to have told his seniors that his and his colleagues' prime concern at the time was to keep the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) they were carrying with them, after a polling station was attacked in Budgam.

The same group of eight men had to later take positions and fire 30 mortar shells to disperse the crowd, however. Senior officers said this was a Catch-22 situation for the force for having to respond to your own country men.

CRPF DIG Sanjay Kumar now plans to identify the Jawans and "recommend them for an award for showing restraint."

Read: For every slap on my army's jawan, lay down at least a 100 jihadi lives, says Gautam Gambhir

--- ENDS ---
Patients coming to get anti-rabies shots at the Bara Hindu Rao hospital often have to contend with the menace of stray dogs near the anti-rabies department.

By Arpan Rai, Priyanka Sharma: Once bitten and twice shy, patients seeking anti-rabies shots at Delhi's Bara Hindu Rao Hospital are being hounded by stray dogs and militant monkeys.

While the canines roam free in every corner of the institute, people waiting to get an injection for a dog bite often have to get another one after being gnawed by the simians.

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The biggest hospital run by the North Municipal Corporation of Delhi witnesses large troops of monkeys within the campus that attack patients as well as doctors. However, the institute has apparently turned a blind eye to the problem.

When Mail Today visited the hospital on Wednesday, it found several dogs wandering in the anti-rabies department, where patients had gathered to get the medication.

'NO EFFORTS BE AUTHORITIES'

"We get over 250-300 dog-bite cases and around 6,000 patients come for the rabies vaccination every month," a senior nurse said, requesting anonymity. "There are no efforts by the authorities of the hospital to shoo away the dogs from the premises."

In 1951, the Delhi government converted a nursing home here into a general hospital offering basic preventive and curative OPD services with 127 beds for in-patients. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi took over the hospital in 1958 and the union health ministry designated it a referral hospital in 1963.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said, "Every day, we see 3-5 cases of monkey bite too. No measures have been taken by authorities despite repeated complaints."

The hospital also caters to the medical and health needs of a number of referred patients from the dispensaries and colony hospitals managed by MCD, the nearby public hospitals managed by the Delhi administration and many charitable and private institutions.

Asif, who had come to get a rabies vaccine, said, "I spoke to the security guard about removing the dogs from here, but they are not bothered."

TOP OFFICIAL PROMISES ACTION

When contacted, Dr Ajeet Goyal, the institute's medical director, said he was unaware of the canine conundrum.

"I will take quick action in this matter and issue a circular that all measures should be taken up to keep dogs and monkey away from the hospital premises," he promised. "Patients' safety and appropriate treatment is our utmost priority."

Delhi has a sizeable stray dog population. MAIL TODAY had reported in January that the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has sterilised only 0.01 per cent of the 1,89,285 strays under its jurisdiction in the past one year.

Sources from SDMC told Mail Today that more than 1,000 incidents of dog bites have surfaced in the past one month.

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"We need to contain the population of stray dogs urgently to eradicate the problem of death by rabies, which has zero per cent survival rate," said Dr Sanjeev Nayyar, mayor of North Municipal Corporation of Delhi, adding that the corporations will have to carry out sterilisation drives consecutively for five to six years to ensure that there is a reduction in dog bites.

However, one problem that sterilisation does solve effectively is controlling the dog bites and nuisance behaviour of stray dogs, said Rahul Sehgal from Humane Society International.

However, one problem that sterilisation does solve effectively is controlling the dog bites and nuisance behaviour of stray dogs, said Rahul Sehgal from Humane Society International.

ALSO READ | Thousand times bitten but Delhi shy on stray dogs

ALSO READ | Stray dogs chase away murderer, help Delhi Police crack murder case

--- ENDS ---
Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has described the progress which has been made on the purchase of the former Waterford Crystal site for...
"I agree that energy is a commodity that should be provided at a cheap price but that should be the case for the poor who do not have enough money," Pradhan said.

Dharmendra Pradhan said power should be susbsidised only for the poor and not the rich (Photo: Ramesh Sharma)

By Mail Today Bureau: Minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan took a swipe at the Arvind Kejriwal government on Wednesday, saying it believes in giving electricity at cheap prices even to the rich - who can afford to pay the market rate - as part of its "populism".

Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party gave a political bloody nose to the BJP as well as the Congress in the assembly election two years ago, when the upstart outfit staged a stunning victory on the back of promises to slash electricity and water bills.

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"I agree that energy is a commodity that should be provided at a cheap price but that should be the case for the poor who do not have enough money," Pradhan said, addressing the inaugural session of the 3rd Mail Today Energy Conclave.

"But there is no case for providing cheap electricity to even the rich people in Delhi who have enough money to run diesel generators that produce electricity at a cost of Rs 20 per unit."

CALLS FOR SERIOUS DEBATE ON SUBSIDIES

The minister said giving energy at subsidised prices to those who can afford the market price left fewer resources with the government to support the poor, as he called for a serious debate.

Prior to its electoral debut in then Congress-ruled Delhi in 2013, AAP had launched a campaign against the high cost and poor delivery of electricity and water in the Capital. Party convener Kejriwal exhorted the people to tear up their bills and refuse payment.

Pradhan said the Narendra Modi government in contrast had put in place a policy that targets subsidies to the poorer sections. "Those who can afford to pay should be charged the market price so that the less-privileged people, who do not have enough money, can be cross-subsidised," he added.

'COUNTRY LAGGING BEHIND ON ENERGY'

The minister pointed out that the country had been lagging behind on the energy front for years and had fallen back by nearly two decades in the goal to provide clean energy to all.

"Since LPG was first introduced in 1955, only 14 crore household connections for cooking gas were provided over 60 years. In the last three years, however, the Modi government has provided LPG connections to 6 crore households out of which 2 crore were given free to women who live below the poverty line, Pradhan said.

He said the 12-month target set for the Prime Minister's Ujjwala scheme for providing free LPG connections to the poor had been achieved in 11 months and the government was forging ahead with the aim to offer clean cooking fuel to more people.

Pradhan said when the Modi government took over, only 61 per cent households had cooking gas connections in the country.

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The number of such households has gone up to 73 per cent over the last three years, which has not only changed the lifestyle of families, earlier dependent on firewood, but also led to a cleaner environment, he added.

The minister explained that the government is carrying out policy reforms to provide the benefits of energy to everyone in an "affordable and sustainable" manner.

FOCUS ON NEW OIL FIELDS

He said ONGC and Oil India, which produce 80 per cent of the country's natural gas, have been asked to step up exploration and production efforts. GAIL is also implementing plans to increase the length of its gas pipeline network from 15,000 km to 30,000 km nationwide.

Pradhan said the government had also come out with a policy to allow market prices for the sale of gas from all new discoveries made in the future to encourage exploration. He said that "economic diplomacy" is another area to which the Modi government is giving a huge emphasis.

He pointed out that the giant Vankor oil field in Russia in which India is investing $5 billion (over Rs 33,260 crore) to ensure energy security is an example of a good deal that is talked about in oil circles worldwide.

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The development of the Chittagong port in Bangladesh and the deepwater Sittwe port in Myanmar are also part of the economic diplomacy that will make it easier to supply petroleum products to India's northeastern states through the two neighbouring countries.

ALSO READ | No residential house tax if AAP wins Delhi civic polls, says Kejriwal

ALSO READ | Changing petrol, diesel prices daily is a gamble, say petrol pump associations

--- ENDS ---
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As a child, I ate Vietnamese food with my family every day. It was a shock to me to learn that not everyone had chopsticks in their drawers at home. Vietnamese food was part and parcel of my daily existence  the clinking of chopsticks on china, the liberal application of nuoc mam (fish sauce) to everything (seriously, everything), the methodical rhythm of helping my mother make pastries and rice paper rolls, hands moving like a tiny factory.

Sometimes my mother would pack Vietnamese food for me to take to school. The other kids would scrunch their noses at the smells emanating from my lunchbox  my gio (pork sausage) sandwiches, my perfectly packaged containers of leftover mi xao (fried noodles). I began to dread being asked what I was having for lunch. Even as an adult, I sometimes flinch when someone asks what I'm eating. I feel my defenses prickling quietly, dormant but ever present.

Tet feast at the Nguyen house. Credit:Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen

I became pescetarian at 14, vegetarian at 22, vegan at 24. At every step of that journey, I waved goodbye to some of the foods that had been such a crucial part of my upbringing, but my mother ensured I could still taste the comforts of home by lovingly recreating vegan versions of those dishes just for me.
BJP candidate Shobha Rani Kushwaha was leading in the bypoll to Dholpur Assembly constituency by over 22,000 votes.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: With a total of 91,4799 votes Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Shobha Rani Kushwaha today won the Dholpur by-election in Rajasthan.

Kushwaha defeated Congress's Banwari Lal Sharma who received 52,821 votes.

The Congress candidate Banwari Lal Sharma was trailing in the initial trend, Kushwaha won 19 rounds out of 20.

The by-election was necessitated following disqualification of BSP MLA B L Kushwaha in a murder case and the BJP surprised observers by pitting his wife Shobha Rani as its candidate against Congress veteran Banwari Lal Sharma.

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Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf said that the people of Dholpur voted for development and the party is going to win the seat.

Also Read

Crucial day for Vasundhara Raje as results of Dholpur by-election to be announced today

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You know how people say domestic violence affects everyone. And sure, I know it does, but this was close for me. A young woman who I now feared would be lost forever because her father killed her mother.

This year, there are 11 women on that list of those killed by violence. In 2015, the year Salwa was killed, it was 27. No matter the number, it's always too many. And every year, those deaths spread out to the families, to the friends, to the workplaces and schools.

Whatever you may think about teaching and teachers, know this: teachers don't just turn up at nine and finish at five. We take our students' lives home with us, we have dreams for them. We worry. And I was worrying about Nour even in first year. She'd planned to do another degree and suddenly, out of the blue, turned up in journalism class. And year by year, she got the hang of it. Every year, you see students finally get it. You see their future ribbon out before them.

And then her father murdered her mother.

Over the next two years, I kept in touch. She got a job at Sky but really her heart and soul were occupied. I sent a few messages, not wanting to be weird but not wanting to lose sight of Nour. She said she was applying for a job at the ABC.
Beijing: With the clock ticking, and North Asia on edge, the United States and China appear to be deploying carrot and stick diplomacy in attempt to dissuade North Korea from a nuclear test or missile launch.

A day after berating Pyongyang with the threat of tougher sanctions, a prominent Chinese state-owned newspaper has told the rogue state its best chance of survival is giving up nuclear weapons and accepting Chinese protection.

The Global Times, in its Chinese-language editorial, warned there is increasing consensus between the US and China on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, with one difference being that the US may be prepared to use force.

North Korea's best option was to announce a halt to its nuclear program, and in return China would ensure North Korea's security afterwards and help to revive its economy, the editorial said.
Caracas: Anti-government protests in Venezuela have spread to the low-income neighbourhoods that were once supportive of leftist President Nicolas Maduro.

In a worrying sign Mr Maduro, groups in Caracas' traditionally pro-government hillside slums and low-income areas blocked streets and lit fires, witnesses and opposition lawmakers reported.

Abelino Vieira inspects the hole where looters entered his grocery and liquor store during Tuesday's protest in Caracas, Venezuela. Credit:AP

Mr Maduro foes were galvanised by footage of a crowd in the south-eastern Bolivar state heckling and throwing objects at the closely-protected leader during a rally on Tuesday, before state television cut off the broadcast.

In the western Lara state, two people, aged 13 and 36, were killed during the unrest, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. Lara's opposition governor Henri Falcon blamed violence on "infiltrators" and "delinquents" who roamed on motorcycles after an energy blackout.
Well, he's got this going for him: he knows the job.

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run  once again  for president. In doing so, he defied the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who told him it was "not in his interest and that of the country".

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (right) and close ally Hamid Baghaei will both stand in the Iranian presidential election. Credit:AP

Ahmadinejad's surprising decision to run again adds even more uncertainty to the upcoming election, which is widely seen as a referendum on the 2015 nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment in exchange for international sanctions relief.

A majority of Iranians support the deal, though many say that they're disappointed by its limited economic impact.
Washington: CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday called WikiLeaks a non-state "hostile intelligence service" often abetted by state actors, such as Russia during last year's presidential campaign.

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service," Pompeo told an audience at a Washington think tank.

Russia's GRU intelligence service had used the anti-secrecy group to distribute hacked material during the 2016 US presidential election, he said.

WikiLeaks released Democratic emails during the 2016 presidential campaign that US intelligence agencies say were hacked by Russia to try to tilt the election against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in favour of Republican Donald Trump, the eventual winner.
Below are my

reviews for May 2017. Wines are listed alphabetically by winery. Read additional information on

. All of these reviews are freely available on-line at the

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reviews re-published in this space

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60 wines reviewed in the May issue of Wine Enthusiast. They include a strong set of wines from Cairdeas, including the);); and).inaugural whites are also quite impressive ()., a new project by Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen (W.T. Vintners) also has its inaugural releases and they impress not just on quality but also on price ().In terms of value wines, the) is a standout. Also well worth a look is the); and).Enjoy!This wine is a blend of Grenache (44%), Mourvedre (22%), Syrah (14%), Cinsault (13%) and Counoise. It delivers aromas of red fruit, celery stalk, white pepper and herb that lead to ripe full-bodied dark-fruit flavors that offer a lot of enjoyment.Syrah (64%) takes the lead on this wine, which is topped off with Mourvedre (24%) and Grenache. It offers brooding aromas of thistle, herb, black pepper and dark fruit. The palate is fresh and flavorful, with a pleasing fruit-forward appeal.This wine is just under half Petite Sirah (48%), with the balance Syrah (24%), Counoise (21%) and Mourvedre. It opens with brooding aromas of red and purple fruit, cigar box and barrel spice. The purple-fruit flavors are rich and palate coating, showing a lovely sense of balance.Varietal Counoise remains a rarity in the state, although more and more producers are experimenting with it. This one brings aromas of crushed violets and purple fruit that lead to simultaneously full yet sleek fruit flavors that paint a bit around the edges but still deliver plenty of enjoyment.This variety is an extreme rarity in the state. It opens with aromas of plum, herb and spice that are followed by soft elegant fruit flavors that linger on the finish.This variety is a relative rarity in Washington. This one offers quiet aromas of spice and cherry along with barrel accents. The tart cherry flavors are medium bodied and fruit filled.Aromas of cigar box, herb and cherry are followed by bright tart acid-driven cranberry flavors. The tannins bring a light astringency but it delivers a lot of enjoyment.The aromas bring notes of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, wood spice, vanilla and black fruit. The fruit flavors bring a sense of elegance, with abundant vanilla flavors along with grainy tannins backing them up.Wood spice, vanilla and dark-fruit aromas are followed by tart game and red-fruit flavors. The wood seems very primary.Aromas of citrus peel, plum, herb, wood shavings and medicine cabinet are followed by plump cherry flavors. The tannins bring a slight sense of astringency.This 100% varietal wine comes from one of the states top vineyards. Brooding aromas of pitted cherry, coffee, cocoa, vanilla and spice lead to tart cranberry and cherry flavors. The tannins bring a coarse feel. Perhaps they will soften with some additional time in bottle.This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Aromas of green wood mixed with tire rubber, red currant, strawberry and spice. It delivers red and black-fruit flavors that linger on the finish.Aromas of green wood, herb and cherry lead to ripe but chalky feeling fruit flavors. Theres some interesting things going on but a sense of astringency and bitterness proves distracting.This wine charms with aromas of freshly sliced green apple, white peach, wet stone and flowers. It drinks off dry, with zippy acidity providing plenty of tension to keep the interest high.The aromas bring notes of milk chocolate, spice and red fruit, along with high-toned vanilla accents. The fruit and barrel flavors are plush and full, while still showing a lovely sense of balance.Aromas of honeysuckle and ripe peach lead to lightly spritzy medium-sweet stone-fruit flavors. It provides easy-drinking appeal.Bright aromas of rose petals and lychee are followed by lightly spritzy, off-dry fruit flavors. It delivers easy-drinking appeal.Aromas of vanilla, coffee and wood spice are followed by barrel-centric flavors, with the fruit working to get its way to the surface.Named after famed Horse Heaven Hills grower Mimi Nye, this wine brings aromas of toast, custard and pineapple. Fruit and barrel flavors weave together on the palate, carrying through the finish.The warmth of the vintage shows through on the fruit of this wine, which is chock-full of pineapple and other tropical aromas and flavors, sweetened by light barrel accents. Its a guaranteed crowd pleaser and a spot-on example of the variety.Appealing aromas of cocoa, vanilla, spice and red fruit are followed by plump ripe fruit and barrel flavors. Chocolate flavors linger on the finish. The oak plays prominently.This wine starts out a bit reduced, along with subdued aromas of lime leaf, wet slate, white peach and citrus peel. It drinks a hair off dry, with zippy citric acidity that stretches out the finish.Strong aromas and flavors of vanilla and dill overwhelm the varietys cherry and green herb. There are some good things going on but the wood gets in the way.This wine is a near equal split between three varieties: Gerenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Mesmerizing aromas of red cherry, plum, wood spice and herb are followed by quite tart elegant fruit flavors. It shows a lot of finesse but still needs some time to stretch its legs.Varietal Malbecs are a rarity from this tiny appellation. This one offers aromas of dark plum, herb and wood spice. The flavors are full bodied and hedonistic, showing the ripe, forward style of the vintage, finishing a bit sharp.Wound up aromas of blackberry, spice box and wood spice are followed by pitch-black black-cherry flavors. The tannins are tightly coiled and need some time to unwind.Aromas of plum, clove, coffee and wood spice lead to plush plump fruit flavors. The tannins give a light squeeze.Appealing aromas of cocoa, herb, cherry and barrel spice lead to full fruit flavors. Burly slightly drying tannins give it a firm squeeze.The volatiles are amped up here, providing distraction from the cherry and spice aromas. Its a shame as the palate delivers plenty of plump lightly sweet cherry flavors.Toasty aromas mix with notes of freshly shucked corn and biscuit. The flavors are spritzy and lively, with berry flavors on the finish.Fruit and barrel aromas intermingle, with notes of vanilla, coconut, wood spice, clove and red berries. The red fruit flavors are fresh and focused, with lightly grainy tannins providing the frame.This wines aromas display a mixture of fruit and barrel, with notes of vanilla, coconut shavings and plum. The flavors are the same, silky and elegant, with barrel flavors lingering on the finish. Its a very stylistic wine.Appealing aromas of cedar, vanilla, smoke and cherry are followed by a full creamy-feeling palate loaded with fresh cherry flavors along with abundant barrel accents. It hits a lot of high notes, with a lengthy finish capping it off.Cafe au lait, herb, cherry and wood-spice aromas lead to elegantly styled fruit and barrel flavors. It shows a lovely sense of styling.Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up the majority of this blend (42% each), with Malbec, Petit Verdot and Syrah rounding it out. Aromas of toast, vanilla, cocoa, cherry and herb lead to sweet, elegant chocolate and cherry flavors, threaded with vanilla notes.Vibrant aromas of white flowers, ripe peach, fresh herb, cocoa butter and hard candy lead to nuanced, well-balanced fruit flavors that show just a touch of lees influence. It offers an exquisite sense of balance and depth along with an extended finish.Walla Walla Valley-designated white wines are a rarity. This one brings aromas of apple skin and pear, showing a very clean profile that leads to dry creamy-feeling fruit flavors. Its capped off by a warm finish, speckled with barrel accents. Overall, it provides a lot of intrigue.This wine is a blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Petit Verdot (10%) and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of savory herb, carob, wood spice and cherry lead to plump fruit-forward flavors that also show intriguing earthy accents. The finish lingers. There are lots of good things going on but the wood seems a bit prominent.This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese brings bright aromas of cranberries, red currants and cherries. The palate packs a punch of dark-fruit flavors, showing some heat on the finish.Starting off slightly reduced, this wine has aromas of dried red apple that lead to just off-dry, full apple flavors, finishing bitter.This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Malbec (22%) and Merlot. Aromas of blue and red fruit and spice lead to tart, broad fruit flavors that winnow somewhat toward the finish. Still, it brings a lot of enjoyment.The aromas come off as quite volatile, making it difficult to get at the tart cherry aromas and flavors.The aromas are bright and generous, with notes of honeysuckle and canned peach. The fruit is so sweet on the palate, it drinks almost off dry, with abundant stone-fruit and floral flavors that linger.Aromas of ripe (leaning almost overripe) apple, melon and orange peel are followed by medium-sweet fruit flavors. It needs more acid to stand it up.The volatiles are quite amped on this wine. It makes it a struggle to get at the tart black cherry flavors.The aromas of vanilla, herb and cherry show some volatility. The cherry flavors are light, finishing tart.This wine starts out a bit reduced, along with aromas of melon and red apple. It drinks a hair off dry, with a blend of stone-fruit and tropical flavors.Though not labeled as such, this wine is all Merlot coming from Stillwater Creek Vineyard on the Royal Slope. Aromas of red currant, dill, vanilla and wood spice are followed by lighter styled red-fruit flavors. There are some intriguing things going on but they dont seem to all come together.This wine is a pale cherry-red in color, showing some bricking. It brings off-dry elegantly styled cherry flavors that winnow toward the finish.This wine is locked up tightly at present, with notes of herb, mineral and dark fruit, along with a light gamy note. The cranberry flavors seem a bit dried out considering the age of the wine, with medicine cabinet notes on the finish.Aromas of mineral, exotic spice, leather and dried cherry lead to elegantly styled fruit, earth and game flavors. Theres intrigue here but it doesnt all come together.Herb and red-fruit aromas are accented by light volatile notes. The cherry flavors are lush and full but cant make up the difference. Tasted twice with consistent notes.Aromas of exotic spice, game, cherry and medicine cabinet lead to plush fruit and savory flavors. The overt gaminess seems distracting, with the flavors tapering off toward the finish.This wine is a unique blend of Chenin Blanc (75%) and Gruner Veltliner. It brings light aromas of apple skin, flowers, spice and a hint of tropical fruit. The palate offers electric, lemony acidity that stretches out the fruit flavors on the lingering finish. Try it on the dinner table to see it at its best.Syrah (64%) takes the lead on this blend, which is fleshed out by Grenache (27%) and Mourvedre. It comes from vineyard sources rarely seen in a bottle at this price, including Boushey, Olsen, Les Collines, Stoney Vine and Destiny Ridge. Aromas of sage and herbs lead to a panoply of sleekly styled fruit and savory flavors, showing a pleasing sense of balance.Aromas of vanilla and wood spice lead to elegant, somewhat dried out and dilute fruit flavors, followed by a short finish.Petit Verdot makes up 71% of this wine, with the balance Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. It opens with aromas of soil, herb, flowers and purple fruit followed by tart acids and firm tannins. Try it at the dinner table to see it at its best.Vanilla, mocha and dark-fruit aromas lead to tart fruit and barrel flavors that interweave through the vanilla-filled finish.This wine is brightly aromatic, with notes of fresh herb, kiwi and pineapple. The palate is full flavored, showing a sense of poise along with a tart finish. The concentration doesnt seem all there.Aromas of flowers, green herb, pear and peach lead to silky sleek stone-fruit flavors. Theres some interesting things going on but the fruit doesnt quite seem to have fully ripened.
Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020.

Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work.

Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri.
By Press Trust of India: votes

(EDs: With additional inputs)

Dholpur/Jaipur, Apr 13 (PTI) BJP candidate Shobha Rani is leading by 22,602 votes after ten rounds of counting in the Dholpur Assembly bypoll in Rajasthan.

"The BJP candidate has secured 47,951 votes while the votes of Congress candidate Banwari Lal Sharma are 25,349," according to the state election commission.

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A total of 74,742 votes have been counted in ten rounds and the counting is on amid tight security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders are giving credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje whereas the Congress is questioning the credibility of EVM machines.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore and Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf said that the election was contested on the development agenda and voters have given their mandate in favour of the party.

"Development was our agenda and the trends have indicated that the people voted for the development," Rathore, who along with other leaders did intensive campaigning in Dholpur, said.

Saraf said that people of Dholpur have voted for development and the party is going to win the seat.

"The election was contested under the leadership of the chief minister and we are going to win the seat," he said.

Enthusiastic workers gathered at the party headquarters here and congratulated each other.

"The impact of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is visible in the election. People have voted for them. The party won Uttar Pradesh elections recently and this also had an impact in Dholpur bye-election," the party MLA Alka Singh said.

Khadi Board Chairman Shambhu Dayal Badgujar said that the trends were a very clear indication that people have once again expressed faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.

Badgujar along with his supporters congratulated the party leadership.

On the other hand, Congress leader and former MLA Pratap Singh questioned the credibility of EVM machines.

"There are only trends and the result has not been announced so far. The chief minister herself stayed in Dholpur after the campaigning got over which was in violation of the rules of the election commission.

"The BJP misused the government machinery and the party wanted to win the election anyhow. The credibility of EVM machines is also in question,? Singh said.

In the 2013-assembly elections, BSP candidate B L Kushwaha had won the seat by defeating Congress candidate Banwari Lal Sharma by a margin of 9,209 votes.

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BJP candidate (Abdul Sagir Khan) was in the third position by securing 35,351 votes. PTI SDA IKA

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Dipa Karmakar became the first Indian gymnast to enter the final on her Olympics debut while wrestler Sakshi Malik won the bronze medal in the 58kg category at the 2016 Rio Games.

By Asian News International: Indian trailblazing gymnast Dipa Karmakar and wrestler Sakshi Malik on Thursday received the coveted Padma Shri Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in the national capital.

Karmakar, hailing from Agartala, missed the bronze medal by 0.150 points as American gymnast Simone Biles won her third gold medal at the Rio Olympics last year.

The 23-year-old had created history when she became the first Indian gymnast to enter the final on her debut at the quadrennial multi-discipline games after finishing eighth in the qualifying round.

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She had initially come to spotlight after winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, thus becoming the first Indian female gymnast to achieve the feat.

Sakshi, on the other hand, won the bronze medal in the 58 kg category at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

With the win, Malik became the first woman wrestler in India to win an Olympic medal and fourth Indian woman athlete to clinch the coveted medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal.

Meanwhile, discus thrower Vikas Gowda and Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu were other notable winners of the prestigious award.

ALSO WATCH:

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By India Today Web Desk: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor Aly Goni has been making headlines ever since reports claiming that the actor is quitting the hit Ekta Kapoor show started doing rounds on the internet.

Fans were really worried about the said news as the actor has a bunch of admirers who follow the show just to see their favourite star.

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However, looks like there is not much truth to these reports as the actor recently opened up on the subject and cleared the air regarding the news.

Also see: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actress Aditi Bhatia's Goa pictures will give you travel goals

"No I'm not quitting the show yet. I am looking at a few other things, yes, but I'm not leaving the show yet. They (makers) are not letting me go now," Aly told BollywoodLife.

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein also stars Divyanka Tripathi, Karan Patel, and Aditi Bhatia in pivotal roles.

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Defending US' missile strike on a Syrian airbase, Donald Trump said he had no doubt that the decision was right and was successfully executed.

By India Today Web Desk: US President Donald Trump said that the relations between US and Russia are "may be at an all-time low" as the two countries are not getting along with each other.

The Russian government had condemned the missile strikes by the US government on a Syrian airbase. Donald Trump, however, defended his decision and said, "I have absolutely no doubt that we did the right thing".

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Despite the turbulence in relationship between the two countries, both have agreed to work jointly on the Syrian conflict.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT US AND RUSSIA SAID: Donald Trump's remark about "all-time low" ties between US and Russia came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was reported by Xinhua news agency as saying that US and Russia have reached a low point in their relations. The Russian government did not mince words to condemn the US missile strike at a Syrian airbase and called it Washington's move "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law". Donald Trump defended his decision to launch 59 missiles at the Syrian airbase in response to last week's chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, that killed more than 80 people. "It can't be a worst sight. And it shouldn't be allowed. That's a butcher," Donald Trump said. "So, I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing. And it was very, very successfully done," the US President said at a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. On whether Russia had prior knowledge about Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons, Donald Trump said it is "possible" but "unlikely" that Russia had known in advance of Syria's plan to launch a chemical weapons attack on its own citizens. "I know they're doing investigations into that right now. I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," Donald Trump said. Despite the tensions between the two countries, both Russia and the US agreed to fight international terrorism and continue discussions on Syrian conflict settlement. Despite the tensions between the two countries, both Russia and the US agreed to fight international terrorism and continue discussions on Syrian conflict settlement. "With all the existing problems, both objective and artificially created ones, we still have quite a few prospects for joint work. Russia is open to dialogues with the US in different areas, and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions," Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. "With all the existing problems, both objective and artificially created ones, we still have quite a few prospects for joint work. Russia is open to dialogues with the US in different areas, and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions," Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. Russia had earlier vetoed a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected chemical attack, saying that Moscow had consistently expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West including the US.

(with inputs from IANS)

ALSO READ:

Russia comes to Assad's rescue again, vetoes draft UN motion condemning Syria gas attack

Putin says trust erodes under Trump, Moscow icily receives Rex Tillerson

Donald Trump, Theresa May agree Russia should break ties with Syrian President Assad

ALSO WATCH:

This video of a Syrian father with twin kids who survived chemical attack will move you

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UP State Election Commission has demanded new EVMs to conduct local body polls in the state scheduled for July. The poll panel said that it might have to go back to ballot papers if old EVMs were not replaced.

By Kumar Abhishek: The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission has asked for new electronic voting machines to conduct urban body polls in the state slated for July this year.

It has written a letter to the Election Commission saying, "Provide us EVMs made after 2006 else we may have to use ballot papers in the elections."

The local body elections will be held in July in Uttar Pradesh. In the last municipal elections in 2011, EVMs were used.

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The State Election Commission stated that the available EVMs were old and made before 2006. The State EC's demand indicates that the existing EVMs have become outdated.

It has suggested that old EVMs should not be used for local body elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The red-flagging by the UP State Election Commission assumes significance in the wake of ongoing political controversy of the authenticity of polls conducted using EVMs.

EVM TAMPERING ROW

Soon after the UP Assembly election, BSP cheif Mayawati had alleged that the EVMs were tampered to benefit the BJP.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led a campaign demanding that the Election Commission should go back to ballot papers for conducting polls in the country.

Kejriwal had even challenged the Election Commission to let him randomly pick an EVM and he would prove that the machine could be tampered with.

A delegation of 13 Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, approached the Election Commission over the matter recently. They expressed their 'complete loss of faith' in the EVMs.

However, the Opposition parties were split over the way out for restoring faith in election process. Some parties demanded that the Election Commission should go back ballot papers while others sought mandatory use of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with the EVMs.

ALSO READ |

Is this planted? Arvind Kejriwal responds to Election Commission's hack EVM challenge

ALSO WATCH: EVM tampering row: Is AAP unable to concede defeat in Assembly polls?

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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Apr. 10, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 10, 2017 | 05:48 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Three people now face charges, after an investigation into threats on social media that began on Monday turned up drugs and weapons at a Paducah home.



The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says detectives got a tip from someone alleging that 22-year-old Matthew Conner, a convicted felon, was making threats on social media to shoot people. Detectives and officers with the Kentucky Department of Probation and Parole located Conner at a home on Palmer Street. Deputies reportedly found a .22 caliber rifle in his possession.



While inside the home, detectives said they also found a small amount of meth in plain view in the bedroom of another resident at the home, 22-year-old Justin Adams. Detectives searched the home and seized more meth, smoking pipes, a digital scale and another loaded rifle.



Both Adams and Conner were arrested and booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail. Adams was charged with possession of meth, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Conner was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.



Detectives said they suspected the gun recovered from Conner was stolen. A records check with a local gun dealership on Wednesday identified the owner, and deputies verified that the gun was stolen. The owner told detectives that he had allowed 19-year-old Samuel Henderson to stay at his home on Tudor Blvd for a few days over the past week.



Detectives located Henderson, and he reportedly admitted to stealing the gun. He also told detectives he had traded the firearm to Conner a few days prior.



Henderson was arrested and charged with theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was on Felony probation for a previous burglary at the time of his arrest.
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Retirement fund body EPFOs subscribers will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at the time of retirement for contributing to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years, the EPFO board has decided.

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The Employees Provident Fund Organisations (EPFO) apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), has recommended a minimum sum assured of Rs 2.5 lakh in the event of death of a subscriber.

"The CBT has recommended amending the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) to provide for minimum benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh and loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at a meeting held yesterday," a senior official said.

"The suggested benefits will be available to members after government approval. Initially, these will be provided for two years on a pilot basis and will be reviewed thereafter."

According to the proposal, loyalty-cum-life benefit will be provided to all those members on retirement at 58 or 60 years who have contributed to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability. In these cases, the members who have contributed to the EDLI scheme for less than 20 years will be eligible.

Those members whose average basic wages are up to Rs 5,000 will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of Rs 30,000. Similarly, the members with wages of Rs 5,001-10,000 Will be eligible for Rs 40,000 benefit.

All those members getting more than Rs 10,000 monthly wage will be eligible for Rs 50,000 loyalty-cum-life benefit under the proposed scheme.

The board has recommended such benefits in view of a huge EDLI corpus of Rs 18,119 crore following addition of interest that accrued on investment of this fund.

At present, the dependants of the deceased get a sum assured of up to Rs 6 lakh. There is no provision of minimum insurance and any benefit for surviving members or in cases of permanent disability under the scheme.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya launched Aadhaar Seeding Application after the meeting. The EPFO has developed this application with support of Common Service Centres (CSCs) and C-DAC.

The CSCs are ICT-enabled front-end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of government and private services.

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With implementation of the seeding application, a PF member or pensioner can now walk into any of the field offices of EPFO or CSC outlets with UAN and Aadhaar and seed them.

The EPFO enrolled 49,39,929 workers during January-March 2017. It had launched a special enrolment scheme to cover leftout formal sector workers from January 2017. PTI KKS ARD

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By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 12, 2017 | 09:38 PM | PADUCAH, KY

The Bryant Law Center collected more than 4,000 pounds of food and $1,446 for area food banks during the Kentucky Legal Food Frenzy fund drive. To match donations, the Bryant Law Center gave $4,058.

Donations were made to the Purchase Area Development District Food Bank. The Bryant Law Center collected the donation to benefit the Kentucky Legal Food Frenzy, a statewide fund drive competition among Kentucky law firms, law schools, and legal organizations to support the members of the Kentucky Association of Food Banks.



The generosity of the people in our community truly showed through their giving. People gave not only money but carts full of groceries. We were so impressed by the amount of giving that our firm chose to donate $1 for every pound of food donated instead of the original 25 cents, said Mark Bryant, attorney and President of the Bryant Law Center.



Purchase Area Development District Commodity & Food Bank Coordinator Clay Black said It has been moving and overwhelming watching the generosity of the attorneys in our area and across Kentucky who have participated the Kentucky Legal Food Frenzy fund drive.

"I cannot begin to thank the entire staff of the Bryant Law Center for their time and donations. Their generosity was so moving, I am having difficulty finding the words to express my gratitude. This is the largest fund drive of its kind in our area and will provide food to the local food pantries who constantly struggle to acquire food. Black said.
By The Associated Press Apr. 12, 2017 | 10:05 PM | CAIRO, IL

Illinois political leaders have asked federal housing authorities to find adequate and safe housing for 185 families ordered to relocate from two public housing developments in southern Illinois.

The Southern Illinoisan reports the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to move residents of the Alexander County Housing Authority properties in May due to concerns such as poor heating and mold.

Federal housing officials said there was no plan to provide new housing and that residents would be given vouchers and have their moving expenses paid.

Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, urging for a solution.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost says he will continue to work with Mayor Tyrone Coleman and other local officials to provide housing and sustain the city.

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Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com
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By The Associated Press

Apr. 13, 2017 | CHICAGO, IL

By The Associated Press Apr. 13, 2017 | 11:32 AM | CHICAGO, IL

A lawyer for a man dragged off a United Express flight says he suffered a concussion and broken nose and lost two front teeth.



Attorney Thomas Demetrio said at a news conference Thursday that Dr. David Dao has been discharged from a hospital but will need reconstructive surgery.



Dao was removed from the plane Sunday after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville.



His daughter says the family was "horrified, shocked and sickened" to learn and see what happened.



Crystal Pepper says seeing her father removed from the Sunday flight was "exacerbated" by the fact it was caught on video and widely distributed.



Demetrio says airlines have "bullied" passengers "for a long time.", and that airlines have treated us as "less than maybe we deserve." He says he "probably" will file a lawsuit on Dao's behalf.



United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has said he was "ashamed" when he saw the video and that the airline is reviewing its policies. Munoz says law enforcement won't be involved in removing passengers in the future.
Fatal semi crash on I-57 backing up traffic onto I-24
By The Associated Press Apr. 12, 2017 | 06:29 PM | FRANKFORT, KY

State lawmakers have voted to include the phrase "in the year of our Lord" on some of their documents.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports House and Senate lawmakers passed resolutions requiring the phrase to be included in the date on all of their simple resolutions and floor citations.

Republican state Sen. Albert Robinson sponsored the Senate measure as part of his effort to "anywhere and everywhere I can to respect our creator."

The phrase "in the year of our Lord" is in both the U.S. and Kentucky constitutions and other historic documents, including President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. And Republican Gov. Matt Bevin includes the phrase in his signed proclamations.

Fred Lovell Jr., a member of the Louisville Atheists and Freethinkers, said the measure is not necessary.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com
The Supreme Court has sought reply from the Election Commission and the Centre to the plea by May 8.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Election Commission and the Centre on implementation of voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPATs) with electronic voting machines.

The Supreme Court sought reply from the EC and the Centre by May 8 on the petition filed by Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) challenging use of EVMs without paper trail.

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Other individual petitioners have also filed PILs. The Congress and the Trinamool Congress have been allowed to file their intervening applications to be a part of the case.

Arguing the case, senior advocate P Chidambaram told the Supreme Court that it is mandatory to use voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) with the EVMs for elections but the same has not been done widely.

It was further argued that the Chief Election Commissioner has also written to the Prime Minister's Office in 2014 raising security concerns.

Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal briefly addressed the Supreme Court bench led by Justice Chelameswar and said that no where in the world are EVMs used other than India.

The Supreme Court made it clear to the BSP, which is the prime petitioner, that the party may not press for its prayer to cancel the recently conducted Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. BSP agreed that it shall first wait for a response from the Election Commission and the Centre.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter on May 8.

A paper trail machine shows voters a slip with the party symbol for which they have voted, before it is dropped into a sealed box. Voters can, therefore, immediately check if their vote was cast for the desired party.

(with inputs from Anusha Soni)

ALSO READ:

Electronic Voting Machine: Here's all you wanted to know about India's EVMs

Is this planted? Kejriwal responds to Election Commission's hack EVM challenge

After Moily, now Capt Amarinder says EVMs cannot be tampered

ALSO WATCH:

EVM tampering row: Is AAP unable to concede defeat in Assembly polls?

--- ENDS ---
RK Raghavan, who was heading the apex court-appointed Special Investigation Team to probe 2002 Gujarat riots cases, has been relieved from the duty of heading the team.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today allowed RK Raghavan, chief of its Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2002 Gujarat riots, to be relieved from duty on health grounds.

A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT.

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"Appreciating" the work done by the SIT in investigating the 2002 violence across the state, the apex court also allowed another SIT member K Venkatesam to leave the team.

The Supreme Court has asked AK Malhotra of the SIT to oversee the functioning of the team and keep filing quarterly progress report on the various riot cases it is probing.

The Supreme Court-appointed SIT has been investigating nine major cases of the Gujarat violence, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed following the burning of a train at Godhra in February, 2002 during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the state Chief Minister.

ALSO READ | Furious over MP's arrest, Mamata demands jail for PM Modi, Amit Shah for Gujarat riots

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A Kansas woman is accused of decapitating her ex-boyfriend's mother when the victim went to collect her son's belongings.

Thirty-five-year-old Rachael Hilyard of Wichita was charged Wednesday with one count of first-degree murder in the death Sunday of 63-year-old Micki Davis. During a brief court appearance, a Sedgwick County judge assigned Hilyard to be represented by a public defender. She's jailed on $200,000 bond.

Police say Davis was killed after taking her 9-year-old grandson with her to Hilyard's home. The boy ran away when the assault started and called police on his grandmother's phone. Police say the child wasn't present when his grandmother died.

Police found Davis' body in the garage and Hilyard hiding in the home.
By Press Trust of India: Dhaka, Apr 13 (PTI) The bodies of Harkat-ul-Jihad al- Islami chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two associates were buried after they were executed for a deadly attack on a shrine in 2004 that killed three persons and wounded the British high commissioner to Bangladesh.

Hannan, 60, was hanged last night at Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur along with his accomplice Sharif Shahedul alias Bipul, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.

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His associate Delwar Hossain Ripon was executed in Sylhet jail, the minister added.

The bodies of the three were taken to their family plots in Moulvibazar, Chandpur and Gopalganj immediately after their sentences were carried out.

Hannan has been buried at his familys graveyard in Gopalganj after his execution at Dhakas Kashimpur Jail.

Hannans older brother Moulana Aliuzzaman Munshi received the body, Kamrul Farooq, police official at Kotaliparha, was quoted as saying by the bdnews.

Bipul, an accomplice of Hannan, has been buried at his familys plot in Chandpur Sadar Upazilas South Moishadi village.

Bipuls body was buried immediately after funeral prayers upon its arrival today, said Moishadi Union Parishad Chairman Moniruzaaman Manik. Bipul is survived by his wife and 9-year old son.

The body of Ripon has been buried near his ancestral home in Moulvibazar. The funeral prayers were held at the Brahminbazar Union Konagaon village Eidgah field around 2:30 pm on Thursday. The body was then buried at a grave near the Eidgah field.

The three militants were executed after President Abdul Hamid rejected their mercy petitions this week.

Hannan, who studied in India and Pakistan, had fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan before returning to join HuJI, media reports said.

On March 19, the Supreme Court reconfirmed its earlier verdict, endorsing death penalty to Hannan and the two others for the 2004 attack on the then UK envoy.

The then Bangladeshi born British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury narrowly escaped the grenade attack at a shrine in northeastern Sylhet that killed three people, all policemen, and injured 70 others. Anwar sustained minor injuries.

Hannan and seven other kingpins and operatives of Huji were earlier sentenced to death by another court in Dhaka for a deadly 2001 bomb attack that killed 10 people during Bengali New Year celebrations at a public park.

HuJI was formed in 1992 by Bangladeshis who took part in the Afghan war against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. PTI UZM AKJ UZM

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He's not even in kindergarten yet and already one Mid-Michigan boy is giving back to his community.

5-year-old Drake Bowen has a smile that will light up a room and he's hoping to spread that smile by making and selling bracelets to raise money for our four legged friends at the Ingham County Animal Shelter

His motive is simple.

So I can pet them and play with them, said Bowen.

Animals have always been close to our heart, said Nicole Belman, Drakes mother. He has grown up around them and loves them so I suggested that we use some money to donate for the animal shelter for toys and food.

It all started when mom bought beads around Christmas to make bracelets for gifts to family.

Ever since, Drake hasn't stopped and has dedicated his free time to the cause. He's now even going to craft shows.

He spends all evening, hell start around the time he gets out of school around 4:30 p.m. and he will work on them till I say bedtime around 8, said Belman.

It's an efficient process. Drake will put the beads in order, cut the string, and mom will add the finishing touches and tie it all together.

She's even helping sales.

I take the bracelets to work and sell them there, friends online buy them, we list them on the Facebook yard sale sites and people buy them, said Belman.

Already Drake has raised over $150 and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

We'd like to continue selling them besides donating to the animal shelter, said Belman It'd be nice to start a savings account for him since hes only five and teach him about the business world so he gets familiar with that.

So far half of Drake's profits have been donated to the animal shelter.

Drake and his mom have bought more than $100 in toys and food and they'd like to buy blankets or beds for the dogs.

Drake and his mother have plans to be set up at a Mason craft show in May.

If you interested in learning more about Drakes bracelets or would like to purchase one,

to visit the Facebook page.

Bracelets are being sold for $1.
Huma Qureshi's 28-day-long fitness challenge is giving us several (unattainable) fitness goals.

By India Today Web Desk: There seems to be no stopping Huma Qureshi who's currently on a 28-day-long detoxification mission. A healthy mix of nutritious-yet-delicious food and regular workouts is keeping the Johnny LLB star busy and we're inspired to hit the gym right about now.

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Apart from snippets of the healthy delicacies she's been gorging on off late, Huma's Instagram account recently had her share a video indulging in unique set of crunches.

Unique how, you ask? Well, Huma is seen performing these crunches not while lying down on ground but while being suspended upside-down on a cloth rope.

Also Read: A red hot Huma Qureshi was all hearts for Ed Sheeran at the Brit Awards

Captioning the video "Normal Crunches are sooo passe #AerialYogini #UpsideDownFun" Huma's effortless crunches are sure as hell tough in actuality.

Normal Crunches are sooo pass #AerialYogini #UpsideDownFun A post shared by Huma Qureshi (@iamhumaq) on Apr 12, 2017 at 10:50pm PDT

So, are you motivated yet? No? Here are more Huma Qureshi videos to shake you off that bed.

Training like a boss???? @vilayathusain A post shared by Huma Qureshi (@iamhumaq) on Mar 31, 2017 at 3:13am PDT

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By Press Trust of India: Dhaka, Apr 13 (PTI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today she hid nothing about the agreements she signed with India, rejecting her predecessor Khaleda Zias accusations that she failed to secure Dhakas interests and gained "nothing, but assurances".

Zia, the leader of Bangladeshs main political opposition party BNP, has criticised the four-day India visit of Hasina, that concluded this week, during which the two countries inked 22 agreements including in defence and civil nuclear sectors.

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India announced a USD 4.5 billion Line of Credit to Bangladesh and an additional assistance of USD 500 million for its military procurement. But the two countries could not sign the long-pending Teesta waters sharing pact primarily due to opposition from West Bengal, through which the river passes.

Zia yesterday said that Hasina brought "nothing from India, but assurances". She said the visit was Bangladesh governments failure to secure its interests from its stronger neighbour, claiming Hasinas Awami League government was "advised" by many political groups and civil society members against signing the defence deals with India.

Hasina responded to Khaledas criticisms at a meeting of the Awami Leagues Working Committee, bdnews24.com reported.

"The BNP leader said we kept the people in the dark while signing the memoranda of understanding (MoUs). I have only one question to ask her: Whom did she consult when she signed the defence deal with China? No-one saw what was in it," Hasina said.

"At least, I didnt hide anything like she did," she added.

The prime minister said the deals had been placed for clearance by the Cabinet before the signing, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali spoke about those in a press conference before the visit and those were disclosed in the Bangladesh-India joint statement.

"Now if someone cant see even after having eyes, then I have nothing to do," Hasina said, in a dig at her arch rival.

She said Bangladesh has gained by signing the agreements and MoUs with India. "We will be able to bring power from India; diesel will come through pipeline; LNG will also be brought to overcome the gas crisis."

About Khaledas criticism for the failure to have India sign the Teesta water-sharing deal, the prime minister asked, "Khaleda Zia was also in power, then why couldnt she bring Teesta water?"

She alleged Bangladesh was actually paying for not protesting against a barrage India built on the Teesta river in Gazaldoba when Khaledas husband BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was in power.

She also criticised Khaleda for "not raising" the Ganges water-sharing issue during her India visit when the latter was prime minister in 1991. PTI ABH AKJ ABH

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By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Indira Gandhi National Open University, which has been pioneer in distance education, has now entered the digital education sphere and launched 11 free Massive Open Online Courses.

An announcement in this regard was made by Minister of State for HRD, Mahendra Nath Pandey, during the 30th convocaation ceremony of the university.

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"IGNOU has now reached the free and digital education horizon, expanding the perimeter of distance education system. The MHRD has given the channels of Swayam and Swayamprabha to IGNOU so that it can bring a digital revolution in higher education," Pandey said in the convocation address.

Last year, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry had launched a bouquet of 32 direct-to-home (DTH) educational channels, called Swayam Prabha, to broadcast programmes for school and university students. The contents of these channels are prepared by the IIT professors and other subject experts.

"The university is already working on Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Our expectation from the university shall be to extend its students horizon towards digital education through new technology, communication mediums, electronic mediums and devices," he added.

The university has introduced 11 MOOCs out of which two, Certificate course in Russian and Certificate course in e-learning, are already functional.

"We plan to roll out the remainign nine by end of this month and 44 more MOOCs in next three months," a senior IGNOU official said.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a system aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web. It does not always quantify as formal education but provides a platform to study quality courses from institutions offering them, usually for free.

"The online admission system has received an encouraging response with the university for admission of students for the July 2016 cycle. As many as 1,53,454 students took admission through this mode for the January 2017 cycle," Vice Chancellor Ravindra Kumar said.

"Students are now allowed to edit the filled-in information before final submission to the University. With the shifting of the fee module to the last stage, the system has become more student-friendly," he added.

Students from more than 200 courses were presented with 120 PhDs, 10 MPhils and 66 gold medals during the convocation. PTI GJS RCJ

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jeff Peitsch, CEO of Bonify, in the production hall by the nutrient tanks for the grow rooms.

On the eve of historic legislation paving the way for the legalization of marijuana in Canada, Manitobas second licensed producer finally got the green light from Health Canada.

Its been a three-year journey for Bonify. CEO Jeff Peitsch said that time allowed the company to increase its scale and scope of operations, which may make the company more valuable in the long run.

The first batch of seeds will arrive next week at the undisclosed inner-city location. Bonify has built 100,000 square feet of production space thats ready to go, and it has an additional 220,000 square feet of capacity under the same roof.

In addition, the locally owned company  its closely held and well-funded by a handful of Manitoba residents  has bought several acres of surrounding land that will give it one million square feet of production capacity.

Our vision at the outset was not just to be a producer of cannabis for the local market but, in fact, a global leader of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, Peitsch said.

When it filed its application with Health Canada in 2014, it contemplated 30,000 square feet of production.

The actual licence processing took quite a bit longer than we had initially anticipated, said Peitsch, who was the chief operating officer of CancerCare Manitoba for 10 years before getting into the pot business.

We figured if this was going to take additional time, lets build additional capacity and additional value in other aspects of our operations to maximize efficiency when the time comes, he said.

Bonify is approaching $10 million of capital investment before a single plant has grown. It has been operating a mail-order hydroponics equipment business for the past two years.

Its likely not made a dent in the massive investment required, which includes more than $2 million in security infrastructure that features 200 closed-circuit cameras throughout the space; and a reverse-osmosis water-distribution system with a tank farm and mechanical setup that would put many local craft breweries to shame.

In addition to Peitschs experience in the business  hes worked at Novopharm Biotech (now Viventia)  the facility general manager, Mark Smolenski, worked at Biomira Inc. and Abbott Laboratories.

Peitsch said Health Canada inspectors suggested its facility design exceeds most standards and could define best practice in a few areas.

We are building a very credible organization with very credible people, he said. There are 15 people on staff and it will likely add 40 or 50 positions by the end of the year.

Bonify still has to prove itself, but it seems to have ticked all the boxes before starting production, including extensive engagement with physicians and medical-marijuana patients and having a modern automated growing facility that will drip in precise amounts of moisture and nutrients depending on the strain of marijuana being grown and the growing technique being deployed.

Delta-9 Bio Tech, the other licensed producer in Manitoba, is switching its production to hydroponics. Bonify will use a variety of growing techniques.

Bonify has started reaching out overseas. While there are no agreements in place, Peitsch said the company is engaged in discussions with third-party entities globally.

The annual global marijuana market is estimated at about $340 billion, so its natural that a new Canadian company would scope out international opportunities. Canada will be the first G7 nation to legalize marijuana.

Capital is pouring into the market. Canopy Growth Corp., one of the largest in the country, is worth $1.7 billion. Earlier this year, Alberta-based Aurora Cannabis Inc., acquired a 20 per cent stake in the first Australian company licensed for research and cultivation of medical cannabis for human use.

Aurora recently raised $75 million in convertible debt, its third debt offering in about six months. Last week, it announced the $7-million acquisition of a Montreal company that has a 40,000-square-foot cannabis-production facility but has yet to be licensed by Health Canada.

Peitsch said Bonify has received a serious proposal from U.S. investors to acquire 100 per cent of its operations even before its had the chance to begin production.

We held off because we think we can add a great deal more value and build something that is special here, he said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
The Income Tax Department has asked police to register a criminal case against four top Tamil Nadu officials, including three AIADMK ministers, for barging into the residence of one of their colleagues - Health Minister C Vijayabaskar - during an I-T raid last week.

By Akshaya Nath: The Income Tax department has asked Chennai Police to register a criminal case against AIADMK ministers R Kamaraj, Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, and Kadambur Raju, and Special Representative to Government in New Delhi N Thalavai Sundaram, for barging into the residence of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar during a recent raid, and disrupting I-T officials' work.

The men have also been accused of harassment and criminal intimidation.

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The I-T department raided properties belonging to Vijayabaskar and actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar on Friday. Searches at the premises of an associate of Vijayabaskar's allegedly revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for distribution to voters in Chennai's R K Nagar, where a bypoll was originally scheduled for April 12.

On the day of the raid, R Kamaraj, Udumalai K Kadambur Raju, N Thalavai Sundaram and some party cadres created a ruckus outside Vijayabaskar's residence, and later entered it.

Vijayabaskar's driver and a few AIADMK cadres ran out with some papers in their hands and threw them towards their fellow party members. Reports were immediately out as to how there had been a disruption of the I-T raid.

It's against the rules to allow anyone to enter a property during an I-T raid, and for the person targeted by the raid to come out and interact with the public.

At Vijayabaskar's house, both these rules were broken.

(Inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ | Income Tax raids on Tamil Nadu's VVIPs: Office of Sarathkumar's wife searched

ALSO READ | RK Nagar by-poll: Watch the high voltage drama during I-T raids at TN minister Vijayabhaskar's house

WATCH VIDEO | RK Nagar by-poll: High drama outside Vijaybaskar's house during Income Tax raid

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who illegally crossed the Canada-U.S. border at Emerson early Saturday morning attacked a border official and is now facing several charges.

The 37-year-old man had been taken into custody by RCMP after he crossed the border and was searched, identified and screened before being taken to the Canada Border Services Agency at the Emerson port of entry to make a refugee claim.

The RCMP said the man was in a cell waiting for his claim to be processed when he threatened to harm CBSA officers, damaged the fire sprinkler inside the cell causing water to spray and then physically assaulted an officer.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

The officer sustained a minor injury but did not require medical attention.

Ahmed Aden Ali from Minneapolis has been charged with two counts of uttering threats, mischief over $5,000 and assaulting a peace officer. He is being held in custody.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Driving down a dark city street at night, 75-year-old Ciro Barracano hit a man with his car and left him there to die. When police questioned him more than two weeks later, Barracano told them hed hit a family of deer.

Family and friends of 22-year-old Christopher Nero packed a Winnipeg courtroom Wednesday to drive home to Barracano all that has been taken from them in the two years since Nero was killed in that fatal hit-and-run on Inkster Boulevard on May 2, 2015.

Christopher had a smile that lit up a room, his mother, Robyn Werner, told court, describing her late son as a hard-worker with a playful sense of humour and a steadfast group of grade-school friends.

FACEBOOK PHOTO Chris Nero

Chriss death has not only devastated his family and friends, but also his community. This is who was left to die on a busy street like an animal, she read aloud in front of the man who fled the scene of the accident.

Barracano, now 77, has been sentenced to nine months in jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop at the scene and public mischief. Provincial court Judge John Guy imposed the sentence Wednesday after Barracano took the unusual step of testifying about what led up to the accident.

With the aid of an Italian translator, Barracano said hed been at a Legion Hall earlier that night with a friend, and had consumed one beer mixed with gingerale. By 11:30 p.m., hed dropped off his friend and was heading home himself, driving along Inkster near Bunting Street.

It was very dark. I didnt see any shadow, he said. Somebody hit my car.

I didnt have the presence to brake right away and his body hit my car, Barracano said in response to questions from his defence lawyer, Vincent Bueti.

Barracano said he then stopped and got out of his car  he said he could see the mans shoes and could tell that he was hurt  but he didnt have a cell phone to call for help. He claimed he drove to a nearby gas station and shouted at staff to call police because there had been an accident. He said he didnt mention where the accident was. He said he was shaking too much to drive back to the scene of the accident. Instead, he drove very slowly across the city, back to his home on Wilkes Avenue. By 12:06 a.m., while other witnesses who had discovered Nero in a pool of blood on the street were giving statements to police, Barracano was at home. He never called police about the accident.

A few days later, he opened an insurance claim with Manitoba Public Insurance about the damage to his car, telling MPI that he had been driving back to Winnipeg from Selkirk when he hit a family of deer. He repeated the lie to police, who knocked on his door after theyd been tipped off by a tow truck driver who had been tasked with taking away the damaged vehicle. I dont want to drive anymore. Just take my car, Barracano told the tow truck driver, according to court records.

Investigators noted severe damage to the drivers side windshield and blood on the inside of the vehicle  they presumed Barracano had come into contact with the bleeding victim before returning to his car and driving away. But on the stand Wednesday, Barracano said he hadnt seen any blood.

Crown attorney Manoja Moorthy urged the judge not to believe the elaborate and preposterous stories that he (Barracano) said to the court on the stand today, and disregard Barracanos claim that he went looking for help at a gas station. Police were unable to verify the claim two years after the fact.

Barracano didnt go to the police, he said, because he was confused and embarrassed. He admitted the truth in the middle of his interview with police on May 20, 2015  during which he didnt mention having gone to a gas station for help.

His testimony, Moorthy said, is evidence of someone who is selfish, as he was that night when he left Mr. Nero dying on the street.

Defence lawyer Bueti told court Barracano, who arrived in Canada in the early 1970s and formerly worked as a dance instructor at an Italian community centre in Winnipeg, was assessed as showing signs of cognitive impairment.

His conduct, although illegal, was not totally unreasonable, Bueti told court.

He requested a 90-day intermittent jail sentence for his client, as well as a fine for filing a false claim with MPI and community service work. The Crown sought an 18-month jail sentence.

The judge said if Barracano had remained at the scene of the crash, it likely would have simply been considered an accident. Police collision analysts determined the crash may have been caused by the victim, who was intoxicated at the time.

Just before he was sentenced, a tearful Barracano addressed the full courtroom, telling Neros family I know your pain, and Im no criminal.

As he was led away by sheriffs officers, Barracano waved to the victims grandparents outside court. They had waited nearly two years for the case to be brought to justice, but now they said they dont expect to ever have closure.

I dont think hes remorseful, Neros grandmother, Judy Werner, told the Free Press.

Im just glad that it was acknowledged that he did wrong, she said.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen welcomes a new federal plan to pay for companions to accompany pregnant indigenous women flying to Winnipeg to give birth  but doesnt intend to foot the bill.

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott announced a new program to cover the costs of a companion when a pregnant indigenous woman needs to leave her community to give birth.

Manitoba is embroiled in a dispute over $37 million the province has paid for First Nations medical transportation that the federal government has refused to reimburse.

RUTH / BONNEVILLE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kelvin Goertzen, Minister of Health, answers questions from the media during press conference at Asper Cardiac Institute, St. Boniface Hospital Campus Friday morning.

Goertzen said providing travel and accommodation costs so a companion can accompany a woman about to give birth would be helpful.

Philpott has not talked to me personally, Goertzen said. My understanding is that it will not be paid for by the Manitoba health system.

Maryse Durette, senior media relations supervisor with Health Canada, said Wednesday that Ottawa has not projected the likely costs for women in Manitoba flying to Winnipeg.

Based on prenatal travel costs, companion coverage could run about $22 million a year in Canada, she said.

Health Canadas non-insured health benefits program is a demand-driven program. Therefore, it is difficult to produce a precise cost estimate for this policy change, she said.

Durette did not say which level of government will pay for the program.

Durette said that the $37 million Manitoba says Ottawa owes it for First Nations medical transportation is part of ongoing talks over the federal health accord, which Manitoba has yet to sign.

Every other province covers such costs, she said. Theyre supposed to cover every Manitoban, First Nation or not, she said, attributing the $37 million to a difference of opinion between the province and us.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most of us look forward at this time of year to warmer temperatures and longer days full of sunshine. But for those who have seasonal allergies, the arrival of spring just means more sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes.

For many people, the trouble starts as soon as the trees, grass and weeds start to wake from winter, releasing into the air tiny pollen particles that can trigger asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.

As we inhale the pollen, our bodys immune system senses it is being invaded and releases chemical mediators  histamine and leukotrienes. These chemicals can cause swelling and set off symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing and asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Interestingly, the allergy season appears to be getting longer; thats a development scientists attribute to global warming. Warmer, shorter winters mean trees and shrubs are beginning to pollinate as much as three weeks earlier in the spring, and weed pollen lingers about three weeks longer in the fall. Scientists have also noted that the increase in temperature, along with an increase in carbon dioxide in the air, helps pollinating plants grow bigger and produce more pollen.

The weather in your area can influence pollen counts greatly. Windy, hot, dry days increase both of these counts.

Pollen can be carried several kilometers by the wind, so living in an area with few trees does not mean you will not be exposed to tree pollen. Rainy and cloudy days cause decreased counts by washing the pollen out of the air. You can check pollen counts in your area on the Environment Canada website or TV station.

The impact of having seasonal allergies extends well beyond the symptoms. Coughing at night because of asthma symptoms or a constant runny or stuffy nose can lead to sleep deprivation, which can affect a persons performance at work or school.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, it is important to see an allergy specialist who can help identify whats setting off these reactions.

Avoidance is the first line of defence. This may mean reducing the amount of time you spend outdoors during the pollen season, especially on windy days. Pollen counts are highest early in the morning and decrease later in the day. Keep windows shut and use air-conditioning on hot days. Change your clothes and shower at the end of the day to remove pollens. Dont dry your clothes outside when pollen counts are high. Pets can also track pollen indoors.

Many allergy remedies are available on pharmacy shelves, but not everyone gets relief from over-the-counter products. An allergy specialist can help patients access more effective medications.

Low-dose corticosteroids are the safest and most common medications used. They are either used as a nasal spray or inhaled into the lungs. Doctors suggest using nasal corticosteroids before the pollen season starts. If you have asthma, it is best to stay on your inhaled corticosteroids throughout the year. It is important to use your nasal and inhaled corticosteroids every day as prescribed by your health-care provider in order for them to be effective. Your doctor may suggest increasing the amount of inhaled corticosteroids if you have pollen allergies during the pollen season. Follow your asthma action plan to keep asthma under control.

Another effective treatment for pollen allergies is immunotherapy. This involves regular injections of small amounts of allergen to prompt the body to build up tolerance. This treatment requires a long-term commitment and can take up to five years before the immune system builds up enough tolerance to prevent reactions.

If spring brings feelings of dread due to allergies, dont despair. With proper assessment and appropriate treatment, even allergic individuals can rejoice in the spring season.

Bev Kulbaba is a nurse and certified asthma educator with the Childrens Allergy and Asthma Education Centre at Childrens Hospital.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Hydro workers are reluctant to jump on a buyout offer  not knowing when or if theyll have to give up their job over an eight-month period.

Nor do they want to identify themselves as willing to leave the company, only to find out that Hydro wont agree to buy them out, Michael Velie, business manager for Local 2034 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said Wednesday.

The buyout package features two weeks pay for every year of service to a maximum of 30 weeks pay.

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Hydro workers are reluctant to identify themselves as willing to leave the company, as it's possible Hydro won't agree to buy them out.

Hydro has already slashed management by 15 per cent and on Monday offered a buyout to reduce its workforce by 900 people  the same percentage reduction. The buyouts continue for six weeks, after which, Hydro warned Monday, it could lay off workers.

A big concern is that employees departure dates will be between June 1 and Jan. 31, 2018, and assigned solely at the discretion of the corporation, said Velie, who has seen less initial interest in the buyout offer than hed expected. However, employees will be required to make an irrevocable commitment to leave Hydros employ at the time they apply for the voluntary departure plan.

By far the biggest concern we hear is that, by putting their name forward, employees must make an irrevocable commitment to depart from the company, Velie said. The corporation has the sole discretion whether to accept their application or not. If employees are not selected, theyve exposed themselves as individuals willing to leave the corporation.

Some employees fear that this could mean future loss of training and/or career advancement opportunities, said Velie, who has argued that key positions out in the field are already understaffed, and cutting positions further will jeopardize service to the public.

Hydro has warned it could refuse a buyout if it has an operational need to keep the employee on the job.

In its buyout offer, Hydro told workers that if 900 of them dont choose to leave, management will pursue other measures to ensure its staffing reduction targets are met.

The buyout offer lays out those options: written working notice of termination rather than severance pay; severance pay in lieu of written notice of termination; declaring jobs redundant in accordance with workforce adjustment provisions under the applicable collective agreements or policy, which may include retraining and placement to another position/location; and layoffs.

Manitoba Hydro said Wednesday that there have been employees accepting buyouts already  which they first saw Monday, but had known were coming for months  but would not elaborate.

Seminars will be offered soon by human resources, Hydro public affairs officer Bruce Owen said Wednesday.

Such a decision by an employee to apply to the VDP has to be carefully weighed with their family. We expect many employees will use the Easter weekend to have conversations with loved ones, Owen said.

There are separate packages for those at or near retirement age, and those who are years away from retirement. For employees considering retirement, Owen said, Manitoba Hydro is offering pre-retirement seminars to between April 18 and May 9 in Winnipeg, Brandon, Gillam, Thompson and Steinbach.

All applications for the buyout must be received on or before May 19.

Manitoba Hydro has estimated that the buyouts will have a one-time cost of $57 million and will save the payroll $98 million annually.

The Hydro board has forecast that the debt  with which the NDP left it, primarily because of the Bipole III and Keeyask megaprojects  will almost double to $25 billion. Hydro has said its rate application going to the public utilities board early in May could ask for multiple years of significant double-digit increases.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In Manitoba, someone commits suicide every other day. So if you are the Manitoba Opera Company and you want to put on a performance that romanticizes suicide, what do you do?

You use it as an educational opportunity  thats what.

This month the company is performing Werther, the 18th century story of a young poet who falls in love with a beautiful woman who is engaged to another man. Unable to give her up, he finds peace by taking his own life.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Titled Mental Illness, Suicide and the Media, the discussion featured panelists Dr. James Bolton of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba.

The story, first published as a novel by Goethe in 1774, was turned into an opera by Jules Massenet in 1887. The publication of the story reportedly led to the so-called Werther effect  copy-cat suicides.

With this in mind  and aware of the epidemic of suicides in some Manitoba communities  Manitoba Opera decided to team up with Mood Disorders of Manitoba to promote discussion about the issue at a panel on Wednesday at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Titled Mental Illness, Suicide and the Media, the discussion featured panelists Dr. James Bolton of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba; Tara Brousseau Snider, executive director of Mood Disorders of Manitoba; and guest speakers Corinna Voth and Chelsea Hertzog, speaking about the power of music in healing and recovery.

We want to use opera as an art form to have a conversation about issues of concern in the community, director of marketing, Darlene Ronald, said.

In addition to the panel discussion, students attending dress rehearsals will hear a presentation from Mood Disorders about healthy perspectives on love and relationships and there will be two pages in the program about suicide, prepared by the organization.

For Ronald, educational events such as the panel discussion are a way for Manitoba Opera to engage the community.

We want to be part of the lives of people in the community and find ways to connect more strongly with people, she said.

Of course, she also said she hopes that some who attend the panel discussion  who may never have been to the opera before  might also come to hear a performance.

But even if they dont, we hope they will still be touched by it and what we are trying to do, she said.

Offering events such as this is also a recognition that arts groups cant just keep operating in the traditional way, Ronald said.

The arts are changing, and also how people view them, she added, noting that arts groups need to find new ways to connect with audiences.

This isnt the first time Manitoba Opera has reached out in this way. Last year, for the production Of Mice and Men, which features an intellectually disabled character, the Opera teamed up with groups that work with people with intellectual disabilities.

In 2014, when the Opera performed Fidelio  the story of a woman seeking to free her husband, a political prisoner, from jail  they used the production to celebrate the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and also to highlight the plight of political prisoners around the world. Refugees from other countries living in Manitoba were invited to be involved as extras.

The two productions were a great experience for us and for our patrons, a great way to talk about these issues and the things we have in common, Ronald said.

Their efforts have been noticed by others, including Opera America  the association for almost 150 opera companies in North America  and Opera Anchorage, which used Manitoba Operas model to honour veterans.

It was great to see something we did recognized in this way, and rippling through to others, Ronald said.

While glad to offer these extras, she said that it isnt easy  Manitoba Operas staff is small and resources are tight.

But its important to do, she shared. We hope we can add to the conversation in the community. Thats our aim.

Werther will be performed April 29, May 2 and May 5 at Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets are available at http://www.manitobaopera.mb.ca or by calling 957-7842.

If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more.

Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/04/2017 (2036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba cabinet minister says the Progressive Conservative government has been working with indigenous people in a collaborative and respectful manner and will continue to do so.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen was responding to a report that quoted a Manitoba grand chief as saying the Pallister government is the most racist in Canada.

I think that our government has demonstrated now and will in the future great respect for our aboriginal and indigenous people and will continue to work with them in a collaborative way, Goertzen said Wednesday.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Grand Chief Shelia North Wilson says calling the province racist applies equally to the previous Selinger government.

Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, levelled the accusation at a First Nations health conference in Saskatoon, the Canadian Press reported.

She said she was offended that Premier Brian Pallister had said Manitoba indigenous people have the most chronic diseases and mental-health issues.

North Wilson also accused the province of refusing to sit down with First Nations groups on health issues.

Pallister claimed in the national media that we have the most chronic diseases and mental-health issues, North Wilson was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Well, thank you for calling us crazy and sick. I took offence to that.

North Wilson later clarified her remarks on CBC radio, saying they referred to the flawed track record of provincial policy in general toward indigenous people, regardless of the party in power.

She said her comments would apply equally to the former NDP government under Greg Selinger.

Goertzen acknowledged that clarification on Wednesday and noted cabinet ministers in his government have travelled across the north to meet with indigenous leaders.

He said he met with North Wilson a few weeks ago. My meeting with the grand chief, I think, was both productive and respectful. I look forward to further meetings, he said.

Goertzen said the Pallister government helped lobby Ottawa for more federal funding for indigenous health.

I expect that well have good, respectful working relationships. Does that mean well agree on everything? Of course, not. But thats true for Manitobans generally.

Goertzen said Pallister has a long history and track record in advocating for First Nations and indigenous people in Canada, particularly in his former role as a member of Parliament from Manitoba.

In January, Pallister came under fire from indigenous leaders and Opposition politicians for saying tensions around night hunting were leading to a race war.

He later said he chose his words poorly, but never apologized for saying it.

Tracked down at a Winnipeg vigil for slaying victim Christine Wood Wednesday, North Wilson declined to comment on her racism remarks. Todays about Christine, she said. Im not going to talk about that.

 with files from Alexandra Paul and The Canadian Press

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gunshots ring out in a quiet community, three bodies are found outside a home, the rumour mill instantly begins churning out theories and speculation, and police, for the most part, say nothing.

Last weeks double-murder suicide in East Selkirk is the latest example of what appears to be a growing trend in this country in which investigators treat the most serious crime imaginable as a private affair that should be shielded from the public.

Critics say this type of response does a disservice to the victims, their families and the communities who are searching for answers. It also shields police from possible scrutiny.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESs fileS RCMP released little information after the bodies of Nicole Rach-Gregoire, James Gregoire and Bill Wozney were found April 3 at an East Selkirk home.

Were living in a time now where telling people Trust me, theres nothing of interest here isnt going to fly, said Peter Jaffe, the academic director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children. I dont think its enough just to tell the public no one else is in danger.

RCMP dont appear to have a protocol for these types of tragedies, where the death of the accused means there wont be a trial. Police treat them on a case-by-case basis when deciding how much to disclose publicly. Domestic cases are often draped in secrecy, which critics say reinforces the stigma associated with spousal abuse.

Theres not consistency across the country as to how police release information, said Jaffe, who has examined about 100 murder-suicides in Canada.

Police have a difficult balancing responsibility. On one hand, they have to respect confidentiality, and there are often surviving children and family members. So they have to respect that privacy. On the other hand, there are things the public has a right to know.

It took Manitoba RCMP four days to confirm the shooting incident in East Selkirk last week was a double murder-suicide. The brief news release didnt include the names of any of the individuals. It simply said a 41-year-old woman and her 43-year-old husband were killed outside their home by a 49-year-old man who died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Nor did police address any of the alleged circumstances of the case, including the possibility of police involvement. Local sources identified the victims as Nicole Rach-Gregoire and James Gregoire, as well as Bill Wozney, the womans former employer. Multiple sources told the Free Press fraud allegations may have triggered the violence.

Rach-Gregoire had just been fired by Wozney, her employer at Physiotherapy on the Red in Selkirk. Sources said Wozney was stressed out over irregularities in health insurance claims from his business. Rach-Gregoire had been the clinics office manager and was suspected in the irregularities, which allegedly involved false invoices for non-existent clients. One source said the amount was in the six figures.

Another source said Rach-Gregoire was under investigation. RCMP would only say the woman found dead has not been arrested or charged by RCMP. None of the three deceased had outstanding criminal charges or convictions. A longtime client of Wozney said the physiotherapist was worried because he had no proof shed actually done anything other than the circumstantial evidence that she had apparently thrown all their computers in the river, basically.

Because no trial will occur, the file was closed within days. Manitoba RCMP were asked Monday by the Free Press to explain the decision to release no details. They responded with a written statement Wednesday.

It is our practice to not release names of victims unless we receive express permission from the family. In terms of naming the suspect, in murder-suicide cases, the suspect is deceased and not facing charges. Thus, the name is not entered on court documents and is not public record. The suspect in this type of investigation is not able to mount a defence to any allegations against him or her. For these reasons, we do not release the name, a spokeswoman said.

As to discussing suspected circumstances behind a case, the matter being of much public and media interest has no bearing on whether we release details. Motive only matters for court, and in these types of investigations, there is no court case. We determine what occurred at the scene to conclude our investigation into the deaths, the statement concluded.

Its worth noting family members and co-workers spoke to media last week, confirming the victims identities and giving background details in the absence of information from police. It should be pointed out that, in the past, RCMP have released the names of killers who later committed suicide. They have given background information when Mounties have come under attack, such as the 2005 case in Mayerthorpe, Alta., when James Roszko killed four Mounties before turning the gun on himself.

I dont see how secrecy in these situations helps solve crime or helps ensure proper law enforcement accountability, said Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch.

He said the matter shouldnt end because the killer is dead.

The secrecy in this area not only makes it more difficult for witnesses to come forward, but also could be covering up police wrongdoing in certain situations. Its the publics money, these are the publics employees, and they have a right to know what their employees are doing on the job, Conacher said.

Conacher and Jaffe said the Privacy Act doesnt require police to withhold details such as homicide victims names.

I think the public has a right to know whatever the issues are, and if there are things being put in place to prevent a tragedy in similar situations in the future, Jaffe said.

He suggested police adopt a consistent policy or look to an independent body to determine how such situations should be handled.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

During my last week working full-time for the Free Press, a reader wondered why all the ordinary people in the editorial cartoons were white and middle-aged. It was a great question.

In fact, if you look at most of the cartoons, both on the editorial page and on the comics page, it is hard to find someone of colour.

Increasingly, the issue of diversity is a concern raised for good reason within many different genres  editorial cartoons, comics, television, theatre and books. The world is not comprised solely of white, middle-class heterosexuals. Media should reflect that.

The Free Press no longer has an editorial cartoonist on staff and, like many newspapers, must rely on freelancers. One of those freelancers is Patrick LaMontagne, a talented cartoonist who works out of Canmore, Alta., and has thought about this issue. He wrote on his Facebook page that he is as white as they come and because he knows he is white and privileged, when Im in the presence of minorities, Im often overly concerned that something I might say or do will possibly make me seem racist.

We had this discussion too in the Free Press editorial department. Are cartoonists so afraid of falling into stereotypes when depicting people of race that they shy away entirely? Because, lets face it, there have been awful depictions of people of colour in cartoons that hit all the horrible racial stereotypes.

One needs to see only comic strips from the 1930s and 40s to be reminded of how insensitive the portrayals have been. Black characters were portrayed as exotic or uneducated and rustic. Asian characters were submissive or evil. First Nations people were depicted as the noble savage, submissive and secondary.

In the United States, after the election of the first African-American president, editorial cartoonists were concerned about how to draw the new commander-in-chief. In an Associated Press story published in 2009 just a month after Barack Obama was sworn in, cartoonists voiced their concerns about crossing the line when drawing the president.

As reporter Jesse Washington wrote, cartoons of Obama must contend with Americas history of degrading racial imagery, from ape comparisons to enormous Sambo lips. (Caricatures of the presidents admittedly large ears have so far escaped scrutiny.)

This, too, was something with which LaMontagne is struggling. As he suggested in his post after being pressed by another news editor, he was asked to use subtle clues to diversity. His response: Cartoons are often about caricature, so what if I go too far with those features? And if I dont go far enough, will they just look too white? If I draw somebody being pulled over by a cop for texting, theres no way Ill draw that person black because the implications will be that its a racial thing. What if I made the cop black? Worse or better?

Caricatures of religious minorities also contain potential landmines. Turbans, headscarves and yarmulkes are shorthands to illustrating religion, but when should it be utilized and how to ensure it doesnt offend? Certainly the 2015 shooting that killed 12 people working for the satirical weekly French news magazine Charlie Hebdo illustrates how satire can be viewed as offensive.

In his book on editorial cartoons in the United States, Chris Lamb writes that, while editorial cartoons are drawn by white men and chosen by white men, the editorial pages are supposed to be the most democratic part of a newspaper  representing all viewpoints. This means that to ensure diversity is included in the depiction of racialized minorities, more effort should be made to recruit and mentor cartoonists who represent the full spectrum of society.

Because, lets face it  its hard for someone who is as white as they come to fully appreciate the anger surrounding the shooting of black people by police officers, the concerns of indigenous families struggling or the fears of religious minorities. But someone who has lived that experience may best be able to parody it, without pandering and without recrimination.

But that is difficult in this media environment, with ongoing cutbacks and layoffs. As the hollowing-out of newsrooms continues, there will be fewer opportunities to hire editorial cartoonists, particularly those who represent minority viewpoints. Another slice of democracy gone.

Shannon Sampert is the former perspectives and politics editor of the Winnipeg Free Press. She is currently the editor and director of EvidenceNetwork.ca. Her views are her own.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most people are familiar with the indignities of air travel: the ever-shrinking seats, the extra charges and fewer in-flight services, the delays and cancellations, and the cattle-like atmosphere of the pre-boarding process.

But this week, the world learned exactly just how inhumane air travel can be.

On Sunday, Dr. David Dao, 69, was trying to fly from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., on a United Airlines flight. Passengers were told the flight was overbooked and it wasnt leaving until four people gave up their seats. Not enough people volunteered, so United picked names. When he refused to give up his seat, security officers forcibly yanked a screaming Dr. Dao out of his seat and dragged him, bloodied and dazed, down the aisle to the horror of onlooking passengers.

David J. Phillip / The Associated Press FILEs United Airlines and United Express planes

Of course, this incident was captured on video. Many folks on the flights knew what they were witnessing was wrong, whipped out their smartphones and hit record. Some might argue the bystanders should have done something more. But they did do something valuable: they chronicled the incident, from multiple angles.

The videos, which went viral on Monday, are shocking. Oh my God, a woman cries out at one point. Look at what youre doing to him!

Less shocking, however, is how United Airlines has chosen to deal with Dr. Daos violent removal from the aircraft.

On Monday, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz released his first statement on the matter. This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these passengers, it reads in part.

Did Mr. Munoz not realize that everyone has seen the footage? Dr. Dao wasnt re-accommodated, whatever that means. He was assaulted.

Uniteds public relations tire fire kept burning. On Tuesday, United said the flight was not overbooked after all, rather that seats were requested by off-duty crew members. On Wednesday, Mr. Munoz finally issued an appropriate statement that both contained an apology and took responsibility for what happened. Thats three attempts at an apology, for those keeping score at home.

For too long, airlines have been able to treat passengers however they want with impunity. Overbooking  a practice to ensure a full flight even if people dont show up  is a long-standing yet legal scourge. Most major airlines dont care about earning a customers loyalty because they dont have to. In North America, at least, the lack of competition makes it a lot harder for consumers to say, Ill take my business elsewhere. As unpopular as it is, in 2016, the U.S. airline industry earned an estimated US$20 billion in profits.

Still, theres being treated like trash by a gate agent and then theres being physically dragged out like trash by an officer. The use of violence to remove a passenger from an airplane is a troubling new low. Uniteds skies arent just unfriendly, they are openly hostile.

The airlines share price dropped sharply and its public image has been damaged, thanks in large part to the passengers who got that upsetting video out there. But United will continue its schedule of takeoffs and landings, and things are going to continue to get worse for passengers if the airline industry isnt forced to straighten up and fly right.
By Press Trust of India: (Eds: With additional inputs)

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Apr 13 (PTI) Officials of Kheri district in India and Kanchanpur in Nepal have agreed to a joint survey of their boundaries to resolve border dispute.

An agreement was signed by officials of the two countries at a meeting yesterday at Mahendranagar in Nepal, Kheri District Magistrate Akashdeep told newspersons here today.

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The pact envisages carrying out of a survey of the entire border between Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas of Nepal by a joint survey team, he said.

The survey work would be completed by June, he said, adding that after ascertaining the boundaries through a GPS survey, construction and repair works over the missing and damaged border pillars would be carried out following odd-even formula.

The Nepal administration would repair or construct pillars with odd numbers while even-number pillars would be maintained by the Kheri administration, he said.

Both countries would ensure safety and security of the survey teams in each others territory, he said.

Survey of the border in Kheri would commence from pillar number 200 in Basahi where a violent protest by Nepalese citizens took place on March 9, resulting in injuries to nine SSB jawans and 27 Basahi villagers, the DM said.

At yesterdays meeting, officials of both sides agreed to maintain mutual harmony and cooperation and check recurrence of such incidents, Akashdeep added.

The March 9 incident had erupted into a major diplomatic issue between the two countries with Nepal claiming that one of its citizen was killed in firing by SSB men.

The SSB headquarters in Delhi recently submitted the findings of an internal inquiry report to the Union Home Ministry stating that no bullet was fired by the paramilitary during this incident.

The Sashastra Seema Bal, which works under the command of the Union Home Ministry, is tasked with guarding the 1,751 km Indo-Nepal border.

Uttar Pradesh shares a 599.3 km open border with Nepal touching seven districts - Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Sravasti, Balrampur, Sidhharthnagar and Maharajganj. PTI COR SAB SMI SMN SMN

--- ENDS ---
Few things made by man have been better fit for their task than a Mississippi River steamboat.

Fast, cheap, reasonably safe and able to navigate in waters that amounted to little more than a heavy dew, steamboats brought commerce, settlers and a reasonable likeness of civilization to the American wilderness in the decades before the Civil War.

Every schoolboys history teaches that Robert Fulton invented the first practical steamboat in 1807. That is true and all well and good as far as it goes, but the boat Fulton built worked fine in the deep water of the lower Hudson. On the wild sandbar-ridden shallows of the great rivers that coursed through the heart of the continent, Fultons deep-draft design would have needed a flood to float.

The riverboat that conquered the Ohio and the Mississippi was the brainchild of Capt. Henry Miller Shreve, a riverman born and bred on the banks of the Monongahela when a mans muscle was the only power on the river, save the wind and current. Years of experience muscling keelboats and flatboats from Pittsburgh to New Orleans taught Shreve a thing or two about what made a boat float on an American river.

In 1816, Shreve convinced a number of investors to put up the money that would translate his ideas into wood, steel and steam.

The boatwrights in Wheeling, W.V., had never seen the like of it. The hull was broad and shallow, curved at the bow and stern. Instead of setting the engine low in the hold, the boilers and engines were mounted horizontally on deck, above the waterline, and a two-story superstructure was built over and around them. Skeptics told Shreve the boat was hopelessly top heavy and took bets that the Washington would turn turtle as soon as it slipped down the ways.

Few folks have ever been so wrong. Not only did the Washington prove remarkably fitted to its environment the broad, shallow hull sliding over the water rather than plowing through it it was a commercial success, making the round-trip from Louisville, Ky., to New Orleans in only 41 days. From the Washington to the American Queen, American riverboats have followed the basic design laid down in the Wheeling boatyard.

That basic design was polished and refined. Captains and investors realized early on that every pound they saved in building the boat meant another pound of paying cargo it could carry. Sturdy oak was replaced by light-weight pine. Boats were built to be fast, not to last which was just as well because the average life of a Mississippi steamboat was somewhat less than five years.

Hazards on the river were just about endless: rocks and rapids, sand bars, snags, low-hanging trees and unpredictable currents. Boats that werent sunk, beached or battered still could burn or blow up. The fire in the flue sent showers of sparks up the stacks. There were fires in the cookstoves, fires to warm passengers and crew most of whom were firing up pipes and cigars on a regular basis all inside a floating tinder-dry pinewood boat lit by lanterns and candles with nothing more than a couple of buckets to put out a spreading blaze.

The high-pressure steam engine driving the paddle wheel was the wonder of the age, but as often as not it was built with no safety valves or gauges to keep track of steam pressure or water level. If the water level in the boiler dropped too low, the boiler would overheat, weaken and explode with disastrous results. On April 27, 1865, a boiler aboard the Sultana exploded, killing more than 1,700 passengers and crew more than went down with the Titanic.

Even if the boat stayed afloat and in one piece, there was real risk that a passenger coming aboard would end the journey in a hastily dug riverbank grave. The water that floated the boat also was the ships sewer and source of water for drinking, washing and cooking. Cholera, transmitted by fouled water, haunted the river and took a regular toll of passengers and crew.

Despite the dangers, the steamboat was the frontier equivalent of the 747. West of the Appalachians, roads were little more than rutted wilderness trails, and the railroad wouldnt reach the Mississippi River until 1854. It was a long walk from Pittsburgh to points west. The steamboat fed a frontier boom, carrying settlers and manufactured goods from the east and carrying the products of the opening west lead, grain, furs, flour, salt, meat and cotton to the booming river ports on the Ohio and the lower Mississippi.

The number of boats on the rivers boomed as well. Fourteen years after Shreves first trip to New Orleans, 230 steamboats were working on Midwestern rivers; by 1842, there would be 450. The Virginia, in May 1823, was the first boat to pick its way onto the upper Mississippi. Loaded with supplies and tourists, it set off from St. Louis for Fort Snelling, Minn. It took her 26 days to make the 729-mile trip, threading her way through the rapids at Rock Island, Ill., and Keokuk, Iowa, and the virtually uncharted channels of the upper river.

Once navigation of the upper river proved itself practical, it took little time for it to prove itself even more profitable. Within two years of the Virginias first visit to Pigs Eye and the Falls of St. Anthony, more than a quarter-million dollars worth of frontier goods furs, hides, lumber and grain were shipped downriver. Several boats were making regular calls at Prairie du Chien, La Crosse and points north.

As the population along the upper river grew, more and more specialized boats were built to serve the burgeoning market. Boats were engineered for maneuverability and designed to float on less than 2 feet of water. Specialized steamboats regularly carried passengers and cargo on streams that would bar a contemporary fishing boat. Tiny rivercraft nosed into virtually any waterway in search of cargo or to found a new settlement.
As the owner of a buildable lot of record in the new proposed zoning area 10 feet wide and 150 feet deep I was confused as to what enhancement the new zoning changes could be made on this vacant property every year which would enhance housing, tourism and business income. Would a tiny home fit the code for this lot? Finally USA Today gave front page space to the newest boom in tourism. Shooting Ranges for Chinese gun enthusiasts Could this be the way to generate revenue to pay the property tax on the lot?

The article states one entrepreneur hopes to draw 5,000 wealthy Chinese tourists a year to shoot at its firing ranges. Who would have guessed that the creators of gunpowder in the third century B.C. would be excited to enjoy shooting enough to travel thousands of miles as tourists to enjoy it as recreation. But how does that help me generate revenue on my lot to pay my taxes?

A solution www.shootingrangeindustries.com to the rescue. A modular shooting range which fits my buildable lot and meets airborne particulate and filtration codes made from an upgraded ocean container for two shooters. Fully self-contained shipped directly to my site with individual and centralized computer controls for turning target rail systems. It can even be expanded or two units could fit on the same lot for four shooters to enjoy. Even better my accountant may classify them as equipment for a quicker depreciation write off and not subject to added property taxes.

They say it takes 30-180 days get a Ready Range ----- I better get the lead out to order one or sell my lot before my October taxes need to be paid. Who says the new code wouldnt draw tourists downtown.
Sauk Countys Conservation Congress joined voters across the state Monday in favoring controls on frac sand mining and high-capacity wells. But local voters opposed establishing a sandhill crane hunting season, a measure that passed overall.

More than 5,000 people attended fish and wildlife hearings at county Conservation Congress meetings across the state Monday. The public hearings gave citizens an opportunity to provide feedback on 88 proposed fish and wildlife management rules changes. The Natural Resources Board will review results May 24 in Madison.

The meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County drew 134 voters. They voted 98-12 for a moratorium on frac sand mining permits. That measure also passed overwhelmingly statewide  3,226-783.

A measure requiring notification of residents within 2 miles of proposed high-capacity wells passed 4,046 to 207. Sauk County voters supported the same measure, 106-5. Voters also supported giving the state Department of Natural Resources authority to suspend approvals for high-capacity wells that have caused problems: 3,988-231 statewide, 107-2 in Sauk County.

A proposal to allow sandhill crane hunting was of particular interest in Sauk County, home of the International Crane Foundation. The Baraboo-based organization is working to reintroduce whooping cranes around the world, and its leaders argue that hunting sandhill cranes could lead to that species becoming endangered, as well. But farmers say controlling the sandhill crane population would help prevent crop damage.

Statewide, the measure passed 2,349 to 2,049. In Sauk County, it failed 43-74.

Anne Lacy, the International Crane Foundations research coordinator, said she was pleased the measures margin of victory was smaller than in past statewide votes on sandhill crane hunting.

If the Legislature were to legalize crane hunting, it would place the nonprofit in a tight spot. Why should other countries protect cranes if theyre hunted in the International Crane Foundations backyard?

It makes our work a little more difficult in some parts of the world, Lacy said.

She encouraged citizens opposed to sandhill crane hunting to let their representatives at the state Capitol know. People need to contact their legislators, because thats where the rubber meets the road, she said.

Also on Monday, voters overwhelmingly supported restoring funding to state parks, 3,690-509. Locally, that measure passed 106-5.

The spring hearing votes, held in conjunction with the Conservation Congress, are nonbinding. Theyre presented to the Natural Resources Board as a gauge of the publics outlook on proposed changes. In addition to voting on DNR rules changes, citizens of each county elect Conservation Congress delegates to represent them on natural resource issues. The Conservation Congress serves as an adviser to the Natural Resources Board.
The University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County sent a record number of students to Madison this week for an annual event that showcases undergraduate research projects in the Capitol building.

Known as Research in the Rotunda, the annual event invites exceptional student researchers from across the University of Wisconsin System to the Capitol, where they share their research on a wide range of topics with legislators, state leaders, UW alumni and other supporters.

Nine students representing six teams of UW-Baraboo researchers  a UW Colleges record  and their faculty mentors traveled to Madison on Wednesday to present their findings in the Rotunda. The students conducted the research for an honors program, and noteworthy projects were selected by faculty to be featured at the state event.

The UW-Baraboo group joined more than 100 other students from across the UW System in sharing their research.

UW-Baraboo mathematics professor Kirthi Premadasa coordinates the universitys undergraduate research program. He said the campus low student-to-faculty ratio allows students to easily connect with professors and conduct meaningful research.

For a smaller campus like us, putting this together is tremendous, he said. The professors can actually link with the students very closely and carry out the research. They start looking at the world through the eyes of a disciplined expert.

Two former UW-Baraboo students, who presented in Madison, examined the relationship between teacher salary and student performance at the high school level. With the help of UW-Baraboo business-economics professor Musa Ayar, Sam Gasser and Andrew Schoepp gathered data from across the state on teacher salaries and standardized test scores.

We heard people say that teacher salary should be based on student test scores, Gasser said of choosing the research topic. There seemed to be vagueness around the issue, so we decided it would be interesting to find out what is actually the case.

They spent months crunching the numbers and plotting the data on graphs, but ultimately found there was no connection between teacher salary and student performance at the high school level. The students thought their work was over, until Ayar stepped in and pointed them in a different direction.

If you dont find a correlation, thats a finding too, Ayar said. If you want to find a correlation, I told them, Go and check the years of experience in relation to the teacher pay.

At the direction of their professor, Gasser and Schoepp found there was a connection between work experience and teacher salary. They concluded that teacher salary does not affect student performance, and suggested that an incentive program be implemented to encourage educators to work toward improving student test scores.

One of the things that we did discuss was possibly creating a rewards system, Schoepp said. Teachers would still earn their wage, but if their students perform well they might receive a bonus.

Both Schoepp and Gasser agreed the project provided them with skills that they are currently using at four-year universities  Gasser at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Schoepp at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

They said its hard to articulate how it feels to see their work featured in the Capitol Rotunda.

I dont really know the word to describe it, Gasser said. Its a really good feeling to have this recognition for all of the hard work we put into our project.
JUNEAU  A 63-year-old Milwaukee man is charged with sending a narcotic to his son who is serving time in Fox Lake Correctional Institution.

Calvin Brown Jr. is charged with deliver illegal articles to an inmate. He could face up to three-and-a-half years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Brown Jr. will make his initial appearance in court on May 1.

According to the criminal complaint, an investigative captain at Fox Lake Correctional reported on Dec. 14 that he received information about Suboxone, a narcotic pain reliever, being mailed to an inmate in the prison. A correctional officer was processing mail in the mailroom and noticed two letters for the inmate with raised spots where the stamps were placed on the letters. The correctional officer pealed away one of the stamps and saw the Suboxone below the stamp. The name on the return envelope was not Brown, but a phone call gave the correctional officers more information.

The phone call from Brown Jr. to his son came in Dec. 3. During the phone call, Browns son was telling him how to put the drug under stamp on the envelope.

Police spoke to Brown Jr. on Dec. 15 and according to the complaint, he promised not to send more drugs into the institution.
JUNEAU  A 32-year-old Horicon man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to committing a burglary at The Cooper Shop Saloon, 30 Main St., Kekoskee.

Lucas M. Mueller is charged with felony charges of burglary of a building and possession of burglarious tools, misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property, resisting an officer, theft, five charges of felony bail jumping and five charges of misdemeanor bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint, a Dodge County Sheriffs Deputy responded to the saloon March 18 at 10 a.m. about a burglary that occurred sometime during the night. A patio window was broken and money was missing from the bar. The money had been hidden, so the caller felt that the person knew where to get it.

When the deputy arrived he noticed that muddy footprints went directly to the room where the money was kept. The owners said they store their startup money for the next day in that room.

A female employee gave him a sheet of paper with Muellers name on it and said a male employee at the business might have something to do with the theft. The deputy also viewed security footage that showed a man walking up to the entry door around 5 a.m. March 18. His face was covered with a hat. He entered through the broken window. At one point, the man removed his hat and was crawling on the floor after apparently trying to find something he lost in the dark. He then got back up and faced the camera.

The employee who gave the name also went to Muellers home and took photos of the shoes that matched the ones in the video. She also felt the physical characteristics of Mueller were similar to those of the man on the video.

Police spoke to Mueller, who told them that he was too old to do something like that. Mueller also told officers that he could guarantee his shoes were not the ones in the video because they were one of a kind.

A telephone scheduling conference for the case is scheduled for May 10.
The Columbus School District has begun its search for a new director of pupil services.

Brian Johnson, who currently holds the post, will be resigning June 30, to take a position with the Mount Horeb School District.

At a School Board meeting April 10, Superintendent Annette Deuman said the district has 24 applicants for the job. Finalists were expected to be interviewed on Friday, April 21.

The district has also decided to repost the director of business services position, after a round of interviews in March. That position is being vacated by Nancy Liverseed who will be retiring at the end of the school year.

We still feel that theres a good candidate pool out there, Deuman said. We just have to find the right fit for us.

In other human resources news:

Two elementary school teachers will be resigning, effective June 30: Nikki Hill and Christine Adams.

Sonya Pavela has been hired as a full-time school psychologist for 2017-18.
By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Recasting intro)

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Apr 13 (PTI) Officials of Kheri district in India and Kanchanpur in Nepal have agreed to a joint survey of their boundaries to resolve border dispute.

This was agreed upon in writing by officials of the two countries during a meeting yesterday at Mahendranagar in Nepal, Kheri District Magistrate Akashdeep told newspersons here today.

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The pact envisages carrying out of a survey of the entire border between Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas of Nepal by a joint survey team, he said. PTI COR SAB SMI SMN SMN

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The town of Necedah moved forward on upcoming road work projects by approving construction bids at its April 10 meeting at town/village hall.

Town officials received three bids for pulverizing surfaces and selected the lowest, from Kraemer Brothers Construction in Plain, for $46,465.66 or $.62 per square yard.

For gravel filling, the town received two bids and selected Gerke Excavating from Tomah. The company will deliver 11,708 tons to the job site for $12.85 per ton, with some gravel also delivered to the town shop for a total price of $150,487. Board members decided to approve the lower bid. The town also plans to pay for seal coating work.

The board took several minutes to review the bids before making a decision. Board members toured local roads in March and selected certain ones for repair.

Camper ordinance on website

A town resident asked the board if the new, updated amendment to the camper ordinance has been uploaded to the municipalitys website.

Town Clerk Susan Kosinski said the amended ordinance is on the town site and includes amendments made on Feb. 13. The resident said it will be helpful to reference the new version to answer questions from people concerned about the ordinance.

After receiving criticism from town residents, the board decided to scale back on some of the ordinances provisions. Necedah had an old camper regulation in place since the mid-1970s, but decided to update it last year to reduce trash and waste dumping in effort to clean up properties.

Position needs to be filled

The town is still looking to replace retiring emergency management director Gerry Ganther. Ganther announced he was resigning at the towns March board meeting.

At the March meeting, Chairman Terry Taft said the position is important because the director works with county and state officials during an emergency, such as a tornado or large wildfire. Town/village hall has been equipped to serve as the Necedah areas central command center in the event of an emergency.

The town also decided to join the village of Necedah in efforts to expand broadband service. At its April 10 meeting, village officials approved a plan to support more high-speed internet access in the area. Rural broadband expansion is also being promoted by state officials. State Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) has included it in his Rural Wisconsin Initiative bill.

On April 11, Brooks said he held a recent listening session in Necedah and locals voiced concern over limited internet capabilities.

They want high-speed internet access because some of them own business up there and they depend on it to for their businesses to function efficiently, Brooks said.

In other business, the town will hold its annual electors meeting on April 18 at 7 p.m. at town/village hall. The April 4 election was dominated by incumbents, but will welcome new board supervisor Carl Bezemek who replaces Ginny Hodal.
A judge agreed to a request by the Columbia County District Attorneys Office to dismiss a 3-year-old drug charge against a Columbia Correctional Institution inmate, reserving the right to retry the case later.

Aaron Allen, 49, appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday in a hearing to discuss the withdrawal of his attorney and dismissal of his case, in which he was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Have you discussed this with Mr. Benavides? asked Judge Todd Hepler.

Not yet, said Allen, other than letting me know that he was withdrawing from the case.

And that is your desire that he withdraw from the case? said Hepler.

Your honor, said Allen, my desire is to have an attorney that can provide effective assistance counsel as it has been from day one. If he would like to withdraw, I have no problem with it.

Since being charged on April 9, 2014, Allen has been represented by four attorneys who either withdrew or passed his case along after moving outside the county. Ronald Benavides would be the fifth attorney, who after some disagreements, provided stand-by counsel in prior hearings.

What prompted my motion (to withdraw) was Mr. Allens instruction that he wanted me off his case and also concern at my decision not to call witnesses at the preliminary hearing, said Benavides. I really dont believe Mr. Allen would follow my advice. So ... I am obligated to withdraw.

On Feb. 1, 2013, while inmate Lanis Solomon was in the shower, CCI officers found four balloons, each containing about a gram of marijuana, that he had reportedly hidden in the cuffs of his pants.

Solomon told an officer that the balloons belonged to Allen, his cellmate, and were brought into the prison through Allens girlfriend. The investigating detective in the case, Michael Haverley of the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, testified as security video footage from that day was shown in court. In the video Lorita Hawthorne is shown visiting with Allen and interacting in a manner consistent with passing contraband, according to Haverly.

On Sept. 19, 2013, officers with the sheriffs department stopped Hawthorne as she was leaving CCI following a visit. Hawthornes vehicle was searched, and a dog indicated possible drugs, but none were found. She was then brought to Divine Savior Healthcare where she was strip-searched, with samples sent to the State Crime Lab.

Lab analysis found a suspected DNA match to Allen on the balloons, while powder taken from Hawthorne during the strip search came back negative for any drugs.

Allen disputed the criminal complaint at a Sept. 30, 2016, hearing, pointing to testimony from Solomon who he said had recanted prior statements.

Minutes before the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Crystal Long filed a new criminal complaint, stripped of mention of evidence that had been at issue, with DNA analysis included as a basis for probable cause.

Hepler on Jan. 12 found probable cause and Allen was bound over for trial. Later in the month, Long filed motions to dismiss both charges against Allen and Hawthorne, with the explicit expectation of refiling at a later time.

In Tuesdays hearing after Benavides was excused, Allen represented himself and was asked by the judge if he wanted the case dismissed.

I think that it should have been dismissed a long time ago, said Allen. But this case has been going on for four years now and all the delays have mainly been attributed to the state.

After serving 21 years in prison for armed robbery, Allen said, he is now eligible for parole, free of conduct reports, and with a reputation as a model inmate. Any chance of parole is not possible as long as there is a pending case.

Hepler asked if Allen or the prosecution opposed the motion to dismiss the charges. Neither did and the judge pronounced it dismissed without prejudice, which means it could be refiled. Allen asked the judge why.

Thats what the motion was and you didnt oppose the motion, said Hepler.
Finishing second out of 179 schools is as good as it sounds for Portage High Schools Future Business Leaders of America.

Fifteen students are on their way to FBLA nationals in Anaheim, California, in June after last weeks state competition in Appleton. Their success in Appleton helped the school place second overall, finishing behind only Menomonee Falls  a school with twice the number of competitors.

Portage also finished second overall at regionals in February, behind only Waunakee. But Portage beat Waunakee at state, noted Portages FBLA adviser, Jan Imhoff.

Im very proud of this, Imhoff said. I think its dedication. Our theme this year is A Legacy of Leadership, and I think thats what it has come down to. Portage FBLA has established a really good reputation around the state, and even at the national level.

We have some really talented, dedicated kids who are excited to keep this legacy going. They want to be part of it. They see what they can do from the kids who came before them, and push it farther, leaving a trail for others to follow as well.

Portage had the fourth largest chapter membership.

Four seniors are joined by 11 underclassmen in advancing to nationals. The seniors are Haley Schuster, who finished first in computer applications, and the team of Taya Briggs, Lien Weiss and Haley Tollison, who finished first in social media campaign.

Schuster, FBLA Portages president, also qualified for nationals as part of a team that finished second in annual business report and she placed second in Whos Who in FBLA. Finishing in second for Whos Whos means Schuster is the second-most decorated FBLAer in all of Wisconsin, an award that recognizes students for the number of conferences attended, places won competitively, offices held and committees served on.

At state, junior Emma Shortreed campaigned for  and won  a state officer position for next years FBLA, becoming Wisconsins new FBLA state secretary/treasurer. Her campaign, Imhoff said, involved everything from creating brochures to giving a speech on stage in front of 2,000 people. The rest of Portages FBLA chapter supported Shortreed with stickers, signs and chants of Vote for Emma Shortreed!  mindful to include her last name, since one of her competitors was also named Emma.

For her speech, Shortreed didnt shy from drama when she ditched the more traditional approach of addressing the audience from behind a podium. She right away took the cordless mic and went to middle of the stage, Imhoff said, and the audience went, Ooooh.

She nailed it. When she asked the audience at the end of her speech who they want to see as their next secretary/treasurer, they yelled, You!

Getting 15 qualifiers out of the schools 45 students for the trip to Anaheim is exciting for the program, Imhoff said. The last time FBLA went to Anaheim was in 2013, so the experience will be new for all the students. Students, for example, will see Hollywood and its iconic sign, Rodeo Drive  all the glitz and glamour of what you see on TV, and now you get to experience it.

Was it a surprise? Imhoff said of this years FBLA successes. Its always a surprise when they make it (to nationals) because you just never know. Theyre giving speeches and presentations, and its always subjective to the judges.
Warnings signals will soon come from a new source in Prairie du Sac.

The Prairie du Sac Village Board approved a proposal by American Signal out of Milwaukee for two warning signals at a cost of $39,131 during its board meeting April 11.

The village received three proposals for the sirens, from Federal Signal Safety and Security Systems, out of Illinois and the Colorado-based Sentry Siren Inc., in addition to American Signal.

The warning signals are used in cases of tornadoes or anytime there is a need for a mass notification.

Its a signal to take cover or get further information from your T.V. or radio or local emergency services, said Prairie du Sac Village Administrator Alan Wildman.

Where the signals would be placed has yet to be determined. Wildman said they wouldnt necessarily be located in the same place as the current signals.

The signals come with two-way communication technology which allows for remote testing of the sirens rotation and sound. It also allows the warning to go off even if power is out.

The company will also provide a one-year, free maintenance package, because American Signal is also used at the Prairie du Sac dam. The value of the maintenance plan is approximately $500.

There are three sirens in the village currently, Wildman said, and the two older ones wouldnt be replaced until the newer ones were installed.

The older two have lasted a long time and have done a good job, Wildman said. The new ones have battery backup, which we dont have right now. So if something happened that took out our electrical line, there would be no way to activate the warning siren.

The third siren located at the fire department would remain and continues to be maintained, he said.
India's second-largest IT services firm Infosys today reported a marginal growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,603 crore for the quarter ended March 2017.

By Press Trust of India: The country's second-largest IT services firm Infosys today reported a marginal growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,603 crore for the quarter ended March 2017.

Infosys will also pay up to Rs 13,000 crore to shareholders during 2017-18 by way of dividend and/or share buyback. It has named Independent Director Ravi Venkatesan co-Chairman of the company.

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Net profit came in 0.2 per cent higher than Rs 3,597 crore in the same period previous year, according to a BSE filing by Infosys.

Revenue of the Bengaluru-based company grew 3.4 per cent to Rs 17,120 crore in the March quarter compared to Rs 16,550 crore in the same period of 2015-16, it added.

The company expects its 2017-18 revenue to grow between 6.1 per cent and 8.1 per cent in dollar terms and 6.5-8.5 per cent in constant currency terms.

On a sequential basis, Infosys' net profit fell 2.8 per cent while revenue declined 0.9 per cent.

Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said, "Unanticipated execution challenges and distractions in a seasonally soft quarter affected our overall performance."

He added, "Looking ahead, it is imperative that we increase our resilience to the dynamics of our environment and we remain resolute in executing our strategy, path to transform Infosys and drive long term value for all stakeholders."

In US dollars, Infosys net profit was up 1.8 per cent at USD 543 million for the March quarter while revenue grew 5 per cent to USD 2.5 billion.

For the full year, net profit grew 4.3 per cent to USD 2.1 billion while revenue was up 7.4 per cent to USD 10.2 billion.

The board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per share for 2016-17.

Also Read

Compensation hike to Infosys COO grossly unfair to majority of other employees: Narayana Murthy Sensex vaults 213 pts ahead of economic data, earnings

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Snap Inc. is a social media company operating globally. The company was founded in September 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. Originally known as Snapchat, the company changed its name to Snap in order to represent its offerings better as it grew over the years. The companys headquarters are in Santa Monica, California and it is a very tightly held company. The original founders, Evan Speigel and Bobby Murphy own a combined 45% of non-dilutable shares with ownership transferable to the other upon death. The two remain active in the company today serving on the board and acting as CEO (Speigel) and CTO (Murphy).

The company was formerly known as Snapchat, Inc. and changed its name to Snap Inc. in September 2016. Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Over the years it has been courted by most of the big tech companies including Facebook and Google but has always opted to remain a standalone company. The business went public in 2017 and raised $30 billion on its opening day which is about 10 times the expected amount.

Today, Snap operates as a camera company internationally. The companys main revenue streams are Snapchat, a mobile app for cameras and communications, and Spectacles, a wearable augmented reality device. Snapchat is a camera app that allows users to take pictures and tell stories, the platform also permits ad sales which is an integral part of the revenue and earnings. The companys mission? To empower people to express themselves in todays digital world.

Spectacles is a hardware device that can connect with Snapchat to deliver pictures and video from a point-of-view perspective. The company has since made three upgrades to the original version and has a Next Generation model available too. The Next Generation of Spectacles are not intended for sale but will be made available to creators who wish to push the boundaries of video and digital communications.

In October 2022 the company reported it had more than 347milion daily active users with more than 250 million engaging with AR each day. The platform had more than 250,000 Lens creators (Lenses are AR experiences) with more than 2.5 million lenses created. There were more than 6 billion lens plays each day and more than 75% of 13-34-year-olds in 20 countries were users.
Nitish Rana has been on a roll for Mumbai Indians this IPL, smashing 34, 50 and 45. He has starred in both victories for the two-time champions so far.

By India Today Web Desk: Nitish Rana has become an overnight batting sensation. This season, the 23-year-old is Mumbai Indians' most consistent batsman in a line-up that boasts of a galaxy of stars.

Rana, with scores of 34, 50 and 45 so far aggregates 129 runs, has bailed the two-time champions out of trouble constantly. (Also read: Mumbai Indians not using Rohit Sharma well in middle order: Sourav Ganguly to India Today)

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Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rana's classy half-century took MI closer home before Hardik Pandya's fireworks took the team across the line.

On Wednesday, MI were again in a spot of bother against Sunrisers Hyderabad before Rana plundered invaluable runs - however, this time he was overtaken by another Pandya as Mumbai secured an important win, their second in three matches.(Also read: Pandya brothers have the license to thrill from MI captain Rohit Sharma)

Rana of course made a name for himself last year in the IPL, when he played four matches but left nobody in any doubt of his talent with a seamless 70. That innings gave the team management enough confidence to give him a key role in the team - that of a middle-order destroyer and finisher.

By all accounts, Rana has done the job with a lot of aplomb.

Before the IPL, Rana had been through a torrid time, with 10 runs in three Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. He did not enjoy a great run in the Inter-State Twenty20 tournament either.

For a young man, trying to make his mark on the big stage, that was obviously a depressing run.

"When I was playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I was mentally disturbed. I came here and spoke to Sachin Tendulkar and Mahela Jayawardene. I spoke to a lot of seniors in the team. There was no fault in my technique but the issue was more of the mindset. I realized I was overthinking," Rana told iplt20.com.

Rana said speaking to two of the most iconic batsmen of their times made an immediate difference.

"We have a clear thought process. I am now clear in my mind. I exactly know what I need to do when I am out there in the middle. Today, there was some pressure but the way Krunal Pandya (37 off 20) came out and played, it eased the pressure off me.

"You can see the improvement day by day. There has been a huge change in my batting and the mindset from last season. I get to learn so much when I talk to them," he said.

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By Press Trust of India: Pak

(Eds: Updating with details)

New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) India has no information on retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs location in Pakistan or his condition, the external affairs ministry said today, noting that it is in touch with the government there on this "immensely important" issue.

It is also understood that India, which has been denied consular access to Jadhav 13 times, has again moved a request for access to him.

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Asserting that the whole countrys sentiment is with Jadhav, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the government will not spare any effort in securing justice for the "kidnapped innocent" Indian national but refused to divulge details.

The 46-year-old Jadhav has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities.

Baglay criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhavs location and details of his condition, adding that the international norm is consular access, and India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

He also referred to Indias demarche to Pakistan where it was clearly conveyed that given the circumstances of the case which includes kidnapping of Jadhav, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against him, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider this as a "premeditated murder".

He also quoted the external affairs ministers statement in the Rajya Sabha where she had warned Pakistan of consequences of Jadhavs issue on bilateral ties.

She had also talked about Pakistan asking India to assist in the investigations against Jadhav in January.

"The Parliament of India has spoken in one voice, the whole countrys sentiments are with Jadhav... The government is trying its best to ensure justice to Jadhav. At the moment, we are engaged in achieving this objective but I would not like to speculate on the future steps, specifically," the spokesperson said.

The government is in touch with Pakistan through the Indian High Commission on this "immensely important" issue, he added.

Baglay said Jadhav is an innocent Indian who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy and these two things were conveyed to Pakistan in March, 2016 when issue of his "illegal custody there came to our attention".

On reports of Jadhav carrying a fake identity or original Indian passport, Baglay said, "We cannot ascertain anything since we did not have any consular access. What kind of spy keeps an original passport, especially if he is going on so called spying mission.

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"These facts are illogical and create doubts over allegation of his being a spy... We need to know how he came to be in Pakistan in the first place."

India has been maintaining that Jadhav, who had legal business interest in Iran, was kidnapped by Pakistan authorities.

The trial of Jadhav was "opaque and farcical", no due process was followed and all legal norms and international relations were defied, Baglay said.

The issue has triggered fresh tension in Indo-Pak ties and India has warned Pakistan of the "consequences" Jadhavs hanging could have on their ties and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid pervasive outrage in the country.

He also said there was no information on capturing of any Pakistani army officer and termed as "speculative" some of the options including swapping of prisoners to get him released.

Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhavs family going for appeal against the verdict.

India had even spoken to the Iran government about Jadhav as he had a legal business pertaining to Chhabahar port there.

Baglay said he has no idea what progress has the investigation made, when asked about the status of the probe ordered by Iran last year.

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Asked about if the US NSA was visiting India and if Jadhavs issue will come up apart from a possible America trip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said he does not have information on the date for NSA of the US.

"If and when it takes place, I am sure his discussion with our NSA and other meetings will cover prominently the situation in the region, most importantly in Afghanistan and also the threat of terrorism which emanates within our region from a specific country which effects the entire region.

"This will obviously be on priority. I cannot decide what the two dignitaries will discuss. But generally speaking the sense is that regional situation will help both the countries to consolidate this partnership," he said. PTI PYK ZMN

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Jallianwala Bagh centenary in 2019 will be a 'good time' for the British to apologise to the Indians for wrongs committed during their rule, said Shashi Tharoor (Congress MP and author).

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: It was exactly 98 years ago that the ghastly Jallianwala Bagh massacre had taken place on Baisakhi.

However, Britain, which colonised India for 200 years, is yet to tender an apology for the incident and similar such excesses committed by its forces on the native people.

While Canada has apologised for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident and Japan has said sorry to South Korea over the Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during the World War II, the UK has yet to express any such sentiments.

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The Jallianwala Bagh massacre had taken place in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. On hearing that a meeting of nearly 20,000 people was taking place at Jallianwala Bagh, Brigadier General REH Dyer had ordered 50 riflemen to shoot at the crowd.

More than 1,000 innocent Indians were killed and over 1,100 injured. Though Britain has described the incident as "shameful", it has fallen far short of tendering an apology.

In 2013, former British Prime Minister David Cameron described the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as a "deeply shameful event". But he did not apologise for it.

MERE LIP SERVICE, NO APOLOGY YET FROM BRITAIN

Earlier, during their ceremonial visit to Jallianwala Bagh in 1997, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh merely signed on the visitor's book. They did not leave any comment, leave aside, even regretting the incident.

Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor is of the view that the Jallianwala Bagh centenary in 2019 would be a "good time" for the UK to apologise to Indians for the excesses committed during their 200-odd rule.

While speaking on his book 'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire In India' before inaugurating the Kolkata Literary Festival-2017, had said, "Either the British Prime Minister or a member of the royal family can come and convey their own profound apologies to the people of India, not just for that atrocity (Jallianwala Bagh massacre) but for all wrongs done during the empire."

Tharoor pointed out that one cannot quantify the wrongs done by the Britishers. He is of the opinion that an apology would be far more important than any financial compensation.

CANADA APOLOGISED FOR 1914 KOMAGATA MARU INCIDENT

While it is still uncertain whether the Britishers would act contrite for the excesses committed by them, Canada apologised for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident where hundreds of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim immigrants were denied entry into that country and turned away from the port of Vancouver to return to an uncertain and ultimately violent fate in India.

In May 2016, almost 102 years after Canada turned away over 376 migrants, mostly Sikhs from India, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologised in Parliament for the "great injustice" that had happened due to discriminatory laws of the time.

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Trudeau apologised in the House of Commons for the 1914 decision by the then Canadian government to turn away the migrants onboard the ship Komagata Maru after their arrival in Vancouver.

Komagata Maru sailed into Vancouver harbour on May 23, 1914 from Hong Kong, but most of the passengers were eventually turned away on the grounds of the "continuous journey clause" that allowed only travellers on a trip without interruption to land in Canada.

After two months in limbo in the harbour, the ship was escorted out of the harbour by the military. It returned to India and on its arrival, at least 19 people were killed in a skirmish with British soldiers, while others were jailed.

JAPAN'S APOLOGY TO SOUTH KOREA FOR COMFORT WOMEN

In December 2015, Japan apologised to South Korea for having forced the latter's women into sexual slavery during the World War II. The Korean women had been enslaved by Japan for its soldiers.

Japan had colonised Korea from 1910-45.

The sensitive issue had remained a sore point in relations between the two East Asian countries for decades before they reached a landmark deal. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a statement to apologise and express remorse "from the heart for all the people suffering hard-to-cure wounds and many pains" physically and psychologically.

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He had said in the comfort women issue, many women under the then military's involvement bore deep scars to their honour and dignity. From this perspective, his statement said, the Japanese government acutely feels responsible.

Besides expressing its regret, contrition and apology for its colonial-era sexual enslavement of Korean women, Japan also agreed to provide 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) for a foundation to be established by South Korea to support the surviving victims.

WILLY BRANDT APOLOGY FOR NAZI CRIMES

In December 1970, German social democrat leader Willy Brandt went on his knees in front of the monument to the Jews who had rebelled in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Though he was in no way related to the crimes of the Nazis, Brandt apologised on their behalf during a visit to Poland.

Shashi Tharoor and the likes of him would only hope that the UK takes a cue from Canada, Japan and Germany to apologise to India for the inhuman treatment of the native people during their rule.

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This may go a long way in strengthening ties between the two countries.

ALSO READ | No country will leave EU after Brexit, bloc chief Juncker asserts

ALSO READ | Canadian Prime Minister on rejecting Sikhs in 1914: I will offer a full apology

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The electoral loss for the BJP in the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls puts a question mark on state unit chief Yeddyurappa's style of functioning and this may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the BJP.

By Prabhash K Dutta: The Karnataka BJP went into the bypolls of Nanjangud an Gundlupet saying that the elections would show the mood of people in the state and give an early indication of a change of government when election takes place next year.

But, the results belied their expectations. The BJP lost both the Assembly segments in the bypolls. But, for the central leadership of the BJP, the results may have given it an opportunity to correct the wrongs of the faction-ridden state unit.

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Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa led the election campaign and prepared strategies for the two bypolls ignoring the views of his party colleagues including his biggest rival Eshwarappa.

Yeddyurappa had launched the campaign for the by-election projecting himself as the BJP chief ministerial candidate for the 2018-Assembly poll in Karnataka.

YEDDYURAPPA SHADOWED BJP

The former Karnataka Chief Minister is, undoubtedly, the biggest mass leader of the BJP in the state but his style of functioning has encouraged infighting in the party.

After the 2013 Assembly election, when the BJP lost power in Karnataka, the party lost its prime position in the state. The BJP had expelled Yeddyurappa from the party ahead of the Assembly election.

Yeddyurappa went on to form his own political outfit and contested the polls. Though Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) won only six seats in the Assembly election in 2013, it reduced the BJP's tally from 110 to 40.

Yeddyurappa came back to the BJP fold ahead of 2014-Lok Sabha elections. The BJP won 17 Lok Sabha seats. Yeddyurappa won from Shimoga parliamentary constituency.

Ironically, in 2013, Eshwarappa had lost his Shimoga Assembly seat to the Congress.

YEDDYURAPPA BREEDS INFIGHTING IN BJP

The electoral success in 2014 established Yeddyurappa as the premier BJP leader in Karnataka. But, his return also ignited the old rivalry with Eshwarappa.

The differences between Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa began during the first BJP government in Karnataka during 2008-13. Eshwarappa complained about autocratic ways of Yeddyurappa. The then CM was accused of treating his party and cabinet colleagues as 'subordinates'.

The re-entry of Yeddyurappa and subsequent success of the BJP only emboldened the former Karnataka CM. This resulted in intensified infighting in the BJP.

The latest flashpoint between the two top leaders of the BJP was the issue of participation in the Sangolli Rayana Brigade - a movement launched by Eshwarappa on the freedom fighter from the 18th century to mobilise backward class votes.

In January this year, Yeddyurappa asked the BJP leaders to stay away from the function while Eshwarappa lobbied for wider participation. Yeddyurappa as the BJP state chief prevailed but Eshwarappa camp was left unhappy and non-cooperative.

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As many as 24 MLAs of the party wrote to the central leadership complaining against Yeddyurappa.

CASTE BASE OF YEDDYURAPPA, ESHWARAPPA

Yeddyurappa belongs to Lingayat community of Karnataka. Lingayats are considered politically significant as they tend to vote en bloc. The election results of 2013-Assembly and 2014-Lok Sabha polls make the BJP believe in the theory more than ever.

Eshwarappa belongs to Kuruba community, who are considered backward. The BJP has been canvassing in Karnataka to widen its base among the backward castes and Eshwarappa is crucial for the party in its search for new grounds of support.

The BJP can't risk losing any of the two caste leaders. But, a strong and 'autocratic' Yeddyurappa is detrimental to the BJP's prospects in the elections as he might push backward communities away. Eshwarappa has openly accused Yeddyurappa of being anti-backward caste. The results of Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls fit in the theory.

The bypoll loss also means that Yeddyurappa's political stature will take a beating. The central leadership of the BJP can now ask Yeddyurappa to take Eshwarappa and other leaders along as the party eyes a comeback in Bengaluru next year.

Interestingly, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also a Kuruba leader and enjoys support of minorities and Dalits as well.

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ALSO READ |

Nanjangud, Gundlupet stay with Congress as BJP tastes defeat in Karnataka bypolls

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The site of the proposed water treatment plant at Jillson and Sharkey avenues could also become home to a solar panel farm.
Exelon and JAPC form joint venture, Horizon welcomes move

13 April 2017

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Exelon Generation and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) have formed a joint venture company "to leverage Exelon's expertise in operational excellence and safety among international operators using Japanese reactor technologies". The new company, JExel Nuclear, is expected to sign an "advisory services" contract with Horizon Nuclear Power - Hitachi's UK subsidiary that is developing two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs) at Wylfa Newydd in Wales.

Horizon, JAPC and Hitachi signed a technical services contract in July last year for the proposed plant at Wylfa Newydd, which is on the Isle of Anglesey. According to that contract, JAPC is to support Horizon in areas including construction costing, licensing, and planning for commissioning. Then, in February this year, Horizon announced it was joining forces with Exelon Generation as Horizon develops its "expertise and capability" to operate a new nuclear power plant at Wylfa Newydd.

Chris Crane, Exelon president and CEO, said today that the Exelon Nuclear Management Model is "widely regarded as the gold standard for world-class nuclear power operations". The joint venture with JAPC is "a significant business development opportunity" to license Exelon's nuclear operations expertise internationally, Crane added. "Together we will help other nuclear developers and operators around the globe create a new generation of even safer, more reliable and more efficient nuclear power plants," he said.

Mamoru Muramatsu, JAPC president, said the company has experience in the successful operation of multiple reactors in Japan built by British, American, and Japanese vendors, as well as experience designing the ABWR. "Therefore, we will make an excellent team with Exelon that has a very impressive track record over decades in the USA, by complementing each other's expertise that will allow the joint venture to best support our customers," Muramatsu added.

JExel Nuclear will provide advisory, operating and maintenance management services to nuclear power plant developers and operators around the world utilising Japanese reactor technologies, according to the statement. The new company will provide full implementation of the Exelon Nuclear Management Model or work with project owners to customise the model to their requirements, it said.

Exelon Generation and JAPC each own 50% of JExel Nuclear and each have two board members. The four directors for JExel Nuclear will be: Takahiko Hida, managing director of JAPC; Toshihiro Komeno, general manager of JAPC; Mike Pacilio, executive vice president and COO of Exelon Generation; and Ralph Hunter, vice president of Exelon Generation and COO of Exelon Nuclear Partners. Takahiko Hida will serve as the CEO.

Welcome development



Horizon welcomed the formation of JExel Nuclear, which it said will support the company as it continues to progress its nuclear new build project at Wylfa Newydd.

Duncan Hawthorne, Horizon CEO said: "We are delighted that two of the companies with whom we are already working closely have come together to provide us with such a strong and consolidated service. We look forward to continuing to draw on their combined knowledge and experience of the global nuclear industry as we successfully deliver Wylfa Newydd and grow Horizon into a new, leading nuclear operator."

Since announcing their partnership in February, Exelon has embedded a team of four specialists at Horizon. "Working alongside Horizon's own growing team, they are providing expertise in engineering, maintenance, operations and training, as Horizon develops its own nuclear operating model," Horizon said.

Its partnership with JAPC draws on the Japanese company's experience and know-how gained from many years of involvement with boiling water reactors, covering design, construction, operation and maintenance, Horizon said. JAPC oversaw the construction of Japan's first light water reactor and is supporting Horizon in areas such as construction costing, licensing, and planning for commissioning, it added.

Japanese news agency Nikkei reported today that JAPC "will expand its services to operation and maintenance" at Wylfa Newydd through the new joint venture, but Horizon has always made it clear that it alone will be the operator of the plant. The technical services contract Horizon, Hitachi and JAPC signed last year states that JAPC will have an advisory role as Horizon develops its own operating model.

Nikkei also reported that JExel Nuclear will be headquartered in Japan and be capitalised at 10 million ($91,500).

Horizon announced on 4 April it had applied for a nuclear site licence for the proposed development of the Wylfa Newydd plant, while the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales said on 22 March they expect to complete the Generic Design Assessment of the UK ABWR in December. A site licence meanwhile is one of the main permissions a developer needs to build and operate a new nuclear power plant and Horizon said receipt of the application by the ONR "now triggers a rigorous 19-month program of assessment and intervention to establish whether Horizon can demonstrate it will be in control of all safety related activities on its site".

Exelon Generation's chief nuclear officer, Bryan Hanson, told delegates at the 19th annual ELECTRIC POWER Conference this week in Chicago, that nuclear power has a vital role in the USA's clean energy future. In a keynote speech on 11 April, Hanson said power generators must adapt, innovate and advocate for policy reforms to survive and grow in today's challenging power markets. "Efficiency improvements and new technologies are making our facilities safer, cleaner and more effective, but operating our nuclear units safely and reliably isnt enough anymore," Hanson said. "We have to adapt, innovate and advocate for the value of our people and our plants."

In January, Horizon said it had been awarded a licensee certificate by Bureau Veritas for the procurement of equipment required for the Wylfa Newydd plant. The certificate is verification that organisations yet to be granted a nuclear site licence have suitable management systems, quality arrangements and supply chain practices in place before the purchase of any nuclear safety related equipment or services.

Horizon was formed in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. It was acquired by Hitachi Ltd of Japan in November 2012. The company is developing plans to build at least 5400 MWe of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire. The company has said its nuclear power plant sites will employ 850 people each once operational, and have a construction workforce of between 8000 and 10,000.

Exelon Generation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, owns a generating capacity of more than 32,500 MWe. It operates the largest nuclear power fleet in the USA, with 19,400 Mwe of capacity from 22 reactors at 13 facilities in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

JAPC was established in November 1957 as a power company solely engaged in nuclear power in Japan. JAPC owns Tokai Power Station, a gas-cooled reactor that is currently under decommissioning; Tokai No.2 Power Station, a BWR; and Tsuruga Power Station, which comprises a BWR (unit 1) and a pressurised water reactor (Unit 2). Advanced-PWRs are under construction at its Tsuruga site.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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NRC confirms cleanup actions at New Mexico site

13 April 2017

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The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a Confirmatory Order to Homestake Mining Co of California outlining actions to be taken as part of an ongoing groundwater cleanup program at the site of a former uranium mill in New Mexico.

The mill, at a site near Grants, processed uranium for several local mines between 1958 and 1990. Tailings from milling operations were placed in two piles. In 1975 it was discovered that seepage from the tailings piles had contaminated groundwater, and a groundwater protection plan was implemented from 1977. The mill itself was decommissioned and demolished between 1993 and 1995.

The site, which is also under the oversight of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Superfund program, is undergoing a major groundwater corrective action plan under an NRC licence. Site closure is estimated for 2022.

The Confirmatory Order issued by the NRC finalises and makes legally binding commitments made by Homestake to address apparent violations of the NRC-approved corrective action progam. The violations, discovered by the NRC during records inspections between October 2014 and May 2016, include the discharge of water that exceeded site standards; the discharge of water containing byproduct material to unauthorised locations; failure to obtain liquid effluent samples and report the results; and the injection of water using a method inconsistent with the approved program.

The NRC noted that Homestake took immediate corrective actions to comply with the regulator's requirements. "The NRC has no immediate public health and safety concerns, because the apparent violations did not result in the public being exposed to contaminated groundwater," it said yesterday.

Homestake has agreed, through a mediated dispute resolution process, to further commitments to bring it into compliance with NRC requirements. A root cause protocol, which will be submitted for review to the NRC and an "independent third party", will be used to analyse the reasons for the violations and identify additional further corrective actions. The company will also assess all its activities, including a review of its safety culture, to determine their compliance with NRC requirements. Homestake will submit a revised groundwater program to the NRC by the end of 2018.

According to the EPA, the large tailings impoundment at the Homestake site covers an area of about 200 acres (81 hectares) and is about 85-100 feet (26-30 metres) high. It contains an estimated 21 million tonnes of mill tailings. The small tailings impoundment covers an area of about 40 acres and is 20-25 feet high, containing about 1.2 million tonnes of tailings. Seepage from the two tailings impoundments has resulted in the contamination of the underlying groundwater aquifers. The current remedial program consists of a groundwater collection/injection system, tailings collection wells within the tailings impoundment, a tailings impoundment toe drain, a reverse osmosis treatment plant, and three evaporation ponds.

Homestake Mining Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada-based Barrick Gold Corporation following a merger in 2001.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News



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What Is The Historic Town Of Lunenburg?

Lunenburg is located on the southern coast of the province of Nova Scotia in Canada. The town was founded in 1753 during the Father Le Loutre War as the first attempt by the British to replace the Indigenous and Acadian Catholic populations with Protestant settlers. Today, the historic district of Lunenburg is considered to be the most well-preserved example of a planned British community in North America. In fact, it is one of only two urban areas in North America that have been established as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Why Is Lunenburg A UNESCO World Heritage Site?

This historic town has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for many reasons, primarily because it has maintained its original appearance and grid-like design. Many of the buildings here reflect the typical wooden British architecture of the 18th century. The local government and residents have made every effort over the years to preserve these homes and public buildings. A visit to this city allows tourists to walk back in time and appreciate the colorful exteriors of architectural tradition.

Its coastal location has heavily influenced the local economy, which relies on the Atlantic fishing industry. The port of the city is filled with tall boats, adding to its charming appearance. The original urban planning is still reflected in this area of the city and it has remained unchanged since it was first established. This lack of significant change to the layout of the city is because its grid-like design has remained useful to the needs of the local community and economy.

The only thing missing from the original city is the British fortifications, once used for military purposes. No visible ruins remain. Aside from this, experts agree that Lunenburg is an authentic British colonial town in its architecture, materials, functions, and setting. Not only are the streets laid out in a rectangular and organized fashion, but the city design also incorporated centralized public areas and important community buildings, which are still in use today.

Management Of Lunenburg

Management of the historic district of Lunenburg is somewhat demanding on the local population. This is because property owners are faced with the challenge of affording maintenance costs while remaining true to historical accuracy in building representations. Restoration efforts are regulated by several government acts. This area of Lunenburg has been recognized as historically valuable since 1989 when it was first protected under the Heritage Property Act. Since then, the government has enacted various pieces of legislation in an attempt to ensure it retains its original appearance. Some of these protective measures include registration as a National Historic Site in 1991 and protection under the Municipal Government Act of 1998. These two regulations allowed for the creation of the Heritage Conservation District Plan, Bylaw, and Guidelines in 2001, which helps guide the community and private property owners in the complex management of a World Heritage Site. Constant efforts to maintain the towns integrity and authenticity are undertaken by the local and national government. In 2010, the local government published the Lunenburg Heritage Public Sustainability Strategy to offer development guidance and to identify potential tourism benefits that could boost the towns economy.
The Rideau Canal was designated as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2007, recognized as a historical and recreational heritage. It has been a National Historic site in Canada since 1925. The 125.5 miles long waterway acts as a link between the city of Ottawa and the city of Kingston, Ontario. The word Rideau translates to curtain in French and it was named from the curtain-like appearance formed where the Rideau Rivers twin waterfalls meet the Ottawa River. The canal is also informally known as the Rideau Waterway.

History Of The The Rideau Canal

The plan to build the canal was conceived after the War of 1812 was fought between the Americans and the British. The Americans had wanted to launch an attack in the British Colony of Upper Canada by way of the St. Lawrence River. Had the American intention been executed, the lifeline between Kingston and Montreal would have been jeopardized. The Rideau Canal was intended to connect Montreal and Kingston to facilitate secure supply and establish a communication route. St. Lawrence River bordered the American State of New York, and the British wanted to bypass it altogether. Lieutenant-Colonel John By, a member of the Royal Engineers, was tasked with the canals supervision. The construction was done by numerous private contractors and thousand of French-Canadian and Irish laborers. Work to build the canal began in 1826 ending in 1832. No military engagements took place between the Americans and the British after the canal was built, but it became an essential element to the development of Canada. It facilitated the transportation of immigrants as well as goods.

The Rideau Waterway

In addition to using a section of the Rideau and Cataraqui Rivers, the Canal also incorporates parts of some lakes such as the Big Rideau and the Lower Lakes. Of the 125.5miles length of the canal, about 12 miles is human-made. The Canal has facilitated the development of several communities along its path including Portland, Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Kingston, Kars, and the Rideau Ferry. Other communities are linked by navigable waterways to the canal include Perth and Kemptville. Built along the canal are 45 locks at 23 stations in addition to two locks located at the entry point to the Tay Canal. The majority of the locks are still hand-operated. The canal was built to accommodate boats of up to 22 feet in height, 90 feet in length, 26 feet in width and with a draft of 4 ft 11 inches. However, the canal can accommodate a boat of up to 30 ft in width and 110 ft in length in special operations.

Uses Of The Rideau Canal

The channel is primarily used by pleasure boats. Boat tours can be arranged in Kingston, Chaffeys Lock, Ottawa, and Merrickville. During winter, part of the Rideau Canal along central Ottawa attracts tourists as the largest skating rink in the world. It stretches for 4.8 miles and also hosts the Winterlude festival in Ottawa. This skating rink is unique since it occurs naturally, a fact that led to its recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records. The rink operates 24 hours a day between January and March.
Congress beat defection of the sitting MLA at Nanjangud seat in Karnataka as it secures a morale-boosting victory in the bypoll. The BJP gave a fight at Gundlupet but the ruling party managed to retain the seat.

By India Today Web Desk: Congress has won both Najangud and Gundlupet seats in Karnataka, where bypolls were held. The BJP has termed the results of Nanjangud and Gundlupet as 'unexpexcted'. Both the seats were held by the Congress.

Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy defeated BJP's Srinivas Prasad in Nanjangud while Geeta Mahadev Prasad defeated her rival CS Niranjan Kumar at Gundlupet.

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Keshvamurthy maintained a consistent lead through rounds. By the end of the sixth round, it had become clear that Kalale Keshavamurthy will win the Nanjangud seat.

He was leading the Nanjangud seat with nearly 36,000 votes in comparison to BJP candidate Srinivas Prasad, who had polled little les than 20,000 votes by the end of the sixth round of countinv.

In the Gundlupet bypoll, the BJP gave better fight but Congress was steadily marching ahead. At the end of eighth round of counting, Congress candidate Geeta Mahadev Prasad was leading with 45,489 votes while the BJP candidate Niranjan Kumar trailed with 41,665 votes.

The bypolls of Nanjangud and Gundlupet were seen in Karnataka as the semi-final before the next year's Assembly election as the Siddaramaiah government completes its term.

The BJP had campaigned aggressively treating the bypolls as early predictions for the next year's election.

Incidentally, it was the defection by V Srinivas Prasad that created vacancy at the Nanjangud Assembly constituency. Prasad joined the BJP recently after he was removed from the ministry by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. But, it seems Congress has managed to shift its anti-incumbency with Prasad to the BJP.

Kalale Keshavamurthy had contested the last Assembly election on the ticket of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's JD-S, which did not filed a candidate in the bypoll.

Congress candidate from Gundlupet Geeta Mahadev Prasad is the wife of later Congress MLA Mahadev Prasad.

ALSO READ |

Bypoll results LIVE: BJP wins in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Assam; Congress in Karnataka

--- ENDS ---
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According to global real estate advisory firm JLL, the amount of office space that has been occupied in Dublin in q1 of 2017 has totaled close to 550,000 sq. ft across a total of 40 deals. This is a steady level of take-up, and compared to the same period last year is up 11%.Demand has been strongest from tech-based companies, accounting for 45% of space occupied, with companies such as Google, Informatica, Multifonas, Oracle and Citrix occupying space since January.On the supply side, the vacancy rate remains steady at 8.9%, with tighter supply in the city centre of 4.8% of total space. Hannah Dwyer, Head of Research at JLL said, "In addition to the space that is currently vacant, there is an impressive pipeline of space coming on stream through redevelopment and refurbishment activity. There is currently 3.2 million sq. ft of available office space under construction in Dublin which will be delivered in the in the next 18 months. This equates to approximately 25,000 jobs. 76% of this is in the city centre including large schemes such as Boland's Quay, Capital Dock, SOBO District, 1 GQ, and The Exchange. With the amount of space leased in Dublin the last 2 years totaling between 2.5 million and 3.0 million sq. ft, this space only meets 1 years' demand. In addition to this however, there is an additional 3 years' supply in various stages of planning."Hannah further commented, "After the Brexit vote back in June, there was an initial flurry of enquiries from London-based companies looking for office space. This was just in the form of desk-based enquiries on rents and availability. In the last few months however, enquiries have picked up momentum with companies now making site and building visits over to Dublin and undertaking due diligence. JLL is working with a number of clients who are seriously considering a move to Dublin as part of their strategy, so enquires are now translating into real post-Brexit activity. We are expecting to see some direct Brexit-related deals signing in the next 3 months. Dublin is not being considered in isolation, and is in fact being considered alongside other European cities. Our stiffest competition appears to be coming from Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and Madrid. In terms of sectors, we are seeing greatest demand from UK-based financial companies and related services, and tech firms. Sizes are ranging from space for 150 people up to 1,000 people, with only a few at the larger end of this scale."
Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba

By: Alexis Bell WorldWideWeirdNews.com

(Scroll down for video) The former governor of a state in Mexico, was arrested in Italy, after being sought by the United States for several years, according to police in Italy.

Florence police said that they have arrested 59-year-old Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, after being accused of working with drug cartels to sell drugs in the United States.

Police in Italy, arrested the former governor of the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico, after he was sought by police in Mexico and the United States.

After six years as governor, Tamaulipas fled the country. He was found in Italy, and had a false passport with a different name in his possession.

He was caught after being seen eating at a restaurant in Piazza della Signoria.

According to prosecutors in Texas, Yarrington and Fernando Alejandro Cano Martinez, 61, who was the owner of a Mexican construction firm, conspired to violate the provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute.

The two men were also charged with conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to make false statements to federally insured U.S. banks.

Yarrington is also separately charged with a conspiracy to violate the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, two substantive bank fraud charges, and a conspiracy to structure currency transactions at a domestic financial institution, while Cano is separately charged with three counts of bank fraud.

According to the indictment, Yarrington received large bribes from major drug traffickers operating in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, including the Gulf Cartel.

In return, Yarrington allegedly allowed them to operate their large scale enterprises freely, which included the smuggling of large quantities of drugs to the United States for distribution.

Yarrington allegedly became involved in the smuggling of large amounts of cocaine through the Port of Veracruz into the United States.

In Mexico, the former governor has been charged with money-laundering and organized crime.
By Sahil Joshi: Bombay High Court senior lawyer Yug Chaudhry has written a petition addressed to the President of Pakistan seeking mercy for former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been awarded capital punishment by a military court of the country. Chaudhry is known for taking up cases where the neglected people from lower strata of the society have been victims of law enforcement agencies or government apathy.

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This is not the first mercy petition filed by Chaudhry. In October 2012, he filed a similar petition seeking mercy for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab who was awarded capital punishment by various courts of India. There were around 202 signatories who signed the petition which was then addressed to President of India. Chaudhry has once again appealed to the same signatories and some others to join him in seeking mercy for Jadhav.

In the petition he says, "We, the undersigned citizens of India, had hitherto by our petition dated 28th October 2012, pleaded with the President of India for granting mercy to Md. Ajmal Kasab, a citizen of Pakistan sentenced to death by the Indian courts for his role in the 26/11 attacks on the city of Mumbai. We now appeal to you, Your Excellency, to exercise your power of clemency in favour of an Indian citizen, Kulbhushan Jadhav, and to spare his life."

The petition further reads, "We believe that it is wrong and immoral to kill a human being by way of revenge or punishment. Executing Kulbhushan Jadhav in the name of the citizens of Pakistan will only feed a base blood lust that will make our people more blood-thirsty, vengeful and violent."

"We believe that all of us - the best and the worst - are in need of mercy, and it is only by showing mercy that, morally, we ourselves become entitled to receiving it. Bereft of mercy, society becomes impoverished and inhuman. If we have to become a more humane and compassionate society, and leave a better, and less blood-thirsty world behind for our children, we have to curb our instinct for bloody retribution and abandon the practice of killing those who have hurt us" says Chaudhry in the petition seeking clemency for Jadhav.

The petition finally concludes saying, "In a country whose people believe in the Koran which exalts compassion as the foremost virtue, let it not be said that there is no place left in people's hearts for mercy or that the national conscience can only be satisfied by the killing of Kulbhushan Jadhav".

The signatories who had earlier signed the petition include prominent journalists and social workers from Mumbai and other parts of the country.

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Also Read:

Kulbhushan Jadhav, not the first Indian to be tried and condemned to death by Pakistan

Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Braj locals want govt to 'teach Pakistan a lesson it won't forget'

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Pakistan sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death accusing him of espionage

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, a senior on the WSU cheer squad, is always on the move. You can find the Olympia native on her way to Cougar sporting events, cheer practice, class, and most recently, around the globe.After studying abroad in Costa Rica last year, Briggs  a pre-med student, double-majoring in Spanish  knew it was time to combine her passion for travel, languages, and medicine."In Costa Rica, it was the time of my life," Briggs said. "It was so amazing. But I also really saw the need for medicine outside of the U.S., and it gave me a heart to serve. I thought, 'Wow. I want to go abroad somewhere and actually use my Spanish and the medical knowledge I've gotten so far, for a good cause.'"That's where Hearts in Motion came in. The non-profit organization teams up with colleges and universities around the country each year  including a group from WSU  to provide assistance in medical and dental clinics, hospitals, and orphanages around Zacapa, Guatemala."It was kind of perfect," Briggs said of Hearts in Motion. "It was for people going into medicine, for Spanish speakers, and it had everything that I wanted, so I applied right away."The only thing that could make a dream volunteer trip to Guatemala that much more significant was taking a special nurse, and Briggs' long-time role model, along for the ride."When given the opportunity to apply for the program, I asked if my mom could join me as a volunteer nurse," Briggs said. "The organization [Hearts in Motion] was happy to have her and I both. I was translating for her and watching her diagnose people, which was really awesome."Hearts in Motion is a non-profit organization that focuses on a variety of community health projects in Guatemala. The Cougar 10-day portion of the year-round effort is led in part by WSU faculty members Ana Maria Rodriguez-Vivaldi and Kathy Beerman, and includes roughly 25 WSU-Pullman students.WSU contributes to Heart in Motion's mission by dedicating a large portion of time to cleft palate surgical repair for underprivileged children."These kids wait the whole year for our WSU group to come and do this, because their parents can't afford it on their own," Briggs said. "I would wait with them, and explain to them what was going to happen, and comfort them. But they were fearless. I never saw them cry or anything, and they were so grateful to be there. They were calm and excited to have their surgery done."And those kids in Guatemala never went through the operation alone. After the procedure, a new chapter in life and a familiar face, awaited."I got to wake the kids up after they were coming out of anesthesia and tell them 'Your surgery went perfectly,'" Briggs said. "They smiled so big, and I was able to play with them, and help them recover. I also got to see them the morning after when we did rounds, and the parents were so grateful. They'd run up to me and give me hugs and say 'Oh my gosh, we're so excited. We're so happy. Look how beautiful their smile is.' The moments like that made it really cool."They were moments that have inspired Briggs, who plans to do more medical service work in the future. She is on track to graduate in December of 2017, and plans to spend the remainder of what would've been her spring semester, back in Costa Rica on a medical internship."Then, my plan was to start medical school, but after this experience I'm re-thinking that," Briggs said. "I think I'm going to take a gap year and do more things like this. Before I start an eight-year journey, I want to go abroad and have more experiences like this, that really remind me of why I want to be a doctor."Along with the service work done in the community, Briggs also participated in a research project that WSU started with the help of an organization called Lucky Iron Fish. It utilizes a new, innovative solution to iron deficiency anemia  a Lucky Iron Fish. It is a fish-shaped cast iron ingot, that releases iron when in contact with boiling-water or broth-based foods.As the ingredients absorb the iron-rich water or broth, the overall iron content of the meal is enhanced. One Lucky Iron Fish provides an entire family with up to 90 percent of their daily iron needs for up to five years."Lucky Iron Fish donated many 'fish' to take with us, and we were able to disperse them to families in Guatemala, and explain how to use them," Briggs said.The effort has been largely successful, with blood test results showing that the fish helped to improve iron status.The WSU group also did something extra special during Briggs' trip, by 'adopting' a local child, and contributing to pay for him to go to school."Each year, the group that goes will chip in to help pay for him to go to school," Briggs said. "It was really cool. We had a little ceremony where we told him what we were doing, and gave him a little Coug hat. It was really cute, and he was super excited."Now, after her journey with Hearts in Motion, Briggs is excited for the future, and hopes to make giving back to foreign communities a yearly effort. She's also appreciative of the memories and insight she's gained from her travels, so far."It was a really humbling experience," she said. "When you come back, you really realize how much you have, and how different it is in other places. It makes you look at life from a different perspective because it gives you a chance to step away and look at your life in the U.S. and realize your problems are so little, compared to the things that other people deal with. Some people can barely get food, and medical access is asking for so much. It just makes you really grateful for what you have, and want to give back what you can."
The ALPHA-2 (Anti-Hydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus) experiment has made the first observations comparing the light emitted from hydrogen atoms made of antimatter to the light emitted from hydrogen atoms made of ordinary matter. The results indicate that the underlying characteristics of matter and antimatter differ by at most 200 parts per trillion, a significant milestone for research into antimatter and particle physics in general.

ALPHA is one of many international scientific collaborations operating out of the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) laboratories near Geneva, Switzerland. It generates and traps atoms of anti-hydrogen, the antimatter counterpart of the simplest atom, hydrogen, to allow for precision comparisons between the two in order to more fully understand the underlying physics governing antimatter.

The exact nature of antimatter is one of the outstanding questions in modern physics. Antimatter was first hypothesized by Paul Dirac in 1928 and worked through more carefully by Dirac and Robert Oppenheimer in 1931. They predicted that certain physical processes would produce particles identical to the well-known electron or proton, except that they would have an opposite electric charge. While the idea was met with some scepticism in the physics community, the existence of the anti-electron (more commonly known as a positron) was experimentally verified in 1931 by Paul Anderson. Since then, antimatter equivalents have since been observed for all known fundamental particles.

What has puzzled scientists for nearly a century, however, is the imbalance between the amounts of normal matter and antimatter in the universe. The Standard Model, the most advanced understanding of fundamental physics to date, predicts that there should have been equal amounts of matter and antimatter in the moments after the Big Bang, and thus in the rest of the cosmos. This contradicts the entirety of human experience on Earth and every astronomical observation, which all show that everything seems to be made solely from one half of this primordial material, ordinary matter.

Moreover, when a particle of matter meets its antiparticle, they both annihilate, demonstrating Einsteins equivalence between mass and energy as both particles transform into radiation. Given that, the Standard Model also predicts that no astronomical structures should have developed, with everything constantly changing from particles to light and vice versa, ad infinitum.

The current explanation is that while the physics underlying the Big Bang produced an equal proportion of matter and antimatter, a hypothesized and as-yet-unexplained phenomenon caused a slight imbalance in this process, so that after wholesale annihilation one particle per billion of ordinary matter survived. These remnant particles are what we now call matter, with antimatter existing only as an exotic particle observed in cosmic rays, nuclear fusion and other high-energy phenomenon.

ALPHA provides a new tool to examine the root cause of the matter-antimatter asymmetry by examining the wavelength of light emitted from a trapped anti-hydrogen atom as the atoms electron transitions between energy levels. This wavelength (analogous to colour) has been used to learn about the internal structure of normal hydrogen for decades and has now been used by the researchers of the ALPHA collaboration to begin similar studies of anti-hydrogen.

As ALPHA spokesperson Jeffrey Hangst explained, Using a laser to observe a transition in anti-hydrogen and comparing it to hydrogen to see if they obey the same laws of physics has always been a key goal of antimatter research.

To produce anti-hydrogen, ALPHA takes 90,000 antiprotons produced by CERNs Antiproton Decelerator and mixes those with 1.6 million positrons, yielding approximately 25,000 anti-hydrogen atoms per mixing. From this, an average of 14 anti-atoms are captured for study. While the number of anti-atoms captured per mixing may seem small, it is an order of magnitude greater than what has been achieved in previous studies. This enables such high precision in the measurements.

The main technical challenge facing ALPHA is keeping the anti-hydrogen from interacting with any hydrogen and being converted to energy, as described above. To avoid this, the atoms are stored in a vacuum and suspended in a strong magnetic field generated by powerful electromagnets, using techniques that have been refined since CERN first produced anti-hydrogen in 1995.

The anti-hydrogen atoms are then manipulated using precisely tuned laser beams inserted through the windows of the vacuum chamber. By observing how the anti-hydrogen reacts to the laser and the magnetic field, physicists are able to work out the internal properties of anti-hydrogen, which so far have not shown any fundamental difference from those of hydrogen.

While this does not shed any new light on the difference between matter and antimatter, it does provide a promising new way forward. Even now, the ALPHA collaboration is developing a number of upgrades and new techniques to increase the precision of their measurements in an attempt to find and measure any matter and antimatter asymmetries. The work occurs alongside other collaborations at CERN, including ASACUSA and BASE, all of which are working to penetrate this peculiar mystery.

Video: The ALPHA experiment observes light spectrum of antimatter for the first time
In his latest comment for Der Spiegel, Jakob Augstein, son of the founder of the news magazine and publisher of the weekly newspaper Freitag, has adopted positions associated with the far right: identity and homeland.

Addressing Martin Schulz, the new chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Augstein writes: A dignified life requires more than just social justice. Another condition is identity. Social justice must be won from capitalist interests and corporations, just as identity must be won in opposition to migration.

He goes on to say that the task of a left-wing government includes protection of the homeland.

The declaration that identity must be won against refugees and migrants is a slogan of the so-called identity movement, a modern variant of right-wing extremism. It defines the people (das Volk) in terms of culture rather than biology. It presupposes a hermetically sealed national culture, the identity of which is threatened, above all, by Islamization.

Augstein knows this very well. He writes: This topic is dangerous for the left. After all, in theory, the foreigner should be a friend. But in reality, he continues, immigration is a source of concern.

He then declares Heimat (homeland)another favorite term of the extreme right to which the Nazis claimed adherenceto be a human right. He writes, And it is not only AfD (Alternative for Germany) demagogues who are worried about their homeland due to the huge influx of migrants. Immigrants are competitors for housing and jobs. They are also competitors when it comes to lifestyle.

Augstein publishes his regular column under the headline When in doubt, go left, and supports red-red-green (SPD-Left Party-Green Party) politics in his paper Freitag. To back up the assertions in his latest piece, Augstein refers to leading representatives of the Left Party and the Greensthe chair of the Left Group in the Bundestag, Sahra Wagenknecht, and the Green mayor of Tubingen, Boris Palmer, both of whom have repeatedly agitated against refugees.

Augstein complains that it is nonsense to accuse Wagenknecht of the type of racism associated with the xenophobic AfD for her assertion: Whoever abuses the laws of the host country has forfeited the right to live in the host country, and her declaration that too much immigration creates many problems.

With his praise for Wagenknecht, Augstein joins company with Deputy AfD Chairman Alexander Gauland, who also lauded the speech by the leader of Left Party. Gauland wrote: Frau Wagenknecht summed up the situation very nicely. Anyone coming to us voluntarily has to behave like a guest or has to leave. Gauland stands on the right wing of the far-right AfD.

In words that could be taken from the program of the AfD, Augstein writes: The problems of tomorrow are maturing in immigrant classes. He then demands: In no German school classroom should the proportion of children for whom German is not their mother tongue exceed 25 percent.

These disgusting and racist positions have provoked reactions even within Spiegel itself. The Polish-born journalist Margarete Stokowski, another regular columnist, wrote: Of course Im pissed off. I grew up in an immigrant district in an immigrant class where the same problems arose to which Augstein referred in his appeal for a 25 percent limit.

Augsteins adoption of far-right nostrums evokes indignation and revulsion. Jakob junior is a highly privileged member of the upper-middle class, who inherited millions from his publisher father and crops up regularly on TV talk shows to give sermons on all sorts of issues.

It is necessary, however, to view Augsteins racist tirades in a broader political context. He is not alone in his turn to the right. His views are symptomatic of a social and political layer around the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party that saw itself and was seen as liberal or leftist.

This layer includes cultural and social officials who have well-paid posts in municipal and state administrations, as well as in party and trade union apparatuses.

Not everyone in these well-heeled circles, who have settled mainly in wealthier suburbs of the big cities, is a millionaire like Jakob Augstein. Many, however, have benefited from the stock market boom of recent years and are keen to maintain and defend their privileged lifestyles.

They react to the global crisis of capitalism and the intensification of class struggle with a marked turn to the right. They regard growing social conflicts and increasing resistance to exploitation, militarism and war as a threat to their social status. In response, they demand a strong state and become increasingly amenable to far-right slogans.

The election of Donald Trump has accelerated this process, revealing the extent of the crisis and putrefaction of capitalism. For its part, the German government has responded to American trade war and preparations for open war with its own protectionist measures and militarism.

The relative stability of the postwar order has come to an end. Seventy years after the collapse of Hitlerite fascism, the ruling class in Germany is once again seeking to play the role of hegemon in Europe and stake its claim as a world power.

As long as German imperialism was forced to play a secondary role in previous decades and pursue its foreign and economic policy under the wing of the US, bourgeois and petty-bourgeois ideologues and propagandists such as Augstein stressed their humanism and praised multiculturalism.

However, no sooner does German imperialism return to the world stage than key layers of Germanys bourgeoisie and petty-bourgeoisie fall into linejust as they did during Bismarcks Kaiserreich, and again in the early 1930s in support of Chancellor Brunings emergency decrees in the twilight of the Weimar Republic, and once again in smoothing the path for the Third Reich. The bombastic speeches praising humanism are quickly transformed into poisonous barbs directed against refugees and immigrants.

In language borrowed from the lexicon of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, who extolled the virtues of the preservation of Germanism, Augstein reproaches refugees for jeopardizing German identity and destroying our homeland. In the manner of far-right demagogues, he fosters xenophobia and combines it with the glorification of all things German.

Last summer, Augstein responded to a demonstration of 40,000 Turkish migrants in Cologne denouncing the failed military coup in Turkey by calling for the abolition of the double passport for German Turks. Any solidarity with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was unacceptable, he declared, because every citizen had to feel committed to one state.

Such an argument parallels the far-right demand for recognition of a leading German culture. The view that the citizen is committed to the state and owes allegiance to the government is profoundly undemocratic and authoritarian. It stands in the ominous tradition of the individuals complete subordination to the German state. It is only a small step from pledges of allegiance to the nation to the charge of treason against those not prepared to make such a pledge. Many socialists, opponents of war and social rebels have been persecuted in Germany on this basis.

Wagenknecht and the Left Party are moving further and further to the right. The Left Party leader was one of the first to applaud Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte when he stoked up anti-Turkish and anti-Muslim sentiment in order to out-do the far-right Geert Wilders in the Dutch election campaign. She praised Ruttes decision to refuse entry to Turkish government members and accused Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Gabriel of not showing the same backbone.

Augstein and Wagenknecht make clear what can be expected from a red-red-green government. This would not be some sort of left-wing alliance, but rather a right-wing government that moves directly against the working class.

Augsteins attacks on refugees trying to escape the hell of imperialist war in Syria and other countries show his contempt for the working class as a whole. His call for defense of our homeland is part of the fanfare proclaiming the return of German militarism.

Last year, the Hitler parody Hes Back ran in cinemas. It is becoming increasingly topical. Those who are back include above all the layers Hitler could best rely upon: the typical representatives of the German petty-bourgeoisie, with their inveterate narrow-mindedness, xenophobia, nationalism and spinelessness.
Enhanced military and strategic collaboration, clearly directed against China, was the central agenda discussed when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made a four-day state visit to India this week.

While Turnbull and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid lip service to forging closer economic ties, Turnbull ended his trip by conceding that there was little prospect of finalising a long-delayed trade pact between the two countries. Instead, the focus was on establishing a formal strategic partnership and joint military exercises.

The outcomes were in line with the ongoing push by Washington, initiated under the Obama administrations pivot to the Indo-Pacific to confront China, for US allies throughout the region to strengthen their military relations with each other, as well as with the Pentagon.

The visit proceeded in the shadows of the global uncertainty produced by the even more aggressive America First policy of the Trump administration. The illegal US missile attack on Syria and Trumps threats to strike against North Korea have heightened the dangers of war across the Asia-Pacific region, with the US targeting both Russia and China.

The trip also followed Indias elevation to frontline status in US war plans against China by becoming a major service and repair hub for the US Seventh Fleet, under an agreement announced in February. The Seventh Fleet would play a crucial role in any US war against China, which would include blocking Chinas key trade routes from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.

The basing agreement marks an intensification of Indias integration into US military and strategic arrangements, a drive pursued by successive US administrations since the beginning of the century. In return for lining up against China, the Indian ruling class is seeking to assert its geo-strategic sway over the sub-continent and the Indian Ocean.

Turnbull hailed India as an enormously important emerging superpower whose strategic interests dovetail with those of Australia, which he asserted was already a significant Indo-Pacific naval power in its own right. He declared that the two countries need to engage our friends and partners to shape the entire regions common strategic outlook. Turnbull said trilateral engagement between Australia, India and Japan was a good example of this, as were our respective bilateral engagements with the United States.

In a remarkable speech at the National Defence College, the Indian militarys most prestigious officer training institution, Turnbull boasted: We have one of the largest and most sophisticated naval forces in the region, with nearly 50 commissioned vessels and more than 14,000 personnel. And we have just embarked on Australias largest peacetime investment in national security. His government is spending $195 billion on new weapons systems and other military hardware over the next five years.

Turnbull went further, defining the relationship between the two countries by invoking more than a century of Indian and Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting alongside each other. This harks back to World Wars I and II, in which millions of Indian soldiers were sent to defend the interests of the British Empire, and at least 150,000 died.

In response, Modi raised Indias security ties with Australia to a level previously established only with Japan, another key US ally against China. The two prime ministers announced they would later this year convene their first 2+2 strategic dialoguea meeting of their defence and foreign ministers.

India and Australia will also hold their first bilateral army exercises in 2018, as well as the second edition of joint maritime exercises they launched in 2015. Special forces from the two countries will also hold their second exercise later this year, following the first conducted last October.

In a press statement Modi and Turnbull underscored the importance of respecting the maritime legal order based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This was a reference to last years tribunal ruling that rejected Chinas territorial claims over parts of the South China Sea, providing a potential pretext for US action to block Chinas access to its islets in the strategic sea.

Australias previous Labor government backed closer strategic ties to India as part of the US pivot, while also seeking to open up Indias markets to exploitation by Australian-based companies. A particular signal was a decision to permit the export of uranium to India, which has a nuclear weapons stockpile but is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Turnbull and Modi expressed confidence that uranium sales would shortly commence, effectively enhancing Indias nuclear war capacity.

On the economic front, the pair held up the prospect of more Indian students enrolling in Australian universities and colleges. After coal, education is Australias most lucrative export to India, currently worth $2.3 billion a year, with more than 60,000 Indian students studying in Australia last year, although this is far less than the $5.7 billion made from Chinese students.

Despite the intensifying military ties, economic tensions were evident. When Turnbulls predecessor Tony Abbott visited India in September 2014 and Modi toured Australia in November that year, the two governments claimed that a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement could be struck by the end of 2015.

Turnbull, however, said an agreement may not be possible. He blamed Indias heavy protection of its domestic economy, particularly its agricultural sector, while Modi publicly pushed for greater access to Australia for Indian workers. Turnbull lamented that Australias two-way trade with India was only about $20 billion, compared to $150 billion-plus with China.

There were indications of the disarray produced by the Trump administrations junking of the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which the Australian capitalist class had hoped would break down barriers to its penetration of Asia-Pacific markets. In an evident concession to Indias own economic aspirations, Turnbull said the big agenda in the region was now the Chinese-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes India.

In an effort to court Indian investors, Turnbull held a private meeting with Gautam Adani, a mining magnate whose company will soon decide whether to construct the worlds largest open-cut coalmine in central Queensland. Despite vehement support by Turnbulls Liberal-National Coalition and Queenslands state Labor government, the $21 billion project has been delayed by Aboriginal land claims and legal challenges triggered by its damaging impact on the environment, including the offshore Great Barrier Reef.

Turnbull claimed India had an enormous need for more electrification which the Adani mine would help meet. After decades of importing coal, however, Indias domestic output has surged, making it a net exporter. And although about 300 million Indians still lack access to electricity, Indias draft national electricity plan, released last December, said there would be no need to build more coal-fired power stations until at least 2027.

Turnbull reportedly gave Adani assurances that native title law changes would clear the way for the project, and left open the possibility of meeting Adanis demand for a concessional $900 million government loan to finance a planned rail line to connect the mine with a port on the coast.
The claims by the US government that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhun, in southern Idlib province on April 4, have been backed by a week of nonstop media propaganda, as well as uncritical support, across the official political spectrum, for the missile strike ordered by President Trump against a Syrian base.

The charges against the Syrian government are absurd and unbelievable. The campaign mounted by the Trump administration, the intelligence agencies, the Pentagon and the Democratic Party demonstrates complete contempt for the intelligence of the people, and a belief that they can lie with impunity, because nothing they say will be challenged by the servile American media.

No lie is too great. If the US intelligence agencies declared tomorrow that Putin was responsible for an outbreak of tornadoes or a hurricane striking the US Gulf Coast, by means of a secret Russian program to alter the weather, their claims would be presented as the gospel truth by NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and Fox, while the New York Times would publish a four-page investigative report, complete with maps and charts provided by the CIA.

When a policeman shoots down a working-class youth, it takes months, sometimes years, to complete the investigation. In the case of the Syrian events, it required only minutes for the US government to affix blame and three days to carry out the punishment, firing 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.

In analyzing a crime, there are three factors to investigate: motive, means and opportunity. In relation to the nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun, neither the Russians nor the Syrians had any reason to carry out the attack. The Assad regime had nothing to gain from the use of nerve gas on a town that was not a significant military target. Moreover, carrying out such an attack would inevitably provoke US military retaliation, something that Assad, on the brink of complete victory in the protracted civil war, would hardly want to risk.

The Syrian rebels and the US government, on the contrary, had motive, means and opportunity. The rebels would view any loss of life as a small price to pay to bring about US intervention in the civil war which they were losing. They have stockpiles of nerve gas and have shown before, in the staged attack on Ghouta in 2013 which killed many more people, a willingness and ability to carry out such a provocation.

Just as importantly, the rebels and their CIA sponsors had opportunity. According to a detailed analysis of the Khan Sheikhoun attack by the respected US physicist and missile expert Theodore Postol, emeritus professor at MIT, the physical evidence strongly suggests that the delivery system for the nerve gas was a mortar shell placed on the ground, not a bomb dropped from a warplane. That means the attack was almost certainly carried out by those who controlled the ground around Khan Sheikhoun, the rebel forces linked to Al Qaeda.

Postols analysis is in reply to the four-page document issued Tuesday by the National Security Council, the White House body that coordinates US foreign and military policy, purporting to prove the Syrian governments responsibility for the alleged sarin gas attack.

The American media described the NSC document as an unusually detailed and factual account, making use of US intelligence material that was declassified for that purpose. The Washington Post said the US government was unveiling intelligence discrediting Russias attempts to shield its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, from blame in last weeks deadly chemical attack.

The Post went on to characterize the declassified findings as part of a coordinated broadside against Russia that was supplemented by new detail of what U.S. officials believe they know about the chemical weapons strike on Khan Sheikhoun, offered by White House officials who briefed the press on the document.

The New York Times said the document contains declassified United States intelligence on the attack and a rebuttal of Moscows claim that insurgents unleashed the gas to frame the Syrian government. There were similar reports in the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the television and cable news networks, all of them presenting the intelligence agency accounts as unchallengeable fact.

These media reports are not only demonstrably false, they are absurd. Any serious examination of the NSC document reveals it to be a series of bare assertions without any supporting evidence.

The White House document closely resembles the assessment issued by the US intelligence communitythe 17 agencies that comprise the massive apparatus of spying, political provocation and assassination for American imperialismon alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

It is filled with phrases like The United States is confident  We have confidence in our assessment  We assess  Our information indicates  It is clear  and so on. In other words, this is the US government speaking, trust us.

There is one reference to signals intelligence, without any elaboration. This is followed by the declaration, standard in all official statements citing information allegedly supplied by the spy agencies: We cannot publicly release all available intelligence on this attack due to the need to protect sources and methods ... Once again, trust us.

The NSC report makes the first attempt by the US government to attribute a motive to the alleged Syrian gas attack, claiming, We assess that Damascus launched this chemical attack in response to an opposition offensive in northern Hamah Province that threatened key infrastructure. Senior regime military leaders were probably involved in planning the attack.

No evidence is cited to back these bare assertions, which raise obvious questions. Why should the Syrian government suddenly resort to sarin gas in a town of no obvious military significance, when it did not use nerve gasand was never accused of doing soduring the critical battles of the past year in Aleppo? Government forces reconquered the rebel-held portions of that city, the countrys largest population and business center before the civil war, in a bloody struggle conducted without the use of chemical weapons.

Even when the forces of President Bashar al-Assad were under attack in his home province of Latakia, where the local population, from the Alawite religious minority which is his main base of support, faced the threat of extermination if the Sunni Islamists were victorious, they did not resort to chemical weapons to beat back the rebel offensive.

The New York Times sought to address this problem by citing senior White House officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the declassified intelligence report. These officials asserted that the Syrian government, under pressure from opposition forces around the country and lacking enough troops to respond, used the lethal nerve agent sarin to target rebels who were threatening government-held territory.

This account makes even less sense than the NSC report, since the alleged nerve gas attack did not target rebels who were threatening government-held territory, but civilians in a town in rebel territory, including, as media reporters and Trump administration officials have repeatedly emphasized, large numbers of women and children. In other words, the American media is simply piling lie upon lie, without even taking the time to make the new lies consistent with the old ones.

From a military standpoint, the resort to chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun is pointless. From a political standpoint, it is counterproductive, to say the least, for the Assad regime. For the US-backed Islamist rebels, however, such an atrocity is a political goldmine, potentially providing a pretext for US and eventually NATO intervention into a civil war that the rebels are losing badly.

The NSC document makes no attempt to address, let alone rebut, such arguments. Its four-page document includes only one page of supposedly factual findings by the U.S. intelligence agencies, consisting of vague and unsupported assertions, and then a page disputing the claims of Putin and Assad that no gas attack occurred.

In the course of this, the NSC document cites video and eyewitness testimony about the impact of a chemical agent, as well as medical reports from Turkish doctors, but none of this evidence indicates the source of the nerve gas, if it was indeed a factor in the deaths at Khan Sheikhoun.

Criticizing Russian claims of fabrication, the NSC document declares, It is clear, however, that the Syrian opposition could not manufacture this quantity and variety of video and other reporting from both the attack site and medical facilities in Syria and Turkey while deceiving both media observers and intelligence agencies.

Why should anyone believe that the media observers and intelligence agencies were among the deceived? Far more likely that the US intelligence agencies and the media observers, particularly those employed by the New York Times, Washington Post, and other conduits for the US government, were active participants in the deception.

The CIA has ample experience in the creation of provocations and fabrication of evidence, which is then supplied to its favored press outlets to create the impression of objective reporting. Absolutely nothing that is reported on such a basis deserves the slightest credibility.

It is noteworthy that the Russian government has repeatedly called for an objective, authoritative international investigation into what happened at Khan Sheikhoun. This is in sharp contrast to the conduct of the Trump administration, which has acted as judge, jury and executioner rolled into oneclaiming to determine the facts, identify the perpetrators and carry out the punishment in a three-day period. This is the method, not of justice or the enforcement of international law, but the law of the jungle, in which the most powerful imperialist military power simply does what it wants.

There is every reason to believe that the poison gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun was staged by the CIA and its rebel stooges to force a reversal of policy by the Trump administration and pave the way for US military intervention. It follows the pattern of the last previous alleged chemical weapons attack, in August 2013, when the rebels were seeking to gain direct American support, and US Secretary of State John Kerry told them that something needed to happen. Soon after, more than a thousand people were killed by nerve gas in Ghouta, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.

The political beneficiaries of this attack were the Syrian rebels. Seymour Hersh, one of a handful of real journalists still practicing his profession and not in jail or exile, conducted a meticulous exposure of the Ghouta attack, demonstrating that it had likely been carried out by the al-Nusra Front, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, with chemical weapons supplied by Turkey. The al-Nusra Front, under a new name, is the dominant force on the ground today in Khan Sheikhoun.

The Ghouta attack did not have the expected effect. After the British parliament voted against joining an attack on Syria, and in view of sharp divisions within the Pentagon over whether to intervene, President Obama pulled back, to the enormous frustration of the CIA, and of leading Democrats like his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

If Clinton had won the 2016 presidential election, there is no doubt there would have been an immediate and dramatic escalation in the American involvement in the Syrian civil war. Following Trumps surprise victory, a ferocious conflict has ensued, centering on bogus allegations of Russian manipulation of the election to assist Trump, aimed at shifting the Trump administrations policy towards Russia and Syria.

This has now culminated in the apparent victory of the US intelligence agencies and the Democrats in this internecine struggle within the US ruling elite, and Trumps embarking on a course that threatens to produce full-scale US military intervention in the Syrian civil war, and poses the danger of direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
A special congressional election in Kansas resulted in victory for Republican Ron Estes April 12. However, Democratic Party leaders were citing the narrow margin of victory in a strongly Republican district as a signal that President Trumps deep unpopularity was helping them make political gains, despite their refusal to offer any serious challenge to Trump except from the right, in advocating a more confrontational policy towards Russia.

The Fourth Congressional District includes the city of Wichita and its suburbs, as well as a swathe of rural counties to its south and west. It has been held by Republican candidates for the past 23 years, during which Wichita has become the focal point for anti-abortion demonstrations and the assassination of abortion doctor George Tiller in 2009. The biggest local corporation, Koch Industries, owned by billionaires David and Charles Koch, has bankrolled right-wing candidates and think tanks and virtually created the ultra-right Tea Party movement.

Estes, the Kansas state treasurer, ran against first-time candidate James Thompson in an election to replace Congressman Mike Pompeo, who vacated his seat after Trump tapped him to direct the CIA. Estes defeated Thompson by only 8 points after the national Republican Party mounted a last-minute campaign. Both Trump and Pence recorded robocalls on behalf of Estes. Trump called Estes a wonderful guy in a tweet on election day.

After Pompeo resigned his seat to run the CIA, neither capitalist party assigned much importance to the contest to fill the vacancy in a district that Trump carried by a margin of 27 percent, and Pompeo won by an even wider margin.

But Estes and the Republicans found themselves tainted not only by mass opposition to the Trump administration, but by Republican Governor Sam Brownbacks unpopularity. On March 30, Brownback vetoed a bill that would have expanded Medicaid eligibility for low-income residents. The bill had enjoyed bipartisan support by state lawmakers and it passed through the Kansas Senate and the House, both of which are controlled by Republicans.

Brownback, who has treated the state government as a testing ground for ultra-right policies, had already alienated working people by slashing taxes repeatedly for business and the wealthy, while cutting $180 million from the state budget, plundering highway construction funds and raising sales taxes twice to make up for budget shortfalls.

As Thompson and Estes battled it out in the final days before the special election, the national Democratic Party did little to counter the late effort of Republican leaders, who poured money into the congressional campaign. While much closer than previous elections, the special election showed no real surge in voter participation, with only 120,000 going to the polls, compared to 275,000 on Election Day in 2016.

In the wake of his defeat, Thompson bitterly told supporters; I probably shouldnt say this, but Mr. Estes did not beat us. It took a president of the United States, a vice president, the speaker of the House, a senator coming into our state, and a bunch of lies to try and drum up a vote.

Democratic Party officials were quick to suggest that the 23-point swing in Kansas, if repeated in other special elections this year, could produce a series of defeats for the Republicans. There are three more special elections to fill vacancies created by departing Republican congressmen: Tom Price of Georgia, now Secretary of Health and Human Services; Ryan Zinke of Montana, now Secretary of the Interior; and Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, now director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The next special election where the Democrats hope to take advantage of popular dissatisfaction with Trump and the Republican majority in Congress is the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia, in the northern Atlanta suburbs, on April 18, when Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff will face off against more than a dozen Republicans in an open primary to fill the Price vacancy. If no candidate wins an outright majority, there will be a runoff of May.

The district has long been held by Republican candidates, going back to Newt Gingrich, who held the seat for 20 years. But like many upscale suburban areas, there was a significant shift towards the Democrats and Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Trump carried the district by only 1.5 percent, while Price won by 24 percent.
India had sought consular access to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav 13 times in the past, and every time the request was turned down.

By India Today Web Desk: India has sought consular access from Pakistan to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav, reported All India Radio.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was recently sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan.

India had sought consular access to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav 13 times in the past, and every time the request was turned down.

India seeks consular access from #Pakistan to meet #KulbhushanJadhav. pic.twitter.com/s5eoGzryDe- All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 13, 2017

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Earlier, news agency ANI had quoted sources as saying that the Indian High Commission in Pakistan would make a fresh request seeking consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Indian High Commission in Pakistan to make a fresh request seeking consular access to #KulbhushanJadhav: Sources- ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

This is the 14th request from the Indian government for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistani security forces last year.

INDIA's WARNING TO PAKISTAN

Kulbhushan Jadhav has been charged with "espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan".

Earlier, BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh had said that it was possible that "Pakistan must have tortured and murdered Kulbhushan Jadhav". "We should immediately seek consular access" the former home secretary had said, adding that "tomorrow Pakistan might announce that they have executed the capital punishment and hung him (Kulbhushan Jadhav)".

The government had told Parliament that it would go to any extent to ensure safe release of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had warned Pakistan of dire consequences if it went ahead with the death sentence. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," Swaraj had told Parliament.

ALSO READ:

Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh

Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence: Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan army chief say no pressure will be tolerated

ALSO WATCH

--- ENDS ---
Tensions between the United States and the major European imperialist powers and Russia are at their highest point since the Cold War. The danger of a military conflict between the two largest nuclear powers has never been greater.

Since the April 6 missile strike, the Trump administration has issued new threats against Syria and new ultimatums to Russia to end its support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad. On Wednesday, President Trump defended the unprovoked strike and called Assad a butcher.

The G7 powers over the weekend lined up behind the US strike and its pretextthe totally unproven claim that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town. They endorsed Washingtons renewed drive to topple Assad, Moscows only Arab ally in the Middle East.

Russia has responded by stepping up its military support for Assad. Last Friday, it discontinued its coordination with the US aimed at avoiding encounters between US and Russian jets and announced that it would upgrade Syrian missile air defenses, which already include advanced S-400 and S-300 radar/missile batteries. It diverted a frigate with cruise missiles to the Eastern Mediterranean. And it issued a joint statement with the Iranian military warning that it would respond with force to any new act of aggression against Syria.

The recklessness of US policy was highlighted by Defense Secretary and retired general James Mattis, who told reporters on Tuesday that Syria would pay a very, very stiff price in the event of another chemical attack, which is undoubtedly already being prepared by the CIA and its Al Qaeda-linked proxies in Syria. Mattis offered assurances that the situation would not spiral out of control, based on the assumption that Russia would act in their best interests, i.e., back down.

What is most astonishing is the virtual absence of any discussion in the US and European media of the danger of a war between the US and Russia and the consequences of such a turn of events. What happens if a US jet is shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft installation or Russian jet? One can only imagine the frenzied demands for retaliation that will spew out of the press and politicians of both countries.

How many millions will die in the opening minutes of a nuclear exchange between Russia and the US? Neither the New York Times, nor the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Times of London, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung or Sydney Morning Herald is even raising these questions.

There have, however, been revealing commentaries in certain more specialized publications. The Conversation published an article on April 7 (Why US air strike on Syria deeply threatens military clash with Russia) making the point that the danger of a clash between the US and Russia is much greater than in 2013 because Russia has in the interim firmly established a military presence in Syria.

So, if the new aim of the Trump administration is the removal of Assad from power, the article states, this could only happen through a major confrontation with Russia.

Russia Beyond the Headlines published an article on April 7 outlining three possible scenarios following the US attack on Syria. The first, and presumably most likely, is Armed conflict between Russia and the US. Sooner or later, the article notes, the logic of confrontation will force Russia to respond with force. It quotes a Russian international security expert who warns that we cannot fully exclude the use of nuclear weapons.

An April 7 article on the Defense One web site explains that a US assault on Syria would for the first time in the decades-old counter-terrorism fight pit the United States against a real, modern and well-armed military, resulting in a war of exponentially greater scale.

Steven Starr, a senior scientist at Physicians for Social Responsibility and associate with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, who is a noted expert on the life-destroying environmental consequences of nuclear winter, explains that once a nuclear exchange between Washington and Moscow gets underway, the death toll will be in the high tens of millions within the first hour, and that will be only the horrific beginning.

The two countries have between them 3,500 deployed and operational strategic nuclear weapons that they can detonate within an hour. They have another 4,600 nuclear weapons in reserve and ready for use. Given these vast numbers of mega-weapons, there is a strong chance that most large cities in both countries will be hit. Starr estimates that 30 percent of the US and Russian populations will be killed in the first hour. A few weeks later, radioactive fallout will kill another 50 percent or more.

Nuclear winter, a new Ice Age caused by the environmental impact of nuclear war, will probably cause most people on the planet to die of starvation within a couple of years.

Then there is the possibility of a high-altitude detonation triggering an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that destroys electronic circuits over an area of tens of thousands of square miles. A single detonation over the US East Coast would destroy the grid and cause every nuclear power plant affected by EMP to melt down. Imagine 60 Fukushimas happening at the same time in the US.

This is the end-of-world scenario being prepared behind the backs of the American and world population by the power- and profit-mad criminals in the Pentagon and the CIA, with the full support of both parties and the political and media establishment. People living in cities from New York to Boston to Philadelphia to Detroit, Chicago and all the way to Los Angeles and San Francisco will likely be obliterated within minutes of the beginning of such a war.

What preparations are being made? What is the survival plan? There are none. The silence of the media and politicians is not an oversight. They know that should this prospect become a subject of public discussion, the shock will produce uncontrollable social convulsions.

The astonishing recklessness of the ruling elite has an objective source. It is the global crisis of the capitalist system, which finds its sharpest expression in the long-term economic decline of the United States. Even during the Cold War there remained within the dominant sections of the ruling class a certain caution. Now, the relentlessly aggressive tone of the media and constant demonizing of Russian President Putin almost seem calculated to provoke a military clash. There is, in fact, a significant faction within the ruling elite and the state that is prepared to do just that.

This horrifying prospect cannot be averted through appeals to the powers-that-be. The entire history of the 20th century, with its catastrophic wars, shows that the only way to prevent war is through a mass movement of the working class. Workers and youth must confront the urgency of the situation by organizing mass protests directed toward the building of an international anti-war movement based on the working class to put an end to imperialism and capitalism.

On April 30, the International Committee of the Fourth International is organizing an International May Day Online Rally, called in opposition to war, authoritarianism and poverty, for peace, equality and socialism. The event will be broadcast at 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time (3:00 pm UTC/GMT) and transmitted live throughout the world. We urge all of our readers to participate. For more information, visit wsws.org/mayday.
The Trump administration issued a memorandum Tuesday ordering federal agencies to begin drafting plans to restructure and downsize. The memorandum, written by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), calls for elimination to be considered for non-essential programs and ineffective agencies.

The creation of the OMB memo was ordered by the Trump administration via executive order on March 13. The memo marks the end of the federal hiring freeze imposed by the Trump in the first days of his presidency, ordering agencies to begin taking immediate actions to cut jobs and reduce costs to comply with the federal budget for 2018.

The memo does not give estimates of the number of jobs that would be cut from federal agencies. However, the preliminary budget outlined by the Trump administration proposes the elimination of 19 government agencies, cuts billions of dollars from domestic social programs, and would lead to the destruction of as many as 200,000 jobs.

Public employee jobs are already near historic lows, accounting for 1.5 percent of all jobs in the US, compared to 3 to 4 percent in the 1960s.

Federal agencies have until June 30 to submit restructuring plans for fiscal years 20182022 in compliance with both the federal budget for 2018 and not-yet-released 2019 budget submission guidelines. The heads of the affected federal agencies would then meet with the federal Chief Financial Officers Council to begin finalizing the plans in July. The memo advises federal agencies to eliminate vacant posts immediately.

Trumps Director of the OMB, Mick Mulvaney, during a press conference announcing the memo on Tuesday, callously shrugged off the destruction of the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of public employees. [Downsizing] is the same thing that every one of you has been through in the last couple of years. You all are the last remaining people who actually work in journalism, right? So your entities have gone through this. It shouldnt be anything new Its part of what working in a free economy entails.

The memo openly advocates the privatization of entire agencies. Consideration should be given where there is another entity that may more appropriately fulfill part or all of the role, and to services that could be better performed by private companies.

We met this morning with CEOs from all across the nation,Mulvaney explained at the press conference, and said, look were trying to rebuild the executive branch of government, give us some ideas. By the way, they did.

The White House is soliciting suggestions from the general publicthat is, industry interestson both restructuring plans, and the not-yet-implemented Obama-era federal regulations that have been frozen by Trumps initial executive orders. If youve always had an idea why NASA should be in the Department of Agriculture, now is your time to speak up, encouraged Mulvaney.

The memo calls for programs and agencies to be slashed, merged, or eliminated outright [if] the long-term savings from shutting down are greater than expected costs to maintain them.

Mulvaney said that this ravaging of social programs in the service of inflating funding for the military was how you drain the swamp, referring to Trumps demagogic pledge to reduce corruption.

If one takes the Trump budget as a guide, one would conclude that the largest sources of filth and grime in the federal government would include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and NASA; and that the task of fostering culture and welfare is largely carried out by the Department of Defense.

The Democrats, posturing as opponents to most of the Trump administrations proposed cuts, have spearheaded the privatization or destruction of education, welfare and unemployment assistance, and other basic infrastructure over the last several decades. Mulvaney expects bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats for the new OMB guidelines.

Wasting moneygiving money to people who dont deserve it, is something that Republicans and Democrats alike dont care for and want to fix.

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Australian pseudo-left organisations have responded to the appointment of Sally McManus last month as the new secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the countrys peak union body, with unalloyed enthusiasm.

In one of her first television interviews, McManus implied on the ABCs 7:30 program that she opposed the Fair Work Australia (FWA) legislation which bans industrial action outside of strictly limited bargaining periods. She suggested that the ACTU would support workers going on strike in defiance of the law. Her comments were immediately presented by the pseudo-left organisations as proof of a revival of union militancy.

Socialist Alliance, for example, wrote on March 18: Many unionists are encouraged by McManuss fighting words and claimed that they raised the prospect of a strategic shift in the trade union movement in this country. Socialist Alternative declared on March 20: Every militant in the union movement will welcome as a breath of fresh air Sally McManuss comments on defying unjust laws.

All of the pseudo-left groupings covered up the glaring hypocrisy of McManuss statements.

The union movement supported the introduction of FWA in 2009 by the Labor government of Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and now Labor leader Bill Shorten, endorsing laws that made strikes illegal. Since then, the unions have routinely invoked the Labor-imposed ban on industrial action to suppress any struggle by workers. Strike activity is at historic lows, real wages have fallen, and ever-growing numbers of workers have been pushed into contract, casual or part-time employment.

The disgust in the working class with the unions, combined with the destruction of full-time, unionised jobs, has seen union membership fall to a record low of just 15 percent in 2015, and barely 11 percent of the private sector workforce.

Under McManus, the unions are initiating a cynical and transparent attempt to try and rebuild their credentials and their membership. In comments to the Guardian on March 15, she revealed that her rhetoric was motivated by the concerns in the union apparatus over its lack of influence over millions of workersespecially non-unionised workersunder conditions of mounting anger over social inequality. McManus stated: Weve got to inspire a whole generation who are sick of so much wealth at the top. The system is at breaking point, people dont accept that its right and fair.

The ACTU has indicated that it intends to conduct a multi-million dollar recruitment campaign over the coming years, modelled on the Your Rights at Work campaign in 20062007 against the WorkChoices industrial legislation enacted by the Liberal-National government of Prime Minister John Howard.

One of the main objectives of Your Rights at Work was to convince alienated and disaffected workers to vote for the Labor Party in the 2007 federal election on the basis it would repeal WorkChoices. Once Labor was elected, the unions proceeded to collaborate with the introduction of the FWA regime, which incorporated many of the most draconian aspects of Howards legislation.

The pseudo-left organisations have stepped forward again as the cheerleaders for the ACTUs latest political deception led by McManus, which is also aimed at assisting the return of Labor at the next election.

Socialist Alternative, for instance, lauded union rallies last month against a FWA court ruling that cut penalty rates on Sundays and holidays for some 700,000 workers who are employed on national awards rather than union-negotiated enterprise agreements. Its only qualification was that the unions must aim for more this time than the installation of a Labor government at the next election.

The organisation Solidarity declared, in response to the penalty rate cut, that the unions should call national mass stop-work protests like those held during the Your Rights at Work campaign against John Howards WorkChoices.

The Socialist Party went even further and called for the ACTU to call a one-day national general strike. It asserted that such a strike would send a strong message to employers, and the parliament.

Even if the unions did call days of action, or even token general strikes, as they have done in countries such as Greece, they would be intended only to dissipate workers angerto let off steamover the conditions they face. The unions would undoubtedly give Labor and Green politicians a platform to once again fraudulently present themselves as a lesser evil to the Liberal government.

In order to promote the lie that the unions can be vehicles for advancing the interests of the working class, the pseudo-left organisations do everything they can to cover-up their record.

A glaring example was a brief article in Socialist Alliances Green Left Weekly in February, which hailed a deal between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Japanese energy multinational Impex. Under this sordid agreement, the company has agreed to preference Australian workers for seafaring jobs servicing its $34 billion LNG project in Northern Australia.

The nationalist demand of the unions for the protection of Aussie jobs is a deliberate effort to divide workers internationally who work for the same transnational corporation and who need to unify to conduct any genuine struggle for their interests. In exchange for Impex agreeing to the unions demand, the MUA has made the unprecedented commitment that there will be no industrial action against the company until 2030.

In most of Socialist Alliances commentary on the FWC cut to penalty rates, it has not raised the obvious issue that union-company enterprise agreements have already abolished or cut weekend and public holiday wages for hundreds of thousands of workers, especially in the large retail and fast-food chains.

Socialist Alternative, for its part, repeatedly tries to draw a distinction between conservative unions, such as the retail union that signed away its members penalty rates, and those that it claims are militant such as the MUA and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

To prevent reality intruding on its assertions, Socialist Alternative is silent on the wretched deals these unions negotiate with major employers. As well as ignoring the MUA-Impex agreement, it has also written nothing on the CFMEUs imposition of a five percent pay cut affecting up to 900 workers at the Maryvale paper mill in Victoria in February.

Nor has it commented on the revelations of close ties between the CFMEU and property developers linked to phoenix operations which have stripped workers of millions of dollars in entitlements, or the unions establishment of phony charities which receive substantial donations from the major corporations.

The pseudo-left groupings are above all preoccupied with denying the pro-capitalist essence of the trade unions. Unionism, from its origins, was based on the acceptance of the private ownership of the means of production, and the wage labour system that is the basis of the exploitation of the working class under capitalism. Even at its most militant, unionism always sought to limit workers to the framework of the capitalist order by holding out the prospect that strikes and other industrial action could compel employers and governments to grant concessions such as higher wages, conditions and social advances.

The pseudo-left claims that the unions can be returned to the limited militancy of the past denies the impact of the globalisation of production since the 1970s. The development of transnational companies, which utilise global finance, production chains, transport and communications, and can rapidly shift operations between and within countries, shattered the ability of unions to pressure the capitalist class within the framework of the national-state.

To try to keep corporations operating in their national economy, the trade unions in every part of the world have transformed into industrial police forces. For over 30 years, unions have continuously pressured workers to give up their past gains to satisfy corporate demands for international competitiveness and profitability. In Australia, the unions have emerged as major corporate investors and operators in their own right, exercising control over multi-billion dollar superannuation (retirement) funds and even managing labour-hire companies that exploit their own members.

The defence of trade unions by the pseudo-left flows from the material interests of an affluent, generally pro-Labor or pro-Green layer of the middle class, in the upper echelons of the public sector, academia, the media and the unions. While the conditions of the working class have plummeted, this layer has benefited from rising stock and real estate prices and the ever-greater concentration of income and wealth in the hands of the top 10 percent of the population. Members of the pseudo-left groupings now hold senior and well-paid union positions.

The politics of the pseudo-left do not represent the interests of the working class in any sense. The class role of such organisations is to try and oppose the necessary break that workers must make with the pro-capitalist political and union apparatus and the development of a mass socialist and internationalist movement, fighting for a workers government and socialist policies.
More than 87 executions were recorded in Pakistan in 2016, making it the fifth top executioner country in the world.

The pace of executions carried out in Pakistan decreased significantly from 2015, when 326 executions were reported. With at least 87 executions carried out in 2016, however, Pakistan remained among the world's top executioners.

Over 360 death sentences were imposed in Pakistan in 2016, higher than any of the previous years.

People with mental or intellectual disabilities were executed or remained under sentence of death in several countries including Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, Pakistan and the USA.

Military courts sentenced civilians to death in Pakistan, among other countries.

In majority of countries where people were sentenced to death or executed, the death penalty was imposed after proceedings that did not meet international fair trial standards. In 2016 Amnesty International raised particular concerns in relation to court proceedings in Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. In several countries, some convictions and death sentences were based on "confessions" that may have been extracted through torture or other ill-treatment.

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 loss of life -- were punished with death sentences in Pakistan.

The death penalty was repeatedly used in contravention of international law and standards across the region. Amnesty International received credible information indicating that Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea held people on death row who were below 18 years of age at the time of the crime for which they were convicted.

Pakistan remained one of the countries that retained death penalty for ordinary crimes.
OCILLA, Ga. (AP) - A south Georgia prosecutor says a grand jury has charged a man with killing a teacher and former beauty queen who vanished nearly 12 years ago.

Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney Paul Bowden says a grand jury on Wednesday indicted Ryan Alexander Duke on charges including murder and concealing a death.

Authorities in February announced Duke's arrest. He was a former student at the school where Tara Grinstead taught before she disappeared in October 2005.

A public defender who has represented Duke didn't immediately respond to a phone message and email seeking comment on the indictment.

Another man, Bo Dukes, was charged in March with concealing a death, evidence tampering and hindering the apprehension of a criminal in the case. Bowden said Dukes has not been indicted.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested Stuart Thomas MacDougall for child pornography at his home on Camp Road in Marianna.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office launched an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip that an individual on Camp Road was involved in child pornography.

Investigators with the Sheriff's Office, agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and agents with the Department of Homeland Security led a search warrant that found a computer, cellphone, and other devices that had sexually explicit images of children.

MacDougall will be facing twenty felony charges of possession or promotion of certain images of child pornography.

Deputies say that more charges are forthcoming as the investigation continues.
VALDOSTA, Fla. (WTXL) -- More arrests are expected after roughly 30 students and others broke into Valdosta High School.

As of now, 17 students and teens are facing felony charges for vandalizing the high school.

Chief Of Police Brian Childress says the vandals kicked in vending machines, spilled oil on the floors, spray painted walls, among other things.

Damages to the school are more than four-thousand dollars.

"What we found was disturbing. Just to be clear, that was the week of senior prank week I think is what they call it. This was not a prank. This was a crime and I'm not gonna put up with it", said Childress.
Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said that Pakistan's citizens are tried under the same law and Kulbhushan was not special to be singled out.

By India Today Web Desk: Defending the judgment against Kulbhushan Jadhav, former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri today said their judiciary is independent and even Pakistanis have been tried under the same law.

"Pakistanis have been tried under the same law. Not that Pakistan has been singling him (Jadhav) out," Kasuri told India Today's Karan Thapar in his show 'To The Point'.

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Since the case dealt with espionage and sabotage it was kept secret and there is nothing exceptional about it, he said.

When asked about Pakistan denying consular access to Jadhav, whose whereabouts and well-being has not been communicated to India, he stressed that it is not necessary in case relating to terrorism or espionage.

However, according to the Vienna convention there are no exceptions and even India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement to give consular access.

"In many cases they (courts) have summoned military officers...They do interfere even in military trials if they feel, not on evidence, but if on a technicality they feel that there has been a gross miscarriage of justice or the law has not been followed. If the law has been followed the court will not interfere," he said.

On Indo-Pak ties, he said the relations are crisis prone and there will always be crisis when you decide to talk.

He said the courts of Pakistan are so independent that a judge of Supreme Court was presiding over a bench and his life was threatened when Salman Taseer's murderer was tried and hanged.

"These judges have so much authority and power that they can resist even their own death threats," Kasuri said.

Also watch:

Kasuri to India Today: Kulbhushan Jadhav not special, even Pakistanis tried under same law Also read:

Basit told India Today Kulbhushan evidence shared; MEA says none received

For the 14th time, India seeks consular access from Pakistan to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav

--- ENDS ---
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Amtrak officials are continuing their tour of the gulf coast updating the public on the potential return of rail service.

Tuesday, residents in Live Oak learned more about Amtrak's plans to restore service between Jacksonville and New Orleans.

The "Sunset Limited" route was suspended in 2005.

From Live Oak to Chipley, residents and local officials have shown strong interest in bringing back Amtrak.

Today, officials were in Marianna to share more about the progress.

Last year, a special train rolled through Tallahassee bringing hope to many.

Wednesday, Amtrak continued pushing for support.

"What we're talking about is new Amtrak service that's going to run daily from Orlando to Jacksonville, then Jacksonville across the panhandle to New Orleans," said

Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman.

Loraine Walker wants service back soon. She's taking the train to California this summer but has to drive to New Orleans to catch it.

"It's very frustrating, because I had to call New Orleans, find a hotel I could book at, find out how much they were going to charge me for parking while I'm on the train," said Walker, a Marianna resident.

Walker was in Chipley last year, cheering on Amtrak to bring service closer to home.

"They're pushing it forward, and I'm really happy about that," said Walker.

If service is restored, Amtrak says it will use existing stations like here in Chipley. Officials say stations in Florida are in good condition, but more work needs to be done.

"Are they ADA compliant?" said Magliari. "What's the shape of the platform? Those kinds of things."

The Gulf Coast Working Group was to submit a report last September, but leadership changes at Amtrak and CSX Transportation have delayed things.

"You just can't plop a train onto a track and have it run it well," said Magliari. "We want to do this right, and doing it right takes time."

Local officials are hopeful Amtrak will not only return but boost local economies.

"We want the ability for our citizens to take advantage of it, and that's what today is all about," said Scott Maddox, a Tallahassee City commissioner, "to show these folks that we support passenger rail in Tallahassee."

"It's just another tool in the toolbox that would be available to us to attract economic and community development," said Jim Dean, Marianna city manager.

The President's budge calls for eliminating overnight train routes, which would include this one. Regardless, Amtrak says it will continue to work with the Gulf Coast Working Group, which should have a report ready in a few weeks.
LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Tuesday night, the Leon County School Board voted to approve the relocation of "PACE School."

It's an agenda item that has been championed by Superintendent Rocky Hanna for the past five years.

Playgrounds are common place at Leon County Schools but at PACE, the reality is a little different.

PACE serves at risk students 2nd through 12th graders with developmental disabilities or behavioral needs. Classes run out of these 28 portable units. Some date back to the 1940s.

"The floors are starting to fall through... one of my students actually went through the floor (his foot) this school year, and if you walk even through the front office here, you'll hear the floor creaking underneath you. I'm mostly excited for my students," said Amy Alvis, the assistant principal and site manager at PACE School. "They deserve the same equal access to facilities as any non disabled peer and they're very excited about having a real school. I believe it's going to change their pride in their school and just their self esteem getting to go to a permanent facility."

The new facility will be permanent, with a cafeteria, media lab and assembly hall.

Students will be able to be separated by grade, and VP says she's confident the new building will be an improvement that will help teachers better meet the unique needs of PACE students.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Global outrage, after a passenger was violently dragged off a commercial flight.

The CEO of United Airlines is speaking out exclusively with ABC News as protests grow against his company.

Oscar Munoz is now apologizing and announcing immediate changes, like no more law enforcement pulling off bumped passengers.

Two more airport police officers involved in dragging Dr. David Dao off a United express flight at Chicago's O'Hare Airport have been placed on leave.

Public relations experts in the Capital City are weighing in on the incident.
By Press Trust of India: Kolkata, April 13 (PTI) Left Front, which once held sway in Bengals East Midnapore district, today emerged as a nominal force there with its candidate losing his deposit in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly seat.

The Congress candidate too lost his deposit and was relegated to the fourth position, behind the Left, while ruling TMC candidate Chandrima Bhattacharya alone won 55 per cent of the total votes polled in the constituency.

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The two have, however, claimed that their poor show was a result of the ongoing communal polarization in the state.

"The result is a reflection of communal polarization that is going on in the state. Both TMC and BJP are trying to flare up communal tensions in the state," CPI state secretary Probodh Panda told PTI.

Echoing him, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan accused TMC of letting loose a reign terror during the polls.

"TMC had let loose a silent reign of terror ahead of the polls. Congress and Left were not allowed to campaign properly, but BJP was not stopped from campaigning. This election has clearly put up a picture where TMC and BJP are having a covert political understanding," he said.

Left Front supported CPI candidate Uttam Pradhan secured 17,423 votes which is 10 percent of the total votes polled. In 2016 when Left Front had fought the election as an alliance partner of Congress it had secured 34.73 percent votes. Congress candidate Naba Kumar Nanda secured juts 2270 votes, which is 1.3 percent of the total votes polled.

Bhattacharya secured 95369 votes, which is 55 percent of the total votes polled. TMC increased its vote share by two per cent since the last assembly polls in 2016 when it secured 93359 votes. In 2011 assembly elections, when TMC came to power forthe first time in the state, it had polled 86933 votes respectively.

BJPs vote share has increased by leaps and bounds from 8 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent. It secured 52843 votes this time up from 15,000 in 2016. PTI PNT KK KK

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People that live near 40th Avenue and Chestnut Avenue say they're worried about the safety of their neighborhood because those streets aren't 
Lisa to feature in a documentary about the reality of the beauty business.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Actress, model and cancer survivor Lisa Ray is serious about the beauty business and will soon be seen in a documentary based on the beauty world.

Lisa revealed the same on her Twitter account on Wednesday with an image of herself taken during a shoot.

So empowering to get real about the beauty business. Fab shoot for upcoming doc the #BeautyMachine #HongKong pic.twitter.com/BnlZWuPA9o- Lisa Ray (@Lisaraniray) April 12, 2017

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"So empowering to get real about the beauty business. Fab shoot for upcoming doc the 'Beauty Machine', Hong Kong," she captioned the photograph.

The actress also shared the news that she is heading to Mumbai, her "second home".

"Going to miss my boys like crazy, but excited to jet off to my second home Mumbai for more adventures," she tweeted.

On the acting front, the 45-year-old was last seen in Ram Gopal Varma's biographical action film, Veerappan.

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Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial condemned US White House spokesman Sean Spicers Holocaust comments on Wednesday and urged him to visit the museums website to learn about World War Two history and Hitlers extermination camps.

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Credit: Reuters

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In a statement from the director of Yad Vashems libraries, Dr. Robert Rozett, the memorial shared its deep concern about the inaccurate and insensitive use of terms related to the Holocaust by the White House Press Secretary.

Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem (File photo: Gil Yohanan)

Spicer triggered an uproar on Tuesday by saying Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons. He apologized after his comments drew immediate criticism on social media and elsewhere for overlooking the fact that millions of Jews were killed in Nazi gas chambers. A senior member of Israels government, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, welcomed Spicers apology on Wednesday.

Rozett blamed Spicers comments on ignorance, stating, His statements imply a profound lack of knowledge of the events of World War Two, including the Holocaust.

Spicer made the assertion at a daily news briefing, during a discussion 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.

The Nazis murdered six million Jews during World War Two. Many Jews as well as others were killed in gas chambers in European concentration camps.
For years, Marine Le Pen tried to explain to France and the world that she wasnt following her fathers path. Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the National Front party, was convicted by a French court after describing the gas chambers used in concentration camps during the Holocaust as a "detail" of history. After his daughter was elected National Front leader, and he continued making controversial comments, she did not hesitate to expel him from his position as the partys honorary chairman.

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Now, it is Marine Le Pen herself. Echoing a sentiment common in anti-Senitic circles, she said on Monday that France was not responsible for deporting Jews to Nazi death camps.

Marine and Jean-Marie Le Pen. It turns out that the daughterjust like the fathersuffers from the ancient European disease of anti-Semitism (Photo: AP)

The National Fronts platform is not anti-Semitic. In many senses, it announced the change Europe is going through. According to public opinion polls, Europeans hold views that are closer to US President Donald Trumps views than Americans. While most Americans were not thrilled with the presidents executive order on immigration, 55 percent of Europeansaccording to a survey conducted in eight leading countriesvoiced support for restricting Muslim immigration. In Germany, which opened its gates to a huge wave of immigration, 51 percent were in favor of limiting Muslims entry.

The conservative tendencies and the shift to the right are being received in the Israeli Right with unconcealed sympathy. On some level, the sympathy is definitely called for. The European Rights views on Israel are more reasonable, and sometimes even favorable. Dutch politician Geert Wilders is both an extreme rightist and an ardent supporter of Israel, and he is no anti-Semite. The picture, however, is far from rosy. Most far-right parties in Europe suffer from a certain level of anti-Semitism. The worst ones are the Golden Dawn in Greece and Jobbik in Hungary, followed by the Freedom Party of Austria, which nearly won the countrys presidency.

Some of these parties developed against a clear neo-Nazi background. Some are trying to shake off the old heritage, but its not always working. The National Front, for example, has remained an incubator for anti-Semites, despite Marine Le Pens alleged change. Jews have started believing that this change is real too. According to one poll, 7 to 8 percent of Frances Jews voted for Le Pen in the previous presidential election. It turns out, however, that the daughterjust like the fathersuffers from the same ancient European disease. She is an anti-Semite too.

The more important point is that even when the leaders of far-right parties disassociate themselves from anti-Semitic comments, different polls that have been conducted in Europe in recent years prove that Muslim haters are usually Jew haters as well, and some of those who declare their enthusiastic support for Israel are mainly referring to the Israel that, in their eyes, fights the Muslims. They dont mean Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

The European Left is no different. Perhaps the opposite even. While the European Right is trying to shake off anti-Semitic characteristics, not always successfully, there is a feeling that the European Left is going in an opposite direction. The British Labour Party, for example, has lost the separation line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, or at least the pretense that such a line exists.

This isnt about Jeremy Corbyn, the partys leader, who turned Hamas and Hezbollah members into his friends. Alex Chalmers, co-chair of the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC), resigned a year ago over the anti-Semitic sentiments of his fellow students. Only recently, an internal party committee decided to dismiss anti-Semitism charges against former London Mayor Ken Livingstone. Even the left-wing Guardian newspaper issued a harsh condemnation against the party. While support for Labour is declining, the bad news is that the party is becoming popular among young people in Britain.

So the radical left and the radical right do have a common denominatorhatred and racism, regardless of whether we are talking about hatred toward Jews or hatred toward Muslims. Racism is racism, hatred is hatred, and Islamophobia is closer to anti-Semitism than to pro-Zionism
South Korea said on Thursday it believed it would be consulted by the United States before any possible pre-emptive US strike against Pyongyang, where foreign journalists gathered for "a big and important event".

With a US aircraft carrier group steaming to the area, tensions on the Korean peninsula grew this week amid concern that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

China, North Korea's sole major ally and benefactor, has called for a peaceful resolution after a sharp rise in rhetoric between the United States and Pyongyang.

While US President Donald Trump has put North Korea "clearly on notice" that he would not tolerate provocative actions by the North, US officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.
An opinion piece in the Haaretz newspaper which described Israels national religious community as being "worse than Hezbollah" drew widespread condemnation Wednesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and politicians across the spectrum calling for an apology.

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The column by Haaretz writer Yossi Klein accused Israels national religious community of deceitfully attempting to take over and subvert the country, while carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The national religious are dangerous. More dangerous than Hezbollah, more than drivers in car-ramming attacks or kids with scissors. The Arabs can be neutralized, but they cannot, he wrote.

Klein continued with his scathing assessment of the community, asking: "What do they want? To take control of the state and cleanse it of Arabs. If asked, they will deny it. They know that it is too early to be out in the open.

"Do not believe their denials. Their religious nationalism is extreme nationalism, wrapped in a pious reverence, he continued. It permeates the education system, it is getting stronger in the army and affects the Supreme Court. They are already on their way to us, another moment and they break down the door."

Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

The article was met with anger from members of the national religious community, including several government ministers, as well as from more publically centrist politicians.

The article in Haaretz is shameful and disgraceful, Netanyahu wrote on Facebook late Wednesday. The national religious community is the salt of the earth, their sons and daughters serve in the army and national volunteer service for the state of Israel and the security of Israel.

"I am proud of them like the rest of the countrys citizens. Haaretz needs to apologize.

Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken, whose famously far-left wing paper prides itself on being a voice of dissent, responded to the fierce backlash, writing on twitter of his bewliderment at the extend of the attention the article has drawn.

"I cant figure out what all the excitement is (Pavlovian, I must say) over Yossi Kleins column. He is just saying something similar to what I said six years ago Schocken wrote, referring to an article he penned in which he accused the national religious community of practicing apartheid, a piece that also gave rise to a controversy at the time.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Amil Salman)

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) wrote on Facebook that she received a message from the mother of Benaya Rein, killed in the Second Lebanon War that Israel fought against Hezbollah in 2006, calling Klein a racist and asking her to let him know that her son died so he could continue being a journalist.

Education Minister and leader of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett, told Channel 2 news that he too had received complaints from two families of fallen soldiers, saying that the article was harmful.

Just when you think that Haaretz has sunk to its very lowest, it surprises you with a new low. No national religious, or leftists, or Arabs or any other group deserves a writer making an abusive, stupid accusation like this, he said on Facebook. Before it ends in blood, Haaretz, stop.

But the criticism was not exclusively espoused by members on the political right. Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, branded the column anti-Semitic, asking rhetorically if a number of national religious Israelis, including fellow lawmakers, were more dangerous than the terror group.

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (R) and MK Shelly Yachimovich (Photo: Motti Kimchi, Gil Yohanan)

However, while lambasting the content of the article, prominent members of the opposition, including its leader Isaac Herzog and MK Shelly Yachimovich, accused Netanyahu of using similar language against Arabs, union members and others.

Nevertheless, Herzog still said the column deserved every condemnation and Yachimovich labelled it inciteful, infuriating and full of indiscriminate hatred.

MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) refrained frm decrying the article, criticizing instead the uniform responses of politicians on both sides of the spectrum.

MK Tamar Zandberg (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

I would be more excited by the national shock over Klein if Bennett or Netanyahuyou know what, Herzog or Shellywould tweet when leftists are called traitors or chicken sh*t.

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
A Jewish community center and a church within a mile of one another in Virginia were vandalized, authorities said Tuesday, as swastikas and derogatory language were sprayed on their buildings.

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A Fairfax County police spokeswoman said authorities received a report at about 7am Tuesday that graffiti had been sprayed on the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, only to receive a report about an hour-and-a-half later of a similar vandalism incident at Little River United Church of Christ, located just a few hundred meters from the Community Center.

The incidents occurred between 1am and 4 am, spokeswoman Tawny Wright said. Police are reviewing surveillance footage in both cases.

The Washington Post reports that Jeff Dannick, executive director of the JCC, said the graffiti was going to be removed on Tuesday, adding that it was particularly painful that the incident occurred during Passover.

Photo: JCCNV

We retell that story generation to generation every year so that we never forget, he said. Its a painful reminder of how ugly and dangerous the world can be, but also how we can overcome it.

At the church, a swastika was painted on the Holy Week schedule, and a sign that read Say NO to anti-Muslim bigotry was crossed out. The words Jesus knows no traitors were also scrawled on the sign.





Pastor David Lindsey said he wasnt surprised the church was a target, saying that the anti-Muslim bigotry banner was the churchs latest attempt to reach out to its neighbors.

Little River was founded in 1955 as a racially integrated church and started performing same-sex weddings 16 years ago," he said.

"The response was overwhelmingly positive, but every once in a while youre going to get an incident, he commented.

The graffiti incidents come after scores of threats against Jewish community centers around the country. As of last month, there were 166 threats made in 38 states as well as three Canadian provinces, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

While American Jews sat and watched in fear as anti-Semitism seemed to be manifesting its head in a fashion unknown to the community in modern times in the US, and as many blamed the far-right emboldened by President Donald Trump, the community was thrown into a state of sheer confusion as they were forced to digest the arrest of a Jewish Israeli hacker who authorities believe is responsible for the harassment.

Israeli police said the motive behind the threats was unclear. An attorney for the 19-year-old man said her client had a "very serious medical condition" that might have affected his behavior.

In March, US law enforcement arrested a former journalist in St. Louis, Juan Thompson, on charges he had threatened Jewish organizations as part of a bizarre campaign to harass his former girlfriend. But Israeli police say the Jewish teen is the primary suspect in the more than 150 bomb threats in North America since early January.
Hundreds of people participated in a solidarity march with the Mengistu family in their ongoing efforts to secure the release of their son Abera, who has been held in captivity by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for 948 days.

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The march took place in Ashkelon in order to remind the government of its commitment to bring about Aberas swift return to his family.

Solidarity march in Ashkelon (Photo: Avi Roccah)

"We have now gone through a third holiday without Abera, and it's too hard to bear," his mother lamented. "I have no more strength to cope with the uncertainty. My son is sick, and I do not know if he is being treated. I have lost hope, I do not sleep at night, and after so long I would expect to begin to hear that something is happening. I dont believe all the promises from the government."

Abera Mengistu

No word has been heard of Aberas fate since voluntarily crossing the border into Gaza in September 2014. His family claim that his mental heath issues from which he suffers account for his actions.

(Translated and edited by Alexander J. Apfel)
Residents of the Baka neighborhood of Jerusalem were shocked on Wednesday to discover racist, anti-Arab graffiti sprayed near a park connecting the neighborhood with the Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa.

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Arabs, go home, and We want revenge were two of the hateful slogans sprayed on walls near the park, which was, since its establishment, a popular recreational spot for Jews and Arabs alike, thus becoming a symbol for peaceful coexistence.

Khaneh was right was also sprayed on the walls in reference to Rabbi Meir Kahane, the founder of the outlawed Kach movement, who was assassinated in Manhattan in 2012.

'We love our neighbors'

The stunned residents reported the vandalism to the city municipality, which was promptly removed.



Not content with the mere removal of the graffiti, some of the residents made their way to the park with their childrenstill during their Passover holidayand made big colorful signs bearing the opposite message of the hateful graffiti: We love our neighbors.

The racist graffiti

Ilana Nelson, a resident of the neighborhood who made the sign with her kids, said "our message, the messeage of the residents, is that we do not tolerate racism.

"We want to live in peace and harmony with our neighbors. Just yesterday I was at the park with my husband and I saw a nice couple, an Arab Muslim and a woman wearing a Hijab, who asked a Jewish couple to take their picture," she added.





"I thought we lived normal lives in a normal world, and then we woke up to that."





Nelson's son, who studies at Jerusalem's Yad be-Yad Max Rayne Bilingual School, wrote the sign in both Hebrew and Arabic.

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas toward Japan.

Abe's comments Thursday to a parliamentary panel on national security and diplomacy come amid looming concern about another missile or nuclear test by the communist country.

Responding to a question about Japan's readiness at a time of increased tension, Abe told lawmakers that North Korea may already have the capability to shoot missiles with sarin as warheads.

A US navy aircraft carrier is heading toward the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang prepares for the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il Sung this weekend.
A twitter account affiliated with the Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah has tweeted a warning followers about Facebook accounts used to spy for "the Zionist enemy."

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The "Mouqawama" (Resistance) twitter account posted "there are Facebook accounts under multiple names aimed at collecting information for the Zionist enemy. Beware of these most prominent ones." Underneath the tweet were several pictures of Facebook accounts allegedly used by so-called Zionist intelligence agencies.

Mustafa Amine Badreddine

Among the most notable accounts are the ones opened as part of the Your silence is an admission anonymous online campaign , which sought to goad Hezbollah leaders into addressing the allegations that they were responsible for the assassination of the former commander Mustafa Amine Badreddine.

The campaign's slogan has also appeared recently on a billboard in Lebanon. Intelligence researcher Ronen Solomon, owner of the Intel Times blog, told Ynet that "there is a possibility that someone managed to take control of the electronic signs and insert the slogan."

The billboard

Solomon also noted that underneath that sign was the logo for the Sabra Group, which operated out of Beirut. According to Solomon, the company is connected to the Sabra family, which is closely linked to Hezbollah.

"One of the people involved in the murder of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, was Assad Hassan Sabra. Badreddine was the main suspect of that murder," said Solomon.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot has said that an internal organizational conflict led to the assassination , citing 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.

From left to right: IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot, Badreddine's alleged lover, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)

The allegation gained even more merit recently when Badreddine's self-confessed former lover claimed that not only was Hezbollah behind his assassination, but that the he was aware of the group's plot.

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
By Press Trust of India: Guwahati, Apr 13 (PTI) A luxury vessel is being readied after a MoU was signed for river cruise service between Assam and Bangladesh from September next year.

Ashish Phookan, Managing Director of the Assam-based pioneering river cruise operator Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) said the vessel named Charaidew 2 is being prepared to sail between Bangladesh and Assam with passengers from September next year.

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The new vessel has been designed specifically for river cruise in Bangladesh and India so that their water level and height of some of the bridges are not disturbed. It has has 14 twin/double and four single cabins, besides spa and gym facility, he said.

ABN, Phookan said, had initiated the process for the cruise service nearly 10 years ago to meet the demands of his clients during the last 15 years. The company was the pioneer in long distance river cruise in the country in 2003 with unique cruises on Brahmaputra river in Assam and was the first to run cruises on Hoogli river in Kolkata in 2007.

"We were awarded the Indian National Tourism Award for Innovation in 2004-2005. Experience counts for everything here and our expertise in the field of river cruising on both waterways is unrivaled," he said.

The company has three cruise ships - ABN Charaidew and ABN Sukapha in operation in Assam and Bengal and ABN Rajmahal on the Ganges.

The signing of the MoU for the river cruise will boost tourism in a major way in both the countries, Phookan said adding it will also generate employment opportunities for the people of the two countries.

He said so far inland vessels of both the neighbouring countries could transit through the specified routes of each other. But now changes will need to be brought as the routes were finalised by both the governments and authorities have informed that vessels cannot be parked at unassigned sites.

The MoU and the standard operating procedures on passenger cruise services on the coastal and protocol routes between governments of the two countries were exchanged on Sunday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi.

"The operationalisation of this MoU will promote people-to-people contact and cooperation between the two countries in respect of economic, social and cultural advancement," an official statement had said. PTI ESB KK

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Communications featuring Syrian military and chemical experts discussing preparations for the Sarin attack in Idlib last week were intercepted by the US military and intelligence community, a senior US official told CNN news network on Thursday.

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The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack in northwestern Syria, which killed at least 74 people and injured more than 550, according to the Idlib health authority.

Photo: Reuters

After studying the intercepted communications, US officials said that there is "no doubt" that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the attack.

The official emphasized that the US did not know prior to the attack that it was going to happen, stating that the US gathers such a massive volume of communications intercepts in areas like Syria and Iraq, that the material is rarely processed unless there is a particular event that requires analysts to go back and search for supporting intelligence material.

So far there are no intelligence intercepts that have been found directly confirming that Russian military or intelligence officials communicated about the attack.

The official said that the Russians are more cautious in their communications to avoid being intercepted, and if those did take place they were likely to have been careful enough as to not leave an obvious record or trace.

Photo: AFP

The Russian and Syrian governments have both denied involvement in the chemical attack.

President Donald Trump told a White House news conference Wednesday that the Pentagon is looking into the question of Russian complicity in the chemical attack.

"I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have," Trump said. "(Defense Secretary) Gen. (James) Mattis is looking into it with the entire Pentagon group that does that kind of work."

From left to right: Russian President Putin, US President Trump, Syrian President Assad (Photo: Reuters, EPA, AP)

The US now believes that Syria has re-established a unit of personnel associated with chemical weapons that existed before the 2013 agreement in which the Syrian government pledged to give up its weapons inventory. There is also some indication that they are receiving outside help.

"We know they have the expertise. And we suspect that they have help," a US military official told reporters at a background briefing Friday.

At the same briefing, the official also noted: "We know the Russians have chemical expertise in-country. We cannot talk openly about any complicity between the Russians and the Syrian regime in this...in this case, but we're carefully assessing any information that would implicate the Russians knew or assisted with the Syrian capability."
The lives of about 50 dogs are now at serious risk, after the Bethlehem Animal Shelter & Administration Unit (BASAU) lost its financial backing.

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The BASAU is the only dog shelter in the Palestinian Authority, and takes in dogs from all over the Palestinian territories. It operates solely through donations with no government funding.

Photo: Diana Babish

Courtesy of PTROA

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Diana George Babish, a Palestinian resident of Beit Sahour who established and operates the shelter, built it on land owned by Beit Sahour, which now plans to build a hotel and hospital on the land.

"They sent me a notice for immediate eviction and did not offer me a replacement facility for the shelter, like I had requested," said Babish Wednesday. "I'm in deep debt because of the shelter's expenses and I don't have the option to move it someplace else."

Photo: Diana Babish

Next month, the Palestinian Authority will hold elections for local municipalities. As a result, the shelter became less of a pressing issue in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour.

Due to the risk of eviction, several Israeli animal protection organizations have begun working together to save the 50 dogs in Babish's shelter.

"We're very afraid that that the dogs will get thrown into the street, where their days will be numbered," said Let the Animals Live founder Eti Altman.

Photo: Diana Babish

"These dogs are like my children," said Babish. "I want to know that they'll find a loving home in Israel."

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
It isnt hard to imagine what would have happened had the American president been Barack Obama, had the White House press secretary been Josh Earnest and had the comments he made been even more moderate than the comments that Sean Spicer made Monday in front of a room filled with journalists.

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What an outcry would have come out of Jerusalem. Wall-to-wall condemnations. Yad Vashems unofficial spokesperson, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would have jumped in front of the cameras and condemned that Holocaust denier, who represents, of course, the presidents anti-Semitic viewsbecause how can his comments not be seen as President Obamas stance?

These are different times, however. The president sitting in the White House is the man Netanyahu referred to as the best friend the Jewish people have ever had, and his speaker, who can be seen as nothing but a complete idiot and an ignorant person, doesnt represent a thing in the Israeli prime ministers eyes apparently. Spicer? Spicer who? Who is this Spicer guy and what does he have to do with anything? Thats the spirit prevailing in the Prime Ministers Office in recent days. Or in other words, completely ignoring what he said.

Netanyahu. Is it possible that the prime ministers Holocaust statements are simply a strategy he uses to control us? (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Thats the only way to explain Netanyahus silence in light of the delusional comments made by the Trump administrations official spokesperson, who said that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler didnt use gas against a population during World War II. When he realized his mistake, Spicer tried to rectify it, only to make an even more embarrassing blunder , stating that unlike Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hitler didnt do it against his own people, and that he didnt gas people on the streets but assembled them in Holocaust centers.

Even the man who accused the mufti of pushing the Nazi tyrant toward the final solution wouldnt have ignored what appears to be a case of Holocaust denial, if one insists on not seeing it as pure anti-Semitism.

But Netanyahu is keeping silent. The man who has no problem spicing up his speeches with examples from the Holocaust, whether they are relevant or not, the man who lives and leads his people under the narrative of preventing another Holocaustthis man is suddenly dumbfounded when the White House press secretary makes comments that even known Holocaust deniers wouldnt dare say.

The only thing we can conclude from this is that Netanyahu is more afraid of Donald Trump than he is of the possibility of another Holocaust. When he weighs his loyalty to the Republican president against his loyalty to Jewish history, the scales tip in favor of Trump.

Alternatively, its possible that the prime ministers statements on the Holocaust are simply a strategy he uses to control us. The strategy of the fear and trepidation of another Holocaust which only he, Netanyahu, is capable of dealing withwhich is why there is no escape from voting for him again and again.

It doesnt really matter why Netanyahu didnt rush to fix what needed fixing, to clarify what needed to be clarified, to condemn what had to be condemned. In Trump and Netanyahus world, where alternative facts are as important as real facts, it doesnt matter if Hitler used or didnt use gas, if he attacked or didnt attack his peoplebecause the current interest is to stand by the Trump administration, just like the previous interest was to warn us of another annihilation.

And once again we are learning that if a person hates Muslims and supports the settlementsand even if he doesnt really support themthe Israeli Right will forgive any abomination, including anti-Semitism.
BEIRUTThe Syrian army said an air strike late on Wednesday by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to Islamic State, releasing a toxic substance that killed "hundreds," but the coalition denied carrying out raids in the area.

A statement by the army, flashed on Thursday by Syrian state TV, said the incident in the eastern Deir al-Zor province proved that Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked militants "possess chemical weapons."

The report could not immediately be independently verified.

US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in that area at that time.
On the eve of Passover, security forces arrested a Palestinian man, a 20-year-old resident of Qalandiya, who was armed with a knife and a stun grenade arrived at the Qalandiya crossing in an attempt to enter Israel and carry out a stabbing attack.

His interrogation revealed that he planned to carry out the attack with another person, also a Qalandiya resident, who eventually did not come with him. He turned himself in to the security forces on Thursday.
On the eve of the holiday of Passover, as Jews worldwide come together to remember the story of the exodus of the ancient Hebrews out of slavery, an Israeli rabbi and ethics scholar says the holiday demands attention to aspects beyond just remembrance of the Exodus, particularly this year with the plight of refugees around the world and the human crisis in Syria.

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Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, chairman of the Ethics Committee for the Tzohar rabbinical organization and one of Israels leading experts on issues of ethics and Jewish law, has called upon Jews in Israel and around the world to use the Passover Seder as an occasion to inspire greater global awareness of the ongoing plight of a people just north of Israels border.

(Photo: Daniel Bar-on/TPS)

When we read of the biblical commandment to remember the exodus from Egypt, the commandment requires that we personally feel as if we were personally liberated, Cherlow said. Seder night is a commemoration of our existence as a nation as we recognize how we left Egypt and came to the land of Israel. This recognition requires us to appreciate many lessons, one of which is that we too must empathize with the plight of other refugees.

The horrific events of recent days and weeks, as we have witnessed atrocities against innocents, must call all people of conscience to respond. The Seder provides us that opportunity. At its core, the Seder is a night of faith in God as the ultimate force, who dictates the path of history and the fate of our people. That also has an impact on our perspective of other nations.

Cherlow added that although virtually all competing sides in Syrias civil war are also hostile towards Israel, the Jewish holiday of freedom demands compassion for the innocent victims of the fighting.

On Seder night, we identify not with those who are committing evil but rather feel solidarity with those innocents literally caught in the crossfire, Cherlow said.

The full text of the prayer (translated from the Hebrew by Elli Sacks) is as follows:

Master of the universe, who makes peace on high.

Though we are not accustomed to creating new formal prayers, we can no longer stand aside to look at the slaughter taking place in Your world and fail to pray. We know that both sides in this war are guilty of wanton bloodshed, and we are unable to keep silent when so many who are beyond the circle of conflict have fallen victim.

Oh Lord, we beseech You in prayer to arouse in the killers their basic humanity and evoke mercy in their hearts. Lead them to recognize that we are all created in Your image and that there are limits even to human cruelty. May You bring to pass what is written in Your Torah: He who sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed, for in Gods image was man created.

Grant us the wisdom to know how to act in this hour of distress, when the dark face of humanitys evil inclination is once again fully exposed and we are unsure how to stand against it. Enable us to act with all our energies to prevent bloodshed in Your world, above all in the Holy Land and its environs, as it is written in Your Torah: You shall not pollute the land where you are for blood pollutes the land; and the land will not expiate the bloodshed upon it, but with the blood of he that shed it.

May God who makes peace on high, make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and let us say amen.
More than 11,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the British government to formally apologize for the Balfour Declaration, a letter written by British Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour in 1917 expressing Britains support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in the Holy Land.

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The petition was recently launched by the Balfour Apology Campaign (BAC) and calls for the British government to openly apologize to the Palestinian people for issuing the Balfour Declaration.

The 100th anniversary of the declaration, which many see as the document that paved the way for a Jewish state in Israel, will be marked in November, and British Prime Minister Theresa May has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the UK for the occasion. Netanyahu has accepted the invitation.

Balfour and the declaration

The British government was responsible for mandatory Palestine from 1917 to 1948, when they withdrew just before Israel declared an independent Jewish state. Palestinians say they now want an apology.

We have said clearly that we have been victims of British colonialism and that the least we would expect from the UK is to apologize to the Palestinian people, Xavier Abu Eid, a spokesman for the PLO, told the Media Line. A foreign colonial power decided to give Palestine to an organization that was not even in Palestine. This is one of the darkest episodes of the past 100 years.

As the petition has already reached 10,000 signatures, the British government must issue a formal response, within three days. Organizers said it had passed the 10,000 mark five days ago and they have yet to receive a response.

If they reach 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in parliament.

The Balfour Declaration, issued on November 2, 1917, was a 67-word statement as part of a letter addressed to Walter Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community.

The text reads as follows: His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done, which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

The Balfour Apology Campaign says that it is this letter that is responsible for the fact that Palestinians do not have an independent Palestinian state today.

An apology would be recognition of the mistake that Britain made in the Balfour Declaration.

There are many precedents in which UK prime ministers recognized Britains role in causing suffering in its former colonies.

For example, Tony Blair in 1997 apologized to the Irish for the famine the country endured in the middle of the 19th century. Gordon Brown in 2009 issued a formal Government apology to thousands of British children who were shipped from Australia and other Commonwealth countries between 1920s and 1960s. Similarly, Cameron in 2011 recognized that Britains colonial history made it responsible for much of the historic problems in the world when he was discussing the dispute in Kashmir.

In addition, many leading scholars and historians such as Avi Shlaim stated that Britain should apologize to the Palestinians for all the betrayal going back to the Balfour Declaration, the website of the Apology Campaign states.

The Israeli government says it sees the Balfour Declaration as a significant marker in the history of the Jewish state.

It was the first time that a great power recognized the Jewish people as a people who deserve and have the right to build their home, said Michal Maayan, a deputy spokesperson of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The same language appears later in the UN resolutions about the creation of Israel. We are marking the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

She also said that the Palestinians are focusing on a 100-year-old document instead of finding ways to restart peace talks with Israel.

It is another example of the Palestnians refusal to recognize Israels right to exist and the Jewish peoples right to have a country in Israel, Maayan said. It shows their focus on the past instead of their commitment to find a peaceful resolution in the present.

PLO spokesman Abu Eid disagrees.

We dont say there is no two-state solution. We recognized Israel within the 1967 borders and that recognition is still in force, he said. But it would make a difference if they acknowledged what they did to us.

Some Israeli academics note that the Balfour Declaration does not preclude the establishment of a Palestinian state.

They have nothing to apologize for. The Balfour Declaration promised self-rule to the Jews without taking anything away from the Arabs, said Moshe Zimmerman, a professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Colonial powers thought they could allocate territory to anyone they wanted. If they (the British) have to apologize for anything it is for being a colonial power.
A delegation of German trauma specialists visited the town of Sderot, located just two kilometers from the Gaza Strip, to learn about local approaches to treating psychological trauma.

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The city is a natural destination for trauma research.

Kindergarten struck by Qassam rocket (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

Since 2001, Palestinians in nearby Gaza have fired more than 12,000 rockets at the city from the Strip, and the Code Red air raid siren has formed the soundtrack of growing up for a generation of Israelis.

Upon hearing the siren, locals have just 15 seconds to take cover; to deal with the threat, the town is dotted with makeshift bomb shelters, and some playgrounds have been covered with rocket-resistant roofs.

Predictably, psychologists, religious authorities, teachers and counselors say the constant threat of attack has left an indelible mark on local residents. Bed wetting, depression, stress disorders and divorce rates have skyrocketed in the city since the turn of the century.

Dr. Adrianna Katz, Executive Director of the Sderot Community Center for Mental Health, said in 2010 that it is a mistake to talk about post trauma conditions in Sderot, due to the ever-present possibility of an attack. People here are living in a constant state of panic, said Katz.

As a result, Sderot has become an unhappy laboratory for the development of trauma therapies.

Public bomb shelter in Sderot (Photo: Oz Moallem)

The current visit, hosted by the Israeli Trauma Coalition, centered on a tour of the local Resilience Center, where the visitors heard about life in the constant shadow of terrorism and about the governments model of bolstering communities, both during normal times and during emergencies.

In addition, the group visited nearby Kibbutz Nir Am for a lookout into the Gaza Strip and visited a Resilience Center for the Bedouin community in the city of Rahat, where they learned about the challenges of providing psycho-social therapy to the Bedouin population of the Negev.

Talia Levanon, director general of the Israel Trauma Coalition, said, The delegation came to learn from Israel Trauma Coalition activities in the areas that we work. It is an ongoing process of learning, and we hosted a German-Israeli workshop aimed at administering, developing and preventing therapy teams from burning themselves out.

Rocket impact crater in Sderot (Photo: Roi Idan)

The delegation also met with Corinne Zeevi-Weil, an expert in child and adult psychology at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, and visited the Amcha center in Haifa they met with Holocaust survivors and heard talks by staff members about therapy and support.

The Israel Trauma Coalition was founded in February 2001 at the behest of the Jewish Federation of New York and serves as the executive arm for government ministries that deal with mental health issues.

The coalition includes hundreds of professionals and thousands of volunteers around the country operating regional preparedness centers for emergency situations. Treatment focuses civil preparedness for emergency situations, therapy training, and preparing the education system for emergency situations.
Route 4 in the Hadarim Prison area was blocked Thursday evening in both directions due to a demonstration by Haredim. During the protest, the police arrested 13 demonstrators, and an hour later, the road was cleared and traffic returned to normal.

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Traffic jam on route 4 following ultra-Orthodox protest (:  ,  )

X

Some 600 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators arrived at the prison to protest the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox man suspected of assaulting a police officer. According to suspicions, he attacked the policeman who was about to arrest him after the ultra-Orthodox man incited against IDF draft.

Route 4 (Photo: Yehudit Nachmanovich)

(Photo: Shmulik Miller)

Many buses arrived at the Sharon Prison compound, which also houses Hadarim Prison. The demonstration, which took place without a permit, was initially conducted quietly, but later, the protesters went down to the road and blocked it. A police force from the Sharon area and the traffic department cleared them and re-opened the road to traffic.

(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
US military says dropped GBU-43 bomb in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Thursday targeting series of Islamic State caves.

US military says this is the first time the GBU-43 bomb, known as the Mother of all Bombs, has been used in combat.
Congress's Hemant Katare won the Ater seat defeating the BJP candidate by 857 votes and BJP's Shivnarayan Singh defeated Congress's Savitri Singh by a margin of 25,476 votes in Bandhavgarh.

By Rahul Noronha: The BJP and Congress retained their respective seats in by-elections held at the Ater and Bandhavgarh (ST) assembly segments, results for which were announced today.

While the Congress's Hemant Katare won the Ater seat defeating the BJP's Arvind Singh Bhadoria by 857 votes in a contest that went down to the wire, in Bandhavgarh, the BJP's Shivnarayan Singh defeated the Congress's Savitri Singh by a margin of 25,476 votes.

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Counting in Ater took exceptionally long and ended at around 5.30 pm with the ECI finally announcing Hemant Katare as the winner. In sharp contrast, counting at Bandhavgarh ended at around 12 pm.

Counting at Ater was marked by frequent suspensions with either the BJP or Congress candidate registering protests over some technicalities. The counting was a roller coaster ride for both candidates who led and trailed at different points by slender margins.

Katare led in the first round only to lose this lead in the subsequent 10 rounds. Katare then made a comeback and gained a lead of around 9000 votes. Bhadoria won the last few rounds but his lead in individual rounds was not good enough for him to win.

Incidentally, dynasties won in both seats in MP. While Hemant is the son of former leader of Opposition late Satyadev Katare whose death necessitated the bypoll, Shivnarayan Singh is the son of former state Minister Gyan Singh whose election to the Lok Sabha from Shahdol and subsequent resignation from the assembly had necessitated the bypolls.

The Ater bypolls were being seen as a contest in proxy between CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia with both leaders spending many days in Ater while campaigning for the bypoll.

This was also the first time Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was put to use in elections in Madhya Pradesh. The use of the VVPAT machines led to a controversy which eventually led to the transfer of the Collector and SP besides 17 other officials from the Bhind district. A number of other police officials were also transferred on orders of the ECI.

--- ENDS ---
WASHINGTON -- The United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs," in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday against a series of caves used by Islamic State militants, the military said.

It was the first time this type of bomb had been used in combat and was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.
Ice plumes shooting into space from Saturn's ocean-bearing moon Enceladus contain hydrogen from hydrothermal vents, an environment that some scientists believe led to the rise of life on Earth, research published on Thursday showed.

The discovery makes Enceladus the only place beyond Earth where scientists have found direct evidence of a possible energy source for life, according to the findings in the journal Science.

Similar conditions, in which hot rocks meet ocean water, may have been the cradle for the appearance of microbial life on Earth more than 4 billion years ago.

"If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus," geochemist Jeffrey Seewald, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, wrote in a related commentary in Science.
A father and four of his children, residents of east Jerusalem, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping the youngest son in the family and wanting to murder him because of his sexual orientation.

The son has been defined as missing for more than a month. Prior to his disappearance, he filed a complaint with police and expressed concern that his family would harm him.
Two Palestinian men convicted in Israel of murdering a US citizen who was hiking near an Israeli archaeological site could face charges in the United States if they are ever released from an Israeli prison.

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The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement Thursday that Ayad Fatafta and Kifah Ghanimat face federal charges of murdering a US national outside the United States.

Rescue workers bring the body of Kristine Luken in 2010 (Photo: AP)

They are charged in the 2010 murder of 44-year-old tourist Kristine Luken.

The two were convicted in an Israeli court of murder for stabbing Luken and a friend who were hiking together. The other victim survived the attack.

Fatafta was sentenced to a life term in prison plus 20 years. Ghanimat was sentenced to two life terms and 60 years for the attack on Luken and another crime.

A court document filed in the United States says Ghanimat told Israeli authorities that Fatafta told him "that they were going to kill every Jewish person that they met." Luken was a Christian missionary; her friend, a licensed tour guide, was wearing a Jewish Star of David at the time both were stabbed.

Mohammed Fatafta, Ayad Fatafta's brother, a Palestinian police officer in the West Bank, said the family was not aware of the U.S. charges. But he said the case was unfair and made no sense when his brother has already been convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.

"The crime took place in Israel and the trial took place in Israel too. That's enough," he said.

Meg Luken, Kristine Luken's step mother, said in a brief telephone call with The Associated Press on Thursday that the family was "very encouraged" by the filing of the charges but didn't want to make any further statement.

Luken's friend, Kay Wilson, the British-born Israeli who was wounded in the attack, praised the U.S. decision.

In a statement posted on her Facebook account, she called it "the best news" she's had in six years.

"Although the prisoners are in an Israeli jail, should my government ever decide to let murderers free again in a prisoner exchange, these cold-blooded savages will not be released. Instead, they will be shipped off to the USA to stand trial there. I'm so relieved, I'm near to tears," she wrote.
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.
YORK  Louis A. Sanna, 26, of Geneva, has been sentenced to a term of 18 months in prison for driving under the influence and causing serious bodily injury.

This case started with a very serious accident south of McCool Junction on Highway 81 shortly after midnight on Saturday, July 9, 2016.

According to information from the sheriffs department and court documents, the collision occurred 1  miles south of McCool Junction.

The sheriffs department said Sanna was driving a 2008 Volkswagen JWE four-door sedan.

Meanwhile, a 2004 Chrysler PTE was being driven by Brittany C. Walburn, 24, of Lincoln.

Both vehicles were northbound.

Investigators said the Sanna vehicle rear-ended the Walburn vehicle at a high rate of speed.

The impact caused the Sanna vehicle to go into a spin, rotating approximately three times. It traveled several hundred feet before stopping on the east shoulder facing west.

After impact, the Walburn vehicle began to spin out, before traveling sideways into the median. The vehicle then exited the median, at which time it began to roll several times, ejecting the rear seat passenger. The Walburn vehicle came to rest several hundred feet away, in the west ditch, facing south.

The rear passenger of the Walburn vehicle sustained life threatening injuries and was in critical condition.

Another passenger was injured as well.

Sanna pleaded no contest to the charge last February.

During this weeks court proceedings, it was also determined that Sanna will pay $11,972 restitution to one of the victims. A second victim will pursue restitution through civil case proceedings.

Sanna was given credit for one day already served. Following incarceration, there will be 18 months of post-release supervision. And Sannas drivers license has been revoked for a period of 10 years.
YORK  Alexandria Warneke has noticed she belongs to a minority  not once but twice over.

The junior at York High finds herself in a small demographic first because of her passion for science. When that group is shaken down again by gender she becomes even more of a rare species as a female with deep interest in science.

Warneke will do all she can to expand those boundaries around her by making that topic her platform entitled Where a Beautiful Brain Can STEM From in this weeks Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen scholarship pageant in Omaha.

The competition is the teen division of the Miss America Pageant. In place of the swimsuit competition Warneke and her fellow contestants will demonstrate their fitness.

In the talent portion of the judging she will showcase her ballet skills with a pointe dance to Zou Bisou Bisou.

Warneke has performed in the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Companys The Nutcracker at the Lied Center and has mentored children at Kirbys School of Dance in York since the seventh grade.

On an Education First Tour she visited London, Rome, Florence and Paris, where she took a ballet class.

At York High she participates in: FBLA, mock trial, show choir, dance team, musical production and speech.

The competition for Warneke begins tomorrow (Friday) when a panel of judges will interview her in detail and at length about her resume, pageant platform, personality, poise and personal background.

The daughter of Chris and Tonya Warneke will step under the stage lights Saturday in the public portion of the contest.

Each contestant will be judged in four categories: fitness routine, talent, evening gown and, finally, how each answers an on-stage question at the microphone.

The winner will be crowned yet Saturday night based on an overall point system compiled by three to four judges.

They dont judge us against each other, she explained.

Should she win, Warneke pledges to promote her girls in science platform statewide, then move on to the Miss Americas Outstanding Teen competition in Orlando.

Warneke readily admits she is big into science. That passion produced her platform, she said, Because Ive always kind of been going to science competitions and conventions where I found mostly boys. I was beating them, she said with a small grin, so I knew I had what it takes.

She credits a Women in Science conference at UNL for ramping up her enthusiasm for science another step higher.

I was inspired by the female (science) professors, at UNL, she said. That kind of pushed me even more.

What a lot of girls dont realize is that science and math actually has to do with everything in daily life.

Warneke, an honor roll student, is currently taking four college credit classes at YHS. She aspires to obtain a juris doctorate and become an environmental attorney.

A $2,000 scholarship and other prizes will be awarded to the pageant winner. Scholarship amounts for the four placers are $700, $600, $500 and $400.
Sanjay Nagnath Yenkur, 11, left in home in anger but was reunited with family in Latur through Aadhaar.

By Narender Paperwala: Congenitally speech-and-hearing impaired, Sanjay Nagnath Yenkur was 11 when he left his home in anger.

Upset with his elder brother, Yenkur set out for Gujarat via Hyderabad. He reached the Vadodra train station where an NGO spotted him and sent him to the care of child-protection authorities in neighbouring Narmada.

Here, he was admitted to a school and given a new name, Akash.

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But destiny unfolded again for him when he was brought to an Aadhaar facility for enrolment. As Yenkur, now 14, sat down for fingerprinting and iris scan, the program's biometric database showed he already had a 12-digit national identity, said Chetan Parmar, Narmada's child-protection official.

The Aadhaar system tracked down his real name and address in a remote village of Maharashtra's Latur district, Parmar explained.

Authorities in Gujarat were quick to reach out to his family in his Hanchanal village. After three years, the teen was reunited with his loved ones, thanks to Aadhaar.

Also read: Ministry official in Modi government acknowledges leak of Aadhar information: Report

Also read: All NRI bank accounts not linked to Aadhaar card may be blocked after April 30

--- ENDS ---
The dog was killed when he tried to save its owner from the knife-wielding attacker.

By Saurabh Vaktania: A pet dog was killed after it tried to save its master from a knife-wielding attacker in Mumbai's Sion Koliwada.

A 23-year-old man was about to kill his girlfriend when one of the woman's friend came to her rescue. The man tried to kill the friend also, when the pet dog came in between to her rescue. The pet dog bit the man to shove him away. The man, however, killed the dog and escaped from the spot. The man, identifies as Venkatesh, was arrested by police in the murder case of the dog but was released on bail same day.

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The woman, identified as Sumathi, a resident of Sion Koliwada, lives with his brother.

Over a year back, Sumathi brought a dog and named her Lucky.

The accused is also a resident of nearby locality. Venkatesh had problems with his girlfriend and wanted to take revenge from her. Venkatesh had decided to kill his girlfriend and that is when he had come to her house with a knife. But his girlfriend escaped and went to the house of Sumathi to hide. Venkatesh followed her to Sumathi's house where Sumathi stopped him from entering.

Speaking to India Today, Sumanthi said, "I tried to stop Venkatesh from entering my house. He was carrying a big knife. He tried to attack me as well. He pushed me and caught me by my hair. Watching this my dog lucky came to my rescue. He was barking, but Venkatesh did not stop. Lucky bit Venkatesh twice. Getting furious by this, Venkatesh with the same knife killed my dog on the spot."

Inconsolable Sumathi added, "I don't have anyone now with me. He was everything to me. The cops released Venkatesh on bail. I want justice for Lucky."

Also read: Delhi: Stay dogs hound patients seeking anti-rabies shots at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital

Also read: Canine or Einstein? Watch dog open several doors, flee animal clinic to be with his humans

--- ENDS ---
Cairo: Egypt's interior ministry said on Thrusday it had identified the bomber who targeted a Palm Sunday service at a Coptic Christian church in the northern city of Tanta, killing 28 people.

On Wednesday, the ministry named the bomber who struck outside a church in the Mediterranean port of Alexandria. A total of 45 people were killed in the two attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State group.
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that things will "work out fine" with Russia and hoped that China would "properly deal" with North Korea.

"Things will work out fine between the USA and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!" Trump told his more than 27.8 million followers on Twitter this morning.

His tweet came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left Moscow following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

A day earlier, Trump had said that the US-Russia relationship are at a low point.

Last night he was scheduled to speak to Tillerson.

Trump's tweets appear to be a reflection of the talks that he had with his Secretary of State.

In another tweet, he hoped that China would act on North Korea.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with its allies, will! USA," Trump said.

The US president hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar a-Lago residence in Florida last week.

The two leaders again spoke over phone this week.

Trump has been asking China to act on North Korea and co-operate with it on Syria.

Trump yesterday praised China for abstaining a UN Security Council vote on Syria and taking actions against North Korea.
Washington: President Donald Trump has praised China for its decision to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning last week's chemical attack on civilians in Syria, terming it an honour for the US.

"I think it's wonderful that they abstained. As you know, very few people expected that. And no, I was not surprised that China did abstain," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"Very, very few people thought that..that was going to happen. So we're honoured by the vote. That's the vote that should have taken place," Trump said, responding to a question on his relationship with China.

Later, a senior White House official described this as a positive step.

China's abstention at the UN was "another significant victory for all civilised peoples because it really showed how isolated the Assad regime and its international sponsors" are, the official told reporters.

Trump also praised China for taking steps against North Korea.

"We have a very big problem in North Korea. And as I said, I really think that China's going to try very hard and has already started, he said.

"The vast amount of coal that comes out of North Korea going to China, they turned back the boats. That's a big step, Trump said.
New York: Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on the New York State highest court and the first Muslim judge in the US, was found dead in the Hudson River, city authorities said.



Officers with the New York Police Department`s Harbour Unit on Wednesday afternoon responded to a report of a person floating by the shore near West 132nd Street in Upper Manhattan, The New York Times reported.



Judge Abdus-Salaam, 65, was taken to a pier on the Hudson River and was pronounced dead by paramedics.



The police were investigating how she ended up in the river, and it was not clear how long Judge Abdus-Salaam, who lived nearby in Harlem, had been missing.



There were no signs of trauma on her body, the police said. She was fully clothed.



A law enforcement official said investigators had found no signs of criminality. Her husband identified her body.



Since 2013, Judge Abdus-Salaam had been one of seven judges on the State Court of Appeals, reports The New York Times.



Before that, she served for about four years as an associate justice on the First Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, and for 15 years as a State Supreme Court justice in Manhattan.



She was previously a lawyer in the city`s Law Department.



Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement on Wednesday that Judge Abdus-Salaam was a pioneer with an "unshakable moral compass".



"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all."
Amaravati: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan today made a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party saying it was losing its moral high ground at the Centre over the special category status (SCS) and warned that it had no right to "compromise" on the issue.

Noting that TDP's silence on SCS was "disheartening", Kalyan told the party not to mortgage the self-respect of the people of Andhra Pradesh with the Centre even as he lauded YSR Congress and the Telangana MPs for backing the SCS demand.

"The TDP does not have the right to compromise with the Centre on the promised SCS. People of AP got TDP-BJP into power, trusting they would bring SCS to the state.

I request TDP not to mortgage the self-respect of people of AP just for 'your personal benefits'," the Telugu superstar said in a series of tweets today.

"When do we lose our moral high ground, When we mortgage our self respect for personal benefits," he said.

"It's quite disheartening to see Union Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's silence and the absence of TDP MPs in Parliament when the discussion on special status to AP came up. I think TDP MPs have forgotten the insult of their MPs getting beaten by North MPs in Parliament during the state bifurcation (in 2014)," Kalyan remarked.

"YSRC MPs are doing a commendable job in pursuing the SCS demand. My whole-hearted thanks to (Telangana) MPs Kesava Rao and Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar for their support to SCS to AP," Kalyan added.

The Jana Sena president also mocked at the "attitude of our political class" in New Delhi, in an indirect reference to the TDP members in Parliament.

"In Parliament, you kick us, abuse us and divide us, we are OK. And we are OK to be slavish and subservient at the cost of our people's self respect as long as you do not deny our contracts, business opportunities and bail us out from our scams and wrongdoings," Kalyan said.

"I too agree to show restraint and be cautious with the Centre but when repeated injustice is being meted out to us, then where is the need ? As per the popular demand, would they ever divide UP ? Or, was the rule applied only to down south state AP only," he wondered.
Bengaluru (Karnataka): Expressing happiness over the recent victory in the state bypolls, Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah on Thursday defended his government from the ongoing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) controversy in the country and said the voting machines were not tampered in these two by-polls.

"The EVMs are not tampered. Congress is questioning this because there is scope for the tampering. Here in Karnataka in these two by-elections the EVMs are not tampered," said Siddaramaiah.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra also expressed happiness over the recent victory in the state and thanked the voters for their support.

"We are extremely happy with the results of two by-elections. I want to thank the voters of two constituencies. Who stood with the Congress party, they supported the Congress party, ultimately made us to win the elections," Jayachandra told ANI.

Earlier in the day, out of the nine assembly by-polls held in the five states, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday registered victory at four places including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

However, down south in Karnataka, Congress' MC Mohan Kumari won the Gundlupet assembly by-poll with a margin of 10,877 votes.

Meanwhile, the opposition on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee raising concern over the tampering of the EVMs.

The Election Commission yesterday issued a challenge to all political parties to prove that the EVMs can be tampered with. This came after the Congress, Left, AAP and others claimed that the EVMs were tampered with to favour the BJP.
Mumbai: Chunky Pandey has stunned everyone as a menacing guy in "Begum Jaan" trailer, and the actor says he was not sure if he would get that part in the film.

"After the release of 'Housefull', I was auditioning for 'Begum Jaan' and people on the sets were telling me to say dialogues like 'Aakhri Pasta' (his character in 'Housefull'). At the back of my mind I thought I would not get the film," Chunky told PTI.

"But Srijit was sure he wanted me to play this evil part. He wanted me to lose real Chunky Pandey... He wanted the world to see my evil side. He saw the evilness in me and he wanted to bring that out in 'Begum Jaan'," he says.

Chunky, who is known for his comic timing, is playing a villainous character of Kabir in the Vidya Balan starrer but the actor says it was not tough for him to get into the dark zone.

"He is not a villain... This is the face of evil. Evil will always exist in this world. I always had a wicked streak in me, the sadist side in me also comes in my comedy films. But to do something like this is crazy. It came very naturally to me and I am most scared about that," he says.

Sporting a bald pate, kohl-lined eyes and tobacco- stained teeth, Chunky reveals his wife failed to recognise him in this new avatar.

"My wife couldn't recognise me. The whole personality has changed. She always thought I am a villain and I had to prove her right so I did 'Begum Jaan'," he says.

"I was little resistant (about the look) after seeing myself I was happy. You don't get a film like 'Begum Jaan' everyday in your career. Srijit compelled me to lose my identity, with this creepy, almost-bald look.

"I was earlier asked to cut my hair short, later Srijit just took all my hair off he also asked me to shave off my eyebrows. I told him no as I was travelling for work and could be stopped at immigration."

He believes his 'repulsive role' will get him critical acclaim, something he says he misses since his "Tezaab" days.

The film also features Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi and Gauahar Khan.

Calling them power house performers, Chunky says, "These are actors with whom you have to be on your toes. You have to up your performance. I had to be best. It was a delight to work with them."

Srijit's 1947-set film "Begum Jaan" which is a remake of his Bengali movie "Rajkahini, will release this Friday.
New Delhi: The Cabinet's approval for refund of Rs 2,700-crore claims to exporters will provide them relief and help boost shipments, FIEO today said.

Hailing the approval of implementation of Supreme Court's judgement regarding Target Plus Scheme (TPS), Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said exporters were fighting for their legitimate benefit for a long time.

"This is an encouraging decision of the government which will provide relief to exporters in their export efforts," FIEO President Ganesh Gupta said in a statement.

The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal for refund of Rs 2,700-crore claims to exporters under an export promotion initiative 'TPS' in pursuance of a Supreme Court judgement.

He said that the TPS was introduced in 2004-2009 Foreign Trade Policy and the scheme provided for duty credit of 5 percent, 10 percent or 15 percent for exporters who achieved a quantum growth in exports.

The scope of benefit under the scheme was narrowed after it was implemented and affected exporters were compelled to approach Supreme Court arguing that the new provisions could not be applied retrospectively, he added.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 13 (PTI) Pakistans former military ruler Pervez Musharraf today said that the US committed "blunder" by not converting the military victory over the Taliban and Al- Qaeda post 9/11 into a political victory in Afghanistan.

"After 9/11 Taliban and Al-Qaeda were defeated in Afghanistan. This was military victory. This military victory was to be converted into a political one,? Musharraf said in his key note address to a conference on Pakistan organised by the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University.

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The 73-year-old retired army general said the military victory over Taliban and Al Qaeda post 9/11 created a vacuum in Afghanistan for one and half long years. "The requirement then was to convert this military victory into a political victory. In Afghanistan, in Kabul there ought to have been an ethnically balanced government," he said, ruing that the Pakhtoons who are in majority in Afghanistan were not given a proportional say in the new government.

"This was one of the greatest blunders, which has impact even now," he said, adding that this resulted in resurgence and emergence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Musharraf, who ruled over Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, said the US must review its relationship with Pakistan and give his country the importance it deserves.

He said that in a changing world the US must adjust its strategic interests with those of the other emerging powers, which he identified as Russia and China.

"Those emerging powers, China and Russia have their own interests in our region," he said, adding that the US needs to watch that and then decide what is in its best interest.

"Pakistan needs to carefully articulate its relationships with China, Russia and the United States," said the former general, who overthrew a democratically elected government to become the dictator of the country.

Responding to a question, Musharraf said Pakistan has to balance its relationship with the US and China. And this needs to be done bilaterally, he noted.

"The US has relationship with India, as it think it is in its national interest. So, the US has to accept that Pakistans relationship with China is in its interest," he said.

"On bilateral basis, we must carry out our relationship with the US and China,? he said in response to a question.

"With the US, we had long term relationship not only militarily, but also in social economic sector. We cannot undo them and we must carry on this relationship," he observed.

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Musharraf expressed optimism about US-Pak relationship under the Trump Administration.

"I see that President Donald Trump starts with a clean slate," Musharraf said, adding that Trump needs to understands the complexities of Pakistan-India relations and the complexities of Afghanistan, Taliban and Al Qaeda.

A report released on the occasion said that the lack of close cooperation between US and Pakistani foreign policy is not unwelcome in either country.

Speaking on his personal experiences and perspectives on the Pakistan Army, Gen (rtd) Mahmud A Durrani said the answer to Pakistans problem is an informed political order, not the Army taking over.

Shahid Javed Burki, the former World Bank vice president, rued that Pakistan has been described as a distressed state; as a fragile state in the west.

"It has been called a failing state. The Pakistan story as told in the Western press is not a good story," he said. PTI LKJ ZH

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday gave assent to four supporting legislations related to Goods and Services Tax (GST).

This is a major step towards rolling out a new indirect tax regime, which the Modi government wants to come into effect from July 1.

The bills were the Central Goods and Services Tax Bill (CGST), the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill (IGST) the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Bill and the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill (UTGST).

The bills were passed by Parliament on April 6.

While the C-GST will give powers to the Centre to levy GST on goods and services after Union levies like excise and service tax are subsumed, the I-GST is to be levied on inter-state supplies.

The S-GST, which will allow states to levy the tax after VAT and other state levies are subsumed in the GST, will have to be passed by each state Assembly.

The GST rates are to be discussed by the GST Council on May 18-19.

The powerful GST Council, comprising Centre and states, has recommended a four-tier tax structure -- 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent. On top of the highest slab, a cess will be imposed on luxury and demerit goods to compensate the states for revenue loss in the first five years of GST implementation.

GST, which will replace a plethora of central and state taxes, is a consumption-based tax levied on sale, manufacture and consumption on goods and services at a national level.

Various indirect taxes of central excise duty, central sales tax and service tax are to be merged with C-GST, while S-GST will subsume state sales tax, VAT, luxury tax and entertainment tax.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed RK Raghavan, who was heading the apex-court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe 2002 Gujarat riots cases, to be relieved as the head of the team.

A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT.

The bench hailed the work done so far by the SIT and allowed the request of Salve, while asking A K Malhotra, another member of the SIT, to oversee the functioning of the probe team.

It also relieved another member K Venkatesam from the SIT and asked Malhotra to continue filing a quarterly status report on the progress in the riots cases in the apex court.

The top court-appointed SIT has been probing nine major post-Godhra riots cases including the Naroda Gam riots case pertaining to the killing of eleven members of a community.

The apex court had on September 19 last year granted six months to a lower court in Gujarat to conclude trial in the 2002 Naroda Gam riots case, one of the nine post-Godhra riots matters probed by the SIT, after Salve and Raghavan sought the same saying the trial court has to examine nearly 300 witnesses.

The apex court was earlier informed that in other eight cases, an investigation has been completed, the trial courts have pronounced the judgements and the cases are at the stage of appeal in the High Court.

Eleven persons belonging to the minority community were killed at Naroda Gam in 2002 riots during a bandh called to protest the Godhra train burning incident. A total of 82 persons are facing trial in the case.

In June last year, a special court had convicted 24 persons in the Gulberg society riots case in which 68 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed.

The apex court had on February 22, 2016, paved the way for pronouncement of judgement by Ahmedabad trial court in various cases including the Gulberg Society massacre case.

It had said there was no restraint on the trial judge to pronounce the verdict and granted him three months for it.

The apex court had on August 5, 2015, granted an extension of another three months to wind up proceedings in the case.

The apex court has been monitoring nine sensitive cases after the National Human Rights Commission and various NGOs termed the investigation into these as shoddy and unreliable.

The cases were about the riots in different parts of Gujarat, including the Gulberg Society, Ode, Sardarpura, Narodao Gaon, Naroda Patya, Machipith, Tarsali, Pandarwada and Raghavapura.

An estimated 2,000 people were killed in post-Godhra riots in 2002.
New Delhi: Citizens have a right to have internet access and banning advertisements on pre-natal sex determination on websites do not curtail such rights, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.

The court noted that search engines Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have accepted before it that they would not sponsor any such advertisements and would play a "cooperative role" so that the law enacted by Parliament to prevent sex selection and enhance the sex ratio is "respected".

These search engines told a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that they have never indulged in any such advertisement as contemplated under section 22 of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, and nor do they have any kind of intention to cause any violation of the legislation.

Section 22 of the 1994 Act pertains to prohibition of advertisements relating to pre-natal determination of sex and punishment for its contravention.

They told the bench that if the nodal officer, appointed by the central government, communicates to them regarding any offensive material posted on the internet which is in contravention of section 22, they would block it.

"It is made clear that there is no need on the part of anyone to infer that it creates any kind of curtailment in his right to access information, knowledge and wisdom and his freedom of expression," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said.

"What is stayed is only with regard to violation of section 22 of the Act. We may further add that freedom of expression included right to be informed and right to know and feeling of protection of expansive connectivity," it said.

The apex court observed that "it is necessary to state that volumes of literature under various heads come within the zone of the internet and in this virtual world the idea what is extremely significant is only connect".

The bench also said it has recorded the concession of the Centre as well as the search engines so that sanctity of the Act is maintained and there is no grievance to anyone that his curiosity for searching anything has been scuttled.

"To elaborate, if somebody intends to search for 'Medical Tourism In India' is entitled to search as long as the content does not frustrate or defeat the restriction postulated under section 22 of the Act," it noted in its order.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, who appeared for the Centre, said the government's stand was very clear that search engines and websites cannot facilitate such advertisements.

"We have appointed nodal officers in each states. Hosting such advertisements is a penal offence under the Act," he said, adding that a central nodal officer has also been appointed to look after the matter.

"Anything which violate Indian law has to be deleted or taken off by these intermediaries," he said.

Advocate Sanjay Parikh, representing the petitioner, told the bench that Google, Microsoft and Yahoo were bound to follow scrupulously what is being stated in section 22 of the Act and nothing offensive can be hosted on the websites.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Microsoft, told the bench that they were completely co-operating with the government and were acting as per the directions of the apex court.

The counsel representing Google and Yahoo also said that they were following the directions of the court and were fully co-operating with the government.

When the petitioner raised the issue of declining sex ratio, the bench said, "We are on a different platform. We are talking about a concept of pre-censorship.

Power of judicial review is extremely limited and courts must be very conscious about it".

The bench also noted in its order the submission advanced by the counsel for search engines that in pursuance to the order, they have appointed their own 'in-house' experts to deal with the situation.

"Counsel for the respondents would contend, and rightly, that they do not intend to take an adversarial position with the petitioner but on the contrary to play a participative and co-operative role so that the law made by the Parliament of India to control sex selection and to enhance the sex ratio is respected," it said.

"The nodal officers appointed in the states under the Act are also entitled to enter into communication with the respondents for which they have no objection. The action taken report, as further acceded to, shall be sent to the nodal officer," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing on September 5.

The apex court had on February 16 warned that the declining numbers of the girl child was a "disastrous signal for mankind", and directed Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to set up in-house expert bodies "forthwith" to ensure deletion of materials which went against Indian laws prohibiting pre-natal sex determination.

The court was hearing a petition by Sabu Mathew George, a doctor, who is seeking the court's intervention in view of the falling sex ratio in the country.
Mumbai: If Pakistan executes the death sentence against Kulbhushan Jadhav it will be treated as murder of an Indian national, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre today said.

He said the Centre was trying to bring international diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure Jadhav's release.

"We have given a strong message to authorities in Pakistan that the way in which the verdict has been given by the army court, is not transparent and not in accordance with bilateral relations between the two nations," Bhamre told PTI.

"We have been constantly asking for proof (against Jadhav) and under which provisions has he been tried that Pakistan felt to give that (death penalty). We condemn this," he said.

"If this verdict is implemented, we will consider it as murder of an Indian national. In any case, we will not tolerate this," Bhamre said.

Refusing to divulge details of the steps being taken by the Centre to secure Jadhav's release, Bhamre said, "We are bringing international diplomatic pressure (on Pakistan) as much as possible. We are very sure positive results will be out very soon."

A Pakistani military court recently sentenced 46-year-old Jadhav to death after declaring him a "spy".

Pakistan claims that its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Baluchistan 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."

After the sentencing, India 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 recently 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.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the "impressive performance" of the BJP in the assembly by-polls held in various parts of the country.

He thanked the people for their "unwavering faith in politics of development and good governance".

"Impressive performance by @BJP4India and NDA in the by- polls in different parts of the country. Congratulations to Karyakartas," Modi tweeted.

"I thank the people for the constant support, blessings & unwavering faith in politics of development and good governance," he added in another tweet.

In the by-polls held on Sunday last, the BJP won in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam, according to the results declared.

There was some solace for the Congress in Karnataka where it won both the seats.

The by-polls were held in nine Assembly constituencies in seven states, besides the Srinagar parliamentary seat.

Two seats each are in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and one each in West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

In the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, repoll was ordered in 38 booths, which took place on Thursday.
New Delhi: Signalling the warmth in the friendship shared by the two leaders who are scheduled to meet in a few months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what the former termed would be a ''historic visit'' to his country.

Calling Narendra Modi a "friend", Benjamin Netanyahu had tweeted that Indian leader's historic visit is being eagerly awaited by the people of Israel.

Thank you, my friend, for your kind holiday greeting. The people of Israel eagerly await your historic visit. https://t.co/Is1NmfWiMF  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 11, 2017

Israeli PM's tweet was in response to a Modi's greetings to Netanyahu on the occasion of Jewish festival of Passover to commemorate the flight of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

PM Modi's visit would be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would step on Israeli soil since 1992 when the two countries established full diplomatic relations.

However, PM Modi and Netanyahu did meet on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2014.

It was then, the first meeting of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in over a decade.

Though there has been no official announcement regarding PM Narendra Modi's Israel visit but the groundwork for the same has been going on for months.

Last month, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was also in Israel to fast-track finalisation of pacts to be signed during the prime ministerial visit.

On the cards are multiple defence deals for the Spike anti-tank missiles for the Indian army and Barak-8 air defence missiles for the navy valued at $ 1.5 billion, a Bloomberg report said.

Last week, Israel Aerospace Industries announced a $ 2 billion mega missile pact that will give Indian forces an advanced defence system of medium-range surface-to-air missiles; the mega missile deal has been called Israel's biggest defence contract.

Israel is already the third-largest arms supplier to India over the last three years. But the new deals being finalised ahead of PM Modi's visit also indicate that New Delhi didn't have any qualms about closer relations with Israel.

PM Modi, who had travelled to Israel in 2006 when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister, was widely expected to make the visit much earlier. Instead, President Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Israel in 2015 and addressed Israeli Parliament too.

It was during this visit that Netanyahu had spoken about his earlier interactions with PM Modi. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj followed it up with a visit in 2016.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi: Upping the ante against Pakistan, the Government of India on Thursday accused Islamabad of arresting Kulbhushan Jadhav over false charges of spying as it vowed to bring him back.

Addressing a presser on the issue, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, ''Kulbhushan Jadhav has been falsely arrested in Pakistan. The establishment there has no proof of any wrongdoing by him. He is innocent''.

Pakistan has not shared with us any details about Kulbhushan Jadhav 's well-being or the location where he is presently being kept, Baglay said.

Attacking the Pakistani establishment, the MEA spokesperson said, ''So far Pakistan has denied all our requests for consular access. We have made at least 13 such requests before the Govt of Pakistan.''

Raising doubts over the credibility of Pakistan's legal system, Baglay said, ''The so called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque.''

"We are making all efforts to get him back but we can't reveal the steps that will be taken to achieve it. We are in touch with Pakistan through our High Commission on this immensely important issue," Baglay said.

India and Pakistan also have a bilateral agreement on consular access, Baglay said while adding, ''India had discussed Jadhav's kidnapping issue with Iran last year.''

Baglay, however, assured that the government of India will explore all options to bring Jadhav back.

The response from MEA came days after the government warned Pakistan that executing Jadhav will have serious "consequences" on the bilateral ties.

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.
New Delhi: On the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch several initiatives to further the digital payments revolution in India on Friday (April 14).

These will include, the launch of a BHIM Aadhaar platform for merchants, cash back and referral bonus schemes for BHIM and declaring about 75 townships going less-cash.

Prime Minister Modi will also felicitate the winners of a mega draw of the two major incentive schemes to promote digital payments, viz. Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digidhan Vyapaar Yojana.

These initiatives would further promote the digital movement that the country embarked upon and reinforce Dr.Ambedkar's vision for social empowerment of all through financial inclusion.

The BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM App, will pave the way for making digital payments by using the Aadhaar platform. This will enable every Indian citizen to pay digitally using their biometric data like their thumb imprint on a merchants' biometric enabled device which could be smartphone having a biometric reader. Any citizen without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM Aadhaar platform, thus realizing Dr. Ambedkar's vision of social and financial empowerment for all. Already, 27 major banks are now on board with three lakh merchants so that they can start accepting payments using BHIM Aadhaar.

The Prime Minister will launch two new incentive schemes for the BHIM - Cashback and Referral bonus - with an outlay of Rs. 495 crore for a period of six months. This is to ensure that the culture of digital payments permeates down to the grassroots.

Under the Referral bonus scheme both the existing user who refers BHIM and the new user who adopts BHIM would get a cash bonus credited directly to their account.

Under the Cashback scheme the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction using BHIM. Both schemes are to be administered by MEITY and implemented by NPCI.

Winners of the mega draw would be felicitated by the Prime Minister at a function in Nagpur tomorrow. The winners of the mega draw itself are a testimony to the spread of the digital payments revolution in the country.

The 100 days of DigiDhan Melas, led by NITI Aayog in 100 cities across India, have had a huge impact in enabling increased usage of digital payment methods. At least 15,000 institutions have gone cashless across just these 100 rural and urban cities across each one of the 27 states and 7 UTs. With a turnout of over 15 lakh from cities, small towns and villages, the melas have enabled lakhs to open new bank accounts as well as create new Aadhaar cards.

BHIM App has already created a new world record by registering 1.9 crore downloads in just four months since its launch in December, 2016.

With a view to achieving the target of 2500 crore digital transactions during the current financial year, the Prime Minister will also announce about 75 townships spread all over India as 'less-cash townships'. A less-cash township is one where the deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure is complete, all the families in the township are covered under training programs.

The townships selected for the launch have been subjected to independent third party assessment by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) and only those townships which have reported more than 80 percent of the total number of transactions in the township being done through digital modes of payments during the review period are included in this list. These townships are likely to generate over 1.5 lakh digital transactions every day thereby leading to about 5.5 crore digital transactions in a year.
New Delhi: Expressing grave concern over the video in which a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel is being roughed up by a youth while he was returning from a polling booth in Srinagar, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured that he has spoken to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General (DG) Sudeep Lakhtakia and the issue will be sorted out soon.

"I have spoken to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General (DG) Sudeep Lakhtakia and we spoken about it, things will be sorted soon," said Rajnath.Meanwhile, CRPF DG Sudeep Lakhtakia also stated that the law will take its own course but their men should not lose their moral.

"The process of law will take its own course. We will see that morale of CRPF men is not hurt or get low," Lakhtakia told ANI.The video features a CRPF personnel using immense restraint even when he is attacked by the youth.

The video shows the jawan walking when suddenly a local attacks him. The impact of the attack makes the jawan`s helmet roll down the road.

This caused him some injuries.In wake of the prevailing tension in the Kashmir Valley, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday deferred the Anantnag by-polls till May 25.

Earlier, it was scheduled to be held on April 12.A school designated as polling station for Anantnag by-polls was set on fire in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Panchayat Ghar was also set ablaze in Pulwama district.The Srinagar parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout for the by-polls in the wake of the clashes.
New Delhi: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday condemned the definition of a "perfect female body" in a class 12 textbook as "sexist" and has ordered action in the matter even as the private publisher has decided to stop the printing and sale of the book.

Excerpts from the Physical Education textbook defining "36-24-36" as the "best body shape for females" yesterday created an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.

The book titled "Health and Physical Education" written by V K Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

CBSE, however, clarified that it "does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools".

"I condemn the remarks in the book as sexist. The text is non-defendable and unacceptable. We have taken serious note of it. I have instructed the officers to take appropriate action in this regard," Javadekar told reporters.

"It is not an NCERT book but by a private publisher and action will be taken against them. We are also asking CBSE schools to follow NCERT books rather than private publishers in interest of earning profit," he added.

The publishers also announced that they have "stopped the printing, selling and distribution of the revised book with immediate effect".

"We do review our books from time to time but some points have remained uncorrected due to an oversight and hence the book will again be reviewed by our editorial board and any inconsistencies found will be corrected," the publishers added.

The excerpt from the chapter "Physiology and Sports" which is going viral read, "36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration".

Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.

In a statement, the CBSE had said, "Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them".

The Human Resource Development ministry had last month said that CBSE has no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers and it has no mandate to prescribe or recommend textbooks other than those published by NCERT.
Narayan Rane joined the Congress in 2005, but has not been happy ever since, speculations suggest that he would soon join the BJP.

By Uday Mahurkar, Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: BJP President Amit Shah's strategy to poach on powerful caste leaders of opposition parties to strengthen the BJP electorally in the of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls seem to get a further boost last night when Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis met Shah at his Ahmedabad residence with former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Congress leader Narayan Rane and the three remained closeted for two hours.

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The move is also part of the party strategy as mooted by Fadnavis to strengthen the Maratha base of the party in keeping with the party's plan to win the next assembly polls in Maharashtra with full majority on its own and also beef up the party for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, the final modalities are still being worked out in the wake of certain promises that Rane wanted from Shah as part of his hard again. So, a official announcement is being awaited.

The move follows two days after the appointment of another Congress-turned- BJP leader Samarjitsinh Ghatge of the Maratha royal family of Kagal in Kolhapur as chairman of the Maharashtra Housing Development Corporation. Ghatge had joined the BJP a couple of months ago close on the heels of Yuvraj Sambhajiraje Chattrapati being nominated to Rajya Saha by the president of India Prana Mukherjee following recommendation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rane could make a big difference to the BJP in Konkan area as he belongs to a common Maratha family - and not royal - and common Marathas around in Konkan area. Rane had lost the last election to BJP badly from his assembly seat in Konkan and had been sulking since as he believed that Congress elements opposed to him had also played a role in his defeat.

Also Read

Fadnavis in election mode?

Maharashtra to study Uttar Pradesh loan waiver, says Devendra Fadnavis

--- ENDS ---
Mumbai: Abhay Deol took to his Facebook page a few days back to take a dig at celebrities who endorse fairness creams. And this came after a politician made distasteful remarks about the complexion of people hailing from a certain region in the country. And Bollywood fashionista Sonam Kapoor was quick to react to Abhays comments.

Though Sonam has deleted those tweets, Bollywoodlife.com had grabbed shots of her tweets to Abhay.

Heres what Sonam had tweeted: @AbhayDeol I appreciate and concur with your views and would like to know your thoughts on this as well!.

In this tweet, Sonam was referring to a fairness cream endorsed by Abhays cousin  Esha Deol.

Abhay, who is known for being extremely blatant, admitted that Esha was wrong too!

Heres how Abhay reacted:

Is wrong too. For my views read my post. https://t.co/Jw9CNINd6t  abhay deol (@AbhayDeol) 12 April 2017

Sonam also tweeted, Thank you Abhay, I shot this campaign ten years ago and didnt understand the ramifications. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. Abhay calmly responded to her tweet by saying this 

More power to you @sonamakapoor maybe you can use your power as well to take this further than the forefront. https://t.co/FVJcj2Wp7T  abhay deol (@AbhayDeol) 12 April 2017

Though it is difficult to comprehend what campaign Sonam was referring to, but going by the deleted tweet, it seems Abhay may have pointed out a similar product Sonam may have endorsed.

Nonetheless, Sonams tweets are not available so we cant really guess the context.

For the uninitiated, Sonam and Abhay have had huge differences between them ever since they shot for Aisha together.
New Delhi: The harvest festival of Baisakhi is here and the celebratory spirit can be felt in the atmosphere. Baisakhi or Vaisakhi also marks the Sikh New Year and happens to celebrate the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The spirit of spring harvest festival is celebrated across the country.

Also, it marks the sacredness of rivers in Hindu culture. Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi in many ways such as Gurudwaras are fully decorated and bhajan, kirtans are organised. On this day, Hindus bathe in sacred rivers such as Ganges, Jhelum and Kaveri, visit temples, and enjoy with friends and family. The harvest festival is known by different names in various regions.

So, our Bollywood celebs too decided to wish their fans.

Check out the 'Baisakhi' tweets here:

T 2492 - Happy Baisakhi/Vaishakhi/Vasakhi for the 13th of April .. love and happiness !! pic.twitter.com/QVmFs00xnX April 12, 2017

Happy Baisakhi everyone. be kind to one another. pic.twitter.com/QSuULYN4ed  TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha_) April 13, 2017

           Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) April 13, 2017
Mumbai: Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has urged people to pray for the safe return of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court for allegedly spying and stoking violence in Balochistan.

The Sholay writer said here is a great opportunity for Pakistan to mend its relationship with India.

"Pakistan talks about maintaining a good relationship with India. Here is the opportunity. Let us pray for his safe return. Kulbhushan Jadhav," Khan tweeted on Wednesday night.

Quoting Prophet Muhammad, the veteran writer went on to add: "To kill an innocent is equivalent to killing entire humanity."

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in March last year in Balochistan, for allegedly being an Indian spy responsible for fuelling Baloch separatist movement.

Over the last year, the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav has witnessed several twists and turns.

While the Pakistani government has repeatedly alleged Jadhav is a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent, India had been denying the charges, calling the death sentence a "pre-planned murder".
Mumbai: Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has praised Sonam Kapoor as she got a special mention at the 64th National Film Awards for her portrayal of slain air hostess, Neerja Bhanot, in "Neerja".

The 66-year-old actress, who essayed the role of Bhanot's mother in the movie, said she is glad to see the "Raanjhanaa" star's growth as an artiste and that the prestigious honour will motivate her to do better work.

"Sonam is like my own bachcha. To see her growth as an artiste is a very fulfilling experience for me personally. The National award for Sonam is such a glorious validation of her talent.

"It just makes her so much more confident to do better work. I am very proud of her," Azmi said in a poster which was shared by Sonam on social media.

"This made my day year and everything! Thank you @AzmiShabana and thank you @RamKMadhvani for showing me this," Sonam wrote alongside the photo.

While, Madhvani, who directed the movie, said, "High praise from @AzmiShabana and well deserved @sonamakapoor. Very happy for you."

"Neerja" also won National Award for the best Hindi feature film.
New Delhi: Retirement fund body EPFO's subscribers will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at the time of retirement for contributing to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years, the EPFO board has decided.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), has recommended a minimum sum assured of Rs 2.5 lakh in the event of death of a subscriber.

"The CBT has recommended amending the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) to provide for minimum benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh and loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at a meeting held yesterday," a senior official said.

"The suggested benefits will be available to members after government approval. Initially, these will be provided for two years on a pilot basis and will be reviewed thereafter."

According to the proposal, loyalty-cum-life benefit will be provided to all those members on retirement at 58 or 60 years who have contributed to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability. In these cases, the members who have contributed to the EDLI scheme for less than 20 years will be eligible.

Those members whose average basic wages are up to Rs 5,000 will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of Rs 30,000. Similarly, the members with wages of Rs 5,001-10,000 Will be eligible for Rs 40,000 benefit.

All those members getting more than Rs 10,000 monthly wage will be eligible for Rs 50,000 loyalty-cum-life benefit under the proposed scheme.

The board has recommended such benefits in view of a huge EDLI corpus of Rs 18,119 crore following addition of interest that accrued on investment of this fund.

At present, the dependants of the deceased get a sum assured of up to Rs 6 lakh. There is no provision of minimum insurance and any benefit for surviving members or in cases of permanent disability under the scheme.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya launched Aadhaar Seeding Application after the meeting. The EPFO has developed this application with support of Common Service Centres (CSCs) and C-DAC.

The CSCs are ICT-enabled front-end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of government and private services.

With implementation of the seeding application, a PF member or pensioner can now walk into any of the field offices of EPFO or CSC outlets with UAN and Aadhaar and seed them.

The EPFO enrolled 49,39,929 workers during January-March 2017. It had launched a special enrolment scheme to cover leftout formal sector workers from January 2017.
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday called Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser" and said he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month.

Speaking during a programme on a channel, the Chief Minister alleged: Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father.

"There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them," he claimed.

They had prevailed upon the government to prevent my entry into Canada, where I wanted to go to meet my Punjabi brethren and not to campaign for elections, he was quoted as saying in a release issued by his team after the programme.

Amarinder's poll campaign in Canada was stalled last year in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly Elections.

Sajjan, the Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, is expected to travel to India later this month in his first visit since his appointment as minister.
Mumbai: Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli says a magnum opus like the two-part Baahubali could be possible thanks to an actor like Prabhas, who has dedicated so much time to the project.

Rajamouli was at an event here for the IMAX poster launch of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion on Wednesday.

Praising Prabhas, Rajamouli said: "The whole film 'Baahubali' was possible because of Prabhas, who being a lead actor in the south film industry, believed in this project and gave three and half years of his life to the film. I don't think anybody can get so much involved in the project with that kind of passion, time and commitment."

"I think whether director or producer or any other professional involved in it, we are all being carried on a big ship called 'Baahubali'. 'Baahubali' is the ultimate product and we are the people who worked on it, so I don't think I am a bigger person than the project," added Rajamouli when asked about how a filmmaker often gets less attention compared to his film.

Speaking about the IMAX experience, he said: "It was 15 years ago when I first saw a film in IMAX format. In our childhood, we used to see film on 70mm screens and then suddenly we got this larger than life experience in IMAX, through which we literally felt like being in that space and time itself.

"So the first image I saw, and I decided to make my films in IMAX format. And today, when the dream has got fulfilled, it's a quality moment for me."

Baahubali 2 has been digitally remastered in the IMAX format.

Its story lent itself to the format, Rajamouli said, adding: "People need to see it on bigger screens with wider sound to experience what we intended to see."

"We have big theatres now but we still need more number of theatres to take the audience there. It's a business model now to release the film in maximum number of theatres to get maximum viewership. And for a film like 'Baahubali', where people are anticipating so much about the movie that trailer of the film has crossed 100 million views is on par with any Hollywood film.

"So, it makes all sense to release the film at maximum number of theatres."

The movie also features Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan in pivotal roles.
New Delhi: Noted Malayalam actor on Thursday reportedly passed away at the age of 63. It is being said that he suffered a kidney failure. If online reports are to be believed, Venu breathed his last at a palliative care centre at Chalakudy, Thrissur.

According to an India Today report, he was undergoing dialysis since quite a few months now. Some media articles also suggest that Venu was staying in a private lodge for the last 10 years. Also, the star rumouredly was trying hard to arrange money for his treatment.

Venu has a huge list of movies to his credit. His performances will be remembered by people of all age groups. 'Chotta Mumbai', 'Salt 'n' Pepper' and 'Kanyaka Talkies' are some of his most memorable works.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 13 (PTI) In a major U-turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is "no longer obsolete" and reaffirmed his commitment to the military alliance as tensions rose between the US and Russia over Syria.

"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

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"Its my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against the ISIS," he said about NATO which was formed in 1949.

Trump had repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and made overtures to Russia during his presidential campaign.

Trump acknowledged that Americas relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low".

"Right now we are not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said.

"It would be wonderful... if NATO and our country could get along with Russia," Trump said yesterday amid a deepening war of words with the Kremlin.

Trumps remarks come as his administration criticised Russias support for Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad and questioned the Kremlins interference in elections in Montenegro.

Trump, earlier, labelled Assad a "butcher and told allies it was time to end Syrias "brutal" civil war.

Trump also supported the admission of Montenegro into the 28-member NATO.

On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

"In the coming months and years, Ill work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on todays most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism," Trump said.

Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assads murderous attack.

"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said.

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Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of the GDP to defence.

"If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger," he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.

"Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels...which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and thats all throughout the world,? he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

"I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds. Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom," he said.

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Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

"Together, we represent half of the worlds economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer," he said.

Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

"NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way," he said.

NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

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"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May," the NATO Secretary General said. PTI LKJ AJR UZM NSA

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New Delhi: Classic actress Sridevi is ready to entice her audiences in her upcoming venture titled 'Mom'. The film happens to be a thriller which captures the journey of a mother and her daughter. The first look of the film was unveiled by Salman Khan during the Zee Cine Awards 2017.

Sridevi recently took to Twitter and released the Telugu motion poster of 'Mom'. Earlier, Hindi and Tamil teasers were released. 'Mom' has an interesting star cast with the likes of Sridevi in the lead and talented actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Akshaye Khanna and Abhimanyu Singh in important roles.

She is the pillar. She is the strength. She is mom. Check out the Telugu motion poster. #AmmaKahoYaMom @Nawazuddin_S https://t.co/0PPE33k9E8  SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR (@SrideviBKapoor) April 13, 2017

Also, Pakistani actors Adnan Siddiqui and Sajal Ali will be seen playing pivotal parts in the film. 'Mom' is directed by Ravi Udyawar and produced by Boney Kapoor. It is slated to hit the screens on July 14, 2017.
New Delhi: The world's oceans play an important part in our lives and contribute a huge amount towards the sustenance of life on Earth.

However, Earth is probably not the only planet with a wealth of oceans within it. Scientists at NASA have been delving deep into the existence of ocean worlds in our solar system, with the help of Cassini spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope and are about to unveil their discoveries on Thursday, April 13 at 2:00 pm EDT (11:30 pm IST) through a conference.

The briefing will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

As per 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: Scientists have captured the first composite image of a dark matter bridge - a web-like superstructure connecting galaxies together - which has been predicted for decades.

The composite image, which combines a number of individual images, confirms predictions that galaxies across the universe are tied together through a cosmic web connected by dark matter that has until now remained unobservable.

Dark matter, a mysterious substance that comprises around 25 per cent of the universe, does not shine, absorb or reflect light, which has traditionally made it largely undetectable, except through gravity.

"For decades, researchers have been predicting the existence of dark-matter filaments between galaxies that act like a web-like superstructure connecting galaxies together," said Mike Hudson, a professor of astronomy at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

"This image moves us beyond predictions to something we can see and measure," said Hudson.

Hudson and Seth Epps, researcher at the University of Waterloo, used a technique called weak gravitational lensing, an effect that causes the images of distant galaxies to warp slightly under the influence of an unseen mass such as a planet, a black hole, or in this case, dark matter.

The effect was measured in images from a multi-year sky survey at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.

They combined lensing images from more than 23,000 galaxy pairs located 4.5 billion light-years away to create a composite image or map that shows the presence of dark matter between the two galaxies.

Results show the dark matter filament bridge is strongest between systems less than 40 million light years apart.

"By using this technique, we're not only able to see that these dark matter filaments in the universe exist, we're able to see the extent to which these filaments connect galaxies together," said Epps.

(With PTI inputs)
Meerut: Some persons claiming to be members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini allegedly assaulted a man, who was on his way to drop off his fiance at her house, and misbehaved with the woman.

The incident occurred yesterday, hours after some members of the youth brigade founded by UP CM Yogi Adityanath barged into the house of an inter-faith couple in the city and roughed them up.

Medical police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar said the couple were on their way to the woman's home on a scooter when they were intercepted by six men, claiming to be cadres of Hindu Yuva Vahini.

The men misbehaved with the woman and beat up her fiance when he objected. They also attacked the man's brother when he came to rescue the couple.

Thereafter, the men took the brothers to the police station and told the SHO that they were troubling the woman.

The police arrested the brothers but set them free when the woman reached the police station and narrated the incident.

"The man works in a private bank. He went to drop off his fiance last night when half a dozen people stopped them near PVS Mall and misbehaved with the woman.

"They claimed that they were part of the Hindu Yuva Vahini and were doing so under the anti-romeo campaign," Kumar said.

The attackers have been booked on charges of voyeurism, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Two of them have been arrested, he said.

In another incident yesterday, the youth brigade had created a ruckus after some local residents informed them that a man had called a woman to his friend's rented accommodation.

The activists had told police that the two were allegedly found in an objectionable position.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently instructed police not to harass "innocent" couples after some unsavoury incidents involving anti-romeo squads.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered inquiry into Raion Card distribution.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has also ordered fresh survey of families falling in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, and asked the officials to prepare a new list of the downtrodden.

The former Samajwadi Party government had printed 60 lakh ration cards just ahead of the UP assembly elections but they could not be distributed. The Adityanath government had earlier announced to roll back those ration cards, India Today had reported.

The Uttar Government has also decided to cancel some 3.4 crore ration cards that were distributed before the Election Commission announced poll dates.

The new Aadhaar-linked ration cards will also have silicon chips and barcodes. It will also have details of the beneficiary, the report said.

Till the new cards are made and distributed, the beneficiaries will be given paper-slips for the purpose of ration.
Nungi (West Bengal): Protesters blocked railway tracks at Nungi and Akra stations in Sealdah-Budgebudge South section disrupting movement of local trains.

Movement of local trains in the section was consequently paralysed after 8 AM and it could be only resumed after 12 noon, according to eastern railway sources.

The blockade was called to protest against irregular running of local trains in the section which has caused inconvenience to office-goers, students and businessmen in the area, a protester alleged.

The policemen, who reached the spot to bring the situation under control in Nungi were beaten up by the protesters, a police official said, adding that they also vandalised a police vehicle.

The protesters ransacked the room of station managers in Nungi and Akra, the sources said.
Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government handed over all its chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013 and could not have been behind last week`s suspected sarin attack.

"There was no order to make any attack... We gave up our arsenal a few years ago. Even if we have them, we wouldn`t use them," Assad said in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus on Wednesday.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Thursday showcased a positive view towards both China and Russia.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.," tweeted the President.

He followed it with yet another tweet this time about good ties with Russia in the future saying, "Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!."

Backing away from a campaign pledge, Trump said Wednesday that his administration won't label China a currency manipulator in a report due this week, though he does think the U.S. dollar "is getting too strong."

Trump began to bash China in the 2015 speech that began his campaign, saying Beijing kept its currency artificially low to give its manufacturers an unfair advantage in global trade.

The change in opinion on China comes as the US faces an intractable crisis in North Korea.

North Korea appears to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in a show of defiance towards Donald Trump, who has not ruled out military action to pressure the regime into abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

The US-based monitoring group 38 North said on Thursday that the satellite images from the North's Punggye-ri site showed it was "primed and ready" for what would be the country's sixth nuclear test since 2006.

As for Russia, Trump said on Wednesday, "We're not getting along with Russia at all," following last week's airstrikes on Syria, Moscow's key Middle Eastern ally.

In response to the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Khan Sheikhoun, the U.S. launched dozens of Tomahawk to destroy the Shayrat airfield in Syria, believed by Washington be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack on the rebel-held town.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the strike as "act of aggression" and said it violated international law.
Tokyo: Japan's air force scrambled fighter jets to chase away foreign aircraft at record pace in the year to March 31, government figures showed on Thursday, as Chinese military activity in and around the East China Sea escalated.

Japan worries that China's probing of its air defences is part of a push to extend its military influence in the East China Sea and western Pacific, where Japan controls an island chain stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) south towards Taiwan.

"Recently we have seen Chinese military aircraft operating further south and that is bringing them closer to the main Okinawa island and other parts of the island chain," Japan`s top military commander, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, told a briefing in Tokyo.

Okinawa is home to the biggest concentration of U.S. Marine Corp forces outside the United States, hosting the bulk of the roughly 50,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan.

Japan`s Air Self Defence Force reported its fighters scrambled 1,168 times over the 12 months, up from 873 last year. A record 851 jets headed off approaching Chinese planes, or 280 more instances than in the corresponding period last year.

The new figure was also well above the previous high of 944 incidents in 1984, when Russian, rather than Chinese, aircraft triggered most of the scrambles.

The uptick in Chinese activity has contributed to rising tension in East Asia since the start of the year as North Korea pushes ahead with ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests that have stoked fears in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Japan`s navy plans joint drills around the East China Sea with the U.S. Navy`s Carl Vinson carrier strike group, as it steams towards the Korean peninsula, two sources told Reuters.

Encounters with Russian aircraft, which are often bombers flying from the north that skirt around Japan`s airspace, rose 4.5 percent, to 301 scrambles.
In response to the demand by Student Islamic Organisation of India, Supreme Court today directed the Centre to include Urdu as the language for the 2018-19 session of NEET.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to include Urdu as a language for the 2018-19 session of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the common test for admission into medical courses. It, however, means the NEET this year will not be conducted in Urdu.

The Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) had moved the apex court demanding Urdu be made a medium of the exam, just as NEET is conducted in ten other languages - Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.

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"As the language is associated with Muslim religion, the government functionaries are prejudiced and biased and have deliberately excluded the Urdu language as medium for the NEET exams," the affidavit filed by SIO national secretary Thouseef Ahamad said.

Last month, the Centre had told the apex court that it was open to the suggestion of conducting NEET in Urdu medium from the 2018 academic year. It had told the court that it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.

The Supreme Court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, the Medical Council of India, the Dental Council of India and the CBSE on the SIO plea suggesting to make Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.

The MCI had submitted before the apex court that that it was open to include any language as a medium for NEET if a request was made to it by the states concerned. The counsel for SIO had informed the court that Maharashtra and Telangana have already apprised the MCI that Urdu be included as one of the mediums for conducting NEET.

Also Read

NEET now mandatory in Kerala for admission to private medical colleges

NEET UG 2017: Admit cards for May 7 exam released at cbseneet.nic.in

--- ENDS ---
Kuala Lumpur: Two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea's leader were taken to a Malaysian court in bulletproof vests on Thursday ahead of a murder trial that could see them hanged.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were taken to the Sepang magistrate's court located close to the airport where Kim Jong-Nam was fatally poisoned on February 13.

Prosecutors are expected to apply for the case to be transferred to an upper court, where the women would be tried for murder. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia.

Police accuse the pair of having wiped the nerve agent VX on Kim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The poison is classified as a weapon of mass destruction and banned around the world.

Rival South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the death of Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pyongyang denies the accusation.

Some 100 police officers including masked special forces armed with assault rifles were deployed to secure the small court compound where the women were taken for Thursday's hearing.

Police are still looking for four North Korean men who are suspected accomplices of the women. The four, however, are believed to have returned to Pyongyang.

Three other North Koreans earlier described as "persons of interest", including a diplomat based in Malaysia, have been allowed to return home.

The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea which saw both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors.

The travel ban was lifted in late March after a deal was struck involving the return of Kim's body to Pyongyang.
Washington: In a major crackdown against terror outfit ISIS, the US on Thursday bombed Afghanistan. The US President Donald Trump has praised the military for successful mission. Here are all the details:-

- White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed the use of GBU 43 bomb, Washington's most powerful non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan to destroy a tunnels and caves network of the Islamic State.

- "At 7 p.m. local time in Afghanistan last night the U.S. military used the GBU 43 weapon. It is a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon. We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely making it easy for them to target the U.S. military advisors and afghan forces in the area," Spicer said in press briefing on Thursday.

- Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage.

- The military is currently assessing the damage.

- According to media reports, Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, signed off on the use of the bomb. Authority had to be sought from Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command.

- According to four US military officials with direct knowledge of the mission, the bomb's target was an ISIS tunnel and cave complex as well as personnel in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan

- The Nangarhar province borders with Pakistan.

- The US military on Thursday dropped what is considered to be the largest non-nuclear bomb on an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan, the Pentagon confirmed.

-The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb hit a "tunnel complex" in Achin district in Nangarhar province, US Forces Afghanistan said in a statement.

MUST READ: US bombs Afghanistan: Things you MUST KNOW about this 'mother of all bombs' GBU-43/B

-The strike occurred at about 7:32 pm local time (1502 GMT).

-Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first combat use of the weapon.

-The United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs," in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday against a series of caves used by Islamic State militants, the military said.

MUST READ: US drops 'mother of all bombs' on ISIS caves in Afghanistan - What exactly happened

-It was the first time this type of bomb had been used in combat and was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.
Washington: A man dragged off an "overbooked" United Airlines flight in an incident which shocked the world has launched legal action against the passenger carrier.

Dr David Dao, 69, refused to give up the seat he had paid for after being asked to leave, and was dragged by his hands on his back off the parked plane, which had been bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

He was left bloodied after the Sunday evening incident at Chicago Airport and the footage provoked international outrage, reported CBS News.

The Dao family issued a statement expressing gratitude for the "outpouring of support".

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, the lawyers want the airline and the City of Chicago, which runs O`Hare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

The filing with the Cook County Circuit Court likely presages an eventual lawsuit against United for the April 9 incident.

Dao is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday, his legal team said.

The airline`s chief executive, Oscar Munoz, said in an interview to ABC News on Wednesday that he will not resign.

Munoz said he felt "shame and embarrassment" and vowed it would never happen again.

The airline said it is "reaching out" to customers on Flight 3411 and "offering compensation for their flights".

Much of the uproar stemmed from Dao`s status as a paying passenger who was being removed, against his will, to make room for additional crew members on the overbooked flight.

Three security officers have been placed on leave after the incident, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Their names have not been released, according to the report.

On Capitol Hill, powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers denounced how Dao was treated and called for United to explain the situation.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, announced plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would prohibit the forcible removal of passengers already aboard an aircraft "due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers".

Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon.

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycott of the No.3 US carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said on Thursday, as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyang`s nuclear programme.

President Donald Trump has sent a naval "armada" to the Korean peninsula in a show of force, accompanied by a warning that Washington is ready to take on North Korea alone if necessary.

The North has since said it is ready for "war" with the US, while speculation is mounting that it might conduct a nuclear or missile test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The reclusive state has long been 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 atomic tests, two of them last year.

On Thursday, the North`s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim watched from an observation post as special forces dropped from light transport planes "like hail" and "mercilessly blew up enemy targets".

With a broad smile on his face, Kim praised his troops for their precision, saying "the bullets seemed to have their own eyes", KCNA said, without identifying when the operation was held.

The Rodong Sinmun -- the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers` Party -- carried several photos from the contest including one of Kim watching the troops parachuting down from jets into an open field.

Another showed him grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked by cheering soldiers.

"The contest proved once again that our Korean People`s Army... will show a real taste of gun shot and real taste of war to the reckless invaders," KCNA said.

China -- the North`s sole major ally -- has urged the US president to take a peaceful approach to resolving the North Korean tensions.

Sabre-rattling between Washington and Pyonyang has unnerved China, which is losing patience with the North but whose priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep.

Seoul and Washington are currently conducting joint military drills, an annual exercise which is seen by the North as a practice for war.
Washington: Despite sending a naval force to the Korean peninsula, the Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, banning its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials say.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a preliminary broad approach on North Korea and asked his national security team to craft a more detailed framework for new international sanctions and other actions to counter Pyongyang`s nuclear and missile programs, one official said.

"There`s a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what`s essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea," the official told Reuters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. officials said the administration is considering an array of stiffer sanctions that could be applied on a "sliding scale" proportionate to North Korean actions. Some steps could be applied unilaterally, and others through the United Nations, where China has a Security Council veto.

The U.S. show of force, sending what Trump called an "armada" of military vessels toward the region, and North Korea`s angry response, has raised fears of a military confrontation.

Though U.S. officials insist that military options remain on the table, pre-emptive strikes on North Korea remain a last resort, and they stressed that - for now, at least - the Trump administration is stressing economic and diplomatic measures.

U.N. economic options include an embargo on oil supplies to North Korea; a global ban on Air Koryo, its national airline; and interdiction of North Korean freighters on the high seas, a step that would go beyond an existing requirement for nations to inspect ships transiting their territory, the officials said this week.

The United Nations also could prohibit the use of North Korean contracted labor abroad and expand the restrictions on North Korean coal exports to a total ban, the officials said.

Another step could be a ban on North Korean seafood exports, Pyongyang`s fourth-largest export to China, its main trading partner, and expanded efforts to seize assets of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family.

U.S. administration officials said final decisions on specific sanctions targets have yet to made, but they privately expressed doubts about how much further Beijing is willing to go to bring its defiant ally to heel - in spite of increasing Chinese concerns that North Korea might soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or new missile launches.

A phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday was intended to reinforce U.S. pressure on Beijing to curb Pyongyang`s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a U.S. official said.

On Wednesday, Trump, who met Xi at a first summit in Florida last week, praised China for sending coal ships back to North Korea under existing U.N. sanctions. Trump said he thought Xi wanted to help, but added: "We`ll see whether or not he does."

While Trump emphasized the warmth of his interactions with Xi, he warned the Chinese leader last week that new sanctions could include penalties against Chinese banks and companies doing business with North Korea if Beijing did not step up pressure, one U.S. official said.

"If that`s the only option the Chinese leave us, there`s a real possibility that Chinese entities will get hit," the official said.

The U.S. aim would be to tighten the screws on North Korea in the same way it pressured Iran to open negotiations on its suspected nuclear weapons program  by penalizing all foreign firms dealing with the country.

"The amount of pressure that has been brought to bear economically on North Korea is far short of what was brought to bear against Iran," another senior administration official said.

Some analysts cautioned that targeting Chinese entities with so-called "secondary sanctions" could backfire and make Beijing less willing to cooperate, and that dealing with a country that already has nuclear weapons differs from dealing with one accused of trying acquire them.

"If you want to rely on sanctions to achieve your goal, you have to find a way to persuade or force the world into going all the way to a near full embargo or at least an embargo on key commodities like petroleum and on North Korean hard currency export earnings," said Joseph DeThomas, a former State Department official who worked on Iran and North Korea sanctions.

"Only if the regime sees continuation of sanctions as fatal will it consider change," he said.

Asked about the possibility of new U.S. sanctions, China`s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing China was opposed.

"China has always opposed the use of unilateral sanctions in international relations and is firmly opposed when such unilateral sanctions harm China`s interests," Lu said.

In a sign of Beijing`s growing frustration with North Korea, China`s Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday North Korea should halt any nuclear and missile activities "for its own security" - a reference to the approaching U.S. naval force.

It said that if North Korea made another provocative move, "Chinese society" might back unprecedented sanctions "such as restricting oil imports."
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A journalism student was shot dead by fellow students and another seriously injured at Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) in Mardan on Thursday after being accused of blasphemy.

According to The Express Tribune, the deceased has been identified as Mashal Khan, a student at AWKU's Journalism and Mass Communication department and according to an eyewitness a mob of agitated students first shot him in the head and chest and then desecrated his body using sticks.

Mardan DSP Sheikh Maltun Mardan Haider Khan confirmed to that the victim had been murdered by his fellow students.

He added that five students were injured in clashes but police managed to bring the situation under control. He said 35 students have been arrested.

The body has been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital for an autopsy. A case is yet to be registered.

According to a report in the Dawn, the eyewitness said a mob of university students first surrounded Abdullah and forced him to recite verses from the Holy Quran.

Although he repeatedly denied the accusation that he was an Ahmadi, the students beat him nonetheless.

The police, when alerted, reached the site of the attack and rescued Abdullah, after which the mob set its sights on Mashal, who was in the hostel at the time.

University administration official Fayaz Ali Shah confirmed that the mob of students had accused Mashal of blasphemy before killing him.
Islamabad: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday blacklisted an unspecified number of passengers for violating a no-smoking rule and misbehaving with the crew during its Islamabad-Birmingham flight earlier this week.

PIA acting CEO Nayyar Hayat directed airline authorities to ban the concerned passengers for their "unruly" behaviour on PK-791 with immediate effect, Dawn online reported.

"The concerned passengers were not only smoking during the flight but also misbehaved with cabin crew," an airline statement said.

The flag carrier`s action comes a day after UK police arrested a British man of Pakistani origin for allegedly verbally abusing an air hostess and smoking during the same flight.

The flight attendant had reportedly confronted two to three men for smoking in the lavatory, a serious violation of global flight rules.

In response, the men had misbehaved with her and one man in particular hurled verbal abuse at her, reports Dawn online.

The air hostess complained about the incident to the pilot, who upon landing in Birmingham alerted the police.

British police personnel then made a number of passengers connected to the incident disembark and later arrested one man from the group.
Dhaka Division: Bangladesh border guards opened fire Thursday at a boat ferrying Rohingya migrants from neighbouring Myanmar, killing one woman and leaving four others injured, police said.

The border authorities came under fire just after midnight and shot back at two fishing trawlers along a river dividing Bangladesh from Myanmar`s westernmost state of Rakhine, police said.

"The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) later found the boat anchored at a river island. One woman was found shot dead and four were injured," Mainuddin Khan, the police chief in the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf, told AFP.

Police also discovered 28,000 "yaba" -- or methamphetamine tablets -- aboard the boat, Khan said.

The dead woman and at least three of the injured men were Rohingya, he added.

But the head of Teknaf`s government-run hospital, Iskandar Mirza, said the woman identified as 50-year-old Jahida Khatun and the four injured were all Rohingya.

"Her bullet-ridden body was brought to the hospital, while four injured Rohingya men were brought in," he told AFP.

Some 75,000 Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh since October, when government forces in Myanmar unleashed a bloody crackdown on the Muslim minority.

Many recalled horrific stories of villages being torched, relatives burned alive and the gang rape of women by security forces.

Mos headed to Cox`s Bazar, where overcrowded displacement camps have been housing Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution for decades.

The sudden influx in recent months prompted Bangladesh to resurrect a controversial plan to relocate refugees to an undeveloped island in the Bay of Bengal.

The UN rights council has agreed to investigate allegations of rape, murder and torture against the army, though Myanmar has denied its troops have been waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies citizenship to most of the million-strong Rohingya in Rakhine, despite many living there for generations.
Damascus: The Syrian Army claimed Thursday that a US-led airstrike against the Islamic State near Deir ez-Zor killed a large number of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

According to SANA news agency, "The General Command of the army and armed forces said that the aircrafts of the so-called "US-led International Alliance" on Wednesday between the hour 17:30 and 17:50 carried out an airstrike against a position of ISIS terrorists that includes a large number of foreign mercenaries in the village of Hatla to the east of Deir Ezzor, causing a white cloud that became yellow as a result of the explosion of a huge store that includes a large amount of toxic materials."

In a statement issued Thursday, the Army General Command stressed that the airstrike of the "US-led International Alliance" killed hundreds, including large numbers of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

This comes amid escalated tensions between the two countries as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on the Shayrat airfield of the Syrian air forces, believed by Washington to be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun killing 87 people, including many children.

The majority of the international community has blamed the attack on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but the government has denied involvement in the toxic attack and blamed rebel groups.

Russia and Iran have meanwhile stood by the Syrian government over the issue.
Washington: North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said last night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week.

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said yesterday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian Navy.

The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Apr 13 (PTI) Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari today held a meeting with Prime Minister Prachanda ahead of her maiden five-day visit to India from April 17.

Bhandari met with Prachanda at her office in Sheetal Niwas here, during which they discussed the Presidents visit to India. The details of the meeting, however, were not made public.

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This will be Bhandaris first trip to India after assuming office in 2015.

Bhandari, who will be in India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee, will hold talks with Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders. She will also be visiting Gujarat and Odisha.

The Nepalese leader was scheduled to visit India in May last year but it was cancelled with the Nepal government citing internal developments as the reason for the cancellation.

In Kathmandu, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri yesterday called on Bhandari and discussed her visit as well as other bilateral issues, according to her office.

Indias External Affairs Ministry yesterday said the upcoming visit reflects the priority that both India and Nepal attach to further strengthening of their age-old, unique, wide-ranging partnership, underpinned by shared historical and cultural linkages and strong people-to-people connections.

"The upcoming visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, and will further deepen the cordial and cooperative ties that exist between India and Nepal," it said. PTI SBP CPS AKJ CPS

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Kabul: The United States military fighting the dreaded Islamic State group in Afghanistan dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb till date, weighing nearly 22,000 pounds, sending 'ripples' in the world capitals on Thursday.

The massive bomb was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump told reporters. This unprecedented attack was carried out to destroy a chain of complex cave networks used by the ISIS in the eastern Afghan province of Nangahar.

The US military described the GBU-43 explosion as the mother of all bombs, also dubbed as the largest non-nuclear weapon. The bomb has never before been used in combat by the US troops.

The weapon was dropped on an ISIS cave complex near the Afghan border with Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed.

The GBU-43/B bomb hit a "tunnel complex" in Achin district in Nangarhar province around 7:32 pm local time, US Forces in Afghanistan said in a statement.

"US forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. US Forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan," the statement said.

The Afghan strike had been in the works for a number of months and the weapon was brought into the country specifically for this mission, media reports said citing US officials.
New York: With over 65 per cent of Americans ignorant about Sikhism, the Sikhs in the US are launching a million-dollar awareness campaign to inform them about their religion amid a spike in hate crimes against the minority community in the country.

The month-long "We are Sikhs" ad campaign will be launched by the non-profit organisation National Sikh Campaign on April 14 on the occasion of Vaisakhi, a holy day for the community.

"We have found that there is widespread ignorance about the Sikh faith and identity, about the turban and beard. Over 65 per cent of Americans have no clue that there is a community called Sikhs," co-founder and senior adviser of the National Sikh Campaign Rajwant Singh told PTI.

Singh, who is a dentist based in Washington DC and has lived in the country for over 35 years, said the main goal of the campaign is to get the information out to Americans across the nation about who Sikhs are, their belief in equality, respect for women and all religions and that Sikhism is the fifth largest religion.

"We have been part and parcel of America for the last 100 years and have been making this country strong. We want to change the narrative, rather than always being the victims of hate crimes - many people mistake us for belonging to the Taliban or ISIS," Singh said.

While numerous initiatives have been undertaken since the September 11 attacks to spread awareness about the Sikh faith, Singh said "the needle has not moved. We felt that the messaging has to be very clear. The 'We are Sikhs' campaign is more positive, proactive and has a targeted messaging,? he said.

In the years since the 9/11 terror attacks, Sikhs remain more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American.

In the latest incident of hate crime, a Sikh man was shot near Seattle last month after the gunman allegedly told him to "go back to your own country."

Elaborating on the campaign, Singh said the "seven- figure" targeted ad campaign will run on cable TV networks like CNN and Fox as well as on local TV stations and will have a heavy presence on social media. There will be 40-50 spots on CNN and other networks and will be shown in morning and prime time bulletins, circulating throughout the day.

The campaign will run for a month throughout the nation.

"We have brought a very scientific and very targeted messaging element to the campaign. Our focus is to build a proactive and positive message and try to educate and inform Americans about the positive contributions the Sikhs have been making in America," Singh said.

For the campaign, the organisers roped in prominent marketing experts and firms, which have in the past done presidential-style campaigns for Barack Obama and George Bush. The campaign has been tested over a period of time and through polls and focus groups, the organisers narrowed in on what message would move the public opinion.

"We found that most Americans have no clue about the Sikh religion but once they were educated and informed that the turban is not a symbol of anti-Americanism but a positive expression of faith and respect, they developed warm feelings towards the religion," Singh said, adding that the campaign employs a "very targeted and methodological" way of presenting facts about Sikhism.

The National Sikh Campaign will also conduct a poll after the ad campaign has been run to gauge its impact and how it can be improved further.

Singh said a 16-year old Sikh boy told him that if the ads were shown to his classmates, "they will say Sikhs are cool."

This was an important feedback coming from the youngsters who are the ones who have to go through bullying because of their religion, Singh said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Canadian Grand Tobacco Company had addressed the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition of Armenia stating they encountered obstacles in selling their products in Russia.

Namely the Philip Morris Brands Sarl company had created several obstacles for Grand Tobacco in Russia, by reaching agreements with major supermarkets in an attempt to hinder the sale of Grand Tobaccos products.

According to Philip Morris Brands Sarl, Grand Tobaccos Ararat cigarettes resemble Marlboro cigarettes to a degree of confusion, which was the reason for the company to apply to a court in a demand to ban the sale of the Armenian tobacco product in Russia.

The State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition of Armenia studied the issue and concluded that there is no confusion between the trademarks of the two products.

The State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition of Armenia told ARMENPRESS since the issue was related to Russia, the commission actively cooperated with their Russian partners and involved them in settling the dispute.

The joint studies of the Anti-monopoly service of Russia and Armenias State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition also affirmed that Grand Tobacco hasnt made any legal violations and has operated according to all competition rules.

Earlier on March 31, the Moscow Court denied Philip Morris lawsuit, clearing Grand Tobacco of any wrongdoing.

The Courts ruling is also unprecedented because as result of the Armenian competition agencys and the businesss cooperation it was possible to achieve the protection of rights of a major Armenian producer abroad. In addition, this can be a positive precedent for all exporting businesses who encounter competition issues in EEU countries.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Presentation entitled   dedicated to Armenias history, traditions and tourism was held in the Armenian Embassy in Russia on April 12 aimed at strengthening the ties and implementing new joint initiatives between the major tourism agencies of Armenia and Russia, the Embassy told Armenpress.

The presentation was attended by representatives of more than 100 Russian and Armenian tour operators, hotels, tourism information agencies, as well as dozens of companies producing Armenian products and Russian leading airlines.

Armenias Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toghanyan emphasized the necessity of deepening the cooperation between Armenian and Russian concerned bodies in tourism field, as well as private sectors, by attaching importance to implementing new initiatives in the information field.

We are definitely interested in deepening tourism ties between Armenia and Russia, our daily activity is directed for that purpose. This is a perfect chance to contribute to further increasing Armenias reputation within Russians. I welcome this initiative and invite to cooperate, the Ambassador said.

President of the State Tourism Committee of Armenia Zarmine Zeytuntsyan also delivered speech at the event stating that Russia is leading in terms of tourism flows in Armenia.

Publicist Eduard Ananyan and corporate tourism expert, the event co-organizer Gayane Kocharyan delivered remarks during the presentation.

Thanks to this initiative, the major Russian tourism agencies had a chance to get familiarized with each other by outlining the further cooperation directions, the expert said.

One of the most important results of the event was an unprecedented amount of practical agreements reached due to the interest of more than 100 visitors.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan held a meeting with the representatives of jewelry industry within the frames of public-private sector dialogue platform, the Ministry told Armenpress.

Minister Karayan said the progress recorded in the sector gives hope, however, the whole development potential is not utilized. According to the Minister the meeting is a chance to discuss how the public and private sector will cooperate, in what path they will move on for developing the field. Suren Karayan proposed all the economic entities to present their issues of concern.

The jewelry field representatives presented the Minister their priority issues that mainly related to Armenian labeling, attracting new markets and facilitation of customs procedure.

Minister Suren Karayan proposed to discuss the use of one window principle in the airports for the businessmen in the jewelry field which can significantly facilitate their activity.

Issue related to taking measures aimed at promoting the Armenian production in foreign markets was discussed, with the emphasis on how to raise the recognition of Armenian products in that markets.

Agobian Jewelry company Director Simon Kafalyan stated: This is our third or fourth meeting, not the first. Every time we meet, many things already change. And the installation of one window principle can really help a lot. He also informed that this year they are going to increase their production volumes.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The economic development of communities in the vicinity of the Amulsar mine is the inseparable part of Lydian Armenias mining program.

The company is implementing the Small business development program in the Gndevaz and Gorayk communities since 2016.

Anna Khachatryan, a local of Gndevaz, has become a stakeholder of the program with her Garanda pastry production. The official inauguration of the production facility was held on April 12.

Due to financing from Lydian Armenia, Anna was able to acquire relevant equipment and today she is already receiving orders from various surrounding cities, contractors of Lydian Armenia, who are working in the mine.

I heard about the program and decided to participate, since I really enjoy cooking pastry. I won the program and began my business. Its already 3 months since Im engaged in this business and I am receiving orders from Gndevaz, Jermuk, Saravand and other adjacent cities, Anna said, adding she receives around 150 boxes of orders in a month.

Nara Ghazaryan, social manager of sustainable development of Lydian Armenia, said this program is just one example of the 14 businesses which were established and supported by them in the Gndevaz community.

The main purpose of the program is to help the landowners from which the company had acquired land in the previous two years. We have created sources of income for these people  production of cheese, bread and honey. We tried to provide development of livestock, Ghazaryan said, adding the programs target were women; businesses of women were provided with support.

Every week Lydian Armenia provides technical assistance  implementing various business model lessons.

The company mainly focuses on lifestyle and highlights the fact that people see and understand that mining is compatible with agriculture and livestock breeding.

According to Lydian Armenia estimates, simultaneously to each direct job in Amulsar mine, 4-5 indirect jobs will be created.

The program has already initiated 14 businesses in Gndevaz, 9 in Gorayk. The company has invested 18 million 468 thousand drams in this programs till now.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Tavush Regional Investigative Department carries out investigation over the elimination of vineyards of residents of Aygehovit community of Tavush province that happened as a result of Azerbaijani shots fired towards the community.

On March 22, 2017 shots were fired from the Azerbaijani military posts bordering to Aygehovit community of Armenias Tavush province. As a result of Azerbaijani shooting, fire erupted in the field called Willow lands, and the vineyards of over 4 dozens of community residents were burned and destroyed, with a total of 20.72 hectares. According to preliminary reports, the damage caused to farmers amounts to 10.270.00 AMD.

Criminal case was filed over the incident.

Investigation is underway.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, notified Kyrgyzstans President Almazbek Atambayev on the preparation of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Councils session, which is due on April 14 in Bishkek.

The EEC told ARMENPRESS issues of economic partnership of EEU member states and the possibilities of the integration potential of the union and commercial ties with third countries were discussed during the meeting.

President Atambayev drew special attention on the fact that the commissions activity must be directed on providing the best conditions for the development of business in the Eurasian territory.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenias membership to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is beneficial for the countrys economy, Eduard Kirakosyan  Executive Director of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, said during the Yerevan-Astana-Bishkek-Minsk video conference dedicated to the upcoming April 14 Supreme Eurasian Economic Councils session in Bishkek, Armenpress reported.

In 2015 Armenia joined the EAEU, the expectations were many, but the results were quite modest. This is related with Russias economic situation, sanctions, depreciation of Ruble, but in any case the issue of to be or not to be in the EAEU doesnt exist in the business field. Recently parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, 9 parties and alliances were taking part in it. Only two political forces raised the issue of appropriateness of Armenias membership to the EAEU. The remaining forces didnt raise this issue, which speaks about the fact that we must remain in the EAEU and work together. Yes, there were many expectations, but the expert community is discussing such a question: what would be the situation if we didnt join the EAEU, and all come to a common conclusion that in case of not joining the Union the economic situation would further deteriorate, Kirakosyan said.

Commenting on the upcoming session in Bishkek, he expressed hope the adopted decisions will contribute to the EAEU activity and the effectiveness of the work.

Andranik Alexanyan - Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also agrees that Armenias membership to the Union is beneficial for the country, as well as for the Armenian business community. Here we just need to understand what we want to give and receive. It is necessary to clarify who needs what. I think we know what we want, he said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-Turkish intellectual, journalist Etyen Mahcupyan, who was Chief Adviser of former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, announced his decision to vote against the April 16 constitutional referendum in Turkey, he published an article at Karar newpaper, Armenpress reported.

He said during previous elections he voted in favor of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development party, but stated that the upcoming constitutional changes will damage the party itself, as well as the entire Turkey.

I am completely convinced that the parliamentary system in Turkey recorded a regress, and that its continuation will not benefit anyone. I have always supported the presidential system, however, I am going to vote no at this referendum since the proposed program fully contradicts to the spirit of the presidential system. This program establishes a system for one person, a system open for abuses. The fact that the previous system is bad doesnt make legal the establishment of one more bad system. It is immoral to support the obvious mistake as right, and eventually, this model of governance will damage the Justice and Development party, the conservatives and Turkey, Mahcupyan writes.
While news of the United States dropping a 10,000-kilogram non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan broke at around 10.30 pm IST, The New York Times and the Washington Post did not report the strike until nearly two hours later.

File photo of the GBU-43B bomb used by the US in Afghanistsan on Thursday (Reuters photo)

By India Today Web Desk: News of the United States dropping its so-called 'Mother Of All Bombs' in an area in Afghanistan dominated the homepages of most news publications.

However, strangely enough, two of the foremost American news websites - The New York Times and Washington Post - did not initially carry a single mention of the bombing on their respective websites.

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The two websites, both of which have been personally attacked by US President Donald Trump in the past, led with the other major, and bigger, US bombing story of the day, that of of a US-led coalition airstrike in Syria mistakenly killing 18 allied fighters.

The New York Times finally carried a report by Helene Cooper on the US dropping a 'Mother Of All Bombs' on caves in Afghanistan, at around 12.15 am Friday, India time, a full hour and a half after news of the strike first broke.

The Washington Post followed with a report by Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Erin Cunningham on the US dropping its biggest non-nuclear device, a few minutes after.

FIRST REPORTS

First reports of the bombing came in at around 10.30 am India time with news agency Reuters publishing a short story that carried a Pentagon confirmation of the strike.

India Today accessed the homepages of several international and American news publications at around midnight.

While the Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, all US websites, carried news of the bombing prominently, there was no mention of the strike on The New York Times or the Washington Post websites.

Here are a few screengrabs of different world publications taken just a little before midnight on Thursday:

Screengrab of The New York Times homepage at around 12.20 am Friday:

Screengrab of the Washington Post homepage at around 12.50 am Friday:

ABOUT THE STRIKE

Late Thursday night, the United States Defence Department confirmed that its forces dropped a 'Mother Of All Bombs' - officially named GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, on a tunnel and cave complex in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

The tunnel and caves are believed to have been used by the Islamic State. White House press secretary Sean Spicer, confirming the bombing, saying, "We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area."

This was the first time the United States used the GBU-43B bomb, a 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GPS-guided munition that was first tested in March 2003. US forces dropped the bomb from an MC-130 aircraft and while there was no initial confirmation about the extent of the damage, the blast radius was said to be 300 meters.

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"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K", General John Nicholson, the head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said, referring the Islamic State's Afghanistan offshoot.

The Afghanistan strike comes just days after President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on an airbase in Syria. The strike, Trump said, was in response to this month's Syrian gas attack, which killed scores of people and which the West has blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

WATCH | Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

ALSO READ:

US preparing another strike on Syria, plans afoot to 'fake' gas attack to discredit Assad, says Putin

US-Russia ties may be at an all-time low, admits Donald Trump

President Trump was eating 'most beautiful piece of chocolate cake' when Tomahawks bombed Syria

--- ENDS ---

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YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received the representatives of companies engaged in light industry. A range of issues related to the development of the sector, production expansion and creation of new jobs was discussed at the meeting, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia.

Premier Karapetyan noted that the sector of light industry is under the focus of the Cabinet since it has not only great export potential but also great development potential. The Head of the Executive emphasized that the state is ready to continue the active cooperation and foster the effective implementation of various projects in order to ensure the progress of the sector. The Government is ready to encourage local producers and to subsidize the commercial loans that are aimed at production expansion and creation of new jobs, Karen Karapetyan said.

In this context the representatives of the companies introduced exact investment initiatives aimed at expansion of activities as a result of which some thousands of new jobs will be created in the republic. Premier Karapetyan instructed the Minister of Economic Development and Investments to discuss all the proposals in a short period and go ahead. Referring to the questions over tax and customs administration, the Prime Minister said, Our task is to ensure level playing field for business. Today there is no one that is in a privileged position.
A three-months pregnant legal prostitute at the world famous Bunny Ranch brothel has vowed to continue working as a hooker up until the very day she deliversand is blogging in real time about the experience. The courtesan, Summer Sebastian, is portraying her controversial decision as a woman's rights issue, saying she is defending "a woman's right to choose" to continue working at the Carson City, Nevada bordello while pregnant, even in the face of conventional societal condemnation and public shaming.

The 30 year-old Sebastian conceived her unplanned pregnancy with her longtime 70-year-old boyfriend, and only recently found out she was in the family-way after feeling sluggish and fatigued and visited a local doctor for tests. According to Sebastian, she was both surprised and delightedand determined to keep the baby, and to keep on hooking.

"I knew two things: one was that I needed to continue building financial security for my family, and the second was to continue on my personal path to education. I have less than four years left to accomplish my Masters degree in forensic pathology; in successfully becoming a medical examiner. Anyways, if society already looks down on me for being a working girl (even though legal), you can imagine what they will probably think of a pregnant working girl!"

Indeed; as Tracy Clark-Flory wrote on Vocativ.com, "In 2008, Alana Love began working at the Bunny Ranch while seven months pregnant and, just like Sebastian, she blogged about the experience. She landed on an episode of The Howard Stern Show, where she was asked to strip down to reveal her belly and swollen breasts; she was chastised by an outraged Tyra Banks ('Thats the only option for you to support your child?'); and she was targeted in shaming blog posts from lady mags ('Have a little pride!')."

"I want to make a statement that supports the right of a woman to choose to work as a prostitute while pregnant," Sebastian wrote. "And if I can make it any easier for the next working girl to make the choice to work while expecting, then more power to her!"

Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof said he was proud of Summer for taking a stand and being a trailblazer for future pregnant prostitutes.

"Summer is doing a wonderful service, not only for herself, but in making a declaration that all prego prosties can embrace, and that is, it's not only okay to be a legal prostitute, but it's okay to be a pregnant working prostitute."

"Ive never been one to let myself be intimidated by what others thought! It actually never occurred to me that I would stop working at the Bunny Ranch while I was pregnant," wrote Summer in her first blog post. "I loved working here before, with my average sex drive, and I am lovin it even more now that I have all of these hormones pumping! And with that, I also knew I wanted to publicly, regularly and most of all proudly blog about my experience as a prego-working girl, from where I am today14 weeks/three monthsin my 2nd trimester, right up to the day I pop!

"Already I have gone from my usual 100 lbs to 122 lbs (still 5 tall thoughnot growing that wayhee hee!). But adding this creative component to my parties with my clients has just made sex that much more exciting, and interesting.

"I have two weeks until my next appointment and I hope to learn the gender then! Im so glad I have decided to share this beautiful gift and experience with all of you. Every week I will be adding updated photos and information, as soon as it becomes available to me!"

Read Summer Sebastian's full blog post here.

Dennis Hof and the Bunny Ranch girls are available for interviews by contacting [email protected] or calling 775-720-9090.
Morningsides Bakery Andante has secured a deal to supply a further four branches of Waitrose in Scotland with artisan bread.

The bakery is already stocked in the two Edinburgh branches of Waitrose, where it has been since 2015. Now, a selection of bakery owner Jon Woods handmade sourdoughs and New York deli-style bread will also be on sale at the Byres Road, Milngavie, Stirling and Newton Mearns stores from mid-April.

Bakery Andante first opened in Morningside, Edinburgh in 2010, and has recently expanded with the opening of new premises in Leith.

Wood said: Initially we werent interested in supplying supermarkets. However, when we got the call from Waitrose we decided it was definitely worth a try, as it suits our brand perfectly  and they liked our homemade, high-quality artisan product.

Weve hired some extra staff and have taken on some fantastic apprentices, so its an exciting time for us at Andante.

Tracey Marshall, buyer for local and regional at Waitrose, added: Demand for artisan bread is growing, with sales enjoying a 267% increase year on year. With the quality and taste of Jons bread its easy to understand why.

You can tell time has gone into it, the flavours are exceptional. It has been incredibly popular with our Edinburgh shoppers and we have no doubt it will be successful elsewhere too.

Waitrose said it was continuing to seek out new producers and suppliers across Scotland, with more than 400 Scottish lines now available.
Pastry chef Claire Clark has announced that she will open up the Claire Clark academy on the 18th May 2017 at Milton Keynes College.

The grand opening will start from 7pm for Clark to give further details about the course and for attendees to view the facilities.

The academy will be available for students and home bakers to undertake part-time and weekend courses.

Clark has been supported by several members of the baking industry, including Will Torrent and the military team from BBCs Bake Off: Creme De La Creme, who will deliver workshops to students and on the professional programme.

Clark could not contain her excitement to seeing her plan to open a patisserie academy come to life.

This Centre of Patisserie Excellence truly has been created and supported by the industry for the industry, Clark said. Students will leave the college, not only with their professional qualification, but with the added accreditation from the Claire Clark Academy - something we are working hard to ensure is highly recognised and respected, with chefs understanding the skills that the students will have acquired to achieve this.

By opening the Academy doors beyond the college students, we can continue to develop other professionals and inspire home bakers too.

The academy will officially open for its first intake of students in September 2017 and will have additional benefits of having work experience with Claire Clark at her business, Pretty Sweet, based in London.


On inauguration day, 214 protesters were arrested in DC on felony riot charges, and now they face up to $25,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison, though no one  not the cops, not the prosecutors  believes that more than a handful were involved in property damage or disorderly conduct.



There was, indeed, some disorderly conduct: a few windows smashed, a single cop hit by a single projectile. The people who did that smashing and throwing would probably have faced charges at any time in American history. What's different this time is that everyone dressed the same way as them  people in "black bloc" garb  were charged as co-defendants, on the basis that they held anarchists beliefs and associated with people whose similar beliefs led them to commit alleged crimes.





This represents a new standard for American policing of dissent, but it's not a universal standard. A supporter of Milo Yiannopolous who shot and seriously injured an anti-fascist demonstrator hasn't even been charged yet.

The prosecutors pursuing the inauguration day protesters say that the only evidence they need to felonize them is pictures of a protester "at the beginning of the march, wearing black clothes and goggles, your client could have left but did not, and here is your client at the end, in the police kettle." In other words, association with, and ideological agreement with, people who commit crimes makes you a party to that crime.

The incredibly harsh maximum sentences are a godsend to prosecutors with radical theories of guilt. In America, 93% of people indicted by federal prosecutors plead guilty despite the ease with which prosecutors can secure such an indictment ("If a district attorney wanted, a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich").





Combine this with the literally criminally bad conditions in American prisons (where guards engage in "punitive rape" with impunity), and it's easy to see why anyone facing a long prison sentence would plead guilty, regardless of whether they are actually guilty.





This means that in Donald Trump's America, believing something and marching with your friends to make it known is a near-guarantee of a prison sentence, should a prosecutor decide that it is warranted.

The original arrestees included a handful of professional journalists, medics and legal observers, most of whom have since had their charges dropped. Of the remaining 214 arrestees, a handful of individuals also face property damage charges, having been allegedly identified smashing windows. One man, Alsip's partner, has been charged with felony assault on a police officer for allegedly throwing the rock that struck a cop; he was identified by his shoes. As the pretrial court proceedings enter into the discovery phase, the prosecution's position is becoming clear: The evidence so far against numerous defendants amounts to no more than video footage of their continued presence in the march and their choice of black bloc attire. If the mass arrest was imprecise enough to sweep up journalists and legal observers, how can it be maintained that the police had probable cause to arrest every single other protester for rioting and inciting? If continued presence, proximity and black garb is sufficient for the necessary legal standard of individuated probable cause for arrest and prosecution under these charges, the D.C. police and the government have, from day one of Trump's presidency, lowered the standard for what it takes to turn a protester into a felon.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS TURNING PROTESTERS INTO FELONS

[Natasha Lennard/Esquire]





(via Naked Capitalism)





(Image: Anarkman/SchuminWeb, CC-BY-SA)
Westjet_16-9

With one proclamation from Warren Buffett, Canada?s airlines suddenly went from being uninvestable to a compelling opportunity ? at least for many investors.

The announcement came in February, when Buffett disclosed that Berkshire Hathaway had amassed large positions in several prominent U.S. airlines, including United Continental, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines.

Despite being previously bearish on the sector, Buffett pointed out that the industry has changed in the last decade with carriers settling into a holding pattern of sorts. As long as airlines don?t go nuts trying to undercut each other or add unneeded capacity, they should be able to avoid the fate of so many airlines in the 20th century.

Much of what Buffett likes about the sector is prevalent in Canada?s airline sector. We have two dominant players ? Air Canada (TSX:AC)(TSX:AC.B) and WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA) ? which control some 90% of the market.

Which of these two airlines should investors choose? Let?s take a closer look.

The skinny

Air Canada is the largest Canadian airline. It not only has hundreds of routes inside North America, but it also flies to Europe, South America, and Asia. WestJet, meanwhile, has limited itself to North America and the Caribbean, although it has recently expanded to include routes to the United Kingdom and further into Central America.

There are two major differences between the two carriers. The first is that Air Canada?s employees are unionized, while WestJet has been able to avoid unionization. When times are good, having a union isn?t a big deal. It?s during tough times when it?s easy to see the disadvantage of having a union. It?s much tougher to get rid of staff.

WestJet has also done a terrific job keeping its costs down. Most of WestJet?s fleet is the same plane model, which keeps maintenance costs down. Not having a union helps as well. As a result of the company?s focus on cost control, WestJet spends about 25% less than Air Canada on a per-mile-flown basis.

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Valuation

Amazingly, even after Buffett made a big splash in the sector, Canada?s airline stocks really haven?t budged. They?re still very cheap versus the rest of the market.

Let?s start with Air Canada. In 2016, the company earned $3.10 per share. The stock currently trades hands at $13.27, giving it a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 4.3.

No, that?s not a typo. Air Canada really is that cheap.

Analysts project earnings will fall to $2.76 per share in 2017 before recovering to $3.19 per share in 2018. Even on a forward basis, Air Canada shares are an incredible value.

Compare that to WestJet, which isn?t quite as cheap as Air Canada. WestJet earned $2.45 per share in 2016 ? a decline of 16% versus 2015. Still, that puts shares at just 9.4 times trailing earnings.

Analysts expect WestJet to earn just $2.09 per share in 2017 before earnings recover to hit $2.47 per share in 2018.

WestJet is still cheaper than most stocks in Canada, but Air Canada easily takes this category.

Growth potential

Both airlines are poised to grow nicely over the next decade as more and more Canadians decide to travel. In addition, there will be millions of people elevated to the middle class in places like China, India, and other developing nations. They will get the travel bug.

It?s only a matter of time until WestJet starts expanding into Asian markets. In the meantime, the company plans to add capacity across North America. It has had great success muscling into competitive routes and using its low costs to offer cheap introductory fares. It then raises the price when it has a sufficient market share.

In addition, WestJet has done a nice job growing ancillary revenues from sources such as charging for checked bags and WiFi on its flights.

The bottom line

Both WestJet and Air Canada are poised to be good investments. They each offer solid balance sheets, cheap valuations, and compelling growth potential over the long term.

Ultimately, if I were to choose one over the other, I?d pick WestJet. It offers greater expansion potential, better customer loyalty, and a solid 2.4% dividend.

Canada's answer to Amazon.com

You've probably never even heard of this up-and-coming e-commerce powerhouse headquartered in Eastern Ontario...

But, despite coming public just last year, it's already helping the likes of Budweiser... Tesla... Subway... and Red Bull move $9.9 BILLION (and counting) worth of goods online each year.

And now it's caught the eye of the legendary investor who got behind Amazon.com in 1997 -- just before it shot up over 23,000% and made investors like you and me rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Click here to discover why this investor says it's time to buy.

More reading

Fool contributor Nelson Smith owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares).

Canada's answer to Amazon.com

You've probably never even heard of this up-and-coming e-commerce powerhouse headquartered in Eastern Ontario...

But, despite coming public just last year, it's already helping the likes of Budweiser... Tesla... Subway... and Red Bull move $9.9 BILLION (and counting) worth of goods online each year.

And now it's caught the eye of the legendary investor who got behind Amazon.com in 1997 -- just before it shot up over 23,000% and made investors like you and me rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Click here to discover why this investor says it's time to buy.

Fool contributor Nelson Smith owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares).
By Fergal Smith and Matt Scuffham TORONTO/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Ontario's finance minister, Charles Sousa, on Thursday confirmed he will meet with federal counterpart Bill Morneau next week to discuss measures to cool Toronto's housing market and set a date of April 27 for the province's annual budget. The acceleration in home prices in Toronto has prompted some economists to worry the real estate market in Canada's largest city is in a bubble and has raised concerns about the ability of first-time buyers to afford a home. The Sousa-Morneau meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. Economists are anticipating the budget will include measures to cool Toronto's housing market. The province's options include a foreign buyers tax, similar to that introduced in British Columbia last year, or an increase in capital gains tax on homes that are not principal residences. "There is no silver bullet to solve this complex issue," Sousa said in a speech to business leaders in Toronto. "But in the coming days you will hear more of what we plan to do." Sousa said the province was looking at a number of alternatives to temper housing prices in Toronto, which soared by a record 33 percent last month. Speaking to reporters after the speech, Sousa said he had been speaking with British Columbia's finance minister, Mike de Jong, to find out how the 15 percent property transfer tax on foreign real estate buyers had affected the market. "I wanted to get a sense from him what happened before and after," Sousa said. "This is a concern in terms of any unintended consequences from the decisions that we make. "We're trying to figure out what we can do this without over-correcting the system while at the same time providing support for those trying to get into the market." (Additional reporting by Andrea Hopkins in Ottawa; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Trott)
The images show continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Centre.

By Indo-Asian News Service: New satellite photos have showed North Korea's nuclear base prepared and ready for a new test, something that would add to the rising tension in the peninsula, a monitoring group said on Thursday.

The photos of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site taken on Wednesday show continued activity around the North Portal (where earlier tests were conducted), new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Centre, US-based 38 North reported.

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The analysis indicates that the volume of water that has been drained during the past weeks to keep the north gallery tunnel dry, has reduced in the last 10 days, Efe news reported.

No changes were observed in the spoil pile, so the excavation process might already be complete at the base located in Kilju county.

CELEBRATIONS MIGHT TRANSLATE INTO NUCLEAR TEST

Experts have warned of continued activity in Punggye-ri for weeks and fear North Korea may soon carry out its sixth nuclear test, especially as important events are approaching with the country celebrating the fifth anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's transition to power.

In addition, the country will commemorate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, on Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on April 25.

These celebrations coincide with increased tension in the peninsula after the US responded to the latest North Korean missile launch by sending a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier towards the peninsula.

ALSO READ| Chinese tabloid warns North Korea against nuclear and missile tests

ALSO READ| Donald Trump: North Korea looking for trouble, great if China can help

--- ENDS ---
After an attempted overhaul last year, an often-maligned support unit for ill and injured soldiers will be disbanded, the country's top military commander says.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, testified before a Senate committee on Wednesday that the function of the Joint Personnel Support Units (JPSUs) will be folded into a "proper, professionalized" organization that will better help members transition to civilian life.

"The JPSU was created in crisis," Vance told reporters following the meeting. "I think enough time has passed, we've gained enough expertise about how to manage this better."

The units were set up in 2008 during the Afghan war as centres where wounded troops could be posted until they recovered or left the military. The 24 personnel-support centres are located at bases and wings across the country, and offer programs and administrative support to troops unable to fulfil their regular duties.

Internal defence department studies have shown few of the soldiers posted to JPSUs returned to their units.

Soldiers have long complained the JPSUs and their subordinate Integrated Personnel Support Centres are habitually understaffed and that the units have often proved unhelpful in preparing them for a post-military career.

Last year, an internal assessment team, ordered by Vance and led by Brig.-Gen. David Anderson, identified myriad problems, many related to staffing and resources.

At the time the report was written, there were approximately 1,400 clients in the system and nearly 50 vacant staff positions out of a total complement of 297.

The report noted that on one base of 8,000 service members, there was only one person manning the support centre where 160 injured soldiers were posted.

The review team told Vance that base commanders often held "a negative view of the JPSU structure" and even troops themselves described the centres in "derogatory terms."

Story continues

The perception, according to the report, was that the JPSUs housed "lazy" or under-performing troops.

New branch coming, but not soon

The military embarked on an overhaul of the administration, but it was clear in Vance's testimony, and remarks afterward, that the revamping had been abandoned.

He said he intends to re-establish a personnel administration branch, which was scrapped years ago, and many of the JPSU functions and most of its staff will be moved there.

"It's not going to happen in two months. It's going to take some time to do this right," he said. "Doesn't mean that what the JPSU has done has not been brilliant. They have dedicated staff that try to do all they can."

The new organization, which has yet to be named, will have a wider mandate than simply shepherding the ill and injured.

Vance said he wants to see the whole system of human resources within the military "professionalized," noting for the Senate committee that many of the policies governing the current system are decades old.

"As we look to create new, modern, highly agile personnel management policies, I need HR experts. People who are solely dedicated to this. And we don't have that branch anymore," he said.

Barry Westholm, a retired sergeant major who oversaw a JPSU, told CBC News the old personnel administration branch was replaced because "it didn't work."

He said the resurrected structure will need to be different.

The joint personnel support system was actually a "brilliant" concept that was far ahead of its time, Westholm said, but it suffered not only from a lack of staff, but an absence of support from military leaders.

"It was poorly managed," said Westholm, who quit his position at Camp Petawawa, Ont., in 2013 in frustration over the system. "I feel bad. I always knew it was a mess. And I feel very worried, very concerned for all of the people who transitioned through there since 2008-09. Those people, a lot of them, are in crisis."

He said he believes the staffing shortage had far-reaching consequences for troops with post-traumatic stress and may have contributed to a number of suicides.

Military brass have repeatedly defended the system  both in public and before parliamentary committees.

"And now they say they want to create a professional system?" said Westholm. "If you look back, historically, at what they were saying about the JPSU, they were lauding how great it was, how top notch it was, how ill and injured in the Canadian Forces were getting the best care possible.

"The things they said were wrong."
An attorney for the man forcibly dragged from a United flight earlier this week said passenger Dr. David Dao suffered serious injuries and that both the airline and city of Chicago are responsible.

Daos attorney, Thomas Demetrio, said at a press conference Thursday morning that Dao suffered a significant concussion and a broken nose, lost two front teeth and would need reconstructive surgery after three aviation officers dragged him off a Louisville-bound flight at Chicagos OHare Airport.

Demetrio also also said that Dao, who is from Vietnam, said the experience of being dragged from the flight was more horrifying than fleeing his home country.

Dao was discharged from the hospital late Wednesday night and had no memory of going back on the plane due to the concussion, Demetrio added. Demetrio said Dao will eventually speak publicly about the matter and that Dao wants no part of an airport at this time and will likely be driven to his home in Kentucky. Demetrio dismissed the idea that the incident was racially motivated, a theory that led to discussions on Chinese social media of a United boycott.

Well file the suit when our investigative work is done, said Demetrio when asked when he expected the lawsuit to be filed. I dont have a clue when that will be.

Demetrio said United CEO Oscar Munoz had not reached out to the family and that his eventual apology seemed staged, but that the family accepted it with gratitude. In an email to United employees, Munoz had said that Dao was disruptive and belligerent.

We continue to express our sincerest apology to Dr. Dao, said a United media relations in a statement to Yahoo News.  We cannot stress enough that we remain steadfast in our commitment to make this right. This horrible situation has provided a harsh learning experience from which we will take immediate, concrete action. We have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again.

Story continues

Crystal Pepper, Daos daughter, delivered a statement during the press conference expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support for her father and the medical staff that helped in his recovery.

Read more from Yahoo News:
IT Trends

Building APIs for the University and the Student

Brigham Young University is standardizing the way it exposes data and business processes to app developers  and taking the API concept to the student level.

A few years ago, three innovative Brigham Young University (UT) students decided to develop an improved version of the university registration system interface. They "screen-scraped" the official registration pages and created their own site. Some students used it to create their schedules, but they still had to enter their course selections into the official registration system.

"It showed that students wanted to build tools on top of the university system to make students' lives better, but we were forcing them to screen-scrape and not allowing them to actually interface with the university system," said Phil Windley, enterprise architect in BYU's Office of the CIO. He has helped develop the concept of a university-wide application programming interface (API) to standardize how BYU exposes its data and business processes to app developers  and make it easier to connect to campus systems.

"Part of the founding myth of the university API is that we want to create a situation where those three students would have been able to create their registration front end, have it work, and not be this kluge, but a real application they could let people use," Windley said. "Because, heaven knows, we have plenty to do. If students want to build registration systems better than the ones we have, we are happy to let them do it."

Creating a Standard University API

Windley has worked at BYU a few times, leaving to pursue other opportunities and later coming back to the university. He said that when he returned in 2014, he remembered thinking, "the good news is that BYU has 950 services in a registry; the bad news is it has 950 services in a registry."

What he meant by that was that while web services were a good thing, BYU's services had a wide variety of interaction methods. They might have five different identifiers that developers would have to coordinate. All had different return and error code formats. "The inconsistency was such that if you wanted to write a mobile app that dealt with a student, it was possible you would have to deal with 25 different APIs using five different identifiers, and multiple data formats," he said. "That kind of situation puts a developer off. They have a good idea, they see that the data is there, but they realize they are going to have to do all this work to incorporate that data and make use of it."

That was the launching point for the university API: the need to create a single interface that was consistent in how it operated and that spoke the language of the university.

IT staffers began by asking themselves what the core functionality of the university is and who their customers are, explained Kelly Flanagan, CIO and vice president of information technology. "We decided we would start simple and expand as we go." They started with five basic core resources: students, instructors, locations, courses and classes. (A course might be "Computer Science 101," while a class would be the individual sections or meetings of that course within each semester.) With those five resources, he said, the API exposes the core functionality that the university represents. "We admit students on the front end, get them into the right majors, have them take courses, make progress and graduate on the back end."

Flanagan believes that when you start down this path, the obvious thing to think is that your API exposes data, but he said that is misleading and a bit naive. "It is exposing business resources, which could be data, but also could be processes, policies, etc.," he said. "We insist that all business processes associated with something like registration  who is allowed to register and how  all sits underneath the API. Then third-party developers can't violate the business practices of the unit because their business practices are embedded into the processes exposed through the API."
Funding & Awards

California Community Colleges Win Innovation Awards for Pilot Programs

Thirteen of the 113 campuses that make up the California Community Colleges system have won grants to develop innovative programs for increasing completion rates and making college more affordable. Exactly 42 schools applied for the grants, which were funded by a $25 million allocation in the 2016-2017 state budget.

The legislation had three specific goals in mind:

To redesign curriculum and instruction, such as the implementation of three-year bachelor's degrees;

To allow students to progress toward completion of degrees and credentials based on their demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including skills acquired through military training or prior learning or experiences; and

To create programs that make college more affordable by making financial aid and other supports and services more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for these programs or by reducing the costs of books and supplies.

Cuesta College, for example, won $2 million to continue development of "Degree Accelerator," which will give Paso Robles High School students a way to earn up to 36 general education credits through expanded dual/concurrent enrollment tuition- and fee-free, along with a second free year provided through a college scholarship program. The innovation award will help the high school outfit a state-of-the-art shared classroom on its campus to run online general education courses taught by college faculty -- including over the summer months. This isn't the first run-through for Cuesta. Over the past several years, the college has implemented dual enrollment courses at every San Luis Obispo County public high school, serving about 2,000 students annually.

At Los Angeles Trade-Technical College programs of study are designed to be finished in two years or less, but less than a percent of the 11,300 students who have enrolled for the first time do so. The biggest barrier, according to the school: lack of academic preparedness for college-level work. To counteract those trends, the college will spend its $2 million grant to accelerate the impact of "Pathway to Academic, Career & Transfer Success (PACTS)," a program begun in 2012. Innovations will include a mapping of competencies to curriculum; boosting student support efforts with counseling, tutoring and mentoring; and promoting competency-based education by providing professional development on CBE to its faculty and staff.

Laney College in Oakland, CA will use its $1 million grant to create a "24/7 accessible SMART technology-enabled learning framework." The initiative is being launched out of the biology department and will start with an infusion of technology into those classrooms, including displays, computers, projectors and sound systems; followed by distribution of iPads loaded with digital resources and faculty professional development. Eventually, the college hopes to open a STEM center where STEM faculty can collaborate and students can gain access to instructors, industry professionals and "innovative equipment."

Links to all submitted applications, including those that received awards, are available here.
Pakistan has hanged 2 "hard core" Taliban terrorists convicted of terrorism-related offenses by controversial military courts which were revived after 2 years ignoring opposition from rights groups.





The executions were carried out at a high-security prison in Punjab province Tuesday, the army said in a late-night statement. It said the 2 "hard core terrorists" were involved in committing "heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of civilians, attacking Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, polio vaccination team and employees of a NGO."





The army did not elaborate where the trials were held and when the initial punishment was announced.





The 2 convicts were identified as Muhammad Shahid Omar and Fazl e Haq - both active members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Military courts were restored last month for another 2 years after their initial 2-year term expired in January.





The courts were set up after a constitutional amendment after a terror attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in December 2014 killed more than 150 people, most of them students.





While Pakistani authorities maintain the military courts are an "effective deterrent" against terrorism, rights groups question transparency of the trials because of the secrecy surrounding the special tribunals.





The military courts have handed down the death penalty to more than 160 militants and yesterday's hangings took the number of those executed so far to 23.





Also, the executions came on a day when Amnesty International in a worldwide report said Pakistan reduced the number of executions by 73 % in 2016 compared to the year before.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: The Times, April 13, 2017
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes the government should submit a draft on reinstating the death penalty in the event that the constitutional amendments are approved in the upcoming referendum on April 16.





"After April 16, with God's permission, the draft would be brought to parliament. If it passes in parliament, I will approve it," Erdogan said at a rally in the eastern province of Erzurum on April 12.





Although the death penalty has not been in effect since 1984, Turkey abolished the capital punishment in 2004 as a part of reforms to ease Turkey's accession into the European Union.





The move was initiated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and supported by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).





But debates on reinstating the capital punishment were brought to discussion after the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. Erdogan vows the people's demand for the death penalty would be met. Calls for the death penalty were among the most recited chants in public rallies.





"April 16 will be the day to decide that," he said.





Erdogan said the reinstatement of the death penalty could be brought to the agenda with a consensus of all political parties.





"Mr.Kemal Kilicdaroglu [leader of the Republican People's Party - CHP] says he would approve it. I hope he will not deny it when time comes. Mr. Devlet Bahceli, [leader of the Nationalist Movement Party - MHP] already said yes. And Mr. Binali Yildirim [Prime Minister] is the same," he said, adding that it would be put to a referendum if it gets approved in parliament.





"To reinstate the death penalty there needs to be a constitutional amendment, but in an event that the parliament does not approve that, I am telling now, we will appeal to the public with a referendum just like we did for April 16. Let the public decide," he said.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: Hurriyet Daily News, April 13, 2017
The bad news: as you have probably noticed, prescription drug spending is up. The good news: in one of his last papers, the late Nobel laureate and Stanford professor Kenneth Arrow has recommendations on how to slow it down.

Spending on prescription meds was $324.6 billion in 2015. After some years of slower growth, it rose 12 percent in 2014 and 9 percent in 2015. The Department of Health and Human Services projects it will average annual growth over six percent over the next decade.

How can drug spending be slowed?

Source: National Health Expenditures.

Professor Arrow and economists Kamran Blair and Alan Sorensen find that the proliferation of new information technology to more physicians could increase the speed and propensity with which they prescribe generic drugs.

In a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper , they conclude that further proliferation of this information technology can substantially reduce aggregate drug spending without compromising the careful medical decision-making of physicians. The authors suggest that use of the drug reference database could lead to better matching between patients and the drugs available.

Arrow and his colleagues combine data on prescriptions and the use of an electronic drug reference database for more than 125,000 physicians. They use this dataset to analyze how the use of this information technology influences physician response to the introduction of new cholesterol drugs.

Some of the variation in the adoption of new cholesterol drugs by physicians is explained by differences in access to information through the use of the electronic drug reference database. The database provides physicians with detailed information about FDA-approved drugs, such as clinical guidelines.

While some of the information is broadly available, a feature of the database is information on retail pricing and formulary status, which influence prescription patterns. Information about new drugs is added at approximately the same time they are made available for commercial prescription, which is important for the authors analysis.

Price was not a factor influencing adoption of the database, as a free version with the core features was readily available. A more robust version had annual fees below $200. Instead, convenience was the main reason physicians gave for adopting the database as many of them reported it saved them substantial amounts of time.

Even with these factors, use of the database was low. In the average month, only about 24 percent of physicians were registered database users. About 13 percent actually used the database to look up one of the cholesterol drugs considered. Considerable room for growth exists when it comes to utilizing this new information source.

This prompts the authors to ask: Why do some doctors adopt the technology while others do not? It turns out that one of the factors influencing adoption was when doctors graduated from medical school, as recent grads learned about the database and were more likely to have adopted it. For older physicians, adoption was influenced by the share of other doctors in their zip code who used it. As the composition of doctors shifts more towards those who had learned of the database in medical school, the share of physicians using it should also increase.

Their conservative estimate is that a physician prescribes a new generic drug two weeks sooner after they start using the database, relative to their previous baseline. Controlling for factors that might influence how quickly physicians adopt the information technology, the estimate climbs to two months.

The effect differs for generics relative to branded drugs: while database adoption leads doctors to increase the likelihood of prescribing both old and new generic drugs, it reduces the likelihood of prescribing new branded drugs.

Physicians who use the database also prescribe a more diverse set of drugs. Adoption of the reference database led physicians to raise the number of unique drugs prescribed each month by a statistically significant amount and correspondingly reduced the market concentration of the drugs they prescribed. The authors suggest the increase in diversity might reflect that physicians, armed with more robust information, are better able to match their patients to available therapies.

More widespread adoption of this database technology could empower physicians to provide better treatment to patients while also reducing the amount spent on prescription drugs. As more doctors hear about the database in medical school or from other physicians, the share of them using it will grow over time. This could deliver substantial benefits to physicians and patients without resorting to regulations or mandates.

Charles Hughes is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. Follow him on twitter @CharlesHHughes.

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By Press Trust of India: Srinagar, Apr 13 (PTI) A mere two per cent turnout was witnessed in repolling held in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, making it the lowest percentage in the states history, election officials said. However, the overall percentage in the entire constituency now stood at 7.13 per cent, the officials said.

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The situation was by and large peaceful during todays electoral exercise which had been necessitated because of large-scale violence on last Sunday when balloting was held in the entire constituency.

"Only 709 of the 34,169 voters exercised their franchise across all the 38 polling stations by the time the polling ended at 4 pm," an election official said.

No votes were polled in Khansahib assembly segment while only three votes were cast in Budgam segment and 84 in Chrar- e-Sharief segment, the official said. Beerwah segment saw a turnout of 362 voters and Chadoora saw 261 voters since 7 am.

Barring a couple of minor incidents of stone-pelting, the repolling passed by peacefully, the official added.

Two incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Soibugh and Nasrullahpora areas of Budgam district but the miscreants were chased away by the security forces, the official said. The counting of the votes for the constituency will take place on April 15. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and ruling PDPs Nazir Ahmad Khan are among the 9 candidates in the fray in the constituency.

The seat fell vacant following resignation of PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra in protest against the "atrocities" on people during summer agitation last year in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. The repolling had been ordered at these polling stations by the EC following large scale violence during Sundays polls for the prestigious seat.

On Sunday, eight people were killed and over 100 security personnel were injured after rampaging mobs took to streets at scores of places across the Lok Sabha constituency straddling Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.

The mobs even set ablaze a polling station and attempting to set afire two others. The voter turnout then was 7.14 per cent, the lowest ever.

There was an altercation between opposition National Congress and ruling PDP workers at Badran in Beerwah area over allegations of bogus voting, the officials said.

The issue was later resolved with the intervention of the polling staff and security personnel posted on duty there. Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir Shantmanu said the polling was all-time low but it was "absolutely incident-free and no untoward incident took place".

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In the wake of Sundays experience, police and paramilitary forces had been deployed in large numbers. "It also came to my notice that in some polling booths, polling agents were also not there. They showed up and left afterwards. This thing was brought to the notice of the political parties also in between," he said.

Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency too was scheduled to have by-polls yesterday but it was postponed to May 25 in the wake of Sundays violence in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis brother Tassaduq Mufti is the candidate of the ruling PDP from Anantnag constituency. By-polls in Anantnag have been necessitated as Mehbooba has to leave the Lok Sabha seat after becoming the Chief Minister in April last year.

About the by-polls in Anantnag constituency, Shantmanu told NDTV, "We will examine the (security) situation at that point of time but I dont think this much of deployment will be needed at any point of time in future because this was certainly much larger deployment." PTI MIJ CHT AKK AKK

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13 April 2017

Changes to the List of Persons Exercising Voting Rights

Today, Acron (Moscow Exchange and LSE: ticker AKRN) has been notified of changes to the list of persons indirectly exercising voting rights on the Company's shares.

Cintmoon Enterprises Limited (Cyprus), which controlled 15.6% of Acron's shares through Norka Investments S.a r.l. (Luxembourg), informed that it no longer has voting rights on the Company's shares.

Subero Associates Inc. (British Virgin Islands) has informed that it has the right to indirectly control 87.07% of the Company's shares.

According Acron Group, its ultimate controlling shareholder has not changed as a result of these events.





Media contacts:

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor contacts:

Ilya Popov

Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (NWPC) and plans implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (VPC). It has a wholly owned transport and logistics infrastructure and distribution networks in Russia and China.

In 2016, the Group sold 6.4 million tonnes of various products to 63 countries, with in Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2016, the Group posted consolidated revenue under IFRS of RUB 89,359 million (USD 1,333 million) and net profit of RUB 25,525 million (USD 381 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Demand for temporary workers in the United States is expected to increase 3.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the 2017 second quarter, when compared with the same period in 2016, according to the Palmer Forecast, released today.



The Palmer Forecast indicated a 2.9% increase in temporary help for the just ended 2017 first quarter. Actual results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) came ahead of forecast at 3.5% with 10,500 net new temp help jobs added in March and 34.500 for the quarter.

2017 first quarter marks the 29th consecutive quarter of year-over-year increases in demand for temporary workers, and our forecast for the second quarter predicts a similar rate of growth, said Greg Palmer, founder and managing director of G. Palmer & Associates, an Orange County, California-based human capital advisory firm that specializes in workforce solutions. The data shows that temp help as a percentage of new job growth remained constant in Q1 while wages were up nearly 2.7%.

According to updated data from BLS, 32,000 temp jobs were added in 2016, an average of 2,600 per month, versus 97,000 temporary jobs in 2015, an average of 8,000 per month. In 2014, the agency reported a total of 162,000 new temp jobs, preceded by 139,000 added temp jobs in 2013, and 142,000 temp jobs in 2012.

The Labor Department also reported that a net of 98,000 seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were added in March 2017, which was less than consensus expectations of 180,000. The trailing three-month average decreased slightly to 178,000, compared to the 12-month average of 182,000.

The key job categories of growth and declines are as follows:

Non-farm jobs: +98,000

Private sector: +89,000

Government sector: +9,000

Service providing employment: +61,000

Professional and business services: +56,000

Healthcare and education: +16,000

Manufacturing: +11,000

Construction: +6,000

Mining: -11,000

U.S. employment trends are underpinned by near all-time lows in the labor participation rate. In March 2017, the participation rate remained soft at 63%, with 90,000 workers dropping out of the workforce, and the commonly referred to unemployment rate, U3, ticked down slightly to 4.5%. As reported by BLS, for the same period, the rate of unemployment for workers with college degrees decreased 10bps to 2.5% from February, and the unemployment rate for workers with less than a high school education decreased 110bps to 6.8%. The U6 unemployment rate, which tracks those who are unemployed, as well as those who are underemployed and are working part-time for economic reasons, was down 10bps at 8.9%. The U6 rate is considered the rate that most broadly depicts those most affected by the downturn and measures the rate of discouraged workers.

One of the most revealing indictors to watch is the temp help penetration rate, which is significant because it measures temp help as a percentage of total employment. In March 2017, the penetration remained at near all-time highs, at 2.05% of the total labor market versus a low of 1.34% in June 2009, Palmer said.

The next few quarters

With the election behind us, there appears to be optimism in the jobs market regarding lower corporate tax rates and less government regulation, indicating more anticipated jobs in 2017.

However, employers still are reporting difficulty in filling vacancies, with nearly 6 million jobs going unfilled monthly. The key skill areas most severely impacted are those in health care, information technology, skilled trades and those positions that require high degrees of math and science. As of Q4 2016, the 10 most difficult positions to fill reported by the American Staffing Association are as follows:

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers General internist Podiatrists Psychiatrists Physician Assistant Merchandise displayers and window trimmers Obstetricians and gynecologists Surgeons Occupational therapist Nurse Practitioner

Physician assistants, obstetricians and gynecologists, and nurse practitioners moved into the top 10 list of hardest-to-fill positions. Health care continues to dominate the list with eight of the 10 most difficult-to-fill occupations falling within that sector. The rankings are based on CareerBuilder supply and demand data.

About the Palmer Forecast

The Palmer Forecast is based, in part, on BLS and other key indicators. The model was initially developed by the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University and serves as an indicator of economic activity. Companies that employ temporary staff use the forecast as a guide to navigate through fluctuating economic conditions in managing their workforce to meet business demands.

About G. Palmer & Associates

G. Palmer & Associates, founded in 2006, provides advisory services in the human capital sector. Founder Greg Palmer has served on the board of the American Staffing Association and was president and chief executive officer of RemedyTemp, Inc., one of the nations largest temporary staffing companies, prior to its sale in June 2006. For more information, visit www.GPalmerandAssociates.com.
This is an issue that polarizes people to one of the two extremes. People either swear by admission consultants because they see great value or they swear at them because they are dissatisfied with the service they received. The truth, as with most situations in life, is in between.



A good consultant can definitely help you polish your application and can give you that extra push to succeed. But there are too many fly-by-night consultants who either have no clue about the process or have little time to pay you the level of attention you need.



My take:To start with, educate yourself thoroughly about the admissions process. Read this forum until you become sick, get the montauk book on admissions and paul's book on essay writing. Soak in all the information and master this whole application thing, atleast in theory. Then, play the field and talk to as many consultants as you can. You will be in a far better position to judge if he/she will be able to help you or not. Also, when you decide on a consultant, talk to the actual person who will be working with you and not with some marketing person.



Good luck with your apps!
The Home Ministry said 2016 saw a significant increase in terrorist violence and casualties suffered by security forces in comparison to the year before. However, civilians' casualties have decreased in comparison to 2015.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Pakistan, according to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is promoting civil resistance in trouble torn Jammu and Kashmir. According to the ministry, Pakistan has changed its strategy of "superimposition" of militancy in the state by promoting "civil resistance". This is being done through radicalisation by vested groups and social media. This information has been revealed by the MHA's annual report which included a chapter on internal security.

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The report further says that after killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, Hurriyat leaders were involved in fomenting the trouble in the shape of organising protests and forcing the shopkeepers to shut their shops through their dictat of protest calendar. However, the government and security forces have managed to break the cycle.

The state of Jammu Kashmir has been affected by terrorist and secessionist violence, sponsored and supported from across the border for more than two decades, in which as per the ministry nearly 14,000 civilians and 5000 security forces have lost their lives, a period from 1990 upto December end 2016.

The report further says that there has been a spurt in infiltration attempts during the last year from Pakistan side with increased infiltration attempts and net estimated infiltrators. The figure being 364 infiltration attempts and 112 net infiltration taking place.

The home ministry said 2016 saw a significant increase in terrorist violence and casualties suffered by security forces in comparison to the year before. However, civilian casualties have decreased in comparison to 2015.

However, the MHA said despite the efforts of Pakistan based elements, the security situation showed signs of improvement which has frustrated the evil designs of terrorist organisations, leading them to target security forces deployed in the state.

The report comes at a time when there has been a spate of stone-pelting incidents on security forces leading to casualties, and abysmally low voting turnout for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The report was released on Wednesday by the ministry.

Watch the video here

Also read: Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh

Also read: Shashi Tharoor likely to help Modi government draft statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav

--- ENDS ---
- A beautiful Kenyan lady is trending on social media after indicating that she is desperately looking for a man to marry her

- The lady went a notch higher by advertising her qualities and is perplexed that no man is showing interest in her

- The lady is apparently under pressure from the village to marry

A beautiful and curvaceous Kenyan girl has caused a stir on social media after she highlighted the qualities she possesses in a bid to attract potential suitors.

READ ALSO: Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly seen walking through the streets of London

The girl identified as Roseline has been posting severally on Facebook, with the main agenda being getting a husband.

Truth be told, she is beautiful and curvaceous.

Roseline Nyar Japuonj Owuoth

Maybe this explains why she is worried that in spite of her beauty, curves and the attractive behind, no man has shown interest in her.

READ ALSO: Brave hunter becomes a hero after he gunned down HUGE buffalo in Edo state (photos)

Here is what she has been saying:

Translated as: Why are today's men fearing marriage. Is it about responsibility? Nowadays responsibility is shared between men and women. Don't you want us women to get married? I rest my case.

"This cold weather is taking toll of me"

This lady is very genuine

Is she under pressure?

Ladies are not asked about their age but she is ready to reveal it

She doesn't seem to mind, any man can 'apply'

Meanwhile, see how a curvy, beautiful Nigerian lady and former Big Brother Nigeria housemate, Uriel Oputa, opened up on her experience in the house:

Source: Legit.ng
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit had said that they had shared with India evidence on Kulbhushan Yadav, a claim that the MEA has denied.

By India Today Web Desk: Stating that if Pakistan goes ahead with executing death sentence to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav it will be treated as a murder, the Ministry of External Affairs today said no details of his whereabouts have been shared with India.

"Pakistan has not shared with us till now any details of Kulbhushan Jadhav's location or how he is," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Bagley told reporters here.

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In an exclusive interview with India Today, Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit had said that they had shared with India evidence on Kulbhushan Yadav, a claim that the MEA has denied.

MEA spokesperson Bagley said that Jadhav was in illegal custody in Pakistan and so far they had no clue about his condition.

"Pakistan High Commissioner was summoned and communicated that his custody is illegal and his trial is not fair. Pakistan has no evidence against him. India will consider it a murder if Pakistan goes ahead," Bagley said.

A Pakistani military court had recently sentenced 46-year-old Jadhav to death after declaring him a "spy".

Pakistan claims that its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Baluchistan 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".

NO CONSULAR ACCESS TO JADHAV

Pakistan has also denied consular access to him which the MEA said proves that he is innocent and Pakistan has no evidence against him.

"The verdict is indefensible and against the basic principles of justice," Bagley said adding that Kulbhushan is an innocent retired Indian who was kidnapped.

The matter was communicated to Pakistan in last March.

"We don't want to speculate on specifics. We informed Iranian government last year on Jadhav issue because he was doing business there in a legal way. We don't have the any consular access but what we are getting about Jadhav that he was carrying Indian passport. I don't know how a person, who allegedly was on espionage operation was carrying an original passport with him," the MEA spokesperson said.

After the sentencing, India 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 recently 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.

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Also watch:

Abdul Basit to India Today: Pakistan has enough evidence, Kulbhushan has full right to seek mercy

Also read:

Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian sentenced to death in Pakistan?

Pakistan media: RAW has abducted ISI man to avenge Kulbhushan Jadhav

--- ENDS ---
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
By India Today Web Desk: A man in Pakistan was arrested for selling child pornography online.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) today arrested 45-year-old Sadaat Amin from Sargodha in Punjab and seized his laptop and computer.

"During interrogation Amin revealed that he had been selling child pornographic content online for the last few years. Amin used to lure children on the pretext of imparting computer education. He even paid between 3,000 and 5,000 Pakistani rupees to the parents of the victims, saying that their children would learn computer hardware and software (skills) at his one-room rented workshop in Sargodha," an FIA official told Dawn.

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The FIA cyber crime wing launched a probe into the matter on being informed by Norwegian Embassy through a letter that the country's police had arrested a man in connection with the child pornographic content and that Saadat Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan.

According to Amin, he not only sold his own recordings but also "video clips hacked from the servers of Russian and Bangladeshi porn websites to buyers in Norway and Sweden."

The Norwegian man paid Amin between USD 100 and USD 400 for different videos involving young boys, the official said.

So far, the FIA has recovered some 65,000 child pornography video clips from the Amin's possession hacked from foreign websites.

(With inputs from IANS)

Also Read

Government ropes in Interpol to help crackdown on child pornography

--- ENDS ---
Musharraf said he is sure the ISI has evidence against Jadhav and will share it with India in the future.

By India Today Web Desk: In an exclusive interview with India Today, Pakistan's former president Gen Pervez Musharraf today supported trial of Kulbhushan Jadhav saying he is sure that the ISI has evidence against the former Indian naval officer.

"Sitting here in Washington I certainly don't know what is the evidence available. I am very sure evidence must be available with the ISI. They may not have shared it with you but I am sure they will share it in the future," Musharraf said.

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He refuted India's stand that Jadhav was a retired naval commander and instead claimed he was working for the RAW.

"He didn't retire. He went into RAW, he joined your intelligence agency," he said adding that he was based in Chabahar which "is the ideal place for intruding" into Balochistan.

ROGUE STATE

On Pakistan being called a rogue state Musharraf went on the offensive and said India is one.

"Pakistan is not a rogue state at all. I think India is a rogue state. If you start calling Pakistan a rogue state I would very much like to say that you are the rogue state with whatever is happening today in the environment between India and Pakistan. It is India responsible. Your prime minister is responsible. Your defence minister is responsible. Your army chief is responsible," he said.

On violation of international conventions in the case, he said both nations violate conventions.

He insisted that Jadhav was nabbed in Balochistan and was tried in the court as he was a "spy".

"Why should Pak inform India?," the former Pakistan army chief said.

A Pakistani military court had recently sentenced 46-year-old Jadhav to death after declaring him a "spy".

Pakistan claims that its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Baluchistan 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".

After the sentencing, India 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 recently 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.

"You dare not come down on Pak. I dare your army to do that.....We showed you in Kargil," Musharraf said.

Also read:

Basit told India Today Kulbhushan evidence shared; MEA says none received

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Kasuri to India Today: Kulbhushan Jadhav not singled out

Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian sentenced to death in Pakistan?

WATCH VIDEO

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Union minister for power Piyush Goyal was addressing the Mail Today Energy Conclave where he spoke about PM Modi's goal to ensure reliable power supply and about India's focus on clean energy.

Piyush Goyal said he spoke to Adityanath 11 times on power alone (Photo: Ramesh Sharma)

By Mail Today Bureau: Newly elected Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is working on a war footing to get every household electrified in the country's most populous state, union minister for power Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.

His statement at Mail Today's 3rd Energy Conclave came a day after the CM ordered 18-hour power supply in villages, 20-hour at tehsil level and Bundelkhand and 24-hour for all headquarters apart from deciding to ink a pact with the Centre to ensure electricity in all UP villages by 2019.

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"Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has had 11 conversations with me so far on power alone, with the 11th one this morning. He's so focused on how we can get electricity to every household in every village," said Goyal, stressing that it is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal to light up 4.61 crore more households.

The minister said it is necessary to give cheaper power to the poor and farmers and affordable supply to everyone else while also turning the power distribution companies profitable.

"Power cost per se is not high. Average power cost is Rs 3/unit. AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses and power theft are actually the cause for higher rates. We cannot pass on the inhibition to consumers. A little bit of cross-subsidy will help solve the conundrum," he said.

Modi won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections promising to provide reliable power by 2019 and put a stop to persistent blackouts that have plagued the country for decades and hampered growth.

SINGLE GRID FOR ENTIRE INDIA

A single grid across the country for seamless transmission of electricity from one part to another is also being worked on, Goyal said. The government's target to provide 24x7 power for all is 2022, but Goyal said it could be achieved before that.

"India is committed to working on climate change. This is despite the fact that we contribute only 3% to global emissions even though we support 17% of the world's population," he said, with a veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's dismissal of global warming as a hoax.

Irrespective of what other big nations are doing, we will work on it as our own people cannot survive pollution beyond a point, he said.

"We have just raised BS standards for vehicles. We are working on ultra critical and ultra-super critical power plants."

FOCUS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

Goyal emphasised that renewable energy sources will take centre stage in the days to come.

If energy was represented as a triangle, one side would be safety and security, the second affordability and the third sustainability, he said.

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"The focus to expand the use of natural gas and renewable energy in the respective ministries dovetail into a larger agenda to ensure a better environment for the next generation."

The target on solar power production alone has been expanded five-fold to the one set five years ago, he said.

"Our national solar mission seeks to produce 5,000 MW solar power by 2022-the 75th year of India's Independence. Today, we are planning to produce 100,000 MW by 2022. As of 2014, 2,500 MW was produced. So, we are looking at a 40-fold increase in 7 years."Last year, the government has added a record 5,400 MW production capacity of wind energy and 5,600 MW solar power," he said.

Going ahead, energy production will have to tap into technological innovations to meet the growing population. By 2020, the global population is expected to be 9 billion.

He explained that Japanese scientists are exploring wireless transmission of electricity. "If that can be achieved, solar power can be transmitted wirelessly from space, where there is 24x7 sunlight."

The challenge for the nation is that politics should not overtake governance, he said. "But people are now voting in governments that show that good economics is also good politics."

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He said after a decade of "bad politics and economics", there is a resurgence in investments. "We are seeing record Foreign Direct Investments flowing in."

ALSO READ | CM Yogi Adityanath promises pothole-free roads, 24-hour power supply in second UP Cabinet meeting

ALSO READ | Gadkari's clean car plan: Electricity-run vehicles to replace commercial cars

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Algerias energy minister, Nourredine Boutarfa, met with European Unions Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete in Brussels to discuss energy matters with the latter assuring that Europe will remain the main customer for Algeria even though most long-term gas accords are ending between 2018 and 2019. Canete highlighted the advantages for Europe to continue getting its gas supply form the North African country while stressing that it is an interdependent activity because Algiers also relies on the European market for its security of demand.

Boutarfa informed the EU that the growth of output for natural gas is sustainable for the medium term and beyond following investments in the sector. The minister hinted that a reform of the sector is possible as the laws continue to deter foreign investors. We have engaged a dialogue with oil firms to shed light on their understanding of our laws, including their apprehensions with regard to taxes and to bring the necessary corrections so we can boost the development of our partnership and make our country more attractive, he said.

Canete underlined that the regulatory framework for investments be improved to attract more European investments and they are already considering ways to facilitate it. He hoped that the mutual beneficial trade will be strengthened as he deemed new supply contracts, investments in exploration and production necessary.

After Russia and Norway, Europe derives most of its supply from Algeria and Bourtarfas visit is geared towards deepening cooperation in the energy sector with the EU. Algiers continues to be wary of the threats posed to the sector by extremist groups in the Sahara desert. In January 2013, British Petroleums In Amenas gas plant was attacked by terrorists and the energy minister stated that security and contingency plans are taken into account to defend the country.

Meanwhile, the UK ahead of its Brexit has also begun to engage in business and investment opportunities related to the energy sector with Algerian authorities.
Canadian scientist Mark Wainbergdescribed as a "giant" of HIV science and who had recently been working on finding a cure for the conditionhas died at the age of 71, UNAIDS said on Thursday.

The internationally renowned scientist, who was at the forefront of HIV research from the very beginning of the global AIDS epidemic, drowned on Wednesday while swimming off Bal Harbour in Florida, Radio Canada said.

"UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the tragic death of pioneering HIV researcher Mark Wainberg," the agency dedicated to battling the disease said in a statement.

Wainberg and his colleagues identified one of the main anti-retroviral medicines used to treat HIV infection and also contributed to the understanding of HIV drug resistance.

"Mark Wainberg was a giant in HIV science," UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe said in a statement, stressing that the researcher's work "contributed to saving millions of lives".

Linda-Gail Bekker, head of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which Wainberg lead from 1998, said the HIV/AIDS research community had "lost one of our fiercest champions".

"He was the epitome of dedication from the earliest days of the response," she said, adding that "the impact of his work... will live on through the millions of people accessing HIV treatment and those of us who were lucky enough to know him".

Wainberg, who served as an informal advisor to UNAIDS, was heading AIDS research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital and also of McGill University's AIDS Centre in Canada at the time of his death.

During his time leading IAS, he organised the 13th International AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa, and he also co-chaired the same conference in Toronto in 2006.

 2017 AFP
Millions of times a year, Americans get prescriptions for a week's worth of steroid pills, hoping to ease a backache or quell a nagging cough or allergy symptoms. But a new study suggests that they and their doctors might want to pay a bit more attention to the potential side effects of this medication.

People taking the pills were more likely to break a bone, have a potentially dangerous blood clot or suffer a life-threatening bout of sepsis in the months after their treatment, compared with similar adults who didn't use corticosteroids, researchers from the University of Michigan report in a new paper in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Though only a small percentage of both groups went to the hospital for these serious health threats, the higher rates seen among people who took steroids for even a few days are cause for caution and even concern, the researchers say.

The study used data from 1.5 million non-elderly American adults with private insurance. One in 5 of them filled a short-term prescription for oral corticosteroids such as prednisone sometime in the three-year study period. While the rates of the serious events were highest in the first 30 days after a prescription, they stayed elevated even three months later.

The researchers call for better education of prescribers and the public about the potential risks, and the most appropriate uses and doses, for short-term courses of steroids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration require drug makers to list the possible side effects of prednisone and other corticosteroids, but the rate of these events among short-term users has not been well characterized.

"Although physicians focus on the long-term consequences of steroids, they don't tend to think about potential risks from short-term use," says Akbar Waljee, M.D., M.Sc., the study's lead author. "We see a clear signal of higher rates of these three serious events within 30 days of filling a prescription. We need to understand that steroids do have a real risk and that we may use them more than we really need to. This is so important because of how often these drugs are used."

Waljee is an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the U-M Medical School and research scientist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, as well as a member of the Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics and Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP), the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and the VA Center for Clinical Management Research.

As a specialist in inflammatory bowel diseases, he prescribes steroids often to patients seeking relief from chronic digestive tract issues. But the new study focused on short-term use and risks.

Who's using short-term steroids?

Using anonymous insurance claims data that IHPI purchased for use by U-M health care researchers, they found that half of the people who received oral steroids had gotten them for just six diagnoses, related to back pain, allergies or respiratory tract infections including bronchitis.

Nearly half received a six-day prepackaged methylprednisolone "dosepak," which tapers the dose of steroids from highest to lowest. Dr. Waljee notes that sold as individual pills, oral steroids can cost less than a dollar for a seven-day course, but the prepackaged form can cost several times that. He also notes that the prepackaged form starts with a relatively high dose that may not always be necessary.

Users of short-term steroids were more likely to be in the older age range under age 65, white, female and to have multiple health conditions. More than half lived in the southern U.S.

The researchers excluded from the study anyone who took steroids in the year before the study period began, anyone who took inhaled or injected steroids during the study years, and anyone who took oral steroids for more than 30 days, as well as people who had cancer or transplants.

Differences in danger

Dr. Waljee and his colleagues found higher rates of sepsis, venous thromboembolism (VTE) and fractures among short-term steroid users using multiple different statistical approaches to ensure their findings were as robust as possible.

First, they compared short-term steroid users with non-steroid users, looking for the three serious issues in the 5 to 90 days after either the clinic visit closest to when the steroid prescription was filled, or a routine clinic visit for non-steroid users. This gives what's called an absolute risk.

They saw that 0.05 percent of those who got steroids were admitted to a hospital with a primary diagnosis of sepsis, compared with 0.02 percent of non-steroid users. For clots, it was 0.14 percent compared with 0.09 percent, and for fracture, it was 0.51 percent compared with 0.39 percent. However, this analysis was unable to account for all the individual differences between steroid users and non-users.

For that comparison, they then looked at rates of the three complications among short-term steroid users before and after they received steroids. Sepsis rates were five times higher in the 30 days after a steroid prescription, VTE clot rates were more than three times as high, and fracture rates were nearly twice as high as those that did not take steroids.

Finally, the researchers compared the steroid users with a sample of non-steroid users who had the same respiratory conditions. The difference in rates of all three health problems were still higher, as expressed by a quantity called the incidence rate ratio. Steroid users had more than five times the rate of sepsis, nearly three times the rate of VTE clots and two times the rate of fracture.

The consistent findings across the three approaches are important given the frequent use of these drugs and potential implications for patients. Waljee notes that the reason for this broad effect of steroids on complications may have its roots in how the drugs work: they mimic hormones produced by the body, to reduce inflammation but this can also induce changes that put patients at additional risk of serious events.

Studies in populations like the one in the BMJ paper can help guide researchers looking for dangerous side effects once drugs are on the market. Waljee notes the FDA is also conducting these initiatives through the "Sentinel Initiative". These studies can also provide insight into the possible mechanisms that might drive these side effects.

"When we have a medication that's being given to a large population, we can pick up signals that might inform us of some potentially harmful side effects that we might otherwise miss in smaller studies," he says. "Analyzing large data sets like this is a goal of groups like MiCHAMP and can help us see these trends sooner, highlighting the importance of this type of research on Big Data."

In the meantime, based on the new results, he advises patients and prescribers to use the smallest amount of corticosteroids possible based on the condition being treated. "If there are alternatives to steroids, we should be use those when possible," he says. "Steroids may work faster, but they aren't as risk-free as you might think."

More information: Akbar K Waljee et al, Short term use of oral corticosteroids and related harms among adults in the United States: population based cohort study, BMJ (2017). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Akbar K Waljee et al, Short term use of oral corticosteroids and related harms among adults in the United States: population based cohort study,(2017). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j1415
(HealthDay)Two new studies on diabetes deliver good and bad news, but the overall message is that the blood sugar disease remains a formidable public health burden.

The first study looked at the incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in U.S. children, and uncovered this troubling trend: From 2002 to 2012, the rates for both types of diabetes increased, especially among racial and ethnic minorities.

But a bit of hope was offered up in the second study: Swedish researchers reported a drop in the incidence of heart disease and stroke in adults with both types of diabetes.

"These studies highlight our concerns about the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Every 23 seconds, another person is diagnosed with diabetes [in the United States]," said Dr. William Cefalu, chief scientific, medical and mission officer for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Cefalu added that the Swedish study was encouraging and shows that things are "trending in the right direction. Because of research in diabetes, we've been able to improve the lives of millions of people with diabetes around the world, but the disease is still increasing worldwide. We still have a lot of work to do."

In the United States, approximately 29 million people have diabetes, according to the ADA. The vast majority of those have type 2 diabetes. About 1.3 million people have type 1 diabetes.

In people with type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that helps usher sugar from foods into the body's cells to be used as fuel. When someone has type 2 diabetes, this process doesn't work well and blood sugar levels rise. Obesity is the main risk factor for type 2 diabetes, though it's not the only factor involved in the disease.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves someone with type 1 diabetes with little to no insulin. To stay alive, someone with type 1 diabetes must replace that insulin through injections.

"The specific genes and environmental/behavioral factors that cause type 2 diabetes are different than those that cause type 1 diabetes," explained Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, the author of the study on diabetes incidence in children.

Mayer-Davis and colleagues found that type 1 diabetes was increasing 1.8 percent a year. The increase was significantly larger for Hispanic children, at 4.2 percent a year. That compared with 1.2 percent for white children, the findings showed.

The factors underlying the increase aren't entirely clear, she said.

Although far fewer children have type 2 diabetes, the disease is increasing faster than type 1. Between 2002 and 2012, the rate of type 2 diabetes increased 4.8 percent a year. The annual increase in type 2 diabetes in black children was 6.3 percent. For Asian/Pacific Islanders, the yearly increase was 8.5 percent, and for Native Americans, it was almost 9 percent, the investigators found.

"The increase in incidence of type 2 diabetes is likely related primarily to the increases in overweight and obesity in youth, although this is not the only reason," said Mayer-Davis. She's a professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

The second study looked at all of the people registered in a Swedish National Database from 1998 through 2012, and followed their health through 2014. The database has nearly 37,000 people with type 1 diabetes and more than 457,000 with type 2 diabetes. These patients were compared to similar people without diabetes (the "control" group).

The researchers saw roughly a 40 percent greater reduction in heart disease and stroke in people with type 1 diabetes compared to the matched controls. In people with type 2 diabetes, there was roughly a 20 percent greater drop in heart disease and stroke compared to the control group, the study showed.

When it came to deaths during the study period, people with type 1 diabetes had similar reductions in the number of deaths compared to controls. People with type 2, however, had smaller reductions in deaths versus the control group, the researchers found.

Even with these improvements, people with either type of diabetes still have much higher overall rates of premature death and heart disease than the control groups, the study authors noted.

"We believe the changes observed in our study most likely reflect a combination of advances in clinical care for patients with diabetes," said study author Dr. Aidin Rawshani. He is from the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenberg in Sweden.

"Perhaps the most important is improved management of cardiovascular risk factors," he said. These risk factors include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, signs of early kidney damage and poor blood sugar control. He said treatment with high blood pressure medications and cholesterol-lowering drugs likely contributed to the improvement.

Both studies were published April 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

More information: Aidin Rawshani, M.D. and Ph.D. student, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenberg, Sweden; Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, Ph.D., professor, nutrition and medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; William Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific, medical and mission officer, American Diabetes Association; April 13, 2017, New England Journal of Medicine. Aidin Rawshani, M.D. and Ph.D. student, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenberg, Sweden; Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, Ph.D., professor, nutrition and medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; William Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific, medical and mission officer, American Diabetes Association; April 13, 2017, Learn more about preventing type 2 diabetes from the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The accused in passport fraud cases escaped from the police custody from Hazarat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi.

By Ashish Pandey: Mohammad Ali, a British national who is an accused in passport fraud cases, hoodwinked Hyderabad Police and managed to escape from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi last evening.

Ali was taken to Delhi for hearing of the passport fraud case.

A case has been registered and the cops are on the lookout for him. Action will be taken against the cops from whose custody the accused escaped, once a report is submitted.

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The prisoner, after being produced before Patiala House Court in Delhi, escaped from the bathroom window at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station.

While talking to India Today, Mahender Rathod Jt CP Security, said, "In Hyderabad, a total of 3 cases related to fake passport under Section 14 of Foreigners Act were registered while in Delhi, one case related to fake passport cases under Section 14 of Foreigners Act was registered against him."

Also read: Delhi: Personal enmity biggest cause of murders in city

Also read: Telangana shocker: Woman poisons physically challenged 3-year-old daughter

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The study found common disparities between indigenous pregnant womens smoking rates in four countries. Credit: Massey University

Indigenous women across four high income countries are not getting the help they need to stop smoking when pregnant.

A study published today in the international journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research found common large disparities between indigenous pregnant women's smoking rates and non-indigenous pregnant women in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America.

"Tobacco smoking is the most significant reversible risk factor for the health of Indigenous pregnant women and their babies." Said study lead Associate Professor Gillian Gould of the School of Medicine and Public Health at The University of Newcastle, Australia who led the study. "In each of our countries and in Canada, Indigenous pregnant women have smoking rates that are twice to many times higher than the non-Indigenous women."

The prevalence of smoking while pregnant varied across states and countries, ranging from 18 percent to 83 percent for Inuit women. The inequity varied across countries also with Australian Aboriginal maternal smoking at 48 percent while non-Indigenous Australian women enjoyed a low 13 percent.

Co-author Associate Professor Marewa Glover from New Zealand's Massey University's School of Public Health said the study was looking for successful intervention ideas they could share.

"Despite our cultural differences, the Indigenous people in each country experience similar marginalisation and social disadvantage." She said. "This stems partly from the common way in which we were colonised by Western nation states."

"That colonisation process resulted in all of us receiving proportionately less of society's benefits, whether that's education, healthcare or employment. Our women are disproportionately exposed to environmental risks to health, discrimination and disproportionate incarceration. We are over-represented among the lower paid and unemployed and are more likely to live in deprived areas. The cumulative stress of all this is driving our higher smoking rates and undermining our women's ability to abstain from smoking, even when they are pregnant." Glover said.

Professor Christi Patten from Mayo Clinic's Department of Psychiatry and Psychology in Rochester, Minnesota, USA contributed information for Canada and the USA to the paper titled 'Smoking in pregnancy among indigenous women in high income countries.'

The researchers want more importance to be placed on supportive programmes for Indigenous pregnant women. They want to see the development and testing of Indigenous-led and culturally-based programmes, such as services that fund Indigenous elders and community health care providers to work with families. Existing stop smoking programmes also needed to improve their delivery to ensure they reach pregnant Indigenous women.

In reviewing the literature the researchers identified several evidence gaps, which they propose is partly due to the difficulty securing funding for trials that are focused on a relatively small sub-group. The team hopes that working across countries will improve their chances of gaining research funds in future to continue this important line of investigation.
Same-sex marriage has been the law of the land for nearly two yearsand in some states for even longerbut researchers can already detect positive health outcomes among couples who have tied the knot, a University of Washington study finds.

For years, studies have linked marriage with happiness among heterosexual couples. But a study from the UW School of Social Work is among the first to explore the potential benefits of marriage among LGBT couples. It is part of a national, groundbreaking longitudinal study with a representative sample of LGBT older adults, known as "Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, Sexuality/Gender Study," which focuses on how historical, environmental, psychological, behavioral, social and biological factors are associated with health, aging and quality of life.

UW researchers found that LGBT study participants who were married reported better physical and mental health, more social support and greater financial resources than those who were single. The findings were published in a February special supplement of The Gerontologist.

"In the nearly 50 years since Stonewall, same-sex marriage went from being a pipe dream to a legal quagmire to realityand it may be one of the most profound changes to social policy in recent history," said lead author Jayn Goldsen, research study supervisor in the UW School of Social Work.

Some 2.7 million adults ages 50 and older identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendera number that is expected to nearly double by 2060.

Among LGBT people, marriage increased noticeably after a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. A 2016 Gallup Poll found that 49 percent of cohabiting gay couples were married, up from 38 percent before the ruling.

For the UW study, more than 1,800 LGBT people, ages 50 and older, were surveyed in 2014 in locations where gay marriage was already legal (32 states and Washington, D.C.). About one-fourth were married, another fourth were in a committed relationship, and half were single. Married respondents had spent an average of 23 years together, while those in a committed, unmarried relationship had spent an average of 16 years.

Among the study participants, more women were married than men, and of the respondents who were married, most identified as non-Hispanic white.

Researchers found that, in general, participants in a relationship, whether married or in a long-term partnership, showed better health outcomes than those who were single. But those who were married fared even better, both socially and financially, than couples in unmarried, long-term partnerships.

Single LGBT adults were more likely to have a disability; to report lower physical, psychological, social and environmental quality of life; and to have experienced the death of a partner, especially among men.

The legalization of gay marriage at the federal level opens up access to many benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security survivor benefits that married, straight couples have long enjoyed. But that does not mean every LGBT couple was immediately ready to take that step.

According to Goldsen, marriage, for many older LGBT people, can be something of a conundrumeven a non-starter. LGBT seniors came of age at a time when laws and social exclusion kept many in the closet. Today's unmarried couples may have made their own legal arrangements and feel that they don't need the extra step of marriageor they don't want to participate in a traditionally heterosexual institution.

Goldsen also pointed to trends in heterosexual marriage: Fewer people are getting married, and those who do, do so later.

"More older people are living together and thinking outside the box. This was already happening within the LGBT communitycouples were living together, but civil marriage wasn't part of the story," she said.

The different attitudes among older LGBT people toward marriage is something service providers, whether doctors, attorneys or tax professionals, should be aware of, Goldsen said. Telling a couple they should get married now simply because they can misses the individual nature of the choice.

"Service providers need to understand the historical context of this population," she said. "Marriage isn't for everyone. It is up to each person, and there are legal, financial and potentially societal ramifications." For example, among the women in the study, those who were married were more likely to report experiencing bias in the larger community.

At the same time, Goldsen said, single LGBT older adults do not benefit from the marriage ruling, and other safeguards, such as anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations, are still lacking at the federal level.

Over time, Goldsen and colleagues will continue to examine the influence of same-sex marriage policy on partnership status and health.

More information: Jayn Goldsen et al, Who Says I Do: The Changing Context of Marriage and Health and Quality of Life for LGBT Older Adults, The Gerontologist (2017). Jayn Goldsen et al, Who Says I Do: The Changing Context of Marriage and Health and Quality of Life for LGBT Older Adults,(2017). DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnw174
White matter fiber architecture of the brain. Credit: Human Connectome Project.

Healthy college students who have a relatively small inferior frontal cortex - a brain region behind the temples that helps regulate thoughts and emotions - are more likely than others to suffer from anxiety, a new study finds. They also tend to view neutral or even positive events in a negative light, researchers report.

The researchers evaluated 62 students, collecting brain structural data from neuroimaging scans and using standard questionnaires to determine their level of anxiety and predilection for negative bias.

Previous studies of people diagnosed with anxiety have found similar correlations between the size of the IFC and anxiety and negative bias, said U. of I. psychology postdoctoral researcher Sanda Dolcos, who led the study with graduate student Yifan Hu. But the new findings, reported in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, are the first to see these same dynamics in healthy adults, the researchers said.

"You would expect these brain changes more in clinical populations where anxiety is very serious, but we are seeing differences even in the brains of healthy young adults," Dolcos said.

The study also found that the relationship between the size of the IFC and a student's negative bias was mediated by their level of anxiety.

"People who have smaller volumes have higher levels of anxiety; people who have larger IFCs tend to have lower levels of anxiety," Dolcos said. And higher anxiety is associated with more negative bias, she said. "How we see this is that the higher volume of the IFC confers resilience."

"We found that larger IFC volume is protecting against negative bias through lower levels of trait anxiety," Hu said.

According to the American College Health Association, anxiety is rampant on college campuses, where nearly 60 percent of students report at least one troubling bout of anxious worry every year.

University of Illinois psychology researcher Sanda Dolcos and graduate student Yifan Hu found brain differences among healthy college students that are linked to their risk of anxiety and negative bias. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer

"There is a very high level of anxiety in the student population, and this is affecting their life, their academic performance, everything," Dolcos said. "We are interested in identifying what is going on and preventing them from moving to the next level and developing clinical anxiety."

Anxiety can interfere with many dimensions of life, causing a person to be on high alert for potential problems even under the best of circumstances, Hu said. Negative bias also can interfere with a person's commitment to activities that might further their life goals, she said.

Understanding the interrelatedness of brain structure, function and personality traits such as anxiety and their behavioral effects such as negative bias will help scientists develop interventions to target specific brain regions in healthy populations, Hu said.

"We hope to be able to train the brain to function better," she said. "That way, we might prevent these at-risk people from moving on to more severe anxiety."

More information: Yifan Hu et al, Trait anxiety mediates the link between inferior frontal cortex volume and negative affective bias in healthy adults, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (2017). Journal information: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Yifan Hu et al, Trait anxiety mediates the link between inferior frontal cortex volume and negative affective bias in healthy adults,(2017). DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx008
People who consumed low-fat dairy products between one and four times a week are less depressed. Credit: Tohoku University

People who consume low-fat milk and yogurt, rather than whole-fat dairy products, are less likely to have depression, according to researchers in Japan and China.

Dairy consumption has long been linked to a wide range of physical health benefits, but its effect on emotional health has remained unclear. Now, a new study published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology reveals that people who consume low-fat dairy products may be less prone to depression

Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi of Tohoku University and colleagues in Japan and China investigated the association between whole and low-fat dairy consumption and depressive symptoms such as exhaustion, sadness, anxiety, helplessness and hopelessness. This is the first study to consider different components of dairy products (whole fat and low fat) and the occurrence of depression.

The study involved 1,159 Japanese adults between the ages of 19 and 83. There were 897 men and 262 women, of which 31.2% and 31.7% respectively, were depressed.

The researchers asked the participants in a questionnaire how often they consumed whole- or low-fat milk or yogurt. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the self-rating depression scale, which consists of 20 questions and is a tool to distinguish people with and without depression.

The result showed that people who consumed low-fat dairy products between one and four times a week are less depressed. The correlation remained even after considering other critical factors such as age, sex, health status, nutrition status and life style.

The study found no association between whole-fat milk consumption and depressive symptoms. The researchers speculate that this is because trans-fatty acid contained in whole fat milk, which is associated with depression, cancelled out the anti-depressive effect of another milk component, tryptophan.

The researchers note that since this was a cross-sectional study that analyzed a population at a single point in time, it could not explain what actually caused such outcomes. Other dairy products, such as cheese and butter, were not included in the study. It is also unclear whether milk or yogurt had a stronger influence. Further studies are necessary to confirm and clarify the causality of the findings.

More information: Yufei Cui et al. Consumption of low-fat dairy, but not whole-fat dairy, is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese adults, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2017). Yufei Cui et al. Consumption of low-fat dairy, but not whole-fat dairy, is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese adults,(2017). DOI: 10.1007/s00127-016-1333-1
The molecule microRNA-210 stabilises deposits in the carotid artery and can prevent them from tearing. Thus, it may prevent dangerous blood clots from forming. This is what scientists headed by Prof. Lars Magdefessel, Professor of Vascular Biology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and head of a junior scientist group in the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) have discovered. Their results open up new treatment approaches to reduce stroke risk in patients with carotid arteries at risk of rupturing.

The most common cause for the narrowing of the carotid artery is atherosclerosis, where so-called plaques build up on the vessel walls. If a plaque ruptures, blood clots can form that either further occlude the site that is already narrowed, or are carried away by the blood flow, which could lead to vascular occlusion at a different site.

If this happens in the carotid artery, it could lead to a stroke. How easily a plaque ruptures depends on how thick the tissue layer surrounding its core is. The thicker this so-called fibrous cap, the more stable and therefore more harmless the vessel deposit.

Stabilizing instead of reducing

"New imaging procedures enable us to detect dangerous plaques with increasing precision; but the therapies currently available for removing these unstable plaques and thus preventing a stroke entail a certain amount of risk that the plaques will rupture during the procedure", explains Lars Magdefessel. "This is why these therapies are not used on individuals with a narrowed carotid artery who have so far not experienced any symptoms."

Traditionally, physicians try to reduce the size of the deposits in the vessels in order to widen the narrowed sites. "For narrowed carotid arteries, though, the notion of stabilising the plaques is becoming ever more prevalent. Unlike in the coronary vessels, in the carotid artery plaques rupturing is more dangerous than the narrowing", says Magdefessel.

Tiny regulators

Magdefessel and his team compared material from patients with stable and unstable deposits in the carotid artery. They particularly focused on microRNAs. These molecules are involved in the gene regulation in about 60 percent of mammals' genes. They can prevent gene information that has already been read from being translated into proteins, and have become a focus of biomedical research as active ingredients and starting points for new therapies in recent years.

The scientists discovered that microRNA-210 was reduced the most in the blood samples of patients with unstable plaques. These were blood samples that were obtained locally near the vessel deposits. Further examinations showed that microRNA-210 is primarily present in the fibrous caps of plaques and that it inhibits the expression of the APC gene. As a consequence, fewer smooth muscle cells die in the fibrous cap and it becomes more stable. Moreover, the animal model could show that fewer plaques rupture when microRNA-210 is administered.

Local application is crucial

The scientists are currently researching how microRNA-210 can be applied locally. The risk of adverse events in other organs is much too high if microRNA modulators are administered systemically. The main concern with microRNA-210 is that tumour cells that are possibly already in existence will multiply, because the expression of APC is inhibited. This is because APC is a tumor suppressor gene which inhibits the growth of cancers in the healthy body.

In order to avoid such so-called off-target effects, the researchers are currently testing coated stents or balloons that are inserted directly into the carotid artery in pigs. "For this step, we also rely on the collaboration with companies that, for example, develop soft balloons that cause little friction and thus make the procedure safer", says Magdefessel. "Only thus will our results reach patients as effective therapies."

More information: Suzanne M. Eken et al, MicroRNA-210 Enhances Fibrous Cap Stability in Advanced Atherosclerotic LesionsNovelty and Significance, Circulation Research (2017). Journal information: Circulation Research Suzanne M. Eken et al, MicroRNA-210 Enhances Fibrous Cap Stability in Advanced Atherosclerotic LesionsNovelty and Significance,(2017). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309318
Credit: Thinkstock

A UTS-led study of the effects of smoking electronic cigarettes during pregnancy has been hailed by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) in its stand against legalising nicotine in e-cigarettes.

Using a mouse model and human lung cells, the UTS Molecular Biosciences Research Team study, led by Pawan Sharma, David Chapman and Brian Oliver, found e-cigarette vaping among expectant mothers increased the risk and severity of allergic asthma in their babies.

"E-cigarettes are being regarded as a tool to help quit smoking, so we considered the effect of maternal e-cigarette vaping an important area to look in to," Dr Sharma said.

"Our study indicated e-vaping in pregnancy was associated with reduced lung function and an increased risk of asthma in the mothers' offspring. These findings show that e-cigarette use during pregnancy should not be considered safe."

The UTS team's research is supported by an international study in which laboratory trials concluded that when e-cigarettes are used as a healthier substitute for tobacco smoking during pregnancy, mothers may still be posing significant neurological risks to their unborn offspring.

Earlier this year, Australia's drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rejected an application to relax the ban on e-cigarettes containing nicotine.

Professor Peter Gibson, TSANZ President, said the evidence did not support the lifting of the ban.

"While electronic cigarettes are likely to be less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, they are not harmless," he said.

"We have an increasing body of evidence pointing to the harms of e-cigarettes containing nicotine."

Australia's ban on e-cigarettes containing nicotine was introduced in 2009. In September 2016, an application to the TGA proposed nicotine in e-cigarettes at certain concentrations should be exempt on the basis that they provide an alternative pathway for smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit. The TGA decided in March to continue the ban.

Dr Chapman said e-cigarettes still exposed users to numerous toxic compounds.

"It is unknown whether a reduction in these compounds equates to improved health outcomes. Nicotine is a highly addictive compound and itself leads to detrimental health outcomes."
Murdoch University hosted Australia's first training for an innovative method of assessing the mental health of preschool aged children.

This assessment tool, the Preschool Aged Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA), uses semi-structured interviews to diagnose psychiatric symptoms in children up to five years of age.

Professor Megan Galbally, Murdoch University's Foundation Chair in Perinatal Psychiatry, hosted the four-day workshop by Brian Small from Duke University in the United States.

"PAPA training is widely used around the world on large studies of child mental health but this was the first opportunity for researchers to learn more about it in Australia," she said.

"The session was extremely informative and we putting the PAPA assessment tool into practice for the next stage of our research."

Professor Galbally and her colleague Associate Professor Andrew Lewis are leading the Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study, a project that has followed 300 women from pregnancy through to now when their children are turning three years of age.

This study has examined many of the areas the development of the relationship between a mother and her child over pregnancy and into the postpartum period.

We have investigated a wide range of factors that may act to protect a mother against anxiety and depression over this period," Professor Galbally said.

"The PAPA assessment will now enable us to assess the mental health of the children born in this study."

Results from the MPEWS study will be released later this year.
An example of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets funded by USAID and distributed in health centres in Mozambique. Credit: Ana Rita Sequeira

In the last decade, the United States has played a leading funder role in the preparedness and responses to global infectious outbreaks and the delivery of basic healthcare in developing countries. The proposed aid cuts in the U.S. 2018 budget arguably represent at the very least, a serious setback in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and would diminish the capacity to prevent and coordinate interventions to address human health security issues, like Ebola. The reduction of funding to national disease surveillance systems, training and infrastructure in the developing world means lowering the guard to deliver rapid, coordinated and consistent assistance to tackle borderless infectious diseases.

In a recent interview commenting on Trump's proposed 2018 budget, the American economist Jeffrey Sachs said the cuts could lead to millions of deaths. Whatever the outcome of the US budget battle, the world must agree on new aid architecture, with strong leadership that pushes the international community to commit more financial resources.

Before Trump's Era

In 2015, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics showed a U.S contribution to aid of over US$29b, through bilateral agreements (country to country), multilateral commitments (United Nations, World Bank, and others) and international and local non-governmental organisations. One-third of these financial resources (US$11b) have been used to fund basic healthcare services, and water and sanitation programs in developing countries, including diagnosis tests for malaria and HIV/AIDS, drugs, bednets, and new infrastructure as health centres, hospitals, and biomedical research centres. Altogether, U.S.leadership strengthen disease surveillance systems and global coordination on epidemic outbreaks by funding professional training, research centres, and working closely with developing countries. The U.S.'s commitment and leading role in pushing the agenda to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis were noteworthy through the creation of President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2002, and the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in 2005, and substantial contributions to The Global Fund (US$10b in 2015).

U.S's major financial contributions and the global commitment to the Millennium Development Goals resulted in significant achievements in the last 15 years (Millennium Development Goals(MDG): new HIV infections dropped by almost one-third from the epidemic peak; tuberculosis deaths declined by 3.7% between 2000 and 2013; child deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa have dropped 31.5%, the under-five mortality rate has declined by more than half, and maternal mortality is down 45 percent worldwide in major diseases as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. If approved by the Congress, the budget proposed by Trump's administration would create uncertainty as to how to sustain MDG's results and achieve the SDG in 2030.

Blueprint?

The recently announced U.S. budget for 2018 "America First: A budget blueprint to make America great again" is sweet-and-sour on the international aid. Some important programs such as PEPFAR and PMI will be kept, but the aid flow channelled through distinct recipients (UN, Development banks, NGOs, etc.) will be reduced as a whole. This chain effect compromises the global effort to improve the health outcomes of people living in developing countries, especially their access to medical treatments and care.

Proposed 2018 US budget changes in international aid:

Cuts:

The Fogarty International Centre

Direct funding for international organizations such as the Department of State and USAID (-28%), multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, (US$650 million over three years), contribution to UN budget and UN peacekeeping costs (up to 25%)

The Global Climate Change Initiative and the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance accounts

Maintains:

President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) & President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)

The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria contribution pledge for 2017.

Uncalculated costs

Jeffrey Sachs's warning about the consequences of cuts in US contributions to international aid programs are particularly pertinent vis-a-vis health security, as global epidemics are an unpredictable threat with unforeseen consequences requiring continuous financial resources and coordination. The latest Ebola outbreak (2014-2016) showed there was no robust and timely surveillance systems and local preparedness to tackle highly transmissible diseases. In Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, the human costs of the Ebola epidemics were enormous, killing over 11 000 people from Ebola, and around 21 000 additional deaths due to the reduction in access to healthcare services. The economic burden for these West African countries accounted for US$2.2b of the GDP. The international community response was estimated in US$3.6b, including US$2.3b from the U.S. government.

The fair share?

Trump has justified the US's aid budget cuts by stating that it's now time for "the world to pay their fair share." But the spending picture as a percentage of the gross national income (GNI) proves to be different. The signers of the Paris Declaration (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) committed themselves to a contribution of 0.8% ratio of GNI to bilateral, multilateral and NGOs initiatives in developing countries.

In 2015, the top donors to promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries were Sweden, United Arabs Emirates, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark, all above 0.8% of GNI (1.4%, 1.1%, 1.0%, 0.95 and 0.8%, respectively).The U.S comes in 23rd position (0.16% of GNI) showing how marginal its relative contribution is compared with Malta, for example, which ranks 21st.

The interdependency of human health security concerns means the international community must achieve a robust coordination and financial commitment to disentangle historical inequalities and injustices that lead to 80% of the world's population living in the Global South with access to an unequal share (20%) of the world's resources and human welfare. This would represent a truly "fair share".

What's next?

Until 2017, U.S had a leading role in the areas of funding, research training and intervention. If approved by the Congress, Trump's first budget proposal is a game-changer by lowering the global response to finance basic healthcare in the developing world, and reducing the global disease surveillance systems. These new changes demand a new architecture and leadership in international aid, whether that calls for an action from a block of countries (leading EU countries and South-South Cooperation), to charities and foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates, or public and private partnership, or all together.

The world needs to take a coordinated action, and we are all responsible for its results.

This story is republished courtesy of PLOS Blogs: blogs.plos.org.
Sygnia CEO Magda Wierzycka said President Jacob Zuma should be offered as much money as he wants, and full immunity, to convince him to step down.

Speaking to Bruce Whitfield on CNBC MoneyMaker, Wierzycka said it will be a good investment for South Africa.

The damage that can be done to the country and the economy in a very short period of time is so much greater than any amount of money that Zuma could possibly want to live out his years, she said.

Wierzycka also criticised big business in South Africa for not speaking out against Zumas actions.

I believe we have a very powerful voice which we should be bringing to the table, she said.

We are sitting with a situation which was completely and artificially created by one mans whim in dismissing Pravin Gordhan.

So lets be clear. A few weeks ago, we did not have credit ratings downgrades on the table. Now we are junk.

She said the downgrades will affect every part of society, and are particularly bad news for the poor.

We should be talking about poverty, inequality, social welfare, job creation, economic growth, education, and health care, she said.

Instead, we are talking about graft, corruption, SASSA contracts, peoples love lives, peoples emails, SMSes, and BEE deals. It is ridiculous.
UK wants to work more with the U.S. on gas supplies

EU admits: It is impossible to set a ceiling on gas prices that will not affect contracts or security of supply

Most valuable metal of year is named

Mehr: Nikolai Patrushev arrives in Tehran

Turkish TV company confesses that Ankara and Israel were arming Azerbaijan against Armenia

Who is Baku threatening? Armenia's former deputy defense minister decodes Aliyev's statements

Army Commander-in-Chief: Even those who claim to be superpowers do not dare to attack Iran

Iran and Russia to build joint pipeline

India to continue buying Russian oil

Businessman Zhong Shanshan becomes richest man in China

Armenia and Poland emphasize OSCE role in promoting stability in South Caucasus

Banks are searched in Germany in case of money laundering by Russian businessman

Armenian President reacts to Aliyev's speech at League of Arab States summit

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
Lyca, the organisation producing 'Superstar' Rajiikanth's next film, has developed a village for Sri Lankan Tamils affected by the bloody conflict between the LTTE and the island nation's government. It has now been inaugurated, days after Rajinikanth cancelled his trip to the site following protests in Tamil Nadu.

By Akshaya Nath: A village developed by Lyca for Sri Lankan Tamils affected by the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government, was inaugurated on Wednesay, days after Kollywood icon Rajinikanth cancelled his visit to the site.

Lyca is owned by a Sri Lankan Tamil, and its village has as many as 400 houses. It also happens to be producing 'Superstar'Rajinikanth's next film, Enthiran 2.0.

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Rajinikanth - along with North Province Chief Minister C V Vigneshwaran, and Opposition leader Sumantharan - were supposed to attend the inauguration of the village on Wednesday. But it wasn't to be - the veteran actor called off his visit following protests by Tamil groups in India.

"Lyca is an organisation (which), though owned by a Sri Lankan Tamil, has former President Mahinda Rajapaksa involved in it, and we are against the same. We don't have a problem in Rajini visiting Sri Lanka, but we have a problem in him becoming the face of Lyca's agenda," said Thol Thirumavalavan, the leader of the Viduthalai Chiruththaigal Katchi (VCK).

North Province chief minister Vigneshwaran, too cancelled his visit to the village at the last minute.

Only opposition party leader Sumantharan, a Tamil leader, was present for the inauguration.

ALSO READ | Lyca claims Rajinikanth's visit to Sri Lanka was cancelled due to political lies

ALSO READ | Rajinikanth Lanka visit row: It would have overshadowed Tamilians' protest, says VCK chief Thirumavalavan

ALSO WATCH | Watch: Rajinikanth cancels Sri Lanka visit after protests from Tamil groups

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The Union information and broadcast minister said people have a duty to protect the environment and should work to provide a better future for the younger generation.

By Mail Today Bureau: While India's young population is hungry to consume and manufacture more commodities and power, we also have a duty to protect the environment, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Wednesday.

"We need energy, especially because 65% of our country is under 35 years of age. At present, there is a wide gap between how much an average Indian consumes, as compared to his American counterpart. We consume 1000 KWH per capita and Americans consume 12,000 KWH per capita," said the Olympic medalist at the Mail Today 3rd Energy Conclave.

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This provides great potential, he said. "But we also have a commitment to our environment. This is our window of opportunity to provide a better future for our younger generation," he said at a session on 'Go Green - Potential and Investment Opportunities'. "This is why the government is focused on expanding renewable energy," he said.

Adding that the government is willing to try out-of the-box solutions, he said people were receptive to innovative ideas if it meant improvement in their lifestyle.

"More than 1.2 crore people gave up LPG subsidy on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plea to the country. They were mostly average Indians - teachers, govt officials, doctors. As much as Rs 14,000 crore has been recovered through these subsidies. Indians are willing to do whatever is required to make a country stronger and better."

He also referred to Delhiites trying out the 'Odd-Even formula'. "People are willing to commit to anything if it improves the quality of their life and that of their children." He said all strata of society need to be introduced to lifestyle changes that will help conserve energy.

'PEOPLE MUST SET AN EXAMPLE'

"That is where celebrities and eminent people come in. If they adopt an environment-friendly lifestyle, they inspire others to follow suit," said Rathore, who has also served in the army.

Rathore highlighted the role of corporate entities for society to go green. "It's a cycle. We require electricity, which increases manufacturing, which in turn produces more jobs. This leads to fuel demand. How long can we keep producing more energy? That is where corporates come in to invest in research on technology."

He said corporates can also help government with policymaking. "The government is focused on two-way communication. Ministers engage with the citizens and bring back feedback on policies. The government is focused on policy making, but it cannot do it in isolation.

It has to be completely in synergy with corporates, who are experts in specific subjects and can give feedback on policies formulated."

He said corporates are also subtly informing people that conservation is extremely critical and advertising it through their products.

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Rathore also said products which are outside the ambit of the proposed Goods and Services Tax, such as petroleum, are likely to be included soon. "Now, we are moving forward and soon, other products like petroleum will also come under the GST."

ALSO READ | Environment an essential component of education, compulsory subject in schools: HRD Ministry

ALSO READ | Girl, 9, sues government over inaction on climate change in 52-page petition

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Opponents of constitutional amendments, suggesting the country's transition from a parliamentary republic to a presidential one, are unable to conduct a full-fledged campaign in Turkey ahead of the referendum, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Michael Georg Link told Die Welt, The DW reported.

According to him, additional obstacles are imposed for the opponents of the amendments. Some of them are intimidated, he noted, the state media characterize them as adversaries and conspirators.

Link noted that the main problem is opposition parties deputies' arrests, in particular, pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, members of which are the main opponents of the constitutional amendments. As a result, this party cannot organize a full-fledged campaign.

According to Link, another obstacle is the restriction of freedom of assembly, demonstrations and rallies, introduced after the failed coup attempt, which took place last summer. The OSCE Representative considers that an additional problem is bias of the Turkish media and imbalance of the information provided by them. This was the result of the mass arrests of opposition journalists and the closure of a number of opposition editions.

As Link noted, 158 media outlets were closed and more than a thousand journalists remained without work since July last year.

Turkish voters will head to the polls, in a controversial referendum on April 16 that could vastly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Court of Cassation of Baku considered the appeal by blogger Alexander Lapshinwho is in custody the capital city of Azerbaijanagainst the April 7 ruling of a Baku district court, and whereby his arrest was extended for three months.

The cassation court, however, rejected the appeal, informed Trend news agency of Azerbaijan.

After his visits to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2011 and 2012, Israeli Russian blogger and journalist Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan.

In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan--but with a Ukrainian passport--and, subsequently, he published several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities.

Afterward, Azerbaijan issued an international search for this famous blogger. On December 15, 2016, Lapshin was detained in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk, and based on this search.

On January 26 of the current year, the Minsk city court dismissed the blogger's appeal of the Belarusian General Prosecutor's Office decision to extradite him to Azerbaijan.

On February 7, the Supreme Court of Belarus dismissed the appeals that were filed into this case, and upheld the aforesaid decision by the General Prosecutors Office.

And on the evening of the same day, Belarus extradited Alexander Lapshin to the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku, where he was taken into custody.
By PTI: From Youssra El-Sharkawy

Cairo, Apr 13 (PTI) Egyptian authorities today identified the second bomber who blew himself up during a Palm Sunday service at a Coptic Christian church in the northern city of Tanta.

The interior ministry identified the attacker has been identified as 40-year-old Mamdouh Amin Mohamed Baghdady, who lived in the upper Egyptian City of Qena.

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It said he was a member of a "terrorist" cell, and announced the arrest of three other members of the cell.

This is the second identification as yesterday the Ministry identified the suicide bomber responsible for the other Palm Sundays attack that took place at Alexandrias St Marks Cathedral.

The attacker was identified as Mahmud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, born in Qena in 1986.

At least 46 people were killed and more than 120 others injured in the twin bombings that hit Egypts St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Marks Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The ministry said Abdallah and Baghdady were associates of Amr Saad Abbas Ibrahim, a fugitive who is the leader of a terrorist cell that orchestrated last Decembers deadly suicide bombing of Cairos St Peter and St Pauls Church, which killed 29 worshipers, mostly women and children.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of Egypts population of 85 million. Egypts Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants.

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. PTI YES PMS

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By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) The secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the Indus Water Treaty relating to two controversial hydropower projects have been postponed until the end of this month, a Pakistani media report today said.

The talks were scheduled for April 11-13 but have been delayed until the end of April, The Nation reported quoting sources, but didnt cite any reason for the postponement.

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Pakistans Minister for Power and Water Khawaja Asif last month had said the two sides would meet in Washington on April 11-13 to resolve the issues related to Kishanganga (330MWs) and Ratle (850 MWs) projects India is constructing in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Indus Water Treaty Commissioner Asif Baig told the newspaper that April 11-13 were not the scheduled dates for the meeting as these dates were only a proposal.

He said the World Bank with the consensus of both the countries will provide new dates for the meeting.

He said he does not know about the new dates.

Pakistan has reservations over the designs of both the hydropower projects and is seeking the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) through the World Bank - the so-called guarantor of the 1960 treaty - while India insists to resolve the issue through neutral experts.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, New Delhi has to share all details of any hydropower project on the rivers on which Pakistan has water rights under the treaty.

Pakistan says no design of these projects was shared, which is a violation of the 57-year-old treaty. PTI SH ABH

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Michigan Launches Updated Rx Drug Monitoring Program

Announced April 11, the new Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) uses Appriss Health's PMP AWARxE and replaces an older MAPS platform.

Michigan this week launched a new Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) using Appriss Health's PMP AWARxE. The new system replaces the old MAPS "and puts Michigan at the forefront of prescription drug monitoring technology," according to the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, known as LARA. The department's Bureau of Professional Licensing administers the MAPS portal.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder formed the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force in June 2015, and a key recommendation from the task force was to update and replace the old MAPS platform. "Replacing the outdated MAPS is central in our fight against the opioid epidemic that has been so tragic for Michigan families," said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who chaired the task force. "The modern system gives prescribers and dispensers state-of-the-art tools to make more informed decisions, intervene earlier and spend additional time with patients and customers."

LARA's announced said the new portal gives prescribers in Michigan a user-friendly portal, making it more efficient for practitioners to obtain information of controlled substances and Schedule 2-5 drugs that have been dispensed. (Prescribers include dentists, physicians (MD, DO), physician assistants, podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians and advanced practice registered nurses under delegation.)

"The successful and timely launch of the new MAPS was a direct result of the collaborative efforts between the state of Michigan, legislators, and the medical community," LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said. "We're hopeful prescribers and practitioners from across the state will utilize this powerful system to effectively measure a patient's potential danger in abusing these addictive drugs."

A $2.47 million appropriation from the state legislature gave LARA the opportunity to begin replacing the old system in 2016, and a subsequent $2.02 million appropriation covers ongoing maintenance and support of the new system. LARA completed a six-month implementation as of April 4, 2017.

Louisville, Ky.-based Appriss Health also announced April 11 that pharmacies in Kroger's Michigan stores have fully integrated the Michigan Automated Prescription System data and advanced analytics into their workflow.

"We are proud to partner with the state of Michigan on this system that will provide practitioners with a widespread exchange of information and advanced analytics to efficiently identify patient drug abuse," said Rob Cohen, president of Appriss Health.
In 1867, the Leinenkugel family started making beer in Chippewa Falls, Wis. To celebrate 150 years of family brewing traditions, the Leinenkugels are throwing a party  and youre invited.

The event runs from Aug. 11-12 this summer at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls. It will feature live music, food, shops, games and, of course, beer.

There will be four stages of music with headliners Jerrod Niemann on Friday and Collective Soul on Saturday. Ongoing tours will take place in the brewery, which is next door. Guests will also have the chance to meet members of the Leinenkugel family, sample beer, eat local food and play outdoor games.

Two-day advance tickets are $35; a one-day advance ticket is $18; tickets at the gate are $20.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go here. Attendees must be 21 years old or older.
A peasant from the village of Selbo in northern Burkina Faso gestures near grass he planted to help stop the advance of the Sahara desert, on October 11, 2009

In Burkina Faso, what was once stony semi-wasteland is now covered in verdant crop fields, rescued from relentless desertification.

Using simple agricultural techniques largely spread by word-of-mouth, this tiny West African state has rejuvenated vast stretches of scrubby soil over the past 30 years, proving they are not doomed and giving hope to other vulnerable areas in the region.

One success story is Rim, a peaceful hamlet of about 3,000 people in the country's north, close to the border with Mali.

Below the village as far as the eye can see, tall stalks groan under the weight of fat cobs of "baniga", a white sorghum grown in this part of the country.

"This place was a desert. But the people succeeded in regreening the region," said Amanda Lenhardt, a researcher with Britain's Overseas Development Institute (ODI), who authored a report on farming developments in Burkina Faso.

Called "zai" or "stone contour", the low-cost techniques were devised from some of the region's traditional farming techniques, nudged along with some outside help.

They have gained favour in different parts of the Sahel regiona semi-arid band that spans the continent with the Sahara Desert to the north and African savannah lands to the southbut have seen particular success in Burkina Faso.

In Rim, as in other parts of the country's north, farmers now swear by "zai" after again producing food on land considered lost to agriculturethe occupation of at least 80 percent of the population.

The technique consists of building little stone barriers to trap runoff water and ensure it seeps into the ground, preventing erosion, agronomist Paulin Drabo explained.

Holes for planting are then dug next to the stones and packed with fertiliser, which together with the improved hydration, helps crops sprout up quickly.

"Before, when we planted on bare ground, we harvested nothing. Now, with the technique they showed us, the meal grows well," Sita Rouamba, a female farmer, said happily.

The shift to sustainable techniques has also expanded the supply of arable land.

A farmer collects ears of Nerica rice near Fada Ngourouma, in the region of the dam of Bagre, eastern Burkina Faso, on April 23, 2008

In the past, farmers scrambled for plots on the banks of rivers, where the soil is most fertile.

Now they can grow food "on any kind of soil, no matter how degraded", said 38-year-old Souleymane Porgo, a hoe slung over his shoulder.

Farm yields are also vastly improved.

'Store full of grain'

"At the moment, my store is full of grain I haven't touched. I also have plenty of beans," Souleymane's father, Saidou, who heads a family of 11 children and several grandchildren, said.

His yields have made him a man of means, with goats, a motorbike and cattle, which can be sold to pay for food if a harvest fails.

"All of this helps me properly care for my family," Saidou said with pride.

Around 30 producers in Rim have converted to "zai" farming, out of around 700,000 nationwide, said Joel Ouedraogo, director of the Federation Nationale des Groupements Naam, a non-governmental organisation that works with farmers.

Between 200,000 and 300,000 hectares (500,000 and 740,000 acres) of barren land an area roughly the size of Luxembourghave been rehabilitated, he estimated.

In a region threatened by the advancing Sahara sands, the results are impressive, the ODI's Lenhardt said.

Burkina Faso shows it is "possible" to combat climate change, said the Canadian, who credits the rapid adoption of the new techniques to word-of-mouth.

Seen from the sky the change is dramatic.

The parched, ochre-coloured stretches are the areas where "zai" farming has yet to take root. The green tracts in between are the newly fertile zones.

Nutrition is always a concern in Burkina Faso but the bid to beat back the desert goes beyond food security alone.

Like many developing countries the impoverished former French colony is grappling with a rural exodus, which is straining resources in urban centres.

The better the prospects from farming the lesser the lure of city life for young people, who account for 60 per cent of the population of 17 million.

Souleymane Porgo represents a new generation of young villager, who sees his future on the land.

Souleymane left Rim to seek his fortune in neighbouring Ivory Coast seven years ago. Six years after being wooed back by the "zai" revolution, the father of four is home to stay.

 2015 AFP
A decline of species abundance in hunted forest within 0-40 km from hunter access points. Credit: Radboud University/Joeri Borst

Hunting is a major threat to wildlife particularly in tropical regions, but a systematic, large-scale estimate of hunting-induced declines of animal numbers has been lacking. A study published in Science on April 14 fills this gap. An international team of ecologists and environmental scientists found that bird and mammal populations were reduced within 7 and 40 km of hunters' access points, such as roads and settlements.

Within these impact zones, mammal populations declined on average by 83 percent and bird populations by 58 percent. Additionally, the team found that commercial hunting had a greater impact than hunting for family food, and that hunting pressure was higher in areas with better accessibility to major towns where wild meat could be traded. The impact of hunting was found to be larger than the team expected. "Thanks to this study, we estimate that only 17 percent of the original mammal abundance and 42 percent of the birds remain in hunted areas."

The researchers synthesised 176 studies to quantify hunting-induced declines of mammal and bird populations across the tropics of Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The study was led by Ana Benitez-Lopez, who works at the department of Environmental Science at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She cooperated with researchers from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), the universities of Wageningen and Utrecht in the Netherlands and a colleague from the School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex.

Higher hunting pressure around villages and roads

"There are several drivers of animal decline in tropical landscapes: habitat destruction, overhunting, fragmentation etcetera. While deforestation and habitat loss can be monitored using remote sensing, hunting can only be tracked on the ground. We wanted to find a systematic and consistent way to estimate the impact of hunting across the tropics. As a starting point, we used the hypothesis that humans gather resources in a circle around their village and in the proximity of roads. As such, hunting pressure is higher in the proximity of villages and other access points. From there, the densities of species increase up to a distance where no effect of hunting is observed. We called this 'species depletion distances,' which we quantified in our analysis. This allowed us to map hunting-induced declines across the tropics for the first time," Benitez-Lopez explains.

Not only the big cuddly species

The main novelty of the current study is that it combined the evidence across many local studies, thus providing the first overarching picture of the magnitude of the impact across a large number of species. The study takes all animals into accountnot only the big, charismatic species, but birds and rodents as well. Benitez-Lopez explains the difference in impact between birds and mammals: "Mammals are more sought after because they're bigger and provide more food. They are worth a longer trip. The bigger the mammal, the farther a hunter would walk to catch it." With increasing wild meat demand for rural and urban supply, hunters have harvested the larger species almost to extinction in the proximity of the villages, and they must travel further distances to hunt. Additionally, for commercially interesting species such as elephants and gorillas, hunting distances are much larger because the returns are higher.

Protected areas are no safe haven

Another interesting finding of this study is that mammal populations have also been reduced by hunting even within protected areas. "Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed to avoid further defaunation," she says. "This includes monitoring hunting activities by increasing anti-poaching patrols and controlling overexploitation via law enforcement."

More information: "The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations," Science (2017). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aaj1891 Journal information: Science
Researchers found that certain search terms revealed AI bias. Credit: Princeton University

In debates over the future of artificial intelligence, many experts think of the new systems as coldly logical and objectively rational. But in a new study, researchers have demonstrated how machines can be reflections of us, their creators, in potentially problematic ways. Common machine learning programs, when trained with ordinary human language available online, can acquire cultural biases embedded in the patterns of wording, the researchers found. These biases range from the morally neutral, like a preference for flowers over insects, to the objectionable views of race and gender.

Identifying and addressing possible bias in machine learning will be critically important as we increasingly turn to computers for processing the natural language humans use to communicate, for instance in doing online text searches, image categorization and automated translations.

"Questions about fairness and bias in machine learning are tremendously important for our society," said researcher Arvind Narayanan, an assistant professor of computer science and an affiliated faculty member at the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) at Princeton University, as well as an affiliate scholar at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society. "We have a situation where these artificial intelligence systems may be perpetuating historical patterns of bias that we might find socially unacceptable and which we might be trying to move away from."

The paper, "Semantics derived automatically from language corpora contain human-like biases," published April 14 in Science. Its lead author is Aylin Caliskan, a postdoctoral research associate and a CITP fellow at Princeton; Joanna Bryson, a reader at University of Bath, and CITP affiliate, is a coauthor.

Researchers found that searches revealed hidden AI bias. Credit: Princeton University

As a touchstone for documented human biases, the study turned to the Implicit Association Test, used in numerous social psychology studies since its development at the University of Washington in the late 1990s. The test measures response times (in milliseconds) by human subjects asked to pair word concepts displayed on a computer screen. Response times are far shorter, the Implicit Association Test has repeatedly shown, when subjects are asked to pair two concepts they find similar, versus two concepts they find dissimilar.

Take flower types, like "rose" and "daisy," and insects like "ant" and "moth." These words can be paired with pleasant concepts, like "caress" and "love," or unpleasant notions, like "filth" and "ugly." People more quickly associate the flower words with pleasant concepts, and the insect terms with unpleasant ideas.

The Princeton team devised an experiment with a program where it essentially functioned like a machine learning version of the Implicit Association Test. Called GloVe, and developed by Stanford University researchers, the popular, open-source program is of the sort that a startup machine learning company might use at the heart of its product. The GloVe algorithm can represent the co-occurrence statistics of words in, say, a 10-word window of text. Words that often appear near one another have a stronger association than those words that seldom do.

The Stanford researchers turned GloVe loose on a huge trawl of contents from the World Wide Web, containing 840 billion words. Within this large sample of written human culture, Narayanan and colleagues then examined sets of so-called target words, like "programmer, engineer, scientist" and "nurse, teacher, librarian" alongside two sets of attribute words, such as "man, male" and "woman, female," looking for evidence of the kinds of biases humans can unwittingly possess.

Predicted percentage of women with a certain name. Credit: Aylin Caliskan

In the results, innocent, inoffensive biases, like for flowers over bugs, showed up, but so did examples along lines of gender and race. As it turned out, the Princeton machine learning experiment managed to replicate the broad substantiations of bias found in select Implicit Association Test studies over the years that have relied on live, human subjects.

For instance, the machine learning program associated female names more with familial attribute words, like "parents" and "wedding," than male names. In turn, male names had stronger associations with career attributes, like "professional" and "salary." Of course, results such as these are often just objective reflections of the true, unequal distributions of occupation types with respect to genderlike how 77 percent of computer programmers are male, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yet this correctly distinguished bias about occupations can end up having pernicious, sexist effects. An example: when foreign languages are naively processed by machine learning programs, leading to gender-stereotyped sentences. The Turkish language uses a gender-neutral, third person pronoun, "o." Plugged into the well-known, online translation service Google Translate, however, the Turkish sentences "o bir doktor" and "o bir hem?ire" with this gender-neutral pronoun are translated into English as "he is a doctor" and "she is a nurse."

"This paper reiterates the important point that machine learning methods are not 'objective' or 'unbiased' just because they rely on mathematics and algorithms," said Hanna Wallach, a senior researcher at Microsoft Research New York City, who was not involved in the study. "Rather, as long as they are trained using data from society and as long as society exhibits biases, these methods will likely reproduce these biases."

Predicted percentage of women with a certain occupation. Credit: Aylin Caliskan

Another objectionable example harkens back to a well-known 2004 paper by Marianne Bertrand of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Sendhil Mullainathan of Harvard University. The economists sent out close to 5,000 identical resumes to 1,300 job advertisements, changing only the applicants' names to be either traditionally European American or African American. The former group was 50 percent more likely to be offered an interview than the latter. In an apparent corroboration of this bias, the new Princeton study demonstrated that a set of African American names had more unpleasantness associations than a European American set.

Computer programmers might hope to prevent cultural stereotype perpetuation through the development of explicit, mathematics-based instructions for the machine learning programs underlying AI systems. Not unlike how parents and mentors try to instill concepts of fairness and equality in children and students, coders could endeavor to make machines reflect the better angels of human nature.

"The biases that we studied in the paper are easy to overlook when designers are creating systems," said Narayanan. "The biases and stereotypes in our society reflected in our language are complex and longstanding. Rather than trying to sanitize or eliminate them, we should treat biases as part of the language and establish an explicit way in machine learning of determining what we consider acceptable and unacceptable."

More information: "Semantics derived automatically from language corpora contain human-like biases," Science (2017). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aal4230 Journal information: Science
Habitats are turned into dry land. Credit: Nick Murray

An international team of citizen scientists and researchers has identified a major contributor to the dramatic decline of migratory shorebird populations in Australia.

University of Queensland School of Biological Sciences researcher Associate Professor Richard Fuller said Australian shorebirds were under threat due to the degradation and destruction of mudflats thousands of kilometres away in north-east Asia.

Associate Professor Fuller was part of a team of researchers who worked on a shorebird study led by the University of Maryland's Assistant Professor Dr Colin Studds.

Dr Studds said a critical factor in the decline of migratory shorebirds was their dependence on mudflats in the Yellow Sea, between China and South Korea.

"The more a species relies on the disappearing Yellow Sea mudflats, the faster they are declining," Dr Studds said.

He said birds including species of godwit, curlew and sandpiper were under threat.

Many birds follow the East Asian Australasian Flyway migratory path from their non-breeding grounds in Australia to breeding sites in the Arctic, resting and refueling in the Yellow Sea.

"Scientists have long believed that loss of these rest stops could be related to the declines, but there was no smoking gun," Dr Studds said.

The researchers analysed citizen science data collected between 1993 and 2012 on 10 key species, and what they found was dramatic.

Even though the birds only spend one or two months of the year at the mudflats, it was the most important factor in determining the population trend.

Associate Professor Fuller said the study was founded on decades of bird counting effort by volunteers across Australia and New Zealand.

"Without this effort, the study would have been impossible," he said.

Australia has signed agreements with China, Korea and Japan to protect migratory birds, yet the birds have continued to decline.

"Every country along the migration route of these birds must protect habitat and reduce hunting to prevent the birds declining further or even going extinct," Associate Professor Fuller said.

"We are particularly excited that China and Korea have recently begun the process of listing parts of the Yellow Sea as World Heritage Sites."

The study, published in Nature Communications, involved researchers from across Australia and from the US, the UK and New Zealand.

More information: Colin E. Studds et al. Rapid population decline in migratory shorebirds relying on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats as stopover sites, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS14895 Journal information: Nature Communications
Adam Briggs and Trials from A.B. Original, winners of this years AMP Australian Music Prize, use swearing to make a political point in their music. Credit: Tracey Nearmy

Warning: The following article contains explicit language.

A bedtime storybook urges children to "Go the F . . k to Sleep!" The Wolf of Wall Street, one of the sweariest movies of all time, contains 506 "f-bombs". And in this year's Triple J Hottest 100 countdown, the word "fuck" featured 82 times in 32 songs.

So should uttering the "f-word" in public be a crime? And what about the "c-word"?

In Australia, swearing is ubiquitous. Yet each year, thousands of Australians incur fines or criminal convictions for swearing. The use of offensive, indecent or obscene language in public is punishable in all Australian states and territories. Police typically punish people for saying the words "fuck" and/or "cunt" in their presence.

Between July 2015 and June 2016, NSW police issued more than 1,836 on-the-spot fines (known as Criminal Infringement Notices) for using offensive language, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

In that year, a further 1,167 adults and 145 children appeared before a NSW court charged with using offensive language. Indigenous Australians represented 17% of these adults, and 26% of these children (despite comprising only 3% of the NSW population).

It is up to the individual police officer (when issuing an infringement notice) or magistrate (when hearing an offensive language charge) to determine community standards on offensive language. In doing so, decision-makers draw on their "common sense" and everyday experience. Unsurprisingly, judicial opinions differ when assessing community standards .

In 2007, for instance, a Western Australian Supreme Court judge said that language which challenges police authority is likely to be criminally offensive. More recently, magistrates have held that the word "prick" used to describe a police officer, and the expression "fuck Fred Nile" exclaimed at an anti-marriage equality rally, were not criminally offensive.

Is pop culture having an impact on attitudes to swearing in the courtroom? The answer is yes. In the 2003, NSW Local Court case Police v Butler, Magistrate Heilpern referred to the prevalence of the word "fuck" on Triple J and its frequent occurrence on television shows The Sopranos and Sex and the City.

He found the defendant not guilty of using offensive language, stating:

McNulty and Bunk reconstruct a crime scene.

The word fuck is extremely common place now and has lost much of its punch.

Although only a Local Court judgment (therefore of limited precedential value), the magistrate's assessment of community standards has influenced the criminal law on offensive language.

Police v Butler is a mainstay of lawyers defending offensive language charges, and has been referred to in subsequent cases and criminal law texts.

So what other examples of swearing in pop culture should lawyers, judges and police take note of?

Going down to The Wire

In HBO's television series The Wire (2002-2008), both the police and the policed use the words "cunt" and "fuck" frequently. As art historian Nicholas Chare has observed, The Wire provides viewers with a realistic account of police vernacular. Its script differs from mainstream crime dramas in which police swear sparingly, generally with milder curses like "Hell!" and "Damn!"

A notable scene is in the episode Old Cases. In this famed scene, Detectives Jimmy McNulty and William "Bunk" Moreland reconstruct a homicide uttering only derivatives of the "f-word" such as "Motherfucker", "Fuckity, fuck, fuck" and "What the fuck?"

Despite its limited dialogue, the sequence is surprisingly easy to follow.

The prevalence of profanity in this scene underscores the malleability of the "f-word"; its potential to generate humour and importantly, challenges the view that police could be shocked by swearing.

26 January: 'Fuck that'

The songs of hip hop duo A.B. Original in their provocative album Reclaim Australia tackle issues such as increasing rates of Indigenous imprisonment, over-policing of Indigenous communities and Aboriginal deaths in custody.

The album's first single 26 January, produced by Ngarrindjeri MC Trials (Daniel Rankine), and featuring Dan Sultan alongside Yorta Yorta rapper (Adam) Briggs, reached No. 16 on this year's Hottest 100.

The lyrics invite an apathetic majority to cease celebrating Australia Day on 26 January: the date on which the First Australians were dispossessed of their land:

Fuck celebrating days made of misery (Fuck that)

while Aus still got the black history (That's true).

And that shirt will get you banned from the Parliament

if you ain't having a conversation, well then we starting it.

The song follows a tradition of hip hop as a form of oppositional culture. Like LA "gangsta" rap group N.W.A's subversive song Fuck tha Police, which calls attention to police discrimination against black Americans, 26 January uses swear words to increase awareness of abuses perpetrated against a minority. And given A.B. Original's popularity and critical acclaim - they won this year's coveted AMP Australian Music Prize - it seems many welcome their shock to the system.

There will always be those who object to swearing in music or on TV. Members of this anti-cussing camp might claim there are more polite or "educated" ways to express one's discontent at political policies. They might characterise swearing as uncivil, disrespectful or disgusting. Some might even argue that profanity in pop culture is sullying the ears of innocent children who will, upon exposure to "bad words", acquire the habit of swearing.

But those who spout these and other "common sense" myths about swearing may want to consider what (if any) evidence supports their assumptions. They should also reflect on the triviality of fleeting expletives when contrasted to the disproportionate policing and punishment of Indigenous Australians for swearing under the banner of criminal "justice".

Swearing in pop culture can diminish the taboo status of swear words, rendering them less offensive. It can highlight the hypocrisy of police professing outrage at words which they themselves use with impunity.

Above all, the pervasiveness of profanity in popular culture underscores the absurdity of punishing people for words frequently broadcast on radio, television and in film.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Government spokesman Seydou Gueye said several others were wounded in the fire in Medina Gounass village.

By AP: Senegal's government says at least 20 people have been killed in a fire while attending a Muslim spiritual retreat in the eastern part of the country.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye said on Thursday that several others were wounded in the fire on Wednesday in Medina Gounass village.

President Macky Sall offered condolences to victims' families. He said the interior ministry would visit the site on Thursday.

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Senegalese national TV reported that strong winds and makeshift shelters allowed the fire to spread, though the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Thousands of Muslim men from Senegal, Guinea and other West African countries meet annually in Medina Gounass for the spiritual retreat.

--- ENDS ---
The oldest termitophile from 99-million-year-old Burmese amber, Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus. Credit: Cai et al., 2017

Eusocial insects, such as ants, social wasps and bees, and termites, include some of the most ecologically ubiquitous of terrestrial animals. The nests of these insects are well protected and provide a safe, communal space for the storing of resources and production of brood, so the nests are often cohabited by various highly specialized symbionts that take advantage of the abundant resources and protection inside the nests.

Recently, a research team led by Dr. CAI Chenyang and Prof. HUANG Diying from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (NIGPAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported the oldest horseshoe-crab-shaped, obligate termite-loving rove beetles from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. These fossils represent the oldest known termitophiles, which are able to hack into a termite nest and exploit their controlled physical conditions to steal plentiful resources (e.g., fungi) inside it. The discovery reveals that ancient termite societies were quickly invaded by beetles about 99 million year ago.

Termitophiles, symbionts that live in termite nests, include a wide range of morphologically and behaviorally specialized organisms. Understanding of the early evolution of termitophily is challenging due to a scarcity of fossil termitophiles, with all known reliable records deriving from the Miocene Dominican and Mexican ambers (approximately 19 million years ago). Mesozoic termitophiles are of great significance for understanding the origin of eusocial societies of termites and the early evolution of specialized termitophily.

To integrate into the hosts' societies, termitophilous beetles have repeatedly evolved physogastry (swollen abdomens) and limuloid (horseshoe-crab-shaped) body shapes, representing the two principal forms. Both morphological adaptations have arisen convergently many times in beetles (Coleoptera) as well as in flies (Diptera).

Ecological reconstruction of the mid-Cretaceous termitophille. Credit: Cai et al., 2017

The peculiar fossil rove beetles, named as Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus Cai et al., 2017, exhibits the characteristic features of the modern aleocharine tribe Trichopseniini, including the articulation of the hind leg whereby the coxae are fully fused and incorporated into the metaventrite.

Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus has a protective horseshoe-crab-shaped body form typical of many modern termitophiles, with concealed head and antennae and strong posteriorly directed abdominal setae. The discovery represents the earliest definitive termitophiles, pushing back the fossil record of termitophiles by 80 million years.

Recent species of Trichopseniini are usually associated with derived neoisopteran termites of Rhinotermitidae, and less frequently with Termitidae. Interestingly, some trichopseniines are known to live within nests of the basal-most termites (Mastotermitidae) and drywood termites (Kalotermitidae).

Because host specificity is rather low in extant trichopseniines, it is certainly likely that Cretotrichopsenius may have been associated with the variety of termite groups known from Burmese amber. The fossils reveal that ancient termite societies were quickly invaded by beetles about 99 million years ago.

The result was published in Current Biology on April 13th, 2017. This study was jointly supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences Foundation of Jiangsu Province, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.
Credit: Brigham Young University

Move over, honeybee and seagull: it's time to meet Moabosaurus utahensis, Utah's newly discovered dinosaur, whose past reveals even more about the state's long-term history.

The Moabosaurus discovery was published this week by the University of Michigan's Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology. The paper, authored by three BYU researchers and a BYU graduate at Auburn University, profiles Moabosaurus, a 125-million-year-old dinosaur whose skeleton was assembled using bones extracted from the Dalton Wells Quarry, near Arches National Park.

BYU geology professor and lead author Brooks Britt explained that in analyzing dinosaur bones, he and colleagues rely on constant comparisons with other related specimens. If there are enough distinguishing features to make it unique, it's new.

"It's like looking at a piece of a car," Britt said. "You can look at it and say it belongs to a Ford sedan, but it's not exactly a Focus or a Fusion or a Fiesta. We do the same with dinosaurs."

Moabosaurus belongs to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known as sauropods, which includes giants such as Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus, who had long necks and pillar-like legs. Moabosaurus is most closely related to species found in Spain and Tanzania, which tells researchers that during its time, there were still intermittent physical connections between Europe, Africa and North America.

Credit: Brigham Young University

Moabosaurus lived in Utah before it resembled the desert we knowwhen it was filled with large trees, plentiful streams, lakes and dinosaurs. "We always think of Moab in terms of tourism and outdoor activities, but a paleontologist thinks of Moab as a gold mine for dinosaur bones," Britt said.

In naming the species, Britt and his team, which included BYU Museum of Paleontology curator Rod Scheetz and biology professor Michael Whiting, decided to pay tribute to that gold mine. "We're honoring the city of Moab and the State of Utah because they were so supportive of our excavation efforts over the decades it's taken us to pull the animal out of the ground," Britt said, referencing the digs that began when he was a BYU geology student in the late '70s.

A previous study indicates that a large number of Moabosaurus and other dinosaurs died in a severe drought. Survivors trampled their fallen companions' bodies, crushing their bones. After the drought ended, streams eroded the land, and transported the bones a short distance, where they were again trampled. Meanwhile, insects in the soils fed on the bones, leaving behind tell-tale burrow marks.

"We're lucky to get anything out of this site," Britt said. "Most bones we find are fragmentary, so only a small percentage of them are usable. And that's why it took so long to get this animal put together: we had to collect huge numbers of bones in order to get enough that were complete."

BYU has a legacy of collecting dinosaurs that started in the early 1960s, and Britt and colleagues are continuing their excavation efforts in eastern Utah. Moabosaurus now joins a range of other findings currently on display at BYU's Museum of Paleontologythough, until its placard is updated, it's identified as "Not yet named" (pronunciation: NOT-yet-NAIM-ed).

"Sure, we could find bones at other places in the world, but we find so many right here in Utah," Britt said. "You don't have to travel the world to discover new animals."

More information: MOABOSAURUS UTAHENSIS, N. Gen., N. SP., A New Sauropod From The Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of North America. hdl.handle.net/2027.42/136227
This is Sandy Maliki, a pure desert dingo and winner of the World's Most Interesting Genome competition. The UNSW-led proposal to have Sandy's DNA decoded beat four other finalists for the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which provides cutting-edge sequencing of the complete genome of a particularly fascinating plant or animal. Credit: Barry Eggleton/Pure Dingo

A wild-born, pure Australian desert dingo called Sandy Maliki has taken out first place in the World's Most Interesting Genome competition.The UNSW-led proposal to have Sandy's DNA decoded was one of five finalists for the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which provides cutting-edge sequencing of the complete genome of a particularly fascinating plant or animal.

The public determined the winner, with two-year old Sandy securing 41 per cent of the international community votes, closely followed by a Temple Pitviper snake, then a solar-powered sea slug, an explosive bombardier beetle, and a pink pigeon.

"We are thrilled that our bid to have Sandy's DNA sequenced captured the public's imagination," says project leader, Professor Bill Ballard of the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences.

"Sandy is truly a gift to science. As a rare, wild-born pure dingo, she provides a unique case study. Pure dingoes are intermediate between wild wolves and domestic dogs, with a range of non-domesticated traits. So sequencing Sandy's genome will help pinpoint some of the genes for temperament and behaviour that underlie the transition from wild animals to perfect pets.

"As well, learning more about dingo genetics will help efforts to conserve these wonderful Australian animals, through the development of improved tests for dingo purity," Professor Ballard says.

Sandy and her sister and brother were discovered as three-week old pups in the Australian desert near the Strzelecki Track in 2014 by NSW animal lovers, Barry and Lyn Eggleton, who have hand-reared them ever since. The pups were close to death and their parents could not be found.

Sandy Maliki, a pure desert dingo and winner of the World's Most Interesting Genome competition. The UNSW-led proposal to have Sandy's DNA decoded beat four other finalists for the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which provides cutting-edge sequencing of the complete genome of a particularly fascinating plant or animal. Credit: Barry Eggleton/Pure Dingo

The dingo sequencing project will be the first to test Charles' Darwin's 1868 theory that the process of domestication can be divided into two steps: unconscious selection as a result of non-intentional human influences; and artificial selection as a result of breeding by humans for desired traits.

"This project will reveal the DNA changes between wolves and dingoes (unconscious selection) and dingoes and dogs (artificial selection)," says Professor Ballard.

A key aim of the annual international PacBio competition, which attracted more than 200 entries this year, is to raise public awareness of science and how genomic research can benefit society. Sandy's team, which set up a DancingwithDingoes Facebook page, enlisted the support of a wide variety of people around the world, including animal conservationists and fans of wolves, dingoes and dogs.

"We also engaged with staff and students at UNSW, by bringing two pure alpine dingoes from the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary onto campus for everyone to meet," says Professor Ballard.

The cutting edge PacBio technology allows DNA to be sequenced in long sections containing tens of thousands of bases, rather than in shorter sections of a few hundred bases, as with existing techniques. This can reveal important rearrangements in the genome that affect gene expression.

Sandy Maliki, a pure desert dingo and winner of the World's Most Interesting Genome competition. The UNSW-led proposal to have Sandy's DNA decoded beat four other finalists for the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which provides cutting-edge sequencing of the complete genome of a particularly fascinating plant or animal. Credit: Barry Eggleton/Pure Dingo

The sequencing will be carried out at the University of Arizona, with initial analysis by Computomics in Germany.

The Australian team behind the Sandy project also includes Professor Claire Wade of the University of Sydney, Dr Richard Melvin of UNSW, Dr Robert Zammit of the Vineyard Veterinary Hospital and Dr Andre Minoche of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

UNSW has a strong reputation in genomics research, with scientists at the university's Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics having worked on the genomes of a variety of other important native creatures, including the koala, the Tasmanian devil, the wombat, the platypus, the Queensland fruit fly and the Wollemi Pine.

"We're very proud of UNSW's history of contribution to genomics and we are delighted that Sandy's genome will now be sequenced as the prize for winning this competition," says UNSW molecular biologist and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Merlin Crossley.

"Australia has so many interesting animals to sequence and the results enhance our understanding of evolution and biology and help improve agriculture and pest management".

For more information about Sandy Maliki and her siblings, Eggie Warrigal and Didi Mirigung, see their Pure Dingo Facebook page.

Dingoes were introduced to Australia about 5000 years ago. It is widely accepted they were not domesticated by Indigenous Australians. Pure dingoes are becoming increasingly rare as the native animals interbreed with wild dogs and domestic dogs, and are targeted as pests by landowners.
The bones were initially scanned, restored and subsequently reassembled with the aid of a computer. Credit: University of Leiden

Led by scientists of the Senckenberg Research Institute and the University of Tubingen, the excavation team found the remains of a saber-toothed cat at the archeological site in Schoningen. An examination of the skull fragments at the Dutch University of Leiden revealed the animal to be a representative of the European saber-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens. The recent discovery constitutes the third example of this large predatory cat from Schoningen.

Long claws, razor-sharp, curved canine teeth and the size of a fully grown lion: the saber-toothed cat (Homotherium latidens) was a competitor as well as a dangerous predator that even posed a risk to the humans of its time. "In the course of our excavation in May 2015, we came across conspicuous bone fragments," explains Dr. Jordi Serangeli, a scientist at the University of Tubingen and the excavation leader at the approximately 300,000-year-old archeological site, and he continues, "In total, there are three individuals of Homotherium present in these relatively young sediment layers.

Until the first discovery of a saber-toothed cat in 2012 at the Schoningen excavation site in Lower Saxony it had been assumed that the large cats were already extinct about 200,000 years earlier, i.e., around 500,000 years ago. "Our findings show that 300,000 years ago, the saber-toothed cats were not as rare as previously thought," adds Serangeli.

During a restoration in 2016, Andre Ramcharan and Ivo Verheijen at the University of Leiden were able to reassemble the eleven bone fragments into an almost complete neurocranium. "We then compared the reconstructed skull with recent and already extinct species of large carnivores and were thus able to demonstrate that the remains represented the head of a European saber-toothed cat," explains Professor Dr. Thijs van Kolfschoten of the University of Leiden.

In-situ position of a skull fragment from the third Homotherium, which was discovered on 25 May 2015 at the archeological dig in Schoningen. Credit: Univ. Tubingen / Senckenberg

The third saber-toothed cat specimen that was discovered offers a great potential: thanks to the excellent level of preservation at the Schoningen dig, the interior of the skull reflects the shape and structure of the Homotherium brain. By examining the detailed brain structures, the team of scientists hopes to gain insights into the visual and hearing abilities as well as the feeding habits of the large cats. "The third Homotherium from Schoningen is invaluable for our understanding of the European saber-toothed cat," summarizes Professor Nicholas Conard of the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment and head of the Institute for Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology at the University of Tubingen.

In the near future the international team from the Schoningen project intends to publish the results of its interdisciplinary studies regarding the three saber-toothed cats discovered to date. "Moreover, we expect that future digs will produce additional Homotherium finds," offers Serangeli as a preview.

Artistic rendition of Homotherium latidens. Credit: Mauricio Anton

The dig in Schoningen keeps a team of ten members employed full-time  and during the main excavation season, the team is joined by five to ten students, who support the scientific excavation. Worldwide, about 50 scientists from 30 institutions and a wide variety of disciplines are involved in researching the discoveries from Schoningen. The dig is financed by the State of Lower Saxony.

The spectacular new discovery is put on display for the public at the palaeon in Schoningen as part of the special exhibition "The Ice Age Huntress." Thanks to the close cooperation between Senckenberg, the international partners and the der palaeon GmbH, it is possible to make spectacular scientific findings available to the public in a timely manner.

The reconstructed neurocranium of the European saber-toothed cat. Credit: Univ. Tubingen / Senckenberg

Technician Andre Ramcharan (University of Leiden, Netherlands) compares a find with the cast skull of a Homotherium. Credit: University of Leiden
Venus imaged by the Magellan spacecraft. Credit: NASA/JPL

(Phys.org)A trio of planetary scientists has created a physical model of part of the surface of Venus and in so doing may have solved the mystery of tectonics on Venus. In their paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience, Ann Davaille, Suzanne Smrekar and Steve Tomlinson with Universite Paris-Sud, the Jet Propulsion Lab at Caltech and the University of California, describe their model and what they believe it revealed.

For many years, planetary scientists have been frustrated by their inability to better understand the major processes that impact the structure of Venus's crust, i.e. its tectonics. Probes sent to study the planet have returned data that has allowed for creating maps of the surface, but that has only heightened the problem, because it appears there is no plate movement (the large number of craters suggest there is no churning). But trenches have also been observed that are similar to those seen with Earth's subduction zones. Compounding the problem is the fact that all of the factors that go into defining how a planet's crust look are too complex to be modeled on a computer accurately. In this new effort, the researchers took a different approachthey created a physical model.

The model the team built was simple. They placed a quantity of finely ground sand in a bowl, added some water and then heated it from below. The team was not looking to recreate the entire Venus landscape, or even a portion of it. Instead, they were looking to explain the way that coronae (volcanic-tectonic looking features) are formed. Coronae are circular depressions with bulges in the middle surrounded by trenches.

In heating their bowl of mud, the researchers noted that a crust formed due to evaporation at the surface and then bulges formed as hot parts below the crust forced their way upward. Eventually, the material that was pushed from below (similar to Earth mantle plumes) pierced the surface and leaked out onto the surrounding surface (rather like a pie in the oven). As material leaked out, pressure was relieved, causing the bulge to deflate even as more material made its way through the puncture wound, which soon hardened, creating a small bulge in the center of a depression surrounded by trenches.

The researchers report that comparing their model to maps of Venus's surface depicting coronae showed them to be very similar, suggesting they may finally have solved the mystery of how coronae are formed.

More information: A. Davaille et al. Experimental and observational evidence for plume-induced subduction on Venus, Nature Geoscience (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2928 Abstract

Why Venus lacks plate tectonics remains an unanswered question in terrestrial planet evolution. There is observational evidence for subductiona requirement for plate tectonicson Venus, but it is unclear why the features have characteristics of both mantle plumes and subduction zones. One explanation is that mantle plumes trigger subduction. Here we compare laboratory experiments of plume-induced subduction in a colloidal solution of nanoparticles to observations of proposed subduction sites on Venus. The experimental fluids are heated from below to produce upwelling plumes, which in turn produce tensile fractures in the lithosphere-like skin that forms on the upper surface. Plume material upwells through the fractures and spreads above the skin, analogous to volcanic flooding, and leads to bending and eventual subduction of the skin along arcuate segments. The segments are analogous to the semi-circular trenches seen at two proposed sites of plume-triggered subduction at Quetzalpetlatl and Artemis coronae. Other experimental deformation structures and subsurface density variations are also consistent with topography, radar and gravity data for Venus. Scaling analysis suggests that this regime with limited, plume-induced subduction is favoured by a hot lithosphere, such as that found on early Earth or present-day Venus. Journal information: Nature Geoscience

 2017 Phys.org
Clouds over Australia are shown. Credit: NASA

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be reduce in two waysby cutting our emissions, or by removing it from the atmosphere, for example through plants, the ocean, and soil.

The historic Paris Agreement set a target of limiting future global average temperature increase to well below 2C and pursue efforts to even further limit the average increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Yet the timing and details of these efforts were left to individual countries.

In a new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) used a global model of the carbon system that accounts for carbon release and uptake through both natural and anthropogenic activities.

"The study shows that the combined energy and land-use system should deliver zero net anthropogenic emissions well before 2040 in order to assure the attainability of a 1.5C target by 2100," says IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program Director Michael Obersteiner, a study coauthor.

According to the study, fossil fuel consumption would likely need to be reduced to less than 25% of the global energy supply by 2100, compared to 95% today. At the same time, land use change, such as deforestation, must be decreased. This would lead to a 42% decrease in cumulative emissions by the end of the century compared to a business as usual scenario.

"This study gives a broad accounting of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, where it comes from and where it goes. We take into account not just emissions from fossil fuels, but also agriculture, land use, food production, bioenergy, and carbon uptake by natural ecosystems," explains World Bank consultant Brian Walsh, who led the study while working as an IIASA researcher.

The compares four different scenarios for future energy development, with a range of mixtures of renewable and fossil energy. In a "high-renewable" scenario where wind, solar, and bioenergy increase by around 5% a year, net emissions could peak by 2022, the study shows. Yet without substantial negative emissions technologies, that pathway would still lead to a global average temperature rise of 2.5C, missing the Paris Agreement target.

Walsh notes that the high-renewable energy scenario is ambitious, but not impossibleglobal production of renewable energy grew 2.6% between 2013 and 2014, according to the IEA. In contrast, the study finds that continued reliance on fossil fuels (with growth rates of renewables between 2% and 3% per year), would cause carbon emissions to peak only at the end of the century, causing an estimated 3.5C global temperature rise by 2100.

The authors note that not only the mix of energy matters, but also the overall amount of energy consumed. The study also included ranges for high energy consumption and low energy consumption.

The study adds to a large body of IIASA research on climate mitigation policy and the chances of achieving targets.

"Earlier work on mitigation strategies by IIASA has shown the importance of demand-side measures, including efficiency, conservation, and behavioral change. Success in these areas may explain the difference between reaching 1.5C instead of 2C," says IIASA Energy Program Director Keywan Riahi, who also contributed to the new work.

A new model

The study is one of the first published results from the newly developed FeliX model, a system dynamics model of social, economic, and environmental earth systems and their interdependencies. The model is freely available for download and use at http://www.felixmodel.com/.

"Compared to other climate and integrated assessment models, the FeliX model is less detailed, but it provides a unique systemic view of the whole carbon cycle, which is vital to our understanding of future climate change and energy," says IIASA Ecosystem Services and Management Program Director.

More information: Walsh B, Ciais P, Janssens IA, Penuelas J, Riahi K, Rydzak F, vanVuuren D, Obersteiner M (2017). Pathways for balancing Co2 emissions and sinks. Nature Communications , DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS14856 Journal information: Nature Communications
Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

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Services sector is likely to attract a higher tax rate of 18 per cent from the present 15 per cent under the GST regime, hence making services slightly more expensive.

By India Today Web Desk: Services will be "slightly" more expensive as the services sector is likely to attract a higher tax rate of 18 per cent from the present 15 per cent under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said.

In an interview to IANS, Adhia said, "The standard rate for the services sector may move to 18 per cent."

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However, the sectors currently exempted from the tax such as healthcare, education and agriculture are likely to remain so.

"Whichever sectors fall under the present list of exemptions, we will try to exempt even now. We would recommend this to the Council and it will take a view on the issue. Most probably they should agree. Our attempt is not to upset too many things in one go", Adhia said.

SERVICES SECTOR TAXED AT 14 PER CENT AT PRESENT

At present, the services sector is taxed at 14 per cent with two additional cesses -- Swachh Bharat Cess and the Krishi Kalyan Cess, attracting half a per cent each -- taking the burden to 15 per cent.

However, those whose annual income is less than Rs 20 lakh will not have to register under the GST or pay any service tax, Adhia later clarified. At present, service tax has to be paid if the income is above Rs 10 lakh.

The GST law also says that agriculturalists - who employ themselves or their family members -- will not come under GST even if their annual turnover is over Rs 20 lakh. Those who are employing people and have a turnover of over Rs 20 lakh a year will have to register under GST.

Currently, sericulture, floriculture, dairy, horticulture, fishing that usually employ outside labourers on a large scale are exempt from service tax as they come under agriculture. But whether these will attract tax under GST is still debatable.

"Those who are dealing in anything except what we have defined as 'agriculturalist' will have to register (under GST). But whether their products are taxable or not will have to be decided by the Council," he said.

"We have not yet decided on the exemption list. That will be decided separately by the Council, I don't think it will want to tax many agriculture products", Adhia told IANS.

He also said that some services, which currently have less than 15 per cent tax rate, may attract lower rates.

"Wherever the services at present attract lower than 15 per cent rate of service tax because of certain reasons, we will try to maintain that. Transport sector, for example, attracts lower than 15 per cent tax right now. We will put these in either 5 per cent or 12 per cent," he said.

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5 PER CENT TAX RATE ON TRANSPORT?

The revenue secretary also noted that since petrol and petroleum products had been kept zero-rated under the GST regime, transport could be a good candidate for 5 per cent tax rate.

The GST Council had decided to impose tax at four slab rates of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent, apart from the zero tax level.

Currently, there are about 60 services which are exempt from service tax, including education, healthcare and religious pilgrimage.

In terms of goods, Adhia said that whatever is the exact incidence of excise plus VAT, the fitment will be into a tax slab closer to that. But depending on whether the goods are put in the higher slab or the lower slab, the taxes may increase in a few cases.

"Most of the items will be as per formula, only a few items will need discussion. In a few cases, the taxes may increase, but not in all cases. Every year, the Council will meet and revise rates", he said.

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Though the GST Council took 13 meetings to decide on the enabling laws, Adhia said that since fitment of goods and services is a straightforward thing, it should not take too much time.

GST COUNCIL TO MEET ON MAY 18-19

The Council is slated to meet on May 18-19 in Srinagar to decide on GST rules, after which the fitment discussions will be taken up.

Adhia said that the government was determined to roll out the GST regime from July 1 despite some industry stakeholders demanding further postponement of the new tax regime.

"We are determined to roll out GST from July 1, it doesn't seem to be a problem. The live testing of GST is scheduled to begin from the first week of May," he said.

Adhia agreed that GST will have a greater compliance burden as companies having physical presence in more than one states need to do multiple registrations and pay taxes separately to each state.

"I won't say it will complicate, but yes there is a slightly greater compliance burden on the centralised service sector operators because they have to pay tax to all the states. Centralised registration is not possible in the GST model," he said.

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"GST is a consumption-based taxation model, in which states want to calculate how much services are provided in their jurisdiction. That's why the returns have to be filed separately for every state," he added.

(WITH INPUTS FROM IANS)

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How does Basel III Affect Bank Lending in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia?

How will Basel affect the macro lending environment? This Basel is not to be confused with Basil, a spice you can use for your pizza and other food.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) is a committee of banking supervisory authorities that was established in 1974 amongst 10 member countries to strengthen regulation, supervision and risk management of banks. Many more countries have since joined as signatories.





Paul Ho (iCompareLoan.com) 13 April 2017.







Therefore banks must be able to: -

Absorb loan losses and still stay solvent.

Improve risk management and governance.

Improvement banks transparency and disclosure.

Basel has gone into the 3rd version, called Basel III. The Improve Risk management, governance, transparency and disclosure parts are largely supervisory functions. The part that will most affect the everyday man and woman is the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and the Liquidity coverage ratio. Not all countries are able to meet the standards specified in Basel III, hence an implementation schedule is proposed.

How will Basel III Affect Singapore Bank lending?

Figure 1: BASEL III Phase-in arrangements, Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Bank of international settlements.





What is Capital Adequacy Ratio

Capital Adequacy Ratio is the ability of the bank to absorb losses without going insolvent. In the not so distance past, many banks take too much risks by lending out money indiscriminately as these banks can earn a lot of interest income and use leveraged lending to make outsized profits.

However, the downside is, these banks typically have little equity, hence their return-on-equity would be huge during good times. When bad times comes, just a few percent of the borrowers go into default, the banks will collapse, leading to a cascade of collapses, causing a systemic risk to the financial system.

You can read more about how bank loans work in singapore.

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Not all risks are equal. For example assets (typically Loans that a bank makes) such as Sovereign bonds are generally rated as 0% risk, this means that banks can accumulate these bonds almost like liquid assets. But of course we know that sovereign bonds are rated as risk free, but they are not really risk free.

For illustration (actual risk rating varies): -

Sovereign bonds are rated at 0% risk. Therefore there is no need to have capital adequacy ratio to back this asset.

Housing loans may be rated at 20% risk. A $1m housing loan asset is equivalent to $200,000 exposure. Therefore the capital adequacy ratio to back this exposure is based on $200,000.

SME loans may be rated at 100% risk. Therefore a $1m SME loan is equivalent to $1m loan exposure. Financing for small businesses will be extremely hard under this guideline.





A note of critique of Risk Rating.

Those sub-prime mortgages in the USA were toxic, but they were rated as safe. This caused the financial weapons of mass destruction to be exported from the US to the rest of the world and all the mortgage backed securities became worthless. And many banks trading desks bet against their clients who bought these junk and walked away with Billions of profits as investors lost billions, seemingly aware that whatever they sold were rubbish.





Why are Banks Fair weather friends?

During the up-cycle, banks want to lend you as much as possible to maximise profits as default probability is low, leading to faster over-heating and bubbles.

During the Down-cycle, banks will try to recall loans or restrict loans as default probability increases so as to avoid losses, making a slow down or a recession even worse.

Hence BASEL was set up to make sure that banks have sufficient Capital to withstand loan losses and still carry out operations so as to avoid causing a financial contagion. Now into its 3rd version, Basel III will be implemented under a phase-in arrangement that stretches to 2019 to allow banks the time to raise capital.





Have Countries Met Basel III?

Singapore

MAS has imposed on Singapore banks a capital adequacy ratio tougher than BASEL III requirement and have also met the requirements ahead of time.

Malaysia

Malaysian banks are well placed to meet BASEL III. (Moodys investor report, 2016)

Australia

Australian banks face billions in shortfall to meet BASEL III (17 Jan 2017, Business Insider)

As Basel III implementation cycle extends to 2019, lending will get tighter and harder for Australia or countries that are behind target in its implementation.





Australian Banks have slowed down lending.

In the first half of 2016, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the Australian banking regulator, promoted restrictions on lending to foreign borrowers for residential properties by Australian banks as well as tightening other lending criteria.

Australian property loans are getting harder to approve. If you have already placed a deposit for an Australian property development, you an find out here if you qualify for an Australian Property loan.

Malaysia is on target for Basel III, lending should remain tight and selective amidst an elevated household debt level, but severe further tightening is not expected.

Singapore is ahead of Basel III implementation schedule and sets targets tougher than those required under Basel III. Singapores economy is slowing down with mounting unemployment of Singaporeans, there will be room to boost lending to the SMEs.

One way to do that is through Risk sharing of default by the Singapore government to absorb 50% of any default losses of SMEs that the banks undertake to lend to.





IN SUMMARY

Basel III is going to lead to tightening of lending in many places and a financial storm could hit some countries unless additional liquidity is pumped into the banking sector in the form of government injected equity, lending will ground to a halt.

Property financing continue to be seen as low risk in many countries, while SME financing is seen as high risk.

Singapore banks have room to lend and with the governments risk sharing arrangement (leading to reduced Capital Adequacy Ratio), should increase lending to SMEs and reduce business costs simultaneously.
Mexican reporter Noe Zavaleta has mourned murdered colleagues and received death threats himself, but he refuses to stop working despite the fear. His is the deadliest country for journalists outside of war zones -- but with all the corruption and violence, there is just too much news for him to quit. "I have had to bury colleagues and see other companions leave the country. But you still panic when it happens to you," he says, in his home town of Xalapa in the eastern state of Veracruz. Like hundreds of other journalists in Mexico, the 36-year-old has been threatened for writing about organized crime. But he keeps cranking out the stories for investigative magazine Proceso: about links between politicians and organized crime, corruption, disappearances and mass graves. "You're constantly discovering more subjects, more injustices, more material." - Bodyguards, panic button - Zavaleta knew what he was getting into when he joined the magazine in 2012 to replace a journalist who had been murdered. His predecessor in the post, Regina Martinez, had reported on corruption and abuses by Veracruz state authorities. Her killing has never been solved. Zavaleta also worked with the photographer Ruben Espinosa, who fled Veracruz after receiving threats from authorities. He was murdered in Mexico City in 2015. Zavaleta received threats last year for a report about an ex-governor accused of corruption. He saw unknown men stalking around his office, his home and that of his girlfriend. "You panic. You don't know what to do," he says. He fled to the capital and reported the intimidation to the federal authorities. They provided him with two bodyguards who stayed by his side for half the year. He still carries a panic button to alert authorities if he is in danger. "I am still working," Zavaleta says with a smile. "If I suffer more intimidation and if I have to get out again and make it public, then that is what I will do." - Journalists murdered - International media rights group Reporters Without Borders ranks Mexico as the third most deadly country in the world, behind Syria and Afghanistan. Mexico has seen 102 journalists murdered since 2000 -- 20 of them in Veracruz. March was a particularly brutal month. Three reporters were murdered and a fourth hospitalized after being shot, authorities said. One regional newspaper shut down for a lack of security. In 2016 in Mexico, 400 journalists were attacked and 11 killed, according to rights group Articulo 19. - Cost of protection - Not all journalists get bodyguards because the authorities' budgets do not always allow it, Zavaleta says -- and even the protectors are at risk. One of his former bodyguards was shot dead in late March while protecting another journalist. "They were always complaining that they needed bullet-proof vests and a better vehicle," he says. "That didn't get authorized the whole six months they were with me, because there wasn't the budget for it." - Threats from officials - Articulo 19 says more than half of the recorded threats received by journalists over the past decade have been from officials themselves. It says 99.75 percent of journalists' murders remain unsolved. "Here in Mexico no one gives you any guarantees," Zavaleta says. "You decide to come back to work because you are stubborn and determined and because you are passionate about the job." He recalls another journalist who inspired him: Jesus Blancornelas, who investigated the drugs trade in the state of Tijuana as director of Zeta magazine. Blancornelas was injured in 1997 in an attack blamed on organized crime. He went from home to work and back under military guard until his death of cancer in 2006. "I remember very well what Blancornelas used to say" to his enemies, he says: "I will stop when I want, not when you want."
(Bloomberg) -- Global oil inventories probably increased in the first quarter despite OPECs near-perfect implementation of production cuts aimed at clearing the surplus, the International Energy Agency said.

While cutbacks by OPEC and Russia since January have brought world markets very close to balance and should deplete stockpiles in the second quarter, inventories nonetheless expanded marginally because of production increases just before the deal took effect, the IEA said in its monthly report on Thursday. The agency lowered estimates for global demand growth because of weaker-than-expected economic activity in India and Russia.

Crude prices rallied last year as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia announced their joint effort to end a three-year oil glut, yet gains have stalled on signs the cuts arent working quickly enough and are encouraging rival U.S. shale drillers to fill any shortfall.

Global stocks might have marginally increased in the first quarter, said the Paris-based agency, which advises most of the worlds major economies on energy policy. While this might be surprising as it comes after the implementation of OPEC output cuts, it reflects the groups export surge late last year.

U.S. crude futures traded 7 cents higher at $53.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 12:31 p.m. London time.

Oil inventories in the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development increased by 38.5 million barrels in the first quarter to about 3 billion barrels, offsetting the decline in emerging economies.

Inventories are the barometer of global oil market re-balancing, said Neil Beveridge, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Despite OPEC cuts, global inventories showed a bigger-than-expected build in the first quarter. Recent data however points to sharp inventory declines in the second quarter as the delayed impact of OPEC cuts finally starts to filter through.

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Inventory Outlook

Stockpiles will decline by about 1.2 million barrels a day in the second quarter if the group maintains current output levels, and by 1.6 million a day if it extends the curbs into the second half, the IEAs data indicates.

The IEA trimmed forecasts for global oil demand growth this year by about 100,000 barrels a day to 1.3 million a day, or 1.4 percent, as a result of weaker OECD consumption and economic activity in India and Russia slowing abruptly.

OPEC achieved 99 percent of its promised supply reduction through March as Saudi Arabia, along with Kuwait, Qatar and Angola, cut more than required, making up for lagging compliance in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. The groups output dropped by 365,000 barrels a day to 31.68 million a day, the IEA said.

OPECs 11 partners in the accord delivered 64 percent of their pledged cuts, their strongest adherence since the deal began.

Non-OPEC Growth

Saudi Arabia, OPECs biggest producer, is said to favor extending the supply curbs when the group meets next month, in line with the views of fellow members such as Kuwait and Venezuela. While such a decision would reduce oil inventories and support prices, it would offer further encouragement to the U.S. shale sector and other producers, the IEA said.

The agency boosted estimates for growth in non-OPEC supplies this year by 90,000 barrels a day to 485,000 a day amid robust activity in the U.S. Drilling has more than doubled since May as the price recovery draws investment back to the nations shale-oil industry, data from Baker Hughes Inc. shows.

(Updates with analyst comment in seventh paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected the size of the inventory change in the chart.)

To contact the reporter on this story: Grant Smith in London at gsmith52@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Dylan Griffiths

2017 Bloomberg L.P.
By Warren Strobel and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service," using his first public speech as spy agency chief to denounce leakers who have plagued U.S. intelligence. Pompeo, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, called WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange "a fraud" and "a coward." "It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is, a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia," Pompeo said. He said Russia's GRU military intelligence service used Wikileaks to distribute material hacked from Democratic National Committee computers during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia stole the emails and took other actions to tilt the election in favour of eventual winner Donald Trump, a Republican, against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Pompeo and President Donald Trump, who chose him to head the CIA, have not always been so critical of WikiLeaks. During a campaign rally last October, Trump praised the group for releasing hacked emails from the DNC by saying, "I love WikiLeaks." In July, Pompeo, than a Republican member of the House of Representatives, mentioned it in a Twitter post referring to claims that the DNC had slanted the candidate-selection process to favour Clinton. "Need further proof that the fix was in from Pres. Obama on down? BUSTED: 19,252 Emails from DNC Leaked by Wikileaks." WikiLeaks has published secret documents from the U.S. government and others and says its mission is to fight government secrecy and promote transparency. Pompeo said it has "encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence." Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, after taking refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape, which he denies. Two of Assange's lawyers and a Wikileaks spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Pompeo's remarks. Pompeo's speech on Thursday follows a series of damaging leaks of highly sensitive CIA and National Security Agency material. In March, WikiLeaks published thousands of pages of internal CIA discussions that revealed hacking techniques the agency had used against iPhones, Android devices and other targets. Pompeo also had harsh words for Edward Snowden, the former National Security Administration contractor who downloaded thousands of documents revealing some of the electronic eavesdropping agency's most sensitive programs and shared them with journalists. "More than a thousand foreign targets, people, groups, organizations, more than a thousand of them changed or tried to change how they communicated as a result of the Snowden disclosures," Pompeo said. "That number is staggering." U.S. intelligence agencies have struggled to deal with "insider threats" - their own employees or contractors who steal classified materials and, in some cases, publicize them. In response to a question, Pompeo disputed Russia's account of a chemical weapons attack in Syria that prompted retaliatory cruise missile strikes by Trump last week. Moscow has said that Syrian rebels, rather than the Syrian government, were responsible. "None of the (accounts) have an ounce of truth in them," Pompeo said, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "a man for whom veracity doesn't translate into English." (Additional reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech and Bill Trott)
A view of the Singapore River. (PHOTO: Reuters)

A dead man was found floating in the Singapore River on Thursday (13 April) morning.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted to the incident at 8.03am. A male body was found motionless in the water and was subsequently pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene, the SPF added.

Yahoo Singapore understands that the man was found in the water near the Fullerton Hotel. Media reports citing the Singapore Civil Defence Force said the deceased is a Chinese man in his 60s.

The SPF is investigating the case of unnatural death.
By Ceyda Caglayan

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Lawyer Savas Ersoy and his wife turned down many chances to leave Turkey and work abroad. But after a failed coup, a wave of bombs and the referendum on expanding presidential powers on Sunday, they are packing their bags.

Like other professionals who are leaving Turkey, the Ersoys say they are uncertain about the country's political future and afraid of instability.

"We have been thinking of moving abroad for about a year and a half. However, with the developments in Turkey over the past six to seven months, we have decided to move," said the 37-year-old lawyer.

Sunday's referendum could grant President Tayyip Erdogan new authority and transform Turkish politics. Already the most powerful leader since the founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Erdogan has won successive elections and enjoys strong support among pious and conservative voters, mainly in rural areas.

But he is viewed with suspicion by many liberal Turks, who say the secular foundations of the country of 80 million people are being eroded by an increasingly authoritarian president.

The Ersoys are moving to the Danish capital Copenhagen this month after Ersoy's wife, who works in the pharmaceutical sector, took up the offer of a job they had previously declined.

"We have had job offers from abroad before as well. We didnt accept them, thinking Why would we go? But the developments after (the failed coup on) July 15, the referendum, this executive presidency issue, things have gotten out of hand," Ersoy said.

"We dont know what will happen in six months. Bombs are exploding in many parts of the nation. I have a three-year old daughter and Europe is safer."

A "Yes" vote on Sunday would empower Erdogan to appoint ministers, top officials and judges, dissolve parliament and declare emergency rule - powers his backers say are needed to confront Islamic State and Kurdish militants and root out those behind last July's attempted coup.

Story continues

Erdogan's critics say the changes would remove checks on his power, lurching Turkey closer to becoming an authoritarian state, after a post-coup crackdown in which more than 100,000 people were sacked or suspended over suspected links with terrorist organisations.

Statistics on exactly how many professionals are leaving Turkey are hard to find, but Ersoy's comments echo those of several who spoke to Reuters in the run-up to the referendum.

Gokhan Gokceoglu, who runs a financial consultancy firm in Britain, said a growing number of Turks were trying to follow in his footsteps.

"As someone who lives in Britain, I can say that there is an increase in demand from white-collar and well-educated people in recent times to live in Britain and get citizenship," he told Reuters while on a holiday break in Istanbul.

SECULAR FEARS

Feray Aksit, 36, worries about how Turkey's secular outlook will be affected by the policies of Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party, particularly the impact on her daughter's schooling.

She resigned from her job in the telecommunications sector to prepare for a move to Germany, where her engineer husband found work.

"I am the mother of a girl. The uncertainties in the country, changes to education and the curriculum becoming more detached from science has raised some concerns," she said.

"In terms of security, we dont have the same comfort we did five or six years ago either... At first we doubted whether we were doing the right thing. But after the decision to hold the referendum, we thought the coming years would be uncertain as well," she said.

While many lawyers, economists, engineers and bankers look for work or university programmes to get residency permits in foreign countries, those who do not have those options - but do have cash - buy property to secure their place abroad.

Several European Union countries offer residency permits in return for real estate investment, with minimum levels set at anything from 250,000 euros to several million euros.

Education consultant Tolga Gurses, 42, attended a presentation in Istanbul promoting investment in Portugal as a way of getting residency permits. "There were approximately 200 participants. Though it is a bit saddening, there is great interest in the option to live abroad," Gurses said.

Another target for real estate investment is neighbouring Greece, despite its often fraught history with Turkey.

There is a noticeable demand for Greece in recent times," said Cenk Tanman, who founded a website for people wanting to invest there. "They prefer Greece as a plan B."

Selcan Turk, who has lived there for 15 years, set up a business for Turks buying property in Greece. She said she brought dozens of people to examine properties in March, and three of those prospects had turned into sales.

"Turks' interest in Greece has increased dramatically in the past five to six months. Even though their economic status isn't too high, they are using all the resources they have," she said.

(Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Dominic Evans and Sonya Hepinstall)
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  U.S. Senator John McCain has called on Kosovo to resume dialogue with Serbia, saying that is the only way to a prosperous and safe future.

The Republican senator was in Pristina on Thursday as part of a regional tour, said that despite rising tensions, he was assured that "U.S. commitment for a complete, free and peaceful Europe have not changed."

Last month the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue facilitated by the European Union stopped following recent tense incidents.

McCain urged Kosovo to continue integration efforts into Europe and approve the border demarcation deal with Montenegro so that Kosovars enjoy visa-free travel in the continent.

In 1999 U.S. led the NATO bombing that ended with the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo.

Kosovo's 2008 independence is recognized by 114 countries but not by Serbia.
Poland's president on Thursday hailed the launch of a US-led NATO multinational battalion in an area of his country bordering Russia's heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave as an "historic moment". The battalion is one of four NATO is deploying for the first time to Poland and the Baltic states as tripwires against Russian adventurism on its eastern flank, a region formerly under Moscow's control and spooked by its actions in Ukraine. "Generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of World War II, generations that dreamt of being part of the just, united, democratic and truly free West," President Andrzej Duda said at ceremonies in the northeastern Polish town of Orzysz. Poland joined NATO in 1999, a decade after it peacefully shed communism as the Iron Curtain fell in 1989. Speaking along side Duda, NATO Supreme Allied Commander US General Curtis Scaparrotti called the deployment "a clear demonstration of NATO's unity and resolve and sends a clear message to any potential aggressor." "You now form NATO's eastern flank," he told troops. Three similar NATO units, led by the Germany, Canada and Britain, are being deployed this year in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Each unit includes around 800 troops. The countries requested them after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied any territorial ambitions and claims that NATO is trying to encircle Russia. But Moscow's deployment last year of nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad exclave, which borders Lithuania and Poland, and frequent Russian military drills in the region have rattled nearby NATO members. The Orzysz NATO base lies around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Kaliningrad exclave and a stone's throw from the strategically sensitive "Suwalki Gap", a land corridor critical to the security of the Baltic states. The 65-kilometre stretch of border with Lithuania is sandwiched between Kaliningrad and Belarus. Military strategists warn it is the Achilles' heel of NATO's eastern flank: its capture would amputate the alliance's three Baltic members and so shatter its credibility. The freshly deployed NATO troops are expected to hold manoeuvres around the Suwalki Gap in June.
65-year old Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first female Muslim judge in the US and an associate judge of New York's top court, has been found dead in a river near Manhattan.

By Reuters: A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a US judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 pm EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said.

Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

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Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

'TRAILBLAZING JURIST'

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a US judge.

Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful.

A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website.

She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.

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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 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 Orhan Coskun ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Akbarzhon Jalilov, the man Russian police suspect of blowing up a St Petersburg metro carriage, entered Turkey in late 2015 and was deported to Russia about a year later because of migration violations, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Wednesday. The April 3 attack killed 14 people, including the bomber himself, and injured dozens more. It took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin -- architect of Russia's military intervention in Syria -- was visiting St Petersburg. The Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that while in Turkey Jalilov "was deemed suspicious due to some connections he had, but no action was taken as he had not done anything illegal and there was no evidence of wrongdoing." "However, the issue was not dropped and this person was sent out of Turkey in December 2016 for violating their visa and residency. In the end, a fine was given and they were deported with an entry ban," the official said. After leaving Turkey, Jalilov's "passage into Russia was easy from here, it seems they (Jalilov) encountered no problems," the official said. The Turkish official's account confirmed information given to Reuters by two of Jalilov's acquaintances. They said that he had acquired an interest in Islam and left Russia for Turkey at the end of 2015, after which they lost contact. Jalilov, a Russian citizen who was born in the mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, revealed no outward signs of radicalism, his acquaintances said, and no evidence has emerged that he belonged to any established Islamist militant groups. That has made it harder for Russian security agencies to establish how he carried out the attack on the metro train, and whether he has associates who are planning future attacks. At the time he left for Turkey, Jalilov was living in St Petersburg, where he worked as a restaurant cook and in a car repair shop. Soon after he was deported from Turkey, he travelled to his native city of Osh, in Kyrgyzstan, local officials there told Reuters. From there, he went back to St Petersburg, moving into a new apartment in early March this year. Prosecutors said security camera footage showed him leaving that apartment on the day of the attack carrying a rucksack and another bag. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) - Washington has billed Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Indonesia next week as a booster for the Strategic Partnership between the world's second- and third-largest democracies, but a raft of bilateral tensions could sap the goodwill from his trip. Pence's counterpart in the world's most populous Muslim country has voiced worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which critics say is biased against Muslims, and about his "America First" mantra on trade and investment. "We in Indonesia never change. The change is there. That's why we're asking them now, 'what is your policy now on the economy, on democracy, now that Trump is in power?'," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told Reuters on March 31. "What does it mean, 'America first'? I can say, too, 'Indonesia first' if you say 'America first'." Indonesia is one of 16 countries against which the United States runs a trade deficit that will be investigated by the Trump administration for possible trade abuses. Trump's combative approach will not sit easily with Indonesia, where economic nationalism and protectionist tendencies have flourished since a slump in commodity prices in recent years slammed the brakes on economic growth. "Unfortunately I do see a hardening of attitudes on our side," said a senior Indonesian government official, who declined to be named. "And it's of particular concern because we're on that list of 16 countries ... that are going to be investigated." The official said a tougher stand by Indonesian authorities had also contributed to a series of disputes with U.S. companies, including Alphabet Inc's Google, miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc and financial services giant JP Morgan Chase & Co. A SERIES OF FACE-OFFS Indonesia has duelled with Google over back taxes and fines running into hundreds of millions of dollars, and with Freeport in a contract row that has crippled operations at the world's second-largest copper mine, Grasberg. It also dropped JP Morgan as a primary bond dealer after the bank's research analysts issued a negative report on the country in November. "It's a very unfortunate series of issues which all happen to be American," said the official, who expects them to come up in private during Pence's visit. Indonesia is the third stop on an April 15-25 tour that includes South Korea, Japan and Australia. Google declined to comment for this report, and JPMorgan did not respond to a request for comment. Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said: "This visit is happening entirely independent of our current negotiations with the government of Indonesia." However, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, Freeport's third-biggest shareholder and now a special adviser to Trump, has described Jakarta's tactics over the mining contract as "disingenuous and insulting", according to the New York Times. Another potential irritant is biodiesel. The U.S. National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a producer group, has petitioned the U.S. government to impose anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina, claiming they have flooded the U.S. market. "This is one of the issues that we have asked the trade ministry to bring to the meeting (with Pence)," Paulus Tjakrawan, a director at the Indonesia Biofuel Producers Association, told Reuters. "Our hope is for the government to be firm ... Otherwise we will be taken advantage of," he said. "Not to act like thugs but, for example, if they put barriers to our exports, why not stop importing some of their goods?" Despite the strains, the government official said Indonesia would be careful to start its relationship with the Trump administration on the right foot. Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approach to foreign policy has been led more by economic interests than geopolitical considerations: he has pursued increased trade and investment from China but keeps a diplomatic distance from Beijing and established a strategic partnership with Washington under former President Barack Obama. U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R. Donovan Jr, said in a statement last week that Pence's visit reflected a continued commitment to that partnership, would deepen economic engagement and boost regional security cooperation. "The U.S. embassy here certainly is going to great lengths to make the visit a success," said the Indonesian official. "My impression is he's (Pence) not going to ruffle feathers in public, he's not going to cause a ruckus." (Additional reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fergus Jensen; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
By Michele Kambas NICOSIA (Reuters) - Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reached a critical juncture in negotiations to end the decades-old division of their island and only a small number of issues remain to be resolved, the United Nations' envoy for Cyprus said on Thursday. Cyprus has been split on ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the north of the island in response to a short-lived coup by Greek Cypriot militants seeking union with Greece. The problem transcends the small island of one million inhabitants, keeping NATO allies Greece and Turkey at loggerheads and holding back Ankara's ambitions of joining the European Union. "We are at a crossroads," U.N. envoy Espen Barthe Eide told Reuters in an interview. "I think the leaders know that we are at the crossroads and at the crossroads you have to take the right turn, or the alternative is the wrong turn," he added. Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister, has been overseeing the talks between President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for about two years. Eide and his team facilitate the discussions between Anastasiades and Akinci to reunite the island under a federal umbrella of two semi-autonomous zones. He said there was "no doubt" that the two had come closer to a solution than ever before. But he was more cautious when asked whether he thought a peace plan could be agreed by the two sides and then put to a popular vote in a referendum this year, saying that depended on the leaders. "I believe its possible. Whether it will happen, I think I will remain open. It's doable." OUTSTANDING ISSUES "There are a relatively small number of outstanding issues, the vast majority is done," said Eide, whose office is within the compound of now-abandoned Nicosia airport, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the 1974 war. Although the number is small, they are significant, he added. Eide said the issues that still require resolution include finalising the nature of the presidency that will govern Cyprus, a final deal on territorial adjustments, some property-related questions and security. Greece, Turkey and Britain are guarantor powers under a 1960 treaty that granted the former British colony independence. It was cited by Turkey as a basis for the 1974 invasion, and Greek Cypriots and Greece want the system dismantled. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots want the system to remain intact. "On that one I am quite optimistic, that's within reach," Eide said on the prospects of a deal on security. Although there is no timeframe for a settlement, Eide said it was understood that the process could not go on indefinitely. "There is no time limit ... but there is a shared understanding that we do not have oceans of time and that there is no time like the present." (Editing by Gareth Jones)
Scientists can be advocates and maintain scientific credibility

Posted on 13 April 2017 by dana1981

Scientists are often hesitant to engage in what might be considered advocacy, for fear of losing credibility with the public. But a recent study led by John Kotcher at George Masons Center for Climate Change Communication found that climate scientists who wish to engage in certain forms of advocacy have considerable latitude to do so without risking harm to their credibility, or the credibility of the scientific community.

The study found that the perceived credibility of a hypothetical scientist did not decline when that scientist advocated for generalities such as a strong effort to curb the impacts of climate changenor did credibility decline if the scientist called for more specific and concrete actions such as strict limits on carbon emissions from coal power plants. But perceived credibility did decline when the hypothetical scientist advocated building more nuclear power plants, which are relatively unpopular amongst the American public.

These results suggest that as long as scientists dont advocate for specific unpopular policies, a range of advocacy positions are available that wont harm their credibility. For example, polling has shown that most Americansincluding Trump voterssupport policies to combat climate change. They also think its a bad idea to cut scientific research funding, they support clean energy, and they want the government to do more to mitigate climate change risks.

Additionally, theres been no more important time in recent history for scientists to engage in advocacy on behalf of our science, which is under attack from the current administration. According to the March 16 issue of the journal Science, President Trump proposed a federal budget that would cut funding to the Environmental Protection Agencys science programs by 40 percent, the Energy Departments Office of Science programs by 20 percent, grants to the main research arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by 26 percent, NOAA satellites by 13 percent, the National Institutes of Health by 20 percent, and so on. Trumps EPA administrator rejects the expert consensus and overwhelming scientific evidence that human carbon pollution is the dominant cause of recent global warming, and has been filling EPA positions with like-minded individuals. President Trump has still only moved to fill one out of 46 key government science and technology positions, and reports indicate that the candidates hes considering for the position of his science advisor all deny human-caused climate change.

The House of Representatives recently passed two bills that would severely limit the EPAs ability to issue scientifically-justified regulations. And of course President Trump signed an executive order to roll back a slew of science-based government climate policies.

This month, we have two opportunities to engage in activism to push back against these anti-science policies, in the form of marches.

Click here to read the rest
Over the course of the last decade, the so-called gig economy has rapidly expanded to become one of Americas most crucial labor markets. Around one in three American workers are now freelancers, and more than one third of Millennials.

And according to a new study compiled by LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD), its small business owners that are the driving force behind that exponential growth.

The Gig Economy and Small Businesses

Researchers at the worlds largest professional networking site found that small businesses are now responsible for an estimated 40 percent of all hiring activity across the wider gig economy, with midmarket companies and enterprises accounting for 35 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The study also found that 93 percent of contractors and freelancers as a collective are likely to consider working at a small business  which comes in at three percent higher than the global average for business professionals.

Software and IT services tops the list of industry segments with the largest number of contractors and freelancers in the gig economy, boasting a talent base of some 223,000 professionals. Media and communications comes in second with 166,000 contractors, followed by healthcare with 164,000.

Its also worth pointing out that, according to LinkedIn data, 70 percent of all contractors who switched jobs in the past year also moved to a different industry.

This means that if youre not having luck with recruiting contractors within your industry, you may have much more success if you look outside it, researchers said.

The healthcare, real estate and construction industries have gained contractors over the past year, while public safety, retail, and the arts have lost them.

As one might predict, the majority of that talent has migrated to either the East or West Coast.

Cities like Seattle and Portland have experienced a net population gain of eight percent over the past year in terms of available contractors, with San Francisco experiencing a six percent gain and New Yorks gig economy increasing four percent.

That being said, Denver bucked the trend by posting an eight percent net gain in the size of its freelance pool. The survey also classed Denver as a hidden gem due to its high supply of freelance professionals, at approximately 38,000, but relatively low demand.

Bearing in mind that the median job for an American contractor lasts for some 11 months, the study suggests that a substantial number of freelancers are indeed willing to relocate  with 13 percent of contractors who switched companies over the last year also moving to a new region.

The data from LinkedIns study is aggregated from a range of public LinkedIn profiles, with contractor status having been determined through member supplied position titles and behavioral analysis.
Patients satisfaction levels indicate the quality of health care, but data may be distorted by the number of respondents.

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Dovera ranking Teaching and university hospitals: Best Childrens Teaching Hospital with Polyclinics in Banska Bystrica

Childrens Teaching Hospital in Kosice

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St Michaels Hospital in Bratislava Worst General Hospital with Polyclinics Velky Krtis Specialised hospitals: Best National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology in Lubochna

National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NUSCH) - Childrens Cardiocentre Bratislava

Oncology Institute of St Elizabeth Bratislava Worst Psychiatric Hospital of Professor Matulay in Kremnica

All three health insurers in Slovakia regularly publish lists of the best and worst medical facilities on their websites, based on feedback from their clients. Yet it is essential to look at the ranking from a broader perspective as the methods used by the insurers often differ.

Asking patients about their opinion on medical facilities, which is also required by law, belongs among the important indicators of the quality of the health treatment they provide. It also offers feedback on their services, explains Dusan Zachar, analyst with the non-governmental think tank INEKO.

The problem of the data on patient satisfaction may be the insufficient number of respondents, Zachar told The Slovak Spectator.

Aside from health-care providers, the insurers also benefit from such information.

A subjective patient satisfaction is one of the important indicators we take into consideration when making deals with health-care providers, said head of Dovera Martin Kulhan, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

The health insurers take other factors into consideration too, like the equipment of facilities and staff.

Moreover, the rankings help patients decide which medical facility to choose, Zachar added.

Private facilities lead

The results of the two rankings recently published by the private health insurers Dovera and Union are very similar. The patients are satisfied the most with the specialised medical facilities. The best scores went to the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology in Lubochna (Zilina Region), where mostly patients suffering from diabetes are treated.

Union ranking Best hospitals: National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology in Lubochna

Psychiatric Hospital Michalovce

ORL Humenne Worst hospitals: Psychiatric Hospital of Philipp Pinel in Pezinok

Childrens Faculty Hospital with Polyclinics in Bratislava

Hospital with Polyclinics in Myjava

Another highly ranked facility is the ORL Humenne (Presov Region) which specialises in diseases linked to earns, nose and throat, the Mammacentrum of St Elizabeth in Banska Bystrica, the Central-Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Banska Bystrica, and the National Institute of Tuberculosis, Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery in Vysne Hagy (Presov Region), Sme wrote.

As for general hospitals, the one in Svidnik (which is part of the Svet Zdravia network owned by the Penta financial group) and the St Michaels Hospital in Bratislava (running under the Interior Ministry) were ranked highly.

No university or teaching hospital appeared among the top 10 facilities, Sme wrote.

Parents cannot accompany children

As for the worst facilities, both rankings included the Psychiatric Hospital of Philipp Pinel in Pezinok (Bratislava Region), as well as the Childrens Teaching Hospital with Polyclinics in Bratislava (DFNsP).

Dana Kamenicka, the spokesperson of the latter facility, was not surprised by the ranking as they too receive rather negative evaluations from their own surveys. The patients and their parents often complain about the environment and accommodation possibilities during a childs hospitalisation.

Thus we are focusing on this problem and trying to solve it within our powers, Kamenicka told The Slovak Spectator.

For example, they provided 60 percent of parents of hospitalised children with beds last year. The possibilities of the hospital are, however, limited, which may be perceived as a discomfort, she added.

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Data may be distorted

Every health insurer, however, uses different methodology for collecting the data, which may distort the final data, Zachar said.

As a result, it is very hard to compare the rankings. Dovera, for example, divides the facilities into three categories: teaching hospitals, specialised medical facilities, and other facilities.

The state-run health insurer Vseobecna Zdravotna Poistovna (VszP) and Union do not categorise the facilities.

Moreover, the number of respondents and methods of collecting the data differ. Dovera, for example, surveyed 7,000 of its respondents who were evaluating the services offered by hospitals on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is the best and 5 is the worst. The hospitals received the average score of 1.64, up from 1.66 compared with the previous year.

Union carried out a telephone survey, addressing 1,520 clients who were hospitalised in 2016, using the same scale as Dovera. The average score of hospitals was 1.66, down from 1.61 the year before.

VsZP has not published the results of the survey yet. In 2015, it sent questionnaires to 20,000 clients, but it received only 29 percent of them.

Though the law stipulates that the health insurers should secure the relevant sample of respondents (and returned questionnaires) even on the level of wards, they cannot fulfil it, Zachar said.

The problem is if the hospital is evaluated based on seven or 19 questionnaires, he added.

Kamenicka agrees that to secure the objective evaluation of facilities, it is necessary to collect more questionnaires than the numbers provided by health insurers.

It is also important to take into consideration the number of hospitalisations, she opines.

Disclaimer: Dovera is owned by the Penta financial group which has a 45-share in Petit Press, the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator.
Alternative taxi services such as Uber, cost taxi drivers 30-40 percent of their fares in Bratislava last year.

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If the authorities do not take action, the number of protests by taxi drivers in Bratislava will increase and a mass transport strike, blocking Bratislava streets, might follow as well. This was the main message from about 60 taxi drivers who rallied in front of Bratislava city council on April 11. The protest was an appeal to the authorities and institutions to finally start addressing the issue of the mobile taxi app, Uber and similar taxi services.

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Were saying that this isnt the last protest, said Matej Krampl, one of the organisers of the rally, as cited by the TASR newswire. Well go on, and it will escalate. This will happen more regularly. If they dont act, well express our disapproval in this way.

The taxi drivers claim that drivers working for various taxi applications and similar taxi services are violating legislation but the authorities tolerate this. They claim that the legislation should apply to everyone equally  to taxi drivers as well as to Uber drivers. This means that drivers providing alternative taxi services via Uber and similar apps should also obtain a taxi license, have a taxi meter in the car, pass psychological tests and other requirements.

How is it possible that there can be one group that has observed the law is regulated while another, which isnt complying with the law, is ignored, said Bratislava Taxi Drivers Union chief, Ondrej Wenzl, adding that its unacceptable that the city council is taking no action in this regard, claiming that it has no powers to do anything.

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The city council is aware of the need to address the issue, but at the moment they have no powers to take action, said Zuzana Onufer, spokesperson for the city council. They can keep tabs on traditional taxi drivers via the city police, but they cannot do the same in the case of unmarked Uber drivers as they cannot check civilian cars without a proper reason. Onufer went on to say that an amendment to the law on taxi services is necessary as well but the Transport and Construction Ministry has shown no interest in this.

In late March the Transport Ministry called on the city council to intensify the checks on providers of alternative taxi services. While it claims that the services provided via Uber and similar applications are taxi services, the law does not enable checks. This is in hands of the city. It sees the powers of the city council as sufficient to check drivers using Uber and similar apps.

Uber claims that its drivers operate in line with EU directives and provide registered users of the platform with a reliable and safe service, informed Uber spokesperson for Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Miroslava Jozova. The drivers are legally registered and have to meet their tax obligations. Jozova pointed out that protests as well as attacks by traditional taxi drivers against Uber drivers, only highlight the fact that the platform is becoming more and more popular.

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There are some 3,000 taxi drivers in the capital with valid taxi licenses while Uber reports approximately 500 drivers. Uber launched its operation in Bratislava in August 2015. Taxify began to provide services in Bratislava in November 2016. Taxi drivers report that their sales decreased by about 30-40 percent, at least, over 2016.
The Constitutional Court has supported two of its judges who were connected in the past with the HZDS party and its chairman, Vladimir Meciar, on the fate of whose amnesties they should decide - decided another judge connected to HZDS.

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Ladislav Orosz and Peter Brnak feel biased in judging the amnesties granted by then-prime minister Vladimir Meciar  who for a short time acted also as president  but despite this, they will be deciding on their potential revocation. The plenary session of the Constitutional Court whose President is Ivetta Macejkova (in the past HZDS favourite for the post of justice minister) ruled on it this week, the Sme daily wrote on April 13. Macejkova was also appointed by ex-president and ex-speaker of parliament for HZDS, Ivan Gasparovic.

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The file regarding Meciars amnesties was electronically assigned to judge Orosz on April 6. As a former MP for the SDL party, he refrained from voting in 2002 when parliament held a vote on the revocation of the amnesties.

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Another member of the Constitutional Court, Brnak, who is even a former MP of the now defunct HZDS, compared the cancellation of the amnesties to frying snowballs. No other objections of bias have been registered at the Constitutional Court until now.

Orosz announced the next day after being electronically allocated the file that there are some facts that could create reasons for them being excluded from performing their function, while Brnak followed suit three days later.

At its closed plenary session on April 11, the CC decided to not exclude the judges from deciding on the amnesties, court spokesperson Martina Ferencova told Sme.

Constitutional Court involvement

The Constitutional Court is able assess the Meciar amnesties due to a constitutional amendment proposed by the ruling coalition. Parliament approved the revocation of amnesties by voting but this has still to be confirmed by the CC. Even the opposition helped pass the amendment although it fears that due to the personnel ties to past politics and politicians, the CC could block the amnesties' revocation.

Cabinet and parliament can object against the appointment of judges: the cabinet is represented by Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska and parliament by Most-Hid MP Peter Kresak and Peter Kubina. The two MPs have focused on amnesties over the long term and are currently weighing potential future steps.

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We are preparing steps; objecting is one of the possibilities, Kresak said. They are waiting on the final decision until the Constitutional Court sends a letter to parliament containing the request for deputy stances.

The justice minister did not want to elaborate on future steps either.

The CC now has only 10 out of the total number of 13, as president Andrej Kiska refuses to appoint candidates for judges proposed by Smer. For the CC to vote on the amnesties, an absolute majority of all members is necessary, meaning seven are necessary for the revocation process to continue.

Past shadows

Together with the Meciar amnesties, the individual pardon of then-president Michal Kovac is being evaluated  concerning his son in the Technopol case.

Parliament revoked the Meciar amnesties after 19 years, by amending the Constitution. This was preceded by immense public pressure as well as the movie Unos (Kidnapping) which is a fictional account of the actual events surrounding the crime connected with the amnesties, the abduction of son of then-president Michal Kovac Junior abroad, and the ensuing murder of an intelligence service employee involved in the case.

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The amnesties then halted the investigation and prosecution of the abduction and the murder.

The court has to judge the amnesties within a period of 60 days as stipulated by law; otherwise parliaments decision on their revocation automatically comes into effect. This means that the court has to decide by June 6.
On a busy day over the Easter period, Maundy Thursday, railway traffic bringing passengers from all over Slovakia to their families was suspended.

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On the rail section between the cities of Trencin and Nove Mesto nad Vahom, a damaged railroad switch stopped traffic on April 13 morning. A train damaged it when it suddenly  without a known reason  crossed the semaphore in the Stop position in the Trencin  Zlatovce station, deputy spokesperson of the ZSR state railway company, Ivana Popluharova, informed the TASR newswire.

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The cause of the accident is being investigated and passengers were offered substitute transport by buses, Popluharova informed. ZSR apologises to all passengers for the complications caused by the accident, she added.

Preliminary estimates saw normal traffic as being renewed in the afternoon; traffic was returned to normal operation around 13:30.
By Piya Hingorani: Shootjit Sircar's production Pink bagged the award for The Best Film on Social Issues at the 64th National Awards this year. Pink, a poignant courtroom drama directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Tapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Angad Bedi and Andrea Tariang in the lead.

This news is perhaps a time for celebration for Rising Sun Film Production, you think? "I don't want to celebrate this film as it's a social issue film," says Shootjit in an exclusive interview to India Today TV.

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"I am happy that the people and the jury have loved it, I am proud and honoured but this film is to introspect, this film is not to celebrate you know. If you go and see this film and you come out it really hits your head. It still disturbs me when I watch my own film, so no celebrations. We want to introspect. And we are going to take this thought ahead. We are going to take Pink wherever possible so that it reaches maximum audience," says the producer.

The director-producer may have been thrilled with his win, but he believed that Amitabh Bachchan deserved the Best Actor honour for this films. "Pink without him (Bachchan) was not possible. The way he supported us on screen and off screen and I was really hoping that he wins the National Award for Best Actor because I think his is one of the finest performances this year," admitted Shootjit.

"But it's ok. I'll go by the jury. Bachchan Sir called me immediately after the announcement and we chatted and we planned that we will keep moving on and will keep doing things which stirs him and challenges him also as an actor," he adds.

This is the third time Sircar has collaborated with Bachchan Senior. Their first was a film titled Shoebite which after a lot of delay, eventually got shelved, and then they came together for Shoojit's directorial, Piku in 2015.

This win is the fourth film in a row to have bagged a National honour for Sircar's home production Rising Sun Film, in partnership with Ronnie Lahiri.

Shoojit Sircar became a household name with his directorial Vicky Donor, starring newcomers Ayushmann Khuranna and Yami Gautam. With the story revolving around the sensitive issue of sperm donation, the film sparked many a conversations. The film which was co-produced by John Abraham, earned Sircar his first National Award for Best Popular Film, and veteran actors Annu Kapoor and Dolly Alhuwalia won Best Supporting Actors (Male and female) for the cult film in 2013.

This was just the beginning! In 2014 he bought home the National Film Award for Best Audiography to Nihar Ranjan and Bishwadeeo Chatterjee for John Abraham starrer Madras Cafe.

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Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone's Piku, an emotional film about a father-daughter relationship won the National Award Best actor for Bachchan, and Best Screenplay along with Best Dialogue for Juhi Chaturvedi in 2015.

Sircar, who's shifted bag and baggage to Kolkata with his family in tow, is busy working on his next, a dream project of sorts "I think it's already in the news that I am working on Uddham Singh. I have been following his life for a long long time and couple of more films including uniting with Juhi Chaturvedi again and doing something," he said.

Shoojit has been toying with the script of the biopic of Uddham Singh, a film that is based in the pre-independence era for the past 18 years now.

Udham Singh, is a forgotten hero, who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab in British India in 1940, to avenge the 1919, Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

ALSO READ: Amitabh-Taapsee's Pink wins National Award for Best Film On Social Issues

ALSO READ: 64th National Film Awards full winners' list

ALSO WATCH: Amitabh Bachchan's Pink is honest and will sadly be relevant for a long time

--- ENDS ---

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But critics fear its cover for political interference, and EC hints law may break European rules.

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Following the uproar over electricity price hikes at the beginning of the year that led to the resignation of the head of the energy regulator, the government has proposed a new law to give ministers the power to appoint his successor. Critics are warning that the regulator is being politicized; the economy minister has acknowledged that the need for what he calls political responsibility is a consideration.

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The European Commission has welcomed one aspect of the new law, to separate the roles of head of the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO), the regulator, and chairman of its regulatory council. But it has warned that involving the government in regulatory decisions could break EU rules.

The former head of URSO, Jozef Holjencik, resigned in early February after being publicly slapped down by Prime Minister Robert Fico for approving increases in electricity tariffs. The regulator is currently being led by its vice-chairman, Miroslav Celinsky.

The Economy Ministry has set up a commission to choose the new head of URSO, which will involve representatives of employers associations and the Association of Slovak Towns and Villages (ZMOS).

When Economy Minister Peter Ziga was asked if he already has some names in mind, he replied: Not yet. Im waiting for proposals.

It is expected that the new head will be chosen only after the new law on regulation is adopted. The cabinet adopted the law on March 29 and parliament passed it to a second reading on April 7. The original plan was to adopt it via a fast-track proceeding during the parliamentary session ending on April 7, but it will now be considered during the May session in order to allow more time for debate, Ziga said. The revised law should come into effect on June 1, 2017.

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MPs have already voted down a draft revision to the law submitted by Karol Galek and Jana Kissova, deputies for the opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS). Their amendment aimed to change the position of URSO as a whole, to ensure greater transparency in the regulation of utility prices, and to separate the positions of chief of the regulator and the head of the regulatory council, among others.

Separation of powers

The government bill proposes to separate of the positions of URSO chief and the head of the regulatory council. Based on current legislation, the regulatory council not only adopts regulatory policies and concepts, but is also the appellate body for decisions taken by URSO. In effect, the head of the regulatory council supervises himself in his role as director of URSO.

Livia Vasakova, economic advisor to EC Representation in Slovakia, reacted positively to the proposed separation of these roles.

Separation of the position of the URSO chairman from the regulatory council is something what the EC has been addressing with the Economy Ministry for a long period of time, said Vasakova, during a discussion organised by the economic think-tank INESS in late March, as quoted by the www.energia.sk energy news website.

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However, she warned that the proposed participation of the Economy Ministry in power and gas price regulation proceedings may be in conflict with EU rules, adding that the European Commission would be able to make a final decision only once Slovakia adopts the new law.

The new legislation would strengthen the governments influence on URSO by allowing the Economy Ministry to regain its right to comment on pricing decisions for heat, natural gas and electricity; the Environment Ministry would gain a similar role in water pricing. Moreover, the new URSO head would be appointed directly by the government. Currently, the president appoints the chief regulator, as well as the head of the regulatory council; he would retain the latter power.

URSO will remain an independent authority, Economy Minister Peter Ziga (Smer) said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. But he defended the move to increase the cabinets role, saying Practice has shown that the government bears the greatest political responsibility for URSOs decisions, thus it is logical that it will be responsible for his appointment.

He also defended the return of powers to the ministries.

If one of the ministries has comments and the authority will not accept them, it will have to publish them, Ziga said, as quoted by SITA.

He asserted that the involvement of the ministries would not violate European directives. However, the government was required, as recently as 2012, when adopting the EUs third energy liberalisation package, to change the law to reduce the role of ministries in regulation.

Based on the new legislation, the head of the regulatory council will be elected from its members, and subsequently appointed by the president. The regulatory council will have six members, three of whom will be nominated by parliament and three by the government.

URSO will also have to prepare impact studies whenever it decides to change its price regulation. It will have to compare the proposed change with the current state, and evaluate its impact on customers.

We want to prevent a situation where the government does not have information about the impact of new price regulations, Ziga explained, as quoted by SITA.

Moreover, the URSO head will have two deputies instead of the current one. Under the new rules, one of them will also have to sign new price decisions, or they will not be valid. But experts and opposition politicians believe that this will only increase the dependence of the office on the cabinet.

While experts, stakeholders in the energy sector and several politicians have long called for the separation of the roles of URSO chief and chair of the regulatory council, they oppose the other changes, which they say will render the independence of the office merely formal.

Businesses have already commented on the draft law to demand, among other things, publication of the parameters on which the calculation of regulated prices and fees is based.

The Federation of Employers Associations (AZZZ) opposes appointment of the chief regulator by the cabinet, while the majority of energy companies and URSO itself are against the reinsertion of ministries into the process of utility price-setting. The energy companies perceive this as a potential conflict of interest, as the Economy Ministry owns stakes in some of the companies it will end up regulating.

URSO claims that if the ministries were to become participants in price proceedings, this would violate European rules. It is also afraid of losing its independence.

The impartiality and independence of the office must be real, not only formally presented in the law, URSO wrote in its comments on the draft revision during interdepartmental review.

Political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov says the independent position of the regulator would be weakened if its head is appointed by the cabinet.

In this way, the regulator will be drawn into creation of a state pricing policy in the sector of utilities, said Meseznikov. The regulator would turn into a government agency if its head is subordinated to the prime minister. The person who appoints the regulators head, in this case Robert Fico, will expect him to be loyal.

Meseznikov believes that Fico sees the regulator only as a body to help him fulfil his social policy, and that its independence is already only formal.

Robert Fico likes to present himself by popular measures, especially when he can show to the general public by what steps he has achieved these popular measures, said Meseznikov. The goals of his interventions were to promote his strong social feeling and care for people.
University hospital in Bratislava fired the head of the surgery clinic.

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The University hospital in Bratislava (UNB) fired Jan Skultety, the head of the surgery clinic in the Petrzalka hospital, last week. As the Sme daily informed, he tested positive for alcohol at the beginning of the night shift.

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The former head of the clinic took the test one hour after beginning his shift at 19:00, according to the Sme daily. The test showed 0.2 permille of alcohol in his blood and he was compelled to leave the clinic immediately.

For the UNB the key is strict adherence to work discipline. We make checks regularly and randomly during the year, said the spokesperson for the UNB, Petra Stano Matasovska, as quoted by Sme.

The hospital however refused to comment on the reason for Skultety's dismissal.

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Skultety is also an employee of the Medical faculty in Bratislava, currently on vacation, as vice dean of the faculty, Juraj Payer, told Sme.

About 2,500 patients are hospitalized yearly at the II. surgery clinic of the Medical faculty of the Comenius University and the UNB. The clinic is the teaching work-place of the Medical faculty, where surgical exams are also taken. The clinic is also supporting several ongoing research projects including some international ones.
Libraries

Crowdfunding Snapshot: 5 Campaigns to 'Transform' Libraries

Its National Library Week this week (April 9-15), an annual event hosted by the American Library Association (ALA) that celebrates contributions made by librarians and libraries across the country.

Libraries provide a variety of public services and the ALA has stated that "the amount of funding that a library receives directly influences the quality of its services." Due to a lack of funding, however, many are turning to online crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe. A company spokesperson said that GoFundMe has seen a surge in libraries launching crowdfunding campaigns  not just in the United States, but around the globe. From a school library making a comeback to rebuilding one from rubble, the platform is helping libraries score funding to make big transformations.

This years theme for National Library Week is Libraries Transform. Here are five GoFundMe campaigns working toward this goal.

1) School Library Nearly a Decade Overdue

Nearly 10 years after closing its library, Adaire is on its way to reopening one again.

Adaire Elementary School, like many public schools in Philadelphia, has gone without a school library for almost 10 years. Thanks to a 2015 grant from best-selling author James Patterson and Scholastic, the school was able to pull books out of storage and slowly begin the process of rebuilding its library in an available classroom space.

Without a staff librarian, however, volunteers have been running a small, bare-bones library that has many outdated and damaged books. Theres a cheerful rug, but the walls are bare, the lights are harsh and it's a less-than-inviting spot to read, according to the campaign page.

The goal: transform the classroom into a library where readers blossom  equipped with ample resources, welcoming nooks and study spots.

Parents and staff at Adaire initially set a fundraising goal of $5,000. Last month, they announced that they surpassed this goal in less than one week. With $5,350 raised to date, the funds will be used to order new books, learning materials and furnishings, like chairs, pillows, lamps, art and other touches to make our small room initiviting.

2) From Dreams to Reality

A sketch of the Enchanted Forest Library.

Another crowdfunding project to design a welcoming reading space came to campaign organizer Ron Peel in a dream. Peel, as a way to calm himself before falling asleep, imagined a project he calls the Enchanted Forest Library: a small, cozy pavilion with detail in harmony with nature and reading, the campaign page explains. It will serve as an homage to a former librarian at Reeths-Puffer Schools who recently died.

The roof is an open book supported by tree-like posts and fairytale corbels. The seating will be book structures stacked as if placed by in a pile on the night stand. I also see stacks of books supporting a bench swing to pass the humid summer air. This will be a place of inspiration, relaxation and reflection, Peel wrote.

Posted 16 days ago, the Enchanted Library pavilion has raised $4,280 of its overall $30,000 goal and received 355 shares on Facebook.

3) Libraries-on-the-Go

Little Free Libraries utilize a 'take one, leave one' policy and can be found all over the world.

Nonprofit organization W-E Library Boosters, which supports the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, wants to raise $5,000 to build six libraries-on-the-go. These Little Free Libraries, as they are called, are hand-crafted structures that can store up to 50 books donated and shared by people of all ages and backgrounds, according to the campaign page. Worldwide, people have embraced these book-boxes, with more than 40,000 little free libraries around the globe.

The campaign has raised $655 of its $5,000 goal to date.

4) Rebuilding Reading from Rubble

After a bridge collapsed and cut off foot traffic to Henry Miller Library, the Big Sur-based library had to open a new location in a shopping center.

One campaign wants to rebuild a library that was temporarily shut down by Mother Nature, the campaign page explains. In Big Sur, CA, the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge was demolished March 20, after relentless winter rain reduced it to rubble. As a result, the Henry Miller Library was closed and will reopen in mid-May to far less foot traffic since vehicle access will remain cut off from the north, the campaign says.

The disruption to its services has caused the library to lose more than $60,000 so far. While it continues to raise money for repairs and drain resources, the library has opened a new location called the Henry Miller Library in the Barnyard  a gallery and bookstore located in a shopping center in Carmel, CA.

So far, the library has raised $35,375 of its overall $50,000 goal, with nearly 2,000 shares on Facebook since the campaign launched April 2.
Online Education

Report: Virtual Schools Expand in U.S. Despite Poor Performance

Policymakers should focus on improving academic performance, promoting needed research and developing policy in critical areas before permitting more virtual schools, report says.

Virtual schools have expanded and proliferated in the United States, despite poor performance, lack of research support and inadequate policies, according to a report released this week by the National Education Policy Center (NEPC).

The three-part report, Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2017, provides a detailed inventory of full-time virtual schools in the United States 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 such schools.

The growth of full-time virtual schools has been fueled by policies that expand school choice and that provide market incentives attractive to for-profit companies, the report said. 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  or equal  to brick and mortar schools, there are numerous problems associated with virtual schools, the report said. School performance measures such as assessments, for both full-time completely 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, according to the report. More than 20 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 education.

Also, state policymaking in several key areas  including 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 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 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; and

The development of new funding formulas based on the actual costs of operating virtual schools.

The National Education Policy Center is based at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education. To view the full report on virtual schools, visit the NEPC website.
In this March 23, 2012, photo semi-trucks drive south on Highway 85 near Williston, N.D. Litter has become an escalating problem as the rush to tap vast caches of crude escalates in North Dakota. Some of the industrial rubbish blows in from unsecured truckloads, but for many, the most frustrating trash is the gallons of discarded urine. (AP Photo/Elijah Nouvelage)

Tesla is moving into the heavy vehicle market, and the first glimpse of the new Tesla Semi is due this fall. On April 13, Tesla CEO Elon Musk congratulated his team on the amazing job designing the forthcoming truck, while also announcing a pickup truck would be out in 18 to 24 months and a convertible roadster sometime in the future.

Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2017

The Tesla Semi, an all-electric truck program led by Jerome Guillen, Teslas former Model S program director, has been long anticipated. Teslas updated Master Plan last July stated the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate. But first, Tesla will need to solve a key problem: range.

Electric cars have limited range, but electric semi-trucks will have far less. Existing lithium-ion batteries capable of powering a semi-truck for 500 miles (804 kilometers) would weigh 23-tons, half the weight of the truck itself, estimates German engineering firm Siemens. Even Teslas more efficient battery cells from its Gigafactory plant with Panasonic arent likely to shave too much off that number. Tesla executives have said its new batteries for the upcoming Model 3 are 30% more efficient than the Model S, but far bigger gains, and potentially a new battery chemistry, would be needed change the equation for hauling cargo long distances.

Ian Wright, a former vice president of vehicle development at Tesla who left in 2004 and went on to found Wrightspeed, an electric truck company, says pursuing long-haul electric trucking with batteries alone is futile. It dont make any sense in a long-haul application, Wright said in an interview with Quartz last year. Its off by order of magnitude. Wright says all-electric trucks lack the energy density to haul cargo over hundreds of miles. Wrightspeeds electric garbage trucks use on-board gas turbines to recharge the trucks batteries, while regenerative braking recoups energy during start-and-stop traffic.

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Musk hasnt revealed if the Tesla Semi will deviate from the companys current battery strategy. To enable long-haul applications, one option is embedding wireless charging coils in roadbeds (although that is still seen as expensive, inefficient and a regulatory headache.

Overhead wires provide electric power to trucks.

A second option, presented by Siemens last year, uses overhead wires to charge fast-moving trucks on highway journeys. Field trials for unlimited-distance electric trucks using this system have already started. California has its own one-mile (1.6 kilometers) eHighway between ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach. But bigger charging infrastructurewhether buried or overheadwould require massive new public investment.

Tesla has remained silent on its intentions, but the company has made it a habit of defying conventional wisdom. Solving Tesla Semis problem may need more than an engineering solution.

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Video released by Arizona police shows how a four-year-old girl narrowly escaped being shot when gunfire shattered the windows of a barber shop she was playing in.

The girl was sitting down in a chair by the shop's window in Chandler when two bullets were shot at head level, narrowly missing her and sending her running in a panic.

The girl was struck by shattered glass and was taken to hospital, but authorities said her life is not in danger.

She reportedly suffered small cuts on her face.

Police said the barber shop was not the intended target of the shooting. Rather, the alleged gunman, David Hart, was aiming at a tattoo parlour next door.

The 23-year-old Hart had been told to leave by the owner of Damaged Ink Tattoo and asked to come back when he was not intoxicated, according to local newspaper The Arizona Republic.

After leaving the shop, Hart went to his car, got a gun from the trunk, drove by and started shooting, police said.

He was subsequently arrested at a nearby home. Police also arrested another man, 21-year-old Rafael Santos, who allegedly was in the car with Hart at the time of the shooting.

Residents of the area were shocked.

"It's shocking. It's ridiculous that stuff goes on," said neighbour Alan Bronson.

"We have a seven-month old we're raising. You see stuff like that, it makes you angry."
DAKAR (Reuters) - Violence against civilians in Central African Republic (CAR), including summary executions and mutilations, is reaching levels not seen since the height of its years-long conflict, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said. The country descended into chaos when a mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance ousted then-president Francois Bozize in 2013, sparking reprisals from Christian militias. Religion has played a waning role as splinter groups now clash over control of territory and resources. Recent violence has been concentrated in four prefectures in the centre and east, where the government and a 13,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping mission have struggled to contain the bloodshed, the medical charity said. "Our teams have witnessed summary executions and have found mutilated bodies left exposed to terrorise populations," Rene Colgo, the deputy head of MSF's mission in CAR, said in a statement released late on Wednesday. Fighting has spread to parts of the country previously considered stable but where rival armed groups are now battling for control of towns and areas with gold and diamond mines. Some 100,000 people were displaced between September 2016 and February 2017 amid the renewed clashes, according to the United Nations, and MSF is now treating trauma victims at clinics intended to provide healthcare to rural communities. "The Central African Republic is spiralling into levels of violence that have not been seen since the peak of the conflict in 2014," said MSF representative Emmanuel Lampaert. One in five Central Africans is currently displaced and around 2.2 million people, half the total population, need humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. The United States on Wednesday imposed financial sanctions against two militia leaders - one a Muslim rebel chief and the other a Christian militia leader - accused of collaborating on plans to destabilise CAR. (Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Joe Bavier and Tom Heneghan)
WASHINGTON (AP)  CIA Director Mike Pompeo denounced the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks on Thursday as a "hostile intelligence service" and a threat to U.S. national security, a condemnation that differed sharply from President Donald Trump's past praise of the organization.

In his first public speech since becoming America's spy master, the former Republican congressman escalated the agency's hostility to WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, accusing them of making common cause with dictators. While "Assange and his ilk" claim they act in the name of liberty and privacy, Pompeo said that in reality, their mission is "personal self-aggrandizement through the destruction of Western values."

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service," Pompeo said.

Pompeo's tone was notably different from that of his boss.

Before the election, Trump said he was happy to see WikiLeaks publish private, politically damaging emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, John Podesta. The White House defended the president, saying there was a big difference between WikiLeaks publishing stolen, personal emails of a political figure and publishing files about national security tools used by the CIA.

WikiLeaks last month released nearly 8,000 documents that it says reveal secrets about the CIA's cyberespionage tools for breaking into targeted computers, cellphones and even smart TVs. It previously published 250,000 State Department cables and embarrassed the U.S. military with hundreds of thousands of logs from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pompeo said there was no "quick fix" for solving the threat posed by Assange and others determined to publicize U.S. secrets.

The U.S. and the CIA can shame Assange publicly and fortify information systems, he said. They can build trust with the public, however hard that may be for an agency defined by its secrecy. Pompeo also suggested denying "Assange and his colleagues the latitude to use free speech values against us." He did not say how that could be done, but said Assange is not protected by the U.S. Constitution because he's not an American.

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Pompeo noted that in January, U.S. intelligence officials determined Russian military intelligence had used WikiLeaks to release data obtained through cyber operations against the Democratic National Committee. He said American intelligence also found that Russian state-owned television network RT actively collaborated with WikiLeaks.

He also criticized Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked documents revealing widespread government surveillance programs. Snowden currently lives in Russia. Assange, an Australian, has resided the last four years in Ecuador's embassy in London. He received political asylum after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted over a rape allegation.

"While we do our best to quietly collect information on those who possess very real threats to our country, individuals like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden seek to use that information to make a name for themselves," Pompeo said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. "As long as they make a splash, they care nothing about the lives they put at risk or the damage they cause to national security."

In an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Washington Post, Assange defended his disclosures, which he depicted as "truths regarding overreaches and abuses conducted in secret by the powerful."

"Our most recent disclosures describe the CIA's multibillion-dollar cyberwarfare program in which the agency created dangerous cyber weapons, targeted private companies' consumer products and then lost control of its cyber arsenal," Assange wrote.

Pompeo did not confirm the cyberespionage tools released by WikiLeaks belonged to the agency. Since the disclosure, the U.S. government has all but publicly accepted the embarrassing claim. Trump said in an interview: "I just want people to know the CIA was hacked, and a lot of things taken."

On Monday, a California-based computer security company said the tools disclosed by WikiLeaks have been linked to 40 spying operations in 16 countries. Symantec Corp. linked them to electronic infiltration of international, financial, energy and aerospace organizations across the world.
Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Tensions between North Korea and America have reached a historic and worrying high during Donald Trumps presidency.

As an armada of U.S. ships steams closer to the Korean peninsula in show of force, Kim Jong-un has warned that he will respond with a nuclear attack at the first sign of aggression.

While his predecessor Barack Obama delivered stern warnings to the hermit state that his country could destroy them, President Trump has upped the rhetoric.

Taking to Twitter, President Trump declared he was willing to solve the problem of North Korea.

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

His Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has echoed Trumps bravado, saying that the policy of strategic patience has ended and all options are on the table.

But would the President actually press the red button, considering the risks?

Are Donald Trumps threats serious?

Emil Dall, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Yahoo News UK: What weve seen with President Trump is that hes very keen to make clear to Americans that military action is now a feasible response.

We have to remember that previous administrations have probably had military action as part of their toolkit  what might have happened with Trump is that that option is brought further forward.

But theres no disputing the fact that President Trump has quite a track record of mighty claims that havent quite materialised.

Mr Dall added: I think there is also a certain posturing going on from President Trumps side.

Theres a lot of tough language, which feeds in very well with his language on domestic politics and even towards countries in Europe.

But then again we are at a point in North Korean /U.S. relations that are incredibly tense. Possibly more tense than they have been for many years.

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US warships head towards North Korea (US Navy)

What would Trumps strategy be?

Dr Benjamin Habib, lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, wrote in The Conversation that surgical airstrikes are likely to be Trumps favoured approach. This would mean destroying Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal without the devastating civilian casualties an all-out strike would undoubtedly cause.

It is a similar approach to that he took in Syria when he authorised the bombing of a military airfield. In the case of North Korea, it could mean targeting the countrys nuclear infrastructure.

For such a strategy to be successful, the critical sites would have to be destroyed entirely to kill off the threat of retaliation.

But Dr Habib says that the bombs themselves, and the stockpiles of fissile material  are likely to be buried deep in secret, reinforced underground facilities, protected from aerial attack. There would also be a huge risk of radioactive contamination to surrounding regions.

Donald Trump could try to target Kim Jon-un, the tyrannical leader of North Korea (AP)

A surgical airstrike could also target Kim Jong-un himself, with a view to bringing about regime change in the event of his death.

This would be astronomically risky. If a strike were to miss and the despotic leader survived, it could lead to a brutal retaliation.

How would North Korea retaliate?

Evidence suggests that North Korea does not currently have the capability for a nuclear attack against America. Yet.

Proliferation and nuclear policy analyst Emil Dall told Yahoo News UK: North Korea vowed to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capability that can reach the continental United States.

And theyre fast progressing towards that effort. A few years ago we were talking about whether North Korea was able to miniturise their nuclear warheads to be able to go onto a missile.

I think most analysts would agree we have to assume that line has now been crossed.

When were discussing the ability of their missiles to travel such a long distance theres still some question about that. But given the determination of the North Korean regime its a matter of when not if they will acquire that capability.

Assuming North Korea isnt able to target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, it would likely turn its attention to the South Korean capital of Seoul. The city is incredibly exposed thanks to its proximity to the border.

Civilian casualties could be catastrophic, and a nuclear attack could lead to years of radioactive fall-out.

On top of the humanitarian tragedy, the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea would be left in tatters if a sloppy military strike by America sparked an attack on Seoul.

Given the potential for humanitarian tragedy that would inevitably result from U.S. action against North Korea, it is surely a last resort for Trump.

Americas military muscle outweighs North Koreas, removing Kim Jong-uns incentive to act first in a conflict.

Dr Benjamin Habib writes: Trumps foreign policy team would do well to think through the logic of their escalation.

A North Korean first-strike nuclear attack against the U.S. or its regional allies makes little sense for North Korea.

From this perspective, it is a strategic restraint on Americas part based on deterrence  rather than unnecessary unilateral muscle-flexing  thats more likely to preserve regional stability.
If reports are to go by, the Telugu satellite rights of superstar Mahesh Babu's next has been sold for Rs 15 crore, say reports.

By India Today Web Desk: Mahesh Babu is back in style. After keeping his fans waiting with bated breaths, the makers have finally unveiled the first look poster of Mahesh's Spyder, which went viral on the internet.

Needless to say, Spyder is one of the highly anticipated films in Telugu after of course, SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Conclusion. According to reports, the satellite rights of Spyder has been bagged by Zee Network for a price of Rs 15 crore. It may be noted that Zee bought the rights of superstar Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 for a whopping Rs 110 crore.

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Tipped to be a spy thriller, the film will see Mahesh Babu as a suave intelligent officer, while SJ Suryah has been roped in to lock horns with the Nenokkadine star.

Reports also suggests that Suryah is likely to sport a macho look for the film and that he is rigorously working out to achieve the desired look.

Made on a lavish budget of Rs 115 crore by NV Prasad, the film stars Rakul Preet Singh as the leading lady.

Directed by AR Murugadoss, the Tamil-Telugu bilingual, which has music by Harris Jayaraj, is slated to release on June 23.

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 new poster: Prabhas's film is a perfect blend of jealousy and betrayal

ALSO READ: Would Baahubali 2 be huge without its marketing?

ALSO READ: Spyder first look- Mahesh Babu looks like God, says RGV

--- ENDS ---
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Germany's foreign minister on Wednesday praised the role of Serbia's president-elect in maintaining stability in the war-weary Balkans, saying daily protests against Aleksandar Vucic's election victory are part of the democratic process.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said after talks with Vucic in Belgrade that it's important for the demonstrations that have been held throughout the country every day since the April 2 election to remain peaceful.

"Serbia is a factor of stability in the region," Gabriel said in comments translated into Serbian by an official interpreter. "Old demons have been waking up in some parts of the Balkans, and Serbia is the country that has contributed that this does not happen."

Meanwhile, Serbians took to the streets again in Belgrade and other cities, blowing whistles and carrying banners that urged an end to Vucic's alleged "dictatorship."

Vucic, Serbia's current prime minister, received 55 percent of the vote in the presidential election, enough to avoid a runoff. Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities, including muzzling the media during the campaign and voter intimidation.

Vucic has dismissed the allegations. He said Wednesday that the protests present "an expression of Serbia's democratic strength."

"They can demonstrate for a year or 10 years if they want," he said.

Vucic has pledged to pursue European Union membership for Serbia and won EU support for his willingness to improve relations with former province Kosovo.

But he has faced mounting accusations at home of imposing an authoritarian rule by curbing dissent and freedom of speech, while also boosting ties with Serbia's traditional ally Russia.
BERLIN (AP)  The German government says it would support a ban on the export of boats from the European Union to Libya as part of measures to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.

Smugglers use often rickety vessels to ferry thousands of migrants from the north African country to Europe each month. Mass drownings are common when the overloaded boats capsize or sink.

In a response to questions from Left Party lawmakers, the German government says it considers "imposing restrictive measures" on EU exports of boats, engines and vehicles to Libya to be an appropriate measure to crack down on people smuggling.

The response, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, also confirms that the EU naval mission deployed to stop illegal migration uses submarines for "covert reconnaissance" in the region.
By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Lithuania will keep increasing military spending after hitting NATO's recommended level of 2 percent of economic output in the next two years, its finance minister said, as Russia builds up capabilities on the borders of its Baltic neighbours. Relations with the West were damaged by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and deteriorated even further last week after a gas attack in Russia-backed Syria. "We are a NATO member but we are also responsible for our security ourselves," Vilius Sapoka told Reuters on Tuesday in his first interview with international media since Lithuania's coalition government took office last year. "Next year we will already reach 2 percent of GDP (in terms of military spending) ... and I think we will keep gradually increasing that number." That rise in spending, alongside an improving European economy, is expected to nudge Lithuania's growth rate up to 3 percent this year. Sapoka's government, a "catch all" of the Peasants, Greens Union and Social Democrats that came to power in November, faces broad challenges though. Income inequality is among the highest in the European Union and has been increasing, driving younger people abroad for work. Sapoka said the government wants to raise tax revenues to 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the next five years from 30 percent, to help improve education and healthcare. It will stick to its predecessor's "fiscal discipline" path, he said, but is embarking on an aggressive drive to attract high tech finance and bio-medicine firms with tax breaks. It already allows firms to offset three times what they spend on research and development but is about to go further. "If you invest in new technologies, at the moment you can deduct 50 percent (from tax) and we will increase that up to 100 percent." Lithuania also has a stake in Britain's negotiations to leave the European Union. Brexit has made the future uncertain for the roughly 200,000 Lithuanians living in the United Kingdom. "Here we are very clear that all the rights that were acquired by Lithuanian people are preserved," Sapoka said. A "mirror arrangement" should be given to EU-based Britons, he said. Echoing the standard EU line, he also said that "all parties should respect their financial obligations," referring to the 60 billion euros ($64 billion) that countries such as Austria have said the UK should pay as it leaves. While Lithuania wants a show of unity in the EU, two years after joining the euro, it also leans on the side of fiscal discipline for Greece, as the Baltic nation takes part in its second batch of bailout talks. "We talk about solidarity but we should not forget the principle of responsibility as well," Sapoka said. (Editing by Louise Ireland)
By Nyasha Nyaungwa WINDHOEK (Reuters) - President Hage Geingob has said Namibia will make it mandatory for white-owned businesses to sell a 25 percent stake to blacks, calling the country one of the most unequal in the world. A draft bill on the Namibia Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEF) was expected to be tabled before his cabinet soon, Geingob said in a speech on Wednesday. Whites make up only about 6 percent of Namibia's population of 2.4 million, but overwhelmingly dominate business ownership. Geingob said Namibia had not seen significant transformation in the 27 years of independence from apartheid South African rule. "The majority of Namibians remain structurally excluded from meaningful participation in the economy and as we established earlier, inclusivity ensures harmony and exclusivity brings discord," Geingob told the country's lawmakers. "We require the support of all Namibians to fix the obvious and dangerous flaws in our social structure." Last year, rating agency Fitch cited the empowerment plan as one of the reasons it had downgraded Namibia's economic outlook from stable to negative, saying the policy would scare away investors who might not be willing to cede stakes in their companies. The Construction Industries Federation (CIF), the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Namibian Employers Federation have all expressed concern about the empowerment plan. "Any empowerment initiatives should not lead to distinctions based on race, as it would negatively impact race relations," The CIF, which has a membership of over 470 companies, has said. "Instead, poor Namibians, regardless of racial origins, should benefit through increased focus and monitoring of already existing empowerment efforts." The government of neighbouring South Africa has a regulation that at least 26 percent of the ownership of mining companies be in black hands. Companies say they should be considered to have met the rule even after black owners have sold their shares, which has become a bone of contention. In Zimbabwe, the government is considering amending black empowerment laws that aims to transfer majority shares from foreign-owned firms to black Zimbabweans after it was blamed for deterring investment. (Editing by James Macharia and Andrew Roche)
Krystal Berry and her friends went to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park on April 12 to celebrate their recent graduation from nursing school in Ocala. They probably werent expecting to witness a titanic clash of nature.

Berry and friends had spotted a group of horses at the park, including a mare and her foal. The groups stallion spotted the alligator at about the same time as Berry and her friends, and he chased the reptile away, as seen in these videos shot by one of Berrys friends. A gasp can be heard from the group as they witnessed the horse stomp the gator. Berry stated that she was still shaking, hours after the event.

The animals didnt show any signs of stress or bleeding, according to Berry, who asked park officials to check if they were harmed after the scuffle. Credit: Krystal M. Berry via Storyful
AMSTERDAM (AP)  Two giant panda cubs are being prepared for a new life at a zoo in the Netherlands following a long airplane flight from China.

Male Xing Ya and female Wu Wen, 3-year-olds from Sichuan province, arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on Wednesday evening.

They were briefly displayed in cages at the airport before being transported to Ouwehand Zoo in Rhenen, a city of about 20,000 people in central Holland.

The zoo will quarantine the pair for several weeks before revealing them to the public. The pandas will live in a Chinese-themed enclosure with indoor and outdoor areas and even a refrigerator for their favorite food, bamboo.

Like other pandas loaned by China, the youngsters are intended to be a breeding pair and the zoo has a nursery for their future cubs.

For decades, China gifted friendly nations with its national mascot in what was known as "panda diplomacy." The country more recently has loaned pandas to zoos on commercial terms.

Most loans run from 10 to 15 years. China charges as much as $1 million per year for a panda, a fee many zoos will pay because the pandas attract more visitors and increase the zoos' revenue, especially if new cubs are born.

Around 420 pandas live in captivity in zoos and reserves, the majority within China, while an estimated 1,864 live in the wild.
For the most part, social media users in democracies are free to express their opinions online. In Spain, however, thats not the case.

Cassandra Vera, a 21-year-old student from the city of Murcia in the south-east of Spain, has been sentenced to a year in prison, and disqualified from public functions for seven years, after making jokes on Twitter that glorified terrorism.

Between 2013 and 2016, Vera published 13 tweets that commented on terrorist group ETAs assassination of Luis Carrero Blanco, which happened in 1973. Blanco had been expected to succeed dictator Francisco Franco, and was a long-time ally of the general.

Ruling on her crime, judges in the National Audience, Spains top criminal court, stated that Veras tweets constitute contempt, dishonour, disrepute, mockery and affront to the people who have suffered the blow of terrorism.

Though the victims of terrorism do, as noted by the judges, deserve respect and consideration, the prison sentence has caused outcry in Spain. These kinds of jokes have been repeated publicly since the day of the attack. Luis Carrero Blancos granddaughter herself has even written that though the jokes were in bad taste, she is scared of a society in which freedom of expression  can lead to jail sentences.

The judges were following the law but their interpretation is questionable. The European parliament has made it crystal clear that for there to be an offence of glorification or justification of terrorism, it has to be understood as a way to gather support for terrorist causes or to seriously intimidate the population. It should, according to the parliament, only be punished when it causes a danger that terrorist acts may be committed.

A Spanish Civil Guard who investigated the case declared that he had no idea if Veras profile had the potential to lead to such repercussions.

A Spanish wave of repression?

Veras is not alone in her tweet conviction. At least 70 more people have been accused of the same crime. Rapper Cesar Strawberry has been sentenced to prison, too, and a group of puppeteers were given custody without bail for making jokes about ETA, though they were later absolved.

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Nor is Veras conviction an isolated issue. It is another act in a trend of repression that has been building since the conservative Popular Party (PP) won the 2011 parliamentary election.

Reacting to the Indignados anti-austerity protests of that year, the PP has since put a lot of effort into suppressing any kind of resistance of this sort  even being accused of creating a political police to do so.

In 2013, the government started preparing a controversial protection of citizen security law to support their actions. Commonly known as the gag law, the now enacted legislation gives Spanish police the right to fine citizens for what they consider to be an interference to their job or contempt of authority.

Since it was passed, Spanish society, with a mix of fury, impotence and incredulity, has witnessed people being fined after posting, for instance, a complaint about their local authority on Facebook. Another was fined for carrying a bag with the acronym ACAB and the slogan All Cats Are Beautiful, with a cats face; the police read the acronym as All Cops Are Bastards.

But Veras conviction has been the last straw, prompting calls from new left-wing political party Podemos for the suppression of the law. The Socialists have agreed that it needs revision.

Backwards and forwards

The inanity and lack of clear reasons the prosecutors have for considering tweets a real threat or a cause of social alarm as stated in the law is worrying in itself, but the matter goes deeper, and has many  including Amnesty International  worrying about the future of freedom of speech in the country.

Spain is fighting back but the people are facing tough opposition from a government which is intent on anything it considers to be the wrong type of speech. In this sense, Vera has been a warning, but she has become a symbol of the resistance, too, with countless people showing their support online by using the hashtag #YoSoyCassandra (I am Cassandra). Political parties, such as the traditional Spanish left-wing coalition IU, and Podemos, have also retweeted the jokes as a reaction to what is widely considered a disproportional and unfair sentence. But the law still stands.

Since the Indignados demonstrations, Spain has become home to new movements of resistance, as the public sphere is co-opted to give everyone a voice. And yet the use of the glorification of terrorism law gives the impression that Spain is walking backwards towards its pre-constitutional history. It is not quite there yet, but for a country that has been a world leader on many other social liberties  progressive abortion law and same-sex marriage rights, to name two  it is hard not to feel, as the Basque philosopher Miguel de Unamuno once said, that Spain hurts.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Federico Lopez-Terra received funding (PhD scholarship 2008-2011) from the Spanish National Research Council.
Uganda now has around a million refugees. To put this in perspective, the East African country is the physical size of the UK and yet hosts more refugees than arrived in all 28 EU member states in 2015, the peak of the European refugee crisis.

Since March 2017, 2,800 refugees have been arriving daily from South Sudans conflict and famine. The country now hosts the largest single refugee settlement in the world  at Bidi Bidi, in the north of the country. It is home to 270,000 refugees, and the UN Refugee Agency has described it as being at breaking point.

The influx of people from South Sudan is a humanitarian crisis. But it also matters because Uganda has some of the most progressive refugee policies in the world. Through its so-called Self-Reliance Strategy, it is one of very few major refugee-hosting countries to allow refugees to work and move relatively freely. These policies not only enable Uganda to absorb refugees, they serve as an exemplar of good practice for the rest of the world.

Ugandas strategy gives refugees almost unparalleled opportunity to engage with markets. It enables refugees in rural settlements to get access to plots of land, and those in urban areas to start businesses. On an informal level, the approach even predates Ugandas independence from British colonial rule in 1962, with the Nakivale settlement in the south-west of the country providing opportunities for crop cultivation after opening in 1958. But it began to crystallise as policy from the late 1990s before being enshrined in law in the 2006 Refugee Act.

At the Refugee Studies Centre in Oxford, we collected data between 2012 and 2014, examining the effects of the Self-Reliance Strategy at a time when the country had from 200,000 to 300,000 refugees. Our data showed how both refugees and hosts have benefited from the approach. Nearly all refugee households had some independent income generating source, dependency levels were generally low, and in the capital, Kampala, around a fifth of refugees ran a business employing someone.

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The research provides significant evidence that Ugandans benefit economically from the refugee presence, from labour, from customers, and from markets. Older refugee settlements like Kyangwali, Nakivale, and Kyaka II, which host Congolese, Rwandan, Somali, and South Sudanese refugees, have flourishing markets and connect to wider commercial networks.

Uganda has become a go-to example of the success of refugees right to work and for the viability of market-based approaches. It shows that another approach  beyond dehumanising encampment or urban destitution  is possible.

Pressure building

For a long time, the international community has assumed that Uganda will always be there to play this role, and that its president Yoweri Musevenis commitment to self-reliance for refugees would remain unwavering. Even as refugee budgets left the African continent in support of the more visible Syrian crisis, so Uganda has persevered with the model, quietly accepting significant Congolese and South Sudanese influxes in 2015 and 2016.

But in 2017, with such large numbers, the countrys commitment needs to be urgently bolstered by the international community. To the governments credit, it insists it will retain its approach. But this absolutely cannot be taken for granted. Although there is no open agitation to end the right to work, there is growing popular unrest in Uganda linked to chronic unemployment and the arrests of Musevenis main opponent, Kizza Besigye. In this climate, refugees could become part of the political agenda.

There are some key steps that it would be useful for the international community to take in order to ensure the sustainability of Ugandas refugee policy.

Complex politics

First, donors must understand the politics behind the policy. This has partly been unique because Uganda has surplus arable land, but it has also been due to the countrys politics. As a no-party democracy, the countrys leaders rely upon patronage to maintain power, and the ability to maintain their networks of support.

But at the same time, external recognition matters more to them than internal elections  a concept known in African Studies as extraversion. Because of these two factors, many of Ugandas historical advocates for refugee rights have been progressive not just because of their support for refugees but also as a means to access and allocate resources towards their refugee-hosting constituencies.

This means that the international community has leverage, but needs to be aware that local powerbrokers in refugee hosting areas must be kept happy. For example, in the early 2000s, Brigadier Moses Ali  the only surviving cabinet minister from the regime of Idi Amin  led negotiations with the international community on support for self-reliance in part because his Nile Valley constituency benefited directly from that support.

Help refugees build a living

Second, the international community must help to invest in the communities hosting refugees. Unless hosts share in the benefits, in terms of services and markets, its very hard to maintain support for refugee presence. In the old Ugandan settlements, the surrounding communities already recognise many of these benefits.

In our earlier research, we also focused on the creation of an emergency camp at Rwamwanja, after an influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014. The camp and local economy evolved rapidly in ways that had mutually beneficial effects, but we found that there were gaps in the way development-based approaches to refugees were applied in the emergency phase. For example, support for refguees livelihoods and access to capital were absent.

This is relevant to the new settlements like Bidi Bidi. Emergency development initiatives might be better conceived in ways that support locals, and facilitate opportunities for early market-based interaction between refugees and locals.

Third, for Uganda to continue to absorb such large numbers requires a sustainable response that goes beyond humanitarianism. Small and medium-sized enterprises in Uganda need access to capital for refugee entrepreneurship. Larger-scale work is also needed by international investors to identity opportunities for sector-specific economic growth within northern Uganda, where the South Sudanese refugees are, not only for corporate social responsibility reasons but to generate viable agricultural markets.

Our ongoing research consistently reveals that it is refugees themselves who are among the greatest sources of social protection to other refugees. More needs to be done to create enabling environments that encourage refugees to help themselves  right from the start.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Alexander Betts' research on the economic lives of refugees has been funded by Stephanie and Hunter Hunt, the Government of Denmark, and the Economic and Social Research Council.
Spain is different!. Napoleon took this view after his defeat by Spanish guerrilla warfare tactics. Generalissimo Francos government later made use of this slogan to promote Spains unique appeal to international tourists. The success of this tourism campaign is evident today: in 2016 Spain welcomed 75m tourists. Once an isolated peninsula on the edge of the European continent, Spain now ranks as the third most visited country in the world.

Foreign visitors spent 77 billion last year enjoying the countrys climate, food and cultural attractions. And one of the big ones is Easter  when Spain highlights a different approach to religious celebrations with colourful and macabre street processions.

The Spanish turn the streets into an improvised stage to dramatise Christs death and resurrection during Holy Week. Striking pictures of medieval figures in candlelit processions are published daily around the world. These pictures emphasise Spains distinctive identity. Parish groups, cofradias (fraternities), spend months on charity work and fundraising to stage the elaborate processions.

The parade of the Christ and the Virgin Mary statues circle through the community to celebrate the celestial glory of these figures that glide majestically above the crowds. On Spanish streets, everyone takes part in the drama  a moving chorus that brings together the musicians, players, bands and strolling audience.

What interests me is the social affiliation of these traditional groups; the bands of brothers. My research into identity reveals the psychological power of belonging to social groups. What is a celebration without the people? Local town halls stop traffic to enjoy each cofradiass procession. In Seville, 60 parish groups take part in processions and published maps schedule the float departure times and street crossings.

The sumptuous floats with their sculptures of religious figures are followed by penitent sinners in monastic robes and pointed conical hoods that reach upwards for divine grace. Medieval hoods concealed the face and identity under the hood. In this way, individuals seeking repentance in public could remain anonymous. Across Spains diverse regions these processions bring the social community together. In Easter week, even the capital Madrid stops for the communal plays.

Story continues

Super teams

The brotherhoods demonstrate that collaboration, training and disciplined team work achieve remarkable performances. The fraternities display exceptional group cohesion that aligns with research analysis of the critical elements of super teams. First, the brotherhoods come together in their dedication to the rituals of Holy Week, Semana Santa  and they share a compelling purpose. Some members have waited 15 years to attain the revered honour of carrying the processional float.

The participants are skillful team members who adjust to each others strength, stamina and pace  this takes preparation and rigorous practice to build group cohesion. Members train together persistently for hours carrying concrete blocks to simulate the strain of carrying such heavy weights. Musicians and drummers put in hours of rehearsal to be able to march in step. A team leader directs a strict regimental formation to ensure a dignified progress. The choreography of a procession is a difficult balance for members manoeuvring through the cobbled streets alongside the eager crowds.

Over the centuries, the brotherhoods have had to change. Some groups date from the 14th century yet gradually over the past 30 years have widened participation to include women who now represent 40% of the membership. New groups have started up and women, celebrities, and children have joined the ranks.

Laying ghosts to rest

These processions demonstrate a profoundly social sense of identity. Passion plays inspire a shared emotional response of applause, sentimental cries, prayers and chants. The processions are rooted in biblical stories, spiritual hopes and imaginary force. Despite the solemnity of the religious spectacle, the Spanish enjoy these fantastical rituals with great exuberance. In Jerez de la Frontera, I was amused to watch penitents remove their tall purple hoods to light a cigarette, check their mobile phones, or sip a glass of wine. Meanwhile, children devoured sweet marzipan versions of miniature penitents.

Spain is proud of these cultural traditions. The drama is alive, in motion and passionate, bringing together into a choral spectacle the bands, the penitents and the audience. The street is an improvised contemporary stage that knits together individual participants as a collective social group.

After Francos death in 1975, Spain shifted at remarkable speed from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democracy. This political transition was achieved through an agreement to forget the wrongs on both sides. The writer Giles Tremlett in his book The Ghosts of Spain reflects:

Spain was unique. It had to find its own way. And it did so by smothering the past. Many of those who would lead la Transicion had anyway, Francoist pasts. It was better to cover their personal stories, too, with a cloak of silence.

Similarly, the personal stories of group members are veiled as they cast long shadows processing through the night. To a curious observer, the sight of a white-cloaked spectre is ambivalent  a visual reference to Spains dark past. Ghosts of the Spanish Inquisition, ghosts of the Jews expelled from Al Andalus, and ghosts of the Civil War.

But at Easter these troublesome layers of past divisions and contradictions are temporarily hidden  shrouded under the social sharing of celebration. A social affirmation of identity rooted in a deep cultural heritage. The Spanish way to mark Easter is social  through collective participation that bolsters a sense of self. Yes, Spain is a part of the European community  and still proud to be different.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Margaret Mackay does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.
By Alexandra Ulmer and Corina Pons CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans in poor areas blocked streets and lit fires during scattered protests across the country on Tuesday night, and two people were killed during the growing unrest in the midst of a crippling economic crisis. In a worrying sign for leftist President Nicolas Maduro, groups in Caracas' traditionally pro-government hillside slums and low-income neighborhoods took to the streets, witnesses and opposition lawmakers reported. Maduro foes were galvanized by footage of a crowd in the south-eastern Bolivar state heckling and throwing objects at the closely-protected leader during a rally on Tuesday, before state television cut off the broadcast. In the western Lara state, two people, aged 13 and 36, were killed during unrest on Tuesday, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. Lara's opposition governor Henri Falcon blamed violence on "infiltrators" and "delinquents" who roamed on motorcycles after an energy blackout. "They go by neighborhoods and shoot people who are protesting," said Falcon, a former member of the ruling party, urging a negotiation to end Venezuela's political crisis. The opposition says Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader who took office four years ago, has morphed into a dictator after a Supreme Court decision in late March to assume the functions of the opposition-led congress. The court quickly overturned the most controversial part of its decision, but the move breathed new life into the fractured opposition movement. Two young men had already been killed in protests during the last week, according to authorities. Many are bracing for further violence in a country that is racked by crime and has one of the world's highest murder rates. Witnesses said residents of a number of working-class Caracas neighborhoods blocked streets with trash or burning debris on Tuesday night, describing confused street melees and clashes with security forces. The capital appeared calm on Wednesday, although some roads were charred and littered with broken glass. Government officials did not provide an official account of the events, and the Information Ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment. Maduro has said that under a veneer of pacifism, a U.S.-backed right-wing opposition is encouraging violent protests in a bid to topple his government and get its hands on Venezuela's oil wealth. On Wednesday night, he said the heckling incident a day earlier in the city of San Felix was an opposition attempt to "ambush" him that was thwarted by his loyalists. "They had prepared an ambush and the people neutralized it," he said. "I want to thank the people of San Felix for their expressions of fervor, passion, love and support." "MADURO DICTATOR" Maduro's adversaries are demanding the government call delayed state elections, which polls suggest would not go well for the ruling Socialists. They also want an early presidential vote after authorities quashed a recall referendum against Maduro last year. A ban on opposition leader Henrique Capriles from holding office for 15 years drew broad criticism as he was seen as the opposition's best presidential hope. But it is Venezuela's extended economic crisis that has ordinary people fuming. Venezuelans have been suffering food and medicine shortages for months, leading many to skip meals or go without crucial treatment. Lines of hundreds form in front of supermarkets as people jostle for hours under the hot sun hoping price-controlled rice or flour will be delivered. The crisis has especially hurt the poor, long the base of support of Maduro and his predecessor the late Hugo Chavez. Protesters say they have also been encouraged by stronger condemnation from American and European nations in the last two weeks. "We cannot accept that the regime is willing to sacrifice Venezuelan lives to remain in power," said Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States, in a video posted on Wednesday, urging elections. Another round of protests are planned for Thursday in Venezuela's more than 300 municipalities. Opposition leaders are calling for the "mother of all marches" on April 19. ARRESTS, LOOTING Amid what the opposition coalition says is a crackdown on dissent, some 71 people were arrested on Tuesday, according to rights group Penal Forum. In total, 364 people were arrested between April 4-12 during the most sustained protests since 2014, with 183 people still behind bars, the group added. A group of young men and teenagers were arrested for throwing "sharp objects" against Maduro's vehicle on Tuesday night, according to a report by a local National Guard division seen by Reuters. Two sources told Reuters the protesters were hurling stones. Local media reported lootings overnight in the working class bedroom community of Guarenas outside Caracas, as well as in parts of the capital. State officials have tweeted images and videos of demonstrators vandalizing public property and throwing rocks at police. Despite the spiking tensions, many in the opposition worry extended protests will not spur early or fair elections, but rather increase clashes in the already turbulent country. Major anti-government protests in 2014 eventually floundered, though the opposition at the time did not have as clear-cut demands, poor neighborhoods largely abstained, and the economy was in better shape. (Additional reporting by Eyanir Chinea, Brian Ellsworth, Diego Ore, Miguel Angel Sulbaran, Liamar Ramos, Maria Ramirez, Deisy Buitrago and Mircely Guanipa; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Hay and Michael Perry)
The 2 per cent voting turnout in the Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha constituency is the lowest in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.

By India Today Web Desk: Re-polling in the Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir saw a turnout of only 2 per cent today, a new low in Jammu and Kashmir following the 7 per cent voting on Sunday.

Only 702 of the 35,169 voters voted at the 38 polling stations. "About 2.02 per cent voting has been recorded," an Election Commission official told IANS. Repolling was ordered at these polling stations by the Election Commission following large scale violence during Sunday's polls for the prestigious seat.

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In the violence during Sunday's voting, 8 people were killed in firing by security forces. The constituency recorded a mere 7 per cent voter turnout on Sunday, lowest in 30 years. Five candidates had already pulled out of the election after the Sunday violence.

Today, there was just one incident of stone-pelting by youths, officials said. There was an altercation between opposition National Congress and ruling PDP workers at Badran in Beerwah area over allegations of bogus voting, the officials said. The issue was later resolved with the intervention of the polling staff and security personnel posted on duty there.

Heavy security was put in place to ensure smooth polling in the constituency. The district administration had imposed restrictions under Section 144 of CrPc in the Budgam district, except in the areas where polling was underway. Three companies - two CRPF and one J-K Police were deployed at each polling station. Each polling station has at least one security bunker.

The bypoll result will be declared on April 15.

Watch the video here

Also read: Farooq Abdullah: Wake up India, talk to Pakistan or lose Kashmir

Also read: Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll: Repolling begins at 38 polling stations in Budgam amid tight security

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The University of North Georgia (UNG) set a new record this year with eight students selected as Fulbright Scholars and two as alternates for 2017-2018, placing UNG among the top-producing institutions nationally for Fulbright Scholars.

Overall, 10 UNG students were selected this year as semifinalists for the prestigious award, eight more than the previous year.

"Our students continue to showcase their academic prowess by being selected for renowned national scholarships," said Dr. Tom Ormond, UNG provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "The Fulbright Program selects just under 2,000 students across the nation each year, and for 10 of the semifinalists  and eight finalists  to come from UNG is a remarkable feat."

The Fulbright Program, which operates in more than 160 countries, is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other nations.

"This is an amazing opportunity for my personal, student and professional career," said Faith Brown, the first student from UNG's Gainesville Campus to be selected as a finalist. "I intend to go to graduate school for multimedia studies when I return, and Fulbright is going to open so many doors to help make that possible. I have been trying to figure out what career will make me happy; I've been looking more into teaching at the university level, and screenwriting as a profession. I am excited for the opportunity to travel abroad and to share my knowledge with the youth of Bulgaria, while they share their knowledge with me."

For the 2017-18 cycle, more than 700 institutions put forward in excess of 10,000 student applications for the program. Students are typically in their final semesters of study when applying to the program. The National Screening Committee, composed of 457 senior faculty or field of study professionals, advanced 3,600 students as semi-finalists. From that group, about half will become finalists and have the opportunity to travel abroad for 10 months of the 2017-18 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Fulbright award includes financial support for round-trip transportation to the host country and funding to cover room, board and incidental costs.

The 10 students, their majors, their areas of study and their countries of interest are:

Nicholas Allen - modern languages major in Arabic, selected to be an English teaching assistant in Senegal (finalist)

Faith Brown - communications major, selected to be an English teaching assistant in Bulgaria (finalist)

Rachael Bryant - psychology major, selected to be an English teaching assistant in South Korea (finalist)

Mitchell Fariss - international affairs major, selected to be an English teaching assistant in Germany (finalist)

Darion Gibson, international affairs major, selected to be an English teaching assistant in South Korea (finalist)

Emma Honerbaum, history major, currently an alternate to be an English teaching assistant in Germany (alternate)

Katie McCullough - biology major, selected to conduct research in Poland (finalist)

Noah McDaniel - modern language major in Arabic, selected to be an English teaching assistant in India (finalist)

Anita Renfroe - modern languages major in Arabic, selected to be an English teaching assistant in Malaysia (finalist)

Dezmone Valentine - middle grades education major, currently an alternate to be an English teaching assistant in Estonia (alternate)

The eight Fulbright finalists and two alternates are among the nearly 50 UNG students who have been awarded nationally competitive scholarships to study abroad in the past four years. Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships should contact ncs@ung.edu for more information or visit https://ung.edu/nationally-competitive-scholarships/ to apply. Also, students interested in learning about funding and programs to study abroad in a variety of projects can visit the Center for Global Engagement website.
SANTA FE  The defense team for a former Santa Fe County sheriffs deputy, who admits fatally shooting his law enforcement partner in Las Cruces in 2014, wants the murder case dismissed based in part on evidence from the slain deputys cellphone.

Lawyers for ex-deputy Tai Chan, facing a first-degree murder charge, allege in part that a secret vault was found in the phone of slain Deputy Jeremy Martin that contained sexual text messages to both men and women, as well as photos of Martin wearing womens underwear.

The phones contents allegedly showing that Martin had a secret life would have helped the defense when prosecutors had Martins wife testify about his image of a good family man in Chans trial last year that ended in a mistrial, the new defense motion says.

The phone is an example of the kind of evidence the police intentionally withheld from us, John Day, one of Chans attorneys, said Wednesday.

Chan, then 27, shot and killed fellow Santa Fe County Deputy Martin, 29, on Oct. 28, 2014, at the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, where the two deputies were staying while returning from delivering a prisoner to Arizona. Chan claims self-defense, saying the two argued after drinking at a local bar. A June trial in Las Cruces ended with a hung jury and a re-trial is set for next month.

In their motion to dismiss filed Wednesday alleging outrageous government conduct, defense attorneys Day and Tom Clark claim the state failed to disclose the contents of the phone of Jeremy Martin that revealed crippling evidence of Jeremy Martins secretive, alter ego life.

The state maintained Martins phone contained only innocuous messages, says the motion. But the defense lawyers say that after the phone was sent to an expert during the trials second week, it was found to have a series of text messages between Martin and other women, and other men of a sexually suggestive and flirtatious nature. There was also a series of photographs of Martin in sexually suggestive poses, the motion states.

The defense could have tracked down witnesses and investigated further the depths of this life to potentially reveal admissible evidence, the motion says.

It also notes allegations that recently became public as part of a whistleblower lawsuit. A Las Cruces Police Department detective maintains her department obstructed her investigation of the shooting by withholding resources and the assistance of a forensic investigator because she had reported sexual misconduct within the department.

In addition, the motion cites an April 4 letter from Dona Ana County District Attorney Mark DAntonio to Las Cruces Police Chief Jamie Montoya blasting the chief over issues raised in the whistleblower suit.

DAntonio wrote, The recent situation involving the Tai Chan murder case, in which you intentionally refused to share critical information in a pending and active prosecution with my office, is outrageous and an affront to justice in our community.

DAntonio said neither the detective who filed the whistleblower suit nor the police department ever notified him of the suit or of any related internal affairs investigation, which is deplorable and devoid of any rational thinking. The facts of the suit suggest possible police corruption, obstruction of justice, and the mishandling of a major case involving the alleged cold-blooded assassination of a police officer.  Your departments failure to disclose any information in this matter in a timely manner has made our prosecution more difficult. In addition, you have provided defense counsel alternative methods to attack the States evidence.

A spokesman for DAntonio said the office had not seen the defense motions and had no comment at least until we do. A police department spokesman did not return a phone request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

A separate defense motion filed Wednesday asks that DAntonio be disqualified because hes a witness as a result of the letter critical of the Las Cruces police investigation, said Day.

The defense has sent its own letter to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Albuquerque asking the office to investigate the Las Cruces police, with DAntonios letter to the police chief attached.

Our own investigation of the LCPD investigation into the Tai Chan matter shows remarkable and suspicious instances of a case intentionally mishandled from the beginning, lending credence to the corruption allegations by the detective and the District Attorney, says the defense attorneys letter seeking a federal probe.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

The chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court said state court judges have discretion  and are not bound by specific rules requiring that witnesses testify, for example  in deciding whether a defendant should be held without bail pending trial.

Chief Justice Charles Daniels also said judges should consider whether there is probable cause that a person committed a crime before the suspect is detained pending trial. And he cited specific cases in other states concerning pretrial detention orders and guidelines that judges have used in federal court to make similar decisions.

Those guidelines do not require witnesses in most cases when a judge determines whether to hold a person without bail.

Daniels announced the unanimous opinion from the states five justices from the bench on Wednesday after hearing arguments throughout the day about the rules that should govern proceedings in which prosecutors seek to have a defendant kept in jail until trial. He said the court would be issuing more detailed and written opinions soon about detention hearings.

Raul Torrez, the district attorney in Bernalillo County, filed a petition last month asking the states highest court what prosecutors should or shouldnt be required to do during the hearings. He said that in courts in Bernalillo County, which is by far the biggest and busiest judicial district in the state, some judges have required prosecutors to call witnesses and essentially put on mini-trials when considering whether to have a suspect detained pending trial.

I think weve taken a big step in the right direction, he said after the hearing.

Holding suspects without bail is a new concept in New Mexico. Voters last year overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment that allows judges to hold certain defendants without bail if prosecutors can show there is clear and convincing evidence that the suspect would be a threat to the public if they were released from custody while awaiting trial. Previously, judges could hold defendants without bail only in certain murder cases.

You cant reduce these things to a computer program, Daniels said from the bench. Thats why we have judges who make judgments.

The amendment also said bail for most defendants should be set at an amount they could afford. Daniels said he expects there to be some growing pains as state courts work to make sure defendants in jail are those who are a danger to the public, and not simply those unable to put up the money to be released.

Justices heard arguments on two separate cases in which prosecutors tried to have Albuquerque suspects held without bail. One was Torrezs petition, and the other was an appeal from Elexus Groves, who is being held on two felony murder and other charges for a fatal crash during a chase with police that left a 14-year-old girl and her mother dead. Her appeal was denied.

Torrezs petition cited two specific criminal cases in which District Judge Stan Whitaker denied a request to have the defendants held until trial. One defendant, Paul Salas, is accused of robbing more than 50 Albuquerque businesses in five months. The other defendant allegedly shot his pregnant girlfriend.

During the detention proceedings, Whitaker asked prosecutors to call a police investigator to testify about the evidence. Prosecutors didnt call any witnesses, and Whitaker refused to order that the men be held until their trial.

Daniels said that in certain cases judges may need to ask for more testimony or evidence to hold a defendant without bail.

There is no one-size-fits-all rule. These are decisions made in individual cases involving individual human beings and varying circumstances, Daniels said. To say that a judge must always have eyewitnesses or never have eyewitnesses is inconsistent with the very thought of case-by-case adjudication.

Torrez said the courts ruling was a win for prosecutors around the state.

Theres no bright-line rule on one side or the other, and theres a discretionary act that has to take place, he said. Our chief complaint was the idea that there was going to be a bright-line rule that we could not proceed without a live witness. And I think a big part of what we were concerned about was, frankly, the manpower and resources when we have to take people in a police department or law enforcement agency that is stretched very thin and take them off active investigations and bring them into court.

Jason Wheeless, Salas attorney, acknowledged that its easier for federal court prosecutors to hold defendants without bail pending trial compared with New Mexico state courts. But he did not believe that standard should be extended to state court.

For those of us who value civil liberties and value the protections we have in New Mexico against government action, its really frightening, Wheeless said. What it indicates is that today in New Mexico the average person has less protection against the government then they did yesterday.

Torrez said that this year his office has moved to have about 70 defendants detained until trial, but his office has been successful in those detention hearings about one-third of the time. His office has filed charges against about 800 inmates in the same time, so he said hes seeking detention orders against only the most dangerous defendants.
Motorists who fuel up in the city of Albuquerque would end up paying an extra 2 cents a gallon under a bill sponsored by one city councilor.

Council President Isaac Benton, a Democrat, is proposing the measure to generate additional funding for road repairs and enhancements. Under the proposed ordinance, city voters would have final say on whether the gas tax is enacted.

Revenues generated from the tax could help us greatly in our huge backlog of outdated roadways, Benton said, noting that much of the citys roadway system was built between the 1960s and 1980s and isnt compliant with the American with Disabilities Act. He said the proposed tax is about the condition of roadways and modernizing roadways as much possible, making them safer and more convenient.

The ordinance would generate an estimated $4.8 million a year in new revenue. The city would be able to use that new revenue stream to secure significantly more in bond funding for road projects.

The measure was taken up by the Councils Finance and Government Operations Committee on Monday. The committee voted unanimously to send the ordinance to the full council without a recommendation on whether it should be adopted.

The council is slated to take up the measure at its May 1 meeting. If the council signs off on the proposal, it would then go to Mayor Richard Berry for his consideration.

Its unclear whether Berry, a Republican, would sign the ordinance, which would then send the gas tax proposal to voters for the Oct. 3 municipal election. Already on the ballot are races for mayor and five City Council seats.

In the last eight years, while navigating our recovery from the great recession, Mayor Berry has never raised taxes as he has balanced each one of his budgets, mayoral spokeswoman Rhiannon Samuel said in a statement. This is not our initiative, and we will wait to see if and what legislation lands on the mayors desk.

Albuquerque currently doesnt impose a gas tax, although it does receive a cut of the state gas tax. If the council and mayor sign off on the ordinance and voters approve it, it would go into effect on July 1, 2018.

Our city really could use some spiffing up, Benton said. This is not a beautification project, but it would make (Albuquerque) nicer and more welcoming to visitors.
Silver City resident Richard Mahler, a former Albuquerque Journal columnist, author and outdoors enthusiast, was found dead Sunday night in the Gila Wilderness after a three-day search by about 75 members of search and rescue teams.

Mahlers fiancee, Pamela Morgan, herself a search and rescue volunteer, triggered the search late Thursday when Mahler, 66, failed to return that night after hiking to a site along the San Francisco River, where he placed wildlife cameras.

Brian Fuller, the search and rescue incident commander for the Sunday operation, said Mahlers body was discovered late Sunday near a trail that led back to where he had parked his car.

Mahlers body was sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for a determination of death. I do know they thought it might be a medical event and not foul play, Fuller told the Journal on Wednesday.

Assisting in the search and rescue operation were teams from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Socorro, Las Cruces, Silver City, Catron County and the State Police, Fuller said.

This is nothing I ever imagined could happen, said Morgan. Its extremely ironic and tragic because we were engaged to be married. We didnt have enough time together.

She described Mahler as very kind, very thoughtful and someone who liked to help other people. He was most recently earning a living by editing and formatting books that others had written, and helping them get their books published, Morgan said. She noted that Mahler himself authored and published 13 books, including fiction, non-fiction and travel guides.

Christine Steele, editor of the Silver City Daily Press and a friend of Mahlers, said writing the story of his death was personally difficult for her. She first met Mahler in 2009 when she moved to Silver City and they would often get together over coffee to talk about the different creative projects on which they were working. Mahler, she said, was a prolific writer and among his projects was writing a newsletter for an environmental watchdog agency and contributing pieces for a local monthly arts magazine.

After her story of Mahlers death ran in the Silver City Daily Press, some ladies posted on Facebook that they remembered him from their Zumba class and he danced barefoot, Steele said. But that was Richard. He was very comfortable in his own skin, not judgmental of others, a very thoughtful speaker and writer, and a gentle and calming presence in my life.

Another friend, Debra Begel, met Mahler in the 1990s in Santa Fe, when he wrote a column, Un Poco de Todo, for the Journal North edition.

We were both print journalists and radio producers, though he had more experience in print and I had more in radio. Wed meet for lunch, and swap stories about projects and offer each other advice. We immediately became friends. Richard had a curious mind and was always investigating, looking things up and delving into life. He was also a spiritual and gentle soul. He meditated daily, cared about people, was into fitness, ate well and in moderation. I think everybody who knew him liked him.

Mahler was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. After high school, he attended the Hutchens School of Liberal Studies at Sonoma State College, then an experimental program. He later lived in Wisconsin, and earned a masters degree in journalism and communications.

Jonathan Baylis, a former classmate from Hutchens, recalled that Mahler, whose nickname was Captain, was a real intellectual and a leader among the students.

Baylis, who now lives in British Columbia, said, Richard had a grand sense of humor, was very funny, and was one of those 18-year-olds who was mature beyond his years and was already doing a lot of interesting writing.

In addition to Morgan, Mahler is survived by his father, two brothers, a sister, multiple cousins and other relatives.

A memorial service for him will be held in Silver City at a date to be announced.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexicos top higher education official was not involved in the governors decision to strike college and university funding from the budget, a move she said has created some challenges for the states financially strapped institutions.

Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron told a room full of Albuquerque business leaders Wednesday she prays Gov. Susana Martinez and the Legislature resolve their ongoing budget dispute soon.

She said its challenging times, to be sure, for the states public colleges and universities as they attempt to recruit faculty and enroll students without financial certainty about the fiscal year that starts July 1.

I know students right now who are registering for fall semester saying, Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wheres the money again? Whos paying (for) this? Does the state believe in higher education?' Damron said.

The governor last week used her line-item veto power to eliminate $744 million in university funding as proposed in the Legislature-approved budget, a move expected to compel further negotiations with lawmakers over taxation and spending levels. Democratic legislators have denounced the veto as irresponsible and possibly illegal, but the Republican governor defended her action as a path to balancing the budget without raising taxes and has expressed confidence that higher education funding will be restored.

In a speech to Economic Forum of Albuquerque, Damron said she learned of the governors veto only hours before the general public and that it raised a lot of red flags, partly because the schools themselves  some of which rely on the state for more than 50 percent of their revenue  are supposed to complete and submit their individual budgets to the state by May 1.

Damron said she is advocating for full restoration of the Legislature-backed appropriation for public colleges and universities, but that amount  which aligned with the governors own higher education recommendation  still reflects a 1.1 percent decrease from the current fiscal year. And current year funding is already 7.5 percent less than 2016 levels, she said.

The governor will not raise taxes; one part I do agree with the governor on is, in lean years, that is an opportunity to be efficient, and look at efficiencies and how can we do things differently than weve done in the past. Thats always an opportunity, and we should take that. Weve taken it.  Weve looked at how we can do more with less, and we are doing more with less in many areas. But now were getting to dangerous territory. Any more, we will be losing programs. You want to keep that enrollment going down like this? Were on that path, she said.

A spokesman for Martinez said lawmakers put the governor in a difficult position, but the removal of higher-education funding is only temporary.

Martinez was forced to make tough decisions  and that included taking out higher education funding with the full expectation that lawmakers will not only restore it, but also take this crisis seriously and do what the people elected them to do, spokesman Michael Lonergan said in a written statement Wednesday.

While budget questions abound, Damron said in Wednesdays wide-ranging presentation that New Mexico higher education is actually in an exciting place, and noted her departments success getting bills through the Legislature and its efforts to help students graduate.

She cited a number of changes already made, such as using more performance-based models to dictate some state funding, as well as the current effort to create common course numbering across all New Mexicos public higher education institutions. That makes it easier for students to transfer from one school to another without losing credits and momentum.

Damron teared up while describing the collaboration it took to build such a system, noting that faculty from around the state worked together within 79 subject-area teams to review courses and hone the curriculum. The goal is that an entry-level English class at Central New Mexico Community College, for example, covers most of the same ground as the same-numbered course at University of New Mexico.

The best ideas and practices prevailed, she said.

The faculty came together and looked at each others courses, and when one wasnt quite where it should be, organically in almost all (instances)  that faculty would say, Wait  youre doing that better than I am. Tell me how you do that. I want to add that to my course,' she said. It moves me to tears, because thats the dedication our faculty have for our students.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires only the best people. But his personnel choices keep coming back to haunt him.

One of the people Trump hired for the White House was working as a foreign agent while advising him during the election. His campaign chairman caught the Justice Departments attention for similarly surreptitious work. And a third campaign adviser was reportedly surveilled by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether or not he was a Russian spy.

The tales of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page  none of whom still work for Trump  have created a steady drip of allegations that have clouded Trumps early presidency and raised persistent questions about his judgment.

At worst, Trumps personnel picks appear to have left his campaign  and perhaps his White House  vulnerable to the influence of foreign powers. At best, they expose the long-term implications of his understaffed and inexperienced campaign organization and undermine his promises to surround himself with top-notch talent.

Vetting new hires is standard procedure for presidential campaigns for exactly this reason, said Alex Conant, who advised Sen. Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign. Every employee is also a potential liability on a presidential campaign.

During the campaign, Trump said he hired top, top people and would fill his administration with only the best and most serious people.

Yet Manafort, Flynn and Page have indeed become political liabilities for Trump that he cant shake in the White House. All three are being scrutinized as part of the FBI and congressional investigations into whether Trump associates helped Russia meddle in the 2016 election. The president has denied any nefarious ties to Russia and says he has no knowledge that his advisers were working with Moscow during the election.

The presidents culpability appears greatest with Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who traveled with Trump frequently during the campaign and was tapped as national security adviser after the election. Flynn had been lobbying for a company with ties to Turkey during the 2016 election and even wrote an editorial on behalf of his client that was published on Election Day.

No one expects them to do the equivalent of an FBI background check, but a simple Google search could have solved a lot of these problems, Dan Pfeiffer, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trumps team.

After Trumps victory, Flynns lawyers alerted the transition team that he may have to register as a lobbying for a foreign entity, according to a person with knowledge of those discussions. The White House hired him anyway. After the inauguration, Flynns lawyers told the White House counsels office that the national security adviser would indeed have to move forward with that filing.

Flynn was fired in February after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States.

Lobbying for foreign interests is legal and lucrative. Both Republican and Democratic operatives offer their services to overseas clients. But the Justice Department requires Americans working on behalf of foreign interests to register, disclosing the nature of their work, the foreigners they dealt with and the amount of money they made.

Willful failure to register for foreign lobbying work can carry up to a five-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department rarely brings criminal charges and instead urges violators to register.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Manafort said that he, too, under pressure from the Justice Department, would formally file for prior foreign lobbying. Manaforts work for political interests in Ukraine occurred before he was hired as Trumps campaign chairman, spokesman Jason Maloni said, though the U.S. government raised questions about his activities after he was hired by Trump.

Manafort was pushed out of Trumps campaign in August after The Associated Press reported that his consulting firm had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraines ruling political party without disclosing that work to the U.S. government.

The White House did not respond to questions Wednesday about when Trump learned about Manaforts foreign lobbying work and his discussions with the U.S. government about registering as a foreign agent.

The questions surrounding Page are perhaps the most serious. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Justice Department obtained a highly secretive warrant to monitor his communications because there was reason to believe he was working as a Russian spy.

In March, Trump personally announced Page as part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Pages ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the little-known investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department only obtained the warrant after the campaign distanced itself from Page.

In an interview Thursday with ABCs Good Morning America, Page described his affiliation with the Trump campaign as having served as an informal member of a committee which was put together  a team of individuals who were looking at various foreign policy issues.

Chris Ashby, a Republican elections lawyer, said that while its easy to blame Trump for missing red flags about his campaign advisers, its not always possible to dig up details that potential hires arent willing to disclose on their own.

In the ideal world, you could rely on paid background checks, but youd have to have the money and the time, Ashby said. The farther down the ranks you go and certainly when you reach the ranks of unpaid advisers, that becomes impractical.

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Associated Press writer Vivian Salama contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC
NEW YORK  There are no signs that a crime was committed in the death of the first black woman on New York states highest court, police said Thursday after her body was found on the bank of the Hudson River.

Medical examiners are still planning to perform an autopsy on 65-year-old Sheila Abdus-Salaam.

The New York City police harbor unit retrieved her body from the Hudson on Wednesday, a day after she was reported missing.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the states Court of Appeals in 2013, called her a trailblazing jurist.

As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the states Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer, Cuomo said. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be missed deeply.

Abdus-Salaam graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School.

She started her career as a staff attorney for East Brooklyn Legal Services. She served as a judge on the Manhattan state Supreme Court for 14 years.
The re-poll, ordered by the Election Commission of India after Sunday's violence, began at 7am in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The repolling began at 7am and will end at 4pm.

By India Today Web Desk, Shuja-ul-Haq : Just 221 votes were cast in the first two hours at 38 polling stations where re-poll is being held in Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency today. Voting began at 7 am amid tight security. Violence had marred the polling in the by-election in which eight people had lost their lives following which, the Election Commission of India had ordered for re-polling. Several people were injured in firing by security forces on rampaging mobs in various parts of the constituency. The constituency recorded merely 7 per cent voter turnout.

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Seven of the eight deaths in security forces firing took place in Budgam district, especially in the areas where the Election Commission ordered to hold a repoll on Tuesday.

According to returning officer Farooq A Lone, no polling station has been changed. "The polling stations will be located at the places they earlier existed. Security was the main concern on the polling day and that is the only aspect being taken care of more seriously this time. Otherwise, everything is the same," Lone said.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Re-poll was ordered in 38 polling stations of Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah tehsils of Budgam district where violence had disrupted the process on Sunday. The polling stations are located in central Kashmir's Budgam district, the worst-hit by violence during the polling on Sunday. The district administration has imposed restrictions under Section 144 of CrPc in the Budgam district, except in the areas where polling is underway. Three companies- two CRPF and one J&K Police have been deployed at each polling station. Each polling station has at least one security bunker. Several SP level officers on duty to monitor the security arrangements. Chief Electoral Office, Jammu and Kashmir Shantmanu said the poll process at all the polling stations will be video graphed and one micro-observer from central government offices will also be deputed for each station. According to Shantmanu, all other arrangements mandated by the Election Commission of India for ensuring free and fair polls have also been put in place. Srinagar recorded only 7.14 per cent of the 12.61 lakh electorate cast their votes during the polling for by-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday amidst large scale protests and violence around polling stations at dozens of places across the constituency. Counting of the votes for the constituency will take place on April 15.

With inputs from Shuja-ul-Haq

ALSO READ | Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll: Election Commission orders repoll in 38 polling stations

ALSO READ | Srinagar by-election on 38 booths tomorrow, heavy security deployed after Sunday violence killed 8

ALSO WATCH | Battle for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat: 50 paramilitary companies deployed, internet services suspended

--- ENDS ---
WINSLOW, Ariz.  An independent review of the Winslow Police Department has been completed in response to an officers deadly shooting of a woman last year.

The review stemmed from the March 2016 shooting of a 27-year-old Loreal Tsingine who was shot five times after allegedly shoplifting while holding a pair of scissors.

KPNX-TV (http://bit.ly/2o70jKb) reports the review has found better training of new recruits as a pressing need for the department. It found the current training program in need of a smoother transition from the academy into the field and suggested a chiefs advisory committee.

The department received credit for changes it made after the shooting, including efforts to place more officers on the streets.

Former Officer Austin Shipley, who shot the woman, resigned in October after results of an internal investigation surfaced.

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Information from: KPNX-TV, http://www.12news.com
Two suspects in armed robberies and a stabbing incident in Taos were taken into custody Wednesday night by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies, according to a news release from Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe.

Martin Rivera, 21, and Joanne Montoya, 16, both of Taos, are suspected of stealing a pickup truck from a man at the Ranchos de Taos Post Office earlier in the week. New Mexico State Police called off a pursuit of the suspects for safety reasons, but later located the abandoned truck crashed off a county road near Lyden. The suspects could not be found.

Acting on information from Taos County, BCSO surveilled an apartment in Albuquerque and apprehended Rivera, who was in possession of a handgun, and Montoya about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday. Taos County Deputy Marvin Armijo charged Rivera with multiple felonies in connection to the theft, according to the release.

We are glad this manhunt is over and no one else was hurt at the hands of Martin Rivera, Armijo said. We are thankful to the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and all other (law enforcement) agencies that assisted us in this case.

Rivera, also known as Baby Joker, was previously wanted on warrants for violating probation stemming from an aggravated burglary. He and Montoya, who was reported missing last month and was listed as an endangered juvenile, are also suspects in an April 6 stabbing in the parking lot of a Smiths grocery store in Taos, and an April 10 armed robbery at a Walmart.
WASHINGTON  The photo from inside Donald Trumps makeshift situation room at Mar-a-Lago affirmed what White House insiders have recognized for some time  that Dina Powell has quietly established herself as a White House power.

Though sandwiched between other administration officials, the deputy national security adviser for strategy stands out as the only woman among 13 staffers in the room on the night the president ordered the missile attack in Syria.

And in a White House that is split between outsider ideologues and more traditional operators, Powell is viewed as a steady force in the growing influence of the latter. Her West Wing experience, conservative background and policy chops have won over Trumps daughter and son-in-law. Now, Powell is at the table as the president turns more of his attention to international affairs, attempting to craft a foreign policy out of a self-described flexible approach to the world.

No one should ever underestimate Dina Powell. says Brian Gunderson, a former State Department chief of staff. He hired her to work in former House Majority Leader Dick Armeys office early in her career and later worked with her in George W. Bushs White House.

Powell, 43, declined comment for this story.

She is a rare Bush veteran in a White House that has largely shunned its Republican predecessors legacy. She came via Goldman Sachs  decidedly not a rarity for the new president  originally to work on economic development at the behest of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. An Egyptian-American with international experience and fluency in Arabic, she was soon moved to the National Security Council, though she retains her economic title.

Powells ties to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who recruited her, and to economic adviser Gary Cohn, a fellow Goldman alumnus, mean she has been labeled by some as part of a more moderate group at the White House. But GOP leaders describe her as a longtime conservative thinker.

She has quickly earned the respect of the president, who said in a statement to The Associated Press: Dina is an extremely intelligent and competent member of my team. She is highly respected and a great person.

National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster said he recruited Powell because of her exceptional expertise and leadership skills, to lead an effort to restore the strategic focus of the national security council. She has already accomplished this shift in a few weeks, establishing great relationships across our government and with key international allies.

Powells foreign policy experience was forged under Condoleezza Rice, who brought her into the State Department when the Bush administration was trying to improve diplomacy in the Middle East.

Calling her a member of my Middle East brain trust, the former secretary of state said that Powell knows the region well and not just confined to Egypt. She added that Powell was somebody who understood the limits of secularism in the Middle East but the dangers of fundamentalism. She brought sensitivities to those issues.

Still, Powell is plunging into a national security role at a fraught moment, as the United States ponders next steps with Syria, navigates complex relationships with North Korea, China and Russia and seeks to combat the rise of ISIS. All under a president, who campaigned on a platform of America First but whose foreign policy has proved unpredictable.

Tommy Vietor, who served as NSC spokesman under Barack Obama, said the administration is still struggling to present a coherent foreign policy.

Does America First mean we dont care anymore? he asked. They need to do a better job making clear people understand where they stand on many issues.

Powell was brought onto the national security team after a period of tumult.

Trumps first national security adviser, Michael Flynn was asked to resign in February amid revelations that he misled senior administration officials about his Russian contacts. One of his deputies, K.T. McFarland  notably absent from the Florida photo  is expected to exit soon. She is in line to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore.

As deputy national security adviser for strategy, Powell is working to coordinate the various U.S. security-related agencies and advisers. According to a recent national security memo, she attends meetings of the National Security Councils Principals Committee and Deputies Committee. Those advisers briefed Trump with options last week after a chemical attack that the U.S. determined was ordered by Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Born in Cairo, Powell moved to the United States with her family at the age of four and had to learn to speak English. She is a Coptic Christian, the faith that was targeted with bombings of two churches in Cairo on Palm Sunday.

Entering Republican politics at a young age, Powell put herself through the University of Texas by working in the state Legislature. After stints with several GOP congressional members and at the Republican National Committee, she joined George W. Bushs administration. There she became the youngest person to ever run a presidents personnel office. Later she served Rice as assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs and as deputy undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.

From the White House, Powell went to Goldman Sachs, where she worked for a decade, becoming a partner, looking after global investment and serving as president of the company foundation, overseeing an effort to invest in female entrepreneurs around the world.

Speculation is already underway about whether her current role could grow.

Shes already ascending in a big way, said Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, who has known Powell for years. My sense is she will continue to be someone to look for.

___

AP writer Vivian Salama contributed to this report.
Patty Kehoe resigned as president of Molina Healthcare of New Mexico this week, and has been replaced on an interim basis by Daniel Sorrells, a former Molina president and current employee.

Kehoe, who had been president since 2013, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

A statement from the California-based company said Sorrells appointment would ensure the continuity of day-to-day operations. Sorrells had been head of Molinas Oklahoma operation.

Kehoe was previously a vice president of health-care services at Molina and had spent 20 years as a nurse.

Molina, provides insurance through New Mexicos health exchange and to Medicaid and Medicare patients. It offers Medicaid plans in 11 other states.
FORT COLLINS, Colo.  A Colorado college student who was thrown face-first to the sidewalk by a police officer in a video that spread online says shes still recovering from her injuries and getting death threats after her arrest.

Michaella Surat told Good Morning America that a bruise on her chin has healed a bit in the week since her arrest in Fort Collins but she still has numbness in her face and cant open her mouth to eat.

A jail booking photo released by police didnt show visible injuries to Surats face. Since the video gained attention, the 22-year-old said she cant go to school without worrying someone will assault her.

Police say she hit an officer multiple times after her boyfriend was detained outside a bar and grabbed an officer by the throat. Authorities say force was needed to arrest her.

Police are investigating.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska  Alaskas picturesque Cook Inlet is home to endangered beluga whales and wild salmon  and a spider web of oil and natural gas pipelines on the sea floor, many of them placed there five decades ago.

Cook Inlets petroleum production is often overshadowed by Alaskas giant North Slope oil fields, but the inlet is in the spotlight as millions of cubic feet of natural gas spew from an underwater pipeline owned by the inlets largest petroleum producer, Hilcorp Alaska LLC.

The federal agency that oversees pipeline safety has strongly recommended that Hilcorp develop a safety management system for its pipelines.

Environmental advocates are demanding immediate pipeline inspections by federal authorities, not Hilcorp, in the area with earthquakes and some of the worlds strongest tides.

The age of the pipelines significantly increased the risk of failure, especially when coupled with the harsh offshore Cook Inlet environment, Kristen Monsell, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, wrote in a letter to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.

Hilcorp has not said whether it will craft the safety management system but insists the age of its pipeline system does not pose a threat and would not affect maintenance and inspection requirements already enforced by state and federal regulators.

Hilcorp is ready, willing and able to make the necessary investments to keep us working in Alaska for many years to come, said David Wilkins, Hilcorp Alaska senior vice president, in an emailed response to questions.

The inlet lined by mountains stretches 180 miles (290 kilometers) from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage. Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, northern sea otters and salmon swim in its waters.

Besides earthquakes that periodically rattle Cook Inlet, tides fluctuate more than 25 feet (7.6 meters) and are so strong that they move car-size boulders along the sea floor, said Lynda Giguere, spokeswoman for the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, set up after the Exxon Valdez oil spill to promote environmentally safe marine transportation.

Hilcorp entered the Alaska market in 2012 and owns 15 of the 17 Cook Inlet petroleum platforms. The gas leak is in a pipeline carrying processed natural gas from shore to four platforms, where its burned to provide electricity.

An analysis of gas flow indicated the pipeline probably started leaking in mid-December and initially spewed up to 310,000 cubic feet (8,780 cubic meters) of natural gas per day. Hilcorp lowered pressure in the line to reduce the flow to 85,000 to 115,000 cubic feet (2,407 to 3,257 cubic meters) per day.

Divers on Monday in 80 feet (24.4 meters) of water found a 2-inch (5-centimeter) gash on the bottom of the line where it rests on a boulder embedded in the sea floor. Repairs are underway.

On April 1, Hilcorp shut down a separate pipeline carrying crude oil from a production platform after workers felt an impact, saw bubbles surfacing from the water and spotted oil on the surface.

Based on the size of the slicks, Hilcorp estimated that less than 3 gallons (11.5 liters) of oil spilled. Hilcorp said tests showed the pipeline was not the source of the spill and an investigation is underway to find it.

Also on April 1, Hilcorp shut down a pipeline that carries natural gas from a production platform to an onshore processing facility after discovering that volumes produced did not match what was received.

Fourteen of Hilcorps 15 platforms were built in 1968 or earlier. The company has spent $165 million on maintenance and infrastructure in Cook Inlet and plans to spend an additional $31 million in 2017, Wilkins said.

The pipelines made of steel have special corrosion protection treatment and are covered in a cement-based product to keep them weighed down.

While environmentalists say older pipelines pose greater risks, Wilkins said the industry and even some regulators disagree.

He cited former National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Deborah Hersman, who said in 2013 that age is not an issue for adequately maintained and inspected pipelines.

Steel pipelines can last indefinitely with proper maintenance, inspections and steps to prevent corrosion, Wilkins said.
PHOENIX  A Democratic member of the Arizona House has apologized to his colleagues for a Facebook post where he said he wanted to punch the Republican sponsor of a school voucher bill in the throat.

Rep. Jesus Rubalcava told his colleagues Thursday that his post was definitely unprofessional and unacceptable and I want this body to know that I have apologized to Sen. Debbie Lesko for my comment and I sincerely apologize.

The freshman lawmaker from Gila Bend posted the comment after Leskos bill vastly expanding the states private school voucher program passed last week. Gov. Doug Ducey quickly signed the measure.

Lesko said she appreciated the apology. But she called the comment itself very disturbing and totally inappropriate.

The comment was first reported by the Arizona Capitol Times.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexicos legislative leaders authorized their attorneys on Thursday to sue Gov. Susana Martinez over her veto of funding for state universities and the Legislature itself.

And they directed their staff to begin gathering signatures for an extraordinary session  a legislative session called by lawmakers themselves and open to any topic.

It would take signatures from three-fifths of the Legislature to enter such a session, which has happened only once in New Mexico history, officials said.

Top Democrats in the Legislature have repeatedly questioned whether the Republican governor had authority to reject funding for an equal branch of government and for universities mentioned in the state Constitution.

Martinez, in turn, says that the removal of funding is only temporary and that it can be restored through a budget compromise acceptable to her administration and lawmakers.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said he and his colleagues are pursuing every option to address the states budget crisis  whether its through litigation, an extraordinary session or a negotiated agreement with Martinez.

Her action in unilaterally rejecting the bipartisan plan that was sent up there  and then trying to selectively veto pieces of the budget  has created a constitutional crisis, Wirth told reporters.

A spokesman for Martinez accused lawmakers of refusing to negotiate and turning to the courts instead.

This just demonstrates that the Senate is more interested in jamming through one of the largest tax increases in state history than coming together in a bipartisan way to find compromise, spokesman Michael Lonergan said.  This isnt the way government works.

Thursdays vote and decision-making happened behind closed doors in a meeting of the Legislative Council, a group of lawmakers who oversee year-round operations of the Legislature as an institution and its nonpartisan staff.

The move intensifies a political  and now legal  clash between Democrats who hold majorities in the Legislature and Martinez, a Republican in the middle of her second term.

They have been at odds for months over how to resolve a budget crisis triggered, in part, by flagging revenue from oil and gas operations in the state.

Democrats have a 9-7 edge on the Legislative Council, though it wasnt clear whether Thursdays decisions were unanimous, along party lines or some other combination.

A staff member simply announced the decisions in public, and lawmakers said they decided to refer all questions to staff or attorneys.

Wirth, however, agreed to answer some questions about his own involvement in budget talks. He and House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, met privately with Martinez late Thursday after the Legislative Council meeting.

To call an extraordinary session, at least 42 members of the 70-person House and 26 members of the 42-person Senate would have to sign on in support.

Democrats in the House hold a 38-32 majority over Republicans, so theyd need to pick up support from at least four Republicans to call an extraordinary session.

Democrats in the Senate hold a 26-16 edge, meaning they wouldnt need any Republican support. But Wirth said he expected bipartisan support for an extraordinary session.

An extraordinary session is only called if both chambers agree.

Disappointed

Martinez has said repeatedly that she plans to call legislators back into session herself this month to craft a budget that doesnt include tax increases. Funding would be restored for universities and the Legislature through a budget compromise, her administration says.

The governor remains disappointed that (lawmakers) continue to dig their heels into the sand and shirk their responsibility to do the good work of the people, said Lonergan, the spokesman. Regardless, the governor is going to continue to try to work together to find common ground and solve this budget crisis.

Democrats say they have already sent Martinez a sensible budget that included at least some ideas suggested by her administration.

It passed with bipartisan support in the Senate and along party lines in the House.

Democratic lawmakers argue that the governor could have used her line-item veto authority to more narrowly craft a budget package she could support.

Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, said Thursday that the decision to pursue litigation is necessary to ensure the state Constitution is upheld. As legislators, we take our oath to support the Constitution and the laws of the state seriously.

A special session called by the governor is limited to topics she approves.

An extraordinary session is open to any topic. That could give lawmakers extra flexibility to pursue veto overrides or take up other priorities.

Financial pressure

The potential lawsuit and extraordinary session come as Martinez and lawmakers face incredible financial pressure. The state has already exhausted much of its cash reserves and endured a downgrade in its credit rating.

The budget dispute, however, cannot be solved entirely in court.

Martinez used her line-item veto authority to remove funding for higher education and the Legislature in a budget bill approved by lawmakers.

A separate budget bill, however, would have provided revenue to support the spending, including about $350 million in tax increases. Martinez vetoed that measure, too, so even if spending were restored by a court, the governor and lawmakers would still have to agree on a revenue package to support the budget.

Closed meeting

The Legislative Council includes the House speaker, Senate president pro tem and the floor leaders for each political party. Some rank-and-file members of each body are also members.

The group met privately  reporters and others were kicked out of the room  for about two hours Thursday at the Capitol.

The state Open Meetings Act allows government bodies to meet in closed session in certain circumstances, such as to discuss litigation.

After the closed session ended, Raul Burciaga, director of the Legislative Council Service, announced to the public what motions had passed. That portion of the meeting was open to the public.

He said the Legislative Council had passed a variety of motions directing:

 Attorneys for the Legislature to pursue litigation regarding the constitutional validity of the governors attempted vetoes of funding for the legislative branch.

The council passed similar motions for litigation on vetoes of funding for state educational institutions and other core functions of government.

 Attorneys to pursue litigation on 10 vetoes in which lawmakers say the governor failed to state specific objections to the bills.

Lawmakers say the state Constitution requires the governor to mention her objections, not just say she has vetoed a bill without offering a reason.

The Martinez administration disputes that theres any legal question about the validity of the vetoes.

 Staff members to begin collecting signatures of legislators to call the Legislature into an extraordinary session.

Thats succeeded only once  in 2002, when lawmakers called themselves into session and voted to override then-Gov. Gary Johnsons veto of a budget measure.
Emami Ltd., the FMCG major, known for offering innovative products, has launched HE On The Go Waterless Face Wash under the male grooming brand HE. HE On The Go is the countrys first waterless facewash, developed by Emami based on its keen consumer insight and the penchant for offering effective& clutter breaking products.

To mark this launch, Emami along with WATConsult - part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, has launched a digital campaigns, #HEOnTheGo, #Waterlessfor its latest product HE On The Go Waterless FaceWashto reach out to the young netizens of the nation.

Conventionally, using a facewash requires water for cleansing. But what does one do to clean the face where water is not available, especially when one is on the move? HE has come up with the perfect solution with HE On The Go Waterless Facewash. HE Face wash is the first of its kind waterless face wash that offers cleansing on the go and helps one to present a groomed look anytime, anywhere.

With this innovation, HE (Advanced Grooming) offers a differentiated product, creating a new niche within the emerging face wash category. With aloe vera and minerals from marine extracts, the product offers ease of use and convenience, making the user look cleaner, fresher and brighter - anytime, anywhere.

Speaking on the launch & the new campaign, Mr Harsha V Agarwal, Director, Emami Ltd said We are very excited with the introduction of HE On The Go Waterless Face Wash, a first in India, from our male grooming brand HE. We are confident that todays alpha male, who are constantly on the move, will find this innovative face wash extremely convenient and refreshing. The product has all the attributes to become a constant companion to every Indian man.

To create intrigue amongst its target audience, HE released The Flying Basin teaser video early this month. The video promoted the idea of a possibility of cleansing ones face while on the go. The video showed people booking flying basins through an app to wash their face whenever water was not easily available to them. The concept video generated intrigue and interest among consumers and received 2.4 million views and 4300+ shares within first 4 days of it going live. The video made the consumers wonder about whether such a concept could be a reality.

Flying Basin video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5CB6mjH6Do

The flying basin campaign was followed by the launch of, HE On The Go Waterless face wash, through an innovative on ground event featuring India's firstWaterless Boothin Mumbaiwhere people could wash their face on the go. The booth was integrated with Twitter wherein once consumers pressed the button to dispense the Face Wash, an automated tweet was sent from the brands handle stating the number of users who have washed their faces using ZERO water. This activity was encapsulated in a video where consumers shared their feedback on the product.

Launch video link - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b7auDX-j45Y

HE On The Go Waterless Face Wash would be available across Indian metros in various sku sizes such as 50gm and 20 gm packs, priced at Rs.85/- and Rs.35/- respectively.
iGenero, an end-to-end digital marketing solutions provider have added another dimension to its portfolio of services through the introduction of B51 (www.b51.in), a chatbot offering which is envisioned to be a humanoid. It will be rebranded and reprogrammed as per individual brands business, culture and requirements.

iGenero is one of the few agencies who has been able to identify the growing trend of fewer apps and growing conversations. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft recently quoted, Human language is the new user interface. A statement pointing out that in the past few years apps used per person/month is stagnant at 26 apps, a statistic that is predicted to steadily decline in the coming years.

Chatbots are all set to replace them. Chatbots are like Google, but go beyond just questions and allow you to book restaurants or flights, make appointments, send emails or order takeaway for you without the additional need of sifting through millions of product listings and bad search results with a conversational touch. They will be integrated on already established messenger platforms like FB Messenger, Whatsapp, Slack or on the present website eradicating the need for downloading another app. In China, 600 million people use messaging app WeChat every month to hail taxis, book doctors appointments, pay utility bills. iGenero introduces chatbots to India in the real terms.

iGeneros B51 will enhance customer experiences through every touchpoint of the brand. B51 will enable brands to connect with their customers in real time regardless of the platform they choose to communicate through. It will help in lead generation by elevating the level of customer engagement through interactive and entertaining content anytime and anywhere the customer chooses to connect with the brand.

B51 will help the brand transcend their customer service to 24/7 convenience. All the streamlined services of the brand can be taken care by the chatbot, eliminating human error and time constraints. Its encoding reduces the lag between question and response, giving the end customer a feeling of spontaneity and attention. Its memory feature enables it to remember customers giving it a personal touch and elevating level of brand loyalty. B51 can be integrated seamlessly across platforms like FB Messenger, Telegram, Slack, Twitter or your own website and CRM software.

Commenting on B51s introduction, Aditya Gupta, CoFounder of iGenero said, Artificial intelligence has evolved significantly and B51 is one of the best products to come out of it. In the short term, B51 will help brands in providing real-time customer support, lead generation, drive traffic to brand communities give brands a multi-channel presence. However, in the long-term B51 will be programmed to gauge emotions and respond to the customer in the same state of mind they are in. Increasing customer engagement manifold and providing brands a 24/7, 365-day brand ambassador.
Suresh Chavhanke was planning to visit Sambhal today to lead a protest rally. The western Uttar Pradesh district has been on the boil since March 29 when locals attacked police. Chavhanke is also facing rape charges.

By India Today Web Desk: Sudarshan TV channel editor Suresh Chavhanke has been arrested for inciting communal hatred by Uttar Pradesh police. Suresh Chavhanke was arrested by Lucknow Police from Amausi Airport late on Wednesday (April 12).

The Sudarshan channel head has been booked under Sections 153 A(1), 295A and 505(1)B of the Indian Penal Code and also under section 16 of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1955.

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Chavhanke was scheduled to visit Sambhal today to lead a protest rally. Sambhal, some 370 km away from Lucknow, has remained on the boil since last couple of weeks when locals attacked police on March 29. Situation remains tense in the western Uttar Pradesh district.

It was alleged that Sudarshan channel had telecast a programme in which its Suresh Chavhanke dished out objectionable content because of which tension prevailed in the city. The FIR was registered by the SHO when the matter was raised during a meeting of the Peace Committee on April 9, in which prominent citizens pointed out the programme telecast between April 6 to April 8.

RAPE CHARGES AGAINST SURESH CHAVHANKE

Suresh Chavhanke is also facing rape and criminal intimidation charges. An FIR was lodged against him in November, 2016 on a complaint by a woman employee of his channel.

In her complaint, the employee alleged that she was sexually harassed by Suresh Chavhanke for over five years.

Narayan Sai, son of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, was also named in the FIR registered by the Noida Police.

ALSO READ:

ScoopWhoop puts out official statement after FIR against co-founder alleging sexual harassment

After TVF's Arunabh Kumar, ScoopWhoop co-founder Suparn Pandey accused of sexual harassment

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Mumbai Obstetrics Gynaecological Society (MOGS) and PVR Nest, CSR arm of PVR Ltd., partners to announce the launch of Shes Ambassador program - a first ever health and leadership program to develop health champions. The program aims to empower young people to make educational and sustainable decisions favorable to healthy lifestyles and social development. It will address the hidden concerns of adolescents, make health education and safe learning accessible to young girls, educate on health planning, influence social and economic integration of adolescents, provide youth counselling services and promote health policies and best hygiene practices.

The launch ceremony, organised at PVR Juhu, saw the presence of crest influencers from across the city such as Ms. Raveena Tandon (Actor), Ms. Priya Tanna (Editor-in-Chief, Vogue), Dr. Nandita Palshetkar (President MOGS), Dr. Noorjehan Safia Niaz (Co-founder Bharatiya Muslim Msahila Andolan), Ms. Veena Mankar (Founder & Chairperson, Swadhaar FinSer Pvt. Ltd.), Ms. Farida Lambay (Co-founder, Pratham Education Trust) along with Mr Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures.

Ms. Priya Dutt, Former Member of Parliament and Managing Trustee Nargis Dutt Foundation was the chief guest on the occasion, while H.E. Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Nadir Patel graced the ceremony as the Guest of Honour.

On the occasion, Ms. Priya Dutt, Former Member of Parliament and Managing Trustee Nargis Dutt Foundation said, Shes Ambassador Campaign to develop the leadership capacities in adolescent girls by PVR Nest and MOGS is a step in the right direction. The campaign is also in sync with my endeavour, which is to improve the lives of children, especially young girls through education. It is about time that the society realises the underlying importance of any form of education to break stereo types. Being a women and a proud citizen of Mumbai completely support PVR Nest and MOGS in this initiative.

The ceremony, which also witnessed widespread participation from corporate houses, educational institutes and civil society organisations included the premiere of Shes Ambassador campaign film, featuring Raveena Tandon, a Tibetan Meditation Bowl Performance by renowned artist Tritha Sinha and a power packed panel session revolving around Building Capacities and Impacting lives through adolescents.

Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, President (2016-17) MOGS said, MOGS has always invested in creating awareness on health issues. Shes Ambassador initiative is an extension of our agenda to mainstream health education in our society and has been conceptualized keeping in mind the specific need of empowering adolescent girls to take control of their health and also act as ambassadors of change within their communities.

The initiative envisions developing the health and leadership skills of 10,000 school girls across 50 schools (Govt, Non-govt) in collaboration with celebrity influencers on five thematic zones namely: Nutrition & Fitness, Menstrual health & hygiene, Communicable & non-communicable diseases, Sanitation & cleanliness and Mental health & well-being, using creative tools like films as a medium of education.

Deepa Menon, Sr. Vice President  Corporate Communication & CSR, PVR Ltd, said, Using films as a medium to promote awareness on social causes has been the forte of PVR Nest, through this campaign we are going to train the adolescent girls of Mumbai to develop an understanding on the precautions they need to take in order to maintain a good health and bring in all relevant stakeholders from the city to turn health awareness into a social movement to effect a positive change.

She further added, As per recent reports, more girls are being born in Mumbai city than ever before and the female-to-male sex ratio at 1033/1000 here is better than the national average. However, the state of health among the adolescents remain a cause of concern with data suggesting that nearly 21.66% young girls were moderately underweight, whereas 2.87% were grossly underweight against the state average of 16.27%. Therefore, in the given situation, the campaign will be the apt initiative amongst adolescent girls to inspire change within themselves and the communities by acting as Health Ambassadors.

The initiative will also give an opportunity to the participating children from schools to create their own films on the five thematic areas, after exhaustive film-marking workshops, which will be screened across PVR Cinemas to spark over 80 million new conversations.
In a recent development, iContract Advertising has appointed Tanvi Jain as the Senior Vice President and Head for their digital division  iContract and she will be based out of the Mumbai office. In her new role, Tanvi will be responsible for managing and growing iContract - digital offering to clients across all markets.

Tanvi is an alumnus of Delhi University. A business leader with around13 years of experience working at some the top Digital agencies in the country, Tanvi brings in long-term brand-building with rich digital experience. She joined us from Dentsu Webchutney, where she was heading their largest branch in Delhi. Prior to that she has led the digital brand strategy & implementation for multiple clients like Airtel, Canon, Hitachi, Adidas, Coca Cola, DS Group, IndusInd Bank, ICICI, Beiersdorf ME and more. She is a fierce proponent of integration between creative and media in the face of over fragmentation of the medium. With her robust background in both creative & media agencies, she has created successful digital strategies for clients by building a continuous optimum mix of the two.

Speaking on the appointment, Rana Barua, CEO, Contract Advertising said; Tanvi joins iContract, when we are stepping up our growth ambition and have laid out clear plans for both digital & integrated growth. Her impressive work and experience will help in growing iContracts digital offerings to its clients across all markets. And look forward to a seamless integration of our creative vision to offer the best value proposition to our clients.

Commenting on her new innings, Tanvi Jain, Sr. VP and Digital Head, iContract said; Contract India is a great institution with its 30 year legacy and home to some of the most phenomenal people in the industry. The talent, quality of work and client partnerships at iContract are very impressive. I am really excited to be a part of the team and looking forward to building the iContract brand with a much sharper focus and vision."
Whether it was the strains of the sarangi for Doordarshan or the lingering signature tune at the end of a Britannia ad  sound has always played an intrinsic part of marketing, be it brand-led communication or communication of an experiential kind. Sound has subconsciously always been part of communication in India across the years.

Now, The Social Street has announced an exclusive partnership with Amp.Amsterdam, a global leader in sound design, identity and innovation to help brands in India leverage the science of sound in their brand communication.

The partnership is set to merge the virtual with the real and make experiences which are interactive and hence, contagiously social. What you hear affects what you see. Maximising the power of sound and sight, the collaboration will work to help brands bring to life a sonic identity for themselves that is clutter-breaking, relevant, unique, and engaging yet consistently true to its brand promise.

Pratap Bose, Chairman & Co-Founder, The Social Street, commented, Our partnership with Amp.Amsterdam was just the one we were looking for, as we aim for greater uniqueness in our array of brand offerings and getting deeper into the immersive experiential experience.

Dagmar Heijmans, Strategy Director & Co-Founder, Amp.Amsterdam added here, The DNA and the people at The Social Street are a perfect match with the team, vision and philosophy at Amp.Amsterdam. We are very proud to partner up with Indias most innovative ad agency and open up new ways together to amplify brands in India.

Brands will now be seen in a new light through the magic of immersive experiences, 360 VR experiences, innovative sound designs, exceptional music supervision capabilities and enhanced audio production proficiencies.

With offices in Amsterdam and New York City, plus an army of composers, producers, and creatives sprinkled around the globe, Amp.Amsterdam works in all 24 time zones simultaneously, and their extended family of publishers, record labels, and festivals makes them a truly global force.
TIMES NETWORK strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Mr. Shouneel Charles as its Senior Vice President  Digital. Based out of Mumbai, he will report to M.K. Anand, MD & CEO, TIMES NETWORK.

M K Anand, MD & CEO of TIMES NETWORK said, I am pleased to welcome Shouneel to TIMESNETWORK. We look forward to scaling heights and claiming our rightful position as a strong Digital Media Company with this induction and other senior level interventions that we plan. Given his experience in Digital media, marketing and advertising, we are confident that we will be able to better engage with the New Media market.

Commenting on his new role at TIMES NETWORK, Mr. Shouneel Charles said, I am excited to take on this new role at TIMES NETWORK. Leading the digital practice at a network that is known for its unique campaigns and initiatives is a huge responsibility. The growing digitisation throws a huge opportunity for established brands like Times Network.

In his previous assignment, Mr Charles was leading the digital business at NDTV Convergence as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. He helped the media company set -up a digital ecosystem, profitable internet and mobile based business.

With close to 20 years of experience, Shouneel Charles has previously worked for multi-national companies like Yahoo, Turner Broadcasting, HBO, Warner Brothers, STAR TV and The American Express Bank.
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.
While many are aware of their tablets, laptops and smartphones being susceptible to hacking, this isnt just relevant to smartphones and such. Its also relevant to other technology, like autonomous cars. You may remember a couple of hackers who hacked a Jeep Cherokee, one that was not a self-driving vehicle, and basically made it useless on a highway. Well those hackers have been working with Uber to secure their own vehicles and now they have left the company and are talking about how tough it is to truly protect self-driving cars from hackers. And the spoiler here is that its pretty darn tough.

They wouldnt talk about the specifics behind the difficulties in securing self-driving cars, but would only mention that it is pretty difficult. He has now joined Ubers Chinese competitor Didi, who are looking to do self-driving taxis, which are even tougher to secure than regular autonomous vehicles. This is due to the fact that you have plenty of people getting in and out of these vehicles, bringing a lot more variables into the car than with a standard autonomous car.

A few months ago, you may remember that basically the entire Internet went down due to a few Internet of Things products being vulnerable and allowing hackers to take down many websites, and the majority of the top sites on the web. Thats nothing compared to what could happen with an autonomous vehicle that has been hacked. The possibilities are pretty much endless. A hacker could hack the car to break the rules of the road, which could end up pretty messy, with people getting killed and cars getting totaled. So securing these cars is a big deal, and definitely a tough task. While many people are worried about self-driving cars eliminating jobs, they will be opening up jobs elsewhere. Like people working to protect these cars from hackers, not to mention needing more people to service these vehicles since they are going to be doing a lot more driving than normal cars do at this point. Self-driving cars are still about a decade out, but tech companies and auto makers are making some pretty good progress already.
Instagram announced today that they now have more users using Stories than Snapchat has users. Thats pretty telling since Stories is basically Snapchat on Instagram, and it already has more users than the entire Snapchat platform. Since the announcement, Snaps stock has been taking a pretty steep dive, as you could expect. Thats not all that Instagram announced today though. They also announced some new stickers for both Stories and Direct (direct messaging). One of the cooler stickers is a selfie sticker, where you can take pictures of yourself and use it as a sticker on your photo, a great way to really express yourself.

There also some new geo stickers included in this update, but its only for four cities at this time. So if you are traveling to, or live in Chicago, London, Madrid or Tokyo, youll be able to use these stickers. These are stickers that are in addition to the usual location, temperature and other stickers that are available basically everywhere. Its something that Snapchat has had for a little bit, but in the form of filters, and now they are finally coming to some of the cities around the world on Instagram. Finally, Instagram is adding a hands-free mode for Stories. So instead of having to hold down the record button to record a video for Stories, you can hold it down for a few seconds until it starts then record your video. This makes it easier for those that want to record a video and also star in the video. Its a feature that users have been asking for from Snapchat for quite some time as well.

These changes are rolling out now in an updated version of Instagram for iOS and Android. Over on Android its version 10.16.1 and on iOS it is 10.16. You should see it in the Google Play Store today, and it should be hitting your device in the next few days, if you dont sideload the APK once that becomes available. This is a staged rollout as is often the case when it comes to updated apps, so it could take a few days to reach your device(s).
Elisa and Nokia, two major telecommunications companies based in Finland, announced that they have successfully conducted the first ever European testing of 5G technology on 3.5 GHz band. The testing took place in Rusko, Finland last April 7th, with data speeds and latency measured in a set-up wherein a 5G signal was transmitted between a base station and a terminal. According to the two companies, their testing yielded some very promising results, with data speeds measured at 1.5 Gbps and minimum latency measured at 1.5 milliseconds. The results of the tests show the potential of 5G technology, with increased data speeds and reduced latency opening new use cases like remote control of robots and IoT devices. Elisa and Nokia seek to use 3.5 GHz band for 5G as it offers two major advantages over other frequencies, which are increased data speeds due to a wider bandwidth and possibility of more comprehensive coverage due to its lower frequency.

The use of 3.5 GHz band solves one major problem for carriers who seek to implement 5G technology, which is the need for a massive infrastructure investment. To allow for higher data speeds, 5G technology can only be implemented at higher frequencies than the ones currently used for 4G LTE, with higher frequencies allowing higher data speeds. For example, testing the 5G technology on 15 GHz, combined with a MIMO antenna setup, yielded as high as 5 Gbps measured data speed. However, the use of higher frequencies results in a smaller coverage area per base station, with carriers needing to invest in more base stations to fully cover their service areas. The use of 3.5 GHz band, due to its significantly lower frequencies, allows for a wider coverage per base station while maintaining high data speeds, resulting in reduced infrastructure outlay for wireless carriers.

Aside from the European networks, US wireless carriers have been testing 5G technology, with commercialization targeted for the year 2020. Verizon has begun testing 5G technology in 11 cities across the US, with the company planning to roll out fixed 5G services later on, enabling the wireless carrier to compete with wireline and cable internet service providers. T-Mobile, meanwhile, has petitioned with the FCC this April to allow the carrier to use 3.5 GHz for 5G testing, which the wireless carrier targets to start by April 15th.
Uber used an internal software program dubbed Hell to track drivers working for its biggest rival Lyft until last year, The Information reports. The ride-sharing company allegedly used fake accounts and a workaround to trick Lyft into thinking that the fake riders are in different locations. Using the Hell program, the ride-sharing company was able to track Lyft drivers in an entire city through strategically placing fake riders, and later on used a vulnerability in Lyfts software to permanently track its rivals drivers using ID tokens. Uber reportedly resorted to these measures to find out which drivers are working for both Lyft and Uber and then offered incentives to entice these drivers to only work for Uber. The companys efforts were only exposed recently, but just a few key executives and data scientists previously knew about the project.

This is not the first time that Uber reportedly used questionable methods to undermine competition, including its major competitor Lyft. In 2014, it was revealed that Uber organized a street team to interview Lyft drivers and entice them to work for Uber instead. In the same year, Lyft discovered more than 100 Uber employees hired and canceled Lyft rides, jeopardizing not only Lyft but also the drivers working for it through wasting drivers time and fuel for the canceled rides.

If these allegations are proven true, Uber may be facing another lawsuit soon. According to The Information, Ubers actions can be considered as fraud, misrepresentation, and a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, all of which can be used by Lyft as grounds for a lawsuit. Meanwhile, Uber has been facing lawsuits from numerous parties over the past few months. One of the most notable examples is the lawsuit against Uber filed by Googles subsidiary Waymo that accuses the company of stealing intellectual property related to self-driving cars. Google alleges that Uber is using secret information related to Waymos development of self-driving cars in the development of Ubers own self-driving vehicles. Moreover, Uber is also accused of manipulating driver payments and passenger fare through discrepancies in the route displayed in the Uber app, which recently resulted in a class action lawsuit against the ride-sharing firm.
Snap Inc., the makers of social media app Snapchat, finally obliged to release the complaint filed against the company by a former employee last January. The lawsuit, filed by the former leader of Snapchats user growth team Anthony Pompliano, alleges that Snap Inc. lied about the key metrics of the social network prior to the companys IPO last month. In the unredacted lawsuit, Pompliano detailed how the management of Snapchat lied about the daily active users, retention rate, and the percentage of people completing the sign-up process. According to Pompliano, Snapchat misled the advertisers and the public about having more than 100 million daily active users on the social network in 2015 when the actual DAU according to analytics systems was around 95 million.

Pompliano says the same false data was used to persuade private investors to invest capital in Snapchat. Snapchats growth is also allegedly lower than what the company claims, with its daily active user growth remaining essentially flat in the first three quarters of 2015. Furthermore, the retention rate is allegedly lower than what the company claimed, with the actual retention rate of the social network at 20% which is half of what Snap Inc previously announced. Aside from the reports of inflated figures, Pompliano also alleges that Snap management asked him to build an organizational chart of Facebook complete with its executives and then identify individuals that Snap Inc. could poach from the social media giant.

In his lawsuit, Pompliano claims that his refusal to divulge important information regarding his former employer and his refusal to be involved in the institutional pandemic of lying regarding user metrics, led to his dismissal from the job three weeks after he entered Snap Inc. Pompliano also claims that Snap Inc waged a smear campaign against him, as the company knows he holds information damaging to Snap Inc.s prospects for its IPO. Snap Inc. had its Initial Public Offering last month, with the company share prices up by more than 41% in the first day, raising $3.4 billion in capital for the social network and making its IPO the biggest the US stock market has had since 2014. This is an outstanding feat for a company reporting massive financial losses, with the companys losses in 2016 bigger than its revenue. Snap Inc. itself warned that like many tech startups, the company may never reach profitability.
The farmers have been protesting in Trichy to show their support to the farmers who have been protesting in Delhi for the last 31 days.

By Akshaya Nath: While for the last 31 days farmers from Tamil Nadu have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, their fellow farmers in the state have been showcasing their full support to them. Farmers from Trichy have also been protesting demanding that the state and central government should soon bring an end to the crisis.

In the protest, the people with a 'nammam' - a religious symbol on forehead (also a representation of helplessness) and a farmer pretending to be dead was handed over a petition seeking a solution to the present crisis.

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From the time of the Cauvery water dispute, the farmers have been protesting in the Cauvery delta region saying that their livelihoods are at stake and that they need immediate intervention and help. All Tamil Nadu Farmers Association's Coordination Committee has said that more than 250 farmer suicides have taken place since October 2016 and the numbers are only steadily increasing.

"We are second class citizens of this country; we have no choice but to die. The government is underplaying the farmer suicide numbers. More than 400 suicides have already taken place and there will be more, if this is how our condition will be," said Vishwanathan, a protesting farmer in Trichy.

The farmers have been demanding for the waiver of loans of over Rs 40,000 crore and to help the drought-affected in the state. Pained at the farmers' situation and the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, hearing a PIL, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to Tamil Nadu government calling the present situation a humanitarian crisis. The court has issued a two week notice for the state government to report on the steps taken to address the issue. The Supreme Court has also appointed counsel Gopal Sankaranayanan as amicus curiae in the case.

"It is the duty of the state to take care of its citizens and the situation of farmers is worrisome," said the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, in Chennai a group of youngsters blocked the arterial Kathipara bridge staging protest against the farmers' condition and the inaction of the state and central government.

The disappointment against the way the issue has been dealt with has created more trouble for the state.

Also read: Tamil Nadu farmers protest completes a month in the capital

Also read: Cauvery water dispute: PMK founder S Ramadoss alleges Karnataka of diverting water

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Indian smartphone vendor Micromax Informatics has come a long way since 2010 when it took its first tentative steps in the world of Android smartphones by launching the oddly-shaped Andro A60 with a low-res 2.8-inch screen, a single-core 600MHz processor and Android 2.1 Eclair. While those specifications are not much to write home about, the main attraction of the handset was it price-point, making it an affordable option for people looking to switch from their feature phones and jump on the smartphone bandwagon. The device, marketed with the tagline My First Android, went on to become a standout success with students and youngsters, paving the way for the Micromax brand to become a household name across the country.

While the company has grown in leaps and bounds since then, last year it suffered a huge setback, with many regulatory, commercial and technological changes forming a perfect storm that the company is still trying to recover from. Having initially benefited from the open market economy by importing products from China and marketing them in India under its own brand without having to spend on R&D and manufacturing, Micromax got a rude awakening last year when various Chinese companies like Xiaomi, Vivo and OPPO started selling their own high-specd smartphones in the country at attractive prices. As if having to compete with a multitude of super-aggressive Chinese vendors wasnt bad enough, the company also faced severe jolts from unexpected quarters.

The launch of Reliance Jio, which initiated a mass migration of subscribers from 3G HSPA to 4G LTE seemingly overnight, was also a hard pill for Micromax to swallow last year. The migration to Jio may have been from Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and BSNL in theory, but it affected domestic smartphone brands  including Micromax  just as hard as the incumbent carriers, because none could predict the voracious appetite for super-fast data among the Indian populace. With most Indian vendors  unlike the Chinese ones  still offering only 3G handsets at lower price-points, the emergence of Jio meant that buyers started opting for foreign brands instead of Indian ones, resulting in a dramatic loss of market share for companies like Micromax, Karbonn, Xolo, Lava etc.

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As if the migration to 4G wasnt bad enough for Micromax, in November 2016, the Indian PMO (Prime Ministers Office) issued a highly-controversial executive order, which affected many businesses in the country adversely. The order, issued without any warning, demonetized almost 85% of all federal banknotes in circulation in a supposed attempt to nab tax-evaders. While proponents and opponents of the executive order continue to argue passionately about how much it will help or hurt the economy in the long run, most seem to agree that the short-term consequences for small businesses and daily wage-earners have been nothing short of disastrous in a country where a large majority of financial transactions are still done via cash. Micromax, like most consumer-facing companies patronized by the lower-middle and working classes in the country, was blindsided by the demonetization drive, and is still reeling from its after-effects.
Western Digital is not at all happy about its positioning in Toshibas ongoing decision to split off its chip unit prior to selling it, calling the split a breach of the two companys joint venture agreements. The company has even gone so far as to send a letter to the firm as of April 9, telling Toshiba that it would not simply stand by while the latter company violates its rights. In the meantime, the company wants Toshiba to rectify the situation by entering into exclusive talks to determine whether or not a deal can be reached between them. However, Western Digital is hardly the only party interested in buying and Toshiba has its own interests to look out for  and may or may not be under any kind of legal obligation. Source also say that no legal action has been threatened so far, which could indicate that either Western Digital has no case or that its lawyers just havent had time to build one.

Toshibas chip unit is the worlds second-biggest manufacturer of NAND chips and, at the most recent valuation, is worth around $18 billion. According to sources within the company, who are currently not authorized to publicly address the matter and remain unnamed, There are currently four bidders that Toshiba appears to be interested in working with on a deal for the chip department, including Western Digital. The other three include Broadcom, SK Hynix, and Foxconn. Foxconn has the largest current bid at $27 billion but is not considered the most likely to make a deal because of possible distrust between Japanese regulatory authorities and the Taiwan-based company. SK Hynix was most recently reported to have placed a bid for 20 percent of the NAND business, with an offer between $1.8 and $2.6 billion.

Plans to sell all or part of the chip portion of Toshibas business were first announced back in January, with Toshiba announcing the sale in a bid to make back money lost in its Westinghouse nuclear operations. Western Digital, for its part, has worked closely with Toshiba in the past. They even collaborated on Toshibas main memory production facility and that puts the company in a tough position. Unfortunately, there is currently no way of knowing whether or not there is any contractual obligation for Toshiba to work with Western Digital first or whether there is anything at all to back up the latter companys objections.
Xiaomi had confirmed that their Mi 6 flagship will land on April 19, and the company has just released their first teaser for the device. Xiaomi loves to release rather odd teasers in order to hype up their device launches, and this time is no different. If you look at the image down below, youll get to see a caption that goes with this video teaser, and this video clip can be accessed via the source link down below.

Now, this is a rather odd teaser on its own, and it may be a bit difficult to grasp as it is in Chinese, but the company is trying to reveal that the Mi 6 will ship with a dual camera setup on the back. More or less every phone leak that weve seen in the last couple of weeks suggested that a dual camera setup will be a part of the package, so this is not exactly a surprise. Some rumors have been saying that the Mi 6 will sport Sonys IMX400 camera on the back, this is a sensor which you can find in the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs which were introduced back in February. Now, a different leak said that Sonys IMX378 sensor will be included on the back, two such sensors actually, so who knows, well see which sensor Xiaomi opted for, but the Sony IMX378 looks to be a more probable choice for this China-based tech giant.

As far as other specs are concerned, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will almost certainly ship with Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 64-bit octa-core processor, and it will probably launch in two variants, the regular Mi 6 model with a 5.15-inch display, and a larger Plus model with a 5.7-inch panel. These two handsets will come with Android Nougat out of the box, and Xiaomis MIUI OS will be installed on top of it. The Xiaomi Mi 6 will be made out of metal and glass it seems, and the device will probably sport a home key below its display, which will double as a fingerprint scanner. Fast charging will also be included in this package, and a ceramic variant of the phone will almost certainly become available as well.

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By Press Trust of India: Hyderabad, Apr 13 (PTI) The Telangana government today announced that it would provide financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per acre to farmers to purchase fertilisers.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that the amount would be deposited in the bank accounts of farmers from the next financial year, every year before the Kharif season (in the last week of May).

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"There are about 55 lakh farmers in the state who are using 25 lakh tonnes of fertiliser. The government will give them Rs 4000 per acre to each for the procurement of fertiliser," a release from his office quoted Rao as saying, while addressing a group of farmers here.

"From the next financial year onwards, every year in the last of week of May this amount will be deposited in the accounts of farmers," Rao said.

The farmers should form associations at the village level to monitor all issues and programmes related to agriculture, including provisioning of financial assistance of Rs 4,000 to purchase fertilisers, he said.

"We are supplying seed and fertilisers to farmers on time along with nine hours free and uninterrupted power supply. We are encouraging micro irrigation by giving more subsidies. We waived the (farm) loans. Inputs are a burden on farmers and we want to share it too. This is the reason why we have made a historical announcement today (providing Rs 4,000 per acre for purchase of fertilisers)," added Rao.

The opposition BJP, however, described the announcement as a "farce" as it would be implemented from the next fiscal.

"Its just a pre-term election gimmick. While farmers are hungry today, CM promised them to feed them for free, in the next financial year. It amounts to mockery of the farmers in distress. BJP demands immediate execution of the free fertiliser scheme, if CM KCR is sincere about it," BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said in a statement.

He wondered why the TRS government planned to implement the move from next financial year.

"Why wait for the next financial year? Its just 13 days into a new financial year and CM is making promises for the next financial year, instead of solving immediate problems of the poor farmers," alleged Krishna Saagar. PTI SJR NRB BAS

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CM K Chandrashekhar Rao today declared that the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 4000 per acre to the farmers in Telangana to purchase fertilisers.

By Ashish Pandey: After farm loan waivers, the announcement of free fertilisers to farmers of Telangana has left them awestruck. However, the Opposition parties have termed it as pre-term election preparation by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

CM K Chandrasekhar Rao today declared that the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 4000 per acre to the farmers in Telangana to purchase fertilisers which is a huge amount as total cost of these fertilisers come out to be much less than the sanctioned amount.

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Earlier this week, Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) ruled government has issued orders for the release of the full and final installment of Rs 4000 crore to banks.

The loan waiver which was promised by the ruling party during 2014 elections costed Rs 17000 crore to the state exchequer.

DIRECT BANK DEPOSITS

As per the Chief Minister, State government will directly deposit the Rs 4000 in the bank accounts of the farmers from next financial year as its free fertiliser scheme.

Every year before the Kharif season in the last week of May the amount will be deposited into the bank accounts of farmers.

While addressing the farmers in an event at Pragathi Bhawan in Hyderabad, the CM Said "We have waived loans of 36 lakh farmers amounting to Rs 17,000 crore. Now farmers have become debt free. I want to do more for the farming community. We are supplying seeds and fertilisers to farmers on time along with nine hours of free and uninterrupted power supply. We are encouraging micro irrigation by giving more subsidies. We waived the loans. Inputs are a burden on farmers and we want to share it too. This is the reason why we have made a historical announcement today."

In Telagana about 55 lakh farmers are using 25 lakh tonnes of fertiliser in every session and it is expected that the government needs roughly Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 crores to spend in this scheme.

'PRE-TERM ELECTION GIMMICK'

Meanwhile, Opposition Bhartiya Janta Party called free fertiliser promise to Telangana farmers a farce and termed it as a pre-term election gimmick and questioned the seriousness of Rao's announcement.

"Why wait for the next financial year? It's just 13 days into a new financial year and CM is making promises for the next financial year, instead of solving immediate problems of the poor farmers," said BJP's national spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao.

The state is scheduled to go on election in 2019 and the way government of Telangana and its ruling Telagana Rastra Samiti is showering boons has definitely put Opposition parties in a state of worry as they believe K Chandrasekhar Rao might announce an early election in the state.

Also Read:

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to double up as coolie for two days

Telangana minister to address meet on water resources in US

Telangana shocker: Woman poisons physically challenged 3-year-old daughter

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Since the race takes place on the same weekend as the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix , the two-time Formula 1 world champion will have to be replaced by someone. Evidently, a driver with a super license is required, which means that the person has been approved by the FIA to race in Formula 1.Since McLaren is not a team for beginners, and they do not want any gentlemen drivers, who pay for their spot behind the wheel, the only choice is to choose an F1 driver with experience on his or her side.According to the BBC , while McLaren representatives have refrained from confirming or denying rumors on the matter, Alonso will be replaced by Jenson Button. Mr. Button has "temporarily" retired from Formula 1 at the end of last years season, but he only did that to focus on his passion, which appears to be running in Ironman triathlons.That is something that challenges the British driver, but it is evident that Formula 1 has a special place in his heart, particularly as he is an F1 World Champion.The news from the BBC also mentions a clause in Buttons contract with McLaren, signed last autumn, which commits him to replace any race driver who is not able to take part in a Grand Prix. Since Alonso fits the bill on this one, so does Button with his contract, which seems to be an incredible act of foresight.The only other alternative is to use a test driver, but that possibility is a joke when compared to having an F1 World Champion a teams disposal.Fortunately for McLaren and even Button, the drivers sabbatical year was not spent on binge eating, smoking, and drinking. It would be safe to suppose that he is still at the top of his game. After all, he was speeding in a triathlon , so that would qualify him on the fit side to any casual observer.
EV

The exhibit is called K-, and it is a futuristic vehicle that operates on electric power . Qoros commissioned an international design and engineering team for this creation, and you can observe this in its shapes.While a production version of this model is not on the table, it shows a few ideas that will come to life in the new energy strategy of this company.It is worth mentioning that the Chinese brand wants to bring future-oriented new energy vehicle products to the market. In other words, it will build electric vehicles, and customers are promised a premium driving and riding experience.Instead of a conventional door layout, the design team employed asymmetric doors, which allow a distinctive experience for the driver and the passengers.The drivers side door is a single unit, while the ones on the other part offer two opening possibilities. One of them is the standard setup, like the one most of us have in their cars, while the second option is horizontal sliding, like on a minivan.Just like in a premium limousine, the K-EV separates the front and the rear of the passenger compartment in two distinct areas, which can offer an enjoyable experience for the occupants without anyone feeling cramped in his or her place.The exhibit is built with the companys Clever Carbon Cabin technology, which involves a passenger compartment made from carbon fiber that is seamlessly integrated into the rest of the vehicle.The use of this lightweight material offers a sturdy setup that will ensure torsional rigidity, while maintaining the weight as low as possible to help the electric propulsion system offer a higher range than a comparable conventional setup would provide.The partnership with Koenigsegg has supplied the Chinese company with electric drive technology from the Regera . The all-wheel-drive model is closer to production specification than a typical concept , but do not expect to see these features in a showroom shortly.
Lawyers may be the next victims of automation, and the impact on the macroeconomy could be serious. Until now, paralegals and beginning associate lawyers have seemed to be primarily vulnerable to algorithmic advances. But labor lawyer Miriam Nemeth argues that the trouble will go deeper. "Lawyers in particular may increasingly suffer from job loss as a result of automation," she said. "Everything from contract drafting to legal research appears prone to automation."

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

Why it matters: There are roughly 1 million lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants in the US, more than 20 times the number of people in coal mining. It's not clear how many could lose their jobs, but a recent study said that currently available technology could reduce lawyers' billed hours by 13%.

Glass half-full: A recent McKinsey study said that 23% of a lawyer's job can be automated. But Chris Stock, CEO at LEAP Legal Software, said earlier this week that lawyers and paralegals have time to learn new skills, and thus not become flotsam of robots, by learning how to apply automation software to improve their own productivity and remain attractive to employers.
President Trump no longer plans to label China a currency manipulator, despite repeated campaign promises to do so "on day one," according to an interview published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal. And he was pretty blunt about it:

They're not currency manipulators.

What changed? Now that Trump is actually president, he realizes that such a public rebuke of China could endanger talks over bigger issues like North Korea. Plus, China stopped undervaluing its currency years ago.

Other highlights from the WSJ interview:
The United States dropped a GBU-43/B  the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat  for the first time Thursday in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, per CNN.

Sean Spicer said the bomb was used to target "a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely."

Sense of scale: Commonly referred to as the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB), it weights 21,000 pounds and has an explosive yield equal to 11 tons of TNT  though that's just 0.073% as powerful as the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
After the announcement of the reservation for Muslims, the Bhartiya Janta Party has launched a protest inside the state Assembly.

By Ashish Pandey: Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) on Thursday reiterated that reservations for the sociologically and educationally backward Muslims would get enhanced quota in the state.

After the Cabinet meet on Wednesday, the CM announced the government will give reservations to the economically and educationally backward minorities and Muslims in the state.

Addressing a gathering of Muslim clerics and other members of the community at Pragathi Bhawan in Hyderabad, KCR reiterated, "No one should entertain any doubts over the hike in reservation quota for Muslims. In Tamil Nadu, 69 per cent of reservations are being implemented and in Telangana too enhanced reservations will be implemented."

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After the announcement of the reservation for Muslims, the Bhartiya Janta Party has launched a protest inside the state Assembly.

Speaking to India Today, BJP's general secretary Muralidhar Rao made it clear that his party will mobilise people against the decision of Telangana Rastra Samiti government.

"It is pure communalism and a perfect example of vote bank politics. The decision of the state government is unconstitutional and against the Supreme court, as well as law. The motive of TRS government of providing 12 per cent reservation to Muslims is a betrayal of backward class," added Rao.

Meanwhile, on the request of the government, Telangana Assembly Speaker has summoned a special session on April 16.

Before the special Assembly session, the Cabinet will meet on Saturday to discuss the Telangana State Reservation Bill, 2017 and its tabling in the special session.

Also read: Telangana: CM Chandrasekhar Rao announces 100 per cent free fertilisers for farmers, Opposition calls it early poll preparation

Also read: Telangana shocker: Woman poisons physically challenged 3-year-old daughter

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Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that he too will work as a coolie for two days along with other ministers, MPs, MLAs and leaders of his party.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues, other lawmakers and all leaders of TRS party will work as coolies to raise money to attend party's plenary and formation day public meeting scheduled be held later this month.

Rao announced that he too will work as a coolie for two days. All ministers, MPs, state legislators, leaders and workers of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will also work as labourers to earn the money to bear their respective cost for attending the meet.

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The TRS chief declared the April 14 to April 20 will be 'Gulabi (pink) coolie days'. He urged every party worker to work for at least two days to earn the money to meet transportation and other costs.

The TRS will hold its plenary at Kompally near Hyderabad on April 21 while a massive public meeting is planned at Warangal on April 27 to mark the party's formation day.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said TRS had 51 lakh members when the government was formed in 2014 and the number had now gone up to over 75 lakh.

TARGET 25 CRORE

The party is expected to get Rs 25 crore as membership fee.

Party's plenary will elect the president. Senior leader and Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy will act as presiding officer.

"You will see the election result", was how KCR reacted when asked about the speculations that his son and cabinet minister K T Rama Rao will take over as the party chief.

ALSO READ:

Telangana minister to address meet on water resources in US

Telangana shocker: Woman poisons physically challenged 3-year-old daughter

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Netwatch, Irelands leading high-tech security specialists, have today urged owners and managers of businesses to ensure that every aspect of their business is secure over the Easter break.

The advice comes after data from the Netwatch Communication Hub indicated that attempted security breaches increased by a staggering 37% over the recent long St Patricks weekend.

Netwatch has identified a trend showing that attempted security breaches happen at a much higher rate on Bank Holiday weekends when staff are either not on the premises or the staff presence has been dramatically decreased.

The research found that on bank holidays, potential criminals operate during daylight hours while on regular weekends, attempted security breaches tend to occur under the cover of darkness. On St Patricks Day, this was particularly evident as potential security breaches occurred constantly over the course of the day.

Since businesses are generally closed for longer periods than normal during the holiday break, criminals are acutely aware this can mean a delay for business owners and members of staff in finding out that the premises has been targeted. This has been particularly felt in the construction industry where, on many occasions, employees have returned to work to find valuable equipment stolen or damaged and work has not been able to continue for prolonged periods.

Netwatch is advising all businesses to ensure that effective steps are taken to ensure that Easter is a holiday and not a time to worry about the workplace for staff and business-owners.

Speaking today, CEO & Co Founder of Netwatch, David Walsh said, "With businesses aware of the threat, and the potential risk dramatically increased on holiday weekends, it is imperative that businesses follow up with every member of staff to ensure that all security measures are prepared meticulously."

He added, "Unfortunately, criminal activity certainly does increase at these times of the year, but there is always a solution for conscientious business leaders, which will reduce fear and let employees and management enjoy their time off without worrying about their place of work."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Modified On May 04, 2017 02:12 PM By CarDekho

Indias leading auto portal CarDekho.coms parent has procured Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) license to launch the auto insurance vertical under Girnar Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd. With this, the company aims to provide hassle-free insurance buying, locating cashless services garages, claim settlement and documentation to car owners.

A study conducted by McKinsey has estimated the size of Indias non-life insurance market to be nearly USD 75 billion by 2025 from under USD 15 billion at present. The online market for non-life insurance products will be dominated by motor, accident and health, travel and home. Today, only 60% vehicle owners have an insurance policy even though vehicle insurance is mandated by Motor Vehicles Act. Some of the areas of concerns for a car buyer are transparency in offering coverages and post insurance services. The buyers typically do not have information on the terms of the policy and other service parameters of the workshops that are covered under the policy.

Girnar Insurance Brokers will enable better decision making by launching an app that understands the risk profile of the user and advises them on buying a policy that has terms and prices best suited for their need. It has deep tech integrations with partner insurance companies like Iffco Tokio, General Insurance, HDFC Ergo, Royal Sundaram, Universal Sompo and New India General Assurance to generate customized policies and enable instant purchase. Girnar will use a proprietary tech systems to reduce the turnaround time (TAT) in claims settlement from prevalent practice of 5-7 days to 2-3 days. The company has also set up a 24*7 helpdesk to explain insurance parameters and select add-on services through the app. Insurance buyers can also call for help on claim settlement.

Speaking on the launch, Sanjeev Gujral, CEO & Principal Officer, Girnar Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd, said, We want to help car buyers be in a better position to benefit from their motor insurance policy by not just helping them buy a policy thats best suited for their profile but by also providing assistance in claim settlement. We will make services like locating cashless services garages, easier claim settlement and documentation through deep tech solutioning and integrations. With our innovative tech tools, we are confident that we will be able to bring more transparency and speed in the overall transaction and claim settlements.

CarDekho.com, which currently runs one of Indias largest auto classifieds platform, aims to construct a complete ecosystem for consumers to have easy and complete access to not only buying and selling cars, but also manage their entire ownership experience including accessories, tyres, batteries, insurance or roadside assistance. It launched auto loans for new and used cars last year to avail attractive and faster loan approvals. The launch of digital insurance platform is another step to create a more robust car ecosystem in the India to enable car buyers and owners make better choice.
Modified On Jun 14, 2017 02:13 PM By akas for Jeep Compass 2017-2021

Jeep has finally unveiled the much awaited Indian-spec Compass. Not only will the compact SUV be manufactured at Fiat's Ranjangaon facility in Maharashtra but it will also be exported to right-hand drive markets like Australia, Japan and the UK. The compact SUV claims to be best in its segment. It is likely to be priced around the Rs 20 lakh mark and will primarily compete with the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V and the Skoda Yeti. Let's compare the specifications of the upcoming SUV with its competitors and see how it fares against them.

Dimensions

When it comes to overall length, the Jeep Compass stands third after the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson. The Compass also stands third in terms of width and height. While the Hyundai Tucson is the widest car here, surprisingly the Skoda Yeti is tallest. However, the Compass has the maximum wheelbase among four which should result in a spacious cabin. While the Hyundai Tucson has the highest ground clearance of 195mm, the Honda CR-V has lowest, 170mm. The Compass stands third with 178mm of ground clearance and hence can face difficulty in crossing bigger roadblocks as compared to its rivals. While the Compass and the CR-V ride on 17-inch wheels, the Tucson and the Yeti have 18-inch and 16-inch wheels respectively.

Performance

Petrol Engine

The Compass, CR-V and the Tucson are the only SUVs here to feature a petrol engine with the Skoda Yeti giving it a miss. While the CR-V has two petrol engines on offer, the Compass and the CR-V have only one. The 2.4-litre engine on the Honda CR-V is the most powerful petrol engine here. It produces 190PS of power and 226Nm of torque. Although the Compass has the smallest engine (a 1.4-litre unit) in this comparison, it produces more power and torque than the 2.0-litre engines on the Tucson and CR-V and hence should have a better power to weight ratio. Apart from the Jeep Compass, only the Honda CR-V has a 4WD drivetrain that would help you to tackle difficult situations. All of the cars here have both manual and automatic transmission on offer.

Diesel Engine

The Honda CR-V does not come with a diesel engine. However, Honda is likely to introduce a diesel-powered CR-V in India soon. Among the machines in comparison, the 2.0-litre diesel engine on the Hyundai Tucson is the most powerful. It churns out 185PS of power and 400Nm of torque. The diesel engine on the Compass produces 170PS and 350Nm, which is significantly more than the Skoda Yeti. While the Compass and Tucson have both, manual and automatic transmissions, the Yeti only has a manual transmission on offer. However, the Yeti and Compass are the only ones to offer 4WD option.

While the Hyundai Tucson starts at Rs 18.99 lakh, the Honda CR-V starts at Rs 22.3 lakh. The Skoda Yeti has a starting price of 21.54 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). However, all three cars have something missing. While the Tucson is not available with all-wheel drive option, the Honda CR-V misses out on the diesel engine and the Skoda Yeti doesn't have a petrol engine. On the other hand, the Jeep Compass is expected to be priced around the Rs 20 lakh mark and will be available in both diesel and petrol versions with all-wheel drive option. The Jeep Compass will also be loaded with features and will focus on safety and off-road ability. This certainly will make it a tempting package in this segment. However, in the end, it will all depend on its launch price.

Also read:

Read More on : Tucson price
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today condemned the definition of a "perfect female body" in a class 12 textbook as "sexist" and has ordered action in the matter even as the private publisher has decided to stop the printing and sale of the book.

Excerpts from the Physical Education textbook defining "36-24-36" as the "best body shape for females" yesterday created an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.

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The book titled "Health and Physical Education" written by V K Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

CBSE, however, clarified that it "does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools".

"I condemn the remarks in the book as sexist. The text is non-defendable and unacceptable. We have taken serious note of it. I have instructed the officers to take appropriate action in this regard," Javadekar told reporters.

"It is not an NCERT book but by a private publisher and action will be taken against them. We are also asking CBSE schools to follow NCERT books rather than private publishers in interest of earning profit," he added.

The publishers also announced that they have "stopped the printing, selling and distribution of the revised book with immediate effect".

"We do review our books from time to time but some points have remained uncorrected due to an oversight and hence the book will again be reviewed by our editorial board and any inconsistencies found will be corrected," the publishers added.

The excerpt from the chapter "Physiology and Sports" which is going viral read, "36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration".

Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.

In a statement, the CBSE had said, "Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them".

The Human Resource Development ministry had last month said that CBSE has no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers and it has no mandate to prescribe or recommend textbooks other than those published by NCERT. PTI GJS KUN

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66th Annual EIS Conference

Media Advisory For Immediate Release: Friday, April 21, 2017

Contact: CDC Media Relations

404-639-3286

What

CDCs Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) will host the 66th Annual EIS Conference from April 24-27 in Atlanta. During the event, EIS officersalso known as CDC disease detectivesdescribe the investigations they conducted over the past year.

When health threats arise in America or around the world, EIS officers are among the first to respond. In 2016, EIS officers battled Zika virus, the opioid epidemic, antibiotic resistance, unintentional injuries, healthcare-associated infections, foodborne illnesses, and chronic diseases. The EIS conference offers reporters the opportunity to speak directly with disease detectives protecting the publics health.

When

April 24-27, 2017

Media Availability

On the Front Lines: Disease Detectives Combat Deadly Threats

On April 24 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (ET), CDCs Acting Principal Deputy Director Dr. Patricia Simone will host a media availability for reporters. Four current EIS officers will describe the behind-the-scenes details of their investigations of acute flaccid myelitis, the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, the opioid epidemic, and Zika. Reporters can attend in person or by bridge line.

Room Location: 203E (Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart)

Dial-In:

Media: 888-795-0855

Non-Media: 888-989-4716

International: 1-517-308-9117

Passcode: CDC MediaImportant Instructions: If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending. 203E (Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart)Media: 888-795-0855Non-Media: 888-989-4716International: 1-517-308-9117Passcode: CDC MediaIf you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending. Transcript: A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at CDCs web site: www.cdc.gov/media.

Where

Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, Building 2; 240 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2200; Atlanta, GA 30303

Background

EIS is the worlds premier public health fellowship in applied epidemiology. Each year, 70-80 new EIS officers are selected from among hundreds of physicians, doctoral-level scientists, veterinarians, and other health professionals who apply to this competitive fellowship program. During their two-year fellowship, EIS officers are on the front lines of public health, protecting Americans and the global community as boots-on-the-ground epidemiologists. Since 1951, more than 3,600 EIS officers have responded to domestic and international health threats. EIS alumni have gone on to become CDC directors; leading CDC scientists; acting surgeons general; WHO assistant directors general, regional directors, and country directors; public health and medical school faculty and deans; city health commissioners; and state epidemiologists. Others are leaders in industry, foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and the media.

Important Instructions

Media wanting to attend the EIS conference should RSVP to CDC Media Relations by April 21 by emailing media@cdc.gov or calling 404-639-3286.

For more information about the conference: https://www.cdc.gov/EIS/Conference.html.

For more information about the CDCs Epidemic Intelligence Service: https://www.cdc.gov/eis

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon
British Army chaplain appointed as principal of Spurgeon's College

A former British Army chaplain has been appointed as the new principal of one of the UK's leading Baptist seminaries, Spurgeon's College.

The Rev Prof Philip McCormack MBE will serve as Spurgeon's College's next principal beginning September 1 2017, the college announced last week.

McCormack is currently a senior chaplain in the British Army, delivering pastoral care and spiritual support to military recruits, and training future chaplains. He is also a widely-published author and academic, specialising in the field of ethics.

He said: 'I am humbled and thrilled to be appointed as the next Principal of Spurgeon's College. I look forward to working with an outstanding college team whose enthusiasm for the life, work and ministry of the college is inspiring.

'Working together with our national Baptist church family, the wider Christian community in London and internationally, I am convinced that Spurgeons' reputation as a world-class leader in preparing Christians for service in the Kingdom of God will continue to flourish and expand.'

McCormack succeeds Rev Dr Roger Standing, who became the college principal in 2013. The institution was founded by famed preacher Charles Spurgeon just six years after his 1850 conversion. In Spurgeon's lifetime, the college trained nearly 900 ministers and planted 200 new churches in Britain. It describes its mission as providing a 'Christ-centred, biblically-rooted training in discipleship for the practice of mission and ministry'.

Rev David Kerrigan, chair of the college council, applauded the move. 'I am delighted that Philip has been appointed principal elect of Spurgeon's. He brings to the post significant experience of senior leadership. We found his vision for the future of the college compelling and look forward with anticipation to working with him,' he said.

Sarah King, the chair of governors, called McCormack a 'gifted leader and a clear strategic thinker with an exciting vision for the future of the college as it seeks to support the Baptist movement, both locally and nationally, and works ecumenically to equip churches, especially those with black and minority ethnic and Pentecostal identities, in London and the South East. As a board, we look forward to working with him.'
Broadchurch actor in innovative Easter audio drama

Easter must be a good candidate for the story most often told. Every week, if not every day, in churches across the world the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day are recalled. It's one of the most dramatic stories there is, moving from death and defeat to life and hope. But for those who might hear it in church it perhaps becomes too familiar, whereas those who don't may not know it at all. Given the centrality of Easter in our cultural history that seems a shame.

So at CTVC we started thinking about telling the story in a different way  as a fictional documentary set in the 21st century for our Things Unseen podcast strand, which is aimed at people who believe there's more to life than the material world.

We asked the writer Nick Warburton to come up with a contemporary story that reflected the themes of Easter  a story actors would then use as the basis for a series of non-scripted interviews, each speaking as one of the characters in the story. Nick's experience with radio drama and dealing with religious themes made him the obvious choice, and in fact I'd made a sequence of monologues on the same theme for BBC Radio only a few years ago.

His story, Oliver Park  The Easter Riots, is set in the fictional town of West Trent. The town park has become host to a camp for refugees, which has now grown to include some homeless, immigrants who've recently lost their jobs, and a few splinter protest groups. A vigilante group, City Watch, has been established in response, and with a march planned by the camp supporters, tensions are high.

Into this situation comes Carl Franklin, with a small group of followers including Charlie Hammond, and a radical but peaceful message. An infiltrator leads them into an ambush by City Watch, and while Carl's supporters flee, he remains, with devastating consequences. The cycle of violence seems set to continue, but extraordinary events the following day take things in a new direction.

For me, the most remarkable moment of the whole process came when I first talked to the cast over the phone. We'd given them a chance to digest the story and their part in it, and went ahead with the usual process of calling contributors up ahead of the recorded interview. As they dropped into their roles I was suddenly talking to the people who'd been at the centre of events very like those in the Gospels. From the tense and evasive police inspector to the slippery mole who betrayed Carl Franklin, the conversations were a revelation, and at times quite moving.

I shouldn't have been surprised at this, really. I'd worked with Joe Sims before, so I was thrilled that he wasn't so tied up being the plumber Nige Carter in Broadchurch to be available for Oliver Park. Over the phone he became the impetuous Charlie Hammond so thoroughly I found myself defending our decisions about how we were telling this fictional story. ('You're not talking to him? What kind of radio programme is this?') And when it came to the recording he was in tears when talking about what happened to Carl.

We hope people will find the finished drama equally moving. It's released at www.thingsunseen.co.uk in two parts, on Good Friday and Easter Day, or you can hear the whole thing on Premier Christian Radio on Good Friday at 5pm.

Paul Arnold is a producer and studio manager at CTVC, having previously worked for BBC Radio 4 and 4 extra. He is an accredited worship leader at Christchurch Methodist and URC church, Hitchin, for which he writes songs and plays the saxophone.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThingsUnseenPodcast/

Twitter: @ThingsUnseenPod
By India Today Web Desk: Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is making a comeback into our lives next month, and we are obviously quite excited about its return. The show had a brilliant set of actors, and that contributed to the show's success greatly. In this listicle, we pay a small tribute to celebrity guests who also made us laugh out loud with their presence on a few episodes.

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Also read: These characters of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai deserve more love

Mandira Bedi

Picture courtesy: YouTube

Remember the episode when a frustrated and lonely Indravadan fell for Bollywood actress Cookie Sharma? Cookie---played perfectly by Mandira Bedi---was a heartbroken actress looking for love. But she ended up breaking Indravadan's heart towards the end of the episode when she told him that Sarabhai Senior reminded her of her father! Ouch!

Aamir Ali

The film and TV actor had also made a guest appearance on the show on an episode that largely featured Monisha's obsession with a TV actor called Patang. Aamir as Patang was super-entertaining.

Makarand Deshpande

Picture courtesy: YouTube

Siddharth , the man who had, by the power of hypnosis, 'changed' Indravadan into his wife Maya. The talented actor was just perfect as the hipster hypnosis guy.

Parvin Dabas

Picture courtesy: YouTube

The man who had made Maya's heart flutter like a butterfly; Parvin as Sudhanshu the artist was simply hilarious. No one can ever forget how he was always ready to take off his shirt. To wipe Maya's tears, to mop the floor. As mentioned before---hilarious.

Mallika Sherawat

The actress had played the role of Sunehri, the innocent house help, who often made a mess of a situation. And that led to some great moments.

Well, we sure hope that we get to see some of these faces again on Sarabhai vs Sarabhai's new season.

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Egyptian Coptic bishop on the profound power of martyrdom: 'When you are not afraid, you are able to love'

An Egyptian Coptic bishop has spoken about the profound power of martyrdom in the 21st century, as the Coptic community continues to mourn Egypt's Palm Sunday church bombings that killed at least 45 and injured over 100.

Bishop Thomas of the Coptic bishopric of Al-Quosia, Upper Egypt, spoke in an interview to the World Council of Churches. He described how Christians in Egypt have fought the fear of militant terror and anti-Christian persecution with the idea of martyrdom.

In 2015 21 young Coptic Christians were beheaded by ISIS in Libya, with footage of the killings released online. Egyptian Christians, the bishop said, were able to watch the video to the end because 'They shared the suffering with those who were beheaded.

'And suddenly they observed, that, at that moment when the knives were going to cut their heads, the young men pronounced the name of Jesus. Some days later the Coptic Church declared them officially as martyrs of the Church.'

The word 'martyr' comes from a Greek word meaning 'to witness'. Through martyrdom, those who suffer point to things beyond. It also means those left behind do not fear or hate those who took away their loved ones.

Bishop Thomas explained: 'When there is such a tragedy we always tell people not to be afraid of those who kill. Yes, they can take the body but what else can they do? They can't take the eternal glory. When you are not afraid, you are able to love, to forgive and to show strength.

'Don't forget that the story of the 21 young men in Libya started long before that day at the sea coast. They were kidnapped, they were tortured and threatened in an attempt to change their faith. But what these men did was pray and lift their eyes all the higher. When you turn your eyes higher, things on earth appear smaller.

The bishop was asked how Egyptian Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's majority Muslim population, weren't more upset or afraid.

He said: 'Don't think that we don't mourn! When something like this happens to innocent people there are a lot of tears. But in martyrdom there is both at the same time: the pain of the cross and the joy of salvation.

'Just take the example of Mary, the Mother of God. She had to give her child, but she rejoiced in God. This is what Christians in Egypt feel.'

He later added: 'Carrying the suffering doesn't mean carrying hatred. And expressing pain and suffering doesn't mean that I'm afraid.'

Bishop Thomas said that fear in response to the rise of global terror was taking over the west, and allowing terrorists to win. 'If fear is ruling a society the idea of generalization can easily take over', he said.

'When there are some Muslims who kill Christians it's easy to feel that all Muslims are bad. But this is unjust. The answer on martyrdom can't be injustice.'

Egypt's president declared a national state of emergency after the Palm Sunday attacks.

In December, ISIS claimed responsibility for a Cairo Coptic church bombing that killed 27. In February, the jihadist group released a video inciting violence against the 'infidel' Christian faith community. At least seven individuals have been murdered by militants in northern Egypt since January 30, with victims being burned alive, stabbed in their sleep and shot in the street.

Hundreds of Coptic Christians fled the coastal city of El-Arish, Sinai in late February following an increasing terror threat from ISIS against the community. Bishop Angaelos, the head of the Coptic church in the UK, said Copts in the area were essentially told to 'leave or die'.

Bishop Thomas said that the Church plays an essential role for relatives of those martyred.

'First, we take care of the families, spiritually and financially', he said.

'The loss of a family member can mean a financial disaster for those who stay alive. If we don't answer these needs we will extend the injustice. Second, we do trauma healing and pastoral care as much as we can to make the families feel that they are not alone in their grief.

'Then the church is working for human rights. This becomes a necessity and a need. And finally, we ensure that love must be ensured among people. Everyone is in the circle of love and forgiveness, even the murderers. Our fight is a spiritual fight.'

While those who suffer can find meaning in sacrifice, the bishop was clear that 'martyrdom is always linked to injustice'. He emphasised a 'responsibility to work for justice. These brutal murders must be stopped.'
Egyptian Coptic priest delivers inspiring Christian message to bombers: 'Thank you, we are praying for you'

A Coptic priest in Egypt has delivered an inspirational message preaching Christian love and forgiveness in the wake of the Palm Sunday bombings in Alexandria and Tanta that killed at least 47 and injured dozens more.

Fr Boules George of St Mark, Cleopatra church in Cairo addressed the Islamist attackers directly, thanking them for allowing the faithful martyrs' deaths and for filling the churches on the Monday of Holy Week, the day after the bombings. Fr George also told the bombers that they were loved by Christians because of Jesus' teaching to love your enemies, and that the attackers were being prayed for.

'The first thing we will say is "Thank you very, very much," and you won't believe us when we say it,' said Fr George. 'You know why we thank you? I'll tell you. You won't get it, but please believe us. You gave us to die the same death as Christ  and this is the biggest honour we could have. Christ was crucified  and this is our faith. He died and was slaughtered  and this is our faith. You gave us, and you gave them to die...We thank you because you shortened for us the journey...

'Thank you for helping us achieve our goal. You're helping us, and you don't even know it. I know you don't understand, but I'm trying to explain it to you. There are people we visited at home to encourage them to come to church  three, four, five times. Still they won't come. What you're doing here  you're bringing to church the people who never come. Believe me  it's bringing to church the people who never come!...

'Let's speak plainly here... Usually attendance at the Eve of Monday Pascha (Monday before Easter) is very little. People are usually so tired after a long Palm Sunday Liturgy and the General Funeral, and they don't come to the Eve of Monday services. When I came in tonight, there were people on chairs outside the sanctuary, there were people in the balcony seating. The church is completely full. There isn't even one empty nook. Thank you. We are so grateful that you're helping fill up our churches...

'Can you see why we thank you? We're not being deceptive. A priest holding a microphone can't lie to you! I say to you: thank you. Thank you for all you have done for us without even noticing.'

The priest then went on to outline why Christians love their enemies.

'The second part of the message we want to send to you is that we love you. And this, unfortunately, you won't understand at all. Maybe you won't believe us when we say we're grateful. But this  you won't even understand,' he said. 'Why won't you understand it? Because this too is a teaching of our Christ. I want to explain to you about our Christ. I want to tell you about how wonderful he is.

'See what Christ said: If you love those who love you, you have no profit or reward with me. Even thugs and thieves love those who love them. Any gang loves its members. Even the drug dealers all like each other and take care of each other. Right? But I want to tell you that "if you love those who love you, what reward have you... But I say to you, love your enemies" (Matthew 5:46, 44).

'We Christians don't have enemies. We don't have enemies; others make enmity with us. The Christian doesn't make enemies because we are commanded to love everyone. And so, we love you because this is the teaching of our God  that I'm to love you  no matter what you do to me.

'I love you very much. And I want to say one last thing to you: we're praying for you. Because the One who told us to love you told us to "bless those who curse you... and pray for those who spitefully use you" (Matthew 5:44). So my instructions from my loving God make it my duty to pray for you.

Fr George concluded: 'I'm embarrassed to say at the beginning of Holy Week that the Church, though she is in pain, rejoices because today  I don't know what the final count is. They said 40-something, and, of course, many people in the hospitals will catch up to them. All of these are crowns. They are rejoicing with God. And they will attend the Resurrection up there. And they are praying for us. The rest is on us. O, you lucky, lucky, lucky ones! And until it is our turn. To our God be the glory now and forever. Amen.'

A translation of the speech featured on the 'Coptic dad and mom' blog site.

It came as Egypt's Ministry of Interior yesterday identified the suicide bomber responsible for Sunday's deadly attack at Alexandria's St Mark's Cathedral which killed 17, as 30-year-old Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak Abdallah.

The ministry said that Abdallah was an associate of Amr Saad Abbas Ibrahim, a fugitive who is the leader of a terrorist cell that orchestrated last December's deadly suicide bombing of Cairo's St Peter and St Paul's Church, which killed 29, mostly women and children.
England Has One, America Never Has. Is A State Church A Good Idea?

Globally, the Church is thriving. Thousands are coming to faith daily in China, parts of Africa and South America. Yet here in Europe the story is one of decline. There are bright spots amid that decline, but still the overall trend is toward a reduction in the number of believers, both committed and nominal.

In the US, some feel that the precedent set by Europe is one which America will follow in due course.

Into this mix, this morning we reported that the number of adherents to the Church of Sweden is in free fall. 86,000 members of the Church left in 2016  the highest number ever in a single year. A similar pattern has emerged in Norway.

In both these countries, the official state Church has been disestablished after hundreds of years. In 2000, Sweden's Church separated formally from the state, while January 1 this year saw the same thing happen in Norway. Across the bridge in Denmark, the state Church remains officially established. Yet the same reason which has seen many thousands of nominal Norwegians and Swedes officially sever their links with the Church is at play there too. To avoid paying the Church tax  a levy which supports the work of the Church  people who are officially members, even if they rarely attend, are leaving. After an atheist advertising campaign, over 10,000 people decided to leave the Danish Church earlier this year.

Finland has a similar story to tell, of high institutional membership, but low levels of participation. There, though, there are interesting signs of a reawakening of belief.

On the whole, though, projections suggest the decline in numbers of the official (and formerly official) state Churches of Europe may continue for decades to come.

It leads to the question which has been asked repeatedly in the US and the UK over generations  what use is a state Church?

In the USA, there has never been an officially established national Church. However, some states did have official Churches. By 1833, though, the final official links between the Congregational Church and the State of Massachusetts had been severed. This means that for most of its history, the US has been a 'Christian country' (demographically, Christian faith was the biggest religion, Judeo-Christian values were the basis of much of the law and culture etc.) without having an established Church.

In Great Britain, we have a very different history. The Church in Wales was disestablished in 1926, but both England and Scotland retain their established Churches to this day. Constitutionally, the Church still plays a central role in British life. Prayers are said in Parliament at the start of each day, Bishops still sit in the House of Lords by right and the Queen remains the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Significantly, the system in England and Scotland works differently from elsewhere in Northern Europe. There is no Church tax here, so there is no financial incentive to leave. In fact, it is tricky to know what membership actually entails. One in 10 infants are still baptised in the Church of England, but figures show that only around 750,000 people are regular attenders at church  something like 1.5 per cent of the population. There is no obvious way to 'leave' the Church of England either, unlike in Norway where an online system allowed people to opt out.

With there being no change likely in Great Britain in the near future, Christians in the UK and US live with very different systems. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems?

The USA, free of the encumbrance of state religion, has a vibrant and thriving Christian Church. Because many flowers were allowed to bloom, there have been a wide variety of movements. Some of them have been inspirational, such as Pentecostalism, while others have been considered heretical  Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Christian Science, for example.

The entrepreneurialism of American Protestantism has led to great dynamism and the experience of the Great Awakenings, which transformed the religious landscape of the country would undoubtedly have been different had there been an established Church. Yet that dynamism has led to overreach. The excesses of the prosperity gospel and the exploitative end of televangelism were also partially a fruit of the free-market in religious ideas.

How about the other side of the pond? England's and Scotland's established Churches and their closeness to the political and cultural elite have insulated the UK from the more extreme expressions of political Christianity that have proved so divisive in America. The British equivalent of the Religious Right has happily remained marginal for this reason.

Yet, it also seems that some of the dynamism that characterises American Christianity has been lacking in the UK. We have certainly had revivals, from Wesley's Methodist movement to the pit villages of South Wales in the early 20th century. But to many Brits, the default version of Christianity they have been offered is a more 'woolly' version of established Anglicanism. Having said that, there is vibrancy to much of the Church of England still  and its establishment does make it visible to many non churchgoers who still feel a sense of ownership of 'their' parish church.

Is establishment or disestablishment preferable, then? There are arguments for both. It's a question made even more interesting when looking at China, which has a state-sanctioned (though not officially linked) Church and various underground networks, too, and where much of the future shape of Christianity will be decided.

Should we agree with Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, who described the established Church as, "from the Christian point of view, an impudent indecency"?

Ultimately, there probably isn't a 'right' answer as such, unless you are a thoroughly committed secularist or Nonconformist. In the US and UK, there is little state interference with the Church and that is as it should be. Sadly, elsewhere, authoritarian regimes such as China do regulate how the official Churches can behave. The Church is at its best when it is committed to the Gospel  helping as many people as possible to love God and neighbour. This can, and does, happen in both established and other Churches. It's that we should be focused on.
France's presidential election is too close to call. What should pastors tell their congregations?

In early April, France's 11 presidential candidates sparred in a televised debate. Devastating comments from fringe candidates and flashes of brilliant repartee made for lively viewing. I found the accompanying Twitter commentary to be hilarious, until somebody posted the following: 'This would be really funny if it involved any country other than mine.'

There's never been such a wide-open presidential election in the history of the Fifth Republic. Since its establishment back in 1958, you could fairly safely assume that French presidents would represent well-established political parties  until now.

Today, the mainstream political groups look adrift. Both the left and centre/right-wing presidential primaries produced winners that defied the polls. Both are now in serious trouble.

On the right, 'Mr Clean' candidate Francois Fillon has been formally charged with various fraud offences in relation to allegations of fake parliamentary jobs for his wife and children  and has refused to withdraw, despite an earlier pledge to do so if charges were pressed. On the left, official Socialist Party candidate Benoit Hamon has had a lacklustre campaign and is trailing far behind in the polls. Hamon has lost support to charismatic maverick Jean-Luc Melenchon on the far left, while to his right, the Socialist candidate has been largely deserted by party heavyweights, now throwing their support behind Emmanuel Macron.

Macron is currently polling neck and neck with far-right Front National candidate Marine Le Pen for the first round, from which the two front-runners go forward to the second.

This is Macron's first election of any kind, following his defection from Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls' government, in which he was an unelected minister. His new political movement is barely one year old. Meanwhile, given all the discord on the left, Marine Le Pen seems all but certain to gain enough votes to be in the final run-off  and to stand a serious chance of winning.

The campaign typifies the anti-system sentiment discernible in many recent ballots. Outgoing president Francois Hollande's unprecedented decision not to stand for a second term embodies the sense of political and moral bankruptcy that has engulfed the traditional parties. Whether or not the jobs Francois Fillon claims his family did for him are real, the amounts of money involved and his seeming unawareness of how such sums look to the average French voter make him seem desperately out of touch. The Socialist Party faithful's opportunism in casting their lot in with Emmanuel Macron, a former investment banker whose policy orientations appear to depend on who he last spoke with, looks craven. Against this backdrop, Marine Le Pen has an unnerving knack for the common touch, and an ability to come across as an anti-system candidate  despite being the product of a political dynasty herself.

Christians with traditional values tend to see Fillon, a practising Catholic whose conservative religious beliefs are reflected in his political agenda, as their candidate of choice; but his inconsistencies seem uncomfortably close to the kind of religious hypocrisy at which Jesus directed some of his harshest words. Some evangelicals are openly touting Le Pen, largely on the grounds of defending a so-called Christian nation against hordes of Muslims. Hamon may appeal to more politically liberal Christians with a heart for prison reform and environmental issues, but even they may balk at his support for the legalisation of cannabis and his rather Utopian promise of a universal basic income. At the end of the day, many may vote for Macron, but as the lesser of all evils  a vote by default rather than a firm vote in favour.

Many voters may simply throw their hands up in a suitably Gallic gesture of despair, and abstain. One Facebook poster suggested dropping their voter registration card in the ballot box, but such protests and abstentions will only benefit the extremist parties. In any event, the presidential election looks set to propel France into unknown territory  and that's before the subsequent general election.

So what's a pastor to tell his congregation in such circumstances? Directing church members to vote for a given candidate is clearly not on. I will however be encouraging people to vote, because I strongly believe Christians should be responsibly engaged in the society around them. I urge them to look not simply at what the candidates are saying, but also at their character; and, if they are tempted to make up their minds based on a few hot-button issues, to ensure they don't swallow any camels in the process. The book of Acts tells us that the Bereans checked the Scriptures to see if what they heard from Paul was true (Acts 17:11); today, as followers of the Truth, Christians need to be encouraged to watch out for 'fake news', check a story before sharing it, and learn to think and discern for themselves rather than take refuge in 'alternative facts'.

The way I see it, the prevailing trend in France and other Western nations right now is towards withdrawal, hardening borders, and building walls, be they physical or less tangible ones. By contrast, the Bible portrays the city of God as having no walls at all (Zechariah 2:4)! Whatever the outcome of the forthcoming elections, Christians' counter-cultural, anti-worldly calling is to embody such a city through our openness to those around us. This calling is likely to be put very much to the test in the days ahead.

Like many other countries, France is heading into great uncertainty. This should come as no surprise: the writer to the Hebrews offers us a powerful reminder that God intends to shake everything up, with the 'removal of what can be shaken', even as Christians are receiving a kingdom that is unshakeable (Hebrews 12:27-28). I pray that my adopted nation will be able to ride out these uncertain times and ultimately emerge better off; and even more so, that the Christians of France will rise to the challenge of seeking God's unshakeable kingdom in a way that glorifies him.

Born in the UK, David Buick has lived in France since 1985 and has dual nationality. He is a pastor, prison chaplain, and freelance translator.
'Good Friday just got better'. Christians condemn shocking Tesco cheap beer advert

The supermarket giant Tesco has offended Christians across Britain with a newspaper ad that completely fails to understand Good Friday.

The text of the newspaper ad suggests Good Friday, a day of sorrow, fasting and penitence when Christians remember the date of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago, is actually a 'good' day.

Tesco suggests customers can make it even better by having a few drinks.

The offensive ad reads: 'Great offers on beer and cider. Good Friday just got better.'

The ad was picked up by Michael Wakelin, religious literacy expert and former head of religion at the BBC.

He posted it on Facebook, noting that it illustrates perfectly 'the need for religious literacy training'.

The ad also went viral on Twitter, where Retrak charity CEO Peter Fahy tweeted:

Tesco Good Friday ad not only crass but shows governments have made no progress in limiting supermarkets punting out cheap booze  Peter Fahy (@peter1fahy) April 13, 2017

Church of Engand vicar and BBC presenter Rev Richard Coles commented: 'fail'.

Others also expressed their shock and disgust:

so @Tesco in need of religious literacy - Good Friday, the day a man was tortured & nailed to a cross, it's not about beer  Bonnie Evans-Hills (@EvansHills) April 13, 2017

tesco good friday - who's running Tesco's marketing dept? Dumb & Dumber? Need educating about respecting their Christian customers.  Valerie Thompson (@bergamotandbees) April 13, 2017

A Tesco spokesperson told Christian Today: 'We know that Easter is an important time of the year for our customers. It is never our intention to offend and we are sorry if any has been caused by this advert. We will not publish it again.'
Is Lord Carey right that the UK government could do more for persecuted Christians?

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has made an impassioned plea to the government to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East and beyond. Writing in The Telegraph, he speaks frankly about his disappointment in the role the government has played.

He talks about the large numbers of Christians being killed, forced out of their homes and otherwise persecuted simply on account of their faith, especially in Syria and Iraq. 'The British response to this disaster, which we have in part caused by our ill-judged interventions, has been woeful,' he said.

Highlighting that fewer than two per cent of Syrians given asylum are Christians, despite around 10 per cent of Syrians being Christian, Lord Carey lambasts the government. 'The stark truth is this that there is an institutional bias against Christians by our government,' he argues. 'All this is in sharp contradiction to the promises of support for persecuted Christians made until recently by successive Prime Ministers including David Cameron and Theresa May. Are they just hollow words?'

Carey also claims to have advice that the lack of support for Christians amounts to illegal as well immoral action. 'It is not just a manifesto promise that has been broken,' he says. 'The law has been broken. So says advice I have received from the religious liberties barrister Paul Diamond.'

In retirement, Carey has become an advocate for numerous causes. Some of his pronouncements have not been well judged and at times he has courted controversy.

Yet here, he seems to be highlighting an important point. Those of us without expertise can't judge the legality of the situation, but it does seem that, at a time of existential challenge to Christian communities in the Middle East, the British Government's response has been somewhat lukewarm.

First, consider the meagre amount of refugees the government has agreed to take. Just 20,000 over five years. This means we're being inhospitable to Christians (as well as Muslims and other minorities). The government's response to this accusation is that the UK is one of the top donors to help refugees in the Middle East itself. This is important to note  and should be a source of pride. But in itself it doesn't mean that we shouldn't be accepting more refugees. The sheer disparity between the millions who've been accepted in Jordan, Lebanon, Germany and elsewhere means we must pull our weight.

Second, the accusation made by Lord Carey does need to be carefully looked at. Although as Christians we shouldn't want to prioritise Christian refugees at the expense of Muslims or others, we also should be aware of any bias against Christians. Lord Carey's accusation that because refugee camps are run by Muslim officials they are less likely to welcome Christians is a serious one. If it means that the UK is giving less help to Christians as a result, that's a big issue.

Third, persecution against Christians is endemic in places. We mustn't be afraid to say it is so. The suffering our sisters and brothers are undergoing is almost incomprehensible. There is, of course, significant wrong being done elsewhere, such as the horrendous persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma. Yet it is surely incumbent on the British government to highlight and act practically to support Christians wherever possible  especially in Iraq, where the current chaos which has allowed such persecution was ushered in by the calamitous British and American invasion in 2003.

A Government spokesman said: 'UK aid is provided in line with humanitarian principles, so whoever needs our help the most gets it first, regardless of race, gender or religion. We work with trusted partners who operate in line with those same principles of neutrality and impartiality, including in practicalities such as refugee camp management and staffing. To suggest otherwise is wrong. And with all of our resettlement schemes we work closely with UNHCR to identify cases that they deem most in need of resettlement according to their established vulnerability criteria.'

The UK is a medium-sized world power and can't be expected to solve all the world's problems. But a genuinely ethical foreign policy  one based on Christian values  would see us prioritising the most vulnerable. In parts of Syria and Iraq at the moment, the most vulnerable are the Christians who have been mercilessly targeted because of their faith. We should be doing absolutely everything we can to help them.
Is There A 'Spiritual Battle' Over Donald Trump's Presidency?

The charismatic Christian leader Lou Engle has declared a 'spiritual battle' over Donald Trump's presidency, saying that Trump's opponents have used 'witchcraft' against him.

In an article for Charisma Magazine, the right-wing leader of The Call wrote: 'The Women's March was the first shot across the bow, heralding a revolutionary rise against the president of the United States, "We the people" and in reality, the foundational biblical truths upon which our nation was founded. Soon after, the second shot was manifested publicly: an unprecedented global summons of witchcraft to curse President Trump, his Cabinet and all of those aligned with a biblical worldview. Suddenly, the whole controversy was elevated to a global spiritual dimension, inaugurating a spiritual battle that cannot be won on the playing field of protests and political arguments.

'Only the church has the answer to this unprecedented manifestation of witchcraft. Spiritual strategy must be used to overcome this open-faced, brazen challenge of the powers.'

Engle said that this was a pivotal point in history. 'There are moments in history when a door for massive change opens,' he wrote. 'Great revolutions, either good or evil, spring up in the vacuum created by these openings. In such divine moments, key men, women and entire generations risk everything to become the hinge of historythe "pivot point" that determines which way the door will swing.'

The rallying call came as the Washington Post published an article with the headline: 'The religious right is steeling itself for a Biblical battle on Trump's behalf'.

The article referred to the new President's weekend Twitter outburst accusing his predecessor of 'tapping' his phone calls. It said that 'religious-right figures are rising to Trump's defence in the battle over whether Obama tapped his phones. For instance, Charisma magazine, a leading source for charismatic and Pentecostal writings, is citing [the right-wing website] Breitbart as proof of the need for a congressional investigation of Trump's claim that Obama ordered the wiretap. Charisma has long been a cheerleader for Trump; during the campaign, it promoted widely disseminated comparisons of Trump to the Persian King Cyrus, referred to in the Book of Isaiah as God's "anointed" one.

It added that 'the Christian Broadcasting Network, which has long provided Trump favorable coverage, has also lent support to Trump's claim about Obama. It favorably cited Trump's comparison of Obama's supposed wiretapping to Watergate and McCarthyism, and quoted Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the religious-right legal group American Center for Law and Justice, saying that it was "very possible" that there were wiretaps in Trump Tower.'
Justin Welby asks: How do we learn to see God in the face of the stranger?

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written a foreword to 'God is Stranger', by Christian Today contributing editor Krish Kandiah, from which this extract is taken.

Where is God? This is probably the question I, like many other Christian leaders, get asked most often. The question comes in many different guises. Why does God allow evil and suffering? Where was God when I lost my job? Why do children die? Why doesn't God intervene? One cannot watch the daily news without wondering, 'How does the idea of a God of love fit with the reality of the world we live in?'

The question, of course, is not a new one. Human beings have been asking for centuries. The Psalms are filled with the same question. Story after story in the Hebrew Bible reveals characters struggling to see God, meet with God, or work out how to be partners with God in the world. Even Jesus cries out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

***

A journey through Scripture, from the leafy shores of Eden, through the deserts of Mesopotamia, to the road to Emmaus, reveals a God who always comes in unexpected places and at unexpected times. This is the story of a God who shows himself in the faces of strangers and those who are dismissed by others as most ungodly. God shows himself, most often, to be a God of small things, small people and small places. He comes in disguise, without fanfares and trumpets. He chooses a small nation in a forgotten corner of the world, bordered by powerful empires, and works slowly, patiently with its people. With Abraham the wanderer. With refugees fleeing from Egypt, desperately looking for safety. With the nascent nation of Israel, struggling to keep hold of the promises of the past and to build a present that reflects justice, peace and righteousness. With a young mother in Galilee, forced to flee into Egypt, away from Herod's wrath, bringing the story full circle.

Even a quick flick through the Bible reveals a story of endless wanderings. The 'God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob' is a God of wanderers, of aliens and refugees. The God of the displaced. The God of those who just do not belong. The God whose people, and presence, is in 'all the wrong places'.

All too often, when we ask, 'Where is God?' it is because we want a God of power: a God who will come and sort the world out, overriding human selfishness and injustice, putting things right from above. Instead, we discover a God who chooses to come quietly and dwell with the poor and the oppressed, the refugee and the alien. This is a strange God who chooses not to act from far away, but to meet his people, listen to them, journey with them, working for justice by transforming us as we meet him in unexpected places.

Where are we expecting to meet God? Where are we looking and what kind of God are we looking for? Are we looking for a God made in our own image, or are we prepared to look for a God who is...stranger? And what does this realisation of God's strangeness mean for us as we relate to those who surround us?

... If God is stranger, then being hospitable to God inevitably leads us into unexpected, uncomfortable and stretching places. If God is a God of the aliens and refugees, then how do we respond to the crises of our time? In a world marked by fear of difference and a return to isolationism, where the desire to protect a country's wealth fights against humanitarian concerns, what does Christian hospitality look like? And, more importantly, how do we truly learn to see God in the face of the stranger?

Hospitality has long been a mark of the Christian life. It is a cornerstone of the rule of St Benedict, and we see extraordinary examples in the world today. The churches of Lebanon, for instance, over the last five years, have been living out costly hospitality. Not just safe dinner parties for a new family coming into church; not just signing a cheque in support of a charity; but a real, costly, on-the-ground sharing of life and resources with those who have lost everything. This hospitality weeps with those who weep, forgets self-interest and barriers of race or religion, and reaches out to those who have just managed to escape, but cannot go any further.

There is something deeply moving at the thought of God's presence in the refugee camps. The Gospel of John tells us that 'the Word ... made his dwelling among us' (John 1:14). Or, more accurately from the Greek, 'God tabernacled', or 'pitched his tent among us'. God made himself a stranger, a refugee, unloved, unknown, unrecognised and unwelcome. And it is only when we dare look beyond the safe spaces of our lives that we can catch a glimpse of this risk-taking God, who chooses to walk with us rather than sorting out human affairs from the safety of heaven. But beware: when you catch a glimpse of this God, there is no return. Life cannot be the same. As we come closer to a stranger God, we ourselves become stranger too  drawn into the life and work of God in the world.

Dr Krish Kandiah is the founding director of Home for Good. 'God is Stranger' is published by Hodder, price 13.99.
Politicians who do God: How do Trump, May, Merkel and Blair square their public lives and private faith?

A new book on how faith influences politicians, The Mighty and the Almighty, edited by Nick Spencer of the Theos think-tank, is out today.

Chapters cover such figures as Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Theresa May, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Donald Trump.

As the book's introduction explains: 'The purpose of The Mighty and the Almighty is not to discuss nice Christian politicians, or those politicians we would like to be Christian, or those Christian politicians with whom we agree (who, after all, is the 'we' here?). Rather it is intended to look at leading politicians  meaning those who have sat in the highest office  who have claimed some Christian faith, and to explore how they have squared the two; how, in effect, the Mighty (or at least those who professed a belief in him) have dealt with the Almighty when in office.'

But there is an important category distinction here. As Spencer tells Christian Today: 'There are some politicians for whom the faith shaped politics, and others for whom you can be more confident politics are shaping faith  [Donald] Trump is a great example of that. For the majority of politicians it is much messier and only very rarely, if ever, acts in a command and control way.'

An explicit 'hook' for the book is the famous  now cliched  line by Tony Blair's communications chief Alastair Campbell to an American interviewer: 'We don't do God'.

As Campbell explained to Christian Today last year: 'Now, maybe the reason [the phrase] has become one of those things is because people are aware that Tony is a believer and I'm not. And also people are aware, not least through the diaries, that I always argued against Tony talking about it.

'Now, I think there is an argument to be had about that. And I do think that actually we're very different to America. I think in America politicians have to do "God bless America", they have to be seen coming down the steps of churches on a fairly regular basis, clutching the Bible. I think in Britain it's very, very different. So my view was always the public don't like it.'

As it happens, Blair did in fact speak about his faith while in office, as well as after when he went so far as to set up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. At Easter 1996, to Campbell's dismay, the then Labour leader of the Opposition wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: 'For a politician, [faith]... means that you see the need for change around you and you accept your duty to do something. Christian belief means you cannot detach yourself from the world around you.' Then in this interview with Jeremy Paxman, a youthful Blair began by saying he didn't like to 'make a big thing of it'. But he went on to say: 'Of course, I'm a person...with a character and part of my character is what I believe in and part of my beliefs is a religious conviction.'

Nonetheless, Spencer agrees with Campbell that British politicians have little to gain by 'doing God'.

'I think it is actually more important than how you do God is where you do God,' he says. 'In those political cultures where you can make political capital out of doing God  places like America and Russia  we should be rightly sceptical. But in places where there is very little political capital to be made  the UK, France, Germany, Australia  we need to be less sceptical than we are.'

By this logic, we need to take at face value the quiet but determined faith, for example, of Theresa May, the current Prime Minister, and even that of Margaret Thatcher before her, not to mention David Cameron and Michael Gove.

After all, who are we to judge what goes on inside the consciences of individuals  even the 'mighty' - and the nature of their personal relationship with God, even if their politics  to us  appear antithetical to the values espoused by Jesus?

For however much we may want them to, surely no political party or agenda anywhere in the world can claim a monopoly on the Christian faith.

Which, in turn, is what makes this book such an interesting idea, charting as it does the attempts, however faltering, by politicians to map their private faith onto their public politics.
Q & A: What is at stake in this Sunday's Turkish referendum?

Turkish citizens head to the polls on Sunday (April 16, Easter Day) to vote in a major national referendum on a new draft constitution that would dramatically increase the powers of the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What is at stake in the referendum?

Voters are being asked to decide whether to shift Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential republic. Critics warn that Erdogan's already authoritarian approach would be boosted by a raft of new powers. Arguably, the future of democracy  or a lack of it  is at stake. Once lauded by the likes of Tony Blair as a good candidate for EU membership, Turkey is now seen as slipping into authoritarianism.

What is the context?

An executive presidency has been a long-standing policy of the governing AKP party, founded by Erdogan.

But Erdogan's critics have pointed out that he is already presiding over a country which is the world's biggest jailer of journalists, where over 140,000 people have reportedly been arested since the failed coup attempt last July.

The judiciary has lost 4,000 members, and around 6,300 academics are out of a job or in prison. Some 160 media outlets have closed and within six months of the coup attempt, police had detained some 4,000 social-media users.

Why does the referendum matter?

The vote matters because it is all about enhancing the powers of the president in a country which anyway teeters between democracy and dictatorship.

As Fadi Hakura, an associated fellow and manager of the Turkey Project at Chatham House, told CNBC: 'This vote represents a radical transformation that consolidates the power to a centrally executive president rather than a parliamentary system... that's why it matters.

'If it's a Yes vote, it will codify the vast influence in Turkish politics and Erdogan's already vast influence in policy making. If No, it will shake and undermine the prestige and dent the aura of invincibility that has so far defined his tenure in politics.'

What exactly are the new powers being voted on?

The president would become the head of the executive, as well as the head of state, and retain ties to a political party while the role of prime minister would be scrapped, replaced with one or several vice-presidents.

The president would be given sweeping new powers to enact certain laws by decree, appoint ministers, prepare the budget and choose the majority of senior judges.

Only the president would be able to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament.

The right of parliament to scrutinise ministers or propose an inquiry would be taken away.

However, parliament would be able to begin impeachment proceedings or investigate the president with a majority vote by MPs, while putting the president on trial would require a two-thirds majority.

What is the nature of the campaign?

Selahattin Demirtas, the co-leader of a pro-Kurdish party, was set to become one of the main 'No' voices but has ended up in prison (sentenced to 142 years) on what are widely believed to be trumped-up terror charges.

A Kurdish-language song calling for No has been banned, while a study of 168.5 hours of campaign coverage on 17 national television channels at the start of March showed that Yes supporters got 90 per cent of the airtime.

According to The Economist, 'the route from Sabiha Gokcen airport, outside Istanbul, has more than a dozen building-sized banners with an image of the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, or his prime minister extolling a Yes vote. Giant No banners are nowhere to be seen.'

What is the outcome likely to be?

Two Turkish opinion polls published Wednesday showed a slim majority for the Yes campaign, with around 51 to 52 per cent of citizens saying they would vote in favour of the proposed constitutional reforms, according to Reuters.

'I think Erdogan will score a narrow victory, similar to Brexit,' Hakura predicted.

What does it mean for Christians?

The Christian minority of around 180,000 in Turkey is already seen as persecuted and heavily discriminated against. After the attempted coup last July, Islamist extremists attacked Christians while the government declared churches as state property.

As the charity Open Doors says: 'Turkish nationalism, combined with an increasing Islamisation of Turkish society means the tiny minority of Christians and other religious minorities face growing pressure, which is increasingly translating into violent incidents. While conversion is not prohibited by Turkish law, there are serious implications for Muslim background believers as they often experience intense pressure from family, friends and community to return to Islam.'
By Indrajit Kundu: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her ambiguous stance on the issue of triple talaq. Visiting the state as part of the BJP's massive outreach programme in Bengal, Prasad questioned the Trinamool Congress chief over her silence on the issue.

"Mamata ji, what is your stand on triple talaq?" Prasad said, seeking a clear stand on the issue from the Trinamool Congress supremo. Interacting with journalists in Hooghly district, Prasad attacked Mamata, saying, "Despite being the elected chief minister who speaks of justice for women, why is your state Bengal second in terms of the number of victims of triple talaq misuse, only after UP?"

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The union minister said that several Islamic nations had regulated the practice as it was unjust and highly discriminatory. "If Muslim countries can regulate triple talaq stating that in doing so there won't be any violation of sharia, then why raise objections here", he asked.

TRIPLE TALAQ NOT RELATED TO ANY RELIGIOUS PRACTICE: PRASAD

Prasad said that the BJP was very clear about the issue and reminded how the central government had already filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court making its stance clear. "Triple talaq has nothing to do with any religious practice. It is about gender justice, gender equality and dignity. How can a large section of women in India be discriminated against in such a way even 70 years after independence. So let me ask Mamata ji, what does she think about the demand for justice of such victims?" he said.

While Mamata has maintained a stoic silence on the matter so far, several Trinamool Congress leaders have openly spoken out against efforts to ban triple talaq. While participating in a rally organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, West Bengal ministers Firhad Hakim and Partha Chatterjee had backed the Jamiat's call to reject Centre's efforts to abolish triple talaq.

Also read | Triple talaq row: Can religion be reasoned to deny equal rights? Centre seeks ban from Supreme Court

Also read | Women should read Quran, not follow maulanas blindly: VP Hamid Ansari's wife on triple talaq

Also read | Say 'I love you' to Hindu men, Sadhvi Prachi tells Muslim women on triple talaq issue

WATCH VIDEO

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Security stepped up at churches in Egypt as Easter approaches

Security has been stepped up at churches and cathedrals in Egypt as the country's interior ministry released the name and photographs of the Alexandria suicide bomber who struck on Palm Sunday.

Police searched passersby and cars around Orthodox cathedral of St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope, as beleagured Christians prepare for Easter Sunday.

There is a mood of 'fearful apprehension' after the Palm Sunday bombings in Tanta and Alexandria that left 45 people dead, AP reports.

The attack was just the latest in growing persecution of Christians in Egypt where the terror group Islamic State is defying President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and is active in underground cells.

'No security measure can stop a suicide bomber with jihadist beliefs from blowing up a church,' Coptic engineer Emad Thomas told AP. 'Egypt's Copts put their trust in God and not in security measures.'

Egypt's Interior Ministry named the suicide bomber as Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak Abdallah, a 30-year-old worker at a petroleum company. It also published the names of other members of the same cell, offering more than $5,000 for leads.

The ministry Facebook page posted a photograph of the terrorist and stated he had worked for one of the oil companies. They identified him from his DNA and said Christian churches were being deliberately targeted.

In their investigations already, police have seized explosive belts and explosive devices and various types of weapons and quantities of ammunition and some terror manuals.
Serial child abuser priest Gerald Ridsdale pleads guilty to 20 more charges against 11 children

The Australian paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, already convicted of abusing 53 children, has pleaded guilty to a 20 further charges againt another 11 children.

Ridsdale pleaded guilty today to 14 counts of indecent assault, two of buggery, two of rape, one of attempted rape and one of taking part in an act of sexual penetration of a child.

A further 18 charges were withdrawn.

The charges concern 10 boys and one girl.

As abuse claims circulated against Ridsdale, he was not removed from the priesthood but instead, moved from parish to parish by the late Bishop of Ballarat Ronald Mulkearns.

The latest charges concern alleged offences that took place between 1962 and 1988 in places in Victoria state including Ballarat, Edenhope, Merbein, Riverside, Mortlake, Quantong and Burnt Creek.

Ridsdale, represented by Victoria Legal Aid, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link, The Age reports.

He said: 'I plead guilty to all charges as presented, your honour.'

Ridsdale has been behind bars since 1994 for more than 100 charges of sexual abuse against children over three decades.

He has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse he was sexually abused as a child and began to abuse children as a seminarian.

In 2015 he told the commission: 'It was morally wrong and it was legally wrong. Yes, they were serious sins. I'd be fearful all the time of someone reporting me.'

Ridsdale will appear in court again on August 15 for a plea hearing and for sentence.
We know about the Religious Right but what about the Religious Left?

Recently Religion Dispatches writer Daniel Schultz, a United Church of Christ minister, expressed chagrin, at least tongue in cheek, that I had tweeted approvingly about his dismissal of claims about a Religious Left revival. He had challenged specifically such a claim from a Reuters column. And he was also distressed, again tongue in cheek, that his original columnwas echoed by Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler and conservative religion journalist Terry Mattingly.

Schultz's rueful skepticism of Religious Left revival was artfully crafted and offered helpful insights, with which I agree only partly. He's right that some media occasionally will focus on a bout of activism by liberal clergy and accompanying activists, typically Mainline Protestants, as evidence of Religious Left revival. The evidence is usually anecdotal, such as a small rally with clerics wearing clerical collars and robes for the benefit of cameras. To what extent these demonstrators have a popular following among religious people is rarely explored with any depth.

But I don't agree with Schultz that the Religious Left is inconsequential. He believes religionists of the Left lack a wide subculture to sustain them, unlike the Religious Right, partly because the Religious Left is too diverse to cohere. The Religious Right is usually conservative white evangelicals, with some conservative Catholics, some Mormons and a few Orthodox Jews. Schultz argues the Religious Left includes a much wider variety of religion, race and ethnicity. He's maybe, sort of, right, but there's more to it.

The Religious Left has been for decades primarily white liberal Mainline Protestants, with a few Catholic social justice activists plus some Jewish groups. Black Protestant church leaders sometimes collaborate with the Religious Left but their theological and moral traditionalism has long prevented full alliance.

Decades ago the Religious Left had institutional heft because it comprised the once well-funded and prestigious agencies of Mainline Protestant denominations and once powerful ecumenical groups like the National Council of Churches. The "God Box" at 475 Riverside Drive in New York was their headquarters, with hundreds of collaborating staffers and millions of dollars, enshrouded by the names and legacies of venerable church bodies that had helped found and sustain American democracy across centuries.

Most of that old liberal Protestant world is gone or much deflated. Most of those now depleted church agencies have left New York, including the barely surviving National Council of Churches. The historic Mainline seminaries, which became the seedbed of the Religious Left early in the 20th century, are also marginalized, with far fewer students and reduced endowments. A few have closed despite storied histories.

What are the institutional representations of the Religious Left today? There is Jim Wallis's Sojourners, the Interfaith Alliance and Faith in Public Life, among a few others. Much of their constituency is liberal Mainline Protestants. They can organize clergy sign-on letters and small demonstrations with lots of liturgical vestments. But they don't have wide, populist followings. And the media usually ignore them, as do politicians. As part of its last hurrah, the National Council of Churches enjoyed several high profile collaborations with the Clinton Administration 20 years ago. There was nothing memorably similar during the Obama Administration.

In contrast to the Religious Left, the Religious Right has not arisen from denominational structures but was built through parachurch groups often headed by evangelical personalities with large Christian media followings, and sustained by large direct mail campaigns. The Moral Majority and later the Christian Coalition were the early models. There are frequent premature obituaries for the Religious Right, following the demise of a particular cleric or advocacy group. But always there are new leaders and organizations.

Unlike the Religious Right, which is typically entrepreneurial, the Religious Left has been tethered by its affiliation with declining institutional liberal Protestantism. And even now, most lay Mainline Protestants, ignoring their own denominations, still vote conservative.

Evangelicalism is now the largest religious demographic, and many of its older elite institutions have shifted politically Left, such as colleges, relief groups, and pan-denominational associations. Many evangelical elites don't want association with the Religious Right and consequently shift Left. Most political witness jamborees for young college educated evangelicals are left-leaning. Much of the evangelical blogosphere is left-leaning. Essentially much of evangelicalism is replicating what happened to Mainline Protestantism starting 100 years ago. And these liberal evangelical expressions similarly are mainly from elites and are not usually broad-based.

Here's why I think the committed Religious Left has never had and will never have a very wide popular lay following. Religion is usually about preserving and perpetuating particular teachings and traditions that transcend contemporary culture. Adherents esteem their own community and look to a transcendent authority expressed through clerics and scripture, and usually upheld by family structure. Traditional religion by definition cannot sacralize politics or the state. But the Religious Left, by insisting or at least implying the divine kingdom can be achieved politically, superceding religious communities, ultimately loses its original faith identity in favor of alternative social priorities that are secularizing.

So the Religious Left is almost never populist but it will always exist through the rebellious elites of religious institutions and subcultures, consequently gaining disproportionate influence. This cycle at least in American Protestantism seems perpetual. As liberal religionists stretch the boundaries of their faith or leave altogether, they are replaced by a new generation of enthusiastic converts who rediscover the old orthodoxy.

Originally posted at juicyecumenism.com.

Prior to joining the IRD in 1994, Mark worked eight years for the Central Intelligence Agency. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and is a native of Arlington, Virginia. A lifelong United Methodist, he has been active in United Methodist renewal since 1988, when he wrote a study about denominational funding of pro-Marxist groups for his local congregation. He attends a United Methodist church in Alexandria, Virginia. Follow Mark on Twitter @markdtooley. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today or its editors.
Who is the Holy Spirit Jesus promised his disciples?

John 14:1521

Key verses: John 14:1617

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever  17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

How well do you know the Holy Spirit? He is probably the least understood member of the Trinity, and subsequently the subject of many debates.

The word 'advocate' appears five times in the New Testament  four times in these chapters of John's Gospel and once in the first letter of John. The Greek word parakletos, 'to be called alongside', has no real English equivalent. We will never find one word to do justice to the majestic, multiple ministry of the Holy Spirit. We know from Scripture that he teaches, convicts, leads, guides and helps; that he can be grieved, resisted and quenched; and that he is a person, not a force or an 'it'. So the translators come up with words like Counsellor, Advocate, Paraclete, Helper, but none of them completely describes the great work of the Holy Spirit.

Wonderfully, verse 16 tells us that the Holy Spirit will be with us, 'for ever'. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14), and Psalm 51 records David's desperate plea that the Spirit wouldn't leave him. Here Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will never leave us. He will move in and live with your sin until you see God face to face, and then you will be sinless.

Aren't you grateful that the Holy Spirit stays with us for ever, that when we sin he doesn't leave us, and instead, he graciously convicts us? Whereas the Holy Spirit 'lives with you and will be in you' (verse 17), the world doesn't know, and is hostile to, God's Spirit, for the secular person cannot appreciate the things of the Spirit. This doesn't make Christians any better or smarter than unbelievers; it only means that God's grace has brought us to Jesus and made us alive to the Holy Spirit's work.

Interestingly, the word 'you' here is actually in the plural. The Holy Spirit will be in you individually and corporately. That's why when Christians gather together, we have such rich fellowship. That's why being part of the church family is so important.

Read the key verses again, noticing every time the word 'you' is mentioned. Do you see how personal and intimate the Holy Spirit wants to be with you? He is the ever-ready, ever-present 'God with us'. No matter how much you grieve him, he will never leave you. But he longs for greater access to your heart, greater obedience, and to share greater ministry with you. He wants to work in and through you, to bring transformation and make you more like Christ. Why resist such an amazing gift? Today, invite the Holy Spirit to have his way in your life. Give him complete access to teach, guide, convict and help you.

This extract has been taken from 'John' by Simon Manchester with Elizabeth McQuoid (IVP, March 2017).
Who was King Jehoshaphat and what can we learn from him?

The Bible presents to us various rulers and persons of authority, and all of them serve as examples of what Godly and ungodly leadership produces. One of these rulers, King Jehoshaphat, is a great example to learn from.

Who is King Jehoshaphat?

Recognized as perhaps the best king that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had, King Jehoshaphat did right in the sight of God with his intense desire to pursue God in his leadership. He was 35 years old when he sat as king and reigned for 25 years until his death at age 60.

Jehoshaphat established a very strong nation under him. Let's go over some of the things he did.

A strong devotion to God

Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, followed after his father, King Asa, and David's footsteps. He prioritized the worship of Yahweh, the true God of Israel. He worked to remove the "high places" of worship, did not participate in any Baal worship, and cut down the Asherahs, which were worshipped in various places. (see 2 Chronicles 17)

He also devised a system for teaching God's laws to people. He set up a group of priests and qualified people to go around, teaching the people from God's laws (see 2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

A strong judicial system

Jehoshaphat also established a strong justice system. He appointed judges that would hear cases among the people. He required these judges to be just, impartial, and take no bribes, for they "do not judge according to man but the Lord" (see 2 Chronicles 19:4-10).

A strong financial supply from the Lord

God's hand was on Jehoshaphat and He blessed the kingdom of Judah under his reign. In fact, Jehoshaphat was so blessed that aside from different nations or groups bringing tribute to him, he built citadels and storehouses in Judah, signifying much abundance. He also had a lot of property. (see 2 Chronicles 17:10-12)

A very strong army

Jehoshaphat established for his kingdom a very strong fighting force, reaching astounding numbers of fighting men. He had a total of more than 1.1 million fighting men in his core force, in addition to those he had placed in different areas (see 2 Chronicles 17:14-19).

A very humble heart

These are but some of Jehoshaphat's achievements. Despite the riches, fame, and military might that he possessed, Jehoshaphat had a humble heart that kept inquiring of the Lord for any detail of his life  and that's what makes him a really great king (see 2 Chronicles 17:3-6).

He repented when he did wrong

If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. (see 2 Chronicles 19).
Why the story of Ruth is a parable for Lebanon today

I recently spent four fascinating days in Lebanon. I was scheduled to preach in All Saints Church, Beirut, on the Sunday. But little did I realise when I was preparing the sermon how the Bible passage I had chosen would spring to life before my eyes in a most unexpected way.

I'd chosen to speak on the Old Testament story of Ruth. It's the tale of a woman from the land of Moab who makes the difficult journey from that land to Israel, to accompany her poor mother-in-law Naomi who has lost not only her husband but her two sons, Ruth's husband included.

Ruth shows remarkable dedication to Naomi. This is how she expresses it: 'Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.'

This is a costly things for her to do. Ruth leaves her own country to travel to Naomi's home; to a place where she would face inevitable hostility, because Israel and Moab were old enemies. In fact, out of love for Naomi, Ruth makes herself a refugee.

Lebanon, of course, lies just to the north of modern-day Israel, and ancient Moab is in Jordan, so I was in the right territory, but the parallels don't stop there. Lebanon today is no stranger to refugees; indeed a country of around 4 million people plays host to over 1 million refugees. What's more these refugees too are from an old enemy, from Syria.

For many years Syrian forces occupied Lebanon, but now with the war in Syria the tables have turned and a huge number of refugees have flooded into this tiny country.

And in this situation some amazing things are happening. We met many people, a good number of whom are part of Church Mission Society, running projects showing extraordinary love and compassion for refugees, caring for their needs and sharing the love of Christ in word and deed. You can read more about such people elsewhere in the latest edition of our newspaper The Call.

I met one couple, who themselves have fled from another country, who have turned their garage into a school for refugee children, accommodating up to 80 children a day. Many of the children were so traumatised when they arrived they wouldn't even look their teachers in the eye. But now they are singing and laughing and playing and learning and it is truly wonderful to see. Indeed I would never have believed you if you'd told me that one day I would be trampolining on a Lebanese hillside with Syrian refugee children. For me it was in a profound sense a vision of the Kingdom of God.

But to come back to Ruth, I felt that I met her face to face  indeed I felt I did so twice.

In one town I met a woman we'll call Layla, who was originally a Christian refugee from Iraq to Syria, and has now fled further to Lebanon. There she is working with others to distribute essential supplies and provide education to around 2,500 refugee families.

Layla took us to see another woman we'll call Salwa and her family, who had also fled from Syria. Salwa came to church asking for prayer for her unborn child, who was suffering from a serious condition. Miraculously the child was born healthy and whole, and Salwa committed her life to Christ. And she is now ministering in her own right, sharing the love of Jesus with her family, friends and neighbours.

And both women, following so clearly in Ruth's footsteps, are radiant with the love of Christ.

Their story, just like Ruth's, is not simply the story of good being done to refugees. It's also a story of refugees doing good to others, and furthering the Kingdom of God with love, joy and great commitment.

Let me give the last word to a pastor in Beirut who has himself a very impressive ministry among refugees, with many coming to his church simply wanting to know more about Jesus: 'All the relief work in this church is being done by the Syrian people,' he says. 'I thought I was here to bless them. I'm seeing now that they are blessing us. They are no longer "Syrian refugees" but brothers and sisters in Christ.' That too speaks profoundly of the Kingdom of God.

We in the West have so much to learn from such wonderful saints of God. Their stories, their commitment, and what God is evidently doing through them, gives me much to reflect on when in this season we follow the Archbishop of Canterbury's call to pray 'Thy Kingdom Come'.

Rev Philip Mounstephen is executive leader of Church Mission Society.
Heres a riddle for our politically twisted times: when is a black woman a white supremacist? Answer: when she speaks out against female genital mutilation, sharia law, and jihadism.

This is the tortured logic of the feminist Left in Australia, which helped stop a lecture tour by the human rights advocate Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Anonymous protestors warned venues and insurers not to have dealings with the Somali-born, anti-radical-Islam activist if they wanted to avoid trouble. The Council for the Prevention of Islamophobia, Inc. accused Hirsi Ali of being part of the Islamophobia industry . . . that exists to dehumanize Muslim women. Another group, Persons of Interest, took to Facebook to describe her ideas: This is the language of patriarchy and misogyny. This is the language of white supremacy. This is the language used to justify war and genocide.

Hirsi Ali canceled her trip in early April, only days before she was due to speak in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Auckland, New Zealand. In Australia, as in the UK, the costs of security have to be borne by event organizers, not the government, as is the case in the U.S. Perhaps there were disagreements between the speaker and her sponsors about security. In any case, Hirsi Ali travels with armed guards, but it was still too dangerous for her to speak in public. Yes, in Australia.

Anyone familiar with Hirsi Alis personal and ideological history is doubtless picking their jaws up off the floor at the Orwellian nature of these goings-on. She dehumanizes Muslim women? But it was Hirsi Ali who was dehumanized when as a girl she was subjected to a clitoridectomy, a barbaric and horribly painful ritual still visited upon girls in many Islamic countries to prevent them from experiencing sexual pleasure. She speaks the language of patriarchy and misogyny? But as a vocal opponent of the forced marriage of young girls to older men, which she describes as arranged rape, Ali vehemently attacks the patriarchy in its most oppressive manifestation. The Muslim feminists who seek to silence her are the ones linking arms with misogynists.

How has Western feminism come to a point where up is down, and a restrictive, intolerant patriarchy must be defended? Hirsi Ali blames it on the naivete of liberals, besotted by political correctness in the face of religious extremism. In liberal societies, those on the left [are] in the grip of identity politics, she said after announcing the cancellation. This fascination is not caused by the Islamists, but the Islamists exploit it. Radicals know the social-justice drillminority identity is good, regardless of any of the actual precepts of that identity, and its critics are by definition white supremacists. Within this mental universe, accusations of Islamophobia are a cudgel for silencing moderates and advancing the cause of radicals.

Its worth recalling that the feminist Lefts silence on the Islamic treatment of women precedes the advent of microaggressions and race and gender obsessions. In fact, it goes back as far as the early days of second-wave feminism. Sent to Iran to cover the revolution in 1978, the French philosopher Michel Foucault, an intellectual godfather of contemporary leftism, was enchanted by what he viewed as the religious revolutionaries anti-globalist authenticity and political spirituality. When Ayatollah Khomenei took power after the fall of the Shah, he reintroduced polygamy, reduced the age of marriage for women from 18 to 13, and restored the punishment of flogging for those who violated compulsory veiling laws. Neither Foucault nor his comrades in the anti-colonial, feminist-influenced Left were troubled by this dramatic retreat from womens most basic rights.

Over the years, some feminist organizations have protested female genital mutilation, but for the most part the sisterhood has focused its ire on a mythical Western patriarchy rather than the real thing making headlines in Muslim countries and immigrant enclaves at home. Now that feminists have adopted an updated form of anti-colonialism called intersectionality, theres virtually no chance that the principle of basic rights will prevail over special pleading for medieval cultural norms. Intersectionality refers to overlapping and self-reinforcing marginalized identity-group identity; hence a black woman suffers two levels of oppression, while a black gay woman struggles with three. Intersectionality leads directly to the conclusion that Muslim women must be protected from a racist and sexist West. Any hint that Muslim culture could be a source of oppression against its women is tantamount to a colonialist war on native identity.

That this latest example of feminist Orwellianism comes from generally moderate Australia is not entirely surprising. The countrys Muslim population is small; as of the last census in 2011, Muslims made up only 2.2 percent of the population. But over the past several years, the country has endured a number of stabbings, thwarted attacks, and a shooting by a radicalized 15-year old. The most infamous Islamist attack, in which three people died, took place in a 2014 siege of the Sydney Lindt chocolate cafe by a lone-wolf gunman, who brandished a black flag emblazoned with the Muslim statement of faith.

Stirring up tension has been the Trumpian figure of Pauline Hanson, a senator from Queensland and a founder of One Nation, Australias populist party. As her partys name hints, Hanson has been hostile to immigration. In recent years, she has taken an aggressive rhetorical posture toward Islam, calling it an evil faith. One Nation suffered a decisive defeat in Western Australia in March, but populist victories abroad have put many Australians, both Laborites and Liberals (conservatives, in our parlance), on edge.

In a feedback loop similar to that existing in other Western countries, including the United States, One Nations populism is in part a reaction to political correctness but winds up prompting more of it. Conservatives are a rare breed at Australian universities, whether as professors or speakers. Meanwhile, accusations of racism, sexism, hate speech, and Islamophobia are becoming almost as commonplace in Australia as marsupials. One of the biggest political contretemps these days involves Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act, which includes prohibitions on any speech that might offend, insult, and humiliate on the basis of race. Alert to potential dangers to free speech, Liberals want to tone down the language of the provision, while Laborites argue that it serves as a vital protection against hate speech.

Labor might want to look more closely at the case of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. In a country where the woman who speaks out against forced marriage and jihadism is an extremist and the people who threaten her are praised as virtuous representatives of diversity, who exactly requires protection?

Kay S. Hymowitz is a City Journal contributing editor, the William E. Simon Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and the author of The New Brooklyn: What It Takes to Bring a City Back.

Photo by Elisabetta Villa
Charity regulators have dropped a proposed requirement that would require auditors to report a charity for not acting on their recommendations from the final version of its guidance for professional advisers.

Last year, the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR - the Scottish regulator and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland consulted on revisions to their Guidance for auditors and independent examiners of charities.

One of the suggested revisions was an added requirement for auditors to report instances of: evidence that, without reasonable cause, trustees have not taken action on matters identified by the auditor or examiner in their scrutiny of accounts for a previous year.

But the guidance has not included this in its latest version, after some in the sector expressed concern the requirement could be an administrative burden and damage the relationships between auditors and charities.

The regulators also scrapped a requirement previously included, which read: Any notification or matter reported to the trustees on resigning as independent examiner or matter that the examiner is aware of on resignation or ceasing to act that falls within the categories of the previously set out reportable matters, or for examiners the notification on ceasing to hold office or resigning from office, of those matters reported to trustees.

It found the requirement led to auditors advising the regulator where they had ceased to hold office so has now dropped it.

The new guidance includes he regulator has introduced two more areas for reporting:

If an auditor has concerns regarding a charitys accounts and issues a modified audit opinion report or qualified independent examiners report

Where an auditor has concerns that conflicts of interests or related party transactions have not been properly managed or declared

Nigel Davies, head of accountancy services at Charity Commission, said: We have, as regulators, reflected on our experiences to date and it is clear that not all auditors and examiners have been reporting matters to us.

We hope that by providing an updated list auditors and examiners may be clearer in their duties.

Andrew OBrien, head of policy and engagement at the Charity Finance Group head of policy and engagement, welcomed the scrapping of the requirement, which he said will ensure that auditors and independent examiners are able to have full and frank discussions with charities and remain a trusted source of advice.

See in Charity Finance

OBrien warned the additional areas for reporting would be a burden for both the regulator and charities, which seems disproportionate to the level of risk in the sector.

The Charity Commission needs to give more information about how it is going to use these reports and commit to reviewing this process in the near future so that we can see whether this increased burden has been worthwhile, he said.

Civil Society Media is hosting the Charity Finance Summit on 17 October 2017. For more information, and to book, click here
Good Finance, a website to help charities and social enterprises understand social investment, launched this week.

A beta version of the site was launched last year and has now been refreshed following a year of research and co-design with the sector, according to a statement.

It has been funded jointly by Big Society Capital, Access and DCMS and has the backing of NCVO, Social Enterprise UK, and Locality.

The website includes content and case studies as well as a tool to help organisations assess whether social finance is suitable.

Kieran Whiteside, project manager for Good Finance, said: Our hope is that this new website will help charities and social enterprises feel empowered to make informed and educated investment decisions that are right for them.

Nick Temple, deputy chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: We know that the social investment landscape can sometimes feel fragmented, difficult to understand and difficult to access. That's why we are delighted to be involved in Good Finance which has been designed with the users at its heart - and is also a genuine collaboration between key organisations."

Civil Society Media is hosting the Charity Finance Summit on 17 October 2017. For more information, and to book, click here
Voluntary sector organisations are well placed to highlight failings in the state system, says Anne Fox, but government is growing less likely to listen.

In her Shared Society speech the Prime Minister said building a stronger, fairer Britain that works for everyone would start by tackling some of the burning injustices that undermine the solidarity of our society. She went on to provide the example of how overrepresented black people are in our criminal justice system.

By shining a light on that injustice she got closer to acknowledging one of our societys starkest facts - that the criminal justice system holds up a mirror to our society and shows its worst attributes.

Overrepresentation from poorer communities, minority groups that experience discrimination, people who have been in care, children that have been excluded from school, children that have experienced abuse, those with learning disabilities, people suffering from mental ill-health, addiction to drugs, and experiencing homelessness.

As is often the case when people are facing real disadvantage, society responds through civic action and the voluntary sector. Working alongside the estimated 350,000 men, women and children in our justice system are approximately 1,750 voluntary organisations. Some provide direct services, some campaign, most do both to some degree. Wherever you live and whatever the nature of your need there is likely to be a dedicated voluntary organisation with an offer for you.

The voluntary sector has lots to say about how the system could be changed, informed by the experiences of their service users, their volunteers and the knowledge of skilled employees that work in a system we know has many flaws. Voluntary organisations are uniquely positioned to look over that whole landscape and see how the system does or doesnt fit together. They can and often do see the system differently than its individual cogs (the police, court, prison, and probation services), making them a valuable critical friend with a mutual interest in making the system better.

Its a sector with a rich history and legacy and to which we can attribute the creation of the very concept of prison visiting and probation, always pushing to find ways to balance the need for retribution with the need for rehabilitation and reintegration back into a society which may often have failed them from their earliest days.

But these voluntary organisations require an audience that is willing to listen and act.

Over recent years the trend has been for them to be increasingly sidelined and silenced. Organisations who provide contracted services may feel, or indeed have been told that they cannot criticise the system within which they work. Other organisations have fallen silent under the sheer pressure - reducing the scale and scope of their advocacy work to keep their services open and focussed on meeting immediate need in the face of austerity and the eradication of many local services which their clients relied upon.

The problem is not just specific gagging clauses in contracts or no advocacy clauses in grant agreements, but statutory funding that is scarcely sufficient for the voluntary sector to be a delivery agent, let alone a delivery partner.

It is clear from the Prime Minister and her government that there is an appetite for reform of the systems which drive social inequality and injustice in modern Britain. As a result of increasing violence and deaths in custody the Ministry of Justice is also focussed on reforming our prisons, from staff to the bricks and mortar.

It is therefore imperative that there is an open conversation about how we create a Shared Society which works for the most disenfranchised and the most marginalised and delivers true justice. The creation of a role in 10 Downing Street with a focus on the voluntary sector, including its role in the criminal justice system, is very welcome and could provide a way to link the Prime Ministers ambition to the voluntary sector.

These are necessary and welcome reforms, but they also represent a huge challenge, one that will be made all the more difficult if the voluntary sector continues to be side-lined. There needs to be genuine, formal engagement, with the sector as an equal partner, and this is not happening yet. And it will be essential that voluntary organisations are also enabled and encouraged to take part in the process, with funding made available, not just to deliver the system as it is now, but also to help redesign it so it works much better.

Anne Fox is chief executive of Clinks
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 13 (PTI) US President Donald Trump today expressed confidence that things will "work out fine" with Russia and hoped that China would "properly deal" with North Korea.

"Things will work out fine between the USA and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!" Trump told his more than 27.8 million followers on Twitter this morning.

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His tweet came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left Moscow following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

A day earlier, Trump had said that the US-Russia relationship are at a low point.

Last night he was scheduled to speak to Tillerson.

Trumps tweets appear to be a reflection of the talks that he had with his Secretary of State.

In another tweet, he hoped that China would act on North Korea.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with its allies, will! USA," Trump said.

The US president hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar a-Lago residence in Florida last week.

The two leaders again spoke over phone this week.

Trump has been asking China to act on North Korea and co-operate with it on Syria.

Trump yesterday praised China for abstaining a UN Security Council vote on Syria and taking actions against North Korea. PTI LKJ ZH

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Look at how sweet this bunny's little face is. How could you abandon it? How? HOW?!

Dont adjust your computer monitors, this is not a drill. While it may be a Thursday, its also the Thursday before the Easter weekend and so is basically like a Friday, but better because its come one day early. The revolution might not be televised, but Society Diary will be published on special occasions.

This week, Scottish campaigners call for Buckfast monks to have charitable status revoked and a bunny rabbit is for life, not just for Easter!

A mountain out of a monk-hill

First up this week, we turn our attention to Devon and its Buckfast Abbey  home to a sect of Benedictine monks known best for their so called tonic wine; a heady mixture of red wine, divers phosphates, lashings of caffeine and something called vanillin, an organic compound derived from the vanilla bean.

Return readers of this column may well remember that it has covered the charitable associations of Buckfast Abbey, and the less than charitable effects of its self-titled tonic wine in the past. In 2015/16, the monks heavily inebriating wine raked in over 8m worth of income for Buckfast Abbeys charitable trust. The Trust said that it would be using the money to refurbish parts of the abbey itself so as to future proof the charitys second biggest income generator: tourism.

No harm, no foul, right? Wrong! It was the week before Christmas when this story was written and, frankly, this column had more pressing issues to attend to but, in the cold hard light of Easter, Diary now feels it let the Benedictines off lightly.

Buckfast tonic wine has a decidedly sinister reputation, particularly north of the border in Scotland, where its consumption has been linked with spikes in all manner of serious and violent crimes.

One helpful infographic on the BBCs website says that, of a survey of young male offenders in Scotland in 2007, 43.4 per cent said they had drunk Buckfast before committing their offence  more than any other alcoholic beverage, including Scotch.

As a result the National Secular Society, a non-party-political organisation which exists to challenge religious privilege in the UK according to its website, has called on the Charity Commission to strip the Buckfast monks of their charitable status, as they are effectively enriching the trust by aiding and abetting (in a fairly roundabout way) Scottish criminals.

An NSS spokesman said: "Charitable status and the accompanying tax benefits should be granted only to religious organisations that deliver a demonstrable public benefit. Where the good is simply not good enough, public confidence in supporting charities risks being undermined."

The Commission for its part has said it will be contacting the Abbey. However, to linger any further on the facts would drag this perilously close to becoming a news story, and Diarys not having that.

It remains to be seen whether or not the monks of Buckfast Abbey will lose their charitable status, or change their ways. Given that theyve been brewing their Bucky tonic wine since 1922, Diary would say its hard to see them changing the HABIT of a lifetime.

Get it?

Seriously, dont abandon rabbits!

Diary never ceases to be amazed by just how vacuous and moronic some people can be, yet, some new event  like video footage of Leicester City fans in Madrid yesterday clashing with riot police and chanting Gibraltar is ours!  or a public holiday comes along and suddenly the bar somehow gets set a little lower.

The RSPCA and SSPCA have both been forced, through the stupidity/cupidity of people, to put together separate Easter campaigns to remind people that, in fact, a rabbit isnt just for the holidays, but for the life of the rabbit! Because it is, you know, a living, breathing, sentient being and not a stuffed animal or made of chocolate or wood, or whatever else people make things out of.

To be fair they probably haven't had to do too much original thinking - the campaigns are remarkably similar to Battersea's annual Christmas campaign reminding the public that dogs are for life.

Anyway, this time last year, according to the RSPCA, it had to rescue over 3,000 bunnies across the UK, including the best part of 1,000 who had simply been abandoned by their owners.

What is wrong with these people? If you only want a rabbit for a few days, buy one of those Lindt chocolate ones. Theyre so delicious that itll be completely gone within a day or two (product placement, waiting for the Lindt royalties to come streaming in)!

So if youre thinking about buying a rabbit this Easter then please remember: a bunny isnt just for Easter but for life you idiot.

Have a great long weekend!
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New York, April 12, 2017Belarusian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalists for covering protests and should allow the news media to work unobstructed, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A district court in the southwestern Belarusian city of Kobryn is scheduled to try Ales Levchuk and Milana Kharitonova, correspondents for the independent broadcaster Belsat TV, tomorrow, according to their employer. The journalists are to face charges of violating regulations on manufacturing and distributing [illicit] mass media materials and disobeying police for covering a March 18 protest in the city.

Journalists covering protests are not committing a crime; they are doing their jobs, said CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova. Belarusian authorities should drop the absurd charges against Ales Levchuk, Milana Kharitonova, and all journalists who have been detained for their work, and should cease trying to intimidate the news media.

I have no doubt that we will be found guilty and ordered to pay huge fines tomorrow, Belsat quoted Levchuk as saying today.

Belarusian courts convicted several other journalists yesterday and today for covering protests last month. In two separate sessions today, the Vitebsk Regional Court upheld a lower courts conviction of Halina Abakunchyk, a correspondent for the Belarusian service of the U.S.-government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, locally known as Radio Svaboda, and Katerina Bakhvalava, a correspondent for Belsat, on charges of participating in an unsanctioned protest in the eastern city of Orsha on March 12, their employers reported today.

Police detained Abakunchyk as she broadcasted live from the protest and detained her overnight, CPJ reported at the time. Police confiscated her phone, questioned her for six hours, and sent her to court the following day, where she was convicted and fined the equivalent of US$300. Bakhvalava was also detained overnight and convicted the following day of the same charge, and was fined the equivalent of US$365, Radio Svaboda reported.

Also today, freelance correspondent Larisa Schirakova, who covered March protests in the southeastern cities of Rahachow and Gomel, stood trial in Gomel for manufacturing illicit video products. The judge ordered her to pay a fine of the equivalent of US $500, Belsat reported.

Yesterday, the Oktyabr District Court in Vitebsk, convicted Belsat journalists Olga Chaychits and Andrey Kozel in absentia on charges of manufacturing illicit video products, Belsat reported, without specifying the amount of the fine. According to the Belarusian Criminal Code, the offense is punishable by a maximum fine of US$600.

Protests erupted in February after the imposition of a new tax on Belarusians who have been unemployed for more than six months without seeking work at a government job center, but have since developed into broader protests against the 23-year rule President Aleksandr Lukashenko. CPJ reported on dozens of cases of detention and other forms of intimidation of journalists covering the protests. At least eight journalists were sentenced to 5-15 days of arrest following the March 25-26 rallies, according to CPJ research.

CPJ on March 24 issued safety advice for journalists covering the protests in Belarus.
Queensland tourism is back in business after Cyclone Debbie as P&O Cruises Pacific Dawn has today become the first cruise ship to return to Airlie Beach.

Queenslander Ann Sherry, Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said Pacific Dawns return to Airlie Beach, along with two other calls later this month, was a sign that Queensland had bounced back in the most emphatic fashion, in a prepared statement.

Sherry said it was fitting that the Brisbane-based Pacific Dawn was the first cruise ship to return after Airlie Beach authorities and tourism leaders signaled the gateway to the Whitsundays was again ready to welcome cruise visitors.

Cyclone Debbie did its best but you cant knock Queensland down for long and these communities have been quick to get back on their feet, Sherry said.
The 2017 cruise season officially kicked off earlier this week at the Port of Vancouver with the arrival of the Star Princess at Canada Place cruise terminal.

Approximately 840,000 cruise passengers on 237 vessel visits are expected in Vancouver this year, a two per cent increase in passenger volume over 2016.

Vancouver cruise passenger volumes have been strong and steady since 2013. This year, we are forecasting our highest passenger volumes since 2010, said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. We are thrilled to welcome even more visitors this year to our cruise terminal at Canada Place.

The Vancouver cruise industry stimulates on average nearly $3 million in direct economic activity for each vessel that visits, according to the port, and the 2016 cruise season directly generated nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada, $300 million in wages, and contributed $840 million to national GDP.

This year, 33 different vessels from 15 cruise lines will be visiting Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver ranging from luxury and smaller expedition style ships designed to carry small groups of passengers, to some of the largest vessels in the Alaska cruise market.

Among the highlights for 2017, the Golden Princess will be overnighting in Vancouver on July 1 to enjoy the Canada Day celebrations at Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver and fireworks for Canadas 150th anniversary of Confederation, and the World, the largest private residential ship, will visit during three stops on its world-wide itinerary.

Some of the largest vessels that visit the Port of Vancouver include the Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and the Celebrity Solstice. Princess Cruise vessels can accommodate up to 3,100 passengers.
Credit union supporter and volunteer Ron Estes was elected to Congress representing Kansass 4th Congressional District Tuesday in a special election. The seat was vacant due to former Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) being appointed director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Estes, state treasurer of Kansas, previously served on the Assets and Liabilities Committee of MidAmerica CU, Wichita, Kan. He won the election with 53% of the vote to Democratic opponent James Thompsons 46%.

Estes was strongly supported by the Heartland Credit Union Association, and received the maximum $5,000 donation from the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), CUNAs political action committee.

He also met with more than 20 credit union leaders from 9 credit unions and the league in February to discuss regulatory relief and the importance of maintaining the credit union tax status.

Once sworn in, Estes will join a number of other credit union volunteers or employees in the 115th Congress, including:
Is your credit union thinking about starting a lease program? Well, you picked the right time. The climate for auto buying holds a lot of opportunities especially with leasing which is expected to stay on the same pace with buyers in 2017. Understanding the lease market is one of the first steps towards benefiting from this avenue of growth. In the first six months of 2016, over 2 million cars and trucks were leased, accounting for 32 percent of new-vehicle sales in the first half of last year. New vehicle sales are expected to stay above 17 million in 2017, according to NADA, with the second half of the year experiencing a surge. With new vehicles expected to roll off lots in similar fashion this year while leasing continues its steadfast appeal; why isnt your credit union offering this borrowing alternative to members?

Location

Where your credit union is located will determine the rate of success leasing will have with members. Regions of the country where leasing is outpacing traditional loan structures are in high-density population areas, and around large cities. Location benefits leasing by keeping within mileage restrictions, where driving as little as 12,000 miles a year, is all a driver may need. Lease deals are enticing and appeal to members who may not have considered this option before.

Credit unions competing for auto loans in these regions should consider how not having a lease program is affecting their growth strategies. When dealers are reporting upwards of 70 percent of new vehicles are being leased, this leaves a very crowded 30 percent of the market to vie for.

Lease Market

Leasing started its meteoric rise after the Great Recession ended in 2009, with Millennials leading the charge. While leasing was popular before the recession, during the recovery the numbers really climbed to record levels. With the average vehicle priced at over $35,000, with monthly lease payments significantly lower vs. traditional financing, the appeal is obvious.

Offering a lease program provides your credit union with the ability to attract members with another option to traditional financing. Leasing also provides your preferred dealer network with the ability to attract new customers with low payment structures. Auto dealers have fueled the attraction to leasing with lease specials and monthly payments consumers couldnt otherwise obtain. Being a partner with your dealers will help you both serve this rising millennial population who look to get into a new vehicle every 2-4 years. A good collaboration between you and your dealer will also help to boost business coming back to you.

Reducing Risk

Leasing has tremendous rewards and some risks depending who you partner with. The rewards are serving your members with what they are looking for and building your portfolio, the risks are getting stuck with the vehicle. One of the reasons credit unions have steered clear of leasing is the residual value of the vehicle has come back to haunt them. This can be avoided completely when your credit union partners with a third party who will assume all the residual risk and fees associated with leasing. When researching, ask your potential partner: How many lease cycles have you been through? What fees am I responsible for? What program support do you provide? Am I responsible for collecting any lease-end fees? What about wear-and-tear? If the answer is yes to any of the questions, move on. Any potential partner should provide support services that include a hands-on account management. In other words, partner with a group that will completely oversee and manage your program while assuming all risk. Doing so secures your credit unions ability to offer leasing safely, for the long term.

Working the Program

Providing an option to conventional auto financing will go a long way with millennials who continue to prefer leasing. Build trust with this segment, provide an understanding of the loan process and dont rely on strictly selling based on rate. Instead, provide members with costs on different loan structures, over the life of the loan. The borrowing process can be further explained through marketing strategies, especially online where millennials are most likely to seek out this information. Use your auto resource to demonstrate a keen understanding into their needs. Remember 97 percent of car shopping begins online, make sure your relevant at each step to meet their needs.

As a credit union, you can check off all the members prerequisites for car shopping and become the go-to resource if the right steps are taken when setting up a lease program. Remember, to reduce or eliminate risk entirely requires knowing what to look for when establishing a program. Then ask yourself is settling and not offering a program more detrimental to growth?
Five people, including two senior executives, are suing a Texas credit union they retired from for discontinuing promised lifetime retirement benefits, accusing their former employer of violating federal laws and fraud.

The $347 million Union Square Credit Union in Wichita Falls, Texas, however, is denying it broke federal laws or defrauded the retirees and has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case.

In a civil lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Dallas last month, retirees Judy Hawthorne, John Christoff, Sue Moss, Charlotte Foster and Marsha Johnson alleged that Union Square CU made multiple oral and written representations and promises that they would receive retirement benefits for life and that they also set aside money to fund their retirement benefits.

Just before she retired in 2008, Charlotte Foster, who worked at the credit union for 38 years and served as its vice president of operations, specifically asked her supervisors, Jeff Fladu and President/CEO John Barad, whether this retirement benefit would be available for life and they both confirmed it would be, according to the lawsuit.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 13 (PTI) US President Donald Trumps national security advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster will visit Afghanistan to assess the ground situation of the war-torn nation and find out how they can make progress alongside Afghan partners and NATO allies.

"Im sending General McMaster to Afghanistan to find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies," Trump told reporters yesterday at a joint White House news conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

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However, the White House refused to give any further details of McMasters travel to Afghanistan or any other country in the region.

"I cant comment on any potential travel at this time,? a senior administration official said.

Afghanistan was one of the major topic of discussion between Trump and Stoltenberg.

"Our mission in Afghanistan is a major contribution to the fight against international terrorism," Stoltenberg told reporters.

McMasters trip to Afghanistan would be the first high level visit of a top Trump Administration official to the war-torn nation. PTI LKJ AJR

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The Pentagon has confirmed that the US dropped GBU-43 bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in its arsenal, on the ISIS tunnel in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

By India Today Web Desk: In a first, the United States has dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS tunnel in Afghanistan.

The GBU-43B bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs" is a 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GPS-guided munition that was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft. It was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war.

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The Pentagon has confirmed that the US dropped a Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in its arsenal, on the ISIS tunnel in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said, "It was the first time the United States has used this size of bomb in a conflict. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan."

BLAST RADIUS OVER 300 METRES

The blast radius is believed to be over 300 meters.

General John Nicholson, the head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said that the bomb was used against caves and bunkers housing fighters of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, also known as ISIS-K.

"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K", Nicholson said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear how much damage the bomb did.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer opened his daily news briefing speaking about the use of the bomb and said, "We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area."

US SOLDIER KILLED IN SAME DISTRICT LAST WEEK

Last week, a US soldier was killed in the same district as the bomb was dropped while conducting operations against Islamic State.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did", Spicer said.

He said the bomb was used at around 7 pm local time and described the device as "a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon." The United States took "all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage," he said.

US officials say intelligence suggests Islamic State is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighboring Kunar province.

ESTIMATES OF ISIS PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN VARY

Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. US officials have said they believe the movement has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500.

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Islamic State's offshoot in Afghanistan is suspected of carrying out several attacks on minority Shi'ite Muslim targets.

The Afghan Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the US-backed government in Kabul, are fiercely opposed to the Islamic State and the two groups have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence.

(WITH INPUTS FROM REUTERS)

Also read | Stockholm truck attack: Uzbek suspect sympathised with ISIS, says police

Also read | Bombings at Egyptian Coptic churches on Palm Sunday kill 44; ISIS claims responsibility

Also read | US strike: 4 soldiers dead, Syria claims airbase was being used to fight ISIS

WATCH VIDEO

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By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) The US health regulator has issued a warning letter to drug firm Mylan for violations of good manufacturing norms, including data integrity lapses and failure of quality control at its Nashik facility.

The letter by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to the Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc President Rajiv Malik states that it had inspected the Nashik facility of the company from September 5 to 14, 2016.

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There were "significant violations of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals", at the facility, it added. During the inspection, the FDA investigator observed specific violations such as the quality system not fully ensuring data integrity, the regulator said. "Your quality system does not adequately ensure the accuracy and integrity of data to support the safety, effectiveness and quality of the drugs you manufacture," the letter said.

While acknowledging that company is using a consultant to audit the operation and assist in meeting FDA requirements the USFDA asked to provide "a comprehensive investigation into the extent of the inaccuracies in data records and reporting".

The letter also asked the drug firm to provide a current risk assessment of the potential effects of the observed failures on the quality of the drugs and a management strategy "that includes the details of your global corrective action and preventive action plan". The FDA said it has reviewed companys October 5, 2016, response in detail and also acknowledged receipt of its subsequent correspondence. Other violation was that, "Your firm failed to thoroughly investigate any unexplained discrepancy or failure of a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications, whether or not the batch has already been distributed", the letter said. The pharma firm also failed to establish an adequate quality control unit with the authority to review production records to assure that no errors have occurred or, if errors have occurred, that they have been fully investigated, it added. "Until you correct all violations completely and we confirm your compliance with CGMP, FDA may withhold approval of any new applications or supplements listing your firm as a drug manufacturer," the warning letter said. Failure to correct these violations may also result in FDA refusing admission of articles manufactured at Mylan Laboratories at the Nashik plant, it added. PTI AKT MKJ

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By Press Trust of India: Chandigarh, Apr 13 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today said he is "not bothered" about what Canada thinks about his stand on its minister Harjit Sajjan and asserted that he will not associate himself with "Khalistani sympathisers"

"I am not bothered about what Sajjan or others in the Canadian government think about my stand. I am concerned only about the detrimental impact of these Khalistani sympathisers on this country, particularly on Punjab," he said.

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Canada has termed as "disappointing and inaccurate" the comments by Amarinder that five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, were "Khalistani sympathisers".

Yesterday, during a programme of a private TV channel, the Chief Minister had alleged, "Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father. There are, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them."

Reiterating his stand on the issue, Amarinder said while, as a democratic nation, India believes in freedom of speech, which was enshrined in the Constitution, he would personally not meet any "Khalistani sympathiser".

The Chief Minister said while Sajjan is welcome to attend conferences and meets and even to visit Darbar Sahib, he would personally not entertain the Canadian minister as he has "concrete information about him being a Khalistani sympathiser, just as his father Kundan Sajjan".

"The state government would provide full security to the minister and ensure that he gets due treatment as per protocol but I will not be seen hobnobbing with a Khalistani sympathiser," Amarinder said.

He also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dal Khalsa for their criticism of his refusal to meet the Canadian defence minister during the latters expected visit to India later this month and accused them of playing into the hands of forces inimical to India.

Asserting that as many as 35,000 innocent lives were lost during those days of violence, Amarinder alleged, "People like Sajjan had not only run away from the turmoil to settle abroad but were encouraging such extremist elements by supporting their philosophy."

Accusing the Dal Khalsa of playing to the gallery on the matter, Amarinder said that he "never believed in public posturing for the sake of political propriety or necessity but had stood by principles."

"From breaking away from the Congress in the wake of Operation Bluestar to resigning from the Lok Sabha over the SYL issue, I have always upheld the values that protected the interests of Punjab and its people," he said.

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The Chief Minister also flayed the AAPs attack on him for his stand terming their reaction as "expected and in line with" the partys national convener Arvind Kejriwals "proven softness for the Khalistani forces".

"Kejriwal had shown his extremist leanings by staying at a former Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) militants house during one of his visits to Punjab as part of his election campaign," Amarinder claimed, adding in this circumstance, AAPs strong reaction "is quite natural". PTI VJ NSD

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The Uttar Pradesh government plans to organise mass weddings for poor Muslims under a scheme which will be run jointly by the Central government.

By Mausami Singh: Working towards its promise of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is focusing on minority welfare.

The Uttar Pradesh government under Yogi Adityanath will provide monetary assistance to poor Muslim families for their daughter's marriage.

The government also plans to organise mass weddings for them under a scheme which will be run jointly by the Central government.

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SADBHAVNA MANDAPS

A month since coming to power in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has chalked out a roadmap for inclusive development.

As part of the pilot, the Yogi Adityanath government is planning to organise 100 mass weddings across all the districts of Uttar Pradesh at 'Sadbhavna Mandaps'.

If the scheme receives a good response, the government plans to make it a bi-annual affair. Sources said the scheme is meant for poor Muslim families.

IT WAS THE CM's IDEA

Till now, the state government was providing a financial assistance of Rs 20,000 to below-poverty line (BPL) families for their daughter's marriage. Many alleged that the scheme was marred by corruption and had little representation from Muslim families.

Mohsin Raza, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, said the idea to organise mass weddings for Muslim girls came from the chief minister himself.

"I am extremely happy that the chief minister made the proposal of Sadbhavna Mandap," said Mohsin Raza.

ALSO READ:

Muslims in Uttar Pradesh have mixed feelings for Yogi Adityanath as chief minister

Yogi Adityanath a hardliner Hindutva icon or messiah of the poor in Gorakhpur?

'Converted? Who's your baap?' Meerut couple thrashed by Yogi Adityanath's Hindu Yuva Vahini asked

ALSO WATCH

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The Enforcement Directorate fears that there is a reasonable apprehension that the accused may be tampering with the crucial evidence in and outside India.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has passed an order and issued an open ended non-bailable warrant (NBW) against evangelist Zakir Naik under section 59(1)(b) of PMLA 2002 and under section 70, 78, 79 and 105 of CrPC, for his non-cooperation with the Enforcement Directorate in the investigation of a money laundering case against him and his NGO IRF.

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While citing reasons to issue a NBW against Naik, the ED informed the court that Naik had been summoned to appear before the agency four times in the past three months.

Application filed by ED said, "The accused is not cooperating with the investigation and is evading service of summons upon him. His absence is unnecessarily delaying the proceedings."

The ED fears that there is a reasonable apprehension that the accused may be tampering with the crucial evidence in and outside India. Thus, Naik's custodial interrogation is of utmost necessity to ascertain the trail of the proceeds of crime, ED told the Court.

PASSPORT TO BE REVOKED

The next step soon after getting the order copy of non-bailable warrant against Naik, the agency would initiate the process of revoking Naik's passport. Sources told India Today that, the next action would be to request the regional passport office (RPO) in Mumbai to revoke the passport of Naik, at the earliest.

During the process, the RPO would issue a show-cause notice to Naik, seeking reasons why his passport should not be revoked. In 2010, on the request of ED, the RPO, Mumbai had revoked former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi's passport for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 470 crore by him.

Once it happens, Naik's stay in the Saudi Arabia would become illegal, as he entered that country as an Indian national. The investigative agency is quite confident that India and UAE government has signed a treaty where Dubai would not hesitate to deport "an accused of money laundering" back to India, if crucial details and evidences are shared through proper diplomatic channel.

According to ED, during the investigations, it was revealed that Naik has got several interests in foreign countries, especially Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has acquired several properties.

"Prime facie, it appears that these properties have been acquired from the proceeds of crime involved in the present offence and there is possibility that Naik may alienate and or dispose of the same, obstructing the investigation," the ED application stated.

RED CORNER NOTICE

Sources told India Today that the agency could also go ahead and request the Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Zakir Naik.

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"Cancellation of Passport, Red Corner Notice, attachments of Naik's personal and commercial assets in India and abroad is our next plan of action. As it is unlikely now that Zakir Naik would return to India and face the investigation, therefore, all these action plans would get implemented in the coming months," the source said.

The agency has recorded the statements of Naik's siblings, his sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik, and the copies were submitted before the Court. However, both had denied their role in the financial dealings and shifted the entire blame on Zakir Naik, making him responsible for handling the proceeds of crime.

Watch Video: NIA issues second summons to absconding Islamic preacher Zakir Naik

Also Read:

Zakir Naik's properties worth Rs 100 crore under ED's scanner, attachment begins

Decision to ban Zakir Naik's IRF in interest of India, says Delhi High Court

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Indonesia is set to receive a new mobile payments platform following the announcement of a joint venture between media firm Emtek (Elang Mahkota Teknologi) and Alipays parent firm Ant Financial.

The platform will initially be available via the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) app, which is licensed to an Emtek subsidiary in Indonesia and has an install base of 63 million monthly active users. Once this launch is complete, the platform will be pushed to other messaging and eCommerce offerings.

Emtek CEO Alvin Sariaatmadja issued a statement saying: Ant Financial has proven know-how in delivering payment and other financial solutions to a large and growing mobile audience in China and enabling its partners globally, and we are looking forward to replicating and creating this success in Indonesia.

Ant Financial International president Douglas Feagin added: This strategic partnership underlines our commitment to serve the unbanked and underbanked around the world and to improve their lives by bringing them inclusive financial services. We are achieving this by working with partners who share our vision.

Emtek is a major media player in Indonesia, with its subsidiaries running various popular social media platforms and terrestrial broadcast channels. The joint venture comes as part of a broader push by Ant Financial to reduce its reliance on the Chinese market, following its announcement in February that it would invest in the Mynt payment platform provided by Globe Telecom in the Philippines.
LONDON - A tool which attempts to independently measure and verify the sustainability efforts of apparel brands and retailers has released its latest results. G-Star, Haikure, Just Brands, Ted Baker, Vivobarefoot and WE Fashion are all now using the Mode Tracker tool of Made-By, the UK-based textile sustainability consultancy. The sustainability performances of each brand are independently verified and published in a consumer-friendly manner, based on a common, albeit subjective standard.
In 2015, during the Cassini spacecraft's deepest-ever dive into the plume of spray that emanates from cracks in the south polar region of the ice-covered Saturnian moon Enceladus, instruments detected the presence of molecular hydrogen in the plume vapor. The results are reported by Hunter Waite and colleagues, who go on to demonstrate that the only plausible source of this hydrogen is hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water in the ocean beneath the moon's icy surface. (On Earth, the same process provides energy for whole ecosystems around hydrothermal vents.) During further analyses, Waite and his team infer the concentrations of volatile species in Enceladus' sub-surface ocean from the plume abundances. The researchers suggest that the vapor and particle material Cassini flew through contained up to 1.4 volume percent molecular hydrogen, and up to 0.8 volume percent carbon dioxide - critical ingredients for a process known as methanogenesis, a reaction that sustains microbes in deep, dark undersea environments on Earth. "Waite et al.'s results represent an important advance in assessing the habitability of Enceladus," suggests Jeffrey Seewald in a related Perspective.

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The cancer profile of African-born blacks differs from that of United States-born blacks and varies by region of birth, according to a new study. The study, appearing in CANCER, suggests differences in environmental, cultural, social, and genetic factors, and points to an opportunity to study the risk factors associated with the cancer burden in African-born blacks to help create targeted interventions.

Sub-Saharan African-born blacks are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, comprising a substantial proportion of the estimated 2.1 million black African immigrants in the United States in 2015. However, there is a lack of data regarding the cancer burden in this group.

To learn more, researchers from the American Cancer Society, the Ohio State University, and Covance Laboratories reviewed incidence data covering 2000-2012 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER 17) program to compare the frequency of the top 15 cancers in African-born blacks with that of U.S.-born blacks by sex and region of birth.

Because the investigators did not have data on the number of sub-Saharan African born immigrants living in SEER areas, they were not able to estimate the incidence of cancers by place of birth, and instead examined the proportion of individual cancers among overall cancers in this group.

They found that compared to United States-born non-Hispanic blacks, sub-Saharan African-born blacks had significantly higher proportion of infection-related cancers (liver, stomach, and Kaposi sarcoma), blood cancers (leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma), prostate cancer, and thyroid cancers (in females only). For example, the proportion of Kaposi sarcoma was 12 times higher in African-born black women than US-born black women.

In contrast, African-born black men had lower incidence for smoking-related and colorectal cancers. For example, the proportion of lung cancer was 30% lower in African-born black men compared to blacks born in the U.S.

Furthermore, cancer occurrence in African-born blacks versus U.S.-born blacks varied by region of birth. For example, the higher incidence for liver cancer noted among male African-born blacks and for thyroid cancer in African-born females were confined to Eastern African-born blacks, whereas the higher incidence for prostate cancer was confined to Western African-born blacks.

"Typically, cancer occurrence among blacks in the United States is presented as one homogenous group, with no breakdown by country or region of birth," said Ahemdin Jemal, D.V.M., Ph.D., American Cancer Society epidemiologist and co-author of the study. "Our study shows that approach masks important potential differences that may be key to guiding cancer prevention programs for African-born black immigrants."

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Article: Cancer Incidence Profile in Sub-Saharan African-Born Blacks in the United States: Similarities and Differences With US-Born Non-Hispanic Blacks; Jemal et al. CANCER; Published Online: April 13, 2017 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30701.
The Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the 2017 recipient of the American Mathematical Society Award for an Exemplary Program or Achievement in a Mathematics Department, the AMS announced today.

Michael Dorff of Brigham Young University, who served as chair of the award selection committee, said: "The mathematics department at the University of Illinois has done a remarkable job in assisting more students to succeed in mathematics through various programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and improving the representation of women and underrepresented minorities. These activities range from creating an internship program for graduate students to innovative projects emphasizing active learning for undergraduate students such as the Illinois Geometry Lab that provides a community for undergraduate research. At the same time, the department has made conscious and consistent efforts to increase the representation of women and minorities. Many mathematics departments could benefit from following the Illinois approach and implementing some of its programs."

The Illinois math department has long occupied a central position on the worldwide mathematical scene as a successful and prestigious department. Its high research profile attracts students and researchers internationally, and its PhD production annually accounts for 1-2% of all mathematics doctorates in the United States. Today, by drawing on the creativity and expertise of its faculty, the Illinois math department has moved up from being a successful department to a truly outstanding one.

A major emphasis in the department is its devotion to all of its students. And there are many of them: The department has one of the largest teaching loads on campus, with 26,000 student-courses each year. The commitment to students shows in the department's collaboration, over the past decade, with the College of Engineering, to rework calculus courses to better serve engineering majors. Today these courses feature applications of calculus to real-life science and engineering problems as well as "active learning" discussion sections that get students discussing and working on problems in teams.

For 25 years, the department has had a Merit Scholars program, which recruits students who have strong academic records and come from traditionally underserved populations, including members of minority groups as well as first-generation college students. Merit students attend regular lectures, but instead of traditional one-hour discussion sections, they participate in two-hour active-learning "workshops" in which they collaborate on problem sets.

The success of the engineering calculus courses, as well as that of the Merit Scholars, helped to "infect" the entire math department with the active-learning model. The department is now implementing active learning on a large scale, reaching more than 8,000 students each year across its calculus and linear algebra courses.

The department has a huge number of majors, 1200 in all, reflecting the high value today's students place on intensive mathematical study, whether they seek careers after graduation or graduate work in a STEM field. Broadening the students' horizons and giving them opportunities for intensive teamwork is a goal of the department's Illinois Geometry Lab (IGL). Through the IGL, students work under the guidance of faculty on semester-long projects with a computational flavor. Topics have ranged from modeling taxi routes in New York City, to studying properties of knots with a large number of crossings, to solving problems related to lithium-ion battery design, to investigating randomness in number theory. IGL students become enthusiastic evangelists for mathematics, participating in outreach activities that raise awareness of mathematics among school students and the general public.

Another way the department has responded to evolving student interests is by expanding its Actuarial Science Program. This program now enrolls almost 400 undergraduate majors and is growing at the graduate level to address increasing demand in risk management.

The department's mathematics graduate program, which awards both master's and PhD degrees, is thriving. In contrast to the "sink or swim" attitude that traditionally prevailed in many graduate programs in mathematics, the Illinois department works hard to ensure that all of its students succeed. Highly streamlined, the PhD program is geared toward getting students into research and matched up with a thesis advisor. A timetable specifies milestones the students must reach on their path to the degree, and faculty provide careful mentoring to be sure students reach the milestones on time. Graduate students comment on the friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the department and the sense of collaboration, rather than competition, that prevails.

A major innovation in the department is PI4 (Program for Interdisciplinary and Industrial Internships at Illinois) at https://pi4.math.illinois.edu/, which is funded by the National Science Foundation and which provides training and internships for graduate students. The program includes a "Summer Computational Boot Camp" in which students pick up programming skills. They are then placed in internships in companies or laboratories or in other departments on the Illinois campus where mathematical thinking can make a contribution to research. The number of summer internships has grown from six in 2013 to a total of thirty-one in 2016.

The department has made conscious and consistent efforts to increase the representation of women and minorities in its graduate program. The percentage of women in the PhD program has increased from 28 percent ten years ago to 38 percent today (62 of the 160 PhD students are women), and the percentage of U.S. underrepresented minority students has risen from 4 percent to 22 percent of all US students in the last six years. The department has an active chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics, which organizes outreach, social, and academic activities.

Excelling in scholarship, education, and service, the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois has become an exemplar and an inspiration for the entire mathematical sciences community and is a deserving recipient of this AMS award.

The official announcement of this award, including the selection committee's citation, is available from the AMS Public Awareness Office and will appear in the May 2017 issue of the Notices of the AMS. No subscription is necessary.

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Find out more about this and other AMS awards at http://www.ams.org/profession/prizes-awards/prizes.

Founded in 1888 to further mathematical research and scholarship, today the American Mathematical Society fulfills its mission through programs and services that promote mathematical research and its uses, strengthen mathematical education, and foster awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Waiting for children to develop on their own is one reason so many toddlers with autism go undiagnosed. A delay in treatment can result in the loss of precious months or years when interventions are able to dramatically affect outcomes.

The Autism Institute at Florida State University has launched a new early intervention approach called the Family Ecosystem. It's a system of care developed in partnership with Autism Navigator and the FIRST WORDS Project.

By integrating automated screening beginning at 9 months with evidence-based online courses, tools and resources, the Family Ecosystem is designed to improve early detection of communication delays and autism, help families get a jump-start on early intervention and facilitate their access to care for a better outcome.

While the signs of autism can be detected by 18 to 24 months, the average age of diagnosis is between 4 and 5 years old, when early intervention is no longer possible. By then, 80 percent of school-age children who qualify for special education miss the opportunity for early intervention. Screening in primary care is challenging, and the early-intervention system is overburdened. Too often the results are substantial societal costs and lifetime consequences for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

Autism Navigator integrates the Family Ecosystem and current research into a highly interactive web platform with extensive video footage to illustrate early learning and development, early signs of autism and early intervention. It provides hundreds of video illustrations of evidence-based intervention techniques that families can incorporate into everyday activities to support their child's learning and development as soon as they suspect autism.

The first course for the public, About Autism in Toddlers, was originally released in April 2015 and has more than 12,000 users in 115 countries. Autism Navigator now offers a collection of web-based courses for professionals who screen toddlers, make referrals and provide early intervention. Those who complete the Autism Navigator for Primary Care course can begin using the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders (ESAC), a new innovative screener for children 12 to 36 months old that is based on parent reports and uses "smart" technology. Families are then invited to the parent portal, where they have unlimited access to online courses, tools and resources in the Seamless Path for Families.

Autism Navigator is helping to bridge the gap between science and community practice, improve family access to care, train and guide professionals, and transform community-based systems of health care delivery and education for toddlers with ASD and their families.

"By leveraging technology, systemwide changes in early detection and early intervention practices for toddlers with autism are viable and sustainable," said Amy M. Wetherby, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and director of the Autism Institute at the FSU College of Medicine. "The Autism Navigator web platform is advancing science by providing a practical, achievable mechanism for identifying autism at very young ages through community-based screening. This is enabling genetic, biomedical and intervention research to study children younger than was previously possible, given the usual age of diagnosis, and help to accelerate scientific advances."

Autism Navigator is available at http://www.autismnavigator.com/ and is being deployed globally. Each course and tool is designed to increase the capacity of health care professionals, early intervention providers, educators and families to improve outcomes of young children with ASD.

"Our vision," Wetherby said, "is to make Autism Navigator courses, tools and resources free to families and utilize the fees associated with the professional development courses to fund ongoing research and development."

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About the FIRST WORDS Project

The FIRST WORDS Project is a longitudinal research investigation in the Florida State University Autism Institute in the College of Medicine directed by Dr. Amy Wetherby. The major goal is to identify early signs of developmental language disorders, ASD and other communication delays in children from 9 to 24 months of age.

About Autism Navigator Development Team

Autism Navigator was developed by faculty and staff in the Autism Institute at the Florida State University College of Medicine with funding from the state of Florida. Research and video clips from the FIRST WORDSand Early Social Interaction Projects contributed to its content.
Environmentally friendly fuels

Volker Muller is one of the leading microbiologists worldwide in the field of microbial metabolism of microbes that grow in the absence of oxygen. His project centres on the production of biofuels with the help of bacteria that can use carbon dioxide as feedstock. Such fuels would have the advantage of making us independent of fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For many years, Professor Muller's research group at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences of Goethe University Frankfurt has been investigating a specific group of bacteria that convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) or carbon monoxide (CO) to acetic acid in a fermentation process. The bacteria require neither light nor oxygen to do so.

What are known as acetogenic bacteria are already used on an industrial scale for exhaust gas fermentation American company LanzaTech. The aim here is primarily to render the exhaust gas harmless. Muller is already coordinating a pan-European consortium targeted at the optimization of gas fermentation. In the research project funded by the ERC, Muller wants now to further utilize the potential of Acetobacterium woodii. The bacterium can also process methanol or formic acid - both are cheap raw materials for biotechnology applications. Muller and his research group want to solve and then alter the metabolic pathways. The goal is to genetically modify acetogenic bacteria in such a way that they can produce environmentally friendly fuels and base chemicals on a large scale from various source materials.

New strategies to combat infectious diseases

It is the second time already that Ivan Dikic, who was born in Croatia, has been awarded an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant. He is one of the international pioneers in the area of ubiquitin research. Ubiquitin regulates many cellular processes; amongst others it controls the degradation of superfluous or harmful proteins and the repair of defective DNA, transmits signals within the cell and triggers cell death if damage cannot be controlled any more. In addition, ubiquitin has been recognized as being very important for fighting bacterial infections.

In his new ERC project, Dikic is investigating how bacteria manipulate the ubiquitin system of their host organism to their own advantage. In the focus are infections with Salmonella, Shigella and Legionella. Dikic's research group at the Institute of Biochemistry II is e.g. searching for new signaling pathways which are activated by bacterial enzymes. They are employing high-resolution microscopy methods and cutting-edge mass spectrometry that allows the quantitative assessment of all cellular proteins and their ubiquitin modifications. By this approach, the cell biologists want to elucidate how various bacterial enzymes influence the severity and course of an infection and why serious secondary tissue damage sometimes occurs despite successful treatment with antibiotics. Such damage cannot only be caused by bacterial toxins, but also by signalling substances secreted by the host's own immune cells following an infection. This secondary damage can be life-threatening.

In a second step, the researchers in Dikic's group want to search for substances that actively interfere with this process and in particular limit tissue damage. To this purpose, Dikic is working together with partners in the pharmaceutical sector. The ultimate goal is to fully understand the role of the ubiquitin system in bacterial infections and to seize the newly obtained knowledge for developing new strategies for combating infectious diseases.

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Pictures can be downloaded under the following link: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/66113784

Further information: Professor Dr. Volker Muller, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Riedberg Campus, Tel.: +49(0)69-798-29507; -29508, Email: VMueller@bio.uni-frankfurt.de.

Professor Dr. Ivan Dikic; Media contact: Dr. Kerstin Koch, Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Frankfurt University Hospital, Tel.: +49(0)69-6301-84250, Email: k.koch@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) today recognized Baratunde "Bara" A. Cola of the Georgia Institute of Technology and John V. Pardon of Princeton University with the nation's highest honor for early career scientists and engineers, the Alan T. Waterman Award. This marks only the second time in the award's 42-year history that NSF selected two recipients in the same year.

Bestowed annually, the Waterman Award recognizes outstanding researchers age 35 and under in NSF-supported fields of science and engineering.

In addition to a medal, awardees each receive a $1 million, five-year grant for research in their chosen field of study.

"We are seeing the significant impact of their research very early in the careers of these awardees," said NSF Director France Cordova. "That is the most exciting aspect of the Waterman Award, which recognizes early career achievement. They have creatively tackled longstanding scientific challenges, and we look forward to what they will do next."

Baratunde "Bara" A. Cola

Cola pioneered new engineering methods and materials to control light and heat in electronics at the nanoscale. He serves as an associate professor at Georgia Tech's George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.

In 2015, Cola and his team were the first to overcome more than 40 years of research challenges to create a device called an optical rectenna, which turns light into direct current more efficiently than today's technology. The device could lead to highly efficient solar cells with the potential to power new generations of cell phones, laptops, satellites and drones.

The technology uses carbon nanotubes that act as tiny antennas to capture light. Light is then converted into direct current by miniature, nanotechnology-enabled mechanisms called rectifier diodes. The research has the potential to double solar cell efficiency at one-tenth the cost, according to Cola.

"Ultimately, we see the Waterman as fueling the final leg of our long-term effort to be the first to truly bring transformational applications of carbon nanotubes to the market," Cola said. "As of now, we know that there will be a substantial investment in engineering another breakthrough in carbon nanotube optical rectenna science."

Cola also works to commercialize other novel nanotechnology-based innovations. In 2015, he participated in NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) at Georgia Tech, a program that immerses scientists and engineers in entrepreneurial training, teaching them to look beyond the lab and consider the commercial potential or broader impacts of their research. I-Corps participants interview prospective customers and identify market needs for federally funded innovations.

In addition, Cola and colleagues were responsible for engineering breakthroughs, including the first thermally conductive amorphous polymer, the first practical electrochemical cell for generating electricity from waste heat and the first evidence of thermal energy conduction by surface polaritons.

Cola, 35, is the founder of Carbice Nanotechnologies, Inc., a company that uses a carbon nanotube-material to remove heat from computer chip testing stations, allowing for faster and cheaper testing of chips during production. The technology could eventually result in smaller, faster, more powerful computer chips for use in everything from smartphones to supercomputers. Carbice Nanotechnologies received support from NSF's Small Business Innovation Research program.

He also is co-founder of the NSF-funded Academic and Research Leadership Network, a group of more than 300 Ph.D. engineering researchers from minority groups underrepresented in academia, industry and government laboratories.

John V. Pardon

Pardon is a Clay Research Fellow and professor of mathematics at Princeton University. His research focuses on geometry and topology, the study of properties of shapes that are unaffected by deformations, such as stretching or twisting. He is known for solving problems that stumped other mathematicians for decades and generating solutions that provide new tools for geometric analysis.

In 2013, Pardon published a solution to the Hilbert-Smith conjecture, a mathematical proposition involving the actions of groups of "manifolds" in three dimensions. Manifolds include spheres and doughnut-shaped objects.

The conjecture originates from one of the 23 problems published in 1900 by German mathematician David Hilbert, which helped guide the course of 20th century mathematics. American topologist Paul Althaus Smith proposed a stronger version of the problem in 1941. This problem has connections to many other areas of mathematics and physics. Pardon's publication was notable for proving this longstanding conjecture, a major achievement in mathematics.

Prior to that publication, as a senior undergraduate at Princeton, Pardon answered a question posed in 1983 by Russian mathematician Mikhail Gromov regarding "knots," mathematical structures that resemble physical knots, but are closed, instead of having any ends.

Gromov's question involved a special class of knots called "torus knots." He asked whether these knots could be tied without altering or distorting their topology. Pardon figured out a way to use the distortion between two properties of knots -- their intrinsic and extrinsic distances -- to control their topology. He showed that torus knots are limited by their geometric properties, and can be tied without altering their topology.

Pardon's solution has important applications in fluid dynamics and electrodynamics, calculating forces involved in aircraft movement, predicting weather patterns, determining the flow of liquids through water treatment plant pipelines, determining the flow of electrical charges, and more.

Pardon, who received his doctorate in mathematics in 2015 from Stanford University, has been a full professor at Princeton since fall 2016. Among other awards, Pardon earned a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to support his graduate studies at Stanford. As of October last year, Pardon had published 11 papers on such subjects as contact homology, virtual fundamental cycles, the distortion of knots, algebraic varieties, and the carpenter's rule problem.

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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Women with some characteristics commonly thought to increase pregnancy risks -- being over age 35; being overweight; and in some cases, having a vaginal birth after a cesarean section -- tend to have good outcomes when they give birth at home or in a birth center, a new assessment has found.

However, women with some other risk factors, a breech baby and some other cases of vaginal birth after cesarean or VBAC, may face an increased risk of poor outcomes for themselves or their babies, researchers at Oregon State University have found. The study is believed to be the first to examine these risks and the outcomes. About 2 percent of all births in the U.S., and about 4 percent in Oregon, occur at home or in a birth center, rather than in a hospital setting. Generally, women who are considered "low-risk" are good candidates for home or birth center births, also referred to as community births, if they are attended by a midwife or other trained provider and timely access to a hospital is available.

However, there is little agreement among health providers on what should be considered low- or high-risk, and some women choose to have a community birth despite potential risks, said Marit Bovbjerg, a clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at Oregon State University and lead author of the study.

Medical ethics and the tenets of maternal autonomy dictate that women be allowed to decide where and how they wish to give birth. That's why it's important to have as much information as possible about potential risks, said Bovbjerg, who works in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU.

There are also risks associated with hospital births, such as increased interventions, which means there aren't always clear answers when it comes to determining the best and safest place to give birth, said Melissa Cheyney, a medical anthropologist and associate professor in OSU's College of Liberal Arts.

The goal of the research was to better understand the outcomes for women and babies with some of the most common pregnancy risk factors, to see how those risk factors affected outcomes.

"There's a middle or gray area, in terms of risk, where the risk associated with community birth is only slightly elevated relative to a completely low-risk sample," Cheyney said. "We're trying to get more information about births that fall in that middle zone so that clinicians and pregnant women can have the best evidence available when deciding where to give birth."

The findings were published recently in the journal Birth. Other co-authors are Jennifer Brown of University of California, Davis; and Kim J. Cox and Lawrence Leeman of the University of New Mexico. Using birth outcome data collected by the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, commonly referred to as MANA Stats, the researchers analyzed more than 47,000 midwife-attended community births.

They looked specifically at the independent contributions to birth outcomes of 10 common risk factors: primiparity, or giving birth for the first time; advanced maternal age, or mother over age 35; obesity; gestational diabetes; preeclampsia; post-term pregnancy, or more than 42 weeks gestation; twins; breech presentation; history of both cesarean and vaginal birth; and history of only cesarean birth.

The last two groups are both considered VBACs and hospital policies and state regulations for midwifery practice usually make no distinction between the two types. However, the researchers found a clear distinction between the two groups in terms of community birth outcomes.

Women who delivered vaginally after a previous cesarean and also had a history of previous vaginal birth had better outcomes even than those women giving birth for the first time. On the other hand, women who had never given birth to a child vaginally had an increased risk of poor outcomes in community birth settings.

"That finding suggests that current policies that universally discourage VBAC should be revisited, as the evidence does not support them," Bovbjerg said. "Women who in the past have successfully delivered vaginally seem to do just fine the next time around, even if they have also had a previous C-section. That's really important because some medical groups totally oppose VBACs, even in hospital settings, and many hospitals don't offer the option of a VBAC at all."

Researchers also found that women whose babies were in breech position had the highest rate of adverse outcome when giving birth at home or in a birth center.

There was only a slight increase in poor outcomes for women over age 35, or women who were overweight or obese, compared to those without those risk factors. In some categories, there were not enough births in the data set to properly evaluate a risk's impact, such as with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

"As is appropriate, women who face high complication risks such as preeclampsia tend to plan for and choose a hospital birth, rather than a community birth," Bovbjerg said. "But even for these women, it's important to remember that they can choose a community birth if their faith, culture or other considerations dictate that is the best choice for them."

The researchers emphasized that the new information about risks and outcomes can serve as an important tool in decision-making for families making very personal choices about where to give birth. "These findings help us to put information and evidence, rather than fear, at the center of discussions around informed, shared decision-making between expectant families and their health care providers," Cheyney said.

Researchers next plan to examine how the healthcare culture and standards of care in different locations within the U.S. affect outcomes of home and birthing center deliveries.

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People's ability to make random choices or mimic a random process, such as coming up with hypothetical results for a series of coin flips, peaks around age 25, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology.

Scientists believe that the ability to behave in a way that appears random arises from some of the most highly developed cognitive processes in humans, and may be connected to abilities such as human creativity. Previous studies have shown that aging diminishes a person's ability to behave randomly. However, it had been unclear how this ability evolves over a person's lifetime, nor had it been possible to assess the ways in which humans may behave randomly beyond simple statistical tests.

To better understand how age impacts random behavior, Nicolas Gauvrit and colleagues at the Algorithmic Nature Group, LABORES for the Natural and Digital Sciences, Paris, assessed more than 3,400 people aged 4 to 91 years old. Each participant performed a series of online tasks that assessed their ability to behave randomly.

The five tasks included listing the hypothetical results of a series of 12 coin flips so that they would "look random to somebody else," guessing which card would appear when selected from a randomly shuffled deck, and listing the hypothetical results of 10 rolls of a die--"the kind of sequence you'd get if you really rolled a die."

The scientists analyzed the participants' choices according to their algorithmic randomness, which is based on the idea that patterns that are more random are harder to summarize mathematically. After controlling for characteristics such as gender, language, and education, they found that age was the only factor that affected the ability to behave randomly. This ability peaked at age 25, on average, and declined from then on.

"This experiment is a kind of reverse Turing test for random behavior, a test of strength between algorithms and humans," says study co-author Hector Zenil. "25 is, on average, the golden age when humans best outsmart computers," adds Dr. Gauvrit.

The study also demonstrated that a relatively short list of choices, say 10 hypothetical coin flips, can be used to reliably gauge randomness of human behavior. The authors are now using a similar approach to study potential connections between the ability to behave randomly and such things as cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.

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The authors have produced a video to summarize the key results of their research, which can be found, with a caption and further details, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-YjBE5qm7c

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Computational Biology: http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005408

Citation: Gauvrit N, Zenil H, Soler-Toscano F, Delahaye J-P, Brugger P (2017) Human behavioral complexity peaks at age 25. PLoS Comput Biol 13(4): e1005408. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005408

Funding: HZ received partial funding the Swedish Research Council (VR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
After more than a decade of declining cholera incidence, Vietnam faced an increase in cases of the diarrheal disease during 2007-2010. Risk factors for contracting cholera in Ben Tre province of Vietnam include drinking iced tea or unboiled water and having a water source near a toilet, researchers report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Around the world, more than a million people a year suffer from cholera and tens of thousands die from the disease. Cholera transmission is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and is often spread through contaminated drinking water. In the Ben Tre province of the Mekong Delta region in the southern part of Vietnam, no cholera cases were reported from 2005 until an outbreak in 2010.

In the new work, Thuong Vu Nguyen, of the Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and colleagues interviewed 60 people who were confirmed to have been infected with cholera during the 2010 outbreak in Ben Tre, as well as 240 subcommune-, 5-year age group- and sex-matched controls. Information about each person's eating and drinking behaviors and living environment was recorded. The researchers also collected samples of nearby river water, drinking water, wastewater samples, and local seafood to test for Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria which spreads the disease.

The researchers found that drinking iced tea, not always boiling drinking water, having a main water source near a toilet, living with other who have diarrhea, and having little or no education were all associated with an increased risk of cholera, while drinking stored rainwater, eating cooked seafood or steamed vegetables were protective against the disease. 22% of people with cholera reported drinking iced tea in the week prior to their disease, whereas only 3% of controls had drank iced tea in the week before being interviewed. Patients with cholera were also more likely to always put ice in their water and to use sedimented river water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and brushing their teeth. More work is needed to determine why iced tea boosts the risk of cholera, but the researchers hypothesize that the bacteria may be found in ice, which is often bought from street vendors.

"This present study has important implications for Vietnam's cholera responses," the researchers say. "Along with traditional approaches that focus on enhancement of safe water, sanitation, and food safety, combined with periodic provision of oral cholera vaccines, a water quality monitoring system at ice-making plants should be established."

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In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0005490

Citation: Nguyen TV, Pham QD, Do QK, Diep TT, Phan HC, Ho TV, et al. (2017) Cholera returns to southern Vietnam in an outbreak associated with consuming unsafe water through iced tea: A matched case-control study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 11(4): e0005490. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005490

Funding: This study was originally supported by the Vietnam's Ministry of Health. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
In debates over the future of artificial intelligence, many experts think of the new systems as coldly logical and objectively rational. But in a new study, researchers have demonstrated how machines can be reflections of us, their creators, in potentially problematic ways. Common machine learning programs, when trained with ordinary human language available online, can acquire cultural biases embedded in the patterns of wording, the researchers found. These biases range from the morally neutral, like a preference for flowers over insects, to the objectionable views of race and gender.

Identifying and addressing possible bias in machine learning will be critically important as we increasingly turn to computers for processing the natural language humans use to communicate, for instance in doing online text searches, image categorization and automated translations.

"Questions about fairness and bias in machine learning are tremendously important for our society," said researcher Arvind Narayanan, an assistant professor of computer science and an affiliated faculty member at the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) at Princeton University, as well as an affiliate scholar at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society. "We have a situation where these artificial intelligence systems may be perpetuating historical patterns of bias that we might find socially unacceptable and which we might be trying to move away from."

The paper, "Semantics derived automatically from language corpora contain human-like biases," published April 14 in Science. Its lead author is Aylin Caliskan, a postdoctoral research associate and a CITP fellow at Princeton; Joanna Bryson, a reader at University of Bath, and CITP affiliate, is a coauthor.

As a touchstone for documented human biases, the study turned to the Implicit Association Test, used in numerous social psychology studies since its development at the University of Washington in the late 1990s. The test measures response times (in milliseconds) by human subjects asked to pair word concepts displayed on a computer screen. Response times are far shorter, the Implicit Association Test has repeatedly shown, when subjects are asked to pair two concepts they find similar, versus two concepts they find dissimilar.

Take flower types, like "rose" and "daisy," and insects like "ant" and "moth." These words can be paired with pleasant concepts, like "caress" and "love," or unpleasant notions, like "filth" and "ugly." People more quickly associate the flower words with pleasant concepts, and the insect terms with unpleasant ideas.

The Princeton team devised an experiment with a program where it essentially functioned like a machine learning version of the Implicit Association Test. Called GloVe, and developed by Stanford University researchers, the popular, open-source program is of the sort that a startup machine learning company might use at the heart of its product. The GloVe algorithm can represent the co-occurrence statistics of words in, say, a 10-word window of text. Words that often appear near one another have a stronger association than those words that seldom do.

The Stanford researchers turned GloVe loose on a huge trawl of contents from the World Wide Web, containing 840 billion words. Within this large sample of written human culture, Narayanan and colleagues then examined sets of so-called target words, like "programmer, engineer, scientist" and "nurse, teacher, librarian" alongside two sets of attribute words, such as "man, male" and "woman, female," looking for evidence of the kinds of biases humans can unwittingly possess.

In the results, innocent, inoffensive biases, like for flowers over bugs, showed up, but so did examples along lines of gender and race. As it turned out, the Princeton machine learning experiment managed to replicate the broad substantiations of bias found in select Implicit Association Test studies over the years that have relied on live, human subjects.

For instance, the machine learning program associated female names more with familial attribute words, like "parents" and "wedding," than male names. In turn, male names had stronger associations with career attributes, like "professional" and "salary." Of course, results such as these are often just objective reflections of the true, unequal distributions of occupation types with respect to gender--like how 77 percent of computer programmers are male, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yet this correctly distinguished bias about occupations can end up having pernicious, sexist effects. An example: when foreign languages are naively processed by machine learning programs, leading to gender-stereotyped sentences. The Turkish language uses a gender-neutral, third person pronoun, "o." Plugged into the well-known, online translation service Google Translate, however, the Turkish sentences "o bir doktor" and "o bir hem?ire" with this gender-neutral pronoun are translated into English as "he is a doctor" and "she is a nurse."

"This paper reiterates the important point that machine learning methods are not 'objective' or 'unbiased' just because they rely on mathematics and algorithms," said Hanna Wallach, a senior researcher at Microsoft Research New York City, who was not involved in the study. "Rather, as long as they are trained using data from society and as long as society exhibits biases, these methods will likely reproduce these biases."

Another objectionable example harkens back to a well-known 2004 paper by Marianne Bertrand of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Sendhil Mullainathan of Harvard University. The economists sent out close to 5,000 identical resumes to 1,300 job advertisements, changing only the applicants' names to be either traditionally European American or African American. The former group was 50 percent more likely to be offered an interview than the latter. In an apparent corroboration of this bias, the new Princeton study demonstrated that a set of African American names had more unpleasantness associations than a European American set.

Computer programmers might hope to prevent cultural stereotype perpetuation through the development of explicit, mathematics-based instructions for the machine learning programs underlying AI systems. Not unlike how parents and mentors try to instill concepts of fairness and equality in children and students, coders could endeavor to make machines reflect the better angels of human nature.

"The biases that we studied in the paper are easy to overlook when designers are creating systems," said Narayanan. "The biases and stereotypes in our society reflected in our language are complex and longstanding. Rather than trying to sanitize or eliminate them, we should treat biases as part of the language and establish an explicit way in machine learning of determining what we consider acceptable and unacceptable."

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Hunting is a major threat to wildlife particularly in tropical regions, but a systematic large-scale estimate of hunting-induced declines of animal numbers was lacking so far. A study published in Science on April 14 fills this gap. An international team of ecologists and environmental scientists found that bird and mammal populations were reduced within 7 and 40 km of hunters' access points, such as roads and settlements.

Within these impact zones, mammal populations declined on average by 83% and bird populations by 58%. Additionally, the team found that commercial hunting had a higher impact than hunting for family food, and that hunting pressure was higher in areas with better accessibility to major towns where wild meat could be traded. The impact of hunting was found to be larger than the team expected. 'Thanks to this study, we estimate that only 17 percent of the original mammal abundance and 42 percent of the birds remain in hunted areas.'

The researchers synthesised 176 studies to quantify hunting-induced declines of mammal and bird populations across the tropics of Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The study was led by Ana Benitez-Lopez, who works at the department of Environmental Science at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She cooperated with researchers from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), the universities of Wageningen and Utrecht in the Netherlands and a colleague from the School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex.

Higher hunting pressure around villages and roads

'There are several drivers of animal decline in tropical landscapes: habitat destruction, overhunting, fragmentation etcetera. While deforestation and habitat loss can be monitored using remote sensing, hunting can only be tracked on the ground. We wanted to find a systematic and consistent way to estimate the impact of hunting across the tropics. As a starting point, we used the hypothesis that humans gather resources in a circle around their village and in the proximity of roads. As such, hunting pressure is higher in the proximity of villages and other access points. From there the densities of species increase up to a distance where no effect of hunting is observed. We called this species depletion distances which we quantified in our analysis. This allowed us to map hunting-induced declines across the tropics for the first time,' Benitez-Lopez explains.

Not only the big cuddly species

The main novelty of the current study is that it combined the evidence across many local studies, thus for the first time providing an overarching picture of the magnitude of the impact across a large number of species. The study takes all animals into account - not only the big cuddly species, but birds and rodents as well. Benitez-Lopez explains the difference in impact between birds and mammals: 'Mammals are more sought after because they're bigger and provide more food. They are worth a longer trip. The bigger the mammal, the further a hunter would walk to catch it.' With increasing wild meat demand for rural and urban supply, hunters have harvested the larger species almost to extinction in the proximity of the villages and they must travel further distances to hunt. Besides, for commercially interesting species such as elephants and gorillas, hunting distances are much larger because the returns are higher.

Protected areas are no safe haven

Another interesting finding of this study is that mammal populations have also been reduced by hunting even within protected areas. 'Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed to avoid further defaunation,' she says. 'This includes monitoring hunting activities by increasing anti-poaching patrols and controlling overexploitation via law enforcement'.

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A. Benitez-Lopez*, R. Alkemade2,3, A. M. Schipper2, D. J. Ingram4, P. A. Verweij5, J. A. J. Eikelboom2,5,6, M. A. J. Huijbregts1, 2 . 2017. The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations. Science (accepted), April 14 2017 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaj1891

Affiliations:

1Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University,The Netherlands2PBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, The Netherlands. 3Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands 4School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK. 5Energy and Resources group, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 6Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research The Netherlands
The Golden Jubilee of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which took place in October 2016, is the topic of a new special issue in the Journal of African American Studies, published by Springer. This special issue does not have a specific genre; rather, it consists of many academics who employed varying perspectives to tackle topics in several creative and original ways. In the end, the goal is to provide a more nuanced perspective on the diversity and complexity of this militant group. The special issue will be open to the general public until May 15th 2017.

The articles in the special issue produce reflections on the organization's 50th anniversary, plow new scholarly ground, provide insightful interviews of former Panthers, and offer a take on some of the most recent books on the Black Panther Party (BPP). The interviews and conversations with former Panthers are especially informative. Readers are treated to an up close and personal look at some of the men and women who comprised the Black Panther Party from California to Baltimore. These narratives are presented as stories in themselves, but when seamed together, create a part of the great international spectacle that was/is the Black Panther Party.

The entries are more than just chronicles of peoples' lives or straight-forward narration of events; they are vibrant realities etched on the bedrock of the Black Liberation Struggle. These Panthers' lives and personalities had so great an influence on the minds and hearts of a global community that their organization still receives the lion share of attention vis-a-vis discussions, writings and/or documentaries about the American Black Power Movement. From their stories, readers are introduced to the significance and beauty of the struggle for Black liberation in the USA. With tales of bravery and achievement in the claws of adversity, the Panthers have provided the present with a window to the past and a template to build a more humane tomorrow.

Judson L. Jeffries, Editor of the Journal of African American Studies, and Omari L. Dyson write in the introduction, "As we reflect on this historical landmark, it is key that we remember the sacrifices made by the rank-and-file members of the BPP--who demonstrated their commitment to transform the social and political landscape of this nation. But more importantly, how they stretched the boundaries of what the human psyche can do when limitations are foisted on them. In this special issue, we dedicated our efforts to capturing the fusion between Panther and struggle--a relationship intertwined with strength, hope, love, and a determination to survive."

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Reference: Journal of African American Studies, Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2017: Special Issue on the Black Panther Party. https://link.springer.com/journal/12111/21/1/page/1
A research team led by the Associate Provost of Research, Professor Martin Dunn, at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), introduced a new approach that simplifies and increases the potential of 4D printing.

4D printing is an emerging technology that allows a 3D-printed component to transform its structure by exposing it to heat, light, humidity, or other environmental stimuli. This technology extends the shape creation process beyond 3D printing, resulting in additional design flexibility that can lead to new types of products which can adjust its functionality in response to the environment, in a pre-programmed manner. However, 4D printing generally involves complex and time-consuming post-processing steps to mechanically programme the component. Furthermore, the materials are often limited to soft polymers, which limit their applicability in structural scenarios.

A group of researchers from the SUTD, Georgia Institute of Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Zhejiang University has introduced an approach that significantly simplifies and increases the potential of 4D printing by incorporating the mechanical programming post-processing step directly into the 3D printing process. This allows high-resolution 3D-printed components to be designed by computer simulation, 3D printed, and then directly and rapidly transformed into new permanent configurations by using heat. This approach can help save printing time and materials used by up to 90%, while completely eliminating the time-consuming mechanical programming process from the design and manufacturing workflow.

"Our approach involves printing composite materials where at room temperature one material is soft but can be programmed to contain internal stress, and the other material is stiff," said Dr. Zhen Ding of SUTD. "We use computational simulations to design composite components where the stiff material has a shape and size that prevents the release of the programmed internal stress from the soft material after 3D printing. Upon heating, the stiff material softens and allows the soft material to release its stress. This results in a change - often dramatic - in the product shape." This new shape is fixed when the product is cooled, with good mechanical stiffness. The research demonstrated many interesting shape changing parts, including a lattice that can expand by almost 8 times when heated.

This new shape becomes permanent and the composite material will not return to its original 3D-printed shape, upon further heating or cooling. "This is because of the shape memory effect," said Prof. H. Jerry Qi of Georgia Tech. "In the two-material composite design, the stiff material exhibits shape memory, which helps lock the transformed shape into a permanent one. Additionally, the printed structure also exhibits the shape memory effect, i.e. it can then be programmed into further arbitrary shapes that can always be recovered to its new permanent shape, but not its 3D-printed shape."

Said SUTD's Prof. Martin Dunn, "The key advance of this work, is a 4D printing method that is dramatically simplified and allows the creation of high-resolution complex 3D reprogrammable products; it promises to enable myriad applications across biomedical devices, 3D electronics, and consumer products. It even opens the door to a new paradigm in product design, where components are designed from the onset to inhabit multiple configurations during service."

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This research was recently published in Science Advances and was conducted by the SUTD Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre, with support from the Singapore National Research Foundation, a grant from US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Dr. B.-L. "Les" Lee, Program Manager), as well as research grants from the US National Science Foundation.
Nematodes are a huge threat to agriculture since they parasitize important crops such as wheat, soybean, and banana; but plants can defend themselves. Researchers at Bonn University, together with collaborators from the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, identified a protein that allows plants to recognize a chemical signal from the worm and initiate immune responses against the invaders. This discovery will help to develop crop plants that feature enhanced protection against this type of parasites. The work is published in the current issue of PLOS Pathogens.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that parasitize their host plants to withdraw water and nutrients. The feeding process seriously damages the host plant. Nematode infection distorts root and shoot structure, compromises the plants ability to absorb nutrients from soil, and eventually reduces crop yield. Yearly losses exceed ten percent in important crops such as wheat, soybean, and banana. In addition to causing direct damage, nematode infection also provides an opportunity for other pathogens to invade and attack the host plants.

Until now, near to nothing was known about the general innate immune response of plants against nematodes. A team of researchers at the University of Bonn, in cooperation with scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, has now identified a gene in thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), called NILR1, that helps plants sense nematodes. "The NILR1 is the genetic code for a receptor protein that is localized to the surface of plant cells and is able to bind and recognize other molecules," says Prof. Florian Grundler, chair at the Department of Molecular Phytomedicine at the University of Bonn. "NILR1 most probably recognizes a molecule from nematodes, upon which, it becomes activated and immune responses of plants are unleashed."

NILR1 recognizes a broad spectrum of nematodes

Although a few receptors, so-called resistance genes, providing protection against specific types of plant-parasitic nematodes have already been identified, NILR1 recognizes rather a broader spectrum of nematodes. "The nice thing about NILR1 is that it seems to be conserved among various crop plants and that it provides protection against many nematode species," says group leader Dr. Shahid Siddique. "The discovery of NILR1 also raises questions about the nematode derived molecule, whose recognition is thought to be integral to this process." Now that an important receptor is discovered, the scientists are working to find the molecule which binds to NILR1 to switch on the immune responses. The two first authors, PhD students at the department share tasks in the project. Whereas Mary Wangombe focuses on the receptor protein and its function, Badou Mendy concentrates on isolating the signal molecule released by the nematodes.

New options for breeding resistant crop plants

The findings of the University Bonn Scientists open new perspectives in making crops more resistant against nematodes. They could already show that important crop plants such as tomato and sugar beet also possess a functional homologue of NILR1 - an excellent basis for further specific breeding. Once the nematode signal is characterized, a new generation of natural compounds will be available that is able to induce defense responses in plants thus paving the way for safe and sustainable nematode control.

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Publication: Mendy, B., Wang'ombe, M.W., Radakovic, Z., Holbein, J., Ilyas, M., Chopra, D., Holton, N., Zipfel, C., Grundler, F.M.W., and Siddique, S.: Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase NILR1 is required for induction of innate immunity to parasitic nematodes, PLOS Pathogens, Internet: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006284

Contact:

Prof. Florian M. W. Grundler

Department of Molecular Phytomedicine

University of Bonn

Tel. +49-(0)228/731675

Email: grundler@uni-bonn.de
Imagine a future in which every home has an appliance that pulls all the water the household needs out of the air, even in dry or desert climates, using only the power of the sun.

That future may be around the corner, with the demonstration this week of a water harvester that uses only ambient sunlight to pull liters of water out of the air each day in conditions as low as 20 percent humidity, a level common in arid areas.

The solar-powered harvester, reported in the journal Science, was constructed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology using a special material - a metal-organic framework, or MOF - produced at the University of California, Berkeley.

"This is a major breakthrough in the long-standing challenge of harvesting water from the air at low humidity," said Omar Yaghi, one of two senior authors of the paper, who holds the James and Neeltje Tretter chair in chemistry at UC Berkeley and is a faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "There is no other way to do that right now, except by using extra energy. Your electric dehumidifier at home 'produces' very expensive water."

The prototype, under conditions of 20-30 percent humidity, was able to pull 2.8 liters (3 quarts) of water from the air over a 12-hour period, using one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of MOF. Rooftop tests at MIT confirmed that the device works in real-world conditions.

"One vision for the future is to have water off-grid, where you have a device at home running on ambient solar for delivering water that satisfies the needs of a household," said Yaghi, who is the founding director of the Berkeley Global Science Institute, a co-director of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute and the California Research Alliance by BASF. "To me, that will be made possible because of this experiment. I call it personalized water."

Yaghi invented metal-organic frameworks more than 20 years ago, combining metals like magnesium or aluminum with organic molecules in a tinker-toy arrangement to create rigid, porous structures ideal for storing gases and liquids. Since then, more than 20,000 different MOFs have been created by researchers worldwide. Some hold chemicals such as hydrogen or methane: the chemical company BASF is testing one of Yaghi's MOFs in natural gas-fueled trucks, since MOF-filled tanks hold three times the methane that can be pumped under pressure into an empty tank.

Other MOFs are able to capture carbon dioxide from flue gases, catalyze the reaction of adsorbed chemicals or separate petrochemicals in processing plants.

In 2014, Yaghi and his UC Berkeley team synthesized a MOF - a combination of zirconium metal and adipic acid - that binds water vapor, and he suggested to Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at MIT, that they join forces to turn the MOF into a water-collecting system.

The system Wang and her students designed consisted of more than two pounds of dust-sized MOF crystals compressed between a solar absorber and a condenser plate, placed inside a chamber open to the air. As ambient air diffuses through the porous MOF, water molecules preferentially attach to the interior surfaces. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that the water vapor molecules often gather in groups of eight to form cubes.

Sunlight entering through a window heats up the MOF and drives the bound water toward the condenser, which is at the temperature of the outside air. The vapor condenses as liquid water and drips into a collector.

"This work offers a new way to harvest water from air that does not require high relative humidity conditions and is much more energy efficient than other existing technologies," Wang said.

This proof of concept harvester leaves much room for improvement, Yaghi said. The current MOF can absorb only 20 percent of its weight in water, but other MOF materials could possibly absorb 40 percent or more. The material can also be tweaked to be more effective at higher or lower humidity levels.

"It's not just that we made a passive device that sits there collecting water; we have now laid both the experimental and theoretical foundations so that we can screen other MOFs, thousands of which could be made, to find even better materials," he said. "There is a lot of potential for scaling up the amount of water that is being harvested. It is just a matter of further engineering now."

Yaghi and his team are at work improving their MOFs, while Wang continues to improve the harvesting system to produce more water.

"To have water running all the time, you could design a system that absorbs the humidity during the night and evolves it during the day," he said. "Or design the solar collector to allow for this at a much faster rate, where more air is pushed in. We wanted to demonstrate that if you are cut off somewhere in the desert, you could survive because of this device. A person needs about a Coke can of water per day. That is something one could collect in less than an hour with this system."

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Co-authors of the paper with Yaghi and Wang are Eugene Kapustin and Hiroyasu Furukawa of UC Berkeley and Hyunho Kim, Sungwoo Yang, Sameer Rao, Shankar Narayanan and Ari Umans of MIT. The work was supported in part by ARPA-E, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy. The work on MOFs in Yaghi's laboratory is supported by BASF and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Detecting cancer early, just as changes are beginning in DNA, could enhance diagnosis and treatment as well as further our understanding of the disease. A new study by University of Illinois researchers describes a method to detect, count and map tiny additions to DNA called methylations, which can be a warning sign of cancer, with unprecedented resolution.

The method threads DNA strands through a tiny hole, called a nanopore, in an atomically thin sheet of material with an electrical current running through it. The study was published in the inaugural issue of the journal npj 2D Materials and Applications, a new journal from Nature Press.

"One or a few methylations is not a big deal, but if there are many of them and they are packed close together, then it's bad," said study leader Jean-Pierre Leburton, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois. "DNA methylation is actually a starting process for cancer. So we want to detect how many of them there are and how close together they are. That can tell us at which stage the cancer is."

Other attempts at using nanopores to detect methylation have been limited in resolution. Researchers begin by punching a tiny hole in a flat sheet of material only one atom or molecule thick. The pore is submerged in a salt solution and an electrical current is applied to drive the DNA molecule through the pore. Dips in the current alert researchers that a methyl group is passing through. However, when two or three are close together, the pore interprets it as one signal, Leburton said.

The Illinois group tried a slightly different approach. They applied a current directly to the conductive sheet surrounding the pore. Working with Klaus Schulten, a professor of physics at Illinois, Leburton's group at Illinois' Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology used advanced computer simulations to test applying current to different flat materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide, as methylated DNA was threaded through.

See a video of one simulation on YouTube.

"Our simulations indicate that measuring the current through the membrane instead of just the solution around it is much more precise," Leburton said. "If you have two methylations close together, even only 10 base pairs away, you continue to see two dips and no overlapping. We also can map where they are on the strand, so we can see how many there are and where they are."

Leburton's group is working with collaborators to improve DNA threading, to cut down on noise in the electrical signal and to perform experiments to verify their simulations.

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Grants from Oxford Nanopore Technology, the Beckman Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation supported this work.

Editor's notes: To reach Jean-Pierre Leburton, call (217) 333-6813; email: jleburto@illinois.edu.

The paper "Detection and mapping of DNA methylation with 2D material nanopores" is available online. doi:10.1038/s41699-017-0005-7
An international team of citizen scientists and researchers has identified a major contributor to the dramatic decline of migratory shorebird populations in Australia.

University of Queensland School of Biological Sciences researcher Associate Professor Richard Fuller said Australian shorebirds were under threat due to the degradation and destruction of mudflats thousands of kilometres away in north-east Asia.

Associate Professor Fuller was part of a team of researchers who worked on a shorebird study led by Assistant Professor Colin Studds of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Dr Studds said a critical factor in the decline of migratory shorebirds was their dependence on mudflats in the Yellow Sea, between China and South Korea.

"The more a species relies on the disappearing Yellow Sea mudflats, the faster they are declining," Dr Studds said.

He said birds including species of godwit, curlew and sandpiper were under threat.

Many birds follow the East Asian Australasian Flyway migratory path from their non-breeding grounds in Australia to breeding sites in the Arctic, resting and refueling in the Yellow Sea.

"Scientists have long believed that loss of these rest stops could be related to the declines, but there was no smoking gun," Dr Studds said.

The researchers analysed citizen science data collected between 1993 and 2012 on 10 key species, and what they found was dramatic.

Even though the birds only spend one or two months of the year at the mudflats, it was the most important factor in determining the population trend.

Associate Professor Fuller said the study was founded on decades of bird counting effort by volunteers across Australia and New Zealand.

"Without this effort, the study would have been impossible," he said.

Australia has signed agreements with China, Korea and Japan to protect migratory birds, yet the birds have continued to decline.

"Every country along the migration route of these birds must protect habitat and reduce hunting to prevent the birds declining further or even going extinct," Associate Professor Fuller said.

"We are particularly excited that China and Korea have recently begun the process of listing parts of the Yellow Sea as World Heritage Sites."

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The study, published in Nature Communications, involved researchers from across Australia and from the US, the UK and New Zealand.
AUSTIN, Texas -- A new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences refines our understanding of a human skill -- the ability to instantaneously assess a new environment and get oriented thanks to visual cues.

Whereas humans can look at a complex landscape like a mountain vista and almost immediately orient themselves to navigate its multiple regions over long distances, other mammals such as rodents orient relative to physical cues -- like approaching and sniffing a wall -- that build up over time.

The way humans navigate their surroundings and understand their relative position includes an environment-dependent scaling mechanism, an adaptive coordinate system with differences from other mammals, according to the study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

"Our research, based on human data, redefines the fundamental properties of the internal coordinate system," said Zoltan Nadasdy, lead author of the study and an adjunct assistant professor in the university's Department of Psychology. Nadasdy is also a researcher at Eotvos Lorand University and the Sarah Cannon Research Institute at St. David's Medical Center.

"Dysfunction in this system causes memory problems and disorientation, such as we see in Alzheimer's disease and age-related decline. So, it's vital that we continue to further our understanding of this part of the brain," he said.

Through a partnership with Seton Healthcare Family, the researchers in the UT Austin Human Brain Stimulation and Electrophysiology Lab were able to measure relevant brain activity of epileptic patients whose diagnostic procedure requires that they have electrodes planted in the entorhinal cortex of the brain. Neurons there serve as the internal coordinate system for humans. (The brains of individuals with epilepsy function normally when not undergoing a seizure.)

Patients performed a virtual navigation task on a tablet computer in four environments daily for seven to eight consecutive days. By measuring their brain activity, the researchers identified three previously unknown traits of the system:

Humans rescale their internal coordinate system according to the size of each new environment. This flexibility differs from rodents' rigid map that has a constant grid scale and empowers humans to navigate diverse places.

When seeking navigational cues in any given location, humans automatically align their internal compass with the corners and shape of the space. In contrast, rodents do so relative to the walls of the environment through physical exploration.

The nature of the coordinate system differs between humans and rodents -- Cartesian and hexagonal respectively.

The findings illuminate the fabric of the human memory and spatial navigation, which are vulnerable to disease and deterioration. Deeper knowledge of these neuronal mechanisms can inform the development of techniques to prolong the health of this part of the brain and combat diseases such as Alzheimer's.

The study builds on earlier Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the entorhinal cortex of rodents. Due to the differences discovered between the human and rodent systems of navigation, the researchers emphasize that generalizing results from studies on animal subjects may provide inaccurate conjectures.

This study is one of the few on human subjects that report on the activity of individual neuron behavior, said Gyorgy Buzsaki, an expert from New York University Medical Center who was not involved in the research.

"They not only confirm a previous report but extend the findings by showing that the size of the neuronal representation by entorhinal grid cells scales with the environment," Buzsaki said.

"Our hypothesis is challenging the definition of a universal spatial scale of environment predominant in lower mammals, which may open up important avenues of discovery," said Robert Buchanan, another lead author on the study and an associate professor at Dell Medical School. He is also an adjunct associate professor in the university's Department of Psychology and a chief of neurosurgery at Seton Brain and Spine Institute.

"Now, we can continue to explore this key component of what it means to be human -- how we think about our past and future, how we imagine and plan," Buchanan said.

By using virtual reality, the researchers also refined a new experimental technology for facilitating spatial experiences that can't be reproduced in a laboratory. The data implies that humans can seamlessly switch between reality and virtual reality -- a finding that can be applied in other studies of the brain.

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The study's co-authors include Peter Nguyen at the Baylor College of Medicine; Agoston Torok at Eotvos Lorand University and Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Jason Shen at UT Austin's Dell Medical School and Seton Brain and Spine Institute; Deborah Briggs at UT Austin's Dell Medical School and Seton Brain and Spine Institute; and Pradeep Modur at UT Austin's Dell Medical School and Seton Brain and Spine Institute.

The research was supported by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and the Seton Seed Grant for Research.
What is the volume of water in lakes on Earth? Using a mathematical analysis, researcher David Seekell, at Umea University, and his American collaborators now suggest that the mean depth of lakes is 30 per cent lower than previously estimated. Shallower lakes implies less fresh water and has consequences for our understanding of climate change and the carbon cycle. The results have been published in Geophysical Research Letters.

"Our estimations measure around 190,000 km3, which is a very small amount of water. In comparison, the ocean contains 1.3 billion km3 of water. If we poured the water of all lakes on Earth together into one big lake, the mean depth of the lake would be 42 metres. The mean depth of the ocean is 3,682 metres," says David Seekell, associate professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences and the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) at Umea University in Sweden.

A possible conclusion is if lakes are shallower, they release more methane into the atmosphere than previously estimated.

Measuring the volume of the lakes on Earth seems like a simple task. Nevertheless, the challenges to carry out a measurement on a global scale are huge. Satellites can measure the volume of very large lakes, such as for instance Lake Vattern in Sweden or Lake Superior in the United States and Canada, but measuring the tens of millions of small lakes spread across the surface of the Earth requires time-consuming field work. A commonly used method is GPS positioning and depth sounder by boat. The researcher is required to row around on the lake until he or she has collected a large number of depths. The depths and coordinates are later used to build bathymetric maps which the volume and mean depth can be derived from. The approach works well for small lakes, but is expensive due to the time-consuming process and only a small number of lakes can be mapped.

So far, there have been few estimates of the volume of fresh water in lakes on Earth, and those that exist vary greatly and are typically presented without any data or methods.

"We decided to use a theory driven approach. We assumed that the surface of the Earth is self-affine. This basically means that if you zoomed in and out of a cross-section of the Earth's surface, the statistical characteristics of the vertical topography are predictable based upon a stretching factor," says David Seekell.

"We were able to use the model to estimate the mean volume of lakes at each given lake surface area, but also for variations in volume of lakes with the same surface area. Given the total lake surface area on Earth - which can actually be accurately recorded by satellite, even for small lakes - we were now able to estimate the total volume and assess the uncertainty in the estimate," says David Seekell.

The research team assessed that there are 184,000-199,000 km3 of lake water. The reason behind the variation can be explained by how lakes are counted and how their surface area is measured, particularly the smaller ones.

The majority of lake water can be found in a few very large lakes such as the Caspian Sea, Lake Superior, and Lake Baikal. In fact, about 80 percent of lake water can be found in the 20 largest lakes alone.

The quality and quantity of lake water can rapidly change due to human activities. For example, in some regions many ponds and reservoirs have been built for ornamental purposes, for irrigation, to generate electricity, or to store drinking water, which increasing the volume of fresh water.

On the other hand, some large lakes have dried up and disappeared. For example, Lake Poopo in Bolivia previously had a surface area of about 3,000 km2 and was one of the largest lakes in Bolivia. Due to climate change and water diversions for agricultural production, there is almost no water left, which greatly affects local communities. A very similar story can be told about the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest lake on Earth - where climate change and water diversions for agriculture have left only a tiny fraction of its former surface.

It is not only quantity that is of great concern at the moment. The water quality of the largest lakes on Earth are subject to degradation due to human activities. For example, Lake Erie in the United States and Canada with a surface area of about 25,667 km2 has been exposed to nutrient pollution and harmful algae blooms. This has rendered the lake an unreliable source for drinking water for communities along the shoreline. As a consequence, over 400,000 people even lost access to drinking water due to neurotoxins in the lake water associated with algae bloom in 2014.

"Our study emphasizes the relative scarcity of lake water, and how rapidly human activities can change the quality and quantity of water resources," says David Seekell.

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April 13, 2017 - Sixteen percent of children in pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) have acute neurological conditions with brain damage due to cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, or other causes, reports an international survey study in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

"Children with acute neurologic insults are common in ICUs and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and prolonged ICU stays, posing significant challenges to public, family, and individual health," according to the report by the PANGEA Investigators, led by Ericka L. Fink, MD, MS, of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The findings underscore the need for "transformational ideas" to improve outcomes for this large group of critically ill children at high risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Worldwide Snapshot of Acute Neurological Conditions Among Critically Ill Children The PANGEA study (Prevalence of Acute Critical Neurological Disease in Children: A Global Epidemiological Assessment) was designed to assess the multinational prevalence and outcomes of critical neurological injuries and illnesses among children in participating ICUs. On four days during a one-year period, ICUs at 107 hospitals provided information on children with acute neurological conditions.

"Acute neurological conditions in children are associated with high mortality and morbidity (cognitive, physical and emotional disability) rates, and largely lack targeted neuroprotective therapies that improve outcome," Dr. Fink explains. "Measuring the burden of these conditions is a step towards strategizing prospective study design and allocation of resources to achieve the long-term goal of improving outcome for these children."

The hospitals contributed information on a total of 924 patients. Although nearly 90% of the hospitals were in North America or Europe, hospitals in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America were represented as well. A separate study looking specifically at traumatic brain injury at low-resource settings in Africa is underway (PANGEA-Developing Countries). Overall, 16.2% of children in the reporting ICUs had acute neurological conditions. The children's ages ranged from seven days to 17 years. Many children had preexisting medical conditions, but 61% had normal neurological status before their current hospitalizations.

Cardiac arrest, resulting in lack of blood flow to the brain, was the most common overall cause of acute neurological conditions (23%). Other causes included traumatic brain injury (19%), central nervous system infection or inflammation (16%), and stroke or a mass, such as a brain tumor (9% each).

Regions differed in terms of most common condition reported. Infection/inflammation was the most common cause in Asia, South America, and the sole African hospital contributing to the study. In all other regions, cardiac arrest was the main cause.

The children were at high risk of poor outcomes. Twelve percent died overall, the highest rate in children with cardiac arrest (24%). Another 32% were left with moderate to severe neurological disability at the three-month follow-up, including nearly half of those with traumatic brain injury. The children had long lengths of stay, an average of 13 days in the ICU and 22 days in the hospital.

"The growth of pediatric neurocritical care services in pediatric ICUs and development of a pediatric neurocritical care research network reflect the specialty's acknowledgment and commitment to improve outcomes for children with acute neurologic insults," Dr. Fink and coauthors write. They believe that the PANGEA data "suggest a vital need for resources to assist in the challenge of improving outcomes for these children throughout the span of the periods of emergency care through to rehabilitation."

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Click here to read "International Survey of Critically Ill Children With Acute Neurologic Insults: The Prevalence of Acute Critical Neurological Disease in Children: A Global Epidemiological Assessment Study*."

Article: "International Survey of Critically Ill Children With Acute Neurologic Insults: The Prevalence of Acute Critical Neurological Disease in Children: A Global Epidemiological Assessment Study*" (doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001093)

Note to editors: For further information, contact Curtis Powell, Director of Marketing and Communications for SCCM: phone +1 (847) 827-7282 or +1 (312) 285-6551, or e-mail cpowell@sccm.org.

About the Society of Critical Care Medicine

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is the largest nonprofit medical organization dedicated to promoting excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care. With members in more than 100 countries, SCCM is the only organization that represents all professional components of the critical care team. The Society offers a variety of activities that ensure excellence in patient care, education, research and advocacy. SCCM's mission is to secure the highest-quality care for all critically ill and injured patients. Visit http://www.sccm.org for more information. Follow @SCCM or visit us on Facebook.

About Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine is the official journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, the Pediatric Intensive Care Society UK, the Latin American Society of Pediatric Intensive Care, and the Japanese Society of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care. This exciting journal is the first scientific, peer-reviewed publication to focus exclusively on pediatric critical care medicine and critical care neonatology.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide.

Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

For more information about our solutions and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
An intermediate chromatin structure during nucleosome remodeling is determined, and may explain how nucleosome repositioning occurs

Tokyo, April 14 - A research group led by Hitoshi Kurumizaka, a professor of structural biology at Waseda University, unveiled the crystal structure of an overlapping dinucleosome, a newly discovered chromatin structural unit. This may explain how nucleosome repositioning occurs and provide valuable information for developing drugs to treat genetic diseases.

This research is published in Science.

Humans develop from a single cell, which divides repeatedly to form organisms. These divided cells all carry the same genetic information and differentiate to form tissues with different functions. When a hand is formed, for example, only the genes needed to form a hand are "switched on," and all the other genes other than those used to form a hand remain switched off. Epigenetics is the field of research that aims to explain this so-called genetic switch, which controls the expression of genes that compose the structure of each organism.

A DNA string stores all of a person's genetic information and measures 2 meters long. This long of DNA must be packed in a nucleus of only about 10 micrometers in diameter. To do so, the DNA is folded neatly into a structure called chromatin. To decipher the genetic information in this condition, the chromatin structure is dynamically modified for reading. This change in chromatin structure regulates the differences in genes being read and differentiate phenotypic variations of cells.

A chromatin is composed of four histone proteins with DNA wrapped around a chain of spools known as nucleosomes. When reading genetic information, a chromatin structure is modified, so that the DNA packed into the chromatin becomes easier to read by repositioning the nucleosome near the point where the reading starts. Then, an RNA polymerase, an enzyme that transcribes the genes, starts reading the DNA from where the nucleosome was moved. This phenomenon of repositioning is called nucleosome remodeling. It was hypothesized that in nucleosome remodeling, nucleosomes collide and form a chromatin structural unit known as an overlapping dinucleosome (Figure 01). The formation of an overlapping dinucleosome through nucleosome remodeling was thought to be crucial for regulating the genetic switch, but its existence and actual structure were elusive.

Professor Kurumizaka's research group determined the three-dimensional structure of an overlapping dinucleosome at atomic resolution.

"Our team developed a method to reconstitute overlapping dinucleosomes in vitro and to prepare them in large quantities with high purity. We succeeded in crystallizing the purified overlapping dinucleosomes (Figure 02), and using these, we conducted x-ray diffraction experiments at SPring-8, a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility."

These discoveries are promising for expanding research on the link between the overlapping dinucleosome and the genetic switch.

Moreover, mutations in nucleosome remodeling proteins have been found in various cancers, including ovarian and bladder cancers. This suggests that an incomplete formation of overlapping dinucleosome may trigger abnormalities in the genetic switch, turning normal cells into tumor cells. Accordingly, understanding the atomic structure of the overlapping dinucleosome may provide valuable information for understanding how the abnormal dynamics of chromatin are related to cancer, offering essential information for development in cancer drugs.

Professor Kurumizaka is intrigued to study the correlation between the overlapping dinucleosome formation and the genomic DNA functions in cells in the future.

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Article title: Crystal structure of the overlapping dinucleosome composed of hexasome and octasome

* This was a collaborative study led by Professor Hitoshi Kurumizaka of Waseda University, in collaboration with researchers from Hiroshima University, Yokohama City University, Kyushu University, the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, and Kyoto University.

About Waseda University

Waseda University is a leading private, non-profit institution of higher education based in central Tokyo, with over 50,000 students in 13 undergraduate and 21 graduate schools. Founded in 1882, Waseda cherishes three guiding principles: academic independence, practical innovation and the education of enlightened citizens. Established to mold future leaders, Waseda continues to fulfill this mission, counting among its alumni seven prime ministers and countless other politicians, business leaders, journalists, diplomats, scholars, scientists, actors, writers, athletes and artists.

Waseda is number one in Japan in international activities, including number of incoming and outgoing study abroad students, with the broadest range of degree programs taught fully in English, and exchange partnerships with over 600 top institutions in 84 countries.
From: Ad Council For Immediate Release: Dateline: New York , NY Thursday, April 13, 2017



In todays world, we can roll over in the morning and ask Alexa to start brewing our coffee, give us the weather, order more coffee beans and play our Spotify playlist without ever touching a button. Sure, the setup is a bit more complex and not quite seamless yet, but were clearly moving away from interacting solely with screens and towards different forms of communication with artificial intelligence (AI).

At SXSW in 2013,

Instead of a terminal world, voice is becoming a more mainstream interface as weve gone from Apples Siri to Amazons Alexa, Googles Home, Microsofts Cortana and Samsungs Bixby  all of which can communicate back and learn about us from us. Sophie said, the moment the machine starts talking, we assume a relationship with them. We assume there will be empathy, support, and advice. This is natural for us to expect. We have already seen robots that are capable of understanding, computing and engaging with humans on an emotional level in movies such as I,Robot, Ex Machina and Big Hero 6. With such a high level of expectation for emotional intelligence from the users, heres what the AI experts believe is important to keep in mind as we design these new machines.

Machines should make us feel like we are flourishing.

During her talk on

What is the users emotional state?

What are the users ambitions?

Whats the nature of the interaction?

What is the users context? Machines should be our sidekick.

, who was a storyboard artist at Pixar, implemented some of

Context is king.

We have already mastered making the internet perfect for transactional engagements, so we shouldnt insert new or create more conversations when people are expecting a quick transaction. Its important to map the user journey and identify when a conversation fits in, and depending on the context, how the machine should respond. Know whether it should:

React like a machine

React like an extension of self

React like a human Trust in the relationship.

For this relationship to grow and sustain itself, we (humans) must be able to trust that we are not being manipulated, violated or being taken advantage of by the machine. What is too much? When is it unethical? Javier Hernandez of MIT Media Lab said Affective Computing (devices and systems can recognize, interpret, process and simulate human affects) is like nuclear power. We have to be responsible in defining how to use it. Designers should:

Have an agreement on the intention of the personality and information.

Design only what can be understood.

Use a gradual progression of intimacy. Let it learn, but not too obviously.

As with all AI, the machine learning algorithm needs to keep getting smarter as it engages with us, but it shouldnt draw attention to it. To accomplish this, Emma also focused on creating witty quips as part of the Google Assistant personality so it can deflect awkward questions from the user and keep the conversation going. This is a sneaky way to allow the machine learning algorithm to keep improving itself without drawing attention to the fact that its not actually answering a question.



The post

In todays world, we can roll over in the morning and ask Alexa to start brewing our coffee, give us the weather, order more coffee beans and play our Spotify playlist without ever touching a button. Sure, the setup is a bit more complex and not quite seamless yet, but were clearly moving away from interacting solely with screens and towards different forms of communication with artificial intelligence (AI).At SXSW in 2013, Golden Krishna emphasized this screenless world by saying that the best interface is actually no interface at all. At this years SXSW Sophie Kleber (Executive Director of Product and Innovation at HUGE) took it even further, when she said, we are no longer in a terminal world.Instead of a terminal world, voice is becoming a more mainstream interface as weve gone from Apples Siri to Amazons Alexa, Googles Home, Microsofts Cortana and Samsungs Bixby  all of which can communicate back and learn about us from us. Sophie said, the moment the machine starts talking, we assume a relationship with them. We assume there will be empathy, support, and advice. This is natural for us to expect. We have already seen robots that are capable of understanding, computing and engaging with humans on an emotional level in movies such as I,Robot, Ex Machina and Big Hero 6. With such a high level of expectation for emotional intelligence from the users, heres what the AI experts believe is important to keep in mind as we design these new machines.During her talk on Designing Emotionally Intelligent Machines, Sophie pointed out that a machine should make us feel like we are flourishing. Martin Seligman, a leading positive psychologist defines flourish as the ability to be optimistic and view the past, present and future with a positive perspective and gives us a sense of satisfaction, pride and fulfillment when a goal is achieved. This means that the designer should think about: Emma Coats , who was a storyboard artist at Pixar, implemented some of Pixars 22 rules of storytelling as she created the Google Assistant personality. In a Wired interview, she mentioned that not all the rules could be applied because You, the person interacting with it, are the hero. Thats why the Assistant cant be opinionated: its there to be reliable, not to have depth. The Assistant is intended to be an endearing, trusty sidekick.We have already mastered making the internet perfect for transactional engagements, so we shouldnt insert new or create more conversations when people are expecting a quick transaction. Its important to map the user journey and identify when a conversation fits in, and depending on the context, how the machine should respond. Know whether it should:For this relationship to grow and sustain itself, we (humans) must be able to trust that we are not being manipulated, violated or being taken advantage of by the machine. What is too much? When is it unethical? Javier Hernandez of MIT Media Lab said Affective Computing (devices and systems can recognize, interpret, process and simulate human affects) is like nuclear power. We have to be responsible in defining how to use it. Designers should:As with all AI, the machine learning algorithm needs to keep getting smarter as it engages with us, but it shouldnt draw attention to it. To accomplish this, Emma also focused on creating witty quips as part of the Google Assistant personality so it can deflect awkward questions from the user and keep the conversation going. This is a sneaky way to allow the machine learning algorithm to keep improving itself without drawing attention to the fact that its not actually answering a question.The post How to Design Emotionally Intelligent AI appeared first on AdLibbing.org


From: Joyce L. Gioia, CMC, CSP -- The Herman Group Austin , TX Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The Herman Trend Alert April 12, 2017 Global Skills-Jobs Gap The other day we interviewed futurist, Edward Gordon, PhD, author of Future Jobs: Solving the Employment and Skills Crisis. Gordon shared a great deal of up-to-date information about the global gap between jobs employers need to fill and the skilled workers to fill them. Germany: shrinking population and failing educational system Though Germany's population is shrinking by 100,000 people/year, the country has the premier dual system of education in the world---separating those students who are best fit for the trades and those who are college bound. The problem is that dual system is failing. Like the situation in the United States, the trades are not respected. Parents are pushing their children to go to university. Apart from Badden-Wittenberg and Bavaria, their system is simply not working. As if that were not enough, they have a shortage of 100,000 engineers. China's technological and economic challenges As China is struggling to move from cheap, mass-produced goods to higher-priced goods, they are transitioning to more sophisticated production facilities, which require more highly skilled workers. The reputed lack of quality control speaks to the fact that the Chinese lack an adequate educational system to support their great leap forward. All this change is happening against a backdrop of a slowed economy. India: a thriving economy with a weak educational system Unfortunately, though India's economy is growing (over 7 percent rise in GDP), its greatly expanded university system has resulted in colleges and universities becoming diploma mills. Moreover, its elementary and secondary school system is weaker than China's. Most graduates simply do not have the knowledge and skills Indian companies are looking for. The US is not doing any better Gordon reports: "The skills gap in the United States is serious. The impending retirements of 20 million baby boomers by 2020 will add to this gap. According the National Association of Home Builders, about 200,000 construction jobs are unfilled nationwide. There are now 500,000 IT and computer science jobs, 600,000 unfilled high-end manufacturing jobs, and at least 700,000 vacant nursing positions according to surveys conducted by their professional associations. Both Boeing and Airbus are struggling to find enough trained aerospace technicians to ease their gigantic backlog of unfilled aircraft orders. Many communities have started RETAINs (Regional Talent Innovation Networks) which are public-private partnerships focused on rebuilding regional education-to-employment delivery systems." South Korea: the exception "South Korea is an economic and education miracle of major proportions." Its population is highly educated and its students compete very well on OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) global tests (9th in the world in reading performance). However, now even Korea has a shortage of engineers, and many of its young people are so addicted to computer games, there are now boot camps to help them break free. What are the solutions? Start early: introduce your careers to students in elementary schools; encourage schools to tour your facilities. Consider mentoring promising high school students. Offer scholarships and tie them to internships and on the job training. Companies also need to work with their local school systems and the technical colleges to ensure that the educational institutions are producing employable graduates. ******** The Herman Group is a firm of Strategic Business Futurists concentrating on workforce and workplace issues. We forecast the future and advise clients regarding relevant trends and how those trends may affect their lives. Applying our expertise as Certified Management Consultants, we advise corporate leaders regarding employee retention and organizational development to help them build workforce stability. We help organizations become Employers of Choice. We also work with Employer of Choice, Inc. to formally recognize employers that meet the stringent standards dictated by the labor marketplace. As authors of management books and as active professional speakers, we inform and inspire people to make a positive difference in the world of work. You did really get the ball rolling with our retention presentation, overall we have seen a move in the right direction with our turnover. In practice since 1980, we have served a wide variety of clients throughout the United States and in other countries. Our global affiliates assist us in sharing our expertise and advice with clients internationally. Our team of professional consultants and trainers is supported by an administrative staff that gets things done. We also have consultants certified to deliver our programs in your local area. Delivering to both small and large groups across 100 industries, The Herman Group has provided over 2,500 educational and informative keynote speeches and training seminars worldwide. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, we travel extensively to meet the needs of our clients. We can always be reached through the support team in our office at (800) 227-3566. Overseas callers may reach us through 336-210-3547. Should you have any questions after touring our website, please call or e-mail us at info@hermangroup.com. Get started now on improving the stability and performance of your workforce and increase your chances for success in the future.


British Sandwich Week is a week-long celebration of the greatest food to go and quite possibly the most iconic British culinary invention, the sandwich.

Ever since John Montague, the 4th Earl of Sandwich ordered cold beef between slices of toast, to avoid getting up from his cards game, his name has become synonymous with the delectable dish.

Of course, meat and bread were staples long before he tucked into on while playing cards, but he gave rise to the concept of having one as a convenient meal while getting on with other things!

Todays world is catching up with old Monty  we want to get on with our lives and grab a sandwich, the ultimate food to go. So much so that in Britain alone we buy over 3.5 billion sandwiches a year, spending some 7.85bn in the process (2016 data).

The fabulous dish

Challenges for the consumer spend are all around us with so much choice, British Sandwich Week is also a way of focussing the consumers attention on this fabulous dish.

Sandwich manufacturers and retailers across the UK all have their own way of celebrating this fantastic food, many offering special promotions and new ranges during British Sandwich Week.

Several will also be building on their charitable links by donating some of their proceeds or even having buy-one-donate-one initiatives for customers to take part in.

On the theme of celebrating, the sandwich industry also holds its annual Awards, the Sammies, where the Best New Sandwich, Sandwich Retailer of the Year and many more are crowned.
The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) has called for institutions to not weaken the definition of an active farmer in process of simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In response to ongoing efforts to simplify CAP, European agricultural organisation CEJA has called for special attention to be paid to ensuring simplification does not lead to the introduction of 'ineffective measures', such as weakening the definition of active farmer, in order to simplify administration.

The European Union is looking to modernise and simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the CAP will be 'simplified' and 'modernised', and is seeking thoughts from the sector on ways to improve the system.

'Great change for Europe'

We are in a time of great change for Europe, explained CEJA President Alan Jagoe.

We can be ambitious, we can strive for excellence, but we have to ensure that efforts to simplify dont end up damaging the effectiveness of our cause.

Having a strong definition on active farmer will help generational renewal, drive structural change and aid land mobility. A strong definition is vital to what we should all be aiming to achieve, as young farmers are the key in the future CAP."

The organisation has proposed the need for the definition of active farmer to be strengthened, improved and remain mandatory throughout the EU for years to come.

To improve the current definition, CEJA proposes the introduction of further criteria at EU level.
Major retailer Marks and Spencer has pledged to source 100 per cent Scottish lamb ahead of Easter amid growing anger over imported lamb in supermarkets.

The pledge to return to 100 per cent Scottish in all Scottish stores by the weekend merits similar response from other retailers, says NFU Scotland.

Scottish farmers have welcomed the response by Marks and Spencer.

It comes as many farmers were described as 'justifiably angry' at the level of imported lamb products on British supermarket shelves this Easter.

Shelf watch campaign

The retailer was responding to an NFU Scotland shelf watch campaign which found significant volumes of imported lamb on almost all supermarket shelves as we approach Easter, giving people few opportunities to buy Scottish lamb.

Last year, Marks and Spencers made a commitment to source 100 per cent Scottish lamb for its Scottish stores this season. However, secret shoppers found the retailer had a significant amount of imported lamb on some of its shelves this week.

A statement from the retailer has apologised, indicated that an error in its delivery system was responsible, pledged to have it rectified over the weekend and reaffirmed its commitment to sourcing only Scottish lamb for its Scottish stores.

The farming union said it is keen to see all supermarkets now make a similar pledge.

In its shelf watch this week, only Aldi stores were found to be stocking 100 per cent Scottish lamb.

Despite previous commitments by some retailers, Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, the Co-op, Morrisons and Lidl have all chosen to import huge volumes of New Zealand and Australian lamb, shunning home producers at this hugely important time of year for lamb sales.

Looking hard for local

Commenting on the M and S statement, NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said: Having a leading retailer delivering on its commitment to stock exclusively Scottish lamb in its Scottish stores is great news at a time when Scottish farmers and crofters are coming through the difficult spring lambing period.

Sadly, the Unions shelf watch indicated that shoppers have to look hard in stores to find any Scottish. Justifiably, many will rely on their local butcher if they want to buy some fresh, tasty and local Scottish lamb.

Scottish shoppers want Scottish lamb and butchers, Aldi and M and S show other retailers what can be achieved.

Looking ahead, we welcome plans from the Co-op to move to 100 per cent home-produced across all fresh meat later this year. And we continue to call for Tesco and Asda to extend their season for buying home produced lamb in a bid to boost sales of Scottish.

We will also be asking questions of Morrisons and Lidl, who have failed to maintain their previous good record on domestic sourcing.
Two members of tractor enthusiast club Blue Force are celebrating 100 years of blue tractor production by undertaking a 5000 mile drive, not previously attempted on tractors.

The pair have set off from New Holland's Basildon factory in two new T6 tractors supplied by the manufacturer.

Blue Force club members have a passion for preserving and running vintage and modern Fordson, Ford and New Holland marque tractors.

Phil Gibson, chairman of Blue Force, and Peter Plehov, club treasurer, will drive a route around the coast of mainland UK & Ireland, stopping at several points on route including Bournemouth, Galway and Edinburgh.

Each tractor will tow a shepherds hut, built by Phil and Peter

Today, Phil and Peter set off from New Hollands Basildon factory at 9am on new T6.145 and T6.180 tractors, which have been donated by New Holland.

Each tractor will tow a shepherds hut, built by Phil and Peter.

One hut for sleeping accommodation and the other for fuel, oil and supplies.

The trip is almost entirely funded by donations that have come from club members and generous sponsors

Phil and Peters Coastline Tractor Challenge will culminate at Tractor Fest on the 10th & 11th of June at Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

'Overwhelmed'

Andrew Watson, Business Director, New Holland UK and Ireland, said: "We have always had a close relationship with the Blue Force Club so we were delighted to assist Peter and Phil when we heard about their challenge. We look forward to following their progress and wish them luck on their journey.

Phil Gibson said: "I have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support from New Holland, without them we would not be doing any of this."

The trip is almost entirely funded by donations that have come from club members and generous sponsors.

New Holland dealer Robertsons of Orkney have funded the pairs ferry crossings to the Orkney Islands to guarantee the islands blue tractor fans can be part of the celebrations.

Other New Holland dealers along the 5000-mile route are hosting events to celebrate 100 years of blue tractors and support Phil and Peter on their Coastline Challenge.

Phil, who is a lifelong blue tractor user and fan, said about the challenge that he and treasurer Peter had, "lived, worked and breathed tractors all our lives, but this is something very new."

The Coastline Challenge will also raise funds for two charities, Steps Conductive Education Centre in Loughborough, and Cancer Research UK.

Phil and Peter have a personal connection with the charities and the pair aim to raise 25,000 by the end of 2017. They have raised nearly 7,000 before setting off from Basildon.
West Country meat and cheese were given the royal seal of approval at a tasting in Italy.

Levy-funded Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) was joined by Prince Charles at an event in Fiesole, Tuscany, this month  which was also attended by Italian dignitaries and media.

The wine, meat and cheese tasting featured West Country beef, lamb with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

And the food was paired with some of the best wines from Tuscany at the Hotel Belmond Villa San, which proved to be a huge success.

In January 2014, PGIs for West Country beef and West Country lamb were recognised by the European Commission and published in the Official Journal of the EU.

This means that beef and lamb from the region that meets specific criteria, such as being at least 70 per cent forage fed, is eligible to carry the PGI logo and can be badged as West Country and promoted on the basis of their rearing environment.

'Italians value great taste'

AHDB Head of Exports Jean Pierre Garnier said: We are grateful for the support of HM The Prince of Wales during his short visit to Italy.

We are very keen to develop sales of beef, lamb and cheese from the West Country. The products have been welcomed by Italian distributors and are already attractively merchandised by some Italian retailers. Italian consumers value PGI and PDO products and the green, traditional West Country image has a favourable perception.

The Italians above all value the great taste, tenderness and consistency of West Country meats and the superior flavour of real matured Cheddar cheese. We hope this tasting will help to further establish them in Italy.
Five things for farmers to watch out for in Autumn Statement
Fresh on the heels of its surprising decision to unload the bulk of its Canadian assets, ConocoPhillips (COP -0.33%) is back with another deal. This time the U.S. oil and gas giant is sticking with its declared strategy after announcing a deal to jettison its San Juan Basin gas assets for up to $3 billion. In doing so, it's taking another step toward its goal of accelerating value creation for shareholders.

Drilling down into the deal

In its latest deal, ConocoPhillips agreed to sell its entire position in the San Juan Basin to Hilcorp Energy for up to $3 billion. The company will receive $2.7 billion at closing and a contingent payment of up to $300 million. Under the terms of the agreement, starting next year, ConocoPhillips can receive an annual payment over the next six years of $7 million per month for every month the price of natural gas is above $3.20 per MMBtu, with those payments capped at $300 million.

This deal does four things for ConocoPhillips. First, it accelerates the value of its San Juan Basin assets since the company will receive $2.7 billion up front for assets that were only generating about $200 million in annual cash flow. Though that price is well below the company's $5.9 billion net book value of the assets, due in large part to the premium the company paid when it acquired Burlington Resources in 2006. For comparison sake, ConocoPhillips' $13.3 billion Canadian asset sale to Cenovus Energy (CVE 1.27%) represented a premium to the $10.9 billion net book value of those properties, which enabled ConocoPhillips to unlock value.

The other three things this deal does is reduces the company's exposure to North American dry gas, it further focuses the portfolio toward higher margin oil and liquids, and it preserves some upside via the contingent payment. The ability to hold on to some of the upside has been a hallmark of the company's transactions this year. It was an essential component of the Cenovus Energy transaction, which included both an uncapped contingent payment over the next five years and the ability to participate in the equity upside of the $2.7 billion in Cenovus' stock that it acquired as part of the deal. By including these provisions in the agreements, ConocoPhillips stands to benefit from rebounding oil and gas prices in the future.

Where does it go from here?

The San Juan Basin transaction follows the strategy the company outlined last November when it said it would sell $5 billion to $8 billion of primarily North American gas assets. The company planned to use those proceeds to buy back up to $3 billion of stock over the next three years and reduce debt to around $20 billion. However, the Cenovus Energy deal accomplished the company's three-year goal in less than a year, which put the company in the position to accelerate its strategy and set new targets, including repurchasing up to $6 billion in stock and reducing total debt to $15 billion by 2019.

With $13.3 billion of cash coming into its coffers by the end of this year, ConocoPhillips expects to buy back $3 billion in stock this year and reduce gross debt from $27 billion to $20 billion by retiring the bulk of its upcoming debt maturities through 2019. Meanwhile, the company will use the rest of the cash proceeds along with internally generated excess cash flow to opportunistically repurchase another $3 billion in stock and retire $5 billion in additional debt over the next three years.

Meanwhile, the company could target additional asset sales over the next few years to further enhance its financial flexibility. For example, it reportedly put its underutilized Kenai LNG export terminal in Alaska on the market and could eventually offload that asset. Meanwhile, the company is in the process of a phased exit of deepwater exploration and has a vast acreage portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some notable discoveries, that it could sell. Further, the company does have additional North American dry gas assets that it could sell, including its positions in the Barnett and Uinta. While many of these are smaller assets and therefore wouldn't be needle-moving deals, they'd still enable the company to pull value forward and sharpen its focus on core assets.

Investor takeaway

ConocoPhillips has a plan to reshape the company so that it can deliver returns-driven growth to investors. With its latest asset sale, the company has finished the bulk of its heavy lifting and now has a boatload of cash coming its way. That capital gives the company the fuel to accelerate its value creation efforts, putting it on the path to deliver double-digit annual returns for investors in the years ahead.
It might seem like a state that has wide open plains and a population density even lower than Montana or North Dakota would be a perfect (and profitable) place to build large renewable-energy farms. And in Wyoming, that could be the case -- if politics wasn't about to get in the way.

But Wyoming produces more coal than any other state, outpacing even West Virginia by nearly 4 to 1, according to the U.S. EIA. And where coal is king, there's not likely to be a lot of political support for renewable energy. But even given that, the lengths some Wyoming politicians are considering going to in their efforts to keep renewables out are pretty astounding.

Wyoming's plan to all but kill renewable energy

A bill floating around in the overwhelmingly Republican Wyoming legislature could effectively kill renewable energy in the state. It wouldn't actually bar anyone from building wind or solar power plants, but it would heavily penalize utilities in Wyoming for using wind or solar energy, either from within Wyoming or purchased from utilities in surrounding states. Here's the text that should alarm the renewable energy industry:

In compliance year 2019, each electric utility shall procure a minimum of one hundred percent (100%) of its sales of electricity in Wyoming from eligible generating resources.

Those "eligible generating resources" are limited to coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, nuclear, oil, and net metering systems (rooftop solar) already approved by state law. Worse yet, any utility buying wind or solar would be fined $10 per MWh, making both energy sources cost-prohibitive. What's crazy is that Wyoming is actually a perfect state for large scale wind and solar plants, which this legislation is essentially trying to undermine.

Wyoming may be shooting itself in the foot

Not only are wind and solar incredibly popular sources of energy -- no matter your political affiliation -- they also could produce energy Wyoming could export to the country -- a business it's already invested in. According to the EIA, Wyoming generated 49.0 terawatt hours of energy in 2015, and exported 62% of that to other states. Making it harder to build wind and solar plants would be economically destructive.

Mandating more coal use within Wyoming won't help coal demand much either. The state ranks just 41st in electricity consumption in the country, and has very little market power to either increase coal consumption or slow the adoption of wind and solar. In other words, barring wind and solar within Wyoming will do little to save coal jobs within the state.

Fighting the future of energy isn't a good idea

Coal plants are being shut down by the hundreds, and new electricity generation is now dominated by wind and solar. According to GTM Research and SIEA, in 2015, wind and solar accounted for 69% of new capacity additions, and 2016 that stayed relatively steady at 65%. In both years, coal had zero new plants because it's not economically competitive with natural gas or renewables.

It looks like Wyoming's legislators are trying to punish renewable energy in their state in an effort to stand up for coal. The sentiment is admirable, but they are fighting the future of energy and making their state less attractive for energy investments. And at the end of the day, a fight to promote coal over renewable energy isn't one they can win.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 1.40%) (BRK.B 1.36%), the conglomerate run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, announced that it's selling around 9 million shares of Wells Fargo (WFC 0.21%) stock. At first glance, this may sound like an alarming development -- after all, Wells Fargo is one of Berkshire's largest stock investments and is a company Buffett has praised many times. However, Buffett's reasons for selling have nothing to do with the stock as an investment.

Berkshire is selling millions of shares of Wells Fargo stock

Berkshire Hathaway said on April 12 that it's selling about 9 million shares of its Wells Fargo stock position. It has already sold 7.1 million shares and plans to sell another 1.9 million.

This may sound like a massive amount of stock (and it is, to most people), but this move will still leave Berkshire with about 491 million shares of the banking giant. So the sale represents less than 2% of Berkshire's total Wells Fargo stake.

In addition, Berkshire specifically says that the sale has nothing to do with Wells Fargo, or the notorious "fake accounts" scandal that made headlines in 2016. Instead, the company is selling some of its Wells Fargo stock to keep its position below 10% of the bank's total outstanding shares, allowing it to avoid additional Federal Reserve regulations.

It's also important to point out that it could (and probably will) need to sell more of its shares in future quarters, for the same purpose. As Wells Fargo repurchases shares of its own stock, Buffett's stake will represent a growing percentage of the company, so further sales could be necessary to stay under the 10% threshold in the long term.

If you glance at Berkshire's portfolio, you'll notice that the company's Wells Fargo stake makes up just about 9.55% of the outstanding shares, so it may seem as if the stake is already small enough to satisfy regulators. However, Buffett owns a smaller piece of Wells Fargo in his personal account, which, combined with Berkshire's shares, made the total stake he had influence over exceed the 10% threshold.

What's the big deal with owning 10% of a bank?

Without getting too technical, the Federal Reserve exerts more oversight on investors with large stakes in banks -- defined as 10% or more. What's more, to continue to own more than 10% of Wells Fargo, Berkshire would need permission from the Fed and would need to make the case that it had no intention to exert a "controlling influence."

In July 2016, Buffett made such a request, stating at the time that "Berkshire is seeking permission to retain its current ownership position ... and to acquire additional shares of common stock of Wells Fargo for investment purposes." The application also made clear that Berkshire had no plans to make any significant changes to Wells Fargo's strategy or structure, nor did it have any desire to make changes to the bank's board.

However, as part of the announcement made recently revealing the sale of some of his shares, Berkshire said that after months of talks with Fed officials, keeping the stake of more than 10% wasn't in Berkshire's best interest.

The key takeaway

Warren Buffett and his team are selling Wells Fargo shares to control the size of its position, not because of anything to do with the bank as a long-term investment.

Keep in mind that this is a similar activity to the portfolio rebalancing many investors do regularly. For example, I recently revealed that after doubling over the past year, Bank of America (BAC 0.65%) has become my largest stock holding. I still think Bank of America has massive upside potential, but It's likely that I'll end up selling some of my shares in the near future. Nothing against the stock -- I just want to keep my position at a certain size. Similar logic applies here.

The bottom line is that you shouldn't read too much into this move. To keep the size of his Wells Fargo stake under a certain threshold, Buffett is selling less than 2% of his shares. There's no reason to think that Wells Fargo isn't still one of Buffett's favorite banks, or that the selling will continue. If you have a positive opinion of Wells Fargo as a long-term investment, this news shouldn't change your mind.
According to data from the World Bank, the average American spent a staggering $9,403 on healthcare in 2014. That figure landed us in third place worldwide, putting us just behind Norway and Switzerland in terms of per-capita healthcare spending. For context, the World Bank's data shows that the average country spent just over $1,061 per capita in the same year. However, this figure varies from as low as $14 per capita in Madagascar to as high as $9,674 in Switzerland. Perhaps a more meaningful point of comparison is that the average high-income country spent $5,251 per capita in 2014. This figure suggests that the average American paid nearly 80% more, on average, than a person in a typical high-income country. What's even more amazing is that Americans paid more per capita in 2014 than the 85 cheapest countries in the world combined!

Why does our healthcare cost so much?

Given the political attention surrounding the surging costs of prescription drugs, you might assume that this factor is the biggest reason why Americans pay so much for healthcare. After all, many of the world's largest drugmakers are based in the U.S. -- think Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead Sciences, Amgen -- and our demand for drugs is higher than any other country in the world. We also incentivize drugmakers to crank out new drugs by offering long periods of patent exclusivity, and we do not regulate prices.

While surging drug prices certainly play a role in keeping our total spending up, you might be surprised to learn how small of an impact drugs have on our overall spending. According to data published by Express Scripts, the nation's largest pharmacy-benefits manager, the average American spends just $1,370 each year on prescription drugs. While this figure continues to tick higher over time, it still represents only about 15% of total healthcare spending.

What other factors are driving our costs higher?

According to a 2012 paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Donald Berwick and Andrew Hackbarth argued that healthcare waste is the answer. The paper argued that overtreatment, administrative complexity, fraud, pricing inefficiencies, and a general failure to coordinate care are the primary drivers behind our vast overspending. The authors estimated that, if we successfully addressed each of these issues and used the proceeds to invest in preventive care, we could reduce our total spending by a whopping 34%.

Spending does not equal health

Given our elevated level of healthcare spending, you'd naturally assume that America must also rank as one of the healthiest nations on earth, right?

Nope.

A recent study by the United Nations General Assembly, published in The Lancet, ranked 188 countries based on 33 health-related indicators. This study ranked each country from 0 to 100 on a number of health measures, such as the prevalence of diseases, alcohol consumption, smoking rates, childhood nutrition, neonatal mortality, violence, and more, to get an overall measure of health.

Unfortunately, this study noted that America didn't even make it into the top 10 list of healthiest countries. In fact, the U.S. ranked 28th overall, putting us far behind countries like Cyprus, Iceland, and Slovenia, all of which pay far less per capita than we do for healthcare.

Why did we rank so poorly given our clear willingness to spend? The report noted that the U.S. performed well in areas like sanitation, hygiene, access to clean water, and control of diseases. However, the U.S. ranked poorly in measures such as childhood obesity, alcohol consumption, and "mortality due to interpersonal violence, self-harm, and unintentional poisoning."

Attempts to fix the problem

Former President Barack Obama made an attempt to address this problem when he signed the Affordable Care Act, which is better known as Obamacare, into law. One of the primary selling points of his bill was that insurers were going to be forced to compete for patients in a transparent and open marketplace.

In addition, the bill also incentivized hospitals and physicians to share best practices, decrease patient injuries, and help reduce overuse of ineffective care by shifting payments toward the value of care provided. Theoretically, these two factors should have helped to lower costs for all and cover more Americans.

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act hasn't been able to deliver on all of its promises. While the uninsured rate has fallen to record lows, several large insurers, such as UnitedHealth Group and Humana, ended up losing boatloads of money by participating in the plan. Why? The sickest patients signed up first, while many healthy individuals chose to remain uninsured. The combination led to higher losses, causing several insurers to jack up their premiums and abandon Obamacare plans in many states.

Meanwhile, President Trump was elected in part because of his promise to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. Last month, he took his first step to deliver on that promise with the introduction of the American Health Care Act, which was dubbed Trumpcare. While the bill proposed several sweeping changes, the largest one arguably would be the rollback of Medicaid expansion.

However, shortly after the bill was introduced, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that 14 million Americans would lose their health insurance by 2018 if the bill passed. The bill drew a lot of criticism, which caused it to be pulled from Congress before it could be voted on.

If something can't go on forever...

In 2014, the U.S. spent more than 17% of its total gross domestic product on healthcare. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day, this figure is expected to reach 20% by 2020. Simply put, that's an unsustainable trend that can't continue forever.

Economist Herbert Stein once said, "If something cannot go on forever, it will stop." One way or another, we'll ultimately be forced to find a solution to this problem. However, it's still anyone's guess as to what that solution might look like and how long it will take the U.S. to get there.
NFU Scotland (NFUS) has called the level of support for Scottish lamb by supermarkets in Scotland this Easter a slap in the face for Scottish farmers.

It added the results of its shelfwatch campaign reveal a marked decrease in opportunities for customers to buy home-produce compared with previous years, leaving farmers appalled and disappointed.

NFUS shelfwatch initiative has seen secret shoppers counting packs of chilled lamb across Scotland.

See also: Supermarkets still failing to back British lamb this Easter

Their findings reveal despite previous commitments by some supermarkets to back home-grown produce, huge volumes of imported New Zealand and Australian lamb line their shelves, leaving many farmers questioning the long-term commitment of supermarkets.

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: Its frankly a slap in the face to many of us that supermarkets have failed to show strong support to Scotlands sheep farmers and their families over the Easter period  a time of year when consumers seek out our high-quality produce.

In one Tesco store, underneath a banner proclaiming The Best Scottish lamb in Season, a secret shopper found 100 packs of New Zealand lamb, and despite their previous vocal support for Scottish and British lamb, Morrisons, and Lidl were both found to be stocking large amounts of imported lamb.

@NFUStweets Is Helen's home New Zealand @Tesco_Scotland ? The lamb on sale sure is, 106 New Zealand packs, 10 British, 15 Scottish #buylocal pic.twitter.com/gh5VUGkzcS  Christian Allard SNP (@Christia_Allard) April 12, 2017

NFUS has contacted Waitrose to ask why it has not met its previous commitment to source 100% Scottish lamb for its Scottish stores this season, only actually achieving 50%.

Questions to be asked

Mr McCornick said: We will be asking questions of Morrisons, Marks and Spencer and Lidl, who have failed to maintain their previous good record on domestic sourcing this year.

Those commitments have been lauded and appreciated by NFUS and Scottish farmers in the past.

Aldi was singled out for praise for being the only retailer to be selling exclusively Scottish and UK lamb over the Easter period.

NFUS also welcomed the commitment from the Co-op to move to 100% home-produced cross all its fresh meat later this year.

The fresh lamb offerings were surveyed at 45 supermarket stores across Scotland, revealing an overall 44% commitment to UK lamb from 2,803 packs of fresh lamb counted.

The survey was conducted between 9 and 12 April 2017.
Victims told IOM that after being detained by people smugglers or militia groups, they were taken to town squares or car parks to be sold.

Migrants with skills like painting or tiling would fetch higher prices, the head of the IOM in Libya told the BBC.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 Nato-backed ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.

Hundreds of young sub-Saharan African men have been caught up in the so-called slave markets, according to the IOM report.

Migrants forced to starve

A Senegalese migrant, who was not named to protect his identity, said that he had been sold at one such market in the southern Libyan city of Sabha, before being taken to a makeshift prison where more than 100 migrants were being held hostage.

He said that migrants held at the facility were told to call their families, who would be asked for money to pay for their release, and some were beaten while on the phone to allow relatives to hear them being tortured.

He described dreadful conditions where migrants were forced to survive on limited food supplies, with those unable to pay either killed or left to starve, the report adds.

Another witness, who was able to raise the funds needed for his release after nine months, was later taken to hospital with severe malnutrition, weighing just 5.5 stone (35 kg).

Women, too, were bought by private Libyan clients and brought to homes where they were forced to be sex slaves, the witness said.

The IOMs chief of mission for Libya, Othman Belbeisi, told the BBC that those sold into slavery found themselves priced according to their abilities.

Apparently they dont have money and their families cannot pay the ransom, so they are being sold to get at least a minimum benefit from that, he said.

The price is definitely different depending on your qualifications, for example if you can do painting or tiles or some specialised work then the price gets higher.

An IOM staff member in Niger said they confirmed the reports of auctions in Libya with several other migrants who had escaped.

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.

Later, instead of paying them, [they] sell their victims to new buyers.

Some migrants, mainly Nigerians, Ghanaians and Gambians are forced to work as guards in the ransom houses or in the market itself, the IOM employee added.

The organisation has called the emergence of these markets a disturbing new trend in the already dire situation for migrants in Libya.

In February, the UN childrens agency Unicef released a report documenting  in sometimes horrific detail  stories of slavery, violence and sexual abuse experienced by large numbers of vulnerable children travelling from Libya to Italy.

The report, A Deadly Journey for Children, said that almost 26,000 children  most of them unaccompanied  crossed the Mediterranean in 2016, many of them suffering abuse at the hands of smugglers and traffickers.

Tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Italy last year by sea, crossing from North Africa. But before they reach the jumping-off point in Libya, many migrants will have undertaken a perilous journey of up to six days across the Sahara in extreme temperatures.

Source : BBC
During the week of 2-8 April, U.S. hotels saw occupancy increase 3% to 70.2%, ADR climb 3.7% to $127.89 and RevPAR increase 6.8% to $89.84.

The U.S. hotel industry recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 2-8 April 2017, according to data from STR.

In comparison with the week of 3-9 April 2016:

Occupancy: +3.0% to 70.2%

Average daily rate (ADR): +3.7% to US$127.89

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +6.8% to US$89.84

Among the Top 25 Markets, NCAA Final Four host, Phoenix, Arizona, reported the largest year-over-year increase in RevPAR (+24.5% to US$141.57). Growth was driven by the weeks largest rise in ADR (+19.7% to US$169.91) while occupancy was up 4.0% to 83.5%.

Two additional markets saw a RevPAR increase of more than 20.0% for the week: Orlando, Florida (+22.0% to US$126.73), and Detroit, Michigan (+20.9% to US$75.66). Overall, seven Top 25 Markets experienced double-digit growth in the metric.

After Phoenix, two other markets posted a double-digit lift in ADR for the week: Seattle, Washington (+12.4% to US$147.24), and Orlando (+10.9% to US$138.19).

Three markets experienced a double-digit increase in occupancy: Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia (+13.8% to 63.2%); Detroit (+11.1% to 72.4%); and Orlando (+10.0% to 91.7%).

Houston, Texas, reported the steepest declines across the three key performance metrics. Occupancy fell 5.6% to 65.2%, ADR was down 15.1% to US$104.94 and RevPAR dropped 19.9% to US$68.42.

No other Top 25 Market reported a double-digit decrease in the metrics.

View weekly U.S. hotel performance review

STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com.
Last March 22nd, in the Conference rooms of the Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel in Bavaro, Punta Cana, the Head Butlers, Supervisors and Human Resources, Training and Development Managers of 21 hotels of the area gathered together to hold the 2nd Convention of Hotel Butlers of Dominican Republic.

The event was summoned by the Association of Eastern Hotels (ASOLESTE) and the Experience Hospitality Consultancy, specialized on the training of hotel butlers, and with the sponsorship of Iberostar Hotels in Dominican Republic.

The hotels represented there were:

Ibersotar Grand Bavaro. Barcelo Hotels. Ocean Blue and Sand. Bavaro Princess. Sunscape Hotel. Bahia Principe. Occidental Caribe. Belive Collection. Majestic. Zoetry Agua Punta Cana. Dreams Punta Cana. Dreams Palm Beach. Santuary Hotel Royalton Blue Diamond. Tortuga Bay. Now Onyx Hotel. Karisma Nikelodeon. Breathless. Paradise Palma Real.

The Conference was presided by Mrs. Janette, Vice-president of ASOLESTE and Mr. Osvaldo Torres, President of Experience Hospitality Consultancy and International Trainer of Hotel Butlers.

The main objective of the event was the creation of a communication and exchange scenario where all participants had the possibility to exchange ideas on important issues as:

1 - The goal of this position in hospitality.

2 - Advantages of having a hotel Butler: For the business or the guest?

3 - The profile for the selection of candidates to this position.

4 - Designing of the job duties.

5 - The hotel Butler as facilitator of processes.

6 - The position of a hotel butler and interdepartmental relations.

7 - The hotel butler and the management of the guests information.

8 - Hotel Butlers, a job for men?

9 - Designing the training of Hotel Butlers.

10 - Hospitality schools as job bank for Hotel Butlers.

11 - Creation of the Association of Hotel Butlers of Dominican Republic and its role in positioning the country and as a major tourist destination in the region.

The participants, under the guidance of Mr. Osvaldo Torres Cruz, reached a consensus on important issues, such as:

1 - The goals for the creation of the position in the Hospitality Industry comprise:

a) Getting to know the guest in a deeper and more direct way.

b) Offering customized assistance.

c) Establishing a direct relation with the client.

d) Increasing the hotel competitiveness.

e) Increasing the presence of the hotels in the social networks

f) Offering specialized services.

g) Designing and managing the experience of the clients.

2 - The highest benefit and functionality of this position is, no doubt, for hotel businesses because through the Butler they can increase the information about the clients and, therefore, establish higher levels for customizing the services offered, reducing their complaints and enhancing their loyalty.

Mr. Osvaldo Torres stated that, independently of the great benefits a Butler can yield to the business, many hotels cannot appreciate that, and refuse to develop this position by arguing that their guests do not need them.

3 - In respect to the selection of the people for this position, attendees stated different ideas that caused an interesting debate on the need to culture hotel butlers by developing their analytical thinking.

Conventioneers agreed that a high percentage of active butlers in the hotels of the area do not have the necessary level of education, and they urged them to get at least a higher certificate. This will enable them to improve the quality of the services they provide to clients, as well as establishing and enhancing this position in the hospitality industry.

Also, they stated the need to have command of at least two foreign languages to facilitate their communication with the clients.

4 - As to designing of the duties of the Butler, it became evident that they differ between hotels considering the job descriptions in relation to the needs of the property.

Mr. Osvaldo Torres stated that it was an unfortunate situation that in many hotels butlers are assigned tasks that do not correspond to the main goal, namely being right in the time and place the guests are in order to be acquainted with them and offer them a customized service and, consequently, achieve results to their satisfaction.

Participants agreed that in many hotels the Butler is considered a supervisor to other departments and the number of operational tasks they have to carry out Is higher than the service ones, and this draws them away from the direct contact with the guests in the different spaces where they are.

In answering the question about how many rooms a butler should attend, Mr. Torres Cruz said it was not a question of the quantity of rooms, but rather of the number and type of tasks they are assigned to allow them contact their clients at least three times a day, thus facilitating the flow of the services they request.

5 - Concerning the vision of the Butler as a process facilitator, participants debated about the need they have to know and master all services offered in the hotel so as to facilitate their flow. This implies that there should be no territorial barriers in any department, but, unfortunately, this is not the case in many places, and the butler is thought of as a position that generates extra work or efforts to the departments they interact most (mainly, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Maintenance and Reception).

Participants stated that much of the relational hindrance with the abovementioned sectors are related to not knowing the role of the butler as the spokesperson of the guests requests and the manager of their experience. Besides, they also said that many times butlers do not appreciate the assistance offered by these departments to provide a service to the level the guest requested, and at the end they take credit of all that was done, thus leading to dysfunctional relations

Mr. Osvaldo Torres reasoned that a Butler should, above all, be humble, courteous and a good relations maker, so as to have allies in the hotel, as demanded by his/her role as the process facilitator between the guest and other departments.

6 - Fortunately, some of the participants were female butlers, so they could discuss about the role of women in this position. They acknowledged the advantages they get across to this position, namely, attention to details, refinement in the service and a more creative management. They also recognized they have found no obstacles to be accepted as butlers in the hotels where they work, neither by the business nor by the clients.

Mr. Osvaldo Torres talked about the importance of keeping increasing the number of female colleagues in this position and to balance the percentage rate of men/women in each team work.

7 - Concerning the training of hotel butlers, the participants discussed the following issues:

a) Paying closer attention to the process of selection in hotels in respect to the aptitudes and attitudes of the applicants in order to strengthen and position the image of a butler.

b) Creating appropriate training programs to guarantee the quality of the services offered to clients.

c) Creating connections and links with the schools of hospitality to make known and promote this position among the students in order to include it as another job offer once they finish their studies.

8 - Finally, Mrs. Janette and Mr. Osvaldo Torres threw the idea of creating the Association of Hotel Butlers of Dominican Republic with the purpose of promoting the development of the position in hotels throughout the country and the continuous training and cooperation among themselves.

Before the end of the sessions, Mr. Amando Pozo, Manager of the Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel, talked to the participants about the importance of this position for a hotel business and shared his personal experience as a manager in relation to this position in his hotel, and how it has significantly contributed to the achievements of the business at the regional level.

Participants expressed their gratitude to the organizers of the event and called for celebrating others of this kind for it allows them to share ideas and, above all, make the position of the Hotel Butler be more acknowledged and dignified, thus enhancing the quality of the services provided to visitors in the country.

Osvaldo Torres Cruz

Experiential Hospitality Consultancy

www.hotelguestexperience.com

hotelps@gmail.com
According to Fletch, the Essex synth warriors' Global Spirit Tour will hit these shores during its winter stint

Mega-selling electro act Depeche Mode have just released their fourteenth studio album, Spirit, and the band will be hitting the road next month to tour it around the world. Kicking off in Stockholm on May 5th, the first leg of their Global Spirit Tour will see Basildon's finest rock export play to over 1.5 million fans at 34 shows throughout stadiums in 21 countries in Europe and North and South America.

No Irish date has been announced yet  but Hot Press has learned that Dublin will certainly be included in the itinerary.

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Chestnut Global Partners Publishes 2017 EAP and Wellness Trends and Analysis Report

Posted by Press Releases on Thursday, 04-13-2017 3:26 am

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Chestnut Global Partners fourth annual report cites four emergent trends, their potential impact on workplace well-being, employee assistance, and benefits, and what it means for employers in 2017.Chestnut Global Partners (CGP), a provider of culturally-aware employee assistance and wellness programs to companies worldwide, today announced the 2017 Trends Report, which identifies the four top developments that will shape the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and Wellness industry in 2017. The report is based on utilization patterns among CGP's user base, and a survey of its customers to gain insights and perspectives on the coming year.Four Trends to Look For:1. Requests for EAP support due to anxiety are on the rise. Although the top two reasons for accessing EAP services - (1) marital / relationship, and (2) stress were consistent with previous years, the number of individuals seeking support for anxiety increased 29% compared to 2014 and 2015, moving it up one spot into third pos...

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The Herman Trend Alert

Posted by Press Releases on Thursday, 04-13-2017 2:56 am

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April 12, 2017 Global Skills-Jobs Gap The other day we interviewed futurist, Edward Gordon, PhD, author of Future Jobs: Solving the Employment and Skills Crisis. Gordon shared a great deal of up-to-date information about the global gap between jobs employers need to fill and the skilled workers to fill them. Germany: shrinking population and failing educational system Though Germanys population is shrinking by 100,000 people/year, the country has the premier dual system of education in the world---separating those students who are best fit for the trades and those who are college bound. The problem is that dual system is failing. Like the situation in the United States, the trades are not respected. Parents are pushing their children to go to university. Apart from Badden-Wittenberg and Bavaria, their system is simply not working. As if that were not enough, they have a shortage of 100,000 engineers. Chinas technological and economic challenges As China is struggling to move fr...

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Visibility Software Hires Key Strategic Sales Staff to Continue Growth Momentum

Posted by Press Releases on Thursday, 04-13-2017 2:54 am

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Visibility Software announces the hiring of Karen Wainwright and Anthony Peters as key members of the strategic sales team.(PRWEB) APRIL 11, 2017Newberry, SC., Visibility Software, developers of the Cyber Recruiter Applicant Tracking and Cyber Train Learning Management software platforms, announces the hiring of Karen Wainwright and Anthony Peters as key members of the strategic sales team.Karen Wainwright joins Visibility Software as Channel Partner Manager with well over ten years of experience helping Independent Software Vendors grow their businesses in the Dynamics GP channel across the US and Canada. Her primary focus has been helping partners with sales and marketing and supporting customers. Most of her application experience is within Business Intelligence and Human Resource Management Systems. Karen will manage our strategic partner channels, which includes Microsoft Dynamics GP.Anthony Peters joins Visibility Software as a Senior Account Executive and will work closely with ...

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We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
16th Annual Palestinian Cultural Day

Date:

Friday, May 12, 2017

Time:

3:45 PM - 5:15 PM

Event Type:

Teach-In

Organizer/Author:

Palestinian Heritage Committee

Email:

Phone:

408-297-2299

Location Details:

Isaac Senter Auditorium

Santa Clara County Government Center

70 West Hedding Street

San Jose, CA 95110

SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO HOST 16th ANNUAL PALESTINIAN CULTURAL DAY



Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese and the Palestinian Heritage Committee invite the community to attend the County of Santa Claras Annual Palestinian Cultural and Flag raising Ceremony. This community celebration honors the local Palestinian community and its contributions to the Countys civic life as well as the historical and cultural contributions of Palestinians throughout the world.



This event is free and open to the public.

Light Palestinian food will be served.

Wheelchair accessible



Please carpool or use public transportation, light rail and bus. Free parking is available in the county lot. On-street metered parking is available on Hedding and San Pedro Streets. Additional parking at Civic Center Parking Garage.
Muslim Leader to Host Religious Diversity Workshop

Tahera Ahmad

April 13, 2017

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. On Tuesday, April 18, Northwestern Universitys Director of Interfaith Engagement Tahera Ahmad will host a workshop entitled Resisting Religious Intolerance and Celebrating Religious Diversity at 4 p.m. in the Davidson Room.

Open to all students, faculty, and staff, the workshop is designed to sharpen skills in both recognizing religious intolerance, especially anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and supporting a religiously diverse campus where all worldviews are welcome. A dinner and keynote address will begin at 6 p.m. April 18 in the Joslin Atrium, to which all students, faculty and staff are also invited.

As the first woman to recite the Quran at the 2013 Islamic Society of North America convention, Ahmad is a female leader in the Muslim community. She is currently Associate Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Engagement at Northwestern, where she regularly hosts young Muslim art stages and open mic nights, and counsels young Muslims through study circles. Ahmad has also been featured in several documentary films about Islam including The Calling, a four-hour documentary series focusing on young religious leaders, which aired on PBS.

A native of Morton Grove, Ill., Ahmad received graduate certification in Arabic from Al-Diwan Center in Cairo, Egypt and certification in tajweed, the set of rules for proper recitation of the Quran. She has studied traditional Islamic sciences at various institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

Ahmads visit is sponsored by the Chaplains Office, the Muslim Student Association, and IWU Interfaith, with funding support from Student Senate.

By Vi Kakares 20
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

BBC Monitoring, which translates foreign-language news reports, has a rundown on reactions in Persian to the surprise registration by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to run for president in the May 19 Iranian elections.

Ahmadinejad was a complete disaster and made Iran a laughingstock by his erratic pronouncements, his governments poor fiscal policies, and its corruption. His run for a second term was widely seen in Iran as characterized by fraudulent ballot-stuffing, and his victory in summer of 2009 provoked the biggest demonstrations Iran had seen since the 1980s, which became known as the Green Movement.

Having Ahmadinejad and Trump in office at the same time would be too much to bear, and the two of them could well be a volatile mix.

Trump and Ahmadinejad are actually similar in their political styles. Both claim to be populists who would take on the fat cats, but both serve the fat cats. Both are authoritarians. Both are male chauvinist pigs, though Ahmadinejad is not grabby about it. Ahmadinejad once sent goons to department stores to cut the breasts off store mannequins, as too provocative. Trump wants to put women in jail who have an abortion.

People were surprised that Ahmadinejad registered to run, because last year he asked Irans clerical Leader, Ali Khamenei, if he could, and Khamenei told him not to.

BBC Monitoring says,

Vice-President and Head of Environmental Protections Organisation, Masoumeh Ebtekar, underlined Ahmadinejads poor performance during his term. The record of some individuals actions are known to both the people and the supervisory bodies, ISNA quoted Ebtekar as saying. In a separate report, ISNA news agency also quoted Vice-President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Ali Amiri as saying: Those who wish to have [an official] responsibility in the Islamic Republic system, should both accept and comply with the set of rules mentioned in the constitution obeying the leader is one of those rules.

That is, many are saying that by disobeying the Leaders instructions, Ahmadinejad is already doing something unconstitutional, and so is making himself ineligible to run.

Government spokesman, Mohammad Baqer Nowbakht could not hide his surprise when he asked reporters Are you sure?

BBC Monitoring adds,

In a post on his Instagram page (kouchakzadeh_mahdi), the former hardline MP, Mahdi Kouchakzadeh, he supported Ahmadinejad despite all accusations and insults of the Seditionists because he believed in Ahmadinejad as a devouted defender of the poor. With your move today, which was against the advice given by the imam [referring to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]that belief is shattered. His hand-written statement began with an Arabic phrase meaning this is where we separate our ways. Former Hardline MP Elyas Naderan described the move as the end of Ahmadnejad on his Twitter handle. (bit.ly/2psOqOT) Source: BBC Monitoring in Persian 1143 gmt 12 Apr 17

A lot of canny Iranian observers are predicting that Ahmadinezhad will be ruled ineligible to run (in Iran there is a clerical body that vets candidates for ideological purity).

My guess is that if he were allowed to run, Ahmadinejad would just divide the conservatives and so might actually be helping centrist current president Hassan Rouhani?

But as someone who back in the zeroes had to constantly be trying to explain what I thought Ahmadinejad was trying to say with his outlandish utterances, the notion that wed have this stream of nonsense coming at us from both Tehran and Washington is too much to bear. And, Ahmadinejad always made it easy for the US press and politicians to demonize him, which would weaken Irans case.



Related video:

Euronews: Defiant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to run for Irans presidential election
Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, & Jayar Jackson |The Young Turks|(Video)|  

Our Dumbass-In-Chief cant figure out how to not contradict himself inside the same sentence. Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, and Jayar Jackson, hosts of The Young Turks, discuss. . .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday tried to clarify his administrations policy toward Syria after ordering missile strikes on a Syrian air base last week in response to a chemical attack.

Were not going into Syria because you know there were some questions, Trump told Fox Business Maria Bartiromo. But when I see people using horrible, horrible chemical weaponswhich they agreed not to use under the Obama administration, but they violated it.

Trumps policy toward Syria was unclear following Thursdays strikes, with members of his administration offering slightly different explanations for how the President would proceed going forward. Trump on Tuesday said that his administration would not get involved in Syria, but did not define exactly what that meant.

Are we going to get involved with Syria? No, he told Fox Business. But if I see them using gas and using things thatI mean, even some of the worst tyrants in the world didnt use the kind of gases that they used.
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Peter Bartu | (OpenDemocracy.net) |  

The west has treated ISIL as enemy number one while local actors see it as a sideshow in a political arena stretching from the Mediterranean to Iran. What does the defeat of ISIL in Mosul mean for Iraq?

NurPhoto/SIPA USA/PA Images. All rights reserved. A general view shows a destroyed street of East Mosul, Iraq on 3 April 2017, some 2.5 months after offensive to push Islamic State jihadists out of Mosul. NurPhoto/SIPA USA/PA Images. All rights reserved.The protracted battle against ISIL in Iraq and elsewhere foreshadows numerous challenges in reconstituting the state afterwards. The west has treated the group as enemy number one while local actors see it as a sideshow in a political arena stretching from the Mediterranean to Iran.

Not since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire has there been such a complex and bewildering reordering of the region. At once, everything is on the table, no outcome can be ruled out and paradoxically, the fight against ISIL could equally consolidate Iraq or signal its demise.

Good leaders thrive in times of crisis, as do opportunists. Gamal Abdel Nasser, the charismatic pan-Arab Egyptian leader, would cite Luigi Pirandellos Six Characters in Search of an Author, as a call to write the script for the Arab Worlds future. That he had never read the play was irrelevant. Northern Iraq will need similar fiction if not alchemy to prevent its next conflict from appearing even before the ISIL eulogy can be written.

Its not a case of restoring the status quo-ante; the strategic shifts in recent years have been too dramatic. Sunni atomization, Shia dominance and Kurdish fragmentation in Iraq are joined to the fate of its neighbor Syria. What happens there will impact Iraq and what happens in Syria will be primarily determined by Russia, Iran, and Turkey and perhaps, given the Trump administrations new found interest, the US. These are all new developments.

Sunni atomization

Iraqs story post-2003 had as its central concern the question of how to re-integrate the Sunnis into the countrys political life. The US failed to do this as did Sunni leaders. In Dohuk in late 2016 a young Shammari leader from Ninewa remarked bitterly how the Sunni leaders had lost everything, reputation and land. By throwing their lot in with ISIL willingly or not, the Sunni cities and towns have been destroyed while being saved, with Mosul another tragic example.

The Sunni communities have been dispersed as IDPs throughout Iraq, many in Iraqi Kurdistan. When I was in Halabja trying to find the governors office, my Kurdish fixer, with no Arabic, spoke to ten dispersed street sweepers who were all IDPs from Anbar, with no Kurdish, before we found our way.

In Iraqs next elections the Sunni constituency will be of no fixed abode, another nail in the coffin of Sunni political representation. In the newly liberated areas, Sunni tribal leaders ponder how to deal with tribesmen who fought alongside ISIL, and their extended families, who did not. Feudal remedies are often invoked, such as forced relocation and banishment for a generation.

In the past this may have worked for isolated murder cases; but not on this scale. Where will they all go and who will take their land and homes? Regionally, having started a ruinous war in Yemen, the Sunni are also at war with themselves; the pseudo-monarchs of the Gulf fight the Muslim Brotherhood while al Qaeda and ISIL and Ahrar Al-Sham indulge in banal and violent debate over Takfir, the oneness of God, and how and if to confront the Shia.

In short, the Sunni east of the Med are not so much the JV team as Obama described ISIL but rather the side that specializes in own-goals.

Shia consolidation

The Shia political parties emerged dominant in Iraqs new electoral politics after 2005 and played by the rules, more or less, until Nouri al-Malakis second term when he used state resources to his own end and created the conditions for the dramatic entry of ISIL in 2014.

Despite the steady hand of his replacement Haider al-Abadi in trying to bring back an Iraqi state for all, the evolution of the war against ISIL has created new realities, primarily the Hashd al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilization Units that were regularized in law, if not practice, in November 2016.

After Mosul where will these militia go? One of their commanders in Baghdads Green Zone, newly festooned with Shia banners, explained their metamorphosis. When they formed the militias in response to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistanis fatwa to fight ISIL in Ramadi and Fallujah they did so alone.

Now, they are being feted by regional forces and are negotiating security and political files across Iraqs north with Syria, Turkey, the PKK, the KDP, Iraqi political parties and belatedly, international diplomats. This was a new experience for them and they liked the attention.

Another aspect is the deployment of Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) advisors with some of these units including in Diyala and Kirkuk where they often play visible mediator roles between the Shia militia and the Kurdish PUK Peshmerga but where both sides compete for the security allegiance of communities caught in the middle.

In Diyala there are credible reports of ethnic cleansing against the Sunni communities and unverified rumors of forced conversion; long a source of historical tension. But the most visible change in the new Iraq is cultural.

Last November during Arbaeen when the Shia faithful gather at the tomb of Imam al-Hussain in Karbala some 22 million converged in southern Iraq drawn from Iran, Iraq, central and south Asia and Africa. Within five years it has become the second largest religious event in the world, dwarfs by ten-fold the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and continues to grow.

Kurdish fragmentation

Iraqi Kurdistan is often portrayed as the most stable corner of the country but here too the fissures are real. Kurdish support in the war against ISIL and its generous hosting of Sunni, Yezidi and Christian IDPs deserves acknowledgement if not reward. But its institutions, the presidency, parliament and the Peshmerga are dysfunctional or divided and for the first time post-2003 the Kurds are incapable of generating coherent policy.

The colossal mismanagement of their economy has been truly staggering. These trends have been present for some time but post-ISIL they will be starker. A panoply of different factions currently run riot across the Kurdish steppes from Khanaqin to Sinjar and risk invoking the civil war strife of the 1990s and even more blatant involvement from Turkey and Iran.

A misstep on the Syrian border, an ill-timed raising of the Kurdish flag in Kirkuk or a fatal crackdown on Kurdish teachers demonstrating for unpaid salaries in Suleimaniyeh could herald a wider conflagration that was never intended.

So what does all this mean for Iraq after the defeat of ISIL in Mosul?

Firstly, one needs to recognize the scale of the crisis and the new realities of recent years. Secondly, while a Nasser-like figure is not going to emerge to write the script for Iraqs future, someone has to. Thirdly, throughout my travels in northern Iraq all stakeholders insisted on the need for international tutelage for the day after Daesh.

To be sure this is long haul stuff and one will need to separate the leaders from the opportunists. But it may well be Iraqs last, best chance and surely the least, worst option.

Peter Bartu teaches political transitions at UC Berkeley and recently returned from three months ethnographic research in northern Iraq looking at transitional governance options after the removal of ISIS from Mosul. In 2008-2009 He spent 18 months in Ninewa, Kirkuk and Diyala working on the disputed internal boundaries between the Arabs and the Kurds.

Via OpenDemocracy.net

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

AFP: Offensive to retake Iraqs Mosul continues
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: NOT) today announced that it has signed an Exploration and Project Advancement Agreement with the Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN). The Agreement compensates MFFN for work that has been completed on their traditional land and outlines a one year process that will be used to negotiate a Pre-Development Agreement for the Eagles Nest nickel-copper-platinum-palladium mine located in northern Ontario.

As part of the Agreement, and by fulfilling certain obligations and arrangements, MFFN becomes a shareholder of Noront Resources. The Company has agreed to issue 311,111 shares of Noront stock valued at $0.225, the closing price on April 12, 2017, subject to TSX Venture approval.

Chief Bruce Achneepineskum described the agreement as "a step towards a prosperous and sustainable future for both the youth and community of Marten Falls First Nation."

"We are excited to be taking this next step with our friends in Marten Falls," said Noront President and CEO Alan Coutts. "It marks the beginning of a long-term relationship that will provide opportunity and mutual benefits for both parties."

About Marten Falls First Nation

Marten Falls First Nation is an Anishnabe First Nation community located at the confluence of the Albany and Ogoki rivers. The Ring of Fire mineral deposit is in the traditional areas of Marten Falls First Nation. Marten Falls is a remote fly in community in Northern Ontario.

About Noront Resources

Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on development of the high-grade Eagle's Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and high-grade chromite deposits including Blackbird, Black Thor, and Big Daddy, all of which are located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire.
TORONTO, April 13, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX: RIC) (NYSE: RIC) ("Richmont" or the "Corporation"), reports first quarter company-wide production of 29,401 ounces of gold, at cash costs1 of $791 (US$598) per ounce. The strong operational performance was supported by another consecutive quarter of solid production from the Island Gold Mine of 23,772 ounces of gold, at cash costs of $668 (US$504) per ounce, a 19% decrease over the prior quarter. Overall, Richmont is well positioned to achieve annual production and cash cost guidance for the year. (All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

FIRST QUARTER ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Company-wide production was 29,401 ounces of gold (28,528 ounces sold) for the quarter, driven by production from the cornerstone Island Gold Mine of 23,772 ounces of gold (22,649 ounces sold).

Company-wide cash costs for the quarter were $791 (US$598) per ounce. Cash costs from the Island Gold Mine are below current guidance levels at $668 (US$504) per ounce, a 19% reduction over the prior quarter.

per ounce. Cash costs from the Island Gold Mine are below current guidance levels at per ounce, a 19% reduction over the prior quarter. The Island Gold Mine reported record underground mine and mill productivities for the quarter, averaging 1,019 and 926 tonnes per day, respectively.

Revenues for the quarter were $46.5 (US$35.1) million .

. As of December 31, 2016 , Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, at an average discovery cost of less than $35 (US$26) per ounce.

, Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, at an average discovery cost of less than per ounce. Recent exploration drilling results identified new high-grade mineralization located approximately 800 metres east of the main Island Gold deposit. Hole GD-640-05 intersected 20.6 g/t gold over 11.3 metres (core length), demonstrating the significant potential for near-term and continued resource growth. Additionally, early results from delineation drilling completed within the Expansion Case Preliminary Economic Assessment (Expansion Case PEA) area, demonstrate the significant potential to further expand reserves at higher than current average grades.

Effective, March 15, 2017 , Richmont appointed Mr. Robert J. Chausse as Chief Financial Officer, strengthening the senior management team.

"The Island Gold Mine has delivered another quarter of solid production as well as lower cash costs, confirming the potential of this operation as we continue to transform the mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. The Expansion Case PEA is nearing completion and we remain confident that we will issue a positive report that will support the 1,100 tonnes per day expansion scenario while achieving our overall low cost objective," commented Renaud Adams, President and CEO. "Along with the strong operational performance achieved during the quarter, we continue to unlock the potential of the Island Gold Mine through our strategic drilling program. Initial delineation drilling results demonstrate the potential for short-term reserve growth at higher grades within the main deposit. Recent exploration drilling has also shown the potential of the deposit to the east of the main deposit area where new high-grade mineralization was identified close to existing infrastructure that could also provide additional expansion opportunities."

-

1 Refer to the Non-IFRS Performance Measures disclosure presented at the end of this press release.

First quarter operational highlights for the Island Gold and Beaufor Mines are provided in the tables below:

Production Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 2017 Guidance Gold Produced (oz) Island Gold Mine 15,076 14,203(1) 26,589 18,617 14,031(3) 24,086 23,772 87,000-93,000 Beaufor Mine 5,714 5,652 4,615 4,703 4,825 5,419 5,629 23,000-27,000 Monique Mine 2,688 2,525 1,165(2) - - - - - Total Produced

(oz) 23,478 22,380 32,369 23,320 18,856 29,505 29,401 110,000-120,000 (1) Q4 2015 production includes a 3 week underground mine shutdown.

(2) Processing of the remaining stockpile pad at the depleted Monique Mine was completed at the end of January 2016.

(3) Q3 2016 production includes a 16-day underground mine shutdown and a 25-day mill shutdown.

Cash Cost Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 2017 Guidance Cash Costs ($)(1) Island Gold Mine $883 $1,019 $667 $757 $947 $826 $668 $715-$765 Beaufor Mine $972 $1,081 $1,396 $1,484 $1,408 $1,480 $1,265 $1,265-$1,320 Monique Mine $1,002 $974 $1,182 - - - - - Total Cash Costs ($)(1) $921 $1,028 $800 $895 $1,054 $952 $791 $835-$885 Cash Costs (US$)(1) Island Gold Mine $675 $763 $486 $588 $726 $619 $504 $550-$590(2) Beaufor Mine $742 $810 $1,017 $1,152 $1,080 $1,110 $956 $975-$1,015(2) Monique Mine $766 $729 $861 - - - - - Total Cash Costs (US$)(1) $703 $770 $583 $695 $808 $714 $598 $640-$680(2) (1) Refer to the Non-IFRS Performance Measures disclosure presented at the end of this press release.

(2) Assuming an exchange rate of 1.30 Canadian dollars to 1.0 US dollar.

Operational Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 Island Gold Mine Underground tpd 669 657(1) 853 911 735(2) 977 1,019 Mill tpd 722 656(1) 834 878 640(2) 903 926 Mill head grade (g/t) 7.27 7.62 11.31 7.51 7.70 9.31 9.18 Beaufor Mine Underground tpd 338 306 323 286 282 302 354 Mill head grade (g/t) 5.93 6.30 4.96 5.27 5.62 6.16 6.0 (1) Q4 2015 underground productivity includes a 3 week mine shutdown and a 2 week mill shutdown.

(2) Q3 2016 productivity includes a 16-day underground mine shutdown and a 25-day mill shutdown.

Island Gold Mine Highlights

Production for the quarter was 23,772 ounces of gold (22,649 ounces sold). The mine is now well positioned to achieve the high-end of production guidance for the year of 87,000-93,000 ounces.

Cash costs for the quarter were $668 (US$504) per ounce, below guidance for the year and a 19% reduction over prior quarter. The operating unit costs for the quarter were $181 (US$137) per tonne milled, in-line with the 2017 mine plan.

per ounce, below guidance for the year and a 19% reduction over prior quarter. The operating unit costs for the quarter were per tonne milled, in-line with the 2017 mine plan. Mill head grade for the quarter was 9.18 g/t gold, representing an inline grade reconciliation (mined vs. December 31, 2016 Mineral Reserves) for the quarter. The forward-looking 2017 mine plan continues to forecast a mill head grade of approximately 8.90 g/t gold.

Mineral Reserves) for the quarter. The forward-looking 2017 mine plan continues to forecast a mill head grade of approximately 8.90 g/t gold. Record underground mine and mill productivities for the quarter, averaging 1,019 and 926 tonnes per day, respectively, with lower-grade underground ore stockpiled for future processing, resulting in an improved overall mill head grade for the quarter.

During the quarter, long-hole stope mining continued in the first and second mining horizons and development in ore was advanced as planned in the higher-grade third mining horizon. Stoping in the third mining horizon is expected to begin in the fourth quarter.

The development of the main ramp continued and reached a vertical depth of 860 metres at the end of the quarter, which is in-line with the 2017 development plan and as contemplated in the upcoming Expansion Case PEA.

As of December 31, 2016 , Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, and at an average discovery cost of less than $35 (US$26) per ounce. ( see press release dated January 31, 2017 and the technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimate as of December 31, 2016 for the Island Gold Mine" dated March 17, 2017 ).

, Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, and at an average discovery cost of less than per ounce. ( ). Recent exploration drilling results identified new high-grade mineralization located approximately 800 metres east of the main Island Gold deposit. Hole GD-640-05 intersected 20.6 g/t gold over 11.3 metres (core length), demonstrating significant potential for near-term and continued resource growth. Additionally, early results from delineation drilling completed within the Expansion Case PEA area, indicates the significant potential to further expand our reserves at higher than current average grades. ( see press release dated March 30, 2017 ).

). Expansion Case PEA : The Corporation is well advanced to release the results of the Expansion Case PEA during the second quarter, as previously disclosed. The study considers the most cost and capital effective plan to mine the portion of the mineral resources that is located within the main area of interest over four mining horizons, to a maximum depth of 1,000 metres below surface, using current mine infrastructure. The Corporation remains focused on transforming the high-grade Island Gold Mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. Recent achievements include: The integration of the December 31, 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources into the 1,100 tonnes per day mine plan has been completed. The required permit amendments that allow for an ore mining and processing increase to 1,100 tonnes per day were received in December. The accelerated development of the underground ramp system has advanced as planned. Engineering and identification of the main equipment required for the mill expansion is well underway and expected capital requirements for the expanded milling capacity remains below the $15.0 million , as previously disclosed. The 2017 mine plan and the Expansion Case PEA are focused on optimizing cash flow generation that is capable to fully fund current and future production as well as all strategic exploration programs.

The Corporation is well advanced to release the results of the Expansion Case PEA during the second quarter, as previously disclosed. The study considers the most cost and capital effective plan to mine the portion of the mineral resources that is located within the main area of interest over four mining horizons, to a maximum depth of 1,000 metres below surface, using current mine infrastructure. The Corporation remains focused on transforming the high-grade Island Gold Mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. Recent achievements include:

Beaufor Mine Highlights

Production for the quarter was 5,629 ounces of gold (5,879 ounces sold), in-line with previously disclosed plans to ramp-up production and achieve increased production in the second half of the year.

Cash costs of $1,265 (US$956) per ounce achieved during the quarter, a significant reduction of 15% over the prior quarter and in-line with 2017 plans to return the mine to free cash flow generation status in the first half of the year.

per ounce achieved during the quarter, a significant reduction of 15% over the prior quarter and in-line with 2017 plans to return the mine to free cash flow generation status in the first half of the year. Underground productivity increased to 354 tonnes per day (403 tonnes per day in March). During the quarter the majority of the mining activities were transitioned into the new Q Zone and additional haulage and mucking mobile equipment were commissioned. Underground productivity and operating costs are expected to continue to improve over the balance of the year.

The Corporation is also considering other strategic alternatives regarding the Beaufor Mine and Camflo Mill.

Upcoming News

Q1 Financial Results ( May 4 )

) Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders ( May 4 )

) Expansion Case PEA Results (Q2 2017)

Non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") Performance Measures

In this press release, the term "cash costs per ounce" is used, which is a non-IFRS performance measure, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Corporation believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Corporation and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Corporation's performance. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. "Cash costs per ounce" is a common performance measure in the gold mining industry, but does not have any standardized definition. The Corporation reports cash cost per ounce based on ounces sold. Cash costs include mine site operating costs, administration, royalties and by-product credits but are exclusive of depreciation, accretion expense, interests on capital leases, capital expenditures and exploration and project evaluation costs. Refer to the Corporation's 2016 MD&A for a reconciliation of cash costs to cost of sales.

About Richmont Mines Inc.

Richmont Mines currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario, and the Beaufor Mine in Quebec. The Corporation is also advancing development of the significant high-grade resource extension at depth of the Island Gold Mine in Ontario. With 35 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well-positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian reserve base and to successfully enter its next phase of growth.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company"), is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2017 drill program at the Company's wholly-owned Bayan Khundii Gold Project ("Bayan Khundii") in southwest Mongolia. The program will consist of approximately 20,000 m of diamond drilling at Bayan Khundii and an additional 4,000 m on its neighboring Altan Nar and Altan Arrow gold projects.

Two Longyear 44 drill rigs will be operating. The first commenced drilling today and will focus on delineation and expansion of the gold mineralized zones within the known Bayan Khundii target areas: Gold Hill, Striker, and the recently announced discovery at Midfield. On January 10, the Company announced the discovery of the Midfield Zone under younger cover with results including 41 m of 5.2 g/t gold and 72 m of 4.0 g/t gold. The second drill rig, expected to be operational on May 1, will test multiple exploration targets throughout the larger, 1.8 km by 1 km Bayan Khundii trend, as well as the new high-grade target discovered at the Altan Nar Gold-Polymetallic Project (3,000 m), located 16 km northwest of Bayan Khundii, and the Altan Arrow Gold-Silver Project (1,000 m), located 3.5 km north of Bayan Khundii. For reference, two maps and two cross-sections have been included with this news release.

Reporting of drill results will commence by late May and continue at regular intervals through late Q3. A follow-up drill program will be implemented in Q4, based on a review of the Q2/Q3 Phase I results. Erdene's 2017 exploration program will also include additional metallurgical testing as well as hydrogeological, environmental, geotechnical and preliminary economic studies related to the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects.

The following sections outline the objectives for Erdene's drill programs at its Bayan Khundii, Altan Nar and Altan Arrow projects.

Bayan Khundii Gold Project

The 20,000 m drill program at Bayan Khundii has two objectives. The first is to increase confidence in areas with established resource potential within the Striker, Gold Hill, and Midfield zones and to simultaneously expand the perimeter of these zones. The second objective is to test new areas within the larger 1.8 km by 1 km trend in order to establish additional extensions or identify new mineralized zones, which require definition drilling.

Striker Zone Drilling

Drilling within the Striker Zone in 2016 continued to define high-grade gold zones (up to 65 m of 6.3 g/t gold in hole BKD-77) with good continuity, and extended the boundaries of the gold system, which remains open in all directions. The 2017 drill program at Striker has three objectives: 1) complete in-fill drilling where hole spacing exceeds 40 m; 2) drill-test deeper targets in the range of 200-300 m depth (average vertical drill depth to date of 91 m and 30% of holes within Striker have ended in mineralization); and 3) test for lateral extensions to the south of Striker (Gold Hill Zone) and to the west of Striker. Drilling at the Gold Hill Zone has been limited thus far, but has included up to 17 m of 1.2 g/t gold, from surface (BKD-06). Drilling to the west of Striker has also returned very encouraging results to date, including hole BKD-59 located 230 m west of Striker, which returned 31 m of 1.0 g/t gold at 121 m depth and 2 m of 7.4 g/t gold at 216 m depth.

Midfield Zone Drilling

Drilling in late 2016 at the Midfield Zone, a step-out target located 170 m north of the Striker Zone, under younger post-mineralization cover, returned some of the highest grades (BKD-92: 2 m of 112.8 g/t gold, starting at 119 m) and longest mineralized intervals (BKD-90: 149 m of 2.1 g/t gold, starting at 23 m depth) intersected to date at Bayan Khundii. Nine holes have been completed at Midfield, at 40 m drill hole spacing. Several high-grade extension targets located to the west, north, and east will be drill-tested in 2017. The down-dip extension to the south and west of Midfield also remains open and will be drill-tested.

Reconnaissance Drilling

The second drill rig will focus on testing multiple exploration targets throughout the larger 1.8 km by 1 km Bayan Khundii trend. Post-mineralization sedimentary units and basalt overlie approximately 80% of the Bayan Khundii target area averaging approximately 40 m in thickness, with two outcropping prospect areas interpreted as erosional 'windows' through the younger cover. The full extent of the alteration and mineralization is unknown, although there are several indications that Bayan Khundii's epithermal system may be more widespread than the Striker-Midfield-Gold Hill zones, and it may continue out under the post-mineralization cover, as demonstrated by the Midfield Zone results.

Previous, shallow drilling in the Northeast prospect area, located 700 m to the northeast of Striker, returned wide zones of strongly altered volcanics (similar to Striker) and up to 2.3 g/t gold over 2 m. In addition, two rock chip samples that were collected 500 m further to the northeast (NE Extension prospect) returned gold assay values of 6.9 g/t and 0.4 g/t gold. The 2017 drill program will follow up on these encouraging results.

The combined gradient array and dipole-dipole induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey data suggest the alteration (illite-quartz) within the Striker Zone is located at the apex of a broad resistivity (IP geophysical survey) anomaly. This anomaly extends to the north of Midfield and east under the younger cover at relatively shallow depths. In Q2 2017, Erdene commissioned an independent geophysical consultant who confirmed existing targets and identified new targets that will be tested in 2017, including previously unrecognized northwest-trending linear features under cover to the northeast and east of the Striker Zone following the same trend as the structures hosting the high-grade gold zones in Striker and Midfield.

Altan Nar Gold-Polymetallic Project

The Company plans to complete approximately 3,000 m of diamond drilling at its Altan Nar gold-polymetallic project ("Altan Nar") between Q2 and Q3 2017. A key objective will be establishing the continuity and extent of a new high-grade zone identified at the Discovery Zone ("DZ") in Q4 2016. Drill hole TND-101, designed to test a structural intersection in central DZ, returned a very high-grade intersection of 14 m of 55.6 g/t gold, 131 g/t silver, 0.73% copper and 5.6% combined lead-zinc. This zone was within a consistently mineralized zone from surface to 170 m and included 110 m of 9.3 g/t gold, 32 g/t silver, and 1.4% combined lead-zinc. TND-101 was an exploratory hole drilled perpendicular to a cross-cutting feature observed in geophysical surveys, but at a low, oblique angle to the mineralized DZ trend with true width of the zone unknown but assumed to be in the range of 25 m to 35 m.

The program will also continue to delineate and expand the DZ and Union North deposits as well as testing other areas within the remaining 16 targets along the 5.6 km long Altan Nar gold mineralized trend. A high-resolution magnetic survey and a deep Induced Polarization survey will be completed to assist the Company in exploring areas along the 5.6 km Altan Nar trend where zones of structural dilation, or offset, similar to TND-101, may have provided a favorable setting for the concentration of base and precious metal-rich solutions over wider intervals.

Altan Arrow Gold-Silver Project

In Q4 2016, the Company completed a maiden drill program at the Altan Arrow gold-silver project, located within the same licence but 3.5 km north of the Bayan Khundii project. The program consisting of 590 m in seven holes at an average hole spacing of 200 m, completed to an average vertical depth of 58 m. Drill results confirmed the presence of high-grade gold and silver veins, and broad structurally-controlled lower-grade zones with similar style to the Company's Bayan Khundii gold project.

The objective of the 2017 program is to identify high-grade gold-silver zones with continuity that can be the focus of future definition drill programs. The Company will complete approximately 1,000 m of exploratory drilling at its, focusing on the areas of encouraging results from the 2016 exploration program.

Qualified Person and Sample Protocol

Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks.

Erdene's sampling protocol for drill core consists of collection of samples over 1 m or 2 m intervals (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire length of the drill hole, excluding minor post-mineral lithologies and un-mineralized granitoids. Sample intervals were based on meterage, not geological controls or mineralization. All drill core was cut in half with a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Erdene's Bayan Khundii exploration camp. All samples were organized into batches of 20 samples including a commercially prepared standard and blank. Sample batches were periodically shipped directly to SGS in Ulaanbaatar via Erdene's logistical contractor, Monrud Co. Ltd.

About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metal prospects in underexplored and highly prospective southwest Mongolia. Exploration success has led to the discovery, definition and ongoing development of several 100%-owned prospects and deposits. These include the Company's flagship and newly discovered, high-grade, near-surface Bayan Khundii gold project; the 5.6 km long Altan Nar gold-polymetallic mineralized trend that is host to 18 targets; the Altan Arrow gold-silver prospect; and the Zuun Mod molybdenum-copper deposit. For further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has a working capital position of approximately $13.3 million, 145,540,586 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 156,592,160 common shares, after giving effect to the Private Placement.
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - SOURCE EXPLORATION CORP. (the "Company" or "Source") (TSX VENTURE:SOP)(OTC:SRXLF)(FRANKFURT:4QW1) is pleased to announce that drilling at its Las Minas gold project has intersected long intervals of high-grade gold, copper and silver mineralization. Diamond drilling at the El Dorado - Juan Bran zone cut 6.82 g/t Au Eq(1) over 12.0 metres, contained within a 24.0 metre interval grading 4.43 g/t Au Eq in diamond drill hole LM-17-ED-25. Hole LM-17-ED-28 graded 5.98 g/t Au Eq over 6.0 metres within a wider interval grading 3.48 g/t Au Eq over 36.0 metres. Hole LM-17-JB-12 graded 4.63 g/t Au Eq over a 6.0 metre interval, contained within 14.0 metres grading 2.97 g/t Au Eq.

The objective of the drilling program, which includes infill / extension and step-out drilling, is to advance the Las Minas project to a mineral resource estimate, scheduled for Q2. The resource estimate will focus on the El Dorado / Juan Bran and Santa Cruz zones, two of six known mineralized zones at the property. Drilling is continuing at the site and additional holes will be reported as soon as results are received, compiled and evaluated.

Highlights from the initial 9 holes include:

6.82 g/t Au Eq over 12.0 metres in LM-17-ED-25, within 5.88 g/t Au Eq over 16.0 metres, within 4.43 g/t Au Eq over 24.0 metres

3.87 g/t Au Eq over 14.0 metres in LM-17-ED-26, within

3.32 g/t Au Eq over 28.0 metres

5.98 g/t Au Eq over 6.0 metres in LM-17-ED-28, within

4.18 g/t Au Eq over 26.0 metres, within

3.48 g/t Au Eq over 36.0 metres

6.18 g/t Au Eq over 4.0 metres in LM-17-JB-12, within

2.97 g/t Au Eq over 14.0 metres



Selected drill results are included in Table 1 below.

Eldorado - Juan Bran Zone Drill Results Hole ID (Az./Dip)

(degrees) From

(m) To

(m) Intercept

(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

% Au Eq

(g/t) Comments LM-17-ED-25 (130/-67) 112.6 124.6 12.0 2.17 18.23 2.68 6.82 Infill & Extension 110.6 126.6 16.0 2.00 14.80 2.24 5.88 within 106.6 130.6 24.0 1.59 10.5 1.64 4.43 LM-17-ED-26 (62/-60) 132.9 146.9 14.0 1.26 5.31 1.54 3.87 Infill & Extension within 118.9 146.9 28.0 1.11 3.90 1.26 3.22 within 116.9 160.9 44.0 0.86 3.11 0.93 2.43 LM-17-ED-27 (275/-60) 106.0 110.0 4.0 1.98 6.50 0.78 3.41 Infill within 106.0 120.0 14.0 0.97 4.43 0.63 2.07 within 94.0 120.0 26.0 0.84 3.28 0.59 1.91 LM-17-ED-28(75/-75) 110.4 116.4 6.0 2.69 4.6 1.96 5.98 Infill & Extension within 100.4 116.4 16.0 2.93 2.53 1.11 4.78 90.4 116.4 26.0 2.51 2.42 1.00 4.18 within 86.4 122.4 36.0 2.07 2.28 0.84 3.48 LM-17-ED-29(75/-45) 158.3 166.3 8.0 0.67 3.64 0.36 1.31 Extension LM-17-JB -10 (0/-90) Intersected weakly mineralized dike Step Out LM-17-JB-11 (90/-60) 145.0 151.0 6.0 0.65 2.53 0.34 1.25 Extension LM-17-JB-12 (0/-85) 65.4 69.4 4.0 3.58 17.70 1.36 6.18 Infill within 65.4 79.4 14.0 1.22 7.29 1.01 2.97 LM-17-JB-13 (135/-85) 62.4 66.4 4.00 0.86 2.15 0.81 2.21 Infill

Map of drill collars and traces



Drill core from hole LM-17-ED-25



Brian Robertson, Chairman and CEO, commented: "These initial drill results validate and extend the mineralized footprint of the El Dorado-Juan Bran zone, outlined by earlier exploration drilling. A zone measuring up to 430 metres in width and extending some 650 metres down dip, varying from 4 to 58 metres in thickness has been outlined. The zone remains open both on strike and down dip. The validation and expansion of the zone by the current drilling bodes well for defining a mineral resource estimate."

All reported intervals referred to in this news release are core lengths and additional information is required to determine true widths. Assays are uncut, length - weighted average values.

Gold equivalent (Au Eq) calculations use metal prices of US $1,250/oz. for gold, US $18.00/oz. for silver and US $3.00/lb. for copper. No adjustments have been made for potential relative differences in metal recoveries.

Au Eq g/t = Au g/t + [(Ag g/t x 0.014) + (Cu% x 1.64)]

About Las Minas

The Las Minas Project hosts near-surface gold - silver and copper skarn mineralization and high-grade gold - silver epithermal vein deposits. The project is comprised of six mineral concessions covering approximately 1,616 hectares (3,995 acres), with several small scale, past-producing mines and a number of untested targets.

The district is host to one of the largest under explored gold - silver copper skarn systems known in Mexico, and has a production history that extends back to the Aztec era. The Las Minas granodiorite intrusive measures approximately 10 kilometres in diameter and underlies the Las Minas concessions. The mineralization controls and association with magnetite appear to be similar to the Guerrero Gold belt, which is the site of the Los Filos and Morelos gold deposits.

Las Minas is an early-stage exploration project and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The potential quantities and grades disclosed herein are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource for the targets discussed herein. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in these targets being delineated as a mineral resource.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sonny Bernales, P. Geo., a registered Professional Geoscientist in the Province of British Columbia and a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Bernales is responsible for logistics and supervision of all exploration activity conducted by Source on the property.

The Company has implemented and adheres to a strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control program which includes inserting mineralized standards and blanks into the sample stream, about 1 for every 10 samples. The standards and blanks were obtained from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, BC, Canada. Each sample bag is properly sealed and kept in a secured, restricted storage place prior to shipping to the lab. Samples are shipped directly by Source or picked up by the lab vehicle with chain of custody/sample submittal signed and dated. The Company sends its samples to SGS Mineral Services (ISO/IEC 17025) at Durango, Mexico, an accredited and independent laboratory.

About Source Exploration

Source Exploration is a Canadian based mineral exploration company committed to building long-term value through ongoing discoveries and strategic acquisitions of prospective precious metals deposits in Mexico. Source is exploring the Las Minas Project, which is located in the core of the Las Minas district in the Veracruz State, Mexico. The district is host to one of the largest under-explored skarn systems known in Mexico and has a strong production history that dates back to the Aztec era.
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX: P) ( NYSE : PPP) announced today that it has successfully resolved the work stoppage of unionized employees that began on February 15, 2017. Operations are expected to resume at Primero's San Dimas mine in Mexico on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has a new Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA") with the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalurgicos, Siderurgicos y Similares de la Republica Mexicana). The agreement provides a formal structure for regulating all aspects of the relationship between Company and its unionized employees. The Company considers the new CBA to be both fair and equitable to all parties, and provides Primero with a competitive cost structure aligned to the future success of San Dimas operations.

Highlights:

New CBA Structure to Benefit All Parties: The new CBA includes adjustments that benefit both the Company and its unionized employees, including an increase in base salary and a re-alignment of short-term bonus structures. The CBA will be subject to future review in 2019.

The new CBA includes adjustments that benefit both the Company and its unionized employees, including an increase in base salary and a re-alignment of short-term bonus structures. The CBA will be subject to future review in 2019. More Continuous Mine Shifts to Improve Productivity: Significant productivity gains are expected with the underground operation transitioning to two, 10.5 hour shifts per day, and continuous 7 days per week operations. The productivity improvements will be gained by eliminating a daily shift change, from three per day to two, adding nearly 80 operating days per year and reducing total time lost by commuting to and from the working faces. This will be coupled with significant improvements expected to be gained through greater alignment with the Company's objectives in the new bonus structure for the underground workers.

Significant productivity gains are expected with the underground operation transitioning to two, 10.5 hour shifts per day, and continuous 7 days per week operations. The productivity improvements will be gained by eliminating a daily shift change, from three per day to two, adding nearly 80 operating days per year and reducing total time lost by commuting to and from the working faces. This will be coupled with significant improvements expected to be gained through greater alignment with the Company's objectives in the new bonus structure for the underground workers. Phased Restart to Commence: Primero's goal in 2017 is to reduce the scale and complexity of the San Dimas operation in order to increase productivity and return the mine to positive cash flow. Work is expected to resume on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, and the Company will implement a phased restart of operations.

"We are very pleased to have negotiated amendments to the San Dimas CBA that will benefit our workforce, the Company and the community by improving the long-term sustainability of the mine," stated Joseph F. Conway, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. "We remained steadfast in our commitment to respecting our workforce while improving productivity and reducing costs. We believe that the new bonus structure combined with a more continuous work roster will allow for significant cost reductions at the San Dimas mine."

New CBA Structure to Benefit All Parties, Including Re-Aligned Bonus Structure

The new CBA includes adjustments to base salaries and short-term production bonuses to the benefit of both Primero and all unionized employees. Unionized employees will receive an increase in their base salaries of 7.5% in Mexican Pesos, consistent with recent increases in the Mexican mining industry. The new production bonus structure for mine workers is better aligned with key performance indicators such as ounces produced, development metres achieved and employee absenteeism. For mill workers, the short-term bonus is based on compliance to plan with a weighting for gold and silver ounces produced according to Primero's revenue.

Primero does not expect to see a reduction in individual worker compensation, and workers could see increases to individual pay provided that plans are achieved or exceeded and Company performance improves. The CBA will be subject to future review in 2019.

More Continuous Mine Shifts Will Lead to Improved Productivity

The San Dimas mine historically operated on a shift structure with three, 8 hour shifts per day, and 5.5 days per week. All underground miner workers will now transition to two, 10.5 hour shifts per day, and continuous 7 days per week operations. With the more continuous operations the Company will gain nearly 80 effective operating days per year. All underground workers will now operate on a 4 days on, 2 days off work roster.

As the San Dimas mine expanded and higher-grade veins were brought into production located further away from the mill and mine portals, the commute times to and from the working faces have increased. This has led to a reduction in per-shift productivity as a result of increased transportation time. By eliminating a daily shift change, from three per day to two, the mine will gain productivity improvements from reduced commuting time lost.

Phased Restart to Commence

Primero's goal in 2017 is to reduce the scale and complexity of the San Dimas operation in order to increase productivity and return the mine to positive cash flow. To this end, the total workforce at San Dimas has been reduced by 17% since December 2016, which includes 238 contractors, 48 unionized employees, and 68 non-unionized employees. The Company will continue to explore opportunities to make further reductions to the workforce.

Onsite work is expected to resume on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, and Primero will implement a phased restart of the San Dimas operations with a focus on achieving productivity gains in highest priority areas first.

About Primero

Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer that owns 100% of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and the Cerro del Gallo gold-silver-copper development project in Mexico and 100% of the Black Fox mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black RiverMatheson near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Primero offers immediate exposure to un-hedged, below average cash cost gold production with a substantial resource base in politically stable jurisdictions. The Company is focused on becoming a leading intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas.

Primero's website is www.primeromining.com.
VANCOUVER, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - NXGOLD LTD. ("NxGold Ltd." or the "Company"), (NXN:TSXV) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") with Kenorland Minerals Ltd. ("Kenorland") to earn up to a 100% interest in the Chicobi Project, located approximately 30 km northeast of Amos, Quebec (the "Property").

Chris McFadden, Chief Executive Officer, commented "The execution of this agreement with Kenorland is an exciting development for the Company. The Chicobi Project gives the Company significant exposure to the Abitibi which is one of the premier gold producing regions in the world and the large land position gives us a significant opportunity in a relatively under-explored part of the Abitibi. With the addition of this project we now have two exciting gold exploration projects to pursue year-round. We at NxGold are very excited to be entering Quebec given its strong history as a mining friendly jurisdiction."

The Chicobi Project:

The Property consists of 1,045 claims and covers approximately 60,000 hectares along 70 km of prospective strike length on the Chicobi Deformation Zone within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (the "Abitibi"). The Property represents one of the largest land packages in the Abitibi region and is one of the most under-explored land positions in the entire district. The Abitibi is one of the largest gold producing regions globally in addition to hosting significant production of silver, copper and zinc. The Chicobi Project is well serviced by infrastructure and is readily accessible by road year-round.

The Terms:

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has the exclusive right to earn an undivided 80% interest in the Property (the "First Option") upon: (i) paying Kenorland $100,000 cash and issuing Kenorland 800,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (subject to a 12 month hold period), on the date all regulatory approvals to the Agreement are received and other conditions precedent are satisfied (the "Effective Date"); and (ii) incurring an aggregate of $2 million in expenditures on the Property on or before October 1, 2018.

Upon earning an 80% interest in the Property, the Company has the exclusive right to earn an additional 20% interest in the Property (the "Second Option"), thereby increasing its interest in the Property to 100%, by incurring an additional $1 million of expenditures on the Property, on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date and the grant of a 2% net smelter returns royalty in favor of Kenorland in respect of minerals produced from the Property and supporting hypothec in respect of the Property.

In the event the Company exercises the First Option but not the Second Option, the parties will be deemed to have formed a joint venture with the Company having an 80% interest and Kenorland having a 20% interest.

The Agreement is subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval.

About NxGold

NxGold is a Vancouver-based exploration company. NxGold has entered into an earn-in agreement with Meliadine Gold Ltd. to earn up to a 70% interest in the Kuulu Project (formerly known as the Peter Lake Gold Project). The Kuulu Project is located approximately 40 km northwest of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. The Kuulu Project covers 4,174 hectares immediately along trend from Agnico Eagle's advanced Meliadine Gold project. Additionally, the Company has entered into an earn-in agreement to earn up to a 100% interest in the Chicobi Project located within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec

Technical Information

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Mr. Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., a director of NxGold. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2017) - Thunderstruck Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AWE) ("Thunderstruck") is pleased to announce that it is in the process of adding to its current portfolio of zinc, copper and gold exploration targets through applications for the Vago, CIS, Wainaleka Extension and SPL 1425 Extension areas. (See attached map.) The Vago prospect features historic drilling by Anglo with intercepts highlighted by 8% zinc, 9.7 g/t Au, 18.5 oz silver/tonne and 3% lead over 3.4 meters. The Wainaleka Extension area contains known copper-zinc mineralization to the west of the Company's current high-grade zinc/copper deposit at Wainaleka.

"Given the discoveries by previous operators and the interest we've received from potential partners, we wish to put these assets under the control of Thunderstruck as quickly as possible," notes Brien Lundin, Chairman. "With our growing knowledge of the area, we feel these new assets are among the most prospective on the main island."

The Company is also pleased to announce it will retain the services of Melvyn Levrel, P. Geo, to assist in its exploration programs on the Rama Creek and Liwa Creek prospects. Stream sediment sampling (SSS) programs have been designed to follow up on the encouraging SSS results previously obtained by Aquitaine, Southern Pacific Resources (SPR) and Aljen Pacific for gold, zinc and gold-pathfinder elements (antimony and arsenic). Work will commence as soon after Easter as weather permits, although vehicular access to the prospect is now possible.

Thunderstruck's team will collect approximately 100 stream sediment samples, as a first pass, for gold-silver analysis, after a cyanide leach with multi-element analysis (32 elements) having been carried out on sub-samples of each.

Detailed sampling will be carried out in Rama Creek, where SPR reported an outcropping, brecciated, silicified and pyritic porphyry carrying approximately 1 PPM gold.

This field program will require approximately 11 working days, depending on weather conditions. The results of this work will enable the Company to focus on the prime anomalous areas.

CEO Bryce Bradley comments, "We're very pleased to add Mr. Levrel, a qualified field geologist with a M Sc. in Geoscience, to our technical team. Mr. Levrel has already begun the process of converting our vast library of data into GIS format. The result will be a detailed geological model from which to advance our exploration efforts. Mr. Levrel is based in the capital of Fiji, Suva, with ready access to the Mineral Resources Department and within 85 km of the Rama Creek prospect. Once he incorporates our Rama stream sediment data into GIS he will assist with field operations at Rama sometime in May, where previous SSS data has shown the potential for extensive gold-bearing zones."

Rama Creek Exploration Program

Thunderstruck will be focussing this spring's exploration program on Rama Creek, as newly acquired historical exploration data has indicated the potential for extensive gold mineralization in this area.

Other Business

Fiji has been experiencing a particularly intense rainy season, (which generally runs November-April), with power outages and flooded roads. Due to this inclement weather, site tours have been postponed until the weather has improved and a new schedule can be agreed upon with potential JV partners and key investors.

The 2016 Q4 sampling program returned results consistent with expectations, and will be used to determine further exploration work and drill targets for its 2017 program.

Certain management and directors will be issued a total of 450,000 options carrying a strike price of $0.10 for a period of 10 years.

About Thunderstruck Resources

Thunderstruck Resources is a Canadian mining exploration company with highly prospective VMS and Precious Metals projects in Fiji. The Company provides investors with exposure to a diverse portfolio of assets rich in copper, zinc, silver and gold in a politically safe and stable jurisdiction. Thunderstruck trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol "AWE".
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - 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.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Hole 23R intersects mineralized volcanic and fragmented (breccia) rocks, with increasing chalcopyrite and molybdenum mineralization. Hole 23R, at a current depth of 579.1m, is planned to intersect untested mineralization from approximately 700m depth to approximately 1800m below surface and has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m.

Hole 24, Alpala Southeast, at a current depth of 868.7m, is intersecting chalcopyrite mineralization and multi-directional porphyry style quartz-chalcopyrite-bornite veining. Copper sulphide mineralization, with low pyrite content, below 738.9m, indicates probable proximity to the core of the Greater Alpala Porphyry System.

Hole 24 extends the Alpala Deposit by 570m southeast of Hole 23R and extends the known length of the mineralized corridor at Alpala to approximately 1200m from Hole 13 in the northwest, inferring a length of 1300m.

Hole 25, Hematite Hill, at a current depth of 847.0m, is intersecting multi-directional stockwork veining with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 772.2m depth.

Hole 25 extends the Alpala Deposit approximately 250m to the southeast of Hole 23R.

Bornite mineralization with magnetite and potassic alteration in Holes 24 and 25 indicate probable proximity to the high temperature core of the Alpala system and are consistent with the 3D Magnetic model at Cascabel.

Fourth man-portable rig being mobilized to site ahead of the arrival of Rigs 5, 6 and 7 over the coming two quarters.

Drill testing to expand to high priority targets at Alpala East, Alpala West, Carmen, Trivino and Aguinaga by mid-year.

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 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). Current drilling focuses 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 expands towards eight drilling rigs by year end, which will also see drill testing of the Tandayama-America prospect. (Figure 4).

Hole 23 (CSD-17-023) at Alpala Northeast was abandoned at 159.0m depth after drilling contractors experienced technical difficulties downhole, and was redrilled as Hole 23R (CSD-16-023R) which continues drilling near vertical at a current depth of 579.1m testing approximately 125m below and in between Holes 12 and 16. To date, Hole 23R has intersected hydrothermal breccia and strong phyllic alteration, with the presence of clasts of mineralized porphyry within the breccia. Hole 23R is being drilled sub-vertical to intersect deep untested pockets of mineralization up to 1800m below surface and has a planned hole depth of approximately 2000m. Position of Hole 23R is shown in cross-section A-A' in Figure 5. Mineralization is increasing with depth in Hole 23R.

Hole 24 (CSD-17-024) continues drilling at Alpala Southeast, at a current depth of 868.7m testing approximately 570m to southeast of Hole 23R. Hole 24 confirms the extension of the known mineralized corridor at Alpala to approximately 1300m from Hole 13 in the northwest. Drill core from Hole 24 below 738.9m shows strong chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization with significant magnetite, and low pyrite content, indicating probable proximity to the predicted copper and gold rich core of the greater Alpala Porphyry System.

Hole 24 lies approximately 100m north of Malte Creek, where chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization was noted in surface geological mapping. The Alpala Southeast prospect area is characterised by coincident Molybdenum and Copper/Zinc soil geochemical highs, as well as intense and advanced argillic alteration identified from soil auger chip spectral analysis. High dickite and pyrophyllite clay content, mark high temperatures of formation typical of that surrounding a porphyry core. Surface indications are being confirmed by drilling. Hole 24 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 24 are shown in Figure 6.

Hole 25 (CSD-17-025), at Hematite Hill, is intersecting multi-directional stockwork veining with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 772.2m depth to the current depth of 847.0m. Hole 25 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 25 are shown in Figure 7.

GEOPHYSICS

Solgold has completed the ground magnetic survey over Cascabel, and preparations are being finalized to commence a detailed Orion-Spartan 3D IP survey across most of the concession (Figure 8). Processing of this improved magnetic data is underway and this work will not only augment the existing geophysical targets at Alpala and Aguinaga, but further investigate the promising Tandayama-America anomaly and other satellite targets on the property. Following analysis of these datasets, Solgold will further refine drill targets along the Alpala cluster, as well as those at Moran, Aguinaga, and Tandayama-America. A 'LIDAR' topographic control survey is being planned for commencement mid-year.

The presence of magnetite with chalcopyrite and bornite with potassic alteration endorses the predictive nature of the 3D Magnetic model at Cascabel. The magnetic bodies at Alpala, Moran and Aguinaga envelope represent approximately 15 billion tonnes of untested magnetic rock.

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 have 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 approximately 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, and to test the other multiple targets within the concession. 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 predicted 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 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 34,000m 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 (> 100 g/t) and Cu, (> 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 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
By Kim Se-jeong



A memoir by former President Chun Doo-hwan is angering people in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, where a popular uprising against his military regime in May 1980 was violently suppressed by armed forces.



Bookstores in Gwangju were flooded with complaints and requests to remove copies of the memoir from their shelves. A Kyobo bookstore in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, also received a request from a shopper to remove the copies. "After taking time to calm down, I asked the bookstore director to remove the books from shelves," the shopper told the Hankyoreh, a local newspaper.



The May 18 Memorial Foundation said Wednesday that along with other groups and lawyers, it will ask a court to ban sales of "Chun Doo-hwan's Memoir," which went on sale April 3 across the country.



"Chun is denying history. Chun was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court," the foundation said in a statement. "Instead of repenting what he did, he is trying to make a case for himself in the book.''



Local newspapers are also joining forces to criticize Chun.



"Chun claims he had nothing to do with the May 18 uprising and never ordered the military's intervention and suppression of people," the Jeonnam Ilbo wrote in an editorial. "His pardon in 1997 was to give him an opportunity to repent, but he actually hasn't done it. His memoir should be taken off bookshelves."



In May 1980, people revolted against the military regime which responded with force, resulting in 606 deaths. Chun was found guilty of numerous charges including insurrection and bribery. He was sentenced to death, which was commuted to life in prison, but pardoned in 1997. In 2011, records about the uprising were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.



In the book, he claimed he was a victim. "I think all the hate speech against me comes from the May 18 uprising. I was an offering given to heal the wounds of the people. I have been made to carry the cross Only the fact that I was the president meant I was a sinner."



He also referred to the uprising as riots, which prompted a group of lawyers and activists in Gwangju to consider a defamation lawsuit.
















South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn urged Japan Thursday to squarely face history and show sincere remorse over its past occupation of the Korean Peninsula.



Hwang made the call in an address marking the 98th anniversary of the establishment of Korea's provisional government in Shanghai, China, in 1919. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45.



"The Japanese government should squarely face history as it is, and show a sincere and consistent attitude in regretting its past mistakes and educating future generations," he said during a ceremony at the Kim Koo Museum and Library in Seoul. "A correct perception of history is the starting point and necessary condition for a future-oriented partnership between South Korea and Japan."



Tensions flared this year after Tokyo recalled its ambassador to Seoul in protest of the installation of a girl statue symbolizing Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery in front of the Japanese consulate in the southeastern port city of Busan.



Japan also angered South Korea last month by renewing claims to the latter's easternmost islets of Dokdo in a new set of textbooks and education guidelines.



At a meeting of government ministers earlier in the day, Hwang discussed the growing possibility of an additional North Korean nuclear test or missile launch.



He said South Korea and the United States are fully prepared to respond to any provocation from the North and maintain close coordination on the issue based on its firm alliance.



U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's upcoming visit to South Korea will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen that coordination and defend the nation with a watertight security posture, he said.



Hwang also vowed to work with the national election watchdog to ensure a fair and transparent presidential election on May 9. (Yonhap)




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)




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by Jess Nelson , April 12, 2017

The fallout continues for United Airlines, with shares down 1.1% by the end of trading on Tuesday after the airline forcibly removed a passenger on Sunday due to overbooking.

The travel industry doesnt just suffer from a lackluster customer experience, but also has some of the least effective email marketing according to IBM research.

Litmus surveyed more than 600 U.S. consumers that had booked travel in the last year to investigate how travel brands could improve their email marketing performance. The report suggests that travel marketers should be more mobile-friendly, highlight promotions in their marketing content, and limit overall email volume.

The majority of consumers plan their travel over a period of 30-180 days, with the travel planning process beginning an average of 84 days in advance according to Litmus. Many travel companies still focus on last-minute promotions in their email campaigns, however, so marketers should factor the length of the travel purchasing lifecycle when constructing their message strategy.

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Book now offers might still be fruitful for travel brands, as 36% of travelers responded that an email led to a purchase that wasnt originally planned according to Litmus. This isnt permission for travel brands to go haywire and send massive amounts of last-minute deals to subscribers, because travelers are already getting frustrated with the amount of email they receive.

Up to a third of respondents asserted they received emails from travel brands too frequently according to Litmus research, with house rental companies receiving the highest subscriber dissatisfaction with email volume.

The desire for better pricing is the most popular motivator to sign up for travel emails according to Litmus, so travel marketers should abide consumers desires for promotional deals in their email marketing campaigns. Price is also the most important factor for booking hotel rooms according to the report, although pricing was a less important for business travelers.

Its also imperative that travel brands be more mobile-friendly, and Litmus recommends marketers use responsive or hybrid design to ensure emails render correctly no matter what device is being used. Almost half of consumers polled responded that they read emails from travel brands on their smartphone. Forty-five percent read emails on their smartphones, while 12% use tablets and 74% look at emails on their desktop or laptop computers.

Travel brands may also want to consider including dynamic content in their email campaigns that incorporate geographic and weather data. Almost half of the travelers polled by Litmus responded that weather plays a role in booking travel, with travelers from cold weather states even more likely to factor weather into consideration when planning a trip.

Litmus works with a variety of travel brands, including Airbnb, Expedia, Lonely Planet, JetBlue, Hilton and booking.com.
by Philip Rosenstein , April 12, 2017



The special election in the Georgia 6th district will serve as a bellwether of post-2016 sentiment, as well as President Trumps first few months in office. Following a better-than-expected Democratic showing in the first federal election since 2016 in Kansas, where the GOP squeaked out a victory, more groups are keen on backing Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

Democrats have a good chance of flipping Sec. of Health and Human Services Tom Prices former House seat.

MoveOn.org Political Action launched a six-figure TV and digital ad campaign supporting Ossoff on Monday.

The TV portion of the campaign includes a 30-second spot highlighting Ossoffs support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), contrasting that with the unsuccessful American Health Care Act (AHCA). The ad ends with: On April 18, lets send a message to Donald Trump. Vote for Jon Ossoff.

Another TV ad takes a similar approach, touting Ossoffs positions on health care.

On the digital front, MoveOn is targeting likely voters in Georgias 6th district.

Ossoff is the sort of progressive championstrong on both racial justice and economic justicewho can channel resistance movement energy into progressive volunteers and votes. Republicans have done him a big favor with their efforts to repeal the ACA and kick tens of millions of people off of their health care, Anna Galland, interim executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, quotedin a piece on the organizations site.

The focus on the ACA and failed AHCA follows a poll commissioned by MoveOn showing the top issue for Georgia 6th likely voters is health care. The poll also has Ossoff with a strong lead in the open primary and tied with top Republican candidate Karen Handel in a runoff.

Ossoff has out-raised all candidates, collecting more than $8 million with $2 million-plus on hand.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, April 12, 2017

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to repeal the net neutrality rules isn't sitting well with Silicon Valley.

This week, the trade group Internet Association -- which counts companies like Amazon, Google, eBay and Facebook as members -- met with Pai in an attempt to convince him that net neutrality rules are critical to Web companies. The Internet Association's president and CEO Michael Beckerman, along with general counsel Abigail Slater, argued to Pai that the open Internet order "is a vital component of the free and open internet," according to a filing describing the meeting.

"The internet industry is uniform in its belief that net neutrality preserves the consumer experience, competition, and innovation online," the Internet Association writes. "In other words, existing net neutrality rules should be enforced and kept intact."

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The rules, passed last year, reclassified broadband as a utility service and subjected providers to some common carrier restrictions. Among others, the rules prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading service and from charging higher fees for prioritized delivery. The rules also broadly ban Internet service providers from engaging in conduct that interferes with people's ability to access material online.

Beckerman and Slater pointed out to Pai that the net neutrality rules survived a court challenge last year, when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that the FCC lacked authority to issue the rules. The Internet Association also told the FCC that the rules haven't resulted in a drop in investment by providers.

Pai, who dissented from the vote to impose net neutrality rules, has indicated that he will try to revoke them at the first opportunity. Late last week, he reportedly floated a plan to repeal the rules, but also convince carriers to voluntarily include net neutrality obligations in their terms of service. Pai supposedly wants the Federal Trade Commission to then enforce violations -- even though the FTC lacks authority to prosecute the telecoms and cable companies that provide broadband service.
Motherboard, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 4:26 PM

Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill that would give private companies $45 million to extend broadband to rural areas. But the state failed to pass a measure that would have enabled Chattanooga to expand its muni-broadband network, which currently offers connections as far as 10 Gbps.

Read the whole story at Motherboard 
Continuing to challenge Facebooks ad-targeting expertise, Snap is rolling out a new ad product that tracks the relationship between online and offline conversions.

Dubbed Snap to Store, the new effort is tailored for businesses determined to drive consumers into physical retail spaces.

Prior to its official launch on Wednesday, a number of brands experimented with the product, including Wendys, 7-Eleven and Paramount Pictures.

Increasingly focuses on monetization, Snap has recently been testing fancier ad offerings.

For example, the public company recently rolled out an Engagement Audiences initiative, which invites brands to target those users who previously interacted with their ads on Snapchat.

As such, brands can now can hit audiences whove already interacted with their Lens or Geofilter with a fresh Snap Ad campaign.

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The point is to help advertisers reach consumers more likely to be in the consideration stage -- or mid-funnel -- because they have already shown an interest in their brand.

According to Snap, this sort of offering is not retargeting as it is commonly known. Rather, its engagement targeting all within Snapchat  rather than involving outside Web sites or data.

Since its debut at the end of 2016, Snap also continues to roll out goal-based bidding for installs. Per the program, advertisers can bid for installs, which means buyers can optimize for the lowest cost per install by showing ads to users most likely to install the app.

This form of targeting is done via Snaps auction, while brands are still billed on impressions.

Over the past year, Snapchat has secured its spot as a top app. According to comScore, the popular service officially joined the ranks of the Top 10 most popular apps in late 2016.

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 told Mediaposts Moblog.

Critically, Snapchats general popularity has yet to undercut its status among Millennials, according to comScores 2017 Cross-Platform Future in Focus report.

At the end of 2016, a whopping 78% of U.S. consumers ages 18-to-24  and 48% of those 25-to-34  were using Snapchat.
AU Optronics Corp. researches, develops, produces, and sells thin film transistor liquid crystal displays and other flat panel displays. The company operates through two segments, Display and Solar. The Display segment designs, develops, manufactures, assembles, and markets flat panel displays for use in televisions (TVs), TV sets, and other related products; desktop monitors; mobile PCs, such as notebooks and tablets; mobile phones; and commercial and other applications, including displays for automobiles, industrial PCs, automated teller machines, point of sale terminals, pachinko machines, medical equipment, and others. This segment serves original equipment manufacturing service providers; and brand companies. The Solar segment manufactures and sells solar materials, including ingots, solar wafers, and solar modules, as well as provides technical engineering and maintenance services for solar system projects. This segment sells its ingot and solar wafer products primarily to solar cell manufacturers; and solar modules to installers, solar system integrators, property developers, and other value-added resellers. The company also engages in the renewable energy power generation; repairing and sale support of TFT-LCD modules, as well as sale support of solar-related products; injecting and stamping parts; manufacture and sale of molds, light guide plates, liquid crystal products, backlight modules, and related parts, as well as precision plastic and metal parts; IP related business; design, development and sales of software and hardware for health care industry; manufacture, assembly, and sale of automotive parts; manufacture and sale of motorized treadmills; and planning, design, and development of construction for environmental protection and related project management. It operates in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and internationally. AU Optronics Corp. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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.
Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany
Nucor Corporation manufactures and sells steel and steel products. The company's Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling products; and bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and special bar quality products. It also engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses. This segment sells its products to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its Steel Products segment offers hollow structural section steel tubing products, electrical conduits, steel racking, steel joists and joist girders, steel decks, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel products, cold finished steel products, steel fasteners, metal building systems, insulated metal panels, steel grating and expanded metal products, and wire and wire mesh products primarily for use in nonresidential construction applications. This segment also engages in the piling distribution business. The company's Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, as well as engages in the natural gas drilling operations. This segment sells its ferrous scrap to electric arc furnace steel mills and foundries for manufacturing process; and nonferrous scrap metal to aluminum can producers, secondary aluminum smelters, steel mills and other processors, and consumers of various nonferrous metals. It serves agriculture, automotive, construction, energy and transmission, oil and gas, heavy equipment, infrastructure, and transportation industries through its in-house sales force; and internal distribution and trading companies. Nucor Corporation was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: APL France SAS, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Acker Holdings LLC, Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth S. de R.L. de C.V., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding LLC, Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback LLC, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, Chemineer Inc., Coil Services Middle East LLC, Cooperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Cooperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Environmental Procedures LLC, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co. Ltd., Fiber Glass Systems L.P., Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService LLC, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing Middle East DMCC, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GPEX L.P., Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co. Ltd, Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings LLC, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco de Venezuela S.A., GustoMSC B.V., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co. Ltd., Hydralift AmClyde Inc., Hydralift France SAS, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas S. de R.L. de C.V., IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv Inc., Intelliserv International Holding Ltd, Intelliserv LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co. Ltd, Keystone Tower Systems Inc., MSI Pipe Protection Technologies UK Limited, Merpro Group Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia) Inc., NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans) Ltd., NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CAPS Pte. Ltd., NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Canada ULC, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina LLC, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia LLC, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo LLC, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan LLC, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services Inc., NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP1 LLC, NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany GmbH, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Sub UK 1 Limited, NOV Holding UK 1 Limited, NOV Holding UK 2 Limited, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV International Holdings LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment  Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading) LLC, NOV MFG India Private Limited, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Senegal S.A.R.L., NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV QFZ LLC, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania LLC, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals W.L.L., NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings LLC, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide B.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services LLC, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia LLC, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala Limitada, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco L.P., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions S.A. de C.V., National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela C.A., National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd, R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela C.A., R&M Singapore Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog International Holding LLC, ReedHycalog L.P., ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Inc., Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings Ltd., T-3 Energy Services Cayman Ltd., T-3 Energy Services LLC, T-3 Energy Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings Inc., Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela S.A., Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Osterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Urban WLY LP, Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS LLC, Varco International de Venezuela C.A., Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets Inc., Wilson International, Woolley Inc., XL Systems Antilles N.V., XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International Inc., voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG.

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Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. The company's Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems. Its Defense Systems segment designs, develops, and produces weapons and mission systems. It offers products and services, such as integrated battle management systems, weapons systems and aircraft, and mission systems. This segment also provides command and control and weapons systems, including munitions and missiles; precision strike weapons; propulsion, such as air-breathing and hypersonic systems; gun systems and precision munitions; life cycle service and support for software, weapons systems, and aircraft; and logistics support, sustainment, operation, and modernization for air, sea, and ground systems. The company's Mission Systems segment offers cyber, command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; radar, electro-optical/infrared and acoustic sensors; electronic warfare systems; advanced communications and network systems; cyber solutions; intelligence processing systems; navigation; and maritime power, propulsion, and payload launch systems. This segment also provides airborne multifunction sensors; maritime/land systems and sensors; navigation, targeting, and survivability solutions; and networked information solutions. Its Space Systems segment offers satellites and payloads; ground systems; missile defense systems and interceptors; launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; and strategic missiles. The company was founded in 1939 and is based in Falls Church, Virginia.
Patrick Boniface examines the lives of historys most daring wartime captives.

In November 1899, the 25-year-old Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was travelling in an armoured train transiting between Frere and Chieveley, in the British colony of Natal in South Africa. The soldiers were making a fast reconnoitre of the territory, and Churchill was there to send news back to Great Britain to those eager for information about this important but under-reported mission.

The conditions were horrendous. The train rattled and rolled, and within the steel-clad carriages the air was hot and sticky. Churchill, however, loved it  to him it was dangerous and exciting. The young man was soon on the edge of his seat: a Boer commando-laid trap was sprung not long into his journey.

Captured

The Boers had placed a large boulder on the railway track, forcing the train to stop. Within seconds, it came under withering attack from field-guns and rifle-fire. Injured soldiers tried to move their colleagues to safety while attempting to uncouple the carriages, but within 70 minutes of the start of the onslaught the Boers had closed in.

In the mayhem, Churchill found himself in a ditch, covered in sweat, blood, and dust. A Boer got off his horse and raised his Mauser pistol to shoot him, and Churchill, who was unarmed, surrendered. (The officer Churchill surrendered to was General Louis Botha, who would later become Prime Minister of South Africa.) Churchill and the other prisoners were route-marched and put on a train to Pretoria. The future British Prime Minister eventually found himself in a prisoner-of-war camp housed in what was originally a school. It is now a national monument.

The long road to freedom

During his time in captivity, Churchill and the other captured men drew maps of battles and military movements from the scant information they received from their colleagues. These maps were fashioned in pen and pencil, with red used for British movements and blue for those of the Boers.

On the evening of 12 December 1899, after four weeks in captivity, Churchill scaled a 10-foot wall and made his way through Pretoria. Although he walked under cover of darkness, he was not yet free. His aim was to find the railway line that headed east to Delagoa Bay. When he did so, he followed the course of the railway, either walking along it or hitching rides on steam trains ferrying freight.

He survived by stealing food and drink along the way. By sheer luck, he met fellow Englishman John Howard, manager of the Transvaal and Delagoa Bay Colliery, and with Howards help and hospitality Churchill managed to evade capture.

After an epic 300 miles on the run, Churchill finally reached Delagoa Bay on a freight train laden with wool. The Boers had wanted Churchill dead or alive, but he managed to reach the border with Mozambique at Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), where he was safe once again.

Propaganda Value

Churchill was an ambitious man who was eager to make a name for himself. It was hardly surprising that, when he presented himself to the local British consul, he and the British authorities sought to squeeze every last ounce of propaganda from his escape. Churchill travelled by steamer to Durban, where he was greeted by a large crowd and treated like a hero, something that must have gratified his already considerable ego.

Early the following year, Churchill retraced his steps to resume his work as a war correspondent. On arrival at the army camp in Natal, an officer took him to his tent, which Churchill found standing just 50 yards from where he had been captured six weeks earlier.

Churchill soon abandoned his journalistic ambitions and joined a Boer cavalry regiment, taking part in the Siege of Ladysmith. But his military career did not last long  he travelled back to Britain to pursue his interest in politics later that same year. Meanwhile, the Anglo-Boer War wore on until the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902.

This article was published in issue 79 of Military History Monthly. To subscribe to the magazine click here. To access the digital edition click here.
Christine, I'm sure one of our Namibia experts will be of greater help, but your specimen is similar to one I have, which is mesolite on fluorapophyllite from Palabora Mine, South Africa and not Namibia. (Some specimens from there have the mesolite on prehnite.) On mine, the mesolite bundles are tighter, more like the top center bundle in your second photo. What mineral is below the mesolite on your sample?
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis was hit by a pitch on his left hand during a rehab outing tonight, as Jordan Bastian of MLB.com tweets. Hes expected to sit out at least one contest, though at this point theres no indication that he has suffered a significant injury. Cleveland is no doubt looking forward to the return of Kipnis, who is working back from a shoulder injury. As Bastian writes, the clubs bats have stalled in the early going.

More from the American League Central
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago tells the interesting tale of how Kyle Schwarber put himself on the Cubs radar  with a big assist from longtime scout Stan Zielinski, who unfortunately passed away recently. Zielinski drew quite a picture of Schwarber upon seeing him in person, invoking none other than Babe Ruth and calling Schwarber the best college bat Ive seen in a long time  adding, and remember Im so old Ive seen a lot of them. Its an interesting read thats well worth your time.

Heres more from the NL Central:
US comedian Charlie Murphy, the older brother of actor Eddie Murphy, has died of leukaemia aged 57, reports say.

The TMZ website quoted his manager as saying he died on Wednesday morning in hospital in New York.

Murphy starred on comedian Dave Chappelles show and also appeared in films including Jungle Fever, Night at the Museum and Lottery Ticket.

He also co-wrote and appeared in some of his brothers films.

In a statement to Hollywood Reporter, the Murphy family said their hearts are heavy with the loss today of our son, brother, father, uncle and friend Charlie.

Charlie filled our family with love and laughter and there wont be a day that goes by that his presence will not be missed. Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and prayers, the statement said.

Charlie Murphy (R) arrived in Hollywood as his brother Eddies (L) bodyguard

He also had a successful comedy career

Charlie Murphy arrived in Hollywood after working as a bodyguard for Eddie at the beginning of his career, the EFE news agency reported.

He has said that he was so fond of Eddie and found him so funny that he would not hesitate to confront people who did not laugh during his appearances.

Other comedians and actors have been paying tribute on social media.


Irene Sowah

13.04.2017 LISTEN

Irene Sowah will release a worship single titled 'Yesu Di Hene' (Jesus Reigns) to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ across the world.

The event which comes off at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Nativity Congregation, La, on Sunday, April 16 is supported by the Praise Dynamics, a praise and worship team of the church.

According to the songstress, she has been active in the music ministry since the late 1980s and was inspired to record songs because of the desire to share the love of Christ among all people of the world through gospel music.

I was inspired to create the song after I made a request to my brother, Kofi Owusu Dua Anto (KODA), who also has a sincere heart for Gods work. He wrote and produced this single, she revealed.

Irene, speaking to NEWS-ONE, said 'Yesu Di Hene' is a single from an album that will be launched in the course of the year.

By Christopher Kotei
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is warning of real danger if violent attacks by NPP-linked vigilante groups are not brought to an end.

The party at a news conference in Accra said operations of Invincible and Delta Forces are similar to how Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram, started.

NDC National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy, said the impunity with which the two groups conduct their activities has dented the image of the country.

NDC National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy

He warned, The real danger in not dealing swiftly and ruthlessly with insipid domestic political terrorism is that it can easily grow uncontrollably into armed terrorism of international proportion.

There were pockets of attacks on some state institutions and individuals after the NPP was declared winners of the 2016 general elections. Groups linked to the NPP were largely responsible for the attacks.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The Invincible Forces massed up at the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the guise of protecting it from officials of the past government.

Another group, Delta Force, also stormed the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to assault the newly appointed Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei.

Members of the group had argued Mr Agyei played no role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power. They appealed to the President to appoint their leader who was instrumental in the partys 2016 campaign.

Delta Force members after the attack on Mr Agyei

There was public outrage following the attack and subsequently, 21 members of the group were arrested. They were arraigned before a Kumasi Circuit court, but out of the 21 only 13 people turned up for the hearing.

Minutes after the Presiding judge had directed the men to be remanded, some Delta Force members numbering 50 stormed the place to free the 13.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, had said the 13 fled through the backdoor reserved for the judge.

The 13 men turned themselves in and have been granted bail in the sum of GHC10,000 with two sureties each.

They also pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping lawful custody and were sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units and a bond of good behaviour.

Some of the 13 Delta Force escapees at the court

The President after a retreat at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi said the conduct of Delta Force had no place in the law-governed country that he was determined to build.

He cautioned Ghanaians against taking the law into their hands, warning perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with due process.

But the NDC said rather than sounding a loud warning to members of the two groups, the President chose to cynically pontificate.

"As a lawyer, President Akufo-Addo is an officer of the court and should, therefore, be concerned when the court is physically attacked and the Presiding judge threatened, but President Akufo-Addo doesn't seem to care," Mr Portuphy said.

He described the court's judgment on the unlawful escape from custody of the 13 as "shambolic and theatrical," and that it will have grave ramifications for law and order in the country.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman has expressed optimism about the political fortunes of the party, saying it will comeback in 2020.

Kofi Portuphy said the NDC will be voted for in the next elections because there is growing discontent by Ghanaians with the performance of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP's).

Related Article: Take your complaints to Botchwey Committee, not radio  Kofi Adams

Addressing a news conference in Accra Wednesday, the former National Disaster and Managment Organisation (NADMO) boss said Ghanaians have regretted voting for the NPP after three months in power.

Dont we hear Ghanaians express regret that they have exchanged their colour TVs for black and white? he asked, adding the NDC will bounce back in 2020.

Former President John Mahama

The ice of shock that caked the faces of NDC members following the partys humiliating defeat in the 2016 elections does not appear to have melted away. Supporters of the party are still angry and frustrated four months after former President John Mahama lost his bid to get re-elected.

The Prof. Kwesi Botchwey committee that was set up to investigate the partys debacle has submitted its report to the party leadership, but some senior members continue to attack one another in the media for the defeat.

But Mr Portuphy has appealed to members to channel their frustrations and anger into the reorganisation of the party.

Those aspiring for positions must understand that we need a strong party, he said, adding the only way to fight the NPP is to have a united front.

Mr Portuphy said the challenges facing the NDC are similar to the ones it faced after it lost the 2000 elections. At that time we managed to overcome that.

The NDC will bounce back in 2020, he said drawing applause from the gathering of party functionaries.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
The Chairman of opposition National Democratic Congress has described as "shambolic and theatrical" the E2,400 fine handed to each of the 13 members of the vigilante group Delta Force for daring to escape from the custody of the court.

Kofi Portuphy said the court cannot "treat lightly" a grievous offence in which "local terrorists" associated with the governing New Patriotic Party physically attacked the courts.

Addressing a press conference, Wednesday, the NDC leader blamed the president for acts of vandalism and attacks perpetrated by militant groups affiliated to the NPP.

He said the attacks by the Delta Force, Invincible force, are the "latest manifestation of Akufo-Addo's all die be die mantra."

He said "the Akufo-Addo presidency is complicit in the violent attacks" which have seen these groups seize cars, offices, toll booths attacked and killed supporters of the NDC.

The country has been held hostage by lawless activities of vigilante groups affiliated to the governing National Democratic Congress.

The groups, especially the Delta Force, became even more popular when they notoriously burst into the offices of the Ashanti Region Security Coordinator and bundled out the president's appointee.

They claimed George Agyei did not play any role in the victory that brought the NPP to office and so did not deserve to be appointed to occupy that office.

When they were arrested and dragged to court, their colleagues, organised themselves, besieged the courtroom and had them freed.

The 13 who escaped have since returned and were slapped with a fine of 2,400 each for escaping.

The court is however yet to rule on the substantive matter.

But the NDC chairman is not happy with the court ruling. He said the suspects deserve greater and stiffer punishment for their acts of lawlessness.

He said the NPP is "sowing seeds of domestic terrorism" which, if goes unchecked, will harm the country in the future.

"The real danger in not dealing with these groups is that they can easily grow into international terrorist groups like the Bokoharam and ISIS," he warned.

Loud silence?

The NDC chair fired a gun scatter attack at the clergy, civil society groups and the Ghana Bar Association, accusing them of watching in silence the lawless state in which the country has been plunged.

He wondered why these groups, who were hitherto vociferous in their condemnation of events under the NDC regime, will suddenly go quiet in the face of these lawless attacks.

Even though Civil Society groups, the clergy the GBA have been loud in their criticism of the Delta Force, the NDC chair is not impressed.

"Where was the Peace Council, the Ghana Bar Association when they were seizing toilets, cars?" he charged, hoping the criticisms by these groups during the NDC regime were not "borne out political or ethnic prejudices."

The NDC chair also accused the president of running a government of deception which the NDC will challenge every step of the way.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the newly sworn-in Deputy Ministers to perform their assigned roles so as to shame their detractors who used unpalatable words to describe their appointments.

He said words such as obscene, jobs for the boys, which were used to describe the announcement of the list of Deputy Ministers, imposes a clear obligation on you to justify your selection, adding that your success vindicates me.

The President said this Wednesday, when he swore in 50 Deputy Ministers of State, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, signaling the complete composition of his central government.

President Akufo-Addo recently nominated 50 deputies and 4 others to serve as Ministers of State at the presidency and ministries, bringing to 110 his total number of ministers, the highest in Ghanas Fourth Republic.

The President came under intense criticism since the announcement of the last batch of his appointments. While some have argued that the decision will lead to bureaucracy, others believe that it will only worsen corruption.

I dont believe that my government in the Fourth Republic has big numbers in view of the swollen challenges, the President said in an interview with the Daily Graphic and Ghana Television in defense of his action.

But the President who described himself as a man in a hurry noted while he swore in his Deputy Ministers noted the success of their in their assigned roles at their respective ministries will be a function of three things.

The firstly, he pointed out the spirit of loyalty that will be exhibited to their Ministers, especially as Article 79(1) of the Constitution provides that a Deputy Minister is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Minister and with the prior approval of Parliament, to assist the Minister in the performance of his or her functions.

Loyalty to the Minister is the fundamental premise for the success of your work. I will not countenance any acts of disloyalty or subversion of your Minister, for I will take such an act as disloyalty to me personally, and, by inference, disloyalty to the Party and the State.

"Any Deputy, who thinks the route to advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your Minister, will be sadly mistaken. You will not profit from that conduct in Akufo-Addos presidency. I want you to work with your Minister in all sincerity and transparency. That is the guarantee of your success, and our collective success, he said.

He said the second element to success is the quality of integrity which will permeate the work of the deputy Ministers, stressing that the solemn commitment the NPP has made enjoins members of his government to serve the Ghanaian people honestly and competently.

We are called to these public appointments to provide public service, not to promote our personal gain. Accordingly, you are required to file your assets declarations expeditiously.

"Indeed, our Manifesto compels me to notify the Auditor General of the names of all Article 71 office holders, such as yourselves, within two weeks of their appointment. You will be happy to know that all your Ministers have filed their assets declarations. Follow their example, and do so promptly, he said.

The President emphasised that The third element of the success of your work is hard workwork you bring to it. You have all been carefully chosen for your portfolios. Your educational and professional backgrounds and life experiences have dictated these choices.

An opportunity is being afforded you to serve your country in an elevated capacity. Seize the opportunity with humility, but with determination, and perform, guided always by Almighty God.

"Shame your detractors, and, together, let us build that dignified, self-reliant, prosperous Ghana that successive generations of Ghanaian patriots and the founders of our free, democratic nation sought with their sweat, toil and blood.

President Akufo-Addo urged the Deputy Ministers who, also, double as Members of Parliament not to renege on their duties as members of the Legislature, urging them to balance these roles effectively.

The obviously delighted President at assembling his central government faster than any of his predecessors in the Fourth Republic was grateful to Parliament for their co-operation in this undertaking.

He explaining that sincere partnership between the legislative and executive arms of the state bodes well for the welfare of the Ghanaian people.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Former President, John Mahama, has condemned what he called the President's lacklustre approach in dealing with the lawless acts of vigilante groups affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said he is appalled by Nana Akufo-Addos inability to whip in line members of these groups, who Mr Mahama claims are also attacking supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Shortly after winning power, a pro-NPP group, Invincible Forces, attacked state institutions including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), some women under the School Feeding Programme, the Passport Office in Accra as well as some toll booths across the country.

During his maiden State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo said his government would not countenance anyone breaking the law and charged the police to apply the same rules to every citizen who fouls the law.

Another pro-NPP group, the Delta Force attacked the Kumasi Circuit court last Thursday and set free 13 of its members who were facing prosecution for acts of vandalism.

The attack, captured on video showed the group, numbering about 50, besieging the Kumasi Circuit court premises chanting.

They broke into the court and freed their members who had only weeks ago chased out the Regional Security Coordinator appointed by the president.

Commenting on these attacks and a government Task Force seizing vehicles it claims to belong to the state but were appropriated by the previous government appointees, Mr Mahama expressed surprise the government is not employing civilised processes.

At a meeting with some former appointees of the NDC government recently, he said applying a civil process was better than having troops going into peoples houses, breaking down their gates and say you are looking for vehicles.

If you cannot go to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and look through the database and find out what government vehicles are available then what kind of efficiency do we have in government?

Just this morning I heard Agyekums House was raidedAnd they [NPP] will always come back and apologize because those are not vehicles that belong to the state, he said.

This cannot continue, this thuggery is not good for our country and the point is, we thought we had a good transitionThis [incident] serves as examples that make it difficult in future when there is another transition for another government to restrain party supporters, he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
The world has witnessed yet another display of the military might of the United States with the missile strikes on Syrian targets a few days ago.

The United States justified its strikes because it believed the Assad regime was behind a chemical weapons attack on opposition strongholds in Syria last week.

The action of the United States raises serious questions of justification and the real motives behind the positions taken by the worlds superpowers on Syria.

The pattern of behaviour only goes to perpetuate the immorality of international politics.

When these dastardly scenes of chemical warfare were being given their usual high publicity in the Western media, it was quite obvious that it was designed to poison the atmosphere against the Assad regime.

In spite of all the sophisticated armed support that the rebels have enjoyed the Assad armed forces with Russian support were able to degrade and defeat so many ISIS targets and rebels. The world saw the huge blow that the Assad forces dealt the rebels.

The big question now is how an Armed Force that has virtually beaten the rebel resistance with Russian assistance and with victory on a threshold could conceive of such madness as to dump chemical weapons at innocent civilians and children. Where is the sense in this illogical accusation if it wasn't done to create a false impression in order to justify what the USA and the West are doing?

Most world leaders have gone quiet instead of condemning this subterfuge. Who are most likely in that demented situation to do such an atrocious act of chemical weapon usage?

Not too long ago the West looked away, the media kept quiet while the Yemeni were being bombed and starved of food and water. Vessels bringing aid (food and water) were blocked and children were left looking emaciated in scenes straight out of the holocaust.

Some of these Western countries must regain or reset their own internal moral compasses before embarking on such adventures. Right from the onset, when the Assad regime and other Shia nations refused to subordinate themselves to the unipolar power of the West and some Sunni powers, Russia under Putin, was one of the powers that stood tall in defence of international freedom. Russias effort to assist the Syrian government set the West to attack her economy with so-called sanctions and the reduction of the price of oil in a bid to cripple her.

This act of underhand desperation should be seen and recognised for what it is. The world cannot be so naive as not to see through this kind of confidence propaganda.

The audaciousness to embark on this fraudulent behaviour (and to follow up to this extent) can only happen as a result of the extent of decline of international morality and it is a manifestation of the decay in the quality of leadership in some parts of the world.

All in all an independent body involving neutral states must be set up to investigate where these chemicals came from. This body must be free from the influence of the accusers and must carefully investigate and expose the real perpetrators. Then and only then can the world know who the real hidden perpetrators are.

Trumps warmth or respect for Putin contained the seeds of peaceful co-existence and there were those who were so dead against it and for whatever random reason wanted to restore an antagonistic position of the old days with Russia. Looks like the negative forces who wanted to see a climate of conflict between Putin and Trump may finally have their way.

The minute Secretary of State Tillerson said enough of talking at Korea and the US ambassador at the UN staged her drama at the Security Council followed by Trumps act it was clear a scapegoat would have to be found. What better target than Assads Syria on the verge of taking a military high ground and the political process kicking in with Russia's support?

The West and their Sunni allies attempt to unseat the Syrian Government is what has precipitated this military and refugee crises in the region. Russia's attempt to prevent a handful of countries in the West from constituting themselves into global governors to decide and dispense freedom and justice is partly why this war is being fought. This is nothing more than the fraud that was perpetrated at the UN prior to the 'shock and awe' in 2003. The world cannot be so naive, so uninformed, so blind, so emasculated as not to see through this daylight robbery that's going to degrade international ethics even further? The life of freedom, justice and democracy is what's at stake. The deafening silence of most leaders around the world will lead to further degrading the already sad state of democracy.

Are these Western countries prepared to back the Iranian and Russian calls for a very competent neutral investigation? This call should have been made the first time this madness occurred. I have to repeat that a regime on the threshold of defeating its perceived enemies will not do this. A rebel group on the verge of defeat is likely to resort to this madness on the urging of its mindless backers.

The world must wake up. Leaders must wake up. Assads Government and Assange are not those in danger. Freedom, Justice and genuine democracy is what is in danger from a unipolar ambition to rule the world!!!

This has been the most vicious and persistent cowardly act over the seven-year period. America and her allies know those behind it. Russia, Assad and Iran must know those behind it. We've all kept mute about the real culprit nation and the situation has now been exploited by the US in a senseless manner that insults the intelligence of human beings. And because of the seeming ineffective denial and rejection of the act by those being accused the propaganda against them has been exploited.

No matter how much we may hate or resent Assad it's absolutely outrageous and immoral to resort to this uncivilized behaviour so as to provide the pretext to engage in military action.

Abdul Hamid who escaped the chemical weapon attack has every right to fight Assad over drum bombs etc, for anything and everything but not for the chemical weapon attack. That comes from behind himhis own backyard. Point being killing the children with the gas can serve an exploitable purpose than leaving them to be killed by Assads bombs. Let's wake up. Let's wake up. This kind of evil should not be allowed to pass!!

We have been living in an age where the ability and the capacity to make an accusation more impressive than the denial by the accused and victim seemingly puts the truth on your side. The US pulled this con at the UN before invading Iraq. This time its Syria. Syria is politically in a very very tight spot and has conducted her war with Russian support in a fairly conventional way and dislocated and dislodged ISIS and rebels in a very impressive manner when the Russian Air Force got involved. They were left with cleaning up a few areas. So why they would do anything so stupid is a question I'd like to direct to the world and especially Mr. Trump and his allies and most of all to the Western media. This daring and dangerous fraud undermines mans attempt to restore trust and integrity into words and actions of nations. The world watched Mr. Trump hack and brutalize the truth and noble people on his way into office. This behaviour will make the world unsafe. Let's show a little more respect and reverence for basic truths and natural justice.

Its unfortunate that those around Trump have taken advantage of his shortcomings. This is shameful, disgraceful and a serious indictment on the forces of good in this world. The war and its toll on human life is a painful sight for all of us. Defeat Assad if you may, but dont resort to this deceit to justify the unjustifiable. This fraud is going to be a test on the leaders of today and the citizenry.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Information Minister Mustapha Hamid has revealed that government has set specific targets for all ministers against which their performance will be measured.

He said the targets were revealed to the ministers at a three-day retreat at the Peduase Lodge which ended Monday.

Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show Tuesday morning, the Information Minister said the Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei has indicated his determination to hold ministers strictly accountable to their targets.

Mr. Hamid quoted Dr. Akoto Osei as saying he will be using three colours to indicate the performance of every minister.

If a minister fails to achieve a particular target, he will be marked red for that target.

Where steps have been taken towards the achievement of a target or set of targets, the minister will be marked yellow.

And when a target is achieved, the minister will be marked blue which is a high score, for that target.

Mr. Hamid told Super Morning Show host Kojo Yankson that President Nana Akufo-Addo spelt out his vision to all the ministers at the retreat.

According to him, the President will be keenly assessing the results of his ministers and determining whether or not what they are doing aligns with his vision for the country.

Mr. Hamid believes that whether a minister is kept in office may depend on how many blue marks they have earned at the end of the period for which they are being assessed.

He said the president intends to hold regular retreats to assess the extent of achievement of the target set his ministers.

The president has promised an ambitious plan to transform Ghana and build an enduring and resilient economy.

Some of his promises have been dismissed by his political oppoents as lofty and designed to win elections.

But addressing journalists after the three-day retreat, the president said his government was determined to deliver on the promises made to Ghanaians.

He reiterated his governments decision not to procure new vehicles no matter how dilapidated the vehicles we inherited are. We will manage with them.

He said his government had also cancelled the practice where public office holders are allowed to purchase their official vehicles which are two years old and more.

The country has had a serious problem of car chasing and car seizures whenever there is a change in government because government officials buy vehicles and sometimes the new government is unsure which vehicle has been purchased legally.

President Akufo-Addo said the policy will no longer apply.

This will not be the first time such an announcement is being made; President John Mahama made a similar announcement but by the time his government handed over power, more than 200 saloon cars had been bought by government appointees.

It remains to be seen whether president Akufo-Addos directive will stand the test of time.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The article stated that the US should laugh at the rhetoric coming out of the offices of Rouhani and other Iranian officials. And this is not an unfamiliar response to an ongoing outpouring of such rhetoric, which has actually intensified since Iran and six world powers led by the United States concluded negotiations trading sanctions relief for some restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program. In just the first months of 2017, the Iranian military and the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have conducted several missile tests and drills accompanied by explicit statements of readiness for war with the West.

These sorts of statements are well understood to be drastic overstatements of Irans military capabilities, which have been hobbled by the effects of years-long economic sanctions. Nevertheless, the rhetoric continues to be spread via Iranian state media in the interests of portraying a domestic image of strength, and perhaps also to encourage uncertainty among Western policymakers regarding Irans intentions and limits.

Stevensons editorial suggests a lack of concern with testing those limits, and as such it praises the administration of US President Donald Trump for using the missile strike on Shayrat Airfield to signify a clear turning point in relations with the Iranian regime. Stevenson went on to urge the US to continue along this path by blacklisting the Revolutionary Guards and designating them as a terrorist organization, thereby diminishing their influence in Syria and throughout the region.

It appears as though this approach might be supported even by some commentators who are far less dismissive that Stevenson about the Iranian threat to Western interests. A report that appeared in the Washington Post on Tuesday sought to outline these threats, and it emphasized that they did not originate in the raw military capabilities that Iran has boasted of in recent demonstrations, but rather in the Islamic Republics capability for asymmetrical and proxy warfare.

Retaliatory measures by Iran could have ripple effects in the region, targeting everything from U.S. Navy warships to U.S.-allied Arab governments, the article explained. 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 U.S. allies in the region.

To this it might be added that the leading opposition to the Iranian regime, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, recently disseminated assessments of the Revolutionary Guards terrorist and paramilitary training program, which found that the training of foreign fighters has dramatically increased in recent months and years as the IRGC has capitalized on its growing financial empire. This has in turn helped Iran to gain a deep foothold in Syria, among other places.

Nevertheless, the Washington Post report notes that there is no sign of retaliation from Iran in spite of the harsh rhetoric that emerged following the missile strike. In fact, as of Tuesday there had not even been any reports of close encounters between US Navy and IRGC vessels, something that had become practically commonplace in the aftermath of the January 2016 implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. This relative silence might even suggest that Trumps confrontational posture has had a limiting effect on Irans actual shows of force. This would in turn leave the threat of IRGC proxies as the only thing demanding immediate attention.

A recent editorial by CNNs Ranj Alaaldin was far from insensitive to this threat, even going so far as to say that Iran and its proxies dominate realities on the ground in the Syrian Civil War. Nevertheless, Alaaldin concluded that Irans deep foothold and breadth of proxy forces only called for the Islamic Republic to be contained in Syria, as opposed to being confronted via direct combat. And indeed this appears to be precisely in line with Stevensons suggestions, insofar as economic restrictions on the IRGC would go a long way toward limiting Tehrans ability to supply and staff its proxy forces in Syria and throughout the region.

Alaadin also agrees with Stevenson in arguing that the US missile strike was a good first step toward a strategy of containment, insofar as it undermines the confidence that Assads allies had about the security of his position. Furthermore, Alaaldin observes that Tehran and Damascus are moving away from Moscows sphere of influence, opening up the possibility for the US to coordinate with Russia to contain Iran, which is loosely allied with Russia in Syrian but also poses a threat to Russian relations with Israel.

This view of a potentially changing Russian role is perhaps undermined by a fact that Stevenson acknowledges: that Rouhanis threats against the US were piggybacking off of those expressed by Moscow. The danger of angering the Russians at such a crucial time was also the emphasis of an Al Monitor article on Monday, which claimed that the faltering relations between Iran and Russia could be strengthened by American miscalculation.

Nevertheless, these fears do not seem to apply to the Stevensons or Alaaldins suggestions, which put their focus squarely on Iran, whose containment might serve Russian interests even if direct confrontation of the Syrian regime does not. High-level disagreements between Russia and Iran seem to be escalating, such that they could present opportunities to use Russia as an asset against Iranian influence before the US turns its attention directly to the issue of Bashar al-Assad.
The Information Minister has said that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not appoint a new security coordinator for the Ashanti Region.

Mustapha Hamid said revoking the appointment of Mr George Agyei and appointing a new person will be endorsing impunity and yielding to lawlessness.

Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show, he said although he has not discussed the issue with the President, he is certain that he will not go back on his word.

Last month, about 200 members of the pro-NPP group Delta Force, stormed the offices of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, attacked him physically to force him out of office.

According to the group, it cannot work with George Agyei because he was 'not part of the struggle' to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress during the December 2016 general elections.

The group said its leader should rather be appointed to occupy the post.

But Mustapha Hamid said the behaviour of the group was inconsistent with the values of the NPP.

If because of [their action] the President were to retreat on that appointment, that will give vent to the action that the Delta Forces took.

I think that to spite them, this appointment will stand, he added.

In an interview with Joy News' Erastus Asare Donkor, leader of the Delta Forces said ' while we were suffering from police beatings, he was seen no where among us'.

The group had previously sent a petition to the Regional Minister and other senior NPP figures in the party asking that Mr Agyei's appointment be rescinded.

They took the law into their own hands when they noticed Mr Agyei had started work.

Mr Hamid said President Akufo-Addo is bent on ensuring that there is respect for the rule of law under his presidency and nothing will change that.

We cannot be in the business of appeasing people to the detriment of our democratic arrangement and I dont think the president is prepared, at all, to cede any ground on that matter.

He has made it clear to the media that he is not prepared to back down on his mandate to protect and defend the constitution of our land.

The Information Minister stressed that government will not tolerate any group of people who congregate for the purposes of infringing on other peoples rights.

He is certain that the manner in which the current issue is being handled will deter other groups from behaving like the Delta Force.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | [email protected]
There are conflicting reports about the purpose of Thursday's visit by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) bigwigs to the residence of the partys founder, Jerry John Rawlings.

While initial reports suggested that the call by a delegation of NDC MPs on the former President was aimed at getting Mr Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, to play a lead role in the party again, later reports suggest otherwise.

On Thursday, April 8, 2017, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, led a delegation of NDC legislators to visit the former president at his residence in Accra for party-unity talks.

We trust that if you guide us and lead us well and the party goes through a proper process of reorganisation to strengthen its grassrootswe will not be in opposition, the Daily Guide newspaper quoted Mr Iddrisu as saying.

The Minority Leader, who is marked as a potential flagbearer of the party in the next election, according to the paper, acknowledged the Rawlingses clout in Ghanaian politics and expressed the hope that their support in 2020 would improve the fortunes of the NDC.

Haruna Iddrisu is tipped to lead the NDC in 2020

Mr Iddrisus appeal is seen as a move to mend cracks within the NDC following the partys abysmal performance in 2016 when ex President John Mahama was on the ticket as the presidential candidate.

A fact-finding Committee into the cause of partys electoral defeat, led by Prof Kwesi Botchwey, exposed the storm within the party after different factions within the party attacked each other during meetings.

Party deep throats reveal that while one faction blames former President Mahama for the 2016 defeat, another blames the Rawlingses for assisting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to win the elections.

The faction blaming the Rawlingses say that Mrs Rawlings, who defected from the NDC to form the National Democratic Party (NDP), demonstrated open support for the NPP campaign and boosted the then oppositions chances to win the elections.

During the visit to the Rawlingses, Mr Haruna reportedly said that NDC members can express their grievances, but they should not do it in a manner that will jeopardise the chances of the party and its preparedness for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

However, NDC MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is reported to have denied media reports that the visit the Rawlingses was to appeal to them to return the party.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

He is reported in these reports to have explained that the visit to the former president was to gain insight into how to tackle the conflicts within the party and get it back to full form for a 2020 comeback.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]
North Tongu Member of Parliament is calling for an amendment of the Presidential Transition Act to make it illegal for outgoing government officials to purchase state vehicles.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa if the practice is not outlawed, the possibility of it being abused by successive government is considerably high.

He was commenting on a directive given by the president Nana Akufo-Addo to his appointees not to attempt to buy their official cars.

The president had already issued a directive to his appointees not to buy new vehicles.

The directive is part of measures by the government to channel limited resources into fulfilling ambitious campaign promises.

Discussing the matter on Joy FM's Newsnite programme, Monday, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa welcomed the president's call for officials not to buy their cars.

He said it is his principled position that government appointees must not buy the properties they worked with whilst in office.

He had in 2009, taken the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey to court over his decision to buy the state bungalow he lived in whilst serving as Minister.

According to Ablakwa, ex-president John Mahama also issued similar directive for outgoing state officials not to buy their vehicles.

However, during the period of the transition, he said it was agreed that the outgoing officials can buy their vehicles, a move some of them took advantage of but he did not.

Ablakwa said if the act is outlawed, there can be no negotiation on the matter by any president.

The North Tongu MP was however incensed by the president's directive for appointees not to buy new vehicles.

Ablakwa said the president's directive lacked candour. He said the president cannot now attempt to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.

He insists some Ministries Departments and Agencies have already bought their vehicles and found it misleading that the president will now issue a directive stopping them from buying.

According to Ablakwa, only last Friday, Parliament approved a loan of $2 million for cars to be bought for Council of State members. He did not understand why such a loan will be approved in the face the directive by the president.

He said in the coming days the minority will hold a press conference to show Ghanaians which of the ministries have bought new vehicles, the president's directive notwithstanding.

He asked the president to be open and transparent to the people and stop creating the impression that on assumption of office they have never bought cars.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians he will continue to insist on respect of the rule of law in the governance of the country.

He said although some events in Kumasi presented some difficulties, he will not waver in his resolve to serve the country under the condition of rule of law.

Interacting with the media after a retreat at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi Monday, the President said his government is determined to deliver on its promises.

Related Article: Video: NPP's Delta Force free vigilante suspects in court custody

President Akufo-Addo's comments come four days after members of pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force, raided a Kumasi circuit court and freed 13 of their members who were standing trial for violent behaviour and assault.

The 13 are part of some 21 men who were arrested by the police following the violent assault of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei, by the group. Delta Force had suggested the appointment of its leader because of the role he played toward the NPP's 2016 election victory.

Related Article: Delta Force escapees: Turn yourselves in or be flushed out - Interior Minister

Displeased with the court's decision to remand the 13 ahead of the April 20 hearing, the men numbering 50 stormed the premises to release their colleagues.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Apeatu, had said the 13 fled through the back of the court that is reserved for the judge.

The 13 turned themselves in after repeated calls by the police and Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, to do that. The police also arrested eight of the men who played a role in the escape.

Related Article: 8 Delta Force members who stormed court remanded

A Kumasi Circuit Court has remanded the eight despite pleas by their lawyer to have them granted a bail.

The development has been widely condemned by Ghanaians who believe the security agencies were lax. They said the police failed to anticipate the situation.

Speaking on the issue for the first time, the President said he will not allow any of his appointees to subvert the law to achieve their individual ends.

"We are not wavering in that commitment and we believe the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians support us in that commitment," he said.

Ban on purchase of new cars:

President Akufo-Addo has said the moratorium placed on the purchase of new vehicles by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will not be changed.

"No matter how dilapidated the vehicles are, we have to make do with them," he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) is demanding urgent government action to stop illegal mining in three-months.

It says if the the government fails, it will be dragged to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The PPP at a news conference in Accra Monday said it wants government to come out with failsafe strategies to save the remaining water bodies from destructive mining activities.

PPP National Chairman, Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond, said the party will not accept the lip service that has characterised the many promises of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as far as the fight against galamsey is concerned.

PPP National Chairman, Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond

He [the President] has said so many things that have not been acted upon, he said.

The PPP's demands follow mounting pressure on government to end illegal mining that is polluting the nations water bodies and destroying the vegetative cover.

The Ghana Water Company has shut down many of its water treatment plants because of the condition of the water bodies. The company said it is unable to treat the water bodies for consumers because they are muddied and filled with grits.

Some youth mining in Ghana

Related Article: Water crisis: Tano River dries up for the first time in 40 years

The Tano River in the Brong Ahafo Region has dried up for the first time in 40 years, a development local authorities have blamed on illegal mining.

Also the Brim River in the Eastern Region as well as the Ankobra River in the Western Region have been muddied making it difficult for residents to use them to meet their daily needs.

Lands Minister, John Peter Amewu, has served a three-weeks notice to galamsey operators to stop their activities or be prosecuted if they are apprehended.

Some indigenes and Chinese mining in the Ankobra River in the Western Region

Related Article: Excavators seized from galamseyers must be blown up  Minister

He has also suggested that equipment used by the illegal miners should be set on fire if they are seized. This, he believes will make the cost of illegal mining burdensome.

But the PPP said the failure to decouple the Attorney-General (A-G's) Department from Justice Ministry will make it difficult to handle the galamsey menace in a non-partisan manner.

The PPP has asked for A-G and Justice Ministry to be separated because the independent prosecutor can go for these galamseyers without prejudice, Mr Brew-Hammond said.

Lands Minister, John Peter Amewu

He said the police have disclosed to them that they are unable to prosecute politically related activities because they are under the domain of the A-G.

He assured the PPP will separate the A-Gs office from the Justice Ministry if it is given the mandate to form the next government in 2021.

We will empower the police to prosecute all manner of crime...[because] polluting our water bodies should not be entertained.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
President Nana Akufo-Addo will this week unveil governments strategy to deal with the menace of illegal mining in the country (galamsey).

Ahead of the announcement of how to deal with the situation, a government delegation will on Monday visit some illegal mining sites in the Eastern Region as the deadline for illegal miners to evacuate nears.

The Eastern Region town of Akwatia is among the areas where small-scale legal and illegal mining activities are very high.

Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Benito Owusu-Bio who is leading the delegation, told Joy News Monday that the team will be assessing if small-scale diamond miners, operating legally, are being compliant with international laws.

The Akwatia visit follows the end of a retreat by President Akufo-Addo and his cabinet ministers.

The cabinet retreat, according to Joy News Presidential Correspondent, Elton John Brobey, reviewed governments performance as it approaches hundred days in office.

Our main objective today is to go there and see how prepared out artisanal diamond miners and those trading in diamonds comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, he told Joy News Monday.

The scheme prevents the trade in illicit diamonds.

A media campaign galamsey has been vociferous in fighting the destruction of vegetation, arable lands, and fresh water sources by galamsey.

Considerable airtime, space has been given to discussing the issue with a move to solving the problem.

The government also made fighting galamsey a campaign issue and has made some commitment thus far.

Even though the illegal mining is done by locals, it has emerged that Chinese nationals are also cashing in on the illegal business.

The Chinese see the campaign as targeted at them.



The Pra river is among the heavily polluted river that has been caused by galamsey.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN
Minority Spokesperson on Defence and Interior says efforts by police to crack down on political vigilantism will be fruitless unless political hands within the governing NPP stop shielding perpetrators of such acts.

According to James Agalga, senior figures within the party continue to support the group despite public pronouncements by President Akufo-Addo condemning their activities.

He [the President] said he has instructed the IGP to act, but how can the IGP act in ways that could expose him to the attacks of those groups. They are emboldened by the fact that their party is in government.

The police has announced efforts to bring to book members of the NPPs Delta Force who attacked a court in Kumasi and raided the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinating Council.

Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu who declared war on vigilantism, mass disorder and disturbances says police will not rest until these activities which are "alien to our culture" are nipped in the bud.

Ladies and gentlemen, the police service, hereby declares a war on the act of vigilantism and all other forms of mass disorder and disturbances. We shall clamp down on it with all the force that we can marshal, Mr. Asante-Apeatu declared.

But Mr. Agalga remains unconvinced.

The president may have spoken, but it appears there are some other leading members of the NPP as a political party who strongly back those vigilante groups.

That is why it is extremely difficult for the security apparatus to deal with those vigilante groups, even after the presidents directives went out there, he added.

Meanwhile, the police has called for public support in its endeavour to deal with these groups by volunteering information to enable them deal with the canker once and for all.

The police can be reached on MTN and Vodafone short code 18555 or 191 on all networks, twitter :@ GhPoliceService or facebook: GhPoliceService.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | NSA
Vice President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil says the activities of pro-NPP vigilante groups, if not controlled by the party, will erode its goodwill.

He said the actions of the thugs do not only destabilize the security of the country, but bring to question the NPPs stance on rule of law and its readiness to fight crime.

Speaking on Joy FM's news analysis programme Newfile on Saturday, Mr Bentil who is also a private legal practitioner said this is taking a lot of moral high ground from the NPP. If this doesnt stop, this will be the beginning of the end of the NPP.

The activities of pro-NPP vigilante groups  Invincible Forces and Delta Forces  have caused a lot of outrage in the country.

Since the NPP won power in the 2016 general elections, these groups have been on rampage seizing public institutions, beating up members of the opposition National Democratic Congress and sacking officials appointed by the previous government from their posts.

In a recent incident, members of the Delta Force stormed the offices of the Security Cordinator in the Ashanti regional capital Kumasi , forcing him out of office and subsequently invaded a court hearing to free the suspects arrested for the earlier raid.

The double attack on the security apparatus and the judiciary have incensed many.

Related: Video: NPP's Delta Force free vigilante suspects in court custody .

Although these actions have been condemned by some members of the party, Mr Bentil believes an attack on a court is frightening and unacceptable.

The court is the final bulwark of our democracy, if we start attacking courts, we are all going to be subjects to the rule of the jungle.

Mr Bentil said the NPPs attempt to juxtapose the behaviour of the hooligans to that of the Montie 3, is disappointing.

The Circuit Court where the incident occured

For him, no matter how hard the party tries to justify it, the lesson is that whether you toast it, fry it or boil it, or bake it, there is no way of making it look good.

Judges are people we call My Lord, we give them titles that we ordinarily give God Even the presidents actions are subject to the review of a judge so the last thing you do is to attack a court, he added.

Police response

Mr Bentil described the response of the police during the incident at court as disastrous.

He said the police had enough time to call for back up before the incident because the thugs went to the court early and started the disturbances before their case was called.

It has become apparent that for about an hour before the proceedings the Delta Forces had already besieged the court and started disrupting proceedings of cases that were called before theirs.

Related: Ashanti Region Police Commander takes responsibility for Delta Force court raid

Their failure to take a proactive step for Mr Bentil, is worrying.

Regardless of what happened, the police should have known that this kind of situation required more men. Even if they made a mistake in arranging the resources they needed in the beginning, you had all this time, so was there no kind of monitoring of the situation.

I worry that you have a situation where people mass up break into a courtthat catastrophic failure of the police should be watched and some people must answer questions. This should not happen again, he said.

Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr who was also a panel on the show said the thugs should be prosecuted.

He said there is no way the 13 people, if evidence provides sufficient indication that they were wrong, should be allowed to walk.

Deal with them according to law, he said, adding that there should be an additional charge for escaping and those who invaded the court should be punished.

He described the behaviour of the thugs as a the highest form of contempt.

He said this issue should not be swept under the carpet because It is about time that now we see evidence of how the prosecutions ended and I pray that we have custodial sentence.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | [email protected]
The Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the recent attacks by the Kumasi-based vigilante group affiliated to the governing party are regrettable and unfortunate.

Freddie Blay apologised on behalf of the party that some of its loyal members have taken to such an action in showing their dissension with a decision taken by the President.

We are sorry that some members of our party no matter what they call themselves engaged in what the Delta Forces got involved in. To anyone or institutions, the judiciary especially, who might have been affected, we are sorry, he said.

Speaking to Evans Mensah on Joy FMs Ghana Connect programme on Friday, he said, we condemned what happened on Thursday, it is regrettable and we asked all loyal members involved to give themselves up to the law.

What happened should not be encouraged and we are sorry that it has happened. We are hoping it will not be repeated anyway, he said.

The Delta Force group attacked the Kumasi circuit court on Thursday and set free 13 of its members who were facing prosecution for acts of vandalism.

The attack, captured on video showed the group, numbering about 50, besieging the Kumasi Circuit court premises chanting.

They broke into the court and freed their members who had only weeks ago chased out the Regional Security Coordinator appointed by the president.

This was after 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, an act that has widely been condemned across the country.

Mr Blay said it is disheartening to see that those involved are loyal members of the NPP who have worked for the party at different times which is appreciated but their acts cannot be condoned.

He was emphatic that helping the party in or out of power in whatever capacity does not warrant anyone misbehaving or acting otherwise as the NPP will not countenance any such act from any member.

On the question of disbanding vigilante groups affiliated to the party, he said, "the party has not deliberately gone to gather people and label them Delta Forces or Invincible Forces...we can't say that nobody should belong to any organisation since we did not form it."

He explained that they are members from various constituencies and polling stations who come in to help during events like rallies to maintain discipline.

Mr Blay charges those in charge of security and maintaining order to take whoever on irrespective of their affiliation.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
A private legal practitioner Gary Nimako is suggesting the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central should have been expelled for impugning the integrity of Parliament.

Speaking on Joy FM's Newsfile programme, Saturday, the lawyer said Mahama Ayariga, who is also a lawyer, denigrated the reputations of people and brought Parliament into disrepute, crimes serious enough for expulsion.

He was discussing the infamous bribery scandal in Parliament involving some members of the Appointment Committee of Parliament.

Ayariga was found guilty of contempt of Parliament after he alleged without evidence, that the then Energy Minister nominee Boakye Agyarko had paid E3,000.00 each to the minority members on the Appointment Committee to approve the nominee.

Agyarko's approval had been held in abeyance after the minority members felt slighted by comments he made during the vetting process.

Ayariga told an Accra based radio station, Radio Gold, that the Chairman of the Appointment Committee Joe Osei Owusu paid the money to the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak on behalf of the Energy Minister nominee.

He said Muntaka then paid the money to the Minority members on the committee. Initially they collected the money thinking it was their sitting allowance, only to find out later that the money was bribe so they returned it," he added.

Shortly after the allegation, Joe Osei Owusu vehemently denied the allegation and threatened to sue the MP. So too was Boakye Agyarko who insisted he had not given a dime and had absolutely no motivation to do same because he was going to be approved anyway, even if by a majority decision.

Muntaka Mubarak who was accused of paying the money, swore by Allah that he did not receive any money from Osei Owusu, neither did he pay same to any member of the minority on the Appointment Committee.

In the heat of the denials, two other minority MPs on the Appointment Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhassan Suhuyini confirmed to having received the bribe and returning it later.

The allegation and subsequent denial triggered a huge public uproar, forcing the Speaker of Parliament to set a five member committee to investigate the allegation.

The Committee chaired by Essikado Ketan Joe Ghartey sat on the matter, held public sitting and interrogated the key suspects in the matter.

After a two month investigation, the Committee presented a 50-paged report which found the Member of Parliament Mahama Ayariga guilty of contempt of Parliament.

The committee found that the member only peddled rumour and had nothing of evidential value to substantiate his claim.

Joe Ghartey said the conduct of the MP was reprehensible and an affront to the reputation of Parliament.

He therefore recommended that the Speaker should sanction the MP after he had rendered an apology to the House.

Ayariga attempted an apology after he protested the outcome of the investigation.

He did not understand how a fact finding committee, will turn itself into a fault finding committee and find him guilty of contempt of Parliament.

"Mr Speaker if you say I should apologise, I apologise," he rendered a half hearted apology to the Speaker which got the majority members of the House even more infuriated.

The Speaker adjourned sitting but cautioned the MP to return with a formal apology before he would give his ruling on the matter.

On April 7, 2017, Ayariga read his unqualified apology on the floor, admitting to peddling rumour and apologising for same.

The Speaker, then chose to forgive the MP saying "he should go and sin no more." He however warned that if he should repeat such a conduct, he would be dealt with severely.

On Newsfile, Gary Nimako, who is with the NPP said the Speaker was too lenient with the MP.

He said the demeanour of Ayariga did not show a man who is remorseful for his shameful conduct.

When host of Newsfile Samson Lardy Anyenini, read out possible sanctions for Ayariga which included expulsion, Nimako stated, "that is what should have happened."

He said Ayariga being a lawyer, should have known that his allegation must be backed with evidence and to the extent that he failed to back his allegation with evidence should have faced the biggest axe of expulsion.

But Editor of the Crusading Guide Newspaper Kweku Baako Jnr who was also on the show was of the opinion that the sanction was in order.

He described the whole incident as irritating, annoying but "believed nothing will come out of this in terms of evidence.

He added the Joe Ghartey committee did far better than previous other inquisitions into similar allegation of bribery against MPs.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
It is expected that the candidates on this shortlist will all register for the campaign and submit themselves to vetting by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that is empowered to disqualify candidates and legislation it deems to be at odds with the Iranian constitution or sharia law. Afterwards, the Popular Fronts strategy calls for four of the five candidates to withdraw in order to make way for a unified hardline challenge to Rouhani at the time of the election, scheduled for May 19.

According to the Associated Press, the vetting process is supposed to be completed by April 27, leaving the confirmed candidates about three weeks to work out any remaining conflicts before Iranians go to the polls. The formal campaign period is even shorter, meaning the remaining challengers will probably need an aggressive strategy for defeating the incumbent.

The hardline faction of Iranian politics has become increasingly antagonistic to the Rouhani administration since it spearheaded nuclear negotiations with six world powers and especially since the resulting agreement went into effect in January 2016, exchanging limited restrictions to the Iranian nuclear program for relief from relevant economic sanctions. According to the Guardian, the animosity toward Rouhani has grown so severe that some hardliners are even pushing to have him disqualified by the Guardian Council before standing for reelection.

This appears to be an unlikely scenario, even though Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has recently voiced his own serious criticisms of Rouhani, suggesting for instance that the nuclear deal has had insufficient positive impact on the Iranian economy. The clerical leaders criticism is counterbalanced somewhat by the fact that he barred Rouhanis divisive predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from making a run at reclaiming his seat during this election cycle. Khamenei has rejected the prospect of national reconciliation through the release of Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, but he is evidently also fearful of exacerbating lingering popular resentments by showing a clear preference for distinctly hardline figures.

The supreme leader himself is generally regarded as representing the hardline, as evidenced by his close association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has led the way in cracking down on activists and journalists ahead of the election, as well as in antagonizing US Naval forces and other Western entities in the Persian Gulf. Nevertheless, it appears that the Rouhani presidency is tolerable, even if not preferable for Khamenei, thanks in part to the administration declining to pursue the Mousavi and Karroubi, who have been under house arrest without trial or charge since 2011.

Human rights groups and political opponents of the Iranian regime have been pointing out Rouhanis failure to live up to this and other campaign promises throughout the four years of his presidency. This arguably leaves reformists without a serious voice in the elections, although some backed Rouhanis original election bid. The Guardian says that they are expected to do the same in the forthcoming election, although it was also reported early in his presidency that Rouhani had lost a good deal of his original support over his failure to live up to expectations on virtually all matters other than the nuclear negotiations.

Thus, the president is struggling to defend his moderate credentials ahead of the election, while also striving to avoid further incurring the wrath of hardliners. Toward that end, he held a press conference on Monday which IranWire characterized as an unofficial launch of his reelection campaign. In it, he claimed that his administration was defending free speech and civil rights, and that it had promoted a freer and more open culture by granting permits for products and publications that might otherwise have been barred or kept in limbo. But this account of his four-year legacy is easily disputed by reference to ongoing and even worsening restrictions on free speech and freedom of assembly, especially in light of the law enforcement crackdown that has apparently been driven not only by the Revolutionary Guards but also by Rouhanis own Intelligence Ministry.

Days earlier, the President directed Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi to speak out against a recent slew of arrests including those of a dozen administrators for the Telegram instant messaging application. But this move came only after reformist lawmakers exerted their own pressure on Rouhani over this issue, and after reports emerged to indicate that the Ministry had carried out some arrests and had in any event taken no steps to diminish the IRGCs domestic overreach.

Rouhanis reaction to reformist outcry also included a public message to Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli asking him to explain the suspicious arrests of a number of media activists on the eve of the elections. But Rouhani arguably sent a mixed message by coupling this request with a directive to avoid security violations. The Center for Human Rights in Iran called renewed attention to Rouhanis statement in the context of a report on more recent statements by Judiciary Chief Sadegh Larijani warning against any new protests like those that gave rise to the Green Movement in 2009, following Ahmadinejads disputed reelection.

Regime opponents and human rights defenders have tended to highlight a distinct mismatch between Rouhanis public statements and the actions he has taken as president. For instance, recent arrests have clearly targeted dual nationals solely on the basis of their having lived abroad, yet these arrests stand in direct contrast to Rouhanis repeated claims that expatriate Iranians would be free to return to the country under his presidency, without consequence.

In other cases there may be positive trends that the Rouhani administration can highlight in order to argue that there has been domestic progress, but these arguments seemingly depend upon ignorance of other, contrary trends. For instance, Al Jazeera reported upon a recent Amnesty International analysis regarding the global use of the death penalty, which found that capital punishment had significantly decreased worldwide and specifically in the Islamic Republic. But the 2016 figure of at least 567 Iranian executions is still higher than any other country apart from China, and presumably higher than Chinas execution rate on a per-capita basis.

Irans recent decrease in executions only had a positive impact upon world figures because of how staggeringly high its rate of executions is in comparison to global standards, and also because the previous year saw a more than 20-year high of approximately 1,000 hangings, in the very middle of Rouhanis term as president.

But although these sorts of statistics indicate that Rouhani has not had a notably positive domestic impact and likely would not do so in a second term, there may be reason to believe that things would get worse in the event of his defeat by a hardline challenger. Last weeks meeting of the Popular Front of Revolutionary Forces demonstrated the existence of a clear front-runner in the form of Ebrahim Raisi, a prominent cleric who had previously been identified as a potential successor to Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. His status as a potentially serious challenge to Rouhani was solidified on Tuesday when he reportedly became the first member of the hardline shortlist to register as a candidate.

The Guardian states that this move came as a surprise, but other sources including Al Monitor suggested that Raisis candidacy was all but a foregone conclusion well ahead of the opening of registration. But whether expected or not, it has met with consternation from some reformist figures and established critics of the clerical regime. The Center for Human Rights in Iran quoted Ahmad Montazeri, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Hossein Montazeri, as saying that Raisis candidacy is an insult to the people of Iran, in large part because of the role that he played in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.

The younger Montazeri was arrested and initially sentenced to 21 years in prison last year as a result of his having released an audio recording of his father criticizing fellow regime authorities for the massacre  a confrontation that ultimately led to the ayatollah being ousted from the regime. Raisi was one of four clerical judges who ordered the mass execution, which was primarily aimed at destroying the resistance group called the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran.

That group, still an active opponent of the clerical regime, continues to call attention to the massacre and the ongoing presence of its perpetrators in positions of influence. On Tuesday, the PMOIs parent organization, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, released a timeline of violently repressive activities for which Raisi has been responsible throughout his career. But in the past, the NCRI has also called attention to such facts as President Rouhanis appointment of Mostafa Pourmohammadi, another leading participant in the 1988 massacre, to the position of Justice Minister.

This criticism of both electoral factions goes to show that for dissidents and many reformists, the forthcoming election presents no option that can realistically be expected to yield domestic reform. Some reformists have put forward the idea of fielding alternatives to Rouhani, but his administration has opposed the efforts. Ostensibly, this is to discourage the supreme leader from disqualifying Rouhani and leaving an untested candidate in its place. But there is little to suggest that Khamenei is interested in such a replacement, since Rouhani has thus far posed little real challenge to the hard line.
Recent activities of riotous groups affiliate to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)  Invincible Forces and Delta Force, has turned the country into a ticking time bomb, the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has said.

We therefore call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take responsibility and muster the political courage to deal with the rebellious groups decisively and urgently restore the sanctity of national security.

"Ghana cannot and should not continue to entertain groups that are gradually transforming into a terrorist group as their recent bravado of invading a circuit court in Kumasi is an affront to the countrys judicial system,Professor Edmund N. Delle, CPP Chairman told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday.

The CPP joins right thinking Ghanaians to condemn the act; stressing that the acts of these two groups, especially after the December 7 Elections could result in social unrest as the increasing violence, threatens countrys security and political stability.

Prof Delle called for broad based national investigation into their operations, saying these groups may have stockpiled arms and ammunitions. We are dealing with a major national security risk, but our responses are weak and uncoordinated.

The CPP Leader who described the April 6 act of terrorism at the Kumasi Circuit Court as Impunity and aggression against the Judicial Establishment, urged the NPP to denounce the group; their action is not in the interest of the nation you are governing.

He explained that the group started attacking individuals and groups just after the victory of the NPP; alluded to themselves the power to seize purported state property in the hands of individuals, attacked School Feeding caterers; and defied the Police.

Prof Delle said the group has now moved a notch higher of taking over national security; Ghanaians are not safePresident Akufo-Addo must act now.

He also acknowledged the swift responses from the Interior Minister, Minister of Defense and the Inspector General of Police but stressed the need for demonstration of Political will by government; security dealings with politically affiliated groups are delicate unless the Political establishment gives the green light security personnel are incapacitated.

The CPP Chairman commended the media for reportage on the issues and also creating a platform for national condemnation; We urged the fourth estate of the realm to be vigilant and hold us political actors accountable. The media must continue to play its watch dog role.

Some members of Delta Force, a vigilante group affiliated to the ruling NPP in the Ashanti region on Thursday morning stormed a Kumasi Circuit Court to free 13 of their members who were facing charges for causing mayhem at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

The 13 members were detained in connection with attacking the Regional Security Coordinator.

The marauding group was alleged to have attacked the presiding judge who had earlier ruled that the suspects be remanded to appear before court on April 20, 2017.
Lagos (AFP) - A bloody clash between the army and police in Nigeria's restive northeastern Yobe state left one soldier and three police dead, a security source told AFP.

The police confirmed the fracas in the state capital of Damaturu, but did not say if there were casualties.

"The Nigeria police force is abreast of the unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of today 12th April, 2017 in Damaturu between the personnel of the force and that of the Nigerian army," police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said in a statement.

He said an investigation had been launched to determine "the causes of the incident and deal with the situation appropriately to prevent such occurrence in the future".

The army authorities were not immediately available for comment.

A security officer who did not want to be named, told AFP trouble began on Tuesday when an army officer in a mufti (civilian dress) ran into a convoy of the head of the police mobile unit in Damaturu.

"The army officer was beaten up by the police for his action. This morning, soldiers stormed the police station and took away the head of the mobile unit to their military base," he said.

He said the the soldiers' action angered some police officers who invaded the army base to free their boss.

"There was a shootout in which a soldier and a policeman were killed on the spot while two policemen who were injured later died of their wounds," he said.

Yobe and two other states -- Borno and Adamawa -- in the northeast are the worst-hit in the eight-year Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in Nigeria.

Boko Haram, which aims to impose a hardline Islamist legal system in Nigeria's mainly-Muslim north, has killed some 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.

A joint military operation, comprising Nigerian army, navy, airforce and the police, and aided by regional forces, is currently battling the jihadists.
Social Enterprise Ghana is calling on authorities to pay attention to a draft social enterprise policy meant to support the industry.

Organisations which are less keen on making profits despite social work initiatives are in a fix on how to register their organisations.

Currently, such institutions can register their organisation either only as non-governmental organisations or a limited liability companies.

Executive Director of African Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Franklin Owusu-Karikari, tells Luv Biz the present situation is a disincentive.

They are social in nature but they make profit but there is nothing in the system for them to fit in. We dont have room for people who do social work so all of them have to register as NGOs, he said.

Though Social Enterprise Ghana drafted a social enterprise policy developed to address all these bottlenecks that are affecting industries, only a little response has been received.

The group is, however, hoping the Trade Ministry will take a look at it and work on it.

Mr. Owusu-Karikari believes when passed the law will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Ghana Young Entrepreneurs, joins the campaign to extend the policy to cover local youth entrepreneurship.

Its mandate is to using advocacy to impact on policy for youth entrepreneurship.

Chief Executive, Sheriff Ghali, is positive a national working document is required to engage youth into entrepreneurship.

We are currently moving something with commonwealth alliance of young entrepreneurs.

Ghana should have a clear-cut policy, working ones that will give us a road-map into helping Youth entrepreneurs in Ghana, which we are currency happening, he believes.

The advocates spoke at the launch of the Ashanti Regional chapter of Ghana Young Entrepreneurs in Kumasi.

It formed part of the first YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP conference.
So yesterday the Delta Forces were fined GHC2,400? Hmmm, Simpa Panyin, sometimes you disappoint me paaa ooo; the way you have started twisting your waist, some of your initial dances are not matching the rhythm koraa oo, hmmm

Honestly I have in recent times been wondering what the next eight years will look like, still living in Ghana. Our election DNA seem to have been fixed on eight years cycle, fairly predictable, but dangerously detrimental to our security, and our governance.

After President Nana Akufo-Addos winning, politicians could conveniently predict another regime in the next eight years, and so could afford to plunder the resources for themselves, in anticipation that they will lose power anyway, whether they do the right things or the wrong things, the electorates will shout, change!

I recall the carnage the Azorka boys brought to bear in the year 2009 when the NDC won power; that was when the history of the seizures of government installations began, as I recall. Kwami Sefa Kayi once interviewed one NDC activist, about their violent behaviors, in the aftermath of the 2008 elections. This party activist, one Nana Ofori-Atta, who is now late, boasted that if he was dared, he and his group were going to burn down the offices of the NHIS; that was the audacity of winning power.

The aftermath of the 2008 election violence included the killing of some individuals at Agbogbloshie, the hijacking of the bidding processes at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the seizures of toilet facilities and tollbooths across the country, and the creation of sharp teeth; these all began the processes of losing the election from the beginning; it was all about power, impunity, and brute force, and the electorates understood what the NDC government was asking for, bringing the elephant back from the bush.

I still dont know why the NDC is spending so much money looking for why they lost power. This fact finding committee to unravel the cause of their defeat in the face of the obvious is another scam flying in our face. Why do you go round looking for how a thief looks like, when you, yourself, are an example of a thief? Allotey Jacobs says he has something in his chest; why dont you just cut that chest open, and remove whatever is stored there, right there will be the reasons you lost power, not simple?

In the last few weeks, the NDC has been confronted with some naked realities, accusations and reverse accusations. I have observed the scene with keen interest, and I have tried to analyze how they planned their defeat. Of course it began with the seizures as described above, traveling through dzi wo fie asem, to the emergence of sharp teeths, turning through the flooding of V8s, moving a step towards yentie obiaa, from which it made a few stops at Woyome, Montie, thereafter it became free for all; the amassing of wealth, the open display of opulence, and the legitimization of insults and theft, inch by inch, the NDC crumbled into a comfortable lead, and eventually, it all came down, they got what they wanted.

The party has seen some turbulence in the last few weeks. This turbulence started with FONKAR GAMES, when Nana Konadu started to demand the return of her husbands party, threatening to take the umbrella away, with Kofi Adams nearly at the throat of the late President Atta Mills. The FONKAR GAMES ended with their 97:3 delegate conference in Kumasi, after which the death of President Atta Mills brought some sense of oneness back into the party, at least on the surface.

Just at once, Kofi Adams, a foundation member of FONKAR, transformed from being President Mills perceived traitor, to becoming the darling boy of the John Mahamas administration. He was reported as having had his campaign financed by the then President, John Mahama, to contest Yaw Boateng Gyan. After winning, he was all of a sudden everything, a member of the Board of Directors of this, a member of the Board of Directors of that, the National Organizer of this, the National Coordinator of that, and Adams found himself being surrounded by V8s, one for the market, the other for the streets, all these being done not only to desecrate the memory of the late Atta Mills, but also to the disenchantment of the party grass root people who suffered to keep the party in power while Kofi Adams followed FONKAR.

While all these were happening, and young boys and girls were grabbing monies, the NPP concentrated on in-fighting at the top level. The NDC lived in the hope that the in-fighting and the divisions of the NPP at the top level would have trickle down to their grass root, and therefore automatically translate into an electoral fortune for them.

No, that did not happen. The wrongs of the NDC government, and the determination of the NPPs invisibles, coupled with an angry public, gave the NDC a well-deserved and unprecedented defeat.

Despite all of these, the NPP has succeeded in doing one thing right; the NPP has succeeded in failing to learn any lessons from the defeat of the NDC. They took advantage of the general failings of the NDC, gave some sumptuous promises, including promising jobs for unemployable heavily built boys, jobs that they do not have the skills for. They created Invisible Forces, they created Delta Forces, and all kinds of forces, across the country, giving them hope, for jobs they are not qualified for.

The NPP finally won power, and then they began to fall on their own daggers. The traps they set for themselves began to trap them. Delta this, invisible that, all began to ask for their jobs, some members began to ask to be posted into the position of the IGP, and so on.

Of course it is not fair to watch people who did nothing for the party, now enjoying the leftover V8s. I am told Kan-Dapaah, and many others like him, refused to help the party while they were in opposition, claiming that he was on political retirement. In the absence of people like Kan-Dapaah helping, it was these same invisibles, and Deltas, who secured victory for the party. They did that in the hopes that when the party comes to power, they will have jobs, and they will begin to reap from their efforts.

I have already condemned the actions of the invisible and delta forces, but it appears they have a point, although they are using a wrong approach? After the party won power, Kan-Dapaah was called from his alleged political retirement, and made the National Security Minister, and then he began to, according to my information, recruit his own likeness, of people who went on political retirement, into the very positions that these forces had hoped to occupy; monkey dey chop, right?

So in the end the invisibles worked for nothing; they see, on our streets, party aliens sweeping gutters, gathering rubbish back into the gutters, they see on daily basis, 62 year olds wearing the National Youth Employment aprons, representing the youth, pretending to be youth, and pretending to be sweeping our pavements, and gathering the rubbish back into our gutters so as to have continuous work the next day.

You think they are, taflatse, fools? They are not! They are invisible, they were raised in the Delta, so they begin to unleash their character, and you say what? You, say fi, you will see what becomes of your jaws.

And that began the chipping away of the victory that was won recently. Power, arrogance, and power, those who won it gave it to the president, the president then gave it to those who abandoned the party, and those who abandoned the party do not know what to do with their undeserved positions, so they begin to lose it back to those who lost it, and the cycle continued, eight predictable years of poverty, eight predictable years of corruption, and eight predictable years of power coming back, NDC, NPP, NDC, NPP, Ghanas hall of pain, all recycled

James Kofi Annan
Lebanese President Michel Aoun (left) and Jacques Cheminade.

13.04.2017 LISTEN

April 9, 2017 (EIRNS)On April 7, just hours after Donald Trump had ordered an attack on the Syrian base of Al Shairat, French Presidential candidate Jacques Cheminade met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Baabda presidential palace, to talk, quite the contrary, about "peace through development" for the whole region. Christine Bierre, in charge of this region for Cheminades movement, also attended the meeting.

Following a 30-minute discusson with President Aoun, Cheminade made the following remarks to the press gathered at the Presidential palace.

"I have come to Lebanon in the spirit of a Free Lebanon, over and above all political factions, as one should always consider such things in France, and to show the role Lebanon can play in the Middle East and in world affairs. For a long time now, in particular since February 1989, General Aoun has been very important in this respect because he has always shown great political courage in that respect and great independent mindedness, nurtured by his political courage.

"Today, I have come here to say that France must do everything to support the cause of Lebanon, and in particular to make sure that Europe and France contribute much more aid to the political and economic refugees coming to Lebanon and to those in Lebanon who receive the refugees and who sometimes live less well than they do. Francemust do all in her power to deal with that question. We know that there are between 2 and 2.5 million refugees in Lebanon, for a population of 4.5 million inhabitants. We must absolutely do something to help Lebanon.

"The way to help in a decisive manner is to allow the refugees to return to their countries, in particular to Syria, and to create conditions of peace inSyria, through economic development and reconstruction. We did this in Franceafter World War II, with public credit and a commitment to the future. Today we need credit for the development of Syria so that the Syrians can go back to their country and live there. With time, and that time must be as short as possible, that is the only way to establish peace through mutual development in the Near and Middle East.

"What happened today at dawn, the missiles fire from an American vessel at an important Syrian base is something that will no doubt worsen what is happening here. It was carried out before an international investigation into what really happened in Syriacould occur, and it is a decision by President Trump, to go far beyond what Obama did in 2013, when Obama stopped before launching missiles.

"In my opinion, there has been, in a totally premature manner, a violation of the sovereignty of one nation by another one. I think this is very serious, it does not help peace in the Near and Middle East in any way, and we must very quickly, without losing time in useless debates, say that this intervention in the internal affairs of a state must stop and create the conditions for peace through mutual development in the future. From that standpoint,Lebanonand the Lebanon of General Aoun must play an absolutely fundamental role that Francemust recognize."

In further media coverage during the day, Jacques Cheminade came back to the hypocrisy and cynicism of those in France and the Western camp who are calling for a coalition against Assad. "I am not for a coalition against Bashar Al Assad," he told the correspondent of the French national all-business BFM TV,

"but in favor of stabilizing the situation in Lebanon. Some preach and preach morality; the reality is that those doing the moralizing are the ones who organized the military intervention in Libya with the consequences we know, and who allow Yemen to be bombed by Saudi Arabia. They even give the Saudis more intelligence to be able to better bomb Yemenand after that, they give lessons on morality to the entire world. I find that to be of the utmost hypocrisy and cynicism."

Cheminade told Radio France Internationale (RFI), "Politics is not being nice to someones face and cynical behind his back. Politics is what General de Gaulle did, which is to try by all means to reach detente, entente and cooperation" among all nations.

Finally, Cheminade expressed his concern with the serious problems Lebanon is facing today due to the war against Syria. To a question by a Lebanese journalist following his presentation at Baabda, Cheminade answered that he talked with President Aoun

"about pressing France and Europefor more help to urgently improve the sewer system currently in a catastrophic state due to the occupation by too many people, of a country of only 4.5 million inhabitants. President Aoun said Europe had begun to help, but Cheminade said that aid must go much further, indicating that Frances world-class water companies should be brought in to contribute to solve those problems.

"Lebanoncould become a powder keg," he warned, in his interview to BFM TV, and for that reason

"the refugees must be able to go back to Syria and the conditions created for them to do so, rather than creating dissensions and tensions through interventions like that of Trump."

An article in the April 8th issue of the main French-language Lebanese daily lOrient le Jour also reported that Cheminade was in Lebanon to "to support a Free Lebanon ... beyond its political divisions," pay homage to Aouns "political courage" and "independent mindedness" and call for more aid to Lebanon to solve its domestic difficulties due to the refugee crisis. On BFM TV, Cheminade warned that Lebanoncould become a "powder keg," which means "creating the conditions for Syrians to go back home and not to create dissensions and tensions by intervening like Trump has done."

Lebanon is exemplary, he said,

"because there have been all these family quarrels, with killings and murders; its almost Shakespearean, with the Hariris, the Geageas, the Frangiehs, the Gemayels, etc. But Aoun came and succeeded in creating unity among those people who thought towards the future of the country. It is that attitude that we must have throughout the whole region."

Cheminade concluded his trip to Lebanonin discussion with a few Frenchmen, and potential voters, who attended a meeting that the candidate organized that evening.
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13.04.2017 LISTEN

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) commends the Ghanaian media for the bold and relentless campaign against illegal mining, popularly called galamsey in Ghana

In the last two weeks, almost all the major media organisations in the country have in a joint and highly commendable effort, focused on highlighting the devastating effects of galamsey in the country. The media have also been engaged in a massive campaign to get the authorities, particularly the government to take appropriate steps to redress the menace.

The government is yet to make public its plans to address the challenge apart from having government officials also lamenting about the issue and praising the media for the campaign. What we expect to see is immediate actions on the part of the government to redress the matter

The MFWA wishes to commend the media for this bold step and further admonishes the media to be firm and unrelenting in their efforts at educating the public about the menace and exposing perpetrators. The Foundation believes that the media have demonstrated commitment to ensure that our environment is protected through this campaign to stop galamsey in Ghana.

The MFWA thus calls on all other stakeholders particularly government to take bold and decisive action on the problem.
There is no need to import vehicles into Ghana when locally-assembled Kantanka automobile models are available.

Thats the endorsement by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II after taking delivery of a customised suburban utility vehicle [SUV] manufactured by Kantanka Automobile in Kumasi.

It is one of three vehicles ordered by the Asante King from the local automobile manufacturer company in a bid to support local manufacturing companies to grow.

The customised 4x4 SUV comes with the brand name Kantanka Otumfuo.

It comes with neatly woven Kente cloth used as interior deco nicely arranged on the seats and all the four doors is not only inviting but gives it a stunning look.

Two of the vehicles, each one costing Gh 150,000 Ghana Cedis will be delivered later.

After inspecting the vehicles, Asantehene Osei Tutu II, said there is no need to import vehicles that can be produced locally by indigenous automobile firm from abroad.

According to him, he acquired the Kantanka Otumfuo' to encourage Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo and also invite Ghanaians especially government to patronise them.

Chief executive of Kantanka Automobile, Kwadwo Sarfo Jnr says it is time for Ghanaians to support the local industry by patronising made-in- Ghana products.

The vehicle, one of the numerous innovations the industrialist who is also a preacher, has produced in recent times.

Mr Sarfo Kantanka's vehicles also have an in-built warning system that warns both pedestrians and other road users.
Being confronted with the truth hurts much the same way as telling the truth; however, in the end, it brings comfort. Spare the rod and you spoil the child, so an adage goes. My entire family supports and votes Progress Party (PP), Popular Front Party (PFP) and New Patriotic Party (NPP). Nonetheless, I detest the ungratefulness and pomposity of most of our party leaders who by their acquired higher paper qualifications think they are some inches taller than others hence looking them on them once the deemed nonentities have sacrificed their time, little money, efforts and lives to bring the party to power.

During elections, the less respected who are mostly semi-educated or illiterates are fallen on, becoming the shoulders on which the highly crafty leaders cry. They plead with them to assist them with their little money, knowledge, might and you just name it. However, as soon as they win the election, you will see them ignoring the very people they contacted for help, pretending as if they have never seen them before. This is the height of the ungratefulness by the NPP leaders.

Honestly, I cant stand such deplorable acts of conspicuous ungratefulness bordering on underestimation of peoples intelligence hence putting out this publication to chastise them. The way the members of the Delta Force were ignored, by the NPP leaders with the Minister for National Security Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa calling for their imprisonment really infuriates me.

What annoys me most is to hear that Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa, probably an Agenda 2020 sympathiser, never contributed a pesewa towards the NPPs Election 2016 campaign, claiming he had resigned from active politics so his money does not do politics. Surprisingly however, he has landed the position of Minister for National Security in the government of a political party that he never assisted in their efforts and quest to win the election. How come, one may ask?

As if getting that position without wiping any sweat or volunteering advice or money was already not an insult to the intelligence of those who went the extra miles, risking their lives, spending their money, fasting and praying to God to ensure the election of Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP, he had shamelessly audaciously threatened to jail the Delta Force guys.

What is so despicable about the whole thing is his declaration to see the arse of the Delta Force volunteers in prison. Let me try to educate him on how best he could have carried his malicious intents across without much condemnation from the public. He should have said I shall ensure the Delta Force culprits are arraigned and I shall press hard charges against them. This would have been more understandable than saying with authority that he was going to jail them. Is he a judge or he was going to influence the court using his Executive powers whereas his boss, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo believes in the rule of law without him personally interfering to bend law to suit him or his friends or whomever. By Hon. Kan Dapaa declaring in advance that he would ensure the Delta Force guys were jailed was quite prejudicial.

Yes, nobody supports the repeat of lawlessness, practice of selective justice and institutional corruption in the country. Therefore, I do not condone the reprehensible behaviour by the Delta Force. In much the same vein, I do not countenance the unprofessional manner in which Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa, now an apparent square peg wobbling in a round hole handled the case.

Yes, he could be a highly qualified account, acquired much wealth but he is not a qualified security expert with the knowhow to deal with delicate security issues. If he had handled the case professionally cautiously, taking so many elements into consideration, it would not have escalated to the national level let alone, the international arena to get the United Nations involved. What has he gained if not to have discredited the President, the party and Ghana?

NPP as a political party and a group of persons can be overflowing with highly educated and qualified people; University graduates with First, Masters and PhD degrees at its helm yet, I can say without fear or favour that we often lack political savviness and strategies when it comes to staying in power for long once we have won an election.

How justified are we as a party to treat our foot soldiers with disdain just for the fact that they are less educated? Whenever NPP wins power, most of those appointed as Ministers adopt that ridiculous behaviour of making themselves superior to others hence would no longer want to see even the people who voted for them.

Yes, we do not expect our leaders to socialise with everybody, anywhere and anyhow but for them to treat the foot-soldiers, if at all that is the right word to use, with utter scorn as done to the Delta Force culprits is like biting the very hand that feeds you.

Today, we are in power so we do not need them, forgetting that their services will be required in future so we need to treat them fairly and with respect. As a saying goes, as the rain comes to melt the salt for the shea butter to laugh at it, so will come a day when the Sun will rise to melt the shea butter for the salt to laugh at it in return.

Being very well educated or highly educated does not make one a qualified strategist to win political election to stay in power for long or else, the UGCC through her metamorphoses to NPP would have been the longest reigning party in the history of Ghana yet, it is the least.

For lack of political common sense within the NPP where many people think they are well-educated hence are better than one another, looking down on others as not their equal, we shall forever draw a wedge in the party to catapult us into opposition after a few years accession to power.

Mind you, neither old age is an indication of wisdom nor a grey hair a repository of wisdom. Wisdom is not the prerogative of any one individual, so hear ye me, all NPP activists, gurus and leaders.

Today, I have spoken in parables, tomorrow I shall speak in plain words. The Delta Force, Rambo Force, Bull Dogs, Zongo Youth, please bear with the government, your concerns shall be addressed by His Excellency the President and his government in due course. You have not been used and dumped. You have not been abandoned as some of you do rightly believe although that is how it looks like at the moment.

Finally, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa will learn a lesson from the recent developments to behave himself more professionally next time unless he is intentionally secretly seeking the downfall of the NPP government probably as opportunist as he is.

Speak the truth and shame the devil rather than to tell lies to please him!

Rockson Adofo

(Written on Thursday, 13 April 2017)
Following the recent unwarranted attacks on innocent, law abiding and peace loving people of Nzemaland, we deem it prudent and timely to as a matter of urgency call on the various state apparatus to step in and get the situation resolved to get the town back on track for the various socioeconomic activities to go on.

We wish to hereby state emphatically that, the needless, unthinkable act by the Ghana Police Service in the Jomoro District is not only condemnable but also, inhuman, unethical, highly unprofessional and a gross display of lack of respect for the laws of our land by officials who ought to know better and uphold such laws.

It is in the light of this, that we respectively make these legitimate, reasonable and informed requests in our quest to cool tempers and prevent further escalation of the current happenings;

1. We implore the Inspector General of Police, Interior and Defence ministers to as a matter of urgency, convey a high powered delegation to the area to assess the situation and put all necessary measures in place to halt the act of lawlessness being perpetrated by the security officers.

2. The Regional and District Police Commanders should be summoned for questioning in view of the unfolding events.

They should be in the position to provide credible answers to the numerous questions tossing around.

i. What necessitated the arrest of the deceased?

ii. Why was the deceased not granted bail?

iii. What was the outcome of the autopsy?

iv. What is the position of the police?

3. We strongly call on the Police Service to take advantage of the windows of opportunities available to brief the general public on the circumstances leading to this whole mishap within a maximum 24 hours period. This when done, would ameliorate the situation significantly.

4. The Government, through the appropriate state institutions, should order immediate investigation into the matter following which all manner of persons within the rank and file of the police force should be brought to book and face all the possible stringent legal and professional sanctions.

5.The Public mistrust in the Police Service has been worsened by this event and the earlier a possible transfer is effected in the district, the better for us all. We cannot continue to live and work with officers who themselves do not respect the laws they are mandated to enforce.

We wish to once again reemphasize unequivocally that, we respect the laws of the land and therefore would not want to go outside the legal boundaries to seek justice for innocent citizens who have been brutalized and hospitalized, injured, psychologically and emotionally traumatized as well as those students writing their WASSCE who have been in police custody are therefore not able to do so.

Justice must prevail and it must be now.

Long live concerned youth for Nzema development

Long live Ghana

Signed!

President

Ishmael Avo Miezah

0543250281

Nicodemus Nyameke

0240039930

Stephen Menlah

Member

Joseph

Member Baah
The most prominent example of this trend on Wednesday was the surprise registration of Rouhanis predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served two terms as president but is legally permitted to run after a gap of at least one term. Despite this basic permission, it was taken for granted that Ahmadinejad would not challenge Rouhani in May, since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously urged him not to do so.

The supreme leaders advice regarding Ahmadinejads potential candidacy was apparently based on the perception of the former president as an excessively divisive figure, his 2009 reelection having been the spark that set off the Green Movement protests.

Even up until Monday, it was still being reported that Ahmadinejad had no plans to personally run for election, having instead endorsed his former deputy, Hamid Baghaei, to run as an independent candidate in his place. This endorsement was not the only signal that Ahmadinejad had given to indicate that he would abide by the supreme leaders advice. Whether Tuesdays move was the reversal of that position or the revelation of longstanding plans, Ahmadinejad was still joined by Baghaei as both registered for separate candidacies, as reported by IranWire.

It is possible that this joint action was aimed at setting up Baghaei as a running mate for Ahmadinejad if the latters candidacy is approved. But it may also suggest that the independent hardline candidates are pursuing a similar strategy to that which was laid out by the newly formed Popular Front of Revolutionary Forces, a conservative coalition that selected a shortlist of five candidates, just days before registration opened. The shortlist was generated on the understanding that four of the five would withdraw from the race before Election Day on May 19, in order to solidify for the single candidate deemed to be most capable of unseating Rouhani.

But Al Monitor reported on Monday that not all of the candidates favored by hardliners had formally agreed to this scheme, leaving open the possibility that some of them would end up running against one another right up until Election Day. This contributed to Al Monitor concluding that the conservative factions were continuing to go through a rough patch in their bid to obtain the power to reverse Rouhanis outreach to the US and the international community, as showcased in the 2015 nuclear agreement.

While apparent disagreements over strategy raised the prospect of a divided ticket in the days leading up to registration, the newfound presence of both Ahmadinejad and Baghaei in the campaign makes that division virtually certain. Al Monitor also called attention to the fact that one of the shortlist candidates, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had signaled that he would register as an independent, a statement that does not appear to be good news for the conservatives or for [the Popular Front], which would then be at risk of collapse.

Furthermore, the Popular Fronts top choice and the first major challenger to register on Monday, Ebrahim Raisi, also eschewed formal alignment with the Popular Front or another party, although this reportedly underscored his emerging alignment with the hardline Endurance Front, for which independent candidacy is a familiar strategy. According to Al Monitor, that affiliation harms Raisis chances of electoral victory because the Endurance Front lacks broad support and clearly alienates the moderate and pragmatist voters who are likely to go for Rouhani. Presumably, the negative effects of that affiliation would only be amplified by severe divisions within the hardline faction, which may still be accumulating.

This is not to say that Rouhani has an easy road to reelection. A recent report by Time highlighted the lackluster economic recovery following the nuclear agreement as a major reason for Rouhani having lost much of the support that carried him to victory in 2013. Other sources including human rights organizations and the National Council of Resistance of Iran have called attention to his betrayal of a variety of campaign promises regarding free speech and civil society. Expatriates returning to Iran have continued to be singled out for arrest despite specific promises that they would face no punishment for living abroad; widespread restrictions on the Iranian internet and independent media remain in place; and the Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi remain under extra-judicial house arrest despite Rouhanis claim that he would see them freed.

All of this seriously weakens Rouhanis reelection campaign. But Time suggested that in addition to dividing the hardline camp, Ahmadinejads registration on Tuesday might have helped to encourage Rouhanis base to support him, even if it is as the lesser of two  or several evils. This perspective arguably validates the supreme leaders concerns, which led him to advice Ahmadinejad to remain on the sidelines. That is, for moderates and reformists, perhaps no one is seen as a bigger threat to economic and social change that Ahmadinejad.

However, at the same time that that threat might spur more reformists to vote, it may also greatly inspire part of the conservative faction. As Time put it, There is probably no single individual who polarizes Iranian society more than him. Some believe he is a true revolutionary intent on fulfilling the 1979 Islamic Revolutions ideals of social justice for the poor; others believe his two term stint as president was the worst calamity to befall the country in decades if not more.

But although there may be some uncertainty as to which perception will prompt the respective faction to more serious action, it seems unlikely that Ahmadinejads popularity among hardliners will be sufficient to overcome the effects of such a cluttered field of candidates. And his ability to seriously compete with fellow hardliners is dependent upon his passing the vetting process of the Guardian Council, of whose 12 members half are directly appointed by the supreme leader.

In its reporting upon Ahmadinejads surprise registration, Reuters emphasizes that it appears to be a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Khamenei, which follows upon the former presidents alleged efforts to advance a uniquely Iranian version of Islam, which would apparently be based on a blend of religion and nationalism as well as being an unwelcome alternative to the highly traditional, fundamentalist view of Islam espoused by the regimes clerical leadership.

Opinion seems to be divided as to whether Ahmadinejad will be ultimately permitted to run for the presidency against Rouhani. But Reuters suggests that blocking him would be difficult, though not impossible, in part because his disqualification would imply that the Guardian Council is not independent but is instead a mere mouthpiece for the supreme leader.

Reuters goes on to claim that according to informed sources, Ahmadinejad might respond to his own disqualification by taking the strange turn of directing his supporters to back Rouhanis reelection. That is, Ahmadinejad might ultimately be more interested in defeating his hardline rival Ebrahim Raisi, regardless of the apparently incompatible approaches to foreign policy that have been advanced by the prior president and the current one.

Although this possible outcome would improve Rouhanis chances to an even greater degree than has already been accomplished by the infighting, it would also serve to reinforce the arguments of reformists and dissidents like the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which maintains that elections in the Islamic Republic are little more than political theater aimed at resolving infighting within the regime, but without the real prospect of substantive policy shifts.
Monday, April 17, 2017 marks exactly 100 days since the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led-New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration was inaugurated. The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) uses this upcoming occasion to assess the Akufo-Addo/NPP governments performance from its vantage as a democratic governance think tank.

We commend the teams of both the John Dramani Mahama-National Democratic Congress (NDC) and that of the Akufo-Addo-NPP government for working out a relatively smooth and peaceful transfer of power. They exhibited high levels of cooperation and accommodation, notwithstanding the occasional disagreement and miscommunication.

We commend President Akufo-Addo for the speed with which he assembled his team of ministers and deputy ministers for the takeoff of the new government. We also applaud the efforts the president made to explain the rationale behind the nomination of specific individuals for the respective ministerial positions. This practice suggests the willingness of the President to subject his own logic and reasoning to broad scrutiny - a healthy development for Ghanas nascent democracy, if sustained.

We further commend President Akufo-Addo for giving impetus to the fight against corruption by allocating a substantial GHC 1.2Million to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to implement activities under the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).

Finally, we commend the president for the declaration to put an indefinite freeze on the purchase of new vehicles and completely terminate the standing policy that allowed government appointees to purchase their official vehicles. CDD-Ghana deems these decisions as important symbolic steps towards promoting good public financial management. In respect of the latter policy, the Center recommends that the Akufo-Addo/NPP government pass a comprehensive law on the disposal of all public assets to provide a long-term guideline for the disposal of public assets.

However, a number of developments in the first 100 days of the Akufo-Addo/NPP administration give us cause for dismay. First, the many instances of NPP-affiliated vigilante groups forceful takeover of state assets and public facilities (including toilets, toll booths, school feeding programs, etc.) and the unlawful seizure of vehicles of members of the previous administration put a dent on the hitherto smooth transition process. Worse still, the failure of government, and law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with the NPP-affiliated vigilante groups, mainly the Delta and Invincible Forces, that invaded sensitive government installations such as the passport office and Tema Ports and Harbor, appears to have encouraged the recent brazen attacks on the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator and a Circuit Court in Kumasi, by the so-called Delta Force.

CDD-Ghana acknowledges the public commitment the national security hierarchy has made to bring those involved to justice fully as endorsed by the President. The Center fully endorses the calls for the immediate disbandment of all political party-affiliated vigilante groups to uproot this threat to national security.

However, the Center is convinced that, the more credible way to deal with the canker of militant party-affiliated vigilantism should, start with proactive de-politicization of state/government control of the police and other national security agencies, including the appointment and transfers of their leadership. It also requires a firm stance to end the accompanying partisanship in the deployment of security agencies  which breeds impunity among incumbent government supporters and fosters mistrust among opposition party supporters.

CDD-Ghana feels badly disappointed by president Akufo-Addos decision to appoint 110 ministers. It flies in the face of the presidents own declared commitment to protect the public purse as well as its longstanding good governance advocates campaign for meaningful reduction in the size of government and resultant government spending. We believe that the appointments of so many politicians to manage the state bureaucracy will further deepen its politicisation and undermine its authority.

We are also disturbed by the continuity in practice after electoral turn-overs whereby the chief executive officers and senior managers of public agencies and parastatals are summarily removed or asked to proceed on leave, and to handover to a caretaker officer/acting CEO. Such actions are inconsistent with good corporate governance practices, it fosters politicization of the public service as well as political exclusion, and undermines the fight against winner takes all politics. The Center deems the interpretation of who is a political appointee under Section 14 (6) in the Presidential Transition Act 2012 too broad and badly in need of review informed by best practice.

The Center is very much aware that 100 days into a new administration may be too short a time to fully assess a government, and to get a full measure of what the President and the NPP government can do to fulfil its transformational agenda for Ghana. Nonetheless, it does present an opportunity for a new government to take stock, build on the positive steps and achievements and also correct mistakes it has made. It is our fervent hope that going forward the President and his team will embrace this opportunity to address the many governance challenges that the Country faces, some of which have been noted by the Center in this statement.
Lets call it by what it is instead of calling it vigilantism. What is happening in Ghana is the formation of the military wings of political parties, with the tacit blessing and support of the top hierarchy of the NPP and NDC parties. If you have such people as Ken Agyapong and Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), vowing to fight the National Security if it touches or prosecutes the members of the Invincible Forces and Delta Boys, then we have a grave situation on our hands. Ken Agyapong openly threw a challenge to Kan Dapaah, the National Security Advisor for doing his work. Our political parties are being militarized and the phenomenon does not bode well for the future of the country.

Secondly, the naive assumption of foot soldiers that, their party is in power, so they can run amok and take over national establishments like tollbooths, public toilets, government offices, and even kick against presidential orders is a bad precedent which must not be allowed ever to fester. We must provide jobs for Ghanaians based on their qualifications and not merely because they belong to a particular political party. We are teaching our youth to drop out of school, to be lazy and also teaching them to be thugs who feel they have the wherewithal to run over courts with impunity.

The tinder box can be lit quickly, should rival military extensions from opposing parties clash, and with people like Ken Agyapong and Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) tacitly sanctioning the activities of these military, the country can easily be plunged into civil war. Our political parties are becoming increasingly militarized and they must be stopped before they challenge our security outfits and become a threat to our national security.

Thirdly, these vigilante groups must also be called what they are: they are terrorist organizations and the fact that they protected certain political individuals does not mean they are legal entities and above the law.

President Akuffo must pay heed to the cool heads and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and put national interest above that of party interest, now that he is the president, and ban all foot soldier associations of all political parties in the name of party affiliated vigilantism for the PEACE of the Nation.

The lawlessness brewing in the form of landguardism and illegal mining (Galamsey) need to be stopped. What are the laws for carrying guns in Ghana? Why are these land guards and illegal Chinese miners allowed to carry guns publicly, and if they are flouting the laws of the land regarding the possession of firearms, what are the government and national security doing about it?

Gabriel Asare Ayisi, EdD.
MTN Ghana has set aside $143 million to ensure network expansion and optimization across the country.

The company also intends to add 197 4G and 561 3G sites to the 475 4G sites already deployed nationwide in 2017.

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Ghana, Noel Kojo Gamson, disclosed this at the launch of Fero L100 Android smartphone at its customer hub at Ridge, Accra on Tuesday.

We know that access to data and related services is key to driving socio-economic development and to achieve this MTN Ghana is happy to partner with reputable Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to secure first to- market deals on high quality affordable devices for valued customers, he said.

Mr. Gamson said the company would continue to invest heavily in innovative digital services aimed meeting the demands of its ever increasing number of subscribers.

We understand the times ahead, and we will continue to be market leaders to show the way in bringing unmatched data services to Ghanaians, because we are focused on making our customer experience on our network distinct, he stated.

He further stated that the partnership with Fero, an original equipment manufacturer to introduce Fero L100 Android Smart phone series onto the Ghanaian market, was to strengthen its position to give customers the best.

Fero L100 Android Smart phone

Sandeet Narayan, Business Head, West and Central Africa for Fero, averred that the new 5 Android Smart Phone comes with a one-year warranty and is 4G compliant, among others.

He stated that the phone, which has shelf price of GHC299 and available at all MTN sales points, is robust in nature and has a long lasting battery with very sharp images, a 32 GB Storage and 1 GB Ram, among other features.

Mr. Narayan disclosed that Fero is represented in 26 countries in Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, as well as the Middle East.

By Solomon Ofori


President Akufo-Addo in a pose with the deputy ministers after the swearing-in

President Akufo-Addo yesterday swore in the final batch of deputy ministers.

In all, he swore in 50 deputy ministers, with the first batch of 25 taking their oaths and letters of appointment sometime in the morning and the remaining 25 later in the day at the Banquet Hall of the State House.

Appointees

The first batch included the Deputy Ministers of Finance. They were Kwaku Kwarteng, Abena Osei Asare and Charles Adu-Boahen. Energy: Owuraku Aidoo, Joseph Cudjoe and Mohammed Amin Anta; Local Government and Rural Development: Osei Bonsu Amoah, Collins Ntim and Kwasi Boateng Agyei; Information: Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Ama Dokua Asiamah Agyei and Perry Curtis Okudjeto.

Also on the list of Deputy Ministers for Agriculture were William Agyepong Kwaitoo, Sagre Bambangi and George Oduro. Trade and Industry: Carlos Ahenkorah and Robert Ahomka-Linsey; Roads and Highways: Kwabena Owusu Aduomi and Anthony Abayifaa Karbo; Lands and Natural Resources: Benito Owusu Bio and Barbara Oteng-Gyasi; Works and Housing: Freda Prempeh and Eugene Antwi; Education: Yaw Osei Adutwum and Barbara Ayisi Acher.

Attorney General: Gofred Dame and Joseph Dindiok Kpemka; Health: Kingsley Aboagye Gyebi and Tina Mensah; Railway Development: Kwaku Agyenim Boateng and Andrew Appiah Kub; Foreign Affairs: Mohammed Habib Tijani and Charles Owiredu; Communication: George Andah and Vincent Odotei; Water Resources and Sanitation: Patrick Boamah and Michael Gyato; Defence: Major Derrick.

The rest included Interior: Henry Quartey; Environment, Science and Technology: Patricia Appiagyei; Regional Organisation: Martin Agyei Mensah-Korsah; Transport: Titus Glover; Employment and Labour: Bright Wireko-Brobbey; Fisheries and Aquaculture: Francis Ato Cudjoe; Aviation: Kwabena Darko Mensah; Chieftaincy: Paul Essien; Gender, Children and Social Protection: Gifty Twum Ampofo; Youth and Sports: Pius Enam Hadzide; Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts: Ziblim Iddi and Monitoring and Evaluation: William Kwasi Sabi.

Much as he was delighted to have been able to form his government quicker than any of his predecessors in the Fourth Republic, President Akufo-Addo reminded the ministers, You are aware of the controversies surrounding your appointments. Several unpalatable words had been used to describe them; 'obscene,' 'job for the boys,' amongst others.

Charge

For him, These criticisms impose a clear obligation on you [the appointees] to justify your selection, especially as you know that there are many of your peers in the House [referring to parliament] who have not been selected even though they have similar claims of competence as yourselves.

To that end, he stated, Shame your detractors and together let us build that dignified, self-reliant, prosperous Ghana that successive generations of Ghanaian patriots and the founders of our free democratic nation sought with their sweat, toil and blood.

But he assured them, I'm equally in your success; for your success vindicates me.

For them to succeed, he urged the ministers to take the path of loyalty and integrity and work hard.

The success of the ministers, according to him, would be measured on their ability to assist them (substantive ministers) and not to undermine them.

Caution

I will not countenance any act of disloyalty or subversion of your minister; for I will take such an act as disloyalty to me personally and by reference, disloyalty to the party and to the state, Nana Addo cautioned.

He said further, Any deputy who thinks the route to advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your minister will be making a sad mistake; you will not profit from that conduct in Akufo-Addo's presidency.

Speeches

After administering the oaths of allegiance, office and secrecy on the deputy ministers, the 'old boy' referred them to the earlier speeches he gave during similar swearing-in of ministers, with a strict instruction for each and every one of them to speedily declare their assets to the Auditor-General, revealing that All the 36 ministers of the central government have duly filed their Assets Declaration.

To this end, he charged, I expect you to do the same expeditiously.

President Akufo-Addo further told them, We must jealously guard the commitment we have made to the Ghanaian people; we have come to do public service, not advance our own personal fortunes.

Happening on a day he was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his marriage to Rebecca (formerly Rebecca Grifiths-Reindorf), Nana Akufo-Addo could not but tell the deputy ministers, It means that you are now joined to me in a special way; for my future recollections of this day will forever feature you.

Reminder

Considering the fact that majority of the appointees are Members of Parliament, he reminded them of the fact that the migration of majority of you from the legislature to the executive does not relieve you of your duties as members of the legislature.

He charged, You will, like members of the British parliament, have to learn to balance effectively within the confines of our own unique constitutional order  your twin responsibilities as Members of Parliament and as members of government; it is exacting but doable, and do it, you must!

On behalf of the colleague deputy ministers, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah and Major Derrick Oduro thanked the president for the opportunity given them to serve the government and the people of Ghana, with a promise to live up to the charge given them.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent
Lawyers of Jihad Chaaban, the embattled Ablemkpe branch manager of Marwako Restaurant, have served notice to file a submission of 'no case' in the assault case brought against him (Jihad).

Julio Demedeiros, lawyer for Jihad who dropped the hint yesterday, believes his client has no case to answer in respect of the charges preferred against him, although the court had asked him to open his defence.

According to the Abeka District Court judge, Ms Victoria Ghansah, a prima facie case has been made against the accused.

Furthermore, the defence had completed their cross-examination of the case investigator, Detective Inspector Eunice Ashiagbor.

During the cross-examination, D/Insp. Ashiagbor said although she could not speak the Lebanese language, she got the meaning of the word Sharamunnta from people she spoke to during the investigation of the case.

Julio disagreed, indicating that there was no such word in the Lebanese language, but the investigator stated that even if that was not the meaning, Sharamunnta was the word used for Evelyn Boakye, the complainant.

Turning Point

According to her, the content in the blender was blended pepper, adding that in her investigation she spoke to one Ali who told the complainant that the incident was an opportunity to make money.

D/Insp. Ashiagbor argued that she did not investigate the said aspect of making money from the case because Evelyn did not consent to that.

Julio again asked whether during her investigation the investigator came across one Abigail Adu Amoah believed to have been told by Evelyn that they would teach this Lebanese (referring to Jihad) a lesson.

On that, D/Insp. Ashiagbor answered in the negative, compelling the defence lawyer to doubt if the investigator did a thorough investigation.

The investigator however, said the content in the blender did not accidently splash on the face of Evelyn but ruled out any intention of Jihad to put pepper in the eyes of the complainant.

Meanwhile, the court had on Monday dismissed an application by the defence lawyers for an out-of-court settlement of the matter.

Hearing continues on April 19.

Charges

Jihad, 26, is reported to have dipped the head of Evelyn, an employee of Marwako, into blended pepper on February 26, 2017.

According to the prosecution, the accused offensively conducted himself when he angrily called the complainant a 'prostitute.'

Jihad is facing an additional charge of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm to Evelyn.

The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is a brotherin-law of the owner of Marwako Restaurant.

[email protected]

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson


Former President John Dramani Mahama has put up a spirited defence of his young appointees who have been blamed for causing the party's defeat in the 2016 general election.

According to him, those saying that he surrounded himself with young people ('babies with sharp teeth') dislike those personalities and that's why they are quick to blame them for the party's defeat.

In what can be interpreted as an affirmation of trust in his young ministers, the ex-president at a meeting with his appointees, said, Some say young people surrounded the presidentI mean just say I don't like the people not that they are young.

Incessant Accusations

The 'experienced' people in the opposition party have been accusing ex-President Mahama of running a failed campaign by surrounding himself with 'young' and 'inexperienced' people and that led to the party's humiliating defeat on December 7, 2016.

Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei and former national organiser, Yaw Boateng Gyan, are among the party chieftains who believe that the NDC was walloped because of the inexperienced handlers of the president's 2016 campaign.

Names that are on the lips of these 'senior' NDC members are ex-President Mahama's trusted aide Stan Dogbe and Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, who was the Minister of Communications as well as Kofi Adams, campaign coordinator.

Wise Counsel

They accused Mr Mahama of not heeding to wise counsel from senior party members and rather used his 'boys' to suppress dissenting views in the run-up to the elections.

In the past weeks, party activists like Koku Anyidoho (deputy general secretary), Anita De Sooso (vice chairperson), Joseph Bipoba Naabu (MP for Yunyoo), Yaw Boateng Gyan (former national organizer), among many others, have all claimed that Mahama, then NDC presidential candidate, sidelined most of the executives and rubbed shoulders only with the young appointees.

Campaign Coordinator

A member of the communications team of the party, Agbesi Notsu, described the national organizer and campaign coordinator, Kofi Adams, as a 'disaster' who contributed hugely to the NDC's defeat; and said Kofi Adams did a terrible job as the campaign coordinator which set the party on track for defeat in the polls.

Even Dr. Kwabena Adjei had stated unequivocally that it was the inexperienced people around President Mahama who misled him.

The handlers were all young, inexperienced and they misled him. I will say this anywhere without any fear or favour. We the old ones come with experience, he should have listened to us), he told Accra-based Starr FM on Wednesday.

Fights Back

However, the ex-president parried the accusations at the meeting when he said, All those people they are referring to are above 40 years. He queried, How can you call a 40-year-old man with wife and children a young man surrounding the president? I don't understand.

When I became deputy minister to my brother Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, I was 39 years old. Yes, we were young but we served and served properly. I am sure Spio was in his 40s at the time. You can't say he was small boy.

By William Yaw Owusu
A 48-year-old man, Francis Kwofie, has been arrested by the police in the Western Region for allegedly killing his wife at Windy Ridge in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

The suspect, a private security officer, is said to have beaten his wife, Akoley Klotey, to death after accusing her of infidelity.

Confirming the story in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said that yesterday at about 5:00 am, one Fuseina Ali of Windy Ridge went to the police station and reported the incident.

Fuseina Ali, a neighbour to the deceased, indicated in her report to the police that Francis Kwofie brutally assaulted the wife until she became unconscious.

ASP Adiku claimed that the police rushed to the scene and met the woman, aged about 48 years, lying naked unconscious in an uncompleted building.

She was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the PRO, when the body was carefully inspected, multiple bruises were found on it.

The body was later deposited at the same hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.

She pointed out that initial investigation into the case revealed that the suspect purportedly beat his wife to death on grounds of infidelity.

She added that Francis Kwofie had been detained for further investigation.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi


The first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has tasked the queen mothers in the Greater Accra Region to unite for the development of the region.c

Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo made the call when queen mothers from Ngleshie and members of the Greater Accra Association of Queen Mothers and Priestesses called on her to congratulate her and pledge their support for her and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

She expressed her gratitude for the visit and encouraged the traditional rulers to actively help to improve the lives of the people in their various communities and Ghanaians in general.

The queen mothers, through their spokesperson Naa Kwantemaa, thanked the first lady for the warm welcome and promised to support her in her agenda to improve the lives of Ghanaian women and children.

A member of the Council of State, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson who was also in the meeting, encouraged the queen mothers to unite and address the many chieftaincy disputes in the Ga State.

The Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Kofi Dzamesi, expressed his gratitude to them for their continual support for the government, adding that they have a critical role to play in the development of their communities.
The deputy Minister for Gender and Social protection, Gifty TwumAmpofo, has called on Parents and Teachers to depart from using the rote method of teaching children how to read.

She says Teaches should instead embrace the use of phonics and the Ghanaian language for teaching at the formative stages of the children.

According to her, many learning challenges that school children encounter in their bid to acquire knowledge in Ghana is as a result of the neglect of the use of the Ghanaian language and the use of phonics in teaching the children.

Speaking at the free distribution of Ghanaian language textbooks for Primary 1  3 pupils by the We Care For You NGO at the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipality, the deputy minister for Gender Children and Social Protection entreated teachers and parents to spend more time in teaching the children using phonics.

The child should be able to read the alphabet, two letter words, three letter words, four letter words and then he/she will begin to read sentences.

"My appeal is to all teachers and to those who assist these children to read to spend more time in assisting them using the phonics, she said.

Once they are able to read using the phonics method, all other subjects become easy for them, she stressed.

According to her, the use of the phonics instead of the rote way of learning the alphabet is to help the children read and understand better and ultimately reflect in their academic performances.

Over the years, the use of the rote method of teaching children hasnt helped and that is why there is the need to depart from it, she added.

The Director for the We Care For You NGO, Apostle Michael Ankrah, called on Ghanaians to be proud of their language. According to him, many Ghanaians feel shy to communicate with their children in their Ghanaian language. This, he says, contributes to the poor reading habit of the children.

If you go to some homes, some parents do not want to speak their Ghanaian language with their children. They feel shy in doing that.

They arent proud of their own language. That is serious! The earlier we desist from doing that, the better it will be for our educational system, he intimated.

The distribution of the free Ghanaian language textbooks by the NGO in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipality is the sixth to be done countrywide.

Co-founder of the NGO, Clement Ankrah, said the NGO is determined to make the books available for use by all schools in the country but need the support of the government in ensuring the dream comes true.
Twenty-four persons, including private legal practitioner, Kwame Boafo Akuffo, have been sworn in as Notaries Public.

Justice Jones Dostse of the Supreme Court, who administered the oath of office, said that Notaries Public must uphold professional standards.

Having been appointed after over 15 years of practice at the Bar, lawyers must bring their experience gathered over the years to bear on their duties, he stated.

The apex court judge, in an address read on behalf of Chief Justice Georgina Wood, noted that the Notaries Public Act 1960; Act 26 enjoins every person so appointed to swear faithfully to execute the duties of his office, adding that unfortunately the Act is silent on their duties.

Justice Dotse stated that it must be noted that the functions of a Notary Public, however, entail great responsibilities and skill than mere oath taking.

He said as sworn public officials, you play an important role in the prevention of fraud and protection of the parties involved by acting as unbiased witnesses in respect of some documents. Because of this important role, all Notaries Public should understand the duties and responsibilities of Notaries Public and properly perform requested notary acts.

The Supreme Court Judge congratulated the appointees and urged them to be persons of trust and fidelity.

Juliana Amo Neizer, the First Deputy Judicial Secretary, said national security conducted background checks on all of them.

Notaries Public are officers, who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents and perform certain acts.

They can be called upon to prepare important documents such as contracts, leases, power of attorney and wills.

Other appointees are Nutifafa Nutsukpui, Michael Jojo Acquah, Yaa Antwi, Thadeus Sory, Joseph Issah Kaponde and Abeiku Dickson.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

[email protected]


Accra, April 12, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday urged the newly sworn-in Deputy Ministers of State to perform beyond measure in their assigned roles to facilitate the success for his administration.

He told the Deputy Ministers that their success would only materialise when they gave absolute loyalty to their ministers and work with sincerity, integrity and transparency.

'I am equally involved in your success, for your success vindicates me,' the President said after swearing into office the second batch of 25 of the 50 ministers approved by Parliament.

The Deputy Ministers swore the Oaths of Office, Allegiance and Deputy Minister.

President Akufo-Addo said the Deputy Ministers, should, at all times, ensure that the collective and individual commitments made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to serve Ghanaians honestly and competently remained paramount in the scheme of things, reminding them that their calling was to 'provide public service and not to promote personal gain.'

The President warned that he would not tolerate acts of disloyalty and subversion of ministers by their deputies, saying; 'Loyalty to the minister is the fundamental premise for the success of your work.

'I will not countenance any acts of disloyalty or subversion of your minister, for I will take such an act as disloyalty to me personally, and, by inference, disloyalty to the Party and the State.

'Any deputy who thinks the route to advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your minister, will be sadly mistaken. You will not profit from that conduct in the Akufo-Addo Presidency. I want you to work with your minister in all sincerity and transparency. That is the guarantee of your success, and our collective success,' he said.

President Akufo-Addo told them to permeate the quality of their work with integrity and honesty and file their assets expeditiously as demanded by law.

'An opportunity is being afforded you to serve your country in an elevated capacity. Seize the opportunity with humility but with determination and perform; guided always by the Almighty God.

'Together, let us build that dignified, self-reliant, prosperous Ghana that successive generations of Ghanaian patriots and the founders of our free, democratic nation sought with their sweat, toil and blood,' he said.

President Akufo-Addo urged the Deputy Ministers, who also double as Members of Parliament, not to renege on their duties as members of the Legislature, urging them to balance these roles effectively.

He expressed gratitude to Parliament for its cooperation in assembling the Central Government, adding that sincere partnership between the Legislative and Executive Arms of Government would ensure the welfare of the people.

The second batch of deputy ministers sworn into office included Godfrey Dame and Joseph Dinkiok Kpemka - Attorney General and Ministry of Justice; Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu and Tina Mensah - Health; Kwaku Agyenim Boateng, Andy Appiah Kubi - Railways Development; Mohammed Habib Tijani and Charles Owiredu - Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; George Andah, and Vincent Sowah Odotei - Communications; and Patrick Buamah and Michael Gyato - Water Resources and Sanitation.

Others are Major Derrick Oduro - Defence; Henry Quartey- Interior; Mrs Patricia Appiagye - Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah - Regional Organisation and Development; Nii Titus Glover - Transport and Bright Wireko Brobbey, Employment and Social Welfare.

The rest are Francis Kingsley Ago Cudjoe - Fisheries and Aquaculture; Kwabena Darko-Mensah - Aviation; Paul Essien - Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Gifty Twum Ampofo - Gender, Children and Social Protection; Pius Enam Hadzie - Youth and Sports; Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi - Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; and William Kwasi Sabi - Monitoring and Evaluation.

GNA

By Ken Sackey, GNA
13.04.2017 LISTEN

The challenge in our world is that we have people who believe they have the divine and sacred right to be free from criticisms, even if such criticisms are constructive. For a very long time, many political scientists had posited that coups are relics of the past. But it has also been well articulated by foresighted scholars that coups are never obsolete in global politics. In fact, if the conditions that rationalised coups in the immediate days after postcolonial Africa persist in the 21st Century world, then we should be sure that coup would be a necessary evil.

Fortunately, some have come to the conclusion that it is better to jaw jaw than to war war. In other words, many have come to the solid conclusion that the pen is mightier than the weapon of war. Hence, the pen must not be gagged. The pen must not be stopped. The ink must be allowed to spill and spread far. The good thing about the pen is that one has the right to also use the pen to respond to and provide a rebuttal to any disagreement. Unlike the gun, which has for a very long time been monopolised by the military and other security agencies, the pen is readily available to most people.

In addition to the pen is the voice. Vocal power is the greatest gift the ultimate reality has offered to humanity. Those who are incapable of using the pen, have the free gift of their voice to express concerns about the existential realities of life. The oppressed may neither have the gun nor the pen, but may have the voice.

Dr. Nyanzi, a consummate academic and public intellectual, has chosen to use her voice and pen to rightly criticise and critique the political ineptitude that has burdened the progress of Uganda. She is powerless in terms of getting access to the instrument of violence to overthrow the leadership of the government of Uganda, but she has chosen to use what is innocuous and democratically acceptable: the use of the voice and pen. But, some ill-intended individuals and political apparatchiks would want to determine what she says and writes.

In relation to circumscribing Dr. Nyanzis right to talk freely, I ask the following questions: what difference would it make if Dr. Nyanzi decides to write and speak the language of everyone? What difference would it make if she decides to sing the praise song of the president of Uganda? Is freedom of expression the same as freedom to express what everyone else is saying? What is the logic of freedom of expression if one cannot say something differently, especially if such difference in expression is meant to cure the mischief in society? In any case, to sheepishly and blindly follow customs is slavery!

At what point did vulgarism become criminalised? And, by the way, who determines what is vulgar? Vulgarism, at least in my culture as an Akan from Ghana, is part and parcel of the richness of the Akan language. In some Akan festivals in Ghana, there is a period where the use of insulting and vulgar language is allowed to critique and assess the rule of a chief.

Okay, so Dr. Nyanzi has mental neurosis. This is nonsense to the highest order. Well, what I know is that mad people are at best mentally free. They are not constrained by the false dictates of the tyranny of society. They freely express their thought, without a wink. Well, maybe Dr. Nyanzi is mad: mad in the sense that she has dared to call the bluff of the demi-god of Uganda. She has dared to do what many men and women in Uganda would dare not do. She is mad because she has risked death and liberty to lead the liberation of most Uganda. And maybe she is mad because as a woman in a deeply entrenched patriarchal and androcentric society, she has chosen to challenge that status quo, which is so detrimental to human progress. Again, Dr. Nyanzi may be mad because she has refused to be enslaved by inane customs and traditions that legitimises hero worship. She is mad because she is breaking the culture of silence.

She is mad because she has done what the greatest heroine of Asante history, Yaa Asantewaa, Queenmother of Ejisu, said, and I quote:

How can a proud and brave people like the Asante sit back and watch, while the white man took away their King and chiefs, and humiliated them with a demand for the Golden Stool. The Golden Stool only means money to the white man, they have searched and dug everywhere for it, I shall not pay one predwan ([pound] 8 25) to the governor. If you, the chiefs of Asante, are going to behave like cowards and not fight, you should exchange your loin clothes for my undergarments. (Agyeman-Duah & Boateng, 2000, p. 40)

From the historical point of view, there is a litany of evidence to show that revolutions in the world were brought by people who dared to be different: people who challenged the machinery of oppression. Also, revolutions were brought about by non-conformists. But the sad truth is that, such persons were always hated and persecuted, but the their legacies endures the test of time.

I say this to cheer Dr. Nyanzi on:

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man/woman flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man/woman flattened by conformity stays down for good (woman, added, Thomas J. Watson).

Again, to Dr. Nyanzi, I say that:

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph (Haile Selassie).

I call on the people of Uganda and the international community to swiftly move in to free Dr. Nyanzi from the patriarch of Uganda. Free Dr. Nyanzi now!

In solidarity!

Satyagraha

Charles Prempeh ( [email protected] ), African University College of Communications, Accra
Some concerned Ghanaian citizens living in the United Kingdom have petitioned President Nana Addo to arrest persons involved in illegal mining, popularly referred to as Galamsey.

They also demanded the deportation of foreign nationals complicit in Galamsey.

Their petition comes in the wake of an intense campaign against the menace which has reportedly led to the destruction of some natural resources, in Ghana.

The campaign which was initiated by private radio station, Citi FM is gaining more attention as various groups and individuals have joined.

While calling for a mobilization of law enforcement resources to all threatened areas to address the problem, they also called for an environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in various areas believed to be affected by Galamsey.

We are sure you will agree that the accelerated environmental damage is caused by the industrial scale of illegal mining with heavy duty machinery. We humbly suggest that an investigation is conducted into how heavy machinery ended up on illegal and small scale mining sites, the petition added.

Below is the full petition from the group

H.E. President Nana Akuffo-Addo

Excellency,

We, concerned Ghanaians and Pan-Africanists at home and in the Diaspora, have read and watched with concern reports on the damaging effect of illegal mining on human lives, animals and the Ghanaian environment. We are particularly concerned about ecocide and the pollution of rivers and river beds from mining which has rendered a lot of drinking water unsafe.

The situation has gone on for too long and we know you would like to put an immediate end to the destruction of our environment, especially as we are in the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD).

We respectfully appeal to you to mobilise law enforcement resources to all threatened areas to secure the affected areas as a matter of urgency, and stop all illegal mining activities. The perpetrators should be arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law without fear or favour. Foreign nationals found to be guilty of illegal practices should be deported after judicial process.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be carried out to assess the situation, and a plan put in place as a matter of urgency to begin the clean up process.

We are sure you will agree that the accelerated environmental damage is caused by the industrial scale of illegal mining with heavy duty machinery. We humbly suggest that an investigation is conducted into how heavy machinery ended up on illegal and small scale mining sites.

The issue of guns on illegal mining sites raises national security concerns and should also be investigated.

As a permanent solution, the Akoben flagship programme of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be adequately resourced to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental regulations.

Legal mining should also be examined and monitored so that activities conform to the terms of the licence and environmental regulations. It is important that after legal mining activities have ended, the land is safe for social and agricultural use. The practice of leaving concessions legally obtained in an environmentally damaged state should be stopped, and the land left in such that in time it can regain its natural usefulness.

We also suggest bringing in your Manifesto Pledge of One Factory Per District as a priority to Galamsey areas, so that small scale local gold prospectors in Galamsey areas are given an alternative source of income.

In the short term, we respectfully urge that locals are involved in the environmental clean up as an immediate alternative source of income, and as a means of giving them a stake in restoring and preserving their local environment. This, naturally, will be under the supervision of trained health and safety officials of the EPA.

Additionally, safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers in Galamsey areas, and the safety of their lands and waters, should be a priority.

We would welcome your suggestions about what we at home and in the Diaspora can do to assist your valuable efforts, and look forward to hearing about the progress of the Government's efforts in tackling the issues raised in this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Awula Serwah, LLB (Hons), BL (Secretary, Africans For UK, Member Law 86 Forum Ghana)

[email protected]l.com

Akora Nana Asante (Secretary, IDPAD Coalition UK)

Kwaku (Co-ordinator, African Histories Revisited)

Albert Nii Sai Quarcoopome, Lawyer (Member Law 86 Forum Ghana) UK

Kwabla Senanu, L.L.M (Dundee), MBA (Coventry) DLCLS (Stockholm), BL (Accra), LLB (Hons) (Member Law 86 Forum Ghana)

Nick Nickleton-Kumordjie (Member Law 86 Forum Ghana) UK

Seth Cadman Sackey, B.A. DPA, BL, (Member Law 86 Forum Ghana) Italy

Abu Ferdanando (Race Matters Forum) UK

Ade Olaiya, M.A. Bristol

Andre Dallas (Rhodes Must Fall)

Christopher Jones Thompson (Co-Chairperson IDPAD Coalition UK)

Cecile Olua (Race Matters Forum) UK

Coralie Lolliot Bright (Aspiring Young African Leaders/University of Manchester)

Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye (Mission Dine Club Charity) UK

Dana Mills (Rhodes Must Fall)

Devina Aggrey (Africa Probe)

Dauda Barry (IDPAD Coalition UK Board member)

Dr. Michael McEachrane (European Network for People of African Descent)

Dr. Ricardo Twumasi (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen)

Edmund Cofie (Barrister Nexus Chambers)

Femi Nylander (Rhodes Must Fall, Oxford/IDPAD Coalition UK Board member)

Hebe Perry-Belfrage (Race Matters Forum) UK

Ing. Nana Sarpong Agyeman-Badu (OccupyGhana)

Marc Agagah (Race Matters Forum) UK

Marlene Ellis (Co-Chairperson IDPAD Coalition UK)

Michael Asimah, UK

Princess Ashilokun (Rhodes Must Fall, UK)

Sara Asafu-Adjaye (CitizenGhana Movement, Old Achimotans Association 78)

Saschan Fearon-Joseph (Rhodes Must Fall)

Shango Baku (International Rastafari Writer, Activist, IDPAD Coalition UK Board Member)

Shirley Hinson, USA

Toyin Agbetu (Ligali) UK

Tyrone Smith (Race Matters Forum) UK

Vanessa Abankwah Matthews (Race Matters Forum) UK

Vanessa Mbamalu (Aspiring Young African Leaders/University of Manchester)

Yetunde Zwennes-Kwabwe (Accountant FCCA, Old Achimotans Association 78)

Yvonne Boakye (Old Achimotans Association 78)

Yvonne Twum-Barima (Old Achimotans Association 78)

c.c.

Hon. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng

Minister of Environment, Science and Technology

Hon. John Peter Amewu

Minister of Lands & Natural Resources

Dr. Toni Aubynn

Chief Executive, Minerals Commission

Togbe Afede XIV

President of the National House of Chiefs

Juabenhene Nana Otuo Siriboe II

Chairman of the Council of State



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Citi FM with its partner station, Beach FM 105.5 in Takoradi on Thursday begun a fresh wave of the #StopGalamseyNow Campaign in the Western Region.

Branded in the campaign T-shirts with fliers in hand, the team hit the principal streets of Takoradi including places such as the Paa Grant roundabout to Poly Traffic Light, Pipe Ano to Nkrumah roundabout and Market Circle.

The campaign since its launch on 3rd April 2017 has taken the fight against illegal mining to the authorities with five clear demands aimed at ending the destruction associated with the menace.

Speaking to earlier to Citi News, the General Manager of Beach FM, Kojo Amoako Nzoley explained that the campaign is an extension of what was done in the Greater Accra Region.

This is an extension of what has been happening in Accra, championed by Citi FM and what we are going to do is to go to major traffic areas in town and send the story about the effects of Galamsey. For us in Western Region, we have a first hand experience of what Galamsey is doing to our water bodies so we are taking it out to the streets and we expect people to embrace it and also lend their voices so that leadership will take action.

The campaign makes five clear demands for government:

The total cessation of all small and medium scale mining for a period of six months

The cessation of the issuance of new mining licences for a year

The reclassification of mining categories to reflect the use of new/larger equipment

The allowance of water bodies to regenerate their natural ecology

Tree planting and a land reclamation project

The campaign has so far received massive support from various groups and individuals who joined in raising awareness on the problem.

Citi FM subsequently presented a petition to Parliament last week as part of measures to push the agenda to address the problem.

The petition, which was submitted by the station's Director of News Programming and Host of Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Koku Avle, was received by the leadership of Parliament.

They also commended the station for the advocacy.





By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
DENK PHARMA, a global company with core competence in the area of healthcare, has introduced a new nutrition portfolio unto the Ghanaian market as part of efforts to support the well-being of Ghanaians.

The new product line, consisting of food supplement for all age groups, adds to DENK's list of therapeutic areas such as analgesics, antiallergics, antibiotics and expectorant, antimalarials, cardiometabolic drugs, dermatologic drugs, gastro intestinal drugs, minerals and vitamins, oncology and respiratory drugs.

Dr Naa Okailey Adamafio-Manteau, Country Manager of DENK PHARMA, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE on the sidelines of the launch of the products, disclosed that DENK has been in Ghana for over 20 years providing quality medicines to the Ghanaian public.

She, however, indicated that the company realised the need to introduce its nutrition portfolio of food supplementation as a result of low micro nutrients recorded among Ghanaians.

This is necessary because we tend not to eat well so there is the need for micro-nutrients supplementation, she added.

She added that the product which comes in categories of family planning, minerals and vitamins and special treatment are cost-effective.

We have prenatal, lactonatal+DHA, and fertile forte for family planning, ferro vital, D3 active and junior magnes active and calcium active for lost of vitamins and minerals and for special treatment we have joint active, l-active, immune active and thymair as well as brain active.

We ensure people are getting the quality they need at a much more affordable cost so that they can pay less but not compromise on the excellent quality they are looking for, she stated.

DENK PHARMA was founded in Munich, Germany, in 1948 and has a strong focus on export markets and presently supplies its DENK PHARMA premium medicine and food supplements around the world.

For more than 65 years, the company has delivered quality that is made in Germany to ensure that all patients worldwide receive the same high-quality as they do in Germany.

We strongly believe that, through our work and our products, we are making a contribution towards improving the quality of our customers' lives as health is a precious commodity for every human, regardless of where they live and their financial situation, Dr Adamafio-Manteau concluded.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
Dr Kwaku Agyeman Manu  Minister of Health

13.04.2017 LISTEN

The Nursing &Midwifery Council (N&MC) has outdoored its maiden edition of an international journal on nursing and midwifery.

The journal, 'NUMID Horizon', the first of its kind in Ghana, is aimed at providing a credible medium for nurses and midwives and other health-related researchers to share their research and other professional works.

'NUMID Horizon' publishes original research papers, systematic and scholarly review articles, technical reports, policy briefs and short communication that meet high academic, ethical and professional standards.

Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang-Manu commended the N&MC and the authors of the journal for their innovation, adding that much effort was needed to implement the recommendations outlined in the various areas of research.

Research in nursing and midwifery has a tremendous influence on current and future professional practices given that it can provide specialised insights and discoveries that other healthcare research might miss, he added.

Mr Agyemang-Manu said that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other health partners, will expand health promotion programmes and health infrastructure development, as well as strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure that the right to health of Ghanaians is guaranteed.

I want to assure all that the government is committed to providing Ghanaians with adequate and efficient healthcare facilities whilst committing resources into the training and practice of nurses and midwives, he said.

The minister also commended the council for the introduction of French and sign language as a new course for the training of nurses and midwives, an innovative policy initiated by the council.

Prof Stephen Adei, a lecturer at the Ashesi University, reviewing the journal, stated that the articles were well-written and of high quality and could be published in top international journals to add to the world of knowledge and most especially to help improve professionalism in the nursing and midwifery profession.

He continued that Ghanaian nurses should improve professionalism in carrying out their duties to evade avoidable deaths of patients due to their negligence.

He said that nurses are the first contacts of patients in the absence of doctors and, thus, cannot jeopardise the lives that they (nurses) are entrusted with.

'Numid Horizon' was conceived in May 2016. It was formally established by the council in July 2016, with the mission of providing a platform for the academia, researchers and practitioners in the various health institutions to place their research in the public domain.

By Abigail Owiredu-Boateng
Entebbe (Uganda) (AFP) - Targeted killings of specific ethnic groups in South Sudan's civil war amount to "genocide", according to Britain's International Development Minister Priti Patel.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," Patel told reporters in Uganda on Wednesday, according to a ministry press officer travelling with her.

Patel was returning from a visit to South Sudan where people have "experienced trauma and horror none of us can comprehend", she told AFP in a separate interview.

Civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 after a power struggle between President Salva Kiir -- who is ethnic Dinka -- and his former deputy Riek Machar from the Nuer community.

The Dinka and Nuer are the two largest ethnic groups in South Sudan and with their history of bloody rivalry, fighting quickly pitted the two against each other.

However the conflict has also drawn in the country's myriad smaller groups, either taking sides with the government or the rebels or fighting each other for the upper hand in local conflicts over land or other issues.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," British International Development Secretary Priti Patel told reporters in Uganda on Wednesday

Refugees fleeing fighting in South Sudan have told AFP of targeted killings by government troops, who identify people according to language or tribal scarring before slaughtering them.

In the southern town of Pajok, seen as sympathetic to the rebels, government troops went on a rampage last week killing at least 85 people, numerous witnesses told AFP after fleeing to Uganda.

As fighting broke out in the second largest city of Wau this week, priest Moses Peter told AFP that government troops were "targeting certain groups of people".

United Nations experts in early December reported "ethnic cleansing" in several parts of South Sudan.

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has warned of "a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide."

South Sudan's Information Minister Michael Makuei slammed Patel's comments as "unfortunate and misleading".

"That is a very unfortunate statement given by an irresponsible person. There is no genocide. These are all things that are orchestrated by people who are made to make these reports," he said.

burs-fb/cs/nb/ccr
Kofi Mbiah

13.04.2017 LISTEN

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah has said Ghanas international trade volumes is expected to grow by 10percent in 2017.

He noted the Ghanas maritime trade outlook for 2017 is likely to see a steady increase in trade volume with boosts in both imports of major commodities and export of raw materials and semi-processed goods to the Chinese and European markets.

Dr. Mbiah added that this growth is attributed to the calm political environment after the 2016 general election and the transition process, renewed business confidence in the new government as well as the Ghanaian economy and new political/initiatives expected to boost the agricultural, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

He said this at a media briefing in Accra to present the first in the series of the Shipping Quarter and Outlook to provide timely, authentic and accurate information on the shipping industry.

The CEO of GSA indicated that in 2016 global development affected the trade performance and outlook with the worlds largest economy, China focusing more on services and importing fewer raw materials from the rest of the world which triggered a fall in commodity prices.

He posited that the Brexit (UK exiting from European Union) created uncertainty on container shipping, maritime continous battle with low growth in global demand coupled with oversupply of new tonnage resulting in low freight rates on the major trading routes have not benefited Africa.

According to him, the year 2016 echoes Ghanas maritime trade with 68.5percent being imports and 31.5percent being exports.

He emphasized that the total imports for 2016 was 12.05 million mt representing an increase of 3.2percent over 2015 which comprised 4.1 million mt of Liner cargo, 1.75 million mt of Break bulk, 2.68 million mt of Dry bulk and 3.5 million mt of Liquid bulk imports.

That notwithstanding Dr. Mbiah indicated that total export trade volume for 2016 was 5.55 million mt representing a 26.9percent increase over 2015.

He said rise is made of of 1.40 million mt of Liner items, 497,808 mt of Break bulk items, 3.40 million mt of Dry bulk and 239,881 mt of liquid bulk.

Budget statement issues

Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah indicated importers and exporters have welcomed the abolishment of the 1 percent Special Import Levy and the 17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines that are not produced locally, removal of excise duty on petroleum and reduction of special petroleum tax rate from 17.5percent to 15percent, removal of duty on the importation of spare parts, replacement of the 17.5 VAT/NHIL rate with a flat rate of 3 percent for traders and initiate steps to remove import duties on raw materials and machinery for production within the context of the ECOWAS Common Tariff (CET) protocol.

The above notwithstanding, he said the Ghana Shippers Authority has received some complaints from shippers with respects to the application of the exemption regime and the deferment of VAT on manufacturing raw materials.

Our contact with the custom division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has indicated that the position prior to the exemptions policy remains the same. Thus, the deferment of VAT on manufacturing raw materials is still applicable, he stated.

Eliminating trade facilitation obstacles

Dr. Mbiah indicated that Ghana ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement on 4th January,2017 as the 104th member states constituting more than 2/3 of the required ratification needed from the 164 member countries to bring the agreement into force.

According to him, the entry into force of this agreement would expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods including goods in transit.

He added that it will also set out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

The agreement will help improve transparency, increase possibilities to participate in global value chains and reduce the scope for corruption, the CEO posited.

Dr. Mbiah emphasized that the outlook for the next quarter is undoubtedly bright and the best way to achieve this is the need to accelerate the pace of reform in our business processes, increase technological penetration in our clearance processes so as to reduce delays, cut down costs and make the shipper more competitive.

He noted that efforts must be made to improve upon our profiling, utilization of advance information, improvement in the non-intrusive inspection mechanisms, our post audit and sanction regimes.
Citi FM with its partner station, Beach FM 105.5 in Takoradi, on Thursday renewed the #StopGalamseyNow Campaign in the Western Region.

Branded in the campaign T-shirts with fliers in hand, the team hit the principal streets of Takoradi including places such as the Paa Grant roundabout to Poly Traffic Light, Pipe Ano to Nkrumah Roundabout and the Market Circle area.

The campaign since its launch on 3rd April 2017, has taken the fight against illegal mining to decision makers, with five clear demands aimed at ending the destruction associated with the menace.

Speaking to earlier to Citi News, the General Manager of Beach FM, Kojo Amoako Nzoley, explained that the campaign is an extension of what was done in the Greater Accra Region.

This is an extension of what has been happening in Accra, championed by Citi FM and what we are going to do is to go to major traffic areas in town and send the story about the effects of Galamsey. For us in Western Region, we have a first hand experience of what Galamsey is doing to our water bodies so we are taking it out to the streets and we expect people to embrace it and also lend their voices so that leadership will take action.

The campaign makes five clear demands for government:

The total cessation of all small and medium scale mining for a period of six months

The cessation of the issuance of new mining licences for a year

The reclassification of mining categories to reflect the use of new/larger equipment

The allowance of water bodies to regenerate their natural ecology

Tree planting and a land reclamation project

The campaign has so far received massive support from various groups and individuals who joined in raising awareness on the problem.

Citi FM subsequently presented a petition to Parliament last week, as part of measures to push the agenda to address the problem.

The petition, which was submitted by the station's Director of News Programming and Host of Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Koku Avle, was received by the leadership of Parliament.

They also commended the station for the advocacy.





By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Three people have been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport by the Narcotics Control Board for drug related offences.

The three suspects Madugu Suraku, Maxwell Momo Golafale and Daniel Njoku Egbuta were arrested on different occasions possessing and trafficking in narcotics while going through arrival and departure formalities.

A statement released by the Board, Thursday, indicate that Madugu, a Ghanaian was arrested on March 29, 2017 on his return from Nairobi Kenya.

"A urine test conducted on the suspect proved positive for narcotics. The suspect, upon interrogation confessed having ingested 35 pellets of a powdery substance suspected to be speedball. Forensic analysis confirmed the substance being speedball, a combination of cocaine and heroin, all nacortics substance," the statement said.

Two days later a second suspect, Maxwell Momo Golafale was also arrested while going through departure formalities to China.

He had concealed in his luggage "two slabs of compressed dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, popularly referred to as weed," the statement added.

The third suspect, a Nigerian, Daniel Njoku, Egbuta was also picked up on arrival from Sao Paolo, Brazil on April 5, 2017. A urine test conducted on him subsequently proved positive for cocaine. The suspect, had ingested 111 pellets of cocaine.

He later confessed being an ex-convict, having served a jail term for similar drug trafficking offence in Ecuador. He has since expelled all 111 pellets of cocaine.

The statement said all three suspects have been arraigned before court for prosecution.

More soon;

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com
NACOB Ag. Executive Secretary - Mr. Francis Kofi Torkornoo

13.04.2017 LISTEN

Three (3) persons have been arrested by operatives of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for illicit drug trafficking offences. The suspects, Madugu Suraku, Maxwell Momo Golafale and Daniel Njoku Egbuta were arrested on different occasions for unlawful possession and trafficking in narcotics, while going through arrival/departure formalities at the KIA.

Madugu Suraka, a Ghanaian was arrested on 29th March, 2017 on his return from Nairobi, Kenya. Suspect, Suraku was picked up while going through arrival formalities, and a urine test conducted on him proved positive for narcotics. The suspect, upon interrogation confessed having ingested thirty-five (35) pellets of a powdery substance suspected to be Speedball. Forensic analysis confirmed the substance being speedball, a combination of cocaine and heroin, all illicit narcotic substances.

On the other hand, Maxwell Momo Golafale, a Liberian was arrested on 31st March, 2017 while going through departure formalities to china. The suspect had concealed in his luggage two (2) slabs of compressed dried leaves, suspected to be cannabis sativa, popularly referred to as wee.

Daniel Njoku Egbuta, a Nigerian was apprehended on 5th April, 2017 on his arrival from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Urine test conducted on him subsequently proved positive for cocaine. The suspect, Egbuta had ingested One Hundred and eleven (111) pellets of cocaine. Egbuta confessed being an ex-convict, having served a jail sentence for similar drug trafficking offence in Ecuador. He has since his arrest expelled all 111 pellets of cocaine.

All 3 suspects have since been arraigned before court for prosecution.

The general public is herein being sensitized to be mindful of the harmful effects of narcotic drug use. It should be noted that the law will not spare any person or persons found culpable to illicit drug offences stipulated in the PNDC law 236. However, persons with drug-use problem are encouraged to seek attention.

NACOB wishes to assure the general public of its continuous commitment to fighting the illicit drug trade. It therefore appeals to the public to partner the Board in its course, as the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse is a shared responsibility.

Thank you.

COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS UNIT
The Police in Abura Dunkwa in the Central Region have arrested a senior Laboratory Technician for allegedly selling the blood of patients to some persons for rituals.

Stephen Nyan is suspected of selling the blood to the men known as Sakawa boys at GHC5,000 or GHC10,000 per pint depending on the purchasing power of the buyer.

He is suspected of drawing more blood than required for his tests and then stores the excess for sale to ritualists in need of human blood for their rituals.

Regional Police PRO, Asp Irene Oppong, told Joy News the suspect has been trading in the blood of some pregnant women and babies at the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital for several years.

She said repeated complaints from residents of the community led to Mr Nyans arrest.

The police through investigations made someone pose as a buyer and he agreed to sell the blood sample to him, ASP Oppong said.

She explained they found some of the blood samples displayed on his table when they searched his house.

So we charged him with stealing because the blood sample is the property of the hospital, she said, adding he took the blood without authorisation from the hospital.

Joy News Central Regional Correspondent, Kwadwo Nyarko, reports residents are living in fear over the issue.

Some of them who spoke to the reporter said they will no longer go to the hospital for their medical needs.

A total of 50 pregnant women and babies are reported to have died in the hospital and residents are blaming it on activities of Mr Nyan.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
Koforidua, April 13, GNA - The Public Affairs Department (PAD) of Parliament has signalled a move towards enhanced information flow to prevent disconnection between the people and the House.

Ms. Kate Addo, the Head of the Department, said the focus was to get the people to keenly follow its activities and to deepen their understanding of the work of the legislature.

She was speaking at two-day workshop held in Koforidua to plan effective communication strategies to bring parliament closer to the people.

It was organized by the Department with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) - a United Kingdom (UK) organization, which has been promoting democratic practices.

Ms. Addo hinted of increasing use of social media to reach out to different sectors of the society - to make sure that the people did not become cut off from what had been happening in the country's parliament.

This, she indicated, was vital to the growth of the nation's democratic governance.

The Director of Research Department of Parliament, Mr. Mohammed Hardi, said more should be done to boost its image.

He highlighted the need to assist the people to have better understanding of the role and duties of the parliamentarian.

Mr. Fulvio Menghini, Head of the Communications of WFD, noted that the use of social media would tremendously help the PAD to breakdown boundaries and communicate even with Ghanaians, abroad.

There were many people living outside the country, interested in the affairs of parliament, and they could be assisted to follow what was happening through the social media platform of parliament.

Its effective use could help the PAD to explain and simplify complex issues on the floor of the house to make these understandable to the ordinary citizens.

GNA
13.04.2017 LISTEN

Tamale, April 13, GNA - Water systems of nine schools, two health centres and 10 communities in five districts of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions are to be rehabilitated and enhanced into solar mechanized systems to better serve the people.

Institutional latrines will also be built for the schools in the beneficiary districts, which include Tamale Metropolis, Bolga Municipality, Bawku West, Bongo and Wa East Districts.

This forms part of a six-month project, (April 2017-September 2017) dubbed: 'Supporting localized governance and rehabilitation for sustainable water services in Ghana' aimed at ensuring sustainable water services in the country.

The GH1.5 million project, is to be implemented by WaterAid Ghana, through five local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and it is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

WaterAid Ghana, has therefore, signed a partnership programme agreement with the five local NGOs in Tamale to kick-start the project.

The NGOs include Pumptech, Won Nyeya, Water Vision Technology Limited, Belim Wusa Development Agency, and ProNET North.

Mr Abdul Nashiru Mohammed, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, who spoke during the signing ceremony, said the project would help improve access and right to safe sanitation for beneficiary communities and facilities.

Under the project, the Dinaba Health Centre in the Bawku West District, which faces water challenges, would have water piped to its wards to help in its operations.

Mr Nashiru emphasised need for sustainability of project urging the local implementing NGOs to deliver quality facilities to ensure quality water for the beneficiaries.

Mr Ayambire Akaditi, Bongo District Coordinating Director, lauded the project saying it would greatly contribute to improving access to water and sanitation for the beneficiaries.

Mr Akaditi pledged the commitment of the beneficiary local government authorities to support the project to ensure successful implementation.

GNA

By Albert Futukpor, GNA
For the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to succeed in its fight against corruption, it should carry out thorough investigations of corruption cases and also hire the services of ogbologbo lawyers. An ogbologbo, is a Yoruba word which means seasoned and experienced person. These were the submissions of the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, when he hosted journalists at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

Those who know the former President very well can attest to his self-styled bluntness in propagating staged melodramatic episodes that last longer in mind than its reality. It is an undiluted truth that as a man who has rigmaroled the corridors of power in Nigeria, he knows and understands very well the piece of land called Nigeria. Obasanjo has remained strong in the nations politics, moving majestically anywhere he thinks of, watching the rots he assisted in creating and dishing out piecemeal desiccated solutions whenever he feels attention would be engendered. He is always a major of the dramatis personae in the shows he often dedicates to his enthusiastic followers. In short, he would have won many awards as the protagonist of his own didactic verbiages.

He was a president, like Buhari, who came to power when all eyes: global, regional, national and local, were on Nigeria. He would have been, if he cared, the Mandela of Nigeria, coming into power at the right time when democracy was practically reborn in the country. In the dire quest to strike a deal for rotational presidency, he was drafted in from near absence. The land was fertile for him to till and feed, grow and sustain the Nigerian people. And he did his best. No sincere compatriot can query his efforts. He could not have done otherwise because having been left with only about 20,000 naira after having tasted grandeur and freedom in the military, the Nigerian commonwealth was too much for him to control. And he did what he could do and managed to hand over to an unstable Umaru. Before then, he was able to mortgage national assets, sold some to loyalists and acquired others by proxy. But only few doubt the sincerity of Obasanjo in tying Nigerians together, including the Igbo whom he love with approximate authenticity.

Sometimes people do not take him serious because he prefers the Ali Baba to the Hollywood. But he is such a simple man who can engage you in absurdities even while delivering scholarly written official speech. I used the word simple because as a man who later became a student of theology, he had realized that the world was too harsh to follow it harshly. If one must succeed, it is risky to rush except if it entailed conversion of commonwealth to private warehouses and for personal aggrandizement. Why not, after all Nigerians were, during his eight year lordship, the happiest people on earth, suffering all sorts of pandemic, lack, international humiliation and sluggishness.

A recall to the past shows that Obasanjo was a man favoured by God and Nigerians from all angles. He was handed power on the platter of gold after decades of military (mis)handling of the nations commonwealth. Before the year 1999, Nigeria was reckoned amongst failed states because of the successive military juntas. By 1999, he was made the president and he toured many countries before he was sworn-in. I was lucky he addressed us as students in Egypt and appealed to us to come back home after studies to join hands in developing Nigeria.

By implication, that opportunity of heading a new era under a democracy required not sophisticated efforts to make a difference. But Obasanjo gradually revealed the (mis)conception that he was a Nigerian to the core, with the penchant to pleasure, unabated freedom and relative preferences. Corruption of the highest order continued, political gangsterism flourished and poverty was wonderfully reactivated. And so the eight years passed without fixing anything tangible in the key sectors: education, power, health, infrastructures and social amenities. However, I must recognize one area that was sacrosanct  the unity of Nigeria.

So, Obasanjos comments on corruption often receive stiff criticisms. Obasanjo claims not to be satisfied with the way President Buharis EFCC is fighting corruption and losing cases. For him, corruption cases are lost for a number of reasons prominent of which was engagement of outside lawyers and not the ogbologbo' lawyers inside the circle. Secondly, investigations are not thorough. Thirdly, the judges have displayed lack of commitment. There must be the Salamigate methodology to succeed. So it is a chain: investigation, prosecution and the judiciary. If there is weakness along this line, chances are that corruption cases will continue to be lost, he said.

If I am a lawyer, he averred, and I want the opponent to win a case, what I will file will be `wishy-washy. And if I file a `wishy-washy case, the opponent will see the loophole and he will get out of it. I believe that it is important.

Obasanjo accused church leaders of corruption at a lecture of Victory Life Bible Church International while speaking in Abeokuta on the theme, The Role of the Church in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. In a swift reaction, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state described Obasanjos administration as the most corrupt in Nigeria. The special assistant to the governor on public communication and new media, Lere Olayinka, advised Obasanjo to desist from accusing people of corruption in Nigeria. Fayose faulted the claim that some church leaders in the country were encouraging corruption politicians and also celebrating people with questionable source of wealth.

Fayose queried how Obasanjo got his large wealth despite he was a pauper before he became president. He wondered how Obasanjo, under whose tenure, Nigeria witnessed the Haliburton scandal could be sermonizing about corruption. Isnt compelling state governors to make donations to the personal project of a serving president part of corruption, he queried further.

Fayose claimed that Obasanjo was the father of corruption in the present day Nigeria, through the introduction of Ghana-must-go politics, saying that it was under his administration that sacks of money were displayed on the floor of the House of Representatives as bribe money given to some Reps members to impeach the then Speaker, Ghali Nabba. The third term saga, amongst others, also threw up integrity question on the part of the former president whose influence in Nigerian politics cannot be undermined anyway.

Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected]
Hon. Mustapha Hamids admission that AMERI funded the Addison Committees trip to Dubai as part of investigations into the AMERI deal has raised serious conflict of interest issues. Media reports alleged that AMERI paid for the hotel and air tickets of the committee members to Dubai to aid the Addison committees investigation. This situation has led to people, especially the NDC to question the credibility of the report issued by the committee. According to Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the Former Minister Of Power under whom the agreement was signed, AMERIs sponsorship of the Committee compromises the integrity of Philip Addison and his committee to conduct any investigation whatsoever into the deal.

While the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) welcomes the public debate that has ensued following the revelation, it wishes to point out that, it has unfortunately become the norm, rather than the exception in Ghana for state official and entities to place themselves in positions of conflicting interests. In 2015 before the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between state-owned distributor, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines And Energy, who were responsible for ensuring due diligence before the contract was signed by the government, and who was saddled with responsibility for ratifying the transaction were sponsored on a trip to Turkey by the very company (Karpowership) that the agreement was to be signed with. Karpowership paid their airfares, hotel expenses and per diems.

There have also been several cases of government officials who are supposed to have oversight responsibilities over companies and institutions being sponsored by these same companies on trips abroad, serving on boards of these companies or involved with the company for personal gains.

The trend is indeed worrying, as it constitutes a huge impediment to the fight against corruption. It also constitutes a big blow to the integrity of the personnel and institutions involved, as well as the credibility of their work.

CSPOG recalls that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) embarked on a mission to develop conflict of interest guidelines for public office holders during the reign of President Kufuor, but wonders what became of the exercise.

Now that CHRAJ is being called upon by the NDC to investigate the Philip Addison Committee, CSPOG takes the opportunity to urge that, any such investigation must lead to the prescription and adoption of guidelines by which public office holders, institutions, and investigative committees would be held to. As part of remedial measures, the state must be required at all times, to make funding available to sponsor activities of committees set up to investigate cases of corruption, as in the case of AMERI, to prevent creating avenues for possible bribery which leads to loss of credibility of the committees reports. If the government cannot ensure adequate funding is available to sponsor investigations, then they shouldnt set committees up in the first place.

Signed

Dr Steve Manteaw

(Chairman, CSPOG)
Fellow Africans and Liberians, please join me (Jones Nhinson Williams) and my daughters in supporting the recommended nomination of Ms. Temidayo Folasade Olopade, popularly known as Dayo, for a Nobel Prize in Literature. Dayo (with photo below, sitting on the left), an American of Nigerian heritage, who has been extended an invite by my two young daughters (11 and 9) for an Easter Dinner scheduled for Sunday, April 17, 2017 in the First State of Delaware, is the proud and accomplished author of the acclaimed New York Timess Article:

Stop Treating Liberias President Like a Hero. Shes a Human.

This brilliant article by Dayo eliminates the myth circulated in the international community and in the west by highly paid global public relations machines in various shapes, forms, and manners over the past decade.

With the stroke of a pen and a less than two-page article, Dayo told the real story of Liberia and the Liberian people since 2006. Therefore, my daughters, both of whom are members of the Honors Students Society in their school and of the respected John Hopkins Program for Talented Students, decided not only to write, but also call the Nobel Prize Committee in Oslo, Norway to forward their request / nomination in advance, that Dayo be highly considered for a Nobel Prize in literature.

At least, she will deserve it.

https://www.nytimes.com//stop-treating-liberias-president-

This week, we are glad that the world has come to see the difference between reality and falsehood in Africa, particularly Liberia, the focus of the recently published New York Times article: STOP TREATING LIBERIAS PRESIDENT LIKE A HERO. SHES A HUMAN....

This New York Times article by our friend and African sister, Temidayo Folasade Olopade, popularly known as Dayo, shines light on how African leaders can and have deceived the world and western leaders, make them make-believe that they are saints while they (African leaders) cannot even defeat the devil in a competition for sainthood, even if they pay western public relations firms millions of dollars, as they have done over the years, while their citizens died from disease, hunger, stress from unemployment, and poverty.

On behalf of the Liberian people, Africa, and God, Dayo we are grateful to you and will always be for the rest of our lives for the excellent research piece you wrote about Liberia.

Dayos New York Times piece achieves three main things:

1. It justifies our proposition and argument with the leadership of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as to why the status of Liberians on TPS must be made permanent or extended for period up to ten years.

2. It also provides detailed, circumstantial, independent, and unbiased evidence for our request with the US Senate Majority and Minority Leaders as well as some of President Trumps senior advisors as to why all foreign aid to Liberia must be temporarily halted until corruption in Liberia is addressed and the salaries of lawmakers and officials of the Liberian administration are drastically reduced.

3. It serves as a clarion call to all Liberians that the time for falsehood, blind loyalty and hypocrisy is over. It is time to put Liberia First.
MTN Ghanas facilities have become centres of experience for second cycle and tertiary institutions. Over the years, MTN Ghana has played host to thousands of students from various educational institutions visiting its facilities for first-hand experience of the Companys operations.

In the first quarter of 2017, MTN Ghana hosted over 300 students from three tertiary institutions, namely Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) at its ultra-modern office complex in Accra, as well as state-of-the-art switch and data centers located in Accra and Kumasi.

With the assistance of MTNs Capital Projects Group team and external consultants who managed the construction of MTNs Head Office building, the Architecture students had first-hand knowledge of the various methods of construction, spatial, mechanical, electrical and economic parameters that were considered in the design and construction of the office.

Other important areas the students toured included the Water Treatment room, Power room, Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) room, Generator and Transceiver and the Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP). They also toured the lower roof of the main building where they had the opportunity to see the Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) units of the Ventilation and Air Condition (VAC) system. They were also educated on the nature of the air-conditioning systems.

Telecommunications Engineering students from KNUST, UMaT and KTI who toured MTNs Switch and Data Centers in Kumasi and Accra were hosted by Engineers from Network Group and Information System divisions. The students received demonstrations of the workings of the MTN Network Architecture and other technical elements.

The visiting students and their lecturers were thrilled with the kind of investment MTN is making to ensure it continuous provision of reliable telecommunication services to its customers and the organizations contributions to national development.
In a carefully staged event to coincide with the 105th birth anniversary of North Koreas founder, Kim Il-sung, the secretive regime announced that it had successful tested a nuclear warhead that could be mounted onto a rocket.

North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un in a televised address declared that the test was meant to send a strong warning to the US who repeated cautioned against the nuclear test.

"We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. We will take the toughest actions against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms, Kim Jong-un threatened.

Few hours after the televised address, United States President, Donald Trump ordered a strike on the DPRK nuclear facilities.

Satellite imagery after the strike indicates a huge cloud of smoke rising from the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the test was carried out.

Tensions are very high as the belligerent North Korean leader has promised a swift response. US-based monitoring group 38 North have released satellite imagery indicating a significant military build-up along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The Chinese State Media has warned of an imminent war on the Korean Peninsula.

Donald Trump may not succeed in living up to the fantasy as described above, but what would your reaction be if the scenario above quickly becomes a reality as North Korea prepares to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of its founder on Saturday.

The scenario is deliberately pessimistic, but it is firmly rooted in reality, showing how close we are to such a future.

In his first trip to South Korea, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson declared in reaction to North Koreas continuous provocations Let me be very clear, the Policy of Strategic Patience has ended.

In a blunt language, what the new US Secretary of State actually meant was that, there is a new sheriff in town and the rules of engagement have also changed as he sought to bring an end to an era of logic-driven Obama-Doctrine.

Re-affirming the view that theres indeed a new commander in town, The Donald ordered strikes on Syria last week; a move which was commended by many leaders worldwide.

The action in Syria was in direct contrast to the foreign policy position of the former President, who was described by then defense secretary, Leon Panetta as, approaching things [foreign policy] like a law professor in presenting a logic of his position.

Few personalities in the world have such controversial and polarizing views as Donald Trump. His unpredictability has been a huge asset despite it becoming the new front of assault for many of his detractors, who are usually rattled by his free-wheeling, Twitter-styled diplomacy.

Trumps Twitter-style diplomacy has been ridiculed by many as lacking any coherent strategy; a justification of this will be a tweet during the campaign; Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), only to backtrack on Wednesday insisting, theyre [China] not currency manipulators."

But Donald Trumps book, The Art of the Deal explains exactly what his strategy of unpredictability has been all along: Ask for the outrageous so that you can obtain the reasonable. Dont tip your hand too early.

The new sheriff may have stunned the Russians, and changed the media narrative about his bromance with Vladimir Putin after he served the Syrian Shayrat air base with 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles; but has Trumps instinct driven- twitter diplomacy become the new order of bullying everybody into submission?

Will Trump succeed where Obama failed?

In The Donalds own words, You cant con people, at least not for too long. You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. But if you cant deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on.

Time is surely our best ally as we all deal with the new reality: President Donald Trump is indeed the commander-in-chief of the most powerful military in the world.

What will he do?

Writer:

G. K. Sarpong is a conservative writer and editor of the Revolution Journal. G. K. Sarpong is an international columnist and has authored over eight books.

Visit his store at www.amazon.com/author/gksarpong or send him an email at [email protected]
Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid says the NPP Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong is useful to the party describing him as a semblance of a die hard member of the party who inspires the grassroot.

According to him, inasmuch as the maverick politician may have a repulsive public behaviour to sections of Ghanaians, Mr. Agyapong greatly attracts a huge following for the party in many respect.

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Thursday, the government spokesperson said  Agyapong is somebody who speaks to the partys publics hence the Assin Central legislator is an icon for the die hard NPP person, because hes hailed as one who will always stand by them.

Agyapong appeals so much to the base of the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition and large number of the partys publics is standing behind him, notwithstanding his wild behaviour.

Majority of the partys supporters align with Mr. Agyapong and his style of politics who undoubtedly cant seem to kick the habit with Agyapong.

He[Agyapong] lately disclosed he was the financier to the controversial NPP vigilante group-Delta Force that vandalized a Kumasi based court freeing suspects who were standing trial.

The largest opposition in the wake of the NPPs Delta Force attacks demanded for the arrest of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, whom the NDC believed is largely behind the terror group.

Many believe hes a nuisance to the NPP and hence his unguarded public utterances is hurting the partys image.

But the Minister for Information in an interview with Fiifi Banson on Kasapa FM holds the view that Agyapong has his publics whom his character appeals so much to them, as a result of this hes okay for the NPP to accommodate him.
SINCE THE RAPTURE OCCURS BEFORE THE FUTURE 7 YR TREATY IS SIGNED, I WONT BE AROUND TO HAVE THE ACTUAL TREATY SIGNING. BUT UNTIL THEN THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE BEGININGS OF THE ISRAELI / ARAB PEACE PROCESS. AND AS CLOSE TO THE 7 YEAR SIGNING THAT WE GET BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAVED TO HEAVEN. UNTIL WE MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS BODILY, AND COME TO EARTH 7 YRS LATER.
Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid has revealed he was indignant at former President Rawlings during his revolutionary regime because his father was forced into exile at the period.

Mustapha said at a tender age he was broken and consumed by bitterness when he was told his father had to abscond from home because he was being hounded by the ex-military leader.

Because my father went into exile, quiet frankly, even at that young age I was bitter against Jerry Rawlings, because when I came home one vacation and the room was locked and I sat out from around 11:00 am all the way to late night. I thought my father had gone out and he will come home later in the night. And the Landlord said to me, he said my brother your Father is wanted and he has run away And I said what who wants him? And they said Jerry Rawlings sent Soldiers to arrest him and he escaped. So I mean naturally as I a young boy, the name that they mention, they said Jerry Rawlings wants your Father, they didnt even say PNDC. And so frankly I felt Jerry Rawlings you treated me badly, almost ruined my future and so when I grow, I will fight Jerry Rawlings so my father can come home. And so my initial instincts was to go into the army and organize a coupLike if i go into the army then I will also mobilize troop and overthrow PNDC so my father can come home because I didnt even envisage we will be in a democratic era one day, Mustapha Hamid told Bola Ray Wednesday on Starr Chat, a personality profile show.

According to him, the vile abuse of the PNDC government on civilians grew his hatred towards Jerry John Rawlings who led the crusade.

He said this was why as a youth he embraced the governing NPP in his quest for quality leadership out of mounting frustration.

The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) took over government after the Peoples National Partys elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, on 31 December 1981.

It remained in power until 7 January 1993. In a statement explaining the coup detat, Rawlings explained that a holy war was necessary due to the PNPs failure to provide effective leadership and the collapse of the national economy and state services.

The PNDC was a military dictatorship that induced civilians to participate in governance. Most of its members were civilians. Its policies reflected a revolutionary government that was pragmatic in its approach.

The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt the economic decay, stabilise the economy and stimulate economic growth. Politically, its goal was to establish structures that would effectively allow the people to express their political will.

Most significantly, the PNDC, carrying with it the spirit of the June 4, 1979 Uprising, brought a change in the peoples attitude from a government will provide position to being proactive in nation-building.

The PNDC eventually gave up power, provided a new constitution in 1992 and held elections that year.
Staff of Wapic Insurance Company Limited on Wednesday donated assorted items in support of Citi FMs Easter Orphan Project.

The staff contributed and bought assorted items which included biscuits, soft drinks, toffees, diapers among others, for the project.

They told Citi News that the donation was towards helping the under privileged in society.

Citi FM has so far received several donations from its cherished listeners and corporate organisation in the country following an appeal it made to Ghanaians to support the project.

About Easter Orphan Project

The Easter Orphan project currently in its 12th year was an initiative by Citi FM to support some selected orphanages in the country.

They are the Baptist School Complex (BASCO) an orphanage at Trotor, near Suhum in the Eastern Region, the Handivangelism Orphanage at Haatso in Accra and Mama Laadi Orphanage at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The project seeks to ensure that the orphanages receive enough supplies to last them for a whole year.

More donations welcomed

Persons seeking to donate towards the project can come to the office of Citi FM at Adabraka, behind the Adabraka Police Station, with their items or send cash donations via mobile money via 024-337-4093.



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Nigeria is negotiating with the help of "foreign entities" for the remaining kidnapped Chibok girls held by Boko Haram Islamists, a presidential spokesman said Thursday.

As the country prepares to mark the third anniversary of the mass kidnapping on Friday, Garba Shehu told the BBC in a radio interview there were ongoing negotiations to release the 195 girls believed still be being held by Boko Haram.

"Talks are ongoing through other means with the help of some foreign entities to free more schoolgirls," Shehu said during an interview with BBC Hausa.

"These talks are going on with the help of some countries. You can recall the 21 schoolgirls were freed with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Swiss government officials who got involved in the negotiations. These two have not withdrawn their support in the negotiations," Shehu said.

"There are also other countries that are lending support to the negotiations by being involved in the talks," Shehu added.

In October last year, 21 girls were freed after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government brokered by the ICRC and the Swiss government, said the presidency.

Boko Haram seized 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape in the immediate aftermath while three others were found or rescued by the military. Some had babies in captivity.

"(The) government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed," Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement on Thursday.

"On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls."

In Nigeria's capital Abuja and the commercial hub of Lagos, Bring Back Our Girls campaigners are preparing to march on Friday to mark the anniversary of the kidnapping.

The Chibok schoolgirls became a symbol of the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 and has left at least 20,000 people dead in northeast Nigeria.

Despite a military fight-back, villages near Chibok, which is 125 kilometres (80 miles) by road from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, have seen a wave of suspected Boko Haram attacks in recent months.

Garba Shehu was not available for comment Thursday when contacted by AFP.
The Slum Union of Ghana says Tuesdays clashes between some Konkombas and Dagombas at Agbogbloshie in Accra has nothing to do with ethnicity.

The Union said political rivalry and economic interests are to blame for the fight that led to the death of two people and injuring of a dozen others.

Union Secretary, Abdullah Alhassan, said the rivalry started when late President John Evans Atta Mills won the 2008 elections.

Military personnel on the scene minutes after the clashes

He said supporters of the NDC used the opportunity to seized properties of some persons believed to be supporters of the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). The NPP supporters were driven from their homes and some of them killed.

Alhassan told Gifty Andoh Appiah on The Pulse on JOYNEWS channel on MultiTV Thursday, some NPP supporters also used the partys victory in the 2016 elections to exact revenge and retrieve their properties that were reportedly seized.

The political culture that when the NPP is in power the NDC supporters should be driven out and when NDC is in power, NPP supporters have to be driven out has to be curbed, he said.

At least two people died and dozen others, including a pregnant woman, were left in critical condition in clashes.

Details of the cause of the clashes are sketchy, but some residents are attributing it to the theft of a mobile phone and cylinder. Others also blamed ethnicity for the incident.

There have been similar clashes in the past. Clashes in April 2015 between Dagombas and Zabarima traders left four people including a police officer injured. Also, a clash in November 2014 left two people dead.

The Small Arms Commission has said the community is a volatile place because of the use of assault rifles by some residents.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Jones Applerh, said there are estimated 1.1 million illegal weapons in the hands of some citizens.

The Northern Region is the one with the highest gun possession, he said, adding measures have been put in place to retrieve them.

A contingent of police and military personnel has been dispatched to the scene of the clashes to retrieve illegal weapons in the hands of residents.

Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery and Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul visited the scene Wednesday

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Apeatu, has suggested the relocation of residents to curb the spate of violent attacks there.

But the Slum Union said a lasting solution to the clashes will be for the appropriate authorities to cure the problem from the roots.

The relocation has been on the table...[but] the culture of attacks between supporters of the NDC and NPP has to be addressed, Alhassan said.

People have been living here since the 1980s and attempts to drive them out wont help the issue.

He appealed to government to encourage dialogue between supporters of the two dominant parties to address their concerns.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
After recording a successful event last year during the first edition of the Ghana-Francophone Awards, the 2nd edition of the Awards ceremony which is mainly supported by the French Embassy in Accra has been duly launched.

The Ghana-Francophone Awards 2017 is slated to take place on Saturday 6th of May, 2017 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra at 7pm.

The event is being particularly organised by Infos d'Accra Limited, the first ever French Digital Media & Communications Agency in Ghana, registered at the Registrar General according to the laws of Ghana and located at Mile-7 here in Accra.

This year's event will be a gala dinner where 10-prizewinners, who positively impacted the French Community, each in their respective sectors in 2016, will be awarded prizes out of the 50 selected nominees

It is a highly spirited show designed to reward outstanding contributions of individuals and people associated with the Francophone community.

The organisation also has an online news portal Infosdaccra.com which is strictly Ghana news but in the French language, making it the first of its kind in Ghana.

As a Digital Media, it has more than 100,000 subscribers and followers on various social media and also offers some programmes on its WebTV.

It against this background that Infos d'Accra led by its Chief Executive Officer, Adopo Amidjo, it initiated the Ghana-Francophone Awards mainly to motivate the Francophones in Ghana to do more in the development of the nation and Africa at large.

The CEO of Infos d'Accra, at a media launch at the Company's Head Office in Accra said his outfit has a vision to ensure that in order to contribute to the Francophonie networks, he and his team intend to make the Ghana-Francophone Awards the most important of all events in Ghana.

"We plan to do this by creating an annual space for exchanges where all the members of the Francophone diaspora could meet to facilitate integration within the Ghanaian society."

The 10-Categories announced to be honoured include:

RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE YEAR

EXPATRIATE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

SME/START-UP OF THE YEAR

BILINGUAL FRENCH SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

SOCIO-CULTURAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

FRENCH RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR

LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

MUSICIAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

FASHION DESIGNER & BEAUTY CENTRE OF THE YEAR

About 1,000 guests comprising Consular Officials, Ghanaian Authorities, Expartriates, Business Men and Students are expected to attend. The gate fee charge is ranging from GHC150 to GHC200.
Accra, April 13, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court has remanded one Kweku Eric, unemployed into police custody on the charges of conspiracy and robbery.

Kweku was said to have conspired with three others now at large and robbed one Melvin Nyarko a student, of his Infinix Port 3 phone, necklace, a waist bag containing Voter's ID card, other documents and an amount of Ghc195.00.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was remanded by the court to reappear on April 29.

The facts of the case, as presented by Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu was that, the complainant, Melvin, is a student and resides at Kingsbey, New Achimota, whilst the accused person is a petty trader living at Dome.

He said on April 6, at about 0500 hours, the complainant was on his way home, and on reaching a spot at St Johns, Kweku and three others now at large attacked and robbed him of the above listed items.

The prosecution said the complainant managed to get hold of the accused person but his accomplices bolted with the booty. With the help of a witness, the complainant handed over the accused person to the police.

GNA

By Morkporkpor Anku
Kumasi, April 13, GNA - Eight members of the group, calling itself the 'Delta Force' and reported to be aligned with the governing of New Patriotic Party (NPP), accused of storming the KMA Circuit Court to free 13 of their colleagues from lawful custody, were on Thursday granted bail by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

Ebenezer Opoku, Samuel Yeboah, Kofi Fosu, Christian Anokye, Kwame Fimpong, Suleman Wadud, Abass Caesar, and Eric Kusi, had been remanded in prison by a lower court, when they appeared before it, last Monday.

They were however dissatisfied with the order and decided to take their case to the High Court to have it reversed.

Justice Francis Obiri, who heard their application, freed them on bail of GH10,000.00 each, with two sureties to be justified.

They were additionally ordered to report to the police on every Wednesday, until the bail conditions are reviewed.

The eight would return to the circuit court to answer charges of disturbing a court session, resisting arrest and freeing the 13 persons, who were in lawful custody on April 18.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

GNA

By Gifty Amofa
Accra, April 13, GNA - A 37-year-old securityman accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl at Nungua has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with defilement.

Richard Kweku Siayor has denied the offence.

The court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku remanded Siayor into Police custody to reappear on April 27.

Prosecuting Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the accused person resides in the same vicinity with the complainant and the victim at Nungua.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant operates a drinking bar hence got to know the victim at the bar.

Last year, the accused person met the victim who was on her way to choir rehearsals and lured her into an uncompleted building under the pretext of giving her empty beer bottles to be given to her father but defiled her.

After the act, the accused person warned the victim not tell anyone.

In March this year, the accused person for the second time lured the victim into another uncompleted house and had sex with her. Siayor warned the victim again not to tell anyone about the second act.

Prosecution said about three weeks ago, the complainant was educating the victim and other siblings on sexual matters, the victim then informed her father about the accused.

A report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victim's Support Unit, Nungua and a medical report form was issued to the complainant to send the victim to a medical facility to be examined.

The accused was later arrested.

GNA

By Joyce Danso
Adenta, April 13, GNA - The workers and students of the Pantang Psychiatric hospital on Wednesday embarked on a demonstration against encroachment of their land by private developers.

The demonstrators led by Mr Nana Boamah, the Environmental Officer, demonstrated through the principal streets of Adenta to the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly to present their petition to municipal Coordinating Director, Alhaji Saakah Dramani.

They carried placards calling on the government and the Ministry of Health to come to their aid to retrieve their parcels of land.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency, the spokesperson for the encroachers, Mr Kwame Quainoo said they had genuine documents covering the parcels of land from the Lands Department and had power of Attorney to that effect.

The demonstrators were escorted by the Adenta-Abokobi Police Command.

GNA
13.04.2017 LISTEN

Accra, April 13, GNA - The handing over ceremony of the 241 acres of land for the construction of Marine Drive Project was nearly marred with protest by some persons trading at the Arts Centre.

The Protestors clad in red bands claimed they were not consulted over the commencement of the project.

They were however stopped by the Police who were at the site.

After the programme however, Mr John Donkor, Public Relations Officer, Joint Executive Committee, Arts Centre said they were not against the project, but wanted them to be included in the project.

According to Mr Donkor, the space allegedly allotted to them at Kawokudi Park could not house 15,000 members of the Arts Centre and their current location had been the preferred place for tourists who visit the Centre.

Mr Donkor said next week Tuesday they would meet the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and submit their grievances.

An official ceremony to hand over the site to Marine Drive Project Anchor was held at the Arts Centre, Accra.

The site would be cleared to make way for the sod cutting by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The 60 year old Marine Drive Project plan a brain child of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was captured in the New Patriotic Party Election 2016 Manifesto.

It will house beach landing sites, 30 hotels, and conference facilities among others.

GNA

By Joyce Danso, GNA
When industry experts focus on IT developments and trends, most of the attention is given to large organizations or billion-dollar corporations. And while theres nothing inherently wrong with this, its important to recognize that evolving IT trends also influence small businesses. It could be argued that small businesses are more sensitive to changes in technology, giving us even more reason to study whats happening on the ground floor.

Look Out for These Five Trends

Now that weve finally escaped the shadows of last year and have progressed into 2017, we can look at some of the trends that are taking place and use them to more accurately predict what will happen this year. With that being said, here are a few of the IT trends that are sure to have an impact on small businesses in the coming months.

1. SaaS (News - Alert) Adoption Rates to Increase

There was a time, not too long ago, where small businesses looked at cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) with some fear. The idea of storing everything in the cloud, despite a somewhat tumultuous cybersecurity landscape, was troublesome.

Times have changed, though.

According to the annual Wasp Barcode Technologies State of Small Business Report, 57 percent of larger small businesses (101-499 employees) are using or plan to use SaaS this year, while 38 percent of smaller businesses (5-10 employees) plan to.

Those numbers line up with other research that suggests 85 percent of small business executives are willing to invest more in SaaS solutions between now and 2020.

The primary reason behind the increase in SaaS usage among small businesses has to do with savings and flexibility. Instead of investing in expensive hardware and IT infrastructure, companies just have to pay a monthly subscription fee. Plus, its easy to get started.

Budgets are being decreased and the business units are already going out and buying SaaS without talking to the IT departments about it. Theyre finding that they get more choice, they get it faster, they get it with less hassle  its instant gratification if you will, Gartner (News - Alert) VP Daryl Plummer explains.

2. Enhanced Focus on IoT Security

The IoT clearly offers small businesses a number of wonderful advantages. It allows for increased connectivity, lower IT overhead (thanks to BYOD policies) and better functionality across the board. However, its hard to ignore the risks associated with IoT security. This year, you can expect to see more small businesses place an emphasis on this aspect of IoT adoption.

According to a recent study on the topic, 58 percent of IT and security practitioners are concerned about their organization getting hacked via IoT devices. Despite this fear, 44 percent say their organization is doing nothing to prevent these attacks, while 11 percent are unsure if anything is being done.

The problem is that many connected devices arent built with security foremost in mind, and as a complicating factor, they are typically connected to a central home office or small business WiFi (News - Alert) router, security expert Timur Kovalev explains. The average WiFi router isnt designed with security as a top priority either. Kovalev cites a study in which only six of the 20 most popular wireless routers are fully updated with advanced security solutions.

While its imperative that small businesses consider hiring  or contracting with  an IT professional to establish secure connections, small businesses can also do a number of things on their own to reduce risk. This will be the year that small business owners finally understand the importance of taking preventative action.

3. Intrigue in Augmented Reality

Gartner predicts that by the end of 2017, one in five leading global retail brands, or 20 percent, will be using augmented reality (AR) as an integral technology supporting the shopping experience, Forbes contributor Louis Columbus notes. The potential to significantly improve upsell and cross-sell rates are evident, as is the opportunity to provide customers with the option of trying on clothing or sampling makeup virtually before buying.

While you wont see many small businesses using augmented reality in 2017, you can expect to see them looking forward and taking note of what larger brands are doing. Augmented reality clearly has a role in the future of retail and its only a matter of time before small businesses are able to get involved.

4. More Mobile-First Development

The desktop still has some utility in certain instances, but mobile devices are clearly the primary touch point. This year, small businesses will finally focus more on mobile-first design and development than on desktop. This will impact the way in which these businesses communicate and function in just about every facet.

In addition to internal changes, this mobile-first mentality will directly affect the way in which small businesses interact with customers. Desktop user experiences will be replaced by mobile touch points that encourage speed and functionality.

5. New Payment Options

In addition to mobile design and development, look for small businesses to start accepting new mobile payment options as a way of competing with larger organizations that allow customers to pay with any number of options.

As small business expert Anita Campbell explains, The use of mobile payments is on the rise, thanks to apps such as Microsoft (News - Alert) Wallet, so it makes sense to incorporate their use as an option. Also, companies like Microsoft partner Merchant Account Solutions have made mobile credit card readers readily available to small business users.

The easier businesses can make the transaction process for customers, the better their results will be. Theres no place for friction in the buying process anymore and small businesses are finally discovering the value in streamlining how business is done at the point of sale.

Small Business Shakeup

If all of the indicators prove true, this year will be transformational for small business  especially when it comes to IT.

Theres a lot happening in terms of new tools and technology entering the market, so itll be interesting to watch how small businesses respond and adapt.

Edited by Alicia Young
The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly says the relocation of the Agbogbloshie market from its present location in the heart of Accra remains a priority.

Mohammed Sowah said the arrangement will not affect Old Fadama residents who have been in the area before the market opened.

He told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FMs Top Story Thursday, his predecessors were unable to implement the project because of some challenges with the resettlement land.

Related Article: Konkombas, Dagombas at Agbogbloshie clash; 2 dead

There were ownership problems and there is the need for us to revisit the land and work with the chiefs there to deal with it, he said.

Mr Sowahs comments come on the heels of bloody clashes between some residents of Agbogbloshie on Tuesday. At least two people have been confirmed dead with eight others, including a pregnant woman, left in critical condition.

Related Articles: Konkomba-Dagomba clashes: Govt moves to retrieve illegal arms

The Ghana Police Service and Armed Forces have dispatched more of their men into the community to maintain law and order and to retrieve some assault rifles believed to have been used in the clashes.

There are varying accounts of the cause of the attack, but some residents said a mobile phone and cylinder theft by an unidentified man triggered the incident.

Several properties worth thousands of cedis were destroyed in the course of the fight. Four people have been arrested in connection with the clashes.

Related Article: 2 more arrested in Konkomba, Dagomba clashes at Agbogbloshie

Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has appealed to the feuding factions to desist from acts that will taint the image of persons who hail from the three regions of the North - Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, has also proposed the relocation of residents of the slum community, Sodom and Gomorrah, as a solution to the frequent clashes.

Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery with Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul during a visit to the community

The police chief explained the congested nature of the area provides a breeding ground for miscreants and criminals who have been fomenting trouble in the community.

This suggestion has been dismissed by the Ghana Slum Union which believes it will do little to tackle the root cause of the clashes.

Union Secretary, Abdullah Alhassan, told Joy News political rivalry is the cause of the violence, adding it has nothing to do with ethnicity. He said it dates back to 2008 when late President John Evans Atta Mills won the election.

Related Article: Ethnicity not cause of Konkomba, Dagomba clashes  Slum Union

Supporters of the National Democratic Congress, he said, sacked persons believed to be NPP supporters and seized their properties - public washrooms and toilets, ramshackle rooms, amongst others. The NPP members also retaliated after the party was elected in the 2016 polls.

The political culture that when the NPP is in power the NDC supporters should be driven out and when NDC is in power, NPP supporters have to be driven out has to be curbed, he said.

But the AMA boss said he will implement the Agbogbloshie relocation programme that has been on the Assembly's table since October 2009.

Related Article: Konkomba-Dagomba clashes: Expert recommends relocation of residents

Former AMA CEO, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, had designed the project to relocate all commercial activities at Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie) to Amasaman to decongest the area.

Mr Sowah stressed they will not relocate the people who are resident in the community, but rather the market. "There hasn't been any clear strategy to relocate the people."

He lauded the security personnel for the swift manner they handled the issue and prevented it from escalating. "The police and the military have done extremely well."

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
14.04.2017 LISTEN

The Deputy Northern regional Minster and Member of Parliament for the Bunkprugu constituency, honorable Solomon Boar has called on chiefs in the region to rally behind government to be able to transform the lives of the people in the region.

He said the regional minister, he and the the Tamale mayor were just three catapults serving as field officers for the president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu Addo and his vice, Dr. Alhaji Mamamudu Bawumiya who cannot do anything without the support of chiefs in the area.

Mr. Solomon Boar made the call when he paid a courtesy call on some chiefs in Tamale Metropolis on Thursday.

We need peace to be able to fulfill the agenda of his Excellency Nana Addo. We cannot realize this if we dont get the support of our traditional rulers he said

Northern region has lots of potentials. Tamale alone if we tell you what Tamale alone the impact that it can make in our economy as a nation, it is so monumental. So we are calling on the able traditional rulers for their humble support because we will continue to knock on their doors he noted

He said Northern region has lots of potentials that can change the lives of the people but what was needed was peace and unity adding that, development cannot take place without relatively peace and stability.

According to him, the gross domestic product of the Northern region alone in five years to come will exceed that of some countries and if invested well it will help better the lives of the people.

He said the one district one factory policy, the free S.H.S policy and the one village one dam policies of the president were some interventions by the Nana Addo-Bawumiya government to help improve livelihoods of Ghanaians.

Mr. Boar also mentioned youth unemployment and education of the youth as something very key to the president and the government of the NPP was working hard to address them.

Meanwhile, the chiefs on their own advised Mr. Boar to always fall on them for support whenever things turns out difficult for him, and appealed to the youth to desist from wrongful doings that can tarnish the image of the government.

The paramount chief of the Sagnarigu traditional area, Naa Ambassador Abdulai Yakubu however called on the supporters of New Patriotic (NPP) Party to support the agenda of the president, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo

According to Ambassador Abdulai Yakubu, actions by the some party supporters were in the move to paint the government of Nana Addo bad.

I would have wished that, if they really support his Excellency the president and want us to move forward, they should not continue to humiliate him. Whatever they are opinions are, 2019 is not far away. They should wait and express themselves at the partys congress. But now, they should give the president a chance to work he noted

He also appealed to them to allow the appointees of the president to do their mandated jobs without hindrances as they are those chosen to help bring the vision of the president to reality

And that is what it should be, let the nominees of his Excellency the president have chance to work and if they do not deliver, you can take any decision when the right time comes he stated.

He also called on all in the region especially people within the Tamale metropolis to support the metropolitan assembly to carry out all its developmental projects especially the pending decongestion exercise scheduled for 15th may this year.

He said all the chiefs in the region were behind the assembly to clean Tamale off its filth to attract investors from outside to invest their moneys to create jobs for the unemployed.

The assembly voted hundred percent for the metropolitan chief Executive so we appealed to them to give support to carry out this important assignment of decongesting some of the streets of our regional capital he stated.

Mr. Solomon Boar who was in convoy with the Tamale mayor, Musah Iddrisu superior and some party supporters called on the Gulkpe-Naa Alhaji Alhassan Abduali, the Dakpema Alhaji Alhassan Dawuni, the Lamashegu-lana, the Banvum-lana, the Bug-lana, the Guma-Naa and the Sagnarigu Naa as part of his familiarization tour of the region.

The visit was also meant to allow the deputy minister introduce himself to the leaders of the region and also ask for their blessings as he assumed office as deputy minister in the region.

The deputy minister and his convoy also called on Sheikh Ibrahim Baasha known as sheikh Bayan
14.04.2017 LISTEN

We the New Patriotic Party community in Russia wishes to congratulate Mr. Charles Owiredu on his appointment as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We know your track record and the role you have played in the development of the international branches and your diplomatic relation to the grassroots foot soldiers of the party.

We will also like to acknowledge your effective and reliable communication even after the election; you are still in touch with the grassroots soldiers abroad. You are always quick to respond to our concern anytime we call upon you, I can testify that you are one of the national executives who is still in touch with us after election and we very grateful.

We are looking forward to continuing working with you to build a strong database of NPP abroad worldwide.

Mr. Oweridu I know you as an excellent diplomat and sometimes I tell members that you are exceptional negotiator that will be your hallmark at your new role. All we will say thank God.

Long live NPP

Long live Ghana

Signed

Ajene Abongo Mashood Jacob

(Interim chairman)
14.04.2017 LISTEN

Where else can one hide his money from armed robbers? It is unfortunate that we cannot put money in the bank, at the farm, in the freezer, in a sewage tank and inside our house anymore; without some busy bodies revealing it to Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The forty-five million dollars found in that Ikoyi apartment is mine. It must be returned immediately to me otherwise EFCC will see me in the court of law under democracy and the rule of law.

This money and others that was misplaced came from Ofada Rice business sold all over Africa. If the court can unfreeze Mrs. Patient Jonathans money, I want the same court under democracy and the rule of law and order to call EFCC to order even before I file my complaint. The only place people like us can get justice is in Nigeria. After all this money has not left the country. Indeed, out of patriotism, the money was kept in Nigeria instead of Dubai.

We have stopped putting money in western countries because of how Ibori, Alamsco and now the beautiful Princess Dezeani is being shadowed by British police. They are very corrupt since they embezzled part of Iboris loot. Their judicial system took incriminating exhibit, smuggled evidence and testimony from that traitor Nuhu Ribadu to convict Ibori. No fair and just court adhering to the rule of law and justice would do that in Nigeria. No be joke A dey joke O!

Justice Ademola must preside over my case when filed in court. The honorable Judge of high pedigree understands the high handedness of Buharis EFCC and ICPC war on those who earned their raw foreign currencies fair and square. Indeed, the judicial system in Nigeria is one of the best in the whole world. Where else would the Chief Justice of Appeal Court accuse the Chief Justice of Nigeria of miscarriage of justice and influence peddling if not in Nigeria?

People think we forget. It is sad that any politician can hire a crowd to protest for as little as a thousand naira per head. With forty-five millions dollars, anyone can imagine what I would do if I triple that going rate plus ten sachets of rice. My people would Occupy EFCC and ICPC. Some of you do not realize how powerful the masses are until they exhibit and unleash their anger. When EFCC found my money, did they think all that cashistics grew from the cement?

It should be obvious to EFCC that every possible or probable owner of this money has denied anything to do with it. Most of the cash found in unholy places have moved from one agency to another. By the time we ask what happened to all the cash found, they have disappeared. This one must not disappear. Anyone that knows how many billions of grains there are in Ofada Rice will understand that forty five millions in any currency is a small change.

Some planners were already hired and we were planning how to turn Makoko, Otodo Gbame and Ajegunle into paradise. Most reasonable people know that we have to build low cost housing for the people to move to. This was exactly what we did at Ita-Akanni before we finally get people to move to Suru-lere. $45 million is a drop in the bucket for the implementation of our noble project. Every reasonable person must appeal to EFCC to release the money to me.
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd [ASX:CUV] is a small biotech company developing drugs to treat a range of skin disorders. The stock climbed 5.35% on Wednesday to a high of $7.28 per share.

What happened to the Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals share price?

CUV has been in negotiations with Germanys National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds since August 2016. The negotiations have surrounded pricing of CUVs treatment. And this morning, CUV announced that theyve finally come to an agreement.

CUV will adopt a uniform global pricing policy. The rationale for this is patients are migrating across borders to seek treatment, expert physicians are associated through porphyria networks, and hospitals collaborate internationally to purchase pharmaceutical products for orphan diseases, CUV said.

The annual cost of therapy for a patient in Germany now ranges from 56,40484,606 euros.

What now for CUV shares?

Its great news that CUV has come to an agreement on pricing its treatment. However, I wouldnt rush into the stock just yet. Its trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 129.24-times earnings. That means, holding current earnings constant, shareholders need to wait 129.24 years before redeeming their initial investment in the stock.

If youre interested in the company, Id suggest waiting until earnings start to grow rapidly, and for the share price to trade down. In that time, you could further research the stock and determine what you believe is a realistic growth rate for the years ahead.

Regards,

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

PS: On any given day, a bunch of these stocks will rise and a bunch will fall. Obviously, you want to invest in stocks that have the best shot of rising steadily over the longer term.

Thats where small-cap specialist Sam Volkering can help. Sam is known for picking stocks with huge growth potential. Just some of his stock picks have run up 575%, 368%, 463% and a mammoth 1,144%!

In his new report, The Four Best ASX Stocks for 2017, Sam reveals four Aussie stocks he believes could be top performers in 2017.

To get a free copy of Sams report, click here.
If you wonder how to check WAEC results, read this write-up to learn about all existing methods. We will give the information, confirmed by the West African Examination Council.

Look at two possible methods of WAEC Result Check, both require pins, there is 100% necessity of having a scratch card.

What is the purpose of WAEC Result scratch card?

It gives an opportunity to control the info and having the admission to the Result Checking Portal.

It is a protection of the results, which are in the WAEC database.

It is a source of money for the organization.

Is it possible to check WAEC result without scratch card?

To get the result you will be asked to provide the following details:

Type of the exam (SSEC, GCE and other);

Examination No. (it is unique and distinguish you from other person);

Year of examination (providing the examination year will make it easier to get your results from the database);

Serial No. on the card.

It is impossible to check WAEC results:

If you do not have or have forgotten Examination No.

Spending no money.

If you do not have Serial No. and PIN from scratch card.

The explanation is rather simple, there are two ways how you can check WAEC results: via SMS or via Internet. It is impossible to receive the result without providing all the necessary information and buying a scratch card.

READ ALSO: WAEC slammed with lawsuit over seizure of students results

How to check WAEC result using phone?

Do not confuse checking of WAEC results by sending an SMS with the option, which does not require scratch card pin. To get your result sending SMS, you will be required to provide the PIN from the card (SMS, sent to the short number 32327, will have the following look, for instance, WAEC*5361010110*210987654321*2018). Please note, that there must be no spaces in your message. This SMS is not free of charge and costs N30. Then just wait for an SMS with your result.

How to check WAEC result online?

This method is very convenient, you can do it using your PC, laptop or smartphone, all you need is Internet connection.

To check your WAEC result, just follow the instructions:

Log on to WAEC website to check result.

Type in WAEC Examination No. (ten figures: seven figures stand for center number and three figures - candidate's number).

Type in four figures, which mean the year of Examination.

Select the Examination type.

Enter the Card Serial No., which you can find on the opposite side of the Scratch card.

Type in your PIN from the scratch card.

Click on Submit. The result will come up in the next window.

Hope you have found our write-up useful, and we have given you the answer to the question. If the friends of yours are also wondering how to learn WAEC results, don't forget to share this info with them.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: WAEC to release results 60 days after exam

Source: Legit.ng
Cocoa Farming in Nigeria provides an excellent opportunity for investors. Cocoa is one of the fastest selling agricultural products. Once your cocoa tree is planted and reached maturity  you can harvest money from it for whole your life. The cocoa is a perennial crop and can produce for decades. Therefore, it can be a good opportunity for you to start a business with cocoa.

Cocoa business in Nigeria is massively underutilised, and there are thousands of acres of fertile lands that can be used for cocoa plantation. Before the Oil boom, the cocoa production was one of the mainstay branches of Nigeria Economy.

ocoa farming lost its positions. Still, any serious farmer in Nigeria would see the opportunity for business in this sector of agriculture.

Agriculture in Nigeria

About 70 percent of Nigerians are engaged in the agricultural sector of the economy. Agriculture provides about 41 percent of overall GDP of Nigeria. Farming in Nigeria is connected with a productive and successful business structure. Still, farmers can`t satisfy overall urban demands, and Nigerian Government has to import products elsewhere.

Therefore, it`s necessary to support local producers of agricultural products. Domestic production of agricultural products can support the demand of the local market for only 70%. Therefore, if you have an idea to start a farming business in Nigeria  you will have customers. Cocoa production in Nigeria can be your perfect start for a business venture in the agricultural sector.

History of Cocoa Production in Nigeria

READ ALSO: Rice farming in Nigeria - 10 tips to start it

The earliest cocoa farming in Nigeria was provided in Calabar and Bonny in the 1870s, but these areas were not suitable for cultivation. Later, in the 1880s, cocoa farms were established in Ota, Agege and Lagos. Cocoa farming was widely spread in the West parts of Nigeria. Farmers in Egba and Ibadan started planting cocoa in uncultivated forests in 1890.

The cocoa plantation spread to Ondo town and Okeigbo in Ondo State, Gbongan and Ife in Osun State. There were two main varieties of cocoa nuts before 1950. The first variety was imported from Trinidad. The second variety reached the lands of Nigeria from Amazon River Basin in Brazil. The Trinidad variety is red, while the Amazon green turns yellow when ripe.

Top 7 tips for cocoa production in Nigeria

How to Set up a Cocoa Farm?

You need to locate forest lands with appropriate climate and rainfalls. Cocoa seeds can die swiftly without proper nurturing. The forest canopy can be a perfect one for cocoa plants. The land must be covered by rain forest canopy. The ideal temperature for the cocoa tree is 21-23 degrees Celsius with 1000-25000mm of rainfall per year.

You may need some reliable source of seeds for your cocoa plantation. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture can be a reliable source of cocoa seeds. The Institute experts can also give you some piece of advice about what type of cocoa seeds is the most useful for your lands. Nevertheless, you can also buy cocoa seeds in the nearest farming market. Farmers can also provide you with some piece of information about the business. Remember, that the best period for planting cocoa is in April-May  at the beginning of the raining season.

Cocoa Farming Climate Condition

The countries which produce cocoa lay in a belt between 10N and 10S of the Equator. It`s considered to be the best climate for cocoa trees. The largest cocoa producing countries for today are Indonesia, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Cocoa plants respond well to climates with high temperatures, like 30-32 degrees Celsius as a maximum and 18-21 degrees Celsius as a minimum. Cocoa trees are very sensitive to the deficiency of water in the soil. Rainfall should be plentiful  no less than 1500mm per year.

Soil condition for Cocoa production

Cocoa trees need a soil with a reasonable quantity of nutrients. The quality of the soil should help trees to develop a strong root system. The soil should have a good drainage, and water retention properties as cocoa trees are very sensitive to the lack of water.

The plants have a large number of roots for absorbing nutrients, so, the chemical properties are critical. The required pH level should be in range 5.0-7.5. The soil should also have a high content of organic matter  at least 3.5%.

Cocoa Varieties

Criollos. This type of cocoa dominated in the eighteen century. Criollo is still considered as the luxury cocoas. Still, Criollo is more susceptible to various diseases. Therefore, its production is a little bit expensive.

Forastero. This type of cocoa is considered to be a father of all cocoa plants. Around 80% of the world`s cultivation is connected with the Forastero cocoa. The typical characteristic of Forastero is less aromatic cocoa flavour, which in some cases can be bitter. Forastero can be easily found in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria.

The Trinitario. This variety is descended from Criollo and Forastero. The Trinitario planting came from Trinidad and later spread to Papua New Guinea, Java, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Cameroon and Ecuador. It`s the best combination of luxury cocoa flavour and its hardiness. It has a great cocoa taste which is only a little bit bitter.

Breeding Methods in Cocoa Farming in Nigeria

Cocoa trees are raised from seeds. They can produce good plants if they are taken underripe from pods (before 15 days).

Cutting. Tree cuttings should be taken with five leaves and at least two buds. Then the leaves should be cut in half and placed in a pot until the roots appear.

Budding. A bud should be cut from a tree and placed under another tree. The budding patch should be waxed to prevent moisture loss. The bud can be cut off when it starts growing under the old tree.

Cocoa farming opportunities

The price of one bag of cocoa in Nigeria is around $200. You can start your cocoa plantation with at least ten bags. Therefore, you can expect to yield twice more in two years. Therefore, you can return your investments in two years.

Cocoa trees usually reach the mature state in 18 months. Still, some traditional cocoa crops need up to five years to mature. Therefore, think about raising some funds before starting this type of business.

Marketing

Cocoa might be the only product in Nigeria which you can market in one day. The whole world is cocoa dependent as it`s used in almost every product. Nigeria does not produce enough cocoa to satisfy its needs so it means you can expect a fair trade in the local markets.

If you plan have international market orientation, you can also expect high demand. You can also contact various cocoa agents not to deal with marketing and concentrate on production.

READ ALSO: Rabbit farming in Nigeria: How to start?

Source: Legit.ng
- Hon Razak Atunwa has reconfirmed that its very important to have Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan questioned by the House of Representatives regarding the Malabu scandal

- Atunwa says he has been mandated by the Lower House, to get to the root of the $1.3 billion oil bloc lease saga

- He says former President Goodluck Jonathan may have been complicit in the controversial OPL 245 deal

Razak Atunwa, the chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Justice, on Wednesday, April 12, reiterated that former President Goodluck Jonathan would be thoroughly investigated for authorising the $1.3 billion lease of OPL 245 oil block licence, while in power.

In a statement to newsmen, Atunwa said his committee had been mandated by the House to conduct a thorough examination of the process and circumstances surrounding OPL 245 and identify culpability of any persons, groups or organisations.

The committee is aware of recent information that has come to light, both nationally and internationally, indicating that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may have been complicit in the controversial OPL 245 deal, Atunwa said.

Atunwas statement is a reconfirmation of an earlier interview in which he confirmed that his committee was finalizing arrangement to summon the former president.

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, Atunwa said.

Premium Times reports that in his statement Wednesday, Atunwa said his committee was closely monitoring the proceedings in the Italian courts instituted by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in which ministers in Jonathan Administration were mentioned including President Jonathan himself.

These facts have firmly placed former President Goodluck Jonathan on the Committees radar, he added.

There have been reports that Jonathan might have received up to $200 million in bribes to approve the deal that has now become subject of international investigation.

REVEALED: Real reason why Jonathan must answer questions on Malabu scandal

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.

Agaev, who was 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, Buzz Feed wrote, quoting documents prepared by Italian prosecutors.

According to an earlier report by Legit.ng, Jonathans spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, issued a statement Tuesday which 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 Agaev.

The $1.3 billion 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 before the 2011 agreement.

Most of the $1.1 billion ended up in private accounts with about $801 million 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.

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari was absent from Wednesdays weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

- This caused a stir within and outside government circles

- The president's absence has sent the rumour mill on overdrive

- For more news and update on President Buhari, click here: https://www.legit.ng/tag/buhari-news.html

President Muhammadu Buhari's absence from Wednesday, April 12 weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja caused a stir within and outside government circles.

According to Thisday, the president's absence reawakened speculations about his health and capacity to run the country.

The rumor mill went on overdrive with many speculating why the president missed the crucial meeting owing to his recent health challenges.

File photo of President Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo and the ministers

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: President Buhari gets crucial warning ahead of Government Tompolo's birthday

Legit.ng reported that Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting to the amazement of most of the government officials present, as there was no previous notice given concerning the president's non-attendance.

This is the first time Buhari would be absent from the FEC meeting since March 10 when he returned from London where he spent weeks on medical vacation.

Speaking to journalists on the issue, the minister of information Lai Mohammed said the president is hale and hearty.

Information minister Lai Mohammed insists that the president is hale and hearty

Mohammed also said that the president's absence is not an indication that he is not working.

READ ALSO: Real reason why Jonathan must answer questions on Malabu scandal

Meanwhile, Nigerians have been reacting to the president's absence at the meeting. See below:

Source: Legit.ng
- Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu has allegedly been named as owner of Ikoyi apartment where EFCC uncovered huge cash

- The anti-graft agency said preliminary investigation showed it was proceed of corruption

- The operation was as a result of the whistle-blower initiative of the federal government

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu, has allegedly been named as occupant of the Ikoyi apartment where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered hidden cash although he had denied this.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that a sting operation by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, April 12 in a residential building in the 7th Floor of a four - bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16, Osborne road Ikoyi led to the recovery of huge cash in different currencies.

Bankers were brought in with their counting machines and the total amount was put at $43.4m, 27,800 and N23.2m.

The Ikoyi apartment where the money was recovered

READ ALSO: Real reason why Jonathan must answer questions on Malabu scandal

According to Sahara Reporters, an EFCC source said the house was owned by Muazu who is the former governor of Bauchi state.

Sources close to the PDP chieftain also confirmed that he owned the building as other occupants include a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, a former Managing Director at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and alleged high ranking lawyer.

The apartment is allegedly owned by Adamu Mu'azu, former PDP chairman

According to the EFCC, "the operation followed a whistle blower's confidential alert received by the Commission's Lagos office this morning regarding some noticed suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building. According to the source, the movers of the bags, make believe that they bring in bags of clothes.

"Another source who is conversant with the apartment of interest indicated that some woman usually appeared on different occassion with Ghana Must Go bags. " She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didn't quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise", the source said.

Bankers were brought it to assist with counting the monies

READ ALSO: EFCC recovers huge cash stashed in Ikoyi apartment

"On getting to the building, operatives met the entrance door locked. Inquiries from the guards at the gate explained that nobody resides in the apartment, but some persons come in and out once in a while. In compliance with the magisterial order contained in the warrant, the EFCC used minimum force to gain entrance into the apartment.

"Monies were found in two of the four bedroom apartment. Further probe of the wardrobe by operatives in one of the rooms, was found to be warehousing three fire proof cabinets disguisedly hidden behind wooden panels of the wardrobe. Upon assessing the content of the cabinets, neatly arranged US Dollars, Pound Sterling and some Naira notes in sealed wrappers."

Akin Oyegoke who identified himself as the "Media and ICT Personal Assistant" denied that Mu'azu owned or lived in the apartment.

Mr Muazu does not own any house in Ikoyi except his house at Walter Carrington street, Victoria Island Lagos, Oyegoke said.

Source: Legit.ng
- Skye Bank has revealed why it blocked Patience Jonathans account

- The court had on Monday April 10 ordered her account to be unfrozen

- But EFCC on Wednesday April 12 expressed its readiness to appeal the order

Barely two days after former First Lady Patience Jonathan was blocked from withdrawing from the $5.8 million she deposited in Skye Bank, the financial institution has explained its action.

Premium Times reports that Mrs Jonathan had on Monday April 10 visited the Maitama Branch of Skye Bank in Abuja, seeking to withdraw from her account.

READ ALSO: Former PDP chairman named as owner of apartment where EFCC discovered huge cash

Legit.ng gathered that the move followed an April 6 court order that lifted restrictions on the former First Ladys account as a result of an ongoing litigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Former First Lady Patience Jonathan

But bank officials declined to initiate any transaction for Mrs. Jonathan, despite spending time in the banks premises.

In an interview with Premium Times on Wednesday April 12, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Skye Banks head of corporate communication, said the bank had received a stay of execution order filed by the anti-graft agency prior to Mrs Jonathans visit to the bank.

Mr Bolarinwa confirmed that the bank was also notified of an appeal by the EFCC against the court order.

Legit.ng previously reported that the EFCC had appealed the order and also asked for a stay of execution of the judgement.

We have appealed the order, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, said in a telephone interview.

The EFCC had in November 2016 filed an application before the court, seeking an order to unfreeze the account.

READ ALSO: Ex-PDP Chairman, Mu'azu denies owning Ikoyi house where EFCC found $50m

The commission had contended that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. The court granted the order but reversed it last Thursday on the grounds that she was not a party to the suit leading to the freezing order.

In this Legit.ng video below, a Nigerian said that former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was never a bad president.

Source: Legit.ng
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is gearing up for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which is scheduled to hold in May.

The registration process this year has been one of the most stressful for candidates who have not stopped complaining.

It took some candidates more than three days to do their registration while some others are still finding it hard to register.

Some Nigerians are worried about the preparedness of JAMB for this years UTME and this is why.

1. Poor network for registration

One of the complaints candidates have had about the new registration process introduced by JAMB is slow speed of internet services at CBT centers. Some have been stranded at registration centres as they were unable to generate their Personal Identification Number (PIN) due to poor network.

READ ALSO: See Nigerian universities with the highest number of professors (FULL LIST)

2. The mock examination failed to hold

The board had fixed April 8 for its inaugural mock exam but it was postponed last minute despite assurances that nothing would go wrong. Candidates arrived at their centres on the day of the test but it was postponed until further notice due to some unforeseen circumstances. Could this be a sign of things to come?

3. Not enough equipment for computer based test

Some Nigerians are of the opinion that Nigeria has not developed enough in Information Communication Technology (ICT) to make CBT mandatory.

One of the candidates said: Nigeria has not gotten enough equipment to make CBT mandatory. We have not gotten there yet. A lot needs to be put in place. If in the urban areas we are still complaining of no network, what then becomes of the villages?

READ ALSO: Remarkably brilliant Nigerian girl gets admitted into 14 of the best universities in the world

4. JAMB is yet to get it right

The board had failed to carry everyone along when it fixed mock test for April 8, knowing that some candidates had not been able to do their registration. Also, since CBT was introduced, it has been one challenge after the other.

Since the introduction of CBT we are still faced with network failure, malfunctioning of computers and all that. Is this a sign that JAMB exam will experience hitches at the detriment of the students? one of the candidates queried.

Legit.ng earlier reported that JAMB registrar Prof Is-haq Oloyede disclosed that about one million UTME candidates were registered for the 2017 UTME as at April 7.

Meanwhile, candidates and their parents all over the country have raised an alarm over the stress of registering for the examination.

Legit.ng TV crew spoke with candidates on how they are managing with the difficulties surrounding registration for the UTME and they shared their experiences. Watch below:

Source: Legit.ng
- A World Bank consultant, Olu Ajakaiye has described economic growth under ex-president Jonathan as fake

- He said President Muhammadu Buhari-led government should develop the nation

- Ajakaiye also noted that the government should not leave development for markets to handle

A consultant to World Bank and president of Nigeria Economic Society, Olu Ajakaiye has stated that the economic growth recorded from 2010 to 2014, under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, was fictitious in nature.

Legit.ng gathered that Ajakaiye further stated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government and subsequent Nigerian governments must develop the country, even if it means stealing from other countries.

READ ALSO: Why we didn't allow Patience Jonathan withdraw from her $5.8m account - Skye Bank

Ajakaiye, who was the keynote speaker at the 2017 edition of the Bullion lecture organised by the Centre for Financial Journalism, said many first world nations have stolen their way to development.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

Ajakaiye said the government must not leave development for the markets to handle, but combine all instruments, positions, variables and policies to drive growth and development.

Let us therefore not be under any illusion and say the market will do it. They have to make sure they provide the market, whatever it takes, including stealing from other countries, he said.

The developed systems that we have now were as a result of resources taken from here, and they are ahead. Their government didnt say we would be nice guys, we would not go and steal.

They carried our people, young people, valuable people, and they now established the first world.

Ajakaiye dissected Buharis economic recovery and growth plan (ERGP), and applauded it as a good plan, if properly implemented and funded according to targets.

The development economics specialist said the ERGP has set out 21 clear programmes, with 60 strategies and 365 key activities, which has been assigned to lead agencies across the public and private sectors.

He said N75.03 trillion will be needed to implement the plan, which runs from 2017 to 2020.

When the economy was growing in a fictitious way  I regarded the growth of 2010 to 2014 as fictitious. Why is it fictitious, it is growth that is driven by government just deploying oil revenue into the economy.

READ ALSO: Buhari's absence at FEC meeting raises eyebrows

The structure remained dis-articulated and we are actually deceiving ourselves in a very interesting way by saying the economy leaped-frog, we have now got to a stage where we are arrived, because in advanced countries, service sector is now dominant.

They call it tertiarisation of the economy. Our economy was prematurely tertiarised, and this was the harbinger of poverty.

I always tell people, when you go to Europe where their economy is already tertiarised, do you see anybody running after you in traffic to sell you recharge card? Do you see anybody hanging pure water in front of you? Do you see people running 140? That is our tertiarised service sector.

He said government must pave the way for private sector players to fund the economic recovery and growth plan.

Other panelists who spoke on the ERGP include Ibim Semenitari, former information and communications commissioner in Rivers state, Biodun Adedipe, a financial consultant, Bukar Kyari, chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group.

READ ALSO: DSS uncovers plots to cause mayhem during Easter celebration

The all called on the federal government to stay focused on the implementation of ERGP and not be distracted by the coming elections.

In this Legit.ng video below, a Nigerian said that former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was never a bad president.

Source: Legit.ng
- Edo youth have begged President Muhammadu Buhari to save them from alleged police harassment

- They alleged that police intimidate innocent youth without a reason

Some youth in Edo state have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them from alleged brutality and harassment from officers of Nigerian Police.

In a statement sent to Legit.ng, a Facebook user, Prince Aigbe Solomon said many youth have left the state for Ghana or Kenya when the alleged police brutality was becoming unbearable.

READ ALSO: More trouble for Jonathan as World Bank consultant says he misled Nigerians with fake economic data

He said that police always intimidate innocent youth under the guise of chasing Yahoo yahoo boys, adding that the government should find solution to the peoples plight before it gets out of hand.

A poster being displayed by Edo youth to protest alleged police brutality

READ ALSO: Why we didn't allow Patience Jonathan withdraw from her $5.8m account - Skye Bank

He said: Please I want you to show the world what police are doing to our youth in Edo state police oppression and intimidation and brutality police in the name of searching for yahoo boys many Edo youth are running away from Edo state to Ghana or Kenya, Europe, Asia to have a comfort life because of police unrest on innocent youth.

This Legit.ng video shows how some INEC officials appear in court over fraud allegation.

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhamadu Buhari has described the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, by Boko Haram as the worst crime against its citizens.

- The president in a statement to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls stated that his administration is determined and ready to do everything to secure the freedom of the abducted girls

- President Buhari reassured the parents of the Chibok girls and all well-meaning Nigerians that the government is unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of the schoolgirls

President Muhamadu Buhari has described the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, by Boko Haram as the worst crime against its citizens.

The president in a statement issued on Thursday, April 13, to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls stated that his administration is determined and ready to do everything to secure the freedom of the abducted girls.

Read the president's message below:

On April 14, 2014, Nigeria suffered one of the worst crimes committed against its citizens - the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the vicious terrorist and insurgent group, Boko Haram.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice president Yemi Osinbajo with 21 rescued Chibok girls

Upon the inception of this administration in May 2015, it will be recalled that this militant group occupied no fewer than 14 Local Government Areas in the North East of the country and posed a serious threat to other parts by unleashing fear and mayhem through the use of surprise and bombing.

READ ALSO: Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly seen walking through the streets of London

The menace of this terrorist group was a great challenge to the resolve of our administration to implement the Change Agenda. We, therefore, pledged to reverse the situation, which constituted a threat to the sovereignty of the country.

We were determined to secure the release of the Chibok girls and others forcefully abducted from their homes and communities and retake the occupied territories.

Determined to secure the freedom of the abducted girls and recover lost territories, this administration gave the necessary political and logistical backing which energised gallant members of our armed forces and other security agencies to overrun the headquarters of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and scatter the terrorists from their strong base.

Today, the group has been degraded and is no longer in a position to mount any serious, coordinated attack, other than sporadic attacks on soft targets. Even at that, their reach is very much confined to a small segment of the North East where they had previously held sway unchecked.

Nigeria and indeed the entire world, must however, recognise that terrorism has no borders and remains a growing concern which calls for collective efforts to curtail. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians and residents in the country, to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious element or group to the security agencies. We cannot afford to let down our guards. Under my watch, no group will hold the country to ransom.

On the Chibok girls, we have had reason to celebrate the return of twenty-four of them and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.

As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families. Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life. Furthermore, Government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed.

My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children. I feel what you feel. Your children are my children. On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls.

Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram.

I also thank Lake Chad Basin countries, friendly nations and international partners, who at various points in the last three years have offered their support for Nigeria.

Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. We have reached out to their captors, through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of ALL the girls.

I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children.

I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities.

READ ALSO: More trouble for Jonathan as World Bank consultant says he misled Nigerians with fake economic data

In a previous report by Legit.ng, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said negotiations are ongoing for the release of more Chibok schoolgirls still in the custody of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Osinbajo expressed optimism on Tuesday evening, April 11 at an interaction with journalists and activists at the state house in Abuja, that the dialogue would yield the desired result in due course.

More than 200 girls were abducted from their schools in Borno state in 2014 by the terrorists, about 190 girls are still being held by the militants. Fifty-seven fled within hours of being captured.

The kidnapping of the girls led to the global campaign #BringBackOurGirls, with public figures including the US former first lady, Michelle Obama, calling for their release.

Watch this Legit.ng video and see how a young child survived Boko Haram attacks.

Source: Legit.ng
IQ abbreviation became widely used at the beginning of a new millennium. It still has not lost its ground and is a very popular scientific notion that turned into realia of modern life. So, what is that? What does it mean? Where did it come from? Sitizens of what countries have the highest IQ? What country is the most intelligent? What is the position of Nigeria in IQ list? You will find full and comprehensive response to all these questions and much more.

What does IQ do?

The term IQ was mentioned in a set of investigations as a synonym to a sophistication measuring instrument. IQ and the Wealth of Nations is a book that caused a real furor among English-speaking readers when it first appeared on the literary horizon in 2002. The authors of this book are Richard Lynn, Professor Emeritus - psychologist, and Tatu Vanhanen - Finish political scientist, Doctor of Philosophy. According to their work, gross national income differences correlate with average national intellectual quotient (IQ). The scientists explain this correlation in such a way: intellectual quotient is a crucial point that distinguishes the discrepancy of national wealth and economic growth speed; however, it is not the only determining factor of these diversities.

IQ and Global Inequality is a sequel of the same authors that contains a table with information of average IQ for 81 countries. This investigation was made on the basis of analyzed reports that had been published on the matter of concern. Thus, the scientific duet concluded that national IQ correlates directly with gross national income (GNI) of the country. They underlined that possible disparity of national IQ data depended on genetic and ecological factors.

So, subsequently, the first statistic data about the cleverest and wittiest people and nations appeared in the media basing on these scientific works. Lets see who is the leader. Here is a list of the highest IQ in the countries all over the world.

Top 10 smartest nations of the world

The first place goes to... The country with the highest IQ level is Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong. Its IQ is 107.

It is important to mention that the fact of high population density (6480 people per square kilometer) and number of people had an impact on the IQ rating as well. Thus, equal education receiving is much easier to be organized there than in other countries.

READ ALSO: History of education in Nigeria

Peoples Republic of China (PRC) could be considered the leader too because Hong Kong forms part of PRC though its special status enables it to be considered separately in some respects, along with IQ level. It should be mentioned that exact and natural sciences are taught very thoroughly there. According to the world education rating, Hong Kong gives in to Finland only.

The second among the cleverest nations is South Korea. It is known for the quickest Internet in the whole world, the swiftest cyber sportsmens fingers and high IQ level (106). The educational system is pondered to be the best and the most demanding in the world, however there are negative consequences of it. For example, some Korean students have to spend studying up to 14 hours a day. Here is even a worse fact: self murder quantity increases during examinations period. As a rule, a student leaves school at 19 and then precedes studying at higher educational establishments. There is a tough competing during entrance exams to colleges and universities.

The third is Japan, land of the rising sun and high technologies. Japan got ahead of the pedantic Germans long ago. It is known that Tokyo University is thought to be the best in Asia and it has been listed among the best 25 higher educational establishment of the world. Just fancy that the literacy rate is estimated 99 %! The Japanese cope pretty well with mathematical problems, exact and natural sciences in addition to IQ tests. Real geniuses!

One more Asian state is the fourth. It is Taiwan. It is known as a country of high technologies production and high university degrees too. The most popular are exact sciences and English that became a crucial point to study owing to endless business negotiations with American partners, the main trade associates.

Tiny Singapore is the fifth. The country has got 5 million people and 270 million dollars of the gross domestic product which is directly correlated to pretty high results of the IQ tests.

The Netherlands is after Singapore, it is the sixth. As it turned out, 12 years of primary school education is obligatory for everybody there. Thus, it makes the Dutch study longer than any other Europeans do. Evidently, it quite influences IQ of the population. By the way, the educational system of the Netherlands is the ninth in the world.

Italy is keeping up with the competitors, it is the seventh. The Italians have got 102 points of IQ on average. According to statistics, Italy is a leading country of genius quantity per capita.

Germany is the eighth with 102 IQ. Its economic indicator is as persuasive as IQ level of the population. Germany is European leader concerning the combined gross domestic product (GDP).

Austria has got 102 IQ points too and is the ninth in the list. The primary education there is free and obligatory for each citizen. Most of the people keep moving and get degrees.

Sweden and Switzerland share the tenth place reaching 100 IQ on average. Switzerland is famous for watchmakers and other exact industries. Lets not forget the internationally well-known banking networks that demand being witty as well. Concerning Sweden, it is one of the leading states on the number of citizens with higher education.

Thus, we may conclude that average IQ depends mostly on the nations educational system effectiveness.

Nobel laureates countries

There are a different points of view on the most intelligent countries rating. This one is based on the number of Nobel winners per country. Quantity of Nobel laureates, in turn, proves educational efficiency of a country too. So, lets look through a collection of 3 countries which can be called the smartest from this point of view.

According to statistic information of Nobel Prize Committee, the USA became the first. In the period of more than a hundred years there were 356 Americans who got the Nobel Prize. It can be easily explained by scientific capability provided by the state in various spheres at research centers and institutes of the USA.

The second country of Nobel laureates winners is Great Britain. Each year one British gets the Nobel Prize. There are 121 laureates already there.

Germany is the third, there are 104 winners of the Nobel Prize so far.

Conclusions

Lets sum up everything abovementioned. IQ shows the intelligence level of a person. According to statistics and investigation results of Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen, Asians (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and South Korea) have got the highest level of IQ. They take half of the positions in the rating of the cleverest nations. On average, it is more than 105. Talking about European countries, Italy, Germany, Swiss, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands are the smartest.

As for another rating based on the number of Nobel Prize laureates, the USA, Great Britain and Germany are the most intelligent countries. Bravo!

Some skeptics believe that IQ tests do not provide 100% accurate evaluation of a person or even nation intelligence because tests are not perfect. Maybe in the nearest future the rating of the smartest will be changed who knows. As per IQ Research, Nigeria's average IQ is 84, it is the 23d place. Lets hope for the best for our country.

READ AlSO: List of federal universities in Nigeria and their school fees 2017

Source: Legit.ng
- The presiding judge at Federal High Court in Lagos Justice Muslim Hassan says the money should be handed over to the government pending when the owner comes forward to make a case against the decision to seize the money

- The EFCC has also explained to Nigerians how the money would be treated in series of tweets on its official Twitter handle on Thursday, April 13

A court in Lagos state has ordered that the $43,449,947, 27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from an apartment in the Ikoyi area of the state be temporarily forfeited to the Nigerian government.

In a ruling on Thursday, April 13 afternoon, Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered that the funds be handed over to the Federal Government for now.

The judge then adjourned the matter till May 5, 2017 for anyone who wants to claim the funds and give reasons why it should not be permanently forfeited to the government to show up before him.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Based on logistics, former President Goodluck Jonathan is a thief - Jimoh Ibrahim

Pictures of the seized cash stacked and being counted on Wednesday, April 12

Earlier in the day, the EFCC had explained to Nigerians on Twitter in series of tweets how the money would be taken care of.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram attack military checkpoint, one soldier killed

It tweeted in reply to a Twitter user's enquiry:

Source: Legit.ng
- PDP national chairman Sheriff has alleged that ex-president Jonathan collected N50million from Governor Wike to organise the recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja

- Jonathan dismissed the allegation saying that he took it upon himself to convene the meeting out of his genuine concern for peace to reign in the party

- Governor Fayose says Sheriff has taking his desperation too far by accusing the former president of taking bribe

Ali Modu Sheriff, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike gave former President Goodluck Jonathan N50 million to organise the recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

Sheriff made the allegation at a news conference at the partys secretariat on Thursday, April 13, The Nation reports.

Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff said Governor Wike and Governor Fayose of Ekiti state recruited Jonathan into a fake peace effort pre-determined to scuttle on-going peace initiative in the party.

He said: The result is that President Jonathan was lured into committing a serious breach of protocol that led to the failure of the exercise which was the intended outcome.

Sheriff says Wike gave Jonathan N50m for PDP stakeholders meeting but the ex-president denies the allegation

READ ALSO: Reports of Governor Bello's attack is false and unfounded - Aide

According to him, Wike and the media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi have already established their own political party, adding that their mission was to tie the PDP down with undue controversies.

He said that the party was worried that the amount of money Wike was spending on the crisis could smear the image of the PDP

Sheriff added: This money belongs to the people of Rivers State and it should not be misappropriated at the expense of the people to whom it rightfully belonged.

We therefore call on party leaders and Nigerians to refrain from accepting these monies from Governor Wike in line with the spirit of our founding fathers.

Sheriff also restated his determination to go ahead with the plans to organise a convention for the party.

He said preparations for a free and fair convention were in top gear as he directed state chapter chairmen of the PDP to forward to the party secretariat the lists of all statutory delegates to the convention on or before April 27.

He added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party would hold on May 3.

But in a swift response, ex-president Jonathan denied the allegation, saying that he took it upon himself to convene the meeting out of his genuine concern for peace to reign in the party.

Dr. Jonathan who spoke through his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed Sheriffs allegation that he collected N50 million from Wike.

READ ALSO: After discovering huge sum of money in Ikoyi, EFCC storms residence of former governor

He said: I dont think anybody will believe that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the meeting. It was out of his genuine concern to bring peace to the party.

He has been meeting with members of the party; he met with Sheriff severally, he also met with Makarfi severally. He met with the governors.

I dont see any reason for anybody to say that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the stakeholders conference.

Also reacting to the allegation, Governor Fayose said Sheriff has taking his desperation too far by accusing the former president of taking bribe.

Fayose, in an SMS message by his media aide, Lere Olayinka said: If Sheriff has taken his desperation to serve his paymasters in the APC to the level of accusing Jonathan of being bribed to organise peace meeting for the PDP, there is no reason for any sane mind to continue to respond to the continuous advertisement of his political insanity.

Last week, Legit.ng had reported that the meeting between factional national chairmen of the PDP, summoned by former President Goodluck Jonathan, ended in a deadlock as Ali Modu Sheriff reportedly walked out.

Legit.ng learnt that Sheriff was angry that he was not allowed to declare the event opened, though he arrived late for the meeting.

Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi had continued to hold the jugular following a leadership tussle.

Meanwhile, watch video of man confessing that he may be forced to steal should the hardship in the country continue.

Source: Legit.ng
- President Buhari's government recently asked the state governors to ensure they paid salaries and pensions with the Paris loan refund

- Some of the governors are currently enmeshed in allegations of squandering their states' share of the fund

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has warned the federal government against dictating how states should spend their own share of the Paris-London Club loan refund.

According to the governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the federal governments position on how states should spend their share of the fund remains unconstitutional.

There have been controversies surrounding how governors have spent shares accruing to their states. Some are even alleged to have misappropriated parts of the funds which the federal government asked them to spend on payment of salaries and pensions for the already suffering workers.

Governor Okowa said dictating to states how the fund is spent is unconstituional

The governor, who responded through his chief press secretary, Charles Aniagu, to inquiries into how the state government spent its share of the refund, reminded the Buharis government that the fund is not a bailout that should have conditions attached to it.

According to him, the states do not owe the federal government any explanation concerning how the fund was appropriated.

READ ALSO: EFCC raids residence of Babangida Aliyu

Aniagu said the state government had justifiably used its share to meet critical needs of the state as directed by the 1999 constitution.

He noted that the state had priorities that are different from other states.

The Paris refund, I hope you know that the money belongs to the states, it wasnt a dash and not a bail out. It wasnt a gift, it was what rightfully belongs to the states and the local governments and I know you know that we are running a tier of government that is independent and whose powers and responsibilities are guaranteed by the 1999 constitution, as amended.

This idea of media houses helping some persons to spread ignorance that somebody can be in Abuja and tell you how to spend your money is not how democracy works.

If you are giving me a bailout, you can set the conditions that these are the conditions on which Ill give you this bailout; you must use this money this way, in which way you can set the rules because you are the one giving. But when you are allocating my money to me, our priorities are different.

Let us assume in Delta state we are not owing anybody salaries, are you going to say we keep the money until we begin to owe so that we can use it?

What we have done is to make very judicious and transparent use of the monies that were refunded to us. We addressed, in part, the plight of pensioners, assisted the local governments too to be able to solve some problems, in addition to giving them part of their money, to reduce the wage burden.

READ ALSO: Lagos PDP chieftain vomits blood, dies after returning from party meeting

We did not also lose sight of the promises we have made to make life better for Deltans, after all, Section 14, subsection 2, paragraph B of the 1999 constitution states clearly that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people.

So the availability of that fund enabled us to give vent to that particular provision of the constitution, he said.

Watch this Nigerian speak about the state of the nation as led by President Buhari:

Source: Legit.ng
MATTOON -- The public is invited to attend an interfaith discussion panel on Tuesday, April 25, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Luther Student Center Theater.

A panel of representatives from area minority religions will discuss religious beliefs and practices in order to expand understanding, increase tolerance, and correct misconceptions. Representatives from the following faiths are invited to attend: Amish, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Latter-day Saints and Religious Society of Friends.

A question-and-answer session will follow the one-hour panel discussion.

The idea for the panel originates from Lake Land College honors student Ashlee Burton, Charleston. Burton gave a speech on her religion of Latter-day Saints for a persuasion assignment during a speech communication class taught by Eva Ritchey, speech communication instructor. Burtons speech prompted the development of the interfaith panel.

For more information, contact Ritchey at 217-234-5318 or eritchey@lakelandcollege.edu.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso  After days of intense political wrangling, a committee of political, military, religious and traditional authorities in Burkina Faso named a former foreign minister and veteran diplomat on Monday to oversee a transition to new elections following the ouster of President Blaise Compaore.

Mr. Compaore was overthrown on Oct. 31 after days of mass protests against his plans to modify the Constitution and remain in power. Mr. Compaore subsequently fled to neighboring Ivory Coast. Initially, the military took power, with Lt. Col. Isaac Zida proclaiming himself as the leader of this impoverished West African country  a move that drew broad censure from African and Western nations.
NEOGA -- Mike Heath and Jim Banning have been there for each other throughout a lifelong friendship that has spanned them serving in Vietnam, raising their families, and entering their retirement years.

On March 24, Heath was there for his friend when he passed out, struck the back of his head on a hardwood floor, and stopped breathing. Heath, who has CPR training, performed chest compressions on Banning and got him to resume breathing while an ambulance crew was en route.

"I thank God that Mike was there. It was meant to be I guess," Banning said during an interview Thursday afternoon on the front porch of his home in rural Mattoon.

The American Legion honored Heath, of Neoga, for his lifesaving actions by presenting him with a certificate during a ceremony on April 6 at the Neoga American Legion post. Banning, a former Neoga resident, was there by his side for this event.

More than 50 years ago, the two men became friends while Banning was a student at Neoga High School and Heath was a student at Mattoon High School. They remained friends during their service at different times in the U.S. Navy Seabees construction battalion.

Heath served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and Banning served there from 1969 to 1970. Both men were often in harm's way while building roads and doing other work with the Seabees. Heath noted that his time in Vietnam coincided with the Tet Offensive by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army.

"I spent 17 days in a foxhole during the Tet Offensive," Heath said.

The two men continued their friendship in the years after the war as they raised their families and built their careers.

Heath retired after working as a truck driver with Bulkmatic Transport Co. in Teutopolis and now works part time with the Neoga Township road crew. Banning worked for 32 years on an Illinois Department of Transportation road crew based in Cumberland County before retiring 16 years ago.

Banning and his wife, Becky, were visiting the home of Heath and his wife, Kathy, on the evening of March 24 when Banning collapsed. Banning said it was later determined that he passed out because his blood pressure had "bottomed out" and he was dehydrated after a long day of working in his backyard.

"I just went over like a 'big oak tree' they said," Banning recalled.

Mrs. Banning said she remembers being frightened and repeatedly screaming "don't leave me" to her husband as Heath immediately began performing CPR on him.

Heath said he drew upon CPR training he received over the years during his service in the Seabees and the Illinois National Guard, as well as a course he took at Lake Land College.

Banning had stopped breathing after he hit his head on the floor and his tongue curled back toward his throat. Heath said he was preparing to use a spoon to pry Banning's tongue out, when one of the chest compressions got him breathing again and popped his tongue back into place.

During his subsequent hospitalization at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Banning said he learned that he had bruised his brain when he hit the floor and he had blood pooling on the exterior of his brain.

Banning said he feels better now, but still gets dizzy sometimes. He said he is wearing a heart monitor for the time being and is trying to live life at a slower pace because, "I can't run 100 mph anymore." Banning added that he has stopped smoking and is thankful to have a second chance at life.

"Jim owes Mike his life. He saved my husband," Mrs. Banning said.
Charlie Murphy, the comedian, voice-over artist and older brother of the actor and comic Eddie Murphy, died on Wednesday at a hospital in New York City. He was 57.

His publicist, Domenick Nati, said the cause was leukemia. No other details were immediately available.

With his brothers help, Mr. Murphy began his show-business career in the late 1980s, mostly taking bit roles in movies. Decades later, he became best known for a part on Dave Chappelles acclaimed sketch-comedy series Chappelles Show, which was broadcast on Comedy Central from 2003 to 2006.

In the fan-favorite series of sketches known as Charlie Murphys True Hollywood Stories, which Mr. Murphy helped write, he would spoof himself, regaling viewers with stories of his encounters with celebrities like Rick James and Prince. Both Mr. James and Prince later confirmed that the skits were based in truth.
The key to contrition, according to public-relations experts, is projecting sincerity, humanity, and a plain-spoken demeanor  the better to convince a cynical public. And in this age of whipsawing social media, you had better do it fast.

The head of United should never have been allowed to take three swings at correcting and apologizing for an incident that was on more social media than Kim and Kanyes wedding, said Mortimer Matz, a New York consultant who has guided decades worth of clients through crises small and large.

United issued several halting statements about the plane episode, which first emerged Monday morning, before Mr. Munoz made his abject appearance on Wednesday on ABC. Mr. Matz said the airline had missed its moment.

Youve got to be a fast thinker in the digital age, said Mr. Matz, who will be 93 in July.

Many companies now take steps to be nimble and responsive when a furor erupts online. Last week, Pepsi took less than 24 hours to apologize and retract a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that used populist imagery to sell soda. It was a rapid U-turn that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

This week, Mr. Spicer was quick to recognize the damage done by his ill-considered remarks, which prompted immediate denunciations on Twitter as well as calls for his resignation. He appeared on CNN within hours of his gaffe, while Mr. Munoz waited two days.
We dont think that the rate of growth of S.U.V.s will necessarily continue, but we do believe the shift to them is permanent, said Mike Manley, head of Fiat Chryslers Jeep division.

Pickup trucks and S.U.V.s have accounted for about 62 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States so far this year, compared with 57 percent in the first quarter of 2016, according to the research firm Autodata.

That extends a trend line that has inched upward since gasoline dropped below $3 a gallon in 2014.

The big American auto companies have been the greatest beneficiaries of the publics appetite for high-riding, spacious S.U.V.s, which generally earn bigger profits for manufacturers than mainstream cars.

In March, more than 70 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States by General Motors and Ford Motor were trucks and S.U.V.s. The proportion was even higher, about 85 percent, for Fiat Chrysler.

All three Detroit automakers and their foreign rivals are working overtime to add new or updated sport utility vehicles to their lineups.
When the United States-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm on Jan. 17, 1991, Iraqs military response relied heavily on a single type of armament: Scud missiles, dozens of which would rain down on Iraqi targets for the duration of the Persian Gulf wars combat phase.

A fragment from one of those Scuds now sits in The New York Timess newsroom as part of an exhibit titled In Harms Way, a collection of artifacts culled from Times colleagues by David W. Dunlap, a longtime Metro reporter. The exhibit, housed in a glass-walled room, showcases items that illustrate the risks borne by journalists in their quest to uncover the news.

Scuds, about 40 feet long and 3 feet in diameter, were originally developed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. They were designed for short-range use  with a range of between 375 and 560 miles, in the case of the Scuds used in Iraq  and could carry well over a thousand pounds of explosives.

It seemed that there was an unlimited supply of Scud missiles flying all over the Middle East, said Walt Baranger, who collected the fragment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while on assignment there as a news technology editor for The Times. (Saudi Arabia and Israel were the main targets of Scud attacks, but Iraq also launched Scuds at Bahrain and Qatar.)
Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on New York States highest court and the first African-American woman to serve on that bench, was found dead on Wednesday in the Hudson River, the authorities said.

Officers with the New York Police Departments Harbor Unit responded about 1:45 p.m. to a report of a person floating by the shore near West 132nd Street in Upper Manhattan. Judge Abdus-Salaam, 65, was taken to a pier on the Hudson River and was pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after 2 p.m.

The police were investigating how she ended up in the river, and it was not clear how long Judge Abdus-Salaam, who lived nearby in Harlem, had been missing. There were no signs of trauma on her body, the police said. She was fully clothed.

A law enforcement official said investigators had found no signs of criminality. Her husband identified her body.
Until a few days ago, Americans and the world had reason to think that the Trump administrations policy toward Russia would involve cooperation and harmony and seek to reverse the acrimony and dysfunction that had come to characterize relations between the Kremlin and the Obama administration.

During the campaign, Mr. Trump fawned over Russias assertively proud leader, Vladimir Putin, praising him for doing a great job and calling him a stronger leader than Barack Obama. As to policy, he seemed almost an apologist for Mr. Putins aggressive behavior in Syria, his annexation of Crimea and his transparent efforts to undermine the NATO alliance. Findings by the American intelligence community that Russia had intervened in the election on Mr. Trumps behalf seemed further evidence of a bromance, if not something more sinister.

Three months into the Trump presidency, Russia-American relations are as tense as ever, a casualty of Mr. Putins ruthless behavior and Mr. Trumps changing views and whiplash approach to policy, infuriating Russians who had every reason to believe they would have a pal in the White House.

While both men could end up losers, there is a greater chance that Mr. Trump, a foreign policy neophyte who has bungled his presidential debut, will find it hard to prevail over the nefarious ways of Mr. Putin, a former K.G.B. agent. Mr. Putins approach to international engagement, which involves expanding efforts to meddle in countries from Europe to Libya and beyond, has been largely consistent; Mr. Trumps has been anything but.
FRONT PAGE

A news analysis article on Wednesday about President Trumps relationship with Russia misspelled the surname of a former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He is Michael Morell, not Morrell.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Sunday about a legal dispute in China over a large meteorite found in 1986 by a Kazakh herder, Juman Reamazhaen, paraphrased incorrectly from Mr. Reamazhaens account of his discovery. He said he had not noticed the meteorite before that day; he did not say that it had appeared overnight.

EDITORIAL

An Op-Ed article on April 10 about American workplace rules misstated the name of a Labor Department agency. It is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration.

The Times welcomes comments and suggestions, or complaints about errors that warrant correction. Messages on news coverage can be e-mailed to nytnews@nytimes.com or left toll-free at 1-844-NYT-NEWS (1-844-698-6397). Comments on editorials may be e-mailed to letters@nytimes.com.
The worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship.

REX W. TILLERSON, the United States secretary of state, after meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow.
WASHINGTON  President Trump made three startling economic policy reversals on Wednesday, stepping away from pledges he made as a candidate and even policies he supported only days ago.

The shifts confounded many of Mr. Trumps supporters and suggested that the moderate financiers he brought from Wall Street are eclipsing the White House populist wing led by Stephen K. Bannon, the political strategist who is increasingly being sidelined by the president.

In a series of interviews, Mr. Trump said he no longer wanted to label China a currency manipulator  a week after telling The Financial Times that the Chinese were the world champions of currency manipulation.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president said he no longer wanted to eliminate the Export-Import Bank. And he said that he might consider reappointing Janet Yellen as chairwoman of the Federal Reserve when her term ends next year.
BUDAPEST  Even as a top European Union official on Wednesday questioned the wisdom of a new Hungarian law that seemed intended to shut down a university, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban appeared to be having second thoughts about the legislation.



Central European University, founded by the Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros, should be able to operate in Budapest undisturbed, said the European Union official, Frans Timmermans, first vice president of the European Commission, the unions executive body.

The European commissioners, at their weekly meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, discussed recent laws introduced by Mr. Orbans government, including the one involving Central European University. Mr. Timmermans said the group resolved to consider next steps on any legal concerns by the end of April.

The meeting came shortly after several top United States officials  including the acting State Department spokesman, Mark C. Toner  urged the Hungarian government to allow the university to operate in its present form.
Dangling meetings is an old technique for Mr. Putin, used to keep other leaders off balance and demonstrate his control. But when Mr. Putin and Mr. Tillerson did meet, it was clear that they not only have different world views, but that they have different views of the facts. And that made it difficult to achieve anything other than cosmetic accords on the issues over which the two nations, in a revival of Cold War rhetoric, have charged each other with lying about.

For good measure, Mr. Lavrov offered a lengthy tutorial for Mr. Tillerson about all the examples of American-led regime change in the world  from Slobodan Milosevic to Saddam Hussein to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi  that went bad, suggesting it made no sense to add President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to the list.

But there was no talk of reviving the Geneva process, the meetings of nearly 20 nations that John Kerry, Mr. Tillersons predecessor, had organized to help force a political process to end the civil war in Syria and hold a vote that would decide the fate of Mr. Assad. Mr. Tillerson said, again, that Mr. Assad had to go  in a way he did not specify  and when pressed on whether he agreed with Mr. Trumps description of the Syrian leader as an animal, he said that characterization is one that President Assad has brought upon himself.

Mr. Tillerson is in many ways the personality opposite of Mr. Kerry: When asked a hard question he will offer the tersest answer possible, rather than attack with words. Asked at the news conference whether he had raised with Mr. Putin the subject of Russian meddling in the 2016 American presidential election, he said, As to the question of the interference with the election, that is fairly well-established in the United States.

His answer ignored that such meddling is not a well-established fact in the mind of his boss.

Asked how he explained the difference between Russias use of cyberweapons in the election and the American use of them against Irans nuclear program and North Koreas missile program, Mr. Tillerson said simply: Cybertools to disrupt weapons programs  thats another use of the tools, and I make a distinction between those two.
New York City Ballet is usually the house of George Balanchine. But for its 2017-18 season, the company announced Thursday, it will make ample room for its other founding choreographer, Jerome Robbins, for the centennial of his birth. The tribute, Robbins 100, will feature 19 of his ballets.

Born in New York in 1918, Robbins was prolific on two fronts, known for his work on Broadway, including West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, as well as his contributions to the concert stage. He spent much of his career at City Ballet  at Balanchines invitation  where he choreographed more than 50 ballets, from 1949 to 1997. He died in 1998.

One Robbins program, featuring Fancy Free, Dybbuk and West Side Story Suite, will highlight Robbinss work with Leonard Bernstein, whose centennial also falls in 2018. Several returning ballets  Fanfare, Dybbuk, Circus Polka and Les Noces  havent been seen in New York since 2008.

Fittingly, the companys resident choreographer, Justin Peck, will unveil a new ballet inspired by Robbins with music by Bernstein. Though Mr. Peck knows how to make a ballet shine with formal structure, he also, like Robbins, has managed to tap into the energy of his own generation. Choreographically speaking, theyre related.
That event, on July 9, 1776, has been cleaned up in memory. Nineteenth-century images of it depict festive crowds (including women in hoop skirts), but in reality it was a bunch of soldiers and sailors, Mr. Stephenson said, led by an artillery officer, Capt. Oliver Brown, who was so embarrassed it took him decades to admit it.

We tend to think there was a script we were all speaking from, but the reality was messy, Mr. Stephenson said. I guess we might be considered a little bit critical of originalism in that sense.

The museum, which grew out of the collection of the Valley Forge Historical Society, displays about 500 objects, from the expected muskets, military uniforms and teapots to more touchingly human ones, like a pair of baby shoes made from a British redcoat that a soldier in the Continental Army brought home after the war  beating swords into footwear, if you will.

The immersive exhibits infuse 18th-century history with distinctly 21st-century theatrical shock and awe. There are seven tableaus featuring uncannily realistic life-cast figures, like A Brawl in Harvard Yard, which shows George Washington breaking up a fight between troops from New England and Virginia in the early days of the war, an incident later documented in a pension application. (All scenes are based on real people or events.)
John Ridley has already made some ambitious television, and hes at it again with Guerrilla, a microstudy of radicalism in Britain in the early 1970s.

This six-part series, which begins on Sunday on Showtime, isnt easy to climb aboard, especially for American viewers steeped in the misbelief that the passions of the Vietnam War era were exclusive to the United States. But its notable for its unromanticized view of a period that can be subject to mythmaking, and for its deceptively diffuse buildup to a fabulous final hour.

Jas (Freida Pinto) and Marcus (Babou Ceesay) are lovers who like to pay lip service to black power and immigrant causes but havent really done much on the action side. When a friend is killed by the police, though, they commit to becoming real revolutionaries, and as their first act, they bust a noted radical, Dhari (Nathaniel Martello-White, in a terrific performance), out of prison.
Go for thrills with The Blackcoats Daughter, directed by Osgood Perkins, with his fathers Psycho portrayal in its DNA. Or steam things up with The Handmaiden, new to Amazon Prime.

Whats Streaming

THE BLACKCOATS DAUGHTER (2017) on Amazon, Google Play and iTunes. There will be blood: Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), students at a remote Roman Catholic boarding school for girls, are abandoned by their parents during midterm break and end up in the company of nuns. Elsewhere, Joan (Emma Roberts), who may have escaped from a mental hospital, is given a ride by a grieving couple. The narratives ultimately converge in acts of brutality that suggest that the director, Osgood Perkins, the elder son of Anthony Perkins, is well versed in Psycho. This deeply unsettling tale, rich with atmosphere and stingy with facts, is a stealth weapon, Jeannette Catsoulis wrote in The New York Times. Yet the movie is so perfectly acted and gorgeously filmed (the cinematographer is Julie Kirkwood) that we dont mind its coyness; the twanging notes of trepidation make us almost grateful for the leisurely build.
 A reconnaissance team will examine the inside of the salvaged South Korean ferry Sewol on Sunday, the third anniversary of the disaster that killed more than 300 people, most of them teenagers on a school trip. [Korea Herald]

 The European Court of Human Rights faulted the Russian authorities for storming a school in 2004 in the North Caucasus town of Beslan to try and seize it back from Chechen militants, resulting in the deaths of some 330 hostages. The Kremlin rejected the findings. [The New York Times]

 Cyclone Cook hit New Zealand, largely sparing Auckland as it tracked south toward the capital, Wellington. Hundreds of people have been evacuated and thousands of homes have lost power. [New Zealand Herald]

 Officials in China seized more than a ton of woolly mammoth tusks, part of a booming trade in ivory from Russia that comes from skeletons of the long-extinct creatures emerging from warming Siberian tundra. [BBC]

 Meet DJ Sumirock, an 82-year-old Japanese mix master. [Mashable]

Smarter Living
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Good morning.

Heres what you need to know:

 Old foes and new friends.

The Trump administration sought on Wednesday to isolate the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for having backed the government of Syria after a lethal chemical weapons attack. (Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution condemning the attack.)

President Trump also expressed a newfound appreciation for NATO, a great alliance that he once derided as obsolete.
President Trump described the Chinese as the world champions of currency manipulation.

He said that Janet L. Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman, should be ashamed of her political bias.

But Mr. Trump has changed his tone and backtracked on pledges and policies he supported days earlier. The shift suggests that the moderate financiers of Wall Street brought to the White House are eclipsing the populists led by Stephen K. Bannon, the presidents chief political strategist.

Mr. Trump no longer wants to label China a currency manipulator or to eliminate the Export-Import Bank. He might also consider reappointing Ms. Yellen when her term ends next year.

His approach to issues like taxes and health care appears more muddled, but there is some suggestion that he is edging toward a mainstream economic approach.
Nonetheless, as he immersed himself in the issues, he gradually came around to Mr. Walkers view that the be-all and end-all of a foundations work shouldnt be to increase the endowment. If we can invest in ways that support the mission and purpose of the foundation, and still earn a decent return, why not try? he said. He said he expected these mission-related investments to underperform Fords more traditional approach, but nonetheless, the social good should more than offset that.

He stressed that Ford had built numerous safeguards into the effort, such as investing the $1 billion in phases. Were talking about 8 percent of the portfolio over 10 years, he said. After Year 2 or 3, if it doesnt work, well slow down. If it goes well, we can go ahead even faster.

His support proved critical for mustering board support. Its not a hidebound conservative board by any stretch, Mr. Nadosy said. Still, this was difficult. We talked a lot and, quite frankly, it took some work. (The board includes Gabrielle Sulzberger, who is married to Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher of The New York Times.)

Given Fords size and prominence, its move is likely to generate a wave of new mission-related investment. In his letter, Mr. Walker called on endowments of all kinds, including pension funds, sovereign-wealth funds and university endowments, to get on the bandwagon and help capital markets become accelerators of justice.

The Ford move is very significant, said Jessica Matthews, head of mission-related investment at Cambridge Associates, a large investment advisory firm with many foundation and university clients. Last year, Cambridge surveyed its nonprofit clients, and nearly one-third of those who responded said they were using endowments to make mission-related investments. Of that group, 62 percent said they expected to increase their commitment over the next five years.

Ms. Matthews said that it was too soon and the database still too small to produce a reliable measure of returns, but that the good news were seeing is there are bright spots, with some social impact investments performing very well.

Not everyone is rushing to follow Fords example. I congratulate them and look forward to seeing how they do, said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, but he said the foundation would adhere to its traditional approach, which has served its mission well over its 106-year history.
Image Credit... From left: Jim Wilson/The New York Times; Dustin Chambers for The New York Times; Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

Want to Resist Trump or Make America Great Again? These People Switched Careers

A marketer at a Silicon Valley start-up left his job to wrangle voters in swing states. A New York baker ditched her oven to help organize the Womens March. And an entrepreneur in Georgia decided to walk away from his business and run for the House of Representatives.

The election of President Trump has provoked elation, outrage and self-reflection among Americans across the political spectrum. For some, it has even prompted something more drastic: a career change.

In the last few months, professionals across the country have decided to leave conventional jobs and get involved in politics or activism.

It feels like we are in this existential crisis of democracy, said Matt Ewing, who abandoned a career at SolarCity to join Swing Left, a group hoping to get out the vote in competitive congressional districts in 2018. Going back to work in my comfortable corporate job didnt make sense anymore.
Given that freedom, Mr. Salisbury wrote at length about the many mysteries surrounding the death of the dictator Joseph Stalin.

It is by no means impossible that Stalin was murdered on or about March 5, 1953, by the group of his close associates who now run Russia. That arresting lede was how Mr. Salisbury opened Part 2 of the series.

Equally chilling was Part 3, in which Mr. Salisbury described the sudden ascent and fall  after Stalins death  of Lavrenti P. Beria, the chief of the secret police.

For about 78 hours, in March of last year, Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria held Russia in the hollow of his pudgy hand. He was supreme. There was no one who could challenge him  not Malenkov, not Khrushchev, not Molotov, not the Army. At any moment within those fateful hours, Beria might have proclaimed himself dictator, all-supreme ruler of Russia, heir of Stalin. He did not do so, and in that failure to act he sealed his own fate. The life that came to an end last Christmas Eve, probably in the blood-stained cellars of the Lubyanka Prison, was doomed from that moment when Beria did not act.

Two Pulitzers, 62 years apart, with nothing but drama between them.

A Rescue in the Wings

A tiny drama played out in the newsroom as the Pulitzer gathering ended. Employees who had been watching from the fourth floor noticed a small bird in obvious distress on a locked setback around the atrium skylight.

Image Norton, before being rescued. Credit... Eileen Guzmich/The New York Times

Eileen Guzmich, a copy editor at The New York Times Index, was confident the bird would recover. But when she checked back an hour later, the creature was rooted to the spot and had begun shaking. She returned to her office, Googled wild bird rescue midtown manhattan and discovered the Wild Bird Fund.

A woman there talked me through identifying the bird via texted photo  a fully grown female yellow-bellied sapsucker, Ms. Guzmich said. She said I should try to sneak up behind it, gently place a towel over it, and get it into a dark box lined with another towel, because the dark and texture would calm her.
It turned out that Masters: Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons was not business as usual. The new leather goods-and-silk collaboration between the artist and the brand in which Mr. Koons has replicated five famous paintings (including the Mona Lisa) on Vuitton bags, adding some hip-hop bling, was an unabashed attempt to take the most iconic pieces of art history off their pedestals and attach them to mass(ish) commerce. Even at their most audacious, I cant think of any other brand that would have dared. You could literally pull your laptop from Van Goghs Wheatfields, or sling a luminescent, fleshy Titian over your shoulder,

I couldnt help but laugh.

Once I got over my initial fit of giggles, I thought: No way. No one is going to want a Masterwork on their arm. Its so kitschy. Then I started to chuckle again. Then I shook my head and kind of groaned. Then laughter. Then the realization that I actually was not sure how I felt at all about the project, which was interesting, and not dissimilar to the reaction that most of Mr. Koonss artwork produces, including the giant balloon dogs and bunnies, and the enormous floral puppy.

But while art is supposed to make you uncomfortable and challenge assumptions about its very definition, fashion is  not. Fashion is supposed to make you feel good and generally not demand deep analysis of conflicting emotions in the wearer. Mostly when you see, say, a skirt or a bag, you think: I like that! Or, I would never wear that! As a critic, I think: Who is that for, and what does it say about them? Almost never: How do I parse my own reaction to that?

None of this was a particular surprise to my Vuitton host at the collection viewing, of course, who was watching me swing back and forth between glee and horror with some amusement. The brand knew the new collection was going to provoke controversy  they seemed to be courting it in the no-publicity-is-bad-publicity sort of way. That was why they didnt want anyone to know about it until it was about to go on sale, to preserve the shock value.

They thought a lot of the discussion, positive or negative, would be about the gall of connecting hallowed paintings with a commercial endeavor. I agree that it will get people talking, but Im thinking conversation will likely be about why people would want to walk around toting a famous painting as part of their outfit. Its like pasting a label on your forehead that says Jeff Koons Fan (for those who know his work) or I (heart) Grandmasters.
He ordered the exasperated waiters to move a heavy credenza and set up an extra table by the front door. He supplied me with a yarmulke and an entirely Hebrew Haggadah. Illiterate in the language, I pretended to read it as I sat there alone, between the wall and a display case of macaroons, looking at medieval illustrations of the 10 plagues.

Everyone seemed to know one another. Many biceps were squeezed. Many cheeks were kissed. Adults bathed with attention Daniel and Aaron, the only small children in the place as far as I could tell. (The Italian birthrate is a paltry 1.4 children per family.) An older woman walking by me worried out loud in universal Jewish mother fashion that I was too close to the door and would catch pneumonia.

The proceedings began at 9:05 p.m., with Seder plates and baskets of matzo on each table. A waiter asked if I wanted wine, but I asked for grape juice because, having entirely dropped the ball on Dryuary, I was observing Drapril. The waiters, clearly not well-versed in Jewish customs, huddled over this insane request for succo duva by someone older than six and sheepishly asked Mr. Ouazana if the restaurant carried any. Of course we do, he told them.

It wasnt Kedem, or even  gasp  Welchs, but something called Nes did the job. The juice wasnt the only change on the table for an Ashkenazi New Yorker far (like Trappist-1 far) from orthodoxy and keeping kosher and Italian traditions. In Rome, everything is different, Mr. Ouazana said.
Those who are stuck in Turkey endure a kind of social torture, too, which will most likely remain the silent kind. Kurds have been suffering for 100 years. In official histories, the government will probably reduce Gulenists to their alleged treason. Many journalists, even those who are not imprisoned, can no longer practice journalism. And liberal academics endure the strange, simultaneous abuse of being seen as jobless pariahs and members of some oppressive elite. Everyone is branded as somehow having attacked the A.K. Party government, and Erdogan rhetorically reinforces his victimhood, even as he assumes more and more power  a manipulation so effective that it seems impossible to stop.

Erdogan once offered great hope. He improved the lives of millions in Turkey, and that is why many people will vote Yes for him in the April 16 referendum. They remember what it was like when a family member was dying of cancer and they had to pay every last cent for substandard care; they remember what it was like to be looked down upon for being religious, for being poor and unsophisticated. Erdogan could very well win his referendum fairly; Turkish elections are normally efficient and monitored. Few Turks are entirely convinced that he could simply steal the vote after the fact. Instead, the state seems to be trying to do so in advance, through intimidation.

Such attempted coercion raises a question: How popular is Erdogan really? After all, this pre-referendum bullying is only a more intense version of what daily life in Turkey is like, with Erdogan on TV and the radio, all day every day, demanding that his people love him. His proclamations about his popularity  amplified by a media he dominates  are drowning out the genuine opposition to him: not just the so-called secular elite, but Alevis, Kurds, Armenians, atheists, the pious, feminists, leftists, independents  all sorts of ordinary people who simply do not want to have to worship this man. New hospitals, free health care and clean streets are little good to a Turk or a Kurd who is not free to go to work or live in a house that wont be shelled by the government. Do the choices in this referendum  Yes or No  offer the real prospect of a better nation for the Turks?

There are, after all, less visible ways in which the country seems to be breaking apart, no matter how its citizens vote. The all-encompassing fury over the attempted coup has meant that some Turks have no sympathy for the victims of the purge; some are afraid of being tainted by them, and some snitch on them to save themselves. Such distrust is a disease for a society, and it has spread to anyone who dares to criticize the A.K. Party. As the referendum has grown nearer, what you hear from opposition Turks at home is unimaginable stress, a smothering weight, the panic of the unknown. What you hear from Turks abroad is their loneliness and loss, that strange, tender feeling of being exposed and unprotected, of having no legal or human rights, and of having perhaps forever lost their country.

Most friends dont get in touch out of fear, Tuba said. On the last day I saw them, their young son had begun to rebel comically against these long days of talking with a foreign stranger, and Tuba sat snuggling and kissing him repeatedly to quiet him. They dont say anything on Instagram, and sometimes I call them on WhatsApp, and they dont answer me. Its very painful. I erased my old history. I have no friends.

She laughed a little and then her voice got stronger. Sometimes even mothers or fathers refuse to speak to their children because they blame them for being FETO  for staging the coup attempt. Come on, your daughter or your son. Can you imagine it? Because of this, I blame them  you know the truth. Everybody knows the truth. They know me; they know their son or daughter. Choose! Who will you believe? Me or Erdogan? Even my grandmother is a little like, What did you do? Shes not A.K. Party or Gulenist. People like her just believe the state.

She went on: Conservative people in Turkey had many, many problems, and they want to believe in the A.K. Party. Because the A.K. Party was their dream, the conservative peoples dream. They dont want to give up their dream. For this dream, they expend their relatives. They expend their sister. They expend us.
I feel very pain, the 62-year-old mumbled incoherently as he sat in a wheelchair. He had said almost nothing since arriving at the office of Dr. Joel Geerling, a neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. A year ago, he was fine, explained the patients sister. He was married, working as an auto mechanic, happy, normal. Then, six or seven months ago, he became forgetful. Little things at first  he couldnt think of the right word, remember peoples names. But then big things  like forgetting who he was talking to on the phone or how to drive to places he had known for decades.

That was fall 2014. By that Christmas, walking became difficult. He fell frequently. He had trouble feeding himself. He slept most of the day and night. Over the course of this illness, he lost almost everything. He was fired from his job; his wife left him. He didnt even have his car anymore: His daughter took the keys after an accident. He had always been friendly and talkative, but now he was withdrawn and nearly wordless. In a few months, the man went from being completely independent to requiring round-the-clock care. This daughter tried to take care of him, but recently she had to hire someone; she couldnt miss any more college classes.

A Breakdown of Mind and Body

The patient first saw his regular doctor, but she couldnt figure out what was wrong and sent him to a neurologist. When the specialist was stumped, she sent the patient to Geerling, a neurologist who focused on dementia and other cognitive diseases. In the exam room, the patient slumped in the wheelchair and held his head tipped back so that he was looking straight at the doctor above him, giving him a childlike appearance. When Geerling examined him, he found out why. The patient could not make his eyes move up. When he tried to walk, his feet remained on the ground  as if there were a magnet holding them down  giving him an odd, shuffling, gliding gait. He was unable to count down from 10 and didnt know where he lived.
New films by Sofia Coppola, Noah Baumbach, Todd Haynes, Michael Haneke and Michel Hazanavicius will be among the competitors for the Palme dOr at the 70th Cannes Film Festival next month, the festival announced on Thursday.

The festival, to be held May 17-28, will open with a lineup that includes 49 films from 29 countries, 12 of them by female directors, said Thierry Fremaux, the festivals director, at a news conference in Paris.

Ms. Coppolas The Beguiled, starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Colin Farrell, is a remake of the 1971 film that starred Clint Eastwood. Mr. Hayness Wonderstruck is based on a 2011 young adult novel by Brian Selznick and tells the stories of two deaf children; it is an Amazon Studios production.

Mr. Baumbachs The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, is a Netflix original production, as is another film in competition, Okja by the Korean director Bong Joon-ho, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton.
The barbarity described in Finding Oscar is stomach-turning, but moments of courage still shine through in this unsettling yet vital documentary.

In 1982, a band of Guatemalan soldiers entered the tiny village of Dos Erres, looking for anti-government guerrillas. They found none, and soon began raping and murdering the residents. More than 200 bodies, some still alive, were thrown into a well and buried.

Two boys were abducted and then reared by soldiers families. One boy, Oscar Ramirez, was 3 and grew to believe that the people raising him were his real family. Years later investigators began a search for Oscar  as an adult, hed moved to the United States  deeming him to be living evidence of the mass killing. If he were located, a DNA sample could be obtained; that would match bodies at the site, and strengthen a case against the soldiers accused of the murders.

Finding him, though, would create a problem. How do you tell someone, Youre not who you think you are, and your life up until now has been a lie? one interviewee says.
In The Lost City of Z, a lush, melancholic story of discovery and mystery, a mesmerizing Charlie Hunnam plays a British adventurer in the Amazon who is consumed by all the glories of exploration, as Joseph Conrad once wrote of a different journey. Enveloped by the forest, the explorer and his crew face snakes, piranhas, insects and that most terrifying of threats: other people, who at times bombard the strangers with arrows. Undaunted, he perseveres, venturing more deeply into a world that first becomes a passion and then something of a private hallucination. Its 1906, and while wonders like moving pictures are rapidly shrinking the world, the dream of unknown lands endures.

That dream isnt only about the Amazon in The Lost City of Z but also about the movies and their ability to transport us to astonishing new worlds. For us, the Age of Discovery is long gone and, for the most part, so are old-fashioned historical epics, other than the occasional Chinese extravaganza or one of those international waxworks with clashing accents. Hollywood used to churn these out regularly, but theyve faded, casualties of shifting industry logic, audience taste, cultural norms and other pressures. The romance of adventure has largely shifted from history to fantasy fiction, an easier, less contested playground for conquering white heroes.
They all suffered from significant trauma throughout their body, Mr. Sini said. It appears that they were killed with a sharp or edged instrument.

Mr. Sini did not identify the victims but said they ranged in age from 16 to 20.

Justin Llivicura, 16, was later identified by his uncle Marcelo Llivicura as one of the victims. Mr. Llivicura, a native of Ecuador, said that Justin, who was born in the United States, had been missing a few days. The family had reported him missing on Wednesday, according to the police.

He was a good boy, Mr. Llivicura said in a telephone interview. He did nothing, no drugs; he was a good student and was working on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr. Llivicura said that the last time the two had spoken, on Tuesday, Justin had said he planned to go to a party. Justin and Jorge Tigre were friends from Bellport High School, which was closed for spring vacation this week.

He did not have bad friends or anything, and now he died, Mr. Llivicura said.

Jorge Tigres family had also reported him missing on Wednesday, according to the police.
James Valentine was woodshedding Sunday afternoon, giving his Ernie Ball signature guitar a workout in his Los Angeles home.

Im just practicing some NJO charts, Valentine said when he picked the phone. Its really cool to get back to that. But man, I forgot theres a lot more notes in jazz.

NJO is Nebraska Jazz Orchestra. Valentine is the guitarist for Maroon 5, one of the biggest pop bands in the world. Hell return to his Lincoln hometown to play a show with the orchestra Saturday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

Weve talked about this for a long time, Valentine said. I dont get the opportunity to do this stuff very often. This is originally what I wanted to do. Its such a cool organization thats been around since I was a kid. It was really important to my development as a musician. ... During those days, I thought Id be a jazz musician. Things went in a different way.

NJO had an impact on Valentine early on in his musical journey, starting at a camp the group held for aspiring young jazz players.

I remember distinctly being at that camp and having Ed Love teaching us the modes, which are really important in jazz, Valentine said. "Then they had that Young Lions competition. I played in that once and it was the first time I got my name in the newspaper. (Reviewer) Tom Ineck liked my solo. My life would probably be a lot different if (NJO) wasnt there.

While he attended Lincoln Southeast High School, where he played in various ensembles, Valentine also performed with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln jazz lab band. As a UNL student, he played in the jazz ensembles even though he wasnt a music major.

And he was a regular on Monday Night Big Band shows that took place in smaller venues around the city -- not only playing, they asked me on some nights to lead it, which just amounted to picking out the charts and counting them in. But it was a big deal for me.

Saturday night, hell be reunited on stage with Bob Krueger, his high school band teacher, and NJO guitarist Peter Bouffard.

Hes my main mentor on guitar," Valentine said of Bouffard. "Im still stealing his licks to this day. Itll be really cool to be up there and play with those guys. It would be like one of the Monday Night Big Bands, only the Lied Center will be a little fancier.

The move from the Cornhusker Marriott, where the NJO usually holds its shows, to the Lied was made, in large part, because of Valentine and the popularity of Maroon 5, which sold out Pinnacle Bank Arena last year.

If we get some Maroon 5 fans in there and theyre exposed to some big band fusion jazz, thats a good thing, Valentine said. Hopefully, they wont be too puzzled. I wont be up there singing She Will Be Loved. We will be playing jazz.

That jazz will be Valentines tribute to his jazz guitar and composing idols -- Mike Stern, John Scofield, Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell.

I picked out one of (Frisells) called Blues for Los Angeles, which I thought would be appropriate with me coming back from L.A., my second hometown, he said.

Valentine moved to Los Angeles with his Lincoln band Square in 2001. The next year, he teamed up with a band that had been called Karas Flowers, getting the spot in part because he was a jazz player.

When I got into the band, a large part of the reason they were attracted to me is I had that knowledge, from coming up in Lincoln, Valentine said. They had been a straight power pop band and were just getting into soul, R&B and jazz when I joined. They realized I had a lot more of that vocabulary than they did.

That knowledge, for example, helped Valentine bring to life Sunday Morning, a song that is based on 2-5-1 chords in C major -- the first thing you learn in jazz piano, and This Love opens with a diminished chord -- something rarely heard to start a pop song.

Or at least I think its a diminished chord," Valentine said. "It might be a 13 flat 9. Well have to ask Peter Bouffard about that.

Then his jazz performance skills came in handy as the band toured behind Songs for Jane, the multi-platinum 2002 album that over the course of a couple years lifted it out of clubs and into theaters and arenas.

With Songs for Jane, we had only that one album and once we started headlining shows, we had to stretch, Valentine said. I think my background in improvisation helped us do that. If we had to fill some time, it was OK, James, solo. That was just like back with the Monday Night Big Band. Theyd have me solo and I think sometimes they wouldn't count the band back in and just let me keep going and going. After five minutes, I was like Come on guys, come back in.

Valentine planned his return to Lincoln to play with NJO for the middle of what was supposed to be a year off for Maroon 5. But the band hasnt really taken any time off. It's only playing a South American tour and a couple of festivals this year, but its just finishing up another album.

A single, Dont Wanna Know, featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar, was released in October and hit the top 10 around the world, going to No. 6 in the U.S. That prompted the band to record an entire album. Single No. 2, Cold, featuring rapper Future, was released in February.

Asked if the new record was in the same vein as V, Maroon 5s chart-topping 2014 album, Valentine replied yes, its in the electropop, super hyped sort of category.

Thats the opposite of jazz.

Which has the potential to make Saturday night all the more confusing, Valentine said. I better get back to the charts.
The last time someone heard from Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam apparently was on Tuesday when she called her chambers in the Graybar Building in Manhattan to say she wasnt well and would not be coming in. At some point, she had left her apartment in Harlem, law enforcement officials said, departing without her wallet and cellphone, and locking the door behind her.

When Judge Abdus-Salaam  the first black woman to serve on New York States highest court  failed to appear at work on Wednesday, her assistant grew concerned and contacted her husband, who reported her missing, the law enforcement officials said. Then that afternoon, there was a terrible discovery: The judges body floating, fully clothed and with no apparent signs of trauma, in the Hudson River.

The unexpected death was shocking and saddening and even set off some suspicions among Judge Abdus-Salaams friends and colleagues, many of whom said she had given no indication that anyone  including herself  would want to do her harm.

In the hours after her body was found, the police said they were treating her death as a suicide. The judge, 65, had recently told friends and a doctor that she was suffering from stress. And tragedy had followed her closely: On Easter in 2012, her mother died at age 92. Two years later, around the same holiday, her brother shot himself to death, according to two law enforcement officials.
But American philosophers have usually held a more jaundiced view of crowds. Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal, The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in The Conduct of Life: Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands and influence, and need not to be flattered, but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide, and break them up, and draw individuals out of them.

These thinkers argued that crowds add up to something less than the sum of their parts. The principle behind this is called deindividuation, in which an individuals social constraints are diminished and distorted by being part of a crowd that forms to express a particular point of view. The French psychologist Gustave Le Bon first explained this concept in his magisterial 1895 text The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind. Le Bon found that crowds were inherently unanimous, emotional and intellectually weak.

Lots of research confirms this, showing that deindividuation can lower inhibitions against immoral behavior. In one of my favorite studies, researchers set up a bowl of candy for Halloween trick-or-treaters, told them to take just one piece and then left them alone. Some of the children were in anonymous groups, others were by themselves. When kids were part of a group, 60 percent took more than one piece of candy. When they were by themselves but not asked their names, 20 percent cheated. But when they were alone and asked their names, only 10 percent took more than they were allotted.

Of course, it stands to reason that deindividuation could improve individuals instead of making them worse. We can all think of cases in which we have been swept up in a wave of kindness and compassion in a group, even in spite of our personal feelings. Group polarization, in which individuals are pushed emotionally in the general direction of the crowd, can be either positive or negative.
What Ecuador needs is an orderly return to a democracy in which all political actors can participate on equal terms. For this, its citizens must believe in the results of their elections.

We are not insisting that we won the election. We are asking for a manual recount of the votes, supervised by both parties, and we will respect the findings. The health of our democracy greatly depends on passing this test, and thats why the C.N.E. should satisfy our demand.

Why do we think the election was fraudulent? Because of what we witnessed on election night. We were on a winning streak  close but steady  when the National Electoral Councils official website went dark. The votes began to be counted at 5 p.m., when the polls closed. With 21,515 voting sheets transmitted and verified by us, that is, 53.8 percent of the votes, we were ahead. When the National Electoral Council ceased to function, our team continued counting votes one by one, made copies of a great majority of the voting sheets and calculated that with 32,878 voting sheets counted  82.2 percent of the total  we were still ahead.

When the National Electoral Council website came back online, the official candidate was suddenly winning. We knew that with 82.2 percent of the votes counted, it was impossible to reverse the tide, so we decided to analyze each and every vote to try to understand what had happened.

In analyzing the data of the election given to us by the C.N.E., we discovered that when the votes from 95.3 percent of the polling stations were added up, we had won, but that in a small number of the polling stations  4.7 percent  something very strange had taken place. At these, almost 80 percent of the votes were in favor of the official candidate, tipping the election. In all the other polling stations, there was a close but consistent trend in favor of our opposition party.
WASHINGTON  As we mark the centenary of the United States entry into World War I, I recall the words of a participant in the Versailles Treaty, which ended that conflict. This isnt a treaty of peace, the American diplomat William Bullitt declared. I can see at least 11 wars in it. The world once again seems to be preparing for war: a wider conflict in Syria, greater friction with Russia and possible military action on the Korean Peninsula.

In the event of war, the president of the United States has unrestricted powers to use nuclear weapons first. Concerns about the absence of checks and balances on the first use of nuclear weapons have spiked because of Donald J. Trumps bellicose temperament and shallow understanding of nuclear flash points. These concerns have led some on Capitol Hill to introduce legislation that would prohibit the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

The intention is understandable, but this remedy is unworkable and unachievable. No president in the modern era has accepted the absolute requirement of congressional consent on war-making powers. Moreover, any scenario for the first use of nuclear weapons implies great urgency because, over time, Americas conventional military advantages would presumably suffice.

A congressional debate authorizing first use would have to be very hurried, and this process could speed up hostile actions rather than slow them down. And when the executive branch has occasionally sought support for war-making powers, Congress has seen fit to provide that backing, rather than deny it.
Raqib recommended pragmatic efforts seeking a particular outcome, not just a vague yearning for the end of Trump. When pushed, she said that calls for a general strike in February were insufficiently organized, and that the Womens March on Washington, which had its first protest the day after Inauguration Day, will ideally become anchored in a larger strategy for change. But she thinks the Day Without Immigrants protest was well crafted, and the same for the bodega strike by Yemeni immigrants.

Sam Daley-Harris, another maestro of effective protest, agrees on a focus on results, not just symbolic protest. He has overseen groups like Results and the Citizens Climate Lobby that have had outsize influence on policy, so I asked him what citizens upset at Trump should do.

The overarching answer is to work with your member of Congress, Daley-Harris told me. He suggested focusing on a particular issue that you can become deeply knowledgeable about. Then work with others to push for a meeting with a member of Congress, a state lawmaker or even a legislative staff member.

He recommended speaking courteously  anyone too hostile is dismissed and loses influence  and being very specific about which bill you want the person to support or oppose.

Im encouraged by the increasing savvy of the resistance efforts, with excellent online resources cropping up and grass-roots groups like EmergeAmerica.org and RunforSomething.net developing to train people who want to run for political office. Students at Harvards Kennedy School of Government have organized Resistance School, a kind of online teach-in to sharpen the tools activists need. The first 90-minute webcast had more than 50,000 streams.

We wanted to move away from a defensive response to an offensive response, not just marching but also thinking of longterm strategy, one of the organizers, Shanoor Seervai, told me.
To the Editor:

Re Khmer Rouge Tribunals Record: 11 Years, $300 Million and 3 Convictions (news analysis, April 11):

In deciding whether the Khmer Rouge tribunal was worth it, consider the magnitude of its task. Demographic studies estimate that at least 1.7 million people, almost a quarter of Cambodias population, lost their lives under the Khmer Rouge. Millions more were forced to labor in cruel and inhumane conditions.

In June, the court will hear final arguments in the trial of Nuon Chea, No. 2 in the regime, and Khieu Samphan, a former head of state. By the number of victims, this is indisputably the biggest criminal trial since Nuremberg.

More than 236,000 people have attended the proceedings, and Cambodian newspapers covered testimony daily. Almost 4,000 victims are civil parties, this being the first international court where victims have this right.

The novel legal issues faced will set important precedents. The charges include forced marriage and rape related to the regimes policy to select spouses and require couples to consummate the marriage. The allegation of genocide against the Cham Muslim minority depends partly on evidence of the killing of those who refused to give up their religion.
PRISTINA, Kosovo  For centuries, dark forces of history have found the Balkans a suitable proxy region for unleashing grand plans for global prominence and competition. Now, after two decades of stability and prospects for a prosperous future, Serbia again is returning to an old vocation  seeking regional hegemony. It is doing so by destabilizing the Balkans, expanding its own military and working toward economic dominance of a regional common market that Kosovo finds unacceptable and strongly opposes  all of this with Russia looking over Serbias shoulder.

Russia is clearly using Serbia not just to regain a foothold in the Balkans, but also to seek vengeance on NATO, the United States and the West with schemes to restore the regional prominence it lost when the Soviet empire collapsed.

Serbia has not yet recognized the independence that Kosovo won a decade ago as a result of a liberation war, backed by NATO in 1999, to avert a genocidal catastrophe supported by Serbias despotic leader at the time, Slobodan Milosevic.

Now, in their presidential election on April 2, Serbians have not only endorsed a nationalist government that continues to defy Kosovos independence; they have also provided a needed victory for Russia, which only days before had authorized a new shipment of fighter jets and battle tanks for Serbia, obviously to help it regain power in the Balkans.
THE arrival of the post-truth political climate came as a shock to many Americans. But to the Christian writer Rachel Held Evans, charges of fake news are nothing new. The deep distrust of the media, of scientific consensus  those were prevalent narratives growing up, she told me.

Although Ms. Evans, 35, no longer calls herself an evangelical, she attended Bryan College, an evangelical school in Dayton, Tenn. She was taught to distrust information coming from the scientific or media elite because these sources did not hold a biblical worldview.

It was presented as a cohesive worldview that you could maintain if you studied the Bible, she told me. Part of that was that climate change isnt real, that evolution is a myth made up by scientists who hate God, and capitalism is Gods ideal for society.

Conservative evangelicals are not the only ones who think that an authority trusted by the other side is probably lying. But they believe that their own authority  the inerrant Bible  is both supernatural and scientifically sound, and this conviction gives that natural human aversion to unwelcome facts a special power on the right. This religious tradition of fact denial long predates the rise of the culture wars, social media or President Trump, but it has provoked deep conflict among evangelicals themselves.
Both guys have a history of bragging about their special privileges. In Trumps case there was all that talk about his right to go into the Miss Universe dressing room and stare at naked ladies, and, of course, the famous recorded boast about how when youre a star you get to grab women by their private parts, whether they like it or not. Bentley told an unhappy staffer that as governor, people had to bow to his throne.

Differences: Mason, a former TV anchor, first entered Bentleys employ as his press secretary. Trumps press secretary is Sean Spicer, and that is never, ever going to be a compromising relationship. On the other hand, Rebekah Mason never claimed that Hitler didnt use poison gas on any Germans.

Bentley went crazy trying to shut down gossip that he was committing adultery, and its hard to imagine Trump reacting the same way. Back in the day, when New York papers were full of stories about him cheating on his wife, Ivana, with an aspiring actress named Marla Maples, he had a squad of publicists on the case. But none of them seemed to be trying to discourage the coverage. We got absolutely no pushback, agreed Matt Storin, who was then an editor at The Daily News.

In the end, Bentley may have been undone less by his affair than by the financial flimflammery on the side. (His lovers husband, a former weatherman, got a $91,000-a-year job as director of the states Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service.)

So far, we havent heard reports about Trump spending public money to please a former mistress. As opposed to spending public money taking heads of state to his resort or providing security for the kids when they go abroad to make business deals.

On occasion we are reminded that the worst things that happen in this world are generally not about consensual sex.
A suit brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau claims that Navient saved itself money by steering borrowers into costly repayment strategies that added billions in interest to their balances. But as Stacy Cowley and Jessica Silver-Greenberg reported in The Times on Monday, states lawsuits are especially damning with respect to Sallie Mae  the company that spun off Navient in 2014.

The Illinois and Washington attorneys general argue that Sallie Mae engaged in predatory lending, saddling people with private subprime loans that the company knew in advance were likely to fail because borrowers would not be able to repay them. The two attorneys general  part of an investigative coalition of 29 states  argue that borrowers deserve to have these tainted private loans forgiven.

The scenario outlined in the court documents bears a frightening resemblance to the subprime mortgage crisis of a decade ago  when mortgage companies caused millions of borrowers to lose their homes by steering them into risky, high-cost mortgages they could never hope to repay.

The Illinois and Washington lawsuits argue that Sallie Mae used subprime private loans to build relationships with exploitative schools that then helped the company make more federal loans to their students. Those loans were the jackpot for the company, the lawsuit argues, because they were guaranteed by the government, which steps in to reimburse the lender when a borrower defaults.
The small gallery in North Loup nearly ran out of space trying to display B.J. Axthelms artwork.

They put Axthelms on the wall and Axthelms in the hall and Axthelms in boxes on the floor, more than 130 pieces in all  most of them paintings, most of those watercolors, and many of those depicting the flowers and scenes of the central Nebraska landscape that surrounded the artist for nearly 90 years.

The life's work of an artist who didnt paint to become famous, but who became well-known in her community. And well-liked.

She was a genuine artist, she was the real deal, said Kate Wolf, a friend and artist who spent months sorting, pricing and preparing the artwork for sale. I can honestly say if it wasnt for B.J., I probably would not have gone on to do any artwork myself. I would have considered it a hobby.

She was very inspiring, always open to new ideas, always trying new things, said Julia Noyes, a Lincoln gallery owner who painted with Axthelm in Ord in the 1970s. She loved being creative and experimenting and bringing beauty to the world. Bringing colors and beauty.

Her paintings would end up on exhibit across the state, at the governors mansion, the Noyes Gallery in Lincoln, the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney  all a long way from the dining room in Valley County where it started.

* * *

Betty Jo Cropper was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1927, but her family didnt stay there long. Her father was looking for work, and he found it in Nebraska.

B.J. started teaching country school while still a student herself, commuting by horse from their home near Sargent, about 90 miles northwest of Grand Island. She attended teachers college in Kearney, married Donald Axthelm in 1947 and started raising a daughter and son in a farmhouse west of Ord.

She helped on the farm and sewed most of her childrens clothes because she needed to; she painted because she wanted to.

She was the type of person who loved challenges, said Lonna Arnold, her daughter. She didnt have a gallery or anything, so she usually set up at the dining room table and did her painting there.

Later, when the artists children moved out, she carried her paints upstairs, near south-facing windows that filled the room with sunlight and gave her a sweeping view of their farm.

And later still, when she needed to, she went to work.

Back in the day when farming wasnt making it, she knew she had to do something to help with income to save the farm, her daughter said. So she started arranging flowers at The Florette in Ord, and eventually bought the nearby fabric store, where she would become known for her quilts.

She stayed busy: Chamber of Commerce president, active in local and state 4-H organizations, a writer's group, Toastmasters.

Still, she kept painting. She helped start the Artissimos club, teaching other area artists what she'd learned over the decades and sharpening her own techniques.

Gently, gently, she would gently critique your work, but not to the point where she would make you feel like you werent good enough to do this, Wolf said. She was very encouraging. She always found the positive things.

It was never about the work being good or not. It was about the habits an artist was developing. Axthelm would teach her friends about texture, how to fix mistakes, which medium is more forgiving, the importance of paper quality. The technical things that artists would want to learn, Wolf said.

In her own paintings, Axthelm focused on florals and landscapes. Sometimes, her daughter would send her photos of wildflowers for inspiration. Sometimes, the artist would paint the hills that swelled up from the Loup River valley around her.

She was able to achieve the most fluid transparency and beautiful, vibrant watercolors that Ive ever seen, Wolf said.

Axthelm liked to combine her paintings. She'd paint two similar pieces, though one might be a shade darker, and cut the first into horizontal strips, the other vertically. Then she'd start weaving, as if she were making a basket.

It might be two different flowers shed weave together, said Noyes, the Lincoln gallery owner. And you get this unusual-looking flower.

Her art ended up in homes in nearly a dozen states and England, her daughter said. Her ability ended up in her granddaughters and great-granddaughters, artists in their own right.

But not with her daughter.

I cant draw a stick person, Arnold said.

* * *

The artist died nearly a year ago. She was 88.

Later in life, she'd focused more on her quilting, Wolf said. It might have been easier for her.

But when her family cleaned out her house, they found dozens of her watercolors and oil paintings and pencil sketches and pieces she started but wouldn't finish. Decades of Sandhills scenes and flowers.

The whole gamut, said Betty Carlson, who owns the Main Street Gallery in North Loup, home base for the Artissimos club.

An artist's long life, viewed through her eyes, translated by her hands, the beauty and color captured on paper.

Some pieces are bigger than others, some better. But in the end, more than 130 Axthelms. Family members picked the pieces they wanted, then approached the gallery: Please, try to sell the rest.

Carlson asked Wolf for help; she has a good eye, the gallery owner said. Wolf spent months considering her friend's work  identifying the best pieces, labeling and pricing, replacing mats, tightening frames, preparing the collection for the show.

They're affordable. Smaller pieces are priced as low as $10, bigger and better Axthelms will cost up to $140.

Someone doesnt have to have a ton of money, Wolf said, to come in and own a genuine Betty Axthelm.
On todays episode:

My colleague David E. Sanger joins us from Moscow, where hes covering Secretary of State Rex W. Tillersons first diplomatic trip to the region  a trip that coincides with a historically tense moment for these two countries.

Background reading:

 Mr. Sangers coverage of the strained meeting between Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Putin.

 Outside Moscow, the Trump administration took a sharper tone with Russia on Wednesday from Washington and New York, as well.

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?

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Open the preloaded app called Podcasts; it has a purple icon. If youre reading this from your phone, tap this link, which will take you straight there. (You can also use the magnifying glass icon to search; type The Daily.)
Every year, thousands of little fish ride waves onto Southern Californias beaches at night to lay and fertilize eggs. High up in the sand, they squirm, wriggle and wrap around one another. As they dance beneath the moonlight, the beach transforms into a twinkling tapestry of spawning silver bodies. Its known as the grunion run, and within a few hours, the show is over.

This spectacular reproductive event occurs twice a month on nights after new and full moons, when tides are at their highest. The show, which plays out on West Coast beaches from Baja California, Mexico, up to San Francisco Bay, peaks between April and May, but can last from late February through August. With Tuesdays full moon just past, now is the perfect time for a grunion run, if you happen to be in the area.

Theres a lot of chaos going on, said Karen Lynn Martin, a biologist at Pepperdine University who specializes in grunion. Its pretty amazing.
Could icy moons like Saturns Enceladus in the outer solar system be home to microbes or other forms of alien life?

Intriguing new findings from data collected by NASAs Cassini spacecraft suggest the possibility.

Plumes of gas erupting out of Enceladus  a small moon with an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust  contain hydrogen. Scientists infer a lot from that: that there are hydrothermal chemical reactions similar to those that occur at hot fissures at the ocean bottoms on Earth.

On Earth at least, hydrothermal vents thrive with microbial life, offering up the potential that icy moons far from Earth  called ocean worlds by NASA  could be habitable.

Thats just going to be a tremendous opportunity to test our theories and see if theres life there, said James L. Green, director of planetary science at NASA.
He settled on a Cobb salad and a bottle of Coke Zero.

John Wesley Dean III grew up in Ohio and attended high school at the Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Va. There, he befriended Barry Goldwater Jr., a son of the five-term Republican senator from Arizona who would suffer a landslide loss to Lyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 presidential bid. Mr. Dean and Barry Jr. would visit the senator in Washington, and Mr. Dean was captivated.

He was a very striking man, Mr. Dean said. He would take us around to the Senate. And youd see all the people, the guards, make a wake for these two young guys following behind him. He was also impressed by the senators car. He had a Thunderbird when they were first out. It was rigged like the cockpit of an airplane. He had all kinds of meters and gadgets that didnt come with the car. He had a two-way radio. He had a ham radio. He could talk to airplanes.

Mr. Dean attended law school at Georgetown University and in July 1970, at age 32, was recruited to become White House counsel to the president. It didnt take long for him to witness the underside of power. He told the story, after his Cobb salad arrived, of Scanlans, an upstart magazine that printed an article linking Vice President Spiro T. Agnew to a scheme to repeal the Bill of Rights and cancel the 1972 election. Just days after Mr. Agnew had condemned the story as fraudulent, Mr. Dean received an order instructing him to have Scanlans audited by the Internal Revenue Service. The assignment came from Mr. Nixon himself, Mr. Dean said.

I thought, O.K., I dont know much about Agnew, but I do know that this is so off the wall, and unlikely, that this is almost a joke, Mr. Dean said. I really wasnt sure how to handle it.

He sought the advice of a Nixon political adviser, Murray Chotiner. He said, John, this is a place that operates on need-to-know, and I dont need to know this, Mr. Dean recalled. Mr. Chotiner made this argument, according to Mr. Dean: Well, why cant the president, who is the head of the executive branch, start an audit of any taxpayer he decides he wants audited? Mr. Dean was dumbfounded, believing such an audit would be illegal. Mr. Chotiner persisted, Mr. Dean said. He said: I dont want to get in a debate with you, but let me just give you some advice. If you dont do it, he will find somebody who will do it.
America needs new tools for the timely measurement and monitoring of technology, jobs and skills to cope with the advance of artificial intelligence and automation, an expert panel composed mainly of economists and computer scientists said in a new report.

The panels recommendations include the development of an A.I. index, analogous to the Consumer Price Index, to track the pace and spread of artificial intelligence technology. That technical assessment, they said, could then be combined with detailed data on skills and tasks involved in various occupations to guide education and job-training programs.

A public-private collaboration, they added, is necessary to create such tools because information from many sources will be the essential ingredient. Those information sources range from traditional government statistics to the vast pools of new data from online services like LinkedIn and Udacity that can be tapped to gain insights on skills, job openings and the effectiveness of training programs.

Were flying blind into this dramatic set of economic changes, Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management, said in an interview.
To what lengths can a church go to protect its flock?

What if that church is big  very big  with schools, a seminary and membership the size of a small town? Does it deserve a police force of its own, even if that would be constitutionally questionable?

Alabama may soon find out. A bill passed Tuesday by the State Senate would grant Briarwood Presbyterian Church the right to appoint and employ one or more persons to act as police officers to protect the safety and integrity of the church and its ministries.

Supporters say the measure is necessary in increasingly dangerous times. Critics argue not only that it is gratuitous but also that it is unconstitutional. And on top of all that, the bill, if passed by the Alabama House of Representatives, would land on the desk of a brand new governor whose predecessors term came to a scandalous end just this week.

Briarwood is on the outskirts of Birmingham, straddling the border between Jefferson and Shelby Counties. It is a giant institution with more than 4,000 members and 40 ministries, including schools for students from preschool through grade 12.
For more than 15 years, jails that hold immigrants facing deportation have had to follow a growing list of requirements:

Notify immigration officials if a detainee spends two weeks or longer in solitary confinement. Check on suicidal inmates every 15 minutes, and evaluate their mental health every day. Inform detainees, in languages they can understand, how to obtain medical care. In disciplinary hearings, provide a staff member who can advocate in English on the detainees behalf.

But as the Trump administration seeks to quickly find jail space for its crackdown on illegal immigration, it is moving to curtail these rules as a way to entice more sheriffs and local officials to make their correctional facilities available.

According to two Homeland Security officials who had knowledge of the plans but declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly, new jail contracts will contain a far less detailed set of regulations.

They will make no mention of the need for translation services, for example. A current rule that detainees requests for medical care must be evaluated by a professional within 24 hours will be replaced by a requirement that the jails merely have procedures on providing medical care.
WASHINGTON  President Trump signed legislation on Thursday aimed at cutting off federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other groups that perform abortions, a move cheered by conservatives who have clamored to impose curbs on reproductive rights.

The measure nullifies a rule completed in the last days of the Obama administration that effectively barred state and local governments from withholding federal funding for family planning services related to contraception, sexually transmitted infections, fertility, pregnancy care, and breast and cervical cancer screening from qualified health providers  regardless of whether they also performed abortions. The new measure cleared Congress last month with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tiebreaking vote in the Senate.

The previous Department of Health and Human Services regulation, which took effect two days before Mr. Trumps inauguration, said that states and localities could not withhold money from a provider for any reason other than an inability to provide family planning services.

Mr. Trump has shown ambivalence about Planned Parenthood, voicing support for its health-related services other than abortion, and his daughter Ivanka has urged him to tread carefully on the issue, concerned about the possible political repercussions of the Republican effort to defund the organization altogether. As a middle ground, Mr. Trump has proposed preserving federal funding for Planned Parenthood if it stops providing abortion services.
After initially defending the airlines policies, Uniteds chief executive apologized. United has offered a refund to every passenger on the flight and has promised to no longer have the police remove passengers from planes that are too full.

This horrible situation has provided a harsh learning experience from which we will take immediate, concrete action, the company said in a statement Thursday. We have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again.

Those assurances have done little to quell the outrage, visible in the phalanx of news cameras from around the world that assembled Thursday to hear from Mr. Demetrio and Crystal Dao Pepper, one of Dr. Daos five children. Mr. Demetrio said he thought the companys apology had been staged, and said he was not aware of any attempts by United officials to contact Dr. Dao.

What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being regardless of the circumstances, Ms. Dao Pepper said. She said her father was catching a connecting flight in Chicago to his home in Louisville, Ky., after a vacation in California.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return

When to watch: Friday, on Netflix.

Add it to your Watchlist

At last, a revival of something actually worth reviving. This beloved series, in which a man and his robot companions snark on hilariously bad B-movies, is back for 14 new episodes, with a different cast but the same outlook and style  and mercifully, the same reliable, giddy humor. Jonah Ray is our hero for this iteration, still flanked by Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, who are now voiced by the comedians Hampton Yount and Baron Vaughn. Maybe you can go home again.
A bill that would require all counties in the state to appoint a lawyer for youths in juvenile court was unable to reach a vote Wednesday.

Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks was attempting what she couldn't accomplish last year. She wanted attorneys appointed in all counties for youths who commit crimes. Last year, she was able to pass a bill that affected only the three largest Nebraska counties -- Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy.

This year's bill (LB158) may or may not come back again for debate. With a practice enacted by Speaker Jim Scheer, if a bill can't muster a majority vote on first round in three hours, the Legislature moves on until the introducer can show she or he has a majority of votes.

This year, as last year, the resistance to Pansing Brooks' proposal came from rural senators who said kids were getting attorneys in their counties and it wasn't a problem.

It would increase costs for rural counties, said Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard.

Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte called the bill nothing more than a lawyer employment bill.

Pansing Brooks this time found a way for counties to pay for attorneys for youths, with the creation of a Juvenile Indigent Defense Fund paid for with $400,000 taken from the Supreme Court Automation Cash Fund.

An email from Corey Steel, Nebraska state court administrator, said the courts supported efforts for juveniles to have the right to counsel. But they opposed taking money from the Supreme Court fund unless a $1 court fee was added to fund it. The fund is used to pay for the courts' information technology system.

The bill would expand the current state law to require that all youths in a juvenile court be appointed an attorney. If the juvenile and their parent couldn't afford an attorney, it would require the court to appoint an attorney at county expense unless the juvenile waives the right to counsel.

Use of the fund by counties would be administered by the Commission on Public Advocacy, and would be triggered if the county's per capita juvenile court costs increased in the preceding three fiscal years.

Supporters of the bill said the right to an attorney is a constitutional one. Life-changing decisions are made in juvenile court, they said, and kids need to be represented and advised by an attorney.

In many counties, according to data from the courts and probation administration, less than 60 percent of juveniles have access to counsel in court.
As an emergency physician, Im always engaging in a fast-tempo, often awkward, all too stressful dance with strangers. Lately, though, Ive noticed a particular gap in my own medical education and training, as well as in that of my colleagues, thats further tripping up our steps: how to provide optimal health care for transgender patients.

The gap is amplified in the emergency room, where even under the best of circumstances the interaction we have with patients is typically rushed and never entirely comfortable  and where Im usually meeting a patient for the first time and dont have the patients medical history at my fingertips. Because transgender people are less likely to have health insurance and are four times more likely to live in poverty compared to the general population, the emergency room serves as a particularly important safety net for these patients.

Sometimes the patient is registered as the wrong gender immediately from triage, resulting in a strained communication from the get-go. Other times, a staff member lets out a surprised gasp as a patient undresses for a physical exam. Then there are the moments when providers call a patient a he/she or they on rounds. Private rooms are also hard to come by in busy, overcrowded emergency rooms, and patients may be inappropriately clustered by gender.

None of this, for the most part, is out of malice. Instead its because of our own ignorance  and stems from our lack of education and training on providing sensitive and evidence-based care for transgender patients.
In Uganda, criticizing the president may not just be illegal. It could also be used as proof of insanity.

The government of President Yoweri Museveni, still in power 31 years after setting out as a great hope for African democracy, routinely intimidates dissidents and journalists. Live broadcasts of demonstrations are banned, and social media is blocked during elections that are already deeply flawed. And the longer Mr. Museveni clings to power, the tighter his grip on dissent appears to be.

Ugandas top prosecutor sought this week to crack down further on dissent, trying to use a colonial-era law, once used by the British to quash African resistance, to commit a prominent critic of the president to a mental institution.

It was only the second time in recent memory that the law, the Mental Treatment Act of 1938, was invoked in a case over free speech, according to lawyers. The first involved a student who was forcibly taken several times to a psychiatric hospital after lampooning the president on social media.
Viva the Womens Spring, Monica Iozzi, a Globo presenter and actress, wrote on Twitter.

Juliana de Faria, an activist and founder of the nonprofit Think Olga, said Globos response showed that women no longer had to endure mistreatment and could fight back. It proves we have matured in terms of harassment, she said.

Giulia Gomes, 16, a public school student in Rio de Janeiro, said the internet was helping to fuel a rise in feminism among young women like her. People are increasingly connected and seeing why feminism exists and why there is no reason to accept sexism in our society, she said.

She added that Globo had acted correctly in suspending Mr. Mayer, 67, best known for playing moody, romantic figures. They did the right thing, she said. But I am scared this case will die.

Ms. Tonani wrote that Mr. Mayer had harangued her for months with inappropriate comments on her appearance, and that in February, he put his hand on her genitals in front of two female colleagues, who laughed. She went to the network and published her account on the website of the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo.

I saw myself alone, unprotected, cornered, ridiculed, made inferior, invisible, Ms. Tonani wrote.

Initially, Mr. Mayer denied the accusations and said the words and attitudes belonged to his character, not to him. But a campaign began to grow online, adopting the feminist slogan Mexeu com uma, mexeu com todas, or mess with one, mess with all. By the beginning of this month, within days, some of Globos most famous actresses had joined in, wearing T-shirts with the slogan in photographs posted on social media, as featured on the website for the Brazilian edition of Vogue  which happens to be partly owned by another arm of Globo.
UNITED NATIONS  The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to end its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti, and replace its blue-helmeted soldiers with police officers.

The mission, often a source of embarrassment to the world body, landed in Haiti in 2004, after a rebellion led to the removal of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It became arguably best known for introducing a deadly cholera strain to the country  and then refusing for years to take responsibility for it.

The cholera outbreak, which began in 2010, has killed at least 9,500 people so far and infected hundreds of thousands of Haitians. The United Nations apologized last year and proposed to compensate affected Haitians, but has yet to raise money for the effort. Of the $400 million that the United Nations says it needs, it has received $2.66 million, from only six countries  Britain, Chile, France, India, Liechtenstein and South Korea, according to data posted on its website.

The mission has also recently been troubled by allegations of sexual abuse. A sex ring, operated by Sri Lankan soldiers who were posted there from 2004 to 2007, exploited at least nine children, according to an internal United Nations report, The Associated Press reported this week.
BEIJING  Amid sharply rising tensions over North Koreas nuclear arms program, China said on Thursday that its trade with the country had expanded, even though it had complied with United Nations sanctions and stopped buying North Korean coal, a major source of hard currency for Pyongyang.

China released the first-quarter trade data just days after President Trump urged its leader, Xi Jinping, to clamp down on trade with North Korea. The two leaders met at Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week.

With signs indicating that North Korea could be planning a nuclear or missile test as early as Saturday, a United States Navy strike group led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson is steaming toward the Korean Peninsula in a show of force. But the Trump administration has indicated that economic pressure  particularly imposed by China, with which North Korea conducts almost 90 percent of its trade  is its preferred form of deterrence.

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump said in interviews that he had encouraged Mr. Xi to solve the North Korea problem, offering China a better trade deal if he did so.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  The two women who claim they were tricked into assassinating the estranged half brother of North Koreas leader appeared in court Thursday, where their lawyers argued that Malaysias decision to free three North Korean suspects ended any chance of bringing the real culprits to justice.

The prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, allowed the three suspects to leave the country two weeks ago in a deal his government negotiated with North Korea, making the women, one from Indonesia and one from Vietnam, the only suspects likely to be charged in the killing.

Thats tantamount to a miscarriage of justice, said Gooi Soon Seng, the lawyer representing the accused Indonesian, Siti Aisyah, in an interview after the court hearing. The two girls are mere scapegoats. They are naive girls who have been used by these people.

Ms. Siti, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, are accused of smearing VX nerve agent, a banned chemical weapon, on the face of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of Kim Jong-un, at the Kuala Lumpur airport in February.
The Taliban, who have expanded their control in the south in recent years, are also fond of the motorcycle. Although they increasingly use pickup trucks and Humvees taken from Afghan forces, the motorcycle remains a staple of their offensives.

The Talibans use of the motorcycle in hit-and-run assassinations led to a crackdown. A former police chief in Tirin Kot banned the use of motorcycles for several months. In Kandahar, the police banned double-riding.

Its a bit difficult for us now to take a second person  the police stop you and give you a hard time, said Bismillah Khan, who bought his motorcycle for about $300 two years ago. Children and women, he added, are not a problem.
We do accept that important work remains to be done, he said.

While the federal government will license and regulate growers, each of Canadas provinces will need to decide exactly how the drug will be distributed and sold within its boundaries. The government will have to develop the marijuana equivalents of breathalyzers so that drivers can be checked for impairment at the roadside and workers can be tested for safety on the job. Diplomats will have to address conflicts with international drug treaties. And many in the medical field are concerned about the long-term health effects of increased use of marijuana by Canadians under the age of 25.

Though eight American states have legalized marijuana to various extents, the drug remains illegal under federal law. Mr. Trudeaus move eliminates any such ambiguity in Canada. It follows a court-mandated legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, which was introduced with tight controls in 1999 and later broadened by further court orders.

While the new legislation will take Canada beyond its medical marijuana system, it stops far short of creating an open market. The law will require purchasers to be at least 18 years old  though provinces can set a higher minimum  and it will limit the amount they can carry at any one time to 30 grams, about an ounce.

Households will be allowed to grow up to four marijuana plants. But the legislation seems built on the assumption that most users will be supplied by commercial growers, who will be licensed and closely supervised by the federal government.

Growing, importing, exporting or selling marijuana outside licensed channels will remain serious crimes, according to Mr. Blair and Ralph Goodale, the public safety minister.
The Beslan siege stretched across three days. It ended around 1 p.m. on Sept. 3, when two powerful explosions were set off in the gymnasium, blasting a hole in the wall through which several hostages tried to escape. Militants fired on them before exchanging gunfire with the security forces, who were then ordered to storm the building.

The militants rounded up the surviving hostages, about 300 people, and forced them to go to other parts of the school, while dead, wounded and traumatized hostages stayed in the gymnasium.

Flames spread, and the roof collapsed around 3:30 p.m.

In all, more than 330 people were killed  including 12 members of the security forces  and hundreds of others were wounded. One militant was captured, and the rest were killed.

The security forces were armed with tanks, rockets, grenade launchers, flamethrowers and other weapons. The court found that the use of such lethal force contributed to the casualties among the hostages and violated the right to life by failing to restrict lethal force to what was absolutely necessary.

The court also found that the operations command structure suffered from a lack of formal leadership, resulting in serious flaws in decision making and coordination with other relevant agencies.

The court said that the Russian authorities had fallen short on their obligation to protect life. The security arrangement at the school had not been heightened; the local police had not taken sufficient measures to reduce the risks; no warning had been given to the school administration, or to the public attending the ceremony; and no single sufficiently high-level structure had been responsible for the handling of the situation, the court found.
WASHINGTON  As a candidate, President Trump disparaged NATO as a musty relic of old thinking, an alliance focused on long-gone adversaries rather than new-era threats, a burden that drained American resources on behalf of ungrateful partners who did not pay their share. In a word: obsolete.

That was then. After 82 days in office, Mr. Trump officially pronounced NATO rehabilitated, taking credit for transforming it into a modern, cost-sharing, terrorism-fighting pillar of American and European security. I said it was obsolete, the president noted on Wednesday as he hosted NATOs secretary general. Its no longer obsolete.

Never mind that the alliance has changed very little if at all in the last three months, and that whatever modest changes have been made were in train long before Mr. Trump entered the doorway of the White House. After weeks of being lobbied, cajoled and educated by the leaders of Britain and Germany, not to mention my generals, as he likes to call his national security team, Mr. Trump has found fresh virtue in a venerable organization.

Nothing has changed at NATO in the last 80 days, said Ivo Daalder, a former ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama and now president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Its gratifying to see the president affirming that NATO is no longer obsolete  it never was. Perhaps the one important thing that has changed in the last 80 days is that as president, Mr. Trump has come to appreciate the importance of this alliance and how it contributes to security and stability in Europe and beyond.
A 65-year-old Lincoln man got a year in jail for using a stun gun on two women at a campground last year.

Lancaster County District Judge Kevin McManaman sentenced Robert A. Miles on Thursday to 180 days on each of two counts of second-degree assault, to be served back to back, according to court records.

At a trial last month, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller alleged that Miles showed up at Wildwood Lake, south of Valparaiso, at about 5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2016, with his Alaskan malamute dog named Teddy and three other dogs, none on leashes.

After a camper was bitten on the hand when he intervened to keep Teddy from attacking his dog, Miles moved through the campground, eventually stunning two women, ages 19 and 46, with a dual-purpose flashlight and stun gun, according to witnesses.

Miles had argued he did it in self-defense.

A jury found him guilty.
LONDON  United Nations experts demanded on Thursday that Chechnya halt the abduction, detention, beating and killing of gay and bisexual men, after weeks of reports about violent repression there.

These are acts of persecution and violence on an unprecedented scale in the region and constitute serious violations of the obligations of the Russian Federation under international human rights law, the experts, a panel of five that advises the United Nations Human Rights Council, said in a statement.

The experts noted that much of the abuse was reported to have taken place at an unofficial detention center near Argun, a town about 10 miles east of Grozny, the Chechen capital.

The arrested men are subjected to physical and verbal abuse, torture including with electric shocks, beatings, insults and humiliations, the experts wrote. They are forced to give contact details of other gay people and threatened with having their sexual orientation disclosed to their family and community  a move which could put them at risk of honor killings.
Will London fall?

It is a question as evocative as it is provocative.

It was also the headline in The New York Times at the top of Tuesdays front page essay about London that generated a spirited trans-Atlantic discussion. The essay by Sarah Lyall, with striking visuals by Sergey Ponomarev, is the first in a series of articles examining how Britains vote to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, could affect London.

Ms. Lyall looked closely at the British capital: a teeming multicultural metropolis of 8.7 million people, with a Muslim mayor, where some native Britons no longer feel at home. London is a center of international culture and commerce whose resilience and openness became a symbol of postwar European unity. Its expected that in two years it will no longer be a part of that European experiment.

In Britain, and around the world, the response to the article was swift, if hardly unanimous. Readers, commentators in the British news media, members of Parliament and people across social media weighed in and continued to do so on Thursday.
The Central Command statement said that the target location turned out to be a fighting position for the Syrian Democratic Forces, who have been fighting the Islamic State alongside the United States.

It was unclear whether the strike came from an American warplane or one from the other coalition partners.

The coalitions deepest condolences go out to the members of the S.D.F. and their families, Central Command said in the statement, calling the episode tragic. Military officials said the cause is being investigated.

As the American-led military campaigns against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have intensified in recent months, so, too, have reports of civilian casualties and, now, friendly fire.
The Trump administration is hoping that its cruise missile strikes will solve a problem that has defied years of efforts: the willingness of the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, to use chemical weapons.

But in a war with many dilemmas, this may be among the most intractable, analysts say.

It is driven by Mr. Assads own grim strategy and the limitations of American power, but also something deeper: the fundamental nature of the Syrian conflict and of chemical weaponry.

What follows are some of the forces prompting Mr. Assad to opt to use chemical weapons in Syria and why they are so resilient.

Syrias Manpower Shortage

Mr. Assad relies on airstrikes, backed by allied Russian forces, which have helped him turn the wars tide. But his greatest weakness is manpower: His ground forces, eroded by years of fighting, are simply too few to hold, much less advance, every front line.
Two men have been charged in the death of a man who was found inside his burned home north of Bancroft last month.

Derek J. Olson, 27, was charged with second-degree murder, accessory to a felony, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, first-degree arson and cruelty to an animal, according to the Cuming County attorney's office.

Prosecutors also charged his father, Jody J. Olson, 48, with accessory to a felony.

The Nebraska State Patrol began investigating the death of Ernest Warnock, 64, after he was found inside his home at 2490 W. Rosalie Road on March 11.

A search warrant says the Olsons and two other people went to Warnock's house around midnight on March 10 to retrieve some belongings. During an argument, Warnock stabbed Jody Olson once in the arm. Derek Olson then started stabbing Warnock multiple times in the back of his head and shoulder, the warrant says.

While he was still allegedly stabbing Warnock, Derek Olson accidentally stabbed Jody Olson in the chest, then hit Warnock in the head with a hammer, the warrant says.

The group left and attempted to take Jody Olson to a hospital, but they were stopped by a trooper for speeding on U.S. 77. The group allegedly made up a story about how Jody Olson was stabbed during a fight with an unknown man outside of a bar, the warrant says.

Derek Olson returned to Warnock's house the next night and set it on fire in an attempt to hide evidence, the warrant says.

The search warrant was filed last month for Derek Olson's DNA. It says investigators also found multiple drops of blood where the cement walkway meets the gravel driveway to the home.

Cuming County Judge Michael Long set bond at $1 million for each man and they remain jailed Thursday morning.
Friday

1) 3 P.M. Crab Pizza

Crab shacks might be ubiquitous in Baltimore, but Matthews Pizzeria, in Canton, might be the only place to get a crab pizza. This casual, Formica-table-filled institution (it opened in the 1940s) turns out chewy, cheesy deep-dish pies that are worth a visit on their own. But the backfin crab-topped pizza, sprinkled with mozzarella, caramelized onions and Old Bay (which originated in Baltimore) is an experience not to be missed. Note the painted window screen on the outer wall, a Baltimore tradition. Lunch for two, around $20. Then stroll across the street to the Creative Alliance, a community arts space, for whatevers on offer  a theatrical performance, a locally made documentary or an art exhibition.



2) 4 P.M. Outsider Art

The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM), a temple of outsider art (admission, $15.95), deserves all of the praise that has been heaped upon it since it opened in 1995. Since then, its added a warehouse, a second sculpture park and an outdoor movie theater, all at the foot of grassy Federal Hill, just steps from the harbor. The signs accompanying each artwork describe artists whose life stories run the gamut from uncomfortable to tragic, while the pieces themselves  colorful and compelling  merit hours of examination.

The American Visionary Art Museum at the foot of Federal Hill. Credit Darren S. Higgins for The New York Times



3) 7 P.M. Urban Farm

Maggies Farm, in the northeast section of the city, is the purveyor of a winning combination of seasonal ingredients (some from its own garden), domestic inspiration (like brisket rubbed with coffee from the Baltimore roaster Zekes) and global influence (Singapore noodles with peanuts and peppers); its one of the leaders in the citys rapidly growing local food movement. The red interior manages to be dimly, romantically lit even at lunch time. Try quirky cocktails like the Corn n Oil, a combo of barrel-aged rum, Velvet Falernum, lime juice, Angostura bitters and Coke. The oft-changing menu is limited to a small number of dishes, but the beloved crispy brussels sprouts are usually available. Dinner for two, about $90.

4) 9 P.M. Coffee and Kimchi

The Station North neighborhood is home to an array of late-night options. Start at Red Emmas, a radical bookstore-cafe run by a worker cooperative. The cavernous space sells its own roasted coffee, vegan and vegetarian meals and childrens books with a revolutionary bent. Then head to the Crown, a bare-bones venue that hosts bands, art shows and competitive karaoke competitions in its red and blue rooms. This is where former art students like to drink $6 pints of Duckpin pale ale, made by Union Craft Brewing, based in Baltimore, and named after the local style of bowling. Afterward, head around the corner to Jong Kak, where the Crown clientele soak up the nights high-percentage beers with enormous portions of Korean barbecue and kimchi ji gae, a spicy kimchi stew. Wash down a last soju with a crispy seafood pancake stuffed with green onions and shrimp.
Two Arkansas inmates were granted stays of executions on Monday in an ongoing case concerning their lack of access to independent mental health experts, halting the states plan to begin carrying out executions.

A preliminary injunction was dissolved late Monday by a federal appeals court for a lawsuit arguing that the pace of the executions and the use of the drug midazolam were unconstitutional. The state had scheduled these executions in quick succession because its supply of midazolam, one of three drugs used in its procedure, is set to expire at the end of April.

In a separate case, an Arkansas judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday after two pharmaceutical companies argued that the state had obtained some of its lethal injection drugs under false pretenses.

An Unprecedented Schedule

Since 1976, the year the death penalty was reinstated nationally, multiple executions in one state on a single day have occurred only 10 times. The last time was 17 years ago in Texas. Arkansas conducted double executions nearly a year before that.

Executions by day of 20 states with the most executions Red represents multiple executions in a day

Arkansas originally planned to carry out eight executions in 10 days. No state has tried to execute so many people in such a short period. Virginia is the only other state with an execution scheduled this month.

Date Inmate Status April 17 Bruce Ward Execution stayed April 17 Don Davis Execution stayed April 20 Stacey Johnson Blocked by court order April 20 Ledell Lee Blocked by court order April 24 Marcel Williams Blocked by court order April 24 Jack Jones Blocked by court order April 27 Kenneth Williams Blocked by court order April 27 Jason McGehee Execution stayed

All the executions in Arkansas are currently blocked by a restraining order from the state. Three of the inmates were granted stays of execution outside of that decision.

The last attempt to carry out two executions in a day resulted in chaos. In April 2014 in Oklahoma, the inmate Clayton Lockett was awake and writhed in pain during the administration of the lethal drugs, even though earlier a doctor had announced that Mr. Lockett was unconscious. The state canceled a second execution originally scheduled on that day.

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety later recommended that executions be at least seven days apart, citing the botched execution and saying it was partly a result of extra stress from having two executions planned on the same day.

The Missouri Supreme Court adopted a rule in 2016 that limited executions to one per month.

Corrections officers are not hired executioners, states the Arkansas inmates federal complaint. It argues that the emotional toll of the job and the rushed schedule greatly increase the risks of causing unnecessary pain and suffering for the inmates, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

A letter to the Arkansas governor, Asa Hutchinson, from dozens of former corrections officials and administrators also expressed concerns that the schedule will impose extraordinary and unnecessary stress and trauma on the staff responsible with carrying out the executions.

Multiple executions create rushed circumstance. Rushed circumstances risk error, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit research group on capital punishment.

Mr. Dunham argued further that the only reason for such a compressed schedule was the expiration date of the injection drugs, calling it an arbitrary kill-by date.

The Drug in Question: Midazolam

After other medications became unavailable, Arkansas turned to midazolam, a common sedative that has become a drug of choice for executions in several states.

The complaint filed by the Arkansas inmates argues that the use of midazolam is unconstitutional because the lack of anesthetic potency of the drug is all but certain to cause excruciating suffering.

A number of pharmaceutical companies have restricted the use of their drugs in executions, contending that their products are made to promote human health, not for killing. Roche, a developer of midazolam, publicly stated in 2015 that it did not supply midazolam for death penalty use and would not knowingly provide any of our medicines for this purpose.

Since midazolams first use in an execution in October 2013, there have been at least four botched executions involving the drug. After the execution team administered midazolam and confirmed that the inmates were sedated, the individuals awoke, struggled or convulsed while being injected with the subsequent lethal drugs.

States with lethal injection protocols Have not used midazolam Have used or plan to use midazolam Wash. Mont. Ore. N.H. Idaho S.D. Wyo. Pa. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Utah Colo. Va. Calif. Kan. Mo. Ky. N.C. Tenn. Okla. Ariz. Ark. S.C. Ala. Ga. Miss. La. Tex. Fla. Ohio Va. Ky. Ariz. Okla. Ark. Ala. Fla.
Cindy Lange-Kubick Columnist Cindy Lange-Kubick has loved writing columns about life in her hometown since 1994. She had hoped to become a people person by now, nonetheless she would love to hear your tales of fascinating neighbors and interesting places. Follow Cindy Lange-Kubick 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

In 2015, Nancy Purdy Ritchie went looking for her lost kin.

She tells the tale in great detail. Its a story that involves adoption and Ainsworth and two half-brothers and aunts and uncles and red hair and Facebook.

But that comes later.

Let's start from the beginning. 

* * *

Nancy knew she was adopted.

It was the bedtime story her mother told  the day they got the call that their little girl was waiting for them, a 2-month-old at an Omaha orphanage run by Lutheran Family Services.

From the beginning, Nancy believed thats where shed been born, too.

It wasnt until elementary school  after theyd moved from Grand Island to Lincoln  and shed needed a copy of her adoption papers that she saw a word she didnt recognize and wondered: What was an Ainsworth? Where was it?

Nancy is 57. Shes divorced and her son and daughter are grown. She works as a research analyst in the Department of Labor.

She had wonderful parents, she says. An older brother named Jim, also adopted. An ordinary childhood.

I loved my parents and I felt very fortunate that they chose me. I had a very good life.

She didnt obsess over her birth family. It was just a hole, Nancy says.

Unanswered questions. And a convenient weapon to wield during the turbulence of her teenage years: Im going to go find my real mother!

If I argued with my mother, Id throw that out there, she says. I know that really hurt her a lot.

In 2012, her mom died, and three months later, her dad died. By then, her brother had been gone for more than a decade.

I went from having a little hole in my life to having a huge hole in my life.

Shed never wanted to hurt her parents by looking for her birth mother while they were alive, Nancy says. Jim and Darlene Purdy were her mom and dad, after all.

She was her moms Mothers Day present in the spring of 1960. She taught me what it was to be a good mother.

And now it felt like the right time to look for the woman who gave them both that chance.

As she was sorting through her parents' estate, Nancy came across adoption papers in their safety deposit box. In the space for a name it simply said: Baby Edwards.

That was a shock, she says. As an infant I didnt have a name. I wasnt Nancy.

Now she had a last name, and an avenue to more answers.

And one thing more: A friend from Ainsworth.

* * *

Meet Janeen Ward, here to fill in the middle of the story.

Janeen met Nancy when they both had part-time jobs at Russs Market in the late 1990s.

She was one of the cashiers, says the Southeast Community College early childhood education instructor. She was so funny and fun to talk to. And, in talking to each other, we both realized we were from the same hometown, although she had never been there.

The two women remained friends long after they left the grocery store.

Janeen knew Nancy was adopted. She knew shed wanted to find her birth family, and in June 2015, when Janeen was heading home for a visit, she asked Nancy to go, too.

Nancy cried when she saw the sign welcoming them to the northern Nebraska town of 1,600.

She was happy to be in Ainsworth," Janeen says. "And it was really emotional for her to be there.

It was reunion weekend, and the Brown County seat was packed. Nancy passed out business cards with her name and her birthdate and her quest.

She searched for lookalikes. I have red hair, she said. You cannot believe all the redheads up there.

The friends visited the hospital and the newspaper office. They posed questions to long-ago graduates of Ainsworth High School.

They went to the Lutheran church, where the minister looked in old directories and came up with one Edwards.

But it was a dead end.

And then the minister did one thing more: She mentioned Nancys search to the Ladies Quilting Group.

It turns out the quilters talked as they quilted and wondered: Could it be one of Harold and Daisy Edwards kids?

Janeens sister had graduated with one of Harold and Daisys kids. I gave him a call, Janeen says. And he said, Well, we really dont know anything.

And thats the middle of the story.

But every story needs an ending.

* * *

Nancy didnt give up. She went to Facebook instead, where she hit some brick walls (and privacy settings) before she found a photo of five siblings on the page of a man named Edwards in Genoa.

The girls in the photo sure looked like her. She sent unanswered letters and made unreturned phone calls and Facebook pleas.

And then, a year ago, she got an answer. A short message on Facebook: I think you might be my older sisters daughter.

My heart just stopped, Nancy says. Literally, I think it stopped for two or three seconds.

Joan Carman sent those words to her long-lost niece from her home in Genoa.

She was 5 in 1960 when her sister, Cheryl, had a baby girl and gave her up for adoption, Joan said Wednesday.

I really didnt know she had a baby until I was in high school. We didnt talk about it much, but at one point she did tell me, I had a little girl once and I didnt get to raise her.

It was another time, she says. And you have to remember, we were dirt poor, another mouth to feed would have been difficult.

Cheryl married and moved to Genoa and raised two sons, John and Jay Schroder.

She died of ovarian cancer on the last day of January 2015.

Joan followed up her message with a long phone call to Lincoln, Nancy nervous, but chatty. The two met and Joan introduced Nancy to her half-brothers.

"It's just like getting a little bit of Cheryl back," she says.

And Cheryl's sons heard their mother in their half-sister's voice. And in her mannerisms, says John, who lives in Columbus. Her laugh. The way she talks with her hands. Her strong opinions and gentle giving side.

She looks like my Aunt Jo (Joan) and my mom when she was a little younger, he says. So its not a stretch.

Theyve become close in the past year. Nancy coming to visit; family members traveling to Lincoln. The siblings have discovered mutual loves. Dr. Pepper. Horror movies. Star Trek.

"We knew about her and we wanted to meet her," John says. "But we thought it couldn't be done."

The Edwards family is big and boisterous.

They all get together for the holidays at Uncle Tonys cafe in Genoa  50 or 60 of them packing the place. Last Thanksgiving, they added three more places at the table for Nancy and her kids.

We all wore color-coded name tags so they would know who belonged to who, John says.

And Nancy belonged.

From the beginning, she fit right in, like shed slipped into a family portrait with an empty space, waiting to be filled.


Armageddon

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Reprinted from www.paulcraigroberts.org

The insouciance of the Western world is extraordinary. It is not only Americans who permit themselves to be brainwashed by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, the New York Times and Washington Post, but also their counterparts in Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan, who rely on the war propaganda machine that poses as a media. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39573526

The Western "leaders," that is, the puppets on the end of the strings pulled by the powerful private interest groups and the Deep State, are just as insouciant. Trump and his counterparts in the American Empire must be unaware that they are provoking war with Russia and China, or else they are psychopaths.

A new White House Fool has replaced the old fool. The New Fool has sent his Secretary of State to Russia. For what? To deliver an ultimatum? To make more false accusations? To apologize for the lies?

Consider the audacity of Secretary of State Tillerson. He has spent the week prior to his visit to Moscow supporting incredible lies and false allegations that Assad of Syria used chemical weapons with Russia's permission, which justified Washington's unambigious war crime of a military attack on a country with which the US has not declared war. Less than 100 days in office, and Trump is already a war criminal along with the rest of his warmonger government.

The entire world knows this, but no one says it. Instead, Tillerson, who has been heavy with lies and threats has the confidence to go to Moscow to tell the Russians that they have to hand over Assad to the American Uni-Power.

Tillerson's mission demonstrates the complete, total unreality of the world in which Washington lives. Try to imagine Tillerson's arrogance. If you had been bad-mouthing and threatening strong, important people, would you feel comfortable going over to their house to have dinner with them? Does Tillerson think that now that Russia has largely freed Syrtia of US-supported ISIS, Russia is going to turn Syria over to Washington?

Is he going to tell Lavrov that he didn't really mean all those nasty lies he told about Russia, but the zionist neoconservatives made him do it? That he is not really in charge, just a tool of the Anglo-Zionist Empire?

Is Tillerson going to apologize for White House press secretary Sean Spicer's statement that Assad, Russia's ally, is more evil than Hitler? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39573063

Maybe Tillerson is going to ask for asylum and get on the winning side.

Stephen Cohen, one of the few remaining Americans knowledgeable about Russia, told the two CNN presstitutes and the warmonger Col. Leighton, one of the "experts" that the presstitutes roll out to pronounce the propaganda against Russia, that Russia was preparing for hot war. It seems to have gone over the heads of the CNN presstitutes and colonel. Whose payroll are they on?http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46838.htm

The Russian leaders, who, unlike the Western liars, speak the truth, have said clearly that Russia will never again fight a war on her own territory. The Russians couldn't put it more clearly. Provoke a war, and we will destroy you on your own territory.

When you watch the president and government in Washington, the European governments, especially the idiots in London, the Canadian and Australian governments, you can only marvel at the total stupidity of "Western leadership." They are begging for the end of the world.

And the presstitutes are at work driving toward the end of life. Huge numbers of Western peoples are being prepared for their demise, and they are protected from the realization by their insouciance.

Washington is so arrogant and lost in its own hubris, that Washington does not understand that the years of clear as crystal lies about Russia and Russian intentions and deeds have convinced Russia that Washington is preparing the populations of the United States and Washington's captive peoples in West and East Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan for a US pre-emptive nuclear strike against Russia. Published US war plans against China have convinced China of the same.

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Front cover of vol. 6, #4 of the activist journal 'Justice Rising'

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Yesterday was an interesting day to recommend this issue of an annual journal published by Ronny Dugger's Alliance for Democracy (AfD). Within 23 colorfully bound pages, "The People's Vote Must Count" is modestly described by editor/writer/activist Jim Tarbell as a "study guide" on how adopting hand-counted paper ballots (HCPB) as our default voting system fits into the larger grid of needed electoral reform.

The grid expands the more I study it. Problems are no longer limited to intimidation, bribery, and stuffed ballot boxes, as they were nearly 250 years ago in this country.

But, as I wrote above, yesterday was an interesting day to review this comprehensive account of the five Ws and how our electoral system is so corrupt and what we can do to fix it, because in yesterday's issue of The Nation, an author dismissed voting as close to useless if we can do no better than to elect Donald Trump as president. We must pursue other avenues of activism than simply checking off some candidates once every four years. Does he ask why our system is running on empty? No. The avenues of activism he proposes as far more effective than voting include the exciting protests and confrontations with legislators we are witnessing against Trump's treachery today. But first we have to vote and the system must effectively reflect We the People's will, We the 99 Percent. That's a given. Ask Tom Paine, for one.

Seventeen brief, concise, and incisive articles by 15 distinguished authors dissect the system's complexities and clarify them for concerned activists and all those wondering why Election Day, which used to be a simple "going to the ballot box and pushing a lever" process (to quote Noam Chomsky), has evolved into such a mess for certain minorities who together happen to comprise the vast majority of our country's population.

Defeating the corporatocracy that is more and more trespassing on human rights here is the mission of the AfD. "The issue is not the issues," writes Dugger; "the issue is the system." Leading off the journal is not a barrage of complaints but an exhortation: here's what we must do: 1) reclaim elections; 2) restore our voting rights; and 3) protect our ballots--a tough priorities folder that can't happen without a democratic revolution. Bernie Sanders has agreed, addressing the system at large.

Our machinery is no good, writes Tarbell. Why waste billions of dollars on it when we can use recyclable paper and create work opportunities for large numbers of people? HCPB works if done correctly. He anticipates the center section, which describes AfD's new "People's Vote Must Count" campaign (pages 10-11), which enumerates how to assemble the revolution step by step, from publicizing the exigencies and getting people together who support HCPB, to outreach to larger numbers, to effective and compelling publications, to introducing legislation, to a tableau vivant of HCPB in action at one precinct of each jurisdiction in the country. In this regard, "It's time for the US to Join the Rest of the [voting] World" (Western Europe, for example; articles thumbnailed below supply more details). AfD's webpage explaining the processes is at www.peoplesvotemustcount.org. The "Principles of Electoral Reform," quoted from the National Election Reform Coalition, describes an ideal HCPB system, fulfilling the goals of transparency, accuracy, security, and privacy, among other desiderata that you must read about.

Progress already accomplished toward these goals is detailed by Victoria Collier and Ben-Zion Ptashnik, executive directors of the National Election Defense Coalition. A new 71-member congressional caucus focused on voting rights was formed last year. Legislation has already been written and submitted, the VOTE Act (HR 5131) and the Election Integrity Act of 2016, both introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA). Both call for vast improvements in our electoral systems to be accomplished through federal funding. Funding distributed by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA, 2002), more than $3 billion, has been spent on low-quality systems now being kept functional by means of purchased spare parts. Reports by the nonpartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration (PCEA) and Brennan Center for Justice both anticipated this attrition and warned that prompt intervention is essential. The lifespan of the worst of these systems is at best 10 years, the direct recording electronic (DRE) or touchscreen machinery. Purchased between 2001 and 2007, it must be replaced, as our math indicates. The article "Failed Election Administration" (page 19) describes the 2013 report published by the commission. Fine that it's nonpartisan, but does that explain why there is no mention of discrimination or corruption, two towering symptoms of election dysfunction? Instead, to combat the "long lines" thus engendered, the science of queology, the science of queuing, is consulted. Remember President Obama's repeated exhortation that "we have to do something about that"? Try queology. I don't mean to oversimplify. The report is magisterial. Election law expert and academic Rick Hasen simply writes that it's not enough.

Author and activist Jonathan Simon, executive director of the Election Defense Alliance, describes another brand of corruption that interferes with accurate vote counting--the opposition to and thwarting of an effective means of auditing the vote counts produced by machinery, exit polls, which are used, again, successfully overseas (in Ukraine, for example, where the United States intervened in a presidential election on the basis of incongruity between the vote count and exit polls collected). Exit polls are being eliminated gradually in this country or else tweaked to conform to machine results. Simon and his colleagues manage to capture the raw data when it appears briefly on television (I believe that CNN provides it), before the corruption process begins. Such vote counts trend right of exit poll data, Simon discovered, and called this event a "red shift." Were we to use HCPB instead of relying on "shadowy corporation(s)," exit polls would be far more consistent with the vote counts.

"War on the Dispossessed," excerpted from their book The Strip & Flip Selection of 2016, is the title of authors/academics/activists Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman's contribution, which pinpoints the new Jim Crow system of our era, the voter ID requirement and corrupt registration procedures. Such disgraces relegate the United States to the rank of forty-fifth among long-standing democracies of the world, with an integrity rating of 69.3 percent, according to a 2015 study--"one notch ahead of the narco-drug state Colombia." The authors describe further corruption that kept Bernie Sanders from winning the presidential primaries, which "should have caused a major scandal in the United States." They decry the abusive machinery that purports to count our votes, the DREs in particular, whose totals cannot be audited, especially when exit polls are ignored. To sum up, write the authors in agreement with Tarbell, "The only cure is a bottom-up revolution in human consciousness and action."

Another outrageous symptom of the disease that is our electoral system is gerrymandering, or illegal redistricting that is politically or racially motivated. Tarbell narrates its origins and culmination in the computer program invented for that sole purpose, the corporate-financed REDMAP. Once the GOP swept elected positions at the state and federal levels in 2010, REDMAP created red-dominated districts that were predicted to last for a decade, Karl Rove's sweet dream. Then in 2012, reiterating a result achieved several times at the presidential level by the Electoral College, Democrats swept the popular vote by 1.7 million but the GOP won a 33-seat majority in Congress. The solution, of course, is to take redistricting out of the partisan hands of state legislatures and into the purview of independent, nonpartisan commissions, which several states have accomplished effectively, mostly western ones, including Arizona, California, Washington State, and Iowa.

The article "Suppressing the 99%" (page 6) points to its illegitimate justification, the possibility of the virtually nonexistent voter fraud in the form of stealing the vote of another person by impersonating them at the polls. Caging and purging are also defined and discussed, two other forms of vote theft that hugely subtract the votes of minorities from totals. Who's at fault, the author wonders, directing her gaze at the cynical author published yesterday in The Nation--the people or the system? Still other forms of skullduggery follow with the obvious conclusion that We the People are suffering from a bad case of corporatocracy this issue of Justice Rising promises we can overcome.

Other forms of "voter apartheid," a great coinage, are covered by Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy, who discusses discriminatory legislation created by the notorious ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which was formed in the early seventies at about the time that the infamous Powell Manifesto began to swing things away from the reformist revolution of the sixties back to corporate control and ultimately now. ALEC writes legislation that becomes boilerplates nationwide that lead to "red shifts" in every sphere of our society--in our context voter ID and shortening early voting periods, for example. The people are fighting back in droves for a "sixties" renaissance, now that our plight has descended to such abysmal levels. We need a Sanders Manifesto that will work, and AfD is leading the way.

A dedication to Ronnie Dugger follows, written by Nancy Price, co-chair of AfD National Council: "Over his 60-plus year career, Ronnie Dugger has produced 'journalism of conscience,' as a writer, editor, publisher, biographer and mentor." Founder of AfD in 1996, he is also an icon of the EI movement for his nonstop dedication embodied in a landmark, prophetic article "Counting Votes," which he wrote for the New Yorker in 1988, "on the rise of computerized voting, and increasing disenfranchisement, especially of African-Americans that concerned only some election officials and lawyers, . . . a path-breaking, before-its-time article."

Dr. Reverend Rodney Sadler, a widely published professor, pastor, and community leader, writes about deliberate racism in voting and the people's courageous activism in fighting back. He looks back to the 2013 SCOTUS gutting of section five of the Voting Rights Act and its effects on Election 2016, warns against the attrition of the voting machines we use, and discusses the failure of so many bills written by Congress to combat all of this discrimination.

Activist, actress, and author Mimi Kennedy, chair of the Progressive Democrats of America, contributes anecdotal details concerning her home state, California. She reviews the accomplishments of heroic secretaries of state like Kevin Shelley and Debra Bowen, who decertified most of the voting systems in her state, replacing them with optical scanners that performed better, a step in the right direction, paper. The Golden State should lead the nation with its exemplary system refined even more since then, with its publicly observed chain of custody, especially at the stage of ballot counting. A rosy report indeed to encourage the rest of us onward.

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Before the election season, not the November 2016 election day, what issues were confronting Americans?

The first was and is the damaging corporate control of the U.S. mainstream media.

See:

Congress can no longer ignore corporate control of the media

By Rep. Bernie Sanders

www.wethepeoplewethemedia.com/control1.htm

And:

Congress Can No Longer Ignore Corporate Control of the Media

by Rep. Bernie Sanders Sander's Scoop newsletter, Summer 2002

click here

This has been done and supported by those, including too many members of the US congress, who make money from wars and have goals that include Empire USA and corporate government.



Nearing A Total Drop Off the Cliff

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At the beginning of their first terms in office, US presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama were invited (and accepted the invitation) to speak at the University of Notre Dame's commencement ceremonies in South Bend, Indiana.

This year, university president Father John Jenkins tried to avoid an obvious and seemingly inevitable controversy by snubbing new US president Donald Trump, going instead with a "safe" speaker: Vice president Mike Pence.

Not safe enough, Father Jenkins.

In fact, according to student protesters, safety is precisely the problem. According to one Imanne Mondane, as quoted in the student-run Observernewspaper, "for many people on our campus, it makes them feel unsafe to have someone who openly is offensive but also demeaning of their humanity and of their life and of their identity" (I'm going to take a shot in the dark here and speculate that Mondane is probably not an English major).

I note that Mondane is a senior, and have to wonder why she didn't feel too "unsafe" to attend Notre Dame for the past 3 1/2 years. After all, Mike Pence was the governor of Indiana from 2013 until this January.

How is it that she suddenly finds Pence more scary in a nearly powerless position and living at the Naval Observatory 600 miles away in Washington than she found him when he was actually her state's chief executive, lurking a mere 150 miles from South Bend in Indianapolis and exercising considerable power over her life?

If Pence is really such a scary guy, why didn't she flee his domain and cross the river to Cincinnati, Ohio, where fine Catholic university educations may be had at Xavier and Mount St. Joseph, instead of risking it at Notre Dame? Was John Kasich equally terrifying?

Melodramatic much, Ms. Mondane?

There are all kinds of good reasons for students to protest over their schools' speaking invitations to politicians they dislike. There are all kinds of good ways to demonstrate at or around the offending speeches, persuading others and promoting social dialogue.

"I'm scared, please don't let the bad man talk" is neither one of those good reasons nor one of those good ways. In fact, if Donald Trump and Mike Pence really are the kind of monsters their critics describe them as, it plays right into their hands.

Fear is what authoritarians crave and what demagogues feed on. "Safe spaces" are cages for you, not barriers to them.
"Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It's certainty." Stephen Colbert

MODIFICATION: : at the very moment this article was published, I found the following outrageous example of conflicting claims:

Here is what the NYDailyNews just published:

The Syrian army said hundreds of Islamic State fighters as well as civilians were "killed when a U.S.-led coalition airstrike hit a militant position in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

It said white smoke billowing from the area of the strike turned yellow, "most likely because of the explosion of a large warehouse containing large quantities of toxic substances." It said that the airstrike showed that militants have chemical weapons in their possession.

Opposition activist Omar Abu Laila, who is from Deir el-Zour and currently lives in Europe, denied that report. Abu Laila is with Deir Ezzor 24, an activist group that has reporters throughout the eastern province."

Here is the report from almasnarnews.com:

"DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1:30 P.M.) -- The US-coalition Air Force has conducted airstrikes against ISIS positions in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, targeting a chemical depot for the terror group which resulted in the death of hundreds of militants as well as civilian, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said in an official statement.

"Yesterday between 17:30 -- 17:50 p.m., the so-called anti-ISIS coalition fighter jets struck an ISIS position in Hatla village to the east of Deir Ezzor. After the airstrike, a huge white cloud was formed --later on turned yellow -- as a result of an explosion in a chemical depot. A hug fire broke out until 22:30 p.m. Hundreds have been killed -- including civilians -- as a result of breathing toxic materials," the statement detailed.

The official statement said this incident confirms beyond any doubt that "terror groups, particularly ISIS and Jabhet al-Nusra, already own chemical weapons, and have the ability to obtain, transport, store and use such chemical agents with the help of some regional countries. This also stresses the fact that those terror groups are coordinating with its sponsors to accuse the Syrian Arab Army of using chemical weapons."

Conflicting stories: one by the Syrian military (which surely has images of the yellow smoke indicating chemicals) and the other by an anti-Assad propagandist living in Europe.

Deir Ezzor sits in the oil-rich eastern province of the same name, most of which is controlled by IS.

Abu Nour (a resident)said the people were terrified by stories of previous abductions and mass executions carried out by IS in the broader province. Omar Abu Leila, an activist from anti-Assad Deir Ezzor 24, which publishes news on the city had previously reported:

"If IS seizes regime-held neighbourhoods, it could carry out massacres. This is a huge source of concern for us." Abu Leila denies the Syrian claims, without having any evidence. Tho he has warned the people of the brutality of IS, he is denying they have chemical weapons.

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Putting real power into the hands of voters and consumers, has made bottom-up approaches massively disruptive for politics and brands. It's the present and future of politics and business. Rob Kall's book Bottom-Up pulls together the wisdom and experience of some of the leading thinkers who have brought the bottom-up revolution to full bloom."



Joe Trippi, pioneering Internet campaign manager of Howard Dean, digital campaign consultant


DALAI LAMA

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China is fretting and fuming over the visit of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to North-east India for participating in various functions in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. What is wrong with Beijing? Nothing.

Such Dragon-speak is a familiar spectacle for nations in the South China Sea region. Not for Indians, who are far removed from SCS. So much so the Beijing thunder may appear as out of the blue for them.

Nothing more, nothing less. Certainly as long as the Bamboo capitalist remains on the lookout for markets for mass produced cheap daily utility items and high end tech gizmos alike. Indians should know this truism; they are being courted by the MNCs ever since they freed their economy from the socialist clutches and allowed the animal spirits of middle class to soar some two decades ago

It is economy, stupid.

You cannot find fault with the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying for saying, "This (Dalai Lama's visit) will have serious damage on bilateral relations." Spokespersons anywhere have an unenviable job. And the Chinese points- person for the media is no exception. So are the leader writers in the official China Daily who are paid to indulge in word play and write that Beijing "would not hesitate to answer blows with blows" if the Indian authorities allowed the Dalai Lama to continue with his visit to Tawang et al.

Take a close look at the Chinese outburst vis--vis the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. A very interesting pattern is discernible. Because Beijing is not unaware of the number of visits the Tibetan spiritual leader, who has been living in exile at Dharamsala tucked away in the Himachal Mountains, had made to Arunachal Pradesh in the past.

Between March 1983 and 2009, he visited the area six times. On each trip he did not confine himself to Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, every time he was in the region, he made it a point to go to Tawang, the home to an ancient monastery. Put simply there is nothing extraordinary in his latest swing through Tawang. China is aware of this ground reality. Global Times conceded this much in a lengthy harangue, "India's use of Dalai Lama card tactless".

"The 14th Dalai Lama started his visit to "Arunachal Pradesh" (South Tibet of China) on Tuesday. The Dalai Lama has been to the disputed region before, but what makes this trip different is that he is received and accompanied by India's Junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju," the tabloid said editorially on April 6, 2017. In other words, China is upset not by the presence of Dalai Lama in 'South of Tibet'. Tawang is home to the Monpa people, who practice Tibetan Buddhism.

My honourable Chinese comrades deserve a lesson in politics and democracy alike. Rijiju is a local politician, a son of the soil in a manner of speaking. He is a Buddhist by faith and practice. For any true Buddhist, he counts himself as one, Dalai Lama is no mere human being.

For the likes of Rijiju, Dalai Lama is not a demon as Beijing wants the world to believe. He is the spiritual leader, believed to be a reincarnation of Avalokitesvara. And he does not come to their town and village every day. Everybody wants to see him, get his blessings, and touch his feet. They want to make the best use of the few hours he spends in their midst discoursing on peace and God. It is once in a life time experience.

Well, you cannot expect the Chinese to appreciate spiritualism, that too of the Buddhist variety. For the comrades, God and spiritualism are abstract subjects. For them the Yuan and the green back alone matter. As also local party apparatchik. While the Maoist China was light miles away from the much talked about proletariat, the post- Mao China is happy to be hailed as the Bamboo capitalist...

I am not holding a brief for India. Nor do I advocate the view that one should not see beyond the headlines. But to see something sinister in the Dalai Lama visit, as many officially authorised experts on the Chinese media, have done is an exercise in futility, an effort at searching for demons in a Church.

Frankly, as Global Times notes, India has reasons to be 'strongly dissatisfied with the Chinese. One for not supporting its membership bid to the Nuclear Suppliers Group'. Two for not supporting India's bid to place Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), a Pakistani militant group, in the UN blacklist.

To this list can be added Indian objections to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which China is building for Pakistan through the Kashmiri territory presently occupied by Pakistan. India has been publicly airing its displeasure over these Chinese actions.

There is no secret about it. Nor is there is any secret of India's apprehensions over the string of pearls (Ports) China has built in the Indian Ocean, which Delhi rightly considers as its backyard.

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A man and a woman wearing red hooded sweatshirts and masks robbed the Great Western Bank, 6424 Havelock Ave., around 2 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Lincoln Police Capt. Don Scheinost said the robbers fled the scene and he didn't believe there was a safety concern for the nearby neighborhood.

Scheinost said the man showed a gun, demanded cash and used pepper spray, injuring two bank employees. No shots were fired. The employees were treated on the scene.

The man was described on the scanner as being 5-foot-7, and wearing a red sweatshirt.

The woman was reportedly 5-foot-6, wearing a red sweatshirt, black sweatpants and carrying a white plastic bag.

There was no vehicle description. Police K-9s were used to try and track the suspects.

Scheinost said the Nebraska State Patrol plane was flying at the time of the robbery and offered assistance. The FBI was also investigating as it always does with bank robberies.

Havelock Avenue between 65th and 64th streets was closed while police investigated.

Lincoln Public Schools briefly locked down Norwood Park Elementary, 4710 N. 72nd St., because of the robbery, said spokeswoman Mary Kay Roth. About five minutes after locking down the school, police gave the all-clear and lifted the lockdown, she said.

Stay with JournalStar.com for updates on this developing story.
How to make the U.S. Healthcare System greater than ever before?

The U.S. Healthcare System is the only healthcare system in the world that cares about everything else, but the well-being of the regular people and the economy at a very high cost.

Healthcare cost combines "social" and "recurring" costs that does not create wealth, it only transfers wealth and destroys a lot of it during the process of transferring wealth; it must be reduced to a minimum, if not, totally eliminated. Here is the mess:

Obamacare (Insurance-care)

Ryancare (Rich-people-care)

Pharmacy-care (Fleecing-people-care)

Hospital-care (Exploiting-people-care)

Doctor-care (Greed-care)

Lawyer-care (Tort-care)

Medicare (Second-class-care)

Medicaid (Third-class-care)

We need to have a National Healthcare System that is FREE and available to ALL Americans, providing security, just like our National Defense System at no cost to the people. The necessity to create a system like this is not only due to it being the humane thing to do, but for economic reasons as well.

To achieve this goal we need none of the above "cares."

We need to build "productivity-inducing" and "cost-cutting" Super-Clinics throughout the United States to provide affordable, first-class quality healthcare to all Americans at drastically reduced cost; presently our healthcare delivery system is obsolete--they are inefficient, too costly and corrupt. The current system is not sustainable and will collapse, much less become affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Create productivity-inducing and cost-cutting Super-Clinics and we will be able to provide world-class quality healthcare to all Americans and yet, cut the U.S. Healthcare cost by $2,000 per person annually.

Healthcare costs must be tamed in order to create competitive manufacturing in the U.S.

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The already troubled India-Pakistan relationship has been plunged into deep uncertainty after Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian alleged spy, was sentenced on Monday (April 10, 2017) to death for espionage and sabotage activities in Pakistan.

Monday's development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India run high. The past six months have seen a war of words between officials from the Indian and Pakistani governments.

Ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors worsened after India blamed Pakistan for an attack on an Indian military camp in Uri inside India-administered Kashmir on Sept 18, 2016 where around 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

India alleged that Pakistan-backed terrorists were involved in the attack and initially claimed that weapons recovered from them bore Pakistani markings. However, this assertion was debunked by the Indian media itself, forcing the Indian Army to retract the claim.

Since then, frequent episodes of firing have been reported by the Pakistan military on the Line of Control. The escalation continued when India claimed it carried out "surgical strikes" across the control line on Sept 29, claims Pakistan rejected as baseless.

Indian Reaction

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday (April 11) assured lawmakers that New Delhi would go "out of its way" to save Kulbhushan Jadhav from death row in Pakistan.

Calling Jadhav "a son of India", Swaraj 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." "Our position is very clear, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav," she told the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.

"This is an act of premeditated murder," she said, referring to the death sentence handed to the Indian spy by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM).

Ruling Bhartia Junta Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy, said Tuesday that "If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav, then India must recognize Balochistan as an independent country." He further said if Pakistan commits what he called another atrocity after this then its Sindh province should also be seceded. Swamy said that the government must warn Pakistan of serious consequences after it awarded death sentence to Jadhav.

Tellingly, Pakistan has long claimed that outside powers have tried to both meddle in Balochistan and use the border region to destabilize Pakistan as a whole. Jadhav's arrest and now conviction suggest an effort by the Pakistani security establishment to put a face on the long-alleged crimes against Pakistan.

After years of allegations, the broad contours of Indian involvement in Balochistan in particular, perhaps Karachi too, have become apparent, leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn said adding: The present right-wing government in India may be more frank in its willingness to pursue covert actions against Pakistan and may have ratcheted up those activities, but Indian interference in Balochistan has been a steady complaint of the Pakistani state for over a decade.

Jadha's trial

Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, according to the Army Public Relations.

"His goal was to disrupt development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with Gwadar port as a special target," Army Public Relations Director Lt Gen Asim Bajwa had said, adding, "This is nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism... There can be no clearer evidence of Indian interference in Pakistan."

Jadhav was tried by Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of the official Secret Act of 1923. He was charged with spying for the Indian spy agency the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) and being involved in subversive activities in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

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That's what Lewis Hill foresaw . It's what led him to create the independent, listener-sponsored Pacifica Radio.

Almost 70 years later, the corporate media is still busy selling war, at times to an embarrassing degree. This can be seen in the fawning coverage of the recent U.S. attack on Syria, which came in response to the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons.

"I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons," gushed MSNBC anchor Brian Williams, as his station showed "beautiful pictures" of the U.S. Navy launching a missile attack on a Syrian airfield.

Those beautiful missiles killed 16 people, including four kids, according to the Syrian government. But these deaths were of little interest to a corporate media caught up in the excitement of it all.

Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo was practically giddy when questioning President Trump about his okaying the attack as he ate dessert with China's president.

Over on CNN, Fareed Zakaria got swept up in the moment and declared, "I think Donald Trump became president of the United States last night."

"If that guy could have sex with this cruise missile attack, I think he would do it," The Intercept's Jeremy Scahill said of Zakaria.

These are just three recent examples of the corporate media doing what it does best: push for, and gush over, war.

"In wartime," writes The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald, "U.S. television instantly converts into state media."

Print's Patriotism

It turns out print media may not be any better, according to a recent report by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, a media watchdog group ("Out of 47 Major Editorials on Trump's Syria Strikes, Only One Opposed").

"No need to debate the morality or utility of the strikes, because the scene played out per usual," writes FAIR's Adam Johnson.

"Dictator commits an alleged human rights violation, the media calls on those in power to 'do something' and the ticking time bomb compels immediate action, lest we look 'weak' on the 'global stage.' Anything that deviates from this narrative is given token attention at best."

Independent Media

With the corporate media busy cheerleading for war, it's often left to independent media to ask the tough questions.

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By Dave Lindorff



Sending a carrier battle group to 'take out' Kim Jong-un could lead to unintended consequences

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Back in the 18th century, there was an unwritten understanding in the conduct of warfare that one didn't kill the generals in battle. This wasn't about protecting the elite while the "grunts" of the day slaughtered each other. It was a matter of common sense: If you killed the general, there was no one in a position to order a withdrawal or to surrender, once it became clear that one side was winning. With no general in command, things could become chaotic, leading to more bloodshed than necessary.

In the US, ever since the brief presidency of Gerald Ford, and in the wake of the Senate's Church Committee hearings into the nefarious activities of the CIA and other secret agencies during the Nixon administration and earlier -- particularly efforts to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro and some other national leaders -- it has been US policy not to kill heads of state. In fact, a Ford executive order, number 12333, signed by President Ford in the mid 1970s, specifically bans the killing of government leaders, however brutish.

If one wants to see an example of why this is a logical policy, just look at what happened during the Obama administration, when Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafy was murdered by his US-backed captors (with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's enthusiastic support), leaving Libya in a state of total chaos from which it has never really recovered.

Yet now there is talk by President Trump and his increasingly neoconservative- dominated National Security and Pentagon team of advisors of "taking out" North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, even as an aircraft carrier attack group steams towards the Korean peninsula.

Getting rid of Ford Executive Order 12333 would be no difficult hurdle for President Trump, who has been "governing" the country through ill-though-out executive order issuance -- most of them written by his political strategist Stephen Bannon, since he assumed office Jan. 20. Bannon, now being sidelined by more traditional cold war neo-cons, may not be writing those orders for his boss now, but someone else could easily do it, erasing E.O 12333 with the stroke of a pen.

What would such a change mean?

In the case of North Korea, it could mean a quick "decapitation" strike by US aircraft from the USS Carl Vinson -- one which would presumably destroy North Korea's missile and nuclear weapon-making capability, and killing Kim and the country's top military leadership around him.

But what would the result of such a strike be?

It's worth recalling that one reason for the Ford executive order against killing other countries' leaders was concern, among those who bought the official theories about the Kennedy assassination, that it might have been Castro's retaliation for all the US efforts, including under Kennedy, to kill him. That's something "warrior" Trump might want to cogitate on before he contemplates 'taking out' other foreign leaders.

.

But there are other reasons why launching an attack on North Korea to kill Kim and eliminate his nuclear and missile capability, is a lousy idea. One is that such an action would almost certainly it would mean the contamination of part or even much of North Korea with nuclear fallout and radiation, and perhaps South Korea too. Another is that given the long history of US "precision" targeting going terribly wrong, it would likely mean much death and destruction for the long-suffering North Korean people. It would also almost certainly mean utter bloody chaos in a country that for nearly three-quarters of a century has been ruled by one absolute tyrant or another, in which there is simply no organized system of governance at lower levels to handle anything, from delivery of health services to distribution of food. Add in the inevitable pent-up demands by many North Koreans for vengeance against those who for so long oppressed them, and if you think the chaos that followed the US invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Baathist leadership of Iraq was bad, or that the chaos of the US overthrow of Gaddafy in Libya was bad, you ain't seen nothing yet, should North Korea's leader gets offed in a US air strike.

In theory, China, South Korea or Japan could step in with troops, money and civilian personnel to help reestablish some kind of order and peace, while preventing the rise of yet another tyrannical government, but none of that is likely. The Chinese would probably not want to take it on, the Japanese are viewed negatively as a former colonial power, and South Korea may not want the financial burden of rescuing the North, which would be staggering. Meanwhile, while the US could relatively easily, and at minimal cost, "take out" North Korea's missiles, nukes and leadership, especially in the case of the Trump administration, there is absolutely no interest in taking on the costs of occupying and subsidizing the rebuilding North Korea following such an ill-conceived attack. The US has never been good at picking up the pieces after destroying a country, and under Trump, it is likely to be even less concerned about such after-effects of its violence.

Will that deter the US from ending the long-standing ban on killing national leaders and launching an attack on North Korea aimed at "taking out" Kim?

It's hard to say, but with Trump abandoning his domestic campaign promises left and right, turning domestic policy into a giant give-away to the rich and the Wall Street banksters, and in the process alienating most of his political base, he seems hell-bent on diverting attention abroad by taking dramatic military actions that make him appear decisive and powerful.

In Syria, that is amping up the risk of a direct confrontation with Russia's air force and a potential World War III. In North Korea, it risks creation of yet another Libya, this time in Asia, complete with a flood of desperate refugees and another flood of unaccountable and uncontrollable weapons, possibly including nukes, or nuclear materials.

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Unofficially, Tijuana is the taco capital of the world. Yes, Ive said it. And this is mainly because the border town is an immigrant hub for people of all over Mexico who bring their different cooking styles with them. With Sonora tortillas, Sinaloa style seafood techniques, beef from Coahuila and Bajas own prime seafood, its no wonder youll find everything from carne asada to octopus tacos in Tijuana that are unrivaled anywhere else in the country.

And while San Diego is home to the top rated tacos on Yelp in the country (Tacos El Gordo, originally from Tijuana, duh), it is merely a consolation prize. Because even if they have their highlights, theyre not as good as the original. And why settle for U.S. tacos that will never measure up when Tijuana is right next door over a set of walls that very much already exist?

Long border waits and prick border agents might discourage a trip to Tijuana. However, if theres anything that will change anyones mind, its these six tacos.



As mentioned in a previous article, the carne asada tacos at Tacomiendo are bomb. And yet, it is possible to take it to another level by adding a chile relleno (stuffed chile pepper) on it. This double-decker taco (above) pairs a perfectly thin strip of New York steak with a chile guerito (yellow hot pepper) stuffed with Monterrey Jack cheese. Chile rellenos are mostly made with either chile pasilla or California, but Tacomiendo uses a chile guerito, which is a bit spicier and a sweet at the same time. Its definitely a mouthful, but a satisfying one.

2px); width:calc(100% 2px);"> A post shared by Jorge (@chemical_kid) on Jan 20, 2017 at 11:14pm PST

Like the U.S., Mexico is a big country made up of different customs and dialects in its different regions. So if you wouldn't ask for a pop in California (please say soda), don't come looking for for al pastor tacos in Tijuana. We have adobada tacos here. And the best place to get them is in the seaside neighborhood of Playas at Tacos El Frances. Another classic Tijuana establishment that's been around since the 1980s, you'll always find this place packed, and the reason is largely over its tacos de adobada. The adobada  pork marinated in a combination of chiles ancho and achiote, plus several other secret ones  is trimmed directly from the spit and is lightly griddled, along with two tortillas, before receiving a handful of avocado and onto your plate. This taco will only set you back 23 pesos ($1.16), and like the asada taco from El Ruso, everything is better once you make it a quesadilla. Unlike al pastor, adobada tacos don't generally have pineapple, but trust that the cilantro, onion, and lime are enough to enhance the flavor. But if you're looking for a crunch, just reach for the complementary radishes and cucumber.

2px); width:calc(100% 2px);"> A post shared by Baja Wine & Food (@bajawinefood) on Dec 9, 2016 at 2:54pm PST

If you're discouraged from loud places with lots of people and sometimes even a wait to be sat down, Mariscos El Mazateno is not for you. And it would be a shame since you'd be missing out on all the different types of Sinaloa style seafood dishes, but most devastatingly, the spicy shrimp taco named after the restaurant itself. Locals flock to El Mazateno  especially after a night out  for the giant, two tortilla taco overflowing with spicy shrimp marinated in chile de arbol and dripping of juices and fat settled on a bed of Oaxaca cheese. Throw some shredded cabbage, sour cream, pico de gallo and lime, and if you dare, add more spice with the assortment of salsas they provide on the tables (pick the salsa verde one!). The El Mazateno taco is so big you'll only need one, especially if you want to try other items on the menu. And, most importantly, don't underestimate the spiciness.

2px); width:calc(100% 2px);"> A post shared by Tacos Kokopelli (@tacos.kokopelli) on Jan 21, 2017 at 1:19pm PST

Not all tacos are traditional, especially not the ones at Tras/Horizonte. Over the past six years or so, Tijuana has been undergoing a culinary renaissance that focuses on local product and talent. Tras/Horizonte was among the key establishments that erupted from this new movement, starting out as a taco truck and eventually growing into a full-fledged restaurant. One of their most, if not the most, representative tacos is the Kraken; mesquite-grilled octopus marinated in a Mexican pesto consisting of poblano chile peppers, cilantro and herbs on a charred tortilla, garnished with avocado slices. Tras/Horizonte may not be your average blue-collar taqueria, but it's certainly not on the snobby side, even if you can call their tacos gourmet. Chef Oso Campos took his formal training and skills learned at Michelin-starred restaurants and created eclectic concepts for typical dishes that people embraced.

2px); width:calc(100% 2px);"> A post shared by Ariana B. Hodoyan (@arianabonne) on Feb 22, 2017 at 4:45pm PST

Tacos are what Tijuana does best, so of course more than a few taquerias have stood the test of time and have become institutions, serving generation of families. However, there must be a reason for it. For Tacos El Ruso in the neighborhood of El Soler, they do one thing and the do it well: carne asada tacos. For only 20 pesos ($1), expect your meat red on the inside, dripping with juice and always made to order. No such thing as reheated, over cooked, crispy as charcoal meat. Upgrade to a quesadilla for 60 pesos ($3), but, as mentioned earlier, don't come looking for other types of meat because you won't find them; this is a strictly carne asada place. So if you want to get a chance at trying the best carne asada taco in town, you better come early. Their tacos are so popular that they close when they run out of meat, well before 8 p.m. Every. Day.

2px); width:calc(100% 2px);"> A post shared by La Marce ???????? (@marce_catalan_b) on Jun 5, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT

If you want the best fish taco you will ever eat, youll have to go to Ensenada for it, where it was once invented by Japanese immigrants. But if you dont feel like traveling over more than miles down south and paying the tolls, just head to any of the Tijuana Jr. restaurants and trucks around the city for a quick fix. The batter is just the right amount of crispy and does not overpower the fish, and while the portion is not generous, itll let you eat even more tacos. The tacos come dressed in chopped cabbage and pico de gallo, but you can add the cream, lime and salsas to taste. Go for the salsa verde for a non-spicy tang.
The New Pornographers' seventh album, Whiteout Conditions, combines electronic flourishes with fun, upbeat rock on eleven tracks of lyrical joy and catchy songwriting.

On the New Pornographers' last album, Brill Bruisers, the music found a balance between introspection and melodious release. Now, almost three years later, they've found more than balance: Whiteout Conditions, their seventh studio LP, brims with exciting, cheerful rock and roll topped with notes of electricity, oddly cut harmonies and atmospheric synthesizers. Part foot-tapping, colorful pop and part driven, anxious rock, the band from Vancouver play a tricky and successful songwriting game on the new album that's medicine to the ears.

On top of its excellent music, the album's lyrical playfulness is clear from the first song. In "Play Money," Neko Case sings in the quick chorus, "For a fee I'll fight any foe / For a fee I'll stop any show." It's a line where all the power comes from singing it out loud. While the song might be about the career of a musician, the reality that you still have to make money to make it as a songwriter, its tone is far from unhappy and its lyrics preview the show of wordplay happening throughout the album.

Just listen to Carl Newman's first lines on the title track: "Flying and feeling the ceiling / And barely dealing / And the faces, the faintest of praises / Are too revealing." He's throwing all the alliteration and assonance he can into the microphone over that steady guitar rhythm. This is the first New Pornographers album on which Newman wrote all of the songs. Previously, Dan Bejar had contributed songs to each album but didn't contribute to this one.

According to Newman, the title track, "Whiteout Conditions," and therefore the album as a whole, work through his feelings of depression leading up to the death of his sister. "In a stage of grief so demanding," he sings, referencing antidepressants and "such a waste of a beautiful day." But the album, as any good artwork does, also comments on society and the relationship between this "human condition" and depression.

On "High Ticket Attractions," the band channels Arcade Fire's power-harmonies and punching rhythms for one of the album's standout tracks. Amid the frenzy of synthesizers come voices singing of vague but looming events: "After the flame baptism you're fearless"; "When we live undersea like we ought to"; "the Mayans took all their science / And dumped it all in the drink and went silent." With hints of the apocalypse, the second coming and the rising oceans, "High Ticket Attractions" blends potential doom with joyous melodies.

"Darling Shade," another highlight of the album, bursts with its own bright guitar and cheerful bass. Its harmonies layer beautifully over the frantic drums in the middle and promise a thrilling live performance. The sharply cut harmonies that open "Second Sleep" were, according to Newman, an accident of editing. He created the unnatural sound while editing the song and decided it fit with the album's electronic voices.

Other notable tracks include "Colosseums," with its patient rhyme scheme, the beautiful harmonies of "We Were Here Before" and the driving guitars of "Clockwise" and "Avalanche Alley."

Something of a supergroup, the New Pornographers assembled in the late nineties, when Carl Newman was joined by John Collins, Dan Bejar, Blaine Thurier, Fisher Rose and Neko Case. Their debut, Mass Romantic, came out in 2000 after four years of on-and-off recording. Six albums later, the band remains a formidable songwriting force that places lyrical complexity on the same high level as the music behind it.


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
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Anti-Creasing Agent Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Anti-Creasing Agent Market

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The anti-creasing agent market is one of the most important chemical markets for fabric finishing in the textile industry. Presently, it is a standard practice to use natural or synthetic resins to impart crease resistance in finished textiles; this enriches the look and performance as per end use requirement. In recent times, rapid growth in urbanization has led to modernization of the textile industry. Thus, it is forecasted that the anti-creasing market will witness sturdy growth in the forecast period.Several new techniques have been implemented to enhance the performance of anti-creasing agents in crease-free fabrics, such as to improve dimensional stability and produce embossed effects. Resin finishing is one such significant process employed for the improvement of dry and wet crease recovery and to retain sharp creases in fabric. Some key types of resin finishing treatments, applied on fabric for crease-free finishing are: wash and wear finishing, anti-crease finishing and durable press treatment. Also, the various types of agents used are: soda-ash, soap, acidic/alkaline catalyst and softener, along with the thermoplastic resins and solution containing thermosetting resins. Thus, the use of resins in the textile industry is expected to boost the anti-creasing agent market over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2773 Anti-Creasing Agent: Drivers and restraintsGrowing demand for crease-free textile and advancement in fabric features (texture, pattern, colors, dimension, etc.) are key factors driving the anti-creasing agent market. Increasing trends in fashion in the textile industry and evolving textile manufacturing processes have resulted in a rise in the demand for anti-creasing agent market. Emerging technologies are anticipated to give major attention to the development of the anti-creasing agent market in the coming future. Tropical areas, where consumption of cotton fabric is high, are markets with huge potential for anti-creasing agents. Crease-free cotton clothing and a varied range of cotton products may drive the demand for anti-creasing agents in such regions over the forecast period.The anti-creasing agent market offers chemicals that are processed under strict supervision, by skilled professionals. High quality and hygienic chemicals and compounds are produced, which are can be used safely. However, use of an anti-creasing agent decreases the tensile and tear strength of the textile, consequently shortening its life. Excessive use of an anti-creasing agent leaves an unpleasant odor on finished goods; it also gives the textile a stiff and harsh feel, thereby causing irritation to the user. Anti-creasing agents containing chlorine and formaldehydes pose a health risk to the consumer due to their allergic properties. This is a key restraint on the growth of the anti-creasing agent market.Anti-Creasing Agent market: segmentationThe anti-creasing agent market can be segmented based on the type:Dye-bath lubricant/anti-creasing agent, Wet processing lubricant/anti-creasing agentThe anti-creasing agent market can be segmented based on the cross linking chemical agent used:Di methylol Urea (DMU), Di Methylol Di Hydroxy Ethylene Urea (DMDHEU)Di Methylol Ethylene Urea (DMEU), Di Methylol Propylene Urea (DMPU)Tri Methylol Melamine (TMM)Anti-creasing agent market: Region wise outlookThe anti-creasing agent market can be segmented based on regions, namely, North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, Europe is expected to account for a major share in the forecast period. Being the fashion capital of the world, advancement in textile industries, demand for innovative fabrics and dynamic fashion trends are some of the factors that make Europe the major consumer of anti-creasing agents. Thus, the anti-creasing agent market is forecasted to have better opportunities in the Europe market over the forecast period. Owing to steadily increasing urbanization in North America, this region is also expected to hold a major share in the anti-creasing agent market. Asia Pacific is one of the largest consumers of cotton fabric, thus indicating rising possibilities for the anti-creasing agent market in this region over the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2773 Anti-creasing agent market: Examples of playersSome examples of renowned players in the anti-creasing agent market are listed below:Fratelli Ricci S.r.l., Zuhai Lingxiong Chemicals Co., Ltd.Rung Internationals Mumbai, Kunal Organics Pvt Ltd.Neochem Technologies, Star Orechem Interantional Pvt. Ltd.Finotex, Setas Color CentreAlam Chemicals, Golden TechnologiaSarex Chemicals
The offices of Gov. Pete Ricketts and Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler both said complaints would be lodged with Kansas after a stinking haze of smoke once again settled over Lincoln.

Smoke blown north from agricultural burning in the Flint Hills area of Kansas caused the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department to issue a health warning Wednesday morning advising people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous physical activity.

Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage said the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will follow up with counterparts in Kansas.

"The air quality today is unacceptable, Gage said in an email. We will continue to work with Kansas to ensure they take action, and we will consider our options if we do not see a better plan from them."

Beutler also planned to give Kansas his two cents about health concerns posed by the smoke, Chief of Staff Rick Hoppe said.

"The administration is reviewing all of our options, including potential legal action. Mayor Beutler will be contacting Kansas officials to make our concerns known," Hoppe said.

The air was bad enough Wednesday morning for Lincoln Public Schools to cancel outdoor recess and physical education classes for elementary and secondary students.

Calvert Elementary second-graders were particularly unhappy to wake up to the haze because the health risks prompted school administrators to cancel a field trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. The school had applied for a grant to help pay for the first-time class visit, said Principal Jeff Brehm.

We had some disappointed parents and students, but we were able to reschedule, he said.

Lincolns Air Quality Index -- a yardstick for measuring pollution that runs from 0 on the good end to 500 on the bad end -- peaked at 163 from 6 to 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials said that level put Lincolns air in the red zone on the index -- unhealthy for everyone.

Light winds out of the south carried the smoke from fires that happened Tuesday in the Flint Hills and surrounding areas, including Southeast Nebraska. The burns keep cedar trees from taking over the Kansas plains and are a controlled way to deal with brush and dried grass that otherwise could fuel wildfires.

Nebraska has been complaining about the smoke from the annual prescribed fires for years. On one day in 2014, Lincoln had the worst air quality in the nation, attributed largely to the Kansas burns.

Nebraskas Department of Environmental Quality has worked with Kansas and the federal Environmental Protection Agency since the 2014 incident to encourage landowners to spread controlled burns over a longer period of time to mitigate the nuisance. Kansas has responded positively, NDEQ spokesman Brian McManus said in an interview.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has encouraged more fires in March to minimize the amount of smoke on a given day and created a predictive model that shows which days would be best for burning to avoid sending smoke into populated areas.

The Kansas Department also issues public notices when it expects extensive burning will produce voluminous smoke.

This year, spring rains in Kansas condensed the number of days in which burns could happen, McManus said.

Smoky conditions generally are more prevalent at night and in the morning because of something called temperature inversion, which happens when warm air creates a "cap" on top of cooler air, trapping smoke close to the ground. The smoke tends to lift as the day warms, allowing air near the ground to warm, rise and mix with cleaner air above.

Winds help clear out the smoke, Schroeder said.

The smoke blanketing Lincoln on Wednesday began to lift after noon with the Air Quality Index improving from red to orange to yellow.

The yellow category means there could be some pollutants that pose a health concern for a small number of people unusually sensitive to air pollution.

The orange category warns of possible health effects to people with asthma, lung disease, other respiratory conditions or heart disease as well as older adults and children.

With the improved conditions by noon, the school district decided to allow middle and high school students outdoors for P.E. classes and activities.

Preschool and elementary school students remained inside, however, including after-school clubs.

Additional burning Wednesday could lead to elevated or at worst moderate smoke conditions Thursday, but it's expected to be better than conditions Wednesday morning, according to information on the Nebraska DEQ website.

The Air Quality Index, updated hourly, can be found at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: air).
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 10:02:01

Helping European SMEs to increase productivity and enhance competitiveness in a global framework

Paris, Madrid, 13th April 2017 - Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, leads the 'Cloud Collaborative Manufacturing Networks' (C2NET) consortium, launching the first collaborative Cloud-based platform for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in the manufacturing industry. This unique solution offers SMEs a single and affordable Cloud-supported platform, which has until now not existed. The project is funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon 2020 program and is made up of twenty partners including industrial entities, associations, research centers, ICT companies and public institutions.

C2NETsupports SMEs to optimize their manufacturing and logistic supply chains by reducing the complexity currently surrounding manufacturing management systems. It offers a platform on which products, processes and logistical data can be securely stored and shared in the Cloud.

Business benefits include:

Access to data analytics in real-time - enabling businesses to respond faster and more efficiently

Ease of access to supply chain management information, wherever and whenever - from any mobile device (including PC, tablet, smartphone)

An easy and secure system to collaborate and share of best practice to increase productivity and enhance competiveness

The project covers:

The creation of a data collection environment - the C2NET Data Collection Framework - for IoT-based continuous data capture from supply network resources.

Collaboration Tools - to provide support to the collaborative processes of the supply network.

Cloud Platform - to integrate the data module, the optimizers and the collaborative tools in the Cloud.

The Optimizers - to optimize the manufacturing and logistics assets in the supply network



In addition to leading the consortium, Atos actively participates in the design and implementation of the C2NET platform, coordinating the implementation of the pilot projects and designing the business models.

Concept demo

The results of C2NET will be shown in real-life scenarios through four pilots that will allow supply network partners to share assets and information via the Cloud, collaborate on production and delivery plans across the supply network and provide decision-makers with data analytics in real-time.

Four pilots have been developed:

Automotive: To automate and encourage collaborative planning, data collection and sharing of information.

Dermo-cosmetics: To develop more collaborative, agile and distributed planning processes.

SMEs Industrial Park. To manage logistic flow and resources more efficiently.

Hydraulic & Lubrication: To provide suppliers and customers with a centralized hub of information, accessible from anywhere, which enables forecasting, identifies supplier delays, and checks delivery status.

C2NET consortium

The C2NET consortium is led by Atos and consists of 19 European organizations and a third party. It includes: Atos, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Armines (Mines Albi as third party), IK4-Ikerlan, UNINOVA, Instituto Tecnologico de Informatica, Tampere University of Technology, Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy, Linagora, Caja Magica, Faurecia, Novatec, Pierre Fabre, Interop-VLab, Fluidhouse, TecMinho, Flexefelina and Antonio Abreu Metalomecanica.

This project is funded by the European Commission under the Framework Program H2020 with Grant Agreement No. 636909. For more information: http://c2net-project.eu

***

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.

Press contact:

Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau





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: ATOS via Globenewswire


Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Biopolymers Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Biopolymers Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 07:34:12

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Polymers and plastics are generally used in coating and packaging applications. Around 80% polymeric materials are produced from the petroleum industry, while processing fossil fuels. The burgeoning use of plastics is burdening the environment with its increasing carbon footprint due to greenhouse gas emissions, along with other factors such as soil and ground water pollution. Thus arising a need for environment-friendly alternatives. The growing focus towards sustainable development is expected to create an opportunity for bio-based plastics and polymers in the coming years. Biopolymers are polymers that are degradable when subjected to moisture and heat, under the action of micro-organisms. They are made from waste starch, biomass and other renewable feed stock. There are some commercially available polymers (such as polylactic acid, bio-nano composites and polyhydroxyalkanoate, etc.) which are used in the electronics and automotive industries. Governments are encouraging the use of biodegradable polymers over conventional polymers so as to reduce carbon footprint. Some major automotive companies are now opting for biopolymers in their vehicles; for instance, the Ford Motor Company is using biopolymers for interior applications.Global Biopolymers Market: Market DynamicsFluctuation in crude oil prices, limited availability of petroleum resources and awareness towards ecological problems are key factors propelling the growth of the global biopolymers market during the forecast period. Changing political conditions and environmental regulations on carbon emissions and plastic usage are also forecasted to boost the global biopolymers market over the forecast period. Despite being a niche market, the biopolymers market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. In addition to this, raw materials required in the manufacturing of biopolymers are obtained from agricultural wastes. Thus biopolymer production can prove to be a sustainable alternative in waste management. Being bio-degradable, biopolymers can also help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Owing to these advantages, there is a mushrooming interest in biopolymer manufacturing which will consequently drive the growth of the global biopolymers market over the forecast period.However, costing is a significant issue for biopolymers. According to the European Bioplastics Association, the cost of biopolymers (owing to the manufacturing cost) is still pretty steep. This could manifest as a major challenge for the global biopolymers market during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2770 Joint ventures with companies for manufacturing and investments in the research and development of biopolymers are the recent trends observed across the globe. Major biopolymer manufacturing companies are located in Western Europe, U.S., Japan and China, among others.Global Biopolymers Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global biopolymers market is segmented as below:Bio-PE, Bio-PETPoly lactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)Biodegradable polyesters, Others (biodegradable starch blends, biodegradable polyesters etc.)On the basis of application, the global biopolymers market is segmented as below:Packaging, BottlesFibers, Agriculture seed coatingsAutomotive interior parts, Others (medical implants)On the basis of end-use industry, the global biopolymers market is segmented as below:Automotive, Food & BeverageBio-medical, AgricultureElectrical & Electronics, AerospaceOthersGlobal Biopolymers Market: Regional OutlookEurope is a major consumer of biopolymers in the global biopolymers market. Attributing to the laws and regulations in this region, Europe is estimated to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. After Europe, North America is forecasted to account for a major share by 2016 end. This region is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is projected to witness robust growth in the global biopolymers market over the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to rapid industrialization and the need to curb pollution from manmade plastics and synthetic polymers in these regions. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to invest in the research and development of biopolymers during the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2770 Global Biopolymers Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the major participants operating in the global biopolymers market are mentioned below:BASF SE, Braskem S.A.Meredian Holdings Group Inc., NatureWorks LLCCorbion NV, Metabolix, Inc.Danimer Scientific, Biopolymer InternationalSolanyl Biopolymers, HARBEC, Inc.Metabolix Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 21:33:49

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Digital media and commerce company, WellSeeker announced their official launch today. The wellness and self-care focused brands quest is to redefine the wellness game, by inspiring, informing and educating people on ways to reduce stress, build resiliency and increase your overall wellbeing, all while having a whole lotta fun.With 60-90% of doctors visits being stress related, its time for a change in the way we approach self-care. People dont have the time to look for ways to take care of themselves, so we are making it easy and fun. said Co-Founder, media veteran and wellness expert Lucia Nazzaro.WellSeekers approach is two-fold. Through their content, they hope to inspire and educate seekers no matter where they are in their journey, as well as expand the conversation on wellness and what it means to truly live life well. Through their bi-monthly subscription box, they will provide seekers with the latest and greatest products in the world of wellness and self-care that will help them reduce stress and build a better state of being. We know how busy you are taking care of all the people, places and details in life. With so much to do, taking care of yourself and tending to your own wellness is often lacking, but not anymore. WellSeeker has your back and we will connect you to all the hidden and helpful products you'll need to live life well! Nazzaro said.WellSeeker has created a podcast and will be launching their blog and video series in the coming months. Their bi-monthly box subscription is now open for enrollment.We hope that this starts to change the conversation around the importance of self-care and also deepens the conversations we have around wellness related issues and our culture. Its long overdue and were excited to be a part of the conversation, said Nazzaro.###About WellSeekerWellSeeker is a digital media and commerce company that is on a quest to redefine the wellness game, by inspiring, informing and educating people on ways to reduce stress, build resiliency and increase your overall wellbeing, all while having a whole lotta fun. The approach is two-fold. Through content, we inspire and educate our seekers no matter where they are in their journey, as well as expand the conversation on wellness and what it means to truly live life well. Through our bi-monthly subscription box, we will provide you with the latest and greatest products in the world of wellness and self-care that will help you reduce stress and build a better state of being. For more information, please visit http://www.WellSeeker.com ContactLucia Nazzaro, Co-Founderlucia@ wellseeker.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 17:29:01

Eversys SA and the DeLonghi Group Enter Into a Strategic and Financial Partnership. DeLonghi To Acquire 40% of Eversys for an Undisclosed Sum.

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The two companies have agreed that the Italian DeLonghi Group acquires 40% of the Swiss Eversys Group, to include a two-way option whereby the remaining 60% would be transferred to DeLonghi within the next two to four years.

Eversys SA, located in Ardon (VS), specialises in the engineering, manufacturing and international commercialisation of fully automatic espresso machines, designed for the professional Horeca market. The company, founded in 2009, achieved a turnover of 17.3m CHF in 2016 with 51 employees.

The Italian DeLonghi Group is a leading stock listed manufacturer of household appliance products and is the global market leader in the segment of coffee machines for the home. In 2016 the group achieved a turnover of 1.85bn and employs over 7,100 people in multiple countries.

With the investment in Eversys, DeLonghi takes the first step into the professional espresso coffee market, with a focus on the fully automatic machines segment.

Eversys brings a wealth of technology, a management team with proven experience in the sector and the ambition to become a leading player in the global professional coffee market. This partnership is also driven by the technological, industrial and distribution synergies, which DeLonghi is able to assure says Fabio DeLonghi, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the DeLonghi Group.

For Eversys the partnership with DeLonghi creates a significant potential of synergies, which will contribute to accelerate and secure our ambitious development plans. In addition, it offers the midterm possibility for the founders and current shareholders to resolve their succession strategy says Martin Strehl, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Eversys.

Eversys will continue to operate as a strategically separate entity, led by the previous management team and remaining located in the Region of the Valais, in Switzerland.

The closing of the transaction is expected before mid-July 2017.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704130058

Eversys SA and the DeLonghi Group enter into a strategic and financial partnership. http://bit.ly/2o9EU28
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for First Colombia Gold Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Nashville, TN (FSCWire) - First Colombia Gold Corp. (OTC Pink:FCGD). has issued a press release with the following headline:First Colombia Gold Corp Announces Diversification of Energy OperationsTo 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 First Colombia Gold 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/First Colombia Gold Corp.Source: First Colombia Gold Corp. (OTC Pink: FCGD, ISIN: US3197142009, WKN: A112QT)Date: April 12, 2017Time: 6:05 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of First Colombia Gold 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.)
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 07:29:44

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A single days loss of steam production in an operational unit can cost manufacturing companies much more than the total expenses bore by companies, in the maintenance of their boilers during a span of one or two years. Boiler water treatment is essential  boiler systems require effective chemical treatment with accurate monitoring and control. A badly serviced steam boiler is like a potential bomb. This is precisely why getting good quality feed water and maintaining properties of boiler water correct, are of much importance. In order to understand the requirement of the feed water supplied to a particular steam boiler, a basic and simple study of its supply/feed water must be done thoroughly. Feed water usually contains dissolved solids, dissolved gases, and suspended solids. These impurities are capable of causing severe damages to the boiler and its parts. In order to keep the boiler working effectively, treatment of feed water is essential as well as highly recommended.It is typically more cost effective and economical to address the impurities by mechanical or physical means. Chemical treatment is done only to clean remaining parts and traces of impurities after the physical treatment is over. However, it is very essential to use chemical treatments for feed water as the impurities can damage boiler parts and accessories. With increasing use of boiler water treatment chemicals, their demand is estimated to grow significantly in across various end-use industries over the forecast period. These chemicals reduce the corrosion of boiler vessels and pipelines, leading to considerable increase in the equipment life. Moreover, the addition of these chemicals to the boiler water feed increases its fluidity and hence, the flow is maintained and thus, the boiler efficiency is increased.Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market dynamics:In order to ensure smooth working of the boilers, the boiler water feed is treated with several chemicals and agents, thereby leading to optimized and efficient steam generation. The market for boiler water treatment chemicals is growing at a fast pace owing to increasing application of boilers in commercial, industrial and manufacturing sectors. Strict boiler regulations are being put by the regulatory authorities on the manufacturing and use of boilers to ensure their safe operation and control. The regulatory authorities perform regular checks and inspections to ensure that healthy operating conditions are maintained in steam boilers, making it mandatory for boiler operators/ users to keep them safe.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2737 Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market segmentation:Boiler water treatment chemicals market can be segmented on the basis of type of chemicals and application.By chemical type, the boiler water treatment chemicals market can be segmented into:Corrosion & Scale Inhibitors, MolybdatesPhosphates, PhosphonatesOther Corrosion & Scale InhibitorsBiocidesChlorine and chlorine Derivatives, Bromine DerivativesOther BiocidesCoagulants & FlocculantsMetallic Salts, PolymersOther Coagulants & FlocculantspH Control AgentsBases, AcidsFoam Control AgentsOxygen ScavengersOther Boiler Water Treatment ChemicalsFluoridation Chemicals, Chelating AgentsAll Other Water Treatment ChemicalsOn the basis of applications,boiler water treatment chemicals market can be segmented into:IndustrialChemical Industries, Food & BeveragePulp & Paper, Oil Refineries and PetrochemicalPower Sector (Power Plants), Textile and ConstructionSteel & Metal, Equipment ManufacturingAutomobile & Aerospace, Others (Sugar mills, Pharmaceuticals etc.)CommercialsInstitutes and Educational facilities, Public Facilities (Airports, Railways)Others (Hotels & Restaurants)Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals: Regional Outlook:Key manufacturers of boiler water treatment chemicals are based in North America and Europe. The rapid industrialization in the Asia pacific region is estimated to fuel the growth of the regional boiler water treatment chemicals market. With established industries in the developing countries, the demand for boiler water treatment chemicals is expected to remain high, nonetheless increasing at a comparatively lower growth rate over the forecast period, when compared with developing countries such as China and India.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2737 Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals: Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants in the boiler water treatment chemicals market include:Bond Water Technologies, Inc,Lenntech B.V., NALCO, AN ECOLAB COMPANYChemTreat, AkzoNobel N.VFeedwater Ltd, Wilhelmsen group companyGE Corporation, AcceptaBASF SE, ControlChem
Twenty-one Nebraska Wesleyan University student organizations will collaborate on a weeklong Earth Week celebration April 18-21.

The keynote lecture, Understanding and Assessing Climate Change and its Implications for Nebraska, will be delivered 7:30 p.m. Tuesday by Donald Wilhite, professor emeritus of applied climate science in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

On Wednesday, Kelly Clancy, assistant professor of political science at NWU, will deliver a lecture focusing on how the debate over climate change is no longer scientific, but cultural.

The lecture series concludes Thursday with Frank Ferraro, associate professor of psychology at Wesleyan. Ferraros talk will address student-faculty research conducted at NWU on how students respond to nature and urban environments.

All lectures are at 7:30 p.m. in Olin B Lecture Hall. They are free and open to the public.
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Gregory J. Leia--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Gregory J. Leia (). has issued a press release with the following headline:Gregory J. Leia Acquires Shares in Tenth Avenue Petroleum Corp.To 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 Gregory J. Leia, 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/Gregory J. LeiaSource: Gregory J. LeiaDate: April 13, 2017Time: 12:29 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Gregory J. Leia 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.)
China ESD-Safe Field Kits Market Research Report 2016 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.

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The market research report helps analyze the ESD-Safe Field Kits market on a China basis and also offers forecast and statistics in terms of revenue for the anticipated forecast period 2016 to 2021. This research study offers a detailed overview of the market dynamics that are expected to affect the overall industry in the coming few years. In addition, the study explains the impact of the key factors on the development and growth of the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market through the forecast period. Promising opportunities in the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market have also been mentioned in the study.This report considers the main regions i.e. North America, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, China and Latin America. Top manufacturers in China market, their capacity, production, revenue, price and shares are covered in detail.Download sample pages of this premium report: https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=31226 To offer a clear understanding of the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market, several questions have been addressed in the research study concerning the growth of the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market. It is also been discussed with respect to projected growth rate of the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market in the near future. Also, depending on the ongoing trend of the market, the region which is anticipated to witness high growth in the next few years is studied in detail.Get Discount on this Report: https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=31226 The study segments the market by geography into: North America, China, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. It provides in-depth forecasts of revenue of the market as a whole as well as each and every application segment. The competitive landscape is mapped depending on product and technology. This study also offers an overview of pricing trends and ancillary factors that will be influencing pricing in the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market. The market study, estimation, and market sizing have been done utilizing a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.Most important data include the key recommendations and predictions by our analysts, intended to steer a strategic business decision. The company profiles section of this research service is a compilation of the growth strategies, financial status, product portfolio, and recent developments of key market participants. The report provides detailed industry analysis of the China ESD-Safe Field Kits market with the help of proven research methodologies such as Porters five forces. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of the buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and the degree of competition.For more inquiry before purchase: https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=31226 China ESD-Safe Field Kits Market Report 2016This report studies ESD-Safe Field Kits in China market, focuses on the top players in China market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturerCompany Profiled in this Report: RS Pro Plastic Systems SCS Desco Weller FlukeComplete report available at: https://www.researchnreports.com/semiconductor-electronics/China-ESD-Safe-Field-Kits-Market-Research-Report-2016-31226 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 China 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.
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Letho Resources Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Letho Resources Corp. (TSX Venture:LET). has issued a press release with the following headline:Letho Appoints an additional Director to the BoardTo 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 Letho Resources 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/Letho Resources Corp.Source: Letho Resources Corp. (TSX Venture: LET)Date: April 13, 2017Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Letho Resources 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.)
Manufacturing Analytics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights

Manufacturing Analytics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 10:56:32

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616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Statistical tool that performs rule-based analysis to enhance business process and production quality is termed to be manufacturing analytics. The application of analytics in various industries such as in banking, retail and other are popularly known but recently there is an increase in demand for application of analytics in manufacturing sector in order to minimize operational cost, simplify supply-chain requirements and more. Additionally, the manufacturing companies which adopt process improvement programs including SCADA, lean manufacturing, and six sigma has enhanced the adoption of manufacturing analytics.Manufacturing analytics gathers data from geographically distributed resources, using PLCs, historians and offer organized and modeled analysis. On premise manufacturing analytical tools enable installation and service of these software suite at client side and are expensive.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3113 Manufacturing Analytics Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe analysis of manufacturing process data are fading out due to increasing multiple industry data sources such as in-factory databases, sensor, images and among others have led to the increasing demand for big data analytics in manufacturing. This is the prime factor contributing to the growth of manufacturing analytics market globally. Additionally, growing demand to optimize business process and make them more agile and scalable is further encouraging the growth of manufacturing analytics software in manufacturing sector.Complex operation and low returns on investment from manufacturing analytics tools is hindering the market growth of manufacturing analytics solutions. Technical constraints including data breaching in cloud deployment and privacy are among other factors that negatively impact the growth of manufacturing analytics market.Manufacturing Analytics Market: SegmentationManufacturing analytics market can be segmented on the basis of solution, type of deployment, industry and regionsOn the basis of solution, manufacturing analytics market can be segmented into software and services. Services segment can further be sub-segmented into managed service and professional service.On the basis of type of deployment, manufacturing analytics market can be segmented into on-premise and cloud-based.On the basis of industry, manufacturing analytics market can be segmented into banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), IT and telecommunication, energy and utility, public sector manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality and others.Manufacturing Analytics Market: Regional OverviewRegionally, manufacturing analytics market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and AfricaNorth America and Western Europe regions are expected to contribute majorly to the revenue of global manufacturing analytics market. Asia Pacific excluding Japan and Japan are expected to have the maximum growth opportunities in the forecast period from 2017 to 2027.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3113 Manufacturing Analytics Market: Competition LandscapeFew prominent players in the manufacturing analytics market include:SAP SE,IBM Corporation, Wipro Limited, General Electric Company, TIBCO Software, Inc., Zensar Technologies Ltd., Sisense, Inc., Oracle Corporation and Gemini Software solutions Pvt. Ltd.Recent contracts/deals in Manufacturing Analytics Market:In March 2015, Caterpillar Inc. signed an agreement with Uptake, which is a provider of dynamic analytics and insight platform to a wide array of industries. The two companies jointly develop end-to-end platform for predictive diagnostic to aid caterpillar customers monitor and optimize their fleets more effectively.In November 2016, GE Aviation launched new solution after teaming up with Capgemini. The new solutions launched enables key operations allowing digital exchange in data, maintenance and configuration of data.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 00:32:01

The Board of Directors of Camposol Holding Ltd. announces that Mrs. Maria Cristina Couturier has resigned from the Chief Financial Officer position, in order to pursue new projects and personal aspirations.

Mr. Jorge Ramirez, CEO of Camposol Holding Ltd., will assume the CFO functions during the selection process for the new CFO (process that has already begun).

"I would like to thank Maria Cristina for playing an important role in the consolidation process of Camposol and for securing the financing of the company during the past 3 years. I wish her the best in her future endeavors," stated Jorge Ramirez, CEO of Camposol Holding Ltd.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Luis Ramirez Rubio, CEO

jramirezr@camposol.com.pe

Jossue Yesquen, Head of IR

jyesquen@camposol.com.pe

Phone: +511 621 0800 Ext.: 7171

About CAMPOSOL:

CAMPOSOL is the leading agro-industrial company in Peru, the largest exporter of Hass avocado and soon the largest producer of blueberries in the world. It is involved in the harvest, processing and marketing of high quality agricultural and sea products such as avocados, blueberries, grapes, mangoes, mandarins, shrimps, seashells and other products, which are exported to Europe, the United States of America and Asia.

CAMPOSOL is a vertically integrated company located in Peru. It is the third largest employer of the country, with more than 15 thousand workers in high season, and is committed to supporting sustainable development through social responsibility policies and projects that increase the shared-value for all of its stakeholders.

CAMPOSOL was the first Peruvian agro-industrial company in being part of the United Nations Global Compact and the first in publishing annual Sustainability Reports aligned to the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) indicators; it has also achieved the following international certifications: BSCI, Global Gap, IFS, HACCP and BRC, among others.

To learn more about CAMPOSOL please visit: www.camposol.com.pe

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: Camposol Holding Limited via Globenewswire


Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Krill Meal Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 11:58:16

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# 578 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

Krill meal is a specialty feed ingredient, which is made up of small shrimp-like crustacean, Krill. Ithas been manufactured by the companies for more than 10 years. Krill meal is a rich source of protein and more than 200,000 tons of krill meal is transported worldwide. Although there are more than 80 species of krill and currently only 6 species of krill are fished,but the two major species of krill meal is Euphausia superba and Euphausia Pacifica. Species that is used to make high valued krill meal is the South Antarctic krill belongs to Euphausia superba species. Although krill is one of the most abundant creatures in the world, its industrial usage is still on the growth phase. Unlike fish meal, krill meal has more fat content, ethoxyquin and a natural stabilizing substance. Krill meal has negligible amount heavy metals and PCBs. Krill meal is also a rich source of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and amino acids. It krill meal helps in the promotion of growth, helps in increasing weight gain and feed conversion rates.Market Segmentation:Krill Meal market is segmented on the basis of use, distribution channel and region. On the basis of use market is segmented into human consumption, aquarium and aquaculture feed. Among all these segment application in aquaculture feed is expected to grow enormously in the coming future, ongoing research in krill meal will also boost the growth of pharmaceutical segment. The demand for Krill Meal is more due to the value it offers as well as ease of availability of its product in the market. On the basis of distribution channel the market is segmented into supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores, medical stores and online stores. Convenience stores is expected to hold a relatively high share in the krill meal market.On the basis of region Krill Meal market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3093 Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of Chromium polynicotinateisdivided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan. Among these segment North America is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is the largest producer and consumer of Chromium polynicotinate. In Asia Pacific region the countries like China and India are generating the major revenue. In terms of revenue Asia Pacific is the second prominent contributor in theChromium polynicotinatemarket.Market Drivers:The market of Krill Meal is driven by the increasing awareness among the consumers about the health benefits associated with it. Krill Meal is not only a rich source of protein but it also exhibits some special properties such as anti-inflammatory property, anti-cancerproperty and anti-oxidant property. Companies are producing Krillproducts for human consumption and will continue to do so because of the properties it exhibits. These versatile properties of Krill Meal is attracting the pharmaceutical segment a lot and will defiantly drive the krill meal market in the forecast period. Factors that hamper the growth of krill meal market are availability of various alternate protein feeds which includes fish meal and soybean meal.Visit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3093 Market Key Players:Some of the key players in Krill mealmarket are SipCarp, Qrill, Shandong Keruier Biological Company, La Merced, CYT INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD, Sunflower Enterprise, NUTRAFEED, SEAPRO, Qingdao Kangjing Marine Biotechnology Co, Beijing Jin-Ye Bioengineering Co., Ltd., A-Bank Co.,Ltdand INTERRYBFLOT among others.
Microdisplays Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights

Microdisplays Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 11:11:24

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# 610 Words

616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Microdisplays are tiny compact displays that require magnifying optics while deployment in various electronic devices. Microdisplay devices feature user-configurable technology, high pixel density and high resolution which are widely used for smart glasses, smart watches, smart bands and other smart devices to enhance the picture quality images with high contrast ratio.Microdisplays are featured with CMOS chips which includes two-dimensional transistors. These microdisplays are applicable in rear-projection TVs, head-mounted displays (HMD), view finders in cameras and other data projector counterparts. Microdisplays enhance the voice and picture clarity when used in TVs. Technological advancements in microdiplays and emergence of microdisplay-based holographic display are encouraging the electronic equipment manufacturer to invest in R&D of microdisplays having a positive impact on global microdisplays market.Microdisplays Market: Drivers and ChallengesRapid development and continuous enhancements in display technology has given way for various types of displays in the commercial and industrial market. Microdisplays are compact small-sized displays featuring high resolution capability that improves the picture and voice quality in TVs which makes it a prime device to be used while manufacture of display devices, encouraging the OEMs to use microdiplays in many new devices such as smartphones, tablets and others. Growing number of applications in various consumer electronics and industrial electronics are major factors which fuel the growth of global microdisplays market, encouraging the devices manufacturer to use microdiaplays in the display devices.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3131 Government regulations for the use of microdiplays in electronic devices, and high initial manufacturing costs are among the factors that impact negatively the growth of global microdisplays market.Microdisplays Market: SegmentationMicrodisplays market can be segmented on the basis of products, technology, application and regions.On the basis of products, microdisplays market can be segmented into near-to-eye products, projections product and others.On the basis of technology, microdisplays market can be segmented into liquid crystal display technology (LCD), digital micromirror devices (DMD), liquid crystal on-silicon technology (LCOS), organic light emitting diode (OLED) and othersOn the basis of application, the microdisplays market can be segmented into industrial application and consumer application.Microdisplays Market: Regional OverviewRegionally, microdisplays market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and AfricaNorth America dominates the global microdisplays market in terms of revenue as majority of the key player are based out in this region. Western Europe is among the regions that contribute to a greater extent after North America. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is the region that has maximum growth potential for microdisplays applications.Microdisplays Market: Competition LandscapeFew prominent vendors in the global microdisplays market include: eMagin Corporation, Kopin Corporation, Syndiant Inc. MicroVision, Inc., Yunnan Olightek Opto-Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., Universal Display Corporation, Himax Technologies Inc., Liteye Systems Inc., WiseChip Semiconductor Inc. and Cambridge Display Technology.Key contracts signed in global microdisplays market:In September 2012, DigiLens, Inc. was awarded with a US$ 7,50,000 U.S. government contract to continue with Phase II development of a wide view color head mounted display (HMD) with curved visor prototype. Key elements of the contract included development of a unique optical manufacturing process where traditional free-space or analog holographic recording processes transitioned to digital holographic contact copy mastering processes.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3131 In August 2012, eMagin Corporation was awarded with a contract from the U.S. Navy for R&D of a high-brightness 2,000 x 2,000 pixel OLED microdisplay. The contract was of US$ 2.4 million and the proposed work in the contract leveraged the accomplishments of prior Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) OLED programs and further improved the OLED performance.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 09:37:04

Orange Belgium will publish its results for the first quarter of 2017 on Friday, April 21 at 07:00 CET.

Orange Belgium Investor Relations is pleased to invite investors and analysts to participate in a conference call hosted by:

Michael Trabbia, CEO

Arnaud Castille, CFO

Siddy Jobe, Director Investor Relations

The conference call will start at 10:00 am CET (9:00 am UK / 4:00 am EST). To access the call, please dial one of the following numbers 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call in order to avoid waiting time. Consequently register with following pin code: 59620238# and provide your name and the company you work for.

Belgium +32 24029640 Canada +1 4169153614 France +33 172001510 Germany +49 69222229031 Ireland +353 14311251 Italy +39 236009767 Luxembourg +352 20880696 Netherlands +31 107138194 Spain +34 914142021 Switzerland +41 225809022 United Kingdom +44 2030432440 United States +1 6467224907

The recorded session will be available after the conference call and can be downloaded from our website. You will find the link to access the recorded session on the website below.

The press release for the first quarter of 2017, the roadshow presentation and the results toolkit will be available on Friday, April 21 on the financial section of the corporate website at https://corporate.orange.be/en/financial-information/financial-results

About Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 3 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Luxembourg.

As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments.

Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and ADSL internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises.

Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL).

For more information: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.beor follow us on Twitter: @pressOrangeBe.

Press contacts

Annelore Marynissen (NL) - annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 479 01 60 58

Jean-Pascal Bouillon (FR) - jean-pascal.bouillon@orange.com - +32 473 94 87 31

press@orange.be

Investors contact

Siddy Jobe - ir@orange.be - +32(0)2 745 80 92





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: Orange Belgium via Globenewswire


Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the  Orthokeratology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027report to their offering.

Orthokeratology Market Trends

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 08:44:54

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616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United States3479183531Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Orthokeratology is the reduction of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia using contact lenses to reshape the cornea. Modern Orthokeratology uses reverse geometry gas permeable Orthokeratology shaping lenses worn during sleeping time and can be removed during daytime. This overnight wearing provides an instant, more appropriate results than early Orthokeratology attempts. Orthokeratology is indicated in two conditions, one is to correct the refractive errors like nearsightedness but also hyperopia and astigmatism. Second is to slow the progression of myopia in childhood. Mild to moderate myopia are treated with Orthokeratology and risk associated with it is less because the corneal reshaping is temporary and patient can discontinue the lenses at any time. Studies shown that Orthokeratology can reduce myopic progression by 95% and slow axial elongation. Orthokeratology is safe when compared to others because the lenses are worn for shorter time period i.e. while sleeping rather than the daytime. Orthokeratology is non-invasive method where surgery is not required. The process of Orthokeratology mainly involves initial fittings, shaping lens adaptation and follow-ups, removing shaping lenses, performing refraction (or perform refractometry) and topography (for shape changes). Shaping lenses are checked for centration, movement and fluorescein pattern.Orthokeratology market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreased prevalence of myopia in adults with population and it can lead to retinal detachment and glaucoma which can contribute to loss of vision. World health organization identified that myopia as one of the leading cause of the visual impairment. Socio-economic factor of individuals is also effected with the severity of the myopia progression. There is no current treatment for reversing the pathological myopia, only available means is to decrease the severity and progression. All these concerns driving towards the usage of Orthokeratology. The risk of microbial keratitis is kept minimum by using the Orthokeratology. Adaptation of Orthokeratology lenses is easier and faster because of large diameter and with minimum lid sensations. Corrective actions associated with Orthokeratology is stable but not permanent. All these factors are attributing for the rapid advancement of Orthokeratology market. Other alternative methods like soft dual focus contact lenses and modified spectacle lenses are used in treatment of myopia. Till date these methods have not proved to be as successful as Orthokeratology.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3142 The common side effects of Orthokeratology is redness, cornea staining and cornea edema. The cost of the Orthokeratology lenses and maintenance during the treatment is too high. Orthokeratology requires regular follow-up which is highly inconvenient in few cases. All these factors are directly effecting the growth of Orthokeratology market.Orthokeratology market: Market overviewOrthokeratology market is growing enormously because of increased number of pathological myopia conditions. Myopia effect socio-economic conditions of individual and the treatment is not available, the usage of Orthokeratology lenses are more advisable. By implementing the effective Orthokeratology, the natural evolution of myopia can be reduced to minimum extent. Rapid advancement of technology and genetic manipulations made it possible to reduce the risk of myopia.These factors drive the market towards high growth of the Orthokeratology market. Because of wide range availability of Orthokeratology lenses, customization is possible with this lenses. It ultimately increases the patient compliance of Orthokeratology lenses. The Orthokeratology has a built-in safeguard, whenever any adverse effects noted the lenses get discontinued and cornea retains its original position. All these factors influence the growth of the market.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3142 Orthokeratology market: Region overviewThe growth of Orthokeratology market in the US is high because of high incidence of myopia and increased complications with myopia. Europe and Asian countries are also showing remarkable growth in Orthokeratology market. Developing countries are showing the enormous growth in the Orthokeratology market because high risk of blindness in the myopia patients. The future is expected with double growth rate.Orthokeratology market: Key ParticipantsThe key participants in the Orthokeratology market is Euclid (USA), GP Specialists (USA), E&E Optics (USA), Procornea (Nederland), Alpha Corporation (Japan), Lucid (Korea), TMVC (Taiwan), Autek China (China). The competitors in the Orthokeratology market is increasing enormously. To expand the market of Orthokeratology, the companies are mainly focusing on mergers and acquisition around the globe.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Packer Bottles Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 12:02:51

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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

Packer bottles are a prominent packaging product for primary packaging of non-liquid products. Though packer bottles were traditionally made of glass, rigid plastics such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) have been increasingly replacing the glass packer bottles. Vitamin pills, powdered chemical contents, nutritional supplements, medicinal tablets, agro chemicals, industrial chemicals, etc. are packed in packer bottles of various colors, materials, capacity size etc.The packer bottles have been used as a staple packaging solution for industries such as pharmaceutical, food and beverage, industrial chemicals, etc. throughout ages, as they provide an ideal way to pack products such as tablets, powder medicines, capsules and pills. Packer bottles manufactured through bow molding technology are characterized by cylindrical shape with wide mouth and threaded screw closure system. Packer bottle due to its characteristics offer convenience of storing non-liquid as well as viscous contents of less sensitive chemical properties.Packer bottles market is encompassed under the larger market for primary packaging. As a primary packaging product, packer bottles preserve the product from damage, contamination and leakage while protecting the contents over a long period of time through complex supply chain. Apart from this, packer bottles also allow convenient shelving and ease of handling for retailers as well as consumers.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3098 Packer Bottles Market, Market Dynamics:Glass packer bottles have been traditionally enjoyed larger pie of packer bottles market, as glass offers resistance to chemical properties of the content along with bulk packaging and storing capabilities. However, glass due to its heavyweight and fragile characteristics pose of risk of breakage and leakage of contents. Rigid plastics such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are increasingly being preferred by manufacturers as they offer functionalities similar to glass. Plastic packer bottles offer better resistance against stress and impact compared to glass packer bottles. This allows hassle free transportation and shipping of packer bottles through the supply chain across industries.Packer bottles, which are a key packaging products for pharmaceutical products, evolve with the developments and advancements in the pharmaceutical market. Closure systems for packer bottles are gradually made of tamper evident and tamper resistant technology in order to protect the integrity and authenticity of the packed contents.However, flexible packaging formats such as blisters are progressively replacing packer bottles as preferred mediums for non-liquid products packaging. In pharmaceutical packaging market, use of blisters for packing pharmaceutical products offer higher tamper evident measure right up to the administration of the drug, as every dosage unit is packed in a separate compartments of the blister pack. This also allows protection against moisture and environment, for products with sensitive chemical properties, as moisture in packer bottles is replaced every time a bottle is opened to consume the contents within.Visit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3098 Packer Bottles Market, Market Segments:Packer bottles market can be segmented according to end user industry, application type, material type, color type and capacity size. As per end user industry, packer bottles are used in industries including pharmaceutical, healthcare, food, and beverages. According to application, packer bottles can be used to pack pills, capsules, tablets and powder. Based on the material used, packer bottles are made of glass and plastics. In plastics, packer bottles can be further segmented into Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Packer bottles are supplied in color variants including white, amber, cobalt blue and transparent. As per capacity size, packer bottles can be segmented as below 100 cc, 100 to 300 cc, 300 to 500 cc and above 500 ccPacker Bottles Market, Regional Outlook:The regional markets for packer bottles market include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific, excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan. Emerging markets in APEJ such as India and China, due to increase in disposable income, will contribute to the growth of packer bottles market. Further benchmark performance of pharmaceutical industries in the U.S. and Europe will see higher growth in demand for packer bottles in these regions.Packer Bottles Market, Key Players:Key players operating in the packer bottles market are Berry Plastics Corporation, The Cary Company, Silver Spur Corporation, Alpha Packaging, Captivaco, Qorpak, Golden Needle Acupuncture, Herbal & Medical Supply, Kinnek, Inc., Comar, LLC., Pharmacy Automation Supplies, Kush Bottles, Inc., Aaron Packaging, Freund Container, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Thomas Scientific.
WASHINGTON -- With a mellifluous name suggesting bucolic tranquility, Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, is an unlikely object of the caterwauling recently directed at him and the House Freedom Caucus he leads. The vituperation was occasioned by the HFC's role rescuing Republicans from embracing an unpopular first draft of legislation to replace Obamacare.

A decisive blow against the bill was struck by the quintessential Republican moderate, New Jersey's Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the Appropriations Committee whose family has included a member of the Continental Congress, four U.S. senators and, in 1844, a vice presidential nominee: "Hurrah! Hurrah! The country's risin', for Henry Clay and Frelinghuysen."

Although just a little over two years old, the HFC signals a revival of congressional resistance to the dangerous waxing of executive power under presidents of both parties. The HFC is a rarity, a heartening political development: People giving priority to their legislative craft and institution rather than to a president of their party barking at them.

The HFC's 30 members, and six others informally affiliated, are barely 8 percent of the House, but their cohesion is a force multiplier. The cohesion comes, Meadows says, from its members being "here for a purpose." And, he adds dryly, from the fact that, for many, "This is not the best job they've ever had." Among the never more than 537 people who are in Washington because they won elections, none are more threatening to tranquility than the few who are not desperate to be here. They do not respond to the usual incentives for maintaining discipline.

The HFC has rules, bylaws and weekly meetings, often featuring experts on particular issues. HFC members have, Meadows believes, "a competitive advantage" in the House because they hone their arguments together in what Meadows calls "the best debating club on Capitol Hill." If 80 percent of the HFC agree on an issue, it votes as a bloc, although members can receive two exemptions per Congress.

Meadows was contented as a businessman for whom politics was an avocation. About 30 years ago, he was the only person to attend a precinct meeting, thereby becoming the precinct's chair. He rose in Republican ranks until redistricting after the 2010 census produced a congenial district, which he won in 2012.

In December 2014, he and a few others were disgusted by what was called "cromnibus." This testimony to Congress' normal dysfunction was a combination of a continuing resolution to keep the government running and an omnibus spending bill. Cromnibus was another of those "this is a binary choice, so you have no choice" moments. He and eight other conservatives chose to form a group of kindred spirits.

Meadows came to the nation's attention by doing something eccentric: He read the House rules. Therein he learned about a "motion to vacate the chair." Such a motion requires a vote on the Speaker. John Boehner resigned as speaker and from the House rather than rely on Democratic votes to make up for lost votes from the HFC, whose members had felt the sting of his disapproval of their insufficient docility.

In last month's dispute about Speaker Paul Ryan's health care bill, the president thought it was wise to tweet a demand that the HFC "get on the team." And for Steve Bannon to summon HFC members to reportedly be instructed by him that "this is not a discussion. This is not a debate. You have no choice but to vote for this bill." And for the White House director of social media -- your tax dollars at work -- to tweet that an HFC member, Michigan's Justin Amash, "is a big liability" who should be defeated in a primary.

The 32nd president, a somewhat more accomplished politician than the 45th, tried to purge some members of his party's congressional caucus. Franklin Roosevelt became angry when some conservative Southern Democrats helped to defeat his plan to break the Supreme Court to his saddle by enlarging it and filling the new seats with compliant liberals. He recruited and supported primary opponents against the offending Democrats.

All survived. One of them, Georgia's Sen. Walter George, told that FDR was "his own worst enemy," replied: "Not as long as I'm alive." Republicans gained eight Senate seats in 1938 and their House ranks almost doubled, from 88 to 169. FDR never again had a liberal legislating majority in Congress. Today's president should have second, or perhaps first, thoughts about a purge.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 10:14:01

Pala Investments Expands Team

Pala Investments

Richard Brown

Tel: +41 41 560 9070

Pala Investments (Pala), a multi-strategy investment company focused on the mining and metals value chain, announces today the expansion of its investment team, with the addition of Jessica Fung and Justin Cochrane.

Jessica Fung, Head of Research

Jessica joins Pala following eight years with investment bank BMO Capital Markets as their lead Commodities Strategist, where she held primary responsibility for developing the banks commodity research as well as generating commodity calls and investment recommendations for the banks clients. Jessica will oversee Palas research efforts, assisting in developing commodity views and investment strategies to underpin both Palas Liquid Investments Strategies fund and Palas core Private Equity investments.

Justin Cochrane, Streaming and Structured Finance

Justin will support Palas efforts in structuring streaming and royalty transactions as part of Palas structured finance offering to its investee companies. Justin is an Executive of Duke Royalty Limited and was Executive Vice President, Corporate Development at Sandstorm Gold Ltd between 2010 and 2015, holding primary responsibility for sourcing, negotiating and executing royalty and stream transactions in the precious and base metals sectors globally, prior to which Justin was with National Bank Financial for nine years in their investment banking division.

Commenting on the expansion of the team, Stephen Gill, Pala Portfolio Manager, said:

We are very pleased to welcome Jessica and Justin. Their addition adds further depth to Palas team, and continues to underpin a robust, research-driven approach to thematic investing across the commodity space. Jessicas skill set will enable us to further increase our ability to develop conviction views around counter-cyclical and thematic investments opportunities both in our liquid strategies and PE investments.

Justins depth of experience in structuring royalties, streams and other forms of non-dilutive financing will help further expand our ability to represent a creative and long-term financing partner for companies in the mining and metals space.

The continued expansion of the team positions us well to generate attractive returns across the commodity cycle.

About Pala

Pala is a multi-strategy investment company focused on the mining and metals value chain with a strong track record of successful investments and value creation. Palas team has extensive experience within the sector and seeks to assist companies in which it has long-term shareholdings by providing strategic advice and innovative solutions in development, production, expansion and turnaround situations. Pala also pursues a range of liquid investment strategies. Pala invests across all geographies and in all mining commodities as well as mining services and consumables. For more information, visit www.pala.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704130054
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Plastic Jar Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 11:54:54

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For many decades, plastic jars have been adopted widely for packaging of materials like food, detergents, and other consumer goods. Plastic Jars are made from compounds such as polyethylene terephthalate, HDPE, LDPE, polystyrene etc., known to have an impressive clarity, and a good ability to withstand impact. They are known to act like a barrier that can resist oil and grease, and temperature changes which may affect the product within, especially food products. Attributed to their properties which include economic price point, improved product insulation, its recyclability, resistance to UV, and minimized need for coatings to prevent dissolution with food, the preference for plastic jar has increased substantially, translating into value proposition for players operating in the plastic jar packaging market.Plastic jar Packaging Market: DynamicsGlobal consumer packaging market has transformed over the past few years, creating the need for absolute customization in terms of package design and formulations. Since, retail sector growth in developed market is staggering around 5%, and that in developing markets it has already surpassed over 8% annually, it is anticipated that it would translate in meteoric growth for the plastic jar packaging market. The global plastic jar packaging market is also growing on the backdrop of FMCG industry growth along with changing food consumption pattern. Global ready to eat food market grew at CAGR of over 6.8% over the past three years and is likely to gain momentum with growing urbanization and increasing disposable income. Despite all the positive market conditions for plastic jars packaging market, stringent policy framework and regulatory landscape are likely to impede the growth, along with developing alternate packaging options such as bag in box or bag in tubes. Concerns for the environmental effects of plastic also restrain the growth of the plastic jar packaging market. Plastic being known to take centuries to decompose, paves way for an increasing demand for new recyclable forms of plastic, which makes the market a competitive one.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3076 Plastic jar Packaging Market: SegmentationAccording to the Society of Plastics Industry, a plastic Jar or any other plastic container with a code of 1 indicates that it is made out of PET. A plastic jar with a code of 2 represents HDPE, 3 represents PVC, 4 represents LDPE, 5 represents PE, 6 represents Styrofoam (or PS), a code of 7 may represent that the Plastic jar is made out of miscellaneous plastics that are not represented any of the other six codes. Therefore, the global plastic jar packaging market in the report is segmented as follows:-On the basis of material:PETHDPEPVCLDPEPEStyrofoam i.e. PSOn the basis of Plastic Jar type:Straight Sided JarsDomed based JarsSnap Top JarsTapered JarsOther Jar TypesOn the basis of Plastic Jar Size:Small Sized Plastic Jars (Less than 12 oz)Medium Sized Plastic Jars (13  30 oz)Large Sized Plastic Jars (31  110 oz)Very Large size Plastic jars(> 110 oz)On the basis of Plastic Jar Color:AmberFrostedClearAmbientOthersVisit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3076 On the basis of End use Industry:Food and BeveragesPersonal CareHome CarePharmaceuticalsChemicalsOther End Use IndustryAll these plastics have low cost of production, are safe as packaging materials and find use in a wide range of places like Kitchens, bathrooms, industries and the likes. With the increase in the number of well-informed consumers every month, the market for plastic jars is on an incline and plastic manufacturers have to work hard to properly classify their products in order to help the consumers and recyclers sort their products with ease.Plastic jar packaging market: Geographical and Competitive dynamicsBeing the most developed of all with a well-informed consumer population, North America is the largest market for plastic jars. It is closely followed by Europe, the Asia Pacific region and RoW. However, economic powerhouses like China and India represent markets that have shown the growing need for economical products that also promise quality. Rapid economic development of these countries, in addition to a large consumer base, plastic jars are anticipated to face sizable demand in the next decade. These, combined with the added benefits of plastic jars like inert nature and resistance to impact damage, protection from UV etc., increase the need for such products in these markets.Key PlayersSome of the key players in the market for plastic jars are  Alpha Packaging, Constar International, Ontario Plastic Container producers Ltd, Gepack, Cospak, Amcor, Container Corporation of Canada, Graham Packaging Europe, Olcott Plastics and M & H Plastics.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the  Point-Of-Care Genetic Testing Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027report to their offering.

Point-Of-Care Genetic Testing Market Value

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 08:40:00

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Point-of-Care testing is defined as the clinical testing performed at or near the site where clinical care is being given to the patient. It can be performed by patients itself or any personnel. Consecutively, analyzing the DNA and finding out the best treatment option based on the genetic makeup of the patient constitute Point-of-Care genetic testing. This isa fast and quick technique based on personal genomics so to allow the efficient functioning of the drug. The idea behind this point-of-care genetic testing approach is to reduce the diagnosis time, inconvenience faced by patients and to follow personalized medicine approach for specific patient. Generally, all the diseases are combination of various genetic factors, and current genetic testing techniques require a lot of time in analyzing the problem. As a result, the use of Point-of Care genetic testing systems is prevalent in quickly diagnosing and guiding the doctors to head in a right direction.Point-of-Care Genetic testing involves amplification of genetic material and then real-time analysis to detect the genetic variations among people. The first point-of-care version of a real-time nucleic acid detection system is the Cepheids Xpert system, going to be launched this year. It combines fully integrated sample preparation for amplification and detection process. This system is designed to purify, concentrate, detect, and recognize targeted nucleic acid sequences delivering diagnosis using unprocessed samples approximately within 30 minutes.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3138 Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe point-of-care genetic testing technology possesses convenient and immediate action for a therapeutic condition. The growth is likely to continue with the aim of providing less costly and closer to patients care. The use of genetics has become prominent nowadays in almost every pediatric condition, and this technology overcomes the limitations and challenges of current molecular testing techniques. Pressure on healthcare budgets and the trend to patient-centered care might be perceived as problems confined to the developed world. Moreover, the increase in population and westernization in the developing countries like China and India links it with the increase in the healthcare problems. Due to poverty and lack of sources, Point-of-Care genetic testing technology has a major scope in these countries by providing diagnostics available at low prices and at patients bedside. There are some technological limitations like failure to detect abnormal results, standardization, technological expertise, algorithmic & software complications, higher cost of maintenance & repair, poor tests result in case of contaminated samples, and sample specificity in the use of point-of-care genetic testing systems. In addition, the high cost of Point-of-Care genetic test and limited reimbursement support is hindering the growth of point-of-care genetic testing market.Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: OverviewA global trends of making healthcare service more patient-centeric than the service provider shows an expanding growing opportunities for point-of-care genetic testing, as there are lots of funding available from multiple sources including NIH, US Department of Defence as well as various private foundations and biopharmaceutical companies. The point-of-care genetic testing market includes various types of testing includes diabetes, hematology, oncology, infectious disease, and others indications.Point-of-Care genetic testing is going beyond the laboratory, as FDA granted its first CLIA waiver to a nucleic acid based test. The Alere I Influenza A&B and cobas Liat System and Strep A from Roche have received a CLIA waiver in 2015. In the cardiovascular domain, Spartan Biosciences received the approval from Health Care Canada for their Spartan RX CYP2C19 system in 2014, a genetic test that can be used to govern whether patients receiving the antiplatelet medication clopidigrel (Plavix) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have CYP2C19 mutations that may weaken their ability to metabolize the drug.Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: Region-wise OutlookBased on geography, the point-of-care genetic testing market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle & Africa. Sustained implementation of point-of-care genetic testing requires that new technologies address the need of targeted settings. The combined power of microfluidics and smartphone technologies will be going to boost the market of point-of-care molecular testing. The US is recognized at the top country in the sector of Point-of-Care genetic testing market because of technological advancement, awareness among the population and high per capita income. In Europe, Germany is also recognized as the market player in this industry. Asia-Pacific is expected witness significant growth rate in the coming years due to increasing investment in cancer research, increasing awareness and funding by government to curb the prevalence of infectious diseases and active participation of corporates in the healthcare technologies.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3138 Point-of-Care Genetic Testing Market: Key PlayersCepheid, IQuum, Biocartis, Abbott, Idaho Technologies, ThermoFisher, Roche, Optigene, Lumora are some of the global key players in point-of-care genetic testing. In 2016, Biocartis Idyllas distribution rights were also granted to Thermofisher in the US. The Idylla platform is a fully integrated system enabling laboratories to perform a broad range of applications in oncology and beyond. But in 2014, Iquums Liat Analyzers rights were acquired by Roche Molecular Diagnostics.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Propylene Tetramer Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Propylene Tetramer Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 07:38:01

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Propylene Tetramer with CAS 6842-15-5 is an oligomer with a quaternary structure of four propylene units. Formed synthetically by the polymerization of propylene with phosphoric acidcatalyst, propylene tetramer is a colourless clear liquid with mild pleasant odour. Propylene tetramer is an important chemical critical for the production of various downstream chemicals. Propylene tetramer is employed as an intermediate for synthesis of a wide range of chemicals such as lube oil additives, polymerization agents, surfactants, agricultural chemicals, coatings as corrosion inhibitors due to its unsaturated double bond and high branching. Due to its versatile polymeric functionality, propylene tetramer is soluble in most organic diluters and solvents such as acetone, ethanol and ethyl ether. One of the important applications of propylene tetramers is for the manufacture of dodecyl phenol or dodecene, by the alkylation of phenol using propylene tetramer, which is primarily used as used in the production of additives for engine fuels and lubricant oils. Propylene tetramer is used for alkylation of benzene to make branched chain dodecylbenzene that is subsequently sulfonated to provide a non-biodegradable surfactant.Global Propylene Tetramer Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe consumption and demand of propylene tetramer market is expected to grow with the increase in demand from end use industries. The recuperating oil and gas industry and thriving automobile production are expected to create significant demand for propylene tetramer owing to its extensive application in the manufacturing of lubricant additives. Likewise, increasing urbanization has led to an escalation in the demand for surfactants, which are a critical part of household chemicals such as detergents, this demand is expected to create significant opportunities for the global propylene market during the forecast period. The increasing production and consumption of fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals also contribute to the sustainable demand for propylene tetramer market. However, stringent environmental regulations regarding the utilization of non- biodegradable substances and presence of alternate chemical substitutes are expected to restrain the revenue sales of the market.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2772 Global Propylene Tetramer Market: SegmentationGlobal Propylene Tetramer Market can be segmented on the basis of application as:Oil and Fuel additives, Fertilizer and herbicideSurfactants and detergents, Paint and CoatingsWater Treatment chemicals, OthersGlobal Propylene Tetramer Market: Regional OutlookIn the global propylene tetramer market, North America is a prominent consumer of propylene tetramer, which is due to the increased sales of tetramer due to its application in the lubrication and chemical surfactants and to large industrial sector. Followed by North America, Europe is also one of the major markets attributed to the high use of propylene tetramer in the lubricant industry. The demand of propylene tetramer market in North America and Europe is expected to be moderate for the forecast period owing to increasing significance of bio friendly chemicals and presence of stringent regulations restraining the production and consumption of non-bio degradable products and chemicals. However, the market dynamics is projected to shift towards Asia Pacific owing to relatively higher consumption and modest presence of environmental regulations. Consumption growth is forecasted to be most significant in Asia, followed by Middle East & Africa and South America. In Asia Pacific region, major industrial economies such as India, China and South Korea are expected to project higher growth in terms of both consumer and producer end. Middle East & Africa and Eastern Europe are estimated to participate significantly in the market dynamics of propylene tetramer owing to the escalating consumption in oil and gas sector.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2772 Global Propylene Tetramer Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global propylene tetramer market, Bayer AG E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Exxon Mobil Chemical, Shanghai Petrochemical, Dow Chemical Company, TPC Group,Chevron Oronite Company LLC, PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Qilu Petrochemical among others. The propylene tetramer market is highly fragmented and participants are focussing on both organic and inorganic expansions.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Microsclerotherapy Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 11:47:05

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The very thin and tiny veins that look like a spider web below the skin is known as spider veins or thread veins. Spider vein are also known as small varicose veins. They are caused because of the malfunctioning of the valves in the veins. The bloods gets backed up in the veins resulting into swelling. Microsclerotherapy is one of the best technique to treat spider veins. It involves injecting a substance called as sclerosant, which destroys the veins over a period of time and makes it disappear. The technique is most used on legs and other body parts and rare on face due to the minimal possibility of scarring. Normally the patients require about 2 to 6 session of treatment at 4 to 8 weeks of intervals, also depending upon the size of the veins.Microsclerotherapy Treatment Market: Drivers & RestraintsRising incidence of spider veins and varicose veins is one of the major driving factor that can influence the growth of the global microsclerotherapy market. Comparatively painless procedure, minimal invasion, highly effective, fewer post-operative complications, simple analgesic required during the procedure are the important factors that will propel the growth of the global market through 2027. The incidence of spider veins are more prevalent in aging population, therefore rise in geriatric population is another factor that can positively influence the global market. Furthermore, heredity, prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle, obesity are the factors that can influence the growth of the global microsclerotherapy market during the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3074 Higher cost of the treatment, lack of training for surgeons, other alternative procedures, are few of the major factors that can restrain the growth of the global microsclerotherapy treatment market during the forecast period.Microsclerotherapy Treatment Market: SegmentationThe global microsclerotherapy treatment market is classified on the basis of material type and end-user.Based on material type, the global microsclerotherapy market is segmented into the following:SclerosantsSodium Tetradecyl sulphatePolidocanolChromated glycerinOthersMicro-NeedlesGraduated compression hosiery supportsOthers surgical productsBased on End-User, the global microsclerotherapy market is segmented into the following:Cosmetic and Skin ClinicsHospitalsCosmetic Training InstitutesBased on geography, the global microsclerotherapy market is segmented into following:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, U.K, Spain, France, Rest of Western Europe)Eastern Europe (Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanMiddle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa)Visit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3074 Microsclerotherapy TreatmentMarket: OverviewMicrosclerotherapy treatment market is expected to expand at a significant growth rate across regions. Major players in this segment are working on their research and development process to build advanced products such as improved and effective sclerosants, improved after care and support. Microsclerotherapy is a widespread and a well-established technique for spider veins and with various organizations working to raise and maintain the standards of the treatment the global market is expected to anticipate a higher growth rate. Rise in prevalence of spider veins and varicose vein is one of the major factor attributing to the growth of the market. Furthermore, it is estimated that about 50 to 55 percent of the women in United States suffer from one or other type of vein disease which is one of the major factor that can accelerate the growth of the microsclerotherapy market in North America.Microsclerotherapy Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookA geographic condition regarding microsclerotherapy treatment market, it has been segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa.North America is expected to dominate the global microsclerotherapy market which is then followed by Europe. Advance healthcare infrastructure, growing importance of aesthetics, continuous lifestyle associated changes, prevalence of spider vein, high disposable income etc. are few of the factors attributing the growth of the microsclerotherapy market in the North America. The Asia Pacific region is expected to register a highest growth rate during the forecast period due to increase in patient awareness and early treatments, increase in disposable income, improved technological advancement.Microsclerotherapy Treatment Market: Key PlayersSome of the prominent players operating in the global microsclerotherapy market are The Vein Clinic, STD Pharmaceutical Products, Covidien, Kreussler Pharma, VASCULAR SOLUTIONS, Medicetics, and Skin Care Clinic, Maryland Dermatology Laser, Skin, & Vein Institute, LLC, among others worldwide.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Environmental Catalysts Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" report to their offering.

Environmental Catalysts Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 07:22:36

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Environmental catalysts are a class of catalysts that is primarily used in order to reduce the level of pollutants and harmful emissions associated with energy and other process based manufacturing industries. Besides their use in industrial applications, these environmental catalysts are also used to reduce automotive emissions. As such, these catalysts commonly find application in power plants, gas and diesel engines, steam crackers, calcination plants, cement production, FCC units in refineries, waste incineration plants, gas turbines, railroad engines, steel mills, and chemical plants among others. Environmental catalysts provide an efficacious and efficient solution for restriction of emission of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide among others in to the atmosphere. Environmental catalysts are most commonly used in selective catalytic reduction, dieses oxidation catalysts, three way catalytic convertors among others in order to reduce the levels of volatile organic compounds emissions, ammonia emissions, and nitrous oxide emissions. Demand for environmental catalysts is expected to witness a steady growth during forecast period.Global Environmental Catalysts Market: DynamicsConsumption of environmental catalysts has witnessed a steady growth in the recent past. The growth of environmental catalysts market can be attributed to increasing efforts towards developing more efficient, cleaner and safer industrial processes in order to adhere to ever stringent regulations and norms instituted by authorities and regulatory bodies, especially in regions such as North America and Europe. The demand for environmental catalysts, in order to tackle both, stationary source emissions and mobile source emissions is expected to witness a steady growth over forecast period. Moreover, growing emphasis on reducing the level of pollutants emanating from automobiles is expected to in turn result in increasing use of environmental catalysts thus driving the growth of environmental catalysts market during forecast period. Also, increasing demand for environmental catalysts for municipal and industrial waste remediation is expected to gain momentum especially in developing regions of the globe during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2020 Global Environmental Catalysts Market: SegmentationThe global environmental catalysts market is segmented on the basis of the application of catalysts, and end-use segments. On the basis of the application that these catalysts are used for, global environmental catalysts market is classified intoVOC oxidation catalystsCO oxidation catalystsSelective catalytic reduction catalystsOthersOn the basis of end-use segments, the global environmental catalysts market is segmented intoMobile source emission control - heavy duty vehicles, light duty vehicles, motorcycles, construction equipment among othersStationary source emission control that comprises industrial applications including those in power generation, refineries, municipal waste remediation etc.Global Environmental Catalysts Market: Regional OutlookDepending on the geographies of the globe, global environmental catalysts market is segmented in to seven key geographical segments namely North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.North America and Europe, relatively mature markets, dominated global environmental catalysts market over the recent past. Whereas, consumption of these environmental catalysts is expected to witness faster growth in Asia Pacific region spearheaded by China.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2020 Global Environmental Catalyst Market: Key PlayersSome of the players that operate in global environmental catalysts market are BASF SE, Johnson Matthey, CRI Catalyst Company, Axens Group, Environmental Catalyst Technology, Treibacher Industrie AG, Applied Catalysts, and EmeraChem etc.
SAN DIEGO -- Did you hear about the time that grandma tried to go to prom and wound up getting grounded?

Like the case of the passenger being dragged off an airplane or a tone-deaf ad agency using social protests to sell soft drinks, it's such a ridiculous story that you almost can't believe it happened. You know people can be thickheaded, but you hold out hope that -- at those moments that define us -- they'll come to their senses and do the right thing.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen in Eufaula, Alabama, a town of nearly 15,000 people just over an hour southeast of Montgomery.

It was there that 69-year-old Catherine Maine recently made national headlines because -- to put it simply -- her 18-year-old grandson, Bryce, is a fine young man.

That's right. While many other young people think the world revolves around them, and so they're busy worshipping at the altar of their holy trinity -- Me, Myself, and I -- we've found one who thinks about other people.

And, when the time came to decide who he would invite to prom on April 8, what Bryce thought about was that his grandmother had, many years earlier, missed the chance to attend her own spring soiree. So he invited her to accompany him.

"My grandma is the most important woman in my life and she's never had a prom before so I figured why not let her go with me," Bryce told the television show, "Inside Edition."

Naturally, Catherine was overwhelmed. She told a local television station: "I just thought, well, it's just so nice that he wanted me to go. I kept asking him, 'Don't you want to take someone else?' But he kept saying, 'No, I want my Nanny.' So I was just so shocked, privileged that he asked me."

So Grandma happily accepted. She even bought a new gown for the occasion.

If the story had ended there -- as it should have -- we would have been left with an adorable and heartwarming tale of family values and the payoff that comes from raising kids right.

But then, what role would there be for small-minded, busybody administrators who need to micromanage every detail at their school, even if it means creating a problem where one doesn't exist? So, as word spread around town that Bryce was bringing a special guest to prom, the school principal asserted his power and declared that Catherine could not attend the event.

In a statement to the media, Eufaula City Schools principal Steve Hawkins explained that -- in order to protect the "safety of students and staff" -- prom attendees must be 20 years old or younger, and he claimed that he can't break the rules.

So Nanny is a security risk? Shouldn't someone warn Pappy?

Bryce told a local reporter that the reason the school gave him was "alcohol ... in case, you know, she was trying to distribute it to minors."

Imagine that. Nanny a bootlegger! You just never know.

Besides, Hawkins said, "most high schools have an age limit for prom attendees."

That's probably true, but surely they could have made an exception for Nanny.

Bryce told the reporter he was "heartbroken."

That's understandable. This story will do that to you. Of course, it'll also make you furious.

Social media took note, and a hashtag was born: #LetNannyGoToProm. People from around the country tweeted their support for the Maines, along with a few choice words for Hawkins and the other dimwits who run the school.

@MichelleRB3 summed it up when she sarcastically worried about starting "a trend of grandsons (and granddaughters) showing kindness towards their grandparents."

Luckily, there are still some decent people in the world. Grandson and grandmother were invited to dine on the house at the Eufaula Country Club. So they got dressed up, and had their own party. Kindness prevailed. So should we leave it there? All's well that ends well?

I don't think so. Given how poorly the powers-that-be at the school handled this situation, it's obvious that all is not well. Some public shaming is in order, and a certain grandma is owed an apology.

Still, we have a more serious problem. Our schools used to reflect society's values; these days, there's hardly any resemblance. Parents count on schools to teach the three "R's." Yet what these administrators need is a crash course in the three "C's": compassion, character and common sense.

And if the educators have trouble with these subjects, they can follow the example of an 18-year-old who has mastered them.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 08:14:02

Wessanen 2016 AGM resolutions have been approved

At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), held on 12 April 2017 all proposals on the agenda have been approved.

These include the adoption of the 2016 financial statements and allocation of result, the proposed 2016 dividend of 0.12 per share and the reappointment of Mr van Oers as member of the Supervisory Board.

The exact voting results of the AGM can be found in the Corporate Governance section of our corporate website

Agenda

21-04-2017 Publication Q1 2017 trading update

25-07-2017 Publication Q2 2017 interim results

24-10-2017 Publication Q3 2017 trading update

For more information

Ronald Merckx (CFO)

Phone +31 (0)20 3122 126

Email ronald.merckx@wessanen.com

Twitter @Wessanen_250

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: Wessanen via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-13 04:43:08

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Indiana Resources Limited--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---West Perth WA (FSCWire) - Indiana Resources Limited (TSX:IXR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Withdrawal of Requisition for General MeetingTo 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 Indiana Resources Limited, 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/Indiana Resources LimitedSource: Indiana Resources Limited (TSX: IXR, TSX: IDA, ISIN: AU000IDA0, WKN: A2AMKT)Date: April 12, 2017Time: 10:43 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Indiana Resources Limited 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.)
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Zara Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - Zara Resources Inc. (CSE:ZRI). has issued a press release with the following headline:Zara Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Fox Magnum AutomotiveTo 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 Zara Resources 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/Zara Resources Inc.Source: Zara Resources Inc. (CSE: ZRI)Date: April 13, 2017Time: 10:57 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Zara Resources 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.)
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.




The Eden Park Neighborhood Association's monthly Meet and Greet meeting Wednesday (April 19) will celebrate National Poetry Month with an appearance by Nebraska's State Poet Laureate, Twyla Hansen.

Hansen will read some of her works and sign copies of her books, which may be purchased at the meeting. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Calvert Recreation Center, Stockwell at 46th St.
CBRE Ireland released statistics on the volume of office leasing activity completed in Dublin in the first three months of the year. According to CBRE, almost 50,000m of office leasing transactions were signed in the Dublin market in the first three months of 2017 while another 50,000m was reserved at

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On 11 April in Amsterdam, Home Invest Belgium has directly acquired 7 holiday homes and 40 apartments in the complex Center Parcs Port Zelande located in Ouddorp (province of Zeeland). In the course of last November, the REIT already acquired 241 holiday homes at the same site. That way, it

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The State Agricultural Intervention Fund (PGRLF) will occupy 2,590 sq. m. of new office premises in Oasis Florenc located in Sokolovska Street in Prague 8. PGRLF, institution set up by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, will create a new central office for administration of subsidies and support

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UBS Asset Management's Real Estate & Private Markets (REPM) business has completed the first phase of the acquisition of the 'Catharinasteeg' development project in Leiden on behalf of one of its clients, from MRP Development, part of Meijer Realty Partners B.V. (MRP).

Catharinasteeg represents a pri...

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This is part two of The Counterterrorism Yearbook 2017: The United States published in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's The Strategist. Read part one 

In November 2016, the New York Times reported that the Obama administration was set to expand its interpretation of the authorization of the use of military force to include broader authorities to strike al-Shabaab, the militant Islamist group operating throughout the Horn of Africa. This change in interpretation demonstrates just how protean the threat posed by violent non-state actors remains more than 15 years after the attacks of 9/11.

For the United States countering terrorism saw both progress and setbacks in 2016. Barack Obama acknowledged as much in a speech in December when he asserted that, while the U.S. has made great strides against both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), terrorism would remain a threat to the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Terrorism continues to pose a range of challenges for the U.S. across the globe.

Middle East: Throughout 2016, U.S. CT policy grew more assertive in combating IS. Working with elements of the Iraqi military and Kurdish Peshmerga, the U.S. has led a multinational coalition to retake critical territory from the group in both Iraq and Syria. The current operation to retake Mosul is perhaps the centrepiece of this policy, alongside the forthcoming operation to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa, IS's headquarters in Syria.

Beyond reclaiming territory from IS, the U.S.-led coalition has made great strides towards attenuating the organisation's war chest. Moreover, several senior IS leaders have been removed from the battlefield. The flow of foreign fighters travelling to the battlefield in Iraq and Syria has been cut to a trickle, from a high of about 2,000 per month at its peak in mid-2015 to as few as 50 per month in late 2016.

In Yemen, the U.S. is maintaining a small SOF footprint to provide intelligence to the Emirati military. And, although small swathes of territory throughout the country have been reclaimed from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, overall the group has not been significantly degraded and will remain a potent threat for the immediate future.

Africa: In East Africa, al-Shabaab has withstood an onslaught from U.S.-backed forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia and continues to wreak havoc throughout the Horn of Africa. Still, there has been some progress against the militants. In March 2016, manned and unmanned U.S. aircraft conducted strikes against al-Shabaab training camps, killing an estimated 150 terrorists. In September, U.S. forces conducted what they labelled a self-defence strike in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia near Kismayo.

In response to the growing threat posed by Boko Haram, the U.S. and Nigeria are working to strengthen security cooperation.

In response to the growing threat posed by Boko Haram, the U.S. and Nigeria have established working groups focused on strengthening security cooperation between the two countries. In neighbouring Niger, a new U.S. $100 million base in Agadez will allow U.S. forces to fly MQ-9 Reaper drones, substantially boosting CT capabilities in the region. One official described the base as the most important U.S. military construction effort in Africa.

South Asia: In May 2016, a U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader Ahktar Mohammad Mansour in Baluchistan, Pakistan, although many Afghanistan experts have questioned the impact that Mansour's death will have on the organisation. Moreover, the Taliban has successfully challenged Afghan Government troops, most notably in Kunduz. Overall however, the Taliban looks no closer to being defeated. During 2016, it grew in strength, muscled out nascent IS elements in the country and demonstrated its potency through a string of spectacular attacks in major cities. In 2016, there were an estimated 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The total number of U.S. troops in the country is expected to decline by about 1,400 in 2017.

Europe: A success for U.S. CT policy has been closer working relationships with traditional allies, especially in Europe. Following the devastating IS-directed terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, the National Security Agency helped the Belgians analyse phone metadata that led to the capture of Saleh Abdesalam, one of the key organisers of the terror network responsible for the attacks. Perhaps looking to capitalise on the strong relationships built over the past several years with police agencies in Germany, the UK, France and Turkey; the Obama administration has given the Joint Special Operations Command expanded power to track, plan and potentially launch attacks on terrorist cells around the globe.

Latin America: Achieving lasting CT success is not only difficult but requires time and tremendous resources. A case in point is the recent peace deal announced between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government in Colombia. The five-decade-long conflict would not have reached a peaceful ending without Plan Colombia; a multi-year, multibillion-dollar U.S. security cooperation effort. The plan provided the Colombian government with a range of capabilities including; signals intelligence, precision-guided munitions, and helicopters for mobility. The lag-effect of successful CT policy might not be conducive to political election cycles, but good CT policy can have a lasting effect when sustained over a period of years.

Internationally the U.S. will continue to face a significant set of challenges. The Trump administration will need to keep pace with terrorist abilities to adapt to U.S. countermeasures while maintaining a high operational tempo punctuated by aggressive CT strikes. Continued reliance on unmanned aerial systems, SOF and small-footprint operations can be expected. One major question is whether Trump, who has been critical of Obama's handling of IS, will change the role of SOF in Iraq and Syria from advise and assist to full-fledged combat operations. Another open question is whether or not Washington will favour more intense aerial bombardment of urban population centres to raze areas ahead of the advance of coalition ground forces.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist with the RAND Corporation and Associate Fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, The Hague.

This commentary originally appeared in The Strategist on April 4, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Bosnian Serb police have accused retired Croatian General Ante Gotovina of war crimes against civilians during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, police and media have said.

A police spokeswoman in the Bosnian town of Trebinje said on April 12 that police filed charges with national prosecutors against a person with the initials A.G. on suspicion of "committing war crimes against civilians and humanity."

Local media identified A.G. as Gotovina.

Police said the alleged crimes were committed in 1992 in the western Bosnian region of Livno. Serbs fled Livno during the war, and some now live in Trebinje, which is in the Serb-controlled part of Bosnia.

An association of former war-camp detainees in Trebinje said it knew about the charges and that some of its members were ready to testify against Gotovina.

In 2012, Gotovina was acquitted on appeal by a UN court that had initially convicted him of war crimes against Serbs in neighboring Croatia during the war there, which lasted from 1991-95.

The court in The Hague had initially sentenced Gotovina to 24 years in prison over Operation Storm, an August 1995 operation that he commanded.

The Balkan conflicts of the 1990s claimed 130,000 lives, 100,000 of them in Bosnia.

Based on reporting by AFP and Starmo.ba
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said Berlin is ready to support Serbia on its path to the European Union membership, but added that the Balkan country must "continue reforms" and "continue to develop better relations with Kosovo."

Speaking on April 12 after meeting Serbian President-elect Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Gabriel said that Serbia was a "factor of stability" in the region.

He said that daily protests after Vucic's election victory on April 2 were part of the country's democratic process and should remain peaceful.

Vucic, who has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the campaign, said the protests presented "an expression of Serbia's democratic strength."

Before leaving for Belgrade earlier in the day, Gabriel urged Balkan states to overcome their divisions, saying, "We see that some wounds of the past still run deep and still keep the tensions up."

"I will assure my counterparts: The path toward the European Union remains open if you choose reforms and progress instead of divisions and stalemate," said the German minister, who is to visit Kosovo on April 13.

Gabriel also said he would voice "support for democratic development and rule of law" in all countries of the region.

Predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo broke away from Serbia in a 1998-99 war and declared independence in 2008. It is recognized by 114 countries, but not by Belgrade.

Tensions are still high, both between Serbia and Kosovo and between the ethnic Serbian minority and central authorities within Kosovo.

Serbia is now an EU candidate, while Kosovo is a prospective candidate. Albania, which Gabriel is to visit on April 16, and Macedonia are also candidates, while Bosnia-Herzegovina is another prospective candidate.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is the dominant atmospheric pressure mode over the North Atlantic that plays a significant role in determining the winter climate in Europe. Depending on the prevailing state of the NAO, Europe experiences mild or very cold winters and even strong storms. Geoscientists based at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany are currently reconstructing the fluctuations of the NAO over the last 10,000 years with the aim of being able to predict future developments. For this purpose, they use stalagmites obtained from subterranean caves as natural climate archives and are examining new indicators of climate change to retrieve climate information that is as accurate as possible. Initial results indicate that it is likely that the NAO will respond to the melting of the Arctic ice cap in the future, with consequences for our climate, environment, and society as a whole.

Dr. Jasper Wassenburg works with stalagmites from caves in the Middle Atlas, a mountain range in the northwest of Morocco. Stalagmites are calcium carbonate deposits that grow from the floor of a cave upwards due to precipitation of calcium carbonate minerals deposited from the dripwater. Calcite is the most common form of calcium carbonate although in some cases it can also be aragonite. "Aragonite, if well preserved, can be dated with remarkable precision. So we prefer aragonite stalagmites over calcitic ones," explained Wassenburg, who is a member of the research team headed by Professor Denis Scholz at the Institute of Geosciences at Mainz University.

The incorporation of chemical elements in speleothems, which is the term scientists use for the secondary mineral deposits in caves, is often depending on changes in the environment. These elements are known as climate proxies because they provide indirect evidence of climatic history. Wassenburg's study of seven speleothem samples obtained from Morocco, India, France, Spain, and a cave known as the Huttenblaserschachthohle in Germany's Sauerland region is the first attempt to identify in detail the concentrations at which trace elements tend to be incorporated in aragonite. "We have been able to demonstrate that the concentration of uranium in aragonite stalagmites is a very precise indicator of prehistoric rainfall patterns," he added. This means that stalagmites can tell us qualitatively how much it rained 200,000 years ago.

Reconstruction of the North Atlantic Oscillation as far back as the onset of the current interglacial period

Uranium and strontium concentrations and the relative ratios of oxygen isotopes were also analyzed in order to obtain information on past rainfall for a recent study of past NAO variability. The NAO index reflects the difference in atmospheric pressure between the Icelandic Low to the north and the Azores High to the south. One particular phenomenon of interest is that if the NAO brings dry weather to Europe, it rains in Moroccoand vice versa. The weather of the northwestern region of Morocco seems to react particularly sensitive to changes in the NAO. In this case, the samples used by Dr. Jasper Wassenburg came from a fairly small cave in which the host rock is dolomite. The Grotte de Piste is located in the Atlas Mountains at an elevation of some 1,250 meters above sea level. It is 70 to 80 meters in extent and 15 to 20 meters from floor to ceiling.

The results of analysis of the speleothems from the north-west of Morocco were compared with a rainfall reconstruction obtained from other cave deposits from the Bunkerhohle or Bunker cave in western Germany. This enabled the climate researchers to trace back the fluctuations of the NAO over the past 11,000 years to the end of the last Ice Age. The best reconstruction previously available went back only 5,200 years. "We were surprised to discover that the situation during the early Holocene 11,000 years ago was quite different to that of today. The weather regimes in Europe and Morocco seem to have behaved similarly so that wet weather in Europe also meant more rain in Morocco," explained Wassenburg. This positive correlation disappeared at some point during the transition from the early Holocene to the mid-Holocene.

The researchers postulate that this was attributable to a major reduction in the melt water contribution from the Laurentide Ice Sheet that still covered large areas of North America at the end of the Ice Age. "The pattern of the North Atlantic Oscillation is not as stable as we thought," stated Professor Dennis Scholz and added that the NAO will probably also be influenced by today's melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, with potential effects on the atmosphere, the oceans, and other biological phenomena, including farming and fishing. The team plans to conduct further research in order to reconstruct the changes of the NAO over the last 10,000 years.
EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors) are involved in the development and progression of many types of cancer and bowel cancer (colon carcinoma) in particular. So-called anti-EGFR antibodies are used in the treatment of bowel cancer patients, to inhibit EGFR. However, for reasons that are not yet clear, not all patients benefit from this treatment. This could be due to the fact that EGFR is not only found in the tumour cells of bowel cancer patients but also in the immune cells surrounding the tumour. This was the main finding of a study conducted by a research team led by Maria Sibilia from MedUni Vienna's Institute of Cancer Research and recently published in leading journal Gastroenterology.

"In a mouse model, we were able to show that EGFR-positive myeloid cells stimulate tumour growth. By switching off the EGFR in these immune cells, growth was as good as stopped," explains Maria Sibilia, Head of the Institute for Cancer Research at MedUni Vienna and Deputy Head of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). The study (lead authors: Sriram Srivatsa and Mariel Paul) was conducted on an interdisciplinary basis in collaboration with oncologists from the Department of Medicine I and Department of Medicine III and pathologists.

Poorer prognosis for survival of bowel cancer patients with EGFR-positive myeloid cells

The researchers were also able to show that the prognosis for survival was poorer in bowel cancer patients, if these EGFR-positive myeloid cells are present in the tumour -- and also because EGFR causes increased production of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL6) in the myeloid cells. Hitherto, no consideration has been given to the presence of EGFR in the cells surrounding the tumour (stroma), because it was assumed that its expression only played a role in the tumour cells themselves.

This could also explain why EGFR therapy directed at the tumour is less effective or completely ineffective in some patients. Says Sibilia: "It could be that EGFR does not actually work in the tumour itself but that it is primarily the EGFR-positive myeloid cells that act as the "power plant" for the tumour." Further studies. will now be conducted to check this premiss.

Bowel cancer: 4,500 people affected every year in Austria

Colon carcinoma, a malignant neoplasia of the colon, is one of the commonest types of cancer in western industrialised countries, being the second commonest cancer in women and the third commonest cancer in men. Around 4,500 people develop bowel cancer in Austria every year.

More precise, personalised cancer treatment

These research results could lead to better specification of patients in the future, namely into the group for whom anti-EGFR therapy works and the group for whom it doesn't, or at least not very well. "This is a further step towards precision medicine, that is to say personalised medicine," says Sibilia. This research will therefore fit in very well with MedUni Vienna's plans to build a Center for Precision Medicine (Zentrum fur Prazisionsmedizin) on the MedUni's General Hospital Campus, so that in future it will be possible to perform gene analyses for many different types of disease even more quickly and accurately, to allow the appropriate preventive measures to be implemented sooner. In this case it would then be possible to spare a group of patients the unpleasant and unnecessary side-effects of anti-EGFR therapy, such as severe dermatitis, for example.

The paper that appeared in "Gastroenterology" is directly linked to the Advanced ERC Grant that Maria Sibilia received a year ago to study immunomodulation of the innate immune system to fight cancer, as part of a 60-month European Research Council (ERC) project. Future research into bowel cancer by the Sibilia group is being financed by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund Life Science Call Precision Medicine. The paper's lead author, Sriram Srivatsa was a PhD student in the "Inflammation and Immunity" doctoral school, which is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be reduce in two ways -- by cutting our emissions, or by removing it from the atmosphere, for example through plants, the ocean, and soil.

The historic Paris Agreement set a target of limiting future global average temperature increase to well below 2C and pursue efforts to even further limit the average increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Yet the timing and details of these efforts were left to individual countries.

In a new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) used a global model of the carbon system that accounts for carbon release and uptake through both natural and anthropogenic activities.

"The study shows that the combined energy and land-use system should deliver zero net anthropogenic emissions well before 2040 in order to assure the attainability of a 1.5C target by 2100," says IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program Director Michael Obersteiner, a study coauthor.

According to the study, fossil fuel consumption would likely need to be reduced to less than 25% of the global energy supply by 2100, compared to 95% today. At the same time, land use change, such as deforestation, must be decreased. This would lead to a 42% decrease in cumulative emissions by the end of the century compared to a business as usual scenario.

"This study gives a broad accounting of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, where it comes from and where it goes. We take into account not just emissions from fossil fuels, but also agriculture, land use, food production, bioenergy, and carbon uptake by natural ecosystems," explains World Bank consultant Brian Walsh, who led the study while working as an IIASA researcher.

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The compares four different scenarios for future energy development, with a range of mixtures of renewable and fossil energy. In a "high-renewable" scenario where wind, solar, and bioenergy increase by around 5% a year, net emissions could peak by 2022, the study shows. Yet without substantial negative emissions technologies, that pathway would still lead to a global average temperature rise of 2.5C, missing the Paris Agreement target.

Walsh notes that the high-renewable energy scenario is ambitious, but not impossible -- global production of renewable energy grew 2.6% between 2013 and 2014, according to the IEA. In contrast, the study finds that continued reliance on fossil fuels (with growth rates of renewables between 2% and 3% per year), would cause carbon emissions to peak only at the end of the century, causing an estimated 3.5C global temperature rise by 2100.

The authors note that not only the mix of energy matters, but also the overall amount of energy consumed. The study also included ranges for high energy consumption and low energy consumption.

The study adds to a large body of IIASA research on climate mitigation policy and the chances of achieving targets.

"Earlier work on mitigation strategies by IIASA has shown the importance of demand-side measures, including efficiency, conservation, and behavioral change. Success in these areas may explain the difference between reaching 1.5C instead of 2C," says IIASA Energy Program Director Keywan Riahi, who also contributed to the new work.

A new model

The study is one of the first published results from the newly developed FeliX model, a system dynamics model of social, economic, and environmental earth systems and their interdependencies. The model is freely available for download and use at http://www.felixmodel.com/.

"Compared to other climate and integrated assessment models, the FeliX model is less detailed, but it provides a unique systemic view of the whole carbon cycle, which is vital to our understanding of future climate change and energy," says IIASA Ecosystem Services and Management Program Director.

This study received support from the European Research Council Synergy grant ERC-2013-SyG-610028
Detecting cancer early, just as changes are beginning in DNA, could enhance diagnosis and treatment as well as further our understanding of the disease. A new study by University of Illinois researchers describes a method to detect, count and map tiny additions to DNA called methylations, which can be a warning sign of cancer, with unprecedented resolution.

The method threads DNA strands through a tiny hole, called a nanopore, in an atomically thin sheet of material with an electrical current running through it. The study was published in the inaugural issue of the journal npj 2D Materials and Applications, a new journal from Nature Press.

"One or a few methylations is not a big deal, but if there are many of them and they are packed close together, then it's bad," said study leader Jean-Pierre Leburton, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois. "DNA methylation is actually a starting process for cancer. So we want to detect how many of them there are and how close together they are. That can tell us at which stage the cancer is."

Other attempts at using nanopores to detect methylation have been limited in resolution. Researchers begin by punching a tiny hole in a flat sheet of material only one atom or molecule thick. The pore is submerged in a salt solution and an electrical current is applied to drive the DNA molecule through the pore. Dips in the current alert researchers that a methyl group is passing through. However, when two or three are close together, the pore interprets it as one signal, Leburton said.

The Illinois group tried a slightly different approach. They applied a current directly to the conductive sheet surrounding the pore. Working with Klaus Schulten, a professor of physics at Illinois, Leburton's group at Illinois' Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology used advanced computer simulations to test applying current to different flat materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide, as methylated DNA was threaded through.

"Our simulations indicate that measuring the current through the membrane instead of just the solution around it is much more precise," Leburton said. "If you have two methylations close together, even only 10 base pairs away, you continue to see two dips and no overlapping. We also can map where they are on the strand, so we can see how many there are and where they are."

Leburton's group is working with collaborators to improve DNA threading, to cut down on noise in the electrical signal and to perform experiments to verify their simulations.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShJfg4H1IG8
Move over, honeybee and seagull: it's time to meet Moabosaurus utahensis, Utah's newly discovered dinosaur, whose past reveals even more about the state's long-term history.

The Moabosaurus discovery was published this week by the University of Michigan's Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology. The paper, authored by three Brigham Young University researchers and a BYU graduate at Auburn University, profiles Moabosaurus, a 125-million-year-old dinosaur whose skeleton was assembled using bones extracted from the Dalton Wells Quarry, near Arches National Park.

BYU geology professor and lead author Brooks Britt explained that in analyzing dinosaur bones, he and colleagues rely on constant comparisons with other related specimens. If there are enough distinguishing features to make it unique, it's new.

"It's like looking at a piece of a car," Britt said. "You can look at it and say it belongs to a Ford sedan, but it's not exactly a Focus or a Fusion or a Fiesta. We do the same with dinosaurs."

Moabosaurus belongs to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known as sauropods, which includes giants such as Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus, who had long necks and pillar-like legs. Moabosaurus is most closely related to species found in Spain and Tanzania, which tells researchers that during its time, there were still intermittent physical connections between Europe, Africa and North America.

Moabosaurus lived in Utah before it resembled the desert we know -- when it was filled with large trees, plentiful streams, lakes and dinosaurs. "We always think of Moab in terms of tourism and outdoor activities, but a paleontologist thinks of Moab as a gold mine for dinosaur bones," Britt said.

In naming the species, Britt and his team, which included BYU Museum of Paleontology curator Rod Scheetz and biology professor Michael Whiting, decided to pay tribute to that gold mine. "We're honoring the city of Moab and the State of Utah because they were so supportive of our excavation efforts over the decades it's taken us to pull the animal out of the ground," Britt said, referencing the digs that began when he was a BYU geology student in the late '70s.

A previous study indicates that a large number of Moabosaurus and other dinosaurs died in a severe drought. Survivors trampled their fallen companions' bodies, crushing their bones. After the drought ended, streams eroded the land, and transported the bones a short distance, where they were again trampled. Meanwhile, insects in the soils fed on the bones, leaving behind tell-tale burrow marks.

"We're lucky to get anything out of this site," Britt said. "Most bones we find are fragmentary, so only a small percentage of them are usable. And that's why it took so long to get this animal put together: we had to collect huge numbers of bones in order to get enough that were complete."

BYU has a legacy of collecting dinosaurs that started in the early 1960s, and Britt and colleagues are continuing their excavation efforts in eastern Utah. Moabosaurus now joins a range of other findings currently on display at BYU's Museum of Paleontology -- though, until its placard is updated, it's identified as "Not yet named" (pronunciation: NOT-yet-NAIM-ed).

"Sure, we could find bones at other places in the world, but we find so many right here in Utah," Britt said. "You don't have to travel the world to discover new animals."
An international team of citizen scientists and researchers has identified a major contributor to the dramatic decline of migratory shorebird populations in Australia.

University of Queensland School of Biological Sciences researcher Associate Professor Richard Fuller said Australian shorebirds were under threat due to the degradation and destruction of mudflats thousands of kilometres away in north-east Asia.

Associate Professor Fuller was part of a team of researchers who worked on a shorebird study led by Assistant Professor Dr Colin Studds of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Dr Studds said a critical factor in the decline of migratory shorebirds was their dependence on mudflats in the Yellow Sea, between China and South Korea.

"The more a species relies on the disappearing Yellow Sea mudflats, the faster they are declining," Dr Studds said.

He said birds including species of godwit, curlew and sandpiper were under threat.

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Many birds follow the East Asian Australasian Flyway migratory path from their non-breeding grounds in Australia to breeding sites in the Arctic, resting and refueling in the Yellow Sea.

"Scientists have long believed that loss of these rest stops could be related to the declines, but there was no smoking gun," Dr Studds said.

The researchers analysed citizen science data collected between 1993 and 2012 on 10 key species, and what they found was dramatic.

Even though the birds only spend one or two months of the year at the mudflats, it was the most important factor in determining the population trend.

Associate Professor Fuller said the study was founded on decades of bird counting effort by volunteers across Australia and New Zealand.

"Without this effort, the study would have been impossible," he said.

Australia has signed agreements with China, Korea and Japan to protect migratory birds, yet the birds have continued to decline.

"Every country along the migration route of these birds must protect habitat and reduce hunting to prevent the birds declining further or even going extinct," Associate Professor Fuller said.

"We are particularly excited that China and Korea have recently begun the process of listing parts of the Yellow Sea as World Heritage Sites."
Same-sex marriage has been the law of the land for nearly two years -- and in some states for even longer -- but researchers can already detect positive health outcomes among couples who have tied the knot, a University of Washington study finds.

For years, studies have linked marriage with happiness among heterosexual couples. But a study from the UW School of Social Work is among the first to explore the potential benefits of marriage among LGBT couples. It is part of a national, groundbreaking longitudinal study with a representative sample of LGBT older adults, known as "Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, Sexuality/Gender Study," which focuses on how historical, environmental, psychological, behavioral, social and biological factors are associated with health, aging and quality of life.

UW researchers found that LGBT study participants who were married reported better physical and mental health, more social support and greater financial resources than those who were single. The findings were published in a February special supplement of The Gerontologist.

"In the nearly 50 years since Stonewall, same-sex marriage went from being a pipe dream to a legal quagmire to reality -- and it may be one of the most profound changes to social policy in recent history," said lead author Jayn Goldsen, research study supervisor in the UW School of Social Work.

Some 2.7 million adults ages 50 and older identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender -- a number that is expected to nearly double by 2060.

Among LGBT people, marriage increased noticeably after a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. A 2016 Gallup Poll found that 49 percent of cohabiting gay couples were married, up from 38 percent before the ruling.

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For the UW study, more than 1,800 LGBT people, ages 50 and older, were surveyed in 2014 in locations where gay marriage was already legal (32 states and Washington, D.C.). About one-fourth were married, another fourth were in a committed relationship, and half were single. Married respondents had spent an average of 23 years together, while those in a committed, unmarried relationship had spent an average of 16 years.

Among the study participants, more women were married than men, and of the respondents who were married, most identified as non-Hispanic white.

Researchers found that, in general, participants in a relationship, whether married or in a long-term partnership, showed better health outcomes than those who were single. But those who were married fared even better, both socially and financially, than couples in unmarried, long-term partnerships.

Single LGBT adults were more likely to have a disability; to report lower physical, psychological, social and environmental quality of life; and to have experienced the death of a partner, especially among men.

The legalization of gay marriage at the federal level opens up access to many benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security survivor benefits that married, straight couples have long enjoyed. But that does not mean every LGBT couple was immediately ready to take that step.

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According to Goldsen, marriage, for many older LGBT people, can be something of a conundrum -- even a non-starter. LGBT seniors came of age at a time when laws and social exclusion kept many in the closet. Today's unmarried couples may have made their own legal arrangements and feel that they don't need the extra step of marriage -- or they don't want to participate in a traditionally heterosexual institution.

Goldsen also pointed to trends in heterosexual marriage: Fewer people are getting married, and those who do, do so later.

"More older people are living together and thinking outside the box. This was already happening within the LGBT community -- couples were living together, but civil marriage wasn't part of the story," she said.

The different attitudes among older LGBT people toward marriage is something service providers, whether doctors, attorneys or tax professionals, should be aware of, Goldsen said. Telling a couple they should get married now simply because they can misses the individual nature of the choice.

"Service providers need to understand the historical context of this population," she said. "Marriage isn't for everyone. It is up to each person, and there are legal, financial and potentially societal ramifications." For example, among the women in the study, those who were married were more likely to report experiencing bias in the larger community.

At the same time, Goldsen said, single LGBT older adults do not benefit from the marriage ruling, and other safeguards, such as anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations, are still lacking at the federal level.

Over time, Goldsen and colleagues will continue to examine the influence of same-sex marriage policy on partnership status and health.
Healthy college students who have a relatively small inferior frontal cortex -- a brain region behind the temples that helps regulate thoughts and emotions -- are more likely than others to suffer from anxiety, a new study finds. They also tend to view neutral or even positive events in a negative light, researchers report.

The researchers evaluated 62 students, collecting brain structural data from neuroimaging scans and using standard questionnaires to determine their level of anxiety and predilection for negative bias.

Previous studies of people diagnosed with anxiety have found similar correlations between the size of the IFC and anxiety and negative bias, said U. of I. psychology postdoctoral researcher Sanda Dolcos, who led the study with graduate student Yifan Hu. But the new findings, reported in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, are the first to see these same dynamics in healthy adults, the researchers said.

"You would expect these brain changes more in clinical populations where anxiety is very serious, but we are seeing differences even in the brains of healthy young adults," Dolcos said.

The study also found that the relationship between the size of the IFC and a student's negative bias was mediated by their level of anxiety.

"People who have smaller volumes have higher levels of anxiety; people who have larger IFCs tend to have lower levels of anxiety," Dolcos said. And higher anxiety is associated with more negative bias, she said. "How we see this is that the higher volume of the IFC confers resilience."

"We found that larger IFC volume is protecting against negative bias through lower levels of trait anxiety," Hu said.

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According to the American College Health Association, anxiety is rampant on college campuses, where nearly 60 percent of students report at least one troubling bout of anxious worry every year.

"There is a very high level of anxiety in the student population, and this is affecting their life, their academic performance, everything," Dolcos said. "We are interested in identifying what is going on and preventing them from moving to the next level and developing clinical anxiety."

Anxiety can interfere with many dimensions of life, causing a person to be on high alert for potential problems even under the best of circumstances, Hu said. Negative bias also can interfere with a person's commitment to activities that might further their life goals, she said.

Understanding the interrelatedness of brain structure, function and personality traits such as anxiety and their behavioral effects such as negative bias will help scientists develop interventions to target specific brain regions in healthy populations, Hu said.

"We hope to be able to train the brain to function better," she said. "That way, we might prevent these at-risk people from moving on to more severe anxiety."

The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and Health Minds Canada supported this research.
Two veteran NASA missions are providing new details about icy, ocean-bearing moons of Jupiter and Saturn, further heightening the scientific interest of these and other "ocean worlds" in our solar system and beyond. The findings are presented in papers published Thursday by researchers with NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn and Hubble Space Telescope.

In the papers, Cassini scientists announce that a form of chemical energy that life can feed on appears to exist on Saturn's moon Enceladus, and Hubble researchers report additional evidence of plumes erupting from Jupiter's moon Europa.

"This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington. "These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASA's science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not."

The paper from researchers with the Cassini mission, published in the journal Science, indicates hydrogen gas, which could potentially provide a chemical energy source for life, is pouring into the subsurface ocean of Enceladus from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor.

The presence of ample hydrogen in the moon's ocean means that microbes -- if any exist there -- could use it to obtain energy by combining the hydrogen with carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. This chemical reaction, known as "methanogenesis" because it produces methane as a byproduct, is at the root of the tree of life on Earth, and could even have been critical to the origin of life on our planet.

Life as we know it requires three primary ingredients: liquid water; a source of energy for metabolism; and the right chemical ingredients, primarily carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. With this finding, Cassini has shown that Enceladus -- a small, icy moon a billion miles farther from the sun than Earth -- has nearly all of these ingredients for habitability. Cassini has not yet shown phosphorus and sulfur are present in the ocean, but scientists suspect them to be, since the rocky core of Enceladus is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain the two elements.

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"Confirmation that the chemical energy for life exists within the ocean of a small moon of Saturn is an important milestone in our search for habitable worlds beyond Earth," said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The Cassini spacecraft detected the hydrogen in the plume of gas and icy material spraying from Enceladus during its last, and deepest, dive through the plume on Oct. 28, 2015. Cassini also sampled the plume's composition during flybys earlier in the mission. From these observations scientists have determined that nearly 98 percent of the gas in the plume is water, about 1 percent is hydrogen and the rest is a mixture of other molecules including carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.

The measurement was made using Cassini's Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument, which sniffs gases to determine their composition. INMS was designed to sample the upper atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. After Cassini's surprising discovery of a towering plume of icy spray in 2005, emanating from hot cracks near the south pole, scientists turned its detectors toward the small moon.

Cassini wasn't designed to detect signs of life in the Enceladus plume -- indeed, scientists didn't know the plume existed until after the spacecraft arrived at Saturn.

"Although we can't detect life, we've found that there's a food source there for it. It would be like a candy store for microbes," said Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study.

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The new findings are an independent line of evidence that hydrothermal activity is taking place in the Enceladus ocean. Previous results, published in March 2015, suggested hot water is interacting with rock beneath the sea; the new findings support that conclusion and add that the rock appears to be reacting chemically to produce the hydrogen.

The paper detailing new Hubble Space Telescope findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reports on observations of Europa from 2016 in which a probable plume of material was seen erupting from the moon's surface at the same location where Hubble saw evidence of a plume in 2014. These images bolster evidence that the Europa plumes could be a real phenomenon, flaring up intermittently in the same region on the moon's surface.

The newly imaged plume rises about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Europa's surface, while the one observed in 2014 was estimated to be about 30 miles (50 kilometers) high. Both correspond to the location of an unusually warm region that contains features that appear to be cracks in the moon's icy crust, seen in the late 1990s by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Researchers speculate that, like Enceladus, this could be evidence of water erupting from the moon's interior.

"The plumes on Enceladus are associated with hotter regions, so after Hubble imaged this new plume-like feature on Europa, we looked at that location on the Galileo thermal map. We discovered that Europa's plume candidate is sitting right on the thermal anomaly," said William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Sparks led the Hubble plume studies in both 2014 and 2016.

The researchers say if the plumes and the warm spot are linked, it could mean water being vented from beneath the moon's icy crust is warming the surrounding surface. Another idea is that water ejected by the plume falls onto the surface as a fine mist, changing the structure of the surface grains and allowing them to retain heat longer than the surrounding landscape.

For both the 2014 and 2016 observations, the team used Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to spot the plumes in ultraviolet light. As Europa passes in front of Jupiter, any atmospheric features around the edge of the moon block some of Jupiter's light, allowing STIS to see the features in silhouette. Sparks and his team are continuing to use Hubble to monitor Europa for additional examples of plume candidates and hope to determine the frequency with which they appear.

NASA's future exploration of ocean worlds is enabled by Hubble's monitoring of Europa's putative plume activity and Cassini's long-term investigation of the Enceladus plume. In particular, both investigations are laying the groundwork for NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which is planned for launch in the 2020s.

"If there are plumes on Europa, as we now strongly suspect, with the Europa Clipper we will be ready for them," said Jim Green, Director of Planetary Science, at NASA Headquarters.

Hubble's identification of a site which appears to have persistent, intermittent plume activity provides a tempting target for the Europa mission to investigate with its powerful suite of science instruments. In addition, some of Sparks' co-authors on the Hubble Europa studies are preparing a powerful ultraviolet camera to fly on Europa Clipper that will make similar measurements to Hubble's, but from thousands of times closer. And several members of the Cassini INMS team are developing an exquisitely sensitive, next-generation version of their instrument for flight on Europa Clipper.

For more information on ocean worlds in our solar system and beyond, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/ocean-worlds
Imagine a future in which every home has an appliance that pulls all the water the household needs out of the air, even in dry or desert climates, using only the power of the sun.

That future may be around the corner, with the demonstration this week of a water harvester that uses only ambient sunlight to pull liters of water out of the air each day in conditions as low as 20 percent humidity, a level common in arid areas.

The solar-powered harvester, reported in the journal Science, was constructed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology using a special material -- a metal-organic framework, or MOF -- produced at the University of California, Berkeley.

"This is a major breakthrough in the long-standing challenge of harvesting water from the air at low humidity," said Omar Yaghi, one of two senior authors of the paper, who holds the James and Neeltje Tretter chair in chemistry at UC Berkeley and is a faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "There is no other way to do that right now, except by using extra energy. Your electric dehumidifier at home 'produces' very expensive water."

The prototype, under conditions of 20-30 percent humidity, was able to pull 2.8 liters (3 quarts) of water from the air over a 12-hour period, using one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of MOF. Rooftop tests at MIT confirmed that the device works in real-world conditions.

"One vision for the future is to have water off-grid, where you have a device at home running on ambient solar for delivering water that satisfies the needs of a household," said Yaghi, who is the founding director of the Berkeley Global Science Institute, a co-director of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute and the California Research Alliance by BASF. "To me, that will be made possible because of this experiment. I call it personalized water."

Yaghi invented metal-organic frameworks more than 20 years ago, combining metals like magnesium or aluminum with organic molecules in a tinker-toy arrangement to create rigid, porous structures ideal for storing gases and liquids. Since then, more than 20,000 different MOFs have been created by researchers worldwide. Some hold chemicals such as hydrogen or methane: the chemical company BASF is testing one of Yaghi's MOFs in natural gas-fueled trucks, since MOF-filled tanks hold three times the methane that can be pumped under pressure into an empty tank.

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Other MOFs are able to capture carbon dioxide from flue gases, catalyze the reaction of adsorbed chemicals or separate petrochemicals in processing plants.

In 2014, Yaghi and his UC Berkeley team synthesized a MOF -- a combination of zirconium metal and adipic acid -- that binds water vapor, and he suggested to Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at MIT, that they join forces to turn the MOF into a water-collecting system.

The system Wang and her students designed consisted of more than two pounds of dust-sized MOF crystals compressed between a solar absorber and a condenser plate, placed inside a chamber open to the air. As ambient air diffuses through the porous MOF, water molecules preferentially attach to the interior surfaces. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that the water vapor molecules often gather in groups of eight to form cubes.

Sunlight entering through a window heats up the MOF and drives the bound water toward the condenser, which is at the temperature of the outside air. The vapor condenses as liquid water and drips into a collector.

"This work offers a new way to harvest water from air that does not require high relative humidity conditions and is much more energy efficient than other existing technologies," Wang said.

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This proof of concept harvester leaves much room for improvement, Yaghi said. The current MOF can absorb only 20 percent of its weight in water, but other MOF materials could possibly absorb 40 percent or more. The material can also be tweaked to be more effective at higher or lower humidity levels.

"It's not just that we made a passive device that sits there collecting water; we have now laid both the experimental and theoretical foundations so that we can screen other MOFs, thousands of which could be made, to find even better materials," he said. "There is a lot of potential for scaling up the amount of water that is being harvested. It is just a matter of further engineering now."

Yaghi and his team are at work improving their MOFs, while Wang continues to improve the harvesting system to produce more water.

"To have water running all the time, you could design a system that absorbs the humidity during the night and evolves it during the day," he said. "Or design the solar collector to allow for this at a much faster rate, where more air is pushed in. We wanted to demonstrate that if you are cut off somewhere in the desert, you could survive because of this device. A person needs about a Coke can of water per day. That is something one could collect in less than an hour with this system."
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Old employment law posters should be saved to help prove past compliance, even though retaining old posters isn't required, management attorneys say. Employers also should take pictures of old posters with time-and-date stamps to have a physical record that they were displayed, according to Jay Hux, an attorney with Fisher Phillips in Chicago.

"From a best-practices perspective, retaining old posters makes sense to help prove past compliance," said Aaron Warshaw, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in New York City. "For example, in the context of employment litigation, posters can sometimes be relevant evidence to show that employees were informed of their applicable rights."

He recommended that employers retain old posters in paper or electronic format, "as long as they are clearly marked and not accidentally put back into circulation." Save them for the applicable time employees have to sue under the lawthe "statute of limitations"such as three years for federal wage and hour posters, he said.

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Complying with Workplace Records and Reporting Requirements]

"There's no legal requirement that you retain them, but it could come up in an employment litigation matter," said Jason Stanevich, an attorney with Littler in New Haven, Conn. A plaintiff's attorney could claim that the posters were not displayed and that the statute of limitations therefore should be suspended, permitting older claims to be filed. HR should be ready to disprove such claims and show that the posters were displayed in the workplace when employers said they were, he noted.

Hux argued that merely keeping old posters will "not necessarily prove that they were physically posted at a prior date," though it might provide circumstantial evidence. That's why he prefers that employers take pictures of old posters displayed in the workplace with time-and-date stamps.

Tips on Displaying Current Posters

Stanevich said he often sees employment posters being displayed that are several years out of date. "Review them at least once a year and determine if any updates are needed," he recommended.

A common mistake is to display the posters in just one place. Some posters have to be visible to applicants, so it's a good idea to have those at the entrance to the work area, he said. Break rooms and where employees clock in are other good places to display posters.

It's also good to have electronic posters on the company intranet, Hux said. If there are employees who telecommute, "Make sure that the posters are designed to catch the attention of remote employees when they do come into the office," he added. If there is a work location away from company facilities, like a construction site, be sure to put the posters up there as well.

If English is not the first language for a significant number of employees, the posters should use the language of the workers to effectively provide notice of their rights, he noted.

Costs of Failing to Post

The current penalties for first offenses in failing to display federal posters are:



$12,675 for failure to display the Occupational Safety and Health Administration poster.



$534 for failure to post the Equal Employment Opportunity poster.



$166 for failure to display the Family and Medical Leave Act poster.



"Employers should note that most penalties increase if they are deemed to be willful, which may occur after a first offense," Warshaw noted.

There also are posters for the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, and state laws, "which can be more burdensome on employers," Stanevich said. States have posting requirements on minimum wage, unemployment compensation and paid sick leave, as well as industry-specific posters such as those relating to minimum wage for food-service workers, among others. In Illinois, there is a posting requirement about the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act, which applies to victims of domestic violence and their family membersa poster requirement that Hux noted would be "easy to overlook." Municipalities have poster requirements as well.

In addition, federal contractors also must display posters on paid sick leave, prevailing wage under the Davis-Bacon Act and the higher minimum wage for federal contractors.

"If an employee complains to an agency that the employer has failed to display required posters, such a complaint could trigger a fuller investigation," Warshaw said. "The failure to update your posters could lead to additional and potentially costly compliance issues."

He cautioned, "Getting the correct posters displayed is important for compliance but also because it shows that the company is focused on getting the details right. If you are in the middle of a wage and hour audit with the U.S. Department of Labor and the investigator points out outdated posters, the agency may assess a penalty but more so it may create a sense that the company is somewhat lackadaisical in its compliance efforts. Conversely, if an employer has the correct posters displayed, then it may create some good will and trust with an investigator."
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The story of Rift, Central Waters Brewings new year-round India pale ale, begins two year-round IPAs ago, a decade and a half of evolution that tracks the arc of whats now Americas most popular craft style.

But in the early 2000s when Central Waters introduced its first always-available IPA, Lac du Bay, the hopheads hadnt yet taken over.

This was before the IPA craze, Central Waters co-owner and brewmaster Anello Mollica said. It seems like nowadays you have to have a year-round IPA. Back then you did a year-round pale ale. That was the beer that you needed to have.

Lac du Bay was an English-style IPA, bigger than its pale ale kin but sharing a far-from-overwhelming floral-earthy-herbal hop profile and an ample malt backbone. The English IPA seeks balance that the newer American variant often does not.

Eventually Central Waters supply of hops it used in Lac du Bay dried up, Mollica said, so in 2008 the brewery retooled its IPA to the changing times. Glacial Trail used American hops with citrus-and-pine character and bumped up the bitterness somewhat  all attributes of the then-ascendant American variant of the style  but retained the malty embrace of the English Lac du Bay.

Mollica described it as a hybrid English-American IPA: Glacial Trail kind of held this spot as kind of not super hop-forward IPA.

That worked well enough in 2008, but times, they have a-changed, again. Wisconsin beer coolers now feature iconic hoppy beers from West Coast breweries like Stone and Ballast Point and Midwestern hop masters Three Floyds and Toppling Goliath.

And preferences within even the American style of IPA have changed, with the tropical profile exploding in popularity in the past three years or so.

Glacial Trail really doesnt represent todays impression of what an IPA is supposed to be, Mollica said. Its not that Glacial Trail wasnt performing that well for us, its just that Glacial Trail was underperforming for me in that category. Time to switch it up.

Rift, which has been rolling out gradually across the state this month, is very much that hop-forward West Coast American IPA, Mollica said.

While the malt profile cuts back Glacial Trails caramel malts, Rifts real departure is in its hops. They have names youll recognize if you read this column regularly: Simcoe, Citra and Amarillo.

Citra and Amarillo in particular are distinctly new-school hops, heavy with citrus and tropical fruit aromas and not commercially available  at least not to a small brewery in central Wisconsin  when Rifts predecessor was born.

Glacial Trail being dated has more to do with what hops were available in the market in 2008 vs. what hops are available in 2017, he said.

Stoked by demand from brewers, Pacific Northwest hop growers boosted production of Citra, a variety released to growers in 2007, to 6.4 million pounds last year, up 134 percent from 2014, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report on hop production. Another new-school hop, Mosaic  a hop thats not in Rift but is a star in Central Waters hop-forward pale ale, HHG  has exploded since its introduction in 2012. Harvest of Mosaic grew to 5.8 million pounds last year, up 289 percent from just two years earlier.

The flavors and aromas we get in the beers today were impossible to get a decade ago because those hops werent even created yet, Mollica said.

That Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo and other tropical/citrus-forward hops have become the go-to varieties for IPAs is perhaps a natural evolution of beer drinkers tastes. After all, people do eat and often enjoy grapefruit, oranges, passion fruit, pineapple and mangoes. You dont hear about people eating the needles or licking the sap of a pine tree, a prominent characteristic of older-school American hops like Cascade and Centennial and the older-school IPAs that leaned on them.

Growers and brewers are both trying to find the next hop that pushes beers flavor forward into uncharted delicious territory. But theres a reason Glacial Trail lasted as long as it did, even if Citra became a star hop halfway through its pretty remarkable eight-plus-year run.

There are going to be new ones coming, and at some point in the future I suspect that hops that are in beers like HHG and Rift will start taking a back seat to these new flavors and aromas and other hops that will become the popular, hip thing, Mollica said. And thats the danger in being a brewer. You cant keep chasing the fad. Make a beer that you know is good and stick with it as long as you can. You have to refresh your portfolio to stay interesting, to stay unique, but I wouldnt ever dream of, every time a new hop comes out, crossing a beer off my calendar just to make a beer with a new hop.

Rift

Style: American IPA

Brewed by: Central Waters Brewing, Amherst

What its like: My pick here is a bit obscure considering how not-great it seems to sell in Wisconsin, but Rifts dry yet tropical profile reminds me of Coronado Brewings Stingray IPA.

Where, how much: Rift is appearing on bottle shop and grocery store shelves as stocks of Glacial Trail are depleted. Its been in Milwaukee for more than a week but began rolling out in Madison shops on Wednesday. The very comfortable price point is the same as Central Waters other year-round six-packs, around $9 at most outlets.

The beer: Rift pours a medium-pale amber with an appealing bouquet of grapefruit and orange peel, and a hint of sweetness in the background. Each sip leads with more tropical citrus that quickly recedes into an assertively bitter, dry finish that lingers a bit on the palate. But its not abrasive by any means, and its moderately light weight and modest alcohol content means its more repeatable than a lot of IPAs.

Booze factor: Rifts 6.5 percent ABV is on the friendly end of the styles range of 6.3 percent to 7.5 percent but still markedly higher than many popular styles.

The buzz: Central Waters has a nearly impeccable reputation in beer geek circles, largely owed to its barrel-aging program, which is among the largest and best in the country.

Mollica, said he, co-owner Paul Graham and lead brewer Simon Nielsen are grateful for that, but its also motivated them to show theyre as deft with hops as they are with dark malts and bourbon barrels.

We get passed over on the idea that were a hoppy beer maker and that we didnt do that style particularly well, Mollica said. That kind of stuck in the craw of a couple of us, so were like hey, lets blow that reputation out and show people that were also a hoppy beer maker.

I believe Rift will add to Central Waters hop-forward successes in the past two years. HHG has been a smash hit, especially since its introduction to six-packs last spring, and Summarillo, an India pale lager that returned for its second seasonal run late last month, will soon retake its warm-weather position in my beer fridge.

If theres a drawback to Rift, it may be that it covers territory already better served by HHG and Summarillo. But on its own its among Wisconsins best IPAs and, like its forebears, just might hold up for years to come.
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Saudi Arabia has agreed to have a Chinese firm set up an assembly plant for combat UAVs in Saudi Arabia. The Middle East has been a major export market for these UAVs and since 2015 Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both been using Chinese UAVs in Yemen combat operations. The most popular of these is the CH-4, which is similar to the American Predator. Pakistan has also been using CH-4s in combat. These Chinese UAVs sell well because many nations have been unable to buy similar American UAVs. The Americans fear that UAV secrets will be sold to enemies of the United States or that the UAVs will be used to support war crimes. China saw this as an opportunity.

The new Chinese UAV plant will not only assemble UAVs but will also provide repairs, major maintenance and upgrades. In 2016 China announced two major upgrades to the CH-4 that were much awaited by users. While CH-4 entered service in 2011 as part of the Rainbow series of UAVs it was missing some key capabilities of the Predator. The new updates enable a CH-4 to be controlled via satellite. This includes firing laser guided missiles. CH-4 also has a new sensor system. Improvements in this electro-optical (EO) payload are many. The day vidcam now produces 1080p video feeds. The night sensor is FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared sensor), a technology that has been around since the 1980s, and as the heat (infrared) sensing technology became more powerful, it was possible to spot and identify targets at longer ranges. This was accomplished through the development of more sensitive heat sensors, and more powerful computer hardware and software for putting the images together. The new FLIR for CH-4 can identify targets up to 20 kilometers away and enable automatic tracking of distant (up to 18 kilometers) targets. This is made possible by a lot of other improvements like better servo control, inertial guidance inside the EO system, auto focusing and computer controlled image enhancement and identification. This makes possible a much more accurate targeting system for the laser guided missiles the CH-4 carries.

The CH-4 is similar in shape to the 1.2 ton American Predator, weighs 1.3 tons, has a 14 meter (46 feet) wingspan, and is 9 meters (28 feet) long. It has max altitude of 5,300 meters (16,400 feet) and an endurance of over 35 hours. Max payload (sensors and weapons) is 345 kg (759 pounds). A CH-4 can carry 4 weapons (or electronic devices) under the wings, each weighing up to 100 kg.

China offers Chinese made weapons for the CH-4. Chief among these are a Hellfire clone, the AR-1. This is a 45 kg (99 pound) missile with a max range of 10 kilometers and a 10 kg (22 pound) warhead. AR-1 can be equipped with either GPS or laser guidance. The other weapon is a copy of the American SDB (small diameter bomb) which is a 128 kg (281 pound) GPS guided glide bomb in the shape of a missile with a penetrating warhead. The Chinese version is the FT-5 and is a 100 kg (220 pound) GPS guided bomb in the shape of a missile.

In early 2106 China began marketing a new combat UAV in the Rainbow series; the CH-5. This one is similar to the 4.6 ton American MQ-9 Reaper but a bit lighter at three tons. The CH-5 has a 900 kg payload and can carry smart (GPS guided) bombs as well as laser guided missiles (similar to the American Hellfire. CH-5 made its first flight in 2015, apparently has endurance of up to twenty hours and is supposed to be available for delivery in 2017.

The Chinese UAVs are much cheaper (about half the price) than the American originals, but for that you get aircraft and missiles that have not had as many of the bugs worked out nor achieved anything like the nearly two decade track record of the Predator. The CH-4 was developed from the earlier (2010) CH-3. This is a 640 kg aircraft with 12 hours endurance and can carry two AR-1 missiles. Thus it is believed that the CH-5 is a scaled up version of the CH-4.

In 2016 China revealed that is had sold military UAVs to ten countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Most of the military UAVs delivered so far have been CH-3s and 200 smaller unarmed UAVs equipped for surveillance and reconnaissance. At the same time China has become the largest exporter of commercial UAVs which are used by police and commercial firms for a wide variety of tasks.
When Gloria Gutierrez was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had to go into hospice, she wasn't overly concerned about what would happen to herself. She was more worried about where her six rescue dogs - Vera, Brandy, Light, Mega, Bruno and Muneca - would go after she passed away.

Gloria Gutierrez with her dog Brandy | God's Dog Rescue

"She calls these dogs her babies, and she wants to be around them all of the time," Rachel Cannady, a volunteer with God's Dog Rescue, an organization helping to rehome Gutierrez's dogs, told The Dodo. "She's is somewhat coherent of things, but she's acutely aware of the dogs, and she's protective of them." Gutierrez picked up all six dogs from the streets of San Antonio, Texas, after they'd been abandoned by their owners.

Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Scared Pittie Gets So Happy When He Meets This Guy And His Pack Of Dogs

God's Dog Rescue

But it's 3-year-old Muneca who may have the saddest story of them all. After her owner went to jail, she was left all alone, and she got hit by a car when she tried to cross a highway.

Muneca | God's Dog Rescue

"She's totally crippled and drags her hind legs when she walks," Vicky Esparza, Gutierrez's daughter, wrote in an email to Cannady. "We found her in a real bad state of mange. She was hiding under a filthy trailer home full of rats, and maybe she was eating rats because all the people there would not feed her and would throw rocks at her instead."

Bruno | God's Dog Rescue

But with Gutierrez, Muneca got unconditional love and attention. All the dogs did. "All they know is love," Esparza told The Dodo. "My mother has always kept them with her, and they stay in the bed with her."

God's Dog Rescue

Unfortunately, Esparza is very ill herself, and she already has a couple dogs to care for, so adopting her mother's dogs would be difficult. With Cannady's help, Vera and Bruno now have homes lined up for them, but Brandy, Light, Mega and Muneca still need places to go.

Mega and Vera | God's Dog Rescue

"I don't want anything to happen to these dogs because my mother was always so concerned and worried about her pets," Esparza said. "I know it means a great deal for her for them to be OK, and for them to go to good homes with good, loving families."

Light | God's Dog Rescue

Esparza's only request is that the dogs stay with Gutierrez until she passes away.

Brandy | God's Dog Rescue
It's often said in rescue that we don't know an animal's past, but we know that animal's future. This was the case with five Lhasa apsos whose owner was referred to Critter Mama Rescue, Inc. in Ruskin, Florida, in February. The dogs' owner met the group's founder, Robin Roberts, and several volunteers in a parking lot because he said his landlord didn't know about the dogs and he didn't want to get caught with them. "The concept of having five adoptable, well cared for Lhasas sounded fine," Roberts, whose group helps people who can no longer care for their animals due to illness or hardship, told The Dodo. Roberts soon found out this was not to be the case. Roberts and a Critter Mama volunteer, Connie Phoebus, watched anxiously as the owner reached into his van and pulled out the first dog.

Sequoia could barely walk | Robin Roberts

"We gasped in horror," Roberts said. "These creatures didn't have faces or feet. They literally could not walk or see. The stench drifted across the parking lot and hit us hard; smelling of urine, feces and filthy dogs."

Sissy before | Rick Chaboudy

Roberts decided to reach out to Rick Chaboudy, executive director of Suncoast Animal League (SAL) in Palm Harbor, Florida. Robins chose SAL because it's a larger rescue than Critter Mama and better equipped to handle the complex needs of these dogs, four female and one male. Chaboudy has assisted local authorities with hoarding cases and seizures, but the Lhasa apsos were the worst case of neglect he'd ever seen in his 30 years of rescue.

It took hours to remove the urine and feces-caked mats from the dogs. | Rick Chaboudy

When Chaboudy picked up the dogs, he, too, was overwhelmed with their stench and appearance. Chaboudy took the dogs directly to Clint Wilson, groomer and owner of Island Dog Outfitters. Wilson is also involved in rescue and volunteers his grooming skills for dogs in need. Wilson, Chaboudy and volunteers worked until the following morning.

Dodo Shows Little But Fierce Pocket-Sized Kitten Grows Up To Be A Wild Woman

Once the fur was clipped away, parasites and skin conditions were revealed. | Rick Chaboudy

"The mats on these dogs were so thick, one of the dog's ears was stuck to her head," Chaboudy told The Dodo. "Feces and urine were caked into the mats, but their feet were the worst. The dogs could barely walk due to having 2 inches of matted fur between their paws and the ground." Poking through the fur were toenails overgrown by 3 or 4 inches and twisted in several directions. "We removed between one and a half pound of mats from the foot of one dog alone," Chaboudy said.

Toenails were overgrown by 3 to 4 inches. | Rick Chaboudy

After the dogs were groomed, they were examined by a veterinarian. It was obvious these dogs had never had any vet care. They were all loaded with internal and external parasites and had skin, ear and eye infections. All were malnourished, suffering from severe dental disease and luxating patellas. All that links them to their past is a 2004 sales receipt for a puppy in the amount of $949 from a pet store in Florida, which the owner gave to Roberts. A breeder in Iowa was listed on the pedigree. There is no doubt this was a puppy mill dog whose life started out rough and just got worse. The vet determined none of the dogs were under 10 years of age. Two of the females appeared to have been repeatedly bred.

The first week's challenges included learning how to walk again after being freed from the mats between their feet. | Julie LeRoy

The dogs were treated for their external conditions and underwent surgery to remove decaying teeth and to get spayed and neutered. While being spayed, Helen, the dog from the pet store, was found to be suffering from pyometra, an infection of the uterus. Lilly had mammary tumors removed that later proved to be cancerous. Sequoia had a hole in her cornea. All of them had to have teeth removed. All of them are partially or fully blind. And it was all documented and streamed live on SAL's Facebook page. Once they recovered from their surgeries, the Fab Five began attending SAL events. They were featured on the local news, they interacted with people and they learned to trust. Every day, fans of the Fab Five awaited updates about them. Well wishes were posted to the page from as far away as Scotland and the UK.

Chaboudy once described the dogs as "as prisoners of their own bodies, trapped inside their armor-like fur, formed out of neglect and filth." But thanks to SAL, these senior dogs would spend their golden years knowing love and comfort.

Sequoia no longer hides from the others. | Suncoast Animal League

Just six weeks after they left behind a life of horror, they were ready to go home with their new families. On April 2, a fundraiser was held to offset the $6,100 in vet bills the dogs had racked up. At the fundraiser, Chaboudy introduced each adopter while he tearfully let go of his Fab Five, one by one.

Rick says goodbye to Sissy as he hands her over to her new mom, Gloria Phillips. | Suncoast Animal League

Sissy is the poster child for the Fab Five. The videos and photos of her being groomed showed the magnitude of neglect these dogs suffered. Sissy was adopted by Gloria Phillips, who waited a long time to adopt again after losing a dog very special to her. "I knew, it's time," Phillips Told the Dodo. "I told myself, 'You're ready.'" Yvette and Jim Klausch adopted Achilles. Yvette Klausch told Chaboudy, when she submitted his adoption application, "I can guarantee you he'll never have another bad day in his life."

Yvette and Jim Klausch with Achilles | Julie LeRoy

Gloria Scott, who has several animals with special needs, adopted Helen. Scott previously adopted a dog named Ranger from SNARR, who won people over with his deformed legs and had his own following.

Gloria Scott with Helen | Suncoast Animal League

Lilly went home with Kim Tutsch, where she'll live with her rescued dachshund siblings, Hershey and Wiggles. Although Lilly's tumors were cancerous, Tutsch remains determined to give Lilly the best life possible.

Kim Tutsch with her fiance and Lilly | Julie LeRoy

Mila Miller was overwhelmed with emotion as Chaboudy handed her Sequoia. She and her husband Ryan, have four cats at home, including one who is 15 years old.

Mila and Ryan Miller adopted Sequoia | Julie LeRoy

Miller always wanted a dog and felt an older dog would be a perfect fit.

Mila Miller posted this picture to SAL's page to show everyone how Sequoia was doing. | Mila Miller

Chaboudy knows he will receive updates and alumni visits from the Fab Five. In the meantime, SAL is busy with 24 shih tzu and Maltese dogs taken in from a hoarder, some newborn puppies, a full shelter and weekends packed with adoption events.

The impact a group of rescuers made on these dogs' lives was inspiring. | Julie LeRoy (poster by Suncoast Animal League)
RACINE  A 17-year-old Racine boy faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting his 11-year-old cousin.

Jarriel D. Barry, Jr., of the 1800 block of Grange Street, was charged Wednesday with first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 12 for purportedly having sex with the girl Monday in a laundry room in the basement of his home.

According to the criminal complaint, Barry told police the encounter was mutual and that he and the girl had been engaging in what he called consensual sex for three years.

Probable cause was found Wednesday in Racine County Circuit Court to pursue the charge against Barry. His bond was set at $5,000.
RACINE  As the Wisconsin Legislature continues to discuss the 2017-19 biennial budget, the Racine Unified School Board plans to make its voice heard on school issues.

The School Board legislative committee has drafted several resolutions the board will likely approve April 24. The resolutions call for more more consistent state investment in education, voucher accountability and an earlier school start date.

Robert Wittke, a School Board member and Legislative Committee chairman, said district officials and the School Board work together to advocate on issues that affect Unified.

School funding is a huge issue with the budget right now, Wittke said. State school funding is a very complicated issue.

The political debate over school funding has led to several changes in a short time. Gov. Scott Walker has proposed increasing K-12 funding in this years budget after cutting it in past years, though legislators may not go along with it.

Unified Superintendent Lolli Haws said its difficult to plan a budget when the district doesnt know how much state aid it will receive.

We are putting our budgets together right now and we wont know for several more weeks what the Legislature is going to vote and decide and what the governor will sign, Haws said, while we are trying to build a budget and figure out what we can afford for compensation for employees, what we can afford as far as hiring for positions that we really, really need.

Wittke said it would be better if funding was consistent to allow the district to plan better.

We want something that is funded continually, Wittke said. We want the type of funding thats going to carry on for the long term.

For example, Wittke said state aid currently funds less than half of what the district budgets for special education, leaving a shortfall that is made up with money from the districts general fund.

We want to make sure whatever investment we get is going to be long term, Wittke said. Not something that will fluctuate every two years.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the current state Legislature cant lock future Legislatures into school funding decisions.

He also said a lot of the states budget depends on the economy. When the economy is better, more funds are available.

I think, for the most part, (Unified) knows their starting number, Vos said.

School choice

The Racine Parental Choice Program, like in Milwaukee, allows families up to 300 percent of the poverty level to enroll in the program, but in the rest of the state its only for families up to 185 percent of the poverty level.

Both Milwaukee and Racine also allow for unlimited voucher students.

In the rest of the state, voucher enrollment is capped at 5 percent of your district enrollment, Haws said. In Racine and Milwaukee its uncapped ... and then the taxpayers are paying for that.

Wittke said there should be a more level playing field when it comes to vouchers.

If youre going to have a voucher program here in the community, put us on equal footing to compete with it, Wittke said.

The higher-income eligibility has the potential for more students enrolling out of Racine Unified than in larger areas like Madison, Waukesha and Green Bay, he said.

But Vos said more families are staying within Racine Unified because they believe in the district. He doesnt support shrinking school choice in Racine.

I want to maintain the maximum flexibility for families to make choices, Vos said.

School start date

The district has already openly discussed starting the school year earlier than the Sept. 1 mandate.

We feel that the beginning of the school year is much more instructional focus than the last 10 days of the year, Haws said. The exams happen in April and May and after that its much less instructional focused.

The tourism industry has favored the Sept. 1 start date because it allows families to take vacations within the state during good weather.

Vos said he prefers to keep the status quo, saying he doesnt want to hamper those vacations.

Wittke believes if the school year started earlier it could allow for more flexibility when it comes to testing at the end of the year and professional development for teachers.

School districts can request an earlier start date, but Wittke said those requests are rarely granted.

Some of our extracurricular activities in the fall begin before September 1  why not allow our school start date to align? Wittke said. Some of the schools that we compete with now that take state sponsored vouchers can start earlier.
CALEDONIA  A teen had to be cut out of his vehicle Wednesday morning after his car crashed into a garbage truck at Four Mile and Old Farm roads.

Police said the crash happened at about 7:32 a.m. as an 18-year-old driver traveled eastbound while heading to school.

He still had some frost on his windows, and with the glare of the morning sun in his windows he couldnt see, said Caledonia Police Lt. Gary Larsen. A witness stopped and said the same thing.

The teen was transported to Ascension All Saints Hospital with a head injury but it is not expected to be life threatening. The garbage truck operator was not injured.

The teen driver was cited for following too closely and windows not reasonably clean.

At that time of day, the sun is at its worst for people traveling east. The sun creates glare and then you add to it not cleaning your window properly, then you cant see a garbage truck in front of you, or a school bus, or people crossing the street, Larsen said. Take the time to clean your windows.

Garbage truck safety

Dan Jongetjes, Johns Disposal Service general manager, said hes thankful his driver wasnt loading garbage from the back of the truck at the time of the crash.

He was still in the cab and had not gotten out yet. He was seconds away from being back there, Jongetjes said.

The crash comes as the village considers making automated garbage collection standard, which would allow the garbage truck driver to stay in the cab and use a remote controlled hydraulic arm to dump garbage into the truck.

Caledonia Village Administrator Tom Christensen cited the crash that killed Racine sanitation worker Mark Gates, who was hit and killed by a car while picking up trash on Washington Avenue in December, as a good reason to move to automated garbage collection.

Jongetjes said its a good reason, though not why they created the option.

Were not selling this for safety, Jongetjes said. When we started the automated service 17 years ago we found that residents are going to like the cart better. Its easier to get down the driveway, it looks better on garbage day, and now it is interesting that safety is a component to this.
SAN FRANCISCOWeeks after scores of advertisers boycotted YouTube, Google is still trying to mitigate the damage. Meanwhile, long-struggling competitors in the digital ad market are seizing the moment.

MediaMath Inc., a New York-based seller of software for automated online ad buying, is introducing a new service to ensure that ads only run alongside hand-picked, high quality content. The curated market offering comes amid concern over some big brand ads appearing against racist, violent and offensive YouTube videos.

Were developing for the largest brands in the world who need to be assured of a safe environment for digital advertising, said Erich Wasserman, MediaMaths co-founder. Were happily able to do this at a time when the market is shouting for it.

Read more:

Googles AI has a way to go in hunting down hate content

Breitbart continues to host corporate ads despite blacklist requests

Google has tried to silence the shouting. After the first wave of advertiser defections, Google introduced new controls to address the problem. When more advertisers left, Google added even more features and shifted resources into new technology that flags offensive videos and disables ads on them.

Most analysts believe the YouTube boycott will have minimal impact on Google sales. Its draw is too large to keep advertisers away permanently, and the boycott has not stopped search ads, Googles bedrock. Yet some marketing agencies and advertisers are re-evaluating buying plans, cognizant of the harm poor ad placement can cause. That adds pressure on Google, Alphabet Inc.s biggest division.

If you can create a driverless car and artificial intelligence, you can figure out how to keep a brand safe, Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer of Procter & Gamble Co. told Bloomberg in an advertising conference last week in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, NBCUniversal announced a deal with mobile ad company Kargo Global Inc. to place ads on 300 premium digital properties from 70 media companies. Convincing advertisers to pay up for premium content was a feat, given the discounts and wide distribution that giants like Google offer, said Kargo CEO Harry Kargman. The YouTube boycott was a gift. We were prepared for a drawn out fight, he said. Basically, the market has done it for us.

MediaMath, too, views its new service as responding to a market shift. The YouTube crisis wasnt just a backlash against Google, it was a protest against the pitfalls of automated advertising in general  the systems and services that let marketers accurately target consumers but also sprinkle ads everywhere across the web. MediaMath said its new service will limit that sprinkling, sending ads to websites and online videos that it constantly monitors for quality.

The company said it has 7,000 advertisers and 500 publishers on board with the service, although it declined to share its pricing or early revenue figures.

Its likely that shifts in digital spending away from Google, if any, would not appear until later in the year. However, some ad companies said they were seeing efforts to realign spending now to avoid the YouTube fracas. Charles Gabriel, president of Apester, which makes interactive software for publishers, said that over the past two weeks marketers began requesting safety controls on all online videos where they run ads.

Google executives have argued that, given YouTubes size, brand safety guarantees for every single video are impossible. But theyve reassured marketers the issue will subside.

Tara Walpert Levy, Googles vice-resident of agency and media solutions, told the audience at the Los Angeles conference that many advertisers that left over the issue have returned. But only Johnson & Johnson has said so publicly.

At the conference, attitudes about the YouTube scandal were mixed. Some echoed P&Gs Pritchard. But others dismissed it as an inflated scandal, driven by the television industry, which is hosting its annual ad price-negotiation conference soon.

Michael Roth, head of ad giant Interpublic Group of Cos., admitted as much on stage. Much of the YouTube hubbub, he said, was a behind-the-scenes negotiation from the older industry to compete with technology upstarts.

That leverage, along with pressure from others, is necessary given the rising digital dominance of Google and Facebook. When its a duopoly, you always root for someone else to keep them honest, he said.

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The Fate of the Furious

Starring Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Chris Ludacris Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russell, Scott Eastwood and Helen Mirren. Directed by F. Gary Gray. Opens Friday at major theatres. 136 minutes. PG

Jumping the shark jokes already fly over the scene in The Fate of the Furious wherein Vin Diesel uses his muscle car to leap over a marauding nuclear submarine.

Fair enough, except this isnt the most preposterous incident in this eighth instalment of the highly profitable wheels n squeals franchise, which noisily commences the 2017 summer-blockbuster season.

More mirthful moments arise when Charlize Theron sends zombie cars spilling into NYC streets, or when Dwayne Johnson redirects a speeding torpedo with his foot. And leave us not forget previous Fast & Furious inanities whereby cars jumped out of airplanes and across skyscrapers.

The fact remains that this franchise has been vaulting sea predators for years  or running on fumes, to employ a more appropriate metaphor. Previous instalment Furious 7, bidding farewell to tragically departed series mainstay Paul Walker, ran with the tagline One Last Ride.

Where do you go from there? Heres the confused and clamorous answer from The Fate of the Furious:Everywhere and nowhere.

With Straight Outta Comptons F. Gary Gray at the helm, Diesels glowering gearhead Dom Toretto goes rogue across the globe, with his puzzled family in hot pursuit, as he falls under the villainous command of Therons cyber-terrorist Cipher, whose motivations mystify.

She wants to start the Third World War using stolen nuclear codes, with Dom as her stooge. Seems shes furious about U.S. and Russia warmongers, or maybe just at the hairdresser who gave her such unfortunate cornrow braids.

The reason why Cipher can kick Dom around isnt revealed until midway through the movie, and its one of the few things in returning scripter Chris Morgans screenplay that actually makes a lick of sense.

The Fate of the Furious, or F8 for short, opens promisingly with a return to the series street-racer roots. Dom is visiting relatives in Havana while honeymooning with new bride Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), whom it only took him forever to marry, when he manfully challenges a local thug to a Cuban mile race through the historic Cuban capital. The thug is driving Cubas hottest car (of course), Dom is in a decrepit wacky racer that doubles as a bomb and the outcome is predictably stupid  and thrilling.

After this, however, the picture turns into bad 007, as a mostly immobile Theron takes charge and the action ridiculously shifts from the streets of New York City to the arctic ice of the Barents Sea.

Hail, hail, the gangs all (mostly) here, trying to figure out whats got into Dom: Dwayne Johnson as federal security agent Luke Hobbs; Jason Statham as Black Ops baddie Deckard Shaw, Chris Ludacris Bridges as ace gearhead Tej Parker; Kurt Russell as shady federal fixer Mr. Nobody; Nathalie Emmanuel as super hacker Ramsey and more.

A sure sign nobody really knows what to do next with a franchise is when they keep adding actors to it. Along with Theron, the new hires include Scott Eastwood as the serious sidekick to Mr. Nobody and Helen Mirren as a player to be named later who dont take no guff from nobody. It must be said, though, that Eastwood and Mirren boost the levity quotient of a series that has gotten far too serious even as it has grown ever more ridiculous.

And theyre not done yet, not by a long shot. I predict theyll be eventually leaving skid marks on the moon, as long as their varooms are answered by box-office ka-chings.

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OTTAWATwo hours after Commissioner Bob Paulson warned the RCMP against protesting a disappointingly low pay increase, a knot of Mounties unfurled a banner on Parliament Hill in support of a nascent would-be union and joined the yellow-stripe protest.

Its a movement thats taken off.

Many Mounties are using duct tape to change the colour of the iconic yellow stripe on their uniform pants. Some have torn it off or are blocking it out completely. Other Mounties are simply wearing blue tactical cargo pants that dont have the stripe but are uniform-issue clothing.

The demonstration by the centennial flame Wednesday came while Parliament was hearing Malala Yousafzai champion girls rights to education, and it lasted less than three minutes over the lunch hour.

But it was a huge step for Mounties under a standing order not to talk to media without permission, and whose top commander says the uniform protest undermines efforts to build a respectful workplace, risks souring relations with the government employer on the eve of unionization, and could erode public trust.

Other RCMP managers object that it is disrespectful of the uniform and is a risk to public safety.

Its not a safety issue, its not disrespectful; its just a show of solidarity, countered Cpl. Dennis Miller, who works with the cadet field training in the national capital region and is organizing for the National Police Federation. In an interview Miller said the uniform the NPF is asking police officers to don is the blues worn by many units already. Others on the Hill echoed that.

RCMP Cpl. Lise Bradette said it is an effort to get the attention of the public for our cause and turned aside suggestions it could hurt public trust in the RCMP. It doesnt matter if you have a yellow stripe on your pants or a red one or a blue one, were still a police officer.

Const. Maria Pikus agreed, saying were here for the public, and the protest is a show of solidarity. The pay raise was maybe the straw that broke the camels back, on top of all the other issues we face on a daily basis: harassment at workplace, lack of equipment, inadequate equipment, lack of backup, overworked, lack of ability to take holidays in many places because of lack of support, because of lack of membership.

Its galvanized the membership across Canada, said a retired RCMP officer now working as a reservist on the Hill. Theres actually a sense of morale coming up, an esprit de corps, pride, togetherness. The indecision is kind of fading away.

The yellow-stripe protest began in a North Vancouver detachment. Cpl. Bryan Mulrooney came up with the idea about a month ago as a way to boost support for the NPF, one of three groups vying to represent Mounties.

Although RCMP brass had disbanded the in-house labour relations body, eliminated the pay council that used to negotiate salary and benefits, and ended payroll deductions for an employees legal fund, there was little union fervour until now.

Then the Liberal government announced last week it would give the RCMP a slight retroactive pay increase in line with the broader public service (1.25 per cent for 2015 and 2016; and a 2.3-per-cent market adjustment for 2016). The NPF and others say it still leaves the RCMP 62nd out of 80 on the police pay scales in Canada.

Thats when the yellow-stripe protest  and the NPFs membership drive  took off. Suddenly, NPF membership rolls zoomed from 4,500 last Thursday to over 9,500 today.

Honestly, it took on a life of its own, said Sauve.

People woke up to the fact that we have no collective voice as members; we have no ability to influence these decisions. He said it highlighted the choice for Mounties: If you want to change the harassment process, the pay package, if you want to change anything, pick a side; either stay unrepresented or join us.

Meanwhile, another group  the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada  is struggling to recruit support, refuses to release its roll numbers, and moved to reverse its initial opposition to the yellow-stripe protest. A separate Quebec-based group is seeking to represent francophone members in Quebec but the NPF is emerging as the lead representative body with more than half of uniformed rank-and-file nationally signed on.

The NPF could file an application to certify as bargaining agent as early as next week, as it watches to see how two bills now stalled in Parliament will proceed. One that the Liberals want to repeal would require a mandatory secret vote. Another that the Liberals have put forward  which was amended in the Senate  sets out the scope of issues that will be open to bargaining.

In an internal memo Wednesday that he later posted to Twitter, Paulson acknowledged the pay increase didnt bring Mounties up to the level of top-paid police across Canada and was disappointing and frustrating . . . maddening, even, for some. He said it was not as much as we wanted, but better than it was going to be.

Returning to the issue of the yellow-stripe protests, Paulson said: I get why some of you felt it necessary to do that, I really do. I wont do it and I have to tell you how worried I am about the impact this will have on the citizens we serve.

Nobody has been or will be disciplined for altering their uniform, but Paulson said some are complaining to him they feel bullied into taking part, and he warned the protest could undermine internal cohesion as well as public confidence in the RCMP.

So lets (sic) please get back to the core business of keeping Canadians safe and secure and know that further changes, including independent labour representation which will bargain and negotiate with the employer in your interest, are on the way.

We respect the right of members to choose, said Miller. By no means are we intimidating or trying to bully them into wearing it.

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MONTREALThe Quebec government plans to ban pit bulls in the province, against the recommendations of its own experts and the anger of animal activists.

Public Safety Minister Martin Coiteux announced the governments intention after tabling legislation Thursday to better control dogs in the province, particularly dangerous canines that have bit or attacked other people or animals or those that have been deemed to be potentially dangerous based on their actions or by reputation.

He said that the number and severity of the attacks involving pit bulls, as well as an incident last summer in which a woman, Christiane Vadnais, was killed by such a dog, convinced him of the need to take the disputed step.

In case there were still doubts about it, now there are none, he told reporters in Quebec City.

People have fears about pit bulls, and with good reason.

The official order to enact the ban will come once the bill is passed into law, likely in the coming months.

The move comes after a working group formed by the government last summer expressly recommended that the province not follow the direction taken by Ontario in 2005.

Banning a pit bull, or any dog based on its breed, is inherently difficult, the groups report concluded.

Breed is a bad indicator of an animals aggressiveness because there is a great difference in the behaviour of animals of one breed that have been cross-bred with another given breed, the report said.

It also cited studies that showed that pit bulls were on average more likely to attack other animals but less likely to attack other people. In Quebec, there have been six deaths caused by dog attacks in the last 30 years: one involving a pit bull, three involving huskies and two attributed to malamutes.

The report said that banning any particular breed of dog was an emotional response but was counter to the majority of animal experts consulted, would be difficult to enforce, might likely provoke a legal challenge and could simply result in irresponsible dog owners gravitating to another breed of animal.

The working group sought the experience of officials in Ontario more than a decade after its pit-bull ban came into effect, but were told that it was difficult to evaluate the impact of the ban because there was no mandatory reporting or tracking of dog-bite cases in the province.

The Quebec working group was also told that one of the big challenges of the Ontario law was determining a dogs particular breed.

A pit-bull ban that came into force last year in the city of Montreal prompted a court challenge by the SPCA, the organizations denunciation and its refusal to offer animal services for dogs under a series of contracts across the city.

In a statement, the Canadian campaign manager for Humane Society International the senseless and archaic legislation goes against the findings of researchers and experts.

The proposed law will do nothing to increase public safety and will divert public funding that could have been applied to proven solutions that would effectively reduce dog bites and attacks, said Ewa Demianowicz.

The proposed Quebec law will set up a mandatory dog-bite registry in the province and gives municipalities the power to declare a dog potentially dangerous and a risk to public safety based on the expert opinion of a veterinarian, or if that animal is involved in a biting incident.

Among the class of potentially dangerous dogs are those who make the list because of their reputation as strong or aggressive animals trained to protect, guard or attack. They include Rottweilers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers, or any animal that is a result of cross-breeding with these types of animals.

Local authorities must order a dog owner to euthanize any animal that attacks, causing serious injuries or death. They are also free to implement stronger rules in their own jurisdiction, so long as the minimal provincial standards are met.

Its not only a question of feeling safe. Its a question of being safe and we think that those measures will ensure that throughout the territory of Quebec people will be safer and feel safer, Coiteux said.

I understand that some groups will oppose particular measures we have proposed in this legislation, but I think that overall there is a broad consensus to go with legislation like this.

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OTTAWAThe Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the case of a man convicted of murdering his three sisters and another woman.

Hamed Shafia had sought leave to appeal to the court, arguing that new evidence showing he was a youth at the time of the deaths should not have been dismissed.

As is its practice, the Supreme Court did not give reasons for its ruling.

But Nick Bala, a law professor at Queens University in Kingston, Ont., said the high court was clearly not concerned with the approach of the Court of Appeal in assessing the rare and narrow legal issue raised by Shafia.

The issue of his age was completely lacking in any credibility, given that Shafia came to Canada with his parents, who would have known when he was born, Bala said.

Though there have been cases involving minors who came to Canada unaccompanied from third-world countries whose age was uncertain, to have it come up after trial in circumstances such as Shafias is unprecedented in Canada, he said.

Thursdays ruling means Shafia has exhausted his options to fight his sentence, the professor said.

This tragic saga is, from a legal perspective, over, he said.

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Shafia brother convicted of killing 4 women asks Supreme Court to hear case

Shafia family members guilty of first-degree murder

Shafias lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shafia and his parents were found guilty in January 2012 of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his teenage sisters and his fathers first wife in a polygamous marriage.

The four bodies were found in a car at the bottom of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ont., in June 2009.

At trial, the judge described the killings as being motivated by the Shafia familys twisted concept of honour.

The Ontario Court of Appeal earlier rejected Shafias argument that he was too young to be tried as an adult and should have been tried separately.

The appeal court found no reason to allow Shafias new evidence, which it said was not compelling.

The Shafia family was originally from Afghanistan but fled at the outbreak of war in the country and eventually immigrated to Canada.

The new documents regarding Shafias age were found when his father sought to transfer property in Afghanistan and asked someone in that country to prepare the paperwork, court documents show.

That person discovered Shafias original Afghan identity document that recorded his birth date as Dec. 31, 1991, making him a year younger than initially thought, the documents said.

Other records were later obtained from the Afghan government to confirm the date, the court documents said.

But instead of applying the usual test for introducing new evidence  called the Palmer test  the appeal court devised a new test in which Shafia was required to show that the documents were compelling evidence of age, his lawyers said at the time.

The appeal court ruled the evidence did not meet that test.

An adult convicted of first-degree murder faces life without parole for 25 years, while a young offender, when sentenced as an adult, faces a maximum of life without parole for 10 years.

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Dr. Michael Pollanen was appointed the provinces chief pathologist in 2006, as it became clear the dangerously flawed expert testimony of Dr. Charles Smith had led to serious miscarriages of justice.

In the 11 years since, he has led a forensic pathology overhaul to make sure the same mistakes dont happen again.

This irony was noted by the Toronto judge who released a blistering ruling this week slamming Pollanen for falling into the same traps that led to wrongful convictions he helped overturn.

Despite being unprepared, he offered expert opinions on matters that were not appropriate, not within his knowledge and expertise, and incorrect, Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy wrote.

The case involved a man who was accused of the second-degree murder of his girlfriends 2-year-old son, Nicholas Cruz.

It is agreed the toddler died after blunt force trauma to his stomach caused his intestines to rupture. Doctors also found new and old bruises on the toddlers body.

The accused, Joel France, has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter but has not yet been sentenced.

(Nicholass mother, Marleny Cruz, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January and is serving a six-year sentence.)

Molloy has not yet ruled on whether France deliberately hit or punched Cruz in the stomach, or whether the trauma was caused by an accidental fall.

However, in a ruling on what evidence a jury would have been allowed to hear had the case gone to trial, she found that Pollanen allowed his personal belief that this was a case of abuse to cloud his duty to provide objective, even-handed scientific evidence to the court.

Vulnerable children need to be protected. But that protective role must not be confused with the role of an expert witness testifying in court. In my view, Dr. Pollanen blurred those roles, she said.

Molloy noted in the ruling that she does not question Pollanens expertise or integrity, and said she believes his bias to be unconscious.

It is a compelling illustration of how easy it is to fall into these errors and how cautious lawyers and judges must be in evaluating such evidence.

Pollanen is seen as a champion of wrongful convictions and did excellent work in the past in uncovering problems with forensic science, said Alan Young, a professor at Osgoode Hall who runs the Innocence Project there. He was not involved in the case.

Pollanen could not be reached for comment for this article.

The decision is a reminder for the courts not to be blinded by impressive credentials or convincing delivery of expert evidence, says criminal defence lawyer Daniel Brown, who was not involved in the case.

As the Smith cases and the Motherisk laboratory scandal have shown, courts need to be extremely careful with scientific evidence, he says  especially in cases that involve children, where it may be more difficult to maintain objectivity. (A Star investigation exposed questions about the reliability of Motherisks hair tests in late 2014, after an Appeal Court decision cast doubt on the use of the results in a 2009 criminal case involving a Toronto mother. An independent commission found the labs tests from 2005 to 2015 were inadequate and unreliable for use in child custody and court proceedings.)

Pollanen fell into several major pitfalls laid out by the landmark Goudge inquiry sparked by Smiths work, Molloy found.

Among them was confirmation bias  reaching a conclusion and working backward to find evidence to support it, and professional credibility bias  being unwilling to change an opinion once stated.

At the preliminary hearing, Pollanen testified it was not possible that the injuries to Cruz were caused by a short fall onto an object. When cross-examined during a pretrial motion, he grudgingly admitted that was incorrect and acknowledged he should have said he did not know the answer because he had not looked at the literature, Molloy said.

What concerns me about this is the willingness of Dr. Pollanen to take an extreme and rigid position, while knowing he had not done any research to back it up, she wrote. She found Pollanen to be disingenuous and evasive about the amount of time he spent on researching the possibility of the injuries being caused by an accident.

He also repeatedly said the injuries required significant force, failing to mention it was possible for a minor degree of force to cause the same injury  which Molloy found to be either misleading or the result of a troubling lack of research.

Molloy found that Pollanen was overreaching when he suggested that the injuries were more likely caused by an assault rather than by accident because of the other injuries on Cruzs body, and that it is statistically likelier to be an assault. She found that such evidence would be highly prejudicial to a jury.

It was discomforting that it took intensive research and a skilled cross-examination from defence lawyer Nathan Gorham to expose the critical and concerning weaknesses in Pollanens opinions, Molloy wrote.

Gorham declined to comment on the decision as the case is still before the courts.

The sentencing decision in Frances case is expected April 24.

With a file from Star staff

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How many teenagers would want to mark turning 19 by visiting Somali refugee girls in Kenya? Then again, how many teens have their birthdays recognized by the United Nations?

July 12 has been named Malala Day.

Pakistani Nobel Laureate and activist extraordinaire Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot by the Taliban in 2012, is now an honorary Canadian citizen. The honour was Canada's as Malala's gumption continues to impress and inspire.

Its easy to see Malalas impact in the developing world, on those far away dots on the map struggling for the right to equal education. How antiquated it must seem to 19-year-old Canadians whose government offered them free and compulsory primary and secondary education (education for indigenous children is a different story).

Of what importance is Malala to these Canadians other than as a rather remote hero figure? How do we make our children relate to the powerful story of an ordinary girl?

For younger children, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a wonderful start, aiming to inspire with tales of a 100 women, minus the wagging finger. Once there was a girl who loved school, this story begins. Her name was Malala.

In her own biography I am Malala co-written with Charlotte Lamb, and suitable for older children, she says of school, For us girls that doorway was like a magical entrance to our own special world.

Once the Taliban took control of her beloved Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, though, I felt fear when I went to school, thinking that someone would stop me and harm me, she told the House of Commons yesterday. I would hide my books under my scarf.

Malala is not just a spokesperson for education. She is a symbol of defiance against oppression.

She is an eloquent reminder to the so-called anti-feminists  the women who think feminism is an exaggerated idea made up by man-haters, the women who are ignorant of the sacrifices of those who battled for equality  that were not there yet.

We live in a dysfunctional world, in some parts of which going to school is a life-threatening act of courage for girls, many of whom are not allowed to grow into women who can work outside the home. In other parts, where the fight for the right to work is long-forgotten in the fine print of history, large and inexcusable gender wage gaps still exist.

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai says those who kill in the name of Islam do not share her Muslim faith. In a Wednesday address to Parliament, Yousafzai praised Canadians for standing together in the face of terrorism.

In some parts of the globe, rape victims are punished for adultery or even stoned. In other parts, where gender-based rights are more firmly established, men still feel entitled to their high-profile jobs despite credible reports of settling sexual harassment claims.

In all parts of the world, women are still objectified.

Malala traverses various worlds: Muslim and non-Muslim, patriarchal and balanced, liberal and conservative, powerful and poverty-stricken, eloquent and silenced.

Like any star destined to rise, she has naysayers trying to rob her of light. She faces the same dichotomy faced by ordinary Muslim women: shunned by their own conservatives as Western if theyre reformist and patronized as rescue projects, or worse, terrorism enablers, by Westerners if they appear conservative or devout.

Its a more intense form of the labelling slapped on all women. Committed worker or bad mother? Brainy or intimidating? Sexually liberated or slutty? Leader or bossy?

Malalas is the tale of collective courage.

I put myself in her parents shoes and wonder about my little ones. Would I have the courage to let them risk it all to fight the good fight?

I think of Malalas friends who were injured when the bullets came flying. Shazia Ramzan was shot in the shoulder and hand. Kainat Riaz was shot in the arm. Malala, who was shot in the head, was in such critical condition she had to be flown to the U.K. for treatment. Her friends didnt get any outside medical help, but they were determined to go to school after recovering, despite the pleas of their townspeople. (She later got her friends scholarships at a school in Wales.)

Malala, this compassionate young woman who has forgiven her attacker, has high political aspirations. For what its worth, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed in principle to put education on the G7 agenda, her father  the founder of the Swat Valley school and outspoken anti-Taliban activist  told the CBC yesterday.

We look at Malala, and we see hope amid the wretchedness. If she has achieved so much by age 19, what more lies in store?

Stop.

She is not a celebrity. As a social activist, her work inherently involves trauma. Her ambitions are large enough to envelope our expectations today. They may not always be so. Eventually the youthful charm will wear off, mistakes will be made. The world will need to allow Malala the space to learn and grow, away from its prying eyes.

Even if she decides to hang up her boots tomorrow, that should be OK.

In existing thus far, she has already done enough.

Shree Paradkar tackles issues of race and gender. You can follow her @shreeparadkar

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Legalizing marijuana was of course the main focus in Ottawa on Thursday, yet at the same time that it announced proposed legislation on the issue, the federal government also indicated it will toughen the laws around driving when impaired by alcohol.

Under the proposed legislation, a police officer will be able to conduct a saliva test on a driver following a legal roadside stop if they reasonably suspect that a driver has drugs in their body.

A positive reading would help the officer determine if an offence has been committed and the person would then be subjected to a further test at the police division, likely a blood test.

Officers currently need a reasonable suspicion before administering a roadside breath test to a driver suspected of being impaired by alcohol. Reasonable suspicion can be as simple as the smell of alcohol on the persons breath or the person admitting that theyve been drinking.

However, under the proposed legislation, when it comes to alcohol, officers who have an approved screening device for breath tests on hand when they lawfully stop drivers, such as at check stops, will be able to demand a test without first determining if they have a reasonable suspicion.

The result of a failed test would not automatically lead to a person being charged with an offence, but would mean they would have to go to the police station for further tests.

Criminal defence lawyer Daniel Brown questioned why the government is proposing a different standard  reasonable suspicion to test someone suspected of being impaired by drugs, but no need for reasonable suspicion for someone suspected of being impaired by alcohol.

Reasonable suspicion is not a high hurdle to overcome in order to demand that somebody provide a sample, and yet its a proper screening mechanism so that not all drivers are held up to perform screening tests at the will of the officer, he told the Star.

He said it would be difficult to see the proposed changes to alcohol-related driving offences survive constitutional scrutiny.

We've certainly heard previous governments who claim that their legislation is constitutional, only to see it overturned in the courts . . . because they dont meet constitutional standards, he said. Having at least some suspicion that a person is involved in drinking and driving, before demanding that they provide breath samples, isn't an unreasonable standard.

Dr. Doug Beirness, a senior researcher and policy analyst for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse who has studied cannabis use and driving, told the Star roadside saliva tests will also mean an increase in the cost of investigating drug-impaired driving offences.

This is not going to be cheap, he said. Whereas you can do a breath test for a few cents really . . . for oral fluid youre talking at least $30 per test. That can add up really, really quickly. If were going to go the mandatory route, were going to still want to be a little bit selective of whom we test.

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Scientists in Madison are preparing to join colleagues in more than 400 cities across the globe in a March for Science on Earth Day, April 22.

They are hoping that area residents who are not scientists will join them, said Dave Lovelace, a research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This is not a protest, Lovelace said Monday. It is a celebration of science.

The Madison event will include a march, a rally and a science expo on the Library Mall. Keynote speakers at the rally will include Bassam Shakhashiri, UW-Madison professor and creator of the popular "Science is Fun" demonstrations, and Tia Nelson, director of the Outrider Foundation and daughter of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson.

Some of the nation's biggest scientific organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Geophysical Union, are partnering with grassroots organizers to plan a rally in Washington D.C. aimed at defending "robustly funded and publicly communicated science," the Washington Post reported.

The idea for a rally in support of science bubbled up online after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who once referred to climate change as a Chinese hoax. Trump has since rolled back federal policies to curb climate change. And Trumps low priority for science is reflected in his proposed budget, which ends programs to lower domestic greenhouse gas emissions, for example, and also includes big cuts in federal funding for medical research.

The Washington march will feature Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Mona Hanna-Attisha, the doctor who helped expose lead in the water supply in Flint, Michigan. The organizers Twitter account had 345,000 followers as of Monday.

Satellite marches are planned in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, including a dozen in Wisconsin, according to the March for Science web site. More than 40 countries are planning events.

Activism like the March for Science is a big departure for scientists, who usually are reluctant to enter political debates for fear their work will be perceived as partisan, the Post noted.

Lovelace agreed that scientists try to avoid partisan activities.

The march is non-partisan, but it is political, he said. Public policy should be grounded in fact and reason. Facts should be implicit and explicit in decision-making."

He added that it would be easier to accept a politician who acknowledged the reality of climate change, for example, and decided to take no action to alleviate it, than it is to accept one who denies the facts.

Using alternate facts or denying a large body of evidence is antithetical to what we stand for, Lovelace said.

Some of the participating scientists work at UW-Madison, but the university is not playing an official role in the event, Lovelace said.

Local organizers felt it was important to have a march and rally in Madison, he said.

Not only is the city home to the UW flagship campus, an internationally known research center, but also to numerous private science-based companies, he said.

And a global echoing of the message conveyed in Washington  as happened with the Womens March in January  is a powerful statement of solidarity to policy makers, Lovelace said.

Science is important in every aspect of our lives, Lovelace said. Science is for all of us.

He estimated from social media response that about 1,000 people would participate in Madison.

If 10,000 people show up, Ill be excited. If more than that show up, Ill be a little nervous," he said.

The full slate of speakers for the event is still being finalized.

Marchers will start assembling at 12:30 p.m. April 22 at James Madison Park, where the march to the Library Mall will step off at 1 p.m. The science expo, with booths and demonstrations in chemistry, physics, geology and other sciences, will run from 1-5 p.m. on the Library Mall.

It will be a family-friendly event, Lovelace said, that embraces the core of the Wisconsin Idea.

That bedrock philosophy of the university holds that university research should be used to solve problems and improve health, quality of life, and the environment for all citizens of the state.
If you have ever been in a food court in a business tower or a shopping mall, you invariably have seen the Jimmy the Greek sign.

Behind that man, Dimitrios (Jimmy) Antonopoulos, was an inspirational woman: Eleni (Helen), his wife of 53 years.

Both of strong stock with no education or money when they came to Canada, Jimmy and Helens entrepreneurial spirit ended them up in the food industry, the staple employment of so many Greek immigrants.

My father and mother came from extremely humble beginnings, their daughter Toula Antonopoulos said.

Yes, from poverty to riches, thats the success story of Jimmy The Greek, which has grown to more than 56 locations in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.

Sadly, the business will have to do without the matriarch and one of the original founders. She died April 6 at 75 after a long hardship with renal problems.

The love affair between Helen and Jimmy was an arranged marriage by their parents. The pair swapped photos, Helen liked what she saw and married Jimmy, who was a shepherd tending to the care of goats and sheep at the family farm in Greece.

Helen and Jimmy moved to Canada from Nafplio, Greece, in 1963, living for several years in Montreal where Jimmy learned the ropes of the food industry by making sandwiches in the cafeteria of a Woolworth store. The couple moved to Toronto where Jimmy secured employment in the cafeteria at two, long-gone, downtown institutions: Tamblyn Drugs and Boots Drug Store.

When Boots closed its cafeteria, Jimmy met the famed Reichmann brothers, of Olympia and York fame, who advised him that he could step in, get space and the chance to set up a restaurant in First Canadian Place  on one condition. He had to go to New York and check out the concept of an eatery. He memorized the menu and gave his approval. Thats how the Epikourion Restaurant began in 1977.

With Helen helping out by preparing meals and handing out drinks, Jimmy poured his heart and soul into the Epikourion, working seven days a week for long hours.

The first year, it was brutal. He lost 60 pounds because of all of the stress, his daughter Toula said. He was emaciated. He was basically half the man.

One thing Eleni wouldnt do was allow Jimmy to mortgage the family home in Scarborough in order to give the Epikourion more breathing room. Soon however, the Epikourion was out of the woods and Helen and Jimmy founded the Penelope Restaurant in 1982 across from the Princess of Wales Theatre on King St.

In 1985, the couples major breakthrough came when they were tipped off about a space opening up in a food court at First Canadian Place on King St., located not far from the Epikourion. They agreed to take on the lease.

The couple got brainstorming about what to call the new eatery. When Jimmy first came to Canada, the customs agent asked him what his name was and he replied Dimitrios.

In Canada, Dimitrios is Jimmy, the customs agent told him.

So Jimmy the Greek became the moniker. Helen and Jimmy never wavered from the original concept of freshly prepared, quality food served in quick fashion from a counter in business towers and shopping centres. Think chicken souvlaki, rice, roasted potatoes, salad and tzatziki sauce, which was Helens favourite menu item along with loli water and baklava for dessert.

Although the Antonopoulos family never says no, there are no plans to expand to Quebec and the Maritimes. New venues to be opened are the Yonge-Eglinton Centre, the Londonberry Mall in Edmonton and the Winnipeg Outlet Collection Mall.

After our first venue got started, some customers asked if it was a franchise business. We didnt know what franchise meant but we pursued the idea, Toula Antonopoulos said.

After all of these years, we only have one corporate store, the first one we opened. The rest are franchised stores. My mother used to work at the corporate store many days until four years ago when she wasnt able to work.

Toula left her job as a probation and parole officer to join the family business at her parents request and she works at the head office at First Canadian Place. Jimmy, 77, stills go to the newly renovated flagship store twice a week to keep abreast of what is going on.

Helen was beset by kidney and renal problems most of her life, leading to an eventual kidney donation from her daughter Tina.

A few weeks ago, a mother had some issues and we rushed her to emergency, Toula said. Her body rejected the kidney. Her blood pressure kept plummeting. Then on March 25, she didnt look good. So we took her to St. Michaels. She fought so hard to live.

Helen Antonopoulos leaves Jimmy, her daughters Toula and Tina and six grandchildren. A funeral service was held April 11 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on Thorncliffe Park Dr. Among those paying their respects were suppliers, distributors, customers, franchisees and tenants of First Canadian Place.

My mother was a woman greatly admired and loved, her daughter said.

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TORONTO, 2037If youll follow me, folks, the next stop on our walking tour is Nathan Phillips Square. Very exciting. Hard hats on, please! Safety glasses too. I dont have to tell you about the problem of glass windows falling off the Old City Hall Condos right next door, so watch your step.

If youve been reading your newsfeeds  I bet some of you are viewing them in your optic displays right now  youll know that one of Torontos finest annual traditions is underway inside the ScotiabankCityHall council chamber. Mayor Stephanie Ford and city council are debating the one-stop Scarborough subway extension that is now planned to go 100 metres, from Kennedy station all the way to the parking lot in a Hydro field across the street, and whether or not to go ahead with it now that the cost is estimated at $745 trillion. This year marks 25 years of formal debate and sometimes trench warfare on the issue  though LRT-side historians prefer to point out its actually 30 years since Transit City first proposed a line in that corridor. Either way, big milestone year, lots of ritual arguments planned, you can see the transit-fan tailgate parties on the west side of the square.

But what I want to show you is one of the citys most photographed tourist attractions, the iconic Toronto: RO T sign. Youve all seen millions of pictures of its rust, its dents, its pigeons nests, the friendly family of feral raccoons that live in the half-melted O shape over there on the right.

Everyone knows that the crumbling sculpture, an urban ruin protected by the heritage department, forms the name of the city, and that at night the letters RO T light up in festive colours. Its the most beloved symbol of the city governments philosophy.

But what you might not know is that the meaning of the sign wasnt intended when it was first built. The sign was put in the square  almost as a fun afterthought  during the Pan-Am Games in 2015. At the time, all of the letters lit up! The colours were bright, the edges were clean lines, it was shiny and new. Its hard to imagine, I know, since its decaying state now seems such an essential part of its visual identity. But it just spelled the name of the city. In big, bright letters. So simple.

And people loved it! It quickly became one of the most famous landmarks in the city. Tourists came here just to pose for pictures with it. Children climbed on it. The city briefly considered making a bunch more of them. One city executive in 2016 said it was the most successful marketing media branding project hed ever been involved with. This was kind of fitting  so much of Torontos success had been an unplanned happy accident. After all, the 20th-century writer Robert Fulford called Toronto The Accidental City in one of his books.

So even though it was meant to be a temporary sign, the government decided to keep it. But then things got really interesting. By 2017, the vinyl was peeling off. The sign started getting scuffed up. The colours might begin to fade. Because it was meant to be temporary, it would need some maintenance. The cost of fixing and improving it back then was estimated at $150,000.

To a lot of people, that seemed like a bargain to preserve the beloved symbol  literally the name of the city, right in front of the seat of city government  that had been such a pride and tourism boon. Such a source of pure delight! But we all know that is not how politics in this city work. So council refused to approve the expense.

Anyones who has studied Toronto history here will know that letting things crumble to pieces because were too cheap to maintain them is among the citys proudest traditions. Theres the RT in Scarborough, of course, which has been powered by passengers taking turns pushing it on foot since 2030. But it goes back further than that.

Way back in the late 1900s, the city let a gorgeous light sculpture at Yorkdale subway station fall into disrepair and then eventually threw it out because they didnt want to replace a $28 transformer.

In the early decades of the 21st century, public housing buildings started falling apart so badly that they had to close apartment towers, even though pretty much everyone said they agreed public housing was really important and worth investing in. You see the vacant and rotting ruins of those buildings all around the city today!

And its hard to imagine, now that the Gardiner Expressway is so famous as the last elevated expressway left in North America (and now that constantly maintaining it, rebuilding it, and gold-plating it as a signal that the War on the Car is still over consumes 92 per cent of Torontos annual budget) but for a long time around the turn of the century, pieces of the Gardiner would fall off all the time and land on cars below, because no one could agree to tear it down but no one could agree to spend money fixing it.

Anyhow, thats what happened with the Toronto sign. It deteriorated further and further, and still no one would spend money to fix it. After a while, its dilapidated state became familiar, even beloved. By the time the second Mayor Ford was running for his second term, the lights in only three letters still worked, giving the sign its now-familiar  RO T  appearance at night. He recognized it as such a fitting, perfect symbol of our approach to governance and infrastructure, he adapted it as his campaign slogan: DOUG: Let it ROT. After his re-election, of course, that was adopted as the citys new motto.

And thats the story of the sign. As symbols of the city go, its an enduring one. Watch out  those raccoons do sometimes bite if you dont feed them before posing for pictures.

Okay, now if youll step this way across the square, our next stop is historic Osgoode Hall, a source of much revenue for the government ever since we started listing it on Airbnb to keep taxes low in the 2020s

Edward Keenan writes on city issues ekeenan@thestar.ca . Follow: @thekeenanwire

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The day after a scathing report detailed the dysfunction, culture of fear and a lack of leadership at the York Region public school board, trustees went beyond what was asked of them by the education minister and told embattled director J. Philip Parappally to step down, sources told the Star.

At a special board meeting Wednesday night, trustees said they had already met the first deadline put forward in a letter from Education Minister Mitzie Hunter outlining her 22 directives, and were making progress on many others.

Board chair Loralea Carruthers opened the meeting with strong words, and an apology.

Im so sorry, so very sorry that so many of you have been hurt so deeply and Im sorry that our staff . . . have been hurt, too. And Im so sorry that our kids, in particular have been exposed to the worst in people instead of the best, she said. I am sorry, and my colleagues are sorry. I apologize.

What will happen next is action, not empty words. And it wont be action behind closed doors either, Carruthers said.

So starting tonight I can say all of the trustees are on the same page, we are united and working on a clean path forward, she said, adding they will do the right thing.

Read more:

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Mishandling of discrimination, dismantling of equity policy at heart of York board crisis

Recommendations call for fast action to restore trust in trouble-plagued board

York trustees slammed as lacking understanding of their roles, responsibilities

That right thing appeared to be asking for the dismissal of the education director, J. Philip Parappally, according to sources. It was a move the chair wouldnt confirm publicly.

We are going to act on the ministers directives but we obviously cant comment on a personnel matter, Carruthers said, adding any discussion with the director would be in private session.

A motion passed by trustees out of the private session only approved the motion regarding a personnel matter but failed to offer more details.

But a source close to the trustees said during the in-camera portion of the meeting on Wednesday, trustees unanimously agreed to call for Parappallys resignation and started the labourious and complex process to part ways with Parappally based on concerns around his performance  which were detailed throughout the entire report.

Parappally will have a week to respond.

He was not available after the meeting for comment, but during the meeting apologized for the hurt he had caused.

Trustees also put forward a number of motions to formalize a ban on travel  after being criticized in the report for jetting overseas without public approvals and, in many cases, no clear purpose  and also asked the director to establish the position of a senior administrator responsible for equity, as well as move forward on appointing an integrity commissioner.

They also encouraged all employees to make use of the employee assistance program, a requirement Hunter said should be implemented within 24 hours.

But questions remain on how the trustees will move forward, given that the report detailed a far-reaching absence of strong and ethical leadership.

At the end of January, Hunter appointed a two-person review team to probe the board, after concerns that incidents of racism and Islamophobia were not properly handled, international travel was getting out of hand, and the deteriorating relationships between trustees, staff and Parappally.

The review, released Tuesday, painted a troubling picture of a board in crisis, where trustees were unaware of their responsibilities, failed to hold to account then-trustee Nancy Elgie for referring to a black parent using the n-word, and were oblivious to public concerns about their travel or even why the review was ordered. It said leaders, both elected and the director, were not living up to their duties.

Hunter has said if the board does not act quickly, she will appoint an investigator, which puts the board closer to provincial supervision.

Parents, however, continue to call for Parappally to resign, saying the board cant move forward with him at the helm.

Parappally was given an unheard-of 10-year contract under then-chair Anna DeBartolo without any real performance review. Parappally was also guaranteed a job for life with the board after the deal expired, according to a copy of his contract obtained by the Star last April.

Hunter has ordered the board to renegotiate the terms of his contract and complete an independent job appraisal by the end of May.

Concerns had been raised about Parappallys fractious relationships with staff and some trustees, his disrespectful dealings with parents, and a culture of distrust the reviewers said he cultivated. He is also said to have ordered senior staff to spy on one another, and the board confiscated laptops to find the source of emails critical of him and how he was hired.

Many senior staff interviewed said they have no confidence in his leadership, according to the report. In fact, some interviewees said Parappallys hiring was the cause of, and the beginning of, much of the difficulty the board is facing.

On Wednesday at Queens Park, Hunter told the Star she expects her directives to be followed and implemented in a timely manner. That is my expectation. I will be monitoring the boards progress very closely.

When asked about the director, she said in the directions I provided to the board, there are three areas that are important  thats an immediate 360 (thorough) review of the directors performance by an outside human resources expert, making sure the directors contract aligns with other directors of education, and having a policy in place for the recruitment and performance appraisal of the director.

This is not the first time a director has come under fire. Donna Quan, the former director of the Toronto public board, was also harshly criticized in a provincial report two years ago. She landed a provincial research gig with York University instead of finishing out her contract at the TDSB.

Sources have told the Star that Parappally had also been in talks with the province for a similar exit strategy before the reports release, which fell through after he made unreasonable demands for a payout.

Parappally, who was hired in 2014, still has seven years on his contract. He earned $259,000 last year.

Parents and community groups lauded the report and Hunters response, but said the board must now step up.

There are a lot of families that are hurting, said Gilary Massa, of the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The report confirms the absolute failure of the board to fulfil its own policies of equity and inclusion, as well as broader issues concerning leadership and governance. The findings are deeply troubling.

Its especially important to note that current staff described working in a culture of fear and distrust which was fostered by the boards director, J. Philip Parappally, added Shernett Martin of the Vaughan African Canadian Association.

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Synaptive Medical wants to help neurosurgeons do a better job.

The Toronto startups suite of visualization equipment and applications for neurosurgical procedures includes high-definition, 3D imaging tools (for use before and during surgery) and even a lifelike, simulated brain for practice purposes.

We help surgeons be more efficient with their surgery and use better information to guide their decisions, says Synaptive Medical president Cameron Piron.

But the company has yet to make a sale in Ontario, its home market, despite receiving Health Canadas green light for their suite of products last summer (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave their approval a year earlier). In fact, only after striking deals with the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan and 15 major U.S. customers, such as Seattles Swedish Health Services, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Houston Methodist Hospital and Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, was the company finally able to find a Canadian customer  in Vancouver.

Certainly, our neighbours to the south take a little more initiative in taking on new technology to impact change in their health-care systems, says Piron, a medical biophysicist and serial entrepreneur who founded the company about four years ago.

International customers may be more willing (and more able) to make the significant investment required  installing the system can cost more than $1 million  but not having a buyer at home can also be a hindrance when it comes to selling abroad, says Piron.

When potential clients come to visit, its a real loss that we cant take them to a local customer . . . and be able to show an operating room, he says. Its certainly an awkward conversation of, Its being used all around the world, but its not being used here. Why not? 

An uphill battle

Synaptive Medical is not alone. Waterloo, Ont.-based startup Intellijoint Surgical produces a device that helps surgeons achieve better accuracy when performing hip replacements. Founded in 2010, Intellijoint received Health Canadas approval in 2013. The first use of the product took place at Torontos Mount Sinai Hospital that December, but since then, sales have taken off in the U.S., not in Canada.

Canadian surgeons realize what Intellijoint Hip could do for their patients, says chief executive officer Armen Bakirtzian. The problem for us was when surgeons went to their administrators to have the product paid for. Intellijoint charges $1,000 per surgery for the licence to use the technology.

Bakirtzian says the problem has reached the point that his company has pretty much stopped trying in Canada and is focusing mostly on the U.S.

Why are so many innovative Canadian startups facing such difficulty here at home?

Hadi Salah, manager of health ecosystem partnerships at MaRS Discovery District, says some of the challenge lies within the procurement system.

He explains that hospitals currently have to identify a need, find the funding for it and issue a public request for proposal (RFP) describing the solution and exact specifications it must meet. When the health-care service providers put out these specs, theyre really limiting themselves . . . because, if theres something radical out there thats innovative but doesnt meet those specs, theyre not eligible to even respond to the RFP.

Read more: Diagnostic medical technology veering into Star Trek galaxies

Clients in the U.S. do not face the same restrictions  they tend to buy anything that works for them. Salah points to Kaiser Permanente in Oakland and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as pioneers.

We like to talk about Kaiser as a case study about how to do things, he says. About 10-20 years ago, almost all of their care was delivered in hospitals; now its significantly less because theyve gone into mobile, theyve gone into smaller clinics. So the whole model of care delivery is pretty innovative.

Cedars-Sinai has partnered with Techstars to launch a venture fund and an accelerator right at the hospital, Salah adds. They select the top startups and they house them in their health system to see if they can co-develop solutions . . . and then they actually invest in these companies.

Another barrier here is that many startups fall into the valley of death  they lack the resources to survive the Canadian systems frequently long sales cycles. Also, most hospitals wont consider adopting a new technology if the cost isnt reimbursed by their provincial health ministry, notes Salah  which, in Ontario, can take years even after Health Canada has given its approval.

Preventing the valleys of death

One bright light is the MaRS Excellence in Clinical Innovation and Technology Evaluation (EXCITE) program, which works to get disruptive health technologies to market faster. In fact, it is designed for what Liana Di Marco, its project manager, describes as technologies with an impact great enough to be considered changing the way that care is delivered.

The program connects such companies with regulators, payers (insurance providers) and academic researchers, who all work to build an EXCITE evidentiary bundle demonstrating the value of the technology. This bundle includes clinical trial data, an economic analysis, a systematic and comparative effectiveness review and a human factors review.

The results then go to EXCITEs management board members  among them William Charnetski, Ontarios chief health innovation strategist  who decide whether to recommend a product for adoption and use in the province. But really, says Di Marco, the end game is not only for the company to have Ontario as their first customer, but for them to take that dossier and success story to other health systems around the world.

Last fall, she adds, the ministry added a bonus to the program by committing to work with a company to help it recover in revenue, at minimum, what it paid toward the EXCITE study. (For example, companies underwrite any trials required.) To my knowledge, no other health system has done that, she says.

The test case

Toronto-based BresoTec is the first company to go through EXCITE. Its BresoDx diagnostic tool is a cheaper, simpler and more consumer-friendly home test for sleep apnea  what founder Dr. Geoff Fernie calls a game changer for those (one person in 10) who suffer from the disorder. The company was also supported by MaRS Innovation, a non-profit that acts on behalf of 16 member organizations (15 of Torontos top universities, institutions and research institutes, plus MaRS Discovery District) to help commercialize discoveries.

The neat thing with MaRS Innovation and EXCITE is that you have a premarket evaluation, he says. So while youre still continuing to do all your regulatory work, all your production engineering, theyre looking at the device and how it might fit into the Ontario health-care system . . . so you compress the time.

With a green light from Health Canada to sell its product, BresoTec faces one last hurdle  adoption by the health-care system. Now its up to the Ministry of Health to come to a decision, Fernie says.

Salah says hes seeing a lot of need and want from across Canada and the world for programs that are similar to EXCITE. This model is already being adopted by others, he says.

In fact, a spinoff called EXCITE International has been launched, retaining the features of the Canadian program, but also including payer input from the U.S. and U.K. Companies that want to basically launch in all three markets globally can use this as a single entrance point, says Di Marco.

She hopes that EXCITE will show health-care stakeholders that more can be achieved by working together: We need to really adjust our thinking . . . because technologys changing quickly and were going to get left behind.

This article is part of a series on the Future of Health featured in MaRS, a publication that highlights the people and companies in MaRS Discovery Districts network, and the innovations that touch our lives. Learn more about the Future of Health.

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Ontarios attorney general said while he supports the idea of training for judges on sexual assault cases, hed prefer the provinces chief justice handle the issue rather than the government.

This is an issue of respecting our constitution. This is an issue of respecting the judicial independence that is key to and the cornerstone of our democracy, Yasir Naqvi said at Queens Park on Thursday after pressure from the opposition during question period.

Its clearly within the scope of the judiciary to determine the training that they set themselves . . . Im in conversations with the chief justice. I know she takes this matter seriously, and we look forward to the action from the judiciary.

Progressive Conservative MPP Laurie Scott has proposed a private members bill that would force judges and justices of the peace to learn about the laws, myths and stereotypes around sexual assault cases, either before they are appointed or, for those already on the job, as part of their continuing education.

Liberal MPP Cristina Martins also introduced her bill that would mandate such training for lawyers before they can be considered for the bench.

Unfortunately, we are now hearing from the attorney general that he does not support that initiative; from the minister of community safety and correctional services that they dont support that training, PC leader Patrick Brown said Thursday. The reality is, everyone here knows this is a necessary step. This is a good idea. It shouldnt matter that an opposition member raised a good idea. This is about sexual assault victims. This is a right step.

Premier Kathleen Wynne, whose government was lauded for the Its Never Okay campaign to combat sexual violence and harassment, said this is an issue of not whether we support or not . . . this is not a matter of whether or not, in our opinion, something should happen. This is about the mechanism for actually making it (happen).

Scott has argued that with high-profile decisions like the so-called knees together case in Alberta, or the Nova Scotia judge who acquitted a taxi driver, saying the severely intoxicated complainant could have consented, that women need more confidence in our justice system. Sexual assault survivors must feel comfortable coming forward.

On Wednesday, Naqvi told reporters that the chief justice takes this issue very seriously and she wants to make sure that the public always have confidence in our judiciary but instead of legislation, Im more inclined to work with the chief justice as I have been doing to let her know where the government stands and where government policy stands, where legislators are in terms of making sure the public has confidence in the judiciary . . . and I have full confidence in our chief justice that she will look at all the options that are available to her.

Brown, however, told reporters the government should support Scotts private members bill as this would be a significant step forward and I think they should embrace it with open arms . . . I dont know why this government seems to be committed to the status quo thats obviously inadequate.

Last month, Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose brought forward a bill that would require specialized training for any lawyer wishing to become a federally appointed judge. With unanimous support, the bill is now being dealt with quickly through the House of Commons.

However, Ottawa lawyer Anne London-Weinstein has told the Star that judicial independence is crucial, and that in most cases shes seen in her 20 years, judges get things right.

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The U.S. Coast Guard has received no extra funding to cover the additional costs of protecting U.S. President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort during his frequent trips to the Florida estate, the services top official said Wednesday.

Adm. Paul Zukunft, the Coast Guards commandant, also provided new details about the challenges the service faces in safeguarding the Palm Beach property because of its waterfront exposure on two sides  the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west.

Whenever Trump visits, Zukunft said, the Coast Guard dispatches helicopters, patrol boats and anti-terrorism teams for round-the-clock patrols, Zukunft said during a breakfast with journalists.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

We have teams protecting the approaches to Mar-a-Lago on both coasts, Zukunft said. Were also protecting in the air, as well, he added, noting that the service watches for low, slow flyers and any other potential aviation threat to our commander in chief.

Asked about the costs of protecting Mar-a-Lago, Zukunft said officials were trying to determine a figure to provide to Congress, but that at the moment the service was working within existing funding constraints.

Is there a supplemental to support this? he said. The answer is no.

Zukunfts comments highlight the growing costs to taxpayers of Trumps lifestyle, including routine jaunts to Mar-a-Lago and the need to fortify Trump Tower in New York, where Trumps wife and youngest son have chosen to live. Trump is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago this weekend for his seventh trip since the inauguration.

Mar-a-Lago, the private club Trump has dubbed the winter White House, lacks the established protection measures of the White House or Camp David, and officials there in recent months have been forced to build a presidential compound from scratch.

The Trump administrations draft budget last month called for cutting the Coast Guards funding by 14 per cent, or about $1.3 billion, but the White House has since said it would keep the services budget flat compared with the previous year.

Three anti-terrorism teams were involved in the protection of Mar-a-Lago when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last week, Zukunft said. Those Maritime Safety and Security teams carry out port safety patrols and are trained to operate after an attack by chemical, biological or radiological means.

Read more:

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Promoting his Mar-a-Lago resort as the Winter White House a bankable move for Trump

Trump has spent about 21 days at Mar-a-Lago this year. Based on a Washington Post review of estimates of past presidential trips and assessments of security costs, Trumps continued travel there could drive the price tag for Coast Guard support at the estate into the tens of millions of dollars over a four-year term.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, commonly used in air patrols like those over Mar-a-Lago, costs $7,533 an hour to run, or more than $180,000 for an all-day patrol, service financial documents show. An RB-S Defender-class response boat patrolling near Mar-a-Lago costs $1,434 an hour to run, or about $34,400 a day.

When former president Barack Obama flew to South Florida for a weekend in 2013, the Coast Guard spent about $586,000 to patrol waterways and cover official travel and lodging costs, according to a Government Accountability Office report last year.

When the president is in town, the Coast Guard also establishes three wide-ranging security zones along the Palm Beach shorelines and in the nearby Lake Worth Lagoon, which are guarded by gunboat.

The Coast Guards budget is only a fraction of the government money spent toward protecting the presidents estate. Palm Beach County spends more than $60,000 a day toward overtime for deputies and other costs when the president is in town, local-government officials said.

The Secret Service has also faced an additional budgetary strain. The agency requested $60 million in funding on top of its traditional budget for the next year to help pay for the travel of the president and top-ranking officials, as well as the protection of the Trump familys private home in Trump Tower, according to internal documents reviewed by The Post.

The Coast Guard post near Palm Beach traditionally focuses on other missions across South Florida and the Caribbean, including rescuing stranded boaters, securing ports and intercepting drug runners, the service says.

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For decades, Sheila Abdus-Salaam has been a fixture in New York legal circles. As the first African-American woman to serve on the states top court, she commanded the respect of colleagues for being a trailblazer, as well as having a quick legal mind.

On Wednesday, Abdus-Salaams body was found in the Hudson River in what local police are calling a possible suicide. She was 65.

Her body was found fully clothed in the river in Upper Manhattan at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, a day after her husband had reported her missing, according to the New York Police Department. There were no signs of trauma or injury on the body, and the cause of death is still under investigation.

It is not yet known how Abdus-Salaam ended up in the river or how long her body had been there. Her death shook the New York legal community, prompting responses from colleagues, judges, and state and local political leaders.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, D, called Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on the New York Court of Appeals, a humble pioneer. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, who appointed her to the states Court of Appeals, said she was a trail-blazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all.

Abdus-Salaam was born in 1952 to a working-class family of seven children in Washington, D.C., where she attended public school. As a teenager, she was inspired to enter the legal profession after an encounter with civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman, according to a 2013 news release from Seymour James, attorney-in-charge of criminal practice of the Legal Aid Society in New York City.

Before her nomination to the State Court of Appeals, Abdus-Salaam served as a justice in the First Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, and for 15 years as a State Supreme Court justice in Manhattan. She graduated from Barnard College in 1974 and from Columbia Law School in 1977, and she spent time working with indigent clients as a staff attorney at Brooklyn Legal Services. She also served as an assistant state attorney general.

Throughout her career, Abdus-Salaams colleagues have hailed the judge for her clarity as a writer and fairness as a decision-maker. Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the state Court of Appeals, said in a statement Wednesday that her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness, and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her.

Jonathan Lippman, the former chief judge of New York state, said he and Abdus-Salaam grew up together in the court system, including serving together on the New York Court of Appeals.

It was my delight that in the latter part of my tenure are chief [of the court of appeals] that we were directly able to work together. ... She was respected and admired by everyone, Lippman said. It was a close-knit court. We had dinner together every night.

In one of Abdus-Salaams most significant recent decisions, this summer she wrote the ruling on Brooke S.B. and Elizabeth A. C.C., expanding the definition of what it means to be a parent, particularly for same-sex couples. The existing definition, she wrote, had become unworkable when applied to increasingly varied familial relationships. She ruled that where a partner shows by clear and convincing evidence that the parties agreed to conceive a child and to raise the child together, the non-biological, non-adoptive partner has standing to seek visitation and custody.

She was someone we could all point to  especially here in Harlem  not just women, but people of colour, said former Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright, who said he has known Abdus-Salaam for decades and lived three blocks from her. Wright said often spotted Abdus-Salaam in the neighbourhood, including on the subway, where he saw her just a few days ago.

She had a tremendous amount of intellect [but] she wasnt overbearing with it. She was actually always, very nice, he said. And when she spoke, people listened.

Correction  April 17, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim judge in the U.S. In fact, she was not a Muslim. Abdus-Salaam took her first husband's last name and continued to use it professionally after the divorce.

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SAO PAULOBrazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid $40 million to President Michel Temers party and another party to ensure a contract with the state oil company, according to testimony from a former Odebrecht executive.

Marcio Farias accusation came in plea bargain testimony released late Wednesday as part of the biggest corruption probe in Brazils history. The investigation, known as Operation Car Wash, has already unveiled billions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes paid to politicians by Brazilian companies.

But this week, the Supreme Court announced a new wave of investigations into top politicians, including eight of Temers Cabinet ministers, dealing a major blow to his presidency and raising questions about whether he can continue to effectively govern. In opening the investigations, the court released recordings of the plea bargain testimony that underpins the probe.

Other former Odebrecht executives testified that Temer was involved in the solicitation of another bribe, worth $3.2 million.

Temer is not under investigation since, as president, he has temporary immunity from any crimes committed before he took office. He has denied wrongdoing.

In his testimony, Faria said he met with Temer and some of his allies at Temers office in Sao Paulo in 2010 in order to bless an arrangement whereby Odebrecht would make a contribution to the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party in exchange for its help smoothing the approval of a pending contract with Petrobras.

When asked whether it was clear that this money was a bribe or an illegal gain, Faria responded: Totally an illegal gain because it was a percentage on top of the contract.

Faria said no figures were discussed at the meeting, but the deal was clear: Odebrecht would pay the party 5 per cent of the value of the Petrobras contract. That amounted to around $40 million, he said.

Faria said Temers party later decided to cut in the Workers Party. At the time, Temer was the vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party as the presidential candidate. In the end, Faria said Temers party received 4 per cent of the contracts total, and the Workers Party received 1 per cent.

In a video released on Thursday, Temer acknowledged that he had a conversation with Faria in 2010, but flatly denied the rest.

I am not afraid of the facts. What disgusts me are lies, Temer said. The lie is that in this meeting I heard a reference to financial resources or shady business by the company with politicians. This never happened. Not in that meeting and not in any meeting in my public life.

Two other former Odebrecht executives described a similar scenario they say occurred in 2014. According to court documents, the executives had dinner that year with Temer, who was then vice-president, and his current Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha.

During the dinner, they say, the company agreed to pay $3.2 million in supposed campaign contributions to Padilha and another Temer ally and in exchange, Temers party agreed to help Odebrecht win airport concessions. Padilha is under investigation in this case.

Former Odebrecht CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, one of the executives present, testified that he closed the deal with Padilha after dessert and before coffee was served. Temer had stepped away from the table at the time.

Temer never mentioned the 10 million (reals, or $3.2 million) to me, Odebrecht said in the recording released by the court. But obviously at the dinner he was aware.

Padilha has denied wrongdoing. Temers office said that he categorically denies any involvement of his name in shady dealings.

The corruption unmasked by the Car Wash investigation has shocked even the most cynical Brazilians for both the vast amounts that traded hands and the way in which it has spared no party. Odebrecht testified that his company also contributed to the presidential campaigns of Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, both of the Workers Party, in exchange for favours.

In one instance, in 2009, Odebrecht met with Silvas finance minister, Guido Mantega, to discuss an executive order the company wanted from the government. During the conversation, Mantega allegedly wrote down the number 50  which Odebrecht said he understood meant the company should contribute 50 million reals ($16 million) to Rousseffs upcoming campaign.

On illegal campaign financing, Lula and Dilma knew the amounts, the former CEO testified. Not the precise amount, but they had knowledge of the dimension of all our support through the years.

Silva and Rousseff have both denied the accusations. Rousseff was impeached and removed from office last year on charges she broke fiscal laws.

I dont know what will happen to me, but I am fighting and I will prove that this country can be happy again, Silva said in a radio interview on Thursday.

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CHICAGOAirport police officers called to remove a passenger who refused to leave a United Express flight essentially walked into what law enforcement experts say was a no-win situation: enforcing a business decision by a private company.

But if the passenger posed no threat and was not being disruptive, officers almost certainly could have tried an approach other than dragging him out of his seat and down the aisle, including simply telling the airline to resolve the situation itself, experts said.

Cellphone video of the bloodied passenger, 69-year-old David Dao of Elizabethtown, Ky., has become a public-relations nightmare for United and led to the suspension of three police officers who worked for the Chicago Department of Aviation.

The video also underscores a growing dilemma: From airlines to schools, police are called to deal with situations that in the past might have been handled without them, sometimes leading officers to respond with force far beyond the provocation.

Police have an innate bias for action, but there are times that its not in their best interest or that of their agency to get involved in an issue that requires you to use a high level of force, said Jim Bueermann, president of the Police Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based research group, and former police chief in Redlands, California. You have to ask whether ... you really needed to use force when doing the airlines bidding.

In an interview with ABCs Good Morning America aired Wednesday, the chief executive of United Airlines said the carrier will no longer ask police to remove passengers from full flights.

After passengers were already seated on the full flight, United announced that four people needed to get off to make room for employees of a partner airline. When nobody accepted the airlines offer of $800 to relinquish a seat, the airline chose four passengers at random. All but Dao agreed to leave.

Its unclear what police were told by the airline about the situation. Screaming can be heard on the videos as Dao is dragged from his window seat and across the armrest, but he is not seen fighting with the officers. He appears relatively passive while being dragged. Later hes seen standing in the aisle saying quietly, I want to go home, I want to go home.

But once police were aboard the plane, it would have been difficult to walk away, especially if they did not know why the passenger was asked to leave, said Kevin Murphy, executive director of the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network.

Once youre there, it becomes tough to disengage. You have an obligation, Murphy said. If someone is saying theyre staying no matter what the property owner says, you have to wonder why they want to try so hard, to stay ... Is there something else going on?

But police officers should try to find out what they are going into and to defuse the situation, if possible, experts said.

Officers with the Los Angeles Airport Police do not get involved in civil matters such as business disputes between airlines and passengers. They have sometimes refused airlines requests to board planes, said spokesman and police officer Rob Pedregon.

We dont just fly into action when someone calls us, he said. Officers will basically find out the whole situation, why were here, get the background and then decide if its within our legal authority. We wouldnt get (someone) off just because the airline wants them off. If a law is broken, then we will take action.

The Chicago Department of Aviation swiftly put the officer who removed Dao on leave, saying he had violated standard procedures and that the agency would not tolerate that kind of action. Two more officers were suspended Wednesday. Officials have refused to say what procedures should have been followed.

The agency also said that its officers, who are not part of the Chicago Police Department, have limited authority to make an arrest.

Officers could have asked themselves whether the airline had an option to reconsider its actions, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a group that has called for greater restraint from police officers. But the bottom line, he said, is that the airline put the police officers in a difficult situation by expecting them to solve an issue that they had created.

It was within their decision-making power to try someone else, Wexler said. The real question is, at what point did the airline think this is no longer their problem and turns this over to the police? He could not solve this issue the way the airline could.

At the same time, police frequently overreact when someone defies an order, Bueermann said.

They take the bait ... and you dig yourself in a deeper hole, Bueermann said, comparing the United situation to that of a South Carolina police officer seen on cellphone video in 2015 flipping a high school student backward in her desk-chair then dragging her across the classroom after she refused to leave.

Everybody reaches a limit ... but police officers are paid in part to use their common sense to resolve a situation.

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The Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to end the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti in mid-October after 13 years, sending a strong signal that the international community believes the impoverished Caribbean nation is stabilizing after successful elections.

The peacekeepers helped normalize a country in chaos after political upheaval in 2004 and a devastating 2010 earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people  including the head of the UN mission itself  as well as Hurricane Matthew, which caused widespread devastation in October.

But they also leave under a cloud. UN troops from Nepal are widely blamed for introducing cholera that has killed at least 9,500 people in Haiti since 2010. And some troops also have been implicated in sexual abuse, including of hungry young children, an issue reported on Wednesday by The Associated Press.

The resolution approved by the UNs most powerful body extends the mandate of the mission, known as MINUSTAH, for a final six months during which the 2,370 military personnel will gradually leave.

It creates a follow-on peacekeeping mission for an initial period of six months comprising 1,275 police who will continue training the national police force. The new mission will also assist the government in strengthening judicial and legal institutions and engage in human rights monitoring, reporting and analysis.

Britains UN Ambassador Matthew Rycrof said the resolution sends a signal that once peacekeepers arent needed, UN missions should close or transform to focus on other challenges.

We are at the end of an important phase in Haiti, he said. What we now need is a newly configured mission which is focused on rule of law and human rights.

Read more: UN peacekeeping has glaring accountability gaps, documents show

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990. A 2004 rebellion had the country on the brink of collapse, leading to deployment of the UN force, and Haiti has been trying to get its shaky democracy on a firmer foundation ever since.

A political crisis and ensuing street protests stemming from a repeatedly derailed 2015 electoral cycle again threatened the stability of the country but an elected president and lawmakers are now in place.

The United States has launched a review of all 16 peacekeeping missions to assess costs and effectiveness, and U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the Security Council that Haiti is a success story when it comes to drawing down a peacekeeping mission.

With the new mission, she said, the Haitian people will be set on the path of independence and self-sufficiency.

But citing the AP story, Haley said after the vote that while the departure of the peacekeepers is seen as a success, unfortunately its a nightmare for many in Haiti who will never be able to forget and live with brutal scars.

Read more: More than 100 UN peacekeepers ran a child sex ring in Haiti. None were ever jailed

At least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers exploited nine Haitian children in a sex ring from 2004 to 2007, according to an internal UN report. It was part of a larger AP investigation of UN missions during the past 12 years that found an estimated 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and UN personnel around the world.

These peacekeepers are sent into vulnerable communities to protect the innocent, not to exploit or rape them, Haley said. Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end.

She said the United States and the international community are committed to Haitis democratic development, independence and economic growth and will also continue to push for accountability of UN peacekeeping missions accused of sexual abuse.

The Security Council resolution recognized the recent elections as a major milestone towards stabilization. But it also said international support is needed to strengthen, professionalize and reform the police, promote economic development and face the significant humanitarian challenges following Hurricane Matthew, which struck in October.

The new mission authorized Thursday by the council, to be known as MINUJUSTH, is also authorized to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.

The councils decision was met with conflicting emotions in Haiti, where many fear that dark days of instability will return after the foreign soldiers depart.

The reason why we dont have a lot of trouble these days is because the UN people are still around. But once they take off, opportunities will open up for Haitians with guns to make things crazy again, said Gary Guerre, a 27-year-old bank clerk.

Some Haitians are anxious that the chronically dismal economy will get even worse.

All I know is that having the UN people around helps Haitis economy a little bit. They buy stuff and it makes the foreigners feel like theres order here, said Jivenson Arisme, a 24-year-old entrepreneur who set up a small roadside business selling kites and other items for the Easter holiday.

But many Haitian citizens have always seen the multinational peacekeepers as an occupying force and an affront to national sovereignty.

They should have been out of here a long time ago. I dont see how theyve been helping Haiti at all. I just see them drive by here like they are on a holiday, said Jean Wilnive, who sells live poultry from a perch near a bustling Port-au-Prince intersection.

Aditi Gorur, who researches peacekeeping issues as a director of the Washington-based Stimson Center think-tank, said that a 13-year year stabilization mission may seem like a long time, but creating a stable peace with an inclusive government is a decades-long endeavour in troubled countries.

If missions dont stay long enough to secure the gains they make and ensure that the host government is truly ready to manage security, UN member states will pay a much bigger price in the long-term, she said in an email.

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Colour us confused. The Trudeau government has introduced a massive piece of legislation that looks very much like the type of omnibus bill it decried when the Conservatives brought in the same thing. And its doing it at the same time its pushing another law that would do away with such parliamentary maneuvers.

The opposition calls the whole thing hypocritical. The government replies that its just business as usual. Both appear to be right.

The two major parties have been on both sides of this issue over the years. When the Liberals were in power, they found it convenient to package a lot of measures together in one big bill and force it through Parliament  to the consternation of the Tories. When the Harper Conservatives got into office, they did the same thing while the Liberals cried foul.

The difference this time is that the Trudeau Liberals campaigned on a promise to end this tiresome game, which makes it a lot harder for the opposition to properly examine proposed legislation.

We will not resort to legislative tricks to avoid scrutiny, the Liberals vowed in their Real Change 2015 campaign platform. Further, they said: Stephen Harper has  used omnibus bills to prevent Parliament from properly reviewing and debating his proposals. We will change the House of Commons Standing Orders to bring an end to this undemocratic practice.

Now, though, the government has tabled an extensive budget-implementation bill that tips the scales at 307 pages. It includes a host of measures to put into effect its latest budget, as well as making changes that appear to undermine the independence of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The opposition calls it an omnibus bill, the very thing the government promised to do away in 2015. And to muddy the waters further, the government has actually floated a series of changes to parliamentary rules that would end omnibus-style legislation.

So the bottom line is that a government that promised to end omnibus bills, and has actually proposed changing the rules to do that, is now pushing legislation that appears to be the very thing it ostensibly opposes. Confusing? Yes indeed.

For its part, the government says theres nothing to see here. A spokesman for Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the new bill contains no surprises for anyone. Oddly enough, thats exactly what the late Jim Flaherty, Harpers finance minister, said when he was attacked (by Liberals) for bringing in a 443-page omnibus budget bill in 2012. No surprises, he insisted.

Cynics may see nothing new in all this. Parties say one thing when in opposition, they will observe, then conveniently change their tune once they are safely installed on the government benches.

But the Trudeau government was not elected to add to the sum of political cynicism in the country. It promised Real Change and should deliver just that. It could start by actually following through on its promise to end undemocratic omnibus bills.

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During the Harper years, Canadas reputation as a leader in science took quite a beating. Most famously, the muzzling of government researchers emerged as a national shame, decried by an august array of far-flung publications.

Upon taking office, Justin Trudeau moved quickly and rightly to free scientists to share their work. But undoing the damage of the last decade, and fixing Canadas broken science strategy, will require much more than unmuzzling.

A long-awaited new report by an independent federal panel, led by former University of Toronto president David Naylor, takes stock of the wreckage and proposes a sensible route to restoration. The Trudeau government should waste no time in following its direction.

The panel paints a troubling picture. Federal investment has been in steady decline for a decade. In particular, the funding available for independent, basic science  the sort of funding, that is, thats likely to attract the top talent we need to compete in the knowledge economy  has shrunk by about 35 per cent per researcher.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the panel found that over the same period our performance in terms of scientific awards, publications and citations stalled relative to our peers.

This is in large part the result of the previous governments misguided overhaul of Canadas science policy, which seemed to stem from a misunderstanding of how science and innovation work, and governments role in both.

The Harper government essentially transformed much of Canadas research budget into a business subsidy. Again and again, the Conservatives diverted resources from basic research  science for no immediate purpose other than furthering knowledge  to private-public partnerships aimed at immediate commercial gain.

For instance, they transformed the National Research Council, Canadas science agency, from a paragon of basic research into a toolbox for industry. They also introduced the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, a significant investment in university research partially undermined by a typical Harper-era caveat: applicants have to show that they have private-sector co-funders. Similar asterisks are all over Ottawas current science policy.

As critics have long pointed out, by abandoning basic research  science that no business would pay for  the government scorched the very earth from which innovation grows. When the late NRC scientist John Hopps was doing esoteric research on the effects of radio frequency heating on hypothermia, for instance, he never imagined it would lead to his invention of the pacemaker. Only government can foster the robust science culture that will produce the serendipitous discoveries that fuel innovation.

With this in mind, the panel gives official voice to a longstanding call of the science community: boost investment in basic research. In particular, it recommends that Ottawa increase the funding base for our four major granting agencies from $3.5 billion to $4.8 billion over the next four years.

It also calls for the establishment of an advisory council, which would help coordinate the efforts of granting agencies that currently too often work at cross-purposes.

There is some urgency here. By eroding our basic-science culture, Harper squandered a long-held Canadian advantage. As Britain, post-Brexit, and the U.S., post-sanity, each face research cuts, a window for reclaiming that advantage has opened.

The Trudeau government has made much of its commitment to science. But beyond the great unmuzzling, it has taken little action, preferring instead, as it so often does, to consult. More than a year into its first mandate, for instance, it still hasnt fulfilled its campaign commitment to appoint a national science adviser. Thats a shame. Such a person would be perfectly placed to urge Trudeau to hurry up and act.

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The rise in consumer spending and rapid growth in e-commerce have encouraged Logos Property to start developing logistics space in Indonesia. The company is making its move with backing from two of the largest institutional investors in the world.

The entrance of Logos is likely to be the start of several similar announcements. Logistics operators view Indonesia as an untapped and huge market. Its 258 million people rank it behind only China, India and the United States in population globally, but its middle class is only now coming into its own.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ivanhoe Cambridge have fronted up $400 million in funding for Indonesian development by Logos, which is also expanding in Singapore thanks to the partnership.

In Indonesia, warehouse operators can expect rental yields of 8% to 9%. There are yearly capital gains of around 6% on top of that, bringing total annual returns to around 15%.

Logos competitors Global Logistics Properties (GBTZY) from Singapore and the Goodman Group (GMGSF) from Australia both have extensive warehouse operations in China. With growth there slowing, Indonesia and its 5.1% expansion in gross domestic product present an attractive addition to the portfolio.

Indonesia is currently the world's eighth-biggest economy. But it will be the fourth-largest by GDP by the year 2050, to match its population, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Indonesia, India and Vietnam will be the "star performers" between now and then, PwC predicts.

Ivanhoe Cambridge has also said it is looking at logistics investment in India, which like Indonesia has caught the eye of many an institutional real-estate investor in the last 12 months or so. India is currently the world's fastest-growing major economy, forecast by Oxford Economics to grow 7.2% this year. Indonesia's rate of growth is not far behind China's expected 6.3% economic advance for 2017.

As the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia and its 17,000+ islands present a logistical nightmare for manufacturers and transportation companies. Most companies focus largely on Java -- which, with its 141 million residents, is the world's most-populous island.

The Indonesian government and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo are, though, committed to investment in the infrastructure that the country so desperately needs. The government on March 31 concluded a nine-month tax amnesty that resulted in the declaration of $365 billion in assets that will now enter the "proper" economy, and therefore the tax system, from the black market. That, and the removal of a fuel subsidy at the start of Jokowi's tenure, will help fund the infrastructure construction.

Indonesia certainly has its quirks. The Indonesian motorbike-hailing app Go-Jek is competing fiercely with its car counterpart, Uber, in a country where it's not unusual to grab a motorbike taxi to get around. Go-Jek and its peers may be the answer to the "last mile" delivery so crucial in logistics, a role filled by courier companies in developing countries such as China.

The web of warehouse development in the Asia Pacific region is already a complex one. Sydney-based Logos was founded in 2010 to manage property for the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC. It has a portfolio of properties in Australia and in China.

The Australian investment bank Macquarie Group (MQBKY) , via Macquarie Capital, bought around 40% of Logos in 2014. Ivanhoe Cambridge then reportedly acquired roughly 35% of Logos in March 2016, the rest of the company left in the hands of Macquarie and the Logos founders, both of which sold down.

GLP is also backed by GIC, full name the Government of Singapore Investment Corp., which owns 37% of the Singaporean warehouse operator. Encouraged by GIC, GLP has put itself up for sale, with both Blackstone (BX) - Get Free Report and a Chinese consortium led by Beijing-based private-equity manager Hopu Investment among the suitors, according to Reuters.

The Chinese consortium invested $2.5 billion in GLP in 2014. Warburg Pincus is the third private-equity bidder for GLP, according to Bloomberg, completing GLP's short list of potential buyers.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board also backs the Goodman Group, which counts China's sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment Corp., among its largest shareholders. The Dutch pension fund APG Asset Management has also invested in warehouse space through Goodman.

Logos said it has identified a "strong pipeline" of development opportunities for modern logistics facilities in Indonesia, and with this move it has opened an office in Jakarta. It recently entered the Singapore market, where it already has two warehouses and a development site. The Canadian backing will also enable expansion in the Lion City.

Logos is developing new warehouse facilities to own and operate in Indonesia. But it both develops new and acquires existing warehouses in Singapore. It has found deep-pocketed partners. With $202 billion in assets under management, Canada Pension is the ninth-largest pension plan on the planet, according to the latest ranking from Pensions & Investments magazine and Willis Towers Watson.

Ivanhoe Cambridge is the real-estate arm of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, which manages several governmental pension plans for the Canadian province of Quebec. CPPIB and the Caisse are the two largest Canadian pension plans.

Their backing has helped fund the Logos purchase for $23 million of a 26-acre (10.7 hectare) industrial property in Bekasi, a city on the eastern edge of the Jakarta suburbs. Logos will then spend another $130 million to develop a three-level warehouse on the plot, which at 1.7 million square feet would be one of the biggest logistics spaces in the country. The first phase of construction should wrap up by the end of next year.

Logos is so far restricting its catchment area in Indonesia to greater Jakarta. But the port city of Surabaya, in eastern Java, is a likely second destination for warehouse operators. Beyond that, Bandung in West Java and Medan, on the island of Sumatra in the westernmost province, Aceh, are potential cities for expansion beyond that.

Package-delivery companies such as UPS (UPS) - Get Free Report and Deutsche Post (DPSGY) subsidiary DHL Express are natural fits to lease newly developed logistics operations. So, too, are fast-moving consumer goods companies like Unilever (UL) - Get Free Report and Procter & Gamble (PG) - Get Free Report .

At the time of publication, Alex McMillan had no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that North Korea may be able to deliver missiles that have been equipped with sarin nerve gas, Reuters reports. His concern comes as North Korea may be getting ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test or launch more missiles.

"There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads," Abe said in front of Parliament Thursday.
The coming battle over net neutrality is beginning to take shape, with a trade group including Alphabet's (GOOGL) - Get Free Report , Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report , Facebook (FB) - Get Free Report , Netflix (NFLX) - Get Free Report , Snap (SNAP) - Get Free Report and others lobbying the FCC to preserve the Open Internet rules put in place under Obama.

The FCC's Open Internet order, adopted in 2015, says that Internet service providers can't block legal content, throttle certain traffic or sell "fast lanes" that give priority to some types of traffic over others. President Trump has been a vocal critic.

The rules aim to provide freedom and opportunity for consumers and for online entrepreneurs. However, the planned rollback in the rules would change the balance of power between companies such as AT&T (T) - Get Free Report , Comcast (CMCSA) - Get Free Report , Charter (CHTR) - Get Free Report and Verizon (VZ) - Get Free Report that provide the internet's infrastructure, and the companies such as Google, Facebook and Netflix that profit from that infrastructure. Cord cutting and new Internet-based bundles of pay-TV channels from YouTube and Dish Network (DISH) - Get Free Report are only increasing the stakes, as the network operators lose revenues from their cable TV services and rely more heavily on broadband fees.

The Internet Association laid out a number of "light-touch rules" that it wants applied to wireline and wireless broadband networks, in a recent meeting with FCC officials.

"The internet industry is uniform in its belief that net neutrality preserves the consumer experience, competition, and innovation online," the group said in a disclosure about the meeting. "In other words, existing net neutrality rules should be enforced and kept intact."

Broadband providers should not be able to charge for fast lanes, the group said. Likewise, broadband providers should not be able to create network "choke points" to "artificially slow traffic" or extract "unreasonable tolls from over-the-top providers," which would include services by Netflix, Google's Youtube, Amazon Prime Video.

Trump has likened net neutrality to a "fairness doctrine" designed to "target conservative media." White House spokesman Sean Spicer made clear that net neutrality is the next battlefield, vowing to correct the regulatory "overreach" under the Obama administration.

Internet services providers could be open to something more nuanced than an outright gutting of net neutrality. Comcast and AT&T have said they actually support key principles of net neutrality such as a ban on selling fast lanes. However, the broadband providers have attacked the Obama FCC's decision to reclassify broadband as a utility, which opens the door for the government to regulate price among other matters.

Privacy rules that Obama's FCC put in place are an early casualty in the Trump administration. The administration signed legislation in April that overturned an FCC ruling that put restrictions on how broadband providers sell consumer data.

If the Trump administration holds to its policies and succeeds, net neutrality will be next.

Alphabet, Facebook and Comcast are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells GOOGL, FB or CMCSA? Learn more now.
Wall Street (and journalists) love the idea of a dazzling megadeal, and its latest iteration, which considers the long-rumored possibility of a tie-up between Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report and Disney (DIS) - Get Free Report , seems almost irresistible.

It's not hard to think of reasons why an Apple-Disney deal would make sense, but as several analysts have pointed out, there would be a lot of complicated moving parts involved in making it happen. RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani, who explored the possibility in a note to clients on Thursday, doesn't seem very convinced, assigning a very small likelihood of a deal actually getting done (in his words, the possibility is merely "greater than zero %"). Still, Daryanani said Apple could be willing to pay more than $200 billion for Disney, whose current market cap is about $180 billion, and argues that investors are warming up to the idea.

(TheStreet's Jim Cramer discussed the enormous appeal of thinking and writing about an Apple/Disney mega-deal in a column for Real Money on Thursday).

"Our conversations suggest that investors are giving such a transaction far more consideration than they were three or six months ago," Daryanani wrote. "Tax legislation would likely move expectations higher and could be a material trading event for the stocks."

Apple, whose current market cap is almost $745 billion, stands to be a big winner if President Donald Trump follows through on his plans for a tax holiday, which could result in the tech giant bringing more than $200 billion in offshore cash back to the U.S. Several analysts have said that Apple could use the repatriated money to buy back shares and increase its dividend payout. But another, certainly more eye-catching, option would be for Apple to pursue some sort of M&A.

CEO Tim Cook has signaled previously that the company is open to the idea of M&A and is thinking about ways it could "play" in the original content business.

"There's not a size that we would not do, based on just the size of it. It's more the strategic value of it," Cook said on the company's first-quarter earnings call. "...We're learning a lot about the original content business, and thinking about ways that we could play in that."

Apple's interest in M&A and original content has caused many analysts to speculate what a combined Apple and Disney could look like. According to Daryanani, the combined company would have a market cap approaching $920 billion, putting it that much closer to beating Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report and Alphabet (GOOGL) - Get Free Report in the race to be the first company to reach a $1 trillion valuation. And it would create a megalith of a technology and media company with more than 300,000 employees.

"The question becomes does Apple have the capacity to manage both companies?" said Nelson Wu, managing director at investment advisory firm Open Square Capital. "I think some Apple executives could cross over and be able to manage some of Disney's production capabilities like television and other media."

Apple and Alphabet are holdings in Jim Cramer'sAction Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL or GOOGL? Learn more now.

Apple already has some consumer brand-focused executives on its payroll, such as senior vice president of retail Angela Ahrendts who is a former CEO of Burberry (BURBY) , that would mesh well with Disney, Wu noted. Moreover, Disney CEO Bob Iger has also been a member of Apple's board of directors for six years, meaning that the companies "know each other really well," said Francis McInerney, managing director of consulting firm North River Ventures.

Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster said a $200 billion deal would be out of character for Apple, however.

"[There's a] 0% chance Apple buys Disney," Munster explained. "The reason is Apple buys smaller companies and builds them into bigger things."

Apple's largest acquisition to date has been its $2.2 billion acquisition of high-end headphone maker Beats Inc in 2014. Besides that, other notable deals include its purchase of chipmaker P.A. Semi for $278 million in 2008 and fingerprint sensor technology producer AuthenTec for $356 million, Munster noted.

Even if Apple doesn't attempt to purchase Disney, Munster believes the tech giant will increase its investment in content somehow over the next five years.

That said, Apple's interest in content is the backbone for why a Disney deal would make sense, Wu noted. Apple has gradually signaled that it wants to rely less on the iPhone as its core revenue source. Currently, the iPhone generates about 60% of Apple's revenue, Wu said.

"They have to release an entirely new iteration each year and if [profits] don't collapse on one iteration, probably about half could dissolve if it doesn't go over well," Wu noted. "If they're able to do this deal...it insulates them from the tech market. It frees them up to focus more on content distribution."

A Disney deal would allow Apple to "instantly leapfrog" Netflix (NFLX) - Get Free Report, Amazon and Google's YouTube in terms of original content, Daryanani said, which is an attractive proposition given Apple's prior failed attempts to enter the streaming content market.

"Should Apple decide that content creation and ownership is in fact strategic, then Disney could be a one-stop shop for leadership-level content capability given the strength of Disney's intellectual property," Daryanani explained. "And of course, given Apple's cash, it's one of the few companies that could actually contemplate acquiring Disney."
3-star Hotel Mulberry to open on Friday

Newly-constructed Hotel Mulberry, located at the tourist hub of Thamel, will throw open its doors on Friday. The nine-storey tall three-star property offers 67 rooms.
AGCO Corporation manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide. It offers horsepower tractors for row crop production, soil cultivation, planting, land leveling, seeding, and commercial hay operations; utility tractors for small- and medium-sized farms, as well as for dairy, livestock, orchards, and vineyards; and compact tractors for small farms, specialty agricultural industries, landscaping, equestrian, and residential uses. The company also provides grain storage bins and related drying and handling equipment systems; seed-processing systems; swine and poultry feed storage and delivery; ventilation and watering systems; and egg production systems and broiler production equipment. In addition, it offers round and rectangular balers, loader wagons, self-propelled windrowers, forage harvesters, disc mowers, spreaders, rakes, tedders, and mower conditioners for harvesting and packaging vegetative feeds used in the beef cattle, dairy, horse, and renewable fuel industries. Further, the company provides implements, including disc harrows leveling seed beds and mixing chemicals with the soils; heavy tillage to break up soil and mix crop residue into topsoil; field cultivators that prepare smooth seed bed and destroy weeds; drills for small grain seeding; planters and other planting equipment; and loaders. Additionally, it offers combines for harvesting grain crops, such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and rice; and application equipment, such as self-propelled, three- and four-wheeled vehicles, and related equipment for liquid and dry fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, and for after crops emerge from the ground, as well as produces diesel engines, gears, and generating sets. The company markets its products under the Challenger, Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra brands through a network of independent dealers and distributors. AGCO Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.
Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.
Anger after Russia protects Syria at UN

Russia has vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would have condemned last week's alleged chemical attack in Syria and demanded that Damascus cooperate with investigators.
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

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.

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 2022 Travel Industry Wire
- Lucy Gichuhi has become the first Kenyan to be elected Senator in Australia

- She was elected after the Australian High Court declared Bod Day- a senator-ineligible to hold office

- The former senator reportedly resigned last November and cited the liquidation of his building companies as the primary reason

Lucy Gichuhi, born in Kenya, has become the first Kenyan to be elected as senator in Australia following a successful votes recount.

READ ALSO: President Uhuru Kenyatta gets endorsement in the HEART of Railas stronghold

She is the first candidate of African descent to be elected to the federal parliament.

The high court will not be tasked with announcing her as the winner after considering among other things, questions raised about her citizenship.

"I am honoured and grateful for this opportunity to serve Australia. I see it as an opportunity to give back to this great nation," Gichuhi told ABC news

Gichuhi, a lawyer, reminisced of her past, growing on the slopes of Mt Kenya, walking barefoot to school and sharing abed with her 8 sisters.

Lucy Gichuhi and her husband during their wedding

She moved to Australia with her husband 19 years ago and joined politics after studying for her law degree.

READ ALSO: FEAR after police discover 5 bullet riddled bodies in a thicket

At the election in 2016, Gichuhi came second after Day and was considered eligible after Day resigned.

The only thing holding her back is whether she was holding a dual citizenship at the time of the election.

Gichuhi joined politics after completing her law degree

READ ALSO: Jubilee accused of trying to influence ODM nominations in Ababu Namwamba's constituency

Her election to the federal parliament brings to mind the United States tale where the Kenyan born Barack Obama grew from the Illinois senator to occupy the oval office.

Is Gichuhi the next female Obama?

See some of the reactions on social media:

Also watch, Gladys Kamande tells her powerful story .

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Raila Odinga took to social media to mourn the late David Mwiraria

- Mwiraria died on Thursday, April 13, after battling cancer for years

- Raila mourned Mwiraria as an honest man with a heart for public service

- This is in spite of Raila calling for Mwiraria's resignation after he was implicated in the theft of KSh 7 billion years ago

ODM leader Raila Odinga mourned former cabinet minister David Mwiraria as an honest and hardworking man prior to his death on Thursday, April 13.

The late Mwiraria passed away after battling cancer for years.

On behalf of my family, our party the Orange Democratic Movement and the Opposition coalition, I wish to pass sincere condolences to Hon. Mwirarias family at this trying moment,

READ ALSO: Uhuru's party hands his employees mum a direct ticket

The late David Mwiraria

READ ALSO: More setbacks in Busia as residents DECLINE to vote unless Raila Odinga does this

"I had the honour to serve with Hon. Mwiraria as fellow Member of Parliament and later as members of the Cabinet. He was an honest and diligent public servant with the interests of the nation at heart,

"I will remember fondly the work we did together of reforming critical institutions like the Kenya Revenue Authority, public procurement and infrastructure financing and delivery when the National Rainbow Coalition took power in 2002,

"It is Hon. Mwirarias diligence and commitment as Finance Minister that made all the difference with regard to delivering NARCs promises on key sectors of the economy as we raced to fulfill our pledges against a background of an economy that had gone to the dogs,

READ ALSO: Will Joho vie in August after fake KCSE certificate? Court makes decision

ODM party leader Raila Odinga

Subscribe to Tuko youtube channel to watch more interesting videos!

"My prayers are with the family at this hour of grief, wrote Raila.

However, it will be remembered that Raila was at the forefront f politicians who called for the resignation of Mwiraria after he was implicated in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Kenyans lost KSh 7 billion in fictitious security deals that would have seen the county get a forensic lab at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, an ocean vessel and better communication equipment for police among 18 other projects.

READ ALSO: This new photo of undressed Janet has left Kenyans surprised (photo)

CID was renamed to Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

This begs the question, why would Raila Odinga honour him now as an honorable, honest man with the publics interests at heart?

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Watch the video below of what Kenyans think of the ongoing party nominations:

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Militants launched 61 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas over the past day.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

In Mariupol direction, the enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems and heavy machine guns to shell Ukrainian positions in Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk). Ukrainian marines near Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk) came under grenade launcher and heavy machine gun fire.

In Donetsk direction, Russian-backed militants fired at Opytne (11.5km north-west of Donetsk), using 120mm and 82mm mortars. In addition, terrorists used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns to fire at ATO troops outside Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk direction, Ukrainian positions near Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk) came under antitank grenade launcher fire. Militants also used grenade launchers to fire at Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk).

ish
Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Andrei Galbur at a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin thanked Ukraine for its assistance in settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the meeting of the Eastern Partnership, the Visegrad Four and some EU countries in Warsaw, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reported.

"The sides confirmed mutual support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and Moldova. Galbur expressed his gratitude to Ukraine for its assistance in the process of the Transnistrian settlement," the statement said.

The ministers discussed the development of the border infrastructure, as well as the introduction of a joint control at the central border section between the states.

ish
Auditor generals office questions Ncell deal

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has become the first state agency to flag the taxmans incompetency in collecting tax amount due from the sale of Ncell, saying that concerned government authorities failed to determine the capital gains tax worth billions of rupees on the largest corporate buyout deal in the countrys history.
Cargo tracking system to be launched in June

The government plans to implement an electronic cargo tracking system for Nepal-bound shipments at Indian ports from June in a bid to slash the cost of trading.
Current account deficit at over Rs6b

The countrys current account deficit stood at Rs6.3 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, as imports surged and inflow of remittance income decelerated.
Population Recommendation Grade



Men ages 55 to 69 years



The USPSTF recommends that clinicians inform men ages 55 to 69 years about the potential benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)based screening for prostate cancer.



The decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer should be an individual one. Screening offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of dying of prostate cancer. However, many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional testing and possible prostate biopsy; overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and treatment complications, such as incontinence and impotence. The USPSTF recommends individualized decisionmaking about screening for prostate cancer after discussion with a clinician, so that each man has an opportunity to understand the potential benefits and harms of screening and to incorporate his values and preferences into his decision.



Please refer to the Clinical Considerations sections on screening in African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer for more information on these higher-risk populations.



C Men age 70 years and older



The USPSTF recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men age 70 years and older.



D















Comparing different screening strategies, including different screening intervals, to fully understand the effects on benefits and harms.

Developing, validating, and providing longer-term followup of screening and diagnostic techniques, including risk stratification tools, use of baseline PSA level as a risk factor, and use of non-PSAbased adjunctive tests that can distinguish nonprogressive and slowly progressive cancer from cancer that is likely to become symptomatic and affect quality or length of life, to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Screening for and treatment of prostate cancer in African American men, including understanding the potential benefits and harms of different starting ages and screening intervals and the use of active surveillance; given the large disparities in prostate cancer mortality in African American men, this should be a national priority.

How to better inform men with a family history of prostate cancer about the benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, including the potential differences in outcomes between men with relatives who died of prostate cancer and men with relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer who died of other causes.

How to refine active prostate cancer treatments to minimize harms.

How to better understand patient values about the known benefits and harms of screening for and treatment of prostate cancer; how these values influence mens assessment of the overall benefit versus harm; how to best implement informed decisionmaking programs that incorporate the values and preferences of men and their families about screening; how to adapt the informed decisionmaking process to a range of diverse patient populations as screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies evolve; and the effects of informed decisionmaking on health outcomes and patient experience.







Number of Men Affected



Men invited to screening



1,000



Men who receive at least 1 positive PSA test result



240



Men who have 1 or more transrectal prostate biopsies



220



Men hospitalized for a biopsy complication



2



Men diagnosed with prostate cancer



100



Men who initially receive active treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy



65



Men who initially receive active surveillance



30



Men who initially receive active surveillance who go on to receive active treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy



15



Men with sexual dysfunction who received initial or deferred treatment



60



Men with urinary incontinence who received initial or deferred treatment



15



Men who avoid metastatic prostate cancer



3



Men who die of causes other than prostate cancer



200



Men who die of prostate cancer despite screening, diagnosis, and treatment



5



Men who avoid dying of prostate cancer



1 to 2





National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: prostate cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.htmlThis link goes offsite. Click to read the external link disclaimer. Accessed March 2, 2017. Jahn JL, Giovannucci EL, Stampfer MJ. The high prevalence of undiagnosed prostate cancer at autopsy: implications for epidemiology and treatment of prostate cancer in the prostate-specific antigen-era. Int J Cancer. 2015;137(12):2795-802. Fenton JJ, Weyrich MS, Durbin S, Liu Y, Bang H, Melnikow J. Prostate-Specific AntigenBased Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. 154. AHRQ Publication No. 17-05229-EF-1. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2017. Kilpelainen TP, Tammela TL, Roobol M, et al. False-positive screening results in the European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2011;47(18):2698-705. Lin JS, Petitti DB, Burda BU. Overview of Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Models: A Contextual Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. AHRQ Publication No. 17-05229-EF-2. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2017. Pinsky P, Prorok P, Yu K, et al. Extended mortality results for prostate cancer screening in the PLCO trial with median follow-up of 15 years. Cancer. 2017;123(4):592-9. Schroder FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ, et al; ERSPC Investigators. Screening and prostate cancer mortality: results of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) at 13 years of follow-up. Lancet. 2014;384(9959):2027-35. Schroder FH, Hugosson J, Carlsson S, et al. Screening for prostate cancer decreases the risk of developing metastatic disease: findings from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). Eur Urol. 2012;62(5):745-52. Pinsky PF, Parnes HL, Andriole G. Mortality and complications after prostate biopsy in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening (PLCO) trial. BJU Int. 2014;113(2):254-9. Hamdy FC, Donovan JL, Lane JA, et al; ProtecT Study Group. 10-Year outcomes after monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(15):1415-24. Cooperberg MR, Carroll PR. Trends in management for patients with localized prostate cancer, 1990-2013. JAMA. 2015;314(1):80-2. Andriole GL, Crawford ED, Grubb RL 3rd, et al. Mortality results from a randomized prostate-cancer screening trial. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(13):1310-9. Lichtenstein P, Holm NV, Verkasalo PK, et al. Environmental and heritable factors in the causation of canceranalyses of cohorts of twins from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):78-85. Saarimaki L, Tammela TL, Maattanen L, Taari K, Kujala PM, Raitanen J, Auvinen A. Family history in the Finnish Prostate Cancer Screening Trial. Int J Cancer. 2015 May 1;136(9):2172-7. National Cancer Institute. Genetics of prostate cancer (PDQ)health professional version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/hp/prostate-genetics-pdqThis link goes offsite. Click to read the external link disclaimer. Accessed March 2, 2017. Liss MA, Chen H, Hemal S, et al. Impact of family history on prostate cancer mortality in white men undergoing prostate specific antigen based screening. J Urol. 2015;193(1):75-9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States cancer statistics: 19992013 cancer incidence and mortality data. https://nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/This link goes offsite. Click to read the external link disclaimer. Accessed March 2, 2017. Ryerson AB, Eheman CR, Altekruse SF, et al. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 19752012, featuring the increasing incidence of liver cancer. Cancer. 2016;122(9):1312-37. Petitti DB, Lin JS, Burda BU. Overdiagnosis in Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Models: A Contextual Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. AHRQ Publication No. 17-05229-EF-3. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2017. Kilpelainen TP, Tammela TL, Malila N, et al. Prostate cancer mortality in the Finnish randomized screening trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013;105(10):719-25. Arnsrud Godtman R, Holmberg E, Lilja H, Stranne J, Hugosson J. Opportunistic testing versus organized prostate-specific antigen screening: outcome after 18 years in the Goteborg randomized population-based prostate cancer screening trial. Eur Urol. 2015;68(3):354-60. Wolters T, Roobol MJ, Steyerberg EW, et al. The effect of study arm on prostate cancer treatment in the large screening trial ERSPC. Int J Cancer. 2010;126(10):2387-93. Pinsky PF, Blacka A, Kramer BS, Miller A, Prorok PC, Berg C. Assessing contamination and compliance in the prostate component of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Clin Trials. 2010;7(4):303-11. Bill-Axelson A, Holmberg L, Garmo H, et al. Radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting in early prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(10):932-42. Wilt TJ, Brawer MK, Jones KM, et al; Prostate Cancer Intervention versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) Study Group. Radical prostatectomy versus observation for localized prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(3):203-13. Rosario DJ, Lane JA, Metcalfe C, et al. Short term outcomes of prostate biopsy in men tested for cancer by prostate specific antigen: prospective evaluation within ProtecT study. BMJ. 2012;344:d7894. Walter LC, Fung KZ, Kirby KA, et al. Five-year downstream outcomes following prostate-specific antigen screening in older men. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(10):866-73. Raaijmakers R, Kirkels WJ, Roobol MJ, Wildhagen MF, Schrder FH. Complication rates and risk factors of 5802 transrectal ultrasound-guided sextant biopsies of the prostate within a population-based screening program. Urology. 2002;60(5):826-30. Hoffman RM, Hunt WC, Gilliland FD, Stephenson RA, Potosky AL. Patient satisfaction with treatment decisions for clinically localized prostate carcinoma. Results from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study. Cancer. 2003;97(7):1653-62. Donovan JL, Hamdy FC, Lane JA, et al; ProtecT Study Group. Patient-reported outcomes after monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy for prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(15):1425-37. Johansson E, Steineck G, Holmberg L, et al; SPCG-4 Investigators. Long-term quality-of-life outcomes after radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting: the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group-4 randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12(9):891-9. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for prostate cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157(2):120-34. American Academy of Family Physicians. Clinical preventive service recommendation: prostate cancer. 2012. http://www.aafp.org/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all/prostate-cancer.html Accessed April12, 2017. Bell N, Connor Gorber S, Shane A, et al; Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Recommendations on screening for prostate cancer with the prostate-specific antigen test. CMAJ. 2014;186(16):1225-34. Qaseem A, Barry MJ, Denberg TD, Owens DK, Shekelle P; Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Screening for prostate cancer: a guidance statement from the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(10):761-9. Carter HB, Albertsen PC, Barry MJ, et al. Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA Guideline. J Urol. 2013;190(2):419-26. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society recommendations for prostate cancer early detection. 2016. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/early-detection/acs-recommendations.html Accessed April 12, 2017.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers that affects men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 2.5 million American men were diagnosed and living with prostate cancer in 2013.Many men with prostate cancer never experience symptoms, and without screening, would never know that they have it. In autopsy studies of men who died of other causes, more than 20% of men ages 50 to 59 years and more than one third of men ages 70 to 79 years were found to have prostate cancer.In some men, the cancer is more aggressive and leads to death. In the United States, more than 25,000 men died of prostate cancer in 2016. The median age of death from prostate cancer is 80 years, and more than two thirds of all men who die of prostate cancer are older than age 75 years.Screening for prostate cancer begins with a test that measures the amount of PSA protein in the blood. An elevated PSA level may be caused by prostate cancer but can also be caused by other conditions, including an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). Some men without prostate cancer may therefore have positive screening results (or "false-positive" results). Men with a positive PSA test may have a transrectal ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of the prostate to diagnose prostate cancer.Current methods cannot definitively distinguish between cancer that is likely to be aggressive and metastasize and cancer that will not progress or will progress so slowly that the patient will not experience symptoms.The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to identify high-risk, localized prostate cancer that can be successfully treated, thereby preventing the morbidity and mortality associated with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.Adequate evidence from randomized clinical trials shows that PSA-based screening programs in men ages 55 to 69 years may prevent up to 1 to 2 deaths from prostate cancer over approximately 13 years per 1,000 men screened.Screening programs may also prevent up to 3 cases of metastatic prostate cancer per 1,000 men screened over 13 years.Adequate evidence from randomized clinical trials is consistent with no mortality benefit of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men age 70 years and older.Potential harms of screening include frequent false-positive results. One major trial in men screened every 2 to 4 years concluded that, over 10 years, more than 15% of men experienced at least one false-positive test result.Harms of diagnostic procedures include complications of prostate biopsy, such as pain, hematospermia (blood in semen or ejaculate), and infection. Approximately 1% of prostate biopsies result in complications requiring hospitalization. The false-positive and complication rates from biopsy are higher in older men.Adequate evidence suggests that the harms of screening and diagnostic procedures are at least small.PSA-based screening for prostate cancer leads to the diagnosis of prostate cancer in some men whose cancer would never have become symptomatic during their lifetime. Treatment of these men provides them with no benefit. This is known as overdiagnosis, and followup of large randomized trials suggests that 20% to 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer through screening may be overdiagnosed.Due to, in part, reduced life expectancy and delays in treatment benefits, overdiagnosis rates increase with age and are highest in men age 70 years and older.Harms of prostate cancer treatment include sexual impotence, urinary incontinence, and bothersome bowel symptoms. About 1 in 5 men who have a radical prostatectomy develop long-term urinary incontinence requiring diaper use and more than 2 in 3 men experience long-term sexual impotence. More than half of men who have radiation therapy experience long-term sexual impotence and up to 1 in 6 men experience long-term bothersome bowel symptoms, including bowel urgency and fecal incontinence.Adequate evidence suggests that the harms of overdiagnosis and treatment are at least moderate.PSA-based screening for prostate cancer has both potential benefits and harms. The USPSTF does not recommend automatically screening all men for prostate cancer. The decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer requires that each man incorporate his own values and preferences with an understanding of the potential benefits and harms of screening. The potential harms of screening, diagnostic procedures, and treatment occur soon after screening takes place. While the potential benefits may occur any time after screening, they generally occur years after treatment, because progression from asymptomatic, screen-detected cancer to symptomatic, metastasized cancer or death (if it occurs at all) may take years or decades.The USPSTF considered whether there are screening and followup approaches that increase the potential for benefit while reducing the potential for harms. Variation across sites in randomized trials of screening suggests there may be greater mortality benefit from screening every other year compared with longer intervals and from using lower PSA thresholds for diagnostic biopsy. Although these approaches may have increased the potential benefit reported in studies, they also resulted in substantially more harmsmore false-positive results, more prostate biopsies, and more cases of overdiagnosis. This tradeoff was also observed in a review of decision analysis models; screening protocols using lower PSA thresholds (<4.0 ng/mL) for biopsy and more frequent screening intervals offered greater potential reductions in prostate-specific mortality but higher rates of overdiagnosis and other harms.Although new screening methods are being developed (such as single- and adjusted-threshold testing, PSA velocity and doubling time), evidence is insufficient to support one method of PSA-based screening over another. Evidence is also insufficient that using a prebiopsy risk calculator, with or without measurement of free PSA levels, meaningfully changes the potential benefits and harms of screening or that using genetic or adjunctive imaging tests meaningfully changes the potential benefits and harms of screening. This is an important area of current research that has the potential to decrease the harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer.The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that, overall, the potential benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men ages 55 to 69 years are closely balanced. Each mans individual values and preferences will determine whether he feels that the overall balance of potential benefits and harms is positive or negative.The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that the potential benefits of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men age 70 years and older do not outweigh the expected harms.This recommendation applies to adult men in the general U.S. population without symptoms or a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer. It also applies to men at increased risk of death from prostate cancer due to race or family history of prostate cancer. Please see the sections below for more information on how this recommendation applies to African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.This recommendation does not apply to the use of the PSA test for surveillance after diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer.PSA-based screening for prostate cancer has been studied in two very large randomized clinical trials with more than a decade of followup: the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) and the U.S.-based Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. These two trials used varying screening intervals (every 1 to 4 years) and PSA thresholds (2.5 to 10.0 ng/mL) for diagnostic biopsy.The PLCO trial may be viewed as a trial of organized versus opportunistic screening for prostate cancer because of the substantial screening rate in the control group and the high rate of screening in men in both the control and intervention groups prior to the study. Men in the intervention group were screened more often than men in the control group, and more men in the intervention group were diagnosed with prostate cancer than in the control group. The trial found no difference between groups in death from prostate cancer after almost 15 years of followup (relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87 to 1.24]).Overall, in the ERSPC trial, the results suggest that screening 781 men ages 55 to 69 years at enrollment (95% CI, 490 to 1,929) would prevent 1 man from dying of prostate cancer after 13 years. The results varied substantially across the individual ERSPC sites, from no significant benefit observed in Finland (the largest site) to an absolute risk reduction of 0.72% (95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94) in Sweden (a 42% relative reduction).No ERSPC trial site offered screening more often than every 2 years, and many sites screened every 4 years.Four ERSPC trial sites reported data on the effect of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer on the development of metastatic cancer after 12 years of followup. Among men randomized to screening, the risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer was 30% lower than among men in the control group. This translates to an absolute reduction in the long-term risk of metastatic prostate cancer of 3.1 cases per 1,000 men screened.Based on clinical stage, tumor grade, and PSA level, prostate cancer is classified as low, medium, or high risk for clinical progression and prostate cancer death. While treatment is thought to be most immediately beneficial for men with high- and medium-risk prostate cancer, the vast majority of cases of screen-detected cancer are low risk.As with all screening tests, some men without prostate cancer will receive positive PSA test results. This is called a false positive. The false-positive rate for the PSA test depends on the PSA threshold used. Among five ERSPC sites that reported the false-positive rate, approximately 1 in 6 men who were screened at least once had one or more false-positive results, and of the positive results in the first round of screening, two thirds were false positives. In Sweden, where a low PSA threshold was used to determine a positive test and men were screened every 2 years, more than 45% of men who participated in all screening rounds had a false-positive result over 10 years of screening.In the PLCO trial, more than two thirds of men who had a prostate biopsy because of a positive PSA test were found not to have prostate cancer.Because most cases of prostate cancer advance very slowly, if at all, the 10-year survival rate for screen-detected, localized prostate cancer is very high. In a recent major trail that enrolled more than 1,500 men who were randomized to receive either active treatment or active surveillance, the 10-year survival rate in all groups was 99%.The good prognosis for early-stage prostate cancer makes it difficult to study the effectiveness of treatment.Multiple treatment options exist for prostate cancer and new ones are being developed. In current practice, the three most common treatment options for men with screen-detected, localized prostate cancer are surgical removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy), radiation therapy (external-beam radiation therapy, proton beam therapy, or brachytherapy), and active surveillance. The USPSTF considered available evidence on treatment when evaluating the effectiveness of screening and found that current evidence suggests that treatment of early-stage, screen-detected prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy likely reduces risk of clinical progression and metastatic disease and may reduce prostate cancer mortality. More details about the effectiveness and side effects of active treatment can be found in the Discussion section.Active surveillance is a treatment approach that seeks to limit the harms of treatment by allowing men with apparent low-risk prostate cancer to forego surgery or radiation in favor of ongoing monitoring of their cancer. This surveillance includes regular, repeated PSA testing and often repeated digital rectal examination and prostate biopsy. Men whose cancer is found to be changing are offered definitive treatment with surgery or radiation. Active surveillance reduces the chance of overtreatment and offers men the opportunity to delay or avoid complications associated with radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. Active surveillance has become a more common treatment choice in the United States over the past several years. In a study assessing community-based urology practice in the United States between 2010 and 2013, about half of men with low-risk prostate cancer were treated with radical prostatectomy. The active surveillance rate, however, increased from 14.3% in 2009 to 40.4% in 2013 among men with low-risk prostate cancer.In the multicenter Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) triala recent randomized trial that compared radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and active surveillance in men with screen-detected prostate cancerthere was no statistically significant difference in prostate cancerspecific mortality or all-cause mortality among the three treatment groups after 10 years of followup. The overall 10-year survival rate across all three groups was more than 98%, which may limit detection of mortality differences in this trial. Approximately 50% of men randomized to active surveillance underwent active treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy) over the 10-year followup period. Men randomized to active surveillance had higher rates of metastatic disease. To prevent 1 additional case of metastatic prostate cancer during the 10-year followup, 27 men would need to have radical prostatectomy or 33 men would need to have radiation therapy instead of active surveillance.The potential benefit of screening for prostate cancer is made possible through treatment. Thus, it is important for men to consider the potential harms of treatment as they consider whether to be screened. Men who are not able or willing to tolerate treatment should not be screened for prostate cancer.Active treatment of prostate cancer can result in life-altering side effects. About 3 in 1,000 men die during or soon after radical prostatectomy and about 50 in 1,000 men have serious surgical complications requiring intervention. About 1 in 5 men who have radical prostatectomy develop long-term urinary incontinence requiring regular use of pads and more than 2 in 3 men experience long-term sexual impotence. More than half of men who have radiation therapy experience long-term sexual impotence and up to 1 in 6 men experience long-term bothersome bowel symptoms, including bowel urgency and fecal incontinence.In the United States, African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men (203.5 vs. 121.9 cases per 100,000 men). African American men are also more than twice as likely as white men to die of prostate cancer (44.1 vs. 19.1 deaths per 100,000 men).The higher death rate is due in part to an earlier age at cancer onset, more advanced cancer stage at diagnosis, and higher rates of more aggressive cancer (i.e., higher tumor grade). The disparity in death from prostate cancer may also reflect that African American men have lower rates of receiving high-quality care.The USPSTF searched for evidence about the potential benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in African American men.The PLCO trial enrolled 4% African American men, which is not enough to determine whether the overall trial results differed for African American men.The ERSPC trial did not record or report any race-specific subgroup information. The low proportion of persons of African descent in European countries during the study period makes it likely that these groups were not well represented.An analysis from the PLCO trial found that African American men were significantly more likely to have major infections after prostate biopsy than white men (odds ratio, 7.1 [95% CI, 2.7 to 18.0]).Evidence is insufficient to compare the risk of false positives, potential for overdiagnosis, and magnitude of harms from prostate cancer treatment in African American versus other men.Based on the available evidence, the USPSTF is not able to make a separate, specific recommendation on PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in African American men. Although it is possible that screening may offer greater benefits for African American men compared with the general population, currently no direct evidence demonstrates whether this is true. Screening, and subsequent diagnosis and treatment, has the potential to increase exposure to potential harms. Decision analysis models suggest that given the higher rates of aggressive cancer in African American men, PSA-based screening may provide greater benefit to African American men than the general population. These models also suggest a potential mortality benefit for African American men when beginning screening before age 55 years. The USPSTF believes that a reasonable approach for clinicians is to inform African American men about their increased risk of developing and dying of prostate cancer as well as the potential benefits and harms of screening so they can make an informed, personal decision about whether to be screened. The USPSTF does not recommend screening for prostate cancer in men, including African American men, who are older than age 70 years.The USPSTF strongly encourages research on screening for and treatment of prostate cancer in African American men. It is important to consider both the potential additional benefits and harms to fully understand the value of screening. Studies are needed to confirm that African American men who undergo screening receive similar or greater reductions in prostate cancer mortality compared with men in the general population, as well as to explore the optimal screening frequency and whether beginning screening before age 55 years provides additional benefits in African American men. Studies are also needed to better understand strategies to mitigate harms and maximize benefits of screening, diagnostic followup, and treatment (including active surveillance) in African American men. It is also important that research and quality improvement activities continue to work to eliminate disparities in access to high-quality care for men with prostate cancer.The introduction of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer has substantially altered the epidemiologic statistics for prostate cancer, greatly increasing the number of men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer and thus also the number of men with a father, brother, or son with a history of prostate cancer.It is generally accepted that men with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to develop prostate cancer. A study of twins in Scandinavia estimated that genetic factors may account for up to 42% of prostate cancer risk.An analysis from the Finnish site of the ERSPC trial concluded that men with at least one first-degree relative with prostate cancer were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men without a family history.Men with three first-degree relatives with prostate cancer or two close relatives on the same side of the family with prostate cancer diagnosed before age 55 years may have an inheritable form of prostate cancer associated with genetic changes that are passed down from one generation to the next. This type of prostate cancer is thought to account for less than 10% of all prostate cancer cases.The USPSTF searched for evidence about the potential benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men with a family history of prostate cancer.Of the 7% of men in the PLCO trial who reported a family history of prostate cancer on a baseline questionnaire, prostate cancerspecific mortality among white men was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.22 to 1.10]; p=0.08),but the difference was not statistically significant, possibly due to an insufficient sample size.No studies have assessed the risk of harms related to screening for, diagnosis of, or treatment of prostate cancer based on family history of prostate cancer.Based on the available evidence, the USPSTF is not able to make a separate, specific recommendation on PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in men with a family history of prostate cancer. Although it is possible that screening may offer additional potential benefits for these men compared with the general population, screening also has the potential to increase exposure to potential harms, especially among men with relatives whose cancer was overdiagnosed. Men who have a first-degree relative who had advanced prostate cancer at diagnosis, who developed metastatic prostate cancer, or who died of prostate cancer are probably the most likely to benefit from screening. The USPSTF believes that a reasonable approach for clinicians is to inform men with a family history of prostate cancer, particularly those with multiple first-degree relatives with prostate cancer, about their increased risk of developing cancer as well as the potential earlier age at disease onset. This discussion should include the potential benefits and harms of screening for prostate cancer so these men have the opportunity to make an informed, personal decision about whether to be screened. The USPSTF does not recommend screening for prostate cancer in men, including men with a family history of prostate cancer, who are older than age 70 years.Epidemiologic studies examining outcomes in men with relatives who died of prostate cancer versus men with relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer who died of other causes may help provide better guidance. Studies are needed that explore the optimal screening frequency and whether beginning screening before age 55 years provides additional benefits for men with a family history of prostate cancer. Additional research is also needed to help identify men with an inheritable form of prostate cancer and to understand how the potential benefits and harms of screening, including screening intervals and starting ages, may differ in these men compared with the general population.There are many areas in need of research to improve screening for and treatment of prostate cancer, including:In 2013, the most recent year for which data are available, approximately 176,000 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer and almost 28,000 died from prostate cancer.From 2003 to 2012, the prostate cancerspecific mortality rate among U.S. men decreased significantly by 3.4% per year (3.3% and 3.9% per year in white and black men, respectively).Most cases of prostate cancer found in autopsy studies are microscopic, well-differentiated lesions that did not affect mens health during their lifetime. Cases of prostate cancer found after screening in asymptomatic men are similar; most are low-risk lesions that are unlikely to cause symptoms or affect mens health during their lifetime.To update its 2012 recommendation, the USPSTF commissioned a systematic review of the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer and subsequent treatments of screen-detected prostate cancer.The USPSTF also commissioned a review of multiple contextual questions, including a review of existing decision analysis models and what they suggest about the potential for mitigating the harms of screening and treatment and the overdiagnosis rate of PSA-based screening.The commissioned reviews also examined the effectiveness and harms of PSA-based screening in patient subpopulations at higher risk of prostate cancer, including older men, African American men, and men with a family history of prostate cancer.To understand the potential benefits of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, the USPSTF examined the results of the ERSPC and PLCO trials and site-specific reports from four ERSPC trial sites. To understand the effectiveness of treatment of screen-detected, early-stage prostate cancer, the USPSTF also examined the results of three randomized trials, including the ProtecT trial, and nine cohort studies.The ERSPC trial randomly assigned a core group of more than 160,000 men ages 55 to 69 years from seven European countries to PSA-based screening versus usual care.The specific screening and diagnostic protocols varied among countries (details can be found in the systematic evidence review).After an average followup of 13 years, many more men in the screening group were diagnosed with prostate cancer than in the usual care group (95.5 vs. 62.3 cases per 10,000 person-years).Four ERSPC sites reported on the cumulative incidence of metastatic prostate cancer. After a median followup of 12 years, the risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer was 30% lower among men randomized to screening compared with usual care (RR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.60 to 0.82]; p=0.001). The absolute reduction in long-term risk of metastatic prostate cancer associated with screening was 3.1 cases per 1,000 men.After a median followup of 13 years, the prostate cancerspecific mortality rate among men ages 55 to 69 years was 4.3 deaths per 10,000 person-years in the screened group and 5.4 deaths per 10,000 person-years in the usual care group (RR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91]; p=0.001).This means that 781 men would need to be invited to screening to prevent 1 man from dying of prostate cancer.The ERSPC trial did not find a reduction in all-cause mortality.The effect of screening on prostate cancerspecific mortality differed across the ERSPC sites. Finland, which had the largest enrollment, did not find a statistically significant reduction in prostate cancerspecific mortality (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69 to 1.04]; p=0.10).An expanded cohort in Sweden, which had the longest followup period, found the largest reduction of 42% (RR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.46 to 0.72]), which is an absolute risk reduction of 0.72% (95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94).The results of the overall ERSPC trial provide some of the most important evidence about the potential benefits of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. The trial was rated as fair quality by the USPSTF due to several important methodologic issues, including observed differences in how men in the screening and control groups were treated for prostate cancer. Among men diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer, a greater proportion of men in the screening group had radical prostatectomy (41.3%) than in the usual care group (32.8%).Although one might expect treatment differences by screening group if screening produces a shift toward more localized clinical stages, treatment differences across ERSPC study groups persisted even with stratification by clinical stage and tumor grade. The cause for these differences is not known.In the prostate component of the PLCO trial, more than 76,000 men ages 55 to 74 years were randomized to either annual PSA-based screening for 6 years or usual care. Abnormal screening results (PSA level >4.0 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination findings) were forwarded to patients and their primary care clinician, who coordinated further diagnostic evaluation.The majority of men were non-Hispanic white (86.2% and 83.8% of the screening and control groups, respectively). Approximately one third of men in both groups had either a PSA test or digital rectal examination within the 3 years prior to enrollment. An estimated 78% of men in the control group had a PSA test during the screening phase of the trial.On average, men in the intervention group received five PSA tests during the screening phase of the trial and men in the usual care group received three PSA tests.This high PSA testing rate in the control group limits the studys ability to identify a potential screening benefit. Accordingly, the USPSTF characterized the trial as comparing the effectiveness of organized versus opportunistic screening. Despite the common use of PSA testing in the control group, after 13 years more cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in the screening group than in the control group (108.4 vs. 97.1 cases per 10,000 person-years, respectively) (RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.17]). At a median followup of 14.8 years in the PLCO trial, the prostate cancerspecific mortality rate was not statistically different between the intervention and control group (4.8 vs. 4.6 deaths per 10,000 person-years, respectively) (RR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.87 to 1.24]).This result does not rule out the possibility of a reduction in prostate cancerspecific mortality from screening for prostate cancer.Neither the ERSPC or PLCO trial, nor any of the ERSPC site-specific analyses, found an overall all-cause mortality benefit from screening for prostate cancer.The USPSTF examined three good-quality randomized trials of treatment of localized prostate cancer and nine observational cohort studies to understand the potential benefit of active treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy) compared with conservative treatment (active surveillance or watchful waiting) on overall mortality, prostate cancerspecific mortality, and progression to metastatic prostate cancer.The U.K. ProtecT trial randomized more than 1,600 men ages 50 to 69 years with screen-detected, localized prostate cancer to radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, or active surveillance and followed them for 10 years. Approximately 77% of men had low-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score=6) with a favorable prognosis. Thus, some men randomized to active surveillance had an intermediate-grade tumor (or other tumor characteristics) such that they may not have been considered candidates for active surveillance outside of this research study. The trial did not find a statistically significant improvement in all-cause or prostate cancerspecific mortality in any of the treatment groups. The unexpectedly high survival rate across the trial groups (99%) made any potential differences harder to detect. Longer-term followup studies may provide important additional information. The trial reported a statistically significant reduction in progression to metastatic cancer when comparing both radical prostatectomy (61% reduction [95% CI, 27% to 79%]) and radiation therapy (52% reduction [95% CI, 13% to 73%]) with active surveillance. In the active surveillance group, 6.0% of men developed metastatic cancer compared with 2.7% and 2.3% in the radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy groups, respectively. During the 10-year followup period, 54.8% of men randomized to active surveillance crossed over to active treatment.The other two randomized trials of radical prostatectomy took place prior to widespread PSA-based screening and thus recruited many men with tumors detected due to clinical symptoms. Approximately 50% of men in the U.S.-based Prostate cancer Intervention Versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) and almost 90% of men in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group-4 (SPCG-4) trial had palpable tumors. The SPCG-4 trial compared radical prostatectomy with watchful waiting (a passive protocol dissimilar to active surveillance) and found a statistically significant reduction over 13 years in all-cause and prostate cancerspecific mortality.The PIVOT trial did not find statistically significant reductions overall in either all-cause or prostate cancerspecific mortality but did find a reduction in all-cause mortality with radical prostatectomy in men with baseline PSA levels greater than 10 ng/mL (median followup of 10 years; hazard ratio, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.94]).Five of six cohort studies examining radical prostatectomy and four of six studies examining radiation therapy found statistically significant reductions in prostate cancerspecific mortality when comparing active treatment with watchful waiting or other conservative approaches.The results of cohort studies, however, should be interpreted with caution due to the potential for bias in treatment assignment. In these real-world settings, men who are healthier may have been more likely to receive active treatment.In addition to the ERSPC and PLCO trials, the USPSTF examined the results of a good-quality cohort study embedded within the ProtecT trial (Prostate Biopsy Effects [ProbE]), a fair-quality cohort study conducted in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, and a report on complications of prostate biopsy from the ERSPC Rotterdam site to understand the potential harms of screening and diagnosis.In the large randomized controlled trials, one quarter to one third of men offered PSA-based screening had at least one positive screening test. In the PLCO trial, 13% of men had at least one biopsy. In the ERSPC trial, nearly 28 biopsies were performed for every 100 men randomized to screening.In the ProbE study, 7.3% of men reported moderate or greater pain, 5.5% reported moderate to severe fever, and 26.6% reported troublesome hematospermia within the 35 days after biopsy.Complications from transrectal prostate biopsy resulted in 1.3% of men in the U.K. cohort, 1.6% of men in the VA cohort, and 0.5% of men in the Rotterdam cohort requiring hospitalization.In these studies, two thirds to three quarters of biopsies demonstrated that the screening PSA test was a false positive.Overdiagnosis, the identification of asymptomatic cancer that would never cause symptoms or contribute to death, is one of the most important harms of PSA-based screening programs. Although there is no way to conclusively determine the overdiagnosis rate, the USPSTF used data from trials and reviewed decision analysis models to estimate the possible overdiagnosis rate. Trial data suggest that 21% of screen-detected cancers in the PLCO trial and 50% in the ERSPC trial were overdiagnosed.Using a different type of methodology than estimates based directly on single trials, three decision analysis models produced by the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network consortium estimated that between 1988 and 2000 in the United States, the overdiagnosis rate among cases of screen-detected prostate cancer was 22% to 42%.The USPSTF identified three good-quality and one fair-quality randomized trials and seven large fair-quality observational studies that examined the potential harms of active treatment of prostate cancer.A meta-analysis of the harms of radical prostatectomy concluded that 1 man will experience substantial urinary incontinence for every 6 men who have a radical prostatectomy rather than conservative management (95% CI, 3.4 to 11.7) and 1 man will experience long-term erectile dysfunction for every 2.7 men who have a radical prostatectomy rather than conservative management (95% CI, 2.2 to 3.6).Additionally, more than 20% of men in the PIVOT trial had a perioperative complication and 5.3% of men in a large U.S. cohort study required reintervention due to a surgical complication.A meta-analysis of the harms of radiation therapy found that 1 man will experience long-term sexual impotence for every 7 men treated with radiation therapy rather than conservative management (95% CI, 4.9 to 11.3).While results are conflicting across cohort studies regarding the association of urinary incontinence and radiation therapy, rates of fecal incontinence and bowel urgency were as high as 31.8% after radiation therapy in one cohort study,and both complications were more common when compared with conservative management in two trials and three cohort studies.After a median followup of 6 years in the ProtecT trial, there was no significant difference among men randomized to radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, or active surveillance in reported anxiety, depression, health status, and cancer-related quality of life.The older SPCG-4 trial had similar results after a median followup of 12 years when comparing men who received radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting.Conclusions from decision analysis models, which are consistent with the findings of randomized trials and cohort studies, suggest that more aggressive screening strategies, particularly those that use a lower PSA threshold for biopsy than generally used in the United States, provide the greatest potential reduction in death from prostate cancer. Unfortunately, these strategies are also associated with more false positives, more biopsies, and higher rates of overdiagnosis.Options for reducing the overdiagnosis rate include lowering the age at which to stop screening, extending the interval between screenings, and using higher PSA thresholds for biopsy. Unfortunately, no strategy completely eliminates overdiagnosis. PSA-based screening for prostate cancer every 2 or 4 years instead of annually appears to provide a good tradeoff between a reduction in overdiagnosis and a small reduction in mortality benefit.Decision analysis models confirm the USPSTFs conclusion that the overall benefit of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer is sensitive to the values and preferences of individual men. The magnitude of net benefit of PSA-based screening depends on how each individual weighs the potential harms of diagnosis and treatment. The value a man places on potential benefits and harms may also change over time. It may therefore be useful for clinicians to regularly revisit the decision to screen (or not screen) with their patients (Table).Although active surveillance may reduce exposure to the potential harms of active treatment, it may not be viewed favorably by some men who value definitive action, are concerned about repeat biopsies, or want to avoid a potential increase in metastatic cancer.This recommendation replaces the 2012 USPSTF recommendationon PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. In 2012, the USPSTF concluded that while there are potential benefits of screening for prostate cancer, these benefits do not outweigh the expected harms enough to recommend routine screening (D recommendation). The USPSTF continues to find that the potential benefits and harms are closely balanced. The change in recommendation grade is based in part on additional evidence that increased the USPSTFs certainty about the reductions in risk of dying of prostate cancer and risk of metastatic disease. Longer-term followup of the ERSPC trial and from some ERSPC sites found that PSA-based screening for prostate cancer prevents 1 to 2 men from dying of prostate cancer for every 1,000 men screened. Additionally, a subset of ERSPC sites has since reported that screening 1,000 men ages 55 to 69 years may prevent approximately 3 men from developing metastatic prostate cancer.Trials continue to demonstrate the harms of PSA-based screening, including false-positive results, complications from transrectal prostate biopsies, overdiagnosis (which, based on estimates from trial data, may occur in 20% to 50% of cases of screen-detected cancer), and harms of treatment, including urinary incontinence and sexual impotence. The change in recommendation grade further reflects new evidence about and increased use of active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer, which may reduce the risk of subsequent harms from screening. This recommendation also clearly identifies African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer as having higher risk for prostate cancer, and provides additional information to help support these men in making informed decisions about screening. With the C recommendation for men ages 55 to 69 years, the USPSTFs intention is to convey that each mans values and preferences may shift the balance of whether there is a net benefit or a net harm of screening and to promote the importance of informed decisionmaking prior to screening. The USPSTF continues to find that the benefits of screening do not outweigh the harms in men age 70 years and older and recommends against screening in these men.The American Academy of Family Physiciansin 2012 and the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Carein 2014 recommended against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. The American Academy of Family Physicians is currently reviewing its recommendation. The American College of Physiciansin 2013 recommended that physicians discuss the benefits and harms of screening with men ages 50 to 69 years and only recommend screening for men who prioritize screening and have a life expectancy of more than 10 to 15 years. The American Urological Associationin 2013 recommended that men ages 55 to 69 years with a life expectancy of more than 10 to 15 years be informed of the benefits and harms of screening and engage in shared decisionmaking with their physician, taking into account each mans values and preferences. It noted that to reduce the harms of screening, the screening interval should be 2 or more years. The American Urological Association also noted that decisions about screening, including potentially starting screening before age 55 years, should be individual ones for African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.The American Cancer Societyadopted detailed screening recommendations in 2016 that highlight the importance of shared decisionmaking and the need for informed discussion of the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of screening. It recommends conversations about screening beginning at age 50 years and earlier for African American men and men with a father or brother with a history of prostate cancer before age 65 years.*Estimates based on benefits observed in the ERSPC trial for men ages 55 to 69 years.Result based on biopsy rate in the ERSPC trial. Current practice in the United States will likely result in fewer biopsies. The potential effect of fewer biopsies on other outcomes, including reductions in prostate cancer diagnosis and mortality, are not clear.

"This opportunity for public comment expires on May 8, 2017 at 8:00 PM EST

Note: This is a Draft Recommendation Statement. This draft is distributed solely for the purpose of receiving public input. It has not been disseminated otherwise by the USPSTF. The final Recommendation Statement will be developed after careful consideration of the feedback received and will include both the Research Plan and Evidence Review as a basis.

Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services."
Dozens of American soldiers have deployed to Mogadishu to train and equip Somali and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) forces fighting extremism in Somalia, U.S. military officials told VOA.

The troops' arrival marks the first presence of American military forces in Somalia, other than a small unit of counterterrorism advisers, since March 1994 when the U.S. pulled out of the U.N. intervention operation in the war-torn state, five months after 18 U.S. special forces personnel were killed in a battle with Somali militiamen that inspired the movie Black Hawk Down.

"United States Africa Command will conduct various security cooperation and/or security force assistance events in Somalia in order to assist our allies and partners," U.S. Africa Command spokesman Pat Barnes told VOA on Thursday.

The move is another example of the acceleration of U.S. efforts to help combat violent extremism across the globe, a second military official said. The goal of the operation is to build partner capacity while helping to improve the logistics of local forces battling the military group al-Shabab.

A few dozen troops from the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, arrived in Mogadishu on April 2 at the request of the Somali government, a U.S. military official told VOA.

The team is carrying out a train-and-equip mission that is expected to last through the end of September, according to the official.

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Rudy DeLeon, a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress, said the U.S. team will help instill the professionalism and discipline that the local force can use to create the terms for security.

"It gives them the tools to help themselves," DeLeon said in an interview with VOA.

The U.S. usually has a small unit of between 3 and 50 American troops in Somalia supporting U.S.-Somali military-to-military relations, and advising and assisting Somali troops. The new arrivals from the 101st Airborne Division will not be added to the mission of those Americans currently on the ground in Somalia, a military official said, "but there will be some overlap."

Last week, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed called on al-Shabab fighters to surrender within 60 days in return for education and jobs.

Days later, a car bomb targeted senior officials leaving a military base in Mogadishu, killing at least 15 people and destroying a minibus carrying civilians, the Somali military said. Al-Shabab militants claimed responsibility.

Battle of Mogadishu

The mission of the troops sent from 101st Airborne Division, who are training in logistics and not participating in combat or peacekeeping, is nothing like the United States' peacekeeping role in the country more than two decades earlier.

In the early 1990s, the United Nations attempted to provide and secure humanitarian relief in Somalia while monitoring a U.N.-brokered cease-fire in the Somali Civil War.

The U.S. deployed thousands of American troops to carry out these peacekeeping missions. By late 1993, the mission had expanded to try to restore a government in Somalia.

An American special operations team was sent into Mogadishu on October 3 to capture two top lieutenants of the warlord Mohammed Aidid.

During the mission, two Black Hawk helicopters circling overheard were shot down. Men sent to remove soldiers from the crash sites became pinned down elsewhere, and a 15-hour battle raged that killed 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis.

Days later, then-U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that he would remove all American combat forces from Somalia by March 31. The U.S. has not sent combat troops for peacekeeping missions in the country since.
The last two surviving animals from Mosul's dilapidated zoo arrived this week at an animal shelter in Jordan, after months of malnutrition and a long journey out of Iraq that included being stuck at the border for 12 days.

Simba the lion and Lola the bear lived in a once-peaceful animal park that has been destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants. The park, located in Eastern Mosul, was retaken by Iraqi forces earlier this year.

Neighbors fed Simba and Lola until the fighting became too fierce. They said a shell once hit the park, sending hungry monkeys out of their enclosures. Other animals were killed, died of starvation or escaped.

Amir Khalil, a vet from animal charity Four Paws who saw the animals in Mosul in February and organized their transfer to Jordan, said the animals were in a dire state. At the time, he diagnosed skin lesions, joint problems and eye inflammation in the lion and diarrhoea and bad teeth in the bear.

"They were on the brink of death. Now they are able to move, they have gained weight. Physically, they are doing better," Khalil said.

Back in Jordan, Lola hesitated to come out of her travel crate until she spotted a green apple - a sure sign of better things ahead.

The two animals will go through a rehabilitation program that involves hand-feeding them through the fence before being transferred to larger enclosures when their health stabilizes.

The battle for the control of Western Mosul is ongoing.
Somali's president vowed Wednesday that his administration will eradicate the terrorist militant group al-Shabab across Somalia within two years, and he offered its leaders peace talks.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo, was speaking at a ceremony marking the 57th anniversary of the foundation of the Somali National Army, which was held at the compound of the Ministry of Defense in Mogadishu.

"We confirm to the Somali people that we are prepared and within two years' period we will eradicate al-Shabab from all areas they are present in Somalia," the president said.

He said that, after more than a decade of the insurgency, al-Shabab still is not capable of overthrowing the Somali government. Mohamed says his government, therefore, is calling on al-Shabab leaders to engage in peace talks before they are forcibly dislodged from their hideouts across the country.

"We are ready to talk to al-Shabab, including its leaders. We say to the leadership of al-Shabab that you have been fighting for more than 10 years and still you cannot overthrow the government, which has international support and military power. We tell you if you do not accept peace, we will come to you at your hideouts," Mohamed said. "You cannot destroy the government, but you have been destroying the hope of the Somali people."

Mohamed's remarks come a week after he declared that the country is at war with al-Shabab, and he gave the group 60 days to surrender in return for education and jobs. He also replaced the country's military and intelligence chiefs, while instructing the army to prepare a new offensive against al-Shabab extremists.

Increased attacks

In response to the president's declaration of war with al-Shabab, the militants have increased their attacks in Mogadishu, the country's capital.

In one of the attacks on Sunday, the new Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, escaped a car bomb explosion close to the Defense Ministry where Wednesday's army anniversary commemoration was held.

On Monday, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest penetrated a fortified Somali National Army base in the city, killing at least five soldiers.

Government critics say publicly declaring war will only help the militants by inspiring them to carry out additional attacks aimed at disrupting any ongoing military plan against them.

"I think it is not a good decision to declare a war in public while you are still in preparation. You see, the militants are carrying out attacks because they are either desperate or want to disrupt any plans of a military move against them," said Mohamed Omar Dalha, a member of Somali parliament.

"Whenever the militants feel there is a military threat against them, or when the country is in transition from one government to another, they carry out such excessive attacks to take advantage of the situation and, most importantly, to send a message that they are still capable of harm," said Dahir Amin Jesow, a Somali lawmaker.

Abdirashid Hashi, director of Mogadishu-based research group Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), said the group has always been at war and serious about their insurgence.

"Somali governments come and go, and it takes them time to adjust, but al-Shabab has been in serous insurgency for 10 years, so they have been always ready to attack in opportunistic way," said Hashi.

With the help of the international community, and technical and training support from the United States, Somalia has put together a Somali national army of more than 20,000 troops. They are poorly equipped, however, and lack regular salaries.

The Somali government depends on the 22,126-strong force operating under the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

This month marks 10 years since the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) started. The mission is set to withdraw from Somalia by 2020.

Despite inflicting military setbacks and territory loss upon al-Shabab, the militants continue to create chaos in the country, as fears grow that al-Shabab and Islamic State are too much for the country to handle.
Despite the heightened inter-Korean tensions over the North's accelerated nuclear and ballistic missile testing, and the increasing talk of a U.S. preemptive strike, few South Koreans appear concerned by the prospect of imminent conflict.

In Seouls Yeouido Park, carefree crowds flock to see the cherry blossoms at their peak. Few are old enough to remember the Korea War that ended over 60 years ago, nor do they seem concerned that this region may be on the brink of war.



Well, it is scary to talk about war as I am from the generation which never experienced war. But I don't really feel fear yet, said Oh, a Seoul resident who would only give her last name.

War posturing

North Korea and the United States seem increasingly poised for conflict over Pyongyangs repeated nuclear and ballistic missile tests aimed at developing the capability to target 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.

The U.S. Pacific Command has ordered a naval strike force that includes the USS Carl Vinson nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as well as guided missile destroyers and aircraft squadrons, to sail towards the Korean Peninsula over concerns that the North will soon conduct its sixth nuclear test.

Satellites monitoring the Punggye-ri nuclear test site have detected recent activity. Pyongyang in the past has timed provocative military acts 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.



U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday said in a tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble."



And during an interview on the Fox Business Network the president said, We are sending an armada. Very powerful. And he said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is doing the wrong thing.

The U.S. military move has sparked speculation that Washington may be prepared to launch a military strike to take out North Korean nuclear or ballistic missile sites. Such action, analysts say, could draw the entire region into a nuclear war.

North Korea state media Tuesday warned it is prepared for any American aggression and would retaliate with nuclear weapons specifically targeting, U.S. invasion bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater, but also in the U.S. mainland.

Seoul at peace

However in Seoul, the flare up in tensions is not causing any sense of panic, even though the city is situated within range of the Norths artillery and missile arsenal. Many in South Korea see the current crisis as political theater that has been played out repeatedly in the past.

I have heard similar stories many times before. I think the possibility for war is very low, said Seoul resident Kim Hyo-dong.

Many see the U.S. show of force in the region as a means to increase pressure on China to take stronger measures to restrain its economically dependent ally in Pyongyang.

Others view the U.S. military posturing as a right of passage for a new U.S. president demonstrating toughness and resolve.

Every time the U.S. had a new president, we had similar types of crises, but we passed through them without any major struggle, said Baek, a Seoul resident who only gave his family name.

Ultimately many in South Korea expect all sides in the standoff will act with restraint to keep the peace, rather than face the risk of triggering a war that no one can win.

The government in Seoul has also downplayed the possibility that the United States would take unilateral action against the North, which would jeopardize both its allies in the South and thousands of U.S. troops based in the country. There has also been no mass evacuation of American civilians and no heightened defensive readiness measures taken that would indicate the United States and South Korea are preparing for military conflict.

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.

Youmi Kim contributed to this report.
Carter Page, an adviser to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump whose communications were reportedly monitored under an FBI-obtained court order, denied Wednesday that he'd worked for the Russians.

"Of course, I wasn't a foreign agent," he said in an interview with CNN.

Last month, FBI Director James Comey acknowledged that his agency was investigating whether members of Trump's campaign had colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. U.S. intelligence officials believe Moscow intervened to try to sway the election in favor of Trump.

The FBI obtained a secret court order last year to monitor the communications of Page, whom the Trump campaign had hired as a foreign policy adviser in March 2016, The Washington Post reported. Citing unnamed law enforcement and other U.S. officials, the Post said the FBI and Justice Department were able to secure a FISA warrant after convincing a judge "there was probable cause to believe Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power, in this case Russia."

Other reported targets

Page was one of several Trump associates reported to be a focus of that investigation. Others included former campaign chief Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone.

In the CNN interview, Page  who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized U.S. sanctions against Russia  refused to say who'd brought him into the Trump campaign, calling that issue irrelevant. But he did emphasize that it was not Manafort, whom he said he'd never met or spoken with.

In recent months White House officials have tried to downplay Page's role with the campaign.

"This confirms all my suspicions about unjustified, politically motivated government surveillance," Page said in a statement to the Post. He also compared his situation to that of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who was monitored and harassed by the FBI.

Page, a former investment banker, has not been accused of a crime. But in order to obtain the FISA warrant, the Post said, law enforcement officials submitted "a lengthy declaration that laid out investigators' basis for believing that Page was an agent of the Russian government and knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of Moscow."

Contacts detailed

Specifically, the application mentioned contacts Page had with a "Russian intelligence operative in New York City in 2013," as well as other contacts with "Russian operatives" that had not been previously disclosed, the report said. Reports last month suggested that Page met with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. on the sidelines of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

The original 90-day warrant has been renewed "more than once" by the FISA court, the Post report said. It added that Page was the "only American to have had his communications directly targeted with a FISA warrant in 2016 as part of the Russia probe."

Russia denies trying to influence the 2016 election. Trump officials insist any suggestion they colluded with Moscow is false and politically motivated, although the FBI investigation and a separate congressional probe have continued to draw headlines.

Asked Wednesday during an interview on the Fox Business Channel whether he would consider asking Comey to step down, Trump said: "I have confidence in him. We'll see what happens. You know, it's going to be interesting. But, you know, we have to just  look, I have so many people that want to come into this administration."
Russia deployed yet another U.N. Security Council veto Wednesday to protect Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from international condemnation for last week's deadly chemical weapons attack.

"With its veto, Russia said 'no' to accountability, Russia said 'no' to cooperation with the United Nations' independent investigation, and Russia said 'no' to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria," U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council. "Russia has once again chosen to side with Assad," she said in reference to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

In a vote of 10 in favor, two against and three abstentions, Moscow blocked the measure put forward by Britain, France and the United States. China, in a rare break with Russia, abstained, while non-permanent members Bolivia voted no, and Ethiopia and Kazakhstan joined China in abstaining.

The draft resolution sought to condemn the gas attack and strengthen an international investigation into what happened. An earlier, similar draft resolution failed to make it to a vote last Thursday.

"If the regime is innocent, as Russia claims, the information requested in this resolution would have vindicated them," Haley said. "By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated."

Haley also had a warning for the Assad regime in Damascus: "The United States is watching your actions very closely. The days of your arrogance and disregard of humanity are over," she said. "I suggest you look at this vote very carefully, and heed this warning."

The Trump administration believes the Assad regime launched the April 4 gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun from the Shayrat airfield. After seeing images of dying children in the chemical attack, President Donald Trump said he decided a military response was necessary. The United States launched a targeted missile attack against the airfield two days after the chemical attack.

Russia's U.N. deputy envoy Vladimir Safronkov rejected the Western draft resolution, saying it "appointed the guilty party prior to an independent and objective investigation."

Finding definitive evidence

At an earlier session of the council Wednesday, also about Syria, Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said his government shares the U.S. assessment that it is highly likely the Assad regime was responsible for a sarin attack on the town last week.

"Chemical weapons scientists at Porton Down, in the United Kingdom, have analyzed samples obtained from Khan Sheikhoun, and these have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance," he told council members.

"We need to find out the facts, conduct a comprehensive investigation," Russia's Safronkov told the council. He questioned how foreign experts already could have concluded that Damascus is responsible. "I am amazed this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?" he asked.

Syria's Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari said it is all "lies and accusations" against his country, and Syria no longer possesses chemical weapons, as confirmed by the United Nations in June 2014.

Seeking a political solution

Council members also were briefed by U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is tasked with trying to bring the opposing Syrian sides together in a political settlement.

He recently completed a fifth round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the first time the two sides have spoken directly instead of through him. De Mistura said that while there were no breakthroughs, there also were no breakdowns, and that the parties held substantive talks for nine full days on all the issues.

"Yes, the gaps are still wide," he said. He warned that the talks were overshadowed by an intensification of fighting on the ground and urged the restoration of a nationwide cease-fire.

"This is a time for clear thinking, strategy, imagination, cooperation," de Mistura said.

He welcomed the talks Wednesday in Moscow between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. He said he knows the two powers have "serious differences," but they also have "common interests and responsibilities."

"They must find a way to work together, to stabilize the situation, in a deliberate, realistic and concerted way, in support of the political process," de Mistura said.

Ultimately, de Mistura said there is a choice: Either the killing and destruction continue, or there is a shift to serious discussion and real de-escalation and a cease-fire to reach a political settlement. "The stakes in Syria are very high."
A pedestrian walks past the offices of JPMorgan Chase in London. Bruno Iksil, a.k.a. the London Whale, lost $6.2 billion placing risky bets on financial instruments while working for JPMorgan, and has yet to be tried. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg)

Bruno Iksil achieved Wall Street notoriety with one of the worst trades in history. He lost $6.2 billion  more than three times the yearly budget of the Securities and Exchange Commission  placing risky bets on complex financial instruments while working for JPMorgan Chase.

Iksils big losses earned him the nickname the London Whale, and set off an intense investigation into the way JPMorgan handles such sophisticated trades. The bank ultimately paid $920 million in fines to U.S. and British regulators, and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, offered several humbling apologies for the episode.

But five years later, Iksil, who is reportedly living with his family in France, has yet to be tried. After striking a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid criminal prosecution more than three years ago, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that the Federal Reserve is backing off plans to file a complaint against Iksil.

The case is turning into the latest example of how U.S. regulators and prosecutors struggle to hold individuals responsible for corporate wrongdoing. Facing criticism of its record on prosecuting white collar crime, the Obama administration in 2015 announced that it would pursue more cases against individual company executives, not just corporations. Sally Yates, deputy U.S. attorney general at the time, called the policy one of the most important documents within the Justice Department community.

But it remains unclear how the Trump administration plans to proceed with such cases. One test, said some legal experts, could come from the Justice Departments handling of Wells Fargos admission last year that it had fired 5,300 employees over a five-year period for opening bank accounts that customers didnt authorize. The bank announced this week that it would strip an additional $75 million in compensation from two senior executives, including former chief executive John Stumpf, after an internal investigation found the abusive sales practices were going on much longer than initially disclosed.

The Wells Fargo case may be an early test of this administrations resolve to hold corporations responsible for crimes, said Brandon L. Garrett, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. They have said they dont want to regulate businesses and banks, and that doesnt bode well for corporate crime enforcement.

While not addressing any case in particular, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has noted the importance of individual responsibility, Trevor McFadden, the deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Departments criminal division, said in a February speech.

Indeed, our partnerships with foreign authorities are increasingly allowing us to ensure that even individuals living abroad are held accountable for their actions, he said.

Finding individuals to prosecute in the London Whale case has been particularly difficult. Iksil assembled a huge portfolio of investments designed to hedge JPMorgan against other risky bets the bank was making. But in 2012, Iksils quasi-insurance policies started to cost the bank money. Initially, JPMorgan estimated the losses from Iksils trade would amount to $2 billion, but eventually the firm disclosed the figure was even bigger  $6.2 billion.

Regulators and lawmakers pummeled the bank and accused Dimon of being less than forthright with regulators as he learned about the botched trades. (Dimon initially dismissed the incident as a tempest in a teapot, but as the losses grew, he called it the stupidest and most embarrassing situation I have ever been a part of.)

As prosecutors began to build cases against the bank, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan announced in 2013 that the office had entered into a nonprosecution agreement with Iskil for cooperating with prosecutors.

Although I dont think you could call him blameless, he did sound the alarm more than once, former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara said at the time.

In 2015, Britain's Financial Conduct Authority announced it was dropping its investigation into Iksil. Now, it appears the Federal Reserve, which declined to comment, may not be filing charges either.

In letters to several media outlets, including Bloomberg News, Iksil said he was not to blame for the episode. Iksil said he warned his superiors about the potentially huge losses, but was instructed to carry out the trades anyway.

The governments decision to not prosecute shows that he is not culpable, Iksil wrote. Publicity surrounding the losses sustained by . . . JPMorgan typically refers to the London Whale in terms that imply that one person was responsible for the trades at issue, he said. In fact the losses . . . were not the actions of one person acting in an unauthorized manner. My role was to execute a trading strategy that had been initiated, approved, mandated and monitored by . . . senior management.

Iksils attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

Two of Iksils colleagues, Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout were charged with wire fraud and other offenses. But their cases have yet to go to court. Spain has reportedly refused to extradite Martin-Artajo, a Spanish national, and Grout, who is from France, has also not returned to the United States. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the issue.

Grouts attorney, Edward Little, has complained about the deal Iksil struck to avoid prosecution, calling it astonishing.

The governments strategy  letting Iksil escape responsibility in exchange for incriminating Mr. Grout  exposes the weakness of the charges and can only be explained by the political pressure put on the Department of Justice to bring a criminal case in the London Whale affair, Little said in a 2013 statement.
EC receives election-related materials from China

The Election Commission on Wednesday received various kinds of election-related materials as support from China for the upcoming May 14 elections.
ECONOMY

U.S. budget deficit hit $176 billion in March

The federal government ran a budget deficit in March that was sharply higher than a year ago. Through the first half of this budget year, the deficit is running 14.7 percent higher than the same period a year ago.

The deficit totaled $176.2 billion in March, compared with $108 billion in March 2016, the Treasury Department said. A big part of that jump reflected $42 billion in April benefit payments shifted into March because April 1 fell on a Saturday. Through the first six months of this budget year, the deficit is $526.9 billion.

Associated Press

Also in Business

BlackBerry said it has been awarded $814.9 million in a binding interim arbitration decision in a dispute with Qualcomm over royalty overpayments. The companies agreed last year to arbitrate a disagreement over whether Qualcomms pledge to cap certain royalties applied to payments made by BlackBerry under a license deal.

Rising fuel costs hurt Deltas first-quarter profit, which dropped 36 percent from the same period a year before. But the companys adjusted earnings beat expectations. Delta reported net income of $603 million, or 82 cents per share, down from $946 million in the same quarter a year ago. Adjusted earnings were 77 cents per share, surpassing expectations by 4 cents. Revenue fell 1 percent to $9.15 billion in the period.

Amazon is introducing new tools to help parents see what their kids are doing on the companys Fire tablets. Parents who sign up with Amazons FreeTime service will be able to view each childs activities. Information will include the amount of time spent on e-books, videos, apps and Web browsing. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Sculptor Arturo Di Modica is demanding that the Fearless Girl statue that has faced off against his Charging Bull statue on Wall Street since last month be removed. He says Kristen Visbals statue of a girl with hands on hips has turned his 11-foot-tall bull, which is supposed to represent freedom in the world, peace, strength, power and love, into something negative.

 From news reports

Coming today

8:30 a.m.: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

10 a.m.: Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates.

Earnings: Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase.
Illegal border crossings into the United States have decreased by two-thirds since peaking in 2000. In the last decade, more undocumented immigrants have been arriving to the U.S. through ports of entry than by crossing the border illegally. For every three people who crossed illegally in 2014, six others crossed legally and overstayed their visas.

Meanwhile, the number of asylum seekers has risen. In 2015, for every 12 detentions between ports of entry, six others were declared inadmissible after presenting themselves at ports of entry. A significant number in these two groups asked for protection under the U.S. law.

Today, the main immigration challenges are at the nations doors.





When President Trump signed his executive order on immigration in January, he declared his desire to build a contiguous and impassable physical barrier along the southern border. Two months later, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly told the Senate that its unlikely that we will build a wall or physical barrier from sea to shining sea.

Trumps desire to build a wall seems to run against the opinions of immigration officials who have years of experience in U.S. border enforcement. Although many agree the border needs more funding and improvements, the overwhelming majority say a wall along the entire Southwest border is unnecessary.

Since 2012, more immigrants have been choosing to present themselves to authorities directly at ports of entry.

Gil Kerlikowske, chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President Barack Obama, said immigration authorities have recognized this as a new trend.

We have seen a change in this last year, he said. Over the past several years, people were walking up and turning themselves in between ports of entry. In the last year, we saw more people walking to ports of entry and turning themselves in.

Norma Pimentel, who has helped immigrant families at her Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Tex., since 2014, said that she has seen an increase in those choosing to turn themselves in.

A wall is not going to address that, she said.

Some immigrants choose to turn themselves in because they seek protection. Antonio says he and his family fled Mexico in May from a gang that killed his aunt.

Two cars arrived and armed men got out of the cars. They broke down the door. I could see them, he said. My wife, my kid and I started to run to the back door in order to escape. I circled the block, waiting until they were gone. They circled the block, too, searching for us.

Antonios family hid until they could escape by car. When they got to a port of entry, they turned themselves in, asking for protection under U.S. law.

In 2016, an average of 752 immigrants a day who turned themselves in were deemed inadmissible while Border Patrol made 1,140 apprehensions.

Although there is no official tally on how many individuals turn themselves in between ports of entry, Kerlikowske said, they represent an important number of new arrivals today.

A vast number of people are turning themselves in. They are not trying to elude Border Patrol. ... I dont even use the word apprehensions. It is much more of a border management problem, he said.

Michael Fisher, who was head of U.S. Border Patrol from 2010 to 2015, confirmed this:





For Border Patrol statistics, immigrants who turn themselves in between ports of entry are still considered apprehensions, as they crossed the border illegally.

At the end of the day, those individuals, once it has been determined they are illegally in this country, that is an arrest  whether they are waiting for us in the lobby or whether we have to chase them, Fisher said.

Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly told the Senate that his agency had seen a massive drop in apprehensions in February and March. In a statement in March, he said the drop was the result of the administrations implementation of Executive Orders to enforce immigration laws. For David V. Aguilar, a former Border Patrol chief who also served as deputy and acting commissioner for CBP, this drop shows the new administration is having an impact in the flow into this country. Can that be sustained? One of the ways is keeping the removals that are being carried out now, he said.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors across the country to make immigration cases a higher priority and look for opportunities to bring serious felony charges against those who cross the border illegally.

Still under U.S. law, individuals who show credible fears can be allowed protection. The number of asylum seekers claiming fear of persecution or torture if returned to their country of origin has grown from 5,241 in 2006 to 94,048 in 2016. According to an annual report by DHS in 2016, the backlog of pending asylum cases has increased 1,400 percent in the last five years, and asylum applications and credible fear claims are reducing agency resources on a significant scale.





Individuals who visited the U.S. legally but overstayed their visas have outnumbered those who arrived illegally since 2007.

In addition to those who voluntarily present themselves to U.S. authorities, there is a larger group that wouldnt encounter the wall: People who cross legally on a temporary nonimmigrant visa and overstay.

In 2014, visa overstays accounted for two-thirds of new unauthorized immigrants, according to a recent report by the Center for Migration Studies authored by the groups executive director, Donald Kerwin, and Robert Warren, former director of statistics for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

According to the report, overstays have exceeded illegal crossings at the southwest border since 2007, and in 2014 they accounted for 42 percent of the undocumented population, a percentage that will continue to increase as long as overstaying continues to be the predominant mode of arrival. This trend follows years of border fortification and a reduction in the number of migrants from Mexico choosing to make the journey.





I think it is important that policy makers have the best information for making new policies, Warren said. They should be giving feedback to the people in the embassies.

But counting overstayers efficiently has always been a challenge for the United States, as there is no system in place at ports of entry to keep track of those exiting. Almost two decades passed between the last report on the subject, by the INS in 1997, and DHSs report in 2016. Even more striking is that information is still missing on how many overstayers crossed through land ports because there is a lack of infrastructure to collect information on exiting visitors. At sea- and airports, carriers are responsible for doing so.





As described by Robert Warren, the change in modes of arrival raises important policy questions, not just about the need for a 2,000-mile wall but about the allocation of immigration enforcement resources compared to other strategies.

Kerlikowske, who retired as a commissioner of Customs and Border Protection in January, said no one in the new administration had consulted him during the transition. This could raise questions on how information was being transferred between inbound and outbound teams and whether the most recent trends are being reflected in budget allocations.





According to him, Theres never really been a good system for counting people who leave the United States.  Airports in this country were never designed to have facilities for people leaving. But there is a lack of infrastructure to do so.

Ralph Basham led four of the eight operational components of what is now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was the director of President George W. Bushs Secret Service. As the CBP commissioner between 2006 and 2009, he led the agency as it built 670 miles of fencing and doubled the size of Border Patrol in over two years.

Aside from the overstays, the ports of entries are challenged. Their infrastructures need to be replaced to deal with the flow of drugs, illegal coming across and trafficking, he said.

You dont need that type of infrastructure along 2,000 miles, he added. It needs to make sense where you put your dollars.

Ive had numerous conversations with the administration regarding what our experiences were. Whether they take my advices or not is up to them, Basham said.





For Robert Bonner, who served as commissioner of the CBP between 2003 and 2006, theres no question that the border needs more fencing and that existing fencing needs to be improved. But he doesnt believe it is necessary along the whole border.

It might be marginally helpful, but more sophisticated sensoring might be even more helpful, at least for some regions of the border, Bonner said.





When asked about creating new physical barriers at the border, Doris Meissner, commissioner of INS under Clinton, said, The thinking now is fighting yesterdays battles.

Meissner was responsible for building up the first fence along the border in the 1990s, near urban areas like San Diego. Meissner said Trump created his candidacy by describing a border that is still out of control.

Enough people were persuaded that was what we need. But is it rational? Is it consistent with the facts as we know them? No, it is not, Meissner said.

David Aguilar said Border Patrol needs additional fencing, personnel and more technology, but in addition to border enforcement, he highlighted the need for building up our capability on immigration judges.





The people that are from the places other than Mexico are not going to be as responsive to the tactics and the capabilities that we applied in 2000, he continued.

Aguilar, who said the wall could have an important deterrent effect, said that technology might fit better along some segments of the border.

For Kerlikowske, more could also be done in countries of origin.

If they were safer, and have opportunities, and their economies were better you wouldnt have people from those countries subjected to the environment, smugglers, robberies, sexual assault, et cetera, Kerlikowske said. So there are things that could be done, but it just doesnt get as much attention as the big wall.


Floris White Bull on Nov. 24, 2016, in the film Awake, a Dream From Standing Rock. (Josh Fox)

In November, documentarian Josh Fox uploaded a short video to Facebook of Floris White Bull, who had just been released from jail. Wrapped in a blanket under a dark sky, she tearfully recounted what she witnessed at a standoff between police and activists over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The images are burned into my mind right now of the sounds of my people screaming in horror, our young people shot off those horses with those rubber bullets, she tells the camera. Were not violent criminals, and were not bad people. Were not murderers, and were not rapists, were not drug dealers  just everyday people that want a better life for our children.

The video, which splices her interview with footage of police in riot gear beating and hosing down activists, had 30 million views within a couple days. The thousands of comments were nearly all variations on a theme of compassion for the Native Americans protesting the pipeline under the Missouri River, which is the source of drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux, not to mention millions of other Americans.

That two-minute clip was the seed for the documentary Awake, a Dream from Standing Rock, which Fox co-directed with Myron Dewey and James Spione.

The documentary stands out because theres a clear sense that Fox, who is white, didnt just parachute in and tell this story through his eyes. Its an example of how filmmakers are taking steps toward more-inclusive storytelling. Not only did Fox collaborate with Native Americans on the film, he also incorporated footage from livestreams, which have become a democratizing force, helping marginalized groups to get their messages seen.

Facebook Live videos have broadcast the reality of police officers shooting unarmed black men, such as Philando Castile in Minnesota. Similarly, many activists at Standing Rock were uploading videos in real time, among them Dewey, a Native American filmmaker who prolifically captured what was happening on the ground. He filmed Morton County police firing rubber bullets and water cannons at activists in freezing temperatures, and millions of people watched.

It was the online viral video outlets that really scooped everybody else, Fox said of Standing Rock. Often, when the mainstream media came, the response was pathetic and their stories were uninformed and they hadnt taken the time to really understand what was happening.



On Nov. 20, police fired water cannons, tear gas and concussion grenades at water protectors, as recounted in the film. (James Spione)

White Bull, who co-wrote the script for Awake, opens the movie with a lyrical and elegiac narration as she talks about the prophecy of a black snake and the young people who came together to defeat it. During a phone interview, she discussed the importance of being able to tell her own story. She reminisced about her father, another activist, who would appeal to journalists to help him shed light on injustices. But the outcome wasnt always empowering because his message was reduced to sound bites.

Any time that you do interviews, theyre always subject to being cut into the story that [journalists] want to tell, she said. Its important to be able to tell your own story, and why its important to you, and why other people should care about it.

Despite still lagging when it comes to diversity behind the camera, the movie industry has grown more inclusive of marginalized groups in recent years. For instance, four documentaries from black directors were nominated for Oscars earlier this year, including Ezra Edelmans O.J.: Made in America, which won.

Fox brought a deep understanding of pipelines to his movie  the Oscar-nominated director of Gasland has been making films critical of the oil and gas industry for the past decade. But Awake comes across as a partnership with the Native American activists on screen. They werent just the stars of a story he was telling.

The doc premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on Earth Day, April 22, the same day it streams online for viewers willing to donate at least a dollar to the Indigenous Media Fund. Given the films perspective, its no surprise that its a call to action, urging viewers to join the protest  and not just through Facebook likes. The pipeline was completed and is nearly operational, but tribes are still suing to try to halt the project.

Everyone involved in this project is in one way or another an activist, Fox said, but he doesnt see that as presenting a skewed story so much as leveling the playing field. We have a perspective, and that perspective makes it more true and not less true. Right now, the corporate media is so blind to the reality that their stories skew toward the oil companies and the big banks without them even trying, so you have to kind of correct that myopia.

The fact that the film is told from the point of view of the self-proclaimed water protectors means that it may only reach a specific audience, but thats okay with White Bull.

Im not concerned about trying to change somebodys mind who believes only in the almighty dollar and doesnt believe in leaving something for their children, she said. Im trying to help people realize that they have power even when they feel powerless.
Made in Hawaii,

Jakarta. African cool.

And then came Michelle.

A garden kept them grounded.

Those two girls. Kale. Kohlrabi.  Elizabeth Alexander and Paul Muldoon

More than 200 poets are writing a Renga for Obama, a celebratory ode to the 44th president, which is published in the Harvard Review. The Renga for Obama, which is curated and edited by poet Major Jackson, is crafted in a traditional Japanese form of poetry, in which poets working in pairs compose a tan-renga of two stanzas of poetry.



Barack Obama waits to speak at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013. (Pete Souza/The White House)

The first stanza is modeled after traditional haiku with three lines of five, then seven, then five syllables. The first stanza is followed by a response to the haiku with two lines, which are called waki and have seven syllables in each line. The poets collaborate to create the tan-renga, which are then submitted to Jackson.

Jackson adds a new tan-renga to the poem each day for the first 100 days, creating a dynamic chain of poetry. The first lines of the Renga for Obama were published Jan. 21 in the Review.

The poem is intended in the spirit of celebration, said Jackson, 48, a professor of English at University of Vermont and poetry editor of the Review.

Jacksons idea for the Renga for Obama was sparked a few days before Donald Trumps inauguration. Jackson was at his desk in his home office, writing and reading about the upcoming inauguration.



About 9,000 people gathered in the rain for an Obama rally at Cleveland State University on Oct. 5, 2012. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Obama eats shaved ice with daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, at Island Snow in Kailua, Hawaii, on Aug. 13, 2008. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

It dawned on me that Barack Obama would not be in the public life of Americans as he had been for eight years, Jackson said in an interview. His public life as a servant was coming to a close. I remember when [George W.] Bushs tenure as president was coming to a close; I remember the scene on the lawn when the Obamas were escorting them to the helicopter and waving goodbye. It struck me as a poignant moment  the poignant end of his life as a public servant and the historic nature of his presidency. Out of that,grew the project. His life felt epic to me.

Jackson called his wife, poet Didi Jackson, into the study and explained his idea.

She said go for it, Jackson recalled. We are always looking for an occasion when poetry has a great relevance to our lives. This seemed like another means to assert the relevance of poetry in our lifetime.

That night, Jackson wrote an email outlining the project. But he did not hit the send button.

The next morning, my wife asked, Did you send the e-mail? I said no. She said why not. I said, Im overwhelmed. She said, We need this right now. I think she was alluding to the fact that given the level of discourse, how polarized we had become as a nation, that we could use words from poets that honored us as a nation through the lens of celebrating this historic presidency.

He sent the email.



Obama attended the White House Correspondents Association dinner on April 30, 2016. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Jackson began pairing and assigning 270 poets. Christina Thompson, editor of the Review, publishes the renga each day. Jackson insisted the poem not be a reaction to Trumps presidency but a celebration of Obama.

As we deepen into the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, poets cannot help but respond to a headline, Jackson said.

Art should not be in the service of any political view, Jackson said. Art takes in the full range of human experience and puts it through the lens and hopefully we see an aspect fresh and new.

Poets, Jackson said, interrogate language more closely than politicians.

For politicians, words are tools, Jackson said. For poets, words are jewels. They are the material of our art. It becomes the very material of which we create art.

The response to the Renga for Obama, Jackson said, has been huge. They have not heard directly from Obama, Jackson said, but the word on the street is that he has read it. He is a very literary-minded political leader.

Here are some selections from the Renga for Obama:

Healing in winter

Lava-flower tea  its wood

Endures like laurel.

Island-born, cool lava-bloom.

You. Presiding, laurel-crowned.  Robert Pinsky and Carol Muske-Dukes

a helicopter

lifts from winter lawns  yet your

verdant hope keeps on

the snow conceals a future

hatch of shadow dragonflies  Kimiko Hahn and Chase Twichell

The moon hidden there

In the folds of day, the grey

What blind bold walking

Sane voice burnt in black wax wont swerve

All I hope for now is reverb.  Dorothea Lasky and Michael Dickman

What big ears you have,

Mr. President! and heart

Big as big can be,

Big as the Pyramid & Sphinx

In the drifting sands of Time  Ron Padgett and Ed Sanders

We can. We will. Yes.

From marrow to groove. Yes. We

dare burden to break 

to carry our massive us.

Marching poets. Each. Beat. Leaps  Edwin Torres and Bob Holman


Bernadette Peaches Halton has seen it all from behind the counter at Bens Chili Bowl. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)

For decades it has been a paradox of the Washington restaurant scene that chili, the patron saint of heartburn, is celebrated as some of the citys greatest comfort food. That prestige is thanks to Bens Chili Bowl, the humble U Street greasy spoon frequented by global celebrities and politicians since it attained mythoheroic swagger during race riots in 1968. And Bens prestige is due in large part to Bernadette Peaches Halton. (Only bill collectors call me Bernadette, she said; shes had the nickname ever since her mother noticed she was, as Peaches put it, a furry baby).

There is dispute about whether it was the last week of March or the first week of April, but 40 years ago, in 1977, a girl just shy of her 17th birthday sauntered into the diner looking for her first job, an after-school gig. With her practiced countryside Virginian gentility, Virginia Ali, who co-founded the joint with her late husband, the eponymous Ben, sized up the street-wise kid from the neighborhood that is now called NoMa but was then called unprintable epithets.

Arent you a little young to be working? Ali asked.

The job bank told me this is where I can get a job, so Im here, Peaches replied.

[Bens Chili Bowl review: I get its importance. But I still wish the food were better.]

She was hired. Within a few years, she was in charge of making the chili, handed the recipe and ladles by Ben himself. She promised him to live up to that responsibility. That first job became her last, her only, her one true calling. For 40 years, Peaches, Bens hidden figure, has been making the chili  all of it  with hardly a sick day (although now she has two assistants to handle, for example, chopping). Variety may be the spice of life, but in a pinch, cayenne will do nicely.

People tell me its too hot in here. Too cold. Somethings wrong with the jukebox. Dont tell me. Tell Peaches, said Ali. She runs everything. I own it. She runs it.



Peaches arrives at Bens at 3 a.m. to cook the chili, then manage the breakfast shift. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)

Halton labels one of the five-gallon pots of chili sauce. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)

Peaches comes in through the back door at 3 a.m. almost every day. She lights 10 stovetop burners, each with a five- or 10-gallon pot atop it (and shes usually juggling 30 pots total). Six of the burners are for chili sauce and four for browning meat and veggies. She wraps that up around 6 a.m. and then she manages the breakfast shift until noon.

Now write this down, Peaches instructed me. This place has never been robbed. Even in all that heroin and crack and those gangs, weve never been robbed. No, no, no. Not on my watch. Ben and Virginia may have brought the spice, but Peaches packed the pow.

[Bens Chili Bowl mural gets a Wizards makeover in time for the playoffs]

She was an inner-city girl. She knew the ropes, Ali said. She could spot anything: drug deals, thieves, vandals, pickpockets, when a fight was about to break out. And I was from rural Virginia. I didnt know the city or even our customers the way she did.

You were so naive! Peaches roared, slapping the table and letting her eyes bug out for effect. Then, softly and almost apologetically: We both were, missy.

Ali adjusted her low-key-glamourpuss mane of white hair. I prefer reserved,  she said.



Bens Chili Bowl owner Virginia Ali, right, and Peaches Halton have a mother-daughter relationship that began in 1977 when Ali hired Halton for her first job. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)

If there is an exception to the rule of Alis painstaking politeness, its Peaches. The two of them call each other missy, yes, but also candidly and determinedly think of their relationship as mother and daughter  even if they banter and ballyhoo like sorority sisters at times. Im the daughter they never had, said Peaches, as Ali nodded solemnly. Ali lectured Peaches whenever the latter would date an unfit boyfriend. (Peachess current boyfriend is Ali-approved.)

Their devotion is fierce. Peaches once hopped over the counter, reverse bear-hugged a customer and literally threw her out onto the street  all for raising her voice and cursing at Ali. In their slow hours during the devastating construction of the Metro station across the street, when the diner was little more than a food truck at a construction site and when the staff withered to the point that Peaches was the only employee, she would pass the time with Ali by learning to cook  for life, not just for Bens. She still giggles about a Heath bar-like dessert they made once. Ali taught her responsibility, promptness and the power of honesty.

[Why the Bens Chili Bowl mural matters]

(Zoeann Murphy/The Washington Post)

Im a black woman who can say what I think to all my co-workers without worrying about them being offended, Peaches said. From Day One, for 40 years, I have always been comfortable and happy. Even when this neighborhood was all drugs and crime. Even when the mayor got caught with crack. Even when the president got shot. Even when we had to walk a wooden sidewalk next to a construction crater and go home at sundown because there was no streetlights. I was comfortable and happy. I didnt see any need to go complaining and letting my complaints drag me some other place. This is where I belong. They needed me, and I needed them.

Bernard Demczuk, Bens staff historian, echoed that sentiment. If youre behind the counter at Bens, youre having fun, he said. Thats thanks to Peaches.

Demczuk said that the kitchen used to be out front, flush with the counter and booths, and that the indelible presence of Peaches  and his longtime crush on her  kept him coming back as a regular, even in the bleak years.



Since it opened in 1968, Bens Chili Bowl has become an institution in the city, drawing large crowds and surviving despite years of heavy construction on U Street and major shifts in neighborhood demographics. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)

In a town of revolving-door lobbyists, pop-up protesters, here-and-gone congressional interns and the fickleness of the current White House administration, Peaches loyalty, built on a promise to Ben, is a marvel of integrity and reliability. Even Supreme Court justices, appointed for life, often dont serve as long as Peaches has. But Peaches is not alone. Maria Martinez, now an assistant to Peaches, is in her 19th year at Bens. James Dolo, a Bens breakfast manager, is in his 16th. Helen Tesfamichael, another assistant to Peaches, has been there 12. They are united in their faith that while tomorrow isnt promised, it can at least be pledged.

I kept the faith by remembering this is the nations capital, Ali said. Where is it going? It has to go up. Its got to get better. This too shall pass.

Peaches smiled at that.

Well, its easier for me, she said. Whenever Im working, its dawning. Night turns into day and I get to spend that time in a kitchen, in my time, making home-cooked meals for the city and singing along with the radio. Now, youre gonna tell me thats work?

Morgan is a freelance writer in New York.


Alex Lopez and other students at Alcoa Intermediate School in Maryville, Tenn., plant an Eastern Red Bud tree during an Arbor Day event in March. (Mark A. Large/Daily Times via AP)

In the holiday pantheon, Arbor Day is taken about as seriously as Groundhog Day. The last time you gave it a thought was probably second grade, when your class went on a tree-planting field trip. But Im going to make the case that Arbor Day is the perfect 21st-century holiday, a celebration of something that can make a dent in our most modern problems: food production and climate change.

Trees!

I take them for granted. My husband and I live on two acres of them, and they house our wildlife, heat our home, and, in the fall, bury our driveway in an unconscionable volume of leaves. But they do something else, as well. Thanks to the miracle of photosynthesis, trees sequester carbon. They take carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into carbohydrates that are stored in the tree and its root system, locking away that carbon and releasing oxygen in the process.

All green plants do this, of course, so what makes trees so special? Size. The bigger the plant, the bigger the sequestration, and trees are enormous.

I asked Thomas Crowther, of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology and recently the lead author of a global tree census, to walk me through the math.

On average, a tree will sequester 50 pounds of carbon per year  small trees, less; big trees, more. Compare that to the savings you get when you switch to a hybrid car  about 3,300 pounds per year  and it sounds like a small number. But factor in a trees life span, which is often centuries, and the tree looks better and better. By the time the tree you plant this Arbor Day (April 28) is 70 years old, itll have the same carbon value of one Prius-year. If it lives to 200, well, you see the potential. The net of it is that a step as simple as a yearly tree planting can be as effective as a switch to a hybrid at reducing the atmospheres carbon load.

So lets widen the lens. Could we have a real impact on CO2 levels if we Americans started taking Arbor Day seriously, and planted trees? I think its a beautiful idea, said Crowther.

If each of those 300 million new trees were planted and monitored and grew, thats not an insignificant little chunk. It would show people how easy it is to have an effect, and it would connect people with the environment. It might spur on a hell of a lot more.

Crowthers tree enthusiasm is catching, and I find myself believing in trees as environmental superheroes, fighting climate change and raising environmental consciousness in a single bound.

But can they help fight the problems on American farms? Incorporating trees into farming  agroforestry, its called  has benefits beyond carbon sequestration. Ravi Prabhu, deputy director general for research of the World Agroforestry Center, ticked off that list of benefits: as windbreaks, they decrease the stress on crops; they can decrease temperatures; they can fix nitrogen and increase soil fertility; they decrease erosion and nutrient runoff; they can prevent water from running off, forcing it into the ground. And, some trees can be harvested for timber or grow fruits or nuts.

In the developing world, where farms tend to be smaller and more diverse than they are in the United States, the potential for agroforestry is large and varied. Here at home, where a typical farm is hundreds, or maybe thousands, of acres of just a few crops, its harder to find an economically feasible way to incorporate trees. I talked with Richard Straight, technology transfer leader at the Agriculture Departments National Agroforestry Center (NAC), about how American farmers use  or can use  trees.

The most common use is as a windbreak, Straight explains. Plant a row of trees alongside a field, and it can increase the downwind yield to a distance of about 10 times the height of the tree. Farmers also use trees as riparian borders  forested strips along waterways that reduce runoff, increase biodiversity and act as windbreaks.

The USDA doesnt have good data on how many farmers use these techniques, but Straight says that the NAC is seeing increased interest. The biggest obstacle, as it so often is in farming, is cost.

Its just a back-of-the-envelope calculation, but Straight walked me through an example that came to just under $200 per acre. If youre farming 1,500 acres, thats a big chunk of money that you wont see much return on for a decade.

And its possible there wont be a return at all. Charles Barden, professor of forestry at Kansas State University, is researching the effect of windbreaks on yield and has found that the percentage of fields with windbreaks that saw a statistically significant increase in yield varies from 17 to 45 percent. Yield isnt the only benefit, but its the one thats reflected in the farms bottom line.

There was a time when USDA helped out with that cost. In the late 80s, there were bonuses for signing up that made it easy, says Straight. It was financially a good choice. But those incentives have since changed, and a lot of those windbreaks have come out. Straight acknowledges the difficulty of a long-term, uncertain benefit coupled with the financial hit not just of the expense, but of the land you take out of production.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, trees are more than paying for themselves. In the Punjab [in India], farmers are planting poplar and wheat together and making more money on the poplar, says Prabhu. If there were opportunities like that here, it would change the calculus.

Thats the line the NAC is pursuing, but its hard to find a profitable way for a highly mechanized farm, optimized for just a few crops, to find the time, workforce and market for a different kind of crop.

Straights looking into a possible solution. What if agroforestry were the one-stone-two-birds solution to two ag-related issues: row-crop management and opportunities for young farmers? What if the farmers with the thousands of acres leased areas for windbreaks and riparian borders to beginning farmers trying to get hold of land? The area would then be a moneymaker for the row-crop farmer, who would also accrue crop yield and ecosystem benefits down the line. The new farmer would have a chance to try fruit, timber, mushrooms, medicinals or some other kind of perennial agriculture on a very long, skinny farm.

It wouldnt be an easy balance to orchestrate, Straight warns. What would a lease look like? Could rent scale up as the crop matured? Could several contiguous farmers lease together to one new guy?

But it sure is an intriguing idea.

I try hard not to fall victim to the starry-eyed romanticism that sometimes informs the public conversation about farming (and Ive found that actually farming helps me do that). But trees  on farms and off  are something that absolutely everyone seems to support. Im going to plant a tree this Arbor Day. Will you join me? Well all sequester carbon, celebrate biodiversity and break wind together.
A model of Teleocrater rhadinus, a close relative of dinosaurs. Its shown preying on a cynodont, a distant relative of mammals. (Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum/Reuters)

Scientists have identified the oldest known relative of the dinosaurs and are expressing surprise at how little it resembled one.

Researchers on Wednesday described fossils of a long-necked, four-legged, meat-eating reptile called Teleocrater rhadinus. It reached up to 10 feet long and prowled across what is now Tanzania, in East Africa, about 245 million years ago.

Teleocrater lived during the Triassic Period, millions of years before the first dinosaurs. Scientists called it a close cousin rather than a direct dinosaur ancestor.

Its appearance, part crocodile and part dinosaur, was different from what scientists had expected from the earliest members of the dinosaur family tree.

Im surprised by the mosaic  or mix  of features that it possesses, said Kenneth Angielczyk, one of the researchers in the study, which was published in the journal Nature.

This illustration from the Natural History Museum in London shows a teleocrater feasting on a cynognathus, a distant relative of mammals. (Mark Witton and Paul Barrett/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

In terms of how it shakes up our understanding of dinosaur evolution, Teleocrater shows that the earliest members of the dinosaur lineage, or family tree, were very unlike dinosaurs, Angielczyk said.

Dinosaurs belong to a larger group called archosaurs (ARK-uh-sores). About 250 million years ago, that group split into two branches: crocodilians (which include alligators and crocodiles); and another branch that includes dinosaurs, birds and extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs (TARE-uh-sores). Teleocrater is the oldest-known member of the dinosaur-pterosaur-bird branch.

Scientists had expected such a dinosaur forerunner to be a smallish, two-legged predator. Although dinosaur predators had two legs, the teleocrater instead was four-legged. It looked similar to a Komodo dragon, a large lizard that lives in Indonesia.

Virginia Tech paleontologist Sterling Nesbitt, the studys main author, said fossils of at least four teleocraters were found in southern Tanzania.

Unlike a dinosaur, the teleocrater had ankle joints that could rotate from side to side and flex up and down, giving it a crocodile-like walking style.

Teleocraters remains were found in the same Tanzanian region as fossils of the two-legged meat-eater nyasasaurus, which lived perhaps 2 million years later. Some scientists regard nyasasaurus as the earliest-known dinosaur.
The Hubble Space Telescope took these photos of Saturn from 1996 to 2000, showing the planet in different stages of its 29-year journey around the sun.

The Hubble Space Telescope took these photos of Saturn from 1996 to 2000, showing the planet in different stages of its 29-year journey around the sun. NASA/Hubble Heritage Team via Reuters

Welcome to Saturn, home to a stunning set of rings, moons and maybe even life

Welcome to Saturn, home to a stunning set of rings, moons and maybe even life

A tiny, icy ocean world orbiting Saturn is now a hotter-than-ever candidate for potential alien life.

Cassini, an unmanned NASA spacecraft, has detected hydrogen molecules in geysers shooting off the moon Enceladus. The hydrogen may be the result of deep-sea chemical reactions between water and rock, which could spark microscopic life, scientists announced Thursday.

NASA and others are quick to point out this latest discovery does not mean theres life on Enceladus (ehn-SEHL-uh-duhs), but that there may be conditions favorable for life.

A liquid ocean exists beneath the icy surface of Enceladus, which is barely 300 miles across. Thanks to Cassini, scientists have long known about the moons geysers, which spew water vapor from cracks at the moons south pole. The heavy presence of hydrogen suggests chemical reactions between the warm water and ocean-floor rock that could support life.

Cassini uncovered the hydrogen during its final close flyby of Enceladus in 2015, when it dove deeper than ever through the moons clouds of vapor and particles. The researchers reported that the hydrogen, along with carbon dioxide that was also found, could mean that undersea microorganisms are producing methane. The gas is produced in a similar way in Earths oceans and waterways.

An illustration of Cassini above Saturn. It will dive toward the planet and burn up in September, at the end of its mission. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via European Pressphoto Agency)

It really represents a capstone finding  or high point  for the mission, said Linda Spilker, a scientist on the Cassini project who noted that the spacecraft has been circling Saturn for more than a decade.

We now know that Enceladus has almost all of the ingredients that you would need to support life as we know it on Earth, she said at a NASA news conference.

Astronomers find seven planets that could contain life

Observers asked the scientists questions using Twitter, including whether NASA was talking about tiny bacteria or something much bigger, such as giant squids.

Most of us would be excited with any life, said Mary Voytek, a senior scientist for NASA. Were going to start with bacteria and, if we get lucky, maybe theres something thats larger.

The findings were reported Thursday in the journal Science by a team from Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

Launched in 1997, Cassini is now finally running low on fuel. The spacecraft will duck through the gap between Saturn and its rings 22 times before spiraling out of control and burning up in the sky above Saturn this September.

A photograph of Enceladus taken by Cassini in November 2016. (NASA/JPL-Caltech and Space Science Institute via Reuters)

Cassini has no instruments that can detect life, so it will be up to future robotic visitors to seek out possible life on Enceladus, the scientists said.

Europa, an ice-covered moon of Jupiter that is also believed to have an ocean, may have water-vapor jets spewing into space as well, similar to Enceladus. The Hubble Space Telescope has observed what looks to be plumes, or long clouds, coming from Europa. A spacecraft under development called the Europa Clipper could shed more light on the matter. Its set to launch sometime in the 2020s.

Voytek said her money is still on Europa for potential life, versus Enceladus. Europa is much older, and any potential life there has had more time to emerge.
Our readers share tales of their ramblings around the world.

Who: Henry Egghart of Alexandria, Va.

Where, when, why: I trekked through Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile, for a week in late February. I went with Backabush Xplorers, a meetup hiking group and travel company based in London. I had always wanted to travel to Patagonia, but it seemed so remote and adventurous. But when a group I had met while working in London was going there, I jumped at the chance to join them.

The rugged landscape of Torres del Paine National Park. (Henry Egghart)

Flying from Dulles International Airport to Punta Arenas, Chile, took a long time because of the layovers. There are buses from Presidente Carlos Ibanez del Campo International Airport to Puerto Natales, the gateway town to the park, 3 1 /2 hours away. It has a frontier feeling, with weathered one- and two-story houses and free-roaming dogs. There are numerous hostels, hotels, restaurants and camping gear shops.

After buying food in a well-stocked supermarket, we caught an early morning bus for the three-hour ride to the park. Near the park, the cattle and sheep grazing in lush pastures gave way to herds of guanacos, a kind of wild llama, and a few rheas  large, flightless, ostrich-like birds. Several buses reached the entrance station together, so a small crowd formed to pay the entrance fee and watch a mandatory video on park rules. The most important one is that fires are not allowed, and cooking stoves are only allowed in designated areas; large areas of the park have been damaged by camper-caused fires. A boat took us across a turquoise-blue lake, past stunning mountains, to the start of the hike.

Highlights and high points: After we had been hiking for more than two hours by headlamp in the early morning darkness to see the first light hit the Torres, it started to rain. I feared there would be no view. But we were so high that the sun rose below the rain clouds, forming a brilliant double rainbow over the Torres and Lago Las Torres National Reserve. It was breathtaking.

Cultural connection or disconnect: I thought Patagonia would be wild, remote and lonely, and much of it is. Torres del Paine, however, is Chiles crown jewel national park and very popular. Reservations are required for all campsites, camping is allowed only in designated sites next to refugios (mountain huts) and you must show your reservation to be allowed onto the trails. The best viewpoints are marked miradors, and a lot of people gather at them. The trails are rough, with frequent large rocks and puddles. On the other hand, the camping areas have warm showers, a perfect treat after a long day of hard hiking.

Biggest laugh or cry: Valle del Frances turned out to be more of a climb than a walk  essentially, a rubble heap of rocks and boulders left by the glacier, and I was glad I had packed my trekking poles. It was pouring rain and the trail was a series of cascades flowing down the moraine. I was not sure I could make it to the top, but just as I reached the point where the trail leveled, the clouds lifted, revealing a huge cirque and the back side of the Torres and the Los Cuernos peaks.

How unexpected: It surprised me that the glaciers in Patagonia flow down into forested areas, often ending in large lakes where bright-blue icebergs break off and float away. Also, I was impressed by the friendliness and honesty of the Chilean people. I never worried about getting shortchanged or taken advantage of. One time, a 5,000 peso note (about $10) fell out of my pocket, and a young woman ran down the street to return it to me.

Favorite memento or memory: This trip reminded me how beautiful, varied and well worth exploring the world is.

To tell us about your own trip, go to washingtonpost.com/travel and fill out the What a Trip form with your fondest memories, finest moments and favorite photos.
Constitution amendment: Govt move cuts no ice, Morcha to turn up heat

A day after the government introduced a new constitution amendment bill, after withdrawing the old one that was in Parliament since January 8, the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) on Wednesday said the new proposal is not acceptable to us.
Someone with an out-of-state license plate is less likely to contest a parking fine, which can make their vehicles easy targets for bogus citations. (iStock)

Who is sending Katherine Johnsons daughter parking tickets?

The Miami Parking Authoritys citations, usually for $42 apiece, have arrived in the mail intermittently since 2014 for violations that allegedly occurred in Miami, where her daughter attends college. When Johnson challenges them, the price mysteriously drops to $15.

Is this a scam? asked Johnson, a trade analyst from Burke, Va.

Bogus parking tickets can affect visitors disproportionately. Someone with an out-of-state license plate is less likely to contest a parking fine, which can make their vehicles easy targets. But now travelers can fight back. And they should.

The great news is that these days, there are a lot of apps and technologies that help people deal with a ticket thats bogus, undeserved  or just plain yours, says Dan Lear, director of industry relations at Avvo, an online legal marketplace.

[After the United incident, passengers should know their rights. If bumped, ask for cash.]

There are two kinds of bogus tickets: those wrongfully issued by a parking authority and those tacked onto your windshield by a scammer posing as a city employee. The former kind has been a problem since the dawn of parking citations, but the latter seems to be a new problem, the result of easy access to handheld printers that can print an official-looking notice in seconds. Scam tickets have been sighted in Asheville, N.C., Palm Springs, Calif., and as far away as Britain, where the forgeries are so sophisticated that its reportedly impossible to tell the difference between a real ticket and a fake.

When we look into the data, we see a system that is very flawed, says Chris Riley, whose own frustrations with Miami tickets prompted him to create TIKD, a ticket-fighting app. Tickets are issued unevenly and are full of the same biases we all hold as individuals, he says. Theyre also a big financial burden. I think this is why many people have such a strong reaction to them.

TIKDs solution is a web app for South Florida drivers that automates the process of challenging traffic citations, thanks to computer algorithms and a network of lawyers whom TIKD hires on behalf of its customers. The company currently works on most traffic citations, with exception of criminal fines, DUIs and those received by minors. Riley says his company is considering adding parking tickets to its list of services because stories like Johnsons are all too common, and not just in Miami.

Technology-based ticket-fighting options are still in their infancy. Among the choices are Parkingticket.com, which charges $4.95 a month per vehicle to fight your tickets, and smartphone apps such as WinIt, which disputes tickets in New York. The programs either help you fight a parking ticket yourself or enlist a specialist who goes to bat for you.

Another recent innovation is a chatbot lawyer at Donotpay.co.uk, created last year by Joshua Browder, a Stanford University student. The site offers a series of automated responses to questions about parking tickets, which can help you fix them on your own. In New York, the site has helped motorists successfully contest more than 9,000 tickets worth more than $3 million. Browder says travelers, particularly car rental customers, are heavy users of the site.

[How to tip the airline scales in your favor]

From my experience, when the local government knows someone is using a rental car, they are particularly prone to issuing an unfair ticket, he says. They know that rental-car customers are likely to be wealthier, and are more prone to making small mistakes.

One of the best ways to determine if a parking violation is legit and whether to fight it remains a real lawyer. Its a little counterintuitive, as parking tickets usually dont cost that much, and theres a perception that most lawyers wont take such small cases. But Andrew Hoverman, a Montgomery Village, Md., lawyer who focuses on traffic defense cases, says thats not necessarily true.

Most people are unaware that they can hire an attorney to go in their stead to traffic court to fight on their behalf, he says.

Perhaps the best way of fighting a bogus parking ticket  no matter where it comes from  is to avoid getting one in the first place. My preferred solution is mass transit. But if you drive, an app like Smoothparking, which displays legal parking spots in New York, Washington and Milwaukee, among several other cities, will warn you when a street is off limits to parking.

Erica Conover learned one strategy on how to avoid parking tickets the hard way. When she moved to Boston to take a job as a technology publicist, she discovered that parking was almost impossible to find in her South Boston neighborhood. No matter how carefully she selected a spot, she would receive tickets  first for a handicapped violation, then for double parking and finally for other. Each time, Conover says she was lawfully parking. Yet she felt as if she had no choice but to pay.

She eventually decided to start taking pictures of her vehicle and where she parked it. When she received the next citation, she filed an appeal with the help of the digital images. It worked.

[Cant sleep on airplanes? These products and techniques can help.]

My advice for really making a case? she says. Take photographic evidence. They proved I wasnt in the wrong.

As for Johnsons tickets? Art Noriega, chief executive of the Miami Parking Authority, said he was not aware of any current parking scams in the city but agreed to look into the citations. Miami, like most big cities, has no shortage of parking-ticket complaints, making it difficult to tell if Johnsons daughter was scammed or just the target of an overzealous parking enforcement official.

The investigation remains open.

Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Email him at chris@elliott.org.
MARYLAND

Pr. Georges will get Bikeshare in 2018

Capital Bikeshare is coming to Prince Georges County, but not until next year.

The county is planning to install bike stations at National Harbor and in a stretch of Route 1 from Mount Rainier to Riverdale Park. The goal is to have the program up and running in spring 2018, a county spokeswoman said.

The countys plan calls for 670 bikes and 67 stations to be phased in over the next few years. The launch in early 2018 will include 40 bikes spread out across four stations at National Harbor and 250 bikes in 25 stations along the Route 1 communities.

Capital Bikeshare operates in the District and Alexandria, and Arlington, Montgomery and Fairfax counties. Prince Georges officials say the plan is to expand within the county to areas such as Greenbelt, College Park and Langley Park.

 Luz Lazo

VIRGINIA

Man is charged

in graffiti incident

A 20-year-old man from Annandale is facing hate-related charges after a Jewish community center, a church and a community college in Fairfax County were defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti and stickers, police said.

Dylan M. Mahone was arrested Thursday after hateful graffiti was scrawled across the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax City and the Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale on Tuesday, police said.

Mahone was also charged in an incident March 20 in which anti-Semitic fliers were posted around the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, police said.

 Justin Jouvenal

and Justin Wm. Moyer

Mulch pile keeps firefighters busy

Firefighters battled a blaze that sent flames and smoke shooting from a huge mulch pile in the Centreville area overnight early Thursday, according to the Fairfax County fire department.

The blaze was sparked in the 15700 block of Lee Highway, sending firefighters from Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties to the scene.

Video from the scene showed firefighters using ladder trucks and backhoes to attack the smoldering pile after dawn. The flames had been knocked down.

No injuries or damages to structure were reported.

Man killed by truck

in Fairfax County

A man was killed when he was accidentally run over by a dump truck on Thursday in Fairfax County, authorities said.

Around 12:15 p.m., Fairfax County police tweeted that the man was killed by the truck in the 10500 block of Georgetown Pike.

Police said the investigation continues.

 Justin Wm. Moyer
THE DISTRICT

Woman is stabbed on a Metrobus

A woman was hospitalized Wednesday after a stabbing on a Metrobus, Metro said.

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said the incident occurred about 2:15 p.m. on a V4 bus at 58th and Foote streets NE. An argument erupted between the victim and another woman aboard, whom she knew, Stessel said. A verbal dispute led to the stabbing, he said.

The victims injuries were not life-threatening, Stessel said.

Police were searching for a black woman who was described as wearing a blue uniform shirt and blue pants. Later Wednesday, Metro Transit Police charged Amber Denese Harvey, 20, of Northeast D.C., with assault with a deadly weapon/knife.

 Faiz Siddiqui

VIRGINIA

Police: Some new body cameras overheated

A police department in Virginia has stopped using dozens of new body cameras issued to officers last week because of overheating concerns.

Local news outlets report that Chesterfield County police say theyve pulled about 50 of the devices from service after cables between the camera and its controller overheated on several units. Officials said they noticed the problem on Friday during training.

Police spokesman Capt. G.L. Netherland said his department isnt sure how many cameras are affected, so they stopped issuing them for now.

Chesterfield police entered into a contract last year with Axon for 450 cameras.

 Associated Press

MARYLAND

Woman finds scorpion in spinach bag

A Maryland woman who wanted to make lunch this week was met with an unwelcome surprise: what appeared to be a live scorpion in her bag of spinach.

Sri Sindhusha Boddapati of Chevy Chase said she planned to make a dish of spinach and lentils with spinach she purchased Friday at the Giant Food store on Wisconsin Avenue near the Friendship Heights Metro station.

Boddapati trapped the scorpion in a bottle, then assassinated it by sprinkling it with Indian pepper, said her husband, Shanmukha Pranay Rajeev Jerripothula.

A Giant representative offered to refund the price of the spinach  about $2, Boddapati said. A Giant representative said in a statement that it apologizes for the incident.

Customer satisfaction is our highest priority, the statement said. We regret any inconvenience to the customer.

 Justin Wm. Moyer
Larry Hogan, then Marylands governor-elect, left, stands next to Alfred W. Redmer Jr., his choice to be the states insurance commissioner, in 2014. Redmer is the subject of a complaint over an email about a fundraiser for Hogan. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

The Democratic Party of Maryland has filed a complaint against an appointee of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), alleging he violated a ban on fundraising activities during the General Assembly session.

The complaint targets an email sent last week by Maryland Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. that invited recipients to help organize a July fundraiser for Hogans 2018 reelection bid.

Maryland law prohibits state officeholders, and people acting on their behalf, from soliciting campaign contributions or advertising upcoming fundraisers during the 90-day legislative session that ended Monday. The fundraising ban is designed to minimize the role of campaign politics in lawmaking.

Its not clear whether Redmer, who is not formally a member of Hogans campaign staff, would be considered acting on behalf of the governor, or whether his email amounts to a save-the-date prohibited by state law.

Jared DeMarinis, director of the campaign finance division of the Maryland State Board of Elections, said he is reviewing the complaint. Without commenting on the specifics of the case, he said that generally the ban on soliciting during the General Assembly extends to people acting with the knowledge of campaign officials.

Hogan campaign treasurer Chris Rosenthal said the campaign wasnt aware of Redmers email and that no one officially associated with the campaign sent out any related correspondence during this supposed time period.

[Save-the-date for fundraiser at issue in 2014 Democratic primary]

Redmer, who abided by the fundraising ban himself when he served as a Republican state lawmaker from Baltimore County, said he didnt think his email violated any rules because he was only looking for people to help organize the fundraiser. It was sent to two members of the Baltimore County Council and the Republicans representing the county in the House of Delegates.

It was not a solicitation, said Redmer, who was appointed by Hogan in January 2015. It was a, If you are interested in helping, let me know. 

But the state Democratic Party, which obtained a copy of his email, thinks otherwise. The email lists the time and location of the bull roast fundraiser, and seeks members of a host committee who would be expected to raise at least $1,000 each.

There is no reason to believe that this high-ranking state official appointed by the governor would be acting without any authorization in soliciting contributions for the Hogan fundraising event, wrote interim party chair Kathleen Matthews in a complaint to the state Board of Elections.

Hogan campaign treasurer Rosenthal called the complaint a baseless claim from an organization with a long history of making baseless claims.

Redmer has previously drawn complaints from Democrats for helping fundraise for GOP officials while serving as insurance commissioner under Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the states last Republican governor. They say its unseemly for him to organize fundraisers that could be attended by insurance businesses he regulates, although there is no legal prohibition against such activity.

The insurance commissioners job is to regulate big insurance companies and protect middle class Marylanders, said state Democratic Party spokesman Bryan Lesswing.

Sparring over fundraising rules is not unusual in Maryland politics. In the 2014 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Browns campaign criticized then-Attorney General Doug F. Gansler for sending out save-the-dates to fundraisers during the session. Gansler in turn criticized Brown for fundraising through his running mate who did not have to abide by the ban, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman (D).
A 20-year-old man from Annandale is facing hate-related charges after a Jewish community center, a church and a community college in Fairfax County were defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti and stickers, police said.

Dylan M. Mahone was arrested Thursday after hateful graffiti was scrawled across the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax City and the Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale on Tuesday, police said.

[Church, community center hit with graffiti]

Mahone was also charged in a March 20 incident in which anti-Semitic fliers were posted around the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, police said.

Photos of those fliers were posted on a Twitter account of a group called the Aryan Underground, according to a search warrant filed in Fairfax County court. The tweet that accompanied the photos promised More to Come!

(Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

The search warrant states that surveillance video captured a person in a mask putting up the stickers. At a news conference, Fairfax County police spokeswoman Julie Parker said Mahone, who spent one semester at the community college, was captured on video at the college, the synagogue and the church.

We have a plethora of video to go through in this case, she said.

Parker also said that Mahone is the only suspect in the three cases and that police were led to him by his use of social media.

The Aryan Underground account also retweeted a tweet from a TV news station about the defacement of Little River United Church of Christ and features photos of anti-Semitic stickers placed at another college and high school.

Its unclear whether Mahone has been tied to those incidents, as well.

Mahone was charged with two counts each of felony destruction of property, placing a swastika on a religious property with the intent to intimidate and wearing a mask in public to conceal ones identity.

Northern Virginia Community College police charged Mahone with one count of felony destruction of property and one count of wearing a mask in public to conceal ones identity.

Mahone was arrested at his home.

At the news conference, Jeff Dannick, executive director of the JCC, thanked the police and said the incident marked a dark few days for us during Passover.

But in order for there to be light, there has to be darkness first, Dannick said. What Im looking at is the light.

At the news conference, the Rev. David Lindsey of the Little River United Church of Christ also offered thanks.

These crimes involved hateful phrases born of white supremacy, but the overwhelming response of our neighbors has spoken volumes about Gods love for all, he said.
The killer of a retired World Bank economist in Fairfax County may have cased the victims home before Johan de Leede was shot dead inside a little over a year ago, according to a newly returned search warrant.

A week before the 83-year-olds death, security lights on or near his home on the Potomac River in the Mason Neck area of Lorton illuminated and dogs began to bark, according to the search warrant filed by a Fairfax County police detective.

The new details add a fresh wrinkle to what is already one of the most mysterious killings in the D.C. area. De Leede, an avid outdoorsman who was quietly living out his retirement, was shot in the back multiple times as he apparently sat in a chair in his living room watching TV, his family said.

[Family of slain World Bank economist breaks silence]

The suspect remained outside the $1 million home in an upscale neighborhood and shot through a back window, before slipping away into the night shortly after 1 a.m. on March 11, 2016, de Leedes family said.

Police are still seeking leads and a suspect in the shooting death of Johan de Leede, shown in this undated family photo. (Family photo)

The search warrant states that two neighbors were awakened by the sound of a vehicle leaving the area at a high speed on the night of the shooting. In February, police announced that the vehicle was a dark, full-size pickup truck and asked for the publics help in finding it.

To date, police have not named any suspects in de Leedes killing, made any arrests or revealed a motive. A Fairfax County police spokesman said Wednesday there were no updates on the case.

Second Lt. Ron Haugsdahl of the Fairfax County police homicide unit asked for the publics help in identifying a suspect in February.

As far as active suspects, we still do need the publics help, Haugsdahl told The Post. Mainly, its because we havent had any breaks in the case to link evidence weve found at the scene to a suspect.

In interviews earlier this year, de Leedes family said they had no idea who killed de Leede or why he was targeted. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

De Leede and his wife held a dinner party with relatives at their River Drive home on the night of the killing, his family said. After his wife and relatives went to sleep, de Leede stayed up late watching TV and enjoying a glass of warm milk and a banana, as he did many nights, his family said.

His wife was awakened shortly after 1 a.m. by the sound of gunfire and found de Leede slumped on the floor. She thought he had fallen but later noticed a broken window and blinds and realized he had been shot. De Leede was hit three or four times, his family said.

Detectives wrote in the new search warrant the security lights on de Leedes home were illuminated and dogs barked on Feb. 27. They wrote the activity may indicate a suspect was checking out de Leedes home between the hours of 9 p.m. that night and 2 a.m. the next day.

The search warrant was filed to obtain records of cellphone activity on cell towers in the area around de Leedes home during the period when detectives believe the suspect may have been casing de Leedes home.
A man was killed when he was accidentally run over by a dump truck on Thursday in Fairfax County, authorities said.

Around 12:15 p.m., Fairfax County police tweeted that the man was killed by the truck in the 10500 block of Georgetown Pike.

Police said the investigation was ongoing, and no further details about the incident were immediately available.
Issue arrest warrant against Bal Krishna Dhungel: SC orders IGP Aryal

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the newly appointed Inspector General (IG) of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal to arrest former lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel, an absconding murder convict, within seven days.
Joaquin S. Rams, accused of killing his 15-month-old son in 2012 to collect more than $500,000 in life insurance benefits on the boy, was found guilty of capital murder in Prince William County on Thursday by the judge who heard the case.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows presided over the trial after both sides waived a jury. In a 62-page opinion read from the bench, Bellows rejected the defense argument that Prince McLeod Rams, who had a history of fever-induced seizures, died of one. The judge concluded that prosecutors had proved that the child was drowned or suffocated.

Bellows said that Rams was in financial distress, giving him motive, and that he had the means and opportunity to kill his son that October day.

Prince did not die of natural causes, whether due to a febrile seizure or some other natural process or disease, Bellows said in his ruling. He did not die by accident.

The childs death, he said, was inflicted by the defendant.

(WUSA9)

Princes mother, Hera McLeod, 36, wept when Bellows said the word guilty.

Finally, she said as she walked out of the courtroom after the three-hour hearing. Im relieved because hes not getting out.

Bellows set Ramss sentencing hearing for June,

although the judge has no options other than a life sentence. Ramss attorney, Chris Leibig, said he plans to appeal the verdict but declined to comment further.

Rams, 44, spent the last four years awaiting trial and had claimed since before his arrest in January 2013 that he did not kill his son. But he did not testify at his trial and instead allowed his lawyers to peck away at the prosecutions theory that he drowned the toddler at a friends home in Manassas, Va., on Oct. 20, 2012.

[A toddler died. Was it a tragic illness or murder?]

After Virginia assistant medical examiner Constance DiAngelo ruled that Prince was drowned, Rams was charged with murder, later upgraded to capital murder. But when the defense questioned the autopsy, and prosecutors sought expert reviews of the case, one of the experts  Kentuckys chief medical examiner, Tracey S. Corey  said she did not think Prince drowned. The boy had suffered six febrile seizures in the weeks before he died, and the incident had the indicators of sudden unexplained death in children, according to Corey. She became a defense witness at the trial.

Then in 2014, the chief medical examiner of Virginia, William T. Gormley, issued a new autopsy report, changing the cause of death from drowning to undetermined. Gormley wrote that the circumstances were suspicious, but, like Corey, he said he could not rule out a death by natural causes.

[Va. medical examiner reverses ruling to no known cause of death in Prince Rams case]

Prince William prosecutors Paul B. Ebert and James A. Willett stuck with DiAngelo, and Willett said in his opening statement that evidence would show Prince had been drowned. Much of the 12-day trial was dominated by the testimony of medical experts.

When Gormley was on the stand for the defense, Willett asked him whether it would be possible for a large man like Rams to suffocate a small boy like Prince and not leave any marks. Gormley said it was.

Suffocation became a new theme in the trial, and Bellows picked up on it. The former federal prosecutor delved into an 800-page book of exhibits, entered as evidence, and the taped 911 call to question Ramss version of events. Documents show Rams told paramedics and police, although none testified to it at trial, that he had seen Prince having a seizure in his crib, just a few feet from his then-13-year-old son, Joaquin Shadow Rams Jr. He rushed in and carried the toddler to a bathtub to splash cold water on him because he was really hot.

But paramedics felt Prince was cold to the touch, and he had no heartbeat. He was taken to Prince William Medical Center, where his temperature was recorded at 91.2 degrees, 24 minutes after the 911 call began. His heartbeat wasnt restored until 40 minutes after the call and he later died.

[Rams trial Day 9: Judge cross-examines defense witness, pokes hole in claim that toddler had seizure]

In his ruling, Bellows detailed the evidence about Princes body temperature, and agreed with many expert witnesses that febrile seizures could not have killed the boy.

What the seizures did was provide the defendant the solution to a problem  how to cover up a murder that he intended to commit from the time he first put a half-million-dollar bounty on the head of his infant son, Bellows wrote.

The judge ruled that Prince died from lack of oxygen to the brain and that this likely occurred prior to Prince being placed in the crib by the defendant, and that by the time the defendant picked Prince out of the crib, he had already suffered irreversible brain damage.

The three people in the house with Rams  his son Shadow and housemates Roger and Sue Jestice  said they only saw and heard Rams splash water on the boy briefly, not place him under water. But there was a period Rams was alone with the boy, before rushing him to the tub, which Willett said gave Rams the opportunity to kill Prince.

Prosecutors alleged that Ramss motive for killing his son was the purchase of three life insurance policies on the newborn boy in 2011 totaling more than $524,000.

At trial, prosecutors have said that in 2012, Ramss house in Bristow, Va., was in foreclosure  he and Shadow were living rent-free with the Jestices  and a $50,000 line of credit was exhausted and a private school tuition bill for Shadow unpaid. Rams appeared to have no job and hadnt filed a tax return in years.

Viewed in isolation, the purchase of life insurance is certainly not incriminating, Bellows wrote. In this case, however, there are a number of factors that make these purchases incriminating.

Bellows also noted that, although the defense claimed that Rams bought the policies as college savings vehicles, one of the policies would have had a cash value of only $984 after 20 years. Such a paltry cash-value sum also illustrates the hollowness of the assertion that these purchases were all about savings, and not about payouts upon death, Bellows said.

[Rams trial Day 11: Toddlers mom says Rams was bad father, but cause of death is unclear]

The defense showed that Rams had a bank account, which he had a friend create to hide income and avoid paying taxes, which had $277,000 in deposits in the three years before his arrest, mostly from a business partner in California. They also said he was working to develop a gaming website. The defense acknowledged his debts but said that did not make him a murderer.

Ebert said the trial had been a hard, long fight and that Rams continues to be a suspect in the deaths of his mother and a former girlfriend. Rams was not charged in either death and has maintained his innocence.

Rams had previously collected more than $162,000 after the death of his mother in 2008, which was ruled a suicide, but was unable to collect on another life insurance policy after the unsolved slaying of his former girlfriend, Shawn Mason, in 2003.

Thats the kind of person that doesnt belong on the street, Ebert said. Hes the kind of person that doesnt hesitate to kill if hes benefiting.
Marine Maj. Mark Thompson is escorted from his court-martial at Marine Corps Base Quantico in handcuffs after pleading guilty to lying in a sexual misconduct case there. (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post)

The Marines wrists and ankles were shackled Thursday night as two officers escorted him down a long hallway toward the car that would take him to his cell.

Maj. Mark Thompson had finally admitted hed been lying for years about a sexual misconduct case.

Standing in his khaki uniform earlier that day, Thompson faced a military judge in a courtroom at Marine Corps Base Quantico and pleaded guilty to charges of making a false statement and of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. For his crimes, Thompson was expelled from the Corps hed served for two decades and sentenced to 90 days confinement.

I should have faced the entire truth, he said, his voice soft but forceful. Im exhausted, broken in spirit and ready to pay what I owe.

The dramatic day marked the end of a six-year saga for Thompson that offered a lesson in the consequences of hubris. For years, he had fought to prove he was innocent of a crime  having sex with two young women while they were students at the Naval Academy  that he knew he had committed.

Maj. Mark Thompson slumps in the back of the car taking him to his cell after the former Naval Academy teacher was sentenced to 90 days confinement and dismissal from the Marine Corps. (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post)

At times tearful, he neither looked nor sounded anything like the once-audacious combat veteran who had always been willing to take risks, confident that he could maneuver through even the most perilous situations: Hed had at least two threesomes involving students while teaching at the renowned Annapolis campus. He had stood by as a friend and fellow Marine, Maj. Michael Pretus, lied for him at his first trial. And he himself had lied under oath to an administrative board deciding whether he should be booted from the Marine Corps.

But after all of that  after being convicted of sexual misconduct and still managing to save his career and a generous pension  it still wasnt enough. Desperate for exoneration, Thompson brought his story to The Washington Post in late 2014, a decision that would ultimately lead him to the courtroom this week.

[Read the full story: A Marines Convictions]

He was on an obsession course. You couldnt get him to talk about anything else, said Pretus, whose own career was derailed by the case, told Marine investigators last year.

As part of his plea deal, Thompsons punitive discharge will be suspended, allowing him to collect retirement benefits if he meets the terms of the agreement. But his retirement will be reviewed by the Navy Secretary, who could decide to demote Thompson and dramatically reduce his pension.

The defense had argued that Thompson, 47, should be allowed to retire voluntarily. Lt. Clay Bridges blamed his clients behavior on unresolved emotional turmoil that followed a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his fiancee in a 2006 car accident.

He couldnt control the anger and grief and took it out in a completely inappropriate way, said Bridges, who urged the judge, Lt. Col. Christopher Greer, to consider the Marines entire career, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Earlier, the prosecution had portrayed Thompson as far more calculating, playing an audio clip from an interview a Post reporter conducted with the Marine. In it, Thompson emphatically and repeatedly denied that hed had sex with the two women.

His lies were bold and unequivocal, Capt. Conor Lamb said.

This wasnt a mistake. This wasnt a moment of panic. He was trying to sell his story.

One of the women, Sarah Stadler, wrote the court a letter describing the devastating impact hed had on her.

This was a deliberate decision to try to destroy the lives of other people, including mine, by perpetuating lies, just to satisfy his vanity and prove how clever he was, she wrote.

Instead of letting sleeping dogs lie, he pursued a calculated plan to try to rehabilitate himself at the expense of others and at the expense of the truth.

What led Thompson to Thursdays plea hearing began in 2011, when  amid a drunken night of strip poker at his Annapolis home  he had sex with two female midshipmen, including Stadler. She testified that she and Thompson had been in an ongoing relationship. The other woman told the court that shed been raped.

At his court-martial in 2013, a jury acquitted him of the sexual assault charge but still found him guilty of five lesser offenses, including conduct unbecoming an officer, indecent conduct and fraternization. He was sentenced to serve two months in a military prison and fined $60,000, though his jurors stopped short of kicking him out of the service.

The next year, he faced an administrative board that would decide his fate in the service and, for the first time, he testified on his own behalf. Thompson insisted to the three officers overseeing the case that he was innocent.

They believed him.

In a stunning decision, the board members declared in a 2-to-1 vote that he had committed no crimes whatsoever, and all three agreed that he should remain a Marine.

I beat them, Thompson texted Pretus the next day.

Emboldened, Thompson asked a friend to approach The Post on his behalf. In repeated interviews, he insisted he had done nothing wrong.

But the discovery of Stadlers long-missing cellphone changed everything. It contained text exchanges with Thompson that proved hed deceived the Marine board.

Confronted about why he had misled authorities, he said, I simply had to, when they were coming after me for 41 years, I cant begin to say, you know, how terrifying that is.

After the article was published last March, the Marine Corps launched the investigation that resulted in the new charges against him. He could have faced a prison term of up to six years.

Almost no one involved in Thompsons case escaped unblemished: The Naval Criminal Investigative Service failed to discover significant pieces of evidence, including Stadlers cellphone. The cases lead prosecutor, Aaron Rugh, now an appellate judge, became the subject of an ethics investigation after The Post revealed hed made false statements to the Marine board; the Navy later cleared him of wrongdoing. And Pretus was removed from his position as a history instructor at the Naval Academy after the school learned hed been accused of having a tryst with Stadler and Thompson more than five years ago.

At the hearing, a series of relatives, friends and former colleagues described Thompson as a dedicated teacher and father as well as a resourceful, capable military officer.

Donald Wallace, a history professor and Thompsons mentor at the Academy, said he cautioned his friend to avoid getting too close to female midshipmen.

I wish he had made different choices, Wallace said. I wish things had gone differently.
D.C. police detectives arrested a Southeast Washington man Wednesday on a first-degree murder warrant for the fatal shooting in February 2016 of a 21-year-old man.

Authorities took custody of 27-year-old Traveous Lamont Brown on a D.C. Superior Court bench warrant, police said in a statement. He is the second suspect police arrested in the killing of Adam Edwin Barker in the 2700 block of Langston Place SE on Feb. 29, 2016.

Last March, police also arrested and charged Paul Swann, 24, of no fixed address. Officials charged Swann with second-degree murder while armed.

According to an affidavit from that arrest, a witness told police that three men approached the victim and opened fire eight to 10 times.

The documents filed in D.C. Superior Court said that Barker was shot in the back and that the bullet traveled into his head. He was taken to a hospital, where he died on March 1, 2016.

In court papers, investigators said they found bullet casings at the scene from three guns  9mm and .380- and .22-calibers. According to video surveillance recovered at the scene, three men who wore hoods entered an apartment complex through a broken security gate.

Police released no details Wednesday about what linked Brown to the incident.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit is housed at the Lewis F. Powell Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Richmond. (U.S. General Services Administration)

A portfolio of Southern cases, genteel courtroom traditions and years of forceful conservative rulings shape the enduring image of the federal appeals court in Richmond.

But the bench has shed its conservative label, undergoing a sea change in the past decade, and is poised to have an immediate impact on the fledgling Trump administration.

Starting next month, the full court will take up the presidents entry ban for immigrants from some countries, followed by the case of a transgender teen whose battle to use a boys bathroom challenges the presidents new policy.

Since taking office, President Trump has harshly criticized federal judges, specifically deriding the San Francisco-based appeals court  which put the first version of his travel ban on hold  as in chaos and turmoil.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, a Richmond-based venue the administration might once have found reliably hospitable, now has a higher proportion of judges tapped by Democrats than most of the nations 13 circuit courts. That includes the pan-Western 9th Circuit with its long-standing reputation among conservatives as the nutty 9th.

Roger Gregory, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, is interviewed in 2016 in his office in Richmond. (Steve Helber/Associated Press)

A test of how far the 4th Circuit bench has tilted left will come May 8. The court announced this week that it would bypass the traditional three-judge panel and gather that day as a full complement to review Trumps entry ban.

Within the past year, judges at the historic Italianate courthouse, who descend from the bench to shake hands with the attorneys who have argued before them, have issued major opinions that would have been unimaginable two decades ago.

The court said Republican lawmakers in North Carolina deliberately undercut the political power of African American voters through targeted voting restrictions. Judges sided with the Virginia transgender teen in the first round of his fight. And in a gun decision that went further than other appeals courts, the Richmond-based circuit ruled that the Second Amendment does not protect what it called weapons of war in a case trying to undo a Maryland ban on semiautomatic, military-style firearms.

Theres a persistent impression thats long been out of date that this is a very conservative court, said Steven Goldblatt, who directs the appellate litigation program at Georgetown Universitys law school and regularly appears before the court. Its a different court, with many new judges who cannot be measured by decisions reached many years ago.

[Second federal judge blocks revised Trump travel ban]

The courts caseload consists of appeals from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas.

After federal judges in Maryland and Hawaii blocked critical sections of the presidents revised travel order in March, the Justice Department appealed. The administration also asked the 4th Circuit to put the Maryland judges opinion on hold and allow the ban to take effect immediately ahead of oral arguments next month.

The first-floor library at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond. (U.S. General Services Administration)

The Maryland case applies only to the provision of Trumps order that would have stopped new visas for travelers from six Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

The court also has been asked to rule again in the case of Gavin Grimm, the transgender teen challenging his schools requirement that students use a bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex.

The case returned to Richmond after the Supreme Court decided in March to put off a ruling on transgender rights and referred it back to the 4th Circuit to possibly look at broader constitutional questions.

When it ruled in Grimms favor initially, the 4th Circuit cited the Obama administrations position on transgender student rights. The Trump administration since has revoked federal guidelines that directed schools to allow transgender students to use a bathroom consistent with their gender identity.

Last week, Senior Judge Andre M. Davis and Judge Henry F. Floyd  both nominated by President Barack Obama  took the unusual step of issuing a passionate statement placing Grimm among the pantheon of human rights leaders who confronted inequities through the courts. Grimms case will likely be heard in September.

[Supreme Court sends transgender case back to lower court]

For years, attorneys pursuing liberal-leaning policies viewed the 4th Circuit as hostile territory for civil rights and for criminal defendants, and as a reliable backstop on national security policies.

But that is changing.

Several national legal organizations that have the flexibility to choose where to wage their legal battles are deliberately turning to the 4th Circuit.

The national groups that filed the most recent challenge to Trumps entry ban in Maryland  the National Immigration Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union  could have gone to other venues.

The court has become a much friendlier forum in civil rights cases, and it appears that criminal defendants have found a more open ear, said Charlotte attorney Jake Sussman, who has defended inmates on death row and successfully challenged North Carolinas ban on same-sex marriage.

The 15-judge court looks very different today than it did two decades ago.

In 1993, the bench had only one woman and no minorities. Three-quarters of the judges were nominated by Republican presidents, including leading conservative voices J. Michael Luttig and J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who in later years were on George W. Bushs shortlist for the Supreme Court.

In the late 1990s, the court issued opinions upholding restrictions on abortions and striking down a law allowing rape victims to sue their attackers in federal court. The court in 1999 overturned the requirement that police read suspects their rights, known as Miranda rights, before interrogating them. The Supreme Court later reaffirmed Miranda rights.

On national security matters, the court often upheld the post-9/11 policies of the Bush administration, supporting the detention of enemy combatants. In death penalty cases, the Supreme Court reversed a number of 4th Circuit rulings in the early 2000s, leading to a measure of relief for inmates on death row.

Conservatives were stunned in 2006 when Luttig announced his retirement to become general counsel for Boeing. At the time Obama took office, the split on the court still favored Republican nominees, 6 to 5. But with four vacancies, the administration saw an opportunity to remake the court  as it did on other circuit courts  and diversify the bench to better reflect the demographics of the country.

Rakesh Kilaru, who worked in the White House Counsels Office during Obamas tenure, clerked for Wilkinson in 2010, the year that three new judges joined the court.

The picture I have that is signed by all of the judges looks quite different than the picture you would have seen a few years before, and I think thats something the president is quite proud of, Kilaru said, referring to Obama.

Among the 15 active judges on the court, there are five women, of whom one is African American, one Latino judge and two African American men, including Roger Gregory, the chief judge. Gregory was initially appointed by President Bill Clinton during a congressional recess and later was nominated by Bush at the urging of Virginias two senators.

Judge Diana Gribbon Motz, a Clinton nominee, was for years on the losing side, particularly on national security cases. Motz wrote the recent opinion striking down North Carolinas voting restrictions that she said target African Americans with almost surgical precision. The court now has a handful of Obama nominees on the bench to the left of her.

A total of 10 of the active judges were nominated by Democrats.

That leaves the 4th Circuit  along with three other circuits  with 67 percent of judges nominated by Democrats, ranking at the top, with the Boston-based 1st Circuit, the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit and the Federal Circuit in Washington, according to an analysis by Russell Wheeler, an expert on judicial nominations at the Brookings Institution.

Wheeler cautioned that there is a spectrum of views and approaches even among judges nominated by the same president, but that the party of the president who chose a judge is not a bad predictor of a judges perspective.

[Trump to inherit more than 100 court vacancies, plans to reshape the judiciary]

The 4th Circuit judges and their stable of clerks assemble in Richmond about every six weeks for court week in the downtown courthouse that provided offices for Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War.

Cases are argued before randomly assigned panels, and it is still possible to draw a panel of three judges all nominated by Republican presidents. But the odds have shifted, and, when the court agrees to a redo and reviews a case en banc, the balance tips decidedly left.

In March, a full panel convened to revisit a 2-to-1 decision in favor of North Carolina county commissioners sued by the American Civil Liberties Union for opening their meetings with mostly Christian prayers.

The court did not explain its highly unusual decision this week to skip the three-judge panel in the challenge to Trumps revised entry ban. But the move initiated by the court suggests the judges recognize the need to move quickly on a contentious issue with national significance that appears destined to end up at the Supreme Court.

Allison Orr Larsen, a William & Mary Law School professor who also clerked for Wilkinson, said the court may have lost its conservative label but not its sense of collegiality.

Even for those difficult, politically charged cases, Im sure they will be thoughtfully deliberated by everyone regardless of the political affiliation, she said. The court, she added, puts a premium on collaboration.
Israeli recovery workers carry the body of U.S. tourist Kristine Luken on Dec. 19, 2010, after she was found in a wooded area near the village of Mata, outside Jerusalem. (Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP)

Two Palestinian men serving life prison sentences in Israel for killing an American hiker from Virginia in December 2010 were charged with murder by U.S. prosecutors in a step praised by her family and by a friend also injured in the attack.

Ayad Fatafta and Kifah Ghanimat, both about 39, were convicted in 2012 in an Israeli court for the Dec. 18, 2010, stabbing death of Kristine A. Luken, 44, an American tourist who grew up and worked in Northern Virginia. The attack wounded Kay Susan Wilson, then 46, a British-born Jewish Israeli tour guide.

The men were jailed for life in Israel.

The U.S. arrest warrants for them were issued Thursday, according to a statement released by officials with the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Columbia, the Justice Department and the FBI.

We have been informed by the U.S. attorneys office and the FBI about the ongoing process, and we are very encouraged by it, said Lukens stepmother, Meg Luken, of San Antonio. Were encouraged by the fact that at least the process has started.

In Israel, Fatafta was sentenced to one life term of incarceration plus 20 years, while Ghanimat was sentenced to two life terms of incarceration plus 60 years, for the stabbings and another crime, according to a statement by U.S. prosecutors.

Wilson, in social-media postings, also lauded the move in U.S. courts.

Although the prisoners are in an Israeli jail, should my government ever decide to let murderers free again in a prisoner exchange, these cold-blooded savages will not be released. Instead they will be shipped off to the USA to stand trial there, Wilson said on Twitter and Facebook.

[Palestinians charged in killing of American hiker]

Luken, a member of an evangelical group that promotes Christianity among Jews, had visited Israel several times and was hiking near an archaeological site in the Mata forest near Jerusalem with Wilson, who had befriended Luken on another tour, according to Lukens family.

Israeli authorities said the attacks on the women, who were stabbed multiple times, were nationalistically motivated and were carried out by a group in retaliation for the assassination of a top Hamas operative in Dubai that January.

Luken was born in Aurora, Colo., and graduated from South Lakes High School in 1984 in Reston, where her father, Larry, retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency, the family said.

She graduated from George Mason University and worked for the U.S. Department of Education for 15 years and later, Patrick Henry College, before moving to Britain in 2009 and joining the evangelical group Churches Ministry Among Jewish People, her family said.

(This file has been updated to correct the spelling of the name of Kay Wilson.)

Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
President Trump listens during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday. Thousands are expected during a Saturday rally in the District urging Trump to release his tax returns. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

An idea that sprung from a law professors tweet after President Trumps inauguration will unfold Saturday on the Mall, where thousands of protesters plan to call on Trump to release his personal tax returns. The demonstration is expected to be the largest of more than 100 affiliated protests planned across the country.

The Tax March, which falls on the nations traditional April 15 deadline to file taxes, is expected to be one of the most high-profile demonstrations of the Trump era since protesters around the world participated in womens marches  marches that served as an unprecedented rebuke to Trumps presidency on his first full day in office. Presidents are not required to release their tax returns but have done so voluntarily dating to the 1970s.

Jennifer Taub, a law professor specializing in business at Vermont Law School, said that after she attended a Womens March protest on Jan. 21 in Boston, she felt optimistic about the power of organized resistance. It spurred her to action the next day when she heard counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway say on national television that Trump wouldnt release his tax returns because people dont care.

Taub tweeted that the nation should plan a march on Tax Day to show the White House that the public does care. At the same time, comedian Frank Lesser made a similar plea on Twitter. The tweets caught on, and now Taub and Lesser are co-founders of the march, which has garnered the support of nearly 70 progressive organizations.

[Trump wont release his tax returns because people dont care, top adviser says]

Jennifer Taub, a law professor at Vermont Law School, helped found the Tax Day march after being inspired by a Womens March protest in Boston in January. (Ilana Panich-Linsman)

I do care about his taxes. I care about transparency and conflict of interest, Taub said. I think its important for us, we the people, to express First Amendment rights and say we want to see them.

Trump has refused to release his tax returns, stating that he has been under audit. Asked for comment Thursday on the Tax March, the White House referred to comments earlier this week from press secretary Sean Spicer, who repeated that Trump is under an IRS audit, but indicated the president has been transparent with his finances.

We filed our financial disclosure forms the other day in a way that allows everyone to understand, Spicer said at a Tuesday news briefing.

Marchers in Washington are expected to be joined by those in more than 100 other cities across the country and around the world, including New Orleans, San Antonio, Nashville and London, organizers say.

In Washington, organizers have worked with government agencies, including D.C. police and the National Park Service, to obtain permits. The Park Service permit indicates that organizers expect up to 10,000 people.

Mike Litterst, a spokesman for the Park Service, said the Tax March and the Science March the following weekend are among the largest protests the agency is expecting this spring in Washington.

[Womens marches: More than one million protesters vow to resist President Trump]

(Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

The Tax March will begin at noon Saturday on the west lawn in front of the Capitol, with a lineup of speakers that includes Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.).

From there, protesters will march west along Pennsylvania Avenue NW before ending near the Lincoln Memorial. The event is expected to end about 4 p.m.

In an interview, Raskin referred to polls during the presidential campaign that showed a majority of Americans  and a majority of Republicans  believed that Trump should release his tax returns. Raskin said Congress couldnt have meaningful conversations about a tax revamp without knowing whether proposed tax laws would be a financial boon to Trump and his businesses.

This is going to be an old-fashioned tax protest calling for King Donald to release his taxes, Raskin said. The reason why this is such a big deal is that, whether you like it or not, Donald Trump is a role model for the rest of the country. Donald Trump has made it clear that he will try to get away with whatever he can and then try to fight it out in court. If the rest of the country acted the way he did, the tax system would fall apart.

Taub said she doesnt expect the president to release his tax returns as a result of the march, but she said its impact might be felt in other ways, such as compelling state legislatures to pass laws calling for more financial transparency from elected officials. New laws on the state or federal level, she said, could eventually force Trump and future presidents to release their returns.

Taub said organizers also hope Congress will feel pressure from constituents to pass tax laws that benefit more than just the richest Americans.

One way or another, we will see his tax returns, I believe, Taub said.
Community member protests the treatment of Dr. David Dao, who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight on Sunday by officers with the Chicago Department of Aviation, at O'Hare International Airport. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters)

It was worse than when he fled Vietnam.

Thats how an attorney representing the man who was dragged screaming from his seat and off a United Airlines flight said his client described the ordeal to him.

Chicago attorney Thomas A. Demetrio said David Dao, 69, suffered a serious concussion, broken nose, two missing teeth and other injuries when he was dragged off United Flight 3411 at OHare International Airport on Sunday. Demetrio said Dao, who was released from the hospital late Wednesday, will need reconstructive surgery.

Dao is at a secure location continuing his recovery and will speak publicly at some point, Demetrio said.

[Lawyer for United victim: Will there be a lawsuit? Yeah, probably. ]

Crystal Dao Pepper speaks about her father David Dao at a news conference where it was announced that a lawsuit is planned to be filed against United Airlines and the city of Chicago over the forcible removal of passenger David Dao from a flight, in Chicago, Illinoi (Tannen Maury/EPA)

What happened to my dad should never happen to any human being, under any circumstance, Daos daughter, Crystal Pepper, said at a Thursday news conference with Demetrio. We were horrified and shocked to hear and see what had happened to him. We hope in the future that nothing like this ever happens again.

Pepper, one of five of Daos children, said her father is a Vietnamese immigrant.

I would defy anyone to suggest there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr. Dao disembark that plane, said Demetrio, who along with Stephen L. Golan, is representing Dao.

He said Dao told him that being dragged down the aisle of the plane, was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam, following the fall of Saigon.

He said they are in the process of investigating and gathering information for a lawsuit against the airline and the City of Chicago. The officers involved in the incident are city employees with the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Thursday was the first time Daos family has spoken publicly about the incident.

Pepper said her father and mother were flying home to Kentucky from a vacation in California. They landed in Chicago for their connecting flight to Louisville, where both work as doctors. Four of their five children also are physicians, Demetrio said.

[Embattled United chief accepts blame for passenger dragging incident, says he felt shame watching video]

It has been a very difficult time for our entire family, especially our dad and we are truly grateful for all of your support, Pepper said.

Demetrio said no one from United, including chief executive Oscar Munoz, had reached out to him or the Dao family. Munoz issued a public apology Wednesday in an appearance on ABCs Good Morning America.

Meanwhile, one of the 70 passengers onboard the flight offered more details about the incident.

John Fuller of Fairfax, Va., described a chaotic  and bloody  scene as aviation security officers tried to remove Dao from the plane.

Fuller said he and the other passengers  a military family with a young child, members of a high school lacrosse team and business travelers  were seated and buckled when a United employee came aboard and said that four people would have to leave the plane.

She was very terse, Fuller said. She said Four people need to get off this plane or were not going anywhere. 

United orders review of policies following dragging incident

When no one budged, Fuller said the woman left and returned with a list. She marched down the aisle. First she told a young couple they would have to leave and then a woman. Then she approached Dao, who was sitting in an aisle seat. Dao refused. Fuller said Daos wife was not picked to leave.

Security was called and three officers boarded the plane. Millions of people worldwide have seen the video of what followed.

One person yanked him out of his seat and then I saw them starting to drag Dao, Fuller said. A woman ran to the front of the plane shouting, What are you doing to my husband?

She kept shouting, Fuller said. The police kept telling her she needed to come out or they were going to arrest her. She finally stepped outside.

[Video shows man being dragged off United flight after refusing to give up his seat]

But it wasnt over, Fuller said. Dao returned. But now he was bleeding.

There was blood spurting out of his mouth, Fuller said. He had an agitated  look. He went by me and kept saying I have to get home. I have to get home. 

Fuller watched Dao stumble back to his seat.

The security officers returned, but refused to restrain Dao because he was injured and bleeding, Fuller said.

Two paramedics boarded the plane.

I saw a paramedic escorting Mr. Dao from behind, Fuller said. Hed stuffed [paper] towels in [Daos] mouth.

Fuller, a retired Marine who works for the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, then watched in horror as Dao collapsed next to his seat, lunged forward, spitting out the paper towels. They were covered in blood, Fuller said.

The paramedic then turns to the captain of the plane and says, Can you get me more towels? 

Fuller said thats when several passengers got up and left the plane. There was blood on the seats and on the floor, Fuller said. Eventually, a United official boarded the plane and told those remaining theyd have to leave.

Fuller said he was appalled by Uniteds cavalier attitude toward the cleanup. He said as far as he could tell, no hazmat team was called to clean the blood and no effort was made to protect passengers when Dao returned to the plane, bleeding.

About 45 minutes later, the passengers were allowed to reboard, Fuller said. When the four uniformed crew members boarded, passengers booed. One shouted, You should be ashamed to work for this airline,  Fuller said.

He said the pilot came on the loudspeaker and said: Were on our way now. Were very sorry you had to witness this.

Nothing more was said. And it wasnt just passengers who were shaken. Fuller said one flight attendants hands were shaking as she tried to serve passengers their beverages.

Ive been flying for 45 years and Ive never seen anything like this, Fuller said.
Fatal drug overdoses increased 38 percent in Virginia between 2015 and 2016, an alarming jump that state health officials attribute to abuse of synthetic opioids, heroin and prescription fentanyl.

A new report from the state medical examiner found an even bigger increase  175 percent  in deaths from several varieties of fentanyl, a pain medication significantly more potent than morphine.

At least 1,420 people died in Virginia last year of drug overdoses, the fourth year that drugs have outpaced motor vehicle accidents and gun-related incidents as the leading cause of unnatural death in the state. The state Health Department warned that the figure may be understating the reality, because the cause of death has not yet been certified for 60 cases from 2016.

The situation will probably get worse before it gets better, said State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine, who in November classified opioid addiction as an epidemic and declared a public health emergency .

I dont know when well see a peak in deaths, Levine said Thursday. Its not just heroin causing people to die. Its fentanyl and synthetic fentanyl with different potencies. Were now seeing carfentanil [a drug 100 times more potent than fentanyl, used to tranquilize elephants]. Someone whos getting heroin laced with carfentanil could die easily.





One of the most dramatic increases in the cause of overdose deaths came from a change in a drug. Before 2013, most fentanyl-related deaths were caused by illicit use of the prescription medication produced by pharmaceutical companies, the state report said.

But in the past several years, toxicology tests showed an increase in illicitly produced fentanyl and fentanyl analogues  drugs that resemble another and have a similar function but a different chemical structure.

But the most deadly combination in 2016 was a mixture of fentanyl and heroin. Kathrin Rosie Hobron, Virginias forensic epidemiologist, said dealers spiked heroin with cheaper fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, or in some cases sold heroin users fentanyl but described it as heroin. The combination of fentanyl mixed with heroin has been the biggest contributor to the spike in the number of fatal opioid overdoses in Virginia, state health officials said.

Thats whats really causing our problems now, Hobron said. A lot of drug users dont know what theyre using.

From 2007 to 2010, about 700 people died in Virginia each year from drug overdoses, mostly from prescription opioids. By 2011, heroin began turning up more often in toxicology reports, bringing the annual death toll from drug overdoses to about 800. Illicit fentanyl use and fentanyl analogues arrived in 2013 or so, Hobron said, and total drug overdose deaths rose to 1,028 by 2015.

Virginia is not alone in this crisis; in 2014, more than 28,000 people died of opioid overdoses across the country. Heroin deaths have tripled since 2010, with 10,500 deaths in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This crisis is not restricted to rural Virginia, where some who injured themselves doing heavy physical labor took prescription opioids for pain and became addicted. In urban areas of the state, fentanyl knockoffs and heroin are the major problem, both health officials said.

(Drug Enforcement Administration)

Levine, the states health commissioner, issued a standing prescription in November that allows any Virginia resident to get the drug Naloxone, which is used to treat overdoses, from a pharmacy.

This year, the Virginia General Assembly passed bills that legalize needle-exchange programs, because intravenous drug users are fueling a rise in hepatitis C and HIV infections; introduce initiatives to increase access to naloxone; change opioid prescription policies; and provide services to infants exposed to opioids in utero.

Thats a good start, but its going to take years of partnerships between law enforcement, the medical community and the public to address the underlying causes of the epidemic, Levine said.
Kapilvastu fire: 59 houses destroyed

Fifty-nine thatched roof houses were reduced to cinders in a massive fire at Shitalpur in Shivaraj Municipality-10 on Wednesday.
PRETTY MUCH everyone can agree that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents should be able to freely search travelers bags at the border. Their job is to stop everything from illegal weapons to illicit drugs to invasive species from entering the country. But searching through every last email on your cellphone? Thats much less defensible.

Even so, CBP has the legal authority to thumb through every personal detail on Americans electronic devices without meeting any standard of suspicion, as though practically bottomless digital storage devices were the same as under-seat suitcases. This permissive regime applies only at the border; once inside the country, the Fourth Amendment demands that law enforcement officers get warrants for intrusive electronic searches. Border crossings, then, serve as front doors to the country and back doors into Americans private lives. Customs agents can gather and transmit private information to the FBI and others  or simply hassle people, as a variety of anecdotal accounts suggests  with little independent oversight.

Border agents are exploiting the loophole more and more. CBP reported Tuesday that officers conducted 14,993 electronic-device searches across 189,594,422 international arrivals in the first six months of fiscal 2017, up from 8,383 searches across 186,376,118 arrivals in the same period the previous year. To be clear: The 2017 surge in searches began before President Trump, advocate of extreme vetting, entered office, suggesting that the numbers might continue to grow from here.

Meanwhile, the courts are increasingly recognizing the obvious: Searching a phone is a lot more invasive than searching a wallet or a bag. Law enforcement officers used to face relatively few restrictions examining materials they found in, say, the pockets of someone they arrested. But recognizing that today many of the more than 90% of American adults who own cell phones keep on their person a digital record of nearly every aspect of their lives, the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that officers could not search an arrestees cellphone without a warrant.

In time, courts might take a similar tack on electronic devices at the border. But Congress should not make Americans wait for judges to place sensible privacy protections on CBP. A bipartisan group of lawmakers last week introduced a bill that would require border agents to obtain a warrant before searching through U.S. travelers electronic devices and to inform detained Americans of their privacy rights. Officials could hold a suspects device until they got a warrant to search it, and there would be an exception to the rules in case of emergency.

Earlier congressional attempts to raise standards on the border were not quite as restrictive, so lawmakers might eventually settle on a lower standard. Whats clear is that they cannot leave the current system in place.
The April 10 front-page article To DeVos, Fla. shows the school choice path noted that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos believes in choice-friendly education policies. The emphasis is not on holding schools accountable for student performances but on parents having the right to choose schools for their children. The article detailed how Florida funds private schools, many with a religious affiliation. To be accredited, a school must demonstrate that it has been in business for three years and follows antidiscrimination and health and safety rules. Are schools with minimal standards a proper offering?

But the Metro article Soup, and ideas to chew on [April 10] showed something different. Traditional public and charter school teachers get together on their own time to make their schools and their teaching more effective.

The dedicated teachers introduced in the Metro article are true change agents. Caring and creative teachers are the answer to the need for effective education. These teachers are professionals who truly relate to their students. These teachers want to provide a quality education even with limited resources. These teachers are to be commended for wanting to share effective teaching methods, materials and support.

The answer to our education quandary is to find, support and appreciate dedicated teachers  the teachers who want to keep learning and sharing. These teachers are building their classrooms on respect, encouragement and strong standards.

Linda Ebersole, Shady Side
Despite President Trumps promises to the contrary, the drumbeat of war escalates with U.S. missile strikes against the sovereign country of Syria.

This military intervention, without congressional authority, was a response to an apparent chemical weapons attack that killed scores of civilians in Syria. But it is far from clear whether the Syrian regime was responsible for the heinous use of chemical weapons. It is quite possible these chemical weapons were possessed by al-Qaeda or Islamic State forces in Syria. The Trump administration could be relying on fake news to justify military escalation  shades of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), an Iraq War veteran, exposed this military escalation as wrong and reckless.

The U.S. foreign policy of endless wars and regime change causes untold death and destruction on the people of the Middle East (such as with the U.S. bombing that recently killed perhaps as many as 200 Iraqi civilians), destabilizes secular regimes, foments reactionary fundamentalism, creates a massive refugee crisis, sends our sons and daughters to kill and be killed based on lies and makes the world less safe. As the U.S. military-industrial complex drives this country toward another unjust war, it will laugh all the way to the bank.

Melissa Dimondstein, Washington
Clinton Ehrlich is a visiting researcher at Moscow State Institute of International Relations. As a law student, he spearheaded the exoneration of Sgt. Raymond Jennings.

Eleven years ago  while on leave from Iraq  Sgt. Raymond Jennings was arrested at gunpoint and accused of murdering 18-year-old Michelle OKeefe. Jennings was convicted and appeared destined to die in prison, having been given a 40-years-to-life sentence. The California Supreme Court declined to review his conviction.

Then something amazing happened: The district attorneys office in Los Angeles ordered Jennings to be released from prison last year after prosecutors expressed doubts about his guilt.

Jennings is the first person exonerated by Los Angeless Conviction Review Unit  a unit within the district attorneys office that helps innocent people behind bars. The program follows the model of an initiative of the same name in Brooklyn that has freed 22 people since 2014 .

We expect the Justice Department to set the gold standard for ethics and professionalism by prosecutors, but here it lags behind local jurisdictions such as Los Angeles. The department has not established conviction-review units in the federal justice system, and this failure is an abdication of moral leadership that prevents state and county governments from taking the concept seriously.

Federal prosecutors have created one local unit in the District, but the other 92 U.S. attorneys continue to ignore the problem. They refuse to acknowledge that a prosecutors ethical obligation to seek justice does not end once a conviction is obtained.

Few people expect Attorney General Jeff Sessions to tackle this problem. As a prosecutor in Alabama, he showed little interest in helping victims of the criminal justice system, which is why many legal scholars and activists opposed his nomination. Now that Sessions is in charge of the Justice Department, the onus is on him to prove his critics wrong.

There is no better starting point for reform than addressing wrongful convictions. About 2,000 exonerated people have been freed from our nations prisons in the past three decades. Worse, the harder we look, the more we find: Almost eight times as many prisoners were exonerated in 2015 as in 1989.

People often imagine that this is a result of DNA testing. If that were true, convictions would be simple to overturn, and courts would be well equipped to handle the influx of claims from prisoners. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of exonerations are made on other grounds.

Wrongful-conviction cases require time-intensive investigations that courts are not configured to provide. Even when a legal-aid group steps in to help a convict, it must break through the torrent of habeas petitions already overwhelming judges, from complaints on procedural errors to poor living conditions.

Conviction-review units can move more quickly because of their narrower mandate. Applicants have no right to an explanation or appeal when their claims are denied, so the units do not get bogged down. This lets investigators focus their resources on the minority of cases that merit their attention.

Most important, the conviction-review process is non-adversarial. It creates an internal forum for prosecutors to seek the truth rather than mechanically defend every conviction. When the state admits its own mistakes, they can be addressed rapidly.

Prosecutors who resist the movement for conviction-review units are pretending that such mistakes never occur. Part of the problem is public denial. The number of wrongful convictions is so disturbing that many people try to rationalize the problem away with soothing myths: It couldnt happen to me; They were probably lowlifes anyway; or Thats what happens when you hang around the wrong people.

The exoneration of Ray Jennings shatters those stereotypes. He is a devout Christian and father of five who risked his life for his country in Iraq. He was present at the scene of a murder only because he was moonlighting as a security guard while studying to become a U.S. marshal.

The Justice Department should finally establish federal conviction-review units. Doing so would send the long-overdue signal that prosecutors must take responsibility for correcting their offices mistakes. Equally important, it would reassure our nation that the new attorney general has a moral compass worthy of the power that comes with the office.
KMC to construct park at Tinkune

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided to build a temporary park in Tinkune after its earlier attempt to construct a permanent park with the statue of Buddha failed to materialise.
ARMS CONTROL is a method to lock up dangerous weapons, but it has always depended on the political will of states to comply with their commitments. When the Cold War superpowers found it in their interest to reduce nuclear weapons in a way that was verifiable, they did; when they did not, the arms race zoomed ahead. The use of a nerve agent to kill civilians in Syria recently is another reminder. Dictator Bashar al-Assad and his regime relinquished a large stockpile of chemical weapons under pressure but concealed some, or made new stocks, to eventually kill again, possibly with the connivance of Russia and Iran. The arms-control agreement Damascus signed did not protect the civilians who were murdered.

After the Ghouta chemical weapons attack in August 2013, which killed more than 1,400 people, Mr. Assad agreed that Syria would join the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons. After an agreement between the United States and Russia, some 1,300 tons of Mr. Assads declared chemical weapons stocks were removed and destroyed at sea, and the declared Syrian production facilities were destroyed. This was a worthy endeavor; one can only imagine the consequences if the Islamic State had seized the chemical arsenal.

But the key word is declared. Ever since the removal operation, suspicions had been growing that Mr. Assad possessed an undeclared cache. Colum Lynch and David Kenner of Foreign Policy revealed in August the contents of a 75-page report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which described a troubling pattern of coverup and obfuscation. In a confidential summary of the report, OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said most of the 122 samples taken at multiple locations in Syria indicated potentially undeclared chemical weapons-related activities. Only the month before, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Kenner reported, the U.S. representative to the organization, Kenneth Ward, said Syria had engaged in a calculated campaign of intransigence and obfuscation, of deception, and of defiance. Syria also repeatedly used chlorine as a chemical warfare agent.

The Obama administration oversold the Syrian destruction operation as 100 percent effective. That was a mistake. The truth about these weapons is that even when small amounts slip through, they can do terrible damage. The 1995 Aum Shinrikyo subway attack in Tokyo, which killed 12 people, injured more than 1,000 and set off mass panic, involved the release of 159 ounces of sarin.

In recent years, there has been far too much complacency about the dangers of non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction, including the recent failure to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Chemical and biological substances that cause great harm can be easily concealed. Arms-control agreements work when they are verifiable, with intrusive inspections. But they can be subverted. Mr. Assad showed his true colors by cheating and killing. Anyone thinking about an arms-control deal with Kim Jong Un over North Koreas expanding missile and nuclear programs should keep this lesson in mind.
The Trump administrations missile strike on an airfield in Syria in retaliation for Syrian President Bashar al-Assads apparent sarin attack on innocent civilians has dominated the news. Not far behind have been the reporting and commentary about the Trump administration shifting its position on foreign intervention generally and on regime change in Syria more specifically.

Reporters, pundits and politicians have criticized President Trump and his national security team for changing positions on both fronts, but they were especially critical of the administration for reversing stated positions on regime change in Syria, such that they now seem to embrace the fact that Mr. Assad must go before any solution to the nightmare in Syria can be realized.

Their critiques are completely understandable. And they are completely naive.

Reporters, pundits and politicians cannot appreciate that evolving inputs demand evolving positions and decisions. God forbid if our presidents feet were stuck in cement.

Michael Mehaffey, Clifton

After years of President Trump saying on the record that Syria was not our concern and proposing a ban on refugees from Syria, and with statements made by the secretary of state that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads future would be determined by the Syrians, Mr. Assad apparently struck with chemical weapons against his own people.

But where was Mr. Trumps compassion for the innocents when he tried to ban Syrian refugees?

Did the fact that nearly 60 percent of Americans disapproved of him, and his own personal need to distract from the Russia probes, have anything to do with his newfound compassion? Did he ever think one of those children he attempted to ban from refugee status might be alive today were it not for his own policy?

Pete Rose, Fredericksburg
President Trump rose to power on a combination of meanness, incoherence and falsehoods. His strategy depended almost entirely on playing off the unpopularity and weaknesses of others.

Every aspect of his approach has blown up on him since he took office, but as is always the case with Trump, he will not take any personal responsibility for whats going wrong. He must find a scapegoat. The latest object of his opprobrium would seem to be Stephen K. Bannon, the chief White House strategist.

But dumping Bannon would only underscore the extent to which Trump is a political weather vane, gyrating wildly with the political winds. Hes populist one day, conventionally conservative the next and centrist the day after that. His implicit response is: Who cares? Lets just get through another week.

At the moment, he is basking in praise from large parts of the foreign policy establishment for his decision to fire missiles into Syria. This is the hour of maximum danger for Bannon. Trump may now figure he should ride for a while with his newfound friends in the elite. The presence of the disheveled, ultra-nationalist Bannon just wont do at the tony country-club party Trump wants to throw for himself.

[Trump has a strange new plan to threaten Democrats. Its a sick joke.]

(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

And so Trump, in an interview with the New York Posts Michael Goodwin, did to Bannon what he has done to everyone else: He offered an entirely misleading account of their relationship.

I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late, Trump said. I had already beaten all the senators and all the governors, and I didnt know Steve. Im my own strategist and it wasnt like I was going to change strategies because I was facing crooked Hillary.

Hmm. Contrary to Trumps claim, he has known Bannon since 2011 and appeared nine times on Bannons radio show. Just a few months ago, Bannon was cast as the political genius who saw the electoral potential in the Midwestern swing states. But with Trump, every good idea is his idea and every failure belongs to someone else, so Bannon is now an afterthought.

The weather vane will twirl again soon because Trump faces renewed trouble, on an old front and a new one.

Trump has gone to great lengths  including lying about former president Barack Obama having his wires tapped  to distract from inquiries into his campaigns possible ties to Russias effort to subvert the 2016 election.

[The unforgivable mistake Sean Spicer makes every day]

But Tuesday brought a reminder that the story wont go away until its resolved. The Post reported that the FBI obtained an order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to monitor the communications of the man Trump once listed as a foreign policy adviser, Carter Page. (Trump has since downgraded Pages role to low-level.) The news was an indication of the seriousness of the investigation of links between Trumps campaign and Russia. While Trump hopes that his administrations complete about-face on Vladimir Putin  from fawning praise to hostility  will settle the matter, it wont.

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.

And then the good people of Kansass 4th Congressional District cast ballots in a special election on Tuesday. While Republican Ron Estes won the seat over Democrat James Thompson, Estess winning margin of nearly 7 percentage points was anemic compared with Trumps 27-point win in the district last year. And Republican Mike Pompeo, whose appointment as Trumps CIA director created the opening, was reelected last year by a margin of 31 percentage points.

This swing will petrify Republicans in Congress who, up to now, have largely stayed in line behind Trump. Its also likely to give additional spine to Trumps GOP critics, both on the far right and closer to the center.

The energy in politics is now clearly on the anti-Trump side. Republicans will surely notice the sharp falloff in loyalist turnout in Republican bastions. Last year, for example, Trump carried Harper County, south of Wichita, with 1,996 votes to 393 for Clinton. Estes could manage only 837 votes there, to 307 for Thompson. And energized Democrats swung big Sedgwick County, which includes Wichita, from Trump to Thompson.

As Trumps comments to Goodwin showed, he still longs to run against crooked Hillary. He also still loves to bash Obama. But Trump is on his own, with only his own record to answer for. He can let go of Bannon and anyone else he wants to blame for the chaos of his presidency. But governing is hard, especially when your principles are as flexible as your relationship with the truth.

Read more from E.J. Dionnes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
The U.S. Coast Guard has received no extra funding to cover the additional costs of protecting President Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort during his frequent trips to the Florida estate, the services top official said Wednesday.

Adm. Paul Zukunft, the Coast Guards commandant, also provided new details about the challenges the service faces in safeguarding the Palm Beach property because of its waterfront exposure on two sides  the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west.

Whenever Trump visits, the Coast Guard dispatches helicopters, patrol boats and anti-terrorism teams for round-the-clock patrols, Zukunft said during a breakfast with journalists.

We have teams protecting the approaches to Mar-a-Lago on both coasts, Zukunft said. Were also protecting in the air, as well, he added, noting that the service watches for low, slow fliers and any other potential aviation threat to our commander in chief.

Asked about the costs of protecting Mar-a-Lago, Zukunft said officials were trying to determine a figure to provide to Congress but that at the moment the service was working within existing funding constraints.

1 of 39 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The scene at President Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club and resort in Florida View Photos The president refers to his sprawling Palm Beach estate as the Southern White House or winter White House. Caption The president refers to his sprawling Palm Beach estate as the Southern White House or winter White House. Nov. 23, 2016 A Coast Guard boat passes through then-President-elect Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Since the election, Mar-a-Lago has assumed a prized role in Trumps presidency, rivaling Trump Tower as a focal point of his lifestyle and ambitions. Gerardo Mora/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

Is there a supplemental to support this? he said. The answer is no.

Zukunfts comments highlight the growing costs to taxpayers of Trumps lifestyle, including routine jaunts to Mar-a-Lago and the need to fortify Trump Tower in New York, where Trumps wife and youngest son have chosen to live. Trump is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago this weekend for his seventh trip since the inauguration.

Mar-a-Lago, the private club Trump has dubbed the winter White House, lacks the established protection measures of the White House or Camp David, and officials there in recent months have been forced to build a presidential compound from scratch.

The Trump administrations draft budget last month called for cutting the Coast Guards funding by 14 percent, or about $1.3 billion, but the White House has since said it would keep the services budget flat compared with the previous year.

Three anti-terrorism teams were involved in the protection of Mar-a-Lago when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last week, Zukunft said. Those Maritime Safety and Security teams carry out port safety patrols and are trained to operate after an attack by chemical, biological or radiological means.

Trump has spent about 21 days at Mar-a-Lago this year. Based on a Washington Post review of estimates of past presidential trips and assessments of security costs, Trumps continued travel there could drive the price tag for Coast Guard support at the estate into the tens of millions of dollars over a four-year term.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, commonly used in air patrols like those over Mar-a-Lago, costs $7,533 an hour to run, or more than $180,000 for an all-day patrol, service financial documents show. An RB-S Defender-class response boat patrolling near Mar-a-Lago costs $1,434 an hour to run, or about $34,400 a day.

When President Barack Obama flew to South Florida for a weekend in 2013, the Coast Guard spent about $586,000 to patrol waterways and cover official travel and lodging costs, according to a Government Accountability Office report last year.

When the president is in town, the Coast Guard also establishes three wide-ranging security zones along the Palm Beach shorelines and in the nearby Lake Worth Lagoon. , which are guarded by gunboat.

The Coast Guards budget is only a fraction of the government money spent toward protecting the presidents estate. Palm Beach County spends more than $60,000 a day toward overtime for deputies and other costs when the president is in town, local-government officials said.

The Secret Service also has faced budgetary strain. The agency requested $60 million in funding on top of its traditional budget for the next year to help pay for the travel of the president and top-ranking officials, as well as the protection of Trump Tower, according to internal documents reviewed by The Post.

The Coast Guard post near Palm Beach traditionally focuses on other missions across South Florida and the Caribbean, including rescuing stranded boaters, securing ports and intercepting drug runners, the service says.

[Trump familys elaborate lifestyle is a logistical nightmare  at taxpayer expense]

[Secret Service asked for $60 million extra for Trump-era travel and protection, documents show]

[To fund border wall, Trump administration weighs cuts to Coast Guard, airport security]
When Stephen K. Bannon reported for work Wednesday, he did not act like a man who had just been publicly humiliated by his boss.

The White House chief strategist cycled in and out of the Oval Office for meetings with President Trump and took a seat in the front row of the East Room for the afternoon visit of NATOs secretary general, flanked by some of the very advisers with whom he has been feuding.

But for Bannon, the days routine obscured the reality that he is a marked man  diminished by weeks of battles with the bloc of centrists led by Trumps daughter and son-in-law and cut down by the president himself, who belittled Bannon in an interview with the New York Post.

The presidents comments were described by White House officials as a dressing-down and warning shot, though one Bannon friend, reflecting on them Wednesday, likened Bannon to a terminally ill family member who had been moved into hospice care.

The man not long ago dubbed the shadow president  with singular influence over Trumps agenda and the workings of the federal government  is struggling to keep his job with his portfolio reduced and his profile damaged, according to interviews Wednesday with 21 of Trumps aides, confidants and allies. Some colleagues described Bannon as a stubborn recluse who had failed to build a reservoir of goodwill within the West Wing.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Bannon is a brilliant pirate who has had a huge impact, said former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump supporter. But White Houses, in the end, are like the U.S. Navy  corporate structures and very hard on pirates.

For now, at least, Bannon may survive the turmoil, and he and other White House staffers are striving to be on their best behavior after their infighting earned them a scolding by the president over the weekend, according to the aides and allies, many of whom requested anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about internal dynamics. Bannon declined to be interviewed.

[Bannon wants a war on Washington. Now hes part of one inside the White House.]

But the mercurial president has a long history of turning quickly on subordinates, and the political hit late Tuesday in the New York Post was trademark Trump, using the friendly Manhattan tabloid to publicly debase his chief strategist. The president said Bannon was hardly the Svengali of his caricature, but rather a good guy who was not involved in my campaign until very late.

Bannons associates were caught off guard by Trumps comments. Some interpreted them as a paternal love tap by Trump to assert his own dominance, while others worried they amounted to an indirect firing. Bannon himself was humbled, people close to him said, and his allies scrambled to defend him, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who praised him in an appearance on Laura Ingrahams radio program.

In a second interview, with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump referred to Bannon as a guy who works for me  and pointedly noted, as he did with the New York Post, that he was his own strategist, even though chief strategist is Bannons job title.

Trump also is increasingly embracing more mainstream policy positions championed by daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and their allies, including ascendant National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, instead of Bannons brand of combative nationalism.

1 of 13 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  13 things you may not have known about Stephen K. Bannon View Photos Trumps chief strategist served in the Navy, has a daughter in the Army and once referred to himself as a Leninist. Caption Trumps chief strategist served in the Navy, has a daughter in the Army and once referred to himself as a Leninist. He served in the Navy According to Bloomberg, Bannon signed up right after college, serving from 1976 to 1983. He spent four years at sea working as an auxiliary engineer and a navigator aboard a destroyer. Courtesy of the Bannon family Wait 1 second to continue.

On Wednesday alone, Trump flipped from Bannon-favored positions on issues such as the Export-Import Bank and Chinese currency manipulation, alarming some Bannon aides who feared their wing had lost influence with the president.

On Ingrahams show, Sessions dismissed the suggestion that Bannons worldview, which he shares, was being sidelined. Im an admirer of Steve Bannon and the Trump family and theyve been supportive of what were doing, said the attorney general, who in recent days has unveiled tough policies aimed at illegal immigration and drug crimes. Ive not felt any pushback against me or on anything Ive done or advocated.

Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a close Trump friend who chaired his inaugural committee, spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington meeting with the president and his senior team. He characterized the ideological disagreement between Bannon and others as natural and even healthy.

The way this president makes decisions is he encourages different points of view from different people, and he curates those and comes up with his own positions, Barrack said. The lack of unanimity is just the way this president manages. He is in command and control.

Trump and his team are rushing to notch accomplishments that they can hail at the 100-day mark later this month and to impose new discipline on a White House that has been riven by disorder and suspicion since Trump took office.

[Inside Trumps fury: The president rages at leaks, setbacks and accusations]

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court and sworn in this week, upending Senate procedure and marking a significant victory for Trump's conservative base. But the absence of any other major legislative achievement and the public failure of a health-care overhaul has gnawed at the president, and other White House advisers have been swift in assigning partial blame to Bannon, according to Trump staffers and outside allies.

Bannons effective demotion began last week when he was removed from the National Security Councils principals committee. But his real problems began much earlier. Trump bristled at the media depiction of Bannon as a puppeteer, punctuated by the Feb. 13 Time magazine cover labeling Bannon The Great Manipulator.

Trump fashions himself as the leading man  the protagonist of every story in which he stars  and was content to have Bannon as his sidekick, but he did not welcome the competition for top billing.

Bannon further imperiled his standing with the president by getting crosswise with Kushner, officials said. The two men were close during last years campaign; Kushner came to see Bannon as a wartime consigliere. But in the White House, Bannon went to war with the business leaders Kushner helped recruit to the administration  Cohn and others, including Dina Powell, the senior economic counselor and deputy national security adviser.

Bannon privately derided them as globalists and Democrats, officials said, even though Powell worked in George W. Bushs administration and has been called a principled conservative by leading Republican senators.

Bannons supporters believe he is an essential conduit between Trump and his nationalist, populist base. The wealthy Mercer family, which has nurtured Bannons political rise and infused Trumps campaign and allied groups with millions of dollars, is closely monitoring Bannons falling fortunes. Rebekah Mercer, who directs the familys political activities, is unnerved and worried about losing her best link to a president her family takes credit for helping get elected but believes Bannon will be able to maintain his influence, people close to the family said.

Ingraham wrote in an email of Bannon: Of course he didnt invent the conservative populist ideals that Trump ran on, but he is  a reminder in the West Wing of what the presidents core supporters expect of the administration and the promises that must be fulfilled. I think the president has really keen political instincts  and I have to believe he knows his chances of a successful first term are better with Steve on the inside than on the outside.

[Horrible pictures of suffering moved Trump to action on Syria]

Other Trump loyalists flatly dismiss the idea that Bannon is the id of the Trump movement, pointing out that Trump has been advocating some of the same populist positions  especially on immigration and trade  for decades and for more than a year on the campaign trail before Bannons hiring last summer.

These people argue that a better representative of Trumps voters inside the White House is Stephen Miller, the senior policy adviser and former Sessions aide who joined the campaign early and helped Trump hone and communicate his ideas. They said Miller has worked closely with Bannon but also has strategically aligned himself with Kushner, who came to see him last year as indispensable at Trumps side.

As tensions have heightened in recent weeks, the Bannon and Kushner camps have devolved into opposing firing squads. Team Bannon believes the hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe, a show the president watches regularly, are speaking regularly with Kushner and projecting his anti-Bannon sentiments. Kushner allies, meanwhile, finger Bannon as responsible for unflattering stories involving the presidents son-in-law, including those focusing on Kushners talks with Russians.

Inside a White House led by a president increasingly hungry to make deals, even with Democrats, Bannons dogmatism appears to have weakened him.

The West Wing is finally appreciating its a democracy, not a dictatorship, but the rules are hard to navigate when there is such a high degree of polarization, said Richard Hohlt, a longtime Republican consultant who has observed seven different presidents since his arrival in Washington. It becomes difficult in a democracy if youre going to be all ideological purity, all the time.

Trumps three oldest children  Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric  and Kushner have been frustrated by the impression of chaos inside the White House and feel that their father has not always been served well by his senior staff, according to people with knowledge of their sentiments. The Trump heirs are interested in any changes that might help resuscitate the presidency and preserve the familys name at a time when they are trying to expand the Trump Organizations portfolio of hotels.

The fundamental assessment is that if they want to win the White House in 2020, theyre not going to do it the way they did in 2016, because the family brand would not sustain the collateral damage, said one well-connected Republican operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the presidents family. It would be so protectionist, nationalist and backward-looking that theyd only be able to build in Oklahoma City or the Ozarks.

Bannon has borne at least part of the blame for the administrations problems governing. He was intimately involved in the entry ban, which was twice blocked in federal court, and the failed health-care push especially hurt him. Trump thought Bannon would be able to bring along the House Freedom Caucus  a group of hard-line anti-establishment conservatives  but they helped tank the bill to scale back the Affordable Care Act.

Reince Priebus, the often-embattled chief of staff, is among the aides who feel growing pressure from the president to show that the administration can govern. Priebus has been telling confidants, Im not going to have a Memorial Day where the number one headline is Republicans cant produce a budget when everyone else in America can, according to multiple people with knowledge of his plea.

For Trump, one bright spot was the decision to launch 59 missiles in Syria last week. The president was pleased with the process, overseen by national security adviser H.R. McMaster, that brought together his war cabinet and corralled its expertise in a way that resembled a more traditional White House.

Hes in the best place that Ive seen him since the inauguration, Barrack said. Hes confident. He thinks hes found the groove, and with his team too. . . . He looks great. His energy level is off the map. And I think he now feels the commander in chief role.

Damian Paletta contributed to this report.
President Trump listens as he and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participate in a news conference in the East Room of the White House on April 12. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Addressing the United Nations last fall, President Barack Obama took a moment to highlight for fellow world leaders what he called the most important fact about the state of global affairs: Human existence on planet Earth is good  and getting better.

War is down, he said, while life expectancy is up. Democracy is on the march, and science has beaten back infectious diseases. A girl in a remote village can download the entirety of human knowledge on a smartphone.

A person born today, Obama concluded, is more likely to be safer, healthier, wealthier and better-educated  and to see a path to prosperity  than at any time in human history.

President Trump does not inhabit this world.

To Trump, the world is a mess, as he said during a White House news conference this week with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

(Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

In recent days, Trump authorized missile strikes on Syria, shifted rapidly to a tougher tone with Russia, and negotiated with Chinas authoritarian leader over what to do about North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

Its crazy whats going on, Trump said. Whether its the Middle East or you look at  no matter where  Ukraine  whatever you look at, its got problems, so many problems.

Right now, he concluded, its nasty.

What a time to be alive.

To ordinary Americans, the gulf between the worldviews of the United States two most recent leaders could not be more vast.

But historians and foreign affairs analysts said that, despite their apparent contradictions, both things can be true. The world is always a mess. Bad things happen. There are crises. People die.

The question, they said, is how a president responds to the mess and how he frames the threat and the response to the public  a challenge made more difficult in an age of immediate and nonstop news from across the world.

President Obama constantly reminded us that our own times are not uniquely oppressive, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian and author at Rice University. Theres a feeling due to the 24-7 news cycle that everything is a crisis mode, when the fact of the matter is, Americans have it better now than ever before.

Throughout his campaign, Trump railed about the dangers and threats to Americans: inside the country in the form of undocumented immigrants and violent inner cities, and abroad in the form of Islamic State terrorists, swarms of refugees and rapacious U.S. trading partners.

Time and again, Obama sought to counter Trumps apocalyptic rhetoric by putting the purported threats in broader context and cautioning Americans not to succumb to fear or anger.

The Islamic State does not represent an existential threat to the country, Obama said in November 2015, just a few days after Islamic State terrorists killed 130 people in Paris. Rather, he said, they were nothing more than a bunch of killers with good social media.

Obama characterized most undocumented immigrants as hard-working strivers. Globalization caused discomfort for some workers, Obama acknowledged, but he was quick to emphasize the opportunities it provided for American ingenuity in new markets overseas.

Yes, were going through large, structural changes . . . [and] all these things are creating a new politics for the world, said Simon Rosenberg, founder of NDN, a liberal think tank in Washington. The challenge is not to be overwhelmed but to manage them for ones own benefit. Thats where Trump is so flummoxed. He is more fearful of the changes than he is understanding the goal of the president is to manage them for the benefit of the United States.

That might have been Obamas goal, but the president recognized during his final year in office that his optimistic message to Americans was at risk of being overtaken by the chaotic images from abroad.

During a town hall-style event with young people in Malaysia in September, Obama said that the flow of information bombarding news consumers on televisions, computers and smartphones makes it appear as if the world is falling apart.

A war here, an environmental disaster there, and suddenly everybody is shouting and everybody hates each other, Obama said. And you get kind of depressed. You think, Goodness, whats happening? 

But, Obama emphasized, if you had a choice of when to be born and you didnt know ahead of time who you were going to be  what nationality, whether you were male or female, what religion  but you had said, When in human history would be the best time to be born?  the time would be now.

Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard University, has written that voluminous data back up Obamas argument. But he acknowledged that the former presidents message did fail to resonate during a rapid-fire campaign news cycle.

He has the facts behind him, but to get those facts, you cant read the daily news, Pinker said. If you only look at bad things, there are always bad things. Trump is right that there is a lot of nasty stuff going on. There always is, and unfortunately there probably always will be. The question is, is there more nasty stuff? The answer is no.

Unlike Obama, Trump is a voracious consumer of breathless, hyperbolic cable news programming. In the White House, he has continued to react, on Twitter, to the partisan debate and unfolding horrors on his television screen.

His message has consistently been that America is being taken advantage of because of Obamas weakness. China and Mexico are beating the United States on trade. Middle Eastern refugees are flowing across borders, causing chaos and crime. Immigrants are taking American jobs. We dont win anymore, Trump said repeatedly.

In his inaugural address, Trump described in stark terms problems he saw across the country as he began his presidency and said, This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

To historian Rick Shenkman, author of Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics, Trumps rhetoric appeals to base human instincts, hard-wired from prehistoric times, to be on guard for constant threats.

While some critics have suggested Trump exploits public fears, Shenkman believes he more effectively leverages public anger.

People who are in an angry mood want change, he said. They will take risks for change . . . Modern political parties, and Trump in particular, have learned that if you keep people in a state of nonstop anger, they stand by you.

Yet historians said Trump, like other presidents, would have to shift to a more upbeat message as his presidency matures. A presidency cant feed on failure, Brinkley said.

Others suggested that Trumps recent pivot away from some of his foreign policy positions from the campaign  such as calling NATO obsolete and threatening to label China a currency manipulator  reflects a leader coming to terms with how complicated the world is and how difficult it will be to address the global challenges without allies and partners now that he is in charge.

Right now, there is a fear, and there are problems  there are certainly problems, Trump said at the White House. But ultimately, I hope that there wont be a fear and there wont be problems, and the world can get along. That would be the ideal situation.
Madhesi parties fail to participate in election process

Most of the agitating Madhes-based parties didn't provide the names and signature of party officials who are authorized to give official letter of nomination of the candidates to the Election Commission (EC) for the upcoming local election by the final deadline on Wednesday.
People listen as Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) speaks during a town hall at Fort Dalles Readiness Center on Wednesday in The Dalles, Ore. (Raelynn Ricarte/AP)

Rep. Greg Walden is one of the Republican House leaders who crafted the measure to overhaul the health-care system that dramatically imploded before lawmakers went home for a two-week recess.

But when faced with a large crowd of angry constituents in his district this week, the Oregon Republican seemed reluctant to claim the legislation as his own. Instead, Walden stressed the parts of President Obamas Affordable Care Act that he wants to keep.

That did not stop about 1,500 of his constituents who packed this liberal area at two town halls on Wednesday from slamming the congressman for wanting to overhaul Obamacare in a state that heavily relies on it.

Why dont you go back to Washington, [and] in the spirit of bipartisanship, grow a pair, sit down with [House Democratic leader] Nancy Pelosi and say, Lets fix Obamacare,  said one middle-aged man at Columbia Gorge Community College, where about 500 people gathered.

A few in the rowdy crowd at the next town hall seemed to know that Walden, as the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, played a pivotal role in crafting the GOPs American Health Care Act, which would have rolled back Obamacares system of subsidies and phased out that laws Medicaid expansion.

It was an embarrassment and a disaster, said one attendee at Hood River Middle School, where 1,000 people showed up, prompting applause across the auditorium. You dont make the plan better by taking away insurance for 24 million people across the nation.

Like many House Republicans, Walden has spent the past seven years attacking Obamacare and promising to repeal and replace it if the GOP secured one-party rule in Washington. But now that Walden has his wish, eliminating Obamacare is proving extremely difficult and politically dangerous.

That was certainly the case at home this week in his sprawling eastern Oregon 2nd District, which he won with a comfortable 72 percent of the vote in November. Walden held events in Hood River and Wasco counties, the least conservative areas that he represents  winning in Hood by just five votes in the last election. When he asked participants at the community college whether they voted for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the presidential election, the vast majority raised their hands.

But President Trump won Waldens district by nearly 20 points  a fact Walden pointed out at one particularly heated point on Wednesday.

Yet not even Trumps role in pushing the GOP health-care plan prompted Walden  an ally of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.)  to embrace it. He responded to most health-care questions by touting the popular portions of Obamacare the GOP plan would retain, including preventing insurers from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and allowing young people to stay on their parents plans.

Walden insisted that Republicans will work with Democrats on future health-care issues, although their presence has so far been conspicuously absent in negotiations around the GOP plan.

There is a lot of reform with health care that is being done on a bipartisan basis and will be done on a bipartisan basis, was all Walden told one attendee at the community college, before moving on to another question.

Rep. Greg Walden speaks during a town hall on Wednesday in The Dalles, Ore. (Stephanie Yao Long/AP)

The only GOP lawmaker from Oregon, Walden finds himself in the same tricky position as several other House Republicans who have pledged to get rid of Obamacare but whose constituents heavily rely on it. Oregon expanded Medicaid as part of the law, and it now covers about one-fourth of all residents. It has also sought to innovate when it comes to that program.

Experts said that the GOP health plan would stem federal funding to states such as Oregon. It would replace Obamacares income-based subsidies with age-based ones and phase out the Medicaid expansion, as well as limit the amount the federal government pays states for the program for low-income Americans. The GOP plan would largely scrap the laws taxes and requirements to buy insurance.

[Affordable Care Act revision would reduce insured numbers by 24 million, CBO projects]

The proposed changes to Medicaid would be pronounced in states such as Oregon, which is already struggling to fund its program after greatly expanding eligibility. The state has tried to lower overall Medicaid costs by employing a dozen or so Cooperative Care Organizations, which contract with the state to insure enrollees. These groups are tasked with improving patients overall health.

But those efforts have not been enough, and the state in January announced a $882 million shortfall in its Medicaid program.

Oregon would have been clobbered by repeal and replace in the AHCA, said Jeff Goldsmith, a Portland native and health-policy expert who writes for the nonpartisan journal Health Affairs. Many billions lost, and for a relatively poor state with limited fiscal capacity.

Walden was most deeply involved in drafting the Medicaid portion of the GOP plan, but he was quick to explain at the town halls how he would have done things differently. The measure should have allowed states to continue expanding their Medicaid programs through 2020 instead of cutting off that opportunity right away, he said.

.

The issue is becoming increasingly toxic for lawmakers such as Walden, as liberal groups run ads against him and other Republicans supporting the effort. Walden did not refer to the AHCA by name during either of his town halls, nor did he lay out a timeline for when it might eventually get passed.

Theres no value in me coming to a bad plan that hurts people, he said, prompting cries of But you did! from members of the audience.

Attendees came armed with bright green, orange and yellow signs that read Agree, Disagree and Answer the Question. But they also expressed their feelings out loud throughout both meetings, which erupted frequently with boos and shouts, particularly when Walden appeared to support something Trump has said or done.

He won applause only a few times, chiefly when several constituents thanked him for supporting the military. Many heatedly asked Walden to respond to Trumps calls for building a wall along the Mexico border, his push for reducing science funding, his moves to ban refugees from majority-Muslim countries and his skepticism of climate change.

We dont like climate-change deniers. We need your word you will not desert us on this, said a woman named Connie.

Walden noted several areas where hes bucked Trump  including opposing the refugee ban and some elements of Trumps proposed budget  but he was careful not to directly criticize the presidents style or approach. When he seemed to give Trump a pass on refusing to release his tax returns, people booed loudly.

It seems to me [that] candidates are better-served when they do make their returns public, but thats all protected by privacy laws, Walden said.

The restive crowds did not seem to ruffle Walden, who extended each session to two hours instead of the single hour they were originally scheduled to run.

Come on, lets do this the Oregon way  lets be respectful of each other, Walden said when interrupted by attendees.

At another point, Walden even succeeded in making the crowd laugh, after a woman with several children asked why he did not criticize Trump more publicly for making derogatory statements about women.

I dont speak out every time he says stuff because I dont have time for that, frankly, Walden responded.

Read more at PowerPost
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said it takes two minutes to get to downtown Washington from Shepherd Park. It takes 20 minutes or more.

1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Where We Live | Shepherd Park in Northwest Washington View Photos A neighborhood known for its friendliness is on the cusp of development. Caption A neighborhood known for its friendliness is on the cusp of development. Shepherd Park is a Northwest Washington neighborhood named after its most famous resident, Alexander Boss Shepherd, who served as governor of the District for one year in 1873. Justin T. Gellerson/For The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

Describing a neighborhood as friendly might seem a bit trite, but for Jill Borris, whos lived in Shepherd Park in Northwest Washington for 16 years, the adjective fits perfectly.

How else to describe a neighborhood, said Borris, where steps from her front door live two childhood friends who surprised her and moved to the community to be near her?

Having friends since you were five years old is a feat in and of itself, said Borris, who has lived in a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Colonial in Shepherd Park for 17 years, but ending up on the same street is just incredible.

Shepherd Park is named after its most famous resident, Alexander Boss Shepherd, who served as governor of the District of Columbia for one year in 1873.

Situated in upper Northwest and bordering Rock Creek Park, Shepherd Park offers residents a wide variety of housing styles, from Tudors to bungalows, farmhouses to ramblers, and a collection of brick, stucco and split-level houses, said Marilyn Charity, an agent with Washington Fine Properties.

The community is also close to major public transit lines and is a short car ride away from downtown, making its location a major selling point, Charity said.

When its not rush hour you can get to downtown in 20 minutes, Charity said. The best part is that youre at the most a 10-minute walk to Rock Creek Park, and the neighborhood is totally residential.

[Affordability and history in Arlingtons Buckingham neighborhood]

On the cusp of development: Stephen A. Whatley, an advisory neighborhood commissioner who has lived in Shepherd Park for 30 years, said that he and his wife were sold on the neighborhood after discovering the highly rated public schools.





A native Washingtonian, Whatley said that he wanted to stay in the District and became convinced about Shepherd Park after hearing friends who lived in the neighborhood talk about the community with such an affinity.

Sandra Raspberry has called her four-bedroom, four-bathroom Normandy-style house in Shepherd Park home for the past 43 years. She said that she struggles to accurately capture how wonderful her neighborhood is. I cant begin to describe all of the wonderful things about Shepherd Park, she said.

A few years ago during a horrible snowstorm, neighbors shoveled the sidewalks around my house and I was so grateful, Raspberry said. People wave to you when youre out walking and if I havent seen my neighbors in a while theyll come by to check on me. They put my trash can back after the garbage is collected. Its just a great place to live.

Shepherd Park is a short drive to restaurants and shops in Silver Spring and Bethesda and close to attractions downtown, Charity said. The neighborhood also will benefit from the planned development of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which borders Shepherd Park along 16th Street. The development plans, including 3.1 million square feet of retail, residential and commercial development, will provide residents with easy access to restaurants and shops, Charity said.

[In family-friendly Bannockburn Estates, its nature and nurture]

When Gloria Sulton went looking for a new house nearly 50 years ago, she was struck by how many of her must-have qualities Shepherd Park captured. The neighborhood included large, single-family houses, close access to public transportation and a park where she could walk her dog. She and her husband quickly settled on a 2,200-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom Colonial and have been happy ever since.

My son was born a few months after we moved in, Sulton said. I always took that as a sign that we made the right decision about where to live.



A group of men play soccer at Shepherd Park. (Justin T. Gellerson/For The Washington Post)

Living there: The neighborhood is bordered by Eastern Avenue to the north, Georgia Avenue to the east, the original Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the south and 16th Street to the west.

In the past 12 months, 31 properties have sold in Shepherd Park, ranging from a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Colonial for $610,000 to a 4,553-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom contemporary house for $1,575,000, said Charity of Washington Fine Properties.

There are two houses for sale in Shepherd Park, a 2,546-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom rambler for $799,000 and a five-bedroom, four-bathroom Colonial for $845,000, Charity said. There are three homes under contract.

Schools: Shepherd Elementary, Deal Middle, Coolidge and Wilson High schools.

Transit: Shepherd Park is serviced by Metros S1 bus line and is close to the Silver Spring station on Metros Red Line.

Crime: In the past 12 months, there have been 33 robberies, 26 reports of stolen vehicles, 24 burglaries, 16 assaults and one homicide in the police service area covering Shepherd Park, according to D.C. police.
North Koreas neighbors are steeling themselves for more provocative action from Kim Jong Uns regime, with Japans prime minister raising the prospect of a chemical weapons attack and South Koreas military saying it is ready to mercilessly retaliate.

Expectations remain high that North Korea will conduct another nuclear or missile test, or carry out some other incendiary act, to mark the most important day on its calendar: the anniversary Saturday of the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the countrys founder, and the current leaders grandfather.

The worries reflect a deepening anxiety in the region amid the Norths military bluster and tough talk from President Trump.

Echoing a tweet earlier this week, Trump wrote Thursday on Twitter that he believes China will be able to rein in the North, which depends on Beijing for nearly all its foreign commerce and aid.

I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea, he wrote. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.

(Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

[Trump thought he could muscle China over North Korea. Its not that easy.]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that he is worried that North Korea could be developing its chemical weapons capability  with Japan as its target.

Its possible that North Korea might already have the ability to deliver sarin warheads on missiles, Abe told a parliamentary committee.

The prospect of a sarin attack is particularly sensitive in Japan, where a doomsday cult used the nerve agent on the Tokyo subway in 1995, killing 12 people.

Concerns have been growing about North Koreas chemical weapons capabilities since Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Uns estranged half brother, was killed with the nerve agent VX in Malaysia in February.

North Korea is thought to maintain multiple facilities that are capable of producing chemical weapons and already hold a sizable amount of chemical weapons, Yoshihide Suga, Abes top aide, told reporters after a meeting of Japans national security council.



[ With both the U.S. and North Korea saber rattling, is conflict imminent? ]

(White House)

Meanwhile, the new commander of South Koreas Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Jun Jin-goo, called on his 30,000 troops to be ready to mercilessly retaliate against any North Korean provocations, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

Kim Jong Un looked relaxed Thursday when he appeared at the opening ceremony for one of his marquee projects: the Ryomyong Street development in Pyongyang. The district, with its high-rises and fancy stores, has become a symbol of North Koreas purported economic development and improved standard of living under Kim.

The most recent satellite images of North Koreas underground nuclear test site, at Punggye-ri in the northeast, show it is primed and ready, according to the 38 North website, which follows North Korean affairs.

People and vehicles continue to move around the site, according to images from Wednesday, the report said. There have been varying amounts of activity, including the removal of rubble and draining of water, over the past two weeks, raising concerns that North Korea might be preparing for its sixth nuclear test.

North Korea has also been firing missiles at a steady clip, and from mobile launchers that are rolled out of tunnels or hangars immediately before launch and are, therefore, difficult to spot by satellite.

In 2012, two days before the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sungs birthday, North Korea tested a long-range missile. It broke up soon after launch.

North Korea sometimes seems to enjoy stoking its adversaries fears. There were similarly high expectations around a big anniversary in October, but North Korea did nothing.

[ U.S. Navy sends strike group toward Korean Peninsula ]

Still, doing something provocative in the next few days would have another benefit for North Korea: It would send a clear message to Vice President Pence, who is to arrive in Seoul on Sunday.

Pence, who also will travel to Tokyo, is expected to reiterate Trumps tough messages on North Korea, which have been backed up by the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the waters off the Korean Peninsula.

This signaling by the Trump administration, coming after last weeks U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base and Trumps attempt to pressure China to deal with North Korea, has led to widespread conjecture about an American military strike on North Korea.

Politicians in Japan and South Korea  both U.S. security allies  have voiced concern that their countries could become retaliatory targets for North Korea.

There is particular nervousness in South Korea. The North has conventional artillery trained on Seoul and its commuter belt, home to more than 20 million people.

South Korean presidential candidates from across the political spectrum insisted in a debate Thursday that the United States not launch any action against North Korea without consulting the South. South Korea will hold a snap election May 9.

Japans Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning for its citizens in South Korea this week, asking them to pay attention to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

But analysts in the region say there is a low chance of U.S. military action against North Korea.

This is all psychological warfare, said Narushige Michishita, a North Korea specialist at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.

Its ostensibly about North Korea, but its also about China, he said. Trump seems to be creating a situation where he can put China on the defensive and coerce them into action.

[ Will North Korea fire a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland? Probably. ]

Trump said this week that he had offered Chinese President Xi Jinping better trade terms if he cracked down on North Korea.

Robert Kelly, a professor of international relations at Pusan National University in South Korea, said the Trump administration was trying to send a message to China. There is a sense that China is not taking this as seriously as a lot of us on the outside want them to, he said.

But Kelly was skeptical that this tactic would work. My sense is that China doesnt respond well to overt public threats, that China much prefers backroom talks, he said.

Even while supporting some sanctions, Chinas top priority has always been maintaining stability in North Korea. Beijing does not want the regime there to collapse, possibly sending millions of hungry North Koreans into northeastern China and potentially enabling the U.S. troops now in South Korea to move up the peninsula to the Chinese border.

But China has appeared to take some action this week. The country reportedly has rejected some North Korean coal shipments, and a state-linked paper warned that China would restrict oil imports if the North makes another provocative move this month.

Read more:

Defying skeptics, Kim Jong Un marks five years at the helm of North Korea

North Koreas leader is a lot of things  but irrational is not one of them

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A handout picture released by the Syrian presidency's press office shows President Bashar al-Assad during an interview with AFP in Damascus, April 12, 2017. (Handout/AFP/Getty Images)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has broken his silence over a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed scores of civilians, describing it as a fabrication to justify American military action.

In a combative interview published Thursday by Agence France-Presse, Assad dismissed photographs and video footage that moved President Trump to launch retaliatory strikes on a Syrian air base. He insisted that his government would never use banned weapons.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists, Assad told the news agency. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

[For Trump, alleged use of sarin in Syria prompted a different reaction]

The comments were Assads fullest since the April 4 chemical assault on the northwestern town of Khan Sheikhoun. According to victims, rescue workers and monitoring groups, it took place shortly after 6 a.m., killing more than 80 people and causing hundreds more to convulse, choke and foam at the mouth.

(Louisa Loveluck, Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

The attack, which U.S. officials believe took place with the knowledge of high-ranking Syrian government officials, prompted Trump to launch the U.S. militarys first direct assault on an Assad-linked target since Syrias war began six years ago. The U.S. strike, accompanied by hardening American rhetoric on the Syrian presidents future, also dragged U.S. relations with his ally, Russia, to their lowest level since the Cold War.

[Rex Tillerson meets with Vladimir Putin amid tensions over Syria]

But Assad said evidence collected at the scene came only from "a branch of al-Qaeda," referring to a former jihadist affiliate that is among the groups controlling Idlib province, where Khan Sheikhoun is located.

It was the Syrian governments second version of events in the space of nine days. In earlier comments, officials attributed the deaths to a Syrian airstrike that hit a rebel factory where chemical weapons were being made, releasing the toxins.

"There was no order to make any attack. We don't have any chemical weapons. We gave up our arsenal a few years ago," Assad said. "Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history."

[Trump seemed dazzled by his ability to bomb Syria over dessert]

The Syrian government was supposed to have given up its entire chemical weapons stockpile under the terms of a 2013 deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin in Moscow, in this Oct. 20, 2015, file photo. (Alexei Druzhinin/AP)

"Frankly, that didnt happen, a Western diplomat said this week, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Activists and monitoring groups have continued to record chemical weapons attacks on opposition-held areas. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Syrian government warplanes have used chlorine gas on opposition-held territory on nine separate occasions this year.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has begun an investigation into the alleged attack, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that Syria cooperate with the probe.

Read more:

Tillerson meets with Putin amid deepening tensions over U.S. missile strikes in Syria

Chemical attack kills dozens in Syria as victims foam at the mouth, activists say

Deadly nerve agent sarin used in Syria attack, Turkish health ministry says

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Making the right noise

For Delhi, Prez Bhandaris visit offers a great opportunity for right political messaging


Participants practice Wednesday for a parade on the main Kim Il Sung square in central Pyongyang. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

When North Korea launched its Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite into space in February last year, officials heralded the event as a birthday gift for dead leader Kim Jong Il. But the day also brought an unexpected prize for the countrys adversaries: priceless intelligence in the form of rocket parts that fell into the Yellow Sea.

Entire sections of booster rocket were snagged by South Koreas navy and then scrutinized by international weapons experts for clues about the state of North Koreas missile program. Along with motor parts and wiring, investigators discerned a pattern. Many key components were foreign-made, acquired from businesses based in China.

The trove demonstrates the continuing critical importance of high-end, foreign-sourced components in building the missiles North Korea uses to threaten its neighbors, a U.N. expert team concluded in a report released last month. When U.N. officials contacted the implicated Chinese firms to ask about the parts, the report said, they received only silence.

Chinas complex relationship with North Korea was a key topic during last weeks U.S. visit by President Xi Jinping, as Trump administration officials urged Chinese counterparts to apply more pressure on Pyongyang to halt its work on nuclear weapons and long-range delivery systems. Yet, despite Chinas public efforts to rein in North Koreas provocative behavior, Chinese companies continue to act as enablers, supplying the isolated communist regime with technology and hardware that allow its missiles to take flight, according to current and former U.S. and U.N. officials and independent weapons experts.

(Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

The private assistance has included sensitive software and other items specifically banned for export to North Korea under U.N. Security Council sanctions, the officials and experts said.

China has officially denied that such illegal exports exist, but investigations show restricted products were shipped privately to North Korea as recently as 18 months ago. Still unclear, analysts said, is whether the Chinese government tacitly approved of the exports or is simply unable or unwilling to police the thousands of Chinese companies that account for more than 80 percent of all foreign goods imported by North Korea each year.

Theres all kinds of slack in the system, said Joshua Pollack, a former consultant to U.S. government agencies on arms control and a senior research associate with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. It could be that the Chinese dont care enough to do much about it. A second possibility is that they dont have the systems  such as strong export controls  in place. Or that its just corruption.

[Will North Korea fire a missile that can hit the U. S.? Probably]

Whatever the reason, experts say, the flow of products through China has allowed North Koreas missile engineers to achieve progress that would otherwise be difficult for an impoverished regime that is cut off from the West and lacks a sophisticated microelectronics industry.

When confronted privately about such exports, Chinese officials have typically demanded high levels of proof  specific names and dates that can be difficult to derive from water-damaged rocket parts pulled from the ocean, said an Obama administration nonproliferation official involved in sensitive negotiations with China over its relations with North Korea.

Theyd say, give us details, but in most cases we could never say it was this precise person on this precise day,  said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in describing diplomatic negotiations. With them, it was never a team sport. It was always just the bare minimum of what they had to do in order to avoid having to take serious action.

The Unha-3, the rocket that launched North Koreas Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite into orbit on Feb. 7, 2016, was among the most powerful ever built by Kim Jong Uns government. It is also the most worrisome. U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials have long believed that the three-stage, 100-foot-tall rocket was designed as a forerunner for a future nuclear-tipped space vehicle that could allow North Korea to threaten cities as far away as Washington.

Mindful that spy agencies would seek to recover spent parts after the launch, North Korean engineers laced the rocket with explosives so that each stage would self-destruct while hurtling back to Earth. Still, South Korean navy ships were waiting to scoop up any parts that survived, eventually harvesting enough components to allow a crude reconstruction of the entire rocket.

Investigators determined that the Unha-3s frame was indigenously made. But inside the rockets shell was an array of electronics, including specialized pressure sensors, transmitters and circuitry. An extensive probe by U.S. and South Korean officials revealed that many of the components had been manufactured in Western countries and shipped to North Korea by Chinese distributors  a finding that was echoed in the United Nations Panel of Experts report made public on March 9.

[Satellite photos suggest another n-test is imminent.]

The report, which received scant attention outside the world body, described elaborate systems for disguising technology exports intended for North Korea. Some schemes involved Chinese front companies created by North Korean intelligence agencies; others were run through banks created as joint ventures by Pyongyang and foreign partners, including Chinese financial institutions. As sanctions grew tougher, the sanction-busters simply learned new tricks for getting around the rules, the panels investigators found.

The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is flouting sanctions through trade in prohibited goods, with evasion techniques that are increasing in scale, scope and sophistication, the eight-member panel concluded. International resolve for approving new sanctions had not yet been matched, the report said, by the requisite political will, prioritization and resource allocation to ensure effective implementation.

Some of the banned components exported to North Korea cant be found inside a missile frame. A separate report by U.S. weapons experts reveals how Pyongyang used Chinese middlemen to obtain access to European-made software essential for making parts that go inside advanced rockets.

The report recounts a 2015 business deal in which a European manufacturer agreed to sell sensitive software and industrial-control systems to a Chinese company based in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, about 150 miles from the North Korean border. The deal came with an important condition: None of the items were to be resold to North Korea.

The agreement was quickly broken, according to the report by the Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington nonprofit agency that focuses on nuclear-weapons proliferation. The purchaser, a manufacturing giant in northeastern China known as the Shenyang Machine Tool Co. Ltd., integrated the European technology in its own line of industrial milling machines used to make metal parts. Two of those machines were then sold to North Korea, the report said. While North Koreas eventual use of the machines is not known, the controllers and software are used elsewhere to manufacture parts for missiles as well as centrifuges used to make enriched uranium.

These goods were supplied to Shenyang Machine Tools under the condition that they would not be retransferred to North Korea or other sanctioned states, said the report, set to be released this week. European officials decided to investigate the responsible individuals in the Shenyang company but this effort failed, the document said. Shenyang officials would later claim that the transfer of sensitive technology had been inadvertent, the report said.

David Albright, author of the report and a former U.N. weapons inspector, declined to identify the European manufacturer or the government that conducted the investigation, citing confidentiality agreements. The Shenyang firm did not respond to emailed requests from The Washington Post seeking comment.

Albright, the author of dozens of technical studies on North Koreas weapons programs, noted that China has made a show of prosecuting other businesses that violate sanctions on trading with North Korea. But he said the Shenyang case illustrates that illicit trade continues, often under complex schemes that are difficult even for Chinese authorities to spot.

[Navy sends strike group toward Korean Peninsula]

But he argued that the Chinese could do much more.

Its a question of priorities, said Albright, who has discussed such cases with Chinese officials. China is an export economy, and money is never a dirty word, ever. There are good people in the system who would like to do more, but as you work your way down through the bureaucracy, the interest goes way down.

There are signs that Beijing is beginning to tighten the screws. In September, Chinese authorities arrested at least 11 business executives in the border city of Dandong for allegedly selling banned goods to North Korea. Among those arrested was Ma Xiaohong, the 44-year-old founder and chairwoman of Hongxiang Group, a company accused by U.S. officials of supplying Pyongyang with rare metals and chemicals used in nuclear-weapons production. China also recently curtailed coal imports from North Korea and imposed unilateral sanctions intended to pressure Kim Jong Un into halting further nuclear tests.

In public comments after the Ma arrest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said his country would be relentless in enforcing sanctions aimed at ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons.

These efforts are there for all to see, Lu said.

During last weeks presidential visit, Trump administration officials urged President Xi to do still more. At a news conference on Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on China to join in a new strategy to end North Koreas reckless behavior.

The same message has been delivered privately as part of a pressure campaign that dates at least to the early years of the Obama administration. In meetings, U.S. officials have warned that a failure to halt the illicit trade could speed up Kim Jong Uns nuclear timetable and increase the risk of a regional war  one that could devastate regional economies and send waves of refugees streaming across Chinas border  an outcome Chinese leaders are particularly anxious to avoid, according to a recently retired U.S. diplomat and veteran of numerous rounds of such talks.

China may be willing to close its eyes to some things, the diplomat said, but theyre not prepared to welcome North Korea as a nuclear-weapons state.

Read more:

North Korea says Syria strikes prove its nuclear program is justified

Opinion: Responsible nuclear negotiations havent yet been tried

Tillerson: All options on the table for North Korea
The rift between the United States and Russia was laid bare Wednesday when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held his first direct talks with Russias president. Their discussions failed to ease deepening tensions over Syria and Washingtons demands that Moscow abandon its main Middle East ally.

There is a low level of trust between our countries, Tillerson said in a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The worlds two primary nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship.

Wednesdays meeting brought no indication that the relationship would improve any time soon.

After Tillerson spent three hours talking with Lavrov and almost two hours at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov, sitting three feet from Tillerson, aired a long list of grievances with the United States, some dating back many years.

Unfortunately, weve got some differences with regards to a majority of those issues, Lavrov lamented.

[Tillerson brings tough line to Moscow]

The only concession that Tillerson appeared to have extracted from the Russians was that Putin offered to restore a hotline aimed at avoiding accidents in the air over Syria. Russia had suspended that effort after U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base following an April 4 chemical weapons attack on a village in rebel territory. Even this tiny success was conditional; Lavrov said the deal would apply only if the United States and its allies targeted terrorists  not Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces.

Hopes may never have been high, especially after Russia sounded a defiant note before Tillerson arrived in Moscow. But if this was the chance to find common ground before the Trump administration attempts any new action on Syria, it has ended in failure.

The Russians used Tillersons visit as a chance to reassert Moscows firm stance on Syria: that it will not abide by any effort to remove Assad from power.

Russia effectively hid from public view the hit that the Kremlin took to its standing in the region because of the chemical weapons attack, presumably by Assad. Just two weeks ago, Russia was in the drivers seat in Syria, as the lead military and diplomatic player in a peace process involving Turkey, Iran, the Kurds and rebel groups, all orchestrated by Putin. The most important part of this was that the United States was not getting in the way.

In an instant last week, when more than 50 Tomahawk missiles came crashing down around a Syrian air base, that all changed, and since then, the Kremlin has been fighting a rearguard action aimed at dulling the Trump administrations ultimatum that Russia must change sides or else.

Everything Putin did appeared aimed at minimizing the effect of Tillersons visit. He and his officials dismissed U.S. evidence that Assad had carried out the attack, and then Putin added a bombshell prediction of his own: Unnamed forces were going to carry out more chemical weapons attacks and blame them on Assad.

1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Tillerson travels to Moscow for talks with Russian government officials View Photos In the first visit by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia, the secretary of state met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Caption In the first visit by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia, the secretary of state met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin. April 11, 2017 Secretary of State Rex Tillerson disembarks from his plane at the Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. U.S. Department Of State/via European Pressphoto Agency Wait 1 second to continue.

[Trump administration unveils intelligence discrediting Russias claims ]

Tillerson reiterated the U.S. belief that Assad ordered the attack, though he stepped back from the U.S. charge that Russia was covering up Assads culpability.

With respect to Russias complicity or knowledge of the chemical weapons attack, we have no firm information to indicate that there was any involvement by Russia, Russian forces into this attack, he said. What we do know, and we have very firm and high confidence in our conclusions, is the attack was planned and carried out by regime forces at the direction of Bashar al-Assad.

Lavrov had a ready retort: This is obviously the subject where our views differ.

Lavrov called the evidence cited by Tillerson hypothetical and demanded that the United Nations investigate. Soon afterward, however, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an investigation.

There were only a handful of issues Tillerson and Lavrov said they broadly agreed on  that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized, that Syria should be unified and stable after the Islamic State is defeated, and that there should be more communication between U.S. and Russian diplomats and militaries. Tillerson said both nations would set up a working group to seek ways to ease tensions.

On most issues  the chemical attack and Assad, Russias support for separatists fueling conflict in Ukraine, and Russian interference in the U.S. election chief among them  the diplomats offered different explanations and facts.

There were many times when it must not have been easy to be secretary of state Wednesday.

Lavrov seemed to delight in recalling U.S. attempts to oust dictators in Sudan and Libya. He mocked NATOs military incursion in Kosovo in 1999. He gleefully recalled the nonexistent weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Saddam Husseins Iraq. A Russian reporter reminded him that President Trump called Assad an animal and that White House spokesman Sean Spicer had to apologize for his inept and inaccurate comparison of Assad and Hitler.

Trump himself seemed to deliver the coup de grace. Shortly after Tillerson and Lavrov finished speaking to reporters, Trump said in a news conference that the United States is not getting along with Russia at all and that their relations are at an all-time low.

That sounded like something both Lavrov and Tillerson agreed with.

Read more:

While the U.S. wasnt looking, Russia and Iran began carving out a bigger role in Afghanistan

The Soviet Union fought the Cold War in Nicaragua. Now Putins Russia is back.

Its now illegal in Russia to share an image of Putin as a gay clown

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Canadas Liberal government, having given its full support to last weeks illegal US missile strikes on Syria, is now providing strong backing to the Trump administrations moves to escalate military conflict in the Middle East and pursue confrontation with Russiaa course that could rapidly lead to a clash between the worlds two biggest nuclear powers.

Since Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland have joined Trump officials in insisting that there can be no end to the war in Syria until President Bashar al-Assads regime is replaced by one more pliant to Western interests and have called for new measures targeting Russia unless it abandons its longstanding Syrian ally.

Speaking Monday, Trudeau called for the Assad regime to be held to account for the April 4 chemical weapons attack in the village of Khan Cheikhoun. Just hours before US cruise missiles struck the Syrian air base at Shayrat Syrain, Trudeau was insisting that the events in Khan Cheikhoun required international investigation. But since the US staged its illegal attack, Trudeau has joined Trump and other Western leaders in proclaiming Damascus guilty of a war crime without providing a shred of evidence, and all the while suppressing the fact that Syrian opposition groups, including the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, possess and have used chemical weapons.

In his Monday remarks, Trudeau also lashed out against Russia. I think Russia needs to be aware, made aware of its responsibility in the bloody actions last week by the Assad regime, said Canadas prime minister. He then went on to echo calls from Britains Conservative government and the Trump administration for Russia to be punished for its support for Assad, saying that Canada was open to working with its friends, allies, and partners allies to send clear messages through sanctions and other means to Russia.

Foreign Minister Freeland has been no less belligerent. She urged the G7 foreign ministers who met in Lucca, Italy, this Monday and Tuesday to back US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in delivering Moscow an ultimatum, saying that Russia needs to know that he arrives in Moscow with the G7s support.

Russia needs to decide, declared Freeland Tuesday, whether it wants to double down on its support for this murderous regime that is committing war crimes or whether it wants to say: We do not want to be associated with this.

Freeland has a well-deserved reputation as an anti-Russia hawk. Her appointment as Foreign Minister last Januaryeven as the Trudeau government was otherwise going to great lengths to demonstrate its eagerness to work closely with the Trump administrationunderscored the Liberals strong support for the push-back from the US military-intelligence apparatus and the Democratic Party to Trumps plans to seek a temporary accommodation with Moscow, so as to focus on confrontation with China.

For months, the US media, the Democratic Party, and a section of the Republicans led by Senator John McCain have supported this push-back through a neo-McCarthyite campaign, revolving around utterly unsubstantiated claims that Trump is a sap of Russian President Vladimir Putin and that Russia intervened in the US election to torpedo Hillary Clintons campaign.

The Canadian media and political establishment have been fully on board with this campaign, which has now subsided because its primary objective, pressing Trump to continue and intensify the US military-strategic offensive against Russia, appears to have succeeded.

Canada has been at the forefront of US-led provocations against Russia since the Western-orchestrated coup in Ukraine in February 2014, which brought a pro-Western, far-right government to power in Kiev. The Conservative government sent 200 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) troops to Ukraine to train the countrys army and national guard, and deployed fighter jets, ships and soldiers to eastern Europe and the Baltic states as part of NATOs aggressive military encirclement of Russia.

This policy has been continued under Trudeau and his Liberals. Canadian troops will soon deploy to Latvia, where they will lead one of NATOs four new forward battalions deployed on Russias borders in Poland and the Baltic states. Last month, Defence Minster Harjit Sajjan announced a two-year extension of the CAFs Ukraine mission, which, according to Trudeau, is training Ukrainian forces to liberate eastern Ukraine from pro-Russian separatists.

The Canadian ruling elite is firmly opposed to any accommodation with Russia, which it views as a major economic and geopolitical rival. Canadas energy sector has long hoped to challenge Russian dominance of the European oil and gas markets. The military-intelligence establishment, meanwhile, is stridently opposed to any strengthening of Moscows presence in the Arctic, where Ottawa and Moscow have competing territorial claims, or in the oil-rich Middle East.

In 2016, the Liberal government expanded Ottawas involvement in the Mideast war in Iraq. Canadian Special Forces, which initially were training Kurdish militia, are now active providing frontline advice and assistance to these forces as they join in the battle for Mosul, a brutal onslaught that has claimed thousands of civilian lives. The Liberals extended the Iraq mission at the end of March for a further three months and pledged to present a long-term plan for the presence of Canadian forces in Iraqand now possibly Syriaby June.

The implications of Trudeaus embrace of the Trump administrations war drive were made even clearer by the fact that he issued his attack on supposed Russian complicity in war-crimes during a trip to France to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. In April 1917, more than 10,000 Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded in the process of capturing a strategically insignificant position from the Germans on the Western Front. Nonetheless, the battle has been mythologized by the nationalist right as the moment Canada emerged as an independent nation. Over the last two decades in particular, right-wing Conservatives like former Prime Minister Stephen Harper have used Vimy to rebrand Canada as a warrior nation committed to aggressive military interventions, putting paid to the mythwhich they viewed as an encumbrancethat the CAF has a peacekeeping vocation.

In his remarks at a commemoration ceremony Sunday, Trudeau essentially adopted this right-wing, militarist narrative, declaring that those who fought at Vimy made their country in its beginnings and helped to shape Canada as a democratic nation committed to peace.

He also took up a theme addressed by Harper in a 2014 speech marking the centenary of the outbreak of World War One by noting that Canadian war sacrificesincluding the slaughter of teenage soldiershad ensured its emergence as an imperialist power. Trudeau stated that the fighting at Vimy and on the Western Front ensured that Canada had an independent seat at the negotiations of the Treaty of Versaillesi.e., a place at the table where the imperialist victors divvied up the spoils of war.

Like last weeks US military strikes, the Liberal governments provocative anti-Syrian and anti-Russian statements have been almost universally supported by the media and political establishment, although the Conservatives continue to criticize the Liberals for being weak.

The NDP, Canadas social democrats, failed to condemn the unilateral and illegal US air strike on the al-Shayrat air base, claiming that it was unclear where this act of war would lead. Predictably, it has fully accepted the US claims that the chemical weapons attack was mounted by Assad, declaring in an April 7 statement that he must be held accountable for these crimes. Needless to say, the NDP statement made no mention of the ruinous, illegal wars that the US, with Canadas support, has waged across the Middle East during the past quarter-century.

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[18 March 2017]
Tuesday marked another major escalation in the Trump administrations attack on immigrants. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaking in the border town of Nogales, Arizona, threatened: 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.

The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws, and the catch and release practices of old are over.

The selection of Nogales for Sessionss fascistic speech has historic significance. The small town of 20,000 was the center of the 1918 massacre provoked by US border agents who threatened to kill a Mexican carpenter legally crossing into the US. In the altercation that followed, US soldiers killed more than 100 Mexican civilians, including the mayor of Nogales, Sonora, and participants of the ongoing Mexican revolution.

Sessionss speech coincided with the publication of a new memorandum outlining new mechanisms for criminally prosecuting immigrants and anyone who attempts to protect them from deportation.

The memorandum calls for prosecuting peopleimmigrant and non-immigrant alikewho commit unlawful transportation or harboring of aliens. The memo cites a statute that makes it illegal to shield [immigrants] from detection.

While the statute targets coyotes who bring immigrants across the border, it also punishes parents who bring their children, as well as individuals who attempt to protect immigrants from detection. Under the statute, those who aid or shield immigrants face a possible five-year prison sentence.

The memo also directs federal prosecutors to press felony charges against immigrants who re-enter the US after a prior deportation, who commit identity fraud or who enter into marriages that are fraudulent. Immigrants are often forced to acquire false Social Security numbers in order to gain employment, and immigration officials regularly claim bona-fide marriages are fraudulent, forcing couples to submit personal photos and love letters and spying on their homes and neighbors.

Tuesdays memo directs each prosecutors office along the border to assign a designated Border Security Coordinator in charge of the investigation and prosecution of the offenses listed above. These officers are also responsible for coordinating with local police to carry out raids of workplaces and homes.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that several California police departments are using policing manuals that direct police to target people they suspect of lacking immigration papers. The manual states that a lack of English proficiency may be considered as a factor in establishing reasonable suspicion that a person has committed a crime. The manuals, produced by the corporation Lexipol, are used by the cities of Blythe, Azusa, Brisbane, Culver City, Fontana, Fremont, Laguna Beach, Murrieta, Rialto, and Walnut Creek.

Local police are not the only agencies engaged in collaboration with Trump immigration officials. According to e-mails revealed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles turned over undocumented people applying for licenses to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In particular, the department turned over information of applicants for a special driver identification card intended for non-citizens. Roughly 50,000 immigrants have driver identification cards in Vermont.

The Trump administration has also hired policy advisors from the ultra-right-wing Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) to lead the immigration round-up.

FAIR was founded by the white supremacist and eugenicist John Tanton, and its leaders have said Mexicans want to turn California into a third world cesspool.

ICE recently hired former CIS representative John Feere to serve as advisor to ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan.

Feere recently tweeted that many pro-illegal immigration people simply hate Americans and has promoted the work of the fascist white supremacist web site Vdare and the Holocaust-denying anti-Semitic American Free Press. Freese advocates repealing birthright citizenship for US-born children of immigrants. CIS has called immigrants third world gold diggers.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also recently hired Julie Kirchner, former FAIR executive director, as advisor to CBP acting commissioner Kevin McAleenan. Kirchners work has been widely cited by Breitbart. In 2016, she falsely claimed, hundreds of foreign born terrorists have been apprehended in the United States alone.

Responding to the appointments, Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center said, We take these designations very seriously, and CIS and FAIR are far-right fringe groups that regularly publish racist, xenophobic material and spread misinformation about immigrants and immigration.

The Democratic Party has dropped opposition to Trumps attack on immigrants, focusing entirely on forcing Trump to carry out a pivot in geopolitical strategy aimed against Russia. The war atmosphere whipped up by the Democrats will only intensify the nationalist anti-immigrant climate.
Two accidents claimed the lives of coal miners in the central coalfields region of Appalachia, bringing to five the total number of coal miners killed on the job in 2017. Joseph W. Partin of Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Dennis Fillinger of Harts, West Virginia, were both killed by rock falls.

Partin, 33, was an auger operator at the Green Hill Mining Companys surface mine #51 in Whitley County, Kentucky. On March 30, according to the preliminary report from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Partin was changing worn cutter head bits at the front of the Salem Multi-head auger machine when he was struck by a rock approximately 4 feet by 5 feet by 30 inches that fell from the bottom section of the highwall. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Partin had eight years experience in mining.

As with the three other fatal accidents so far in 2017, Partins death came as he worked in relative isolation. Only one other employee was at the mine at the time of the accident, which occurred around 2:09 a.m., according to MSHA. The Green Hill Mine #51 employs only five miners in total.

Fillinger, 62, was a section foreman at the underground C K Coal Corporations Mine No. 5 in Mingo County in southern West Virginia. On February 23, Fillinger was struck by a piece of rock approximately 3 feet wide by 2 feet long by 3 to 4 inches thick, MSHA reports. He was administered first aid and then transported to a local medical center, where he remained hospitalized until succumbing to his injuries April 6. Fillinger had 38 years total experience in coal mining, but had worked only 10 weeks at the C K Coal operation.

Every fatal accident since the start of the year has occurred at coal mines in West Virginia or eastern Kentucky. This area, once a center for mining in the US and internationally, has seen output decimated by the collapse in global demand for metallurgical coal, competition from natural gas, which surpassed coal as the chief source of domestic electrical power generation in 2015, and the geological depletion of the narrow coal seams of the region.

The coal companies have laid off tens of thousands of miners and used the bankruptcy courts to escape health care and pension obligations, while relying on the pro-company United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to suppress opposition.

The current number of coal mining jobs in West Virginia and Kentucky has dwindled to a few thousand. In eastern Kentucky, only 3,742 coal miners remaindown from 14,373 in 2010. Between 1971 and 1988, Kentucky was the countrys largest coal-producing state, and the second largest until 1994. Since 2000, state data shows, quarterly coal production has plummeted from 35 million tons to just over 10 million tons. In 2016 alone, coal production fell by more than 40 percent.

The West Virginia State Office of Miners Health Safety and Training reports as of March, 12,649 miners are working at 99 mines in the state. Since 2009, the mining workforce has fallen by about 8,000, and those who remain on the job face more-dangerous working conditions, ramped-up production demands, and the constant threat of furlough or mine closure. Since January 31, state data records 598 accidents at mining sites.

While politicians, the media, and the operators have in the past paid lip service to the tragedies befalling miners families and their communities, coal mine fatalities are treated largely as a cost of doing business. When accidents kill, the victims are portrayed as stoic figures, aware of the dangers of their industry, dying doing what they love. In the meantime, the coal bossesincluding Trumps new commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, the former owner of the deadly Sago Mine, where 12 West Virginia miners were killed in 2006literally get away with murder.

Former mining communities have collapsed into poverty, mass unemployment, and social despair. It is not a coincidence that the areas hardest hit by the decline in coal voted in the highest percentages for Trump, who campaigned on promises to revitalize the American coal industry by putting an end to the war on coala canard used by the right-wing to blame the most tepid regulations for the historic decline in the industry.

As the World Socialist Web Site has reported, some 22,600 retirees and widows face having benefits cut off April 30, after Patriot Coala spinoff of Peabody Coal, the worlds largest private coal companyfiled for bankruptcy. Miners are also being hit by a sharp rise in the deadliest form of black lung disease.

On March 28, President Trump signed an executive order for energy independence to further roll back safety and environmental regulations on the energy sector. In introducing the order, Trump said it called for the immediate reevaluation of the so-called Clean Power Plan; lifting the ban on federal leasing for coal production; lifting job-killing restrictions on the production of oil, natural gas, clean coal, and shale energy; and returning power to the states (see Trump launches pollution deregulation offensive).

In both West Virginia and Kentucky, state governments are moving in tandem with the Trump administration to gut already weak regulations in safety, health, and environmental oversight. This will ensure that there are even more deaths and environmental catastrophes.

The West Virginia legislature last month introduced a bill that would strip state safety inspectors of their inspection authority and instead mandate them only to conduct compliance visits and education. Regulators would likewise be unable to issue citations and fines for health and safety violations. An updated version presented as a compromise backs off on some of the most sweeping changes to regulatory agencies but guts the states Department of Environmental Protection definition of a healthy stream, essentially giving coal companies a pass to destroy water quality. A separate bill, signed by Democratic governor and coal executive Jim Justice April 11, allows for increased industrial and mining pollution discharges into rivers and streams.

In Kentucky, the state Senate approved a House bill to reduce coal mine inspections and replace some safety inspections with mine safety analysis visits. The bill also reduces electrical inspections of mines from a mere two per year to one.

Inspectors would base their analyses on interviews with coal miners, a measure that shifts the focus of inspections from operator safety protocol to the behavior of individual miners. In a statement to WYMT news, Kentucky Coal Association President Tyler White defended the change, declaring, Why just look at conditions when we know behavior is a major player in preventing mine accidents?

The shift will put more pressure on coal miners who are already facing the threat of losing their jobs for reporting safety hazards or demanding better working conditions in the mines. It also sets the stage to put further blame on the workers themselves in the event of accidents or safety violations, sheltering the operator and executives responsible.

The UMWA, which quietly vacated the state with the closure of the last union mine in Kentucky in 2015, has nothing to offer coal miners who will bear the brunt of these dangerous policies. In fact, the UMWA has rallied behind the loosening of regulations from the Trump administration and sought to sow fresh illusions in the prospects for a coal revival. While the UMWA has been muted on the state-level attacks on regulations, in part because of their appallingly pro-business character and consequent unpopularity in mining communities, the union proudly announces on its web site that it led the fight against a series of regulations coming out of Washington that threaten jobs in the coal industry and other industries that depend on coal.
Five hours of talks Wednesday between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and both Russias President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left relations between the two major nuclear powers at what both sides described as a low point.

Tillerson was sent to Moscow in the wake of last weeks US airstrike against a Syrian airbase to deliver what was effectively an American ultimatum to the Putin government to cease its support for the government of President Bashar al-Assad and accept Washingtons demand for regime change.

In a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart after the talks, Tillerson repeated Washingtons claim, which is unsubstantiated by any objectively verifiable evidence, that the Syrian government was responsible for an alleged April chemical weapons attack that provided the pretext for the US military launching 59 cruise missiles less than three days later that killed 15 Syrians, most of them civilians.

The recent chemical weapons attack was planned and executed by Syrian government forces, Tillerson said. We are quite confident about that.

The Russian foreign minister, however, insisted that Russia had been presented with no proof of the US allegation and warned against any repetition of the American airstrike, which he described as a violation of international law. He said that Moscow rejected any false choice, such as you are either with us or against us.

Lavrov also voiced Moscows belief that Washington is giving support to the Syrian Al Qaeda affiliate, which is the dominant force in the area where the alleged chemical weapons incident occurred in Idlib province. We have a persistent suspicion, which no one has yet been able to dispel, that Nusra is still being guarded in order to use Plan B at some point and try to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad by force, he stated.

The strength of Al Nusra and similar Islamist militias employed as proxy forces in the Western-orchestrated war for regime change in Syria has been so diminished by a Russian and Iranian-backed government offensive, however, that any such Plan B would require a major US military intervention, posing the direct threat of a military confrontation with Russia and Iran.

Lavrov acknowledged that the discussions Wednesday centered on the US demand for regime change in Syria. We discussed Assad today, he said. I dont remember any positive examples of how a dictator was overthrown and everything was just fine afterwards. He went on to review the catastrophic consequences of US interventions from Yugoslavia to Iraq and Libya.

Earlier on Wednesday, both the US and Russian presidents made statements that reflected the continuously increasing tensions. In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump described Assad as an evil man and an animal, warning that the Putin governments support for the Syrian government was very bad for Russia.

And, in an interview broadcast on Russian television, Putin said that relations between the US and Russia were now worse than even under the Obama administration. The level of trust at the working level, especially at the military level, has not improved, but most likely has been degraded, he said.

Putin dismissed US charges against the Syrian government over chemical weapons, insisting that the Assad government had destroyed its chemical stockpiles following a 2013 agreement brokered by Moscow with the Obama administration. He said that the most likely explanation for the April 4 incident was either that a Syrian airstrike hit a chemical weapons depot of the Western-backed Islamist rebels, or that the incident was staged to create a pretext for attack. The day before, Putin said that Russia had intelligence that further such provocations were in the works with the aim of justifying more airstrikes.

Putin met with Tillerson Wednesday afternoon, after speculation that the Russian president would snub the US Secretary of State to demonstrate Moscows anger over the Syrian attack. It was not the first meeting between the two. Putin awarded Tillerson Russias medal of friendship in 2012, when the then-ExxonMobil executive signed deals with the state-owned Russian oil company Rosneft to exploit Russias natural resources to the joint benefit of American capital and Russias ruling oligarchy. The conflict ignited by the US-backed right-wing coup in Ukraine placed the deals on hold.

The one concrete result of the discussions in Moscow was the announcement that Putin had raised the prospect of reestablishing a deconfliction hotline between US and Russian military forces operating in Syria. Moscow announced the suspension of the arrangement, designed to prevent unintended clashes between US and Russian warplanes carrying out airstrikes there, following the US cruise missile strike.

In the joint press conference following the day-long discussions, Tillerson gave a faint indication of the dire implications of the rising tensions between Washington and Moscow. There is a low level of trust between our two countries, he said. The worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship. In other words, a conflict in Syria spiraling out of control could lead to a nuclear conflagration.

Following the discussions in Moscow, Russia vetoed a resolution submitted to the United Nations Security Council by the US, Britain and France ostensibly supporting an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the alleged chemical weapons attack, but in language clearly indicting the Syrian government. Russia was joined by Bolivia in voting against the measure, supported by 10 members of the council. Three others, including China, abstained.

In the course of the Security Council debate, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Russia that you are isolating yourselves from the international community by backing the Assad government.

Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov condemned the US and its allies for indicting the Syrian regime without presenting any evidence. Im amazed that this was the conclusion, he said. No one has visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?

Syrias UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari, meanwhile, said that his government had presented extensive evidence to the Security Council exposing the use of chemical weapons by the so-called rebels.

Two liters of sarin were transported from Libya through Turkey to terrorist groups into Syria, he said, adding that the Damascus government no longer has chemical weapons.

In Washington on Wednesday, Trump further escalated US pressure on Moscow, holding a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in which he hailed the ratification of membership in the alliance for the former Yugoslav republic of Montenegro, and publicly embraced the US-led military alliance which as a presidential candidate he had described as obsolete.

I said it was obsolete; its no longer obsolete, Trump told the media, reflecting the sharp shift in the administrations policy toward confrontation with Russia.

Stoltenberg praised the alliance for deploying four battalions of troops on Russias doorstep in the Baltics and Poland, including US forces.

Meanwhile, Russia announced the dispatch to the eastern Mediterranean of elements of its Baltic fleet, including the Admiral Grigorovich, a cruise-missile-armed frigate, and two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, also capable of firing long-range cruise missiles. They will join six other Russian warships and support vessels already deployed in waters off Syria.
Malala is 'humbled' by honorary Canadian citizenship

Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai says she is "humbled" to become the sixth person to receive an honorary Canadian citizenship.
Public school teachers in Victoria have denounced the in-principle agreement proposed last month between the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the state Labor government. The deal is the latest in a series of trade union sell-outs that deepen the assault on public education.

As the World Socialist Web Site noted in its analysis, the agreement, which imposes an effective one-year wage freeze, does nothing to address enormous workloads imposed on teachers, the proliferation of insecure contract positions or the conditions of highly underpaid Education Support (ES) staff. Teacher performance monitoring, which is tied to the standardised NAPLAN testing regime introduced under the former federal Labor government, will intensify.

The AEU has sought to suppress debate on the sell-out, while falsely claiming it constitutes a victory for teachers. The agreement was released about a week before the term break in order to obstruct discussion among teachers and, unlike previous deals, it was finalised without any mass meeting or industrial action.

Determined to prevent any discussion, the AEU has deleted posts to its Facebook page exposing the sellout and linking to the World Socialist Web Sites examination of the agreement.

Despite this, many teachers have posted comments angrily rejecting the unions claims that the creation of four student-free Professional Practise Days per year represents a workload reduction. These days, which can be used only for tasks approved by the school principal, are an insult to the thousands of teachers who work an average 15 hours of unpaid overtime every week. Teachers also disputed the unions claim that contract teachers will be offered greater security.

On Facebook, one teacher declared: What disappoints me the most is that the union always exaggerates the positives within the proposed agreements Ive [witnessed]. The fine print reveals the true details, and its a letdown. Probably a no here. Now, back to work at 8.30pm, part of a still unaddressed workloaddespite what has been suggested. And still being on a contract, year after year, something that this agreement wont changedespite what has been suggested.

Another added: Yep. Bulls--t. Read the actual point in the agreement. The school admin can make us do [professional development], peer observation, all the other crap that takes us away from our core business. This is not reducing our workload! Screwed again by this hopeless union. Im out. The $700 a year AEU fees can pay for some massages to keep me sane as a teacher with a crap union.

I think we get conned every time, said a third teacher. I think workload reduction is a load of bulls--t along with the pay increases. If you keep giving us every damn social issue to fix no wonder we are exhausted... The other shocker is the amount for [casual relief teacher] pay. I will be voting NO as well.

Another teacher commented on the AEUs Facebook page: Reading through the agreement it doesnt appear to reduce workload, only reduced face-to-face teaching time would do that, which isnt provided for. The [Professional Practise] Days are very much at the mercy of the Principal.

Other teachers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site.

Amanda, a primary teacher of 17 years, said: I have read the agreement and I cant see anything that alleviates our workload... We need more staff in schools, more teachers, more support staffits that simple.

The government keeps cutting back support staff and everything is falling back on the classroom teachers. In the past, we had support from psychologists, speech therapists and support teachers. Ive contacted the union about these problems and they said they were not able to deal with that. Theyre not giving us any support on this.

She added: The decision to have no mass meetings seems to me that they dont want people to carefully think the deal throughthat the union is in cahoots with the government. They sign-off on an in-principle agreement, but what about our right to fight for more? Why are we accepting the governments deal?

I think the ongoing process of just going to delegates meetings is appalling. I think teachers need to read and carefully discuss what is in the agreement. When I first heard about the in-principle agreement I looked straight away on the unions Facebook page and some people were saying how great it was. Im not sure how they could say that when we hadnt even got the agreement. I think the wool is being pulled over our eyes.

The deal seems good for the government. It has saved money and the union seems to have made some gains too. I read that union reps at the schools on the local consultative committee get 16-hours time release per year, but what about time release for teachers? We dont get anything.

Since NAPLAN all we seem to be following is standardised testing, like in Britain and the US. Its harming our children. Some teachers are being forced to teach to the test, narrowing the curriculum. The emphasis is on English and Maths and not on developing the whole child.

Rob, a secondary teacher, said: The government has a good deal. They didnt give us much money or lower our teaching time. I have an enormous workload with four VCE [Victorian Certificate of Education] classes. I have a pile of SACs [School Assessed Coursework] to mark each weekend. I spend about 4 to 5 hours per weekend and on holidays at least 8 hours. The day off will result in more work. If I had time off to do moderation that would be worthwhile.

Ill be voting no. Ive voted against all the recent agreements, as have all our delegates from my school, but the vote seems to come out for the agreement at the delegates meeting.

Two education support staff in high schools, Jessie and Asa, opposed the super-exploitative conditions for ES workers.

Jessie said: I havent seen any changes in my conditions for the last five to six years. I feel that we work so hard and never get any recognition, either financially or in any other manner. There are some instances where we have to deal with autism combined with anger issues. We can be placed in physically dangerous situations...

Im on the top of my scale and my wage is $600 per week. I cant support my family on that. I have to work two jobs. I work 30 hours per week at school and I work a 10-hour shift during the week to supplement my wage. The AEU is useless. They dont act on anything. The only time I see them is to pay their dues.

Asa said: One of the things that concerns me is contracts, but its not in the agreement. Everyone says that you can only have three contracts, but what happens after that? Im on my second one-year contract after June.

Erin described the conditions for young teachers like herself, many of whom are forced to work on insecure contracts.

This is my fifth year as a teacher, she explained. Ive done three years as an emergency teacher at one school, starting in 2013, and this is my second year full-time there. One third of the teaching force at my school are on contracts. This year I stay til about 6. 30 p.m. most nights, an average of 5060 hours a week.

I cried at school sometimes. Last year, I wanted to quit teaching. I was so incredibly anxious for most of the year. I felt really incompetent, because I felt I couldnt stay on top of the workload... I would stay back at work till 8 p.m. most weeknights and sometimes until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. When I was at school I would be taking care of those extra Roles and Responsibilities or planning and assessing.

The Socialist Equality Party is calling for a no vote to the AEU deal. This must be the starting point for a broader fightmobilising teachers and other sections of the working class nationallyto defend public education, along with other social rights of the working class.

This struggle requires a break from the union, which has worked to subordinate teachers to the Labor Party and its reactionary standardised testing and education reform agenda. Genuinely representative rank-and-file committees must be formed at every school to take forward this struggle.

The critical issue is building a new leadership in the working class that will fight for a workers government based on socialist policies, including high-quality, free public education at all levels.

We urge teachers to contact us to discuss how this struggle can be taken forward.
Health inspectors found a few problems at the private club. (Photo: Maralago.com)

Donald Trumps private Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, has been in the news lately, as the president hosts various foreign dignitaries at the estate. But just days before Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, restaurant inspectors cited the club for a host of food violations, including dangerous handling of raw fish and meats stored at temperatures that were too high.

According to the Miami Herald, inspectors cited the swanky clubs kitchen for 13 violations. Three of the violations were listed as high priority because they posed a risk of infecting diners with food-borne illnesses.

Here were the biggest violations:

 Fish that was supposed be served raw or undercooked hadnt been put through proper parasite destruction. (Members of the staff were told to either cook it immediately or toss it.)

 Two of the clubs coolers had raw meats that were above the recommended maximum temperature of 41 degrees. Chicken was 49 degrees, duck and raw beef was at 50 degrees, and ham was at 57 degrees.

 The two coolers were not in proper working order.

There were other less severe violations, like not having hot-enough water in a sink where employees washed their hands and rusted shelves inside walk-in coolers.

The violations sound pretty bad, but Darin Detwiler, D.L.P., assistant dean at the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University and a professor of food policy, tells Yahoo Beauty that theyre not uncommon. Food not being held at the right temperature is one of the most frequent violations at restaurants, he says. And, he points out, it doesnt matter if you visit a high-end restaurant or budget-friendly chain  it happens. This is a good example that money does nothing in terms of preventing a food-borne pathogen, he says.

Benjamin Chapman, PhD, an assistant professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University, agrees. If you went to any online restaurant inspection database, it wouldnt take you long to find these types of violations, he says. Theyre not out-of-this-world violations.

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Of course, that doesnt mean they cant make you sick. Fish that hasnt undergone parasite destruction (which Chapman says is usually via freezing) can increase your risk of being infected by a parasite if you eat it raw or at undercooked temperatures. Mike Doyle, PhD, director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, tells Yahoo Beauty that becoming ill from eating raw or undercooked fish is no joke. Symptoms of illness caused by fish-borne parasite infections can range from abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness to  appendicitis-like manifestations, he says. Reports of tapeworm infections in patients that have eaten raw salmon sushi indicate the passage of a 4-foot long tapeworm several weeks after consuming the contaminated fish.

Failure to store raw meat at the appropriate temperatures increases the odds that diners could get salmonella or E. coli, Detwiler says, noting that the danger zone is between 41 and 140 degrees. Allowing raw meat to sit at this temperature allows pathogens to grow wildly, increasing the odds that theyll make a person who eats them sick. The longer that food is held at temperatures in that danger zone, the faster and more likely the pathogens are to multiply and grow, Detwiler says. Its like Russian roulette  youre just putting more bullets in those chambers. Doyle says that holding meat and poultry at unsafe temperatures is a serious public health hazard that can result in harmful microbes growing to levels that could cause severe illness, especially in the young, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

However, Chapman says its unlikely that food was going to end up on someones plate because spoilage happens at those temperatures  its likely the meat would have started to look or smell funny. It might have been that the coolers had just broken and the inspector happened to come out, he said.

As for water temperatures not being particularly hot for hand washing, Chapman says its not a huge deal. Theres quite a bit of research that shows water temperature isnt a factor in removing pathogens during hand washing, he says.

Experts stress that it really doesnt matter if a restaurant is expensive or not  these kinds of violations are common. To keep yourself safe when you dine out, Chapman recommends looking up a restaurants food inspection records online and taking a look at a few since each inspection only offers a snapshot in time. If there has been a repeat violation, that says to me that they dont know how to handle a particular area of food safety, he says. If you find thats the case at a restaurant you were considering visiting, its probably time to look for another one.

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Korea and a few other Asian countries have a controversial history of consuming cats and dogs . Whereas the mere thought of eating Buddy for dinner is stomach-churning to most Westerners, the notion is not as unusual in many parts of Asia  there is even an annual dog-eating festival in Korea...

Korea and a few other Asian countries have a controversial history of consuming cats and dogs. Whereas the mere thought of eating Buddy for dinner is stomach-churning to most Westerners, the notion is not as unusual in many parts of Asia  there is even an annual dog-eating festival in Korea. However, in the wake of some recent high-profile cases of animal abuse, Taiwan has become the first Asian nation to ban the selling and consumption of dog and cat meat.

The Taiwanese government passed a landmark amendment to its existing animal rights laws and stated that those found guilty of the aforementioned crimes will be named and shamed  violators may have their names and photos publicized  and will face fines of up to 250,000 Taiwan new dollars ($8,188 USD).

Consumption of cat and dog meat has never been as widespread in Taiwan as it has been in other countries like Korea, but this latest initiative fits a pattern for President Tsai Ing-wen, who identifies as an animal-lover and has also passed other laws to keep citizens from harming their beloved furry friends.

Taiwan's progressive ban is part of a growing trend across Asia to end the brutal dog meat trade, and reflects the fact that a huge number of people in Asian countries do not in fact eat dog and cat and are appalled by the cruel and often crime-fueled trade, Wendy Higgins of Humane Society International told The Independent. Taiwan also sends a strong signal to countries such as China and South Korea where the dog meat trade remains and millions of dogs are killed by beating, hanging, or electrocution for eating.
Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In a move cheered by conservatives, President Trump signed legislation on Thursday to reverse a rule signed by President Barack Obama that prevented states from denying federal funding from health centers  such as Planned Parenthood  that also provide abortion care.

The dollars in question come from Title X  the federal family planning program  which is jointly funded by states and the federal government and provides contraception counseling, contraception prescribing, and preventative reproductive and sexual health services, including testing for sexually transmitted infections and cancer screenings.

The Obama-era rule was signed to ensure that these funds go to the best family planning providers, and not to providers that meet a specific set of political criteria.

Over the past year, courts throughout the country and the federal government have made it clear to states seeking to eliminate Planned Parenthood and other independent health centers that provide abortion care as Medicaid or Title X providers that doing so is illegal. Per federal law, the only kinds of standards that states may enforce on providers to participate in these programs have to do with a providers ability to perform covered services.

In other words, ousting a provider for a political reason  such as because they provide non-publicly funded abortions  is never allowed.

The Title X Family Planning Program was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, and is the only federal domestic program focused solely on providing reproductive health services when medically needed, as well as educational and counseling services to both providers and communities. Approximately 4 million Americans are served by Title X each year  many of whom earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but do not have and are otherwise unable to afford health insurance.

These attacks are really on low-income women, Jamila Taylor, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and an expert in womens health and reproductive health policy, tells Yahoo Beauty. If you look at the sources of federal funding that go to Planned Parenthood  one, through Title X and two, through Medicaid reimbursements  those are both pockets of money with the goal of ensuring that low-income women have access to reproductive health care. When we talk about proposals to strip funding from programs that help low-income people, were talking about pushing these people farther into the cycle of poverty. Were almost saying theyre undeserving. I would encourage us to call this out as an attack on poor women.

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Taylor continues, We know that in terms of access to health care, if we look at those who are uninsured or lack access to health care services, these are low-income people and people of color. If you delve deeper into who Planned Parenthood serves, we know they largely serve people of color and low-income people. Seventy percent of their patients have incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty line, and 60 percent of their patients are accessing them through Medicaid or Title X. Were really talking about stripping health care from low-income people, and when you strip health care from low-income people, this only endangers their economic security even more.

And Taylor also emphasizes that efforts to limit or eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood are not so much an attack on Planned Parenthood but on the communities they serve.

Planned Parenthood will still have funding from other sources; they will not close their doors. But low-income communities and communities of color who are largely underserved will not have access to a trusted provider in their community. Planned Parenthood often acts as the single access point to health care in these communities, she explains.

In 21 percent of counties with a Planned Parenthood health center, Planned Parenthood is the only safety net provider in the county. In 68 percent of counties with a Planned Parenthood health center, Planned Parenthood serves at least half of all patients using safety net services.

Furthermore, Taylor notes, communities that rely on Planned Parenthood are also often those in poverty.

Barring Planned Parenthood from Title X will force people to delay care because they dont have the resources to pay for it without access to a Title X provider  often Planned Parenthood  in their community.

We know  for women of color and black women in particular  we know they are more likely to die of cancer, both cervical and breast. Were going to put them at risk by delaying timely care, Taylor says. Even outside of the focus on defunding Planned Parenthood, people of color are more likely to face barriers to accessing health care no matter what. If they have the ability to access Planned Parenthood health centers, then they are more likely to have compassionate, patient-centered care in those spaces. Planned Parenthood facilities have a focus on ensuring that disenfranchised communities or folks that might experience discrimination in any other place have a compassionate provider in their community.

As to what these attacks on the health care services that low-income women especially depend on to live their lives mean, Taylor says she believes that, fundamentally and philosophically, it goes back to this deserving-versus-undeserving thing. If you focus on policies and how they are developed, they are often a way to stigmatize being poor and having public sources for health care. There is this framing of underserving these communities.

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Among his critics, talk of impeachment began long before President Donald Trump even took office.

In September, a law professor argued that lawsuits against Trump University had already laid the groundwork for an impeachment case. A history professor who has accurately predicted every presidential election since 1984 has said Trumps impeachment is imminent.

Its not just academics, either.

In February, Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota said Trumps actions legitimately raise the question of impeachment. In March, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California issued an even more direct warning: Get ready for impeachment.

But the process of impeaching an American president, much less removing them from office, is quite challenging, as can be seen from the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and the idle chatter of impeaching Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Heres a closer look at how hard the process actually is.

Impeachment talk would need to be taken seriously

Trumps unconventional political ascent and business background have raised a unique set of ethics questions, but talk of impeachment has been a common part of partisan rhetoric in the past.

Bush and Obama both faced idle impeachment threats that never amounted to anything. People who now believe theres a serious case for impeaching Trump will have to overcome the reputation established by those who raise the specter of impeachment merely to demonstrate political opposition.

That makes it harder to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, to figure out whats really the substantive conduct and the substantive problem, said Michael Gerhardt, a constitutional law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We cant rely on political rhetoric to guide us because political rhetoric is so overheated.

Critics would need to settle on one argument

The Constitution states that a president can be impeached if convicted of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Those looking to impeach Trump would need to show he has done something that falls into one of those categories  which requires more evidence.

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While treason and bribery are defined by the Constitution and by federal law, high crimes and misdemeanors is a less specific charge. Gerhardt said the framers intended it to refer to political crimes, including abuses of power or other offenses against the United States. They dont have to be technically criminal things  things for which someone could go to prison  but they do have to reach a certain level of seriousness, he said.

Some of Trumps critics have argued that his business dealings are in violation of the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the President from accepting gifts from foreign leaders or governments. Others, including Waters, have argued that the ties between Russia and Trumps team are signs of wrongdoing. Christopher Peterson, a University of Utah law professor, maintains that theTrump University lawsuits provide grounds for impeachment and thinks theres already a fairly solid case to be made.

But for Trumps opponents to realistically pursue impeachment, they would likely need to focus on investigating one offense and making a specific, formal accusation of wrongdoing.

There would need to be more evidence

Right now, arguments for impeachment are resting on potentially flimsy claims. The critical thing that those congressmen will have to show is that hes done something that will qualify as treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, Gerhardt said. Thats the threshold.

While there are mounting questions about potential coordination between Trumps campaign and Russian interests, no concrete conclusions have been reached.

So far there hasnt been a clear smoking gun, Peterson said.

I do think there are certain ways in which hes conducting himself in office that will come under scrutiny, said Gerhardt, who served on the transition team for Clintons Justice Department and later testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Clintons impeachment as a shared witness. To what end does that scrutiny end up producing any evidence or concern about how hes exercising power? He said its too early in Trumps presidency to know.

The House would need to decide there are grounds for impeachment

Impeachment proceedings begin in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers can introduce an impeachment resolution or a resolution authorizing an investigation into whether grounds for impeachment exist. If a House committee determines that there are grounds for impeachment, a resolution with a formal accusation of misconduct is presented to the full House for a vote.

In order to impeach a president, that resolution must pass the House by a simple majority. When the Presidents own party has control of Congress  as Republicans do now  thats a difficult bar to clear. If a vote were to take place today, when there are five vacancies in the House, all 193 Democrats and 23 Republicans would need to vote for impeachment in order for it to pass.

Impeachment is always difficult. Its designed to be difficult, Gerhardt said. Thats the nature of the process, the nature of the constitutional design.

Only two presidents in U.S. history have been impeached: Clinton in 1998 on charges of lying under oath to a federal grand jury, and Andrew Johnson in 1868 on charges of violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing the Secretary of War. Both Clinton and Johnson were Democrats who faced a Republican-controlled Congress, and both were still acquitted in the Senate because opponents failed to gather enough votes in the upper chamber. (Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.)

The key committee chairs in the House of Representatives are reluctant to take on the President of their own party, Peterson said of Trumps situation. Whether or not they will act depends on how much political pressure is brought to bear on them.

FROM COINAGE: This Is How Much It Would Cost to Paint the White House (And More Crazy Facts)

The Senate would need to find the President guilty

In order to actually be removed from office, the President must then be convicted by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

When the Presidents own party controls the chamber, thats unlikely to happen unless there is evidence of serious misconduct. Based on the current party makeup in the Senate, 19 Republicans would have to side with all 46 Democrats and two independents in order to remove Trump.

Even Clinton and Johnson, who faced chambers controlled by the opposing party, didnt provoke a consensus that strong. Both served out the remainder of their terms.

There would need to be public support for impeachment

Impeachment would probably need to be popular in order for Congress to act on it. Trumps approval ratings continue to be historically low for a new president, but its not yet clear how Americans would feel about impeachment. A recent survey by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling found that voters were split: 44% support impeachment of Trump, while 45% oppose it.

An impeachment trial could backfire. During Clintons impeachment proceedings, public opinion of Republicans fell, while Democrats and Clinton experienced a surge. When asked whether they wanted Clinton or the GOP to have more influence over the nation, Americans were evenly split between the two in September 1998, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. But by the time Clinton was impeached in December of that year, the gap had widened significantly. While 60% said they wanted Clinton to have more influence, just 31% said the same for the GOP.

The proceedings also had the unintended effect of sending Clintons approval ratings to an all-time high.

This article originally appeared on Time.com.
A Kansas woman is accused of decapitating her ex-boyfriends mother as the womans young grandson ran away and called for help.

Rachael Hilyard, 35, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of 63-year-old Micki Davis, who was found decapitated in the garage of Hilyards home, a spokeswoman with the Wichita Police Department tells PEOPLE.

The spokeswoman says Davis and her 9-year-old grandson went to Hilyards Wichita home to pick up items belonging to her son - who had dated Hilyard - when an altercation erupted between the suspect and the victim.

Her 9-year-old grandson ... he ran away from the house and called the police while the physical attack was happening. He did not see his grandmas death, or the decapitation, the spokeswoman tells PEOPLE.

Rachael Hilyard

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He did see an altercation take place so he grabbed the grandmas cell phone, ran away from the house and called 911, the spokeswoman says.

Officers arrived to find Davis body in the garage and Hilyard allegedly hiding in the home, the spokesperson says.

Police do not know what was used to decapitate the woman, with the spokeswoman noting that the weapon was likely a sharp object, possibly a knife.

Hilyard is being held at the Sedgwick County Jail on $200,000 bail, jail records show. A Sedgwick County District Attorneys spokesperson says Hilyard has not yet entered a plea or retained an attorney.

Shes going to be incarcerated for the rest of her days. I hope she just sits in that jail and thinks about that. Hope it eats her alive, Davis nephew, Casey Wallace, told KAKE. And I hope Mickis at peace.

Wallace called the details of the killing gruesome, saying, Im just glad that little boy didnt see all that.

KAKE identified Davis son as Jacob Gillespie III, who is currently in jail on unrelated charges related to a March police chase.

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Jail records show that Gillespie is being held at the Sedgwick County Jail on several charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property, fleeing and eluding authorities and more.

He is being held on $25,000 bail, jail records show. It was not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer or entered a plea.

This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com
Just weeks after Maine Governor Paul LePage granted a full pardon to a dog, a district court has overturned the decision and ordered the Siberian husky named Dakota to be euthanized.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Judge Valerie Stanfill said that despite the governors pardon, Maine law requires a dog be put down after it is declared dangerous and then attacks again.

Justice was not done today, Bonnie Martinolich, who represents Dakotas new owner, Linda Janeski, said to reporters after the hearing.

Martinolich told the judge she intends to file a motion to stay the 4-year-old dogs execution, pending an appeal to the Maine Supreme Court. Dakota must be euthanized within 48 hours unless Stanfill is convinced to issue a stay on the kill order so advocates for the pet can pursue the appeal.

In February 2016, Dakota escaped from her home and attacked and killed a smaller dog. As a result, the husky was ordered to be confined to her home, unless she was leashed and muzzled.

The husky was found running loose again in January 2017. According to the Bangor Daily News, she bit the same neighbors new dog on the neck, though the pug was not seriously injured.

Maine Gov Paul LePage just pardoned a dog from a death sentence. No joke. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/IBQucwRKFf - James Pindell (@JamesPindell) March 30, 2017

Dakota was taken to the Waterville Area Humane Society as a stray. Due to a miscommunication between the Kennebec County District Attorneys Office and the animal shelter, she was adopted by a new family on March 18, three days before Stanfill issued the kill order.

LePage, who is a pet parent himself to pup Veto, was contacted by staff at Waterville Area Humane Society saying Dakota was a model animal under its care.

I have reviewed the facts of this case and I believe the dog ought to be provided a full and free pardon, Governor LePage said in the statement.

This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com
Thomas Jefferson is celebrating another birthday today, and we have 10 interesting facts about the versatile Founding Father.

He was born on April 13, 1743, in Virginia and died on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson is best known for his role in writing the Declaration of Independence, his foreign service, his two terms as president, and his omnipresent face on the modern nickel.

The well-rounded Jefferson was also a Renaissance man who was intellectually curious about many things.

Here are 10 interesting facts about Jeffersons pursuit of knowledge:

1. Thomas Jefferson really, really liked books. The third president, after his retirement, sold his library of 6,500 volumes to the Library of Congress after it was ransacked by the British. Jefferson needed the cash to pay off debts, but he started buying more books. "I cannot live without books," he told John Adams.

2. Jefferson the economist. Jefferson was deeply engaged in economic theory, which he learned to love during his time in France. He was a friend and translator to leading European theorists; he believed in the free market policies; and he opposed bank notes as currency.

3. Jefferson the architect. He designed the rotunda for the University of Virginia, his own home at Monticello, and the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. Monticello has some good resources about what he called the hobby of my old age, though architecture actually a lifetime pursuit. Monticello and the University of Virginia are on the World Heritage List.

4. Jefferson the food lover. On his return from France, Jefferson brought his love of that nations cuisine back with him. James Hemings went to France as his slave, and the pair agreed that if Hemings learned how to make French cuisine, he would be freed on his return to America.

5. Jefferson the wine snob. Yes, Jefferson brought his love of French wine back to America, too. He had two vineyards at Monticello, which he apparently used to experiment with. Acknowledged as a great wine expert of early America, he sought to promote wine as an alternative to whiskey and cider.

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6. Jefferson the agriculturalist. He believed in the United States as an agrarian society, in part, because it would make the nation independent from other nations. Jefferson practiced what he taught: He was one of the first American farmers to employ crop rotation and redesigned the plow to make it more efficient.

7. Jefferson the paleontologist. He was also obsessed with fossils and was involved in a great debate about the mammoth that became a political cause. Jefferson raised the profile of paleontology as president, and he has a mammoth named after him.

8. Jefferson the astronomer. Jefferson loved stargazing almost as much as he liked books. He made sure astronomy was taught at the University of Virginia, and he designed what may have been the first observatory in the United States.

9. Jefferson the writer. He was a prolific writer during his lifetime, with his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom included in his epitaph (instead of his two terms as president). The Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress includes about 27,000 documents, including his extensive correspondence with key historical figures.

10. Jefferson the musician. He took violin lessons as a child and played the violin as he courted his future wife, Martha Skelton. Jefferson spent considerable time studying the violin as an instrument, but by 1778 he complained about music being played in the New World as being in a state of deplorable barbarism."
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. HOW BETTER VETTING COULD BENEFIT WHITE HOUSE

Trump boasts that he hires only the best people, but his personnel choices  like Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page  keep coming back to haunt him.

2. TRUMP'S PROMISES FALLING BY WAYSIDE

He hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises.

3. IN HOLY CITY, A TANGLE OF CONFLICTING CLAIMS

Fifty years after Israel captured east Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinians remain as divided as ever over the future of the sensitive area.

4. DEFENSE IN KIM JONG NAM MURDER CASE FEARS 'TRIAL BY AMBUSH'

Two young women accused of poisoning Kim appear in court as their lawyers say Malaysian police still have not handed over security camera footage and documents crucial to the defense.

5. LOOK OUT, CORPORATE AMERICA

The viral video of a ticketed passenger dragged forcefully off a United Express flight is only the latest example of bad behavior exposed in the digital age.

6. BREAK IN 'FAST AND FURIOUS' CASE COMES IN MEXICO

Authorities arrest the suspected shooter in the 2010 killing of a U.S. border agent whose death exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the federal government.

7. WHO'S MAKING MILLIONS ON THE SIDE

Teachers selling lesson plans to other teachers online has become a booming business.

8. FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT BILL O'REILLY'S FUTURE

The embattled TV host says the vacation he's taking was long planned. But it's an unusually lengthy one  and it's fueling speculation that he might never return to his Fox News Channel show.

9. WHERE SEARCH IS ON FOR HOLY GRAIL OF CLIMATE CHANGE

In the jagged red mountains of Oman on the Arabian Peninsula, geologists hunt for an efficient and cheap way to remove carbon dioxide from the air and oceans.

10. NBA PLAYOFF FIELD SET

The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers claim the last two available postseason spots on the final night of the regular season.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday:

1. TRUMP: US-RUSSIA RELATIONS MAY BE AT 'ALL-TIME LOW'

With the declaration, the president moves ever further from his campaign promises to establish better ties with Moscow.

2. PRESIDENT MINIMIZES BANNON AS 'A GUY WHO WORKS FOR ME'

The unusual public, lukewarm support from the boss has aide Steve Bannon's friends and advisers worried he will soon be out of a job.

3. UNITED AIRLINES SEEKS TO QUELL UPROAR OVER MAN DRAGGED FROM PLANE

The company says it will no longer ask police to remove passengers from full flights and will compensate customers who were on the flight when the man was removed.

4. US, CHINA STRIKE WHAT APPEARS TO BE UNUSUAL BARGAIN

Trump says he won't label China a currency manipulator after receiving indications Chinese President Xi will help him deal with North Korea.

5. WHO'S RISING IN POLLS IN FRANCE

Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is rattling financial markets by his surge just 11 days before the country's presidential vote.

6. RULE NO. 1: NO NOISEMAKERS

Afraid of being heckled in their home districts, some Republican members of Congress are setting strict ground rules for town hall meetings.

7. WHY SIKHS ARE LAUNCHING MILLION-DOLLAR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The American Sikh community hopes the effort will stop hate-fueled attacks against its people by explaining more about who they are and what they believe.

8. RUMORS SWIRL AROUND BILL O'REILLY

The embattled TV host says the vacation he's taking was long planned. But it's an unusually lengthy one  and it's fueling speculation about whether O'Reilly will ever return to his Fox show.

9. WHERE WORD OF THE WEEK IS VROOM!

Super cars, speedy coupes and even a 700-horsepower SUV will give this year's New York auto show some serious get up and go.

10. CHARLIE MURPHY DEAD AT 57

The older brother of Eddie Murphy was a comic performer in his own right who turned in standout sketches on "Chappelle's Show."
Nepal-China first ever joint military drill to commence from Sunday

Nepal and China are all set to conduct their first ever joint military exercise starting April 16, the Nepal Army announced on Thursday.
A job comes with more than a paycheck. It may also bring a long list of perks and benefits such as wellness plans, insurance policies and even free food. "If you think about your compensation package, 30 to 32 percent of your total compensation doesn't come in the form of salary," says Gerry Leonard, president of ADP Benefit Services in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Atrium Staffing, a New York City-based employment agency, surveyed its database of job seekers and found 91 percent would accept a new opportunity if better benefits were offered. That means the stakes are high for companies in competitive markets. "The top employers are the ones thinking about how they create the best work environment and compensation packages," says Jeff Howkins, president and CEO of Ascensus College Savings.

[See: 10 Work Perks That Offer Big Financial Rewards.]

When it comes to benefits that offer the most value, talent experts say these are the ones you want.

Health Insurance

From a dollars-and-cents standpoint, practically no benefit is as valuable as health insurance. "Getting your health [insurance] provided by your employer is huge," Leonard says.

The Kaiser Family Foundation found the average annual cost for an employer-sponsored family health insurance plan was $18,142 in 2016. Of that, employers covered $12,865 of the cost.

Retirement Plan

The standard company retirement plan nowadays is a 401(k). Although these are funded largely by workers, some firms make an automatic contribution to the fund as part of a compensation package. Others may match employee contributions to a certain level.

Even more valuable is a pension that has a guaranteed payout in retirement. "Rare, but still out there," says job-hunting expert Revi Goldwasser, who works out of Los Angeles and Boca Raton, Florida. "If you are with a firm that pays a pension, stay put."

[See: 10 Retirement Benefits You Need to Have.]

Health Savings Account

Leonard says h ealth savings accounts are still underutilized but provide a great value for employees. Money deposited into the account is tax-deductible. It then grows tax-free, and withdrawals used for qualified health care expenses are tax-exempt. Some businesses will make an annual contribution on behalf of workers as well. The only catch is that employees need to have a qualified high-deductible health insurance plan to participate.

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Equity in the Company

Google made hundreds of people instant millionaires when the company went public in 2004. These people were workers who had been awarded stock options as part of their employment at the then startup.

While not everyone is going to become a millionaire because of stock options, equity in a company can be a valuable commodity. Just be sure to balance it out with other investments. Relying on one company's stock for financial security can be a recipe for disaster if the firm has a bad year or goes under right when the money is needed.

Employee Health Care and Assistance Services

Benefits in this category come in a number of forms. Some companies offer screenings for early cancer detection, resources to treat chronic conditions or free gym memberships. Other employee-assistance programs offer free counseling, legal services or financial planning.

In many cases, these programs prove beneficial for both employees and employers. Workers may sidestep costly problems by addressing issues proactively. Meanwhile, companies may find their workers stay healthier and more productive. ComPsych, which administers employee-assistance programs, says the cost is usually quite reasonable, too. Workers pay nothing to access services, and employers are charged a fee equal to roughly $24 per employee per year.

Parental Leave

Parental leave can be a significant benefit both financially and emotionally. It is also still relatively scarce. However, some companies are working to change that.

"I have seven children, so I have a lot of empathy for working moms," says Vanessa Quigley, co-founder of the photo-printing service Chatbooks. Her company offers one month of fully paid leave to all employees who add a new family member. New mothers can take an additional two months off for medical leave. Both part-time and full-time workers have access to these benefits, and Quigley says they make for a stronger, more passionate workforce. "We do get incredible work and loyalty [from employees]."

Some companies also offer family planning perks. SAP North America gives employees a lifetime benefit of up to $15,000 for fertility treatment and $15,000 for fertility drugs. For those planning to adopt, the company will pay $10,000 per adoption to cover associated fees.

Paid Time Off

Atrium Staffing found unlimited time off was one of the top three benefits job seekers desired. It's a perk that's been embraced by companies such as Netflix.

Other firms have adopted innovative ways to reward their workers with time off. At translation-services company TransPerfect, co-founder Phil Shawe takes his employees on team vacations to place like Machu Picchu and the Mount Everest summit. He sees the excursions result in greater workforce productivity and employee satisfaction.

Career or Personal Development

At tech company VictorOps, co-founder Todd Vernon holds monthly "Lunch and Learn" meetings to mentor employees with entrepreneurial dreams. Such career-development sessions are a low-cost way for companies to afford workers the chance to gain skills and knowledge needed to further their careers.

Some companies are funding personal-development initiatives for workers. Avadim Technologies, for example, sends employees on an all-expenses-paid mission trip designed to combine healthy vacation time with the opportunity to do positive social good, according to a company representative.

Tuition Reimbursement or Loan Repayment

While tuition reimbursement is already offered at some companies, talent experts say loan repayment will be increasingly rolled out. "Forward-thinking companies are doing that because they see young people suffocating under their student loans," says Roberta Matuson, expert on talent and author of "The Magnetic Leader."

These benefits offer significant value, but workers need to understand the fine print. In some cases, they may be required to pay back benefits if they don't stay with their employer for a certain number of years.

College Savings Accounts

Although employers don't often make contributions to 529 college savings accounts on behalf of workers, merely offering payroll deductions for the plans can be valuable. "When people have a chance to save, they are 15 times more likely to do it," Howkins says, citing 2014 data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

529 Plans offer the chance to pay for qualified higher education expenses using tax-exempt dollars. Plus, some states offer deductions for certain contributions. Legislation has been introduced in Congress to allow people to use their plan to make student loan payments, and Howkins says several states are considering initiatives to encourage employers to match contributions.

Parking

Finding an employer who will pay for parking is no small thing in some urban areas, including Los Angeles, where parking can cost up to $400 a month, Goldwasser says.

Food

Complimentary meals have long been a mainstay at startups. VictorOps serves free breakfast and lunch to staff once a week. For employees who want to work off-site, the company also offers gift cards to local coffee shops and eateries.

[See: 12 Millennial-Inspired Ways to Spend Less.]

Older workers might not be too impressed by these perks, but Matuson reminds people that everyone has different priorities. And that's the bottom line when it comes to workplace perks, experts say. Individuals must decide for themselves which benefits add the most value to a compensation package.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Federal agents have seized $17 million worth of cocaine aboard a boat near Puerto Rico's southern coast.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday that the drugs weighed 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms). Officials said they arrested two people, one from the Dominican Republic and the other from Venezuela.

The boat was detained Wednesday near the southern coastal town of Salinas.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Three Dominican brothers and a dozen other people have been arrested in New England as part of a federal investigation into alleged cocaine, fentanyl and heroin trafficking.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday that the suspects ran a Rhode Island-based trafficking organization that imported drugs from Mexico and supplied them to street-level dealers in Greater Providence, Greater Boston and Hartford, Connecticut.

Brothers Juan Valdez, 50, of Milton, Massachusetts; and Hector Valdez, 47, and Claudio Valdez, 44, both of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, each have been charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and unlawful use of communication facilities, such as phones, to commit drug-related offenses. Originally from the city of Bani in the Dominican Republic, they also are being charged with illegally returning to the United States after being deported to the Caribbean country. All have felony drug convictions on their records, and Juan Valdez has been deported four times, the FBI said.

"Let me be clear: The Valdez brothers are not street-level dealers and runners," said Harold Shaw, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. "They are kilo-weight suppliers at the top of the domestic supply chain."

Investigators said the drugs shipped from Mexico were kept in Rhode Island stash houses in Cranston and Woonsocket, before being re-distributed elsewhere. Agents this week seized about 4 kilograms of heroin, 2 kilograms of cocaine and 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, a powerful drug that has caused overdose deaths in New England and around the country. Agents also seized cutting agents and luxury cars with hidden compartments.

Twelve other people also face drug-related charges, half of whom could also be facing deportation to the Dominican Republic. Most were arrested around dawn Tuesday in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and had their first court appearances on Wednesday. Two other people encountered during the raids were detained on civil immigration violations.

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The federal public defenders' office, which is representing the Valdez brothers, didn't return a call for comment.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement Thursday that President Donald Trump "has made dismantlement and destruction of drug cartels a top priority, and cases like these are integral in that effort," though the investigation precedes Trump's presidency. The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force began looking into the brothers in September and named the investigation Operation Triple Play. An affidavit shows agents used wiretaps and undercover informants.

"This will make a difference in the neighborhoods of Providence, Hartford and the Greater Boston area," said Michael Ferguson, a special agent in charge of the New England branch of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

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This story has been changed to correct Hector Valdez's age to 47 instead of 57.
Photo credit: Westend61 / Getty

From Popular Mechanics

Know the Local Situation

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting documents 220,000 annual bike thefts, and that's almost assuredly under-reporting the problem. Some locations are much juicier for villains, including New York City, the Bay Area, London, Paris, and Munster, Germany. Train and transit stations are high-profile targets in Holland and Japan, places where secure, paid storage only now is being constructed with some diligence.

In locations prone to theft, an exterior lock-up only means more criminal access and quick getaway with the goods. If you can keep the bike inside your house or apartment, great. If you can't and paid storage is available, get it, and don't stop there-regularly change the bike's location inside the parking place, too.

Get Smart About Lock-Up Location

Predictable patterns favor criminals, and bike theft is no exception. Better bikes than don't get moved around are among the easiest marks. Well-lit, high-traffic areas are good but aren't sufficient. Studies show that thieves rarely get much attention from nearby citizens or law enforcement officers, meaning, you are your only hope.

Vary the spot and use a secure indoor anchor even in "safer" suburban neighborhood garages. The hardened-steel ABUS Anchor WA 50 drills into wall studs, while the Kyrptonite Stronghold Anchor adapts to concrete surfaces as well. Oxford's Anchor 10 Ground & Wall Anchor is a great value but challenging to find in the US.

Make Them Walk Right Past Your Bike

People steal bikes for a trio of main reasons: Spontaneous personal transportation, to snatch expensive components to strip, or to grab whole bikes for reselling online or out-of-state. Moving intact bikes far and fast is where the maximum profit resides if selling aftermarket, chop-shop parts isn't a thief's chosen enterprise.

Want all three kinds of thieves to look past your two-wheeler? Get a no-name, single-speed bike with and pop off the seat and lights when you lock up. The Sole Overthrow or Vilano Rampage in black are solid on-road performers. Get the Payback Bike Seat Security System by Fortified to protect post and saddle with a "never stolen" replacement guarantee. If wheel removal is too inconvenient, Pinhead's Quick-Release 2-Pack fits most existing thru-axle models.

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Thieves are making quick decisions on what to target. Expensive components, tires, and high-end brand decals are begging for theft. While some recommend filling bolt heads with wax or solder to slow them down, there's something to be said for sending thieves elsewhere after a single glance.

Alter the appearance with favorite or removable stickers, colored tape, or even a cheap plastic old-school handlebar basket (which also gets in the way of manhandling the bike itself or accessing the lock in the fastest time possible). Skull and bones reflective decals from RydeSafe or simple, repetitive Ishidots not only make your bike more distinctive and less theft-worthy but also upgrade after-dark safety.

Use Three Locking Strategies

Secure the frame to an object using a hardened chain or linked metal bars with enough flexibility to repel prying with steel poles. Or use a short-shafted U-lock (two if possible). Add locking wheel skewers or nuts to slow down parts theft.

Budget $150 if the bike is worth more the $500 average US new bike value. Kryptonite's range includes the $50 Keeper 695 Foldable Lock with 6mm links that rotate to discourage prying, along with the tough-to-leverage Messenger Mini with Wheel Extension U-lock and keyless locking Wheelnutz. Abus covers with the paint-protecting Bordo Centium 6010 foldable while the 4-foot OnGuard 8017 Beast has enough 12mm chain power to pull a pickup truck out of the mud.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  For many Israelis, Har Homa is another neighborhood in Jerusalem, served by city bus lines and schools. Its quiet streets are lined with apartment buildings, pizza shops, supermarkets and pharmacies.

But for Palestinians and much of the world, this unassuming neighborhood is far more. It is an illegal settlement in east Jerusalem, and in some ways, the most damaging.

Har Homa lies on one of the last spaces of land linking the Palestinian areas of the West Bank to their hoped-for capital in east Jerusalem. If city planners have their way, Har Homa will soon become one of Jerusalem's largest Jewish neighborhoods, expanding a presence that many believe has already dealt a devastating blow to the Palestinian dream of independence.

"It's a feeling of helplessness," said Aziz Abu Teir, the mukhtar, or community leader, of Umm Tuba, a neighboring Palestinian village, as he stared from his balcony at the sprawling rows of apartment buildings across a ravine. "You can do nothing."

___________

This is the first of several stories marking the 50 years since Israel took over the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967.

___________

Fifty years after Israel captured east Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinians remain as divided as ever over the future of the sensitive area, home to major shrines of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. If anything, these conflicting claims are heating up as President Donald Trump has taken office and held talks with Israel about what settlement construction he is willing to tolerate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under American pressure to curb some settlement construction in the West Bank, says east Jerusalem will not be included in any understanding with the U.S. In fact, he has vowed to step up settlement activity in east Jerusalem neighborhoods like Har Homa.

"This is our homeland," said Herzl Yechezkel, one of the founding fathers of Har Homa. "And we have to build it up."

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___

Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians claim both areas, along with the Gaza Strip, for a future independent state  a position that has wide international backing.

Over the past half century, Israel has built more than 130 settlements throughout the West Bank and more than half a dozen Jewish housing developments ringing east Jerusalem, in moves that many believe are meant to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. These settlements today are home to over 600,000 Israelis, roughly one-third of them in east Jerusalem.

While Israel has never staked a formal claim to the West Bank, it says east Jerusalem, home to the city's most important religious sites, is not up for negotiations. It annexed the area, along with neighboring parts of the West Bank, after the 1967 war, and says the entire expanded city is its eternal capital.

In contrast to West Bank Palestinians, those in Jerusalem have Israeli-issued residency documents and can even apply for citizenship. Israel believes that granting these rights bolsters its claim that its Jewish neighborhoods are not settlements.

The Palestinians and international community, however, reject Israel's annexation and say that all land beyond Israel's 1967 boundaries is occupied, and all Israeli communities are illegal settlements. Israel's construction in east Jerusalem has complicated any partition of the city, leaving two unsavory alternatives: no border between Israel and Palestine in a shared future capital, or a border that snakes for great distances around a hodgepodge of Jewish and Arab enclaves.

For the Palestinians, the presence of Har Homa, also known as Homat Shmuel, is especially painful.

Netanyahu, during his first term in office, broke ground on the project in 1997, just four years after a landmark interim peace accord with the Palestinians reached by his more moderate predecessor. He defended the move by citing Israel's claims as the sovereign power and the ancient Jewish connection to Jerusalem. But the project was seen as a sign of bad faith, and led to violent protests and a halt in peace negotiations at the time.

"It was done, on purpose, to prevent a Palestinian capital in Jerusalem," said Menachem Klein, a former Israeli peace negotiator and expert on Jerusalem.

When Israel finally began settling Har Homa in 2002, Yechezkel, a lawyer and community activist, was among the first to move in, ignoring international controversy and a violent Palestinian uprising. Israel has since transformed the once-barren hills of the area into a bustling community of 25,000 people where, like in most east Jerusalem neighborhoods, few people would consider themselves settlers.

Standing proudly on his spacious balcony, Yechezkel pointed across a valley to biblical Bethlehem in the West Bank, neighboring villages and a Christian monastery. If all goes according to plan, he said, that empty valley will soon be covered with hundreds of homes for more Har Homa residents. The goal: to hit some 40,000 residents.

"It's a big victory for settling Jerusalem and strengthening Jerusalem. Despite all the screaming and all the demonstrations and all the threats," he said, "at the end of the day, the neighborhood is a big success."

Abu Teir, the mukhtar of Umm Tuba, lives in one of those neighboring Palestinian communities across the ravine. For him, Har Homa's massive presence is a painful sight.

The Palestinians lost more than 150 acres of land to Har Homa. Abu Teir, a 55-year-old British-educated civil engineer, said his village's lands were passed down from generation to generation, and ownership is difficult to document, making it impossible to stop development.

"You feel gutted, and sorrow overwhelms you when you see something like that," he said, as he pointed at apartment buildings he claimed were built on his family's land.

"The land that used to belong to my forefathers suddenly became a settlement specifically for Jewish people. It's not a fair thing," he said. "When did the Israeli government build a housing development for the Arabs?"

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After 50 years of Israeli settlement construction, Trump could play a decisive role in determining the future of Jerusalem and any Palestinian state.

Former president Barack Obama took a tough line against the settlements, and just weeks before Trump took office, the U.S. allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution that declared settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem illegal. At the time, Trump condemned the decision.

Throughout his campaign, Trump vowed to take a more sympathetic approach toward Israel and the settlements. His campaign platform made no mention of a Palestinian state, and he vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The family foundation of his son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, has made donations to settlement causes, and Trump himself donated money to a settlement in the early 2000s, according to U.S. records.

But since taking office, Trump appears to have backtracked. He has said the move of the embassy, which is strongly opposed by the Palestinians, now needs further study. And at a White House meeting with Netanyahu in February, he called for restraint on settlement construction.

Netanyahu, whose governing coalition is dominated by pro-settler hard-line nationalists, recently agreed to limit construction in the West Bank to built-up areas of existing settlements. But the decision did not include east Jerusalem, and earlier, he was quoted by the Haaretz daily saying Jerusalem "does not even enter the equation" in talks with the White House.

Netanyahu often says that settlements are irrelevant to the conflict, claiming that Arab animosity toward a Jewish presence in the Holy Land goes back long before the settlements arrived.

The Palestinians strongly disagree.

"The ones who decided to build these settlements have one thing in mind: ending any possibility for having a Palestinian state in the future," said Samih al-Abed, a former Palestinian border negotiator.

Although the dispute over east Jerusalem is often reduced to tensions surrounding sensitive Jewish and Muslim holy sites in the Old City, the entire area has deep significance for both sides.

For Israelis like Yechezkel, Jerusalem has been the focus of Jewish prayers for thousands of years. Beyond the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, and the adjacent Western Wall, every corner of the city seems to be connected to an ancient biblical tale. East Jerusalem also serves as an important bridge to the West Bank, known to religious Jews by its biblical name Judea and Samaria.

Yechezkel, like many members of Israel's nationalist right wing, considers east Jerusalem and the West Bank to be one and the same, all part of the biblical Land of Israel promised to the Jews by God.

"I don't differentiate between Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem," he said.

For Palestinians, east Jerusalem is equally important and emotional. They revere the area not only as home to the Al Aqsa Mosque and gold-topped Dome of the Rock, but also see it as a bustling commercial and cultural center. For them, Israel's attempts to separate it from the West Bank, the heartland of any future Palestine, is like robbing the body of a vital organ.

Khalil Tufagji, a Palestinian cartographer and former peace negotiator, believes Har Homa has grown too big to ever evacuate, even if a peace deal is reached.

"When they make facts and reality on the ground, it means that we can't change reality on the ground," he said.

Danny Seidemann, an Israeli expert on Jerusalem who is critical of the settlements, called Har Homa "detrimental" but not necessarily a deal breaker. He said the "doomsday" settlement is the neighboring area of Givat Hamatos  an open area that Israel has made preparations to develop.

"Givat Hamatos would for the first time since 1967 seal a Palestinian area completely, surrounded by Israeli construction," he said.

Yechezkel insists Har Homa has no problems with its Arab neighbors. Its biggest problem, he said, is that the schools and public infrastructure have not been able to keep up with the rapid growth.

Yechezkel, who works as an adviser to Ayelet Shaked, the country's pro-settler justice minister, dreams of expanding Jerusalem's eastern outskirts to nearby Jewish settlements 10 miles (15 kilometers) to the east and putting the idea of Palestinian independence to rest once and for all.

"I think we are only at the beginning of the road," he said. "Our answer to all the critics is construction. We need to build."

___

Mohammed Daraghmeh contributed reporting.
By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the U.S. relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance. Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia. But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday. The reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure U.S. allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump's overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where U.S. allies are fearful of a rising China. Trump's apparent shifts toward a more conventional foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon. Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Trump said last September. "ALL-TIME LOW" On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Trump, who ordered the firing of U.S. cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week to punish Assad for suspected use of poison gas in Syria's civil war. While criticizing Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks. Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade. The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office. Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra during was a vow to keep America safe and build up the U.S. military. Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defense in the Obama administration, said Trump had a steep learning curve on foreign policy when he came into office but that it was beginning to even out. Hes starting to have a more nuanced and deeper understanding of a lot of issues, said Wormuth, now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The evolving Trump foreign policy appears to reflect less of the influence of his campaign team and more the views of Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, all of whom are deeply skeptical of Russia. Trump' former national security adviser, retired General Michael Flynn, was forced to resign on Feb. 13 for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office. The new tone on foreign policy comes as Trump has been trying to settle the palace intrigue inside the White House, where Bannon, former chief of the conservative Breitbart News organization, has been at odds with the more mainstream Jared Kushner, the senior White House adviser who is Trump's son-in-law. In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon. I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late, Trump said. (Editing by Caren Bohan and Yara Bayoumy)
MILAN (AP)  Silvio Berlusconi's 31-year reign at AC Milan is over.

Italy's most successful club was finally sold by the former Italian prime minister to a Chinese-led consortium after several delays over the past few months.

Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest, released a statement Thursday announcing that it had completed the transfer of its 99.93 percent stake in Milan to Rossoneri Sport Luxembourg  which was formerly known as Sino-Europe Sports.

The group, led by Chinese businessman Yonghong Li, has been attempting to buy Milan for some time but the deal has hit a series of delays and the sale has been postponed twice.

"I thank Berlusconi and Fininvest for their trust and the fans for their patience. From today we will build the future," Li said.

The deal, which values Milan at 740 million euros (about $800 million), requires the investors to spend 350 million euros ($372 million) over three years on improvements.

"The buyers have confirmed their commitment to fulfill important recapitalization investments to the balance sheet and strengthen AC Milan's finances and assets," Fininvest said in the statement.

A general shareholders' meeting has been called for Friday when the names of the new president and directors will be announced. There is also expected to be a news conference on Friday.

The new owners' first match will be Saturday's derby against Inter Milan, which is also owned by a Chinese company.

"This is an epochal day for Milan," AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. "I would like to thank Berlusconi and (vice president Adriano) Galliani for having given me the opportunity to coach a club as glorious as the Rossoneri.

"In the next few days I will meet the new management and together we will find the solutions to make Milan as successful as it was in the past."

During Berlusconi's reign, Milan won a number of trophies at home and abroad. The Rossoneri won eight league titles, one Italian Cup and seven Super Cups as well as five Champions League trophies and five UEFA Super Cups.

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But the famous Italian club has slipped from the top in recent years and is currently sixth in Serie A.

Milan won the Italian Super Cup in December, beating Juventus for its first trophy in six years.

"I'm leaving today, after more than 30 years, the title and job of Milan president," Berlusconi said in a long statement on Milan's website. "I do it with pain and emotion, but with the knowledge that in modern soccer, in order to compete at the top European and world levels, you need investment and resources which one single family is not able to sustain.

"I will always be the first fan of Milan, the team that my father taught me to love as a child, the dream that we realized together. To the new owners I give my best and most heartfelt wishes that you achieve goals even more extraordinary than those achieved by us."
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic lawmakers and activists plan to hit the streets Saturday at Tax Day protests around the country and demand President Donald Trump release his tax returns.

Organizers hope the protests  dubbed the Tax March  will resonate with Americans who think the president should release his returns, as his recent predecessors have done. Rallies are scheduled in nearly 150 cities, including Washington, New York, Boston and San Francisco. Activists in West Palm Beach, Florida, will hold the "March a Lago" near the resort where Trump plans to spend the Easter weekend.

"We're marching on Washington, D.C., and around the country to ask Donald Trump: WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?" the organizers say on their website. "We need a president who works for all Americans, and a tax system that does, too. Release your tax returns and commit to a fair tax system for the American people."

Jennifer Taub sparked the effort following her participation in Boston's women's march the day after Trump's inauguration. She concedes she isn't sure what to expect  organizers think thousands will show up at some locations, possibly only dozens at others.

"I'm just a law professor who sent out a tweet," said Taub, who teaches at Vermont Law School. "I'm psyched, and I think lots of people are psyched about this. We shall see."

Taub's tweet about planning a #showusyourtaxes protest stemmed from the women's march and her general interest in financial matters. She has testified before Congress and wrote a book about the 2008 financial crisis.

"I'm all about 'follow the money,'" Taub said. "It tells us the story about people's priorities."

Liberal advocacy groups and unions have helped spread the word and organized speakers for the largest rallies. Democratic lawmakers gave organizers a shout-out before heading home for their longest break since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20.

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"There will be a lot of activism about doing the right thing for our country, telling the truth, holding the president to a standard that every president and every nominee of a party has been held to," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Over the last 40 years, presidents and major-party nominees have released some of their tax returns. The exception was Gerald Ford. Trump's break with precedent has raised questions about possible conflicts of interest.

Trump cites an audit as the reason he won't release his tax returns. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday, "We filed our financial disclosure forms the other day in a way that allows everyone to understand."

Tax Day, in fact, is Tuesday, April 18, due to the weekend and a Washington, D.C., holiday Monday.

After stumbling on their health care legislation, Republicans are focused on tax overhaul. In a conference call with reporters, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York sought to tie Trump's refusal to release his tax returns to prospects for a rewrite of the tax code.

"It's going to make tax reform much harder. Any time the president proposes something, the average American's going to say, 'Oh, he's not doing that because it's good for me, he's doing it as good for him,'" Schumer said. "So, for his own good, he ought to make them public."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., are scheduled to speak at the march in Washington. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., is speaking in Chicago. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., will speak in Los Angeles.

"What you saw beginning the day after the inauguration has not let up," Schakowsky said. "We're talking about intensity. The only question any of us get now is: What can I do?"

The House Ways and Means Committee has legal authority to obtain confidential tax records. The committee could then vote to make them public. So far, Republicans have handily defeated Democratic efforts to take that course of action.

Now, Democrats are pushing for a vote on a bill from Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., that would require the president and all major-party nominees to publicly disclose their previous three years of tax returns with the Office of Government Ethics or the Federal Election Commission. The Democrats have initiated a petition process that would lead to a House vote if they can get a majority of lawmakers to sign it  an unlikely prospect, but one that gives Democrats a chance to highlight which Republicans declined to help with their effort.
At only age 30, Krysta Rodriguez faced a fight for her life. The actress, known for her roles on "Trial & Error" and "Quantico," joins The Doctors to discuss the difficult decisions she faced.

Krysta grew up wanting to be a successful actress, and her career on stage, film, and TV was flourishing by the time she reached her 30th birthday. But her life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Watch: Mom's Viral Breast Cancer Warning

I had always had fibrocystic breasts and doctors were never concerned about that, she explains, so I never really thought about it. But when she found a drop of blood coming from her nipple, she knew something was wrong.

When the results of her biopsy and mammogram came back, Krysta says, My mind just sort of went blank! How? How did this happen? I dont have a family history, Im 30 years old. She was treated with radiation and six rounds of chemo, and she chose to have hormone treatments that put her in menopause.

Krysta knew that she couldnt hide what she was going through, so she started a blog to share her journey. I thought if I could take something that feels ugly and flip it on its head and make it feel beautiful, maybe Ill feel better  and maybe someone else will feel better.

Krysta weighed her options and decided on a double mastectomy. Breast Surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk performed her surgery, and the two have become friends.

Watch: Self Breast Exam

The hardest part of all of it is losing your femininity, Krysta tells The Doctors. But she has grown through the experience. What Im learning is, you dont have control over your life. When you allow life to happen and roll with those changes, its definitely freeing.

Now Krysta is cancer-free and feeling great, although becoming menopausal has been challenging. When a woman goes through menopause she does it slowly, over a period of time, she points out. I received an injection and went in by that evening. She feels that menopause isnt discussed enough, and she was blindsided by symptoms like weight gain, loss of bone density, disturbed sleep, and lower libido.

I love the relationship that you two built, ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork tells Krysta and Dr. Funk. Everyone wants to go to Dr. Funk! Krysta laughs. She researched surgeons for nine months and says that Dr. Funk was so supportive and reassuring that she left her office thinking, I cant believe Im excited to have this surgery! Dr. Funk says, Its one of those moments when you take those lemons and made some lemonade.

Dr. Funk says that she was able to preserve Krystas breast skin and nipples and place implants that restored her original appearance. Someone said to me that you have to find a doctor that sees you well  that doesnt see you sick, says Krysta. Now shes able to see this experience as a blip in her life.
Nepal, India assess ongoing projects

The third meeting of the Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, was held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
By Hamid Shalizi and Josh Smith KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is dispatching his first high-level delegation to Afghanistan to begin to formulate a strategy for a war that has entangled NATO forces for more than 15 years and continues to inflict heavy casualties on local troops. Afghan officials hope National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster will provide clarity from an administration that they feel has neglected their plight as it concentrates on crises in Syria and North Korea. On Wednesday, Trump announced he was sending McMaster to "find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies." The timing of the visit has yet to be confirmed by U.S. and Afghan officials. Despite general declarations of support for the Western-backed government in Kabul, the Trump administration has given few concrete signals of its plans for Afghanistan, which remains heavily dependant on billions of dollars in American aid. U.S. forces also make up the bulk of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, provide close air support to soldiers on the ground and form a separate counter-terrorism unit that targets Islamic State, al Qaeda and other militant networks. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who like McMaster is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was forced to scrap a visit to the country in February because of bad weather. The makes McMaster's trip the first by a senior official from the new administration, although earlier this month he spent an hour on the phone to Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar for a detailed brief, according to one Western official. That may signal renewed interest in Afghanistan, where nearly 9,000 American troops are deployed, but exactly what the Trump administration will decide is unclear, the official added. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told Congress in February that he needed a "few thousand" more troops to help train the Afghan security forces, which are battling Taliban insurgents as well as militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State. Afghan officials have held out hope that veterans like McMaster and Mattis would help form policies favored by Kabul, including taking a harder line on Pakistan and the Taliban. "Both these gentlemen know very well that Afghanistan's growing insecurity is because of Pakistan's ongoing support for the Taliban and other insurgent groups, and we are impatiently waiting for a clear policy announcement," said one senior Afghan government official. Pakistan denies aiding or harboring Islamist militants, and has accused Afghanistan in turn of allowing insurgents to cross from its territory into Pakistan to carry out attacks. One signal that the United States may change its policies toward Pakistan is McMaster's decision to hire Lisa Curtis, a researcher with the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, to oversee South Asia affairs. In February Curtis co-authored an article calling for the United States to "levy heavy costs on Pakistan for policies that help perpetuate terrorism in the region." McMaster is expected to visit Pakistan and India as well during his trip, where the issue of violence in Afghanistan and militant groups in Pakistan will likely be discussed. "If and when it takes place, I'm sure his discussions with our national security adviser and other meetings in India will cover prominently the situation in the region  most importantly in Afghanistan," said a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakaria declined to confirm McMaster's visit, saying on Thursday he was not aware of any plans. (Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in New Delhi.; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Amnesty International has slammed an unprecedented ban by Thailand's junta on using the internet to communicate with three trenchant critics of the monarchy, saying authorities had hit new lows in curbing free speech.

The new order makes any online interaction with the trio in the Kingdom -- including contacting them, and following or sharing their social media posts -- a jailable offence under the Computer Crime Act.

The critics covered by the order are two respected Thai academics Somsak Jeamteerasakul and Pavin Chachavanpongpun, as well as ex-reporter Andrew MacGregor Marshall.

All have extensive online followings, are fierce critics of the military government that has ruled since 2014 and live in self-exile as they would face lese majeste charges inside Thailand for criticising the monarchy.

Thailand's monarchy, headed by new King Maha Vajiralongkorn is already protected by one of the world's harshest royal defamation laws, which carries 15 years in jail per charge.

"The Thai authorities have plunged to new depths in restricting people's freedom of expression," Josef Benedict, AI's Deputy Director for Southeast Asia, said in a statement late Wednesday as the order was circulated by Thai media.

"After imprisoning people for what they say both online and offline, and hounding critics into exile, they want to cut people off from each other altogether."

A senior official at the Ministry of Digital Economy denied the order raised the bar for repression in the country.

"This is to benefit the people so they can search for the right information... and use their judgement so that it (the order) will not affect them," Somsak Khaosuwan told reporters late Wednesday.

All media based in Thailand must routinely self-censor to stay within the law.

It has been liberally used against royal and government critics since the military knocked out the civilian government of Yingluck Shinawatra nearly three years ago.

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Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha has outlawed political organising, cornering his opponents.

Junta critics have been tied up with legal cases or jailed for breaching draconian laws.

Analysts say elections slated for next year will not bring real democracy.

Instead they will be held under a newly promulgated charter that strengthens the army's hand over the country with an appointed upper house and toughened powers for the kingdom's highly politicised courts -- which have taken out three prime ministers in just over a decade.

Thais are closely watching the actions of Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne after the death of his much-loved father Bhumibol Adulyadej in October last year.

He delayed signing the charter to add clauses bolstering his power in the time of a "crisis" and allowing him to appoint a regent when overseas.

The new king spends much of his time in Germany, where he is the frequent fascination of local paparazzi.
Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Down a Bethlehem alleyway, sunlight illuminates a golden icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, signalling the revival of an ancient art being practised in the workshop inside.

The building near the Church of the Nativity -- the site where Christians believe Jesus was born -- houses a group of enthusiasts specialising in the sacred art of iconography.

They are doing so some 2,000 years after Christian iconography began in nearby Jerusalem -- also where Christians believe Jesus was resurrected after his crucifixion, to be commemorated this Sunday for Easter.

They work in both silence and in prayer, with their art a far cry from the cheap mass-produced icons sold in souvenir shops to tourists and pilgrims.

"Icons are not commercial objects for us, but holy images that we honour," said Nicola Juha, who heads the Bethlehem Icon Centre.

He explains that icons like theirs are used by worshippers who, for example, light candles before them and pray.

According to tradition, Luke the Evangelist painted the first Christian icon in 60 AD.

Ian Knowles, far from his native Britain, now teaches the same art to not only Palestinian Christians, but also those from countries including Canada and Poland.

Watching the meticulous brushstrokes of his students, he said he left home to spend two weeks in the region and was still there nine years later.

One of his pieces, "Our Lady of Palestine", depicts Mary shedding a tear over symbols of the Holy Land -- Jerusalem, Mount Carmel and Mount Nebo.

In a nearby chapel with a blue ceiling and a Nativity scene, around a dozen students recite prayers, their nearly finished icons in hand.

Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which sponsors the iconography centre, blesses each one, holding an olive branch with holy oil.

- 'A beautiful synthesis' -

Each icon is unique and produced to order. Animal-hair brushes are selected in Jerusalem or even London, and the pigments come directly from the Holy Land.

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Hand-ground stones for yellow are from Jericho and roses used to paint faces are from Jerusalem, Juha said in the small woodworking shop where panels for the icons are carved.

Rose Codneler, who has used a holiday from her work at a women's shelter in Britain to spend Easter week in Bethlehem, said the uniqueness of the icons appeals to her.

For the 33-year-old Christian, spending days painstakingly painting Christ's face is "a way of getting deeper into the characters of the Bible and the story of the Bible".

"Icons have always fascinating me, and more and more so in the last few years, because they are a kind of beautiful synthesis of God, prayer and also ecology in the way that the pigments are all taken from nature," she said.

Knowles's class is provided periodically to visiting pilgrims for around $265 (250 euros) and all year round to some 30 Palestinian Christians.

Juha says the centre has succeeded in "reviving an old, long-forgotten Palestinian tradition in Bethlehem, which is so important both in religious and geographic terms".

- 'Iconography as a profession' -

Bethlehem is part of the West Bank, the Palestinian territory that has been occupied by Israel for 50 years and which struggles with unemployment and poverty.

Knowles points out that obtaining the best materials from Jerusalem is impossible for many Palestinians since they are barred from crossing over from the West Bank.

Wearing a paint-stained apron, he says the centre is also a way of serving the local Christian communities.

Christians have gone from 20 percent of the Palestinian population to slightly more than one percent over the course of 50 years.

"I wanted to do something which could really help to rebuild the iconography as a proper tradition and a constituent part of the Christian community here," he said.

"I think people know the Christian population in Bethlehem has been devastated over the last 50 years."

Knowles said that "culturally, the Christian community is a bit on its own, so it seems to me that it was an important thing that I could offer -- to teach iconography as a profession rather just as a hobby".

This year, 36 Palestinians have registered, paying fees of around 25 euros.

A partnership has also been formed with The Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London, allowing 10 Bethlehem students to earn a British diploma in iconography recognised worldwide.

The centre has already achieved one particular point of pride: Knowles and three of his students have produced two icons for Lichfield Cathedral in Britain and are to complete a third next summer.

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HOUSTON (AP)  The top Roman Catholic bishop in the U.S. lauds President Donald Trump for his anti-abortion views, for comments on the importance of Catholic schools and for promising to defend religious liberties. When it comes to refugees and immigration, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo says he and Trump will "have to agree to disagree."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, DiNardo, the archbishop for Galveston-Houston and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed concerns about Trump's now court-stalled executive order blocking immigration from six Muslim-majority nations and about the effects the Trump administration's immigration policies could have on families.

"We have kids in our Catholic schools that are crying during the day," DiNardo said. "They're not sure whether their mommy or daddy is going to be home at night when they get back from school. ... There's no reason why that has to happen."

DiNardo in 2007 became the first Catholic cardinal in the Southern United States, an area where Catholicism has flourished as more people have moved there, from both inside and outside the U.S. In his first extended interview since his more than 400 fellow bishops in November elected him to a three-year term as president of the U.S. bishops' conference, DiNardo said the conference has had "quiet initial talks" with the White House to arrange a session between him and Trump.

The White House had no comment Wednesday on prospects for a meeting, although such a session would continue a common practice for the head of the bishops' conference to confer with the U.S. president.

"Right now seems to me the administration is still too early," DiNardo said, but offered no timetable on when would be reasonable for him to speak with Trump. "They're still working on getting their act together. It's a massive thing to do to take over a federal administration."

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Trump has taken a firm stance on immigration, passing executive orders to tighten border security and restrict refugees and travelers from certain countries. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has credited Trump's policies and widely publicized arrests of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally for a huge drop in the number of people caught by agents on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The bishops' conference needs to be critical of presidential administrations at times, DiNardo said, adding that it's essential the bishops remain engaged. He pointed to the conference's statement critical of Trump's travel ban.

"We're willing to register that and state that," he said. "But we always want to be able to work with every administration."

DiNardo, 67, who came to Houston in 2004 as archbishop after more than six years as bishop in Sioux City, Iowa, believes most immigrants and refugees come to the U.S. for economic reasons or to flee violence in their home countries. While he agrees with the Trump administration's stance that criminals should be deported, he doesn't want to see immigrant families separated.

Churches have been relying on a 2011 Immigration and Customs Enforcement directive telling agents to generally avoid "sensitive areas" such as churches, hospitals and schools when conducting deportation actions. Immigration officials said that policy is still in effect, but recent immigration arrests around the U.S., including inside courthouses, are increasing fears.

DiNardo says that if immigrations agents were to show up at a church, he would advise priests to consult with legal experts at Catholic Charities.

DiNardo believes the rhetoric in the U.S. on hot-button issues including immigration and abortion is too heated.

"You'd like to lower the temperature so people will speak to each other too," he said. "I think that's a dimension that religious congregations and religious people and I think even religious leadership can bring to the debate.

"You don't have to lose your prophetic stance to clearly state that something's wrong. If I'm a pro-life person, I respect all persons even when I vigorously disagree. I do not want to end up with name calling."

On other matters, DiNardo has denounced the use of internationally banned chemicals for attacks against Syrians as morally reprehensible and sided with Pope Francis' call for peace in Syria "through dialogue and reconciliation." The bishops' conference favors a political solution to the Syrian civil war with the U.S. working with other governments.

He has decried the Palm Sunday bombings by Islamic State suicide bombers that killed at least 45 people in two Egyptian Christian churches as "unspeakable persecution."

In his interview with the AP, he described the state of the Catholic Church in the United States as "good" while acknowledging struggles to attract people who aren't religious.

"Part of it depends on some levels on what part of the country you're in now," he said. "In the South and Southwest, we are booming. I've dedicated 26 new church buildings in the last 12 years."

In the North and Northeast, meanwhile, the church is consolidating parishes.

While churches will be full on Easter, a paltry 22 percent of the nearly 70 million U.S. Catholics regularly attended weekly Mass in 2016, according to a Georgetown University survey.

"It is troubling," DiNardo said. "One of our goals in our priority plans is in fact evangelization, by first starting with us in the church."
Warning: This review contains some spoilers about the first three episodes of The Handmaid's Tale.

In the margins of my copy of The Handmaid's Tale, high school me scribbled "this is so messed up."

Fast forward to more than a decade later, and the story  penned in 1985  only hit me harder. As I watched the first three episodes of Hulu's adaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel, the first word I wrote down in my notes was "fuck."

This is the show that will put Hulu on the map. It has a strong cast (led by Mad Men alum Elisabeth Moss), powerful writing (which is very loyal to the book) and a timely storyline. But the parallels to current events make the show, at times, almost too eerie to watch.

SEE ALSO: Hulu just dropped another chilling teaser for 'The Handmaids Tale'

Like Atwood's book, the 10-episode series, which debuts on Hulu on April 26, takes place in a religious dystopia called Gilead, formed following environmental disasters and plunging birthrates in the U.S.

The totalitarian society, once the U.S., is rooted in twisted religious fundamentalism. It's a place where women are stripped of their rights, and some  the handmaids  are subjugated and used only for reproduction, a.k.a. sexual servitude.

Both the book and show follow Offred (Moss), one of the few remaining fertile women who is placed in the Commanders household. It's horrifying watching Offred reduced to servant life in Gilead  but what's more jarring are her flashbacks to what she and others refer to as "before."

"Before" looks pretty familiar. Offred was married to man named Luke, best friends with Moira (Samira Wiley)  a handmaid who was condemned for being lesbian  and living life as a book publisher in Massachusetts.

In flashbacks, the show sprinkles hints of "normal" riddled with warning signs of the world's demise. In one instance, Offred (then called June) is informed that she and all other women at her workplace are being let go. All women's bank accounts are also frozen that same day.

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"Ladies I have to let you all go, you can't work here anymore, it's the law now," says her boss Roger. "I don't have a choice. They gave me ten minutes."

The concept is extreme  most dystopias are. But executive producer/writer Bruce Miller did such a good job weaving in Atwood's imagined world with our own contemporary society that it feels like it could be real.

We were working on this project before the primaries even begun, and through the election, it just got stranger and stranger," Miller said at a recent event.

One of Miller's most distinct choices for the show was to have Moss do voiceovers for Offred, a device not used in the 1990 film adaption starring Natasha Richardson and Faye Dunaway.

Voiceovers, when done poorly, can seem tacky and unnecessary. In this show, they are anything but. They're instead a way for Moss to hold viewers' hands and walk them through the twisted world of Gilead.

The tactic allows viewers to get past what Offred's allowed to show on her face and really understand what she's thinking and feeling.

With or without voiceovers, Moss is perfect in the role as a powerful woman fighting to survive and ultimately reunite with her daughter from "before."

Image: hulu

The rest of the cast  which includes Wiley, Alexis Bledel, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella and Madeline Brewer  is equally strong.

Even Bledel  who it's hard not to typecast as annoying Rory Gilmore  shines as Ofglen, a fellow handmaid and Offred's shopping partner.

While Offred at first rejects Ofglen as pious, it is later revealed that Ofglen is actually a member of a resistance group. She was a professor "before" and gay  which in Gilead is referred to as being a "gender traitor."

Usually Bledel is not the strongest actress  and the characters she plays tend to be meek. In this show, however, her portrayal of Ofglen brought me to tears.

Alexis Bledel as Ofglen.

Image: hulu

Timeliness also plays in Hulu's favor. This is the year that Homeland and The Americans became more popular than ever, as the topics they tackle hit close to home during the Trump Administration.

It's impossible to watch The Handmaid's Tale in 2017 and not think about the divided world we live in, and the rapid pace at which it seems to be changing.

"When they slaughtered congress, we didnt wake up. When they blamed terrorists and suspended the Constitution, we didnt wake up either," Offred says in a voiceover. "They said it would be temporary, nothing changes instantaneously. In a gradually heating bath tub youd be boiled to death before you knew it."

In the pilot, Aunt Lydia  the woman in charge of training the handmaids  says to the group of women: "Ordinary is just what you are used to. This will be come ordinary."

Her words echo the fear of those who worry that the media is "normalizing" Trump's "Make America Great Again" vision, which has so far has targeted women, immigrants and the environment, to name a few.

If anything, The Handmaid's Tale is a reminder that, as Offred tells the Commander, "better never means better for everyone." It's a terrifying  and all too timely  wake-up call.

WATCH: The top 9 shows to watch in 2017
The end is nigh for Orphan Black, which premieres its fifth and final season on June 10  but our clone sisterhood isn't going down without a fight.

In the first full trailer for Season 5, Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) and her sestras are preparing for war, but Rachel is always a step ahead. This season, they're fighting for their bodies, their lovers, their families and their freedom  and the truth about their origin is finally within reach.

Orphan Black's final trip begins Saturday, June 10th at 10 p.m. ET/PT on BBC America.
A day before kicking off the official Star Wars 40th anniversary celebration in Orlando, Mark Hamill surprised young Jedi at the Florida Hospital for Children Wednesday, showing them the ways of "The Force."

Read: Harrison Ford Surprises Fans at 'Star Wars' Anniversary

The actor visited the hospital along with characters from the film, like R2-D2 and Stormtroopers, as well as folks dressed in costume to lift the spirits of the kids who are being looked after inside the facility.

The Force is with us! And so is Luke Skywalker! Thank you @HamillHimself and @StarlightUS for the amazing visit! pic.twitter.com/S12hgnDQVE  Florida Hospital (@FloridaHospital) April 12, 2017

The Starlight Childrens Foundation and Lucasfilm teamed up for the very special event, which also featured lightsaber battles, giveaways, Star Wars-themed coloring activities.

In addition, Starlight launched Starlight VR, a new initiative aimed at placing virtual reality headsets in hospitals across the country.

Starlight VR is a groundbreaking program that will entertain, educate and inspire the imaginations of hospitalized kids across the U.S. through one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences," the hospital wrote on Facebook.

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Read: A Show of Force: Fans Honor Carrie Fisher with Lightsaber Vigil

Following his day at the hospital, Hamill tweeted: Thanks @FloridaHospital 4 letting me visit the kids in your care & @StarlightUS 4 providing #SW backpacks filled w/goodies!

The staff of @FloridaHospital is a very welcoming, nice & generous group who put the needs of patients in front of their own. @StarlightUS https://t.co/AW7qXuje5e  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 13, 2017

Watch: Expectant Mom Dons Chewbacca Mask During Labor: 'The Doctors Thought It Was Hysterical'

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Silicon Valley has audacious plans for shaking up the way we diagnose  and cure  disease.

But the life sciences are far more challenging than the tech titans of this world might realize: There are countless regulatory hurdles, health care delivery obstacles, and  most of all  the challenge of untangling the extraordinarily complex biology of the human body.

Still, giants like Apple, Google, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft are charging ahead. Here, a look at three diseases theyre attacking with a vengeance  and how they might stumble:

Diabetes

CNBC this week broke the news that Steve Jobs launched a secret project before his death to develop a way to monitor diabetics glucose levels without poking them with needles or embedding sensors under their skin. Apples effort seems to involve developing optical sensors that would shine a light through patients skin to measure blood sugar levels.

Its not the only giant in the field: Verily, the life sciences arm of Google parent company Alphabet, has been working on a smart glucose-sensing contact lens with Novartis for several years now.

Read more: Silicon Valley arrogance? Google misfires as it strives to turn Star Trek fiction into reality

Such devices could revolutionize treatment for millions of people with diabetes. (And, not incidentally, bring in huge revenue.) But cracking the problem has proved extraordinarily difficult.

Efforts have been underway since the 1970s, at least, to reliably measure glucose without piercing skin. Theyve failed. Take, for instance, Newton Photonics, a Boston-area startup that chipped away at this challenge for more than a decade before folding.

Verily, too, has struggled, despite its wealth and brainpower, as STAT reported last fall. Tears turn out to be an unreliable way to measure blood sugar. Same goes for other fluids, like sweat and saliva; they dont always dont accurately reflect blood sugar levels, since theyre affected by temperature and humidity.

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Thats probably why analysts arent concerned that Apples top-secret project will hit gold.

One can never say never, but it is extremely unlikely Apple has succeeded where so many others have failed, Cowen analyst Doug Schenkel wrote in a client note. He covers medical device maker Dexcom, which has been working with Verily on a separate effort to miniaturize a minimally invasive glucose monitor. And he wrote that he saw no reason to view Apple as competition:

Until we see data that suggests otherwise, he wrote, we are not worried.

Cancer

Microsoft raised some eyebrows last fall with its bold pledge to solve cancer within a decade. The disease  actually, many different diseases  is a far more complex puzzle than, say, a Rubiks cube, but the company has assembled what the Telegraph calls a small army of top biologists, programmers, and engineers with orders to find a way to reprogram malignant cells so they can return to a healthy state.

Read more: A sci-fi cancer therapy fights brain tumors, study finds

Intel, meanwhile, is jumping into the diagnostic sphere: Its All In One Day initiative aims to get cancer patients a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan, based on their lifestyle, environment, and genetics, within 24 hours. (It can now take weeks to get a tumor analyzed and sort through treatment options.)

Not one to be left behind, IBM has gone all out with its IBM Watson artificial intelligence system. The computerized brain is working on ways to help doctors understand and assess treatment options.

Can such efforts make a difference? Maybe. But remember that when the first chemotherapies were developed in the 1950s, many scientists genuinely believed that cancer would soon be cured. That hasnt happened, despite waves of scientific advance in the decades since.

And even if Silicon Valley does deliver a useful project, the rest of the health care system will need time to catch up and work through issues such as patient privacy and data security.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for instance, in 2013 launched an ambitious attempt to use IBM Watson to match patients to clinical trials and help doctors better choose a course of treatment. The project got glowing media coverage. But a recent audit found multiple problems with the implementation of the system, and said it did not meet its goals. The debacle cost the hospital $62 million.

Aging

They say its less about living forever, and more about living better. But Silicon Valley is still chasing longevity, in hopes of understanding the genetic underpinnings of aging  and ultimately prolonging human life.

Googles ultra-secretive spinout Calico is working to detangle the mass of genes that contribute to longevity. Also on the docket: developing therapeutics that might stall the protein degradation typically seen in aging.

Read more: Googles bold bid to transform medicine hits turbulence under a divisive CEO

Wealthy tech titans are also funding anti-aging efforts, as the New Yorker recently pointed out. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel have donated huge sums to help researchers find a way to cheat death.

Problem is, there isnt one root problem associated with getting old: Multiple systems fail in tandem. And discoveries that once seemed promising have not translated into quick-fix therapies. Take telomeres. A few years ago, researchers wagered that these DNA segments, which cap the ends of chromosomes, might be linked to longevity: The longer they are, the longer a life.

But that doesnt just mean you can slow aging by developing a pill to lengthen your telomeres. With more study, scientists learned that the enzyme that elongates telomeres  called telomerase  is very active in cancer cells. So maybe you dont want a whole lot of it in circulation.

For now, the concept of aging is like a tightly knotted ball of yarn. Pull one string, and instead of unraveling, everything just gets all the more complex.

Correction: A previous version of this story inaccurately paraphrased an audit of the IBM Watson project at MD Anderson.
By Steve Barnes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - An unprecedented series of executions scheduled in Arkansas later this month will bring long-awaited closure to victims' families, the state's governor said on Thursday, as U.S. judges mull whether to halt the proceedings on grounds they are excessive and unlawful.

Arkansas, which has not had an execution in 12 years, plans to kill seven inmates over 11 days from April 17, which includes three pairs of dual executions. No state has ever executed as many inmates in as short a period since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

There is no question of guilt, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson told reporters. "They (the victims' families) need closure and they dont think they have it."

Some of the convicted murderers set to die have been on death row for more than 20 years. The state has not held executions for more than a decade due to legal battles over its death chamber protocols and secrecy surrounding its drug procurement.

Hutchinson has toured the Cummins Unit prison, located in the small town of Grady, that will conduct the lethal injections and said the staff set to carry out the executions is experienced and practiced.

About two dozen former corrections officials and administrators wrote to Hutchinson in late March urging him to abandon the plan, saying it places an undue burden on prison staff.

All the inmates scheduled to die this month have launched a series of motions in federal court in Little Rock to block the proceedings. They argue that the rush to the death chamber increases the chances of a botched execution.

The American Bar Association, the leading U.S. law professionals organization, sent a letter to Hutchinson on Tuesday, saying the expedited schedule undermines due process and impedes adequate legal representation.

Hutchinson has said the state must act quickly because the efficacy date for one of the chemicals in its lethal injection mix, the sedative midazolam, expires at the end of April.

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In 2014, Oklahoma was the last state to attempt two executions on the same night.

In the first execution, a poorly secured intravenous tube popped out, lethal-injection chemicals sprayed in the death chamber and staff said the pressure of dual executions exposed flaws.

It did not conduct the second execution.

Oklahoma, which has put executions on hold to fix flaws, has recommended executions be held at least a week apart to allow staff time to review the proceedings and decompress.

(Writing by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Nepali man who served jail time in UK being deported

A Nepali man, serving his time in a UK jail for breaching immigration law, is being deported.
PARIS (Reuters) - An arson attempt left very minor damage at the Paris building where French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has her headquarters, a police source said, and Le Pen accused leftist groups of the attack. The police source said the ground floor of the central Paris building was targeted and graffiti mentioning Le Pen's National Front was found nearby. The source said the damage - to a door and a doormat, according to news agency AFP - was likely to be the result of a criminal act and not an accident. The party's premises are higher up in the building. Interior Minister Matthias Fekl condemned the attack. "These are unacceptable acts, the democratic debate must take place in the ballot box," Fekl told RTL radio, without giving any details about the attack itself. "We have been in touch with the National Front candidate's team since last night and will see with them if it is necessary to strengthen security procedures." Le Pen told France 2 television she believed a leftist group was responsible, but she gave no detail and did not say why she believed one such group was responsible. "I assume this is due to a small leftist group," she said. "These groups act in total impunity," she added, saying that the government should dissolve them. AFP said a group calling itself "Combat xenophobia" contacted them to claim responsibility for the arson attempt. (Reporting by Ingrid Melander, Sophie Louet, Helene Dauschy; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Vietnam is standing behind David Dao, the man who was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight Sunday due to an "overbooking" mistake by the airlines. Dao is Vietnamese by birth, which caused immediate uproar in his community. Protesters boycotted via social media, despite there being no direct United Airlines flights to Vietnam, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The viral video of the incident showed Dao being pulled out of his seat and screaming as officers dragged him down the aircraft. He suffered a blow to the head after it was smacked against the passenger seat, which caused blood to trickle out of his mouth. Other passengers were seen screaming and crying in horror.

Read: United Airlines Controversy: Watch Doctor Get Dragged Off Flight Because Of 'Overbook Situation' [VIDEO]

Initially, it was speculated that Dao was Chinese when the video was posted on China's microblogging site Weibo. When the ancient-rival country discovered he was from Vietnam, anger increasingly grew.

"So funny," Bui Nguyen Trong Nghia commented on the Facebook video. "Now they know he's Vietnamese, most people stand up to advocate. Whether it's Vietnamese or Chinese, there'll be discrimination as we're Asian."

"Watching this makes my blood boil, I'll never fly United Airlines," Anh Trang Khuya commented, according to Reuters.

Dao has a past of felony charges. He prescribed drugs to a patient in exchange for sexual relations and spent years trying to reclaim his suspended medical license. Despite his distraught past, there was no evidence the airlines knew any of his background information  thus, his past did not contribute to the way he was handled on the aircraft, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

"Rubbish! When they were treating this Asian man, they never thought of human rights, otherwise they wouldn't have done it that way," user Su Danqing posted on Weibo, according to USA Today.

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Dao's attorney said the doctor was at a Chicago hospital receiving care for the injuries caused by the incident.

Protesters

Photo: Reuters

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If the United Airlines passenger recently dragged off a flight looked unconscious in the videos much of the internet has now seen, that's because he probably was.

The attorney for David Dao  a 69-year-old man who was trying to get from Chicago to Louisville on an April 9 flight  said Dao suffered a concussion and a broken nose after police officers ripped him from his seat and dragged him off the overbooked flight. Dao also lost two teeth and endured sinus damage, according to attorney Thomas Demetrio, who went on to say Dao will undergo reconstructive surgery.

SEE ALSO: There's a new Chrome extension to help you boycott United Airlines

"If you're going to eject a passenger, under no circumstances can it be done with unreasonable force and violence," Demetrio said at a press conference in Chicago on Thursday. "That's the law."

Dao didn't attend the press conference, but his daughter Crystal was there in his stead.

"What happened to my dad should never have happened to any human being regardless of the circumstance," she said.

Demetrio lamented corporate mistreatment of customers and passengers as he made a statement and took questions from a crowd of reporters.

"Forget the law for a minute that requires common decency in the treatment of passengers," he said. "But just treat us with respect. Make us feel like you really care."

Demetrio said both United and the city of Chicago bear responsibility for dragging Dao off the plane. Asked whether we can expect a lawsuit, he said "yeah, probably."

Update at 1:00 p.m. ET: United again apologized to Dao after the press conference, issuing a statement that said "we cannot stress enough that we remain steadfast in our commitment to make this right."

The company pledged to "not ask law enforcement officers to remove passengers from our flights unless it is a matter of safety and security," and said they will conduct a review of policies such as overbooking and reveal the results by April 30.

Video credit: Tyler Bridges via Storyful

WATCH: United gives full refunds to passengers who witnessed man get dragged off plane
BERLIN (AP)  Police say a dozen gold bars worth some 117,000 euros ($124,000) were stolen from a woman's car while she left the vehicle briefly unattended in a small Austrian town.

The 12 bars were hidden in an insulated bag behind the driver's seat of the vehicle, which was parked Wednesday afternoon in the main square of Bad Radkersburg, on the border with Slovenia.

The Austria Press Agency quoted police saying Thursday that the owner intended to use the bars in a real estate deal. They weighed about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) in total.

The 52-year-old woman discovered the theft only 10 minutes after she had left the car. The thief or thieves didn't take the insulated bag.
Istanbul (AFP) - Away from the bitter frenzy of Turkey's referendum campaign, volunteer law students are patrolling squares in Istanbul to explain what the planned changes to the constitution would bring.

In the historic Eminonu square where both 'Yes' and 'No' supporters are patrolling side by side, young university students approach passers by, simply asking them if they have a good understanding of the proposed new constitution.

"We are neither making propaganda for the 'Yes' vote nor for the 'No' vote," law school student Nur Ozdemir told AFP, referring to the referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers.

"We are on the side of the law and trying to explain people from legal perspective," she said.

The country will vote Sunday on whether to hand the head of state strengthened executive powers including appointing top public officials and assigning one or several vice presidents.

The changes would implement a shake-up in the judiciary, which Erdogan has accused of being influenced by supporters of his arch foe, the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

- 'Legal side not debated' -

This volunteer initiative by young law students, a stark contrast to the venom of the campaign, is aimed at informing voters for what they will be choosing by picking 'Yes' or 'No'.

Their argument is that the changes will not hand emboldened powers not only to Erdogan but to whoever will succeed him.

"We look and see that the constitutional text is not being debated at all in the context of the law," volunteer Umut said.

"All the discussions are taking place on the political platform. There's nobody who examines the changes article by article," he lamented.

Hesitant citizens are posing direct questions that concern their daily lives, said 22-year-old Tutku Sen.

"Most of the frequently asked questions by undecided voters is if terror (attacks) will come to an end, or if their economic problems would be solved," she told AFP.

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- 'Koran says 'Read''-

Tugba Ozbet, wearing a black chador, asked her husband to wait as she took some time to listen to what the young students would tell her.

"I have my own views, they will not change but still I wanted to listen to what they will say," she told AFP.

"To be put it clearly, there's nothing objectionable in the constitutional package for us," she said.

"We want the presidential system not for Recep Tayyip Erdogan but for Turkey, for Turkey to be better."

Another passer-by, Osman Tas, briefly chatted with the students and praised the initiative.

"Even the Koran says 'Read,'" he said. "What those friends are doing is good. It's useless to hang flags everywhere and ruin the country. You obviously have to talk to people."

The young volunteer Sen, stuck between loud 'Yes' and 'No' campaign music, kept on telling people about the changes.

"This is not a general election or a party election. Everything is about a constitutional amendment that concerns our future," she said.
President Trump was moved to launch an attack on an air base in Syria in part because of images he saw of the youngest victims of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads most recent chemical assault on civilians. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror, Trump said while explaining the strike, as if he were learning of such atrocities being committed at the hands of the Assad regime for the first time. While I commend his rare public display of empathy, I hope he will give the same direct and forceful action to avert the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children a year from HIV/AIDS.

As the national debate unfolds regarding the merits of this air strike, George W. Bush, the last Republican president to drag us into war in the Middle East, is devoting his time to asking Congress to continue supporting the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), arguably his greatest public health legacy. This flagship program has pioneered HIV prevention efforts and provided essential medications and health care to people living with HIV in 65 countries around the globe. Saving nearly 12 million lives is proof that PEPFAR works, and I urge our government to fully fund it, Bush wrote recently in a Washington Post op-ed in response to the nearly $300 million cut to the program in the Trump administrations latest budget proposal.

By paying to test pregnant women for HIV and getting them onto lifesaving drugs that also prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child  in utero, during birth, and later via breastfeeding  PEPFAR averts thousands of infant infections each year and more than 1.5 million since 1995. Given the high mortality rates of infants with HIV, that translates into thousands upon thousands of children who owe their lives and futures to the program. If Congress makes cuts to PEPFAR, more of these avoidable deaths will occur  deaths that will be no less horrific than those that compelled Trump to act in Syria. And we will be just as culpable.

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Read more: Global health is an investment we cant afford to pass up

I can see PEPFAR in action today from my vantage point working in a hospital in Rwanda, a country that is currently observing the 23rd memorial of the Tutsi genocide in the spring of 1994 that killed more than 800,000 civilians while the world looked away. Last year, in tiny Rwanda alone, PEPFAR tested 1.6 million people for HIV, provided treatment for nearly 100,000 people living with HIV, and worked with more than 4,000 pregnant women with HIV so they wouldnt transmit the virus to their children  all that for less than three-quarters the cost of the 59 Tomahawk missiles launched at the Syrian air field. PEPFAR was also there to provide education, protection, and psychosocial and economic support for more than 70,000 orphans and children affected by the epidemic in the country. It is hard to overstate the impact of this program on lives in Rwanda and around the world.

In the words of Paul Rusesabagina, the protagonist of the movie Hotel Rwanda, We make decisions based on emotion and then justify them later with whatever facts we can scrounge up in our defense. While that may be true, it is not how a superpower like the US should make difficult decisions regarding funding priorities or the use of its formidable military arsenal.

Cutting funding from indispensable programs like PEPFAR, which are already working effectively to save innocent lives worldwide, while lobbying to divert public funds into the machinery of war to be wielded abroad in the name of preventing bloodshed, represents the height of hypocrisy. If Trump truly wants to save the worlds beautiful babies, he should expand, not decrease, funding for PEPFAR and other effective global health programs.

Nicholas Cuneo, MD, is a resident physician in internal medicine and pediatrics at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, and Boston Medical Center. He is pursuing work in global health and refugee health through the Harvard-affiliated Doris and Howard Hiatt Residency Program in Global Health Equity.
The gunmen came in the afternoon.

Wearing the drab and baggy uniform of the Islamic State, they arrived at the door of Bashar Abu Alis home in western Mosul to commandeer it as a snipers nest. There were seven or eight of the militants, all Iraqis. They used an upstairs bedroom to shoot into the broad road outside.

In those days in late February and early March, the Islamic State was falling back quickly. The Iraqi military swept into the city, backed by ferocious American airstrikes and artillery. The militants had already lost the eastern half of the city and were now scrambling to mount a defense of the west side. That meant seizing some vehicles to make car bombs, setting fire to others to create smoke screens and taking over hundreds of civilian houses like Abu Alis, militarizing both the urban and the suburban landscapes of the city.

Then the battle began. For 11 days, the 43-year-old coffee-shop manager cowered with his family in terror in downstairs rooms while the ISIS fighters held the high ground, taking shifts shooting at the top of the stairs. American and Iraqi warplanes rained bombs around them. I was 90 to 95% sure we were going to die there, said Abu Ali. There was no thought of leaving. Better to die in your own home, he thought.

When the Iraqi military and police arrived in their neighborhood, the gunmen fled in a panic. What they left was a landscape of bombed-out buildings and twisted metal, the burnt skeletons of cars and trucks flung aside by massive explosions. There is no electricity, no running water and few shops selling food. A defused car bomb in a narrow street looks like a battle wagon from Mad Max, steel plates where the windshield and hood should be. Do you want to see the body? a resident asks, and leads the way to the corpse of a Russianshorthand used for foreign fighters from former Soviet nations, who spoke Arabic poorly. Killed at least two weeks earlier, his burnt body still lies in the street, one charred arm protruding from under a blanket.

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After six months of fighting, the end is in sight in the battle for Mosula victory that, when it comes, will mark a turning point in the broader war against the Islamic State. Iraqs second city has embodied the groups claim that it was in fact building a stateand a warning that Iraq might not be one much longer. When the city of 2 million fell to ISIS in June 2014, it took only hours and demonstrated less the military might of the insurgents than the hollowness of Iraqs sovereignty under a government ruled on sectarian lines: many Sunnis in Iraqs north and west preferred Sunni militants over a Baghdad government responsive only to Iraqs Shiite majority.

But ISIS has now been ousted from more than half the city by a massive force marshaled against it: 100,000 Iraqi government troops and Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish militia fighters, backed by more than 5,000 American troops and crucial air support from the U.S., France, Britain and Australia. The battle is the largest in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, and brutal proof of the maxim that war is the continuation of politics by other means.

At great cost, the forces backing the fragile Iraqi republic have recaptured the entire eastern section of the city up to the Tigris River and are now besieging the militants on the western bank. The west side includes some of the poorer neighborhoods of Mosul, a once prosperous and diverse city that before the arrival of ISIS had been home to Sunni, Shiite and Christian Arabs as well as Kurds. Here the fighting is denser and deadlier than in the east. In the packed neighborhoods on the edges of Mosuls centuries-old core, soldiers trade fire with the ISIS gunmen among the houses. Iraqi infantry are now within reach of an icon of the Islamic States collapsing empire, the Mosque of al-Nuri. It was here in July 2014 that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ascended to the pulpit to herald the establishment of a new caliphate, stretching at that time from the Turkey-Syria border to the outskirts of Baghdad.

Victory is no longer a real possibility for ISIS in Mosul. The estimated 2,000 militants in the besieged area know that there is no escape and that, unlike the men upstairs at Abu Alis, they are fighting to the death. Their weapons may remain as crude as their propagandacar bombs, booby traps and hundreds of human shieldsbut the feeling is different as the end draws near. Theres a change in desperation, says U.S. Army Lieut. Colonel James Browning, who advises the 9th division of the Iraqi army in the Mosul campaign. He said the Iraqi soldiers on the ground have come to consider each ISIS fighter a potential suicide attacker. They know they have an enemy that is still willing to die for their cause, and maybe even more so now than they were before.

Iraqi troops on the front lines believe the gunmen arrayed against them are some of the groups most combat-hardened, many of them foreign fighters with no expectation of going back to Saudi Arabia or Belgium or Tunisia. According to Iraqi soldiers and medics in the area, they include seasoned snipers. Last night three [soldiers] came to us dead, and all of them had, I mean, I hate saying the word, but impressive head shots, says Jonathan Reith, an American volunteer medic at an Iraqi special-operations-forces field hospital in west Mosul on April 1. Its like the person took the time, lined up the shot.

The threat to civilians caught up in the cross fire is now greater than ever. As many as half a million remain in the ISIS-controlled section of Mosul, with dwindling supplies of food, fuel, water and medicine. [Theyre the] main obstacle were facing, says Jafar Jawad Qadem, a sergeant in the federal police stationed in the area. Every time we advance, there are a lot of people inside. We cant use our artillery. We cant use mortars.

They do use airpower, however, and its the biggest threat to noncombatants. Reported civilian casualties from the U.S.-led air war soared to an all-time high in March, with more than 1,700 people allegedly killed in Iraq and Syria. An airstrike in the New Mosul neighborhood reportedly killed more than 200 civilians on March 17, causing worldwide consternation. As the Pentagon investigates, coalition commander Lieut. General Stephen Townsend said on March 28 that there was a fair chance the U.S. was responsible.

President Donald Trump took office just a few weeks before the western Mosul offensive began, after a campaign in which he promised to bomb the sh-t out of ISIS. The U.S. military denies that the rules of engagement have changed since he took office, blaming the brutal tactics of ISIS, including human shields, for the increase in civilian casualties. What you see now is the result of fighting an evil enemy, the U.S. Central Command said in an email response to TIMEs inquiry.

Still, intense use of airpower in densely populated cities risks alienating the ordinary people whose cooperation the coalition needs for the political contest at the heart of things.If youre doing a lot of damage to civilians, ISIS is going to be able to shape the message, says Lieut. Colonel Jay Morse, a retired U.S. Army judge advocate now with the Center for Civilians in Conflict. You increase the likelihood that youre going to fight this exact same fight in another city on another day.

The next city where the Trump Administration will need to tackle this question is Raqqa in Syria, the last bastion of ISIS rule, whose liberation presents a tangle of new issuesespecially as the U.S. deals with the consequences of its strike on a Syrian airfield on April 6. U.S.-backed Syrian militias are poised on the edge of the city, but it remains unclear when and how they plan to take the city. The Trump Administration is also putting more U.S. troops on the ground in the Raqqa campaign, opening the door to a prolonged deployment in Syria.

Then theres the thorny question of the U.S. future presence in Iraq after Mosul falls. The issue surely came up during the April 3 visit to Baghdad by senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, the Presidents son-in-law, the sight of whom, chatting with officers in a flak jacket over his blazer, was a snapshot of an Administration still finding its feet on foreign policy.

Under ISIS, Mosul was a laboratory for an experiment in jihadist governance. Today remnants of its rule litter the liberated areas of the city. In the once upscale Dawasa neighborhood, the militants had taken over a restaurant, converting it into an office for registering carsISISs version of the DMV. Scattered outside, among the bombed-out buildings, lie Islamic Stateissued license plates.

For all its pretensions of governance, though, most Mosul residents remember the ISIS period as a time of petty brutality. Toward the end of their 33-month tenure, the jihadists seized cars and other valuables, carting their assets across the border to Syria as they braced for the Iraqi offensive. This wasnt a state. It was a gang, says Jasem Ahmed, 57, a truck driver in Dawasa, after picking through some of the left-behind ISIS documents in the abandoned vehicles office. If you want to build a state, you have to build something, and they took everything.

Today ISIS controls only 7% of Iraqi territory, down from 40% at its peak, according to the Iraqi military. Although it still controls Raqqa, the groups claims to a caliphatea territory to hold out as beacon to all the worlds Sunni Muslimswill be in tatters once Mosul is freed. But ISIS will remain a potent movement, albeit in a different form. Already it is stepping up efforts to maintain its global profile with attacks far from the theater of conflict. In recent weeks, the group has claimed terrorist strikes in St. Petersburg, London, Stockholm and Egypt, where dozens of Coptic Christians were killed as they celebrated Palm Sunday. Over time, ISIS will look less like a state and more like a terrorist group in the mold of its forebear al-Qaeda, generating headlines not by seizing territory but through spectacular acts of killing.

Even as they lose territory, I think its likely that theyll maintain relevance, by shifting strategy toward asymmetric insurgency, says Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst for the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. That goes not only for targets in the West, he adds, but also for the battlefields of Iraq and Syria where the group made its name. Its not as if theyre going to be unable to operate in what will still be quite weakly governed, if governed at all, territory.

In Mosul, the chaos they leave behind is visible on every corner. In the Aqeedat neighborhood, TIME was led to a heap of dead bodies sprawled in an alleyway. Women, children, two old men with white beards, they are 16 in all, their faces bloated with blood now, at least a week after they were killed.

One Iraqi federal police officer said he witnessed the family die after triggering a booby trap. Another was certain they had been shot dead. In its morbid details, the debate took in both the physical horrors and the mentality abroad in a country now 14 years at war. In our experience, if its a mine, youll see body parts everywhere. But as you can see, there are bullets everywhere, the officer says. ISIS wanted to make an example of them, for others who try to flee.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Moscow (AFP) - The Beslan school massacre began on September 1, 2004 when Chechen rebels seized School Number One in the southern Russian city and took more than 1,100 people hostage.

It ended 52 hours later in chaotic firefights involving tank cannon grenade launchers, flame-throwers and automatic weapons that left more than 330 people dead, including 186 children.

The European Court of Human Rights identified Thursday "serious failings" in Russia's handling of the siege, a ruling that Moscow deemed "absolutely unacceptable."

Here is a recap of the bloody siege:

- Militants seize the school -

At 10:20 am, around 30 insurgents, some wearing explosive belts, seize the school in the Russian republic of North Ossetia at the start of the academic year. They lock hundreds of hostages into the gymnasium and open fire on police. One hostage taker and 11 other people are killed.

The insurgents threaten to blow up the building if security forces storm it, rig the gymnasium with explosives, and demand the release of Chechen rebels detained in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia.

Around 65 of the children manage to escape.

- Standoff -

On September 2, the president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, negotiates the release of a group of 15 children and 11 women.

Conditions deteriorate however, and just after midnight, two blasts rock the school. Rebels say they detonated two grenades in fear of an imminent attack.

- Storm breaks -

At 1:08 pm on September 3, two more explosions are heard, followed by sustained gunfire. Some hostages escape and some insurgents try to get away as well.

Russian special forces penetrate the school about an hour later and confusion reigns for several hours, with armed local residents taking part in the assault.

As conflicting casualty figures are issued on September 4, ITAR-TASS news agency identifies Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev as mastermind of the siege. He claims responsibility on September 17, and is reported killed by Russian special forces in July 2006.

A final casualty toll puts the deaths of civilians and security forces at more than 330, including 186 children, and the number of wounded at around 750.

Thirty one militants are killed, and one is arrested.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires only the best people. But his personnel choices keep coming back to haunt him.

One of the people Trump hired for the White House was working as a foreign agent while advising him during the election. His campaign chairman caught the Justice Department's attention for similarly surreptitious work. And a third campaign adviser was reportedly surveilled by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether or not he was a Russian spy.

The tales of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page  none of whom still work for Trump  have created a steady drip of allegations that have clouded Trump's early presidency and raised persistent questions about his judgment.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

At worst, Trump's personnel picks appear to have left his campaign  and perhaps his White House  vulnerable to the influence of foreign powers. At best, they expose the long-term implications of his understaffed and inexperienced campaign organization and undermine his promises to surround himself with top-notch talent.

"Vetting new hires is standard procedure for presidential campaigns for exactly this reason," said Alex Conant, who advised Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign. "Every employee is also a potential liability on a presidential campaign."

Manafort, Flynn and Page have indeed become political liabilities for Trump that he can't shake in the White House. All three are being scrutinized as part of the FBI and congressional investigations into whether Trump associates helped Russia meddle in the 2016 election. The president has denied any nefarious ties to Russia and says he has no knowledge that his advisers were working with Moscow during the election.

The president's culpability appears greatest with Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who traveled with Trump frequently during the campaign and was tapped as national security adviser after the election. Flynn had been lobbying for a company with ties to Turkey during the 2016 election and even wrote an editorial on behalf of his client that was published on Election Day.

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"No one expects them to do the equivalent of an FBI background check, but a simple Google search could have solved a lot of these problems," Dan Pfeiffer, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trump's team.

After Trump's victory, Flynn's lawyers alerted the transition team that he may have to register as a lobbying for a foreign entity, according to a person with knowledge of those discussions. The White House hired him anyway. After the inauguration, Flynn's lawyers told the White House counsel's office that the national security adviser would indeed have to move forward with that filing.

Flynn was fired in February after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

Lobbying for foreign interests is legal and lucrative. Both Republican and Democratic operatives offer their services to overseas clients. But the Justice Department requires Americans working on behalf of foreign interests to register, disclosing the nature of their work, the foreigners they dealt with and the amount of money they made.

Willful failure to register for foreign lobbying work can carry up to a five-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department rarely brings criminal charges and instead urges violators to register.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Manafort said that he, too, under pressure from the Justice Department, would formally file for prior foreign lobbying. Manafort's work for political interests in Ukraine occurred before he was hired as Trump's campaign chairman, spokesman Jason Maloni said, though the U.S. government raised questions about his activities after he was hired by Trump.

"The work in question was widely known, concluded before Mr. Manafort began working with the Trump campaign and was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government," Maloni said.

Manafort was pushed out of Trump's campaign in August after The Associated Press reported that his consulting firm had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling political party without disclosing that work to the U.S. government.

The White House did not respond to questions Wednesday about when Trump learned about Manafort's foreign lobbying work and his discussions with the U.S. government about registering as a foreign agent.

The questions surrounding Page are perhaps the most serious. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Justice Department obtained a highly secretive warrant to monitor his communications because there was reason to believe he was working as a Russian spy.

In March, Trump personally announced Page as part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Page's ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the little-known investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department only obtained the warrant after the campaign distanced itself from Page.

In an interview Thursday with ABC's "Good Morning America," Page described his affiliation with the Trump campaign as having served as "an informal member of a committee which was put together  a team of individuals who were looking at various foreign policy issues."

Page said he does not recall if he had conversations with Russian officials about sanctions during that period. He first suggested that he never told any officials that Trump would ease sanctions on Russia, and said no Russian officials suggested that to him, but then he said he doesn't remember.

"Something may have come up in a conversation," he said. "I have no recollection."

Chris Ashby, a Republican elections lawyer, said that while it's easy to blame Trump for missing red flags about his campaign advisers, it's not always possible to dig up details that potential hires aren't willing to disclose on their own.

"In the ideal world, you could rely on paid background checks, but you'd have to have the money and the time," Ashby said. "The farther down the ranks you go and certainly when you reach the ranks of unpaid advisers, that becomes impractical."

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Associated Press writer Vivian Salama contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC
Pramod Mishra is a biweekly columnist for The Kathmandu Post. He is the department chair of English Studies at Lewis University in the United States.
Three gigantic requests for forgiveness have come back-to-back-to-back after Pepsi, United Airlines and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer all had massive public relations gaffes in the last two weeks.

Read: Sean Spicer Calls His Hitler Comments 'Inexcusable,' Says He Let the President Down

Crisis manager Karen Kessler told Inside Edition there are four things to make a good corporate apology.

"You have to apologize. You have to know who you are apologizing to. You have to know what you are apologizing for. You have to do it again after you apologize," she said.

Given the current climate of backlash and subsequent apologies, the advice may never be as significant as it is today.

Last Tuesday, Pepsi set social media ablaze after an ad featuring Kendall Jenner ditching a modeling gig to stand on the front lines of a protest to hand a cop a can of soda as a peace offering.

Coincidentally, the commercial came on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.s assassination and was widely regarded as tone-deaf.

Pepsi was immediately slammed, and within 24 hours the company pulled the commercial saying, "Clearly we missed the mark and we apologize."

"They took a little more time than they should have, but they handled it the right way," Kessler told Inside Edition.

This week brought on two controversies that led to major figures asking for clemency.

Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, admitted he "screwed up" after controversial remarks about Adolf Hitler during Tuesday's press briefing, adding that he let the president down.

After reporters and social media erupted in response to Spicers comments, he immediately issued a statement to clarify his comments.

In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust," Spicer said. "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers.

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Early Wednesday morning, he spoke at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and said: It is painful to myself to know I did something like that.

He also expressed his regret on CNN Wednesday, saying, "I apologize, it is a mistake to do that."

The timing of Spicer's comments could not have been worse, as they were made during the Jewish feast of Passover.

"His was fast, his was thorough, his was sincere, I believe," Kessler said. I think when the topic is Hitler, there is no such thing as apologizing too much.

Read: Did United Airlines CEO Get Preferential Treatment When He Received Heart Transplant?

The week also saw the now-infamous video of Dr. David Dao being knocked unconscious and dragged off a United Airlines plane after refusing to give up his seat.

After first describing Dr. Dao as "disruptive and belligerent, United CEO Oscar Munoz changed his tune two days later in an interview with Good Morning America and formally apologized.

"United is in the hall of shame and has a very big hole to dig itself out of," Kessler said.

Watch: Melania Trump Settles 'Daily Mail' Lawsuit for a Reported $3 Million, Gets Apology

Related Articles:
Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly is taking a break from his show amid allegations of sexual harassment at workplace that had led several companies to pull their advertisements from "The O'Reilly Factor" show. During the last few minutes of his show's broadcast Tuesday night, he told viewers that he would take a break for a few days as part of a pre-planned vacation.

"The arrangements, including airline and hotel reservations, for this vacation were made last October. The vacation involves a group of people, and the timing coincides with the period Mr. O'Reilly often takes off in and around his children's spring break," Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for O'Reilly, reportedly said in an emailed statement. "Other than the vacation guest hosts, The Factor broadcast will remain unchanged until Mr. O'Reilly's return post-vacation."

Read: Donald Trump Defends His Longtime Friend Bill O'Reilly Amid Sexual Allegation Claims?

The announcement comes a day after Fox News' parent company 20th Century Fox confirmed it was investigating the allegations against the anchor, reports said.

O'Reilly has been under investigation since April 1, when the New York Times reported about harassment allegations from five women against him, which totaled up to at least $13 million. However, he had denied any wrongdoing in a statement and said his popularity made him vulnerable to those who wanted to harm him or his employer.

One source close to the matter told CNN that Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman, might keep O'Reilly on air, but Murdoch's son James, 21st Century Fox CEO, is not keen to do that. Fox has asked the New York-based law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP a few days back to conduct an internal investigation into the allegations of Wendy Walsh, a former guest on "The O'Reilly Factor," CNN reported.

Andrea Tantaros, another former Fox News host, had accused O'Reilly in a lawsuit last year claiming he and other executives of the network had made sexual advances toward her, according to reports.

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Related Articles
Kiev (AFP) - A bloodied Ukraine marks three years Thursday since it launched a campaign against Russian-backed eastern separatists that now looks like an interminable conflict whose terms are dictated by the Kremlin.

More than 10,000 people have died in Europe's only war zone in that time -- a figure unimaginable when Kiev was riding the jubilant high of its February 2014 pro-EU revolution in which a self-enriching pro-Kremlin regime was sent fleeing into Russian exile.

But warning signs of Moscow refusing to let Ukraine slip out of its orbit and into the West's arms without a fight emerged almost immediately as Russia swarmed Crimea with troops and then annexed Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula in March 2014.

Armed men wearing no insignia on their uniforms but proclaiming pro-Russian slogans began taking over government buildings across Ukraine's industrial east the following month.

Russia initially denied sending crack soldiers to Crimea and still calls the separatist conflict a "civil war" in which it has played no part.

But Kiev and the West say there is overwhelming evidence showing Moscow has sent troops and weapons across the border throughout the unrest and effectively turned the conflict into an undeclared war between the two ex-Soviet neighbours.

- Rich tycoons, poor Ukraine -

One of Europe's bloodiest crises since the 1990s Balkans wars illustrates how difficult it is for countries once part of the Soviet Union to chart their own course.

More than two years of European efforts to bring peace to the EU's backyard through talks have produced little beyond periodic truces that have always been followed by more violence and death.

Ukraine was already among Europe's poorest states in 2014 due to decades of mismanagement and graft.

The war pushed its blighted economy into a two-year recession that now sees Ukrainians' per capita gross domestic product stand at just a fifth of the European average.

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The three years also did little to shake politics loose of the influence of a few tycoons who still play an outsized role in making big policy decisions.

"Reforms face strong pushback from vested interests," the International Monetary Fund warned on April 4 after releasing another tranche of its $17.5 billion (16.5 billion euro) Ukrainian rescue package.

And post-revolution President Petro Poroshenko's dream of applying for EU membership by 2020 and one day joining the NATO military alliance now looks out of reach.

- Poroshenko's promise -

The Ukrainian leader put aside the chocolate empire that made him into a billionaire to emerge as a unifying figure who appeared corruption-free and ready to fulfil the aspirations of the vast crowds of protesters involved in the 2013-2014 street uprising in which more than 100 died.

The political turmoil of early 2014 culminated with his overwhelming victory in a May 25 presidential election.

Poroshenko promised the very next afternoon to put an immediate end to a conflict that was then only a month old.

Ukraine's military campaign "cannot and will not last for two or three months," Poroshenko said in front of flashing cameras of the global media.

"It should last several hours."

But Poroshenko's challenge was taken up immediately by the insurgents. They stormed the main airport in what later became their de facto capital city of Donetsk that same week.

It marked a new and far graver chapter in a war that at its peak saw a dozen or more people killed every day.

- Forever splintered state? -

Currently there appears to be little chance of peace as a plan hammered out by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in February 2015 has stalled.

A Western official said Ukraine's heavy-handed ground tactics and overall approach to the Russian-speaking region complicated a reconciliation that could make the country whole again.

Kiev "is not making it easy for the east to be part of Ukraine in some meaningful way," the Western official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Donetsk city resident Arkady agreed.

"It will be hard for us to be one with Ukraine again," 50-year-old Arkady told AFP without revealing his last name for safety reasons.

Analysts also doubt that Putin will change his approach while in power for what may be another seven years.

"As long as the current authorities continue to run Russia, it is hard to see them letting Ukraine go," Lilia Shevtsova of London-based Chatham House think-tank said.
Associated Press

There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Here's a look at some coaches who figure to be on the hot seat if things don't turn around in the second half of the season and some assistants who could be in line for head coaching jobs.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has slammed Russia after it vetoed a United Nations resolution condemning the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Johnson said Wednesday that the veto put Moscow on the wrong side of history, calling it a lifeline for the murderous Syrian regime, The Guardian reports. The day before, Johnson had failed to garner sufficient G7 nation backing to impose further economic sanctions on Russia.

This afternoon in New York, the international community sought to make clear that any use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere is unacceptable and that those responsible will face consequences, Johnson said. So I am dismayed that Russia has once again blocked the U.N. security council and in so doing refused to condemn the use of chemical weapons or support a full U.N. investigation into the attack.

Aligning the U.K.s position with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillersons most recent statements on Syria, Johnson said that G7 nations stood ready to work with Russia but insisted that President Bashar Assad had no future in the country. He called on Russia to exert its influence of what he described as Assads murderous regime.

I agree with Rex Tillerson when he says that the Assad familys reign in Syria is coming to an end, Johnson said.

[Guardian]

This article was originally published on TIME.com
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced legislation Thursday to let adult possess up to 30 grams of marijuana in public  a measure that would make Canada the largest developed country to end a nationwide prohibition on recreational marijuana.

Trudeau has long promised to legalize recreational pot use and sales. U.S voters in California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada voted last year to approve the use of recreational marijuana, joining Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

The South American nation of Uruguay is the only nation to legalize recreational pot.

The proposed law allows four plants to be grown at home. Those under 18 found with less than five grams of marijuana would not face criminal charges but those who sell it or give to youth could face up to 14 years in jail.

"It's too easy for our kids to get marijuana. We're going to change that," Trudeau said.

Officials said Canadians should be able to smoke marijuana legally by July 1, 2018. The legislation must still be approved by Parliament but with Trudeau's Liberal party holding a majority its passage in considered assured.

The federal government set the age at 18, but is allowing each of Canada's provinces to determine if it should be higher. The provinces will also decide how the drug will be distributed and sold. The law also defines the amount of THC in a driver's blood, as detected by a roadside saliva test, that would be illegal. Marijuana taxes will be announced at a later date.

The Canadian government closely followed the advice of a marijuana task force headed by former Liberal Health Minister Anne McLellan. That panel's report noted public health experts tend to favor a minimum age of 21 as the brain continues to develop to about 25, but said setting the minimum age too high would preserve the illicit market.

Canadian youth have higher rates of cannabis use than their peers worldwide.

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"If your objective is to protect public health and safety and keep cannabis out of the hands of minors, and stop the flow of profits to organized crime, then the law as it stands today has been an abject failure," Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told a news conference. "Police forces spend between $2 billion and $3 billion every year trying to deal with cannabis, and yet Canadian teenagers are among the heaviest users in the western world ... We simply have to do better."

Goodale said they've been close touch with the U.S. government on the proposed law and noted exporting and importing marijuana will continue to be illegal.

"The regime we are setting up in Canada will protect our kids better and stop the flow of illegal dollars to organized crime. Our system will actually be the better one," Goodale said.

But Christina Grant, a professor of pediatrics at McMaster University in Ontario, worries the government is conveying the message that marijuana is not harmful. She fears usage will go up because concerns about its safety will dissipate.

"One in seven youths who have used cannabis will develop an addiction to cannabis and that impacts your life, schooling, job prospects, social and emotional relationships," she said. "And there is the risk of developing psychosis if you start using cannabis as a teenager. The more you use and the younger you start, you have up to four times the risk of developing some kind of psychotic illness."

Former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who is the parliamentary secretary to the justice minister, said officials learned from the experiences from other jurisdictions like Colorado and Washington state.

While the government moves to legalize marijuana, retail outlets selling pot for recreational use have already been set up. Trudeau has emphasized current laws should be respected. Police in Toronto, Vancouver and other cities raided stores earlier last month and made arrests.

The news that Canada was soon going to announce the law was noticed online last month by Snoop Dogg , who tweeted "Oh Canada!" Canadian folk singer Pat Robitaille released a "Weed song" to coincide with the government's announcement.

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Associated Press Writer Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report.
Ottawa (AFP) - The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil legislation on Thursday to fully legalize recreational marijuana use, making Canada only the second country to do so, after Uruguay.

Its legalization and regulation would follow in 2018, in time for Canada's national day on July 1.

The country's ministers of health, justice, public safety and national revenue, as well as a former-cop-turned-MP who spearheaded the initiative, will make the announcement.

The stated aim is to reduce policing and prosecutions, and keep it out of the hands of children.

Canadian political leaders have also decried the current anti-drug regime as a failure.

Trudeau himself admitted in 2013 to having smoked pot five or six times in his life, including at a dinner party with friends since being elected to parliament.

He has also said that his late brother Michel was facing marijuana possession charges for a "tiny amount" of pot before his death in an avalanche in 1998, and that this influenced his decision to propose legalizing cannabis.

Police chiefs who support legalization point to the nearly 70,000 police-reported incidents related to cannabis, mostly possession, in 2014, saying police resources are being wasted and criminal convictions are causing undue harm.

In anticipation of the legislative move, there has reportedly been a rush on licenses to produce medical marijuana, pot stocks have shot up, and dispensaries have opened in cities across the country vying for market share in what promises to be a lucrative business.

The latter, however, has led to police raids and controversy, and pleas from the government to would-be sellers to be patient and wait for the legal regime to be announced.

Medical marijuana use has been regulated in Canada since 2001. But cannabis remains a controlled drug, for the time being.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

- What will legal market look like -

According to government statistics, as many as 4.6 million Canadians will consume an estimated total 655 metric tons of cannabis annually by 2018, spending an estimated Can$4.2 billion to Can$6.2 billion each year.

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A task force led by former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan released a report last December outlining possible regulations for creating a legal market for cannabis including plain packaging and labelling, restrictions on advertising, and retail distribution.

The more than 80 recommendations included maintaining a separate medical marijuana regime, as well as criminal penalties for trafficking and selling cannabis to youth.

Under the proposed rules, individuals would be allowed to grow up to four plants at home for personal use.

Personal possession, however, would be limited to 30 grams (one ounce).

The report also noted that the biggest concerns in more than 30,000 submissions to the task force concerned the proposed minimum age and impaired driving.

Health groups expressed concern about the potential impact of marijuana on developing brains under the age of 25.

But the report concluded that the "current science is not definitive on a safe age for cannabis use."

Since the intention of legalization is to stop criminalizing users the panel chose an age that would not force adults under 25 to turn to the illicit market.

It noted that US states where recreational marijuana use is legal had aligned the minimum age with alcohol consumption at 21. In Canada legal adulthood starts at 18 or 19, depending on the province.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, meanwhile, said officials are testing devices similar to roadside breathalyzers to detect cannabis.

The drug has created new enforcement challenges because there is no legal or verified scientific test to determine a level of THC -- the psychoactive chemical in pot -- that causes impairment.
Ottawa (AFP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government unveiled legislation Thursday to fully legalize marijuana, making Canada only the second country to do so, after Uruguay.

While medical marijuana use has been regulated in this country since 2001, cannabis remains a controlled substance.

Its legalization and regulation for recreational use is expected in 2018, in time for Canada's national holiday on July 1.

"We know that criminal prohibition has failed," former-police-chief-turned-MP Bill Blair, who spearheaded the initiative, told a press conference.

"Legalization," he said, "seeks to regulate and restrict access to cannabis and will make Canada safer."

According to government statistics, as many as 4.6 million Canadians will consume an estimated total 655 metric tons of cannabis annually by 2018, spending an estimated Can$4.2 billion to Can$6.2 billion (USD $3.15-4.65 billion) each year.

The new regulations closely follow recommendations proposed in December by a task force led by former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan.

They would allow individuals to grow up to four plants at home for personal use.

Personal possession, however, would be limited to 30 grams (one ounce). And access would be restricted to adults 18 years and older.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale warned police would "come down hard" on illicit drug activities.

Trafficking outside the new regime would continue to be illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in prison, as would selling cannabis to youths, driving under its influence, and importing or exporting pot.

The drug has created new enforcement challenges because there has never been a legal or verified scientific test to determine a level of THC -- the psychoactive chemical in pot -- that causes impairment, for example, while driving.

Under the new regime, police would use new roadside saliva or blood tests to determine if a person is intoxicated, a crime punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison.

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- Strong public backing -

The move to legalize recreational use of marijuana is supported by a strong majority of Canadians, but is not without controversy and is sure to provoke a fierce debate in parliament over the coming months.

Trudeau himself admitted in 2013 to having smoked pot five or six times in his life, including at a dinner party with friends after being elected to parliament.

He has also said that his late brother Michel was facing marijuana possession charges for a "tiny amount" of pot before his death in an avalanche in 1998, and that this influenced his decision to propose legalizing cannabis.

Opposition parties are split on the issue. The New Democrats have called for its immediate decriminalization in order to end drug prosecutions they say are causing undue harm and wasting police resources.

A frontrunner for the leadership of the Tories, Kellie Leitch, meanwhile, said she would repeal the bill and reinstate the ban, if elected.

In anticipation of legalization, there has been a rush on licenses to produce medical marijuana, pot stocks have shot up, and dispensaries have opened in cities across the country vying for market share in what promises to be a lucrative business, leading to police raids and calls for sellers to wait for the legal regime.

"It is important to note that as the bill moves through the legislative process, existing laws prohibiting possession and use of cannabis remain in place and they need to be respected," Goodale said Thursday.

"This must be an orderly transition and not a free-for-all."

Health groups have expressed concern about the potential impact of marijuana on developing brains under the age of 25.

But a government-appointed task force has concluded that the "current science is not definitive on a safe age for cannabis use."

Since the intention of legalization is to stop criminalizing users, the government chose an age that would not force adults under 25 to turn to the illicit market.

It noted that in the handful of US states where recreational marijuana use is legal, the minimum age was set at 21, in line with alcohol consumption.

Health Minister Jane Philpott also said that the government has earmarked nearly Can$10 million to educate Canadians about known risks of pot use.
Geneva (AFP) - Canadian scientist Mark Wainberg -- described as a "giant" of HIV science and who had recently been working on finding a cure for the condition -- has died at the age of 71, UNAIDS said on Thursday.

The internationally renowned scientist, who was at the forefront of HIV research from the very beginning of the global AIDS epidemic, drowned on Wednesday while swimming off Bal Harbour in Florida, Radio Canada said.

"UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the tragic death of pioneering HIV researcher Mark Wainberg," the agency dedicated to battling the disease said in a statement.

Wainberg and his colleagues identified one of the main anti-retroviral medicines used to treat HIV infection and also contributed to the understanding of HIV drug resistance.

"Mark Wainberg was a giant in HIV science," UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe said in a statement, stressing that the researcher's work "contributed to saving millions of lives".

Linda-Gail Bekker, head of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which Wainberg lead from 1998, said the HIV/AIDS research community had "lost one of our fiercest champions".

"He was the epitome of dedication from the earliest days of the response," she said, adding that "the impact of his work... will live on through the millions of people accessing HIV treatment and those of us who were lucky enough to know him".

Wainberg, who served as an informal advisor to UNAIDS, was heading AIDS research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital and also of McGill University's AIDS Centre in Canada at the time of his death.

During his time leading IAS, he organised the 13th International AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa, and he also co-chaired the same conference in Toronto in 2006.
Paris (AFP) - From the tale of a mysterious giant beast to a family drama set against the European migrant crisis, here are the movies appearing in the main competition at next month's Cannes film festival:

- 'The Beguiled' -

Among the titles causing the most buzz at Cannes this year is Sofia Coppola's American Civil War thriller, a remake of the 1971 version starring Clint Eastwood, featuring Colin Farrell as a wounded soldier who seduces the women around him, including Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.

- 'Okja' and 'The Meyerowitz Stories' -

Netflix is premiering two movies at Cannes for the first time as the streaming giant makes increasing inroads to Hollywood alongside its rival Amazon.

"Okja", starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, tells the tale of a girl who risks everything to protect a shy giant animal.

Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman meanwhile star in "The Meyerowitz Stories", a comedy about siblings dealing with an ageing father.

- 'Wonderstruck' and 'You Were Never Really Here' -

Two Amazon-backed movies have also made the cut for the main competition. Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams star in "Wonderstruck", the story of two deaf children living parallel lives in the 1920s and 1970s.

"You Were Never Really Here", the latest feature by "We Need To Talk About Kevin" director Lynne Ramsay, stars Joaquin Phoenix as a war veteran who tries to save a sex-trafficking victim.

- 'Good Time' -

"Twilight" heartthrob Robert Pattinson stars in this crime flick by indie director brothers Benny and Josh Safdie, about a bank robber struggling to evade the police.

- 'Happy End' -

Fresh from winning a string of accolades for "Elle", Isabelle Huppert is back in Michael Haneke's new family drama, set in northern France against the backdrop of the European migrant crisis.

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- 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' -

For the second time at this year's Cannes, Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell team up for the tale of a boy attempting to bring a talented surgeon into his family, with disastrous consequences.

- 'Le Redoutable' and 'Rodin' -

Two French biopics have made it into the main competition. "Rodin" stars Jacques Doillon as the famed sculptor.

"Redoutable" (Redoubtable), about legendary movie director Jean-Luc Godard, is the latest offering from Michel Hazanavicius, the man behind five-times Oscar winner "The Artist".

- 'Les Fantomes de Ismael' (Ismael's Ghosts) -

This drama about a filmmaker disturbed by the return of a former lover features A-list French talent in the form of Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Mathieu Amalric.

- 'In The Fade' -

Fatih Akin presents a story of revenge in Germany's Turkish community.

- 'L'Amant Double' (The Double Lover) -

French director Francois Ozon's thriller follows a young woman who falls in love with her therapist before realising he's not who she thought he was.

- '120 battements par minute'

A film by French-Moroccan director Robin Campillo following the work of an AIDS charity in Paris in the 1990s.

- 'Radiance' -

The latest film by Japan's Naomi Kawase follows a photographer whose eyesight is failing.

- 'The Day After' -

South Korean director Hong Sang-Soo will be bringing two films to Cannes -- his new feature "The Day After", and for a special screening, "Claire's Camera" featuring Isabelle Huppert, which was shot partly during last year's festival.

- 'Jupiter's Moon' -

The latest offering from Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo, whose movie "White God" won the Cannes newcomers' prize in 2014.

- 'Loveless' -

A brutal depiction of life in a broken family, by Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev.

- 'A Gentle Creature' -

Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa brings us the bleak tale of a woman trying to learn the truth about a prison in remote Russia.
Personhood to rivers

Although there are thousands of rivers and rivulets in Nepal, Bagmati is the only one that has come to our notice
Paris (AFP) - The Cannes Festival was due Thursday to unveil which films have made the cut for its 70th birthday edition, where the silver screen's finest will be vying for glory next month.

Organisers of the world's top film event on the French Riviera traditionally guard their selections jealously for the competition and the out-of-competition programme, but there has been fevered speculation over the line-up for months.

Sofia Coppola's "The Beguiled" is one film that industry insiders agree is likely to earn a spot at this year's Cannes.

The daughter of Francis Ford Coppola is a Cannes veteran who previously premiered "Marie Antoinette" (2006) and her last feature film "The Bling Ring" (2013) at the festival.

Her latest offering "The Beguiled", an American Civil War drama about a young soldier who seduces all the women around him, features an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Colin Farrell and Elle Fanning.

Organisers have tapped Pedro Almodovar, Spain's most celebrated living movie director, to lead the jury at this year's festival, which will run from May 17 to 28.

The official selection of movies in competition will be announced at 0900 GMT on Thursday at a Paris hotel by festival director Thierry Fremaux and the president of the event, Pierre Lescure.

The organisers typically wade through some 1,800 films to winnow them down to shortlists.

It is a weary process for Fremaux, who told AFP last year that he and his selection committee "watch the movies right to the end".

Another favourite to earn a slot in the official competition -- also starring Kidman and Fanning -- is John Cameron Mitchell's sci-fi romance "How to Talk to Girls At Parties".

- Netflix debut? -

Other films in the running include Todd Haynes' "Wonderstruck", starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams, a story about two deaf children told simultaneously in two different timelines.

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South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's "Okja" with Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal -- about a young girl risking everything to save her best friend, a giant animal -- could become the first Netflix-backed feature to screen at the festival.

"War Machine", another Netflix-backed effort starring Brad Pitt as a US army general in Afghanistan alongside Swinton and Ben Kingsley, is also in the running.

Other likely contenders include "Redoubtable", a biopic of legendary French director Jean-Luc Godard, by Michel Hazanavicius who made Oscar-winning silent movie "The Artist".

"Ismael's Ghosts" by Arnaud Desplechin, about a filmmaker disturbed by the return of his former love, has also been tipped, featuring A-list French talent in the form of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marion Cotillard and Mathieu Amalric.
DOLJEVAC, Serbia (AP)  Fatima Bakhshi stays close to her mother and two sons, afraid she might lose them as they trudge through the cold Balkan darkness. The smuggler they've paid to escort them safely into Western Europe orders them to squeeze into a car with more than a dozen other migrants.

Bakhshi, the boys in her lap, is crammed so tightly in the back that she can barely breathe. The driver swerves and she yells at him to stop. Other migrants snap at her to keep quiet and she dozes off. All she wants is a new life with relatives in Ireland, away from a brutish husband and a controlling father back in Afghanistan.

In an instant, on a road in southern Serbia, the 26-year-old's dream turns into a nightmare. The car hits a barrier and overturns, killing Bakhshi's mother and another person. Bakhshi's younger son is hurt, and she is so badly wounded that her legs must be amputated above the knees.

"I wake up in the hospital, I see I didn't have feet, there is doctors," Bakhshi says in broken English. "Where is my mother? Where is my feet? I am calling, crying, all the time I am crying."

Bakhshi's tragedy highlights the dangers facing migrants  particularly women  who rely on smugglers to take them on dangerous journeys through Central and Eastern Europe in hopes of finding new lives in more prosperous countries to the west. She doesn't remember many details of her journey and finds others too hard to talk about, including how they found the smuggler and how much they paid. The driver of the car fled and it's not clear if he was ever found.

Tens of thousands of people remain stranded across the Balkans after countries throughout Europe last year tightened migration rules and border controls. Most are fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East or Africa.

Bakhshi fled a life of abuse in Afghanistan. When she was 16, her father pulled her out of school to marry a man 10 years her senior whom she had never seen before. She says he turned out to be a drug addict who harassed and beat her severely.

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A year ago, she tried to leave her abusive husband and return to her parents' home, but her father wouldn't take her in. Her mother decided to help her get away.

The two set off with the boys, now ages 5 and 9. Details of the journey are hazy, but Bakhshi recalls that they first went to Pakistan, then to Iran, Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. They spent eight months in a refugee camp in Greece, then were detained and pushed back to Greece once from Macedonia, before finally reaching Serbia in December.

"It's very hard. You don't understand because you don't see," Bakhshi said of the ordeal. "It's very hard (on) my feet, walking to mountain and from Iran to Turkey. It's very hard."

"I come here with my mother, I think I'll be happy with my kids and then I had accident in car," she said.

More than three months after the Dec. 29 crash, Bakhshi is now out of the hospital, staying in a small care home in the village of Doljevac, in southern Serbia. She has started a rehabilitation program that should result in prosthetic limbs. Her children are well, by her side.

Faced with her immense loss, bed-ridden and desperate, Bakhshi speaks in a hushed, low voice, smiling only at the sight of her boys playing nearby. She said her only wish remains to join her mother's brother and other relatives in Ireland so her children can have a future in a larger family.

"I don't want to live, I live just for my kids," she said sadly, bowing her head. "Before I liked learning. Now it's very hard. I just sleep."

The United Nations refugee agency in Serbia, the UNHCR, has declared Bakhshi a refugee and offered to help resettle her in an as-yet-undecided third country where she can have access to a better treatment than in impoverished Serbia. But the agency cannot guarantee it will be Ireland.

"This depends on the quotas that are at hand," said Davor Rako, an associate protection officer for the UNHCR. "At this point in time, unfortunately, Ireland does not have a quota for UNHCR, for settlement."

Vladimir Bogosavljevic, a psychologist with Indigo, a group for children and youth that also works with migrants, has worked with Bakhshi and her children. He said he hopes to enroll the boys in a local school, but that the family is anxious not to separate at all. Bogosavljevic appealed to "people of good will and in high places" to help Bakhshi and the boys join their relatives in Ireland because "so far that is her only wish."

"It's important to give her hope," he said.

Bakhshi said that for her, Ireland also means a connection to her late mother, whom she considers the only friend she's ever had.

"Always my mother helped me. Why my mother died?" she sobbed. "I had just mother in life. Why is like this, why?"
The sculptor behind Wall Streets iconic Charging Bull called for New York City to pull the popular Fearless Girl statue, which he said has transformed his work of art from a positive image to a negative symbol of fear.

Arturo Di Modica, 76, was emotional at a news conference Wednesday when he described how the new 4-ft. statue of a defiant little girl placed in front of the bronze bull has changed the message of his signature artwork from being a beacon of strength and power to a threat.

Shes there attacking the bull, the longtime artist from Italy said about the statue of the girl, which was placed in the center of the worlds financial capital in early March, ahead of International Womens Day. Its really bad.

What they did - its negative, he added.

Melissa ChanArtist Arturo Di Modica, who created the iconic Charging Bull statue on Wall Street, is seen here with his lawyers and reporters on April 12, 2017

Di Modica and his attorneys said they have not dismissed the possibility of taking legal action against the city for allowing State Street Global Advisors, an investment-service company, to put the statue of the little girl in front of the bull without first asking Di Modica for permission. The lawyers argued that Di Modicas legal rights were violated.

The fearless girl is fearless because shes confronting the bull, said Norman Siegel, one of the artists attorneys.

State Street said it strategically placed the statue of the girl in front of the iconic bull to make a statement about gender diversity and to send a message to finance companies to increase the number of women on their corporate boards.

It has inspired thousands of people across the world and has drawn flocks of spectators to the site. Mayor Bill de Blasio extended its permit for almost one year as a response to widespread requests to make it a permanent fixture.

Men who dont like women taking up space are exactly why we need the Fearless Girl, the mayor tweeted Wednesday.

Melissa ChanArturo Di Modica

State Street said in a statement Wednesday that the Fearless Girl represents the power and potential of having more women in leadership. Our goal with Fearless Girl was to create a powerful symbol to stand as a reminder to corporations across the globe that having more women in leadership positions contributes to overall performance and strengthens our economy, spokeswoman Anne Mcnally said.

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Siegel said State Street sent its message of female empowerment while exploiting the bull for commercial purposes and hurting Di Modicas honor and reputation in the process. Remove her and place her somewhere else in the city, the attorney said. Were not asking it to be banned. Gender equality is a very serious and substantial issue. It permeates throughout our society, Siegel continued. None of us here today are in any way not proponents of gender equality, but there are issues of copyright and trademark.

Principles trump popularity, Siegel added.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Chinese exports surged in March, the largest jump in two years, in the latest sign of robust global demand as concerns ease over a possible trade war with the US after President Donald Trump softened his stance on Beijing.

The new figures, released Thursday, boost hopes that the world's number two economy is getting back on track after a recent slowdown -- it grew last year at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century.

Trump, who had a cordial summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, reversed course on an election campaign promise to label Beijing a currency manipulator and slap punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.

He traded in his acerbic denouncements of the Asian giant's "rape" of the US economy for warm praise, telling a press conference he was "very impressed" and shared "a very good chemistry" with Xi.

In a positive sign for the Chinese economy, exports jumped 16.4 percent year-on-year to $180.6 billion in March, the country's customs agency said, marking a dramatic turnaround from the 1.3 percent year-on-year drop recorded in February.

Imports also rose 20.3 percent year-on-year to $156.7 billion last month, Customs said, while the trade surplus increased to $23.9 billion.

A pickup in external demand, surging import prices, and a stable domestic economy boosted the figures, Customs spokesman Huang Songping told a press briefing on Thursday.

The March data "reflects strong domestic demand, particularly investment demand," Zhao Yang of Nomura said in a note.

"China has finally caught up with the rest of Asia with the end of the trade recession," Raymond Yeung of Australia & New Zealand Banking Group told Bloomberg News.

- Softening rhetoric -

While recent data has suggested China's slowdown may be stabilising, the tough language deployed by Trump had raised concerns that growing friction between the world's two top traders could tank the global economy.

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On the campaign trail, the billionaire politician frequently took Beijing to task for its business and fiscal policies, branding the country a currency manipulator and threatening to slap 45 percent tariffs on its imports.

China for years was accused of keeping its currency artificially low to make its exports cheaper and more competitive compared to US goods.

But in an interview published on Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal, Trump said: "They're not currency manipulators."

He added that Beijing had not been manipulating its currency for months -- a point economists have been making for a much longer time.

"The risk of a trade war has diminished substantially" following recent discussions between the two leaders, said Australia & New Zealand Banking Group's Yeung.

Nevertheless, the situation remains fluid. Trump has continued to hit out at China for its massive trade deficit with the US, which was $17.7 billion in March, according to the customs data.

"The foreign trade situation in China is still complex with many instabilities and uncertainties, and the difficulties that China faces are not short-term ones," the agency's spokesman Huang said, adding that foreign trade expansion is likely to fall back in the second quarter.

Trump and Xi have agreed to pursue a 100-day plan on trade, which could include measures to reduce the deficit.

But it remains unclear how far China will go to increase US imports.

"The reality is that China's domestic investments and property markets are the dominant growth drivers this year instead of trade," Betty Wang and David Qu of ANZ Research wrote in a note.
(BEIJING/PYONGYANG) - Military force cannot resolve tension over North Korea, China said on Thursday, while an influential Chinese newspaper urged the North to halt its nuclear program in exchange for Chinese protection.

With a U.S. aircraft carrier group steaming to the area and tension rising, South Korea said it believed the United States would consult it before any pre-emptive strike against the North.

Fears have been growing that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of U.N. sanctions and stark warnings from the United States that a policy of patience was over.

China, North Koreas sole major ally and benefactor, which nevertheless opposes its weapons program, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Military force cannot resolve the issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing.

Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he would not tolerate any provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Trump has diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive, in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with important events and anniversaries.

The possibility of U.S. military action gained traction after the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

Wang warned that history would hold any instigator to account.

Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility, Wang said.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told parliament in Seoul he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

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A Washington-based think-tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images on Wednesday showed activity around the Norths Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that indicated it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a test was more likely, although they also said the North appeared ready to conduct a test at any time.

An influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, was to give up its nuclear programme, and China would protect it if it did.

As soon as North Korea complies with Chinas declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime, said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist partys Peoples Daily.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about threats from North Korea, telling parliament in Tokyo that Pyongyang could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

A senior Japanese diplomat said the United States was putting maximum pressure on North Korea to resolve issues peacefully while putting responsibility on China to sway its old ally.

We will watch what action China takes, the diplomat said.

While Japan did not see a high risk of military action, it expected to be consulted by the United States if it decided to attack. North Korea has about 350 missiles that can hit Japan.

DAY OF THE SUN

About 200 foreign journalists gathered in Pyongyang for North Koreas biggest national day, the Day of the Sun, were taken to what officials billed as a big and important event early on Thursday.

It turned out to be the opening of a new street in the centre of the capital, attended by leader Kim.

North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday. In 2012, it tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

North Koreas official KCNA news agency said early on Thursday that Kim Jong Un had guided training of the armys special operation forces jumping from aircraft.

On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy both countries.

U.S. officials said Trump was considering sanctions that could include an oil embargo, banning North Koreas airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with it.

Theres a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to whats essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea, one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters in Washington.

Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed that Chinas coal imports from North Korea had plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago.

China suspended issue of permits for coal imports from North Korea on Feb. 18 as part of its effort to implement U.N. sanctions.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the United States for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a very good discussion of the menace of North Korea. He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary.

Additional reporting by Natalie Thomas in Pyongyang, Ju-min Park and James Pearson in Seoul, Christian Shepherd in Beijing, Linda Sieg in Tokyo, and Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom and Jeff Mason in Washington

This article was originally published on TIME.com
President Donald Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping by phone Wednesday, the latter calling for a peaceful resolution to escalating tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.

Xi told Trump that Beijing proposed to resolve the issue through peaceful means, according to a readout released by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement said that Xi also stressed his commitment to denuclearization on the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability, stating that China remains willing to coordinate with the U.S. toward those ends.

The readout does not specify who initiated the call, made just days after the U.S. alarmed Asian leaders by dispatching an aircraft carrier and strike fleet to waters near the Korean Peninsula in an apparent display of force. The move made regional neighbors nervous and infuriated Pyongyang, which warned of catastrophic responses to any further aggression by the U.S. military.

North Koreas progress toward nuclear armament was high on the agenda when Trump and Xi met for the first time in Florida last week, though no breakthrough was announced for further cooperation on curbing Pyongyangs weapons program. Prior to their meeting, Trump had warned that he may attempt to use trade as leverage to coerce Beijing into cooperating, while warning that the U.S. was prepared to act unilaterally if China would not assist.

Read More: Unilateral Action by Trump on North Korea Will Simply Add to an Already Intractable Problem

Pyongyang has provoked Washington by carrying out five nuclear tests since 2006, and increasingly frequent missile launches.

Trump expounded on Twitter this week that he had explained to Xi during their meeting that trade with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! This was followed shortly by another tweet reiterating that the U.S. was prepared to act alone. 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 the tweet.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Philip Wen and Joseph Campbell DANDONG, China (Reuters) - Despite heightened tension on the Korean peninsula and North Korea warning of a nuclear strike against any sign of U.S. aggression, there were few signs of strain on Thursday on the main border post between China and the reclusive nation. In Dandong, through which about three-quarters of China's trade with North Korea flows, long queues of trucks heading in both directions formed across the Friendship Bridge, despite what locals said was a relative lull due to the North's most important national holiday on Saturday marking the birth of founder president Kim Il Sung. China has signed up to wide-ranging United Nations sanctions designed at halting Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and local traders told Reuters that blanket bans on key North Korean commodities exports like coal, iron ore powder and precious metals have dealt a blow to business. Trade across the border is now mainly food, textiles, plastic goods, other household items and some commodities, the traders said. Dandong residents said they were well aware of the mounting tension on the Korean peninsula, fuelled by Pyongyang's repeated ballistic missile and nuclear tests, South Korea's installation of the THAAD anti-missile system in response, and a U.S. aircraft carrier group heading to the region in a show of force. Most expressed a little anxiety, but were largely confident the situation would not flare out of control. "If a war starts, then the situation on the peninsula will completely get chaotic," said 66-year-old retiree Cai Zhengsun, who was strolling along the Yalu River, which marks the border between the two countries. "When Xi Jinping spoke with the U.S. president, he mentioned maintaining the peace on the peninsula," Cai said, referring to Wednesday's telephone conversation between the leaders of the China and the United States. "(Xi) won't allow any attacks. Although the U.S. is the world's hegemonic power, it wouldn't dare to take actions." China, which shares a long land border with North Korea, is the reclusive state's sole major ally and main trading partner. At their Florida summit meeting last week, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme. Trump said on Tuesday that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and Washington would "solve the problem" with or without China's help. The worry is that the reclusive North could hold its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of United Nations sanctions around the time of its founder's birth anniversary. Trump has put North Korea on notice that he will not tolerate provocative actions. TRADE SLOWED Trade has slowed at the border, Chinese transport workers said. At one logistics centre for metal shipments visited by Reuters, workers were busy unloading North Korean trucks arriving from across the border. They said flows of North Korean trucks had slowed to a trickle of three or four a day since February, down from the usual 20. "Only shipments of lead are being allowed through," said the centre's foreman, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Zhang. "We used to trade all metals here, gold, silver, iron ore powder from North Korea  just not copper, they keep it there for military use." China has long been wary of cutting off trade completely for fear that it could trigger a regime collapse that would send millions of North Koreans surging across the border seeking refuge. China and North Korea enjoy "normal trade activities", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing. "It is beyond dispute for us to maintain normal trade relations with North Korea while observing our obligations to the Security Council resolutions," Lu said. However, away from official channels, unregulated grey market trade continues to flourish. At Dandong's Yicuomao port, a stream of Chinese fishing vessels carries grains and potatoes, besides alcohol, candy and cooking gas, for barter with North Korean fishermen. The vessels return from one-day round trips to North Korean waters full of fresh seafood. The Chinese fishermen who work the boats say they are often shocked by the apparent poverty of their North Korean counterparts who look "close to starvation". "What happens to the food we bring when it gets there, I don't know," one said. (Additional reporting by Christian Shepherd in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - More than 25,000 people in famine-threatened Somalia have been struck by cholera or acute watery diarrhoea and the deadly epidemic should double by this summer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday. The United Nations is already racing to avoid a repeat of famine in the drought-hit Horn of African nation where more than 250,000 people died of starvation in 2011. Cholera, which is endemic in Somalia, is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. Malnourished children under five years are especially vulnerable. Already 25,424 infected people have been identified since the start of the year, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said by email, adding: "These numbers are projected to increase to 50,000 by summer." The case fatality rate for the disease, spread by contaminated food or water, is already 2.1 percent in Somalia, twice the emergency threshold, he said. At least 524 deaths have been recorded. Cholera can be successfully treated with oral rehydration solution. Severe cases will need rapid treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, according to the WHO. Death rates among Somalis infected with cholera now reach 14.1 percent in Middle Juba and 5.1 percent in Bakool, U.N. spokesman Jens Laerke told a news briefing. "We still have 2.9 million people in level 3 and 4, level 4 being the step just before we declare a famine," Laerke said, referring to the U.N. classification. "So almost 3 million in those critical and crisis emergency levels." The centre of cholera outbreak is Baidoa, David Akopyan, U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) deputy country director for Somalia, told the briefing by telephone from the capital Mogadishu. Thirteen of Somalia's 18 regions are affected, he said. Some 500,000 Somalis have been internally displaced, many in search of water, as well as some 3 million pastoralists who have lost 70 percent of their livestock due to drought, he said. Akopyan, asked about famine, replied: "We are not exactly there, the fear is that in two months if things are not scaled up we will get there ... Hopefully famine will be prevented." (Corrects day in first para to Thursday from Friday) (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Prez bhandari to pay state visit to India on Monday

President Bidya Dev Bhandari will be paying a state visit to India from April 17 to 21, Nepal and India officially announced on Wednesday.
By Warren Strobel and Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service," using his first public speech as spy agency chief to denounce leakers who have plagued U.S. intelligence.

Pompeo, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, called WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange "a fraud" and "a coward."

"It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is, a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia," Pompeo said.

He said Russia's GRU military intelligence service used Wikileaks to distribute material hacked from Democratic National Committee computers during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia stole the emails and took other actions to tilt the election in favor of eventual winner Donald Trump, a Republican, against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Pompeo and President Donald Trump, who chose him to head the CIA, have not always been so critical of WikiLeaks. During a campaign rally last October, Trump praised the group for releasing hacked emails from the DNC by saying, "I love WikiLeaks."

In July, Pompeo, than a Republican member of the House of Representatives, mentioned it in a Twitter post referring to claims that the DNC had slanted the candidate-selection process to favor Clinton. "Need further proof that the fix was in from Pres. Obama on down? BUSTED: 19,252 Emails from DNC Leaked by Wikileaks."

WikiLeaks has published secret documents from the U.S. government and others and says its mission is to fight government secrecy and promote transparency. Pompeo said it has "encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence."

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, after taking refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape, which he denies.

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Two of Assange's lawyers and a Wikileaks spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Pompeo's remarks.

Pompeo's speech on Thursday follows a series of damaging leaks of highly sensitive CIA and National Security Agency material.

In March, WikiLeaks published thousands of pages of internal CIA discussions that revealed hacking techniques the agency had used against iPhones, Android devices and other targets.

Pompeo also had harsh words for Edward Snowden, the former National Security Administration contractor who downloaded thousands of documents revealing some of the electronic eavesdropping agency's most sensitive programs and shared them with journalists.

"More than a thousand foreign targets, people, groups, organizations, more than a thousand of them changed or tried to change how they communicated as a result of the Snowden disclosures," Pompeo said. "That number is staggering."

U.S. intelligence agencies have struggled to deal with "insider threats" - their own employees or contractors who steal classified materials and, in some cases, publicize them.

In response to a question, Pompeo disputed Russia's account of a chemical weapons attack in Syria that prompted retaliatory cruise missile strikes by Trump last week.

Moscow has said that Syrian rebels, rather than the Syrian government, were responsible.

"None of the (accounts) have an ounce of truth in them," Pompeo said, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "a man for whom veracity doesn't translate into English."

(Additional reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech and Bill Trott)
Washington (AFP) - Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday branded WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service," saying it threatens democratic nations and joins hands with dictators.

In his first public remarks since becoming chief of the US spy agency in February, Pompeo focused on the anti-secrecy group and other leakers of classified information like Edward Snowden as one of the key threats facing the United States.

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service. It has encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence... And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organizations," said Pompeo.

"It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is - a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia."

Pompeo compared WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange to leakers of the pre-internet days like former CIA official Philip Agee.

Agee's exposing the identities of undercover CIA agents was blamed for the assassination of the agency's Athens station chief in 1974.

On Wednesday, Assange published an opinion piece in the Washington Post in which he said his group's mission was the same as America's most respected newspapers: "to publish newsworthy content."

"WikiLeaks's sole interest is expressing constitutionally protected truths," he said, professing "overwhelming admiration for both America and the idea of America."

- CIA hacking files leaked -

While it has released secret materials from around the world, WikiLeaks's notoriety comes from its US-related scoops. In 2010 it published 251,000 classified cables from US embassies around the world.

Last year it published files and communications from the Democratic Party, damaging presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign. US intelligence says that release was part of a Russian plot to aid eventual election victor Donald Trump.

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The FBI and other US agencies are in fact investigating alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The Guardian newspaper in Britain reported Thursday that British intelligence played a critical role in alerting the US government to contacts between members of Trump's campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives.

Quoting a source close to British intelligence, the paper said that in late 2015 the British intelligence organization known as GCHQ became aware of suspicious "interactions" between figures connected to Trump and known or suspected Russian agents, and passed this information along to the Americans.

Last month, WikiLeaks embarrassed the CIA and damaged its operations by releasing a large number of files and computer code from the agency's top secret hacking operations.

The data showed how the CIA exploits vulnerabilities in popular computer and networking hardware and software to gather intelligence.

Counterintelligence investigators continue to try to find out who stole the files and handed them to WikiLeaks.

Assange meanwhile criticized the US agency for not telling the tech industry and authorities about those vulnerabilities so they can be fixed.

Pompeo said Assange portrays himself as a crusader but in fact helps enemies of the United States, including aiding Russia's interference in last year's presidential election.

"Assange and his ilk make common cause with dictators today. Yes, they try unsuccessfully to cloak themselves and their actions in the language of liberty and privacy; in reality, however, they champion nothing but their own celebrity. Their currency is clickbait; their moral compass, nonexistent."

However, Pompeo did not comment on how Trump has previously lavished praise on Assange for the information he has made public.

Nor did Pompeo mention that he himself had cited and linked to WikiLeaks in a tweet attacking the Democratic Party. Pompeo at the time was a Republican congressman and member of the House Intelligence Committee.

The CIA declined to comment on that.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S.-led air strike mistakenly killed 18 members of a Kurdish and Arab militia backed by Washington south of the Syrian city of Tabqa, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The U.S.-led coalition forces struck the position on Tuesday after another partner in the fight wrongly told them its was occupied by Islamic State militants, the Pentagon said, underlining the complex nature of the conflict. "The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position," the statement added. The SDF is fighting in a campaign to encircle and ultimately capture Raqqa city, Islamic State's main base of operations in Syria. The militia has closed in on the Islamic State-held Tabqa area, a focus of heavy fighting, about 40 km (25 miles) west of Raqqa. The SDF said its leadership was working with the coalition to investigate the incident and prevent it from happening again. "In the area of military operations near Tabqa and as a result of error, a painful incident took place" causing several casualties, the SDF said in a statement. (Reporting by the Washington Newsroom, additional reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut)
The Colorado State University student, who was body-slammed to the ground face-first in Fort Collins a week ago, says the violent takedown at the hands of a police officer has left her "humiliated."

Read: Cops Facing Excessive Force Allegations After Female College Student Is Body-Slammed at Bar

"Like all my bones were shattering in my face. I was so humiliated because everyone was watching me," Michaella Surat, 22, told Good Morning America Thursday morning.

The college junior suffered a concussion and bruises on her chin.

I can't go to school without feeling like someone's going to approach me and hurt me," she said. "Im getting death threats online."

The Fort Collins police officer was responding to a bar fight last Thursday that allegedly involved the young woman's boyfriend.

In the video, which was released over the weekend, Surat appears to be pushing away from the officer, who then slams her to the ground. The department called the move "standard arrest control."

I found out that my boyfriend got kicked out of the bar so I went outside just to see what happened," Surat recalled. "Then the altercation happened and one thing led to another and it just escalated.

Cops deny it was excessive force, saying she "physically obstructed and struck" the cop.

The college student was charged with third-degree assault and obstructing an officer. She is due back in court next month.

This shouldn't happen to anyone, no matter their size, race or color, this shouldn't happen to anyone. It's unbelievable, she said.

Read: Aspiring Rapper Eats $621 Worth of Seafood, Then Jumps in the Sea to Beat the Check: Cops

"This event will be thoroughly investigated," Fort Collins Police Services Chief John Hutto posted in a lengthy statement on Facebook Sunday.

He added that the police were wearing body cameras and that footage will not be released until the case is closed.

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I have no control over the video that is already in the public domain, but I do have control over the release of the video evidence from our body worn cameras," Hutto wrote. "This is an open investigation and to release evidence, absent a truly compelling reason, would not be proper. I am committed to preserving a process that ensures a fair and impartial outcome. I am equally committed to preserving the rights of both Ms. Surat and the involved officers."

Watch: Cop Tackles Man Seen Hitting Police Station Windows With Baseball Bat

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By David Lewis KINSHASA (Reuters) - In June 2015, the Belgian company Semlex signed a deal to supply biometric passports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. A few weeks later two companies based in the United Arab Emirates made payments totaling $700,000 to private bank accounts held in the name of Emmanuel Adrupiako, a Kabila adviser who helped handle the passport deal, according to bank documents and emails reviewed by Reuters. The two UAE-based companies have connections to Semlex, but it isn't clear whether the payments were related to the passport deal. Adrupiako did not respond to requests for comment. One of the UAE-based companies was named Berea International and the other Cedovane, both registered in Ras Al Khaimah. Officials at the emirate's corporate regulator, RAK Investment Authority, would not comment on either of the companies, citing confidentiality rules. However, Reuters reviewed an "incumbency certificate" for Berea  an official document issued by the RAK Investment Authority that gives basic information about a business. It states that Semlex CEO Albert Karaziwan is a director, secretary and sole shareholder of Berea. Another director of Berea is Karaziwan's associate Cedric Fevre. Fevre is also a director of Cedovane, a Cedovane document shows. The payments to Adriupiako went through United Arab Bank (UAB). A copy of UAB documentation seen by Reuters shows that on July 29, 2015, Cedovane paid $300,000 to an account Adrupiako holds in Quebec with the Royal Bank of Canada. The reason given for the $300,000 payment was "loan agreement," according to the document. Royal Bank of Canada declined to comment. Fevre did not respond to requests for comment about Cedovane. A few weeks later, on Aug. 25, Berea paid $400,000 to an account Adrupiako has with Jyske Bank in Denmark. That payment triggered concern in Copenhagen. When Jyske Bank asked for further information, Adrupiako told the bank the money was to pay for a four-storey building Berea was renting off him as it set up shop in Kinshasa, according to bank emails and a Berea contract reviewed by Reuters. Jyske Bank said it could not comment, citing client confidentiality. UAB said in a statement to Reuters that it had followed the requirements set by its regulator in handling payments. A Reuters reporter visited the address in Kinshasa where the rented building was said to be located. The reporter found a four-storey building still under construction and there was no sign that Berea had any presence there. (Additional reporting by Noah Browning and Tom Arnold in Dubai, Stanley Carvalho in Abu Dhabi, Teis Jensen in Copenhagen, Robert-Jan Bartunek in Brussels and Matt Scuffham in Toronto; Editing By Richard Woods and Michael Williams)
WASHINGTON (AP)  The conservative Club for Growth is targeting powerful committee chairmen and other top Republicans, part of an aggressive ad campaign to rally support for the GOP's struggling health care overhaul effort.

The television and digital ads, unveiled earlier this week, pressure Republicans to a back a revised version of the GOP health care bill that Speaker Paul Ryan abruptly withdrew last month because it lacked the votes. The Trump administration offered a new proposal last week in talks with conservative lawmakers. Under the changes, states could seek federal waivers from requirements under President Barack Obama's health care law that insurers charge healthy and seriously ill consumers the same premiums, and that they cover specified medical services like mental health counseling.

The ads will air in the districts of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee who was instrumental in pushing for the original health care bill through his panel; Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., head of the Appropriations Committee who opposed the GOP bill; and Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a chief deputy whip who helps round up votes for leadership.

"President Trump and House conservatives have come together with a new plan," the ad says. "It lowers premiums by giving Illinois the freedom to end Obamacare's costly and ridiculous rules. So, who's standing in the way? Professional politicians like Congressman Greg Walden."

The ad urges viewers to call Walden's office.

Republican moderates and conservatives had mixed reactions to the White House proposal, and Congress left town for a two-week recess without voting on any legislation.

The Republican bill would repeal much of Obama's 2010 law, including tax penalties for people who don't buy policies. It would provide tax credits that would be smaller than Obama's for many lower-earning and older recipients, and would also cut Medicaid, which helps poorer people afford medical care. In a major setback for the GOP, Ryan withdrew the bill after Trump and leadership failed to convince enough House Republicans to back the legislation.

Club officials had said they will spend $1 million on national ads on television and online.

The ads also will run in the districts of Republican Reps. Chris Collins of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Martha McSally of Arizona, Pat Tiberi of Ohio, Charlie Dent and Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania and Evan Jenkins of West Virginia.
Last summer's high-profile Florida shooting of an autism patient's unarmed caregiver has now led to charges against the police officer who pulled the trigger.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney issued a warrant Wednesday for the arrest of North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda in connection with the shooting of behavioral therapist Charles Kinsey.

Read: Cop Who Shot Therapist Says He Was Aiming for Autistic Patient: 'I Took This Job to Save Lives'

In July 2016, Aledda and others from the North Miami Police Department responded to a call about a man, possibly suicidal, with a silver weapon in his hand.

The initial call came when a resident of the Miami Achievement Center for the Developmentally Disabled (MACtown), who required 24-hour one-on-one supervision, left the facility with his silver tanker truck toy in-hand, according to a statement from the state attorney's office.

Kinsey, the man's behavioral therapist, closely followed in an attempt to return him to the facility.

To assess the situation, North Miami police spread out over several blocks.

Video of the incident shows Kinsey trying to coax the patient, seen sitting cross-legged with the toy truck in his lap, back to the center.

Though he was unarmed, Kinsey said he instinctively put his hands in the air as police arrived.

Two police officers were within 20 feet of the situation when Officer Aledda, who was 152 feet away, fired three shots from his Colt M4 Carbine rifle, the state attorney said.

"Officer Aledda was not in a position to correctly assess the situation or in a position to accurately fire. It was one of Officer Aleddas shots which struck Charles Kinsey," the state attorney said.

A statement from the Dade County Police Benevolent Association would later defend Aledda, who they say was aiming for the autistic patient and "missed."

Police approached Kinsey and he was handcuffed while bleeding on the concrete, he said.

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When Kinsey asked an officer why he was shot, he claimed the officer responded, "I don't know."

The video sparked national outrage as viewers asked that same question.

"I was thinking as long as I have my hands up, theyre not going to shoot me," Kinsey later told reporters from a hospital bed. "This is what I'm thinking  they're not going to shoot me. Wow, was I wrong."

Aledda has been charged with attempted manslaughter, a felony, and one misdemeanor count of culpable negligence.

"These charges are the result of a lengthy inquiry which included a prosecutorial review of the police investigation, numerous police and prosecutor meetings to review case evidence, site re-enactments and the taking of additional statements of police witnesses after the completion of the FDLE investigation," the state attorney wrote.

Watch: Hero Mom Wounded While Shielding Her Sons From Gunfire During Dallas Sniper Attack

Aledda's attorney, Robert Switkes, told ABC News following the filing of charges that his client would be exonerated, saying it was "totally inappropriate to bring any charges against the officer."

In a statement he made last summer, Aledda said, "I took this job to save lives and help people... I did what I had to do in a split second to accomplish that and hate to hear others paint me as something I'm not."

Watch: Community Outraged After Unarmed Black Man Gunned Down by White Police Officer

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Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Brazilians are glued to a mesmerizing, disturbing new version of reality TV: back-to-back broadcasts of jailed executives accusing President Michel Temer and almost every other big politician of corruption.

Move over torrid telenovelas and BBB, as Big Brother Brazil is known: a bigger, badder and certainly far more serious drama dominated Thursday.

Soaps have their melodramatic lovers and BBB its cast of telegenic exhibitionists. The stars of this show, playing ceaselessly on national television, are mostly balding middle-aged men with glasses.

But their story is the most explosive Brazil has seen for decades.

They are the 77 former executives of major Brazilian engineering company Odebrecht who have pleaded guilty to running Brazil's biggest ever bribery network.

In hopes of getting reduced sentences, the executives opened up to prosecutors, telling them how Odebrecht ran a special department to bribe every political party and many of the country's most famous politicians.

For months, all that testimony -- in the form of videotaped depositions and documents -- remained sealed.

But late Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin ordered investigations into nearly 100 politicians on the basis of the Odebrecht allegations. And soon after, the plea bargain testimony was released to the public.

In barely disguised panic, the nation's capital emptied, legislators deserting Congress. By Thursday they showed no sign of returning.

But wherever politicians went they wouldn't be able to avoid Globo television and other outlets, endlessly replaying the videotaped testimony. Corruption had become the biggest show on air.

- Lies and videotape -

Top billing goes to Marcelo Odebrecht, who was CEO of the family enterprise and, until his arrest in the sweeping corruption investigation named "Operation Car Wash," one of Brazil's most prestigious businessmen.

Odebrecht was sentenced to 19 years prison in 2016. On the videos, he wears a collared shirt and sometimes a blazer, looking like a self-confident executive as he recounts his crimes -- and alleged political partners -- in detail.

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Odebrecht is heard saying that he illicitly funnelled about $144 million to the politicians being investigated.

Odebrecht and his former colleagues finger just about every top leader, including President Michel Temer and ex-presidents Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and three more former heads of state.

Many of the company's payments were in the form of undeclared donations to political parties, which prosecutors say amounted to a kind of generalized bribe buying influence right across the political spectrum.

"Everyone committed this crime," Odebrecht is heard saying. "I don't know a single politician who went through any election without" the slush funds.

Twisting the knife, the disgraced executive turned state's witness says: "The guy can even say he didn't know, but he received the money."

As it happens, Temer is one of the few prominent politicians not to appear on the list of those facing investigation. As a sitting president, he has immunity.

However, any initial relief he felt must have been dented by the clip of former executive Marcio Faria telling prosecutors that Odebrecht bribed Temer's PMDB party at a 2010 meeting presided over by the then future president.

A deal was struck in Temer's Sao Paulo office for Odebrecht to win a contract with state oil giant Petrobras and "it was clear that we were talking about a bribe," Faria said.

Allegedly Odebrecht was to pay the PMDB $40 million, or five percent of the contract's value.

Until then, Temer had tried to stay above the fray, urging calm in Brasilia. But publication of Faria's testimony dragged him right into the muck.

He replied by a video of his own Thursday, saying that "what repulses me are lies."

"Its a fact that I participated in a meeting in 2010 with a representative of one of the largest firms in the country," he said.

"But it is a lie that in our meeting I would have heard reference to financial amounts or scandalous business between the company and politicians."

"My greatest ally is the truth, the raw material of the justice system, which will reveal all the truth of the facts."
Pulse rate for mobile calls to be halved

Mobile phone users will be paying less for their calls from Friday as the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has ordered phone companies to halve the pulse duration from 20 to 10 seconds.
Photo credit: Getty

From Cosmopolitan

Emily Haas, now 29, was in French class in Virginia Tech's Norris Hall on April 16, 2007, when gunman Seung-Hui Cho burst in and opened fire, shooting Emily twice in the head. He killed 12 people - including himself - in that room, as part of what remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States; 32 people were killed that day and dozens more wounded across the VT campus.

Ahead of the the 10-year anniversary of the attack, Emily's mom Lori, 57, spoke to Cosmopolitan.com about how their lives changed that day - and how she was once apathetic toward guns but has committed her life to gun violence prevention as the Virginia State Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence as a result of the attack.

Emily is my oldest child, and my only daughter. She has two younger brothers, so she was the first to go to college. Of course your greatest fear for your children entering college is that they wont make good decisions. You want your children safe and healthy and whole; I recall being worried for her safety, that shed abuse alcohol or get date-raped ... the kinds of things a lot of mothers worry about, you know? You dont prepare your children for mass shootings. I didnt even discuss guns with Emily.

April 16, 2007 was a Monday. Emily had been home for the weekend and she had gone back [to school] Sunday afternoon around four or five oclock. Monday morning I got up and met my minister at the store. We were going to shop for fabric for stoles for my middle child's confirmation. My phone rang several times - ten years ago cell phones werent really integrated into everyday life as they are now, and I just recall saying, Oh my Gosh, Im with my minister, it would be so rude of me to look at my phone.

At one point, though, and I dont know why, either divine intervention or sheer stupid luck, my phone rang again. I looked at it in my purse and I didnt recognize the number but I saw the area code was 540, which is Blacksburg, Virginia, [where Virginia Tech is located]. I said to myself, I need to answer this call.

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It was Emily on the line. She just said, Hi mommy, Ive been shot. Theres shooting all over. Im OK. She was with an EMT who was a young mother herself, and after she had triaged Emily, she handed Emily her personal cell phone and said, Call your mom and dad. This is a very bad scenario. They dont need to hear this on the news, they need to hear it from you.

I called my husband as I rushed home. He wasnt as shocked quite as I was - his mother had called and told him there had been a shooting on campus but that it was in a dormitory and Emily was living in a sorority house at that time. He didn't think she'd been near the shooting. I was ... frantic. Just frantic. Thinking Do we pack? Are we going to be there for a day? Are we going to be there for three days? What does Emily need? What do we need? How soon can we get there and what in the hell is going on?

Emergency vehicles and law enforcement vehicles and unmarked cars were passing us by the dozens and dozens on the drive there. It was just the most surreal thing. Can you imagine going 85, 90 miles an hour down the highway and people are passing you? And were listening to the radio while the body count goes higher and higher and higher. When the body count had gotten to 22 I said to my husband, How many parents are making this same drive to pick up dead children? I was trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Emily was OK, but I was terribly upset that there were other parents making that same drive to rush to the sides of their dead children. It was disturbing beyond comprehension.

How many parents are making this same drive to pick up dead children?

Meanwhile, we got a second call from the EMT not long after we got in the car and a third call came not long after, maybe an hour after that. Emily was assuring us she was fine, and she tried to tell us we didnt need to come.

We got to the hospital mid-afternoon and she was in a hospital room. We got to see her and hug her. She'd been grazed in the head by two bullets. Her injury just required stitches and the [physical] recovery was minimal. She was OK. But we quickly got shuffled out of the room because she was surrounded by law enforcement who needed to talk to her as a first-hand witness.

We spent that night in Blacksburg. We went to her sorority house late that afternoon [to get her things], and then took her to a friend of a friends house for the night - the hospital had wanted to keep her overnight but she didnt want to, so we didnt make her. We drove back to Richmond on Tuesday, all the while trying to comprehend what had happened, the magnitude of what had happened. Reports were slow. Everybody knew about the tragedy and knew about the body count, but nobody knew about the hows, the whys, the wheres, the whens, the chronology. None of that became apparent for weeks.

The aftermath [of a shooting] is hard to describe. Youre just putting one foot in front of the other; all of a sudden the world doesnt remotely resemble what it did the day before. Everythings changed and youre adrift. You dont know whats going on. [I remember on] Wednesday night, Emily and I didnt sleep at all. She came down in the middle of the night sometime and we sat in the den. She had a piece of paper and she was trying to figure out who was dead and who was alive. She said I know these classmates were killed, and I know where Allison is and I know where Colin is, and I dont know where so-and-so is. She did not want the TV on because she did not want to hear or see anything about the shooter.

I do think the media has had the tendency to give shooters too much coverage. Of course we need to learn from these tragedies about the motivation of the shooter and what the circumstances were that lead them to be armed. However, notoriety is often what these shooters seek and the media should not provide that. I never use the shooter's name if I can help it. And I don't believe Emily has ever uttered his name aloud.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

We had tons and tons of support and compassion from friends and family. Our family was here 24/7. Emily has 20-plus cousins, so, if you can imagine, it was crazy. And after three or four days at home with family, we began to try to pick up some pieces and gently figure out what she wanted to do to move forward. But theres just no guidebook. I couldnt go online and search How do you parent a 19-year-old who was shot and injured in the largest massacre in the history of the United States? You feel pretty rudderless.



Emily is resilient. She went back to campus a week later. We stayed [with her] for a few days. She attended Madame's funeral [Ed. note: Madame Jocelyne Couture-Nowak was the French professor teaching the class Emily was in at the time of the shooting. She urged students to call 911 before the shooter entered the classroom; she was shot and killed trying to barricade the door.].

She met up with friends and sorority sisters and she began to make decisions about what she wanted the next several months to look like. Classes started back up that same day, and professors and students were given free rein to make decisions about how they wanted their spring semester to end. That was lovely and smart because so many people were traumatized by this. The ripple effects were grand and unbeknownst. They could take their grade from the day of the massacre and do nothing else for the rest of the term. They could cherry-pick which classes they wanted to attend for the remainder of the semester. They could attend and try it, and then if it didnt work they could go back. They could not attend at all.

Photo credit: Getty

Emily wanted to see what it would be like if she went to class. I was concerned about it, but she did it. She walked by herself to class, went to class, sat there for 45 minutes. She met me afterward and said, OK, I did it. I dont need to do it again, I'll just take my grades [for the semester]. It wasn't an experience she cared to repeat.

I felt like it was my job as her parent to be there for her and guide her through some of the decisions making that nineteen-year-olds didn't have to make. Not things like who to go out with on a Friday night or what classes to take; Emily had decisions to make about her care and who and how and where and when and dealing with PTSD. She had to go back to the site of her attempted murder every single day trying to finish a college degree. That's very, very difficult for someone who has survived gun violence and is suffering from PTSD. And PTSD waxes and wanes - it might bubble up in a bigger way at certain times and then drift back.

Colin Goddard, another student who was shot, and his dad Andy were at Madames funeral when Emily and I attended. Andy and I met that day and became fast friends. He had a son who was shot and survived, I had a daughter, they were in the classroom together [at the time of the shooting] and they knew each other. We learned really quickly about some of the gaping holes in Virginia's gun laws that allowed someone like [the shooter] to have easy access to firearms. We were alarmed and disturbed and upset and angry and that started on the path that led me to where I am now. I work full time for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. I'm the state director for GVP [gun violence prevention] movement here in Virginia and I am passionate about this work and committed and hoping to make a difference.

Like other survivors, I got into this GVP movement because of what happened. But that's in the past and what we're working for is a future where there's less gun violence, and where we're doing more to prevent it. Our goals are to take the evidence and the policies that work and begin to apply as many as are appropriate. For example, we understand that domestic violence situations become exponentially more lethal when there's a firearm introduced. Road rage with a firearm can turn lethal. Confrontation in the streets become lethal when there's a firearm. Toddlers have killed more Americans than terrorists if you look at the numbers over time - all because somebody was careless and left firearms out and unsecured.

Photo credit: Alamy

We want policies that make us all safer. We think domestic abusers shouldn't have access to guns. We think that there should be a background check on all buyers - how do you stop a prohibited buyer from purchasing a gun if you don't do a background check to figure out if he or she is prohibited? We believe that you should have to have hands-on training around concealed carry. We think there should be penalties so that gun owners must properly store and secure their firearms so that children can't get access to them. We think there should be limitations on the type of firepower that everyday citizens can carry on our street. The efficacy of a lot of those policies have been proven in other states and those states have fewer deaths. New York's gun death rate per 100,000 is in the low, low, single digits. Virginia's is 10.9.

It's devastating for all of the families, me included, to relive the trauma each time another school shooting occurs. And you cant help but relive it. What were also really traumatized by is the fact that someone else is now added to the club nobody wants to be in: the one where your loved ones been shot and killed or injured. But [that] club is strong, the club is active, the club is compassionate and supportive. I know dozens of families from dozens of mass shootings. Every day we have gun violence in America, so there is a camaraderie that's very understood by those [who have experienced it].

Time is a great healer. With all the gun violence we have in this country, the tragedy is brought to the surface [for Emily] very often, but she is very strong and resilient and capable and shes able to handle, clearly, any adversity thats thrown her way. Emily supports me and my work. I know she is proud of me and is committed to it - but she chooses a lower profile. She finished her college degree. She got married in 2012 and she had a baby in 2015. She became a high school French teacher. She's doing great.

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The daughter of the United passenger dragged off a plane over the weekend told reporters her father is a loving grandfather who did not deserve the mistreatment that left him with a concussion and horrific facial injuries.

Read: Passenger Dragged Off United Plane Identified; CEO 'Emphatically' Stands Behind Employees

Crystal Dao Pepper, daughter of Dr. David Dao, spoke Thursday at a press conference in Chicago, where her father remains hospitalized.

"We were horrified and shocked and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what had happened to him, she said. It has been a very difficult time for our entire family and we are grateful for your support.

"What happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being regardless of the circumstances. My dad is healing right now."

My dad is a wonderful father," Pepper added. "He has raised with my mother five great children who had gone on to do great things and will continue to do great things. He is a loving grandfather, she boasted.

Her comments came as her father's injuries were revealed, and they're much more serious than what was first reported.

Dao, a 69-year-old Kentucky physician suffered a significant concussion, a broken nose, damaged sinuses, and had two teeth knocked out as he was forcefully removed from the flight.

His lawyer, Tom Demetrio, said the doctor will require reconstructive surgery.

He called the police officers who dragged Dr. Dao from the plane "stormtroopers." All three were suspended following the incident.

The incident happened just before takeoff on the Chicago-to-Louisville flight Sunday.

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.

Read: Just Plane Wrong: Uproar Erupts After Passenger Is Knocked Out and Dragged Off United Flight

Dr. Dao refused to leave, saying he was a doctor and had patients to see Monday morning.

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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 CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz, has since apologized for the incident.

Watch: Did United Airlines CEO Get Preferential Treatment When He Received Heart Transplant?

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Handcuffed and facing the judge, two young women accused of poisoning Kim Jong Nam appeared in court Thursday as their lawyers said Malaysian police still have not handed over security camera footage and documents crucial to the defense.

Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam are the only suspects in custody in the Feb. 13 killing of Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korea's ruler. Four North Korean suspects fled the country the day of the murder, police say.

"The accused person should not be denied her fundamental right to a fair trial," said Aisyah's attorney Gooi Soon Seng. He said he has been waiting for police to provide surveillance video and statements from three North Korean men who were questioned and released.

"Neither side may seek unfair advantage by concealing weapons behind its back. There should be no trial by ambush," Gooi said.

The judge postponed the hearing until May 30.

National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said later Thursday that defense lawyers must apply for the evidence through the courts and that police have to get clearance from the attorney general before releasing it.

When asked about lawyers' contention that they had sent requests five times, by fax and by hand, without getting a police reply, Khalid said, "Maybe it did not reach the correct officer. ... There must be some communication breakdown somewhere."

The women are accused of smearing Kim's face with banned VX nerve agent at a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur. But they say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden-camera show.

The women face the death penalty if convicted.

Gooi said he fears the women will become scapegoats because all the other people believed to have knowledge of the case have left the country.

The four North Koreans who flew out of Malaysia the day of the murder are believed to be back in Pyongyang. And another three who stayed inside their country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur to avoid questioning by police were allowed to fly home late last month after Malaysia struck a surprise deal with Pyongyang to ease tensions.

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Malaysian police have said they questioned the three men and found no grounds to hold them. But Gooi said Thursday that at least one of those three men  identified by police as Ri Ji U and known to Aisyah as "James"  was key to her defense.

"This amounts to a miscarriage of justice," Gooi said of Malaysia's decision to allow the men to leave the country. "They (the defendants) are already scapegoats."

Khalid dismissed Gooi's claim.

"They can say anything they like but we have a case with us. I am just waiting for the North Koreans to send back the four (suspects) to us," he said.

Gooi told The Associated Press on Wednesday that James recruited Aisyah in early January to star in his video prank shows. Over the course of several days, he had her rub oil or pepper sauce on a victim's face, "from forehead downwards," which he would film on his phone, the lawyer said.

They practiced at malls, hotels and airports, he said. Aisyah was paid $100-$200 for each prank and hoped the income would allow her to stop working as a social escort, Gooi said.

Gooi said Aisyah flew to Cambodia in late January, where James introduced her to Hong Song Hac, one of four North Korean suspects who left Malaysia on the day of the murder. Hong had introduced himself as Chang, a Chinese who produces video prank shows for the Chinese market, he said.

Gooi said Hong asked Aisyah to do several more pranks at the Kuala Lumpur airport a few days before Kim was attacked. He said Aisyah met Hong at the airport on the day of the killing, and that Hong identified Kim to Aisyah and allegedly put the poison on her hand.

Malaysia never directly accused North Korea of carrying out the attack, but speculation is rampant that Pyongyang directed a hit on a long-exiled member of its ruling elite.

Tran Huy Hoang, a cousin of the Vietnamese suspect, said she is doing well in prison and had even gained weight.

"The family and many Vietnamese people believe that she is innocent," he said outside court Thursday. "We believe she was cheated and we hope that the truth will come out."
New details have emerged in the missing case of Tennessee student Elizabeth Thomas, who authorities believe was kidnapped by her teacher Tad Cummins. District Attorney Brent Cooper said late Tuesday that Cummins left a note for his wife on the day of his disappearance.

Brent Cooper did not reveal to the media details about the content of the note but said it was aimed at misleading the investigation of the missing teenager and help buy Cummins some time. Cooper also said the 50-year-old teacher is on medication to control his blood pressure and would most likely visit pharmacies for a refill, local media WKRN.com reported. Authorities have asked pharmacy employees to be on the lookout for Cummins and Elizabeth.

Cummins and Thomas were last spotted at a Wal-Mart store in Oklahoma City on March 15.

Related: 11 Facts To Know About Tennessee Teen's Kidnapping

"The surveillance images of Cummins and Thomas  the first obtained by investigators since the alleged kidnapping on March 13th  clearly show Tad Cummins with an altered appearance to darken his hair. The same images show Elizabeth may currently have red hair. Efforts to determine what vehicle they were traveling in remain ongoing," authorities said in a release at the time.

Elizabeth has been missing since Mar. 13 prompting Tennessee law enforcement authorities to issue an Amber Alert for the teen. Suspicion over the relationship between Cummins and Elizabeth were raised after an unidentified student reported seeing the two kissing in his classroom.

"She is 15, a child. He is 50, a grown man. She's a high school freshman. He's a former teacher. This is, and was, not a romance," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director Mark Gwynn told reporters. "This was manipulation solely to benefit Tad Cummins. This is not a fairy tale. This is a case of kidnapping."

Last week, Elizabeth's father filed a lawsuit requesting the deposition of anyone who might have information about his daughter and his alleged abductor.

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By Chris Mfula LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian police denied on Thursday that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema had been refused access to his lawyers and family since his arrest this week but his attorney insisted this was the case in an intensifying political crisis. Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's motorcade, raising the political temperature in Africa's No. 2 copper producing country. Relations between government and opposition have been tense since August, when Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party beat Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) in a vote the opposition says was rigged. A hearing is to be held on Tuesday to determine if Hichilema's detention is legal, the UPND said. The two men are old rivals and Lungu has beaten Hichilema, an economist and wealthy businessman who goes by "HH", narrowly in two presidential elections, including the one last year by a razor-thin margin. "We have not blocked lawyers and Mr Hichilema's members of the family from visiting him because that is his constitutional right," police spokeswoman Esther Mwaata-Katongo said, responding to a UPND accusation. Hichilema's lawyer Jack Mwiimbu said he had seen his client on Wednesday but had since been prevented from visiting him. "There are instructions for him not to be seen by anybody without authority from police headquarters. We have therefore started processing court papers. We want the court to compel the police to allow us to see our client," Mwiimbu told Reuters. Mwiimbu also said Hichilema had complained on Wednesday of feeling unwell after police fired tear gas into his house when he was arrested. The European Union called for calm and analysts said Zambia's reputation was at stake over the saga. "Political tensions in Zambia have increased over the past weeks and in particular with the events surrounding the arrest of ... Hichilema," the EU said in a statement. Political analyst Andrew Ntewewe of the non-governmental organization Young African Leaders' Initiative said the police had to show professionalism in how they were handling the case. "Suspects have rights even when in police custody. HH must quickly be taken to court. The president must also show statesmanship, magnanimity and leadership so that the country's reputation is not dented," Ntewewe told Reuters. On Saturday, Lungu passed through Mongu, 500 km (300 miles) west of the capital Lusaka, and his motorcade was obstructed because Hichilema refused to give way, police said. Zambia's economy has been depressed for years by low commodity prices, mine closures, rising unemployment, power shortages and soaring food prices - all of which Hichilema blames on mismanagement by Lungu. But Lungu, whose government has been talking to the International Monetary Fund about financial aid to help plug its budget deficit, has said he is doing his best to wean the economy off its over-reliance on copper. (Writing by Ed Stoddard; editing by James Macharia/Mark Heinrich)
By Chris Mfula LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian police denied on Thursday that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema had been refused access to his lawyers and family since his arrest this week but his attorney insisted this was the case in an intensifying political crisis. Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's motorcade, raising the political temperature in Africa's No. 2 copper producing country. Relations between government and opposition have been tense since August, when Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party beat Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) in a vote the opposition says was rigged. A hearing is to be held on Tuesday to determine if Hichilema's detention is legal, the UPND said. The two men are old rivals and Lungu has beaten Hichilema, an economist and wealthy businessman who goes by "HH", narrowly in two presidential elections, including the one last year by a razor-thin margin. "We have not blocked lawyers and Mr Hichilema's members of the family from visiting him because that is his constitutional right," police spokeswoman Esther Mwaata-Katongo said, responding to a UPND accusation. Hichilema's lawyer Jack Mwiimbu said he had seen his client on Wednesday but had since been prevented from visiting him. "There are instructions for him not to be seen by anybody without authority from police headquarters. We have therefore started processing court papers. We want the court to compel the police to allow us to see our client," Mwiimbu told Reuters. Mwiimbu also said Hichilema had complained on Wednesday of feeling unwell after police fired tear gas into his house when he was arrested. The European Union called for calm and analysts said Zambia's reputation was at stake over the saga. "Political tensions in Zambia have increased over the past weeks and in particular with the events surrounding the arrest of ... Hichilema," the EU said in a statement. Political analyst Andrew Ntewewe of the non-governmental organisation Young African Leaders' Initiative said the police had to show professionalism in how they were handling the case. "Suspects have rights even when in police custody. HH must quickly be taken to court. The president must also show statesmanship, magnanimity and leadership so that the country's reputation is not dented," Ntewewe told Reuters. On Saturday, Lungu passed through Mongu, 500 km (300 miles) west of the capital Lusaka, and his motorcade was obstructed because Hichilema refused to give way, police said. Zambia's economy has been depressed for years by low commodity prices, mine closures, rising unemployment, power shortages and soaring food prices - all of which Hichilema blames on mismanagement by Lungu. But Lungu, whose government has been talking to the International Monetary Fund about financial aid to help plug its budget deficit, has said he is doing his best to wean the economy off its over-reliance on copper. (Writing by Ed Stoddard; editing by James Macharia/Mark Heinrich)
By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have charged a Detroit doctor with performing genital mutilation on 7-year-old girls in what is believed to be the first case brought under a law prohibiting the procedure. Jumana Nagarwala, an emergency room physician at a Detroit hospital who performed the procedures at an unnamed medical clinic in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, was scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. "Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls," acting U.S. Attorney in Detroit Daniel Lemisch said in a statement. "The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law." Female genital mutilation, or FGM, typically involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris and is barred by numerous international treaties. The practice is common in several African countries, including Somalia, Sudan and Egypt, where it is often a cultural or religious tradition. The practice was outlawed in the United States in 1996, though the Justice Department said the Michigan case appeared to be the first criminal prosecution of its kind. A lawyer for Nagarwala did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday afternoon. Federal agents received a tip months ago that Nagarwala was performing FGM in Michigan, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday. A review of her phone records led authorities to two 7-year-old girls who traveled with their parents to Michigan from Minnesota in February so they could undergo the procedure. One of the children told investigators they were taken to Michigan for a "special" girls' trip, the complaint said. Medical exams of both girls showed their genitals had been altered, according to authorities. Investigators tracked down several other child victims, the complaint said. Some parents acknowledged that Nagarwala had performed the procedures on their daughters, while others denied it. A spokesman for Henry Ford Health System, which has employed Nagarwala as an emergency room physician, said she had been placed on administrative leave. Henry Ford Health System, which operates several Detroit-area hospitals, was not mentioned in the complaint. "The alleged criminal activity did not occur at any Henry Ford facility," David Olejarz said in an email. "We would never support or condone anything related to this practice." In addition to charges related to FGM, Nagarwala is charged with lying to federal agents after saying earlier this week that she did not engage in the practice. The World Health Organization has estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, which can cause lasting health problems. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Geneva (AFP) - Cholera and acute diarrhoea have killed more than 500 people and left tens of thousands of others sick in drought-hit parts of Somalia since January, the United Nations said Thursday.

The UN's health agency said the epidemic had left more than 25,000 people sick, warning that number was likely to double by the end of June.

WHO put the number of deaths since the beginning of the year from the epidemic at 524, while the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said 533 people had died.

The case fatality rate, which measures the severity of an epidemic by defining the proportion of fatal cases within a specific timeframe, is currently 2.1 percent -- more than double the emergency threshold of one percent.

OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said the situation was particularly alarming in the Middle Juba and Bakool regions, where the case fatality rates have surged to 14.1 percent and 5.1 percent respectively.

The epidemic comes as the Horn of Africa country of 12 million people faces the threat of its third famine in 25 years of civil war and anarchy.

At least 260,000 people died in the 2011 famine in Somalia -- half of them children under the age of five, according to the UN World Food Program.

Currently, 6.2 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid in Somalia, including 2.9 million who are facing "crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity", Laerke told reporters.

That means they are at levels three or four on a five-level scale, where level five is famine.

The dire drought and food situation has forced more than 500,000 people to flee their homes since last November, in a country where 1.1 million people are already internally displaced.

And the drought is not expected to end any time soon, Laerke said, pointing out that the UN expects no improvements over the next six months at least.

Even as conditions deteriorate on the ground, humanitarian actors are struggling to raise enough funds to provide aid, and to gain access to all of those in need, he said.

"We are in a race and I don't know who is going to win," Laerke said.
RPP to support statute amendment proposal

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has decided to support the constitution amendment proposal registered by the government at Parliament on Tuesday.
IPANEMA, MINAS GERAIS, Brazil  His nicotine-yellow eyes and haunted stare gave Jose de Moraes the look of a man who had been to the brink of death and back again. I am debilitated, he said.

A 54-year-old city council employee, de Moraes caught yellow fever two months ago, the same strain that has killed nearly 200 people in Brazil since January and infected at least three times more. Today he is still too weak to climb the steps to his first-floor apartment on the edge of this quiet country town. And he is still spooked by the force of the disease.

It shuts down your body, de Moraes said, describing how the virus attacked his kidneys, then his liver, and how he needed dialysis. The pain started in his back and took over his whole frame. In intensive care, he was so lost in fever, pain, and delirium that he no longer recognized anyone.

I became confused. The mind doesnt work, he said.

Read more: Finding the worlds unknown viruses  before they find us

The virus that de Moraes caught is part of a broader outbreak that has taken authorities here by surprise. Although Brazil experiences what is known as a sylvatic cycle of yellow fever  in which the virus is spread between mosquitoes and monkeys in the jungle  the current outbreak has fanned far beyond the Amazon jungle and out to the coast.

It has confounded specialists, doctors, and health officials, and raised fears of an epidemic in Brazils urban areas that could be devastating if not quickly contained. It is the worst outbreak of yellow fever in this country in recent memory.

Although Brazil appears to be moving quickly to administer vaccines and take other steps to stop the spread of the virus, it is still struggling to get the outbreak under control. And while the outbreak is still in the syvlatic cycle, a rash of monkey deaths in big cities has raised fears the situation could still get much worse before it gets better.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization added parts of Sao Paulo, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro states to a list of areas at risk.

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Yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil, the WHO said in a statement.

The vaccine against yellow fever is highly effective, but at times has been in short supply. Last month, the WHO dispatched 3.5 million additional doses of its vaccine to Brazil from an international emergency stockpile.

Brazils Ministry of Health has also adopted the WHO recommendation that one dose of the vaccine is sufficient, not two as previously advised, and said it is preparing contingency plans to recommend one-fifth of the normal dose, a strategy that proved effective recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The last urban epidemic of yellow fever in Brazil, spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, was in Rio in the 1920s. But the disease is still spread by Haemagogus and Sabethes forest mosquitoes.

Rural families are most at risk.

An hours drive down dirt roads from Ipanema is the tiny hamlet of Santa Constancia, where Leonel Ferreira Neto grew coffee and sugar cane, and raised a handful of cattle. He was 62 when he caught yellow fever, possibly while clearing forest on the steep hills beside his neat farmhouse. His widow, Luzia, 64, remembered he had seen a dead monkey  a sign the family now know means yellow fever could be present.

Yet his daughter, Maria Ribeiro, 39, said she had not received a vaccination, and in any case, her father trusted vaccines as little as he trusted school, which he only let his six children attend for a year each.

He did not believe in these things, she said, after running up a vertiginous slope in flip-flops to herd a couple of cows.

In photos, Ferreira Neto was a bearded, rangy, serious man who worked with an ox cart. His widow said he spent weeks in the hospital before dying, taking on the jaundiced color for which the disease is known.

He was yellow, swollen, all yellow, Luzia said. The family had never seen yellow fever in the town, and she had no idea what it could do.

Other areas of this vast, rural state have seen outbreaks before  16 people in Minas Gerais died of yellow fever in 2001, 21 in 2003. Adults were advised to get vaccinations every 10 years by the state and federal government. Yet just 30 percent of the population of Ipanema was vaccinated, barely 50 percent across the state.

The widespread deaths of monkeys can be a signal that the disease is spreading, said Sergio Lucena, a professor of zoology and primate specialist at the Federal University of Espirito Santo, who has documented the deaths of over 1,200 since January.

Last year, monkeys were found to have died from yellow fever in towns in Minas and Sao Paulo states. But authorities were slow to perceive the problem, Lucena said.

In Ipanemas gleaming, modern health center, city health director Weverton Rodrigues said adults dont bother keeping their vaccinations up to date. Nor did Minas Gerais, which has 21 million people, do much to encourage them.

Unfortunately I see the culture of our country as very short-sighted. You work according to demand. Basically, you put out fires, he said. A problem comes up and lets deal with it.

Some specialists said Minas Gerais should have worked harder to vaccinate its population.

Read more: Facing significant yellow fever outbreak, Brazil appeals for more vaccine

The human cases in Minas Gerais are the result of a failure in vaccination cover, said Jesse Alves, an infectious diseases specialist at the Emilio Ribas hospital in Sao Paulo. The whole state was an area of risk.

(In an emailed statement, a spokeswoman for the Minas Gerais health secretariat said the populations demand for the vaccine had always been low, and that 77 percent of the state was now vaccinated.)

Yellow fever vaccinations were not recommended in Espirito Santo state, which borders Minas Gerais on Brazils eastern coast. Since January it has confirmed 148 cases and 44 deaths from the disease.

Over 2.8 million people, or 79 percent of the population, have been vaccinated since then. In the state capital, Vitoria, where residents can schedule vaccinations online, the coverage is even higher: 92 percent of its 333,000 people, according to the municipal health secretary.

But the scare is far from over. On a recent morning, Gilsa Rodrigues, the director of health vigilance in Espirito Santo, chaired a tense meeting in Vitoria. She had been told by specialists that Vitorias metropolitan area was basically free of yellow fever. Then laboratory results confirmed yellow fever in 22 monkeys that died there, mostly in early March.

We didnt expect this, Rodrigues said. Im very tired, very worried, but Im working very hard.

Other towns near Vitoria have been slow to vaccinate residents. In nearby Cariacica, where four of the dead monkeys were found, only 49 percent of the population were vaccinated, Rodrigues said.

The state began vaccinating on Jan 20. In February its police force went on strike, leading to a crime wave and hundreds of deaths, complicating their work. Rodrigues said Brazils Ministry of Health did not always supply the quantity of vaccines they needed. She was forced to prioritize rural areas where cases had been found over those that had yet to report them.

On a map, she pointed out Muniz Freire, a rural municipality surrounded by impacted areas that did not immediately report cases. She had to argue to get the ministry to send her enough doses of vaccine for Muniz Freire too. Six deaths have since been confirmed there.

It makes you want to cry, Rodrigues said. You are facing a situation that you know what the solution is, but the decision to put the vaccine there is not in your power. Recently another 200,000 doses of the vaccine were held up for a week, she said.

In March cases appeared in Casimiro de Abreu, a rural town in Rio de Janeiro state, far from anywhere else impacted. Nobody knows how they got there, said Lucena, the primate specialist.

Now the state is working to vaccinate its entire 16 million-plus population, concerned yellow fever could spread to Aedes aegypti mosquitos in cities like Rio, where almost a quarter of its 6.5 million people live in the densely packed, poor communities known as favelas.

When one clinic outside the Complexo do Alemao favela opened on a recent morning, a wave of people rushed in, many forming a line for yellow fever vaccines.

I tried last week and there was none here, said Viviane Duarte, 19.

At a vaccination center in central Rio, some waited three hours in a line that stretched a block. Staff at both centers said they were vaccinating around 500 people a day.

Indiara Azevedo, 30, a civil servant, said she was getting vaccinated because where I live, there are a lot of mosquitos.

Yellow fever is here, she said. Before we didnt know.
A Missouri doctor has reunited with three sets of healthy triplets that he delivered within weeks of each other.

Dr. Michael Paul, head of maternal-fetal medicine at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, delivered the first set of triplets on November 2, the second set on November 26 and the third on December 16.

Read: Blind Couple Gets 3D-Printed Ultrasound So They Can Feel Their Unborn Baby

Along with the babies, friendships were also born.

The triplets' mothers, Jessica Kennedy, Kristen McCloy and Jeri Wright, met in the hospital and helped each other welcome their multiples into the world, which can sometimes be a lonely process, Dr. Paul said in an interview shared by the hospital.

I have delivered lots of multiples over the years, and the moms are often hospitalized for extended periods of time where they can feel isolated away from their friends and family," said Dr. Paul, who is a stepdad to triplets and dad to twins.

"All three moms helped each other by setting goals together and supporting one another to achieve those goals. They all had the same endpoint goal of getting as close to 34 or 35 weeks as possible to deliver. They didnt want to let anyone down."

Jessica Kennedy said she and her husband, Ben, were hoping to have one more child to join their son and daughter when they learned she was pregnant with triplets.

"I was completely shocked, and my husband about fainted," she said in an interview with the hospital.

On November 2, 2016, she welcomed identical boys: Reed, Knox and Finn.

"It's very unusual to have identical triplets and very rare," Dr. Paul said. "It's about a one in 60 million chance."

Kennedy was hospitalized at 31 weeks and gave birth at 34 weeks. During that time, she bonded with Jeri Wright, whom she met via a mutual Facebook friend.

"When I was a patient waiting for the babies to arrive, Jeri would come visit me and we would talk about everything," she said. "Once my boys were in the NICU, I'd stop in to visit Jeri, who was hospitalized, and then we both met Kristen."

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Read: Twin Babies Are Born 2 Weeks Apart: 'I Didn't Even Know That Was Possible'

Kristen McCloy, who gave birth to identical boys  Lucas and Colton  and a girl named Emalyn on November 26, joined the other moms after getting a room next to Jeri's.

"Jeri and I would walk the halls and talk all the time," McCloy said. "Jessica would come visit us when she came to see her babies in the NICU. Today, we're all friends on Facebook and we message each other, check in on each other and make sure we're all still sane."

Jeri, 39, was the last to give birth. She welcomed her three boys  Oliver, Finn and Beckett  on December 16 and took them home after a few weeks in the NICU.

"It's a scary time, but we were all there to cheer each other on," she said.

Dr. Paul credits their friendship for their successful pregnancies. Statistically, two of the nine babies should have been "compromised in some way," he told the hospital. But that did not happen.

"Now that these moms are all friends, they will be able to share the unique challenges of raising triplets," he said. "And theyll have one another."

Watch: Adorable 2-Year-Old Triplets Are Best Friends With Their Garbage Man

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Astronomers believe that they have succeeded in taking the first-ever image of a black hole  or, more precisely, of its event horizon. On Wednesday, scientists associated with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)  a collaboration that uses network of telescopes spread across the globe to create an Earth-sized telescope  said that after five nights of observations, they may have snapped a photograph of the supermassive black hole residing in our galaxys heart.

The staggering amount of data collected during the observations has been recorded on over 1,000 hard drives, and the first images of the black hole Sagittarius A*  a behemoth 4 million times the mass of our sun  will emerge either late this year or early next year.

Even if the first images are still crappy and washed out, we can already test for the first time some basic predictions of Einstein's theory of gravity in the extreme environment of a black hole, Heino Falcke, a radio astronomer from the University in Nijmegen in the Netherlands who was involved in the project, told National Geographic magazine.

Black holes are perhaps the most mysterious class of objects in the known universe. Part of the enigma stems from the fact that despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence for their existence, no one has actually ever seen a black hole.

This is because their gravitational influence is so great that not even light can escape them.

black_holes_infographic-v2

Photo: ESO, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser/N. Bartmann

Theyre reality-bending concentrations of matter squeezed into a very tiny space, creating an object with an immense gravitational pull, the European Southern Observatory, whose Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) joined the EHT collaboration last month, explained in a blog post. Around a black hole is a boundary called an event horizon  the surface beyond which nothing can escape the black holes clutches, not even light.

If the EHT project, which uses telescopes in Hawaii, Arizona, Chile, and even the South Pole, succeeds in photographing the black holes event horizon, it could provide a concrete test for Einsteins general theory of relativity. Models based on this theory predict a roughly circular shadow around the black hole.

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EHT project

Photo: ESO/O. Furtak

Now, it could be that we will see something different, Sheperd Doeleman, director of the EHT project, told BBC News in February. As I've said before, it's never a good idea to bet against Einstein, but if we did see something that was very different from what we expect we would have to reassess the theory of gravity.

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It was not the salad mix they had in mind: Two people in Florida found a dead bat in their container of salad greens.

The people ate some of the salad from the package before finding the bat, according to a statement about the case from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bats can carry the rabies virus, but the CDC noted that it is "extremely uncommon" to get rabies from eating an animal with the disease. Researchers tested the bat for rabies; however, the CDC couldn't definitively rule out rabies because of the bat's "deteriorated condition."

To be safe, the CDC recommended that the people get treated for rabies. Currently, both people are in good health and showing no signs of the disease, the CDC said. [9 Disgusting Things That the FDA Allows in Your Food]

Fresh Express, the company that made the salad, swiftly issued a recall of the specific salad product, the Organic Marketside Spring Mix. The mix was being sold at Walmart stores in the southeastern U.S. and has been pulled from the shelves, according to a statement released by Fresh Express on April 8.

But the question remains: How does a bat get into a packaged salad?

"It's possible that the mechanical harvesting could pick something like this up," said Ben Chapman, a food safety specialist and an associate professor at North Carolina State University. Instead of handpicking individual plants, large food companies use mechanical harvesters that are driven through the fields, scooping up the produce in their paths.

It's possible for a small animal to be picked up during mechanical harvesting, and then make it through the company's quality control steps, Chapman told Live Science.

After harvesting, the produce is washed, sorted and dried on large conveyer belts, Chapman said. "It doesn't surprise me that small animals make it through this process," Chapman said, but added that "these events seem really rare."

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Fresh Express, the company that sold the packaged salads, said in a statement that they have "a range of stringent controls in place during growing and harvesting" that can help prevent animals from getting caught up in the process. They also said that the produce is thoroughly washed and filtered, and visual inspections are used to eliminate "unwanted debris."

Chapman noted that for companies who experience an event like this, it's a good step to revisit the quality-control process to determine what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future.

In addition, when something like this happens, it's smart to recall the entire batch of the contaminated food, because there's always the potential for cross-contamination, Chapman said. Animals and their feces may contain germs that can make people sick, he said. One type of bat, called the fruit bat, has been shown to carry Salmonella, he said.

This isn't the first time an unwanted animal has made its way into a food product, Chapman added. Frogs, birds and rats have also been found in salads, he said.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Space nerds have taken trolling Trump into the stratosphere.

On Wednesday, the Autonomous Space Agency Network, amateurs who promote DIY space exploration, revealed a little project it was working on. It's called "The First Protest in Space," and it involved sending an insulting Trump tweet into orbit on a weather balloon.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump finally provided a clue about NASA's future

As Motherboard reported, the stunt was inspired by something the late Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell said regarding politics.

"From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty," said Mitchell, who was the sixth person to walk on the moon. "You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, 'Look at that, you son of a bitch.'"

So naturally, when you've got a quote this perfect and a man in politics who needs trolling, you do what you can to make a statement.

In all caps, ASAN (not to be confused with NASA) straight up addressed a "LOOK AT THAT, YOU SON OF A BITCH" tweet to Donald Trump's personal handle, printed it out, and sent it reeling into the air to make a serious statement. According to ASAN, the tweet was launched from AN52 near Phoenix, "one of dozens of concrete crosses" that were used to help "calibrate the first spy satellites."

Now we'd hate to burst your bubble because the first protest in space sounds cool and all, but the weather balloon only brought the tweet to near space in the stratosphere, at around 90,000 feet.

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The stratosphere is the second major layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and it extends from about 33,000 feet to some 160,000 feet above sea level. Outer space is widely considered to start at around 330,000 feet.

Nevertheless, seeing a giant printed-out tweet trolling Trump suspended above Earth is still extremely satisfying.

The two-hour-long video, set to an appropriately dramatic soundtrack, will give you a glimpse at the entire tweet's entire journey  from launch to the stratosphere.

Cherish this sight, because with Trump's newly proposed NASA budgets, who knows if we'll ever have the ability to troll Trump from actual space.

WATCH: Astronomers built an 'Earth-sized' telescope to peer into black holes

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For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.
Cairo (AFP) - The authorities in Egypt said on Thursday they had identified the second of two jihadist bombers who targeted Coptic Christian Palm Sunday services last week.

The interior ministry made the announcement after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged as he visited Coptic Pope Tawadros II to hunt down the perpetrators of the bombings.

The Islamic State group claimed the Sunday attacks, which killed 45 people and followed a December 11 suicide bombing that killed 29 in a Cairo church.

Sisi's visit to the papal seat in the capital came a day after the interior ministry identified the bomber who struck outside Saint Mark's church in Alexandria, killing 17 people.

Sunday's first bombing at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta, north of Cairo, killed 28 people.

Sisi said "state agencies were exerting their utmost effort to chase down the perpetrators of those vile acts," the presidency said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the interior ministry identified the perpetrator of the Alexandria attack as Mahmud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, born in the southern province of Qena in 1986.

On Thursday, it said it had now also identified the bomber who blew himself up in the Tanta church.

"DNA tests carried out on the family of a fugitive member and the remains of the suicide bomber... made it possible to identify him as Mamduh Amin Mohammed Baghdadi, born in 1977 in Qena province, where he lived," it said.

The ministry said he was a member of a "terrorist" cell, and also announced the arrest of three other members of the group.

On Wednesday, it also offered a 100,000 pound (about $5,500) reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects it said belonged to jihadist cells linked to the church attacks.

On Thursday, the reward was increased to 500,000 pounds.

Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency after the bombings and called in the army to protect "vital" installations around the country.

The Coptic Church said on Wednesday it would cut back Easter celebrations to a single mass after the bombings.

The violence came ahead of Catholic Pope Francis's first visit to Egypt, which a Vatican official said will go ahead as planned on April 28 and 29 despite the attacks.
Cairo (AFP) - Egypt's interior ministry said Thursday it had identified the bomber who targeted a Palm Sunday service at a Coptic Christian church in the northern city of Tanta, killing 28 people.

The previous day, the ministry had named the man it said was the bomber who struck outside a church in the Mediterranean port of Alexandria.

A total of 45 people were killed in the two attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State group.

On Thursday, the ministry issued another statement saying that the Tanta bomber had now been identified as well.

"DNA tests carried out on the family of a fugitive member and the remains of the suicide bomber... made it possible to identify him as Mamduh Amin Mohammed Baghdadi, born in 1977 in Qena province, where he lived," it said.

It said he was a member of a "terrorist" cell, and announced the arrest of three other members of the cell.

The ministry also said it would increase the reward for information leading to the arrest of any member of the cell linked to Sunday's attacks from 100,000 Egyptian pounds (about $5,500) to 500,000 pounds.

On Wednesday, the ministry said it had identified the perpetrator of the Alexandria attack as Mahmud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, born in Qena in 1986.
Sydney (AFP) - The sharpened teeth on the saw-like snout of the critically endangered Australian sawfish is proving little defence against its deadliest underwater predators, the crocodile and shark.

A rare photograph released by Murdoch University shows a young sawfish caught in the clutches of a freshwater crocodile's jaw.

It is a common occurrence for the struggling species which is also targeted by bull sharks, researchers said, as young sawfish venture upriver for the first five years their life before returning to the ocean as an adult.

"For a fish that is pupped at around 800 millimetres (31 inches) total length with formidable weaponry, one would assume that rates of natural predation would be low, said the Universitys lead fisheries researcher David Morgan Thursday.

"But their upstream migrations are fraught with danger, and we suspect they dont always survive.

Examining 39 sawfish, which can grow up to six metres (20 feet), in Western Australia's Fitzroy River researchers found 60 percent had wounds received from crocodile or bull shark attacks, with their findings published in The Scientific Naturalist.

"These scars suggest that freshwater crocodiles attempt to capture and consume sawfish regularly, but are unsuccessful possibly due to the size, sensory capabilities and defences of their prey, Morgan added.

The risk of extinction for the sawfish is heightened by the loss of their natural habitat, getting caught in fishing nets and by hunters seeking a trophy fish.

Researchers are urging a rethink of management techniques for Australia's northern river systems to better protect the vulnerable fish.
(This April 11 story has been corrected in second paragraph to show overseas voting has finished) By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Turks living overseas are turning out in greater numbers to vote in a referendum on changing the constitution to create an executive presidency, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, a development that pollsters say could benefit him. Voters in Turkey will go to the polls on April 16 to decide on the referendum that would give Erdogan sweeping new powers. Voting for expatriate Turks began as early as late March in some countries and finished on Sunday. The referendum campaign has brought a rapid deterioration in relations with some of Turkey's European allies over the banning of some rallies by Turkish ministers in the Netherlands and Germany on security grounds, something Erdogan has denounced as "Nazi-like" tactics. A high turnout abroad is likely to boost Erdogan, pollsters say, citing past elections, but at home it could hurt him as opposition voters traditionally make up a bigger proportion of those who tend to shun the polls on an election day. "There is an amazing explosion of votes abroad. Around 1.42 million votes have been cast," Erdogan said at a ceremony in the southeastern city of Sanliurfa, calling on his supporters to flood the ballot box with "yes" votes in the referendum. The figure Erdogan cited suggests a turnout of around 50 percent, based on the 2.88 million voters registered abroad in the last general election in November 2015, according to data from the High Electoral Board (YSK). In that election the turnout was around 40 percent among expatriates, with 56 percent of those votes being cast for the AK Party, which Erdogan founded more than a decade ago. Polls show a close race days before the referendum, putting the "yes" vote slightly ahead, but indicate that nearly half the country could reject the proposed constitutional changes. Foreign vote results will be announced once the actual referendum is held on Sunday. BITTERLY DIVIDED One polling company, Mak Danismanlik, seen as close to Erdogan, said initial exit polls from abroad showed the "yes" vote at 62 percent. It said the only country where the "no" vote had prevailed was the United States. It did not say how many people it had polled or where the research was conducted. Pollsters Gezici, whose research has tended to overestimate opposition support, forecast 82-83 percent voter participation domestically and a "yes" vote as high as 56 percent if the turnout is lower in Turkey. The referendum has polarized the nation of 79 million. Erdogan's opponents fear increasing authoritarianism from a leader they see as bent on eroding modern Turkey's democracy and secular foundations. Erdogan argues that the proposed strengthening of the presidency will avert instability associated with coalition governments, at a time when Turkey faces security threats from Islamist and Kurdish militants. It was not immediately clear what the turnout in specific countries was, but in the November 2015 election, around 40 percent of the Turks in Germany cast their votes while the figure was around 45 percent in the Netherlands. Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said Turks living there had cast 696,863 votes for the referendum, bringing turnout in Germany to 48.73 percent. (Additional reporting by Ercan Gurses and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara and Andrea Shalal in Berlin; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by David Dolan/Mark Heinrich)
Police Chief appointment: SC asks govt to furnish clarification

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered the government to furnish clarification in writing within 15 days on why an interim order against its decision of appointing Prakash Aryal
Reports are circulating that dozens of men are being held, tortured, and even killed because theyre thought to be gay in Chechnya, a republic in Russias North Caucasus. The spokesperson for Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic, reportedly said no gay men could be tortured, because there are no gay men in Chechnya: Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic. And in response to that response, Russia did not do much of anything.

Which is why, on Thursday the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) asked Russia to investigate just what is going on its southern dependency. U.N. human rights experts also asked Moscow to intervene.

The authorities in the Russian Federation must urgently investigate the horrific reports of human rights violations against allegedly gay men in Chechnya, as well as identify, prosecute and punish any known perpetrators, said a statement from Michael Link, head of the OSCEs Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

The U.N. human rights experts urge the authorities to put an end to the persecution of people perceived to be gay or bisexual in the Chechen Republic who are living in a climate of fear fuelled by homophobic speeches by local authorities, their statement said.

It is unclear whether Russia will indeed intervene, or investigate, or do anything at all. Previously, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said the issue was not up to the Kremlin. If any actions have been taken by the law enforcement agencies which, in the opinion of some citizens, were taken with some irregularities, these citizens can use their rights, file relevant complaints and go to court, Peskov said.

But Russian involvement is urgently needed, argued Link of the OSCE, who highlighted the apparent unwillingness of local authorities to investigate and prosecute the serious violations alleged to have been committed by security services.

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The situation in Chechnya is something of a perfect storm for (allegedly) getting away with torture.

Theres Chechnya itself, which has been under Kadyrovs thumb with Putins blessing for a decade. Kadyrov follows his father, Akhmad, who started Chechenization, in which Chechnya would be a loyal part of Russia but would keep its own domestic affairs in order. More broadly, homophobia is accepted as a norm in the Caucasus.

But the issue is not just regional, or religious, or cultural. As Maxim Eristavi, an Atlantic Council fellow who has been following the situation, noted on Twitter, Dismissing gay murders in Chechnya as Muslim issue is wrong: Russia has many Muslim-majority regions, weve seen nothing like this there. Gay murder spree in Chechnya is not cultural, Muslim or regional. Its part of longtime Kremlin-backed regime of state violence.

It doesnt appear that this issue was raised this week by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, or to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Tillerson did not meet with civil society leaders during his two-day visit to Russia.

However, the State Departments acting spokesperson Mark Toner did issue a statement expressing concern last Friday. We urge Russian federal authorities to speak out against such practices, take steps to ensure the release of anyone wrongfully detained, conduct an independent and credible investigation into these, reports and hold any perpetrators responsible.

Photo credit: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images
The European Court of Human Rights said Russia violated European human rights law, failed to prevent the 2004 Beslan school siege, and deployed excessive force that exacerbated the death toll. The ruling comes after years of stalled domestic investigations into the bloody tragedy.

The court, ruling on Thursday, ordered Russia to pay 3 million euros to the families of the victims. The siege took the lives of 330 people, including 186 children.

Russia, which ratified the European Convention on Human Rights immediately denounced the ruling, dismissing the decision as unacceptable and saying it will appeal it. But its Russias own behavior that led to the court case in the first place. Russias investigations stalled, and the main one, which is still ongoing, suggests officials acted lawfully. So over 400 survivors and relatives of the victims filed applications to the court between 2007 and 2011. Russia now has three months to appeal the case to the Grand Chamber of Court.

In September 2004, 30 militants, followers of Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, took more than 1000 people hostage in Beslan School Number One. They were demanding that Russia leave Chechnya (Beslan is in nearby North Ossetia). The hostages were kept in the school gym for three days. The gym was mined. Hostages were denied water.

Russia responded by setting off explosives and exchanging fire. Fire spread. The roof collapsed. Hundreds were killed. It was reminiscent of Moscow in 2002, when Russian forces responded to a hostage situation in a theater by pumping in toxic gas, killing 170.

Now, almost 13 years later, the ECHR has ruled Russia used disproportionate force, failed to try to minimize loss of life, failed to coordinate medical and rescue teams, and also knew that such an attack was coming and didnt do anything to stop it  like stop the militants from meeting, or increase security at the school, or warn anyone. Additionally, for one third of the victims, the exact cause of death had not been established, because investigators didnt fully forensically examine them, or even bother to locate the hostages bodies.

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The Court could not avoid the conclusion that this lack of responsibility and coordination had contributed, to some extent, to the tragic outcome of the events, the judges said.

We certainly cannot agree with such an assessment, in a country which has suffered from more than one terrorist attack, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said of the ruling. And, indeed, this ruling does come not too long after a bombing on the St. Petersburg metro that killed 14  after which unfounded conspiracy theories of government involvement abounded, so often does the Kremlin make political hay out of tragedy.

Photo credit: FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images
MOSCOW (AP)  The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that Russia failed to adequately protect victims of a 2004 school siege in the city of Beslan that left more than 330 people dead, a verdict that Moscow said it would appeal.

The France-based court said authorities did not take necessary preventive measures to save lives. It said the security forces' use of tank cannon, grenade launchers and flame-throwers contributed to casualties among the hostages. It also noted failures to increase security before the attack despite imminent threats against schools in the area.

A group of 32 heavily armed radical Islamic militants seized the school on the first day of class on Sept. 1, 2004, herding more than 1,000 people into the gymnasium and holding them hostage for nearly three days. The siege ended in gunfire and explosions, leaving 334 dead, more than half of them children. Over 800 people were wounded.

The court ordered that Russia pay nearly 3 million euros ($3.2 million) in total compensation to the 409 Russians who brought the case to the ECHR; they include people who were taken hostage, or injured or are relatives of the hostages or those killed and injured.

The Russian Justice Ministry, announcing its intention to appeal, contended that the judges failed to grasp the gravity of the situation during the siege and specifics of efforts taken to free the hostages.

The ministry said the court's assessment of indiscriminate use of weapons by Russian special forces was groundless, citing results of an official Russian probe into the siege.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, also rejected the court's view of disproportionate use of force by the government, saying that "such hypothetical assessment is hardly acceptable."

He told reporters in a conference call that Russia, as a country that came under numerous terror attacks, can't accept the ruling.

"Such wording is absolutely unacceptable for a country that came under attack," Peskov said.

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"All the necessary legal action regarding this ruling will be taken," he added.

The head of the Mothers of Beslan group, Aneta Gadieva, said the payment ordered was meager.

"Somebody will get 5,000 euro, somebody will get 20,000 euro. That's a small sum in compensation for moral damages," she was quoted as telling state news agency Tass.

Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for organizing the school siege. It came amid a particularly violent period in the Islamist insurgency that was connected with the fight between Russian forces and Chechen separatists. A week before the seizure, suicide bombers downed two Russian airliners on the same night, killing a total of 90 people, and another suicide bomber killed 10 people outside a Moscow subway station.

___

Jim Heintz in Moscow and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.
By Gilbert Reilhac and Svetlana Reiter STRASBOURG/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian authorities breached European human rights laws when they stormed a school seized by Islamist militants in 2004, contributing to the deaths of more than 300 hostages, the continent's rights court ruled on Thursday. Among the more than 330 dead were at least 180 children. A further 750 people were wounded when security forces used "tank cannon, grenade launchers and flamethrowers" while trying to free more than 1,000 hostages at the school in the southern Russian town of Beslan. This, said the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, "contributed to the casualties among the hostages" and did not respect the hostages' "right to life" by failing to restrict lethal force to what was "absolutely necessary". The court ordered Russia to pay 2.955 million euros ($3.14 million) in damages and 88,000 euros in legal costs. The court also said Russian authorities had been aware of a possible attack on public places such as schools but had not prepared sufficiently. "While certain security measures had been taken, in general the preventive measures in the present case could be characterised as inadequate," it said. Russia's government said it would appeal against the ruling. "We cannot agree with such a conclusion in a country that has been a victim of terrorist attacks multiple times," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "Unfortunately the list of such countries is growing and is unfortunately growing regularly, so such conclusions for a country that endured an attack are absolutely unacceptable," Peskov said. A lawyer who represented victims of the siege and their families said they had only achieved a partial victory, and the focus would now be on trying to hold to account Russian officials over their failings. "We are not entirely happy with the decision," said Sergei Knyazkin, a lawyer for campaign group the Beslan Mothers Committee. "Three million euros in compensation is not enough, because you cannot measure the death of children in such figures." "The victims insist that the authorities carry the blame for the badly-conducted operation to free the hostages in Beslan," Knyazkin told Reuters. Militants demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya seized some 1,100 children, parents and teachers as they celebrated the first day of the school year in September 2004. On Sept. 3 the siege ended in a series of explosions and a bloody shootout when Russian forces moved in. ($1 = 0.9398 euros) (Additional reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek in Brussels and Christian Lowe in Moscow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan/Andrew Osborn)
By Jeremy Wagstaff and Byron Kaye SINGAPORE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - A company built around the research of Craig Wright, who has claimed to have invented the bitcoin cryptocurrency, has been sold to a private equity firm in a deal the company says is the biggest to date involving bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology. The deal swings the spotlight once again on to Wright, a 46-year-old computer scientist who is the cryptocurrency's most controversial figure. He hopes to remain central to the technology's future, telling Reuters the goal is to build bitcoin into a global "system with no ruler, no king." "We will scale and grow bitcoin to become what it was envisioned to be," he said. "All I do is to help grow the use of bitcoin, and I want to see it in daily use by at least a billion people on-chain. We have the funds, the people and the technology to do this." According to a news release on Thursday, Malta-based High Tech Private Equity Fund SICAV plc bought nChain Holdings, "the world leader in blockchain-centric research and development." It put no value on the deal and did not mention Wright. Reuters previously identified nChain, formerly known as EITC Holdings, as Wright's vehicle for filing hundreds of bitcoin and blockchain-related patents. UK records confirm that the target company - under both its EITC and nChain names - already filed more than 80 bitcoin and blockchain-related patents. A person close to the deal said $300 million had been invested in nChain, but it was not clear over what period of time. The Maltese fund did not respond to emails asking for comment. Reuters reported last year that EITC planned to file hundreds of patents related to blockchain, the distributed ledger technology that underpins cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. The financial industry and others are exploring its potential. The fund is managed by Liechtenstein-based Accuro Fund Solutions, part of Zurich-based Accuro Group. Accuro did not respond to an emailed request for comment. DIVISIVE FIGURE Wright remains a divisive figure in the bitcoin world. After failing to convince many in the bitcoin community that he was Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous founder of bitcoin, Wright retreated from view last year. Reuters reported last month that Wright was working with Calvin Ayre, a Canadian online gambling tycoon, to build a patent portfolio, though its purpose was not clear. Ayre was not immediately available for comment. nChain said in an emailed response to questions from Reuters that neither Ayre nor Wright had a stake in it before or after the sale. It said the company previously acquired Wright's assets and intellectual property, and he now held the post of chief scientist. Although it was not possible to confirm Wright's identity as Nakamoto, a Reuters investigation found he was deeply involved in the early development of bitcoin, and had told Australian tax officials he possessed more than 1 million bitcoin - worth $1.2 billion at the current exchange rate. Patent lawyers have noted that open-source technologies like bitcoin are not easy to patent, and even if patents are approved, they are not always easy to defend. Thursday's announcement is the first time nChain has publicly acknowledged it is filing patents. Without confirming how many bitcoins he owns, Wright told Reuters he would never "dump bitcoin." "I will sell when I do this for goods on a daily basis, or I will go down with it. Past the basics of my family's well-being, all I have is dedicated to building the systems and institutions needed to make bitcoin successful globally," he said. The news release also shed light on what Wright and nChain might do with its patents. nChain this year "intends to make some of its intellectual property assets available to the blockchain community through open-source software and royalty-free licensing." It invited interested parties to register via email. nChain's patent filings, seen by Reuters, range from the storage of medical documents to WiFi security. Investors have spent more than $1.5 billion on blockchain and bitcoin start-ups over the past four years, according to CB Insights, an internet research company. The company said it was also working on software tools and applications to support the growth of blockchain. These include a software to develop applications on the bitcoin blockchain, solutions for bitcoin blockchain scalability, inventions to improve security, on-chain scripting for smart contracts, and a decentralised trading platform that uses autonomous agents. The company also called for a neutral standards body to be set up to coordinate bitcoin's development. (Reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff and Byron Kaye; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite sending a naval force to the Korean peninsula, the Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, banning its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials say.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a preliminary broad approach on North Korea and asked his national security team to craft a more detailed framework for new international sanctions and other actions to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, one official said.

"There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea," the official told Reuters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. officials said the administration is considering an array of stiffer sanctions that could be applied on a "sliding scale" proportionate to North Korean actions. Some steps could be applied unilaterally, and others through the United Nations, where China has a Security Council veto.

The U.S. show of force, sending what Trump called an "armada" of military vessels toward the region, and North Korea's angry response, has raised fears of a military confrontation.

Though U.S. officials insist that military options remain on the table, pre-emptive strikes on North Korea remain a last resort, and they stressed that - for now, at least - the Trump administration is stressing economic and diplomatic measures.

U.N. economic options include an embargo on oil supplies to North Korea; a global ban on Air Koryo, its national airline; and interdiction of North Korean freighters on the high seas, a step that would go beyond an existing requirement for nations to inspect ships transiting their territory, the officials said this week.

The United Nations also could prohibit the use of North Korean contracted labor abroad and expand the restrictions on North Korean coal exports to a total ban, the officials said.

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Another step could be a ban on North Korean seafood exports, Pyongyang's fourth-largest export to China, its main trading partner, and expanded efforts to seize assets of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family.

U.S. administration officials said final decisions on specific sanctions targets have yet to made, but they privately expressed doubts about how much further Beijing is willing to go to bring its defiant ally to heel - in spite of increasing Chinese concerns that North Korea might soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or new missile launches.

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A phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday was intended to reinforce U.S. pressure on Beijing to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a U.S. official said.

On Wednesday, Trump, who met Xi at a first summit in Florida last week, praised China for sending coal ships back to North Korea under existing U.N. sanctions. Trump said he thought Xi wanted to help, but added: "We'll see whether or not he does."

MULTIPLE SANCTIONS TARGETS

While Trump emphasized the warmth of his interactions with Xi, he warned the Chinese leader last week that new sanctions could include penalties against Chinese banks and companies doing business with North Korea if Beijing did not step up pressure, one U.S. official said.

"If that's the only option the Chinese leave us, there's a real possibility that Chinese entities will get hit," the official said.

The U.S. aim would be to tighten the screws on North Korea in the same way it pressured Iran to open negotiations on its suspected nuclear weapons program  by penalizing all foreign firms dealing with the country.

"The amount of pressure that has been brought to bear economically on North Korea is far short of what was brought to bear against Iran," another senior administration official said.

Some analysts cautioned that targeting Chinese entities with so-called "secondary sanctions" could backfire and make Beijing less willing to cooperate, and that dealing with a country that already has nuclear weapons differs from dealing with one accused of trying acquire them.

"If you want to rely on sanctions to achieve your goal, you have to find a way to persuade or force the world into going all the way to a near full embargo or at least an embargo on key commodities like petroleum and on North Korean hard currency export earnings," said Joseph DeThomas, a former State Department official who worked on Iran and North Korea sanctions.

"Only if the regime sees continuation of sanctions as fatal will it consider change," he said.

Asked about the possibility of new U.S. sanctions, China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing China was opposed.

"China has always opposed the use of unilateral sanctions in international relations and is firmly opposed when such unilateral sanctions harm China's interests," Lu said.

In a sign of Beijing's growing frustration with North Korea, China's Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday North Korea should halt any nuclear and missile activities "for its own security" - a reference to the approaching U.S. naval force.

It said that if North Korea made another provocative move, "Chinese society" might back unprecedented sanctions "such as restricting oil imports."

While run by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, the Global Times does not always represent government policy.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Lidia Kelly and Pawel Sobczak WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland hopes to host U.S. President Donald Trump for a short visit in July and its foreign minister will discuss the plan during a trip to Washington next week, Polish government sources told Reuters. The diplomatic offensive comes as Poland prepared to welcome on Thursday a U.S.-led deployment of 1,100 troops on its eastern flank as part of NATO plans to counter a more assertive Russia. Trump rattled Washington's European allies last year by branding NATO "obsolete" and calling for improved ties with Russia. But following a sharp disagreement with Moscow over the Syria crisis, Trump has abruptly reversed course and said on Wednesday NATO was "no longer obsolete". Trump is due to attend a summit of the Group of 20 biggest economies in Germany on July 7-8. Poland hopes he can make a stopover beforehand in the western Polish city of Wroclaw, which will be hosting a conference on Atlantic values at that time. "Poland is trying very hard to bring Trump here, even if only for a brief visit," a Polish government source said, on condition of anonymity, late on Wednesday. A second government source said a Trump visit would be "a significant development for Poland's image abroad". Poland's conservative, euroskeptic ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), is staunchly Atlanticist and has been much more welcoming of the new right-wing Trump administration than many other European governments. Trump has been critical in the past of the European Union, with which PiS has troubled relations. Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski will discuss the invitation in talks next week with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the first government source said. A source in the office of Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw expected a decision from Washington in the first half of May. "The case seems to be developing positively, although there is still no final decision," the source said. NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti, was due to attend Thursday's welcoming ceremony for the troops to be deployed in Poland. (Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Gareth Jones)
LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook failed to remove dozens of instances of extremist and child pornography even after the social network's moderators were directly informed of the potentially illegal content, an investigation by The Times showed on Thursday. Using a fake profile set up last month, a Times journalist found images and videos glorifying Islamic State and recent deadly attacks in London and Egypt, along with graphic images of child abuse, and asked site moderators to remove them. Facebook moderators removed some of reported images but left untouched pro-jihadist posts praising recent attacks and calling for new ones. The company appeared to take action only after The Times identified itself as reporting a story on the matter. Failure to remove content which is illegal under British law after company officials have been notified of its existence could expose Facebook to criminal prosecution for its role in encouraging the publication and distribution of such imagery. The social media giant faces new laws in countries around the world to force it to move faster to combat illegal content but it has struggled to keep pace as illicit posts can reappear as fast as they are identified and taken down. A Facebook spokesman said the company had now removed all the images identified by the Times as potentially illegal, acknowledging that they "violate our policies and have no place on Facebook". "We are sorry that this occurred," Facebook Vice President of Operations Justin Osofsky said in a statement. "It is clear that we can do better, and we'll continue to work hard to live up to the high standards people rightly expect of Facebook. A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police called for individuals to report extremist content to it via an online form. It declined to comment on whether it was investigating if Facebook failed to act when notified of the illegal content. "Where material breaches UK terrorism laws, the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) will, where possible, seek the removal of the content by working with the relevant internet hosting company," the spokesman said. (Reporting By Eric Auchard; editing by Stephen Addison)
San Francisco (AFP) - Facebook said it has started weeding out bogus accounts by watching for suspicious behavior such as repetitive posts or torrents of messages.

The security improvement was described as being part of a broader effort to rid the leading social network of hoaxes, misinformation, and fake news by making sure people are who they claim to be.

"We've found that when people represent themselves on Facebook the same way they do in real life, they act responsibly," Shabnam Shaik of the Facebook protect and care team said in a blog post.

"Fake accounts don't follow this pattern, and are closely related to the creation and spread of spam."

Accounts suspected of being bogus are suspended and holders asked to verify identifies, which scammers typically don't do, according to the California-based social network.

In France, the new tactic has already resulted in Facebook taking action against 30,000 accounts believed to be fakes, Shaik said.

"We've made improvements to recognize these inauthentic accounts more easily by identifying patterns of activity -- without assessing the content itself," Shaik said.

"With these changes, we expect we will also reduce the spread of material generated through inauthentic activity, including spam, misinformation, or other deceptive content that is often shared by creators of fake accounts."

Under pressure to stymie the spread of fake news, Facebook has taken a series of steps including making it easier to report such posts and harder to make money from them.

Facebook also modified its displays of trending topics to find stories faster, capture a broader range of news, and help ensure that trends reflect real world events being covered by multiple news outlets.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has sought to deflect criticism that the huge social network may have been used to fuel the spread of misinformation that affected the 2016 US presidential race.

Facebook last week unleashed a new weapon in the war against "revenge porn" at the social network as well as the messaging services Messenger and Instagram.

When intimate images shared on Facebook without permission are reported, confirmed and removed, the company will use photo-matching technology to prevent copies from being shared again on its platform.
Ira Gershwin chose to reference tomatoes, potatoes, pajamas, and oysters when he wrote the lyrics to the clash-of-cultures classic Lets Call the Whole Thing Off back in 1937. Had he been working more recently, he might have sneaked in a reference to compact Ford crossovers. Because while we say Escape, Europeans say Kuga, even though what were talking about is pretty much the exact same car.

There are differences. Europe-market Kugas are built in Spain and typically ship with diesel engines, while our Escapes come from Kentucky and burn gasoline. But now theres set to be another point of distinction, with those snooty Yew-Row-Peens launching whats meant to be a luxury version: the Kuga Vignale.

Unlikely as it seems, Ford of Europe is deadly serious about its new Vignale sub-brand, planning to create lux iterations of everything from the subcompact Fiesta to the minivan-like S-Max. Having sold off both Jaguar and Land Rover when times were tougher, Ford no longer has any swankier brand in EuropeLincoln has never had a presence on the Continentand Vignale models are meant to fill some of the gap. Were told that they are positioned above the existing model hierarchy and are aimed at customers who otherwise would go for a premium brand.

As youd expect, the Kuga Vignale gets plusher trim and more standard equipment than its workaday cousin, and indeed it comes fitted with pretty much every available option. But it also will be sold differently, from no-hassle lounges inside select Ford dealerships to the offer of pick-up-and-drop servicing and even a concierge service that claims to be capable of getting tickets for sold-out shows. (These perks are similar to those offered to buyers of Lincoln Black Label models in the U.S.) The company says that Vignale variants will undergo extra quality checks during assembly as well, which might make buyers of lesser Kugas wonder just what Ford is willing to overlook on their cars.

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Luxury Slathered On with a Butter Knife

There are no sheetmetal changes between the Vignale and its proletarian cousinsthe Vignale is not a Europeanized Lincoln MKCso its fair to say similarities are far more marked than the differences. The uber-Kuga gets prominent Vignale badges on its fenders and liftgate, 18-inch chrome-effect aluminum wheels, shinier trim, and an egg-crate grille in place of the slatted Escape-like one used on ordinary Kugas.

Inside the cabin things get odder, and the urge to use a metaphor referencing pigs and lipstick becomes almost overwhelming. Vignale is meant to be about luxury, but the plusher materials seem to have been added with more enthusiasm than finesse. So, while power-adjustable leather front seats with a striking quilted stitch pattern feel both comfortable and classy, the matching door trim and dashboard tops have basically been pasted atop the considerably cheaper Kuga-grade items, highlighting the contrast between the two. The switchgear is unchanged and feels particularly plasticky given the upmarket aspirations, even if the central display screen gets a Vignale welcome page.

Our test car was the range-topper, with a 178-hp version of Fords long-serving TDCi 2.0-liter diesel inline-four, basically the same engine weve previously sampled in the Europe-only diesel Focus ST, and with both all-wheel drive and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Other drivetrains are available, including two less powerful diesels and a 180-hp gasoline model using the EcoBoost 1.5-liter inline-four. Although the gas engine has fractionally more power, the diesel is more expensive due to the continued popularity of compression ignition in Euro-land.

Kind of Loud, But at Least Its Slow

As four-cylinder diesels go, the TDCi is not a bad engine, although it is conspicuously lacking in firepower when considered against more modern European rivals. The engine is noticeably louder than Volkswagens latest Euro-spec TDI even under gentle use and gets very vocal when worked hard, but it has more than enough midrange torque to make respectable progress without breaking a sweat. Acceleration is disappointing, though, with Fords claims of a leisurely 10.0-second zero-to-62-mph time looking very slow compared with the U.S.-spec Escape that we ran from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. It certainly left us with no enthusiasm to sample any of the less powerful variants; Ford says the base diesel takes a yawning 12.7 seconds to get to 62 mph.

On the plus side, the all-wheel-drive system coped well with the sometimes snowy conditions we drove in, and the rest of the behind-the-wheel experience stays predictably close to that delivered by the standard Kuga, one of the better-handling cars in its segment, aided by torque vectoring. The steering is direct and front-end responses keen, understeer is resisted admirably, and ride quality is good. It doesnt have the dynamic character of many of the cars Ford has priced it against, but its laid-back demeanor gives it a point of difference over firmer-riding German rivals.

But its when discussion moves to price that the Kuga Vignales reality-distortion field flickers and dies. European car pricing is higher than in the States, but even so, the U.K. price of the 2.0-liter TDCi AWD PowerShift we drove looks fairly preposterous at 35,890 (including the requisite 20 percent value-added tax), or $45,000 at current exchange rates. That makes the Vignale as expensive as a BMW X3 xDrive20d in Blighty. The Ford has more standard equipmentplus that concierge servicebut the BMW is nearly two seconds quicker to 62 mph.

The Kuga Vignale finds Fords European division trying to solve a problem that Dearborn has already addressed with the Lincoln MKC. While we arent huge fans of the Lincoln, its certainly a more convincing version of a posh Escape, the tomato to the Vignales potato.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback



ESTIMATED BASE PRICE (UNITED KINGDOM): $32,400$36,900



ENGINE TYPES: turbocharged and intercooled SOHC 8-valve diesel 1.5-liter inline-4, 118 hp, 199 or 221 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve diesel 2.0-liter inline-4, 148 or 178 hp, 273 or 295 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 1.5-liter inline-4, 180 hp, 177 lb-ft



TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 105.9 in

Length: 178.8 in

Width: 73.1 in Height: 66.767.0 in

Passenger volume: 98102 cu ft

Cargo volume: 34 cu ft

Curb weight: 36503900 lb



PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):

Zero to 60 mph: 9.812.5 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 32.037.0 sec

Standing -mile: 17.420.1 sec

Top speed: 115125 mph



FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):

EPA combined/city/highway driving: 2433/2229/2839 mpg




Shree Airlines acquires first jet to begin fixed-wing operations

Nepals largest helicopter operator, Shree Airlines on Wednesday welcomed its first 50-seater Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ-200) as part of its plan to diversify and tap into Nepals expanding air travel market.
Caracas (AFP) - More clashes erupted Thursday between police and protesters rallying against the Venezuelan government, after officials said a fifth person died from being shot during earlier unrest.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Caracas, AFP reporters saw. It was the latest in a week of clashes over a mounting crisis driven by food shortages.

A 32-year-old man died from a gunshot wound suffered during clashes on Tuesday night in the northwestern town of Cabudare, a spokesman for the public prosecution service who asked not to be named told AFP.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro is fighting off efforts to oust him as Venezuela, once a booming oil exporting nation, struggles with shortages of food and medicine.

Dozens of people have been injured and more than 100 arrested over the past week in clashes in various cities, according to authorities.

Opposition lawmaker Alfonso Marquina on Twitter identified the latest death as Antonio Gruseny Calderon and called him "another victim of the dictatorship."

- Boy killed -

Marquina and officials earlier said a 13-year-old boy was shot dead in protests on Tuesday in the western city of Barquisimeto.

Marquina blamed that killing on so-called "colectivos," armed supporters of the government whom the opposition accuses of attacking them during demonstrations.

A 36-year-old man was killed the same night in Barquisimeto, prosecutors said.

Two 19-year-old students were shot by police in earlier unrest, one on April 6 and one on April 11, according to authorities.

Also on Thursday, opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Olivares said police fired tear gas "point-blank" at demonstrators in the state of Vargas.

"If they think they will scare us that way they are wrong. We will stay in the street!" he wrote on Twitter.

- Street clashes -

Thursday's clashes in Caracas erupted when an estimated 1,000 demonstrators kept marching after the scheduled end of a bigger opposition protest and headed for a central district where government institutions are located.

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Military police dispersed demonstrators. Some radical members of the rally, their heads covered by hoods, clashed with police.

Another group of around 1,000 people was targeted by police with tear gas and rubber bullets as they marched from the east of the city toward a highway leading downtown.

"I want to see Venezuela free of dictatorship. At peace," said protesting stay-at-home mother Aura Cuaita, 33. "I am not afraid."

In the city of Carora, people lay down in the street to form the letters of the Spanish words for "Down with Maduro."

Pro-government supporters fired buckshot at them, said the opposition lawmaker Marquina.

Police also reportedly broke up a protest in the state of Vargas which borders Caracas.

Yet another march in the west of Caracas took place without violence however, despite passing near the headquarters of security services.

"Why was there no violence? Because they (the authorities) are the violent ones.... We are the guarantors of peace in this country," said opposition congress deputy-speaker Freddy Guevara in a speech.

- International concern -

The next major organized rallies called by opposition leaders are set for Wednesday next week.

That is expected to be the next big showdown in an increasingly fraught crisis that has raised international concerns for Venezuela's stability.

The opposition is demanding the authorities set a date for postponed regional elections.

It is also furious over moves to limit the powers of the legislature and ban senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles from politics.

Those moves have raised international condemnation including from the United States and the European Union.

The US State Department on Thursday urged the Venezuelan security forces to respect people's right to assembly, and urged Maduro to reconsider its decision on banning Capriles.

"It's absolutely vital that Venezuelans have the right to ... elect their representatives in free and fair elections in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution and consistent with international instruments" said department spokesman Mark Toner.

Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to hold a referendum on removing him, vowing to continue the "socialist revolution" launched by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez.

Maduro says the economic crisis is the result of what he calls a US-backed capitalist conspiracy.
John Boyega, Anthony Mackie and John Krasinski star in Kathryn Bigelow's upcoming movie about the Detroit riots in the summer of 1967. The movie is due in US theaters August 4.

The movie world has been waiting four years to see the return of Kathryn Bigelow, the only female winner of the Best Director Oscar (with "The Hurt Locker" in 2010). For her next movie, the conflict zone specialist is leaving the Middle East -- the setting of her last two movies -- behind, and heading to the US city of Detroit to portray the Detroit riots, a major event in American history.

At the end of July 1967, the Michigan city was the scene of violent protests following a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar, which enflamed racial tensions, particularly between police and the African-American community. More than 40 people were killed and 500 were injured in the space of four days.

The movie stars John Boyega ("Star Wars: the Force Awakens"), Anthony Mackie ("Avengers: Age of Ultron") and John Krasinski ("The Office") and is scheduled for release August 4 in US theaters -- 50 years after the event.

Watch the "Detroit" trailer: Youtu.be/HFeWsDpy9y0
Sidon (Lebanon) (AFP) - A local security force deployed across southern Lebanon's Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp on Thursday, a commander said, ending a week of sporadic clashes with an extremist group.

The fighting, which left nine dead and more than 50 wounded, had prompted many to flee their homes and forced schools and shops in and around the camp to close.

The commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the local security force, which includes 100 fighters from several Palestinian factions, was able to deploy throughout the camp after a ceasefire late Wednesday night.

Lebanon's army does not enter the camp by long-standing convention.

"Security forces deployed in the Al-Tiri neighbourhood, which had been the focal point of the clashes," the commander said.

He added that "extremist Islamist groups" had withdrawn from some areas to avoid further clashes.

Fighting erupted late Friday after Palestinian factions deployed throughout Ain al-Hilweh as part of an operation aimed at combating the influence of a local Islamist group linked to Bilal Badr, a wanted militant.

The commander said Badr had refused to give himself up to Palestinian security forces to be handed over to the Lebanese authorities.

Badr is wanted on suspicion of "terrorism", firearms offences and belonging to an armed group, according to a Lebanese security official.

An AFP correspondent said the camp had suffered major damage and that some residents had been trapped inside their homes throughout the fighting.

Local activist Asef Moussa told AFP that "dozens of young people will volunteer on Friday to clean the streets and clear up the damage and rubble left by the fighting".

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said it welcomed the return to calm.

"UNRWA... is working to restore its services in the camp as quickly as possible," said its local affairs director Claudio Cordone, adding that UNRWA would resume its activities on Friday morning.

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Ain al-Hilweh is the most densely populated Palestinian camp in Lebanon.

Home to multiple armed factions including extremist groups, it has been plagued by intermittent clashes.

Lebanese security forces do not enter Palestinian refugee camps, where security is managed by joint committees of Palestinian factions.

Ain al-Hilweh is home to some 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in Syria.
By Michael Martina and Sue-Lin Wong BEIJING/PYONGYANG (Reuters) - Military force cannot resolve tension over North Korea, China said on Thursday, while an influential Chinese newspaper urged the North to halt its nuclear program in exchange for Chinese protection. Concerns have been growing that North Korea could soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of U.N. sanctions and stark warnings from the United States that a policy of patience was over. With a U.S. aircraft carrier group steaming to the area in a show of force and tensions rising, fears of a confrontation have been rising. (Graphic - The Carl Vinson Strike Group: http://tmsnrt.rs/2pqOMWA) China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbor, which nevertheless opposes its weapons program, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearization of the peninsula. "Military force cannot resolve the issue," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing. "Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks." While U.S. President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he would not tolerate any provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions. Trump said on Thursday Pyongyang was a problem that "will be taken care of" and that he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would "work very hard" to help resolve the challenge. Trump has also said the United States is prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary. Trump diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group toward the Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force to try to deter North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with important events and anniversaries. But a senior Trump administration official described as "flat wrong" an NBC News report citing senior U.S. intelligence officials as saying the United States is prepared to launch a pre-emptive conventional weapons strike should officials be convinced North Korea was about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test. Scores of foreign journalists are gathered in Pyongyang for North Korea's biggest national day, the "Day of the Sun", marking he 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday. They were taken to what officials billed as a "big and important event" early on Thursday which turned out to be the opening of a new street in the center of the capital, attended by current leader Kim Jong Un. In 2012, two days before the centenary of Kim Il Sung's death, it tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite. It tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile on the anniversary last year, a launch that also failed. A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images on Wednesday showed activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that indicated it was ready for a new test. South Korean and U.S. officials and the think tank have been saying for weeks that North Korea could test a sixth bomb at any time. CIA director Mike Pompeo said North Korea was closer now than it had ever been to being able to threaten the United States with a nuclear-tipped intercontinental missile and increased its technical know-how with each new test. This in turn reduced U.S. options and makes it more likely that you get a bad decision, a tough day for the leader of North Korea, he told Washington's Center for Strategic and International studies. Asked if there was hope that China would do more to slow or suspend its nuclear program, he replied: "Im counting on it. Speculation about U.S. military action grew after the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack. Washington said North Korea should see the strikes as a sign of U.S. resolve, but U.S. officials have played down the prospect of any military strike against North Korea, which would likely provoke massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. The United States has remained technically at war with North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty and the past six decades have been punctuated by periodic rises in tension and rhetoric that has always stopped short of a resumption of active hostilities. Analysts have interpreted China's warnings as an effort to persuade North Korea to shelve plans for more tests. Wang warned that history would hold any instigator to account. "Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility," Wang said. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told parliament in Seoul he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike. An influential state-backed Chinese newspaper, the Global Times, said North Korea's best option was to give up its nuclear program, and added that China would protect it if it did. "As soon as North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearized North Korean nation and regime," it said in an editorial. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about North Korea, saying it could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas. But a senior Japanese diplomat said Japan also did not see a high risk of military action. On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The White House dismissed the threat, saying there was no evidence North Korea could carry it out. North Korea regularly threatens to destroy the United States and South Korea. U.S. officials said Trump was considering sanctions that could include an oil embargo, banning North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with it. Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed China's coal imports from North Korea had plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year earlier. China suspended permit issuance for North Korean coal imports on Feb. 18 as part of its effort to implement U.N. sanctions. (Additional reporting by Natalie Thomas in PYONGYANG, Ju-min Park and James Pearson in SEOUL, Christian Shepherd in BEIJING, Linda Sieg in TOKYO, and Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason in WASHINGTON; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel and Howard Goller)
Washington (AFP) - A week after President Donald Trump defended the star Fox News host Bill O'Reilly following accusations of sexual harassment, he is on vacation from his hugely popular show and his future uncertain.

The right-wing television personality announced what he called a long-planned break during his show on Tuesday, saying he would return on April 24 -- amid reports he may not come back.

Around this time of year, "I grab some vacation because it's spring and Easter time," the combative 67-year-old host said. "Last fall, I booked a trip that should be terrific."

His announcement follows a report in The New York Times last month saying the Fox cable news giant and O'Reilly had paid five women a total of $13 million in cases spanning 15 years, in exchange for their silence and agreement not to pursue litigation against Fox News, a favorite among conservatives.

The revelations come as "The O'Reilly Factor," US television's most-watched cable news show, is more popular than ever in its 20-year history.

Last week, the show averaged 3.7 million viewers over five nights, up 28 percent from the same week last year, according to Nielsen Research.

But O'Reilly's fate may come down to his station's bottom line.

Some 60 companies have said they would no longer advertise on his show following the Times report.

The time allotted for companies' advertisements on the show has been cut by more than half, according to an analysis released Tuesday by Kantar Media. Fox has filled the time with extra content.

That is adding to doubts about O'Reilly's future, with New York Magazine reporting sources inside the network as saying he may not return.

Although Fox News co-president Bill Shine wants the host to stay, the decision is up to the Murdoch family, which owns the network, the magazine said.

Fox News's parent company has said it will investigate the harassment claims.

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Rotating substitute hosts will replace O'Reilly during his absence, Politico reported, with guest hosts already filling in for him during the show's Friday broadcasts for months.

Fox has chosen a woman to be the first host, Politico said: Dana Perino, former spokeswoman for president George W. Bush.

- 'A good person' -

Just last week, Trump -- reported to be an avid Fox News watcher -- came to O'Reilly's aid, calling him "a good person."

"Personally, I think he shouldn't have settled," the president said, suggesting O'Reilly should have fought the lawsuits against him in court.

O'Reilly himself did not directly deny any of the allegations, but said his prominence made him "vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity."

Last year, Trump defended former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, who stepped down in July amid sexual harassment accusations of his own.

Ailes, 76, had built the conservative news channel at the request of Rupert Murdoch, head of the media giant News Corp.

Accusations of sexual harassment also roiled Trump's election campaign last year following the release of a 2005 video that caught him on a "hot mike" making vulgar and degrading remarks about women and boasting about sexually assaulting them.

A dozen women came forward after the video's release to publicly accuse the Republican candidate of abusive behavior that, in some instances if confirmed, would have amounted to sexual assault.

Trump has consistently denied the accusations.
France and Japan want to recover pieces of a Martian Moon and bring them back to Earth, the head of France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) said Thursday.

The Martian Moons Exploration project would launch a probe in 2024 destined for Phobos, the largest and closest of two moons circling the Red Planet.

Paris and Tokyo signed a preliminary agreement on Monday, and will make a final decision before the end of the year, CNES president Jean-Yves Le Gall told AFP.

"It's a very important mission because -- besides the Moon -- it would be the first time samples from the satellite of a planet would be brought back to Earth," he said by phone.

Slightly egg-shaped, Phobos is 27 kilometres (17 miles) in diametre from end-to-end.

Analysing its composition would solve a long-standing question as to its origins.

One theory holds that the oblong moon is an asteroid captured by the gravitational pull of Mars. Another says that it is left-over matter from the Red Planet's creation event.

Landing on Phobos will also provide another vantage point for observing Mars, only 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) distant.

Getting there poses fewer challenges that landing on Mars, a graveyard for several failed missions.

"It should be twice as easy because the probe will not have to go through the Martian atmosphere," Le Gall said.

The Japanese partner for the project is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Phobos -- closer to its planet than any other moon in the solar system -- is approaching Mars by about 2 metres (6.5 feet) every century. Scientists expect the moon to be pulled apart in 30 to 50 million years.

In 2011, a Phobos-bound probe launched by Russia -- it's first interplanetary mission in 15 years -- failed, with pieces falling into the Pacific two months later.

In 2020, the joint Europe-Russia ExoMars mission will lauch a rover tasked with finding traces of Martian life, past or present.

NASA's Curiosity rover has been criss-crossing the planet for more than three years.

The American agency has plans for a manned trip in the next 10-15 years, with a similar project also being pursued by US billionaire Elon Musk.
The composer Mikel Rouse, who has comfortably straddled genres from classical to pop, found something unexpected when he took part in a Black Lives Matter protest -- beauty.

Rouse joined in chanting "Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" out of conviction, but the artist in him kicked in and he recorded it on his iPhone.

"It sounded so musical to me," Rouse said.

With digital manipulation and an anxious electronic soundscape, the technophile Rouse turned the chant into "Resolver" -- which he sees as a descendant piece of sorts to pioneering minimalist composer Steve Reich's use of repeated loops.

"Resolver" is one of four interconnected songs on Rouse's album "Hemisphere," which comes out April 28. "Hemisphere" is set to a film by Rouse of quotidian images turned awry such as an upside-down railway and a stilted wedding photo session.

The title track refers to US anti-drug authorities' Hemisphere surveillance program of telephone calls. But the soothing synthpop-like song is about comfort as Rouse sings of the need for companionship after the shock of Donald Trump's election as president.

Rouse said he was more interested in the "objectivity of the aesthetic" than straightforward protest songs.

"I think Laurie Anderson was quoted as saying, when asked why she doesn't do more political work, it's because right-wingers can also do political work," he said, referring to the experimental artist.

"It has the potential to be propaganda -- so is your propaganda different from my propaganda? But at a certain level, a lot of art does reflect the kind of world that we would like to live in," he told AFP at a favorite dive bar -- which makes a cameo in the film -- near his home in Manhattan's Hell Kitchen.

- Pop music 'more avant-garde than ever' -

Rouse is a leading force in totalism, the movement after minimalism that incorporated a sweeping range of influences and unorthodox rhythmic structures. To mark "Hemisphere" as well as his 60th birthday, Rouse plans a career-spanning concert on April 29 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.

Story continues

Like much of Rouse's music, "Hemisphere" defies easy genre classification. It breaks away from expected beats yet the songs -- intricately produced and interspersed with Arabic singing -- are quickly accessible.

"I've always found it fascinating that I'm too serious for the pop world and too pop for the classical world, which kind of makes me think that I'm in the right place," he said.

"Even with all the complex rhythms that are going on," he said of his latest album, "it would actually work out as good bar background music."

"And that was always my goal. The seduction of the sound is what would bring people in."

Rouse said categories were increasingly meaningless in an era of instant music access. He is an admirer of Frank Ocean, the introspective hip-hop star whose twin albums last year included an accompanying film.

"I've always felt that the audience is usually much further ahead than the categories," he said. "I think there is an element in which pop music is more avant-garde than it's ever been."

- Challenging audience expectations -

The son of a state trooper in Missouri, Rouse first came to New York on the encouragement of David Byrne of New Wave icons Talking Heads, who had tapped Rouse's pop band Tirez Tirez as an opening act.

His most influential works include "Dennis Cleveland," a 1996 opera in the form of a trashy talk show -- with audience members unexpectedly taking part as performers and screens showing crowd reactions.

In a collaboration with choreographer Merce Cunningham, Rouse gave spectators iPods on shuffle and each heard different music while watching the same dance.

"People would come up to us after the show and say, 'How did you manipulate the iPod?' They just didn't believe we weren't doing something," he said. "I said, you are the creative component that is making the connection."

Upcoming projects include an interactive digital playground for children.

In 2010, the New York Public Library announced it had acquired Rouse's archive. He has worked in earnest on it, easing any anxiety as he turned 60.

"All artists are miserable and all we do is complain and I'm not different," he said.

"But there is something about turning 60 and knowing that the stuff is there and that it's catalogued and safe that fills me with such enormous gratitude that I can't even being to express it."
New York (AFP) - The composer Mikel Rouse, who has comfortably straddled genres from classical to pop, found something unexpected when he took part in a Black Lives Matter protest -- beauty.

Rouse joined in chanting "Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" out of conviction, but the artist in him kicked in and he recorded it on his iPhone.

"It sounded so musical to me," Rouse said.

With digital manipulation and an anxious electronic soundscape, the technophile Rouse turned the chant into "Resolver" -- which he sees as a descendant piece of sorts to pioneering minimalist composer Steve Reich's use of repeated loops.

"Resolver" is one of four interconnected songs on Rouse's album "Hemisphere," which comes out April 28. "Hemisphere" is set to a film by Rouse of quotidian images turned awry such as an upside-down railway and a stilted wedding photo session.

The title track refers to US anti-drug authorities' Hemisphere surveillance program of telephone calls. But the soothing synthpop-like song is about comfort as Rouse sings of the need for companionship after the shock of Donald Trump's election as president.

Rouse said he was more interested in the "objectivity of the aesthetic" than straightforward protest songs.

"I think Laurie Anderson was quoted as saying, when asked why she doesn't do more political work, it's because right-wingers can also do political work," he said, referring to the experimental artist.

"It has the potential to be propaganda -- so is your propaganda different from my propaganda? But at a certain level, a lot of art does reflect the kind of world that we would like to live in," he told AFP at a favorite dive bar -- which makes a cameo in the film -- near his home in Manhattan's Hell Kitchen.

- Pop music 'more avant-garde than ever' -

Rouse is a leading force in totalism, the movement after minimalism that incorporated a sweeping range of influences and unorthodox rhythmic structures. To mark "Hemisphere" as well as his 60th birthday, Rouse plans a career-spanning concert on April 29 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.

Story continues

Like much of Rouse's music, "Hemisphere" defies easy genre classification. It breaks away from expected beats yet the songs -- intricately produced and interspersed with Arabic singing -- are quickly accessible.

"I've always found it fascinating that I'm too serious for the pop world and too pop for the classical world, which kind of makes me think that I'm in the right place," he said.

"Even with all the complex rhythms that are going on," he said of his latest album, "it would actually work out as good bar background music."

"And that was always my goal. The seduction of the sound is what would bring people in."

Rouse said categories were increasingly meaningless in an era of instant music access. He is an admirer of Frank Ocean, the introspective hip-hop star whose twin albums last year included an accompanying film.

"I've always felt that the audience is usually much further ahead than the categories," he said. "I think there is an element in which pop music is more avant-garde than it's ever been."

- Challenging audience expectations -

The son of a state trooper in Missouri, Rouse first came to New York on the encouragement of David Byrne of New Wave icons Talking Heads, who had tapped Rouse's pop band Tirez Tirez as an opening act.

His most influential works include "Dennis Cleveland," a 1996 opera in the form of a trashy talk show -- with audience members unexpectedly taking part as performers and screens showing crowd reactions.

In a collaboration with choreographer Merce Cunningham, Rouse gave spectators iPods on shuffle and each heard different music while watching the same dance.

"People would come up to us after the show and say, 'How did you manipulate the iPod?' They just didn't believe we weren't doing something," he said. "I said, you are the creative component that is making the connection."

Upcoming projects include an interactive digital playground for children.

In 2010, the New York Public Library announced it had acquired Rouse's archive. He has worked in earnest on it, easing any anxiety as he turned 60.

"All artists are miserable and all we do is complain and I'm not different," he said.

"But there is something about turning 60 and knowing that the stuff is there and that it's catalogued and safe that fills me with such enormous gratitude that I can't even being to express it."
Stalled airport projects call for unified solution

With all four international airport projects bogged down in problems, the parliamentary Development Committee on Wednesday directed the government to deal with them through a single window.
Shirine Othman, a 20-year-old refugee from Syria now living in Athens, cant say enough good things about where she has ended up living. She bustles around her small room, pointing out the wall-mounted hairdryer, then bounces briefly on the bed before smoothing out the polyester coverlet. She enthuses about the spacious closet and the anodyne wall art on her one-minute tour, then says she has saved the best for last.

When Othman, her husband and their two children arrived in Greece in March, after a terrifying night crossing from Turkey in a rubber boat, they were shunted into one of the countrys vast outdoor refugee camps. There they spent several weeks battling the cold, mud and rain in a tiny camping tent. Othman, seven months pregnant at the time, found herself sprinting for the distant portable toilets several times a night. Because of her pregnancy, Othman was able to apply for special permission to relocate to Athens, where she found something much better. What I love about this place is that I have my own room. I can close the door, and be alone with my family, she says, ducking into the tiny en suite. She beams in front of the mirror: And we have our own bathroom.

Few visitors to the downmarket City Plaza business hotel in downtown Athens would give the basic amenities such rave reviews. But for the refugees that have made it their home over the past six months, it is a virtual paradise compared to the grim conditions of the government run camps that house most migrants.

It is also technically illegal.

Part of the hotels dining room has been turned into an activity center for refugee youth to gather for games, language tutor sessions and hanging out.

Like many other Greek businesses, the City Plaza Hotel shuttered its doors in 2010 in the wake of the European financial crisis. But on April 22, 2016, a ragged consortium of Greek anarchists, leftists and international volunteers calling themselves the Solidarity Initiative for Political and Economic Refugees broke the locks, reconnected the utilities, cleaned up the rooms and occupied the building. Then they opened it up to 400 refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan.

Some 60,000 Middle Eastern and African refugees are currently stuck in Greece, the second act of a crisis that riveted the world when more than a million migrants crossed the Mediterranean by boat last year seeking a better life in Europe. In March Turkey signed a deal with the European Union, agreeing to stop the traffic to Europe in exchange for more than $6 billion in financial incentives. At the same time, Macedonia shut its border with Greece, trapping those who had made it out of Turkey, but not yet into the destination countries of Western Europe, in place while they wait for resettlement.

Read More: The Left Behind Refugees of the Jungle in Calais

The Greek governmentstill grappling with its own economic woeshas responded by establishing tented camps to house them. The facilities are basic, built on unused tracts of land far from the city center or in abandoned agricultural warehouses. They are not supplied with hot water, there are no schools or playgrounds for the children, and they rarely have adequate shower facilities or even flush toilets.

Solidarity activists back in Athens say that they have a solution. The international system of housing refugees isnt working, says Nasim Lomani, a 35-year-old Afghan member of Solidarity who came to Greece 16 years ago as a refugee. As a result of the financial crisis, he says, there are at least 11 million empty buildings and houses in Europe, and 4,000 in Athens alone. They could be used for housing refugees in much better conditions; treating them like humans, and not caged animals.

Baida, 27, from Raqqa, Syria, keeps an eye on her three children as they play in her familys room at the hotel. Her youngest son, 7-year-old Ahmed, has cerebral palsy and cannot walk. He has a wheelchair, but because the elevators are not working in the eight-floor building, the family keeps the wheelchair downstairs in the lobby.

City Plaza is run like a cooperative, with residents taking up weekly responsibilities based on their individual capacities, from cooking meals to cleaning, group child care, and basic maintenance. (Which can be limitedthe elevators in the eight-story building are turned off, because none of the refugees currently living there knows how to maintain them.) Volunteers help out with medical clinics, administration and ad hoc activity classes. One recent weeks line up promised sushi making, English conversation, yoga, kids movies and a nightly womens dance party up on the rooftop terrace.

We dont want to be good guys helping the poor refugees. We want to organize this place so the refugees can do things for themselves, says Lomani. That self-reliance is an essential part of giving refugees the dignity and purpose they crave as they attempt to forge a new life in Europe, he says. Among the refugees you can find engineers, doctors, teachers, cooks, and translators. Is it fair to put several thousand of them together in a horrible group camp, inside tents, with no jobs and nothing to do, and then ask why they are complaining and fighting?

Women who made it out of some of the world's worst conflicts, like Syria and Afghanistan, cook alongside one another in the industrial kitchen of the City Plaza hotel.

Reema, a 25-year-old mother of three from Homs who asked not to use her full name for fear of endangering family still in Syria, works several hours a week in the hotels industrial kitchen preparing meals for the residents. She cooks alongside Kurds, Afghans and Iraqis in the kitchen, and they all say that its one of the best things about living at City Plaza. In the camps the military and catering companies provide meals for the refugees, but they are often poor quality, or made from unfamiliar ingredients.

At City Plaza, says Reema, We can cook our favorite foods. A taste of home helps with missing it so much.

Read More: These 5 Different Camps Tell the Story of the Global Refugee Crisis

So far, the Solidarity movement has occupied nine empty buildings in Athens, housing around 1,500 refugees. Lomani expects the numbers to rise as winter weather forces even more refugees out of the camps, which often turn into muddy swamps in the rain. City Plaza is not the solution for the refugee crisis, he says. But it is a good example of how to do it better.

City Plazas owner, Aliki Papahela, thinks differently. The former Greek stage actress has appealed to the courts to force an evacuation. So far, she has seen little progressGreek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Syriza Party is reluctant to alienate its supporters on the far Left, especially when it comes to the fraught issue of refugees. Aliki doesnt blame the refugeesin fact, she muses, they probably dont even know that they are living in a contested building. If the government or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees wanted to rent City Plaza from her to house refugees, she says, she would be more than happy to oblige.

Refugee residents of the hotel organize a women-only dance party several nights a week on the rooftop terrace. Its an opportunity for the women, many of them conservative Muslims from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, to relax, take off their headscarves and smoke hookah without worrying about prying male eyes.

She was in the process of selling the hotel when it was taken over, she says, but now that its been turned into a squat, thats impossible. Meanwhile she can no longer afford to pay the property taxes and fears that the hotel, an inheritance from her late father, will soon be taken from her. I do believe that refugees have the right to a decent life, and until they find it, we must support them, she says.

But not at the cost of ruin. Aliki likens her situation to that of Greece as a whole, forced to support an unfairly large share of Europes refugee burden. This is not just about me. Its about the whole of us Greeks. If someone can come into someones house and take it over because he thinks its better to give it to refugees, and because of that you have to stay poor and become a refugee yourself, well, dont you understand that in one or two years there will be nothing of us left?

 With reporting by Lamprini Thoma / Athens
A 4-year-old girl narrowly avoided being shot as two rounds blasted through the Arizona storefront of her grandfathers barbershop, where she was watching television.

Surveillance video shows the child happily dancing inside the business before settling into a padded chair. Moments later, two bullets rip into the glass behind her, missing her by inches.

Read: Mom Fatally Shot Her Son in the Head as They Drove From Her Birthday Party: Cops

Footage shows the terrified child jumping up and running away.

Police arrested two men Tuesday in a Phoenix suburb and charged them with aggravated assault and endangerment.

Michael David Hart, 23, and Rafael Santos, 21, had gone to a tattoo parlor next door to the barbershop, but were refused service because Hart appeared to be drunk, police said.

Read: Hero Mom Wounded While Shielding Sons From Gunfire During Dallas Sniper Attack

The two argued with the shops owner and the men returned to their car, where Hart picked up a handgun and fired three rounds as they drove away, according to a statement from the Chandler Police Department.

Both are being held at the Maricopa County Jail, authorities said. They have not entered pleas.

The child suffered cuts from the shattering glass.

Watch: Cop Celebrates Graduation of Baby He Saved from Gunshot Wound to the Face 17 Years Ago

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Two hundred years from now, medical tricorders like the ones depicted in Star Trek will be as common as tongue depressors. Theyll be unremarkable, mobile tools on our SpaceX starships shuttling us back and forth to Mars. Diagnosing cancer will only take a single wave over our bodies with a palm-sized sensor.

Thats the dream.

The reality, best embodied in two XPRIZE Tricorder competition finalists, is that the devices are somewhat ungainly and they feature distinctly 21st century diagnostic equipment. They work with mobile phones, but dont try hanging either one of them around your neck.

SEE ALSO: IBM's Watson will help diagnose heart disease when doctors may have missed the signs

They are tricorders in only the most limited sense, and should not be confused with the so-called Tricorder phone, from SCiO. That one includes a molecular scanner for identifying everything from the medicine in pills to the freshness of tomatoes. That device is more akin to the Tricorder Star Treks chief science officer Mr. Spock carried.

What the XPRIZEs tricorder-like devices can do, however, is help average consumers diagnose themselves for a variety of conditions.

Final Frontier and its co-finalist Dynamical Biomarkers emerged out of a field of approximately 40 other contenders. All were competing to develop the first commercial medical tricorders, and all are at least inspired by Star Trek medical officer Dr. McCoys favorite tool.

Competition sponsor Qualcomm Foundation first whittled that list down to 10 companies that would develop prototypes and test them at University of California, San Diego. That work has been going on for about a year.

Based on initial performance, only two teams made it to final consumer testing phase, said Grant Campany, prize lead for the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE.

Competition organizers identified 13 illnesses and conditions, including amemia, HIV, cancer, COPD, urinary tract infection and leukocytosis, that the winning systems would have to accurately identify.

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We looked at a large range of diseases, chronic and acute that affect the majority of people in the world, said Campany. In the end, they chose based on the frequency of the disease and availability of subjects based, at least in part, on proximity to UC San Diego.

For the tests, XPRIZE recruited people whom they knew had these maladies and then let them spend anywhere from 90 minutes to a full day with the two remaining competitor devices. Could these tricorder wannabes accurately diagnose maladies these subjects already knew they had?

Test time

Both the Final Frontier and Dynamical Biomarkers devices are designed for consumers, not doctors. They use mobile interfaces and customized diagnostic equipment, like blood pressure cuffs, a pulse oximeter (those things that clip onto your fingertips) and hand-held thermometers. The devices ask a series of questions, through mobile apps, collect vital signs and then choose which tests to run to identify whats wrong.

Its a lot like what happens to you in the first 10 minutes of your visit to urgent care, but without a nurse or doctor present.

Test subject trying out Dynamical Biomarker's tricorder-like device.

Image: xprize

The Dynamical Biomarkers tricorder entrant, which doesnt have a name, was developed by Chung-Kang Peng, director of the Center for Dynamical Biomarkers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. Trained as a medical doctor, but with a background in science and engineering, Peng and his team built a system that has modules for each of the 13 maladies.

The device, which was built in cooperation with HTC, is a small printer-sized box with a smartphone sticking up out of the center. If someone uses the Bluetooth camera to take a picture of their inner ear, the phone will show them their diagnosis.

While neither of the tricorders is intended for medical offices, they could end up near them or with people who have some medical training.

In our scenario, we want to deploy this kind of system in rural village with no healthcare resource, said Peng, who noted that Chinas 1 million "barefoot doctors," who have helped spread medical care across the country through the use of trained townspeople, might be some of the best caretakers for this technology.

They could use the tricorder to diagnose, send the information to the cloud where medical professionals are waiting, confirm the diagnosis and get treatment delivered to them on the ground.

Peng says Chinas barefoot doctors is a good program, but now it needs to be upgraded to high-tech barefoot doctor.

The Dynamical Biomarker tricorder may eventually sell for $500.

Test subject trying out Final Frontier's Dexter.

Image: xprize

Basil Harris, who works as an ER doctor in Philadelphia, hopes to get his Final Frontier Dexter tricorder, which features wearable sensors and the hand-held forehead temperature reader, into more urban environments. He explained that such a device could break down the barriers that currently prevent 30 percent to 40 percent of his patients from getting the medical care they need.

While Dexter is designed to be used by consumers, Harris said early deployment could be in urgent care and emergency rooms.

Dexter may sell for $200 (not counting the cost of a paired smartphone), but in the long run, Harris envisions different levels of tricorder devices. There might be the $200 take-home device and larger kiosk-based ones that end up in your local Walgreens, where customers can walk in and do a quick self-diagnosis.

Winning the future

On Wednesday, XPRIZE announces how the judges are divvying up the remaining $9 million in prize money. Campany wouldnt share which system did the best job on diagnosis. However, hes excited about the results and potential impact 23rd-century-inspired diagnostic equipment could have on our 21st-century healthcare problems.

The XPRIZE competition is designed, at least in part, to address current market failure in healthcare. Grant pointed to the escalating healthcare costs around the world and asked the fundamental question, How do you care for millions of people outside the system?

Image: xprize

With doctors being one of the scarcest resources in healthcare, these tricorders could have a profound potential impact.

Its difficult to resolve the grand dreams of Campany, Peng, and Harris with the reality of these devices that sit on a table top and require the user to blow into tubes, cuff their arms and measure their pulse and blood oxygenation through their fingertips. It just doesnt feel like the future.

Theyre not like a magical wand device that you can wave over somebody. The way I view it, these are the first-generation tricorders, said Harris. Were just scratching the surface of whats possible.

WATCH: This device can help 22 million Americans sleep better at night
Paris (AFP) - With 10 days left until the first round of France's presidential election, Marine Le Pen's campaign headquarters was hit by an arson attempt and pressure built on President Francois Hollande to anoint a successor.

Here's what happened in the campaign on Thursday:

- Le Pen HQ attacked -

An arson attempt overnight on the far-right leader's campaign nerve centre in the upmarket Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore in central Paris caused only minor damage, police said.

A police source said the fire was "probably criminal", adding that the graffiti slogan "FN vs KLX" was found nearby.

A group calling itself "Fight Xenophobia" contacted AFP to claim the attack, which it said was carried out with petrol bombs.

Le Pen, 48, is running neck-and-neck in voter surveys with centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron ahead of the April 23 first round. The 39-year-old Macron is currently tipped to win the decisive May 7 runoff vote.

- Macron goads Hollande -

With his former mentor, President Francois Hollande, refusing to divulge whom he will back in the election, Emmanuel Macron said he did not think voters were eager to know.

"I don't think that is what our compatriots are waiting for," said Macron, who quit the Socialist government last year to launch his independent presidential bid.

The deeply unpopular Hollande, who dithered until December before deciding not to seek re-election, now faces a quandary.

Should he back a likely winner in Macron, as his former prime minister Manuel Valls has done? Valls also deserted Hollande to mount his own bid for the presidency, losing to Macron in a January primary.

Or should Hollande plump for the Socialist candidate, Benoit Hamon, who led a rebellion last year against his labour reforms?

The 48-year-old is currently trailing in fifth place in the polls.

The outgoing president told the weekly Le Point, out Thursday, that he would name his choice after the April 23 first round.

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While he hinted at supporting Macron -- saying the French want "new measures to build on what I have done" -- he also suggested his former protege's meteoric rise was the result of a "confluence of circumstances".

He also had bitter words for Hamon: "Those in the government who railed against my policies have reaped no glory since."

- Top US banker not nervous -

Wall Street's most powerful banker, JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon, told AFP he was not nervous over developments in the French election campaign.

Analysts blamed a slight dip on Wall Street early Thursday to jitters over Le Pen's strengthening poll numbers, even though pollsters are unanimous that she cannot win in May, whoever she faces in the runoff.

"The French people are going to decide who their president is going to be and whoever that is, JPMorgan Chase will deal with it and will be fine," he said.

Dimon also said he had his "own personal views on who that should be... but I'm not going to go into that for the press."
Star Wars fans came from galaxies far, far away and descended on Orlando, Fla., Thursday for a celebration of the original film's 40th anniversary and got a surprise they will never forget: Harrison Ford.

Read: A Show of Force: Fans Honor Carrie Fisher with Lightsaber Vigil

The actor, who famously portrayed Han Solo in four of the seven films, made a surprise appearance at the panel, which featured creator George Lucas and stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO).

As Ford took the stage, event moderator Warwick Davis, who appeared as a Ewok in Return of the Jedi and three additional roles in The Phantom Menace, joked, I can't believe we managed to keep it a secret, considering that you landed your plane on I-4.

Ford, who found himself under investigation in February after landing on the wrong runway at a California airport and crashed a plane near Santa Monica in 2015, quipped, Yeah, but it was a good landing!"

Lucas also busted Fords chops about his flying skills later in the conversation.

The director was discussing how he casted Ford and recalled: "I said, 'Do you know how to fly?'"

Ford, referenced a line from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, part of another Lucas franchise, as he replied, "I said, 'Fly? Yeah. Land? No.'"

Following the event, Mayhew took a swipe at Ford's skills on Twitter.

Lovely seeing my buddy.. hell of a pilot.. but I'd love to help out a little with those landings. Always available if he needs a copilot.. pic.twitter.com/dBuQEmHbSg  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) April 13, 2017

At the panel, the cast members also paid tribute to Carrie Fisher, who died in December.

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George Lucas fought back tears as he remembered his friend and the woman who brought his princess to life.

"I said many times now, she really is a modern woman, and she isnt just a woman where you put guys clothes on her and she becomes a hero," he said. "She was a princess, she was a senator, and she played a part that was very smart."

The actress daughter, Billie Lourd, attended the panel dressed as Fisher's iconic character, Princess Leia, and introduced a video montage of her mom in the film.

Read: Harrison Ford Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher: 'She Lived Her Life, Bravely'

"My mom, like Leia, wasnt ever afraid to speak her mind and say things that might have made most people uncomfortable, but not me and not you," Lourd said. "That was why she loved you, because you accepted and embraced all of her. The strong soldier she was and the vulnerable side, who fought her own dark side.

The montage featured rare and never-before-seen clips of the actress backstage in her role as Leia.

The next Star Wars installment, The Last Jedi, opens in theaters this December.

Watch: Newly Released Video Shows Harrison Ford's Plane Flying Over Jet Before Landing

Related Articles:
HONOLULU (AP)  A Native Hawaiian fisherman is asking a state board to declare that only people who are lawfully admitted to the United States can get commercial fishing licenses.

The petition was filed Wednesday in response to an Associated Press investigation that found hundreds of foreign fishermen confined to boats and some living in subpar conditions. Hawaii grants the foreign fishermen licenses to fish but they aren't allowed to enter the country.

Malama Chun, who lives on Maui and engages in fishing as a cultural practice, filed the petition with the state Board and Natural Resources, which regulates fishing licenses. Chun's family has seen a massive decline in fish stocks over generations. He blames overfishing and says in the petition that giving licenses to people who aren't in the U.S. legally contributes to the problem.

"By giving these guys licenses, it completely interferes with the ability for marine resources to be protected," said Lance Collins, an attorney who is representing Chun. "He wants the laws to be enforced so that the fisheries are protected for everyone's enjoyment."

Collins cites a state law that says it is unlawful for anyone who is not legally admitted to the country to take marine life from Hawaii waters.

Chun also says the fishermen's confinement to boats violates the "law of the Splintered Paddle," a state law with origins in the Hawaiian Kingdom which says people in Hawaii must have freedom of movement.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources did not have an immediate response to requests for comment, said spokeswoman Deborah Ward.

In a recent written opinion, Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said the Department of Land and Natural Resources provides landing permits as proof the fishermen are "lawfully admitted."

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Associated Press Writer Margie Mason contributed to this report.
Miami (AFP) - It costs $200,000 to join and recent VIP guests have included the leaders of Japan and China.

But the restaurant at President Donald Trump's private country club Mar-a-Lago in Florida was cited for 13 health code violations during an inspection in January.

Inspectors found potentially dangerous raw fish and meat stored at above-regulation temperatures.

Ham, for example, was kept at as high as 57 degrees Fahrenheit (13.8 degrees Celsius) -- far warmer than the regulation 41 degrees Fahrenheit, according to information obtained by AFP.

That was among the violations detected by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation during the January 26 inspection at Mar-a-Lago.

Two weeks later, Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the club, which has come to be called the Winter White House. Trump has spent practically every weekend there since taking power in January.

In the inspection reports, first revealed by the Miami Herald on Wednesday, regulators found that fish meant to be served raw or undercooked had not been treated properly for parasites.

The kitchen staff was told to cook the fish completely or throw it out.

Potentially hazardous foods like red meat, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, shrimp and ham were stored at higher than regulation temperatures, the inspectors found.

Among less serious violations of the restaurant health code, there was no instruction sign at the sink used by employees to wash their hands. And one employee failed to wear a hair net cap while cooking food.

"These infractions were part of a routine inspection and were not complaint-based. The infractions were corrected on site, and the establishment was immediately brought into compliance," said Stephen Lawson, communications director for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Management at Mar-a-Lago declined to comment.

Last week Trump also hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the country club in West Palm Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast for a summit meeting.

Local authorities are complaining about the cost to them of Trump's visits: air space must be shut down and streets are blocked off by the US Secret Service, hurting the tourism industry. These authorities want the federal government to reimburse them for the lost revenue.
Tours (France) (AFP) - A French farmer has mown the word "HELP" in giant letters into his wheat field, hoping to push presidential candidates to address the crisis in France's agricultural sector.

"Political leaders do not listen to us," the 63-year-old farmer, Jacques Fortin, 63, told AFP on Thursday. "They're deaf to our anger. I hope they're not blind and will read this message of despair."

In Europe's top agricultural power, the government has admitted that more than a tenth of France's 400,000 farms are in a "situation of extreme urgency".

Last year, half of French farmers earned less than 350 euros ($372) a month, far below the national poverty threshold of 800 euros.

The crisis has torn at the fabric of rural life, and as farmers see their livelihoods evaporate, more and more are giving up, with an alarming spike in suicides over recent years.

"I live in a world where I have the responsibilities of a chief executive and I live below the poverty threshold," Fortin said. "It's not normal to live with 350 euros a month when you work every day... Some break down. Others commit suicide."

Fortin, whose farm is in Athee-sur-Cher near the central town of Tours, fashioned his message in capital letters in his five-hectare (12-acre) wheatfield, with the bright green letters standing stark against the tan crops.

"When they pass overhead, airliners start to descend to Orly (Paris' southern airport). Passengers can see my SOS," said Fortin, whose letters measure 100 metres (328 feet) long by 48 metres wide.

"In fact, it was the pilot of a small plane who sent me the first photo by email."

Besides wheat, Fortin grows corn, sunflowers, clover, flaxseed and sorghum.

He said his message was a "collective SOS, expressed on behalf of all farmers".

"We have had successive years of bad weather conditions in the past four years. Farmers are at the end of their rope. They are fed up," he said.

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Farmers predominated in the countryside in the 1970s, but they now make up just two percent of France's overall population of 66 million, according to political scientist Jean-Yves Camus.

Last month, around 20 farmers drove their tractors to a gathering in the town of Brest with conservative candidate Francois Fillon to highlight their distress ahead of the two-round presidential election on April 23 and May 7.

"We need support and proposals from the candidates, because so far we haven't had much of either," dairy farmer Julien Hindre told AFP at the time.
Three Nepalis rescued from China

The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, with the support of local Chinese authorities, has rescued three Nepalis, who were said to have been trafficked to China in December last year, from Shandong, an eastern Chinese province on the Yellow Sea.
Legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock has revealed plans for an extensive summer tour that will include festivals and venues across the US and Europe.

The pianist, who celebrated his 77th birthday on Wednesday, April 12, will begin the summer tour on June 26, 2017, in Lviv, Ukraine at Alfa Jazz, before heading to Paris for La Seine Musicale, the Love Supreme Festival in the UK and the Vienna Jazz Festival, followed by further dates in Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Portugal.



After a stop at the Marciac Jazz Festival in France, the musician and his band will head to the US, where a tour leg begins on August 6 and includes shows in New York, Washington DC, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Hollywood and Monterey, California, among others.



The pianist will be joined by a band featuring Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, James Genus on bass, Lionel Loueke on guitar and Terrace Martin on keyboards and saxophone.



Tickets for many of the shows are already available. Visit www.herbiehancock.com for details.



It was also announced this week that Hancock will be among a roster of musicians taking part in a concert in Havana on April 30 for the sixth annual International Jazz Day.
By Nick Tattersall and Humeyra Pamuk ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Much like the vast mosque he has commissioned atop one of Istanbul's highest hills, President Tayyip Erdogan's supporters hope a referendum on Sunday will be a crowning achievement in his drive to reshape Turkey. The vote, in which millions of Turks will decide whether to replace their parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency, may bring the biggest change in their system of governance since the modern Turkish republic was founded on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire almost a century ago. The outcome will have repercussions beyond Turkish shores. (Graphic - Turkey's referendum: a simple vote but a close race: http://tmsnrt.rs/2pyhiFR) Never in recent times has Turkey, one of only two Muslim members of the NATO military alliance, been so central to world affairs, from the fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, to Europe's migrant crisis and Ankara's shifting allegiances with Moscow and Washington. The campaign has split the country of 80 million down the middle, its divisions spilling over to the large Turkish diaspora in Europe. Erdogan has accused European leaders of acting like Nazis for banning rallies on security grounds, while his opponents overseas say they have been spied on. Erdogan's fervent supporters see his drive for greater powers as the just reward for a leader who has put Islamist values back at the core of public life, championed the pious working classes and delivered airports, hospitals and schools. Opponents fear a lurch toward authoritarianism under a president they see as addicted to power and intolerant of dissent, chipping away at the secular foundations laid by modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and taking it ever further from Western values on democracy and free speech. "Within the past 15 years he has achieved everything once considered impossible, unthinkable for Turks, be it bridges, undersea tunnels, roads, airports," said Ergin Kulunk, 65, a civil engineer who heads an Istanbul mosque association that is financing the new mosque on the city's Camlica Hill. "The biggest quality of the Chief is that he touches people. I saw him at a recent gathering literally shaking almost 1,000 hands. He's not doing that for politics. It comes from the heart," he said, as Erdogan's voice boomed from a television in the corner, broadcasting one of his daily campaign rallies. In Kulunk's office on Camlica Hill, once a hunting ground for the Ottoman well-to-do and now a popular viewing point, a signed picture of Erdogan hung on the wall next to portraits of Ataturk and Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid. But for Erdogan's opponents - including secularist liberals, left-leaning Kurds and even some nationalists - his tightening grip poses an almost existential threat. "He's trying to destroy the republic and the legacy of Ataturk," said Nurten Kayacan, 61, a housewife from the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, attending a small "No" rally at an Istanbul ferry port. "If the 'Yes' vote wins, we're headed to chaos. He will be the president of only half of the country," she said. "ONE-MAN SYSTEM" Erdogan assumed the presidency, then a largely ceremonial position, in 2014 after more than a decade as prime minister, and has since continued to dominate politics by force of personality, making no secret of his ambition for greater powers. He has ridden a wave of patriotism since an abortive coup in July, casting Turkey as at peril from a cocktail of outside forces and in need of strong leadership to see off threats from Islamic State, Kurdish militants, the enemies within who tried to oust him and their foreign backers. A poll two weeks after the attempted putsch showed him with two-thirds approval, his highest ever, but more recent surveys suggest a much closer race. A narrow majority of Turks will vote "Yes", two opinion polls suggested on Thursday, putting his support at only a little over 51 percent. Pollsters acknowledge there may be a hidden "No" vote, whose numbers are hard to assess, among traditional supporters of the ruling AK Party concerned about Erdogan's authoritarian instincts, particularly after more than 120,000 civil servants were sacked or suspended since the failed coup. Etyen Mahcupyan, a one-time chief adviser to former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, a key figure in the AKP, wrote in the Karar newspaper on Thursday that he would be voting "No". "The (proposed) model will cause great harm in the medium term to conservatives and Turkey," he wrote, saying the changes would usher in a "one-man system" open to abuse. "Every AKP member must vigorously stand up for the protection of the party and for its capacity and potential to govern." Erdogan's supporters reject such charges, saying the 18 constitutional amendments being put to a simple "Yes/No" vote contain sufficient checks and balances, such as the provision that a new presidential election would be triggered should the president dissolve parliament. Erdogan has focused in recent campaign events on trying to ridicule the leader of the main secularist CHP opposition, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, playing videos of his gaffes in the apparent hope that voter patterns will reflect the last national election in November 2015, when AKP dominated the electoral map. Such populist tactics have won him boisterous applause from those who revere him. But he has spent less time on the details of the proposed constitutional reforms. "Eighty percent of voters in Turkey vote according to ideology. That is, they will cast their votes in this referendum without knowing its content," said Murat Gezici, head of the Gezici polling company. "If 'Yes' emerges victorious, they'll only find out what they said yes to by experience. Only then will they face the problems," he said in his Istanbul office. (Additional reporting by Umit Bektas, Melih Aslan and Daren Butler; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
By Letitia Stein PALATKA, Fla. (Reuters) - At a town hall in his conservative Florida district this week, U.S. Representative Ted Yoho drew applause for defying his own Republican Party leaders to help derail a healthcare plan that was President Donald Trump's first major legislative initiative. Far from paying a price back home, as Trump has threatened they would, Yoho and some of the other far-right members of the House Freedom Caucus appear to have support for standing their ground, based on their reception at several town halls during a two-week congressional recess. A handful of House Freedom Caucus lawmakers were facing constituents for the first time since last month's defeat of Trump's effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, which was also rejected by some Republican moderates. Many supporters made clear they expect them to work with Trump to make good on campaign promises to reform the nation's health care system. "I want it done," said Bob White, 74, after questioning Yoho on the issue during a town hall on Tuesday night in rural Putnam County, Florida. "Wield that big stick." The rebellious faction of conservatives in the House of Representatives was instrumental in toppling a plan supported by Trump to rewrite Obamacare, President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law. Trump has singled out the group for blame. Many caucus members refused to back the Republican leadership's bill because they considered parts too similar to Obamacare and said it would not have done enough to reduce insurance premiums. At town hall meetings, constituents pressed them to keep working to address problems such as high healthcare costs. The reception for Yoho and other caucus members at home could shape their approach to the Republican president and leadership controlling both chambers of Congress, said Matthew Green, an associate professor of politics at Catholic University of America, who studies congressional parties and leaders. "The Freedom Caucus members are either going to become more recalcitrant because they will be hearing from their constituents 'good job,'" he said. "Or if they dont hear that, they might be more willing to compromise." Michigan Representative Justin Amash landed in the crosshairs of the feud when a White House adviser called on Twitter for Trump supporters to defeat him in a primary. But in the farming and manufacturing area he represents in the southwestern state, home to cereal maker Kellogg Co, the four-term congressman heard cheers in a high school auditorium in Battle Creek, Michigan on Tuesday night, where he held a town hall with about 100 people attending. "If I had to choose between Justin and Trump, I'd go with Justin for sure," said construction worker Eric Smith, 34, who voted for both, but so far has found Trump lacking conservative principles. "At this point, I'd give Donald Trump a D." Retiree Cliff Ward, 72, told Amash that he was pleased with his role in the blocking the legislation, which polls showed to be unpopular and expected to end health coverage for millions. "Now we need you to work with Trump and the other Republicans to get this done," he added. GUTS TO STAND UP Living in Georgetown, Florida, a community so remote that cell phone service is a chief concern, Trump voter Melvin Shebester knew little about the House Freedom Caucus. The faction of small-government conservatives came together in 2015 and since then have been a thorn in the side of more mainstream Republican leadership in the House, including an attempt to push out former Republican House Speaker John Boehner. The 84-year-old Shebester was impressed that his congressman, Yoho, stood up to the president on a bill that he saw as rushed. "It takes a lot of guts to stand up against your party," said Shebester, attending Yoho's town hall on Tuesday night at a government center in Palatka, Florida with his son and grandson. "We can't go up there and tell Trump he's wrong," added his son, Steven Shebester, 56, who lives nearby. Many Republicans have avoided public town halls, often open to anyone interested, since the meetings became a staging ground for liberal protests earlier this year. But Yoho, a veterinarian first elected in 2012, has held several. His event in Gainesville, a college town, on Monday was crowded by left-leaning activists who at times shouted him down. On Tuesday night in Palatka, a small town in Yoho's sprawling district in north central Florida lined with oaks and Spanish moss, he took questions from about 100 constituents in a politically mixed crowd. He told reporters his office received some 3,500 calls in the days leading up to the healthcare plan showdown, with only about 215 in support. And a phone survey of constituents found the Republican plan was as unpopular as Obamacare itself. He said constituents gave him a clear message: "Stay the course." (This version of the story has been refiled to fix dropped letter in seventh paragraph) (Additional reporting by Steve Friess in Michigan and Lisa Maria Garza in Texas; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
BEND, Ore. (AP)  A House committee chairman who's a leading author of the mired Republican health care bill said Thursday he's skeptical about proposals the Trump administration and conservative GOP lawmakers have discussed in hopes of breathing life into the legislation.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., directed his skepticism at suggestions that states be allowed to sidestep the ban in President Barack Obama's health care law against insurers charging seriously ill people higher premiums than healthy customers.

Conservatives say that provision is one of many in Obama's 2010 statute that drives up premiums. Critics say eliminating that prohibition would in effect make coverage unattainable for many ill consumers because insurers would be free to charge them unaffordable rates.

"I'd have to be convinced," Walden said in an interview with The Associated Press. "This is one you'd have to show me and prove to me that someone with a pre-existing condition is going to have the same quality and affordability of coverage that they have today."

Walden carried the same message at a raucous town hall Thursday evening in Bend, a fairly liberal town at the foot of the Cascade Range. Constituents packed a high school gymnasium and clashed with him on issues like gun control, health care, immigration and the environment.

A high school student said he is concerned about climate change and the environment, drawing cheers. The more than 2,000 people present stomped in the bleachers in approval.

Walden said he is not a climate change denier and supports renewable energy. But later in the almost two-hour encounter, he expressed support for the pipeline through North Dakota whose construction was halted amid protests in the Obama administration, but later approved by Trump. The crowd booed. Walden defended his position, saying it was better for oil to pass through a pipeline than to be carried by rail, citing derailment of a train carrying Bakken crude last year in the pristine Columbia River Gorge.

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He characterized the Republican's health care bill as "a work in progress. It needs to be improved." He said he never wants to go back to the times when a person with pre-existing medical conditions was denied insurance or faced unaffordable premiums. Some listeners shouted that America should have single-payer national health insurance.

"I disagree with what he said," Rick Negus, a retired social worker, said as he left the Mountain View High School gym. "But I respect him for speaking his mind in front of a hostile audience."

The White House and leaders of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus have discussed adding language to the GOP health care bill to let states seek federal waivers to that prohibition. They've also talked about letting states escape Obama's requirement that insurers cover specified treatments, such as drug abuse services.

Walden is influential because he is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which wrote much of the health care bill. It's been on life support since last month. Opposition from both conservative and moderate Republicans prompted House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to cancel a vote on the bill, an embarrassment for Ryan and President Donald Trump.

Talks aimed at breaking the impasse have continued during Congress' two-week recess. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., leader of the Freedom Caucus, has said progress has been made but there are no clear indications a deal is near. After weeks of negotiations, proposals aimed at wooing conservatives have often ended up alienating moderate GOP lawmakers.

Walden said leaders have "not yet" concocted a way of gaining votes from one end of the party's spectrum without losing people from the other. But he said he had spoken to Ryan earlier Thursday and that "there are people talking."

"Knowing the views of the conference, if you go too far one way, you lose people" who agreed to an earlier version of the bill, Walden said of House Republicans.

Walden has been attending town hall meetings across his huge eastern Oregon district this week. Opposition to the GOP health care bill has been a heated topic raised by some of those constituents.

Walden on Thursday became one of 10 mostly moderate House GOP lawmakers targeted in ads by the conservative Club for Growth. The spots accuse those Republicans of blocking the party's effort to repeal Obama's law and show Trump at a speech saying, "We gotta get it done."

Asked about those ads, Walden said: "They probably have some big funder who wants to make a point, so that's what's happening. That's fine. It's democracy."

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Associated Press writer Andrew Selsky contributed to this report.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  A Somali official says 10 Indian sailors rescued from pirates have left Somalia's waters under the escort of an Indian navy vessel.

Abdullahi Ahmed Ali, the mayor of Hobyo town, says the crew was heading back to India on Thursday.

Eight crew members were rescued on Wednesday by regional forces that surrounded a village near Hobyo. The other two members were rescued on Tuesday.

Recent weeks have seen a resurgence of piracy off Somalia's coast after five years of inactivity. The piracy was once a serious threat to the global shipping industry but lessened in recent years after an international effort to patrol off the coast.

Some Somali fishermen, including former pirates, say foreign ships illegally fishing in local waters are forcing them to return to piracy to make money.
India's tourist mecca Goa is pulling the plug on its legendary all-night dance parties as the local government tries to clean up its image as a drug and rave hotspot.

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the government would start enforcing a long-ignored ban on loud music after 10 pm -- bad news for bars and clubs blasting out tunes into the early hours on the state's famous beaches.

"There is a legal ban on holding parties after 10 pm. The ban will be upheld by the state government," he told reporters Wednesday.

The former Portuguese enclave lures millions of tourists every year with its night life, sandy beaches and laid-back coastal atmosphere.

But its reputation as a tropical paradise has been marred by high-profile crimes involving foreigners.

Last month the naked body of a 28-year-old Irish woman was found dumped near a tourist hotspot.

She had been spotted at a late night party with a local man who was later arrested for her rape and murder.

In 2008, 15-year-old British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling was drugged, raped and murdered in a case that made global headlines. Her semi-naked body was found in shallow waters near a popular party beach.

Other foreigners have also died in suspicious circumstances, while drug and alcohol-related mishaps are common.

The Goa crackdown comes days after a top minister from Parrikar's administration called for the late-night party ban to be enforced.

"These parties are against our culture. We need to stop them immediately," Goa's water resources minister Vinod Palyekar said last week.

Parrikar said his government had also instructed police to commence a crackdown on drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling in the state.
Hunting ants in Africa march off to raid termite nests with military precision. Now, new research finds that these ants are truly a band of brothers. They even rescue their wounded comrades.

These ant rescues aren't really selfless, researchers reported today (April 12) in the journal Science Advances. Without the fallen ants, colony sizes would probably be nearly a third smaller, because injured ants frequently die if they're not helped home.

"People always think that for ants or social insects, everything they do is for the good of the colony," said Erik Frank, a doctoral student at the University of Wurzburg, in Germany, who led the research. Biologists typically downplay the importance of the individual insect, Frank told Live Science. [See Photos of Zombie Ants]

"Here we show, for the first time, an example where the good of the individual, of saving an individual ant, is good for the colony as well," Frank said.

Ants to the rescue!

Megaponera analis ants live in sub-Saharan Africa and eat termites  only termites. Multiple times a day, an ant scout will come across a foraging band of termites and rush back to its nest, recruiting as many as 500 ants to march to the termites and attack. The ants then carry the termite corpses back to the nest to feast. [Ancient Termite-Ant Warfare Locked in Amber]

Two termites cling to an ant (Megaponera analis) after a raid. Injured ants like this have a 32 percent mortality rate before they can make it back to their nest, unless their nest mates carry them home. Frank et al./Sci. Adv. 2017;3:e1602187

But Frank noticed that some of the ants carried not dead termites, but living ants, back to the nest. Upon closer inspection, he realized that these ants were wounded. Some had lost a leg or an antenna, while others had an angry termite or two clinging to their bodies.

"What's the benefit?" Frank wondered. "Why were they even doing this?"

To find out, Frank first chose 20 random injured ants and forced them to return alone from the hunting site to their nest, without the benefit of help from their brethren. He found that 32 percent of the injured ants died on the journey. More than half (57 percent) of the injured ants that were killed were ambushed by jumping spiders because they couldn't move very quickly.

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A jumping spider attacks an injured ant as it attempts to return from the hunting ground to the nest. When nest mates carry their injured comrades home, they are much less likely to die. Frank et al./Sci. Adv. 2017;3:e1602187

In comparison, only 10 percent of the healthy ants fell to predators on their marches back to the nest, and Frank never saw a carried ant get attacked in 420 raids.

For an injured ant, it was clearly beneficial to get rescued.

"But this is not the reason this behavior has evolved," Frank said. "It obviously needs to benefit the colony as a whole."

For the good of the group

And it does benefit the whole colony, Frank found. By marking injured ants with acrylic paint, Frank was able to track them in subsequent raids. He found that 95 percent of the time, the once-wounded ants returned to battle. In fact, 21 percent of ants in raiding parties showed signs of previous injury. Frank also found that ants with termites attached to them had those termites removed when they were safely back in the nest; ants that lost a limb or antenna spent a few hours figuring out how their bodies worked. By the next day, those amputee ants could run nearly as fast as their uninjured nest mates.

An African stink ant (Paltothyreus tarsatus

kills a handicapped Megaponera analis ant, which still has a termite hanging onto it from a hunting raid. When ants rescue their nest mates, most survive to raid again. |Frank et al./Sci. Adv. 2017;3:e1602187|null|false))

In 53 observed raids, Frank saw a total of 154 ants being carried. He estimates that a typical colony rescues between nine and 15 of its injured soldiers per day. A colony of M. analis ants produces only about 13 new baby ants per day, he and his colleagues wrote, so the rescues make a major impact on the ant colony's overall population.

A computational model that the researchers developed showed that without rescue behavior, colonies would likely be around 29 percent smaller.

"Instead of being forced to replace these injured workers with new ones, they can just keep using the injured ones," Frank said.

Further investigation revealed that a substance coming from injured ants' mandibular (jaw) glands seemed to prompt the rescue behavior. The pheromones released from the gland are a mix of dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, the researchers found. Healthy ants smeared with these compounds were promptly picked up and "rescued" by their nest mates.

In mammals, especially humans, empathy is often used to explain heroic or helpful behavior. The pheromone discovery reveals that ants have evolved another way to prompt helpfulness.

"We have the convergent evolution of two different mechanisms with the same end goal," Frank said.

Original article on Live Science.

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The internet erupted Monday following a viral video in which a passenger was seen being forcibly removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight. The man, screaming and bloodied, was dragged by his arms down the aisle of the plane by aviation security officers.

To make matters worse, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued a statement in which he apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers. Needless to say, the internet went wild over the CEOs use of the word re-accommodate.

Read: United Airlines CEO Blames Passenger In Letter To Employees

He said re-accommodate, late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel said in a segment on his show Monday. Just like we re-accommodated El Chapo out of Mexico. That is such sanitized, say-nothing, take-no-responsibility, corporate B.S. I dont know how the guy who sent that tweet didnt vomit when he sent that out.

The internet quickly responded to the incident with memes and gifs mocking the airline, many targeting the CEOs language as well.

Others compared the airlines fiasco to Pepsis failed Kendall Jenner commercial.

The hashtag #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos began trending Tuesday as users offered up suggestions for the company.

One user mocked the airline with a graphic of its seating chart, adding to its United First and Economy Plus sections a Fight Club section.

United Airlines, for its part, has yet to issue an apology to the passenger or even take much responsibility for the incident. In a letter to employees obtained by CNBC, Munoz seemingly blamed the passenger for what took place, calling him disruptive and belligerent and saying he left the crew no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security officers to assist in removing him from the plane.

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Many have called for a boycott of the airline following the video footage. United was also the subject of controversy in March after two teenage girls were barred from boarding a flight for wearing leggings.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Residents of a rural southern Ohio county are holding back information on the unsolved massacre of eight family members based on fear, authorities said Thursday as the anniversary of the crime approaches.

Some are worried about retaliation by the killers. Others fear incriminating themselves over their own criminal activity  likely involving drugs  unrelated to the slayings, investigators said during a news conference to update the public on the investigation.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind or in any investigator's mind that there's information that may be part truth, but not all the way true," said Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader.

Witnesses who come forward will be treated fairly, said Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office is leading the investigation. The focus is on the homicide, not those individuals' crimes, he said.

On April 22, 2016, investigators found seven adults and a teenage boy from the Rhoden family shot to death at four homes near Piketon. A newborn, another baby and a young child were unharmed.

One of the victims, Christopher Rhoden Sr., operated a commercial marijuana growing operation on his property "with the purpose of distributing the marijuana," according to DeWine's office.

Reader on Thursday pleaded for more donations to the reward fund, stuck at $10,000 for several months, for information leading to a conviction.

The sheriff hinted that the victims' involvement in drug crime may be holding people back from donating.

"These are human beings, regardless of what they did for a living, regardless if they live in rural Pike County," said Reader, who grew emotional at times talking about the "complete devastation" of the killings.

Both DeWine and Reader said they expect an arrest someday, with DeWine saying "significant progress" has been made and the case is still his office's top priority. DeWine expressed frustration that he couldn't make public all the information investigators have gathered.

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"We are going to find you. We are going to arrest you. And justice will be done," DeWine said, addressing the killers.

Despite a massive investigation, no arrests have been made and no suspects identified.

Investigators have received 883 tips to date and conducted 465 interviews, which includes people interviewed more than once.

Family members still waiting for answers say updates from investigators have dwindled. Glenna Gilley, whose 20-year-old granddaughter, Hannah Gilley, was among those killed, speculated that people with information might be afraid to come forward.

"I'm sure there's someone somewhere that knows something," she said Wednesday.

Gilley, 65, described her granddaughter as a good person and "a wonderful mother."

The three children who were spared in the slayings are in foster care and receiving visits from immediate family members, Reader said.

Last month, relatives distributed posters with photos of the victims in hopes of turning up local tips.

Reader said he believes those responsible were from the area. DeWine said the killers had to be familiar with the land around the properties as well as the properties themselves.

Leonard Manley, whose daughter and three grandchildren were killed, said it was suspicious that any assailants were able to get by his daughter's two dogs.

Three trailers and a camper where the slayings took place were seized by investigators afterward and remain in storage.

Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court is weighing lawsuits by The Columbus Dispatch and The Cincinnati Enquirer seeking the full, un-redacted autopsies of the victims.

The other victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s ex-wife, 37-year-old Dana Rhoden; and their three children, 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden; 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr.; and 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden.

Also killed were Hannah Gilley, who was Frankie Rhoden's fiancee; a cousin, 38-year-old Gary Rhoden; and Kenneth Rhoden, 44, Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother.

Kenneth Rhoden died of a single gunshot wound to the head. His body was the last one found by investigators.

The other victims were shot multiple times in the head and, in the case of Christopher Rhoden Sr., in his upper body and torso as well.

___

Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report.

___

Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/andrew-welsh-huggins
Rome (AFP) - Italy's rice producers sounded the alarm Thursday over competition from Asia, saying the national industry was in crisis and consumers were unwittingly buying pesticide-contaminated grains harvested by exploited children.

Italian farmers' association Coldiretti said imports of rice from Asia was driving the price of the home-grown staple into the ground, while lax labelling laws meant families could not trace the origins of products on supermarket shelves.

"Over the last year, the sale price of rice has halved and the number of imports has quadrupled from southeast Asia," said Coldiretti head Roberto Moncalvo, as producers rallied in protest outside the agriculture ministry in Rome.

He said rice grown in southeast Asia was "dangerous, grown using pesticides and by exploiting underage labour".

"One in four packets of rice sold in Italy come from abroad, but the consumer does not know because the origin is not on the label".

The group said Italy was Europe's largest producer of rice and could be "more than self-sufficient" if limited to home-grown grains.

More than 4,200 farms in the Mediterranean country produce 1.6 million tons of rice a year.

"Farmers have to sell three kilos of unrefined rice to pay for a simple coffee because of speculation and swindling which has hit national rice fields and is harming consumers," Coldiretti said in a statement.
Trump says Nato 'no longer obsolete'

US President Donald Trump has said Nato is "no longer obsolete", reversing a stance that had alarmed allies.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Jews congregated at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday for a mass priestly blessing on Passover, a tradition of recent decades echoing a pilgrimage from antiquity.

With their backs to the wall and covered in white prayer shawls hiding their heads and arms, the hundreds of male priests raised their hands and chanted the words of the blessing.

Many in the crowd raised their smartphones to take pictures or video of the event.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which oversees the holy site, estimated that 80,000 people attended the blessing, held twice in the morning, the separated crowds of men and women spilling out from the wall's plaza to surrounding areas.

Many of the participants were ultra-Orthodox Jews in dark suits and hats, but representatives of other segments of Israeli society, as well as the occasional perplexed Asian tourist, could be seen in the crowds.

The blessing is part of daily prayers chanted in synagogues worldwide, but since the early 1970s, twice a year -- on Passover and Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles -- such mass events are held, evoking the biblical dictum of pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem on certain holidays.

To members of Israel's small Ethiopian Jewish community, being near the site of the historic temples on Passover has special significance, with many having arrived from the African nation since the 1980s.

Many of their elders attended, the women wearing white robes over colourful dresses, the men in their finest suits.

"This is their dream, from days of yore," said Avi, a 42-year-old man of Ethiopian ancestry of the community's older members.

"They came to Israel, and every opportunity they have they come here," said Avi, who travelled from the northern city of Afula to participate in the event.

The Western Wall is a remnant of a supporting wall of the Second Temple complex, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

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Above it lies the plaza where the temple once stood and which now houses the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.

It is the holiest site to Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

It is accessible to non-Muslims via an access ramp, where dozens of Jewish pilgrims looked down at the Western Wall ceremony as they awaited their visit on Thursday.

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the compound to avoid provoking tensions.

The hilltop site in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has seen repeated clashes, with Palestinians fearing Israel will seek to assert further control over it.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.
When I was a medical student, I was ghosted by the surgical resident who had been assigned to mentor me for an overnight shift for which we would be on call.

We met up at 5 p.m. the night of the shift. He told me to grab a snack for the night ahead and wed meet up again in an an hour to go over some stuff. I stayed up all night waiting for him, regularly paging him, even hovering in the area where I thought he would be.

I never saw him again.

A few months ago, it was my turn to be a mentor. A student from Harvard Medical School joined my team at Cambridge Health Alliance. That day, we were supposed to meet with the family of a patient to update them on her care, but when the time came, I just got up and left her there.

Read more: Social justice should be a key part of educating health professionals

I had a grand plan to teach my medical student something I was passionate about: effective doctor-patient communication. And then I forgot to communicate with her.

Every generation of of physicians is responsible for educating the next. This extends beyond time we spend in classrooms to our clinical education. A lot of what we learn, we learn from more experienced doctors, and that includes everything from our physical examination skills to our bedside manner. It can be pretty gratifying.

One of my co-interns had tutored his medical student on EKGs and had a good experience. I was hoping for the same connection with my student, to have that feeling of being a good educator. I had hoped to make up for the experience Id had when I was a student.

When it was me being ditched, I was angry. But I chose to give the surgical resident the benefit of the doubt  he easily could have gotten caught up in something important. During that clinical year, I noticed that even the residents who were excited to teach would say, be right back, and not resurface for several hours or more. As a first-year resident now, I know firsthand that simple tasks can multiply like bunnies, and pull you in many different directions at once. Sometimes, by the time I can stop and breathe, I realize Ive forgotten to eat lunch.

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Back in medical school, I saw that residents didnt always have time to look for their students  as the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. So I learned to watch my residents like a hawk. If they got up, I got up. If they said, be right back, I would say, Im coming with you.

By the summer of my third year, Id gotten maybe too good at being a professional shadow. And Im not the only one. Ask any medical student how many times theyve accidentally followed a resident to the bathroom.

But being a little stalker-ish was me taking ownership of my education. After all, in the blink of an eye, your resident could vanish into thin air and be off practicing medicine, and you arent there to learn from any of it.

Yes, this was about my education. But it was also about perception. After my experience with the overnight call, I was worried about how our disconnect would be written up in my evaluations, and that maybe it would be twisted to make me look bad. This happens sometimes in medicine.

So, when I saw my own medical student running toward me, frazzled, with her white coat flying behind her, I felt really bad. I had failed her in the way so many residents had failed me, and I had been determined from the onset not to let this happen.

Read more: Patients come first, but do doctors feelings still count?

In her case, she caught me at exactly the right time. The meeting, which she knew about, and had been waiting for, had been delayed, and then, suddenly, the family was ready. Thats why I got up abruptly and walked out of the workroom, where all the interns and medical students were in the zone, focused on writing notes. She must have turned her back for just a second.

As she approached, I was with my attending, going over how I was going to present this family their options, to make sure I would do it right. I made a mental note to apologize to the student later.

We went in together, and she watched me explain the patients course of care, answer the familys questions, and come up with a collaborative game plan going forward. The meeting went well, and later when we talked about it, both she and the attending gave me positive feedback. It was then when I wanted to ask for her forgiveness. It was important to me that she knew she was an appreciated member of our team.

But once again it slipped my mind because I was focused on what I needed to learn from their feedback rather than on what I needed to teach. We all got caught up in the hustle and bustle of life on the medicine wards, and I never did get to apologize.

With all the new responsibility of residency it was too easy to forget how easy it is to be forgotten. My medical student looked so panicked, but, of course, it wasnt her fault. While I felt bad, I also tried hard not to laugh, because this moment in my training had come full circle. The forgotten became the forgetter, and seeing her frustration reminded me, as a rule, to think about the people a few steps behind me. Thats all it takes to be a better teacher, a better mentor, and a better doctor.

I wanted to teach her about efficient, effective, and empathetic communication. Instead, she ended up teaching me.

Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu is a first-year resident in the adult psychiatry training program at Cambridge Health Alliance.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Was the death of a 16-year-old girl the predictable result of a school bathroom fight that amounts to homicide or a tragic, unforeseeable circumstance resulting from her undiagnosed heart condition?

A Delaware judge will answer that question Thursday in deciding whether three teenage girls are culpable for the death of fellow student Amy Joyner-Francis.

The girls, all 17, were tried as juveniles after the April 2016 fight at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington.

An autopsy found that Joyner-Francis, who had a rare and undiagnosed heart condition, died of sudden cardiac death aggravated by physical and emotional stress from the fight.

Her alleged assailant is charged with criminally negligent homicide, a felony. All three girls, who were 16 at the time of the fight, are charged with misdemeanor conspiracy. The Associated Press is not naming them because they are minors.

Defense attorneys argued that Joyner-Francis was a willing participant in a fight between mutual combatants and that her death was unforeseeable.

Prosecutors contend that Joyner-Francis wasn't looking to fight and was unexpectedly attacked while trying to defuse a tense situation caused by confusion over an online group chat.

The judge, presiding over a non-jury trial, must decide whether the conduct of the alleged assailant and her failure to perceive the risk that Joyner-Francis might die was a gross deviation from a reasonable person's standard of conduct.

Dr. Richard Ringel, a pediatric cardiologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, testified that Joyner-Francis had Eisenmenger syndrome, an extremely rare condition for someone her age in which a heart defect combines with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Prosecutors say that in an online group chat the day before the attack, Joyner-Francis offered advice to a friend about a problem involving a boy, telling her to "just be careful." A detective testified that the defendants were later brought into the chat, and that the alleged attacker thought Joyner-Francis  who had warned that someone might betray another person  was talking about her.

A Snapchat posting by one of the defendants that same day shows Joyner-Francis talking to her alleged assailant in the bathroom, purportedly to try to defuse the situation. The posting notes that the girl later charged with homicide was "bouta fight her," followed by several emojis indicating that a person was laughing so hard she was crying.
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Wednesday set out a timeline for the ex-Soviet country to switch from Cyrillic letters to the Latin alphabet as part of a modernisation drive.

The 76-year-old leader has long called for ditching the Cyrillic alphabet -- which Kazakhstan shares with neighbour and ally Russia -- in favour of the more widely used Latin one.

In an article published in the state-owned Egemen Kazakhstan newspaper Nazarbayev called for the government to begin "preparatory work" and "create a schedule" for the switch.

"By the end of 2017, after consultation with academics and representatives of the public, a single standard for the new Kazakh alphabet and script should be developed," Nazarbayev wrote.

"From 2018, [Kazakhstan] must train specialists to teach the new alphabet and produce textbooks for secondary schools," Nazarbayev added in the Kazakh-language paper.

Nazarbayev has said in the past that the country should switch to the Latin alphabet by 2025.

The Kazakh language is part of the Turkic family, like Turkish. It currently uses a modified version of the Cyrillic alphabet with 42 letters.

Kazakhstan briefly used the Latin alphabet during the Soviet era before switching to Cyrillic letters in 1940.

Kazakhstan is a close ally of Russia and has the largest ethnic Russian population of the five Central Asian states that gained independence from Moscow in 1991.

Russian enjoys an official constitutional status and Nazarbayev uses it along with Kazakh in speeches.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin enraged Kazakh nationalists in 2014 by describing Kazakhstan as part of "the greater Russian world" and saying it never had statehood before 1991, in comments shortly after Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Kazakhstan's education ministry has announced plans in recent years to increase teaching of English in schools but has faced opposition from defenders of the Kazakh language.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)  Police have released additional details after a Kentucky police officer shot and wounded a suspect behind a motel Tuesday night.

WKYT reports (http://bit.ly/2pxkxNt ) 26-year-old Sergei Sargaev has been charged with wanton endangerment of a police officer and criminal mischief. His arrest citation says the Lexington officer approached Sargaev, who was sitting in a vehicle behind a La Quinta Inn, and asked him multiple times to roll down the window or open the door. Sargaev started the vehicle and backed it into the officer's cruiser.

Police say he is white.

Police say those actions endangered the officer, who then shot Sargaev. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and will be arraigned Thursday.

The officer has not been identified and is on standard administrative leave. He was wearing a body camera at the time.

___

Information from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea's leader appeared in a Malaysian court on Thursday ahead of a murder trial that could see them hanged.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were taken in bulletproof vests to a heavily guarded magistrate's court close to the airport where Kim Jong-Nam was fatally poisoned two months ago.

Police accuse the pair of having wiped the banned nerve agent VX on Kim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13 as he was about to board a flight to Macau, where he was living in exile.

Rival South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the killing of Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pyongyang denies the accusation, insisting he died of a heart attack.

In a brief hearing, the women were ordered to appear before the court on May 30 as state prosecutors sought more time to prepare their case. The pair did not enter a plea.

Doan's lawyer asked the court to alter the murder charge since prosecutors have not identified four people mentioned in charge documents as accomplices to the women, but the judge did not entertain the request.

About 100 police officers, include commandos in balaclavas and carrying assault rifles, guarded the court compound during the womens appearance.

Dressed in a red top and blue jeans, Siti kept her head down throughout the hearing. Doang, also casually dressed, quietly observed the court proceedings.

- 'She was cheated' -

The case is due to be transferred to an upper court where the women will be tried for murder. If convicted, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia.

The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea which saw both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors.

The travel ban was lifted in late March after a deal was struck involving the return of Kim's body to North Korea.

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Police are still looking for four North Korean men who are suspected to have taken part in the murder plot, but are believed to have returned to Pyongyang.

Three other North Koreans earlier described as "persons of interest", including a diplomat based in Malaysia, have been allowed to return home under the deal.

Indonesian officials have maintained that Siti was duped into believing she was taking part in pranks for a TV show, while Doan's family said she was invited to Malaysia to be an actress.

Tran Huy Hoang, a young Vietnamese man who attended the hearing and described himself as a cousin of Doan, told AFP: "She loves to travel and party but she never do anything violent.

"All of us believe she was cheated."
Shocking new health inspection reports have revealed several violations at President Trumps prestigious Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida that could result in "foodborne illness or injury."

Read: Missiles Rain Down on Syria as Trump Family Dines at Mar-a-Lago, President Faces Russian Backlash

The reports say inspectors found "high-priority violations [that] could allow the presence of illness-causing bacteria on plates served in the dining room."

The routine health inspection took place on January 26, less than a week after Trump's inauguration and about two weeks before the president and first lady hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The health inspectors found violations inside the compounds kitchen, where raw fish had not undergone proper parasite destruction and uncooked meat was stored at temperatures deemed too warm.

According to the agency, the violations could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury.

The president is known to take a great interest in the day-to-day operation of Mar-a-Lago's kitchen, as well as the ones in his other properties.

Read: Mike Pence Won't Dine With Other Women When His Wife Is Not Around

Since the scathing report, the violations in Mar-a-Lago's kitchen have been corrected and health inspectors have decided it now meets the "minimum standards."

Last week, Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and he said they dined on chocolate cake as he gave the approval for a Tomahawk missile strike on a Syrian airbase.

Watch: Melania Spends the Weekend in Mar-a-Lago Without Trump Following Failed Health Care Bill

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Moscow (AFP) - The Kremlin on Thursday slammed as "absolutely unacceptable" a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that there were "serious failings" in Russia's handling of the 2004 Beslan school siege.

"It is impossible for us to agree with this phrasing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "Such phrasing for a country that has suffered an attack is absolutely unacceptable."

The court said although Russian authorities had information that an attack was being planned on a school in North Ossetia, they failed to do enough to disrupt the plot and had not sufficiently protected the hostages.

Asked if Russia would fulfil the terms of the ruling over compensating the victims and their relatives, Peskov said that "all the necessary legal actions linked with this ruling will be undertaken."

The justice ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Russia would appeal against the ruling within the three month deadline. It said that a number of the court's conclusions were "not backed up."

The findings over the operation to rescue the hostages showed the court did not examine the tragic events "in sufficient detail," the ministry said.

It said the court did not understand "the full seriousness of the situation in Beslan after the seizing of the hostages" and the "risks of the process of carrying out a rescue operation by law enforcement authorities."

The court's findings over the use by Russian special forces of indiscriminate weapons while hostages were still in the building were "baseless," the ministry said.

The court ruled that Russia must pay compensation to 409 surviving hostages and relatives of the deceased.

A representative for the Mothers of Beslan group of victims' relatives, Aneta Gadiyeva, told TASS news agency that the amounts of compensation awarded were small.

"Some will receive 5,000 euros, some will receive 20,000 euros. Those are small sums for the compensation of moral damages," said Gadiyeva, who lost a daughter in the siege.

A lawyer for the victims, Sergei Knyazkin, told TASS that "we are not fully satisfied by the ECHR ruling," citing "very small amounts of compensation."
ISTANBUL  Turkeys most outspoken opponent of a referendum that promises to transform this NATO ally is sitting out the campaign behind bars.

Selahattin Demirtas, an ethnic Kurd who had rallied a national coalition with his pledge to thwart President Recep Tayyip Erdogans bid for vast new powers, has been largely silenced, arrested in November 2016 for suspected ties to militants. A dozen more lawmakers from his Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) are also behind bars.

Demirtass political career has fallen victim to the surging violence between Kurdish insurgents and the Turkish state. A peace process with the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that Demirtas helped broker has collapsed, cities across the mainly Kurdish southeast lie in ruins after a reignited insurgency, and Erdogan is poised to clinch the nationwide referendum on constitutional amendments that would transform Turkey from a parliamentary system into a presidential one  and could keep him in office past 2030.

If the yes vote wins out, Erdogan would no longer occupy a largely ceremonial role as president, but rather would run the military and the rest of the executive branch, exert greater control over judicial appointments, and, critics argue, effectively shape the legislature, because he would be able to resume his leadership of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and select its candidates for parliament.

The referendum campaign is tight, with recent opinion polls showing the yes campaign at 51 to 53 percent. A majority of Turkeys Kurds backed Demirtass left-wing HDP in the June 2015 general election, and now their vote could prove decisive in the April 16 plebiscite.

Erdogans message to Turkeys 58 million voters is a potent one: Only when he has complete control can he crush one of Europes longest-running insurgencies, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK, which took up arms in 1984, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

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The coming months, with Gods permission, will be spring for Turkey and the Turkish people and a black winter for terrorists, Erdogan said in an April 3 speech in the nationalist stronghold of Trabzon. He has hinted that he may pursue the Kurdish rebels into Iraq and Syria, where PKK-linked militias are battling the Islamic State with the U.S.-led coalition.

But Erdogan has tailored a different case for Kurdish voters. Under tight security in Diyarbakir, Demirtass hometown and the largest city in the impoverished southeast, Erdogan on April 1 told supporters that a yes vote will deliver peace and prosperity.

I am personally the guarantor of the rights you possess, your freedoms, the economic development you need, he said.

Erdogan has traditionally attracted support from about half of Kurds  conservatives grateful for the expansion of cultural rights during his rule and a peace process he launched with the PKK until it shattered in 2015.

Kurds make up about a fifth of the voting public, or roughly 10 million voters. If traditional Erdogan supporters among them return to his fold, it is likely to push the yes vote above the simple majority he needs. On the other hand, if the nearly 1 million Kurdish voters who abandoned the AKP for the HDP in the June 2015 election stick with the no camp, they could jeopardize Erdogans campaign.

Embracing the Kurds as equal citizens has been a key part of Erdogans political legacy, wrote Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogans press secretary, in the Daily Sabah newspaper on April 3, citing the loosening of restrictions on the Kurdish language and millions of dollars of investment in Kurdish towns and cities. The polls suggest that Kurdish voters support the constitutional referendum in higher numbers than expected.

In a rare prison interview, where Demirtas submitted responses to written questions through lawyers, he told Foreign Policy that Erdogan will struggle to recapture Kurdish votes after the failure of peace negotiations and the ensuing crackdown. He predicted that a significant proportion of those Kurds who previously voted for the AKP would now vote no.

The hard-line policies of the AKP and the suspension of democracy, human rights and rule of law have been rebuffed by Kurds as they distance themselves from the AKP, he said.

Erdogans battle to consolidate power comes after a botched military coup in July 2016 that sought to overthrow him and killed more than 240 people. A subsequent state of emergency has allowed him to rule by decree, and some 113,000 people have been purged from the civil and security services and nearly 50,000 people imprisoned. Though not implicated in the attempted putsch, Demirtas and the other lawmakers faced a flurry of criminal charges in its wake. (The HDP lawmakers parliamentary immunity had been revoked by their fellow lawmakers in May, prior to the coup attempt, at Erdogans urging.) Turkish authorities also jailed thousands of rank-and-file members of the HDP and an affiliated party and snatched control of 82 municipalities that their elected mayors ran.

Election monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported no campaigners have faced a de facto media ban, police interventions, and scuffles at events. Emergency rule raised concerns about whether appropriate conditions are in place to hold a referendum.

Other observers also warned that the playing field was tilted in favor of Erdogans campaign.

Everything is skewed in favor of the yes vote because of the silencing of the media, the removal of key political figures like Demirtas, said Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch.

It is appalling that the population has to make this choice about the countrys future under a state of emergency when many rights and freedoms are restricted. In this polarized atmosphere, there cannot be an open discussion.

Erdogan likens such criticism to an open campaign by the West for a no vote. This race has seen considerably less violence than recent general elections.

Demirtas, who turned 44 in prison this week, said he was absolutely certain his arrest was designed to cripple opposition to the constitutional changes. Instead of drumming up support for the no vote, Demirtas now spends his days writing or exercising in a small yard adjacent to his cell in a prison situated near the Greek and Bulgarian borders in the former Ottoman capital of Edirne. He sees his wife, Basak, once a week and his daughters, aged 11 and 13, twice a month. The HDPs co-leader, Figen Yuksekdag, was detained with Demirtas, and in February a court convicted her of issuing terrorist propaganda, stripping her of her seat in parliament.

We have been held unlawfully for five months, and we still dont know when our prosecution will begin, Demirtas said. We are confronted not with a judicial process but extrajudicial enforcement.

AKP officials deny this, accusing the HDP of serving as a PKK mouthpiece. The interior minister, who oversees the police force, said last month that Kurdish-run municipalities had funneled money to the PKK and recruited its foot soldiers.

Demirtas, a former rights campaigner, denies that he or his party is tied to the PKK and has long advocated for a negotiated settlement to the conflict. He ran against Erdogan for the presidency in 2014 in a quixotic bid meant to test the waters for his party to challenge the general election.

In the June 2015 general election, Demirtass electoral coalition emerged as a force to be reckoned with. He galvanized voters with a pledge to block Erdogans ambitions for greater power and with a progressive party platform that included equal rights for women and respect for the environment, winning over liberal Turks once wary of his roots in a Kurdish nationalist movement. Pious Kurds who had previously backed Erdogan flocked to Demirtas, in part because he had come to play an important role in the governments two-and-a-half-year peace talks with Kurdish rebels. Demirtas ran on a mandate of seeking a political settlement that would be fair to both sides of the three-decade war. Together, these voters elected a record 80 HDP deputies to the 550-seat parliament, depriving the AKP of single-party rule for the first time.

But Demirtass political rise was soon disrupted by renewed fighting between the Turkish government and the PKK, the deadliest in two decades. Some 2,000 people were killed and 500,000 displaced in 2015 and 2016, according to the United Nations. A PKK offshoot claimed responsibility for a series of bomb attacks that killed more than 100 people in western Turkish cities. Majority Kurdish towns in a half-dozen provinces were wrecked during security operations to root out PKK militants who used residential streets for trench warfare.

In areas like Sur, a historic neighborhood in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, the militants made far-fetched declarations of autonomy. Surs Roman-era walls and ancient churches and mosques, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, suffered irreparable damage.

Demirtas condemned the violence but reserved most of his ire for Erdogan. Some analysts see that decision as his undoing.

Demirtas walked into the trap set for him by Erdogan and the PKK, said Levent Gultekin, a writer and former conservative. He failed to use the mandate he was given by voters to stand up to the PKK. Faced with that challenge, the HDP choked.

For his part, Demirtas did not express regret for his partys response to the eruption of violence.

Despite all that has happened, we are not asking for mercy or forgiveness from anyone, because we committed no crime. We are being held here because a crime is being committed against us, he said. Sooner or later, those who stand for peace and democracy will win.

Unwilling or unable to help end the bloodshed, Demirtas bitterly disappointed both Turks and Kurds who were drawn to his conciliatory campaign promises, including farmer Mustafa Celik, 43.

In a remote village outside of Diyarbakir, Celik, an ethnic Kurd, named his eighth child Evet, which means yes in Turkish, when she was born in January.

We sent the HDP to parliament to bring peace, but they stood with the PKK. Who elected them: the people or the PKK? Celik said. As a Kurd, I am sad Demirtas is in jail. But if Erdogan wins the referendum, peace will return.

OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
MIAMI (AP)  A quarter-century after he vanished on the eve of a major drug indictment, the last of Miami's fabled "cocaine cowboys" was in custody Thursday, nabbed on a suburban bike ride with his wife near Disney World.

Prosecutors say the man living under an assumed name is Gustavo "Taby" Falcon, who was part of a homegrown drug gang that used super-fast speedboats to smuggle 75 tons of cocaine in the 1980s "Miami Vice" era.

Falcon, 55, had been on the lam since 1991, when his older brother Augusto "Willie" Falcon and fellow drug kingpin Salvador "Sal" Magluta were indicted by a federal grand jury. U.S. Marshals spokesman Barry Golden said investigators were surprised to find him living in a typical pink stucco home in a quiet, middle-class Kissimmee suburb.

"Nobody thought Gustavo Falcon was still in the United States," Golden said.

At his initial court hearing Thursday in Orlando, Gustavo Falcon agreed to be sent to South Florida to face charges of conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. He was ordered held without bond, court records show.

Augusto Falcon and Magluta were small-time drug dealers when they dropped out of high school in the late 1970s to begin building their cocaine empire that would amass more than $2 billion, according to trial evidence. They eventually owned world-class ocean racing boats and lived like royalty.

Mickey Munday, who did prison time for flying cocaine loads for Colombia's Medellin Cartel, said the pair was known for their honesty in business deals  legal or otherwise  and the expertise of their boat-building operation.

They also drove flashy cars and lived in seaside mansions, even when murders and shootings linked to their organization brought police scrutiny.

"They were so flamboyant," Munday said. "Everybody in the world knew what they were doing. Why attract attention to yourself?"

Story continues

Gustavo Falcon was not viewed as a top leader of the organization, and vanished just ahead of a 1991 indictment that charged him along with his brother, Magluta and others. He had not been seen since until Wednesday, when U.S. marshals surveilling his rented home in Kissimmee watched him and his wife leave their garage for a bike ride.

A neighbor, David Pera, said he frequently saw the couple riding their bikes and never saw them in a car. An older model pickup truck sitting in the driveway never moved, he said.

"I'd say hi, they would say hi, and that was about it," Pera said Thursday.

It took an exhaustive records search to bring the marshals there. Weeks earlier, they discovered a Florida driver's license issued to a Luis Reiss, traced back to a South Florida home that had been owned by Gustavo Falcon. Then they found 2013 car accident involving Reiss, which eventually led to the house he was sharing with his wife, Amelia. She also had fake identification, in the name of Maria Reiss.

Marshals followed as the couple got on their bikes and headed out Wednesday for what turned into a 40-mile ride. Because they were both wearing helmets and sunglasses, it took a while for investigators to make a positive identification, Golden said. Once they felt sure enough, marshals with guns drawn stopped the couple at an intersection a few blocks from their house.

"We had to be 100 percent certain this was the guy," Golden said.

After his arrest, Gustavo Falcon told authorities he had been living in the Orlando area since 2009 and in the rental house since 2012. It's not clear where he was during all the other years, but officials say it's believed he was living overseas for some of that time. Authorities said they did not know if Falcon had a job. His wife was not arrested.

His brother and Magluta were acquitted of all charges at their trial in 1996, leading to the resignation of then-Miami U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey. Despondent at the loss, Coffey and others went to a strip club where he got into an altercation involving the biting of a stripper.

Later, it turned out that Augusto Falcon and Magluta had bought off witnesses and at least one member of the jury, a foreman who did 17 years in prison after accepting $400,000. Magluta, now 62, was tried a second time, convicted of drug-related money laundering in 2002 and sentenced to 205 years in prison. That was reduced to 195 years in 2006.

Augusto Falcon, now 61, then accepted a plea deal in 2003 on similar charges. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and is scheduled for release from a Kentucky facility on June 17.

Their mansions, boats, cars, planes, bank accounts and other ill-gotten gains are long gone, seized and sold by the government.

Munday, the former cartel pilot, said Augusto Falcon and Magluta should have disappeared as well, after their initial not-guilty verdicts.

"They were guys who went from nothing to having just about anything they could imagine that they wanted," he said. "As soon as they got the innocent verdict, they should have hauled out of here to Argentina."

_____

Associated Press contributors include John Raoux. Follow Curt Anderson at http://twitter.com/miamicurt
PHOENIX (AP)  The Latest on the arrest of a fugitive accused in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent (all times local):

3:24 p.m.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Thursday that the arrest of a Mexican man suspected of gunning down Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010 sends a strong message to fugitives.

Sessions said in a statement that the United States will hunt down and find anyone who takes the life of an American citizen, especially a law enforcement officer.

Mexican authorities arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes on Wednesday in the state of Chihuahua.

Terry's death revealed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the government in which federal agents allowed criminals to buy guns in the U.S. with the intention of tracking them. But agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost track of most of the guns, and two were found at the scene of Terry's murder.

___

12:50 p.m.

The family of a Border Patrol agent whose 2010 death exposed a bungled U.S. gun-running operation says the arrest of a Mexican suspect in his killing is "fantastic news."

Robert Heyer, cousin of 40-year-old Brian Terry, said Thursday that the arrest of Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes reassures the family that the culprits all will be brought to justice.

Osorio-Arellanes was one of two remaining fugitives. Four others involved in Terry's death have been sentenced in federal court on murder charges.

Terry's family has been critical of former President Barack Obama's administration over the operation that allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking them. Instead, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost track of most of the guns, two of which were found at the scene of Terry's killing.

___

11:45 a.m.

The head of the Department of Homeland Security says he hopes the arrest of a man suspected in the 2010 shooting death of a Border Patrol agent will "mark a significant step" in bringing closure to the agent's family.

Story continues

Secretary John Kelly said in a statement Thursday that he was thankful to Mexican authorities who arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, who's accused of pulling the trigger of the gun that killed 40-year-old Brian Terry.

Terry's death exposed the Fast and Furious operation, in which the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking them. But ATF lost sight of most, and two ended up at the scene of Terry's death.

Four others have been sentenced to prison on murder charges.

Kelly said the latest arrest illustrates the commitment of the administration to seek justice.

___

8:10 a.m.

Mexican authorities confirm the arrest of the suspected shooter in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent whose death exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the U.S. government.

A joint statement issued Thursday in Mexico City by Mexico's navy and its federal Attorney General's Office says the suspect in the killing of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Mexican marines near the border between the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua.

That's a mountainous region noted for drug activity.

According to the statement, the suspect is being held while extradition proceedings are pending.

The statement didn't identify the suspect by his full name, but a Mexican federal official confirmed it was Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment officially.

___

Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo in Mexico City contributed to this report.

___

9:20 p.m.

Authorities have arrested the suspected shooter in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent whose death exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the federal government.

A U.S. marshal for the District of Arizona tells The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/2p8y1mp ) that Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes was arrested in Mexico on Wednesday.

Osorio-Arellanes was one of two men who remained fugitives in the December 2010 murder of 40-year-old Brian Terry, whose death exposed Fast and Furious, in which agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking the weapons.

But the agency lost most of the guns, including two that were found at scene of Terry's death. The operation set off a political firestorm.

Four other men involved in the killing have been convicted or have pleaded guilty in federal court to murder charges.

Fox News was first to report the arrest.
BERLIN (AP)  The Latest on Europe's response to the inflow of migrants and asylum-seekers (all times local):

4:05 p.m.

Poland's interior minister says the country's government is considering creating container camps for asylum seekers on its border with Belarus, saying a similar system works well in Hungary.

Mariusz Blaszczak made the comments in an interview on Radio Zet on Thursday, a day after the Gazeta Wyborcza daily reported that the ministry plans to put asylum seekers in containers behind barbed wire.

Blaszczak did not deny those details, and said: "If there is an emergency situation we must be prepared for all scenarios."

Hungary has built container camps on its border with Serbia surrounded by razor-wire and high fences.

Asylum seekers from Chechnya and elsewhere have been seeking entry into Poland for many months, but most are denied entry and asylum.

___

12 p.m.

The German government says it would support a ban on the export of boats from the European Union to Libya as part of measures to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.

Smugglers use often rickety vessels to ferry thousands of migrants from the north African country to Europe each month. Mass drownings are common when the overloaded boats capsize or sink.

In a response to questions from Left Party lawmakers, the German government says it considers "imposing restrictive measures" on EU exports of boats, engines and vehicles to Libya to be an appropriate measure to crack down on people smuggling.

The response, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, also confirms that the EU naval mission deployed to stop illegal migration uses submarines for "covert reconnaissance" in the region.
Tripoli (AFP) - At least 97 migrants were missing after their boat sank on Thursday off the Libyan coast, a navy spokesman said.

Survivors said the missing include 15 women and five children, General Ayoub Qassem told AFP.

He said the Libyan coastguard had rescued a further 23 migrants of various African nationalities just under 10 kilometres (6 miles) off the coast of Tripoli.

The boat's hull was completely destroyed and the survivors, all men, were found clinging to a flotation device, he said.

Those who had disappeared were "probably dead", but bad weather had so far prevented the recovery of their bodies, Qassem added.

An AFP photographer said survivors had been given food and medical care at Tripoli port before being transferred to a migrant centre east of the capital.

Six years since the revolution that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become a key departure point for migrants risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Hailing mainly from sub-Saharan countries, most of the migrants board boats operated by people traffickers in western Libya, and make for the Italian island of Lampedusa 300 kilometres (190 miles) away.

Since the beginning of this year, at least 590 migrants have died or gone missing along the Libyan coast, the International Organization for Migration said in late March.

In the absence of an army or regular police force in Libya, several militias act as coastguards but are often themselves accused of complicity or even involvement in the lucrative people-smuggling business.

More than 24,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Libya during the first three months of the year, up from 18,000 during the same period last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
By Yasmeen Abutaleb, Lawrence Hurley and Dan Levine WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - To stop President Donald Trump from undermining Obamacare, Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is considering an approach that has worked against the administration on immigration: using Trump's own words against him. Trump said he would let the Affordable Care Act "explode" after Republicans failed last month to pass their own repeal bill in Congress, and told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that he may withhold billions of dollars of payments to insurers to force Democrats to negotiate on healthcare. Public statements like that led to judges blocking Trump's proposed travel bans earlier this year, and could prove to be one line of attack in legal attempts to protect the healthcare bill, according to a handful of liberal U.S. lawyers and state attorneys general. They said they are waiting to see what action the administration ultimately takes on the healthcare law before they will officially respond. Democratic attorneys general took a lead role to successfully block Trump's executive orders restricting travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and are also resisting efforts to roll back environmental regulations. Now, the threat of potential litigation over the healthcare law from states, which takes a page from the Republicans' playbook during the Obama administration, is complicating the Trump administration's efforts to formulate its own approach on health policy outside congressional legislation, according to two conservative lobbyists briefed on internal discussions. The White House maintains that the healthcare law is "already collapsing on its own, and will continue to go in the wrong direction as more Americans face skyrocketing premiums, higher deductibles, and less choice," an administration spokesman told Reuters. "President Trump and his administration are committed to working with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare." Noting that several federal judges cited Trump's comments on Muslims to support the idea that his executive orders unconstitutionally targeted a religious group, Massachusetts AG Healey said Trump is legally bound to enforce the ACA. But his words make it clear he is willing to sabotage it, in her view. "He is intent on setting the dynamite and blowing this up," Healey told Reuters. She said it is too early to speculate about specific legal action but said Trump's remarks about the law "suggest he is out there not just hoping that it fails but working to see it fail." In addition to Healey, Democratic attorneys general for California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia told Reuters they are closely monitoring the administration for any signs it is undermining the ACA. The California attorney general's office recently hired a health policy expert, Melanie Fontes Rainer, who worked for Democrats in the U.S. Senate. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement his office is "leaning forward when it comes to protecting our people's right to affordable, quality health care." Four private lawyers in Washington D.C. said they have discussed possible challenges among themselves and potential clients who have benefited from the law. One such legal challenge being discussed is suing the Trump administration for failing to abide by the "take care clause," which requires that the president faithfully execute laws enacted by Congress, according to Deepak Gupta, a Washington lawyer who often works on public interest cases. "That the president is operating in good faith  is pretty critical to how the law works. That good faith is legitimately in question," he said. Texas and other states that challenged Obama's executive action seeking to prevent immigrants from being deported cited the take care clause in their lawsuit, claiming he was failing to enforce immigration law. 'A PLAYBOOK THAT REPUBLICANS WROTE' Obamacare, former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement, enabled 20 million Americans to gain health insurance. The new administration could effectively cripple Obamacare with a pending Republican lawsuit over cost-sharing subsidies that was appealed by the Obama administration and put on hold when Trump took office. Trump said he may withhold the payments, which help cover out-of-pocket medical costs for low-income people, that Republicans argue must be appropriated by Congress. Proponents of Obamacare say that not funding the subsidies, which amount to about $7 billion a year, would torpedo the law because it would cause insurers to flee the individual market and could leave millions of people without a place to purchase insurance. But the administration must weigh whether to fund the subsidies at the risk of being viewed as helping the law succeed, or be blamed - and possibly sued by attorneys general - for the law's demise, according to the lobbyists, who have been briefed on internal discussions. "There's a concern that liberal attorneys general would file suits," one lobbyist said. "This is a playbook that Republicans wrote during the Obama administration." In some respects, the Trump administration has already taken steps to erode parts of the law. It said it will not enforce the individual mandate, the requirement that everyone have health insurance or pay a penalty, which experts say is needed to keep healthy people in the markets and offset more expensive patients. Dave Jones, the California state insurance commissioner, wrote a letter to Trump earlier last month requesting that the administration "stop taking administrative actions which undermine the Affordable Care Act and destabilize health insurance markets across the country." Jones is also running for attorney general in California, a heavily Democratic state where fighting the Trump administration is a key political asset. If the administration does not enforce the law, "we will certainly look at all our legal options and remedies that might be available," he said. (Editing by Edward Tobin)
Lucid Motors Bids to Become Newest Silicon Valley Automotive Upstart

Lucid Motors, a Silicon Valley-based upstart backed by venture capitalists, used the New York International Auto Show to display its first model, the Air, and lay out plans to make the electric car a reality for American consumers.

The Air will have a base price of $52,500 after federal tax credits, Lucid says. It claims the four-seat sedan will have better performance and more comfort than comparably priced models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The auto luxury segment has a dizzying array of sameness, said Derek Jenkins, the companys vice president of design.

The Air features a low-slung, sleek body, with a windshield that stretches all the way over the heads of front-seat passengers. Like Tesla, Lucid spreads its battery cells along the floor of the body, opening up space in what is usually the engine compartment and the interior. The car is about the same length as a conventional midsized sedan, and yet the cabin has more space than a Mercedes S-Class. Theres a model aimed at business executives with reclining rear seatsinspired by corporate jets.

Lucid began as a battery company called Atieva in 2007, based in Silicon Valley. Its founders came from companies like Tesla and Oracle. Jenkins worked at Mazda and Volkswagen before coming on board.

The company claims its batteries are more energy-dense than its competitors and possibly more reliable. The base model will offer 240 miles of range and 400 horsepower. The company expects to offer versions with up to 400 miles of range and 1,000 horsepower, along with all-wheel drive. A prototype Air, which was modified for high-speed testing, achieved top speeds of 217 mph at recent trial runs at an Ohio test track.

Lucid has announced plans to build a factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. Production is scheduled to begin in 2019 with a goal of producing 10,000 vehicles in the first year. By 2022, the factory will employ 2,000 people and will be capable of producing 130,000 cars a year, Lucid says.

Story continues

In another move similar to Tesla, Lucid is promising the Air will have all of the cameras and sensors necessary for fully automated driving. But for now, there wont be any software for turning that feature onthe element technology experts say is by far the hardest challenge for fully self-driving cars.





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Top pick tires for 2016

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Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright  2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc.
Photo credit: Lucid Motors / YouTube

From Road & Track

When we spoke with Lucid Motors chief engineer Peter Rawlinson last month, he told us the company's first car, the Air, would be fast. Like, well over 200 mph fast. Today, Lucid showed off a video of an Air prototype hitting 217 mph on a high-speed banked circuit. Damn.

That puts the Air among the fastest electric cars in the word, like the Rimac Concept One and the NextEV NIO EP9. Heck, that's one mph faster than the new Ford GT. That said, it's worth noting that this isn't a proper top-speed test, since top speed is a calculated average of a car running in opposite directions to mitigate wind resistance.

Still, this is seriously impressive performance from a company that few people knew about until last year. It comes courtesy of a 1000-hp electric drivetrain with motors on both the front and rear axles. Rawlinson told us the Air hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, which isn't quite as quick as the quickest Tesla Model S, but then again, the Model S isn't a 200-plus-mph car.

More importantly, Rawlinson maintains that the Air will be a true driver's car. We're inclined to believe him because he previously worked as the chief engineer at Lotus, and his personal car is a 1967 Elan.

We can't wait to drive this.

via Carscoops

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If all you've known about internet cafes are dingy darkened rooms where people stare into screens, you've got to see some of the new, slick gaming havens that are popping up in China.

The Wolfz  gaming lounge, opened this week, is a 1,700 square metre (18,298 square foot) space in south China's high-tech hub of Shenzhen. It's got 230 computers, 11 large rooms to book, and 5 VIP rooms.

Image: WECHAT

Image: WECHAT

It also has a spot for professional teams to live-stream their games, and for other gamers to watch live matches around a bar.

SEE ALSO: China is dominating the world in esports earnings

Wolfz is also owned by a huge Taiwanese pop star, by the way.

Megastar Jay Chou is such a huge gaming fan that he owns a professional League of Legends team, called J-Gaming.

Image: WECHAT

Image: Wechat

Image: WECHAT

Chou's gaming company, J-esports (), said it plans to franchise Wolfz out throughout China, Sina Games reports.

The company is supported by both Chou and IDG Capital, a venture capital fund that has backed companies like Xiaomi.

China's internet cafe scene is ripe for investment by bigger firms; its 160,000 cafes of which only 0.2 percent are managed by chains.

Image: WECHAT

Image: Wechat

Image: Wechat

Internet cafes in China are getting increasingly high-end as well, as players in the country demand gaming in a more social setting, according to Tech in Asia.

Despite a rise in mobile gaming, cafes in China have found that players still want to watch professional live and televised esports tournaments right next to other gamers  and games like League of Legends and CrossFire have been popular amongst livestreamers.

The cafe says it plans to work with Chinese companies  like Tencent, which owns Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends  to host esports tournaments.

WATCH: Old-school arcade games have made a comeback at this underground gaming tournament
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.

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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank said on Thursday it will support law enforcement agencies investigating the possible flow of funds to North Korea, after Reuters reported the North Korean head of a Malaysian firm had for years sent money to Pyongyang's leadership. Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had for two decades funneled funds to the central committee of Pyongyang's ruling Workers' Party. MKP is also under investigation by the United Nations for the possible violation of sanctions on North Korea. Malaysia's deputy home minister had said in response that the reports could damage Kuala Lumpur's reputation as a financial hub and called on the central bank to investigate the alleged transfer of funds to North Korea. "Should there be any offence relating to the laws administered by Bank Negara Malaysia, an investigation will be conducted," the central bank said in its statement Thursday. Malaysia's historically close ties with North Korea have come under scrutiny following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Koreas ruler. Reuters reported in February that North Koreas spy agency was running an arms export operation out of Malaysia. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Michael Perry)
Malia Obama has been photographed several times in New York City, where she is interning at Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's production. Recently the daughter of former President Barack Obama was spotted heading to the producers company.

Malia sported a summery look, which appeared perfect for the soaring temperatures in the city. Baring her long legs, the teen wore a denim button-down shirtdress with short sleeves and a collar. She paired the outfit with black Chuck Taylor Converse, according to Yahoo that also posted pictures of the former first daughter.

The 18-year-old has been spotted several times in New York City, since she left Washington, D.C., late January. She is interning at the Weinstein Company to gain experience in the film industry during her gap year before attending Harvard University this fall. Her mother, Michelle Obama, previously said Malia is planning for a career in the film industry.

Last month, Malia was photographed hanging out with a tall, young man who was identified as Rob Franklin, a 2015 graduate of Stanford University. According to TMZ, Malia and Rob met at the Men's Fashion Week in New York. Her outing with Rob led to speculation that the two are seeing each other. However, Robs friends told TMZ that the two are only friends and their relationship is "strictly platonic."

Separately, a recent report by Naughty Gossip said Malia had turned down several modeling offers as she wanted to focus on the film and television business.

Malia has a model body that would be great for runways. She has been offered several opportunities to model but turned them all down. She wants to be behind the camera, not in front of it, sources told Naughty Gossip. She loves the film and TV business and loves reading scripts. She will leave the modeling to Kendall Jenner. She has zero interest of being famous like her dad.

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(CHICAGO) - A man was charged Wednesday in the killing of a criminal court judge who was shot to death outside his Chicago home after a woman he knew was wounded by gunfire.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet that Joshua Smith, 37, was charged in the fatal Monday shooting of Associate Cook County Circuit Judge Raymond Myles. No details were immediately released on what led police to Smith.

Guglielmi said earlier that investigators were questioning individuals in the case who were people of interest. He declined to specify how many.

More details were expected to be released at a news conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Myles, 66, was shot early Monday outside his South Side Chicago home. The woman he knew had already been shot and police have said Myles exchanged words with the attacker and then was shot, too.

Police have not released the womans name, saying she is a witness to the killing.

The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward in the case.

Myles received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He was appointed to the court in 1999. Circuit court judges appointed him an associate judge in 2001 and Myles had served in the criminal division since 2009, according to Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Gabriel Stargardter MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The body of a man, who witnesses said was tossed from a plane, landed on a hospital roof in Mexico's northern Sinaloa state on Wednesday, according to a public health service official in the region, which is home to notorious drug traffickers. The body landed on the roof of an IMSS hospital in the town of Eldorado, around 7:30 a.m. local time, said the official, who was not authorized to give his name. Witnesses standing outside the health center reported a plane flying low over the hospital and a person thrown out, the health official said. Later on Wednesday, Sinaloa's Deputy Attorney General Jesus Martin Robles said a body, found on the hospital roof, showed injuries that appeared to be related to a strong impact. He did not confirm that it had been thrown from a plane. The public health service official said two more bodies were reported to have been found in the town, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of Culiacan, the state capital. Local media reported that those two bodies were thrown from the same plane as the body that landed on the hospital. The official did not know if the man was alive when he was thrown from the plane. Officials from the state prosecutor's office were at the scene, he said. "This is an agricultural area and planes are regularly used for fumigation," the official said, adding that the IMSS hospital was operating normally. Local media reported that suspected gang members had picked up the two other corpses. Sinaloa is the home state of Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, who ran the Sinaloa drug cartel until his arrest in 2016. He was extradited to the United States earlier this year. Ever since Chapo's arrest, security in the state has deteriorated, as the Sinaloa cartel struggles to adapt to infighting and fresh threats from rival groups. (Additional Reporting by Noe Torres; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Leslie Adler)
Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaids Tale, a dystopian novel about a society with a plummeting birth rate, in 1984. In the book, a totalitarian American regime strips women of their rights and forces those who are fertile to become handmaids to bear children for wealthy men and their barren wives.

Atwood challenged herself to only include events in the book that had happened in history. The result was a tale about the future that can, at turns, feel all too contemporary. The story includes an environmental crisis, restrictions on abortion, marches for womens rights and Americans fleeing to Canada.

When Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss signed on to play the lead Offred in the Hulu adaptation of the landmark novel, most pundits predicted Hillary Clinton would be president. But just months after filming the show, Trump won the election and protesters at the Womens March carried signs that read, Make Margaret Atwood fiction again and a Latin line from Handmaids, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum (Dont let the bastards grind you down).

The book is back on top of the bestseller lists and the show, which premieres April 26 on the streaming service, is accidentally the most prescient story on TV, says Moss. The novelist and the actor sat down with TIME to discuss The Handmaids Tales newfound relevance, how they define feminism and the joys and ills of social media, from Peggy Olson memes to slut-shaming.

Portrait of Elisabeth Moss and Margaret Atwood shot at the Time Inc. Photo Studios in New York, March 18, 2017.

TIME: Why this show now?

Elisabeth Moss: I get asked a lot whether the show is in response to the election, but we were filming beforehand.

Margaret Atwood: The control of women and babies has been a part of every repressive regime in history. This has been happening all along. I dont take it lightly when a politician says something like a pregnancy cant result from a rape because a womans body knows it and rejects it. Theres an undercurrent of this [type of thinking]. And then it rises to the surface sometimes. But The Handmaids Tale is always relevant, just in different ways in different political contexts. Not that much has changed.

Story continues

Moss: When we first met, we were in a very loud restaurant, so I was sort of leaning over the table trying desperately to hear all of your answers. But you said that the kernel of the idea was how you would control women by shutting down their bank accounts.

Atwood: Also it was, If America were going to do a totalitarian government, what kind of totalitarian government would it be? It wouldnt be communism. No surprises there. I thought it would have to be some sort of theocracy, like the 17th century in the U.S. I was always very interested in the Salem witch trials, another instance of controlling women.

Moss: We touch on this more in the show than in the book, but even though things are bad for the handmaids, the government has improved some things. There are more babies being born, the air is cleaner.

Atwood: A character in the book says, Better never means better for everyone.

Moss: Youve said a lot, and Ive repeated often, that everything that happened in The Handmaids Tale has happened.

Atwood: Somewhere at some time. I made nothing up.

Moss: And now were at a time when our climate is what it is in America and in the world. Do you still feel this could happen?

Atwood: Even more so. When I first published the book, some people did the it could never happen here thing. Were so far along with womens rights that we cant go back. I dont hear that much anymore.

Moss: I know. One of the things when we first started talking about making the show was whether this was something that could be plausible. I love it, but is this something the public is going to buy into? And then unfortunately, six months later, it became a hell of a lot more plausible.

TIME: There are some differences between the show and the book. Why did you add more nonwhite, nonstraight characters?

Atwood: Were taking off from now rather than 1984, and there are more multiracial couples now. In the book I had them being so segregationist, they were just separating everybody and shipping them off the way the Nazis did.

In the show, its different. So just as we have cell phones in the plot now, we have to update other things. Although I was setting it in the future when I was writing it, I didnt know anything about the future. I wrote that thing on an old typewriter in Berlin. We didnt even have personal computers yet.

Moss: We wanted the show to be very relatable. We wanted people to see themselves in it. If youre going to do that, you have to show all types of people. You have to reflect current society.

A question I get asked a lot in interviews: Do you gravitate toward feminist roles? This is a question I struggle to answer because I dont necessarily feel like they are feminist roles. I feel like theyre interesting women. The Handmaids Tale is considered one of the great feminist novels. I actually consider it a human novel about human rights, not just womens rights.

Atwood: Well, womens rights are human rights unless you have decided that women arent human. So those are your choices. If women are human, then womens rights are part of human rights.

Moss: Exactly.

Atwood: When we use that word, feminism, I always want to know: What do you mean by it? What are we talking about? If the person can describe what they mean by the word, then we can talk about whether I am one of those or not.

Moss: I find myself getting slightly tripped up because I am a feminist, and Im not ashamed of it. But thats not why I chose this role. I did it because its a complex character.

Atwood: If it were only a feminist book, you would think, in that case, all the women are over here on the low side, and all the men are over here on the high side. But its more like the way human societies actually arrange themselves, which means some powerful people at the top. The women connected to those people have more power than the men connected to the bottom rank.

Moss: The commanders wives have more power than the male servants.

Atwood: You betcha. And Queen Elizabeth I had more power than Joe the peasant.

(Interview continues below)

Portrait of Margaret Atwood shot at the Time Inc. Photo Studios in New York, March 18 2017.

Moss: What is the book ultimately about for you?

Atwood: I think its about a totalitarian society in America the way it would likely beexcept maybe the outfits.

Moss: Well, time will tell about the outfits.

Atwood: Were heading into a situation in which health coverage is going to be removed for pregnancy and childbirth. At the same time, youre going to force women to have babies by making it so they cant get abortions. Thats like being drafted into the army. Except at least in the army, you get three square meals a day and a place to sleep. Youre not left out on the street. If youre going to take away womens choice and not give them an adequate wage or healthcare, what would you call that? Id call it a bad deal.

Moss: Were not politicians, but I get asked a lot whats the average women or average person can do to prevent Gilead from happening.

Atwood: Well, they can vote, just to begin with.

Moss: That would help, wouldnt it? Voting helps. Showing up. Thats a good first step.

TIME: Is it harder to get projects with multiple female leads made?

Moss: Ive found that to be an issue. I optioned a book with two women in it and was told multiple times it was too female. I was like, Are you even allowed to say that?

Atwood: Its not a problem in the world of writing because publishers have this lightbulb over their head that tells them that women read a lot of books. In fact, there was a funny thing that happened a few years ago in which they were girlifying the covers of fiction, including mens fiction.

Moss: Really?

Atwood: You really had to fight off the publishers to keep them from putting flowers on your book.

Moss: What does Margaret Atwood read while shes relaxing?

Atwood: Im pretty omnivorous. Pop sciencesomething where somebody else tells me the result with usually, I hope, lovely colored illustrations. Show me the pictures and tell me what you found out. Dont make me actually do the study and kill all those mice.

Everything from there all the way through to sci-fi, spec-fic, regular novels, nonfiction, history, biography and graphic novels. A lot of history, as you might imagine.

TIME: Margaret, you mentioned earlier that you were struck by the fact that Elisabeth filmed without makeup.

Atwood: They wanted you to look sort of tired and baggy.

Moss: The worse, the better!

Atwood: Bruce Miller, who is the showrunner and chief writer, he said he felt that it allowed the acting to be more direct and because every little twitch and twinge was visible. There wasnt anything between you and the camera.

Moss: Absolutely. And same with if I went paler or if I flushed or if I was cold, you could really see it. And we also did very, very close shots.

Atwood: So in a situation in which someone is not supposed to be registering seething rage, for instance, you can see your character is trying to keep a straight face. But you can see the tension.

TIME: Margaret, youre very active on Twitter. Elisabeth, youre not on Twitter at all. What do you make of the sometimes toxic nature of social media, including slut-shaming?

Atwood: I am on Twitter, but Im too old to attract slut-shaming. I hate to break this to you, but I dont think anyones interested in me.

Moss: [Sarcastically] What a shame. Thats too bad. Im so sorry about that.

Atwood: Right? There are pluses and minuses of getting older. The closer you come to being dead, such as myself, the less likely you are to attract such things. Young women with some power are particularly subject to it, because its also a love-hate-love-hate thing. This is an attractive person whom Im never going to have a date with, so I hate them. Dont you think?

Moss: Its similar to a scene in the show: a woman reveals that she was the victim of rape, and shes told, You brought this upon yourself. You deserve this.

You go out in a sexy dress on the red carpet, so now were allowed to say whatever we want about you. But thats not O.K.

Atwood: Thats always been the case. If you go back to the 19th century, it was opera stars and female theater stars who attracted this kind of thing. Its not new. It just gets amplified.

TIME: Speaking of social media, Elisabeth, an image of your character Peggy from the end of Mad Men became a feminist meme. Do you think that will happen with The Handmaids Tale?

Atwood: Why did that become a meme for feminism? Because of smoking?

Moss: [Laughing] No. Its her walking into her new job. She leaves this old place after a very long time.

Atwood: Its a brave new world. Youve come a long way, baby. Virginia Slims.

Moss: Exactly. Shes walking down the hall, and shes carrying a box of her things and wearing sunglasses, doesnt give a sh-t and has made this giant leap because it takes place in the 60s. Im super-proud to have been part of a moment that people can gain any inspiration from or connect with womens rights.

I can ask the same question of you: Does the fact that I have the nolite te bastardes carborundorum (Dont let the bastards grind you down) line from the book on my necklace, or the fact that people get it tattooed, is that weird?

Atwood: Ill tell you the weird thing about it: it was a joke in our Latin classes. So this thing from my childhood is permanently on peoples bodies.



This interview appeared in the April 24 issue of TIME. It has been edited for clarity and context.
In the summer of 1986, Thomas Kaufman was waiting in the lunch line at a research conference devoted to Drosophilamore commonly known as fruit flies. A fellow biologist informed him that the California Institute of Technology was interested in getting rid of its huge inventory of fliesinsects that are used in scientific studies and distributed to researchers upon request.

I said, maybe we could move the stock to Indiana, says Kaufman, a biologist at Indiana University. When he returned to Bloomington a few days later, he asked a post-doc in his lab if shed be interested in running a fly-stock center. She said she would.

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Object Lessons

Back at Caltech, the flies were ushered into tiny glass vials, placed in generously padded boxes, and sent on their way to the Hoosier state, courtesy of the U.S. Postal System.

There were about 1,600 pure breeding lines at the time, different mutant strains, flies with different eye colors, bristles, wing shape, body color, and that sort of thing, Kaufman tells me. There are now more than 50,000 mutant lines in the stock collection. The center sends out thousands of fly stocks each week to scientists all over the world.

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Its from that venerable and varied stock that Ellie Heckscher acquires her flies, or, more precisely, her maggots. Heckscher, an assistant professor of molecular genetics and cell biology at the University of Chicago, breeds flies and uses their larvae as models to study the neuronal basis of movement. It offers a gateway to understanding specific diseases in humans such as Lou Gehrigs disease.

* * *

Heckscher became involved with maggots while a graduate student. She has a high regard for the wee organisms, despite their icky reputation among the general populous.

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We work on very young maggots, Heckscher explains. Theyre tiny. Theyre actually kind of cute. I think the big ones are the ones that are gross to people. I think people associate maggots with flesh or trash, but theyre also really tough. Theyre little tanks.

We think maggots really are the sweet spot now.

Its true: Maggots are associated with flesh, trash, and of course disease. The larvae of botflies insinuate themselves beneath the flesh of cattle make the animals miserable and their hides worthless. Maggots that infest sheep or humans are not only unsightly, but painful, even debilitating to the host.

As far as the average maggot is concerned, whether medicinal or not, its main purpose in life is to eat, grow, and reproduce. However, there are maggots whose destiny is to help both animals and humans. They are bred for the task.

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Take, for example, maggot-debridement therapy for horses with laminitis, an inflammation of the tissues that bond the hoof wall to the bottommost bone in the equine leg. For this therapeutic procedure to succeed, not just any maggots will do, particularly not maggots found in un-emptied trash bins protruding from alleyways behind downtown eating establishments. No, this case calls for medicinal maggots. They must be freshly emergedgerm-free, and their mothers and fathers should be green blow flies, Lucilia sericata.

After a sufficient supply of L. sericata is secured from a safe source, a veterinarian or another brave soul tucks the maggots in and around the wound. A nylon retention net quickly corrals the larvae. The larvae then celebrate their good fortune by eating dead tissue and destroying noxious bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Maggots are used in much the same way to treat gangrene of foot ulcers in people with diabetes.

* * *

Researchers like Heckscher are interested in how neural circuits develop and enable organisms to move. The maggot model gives me a powerful way to ask these questions, says Heckscher, who was trained as a developmental biologist.

Thats because the maggot model is of intermediate size. The creature provides researchers with roughly 10,000 neurons to work with, far more than the classic Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm, which offers a mere 300 neurons for scientists to explore, but far fewer than humans 100 billion neurons. An intermediate complexity model, I think, is super powerful for asking questions that people havent been able to answer, says Heckscher. We think maggots really are the sweet spot now.

Maggots can helpin particular, the creation of a tiny maggot highway.

Heckscher says scientists now have a detailed map of all the connections of a maggot brain, a complete picture of all its neurons. That means researchers can see individual synapses, which are the sights of communication between nerve cells. This in turn gives them a snapshot of which neurons could be talking to each other.

But for now, scientists dont truly understand the neural basis of movement, according to Heckscher. Its known that neurons make muscles contract, but the organization of the circuitry is still poorly understood.

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* * *

Maggots can helpin particular, the creation of a tiny maggot highway. As it turns out, maggots crawl in a really erratic way, as Heckscher puts it. She places them in tiny channels, essentially little roadways, carved into agar, a gelatinous substance derived from sea algae, so they can move in only one direction.

We are really just simplifying their behavioral repertoire so we can get that link between behavior and neurons, says Heckscher. One of the great things about maggots as a research tool is that theyre clear, at least in the early stages. Clear as in transparent. That means Heckschers team can put florescent proteins into the maggots to track how they move.

Among other things, Heckscher is trying to see how the maggots neurons develop from neural stem cells, undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialized cell types, to create networks of neurons that control movement.

If you can understand that then you can imagine making stem-cell therapies, Heckscher tells me. She thinks a set of relatively simple rules might evolve time. Theres this idea that the control of movement is generated through sequential means. I think this component of time and development is going to be really important for sorting out how you get something so complex. You dont just build it overnight.

Fly research got its start more than a century ago. The first fly paper was published in 1910 by Thomas H. Morgan at Columbia University, who received the 1933 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for his discoveries of the role of the chromosome in heredity.

Now, flies and maggots have become workhorses for understanding diseases and opening the door to mitigating them. Are they gross? Sometimes, yes, when a gaggle of them slurp atop trash or flesh. But when it comes to studying diseases, maggots, as Heckscher says, are exquisitely built machinesand refreshingly ideal scientific collaborators.

This article appears courtesy of Object Lessons.

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This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Meet the five nurses in the running for the title of Americas Most Amazing Nurse! From the thousands of nomineesThe Doctors and Prevention Magazine received, these five extraordinary healthcare professionals have risen to the top. Barbara ODair, editor-in-chief of Prevention, says, We want to celebrate and honor these women and men.

Watch: America's Most Amazing Nurse Search

April Oliver is a CCAT nurse for the U.S. Air Force. She describes it as The ICU in the sky! She performs all the functions of a normal intensive-care nurse in the back of an aircraft flying at 10,000 feet.

Sandy Cross is the Breast Cancer Patient Navigator at Huntsville Hospital in Alabama. She developed a breast-cancer patient assistance fund to help patients navigate a sudden, unexpected leave of absence from work while undergoing treatment. We are able to pay just about everything they would need, she explains.

Billy Rosa says, Im most passionate about nurses finding their voice, finding their power. Hes a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. For me, being a nurse is the most sacred opportunity to be the change you want to be.

Daniella Casimir is an Advanced Practice Nurse at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. She provides primary care to women with disabilities. Ive always been fond of womens health, she explains. Her job allows her to be on the front lines, taking care of the women who need it most.

Laura Clary is the Manager of Sexual Assault Forensic Investigation & Domestic Violence Programs at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The hardest part of the job is that youre seeing people on the worst day of their life, she says. Laura stresses that domestic violence doesnt discriminate  it affects people from all walks of life. Its really opened my eyes.

Watch: Nurse Appreciation

All nurses are amazing, but our five have really gone above and beyond, concludes Barbara. They each do a job that very many people cant do.

Each finalist receives $1,000 toward the charity of their choice. On May 6th, The Doctors will announce the winner on-air! Americas Most Amazing Nurse will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Iceland courtesy of Blue Lagoon and WOW Air. Get to know the five finalists better in the May issue of Prevention.
Mumbai (AFP) - Chaya Mohite slowly turns the accelerator as she carefully edges the salmon-coloured rickshaw forward, one of Mumbai's first female auto drivers to make use of a government scheme aimed at empowering women.

The 45-year-old was one of 19 women who recently started jobs ferrying passengers through the notoriously congested streets of India's financial capital in their new three-wheelers.

"This job is much better than doing household work. I can make more money and it helps us secure our futures," Mohite told AFP as she got in some last minute practice.

The mother of three has spent the past two months learning how to drive at a training centre in Mumbai's eastern suburbs and is thrilled with her new skills and financial prospects.

"I couldn't even ride a bicycle but today I can drive an auto rickshaw. I'm independent and it makes me happy," says Mohite, who hopes to earn 1,000 rupees ($15) a day.

She is benefitting from a scheme introduced by the state government of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, that reserves five percent of rickshaw permits for women.

It announced the plan in early 2016, saying that 465 licences would be made available for women in Mumbai and the neighbouring district of Thane.

Unlike similar schemes in New Delhi and Ranchi, where some pink autos are driven by women for women as a safety initiative, the Maharashtra drivers take both male and female passengers.

- 'Ready to drive anywhere' -

Services started in Thane last year but Mohite and her new colleagues, who will sport white lab-coat-like uniforms, are the first to ply the streets of India's most populated metropolis.

"I've taught them the A to Z of auto-rickshaw driving. They are now experts and have passed an official RTO (Regional Transport Office) test," Sudhir Dhoipode, the women's instructor, told AFP.

Dhoipode says he is currently teaching more than 40 women how to drive while around 500 others have expressed an interest in learning despite some community opposition in the conservative country.

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"People mocked us for leaving our homes and choosing to drive rickshaws but we hope we can inspire other women to come forward and take advantage of this great initiative," said driver Anita Kardak.

Rickshaw permits are highly sought after in Mumbai and can be big business, with owners often renting them out for a fee or lending them to others when their shift has finished.

Transport officials say they decided the women should have a different coloured rickshaw to the ubiquitous black and yellow ones to stop male relatives from taking them over.

It has led to some fears the women will be at risk because they will stand out, but Mohite isn't concerned.

"I don't think there's going to be any safety issue as we're capable of looking after ourselves. Driving the rickshaw is a fun feeling and I'm ready to drive anywhere in Mumbai," she said.
Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican authorities arrested a man suspected of shooting dead a US border guard in 2010 and aim to extradite him to the United States, prosecutors said Thursday.

Mexican marines detained the man on Wednesday near the border of the northern Mexican states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua, the public prosecution service said in a statement.

The suspect, Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, is accused of carrying out along with other suspects the killing of US border patrol guard Brian Terry in December 2010.

Terry was killed on US soil while trying to intercept a group suspected of stealing drugs at the border.

Evidence found while investigating the killing indirectly brought to light a controversial arms-trafficking operation involving US authorities.

They allowed guns to be trafficked across the border to Mexico in the hope of tracking them, but lost trace of some of the weapons after gangs got hold of them.

Mexico has notified the US government of the arrest with a view to extraditing the suspect to face trial in the United States, the prosecutors said.
Xalapa (Mexico) (AFP) - Mexican reporter Noe Zavaleta has mourned murdered colleagues and received death threats himself, but he refuses to stop working despite the fear.

His is the deadliest country for journalists outside of war zones -- but with all the corruption and violence, there is just too much news for him to quit.

"I have had to bury colleagues and see other companions leave the country. But you still panic when it happens to you," he says, in his home town of Xalapa in the eastern state of Veracruz.

Like hundreds of other journalists in Mexico, the 36-year-old has been threatened for writing about organized crime.

But he keeps cranking out the stories for investigative magazine Proceso: about links between politicians and organized crime, corruption, disappearances and mass graves.

"You're constantly discovering more subjects, more injustices, more material."

- Bodyguards, panic button -

Zavaleta knew what he was getting into when he joined the magazine in 2012 to replace a journalist who had been murdered.

His predecessor in the post, Regina Martinez, had reported on corruption and abuses by Veracruz state authorities. Her killing has never been solved.

Zavaleta also worked with the photographer Ruben Espinosa, who fled Veracruz after receiving threats from authorities. He was murdered in Mexico City in 2015.

Zavaleta received threats last year for a report about an ex-governor accused of corruption.

He saw unknown men stalking around his office, his home and that of his girlfriend.

"You panic. You don't know what to do," he says.

He fled to the capital and reported the intimidation to the federal authorities.

They provided him with two bodyguards who stayed by his side for half the year.

He still carries a panic button to alert authorities if he is in danger.

"I am still working," Zavaleta says with a smile.

"If I suffer more intimidation and if I have to get out again and make it public, then that is what I will do."

Story continues

- Journalists murdered -

International media rights group Reporters Without Borders ranks Mexico as the third most deadly country in the world, behind Syria and Afghanistan.

Mexico has seen 102 journalists murdered since 2000 -- 20 of them in Veracruz.

March was a particularly brutal month.

Three reporters were murdered and a fourth hospitalized after being shot, authorities said. One regional newspaper shut down for a lack of security.

In 2016 in Mexico, 400 journalists were attacked and 11 killed, according to rights group Articulo 19.

- Cost of protection -

Not all journalists get bodyguards because the authorities' budgets do not always allow it, Zavaleta says -- and even the protectors are at risk.

One of his former bodyguards was shot dead in late March while protecting another journalist.

"They were always complaining that they needed bullet-proof vests and a better vehicle," he says.

"That didn't get authorized the whole six months they were with me, because there wasn't the budget for it."

- Threats from officials -

Articulo 19 says more than half of the recorded threats received by journalists over the past decade have been from officials themselves. It says 99.75 percent of journalists' murders remain unsolved.

"Here in Mexico no one gives you any guarantees," Zavaleta says.

"You decide to come back to work because you are stubborn and determined and because you are passionate about the job."

He recalls another journalist who inspired him: Jesus Blancornelas, who investigated the drugs trade in the state of Tijuana as director of Zeta magazine.

Blancornelas was injured in 1997 in an attack blamed on organized crime. He went from home to work and back under military guard until his death of cancer in 2006.

"I remember very well what Blancornelas used to say" to his enemies, he says: "I will stop when I want, not when you want."
The first townhall meeting of 2017 was a field day for GOP Rep. Mike Coffman from Colorado, as he battled with questions regarding his support for President Donald Trump's policies. The packed auditorium at the University of Colorado Anschutz Campus in Aurora, in the outskirts of Denver, witnessed several heated moments as Coffman handled questions on topics such as health care, education, federal spending, and what would he do to check on Trump's policies, reports said.

The republican stayed for nearly twice his scheduled time at the town hall answering more than 40 questions. He also faced criticism for supporting Trump's Obamacare replacement bill. At one point, a woman asked Coffman how could he stand up to a bill that would not protect people with medical histories. Another one said that without Medicaid, which is scaled back in the GOP plan, her cousin with epilepsy would die, according to Politico.

Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income residents in the U.S.

Read: Facebook Introduces Town Hall Feature On Its Website

Few weeks ago, Coffman supported Speaker Paul Ryans health care bill, legislation, which was ultimately pulled off from the House Floor, just few minutes ahead of a planned vote. It was a severe blow to Trump's efforts and the GOP to repeal and replace Obamacare, reports said.

Coffman is facing the consequences for backing the Obamacare repeal bill. "I voted for you because I thought you'd be a leader," an angry constituent said. "I don't see you leading," she said.

Coffman vowed to protect coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and committed to changes in the current Medicaid formula. The change demands the federal government to pay 90 percent of the costs for the population that gained coverage under Obamacare. However, his answers didn't impress the constituents so much, according to reports.

Negotiations for replacing the Obamacare continues as Republicans move on to gain consensus on the new bill. Republicans had left Washington D.C. last month after the GOP health bill was pulled off. However, conservative and centrist Republicans continued to discuss the health care reform bill with fellow lawmakers, the White House, and even Democrats in hopes of finalizing a deal, reports said.

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To celebrate the fact that Doctor Who season 10 is now only a matter of days away, the TARDIS  and its current occupants  have touched down in London.

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who' Season 10, Episode 1 is the perfect intro for Time Lord newbies

On Wednesday, Peter Capaldi and his new companion Pearl Mackie appeared at the Southbank to pose next to some fairly spectacular pavement art.

Epic.

Image: Ray Tang/LNP/REX/Shutterstock

As far as marketing stunts go, you've got to hand it to the BBC. This one is pretty cool.

The official Doctor Who Twitter account was on hand to share some photos and videos from the event.

Dark clouds over London's Southbank... signs of an Oncoming Storm? The TARDIS has landed! Here all day!#TimeForHeroes #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/gjMVAnVyB4  Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) April 12, 2017

The painting was created over 10 days by 3D artist Joe Hill. Here's a short video of Hill and writer Steven Moffat explaining how they came up with it. From the sounds of it their choice of monsters may provide a clue as to what we can expect from the coming Season:

The hidden image of Peter Capaldi's face is a nice touch.

Doctor Who Season 10 airs on Saturday 15 April 2017.

WATCH: If the Doctor had a bad day on 'Doctor Who'
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Muslim leaders in Minneapolis are wary of a man who has been patrolling a predominantly Somali neighborhood to enforce the Islamic civil code.

Abdullah Rashid has been telling residents of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood not to drink, use drugs or interact with the opposite sex, according to his interpretation of Sharia law, the Star Tribune reported Thursday (http://strib.mn/2p0uS8J ). He's been telling Muslim women to wear a flowing head-to-toe garment called a jilbab.

"What he's doing is wrong and doesn't reflect the community at all," said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Rashid, 22, told the newspaper that he leads a group called the General Presidency of the Religious Affairs and Welfare of the Ummah. He says he has enlisted 10 others to help him patrol, but local Muslim leaders are skeptical.

Hussein told The Associated Press on Thursday that he asked Rashid who his supporters were and that Rashid wouldn't name anybody. He said he considers Rashid to be a liar.

"He does not reflect what our faith teaches," Hussein said.

Rashid once listed the Masjid Shaafici Cultural Center in Cedar-Riverside as his headquarters, but the imam of that mosque, Abdighani Ali, denied any connection to Rashid. He said he hasn't seen Rashid with any followers.

"We're against his ideas," Ali said. "We always encourage our community to be a part of the society."

Rashid said he aims to turn Cedar-Riverside into a "Sharia-controlled zone," where Muslims learn about the proper practices of Islam and "non-Muslims are asked to respect" it.

Minneapolis police received reports in February from concerned residents who saw Rashid wearing a dark green uniform labelled "Muslim Defense Force" and "Religious Police" and that bore images of flags associated with militant groups, including the Islamic State.

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"We've had conversations with community members that live over there," police spokesman Corey Schmidt said. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to deal with it, but it's something we've been monitoring."

Police said Rashid has been told he can't patrol the neighborhood's huge Riverside Plaza apartment complex, which is home to many Somalis, or he'll be cited for trespassing. The complex's managers are in the process of evicting him.

Rashid, previously known as Devon James Miller, converted to Islam in 2009. He said he started his group in Georgia in 2013. He married a Somali-American woman, who recently moved from Wyoming to Minneapolis, in 2015. They moved to Cedar-Riverside last year, and he applied for a permit to carry a handgun.

But the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office denied his application, saying there was evidence that he'd be a danger to himself and others if allowed to carry a gun.

Rashid sued. Court documents show he was arrested as a juvenile in Walton County, Georgia, for impersonating a police officer, and a school district reported he had harassed a 16-year-old classmate on Facebook, according to the documents. A school district report mentioned he had mental health issues, and his mother said he had been suicidal. Rashid's lawsuit was dismissed in March. He denied having any mental illness.

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
The moon is thought to have been formed soon after Earth itself came into being somewhat over 4.5 billion years ago. At some point in its past, our planets only natural satellite had a magnetic field, which disappeared about three billion years ago.

We know the field existed because of magnetized rocks that were collected by the NASAs Apollo missions to the moon. Lunar samples from 3.1 billion years ago show the distinct presence of a magnetic field one as strong as generated by Earth today. What we dont know is how that field became inactive between then and now. There are various theories, but one put forth in a recent paper published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters is simpler and more straightforward than others.

According to the paper, a dynamo in the lunar core  very little is definitively known about the composition of the core of the moon  powered the field. Written by scientists from the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, the paper also describes how that dynamo itself was created as a result of the cores crystallization.

Read: A Heat Engine To Keep Astronauts Warm On The Moon

The researchers used the latest available geochemical data from the moon to create three different possible core compositions. Then they equilibrated each of those models with the temperature and pressure of the lunar interior. Based on the different amounts of iron, nickel, sulfur and carbon in the core, the paper offers the simplest explanation yet for the lunar dynamo.

Moon

Photo: NASA

In the distant past, the moons core was likely a majority of iron and/or nickel, with sulfur and carbon present only in small amounts, giving it a very high melting point. Therefore, the lunar core began crystallizing early in the moons history, and the heat released as a result was responsible for the magnetic field recorded in samples from that time.

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Our work ties together physical and chemical constraints and helps us understand how the moon acquired and maintained its magnetic field  a difficult problem to tackle for any inner solar system body, Kevin Righter of NASA, who was also first author of the study, said in a statement Wednesday.

The paper also speculates that the lunar core, currently thought to have a solid interior and a liquid exterior, would today be partially solid and partially liquid.

Titled Phase equilibria of a low S and C lunar core: Implications for an early lunar dynamo and physical state of the current core, the paper was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

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WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP)  A woman charged in the beating death of her young son has pleaded guilty to murder and agreed to testify against her former boyfriend in his upcoming capital murder trial.

Jillian Tait also pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit murder and child endangerment in 3-year-old Scott McMillan's November 2014 death, which prosecutors called a "horror story."

Prosecutors said the plea agreement will spare the 33-year-old Tait a possible death sentence and she will be a "critical witness" in the September murder trial of 25-year-old Gary Lee Fellenbaum III. They said Tait had accepted responsibility and, while her actions may have contributed to Scott's death in Coatesville, Fellenbaum's actions caused it.

"Essentially, your honor, the defendant will act as a living adult witness to what happened in that trailer," First Assistant District Attorney Michael Noone said.

The couple had met working at a Wal-Mart several months earlier and moved in together in a mobile home park along with Fellenbaum's estranged wife, Tait's 6- and 3-year-old children and the Fellenbaums' 11-month-old daughter.

District Attorney Thomas Hogan in 2014 called the case "an American horror story," saying what started as spankings morphed into "concentrated, repeated, escalating abuse" and then over a three-day period the victim "was systematically tortured and beaten to death."

"Scott McMillan had been punched and beaten with blunt and sharp objects, whipped, taped to a chair with electrical tape and beaten, hung up by his feet and beaten and suffered other acts of violence," authorities alleged in court papers.

Prosecutors also alleged the couple went car shopping, bought pizza and engaged in sexual activity as the boy lay dying after weeks of escalating abuse.

Defense attorney Laurence Harmelin said Tait "is looking forward to putting the matter behind her."

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"She will have a lot more to say at sentencing," the attorney said.

Fellenbaum's mother said in 2014 he was a good son and she didn't believe he beat the little boy to death.

"I believe he's being railroaded," Paula Fellenbaum said then. "He liked kids. He never had an issue. I don't understand it at all."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said Thursday, as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

President Donald Trump has sent a naval "armada" to the Korean peninsula in a show of force, accompanied by a warning that Washington is ready to take on North Korea alone if necessary.

The North has since said it is ready for "war" with the US, while speculation is mounting that it might conduct a nuclear or missile test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The reclusive state has long been 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 atomic tests, two of them last year.

On Thursday, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim watched from an observation post as special forces dropped from light transport planes "like hail" and "mercilessly blew up enemy targets".

With a broad smile on his face, Kim praised his troops for their precision, saying "the bullets seemed to have their own eyes", KCNA said, without identifying when the operation was held.

The Rodong Sinmun -- the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party -- carried several photos from the contest including one of Kim watching the troops parachuting down from jets into an open field.

Another showed him grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked by cheering soldiers.

"The contest proved once again that our Korean People's Army... will show a real taste of gun shot and real taste of war to the reckless invaders," KCNA said.

China -- the North's sole major ally -- has urged the US president to take a peaceful approach to resolving the North Korean tensions.

Sabre-rattling between Washington and Pyonyang has unnerved China, which is losing patience with the North but whose priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep.

Seoul and Washington are currently conducting joint military drills, an annual exercise which is seen by the North as a practice for war.
North Korea may have the capacity to launch a warhead loaded with sarin nerve gas, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday, as tensions rise over the country's missile and nuclear programmes.

Sarin has been used in deadly domestic attacks in Japan, notably in 1995 when the Aum Supreme Truth cult released it in the Tokyo subway killing 13 people and sickening 6,000 others.

"There is a possibility that North Korea is already capable of delivering (via missile) a warhead containing sarin," Abe told a parliamentary diplomacy and defence committee, referring to the poison nerve agent.

His remarks were reported by public broadcaster NHK and leading national newspapers. Abe did not elaborate or say where he obtained the information, according to the reports.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked in recent days amid concerns that Pyongyang could be on the verge of executing its sixth nuclear test and as a US aircraft carrier-led strike group heads to the region.

Originally conceived as a pesticide, sarin was used by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime to gas thousands of Kurds in the northern town of Halabja in 1988.

The US believes the Syrian government employed a sarin-like nerve agent in a deadly attack in the country's northwest last week.

The Aum Supreme Truth cult also used the nerve agent in a 1994 attack in the Japanese city of Matsumoto, killing seven.
North Korea may have the capacity to launch a warhead loaded with sarin nerve gas, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday, as tensions rise over the country's missile and nuclear programmes.

Sarin has been used in domestic attacks in Japan, notably in 1995 when the Aum Supreme Truth cult released it in the Tokyo subway killing 13 people and sickening 6,000 others.

The US believes the Syrian government employed a sarin-like nerve agent in a deadly attack in the country's northwest last week.

"There is a possibility that North Korea is already capable of delivering (via missile) a warhead containing sarin," Abe told a parliamentary diplomacy and defence committee, referring to the poison nerve agent.

His remarks were reported by public broadcaster NHK and leading national newspapers. Abe did not elaborate or say where he obtained the information, according to the reports.

But Yoshihide Suga, the government's chief spokesman, did elaborate when later asked about the comments at a regular briefing.

"Referring to the Syrian situation, our prime minister displayed a recognition that we can't deny the possibility that North Korea can equip (a missile) with chemical weapons," he said, referring to the suspected

"North Korea... is likely to maintain several facilities to produce chemical weapons and already possess a considerable number of them," he added.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked in recent days amid concerns that Pyongyang could be on the verge of executing its sixth nuclear test and as a US aircraft carrier-led strike group heads to the region.

Originally conceived as a pesticide, sarin was used by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime to gas thousands of Kurds in the northern town of Halabja in 1988.

The Aum Supreme Truth cult also used the nerve agent in a 1994 attack in the Japanese city of Matsumoto, killing seven.
The penthouse apartments at the top of the tallest tower in Pyongyang's showpiece development offer impressive views, ice green wallpaper and purple sofas  but had no hot water when the project opened Thursday.

Ryomyong Street is the third prestige project in as many years in the North Korean capital, and by far the largest, said to have nearly 5,000 apartments, which according to authorities will be distributed free to deserving citizens.

Its name translates as "illumination" and the official KCNA news agency described it as "an icon of modern street architecture and a fairyland representing the era of the Workers' Party".

The white concrete towers come in multiple shapes  square, round and octagonal  and sizes, the tallest proclaimed as 70 storeys and 234 metres high.

Leader Kim Jong-Un -- who made the project a priority -- opened it Thursday in front of an audience of tens of thousands of citizens and an invited coterie of international media.

It was built in only around a year, to ensure completion in time for Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim's grandfather, the North's founder Kim Il-Sung - who lies in state nearby.

"Keeping up appearances in Pyongyang makes a lot of sense for the government" of the nuclear-armed country, said Chad O'Carroll, managing director of specialist service NK News.

"Part of it is renovating and increasing capacity in Pyongyang, part of it is to reward those loyal to senior levels of leadership, and part of it is of course for show.

"That's the reason they have invited so many journalists here, to show successful completion of a project in the face of increasing sanctions and international pressure."

Kim's association with the project also bolstered his domestic portrayal as "a leader that cares about the people", he added.

A giant crowd of soldiers, officials and citizens  men in suits, women in traditional hanbok dresses - packed a plaza from early morning for the opening ceremony, waiting in the cold spring air for hours before Kim made his entrance, leading a delegation of senior officials and generals onto the dais.

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"Long live comrade Kim Jong-Un, the supreme leader of our party, nation and army," read one banner.

- 'All day and all night' -

Culture ministry official Kim Ok-Hwa was assigned to the construction project's technical department, and said site personnel toiled for 18 hours a day, seven days a week, for a year, to finish it on schedule.

But she played down their role. "The Supreme Leader devoted his very best efforts so our effort is very small compared to his effort," she told AFP.

Seeing him at Thursday's ceremony, she said, made her feel "proud we have the greatest Supreme Leader in the world".

Ordinary North Koreans usually express only officially-sanctioned views when questioned by foreign news organisations.

Personnel from North Korea's army  among the largest in the world by numbers  are regularly deployed on construction projects, where they are known as "soldier-builders".

"To implement thoroughly the order of the Supreme Commander we worked all day and all night," said Lt-Col Kim Pyong-Ho, who worked on the 70-storey tower.

Staff say its hot water system is geothermal, and was not switched on for the opening ceremony.

But O'Carroll described the build quality on similar projects as "not so good".

One of the apartment complexes erected to mark Kim Il-Sung's 100th birth anniversary collapsed in 2014, he said, with the North admitting there had been casualties.

"It went up in less than a year, I believe, and it came down two years later," he told AFP. When you're rushing to complete things mistakes will be made. It is a risk."
By Lidia Kelly ORZYSZ, Poland (Reuters) - Poland on Thursday welcomed the first U.S. troops in a multi-national force which is being posted across the Baltic region to counter potential threats from Russia. More than 1,100 soldiers -- 900 U.S. troops as well as 150 British and 120 Romanians -- are to be deployed in Orzysz, about 57 km (35 miles) south of Russia's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, where Moscow has stationed nuclear-capable missiles and an S-400 air missile defense system. Three other formations are due to become operational by June across the region. "Deploying of these troops to Poland is a clear demonstration of NATO's unity and resolve and sends a clear message to any potential aggressor," NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti, said at a welcoming ceremony for the first arrivals at Orzysz, 220 km (140 miles) northeast of the capital Warsaw. Poland, alarmed by Russia's assertiveness on NATO's eastern flank, has lobbied hard for the stationing of NATO troops on its soil, especially since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Polish President Andrzej Duda called the deployment a historic moment "awaited for by generations". The troops' move in Orzysz takes place as U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have changed his previously critical views of NATO and soured his attitude toward Moscow. While running for president, Trump dismissed the alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia. But on Wednesday, he lavished praise on NATO and said the relationship with Russia may be at an all-time low. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House. OFFICERS RESIGN Poland's ruling conservatives, the Law and Justice party (PiS) allied with Duda, have signaled plans to raise funds to modernize and increase the size of its military, even though Warsaw is already among NATO's top spenders. But the Polish armed forces have other problems. Nearly 30 top of its top generals and more than 200 colonels -- a quarter and a sixth of the army's total -- have resigned over the last year, citing in part disagreements with Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz over personnel and other decisions. The military has also seen potential procurement delays after Macierewicz canceled a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus Helicopters (AIR.PA) last year. General Miroslaw Rozanski, a former senior commander, said in February he could not accept certain defense ministry decisions. "We were implementing NATO decisions. Minister Macierewicz would agree with my proposals and then different decisions would be taken," he said then. The Defence Ministry says the officers' departures amount to only a fraction more than in previous years. It has said, however, the army should be purged of commanders who began their service before the collapse of communist rule in 1989. In response to Reuters' request for a comment, a NATO official said it was up to the allies to decide how they structure their armed forces. "What is important to NATO is that the armed forces of allies meet their capability targets, that they can operate with each other and that they have the right equipment to meet today's security challenges," the official said. Polish sources said NATO, focusing on its troubled relations with the new U.S. president and Moscow, has adopted a "wait-and-see" attitude toward Warsaw. "We are indeed the trouble makers," a Polish government source told Reuters. "But because we fulfil all the obligations...because in the end we deliver, we are not the biggest problem right now. So, NATO has indeed adopted a 'wait-and-see' attitude toward us." But Daniel Keohane, a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the ETH university in Zurich, said Poland's relations within the alliance could suffer. "While this should not in principle weaken Poland's position within NATO, if these generals are resigning for political reasons, and a perception of an ongoing politicization of the Polish army emerges, this could cause worry in other NATO capitals," he said. (Additional reporting by Marcin Goettig and Pawel Sobczak in Warsaw; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Justyna Pawlak and Angus MacSwan)
Good news. NATO is no longer obsolete, according to President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump touted an alliance he once bashed because, after fifteen-odd years of alliance operations against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the former reality television host just realized now they fight terrorism.

But if the most powerful political-military alliance has the real battlefield on lockdown, some worry its floundering in the battlefield of the internet, where ideas go to clash, Kremlin trolls go to spread half-truths, and ISIS goes to recruit foreign fighters.

The answer, some experts argue, lies in memes  those strange jokes and references that come out of the internets woodworks from seemingly nowhere, and seem to end up everywhere at once. A small contingent of academics and experts want NATO to get in on the action to confront pro-Russian, anti-NATO trolls, or to push back against internet jihadists in the cyber space.

Its time to embrace memetic warfare, wrote Jeff Giesea, a widely-known social media and tech guru, in an article in 2015. Trolling, it might be said, is the social media equivalent of guerrilla warfare, and memes are its currency of propaganda. Giesea wasnt writing in Wired or TechCrunch, but rather in Defence Strategic Communications, the journal of NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence (or Stratcom COE, because nothings complete without an onerous acronym).

Daesh is conducting memetic warfare. The Kremlin is doing it. Its inexpensive. The capabilities exist. Why arent we trying it? Giesea asked.

Its a question many military minds have been asking for years. A Marine Corps Major, Michael B. Prosser advocated for the U.S. military to develop a Meme Warfare Center (MWC) in his 2006 study, MemeticsA Growth Industry in U.S. Military Operations (abstract here).

Five years later, a specialized Pentagon unit, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded a study on Military Memetics, one of several related research programs into what it calls a subset of neuro-cognitive warfare. It argued the war of ideas was fundamental, especially when it comes to fighting terrorists, and the key characteristics of a military meme is that it be information that propagates, has impact, and persists. Like dancing cat videos, in other words, but with sharper claws.

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The problem is that NATO, like governments everywhere, are pretty terrible at the internet. Memes arent really part of NATOs arsenal yet, even if the alliance is desperately trying to tap into ideas from the private sector about how best to use social media.

Kremlin-backed trolls and internet-savvy ISIS supporters run circles around government social media programs, often run by stodgy diplomats with no authority to be creative. (The quest for funny memes is particularly tortured: In March, NATOs Stratcom COE published Stratcom Laughs: In Search of an Analytical Framework, which included a chapter on Humor as a Communication Tool: Designing Framework for Analysis.)

And government attempts at weaponizing humor can lead to some awkward moments.

Such as the time NATO instructed its public diplomacy staff to create a viral video (nothing says military bureaucracy like ordering internet virality to be magically conjured up.)

After half a million Euros, heres the result:

What looks to be a horror film shot on an iPhone turns out to be a nice family reunion  because of NATO, of course. (The other two videos in this weird PR series are equally strange and, based on the page views, conspicuously un-viral. The project was quietly dropped after it was rolled out.)

Or then theres the State Departments own Think Again, Turn Away program to win the hearts and minds of would-be jihadists with snarky retorts to the America-bashing, pro-ISIS brigades on Twitter. Alas, it turns out an official State Department social media account arguing with jihadist supporters about the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal over Twitter doesnt actually amount to a plan for defeating ISIS.

But if these awkward attempts fail, at least theyre trying. And who knows, now that Trump has discovered what NATO does, maybe he can lend the alliance some of his own social media magic.

Photo credit: WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images
By John L. Smith

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Six followers of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy used "armed force, threats and intimidation" against federal law enforcement officers during a tense 2014 standoff, prosecutors said, wrapping up their conspiracy case against the men on Wednesday.

The six defendants are the first of 17 people to go on trial on charges related to the standoff at Bundy's property near Bunkerville, 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Las Vegas in a case that has come to symbolize tensions in the U.S. West over the federal ownership of land that ranchers use to graze cattle.

Bundy and two of his sons are defendants in the second of three scheduled federal trials later this year.

The men, who prosecutors have said were associated with or had been in contact with militia groups, were among hundreds who traveled to the ranch to stand up for Bundy, whose refusal to pay $1 million in grazing fees for running his cattle on federal land became a cause celebre on the political right.

They thought they were going to die out there for simply carrying out their duties, Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson said of the outgunned Bureau of Land Management rangers and National Park Service officers who were assigned to provide security for a court-ordered roundup of Bundys cattle.

In closing arguments, he described the tension in the days leading up to the April 12 standoff, including communication between Bundy family members and armed militia groups.

Lawyers for the defendants said in their closing arguments that the men did not pose a threat but were simply backing Bundy in a dispute over the government's land-use policy.

"Some people protest with signs. Other people protest with guns," said Jess Marchese, who represents defendant Eric Parker.

The men are all charged with conspiracy against the government, conspiracy to impede a federal officer, assault, threatening, obstruction of justice, extortion, interstate travel in aid of extortion, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

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The eight-week trial in U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarros courtroom made use of voluminous audio, video and still photography that captured the drama, which ended peacefully.

Throughout the trial of Gregory Burleson, O. Scott Drexler, Todd Engel, Ricky Lovelien, Parker and Steven Stewart, defense attorneys described their clients as patriotic citizens who learned from social media and the internet of federal efforts to remove Bundys cattle from federal public lands.

Closing arguments for the defense were due to continue on Thursday.

(Reporting by John L. Smith in Las Vegas; Editing by Sharon Bernstein, Toni Reinhold)
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Nigeria is negotiating with the help of "foreign entities" for the remaining kidnapped Chibok girls held by Boko Haram Islamists, a presidential spokesman said Thursday.

As the country prepares to mark the third anniversary of the mass kidnapping on Friday, Garba Shehu told the BBC in a radio interview there were ongoing negotiations to release the 195 girls believed still be being held by Boko Haram.

"Talks are ongoing through other means with the help of some foreign entities to free more schoolgirls," Shehu said during an interview with BBC Hausa.

"These talks are going on with the help of some countries. You can recall the 21 schoolgirls were freed with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Swiss government officials who got involved in the negotiations. These two have not withdrawn their support in the negotiations," Shehu said.

"There are also other countries that are lending support to the negotiations by being involved in the talks," Shehu added.

In October last year, 21 girls were freed after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government brokered by the ICRC and the Swiss government, said the presidency.

Boko Haram seized 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape in the immediate aftermath while three others were found or rescued by the military. Some had babies in captivity.

"(The) government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed," Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement on Thursday.

"On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls."

In Nigeria's capital Abuja and the commercial hub of Lagos, Bring Back Our Girls campaigners are preparing to march on Friday to mark the anniversary of the kidnapping.

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The Chibok schoolgirls became a symbol of the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 and has left at least 20,000 people dead in northeast Nigeria.

Despite a military fight-back, villages near Chibok, which is 125 kilometres (80 miles) by road from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, have seen a wave of suspected Boko Haram attacks in recent months.

Garba Shehu was not available for comment Thursday when contacted by AFP.
Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria's anti-graft agency seized over $43 million in cash during a raid on a Lagos apartment in what it hailed as a victory for President Muhammadu Buhari's war on corruption following a string of setbacks.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement issued late Wednesday it discovered the "humongous" amount of money in an apartment in Ikoyi, an upscale district of Lagos.

EFCC operatives found $43.4 million along with 27,800 ($34,807) and 23.2 million naira ($73,301) in the seventh floor apartment after a tip-off from a person who noticed "suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building."

"She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes, but her skin didn't quite match her appearance, perhaps a disguise," said the anonymous source quoted in the EFCC statement.

The money, kept immaculate in sealed plastic wrappers, was hidden in filing cabinets and behind hidden panels in a wardrobe.

No arrests have been made over the haul, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren told AFP.

"It is a major seizure," Uwujaren said. "For us it shows that the policy of government and whistleblowing is commendable."

The EFCC has been on the backfoot after facing resistance from the country's Senate and losing some key court battles.

Last week, a Lagos court lifted an EFCC order freezing some $5 million in a bank account operated by Nigeria's former first lady Patience Jonathan.

An Abuja court also dismissed a corruption case against Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife on technical grounds.

Earlier in March, Nigeria's Senate had rejected the appointment of Buhari's nominee to head the EFCC.

On Tuesday, the beleaguered government was forced to issue a statement insisting that its war on corruption is on track.

"The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to sustaining the anti-corruption fight, ensure that the system is cleaned up and government business is done the right way," Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said in the statement.

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Buhari rode to power in 2015 vowing to stop the plunder of state funds by corrupt politicians and public officials.

The main opposition party, however, has accused him of conducting a political witch-hunt because many of those arrested and charged in the war on corruption are opposition party members or served in the previous administration.

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By Tony Munroe and Jane Chung BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - Isolated North Korea doesn't consume much oil, but curbing or cutting off its supplies in retaliation for further nuclear or long-range missile tests would be painful and potentially destabilizing to the regime of Kim Jong Un. U.S. officials have told Reuters that an oil embargo is among tougher sanctions Washington could pursue to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile programs Separately, the Global Times, an influential Chinese tabloid whose stance does not necessarily reflect official policy, said in an editorial on Wednesday that "Chinese society" would approve of "severe restrictive measures that have never been seen before, such as restricting oil imports to the North," if Pyongyang engages in further provocative activity. China, which supplies most of North Korea's crude, no longer reports its oil shipments to the country, but according to South Korean data supplies it with roughly 500,000 tonnes of crude oil annually. It also exports over 200,000 tonnes of oil products, according to U.N. data. Analysts said the impact of a full oil embargo on Pyongyang would be so damaging that China, which opposes any measures that could fuel instability in North Korea, would be unlikely to take that step or agree to such a measure in the United Nations Security Council, where it has a veto as a permanent member. "If China cuts off oil supply, North Korea would not survive on its own for three months and everything in North Korea would be paralysed," said Cho Bong-hyun, who heads research on North Korea's economy at IBK Bank in Seoul. "This could increase the possibility of North Korea's collapse and have an adverse impact on China as well. China would rather consider reducing crude oil supply," he said. North Korea has virtually no domestic oil production, and has traditionally imported the little demand it has for fuel at its refineries from China and, to a lesser extent, Russia. North Korea has two refineries: the Ponghwa Chemical Factory sits on the river border with Dandong in China, while the Sungri refinery is located on the Tumen River bordering Russia. Much of North Korea's energy is supplied by abundant domestic coal, but oil is used by the military as well as in transport and agriculture. "Cutting off all oil for an extended period of time, perhaps indefinitely, is probably the toughest economic punishment that China could impose on North Korea. It is highly unlikely that China would take such a step," said Bonnie Glaser of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "It is possible that it might reduce the flow, stop oil deliveries for a week or two, but not cut it off entirely." In 2003, China's oil pipeline to North Korea shut down for three days after a missile launch, adding to pressure on Pyongyang to draw back from nuclear brinkmanship. Chinese officials said then it was a mechanical breakdown, but some experts said it was deliberate. CREDIBLE SIGNAL Data from Seoul's Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) shows North Korea imported 525,000 tonnes of crude oil from China in 2015, up 5 percent from a year earlier. United Nations data shows China also exported 218,087 tonnes of refined oil products to North Korea in 2015, about six times what Russia sent. "The objective of a statement like this is not to follow through; the objective is to send a credible signal that would make the North Korean leadership think twice," Stephan Haggard, an expert on the North Korean economy at the University of California, San Diego, said of the Global Times editorial. "It is all about shifting North Korea into a mode where negotiations would resume," he said. (Additional reporting by Ju-Min Park in SEOUL and John Ruwitch in SHANGHAI; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
London (AFP) - Talks on forming a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland broke up for the Easter holiday on Wednesday, six weeks into bitter negotiations which have failed to resolve the deadlock.

If the feuding main parties cannot agree to form a semi-autonomous government in Belfast by early May, then a second snap election will be called or the province will be fully governed from London, the British government warned.

The power-sharing executive is the cornerstone of a peace process that ended three decades of violent conflict between Catholic Irish nationalists and Protestant British unionists.

It fell apart in January when the Irish republican Sinn Fein party pulled out after months of bad blood between them and the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party.

A snap election followed on March 2, which boosted Sinn Fein and saw unionists lose their outright majority in the Belfast assembly, though the DUP narrowly remained the largest party.

An initial three-week deadline for Sinn Fein and the DUP to resolve their differences passed with no resolution and the British government granted more time, though that time is now running out.

"The current phase of round-table talks over the past 10 days to help resolve issues will pause for Easter," Britain's Northern Ireland minister James Brokenshire said in a statement.

"All the parties have been actively engaged and some further progress has been made.

"There is, however, still a lack of agreement between the parties on a small but significant number of issues.

"The restoration of devolved government remains achievable, but more time and a more focused engagement on the critical issues are required."

Negotiations so far have only underscored the continuing disagreement over how to deal with legacy issues from the pre-1998 decades of violence, including a bill of rights and the status of the Irish language.

The United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union is also weighing on the talks process.

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Northern Ireland will have the only land border between the UK and EU territory, and is highly dependent on cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland.

"The parties will have a final opportunity after Easter to reach agreement," said Brokenshire.

He said there were provisions for an executive to be formed in early May if agreement is reached.

If it is not, "this is likely to mean, however undesirable, either a second election or a return to decision-making from Westminster".
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  An international security agency says some 330 observers will monitor Albania's June 18 parliamentary elections.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Thursday it is requesting the observers from member states following a request from Tirana.

The country's opposition has so far declared it is boycotting the polls because it doesn't trust the government to hold free and fair voting. It is also boycotting parliament, thus blocking the launch of the justice reform, and local elections to be held next month in a western city.

Albania, a NATO member since 2009, is hoping to launch full membership negotiations with the European Union. Brussels considers the country's justice reform key to its integration efforts with the 28-nation bloc.
Student leaders of Pennsylvania State Universitys fraternity system apologized to the family of Tim Piazza, the sophomore who died after pledge night in February, in an open letter released this week.

The fraternity experience failed your son, wrote Penn States Interfraternity Council executive board in the letter, released publicly Wednesday evening.

The letter also acknowledged problems with hazing and alcohol abuse, and said the council was committed to making improvements in the fraternity system.

The fraternity chapter presidents also announced they would cancel all social events for the next two weekends, and use that time for philanthropy and to reflect on the values of the Greek community and to consider any necessary changes that need to be made.

The open letter from the nine-member executive board  issued by the groups communications director, Michael Cavallaro, a junior from Milford Pa., and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha  followed a blog post by Penn State president Eric Barron earlier this week warning that the Greek system at Penn State could come to an end if behavior doesnt improve. Barron wrote the post after nine of the universitys fraternities and sororities were found to have violated new rules put in place following Piazzas death and one fraternity, Sigma Alpha Mu, violated almost every rule.

But the Interfraternity Council also took issue with the university for going without a full-time director of fraternity and sorority life for almost two years, which it said was extremely concerning, and for cutting students out of the decision to issue new rules for the Greek system, including delaying recruitment until second semester of freshman year and mandating fewer and smaller parties.

We are ready to change, the group wrote, but transformation cannot happen without partnership and a willingness to listen to and work with one another. Instead of talking through open letters in the media  its disappointing we have to communicate in this manner  meet with us, work with us, and collaborate with us. We are your students, too.

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The discord between university leadership and the council has been building since the death of Piazza, 19, an engineering major from Lebanon, N.J., who was intoxicated and fell down the basement stairs at Beta Theta Pi during pledge night on Feb. 2. He was moved to a couch upstairs but fraternity brothers didnt call for emergency help until the next morning, nearly 12 hours later. Piazza died the following day.

The university has permanently revoked recognition of Beta Theta Pi, which it said engaged in forced drinking, hazing and other illegal activity. A criminal investigation into Piazzas death continues.

The university issued a moratorium on serving alcohol at Greek social events through the end of the semester, with the exception of parents weekend where the infractions Barron wrote about occurred.

The fraternity executive board in its letter called on fraternity and sorority members to share in the responsibility to make improvements.

We need to work together across chapters and councils and begin to have the difficult dialogue to address the issues of alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct that plague Penn State, it wrote. We must take responsibility for our community and can no longer make excuses for bad behavior.

They also called on other students in the Penn State community to help.

We are committed to partnership with any organization or group of students who share our desire to create meaningful change, they wrote.

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By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health)  Different types of problems are most likely to afflict people at different times of life, so common risk factors for depression change over the years, too, Dutch researchers say. But when a risk factor is uncommon among peers  like widowhood or poor health in youth  it can have an outsized effect on depression risk, the study team reports in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. A wide range of risk factors for depression is relevant across the entire life span, said lead author Roxanne Schaakxs of VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam. However, some risk factors expected to be strongly related to depression in certain ages, may actually affect other age groups to a larger extent, Schaakxs added by email. Depression is a complex condition and many experts believe that in addition to innate genetic and personality factors, risks like stressful life events, health issues and money problems can contribute to its development, the study team notes. To see which depression risk factors affect people at various stages of life, and how much of an effect each factor has, the study team analyzed data on more than 2,000 adults participating in two long-term studies of depression and anxiety. Subjects in one study were aged 18 to 65 when they began participating, while participants in the other study were aged 60 to 93 when it started. At baseline, a total of 1,431 people had major depressive disorder and 784 people had no symptoms or history of the condition. The research team assessed 19 different risk factors for depression in different age groups, comparing people who had never been depressed with people who were currently depressed. Most of the risk factors did increase peoples likelihood of being depressed at any age, including low education, recent negative life events, personality traits, reduced social functioning, an unhealthy lifestyle and poor health. However, five of the risk factors were more strongly related to depression in certain age groups. For people aged 18 to 39, health factors like overweight or obesity, pain, childhood abuse and chronic disease were strongly associated with depression. For those over 60, low income was a greater risk for depression than in other age groups. People with risk factors that were unexpected based on their age also had a higher depression risk than those in other age groups where the same risk factor was more common, researchers found. For example, chronic illness was more strongly linked to depression in younger people than older people while low income carried higher depression risk in older people though it was more common among younger people. When young people are struggling with circumstances like illness or loneliness, it may come as a surprise and they may not have the skills to cope, said Patricia Arean, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. She stressed the importance of screening young people with chronic illnesses for depression. Fortunately, prevention interventions for depression are also good for health care: get good sleep, rest, exercise regularly, reach out to friends and family, said Arean, who was not involved in the current study. When an unexpected life event happens, pay close attention to your reaction to it, Arean said by email. If you find that you are struggling with your mood, energy, interest in things, concentration for more than two weeks, Do Not Ignore those symptoms. Go see your doctor and get help. General practitioners and therapists should not overlook risk factors for depression by assuming the risk factor is less relevant at a certain age, Schaakxs advised. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2ovflMy The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, online April 7, 2017.
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has canceled a planned visit to an island the Philippines claims in the disputed South China Sea, after Beijing warned him against the visit. The brash Philippine leader last week announced his plan to raise the Philippine flag in the island of Thitu and fortify it with barracks, setting off alarm bells. "Because of our friendship with China and because we value your friendship I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag," Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Riyadh late Wednesday. "They said, do not go there in the meantime, just do not go there please. I will correct myself because we value our friendship with China," he said, adding that he might just send his son to the island. China claims most of the South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. (http://tmsnrt.rs/1GHW1LC) Duterte said Beijing warned him that "there will likely be trouble" if every head of state of contending parties will go to the disputed islands and plant flags. The popular president is on a week-long state visit in the Middle East to facilitate trade and investments, and meet with Filipinos overseas. The Middle East is the second largest source of remittances, with more than one million Filipino workers sending home $7.6 billion in last year, government data showed. Duterte, who led the warming of ties with China, had blamed the United States for the current maritime tensions for not intervening to stop China building and arming artificial islands in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Philippines will reinforce, but not militarize, areas in the South China Sea controlled by Manila to maintain the geopolitical balance, Duterte said on Monday. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Michael Perry)
By Carly Olson. Photos courtesy of Wright.

When selecting a carpet, there are near-infinite possibilities, from handwoven Persian silk varieties to flatweave dhurries, a range that can make selection quite overwhelming. Such a dazzling variety is on full display at one gallery on New York's Upper East Side when I visit this week. Walking into a windowed pop-up gallery in the Interior Design Building, I'm immediately greeted by over 100 vibrant carpets hanging from walls, sprawled across floors, and laid underfoot.

Nader Bolour, owner of venerated carpet gallery Doris Leslie Blau, has curated this diverse assortment of dazzling rugs for Wright's 20th Century Carpets auction, which will take place on April 20. And since 20th-century styles are supremely varied, from Art Deco to Swedish mid-century to Arts and Crafts, Bolour offers to give AD a personal tour of the space and a crash course in all things carpets.

Swedish Mid-Century Styles

"This was made in the 1940s or '50s, and it's in fantastic condition," Bolour offers by way of description, gesturing to one wall bearing an enormous Edna Martin flatweave carpet comprised of dusty red-orange squares bordered with geometric stripes and crosses. "One of the biggest draws to Swedish midcentury rugs is their simplicity yet freshness and vigor." He points to the center of the rug, noting that the style's clean lines are characteristic of Swedish rugs: "It doesn't take over the pattern like many Persian and Oriental rugs do," meaning they can work well in a myriad of interiors without distracting from a space. The versatility of the Swedish midcentury rugs make them consistently popular among Bolour's clients.

Art Deco Styles

A large circular rug bordered with zodiac symbols and punctuated with a deep blue constellation pattern is one of the most striking pieces in the room, and impossible to ignore. Bolour explains that this Art Decostyle piece was designed by artist Paul Follot in the 1920s.

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Art Deco carpets are often more art works in their own right, requiring the proper interior to let them shine. "Art Deco is a lot more specific so it's harder to use them in different settings," Bolour says. In order to accommodate an exceptional style like this Follot, Bolour suggests a modern or minimalist backdrop; "This one could look beautiful in a very modern room, a glass home with not that much going on, or even a classic deco house," he says.

More: 27 Modern Living Rooms Full of Luxurious Details

Arts and Crafts Styles

A style conceived by William Morris in the late 19th century, Arts and Crafts carpets are characterized by their floral patterns, earth-toned palette, and whimsical symmetry. The work of two notable designers of the period will be up for auction. Displayed alongside a Hammersmith pile rug made by Morris himself is another Arts and Crafts style by notable architect and textile designer C.F.A. Voysey. "Green is a common color in these styles," says Bolour, in line with their motifs of nature.

Contemporary Styles

Diverging from the theme, a few contemporary carpets created exclusively for Doris Leslie Blau (which Bolour helped design) will also be up for bidding.

Bolour points to a soft-blue rug that takes up significant floor space, explaining that it was inspired by a piece of glass. He encourages me to bend down and pet the carpet, and, though I hesitate at first, I'm immediately glad I did. The hand-knotted mohair is thick and cashmere soft. "We used these dreamy sky and powder blues, with just a touch of electric blue," Bolour says. Choosing a rug with a variety of different tones prevents it from looking dull and flat, and Bolour notes that a good rug should never look "brand new."

Light blue is a surprisingly versatile carpet color, explains Bolour. "Today, light blue is picked out by a lot of designers when decorating. It can work well with soft grays and even work with whiteand we have a black floor here, and it even works beautifully with that," he says.

A Minimal Collection

Despite being immersed in the carpet world since his teenage years , Bolour himself only owns one rug. Picked up at the Bermondsey Marketa noted antiques market south of London27 years ago, the unique carpet has no famous names attached, and still little is known about his history. "The market used to be open only on Fridays from 4 am until about 8:30 am," Bolour says, "and people would have to pay cash and pick up whatever they bought."

Bolour was quickly drawn to its unusual look. "I found this silk rug, probably mid-19th century, with all kinds of different wild animals on it," he explains, "and that's the only rug in my collection." Bolour credits his lack of a personal collection to his desire to share the exquisite rugs he finds, "But I wasn't such a sharer for that one," he says with a laugh.

All rugs (excluding Bolour's own silk treasure) go on auction on April 20th, during Wright's_ 20th-century carpets auction.

More: 11 Pared-Down Examples of Minimalist Living

This story originally appeared on Architectural Digest.

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Orzysz (Poland) (AFP) - Poland's president on Thursday hailed the launch of a US-led NATO multinational battalion in an area of his country bordering Russia's heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave as an "historic moment".

The battalion is one of four NATO is deploying for the first time to Poland and the Baltic states as tripwires against Russian adventurism on its eastern flank, a region formerly under Moscow's control and spooked by its actions in Ukraine.

"Generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of World War II, generations that dreamt of being part of the just, united, democratic and truly free West," President Andrzej Duda said at ceremonies in the northeastern Polish town of Orzysz.

Poland joined NATO in 1999, a decade after it peacefully shed communism as the Iron Curtain fell in 1989.

Speaking along side Duda, NATO Supreme Allied Commander US General Curtis Scaparrotti called the deployment "a clear demonstration of NATO's unity and resolve and sends a clear message to any potential aggressor."

"You now form NATO's eastern flank," he told troops.

Three similar NATO units, led by the Germany, Canada and Britain, are being deployed this year in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Each unit includes around 800 troops.

The countries requested them after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The Kremlin has denied any territorial ambitions and claims that NATO is trying to encircle Russia.

But Moscow's deployment last year of nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad exclave, which borders Lithuania and Poland, and frequent Russian military drills in the region have rattled nearby NATO members.

The Orzysz NATO base lies around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Kaliningrad exclave and a stone's throw from the strategically sensitive "Suwalki Gap", a land corridor critical to the security of the Baltic states.

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The 65-kilometre stretch of border with Lithuania is sandwiched between Kaliningrad and Belarus.

Military strategists warn it is the Achilles' heel of NATO's eastern flank: its capture would amputate the alliance's three Baltic members and so shatter its credibility.

The freshly deployed NATO troops are expected to hold manoeuvres around the Suwalki Gap in June.
By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York police are investigating the death of the United States' first female Muslim judge as a possible suicide, but lack important clues about how her body ended up in the Hudson River, a police source said on Thursday.

The body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge who served on New York's highest court, was found floating in the river off Manhattan's west side on Wednesday. An external examination found no signs of trauma and no indication of what caused her death.

"We have a long way to go," New York police Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at a press conference on Thursday, referring to the investigation.

Abdus-Salaam was elected as a New York City judge in 1991. The Washington D.C. native was also the first African American woman to serve on the state's Court of Appeals, to which she was appointed by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

In her more than 25 years on the bench, Abdus-Salaam became known for her liberal leanings, often favoring poor and vulnerable individuals over the powerful.

"She lived up to her reputation of being smart, principled, and rigorously fair," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who once argued a case before Abdus-Salaam, said in a statement.

Police are struggling to piece together a timeline of events between Tuesday morning, when the judge was last in contact with someone, and when her body was found, Boyce said.

Abdus-Salaam spent the weekend in New Jersey with her husband, who last heard from his wife on Monday evening, Boyce said. On Tuesday morning, Abdus-Salaam spoke to her assistant in what appeared to be the last contact she had with colleagues, family or friends.

Police have determined that the judge's metro card was last swiped on Monday evening at a subway stop in midtown Manhattan.

As police await details from a more thorough examination of Abdus-Salaam's body, they are interviewing relatives and others who knew her.

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A police source said officers were working on the assumption that the judge took her own life, but Boyce declined to elaborate when asked about that at the news conference. Boyce did say that it did not appear she was taking anti-depressants or other medications, and that her death was "a surprise to everyone."

About three years ago, Abdus-Salaam's brother committed suicide, the New York Times reported, citing unidentified police sources. Her mother died last spring, the Times said.

(Editing by Daniel Wallis and Dan Grebler)
His 90th birthday may not be for a few days yet, but former pope Benedict XVI got an early present on Thursday: a visit from his Argentine successor, Pope Francis.

The two men met at Benedict's home in the grounds of the Vatican so Francis could be the first to wish him many happy returns.

While the pope emeritus, who turns 90 on Sunday, keeps a low profile most of the time, Francis makes sure he is included in key celebrations in the Catholic Church and brings new cardinals to meet him.

In 2013, Benedict became the first head of the church to resign in seven centuries, amid speculation he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, unable to cope at the top of an institution beset by scandals.

He said he no longer had the strength of mind or body to carry on, but his health appeared to improve after he stepped down and moved into a former convent in the grounds of the Vatican.

"He is serene, calm and in a good mood. He wants to do something small (for his birthday) to match his strength," Benedict's personal secretary Georg Gaenswein said in an interview with the Repubblica daily on Wednesday.

"His brother Georg will come to visit for a few days, and this is the biggest present he could ask for. On Easter Monday, the day after his birthday, there will be a small party," he said.

Gaenswein said the former pope was still "very lucid, but his physical strength is lessening. His legs are tied".

Benedict was once a keen piano player and just a year ago was playing Mozart from memory, but now "he says his hands no longer obey him as they used to, or at least not enough to play well".

He said the elderly German had "never regretted" stepping down.

Pope Francis, 80, who was elected shortly after Benedict resigned, has said of the unusual situation of having two popes living so close to each other: "It is like having a grandfather -- a wise grandfather -- living at home."
Vatican City (AFP) - His 90th birthday may not be for a few days yet, but former pope Benedict XVI got an early present on Thursday: a visit from his Argentine successor, Pope Francis.

The two men met at Benedict's home in the grounds of the Vatican so Francis could be the first to wish him many happy returns.

While the pope emeritus, who turns 90 on Sunday, keeps a low profile most of the time, Francis makes sure he is included in key celebrations in the Catholic Church and brings new cardinals to meet him.

In 2013, Benedict became the first head of the church to resign in seven centuries, amid speculation he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, unable to cope at the top of an institution beset by scandals.

He said he no longer had the strength of mind or body to carry on, but his health appeared to improve after he stepped down and moved into a former convent in the grounds of the Vatican.

"He is serene, calm and in a good mood. He wants to do something small (for his birthday) to match his strength," Benedict's personal secretary Georg Gaenswein said in an interview with the Repubblica daily on Wednesday.

"His brother Georg will come to visit for a few days, and this is the biggest present he could ask for. On Easter Monday, the day after his birthday, there will be a small party," he said.

Gaenswein said the former pope was still "very lucid, but his physical strength is lessening. His legs are tied".

Benedict was once a keen piano player and just a year ago was playing Mozart from memory, but now "he says his hands no longer obey him as they used to, or at least not enough to play well".

He said the elderly German had "never regretted" stepping down.

Pope Francis, 80, who was elected shortly after Benedict resigned, has said of the unusual situation of having two popes living so close to each other: "It is like having a grandfather - a wise grandfather - living at home."
By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited a fortress prison holding mafia turncoats on Thursday and again included a Muslim and women in a traditional Holy Week foot-washing ritual that previous popes had limited to Catholic men. Francis said a Mass for the 70 inmates of the prison, a 16th century fortress at Paliano 75 km (47 miles) south of Rome. During the service, he bent to wash and kiss the right foot of 12 inmates, commemorating Jesus' gesture of humility towards his 12 apostles on the night before he died. The high-security prison is reserved almost entirely for prisoners known in Italy as "collaborators of justice," those who turn state's evidence to testify against their former comrades and need special protection. During the 1980s and 1990s it held turncoats from the Red Brigades guerrilla group but now most "collaborators of justice" are former members of Italy's three notorious organized crime groups - the Cosa Nostra, the Camorra and the 'Ndrangheta. The Vatican said the 12 included three women and a Muslim man who has decided to convert to Catholicism and is due to be baptised in June. The 12 included 10 Italians, an Albanian and a prisoner from the pope's native Argentina who had written to him. His predecessors held the Holy Thursday Mass in majestic settings either at the Vatican or a Rome basilica. Francis changed the tradition after he was elected to stress the importance of going out to serve the poor, the sick and the imprisoned. The change drew the ire of traditionalists because all of apostles were male followers of Jesus, but the pope said the ritual should be open to "all members of the people of God". The visit was private because most of the inmates could not be filmed or photographed. "We are all sinners. We all have defects," the pope told the inmates in an improvised sermon broadcast by Vatican Radio. By washing their feet, Francis told them, he was willing to do "the work of a slave in order to sow love among us". He urged them to help each other. Two of the 12 are serving life sentences and the others are due to be released between 2019 and 2073. Francis has condemned organized crime groups, saying their members indulge in the "the adoration of evil". He has said members of organized crime excommunicate themselves from the Church by their actions but could return if they repented. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; editing by Mark Heinrich)
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a maximum security prison on Holy Thursday in a pre-Easter ritual meant to show his willingness to serve society's most marginal and give them hope. Francis urged the prisoners to help one another out and similarly "be the servant of others."

Francis travelled to the Paliano detention center, located in a fortress south of Rome, to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass at the only Italian prison dedicated to housing mafia turncoats. These "collaborators of justice" can shave time off their sentences by cooperating with anti-mafia prosecutors.

Nevertheless, many of the inmates are serving lengthy terms: Two of the 12 inmates who participated in the foot-washing ceremony are serving life terms. The remaining 10 are due to be released between 2019 and 2073. Francis also visited two other inmates currently in solitary confinement.

In his homily, Francis reminded the inmates that his gesture of washing their feet re-enacted the revolutionary gesture of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before he was crucified, essentially doing the work of a slave out of love.

"If you can do something, a service for your companions in prison, do it," Francis urged them during his homily. "This is love. This is like washing feet: to be the servant of others."

It's the third Holy Thursday that Francis has spent at a detention center, part of his longstanding emphasis on ministering to prisoners and the need to give them rehabilitation and hope.

"The Holy Father gave us message not just of hope, but he told us that the love of God is great and is ready to forgive everyone," prison director Nadia Cersosimo told Vatican Radio.

Because of the nature of the prison, its inmates and their families, Francis' visit was conducted under unusually strict privacy: Vatican Radio only aired edited excerpts of his homily after the fact, and the Vatican's television service planned edited TV footage. Usually the pope's activities are covered live by at least Vatican TV and radio, if not independent media.

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Paliano has 60 to 70 inmates, including about 50 mafia turncoats. The prison also houses four women and has a special ward for tuberculosis-infected inmates.

The Vatican said three of the 12 inmates who had their feet washed are women and one is a Muslim who is due to be baptized a Christian in June. Prisoners prepared cakes as gifts and offered the pope zucchini and cucumbers from the prison's organic garden.

In an interview published Thursday in Rome daily La Repubblica, Francis said his emphasis on reaching out to inmates comes from his heart, as well as the biblical imperative to visit prisoners and accompany the least of society.

"When I'm looking at a prisoner, I ask myself: 'Why him and not me?'" he said. "'Why did he fall and not me?' It's a mystery that brings me closer to them."

Francis opened the most solemn period of the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar by celebrating Mass on Thursday morning in St. Peter's Basilica before heading to Paliano. On Friday, he participates in the torch-lit procession at Rome's Colosseum re-enacting Christ's crucifixion.

Saturday brings the late-night Easter vigil, with Easter Sunday Mass the following day.
Photo credit: Facebook

From Redbook

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and approximately 34,940 women will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2017. One-third of women who are diagnosed with melanoma are of child-bearing age, and this woman's story is a tragic reminder that everyone - especially expectant mothers - should regularly check in with a dermatologist.

In February, Danielle Janofsky, who was 6 months pregnant at the time, went to the hospital with stomach pains, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family. "It was quickly discovered that melanoma had spread to her liver, kidney, stomach, and, finally, brain," according to the fundraising page.

Danielle waited two weeks before delivering her baby prematurely by C-section. "She made the selfless and loving decision to deliver baby Jake on Friday February 24th thereby sacrificing herself so that her son could live," says the GoFundMe write-up. She died three days after giving birth.

This wasn't Danielle's first bout with skin cancer: She had been diagnosed with melanoma back in 2015, but the problematic mole had been removed. After that, she had a "good prognosis," her husband, Max, informed Today. Once she became pregnant, though, she was discouraged from continuing immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to combat the cancer. Without immunotherapy, the cancer returned.

Danielle's mother shared a heartbreaking photo on Facebook of her daughter and Max on the day after she passed.

"My dearest Danielle was an amazing person," her mother wrote in the post. "Smart. Witty. Loving. She died yesterday, held in her loving husbands arms when she slipped away. I will miss her calling me up saying, 'Hi Mommy' in a voice that always reminded me of that long ago little girl. If love could have saved her, she would have lived a hundred years. I will miss you forever my Dani."

The Janofsky family set up the GoFundMe page to create trust funds for Danielle's children, to help provide for their education, and to give the premature Jake proper medical care. Over $80,000 of the $100,000 goal has been raised since it was launched.

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It's not entirely clear if melanoma and pregnancy are linked, according to Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic, M.D., a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic and a principal member of Stand Up to Cancer's research team. "There have been a lot of opinions and suggestions that melanoma may be impacted by [a woman's] hormonal status - which dramatically changes during pregnancy - but studies [haven't found] a very clear indication of that. That means women who have been diagnosed with melanoma during their pregnancy do not necessarily fare worse than women diagnosed with melanoma who aren't pregnant."

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that in some patients pregnancy doesn't worsen the progression of melanoma. "It is possible," Dr. Sekulic says, but he reiterates the fact that there haven't been enough structured studies to make a firm correlation between the two.

The only thing that is certain, he says, is that "melanoma is a preventable disease." Protecting yourself - with sunscreen and regular check-ups - no matter what age you are is crucial.

(h/t Today)

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(WASHINGTON) - President Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires only the best people. But his personnel choices keep coming back to haunt him.

One of the people Trump hired for the White House was working as a foreign agent while advising him during the election. His campaign chairman caught the Justice Departments attention for similarly surreptitious work. And a third campaign adviser was reportedly surveilled by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether or not he was a Russian spy.

The tales of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page - none of whom still work for Trump - have created a steady drip of allegations that have clouded Trumps early presidency and raised persistent questions about his judgment.

At worst, Trumps personnel picks appear to have left his campaign - and perhaps his White House - vulnerable to the influence of foreign powers. At best, they expose the long-term implications of his understaffed and inexperienced campaign organization and undermine his promises to surround himself with top-notch talent.

Vetting new hires is standard procedure for presidential campaigns for exactly this reason, said Alex Conant, who advised Sen. Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign. Every employee is also a potential liability on a presidential campaign.

Manafort, Flynn and Page have indeed become political liabilities for Trump that he cant shake in the White House. All three are being scrutinized as part of the FBI and congressional investigations into whether Trump associates helped Russia meddle in the 2016 election. The president has denied any nefarious ties to Russia and says he has no knowledge that his advisers were working with Moscow during the election.

The presidents culpability appears greatest with Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who traveled with Trump frequently during the campaign and was tapped as national security adviser after the election. Flynn had been lobbying for a company with ties to Turkey during the 2016 election and even wrote an editorial on behalf of his client that was published on Election Day.

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No one expects them to do the equivalent of an FBI background check, but a simple Google search could have solved a lot of these problems, Dan Pfeiffer, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trumps team.

After Trumps victory, Flynns lawyers alerted the transition team that he may have to register as a lobbying for a foreign entity, according to a person with knowledge of those discussions. The White House hired him anyway. After the inauguration, Flynns lawyers told the White House counsels office that the national security adviser would indeed have to move forward with that filing.

Flynn was fired in February after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States.

Lobbying for foreign interests is legal and lucrative. Both Republican and Democratic operatives offer their services to overseas clients. But the Justice Department requires Americans working on behalf of foreign interests to register, disclosing the nature of their work, the foreigners they dealt with and the amount of money they made.

Willful failure to register for foreign lobbying work can carry up to a five-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department rarely brings criminal charges and instead urges violators to register.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Manafort said that he, too, under pressure from the Justice Department, would formally file for prior foreign lobbying. Manaforts work for political interests in Ukraine occurred before he was hired as Trumps campaign chairman, spokesman Jason Maloni said, though the U.S. government raised questions about his activities after he was hired by Trump.

The work in question was widely known, concluded before Mr. Manafort began working with the Trump campaign and was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government, Maloni said.

Manafort was pushed out of Trumps campaign in August after The Associated Press reported that his consulting firm had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraines ruling political party without disclosing that work to the U.S. government.

The White House did not respond to questions Wednesday about when Trump learned about Manaforts foreign lobbying work and his discussions with the U.S. government about registering as a foreign agent.

The questions surrounding Page are perhaps the most serious. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Justice Department obtained a highly secretive warrant to monitor his communications because there was reason to believe he was working as a Russian spy.

In March, Trump personally announced Page as part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Pages ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the little-known investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department only obtained the warrant after the campaign distanced itself from Page.

In an interview Thursday with ABCs Good Morning America, Page described his affiliation with the Trump campaign as having served as an informal member of a committee which was put together - a team of individuals who were looking at various foreign policy issues.

Page said he does not recall if he had conversations with Russian officials about sanctions during that period. He first suggested that he never told any officials that Trump would ease sanctions on Russia, and said no Russian officials suggested that to him, but then he said he doesnt remember.

Something may have come up in a conversation, he said. I have no recollection.

Chris Ashby, a Republican elections lawyer, said that while its easy to blame Trump for missing red flags about his campaign advisers, its not always possible to dig up details that potential hires arent willing to disclose on their own.

In the ideal world, you could rely on paid background checks, but youd have to have the money and the time, Ashby said. The farther down the ranks you go and certainly when you reach the ranks of unpaid advisers, that becomes impractical.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
President Donald Trump made an abrupt about-face on NATO, saying he no longer considers the alliance obsolete.

Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his belief that other NATO countries need to pay what they owe for defense spending. He had previous criticized the alliance as a whole, particularly during his campaign.

I said it was obsolete, he said. Its no longer obsolete

During the wide-ranging press conference, Trump did not mince his words on Russia. Right now, were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia.

This has built for a long time, the president added. But were going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country, were a very, very strong country. Were going to see how it all works out.

"Right now, we39;re not getting along with Russia at all," says Trump. "We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia." pic.twitter.com/dd2Ufftap1 - CBS News (@CBSNews) April 12, 2017

Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Tillerson divulged part of the meeting in a press conference.

I expressed the view that the current state of U.S.-Russia relations is at a low point. There is a low level of trust between the two countries, Tillerson said. The worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship.

Back in the States, Trump said at the NATO conference that it would be fantastic if the U.S. could get along with Russia but that right now its a nasty world.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Fifteen passengers were hurt after a Qantas plane's alert system warned of an imminent stall as it approached Hong Kong, Australian transport safety officials said Thursday as they launched an investigation.

Flight QF29 from Melbourne to Hong Kong was about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from its destination last Friday when a "stick shaker" alert occurred.

The warning causes the control stick to shake noisily, informing pilots that the plane is about to stall.

"The flight crew disconnected the autopilot and manoeuvred the aircraft in response," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said, adding that there was "airframe buffeting".

The ATSB is interviewing the flight crew of the Boeing 747 to determine the cause of the incident that it said left 15 people with minor injuries, one of whom was taken to hospital.

Qantas described the mishap as "unexpected turbulence" that lasted about two minutes and launched an investigation of its own after informing the ATSB.

"The flight landed normally in Hong Kong. As a precaution, the captain called ahead for the aircraft to be met by an ambulance on arrival," Australia's national carrier said in a statement.

"One passenger was transferred to hospital for precautionary medical assessment as a result of their injuries and later released."

The ATSB expect to release a report in the coming months.

Last year, a passenger died aboard a Qantas jet bound for Dubai, with the man reportedly suffering from a heart attack mid-air.

That same month, another flight from Melbourne to Dubai was three hours into its journey when one of its engines had a "slight vibration issue" and the aircraft was diverted to Sydney, the airline said.
Sanaa (AFP) - A Yemeni court in the rebel-held capital has sentenced a veteran journalist to death on charges of spying for neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the press union and rebel media said on Thursday.

Since March 2015, oil-rich Saudi Arabia has been leading a deadly military intervention against the rebels and their allies in the kingdom's impoverished neighbour.

Yahya al-Jubaihi, 61, was convicted of establishing "contact with a foreign state" and providing Saudi diplomats in Sanaa with "reports that posed harm to Yemen militarily, politically and economically," the rebel-controlled Saba news agency reported.

Prosecutors alleged that Jubaihi had been receiving a monthly salary of 4,500 Saudi riyals ($1,200) from Riyadh since 2010, four years before the rebels overran the capital, Saba added.

The Yemeni press union condemned the "arbitrary" sentence, accusing the rebels of "targeting the freedom of the press."

It said Jubaihi was a "veteran journalist with a long record of professional work across Yemen."

He was seized from his home on September 6, it added.

The rebels and their allies -- renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh -- have controlled all government institutions in Sanaa since they overran the capital in September 2014.

Rival bodies loyal to internationally recognised president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi operate out of second city Aden or from exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Aden-based information ministry said Jubaihi's trial was a "farce" and accused the rebels of looking to "settle political accounts... through a politicised judiciary."

Jubaihi wrote regular columns in Saudi dailies Okaz and Al-Madina, as well as in Yemeni newspapers.

He served at the government's press department in the 1990s and 2000s when Saleh was president and Hadi was his deputy.

Press watchdogs and human rights groups have been deeply critical of the rebels' treatment of journalists as the conflict in the Arabian peninsula country has escalated over the past two years.

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In December, journalist Mohammed al-Absi, 35, died suddenly after publishing reports about alleged corruption. His family and human rights groups said a post-mortem found he had been poisoned.

Eight reporters were killed in Yemen last year, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

That made the country the fourth deadliest for journalists after Iraq, Afghanistan and Mexico, the watchdog added.
President Donald Trump is setting his sights on eliminating the Dodd-Frank Act, a set of financial regulations aimed at preventing another credit crisis like the one that occurred in 2008. While bank investors have cheered a possible end to the burdensome regulations, deregulation of the financial sector may be setting the table for another economic crisis years down the road.

Trump has called Dodd-Frank "horrendous" and said that he intends to perform "a major streamlining and perhaps elimination" of the law. Bank stocks traded higher following Election Day after Trump repeatedly pledged to eliminate corporate regulations throughout the campaign season.

But what's good for banks may not necessarily be what's good for the country in the long haul.

Understanding Dodd-Frank. One of the major provisions in the 2,300-page Dodd-Frank Act sets strict guidelines for the amount of capital banks must hold at all times as a protective cushion in the event of unexpected loan losses. In addition, banks must limit a certain percentage of their investments to assets that can be easily liquidated, if needed.

Dodd-Frank requires any U.S. bank with at least $50 billion in assets to pass an annual Federal Reserve stress test to make sure the banks are fully prepared for a potential economic downturn. Dodd-Frank also requires each of these large banks to get the blessing of the Federal Reserve prior to increasing dividend payments and/or share buyback plans.

Finally, Dodd-Frank created a new regulatory agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to aide in financial regulatory enforcement and help identify abusive practices.

Dodd-Frank hits a handful of banks particularly hard. Companies such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. (ticker: JPM), Citigroup ( C) and Bank of America Corp. ( BAC) are deemed "global systemically important banks." These banks have even higher capital requirements and must submit annual living wills detailing how assets could be liquidated in an orderly fashion during a potential bankruptcy.

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[See: 11 Ways to Buy Bank Stocks.]

A history lesson. Banking booms and busts have been cyclical occurrences in the U.S. over the past century. The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 was implemented after nearly 5,000 U.S. banks failed during the early years of the Great Depression. The Glass-Steagall Act created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, increased regulatory scrutiny of banks and prohibited commercial banks from participating in certain types of risky investment banking.

The Glass-Steagall investment banking restriction was lifted in 1999. Just like during the period prior to the Great Depression, U.S. banks spent much of the early 2000s exploding in size. Banks milked every cent of earnings they could out of the U.S. housing market during the peak of the bubble.

John Burnett, an associate professor of finance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, says a repeal of Dodd-Frank could simply proliferate the cycle of banking booms and busts.

"This may seem oversimplified, but to me, the long-term danger of a complete repeal is that we end up in a similar crisis again," Burnett says. Financial regulations are always a delicate balancing act between protecting consumers and allowing markets to operate smoothly.

"No legislated regulation is perfect. So if the new leadership can make some improvements, that's great," Burnett says.

Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick says Dodd-Frank has limited U.S. bank lending in recent years, but that doesn't necessarily mean the law should be completely scrapped.

[See: 20 Awesome Dividend Stocks for Guaranteed Income.]

"Just as a flu shot doesn't provide full immunity from all strains and colds, Dodd-Frank doesn't create some kind of sci-fi style forcefield guarding against financial crises," Hamrick says. "Nevertheless, it doesn't make sense to forgo the proverbial inoculation because it fails to achieve perfection."

A path to compromise. As critical as Trump has been of Dodd-Frank, he has also expressed a somewhat surprising interest in bringing back the Glass-Steagall Act's rules banning commercial banks from risky investment banking activities. While pure investment banks such as Goldman Sachs Group ( GS) and Morgan Stanley ( MS) may not be impacted significantly by a return of Glass-Steagall, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan and others could be forced to split their commercial lending operations and investment banking business into multiple entities.

Trump's chief economic advisor and former Goldman Sachs president Gary Cohn recently said that a return of Glass-Steagall would pave the way for more aggressive bank lending to small and medium-sized U.S. companies.

In Washington's increasingly partisan climate, the return of Glass-Steagall could offer a rare opportunity for bipartisan compromise. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who spearheaded the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been pushing for a reinstatement of Glass-Steagall for several years.

"The intent of the rule is a good one, and the repeal [of Glass-Steagall] has not harmed clients in a substantial way, as many of the activities that led to the 2008 crisis could still have happened regardless," says JJ Kinahan, managing director of client advocacy and market structure at TD Ameritrade. "Hopefully before decisions are made, the issue of liquidity in our markets is a primary concern. Liquidity ultimately breeds confidence and opportunity."

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy in 2017.]

Trump has pledged to ease the burden of regulation on American banks, a move that has created major tailwinds for bank stock investors. However, until investors are certain about what (if anything) will replace the Dodd-Frank Act, the risk that deregulation is laying the groundwork for the next U.S. financial crisis remains a threat to long-term investors.

Wayne Duggan is a freelance investment strategy reporter with a focus on energy and emerging market stocks. He has a degree in brain and cognitive sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and specializes in the psychological challenges of investing. He is a senior financial market reporter for Benzinga and has contributed financial market analysis to Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha and InvestorPlace. He is also the author of the book "Beating Wall Street With Common Sense," which focuses on the practical strategies he has used to outperform the stock market. You can follow him on Twitter @DugganSense, check out his latest content at tradingcommonsense.com or email him at wpd@tradingcommonsense.com.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  A counterterrorism court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a poet to two months imprisonment for poetry deemed insulting to security officials.

The state-linked Saudi Okaz reported Thursday that the poet, whose name was not published, had shared the poem on Twitter and YouTube.

The news website says the Specialized Criminal Court in the capital, Riyadh, found the Saudi poet guilty of producing and publishing material that was disrespectful to security officials and that could harm public order. The court also ordered the poet's social media accounts closed.

Dozens of Saudi rights activists are behind bars or convicted under a sweeping counterterrorism law that equates demands for reform or criticism of the government as harmful to stability. Criticism of the monarchy, however, remains prevalent on Twitter and other social media sites.
MOSCOW  The days preceding his visit were marked by bluster and barbed comments. But when U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson finally arrived in the Russian capital on Wednesday, he struck a conciliatory tone, and was given a tentative  if tepid  welcome.

The former chief executive of Exxon Mobil is no stranger to Moscow, but this was his first stay as head diplomat of the United States, and the first visit to Moscow by a member of U.S. President Donald Trumps administration. The visit came amid a swift and severe deterioration in U.S.-Russian ties, but Tillerson still managed to obtain a two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a signal of the Kremlins openness to detente, in addition to his sit-down with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The status of the meeting with Putin was uncertain, having disappeared and re-appeared on official schedules over the last few days.

Tensions between Washington and Moscow had increased sharply in the days leading up to the meeting, after a tumultuous week that saw the U.S. conduct a surprise missile strike against the forces of Russian ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in retaliation for what Washington believes was Assads use of banned chemical weapons against civilians. The United States even went so far as to accuse Russia of covering up the attack on Assads behalf, a day before the scheduled visit.

On Wednesday, both Tillerson and Lavrov expressed a desire to improve relations between the two countries, even as they continued to clash on the question of who was to blame for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Russia has claimed those weapons belonged to rebel forces, and on Wednesday, Lavrov maintained that the circumstances of the most recent attack have yet to be determined. But in a reversal from earlier this week, Tillerson appeared to walk back previous claims of Russian complicity at a press conference following the meeting: Assad has brought (this) upon himself, he said, adding that the U.S. has no firm information that Russia was involved in any way in the chemical weapons attack.

We understand each other better, Lavrov said. Tillerson said that while there is a low level of trust between our countries The worlds two most foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship.

The two also announced new measures intended to prevent things from getting worse: Moscow and Washington will set up a working group designed to improve their relationship, Lavrov said, and Putin has agreed to restore a bilateral U.S.-Russia safety agreement over Syrian skies, which Moscow announced it had suspended in the wake of the missile strike. Tillerson had serious dialogue in Moscow that can help start dealing with issues. A useful first step, tweeted Dmitri Trenin, director of Moscows Carnegie Center.

The shifting terms of the U.S. relationship with Russia have come under particular scrutiny during the first few months of the Trump administration. On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to improve relations with Russia  only to see his plans torpedoed by a combination of suspicions over Russian interference in the U.S. election on Trumps behalf, and speedy clashes between the U.S. and Russia on the issue of Syria and the fate of Assad.

Syria dominated the agenda on Wednesday. The country was discussed extensively during the meetings, Tillerson said, and during the press conference, added that the U.S. held Russia accountable for dealing with its ally responsibly. Our view is that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, Tillerson said, repeating what he had told reporters in Italy a day earlier. This time, however, he added: (Russia) perhaps has the best means of helping Assad recognize this reality We do think its important that Assads departure is done in an orderly way.

Lavrov, whose government surprised the West last week when Putins spokesman said support for the Assad regime was not unconditional, said Moscow was not placing its hopes on any individual in Syria, including Assad. But he ruled out toppling the Syrian government, comparing that option to U.S. actions against Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya; both interventions ended in the grisly public deaths of the former leaders, and in what has widely been considered chaos in their countries.

Lavrov, who is scheduled to meet his Iranian and Syrian counterparts this Saturday in Moscow, reiterated the Russian line, saying that the future of Syria must be decided by Syrians themselves, No Syria deals can be made without Iran, a long-time Russia ally and staunch supporter of the Assad regime. There was little mention of Ukraine during Wednesdays press conference, though Tillerson said that U.S. sanctions on Russia  imposed over Moscows 2014 annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the war in eastern Ukraine  will remain in place. Tillerson also broke with his predecessors tradition of meeting members of Russias civil society; it wasnt clear whether the snub was intended as an overture to Putin, or a genuine lack of interest by the Trump administration. Trump later praised Tillerson for doing a terrific job in Moscow, even though relations between the two countries possibly being at an all-time low.

Despite the high stakes and heightened scrutiny, there were some aspects of Wednesdays visit that seemed almost playful. The Russian Foreign Ministry released a video earlier that day voicing its hope for productive talks which featured pictures of a mountain landscape, and was set to the soundtrack of the love song The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face.

Four years ago, when he was Exxon Mobils chief executive, Tillerson left Moscow with a prestigious medal pinned to his lapel and a hearty handshake from Putin. This time around, there would be no such honors  only promises to work toward better relations, which is likely to prove challenging for a diplomatic novice. As if to underscore the point, at the same time that Tillerson and Lavrov were holding their press conference, Russia vetoed the latest version of a draft resolution at the United Nations to condemn the Syrian government for its role in the attack.

Photo credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images
Despite the presence of Princess Leia, Queen Amidala, Rey, and Jyn Erso on our screens, it can't be said often enough: the Star Wars franchise isn't just for boys.

That point will be driven home this summer by a new initiative called Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. It's a series of toys and cartoons, aimed at a younger demographic, where the women of Star Wars take center stage.

SEE ALSO: We could learn a lot about 'The Last Jedi' and new Han Solo movie this weekend

Narrated by Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyongo), Forces of Destiny will offer 16 animated shorts, each around three minutes long, which will be available online and on the Disney Channel beginning in July.

Daisy Ridley voices Rey, Felicity Jones reprises her Rogue One role as Jyn, while Shelby Young (American Horror Story) steps in to speak for Leia. Also getting a cartoon of their own: Padme Amidala, Ahsoka Tano (Clone Wars) and Sabine (Rebels).

Some of those characters will meet each other, and the stories will count as Star Wars canon. The show, animated by a San Francisco company called Ghost Bot, will absolutely pass the Bechdel test, Lucasfilm says.

These tales focus on "what it means to be a hero, what it means to be a good friend," says Paul Southern, VP of licensing at Lucasfilm.

For example, a short called "Tracker Trouble" takes place during the events of The Force Awakens, and shows Rey defusing a bomb set on the Millennium Falcon by its former owner, Unkar Plutt, saving the lives of Han, Chewie and Finn.

Here's another glimpse of Rey in action, voiced by Ridley:

Alongside the shorts, Hasbro is launching a new line of 11-inch "adventure figures" with real hair, retailing for $20 apiece.

Just don't call them Barbie dolls  they're a lot more posable, not to mention realistically proportioned.

The women of Star Wars: Jyn, Rey, Leia and Sabine.

Image: hasbro

Perhaps the oddest part of the whole lineup  Hasbro's first full-hair Chewbacca figure, which looks a little more Planet of the Apes than the Wookiee we know and love.

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Weirdest walking carpet ever.

Image: hasbro

Will Forces of Destiny catch on and become a full-fledged animated series? Only the Force knows for sure  but it's certainly about time.

WATCH: 'Rogue One' reveals some easter eggs, but plenty are still hidden
Moscow (AFP) - Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has launched legal action against opposition leader Alexei Navalny over an accusation of bribery in his report into alleged corruption by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a court said Thursday.

Usmanov has launched action against the Kremlin critic for the "protection of his honour and dignity" at Moscow's Lyublinsky court, the court's press service told TASS state news agency.

Navalny, who has announced he intends to stand for president in 2018, in March released a report claiming Medvedev controls a property empire through shadowy not-for-profit organisations. The video has been viewed more than 18 million times on YouTube.

Medvedev has denied the claims, which he described as "malarkey."

Navalny's supporters last month held the largest unauthorised demonstration in Moscow in years, protesting over the accusations against the prime minister, one of President Vladimir Putin's closest associates.

Usmanov was listed as Russia's third richest businessman by Forbes magazine in 2016 with a fortune of $12.5 billion. His interests range from metallurgy to social networking sites Mail.ru and VK and business daily Kommersant.

Navalny's report says Usmanov donated a mansion in an elite suburb of Moscow whose value it estimates at $70 million to a foundation it links to Medvedev.

The report says: "We know very well what such a gift means: it is a bribe."

Usmanov is personally suing Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation which produced the report, according to the website of Moscow city courts.

In an interview with Vedomosti independent business daily on Wednesday, Usmanov said he gave the house and grounds to the foundation in exchange for land it owned, which he bought at a "nominal price".

He said the house and the land were worth approximately the same -- around $50 million.

"This is no bribe!" Usmanov told Vedomosti.

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He said he planned to sue Navalny "over the lying" in the report.

Navalny, who is a lawyer, responded defiantly on Twitter, saying he would call Medvedev as a witness.

He rejected Usmanov's description of the deal, saying the billionaire bought the land from commercial companies.

Navalny has been targeted in a number of legal cases he describes as politically motivated. This year he was convicted of fraud in a retrial after the European Court of Human Rights quashed the original verdict. This conviction would bar him from standing for public office.
Much of the debate surrounding college these days involves the ability to find a job after graduation. One profession in high demand is teachers -- nearly every state reports teacher shortages to the U.S. Department of Education, according to a 2016 report by the Learning Policy Institute. According to the report, one way to address the teacher shortage is through scholarships for prospective teachers.

For those planning to pursue a career in education, several organizations already offer financial help to prospective teachers.

[Check out where to find scholarships for educators.]

The Zeta National Education Foundation Inc. offers the Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in elementary or secondary education. Applicants must provide proof of enrollment.

The award amount varies from $500 to $1,000 and is for one academic year. Applications for this year are closed, but check the site for deadline updates.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics annually offers the $3,000 Prospective Middle School Mathematics Teacher Course Work Scholarship . The 2017-18 scholarship will be awarded to a current college junior who will graduate by Aug. 31, 2018.

Applicants, who must be student members of the council, are required to submit a plan for completing their course work and evidence of past academic success and their commitment to becoming a certified middle school math teacher. The application deadline is May 5.

The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association awards STEM Teacher Graduate S cholarships that range from $2,500 to $5,000. Applicants must be pursuing graduate degrees or credentialing to teach science, technology, engineering or math in grades K-12 in the U.S. They must also be U.S. citizens. The deadline to apply is April 22.

[Save money with scholarships for graduate school students.]

The American Association of Physics Teachers grants the Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers to students who plan to teach high school physics. Winners receive a $2,000 stipend and a student membership in the association.

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Applicants must be U.S. citizens and may be high school seniors or undergrads. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis -- those received by Dec. 1 are eligible for consideration at the AAPT executive board's winter meeting.

The American Association for Employment Education devotes the Janice Jones Scholarship to helping address the shortage of teachers in key fields, including English as a second language, mathematics, physics, chemistry and all special education categories.

The $800 award is open to full-time students enrolled in teacher prep programs at accredited universities that are AAEE members. Check the website for updates on the next application cycle deadline.

[Check out careers that offer student loan forgiveness.]

The Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship awarded each year to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education programs who demonstrate academic potential and dedication to the idea of voluntary unions. The award is administered by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research and named after three Michigan teachers the institute says were fired for refusing to pay union dues.

Applicants must include a brief essay on Right to Work laws and principles as they apply to teachers. The application period is Oct. 1-Dec. 31.

Finally, students should keep in mind that loan forgiveness programs are available for teachers who don't receive enough in scholarship aid to cover their full undergraduate or graduate degree. Be sure to review the Federal Student Aid website for more information on these programs.

The ultimate test, of course, is in finding the right scholarship for prospective teachers to reduce the burden that student loans can place on new entrants to the field. The above scholarships can help fill in the blanks on that exam.

Arthur Murray, a graduate of the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, is managing editor of the GoodCall.com newsroom. The organization provides access to information, data, technology and tools, including a scholarship engine, to help visitors make important decisions.
Russell Byers Charter School intends to borrow millions for renovations to its building near 19th and Arch Streets, suggesting that a third Comcast tower, which many have speculated might rise on the block, won't be materializing any time soon.

Plans call for spending $4.75 million to convert the basement level into classrooms and to build a new entry structure on its Cherry Street side, among other improvements meant to accommodate the middle-school grades Russell Byers will begin hosting next year, head of school Jesse Bean said in an interview.

Much of the land on the block  bounded by 19th and 20th Streets, between Arch and Cherry  has been acquired by Liberty Property Trust in collaboration with Comcast Corp. The Malvern-based developer previously built Comcast's nearby headquarters tower at 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, across the street from where it is completing work on the 60-story Comcast Technology Center.

Though Liberty and Comcast have never commented on their plans for the assembled properties, they have seemed a likely site for additional space to be built for the expanding broadcast and technology giant.

But the 18,600-square-foot Byers School parcel  one of two mid-block properties not owned by Liberty  presumably isn't part of those plans, at least not yet.

Negotiations between Liberty and the charter school over the propertys sale "have stalled indefinitely," the school said in a December presentation posted on its website.

We're not in a hurry to dispose of or move from our property, Bean told the Inquirer.

Medical publisher F.A. David Co. also retains its property, to the immediate west of the Byers School.

Libertys regional director, John Gattuso, said that he was aware of the school's expansion plans, and that his company endorses them.

The Byers School is proceeding with the renovation of their building because they need to accommodate a larger enrollment in the coming school year, Gattuso said. Its totally independent of any potential plans or timing for the development of the site.

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On April 4, the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development approved $11.5 million in tax-exempt financing for the school to complete the renovations and to refinance some existing debt, according to minutes from the meeting.

In addition to the new classrooms and Cherry Street facade, improvements at the school will include work on an open-air courtyard, renovations to allow natural light into the buildings lower stories, and upgrades to its parking lot, Bean said.

We like our location here, he said, citing the surrounding museums and other cultural attractions. We are making accommodations that would allow us to stay here indefinitely.

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The world is full of surprises, and as it turns out, most of them are spiders.

Scientists discovered 50 new spider species during a research trip to Australia's Cape York Peninsula, including a new species of peacock spider, which dances as part of an elaborate courting ritual, and an ant-eating spider, which imitates its prey.

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Robert Raven, a spider expert at the Queensland Museum, said the team did not expect the abundance of life they found in far-north Queensland. One night they put up a white sheet, shone a light and it was simply "pounded" by insects, he recalled. "It was amazing stuff."

The two-week trip was part of Bush Blitz, a program aimed at species discovery.

New species of ant eating spider, Zodariidae Habronestes.

Image: R. Whyte

In Raven's view, the abundance of insect life in the area is due to the unique terrain of Quinkan Country. "There are amazing cliffs, gullies and rainforest through the otherwise open woodland," he explained. "It's a very heterogeneous kind of landscape, and it was just more rugged than the areas we'd been before."

The team collected insects using traps and nets, and, unusually, by letting a diesel car engine idle. Bugs are attracted to the engine, though Raven is not 100 percent sure why.

"It was so vibrant out there," museum scientist Barbara Baehr added. "It was just alive."

Baehr, who has described 600 species in her lifetime, said we may still be aware of less than half of Australia's spider species.

"We know about 3,500 [spider] species in Australia, but that's just what's described," she estimated. "There's between 9,000 and 15,000 out there."

A new species of Gnaphosidae Ceryerda, "swift spider."

Image: R. Whyte

Raven, for his part, was most struck by a diving tarantula.

"I'd never seen a big spider jump straight into water like that. It didn't try and swim across the surface or anything, it just went straight down and under," he said. "It can survive under the water for a few hours."

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The trip was undertaken with the assistance of Aboriginal Yalanji rangers in Quinkan Country.

"Working with Bush Blitz allows us to become more aware of the issue that need our attention," Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation manager Brad Grogan said in a statement. "Hopefully this expedition will help us identify areas of natural values that we can protect for the future."

The local community is trying to have the region heritage listed  a move Baehr hopes their research will support.

"It's so pristine and it's one of the last areas we have here in Australia," she said.

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Doubling down on his formal apology following his epic Tuesday gaffe, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told Politico that his comments about the Holocaust were a straight up mistake but said he wont be resigning.

I made a mistake by trying to make a comparison that was completely wrong, he told the outlet on Tuesday evening. I dont even know how to explain it.

While condemning the Syrian governments chemical weapons attack last week that killed more than 80 civilians, Spicer compared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Adolf Hitler, suggesting that even the leader of Nazi Germany didnt sink to using chemical weapons.

Asked to further clarify his comments, Spicer told ABC News Cecila Vega, 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.

Shortly after the Tuesday press briefing, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect issued a statement calling for Spicer to be fired but the 45-year-old told Politico he would be back in front of the White House press pool this week.

Two White House officials and two White House advisers further told Politico that Spicers job did not seem at risk, though President Trump was unhappy with the incident.

FROM COINAGE: This Is How Much It Would Cost to Paint the White House (And More Crazy Facts)

Defending the difficulty of Spicers position, former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, told the outlet, Until youve stood at that podium, you have no idea how hard it is day in and day out to never make a mistake.

Fleischer added, Sean made a big one today. He handled it properly. He apologized. Now, hes going to take a pounding, and hes going to move forward.

This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com
Photo credit: Traci Lynn Photography

From Redbook

Maternity photos - when they're not tongue-in-cheek and humorous - can be an emotional experience for an expecting couple. While there are countless different ways to personalize a shoot (hence all of the many spectacular and very different viral maternity photos), the decision about whether or not to include a spouse or other family members in the photos is something that the parents generally decide among themselves. But when a military dad happens to be deployed during his partner's pregnancy, that choice is usually taken away.

In a moving and unique shoot, one photographer came up with a brilliant way to make sure that the expecting father could be a part of his wife's pregnancy experience - from 7,000 miles away.

Photo credit: Traci Lynn Photography

Traci Fugitt of Traci Lynn Photography, a Mabank, Texas-based photographer, captured stunning images of Nicole Bedwell, who is expecting her first child, in a field of Texas bluebonnets. If it had been left at just that, they would have been a standard (though, of course, beautiful) set of maternity photos. But what sets them apart is the decision made by Bedwell and Fugitt to crop Bedwell's overseas husband Wesley, a navy corpsman, into one of the pictures.

Photo credit: Traci Lynn Photography

The Bedwells, who are expecting a baby girl named Pyper, hired Fugitt to document their maternity, birth, and newborn photos. The photographer explained that Nicole, having seen examples of maternity photos of spouses faded into the picture, asked to do something like that, allowing her husband to participate (albeit remotely) in the shoot. Instead, Fugitt cropped two photos together to make it appear as though the two were together.

In addition to the cropped photo of Wesley kneeling at just the right height where it appears that he's laying his hands on his wife's belly, Fugitt also took photos of Bedwell holding her husband's photo, a military baby-themed onesie, and his dogtag over baby shoes.

"It was just something we talked about. I just wanted him in the picture because he wasn't able to be here during the whole pregnancy so she cropped him in," Bedwell told Inside Edition.

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Photo credit: Traci Lynn Photography

When Bedwell and her family saw the final photos, they were moved beyond words. "I cried, both of our families cried," Bedwell said. "It's been really emotional for me to have my husband gone my whole pregnancy, so the fact that Traci was able to include him in my maternity session was very emotional. We will never be having our first child again. He's my family, so having him included touched my heart. It made me happy."

Photo credit: Traci Lynn Photography

Though the emotional photos are bittersweet, the story has a happy ending. Bedwell developed hypertension (obviously, that's not the happy part), but thanks to the now high-risk nature of the pregnancy, Wesley was allowed to return home in time for his daughter's birth. Bedwell is set to be induced at some point today, according to Fugitt - and the baby's father will be there to see it.

If you weren't crying already seeing the photos, I don't doubt you are now - because I know I am.

(h/t PopSugar)

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By Sarah N. Lynch and Svea Herbst-Bayliss WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Reuters) - Bharat R. Ramamurti, a legislative aide for Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, is a contender for one of the vacancies on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the matter. Ramamurti is senior counsel to Warren on banking and economic policy and she is staunchly backing him for the SEC job, one of the sources told Reuters. The sources spoke anonymously because deliberations on candidates for the SEC, which is the primary regulator that polices and writes rules for Wall Street, are not public. Ramamurti declined to comment. A source said a decision on the post was not imminent. In prior instances with President Donald Trump's administration, candidates in the running for positions were sometimes dropped after their names became public. Other names that are in the mix include Vermont Law School professor Jennifer Taub, the AFL-CIO's office of investment director Heather Slavkin Corzo and Andy Green, a managing director at the Center for American Progress who previously worked for SEC Democratic Commissioner Kara Stein, the sources told Reuters. Taub and Green declined to comment and Slavkin Corzo could not be immediately reached. A spokesperson for the White House declined to comment, saying he could not discuss personnel matters. Trump must nominate three people to fill out the five-member panel, which currently is down to two commissioners - Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar, a Republican, and Stein. The nomination of Wall Street deal-making attorney Jay Clayton, Trump's choice to lead the SEC, was approved by the Senate Banking Committee earlier this month. Clayton, an independent, is still awaiting confirmation by the full Senate, which is currently away for Easter recess. Trump has not yet formally nominated anyone else for the remaining SEC spots - one Democrat and one Republican. Warren, a progressive Democrat, has been critical of the Trump administration's plans to roll back the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law. She voted against Clayton's nomination, saying his employment as a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell representing large banks creates too many conflicts of interest and may prevent him from being a tough regulator. As her counsel on the banking committee, Ramamurti has played a prominent role in shaping Warren's policy agenda. He helped steer her investigative efforts into the Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal and worked on bipartisan efforts to broker a deal on housing reforms for mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Trott)
Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - Russia was responsible for "serious failings" in its handling of the 2004 Beslan school siege by Chechen rebels in which over 330 people were killed, many of them children, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Thursday.

Although Russian authorities had information that an attack was being planned on a school in North Ossetia, the court found they failed to do enough to disrupt the plot and had not sufficiently protected the hostages.

Survivors and relatives of the victims who brought the case to the Strasbourg-based court hailed the decision, saying they felt their voices had finally been heard.

"For us it has been 12 years of searching for the truth, of us striving to be heard, striving to tell the truth about Beslan. They have heard us," Susanna Dudiyeva, whose 13-year-old son Zaur was killed in the attack, told AFP.

But the Kremlin reacted furiously to the judgement, saying it was "absolutely unacceptable".

The Russian justice ministry immediately announced plans to challenge the ruling in a higher chamber of the ECHR, arguing that a number of the court's conclusions were "not backed up". It has three months to appeal.

Militants demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the war-torn republic of Chechnya attacked the school on September 1, 2004.

The attackers herded 1,100 people including 800 children into a gymnasium and rigged the building with explosives.

After three days of fruitless negotiations, explosions in the school prompted Russian security forces to storm the gymnasium.

A total of 186 children were among the more than 330 people who lost their lives in one of the deadliest hostage crises in history.

- 'Insufficient steps' -

Russian officials insist they took the best course of action faced with armed extremists, but many survivors and victims' relatives believe the security services were to blame for the firefight.

"The authorities had been in possession of sufficiently specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution," the court said.

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"Nevertheless, not enough had been done to disrupt the terrorists meeting and preparing."

The judges found that "insufficient steps had been taken to prevent (the attackers) travelling on the day of the attack; security at the school had not been increased; and neither the school nor the public had been warned of the threat".

- 'Lethal force' -

The court found that through its actions, the Russian state had violated Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees a right to life.

There was an additional violation in the use of "lethal force by security forces".

"In the absence of proper legal rules, powerful weapons such as tank cannon grenade launchers and flame-throwers had been used on the school," which contributed to the casualties among the hostages, the court said.

The judges also said there were "serious shortcomings" in the investigation into the attack, especially that there had been "no proper examination of how the victims had died".

The claimants in the case say authorities were primarily seeking to eliminate the attackers, and gave little care to avoiding killing hostages.

Their lawyers have particularly criticised the lack of in-depth autopsies on the bodies of 116 victims found burned in the gymnasium.

The ECHR ordered Russia to pay a total of three million euros ($3.2 million) in compensation to 409 surviving hostages and relatives of the deceased.

"It's good this ruling has been passed -- I think that conclusions will be drawn so that something like this does not happen again," said lawyer Sergei Knyazkin, who represented relatives of victims.

He said that awarded compensation was "small", ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 euros ($5,300 to $21,250) per person.

The Beslan massacre was one of a string of brutal attacks Russia suffered in the 1990s and 2000s stemming mainly from an insurgency in Chechnya that morphed from a separatist rebellion into an Islamist campaign.

There were two separatist wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and 2000s, but violence in the region has largely been suppressed under the iron-fisted rule of strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

However, the overwhelmingly Muslim Russian North Caucasus has emerged as one of the major sources of foreign jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq.
Gum drops have never been so soothing now that Icelandic rock band Sigur Ros has its own line of cannabis gummies. The band's earthy, ephemeral tunes will be even more chill after the "Wild Sigurberry" THC-infused gum drops are released next week.

SEE ALSO: Patrick Stewart reveals he uses weed like, every single day

The group teamed up with cannabis retailer Lord Jones to create the medicated gum drops inspired by the flavors of the group's native Iceland, apparently known for its foraged berries, including wild blackberries, strawberries and blueberries. The Wild Sigurberry treats come in five THC and CBD (cannabidiol, a cannabis extract) dosages, so there's plenty of options. THC will get you high, but CBD not as much.

The edibles are a limited-edition offering and come in a fancy blue box with the Sigur Ros crest on the box. You can get a box of nine starting at $40. Because buying weed products isn't allowed in all states, but CBD products are, only a pure CBD version will be available nationwide. In California, select dispensaries will have the THC versions of the new product available for medical marijuana cardholders. If you live in another area where weed is legal, you can just order it online.

The candy's launch gets even better with the band and cannabis retailer hosting a "sound bath" in Los Angeles as part of Tuesday's product release. Tickets for the event already sold out, according to the band's website, so don't get too excited. Those lucky attendees will get to sample the gum drops beforehand "to enjoy a fully elevated experience" at the event with music, film, and virtual reality.

Looks like the rest of us will have to just set up a DIY sound bath. We'd kick ours off with the dreamy Svefn-g-englar.
With Adam Rawnsley

Big day. Wednesday was quite a day in the history of U.S.  Russia relations, but it remains to be seen if it was a good one. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made his first highly-anticipated visit to Moscow, where he met with his diplomatic counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and sat with President Vladimir Putin for almost two hours. But publicly, at least, little appears to have changed.

Just after their meetings in Moscow wrapped up, President Donald Trump  speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House  declared relations between the two powers were at an all time low, following comments earlier in the day in which he partially blamed Moscow for the Syrian chemical attack last week that killed over 80 civilians. Speaking during a press conference with Lavrov, Tillerson said there is a low level of trust between the two countries. For his part, Lavrov blasted the United States for not learning from its own history, especially past military campaigns in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, all conflicts the Kremlin has opposed.

Pressure. I really think theres going to be a lot of pressure on Russia to make sure that peace happens, Trump told Fox News Wednesday morning, because frankly, if Russia didnt go in and back this animal, we wouldnt have a problem right now, Trump said, referring to Mr. Putins support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.

Further complicating the Syria row, Russia on Wednesday vetoed a Western-backed resolution at the United Nations Security Council condemning the chemical attack. The tally of Russian vetoes at the international body over Syria-related resolutions now stands at eight in the six-year-old Syrian civil war. China, in a surprise move, abstained from the vote rather than voting with Russia, in a sign that Moscow is isolated in its support for Damascus.

Just say it. The American Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, who appears to have been given free reign to be the Trump administrations most strident voice on foreign policy issues, Tweeted Wednesday, After todays vote to hold Syria accountable its: A strong day for the US, a weak day for Russia, a new day for China & doomsday for Assad.

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Meanwhile in Moscow. On Thursday, Lavrov will sit down with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem to walk through strategies to consider the possible joint steps to minimize the negative effects of the U.S. cruise missile attack last week, which Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called a gross violation of international law for international and regional peace and security.

Flip flops. On the campaign trail, then-candidate Trump railed against the high cost of Washington remaining in the NATO alliance, labeling the bedrock Western allaicne as obsolete. Now, just a little over 100 days in office, the president has done a complete 180 on the issue. After meeting NATOs Stoltenberg on Wednesday, Trump said hes decided the alliance is no longer obsolete. Trump chalked up his reversal to what he believes is the alliances newfound willingness to take on terrorism, but we should note that over a thousand non-U.S. NATO troops have died in Afghanistan since the U.S. invoked Article 5 after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Watching. As relations with Moscow suck up all the air in the room, major powers in the Asia Pacific region are lurching toward crisis. North Korea appears ready to conduct another test of its nuclear capabilities at any time, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is warning of his countrys vulnerability to the Norths chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, Japan is sending warships to take part in exercises with the USS Carl Vinson strike group which was dispatched to the far western Pacific earlier this week. The planned rendezvous is a further sign of increased cooperation between the US, Japanese and South Korean navies, The Guardian reports. Last month, Aegis ships from the three countries held a joint drill to improve their ability to detect and track North Korean missiles. There are also reports in the Japanese press that the United States told Tokyo it is willing to take military action in North Korea unless China steps in to play a bigger role in ensuring Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program. There appears to be little appetite among Asian allies for any such move, however.

Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley.

Intercepts. American spies intercepted conversations of Syrian troops discussing the preparation of the chemical weapons attack on Khan Shaykhun, according to a scoop from CNN. Anonymous intelligence sources tell the cable news outlet that intelligence analysts only realized they were in possession of the intercepted communications after the attack had taken place, discovering it as part of an intelligence review ordered in the wake of the incident. U.S. communication intercepts do not confirm Russian complicity in the attack but some sources tell CNN that the absence could be attributable to Russias more sophisticated operational security precautions.

I just called to say Russia is signaling it might be open to restarting deconfliction talks with the U.S. for its military operations in Syria following Tillersons visit to Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said President Putin are willing to put [the deconfliction channel] back into force, provided the U.S. to continue airstrikes against the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and refrain from further strikes against the Assad regime. Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, said that hell stop providing daily updates on the status of deconfliction talks with Russia because its not a productive thing to do.

Today in trolling. Foreign journalists in North Korea were expecting something big when North Korea told them to prepare for a big and important event. Given that the North is on the verge of both the anniversary of founder Kim Il Sungs birthday on April 15 and an apparent nuclear weapons test by the North, reporters were wondering what was in store when minders told them to ditch their phones, laptops, and lighters as they were herded onto a bus. The surprise? The unveiling of a new street by Kim Jong Un. As veteran Reuters Korea hand James Pearson noted, the anticlimactic reveal is a tactic the North has deployed before, tweeting that They did the same to journalists in May 2016. Hours of security screening for what turned out to be a pop concert.

Frigates. The Navy would like to add a new air defense capability to its frigates and it has established a study group to examine the possibility. Navy Times reports that a Navy Requirement Evaluation Team is studying the possibility of arming frigates with enhanced air defense weapons in order to protect logistics ships supplying other vessels.

Stop loss. The Air Force is walking back a suggestion by one of its generals that the service could use a stop-loss order in order to deal with the exodus of military pilots to commercial airlines. In an interview with CQ Roll Call, Air Mobility Command chief Gen. Carlton Everhart said hed told airline executives that if we cant meet the requirements, the chief could drop in a stop-loss  an order which extends the active duty service of military personnel. But Air Force Chief of Staff. Gen. David Goldfein told an audience at the Heritage Foundation on Wednesday, I want to make it as clear as I possibly can: I am not considering stop-loss. Air Force Times also checked in with Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, the Air Forces deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, who said that the service will instead try to deal with its pilot shortage through monetary and non-monetary tools.

Kidnapping. A member of Qatars ruling family was kidnapped in Iraq in 2015 and now one of his family members is paying an American company two million bucks to determine whether the man is still alive and try to enter negotiations with his captors. The AP discovered the payment in Foreign Agent Registration Act paperwork filed by the company receiving the money. The unnamed Qatari man was kidnapped alongside his traveling party while on a falconry hunting trip near the Saudi border by a group suspected to be comprised of Shiite militia. The wire service reports that a recent advertisement on an encrypted darknet website offering 25 million Euros for information on the kidnapped man may be linked to the American firm.

Photo Credit TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
Sony's other Spider-Man movie is taking a big swing forward.

The studio has set Dope and The Get Down star Shameik Moore to voice Miles Morales in their animated Spider-Man project, Mashable has confirmed.

Also coming on board is Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), who'll voice the as-yet-unnamed villain.

SEE ALSO: Spider-Man spinoff 'Venom' coming in 2018, for real this time?

First introduced in 2011, Miles Morales is a black Latino teenager who took over the Spider-Man mantle after the death of Peter Parker in the Ultimate timeline. When Marvel Comics ended the Ultimate imprint in 2015, Miles was integrated into the mainstream Marvel universe.

Or, the tl;dr version for those who can't be bothered with screwy comic-book continuity: there are two Spider-Men right now, and one of them is Miles Morales.

Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Image: marvel

Fans quickly took to Miles Morales, and it wasn't long before readers began clamoring for a Miles Morales Spider-Man movie. Alas, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios opted to stick with Peter Parker when it came time to reboot the live-action franchise yet again, this time as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But earlier this year, Sony officially confirmed that their animated Spider-Man film would be all about Miles Morales. Bob Perschietti and Peter Ramsey are co-directing the feature from a script by Phil Lord (The Lego Movie).

Sony's Spider-Man brand seems healthier right now than it has in years, thanks in a huge part to the studio's deal with Disney to bring the webslinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

And the studio is wasting no time capitalizing on that recent boost. In addition to this summer's Spider-Man: Homecoming and its unannounced-but-inevitable sequels, Sony is pressing on with films based on Venom and Black Cat and Silver Sable.

However, these films won't all exist within the same continuity. Only Spider-Man: Homecoming is part of the official Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Venom and Black Cat / Silver Sable films aren't technically spinoffs, because they're technically unrelated to the latest live-action iteration of Spider-Man.

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The animated Spider-Man movie, meanwhile, seems to exist in a completely different timeline altogether.

Moore can currently be seen in Netflix's 1970s drama The Get Down. But if you really want to know what he'd be like as Miles Morales, you might want to check out his breakthrough role in Dope, where he played an endearingly geeky high schooler.

The animated Spider-Man movie will be in theaters December 21, 2018.

WATCH: This 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' DIY homemade trailer looks exactly like the original and we can't even
South Koreas top diplomat said Thursday he was confident that the U.S. would consult Seoul before taking any serious action against North Korea, seeking to soothe lawmakers amid heightening tensions on the peninsula.

Addressing a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, the countrys Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said U.S. officials repeatedly reaffirmed that [they] will closely discuss with South Korea its North Korearelated measures, Yonhap News Agency reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump set Seoul on edge late last week when he dispatched an aircraft carrier and naval strike fleet to waters near the peninsula. The move, announced one day after the U.S. rained missiles on a Syrian air base without seeking congressional approval, signaled to foreign leaders that Trump is more disposed to authorizing military action than his predecessor.

Pyongyang viewed both the U.S. strike in Syria - carried out in response to a chemical attack blamed on the Syrian government that killed upwards of 80 people - and the naval deployment to Korean waters as direct challenges from Washington. The North Korean government warned of catastrophic responses to any further aggression by the U.S. military.

U.S. officials were on alert this week as North Korea prepared to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of the countrys idol and founder Kim Il Sung, an event sometimes observed with extravagant displays of nationalist zeal. Journalists visiting Pyongyang for the occasion were bused to an undisclosed location Thursday morning after being told to prepare for a big and important event, which turned out to be the opening of a new skyscraper-lined street, according to Channel News Asia.

Read More: Unilateral Action by Trump on North Korea Will Simply Add to an Already Intractable Problem

While Thursdays event didnt live up to the hype, experts speculate that Pyongyangs erratic leader Kim Jong Un could still be planning either a nuclear test - which would be the countrys sixth - or another ballistic-missile test, launches which have become increasingly frequent over the past year. North Korea has made considerable progress in recent years toward its goal of developing a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching U.S. soil.

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Agence France-Presse reports that satellite imagery analyzed by U.S. researchers, published on the site 38 North, shows activity on and around the site of North Koreas previous nuclear tests. The research described the area as primed and ready for another test, with multiple vehicles and personnel appearing to be active on the site as of Wednesday.

Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time last week at the U.S. leaders Florida estate, where the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea was high on the agenda, though no breakthrough was announced regarding further cooperation. Trump had previously warned that he could seek to leverage trade in his talks with the Chinese President to pressure him into helping the U.S. counter the threat.

Read More: Style and Substance Are Both Concerns When Chinas Xi Jinping Meets President Trump

Xi and Trump spoke again by phone this week, and the Chinese leader urged his counterpart to pursue a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Anxieties have risen in recent weeks, particularly in the wake of the rapid escalation in Syria, that the U.S. could choose to carry out a preemptive strike or otherwise provoke Pyongyang. Trump has warned that, with or without Chinas help, the U.S. stood ready to act unilaterally. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggested during a trip to East Asia in March that the Administration was exploring a new range of diplomatic, security and economic measures, and that all options are on the table.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's major opposition party will seek a summit with China to resolve an ongoing diplomatic spat over a U.S. anti-missile radar system if its presidential candidate is elected, the party's chief policymaker said in an interview with Reuters. Yun Ho-jung, the chairperson of the Democratic Party's policy committee and a long-time acquaintance of presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in, said the economy faces risks from possible protectionist policies from China and the United States. Moon currently holds the lead in a majority of polls, but he is closely being followed by a candidate from another opposition party, Ahn Cheol-soo. Beijing's anger over a joint plan by the South Korea and the United States to set up the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile system has led to the closure of South Korean businesses in China and a sudden drop in Chinese tourists to South Korea. While Yun said placed the blame for current problems with China on the ruling party, he said his party and Moon are prepared to complain to China if unfair action is taken to curb South Korea business there. "This will not be easily solved through working level talks, so after we enter the Blue House we will push for a summit with China," Yun told Reuters in an interview late Wednesday. Yun said Moon would not unilaterally begin cooperation with North Korea to restart stalled talks or joint projects and that all inter-Korean efforts should benefit both Koreas. "North Korea should not be the only one to reap profits," he said. Additionally, the lawmaker added efforts will continue to discuss with the United States how South Korea has been boosting corporate investment there and that South Korea is running a services deficit with the world's largest economy. STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES The Democratic Party would also raise taxes, aggressively increase government spending aggressively and push for a supplementary budget to boost an economy hit by an ageing, declining population if Moon wins office, Yun said. "We have had to draft extra budgets year after year because there were problems at the annual budget planning stage," said Yun. "Part of the blame is on the ruling party because they kept the budget growth rate so low." Moon said on Wednesday he will push for a supplementary budget as soon as he takes office if he is elected president and vowed to create half a million jobs per year on average through investment and government spending. Yun explained the bulk of the new jobs would initially be made in the public sector. He added this year's supplementary budget and expansionary government spending for five to seven years would avoid relying on issuing new treasury bonds but rather on surplus tax revenue. The party will also seek to raise the ratio of South Koreans' tax burden to gross domestic product by 1 to 2 percentage points, Yun said, as South Korea's ratio stands far lower than the 26.1 percent average for countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The ratio stood at 18.9 percent in South Korea last year. The Bank of Korea will be left to act independently, Yun said, but he pointed out the central bank should take on a more active role in shaping the economy. The new government, if Moon is elected, would leave exchange rates to the market, Yun added. South Korea will elect a new president on May 9 after former leader Park Geun-hye was impeached and arrested over an influence-peddling scandal that prompted hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets for her ouster. (Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  A Turkish security official says the suicide bomber accused of the deadly attack on the subway in the Russian city of St. Petersburg was deported from Turkey in 2016.

Akbardzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year-old native of Kyrgyzstan, blew himself up on a busy subway line on April 3, killing himself and 13 other people. Dozens of others were injured.

The official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Dzhalilov had entered Turkey in November 2015 on a tourist visa and was deported to Russia in December 2016 for violating Turkey's visa laws. He was fined and barred from re-entering Turkey for 120 days, the official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations that bar civil servants from speaking to journalists without authorization.
It was a big enough deal that George Lucas was here. The media-shy filmmaker, who sold his company Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, didn't even show up to the premiere of Rogue One, a film he loved.

But he made a surprise appearance at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando simply to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his little space movie  or so we thought.

SEE ALSO: We could learn a lot about 'The Last Jedi' and new Han Solo movie this weekend

Lucas' appearance took an unexpected turn when, at the end of his on-stage interview, he stood with his hand-picked successor, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and made an emotional speech about the most dear departed member of the Star Wars family, Carrie Fisher.

Thus began a cavalcade of emotional moments that had the 2,600-strong capacity crowd in the Galaxy Room at the Orlando Convention Center sobbing harder than the day Fisher left.

First Lucas introduced Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter. Lourd, dressed in Princess Leia white, her voice trembling, gave her first public eulogy for her mom.

"My mother taught me two things," Lourd said. The first turned out to be a word-perfect recitation of Leia's complete "help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi" speech.

The second: "If life isn't funny, it's just true, and that is unacceptable."

Billie Lourd. No words.

Image: chris taylor / mashable

From there followed a heartfelt Fisher tribute video that immediately went viral online, quickly climbing to the top of YouTube's trending videos.

In the video, we see our first glimpse of Fisher on the set of The Last Jedi last year, a few precious frames of her hanging on the arm of director Rian Johnson.

Image: lucasfilm

But mostly the video was packed full of candid outtakes from the Star Wars films and selections from Fisher's feistiest interviews, set to the tune of David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel."

This was no whitewashing  in the tribute, both Lucas and Lourd emphasized Fisher's ability to tell the hard truths and to look unflinchingly at her own dark side.

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Then the stage went dark. The crowd thought the show was over ... until the fans in the front started yelling incoherently, and the lights went up on John Williams.

The 85-year old maestro had been snuck into the room under cover of darkness, along with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

They launched into the gentle, haunting strains of Princess Leia's theme.

Well, that got the waterworks started in all directions.

Not a dry eye in the house when John Williams played what we should really start calling Carrie's Theme. #SWCO  Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) April 13, 2017

One more surprise remained for fans as they exited: a limited-edition poster commemorating everyone's favorite princess. Only 8,000 were made.

This afternoon's tribute won't be the last emotional remembrance of Carrie  the rest of the schedule is packed with what is sure to be a Celebration-long outpouring of love for the late actress. Thursday night sees the "Drowning in Moonlight" gala in her honor, and Mark Hamill takes the stage Friday for his own tribute, screen brother to screen sister.

If Carrie is watching somewhere, we hope she has a selection of cutting quips to relieve the emotional tension  and that she is secretly loving every minute of it.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China would step up its protection of North Korea should the isolated state halt its nuclear program, an editorial in a state-backed newspaper said on Thursday, as Beijing tries to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang's continued nuclear and missile testing program has prompted the United States to send a navy carrier group to near the Korean peninsula in a show of force aimed at deterring more tests. North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday, North Korea's biggest national day called "Day of the Sun". Leaders have in the past used the date to carry out weapons tests. China, North Korea's main ally, has called for a peaceful resolution of the Korean tensions. "As soon as the North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearized North Korean nation and regime," said the editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the People's Daily, the Communist party's official paper. "This is Pyongyang's best option," it added. North Korea has launched several missile tests this year, the latest on April 5 when it fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast. It conducted its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, 2016. China's foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated Beijing's position of calming the situation via a "dual suspension" of North Korea's nuclear tests and the United States' joint military drills with South Korea. The main goal of North Korea's nuclear program is to protect the country's security and to place itself on an even footing with the United States, the Global Times said in the editorial in its Chinese language edition. But North Korea's nuclear ambitions are merely a "utopia", given U.S. military might and United Nations Security Council sanctions. "North Korea is currently just about the world's most isolated country, it is already totally blocked-off," the paper said. "A modern state cannot continue to exist like this." (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Tony Munroe and Michael Perry)
All week, we'll be running our 2017 summer movie preview. We've already shared our picks for action, comedy, and horror. Today, we're getting nostalgic.

Nostalgia sells. Or at least Hollywood thinks it does.

Hence the seemingly endless stream of remakes, reboots, retellings, reimaginings, sequels. Not to mention all the adaptations and period pieces designed to make you get all misty-eyed remembering your own misspent youth.

SEE ALSO: Summer movie preview: What to watch if you want to feel a chill down your spine

Fortunately, we're here today to separate the junk from the jewels. In today's chapter of our summer movie preview, we'll clue you in on the films to watch if you're feeling nostalgic ...

 for old-school Alien: Alien: Covenant (May 19)

Oh, look, a piano-playing android. What could possibly go wrong?

Image: 20th century fox

Ridley Scott returned to the Alien franchise to great fanfare in 2012, but the ponderous Prometheus ultimately proved divisive, and its connection to Alien was weaker than some fans had hoped. Alien: Covenant, on the other hand, looks far more like classic Alien, from its tough-as-nails heroine (Katherine Waterston) to its white-knuckle combination of action and horror.

 for the highs and lows of first love: Everything, Everything (May 19)

Bring tissues. Lots of tissues.

Image: Warner Bros.

Everything, Everything is a thoroughly modern romance, set in the present day and based on a book published just two years ago. But if you felt a nostalgic twinge while watching the trailer, you're not alone. The drama promises to recreate all intense drama of teen love: the irresistible pull of the forbidden, the nervousness of that first encounter, the thrill of that first touch  and, above all, the heady realization that life will never be this exhilarating, or this devastating, ever again.

 for young Johnny Depp: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (May 26)

Tired of modern-day Johnny Depp? How about some old-school Johnny Depp?

Image: disney

Johnny Depp is not the icon of cool that he was 14 years ago, when he first introduced the world to Captain Jack Sparrow. Too many bad performances and horrifying allegations have tarnished his reputation since then. But Disney is hoping to recapture some of his early magic with Dead Men Tell No Tales, even recreating a younger Depp via CG wizardry. And if that's not enough to wash off his stink (it's not for us, frankly), they're also tossing in Javier Bardem in full-on supernatural supervillain mode. Now, that we want to see.

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 for good old-fashioned heroism: Wonder Woman (June 2)

Cue guitar riff.

Image: Clay Enos/Warner bros.

In the gloom and doom of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman felt like a beacon of hope. Here, finally, was a DC superhero who seemed to enjoy being a superhero  who marched into battle with no questions asked and even allowed herself a smirk once in a while. This summer, we'll see how the Amazonian princess became humanity's hope when she embarks on her first solo big-screen adventure.

 for '90s hip-hop: All Eyez on Me (June 16)

No, that's not actually Tupac. No, we can't quite believe it either.

Image: lionsgate

This year marks the 21st anniversary of Tupac Shakur's death, which, yes, means we're very, very old. It also means it's about time someone gave him the Hollywood biopic treatment. Between star Demetrius Shipp Jr.'s uncanny resemblance to the late rapper and the film's use of Shakur's actual music (no Jackie Jormp-Jomp-ing for this team!), All Eyez on Me looks like a must-see for fans of classic hip-hop. In a poignant detail, the film opens on what would've been Shakur's 46th birthday.

 for the films of John Hughes: Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7)

Holy crap, a movie teenager who looks like an actual teenager!

Image: sony/columbia

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading to high school. Not only does Spider-Man: Homecoming center on a teenage superhero who actually looks like a teenage superhero (no offense, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), it's being billed as a John Hughes movie with superpowers. Because as anyone who went through adolescence knows, the only task more terrifying than saving the world is asking that cute classmate to the big dance.

Come back every day to find out what to watch if ...

Monday: ... you're an action connoisseur

Tuesday: ... you're in the mood to laugh

Wednesday: ... you want to feel a chill down your spine

Thursday: ... you're feeling nostalgic

Friday: ... you just want to see the best of the best

WATCH: This list of iconic movie quotes goes up to 11
By Timothy Mclaughlin

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of an Illinois judge shot outside his home on Chicago's South Side this week in what police believe was a targeted robbery, officials said on Wednesday.

Joshua Smith, 37, was charged with the murder of Raymond Myles, who was killed early on Monday, police said. A woman was also wounded in the incident, but is expected to recover fully.

Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said police were still interviewing multiple people about the killing and the case remained open.

"The motive of this crime is robbery, which we do not believe was random, nor do we believe Smith acted alone," she said at a news conference.

Myles, 66, was an associate judge in Cook County Circuit Court's Criminal Division. Cook County includes Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city.

The incident started when a woman exited Myles' home and encountered a man with a gun at around 5 a.m., police have said.

Words were exchanged and the man then fired, hitting the woman once. Hearing the gunshots, Myles came out of the house and was shot multiple times.

Staples credited surveillance cameras in the area with helping police identify the vehicle believed to be the getaway car.

Police on Tuesday stopped the vehicle, which had different front and rear license plates. They believe its owner was not connected to the murder, Staples said.

Smith was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and armed robbery, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said.

A police spokeswoman had no information about whether Smith had an attorney.

Staples said more details could emerge when Smith appears in bond court on Thursday morning. Smith was convicted of armed robbery with a firearm in 2003 and served six years in prison, she said.

Shell casings recovered from the scene showed that the weapon was also used in a January robbery in which a person was wounded, Staples said. There was no indication of any relation between that incident and Myles' shooting, she added.

Myles was appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1999, according to a statement from court, and served in the criminal division starting in 2009.

(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
By John Miller ZURICH (Reuters) - Two executives of Switzerland's biggest political party violated laws against racism with a campaign advertisement suggesting people from Kosovo are violent criminals, the highest Swiss court ruled on Thursday. The case revolved around a newspaper advert headlined "Kosovars slice up Swiss" that was part of a far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) campaign to limit immigration. The SVP, with nearly a third of seats in parliament, created the advert after a 2011 knife attack involving an aggressor of Kosovar heritage and a Swiss victim. The Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne upheld the convictions of former SVP Secretary General Martin Baltisser and his deputy, Silvia Baer, on charges of racial discrimination, ruling their ad painted people from Kosovo as violent and undermined their human dignity. The pair had appealed against their initial conviction, contending Kosovars did not qualify as a race or ethnicity. The court rejected their argument, saying ethnic Albanians in Kosovo constituted a distinct ethnicity. "Those of Kosovaran heritage are represented as inferior and a hostile climate against them is created ... as well as the idea that people from Kosovar are not welcome," the court said in a statement. "As the lower court rightly concluded, this fulfils fundamental conditions of discrimination and disparagement and the call to hate or discrimination." Switzerland's Kosovar population numbers 111,000, Federal Statistics Office data show. Many left the Balkans amid wars in the 1990s. The SVP is known in Switzerland for anti-immigration campaign advertisements as well as posters that some view as racist, including characterisations of white sheep kicking black sheep out of the country and women clad in black burqas. The SVP raised concern about the decision's impact on freedom of expression. "The law is being abused to silence unwelcome political opponents," the party said in a statement. "Such developments in a country that places high value in freedom of expression are a cause for concern." Baer, who not respond to requests for comment, remains an SVP official. Baltisser, who referred questions to the SVP, works for former government minister Christoph Blocher, the billionaire architect of the party's rise to power since the 1980s. A Bern cantonal court had fined Baltisser and Baer a combined more than 23,000 Swiss francs ($22,900). Though the ad included details of the 2011 attack in the mountain town of Interlaken in smaller print, the court said most people would still interpret its message as a broad statement, not a reference to one incident. "The average reader understands the description of the individual case merely as a shattering example of the headline's general claim that Kosovars are generally more violent and more criminal," the court wrote. ($1 = 1.0044 Swiss francs) (Editing by Alison Williams)
Damascus (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has denied ordering last week's suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town, believes his victory is inevitable in the six-year-old war ravaging his country.

Bolstered by the steady support of Russia and Iran, Assad has appeared unfazed by Western threats to his regime -- even after one of his airbases was hit last week by a barrage of American cruise missiles.

The suffering of Syria's people "is the only thing that could deprive me from sleep from time to time, but not the Western statements and not the threat of the support of the terrorists," he told AFP on Wednesday.

Dressed in a sharp suit, he looks more like a senior civil servant or bank manager than the autocratic leader of a country at war.

But Assad remains determined to emerge from the Syrian conflict a victor.

"It has always been a struggle for life and death. There was no question of stopping this war. It was either win or lose," said Nikolaos van Dam, a former Dutch ambassador and Syria expert.

The 51-year-old former ophthalmologist's life changed radically when his brother Bassel, groomed to inherit power from their father, Hafez, was killed in a road accident in 1994.

Assad had to leave London, where he had met his wife Asma, a British-Syrian and Sunni Muslim who worked for financial services firm J.P. Morgan.

The Assad clan hails from the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, in a country with a large Sunni majority.

Assad was tutored in politics by his father, who ruled Syria with an iron fist from 1971 until his death in 2000.

"The regime has half a century of experience of how to stay in power. It has the support of the army and security services," van Dam said.

Assad has two sons and a daughter, and says he still lives in his Damascus home, drives the children to school and goes to work in his downtown office.

- 'Confident of success' -

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters this week that it appeared the "reign" of the Assad family was ending.

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"There is no reign of Assad family anyway in Syria," Assad told AFP.

"He's dreaming, or let's say, he's hallucinating, so, we don't waste our time with his statement."

When Assad came to power in 2000, he relaxed some of the heavy restrictions on freedom that existed under his father.

But as the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011, he responded with a brutal crackdown, labelling it a "terrorist" conspiracy aimed at breaking the "axis of resistance" against Israel.

Since then, 320,000 people have been killed and more than half the population has been forced from their homes -- but Assad has shown no inclination to step down.

"Assad advisers maintained from the beginning that they were confident of success so long as the United States Air Force did not bomb Damascus or get involved in the war," said Joshua Landis, director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

But even after the US strike on the Shayrat air base, Assad remains convinced of his victory.

- Solid allies -

Experts say this unwavering belief has helped him to maintain a firm grip on power despite the raging conflict.

"He was from the same school as his father, and this school has always understood the importance of time, how to turn bad headwinds into good," said Waddah Abed Rabbo, editor-in-chief of Syria's influential Al-Watan daily newspaper.

Still, the key to his victory, Abed Rabbo and others said, was the steadfast support Assad was able to count on from his foreign allies.

"He never doubted his victory because he knew that his country had for decades nourished a solid strategic alliance with Russia, Iran and others," he said.

Those alliances date back decades.

The Soviet Union was a major supporter of Assad's father, and Syria's ruling elite has long had close ties with Shiite-dominated Iran.
Damascus (AFP) - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has accused the West of fabricating a suspected chemical weapons attack that prompted an unprecedented US missile strike, in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus.

The embattled leader, whose country has been ravaged by six years of war, said his firepower had not been affected by the attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, but acknowledged that further strikes were possible.

He also insisted his forces had turned over all their chemical weapons stocks in 2013 and would never use the banned arms.

His comments came in an interview conducted at his office Wednesday, his first since a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun.

"Definitely, a hundred percent for us, it's fabrication," he added of the incident which killed 87 people, including 31 children, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack," said Assad, who has been in power for 17 years.

- 'A lot of fake videos' -

The suspected attack on Khan Sheikhun, in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, comes in the seventh year of the country's brutal war, which has killed more than 320,000 people and displaced over half the population.

Assad said evidence of the suspected chemical attack came only from "a branch of Al-Qaeda", referring to a former jihadist affiliate among the groups that control Idlib.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth as desperate medics working with meagre resources struggled to treat them, caused global shock waves.

But Assad, who appeared relaxed, said it was "not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now."

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"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"

"Who committed the attack if there was an attack?"

Syria's government signed the Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to hand over its stockpiles in 2013, under a Russian-brokered deal.

The agreement averted US military action after a sarin attack on a rebel area outside Damascus that killed hundreds of people and was blamed by much of the international community on Assad's government.

- 'Not convincing by any means' -

Damascus denied responsibility, but agreed to turn over its stockpiles, while continuing to wage war against opposition forces.

In recent months, Assad's army has clawed back significant territory, including capturing the one-time rebel bastion of eastern Aleppo.

Key to the turnaround has been support from ally Russia, which launched a military intervention to bolster Assad in September 2015.

The Syrian president said his forces had no military reason to hit Khan Sheikhun, describing it as having no strategic value and being far from the current battlefront.

"This story is not convincing by any means," he said.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has begun an investigation into the Khan Sheikhun incident, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Syria cooperate with the probe.

And Assad said he could "only allow any investigation when it's impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes".

He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles under the 2013 deal.

- 'We gave up our arsenal' -

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," he said.

"Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history."

The OPCW has blamed Assad's government for at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving the use of chlorine.

The Khan Sheikhun incident prompted the first direct US military action against Assad's government since the war began, with 59 cruise missiles hitting the Shayrat airbase three days after the suspected chemical attack.

Assad said his Russian allies "didn't warn us... because the Americans called them maybe a few minutes before".

And he said more US attacks "could happen anytime, anywhere, not only in Syria".

But he insisted his forces were unaffected by the US strike.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike."

Trump's administration initially took a hands-off approach to Syria, with Assad raising the possibility the new US president could even be a "natural ally".

But he said the American strike showed Washington was "not serious in fighting terrorists".

International efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis have proved fruitless, with successive rounds of talks producing no result.

The conflict has evolved into a complex multi-front war involving the regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurdish forces, as well as the Russian and Turkish militaries, and a US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
Damascus (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US military strike, as Moscow digs in to defend its ally despite increasing strains with Washington.

In an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus -- his first since the alleged April 4 attack prompted a US air strike on Syrian forces -- Assad said his army had given up all its chemical weapons and that Syrian military firepower was not affected by the US strike.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," he said in the interview on Wednesday of the alleged chemical weapons attack.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

Western leaders including US President Donald Trump have accused Assad of being behind last week's attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun, saying his forces unleashed a chemical weapon during an air strike.

The suspected attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage.

The US State Department said Thursday that it amounted to a "war crime".

Spokesman Mark Toner also ridiculed the Syrian president's comments to AFP, describing them as "vintage Assad".

"It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion," Toner said.

Syria has denied any use of chemical weapons and Moscow said the deaths were the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing "toxic substances".

The world's chemical weapons watchdog said Thursday that allegations a chemical attack took place in Khan Sheikhun were "credible".

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said experts had analysed available information "and their preliminary assessment (was) that this was a credible allegation".

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- 'Fake videos' -

In the interview, Assad insisted it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened.

"You have a lot of fake videos now," he said. "We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"

He insisted his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," Assad said.

He said his forces had not been diminished by the US strike.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike."

Denouncing a "very barbaric" attack, Trump ordered a strike that saw 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles slam into the airbase in central Syria from where Washington accused Assad's forces of launching the attack.

- Trump bats aside criticism -

It was the first direct US military action against Assad's forces since Syria's civil war began six years ago, and led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow.

Russia accused the US of breaking international law with the attack against the Syrian regime, a key ally that Moscow has supported with air strikes since 2015.

Trump gave such criticism short shrift on Wednesday, saying: "I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing."

On Thursday Trump expressed confidence that US-Russia ties would improve.

"Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia," he tweeted. "At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!"

The polarised positions were evident at the UN Security Council Wednesday, when Russia vetoed a Western-drafted resolution that would have required Syrian cooperation in an investigation into the suspected chemical attack.

It was the eighth time Russia has used its veto to block action directed at Damascus.

- 'Western hysteria' -

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson received a frosty reception Wednesday on a visit to Moscow, where he said there was "a low level of trust" between the countries.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday he and Tillerson had discussed the US strike and agreed "such a situation should not be repeated".

On Thursday, Moscow hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem for talks with Lavrov, ahead of a three-way meeting Friday with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, another Assad ally.

"In the context of Western hysteria, it's essential not to give in to provocations and not to allow anything that might undermine efforts exerted as part of the Astana and Geneva processes," Lavrov said, referring to Syria peace talks.

Since starting with mass protests in March 2011, Syria's conflict has spiralled into a devastating civil war that has killed more than 320,000 people and forced millions from their homes.

The war led to the emergence of the Islamic State jihadist group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014 but has since lost much of its territory.

IS is facing twin offensives by Iraqi forces on the city of Mosul and by an Arab-Kurdish alliance on its de facto Syrian capital Raqa, backed by a US-led coalition that launched air strikes against the jihadists in 2014.

The coalition said Thursday one its air strikes had accidentally killed 18 members of the Syrian alliance south of Tabqa, a strategically important town on the Euphrates River near Raqa.

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Pharmacists across the country have been urged to be on the lookout for a 50-year-old former teacher charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old student, because the mans blood pressure medication is running out, authorities said.

Tad Cummins allegedly abducted Elizabeth Thomas on March 13 in Tennessee. The last public sighting of the pair was two days later inside an Oklahoma City Walmart, where surveillance cameras captured images of the two shopping.

Read: Teacher on the Run With 15-Year-Old Student May Be Posing as Missionary in Mexico: D.A.

Despite a national hunt, authorities have not been able to locate the fired instructor and the high school student.

He is due for a refill of prescription pills that regulate his high blood pressure, according to Maury County District Attorney Brent Cooper.

Cummins, a married father and grandfather, left a note for his wife, Jill, the morning he vanished, Cooper said. The prosecutor declined to reveal the letters contents, but called it a diversionary tactic designed to buy time.

Jill Cummins has filed for divorce since her husband and the girl went missing.

He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. He is believed to be armed, authorities said.

The teen also needs medication for severe allergies and left behind her EpiPens and antihistamine pills, her family has said.

Read: Girl, 15, Allegedly Kidnapped by Teacher Shared Instagram Post: 'Every Beauty Needs Her Beast'

Cummins had been suspended in February from his teaching duties after the pair was discovered in his classroom. The school district had ordered him to have no one-on-one contact with the girl after a classmate reported the two had been seen kissing on school property in January.

Both denied having any inappropriate contact with the other.

One day after their disappearance, he was fired by school authorities.

Cummins "may have been abusing his role as a teacher to groom [the student]... in an effort to lure and potentially sexually exploit her, an official with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

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Watch: Elizabeth Smart's Dad Believes Tad Cummins Is Brainwashing 15-Year-Old Student

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Cloud computing giant Salesforce has achieved two big feats: net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its direct operations, and a "carbon-neutral cloud" for all its customers.

The San Francisco firm on Thursday said it reached the environmental milestones by investing in wind power systems, designing energy-efficient data centers and buildings, and by purchasing credits from clean energy projects to offset its remaining fossil fuel use.

"We're seeing the urgency to act on climate change now more than ever," said Patrick Flynn, Salesforce's senior director of sustainability.

SEE ALSO: Google's data centers, offices will use 100% renewable energy in 2017

Salesforce is part of a larger movement by global tech companies to confront their sector's growing carbon footprint.

After all, storing data in the cloud and streaming millions of movie and music files still has a major environmental impact. Data centers brimming with servers consume enormous amounts of energy, as do the offices where software developers, engineers, and coders work. If tech giants get that electricity from coal or natural gas, instead of renewables, the sector's emissions will balloon.

Image: salesforce

To that end, Google has said it will power 100 percent of its data centers and offices with wind and solar power starting this year. Apple is investing in clean energy not only at its own buildings but also its manufacturing sites, a move that helped it earn the top score on Greenpeace's 2017 "Clicking Clean" report card.

In that report, Salesforce earned a "B," mainly because the rapidly growing company has expanded into areas that largely rely on coal-fired electricity. Emissions from Salesforce's data centers more than doubled in a year's time, from 52,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in fiscal year 2015 to about 110,000 metric tons in fiscal year 2016, the company reported.

Flynn said that's precisely why Salesforce has accelerated its clean energy efforts.

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The company last year signed two 12-year agreements to purchase power from wind farms in Texas and West Virginia. Both projects are expected to generate a combined 225,000 megawatt-hours of electricity each year  slightly less than the 265,000 megawatt-hours of electricity Salesforce directly consumed during the last fiscal year.

The Salesforce Tower, center, is seen under construction in San Francisco, Sept. 22, 2016.

Image: Eric Risberg/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Salesforce is also supporting two carbon offset projects, which are independently verified and regularly audited to ensure they actually translate into avoided greenhouse gas emissions.

The first project helps families in Honduras replace wood-burning cookstoves with more efficient alternatives to reduce harmful indoor air pollution and carbon emissions. A project in India will help put solar water heaters atop houses, buildings, and universities to displace the use of fossil fuels.

Salesforce first committed to achieving net-zero emissions in 2015 as part of a "Net Zero by 2050" initiative led by the B Team, a group of global business leaders. To reach that goal, Salesforce purchased enough clean electricity credits to cover the emissions from its offices and data centers, plus the power plants that keep its servers running.

Salesforce said it would also create a carbon-neutral cloud by offsetting emissions further down the supply chain, such as emissions related to installing servers in data centers.

Leah Seligmann, director of the B Team's net zero initiative, congratulated Salesforce on its milestones. "Salesforce's leadership will enable their customers to expand their networks emissions-free and inspire other companies around the world," she said in a statement.

WATCH: This blooming solar system harvests energy from the sun like a flower
One of three teens accused in the case of a Delaware girl who died following a high school bathroom brawl was found delinquent of criminally negligent homicide Thursday.

A judge reached the verdict in the bench trial over the April 2016 death of 16-year-old Amy Joyner-Francis.

Read: Girl, 16, Killed in High School Bathroom Assault: 'She Went In There to Talk Things Out'

The sophomore at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington died from a cardiac incident that she was vulnerable to because of a pre-existing heart condition, but the cardiac incident would not have occurred had she not been assaulted," the state Department of Justice said.

Only one of the three1 7-year-olds was accused of criminally negligent homicide. The other two girls stood accused as juveniles of conspiracy charges.

The judge found a second girl delinquent of third-degree criminal conspiracy. A third teen was found not delinquent of criminal conspiracy.

All three were charged as juveniles.

According to reports, the victim went into one of the high school bathrooms to settle an issue with another group of girls when the confrontation became violent and Joyner-Francis reportedly banged her head on a sink.

The tenth grader was airlifted in critical condition to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, officials said.

Defense attorneys argued that Joyner-Francis was a willing participant in the fight. Prosecutors said she wasn't looking to fight and was unexpectedly attacked while trying to peacefully settle a misunderstanding.

The fight was filmed and allegedly shows one girl repeatedly punching Joyner-Francis in the head and torso, according to court documents.

An autopsy later revealed Joyner-Francis had a hole in the atrium of her heart and abnormally narrow arteries in her lungs.

While the medical examiner concluded the victim would "probably" still be alive had she not been attacked. However, a defense witness testified that was not possible to conclude.

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Read: 3 Teen Girls Charged in Fatal Beating of Classmate Assaulted in School Bathroom

The judge said whether Joyner-Francis would still be alive today wasn't relevant to the case.

The two girls will be sentenced on May 23.

Watch: Jewelry Store Employee Assaulted During Vicious Robbery Caught on Video

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Washington (AFP) - North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported on Wednesday.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the sites Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said Wednesday night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week.

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said Wednesday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy.

The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
By Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) - Washington has billed Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Indonesia next week as a booster for the Strategic Partnership between the world's second- and third-largest democracies, but a raft of bilateral tensions could sap the goodwill from his trip. Pence's counterpart in the world's most populous Muslim country has voiced worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which critics say is biased against Muslims, and about his "America First" mantra on trade and investment. "We in Indonesia never change. The change is there. That's why we're asking them now, 'what is your policy now on the economy, on democracy, now that Trump is in power?'," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told Reuters on March 31. "What does it mean, 'America first'? I can say, too, 'Indonesia first' if you say 'America first'." Indonesia is one of 16 countries against which the United States runs a trade deficit that will be investigated by the Trump administration for possible trade abuses. Trump's combative approach will not sit easily with Indonesia, where economic nationalism and protectionist tendencies have flourished since a slump in commodity prices in recent years slammed the brakes on economic growth. "Unfortunately I do see a hardening of attitudes on our side," said a senior Indonesian government official, who declined to be named. "And it's of particular concern because we're on that list of 16 countries ... that are going to be investigated." The official said a tougher stand by Indonesian authorities had also contributed to a series of disputes with U.S. companies, including Alphabet Inc's Google, miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc and financial services giant JP Morgan Chase & Co. A SERIES OF FACE-OFFS Indonesia has dueled with Google over back taxes and fines running into hundreds of millions of dollars, and with Freeport in a contract row that has crippled operations at the world's second-largest copper mine, Grasberg. It also dropped JP Morgan as a primary bond dealer after the bank's research analysts issued a negative report on the country in November. "It's a very unfortunate series of issues which all happen to be American," said the official, who expects them to come up in private during Pence's visit. Indonesia is the third stop on an April 15-25 tour that includes South Korea, Japan and Australia. Google declined to comment for this report, and JPMorgan did not respond to a request for comment. Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said: "This visit is happening entirely independent of our current negotiations with the government of Indonesia." However, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, Freeport's third-biggest shareholder and now a special adviser to Trump, has described Jakarta's tactics over the mining contract as "disingenuous and insulting", according to the New York Times. Another potential irritant is biodiesel. The U.S. National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a producer group, has petitioned the U.S. government to impose anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina, claiming they have flooded the U.S. market. "This is one of the issues that we have asked the trade ministry to bring to the meeting (with Pence)," Paulus Tjakrawan, a director at the Indonesia Biofuel Producers Association, told Reuters. "Our hope is for the government to be firm ... Otherwise we will be taken advantage of," he said. "Not to act like thugs but, for example, if they put barriers to our exports, why not stop importing some of their goods?" Despite the strains, the government official said Indonesia would be careful to start its relationship with the Trump administration on the right foot. Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approach to foreign policy has been led more by economic interests than geopolitical considerations: he has pursued increased trade and investment from China but keeps a diplomatic distance from Beijing and established a strategic partnership with Washington under former President Barack Obama. U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R. Donovan Jr, said in a statement last week that Pence's visit reflected a continued commitment to that partnership, would deepen economic engagement and boost regional security cooperation. "The U.S. embassy here certainly is going to great lengths to make the visit a success," said the Indonesian official. "My impression is he's (Pence) not going to ruffle feathers in public, he's not going to cause a ruckus." (Additional reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fergus Jensen; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Ile-Ife (Nigeria) (AFP) - For his whole life, Hausa trader Bashiru Tanko has lived peacefully alongside the Yoruba people of Ile-Ife in southwest Nigeria.

Originally from the northern city of Kano, Tanko's father settled in the Sabo area of the city, where he built a prosperous family business.

"I was born and bred in this town. Even though my parents came from Kano, I have not known any other place I can call home," 41-year-old Tanko told AFP.

"We have always settled our differences. We have lived together without acrimony for ages. We marry ourselves and do business together."

But last month an altercation between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa trader triggered a bloody conflict that left 46 people dead, around 100 injured and houses razed to the ground, according to the police.

"I was shocked that what began as a minor dispute was allowed to snowball into an unprecedented carnage," Tanko said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Locals say that upwards of 200 people -- the majority Hausas -- lost their lives in the violence.

"An accurate number is difficult to get, because most people don't go to hospital when they are injured, or they bury the deceased themselves," said Gbemisola Animasawun, a researcher at the Center for Peace and Strategic Studies in Ile-Ife.

"But I can confirm that most killed were Hausas. They were killed inside their homes," Animasawun said. "It's still very tense out there."

Tanko's family house was not spared in the mayhem.

As he walked through the streets of ruined buildings, Tanko stopped at a roofless bungalow blackened by smoke and littered with damaged household items.

"That heap of rubble used to be my father's house," Tanko said.

"I, my wife and our four children, now squat with a relation whose house was not touched," he said.

- 'Unprecedented carnage' -

Hadi Ali, a local 48-year-old tailor, said criminals capitalised on the violence, seizing the opportunity to loot houses and shops.

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"What happened was a small matter between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa trader which was immediately settled," Ali said.

"The following morning, the woman's husband, who happened to be a leader in the garage (bus station) went and mobilised his boys and they started killing our people, looting our properties and burning our homes," he said.

"We are still bombarded with reports of missing people. Those killed were our people," he said.

Ali said Hausas have fled the town, but would be happy to return if the crisis is resolved.

"Our people are leaving because they no longer have anywhere to stay. They are afraid of being attacked again," he said.

Ile-Ife's leaders claim that there is no cause for alarm, with prominent politician Bashiru Awotorebo declaring that Yorubas are ready for peace.

Meanwhile, traditional ruler Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has set up a panel to reconcile the two sides and "prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate incident," said Ooni's deputy Idowu Adediwura.

But more needs to be done to assuage fears that the Hausa community remains a threat to Ile-Ife, and in the aftermath of the violence, there has been divisive rhetoric from political leaders.

Olajire Awowoyin of Ife Progressive Forum recently blamed an influx of foreigners from Chad and Niger for the unrest.

He also accused the police of being "one-sided and unfair" after arresting only Yoruba suspects.

Yinka Odumakin of the Afenifere Yoruba socio-cultural group too has campaigned in favour of the "unconditional release of the suspects to avoid igniting ethnic tensions."

- 'Unity in diversity' -

Yet experts say that the root cause of the issue has less to do with ethnicity than with Nigeria's economic recession.

"It's the trend all over the world that economic problems lead to social and ethnic tensions," said University of Lagos history lecturer Dapo Thomas.

"In Ile-Ife I can see a situation where the natives perceive the Hausa settlers as appropriating the existing opportunities in terms of jobs and businesses," he said.

"My advice is that every tribe should recognise its faultlines and accept to live together in unity. There should be unity in our diversity."

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is home to some 250 ethnic nationalities divided between a mostly Muslim north and Christian south.
Washington (AFP) - Tesla founder Elon Musk said Thursday the electric car startup is set to launch its first semi-truck in September, moving for the first time into that segment.

Musk made the announcement in a tweet, offering few details about the plan, although he has spoken in the past about moving into the truck segment.

"Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level," he wrote on Twitter.

The news comes with Tesla stock on an uptrend and the California-based group jockeying for position as the most valuable automotive maker with General Motors, even though Tesla produces far fewer vehicles.

Tesla's rise reflects a belief in the market that it embodies the future of the industry and has a firmer grip than traditional players on technologies that will inject autonomous features into driving.

Tesla last year sold 84,000 cars, generating $7 billion in revenue.

Tesla, which has overtaken Ford in market capitalization, is on track to begin production in July of the Model 3, which is aimed at the middle market, making the electric car accessible to a broader swath of consumers.

Last year, Musk announced that Tesla plans to build a new pickup truck, an urban bus, and launch a sharing system of self-driving cars.

On Thursday, Musk said in response to a Twitter question that the pickup truck would be unveiled "in 18 to 24 months" and that the new roadster in the works would be a convertible.

The projects are part of what the billionaire entrepreneur called a "secret" second master plan for the US electric car manufacturer.

"In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport," Musk wrote last July.
Asia contains the worlds two most populous nations, the country with the largest Muslim population, the two largest economies after America, and the next superpower and peer competitor to the United States. But when U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the continent recently, small, impoverished North Korea nearly monopolized his attention.

Why is the United States, which dominates the globe militarily, politically, and economically, fixated on this poor, isolated, and distant nation? Because America has gotten entangled where it does not belong.

Washington has been deeply involved in the Korean Peninsula since the end of World War II. Subsequently, the Cold War gave a zero-sum quality to international relations, with Washingtons loss being the Soviet Unions gain. Having invested some 37,000 lives to save South Korea during the Korean War, Americas credibility was also at stake. And with the loss of China to communism fresh on Americans minds, nobody was willing to see another Asian nation go red.

But that world disappeared long ago. The Korean Peninsula has lost its geopolitical significance, South Korea its helplessness, and Americas Korea commitment its purpose. While there is much to criticize in the approach of Donald Trumps administration to the rest of the world, the president correctly sees the need for a foreign policy that more effectively protects Americas interests. A good place to start shifting course is the region home to the worlds newest and least responsible nuclear power.

The Koreas are no longer a proxy battleground between superpowers. There was a time when U.S. withdrawal from a confrontation with a Soviet ally in Asia would have, analysts believed, signaled weakness a continent away in Europe. But the Soviets are long gone and the cause for American commitment with them. An inter-Korean war would be tragic and the body count enormous, but absent American involvement the fighting would largely be confined to the peninsula. The continued presence of U.S. forces, by contrast, virtually guarantees the spread of conflict.

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South Koreas defense no longer requires Washingtons presence. The Souths economy began racing past its northern antagonist during the 1960s. Democracy arrived in the late 1980s. By the 1990s, when mass starvation stalked Pyongyang as Seouls economy boomed, the gap between the two Koreas was already huge and growing. The Souths military potential is correspondingly great though as yet unrealized  in part because dependence on the U.S. presence has affected strategic choices.

Yet Americas military presence has remained sacrosanct. Jimmy Carters plan to bring home U.S. troops was opposed even by his own appointees. Ronald Reagan pushed a more muscular confrontation with the Soviet Union and other communist states. With the end of the Cold War, his successors expanded alliance commitments, particularly in Europe, but also in Asia. Today, 28,500 troops remain in South Korea, backed up by U.S. forces in Okinawa and other Asian-Pacific bases, and highlighted by periodic decisions to overfly the North with bombers or send aircraft carriers to nearby waters whenever Washington wants to demonstrate resolve to Pyongyang.

So why is America still there?

One argument, advanced by analyst Robert E. McCoy, is moral, since it was American ignorance that facilitated the division of the Korean Peninsula in the concluding days of World War II. Some Koreans malign America for this division. But this is the wisdom of hindsight; in the chaotic aftermath of global conflict, no U.S. official wanted to push the Soviets over a faraway peninsula. The alternative was pure inaction, which would have resulted in South Koreans joining their northern neighbors in the Kim dynastys new Dark Age. Perhaps inadvertently, Washington did a very good deed. For that it deserves praise, not criticism and claims that it must forever police the peninsula.

More practical is the contention of analysts such as the Heritage Foundations Bruce Klingner that U.S. backing is necessary to defend the South. Yet, in contrast to 1950, there is no reason the South cannot protect itself  if properly motivated to do so by the departure of U.S. conventional forces. With a bigger economy, larger population, and significant technological edge, as well as greater international support, Seoul could construct armed forces capable of deterring and defeating the North. Doing so would be expensive and take serious effort, but so what? The South Korean governments most important duty is to protect its people.

Taking on that responsibility also would force Seoul to treat Pyongyang more consistently. The Sunshine Policy begun under former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung resulted in the transfer of some $10 billion in cash and assistance to the North, even as the latter was developing missiles and nuclear weapons. That approach was viable only because Washington provided a military backstop (and if the new South Korean president, to be elected in May, revives the Sunshine Policy, as some have suggested, theres no telling if the Trump administration would be so forgiving). The South needs to bear both the costs and benefits of whatever approach it takes.

But even if South Korea couldnt defend itself, the argument would still fall short. American soldiers shouldnt be treated as defenders of the earth, deployed here, there, and everywhere. The United States should go to war only when its most important interests are at stake.

South Koreas prosperity is not one of those vital interests, at least in security terms. A renewed conflict confined to the two Koreas would be horrific, but the consequences for the United States would be primarily humanitarian and economic, not security. The cost would be high but fall primarily on the region. In contrast, direct U.S. involvement in another Korean War would be much more expensive than the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts, which have cost America thousands of lives and trillions of dollars.

Of course, the Norths possession of what we assume to be a growing and at some point deliverable nuclear arsenal skews the peninsulas balance of power. However, this doesnt create a need for a conventional American military presence on the peninsula. Washington could still guarantee massive retaliation against any North Korean use of nuclear weapons, providing a deterrent against the Norths threats.

But it is worth contemplating whether it would be better to allow South Korea to construct its own deterrent. In the late 1970s, South Korean President Park Chung-hee worried about Washingtons reliability and began work on a Korean bomb  only to stop under U.S. pressure. Since then, support for reviving such work has periodically surfaced in South Korea. Encouraging such efforts might actually be in the best interests of the United States, even if America has to maintain its nuclear umbrella while the Korean bomb is developed.

Yes, encouraging nuclear proliferation is a risky path. But the United States would gain from staying out of Northeast Asias nuclear quarrels. China, fearful that Japan would join the nuclear parade, might take tougher action against Pyongyang in an attempt to forestall Seouls efforts. The South could feel confident in its own defense, rather than remaining reliant upon U.S. willingness to act.

A potpourri of broader claims is also made for maintaining U.S. forces. Americas presence supposedly constrains China, promotes regional stability, and deters an arms race. Lets consider those claims in order. What sort of constraint is allegedly being posed to China? If the idea is to coerce it into assuming responsibility for North Korea in the event of its collapse, Beijing has shown no interest in attempting to swallow a Korean population likely to prove indigestible. And if the calculation is rather that Washington can persuade South Korea to pressure China on non-Korean matters, its easy to predict the unfriendly response Seouls Blue House would give if invited by the White House to join it in warring against China to, say, save an independent Taiwan, counter Chinese moves in the South China Sea  or, horror of horrors, defend Japan. Indeed, absent U.S. protection, South Korea and Japan might feel greater pressure to finally settle historical disputes so often misused by their nationalist politicians.

As for the idea that the U.S. presence deters a regional arms race, building weapons so others dont have to is not the sort of charity America should engage in. Alliances can deter. But, as dramatically demonstrated by World War I, they also can act as transmission belts of war. Moreover, small nations often act irresponsibly  such as underinvesting in defense  when protected by big powers.

The U.S. security presence in South Korea is an expensive and dangerous commitment that America can no longer afford. Nor has it ever brought the United States much popularity in the country, where U.S. soldiers are a constant irritant to nationalists. The South is no longer a poor nation in need of protection from the specter of global communism but one more than capable of standing on its own two feet.

Photo credit: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Paris (AFP) - The more toddlers play with touchscreen devices the less they sleep, according to a study released Thursday that suggests the findings could be cause for concern.

For every additional hour using a touchscreen phone or tablet during the day, children aged six months to three years slept nearly 16 minutes less in each 24 hour period, researchers reported in the journal Scientific Reports.

But the study could not determine if the extra screen time was responsible for tiny tots sleeping less, or if the loss of shuteye had any adverse health effects.

One expert not involved in the research said the results "should be interpreted with extreme caution."

Sleep is critical for cognitive development, especially during the first few years of life, when the brain and sleep patterns evolve in tandem.

Earlier research has shown that television watching and video game use are linked to sleep problems in children.

But the burgeoning use of touchscreens by an even younger cohort remained unexplored.

In 2014, more than 70 percent of families in Britain, where the study was conducted, owned a touchscreen device.

For the study, parents of 715 infants and toddlers were asked to report their child's daytime and night-time sleep, how quickly their children fell into slumber, and how often they woke during the night. The time children spent on touchscreen devices was also tracked.

Three-quarters of toddlers monitored used a touchscreen tablet or phone on a daily basis. For children aged two or three, that percentage climbed to 92. On average, the devices were used 25 minutes per day.

Not only did more screen time correlate with less sleep, it was also associated with a longer transition into slumber. The quality of sleep, however, did not appear to change.

Several experts commenting on the findings challenged the study's methodology and conclusions.

"There could be many possible explanations" for the link between screen time and less sleep, said Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of statistics at The Open University in Britain.

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"It could be the other way round -- maybe the parents of toddlers who already sleep less are more likely to let their children use touchscreens," he said.

It was also pointed out that the average amount of lost sleep every day -- about six minutes -- may not be significant at an age when children sleep on average 12 hours out of very 24.

Others underlined the importance of following up.

"This is a timely piece of research given the already controversial topic of screen use in childhood and adolescence," said Anna Joyce, an expert in cognitive development psychology at Coventry University in England.

Other research has shown that scrolling touchscreens helps develop find motor skills in very young children.
North Korea's vice foreign minister says it will conduct its next nuclear test whenever its supreme headquarters sees fit. Vice Minister Han Song Ryol made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang on Friday. He also said the situation on the Korean Peninsula was in a "vicious cycle" as tensions with the U.S. and its allies deepen. Outside experts say the North could conduct its sixth nuclear test at virtually anytime. Meanwhile, the U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier to the region and is conducting its biggest ever joint military exercises with South Korea. Han told AP that Pyongyang won't "keep its arms crossed" in the face of a U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Handcuffed and facing the judge, two young women accused of poisoning Kim Jong Nam appeared in court Thursday as their lawyers said Malaysian police still have not handed over security camera footage and documents crucial to the defense. Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam are the only suspects in custody in the Feb. 13 killing of Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korea's ruler. Four North Korean suspects fled the country the day of the murder, police say. "The accused person should not be denied her fundamental right to a fair trial," said Aisyah's attorney Gooi Soon Seng.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  North Korea's vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Donald Trump for building up a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying that his "aggressive" tweets were "making trouble." In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also said Pyongyang won't "keep its arms crossed" in the face of a pre-emptive strike by the U.S. Tensions are deepening as the U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea. Pyongyang, meanwhile, recently launched a ballistic missile and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually anytime.

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BEIJING (AP)  China's foreign minister said Thursday that the conflict in Syria needs to be addressed through a political settlement after Beijing abstained from a U.N. resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons by Syria's government. The resolution brought by Britain, France and the United States was vetoed by Russia on Wednesday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a political settlement is the "only reliable and right way" to handle Syria. He called on the U.S. and Russia to improve communication to avoid further confrontation after Russia sharply criticized last week's U.S. bombing of a Syrian air base. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters Thursday that China condemns the use of chemical weapons but revisions were needed to the U.N.

DOLJEVAC, Serbia (AP)  Fatima Bakhshi stays close to her mother and two sons, afraid she might lose them as they trudge through the cold Balkan darkness. The smuggler they've paid to escort them safely into Western Europe orders them to squeeze into a car with more than a dozen other migrants. Bakhshi, the boys in her lap, is crammed so tightly in the back that she can barely breathe. The driver swerves and she yells at him to stop. Other migrants snap at her to keep quiet and she dozes off. All she wants is a new life with relatives in Ireland, away from a brutish husband and a controlling father back in Afghanistan.

BANGKOK (AP)  Efforts by authorities in military-ruled Thailand to impose order on the chaotic capital city have a fresh target: cheap and tasty pad thai. The latest crackdown by Bangkok city officials is going after the vendors whose carts sell everything from Thailand's signature noodles to spicy tom yum goong soup have become institutions on the capital's hot and humid sidewalks. The stalls with their metal folding tables and rickety plastic stools serve as a gastronomic go-to for budget-conscious locals and adventurous tourists alike. "Street food is a big part of daily life," said Nont Nontiskul, 29, a stockbroker who has lived in the city's trendy Thonglor area for more than a decade.

WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. When it was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use. The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump called a "very, very successful mission." The U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Unsafe seafood. Insufficiently refrigerated meats. Rusty shelving. Cooks without hairnets. Reports show Florida health inspectors cited President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort with 15 violations in late January, days before the U.S. leader hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a diplomatic visit. Still, the state inspectors allowed the luxury resort's main restaurant and beach club grill to remain open as staff scrambled to make several immediate corrections. Among the "high priority" problems described as "potentially hazardous" were faulty fridges with meats stored well above the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, in the restaurant's walk-in cooler the duck and beef were measured at 50 degrees, while a ham was at 57.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)  Malala Yousafzai (mah-LAH'-lah YOO'-suhf-zeye) is using her honorary Canadian citizenship to call on the country's leaders to take real action to improve educational opportunities for girls. The teenage Nobel prize winner spoke to the Canadian Parliament after becoming an honorary citizen Wednesday. She asked lawmakers to make education for girls a top priority when it hosts the G7 summit next year. Yousafzai was 15 when she shot in the head by Taliban militants in Pakistan in 2012. She was targeted due to her advocacy for women's education. Yousafzai was originally scheduled to receive the honor on Oct.

NEW DELHI (AP)  Authorities in Bangladesh have executed a top leader of a banned militant group and two accomplices for their involvement in a grenade attack against a British diplomat at a popular Islamic shrine in 2004. The attack killed three people and wounded several others. The main target was then-British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, who narrowly escaped. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said Thursday that Harkatul Jihad chief Mufti Hannan and one accomplice were hanged at Kashimpur Jail outside the capital, Dhaka, late Wednesday. The third man was executed in the northeastern district of Sylhet, also late Wednesday. The High Court and the Supreme Court had upheld their death sentences given by a trial court in 2008 and the president rejected their clemency appeals.
As voters began selecting their next president, Donald Trump repeatedly warned that Election 2016 was rigged.

Millions of people, Trump said, are registered in two states and may therefore vote twice. Others would steal identities from the dead. Voting machines would malfunction.

In January, less than a week into his presidency, Trump told lawmakers that between 3 million and 5 million illegal votes caused him to lose the popular vote  though not the election itself  to Democrat Hillary Clinton. He told senators a tale about ineligible voters being bussed into New Hampshire from Massachusetts. Trump then tapped Vice President Mike Pence to lead an investigation into voter fraud.

You take a look at the registration, you have illegals, you have dead people you have this  its really a bad situation, its really bad, Trump told Fox News host Bill OReilly in February when asked about election integrity.

Thats not how Matthew Masterson sees it.

Masterson  the newly minted, Republican-nominated chairman of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission  ranks Election 2016 among the most trouble-free elections ever.

The Center for Public Integrity last week spoke with Masterson about a range of election-related topics. Among them: voter fraud and suppression, U.S. House Republicans attempts to kill the Election Assistance Commission and his own goals for his one-year chairmanship at the tiny agency.

Formed by Congress after the 2000 presidential elections Florida voting disaster  remember hanging chads?  the Election Assistance Commission largely exists to adopt voting system guidelines, promote election integrity and help states improve their balloting processes.

Masterson joined the Election Assistance Commission in 2014 after serving as a top elections official in Ohio.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

This story is part of Federal Politics. News about ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and influence in the federal government. Click here to read more stories in this series.

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Center for Public Integrity: Every time you hear somebody say, Was the election rigged?, what do you say to them? Was the 2016 election rigged?

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Matthew Masterson: No. The process had integrity. It was extremely well administered. And in the end, the peoples voice was heard and the process served voters well.

Center for Public Integrity: How concerned are you, writ large, about voting fraud, and is this something that is real and something people need to be concerned about?

Masterson: Any fraud at all is something to be concerned about. The reality  and this data and information comes from those who directly run elections  is that the state and local election officials, and specifically the secretaries of state across the country that looked into it, find that fraud happens. Its not widespread. Its not an epidemic. But where it happens, it needs to be identified and prosecuted  I would encourage any voter that if they suspect there is fraudulent activity going on to work with their election officials to say something about it, and they can dig into it to find out what the facts are. We really need to look at just the facts. Those who run elections have the facts about this.

Center for Public Integrity: What should voters know about the way elections are run across the country, and what degree of confidence should voters have going forward about the quality of the vote itself?

Masterson: Coming off this election with all the conversation about rigging, hacking and whatnot: Voters should have confidence in the process, that its accessible, that its accurate, that it has integrity. This year bore this out more so than ever. With all the talk that went on, we talked to state and local election officials coming off the presidential, this was one of the best run federal elections that weve had. And thats a real credit to those who are the boots on the ground, local election officials and the poll workers. The process is secure. It can always get better  [Voters] should know one fact: This election  this election process, this vote, the voting machines  were not accessed, were not hacked. The process was secure. They should also know there are layers of security in place that start long before the election takes place. Election officials start very early with pre-election testing, securing the voting systems, chain of custody procedures. How they train and deploy poll workers and the steps that they take to secure the system. Post-election auditing. These are all steps election officials take to have layers of security in and around the vote tally systems to ensure the process has integrity. This is not new to election officials. This conversation was news to a lot of Americans. Quite frankly, I think election officials did a great job embracing the conversation, saying, let me show you how this process works, let me educate you on the steps we take. The most important thing any voter should know: If they have questions, if they have concerns, they can get involved. They should go be poll workers. They can go watch the election testing of the voting systems. In many states, you can watch the public count of the vote or the post-election audit procedures. There are so many ways for voters to get involved. And I dont know of an election official in any jurisdiction in the country that wouldnt take more poll workers and more people involved.

Center for Public Integrity: One concern is the issue of not voter fraud but voter suppression. How big an issue that is, and do you have any evidence of widespread suppression or trying to keep people away from the polls?

Related: Matthew Masterson quote 1

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Masterson: Its something election officials hear about all the time. I can tell you my experience in Ohio. When we dug into that. It was virtually non-existent. But to the extent that election officials could, they looked at their processes, looked at ways they could both educate the public on the process to serve voters. It is my opinion, in the vast majority of jurisdictions today in America, it is easier to vote today than it has ever been. We have more days of early voting, more resources available like online registration, more outreach to voters in the form of voter information tools that they know when they can vote, where they can vote, whats on their ballot. They are all enfranchising matters that election officials across the country have taken. The election community as a whole has really embraced this discussion to say: How can we work to serve voters better? Its as easy to vote today as its ever been.

Center for Public Integrity: Youve been chairperson for several weeks now since taking over. Talk about some of your top-line goals for the next year.

Masterson: Were focusing on three main areas moving forward. One is helping election officials both maintain and upgrade the election technology infrastructure. Election officials across the country have aging equipment and are either looking to upgrade or switch out that equipment. And, so, were providing a variety of resources to help them do that. Thats everything from requests for purchase that other jurisdictions are putting out across the country with a guide  10 tips on purchasing new election technology that we have for them to use  and then talking to them about whats available for them out there and what serves their needs. Voters are looking to vote in ways that fit into their everyday lives. Two: accessibility. Not just in the traditional serving voters with disabilities, which has been a focus for the EAC since it started. But it also means serving voters with language needs. Were going to have a language summit coming out in the summer to really help those jurisdictions have some resources and some best practices on how to serve these voters who have language assistance needs. And then three: There is this conversation about critical [voting] infrastructure. For election officials, details matter. Any change, and new process, is uncertainty for them. Were really trying to help cope with that uncertainty by facilitating a dialogue about giving them the resources they need.

Center for Public Integrity: Is your job more difficult in that there are some people on Capitol Hill who would like to see the EAC, as an independent organization, either go away or be wrapped into the Federal Election Commission? How does that affect the work you just described, if at all?

Masterson: Obviously, were aware of it, but honestly, it doesnt impact us. We remain focused on serving the state and local election officials that we work with and making sure that they have the resources available to them. Were coming off the conversation on Tuesday about critical infrastructure. Were coming off the most interesting presidential election certainly any of us have ever seen and election officials have real needs and real questions about the security of the systems, the integrity of the process, so were working directly with them, as we have all along, to get them the resources they need to serve them well.

Center for Public Integrity: You and your colleagues have recently been to Capitol Hill. What happened?

Masterson: Senators had some questions for us about the security of the process and the steps the EAC took last year to help secure the process. Were happy to inform them, talk to them, about the work we do, and the great work the election officials do across the country.

Related story: Meet the nation's new election integrity watchman

Center for Public Integrity: The EAC is celebrating its 15th anniversary as an agency. In your estimation, is the EAC as important today as it was when it was first conceived and created?

Masterson: Yes  absolutely. Our mission remains as important, if not more important as its ever been. [Since the Help America Vote Act of 2002], elections have become more and more technological, have evolved. Up to 40 percent of voters now vote before Election Day. Thats a dramatic change in the way we operate and run elections. We have all-vote-by-mail states and innovations around online registration. Our job at the EAC is to recognize those trends and to work with those folks who do really great work out there to share those practices around the country.

Center for Public Integrity: Internet voting is something that gets talked about all the time. Do you see this happening in the next couple of years  or the next couple of decades?

Masterson: Some states are already doing it to serve a very specific population  and thats military and overseas voters. Its our job, if thats how theyve best found to serve those voters, to provide resources to help them do that well. As far as the long-term discussion around widespread internet voting: It is one of the most common questions election officials are asked. But the security risks around it are real, and I think we heard a lot of that conversation this last election cycle. As we look at the implications of internet voting on a wide scale, likely the security challenges are too great to overcome right now, but it is a conversation that is going to continue on as we look to the future, because election officials are asked about it, and theres an expectation. But were not there yet.

Center for Public Integrity: What states are doing a good job at running elections? And what states need improvement?

Masterson: Its hard for me to judge one state over another. But there are lots of states out there doing great work on this. One example is the states that have joined data sharing efforts where theyre exchanging data both within the states and across states to really identify: Where do we have duplicates? Where do we have deceased voters? Where do we have voters whove moved, and how do we reach out to them to make sure their information is up to date? The voter rolls today are in the best shape theyve ever been in because of efforts like that by the states.

Related story: A review of key states with Voter ID laws found no voter impersonation fraud

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Center for Public Integrity: When the presidents budget proposal came out, there was a number of smaller agencies that had their budgets zeroed out. The EAC was not on that list. Does it give you some confidence that the president believes that youre an agency worth keeping?

Masterson: We were thrilled to see that were in the budget. Its an affirmation of the work that weve been doing. The agencys existence is serving its purpose. With that reaffirmation comes a recommitment to us to every day evaluate what were doing and how we can really serve voters and election officials to fulfill our mission. Sure, were pleased to see that. But at the same time its a chance for us to make sure we remain focused on our goals and mission moving forward.

Center for Public Integrity: That all being said, your budget from your creation to this day has slid over the years. Youre not as financially robust or funded as you once were. Do you have the resources internally that you need, as far as youre concerned, to do your work?

Masterson: We dont know our number yet. We just know we are not on that list. But if reflective of where weve been, I think the EAC has what it needs to move forward. Weve done great work with the resources we have. Thats exactly what well continue to do. If we continue to be funded at the level were at, were thankful for that, and well take that and use it to fulfill our mission.

Related story: America scrubs millions from the voter rolls. Is it fair?

Center for Public Integrity: Do you see voting as a partisan issue? Has it become a partisan issue?

Masterson: Coming from a state like Ohio, certainly theres a tendency to have that conversation within the legislature. What I can tell you is my experience with election officials is that most if not all the issues are completely nonpartisan. To be honest, thats how we try to model ourselves here at the EAC, as well. The three commissioners work together incredibly well to serve voters and election officials in a way that benefits the process. Thats a nonpartisan issue. The ability for every eligible citizen to exercise their rights should be a nonpartisan issue. We should want that. Thats the attitude election officials have across the country.

Center for Public Integrity: What would you like voters to know going into the gubernatorial elections that come up in 2017, and of course the midterm elections in 2018, about how good the system is and how to make it better.

Masterson: What Id like voters to know most is that every vote matters. If you look at state and local elections across the country, there are hundreds if not thousands decided by one or a tied vote. Every vote matters. They need to take that seriously and invest the time they need to go vote in all of these elections. If they have questions about the process, they should go get involved with their local election office.

Versions of this story were co-published by NBC News, Public Radio International and TIME.

This story is part of Federal Politics. News about ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and influence in the federal government. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
(NEW YORK) - An appeals court judge who was the first African-American woman appointed to New Yorks highest court has been found dead on the shore of the Hudson River off Manhattan.

Police say the body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, was discovered just before 2 p.m. Wednesday along the rivers shore near Harlem, one day after being reported missing.

Police say her body showed no obvious signs of trauma. The medical examiner is to determine the exact cause of death.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the states Court of Appeals in 2013, called her a pioneer and a trailblazing jurist.

As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the states Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer, Cuomo said. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be missed deeply.

Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her, DiFiore said.

Former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said he knew Abdus-Salaam for many years. He said her death of was difficult to understand.

The court has suffered a terrible blow, he said.

Abdus-Salaam, who was 65 years old, graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School. She started her career as a staff attorney for East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a judge in Manhattan state Supreme Court for 14 years, according to the state Office of Court Administrations website.

The president of the New York State Bar Association, Claire P. Gutekunst, said Abdus-Salaam grew up poor in a family of seven children in Washington, D.C., and rose to become one of the seven judges in New Yorks highest court, where her intellect, judicial temperament and wisdom earned her wide respect.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Remember when President Obama first came into office in 2009?

Roger Dow does, and it didn't start out as a very pleasant memory. But Dow, chief executive of the U.S. Travel Association, a major trade group, hopes that what the travel industry learned from that time will help erase another unpleasant memory:

Remember when President Trump first came into office in 2017?

Dow told the story of these two presidents and their early unhappy relationship with the travel industry to hundreds of people in Philadelphia's hospitality industry gathered Wednesday at the Convention Center for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau's annual report, including results from the Democratic National Convention.

Obama, Dow said, had just taken office as the economy was in the middle of the recession and the travel industry was still suffering from the lingering effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.

The Wall Street bailout was underway, but there were still reports of lavish travel spending by executives. Obama sharply criticized highly publicized Wall Street junkets to pricey conventions on the West Coast.

The travel industry, already struggling, howled in protest and had snagged a White House meeting with Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, when, unexpectedly, Obama showed up, Dow said.

"He said, `I know you're not happy with me,' " Dow recalled, noting how his group explained the economic impact of tourism along with the jobs it supported at a time when the unemployment rate was soaring. "We could watch this new president saying, `Wow, now I get it.' "

Fast forward to 2017, when Trump, barely inaugurated, imposed a travel ban on visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries and suspended the State Department's visa-interview waiver program, which allowed regular foreign visitors, including business visitors, to skip face-to-face interviews with consulate officers when their visas expired.

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Now, Dow said, it's Trump who needs to be schooled. "People from around the world, their hair was on fire. They said, `People in the U.S. don't want us.'"

The impact was immediate.

Philadelphia lost a convention that would have had a $7 million economic impact when the group decided to take a pass on the U.S. and book its convention in Canada or Mexico, said Alethia Calbeck, director of communications at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, declining to identify the group.

"We were up for a piece of business, and the organization decided to not have its meeting in the United States," Calbeck in an interview in February. "They have a largely international audience and wanted to be sure everyone would be able to attend their meeting."

"This too shall pass," Dow told the group on Wednesday. "It's going to be all right, but we have work to do" lobbying the Trump administration.

After all, his group has estimated, the U.S. travel industry produces $2.3 billion in direct and indirect economic impact, supports 15.3 million jobs, either directly or in related industries, and generates $157.8 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

That's why, Dow said, the travel industry has to get behind a single unifying message: "America is closed to terrorism, but wide open to everyone else."

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As spring gets into full swing, more children will be scratching from the unbearable itch of eczema, and many pediatricians will be writing prescriptions for antibiotics.

"Eczema can make children miserable, so its understandable that both doctors and parents would want to do everything possible to get symptoms under control," says Megha Tollefson, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and co-author on a 2014 clinical review on treating childhood eczema for the American Academy of Pediatrics. But research shows that antibiotics wont cure mild-to-moderate eczema in kids any faster than standard treatment."

A recent study involving 113 children with eczema (most under the age of 3) without symptoms of a serious infection such as fever or pus-filled sores showed that antibiotics don't help with eczema flare-ups.

The children were treated with moisturizers as well as ointments containing a corticosteroid, which helps calm inflammation and itching. In addition, half the kids were also prescribed a weeks worth of antibiotics, either a pill or topical cream.

Results, published in March in the Annals of Family Medicine, showed that all of the children, whether they received antibiotics or not, got much better in two weeks and remained stable over the next three months.

Prescribing Only When Necessary

Antibiotics shouldnt be used when they arent needed because the drugs can cause side effects. For example, antibiotic creams can cause skin irritation and rashes. Oral antibiotics (pills or liquid by mouth) commonly cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, Tollefson says.

Babies and toddlers with eczema are more prone to diaper rash, and diarrhea can make it much worse, she says.

And in rare instances, oral antibiotics can cause serious harm.

A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that side effects from antibiotics, most commonly severe allergic reactions, are responsible for more than 65,000 children being rushed to the emergency room each year. For children younger than 5, side effects from antibiotics such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag, and generic) and azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak, and generic) are the leading cause of ER visits due to adverse drug effects.

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Whats more, the overuse of all forms of antibiotics are contributing to the rise of dangerous superbugsstrains of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. The result is a growing number of infections that are more virulent and much harder to treat.

Why Doctors Overprescribe Antibiotics

Given the risks of antibiotics, medical guidelines caution against overusing the drugs against eczema. For example, as part of the Choosing Wisely initiative (Consumer Reports is a partner), the American Academy of Dermatology recommends against using antibiotics unless the rash is infected.

So why do doctors still commonly prescribe the drugs to treat eczema in kids?

Its actually quite difficult to tell the difference between an eczema flare-up and a mild infection, Tollefson says. And testing for bacteria typically doesnt help, she says, because people often carry bacteria on their skin even when they dont have an infection.

Doctors wind up prescribing antibiotics out of an abundance of caution, she says, to prevent a possible infection from getting worse.

"Flare-ups are going to happen," Tollefson says. But, she adds, the Annals of Family Medicine study is "reassuring" in revealing there's no need to rush to antibiotics. In the absence of clear signs of infection, the best approach is to do a good job taking care of the skin to allow the body to heal itself, she says.

Indications of an infection that do warrant antibiotic treatment, according to American Academy of Dermatology: honey-colored crusting on the rash, pus-filled yellow or red bumps, or sores and cracks that ooze pus. The skin may also be very red or unusually warm and, in some cases, children may run a fever.

Antibiotic ointments cause fewer side effects than oral versions but don't work as well. "We typically reserve topical antibiotics for when there are only one or two small areas affected," says Jenny Murase, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California San Francisco and a spokeswoman for the AAD. "But when the infection is widespread or affects multiple areas of the body, oral antibiotics are generally needed."

Best Ways to Manage Eczema in Kids

Theres no cure for eczema in kids, Murase says, but the good news is that some children eventually outgrow it. "Once you become a teenager, the body starts to produce more oils that can help protect the skin."

In the meantime, she says "to prevent flare-ups and infections, it's important to stay on top of daily skin care." Here are some tips:

Moisturize. For kids prone to eczema, apply moisturizing creams to their entire body at least once daily, even when their skin is clear. Though prescription ointments shouldnt be used more than twice daily, you can use moisturizers as often as needed to soothe rough, dry skin. To prevent irritation, choose fragrance-free products.

Avoid irritants. Triggers can include scratchy clothing, tobacco smoke, scented products such as laundry soap, and extreme hot or cold temperatures.

Try to prevent scratching. Its easier said than done when a young child is involved, but scratching can make itching worse and lead to infection. Keep childrens fingernails short and, if necessary, have them wear light cotton gloves at night to keep them from scratching in their sleep. Ask your doctor about an over-the-counter antihistamine pill or liquid such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy and generic) to help alleviate itching. Avoid anti-itch products that you apply to your skin such as Benadryl Itch-Stopping Cream because they can be irritating for kids with eczema.

Let kids enjoy bathtime. The advice used to be to limit baths to twice weekly or so to avoid drying out the skin. But Murase says that bathing can actually provide the skin with needed moisture. Soap can be drying, though. So use mild, unscented skin cleansers only on the armpits and groin and, after washing, pat the skin partly dry then apply moisturizer right away on damp skin.

Talk to your doctor about adding vinegar or a very small amount of bleach to bathwater. Using a cup of vinegar or a tiny amount of unscented chlorine bleach (3 tablespoons in 20 gallons of water, about a half-full standard tub) can kill bacteria on the skin that cause infections. One recent study found that children with eczema who bathed in diluted bleach water for 5 to 10 minutes twice weekly had less-severe symptoms than those who didnt.

Vinegar is safe, but keep in mind that bleach straight from the bottle is dangerous for kids if they swallow any or get it on their skin, so carefully follow safety precautions and keep the chemical locked away from young children. For more information on how to safely use diluted bleach baths, use this advice from the Seattle Childrens Hospital.

Treat the first signs of a flare-up. People are sometimes reluctant to use prescription ointments that contain steroids on a mild rash, says Murase. But using those as directed, along with moisturizers, can prevent more serious symptoms.

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).





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Mike Pompeo, the former Kansas lawmaker tapped by President Donald Trump to run the CIA, excoriated WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange in his first public remarks since taking over the spy agency.

We at the CIA find the celebration of entities like WikiLeaks to be perplexing and deeply troubling, he said. WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service, citing an overwhelming focus on the United States.

It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is  a nonstate, hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia, Pompeo said before a packed house at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. He specifically referred to U.S. intelligence officials conclusion that Russian military intelligence used WikiLeaks to release stolen emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee, meant to help tip the 2016 election in Trumps favor.

And Pompeo, who as a representative had oversight responsibility over the CIA, seemed to threaten U.S. action against the site, saying that WikiLeaks can no longer hide behind free speech arguments. It ends now, Pompeo said.

Assange, for his part, has insisted that publishing the CIA files, as well as the DNC emails, has been a part of WikiLeaks mission to expose U.S. government wrongdoing. We are an organization that has a commitment to the public to publish true information and not suppress it, and to make sure that as many people read it as possible, he said in an interview with Democracy Now on April 12.

Pompeos much-anticipated remarks, uncharacteristically acerbic for a senior U.S. intelligence official, come at an awkward time for the Trump administration. On Thursday, fresh revelations were reported in the Guardian that British and other European spy services warned U.S. intelligence officials about connections between Trump associates and Russian officials as early as 2015.

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The FBI and Congress are still conducting investigations into possible coordination between the Trump campaign or associates and Russian intelligence in order to release the stolen emails for maximum effect during the campaign. (Pompeo did not comment on the ongoing investigation but stated that the CIA was providing lawmakers and other investigators with all the resources they needed.)

And Pompeos attacks on WikiLeaks sit uncomfortably for him, too: Last summer, as Assange published fresh disclosures from hacked emails of the DNC, Pompeo gleefully tweeted them out. Trump publicly cited WikiLeaks in rally speeches dozens of times in just the last month of the election and tweeted just days before the election how much he loved the website.

Pompeos comments, though, come more than a month after WikiLeaks released what it calls CIA hacking tools, raising suspicions that the U.S. spy service was hoarding information about insecurities in digital products rather than sharing that information with U.S. companies so they could repair the flaws.

The false narratives that increasingly define our public discourse cannot be ignored, Pompeo said.

In the rest of the event, the newly minted CIA boss stressed that his agency  like the rest of the intelligence community  concluded that the Syrian regime had used chemical weapons against its own people. Russia has argued that the chemical release, which killed more than 70 people, came after warplanes targeted a rebel chemical weapons storage facility, claims the White House has thoroughly debunked.

On Russian President Vladimir Putins response to the Syrian chemical attacks, Pompeo condemned his disinclination toward the truth. This is a man from whom veracity doesnt translate into English, he said.

The former Kansas lawmaker, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was confirmed easily in January, after a hearing consumed by talk of Russian meddling. Pompeo, like Trumps director of national intelligence, former Indiana Sen. Dan Coats, has been publicly critical of the Kremlin and its geopolitical posturing, ostensibly putting both men at odds with the commander in chief.

One lingering question for Pompeo is whether he will be willing and able to carry out a restructuring of the intelligence community, as Trump reportedly hoped to do, and if it can maintain an apolitical approach to gathering and analyzing intelligence.

The new director said he would be very open to the idea of restructuring the intelligence community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Early reports indicated that the Presidential Transition Team hoped to eliminate or reform the office.

This structure is worthy of review, Pompeo said, comparing the restructuring to changes he made to his own small businesses.

In January, he vowed to tell Trump the truth and nothing but the truth, politically popular or not. I would expect the president-elect would demand that of me, Pompeo said at the time.

The CIA director said at CSIS on Thursday that the intelligence communitys relationship with the White House is fantastic, and he redoubled his earlier commitment to truth-telling, saying Trump is prepared to hear things that run completely counter to his hypotheses.

Photo credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
On his 77th day in office, President Donald Trump changed his Russia policy. He may not have realized it as he gave the order that sent Tomahawk cruise missiles toward a Syrian airbase, but his decision to directly strike Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime put him in direct conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putins effort to prop up the very same dictator. In the days that have followed, the administration has offered changing and even conflicting accounts of Russias complicity in Assads use of chemical weapons against civilians. While Russias advanced knowledge of the chemical attack remains unclear, what is apparent now is that Trump appears willing to publicly criticize Russia, a departure from his previous position. But the White House is going to need something more than Trumps tweet Thursday morning expressing hope that things between the United States and Russia will ultimately work out fine. The Trump administration desperately needs a strategy to deal with Russia.

Russia, specifically Putin, has been a thorn in the side of four successive U.S. presidents. As a consequence, many U.S. policymakers have found themselves tangling with Russian diplomats, intelligence operatives, and military leaders on a range of topics, often without much success. In an attempt to learn the lessons of years past, weve selected five tidbits of advice.

1. Conduct a Russia review and develop a strategy. Given the ad hoc and often contradictory way in which the Trump administration talks about Russia, it is obvious that the White House has yet to develop a clearly articulated strategy. If such an effort is not already underway, an interagency team should be tasked with a thorough analysis of the current state of the relationship, the past administrations approach, and a list of options going forward. More specifically, the review should lead to a strategy that focuses on prospects for U.S.-Russia cooperation in Syria, ways in which the administration  in working with European allies  can counter Russian aggression in its neighborhood, and incentives to get Russia to meet its Minsk protocol commitments in Ukraine. The National Security Councils very capable senior director for Russia, Fiona Hill, would be the best person to lead such a review. No one knows Putin and Russia better.

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2. Settle on a single message. Every administration must be, at times, reminded to coordinate its messaging and stick to the talking points. While some of the recent confusion makes sense because Trumps team is still new and many senior leaders at the State Department and Department of Defense have yet to be nominated, mixed messages on Russia give Putin  who is a master of disinformation  the upper hand. The administration should settle on a handful of core messages about its views on Russia and Putin and repeat those messages as often as possible. Coordination with European allies on such points is critical.

3. Become familiar with the Russian way of communicating. Russias ability to fudge the truth, change the subject, ignore a topic, or flat-out lie should not be underestimated. For example, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for a U.N. investigation into the Syrian chemical attack during Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Moscow, even as the Russian mission to the U.N. was vetoing such a resolution. This is supremely frustrating. Get used to it. One way to fight back is to let the U.S. media question Russian untruths. This means making the media an integral part of any international trip conducted by senior administration officials. Loop in the media to your thinking and positions, and provide backgrounders and interviews. Let it call out the Russians when you cant.

4. Know that Russian foreign policy runs together. Everything in Russian foreign policy is inextricably linked. Russia does not compartmentalize its issues. It ties Ukraine to Syria to Latin America to NATO to missile defense to nuclear weapons. This is very different from how the United States tends to handle foreign policy, which is to try to divide issues by regions and functions. This often leads to challenging discussions, since in Russias view, if the United States wants to truly cooperate, it must be willing to negotiate on the full slate of topics. In this context, Russia could offer concessions in Syria in return for U.S. concessions in Ukraine  a slippery slope that can incentivize bad Russian behavior elsewhere. The Trump administration has to avoid such tradeoffs and make sure that any cooperation in Syria will not translate into acquiescence on Ukraine.

5. Distrust and verify. When the mood strikes, Putin will sometimes agree to a compromise and commit to a new policy of cooperation. But as the West has witnessed time and time again, a promise from Putin doesnt always translate into policy execution. (See the U.S. efforts to work with Russia on the Joint Implementation Center in Syria in late 2016.) In fact, the Russians use their lack of bureaucratic coordination to their advantage. It is not uncommon to get different answers to the same questions from different parts of the Russian government, leaving outsiders guessing as to what is really going on. If not managed through repeated verification with Russian officials and with folks on the ground, outsiders can be left confused and empty-handed.

Photo credit: SERGEI CHIRIKOV/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trumps chief strategist was recently removed from the National Security Council, giving rise to speculation over whether the president and Steve Bannon had a fall out. In a further escalation, Trump downplayed Bannons role in his presidential campaign Tuesday.

I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late, Trump told the New York Posts Michael Goodwin on Tuesday afternoon.

Read: Trump Strategist Steve Bannon In Power Struggle After Removal From National Security Council

I had already beaten all the senators and all the governors, and I didnt know Steve, the president said. Im my own strategist and it wasnt like I was going to change strategies because I was facing crooked Hillary.

Soon after Trump took office in January this year, social media was flooded with posts that indicated that the real power in the administration was being held by Bannon, sparking a movement calling for the impeachment of President Bannon.

'Impeach President Bannon'

Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Trump tweeted his anger at the claims and said: I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it. Some FAKE NEWS media, in order to marginalize, lies!

There have also been multiple reports that say that Bannon, the former Brietbart chief executive, was in the midst of a tussle with Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner.

Kushner, Trump, Bannon

Photo: REUTERS

The White House said the media was blowing things out of proportion and press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday: Theres a lot of stuff that was overblown about this that makes it out into the media sometimes and gets a little more sensational than it really is.

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However, there seems to be some truth in the reports as the president confirmed that he had asked Bannon to sort out the issues before he has to intervene. He told the publication, Steve is a good guy, but I told them to straighten it out or I will.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the United States and Russian relationship has "degraded" after President Donald Trump took office. "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 in an interview, reports said.

Putin's comments came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Moscow and met his counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss relations with the U.S. after the airstrike on Syria and the consequent reports that claimed Russia knew about the chemical gas attack and the Kremlin needs to stop backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. Intelligence agencies have tried to accuse Putin of trying to help Trump during the presidential elections. However, Trump has denied all claims and also refused to directly call on the Russian president. Instead Trump expressed his desire to have closer ties between the two nations while he is still president. Trump's fondness for the Kremlin can be seen throughout his time when he took office and even before that.

1. In February 2017, Trump said he respects Putin during a Super Bowl interview with Bill OReilly. The U.S. president also defended his Russian counterpart when the Fox News host called him a killer.

"There are a lot of killers," Trump said. "Do you think our country is so innocent?"

2. In January 2017, Trump said he believed that Russia had been responsible for the Democratic National Committee hacking in 2016. However, he said after he became president, he believed that Putin won't do it. He also mentioned that if he would have a good relationship with Putin then it would be beneficial for both the countries.

"I think it was Russia," Trump said, adding that Putin "should not be doing it."

"He won't be doing it. Russia will have much greater respect for our country when I am leading it than when other people have led it," Trump said.

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"If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia. Russia can help us fight ISIS, which, by the way, is, number one, tricky. I mean if you look, this administration created ISIS by leaving at the wrong time. The void was created, ISIS was formed," he added.

3. Trump also praised Putin when he criticized Hillary Clinton and the Democrats.

4. In October 2007, Trump said Putin was doing a great job.

"Look at Putin -- what he's doing with Russia -- I mean, you know, what's going on over there. I mean this guy has done -- whether you like him or don't like him -- he's doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia period," Trump told Larry King on CNN.

5. Trump said that he would get along well with Putin because he "hates Obama."

"He hates Obama. He doesnt hate us. I think hed like me. Id get along great with him I think. If you want to know the truth."

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Ahead of another test of North Koreas nuclear capabilities expected to occur as soon as this weekend, Washington is ratcheting up the rhetoric against the Hermit Kingdom and putting on a show of military strength, including moving an aircraft carrier strike group into position around the Korean peninsula.

The buildup of firepower and tough talk comes just before the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founding father and grandfather of the current ruler. The date is often a tense time for the region, as it is traditionally marked by displays of military strength, including missile launches.

President Donald Trump has been vocal about the impending North Korean tests all week, calling the deployment of an aircraft carrier and other ships to the area an armada, while disclosing that submarines are part of the group. We have submarines, he told Fox News. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you.

The expected nuclear test would be the countrys sixth  and likely most powerful  in a decade, and pushes the North Korean threat to the top of White Houses priority list, prompting a rash of tweets, statements and even diplomatic bargaining from Trump and his team. But the on-the-fly nature of the the White Houses North Korea policy has sowed confusion in Washington and foreign capitals, conveying the sense the administrations strategy is still in flux, and that the president himself is learning on the job about a strategic threat that long predated his time in office.

On a visit to South Korea last month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hardened the U.S. stance toward Pyongyang, raising the possibility of a preemptive strike and chiding China for not applying enough pressure on the isolated country. But Trump later expressed indifference over the matter of Chinese assistance, saying on Twitter Tuesday: If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.

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A day later he switched his position, telling The Wall Street Journal that during last weeks U.S.-China summit, he had offered Chinese President Xi Jinping preemptive trade concessions in exchange for Beijings help on North Korea.

North Korea, meanwhile, has ratcheted up its own threats. In response to Trumps Tweet on Tuesday, a spokesperson for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded in kind, warning if the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for pre-emptive attackthe DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.

The timing of the missile test is problematic for all major players involved. China and the United States are struggling to find common ground on the issue while feeling one another out over trade imbalances, and South Korea finds itself in the midst of a political crisis, having just impeached its president and pushing through the last days of a last-minute presidential race.

Trump described a light-bulb moment he had during his discussions with Xi after the Chinese leader gave him a thumbnail explanation of the history of the North Korean problem. After listening for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy, Trump told the Journal on Wednesday. I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power [over] North KoreaBut its not what you would think.

On Thursday, Chinas foreign ministry issued a statement following a post-meeting phone call between the two leaders, saying Xi believes the most pressing problems with the North can be solved through peaceful means and is ready to maintain communication and coordination with the United States on the issue.

The politics of the situation are being further complicated by the South Korean presidential race, which will likely lead to the election of a progressive candidate who has argued for a less confrontational approach to Pyongyang. The two frontrunners in the contest both sit to the left of the former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and faces indictment for her alleged role in a multimillion-dollar bribery scandal linked to major Korean conglomerates.

But the warnings  real or perceived  continue. On Thursday, the U.S. Air Force dropped a massive, 21,000-lb. warhead on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan, the largest single strike in terms of bomb payload at any point in the post-2001 American wars. Some viewed the strike a s a warning to Kim Jong Un, and an attempt for the Pentagon to steer him away from any provocative actions.

I dont know if this sends a message, it doesnt make any difference if it does or not, Trump said at the White House on Thursday. North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of.

His comments marked the second time the president vowed to go it alone on the North Korean problem, casting aside the lessons he suggested had been learned from the Chinese leader. He went on to praise China for working very hard on the North Korean problem however, adding that hes really gotten to like and respect Xi.

But militarily, the pieces continue to move. In a major show of force, the U.S. Air Force conducted a no-warning drill of the entire 18th Air Wing stationed at the Kadena air base in Okinawa on Wednesday, rolling out dozens of F-15 Eagles, E-3 Sentries, KC-135 Stratotankers, and HH-60 Pave Hawks for display.

The Air Force also sent a nuke sniffer WC-135 Constant Phoenix surveillance plane capable of detecting radioactive debris to Kadena, a sure sign the Pentagon was waiting for a test.

There is more than one audience for these shows of strength, however. The military display puts pressure on China to do something, because its showing Beijing that the administration is willing to flex some muscle, on the issue, said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a regional expert with the Center for a New American Security. The dispatch of the Carl Vinson is very much a deterrence and presence operation, she added, especially since any strikes against the well-defended North would not likely come from manned U.S. aircraft.

Despite all of this, the Pentagon has tried to downplay to deployment of the carrier strike group, saying that American ships operate in the region on a regular basis. Yet the ships were pulled out of a planned exercise with the Australian Navy in order to steam toward Korea, signaling how seriously Washington is taking the threat from Pyongyang.

Speaking before a meeting with the Turkish defense minister at the Pentagon on Thursday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters that the bottom line is North Korea has got to change its behavior  that is an agreed position among the international community nations that are working together on this.

Photo Credit: ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump waxed lyrical about his good "chemistry" and "bonding" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Wednesday -- a rhetorical U-turn which the White House believes is already paying dividends.

Putting harsh campaign rhetoric about China's "rape" of the US economy in the rear-view mirror, Trump went out of his way to praise Xi for help on North Korea and Syria.

Trump hosted China's leader -- the most powerful in decades -- at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week, and the pair spoke again by phone on Tuesday.

"We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade," Trump said in a Wednesday press conference.

"I was very impressed with President Xi and I think he means well and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does."

Trump and his top aides believe that the courtship, though in the early stages, is already paying off.

China on Wednesday refused to back Russia in vetoing a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Trump described as an "animal" and a "butcher."

"I think it's wonderful that they abstained," Trump said, adding he had spoken to Xi and was not surprised by China's decision.

"We're honored by the vote. That's the vote that should have taken place."

- Friendly in Florida -

Last week, Trump launched a military strike against one Assad airfield as punishment for a suspected sarin nerve agent attack against a village in central Syria.

Behind closed doors, a top Trump aide said China's abstention at the UN helped show how isolated the Assad regime and its Russian backers -- who vetoed the resolution -- were.

"It was the relationship which was solidified at Mar-a-Lago that helped make that possible," said the official, on condition of anonymity.

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Trump also heralded China's decision to turn away North Korean coal shipments -- a vital export for the regime and a key part of much flouted UN Security Council resolutions.

"A lot of the coal boats have already been turned back -- you saw that yesterday and today -- theyve been turned back. The vast amount of coal that comes out of North Korea going to China, they've turned back the boats. That's a big step, and they have many other steps that I know about," he said.

"We have a very big problem in North Korea," Trump said, alluding to serious US concerns that Pyongyang may be only months away from marrying nuclear and missile technology to build a nuke that can reach the US mainland.

"I really think that China is going to try very hard, and has already started."

Trump said he also told Xi that the "way you're (China is) going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea."

- Grand bargain? -

That was the first of several hints of what could be a far-reaching grand bargain with America's most potent geopolitical and economic rival.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump was more specific and backed away from a campaign promise to tackle China for manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage.

Trump had promised to label Beijing a currency manipulator on his first day in office, a designation that could have ended with punitive tariffs and a potential trade war between the world's two largest economies.

China for years was accused of keeping its currency artificially low to make its exports cheaper and more competitive compared to US goods.

"They're not currency manipulators," Trump said flatly, adding that Beijing had not been manipulating its currency for months -- a point economists have been making for a much longer time.

"'But you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea.' That's worth having deficits," Trump said he told Xi, in the interview with The Wall Street Journal.

"And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make."arb/sst
US President Donald Trump vowed Thursday that the "problem" of North Korea "will be taken care of," as speculation mounted that Pyongyang might be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," Trump told reporters.

Separately on Twitter he expressed confidence China, Pyongyang's sole ally, would "properly deal with North Korea."

But, "if they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A."

The ominous comments came the same day Trump ordered the dropping of the biggest non-nuclear bomb the US military possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

A US aircraft carrier and its naval strike group has been diverted to the Korean peninsula.

Trump also flexed his military muscle last week by ordering cruise missile strikes on a Syrian airbase the US believed was the origin of an alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians in a northern Syria town.

- North Korea test 'primed' -

There are reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il-Sung.

A US monitoring group, 38North, has described the Punggye-ri test site as "primed and ready."

The Voice of America, quoting US government and other sources, said North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

Trump has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

He has asked his advisers to give him all options for dealing with the nuclear-armed North.

The US president has also said he would not signal his punches before embarking on any military action abroad.

- China influence 'not what you'd think' -

Asked on Thursday whether the bomb dropped in Afghanistan -- a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb better known by its nickname, the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- was a warning to Pyongyang, Trump demurred.

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"I don't know if this sends a message to North Korea," he said. "It doesn't make any difference if it does or not."

The North is under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

In an interview published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping to let North Korea know that the US has not only aircraft carriers but nuclear submarines.

But Trump said Xi, during a meeting in Florida last week, had corrected his earlier misconception that Beijing could easily get rid of the North Korea threat.

"After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it's not so easy," Trump said. "I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power" over North Korea. "But it's not what you would think."
President Donald Trump said that he offered President Xi Jinping better trade terms with the U.S. in exchange for Chinas cooperation in confronting North Korea.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he was willing to accept a continued trade deficit with China and make not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make if Beijing agreed to confront its neighbor and ally over recent missile launches that violated U.N. resolutions.

Trump said he had changed his mind about how much influence China exerted over North Korea following Xis explanation of the two countries relationship. After listening for 10 minutes, Trump said, I realized its not so easy.

For more on North Korea, watch Fortunes video:

Despite promises made on the campaign trail last year to label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office, Trump reversed his position, saying that China had stopped manipulating its currency and that there were more pressing issues, such as dealing with North Korea.

This article was originally published on FORTUNE.com
By Scot J. Paltrow WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald J. Trump is planning to increase U.S. defense spending by $54 billion next year. But a series of recent reports by the Defense Department Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office say that Pentagon accounting systems will struggle to track how the money is spent. The reports found that the Pentagon remains unable to accurately track its $591 billion annual budget and experiences billions of dollars in accounting gaps and errors each year despite two decades of reform efforts. Taken together, the reports show that many of the endemic accounting problems exposed in a 2013 Reuters investigative series remain in place. These deficiencies not only affect (the Department of Defense's) ability to have auditable financial statements, a Feb. 9 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found, they also affect its ability to make sound decisions on missions and operations. A spokesman for the White House's Office of Management Budget (OMB) said he was confident that Defense Secretary James Mattis would properly spend the additional funds. The need to replenish our military and bolster American security is unquestioned and an important priority of this president," OMB Communications Director John Czwartacki said in a statement. "We believe Secretary Mattis will deploy all of his resources in the most effective and efficient way possible. Critics of wasteful Pentagon spending say increasing the Defense Department budget is unwise when the department is unable to account for what it already has. Its ludicrous, said Mandy Smithberger, director of the Straus Military Reform Project in Washington. Reform isnt going to happen as long as the spigot is turned on. The Pentagons continued accounting problems are drawing particular scrutiny now because the Defense Department faces a congressionally mandated legal deadline of Sept. 30, 2017, to become ready for its first audit ever. Unlike every other U.S. government department, the Pentagon has never undergone an audit because its financial records are in such disarray. A spokesman for the Defense Department comptrollers office said he is confident it will meet the deadline. The Department is committed and on track to be ready to undergo a full financial statement audit in (fiscal year) 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Eric D. Badger said in an email. DEEP CUTS At the same time Trump proposes to boost defense spending, he has called for deep cuts to other areas, a White House summary of his proposed 2018 budget shows. Whether Congress will accept or reject Trump's proposals is unclear. Trump calls for cutting the State Departments budget by $10.1 billion, or 28%. Among other things, U.S. payments to support the United Nations would be cut. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would take a particularly big hit. Trump would cut $2.6 billion, or 31%, of its budget. The White House document says the budget would eliminate more than 50 EPA programs, and cut EPAs research and development budget by $233 million, or 52%. The budget for grants to states for lead clean-up would be cut by 30% to $9.8 million. The recent watchdog reports on the Defense Department found that it lacks a unified, functioning accounting system. As Reuters reported in its 2013 series, the Pentagon has hundreds of independent systems, built ad hoc and some dating from the 1970s, that are riddled with errors and incapable of sharing accurate data. Billions of dollars disappear from accounting records. The military has spent large sums building new systems meant to solve the problem, but so far they have not. A March 16 Defense Department Inspector General report said the Navy could not find any records to back up how it had spent $866 million in the first quarter of 2016 in U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. The report said that as a result, there was no way to know what the money actually was used for. A Navy spokeswoman, Lieutenant Kara YingLing, referred Reuters to the Navys official response to the report, which said the Navy agreed with the Inspector Generals conclusions but said its accounting problems will not be fixed until it begins using a new computer system in 2019. YingLing said the Navy is on track to help the Pentagon meet its Sept. 30 audit deadline. The Feb. 9 GAO report said the Pentagon's continued bookkeeping errors affect the federal government as a whole. Defense spending makes up such a large part of the federal budget that the department's unreliable data skews accounting for the entire U.S. government, the GAO said. SYSTEMIC RISK The report noted that the Defense Department has been on the GAOs list of High Risk entities that represent threats to the federal governments financial well-being since 1995. The report said the Pentagon has remained on the list because of long-standing deficiencies with its financial management systems." The GAO report noted that the Pentagon had hired large independent accounting firms for each of the military services to try to help them meet the Sept. 30 audit deadline. But the report said the firms have found so many problems that the ability of the Pentagon to meet the deadline remains in doubt. A separate Defense Department Inspector General report issued on March 23, 2017, found that the Army continues to be unable to balance its checkbook. The report concluded that the problem for the Army grew worse in 2016. The report said that for October 2015, the Army had 177,921 discrepancies. The monthly numbers rose steadily to 790,551 for June 2016. The report did not give dollar amounts for those months. Army spokesman Wayne Hall said the number of discrepancies continued to increase in 2017 because planned fixes to computer systems have not yet been made. He said the Army is working on building more reliable systems. The report said that because rules require that the Armys numbers exactly match in monthly reports to the Treasury, the Army and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service must find a way to make them match. Their solution was to enter made-up numbers to make it appear falsely that the Armys numbers do match. The report said that for March 2016, there were $1.9 billion in such forced balance entries. Hall said the Army must make the numbers match under federal rules. In separate reports, the Inspector General found that other military services have also had problems balancing their financial numbers with the Treasurys. Accountants interviewed by Reuters said that such large discrepancies would be considered accounting fraud in the corporate world. Badger, the spokesman for the Defense Department comptrollers office, said any errors by the military services were unintentional. We strongly oppose any accusation of intentionally misrepresenting our books, Badger said in an email. Many manual accounting adjustments are often caused by the ineffective design of legacy business or financial systems. Trump has said the $54 billion in increased defense spending will send a message to the world in these dangerous times of American strength, security and resolve. Trump has also vowed to negotiate cheaper contracts with defense contractors, a problem also cited in recent watchdog reports. In a March 2016 report, the Inspector General found that the Air Force had spent billions on a contract to maintain one type of jet engine, without first getting any idea of a fair price. The open-ended contract, with a guaranteed profit margin regardless of cost, was awarded in 2011. The report said that before signing the contract the Air Force obtained no data on the actual cost of the repairs and how the costs compared to private-sector rates. The exact amount of the contract was redacted from the report. The Inspector General has not ruled on a March 2016 Freedom of Information Act request filed by Reuters that asked for the redacted information to be made public. (Editing by David Rohde.)
From calling the NATO "obsolete" to tagging it "no longer obsolete," President Donald Trump took a 180-degree turn on NATO from during his campaigning last year. Trump said Wednesday, that it has shifted its focus on handling the threat of terror.

"The NATO Alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security," Trump said from the East Room of the White House during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. "I said it was obsolete; it's no longer obsolete. Its my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS."

Read: Trump Charges Merkel Billions For Money'Owed' To US For NATO Protection, White House Denies Report

While campaigning, Trump had complained that the 28 countries in the NATO alliance had agreed to contribute at least two percent of their GDP to NATO, have been failing to do so. According to reports, less than a quarter of those countries are making the contributions.

"NATO is obsolete," Trump had said last year. "It's extremely expensive to the United States, disproportionately so. And we should readjust NATO. And it's going to have to be either readjusted to take care of terrorism or we're going to have to set up a new -- a new coalition, a new group of countries to handle terrorism because terrorism is out of control," reports quoted Trump.

In March, 2016, during a meeting with the Washington Post editorial board, he had said: "NATO was set up at a different time. NATO was set up when we were a richer country. Were not a rich country anymore. Were borrowing, were borrowing all of this money...NATO is costing us a fortune and yes, were protecting Europe with NATO but were spending a lot of money. Number one, I think the distribution of costs has to be changed. I think NATO as a concept is good, but it is not as good as it was when it first evolved.

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Throughout his campaigning, Trump had said the U.S. is paying more funds to NATO than many other rich countries and that the arrangement was unfair. He said: "If we cannot be properly reimbursed for the tremendous cost of our military protecting other countries, and in many cases the countries Im talking about are extremely rich...we have many NATO members that arent paying their bills," according to CBS News.

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On Tuesday, President Donald Trump offered two tweets on North Korea.

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

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

In addition, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that North Korea was on notice. In a uniquely puzzling press release earlier this month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that America had already spoken enough about North Korea. The administration has also made a big deal of diverting a Navy carrier strike group toward Korean waters. Trump called it an armada.

What is clear from this posturing is that the White House is focused on North Korea, and likely attempting to deter North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from testing a weapon on April 15, the 105th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung. Whats not clear is exactly what U.S. policy toward North Korea is right now. Deterrence is not going to work. Kim Jong Un is extremely likely to call the U.S. bluff. Then what?

As anyone who has studied North Korea for more than an hour knows, its the land of terrible options. There are no good, quick solutions to its nuclear program, period, and the challenge has long stumped the best and brightest among U.S. diplomats and strategic thinkers.

Lets examine what the other players may be making of the White Houses rhetoric. The Chinese response to Trumps tweets is likely a mixture of irritation and confusion. After all, Chinese President Xi Jinping spent considerable time with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last week. Presumably, Trump conveyed to Xi in clear terms that the United States wants China to place more pressure on North Korea in order to convince Pyongyang that its only option is to reverse its nuclear program. And even though Trump is just learning, thanks to Xi, that the Chinese do not want to take these steps because Beijing is more worried about regime collapse and the ensuing refugee flow than it is about the Norths nuclear weapons (something just about anyone in the Asia divisions of any U.S. national security institution could have told him), the United States and its allies nonetheless need the Chinese to step up. Making public this difficult demand in somewhat threatening terms could make it harder for China to act. At home, Xi cannot be seen to be bending to Trumps will. He has his own macho calculus to consider.

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Moreover, Trumps linkage of the North Korea issue to a trade deal probably puzzles Beijing. What trade deal? There is no bilateral trade deal under negotiation, and it is hard to imagine one that would make sense for both countries. Does he mean the tariffs he has threatened to impose on Chinese goods would not be as high? We dont know. In addition, the United States has made it a point to keep economic relationships and national security separate. Unlike Beijing, Washington doesnt dole out economic punishments for trading partners political or security slights, because the United States government doesnt direct industry the way China does and because the United States dont think this conflation is good for the global economy. Chinas leaders may doubt Trumps ability to deliver anything positive on trade anyway given his campaign rhetoric, even if they do pressure Pyongyang further. They also know Trumps options are limited, as discussed below, and will thus conclude that he is bluffing. Administrations often learn the hard way: It is not a good idea to back down from a threat made against China.

For their part, U.S. allies South Korea and Japan were likely confused by the tweets, as they imply Tokyo and Seoul would not be involved in the planning or execution of whatever it is the United States hopes to do to solve the North Korea problem. That is troubling, as they obviously have very strong equities and have been involved intimately in the process until now. Hopefully, the consulting that Tillerson has done, and that Vice President Mike Pence will do, is allaying their concerns. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming race for president in South Korea, though, Trumps tough stance toward the North may not even be welcome any longer.

As for North Korea, it already knows that it has the attention of the Trump administration. The missile strikes on Syria were not likely timed to coincide with the Xi meeting, but Pyongyang may have concluded otherwise. Its response? The Syria strikes are exactly why the North needs nuclear weapons  to protect itself from Americas aggression.

What Pyongyang, China, and U.S. allies know, what U.S. experts on North Korea in and out of the government know, and what Trump and his White House team hopefully now know, is that the military options for North Korea are much less clear than they were in Syria. First, we cannot be sure that a U.S. air campaign would destroy all of North Koreas nuclear facilities and weapons, because we do not know where they all are. The North could retaliate using a nuclear weapon or nuclear material if we dont destroy all of it. But even if our intelligence and aim were perfect, the fact is and has been for decades that Seoul is within artillery range of the North. The casualties from a North Korean retaliation after a strike would be unacceptably high. Any major military campaign on the Korean Peninsula  and almost any would become major quickly  would draw in China and, at the very least, send the global economy reeling. Moreover, as in Iraq, we dont have an answer to the key question: What comes after the strikes? What are the thousands of intervening steps that lead from a military strike to a peaceful, democratic, unified Korea? An expensive, destabilizing land war in Asia is not what Trump voters signed up for.

Hopefully what Trump has up his sleeve is a plan to impose secondary sanctions on Chinese companies that do business with North Korea in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, if Beijing itself refuses to stop these companies itself. But unfortunately, such measures are unlikely to solve the problem quickly or completely.

Which brings us to the American audience for this posturing against North Korea. Americans are now waiting for Trump to do something. He has said he will take care of this problem if China doesnt act and is building up expectations in a way that reduces his room to maneuver.

The time for tweeting is over. The time for war on the Korean Peninsula is never. The best option is a combination of further sanctions and intense, boring, frustrating diplomacy. Better get to consulting, and hiring, some real talent at State and Treasury.

Photo credit: ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump (Photo: AP)

WASHINGTON  President Trump has a new best friend in Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump spoke glowingly on Wednesday of a personal connection with Xi that he said had developed during the two days that the Chinese leader visited over the weekend.

We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together, Trump said of his time with Xi during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Trump, who added that he was very impressed with President Xi, repeatedly stated that he thought the Chinese leader had good intentions toward the United States. President Xi wants to do the right thing, Trump said. I think he wants to help us with North Korea.  I think he means well, and I think he wants to help.

There were other signs of goodwill between the Trump administration and China on Wednesday. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he would reverse his previous pledge to label China a currency manipulator, which had been a cornerstone of his argument that China was cheating the U.S. and depriving American workers of jobs.

As for Russian President Vladimir Putin, a man that Trump has often spoken of in equally glowing terms, Wednesdays assessment was not as kind.

I dont know Putin, Trump said, before pivoting back to praise Xi, as well as NATO itself, in another sign of shifting relations between the White House and Russia.

Standing next to NATOs top official, Trump said the European alliance that exists to counter Russian aggression was no longer obsolete, reversing himself on a term hed used as recently as January to describe the group.

In Moscow, meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Putin for nearly two hours before declaring that the current state of U.S.-Russia relations is at a low point.

Trump himself added that we may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia.

Trump and Putin have taken opposing viewpoints in Syria, where the Russians are backing President Bashar Assad in a years-old civil war. When Assad used chemical weapons in an attack on his own people, Trump responded by authorizing missile strikes on the Syrian airfield where the chemical attacks originated.

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It was a big change from just a few months ago, when Trump praised Putin for his muted response to sanctions put in place against Russia by then-President Barack Obama. Obama imposed the sanctions because of a CIA report that showed Russia was involved with the hacking of Democratic email accounts that were then leaked publicly in an attempt to disrupt and undermine the presidential election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AP)

At the time, Trump said on Twitter that Putin had made a great move by not retaliating and added, I always knew he was very smart, words that the Russian Embassy retweeted.

Throughout the presidential election, Trump often spoke highly of Putin. But since taking office, Russian meddling in U.S. affairs has become a cloud over Trumps presidency. Trumps first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned over undisclosed contact with a Russian official.

The reality of Russian meddling in the U.S. election, which Trump has downplayed, is now widely accepted, even among Trump administration officials. As to the question of the interference with the election, that is fairly well established in the United States, Tillerson said Wednesday at a press conference in Moscow, where he stood next to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. And it is a serious issue.  We are mindful of the seriousness of that particular interference in our elections. And Im sure that Russia is mindful of it as well.

As positively as Trump has spoken of Putin and Russia before he became president, he was just as hostile toward China. We cant continue to allow China to rape our country, and thats what theyre doing, Trump said a year ago in reference to Chinas trade and currency policies that allow it to export a massive supply of cheap goods to the U.S.

But Xis visit to Trumps private club in Florida over the weekend cemented a change in Trumps approach to China that was already underway. The U.S. needs Chinas help to contain North Koreas rogue regime and also cant simply cede the field to China when it comes to trade in Asia. As a result, Trump and Xi have accelerated the frequency of their communication. The two leaders discussed the North Korea issue in a phone call Tuesday evening, as a follow-up to their two-day summit over the weekend.

Still, there were not substantial public commitments made by Xi regarding North Korea over the weekend, but Trump cited Chinas reduction of coal imports from North Korea as a positive step, even though China reached that decision in late February.

A senior Trump White House official said that the presidents personal rapport with Xi was key to getting China to abstain from voting with Russia at the United Nations on Wednesday. Russia and Bolivia blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Syria and Assad for the chemical weapons attack.

The senior Trump official called Chinas abstention a victory for all civilized peoples and credited the Mar-a-Lago meetings with solidifying the two leaders suddenly warm relationship.

The interaction between Trumps grandchildren and the guests had a big effect on the relationship, the senior official said. Ivanka Trumps 5-year-old daughter, Arabella, performed a song in Mandarin for the Chinese president and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump through the latters campaign phase and presidency, and now the country's most popular senator has said he believes Trump will not be re-elected in 2020.

In terms of the first three months in office, Donald Trump is the least popular president in the history of polling, Sanders told the Associated Press on Wednesday. I do not believe that if Trump continues these policies that he's going to be re-elected. Nor do I think that the Republicans are going to do well in 2018.

Read: Bernie Sanders Slams President Donald Trump's Airstrike On Syria

Sanders, who was a Democratic presidential nominee in the 2016 election, announced his bid for re-election in Vermont on Tuesday in a letter that asked supporters to help him raise funds for a nationwide tour to rally against the Trump administrations policies next week.

The letter, an unusual way to announce that he will be running again, read, Please make a $27 contribution to my re-election campaign to help fund this national tour.

The tour, during which Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez will be joining Sanders, will kick off Monday with a rally in Portland, Maine. Over the week, the liberal icon has appearances scheduled for Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Utah, Nevada and Arizona.

The momentum right now is with the progressive movement in this country, Sanders told the agency. And I think the Republicans are on the defensive and will be on the defensive increasingly.

Sanders gave the example of the Kansas special election Tuesday, where Republican candidate Ron Estes pulled a narrow victory against civil rights attorney James Thompson, a Democrat, for the House seat vacated by CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Despite the loss, it was a major feat for the Democrats to put up a strong fight in a region that was won by President Trump by an overwhelming margin last year.

The Republicans had to spend money like crazy at the end to beat him, Sanders said. I think that's a very good omen for the future.

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Ankara (AFP) - As the clock ticks down to Turkey's landmark referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers, it's impossible to miss the posters for the government-backed 'Yes' campaign in Ankara and cities across the country.

"'Yes' for a strong Turkey." "'Yes' for peace and unity," say the ubiquitous slogans, above pictures of Erdogan or the light bulb logo of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

It's much harder to find 'No' campaign material -- but some banners hang from ropes laid above streets. ''No' for our future'".

The 'Yes' campaign also dominates the airwaves, with all Erdogan's speeches broadcast live and even the main opposition leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP), struggling to make his voice heard.

Yet despite the clear disadvantages in campaign capacities, the 'No' camp -- which brings together liberals, secularists and some Kurds and nationalists -- is sufficiently competitive for the result to be seen as too close to call.

- 'Persuading the don't knows' -

Campaigners in Ankara from the youth wing of the CHP said they were targeting undecided voters rather than persuading 'Yes' voters to change their minds.

Tolgay Yorulmaz, in charge of campaigning in the Ankara district of Cankaya, said letters were given out to people voting for the first time in a door-to-door campaign.

Yorulmaz said there was a "fear" among voters. "Some people tell us they tell people around them they will vote yes but say they will vote 'No' in the ballot box.

"The people do not say how they will vote freely, especially civil servants."

With loud campaign songs blaring in the background, one volunteer who only wanted to give her name as Sevgi said she had been speaking to the public for a month.

"The undecided are generally people who vote for AKP but aren't fully convinced by this constitution or don't know what to think of it."

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Sevgi, a student, said she was missing classes but the campaign was "more important than university".

Across the street, a dozen volunteers were distributing leaflets for the 'No' camp but without any organisation name and only a small table installed on the pavement.

Ozgur Topcu, coordination secretary for the Ankara branch of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, said they had no choice but not to use their name.

"If we put down our name they would detain us," he claimed.

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which is running an observer mission for the polls, said in an interim report on Friday that 'No' supporters "faced campaign bans, police interventions, and violent scuffles at their events".

The report also said freedom of expression has been "further curtailed" following the closure of numerous media outlets and the arrest of journalists following last year's failed coup attempt.

Turkish media reports said that a live interview with Kilicdaroglu on state-run TRT this week had been delayed and limited while the channel waited for Erdogan to finish a live speech.

- 'Seriously curtailed' -

While the CHP has generally been able to campaign openly, the third largest party in parliament -- the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP)-- has faced much more significant hurdles.

HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag are among 13 HDP MPs in jail as well as other party members accused of links to outlawed Kurdish militants, in what supporters say is a deliberate move to sideline them from the campaign.

The OSCE added in its interim report the absence of some activists and leaders in jail had "seriously curtailed some groups' ability to campaign".

The party has been only given a handful of interview opportunities on nationwide TV throughout the campaign and expressed amazement when its MP Osman Baydemir was given a 10-minute slot on TRT this week.

"We are the country's third largest party and what a shame during this referendum process, our two co-chairs, lawmakers, co-mayors, officials are in prison," said Birsen Kaya, co-leader of the HDP in Ankara, at a party rally in the capital this week.

Hundreds of young people were joined by pensioners and small children running around waving 'No' flags written in Turkish and Kurdish during the HDP rally.

Mehtap Dincer, from the eastern province of Van, said she was rejecting the constitutional changes because "we do not want one man to have a say over all aspects of Turkey and all peoples".

"We are saying 'No' for freedom. We don't want a one-man system," Hakima Ugurtas, who was with her husband and two children, said as she waved a bright red flag emblazoned with the word 'No'.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A narrow majority of Turks will vote "Yes" in Sunday's referendum on changing the constitution to grant President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers, two opinion polls showed on Thursday. The April 16 vote will decide on the biggest change in Turkey's system of governance since the modern republic's foundation almost a century ago, potentially replacing its parliamentary system with an executive presidency. Polling company Konda said the number of "yes" voters stood at 51.5 percent, but said its survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percent. "When this forecast is considered within the surveys margin of error, a final judgement might be misleading," Konda said in a statement. Its survey, carried out face-to-face with 3,462 people in 30 provinces on April 7-9, showed turnout for the vote would be around 90 percent. It said the level of undecided voters had fallen to 9 percent from more than 20 percent in January and there was no evidence to indicate their preference.. The survey by pollster Gezici put support for the constitutional change at 51.3 percent, with "no" votes at 48.7 percent after the distribution of undecided voters. The poll was carried out face-to-face with some 1,400 people in 10 provinces on April 8-9. In its previous survey a week earlier it put the "yes" vote at 53.3 percent. Gezici said many people did not want to express their views during the poll's fieldwork. It put the level of undecided voters at 9.9 percent. "One of the basic problems with the work during the referendum process was the evident increase in the level of people's concern about expressing themselves," Gezici said in its analysis of the results. Two other surveys on Wednesday showed the "yes" vote on 51-52 percent. The mean average of nine polls collated by Reuters puts the "yes" vote on 50.9 percent The referendum campaign has damaged Turkey's ties with some European allies. Erdogan has described the banning on security grounds of some rallies by Turkish ministers in the Netherlands and Germany as "Nazi-like" tactics. Voting for Turks living abroad finished on Sunday and Erdogan said this week that those overseas had turned out in greater numbers, a development that pollsters say could benefit him. (Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Dominic Evans and David Dolan)
By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States dropped "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear device it has ever unleashed in combat, on a network of caves and tunnels used by Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, the military said. President Donald Trump touted the bombing as evidence of a more muscular U.S. foreign policy since he took office in January after eight years of President Barack Obama. The 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GBU-43 bomb, which has 11 tons of explosives, was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said. (Graphic - U.S. drops massive bomb in Afghanistan IMG : http://tmsnrt.rs/2nKoKks) The GBU-43, also known as the "mother of all bombs," is a GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003. It is regarded as particularly effective against clusters of targets on or just underneath the ground. Other types of bombs can be more effective against deeper, hardened tunnels. It was the first time the United States has used this size of conventional bomb in a conflict. Trump described the bombing as a "very successful mission. It was not immediately clear how much damage the device did. During last year's presidential election campaign, Trump vowed to give priority to destroying Islamic State, which operates mostly in Syria and Iraq. He flexed U.S. military muscles last week by ordering a cruise missile attack on a Syrian government airbase in retaliation for a poison gas attack. "If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and compare that really to whats happened over the last eight years, youll see that theres a tremendous difference," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. The security situation remains precarious in Afghanistan, with a number of militant groups trying to claim territory more than 15 years after the U.S. invasion which toppled the Taliban government. So far, Trump has offered little clarity about a broader strategy for Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain. LONG AFGHAN WAR Last week, a U.S. soldier was killed in the same district as where the bomb was dropped while he was conducting operations against Islamic State. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the bombing "targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target U.S. military advisers and Afghan forces in the area." Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 p.m. local time and described it as "a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon." U.S. forces took "all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage," he said. Afghan soldiers and police, with the aid of thousands of foreign military advisers, are struggling to hold off a resurgent insurgency led by the Taliban, as well as other groups like Islamic State. The U.S. government's top watchdog on Afghanistan said earlier this year that the Afghan government controls less than 60 percent of the country. Foreign policy experts said that it appeared the use of a specialized weapon like the GBU-43 had more to do with the type of target -- tunnels -- than the United States sending any message to other countries by using such a powerful weapon. "This is a very specialized weapon, we don't have very many of them, you can only use them in a very narrow set of circumstances," said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. Cancian added that while sending a message to Syria or North Korea could have been among the secondary factors considered, they would not have been the main reason for using this type of weapon. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the use of this bomb was a sign that the United States was committed to Afghanistan. But Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a Democrat who was the only "no" vote for authorization for use of military force in Afghanistan in 2001, said the move was unprecedented and asked for an explanation. "President Trump owes the American people an explanation about his escalation of military force in Afghanistan and his long-term strategy to defeat ISIS," she said in a statement. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said recently that he needed several thousand more international troops in order to break a stalemate in the long war with Taliban insurgents. U.S. officials say intelligence suggests Islamic State is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighboring Kunar province. Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. U.S. officials have said they believe the movement has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500. The Afghan Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, are fiercely opposed to Islamic State and the two group have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence. (Reporting by Idrees Ali. Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle and Will Dunham.; Editing by Alistair Bell)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Abbott Laboratories, citing manufacturing flaws with a range of cardiovascular devices acquired with its purchase of St. Jude Medical in January for $25 billion. The letter, dated April 12 and made public on Thursday, sent Abbott's shares down 2 percent to $42.61. The FDA, which said the company failed to disclose at least one death associated with one of the devices, said an inspection of the company's facility in Sylmar, California, raised questions about the safety of several implantable defibrillators and its Merlin@home monitor, which allows doctors to care remotely for patients with cardiac devices. The FDA investigation showed that lithium batteries in the devices were draining prematurely and that the company had "underestimated the occurrence of the hazardous situation." Abbott said in a statement it has a "strong history and commitment to product safety and quality." It said the FDA's inspection took place in February and that Abbott responded on March 13 describing corrective actions it was taking. "We take these matters seriously, continue to make progress on our corrective actions, will closely review FDA's warning letter, and are committed to fully addressing FDA's concerns," the company said. The FDA said Abbott had provided implementation dates for several corrective actions but failed to provide evidence that the actions had actually been implemented. Analysts said the FDA may now delay approval of new devices that can be used inside an MRI machine that the company had expected to see approved by the end of the year. That could help rivals Medtronic Plc, which has such devices on the market and Boston Scientific Corp which expects to launch similar devices in the fourth quarter. "These two companies stand to benefit in the event Abbott's approvals are delayed," Glenn Novarro, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a research note. The affected devices, known as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillators (CRT-Ds) help pace slow heart rhythms and slow dangerously fast rhythms. In October St. Jude said it would recall certain models due to reports of battery failure caused by deposits of lithium forming within the battery and causing a short circuit. In its letter, the FDA said the company repeatedly concluded that the cause of premature depletion "could not be determined" even though the company's supplier had provided evidence that it was due to lithium deposits, known as lithium cluster bridging. (Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington; Editing by Bernard Orr and James Dalgleish)
By Yeganeh Torbati, Denis Dyomkin and Jeff Mason MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The presidents of the United States and Russia on Wednesday both presented souring views of the relationship between their two countries, exchanging sharp words as Moscow extended an icy welcome to the United States' top diplomat in a face-off over Syria. In Washington, President Donald Trump said the United States' relationship with Moscow "may be at an all-time low." Trump's comments came after he made his biggest foreign policy decision of his new presidency last week, firing missiles at Syria to punish Moscow's ally for its suspected use of poison gas. Russia condemned the U.S. action. (For graphic on battle for control in Syria click here: http://tmsnrt.rs/2nm68H0) Hours earlier on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was equally pessimistic, saying in an interview broadcast on Russian television, "The level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but has rather deteriorated." The rhetorical salvos came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson received an unusually hostile reception in Moscow, where any hope that the Trump administration would herald less confrontational relations was dashed in the week after the U.S. missile strike on Syria. Tillerson met Putin in the Kremlin after talking to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for about three hours. The Kremlin had previously declined to confirm Putin would meet Tillerson, reflecting the renewed tensions. Trump had frequently called during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign for warmer ties with Putin, despite criticism from lawmakers in his own Republican Party. But the civil war in Syria has driven a wedge between Moscow and Washington, upending what many in Russia hoped would be a transformation in relations, which reached a post-Cold War low under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama. As Tillerson sat down for talks with Lavrov on Wednesday, a volley of statements, including from a senior Russian official, appeared timed to maximize the awkwardness during the first visit to Moscow by a member of Trump's cabinet. Lavrov doubled down on Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, repeating denials that Assad's government was to blame for the gas attack last week and adding a new theory that the attack may have been faked by Assad's enemies. Tillerson reiterated the U.S. position that Assad must eventually relinquish power in Syria. "We discussed our view that Russia as their closest ally in the conflict perhaps has the best means of helping Assad recognize this reality," he said. Asked whether Assad could be subject to war crimes charges, Tillerson said people were working to make such a case, though he cautioned doing so would require clearing a high legal hurdle. AN ICY WELCOME Lavrov greeted Tillerson with unusually icy remarks, denouncing the missile strike on Syria as illegal and accusing Washington of behaving unpredictably. One of Lavrov's deputies was even more undiplomatic. "In general, primitiveness and loutishness are very characteristic of the current rhetoric coming out of Washington," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russia's state-owned RIA news agency. But Lavrov said some progress had been made on Syria at the meeting and that a working group would be set up to examine the poor state of U.S.-Russia ties. He also said Putin had agreed to reactivate a U.S.-Russian air safety agreement over Syria that Moscow suspended after the U.S. missile strikes. Tillerson noted the low level of trust between the two countries. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said. Moscow's hostility to Trump administration figures is a sharp change from last year, when Putin hailed Trump as a strong figure and Russian state television was often full of effusive praise for him. In another possible setback to a thaw with Moscow, Trump said on Wednesday that NATO is not obsolete, as he had declared during the election campaign last year. But he told a news conference at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that alliance members still need to pay their fair share for the European security umbrella. Trump said U.S. relations with Russia were not going well. "Right now, were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens," Trump told the news conference. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said his administration's policy was not to demand Assad step down as part of a "peaceful resolution to the conflict," in some contrast to Tillerson's remarks in Moscow. "Are we insisting on it? No. But I do think its going to happen at a certain point," Trump said. The Wall Street Journal cited Trump as saying that Assad's use of chemical weapons again would elicit another military response, but he also said he would not intervene in depth in the conflict. The White House has accused Moscow of trying to cover up Assad's use of chemical weapons after the attack on a rebel-held Syrian town last week killed 87 people. Trump responded to the gas attack by firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on Friday. Washington warned Moscow, and Russian troops at the base were not hit. Moscow has stood by Assad, saying the poison gas belonged to rebels, an explanation Washington dismisses as beyond credible. Russia blocked a Western effort at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to condemn the gas attack and push Assad to cooperate with international inquiries into the incident. Trump came to the presidency promising greater cooperation with Russia in fighting against the two countries' common enemy in Syria, the Islamic State militant group. Tillerson is a former oil executive who was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship by Putin. Trump's relations with Russia are also a domestic issue, as U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of using computer hacking to intervene in the U.S. presidential election to help Trump win. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether any Trump campaign figures colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies. (Additional reporting by Polina Devitt, Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Peter Graff, Anna Willard and Dustin Volz; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Leslie Adler)
By Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Help Wanted: A chief operating officer to help change a Silicon Valley giant's now-notorious "bro" culture, but who can thrive in a power dynamic that hands the boss overwhelming control. At Uber Technologies Inc., co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick commands everything from board decision-making to the exact hour the beer taps will open at the company's San Francisco headquarters. That management approach is rooted in more than just a cult of personality. Uber's governance and share structure, and the "founder-friendly" terms of the $13 billion in equity the company has raised, give Kalanick, his co-founder and a fellow employee ultimate control over the company, according to company documents and an Uber investor with knowledge of the matter. As the company searches for a chief operating officer who can in theory take on some of Kalanick's sweeping authority, that looks to be a problem. "A COO would report into Travis, so structurally, there's the rub," said Dave Carvajal, an executive recruiter for venture-backed tech companies. "This COO is going to need to have influence at the board level to effect change." Kalanick's near-total control at Uber is made possible largely by a dual-class share structure that gives certain owners 10 votes per share, according the company's certificate of incorporation filed with the State of Delaware. Kalanick, along with Garrett Camp, Uber's co-founder who is now working on another startup, and Ryan Graves, Uber CEO prior to Kalanick, together hold enough of those super-voting shares to give them control of the company, according to an Uber investor with knowledge of the matter. The documents say Uber's executive board may have eleven voting members, including nine seats controlled by shareholders with super-voting rights. But Kalanick has kept the power circle small, leaving four board seats empty. In addition to Kalanick, Camp and Graves, the board includes venture capitalist Bill Gurley of Benchmark, David Bonderman of TPG Capital, Yasir Al Rumayyan of the Saudi Arabian public investment fund and media impresario Arianna Huffington. Leaving control with founders has become popular in Silicon Valley in recent years, both because of the success of founder-led enterprises like Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google and because investors compete with each other to fund entrepreneurs by offering them the best terms. Those circumstances helped Uber obtain a $68 billion valuation, the biggest of any private venture-backed company. But with Uber rocked by scandals, including detailed accusations of sexual harassment from a former female employee and a video showing Kalanick harshly berating an Uber driver, Kalanick just weeks ago promised to "grow up" and hire a COO who would offer "leadership help." The COO search is ongoing, but Uber's human resources chief told reporters last month that Kalanick, 40, is already showing a more collaborative style. The share structure leaves investors with few options if they lose patience with Kalanick, though there is little sign of that happening. With two public exceptions, investors have either supported Kalanick or stayed silent as the company's all-important rider numbers continue to grow even in the face of controversy. Mitchell Green, a partner at Lead Edge Capital that invested in Uber at a $40 billion valuation, believes the controversies will blow over and he even wants to buy more stock. "We believe that Travis continues to drive shareholder equity value higher," said Green. CONTROL A COO DETERRENT? The most effective COOs have broad authority and direct access to the board, governance experts say. At Facebook, for example, COO Sheryl Sandberg works in partnership with founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and holds a board seat. At Uber, it's not so easy to envision what a power-sharing arrangement would look like, or how the brash founder could be an agent of managerial change under such a governance structure, the experts said. "People don't like to correct their own homework," said Bill Aulet, managing director of the entrepreneurship center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "This is a situation where the checks and balances are not really in place." An Uber spokesman declined to comment for this story. A string of high-level executive departures  including company president Jeff Jones last month and top communications chief Rachel Whetstone this week  has centralized even more authority with Kalanick and raised questions about the staying power of his deputies. Kalanick is known to obsess over details like office decor alongside big issues like pricing strategy and driver relations. Kalanick at one point ordered the beer taps in the office locked during certain hours, controlling when employees could pour themselves a pint, after expressing displeasure with one imbibing staff member, said one former employee. The CEO closely managed Uber's logo redesign last year, despite himself not being a designer, according to a source close to the company. Design chief Andrew Crow announced he was quitting the day after the new logo was unveiled. Soon after, Kalanick rejected the new logo designers brought him for Uber Eats, the company's food-delivery business, upset that the team hadn't shown him every iteration of the design, according to a second former employee. The CEO also at times edited press statements following a PR incident, the former employee said. He was especially anxious that the company didn't come across as too apologetic. This sort of iron grip may deter qualified COO candidates who "don't want to do their job with one arm tied behind their back," said Robert Siegel, a lecturer at Stanford University and venture capitalist at XSeed Capital. (Editing by Jonathan Weber and Edward Tobin)
Uber is back in Taiwan, two months after it was unceremoniously banned  but it's not all good news for drivers there.

Under Uber's new agreement with regulators, it only be able to operate again in Taipei by using licensed commercial drivers, rather than private drivers.

SEE ALSO: Uber is pretty much throwing in the towel in Taiwan

"Drivers have to be licensed commercial drivers working for rental car companies," an Uber spokesperson told Mashable.

This effectively blocks regular folk wanting to operate as ride-sharing drivers.

Uber announces its return on Thursday, April 13th.

Image: DAVID CHANG/EPA/REX/Shutterstock

On a statement on its website, Uber announced that it would now be "partnering with licensed rental car companies to resume serving riders in Taipei...after constructive talks with transportation authorities."

According to Likai Gu, General Manager of Uber Taiwan, the company wants to "partner with more legal transportation service partners in weeks and months to come."

Uber first ran into trouble in Taiwan in 2016, after state officials claimed that the company was not operating lawfully.

Under Taiwanese law, taxi companies are legally required to be domestically owned and operated.

Uber was later ordered to suspend its services, after months of police cracking down on drivers in the capital city.

Over a million people in Taiwan have downloaded the app, and according to Uber, over 15 million trips have been taken since its launch on the island some four years ago.

WATCH: I tried Uber Rush for a day: Here's what happened.
Entebbe (Uganda) (AFP) - Targeted killings of specific ethnic groups in South Sudan's civil war amount to "genocide", according to Britain's International Development Minister Priti Patel.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," Patel told reporters in Uganda on Wednesday, according to a ministry press officer travelling with her.

Patel was returning from a visit to South Sudan where people have "experienced trauma and horror none of us can comprehend", she told AFP in a separate interview.

Civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 after a power struggle between President Salva Kiir -- who is ethnic Dinka -- and his former deputy Riek Machar from the Nuer community.

The Dinka and Nuer are the two largest ethnic groups in South Sudan and with their history of bloody rivalry, fighting quickly pitted the two against each other.

However the conflict has also drawn in the country's myriad smaller groups, either taking sides with the government or the rebels or fighting each other for the upper hand in local conflicts over land or other issues.

Refugees fleeing fighting in South Sudan have told AFP of targeted killings by government troops, who identify people according to language or tribal scarring before slaughtering them.

In the southern town of Pajok, seen as sympathetic to the rebels, government troops went on a rampage last week killing at least 85 people, numerous witnesses told AFP after fleeing to Uganda.

As fighting broke out in the second largest city of Wau this week, priest Moses Peter told AFP that government troops were "targeting certain groups of people".

The rebels are also accused of committing atrocities.

United Nations experts in early December reported "ethnic cleansing" in several parts of South Sudan.

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has warned of "a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide."

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South Sudan's Information Minister Michael Makuei slammed Patel's comments as "unfortunate and misleading".

"That is a very unfortunate statement given by an irresponsible person. There is no genocide," he said.

"If they talk of a genocide what are the criteria of a genocide. If they talk of a genocide then the whole world will be in genocide because of what is happening in the US, in Germany, even in Britain," said Makuei, referring to terrorist attacks.

Genocide is the gravest crime in international humanitarian law and also the most difficult to prove.

Derived from the Greek word "genos", for race or tribe, and the suffix "cide" from the Latin for "to kill"; genocide is defined by the United Nations as an "act committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group."

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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations Security Council on Thursday agreed to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti after 13 years and replace it with a smaller police-only force.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution that will end the mission known as MINUSTAH by October 15.

The decision provided a boost to the new US administration's hopes of cutting back its multi-billion dollar financial contribution to UN peacekeeping.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley has launched a review of all peacekeeping missions to find ways of cutting back costs and improving the operations, which have been plagued with sexual abuse and corruption scandals.

After the vote, Haley spoke out against sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, saying children in Haiti will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" she asked.

The council agreed that the 2,370 soldiers serving in MINUSTAH will be gradually withdrawn over six months to make way for the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).

That mission will have 1,275 police, which will also be drawn down over two years as the police force is built up in the poor Caribbean country.

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.

- Peacekeeper abuse of kids 'must stop' -

Haley said sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" and that the United States will continue to demand that countries hold accountable soldiers who face allegations while serving under the UN flag.

She cited the example of a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers in Haiti -- they reportedly lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies. Dozens of peacekeepers were sent home over the claims.

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"The children were passed from soldier to soldier," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

With its annual budget of $346 million, MINUSTAH does not rank among the costliest peace operations run by the United Nations, but its closure signalled a shift toward smaller missions.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said he expected more cuts and closures of peacekeeping operations.

"Peacekeepers do fantastic work but they are very expensive and they should be used only when needed. So we strongly support the ending of this mission and turning it into something else and we will see the same thing elsewhere," Rycroft told reporters.

In late March, the council reduced the size of its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the ceiling down from 19,815 troops to 16,215.

Missions in Liberia and Ivory Coast will also shut down, while the large joint UN-African Union peace operation in Sudan's Darfur region is also expected to be drawn down.
Tokyo (AFP) - Uniqlo's operator said Thursday that its half-year profit doubled from a year ago as sales of winter wear picked up and the chain refocuses on thrifty shoppers.

Fast Retailing also cited upbeat demand at its China stores for net profit coming in at 97.2 billion yen ($891 million) in the six months through February, up from 47.0 billion last year. Revenue rose 0.6 percent to 1.02 trillion yen, it said.

But the company did not upgrade its 100 billion yen full-year profit forecast, meaning results for the rest of the year were likely to come in weaker than hoped.

Asia's biggest retailer -- a rival of Zara, Gap and H&M -- pointed to strong demand for sweaters and its heat-retaining clothing brand, Heattech, for upbeat first-half results.

"On top of strong sales, we saw significant profit increase in the mainland Chinese" stores and in Southeast Asia, the company said in a statement.

Still, warmer-than-expected weather in December and January held back sales at Uniqlo's Japanese locations.

Fast Retailing has adopted a back-to-thrifty strategy after company chairman Tadashi Yanai conceded last year that an ill-fated price rise had been a mistake that hurt sales.

In October, Yanai backed off his ambitious annual revenue goal -- 5.0 trillion yen by 2020.
Not only did United Airlines make millions of enemies when it forcibly removed a passenger from a Louisville-bound flight, it also acted illegally, according to attorney Brian Mahany of Wisconsin-based Mahany Law.

Video emerged Sunday of aviation security officers physically removing a bloodied and screaming passenger from a flight by dragging him by his arms down the aisle of the plane. The company said it needed to make room for four of its employees on the flight and had randomly selected the man (along with three other passengers) after nobody volunteered to deplane.

Read: United Airlines Backlash Erupts After Viral Video Of Passenger Being Forcibly Removed

Its illegal, Mahany, who was part of a $16.6 billion fraud settlement with Bank of America in 2015 and specializes in consumer protection, told International Business Times in an interview Wednesday. You cant remove, under the current rules, a passenger once theyre seated on the aircraft. You can deny them entry if youre overbooked, but once theyre on the aircraft, its a completely different set of rules.

United, like all airlines, has protocol in place for overbooking incidents, said Mahany. Under Uniteds Rule 25: Denied Boarding Compensation, the airline lays out its responsibilities in dealing with an overbooked flight, but the rule deals only with passengers who have not yet boarded the plane.

Per these rules, the company would have had to deny entry to the passenger before, not after, he boarded the plane. In order to require someone to leave the plane who is already seated, Mahany said, they would need to provide a lawful reason.

If theyre not dressed appropriately, if they have certain communicable diseases, if theyre drunk, if theyre violent, you can remove them, he said. If they dont turn off their cell phone when theyre supposed to, you can remove them. If they wont obey lawful instructions from a crew member, you can remove them. But telling someone, Hey, weve overbooked, get off the plane, that wouldnt be a lawful instruction.

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LawNewz, a website run by legal correspondent Dan Abrams, agreed that the company acted illegally when it forced the passenger to de-plane. The Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings said in a statement Tuesday that it had begun reviewing what happened on the flight.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that airlines comply with consumer protection regulations and will not speculate during the review process on this matter, it said, explaining that it would determine whether or not the airline complied with the DOT's "oversales rule."

The statement noted that it is legal for airlines to involuntarily bump passengers when there are not enough volunteers and that it is the airlines responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities. It also explained that the airline would have to give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and detailing how the airline decided who was bumped, and that "the Department mandates compensation and other protections for passengers who have confirmed reserved space on a flight." The Department of Justice also said it was reviewing the incident.

Read: Rival Airlines Take Advantage Of United's Public Relations Nightmare

The United flight was not an overbooking incident in the technical sense.

The problem was caused by United wanting to add four of their own crew members at the last minute, said Mahany. In the grand scheme of things, thats not what made this illegal, although it certainly makes it less clear. What makes it illegal is that they allowed the passenger to board.

Citing the newest apology from CEO Oscar Munoz, Mahany said the airline likely only realized they were in hot water legally days later.

The newest apology says, 'We will never remove a paying passenger again.' Newsflash: they cant, he said. I think they realize today, three days later, that legally, they couldnt do what they did.

The situation could have been averted had United personnel been better trained  and had more control, Mahany said. The line employees arent empowered to do anything, and the cops are always going to listen to the flight crew. If the pilot says a person has to get off, theyre going to take them off.

Its unclear what legal avenue the passenger will choose to pursue against the company or what the letter of the law may prescribe  but with the damaging video still making the viral rounds, the aviation giant is unlikely to find much sympathy from a jury.

Related Articles
Lawyers for David Dao, the man who was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight Sunday due to "overbooking" by the airlines, filed an emergency court request last Wednesday for the airline to preserve evidence. The video showing Dao, who is currently hospitalized after the incident, being pulled out of his seat and screaming as officers dragged him down the aircraft at Chicago O'Hare airport, received millions of views.

The airline issued an apology over the incident and said it would refund the ticket costs of all passengers on Sunday's flight. Oscar Munoz, the CEO of the airline, insisted he will not resign after two online petitions calling for his resignation gained more than 64,000 and 75,000 signatures. Senior Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Transportation Committee demanded answers from United Airlines CEO and the Chicago Department of Aviation about the removal of the passenger in the video.

While Dao continues to recover in a Chicago hospital, lawyers representing him filed a petition with an Illinois State court demanding the airline and the City of Chicago to preserve all surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists related to the flight, BBC reported.

Read: United Airlines Spent Millions Fighting Proposals To Protect Passenger Rights

The airline announced Wednesday it is "reaching out" to customers on the United Flight 3411 and "offering compensation for their flights."

Munoz, who had initially described Dao as "disruptive and belligerent," said Wednesday he felt "shame and embarrassment" and vowed such an incident would never happen again.

The Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings said in a statement Tuesday that it had begun reviewing what happened on the flight.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that airlines comply with consumer protection regulations and will not speculate during the review process on this matter, it said.

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The statement noted that it is legal for airlines to involuntarily bump passengers when there are not enough volunteers and that it is the airlines responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities.

However, attorney Brian Mahany of Wisconsin-based Mahany Law told International Business Times in an interview Wednesday that the airline acted illegally.

You cant remove, under the current rules, a passenger once theyre seated on the aircraft. You can deny them entry if youre overbooked, but once theyre on the aircraft, its a completely different set of rules, he said.

Related Articles
To blow up an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan, the United States has dropped one of its most powerful non-nuclear bombs  the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, a 21,000-pound munition packing an explosive punch larger than almost anything else in the U.S. conventional arsenal.

According to the Defense Department, local Islamic State fighters had bolstered their subterranean defenses in the province of Nangarhar, Afghanistan. The MOAB, or GBU-43, was designed as a bunker buster, to allow U.S. forces to penetrate underground nuclear facilities like those in Iran  but made its debut in a more rustic setting.

As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense, said General John W. Nicholson, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon press release. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K.

There are between 600 and 800 Islamic State fighters operating in Afghanistan, according to U.S. military estimates. Last month, Afghan troops backed up by American Special Forces advisors launched a major offensive against the group in Nangarhar, which resulted in the death of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar on April 8, the first U.S. combat death in Afghanistan this year.

Our goal is to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017, U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Salvin, a spokesman for the U.S. military command in Kabul, told Foreign Policy.

He said the bomb was used against the large tunnel complex because it allowed the fighters freedom of movement to outmaneuver Afghan forces, and while U.S. forces havent been able to complete their assessment of what the strike might have achieved, what we projected is that the bomb has the ability to collapse the tunnels on top of any fighters inside.

CNN first reported the use of the bomb.

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The news came the same day as a report that a coalition airstrike in Syria mistakenly killed 18 fighters backed by the United States.

The U.S. statement also said: U.S. Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. The U.S. military is reportedly currently assessing the damage from the bomb.

Read more:

Mission Accomplished Will Never Come in Afghanistan: Will the Trump administration put American interests first, or the presidents own obsession with winning?

On the Trail of the Islamic State in Afghanistan: In Nangarhar province, Afghan troops are hunting a new and elusive enemy: the Islamic State fighters taking root in what were once Taliban strongholds.

The strike in Afghanistan is part of a huge increase in the American air war in Afghanistan that started under the Obama administration, but has increased even more sharply under President Donald Trump. In the first three months of 2017, American planes have dropped over 450 bombs on targets in Afghanistan, compared to about 1,300 for all of 2016, according to U.S. Air Force statistics. The number of strikes in the first two months of the Trump administration more than doubled the number taken in the same time period under the Obama administration.

Under Trump, the White House has allowed commanders on the ground far more leeway in in striking targets in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, a welcome change for military leaders who long bristled at the control the Obama administration exercised over small troop movements and sometimes individual targets.

The MOAB is also known as the mother of all bombs. It is not, however, the heaviest non-nuclear bomb. That distinction belongs to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, an even bigger bunker-buster that weighs 30,000 pounds.

This post has been updated.

Photo credit: USAF via Getty Images

Correction, April 13, 2017: Due to an editing error, the article originally misstated the explosive yield. It is larger than almost anything else in the U.S. conventional arsenal.
(This April 12 story corrects time in GMT to 1745 GMT, not 1545 GMT in second paragraph; in fourth paragraph, corrects governor's first name to Andrew, not Mario) By Ian Simpson (Reuters) - A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1745 GMT), a police spokesman said. Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said. Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013. "Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement. The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a U.S. judge. Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful. A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website. She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Paul Tait)
The University of California has filed an appeal to overturn a February decision by a US patent tribunal that dealt UC a setback in its efforts to win foundational patents on the revolutionary genome editing technology CRISPR-Cas9.

In that decision, the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled that CRISPR patents issued to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in 2014 did not cover the same inventions for which UC had sought patents. The PTAB decision found that the claims can be patented separately. That left UC free to pursue its original patent applications, but was deemed a setback because the Broad was left with what many experts considered the more valuable intellectual property.

UC was joined in its appeal, filed in the federal Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., by its partners in its CRISPR patent efforts, the University of Vienna and biologist Emmanuelle Charpentier, who collaborated with UC biochemist Jennifer Doudna on the pioneering CRISPR research.

The appeal seeks to have PTAB reverse its decision, and conclude that the Broads patents on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in eukaryotic cells  those of advanced organisms, including all plants and animals  are so similar to UCs patent application on the use of CRISPR in more primitive cells, like bacteria, that they should not have been granted.

Ultimately, we expect to establish definitively that the team led by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier was the first to engineer CRISPR-Cas9 for use in all types of environments, including in non-cellular settings and within plant, animal and even human cells, said Edward Penhoet, a special adviser on CRISPR to the UC president and UC Berkeley chancellor. Penhoet is the associate dean of biology at UC Berkeley and a professor emeritus of molecular and cell biology..

UC also intends to continue its efforts to obtain patents elsewhere in the world on the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in non-cellular and cellular settings, including eukaryotic cells, the university said in a statement. Last month, UC was told by the European Patent Office that it would be awarded a patent on the basic CRISPR-Cas9 technology on May 10.

In a statement, the Broad said that given that the facts have not changed, we expect the outcome will once again be the same. We are confident the Federal Circuit will affirm the PTAB decision and recognize the contribution of the Broad, MIT and Harvard in developing this transformative technology.

In a federal circuit case, the judges do not re-examine the facts determined by PTAB. Instead, UC will have to argue that the three PTAB judges committed an error of law. That, said Broad spokesman Lee McGuire, seems unlikely.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Syrian authorities  "abetted by Russia's continuing efforts to bury the truth"  still possess and use chemical weapons, an American diplomat told the international chemical weapons watchdog on Thursday.

The strong comments by Kenneth D. Ward, the American ambassador to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, came amid ongoing diplomatic skirmishes over last week's deadly attack in Syria.

Ward used a hastily convened meeting of the organization's executive council to launch a withering verbal attack on Syrian President Bashar Assad and his allies in Moscow.

The meeting was called to discuss the April 4 attack on the Syrian town of Khan Shaykhun that killed nearly 90 people. The United States and other Western governments blame Assad's regime.

Washington in retaliation launched missile strikes on a Syrian air base it said was the starting point for the chemical weapons attack, a move that ratcheted up tensions between the United States and Syria's ally Russia.

Russia and Syria claim the Khan Shaykhun victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian warplanes.

Assad, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, denied that any chemical weapons attack took place.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," Assad said in the video released by his office.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack," Assad said in his first comments since the U.S. missile strikes in response to the chemical attack.

Assad denied having chemical weapons and said Syria would only allow an "impartial" investigation into the incident.

But OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told the meeting at the group's headquarters in The Hague that the preliminary assessment of OPCW experts investigating the alleged chemical attack was "that this was a credible allegation."

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He said investigators have collected samples that have been sent for analysis.

U.S. Ambassador Ward insisted it was a deliberate attack that amounted to "a direct affront to the Chemical Weapons Convention and, indeed, a direct affront to human decency, carried out by a State Party" to the OPCW, according to the text of his speech that was posted on the organization's website.

Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 under severe international pressure following a deadly chemical attack on a Damascus suburb. Assad's government told the organization it had a 1,300-ton stockpile of chemical weapons and chemicals used to make them.

The stockpile was destroyed in an operation overseen by the Nobel Peace Prize winning-group OPCW, but ever since there have been questions about whether Assad had declared all his weapons.

"On April 4, the lifeless bodies of innocent victims, grotesquely contorted and twisted by the nerve agent sarin, tell the real story," Ward said. Syria "continues to possess and use chemical weapons."

He added that "this outrage is abetted by Russia's continuing efforts to bury the truth and protect the Syrian regime" from consequences of using chemical weapons.

On Thursday night, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to support the OPCW investigation.

Erdogan's office said in a statement that the two leaders held a telephone conversation during which the Turkish leader stressed that the use of chemical weapons "is the greatest crime against humanity."

The statement says "the two leaders agreed that the attack in question be investigated by the OPCW, which is an independent organization whose legitimacy is recognized."

The Kremlin in a statement confirmed that Putin and Erdogan had spoken "in favor of conducting an objective and full international investigation as soon as possible."

Britain's Ambassador, Sir Geoffrey Adams, told the meeting that U.K. scientists have analyzed samples from Khan Shaykhun and they "tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance."

Earlier this week, Turkish doctors also said that test results conducted on victims confirmed that sarin gas was used.

The OPCW's Fact Finding Mission for Syria is conducting an investigation and is expected to report its findings in three weeks. The organization has not revealed any details, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the probe and the safety of OPCW staff.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that OPCW inspectors should visit both the Syrian air base, which the U.S. said served as a platform for the attack, and Khan Sheikhoun to get a full and objective picture.

He said Russia vetoed a draft U.N. resolution Wednesday because it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

"We are deeply worried by our partners in the U.N. Security Council trying to evade an honest investigation into that episode," he said.

Lavrov said he emphasized the need for a wide-ranging OPCW probe during Wednesday's talks in Moscow with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, suggesting that Western nations, Russia and some regional powers could dispatch additional experts to join the investigation.

____

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.
Washington (AFP) - Talk about a craving: an eight-year-old American boy drove his father's van to a McDonald's because he just had to have a cheeseburger.

The Ohio boy said he learned to drive by watching YouTube videos, the Weirton Daily Times reported on Sunday evening's adventure.

The child, at the wheel with his four-year-old sister riding shotgun, drove for about a mile and a half, stopping at red lights and letting traffic pass before he executed a left turn into the McDonald's in the town of East Palestine in eastern Ohio, the paper said.

The parents were home asleep, it added.

Police were alerted by people who saw the boy driving through town.

When he pulled up to the drive-through window at the burger joint, employees thought it was all a joke.

"The workers thought that the parents were in the back, but obviously they weren't," East Palestine patrolman Jacob Koehler told the newspaper.

When police showed up the boy started crying because he thought he had done something wrong, it added.

The kids' grandparents were called to take them to the police station, and in the meantime they got a meal of a cheeseburger, chicken nuggets and fries.

The parents picked up their kids at the police station and no charges were filed, the paper said.
New York (AFP) - A US doctor in Detroit has been arrested and charged with carrying out female genital mutilation on girls aged six to eight, prosecutors said.

Emergency room doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, is accused of carrying out the widely condemned practice -- illegal in the United States -- for 12 years from a medical office in Livonia, Michigan.

She appeared in a US federal court in Detroit on Thursday and was remanded into custody until at least Monday, said a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office.

If convicted at trial she faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the United States on anyone under than 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.

Prosecutors in Michigan say they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.

Some of Nagarwala's victims traveled from outside Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, prosecutors said.

"Dr Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims," said acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco.

"The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse."

"The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law," said acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch.

In 2006, a court in Georgia found a man guilty of sexually mutilating his two-year-old daughter with a pair of scissors, in what was then the first recorded case of female genital mutilation in the United States.

The Ethiopian immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated battery and cruelty to children for the 2001 crime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 513,000 women and girls in the United States in 2012 were at risk of or had been subjected to female genital mutilation or cutting.

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The estimate was three times higher than one based on 1990 data, due to increased immigration from countries where genital mutilation is practiced.

Globally, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have suffered some form of female genital mutilation across 30 countries, according to the United Nations.

While concentrated in Africa, it is common in some communities in Asia, Arab states and Latin America. Half of those cut live in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, according to the UN.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Thursday that sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" following a media report detailing a child sex ring run by blue helmets in Haiti.

Haley told the Security Council after it voted to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti that many children abused by the soldiers will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

The US ambassador quoted a recent report by the Associated Press news agency on a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers who lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies.

"The children were passed from soldier to soldier. One boy was gang-raped in 2011 by peacekeepers who disgustingly filmed it on a cellphone," Haley told the council.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?"

The United Nations has been badly shaken by a wave of allegations of sex abuse by troops it deploys in missions with a clear mandate to protect civilians.

Last month, a UN report showed an increase in cases, with 145 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in 2016, up from 99 in 2015, although this may be partly explained by the fact that more victims are coming forward.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, has told the United Nations and countries that contribute troops to missions that "these abuses must stop," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

The United States will continue to push for accountability for soldiers accused of sex abuse in Haiti and other missions, she said, before calling on the council to "join me in this effort."

The MINUSTAH mission in Haiti ranks among those with the highest number of cases of sexual abuse.

UN missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan also have been hit by a wave of sex abuse allegations involving their peacekeepers.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on the brother of a well-known Iranian general.

A Treasury Department statement says sanctions were imposed on the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Soleimani in connection with serious human rights abuses in Iran. Soleimani is a senior official in the organization.

The statement says the action reflects deep concern regarding human rights in Iran.

Soleimani is the younger brother of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's elite Quds force who also advised Iraq's Shiite militias in their fight against the Islamic State group.

The Treasury Department says the prison organization is responsible for, or complicit in, the detention of many prisoners of conscience and well-documented accounts of their mistreatment and abuse.
MANASSAS, Va. (AP)  Joaquin Shadow Rams plotted to kill his infant son from nearly the time he was born, finally snuffing out his life at age 15 months when the opportunity presented itself, a Virginia judge ruled Thursday.

Rams was convicted of capital murder in the 2012 death of Prince McLeod Rams and will be sentenced to life in prison.

Judge Randy Bellows' ruling caps a nearly five-year legal saga in which Rams maintained he was unfairly accused and that his son died after suffering a fever-induced seizure. Witnesses gave conflicting medical testimony about the possibility that Prince died from natural causes.

But in a 62-page ruling that he read aloud from the bench for more than two hours, Bellows methodically dismissed the suggestion that Prince died a natural death. Bellows concluded that Rams planned to kill his son ever since he took out life insurance policies totaling more than $500,000 in September 2011, when Prince was only 2 months old.

In the summer of 2012 a civil judge granted unsupervised visits to Rams over the objection of his mother, Hera McLeod, who feared for the boy's safety. Then, in September 2012, Rams learned that his son was suffering fever-induced seizures.

The seizures "gave the defendant his alibi, his way to justify how Prince came to die in his care," Bellows said.

On October 20, 2012, in just his fourth unsupervised visit with his son, Rams called 911 and said his son had a seizure and stopped breathing. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead the next day.

Prince's death fits a pattern of misfortune that has befallen those close to Rams. His ex-girlfriend, Shawn Mason, was shot and killed in 2003. Rams' mother, Alma Collins, died in 2008 in what authorities initially ruled a suicide. In Mason's death, Rams tried to collect on a life insurance policy. In Collins' death, Rams did collect a payout of more than $150,000.

Prosecutor Paul Ebert said Rams is a suspect in both those cases, and authorities will decide later whether to bring charges.

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Rams showed no visible reaction when the verdict was announced. His attorneys said they plan to appeal but declined further comment.

Hera McLeod expressed relief after the conviction but said "it's sad my son had to be the one who put him away."

She said Rams should have been locked up after Mason's death, and that a judge never should have allowed him unsupervised visits with Prince after she had presented evidence that Rams was a potential danger and a suspect in Mason's death.

Ebert said the case was challenging because the medical evidence was "especially convoluted." The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy concluded that Prince drowned. But her boss at the time, Virginia chief medical examiner William Gormley, overturned the finding a year later and changed the cause of death to "undetermined."

Defense experts said the fact that Prince suffered fever-induced seizures was significant, but medical experts for prosecutors said fever-induced seizures are common in boys Prince's age and not fatal. Bellows in his ruling agreed with prosecutors' experts, saying the medical evidence on that point is overwhelming.

Bellows ruled on Rams' guilt because the defense waived its right to a jury trial in exchange for prosecutors' promise not to pursue a death penalty. Because Rams was convicted of capital murder and the death penalty is now off the table, the only option under Virginia law at Rams' formal sentencing in June is life in prison.

If prosecutors decide to bring charges in either Collins' or Mason's death, it is unlikely that there would be grounds for a capital murder charge under Virginia law.

Joseph Velez, the son of Alma Collins and half-brother of Rams, said Thursday that he was glad to see a conviction for Prince's death, but said he also wants justice in his mother's death. He said he still hasn't been allowed to claim his mother's ashes, which were in Rams' possession at the time of his arrest.

"My heart's dancing that we finally got some justice," he said. "But my mother did not kill herself."
By Umit Ozdal and Humeyra Pamuk DIYARBAKIR/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Mehtap Yoruk used to teach in a nursery school in southeast Turkey, until she was sacked last year in a purge of tens of thousands of state employees. Now, she ekes out a living selling chicken and rice from a food cart on a side street, dreaming of being reunited with her classroom full of children. That day may never come if Sunday's referendum grants President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers, she said, scooping rice in a paper plate for a customer. "If there is a 'Yes' in the referendum, it will be much harder for us to be reinstated in our jobs. And these removals will probably expand." After an abortive coup in July, Turkish authorities arrested 40,000 people and sacked or suspended 120,000 others from a wide range of professions including soldiers, police, teachers and public servants, over alleged links with terrorist groups. The vast majority of those people, like Yoruk, say they have nothing to do with the armed attempt to overthrow the government, and are victims of a purge designed to solidify the power of an increasingly authoritarian leader. The referendum has bitterly divided Turkey. Erdogan argues that strengthening the presidency would avert instability associated with coalition governments, at a time when Turkey faces security threats from Islamist and Kurdish militants. But his critics fear further drift into authoritarianism, with a leader they see as bent on eroding modern Turkey's democracy and secular foundations. Mass detentions immediately after the attempted coup were supported by many Turks, who agreed with Erdogan when he blamed U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the putsch which killed 240 people, mostly civilians. But criticism mounted as the arrests widened to include people from all walks of life such as midwives and prison guards in remote parts of Turkey, and to pro-Kurdish opposition lawmakers, effectively leaving the nation's third-biggest party leaderless. "These purges are not individual cases at all. This is a systemic phenomenon empowered by an environment of lawlessness. And in the case of a 'Yes' win that will only get worse," said Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a doctor and rights activist dismissed earlier this year. FROM "WAR VETERAN TO TERRORIST" A report by opposition parliamentarian Zeynep Altiok said that the purge of public employees since the coup had deprived 1.5 million students of their teachers. More than 600 companies were seized by the state, 140,000 passports were revoked and 65 elected mayors ousted, it said last month. In addition, more than 2,000 journalists were sacked and scores of TV and radio stations, news agencies and newspapers were shut down. United Nations rights experts said on Thursday those closures had undermined the chance for informed debate on the referendum, and a state of emergency imposed after the failed coup had been used to justify repressive measures which may be just the beginning if Erdogan wins greater powers on Sunday. "Given the arbitrary and sweeping nature of the emergency decrees issued since July 2016, there is serious concern that such powers might be used in ways that exacerbate the existing major violations of economic, social and cultural rights," the U.N. experts on education, poverty and free speech said. After a decade as prime minister, Erdogan assumed the presidency in 2014. He has already transformed what had been a largely ceremonial role into a platform for action, and the referendum would formally grant him executive powers once reserved for the cabinet that answers to parliament. He has also promised to reinstate the death penalty if the 'Yes' vote wins, almost certainly ending Turkey's decades-long bid to join the European Union, which bars executions. Turkey's EU candidate status has been one of the brakes on Ankara, requiring steps to improve human rights and transparency. Aysegul Karaosmanoglu, a headscarved teacher suspended two days after the coup and sacked in September, said the coup was used as an excuse by the government to purge dissidents. A "Yes" win would probably broaden and deepen that crackdown, she said. "It could create an environment for all dissidents to be hanged, or denied any chance of life," Karaosmanoglu, 45, said. "I hear they are opening lots of new prisons. I guess they'll put people like us there". She was speaking at a rare gathering in Istanbul this week of purged civil servants and families of those jailed, who came together to publicize their plight. They rejected any link with the failed coup, and some said they were sacked for causes as remote from any real wrongdoing as simply being members of a union which was deemed a Gulenist institution. Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, denies involvement in the coup. He is a former Erdogan ally whose network was declared a terrorist group by Turkey's national security council two months before the failed coup. Ahmet Erkaslan, a gendarmerie officer who was shot by Kurdish militants during a security operation in Diyarbakir's Sur district last year, says he was sacked from his job without being given a reason. That has transformed him from a war veteran to a so-called terrorist, overnight. "I still remember the whistle of the bullets as I lay on the ground," Erkaslan said. He said he expects it will be difficult to get his job back, regardless of how the country votes in the plebiscite. "Even if the removals stop, they would no longer employ people who are critical of them," he said. (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Dominic Evans and Peter Graff)
Warren Buffett does most of his philanthropic giving through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  eradicating diseases and supporting communities in the developing world.

A new philanthropic endeavor from Buffett's son is bringing that giving closer to home. The NoVo Foundation, established by the Omaha billionaire as a charitable trust, will devote $90 million over the next seven years to support young women and girls of color in the United States.

SEE ALSO: Warren Buffett basically just subtweeted President Donald Trump, shade, shade, shade

Peter Buffett and his wife Jennifer Buffett, will distribute the $90 million through the NoVo Foundation. The foundation, which works on advancing adolescent girls' rights, ending violence against girls and women, helping local economies, supporting Indigenous communities, and researching social and emotional learning, first announced its $90 million commitment a year ago.

Since then, the nonprofit has talked to advocates and communities about how to ensure the funding is put to its best use. In practice, the money will go to community-based organizations, to communities in the Southeast, and to policy and research groups working on issues related to the lives of women and girls of color. The foundation expects to award about $13 million in its first year.

SEE ALSO: Bill Gates, VR super nerd, will now take you into the future

The influx of funding for initiatives in the Southeast could be a big deal, since the foundation chose the region after seeing it had often been ignored by philanthropy.

Community groups, local organizers, and advocates on the policy side can all apply for grants over the next few weeks.

WATCH: This device can help 22 million Americans sleep better at night
Hometown favorite convenience store Wawa is celebrating its 53rd anniversary on Thursday with free coffee and information about new stores.

Customers can take advantage of the caffeinated-beverage offer all day. The chain expects to give away about two million free cups at its 750 stores across six states.

Who knew @Wawa had a mascot? Meet Wally, a goose w/ moves! Giving out free  today @ all locations for #WawaDay pic.twitter.com/wcwOUF2zyl  Trang Do (@TrangDoCBS3) April 13, 2017

But there's more news from Wawa today.

Wawa announced that it will open another store in Philadelphia. The new location with be at 22nd and South Streets. Back in October, it was reported that a Wawa would locate at the former I. Goldberg Army & Navy space at 13th and Chestnut Streets. Now, the news for that location is official as well, according to CBS3.

And in yet more news from the Delaware County-based chain:

The company will continue as the title sponsor of Wawa Welcome America festival to celebrate July 4th through 2019. The 2019 event will mark 10 years that the store has been involved in the festivities.

To cap off the announcements, Wawa said it would distribute $2 million in first-quarter grants to charitable organizations through The Wawa Foundation to promote health, fight hunger and aid other causes.

The company  particularly its free-coffee offer  was drawing cheers from customers on its anniversary.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House says President Donald Trump will welcome Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni to the White House next week.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer says Trump will meet with Gentiloni on April 20 to discuss the upcoming Group of Seven industrialized nations meeting in Italy and a "range of issues" between the two allies.

The G-7 nations have urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war and have blamed President Bashar Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack that killed more than 80 people.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels for a NATO meeting in May, followed by the G-7 meeting in Italy.

The G-7 members include the U.S., Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and Italy.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The photo from inside Donald Trump's makeshift situation room at Mar-a-Lago affirmed what White House insiders have recognized for some time  that Dina Powell has quietly established herself as a White House power.

Though sandwiched between other administration officials, the deputy national security adviser for strategy stands out as the only woman among 13 staffers in the room on the night the president ordered the missile attack in Syria.

And in a White House that is split between outsider ideologues and more traditional operators, Powell is viewed as a steady force in the growing influence of the latter. Her West Wing experience, conservative background and policy chops have won over Trump's daughter and son-in-law. Now, Powell is at the table as the president turns more of his attention to international affairs, attempting to craft a foreign policy out of a self-described "flexible" approach to the world.

"No one should ever underestimate Dina Powell." says Brian Gunderson, a former State Department chief of staff. He hired her to work in former House Majority Leader Dick Armey's office early in her career and later worked with her in George W. Bush's White House.

Powell, 43, declined comment for this story.

She is a rare Bush veteran in a White House that has largely shunned its Republican predecessor's legacy. She came via Goldman Sachs  decidedly not a rarity for the new president  originally to work on economic development at the behest of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. An Egyptian-American with international experience and fluency in Arabic, she was soon moved to the National Security Council, though she retains her economic title.

Powell's ties to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who recruited her, and to economic adviser Gary Cohn, a fellow Goldman alumnus, mean she has been labeled by some as part of a more moderate group at the White House. But GOP leaders describe her as a longtime conservative thinker.

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She has quickly earned the respect of the president, who said in a statement to The Associated Press: "Dina is an extremely intelligent and competent member of my team. She is highly respected and a great person."

National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster said he recruited Powell "because of her exceptional expertise and leadership skills, to lead an effort to restore the strategic focus of the national security council. She has already accomplished this shift in a few weeks, establishing great relationships across our government and with key international allies."

Powell's foreign policy experience was forged under Condoleezza Rice, who brought her into the State Department when the Bush administration was trying to improve diplomacy in the Middle East.

Calling her a "member of my Middle East brain trust," the former secretary of state said that Powell knows the region well and "not just confined to Egypt." She added that Powell was "somebody who understood the limits of secularism in the Middle East but the dangers of fundamentalism. She brought sensitivities to those issues."

Still, Powell is plunging into a national security role at a fraught moment, as the United States ponders next steps with Syria, navigates complex relationships with North Korea, China and Russia and seeks to combat the rise of ISIS. All under a president, who campaigned on a platform of "America First" but whose foreign policy has proved unpredictable.

Tommy Vietor, who served as NSC spokesman under Barack Obama, said the administration is still struggling to present a coherent foreign policy.

"Does 'America First' mean we don't care anymore?" he asked. "They need to do a better job making clear people understand where they stand on many issues."

Powell was brought onto the national security team after a period of tumult.

Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn was asked to resign in February amid revelations that he misled senior administration officials about his Russian contacts. One of his deputies, K.T. McFarland  notably absent from the Florida photo  is expected to exit soon. She is in line to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore.

As deputy national security adviser for strategy, Powell is working to coordinate the various U.S. security-related agencies and advisers. According to a recent national security memo, she attends meetings of the National Security Council's Principals Committee and Deputies Committee. Those advisers briefed Trump with options last week after a chemical attack that the U.S. determined was ordered by Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Born in Cairo, Powell moved to the United States with her family at the age of four and had to learn to speak English. She is a Coptic Christian, the faith that was targeted with bombings of two churches in Cairo on Palm Sunday.

Entering Republican politics at a young age, Powell put herself through the University of Texas by working in the state Legislature. After stints with several GOP congressional members and at the Republican National Committee, she joined George W. Bush's administration. There she became the youngest person to ever run a president's personnel office. Later she served Rice as assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs and as deputy undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.

From the White House, Powell went to Goldman Sachs, where she worked for a decade, becoming a partner, looking after global investment and serving as president of the company foundation, overseeing an effort to invest in female entrepreneurs around the world.

Speculation is already underway about whether her current role could grow.

"She's already ascending in a big way," said Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, who has known Powell for years. "My sense is she will continue to be someone to look for."

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AP writer Vivian Salama contributed to this report.
Newer types of "poppers"  which are inhalant drugs that people use recreationally  may be toxic to people's eyes, according to a new report.

Poppers are often sold in sex shops or online, but cannot be legally sold as a product for human consumption; they are often labeled as household products such as "video head cleaners" or "room odorizers," according to a 2014 paper. The drugs are colorless liquids that, when inhaled, can cause temporary euphoria and sexual arousal.

The new report describes 12 cases of people in southern England who experienced vision problems shortly after using poppers. Several of the patients had been using poppers for 20 years or more, but they only experienced vision problems after switching to a new brand.

When the researchers analyzed the chemical composition of the poppers that the people had used, they found that one chemical, called isopropyl nitrite, was linked with eye damage. This chemical started to show up in poppers after 2006, when legislation in Britain banned the use of a similar chemical in the drugs, called isobutyl nitrite, the researchers said.

"On the basis of the products tested here, it seems that isopropyl nitrite is toxic to the fovea [a small pit in the middle of the retina], and can cause significant visual disturbance," the researchers wrote in the April 10 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology. [27 Oddest Medical Cases]

When the chemical composition of poppers started to change in 2006, doctors also noticed an increase in reports of eye damage linked to the drugs. But it wasn't clear whether this increase was due to certain chemicals in poppers, more widespread use of the drugs or better detection of the type of eye damage seen in the cases, the researchers said.

In the new report, the 12 patients were seen at an eye clinic in Brighton, England, between 2013 and 2016. All of the patients were men, and they ranged in age from 31 to 59. The patients reported vision problems, such as blurriness or blind spots, that started within hours or days after they inhaled the drugs. High-resolution images of the back of patients' eyes showed damage to the fovea.

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The patients used a total of seven different drugs, and when the researchers tested them, they found that six contained isopropyl nitrite. In the one case where the product didn't contain isopropyl nitrite, the researchers discovered that the popper drug was not linked with the eye problems that the patient was having.

Most of the patients fully recovered from their symptoms within a few months after they stopped using the products. However, some patients continued to experience vision symptoms even months after they stopped using them.

It's not clear why some patients didn't recover from their symptoms, but it could be related to how frequently they used the product, the brand they used or their individual susceptibility to this side effect, the researchers said.

More studies are needed over longer periods that follow users of poppers that contain isopropyl nitrite to better understand the long-term effects of these products, the researchers said. It's also not clear what fraction of popper users will experience vision problems as a side effect of the drug.

Original article on Live Science.

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So it continues. In February, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decided in favor of the Broad Institute of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has been battling for years with the University of California over patents for the gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, often shorthanded as CRISPR.

On Thursday, the University of California filed its an appeal, as many expected, with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. There would be no reason why UC wouldnt appeal this decision, says Brian Nolan, a life-sciences intellectual-property lawyer with Mayer Brown. They lost, and this is the next step.

What is unusual, though, is that this case even got this far in the first place. Such cases are usually quietly settled. Instead, the two sides have racked up tens of millions of dollars legal fees.

Is it worth it? If you believe CRISPR patents are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, as some have estimated, then yes. The technology allows scientist to much more easily manipulate the genomes of plants, animals, and humans. Since its discovery about five years ago, CRISPR has spurred hundreds of research papers and a handful of high-profile startups seeking to cure human diseases, including Editas Medicine, Intellia Therapeutics, and CRISPR Therapeutics. These companies have licensed the patents from one side or the other even as the patents are being hotly disputedwhich might give a sense of how eager companies are to move forward on CRISPR therapies.

Recommended: The Icy Plumes Shooting Out of Saturns Moon Just Got Way More Interesting

The dispute originates in research done by the Broad Institutes Feng Zhang and UC Berkeleys Jennifer Doudna, who was also collaborating with Emmanuelle Charpentier, then of the University of Vienna. Both sides claim to have independently discovered CRISPRs use for gene editing. UC filed for a patent first, but the patent office first approved the Broads patent.

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UC then initiated an interference proceeding with before the patent offices Patent Trial and Appeal Board, arguing that the Broads patents overlapped with its initial and still pending CRISPR patent. It is this proceeding that the UC lost in February.

The UCs filing covered gene editing with CRISPR, but it did not specifically cover eukaryotic cellscomplex cells that include animal, plants, and humanswhere all the lucrative applications are likely to be. The Broads patents did cover eukaryotic cells, and its lawyers argued that getting CRISPR to work in bacteria or free-floating DNA did not automatically mean it would work in the more complex environment. Hence, there was no inferencethe decision that UC is now appealing.

In statement about the appeal, Edward Penhoet, a special adviser on CRISPR to the UC president and UC Berkeley chancellor, said, Ultimately, we expect to establish definitively that the team led by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier was the first to engineer CRISPR-Cas9 for use in all types of environments, including in non-cellular settings and within plant, animal and even human cells. The Broad countered, Given that the facts have not changed, we expect the outcome will once again be the same.

If UC wins the appeal, the court could kick it back to the patent office to make another decision on interference. In past cases,the court tend to affirm the decisions of the patent office, says Brent Babcock, a patent lawyer with Knobbe Martens. The Federal Circuit is fairly differential to the board.

If UC loses, it probably ends up where it is right now. (It could appeal to the Supreme Court, but the case doesnt have much compelling legal doctrine that could interest the highest court of the land, says Nolan.) That scenario could end with companies that want to use CRISPR licensing both UCs broad patent and the Broads eukaryote-specific patent. For practical economic and business reasons, they will have to get to some accommodation, says Kevin Noonan, a biotech IP lawyer with McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff. That could mean a cross-licensing scenario or maybe even a long-awaited settlement. The smart thing to do would be to settle, says Noonan.

This particular fight has gotten a lot of attention, but its not the only game in town. Both sides are also, for example, fighting for intellectual-property rights to CRISPR around the world. In Europe, UC recently won a patent for CRISPR-Cas9. And scientists have since discovered and are patenting variants of CRISPR that use a component other than Cas9.

One way or another, there is money to be made in gene editing.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Paris (AFP) - Former All Black Ali Williams and Australian star James O'Connor, who were both arrested in a cocaine bust in the centre of Paris, will discover their French league disciplinary fate on April 19, officials said Thursday.

The French national league (LNR) had been expected to hand down a decision on Thursday, but a disciplinary commission spokesman said they were waiting to receive "complementary elements" before making a decision.

Williams and O'Connor were arrested after a police drug bust outside a nightclub near the Champs Elysees in February and later fined -- Williams for buying cocaine and O'Connor for using it.

The 35-year-old former lock Williams was fired by French Top 14 champions Racing 92 and O'Connor, 26, recently returned to Toulon following suspension by the club.

"I have given all the evidence, and I think they will understand that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, so yes, I'm sure it will work out," said O'Connor as he left the meeting on Wednesday after the opening session.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  The key witness in a murder that sent a teenage boy to prison for 27 years recanted Thursday and accused authorities of coercing her testimony. The stunning declaration led a judge to set bail in the case, drawing a gasp from the packed courtroom and sending the defendant's wife to her knees.

Tony Sanborn, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend, 16-year-old Jessica Briggs, dropped his head into his hands in apparent disbelief after Hope Cady testified that as a 13-year-old she was pressured by police and prosecutors into identifying Sanborn as the killer.

"They basically told me what to say," Cady said.

Justice Joyce Wheeler said she'll have further proceedings before deciding whether to grant a motion to set aside the conviction and order a new trial. She set bail at $25,000, which Sanborn's family and friends posted later Thursday to get him released.

"Quite frankly, I wouldn't want to go forward on a case based on her testimony," Justice Joyce Wheeler told the courtroom before setting bail. "It has been conceded that she is, and was a material witness in this case. She's the only eyewitness in this case."

Cady said she had juvenile charges against her at the time, and authorities threatened to send her away for years. She said her vision wasn't even good enough to have been able to make out what happened: It was later tested at 20/200, poor enough to be considered legally blind. Information about her vision was never provided to Sanborn's defense team.

Cady's stunning admission came in a standing-room-only courtroom packed with Sanborn's supporters, including family members and friends.

Sanborn's wife, Michelle, sank to her knees and wept after the ruling as others huddled with her.

"I just want to thank Justice Wheeler for being a woman of compassion and for doing the right thing, and giving me faith in our system," she said afterward.

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Tony Sanborn, now 44, had insisted over the years that he didn't kill Briggs, and supporters say he somehow managed to avoid becoming bitter despite being convicted as an adult and sentenced to prison for 70 years. In prison, his conduct was exemplary, and he taught classes to fellow inmates. He wed Michelle about five years ago, and he had plenty of support Thursday.

He entered the courtroom with tears in his eyes as the packed courtroom erupted in an ovation. His family and friends posted bail for him late Thursday afternoon.

Briggs' family left the courthouse without speaking to the media.

The defense had asked for the hearing because of new evidence in the gruesome killing.

Briggs' throat was slit and she was stabbed repeatedly before being thrown in Portland Harbor. Officials zeroed in on street kids, including Briggs' then-16-year-old boyfriend, Sanborn.

Cady, who was the only witness, testified at trial in 1992 that she saw a group of boys surround the victim and then saw Sanborn stab her. She claimed she'd watched the event unfold from a nearby pier.

Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber asked the judge to defer on setting bail until she could hear from the detectives and the prosecutor. He also said he'd have to recuse himself because Cady's statements conflicted with his direct knowledge of the case.

The hearing will continue later this month.

A criminal profiler hired by the defense said the crime was so brutal that it pointed toward a serial killer as opposed to a crime of passion involving a teenager.

The area where the crime took place was frequented by shipyard workers, sailors and fishermen, in addition to street kids and others.

___

Follow David Sharp on Twitter at https://twitter.com/David_Sharp_AP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/david-sharp.

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This story has been corrected to show the spelling is Briggs, not Griggs in reference to the victim's family leaving the courthouse without speaking to the media.
Paris (AFP) - Supply and demand in the oil market are close to matching up, the IEA said Thursday, as landmark OPEC-led production cuts are mitigated by rising US supply and slipping worldwide demand growth.

The compliance rate with the agreement among OPEC members and some non-members, including Russia, "has been impressive", the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly oil market report, giving a lift to oil prices.

But oil at above $50 a barrel has, in turn, attracted higher-cost producers in the United States back to the market, and frantic American drilling will push non-OPEC supply to surprisingly high levels throughout the year, the IEA predicted.

"It can be argued confidently that the market is already very close to balance, and as more data becomes available this will become clearer," it said in the report.

"Although the oil market will likely tighten throughout the year, overall non-OPEC production, not just in the US, will soon be on the rise again," it said.

At the end of November, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) from January 1, initially for a period of six months.

Then in December, non-OPEC producers led by Russia agreed to cut their own output to 558,000 barrels per day.

The aim was to reduce a glut in global oil supply that had depressed prices.

Reports this week said that OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia is pushing the cartel's producers to extend the agreement by another six months at their meeting in May.

- A less oil-thirsty world -

The IEA made no prediction about such a likelihood, but said that a consequence of OPEC "hypothetically" renewing the deal would be to support prices more and give further encouragement to US shale oil producers.

This means that non-OPEC oil production will soon be on the rise again.

"Even after taking into account production cut pledges from the eleven non-OPEC countries, unplanned outages in Canada as well as in the North Sea, we expect (non-OPEC) production will grow again on a year-on-year basis by May," the report said.

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Oil inventories fell in March but probably showed a rise in the first quarter of this year overall because oil consumers stockpiled crude before the OPEC-led cuts took effect properly, the IEA said.

"The net result is that global stocks might have marginally increased in 1Q17," it said.

On the demand side, the IEA revised down its estimates for the worldwide thirst for oil, meaning there will be more oil available than previously thought.

"New data shows weaker-than-expected growth in a number of countries including Russia, India, several Middle Eastern countries, Korea and the US, where demand has stalled in recent months," it said.

Demand growth for 2017 is now expected to be 1.3 million barrels per day, down from the IEA's previous forecast of 1.4 million.

- Interesting times ahead -

Oil prices declined on Thursday, with US benchmark WTI futures down 10 cents at $53.01 per barrel, and Europe's Brent contracts four cents lower at $55.82.

Analysts cited the IEA report and also OPEC's warning Wednesday that the cartel's efforts to fight a global glut are threatened by American firms pumping oil with gusto.

Commodities analysts at Commerzbank said the question was now "whether the OPEC production cuts really have translated into a reduction in supplies".

Oil prices are still around 25 percent higher than they were a year ago, and roughly stable over the past three months, despite frequent day-to-day volatility.

Analysts struggling to distill conflicting developments into a credible oil price prediction for the rest of the year appeared to have the IEA's sympathy.

"We have an interesting second half to come," it said.
SANAA, Yemen (AP)  More than 20 inmates escaped from a prison in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Thursday after gunmen demanding the release of detainees imprisoned without trial blocked roads and clashed with security forces.

The officials said one person was killed and four police conscripts were wounded in the violence. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, said the 23 inmates who escaped were being held on criminal charges and that it was not clear who the gunmen were.

Yemen's second largest city is controlled by forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled to Saudi Arabia after Shiite rebels known as Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Houthis for more than two years in a bid to restore his government.

In rebel-held Sanaa, a Houthi-controlled court sentenced a prominent journalist to death on espionage charges, accusing him of collaborating with the Saudi-led coalition.

Dozens of Yemeni journalists released a statement denouncing Wednesday's verdict against Yehia al-Gebeihy, who was abducted from his home by Houthi fighters eight months ago. The Yemeni journalist syndicate says at least 13 reporters have been detained by the Houthis.

The stalemated war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 civilians, displaced over three million people and pushed the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.
Istanbul (AFP) - The 'Yes' and 'No' camps are increasingly polarised as the countdown starts for Turkey's key referendum Sunday on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers.

With analysts predicting a tight race that will decisively impact the country's future, here are a selection of voices from both sides of the divide.

- 'Yes' -

-- 'Erdogan for a strong Turkey'

"Because we want Turkey to grow, because we want Recep Tayyip Erdogan to remain our leader, without him Turkey is not herself. We want to show that we are behind him," Nahil Unal, a 'Yes' supporter, said at Erdogan's giant rally in Istanbul on Saturday.

-- 'Standing up to foreign powers'

"For the future of our children, for Turkey to be independent again, we are here. Right now Turkey is not independent. The countries of the world are attacking us. From one side the Netherlands, from the other side the USA, France, Germany, Russia and even our neighbours," said Ihsan Eksi.

-- 'Worthy successor of Ottomans'

"He has a lion's heart. We know that he will defend Turkey like nobody before him," 48-year-old Metin Kaya said in Erdogan's home district of Kasimpasa.

"Europe has been scared of us since the Ottoman Empire and our history is our honour which is being repeated today. That's why (Europe) they are trying to intimidate us. Erdogan is the worthy grandson of Fatih," he said referring to the Ottoman Sultan Fatih, the conqueror who seized Istanbul from the Byzantines.

-- 'He loves this nation'

"I watch almost all the speeches of the president. When you hear him you see that he sincerely loves this nation. No, I don't find him too aggressive. He defends us, it's normal, he's our leader," said Mesut Can, 49, a grocery store owner from the Istanbul district of Gaziosmanpasa.

- 'No' -

-- 'No to one man rule'

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"We say 'No', to have a more democratic system, so that we can remain in a democratic, parliamentary system, to say 'No' to a man who alone would lead a country of 80 million people," Saim Akbulut said at the pro-Kurdish HDP's Ankara rally on Sunday.

-- 'Changes not helpful for future'

"...why am I saying 'No'? And why are these women saying 'No'? It's because there is not even one article in this text about women, nothing for children, it's because we are against a regime led by just one man," Burcu Zeybek, a female opposition CHP activist, said.

-- 'Against further polarisation'

"He is already performing his current duties without recognising the law. It is nonsense to further polarise the country!" said Sukru Yalcin, rallying near a 'No' tent in the historic Eminonu square in Istanbul. "We are saying that it does not suit 80 million to be governed by one man's thinking."

-- 'Yes won't help Kurdish areas'

"They come to us and want 'Yes'. We have no reason to say 'Yes.' Why 'Yes'? They say it's for peace. Then what's your project?" said Halil Uysal, in his 30s and from the Kurdish majority province of Diyarbakir, in the conflict-torn southeast. "They say 'Yes' for development. Then what's your project? Nothing."
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York police on Thursday arrested 25 people in the lobby of Trump Tower protesting U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration and border policies. The demonstrators who sat in front of the elevators and chanted "no ban, no raids, no wall!" led security forces to close public accesses to the president's signature property, a commercial and residential skyscraper where first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump stay while the president is in Washington. As heavily armed police wearing ballistic vests stood guard blocking the entrances, other officers carried the protesters to police vans. The building in the heart of the Fifth Avenue shopping district was also home to Trump's campaign and has been his primary residence for years. The lobby is open to the public, though security was tightened as the 2016 campaign progressed and he was elected president. Charges were pending, a police said in a statement. The demonstrators wore T-shirts with slogans such as "No wall," in reference to Trump's proposal to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, and "No raids," referring to U.S. arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants. "No ban" refers to Trump's executive orders seeking to restrict immigration from several Muslim-majority countries. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Hundreds of people in New Zealand were evacuated from some coastal areas on Thursday as the second major storm in just over a week made landfall near the North Island town of Whakatane.

But residents of the nation's largest city, Auckland, breathed a sigh of relief as the remnants of Cyclone Cook moved past them to the east. Authorities had earlier worried the storm could hit the city and cause major problems.

"It seems Auckland has largely survived ... unscathed," tweeted Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.

Civil defense authorities said people from about 250 homes in the beach town of Ohope were told they had to evacuate, while other households chose to leave. Authorities had earlier advised people in low elevations on the Coromandel Peninsula to evacuate to higher ground, as large waves were expected to batter the coast.

Air New Zealand suspended flights from Tauranga Airport and other flights around the country were also delayed or canceled. The military said it had placed 500 troops on standby. The storm also caused power disruptions to hundreds of homes in Whakatane and Tauranga.

Sarah Stuart-Black, director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, said the storm was "extremely serious" and severe weather warnings were in place for much of the country.

"We are watching very carefully, we're not through this yet," she said on Thursday evening.

The storm was expected to move south overnight Thursday and reach the capital, Wellington, early Friday, causing more problems along the way but also losing some of its punch.

The MetService weather agency predicted rainfall could exceed 100 millimeters (4 inches) in some places and cause more flooding in areas still recovering from heavy rainfall last week.

Last Thursday the town of Edgecumbe was flooded when a river burst through a concrete levee on the Rangitaiki River as the remnants of Cyclone Debbie hit. The water forced 2,000 people to evacuate and flooded hundreds of homes.

Many people have been unable to return to their homes since then and authorities have been scrambling to shore up the breached levee. That system and others will be tested again by rainfall from the latest storm.

MetService predicted winds from the storm could gust to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour and that waves could rise to over 5 meters (16 feet).
Photo credit: Getty

From Country Living

While summer may still be a couple months away, most vacationers are already booking their family vacations, and according to what people are researching through TripAdvisor, there's one getaway spot that stands out from the rest this year.

Panama City, Florida is one of the hottest places to stay this summer, according to TripAdvisor Rentals' data. The popular beach destination is receiving the most attention from site users looking to book vacation rentals this June, July, and August.

The Florida beach town is a hot spot for families and watersport fanatics, thanks to its beautiful beaches and parks, not to mention its affordability. The beach town sits between two state parks-Camp Helen State Park and St. Andrews State Park-and also boasts the scenic Panama City Conservation Park. What's even better? The average weekly rate for a two-bedroom rental in July is $1,835.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images

The seaside area was one of four Florida destinations to make TripAdvisor Rental's list. The other top rental vacation spots for 2017 included Ocean City, Maryland, Destin, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Kissimmee, Florida; Gulf Shores, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Davenport, Florida; and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

If you're looking to book a summer stay in any one of these destinations, you'd better book early! According to TripAdvisor Rentals, 54 percent of travelers reserve their rental three to five months in advance, and these locations are especially competitive.

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Earlier this month, a coroner in the United Kingdom revealed that a 32-year-old man with an iPhone electrocuted himself in a bathtub late last year while the device was plugged into an extension cord.

And just last week, an Alabama man suffered serious burns when the dog tags he was wearing made contact with the plug from his cell-phone charger.

Does that make your smartphone a major electrical hazard? Not really, according to John Drengenberg, consumer safety director at the independent testing organization Underwriters Laboratories.

As long as they're unplugged, phones, laptops, and other devices that use rechargeable batteries don't have enough power to kill you, he says, even if you were to drop one into a bath. (Although he does not recommend trying that.)

But once plugged into an outlet, it becomes a potential hazard. In fact, the Electrical Safety Foundation International, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about such hazards, estimates that almost 70 people per year die from electrocution incidents related to consumer products.

And unlike a hair dryer or electric razordevices meant to be used in a bathroomphones, laptops, and wireless speakers are not equipped with a safety mechanism known as a ground-fault circuit interruptor, which shuts off power to the device when it gets wet, much like a circuit breaker in a fuse box.

In the U.S., building codes require you to use outlets equipped with GFCI in bathrooms, kitchens, and other household spaces where an electronics device might come into contact with water.



In the case of John Bull, who was getting ready for a holiday party in his home near London, the smartphone he was using in the tub was plugged into an outlet located outside the bathroom, which means it almost certainly did not have ground-fault protection. Its likely that the cord itself fell into the tub, which delivered a fatal dose of current from the house wiring.

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In the case of Alabama's Wiley Day, the plug from the phone's charger apparently wasn't fully seated in the extension cord he was using, leaving the prongs exposed. Day was reportedly sleeping with his phone when his dog tags slipped between the charger and the extension cord. "My necklace became the conductor, " he told reporters for ABC affiliate WAAY.

Day was hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns on his neck and is expected to recover.

Although the two incidents involved Apple iPhones, they could have occurred with any smartphone, which is why consumers need to be careful. The manufacturer declined to comment on the mishaps but did stress the importance of employing approved charging devices as directed.

Ways to Protect Yourself From Electrical Hazards

Respect your phone: They seem like innocuous devices, but they can be dangerous, said Sean Cummings, the U.K. medical examiner who investigated Bull's death. So be mindful of those threats. Think twice before going into the bathroom with any device thats plugged in, Drengenberg adds.

Use the right charger: Though it's not clear what type of cords or adapters were used in the Ball and Wiley accidents, a Chinese flight attendant was electrocuted in 2013 by a phone plugged into a faulty third-party charger. The incident prompted Apple to launch an education program, including a special discount for any consumer who took a third-party charger in for replacement.

Drengenberg's advice: Stick to chargers approved by the manufacturer. At the very least, make sure they have a UL mark signifying that they've been put through a UL certification process.

Test your ground-fault outlets: Drengenberg suggests taking 10 seconds each month to check your GFCI outlets. First push the "test" button. It should make a quiet popping sound. "At that point, anything that's plugged into the outlet should go dead," he says. "Then push the reset button and it should come back on. That's all that's required."

Don't depend on extension cords: They're not meant for long-term use. "If you're using them on a regular basis, you need more outlets," Drengenberg explains. He also warns against "daisy chaining"plugging one extension cord into anotherand against using the cords in a bathroom. "Dont use an extension cord anywhere that it might get wet, he says.



Seat your plugs securely: As Drengenberg notes, Wiley's accident was the result of a charger that didn't seat fully in the extension cord, leaving the electrified prongs of the plug exposed. This problem affects outlets as well, especially on a device that has a "wall wart" or similar "brick" near the plug. "Outlets do wear out, so if they're sagging instead of holding your plug securely, it's time to replace them," Drengenberg says.





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 Tova Cohen RAANANA, Israel (Reuters) - Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems forecasts double-digit growth for its Cyberbit business, which is transforming the technology it has long provided for military intelligence to the fast-growing commercial market. Cyberbit took shape after Elbit's $150 million acquisition of the cyber and intelligence unit of Israel's Nice Systems in 2015, blending Nice's technology designed for law enforcement and intelligence agencies with Elbit's military-focused capabilities. Today Cyberbit operates as two companies - one focused on government security and intelligence and subject to Israeli export restrictions, the other catering for the commercial market, mainly financial firms and utilities. Both are headed by Cyberbit Chief Executive Adi Dar. Elbit CEO Bezhalel Machlis described cyber as a major growth engine for the company, which is Israel's largest listed defense company group with revenue of $3.3 billion in 2016. Its Hermes drones, surveillance systems and simulators are top sellers in Europe and South America. While Cyberbit chief Dar would not disclose how much revenue his division generates, he said that cyber sales were growing by "strong double-digits" compared with Elbit's overall growth of 5 percent in 2016. "We expect that pace to continue," he told Reuters. Cyberbit entered the commercial market by developing detection and response systems to protect "endpoints" such as laptops and mobile devices, where it competes with Carbon Black and FireEye of the United States. Dar said Cyberbit is distinguished from its competitors because it is "playing on both sides of the court" -- meaning it provides technologies that can both carry out cyber-attacks and deliver defense. "We build offensive capabilities for governments," he said. "We know what agents should look for because we are from that world." Cyberbit is competing in a cybersecurity market dominated by the country's biggest tech company Check Point Software and is seeing strong demand for its cyber simulation platforms. These create a virtual network and virtual attacks, helping the public and private sectors train staff to tackle the growing threat. The simulation platforms are seeing strong demand given an increasing shortage for skilled cyberworkers. Globally, 1.8 million cybersecurity positions will be unfilled by 2022, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education estimates. In the coming weeks, the Maryland Range training center will open in Baltimore, using a Cyberbit platform to train workers in protecting critical infrastructure. In February, Cyberbit agreed with Japanese service provider Ni Cybersecurity to launch a training center in Tokyo. Japan estimates it will have a shortage of 200,000 IT security professionals by 2020, when it expects a sharp increase in cyber attacks around the Tokyo Olympics. (Editing by Toby Davis)
Android fans are about to be divided into two groups: those who buy a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, and those who wish they had a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+. Consumers havent even yet had the chance to experience Samsungs 2017 flagship phones for themselves, but they already know these phones are something special. Samsungs nearly edgeless Infinity Display combines with curved sides on the front and back of the phone to create a look and feel that are as close to perfect as any company has come so far, considering current technological limitations.

Samsung already said Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ pre-orders have outpaced last years Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, and now the company has offered actual pre-order figures that are impressive, to say the least.

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Samsung announced earlier this week that global Galaxy S8 and S8+ pre-orders are outpacing the previous-generation models. The company noted strong double-digit growth, but failed to offer any firm pre-order figures. While Samsung is still being tight-lipped with global pre-sales figures, it has now shared pre-order numbers for the local market in South Korea  likely in part to make a statement to local rival LG, which already began selling its new flagship phone, the LG G6.

Samsungs mobile business boss Dong-jin Koh told on Thursday reporters in South Korea that combined pre-orders of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have now reached 728,000 units in South Korea alone. That figure was at 620,000 just two days ago, which means that Samsung has averaged more than 50,000 new pre-orders per day since then. Also of note, that initial 620,000 figure included 150,000 high-end 128GB Galaxy S8+ models, which cost more than $1,000 each.

China is the market we can never give up. Although we have had a hard time over the past two years in the market, we believe Chinese consumers will react to and recognize good products, Koh told reporters in South Korea, according to local news site The Korea Herald.

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Pre-order figures in other markets including the United States have not been revealed, but reports suggest Samsung is seeing strong demand around the world. Samsungs new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are set to be released next Friday on April 27th  unless you bought yours from one carrier in particular, in which case your new phone might arrive early.

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Earlier this year, a former Snapchat employee named Anthony Pompliano filed suit against Snap Inc. for inflating user numbers and flat-out lying to investors about the companys long-term potential for growth. Pomplianos lawsuit was originally filed this past January, albeit in redacted form. This week, an unredacted version of the lawsuit was made public and, not surprisingly, it contains some shocking revelations.

The most headline-grabbing blurb (via Variety) alleges that Pompliano, while attending a meeting regarding Snapchats growth prospects, voiced concern about disappointing user adoption in international markets. Not even letting Pompliano finish his point, the lawsuit claims that Snap CEO Evan Spiegel interrupted Pompliano and boldly declared: This app is only for rich people. I dont want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain.

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While its easy to take this story and run with it, some additional context is worth mentioning. First and foremost, its hard to ignore the incongruity of Pomplianos allegations. Are we to believe that Spiegel, as the CEO of a company that needs to acquire as many users as it can to placate investors, would so callously insult and ignore the people of two very populous countries? Its certainly possible, but as tends to be the case with lawsuits levied by employees, its hard to draw any solid conclusions so early on.

As for inflated user metrics, Pompliano claims that Spiegel knowingly told investors that Snapchat boasted more than 100 million daily active users when in reality the figure was somewhere in the 96 million range. Per the lawsuit, Spiegel said aloud that the misrepresentation was no big deal. The lawsuit also claims that Snapchat lied to investors about user retention rates.

In response to the allegations, Snaps attorneys have emphatically stated that the company did not give investors misstated user metrics back in 2015, nor did Snap employees commit any of the panoply of alleged bad acts Pomplianos complaint introduces.

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As for Pomplianos motivations, Snap earlier this year said that he was simply making things up after being fired after only three weeks on the job. Pompliano was a disgruntled employee fired for poor performance, the company said this past January. To rationalize his firing, Pompliano has ginned up preposterous allegations about Snap giving investors false user metrics back in 2015. Those accusations are sure to grab headlines, but they fail to grasp reality.

Snaps lawyers this week even went so far as to call Pompliano thirsty in a recently filed motion accompanying the release of the unredacted complaint.

Pompliano now resurfaces after three months of inactivity with new attorneys but the same publicity-hungry game plan, Snaps attorneys wrote. In his latest dramatic installment, Pompliano doubles down on the main canard from his complaint  that Snap gave investors misstated user metrics back in 2015  by asserting that Snap is currently misleading investors. Both halves of that remarkable claim are false. And they regrettably show that the thirstier Pompliano grows for attention, the more he starves his filings of truth and common sense.

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By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ukraine has partnered with global technology company the Bitfury Group to put a sweeping range of government data on a blockchain platform, the firm's chief executive officer told Reuters, in a project he described as probably the largest of its kind anywhere. Bitfury, a blockchain company with offices in the United States and overseas, will provide the services to Ukraine, CEO Valery Vavilov said in an interview on Wednesday. Ukraine's blockchain initiative underscores a growing trend among governments that have adopted the technology to increase efficiencies and improve transparency. Blockchain is a ledger of transactions that first emerged as the software underpinning digital currency bitcoin. It has become a key global technology in both the public and private sector given its ability to permanently record and keep track of assets or transactions across all industries. Ukraine and Bitfury are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, Vavilov said. Though Vavilov said he was unable to estimate the cost of the project, he said it was the biggest government blockchain deal ever so far. It involves putting all of the Ukraine government's electronic data onto the blockchain platform. "A secure government system built on the blockchain can secure billions of dollars in assets and make a significant social and economic impact globally by addressing the need for transparency and accountability," said Vavilov. There are other countries that have started blockchain programs, but they are smaller in scope involving one or two sectors, such as land titles and real estate ownership. Countries that have launched blockchain programs include Sweden, Estonia, and Georgia. "This agreement will result in an entirely new ecosystem for state projects based on blockchain technology in Ukraine," Oleksandr Ryzhenko, head of the State Agency for eGovernance of Ukraine, said in an emailed response to Reuters questions. "Our aim is clear and ambitious -- we want to make Ukraine one of the world's leading blockchain nations." Ukraine's deal with Bitfury will begin with a pilot project to introduce blockchain into the country's digital platform. The areas being explored for the pilot project are state registers, public services, social security, public health, and energy, Vavilov said. Once the pilot is complete, the blockchain program will expand into all areas, including cyber security. This is Bitfury's second government blockchain project. In April last year, Bitfury signed an agreement with Georgia to pilot the first blockchain land-titling registry. (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Tom Brown)
The United Airlines passenger ejection saga is about to take yet another turn as David Dao, the man at the center of it all, is slated to hold a news conference at 10 am CT live from Chicago. The obvious topic at hand will be whether or not Dao will be seeking compensation for the ordeal, and exactly what that compensation will be. The conference will be streamed live online, and you can watch it all unfold right here.

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Scheduled to speak are both David Daos lawyers and his daughter, thought its unclear if Dao himself will actually be in attendance. As TMZ reports, Daos lawyers have already gone through the preliminary steps to secure all video and audio recordings related to the incident that may exist, as well as requesting all information related to the airport officers who actually physically removed Dao from his seat and dragged him off the plane. The physical altercation left Dao bloodied and distraught, and the videos of the incident have reached all corners of the internet.

In all likelihood, Daos lawyers will announce that they will be suing both United Airlines and the City of Chicago for their roles in the events that took place, though their specific requests in terms of monetary compensation may not be made public until a later date. The stream is expected to begin promptly at 10 am CT, and doesnt have a schedule end time, so well just have to see how it all plays out.

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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.

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By Samuel Ssebuliba

Ugandans are asked to contribute food relief towards people who are facing starvation in different parts of the country as they prepare to celebrate Easter.

The call comes as many people in the districts of Isingiro, Katakwi, Mayuge and others continue to be affected by food shortage due to the prolonged drought that struck the country recently.

While delivering his Easter massage today, the Archbishop of the church of Uganda his Grace Stanley Ntagali said Christians must emulate Jesus actions when he fed a hungry crowd with five loaves of bread.

He says it is not prudent for the rest of the country to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus when others are starving to death.
No

Yes, a light case

Yes, two or more light cases

One serious case

Two or more serious bouts

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To protect oak trees and help prevent oak wilt, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises people to avoid pruning oaks on their property from April through July.

Spring and early summer pruning makes oak trees vulnerable to oak wilt, a fatal fungal disease. Any tree damage during this time creates an opening that exposes live tree tissue and provides an opportunity for the oak wilt fungus to invade and establish itself in the tree.

Spring is the time when tree buds and leaves are growing, leaving the trees food reserves low. In general, the best time to prune trees is in winter. The use of tree paint or a wound dressing is not normally recommended on pruning cuts or wounded surfaces on most trees. These products are recommended for damaged oaks from April through July. An immediate light painting of wounds on oak trees during this time helps protect against the spread of oak wilt by beetles, but according to the DNR it takes just 15 minutes for beetles that are carrying oak wilt spores to land on a fresh wound and infect your tree.

Oak wilt is found in all Wisconsin counties except Ashland, Bayfield, Calumet, Door, Douglas, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Price, Sheboygan and Taylor counties. Property owners with oak trees are encouraged to check with their municipality to find out if there are local oak wilt ordinances.

More information about oak wilt is available online. Visit dnr.wi.gov, and search for oak wilt. Additional information about proper pruning techniques is available from community foresters or by searching for tree pruning.
With the U.S. saturated with milk and Wisconsin dairy farmers desperately seeking buyers, a new state-led dairy trade mission to Mexico announced Thursday comes at a critical time.

Ben Brancel, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, will lead a delegation of state officials and representatives from nine dairy and agricultural companies to Aguascalientes, Mexico, May 4-7 where they will attend Expo Leche, Mexicos largest annual dairy industry conference. State officials say the goal is to strengthen Wisconsins relations with its existing dairy customers but also to find new opportunities for the states dairy businesses.

Brancel said the trade mission to Mexico was in planning long before the recent situation that was created when Grassland Dairy Products Inc. of Greenwood informed several dozen Wisconsin dairy farms it no longer would accept milk from them after May 1. Grassland lost its Canadian customers, who each day purchased more than 1 million pounds of ultra-filtered milk, a product with elevated protein content thats typically used in cheese production, so Grassland had to reduce its milk intake.

With U.S.-Mexico relations strained from recent actions by the Trump administration over construction of a border wall and a pledge to reopen negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement, Brancel wants Mexico to know Wisconsin values its trade partnership. About $3 billion in Wisconsin exports went to Mexico in 2016, making it the states second-largest trading partner behind Canada.

But we also are trying to identify new distributorships so we can market (Wisconsin dairy) products, he said.

A significant player and potential major customer could be the Dominos Pizza operation in Mexico, Brancel said.

We want to encourage them to use Wisconsin cheese on their pizza, Brancel said. Another aspect of this trip is to make sure our customers in Mexico are getting what they need, payments are coming to (Wisconsin) and products from Wisconsin are arriving in good quality with no problems.

Brancel also has meetings scheduled with Mexicos minister of agriculture and other government officials to discuss potential opportunities for Wisconsin dairy products. Wisconsin sends a lot of finished products to Mexico, including cheese, but there could be opportunities for whey protein and other milk products as well as ingredients used in food production, he said.

Mexico purchased about $247 million in dairy products from Wisconsin last year, according to state estimates.

Mexico also is a major destination for Wisconsin manufactured goods. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has organized its own trade mission there June 11-16, focusing on manufacturing and water technology, which will be led by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at UW-Madison, believes Mexico could purchase more dairy products despite a strong U.S. dollar.

One of the reasons we have to focus on Mexico is that they are one of our biggest trading partners, Stephenson said.

He said other dairy producing nations, including New Zealand, also may see opportunity in Mexico, but the U.S. has the advantage of proximity.

Trade missions can be effective for Wisconsin because it can help mend relations or assure Mexico that despite whats happening at the federal level, state businesses remain interested in doing business with customers there.

The strong dollar, Id categorize that more as headwinds and shouldnt impact sales too much, but we may have to discount prices to make our products more competitive on the global market, Stephenson said.

Brancel said the state also has been in contact with China, Wisconsins third-largest trading partner last year, to find more markets for Wisconsin dairy products. A potential buyer was located in Shanghai for cheese and there are prospects for new customers in Hong Kong for the states 14 butter-making companies.

Brancel said the state has a trade mission planned for China May 9-20, focusing on specialty food products.

Another aspect of this trip is to make sure our customers in Mexico are getting what they need, payments are coming to (Wisconsin) and products from Wisconsin are arriving in good quality with no problems. Ben Brancel, secretary of the Wisconsin Department

of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
West Salem High School senior Abby Johnsons artwork stands apart as a mixture of abstract and realism.

Abby Johnsons artistic works are on display in the Marie W. Heider Center lobby. She is West Salems art student of the month for April.

The honor is bestowed upon students whose works exceed expectations.

She has been experimenting with different forms and mixed media ever since she got to the high school. West Salem High School art instructor Quenten Brown said. I felt that she should be rewarded for all of the hard work she has been doing, and the best way to do that would be to give her her own little exhibit.

Johnson said she was proud of the honor.

I feel that being art student of the month really showcases all of my hard work that I have put in over the last four years, she said.

Many of her pieces are meticulously crafted.

The great thing that happens with Abby is that she is a true artist in that she will experiment with a lot of different materials, Brown said. The stuff that we see in the gallery is the representation of the many many media that she has experimented with.

There are a lot of pieces that never get displayed, he added.

Johnson derives inspiration from the people who influence her life. Sometimes the subjects of her work are close friends and sometimes they are famous musicians or actors whose words or lyrics have captured her attention.

A series of Johnsons works depict actor Heath Ledger and artists Katy Perry and Adele.

These works were assembled with carefully placed dots of gray and black paint. Up close these dots form a cloud that in which the artist can be vaguely made out, but from a distance, the dots come together to form a concrete image.

Johnson described this process as similar to stippling, but on a large scale. Stippling is a process of shading using the point of a pen or pencil to place dots. The more dots and closer they are together the darker the shading.

While most of her works are completed relatively quickly, these works took considerably longer.

Johnson spent weeks working on a similar work of art depicting Frieda Kahlo, a Mexican artist whose works explored native folk art Mexican pop culture and surrealism.

Frieda Kahlo has always been an inspiration to me, she said.

The portrait was constructed using beads of various shapes and sizes glued together to form a collage in the likeness of Kahlo and many of Kahlos self-portraits.

I like to use unconventional materials, Johnson said.

She said for her art is a release.

I find enjoyment and I find peace when I am doing paintings it is kind of life my therapy, Johnson said.

From an early age, Johnson was enamored with art.

I got started as an artist because my mom is an art teacher, Johnson said.

Her mother, Angie Hemker, provided her with the foundation for her passion.

Ever since I younger I really liked picking up a paintbrush or picking up a pencil, and I would start drawing whatever came to mind, Johnson said.

This love of art has followed her all throughout school career. The teen is an active member of the West Salem Visual Arts.

Johnson also turned her passion for art to helping others this winter when she used her senior exit project to raise money to fight hunger, working with Empty Bowls to raise money for a local food pantry.

Brown said Johnson is one of the leaders of the art department, someone students look up to.

She is fearless. She is not afraid to try and fail to make a piece, he said. As we get older, we tend to get a little more fearful. Art is the one place where a student like Abby can experiment and have fun.

As her high school career comes to a close Johnson has turned her attention to college. She plans to pursue a career in art therapy or sociology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Johnsons work will be on display in the Heider Center lobby until the end of the month.
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.
The American Red Cross is encouraging eligible blood donors of all blood types to give blood this spring to help insure a sufficient supply for hospital patients.

Donated blood is perishable and must constantly be replenished to keep up with hospital patient need. Red blood cells are the blood component most frequently transfused by hospitals and must be used within 42 days of donation.

Eligible donors can give red blood cells through either a regular whole blood donation or a Power Red donation, where available. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.

While donors of all blood types are encouraged to give blood, type O, A negative and B negative donors are urged to give Power Reds if they meet the additional eligibility criteria. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type in an emergency. Similarly, type O positive can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients. Power Red donations help ensure a stable supply of these critical blood types.

Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year, and Power Red donations may be made every 112 days, up to three times per year.

Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767.

La Crose County opportunities include:

April 14: 12:30 to 5 p.m., Valley View Mall, 3800 State Road 16, La Crosse

April 15: 8 a.m. to noon, La Crosse Blood Donation Center, 1427 Hwy. 16

April 17: 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., La Crosse Blood Donation Center, 1427 Hwy. 16

April 19: Noon to 6 p.m., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagle Hall, 1500 La Crosse St.

April 20: Noon to 6 p.m., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagle Hall, 1500 La Crosse St.

April 21: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Central High School, 1801 Losey Blvd.

April 25: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Christ Saint John Lutheran School, 500 Park St., West Salem

May 1: 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., La Crosse Blood Doantion Center, 1427, Hwy. 16

May 3: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Bangor Middle-High School, 700 10th St.

May 4: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Altra Federal Credit Union, 1700 Oak Forest Drive.
When West Salem local Casey Vacek graduated high school she couldnt wait to get out of dodge. Now 29, shes back and setting up shop at Barbers Arms in downtown West Salem.

It seems like West Salem is happy to have a shop up and running with a younger hair stylist, Vacek said.

A few months back Vacek started renting a chair at Barbers Arms while she looked for a shop of her own. She now plans to purchase the business from the owner Dawn Scheel later this year.

To me, it doesnt feel like a job, she said. Basically, with my job, I just socialize all day and cut some hair. I just love to do it.

Vaceks passion for hair started long before she left West Salem. Shed grown up cutting hair for her friends.

For prom and homecoming and stuff like that Id always do everyones hair, she said.

In those days, it was always womens hair, but that changed after Vacek graduating from West Salem High School in 2007, left for St. Cloud, Minn., to attend beauty school.

I went to cosmetology school where you learn hair, skin and nails, she said. Coming out of beauty school I worked at Sport Clips, and thats where I started specializing in mens hair.

From there she went on to manage shops in downtown and uptown Minneapolis and Minnetonka, always working on mens hair.

I think I probably should have gone to barber school because I deal in barber services, she said.

While she doesnt mind working on womens hair, it isnt her specialty. Most people understand coming into a barbershop they arent going to get the spa treatment.

Guys, they dont need fancy. Im not fancy, she said.

After a while, the city life began to wear on Vacek. Shed grown tired of the long hours she and her husband had to work to pay the bills.

We kind of just wanted to simplify our life, Vacek said.

She began dreaming of a barber shop in her hometown.

I knew I always wanted a shop back home, Vacek said. I never thought my husband would move back here.

She wanted to reconnect with her family and get closer to the community shed grown up in.

My family is really huge; my mom has, like, eight brothers and sisters, Vacek said. Coming back, I knew I would be busy.

There was something about small towns that was attractive to her.

In the cities, it is just keeping up with the Joneses, Vacek said.

She, her husband Joe and their two girls eventually moved to Ettrick, Wis., where they purchased an acre of land and build a tiny 432 square-foot home.

After a few months getting settled, Vacek started reaching out to local salons and barbershops like Barbers Arms.

She asked Scheel if shed ever consider selling the place, but she wasnt interested in selling just yet.

Scheel had been working at Fort McCoy running the fort barbershop for some time, which had left very little time for her business in West Salem.

Vacek said Scheel wanted to make sure her existing clients were taken care of, so, Vacek got to work and soon became the face of the business. She started working long evening hours on Mondays and Tuesdays so that clients who couldnt get out of work could still get a hair cut.

However, after Scheels husband left the region to take a job in Oregon, she had a change of heart and agreed to sell the shop.

Scheel said she wanted to be sure that Vacek wasnt going to close the shop after she bought it.

She said Barbers Arms had been a part of downtown West Salem for more than 30 years and she wanted to see it continue to be a part of the village history.

I think she will be a good fit, Scheel said.

Dawn (Scheel) wanted to sell it to me in the next couple of months. I wouldnt be buying the building because she doesnt own it, she said.

For more information on Barbers Arms including hours and services visit facebook.com/pg/barberarms166.
Spring is here and the Gays Mills Folk Festival of Music and Dance is just around the corner. The festival happens every Mothers Day weekend and the 25th annual festival takes place May 12-14 in Gays Mills.

The festival kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. with a square, contra and old-time dance in the old Gays Mills community building at 212 Main St. All dances are taught, no partners are needed and all ages and beginners are welcome. The music is live with banjos, fiddles and other old-timey instruments.

Saturday activities for the whole family start at noon at Lions Park by the Kickapoo River. Afternoon activities include May crown making, an open stage (bring your talent), workshops conducted by evening performers, a Maypole dance and the ever-popular fiddle bee.

Saturday afternoon also features a special event with Liz Rog, community song leader from the Decorah, Iowa, area. Rog uses group singing as a tool for building community and for restoring a sense of belonging and connection in the world. Her song circles offer a safe, fun and supported space where all voices are welcome.

The Kickapoo Exchange Natural Food Store will be hosting a chili dinner in the new Watercrest Cafe behind the store between 5 and 7 p.m. This dinner features live music. And new this year, the Watercrest Cafe will be serving a Sunday brunch on Mothers Day.

The Saturday concert begins at 7 p.m. in the old Gays Mills Community building and will highlight three musical performances.

The Bootlicker Stringband is a Minneapolis-based old-time band. They play tunes and sing songs from many regions of the country for concerts and square dances. The five members of the band come from diverse musical backgrounds. Their collective expertise comes through with music that is of high quality, fun and entertaining. The band members are Rina Rossi on bass, Aaron Tacke on banjo, AJ Srubas on fiddle and mandolin, Lee Guthrie on fiddle and uke and Arne Pelto on guitar. And they all sing.

The Radio Wranglers hail from Wisconsin and are heavily influenced by the sounds of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, with influences ranging from Country and Western, Western Swing and Honky Tonk. Drawing influences from such artists as Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams, the Radio Wranglers also write original music with a taste of the past. From waltzes to boogies, hot swing to high and lonesome blues, the band presents a unique blend of true American music.

Fronted by the twin fiddle team of Blaine and Ruthie McQuinn on fiddle and vocals, The Radio Wranglers are Danny Tyksinski on lead guitar, Ed Novak on rhythm guitar and Peyton Lencho on doghouse bass.

The Parrishes are a musical duo Ted and Catherine Parrish based in Viroqua. The couple originally met in Chicago where they were both teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Their two musical worlds converged since relocating to Viroqua. They began to perform together an eclectic mix of songs from standards to obscure gems from the past. The Parrishes also write original music that blends their musical styles and experiences. Their music showcases skills developed over many years of dedication to their art.

As is the tradition, the Folk Fest winds down with a good old-fashioned Gospel Sing Sunday at 11 a.m. at Robb Park. Also, be sure to check out all the concurrent Gays Mills Spring Festival events, antique tractor pull, Sunday pancake breakfast, and much more at www.gaysmillswi.com.

Ticket prices for the Gays Mills Folk Festival are $7 for the Friday night dance ($2 children) and $17 for the Saturday night concert ($5 children). All park activities are freewill donation. More information may be obtained by calling 608-632-2720 or visiting www.gaysmillsfolkfest.org.
The La Crosse Area Retired Educators will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 1 at Moxies Pub,1835 Rose Street, La Crosse.

The program topic is Hunger Task Force: Fighting Hunger presented by Shelley Fortner. Cost of the meal is $10. Everyone who has retired from Wisconsin public schools is invited. Reservations can be made through Karen Broadhead, 608-788-2485, or Marlene McCabe, 608-781-1039.
Cook Children's Medical Center(NEW YORK) -- This nurses drawings are bringing cheer to his young patients at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.



Edgar Palomo, 27, makes dry-erase artwork on the hematology/oncology floor to lighten the mood for the kids.



I've always wanted to help people, which led me to nursing, Palomo, who has been working at Cook Childrens for four years, wrote to ABC News. I never wanted to pursue anything in art, so doing the drawings helps me to combine the two together in a positive and therapeutic manner.



He said hes been doing the drawings for the unit and patients for three years.



As word of mouth goes around, it's gotten more frequent, he explained of his elaborate creations. I take requests from patients, families and staff. It can be a popular movie at the time or it might be something related to a holiday.

Some of his drawings include famous characters from movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, Superman, A Charlie Brown Christmas and Winnie the Pooh.



Each drawing takes a few hours to complete, although Palomo said, My job comes first.



I can usually only work on the drawings a little bit at a time when I have some free time, he said. And there is not always downtime. Therefore, a drawing can take one to two weeks, depending on how busy the unit is.



Palomo is happy that his attempt to bring some cheerful color to the floor can have such a positive impact on the kids.



Anything to bring a smile is worth doing, he said.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
In anticipation of the 2017 tourism season, the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce has released its 2017 Official Visitors Guide.

The visitors guide is the handy catch-all tool that helps to promote the Black River area and is a tool visitors can use to find their way around and a way for them to find all of the recreational things and businesses that we have to offer, said Chris Hardie, executive director of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce.

The visitors guide is placed in several locations throughout the county and at Wisconsin Department of Tourism visitor and information centers around the state.

The 44-page magazine features information about annual events, the Ho-Chunk Nation, outdoor recreation, the state forest, parks and much more.

This year, the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce printed 12,500 magazines. Hardie explained this is down from previous years because they have seen an increase in online traffic on the Chambers website.

Hardie also said that the magazine is available digitally online at www.blackrivercountry.net. You can also pick up your own copy at the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce office located at 120 N. Water Street in Black River Falls.

The visitor guide is printed with the help of The Print Shop in Black River Falls. The beautiful cover photo was taken during sunset on the Black River by Colin Droster, who is an avid kayaker of the Black River.
The 67-room Gundersen Hotel and Suites will open will open this summer adjacent to Gundersen Health Systems La Crosse campus and is accepting reservations for dates after Sept. 1, hotel executives announced Thursday.

Premier Hotel Properties will own and manage the facility as an independent boutique lifestyle hotel, according to a news release. Premier developed its first independent brand in partnership with Gundersen under a licensing agreement.

Created in part to provide convenient quarters for Gundersen patients who travel distances for their care, as well as their out-of-town visitors, the hotel will have 67 guest studios, including 16 one-bedroom suites with full kitchens, according to Premier.

The rooms will feature high-speed internet, charging stations, work spaces and sitting areas. The one-bedroom suites will have full kitchens, island-style seating and sitting areas with separate bedrooms.

Amenities will include a free breakfast served daily, signature bakery items from local vendors, fresh fruits, healthy choices and traditional breakfast favorites. Also available for guests will be an indoor pool, fitness center, business center and a terrace room on the fourth floor. The terrace and executive board rooms will be available to book for groups, events and meetings.

Premier, which also owns, operates and develops projects in Illinois and Missouri, also operates the Holiday Inn Express in Onalaska.

The company wanted to expand into the downtown La Crosse market, said Premier founder Spencer Schram.

The location and type of product we are creating aligned with a vision of the Gundersen Health System, Schram said, adding that it will appeal to a wide array of guests visiting La Crosse, including corporate and group bookings.

Bookings can be made at the hotels website, with costs ranging from a $91 per diem government charge, $142 for AARP/senior and AAA rates to family suites starting at $153.
Uncle Billy left an incredibly wide swath of mourners because they include not only his immediate family but an extended family of thousands who also are able to celebrate his life.

Even Bill Gerrards five children sometimes call him Uncle Billy, after becoming so accustomed to hearing that honorific from everyone  including governors, judges, legislators and other lobbyists  because of his concern for everyone and desire to help anybody, anytime.

Michael William Bill Gerrard, a La Crosse native who died April 7 at the age of 92, was an entrepreneur, developer, real estate broker and lobbyist. In 1952, he launched Gerrard Realty, a firm that was said to be the largest real estate company in the state.

His main competitor was Jake Hoeschler, who founded Hoeschler Realty in 1950, although they had a healthy respect for each other, daughter Mary Ann Gerrard said during an interview Wednesday. Daughter Nancy Gerrard bought her fathers firm and, in 1991, merged with Jay Hoeschler, Jakes son, who had taken the reins of that company.

A lifelong Democrat, Uncle Billy chaired the state Democratic Party in the 1970s but crossed aisles so adroitly that the common joke was that he was a member of the incumbent party.

I learned everything from him, Mary Ann said as she reminisced about her fathers life and the 22 years she served with him as a lobbyist in Madison.

What we all learned was to be gracious and reach out and make it all about the other guy, said Mary Ann, the eldest of Uncle Billy and wife Annas children.

As deeply as he loved politics, he held his wife, children and dozen grandchildren even closer to his heart, said former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican who laughed warmly as he recalled how close he became to Gerrard and his family.

Everything revolved around his family because he wanted them to succeed as he did, Thompson said in a phone interview during a layover in Los Angeles as he was returning to Wisconsin from a business trip to Fiji, near Australia.

He was a staunch Democrat who was very close to (former Democratic Gov.) Pat Lucey, Thompson said. And Pat Lucey became very close to me because of Uncle Billy.

Laughing heartily about Gerrards incumbent party mantle, Thompson said, We loved teasing him about that.

When I ran against Tony Earl, he voted for Tony because Tony was the incumbent (and a Democrat). When I won, it wasnt hours after that I got a call from Uncle Billy. He said, Boy, Tommy, we did it! Thompson said.

Thompson recalled that Uncle Billy would come into his office with a list of requests.

He was so nice, it was hard to say no to him.  He was very persuasive and was always finding ways to get things done, said Thompson, one of the speakers scheduled to deliver eulogies at 11:15 a.m. April 22 at the Roncalli Newman Center at 1732 State St. in La Crosse. Gerrards Mass of Christian Burial will follow, at 11:30.

Uncle Billy was very, very special  he was a political ace, Thompson said. He had the contacts, he had the personality  and he had the tact. He loved people, and he would take the extra step for everybody.

Another close friend is Kenosha County Circuit Judge Mary Wagner, who met Uncle Billy as a close friend of her fiance, John Malloy. He also was an usher at their wedding in 1982.

Uncle Billy was one of the greatest gifts John Malloy gave me  not only Bill but the entire Gerrard family, said Wagner, who confessed to being a bit nervous about her role as a eulogist.

When her husband was killed in an accident less than a year after they were married, Uncle Billy drove to comfort her during a vigil, she said.

Uncle Billy was a great fan of Wagners bread, so in recent years, she would drive to Madison or La Crosse  whichever spot he was living  to deliver the tasty loaves to him.

He listened more than he talked, she said. He used to say you could learn more listening than talking. He always asked people, What can I do for you? He was friendly and happy, and he was a great story-teller.

Acknowledging his ability to work equally hard for Democrats and Republicans, Wagner said, He liked everybody. He was a great compromiser.

Daughter Mary Ann said she isnt quite sure her father opted to go with Bill instead of Michael.

He advocated parochial school aid decades ago, she said, adding, He did that gratis, and that was his first taste of lobbying. He felt very strongly about Catholic schools.

One of his favorite causes was chiropractors insurance, she said.

His is the one responsible for getting the chiropractors insurance coverage, she said. He pushed and pushed and pushed.

The friendships Uncle Billy fostered in Madison flourished beyond his retirement, she said.

He wasnt a 92-year-old lobbyist everybody forgot, she said. These young people would call him for counsel and to go out to lunch and dinner.

Mary Ann, who said the family teased him for learning to snow ski at 45, cited family vacations in Minocqua, Wis., as the most memorable.

We would have such fun, she said. He would step back from work and drive the boat. He usually worked Saturdays, so any time with him was precious.

Mary Ann, who was one of her fathers caregivers during his later years, said, That was a blessing in my life, to take care of Dad.
A federal program that has funded more than $428 million worth of rural Wisconsin water and sewer projects  including dozens in the Coulee Region  is among those targeted for elimination in President Donald Trumps proposed budget.

Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the water and waste disposal program provides grants and loans for the construction of water facilities in rural communities. According to the USDA, the 945 projects funded last year will improve the quality of life for more than 2.2 million rural residents.

Trump has proposed eliminating the program, which he calls duplicative, saving $498 million in a $1.2 trillion discretionary budget that cuts $54 billion in programs while increasing defense and homeland security spending by about $60 billion.

Since 2006, the water program has authorized nearly $131 million worth of subsidies for sewer and water projects in rural Wisconsin communities and an additional $297 million in low-interest loans. That includes more than $38 million for more than two dozen Coulee Region municipalities, including Arcadia, Cashton, Ettrick, Hixton, Independence and Whitehall.

The average grant for Wisconsin communities was about $550,000, while loans averaged about $1.2 million per project. The USDA says its loan portfolio has a delinquency rate of just 0.43 percent.

It would be kind of devastating for small communities, said Dave Lawrence, executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Water Association, a nonprofit organization that provides training and technical assistance for water system operators. Its the number one funding mechanism they use for infrastructure.

The city of Viroqua last year received $7 million in assistance, one of the largest awards made in Wisconsin, to fund the citys overhaul of its 40-year-old wastewater treatment plant.

City Engineer Sara Grainger said the $10 million project, expected to be completed by December, will make the plant more flexible, though the primary purpose is to replace equipment designed with a 20-year lifespan.

Its just worn out, she said.

Two years ago a shaft broke in one of the plants two clarifying tanks, requiring it to be shut down for almost a month.

In addition to upgrading the treatment plant, the city is also moving its discharge pipe two miles away to avoid karst topography. Crevices in the current stream bed  a tributary of the Bad Axe River  allows the outflow to quickly infiltrate the groundwater, carrying with it fecal bacteria that arent fully removed by the treatment process.

Grainger said the USDA program allows small communities to borrow money that would not be available from banks. And the grants  in Viroquas case, $2 million  mean ratepayers dont have to support the entire project cost.

Its a huge chunk, Grainger said.

The village of Viola last year received about $3.4 million  including a $715,000 grant  to replace unlined water mains and lead service lines. According to USDA, the village was losing over 30 percent of its water, and cracks in the old mains made the water supply susceptible to contamination.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a first-term Democrat who has made clean water one of her signature issues, said she intends to fight to preserve the funding.

For many rural communities its the difference between being able to make investments to protect clean water and upgrade sewer systems and not being able to do so, Baldwin said. The idea that the presidents budget would cut half a billion dollars to assist rural communities with water issues is frightening.

Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican elected in November to a second term, did not say whether he favors maintaining rural development programs like this one but praised Trumps preliminary budget outline.

The presidents budget is the first serious attempt by any White House since Ive been serving to rein in the out-of-control federal government by providing budget discipline to departments and agencies. The general direction of this budget focuses on what should be the top priority of the federal government  national defense and homeland security  while protecting the hard-earned dollars of American taxpayers, Johnson said in a statement. No two people will agree on every program cut or expansion, and I look forward to working to balance fiscal discipline with what is in the overall best interest of Wisconsin and America.

In his budget summary, Trump says rural communities can be served by private-sector financing or other government financing programs such as the Environmental Protection Agencys state revolving funds, which he proposes increasing by $4 million.

However, the USDA program is reserved for communities of fewer than 10,000 people, while three quarters of the EPA funding goes to larger cities.

Lawrence said other funding programs dont allow payments to be spread over 40 years, which is crucial to keeping payments affordable for smaller communities.

I think its fair to say that there would be great difficulty for many of these small communities in getting loans and private financing outside of this program, Baldwin said.
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, which has campuses in Tomah and Black River Falls, 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.
To April Beaver her service dog, Basia, is her hero.

For almost two years Basia has assisted Beaver to manage her diabetes and mobility issues.

Her gratefulness and amazement for her service dog is what prompted her to enter Basia in the American Humane Hero Dog Awards.

The awards are an annual, nationwide competition that recognizes dogs who do extraordinary things.

The dogs compete in seven categories (law enforcement/arson dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, guide/hearing dogs and emerging hero dogs) and are then voted on by the public.

After voting, the winners (and their human companion) from each category are flown to Hollywood to attend the American Hero Dogs Awards gala, where the American Hero Dog will be named.

The American Humane Society will donate $2,500 to the charity partners of each of the eight finalists, and an additional $5,000 will be given to the American Hero Dogs charity partner.

Beaver, who lives in Tomah, said she entered Basia because shes a wonderful, talented dog.

Shes my hero, and shes amazing, she said. Because of her I can ... drive again, I can go to stores and not have to worry, and my family doesnt have to worry while theyre at work every day if Im going to pass out or not wake up.

As a service dog who specializes in diabetes and mobility, Basia is trained to nudge and paw when Beavers blood sugar is low (under 100) or high (over 300), retrieve a blood glucose meter, a phone, glucose tablets or juice. She can also detect when blood sugar is dropping fast, brace for someone to get up after they fall, open doors, carry a laundry basket up and down the stairs, put clothes in a laundry basket and even take off socks.

Basia, Beaver said, is an exception to most service dogs.

Usually (dogs) are trained through all the categories (for a service dog), then at the end they are kind of given a test to see what theyre best at, she said. While most dogs only excel at one, she excelled at two.

Basia is excelling in both diabetes and mobility is incredibly helpful, Beaver said, because after she had a pancreas transplant she began having mobility issues.

Shortly after the transplant, I started having problems like falling down stairs  my knees swell and then I can barely walk, then my legs just give out and there I go, she said.

The transplant, Beaver said, was supposed to get rid of the diabetes for a time to slow down the progression of gastroparesis and other health problems related to the diabetes. However it failed.

Beaver said shes blessed to have found Basia; she has saved her life many times.

One life-saving event happened in November, when Beavers blood sugar was extremely high and she was surprised she didnt fall into a coma.

My (insulin) pump wasnt working, but it wasnt telling me it wasnt working, so my blood sugar was 1,268, she said. (Basia) kept telling me, and you could tell she was nervous and worried, she kept nudging and pawing. ... I knew it was high because (the meter) kept saying 600, thats the highest it goes, so it had to be extremely high, she was so worried and I kept taking insulin and it wasnt working.

My brother-in-law has to come to get me, and he told my husband afterward that I would talk and then I would just stop and be out of it.

This is why Basia was entered into the American Hero Dog Awards, Beaver said.

Shes amazing; shes my hero, and I want to donate the money, she said.

Beaver and Basias charity partner for the American Hero Dog Awards is the National Education for Assistance Dogs Services.

Voting for the awards ends May 3.

To vote go to herodogawards.org/dog/basia.
We are up to our gills in meth, the county worker told me. Four years ago one quarter of our child-protection cases were related to meth. Now, 92 percent of these cases are related to meth.

Our system just isnt equipped to deal with the meth problem, said another social worker.

Recently, more than 400 county supervisors and Health and Human Services staff came to the capitol. I had visitors from every county in our Senate District. These officials brought me one clear message: Help us deal with the methamphetamine problem.

The statistics the county employees shared were staggering. Trempealeau County experienced more than a four-fold increase in child-protection cases in less than two years. Most of these children were living with a meth-addicted parent.

Dunn County officials told me about the increase in people entering treatment. Last September, 35 percent of those entering treatment were meth addicts and this number steadily grew. By February, 60 percent of those entering treatment were addicted to meth.

The county staff shared many stories about the impact of meth addiction on children. These children are exposed to the drug because addicts smoke the substance. The drug pollutes the air and surfaces of the home. All workers test children of meth addicts for exposure to meth.

We tested a four-year-old and a one-year-old, said a social worker. The two children tested higher than the average meth users.

The social workers said they are struggling to fill the needs of so many youngsters ravaged by the addiction of their parents. Counties assess the childs needs but, as the county staff explained, it is difficult to tease out what is happening with a child.

Is a child suffering withdrawal symptoms because of second-hand drug exposure or suffering developmentally because of poor nutrition. Has the child experienced emotional or physical trauma? Certainly, the vast majority of children of meth-addicted parents suffer neglect.

A social worker told me that she visited a mom in jail who decided to voluntarily give up her child. The sorrowful mom told the social worker she wished she never did meth, because it makes you forget you ever had children.

Helping the large number of suffering children has stretched county budgets thin. The cases are hard. Social workers are difficult to find and often not trained to assist children from drug-troubled homes. Staff turnover is high.

For the addicts themselves, treatment programs are limited. Insurance only pays for a few days of inpatient treatment. To be effective, a meth addict must stay inpatient for at least a month. In my own research, I learned the brain takes at least a year to recover from some damage done by meth. Relapses are common, as is depression and other forms of mental illness.

A few months ago, I first began hearing about meth from law enforcement. Sheriffs told me the combination of mental illness and meth resulted in violence. Community and officer safety was at risk. Treatment options were very limited. Often officers must drive four to six hours one-way to deliver the addict to treatment at one of two state-operated mental health institutions.

Local sheriffs explained how their entire annual budget for transporting the arrested mentally ill person was gone in the first few months of this year because of so many new cases of mental illness and meth-induced violence.

Opioid users go to the emergency room, a human services manager told me. Meth addicts go to jail.

Lawmakers recently paid much attention to problems associated with heroin and opioid-related drugs. However, the epidemic in western Wisconsin is meth.

Counties need resources to help children who need safe homes. Our region needs treatment and emergency crisis centers. Long-term inpatient treatment is expensive but can be effective. Further, we must help those suffering from mental illness and keep them from turning to addiction instead of mental health treatment.

Lawmakers will soon take up a series of bills to combat heroin. I ask my colleagues to expand their awareness and consider the impacts of meth: on our children, our county budgets, the safety of our communities and the lives of the addicts.

In the spirit of rebirth, Easter and spring, I ask families affected by mental illness or drug addiction to get help. It is not easy. But there is hope.

Democrat Kathleen Vinehout, Alma, represents the 31st state Senate District.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has reprimanded an attorney for two voicemail messages to a soon-to-be former client

Nichalas Frank hired the respondent in November of 2015 to represent him in three (3) criminal cases pending in Oklahoma County District Court. Mr. Frank's grandfather paid the respondent the five-hundred dollar ($500) retainer fee required to obtain his services, and Mr. Frank was to pay an additional total of $4,000.00 to the respondent in six monthly payments. Frank, however, failed to make any further payments.

On March 15, 2016, the respondent learned during a staff meeting that Mr. Frank had not made any additional payments for attorney fees. The respondent reacted to this by telephoning Frank and, in front of his staff, leaving two messages containing expletives and threats. We will address the content of the messages later in this opinion.

After receiving the respondent's voicemail messages, Frank contacted a local Oklahoma City TV news station. In an interview with the station he stated he feared for his life because the respondent was pretty powerful, and "I'm pretty sure he can do what he wants to do at any moment." The TV station aired the news story on March 16, 2016, and played bleep-censored audio of both voicemail messages left by the respondent. He refused to be interviewed and did not comment on the allegations.

On March 17, 2016, Mr. Frank filed a grievance with the Oklahoma Bar Association regarding the respondent's conduct. That same day the respondent filed motions to withdraw from Frank's cases and was authorized to do so by the District Court on March 21, 2016.

In his written response to Frank's grievance, the respondent advised he had appeared in court on Frank's behalf and continued the cases because he was not getting paid, and he was trying to consolidate them before the same judge. The respondent went on to state that when he learned Frank had not paid the fee promised, he left the two voicemails, "in an attempt to get Frank to pay him so that he would not have to withdraw." In his written response, the respondent also stated that Frank

". . . needed me to get his attention and I did. . . . I simply spoke to him in words he understood. My communication was directed to him personally, and was intended to be private in nature. Sometimes communications with difficult drug addicted clients has [sic] to be blunt and straight forward to impress upon them the reality of their situation."

The expurgated version

The respondent objects to the Trial Panel's characterization of his conduct as "morally reprehensible." He believes the conduct involved merely offensive behavior and insults. He argues that the Trial Panel has expanded "morally reprehensible" beyond deceit, dishonesty, misrepresentation, criminality, and sexual misbehavior. While he appears to be focused on his choice of expletives, we are focused on the subject matter of the two recorded messages.

The respondent writes that "Swear words are the exclamation marks of spoken language." Modern dictionaries describe the words used by the respondent as offensive and vulgar. Because words in dictionaries are the result of substantial research, we accept that they accurately reflect the current public opinion of the words the respondent chose to use. We delete these expletives in quoting his messages.

The respondent left this message at 10:31 AM:

"Mr. Frank, this is Chad Moody. It's not your [deleted]. It's not your piece of [deleted] that you step on. It's not your slave. It's not your [deleted]. It's Chad Moody who works for you, but you won't [deleted] pay me! So why don't you come to my office, because I'm having a frustrating day, and I would like to really beat the [deleted] out of somebody and that way, you can at least make yourself somewhat useful to the human race. [Deleted] pay me [deleted]!"

Again, at 10:33 AM, the respondent telephoned Frank, and in front of his staff, left this message:

"Mr. Frank, by the way, Chad Moody, calling you back, and at this point, I really do think you should probably find other counsel because I'm to the point of wanting to see you go to prison and that's not a good equation. It gives me a horrible conflict of interest. So I'm letting you know I've got this conflict of interest because I would love to see your sorry [deleted] in prison because you're using me like your [deleted]."

The facts show that the phone calls immediately followed information from the respondent's staff informing him that Mr. Frank had not paid the attorney fees he had promised to pay. The respondent's subsequent verbal abuse and threats were a coercive attempt to intimidate Mr. Frank into paying. The substance of the messages does not support the respondent's explanations that he was trying to shock Mr. Frank into following the respondent's recommendations to him so he would receive a lighter sentence. The respondent's assertion that his choice of language was in his client's best interest and the language is protected by the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech Clause, found in the Constitution of the United States, is merely unpersuasive rationalization for rash acts.

The recorded tirade reveals that the respondent no longer intended to represent his client, he only wanted his fees to be paid. He is entitled to his fees, and as an attorney, he should know bullying and threats are not acceptable behavior for a professional who has sworn to uphold the rule of law. The courts are open to protect breaches of contract. Of all people, a lawyer should know that.

The conduct violated Rule 8.4(d)

We are concerned that the respondent does not appear to realize that his use of intimidation and threats to collect a debt due him is unacceptable behavior for an attorney. He shows no remorse, no embarrassment for his actions. He even defends the actions as protected speech. He testifies that his client deserved it for lying to him about paying the attorney fees. From his own testimony, he has asserted that such behavior is not his ordinary course of dealing with the clientele he has chosen to represent, that is, those who are accused of violating drug laws. Neither his two attorney witnesses, nor a member of his staff, who also testified at his hearing, were willing to testify that such invective should be considered acceptable behavior for an attorney. His actions violate ORPC 8.4(d), and RGDP 1.3. Justice cannot be administered by taking the position of a foe, by belittling one's own client, nor by informing the client that his lawyer wants to physically beat him and then see him go to prison. In other words, the respondent's conduct is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Such action also brings discredit upon the legal profession.

In mitigation, the facts support this is not the respondent's typical method of handling his clients. He has not been disciplined by this Court before. We expect that the respondent will not repeat his behavior. There is no evidence before this Court that Mr. Frank suffered any legal harm regarding his criminal cases as the result of the respondent's withdrawal as Mr. Frank's attorney.

NewsOK reported on the sanction. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/04/the-oklahoma-supreme-court-has-reprimanded-an-attorney-for-nichalas-frank-hired-the-respondent-in-november-of-2015-to-repres.html
Thursday, April 13, 2017

The South Carolina Advisory Committee on Standards of Judicial Conduct blesses a magistrate's 911 service

A full-time magistrate is also a certified paramedic. For many years, the judge has worked part-time as a paramedic in a 911 setting in a county different than the one in which the judge presides. However, the judge plans to retire from the 911 service and instead work part time for a non-emergency service that would provide services to several counties, including the one in which the judge presides as magistrate. The job would entail transporting patients from hospital to hospital, home to doctors facilities, etc. These would be non-emergency patients who cannot utilize traditional means of transportation. Further, from time to time, the judge may be requested to cover a public event as first aid personnel. The judge does not believe that there will be any situations in which he would come into contact with law enforcement at said events. Furthermore, the events would fall under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, rather than the magistrate court. The judge inquires as to whether he may accept such part-time employment.

Good to go

We have addressed employment by full-time magistrate in previous opinions (See, e.g., 13-2005, 9-2014). The Code of Judicial Conduct does not prohibit part-time employment by a full-time magistrate. Canon 4D(3) permits a judge to serve as employee of a business entity if that service does not conflict with the judges judicial duties[.] Rule 501, SCACR. The commentary to that Canon states that a judges participation may be prohibited if participation requires significant time away from judicial duties. In addition, all of judges extra-judicial conduct must avoid activities that cast reasonable doubt on the judges ability to act impartially and the judge must avoid the appearance of impropriety. Canon 4; Canon 2.

Here, it does not appear that the accepting part-time employment with a non-emergency medical transport service would conflict with the Canons. However, the judge should regularly re-examine the judges activities with regards to employment to determine if it is proper to continue such affiliation.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/04/the-south-carolina-a-full-time-magistrate-is-also-a-certified-paramedic-for-many-years-the-judge-has-worked-part-time-as-a.html


The United States Commerce Department has begun a 90-day study of trade imbalances between the U.S. and some Asian nations.

Experts say the review could produce a major change in Asias trading relationship with the United States.

The review follows President Donald Trumps call for action against foreign importers that cheat.

Among the Asian economies Trump criticized are China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, India, Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Trump has said that he will make an historic reversal in U.S. trade policy after the review.

Currency manipulation?

A possible U.S. trade policy change is making many government officials in Southeast Asia worried.

After World War II, many developing economies in East and Southeast Asia exported their products to the United States.

The relationship helped end poverty for millions of people.

But during th e 2016 presidential campaign, Trump charged that some trade policies, especially those of China, had harmed the American economy.

He accused some countries of unfairly keeping the value of their currency low compared to the value of the U.S. dollar. This makes their exported products less costly than similar products made in the United States.

Krystal Tan is an economist at Capital Economics in Singapore. She said two countries that are most worried about being named currency manipulators are South Korea and Taiwan.

Countries that are officially identified as currency manipulators can face economic punishments such as fines or import taxes.

Tan says if countries want to avoid economic restrictions, they will need to open their markets to more American products.

Taiwan

Officials in Taiwan say the trading relationship with the U.S. is not a hostile one. They note that more than 80 percent of the exports Taiwan sends are not completed products. Instead, they are put together in the United States.

David Hsu is the deputy director general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) in Taiwan. He told reporters that the trading relationship with the U.S. is mutually beneficial.

Malaysia

Government and business officials in Malaysia are also worried about the U.S. trade review. In late 2016, an increase in exports increased economic growth in Malaysia to 4.5 percent.

Ong Ka Chuan is the Malaysian minister of international trade and industry. Ong told reporters that Malaysia was not responsible for the large U.S. trade deficit.

Ong said, Malaysia was dealing with the U.S. fairly.

Ong added that any restrictions that may result from a review could harm American manufacturers in Malaysia, such as Intel and Western Digital.

If Trump were to punish usthe American firms will be (the) ones (that are) dealt a severe blow, he said.

Thailand and Vietnam

The U.S. is Thailands third-largest trading partner after China and Japan.

Trade between the U.S. and Thailand was $36.5 billion in 2016. More than $24 billion was from Thai exports. Among the top exports to the U.S. were machinery, electrical appliances, electronics and parts, rubber products and gems and jewelry.

Vietnam also has a trade surplus with the U.S.  in other words, it sells far more goods to the U.S. than it buys.

Last week, Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc criticized Trumps decision. He said it would have a huge impact on Vietnams economy, which depends on exports.

Trans Pacific Partnership

President Trump has already changed U.S. trade policy. Soon after he took office in January, Trump withdrew from the Trans Pacific Partnership  or, TPP  agreement.

The agreement was an important part of former U.S. president Barack Obamas pivot to Asia policy. It was designed to limit Chinas growing political and economic influence in the area.

Carl Thayer, a political scientist at the University of New South Wales, explains one of the effects of Trump withdrawing from the TPP. He says North Vietnam now wants to increase trade with China under the Chinese Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Vietnam had its heart and soul on the TPP," Thayer said. "They have a massive surplus with the U.S. It almost equals their massive deficit with China. But theres not very much they can do. Theyre being pragmatic and looking at the RCEP."

Thayer said Vietnam hoped for a strong American presence in Asia to balance Chinas influence, especially in the South China Sea. Now, he said, Vietnam will have to balance its relationships more equally among the U.S. and India, Russia, Japan and China.

And, Thayer added, without strong U.S. action in the region, Vietnam will have to work harder to balance Chinese influence.

He says relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, which have been built up over the past 20 years, may be hurt because of a possible change in trade policy.

Im Kelly Jean Kelly.

Correspondent Ron Corben reported this story from Bangkok. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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

imbalance  n. a state or condition in which different things do not occur in equal or proper amounts

reversal  n. a change to an opposite state, condition, decision, etc.

manipulator  n. a person who uses or controls other people in a clever and often unfair or selfish way : a manipulative person

beneficial  adj. producing good or helpful results or effects

blow  n. a sudden event that causes trouble, damage, sorrow, etc

appliances  n. a machine (such as a stove, microwave, or dishwasher) that is powered by electricity and that is used in people's houses to perform a particular job

impact  n. a powerful or major influence or effect

pivot  n. the action of turning around a point : the action of pivoting

massive  adj. large in amount or degree

pragmatic  adj. dealing with the problems that exist in a specific situation in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on ideas and theories


The Brazilian city of Petropolis is known for its 19th century buildings and its Imperial Museum. The museum includes the summer home of Brazil's last ruler, Dom Pedro II.

But many people who live in Petropolis are upset about having to pay a special property tax linked to the countrys former rulers.

The tax is known as laudemio. It takes 2.5 percent of the value of real estate deals. The money from the tax goes directly to the descendants of Dom Pedro II, more than one hundred years after he was ousted.

The property tax is an example of social injustice to many of the 300,000 people living in the city.

Brazil is one of the world's most unequal places for property distribution. Almost half of the land is owned by one percent of the population. Experts say laws that were written before Brazils independence from Portugal worsen the problem.

The tax was established in Brazil by the rulers of Portugal to ensure that land was passed from European settlers to their descendants. In colonial times, Brazil's land was the property of Portugal.

Brazil became a republic in 1889. But the special tax was never cancelled. Many criticize the tax because it continues to earn money for only a few privileged families.

Marco Antonio de Melo Breves is an official with Brazil's federal tax department. He says he does not know how much money is paid each year under the royal property tax or how much it costs the average homeowner.

Breves says payments are generally made through private lawyers who make documents official. He adds that the government does not have information on how many royal descendants are receiving money from people paying the property tax.

Government officials say unclear property ownership and complex land registration policies are problems in Brazil. The Ministry of Cities says half the population cannot prove full legal ownership of their homes.

Ana Paula Bueno is a lawyer with the Land Governance Group at the State University of Campinas. She says removing the special property tax would require many changes to current laws.

Isabela Verleun works at the Imperial Museum of Petropolis. She says that when Brazil created a new constitution in 1988, some people wanted to end the tax.

Their efforts, however, were unsuccessful.

Im Jonathan Evans.

VOA News reported this story based on Reuters reports. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in this Story

real estate  n. property consisting of buildings and land

descendant  n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past

distribution  n. the way that something is divided or spread out


As an American Navy aircraft carrier group heads toward Korea, China said Thursday that military force alone cannot end tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

At the same time, an influential Chinese newspaper urged North Korea to stop its nuclear program in exchange for Chinese protection.

Experts are worried that the North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or launch more missiles in defiance of United Nations resolutions and sanctions. The United States has also strongly warned that it will no longer be patient with the North.

China cautions North Korea

China is the Norths only major ally. It also gives a lot of aid to the country. But it wants the North to end its nuclear weapons program. China has called for negotiations to ease tensions. It also wants nuclear weapons removed from the peninsula.

The Global Times newspaper, which is published by the Communist partys Peoples Daily, called on North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un to stop developing nuclear weapons.

As soon as North Korea complies with Chinas declared advice and suspends nuclear activities, China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearized North Korean nation and regime, it wrote recently.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal you cannot allow a country like [North Korea] to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. Thats mass destruction.

A day earlier, the president told Fox Business Network that the United States is sending an armada. Very powerful. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier.

Sources told VOA that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group includes the USS Ohio submarine, which is armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Just last week, the U.S. fired 59 missiles at a Syrian airfield in response to a deadly gas attack.

From Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, military force cannot resolve the issue. Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks.

Wang warned that whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility.

Trump warns North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not accept any military aggression from North Korea. But American officials say the administration wants to use stronger economic sanctions against the North, not weapons.

U.S. officials said the president was considering an oil embargo, banning North Koreas airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks that work with North Korean companies and the government.

Theres a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to whats essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea, an official told Reuters.

Concerns in Japan and South Korea

From Seoul, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told parliament that he believes the US will tell his country before it attacks the North. On Thursday morning, a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korea has no evidence that military aggression from the North will happen soon. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also said on Thursday that North Korea may be able to fire missiles that have sarin nerve gas. A senior Japanese diplomat said the United States was putting maximum pressure on North Korea to ease tensions while also pressuring China to influence its ally.

South Korean officials said there were no new signs showing a nuclear test by the North was likely. But they said the North appeared ready to conduct a test at any time.

Pictures taken by satellites show a North Korean nuclear site is being prepared for what would be the countrys sixth nuclear test. North Korea marks the Day of the Sun on Saturday, April 15th. It is the 105th birth anniversary of its founder, Kim Il Sung. The North often makes large displays of its military strength on this day.

U.S. government sources said that North Korea appears to have a placed a device in a tunnel at the site that could be detonated Saturday or even sooner.

We have no comment but we will be watching closely, an official at the National Security Council told VOA.

The Reuters news agency and VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reports for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

group  n. a number of people or things that are together or in the same place

conduct  v. to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

defiance  n. a refusal to obey something or someone; the act of defying someone or something

comply  v. to do what you have been asked or ordered to do

regime  n. a form of government

armada  n. a large group of ships, boats, etc.

provoke  v. to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc.

aggression  n. hostile action against another country, government, etc.

embargo  n. a government order that limits trade in some way

intercept  v. to stop and take someone or something that is going from one place to another place before that person or thing gets there

host  n. a great amount or number

essentially  adv. in effect; in actuality; in reality

quarantine  n. in economics, a blocking of trade with a country by isolating them from the world economy

tunnel  n. a passage that goes under the ground, through a hill, etc.

detonate  v. to explode or to cause (something, such as a bomb) to explode


If you are a refugee, Uganda may be one of the better places to live.

The countrys refugee policy is considered one of the most progressive in the world.

Newcomers are permitted freedom of movement. They can operate their own businesses. And for the most part, Ugandans are welcoming.

For years, Uganda has helped people from across Africa. Currently, there are more than 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers in the country. Many have fled violence at home. They are from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

Solomon Osakan is a settlement officer in the office of Ugandas prime minister. He works with the United Nations humanitarian agency to direct refugee operations in the country. He says his country's refugee policy comes from wanting to help Africans in trouble.

"So, I think this policy emanates from our leaders. Previously, many of our leaders were displaced as refugees, they sought asylum in neighboring countries, and went as far as Europe. In that time, this changed their perception in thinking that when you are a refugee, you need to be supported to survive; otherwise, hostility only worsens."

The Ugandan system is opposite of the model followed in many other areas, where refugees are kept separate from the rest of the population and unable to leave.

Uganda has refugee settlements, not camps. Host communities have donated much of the land for these settlements. Refugees receive a 50-meter by 50-meter piece of land for shelter and growing crops. The refugees are free to move around in the country. They also receive employment waivers for jobs, free healthcare and education.

Many refugees benefit from Ugandas open door policy. Joyce Alua is a refugee from South Sudan.

"It is good, because here, in Uganda here, we are feeling good. There is no fighting like South Sudan. And other things, also, they are good."

But not everyone is pleased. Near the recently-opened Imvepi settlement, some local people, said that "outsiders" are getting the jobs, not them. Charles Acema was one of the protesters.

"But the bad thing here is we are lacking of jobs. Those who are here, they do not give the jobs for us."

U.N. officials and Uganda's government say many of the jobs in the settlements require skills that are not always found in the local communities.

While concerned about the lack of jobs, Acema says he is happy Uganda is helping refugees.

"Yes,Yes, we know that Uganda is a God-loving country. That is why they welcome refugees here. Yes."

Yet many refugees at the settlement noted food shortages. U.N. officials say a lack of money for buying food is the main problem.

Last year, food supplies were cut by 50 percent for refugees who arrived before July 2015, except for those considered particularly vulnerable.

The United Nations says it needs about $500 million for its 2017 Uganda operations. As of the middle of March, it had only received about $35 million, seven percent of the total.

Im Marsha James.

Jill Craig reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

asylum  n. protection from arrest or expulsion from a country

benefit  v. to be useful to; to receive help

waiver  n. the cancellation of an existing right or claim

emanate  v. to come out from

perception  n. a mental image; an understanding or recognition

grievance  n. a feeling of being treated unfairly; a criticism

particularly vulnerable  adj. very needy

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.


The U.S. Defense Department says its military plane dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat, a 10,000-kilogram bomb, on an Islamic State target in Afghanistan.

The bomb is called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB). Based on its acronym, the U.S. Air Force has nicknamed it the "Mother of All Bombs."

Defense Department spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. Also known as the GBU-43, the bomb was developed more than ten years ago.

The bomb was dropped in response to IS' increasing use of bunkers and underground passages to "thicken their defense," General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said.

The Pentagon did not indicate how much damage was done to the IS stronghold or whether there were any injuries.

Besides the MOAB, the U.S. Air Force has an even larger bomb known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP. Despite its size, the MOP carries less explosive than the MOAB. It is designed to take out deeply buried targets like reinforced bunkers.

The MOP has never been used in combat.

Im Dorothy Gundy.

Dorothy Gundy adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA and AP news reports. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story

acronym  n. a word formed from the first letters of each one of the words in a phrase

bunkers - n. strong buildings that are mostly below ground and used to keep soldiers, weapons, etc., safe from attacks

stronghold - n. a protected place where the members of a military group stay and can defend themselves against attacks
In honor of 11 Nissan, Rabbi Meir Moscowitz, regional director of Chabad of Illinois, was invited to give the invocation at both the state senate and the house of representatives in the Illinois state capitol.

The Rebbe taught that education is not just about accumulating knowledge; rather, it is about building character and a strong moral backbone,Moscowitz said. This is also the theme of the seder: You shall teach your children.'

After sharing his remarks, he and Rabbi Avraham Kagan, emissary to River North and director of government affairs for Chabad-Lubavitch of Illinois, met with Jewish legislators and distributed shmura matzah and Passover literature.

They also met with Illinois lieutenant governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and other state leaders.

In what has by now become a tradition, Governor signed a proclamation declaring 11 Nissan as Education and Sharing Day.

The visit culminated in a model seder at the governors home led by Rabbi Avraham Kagan and joined by emissary Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel of nearby University of Illinois.
Beijing yesterday warned outside groups against seeking to intervene in the case of a Taiwanese pro-democracy activist detained in China, saying that would complicate matters and harm already tense relations between Taiwan and the mainland.

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman An Fengshan said that China had passed on letters from Lee Ming-che, who is under investigation for endangering Chinas national security, to his wife and parents.

On Monday, Lees wife was prevented from flying to Beijing to seek a meeting with her husband because China canceled her travel permit. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, doesnt recognize Taiwanese passports and requires islanders to use to a Beijing-issued document called a Taiwan Compatriots Pass to visit the mainland.

Although Beijing cut off its already limited contacts with the islands government in June, An said it had commissioned a third-

party in Taiwan to relate the relevant situation to Lees wife and pass letters from Lee to her and his parents. Lees wife, Lee Ching-yu, says he has hypertension and has attempted to have his medication shipped to him.

An told reporters at a biweekly news conference that authorities were protecting the legal rights of Lee, who was taken into custody on March 19, but that he had no other information about his case.

However, he said outside interference would only render the issue even more complicated and harm the interests of the person concerned.

A few Taiwanese people and groups with ulterior motives who are seizing this opportunity to attack the mainland are doomed to failure. They will not achieve their goal of interfering in the work of relevant mainland departments in handling the case by law, An said.

An warned also against attempts by the Taiwan authorities to use the incident to attack the mainland, saying that can only make the current, already extremely grim cross-strait relationship even worse.

On Tuesday, the head of Taiwans Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council Chang Hsiao-yueh said Chinas refusal to respond to requests for information about Lee would surely harm the feelings of the Taiwanese people.

We are expressing our utmost disagreement toward China for refusing to respond to our inquiries and requests since the issue began, Chang said at a news conference.

China demands Taiwans independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen endorse its view that the island and mainland are part of a single Chinese nation before it will restore contacts. The sides separated amid civil war in 1949. AP


The Luso Bank opened its first branch in Guangzhou yesterday, becoming the first Macau bank to operate in Guangzhou. According to a report by TDM, the General Manager of Luso International Banking Ltd., Jiao Yundi, believes that the branch will provide opportunities for the banks growth. In turn, the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM), Teng Lin Seng, reminded Macaus banking industry that banks which intend to operate in the mainland need to get approval from AMCM first before they are eligible to apply for a license.

Prison employee enters bar pretending to be a police officer

A local Portuguese civilian employee from the Correctional Service Bureau (EPM) named Manuel, pretended to be a police officer in order to get into a bar for free. According to the Public Security Police Force (PSP), the man,. who is in his 50s, claimed to be a policeman on duty while inside the bar. He also showed the bars receptionist a document with a PSP logo on it, telling the receptionist that he was on-duty and would require the MOP400 entry fee to be waived. The bars employees found the situation suspicious and reported it to the police. The case has already been forwarded to the Prosecutions Office.

188 illegal boats destroyed in Zhuhai

Zhuhai destroyed 188 boats earlier this week. The boats were involved in the smuggling and transporting of drugs and other criminal activities. According to a report by Macao Daily News, the majority of the boats were made from wood and plastic. The Zhuhai police force took nearly two hours to complete the activity. All boats were seized by Zhuhai police from April of 2015, with 85 percent of them related to smuggling operations. From the beginning of 2016 until the present, Zhuhai has shut down 156 smuggling cases and arrested 1,052 people, including 896 smugglers and 156 who assisted in the smuggling.
Prosecutors in Cambodia have charged a Cambodian-American man with sexually abusing 11 boys aged 10 to 15 years old.

Phan Sopheak, a court spokesman in Takeo province south of Phnom Penh, said Tan Saravuth was charged Tuesday with procuring children for prostitution, a crime punishable by seven to 15 years in prison. He was arrested Friday in Phnom Penh.

Police said Tan Saravuth was born in Cambodia but went to the United States as a refugee in the early 1980s. His personal documents give conflicting ages for him of 47 and 57.

Action Pour Les Enfants, a nongovernmental organization that combats child sex abuse, said he told police he was arrested in the United States for sexually molesting boys and returned to Cambodia around 1997. He moved to Takeo in 2002, where he was accused of molesting the boys after winning poor village families trust with gifts to them and their children.

Police began investigating Tan Saravuth last year after the community began hearing stories of his activities.

Action Pour Les Enfants said in a statement that it had assisted police in their investigation and would provide psychological counseling and social support to the victims. AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that talks were the only way to ease concerns over North Korea, after the U.S. leader sent warships to the region and warned he was ready to act without Beijing.

All nations involved should settle their disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation to be jointly committed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, state broadcaster China Central Television quoted Xi as saying yesterday. He reiterated his commitment to removing nuclear weapons from the Peninsula during the call, which Chinas foreign ministry later said had been initiated by Trump.

Reports of the phone call came after Trump tweeted that North Korea was looking for trouble and that the U.S. was prepared to resolve the matter without China, the major backer of Kim Jong Uns regime. Fears of conflict have risen after the U.S. diverted an aircraft carrier strike group to nearby waters as North Korea showed preparations for a nuclear test or ballistic missile launch.

Trump told the Fox Business Network that the U.S. was sending an armada, very powerful to North Korea. In a series of tweets Tuesday, he said he told Xi that any efforts by China to rein in North Korea would help improve the conditions of a two-

way trade deal. The two leaders met face-to-face last week at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

South Koreas government sought to quell any anxiety about potential military action. Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duk-haeng said yesterday that there was no need to worry about regional security. He added that the government was closely cooperating with other nations, including the U.S., to manage escalating tensions.

South Korea was on alert for any provocations to mark symbolic dates in North Koreas history, such as the Saturday anniversary of its late founder Kim Il Sungs birth. North Korea was hosting foreign journalists in Pyongyang before the commemoration.

It is irresponsible and even dangerous to take any actions that may escalate tension, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing in Beijing yesterday. All parties should exercise restraint instead of provoking each other and adding fuel to the fire.

The Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with Chinas Communist Party, warned that a nuclear test now would represent a slap in the face of the U.S. government. Such action might prompt China to restrict oil sales to North Korea, the paper said in an editorial.

The Korean Peninsula has never been so close to a military clash since the North conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, it said. Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program is intended for securing the regime, however, it is reaching a tipping point.

Pyongyang should avoid making mistakes at this time, the paper said.

In a sign of Chinas waning patience, the country earlier this year banned coal imports from North Korea. China has repeatedly called for a resumption of six-nation talks that collapsed in 2009, while the Trump administration has said it wouldnt entertain discussions with Kims regime until it abandoned its nuclear ambitions.

North Korea is dominating South Koreas presidential campaign, less than four weeks before voting on a successor to the ousted Park Geun-hye.

Moon Jae-in, the candidate for the left-leaning Democratic Party of Korea, said he would fight against North Korea himself to defend his country, while calling for a bipartisan meeting to discuss national security.

The special forces veteran also eased his reservations over the U.S.s move to install a missile shield on South Korean soil over Chinas objections. MDT/Bloomberg
Hong Kongs government tightened property rules for the second time since November to shut a loophole that allowed investors to snap up multiple units in one shot to qualify for lower tax rates.

Under the new rules, first-time home buyers acquiring more than one property in a single contract will be charged the same 15 percent stamp duty that applies to purchases of a second property, rather than the 4.25 percent duty for first-time buyers. The change, announced late Tuesday by Hong Kongs Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, took effect at midnight.

Though buying multiple flats in one contract accounts for a small proportion of residential apartment transactions, theres a noticeable increasing trend, Leung said at a briefing on Tuesday. This doesnt only go against the governments goal to clamp down investor demand through the new stamp duty, it also fuels the property market sentiment.

Hong Kongs leaders are seeking to address a gap that allowed the richest buyers to take advantage of rules intended to help first-time home buyers, as they face rising discontent over wealth inequality and skyrocketing housing costs. The previous attempt to rein in the market in November did little to cool demand, with prices setting new records this year in the worlds least affordable market. People have also been able to find legal ways around the restrictions, with some purchasing several units at the same time so they could still qualify for lower tax rates.

The new measure will make it fairer for buyers of a single property, Willy Liu, a director at Ricacorp Properties Ltd., said in an email.

However, Liu and other analysts say the latest move will do little to cool prices in the housing market.

The measures real impact on the housing market will likely be mild, if not negligible, Alan Jin, Asia ex-Japan property analyst at Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong, wrote in a note. While the practice of buying multiple homes on one contract accounted for about 25 percent of sales in mid-March, the drop in demand from investors can be easily made up for by real buyers, he said.

The Hang Seng Property Index was mostly unchanged in Wednesday trading, edging up 0.2 percent at 10:30 a.m. in Hong Kong as investors have gotten used to the futility of such moves. Existing home prices have surged since the previous measures in November.

Housing prices in Hong Kong are close to their peak and economically unsustainable, according to Cusson Leung, managing director at JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Asia Pacific equity research unit.

Price increases in the city have outpaced economic growth significantly since 2009 and any external shocks could trigger tighter liquidity in the banking system, he said. MDT/Bloomberg
A top Myanmar official has said that a U.N. agencys resolution to have an international mission probe alleged human rights abuses by government security forces in troubled Rakhine state is unwanted and unconstructive.

National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said in a briefing to foreign diplomats and representatives of U.N. agencies that the U.N. Human Rights Councils recent decision failed to recognize Myanmars efforts to deal with the situation and address its root causes.

Soldiers and police launched aggressive counterinsurgency operations in Rakhine in October after shadowy insurgents killed nine border guards. Government forces were accused of perpetrating rape, torture and other abuses against residents of the Muslim Rohingya minority during their sweeps.

The Rohingya have faced widespread discrimination in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar, which led to deadly intercommunal violence in 2012 that forced more than 100,000 Rohingya from their homes into squalid displacement camps, where many still remain.

Rights group said the recent army crackdown included the burning down of more than 1,000 homes, according to high-resolution satellite images, and the killing of an unknown number of civilians, perhaps in the hundreds. More than 70,000 Rohingya villagers fled across the border to Bangladesh and another 20,000 were internally displaced.

The situation has led advocates for the Rohingya to accuse the government of ethnic cleansing.

Thaung Tun said the government has disassociated from the U.N. agencys decision because it did not take into consideration Myanmars efforts to stabilize the situation and address root causes, adding that the country needs help, not obstacles.

We look forward to the understanding and constructive support of the international community in our endeavor to build peace, justice and development for all in Rakhine, he said.

Myanmars government has appointed several teams to look into Rakhines problems, but rights groups say they are not credible because their members are not independent.

Thaung Tun, however, said the governments efforts were adequate. Where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, we will take firm action in accordance with the law, he said.

Myanmars de facto prime minister, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, defended her governments policy toward the Rohingya during an interview with foreign media last week. Her seeming inaction on the issue has come under particular criticism because her long fight for democracy and against military repression won her a Nobel Peace Prize and made her a heroine in human rights circles. Esther Htusan, Yangon, AP
Philippine troops battling militants on a central resort island killed a young Abu Sayyaf commander who was involved in the beheadings of two Canadians and a German and who had sailed far from the extremists southern jungle hideouts to capture more hostages, the military chief said yesterday.

Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano said that troops recovered and identified the remains of Moammar Askali at the scene of the battle in a coastal village on Bohol island. Five other Abu Sayyaf gunmen, three soldiers and a policeman also were killed in Tuesdays clashes.

Ano said captured Abu Sayyaf militants identified Askali from a photo troops took of the young militant leader after death, which confirmed that the gunmen who quietly cruised into Bohol on three motorboats Monday night then clashed with troops belonged to the Islamic extremist group. Askali, who used the nom de guerre Abu Rami, had partly served as an Abu Sayyaf spokesman in recent years.

This is a major blow to the Abu Sayyaf, Ano told The Associated Press. If they have further plans to kidnap innocent people somewhere, they will now have to think twice.

Askali was an emerging hard-line leader of Abu Sayyaf and had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. He had received bomb-making training from Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan, a top Southeast Asia militant leader who was killed in 2015, according to a police profile.

It was Abu Sayyafs first known attempt to carry out ransom kidnappings deep in the central Philippine heartland, far from the groups jungle lairs in the southern provinces of Sulu and Basilan. Ano said the troops were still hunting at least five Abu Sayyaf gunmen, though fighting had eased Wednesday.

While the bold kidnapping attempt appears to have been foiled, the militants success in penetrating the bustling region of beach resorts and other popular attractions could raise concern among tourists and businessmen.

Bohol island lies about 640 kilometers (397 miles) southeast of Manila and is about an hour by boat from Cebu province, a trade and tourism center which has hosted some of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc the Philippines is leading this year.

The United States and the Philippines both list Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization for bombings, kidnappings for ransom and beheadings.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to destroy the extremists and has threatened to declare martial law in the countrys south if the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf and other extremist groups aligned with the Islamic State group gets out of control.

The militants are still holding at least 29 captives in Sulus jungles, many of them foreign tugboat and cargo ship crewmen seized in the seas surrounded by southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. MDT/AP
Brazilian meat companies may lose as much as USD1.5 billion in exports this year after a corruption scandal that raised concerns on product quality led several nations to restrict purchases last month, Brazils agriculture minister said.

It wouldnt surprise me if Brazil immediately lost five percent to 10 percent of its share in global meat exports, Blairo Maggi said in an interview in Sao Paulo, adding that the estimate is still preliminary. The impact could be softened as bird flu outbreaks in other countries including the U.S. curb supplies, he said.

Maggi, whos been on a diplomatic offensive since allegations that meat companies bribed sanitary inspectors to clear meat sales and exports were made public last month, said that the first phase of the meat crisis is finally over as most of the export bans that followed the scandal were lifted. Still, regaining consumers confidence is work in progress, he said.

The next step is the most complicated one, Maggi said. It involves the consumer who, at the point of sale, chooses between one product or another.

Federal police in Curitiba in Brazils Parana state announced their so-called Carne Fraca (Weak Flesh) investigation on March 17. They said 21 companies including top producers JBS SA and BRF SA were involved in the bribing of federal meat inspectors, and provided lurid details of contaminated and adulterated meat. The intense domestic attention garnered by the revelations was soon followed by a massive media campaign mounted by Brazils meat sector and a government push to reassure the public.

The South American nations meat exports are facing stricter inspections in importing nations, a move that Maggi sees eventually demonstrating that safety procedures held by Brazilian authorities and companies are appropriate.

Saudi Arabia is finishing its audit of Brazil meat plants, and representatives met Maggi to discuss their findings. Maggi and agriculture ministry representatives are also going to travel to Europe and countries including China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks and months to reassure importers of the quality of Brazilian meat.

Brazil accounts for 20 percent of global beef exports and almost 40 percent of chicken exports. Beef, poultry and pork accounted for almost 10 percent of Brazils export revenues last year, and BRF and JBS are among the largest companies in the country.

JBSs shares have tumbled 13 percent since March 17, when news on the probe broke. BRF shares fell 3.8 percent in the same period. Gerson Freitas Jr., David Biller and Julia Leite, Bloomberg
Republicans so dominate deeply Idaho that Election Day can be anticlimactic to the Republican primary in May. That's where most races in the past several decades have been decided. Republicans on Election Day are looking to retain a U.S. Senate seat, both of the states U.S. House seats and supermajorities in the state House and Senate. Gov. Brad Little overcame his toughest challenge for a second term in May by crushing Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin despite her support from former President Donald Trump. Little will face Democrat Stephen Heidt and anti-government activist Ammon Bundy, who is running as an independent.
A libertarian law firm said Wednesday that Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter mischaracterized Idaho's civil asset forfeiture laws while explaining why he vetoed a bill to made it more difficult for law enforcement to seize the assets of drug suspects.

Otter appeared on the Nate Shelman Show on radio station 670 KBOI on Tuesday. Among other topics discussed, Otter defended his vetoing the bill, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and by veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate  the initial version got 10 "No" votes in the House, but after some amendments the final version passed both chambers unanimously.

The Institute for Justice, which among its other efforts has advocated for changing civil asset forfeiture laws, took issue with two particular statements Otter made  that property is only taken when someone is convicted of a crime and that property cannot be seized in misdemeanor cases.

Misdemeanors, especially in drug (crimes) is for personal use, Otter said in response to a caller named Carol. If youre trafficking, it is a felony. Its the felony that triggers the asset forfeiture.

Otter also said that, while law enforcement does seize property before a conviction, it returns them if the crime turns out not to rise to the level justifying a seizure.

They have to hold those assets in good faith and they have surrendered a lot of assets back when the court says  it doesnt rise to a felony, its a misdemeanor, he said.

Not so, the Institute for Justice said.

Its very alarming that the governor is so woefully misinformed about how civil forfeiture really works in Idaho, said Institute for Justice lawyer and Nampa native Dan Alban. The fact that the governor vetoed a bill that would have shined a light on this abusive practice speaks volumes.

The Institute said in a news release that law enforcement in Idaho have seized property in cases where charges weren't even filed, citing a 2016 Times-News story that references a case in Twin Falls County where sheriff's deputies seized $12,000 in cash from a home after receiving a tip about drug dealing but finding just a small amount of marijuana and a pipe. No charges were ever filed, and the sheriff's office ended up returning $3,000 and keeping the rest. The standard in civil forfeiture cases is the "preponderance of the evidence," a lower standard than in criminal forfeiture or criminal cases.

The Institute also said that mere drug possession, even in misdemeanor cases, can trigger forfeiture in some cases where drugs are found in a vehicle or cash or jewelry is found nearby.

"The governors comments once again underscore the urgent need for forfeiture transparency, said Institute for Justice senior legislative counsel Lee McGrath. Reform opponents cannot claim there is no evidence of a problem while, at the same time, block bills that would require law enforcement agencies to report what they seized, how much they gained from forfeiting property and if they even filed any criminal charges.

The bill Otter vetoed would have established new protections such as saying merely possessing cash wont be taken as evidence of a crime, a requirement for a court to find if a seizure is proportional to the crime, and a provision to let people keep property such as a vehicle needed to get to and from work when a case is pending. It also contained new public reporting requirements to track seizures. The original version of the bill would have gone farther, but the version that finally passed was fairly narrowly tailored compared to some asset forfeiture reform bills that have passed in other states, such as the one Arizona's governor signed on Wednesday.

Otter said in the interview that he talked to both the sponsors of the bill and its opponents before deciding to veto it. Law enforcement, he said, urged him to veto.

It wasnt near as easy for law enforcement to seize those assets than what was explained to me by the sponsors of the bill, Otter told Shelman.

While he said the sponsors, Reps. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise and Steve Harris, R-Meridian, had good intentions to protect peoples property rights, Otter said there are already enough protections for innocent people in the law.

Nobody changed my mind, he said. I talked to both sides to find out what their reasoning was, and I didnt get that urgency that was needed. Thats why I called it a solution looking for a problem.
ACEQUIA  Waiting for April 1, Dan Cress of Filer changed the oil in his boat and spent several hundred dollars on lures.

Ruperts Dave Hill bought one lure to try on the opening day of Lake Walcott boating: a Kamlooper Spoon of bright orange-red and gold with black spots. Betsy and Chantry Rayl, newcomers to Burley, enlisted an experienced Lake Walcott angler as their fishing buddy. Ryan Smith of Carey, too excited to wait for his 6 a.m. alarm, got up at 5:15.

And on the big morning, they were all at Lake Walcott State Parks new docks, putting boats into the water.

Theres something particularly enticing about April on Lake Walcott.

The attraction? Trout that average 3 pounds or more, put up a fight and make really fine eating.

Youll catch some 8-pounders, Cress said, preparing to pull away from the dock shortly after sunrise. Theyre pretty close to eating a salmon, out here.

Anglers can fish from the shore year-round at Lake Walcott State Park  which lies within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge  but shoreline access isnt plentiful. So the annual April 1 opening of the lakes boating season is a red-letter day for fishing.

We havent missed for a lot of years, said Dan Osterhout of Declo, heading onto the lake with his wife, Marcia, and wondering whether the trout would be as active as usual for April 1. With the colder water, I hope theyre ready to hit some trolling.

The couple would head about five miles upstream, where buoys mark the boundary of refuge waters closed to boating. But first, Osterhout threw open his newly replenished tackle box, showing off a dazzling array of lures.

See if you think Ive got enough to find out what theyre catching on, he said.

What, indeed?

What works one day isnt guaranteed to work the next, said angler Scott Soletti of Twin Falls, preparing a boat in the parking lot. Fishing here changes by the day and the hour. It can really turn off and on like a light switch.

Hed been spending money on new lures, too  including $16 for a Lucky Strike pointer lure in the rainbow trout pattern, bought specifically for Lake Walcott.

Todays the day theyre going to go on a rod, Soletti said. The one I just spent 16 bucks on I really hope catches a fish.

Austin Hill of Rupert, preparing to help his grandpa launch a new jet boat, demurred at first then dropped a tip.

Heres a little secret I dont tell very many people, he said. Sometimes well put little red licorice on our lures.

Osterhout and his wife cover their Lake Walcott lures in cod-liver oil. And he figures a buddy spilled their secret.

When Osterhout tried to replenish his supply at Burleys Walgreens store several years ago, the cod-liver oil was cleaned off the shelf. He drove to the Walgreens in Twin Falls only to find that it, too, had run out. A clerk there had seen enough Mini-Cassia customers buying cod-liver oil to get curious, and Osterhout reluctantly admitted it was for fishing.

He still seems a little disgusted that his confidence was revealed. But that hasnt erased his enthusiasm for fishing Lake Walcott.

When it gets good, he said, well fish four days a week, I imagine.

His friends, he added, might say its more like six.

Getting there

From Interstate 84, take Exit 211 at Heyburn. Drive northeast on Idaho 24, continuing 5.8 miles past Rupert; turn right (east) on 400 North, also called Minidoka Dam Road.

Lake Walcott State Park requires a daily $5 motor vehicle entry fee year-round  unless you have the $10 annual Idaho State Parks Passport available through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

You wont pay any additional fee to launch a boat from the parks docks. The 8-foot-wide, 60-foot-long poly docks  one on each side of the boat ramp  are wheelchair-accessible with gangplanks. They replaced the parks deteriorated wooden docks a year ago, an $80,000 project.

When to fish it

Boating here is open April 1 to Sept. 30, you can fish from the shore year-round, and this winters ice fishing extended into March.

But Soletti figures this years best fishing on Lake Walcott will be late April and May, when the water is clearer than it was on opening day and the water is a little warmer  but not yet too warm, so trout are still active and the water isnt mossy.

By late June, heavy aquatic growth sticks to lures and the fish wont take them, said Bill Dutcher of Burley, the longtime Lake Walcott angler showing the Rayls the ropes on April 1.

With the Snake River swollen by plentiful snowmelt, Dave Hill expects this to be a particularly good year for fishing Lake Walcott. High water brings the fish down from up above.

Before the 2015 completion of a Minidoka Dam and spillway reconstruction project, water managers dropped the lake level by about half each winter, park ranger Travis Taylor said. Anglers worried that they wouldnt have enough water to launch a boat on opening day.

But no more. On April 1 the lake was 95 percent full, Taylor said, checking the Bureau of Reclamation stats on his phone. And its been right around there for the last year.

The skinny on stocking

Lake Walcott offers bass fishing, too, but only rainbow trout are stocked, Taylor said. A federal hatchery in Hagerman plants them here once a year  usually a couple of weeks after irrigation ends in the fall, so they arent lost to canals.

In each of the past two autumns, Lake Walcott was stocked with 25,000 trout weighing a pound to 1.25 pounds. For at least three years before that  thats as far back as Taylor remembers  it got 50,000 trout weighing about a third of a pound each year.

You might not catch a lot of trout here, but theyll be reliably 3 to 5 pounds.

Therell be guys out here at the crack of dawn, Taylor said, but you dont need to be.

Caution: wave potential

Dont get so engrossed in fishing that you forget to watch the weather. Thunderstorms pop up quickly on Lake Walcott, and winds here can produce dangerous waves.

Acequia angler Dan Lewis rule: If youre in a small boat, head for sanctuary as soon as you see white tips.

Ive been where Ive been scared to get back, hugging the shore, said Lewis, who spent the morning of April 1 at one of the best spots for fishing from shore, the point beside the parks Scout group camp. (Shore anglers also favor deep spots just above the dam.)

Lewis has watched fishing boats wait out a storm in a cove, and park employees and Minidoka County sheriffs deputies have responded to boats in trouble.

Two links youll need

Before you go, of course, check Idahos fishing regulations: http://bit.ly/2p3PppC

And learn more about Lake Walcott State Park here: Parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/lake-walcott
BOISE  Julius Longfellow, named for a donor and fund-raising help from Longfellow Elementary School, was 11 years old and had lived at Zoo Boise for more than eight years.

This is a devastating day for ... the entire Boise community, zoo Director Steve Burns said in a late-morning news release Thursday. Julius Longfellow was beloved by visitors of all ages. He was a part of our family, and we will miss him.

Zoo officials made the difficult decision to euthanize him Thursday after the giraffe fell early that morning and efforts to get him back up were unsuccessful, according to the news release. A necropsy will be performed, but zoo officials say it could be weeks before they know what caused the injury.

Julius arrived at Zoo Boise in December, 2008 from the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio. Private donations covered the costs to purchase and ship the giraffe to Boise. In just two weeks, the zoo received $32,000 in contributions.

The median life expectancy for male giraffes in zoos is 13.5 years, the zoo reports. In the wild, the median life expectancy for male giraffes generally ranges between 14 and 20 years, though numbers vary.

Zoo Boise still has one male giraffe, Jabari, who is 7 years old. Zoo leaders hope to find another giraffe to live with Jabari, but there are no immediate plans, according to the news release.
Volunteers  The Senior Companion Program at the CSI Office on Aging needs volunteers, age 55 and older, to assist home-bound seniors by providing friendly visits, transportation or other assistance as needed. Senior Companions can make positive impacts by helping to improve the mental and emotional status of their clients. Senior Companions receive a stipend per hour of service (to income eligible seniors) and can work between 15 to 40 hours a week. They receive reimbursement for mileage, and training on age-related problems. Information: Dandre, 208-736-2122, or toll free, 800-574-8656.

Volunteers  Community volunteers are needed to become CASA volunteer advocates to represent the best interest of abused children during the court process. Volunteer candidates must pass a background check and receive training and continued support as they speak up and make the difference in the lives of abused children. The program covers all eight counties in south-central Idaho. Information: Tahna Barton, 208-735-1177.

Volunteers  Interlink Volunteer Caregivers, a nonprofit organization, provides volunteers to elderly, disabled and chronically ill people, assisting with routine tasks so they can remain independent at home. Volunteers are needed in all eight counties of the Magic Valley to help with light housekeeping and also in the Wendell and Gooding area with transportation. Volunteers are reimbursed for mileage monthly and covered with excess auto liability insurance. Commitment is flexible with no minimum hours required. Information: Edie, 208-733-6333 or email ivcofmv@gmail.com.

Volunteers  Idaho Home Health and Hospice needs volunteers who will bring compassion, support and dignity to those facing a serious, life-limiting illness and their families. Volunteers can choose between offering respite to family caregivers or provide support with administrative tasks. Information: Heidi Walker, 208-734-4064 or Heidi.Walker@LHCgroup.com.

Volunteers  Horizon Home Health and Hospice is looking for volunteers to join their team to provide quality compassionate care to patients through the following activities: companionship, socialization, respite, and support for patients and families and much more. Information: Cynthia Nixon, 208-800-8085 or cnixon@horizonhh.com.

Drivers  The Twin Falls Senior Center needs drivers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Twin Falls Monday through Friday. The routes take an hour or less to complete. Commitment is based on your availability. Volunteers must be 18 years of age with their own car, and have proof of liability insurance and a background check. Drivers receive 53.5 cents a mile fuel reimbursement. Information: 208-734-5084.

Volunteers  The Twin Falls Senior Center has a ladies group (The Crazy Quilters), who are looking for individuals to put finishing touches on quilts as a group while socializing. The group meets from 9 a.m. to noon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All quilt project proceeds are given to the Twin Falls Senior Center. Information: 208-734-5084.

Volunteers  St Lukes Home Health and Hospice is looking for new volunteers to join its team to share compassion and care and increase the quality of life for patients and their families. This program is designed to offer companionship and socialization to the patients as well as respite and support for the caregivers. Information: Marie Sharp, 208-814-7603 or sharpm@slhs.org.

Volunteers  St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center has several volunteer positions with opportunities to serve others and meet new people. You may get to congratulate someone on the birth of a new baby; smile and take someones mind off their problems; make a patients day by delivering flowers to them in their hospital room; and offer a kind word, give a hug, or listen to someone who needs to talk. For an application packet or information: Kim Patterson, 208-814-0861.
BURLEY  New evidence has the FBI investigating a murder case thats been cold for more than two decades.

Saturday will mark 22 years since 14-year-old Regina Kriegers body was found on the banks of the Snake River weeks after she disappeared, a trail of blood leading from her basement bedroom.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Chris Sheehan, in Boise, said he and another investigator have been assigned to the case.

There is new evidence that has come out, Sheehan said. He declined to give details, saying the investigation is active.

Reginas mother, Rhonda Hunnel, now lives in Indiana. She contacted the Idaho Attorney Generals Office several months ago, but was told the office couldnt help with the case. A few weeks later, she received a call back from staff at the office saying they knew someone at the FBI and would talk to them about the case.

I have a lot of different feelings and emotions going through my head, Hunnel said. Im excited, thrilled and nervous.

Hunnel traveled to Boise to meet with the FBI agents with her son, Cliff Krieger, who lives in Boise.

We have hope that the case will resolve and provide closure for the family, Sheehan said.

Sandra Barker, spokeswoman for the FBI in Salt Lake City, said the agency is officially assisting the Cassia County Sheriffs Office, still the lead agency on the case.

As the mother of a murdered child, I am ready to face the challenges ahead of me as Ginas story unfolds and the truth comes out, Hunnel said.

Regina disappeared Feb. 27, 1995, two days before her 15th birthday. Horseback riders found the girls decomposed body near the Montgomery Bridge, east of Rupert.

Her throat had been slashed, and she had been stabbed in the heart. An autopsy showed her body had been in the river at least 30 days.

Detectives made mistakes handling the case, former Cassia County sheriff Randy Kidd said in 2015. Investigators initially did not consider it a murder but one where Regina had killed herself or run away.

Although there were rumors suggesting many knew what happened to the junior high student, no one came forward.

Teens whispered about seeing a body in a tub at a party shortly after Regina disappeared, but Kidd said police never found an eyewitness willing to talk.

Everybody had heard about it, Kidd said. These were just kids at the time, and I think there is still a fear factor.

More than two decades later, Reginas family still struggles to make peace with the knowledge that the case could have been handled better. They still seek justice.

The sheriffs office let down the family, the community, and most of all, Regina, Hunnel said.

As mid-April draws near each year, Hunnel struggles against depression that settles over her body, and she fights to tamp down the anger that surges.

I put my baby in their hands and trusted that they would take care of her, Hunnel said.

Cliff turned 13 three days before his sister vanished from the house where they lived. Her murder had a profound impact on his life, he said, but its not all bad.

While the death of Regina was devastating, it also made him a stronger person.

I dont have a lot of fear in my life, he said.

It was important for him to forgive the brutal murder to move forward with his life, Cliff said.

Growing up in Burley, he said, he heard the talk about what may have happened to his sister.

Everyone talks in a small town, he said. The problem was they didnt talk to the right people, and there were other people who were manipulating them with fear.

People Regina had become involved with were drug dealers who were using children to deliver drugs, he said.

The night she went missing, she had a conversation with their father telling him she wanted to move back to Twin Falls to live with her mother because she was uncomfortable with a situation she had gotten into and wanted out of it, Cliff said.

What she didnt know was there wasnt any way out.

After Regina was killed, the family felt no support.

People in the community just wanted to sweep it under the rug, Cliff said. Nobody wanted to help.

No one in the sheriffs office ever answered for the mistakes that were made in the case, either, he said.

Justice for Regina now, he said, would help right the wrongs.

For a long time he tried not to think about what happened to her, to not let hate consume him.

What do you do? You have to try and let it go, he said. My sister is my angel now.
GOODING  A man who police say admitted to organizing a cockfight last month in Gooding County has become the first person in Idaho to face a felony for organizing rooster fights.

Prosecutors charged Jose Rosario Miramontes-Tostado, 44, of Gooding with a felony count of exhibition of cockfights. Hes due to be arraigned April 24 in Gooding County Magistrate Court.

Police say Miramontes-Tostado admitted he organized the fight that was discovered March 25 at 2406 East and 1300 South, northeast of Gooding. Sheriffs deputies detained 150 people during their investigation and seized 80 roosters that were euthanized the following day by the Idaho Humane Society.

It was the first cockfight discovered by Idaho law enforcement in nearly 10 years and the first since the state legislature passed a law in 2012 making it a felony to organize a cockfight when drugs or gambling are involved.

Gooding County Sheriffs deputies found marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the March 25 fight and said Miramontes-Tostado admitted there was gambling taking place.

He told me on his own accord that they fight the roosters and make bets for money, Deputy Nick Thiemann wrote in a sworn affidavit.

Gooding County Prosecutor Matt Pember said in an email that misdemeanor charges could follow for others, but we have filed felony charges against who we believe to be the organizer of the fight.

We are waiting on misdemeanor reports from law enforcement regarding the numerous participants, Pember said. Law enforcement is still investigating and preparing those reports. Filing will happen soon after we receive them.

Deputies responded to the rural residence March 25 after receiving a noise complaint where a neighbor said she believed she heard roosters fighting, court documents said. Thiemann went to the residence and confirmed the fighting noises, then waited for backup before entering the property.

I could then see a large number of people standing around a make-shift arena. In the arena were two roosters that appeared to be fighting, Thiemann wrote in his affidavit. Deputy Germann and I gave orders for everyone to stay where they were and show us their hands.

Several people fled through a back roll-up door as deputies investigated, and Thiemann used his stun-gun to subdue one man who tried to escape, court documents said.

Gooding County Sheriff Shawn Gough eventually identified Miramontes-Tostado as the individual responsible for arranging the event. Deputies found 80 roosters being kept in cardboard and wooden boxes as well as marijuana and a pipe.

Anyone who participated in the cockfight could be charged with a misdemeanor, while prosecutors were able to charge Miramontes-Tostado with a felony because of the drugs and gambling.

The roosters were euthanized, which an Idaho Humane Society spokeswoman said is the most humane treatment. They cant be adopted or used for other purposes because theyve been given various drugs such as strychnine, caffeine, amphetamines and epinephrine to make them more aggressive and increase their endurance.
October 26, 1934  April 6, 2017

HAZELTON  Donald Leroy Van Voorhees, age 82, of Hazelton, Idaho flew away to his Heavenly home on April 6th 2017. Don was born in Wisconsin on October 26th 1934 to Alva and Bertha Van Voorhees.

Through his life Don made many friends and shared his great sense of humor with all of those around him. Don followed in the footsteps of many of the men that influenced his life and enlisted in the Army as a young man. Don met and married three women during his time on earth that gave life to seven children. Don spent his working years in agriculture but had a deep passion for wood working.

Don is preceded in death by both his parents, three sisters, a brother and two sons Rick and Gale Van Voorhees. Don is survived by his wife Patricia, his daughters Rose (Ron) Sorenson of Fargo, North Dakota, Dena (Verl) Blacker of Heyburn, Idaho, Rebecca (Rick) Burley of Twin Falls, Idaho and Son Carl (April) Van Voorhees of Rupert, Idaho along with many grandchildren.

No memorial service will be held. The family wishes to thank Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their diligent understanding and care. Arrangements are under the direction of Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls, Idaho. Those wishing to share memories or condolences may do so on Donalds memorial webpage at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.
September 14, 1953  April 9, 2017

Robert Warner Hunsaker, 63, of Peoria, Arizona; formerly of Raft River, passed away April 9th, 2017. He is survived by his wife Shirley, their 5 children, and 7 grandchildren. Bob was born September 14, 1953 to Reginald and Ruth Hunsaker in Ogden, Utah. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His life was an example of hard work and selfless service to others. The impression he left with those he touched will be felt for generations.
J. Russell & Loyeda Nelson

HUNT, Idaho  Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 13 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls. Refreshments afterwards at LDS Church, 667 Harrison Street, Twin Falls from 3:30 until 5 p.m.

Donald Ray Bywater

PAUL  Donald Bywater, funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, April 14, 2017 at the Paul LDS Stake Center. A viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Hansen Mortuary and one hour prior to services at the church.

Emma Meservy Krieger

KIMBERLY  Emma Krieger, funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, April 14 at the Kimberly Stake Center, 3850 North 3500 East. A viewing will take place from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 13 at Reynolds Funeral Chapel, 2466 Addison Ave. East, Twin Falls as well as Friday at 10 a.m. until 10;45 a.m. at the church.

Tom Couch

TWIN FALLS  Tom Couch, memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday, April 14 at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave E, Twin Falls.

Lawrence Cannell

BURLEY  Lawrence Cannell, funeral at noon Friday, April 14, at the North Logan Stake Center, 2750 N 800 E, North Logan, Utah. A viewing will be held from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13 at Allen Mortuary of North Logan, 420 E 1800 N.

Barbara Bassler

TWIN FALLS  Barbara Bassler, memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Avenue East, Twin Falls.

Sharon Johnson

TWIN FALLS  Sharon Johnson, funeral services at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Reynolds Funeral Chapel, 2466 Addison Avenue East, Twin Falls. A viewing will take place from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, April 14 at the funeral home.

Delfino Pep Martinez

TWIN FALLS  Delfino Pep Martinez, services at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave E with visitation at 2 p.m.

Junior Jay Larson

GLENNS FERRY  Junior Larson, celebration of life at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at the VFW Hall Post 3646, Glenns Ferry. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtney Chapel, Mountain Home.

Jim Schmidt

SPOKANE, Wash.  Jim Schmidt formerly of Twin Falls, funeral mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18 at St. Peter Parish, 3520 E 18th Ave., Spokane, Wash..
President Donald Trump is getting a taste for pulling the trigger.

In just the last week, the rookie commander-in-chief has presided over the use of some of the most powerful weaponry in the US arsenal, sending a signal that he is one President who relishes ordering the use of deadly force. It's clear that he believes Washington and the rest of the world are watching.

First, Trump dispatched Tomahawk cruise missiles to slam into an airfield belonging to President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government forces, to punish what the US says is their use of chemical weapons. On Thursday, the military dropped one of its most powerful non-nuclear bombs -- a 21,600-pound behemoth -- over a warren of ISIS tunnels in Afghanistan.

Both actions can be justified by solid military rationales and fall into the context of mainstream foreign policy goals -- namely deterring the further use of some of the world's most heinous weapons in Syria and a desire to halt the spread of ISIS into another failed state, even as it loses ground in Iraq and Syria.

But the White House also knows that the use of such eye-catching force has a political impact: Both in the United States, where Trump is politically beleaguered; and overseas, where foreign governments are trying to work out how Trump will wield US power and military might.

The President described the use of a device dubbed the "mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan as "another successful event," basking in his role as commander in chief -- though preserving some mystique about the strike by declining to say whether he had personally signed off on the operation. He left open the question of whether it was conducted under widened authorizations that have freed up the Pentagon's room for maneuver since he took over from President Barack Obama.

But he appeared to be quite content if his willingness to deploy some of the most powerful ordinance in the US military's inventory was interpreted by some US enemies as evidence that he was ready to to use force to carry out his threats --- toward North Korea especially, which is apparently making final preparations for a new nuclear test.

"It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of," Trump said, referring to the Stalinist state.

Authority given

The President pointedly noted that the expanded authority that he has given the military since taking office had led to an escalation in the pace of operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq and elsewhere.

"What I do is authorize my military," Trump said at the White House, before comparing the proactive use of force by his own White House with the way the military was handled under Obama.

"Frankly, that is why they have been so successful lately, if you look at what has happened over the last eight weeks and compare that really to what has happened over the last eight years, you will see there has been a tremendous difference," he said.

Sources told CNN that Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, actually signed off on the use of the bomb and that the White House was informed before the bomb was rolled out of a MC-130 aircraft high over Afghanistan.

But that distinction is unimportant for political purposes, as the White House seeks to position Trump as a strong commander-in-chief to satisfy the yearnings of supporters who viewed the Obama administration's public arguments and self examinations over the use of force as effete. A sense that Trump is an activist President keen to deploy military force could alter the calculations of other great powers -- for instance China, as it works out how to respond to Trump's demands to do more to rein in its ally North Korea.

But supporters of the former President will likely chafe at Trump's stagecraft, given that Obama was also a war leader, who presided over a ruthless drone war against al Qaeda, and ordered the high-risk raid that killed Osama bin Laden and deployed the US military in an air war in Libya.

Congressional reaction

Democrats also however find themselves walking a fine line between seeking not to criticize their commander-in-chief over military action but questioning the rationale for his decision to do so.

Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, accused the White House of staging military operations overseas to alleviate the President's poor domestic political standing.

"What concerns me most is the fact that what is driving foreign policy is actually our domestic policy," Speier told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room."

The California lawmaker also questioned whether Trump was clearly thinking through the use of force and explaining his rationale to Americans.

"I am very concerned that the President is basically taking little responsibility, offering it up to his military when he is the commander in chief," she said. "He isn't necessarily front and center evaluating it then speaking to the American people and what his plans are."

Another top Democrat also suggested Trump was letting the military intensify wars abroad on autopilot.

"I, too, want to know if the President authorized this -- now he doesn't have to authorize everything the military does, but he should certainly be involved when we escalate the weapons used," said Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman from California who serves on the House intelligence committee.

"We can't just bomb our way to national security," Swalwell told CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead," calling for details on whether any civilians were killed in the airstrike and whether the Afghan government was involved.

There was no such reticence from Republicans as the sight of a GOP president flexing military power offered a rallying point with a White House that has often had tense relations with its own party on Capitol Hill.

"I hope America's adversaries are watching & now understand there's a new sheriff in town," wrote Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham on Twitter.

Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe also praised the detonation of the MOAB, saying it "sends a clear message that the United States is committed and determined to defeating ISIS and other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan."

First 100 days

Trump's active posture may also help to solidify his parlous political standing, which has wobbled during his erratic first 100 days in power.

Deploying fearsome military firepower against ISIS is one way of living up to his election promise to intensify the battle against the terror group. Much of the military action currently under way in Syria and Iraq against ISIS closely follows a blueprint laid down by the Obama administration, making it difficult for Trump to distinguish his own efforts.

Furthermore, the President's missile strikes in Syria turned out to be possibly the most popular action he has yet taken.

In a Washington Post/ABC News poll this week, 51% of Americans backed Trump's move in Syria. That figure is substantially higher than the level of Trump's approval ratings, which have typically been in the low 40s or even below so far in his administration.

The political payoff Trump is reaping from the last week of military action comes at a low risk. Dropping bombs and firing off cruise missiles creates huge media coverage but does not put American troops in danger on foreign battlefields.

At a time when he is tacking away from some positions that he took on the campaign trail -- on NATO and China, for example -- it also does Trump no harm to look tough in front of his supporters. In general, the image of an American president wielding a big stick plays well with voters who bought into Trump's "Make America Great Again" conceit.

Global stage

His week of military action may also have a more global effect if it stiffens the President's warnings and tweets notably directed at North Korea, with the credible threat of force.

"I think this sends a message," said Lt. Col. Rick Francona, a retired military intelligence analyst who is now a CNN military expert.

He said the Afghan operation was a sign that the new White House was happy to be seen as proactive in the use of military force and was likely to offer the Pentagon more leeway than the more hands on Obama administration.

"(The military) has been wanting to use this weapon for some time -- they couldn't get approval," said Francona, referring to the MOAB. "The timing couldn't be better, we see what is happening in Korea, we see what is happening in Syria, this is not lost on everybody that is watching the United States right now."

In the longer term, however, Trump is likely to face decisions on military force that are far more consequential than those he has taken in the last week.

He has already had a lesson in the higher stakes when US troops are directly deployed, after facing criticism over the planning and execution of a Navy SEAL raid against al Qaeda in Yemen in January, in which an American soldier died.

The increasing pace of military action will also increase pressure for the White House to outline a detailed strategy for its actions in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and to secure congressional buy-in for its actions.

And it is far from clear that the American public would back a more prolonged venture back into the Middle East, meaning that the political and international impact of eye-catching military operations, like those of the last week, could soon suffer from the value of diminishing returns.

CNN's Barbara Starr, Ryan Browne and Jim Acosta contributed to this report.
Third Man RecordsA limited-edition vinyl single featuring "2+2=?," a 1968 song by Bob Seger's early band the Bob Seger System, will be released on April 22 as part of the 2017 Record Store Day event.

The seven-inch disc is pressed on yellow vinyl, and will be issued by ex-White Stripes frontman Jack White's Third Man Records label.

"2+2=?" was the first Bob Seger System single released by Capitol Records, and appeared on the group's debut album, 1968's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man. The tune, whose title is pronounced "two plus two equals what?," is an anti-Vietnam War anthem. The vinyl reissue's B-side will feature "Ivory," another tune from Ramblin' Gamblin' Man.

A black vinyl version of the single will be released at a later date. Both versions of the disc are being manufactured at the Third Man label's new pressing plant in Detroit, Seger's hometown.

The single will be housed in a sleeve featuring the artwork used on an original European release of the songs.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The following editorial appears on Bloomberg View: What did Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, achieve in attempting to deny a vote on Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court?

Not keeping Gorsuch off the court; he was approved on Friday. Not preserving the filibuster for use against any future Trump nominee; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, abolished the tactic on Thursday. Not standing on principle; after rightly attacking Republicans for denying Merrick Garland a vote last year, Democrats tried to do the same thing.

Schumer did, however, achieve a political victory: He placated the resistance wing of the Democratic Party, which opposes any cooperation with Republicans. Party activists had threatened to mount primary campaigns against Democrats who allowed a vote to proceed, even organizing protests outside the Brooklyn home of Schumer, who is not up for re-election until 2022.

By caving to their demands, Schumer bought his conference some temporary peace. But the price for the country is steep.

This resistance movement is the mirror image of the tea party, which has pushed Republicans into a period of obstructionism that persists even with their transition to the governing party. If the Democrats resistance wing calls the tune on other major questions facing Congress  from infrastructure to trade to health care  Americans will be poorer for it.

Schumer must decide whether he wants to be the leader of the Senates Democrats or a follower of the partys activist base. His first responsibility as an American is to be a patriot and do whats right for the country. Leadership requires more than doing battle with the opposition; it requires speaking difficult truths to your own troops. It would not have required much courage for Schumer to announce that he would oppose Gorsuch while still allowing a vote to proceed.

Schumers gambit will impose a second, even more harmful, cost on the country: ending the tradition that senators consider judicial nominees legal qualifications more than their political philosophy. This tradition has taken some blows in recent decades, but with Garland and Gorsuch, the two parties have bludgeoned it to death. Leading the Democratic attack may have been the most shortsighted decision of Schumers long career.

Democrats will almost certainly come to regret taking revenge for Garland. It is not hard to imagine a Republican majority refusing to allow a vote on the Supreme Court nominee of a Democratic president  not in the last year of his or her tenure, but in the first. With this kind of tit-for-tat obstructionism, the court might even come to lack a six-member quorum.

The partisanship that has increasingly consumed Congress is now inflicting collateral damage on the courts. The long-term consequences  for the country and for Schumers legacy  could be severe.
The Economist has two good pieces on Indias Aadhaar card. First, the bright side:

IT TAKES a little over 90 seconds. At the government-subsidised ration shop in Sargasan, a village in Gujarat, Chandana Prajapati places her thumb on a fingerprint scanner. A list of the staples she and her family are entitled to this month appears on the shopkeepers computer: 10kg of rice, 25kg of wheat, some cooking oil, salt and sugar. The 55-year-old housewife has no cash nor credit card, but no matter. By tapping in an identifying number and presenting her thumb one more time, Mrs Prajapati authorises a payment of 271 rupees ($4.20) straight from her bank account. It is technical wizardry worthy of Stockholm or New York; yet outside buffaloes graze, a pot of water is coming to the boil on a pile of firewood and children scamper between mud-brick houses. Like most Indians, Mrs Prajapati would have struggled to identify herself to the authorities a few years ago, let alone to a faraway bank. But 99% of adults are now enrolled in Aadhaar, a scheme which has amassed the fingerprints and iris scans of over 1.1bn people since 2010. With her authorisation, any government body or private business can check whether her fingerprints or irises match those recorded against her unique 12-digit identifying number in its database. When it comes to identification, India has unexpectedly leapfrogged every country with the possible exception of Estonia, a tiddler with a penchant for innovation.

The Aadhaar system has cut corruption and cleaned the rolls of people with fake identities trying to scam fertilizer, food or some other subsidized good. But the government wants the mark of the beast Aadhaar system to be used for just about everything including paying taxes, getting school lunches, buying airline tickets or a cell phone and that makes some people worried:

In theory, the law on Aadhaar passed last year by Mr Modis government includes stringent protections against the sharing of information; its rules allowing exceptions on grounds of national security, although vaguely worded, appear well intended. Sweden has required all citizens to have a national ID number since 1947the year of Indias birthwith little trouble. Most Swedes consider the scheme, which is linked to tax, school, medical and other records, an immense convenience. But India is not a tidy Nordic kingdom. Mr Modis government, with its strident nationalism and occasional recklessnesssuch as last years abrupt voiding of most of the paper currency in circulationdoes not always inspire confidence that it will respect citizens rights and legal niceties. By sneaking the linkage between Aadhaar and tax into a budget bill, it raises concerns about intent: will the government stalk tax evaders, or perhaps enemies of the state, using ostensibly fire-walled Aadhaar data? Many Indians will remember that, following sectarian riots in the past, ruling parties were accused of using voter rolls to target victims.

As the Economist wisely concludes:
Somalias new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo is inviting al-Qaida-affiliated Al-Shabaab fighters to the table of negotiation to end years of deadly insurgency in the famine-stricken nation.

According to voice of America (VOA), President Farmajo is willing to negotiate with the jihadists or a face-off which will see him eliminate them within a space of two years in a war that he declared a week ago.

The extremist group frequently attacks military and government targets, but also kills civilians and kidnaps aid workers.

The President offers amnesty to the brainwashed youth and pledges education and job opportunities for them if they renounce violence, the Somali presidency said in a statement.

Mohamed Farmajo who took power a month ago vowed to secure the country and build the army. He has recently replaced security officers in the police and intelligence service in an effort to defeat the al-Qaida-linked group.

The Horn of Africa states national Army is supported by some 22,000 African Union peacekeepers stationed in the country with a mandate to fight Al-Shabab.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump approved a request for additional precision airstrikes in Somalia to help the African Union and Somali ground troops increase pressure on al-Shabab.
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.
Nigeria Department State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arrested five suspects who had allegedly concluded plans to attack the United States and United Kingdom embassies in the West African terror-stricken nation.

According to the DSS, The Islamist militant group, Boko Haram suspects were arrested in Yobe state on March 22 gave details of the plot and led to the arrest of five others in Benue state.

The group had perfected plans to attack the UK and American embassies and other western interests in Abuja, the DSS said in a statement.

During the operation to thwart this plan, five key suspects, namely: Isa Jibril, Jibril Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, Halidu Sule and Amhodu Salifu, were arrested.

The DSS said the arrested suspects are linked to ISIS.

The British High Commission in Nigeria reacted in a statement saying they are in regular contact with the Nigerian security authorities concerning potential threats to UK interests in Nigeria,

Boko Harams seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000

As a reminder, in 2011, Boko Haram attacked the U.N.s Nigeria headquarters in Abuja with a car bomb, killing at least 21 people.
The new Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bruno Tshibala on Wednesday indicated that the central African mineral-rich nation will organise next presidential polls with the countrys internal resources.

We see no disadvantage to this that there is a booster that would come from our partners, but we will make every effort to mobilize domestic financial resources to fund the elections. The election has become the top priority for my government, DRC Prime Minister, Bruno Tshibala told AFP news agency in Kinshasa.

International donors and other partners have yet to make financial commitments to the electoral roadmap.

However, president Kabila has promised to organize the long-awaited elections this year and denied reports of foreign interference in the process.

Recently, his minister of State in charge of Budget, Pierre Kangudia Mbayi, said the country could not raise the $1.8bn needed to organize the polls.

It will be difficult to think that we can mobilize 1.8 billion USD this year. At this stage, I prefer to keep a language of sincerity, he said at a press conference.

The amount was arrived at by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) under a provision of the agreement between the government and a faction of the opposition in October 2016.
Worlds top cocoa producers Ivory Coast and Ghana will boost ties to coordinate production strategies to tackle price volatility in the two west-African nations, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

According to the heads of the two countrys marketing boards, plans are underway to hold regular meetings and to discuss how best to manage production and ensure sustainability.

Ivory Coast and Ghana are the two leading producers of cocoa in the world, but the prices of cocoa at a 10-year low is expected to put pressure on the economies of the two countries, Moodys warned on Tuesday.

In its latest report, the rating agency, Moodys says, while cocoa prices at a 10-year low will put pressure on the economies and fiscal position of Cote dIvoire and Ghana, both countries will be able to withstand short-term price fluctuations. Current average cocoa prices reflect a drop of around 30 per cent compared to mid-2016.

Although Africa produces 80 percent of the worlds cocoa, a paltry 17 percent is processed on the continent, a situation which has resulted in Africa earning only 12 billion U.S. dollars of the 120 billion dollars cocoa industry.

Unlike manufacturers and traders that are concentrated in a small number of companies and enjoy higher bargaining power, farmers receive a very small share (6-7 per cent) of the value distribution in the supply chain. Household revenue is more exposed to the volatility in prices as the agriculture sector employs about two-thirds of the population in Cote dIvoire and over 40 per cent in Ghana, it says.
@ByKristenMClark

The Florida House will pass out its budget proposal today for 2017-18, but it might as well be "education day" in the chamber, too.

Today is also when the chamber's Republican majority will -- barring any earth-shattering surprise -- pass out its most-desired and drastic reforms for education policy this year. And unlike last year, they're all tied to the budget.

Those include:

-- the $200 million "schools of hope" plan to attract specialized, high-performing charter schools to Florida to serve students who currently attend failing traditional schools;

-- the $214 million expansion of the "Best & Brightest" teachers bonuses, which changes the criteria to qualify and extends the bonuses to principals, too;

-- and changing the formula for how local and state capital dollars for school construction and maintenance will be disbursed among traditional and charter schools, giving charter schools a cut of the local dollars they don't currently get.

Democrats took a caucus position to oppose the "schools of hope" bill, and you can expect many will also vote against the "Best & Brightest" expansion and the capital outlay funding changes, too. Republicans hold a 79-41 majority, so they don't need Democratic support to push through their priorities.

The Senate has its own ideas on each of these measures, of course, so the final two weeks of session will be ripe with behind-closed-doors negotiating and backroom dealing.

The Senate is conceptually on board with the "Best & Brightest" expansion and the premise behind "schools of hope," but leaders in that chamber have their own ideas on how those policies could be accomplished.

As well, senators on Wednesday passed their own proposal for changing capital outlay funding -- removing a main component of their bill (SB 376) so that sharing local tax dollars with charters wouldn't actually be required. (It currently is optional anyway.) The bill also includes reforms to restrict charter schools from using capital funding for "personal financial enrichment," something the Senate first sought last year.

Senate Pre-K-12 education budget chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, has previously said a mandate on school districts to share their local dollars couldn't be imposed without also affording districts the ability to collect more tax revenue locally, because districts carry a lot of debt service that has to be paid regardless. But raising the millage cap for districts makes some lawmakers wary, because it could be seen as a tax increase even though the decision to actually raise the tax would be approved locally.

Simmons told the Herald/Times Wednesday that taking out the mandate from the Senate bill resolves that conflict and positions the Senate to negotiate with the House in conference committee. The House proposal (HB 5103), meanwhile, calls for a more complicated formula that requires state and local money to be divided among charter and traditional schools, while accounting off the top for the districts' debt service.

Photo credit: Scott Keeler / Tampa Bay Times
When he was first elected, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was so determined to meet his campaign promise of saving $1 billion on prisons that he pushed through a series of contracts with private operators that on paper claimed to produce millions in annual savings.

But the promised savings have never materialized, according to audits done by Rep. David Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat who has been a one-man investigation unit into Floridas troubled prison system. Many of the contracts, which were required to save at least 7 percent a year, actually cost the state more money than taxpayers would have spent if the programs had never been privatized. In some cases, he also found, medical care and access to programming in the private facilities was often worse.

This is not saving the state money because they are more efficient; they are saving money as a contractor because they are denying goods and services to the inmates, Richardson said.

His most recent prison audit, a review of Gadsden Correctional Facility in North Florida, found that the prison run by Management Training Corp. of Centerville, Utah, saved money by withholding heat, hot water, educational supplies and medical care for inmates for months. (The warden has resigned, and the company says it is addressing concerns.)

The governors goal to privatize dozens of prisons was thwarted by the state Senate in 2012, but he succeeded in advancing contracts with two healthcare companies to turn over prison medical care to private contractors. Legislators made sure that the contracts with the private vendors were not managed at the Department of Corrections, where career bureaucrats might be threatened by the private competitors, and moved them to the Department of Management Services, which has expertise in contracts, but not prisons.

Richardson discovered that in their zeal to hand over prison operations to private vendors, neither the governors office, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Management Services, nor the Legislatures auditors ever went back to check whether the savings were valid.

On Thursday, Florida lawmakers are poised to adopt draft House and Senate budgets that Richardson says embed the same phantom savings into the budget for another year. Story here.

Photo: Rep. David Richardson was joined by former Department of Management Secretary Chad Poppell at a visit to Gadsden Correctional Facility in North Florida, a private prison whose contract is managed by DMS. Photo courtesy of Rep. David Richardson.


via @learyreports

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota is leading a push to reverse a federal decision to downgrade protections for manatees.

This decision was disappointing and potentially very harmful to the survival of the iconic Florida animal, reads a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Based on widespread opposition from the public and scientists, we urge you to overturn this decision and restore manatees to endangered status.

The letter said, during the public comment period for the downlisting rule, nearly 87,000 comments opposed the rule with only 72 comments in support. We would also note that the scientists invited by the Fish and Wildlife Service to formally review the downlisting plan opposed weakening manatee protections.

Letter signers included Reps. Kathy Castor, Daniel Webster, Alcee Hastings, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ted Deutch, Frederica Wilson, Val Demings, Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy and Charlie Crist.

Read the letter below.

Dear Secretary Zinke,

We urge you to reconsider and reverse the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision last week to downgrade protections for the Florida manatee.

This decision was disappointing and potentially very harmful to the survival of the iconic Florida animal.

Despite the agencys assertion that a downlisting from endangered to threatened would not affect federal protections for the manatee, the move could cause a broader reassessment of critical state and local protections for the animals.

In fact, just days after this rule proposal was announced, the Brevard County commissioners approved a resolution requesting that the Florida Legislature review slow-speed zones currently in place for boats and called for a reconsideration of the states Manatee Sanctuary Act, which established protections for manatees and their habitats in several counties, including Sarasota and Manatee.

As you may know, the manatee at one time was on the brink of extinction. We cannot support any action that could lead to such conditions again.

Manatees face a variety of threats to their existence, including watercraft collisions, habitat loss and red tide. Additionally, the warm water springs manatees depend on during the winter months are disappearing. We also would note that manatee deaths are on the rise, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

During the public comment period for the downlisting rule, nearly 87,000 comments opposed the rule with only 72 comments in support. We would also note that the scientists invited by the Fish and Wildlife Service to formally review the downlisting plan opposed weakening manatee protections.

Based on widespread opposition from the public and scientists, we urge you to overturn this decision and restore manatees to endangered status.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times

Photo credit: Associated Press
It was a big day in the Florida Senate Wednesday as Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the Senate budget 39-0 and gave an overwhelming 36-3 nod to Senate President Joe Negron's priority bill

to build a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.

For a Senate that has shown signs of deep division and infighting against less veteran, and increasingly divided, Republican House, it was a formidable showing. So Negron and his leadership team didn't wait long to show their gratitude.

Late Wednesday, they scheduled hearings on Monday before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for a long list of criminal justice bills sponsored by Senate Democrats that haven't seen the light of day in years. Even Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, who was among the three lone votes against Negron's water bill, gets a hearing on two of the long-sought proposals. They are:

SB 848 by Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, will change the state law that automatically suspends the civil rights of felons to apply only to felons who have committed life of capital felonies.

SB 934 by Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, which will automatically restore of a former felons civil rights "other than the right to own, possess, or use firearms, after completion of his or her sentence."

SB 970 and SB 972 by Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, creates a new cause of action for victims of human trafficking to file civil lawsuits against a trafficker and creates a victims trust fund for the proceeds.

SB 1436 by Clemens reduces the minimum mandatory sentences for certain drug crimes.

SB 1662 by Clemens which reduces the penalty for marijuana possession from a criminal to a civil penalty and reduces other sanctions for cannabis use.

For each of these bills, this will be their first hearing.
Let no one say comedy is easy. It gets harder in "Noises Off," an antic script by British playwright Michael Frayn.

His celebrated play follows a cast of competent and not-so-competent actors who are rehearsing for "Nothing's On!," a stereotypically bad bedroom farce set in an English country home.

The script resembles a heavily redacted FBI document, with light-gray boxes demarcating when a cast member must shift between their character and their character in the play within the play, a production that rapidly begins to come to pieces.

Pamyla Stiehl described it as "meta theater to the max." She's directing the production that opens next week, closing out the main-stage season for the School of Theatre & Dance at the University of Montana.

The play is "an actor's masterclass," said Stiehl, an associate professor of direction and musical theater in her first year at UM.

"It is so difficult for the actors," she said. "It's a lovely cap for a couple of our seniors."

Six of the nine cast members play duplicate characters: parodies of theater types who have a role in the farce-within-a-farce.

Graduating senior Christina Heagney portrays Dottie Otley, who she described as a "diva lead actress" who has invested money in the show. Dottie sees her role, the housekeeper Mrs. Clackett, as a career part.

"Dottie has been acting for a fairly long time. Is she one of the most influential actors of her time? Probably not. In her mind, she is," Heagney said.

To prepare, Heagney researched actresses that Dottie might have imagined she was in league with, such as Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.

What's more, the UM production stays true to Frayn's setting. Associate theater professor John Kenneth DeBoer worked with the cast on dialect, which in some cases involved more than one.

Heagney, for instance, had to work on two accents. Dottie requires a "basic posh English accent," she said, while her housekeeper character, Mrs. Clackett needs an exaggerated Cockney accent.

The layered farce poses some difficulties, particularly because they didn't want to make Frayn's broad comedy too broad.

Heagney said the most challenging and interesting part of rehearsal was "finding the difference between who we are as actors and who those characters are, and completely differentiate them within the play within the play."

The play is billed as a "love letter to the theater," which is code for mocking the theater world. They characters could fall into caricatures, so they worked to "flesh out these characters and who they really are."

***

The play takes place on a two-level set created by scenic designer Alessia Carpoca, a professor of scenery and costume design.

In an email, Carpoca said she decided the set must look nice for a company of the caliber of the "Nothing's On!" troupe, and therefore not too nice. It had to achieve that goal while also fully functioning for the purposes of the UM production.

"If we go too far and deliver a non-professional-looking set, it might be the School of Theatre & Dance looking bad instead of the company of 'Nothings On!' " Carpoca writes in her set notes. "If we design and build a spectacular set, it may be too good for what the fictional theatre company can afford or has the skills to create."

It has eight doors that must be sturdy enough to withstand all the slamming as people enter and exit during episodes of mistaken identity.

The actors themselves have numerous spit-takes, pratfalls down stairs, and more than one incidence of trousers falling down.

And the whole set rotates.

In the second act, the whole two-story construction is reversed so the audience can see the backstage action.

Audiences see the director and crew flail about behind the scenes, while on the other side of the set, the student cast performs a "silent movie" version of "Nothing's On!" descending into chaos, Stiehl said.

Heagney, who's finishing a BFA in acting, said she feels "lucky and very grateful to be going out on such a high note."
When it comes to wildlife films, bigger usually means better.

Megafauna have no problem attracting the attention of filmmakers or audiences. If that's your flavor, the 40th International Wildlife Film Festival has plenty of films about big creatures: Take your pick with feature-length films like "Giraffes: Africa's Gentle Giants," "Gray Area: Wolves of the Southwest," or "Operation Whale" (which is actually about sharks gathering around a whale carcass.)

And regarding the scale of a film, it doesn't get bigger than the screenings of "Planet Earth 2," the BBC's blockbuster series. Montanans who haven't seen it yet should take note: the second episode, "Mountains," features work filmed in Yellowstone National Park by Montana filmmakers John Shier and Dawson Dunning.

While the larger features and creatures naturally draw your eye, film festivals are populated with short films, and in IWFF's case, short films about smaller critters that are just as intriguing as bigger films.

All screenings take place at the Roxy Theater. For tickets and more information, go to wildlifefilms.org.

"Archives of Extinction," 12 min. Directed by Alyse Takayesu

Friday, April 21, 3:45 p.m.

A narrator reads field notes circa 1901 about a collector shooting a rare species of Hawaiian bird, as viewers see row after row of drawers containing gorgeous dead specimens of island birds.

Initially, you may be saddened. However, viewers soon learn that with the mass extinction that's occurred with island birds, those collectors may have provided one of the few examples of the species that still exists for scientists.

Alyse Takayesu's quiet film, which makes excellent use of field recordings, pays a visit to the archives of extinct birds, and contemplates the cost they paid and the future information they can contribute: A scientist discussing gene studies that could someday allow the birds to be revived, as he says, "reconstructing valuable roles we see the environment needing now."

"Running Wild," 7 min., Daniel Schmidt

Friday, April 21, 4 p.m.

Ultra-runners, athletes who've trained their bodies to span up to a hundred miles at a time, often face an ethical quandary: They've dedicated countless hours to a pursuit that can seem selfish.

Some ultra-runners found a way to apply their rare abilities to a greater cause in Utah. In February 2014, a camera in the Uinta Mountains of Utah spied a wolverine. The sighting could indicate that the elusive species was expanding its range south, a phenomenon that begged to be confirmed and studied.

A group called Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation set up a series of cameras spanning 80 miles in the remote range in hopes of sighting more wolverines. The problem is that they needed people who could visit all those cameras to retrieve footage and traps. Two ultra-runners eager to turn their passion for a greater good step in.

"Microsculpture," 6 min., Tanya Cochran

Monday, April 17, 7 p.m.

Levon Biss, a commercial photographer in England, landed his largest museum show through his smallest subjects: insects. Shooting images of bugs with microscope lenses was initially a hobby for Biss, until he approached the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which houses the second largest insect collection in Britain. They were impressed by the level of detail in the photos, which are stitched together from thousands of individual photos. (He explains how he individually lights each antennae). The museum then partners with Biss for a show of photographs blown up to larger proportions than he ever imagined.
Slocomb will take meeting attendees on his journey to get the perfect wildflower photo starting with simple macro photography. He will also share techniques associated with his ultra wide angle sunburst series and his work in photoshop. If he runs out of flowers to show he might delve into the world of Disney theme parks films with the Muppets and others. In any case it should be a fascinating evening.
Recently I received a call from my good friend Jens Gran from Polson. Gran lives on the south end of Flathead Lake on Bird Point. He is an avid fisherman and normally this time of the year a phone call from him will translate into a fishing report from either Flathead Lake or Lake Mary Ronan.

In fact, a few years ago I proclaimed him the Lake Mary Ronan "guru" due to the success that he had jigging up kokanee salmon. Well, I was correct on my assumption that his reasoning for reaching out to me had something to do with a fishing report.

The perch bite is on Flathead Lake ... I went out and caught close to 50 perch between 9-10 inches, Gran said. In fact I am in the process of cleaning them now.

He went on to tell me he was fishing in 7 feet of water using a light jig tipped with a piece of night crawler in east Polson Bay on Flathead Lake.

There was not very many boats out there while I was fishing but that might have been because it was in the middle of the week, he said.

I was actually surprised to hear the good news of the perch bite because just a week ago I was on the phone chatting with Dick Zimmer from Zimmer Tackle and he figured that the perch bite on the lake might be delayed this year from the normal middle of April to the end of the month and maybe into the first part May because of the cooler weather. Zimmer has told me in the past that the perch really start to bite when the surface water temperature in east Polson Bay reaches in the mid 50s.

The temperature on my fish finder showed 50 degrees, Gran said when I asked him how warm the water was while he was fishing. So if you want some great table fare and a lot of fun fishing with the kids, I suggest heading up and trying your hand at catching some perch.

You also might want to bring your lake trout tackle if you are heading up to Flathead Lake because it sounds like the lake trout are biting, too. A total of 17,300 lake trout entries have been received over the first four weeks of Spring Mack Days. You might be like Kalispell angler Mike Shae who last Friday reeled in a lake trout that had been tagged that was worth $1,000. For information on how to enter log onto mackdays.com.

Warmer temperatures and melted ice mean the annual walleye spawning operation on Fort Peck Reservoir is getting into full swing. According to Heath Headley, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fort Peck biologist, agency staff and volunteers are again trapping fish and taking eggs from areas in the upper Big Dry Arm of the reservoir.

The reservoir is about 2.5 feet higher than last year, Headley said, but we will continue to focus the operation near Nelson Creek.

FWP staff have been working on setting up spawning barges, holding pens and test nets since the first week in April, and have begun spawning walleye. Headley figures they are in full operation now. We are looking to continue until we have our goal for this year, which is 50-60 million eggs, he added.

Last year, according to a news release, FWP staff and volunteers captured 19 different fish species for a total of 7,982 fish from March 29-April 21. Of that total, 2,672 were walleye. Female walleye collected averaged 7.2 pounds, with males averaging 1.7 pounds. The biggest walleye measured was 14.4 pounds.
BILLINGS  Funding proposals for the state's medical marijuana program have moved away from a tax and toward a fee structure as groups continue to debate how money will move within the system.

It's part of Senate Bill 333, a large regulatory bill that's moving through the Montana Legislature. It would set rules for a more robust program that includes testing laboratories, revamped identification cards and product tracking.

The Montana House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday by a 65-35 vote, keeping it alive for further discussion and likely more changes.

But not everyone is on board with those changes, and some feel the regulatory discussion has outpaced the scope of the state's medicinal cannabis industry.

"We don't want amendments on the bill that undermine the capacity of the program to function well," said Kate Cholewa, a lobbyist for the Montana Cannabis Industry Association. "We don't want to go back and have the kind of outcomes we had in 2011, where the law structurally doesn't work."

Legislators introduced 36 amendments to the bill in both House and Senate committees so far, said Republican Rep. Adam Hertz of Missoula, who introduced the bill during Wednesday's floor session.

I dont think Ive in three sessions put this much time into one bill as a committee, said Rep. Tom Jacobsen, D-Great Falls, during the session.

The MTCIA, which Cholewa represents, led the charge on November's ballot initiative and has been a behind-the-scenes shepherd for the regulatory bill. The group backed the initial self-funding proposal for the program: a tax system. It began as a 2 percent tax on the gross sales of medical marijuana providers, though there have been multiple changes since.

This week, the House Taxation Committee amended the bill to create a fee-based system, which would be paid by providers to acquire licenses. One proposal was a tiered system that set a maximum $2,000 fee for providers with 10 or fewer cardholders. The ceiling was $10,000 for larger providers.

The current proposal changed that fee to $25 per quarter for each registered cardholder. The provider would still pay that fee to keep his or her license.

Many medical marijuana backers criticized the initial tax proposal, saying that it amounted to a taxation on the medication of sick patients. Those groups applauded the move to a fee system, saying that it helps the smallest providers stay in business.

"I think the one thing most people don't understand, as far as what it takes to be a small provider, the cost and fees are phenomenal," said Josh Saksa, a Helena provider and spokesman for the Montana Hemp and Cannabis Coalition.

According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 72 percent of providers serve 10 or fewer cardholders.

For one provider, who according to the health department serves up to 600 cardholders, the annual licensing fee could be $60,000.

Cholewa argued that the tax system is more equitable for mid-sized providers who don't generate enough revenue to clear the fee. She also said that by linking the provider's fee to the patient, those who only use a little marijuana might be pressured to "earn their keep" with their purchases.

Cholewa backed the tax as a data point at the end of the seed-to-sale system, showing the amount of money being made in the program.

"With the tracking system and putting a tax on gross sales, we will be getting that information," she said.

Other provisions

While much of the debate may surround how the medical marijuana program generates money, those in the industry are also looking at other provisions in SB 333.

An amendment by the House Taxation committee exempted providers with 10 or fewer cardholders from submitting to mandatory product testing until April 2020. Another amendment allows for testing at a Montana Department of Agriculture laboratory.

Tracking provisions were placed on cardholder purchases as well. The bill requires that medical marijuana identification cards are able to log purchases.

It also specifies the Montana Department of Justice, which runs the motor vehicle division, to administer the ID cards.

The bill would also regulate how much marijuana providers and cardholders can possess, what qualifications a testing lab director can have and who can oversee "chemical manufacturing" of marijuana, which is the production of oil or other concentrates.

SB 333 would appropriate $1.6 million from funds already raised in the medical marijuana program to implement the new rules.

What's next

With Wednesday's passage of SB 333 in the House, Cholewa expects the bill to move toward a conference committee. That will allow House and Senate representatives a chance to reach consensus.

But as the bill reaches each new phase, some are feeling that it's getting further away from I-182, that voters passed in November. All of a sudden there are new rules that weren't in the initiative.

It's been a bumpy ride for Montana's medical marijuana industry. It has been through legislative restriction, lawsuits, ballot initiatives and now an intensive regulation effort. Some feel the state should take a step back.

"This thing is too big," said Kari Boiter of the Montana Patient Rights Network. "It's too complex."

Boiter is one proponent of tabling SB 333 and instead turning to HJ 36, which calls for an interim committee study to examine the program as a whole. That review, according to the bill, would conclude before September 2018.

Rep. Steve Gunderson, a Republican from Libby, said as much on the House floor Wednesday. He said the bill got big quickly, and with that comes additional cost.

Some in the industry were turned off by talk of revenue generation from a medical program.

"If you guys want to lay some groundwork for recreational (marijuana) and revenue for the state, then by all means set up the bill," said Rich Abromeit, a Billings provider. "But leave these patients alone, because they're not recreational users."
HELENA  The Montana Senate confirmed Martha Williams as the next director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on Wednesday.

Following a two-hour confirmation hearing on Tuesday, the Senate Fish and Game Committee met for less than 10 minutes Wednesday to take action on her confirmation. Williams, an attorney and former university professor, has been acting director for about two months after her nomination by Gov. Steve Bullock.

More than a dozen people spoke at the Tuesday hearing in support of Williams, praising her legal expertise, experience and demeanor. Lawmakers grilled her on questions including land acquisition, the role of game wardens and landowner relations.

Williams, who formerly worked at FWP as an attorney, said she is knowledgeable and passionate about the job. She has a low tolerance for petty divisiveness and a goal of building internal and external cooperation and partnerships, she said.

On Wednesday, Sen. Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, said she believed Williams presented a clear vision for the department.

Almost every person that came to the mic said integrity, integrity, integrity, she said.

Sen. Mike Phillips, D-Bozeman, also touted the nomination, saying Williams, has a body of work that seems ideally suited for the job.

Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, said he was disappointed that Williams did not know FWPs budget when asked, but would support the nomination.

Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, who carried the confirmation resolution, said she would oppose Williams. In her opposition, Fielder said she did not receive direct answers to some of her questions, namely the role of game wardens and whether Williams recognized the political leanings of conservation groups.

The committee voted 7-4 to advance the nomination to the floor.

Before the full body, Fielder echoed some of her earlier comments, but said she wished Williams well.

The Senate then confirmed her 47-3.

Im honored by it and excited about working with everybody, Williams said when reached for comment. Theres challenges ahead, but Im looking forward to taking them on.
A trend of more lenient furlough policies that began last summer at the Missoula County Detention Facility has been stopped by Missoula judges.

The decision came after a January incident where its believed an inmate who was let out on a temporary unescorted leave from the jail brought methamphetamine and opiates back with him.

On Jan. 19, inmates in one of the 24-person pods at the jail began behaving strangely, said Commander Jason Kowalski, who oversees the jail.

We suspected right away and an inmate did inform us that he suspected that drugs were being used by other inmates in the pod, Kowalski said.

That pod was put into lockdown and detention officers searched all of the cells but didnt find any drugs. Tests on several of the inmates came back positive for methamphetamine and opiates.

Many of the inmates refused to do the test and to us that indicates that theres a likelihood they were going to test positive and they didnt want to have those results out on paper, Kowalski said.

One of the inmates in the pod had recently returned from a furlough that a judge granted to allow him to collect personal items from his landlord.

In the past, Kowalski said inmates could petition and be granted a leave from the jail for things like medical issues or family funerals, but they would be done with an escort by a detention officer. Around the middle of last summer, he said Missoula judges began allowing furloughs for a wider variety of reasons and unlike in the past, some were done without direct supervision.

Those have never really been supported from a security and safety aspect from us, Kowalski said of unescorted furloughs. Once an inmate leaves our facility, its wide open again for someone to do something bad.

After the January incident, a deputy came and spoke with several of the inmates who were housed in the pod but wasnt able to gather enough evidence to request charges be filed.

Its the orange code we call it. They dont want to be labeled as snitches, they dont want to have anything to do with telling on their buddies, Kowalski said. Without true drugs in hand, deputies arent able to hold charges or anything like that.

He said its possible the drugs were brought in by an inmate housed in a different area of the jail, as they share the same recreation area. Fewer than half a dozen inmates had been out on an unescorted furlough in the period immediately before the incident.

Its very hard for us to screen for those inmates coming back in if theyve hidden it properly, and by properly I mean my guess is theyve tied it in a balloon, put some drugs in a balloon and swallowed it and its in their stomach, Kowalski said. An hour before they come back to jail they swallow it, theres no way for us do that in a general pat down.

After the January incident, Kowalski said he explained the safety risks that furloughs without an officer escort created for the jail to Missoula County District Court judges. In addition to inmates who might try to sneak drugs in for their own use, he said there also could be a situation where inmates who learn that someone is about to be furloughed will threaten them or conspire with them to bring drugs back in.

We really cant stop the inmate that swallows something, gets it in their stomach where we cant see it, cant feel it, cant detect it, he said. They kind of understood our situation at that point.

Since the discussion with the judges, no unescorted furloughs have been granted, Kowalski said.

District Court Judge John Larson said historically, he has seen furloughs as something to be used for medical situations involving an inmate.

He said he sent a note to the other district court judges after hearing from the jail, and thinks that generally they all appreciate the safety risks that come up when an inmate is let out without proper supervision.

It wasnt just the one incident. It was a situation where we saw a pattern of people returning from furloughs with issues, he said.

Larson said he hasnt approved any unescorted furlough requests since that point, but said its possible a situation will come up in the future where one is issued.

Kowalski said since the incident, they have reminded all detention staff of the importance of making sure routine checks at the jail are conducted thoroughly, and said if future unescorted furloughs are granted, the jail plans to hold an inmate in an isolated cell with video surveillance for a few days when they return.

Thats just what we have to do, we have to respond to those types of situations, Kowalski said. I think it caught us off guard for the moment because it is something new to us.
Plans for a new pedestrian and business-friendly complex at the Riverfront Triangle in downtown are moving forward through the Missoula City Council, with several steps being discussed in the next month.

On Wednesday, the Land Use and Planning Committee heard a presentation on their choice to give up right-of-way on two sections of city streets, in order for the developer to create a greenway and public plaza.

Cars arent the focus downtown, pedestrians are, WGM Groups Ryan Salisbury said. It really needs to be a walkable community.

The greenway will cover Front Street from Broadway to Owen Street, while the public plaza will cover Owen Street from Front Street to the Clark Fork River, connecting with the riverfront trail.

As part of the agreement, the developers, Hotel Fox Partners, have to have city Parks and Recreation staff approval of their riverfront trail designs.

Salisbury said the developers also will pay to add additional lanes to eastbound West Broadway where it meets Orange Street, resulting in a left-turn lane, two straight lanes, a fully-extended bike lane and a right-turn lane, to help ease the extra traffic that wont be able to shortcut through Front Street.

The committee voted unanimously to give up the right-of-ways, a remarkably different tone than their recent vote to begrudgingly cede two portions of public land to the owner of the Holiday Village Shopping complex.

Salisbury had a slide noting about 15 different public benefits from the city giving up their right-of-way on the two streets.

Compared to the last vacation we approved, this provides significant public benefit, Ward 5 representative Julie Armstrong said. We still retain access and pedestrian infrastructure.

Additional meetings will discuss necessary rezoning of the site and a public hearing is set for May 8, for a final vote on the right-of-way discussion.

***

The Public Works Committee discussed spending $1.6 million of city funds on the otherwise state-funded Higgins Avenue Bridge project, after the Montana Department of Transportation declined to fund the bridges expansion.

The plans to widen the bridge would allow for 12- to 13-foot bike/pedestrian lanes on either side of the four-lane road, City Engineer Kevin Slovarp said.

We really would like different pedestrian facilities, different bicycle facilities, than are out there right now, Slovarp said. Theyre used an awful lot.

But the Department of Transportation told Missoula while theyd replace the existing bridge, at a cost of over $11 million, any extras would have to come out of the citys pocket, Slovarp said.

That shook out into a deal that has the city funding the bike/pedestrian lane that will be added on the side of the bridge.

A study to determine feasibility of narrowing Higgins to three lanes from Mount to Broadway wouldnt eliminate the need for a wider bridge, City Transportation Manager Jessica Morris said. It would give them flexibility.

Ward 5 representative Julie Armstrong didnt like the lane-narrowing idea, nor the focus on Higgins Bridge when Madison and Russell Street bridges still are unfinished.

I think we have too many projects on bridges going on at the same time, Armstrong said, adding she wouldnt support asking for that much money on something that isnt necessary right now.

Payment from the city is due when the project goes out to bid, according to Slovarp, which would be in 2019 at the earliest.

We think this is money well spent, Slovarp said, to get the facilities we want to see.

Public Works Chair Jordan Hess asked the item be delayed until City Attorney Jim Nugent finalizes the language.
On March 29, Montanans joined 1,300 other Alzheimers advocates from across the country in our nations capital, meeting our respective members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. On that single day, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and each elected official received the exact same message  Alzheimers is the most expensive disease in America and must be a public health priority.

Indeed, it is the epidemic of our generation. More than 5 million people are living with the disease and another 15 million family members are providing their care. These numbers are set to nearly triple by 2050. Families are struggling under the emotional, financial and physical weight of this devastating disease. On March 29, we urged for a greater investment in Alzheimers research and funds for vital programs providing care and support.

Just one day later, over 250 people from across Montana gathered in our states capitol with a like message  to beseech our elected officials to make Alzheimers a Montana public health priority. Unlike other diseases, Alzheimers is a triple threat  with soaring prevalence, lack of effective treatment and enormous costs.

Montana will have one of the highest percentages of senior citizens in the nation. Yet we are painfully unequipped to care today for our family, friends and neighbors  let alone the growing number at risk. By 2025 the numbers of people in Montana living with Alzheimers will climb from 20,000 today to 27,000 - with no slowdown in sight.

Alzheimers advocates in Montana are grateful for the leadership of Rep. Ron Ehli and the Children and Families Interim Committee. Ehli is the sponsor of House Bill 17, a measure to increase home and community-based service waiver slots and assisted living reimbursement rates. The bill unanimously passed the House and now awaits action by the Senate and approval by Gov. Steve Bullock.

Why is HB 17 so vital? People can live an average of 8-12 years with Alzheimer's (or other dementias); depleting their resources and leading many of them to qualify for Medicaid services. The waiting list for these services is protracted, in excess of 500 people. These are proud, once hardworking Montanans, now largely seniors who have no real remaining assets and nowhere to turn. HB 17 would enhance the availability of Medicaid-covered home and community-based services so people can avoid or delay nursing home care  an option that is more costly than assisted living facilities or private homes. And less preferable.

Not surprisingly, just 8 percent of Montanans say they would choose nursing home placement over living at home with assistance or in an assisted living community if life becomes difficult due to illness. HB 17 further increases reimbursement rates to enable providers to pay more competitive wages to attract and retain caregiving staff.

Alzheimers already takes a large toll on Montanas Medicaid budget. Findings from the 2017 Alzheimers Association Facts and Figures report show that last year, Montanas Medicaid spend for people with Alzheimers exceeded $139 million. By 2025, that figure is expected to increase nearly 42 percent to $197 million. There are opportunities to save significant dollars by expanding home and community based options, options that are far less costly than nursing home care. Furthermore, research shows that caregiver support programs, collaborative care models and continuity of care can reduce avoidable health care use, including hospitalizations, for people with Alzheimers and other dementias.

The Alzheimer's Association joins our community partners in urging for additional care options for individuals and families buckling under the weight of Alzheimers. Please approve HB 17 and strengthen support for Montana families.
Montanas two senators were split on the vote that recently confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester voted against confirmation, citing Gorsuchs propensity to judge cases in a way that empowers corporations over individuals. Tester believes that Gorsuch supports the massive intrusion of corporations into our election processes, a political disaster that has allowed almost unmeasurable corporate influence on campaigns and elections since the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision. That case made corporations citizens and declared their money free speech. Testers opposition to Gorsuch based on this was consistent with the position held by 75 percent of Montanans when they voted on these very questions on a state ballot issue in 2012.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines backed President Trumps nominee in a Senate floor statement where he ironically said that most importantly, the American people deserve nine members on the Supreme Court. That most important rationale rings hollow given Daines obstructionism for the last 380-plus days while the Supreme Court seat lay vacant.

Getting nine members on the court wasnt the most important thing to Daines when he not only joined a partisan effort to deny a hearing to President Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland, but also refused to personally meet with the well-qualified nominee. The previous record for non-action on a Supreme Court nominee was broken back on July 26, 2016. Before and since that day, Daines maintained his obstructionism on Merrick Garland. He never said a word about the American people deserving nine members on the Supreme Court until his recent speech on behalf of Gorsuch  the kind of hypocritical flip-flop that turns people off about politicians.

Tester didnt hide behind delaying tactics like Daines did with Garland. In true Montana fashion, he treated Gorsuch fairly, personally meeting with him, supporting Gorsuch having a hearing and participating in an up-or-down confirmation vote. Testers reasons for voting against Gorsuch were honest and clear  he was deeply concerned that dark money will continue to drown out the voices and votes of citizens [saying that] over the years, Gorsuch gave corporations the same Constitutional rights as a nurse from Plentywood, a teacher from Kalispell, or a farmer from Fort Benton. Tester said, When it comes to the letter of the law, [Gorsuch] believes corporations are people.

Further, Tester said that Gorsuch, according to an opinion, believes campaign contributions deserve First Amendment [free speech] protections. Montanans know: money is not speech, said Tester. He noted his concern that if Gorsuch is confirmed, our future will be shaped with dark money.

Those very issues were addressed directly by Montana when the voters overwhelming approved Initiative 166 in 2012. Specifically, 75 percent of Montana voters held that corporations are not human beings with constitutional rights and that each [state or federal] elected and appointed official [is] charged to act to prohibit corporations from making contributions to or expenditures on the campaigns of candidates or ballot issues. That directive from the people of Montana includes Daines.

Those 75 percent voted that the people of Montana regard:

 money as property, not speech;

 Constitutional rights as rights of human beings, not rights of corporations; and,

 immense aggregation of [corporate] wealth  [as] corrosive and distorting when used to advance the political interests of corporations.

In rejecting Gorsuch, Tester is to be commended for following the course laid out clearly at the ballot box by 75 percent of Montanans regarding corporate citizenship and money as free speech. Daines, however, in voting for Gorsuch, chose to ignore that 75 percent, ignore their directives about this important issue, and sided with the corporate elite over the people of Montana.
For casual observers of the natural world in Montana, the messages on wildfire can be confusing.

Smokey Bear tells us only you can prevent wildfire, yet the Forest Service starts fires and smokes the air every spring.

Fire scientists tell us our fire-adapted ecosystems need fire, yet the same scientists warn us that many present-day fires are uncharacteristic and excessively destructive.

Fire-prevention technicians advise us to manage the vegetation around our houses to protect them from wildfire, while tribal historians tell us that first nations used fire for many purposes and are a model for living with fire.

Our summer skies fill with smoke, helicopters and retardant bombers; and yellow shirts hurry off to battle the beast, while the daily news sadly describes the fires destruction.

How can we reconcile these complex and apparently conflicting perspectives?

The roots of this conflicted approach to fire trace to early European settlers on this continent. The natural world they faced was both a source of bounty and a haven of threats, real and imagined, to be subdued.

As settlers moved farther west into dryer parts of the country, fire was viewed as a competitor for the wood and forage that humans might use. It affected wildlife, including an orphaned bear cub rescued from a New Mexico fire who became Smokey Bear, the symbol of our resolve.

And so the battle was joined. For owners of large swaths of forested land across the West and Midwest, fire threatened the trees they intended to harvest for our use, just as it did on some national forest lands designated for sustainable harvest. At its worst, fire threatened our settlements.

But what of the large landscapes designated for wildland resources, for wildlife habitat and winter range, for recreation use  where forests are managed for other values? Fire in these forests warrants a more nuanced perspective and an appreciation of its role in these ecosystems.

Fire is the great recycler, especially in dry-climate habitats. Trees, brush and grass grow, die and accumulate with little decay. For thousands of years, lightning and human-caused fire periodically reduced and recycled the biomass (the stuff) that accumulated. Some fires were small with relatively low impact, others were large and rambunctious. Across vast landscapes fires created patterns as they temporarily displaced some wildlife species and improved habitat for others. Over thousands of years of varied climatic conditions, plants and animals depended on the shifting pattern of burned and revegetated areas, a resilience that may help these systems in times of increased climate variation.

A century of increasingly sophisticated fire suppression has allowed the unrelenting accumulation of material that might have burned with smaller, less threatening fires  the very fires our firefighters easily extinguish. The stuff accumulates and conditions build for fires so large and hot we can only stand back and wait for the weather to change. Fire scientists tell us this pattern is increasing and could intensify if climate change continues.

The situation is complex, and our responses must be tailored to the variety of forest conditions on our landscape and their location. Most fundamentally we must ask: When and how do we intervene, and when do we let go?

The Northern Rockies Fire Sciences Network will explore these issues further in an evening session called the Era of Megafires at the University of Montana on April 24, in Kalispell on April 25, Lincoln on April 26, and Seeley Lake on April 27 (see: nrfirescience.org). Its an owners review, and you are the owners.
I am writing this letter in support of Greg Gianforte for many reasons, among them being his record of success. Greg Gianforte went from mowing lawns as a child to building a very successful business, creating more than 500 high-paying Montana jobs.

The American dream is not more social programs. Its time to roll back suffocating regulations heaped on us by an out-of-control federal government that is out of touch with Montana. We need new jobs to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Gianforte understands high-tech industry and the potential it holds for Montana. He spoke to me of the importance of creating good-paying jobs to help keep our young people in Montana. The lack of good-paying jobs forces people to choose between their home and their dreams. Gianforte has stated, we need to start building Montana and stop exporting our kids. As a parent of one of those exported kids, we understand exactly what he is talking about.

Greg Gianforte brings the right combination of positive job creation experience and a solid work ethic to help create Montana jobs for Montana people.

Please support Greg Gianforte for Congress.

Sjaan Vincent,

Charlo
Super political action committee Congressional Leadership Fund is running shadowy propaganda criticizing Rob Quist for having a big hat and being out of tune with Montana. They assume these allegations will shock Montanans into voting against Quist. They give no rationale supporting his multi-millionaire opponent from California.

Homegrown Montanan Quist has earned the right to wear the hat. Interloper and failed gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte is as phony-baloney as creationist museums and jackalopes.

CLF consists of slippery out-of-state tricksters led by failed politician Norm Coleman (Minnesota); largest donor, billionaire Sheldon Adelson (Nevada), and some Texan tycoons who dont care one iota about Montana or our citizens. They seek absolute power to rape and plunder Montanas resources. The more science-denying flimflammers they push into Congress, the more they pillage the land and its people for personal gain.

Quist genuinely represents Montana and strives to keep it the last best place. Ask yourself who embodies traditional Montanan principles of independent, strong-minded individuals. Then ask who epitomizes mud-slinging, money-grubbing robber barons.

Malicious factions are doing everything possible to subdue your vote, so its important to get it done on Thursday, May 25. Vote for Rob Quist to represent our true values.

Wanda LaCroix,

Arlee
Amy Grantham; Courtesy of Shore Fire MediaGraham Nash, Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas and sibling pop group Hanson have been added to the lineup of the recently announced star-packed tribute concert for acclaimed songwriter Jimmy Webb, taking place May 3 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Among the previously reported artists who will perform at the show, dubbed "A Celebration of the Music of Jimmy Webb: The Cake and the Rain," are Art Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Johnny Rivers, ex-Fifth Dimension members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Glen Campbell's daughter Ashley and Webb himself. Douglas will deliver a spoken-word performance.

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Glen Campbell, who suffers from Alzheimer's and for whom Webb wrote such hits as "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." The event will come on the heels of the April 18 publication of a new memoir by Webb called The Cake and the Rain.

Other acts on the tribute concert's bill include country artists Toby Keith and Dwight Yoakam, and veteran pop star Amy Grant.

The show is being presented by City Winery, whose founder, New York entrepreneur Michael Dorf, organizes the "Music Of" series of annual tribute concerts held at Carnegie Hall. To purchase tickets and find out more details about the show, visit MusicOf.org.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
HELENA - The ACLU of Montana filed a lawsuit against Cascade County for failing to respond to a request for information on the use of racial profiling and force policies and files on license plate readers which can be used to track a drivers location.

According to a statement, the ACLU sent the first Freedom of Information Act request for the cell site simulators on March 24, 2016. They followed up on April 12, 2016 asking for the Cascade County Sheriff's Office policies on force and racial profiling to make the information available on the ACLU website for public use.

The office didnt respond to either request, the lawsuit alleges.

Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards said on Wednesday he wasn't aware a lawsuit had been filed and would need to do some research before commenting.

Jim Taylor, legal director for ACLU Montana, said the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and the sheriff's office hadn't been served yet. Taylor said the ACLU contacted the sheriff's office through mail each time and never received a response.

Commonly called Sting-Ray devices, the cell site simulators mimic cellphone towers and force a phone to allow police to see its location as well as identifying information. Automatic license plate readers gather information from a plates location and send it to a regional sharing system where its stored for an unregulated amount of time.

The ACLU said this information allows police to essentially track a persons movements.

Taylor said the ACLU has tried to work with agencies that have asked for additional time to meet its requests but is unwilling to continue waiting for agencies that choose not to respond. He said the ACLU plans to also sue the other agencies that havent respond to the same request.

There are 13 other jurisdictions that didn't respond to either request and 24 that only responded to one, Taylor said. There were several who gave incomplete or problematic responses. He declined to specify which jurisdictions failed to respond.

When asked why the ACLU started with Cascade County, Taylor said it was the first major jurisdiction on the list alphabetically.

"It's rare that we send a FOIA and we don't get anything back at all. Agencies have an obligation under state law to respond," he said. "It will cost the ones who don't financially."

While the lawsuit doesn't seek damages, it asks for compliance and legal fees.
After 30 years in public service management, I have a broad perspective regarding government. We always hear that government is a big business and it should be run accordingly. That feat is only possible if we treat it like a business and put the political fodder aside.

Greg Gianforte has an extremely successful business career. He is an advocate for the changes we need to see in the federal architecture. Greg wants to drain the swamp in Washington D.C. by changing the architectural landscape and ensure Montanas voice is heard.

Greg will strive for accountability in Congress and bring the tough issues to the table. He believes a balanced budget is paramount. He is not afraid to address term limits and fight to make sure members of Congress do not become lobbyists. Greg will fight for senior citizen rights to Social Security and Medicare, prioritize veterans issues, and develop real healthcare solutions that work. Montanas economy is a critical issue. Overregulation has stifled our economy. Greg wants to see more success and greater prosperity for Montanans. He wants to capitalize on the coal and timber industries. And, Greg is committed to reaching out to Montanans and stakeholders to develop collaborative solutions on the issues we face.

Greg has a strong business acumen, has Montanas interests at heart, and he is running for the right reasons. Greg Gianforte deserves our vote for Montanas Representative to Congress.

 Dan McGowan, president, McGowan Enterprises Inc., Helena
I see Evan Barrett is back in his fantasy-land again in the Standard 04-09-2017. Tester sides with majority on Gorsuch 75%, says Evan. Its Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch now to be respectful, Evan. Yes, as the Butte Local Development Corp. director in Butte, Evan Barretts 2003 self survey then it was Uptown Butte will become a gaming district on a half mile area 1.8 billion Nevada style little Vegas Butte. All became a folly crashed. Evan Barretts survey again but who conducted this survey Evan, State of Montana and where all over Montana? Its your own survey Evan and youre a state employee and where is the data? Show the survey process? Looks like fake news Evan. I feel it could be just the opposite with a fair and impartial Montana survey not Evans. After all Evan the last election in 2016 proved that and 2018 will be interesting.

Judge Gorsuch has an outstanding academic and judicial impartial record and a perfect choice for the U.S. Supreme Court now confirmed. No Evan I dont agree with you at all perhaps most Montana voters in 2018 wont either. Yes, Senator Schumer tried to pull it all over to his partial side but failed. Now we have 51 votes rather than 60 to nominate the next Supreme Court justices and two vacancies are possible. So did Senator Schumer and Representative Pelosi do us a favor?

Montana is appearing to be a battleground state in 2018 and competition is good and should be based on academic background, experience, pro second amendment, pro hunting, pro scientific management of public lands under the existing laws and someone possibly with military experience preferably active duty in my view. Why consider wealth after all multi-billionaire George Soros funds operations like riots, hate, protests, destruction of private and public property, anti police propaganda and many anti-American activities? His dough is used for all the wrong things and he does not Want America Great Again!

 Jack D. Jones, Butte
In following our current congressional contest closely one must question  is this Montana office for sale to the highest bidder?

Rob Quist's opponent and backers are once again spending millions trying to buy another Montana leadership post with clever corporate TV ads filled with falsity attempting to smear Mr. Quist. Gianforte boasts he cannot be bought because of his personal wealth.

For more than 40 years I have observed the way Rob Quist treats his family, friends and neighbors  always with courage, honesty, dignity and respect. Despite family health setbacks Mr. Quist, in the tradition of a true Montanan (and Harry S. Truman) refused to declare bankruptcy and continued to pay his creditors. How many of us would choose the same course? It only deepens my faith in his courage and integrity.

Actions speak louder than words. "One man with courage makes a majority" (Andrew Jackson).

Rob Quist will fight for Montana. Together let's send this good man to Washington.

 Richard F. Syverson, Bigfork
MUSCATINE  Around one in every three Muscatine residents is a member of the Muscatine Community YMCA.

"That's what we were striving for when we built it: we'd have something for everyone, and I know we do," said Jim Sturms, the Y's former executive director.

When the building that currently houses the YMCA was built in 1991, Sturms said it was designed so it could be expanded, though he was surprised at the number of residents who use it.

"It was even better than what I thought it would be," he said.

Now with more than 9,700 members, the YMCA has outgrown the building, Sturms said.

Current Executive Director Bret Olson, staff, Muscatine residents and business leaders were on hand at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Muscatine Community YMCA expansion project to show their excitement for the $7 million project, which will include two new additions and other renovations.

The addition, said Olson, will include a new entrance, an adventure center for children, a new flat running track and "more elbow room" in the wellness center.

Staff, he said, also are excited about changes to the office space.

Olson thanked his staff and the many people and businesses who donated to the project  donations included $2 million from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, $1 million from HNI and $1 million from Kent Corporation. Around $6.9 million "and some change," Olson said, has been raised, with a goal of more than $7 million.

One of the most memorable donations, he said, was $28 given to him by an 8-year-old.

"It's all impactful," he said.

Even seemingly minor changes, like a new family locker room, will make a big difference for families who are Y members, Leni and Clay Marin said.

Their children, Jaydon, 6, and Cynthia, 9, spend time with them at the YMCA, the parents said.

"We love it here," Leni said.

But young children can bring complications, Leni said, such as when she takes Jaydon to the pool when her husband is not with them.

"Just the little stuff like that I think is going to be good," she said.

Their family, they said, can hardly wait to see what the building will look like after the renovations.

"I think it's great, because they're making it all better," Clay said. "It needs to get a little bigger for the kids."

John Kuhl, president of the board of directors, said the project will help the YMCA continue to serve everyone in Muscatine.

"This is a place for people of all ages and all walks of life," he said.

Kuhl said in 26 years membership at the YMCA has continued to grow, and the expansion has been needed.

"This day has been a long time coming," he said.

Olson said the project is expected to be completed in May 2018. The YMCA will remain open during construction, but some programs will move to different areas of the building.

Estes Construction of Davenport is the construction manager and CMBA of Des Moines is the project architect.
Wapello Education Association has proposed the establishment of a labor management committee to allow for teachers' input into items that state law has removed from collective bargaining.

The five-year agreement the union proposed during Wednesday's school board meeting also includes a 1.5 percent salary hike.

Teacher Cari Cline told a crowd of about 30 school board members, administrators, staff and community members that recent changes in Iowa's collective bargaining law made cooperation between teachers and the school district vital. The new law limits most public employee contract negotiations to issues of wages.

(Previous) open discussion of (issues) has provided language that works well for both sides," Cline said. "We believe those same discussions can occur through a labor management committee and meetings that occur outside the formal bargaining process."

We believe this collaborative approach to bargaining will ultimately result in what we all desire, to provide the best experience in our classrooms for our students. Our students thrive when all of those in our schools feel respected, she added.

The salary hike would boost wages for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree from $29,380 to around $29,821.

The labor management committee would collaboratively make decisions about employment matters outside the master contract and other matters mutually agreed upon.

School board members had no questions on the proposal. Superintendent Mike Peterson said the district had two weeks to submit its initial proposal to the WEA.

Budget and calendar approved

The board approved a fiscal year 2018 budget.

The budget calls for total expenditures of $11,246,420, with total revenues of $9,953,048. The fund balance will shrink from $4,075,270 to a projected $2,781,898.

The tax rate will be approximately $14.85 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

The board also approved school calendars. Board president Duane Boysen cast a no vote on the calendar.

School will begin Aug. 24 and end May 25. Early dismissals for professional development will be held on Wednesdays, which Boysen indicated he opposed.

In other business

The board agreed to acquire a Ricoh copier from Access Systems, Burlington, under a five-year lease program with a service contract provided through Service Underwriters. The cost for the lease and service contracts will be $79,368. Boysen opposed the lease and board member Larry Miller did not vote.

Elementary principal Brett Nagle reported the recent kindergarten and pre-school roundups had recently been completed and the preschool roundup had attracted 28 children, with four others who did not attend the roundup also expected to attend. The district expected 27 children, with three known eligible student unable to attend.

Peterson said that meant the district would need to add a second section of preschool.

You cant turn 15 families away, Peterson said.

The board also:

 Approved an $9,100 contract to launch the Write to Learn program next year.

 Approved a budget guarantee resolution.

 Approved an $8,302 contract with Northwest Evaluation Association for student assessment testing.
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
Barely four months after the launch of Posh Palace Hair Studio and Spa  owned by media personality Betty Kyallo and her friend Susan Kaittany, the high-end salon is already a hit with high-end clientele.

The most recent high profile celebrities to get poshed up are Morgan Heritage brothers, Gramps and Mojo.

KTNs Betty Kyallo on Tuesday took to Instagram to flaunt after hosting Gramps Morgan for a spa date.

Sharing a picture of the celeb moment alongside Gramps and her business partner Susan Kaittany, Betty said the Jamaican reggae star was at her spa to have his dreadlocks redone ahead of the Morgan Heritage tour in Uganda.

Happy to have met gramps morgan of Morgan Heritage at Posh Palace today! He came to clean up and have his locks redone, wrote Betty.

A few days before, Gramps brother Mojo also had his locks touched up at the spa located at Sifa Towers in Nairobis Kilimani estate.

The snaps:
Warren Buffett's company reported a $2.7 billion loss Saturday as the paper value of its investment portfolio fell during the third quarter, but most of its operating businesses performed well with the notable exception of Geico.
ST. HELENA  The future of a St. Helena Chamber of Commerce plan to promote downtown is in question after a deadlocked City Council couldnt muster enough votes to direct staff to keep working on the project.

Chamber officials said the lack of city staff support wont deter them from going ahead with the petition process with property owners who will need to approve the Property Based Improvement District (PBID) district. However, the district will eventually need council authorization.

Commercial properties within the proposed district are being asked to approve a self-imposed assessment, which a new PBID board would spend on beautification, maintenance, marketing and business development.

Chamber officials say the PBID would give the business community a stable source of funding without having to rely on the citys annual contract with the Chamber.

On Tuesday, Councilmembers Mary Koberstein and Geoff Ellsworth said they will not vote to form the PBID. Mayor Alan Galbraith spoke in favor of it, and Councilmember Peter White said hell wait until the affected property owners have weighed in before taking a position.

The fate of the PBID seems to hinge upon the vote of Councilmember Paul Dohring, who recused himself from Tuesdays discussion because hes awaiting an opinion from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) on whether he has a conflict of interest. As an attorney, he represents clients whose properties are within the proposed district, so he asked the FPPC for advice on whether that amounted to a conflict of interest under state law. He said they told him to expect a response within a few weeks.

Koberstein said she opposes the PBID based on the cost to the city and her belief that the city, not the Chamber, should be in charge of business development, which involves economic strategy and reaching out to businesses that might be a good fit for the local economy.

As a major property owner, the city would have to pay $93,000 a year in assessments, a rate that could increase by as much as 3 percent a year for the five-year life of the PBID.

We should take this money ourselves and do something with it instead of handing it off for supposed special benefits that, frankly, I just dont see, Koberstein said, adding that the assessment on the citys vacant Adams Street property would be $49,000 a year.

Galbraith said the cost to the city would be offset by the eventual elimination of the citys annual Chamber contract of $200,000. He said the city hasnt been able to afford to hire a staffer to conduct proactive economic development, and he doesnt see that changing in the foreseeable future. The updated General Plan endorses a PBID, he added.

Lets see whether the property owners  embrace this, Galbraith said. It may well be, from what we heard tonight, that its going to be very hard to mobilize the sufficient number of weighted property interests to move forward.

Melanee Cottrill of the consulting firm Civitas, which is advising the Chamber, said after the hearing that due to an error in the staff report Koberstein had overstated the annual cost to the city. Koberstein said the city would have to pay $65,000 a year on top of the $93,000 regular assessment, but Cottrill said the city would only have to pay the $93,000.

Despite the lack of participation with city staff, the Chamber will go ahead with the first step of a two-step process necessary to form the PBID.

First, petitions will have to be signed by property owners who will pay more than 50 percent of the assessment. Then, if the council votes to go ahead, property owners will be asked to vote in a ballot process, again weighted based on who will pay the most.

Sewer rates

Also at Tuesdays meeting, several local property owners said they are on the verge of being driven out of business after drastic increases to their sewer rates.

Kathryn Kenney said her restaurant, That Pizza Place, saw its sewer bill jump from $42 a month to $840, an increase of 2,000 percent, as a result of being reclassified from a regular business to a restaurant even though weve been a restaurant for the eight years weve been there.

Debbie Fradelizio said Gillwoods, which she operates with her daughter Jennifer, has also seen its sewer bill go up to the $840 flat rate for restaurants.

Last year, I paid the city $8,000 for water and sewer. This year its going to be $16,000, she told the council. I cant pay that.  I know you guys inherited this. I know its not your fault. But you cant put us all out of business to fix the problem.

Under the new flat rate, her 55-seat restaurant is charged the same base sewer rate as much larger restaurants, which isnt fair, she said. The new rates will force her to raise prices and lose customers, stop donating to schools and charities, or underpay her employees, she said.

Charles Hall, owner of the laundromat, said his base sewer rate jumped to $970 a month, which could force him to raise prices on customers who cant afford to pay more and make him uncompetitive with other laundries.

The issue wasnt on Tuesdays agenda, but Ellsworth said the council urgently needs to address it, as well as parking and pedestrian safety concerns raised by neighbors of the new Las Alcobas hotel.
The US military dropped America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS targets in Afghanistan Thursday, the first time this type of weapon has been used in battle, according to US officials.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed the "mother of all bombs," was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time, according to four US military officials with direct knowledge of the mission. A MOAB is a 30-foot-long, 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition.

President Donald Trump called it "another successful job" later Thursday.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, stationed in Afghanistan and operated by Air Force Special Operations Command, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump told CNN.

Officials said the target was an ISIS cave and tunnel complex and personnel in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said later Thursday. The strike "targeted a system of tunnels and cave that ISIS fighters use to move around freely."

Afghanistan's ambassador to the US, Hamdullah Mohib, told CNN's Brooke Baldwin that the bomb was dropped after fighting had intensified over the last week between US Special Forces and Afghan troops against ISIS.

The US and Afghan forces were unable to advance because ISIS had mined the area with explosives, so the bomb was dropped to clear the tunnels, Mohib said.

Trump declined to say whether he personally signed off on the strike, but did comment, "Everybody knows exactly what happens. So, what I do is I authorize our military."

He continued, "We have given them total authorization and that's what they're doing."

The President has granted military commanders broader latitude to act independently on several battlefields where US forces are involved, which Trump touted as making a "tremendous difference" in the fight against ISIS.

During the campaign, Trump vowed to eradicate ISIS, saying he would "bomb the s**t" out of the terror group.

Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, signed off on the use of the bomb, according to the sources. The authority to deploy the weapon was granted to Nicholson by the commander of US Central Command, Gen. Joseph Votel, Stump said.

This is the first time a MOAB has been used in the battlefield, according to the US officials. This munition was developed during the Iraq war and is an air blast-type warhead that explodes before hitting the ground in order to project a a massive blast to all sides.

During the final stages of testing in 2003, military officials told CNN that the MOAB was mainly conceived as a weapon employed for "psychological operations." Military officials said they hoped the MOAB would create such a huge blast that it would rattle Iraqi troops and pressure them into surrendering or not even fighting.

As originally conceived, the MOAB was to be used against large formations of troops and equipment or hardened above-ground bunkers. The target set has also been expanded to include targets buried under softer surfaces, like caves or tunnels.

But while the MOAB bomb detonates with the power of 18,000 pounds of tritonal explosives, the size of its explosion pales in comparison to that of a nuclear bomb.

"As ISIS-K's losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense," Nicholson said in a statement following the strike.

"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K," Nicholson added.

"US forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. US Forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan," read the statement from US Forces Afghanistan.

The extent of the damage and whether anyone was killed is not yet clear. The military is currently conducting an assessment.

The Pentagon is currently reviewing whether to deploy additional trainers to Afghanistan to help bolster US allies there.

The Achin district is the primary center of ISIS activity in Afghanistan. A US Army Special Forces soldier was killed fighting the terror group there Saturday.

There are about 8,400 US troops in Afghanistan and they regularly perform counterterrorism operations against ISIS in the Nangarhar Province.

The US counterterrorism mission is separate from the NATO-led effort to train, advise and assist the Afghan army and police force.

While ISIS is identified primarily with its presence in Iraq and Syria, US and coalition officials have long expressed concern about a growing presence in Afghanistan.

ISIS first emerged in the summer of 2015 in the country's east, fast gaining ground and support, often among disaffected Taliban or Afghan youth.

The Afghan offshoot's link to the organization's Syria-based leadership has been questioned. Many say in fact the Afghan ISIS fighters came from Pakistan and adopted the group's branding in order to get financing.

DEVELOPING... MORE TO COME...

CNN's Zachary Cohen, Ehsan Popalzai and Euan McKirdy contributed to this report.
Spending the summer months sipping rose wines in one of the most beautiful and famous villages of France, Saint-Tropez, brings back some truly incredible memories. The sparkling aquamarine stretch of coastline between Provence, Saint-Tropez and Bandol is home to some of the finest rose wines and the perfect accompaniment to a Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur afternoon.

Each year, a group of us friends make the annual trek to Dick Eddys Annual Rose Wine Tasting gathering at his lovely Mediterranean villa in Saint-Tropez. Every year, Dick hosts this elaborate celebrity-packed party focused on discovering the finest Provence and Bandol rose wines that France has to offer.

Party-goers blind taste and then vote for the very best of six to 12 various rose wines offered. Dick, a true renaissance gentleman and rose aficionado, attracts an extraordinary group of interesting people who arrive from all corners of the world for his rose event. He settled in St. Tropez in the early 1980s and recognized the excellence of rose paired with the local cuisine. Today, hes pretty much the rose guru of St. Tropezs chic jet-setting crowd.

The day after the wine tasting party, we all go to le plage de Pampelonne a Ramatuelle to one of Dicks favorite beachside restaurants, Le Club 55, and spend the entire afternoon and well into the early evening sipping roses while deep in philosophical discussion. Out of this decades-long experience (Dick is well into his 30th year of rose competition) I came to appreciate the finesse, depth and excellence of Bandol and Provence roses.

Rose is possibly the most difficult wine to craft properly. But when crafted properly, it outshines and outsells all other wines. I love Rose for its crisp brilliance, fruity aromas, smoothness and the wonderful mouth feel it leaves behind. For years, Ive contemplated producing a superior California rose born of those St. Tropez memories. A rose thats rich, elegant, silky smooth and an extraordinarily different rose from those available here in the United States. Essentially, introducing an ultra premium rose for serious rose lovers while making a real difference in the industry.

The result is our tres Rose de Chardonnay.

One of the most alluring elements about our tres Rose de Chardonnay is its ability to offer the very best of both wine worlds with the refreshing qualities of an exceptional Burgundian chardonnay along with the richness, complexity and depth of Bordeaux-styled cabernet sauvignon. What distinguishes our tres Rose de Chardonnay from all others is the grape varietals used and the French white oak barrel aging.

Generally, traditional roses are produced using a combination of the lesser grapes of grenache, cinsault, carignan, syrah and mourvedre. I contend that truly exceptional wines come from ultra-superior grapes, such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. We barrel age a limited production of 98 percent Sonoma Coast chardonnay blessed with 2 percent Rutherford bench Napa cabernet sauvignon wines, producing only 760 bottles.

We use the traditional Provencal and Bordeaux method, then, age the wine in French white oak barrels from Tonnellerie Jean-Louis Bossuet and Tonnellerie Remond. The wood barrel staves are chosen from fully grown white oak trees, 150 to 200 years old from the Allier, Nevers and Troncais Haute Futaie forests in the center of France. These three forests have tighter grains and are some of the most sought after woods for the production of fine, more aromatically delicate wines. Given that these oaks grow at a slower rate, they produce a much tighter grain, which imparts less oak and more subtle aromatic flavors. These two particular tonnelleries forest-age the staves for 36 months before assembly of our barrels, then toast them at a specified medium toast plus (MT+) for the exquisite flavors these barrels produce.

The production of these barrels is limited and they are difficult to acquire. Aging our tres Rose de Chardonnay in these oak barrels is a critical step. These barrels enhance and preserve the characteristics of the grape variety, the terroir, and the wines flavor.

This rose is just at home out on the patio as it is in the formal dining room. Its a masterful match for almost any dish. The perfect pairing with this wine would be a grilled salmon salad, juicy barbecued burger, grilled chicken or summers afternoon outing at the beach with a festive crab feed. Its the beautifully fitted black dress of rose wines. This wine is everything youd ever expect in an ultra-premium rose. We may make many compromises in life, but never with our wines.

According to Bouquet magazine, The rose craze came from the East Coast, more specifically from the Hamptons where rose has been enjoyed every summer for the past five to six years by a population that travels to Southern France and brings the rose lifestyle back with them  from Provence back to New York, representative of a South of France lifestyle that people love to dream about.

Rose is the connection between a summertime drive along the French Riviera, every time you uncork a bottle. Enjoy.
San Diegos Alpine Beer Company is revered for its hop-forward West Coast IPAs, including Pure Hoppiness, Duet and Hoppy Birthday. Its latest year-round offering, Windows Up, takes a slightly different, but no less delicious, tack.

Its not a game-changer by any means: Its an aromatic IPA laced with Mosaic and Citra, two of the most popular hops in America. But where Windows Up succeeds is in the alchemy of the flavors: An initial wave of pineapple and mango is followed by grapefruit and a resiny dankness, finishing dry with just enough spicy, piney bitterness. Its all bound together by a sweet, caramel-like malt.

Beer writers and judges talk about balanced beers, and this one, to me, seems especially well-made: The competing flavors of tropical fruit and resin are woven together, yin and yang, into one package, with an underlying current of malt that keeps you from noticing the 7 percent alcohol by volume.

When Ive been talking to friends and co-workers about Windows Up, the word that comes up most often is solid. Its not a juicy IPA. Its not a dank hop bomb. It manages to find balance between the two, in a very enjoyable way.
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Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up a two-day visit to the United States on Thursday (13 April 2017) with a town hall meeting at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that NATO is as important as ever in a more uncertain world, and that its strength lies in unity and the ability to adapt to a changing security environment.

On Wednesday, the Secretary General met President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss the importance of NATO for the security of both North America and Europe. The two leaders agreed that NATO should enhance its role in the fight against terrorism and continue working towards fair burden-sharing in the Alliance. These will be key topics addressed at Mays meeting of Allied leaders in Brussels.

Following their meeting, Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe, and underlined the importance of the transatlantic bond. He said: In a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, its important to have friends and Allies. And in NATO, America has the best friends and the best Allies in the world.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Stoltenberg laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in tribute to the fallen US servicemen and women, describing it as a deeply moving experience.
US President Donald Trump: Secretary General Stoltenberg, it's a pleasure to welcome you to the White House, especially at such an important moment in our great alliance. I also want to acknowledge the great work being done by our secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to strengthen the NATO alliance, as well as the secretary's trip to Moscow to promote the security interests of the United States and its allies. He did a terrific job. Just watched parts of it, he did an absolutely terrific job.

Sixty-eight years ago this month, not far from where we are gathered today, President Harry Truman spoke at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. In the nearly seven decades since Harry Truman spoke those words, the NATO alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security.

NATO allies defeated communism and liberated the captive nations of the Cold War. They secured the longest period of unbroken peace that Europe has ever known. This enduring partnership is rooted out of so many different things, but our common security is always number one, and our common devotion to human dignity and freedom.

Since 1949, the NATO member states have more than doubled, increasing from 12 to 28.

On Monday, I signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro. In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism.

We must also work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria. We are grateful for the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack using the most horrible weapons. The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home.

In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that. The Secretary General and I agree that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute 2 percent of GDP to defense. If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, we will all be much more secure, and our partnership will be made that much stronger.

The secretary general and I had a productive discussion about what more NATO can do in the fight against terrorism. I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete.

It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS.

I'm also sending General McMaster to Afghanistan to find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies.

Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world.

We're not here to stand on ceremony, but to develop real strategies to achieve safety, security and peace. We're here to protect the freedom and prosperity of our citizens and to give them the future they so richly deserve.

Secretary general, I'm honored to have you here today and to reaffirm our commitment to this alliance and to the enduring values that we proudly -- and I mean very proudly -- share.

Thank you, very much. Thank you for being here. Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you so much, Mr. President.

We just had an excellent and very productive meeting. And its really an honour to meet you for the first time, here in the White House.

We agree that NATO is a bedrock of security both for Europe and for the United States.

Two World Wars and a Cold War have taught us all that peace in Europe is not only important for Europeans, but is also important for the prosperity and the security of North America.

So a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

And therefore I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe.

We see this commitment not only in words but also in deeds.

Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe. A clear demonstration that America stands with Allies to protect peace and defend our freedom.

And yesterday you announced the completion of the ratification of Montenegros membership in NATO  another expression of your strong commitment to Europe and to the transatlantic bond, and we thank you for that.

In a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, its important to have friends and Allies. And in NATO, America has the best friends and the best Allies in the world.

Together, we represent half of the worlds economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage.

This makes the United States stronger and safer.

We saw that after the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

That was the first time NATO invoked our Article 5, the collective defence clause.

Allies sent AWACS surveillance planes to help patrol American skies.

And we launched NATOs biggest military operation ever, in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of thousands of Europeans and Canadian soldiers have served shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops. More than a thousand have paid the ultimate price.

Earlier today, I laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, in tribute to the fallen. It was a deeply moving experience.

We owe it to our servicemen and women to preserve the hard-earned gains we have made together in Afghanistan.

We were reminded of their sacrifice just this week, when a US soldier was killed there fighting ISIL.

Our mission in Afghanistan is a major contribution to the fight against international terrorism.

NATO plays a key role in many other ways also. All NATO Allies are part of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL.

And NATO provides direct support to the coalition. With training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists. And more intelligence-sharing. And you are right, we have established a new division for intelligence which enhances our ability to fight terrorism and working together in the Alliance to fight terrorism in an even more effective way.

But we agreed today - you and I - that NATO can, and must, do more in the global fight against terrorism.

In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have.

NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference.

And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May.

The other major topic will be fairer burden-sharing in our Alliance.

And we had a thorough discussion on this issue today. And Mr President, I thank you for your attention to this issue. We are already seeing the effect of your strong focus on the importance of fair burden-sharing in the Alliance.

We agree that Allies need to redouble their efforts to meet the pledge we all made in 2014 to invest more in our Alliance.

It is about spending more on defence. It is about delivering the capabilities we need. And it is about contributing forces to NATO missions and operations. This means cash, capabilities, and contributions.

Fair burden sharing has been my top priority since taking office.

We have now turned a corner. In 2016, for the first time in many years, we saw an increase in defence spending across European Allies and Canada. A real increase of 3.8%. Or ten billion dollars more for our defence.

We are now working to keep up the momentum. Including by developing national plans, outlining how to make good on what we agreed in 2014.

We know that we all need to contribute our fair share. Because we need to keep our nations safe in a more dangerous world.

We discussed many different topics during our meeting today, including the horrendous use of chemical weapons in Syria. Any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, cannot go unanswered, and those responsible must be held accountable.

So Mr. President, thank you once again. I look forward to working with you to keeping the Alliance strong.

And I look forward to welcoming you to Brussels in May, when Heads of State and Government in the Alliance meet there to address the challenges and they need to continue to adapt the Alliance to a more challenging security environment. And to respond both to the need for fairer burden-sharing and stepping up our efforts to fight international terrorism. So thank you once again.

DONALD TRUMP (President of the United States): Thank you very much. Great. Thank you. So we'll have a couple of questions. Jeff Mason.

JEFF MASON (Reuters): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

I'd like to ask you about two topics if I may. First, has your view of Vladimir Putin changed after what's happened in Syria? And what is the United States prepared to do if he continues to support Assad? And on a separate question, have you made a deal after your chat last night with the President of China about China helping to reign in North Korea, and is that one reason you have decided not to label Beijing a currency manipulator? For the

DONALD TRUMP: Well I'll be speaking to Yeah, you want to go ahead, go ahead.

JEFF MASON: May I? For the Secretary General, do you believe NATO should continue to bolster its presence along the alliance's eastern border? And do you have, are you confident that you have President Trump and the United States support for that?

Thank you.

DONALD TRUMP: I'll be speaking with Rex Tillerson in a little while, calling in. I think he had a very successful meeting in Russia. We'll see; we'll see the end result which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is what's most important, not just talk. And I think that  [break in transmission] everything I'm hearing things went pretty well, maybe better than anticipated.

It would be wonderful as we were discussing just a little while ago if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country. We're a very, very strong country. We're going to see how that all works out.

Last night, separately, I spoke with a man that I have gotten to know. I dont know Putin but I do know this gentleman, I've spent a lot of time with him over the last two days, and he is the President of China. You were there, most of you were there, and it was quite an interesting period of time. President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding; I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help is with North Korea. We talked trade; we talked a lot of things. And I said: the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea, otherwise we're just going to go it alone, that will be alright too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations. But I was very impressed with President Xi, and I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does.

JEFF MASON: Do you feel like you have a deal with him? And

DONALD TRUMP: Excuse me?

JEFF MASON: Do you feel like you have a deal with him in terms of the currency manipulation designation, and have your views changed on Putin?

DONALD TRUMP: We're going to see. We're going to see about that. And I'll also see about Putin over a period of time. It would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin, and if we got along with Russia. And that could happen, and it may not happen; it may be just the opposite.

I can only tell you what I would like to do. I would love to be able to get along with everybody. Right now the world is a mess. But I think by the time we finish, I think it's going to be a lot better place to live. And I can tell you that speaking for myself, by the time I'm finished, it's going to be a lot better place to live in because right now it's nasty.

JENS STOLTENBERG: NATO is in the process of implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War. And one element of that is to increase our military presence in the eastern part of the alliance. And we are now deploying four battle groups to the three Baltic countries and Poland, and there will also be more U.S. forces in that part of Europe. And this is the first time in many, many years that we see an increase in the military presence of the United States in Europe. So we are increasing our presence, and we are also increasing the readiness and the preparedness of our forces so we can quickly reinforce if needed.

We consider the presence we will have when the four battle groups are in place as sufficient given the current security situation in Europe. But of course we will assess the situation and follow the developments very closely.

The message from NATO is that what we do is proportionate; it is defensive. And we don't want a new Cold War, we don't want a new arms race. And actually we strongly believe that there is no contradiction between a strong NATO, a credible deterrence and defence, and political dialogue with Russia.

Actually we believe that a precondition for a political dialogue with Russia is that we are strong, and that we are united. But based on that, we can talk to Russia because Russia is our neighbour, Russia is here to stay, so we have to find ways to manage our relationship with Russia.

And I am absolutely certain that the United States supports this approach partly because the United States is contributing with forces to our enhanced presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and also in the southeast of the alliance, in Romania. And the United States and the President has clearly expressed that they want dialogue with Russia, but based on unity and strength in the alliance. Then the next question is from John Sopel.

JOHN SOPEL (BBC): Thank you very much. Secretary General, how long do you think it will take you to persuade the other European countries to burden share, and what are you going to do to persuade them?

Mr. President, could I ask you do you think it's

DONALD TRUMP: I like that question.

[Laughter]

JOHN SOPEL: I'm here to help. And Mr. President, do you think it's conceivable, what's your instinct: was it possible that Syrian forces could have launched that attack in Idlib last week without the Russians knowing? And have you been disappointed, surprised by Vladimir Putin's reaction since then? Thank you very much.

DONALD TRUMP: I think it's certainly possible. I think it's probably unlikely. And I know they're doing investigations into that right now. I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have, they were there. So we'll find out. General Mattis is looking into it with the entire Pentagon group that does that kind of work. So it was very disappointing to see, it's disappointing no matter who does it, but when you get into the gases, especially that form, it's vicious and violent, and everybody in this room saw it all too many times over the last three or four days: young children dying, babies dying, fathers holding children in their arms that were dead, dead children. There can't be a worse sight. And it shouldn't be allowed. That's a butcher. That's a butcher. So I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing. And it was very, very successfully done, as you well know. Thank you.

JENS STOLTENBERG: On defence spending and burden sharing, that has been my top priority. I have raised it in all my meetings in all capitals. I visited with prime ministers, presidents, ministers of Finance, and of course also Defence and Foreign ministers. And I expect of course all allies to make to make good on what they decided back in 2014. And a very strong and clear message from President Trump has been very helpful, so now we see that things are starting to move in the right direction.

For the first time after many, many years of decline in defence spending, we now see an increase in defence spending across Europe and Canada. So they have started to move in the right direction: 3.8 percent real increase in defence spending across Europe and Canada is a significant step in the right direction.

It's not enough, we still have a long way to go, but at least they have turned a corner, the European allies have turned a corner, instead of reducing defence spending, they are starting to increase defence spending.

Then I think it is important to remember that this is something the Europeans do because they know that this is in their own security interest. It is in their interest to invest more in European defence because the role has become more dangerous.

Many European allies of course reduce, or all European allies, reduced defence spending after the end of the Cold War because then tensions went down. But if you are decreasing defence spending when tensions are going down, then you have to be able to increase defence spending when tensions are going up. And now they are going up.

So we have still a long way to go, but I'm encouraged by the fact that we have started to move in the right direction. Last year, there were five allies spending two percent, this year Romania has declared that they will reach two percent; next year Latvia and Lithuania will also reach two percent. So we go from five to eight, which is at least going in the right direction, but still we have some work to do.

DONALD TRUMP: And I did ask about all the money that hasn't been paid over the years, will that money be coming back. We'll be talking about that

[Laughter]

DONALD TRUMP: We want to talk about that too. Anita Kumar McClatchy, where are you?

ANITA KUMAR McCLATCHY (McClatchy Newspapers): (Question inaudible).

DONALD TRUMP: We did talk last night. I think it's wonderful that they abstained. As you know very few people expected that. And, no, I was not surprised that China did abstain. Very, very few people thought that that was going to happen. So we're honoured by the vote. That's the vote that should have taken place.

ANITA KUMAR McCLATCHY: Secretary General, you talked a little bit about Moscow, about Russia.  (inaudible).

JENS STOLTENBERG: The most important thing is to have a strong alliance to stay united and be firm and predictable in our approach to Russia. And that means that we have to invest in our collective defence, that's exactly what we are doing, deploy more troops in the eastern part of the alliance, increase the readiness of our forces, and increase defence spending. And I welcome the very strong message from President Trump on the importance of increased defence spending.

We have started to do this, so we are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, providing credible deterrence. But at the same time, we have to find ways to engage with Russia, to talk with Russia; because Russia will not go away, Russia will be our biggest neighbour, and we have to find ways to live with them and to try to avoid a new Cold War, a new arms race. And that's exactly why I am very much in favour of what we call a dual track approach to Russia. And as a former Norwegian politician, I had the experience to work with Russians because Norway is bordering Russia. And Norway was able even during the Cold War to develop  I would call it a pragmatic working relationship with Russia, cooperating with them on energy, on border issues, on environment, on fishery, and also on military affairs. And that was not despite our membership in NATO, but it was because of our membership in NATO. Because NATO provided the strength, the predictability, the platform for a small country to have a political dialogue with Russia. So I strongly believe that the only way to deter Russia is to be strong, but the only way to avoid a new Cold War, avoid a new arms race and avoid increasing tensions is to continue to engage Russia in a political dialogue and to make sure that what we do is defensive and proportionate in response to a more assertive Russia.

(Norwegian media): What do you think European countries have to fear from Russia if this tension continues to escalate? And for you, Mr. Secretary General: the President said that the attack in Syria last week was warranted and it was also an attack on U.S. allies. Do you think that this attack was warranted, and do you see NATO playing any supporting role in future actions in Syria?

DONALD TRUMP: Well I want to just start by saying hopefully they are going to have to fear nothing ultimately. Right now there is a fear, and the problems, there is certainly problems. But ultimately I hope that there won't be a fear, and there won't be problems, and the world can get along, that would be the ideal situation. It's crazy, what's going on, whether it's the Middle East or you look at no matter where, the Ukraine, you look at whatever you look at, it's got problems, so many problems. And ultimately I believe that we are going to get rid of most of those problems, and there won't be fear of anybody. That's the way it should be.

We have a very big problem in North Korea, and as I said, I really think that China is going to try very hard and has already started. A lot of the coal boats have already been turned back. You saw that yesterday and today, they have been turned back, the vast amount of coal that comes out of North Korea going to China, they've turned back the boats. That's a big step, and there are many other steps that I know about. So we'll see what happens. It may be effective, it may not be effective. If it's not effective, we will be effective, I can promise you that. Thank you.

JENS STOLTENBERG: NATO has constantly condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and the use of chemical weapons is horrendous, and it's a clear violation of International Law. And any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered. So those responsible most be held accountable. The strike against the airbase in Syria was a U.S. operation based on U.S. intelligence. But you have seen that within the alliance, this has been something which has been met with a lot of understanding because NATO allies do not accept that chemical weapons are used, and therefore we also strongly support the efforts of the fact-fnding commission to try to find out actually what happened and to make sure that we dont see any use of chemical weapons in the future.

DONALD TRUMP: Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.
The Tekhmash Corporation (a subsidiary of Rostec) has landed orders for special rubber coatings, which will keep it busy for five years. Developed by ChPO Chapayev, the hydroacoustic rubber plates mask submarines from hostile sonars, according to Tekhmashs press office.

"We launched the advanced high-tech manufacturing lines for the special rubber plates in September 2016 and have been awarded a five-year order for the product. The coating features high noise-absorbing capability," Tekhmash Director General Sergei Rusakov said.



"The designers succeeded in reducing the noise almost to the background level. Owing to its design features, the coating effectively absorbs the noise on various frequencies and at various depths, thus reducing the submarines acoustic signature," ChPO Chapayev Director General Alexander Livshits said.



Tekhmashs ChPO Chapayev makes special coatings featuring different acoustic characteristics for use on diesel-electric and nuclear-powered submarines. As was reported in the press, eight Project 955 Borei-class (NATO reporting name: Dolgorukiy-class) and 955A Borei-M-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are due for the Navy by 2021 and seven Project 885 Yasen-class (Severodvinsk) and Project 885M Yasen-M-class nuclear-powered hunter-killers by 2023. The Russian Navy will receive two nuclear-powered submarines in 2018 - the Project 885M Kazan hunter-killer and the Project 955A boomer. In addition, the construction of a six-ship Project 636.3 (Improved Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarine series for the Pacific Fleet has been planned.



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Learn more about scholarships Students interested in learning more about the Truman Scholars Program and other prestigious awards should contact Megan Friddle in the National Scholarships and Fellowships Program. Find more information or schedule an appointment through the National Scholarships & Fellowships Program website.

Chelsea Jackson, who has persistently advocated for a more equitable Emory campus and Atlanta community, has been named a 2017 Harry S. Truman Scholar.

Only 61 other college students across the United States earned the highly competitive national honor, which is granted to exceptional students in their junior year who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic excellence and a commitment to a life of public service.

Jackson, an Emory College of Arts and Sciences student double majoring in political science and African American studies, is Emorys first Truman Scholar since 2011. As part of the award, which is administered by the Harry S. Truman Foundation, Jackson will receive $30,000 for graduate study as well as professional development for a career in public service.

This is going to expand her world and her launching pad. Whatever Chelsea decides to do, she will do amazing things, says her major adviser, Andra Gillespie, associate professor of political science and director of Emorys James Weldon Johnson Center for the Study of Race and Difference. Her mind is so sharp, and she excels at whatever she does.

Jackson arrived at Emory from nearby Lithonia more than a little intimidated to be a public school kid in courses with peers who had personal tutors and private-school educations. She was mentored by two seniors, Jovanna Jones and Samantha Scott, who not only assured her that she belonged at an elite liberal arts school but also that her arrival meant she had the capacity to mold the university and her education in her image.

It just reinforced the way I was raised, to advocate for myself, Jackson says. As a black woman, I knew I had to be the best, the brightest. When I came, I was a ball of energy wondering why things were this way or that way.

Her curiosity led Jackson to seek answers. She became involved in the Emory chapter of the NAACP and co-founded the Atlanta Black Students United, a group with black student representatives from every school in metro Atlanta. Jackson was part of the group that has since seen Emory hold two Racial Justice Retreats, to share ideas and take action on demands from the Black Students at Emory.

She is most proud of her work helping to overhaul Emory's Bias Incident Reporting system to increase its transparency and require specific actions be taken. The system now requires that the team contact the person making the complaint, talking them through actions and involving them in the process. She continues to push for progress to diversify the faculty and curriculum.

Chelsea has the ability to raise the entire communitys consciousness with her leadership, and she deserves a lot of the credit for moving issues forward through a truly collaborative approach, says Campus Life Dean Ajay Nair, who has worked closely with Jackson on the universitys Racial Justice Retreats, and the ongoing work to achieve measureable progress.

She has a level of creativity and curiosity that is remarkable, Nair says.

Classroom standout

That curiosity and ability to analyze all sides of any given issue has made Jackson a standout in the classroom as well.

Gillespie recalls Jackson trying to talk her way into a senior-level course as a first-year student. The professor says she now regrets not giving a seat to Jackson, who just recently presented a conference paper with her entitled Personal Respectability and Public Opinion of Police Shootings: Results from a Survey Experiment.

More research is in Jacksons future. Michael Leo Owens, associate professor of political science, saw Jacksons leadership in his courses and her eagerness to go beyond required readings to understand concepts. He recently nominated her for the departments honors program, and supported her pursuit of a BA/MA degree. When the Honors Admission Committee reviewed her file, members voted unanimously to make her the sole BA/MA candidate admitted, Owens says.

Jackson already has her project lined up: Moving beyond questions of racial bias in prosecutors to see if a district attorneys race itself affects pursuit of felonies over misdemeanors and other questions of prosecutorial discretion.

Shes there to push her peers to up their game. Even the professors know they have to be prepared, Owens says. She thinks seriously about the world and wants her opinions to be as rigorously informed as possible.

Jackson describes herself as stubborn, with a specific future plan, but notes she is most successful when shes challenged. She has long aspired to lead the U.S. Department of Justice as attorney general. She knows that nearly all of the nations attorneys general come from a prosecutorial background, but she remains firm that after law school, she will work as a civil rights and human rights attorney.

She is also considering suggestions from professors to pursue a doctorate with her law degree, with an ultimate goal to become a Supreme Court justice.

Jacksons mentors react to such lofty goals with nods. Her activism and classroom excellence have led her to be accountable to her community and herself, and push her peers to do the same, they say.

I came here wanting the best for Emory, and I believe everyone here has the best interest of the students in mind, just with a different vision, Jackson says. This is about what changes I can make that will make Emory different. Thats the legacy that was left for me, and thats the mark Im trying to leave for the next little black girl from Decatur. Then, the world.
A meeting of Corps Commanders at Rawalpindi decided that "no compromise will be made on the death sentence", the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Army chief General Qamar Bajwa, who was briefed about the progress on Jadhav's case, presided over the meeting, the ISPR said.

A Pakistani military court on April 10 awarded the capital punishment to Jadhav, who Islamabad says was an Indian intelligence agent and was caught in Balochistan in March last year.

Jadhav was charged with espionage and waging war against Pakistan.

India has said Jadhav, whose family lives in Mumbai, was abducted from Iran where he was engaged in business and warned that if he was hanged, it would amount to premeditated murder.

Gen Bajwa also lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across Pakistan, the ISPR said.

--IANS ahm-mr/rn

( 178 Words)

2017-04-13-17:20:11 (IANS)
The deceased was identified as Mashal Khan, a student at the Journalism and Mass Communication department, Dawn reported.

At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred in the university premises. The campus has been shut down until further notice.

Mardan Deputy Inspector General of Police Alam Shinwari said the dead student was accused of running Facebook pages which allegedly published blasphemous content.

He was assaulted by a mob of students and appears to have succumbed to a gunshot wound, he said.

Police took the body away but students kept demanding it back.

Blasphemy carries death penalty in Pakistan. In many cases, an accusation alone is enough to inspire vigilante action against suspects.

--IANS ahm/mr

( 157 Words)

2017-04-13-18:56:13 (IANS)
Terming the controversy surrounding 'Vande Mataram' as unwarranted, BJP MP and Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan on Thursday said that people, who are inhibiting from singing the national song, must be told that there is nothing wrong with singing it. Balyan told ANI, that a solution in this regard should be chalked out and Muslims should not think that there is something wrong with the national song. "People must understand that there is nothing wrong with singing Vande Mataram. I don't know why some people are making an issue out if it. A solution should be chalked out in this regard. I don't know why there is this mentality that Vande Mataram is not okay for Muslims. We should explain people and make them understand this," said Balyan. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last week said not singing the national anthem is a serious issue, adding that by doing so it only highlighted one's prejudice. Adityanath breaking his silence for the first time on this issue said that the people are extending this issue for no reason. "We want to see development in this country, but our issue of conflict is over not singing the National Anthem and National song. Not singing Vande Mataram shows a prejudiced mind. This is a matter of concern," Aditynath said at the book unveiling function of 'Governor's guide' here. The Chief Minister's comments come after a controversy erupted over singing Vande Mataram in the Varanasi and Meerut Municipal corporations. A week after the mayor of Meerut asked all corporators to either sing Vande Mataram or leave the country, BJP councilors at the Allahabad Nagar Nigam on Thursday demanded that a new rule be passed under which the House proceedings would start with the national song Vande Mataram and end with the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. Some councilors objected to the proposal and it led to ruckus and disruption of the proceedings of the House. Councilors in the Opposition alleged that BJP Councilors are raising this demand because of BJP coming to power in the state. (ANI)
Even as the Opposition has presented a united front over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) tampering issue in the past few days, there seems to be infighting and disunity amongst the Congress party members with some being against their use, while others apparently not. A day after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh came out in defence of the EVMs, citing had there been any possibility of tampering with the EVMs, he would have not won the Punjab Assembly elections, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday said Singh had himself demonstrated as to how the EVMs could be manipulated, when he was the Punjab Congress Committee (PCC) president in 2001. "The Chief Minister of Punjab is a respected leader, but few years back in 2010 and even in 2001, when he was the PCC president, he had himself demonstrated as to how the EVMs can be gerrymandered," Tewari told ANI. Capt. Amarinder Singh's reaction came following his landslide victory in the Punjab Assembly elections, in which the Congress secured 77 out of 117 seats making a strong comeback after a decade. While reacting on the open challenge thrown by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to the opposition to hack the EVMs, Tewari said the poll-watchdog should not act as an advocate for the voting machines. "It's extremely unfortunate that the Election Commission has taken upon itself the role of being the lawyer for the EVMs. Democracy is based upon public trust. It is based upon confidence which elected representatives have in the process. So, therefore, if there is a lack of confidence in the EVMs, why is the Election Commission holding itself as the advocate of the EVMs? What is the difficulty if the ECI agrees to hold elections by paper ballot?" said Tewari. The Congress leader further said that if the stakeholders were unhappy with a particular process, then a revised decision was needed. "Democracy is a process which is an in interplay between various stakeholders and if, therefore, the stakeholders are unhappy with a particular process, then I am afraid the EC needs to reconsider its stand," he said. A Congress-led delegation led by party president Sonia Gandhi had submitted a memorandum on the alleged irregularities in EVMs to President Pranab Mukherjee earlier on Wednesday. The delegation included several popular Congress leaders including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad among others. Post meeting with President Mukherjee, Azad said that the alleged tampering of EVMs and the backdoor entry by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the governments in Goa and Manipur, have raised questions on the electoral process in the country. Azad said that the united Opposition sought the President's intervention to maintain the constitutional safeguards in India. (ANI)
SpiceJet today said it has added 19 new domestic and three new international flights this summer, offering more seats connecting key metros and cities as a part of its enhanced network. With the introduction of the summer schedule, the airline will increase its operation to 360 average daily flights, the air carrier said in a statement. To cater to the peak summer rush, from March to October, it has launched daily direct flights for the cities that include Surat-Jaipur, Surat-Hyderabad, Surat-Goa, Jammu-Dehradun, Jaipur- Chandigarh-Jammu, and Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi- Thiruvananthapuram.Shilpa Bhatia, Senior Vice President, Commercial, SpiceJet, said, "In our constant endeavor to serve our passengers better, we have enhanced our summer schedule, considering the upcoming vacations and passenger feedback. We will continue to add more flights to our network that will give our passengers more options to travel with us. SpiceJet has been acknowledged as the most favoured airline in India. The record high PLF of over 90 per cent, for the past 23 months, bears testimony to this fact."SpiceJet has also launched three new flights on the international sectors of Delhi-Bangkok, Kolkata-Dhaka besides a flight from Bengaluru to Male via Thiruvananthapuram with the least connecting time. UNI ASH SDR ADG 1227 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1228042.Xml
Air Intelligence Unit of Goa Customs seized 636 gm of gold worth Rs 17 lakh from two passengers at the Airport.According to sources, in the first case 374 gm of gold was seized yesterday in the form of jewellery and raw gold which were concealed inside the handle of non-stick frying pan and inside the two door handles of mortise lock. The passenger had arrived from Doha via Dubai by Qatar Airways flight. In the second case, the officers seized 262 gms gold worth Rs seven lakh from another passenger who too concealed gold inside the handle of non-stick frying pan. He had arrived at Dabolim airport from Dubai by Air India Flight AI-994. Both the passengers hailed from Bhtkal, Karnataka. All the gold was confiscated under the provisions of Section 110 and 111 of the customs Act, 1962, and accused released after imposing penalty. Further investigation was in progress. UNI AKM NV SM SDR ADG 1215 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1228015.Xml
MAIT, the apex body representing country's IT hardware, training and R&D service sectors, today announced the elevation of Nitin Kunkolienker, Director (Member on Board) at Synegra EMS Ltd as President during the Executive Council Meeting held in New Delhi today. According to a press release from Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr Kunkolienker has been part of the MAIT's management team in the past and has had a string of successful associations with various industry bodies starting off with Verna Industries Association (VIA). He has also headed diverse industry and social organizations like Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Vidya Vikas Mandal (VVM), Goa Management Association (GMA) and now will be succeeding Ms Debjani Ghosh for a President's role at MAIT. As his new role, Mr Kunkolienker will help MAIT catalyze the growth aspirations of IT hardware sector in India. Speaking on the appointment, Mr Kunkolienker said, ''I am excited to take on new role at an interesting juncture of time when Digital India vision is about to take off and it is opportune time to align the government policies with the industry requirements to make India a successful manufacturing hub for IT hardware. It is time for IT hardware industry in India to tap new opportunities and with MAIT being the apex body for IT hardware I look forward to working with the entire hardware ecosystem in India as we embark on this exciting journey.'' Outgoing MAIT President Ms Debjani Ghosh said, ''It's great to have Nitin elevated to the President role at MAIT. Nitin has demonstrated his ability to drive growth and has delivered results for us in the past. I am confident he will add value and extend MAIT's growth to the new charter. Mr Kunkolienker is one of the most prominent persons in the business circle of Goa hving been the President of Goa Chamber from 2001-2009 and founder President of Verna Industries Association. Mr Narayan Bandekar, President of Goa Chamber, while congratulating Mr Kunkolienker said it was a matter of pride for all Goans that an IT industry stalwart from Goa had been elected as President of a prestigious national level association like MAIT.UNI AKM NV SM1330 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1228152.Xml
The tour became a source of peace for the Himalayan region. Due to inclement weather, the Dalai Lama was forced to take land routes to visits the interior areas of the region.

Thousands of devotees and well-wishers, including Tibetans, Indians and supporters from all walks of life basked under the spring sun and thronged the streets, from Gagal airport in Kangra to the lanes of Tsuglakhang temple in Mcleod Ganj, to celebrate the return of their beloved spiritual leader after a historic visit to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Tibetan political leader Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay extended a warm reception to the spiritual leader at Gagal airport.

The Dalai Lama wrapped up his week-long teaching tour to Arunachal Pradesh and departed for Delhi yesterday from Tawang.

While Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries saw him off at the Tawang helipad, thousands of ardent devotees from across the Himalayan region and Bhutan bade an emotional farewell to their most revered spiritual leader.

Mr Khandu requested him to confer the Kalachakra Teaching in Arunachal Pradesh in the near future.

The Tibetan spiritual leader reached the mountainous state of Tawang on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossing the 13,700 feet Sela Pass.

The Dalai Lama thanked the Arunachal Pradesh government, in particular Chief Minister Pema Khandu, for making the visit 'special' and 'memorable' and promised to visit again, to confer the teachings.UNI ML RJ 1318

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Meghalaya will start constructing the assembly building to replace a 125-year-old Burmese teak building reduced to ashes 16 years ago, officials said on Thursday. From March 2001, assembly sessions have been held at the state's central library auditorium and later shifted to arts and culture auditorium within the premises of Brookside, the house where Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore began writing his "Shesher Kobita" in 1919. On Thursday, a high-powered committee of Meghalaya assembly, headed by Speaker Abu Taher Mondal, met to decide on a company to construct the building. Mondal said nine firms had presented their architectural designs before the assembly's high-powered committee in the presence of technical staff. "The committee will select the best among the nine designs and the chosen firm will be asked to prepare the structural design as well as a detailed project report for constructing the new building," he said. However, the Speaker said the new building would not be a replica of the heritage assembly building in Gothic style built by the British in pre-independent India. "We (government) targeted to start the construction of the new assembly chamber and the assembly secretariat within this year and complete it by 2019," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said. "We need to have an assembly building befitting the aspiration of the people and legacy of the state, keeping in mind that Shillong was the seat of power for a long time both pre and post independence." Sangma said the proposed new assembly building would be built at the New Shillong Township in Mawdiangdiang, 12 km from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. He said the central government had declined to allocate any funds to the State. "The state government will earmark funds from its own resources for the building, which initial cost will be Rs 70-75 crore," Sangma said. --IANS rrk/pgh/mr ( 313 Words) 2017-04-13-14:20:07 (IANS)
The accused, identified as Tatoba Garjade (35), had admitted his wife Manisha (30) to a private hospital in Hadapsar yesterday saying that she fell down from stairs. However, the woman died during treatment last night and a post-mortem revealed that she was murdered.

According to police, Tatoba had told the doctors that Manisha became unconscious after falling from the stairs on the second floor of their apartment building on BT Kawade Road, Ghorpadi.

Meanwhile, the police was informed about the incident and Manisha was taken to Sassoon Hospital. The post-mortem revealed that she was strangulated to death. An offence of murder was lodged at Mundhwa Police station.

Police initiated a probe and questioned Tatoba, who confessed to having strangulated his wife during a fight. Tatoba has been arrested under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. He will be produced before the court today for further remand.UNI SP NV SW SNU 1447

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Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)President and home Minister G Parameshwar today said that thevictory of the ruling party in the byelections in Gundlupet andNanjangud Assembly constituencies has proved that there is no 'ModiWave' in Karnataka. Addressing a press conference, he said that the victory has alsoproved that the BJP's claim of making Karnataka free from Congresswill remain a distant dream and would not achieve 'Vision 150' inthe Assembly elections next year. "Mr Yeddyurappa's dream of winning 150 seats in the 2018 electionhas to be read by removing last two digit," he added. Mr Parameshwar said that BJP had termed the two byelection asSemifinal and a referendum on Congress, but the outcomehas proved that they have been defeated in the semifinal stageitself and the voters have given certificate that the Siddaramaiahgovernment is functioning without any corruption. "We from the beginning have been saying that the bypoll can neverbe a referendum but it was BJP which was terming it as the outcomewill see debacle of the ruling party. Now it is proved they arewrong in their calculation," he added. Mr Parameshwara said that "it is victory for inclusive growth,Politics followed by the Congress government. The out come hasgiven a message to BJP not to indulge in cast politics and divideand rule policy." He said that the victory has also proved that the ruling partyand the government are working together and there is no differenceof opinion as alleged by the opposition parties. "We worked withunity during the election and we were backed by the policies,programmes and achievements of the State Government. The peoplehave given certificate that the party is marching in rightdirection." Stating that the victory has added additional responsibility toperform, Mr Parameshwara said that Rs 1,87,000 crore budget will beimplemented and no programme will be shelved. Replying to a question, he said that whatever the allegationsmade by defeated candidate Srinivas Prasad is far from truth. "Heenjoyed all power and position in the party and now after joiningBJP just months back the Congress party has become corrupt party." "In Tamil Nadu the Election Commission cancelled the byelectionto R K Nagar because of the cash for vote controversy and if suchthing had taken place in Gundlupet and Nanjangud the EC could havetaken similar step" he added. To another question, he said that JD(S) did not field candidatebut did not officially annouce support to Congress candidates.UNI MSP CNR RSS1425 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1228203.Xml
Britain's top share index declined on Thursday, with financials in the spotlight as U.S. banks were set to report earnings, though volumes were light ahead of a market holiday.The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was down 0.5 percent at 7,311.88 points by 0945 GMT, in line with a broader decline on European markets.The FTSE 100 was on track to post a slight loss for the week.Financials weighed on the FTSE 100, taking off nearly 12 points. Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Standard Chartered and Barclays all fell by 1 percent to 1.6 percent, as investors anticipated earnings releases from their U.S. counterparts later in the day."Banks are on offer this morning, and we think that's ... because it's reporting season for the U.S. banks, so a bit of a choppy day in the banking sector globally," John Moore, trader at Berkeley Capital, said. "We're seeing a bit of risk-off ahead of the bank holiday weekend."Energy stocks were the biggest drag on the index, taking off around 15 points. BP and Royal Dutch Shell both were down around 1.4 percent as the price of oil edged lower.Stocks trading without rights to their latest dividend payout dragged, including Standard Life, which dropped 3.5 percent and was the biggest individual faller.Primark-owner Associated British Foods jumped 3.4 percent to its highest level since the beginning of January after Jefferies raised its rating on the stock to a "buy", citing continued strength in sugar and a turn in Primark margins ."The 19 April interims should confirm strong results ... thanks to fx translation boost and a sugar rebound. We also expect a more assured message on the Primark margin outlook," analysts at Jefferies said in a note.Precious metals miners were also in demand, with Fresnillo and Randgold Resources both gaining more than 1.2 percent.The underlying price of gold hit a five-month peak as investors sought safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical tensions over U.S. relations with Russia and North Korea. A weaker U.S. dollar also helped.REUTERS SHS NS1537 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1228370.Xml
The bye-election for the seat was necessitated after Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Banwari Lal Kushavah, the BJP nominee's husband, was disqualified due to his conviction in a murder case in 2016.

Of over 1.91 lakh voters, 77.14 per cent cast their ballots. In all, 15 candidates were in the fray.

Shobha Rani, who took a lead from the very first round, polled 91,548 votes against Sharma's 52,875. There were 952 None Of The Above votes too.

As soon as results were declared, BJP supporters burst firecrackers, danced to the drumbeats and offered sweets to each other.

"It is vote for development. People have voted for 'Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas'," Medical Education and Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf said.

"It is a win of Raje's leadership, her vision and the state's development under her leadership," Public Works Department Minister Younis Khan told IANS.

The bypoll was a prestige issue for both the Congress and the ruling BJP.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje along with state BJP President Ashok Parnami and her Cabinet colleagues spent days in the constituency to woo voters. Raje also organised a road show in the constituency.

Congress fielded senior leaders, including state unit President Sachin Pilot, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Leader of Opposition in assembly Rameshwar Dudi to campaign extensively in favour of party candidate.

In the 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won only 21 of the 200 assembly seats whereas the BJP swept the polls by winning 163 seats.

The BJP had 160 members in the assembly, with the figure now reaching 161 with the Dholpur win. The Congress has 24 MLAs in the 200-member assembly.

--IANS as/tsb/vm

( 319 Words)

2017-04-13-16:02:12 (IANS)
In a series of tweets from his twitter account, the PM said, "I am extremely honoured to be visiting Nagpur tomorrow, on the very special occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

In Nagpur, I will pray at Deekshabhoomi, a holy spot that is very closely associated with Dr Ambedkar.''

Referring to the development projects, he said these will have a positive impact on people's lives.

''The development projects include IIIT, IIM and AIIMS and launch of Koradi Thermal Power Station. Will also address a public meeting,'' he tweeted.

The day will culminate with a DigiDhan Mela, where he would present awards to Mega Draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna.

''We are unwavering in our efforts towards creating a strong, prosperous and inclusive India of Dr Ambedkar's dreams," he added.UNI SD SHK 1630

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Alliance partner of ruling BJP, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today reiterated its stand and said it is opposed to the construction of big dams and granting citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis. AGP President Atul Bora, also the Agriculture Minister in the BJP-led Assam government, said the party will oppose any move to construct dams in the region. The AGP president said that they also oppose the Central government's move to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis who have fled to India to avoid alleged religious persecution. Mr Bora said the foreigners' issue will have to be taken up on the basis of the Assam Accord and they will not accept any digression. He also claimed that the party will seek two more ministries as and when Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expands his cabinet. Just a day before, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav said the party is committed to ensure citizenship to the Hindu Bangladeshis residing in Assam. The BJP leader's statement comes after the recent Silapathar AASU office attack by Hindu Bangladeshi refugees led by NBBUWS leader Subodh Biswas. He further added that the BJP led Centre would soon free Hindu Bangladeshis held in detention camps. The Bangladeshi Hindus had vandalized the AASU office on March 6 under the banner of Nikhil Bharat Udbastu Samanway Samiti, a group fighting for citizenship rights of Bangladeshi Hindus. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 29 other organisations representing various indigenous and ethnic communities of Assam had warned the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state against trying to settle Hindu Bangladeshis, who had arrived after 1971, and said these groups would not allow any such "conspiracy" to reduce the indigenous communities into a minority.UNI ABI AD1627 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1228455.Xml
Condemning Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for his refusal to meet with visiting Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan by terming him "Khalistani", Aam Aadmi Party MLA and spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira today said it reflected the vindictiveness of Capt Singh towards Punjabis living in Canada. "It is unfortunate that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian Defence Minister, but entire Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, who have already proved their mettle on foreign land not only in business but in political arena as well by getting elected as MPs/MLAs to become Ministers," Mr Khaira said in a statement here. Capt Singh's "outburst'' against the Canadian Defence Minister is nothing else but his being vindictive towards him as he (Chief Minister) wanted to take 'revenge' from NRIs living in Canada because they did not welcome him (CM) during his pre-poll visit to Canada. "Captain must understand that people of Canada not only elected Harjit Sajjan as MP, but he also represents Government of Canada and as a Sikh and CM of Punjab, he should welcome the visiting Canadian Defence Minister," Mr Khaira added. It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Minister has openly refused to meet the visiting Sikh Canadian Defence Minister and even stated "These Khalistani sympathisers had last year prevailed upon the authorities to block my entry into Canada". The AAP MLA demanded that Capt Singh should immediately withdraw his remarks against the Canadian Defence Minister. Mr Khaira said he being the senior leader of AAP and chief whip of the party would organise a welcome for the Canadian defence minister in case Capt Singh continued to stay adamant. UNI DB SW SNU 1654 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1228469.Xml
Leaders of the CPI -- the second largest party in the ruling Left Democratic Front goverment in Kerala -- on Thursday expressed unhappiness at a party executive meeting here over the state government's functioning. Communist Party of India Secretary Kanam Rajendran too expressed his unhappiness over the functioning of the Pinarayi Vijayan government during his media interaction after the party meeting. During the daylong meeting, various CPI leaders went hammer and tongs against what they said was the way the Kerala government under Vijayan is handling various issues. Rajendran first took on CPI-Marxist politburo member Prakash Karat, who last week reminded the CPI Kerala unit that it is still part of the LDF government and not in the opposition. Karat said the CPI-M will take up the statements against the government by some CPI state leaders with the CPI central leadership. "We are prepared for a discussion. The CPI-M just needs to intimate us the date for the discussions," Rajendran told reporters. "We will always play the role of a corrective force. We wish to remind him... that we have not taken up the opposition role... we are only concerned to see that the views of the Left are implemented," Rajendran said. Rajendran expressed displeasure against Vijayan and two senior party colleagues -- Power Minister M.M. Mani and E.P. Jayarajan -- who last week criticised Rajendran on the issue of alleged police excesses. "Neither I nor my party has created any controversy on any issue. It should be looked into by those who create it," said Rajendran while responding to a query on controversies in the past 10 months after the Vijayan government assumed office. --IANS sg/tsb/dg ( 285 Words) 2017-04-13-17:12:08 (IANS)
In a bid to attract investors, the Puducherry Administration would hold a two-day investors conference in Chennai in June, Chief Minister V Narayansamy said here today.Talking to the newspersons after a consultation meeting pertaining to the setting up of a Software Technology Park here, Mr Narayanasamy said the Puducherry Administration is taking steps to attract industrial units here, thereby generating employment opportunities.As part of it, several concessions were announced in the new industrial policy, he added. Following this, several entrepreneurs have shown interest in setting up units here, Mr Narayananasamy said.The Chief Minister said a consultation meeting in respect of setting up a software technology park was held.Already, a site was allotted for the same in Mettuppalayam here, but no work materialised during the last regime, he said. Now, several entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had come forward to start industries in Puducherry and the Government would provide them all assistance, he assured.He said the software technology park would be set up in a 25 acre site at Kalapet here at a cost of Rs 10-crore. Six industrial units have come forward to set up industries here with an investment of Rs 500-crore. As many as 2000 persons would get employment from the industries producing electronic goods and accessories, he added.Mr Narayansamy said the Administration is taking steps to ensure the release of Karaikal fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of drug trafficking.Of the six,five have nothing to do with the case and the Government had already requested to release them. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had already written to the Sri Lankan Government to release the five, Mr Naidu informed, adding that he also got touch with the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka over the matter. UNI PAB RJ SNU 1716 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1228514.Xml
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give the Defence Minister of a sovereign country (Canada) the respect he deserves.Reacting strongly to the irresponsible statement made by Capt Singh with regard to Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, the SAD president said, "Capt Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgement and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner".Mr Badal said taking such stands was counter productive and would not augur well for Punjab and come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada."Moreover, it is not in the fitness of things for senior political leaders to show such rancour. One can take a lesson from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was denied visa by the United States but that action did not make him bitter to that county. In fact, Mr Modi has gone out of way to improve relations between India and the US."Punjabis worldwide also expect Amarinder to behave in a similar fashion and show political statesmanship and use his office to improve relations with Canada not to ruin them. If the Union Government and the States are giving due deserved respect to Mr Sajjan so should Capt Amarinder and the Punjab Government. This is the least which is expected from them considering Sajjan is from their state", he added.Mr Badal also highlighted how the SAD-BJP Government tenure had witnessed a number of state visits by Punjabi ministers from Canada. "We had always accorded due respect to visiting dignitaries and even invited elected Punjabi representatives from around the world for the NRI Sammelans held to focus on NRI issues and find resolutions to their problems", he added. UNI DB RSA SNU 1823 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1228579.Xml
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today announced that land in the State would not be acquired without the consent of farmers and rates prescribed for land to be acquired for development works would be paid to the farmers without any delay. The announcement to this effect was made by the Chief Minister at a function organised to celebrate Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti and Baisakhi Parva here. He said four regional centres would be set up under the horticultural university which was coming up in Karnal. Out of these, the regional centre to be set up in Jind would be named after Martyr Capt Pawan Kumar. The process to identify land for this centre would start soon. Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram had worked throughout his life for the welfare of labourers and workers. A strong society could be developed by following his principles. Therefore, every person should follow the path shown by Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram and contribute to the development of the country. The Chief Minister said since agricultural land was shrinking, the farmers could earn more by getting engaged in agriculture-related business or horticulture. They could earn profit by taking produce to the Mandis located in Delhi and Noida where there is huge demand of fruits, flowers and vegetables. About four crore people reside in Delhi and nearby areas, and the farmers of Haryana could cater to their needs, he added. He said the number of the Government jobs was limited and it was not possible to provide Government job to everyone. A university is being set up for developing and honing the skills of youths through about 800 technical courses. Besides, the State Government has been providing employment to youth under its 'Saksham' scheme and so far, about 9,000 capable youths have benefitted from it. With to view to providing employment and self-employment opportunities to the youth, the state government is considering a proposal to expand the provisions of the scheme, he added. Union Minister of Steel Birender Singh said time had come for the farmers to turn to sectors other than farming to increase their income. Only farming would not be enough. Farmers and their children would have to enter into different sectors otherwise they would lag behind. "Every person in the society, be it rich or poor, wants to maintain brotherhood, but some leaders mislead the people just to grind their own axes", he added. He asked people to make their own judgement about people and affairs. On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that the Haibatpur Chowk at Safidon Road would be named after Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram. He also announced a donation of Rs 21-lakh for development of the Jat Dharamshala, Jind. Apart from this, he honoured those who had contributed and those who have promised to make contribution for the construction of rooms in Jat Dharamshala. He also inaugurated senior citizen hall constructed on the Jat Dharamshala premises and released a book entitled 'Bhartiya Prashashan' authored by Dr Pawan Arya.UNI DB SW SNU 1838 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1228695.Xml
"Just 2 per cent voters exercised their franchise during repoll in 38 polling stations in Budgam in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat," an official told UNI.

The re-polling began at 0700 and was concluded at 1600 hrs.

Meanwhile, life came to a grinding halt as business and other activities were crippled and traffic was off the roads due to strike called by Separatists today in Budgam. Even though separatists had called for strike only in election bound areas in the district, shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in entire Budgam. However, very few private vehicles could be seen plying on some interior routes.

Authorities had imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Budgam district, barring where polling was held, to prevent any law and order.

The Election Commission (EC) had announced re-poll at these polling stations. picking up from para 4, line one of DR 1 (Election-JK-Repoll).UNI ABS SW SNU 1700

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-1228504.Xml
"The Jammu and Kashmir issue is a Congress creation. Had it been left to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who successfully unified 565 princely states, he would have tackled it successfully," Naidu told reporters here.

Naidu was responding to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that violence and failure of governance in Jammu and Kashmir were matters of grave national concern and that the NDA regime was doing nothing about it.

"You (Congress) have taken it on yourself. Now, the Congress party is trying to create problems for the country by making it political. You are hard on nationalists and soft on terrorists.you sympathise with the Al Ummah and try to find fault with the RSS," said Naidu.

Reacting to reports that some Congress leaders in Kerala were planning to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naidu said the saffron party is not making any efforts in this direction.

"No wise men and women can stay in the Congress as it is a sinking ship. It has deviated from reality," Naidu added.

The Congress-led delegation had submitted a memorandum on alleged irregularities in EVMs to President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.

After meeting President Mukherjee, Azad said that the alleged tampering of EVMs, and the backdoor entry by the BJP to form the governments in Goa and Manipur, have raised questions about the electoral process in the country.

Azad said the united opposition sought the president's intervention to maintain constitutional safeguards in India. (ANI)
The parents of students studying in private schools here strongly protested at the district headquarters against the sudden fee hike and submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM). Leading the protest, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satyapal Chaudhary said that private schools are violating the terms of No Objection Certificate (NOC), which clearly states that the schools cannot charge building, annual, activity fee and other donations. If schools are found charging such type of fees, the NOC is liable to be null and void. Saying that the schools are continuously flouting the NOC under the nose of the district administration, Chaudhary demanded that the terms and conditions of the NOC must be displayed in the premises of all schools in bold letters. Meanwhile, All School Parents Association President Sachin Soni announced that he will be on a dharna outside the office of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) on April 17. Soni alleged that district officials are ignoring the issue and are not initiating any action against schools despite clear intensions of the Uttar Pradesh government. During the protest, police stopped parents from entering the DM's chamber which lead to a scuffle. After about half an hour, DM Nidhi Kesarwani asked the police to allow a five-member delegation. During talks, the matter was resolved after a memorandum was submitted to Kesarwani in which the parents demanded to enforce the terms of NOC. Meanwhile, parents started sitting on a dharma outside other public schools, including DPS Ghaziabad Vasundhara, Children's Academy and Sun Valley at Indirapuram, demanding to withdraw the inappropriately hiked fee. --IANS sps/vgu/vm ( 275 Words) 2017-04-13-21:42:07 (IANS)
Objecting to comments by some people linking alcoholism with farmland suicides in the states, Kadu said it is erroneous to relate the two.

In the past, he said Congress leader Narayan Rane commented that farmers commit suicide due to alcoholism, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had observed that farmers burdened by excessive cost of weddings ended their lives.

"It is wrong to say thisa All sorts of people make all kinds of allegations. Who does not drink? Seventy-five per cent of lawmakers drink, even journalists drink. Hema Malini is a bumper drinker, has she committed suicide," Kadu asked.

He was speaking after addressing a farmers' rally in Nanded this afternoon when he sought to "clarify" how alcoholism and farmland suicides were not connected.

Controversies are not alien to this six-time legislator from Achalpur in Amravati, who has shot into limelight for various causes and agitations, like climbing onto a water tank in 2006 in a "Sholay"-style act to draw the government's attention to farmers suicides in Vidarbha.

More recently, last year he had assaulted a health department official after which the government employees retaliated against him with a strike, forcing police to lodge a complaint in the matter, and even unilaterally rejecting a fat salary hike for legislators.

--IANS qn/ahm/vm

( 252 Words)

2017-04-13-21:42:12 (IANS)
Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane today denied meeting BJP national chief Amit Shah along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Ahmedabad last evening. While putting all speculations about his meeting to rest in a news conference here, Mr Rane said he had gone to Ahmedabad yesterday for a personal meeting in a hotel there and at the end of the meeting, which went on till late at night, he stayed back and came back to Mumbai this morning. There were speculations in a section of media that Mr Rane went to Ahmedabad with Mr Fadnavis and might have met Mr Shah, who was also coincidentally in Ahmedabad yesterday, to have talkson possibility of joining BJP. Mr Rane asked mediapersons that, ''If I had gone to Mr Shah's residence to meet him, show the photographs of Mr Shah's house and video clip. There was an old offer from BJP. If I had joined BJP, now I would have been a minister in the central government.'' Mr Rane is unhappy with the functioning of the Congress party in the state, and BJP is searching for a strong leader to take on its alliance partner Shiv Sena in the Konkan region. A former chief minister from the Konkan, Mr Rane is influential in the region. He started as a Shakha Pramukh of the Shiv Sena and climbed the ladder. Late Sena chief Bal Thackeray made him chief minister in 1999 during the Sena-BJP government rule. However, following Uddhav Thackeray's emergence, Mr Ranedefected to the Congress in 2005. He was a minister in successive Congress governments till 2014, however, he was unhappy as he had not been offered the post of chief minister.UNI ST SS SB 2326 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1229096.Xml
A 35-year-old villager from the district died of sunstroke early this week, MLA from Shahapur Pandurang Barora told today.Sharing further details, the MLA said the villager Kashinath Agiwale of Dand village had walked more than 10 kms to fetch water and on way back he fell down in the backwaters of the Bhatsa lake and died instantly on Monday. The MLA today visited the family members of the deceased and consoled them.He blamed the authorities for the death of the villager and said since long he had been asking the authorities to ply water tankers for the villagers but in vain.Even in a DPC meeting, he had raised the issue of the shortage of water to the villages of Sahapur taluka but theauthorities turned a deaf ear to his demands, Mr Barora claimed.Meanwhile, the issue of death of the villager due to water scarcity and heat wave today kicked-up a controversy, with other organisations joining the bandwagon to blame the administration. Shramajivi Sanghatna chief Vivek Pandit condemned the incident and demanded that offence of murder should be registered against the tehsildar and block-development officer in this connection. He also said the activists of the Sanghatana along with the family members of the deceased will stage a 'dharna' in front of the tehsil office on Saturday to protest against the lethargy of the administration, demanding to tackle the water scarcity in the taluka at the earliest. UNI XR SS PY 2302 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1229259.Xml
Baloch leaders have condemned Pakistan for sentencing Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Dubbing the death sentence given to Jadhav as 'inhuman and illegal', Baloch Republican Party (BRP) member Ashraf Sherjan said that Pakistan is committing a crime by giving a death sentence order to Jadhav. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do everything to save Jadhav's life. Sherjan said Pakistan is indulging in a fake propaganda by stating that Jadhav is connected to Balochistan. "No spies can take their national ID card and work as a spy with spy agencies but Pakistan is doing this to label Kulbushan Yadav involved in Balochistan activities Iis totally a fake propaganda," he said. Sherjan said Pakistan should bring Jadhav to the international court if he is guilty and connected to any terrorism activity in Balochistan. He added that Pakistan by itself does not have any right to give death sentences to an Indian citizen, or for that matter to any foreign citizen. "Just last month, Pakistan tried via Interpol Brahamdagh Khan Bugti which totally failed then later few weeks ago when Abdul Bugti was delivering his speech at UN, Pakistan and China both tried to stop him and over there also Pakistan failed," he said. "So, all Pakistan's attempts on Baloch leaders are failing now and they have now brought Kulbhushan Jadhav who is an innocent Indian citizen. So that's why I'm requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rest of the Indian leaders to save the life of Kulbhushan Jadhav," he added. Meanwhile, representative of Balochistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Mehran Marri called the death sentence given to Jadhav as 'extra judicial killing' and a 'premeditated murder'. He said Pakistan has been carrying out pre-meditative murder and extra judicial killing in Balochistan for 70 years with full impunity. "Pakistan is forgetting that Jadhav is not a Baloch, he is from India, he has is got a backing of a very strong country and India will give befitting reply to Pakistan," he said. Marri appreciated the comment of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy, who had said if Pakistan takes such measures then India should recognise Balochistan as an independent sovereign country. "We thank him for that comment and hope he follows through what he has said," he added. 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 in Pakistan earlier this week 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. External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj had on Tuesday 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 neighbors and vowed to go "out of the way" to save Jadhav amid an outrage in this country.(ANI)
The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declined to comment on the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, citing the world body was not in a position to judge the case. "We are not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this particular case," The Dawn quoted UN secretary general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as replying to a poser. "Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we underline and continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution and to engage through engagement and dialogue," he added. Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif ruled out any possibility of an immediate execution of Jadhav, citing three appellate forums were available for him under the law. India has sent out a stern message to Pakistan with the Parliament strongly condemning the Pakistan Military Court's verdict sentencing Jadhav to death on charges of spying. Replying to the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on April 11, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the government would do whatever is possible to give justice to Jadhav. Singh said India's request for basic consular access to Jadhav was denied several times. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a suo motu statement made in both the Houses of Parliament, warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if death sentence on Kulbhushan Jadhav is carried out. She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented, it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there is no evidence against Jadhav. There were also strong protests in front of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. 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 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. (ANI)
Venezuelans in poor areas blocked streets and lit fires during scattered protests across the country on Tuesday night, and two people were killed during the growing unrest in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.In a worrying sign for leftist President Nicolas Maduro, groups in Caracas' traditionally pro-government hillside slums and low-income neighborhoods took to the streets, witnesses and opposition lawmakers reported.Maduro foes were galvanized by footage of a crowd in the south-eastern Bolivar state heckling and throwing objects at the closely-protected leader during a rally on Tuesday, before state television cut off the broadcast.In the western Lara state, two people, aged 13 and 36, were killed during unrest on Tuesday, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. Lara's opposition governor Henri Falcon blamed violence on "infiltrators" and "delinquents" who roamed on motorcycles after an energy blackout."They go by neighborhoods and shoot people who are protesting," said Falcon, a former member of the ruling party, urging a negotiation to end Venezuela's political crisis.The opposition says Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader who took office four years ago, has morphed into a dictator after a Supreme Court decision in late March to assume the functions of the opposition-led congress.The court quickly overturned the most controversial part of its decision, but the move breathed new life into the fractured opposition movement.Two young men had already been killed in protests during the last week, according to authorities. Many are bracing for further violence in a country that is racked by crime and has one of the world's highest murder rates.Witnesses said residents of a number of working-class Caracas neighborhoods blocked streets with trash or burning debris on Tuesday night, describing confused street melees and clashes with security forces. The capital appeared calm on Wednesday, although some roads were charred and littered with broken glass.Government officials did not provide an official account of the events, and the Information Ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment.Maduro has said that under a veneer of pacifism, a U.S.-backed right-wing opposition is encouraging violent protests in a bid to topple his government and get its hands on Venezuela's oil wealth.On Wednesday night, he said the heckling incident a day earlier in the city of San Felix was an opposition attempt to "ambush" him that was thwarted by his loyalists."They had prepared an ambush and the people neutralized it," he said. "I want to thank the people of San Felix for their expressions of fervor, passion, love and support.""MADURO DICTATOR"Maduro's adversaries are demanding the government call delayed state elections, which polls suggest would not go well for the ruling Socialists. They also want an early presidential vote after authorities quashed a recall referendum against Maduro last year.A ban on opposition leader Henrique Capriles from holding office for 15 years drew broad criticism as he was seen as the opposition's best presidential hope.But it is Venezuela's extended economic crisis that has ordinary people fuming.Venezuelans have been suffering food and medicine shortages for months, leading many to skip meals or go without crucial treatment. Lines of hundreds form in front of supermarkets as people jostle for hours under the hot sun hoping price-controlled rice or flour will be delivered.The crisis has especially hurt the poor, long the base of support of Maduro and his predecessor the late Hugo Chavez.Protesters say they have also been encouraged by stronger condemnation from American and European nations in the last two weeks."We cannot accept that the regime is willing to sacrifice Venezuelan lives to remain in power," said Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States, in a video posted on Wednesday, urging elections.Another round of protests are planned for Thursday in Venezuela's more than 300 municipalities. Opposition leaders are calling for the "mother of all marches" on April 19.ARRESTS, LOOTINGAmid what the opposition coalition says is a crackdown on dissent, some 71 people were arrested on Tuesday, according to rights group Penal Forum.In total, 364 people were arrested between April 4-12 during the most sustained protests since 2014, with 183 people still behind bars, the group added.A group of young men and teenagers were arrested for throwing "sharp objects" against Maduro's vehicle on Tuesday night, according to a report by a local National Guard division seen by Reuters. Two sources told Reuters the protesters were hurling stones.Local media reported lootings overnight in the working class bedroom community of Guarenas outside Caracas, as well as in parts of the capital.State officials have tweeted images and videos of demonstrators vandalizing public property and throwing rocks at police.Despite the spiking tensions, many in the opposition worry extended protests will not spur early or fair elections, but rather increase clashes in the already turbulent country.Major anti-government protests in 2014 eventually floundered, though the opposition at the time did not have as clear-cut demands, poor neighborhoods largely abstained, and the economy was in better shape.REUTERS CJ RAI0847 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1227870.Xml
BananaStock/iStock/Thinkstock(OCALA, Fla.) -- A group of friends at a Florida state park caught the moment a horse attacked an alligator on video.



Krystal Berry and her friends went to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Ocala on Wednesday to celebrate their recent graduation from nursing school and were filming the unlikely enemies as they stood near each other in a field, she told Storyful.



In the video, the group of horses appears to be grazing near the alligator when one closest to the reptile suddenly charges toward it, running over the alligator at least twice as it hisses back angrily.



The alligator appears to fight back, attempting to bite the horse after the force of the attack sent it into the air.



The encounter transfixed a small crowd, which seemed to be on the gator's side.



"Just leave him alone," one person behind the camera says.



The animals then retreat, with the horse trotting away quickly, keeping an eye on the alligator as it slowly crawls to the opposite side of the field.



Berry asked park officials to check if the animals were harmed in the scuffle, and she said they told her that neither showed any signs of stress or bleeding.



Paynes Prairie is located about 10 miles south of the University of Florida in Gainesville and is a popular recreational destination for students. The university's mascot is the Florida Gators.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a US judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River, police said.Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT yesterday, a police spokesman said.Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, DC, became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013."Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement.The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a US judge.Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier yesterday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful.A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website.She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991. REUTERS SDR RAI0835 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1227860.Xml
After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation.Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview yesterday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats."I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday.The reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump's overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US allies are fearful of a rising China.Trump's apparent shifts toward a more conventional foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin."If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Trump said last September."ALL-TIME LOW"Yesterday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad."We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Trump, who ordered the firing of US cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week to punish Assad for suspected use of poison gas in Syria's civil war.While criticizing Russia yesterday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks.Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade.The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview yesterday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra during was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US military.Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defense in the Obama administration, said Trump had a "steep learning curve" on foreign policy when he came into office but that it was beginning to even out."He's starting to have a more nuanced and deeper understanding of a lot of issues," said Wormuth, now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.The evolving Trump foreign policy appears to reflect less of the influence of his campaign team and more the views of Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser HR McMaster, all of whom are deeply skeptical of Russia.Trump' former national security adviser, retired General Michael Flynn, was forced to resign on Feb. 13 for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office.The new tone on foreign policy comes as Trump has been trying to settle the palace intrigue inside the White House, where Bannon, former chief of the conservative Breitbart News organization, has been at odds with the more mainstream Jared Kushner, the senior White House adviser who is Trump's son-in-law.In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon."I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late," Trump said. REUTERS AKC 0729 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1227849.Xml
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said today he believed the United States will consult Seoul if it is considering a pre-emptive strike against North Korea.Yun's comments at a South Korean parliamentary hearing came amid rising tensions in the region over the possibility North Korea could conduct a new nuclear or missile test.The possibility of US military action against North Korea in response to such tests gained traction following last week's US strikes against Syria, which came in retaliation for a deadly gas attack. REUTERS AKC 0751 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1227855.Xml
Gen McMaster would be the first high-level Trump administration official to visit Islamabad. He is also expected to travel to India and Afghanistan.

However, the Islamabad leg of his trip has not been officially announced.

With concerns over Russia's growing role in Afghanistan, McMaster's visit almost coincides with the 12-nation meeting on Afghanistan being hosted by Moscow on April 14.

The U.S. declined an invitation for the meeting, aimed at formulating a regional approach for peace and stability in Afghanistan, questioning Russian motives.

A series of meetings have also begun in Islamabad to finalise Pakistan's message during Gen McMaster's visit, as reported by The Dawn.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday in an interview with the state-run newswire APP urged the Trump administration to play a role for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Pakistan is attending the Moscow meeting on Afghanistan, but has been stressing that U.S. participation was a must for the process to succeed.

"We continue to be encouraged by Pakistan's operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistan's efforts have reduced the ability of some militant groups to use North Waziristan and Fata as a safe haven for terrorism," said Adam Stump, a U.S. Defence Department spokesperson. (ANI)
Addressing a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Lt. Col. Zahir had been trapped in Nepal "after being lured into a job offer", reports the Dawn.

He said Pakistani authorities are in touch with the Nepali government to trace the missing ex-army man and Nepal is cooperating in this regard.

Zakaria, however, warned against linking Zahir's disappearance with the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy sentenced to death by a Pakistani tribunal earlier this week on charges of espionage and sabotage.

"It is unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Habib Zahir," he said, reminding that Zahir had retired from the army a long time before Jadhav's arrest.

Lt.Col. Zahir, who retired from the army in 2014, went missing on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site close to the Indian border, where he arrived after somebody by the name of Mark Thompson had contacted him via email and telephone for a job interview in Nepal. (ANI)
Media reports quoted police, as saying that Judge Salaam, 65, had been missing from her home since Wednesday morning, and that they had found her body floating in the Hudson River off Manhattan's west side at around 1.45 p m local time.

Police said that they pulled Judge Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and pronounced her dead at the scene. She was identified by her family. The body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Salaam was a judge of the Court of Appeals when New York Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

She was a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School. (ANi with inputs)
Violence against civilians in Central African Republic (CAR), including summary executions and mutilations, is reaching levels not seen since the height of its years-long conflict, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said.The country descended into chaos when a mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance ousted then-president Francois Bozize in 2013, sparking reprisals from Christian militias. Religion has played a waning role as splinter groups now clash over control of territory and resources.Recent violence has been concentrated in four prefectures in the centre and east, where the government and a 13,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping mission have struggled to contain the bloodshed, the medical charity said."Our teams have witnessed summary executions and have found mutilated bodies left exposed to terrorise populations," Rene Colgo, the deputy head of MSF's mission in CAR, said in a statement released late yesterday.Fighting has spread to parts of the country previously considered stable but where rival armed groups are now battling for control of towns and areas with gold and diamond mines.Some 100,000 people were displaced between September 2016 and February 2017 amid the renewed clashes, according to the United Nations, and MSF is now treating trauma victims at clinics intended to provide healthcare to rural communities."The Central African Republic is spiralling into levels of violence that have not been seen since the peak of the conflict in 2014," said MSF representative Emmanuel Lampaert.One in five Central Africans is currently displaced and around 2.2 million people, half the total population, need humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.The United States yesterday imposed financial sanctions against two militia leaders - one a Muslim rebel chief and the other a Christian militia leader - accused of collaborating on plans to destabilise CAR. REUTERS SHS BL1644 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1228471.Xml
The Syrian army said an air strike late yesterday by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to Islamic State, releasing a toxic substance that killed "hundreds", but the coalition denied carrying out raids in the area.A statement by the army, flashed today by Syrian state TV, said the incident in the eastern Deir al-Zor province proved that Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked militants "possess chemical weapons".The report could not immediately be independently verified.US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in that area at that time."The Syrian claim is incorrect and likely intentional misinformation," he said in an email to Reuters.The United States launched cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week, in response to a deadly poison gas attack in the west of the country that Washington blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's government.Syria and its ally Russia deny Damascus carried out any such chemical attack. Moscow has said the poison gas in that incident belonged to rebels.The US strike on the Syrian air base was the first time Washington has deliberately and directly targeted the Syrian government. It is separately waging an air campaign against Islamic State in eastern Syria. REUTERS SHS BL1819 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1228719.Xml
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday showcased a positive view towards both China and Russia. "I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.," tweeted the President. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.</p> Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/852508752142114816">April 13, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> He followed it with yet another tweet this time about good ties with Russia in the future saying, "Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!</p> Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/852510810287075329">April 13, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Backing away from a campaign pledge, Trump said Wednesday that his administration won't label China a currency manipulator in a report due this week, though he does think the U.S. dollar "is getting too strong." Trump began to bash China in the 2015 speech that began his campaign, saying Beijing kept its currency artificially low to give its manufacturers an unfair advantage in global trade. The change in opinion on China comes as the US faces an intractable crisis in North Korea. North Korea appears to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in a show of defiance towards Donald Trump, who has not ruled out military action to pressure the regime into abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The US-based monitoring group 38 North said on Thursday that the satellite images from the North's Punggye-ri site showed it was "primed and ready" for what would be the country's sixth nuclear test since 2006. As for Russia, Trump said on Wednesday, "We're not getting along with Russia at all," following last week's airstrikes on Syria, Moscow's key Middle Eastern ally. In response to the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Khan Sheikhoun, the U.S. launched dozens of Tomahawk to destroy the Shayrat airfield in Syria, believed by Washington be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack on the rebel-held town. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the strike as "act of aggression" and said it violated international law.(ANI)
US President Donald Trump is dispatching his first high-level delegation to Afghanistan to begin to formulate a strategy for a war that has entangled NATO forces for more than 15 years and continues to inflict heavy casualties on local troops.Afghan officials hope National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster will provide clarity from an administration that they feel has neglected their plight as it concentrates on crises in Syria and North Korea.On Wednesday, Trump announced he was sending McMaster to "find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies." The timing of the visit has yet to be confirmed by U.S. and Afghan officials.Despite general declarations of support for the Western-backed government in Kabul, the Trump administration has given few concrete signals of its plans for Afghanistan, which remains heavily dependant on billions of dollars in American aid.U.S. forces also make up the bulk of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, provide close air support to soldiers on the ground and form a separate counter-terrorism unit that targets Islamic State, al Qaeda and other militant networks.U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who like McMaster is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was forced to scrap a visit to the country in February because of bad weather.The makes McMaster's trip the first by a senior official from the new administration, although earlier this month he spent an hour on the phone to Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar for a detailed brief, according to one Western official.That may signal renewed interest in Afghanistan, where nearly 9,000 American troops are deployed, but exactly what the Trump administration will decide is unclear, the official added.The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told Congress in February that he needed a "few thousand" more troops to help train the Afghan security forces, which are battling Taliban insurgents as well as militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State.Afghan officials have held out hope that veterans like McMaster and Mattis would help form policies favoured by Kabul, including taking a harder line on Pakistan and the Taliban."Both these gentlemen know very well that Afghanistan's growing insecurity is because of Pakistan's ongoing support for the Taliban and other insurgent groups, and we are impatiently waiting for a clear policy announcement," said one senior Afghan government official.Pakistan denies aiding or harbouring Islamist militants, and has accused Afghanistan in turn of allowing insurgents to cross from its territory into Pakistan to carry out attacks.One signal that the United States may change its policies toward Pakistan is McMaster's decision to hire Lisa Curtis, a researcher with the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, to oversee South Asia affairs.In February Curtis co-authored an article calling for the United States to "levy heavy costs on Pakistan for policies that help perpetuate terrorism in the region."McMaster is expected to visit Pakistan and India as well during his trip, where the issue of violence in Afghanistan and militant groups in Pakistan will likely be discussed."If and when it takes place, I'm sure his discussions with our national security adviser and other meetings in India will cover prominently the situation in the region most importantly in Afghanistan," said a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs.Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakaria declined to confirm McMaster's visit, saying today he was not aware of any plans.REUTERS PY AN2050 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1229160.Xml
The chairman of the board of directors of LATAM Airlines, Mauricio Amaro, wrote in a letter to investors that he may step down, saying that it was time for "renewal."LATAM, formed via a tie-up between Brazil's TAM and Chile's LAN in 2012, is the biggest Latin America-based airline. In 2016, it registered its first profitable year, despite an ongoing recession in Brazil, its principal market."I'm very proud to have participated in the construction of this great company," Amaro wrote in the letter, which was made public late Wednesday."But for LATAM, renewal is the first word," he added.Amaro did not give a timeline for his departure, nor did he state concretely that he would leave the board. But he hinted heavily at the possibility throughout the letter.LATAM declined to comment on the matter.The airline, which is based in the Chilean capital Santiago, has units in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, among other nations. Chile's powerful Cueto family and Qatar Airways are also on the board.REUTERS PY AN2116 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1229195.Xml
"At 7 p.m. local time in Afghanistan last night the U.S. military used the GBU 43 weapon. It is a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon. We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely making it easy for them to target the U.S. military advisors and afghan forces in the area," Spicer said in press briefing on Thursday.

Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage.

Earlier, CNN reported that the U.S. military has dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province to target the Islamic State.

The Nangarhar province borders with Pakistan.

According to the report, a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, nicknamed MOAB and also known as the "mother of all bombs" is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

This is the first time a MOAB has been used in the battlefield, according to the US officials. This munition was developed during the Iraq War. (ANI)
The United States today sanctioned Sohrab Soleimani, the brother of the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, for his role in abuses in Iranian prisons, the White House said."The sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran's prisons comes at a time when Iran continues to unjustly detain ... various foreigners, including US citizens," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a press briefing.Soleimani is the brother of Qassem Soleimani, who leads Iran's Quds Force, the elite special forces arm of the Revolutionary Guards.REUTERS PY AN2338 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1229296.Xml
Egypt's interior ministry has identified the suicide bomber in the church bombing in the Nile Delta city of Tanta as Mamdouh Amin Mohamed Baghdadi, a resident of Qena, south of Cairo, state television said today.At least 45 people were killed in attacks on a cathedral in Alexandria and the church in Tanta on Palm Sunday. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.REUTERS PY AN2339 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1229297.Xml
President Donald Trump will host Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni for an official working visit on April 20, the White House said today."The leaders will discuss the upcoming G7 ... and a range of issues of mutual concern," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters.Italy is hosting a summit of leaders from the Group of Seven biggest industrial economies in Sicily on May 26-27.REUTERS PY AN2339 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1229298.Xml
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 01:33:51|Editor: An

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank's President Liu Xinyi (4th R) and Senior Miniser of State for Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry Sim Ann (5th R) attend the opening ceremony of the Singapore branch of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in Singapore on April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

SINGAPORE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPD Bank) announced Wednesday that it had established a branch in Singapore.

The Singapore branch is the first overseas branch of SPD Bank and will spearhead its internationalization strategy, especially in Southeast Asia, the bank said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday evening, Sim Ann, senior minister of the state of Singapore, said financial cooperation is a key pillar of the cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai and the opening of SPD Bank's Singapore branch is a milestone for the internationalization of the bank which brings vitality to Singapore's vibrant financial environment.

The minister said the establishment of SPD bank's Singapore branch will further promote trade and economic exchanges and strengthen the financial cooperation between the two sides.

She expressed the hope the multifaceted cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai will promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

In his speech, Vice Chairman and President of SPD Bank Singapore Liu Xinyi underscored Singapore's pivotal role in the Asia Pacific region and the global financial sector, saying the bank aims to improve its cross-border financial services capabilities via the branch.

"The bank plans to make Singapore Branch our key regional hub, acting as a conduit between our clients and Southeast Asia, and at the same time using the establishment of the Singapore Branch as the new launch-pad of our internationalization strategy," said Liu.

SPD Bank has accelerated its pace of internationalization and comprehensive development in recent years. The Singapore Branch obtained its banking license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore on March 21, according to the bank's press release.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 03:39:22|Editor: An

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Combination of file photos show Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 29, 2016 and U.S. President DonaldTrump (R) at a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 15, 2017. (Xinhua)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's with-us-or-without-us ultimatum to Russia, Moscow is likely to continue its support for the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad, U.S. experts said.

Trump grabbed headlines worldwide earlier the week when his administration made it clear to Moscow that the Kremlin's support for Assad would not be tolerated, after the alleged chemical weapons attack last week against Syrian civilians, including children. Trump ordered missile strikes last Friday at a Syrian airfield to retaliate for the attack.

Initially, Russia earlier this week called for an investigation into the chemical attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the United States' military assault on a Syrian airfield, saying that the U.S. move represents an aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law under a far-fetched pretext.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow on Wednesday, gave the top U.S. diplomat an earful of criticism over the U.S. strike.

"I...don't think Russia will align with us," Michael O' Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua.

"But I do expect some tough talk on both sides. Putin feels that we've made this war far worse and he won't easily change his mind," O' Hanlon said, referring to Russian President Putin, who allies with Syria' s president.

Experts said Russia simply is unlikely to stop supporting al-Assad.

"Over time, Russia could seek to persuade Assad to transfer power to a friendly crony, with a few fig leafs of power sharing to make it look slightly like a government of national unity. That's about as far as I see Moscow pushing for change," O' Hanlon said.

In terms of what actions Trump might take against al-Assad, O' Hanlon said: "I think economic pressure and perhaps the threat of a war crimes indictment may be our best tools."

Wayne White, former deputy director of the State Department's Middle East Intelligence Office, told Xinhua that the idea of Washington and Moscow coming to a sweeping accommodation is highly unlikely.

"U.S. and Russian interests, whether in Syria, toward NATO, human rights, etc. are far too different-despite President Trump's earlier interest in an understanding. One side inevitably would have to make big sacrifices inconsistent with some of its policy interests, but Trump and Vladimir Putin are two...assertive personalities who instinctively preserve their powerful images. In some ways, they are too much alike," White said.

So long as Russia and Iran remain staunch allies vigorously fighting alongside their premier regional ally, Syria' s current government is likely to survive in some familiar form, he predicted.

"For the U.S. to change that, Washington would have to field a formidable military challenge to (al-Assad)," White said.

"There is no obvious surrogate on the Syrian battlefield capable of powerfully challenging Assad, even with lots more U.S. aid. The U.S. would have to take the field itself, and risk direct confrontation with the Russians and Iranians--highly unlikely," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 03:49:23|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in southeastern Turkey, local media reported.

A statement issued on a PKK website said more than 2.5 tons of explosives had been planted in a tunnel under the targeted police building in the central Baglar district of Diyarbakir province.

The explosion on Tuesday occurred during the repair of an armored vehicle in the provincial security directorate compound, which killed three people and injured 12 others.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed early Wednesday that the incident was "a terror attack" after initially calling it an accident, daily Hurriyet reported.

Investigations have revealed that PKK militants dug the tunnel in a short time and staged the attack by placing explosives underground.

A 30-meter-long tunnel was dug from the basement of an apartment adjacent to the repair shop of the compound, the Diyarbakir governor's office said in a statement.

According to the office, five suspects had been detained as a part of the investigation into the attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 04:34:33|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian interior ministry identified on Wednesday the suicide bomber who blew himself up in Saint Mark's Church in Egypt's Alexandria governorate on Sunday, killing 11 Christians and six Muslim police officers.

In a press statement, the ministry identified the suicide bomber as Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak from Suez City.

"The suicide bomber was born on Sept. 28, 1986 in Upper Egypt's city of Qena and worked for a petroleum company," the statement read.

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.

The ministry added that the attacker is linked to an extremist Islamist terrorist group led by a wanted terrorist leader from Qena.

"This terrorist cell carried out a suicide attack last year against the Cathedral of Saint Mark in the Abbasia district in Cairo," according to the ministry.

The ministry also revealed that another cell working under the umbrella of the same group has attacked a police checkpoint in the New Valley governorate, killing a number of police men.

The ministry did not mention if this group belongs to the Islamic State (IS) group which claimed responsibility on Sunday for the bombings of two churches.

Egypt has been fighting a terrorist wave that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military removed former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and blacklisted his Muslim Brotherhood group as "a terrorist organization."

Mostly claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the IS regional militia, the terrorist attacks focused on security forces in restive North Sinai in the beginning; but after massive security raids that killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects, terrorists started to target the Coptic minority in the most populous Arab country.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. They have largely coexisted peacefully with the Muslim-majority public for centuries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 04:39:34|Editor: yan

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BANJUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Leader of Gambia's socialist PDOIS party Halifa Sallah Wednesday advised President Adama Barrow to honor the promise of resigning after three years, an agreement he has penned with coalition partners.

"It was our conviction that if President Barrow leads the example of limiting his own term, then no other leader will ever emerge again that will go beyond two terms," he said during a press conference.

Barrow won against ex-president Yahya Jammeh with the backing of eight political parties on an agreement that he will rule for only 3 years and resign for fresh election.

He said Barrow's resignation will require Constitutional amendment, where it will be introduced in the 1997 Constitution a provision asserting that upon resignation or vacation of the seat of the presidency, the vice president will act for 90 days thereafter the presidential election shall be held.

"That provision is not in the Constitution. Therefore, as its stands he has a 5-year term. But if it is put in the constitution and adhered to, then he would be able to resign after 3 years and presidential election would be held," he said.

Sallah said the objective of the Coalition in the National Assembly is to reform the Constitution and to reduce the powers of the executive, a plan "Barrow has agreed to".

Barrow admitted several times during campaign that he will honor the agreement but since his victory, he has softened his position and said he would resign based on the views of his coalition members.

His UDP party holds the majority in the country's National Assembly and could reject the amendment to the constitution.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shake hands ahead of a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/AP)

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the U.S. on Wednesday agreed to keep on fighting international terrorism and continue discussions on Syrian conflict settlement, despite turbulent bilateral relations and a string of pending disputes between the two countries.

In a news conference following talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and a two-hour joint meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the discussions were fruitful, underlining good prospects for future joint work.

"It has been a long day...The talks were comprehensive, frank and covered the whole spectrum of issues, which are key to our bilateral relations and interaction on the international affairs," The minister said.

According to Lavrov, the two parties reaffirmed their determination in the talks for the uncompromising fight against international terrorism and had deepgoing discussions in that context about grim situations in various regions including Syria, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan as well as possible cooperation in addressing those issues.

"With all the existing problems, both objective and artificially created ones, we still have quite a few prospects for joint work. Russia is open to dialogues with the U.S. in different areas, and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions," he said.

Echoing the Russian stance on cooperation, Tillerson said that Russia and the U.S. will continue discussions about how to find a solution to the Syrian conflict.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov and I agreed we would consider further proposals made about the way forward in Syria, including consulting with our allies and coalition members." Tillerson said in the news conference.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have further aggravated over Syria after the U.S. missile strike on a Syrian military airfield Thursday, which it claims to be in response to the alledged Syrian government's chemical weapons attack last Tuesday in Khan Sheikhoun.

Earlier in an interview broadcast on Wednesday before the meeting with Tillerson, Putin said that mutual trust between Russia and the U.S., especially on the military level, had eroded in the first few months of Trump's presidency.

Putin's view was share by Tillerson who, on the first visit by the Trump cabinet to Russia, said that ties between the two countries were at a low point marked by serious distrust.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said in the news conference, adding that Moscow and Washington had agreed to establish a working group to identify problems and improve bilateral relations.

With a shared willingness to mend the battered ties, Russia and the U.S. agreed on Wednesday to work together on an investigation of the Syrian chemical weapons attack, although the divergence in their stances have not changed much.

Tillerson reiterated Washington is "quite confident" that the recent chemical attack was planned and executed by Syrian government forces, which involved chlorine bombs and other chemical weapons on more than 50 occasions.

Calling for an "objective and unbiased probe" into the chemical attack in Syria, Lavrov said that Russia has no intention to shield anyone responsible for the incident and repeated Russia's view that the Syrian government was not responsible for the attack.

Russia vetoed on late Wednesday a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected chemical attack, saying that Moscow had consistently expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West including the U.S..

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 08:35:09|Editor: An

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KABUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The construction work of a China-aided Afghan vocational and technical institute started on Wednesday in Afghan capital of Kabul, the latest in China's consistent assistance to the war-hit nation.

Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing were among the officials attending a special ceremony which marked the start of construction of the new building for Afghan National Vocational and Technical Institute.

"Afghanistan is at the process of reconstruction. And the construction of this facility is vital at the moment when Afghans need more vocational experts, professional workers as well as skilled youths," Abdullah told the ceremony.

The complex, which is the largest vocational institue in the country, contains classrooms, laboratory and administration facilities as well as dormitory and sport gymnasium.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yao said China will continue to support Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction process to see a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Yao said he will spare no efforts in enhancing people-to-people relations, including offering more scholarships to Afghan students in China.

Over 5,000 students will receive vocational education in 20 departments at the complex.

Some 250 teachers of the vocational and technical institute will visit China in near future to attend training programs and the first group of the visitors will leave for China this weekend.
SYDNEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- An Australian woman has been airlifted to hospital on Thursday, after being trampled by a cow on a property in Queensland.

The woman, believed to be in 20s, reportedly suffered chest injuries and was rushed to Toowoomba hospital via helicopter, as a result of the animal attack at around 8:00 a.m. local time.

It has been reported that the woman was able to direct the emergency services crew of the chopper to her location, via an app on her phone that enabled them to pinpoint her location, despite being isolated.

The woman is said to be recovering and in a stable condition.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 10:45:30|Editor: An

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by Will Koulouris

SYDNEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- One of the most influential Australian media outlets has hyped up a hypothetical "China slowdown" while highlighting the severe economic consequences it could bring to Australia.

A story, published by The Australian on Wednesday, the country's only national newspaper, began with a widely circulated report by Deloitte Access Economics, which outlined a number of scenarios that were wildly hypothetical regarding China and Australia, and assessed the potential impact should any of them actually occur.

The report has modelled three scenarios that it believes are plausible: a downturn in China's economy which sends Australia into recession; Asian economies perform better than expected while Australia's government has the courage to reform; and Australia gets better at being "cyber smart."

Rather than covering all the three scenarios, the story purely focuses on the most controversial offering, a "China slowdown."

The article was devoted to assessing the inner workings of the "China slowdown" scenario, ignoring any attempt to analyze the others, in what could best be described as an attempt to sensationalize an issue.

Based on hypothetical modelling rather than data-based analytical assessments, the article would only dampen business confidence between the two nations.

The Deloitte modelling, said the story, indicated that "house prices (in Australia) would fall by 9 percent, stripping 600 Australian billion dollars (449.60 billion U.S. dollars) from the wealth of families, while the sharemarket would drop 17 percent, costing a further 300 billion dollars (225 billion U.S. dollars)," if China's growth failed to reach the 6.5 percent target this year, and rather, fell to less than 3 percent.

In terms of actual data and analysis, Gerard Burg, Asia economist at the National Australia Bank, told Xinhua that it was highly unlikely that China wouldn't reach its growth target, calling it a "very outside possibility."

While Li Wei, Asia economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, believes that China will exceed the growth target, reaching 6.8 percent in 2017.

"The recent growth momentum is picking up, and especially the recovery in commodity prices and industry profit will support industry growth and industrial investment going forward," Li said.

"China's export growth to the United States and the European Union has been strong, and will last for a while, so recovery in the export sector will also enable China to reach its growth target," added Li.

Li also stressed that the slowdown in China's housing market is much lower than experts anticipated, which adds to the widespread belief that the 6.5 percent growth target will be achieved, and possibly exceeded, in 2017.

In a statement obtained by Xinhua, Deloitte Australia chief executive Cindy Hook said the modelling in the report is just a scenario, one of three put forward, without it being indicative of any predictive assessment.

The statement also indicated clearly that, "none of these three scenarios is the 'most likely' outcome for Australia," while the report is full of "what if" scenarios akin to a science fiction novel about flying cars. She said it is not intended to stoke fear or harm investor confidence.

While hypothetical scenarios do serve a purpose, selective appropriation of speculative data without a full assessment of all available contexts serves only to stoke fear rather than promote a shared and prosperous future for both China and Australia.

Fair and balanced interaction is paramount to building an even stronger relationship between the two sides.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 10:45:30|Editor: An

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China is a true friend of developing countries, said Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as she welcomed more Chinese investment in the southwestern African country.

Ndaitwah made the remarks at a press conference here on Wednesday after she concluded what she described as an important three-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Ndaitwah said the main purpose of her visit was to discuss with the Chinese side a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest and common concern.

"As a developing country, China is very much aware of the concerns and aspirations of other developing countries," Ndaitwah said, adding her country is truly grateful that China continues to be a true and trusted all-weather friend.

In 2016, Namibia declared a state of emergency after experiencing a devastating drought that caused tremendous hardship to its people.

China responded by donating 4,000 tons of rice to Namibia and pledged a further consignment worth 20 million RMB (around 3 million U.S. dollars).

"This is a testimony of a strong relationship China has proven on multiple times that it is a true friend of developing countries," Ndaitwah said.

She urged the two countries to step up economic cooperation, especially in investment and trade in areas of manufacturing, value addition, agriculture, among others.

She also invited Chinese businesses to forge joint ventures with Namibian companies.

"Chinese people are always welcome to visit Namibia not only for conferences and business, but also as tourists," she added.
JAKARTA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Flash floods struck Aceh province of western Indonesia, leaving two people dead, one missing and hundreds of houses damaged, a government official said on Thursday.

Heavy downpours triggered the natural disaster in the districts of Aceh Tenggara and Aceh Barat, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster agency told Xinhua via phone.

Search for the missing person has been underway while three other villagers who were swept away by the current have been rescued alive, but in condition of unconscious, Sutopo said.

Strong current carrying woods and other materials damaged 298 houses, forcing scores of people to flee home and take shelters at mosques and other safer grounds, Sutopo added.

Soldiers, personnel of disaster agency and volunteers have undertaken emergency relief efforts, including providing food and medicine for the affected-people.

Indonesia has been frequently hit by flash floods and landslides during heavy rain.
An aerial view of the Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on the China-Kazakhstan border.

Ni Jianhua is never worried about slow sales in the free trade zone on the China-Kazakhstan border.

After seeing the fifth client of the day out, the baby care product trader hurried to a warehouse in the Horgos International Border Cooperation Center to inspect a batch of baby carriages, which just arrived at the northwest China's port from south China's Guangdong Province.

"They will be sold to Kazakhstan very soon," he said, "Products always sell out here."

Ni, 44, has been doing business in Horgos, the largest land port on the border with Kazakhstan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, since 2006. Like his fellow merchants from east China's Zhejiang Province who are dubbed as the "Chinese Jews" for their success in doing business, Ni is diligent and works hard all day long.

With a startup fund of 300,000 yuan (about 43,500 U.S. dollars) 12 years ago, Ni has expanded his business and now cashes in more than 300,000 yuan every day. He is considered as one of the most successful businessmen in the FTZ today.

Ni's Kazakhstani employee reports sales to Ni (L).

Although he is one of them, Ni is still surprised by the rapid development of the FTZ. Covering 5.28 square kilometers, the Horgos International Border Cooperation 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. The FTZ has recorded a trade volume of 878 million U.S. dollars since opening as of last July.

Ni (R) checks trade information while looking after his daughter in his shop. He has a shop covering 100 square meters.

Ni has a Russian name--Vasiliy. It was given by his friend from Kazakhstan's Almaty, 378 kilometers from Horgos. The Chinese Vasiliy can discuss business with clients from Central Asia in Russian accented with a Zhejiang dialect.

"I studied Russian when I came here. I was 32 years old at that time, and found it very difficult to learn the language," Ni said, "Now I can speak only a little about toys in Russian. But that's quite enough for me."

"Better communication means more business opportunities," he added.

Ni carries products in the warehouse when his shop is shorthanded. He walks fast, because he believes time is money.

Vasiliy Ni sold a batch of balance cars and baby carriages worth 5 million Kazakhstan Tenge (about 16,058 U. S. dollars) to two Russian traders the day we visited him. He was expecting four more groups of clients.

"I'm too busy. Sometimes I hope it rains so that I can have a rest," he said.

Ni's wife arranges products in the shop. Ni's daughter sleeps in a display baby crib. It is noisy, but the girl sleeps soundly.

Ni owes his success to his sincerity and precise targeting. "I can speak some Russian, so I know what my customers want. My products have a good quality and a reasonable price, and thus become popular."

Based on the demand of his customers, he usually orders products from manufacturers in Guangdong, one of China's manufacturing hubs, and sells them to Kazakhstan and Russia.

Ni (L) drives a battery vehicle to the warehouse. His Kazakhstani customer is so eager to get the products that he jumps on and goes with Ni.

Ni negotiates with a client. Other clients wait for him.

Balance cars sell best in Ni's shop recently. He has just ordered 500 balance cars for his Almaty client. As business booms, Ni plans to open a new shop in a newly-built shopping center, selling high-end made-in-China toys.

Ni counts the bills after making a deal.

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 as the city of Horgos was officially established by the State Council in 2014.

Put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

"I'm not the first generation of Horgos citizen, but my daughter is," Ni said, "We have schools, hospitals and everything in Horgos. We have decided to settle here."

When asked about what Horgos means to him, Ni gave his answer by citing a slogan here: "If you have missed Shenzhen and Shanghai, you can't miss Horgos." Shenzhen is the showcase of China's reform and opening-up, while Shanghai is an economic center of the country.

(All photos by Zhao Ge)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 11:05:33|Editor: Yamei

An ambulance carrying the body of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HUJI) ringleader Mufti Abdul Hannan leaves Bangladesh's Kashimpur High Security Prison in Gazipur on the outskirts of capital Dhaka on April 12, 2017. Bangladesh on Wednesday executed three militants, including a ringleader, for the 2004 grenade attack on then British high commissioner to the country. (Xinhua/Jibon Ahsan)

DHAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Wednesday executed three militants, including a ringleader, for the 2004 grenade attack on then British high commissioner to the country.

The ringleader was also a key suspect in the plotting to assassinate current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and blow up courts, secular institutions as well as shrines and churches.

The local banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HUJI) ringleader Mufti Abdul Hannan and his close aide Sharif Shahedul Alam were hanged at Kashimpur High Security Prison in Gazipur on the outskirts of capital Dhaka at around 10:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin told journalists.

He said the third HUJI militant Delwar Hossain was executed at the same time at a jail in the country's northeastern Sylhet city, some 241 km northeast of capital Dhaka.

The militants were hanged after Bangladeshi president turned down their clemency pleas.

A three-member Appellate Division bench of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, last month dismissed the final review petition of the militants.

The convicts had conducted the grenade attack on then British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury on May 21, 2004 at a shrine of Muslim saint in the country's northeastern city of Sylhet where the Bangladesh-born British diplomat came to offer prayer.

Three people were killed and over 100, including Anwar Choudhury, were injured in the deadly attack. Mufti Hannan reportedly confessed to having supplied grenades for launching the attack, in a statement before a court in Dhaka in 2006.

Apart from this, he has been sentenced to death in a number of other cases.

He came in the limelight of Bangladesh's politics after he announced at a public rally of Islamists in 1999 to establish a Taliban like government in Bangladesh by 2000.

Hannan who was arrested in August 2005 confessed to an interrogating police about his bomb planting for assassination of the then opposition leader and now Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in 2000. The bomb was recovered by police before Hasina addressed a rally.

Hannan, who wanted to establish Islam Sharia law in place of the British-origin common law, confessed that he was the mastermind in the countrywide bombings on Aug. 17, 2005.

Hannan had directly participated in the war in Afghanistan against the former Soviet Union. During the war he got a bullet injury in his hand and then returned to Bangladesh in 1995 and formed his militant group Harkatul Jihad, which was banned by the government.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 11:15:36|Editor: An

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NEW YORK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged a massive infrastructure plan in the country, which may bring increasing opportunities for Chinese companies, U.S. experts said here on Wednesday.

"The Trump administration has been very focused on investing infrastructure, including public-private partnerships ... We are open for business and welcome Chinese companies to participate and bid for the projects," said Patric Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on an event titled "Skyclub Dialogue: Infrastructure Development and Investment" in New York.

Foye further explained that as the government agency oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure in the two states, Port Authority processes bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports, which are "revenue-generating assets" and "expect to attract capitals from all over the world, including China."

His viewpoints were echoed by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, who also spoke at the event.

"When I look at the one-trillion-dollar price tag that President Trump has put on the infrastructure needs of the United States ... I looked at the three trillion reserve in China, I looked at the expertise that exists in China and I looked at what China Construction America and other Chinese construction companies are doing, creating jobs in the United States," said Orlins.

China Construction America Inc (CCA), a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, is among the Chinese companies that have been playing an active role in the U.S. construction market.

Founded in 1985, CCA now has 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are local employees, according to the company's president Ning Yuan, who also attended the event.

Yuan said the company has successfully completed six bridge projects in the New York Metropolitan area and ranks number ten in bridge contractors across the United States.

CCA is fully funded and ready to get involved in more public-private partnership (PPP) projects, he noted.

Foye pointed out that Chinese companies like CCA should focus not only on capital-raising but also on engineering solutions and creativity when bidding on a project.

"Continued growth and success of the Chinese firms in the U.S. will eventually give them a competitive advantage in the PPP market," said Foye.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 12:15:44|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

Suspect Siti Aisyah from Indonesia is escorted by police as she leaves a court in Sepang, Malaysia, on April 13, 2017. The defense lawyers of the two female suspects who were accused of carrying out the assassination on a male national of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), when appearing in court on Thursday, made complaints against the police investigators which they said could comprise their case and lead to miscarriage of justice. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

SEPANG, Malaysia, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The defense lawyers of the two female suspects who were accused of carrying out the assassination on a male national of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), when appearing in court on Thursday, made complaints against the police investigators which they said could comprise their case and lead to miscarriage of justice.

The two female suspects, 25-year-old Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and 28-year-old Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, appeared for the second time at a local court in Sepang on the same day.

They, along with four suspects from the DPRK, were charged with murdering the man on Feb. 13 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Gooi Soon Seng, the defense lawyer for Siti, said the police failed to supply the defense team with CCTV recordings from various places, which could enable them to prepare the case "at the earliest opportunity."

He also accused the police of not providing the defense team with recorded statements from three DPRK suspects who had been allowed to leave Malaysia.

"Under the circumstances, we believe that they will not be called as prosecution witnesses and will not be made available to the defense," said Gooi.

Citing the above reasons, Gooi said he feared that miscarriage of justice will ensue in the case. He also expressed his concern that negotiations between the DPRK and Malaysia, which ensured the safe return of nine Malaysian citizens barred by the DPRK from leaving, could affect the fairness of the trail.

Naran Singh, the defense lawyer for Doan, also made similar complaints, saying the absence of four DPRK suspects, who fled back to Pyongyang the moment after the killing, is unfair for the two female suspects because it is possible that the four DPRK suspects' role in the case may never be clarified.

The pre-trail review was meant to transfer the case to the high court in Shah Alam. But the formal hearing of the case was postponed further to May 30. Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad, leader prosecutor in the case, said they need more time to collect documents from several departments.
LONDON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Activists from Greenpeace have blocked the entrance to Coca-Cola's headquarter in Britain with a 2.5-ton sculpture showing seagulls vomiting plastic, calling for the beverage manufacturer to do more to prevent plastic marine pollution.

Campaigners set up camps outside the company's office in central London on Monday, and installed the sculpture made from sand and Coca-Cola bottles.

The sculpture features a five-member family in a happy beach scene, but next to them are several model seagulls regurgitating plastic rubbish.

Monday's protest coincided with a press release by Greenpeace, urging the soft drinks giant to reduce the manufacturing of single-use plastic bottles.

Coca-Cola has launched its "lightweighting" program to make bottles thinner to reduce costs, plastic use and carbon emissions, "but lightweighting does not prevent Coca-Cola's plastic bottles from entering the ocean and threatening marine life," the statement said.

According to Greenpeace, Coca-Cola, the world's largest soft drinks company produces an estimated 100 billion throwaway plastic bottles every year, and billions of these ended up on beaches, in landfill and in the ocean.

"This is affecting sea life -- a third of turtles and 90 percent of seabirds are now estimated to have ingested plastic," Greenpeace said.

In a statement by Coco-Cola in Britain, the company said it was "disappointed by the stunt and the report from Greenpeace."

"Globally, we continue to increase the use of recycled plastic in countries where it is feasible and permitted," it said.

"We agree that action is needed, are open to doing more and to working with others to create long-term, effective solutions," it added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 13:35:19|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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BRASILIA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer on Wednesday said the government must continue its work despite a massive corruption investigation targeting more than 80 officials, including members of his cabinet.

"The government cannot be paralyzed," Temer said, a day after the Federal Supreme Court (STF) revealed the extent of a wide-reaching probe into corruption in the public sector.

"Nothing must stop the activity of the government," said Temer, some of whose closest aides appear on the court's investigation list of suspects named in Operation Car Wash.

The court's special rapporteur for the investigation, Judge Edson Fachin, on Tuesday unveiled the list, which targets eight ministers.

Originally, the number was nine, but apparently Fachin asked prosecutors to exclude Culture Minister Roberto Freire due to the fact that he is over 70.

Also on the list are the leaders of prominent political parties, including the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PMDB) -- the chief party in the ruling coalition -- and its closest ally, the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB).

Additionally, the presidents of both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, and 71 legislators (42 deputies and 29 senators), are under investigation.

Following the release of the list late Tuesday, both houses of congress were largely empty.

The suspects have all been incriminated by former executives of construction firms, such as Odebrecht, that paid bribes and kickbacks to officials in exchange for lucrative construction contracts. Enditem
YANGON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's traditional Thingyan Water Festival was kicked off across the country Thursday morning with opening ceremonies held in regions and states.

In Yangon, the ceremony was held at the biggest water throwing pandal of the region erected in front of the City Hall.

Extending Thingyan new year greeting, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein unveiled the region's Water Throwing Pavilion.

He called on locals to celebrate the festival in a more traditional way.

The event was highlighted by performances of Myanmar traditional dance troupes in colorful dress and Thingyan music.

Roads and streets were thronged with people dancing to music and dousing each other with water.

There are altogether 22 large, 10 medium, and 27 small water throwing pandals erected in the commercial city.

In recent years, influenced by western culture, Thingyan festival had been celebrated in a modern way with stage shows, electronic music and modern dancing.

A special Rakhine ethnic traditional water festival was also launched in Yangon, in which young men and women stand face to face and drench each other with water while standing in long boats.

On Wednesday, one day ahead of the commencement of the water festival, ethnic Rakhine held a traditional sandalwood grinding competition in Yangon. Rakhine women grinded sandalwood mixed with water on a flat stone to make scented water to be used to wash Buddha statues on the first day of the festival.

In Mandalay, the country's second largest city in the north, water throwing pandal was inaugurated by the region's Chief Minister Zaw Myint Maung.

This year's Myanmar traditional Thingyan water festival will run for four days until Sunday. The Myanmar new year falls on Monday.

In Myanmar, water is a symbol of not only cleanliness but also auspiciousness. Myanmar people believe that celebration of the water festival can wash away past evil and sin and prepare for a happy year ahead.

Among Myanmar's 12 seasonal festivals throughout the year, the Thingyan water festival represents the grandest which brings peace and prosperity to everyone.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 14:10:29|Editor: An

Dancers perform during the water festival in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2017. Myanmar's traditional Thingyan Water Festival kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/U Aung)

YANGON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's traditional Thingyan Water Festival was kicked off across the country Thursday morning with opening ceremonies held in regions and states.

In Yangon, the ceremony was held at the biggest water throwing pandal of the region erected in front of the City Hall.

Extending Thingyan new year greeting, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein unveiled the region's Water Throwing Pavilion.

He called on locals to celebrate the festival in a more traditional way.

The event was highlighted by performances of Myanmar traditional dance troupes in colorful dress and Thingyan music.

Roads and streets were thronged with people dancing to music and dousing each other with water.

There are altogether 22 large, 10 medium, and 27 small water throwing pandals erected in the commercial city.

In recent years, influenced by western culture, Thingyan festival had been celebrated in a modern way with stage shows, electronic music and modern dancing.

A special Rakhine ethnic traditional water festival was also launched in Yangon, in which young men and women stand face to face and drench each other with water while standing in long boats.

On Wednesday, one day ahead of the commencement of the water festival, ethnic Rakhine held a traditional sandalwood grinding competition in Yangon. Rakhine women grinded sandalwood mixed with water on a flat stone to make scented water to be used to wash Buddha statues on the first day of the festival.

In Mandalay, the country's second largest city in the north, water throwing pandal was inaugurated by the region's Chief Minister Zaw Myint Maung.

This year's Myanmar traditional Thingyan water festival will run for four days until Sunday. The Myanmar new year falls on Monday.

In Myanmar, water is a symbol of not only cleanliness but also auspiciousness. Myanmar people believe that celebration of the water festival can wash away past evil and sin and prepare for a happy year ahead.

Among Myanmar's 12 seasonal festivals throughout the year, the Thingyan water festival represents the grandest which brings peace and prosperity to everyone.
NEW DELHI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Ten Indians held hostage by Somali pirates after hijacking of a cargo ship have been rescued, officials said Thursday.

"I am happy to inform that 10 Indian nationals working as crew on MV AL Kausar which was hijacked by pirates have been rescued," India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj wrote on twitter.

Swaraj thanked the government of Somalia for their efforts to rescue the Indian nationals.

"We thank federal government of Somalia, Galmudug state authorities and people of Somalia for their help and cooperation," she said.

The Indian crew members were rescued by Somali troops on Wednesday near the coastal town of Hobyo.

The crew members on board the Indian cargo ship were hijacked on April 1 while on its way to Bosaso from Dubai.

Following the hijacking, the captain of the ship had informed owners as well as authorities in Dubai about the incident.

Only ten crew members were taken captive, not 11 as initially reported.

Pirates often attack cargo ships in international waters in absence of patrolling.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 14:25:36|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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LOS ANGELES, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. conservation group and Congressman Raul Grijalva filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in an attempt to block U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.

The lawsuit seeks to push the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prepare a "programmatic environmental impact statement" for the U.S.-Mexico Border enforcement program, according to KTAR News.

"Some areas within 50 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border have been identified as the 'critical habitat' for at least 25 species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said KTAR News.

"We filed the lawsuit in consideration of all perspectives of environment," Randy Serraglio with the Arizona-based Center of Biological Diversity told Xinhua on Wednesday, saying the lawsuit called for an in-depth investigation of the potential environmental impact.

"The perspectives we consider in the lawsuit include wildlife, endangered species like jaguars and ocelots, border security and border patrol. The proposed border wall could affect the habitats of the threatened or endangered species," said Serraglio.

"It's not because of immigration or other issues, but only for environmental factors," he said.

Arizona State Congressman Raul Grijalva sided with the environmental group in this lawsuit, pointing out in a statement issued Wednesday that "American environmental laws are some of the oldest and strongest in the world, and they should apply to the borderlands."

"These laws exist to protect the health and well-being of our people, our wild life and the places they live," he said.

On January 25, Trump signed an executive order for a "physical barrier" to be built along the U.S.-Mexico border of nearly 3,200 km.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 14:50:39|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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SYDNEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Round 27 of the Australian A-League begins on Friday night when the Melbourne Victory play host to the Central Coast Mariners.

Without a win from their last three games, the Victory seem to have taken their foot off the gas with a spot in second place already guaranteed, but because this is the last regular season match of the year, expect the home side to kick into gear and attempt to dismantle the Mariners.

On Saturday, the last-placed Newcastle Jets travel away to meet first-placed Sydney FC.

Newcastle can still make it off the bottom of the table with a victory in this game and will surely be throwing everything at Sydney's defense.

In South Australia, Adelaide United will also be vying to get off the bottom of the table when they host the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Although it has been a very mixed season for the Wanderers, a win could see them move into the top four.

Adelaide's home fans may be the difference in this fixture.

In what has the making of being a very entertaining clash, the Brisbane Roar will face the Wellington Phoenix at home on Sunday.

A dark horse to win the league, the Roar should be able to close out the New Zealand side, however the Phoenix are coming off some tremendous goal-scoring form in the last few weeks.

Finally, the last match of the round will take place when Melbourne City FC travel away to meet the Perth Glory.

The winner of this match can finish third and both sides will be looking to draw first blood ahead of the playoffs.
File photo shows two released crew members of South Korea n fishing boats arrive in Aden, southern Yemen , Nov. 13, 2007. (Xinhua/Li Teng)

MOGADISHU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Security forces from Somalia's Galmudug State have rescued eight of the 11 Indian crew members who had been kidnapped from a cargo ship and taken ashore by pirates.

District Commissioner of Hobyo town Abdulahi Ahmed Ali confirmed that the sailors were rescued without resistance from the pirates after the security forces overwhelmed them in the central town of Hobyo.

"I can confirm that all eight Indian hostages who were being held by pirates were rescued, we have them and they are safe and in good health.," Ali said.

Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, deputy commander of the maritime force in Galmudug State, said their forces captured three pirates.

"The security forces overwhelmingly besieged them and the pirates tried to flee, but three of them were captured. All the freed crew are safe and healthy," Ahmed said.

John Steed, regional manager of not-for-profit group Oceans Beyond Piracy, also confirmed the release of the Indian hostages who were believed to be being held between the vicinity of Hobyo and Haradhere in central Somalia.

The Indian vessel Al Kausar carrying wheat and sugar was hijacked while en route from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bosasso in Somalia.

File photo by the United States -led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) shows a ship and helicopters of the CMF approaching a German ship in the Gulf of Aden on Sept. 9, 2010. (Xinhua)

The ship was released by Somalia security forces on Monday night but some of the 11 crew members were taken ashore. It was not clear whether the kidnapped crew were eight or nine.

The pirating of the Indian dhow on April 1 came after the fuel tanker, Aris 13, was held for four days by armed pirates. Al Kausar was one of three foreign vessels to be hijacked after a five-year lull.

The release of the Indian vessel came after Indian and Chinese navies on Sunday freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel that had been boarded by pirates.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 15:10:42|Editor: Yamei

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Former head of the main opposition Minjoo Party Moon Jae-in speaks during the primary election in Seoul, South Korea, April 3, 2017. The primary of South Korea's main opposition Minjoo Party to select an official presidential candidate ended Monday with a sweeping victory by Moon Jae-in, frontrunner in opinion polls and former head of the biggest party. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)

SEOUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Moon Jae-in, a presidential candidate of South Korea's biggest Minjoo Party, kept his top spot in recent opinion polls for 15 straight weeks, with less than a month left before the presidential election.

According to a Realmeter survey released on Thursday, Moon garnered 44.8 percent of support this week, up 2.6 percentage points from the previous week.

It was based on a poll of 1,525 voters conducted between Monday and Wednesday. It had 2.5 percentage points in margin of error.

Moon ranked first in opinion surveys for the 15th consecutive week. He gained the biggest support in all regions except North Gyeongsang province, the traditional support base for conservative politicians.

An early presidential election is scheduled for May 9 as former President Park Geun-hye was impeached on March 10 and arrested three weeks later over a corruption scandal.

Moon was followed by Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party, which splintered away from the Minjoo Party in early 2016. Ahn's approval rating rose 2.4 percentage points from the previous week to 36.5 percent this week.

Ahn was supported especially by conservative voters aged 50 or more, while Moon's support base was liberal and centrist voters aged below 50.

Hong Joon-pyo of the former ruling Liberty Korea Party, won 8.1 percent of support, trailed by Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party with 2.8 percent and Yoo Seong-min of the conservative Righteous Party with 1.7 percent.

In a simulated three-way race between Moon, Ahn and Hong, Moon gained 47.0 percent of support, followed by Ahn with 37.2 percent and Hong with 8.8 percent.

In a showdown simulation between Moon and Ahn, the former beat the latter by 49.0 percent to 41.1 percent.

Support for the Minjoo Party gained 1.6 percentage points from the previous week to 44.8 percent this week. The People's Party ranked second with 26.5 percent in support scores, up 3.3 percentage points from a week earlier.

It was followed by the Liberty Korea Party with 9.0 percent, the Justice Party with 5.1 percent and the Righteous Party with 3.7 percent.
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 Taliban militants were killed during an ongoing military operation in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, said a military statement on Thursday.

"Over the last 24 hours, 10 militants were killed and 14 others wounded during a military operation codenamed Maiwand 5 after Afghan security forces made advances in Aynak area, Nawa District," the statement issued by army's Corps Maiwand 215 based in the region said.

The raid was launched several days ago by joint Afghan security forces supported by Afghan air force to flush out militants from Nawa, south of the city of Lashkar Gah, Helmand's provincial capital.

Among the killed militants was a local Taliban leader named Zia-ul-Haq, the statement added.

"The security forces also found 54 landmines and roadside bombs since the raid started and the operation will continue before the area is cleared of the militants," it noted.

Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.

The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently.

But the militants responded by bombings and armed attacks. On Wednesday, five civilians were killed and three others wounded in a suicide bombing near the country's Defense Ministry in Kabul.
JAKARTA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Benoa port on Indonesia's Bali Island on Thursday received the maiden direct berthing of a cruise ship, giving an alternative for foreign visitors to visit the resort island and nearby destinations from the sea.

The seaport successfully accommodated the cruise ship, Pacific Eden, in one of its piers on 11 a.m. local time as well as 1,500 of its passengers.

Head of the marine tourism acceleration team at the Tourism Ministry Indroyono Susilo said that the berthing of Pacific Eden in Benoa was a historic moment for the seaport as it was the first time for a cruise ship to directly berth in the port's pier.

"Previously cruise ships visited Bali used to tie their anchors in the sea, off Benoa seaport. Now they can directly berth in the pier," he said on the sidelines of an event to welcome the cruise ship in Bali.

Besides visiting Bali, passengers of the cruise ship were scheduled to visit nearby prominent destinations of Lombok, Komodo Island and Labuan Bajo.

Benoa is one of Indonesia's five seaports capable of accommodating visits of cruises ships. The other ones were Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Belawan and Makassar.

Bali Island is expected to welcome 5.5 million foreign visitors this year after it saw the influx of foreign visitors that exceeded the target of 4.2 million ones last year.
Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2016 shows giant panda Wu Wen in the Wolong National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

Hi, here is what you need to know about China.

BEIJING -- China's top economic planner said Thursday that it had approved 56 fixed-asset investment projects with total investment reaching 240.9 billion yuan (about 35.04 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year.

"The projects mainly covered water conservation, energy and transportation sectors," said Yan Pengcheng, spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission.

- - - -

KABUL -- The construction work of a China-aided Afghan vocational and technical institute started on Wednesday in Afghan capital of Kabul, the latest in China's consistent assistance to the war-hit nation.

Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing were among the officials attending a special ceremony which marked the start of construction of the new building for Afghan National Vocational and Technical Institute.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. House Representative Judy Chu, a Chinese American, said Wednesday she is extremely "disturbed" over the violent treatment of a Chinese-American passenger who was bloodied and dragged off a United Airlines flight, while demanding for answers.

"It is unacceptable to treat any human being in this manner, and United Airlines has to change its policy," Chu told Xinhua in a phone interview from her home state of California.

- - - -

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands -- Wu Wen and Xing Ya, two Chinese giant pandas arrived on Wednesday evening at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam for a 15-year stay in a Dutch zoo, making The Netherlands the seventh European country that hosts this endangered and adorable black and white bear.

The KLM special cargo flight transporting the pandas landed at around 19:30 local time. When the cages were unloaded from the plane, hundreds of people watching the live broadcast on a big screen in a nearby hall erupted into applause.




SYDNEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Aussie market took a fall on Thursday ahead of Australia's four-day Easter holiday period, with political uncertainty and pressure on iron ore prices weighing heavy on the index.

At the close of trade, the S&P/ASX 200 index fell 44.10 or 0.74 percent at 5,899.90, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 43.00 points or 0.72 percent at 5,925.90.

"Perhaps too much is made of geopolitical events, but we are on the eve of a four-day break with the Easter holiday, so investors aren't sure what going to happen," Commsec market analyst Tom Piotrowski told Xinhua.

Base metals and material stocks were hit on Thursday, seeing big loses.

"For the month iron ore prices are down 25 percent and this week they fell 17 percent," Piotrowski said.

"Safe havens like gold are definitely being sought."

The Commonwealth Bank slid 0.50 percent, National Australia bank lost 0.39 percent, Westpac was down 0.52 percent and ANZ finished 0.72 percent lower.

Rio Tinto plummeted 4.43 percent, BHP Billiton dropped 3.99 percent, Fortescue Metals saw drastic loss at 6.78 percent, while gold miner Newcrest added 0.52 percent.

Woodside Petroleum dived 2.07 percent, Santos fell 1.04 percent and Oil Search was down 1.19 percent.

Wesfarmers gained 0.36 percent, while Woolworths slipped 0.41 percent.

Telstra lost 1.42 percent, Qantas was down 1.27 percent and CSL finished 0.21 percent higher.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 15:45:53|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard at a polling station during re-polling for the by-election in Budgam district, part of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 13, 2017. Re-polling for the by-election in Indian-controlled Kashmir's Srinagar constituency began on Thursday amid tight security following Sunday's violence, officials said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Re-polling for the by-election in Indian-controlled Kashmir's Srinagar constituency began on Thursday amid tight security following Sunday's violence, officials said.

The re-polling is going on in violence-hit Budgam district's 38 polling stations.

On Sunday, violence marred the by-election in the district with people, mostly youth, coming out on roads and clashing with police and paramilitaries deployed on poll duty.

Eight people were killed and over 200 people including government force personnel were injured in the daylong clashes, forcing the Election Commission of India to defer similar polls in Anantnag constituency scheduled on Wednesday by more than a month.

The voter turnout on Sunday in Srinagar constituency was recorded at 7 percent, the lowest in decades, a result of a boycott called by region's separatist leaders.

Youth shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans during the election.

Reports said the agitated youth destroyed electronic voting machines, locked polling stations and even chased paramilitary personnel from the polling booths at some places.

Seven of the eight killings that took place on Sunday were reported from Budgam district.

Officials following the violence ordered re-polling in Budgam district, part of Srinagar parliamentary constituency.

Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and will end at 4 p.m..

Authorities have deployed hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel in poll-bound areas to foil attempts of violence.

"We have taken all the precautionary measures by deploying adequate security in the poll-bound areas," a local official told Xinhua. "We will not allow the attempts by some people to sabotage the process."

Some of the candidates in fray have pulled out in protest because they wanted the re-polling to be delayed.

A close contest is between Nazir Ahmad Khan of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and former Indian minister Farooq Abdullah belonging to regional party National Conference.

Results of Srinagar constituency are expected to be counted on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 16:05:58|Editor: Xiang Bo

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NANCHANG, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Once laid-off, Song Ying's life experience, full of ups and downs, has earned her a chance to attend China's major national meeting this year.

The mould worker, 48, from Guixi Huatai Copper Industry Company, was just elected by around 50,000 Communist Party of China (CPC) members in Yingtan city, eastern China's Jiangxi Province, as a national delegate candidate to the 19th CPC National Congress.

Her nomination, which still needs to be reviewed, does not affect her everyday work, developing new moulds in the workshop.

Nationwide, a total of 2,300 delegates will be elected before June to represent China's 88 million CPC members to take part in the national congress.

The meeting, slated for the second half of the year in Beijing, will discuss and set the future direction for the Party and state, as well as elect a new central leadership.

"I didn't expect so many people to trust and elect me. I'm very grateful," said Song, who became a CPC member five years ago.

People placed their trust in her for various reasons. At the age of 33, she was laid off from a brewery where she worked for 16 years, but pulled herself together to find a job as a warehouse keeper in a copper firm.

Song wanted more, and she pushed herself to become a skilled mould worker, learning from colleagues.

Over the past decade, she has led a team to develop new technologies, creating a profit of more than 30 million yuan (around 4 million U.S. dollars) for the previously loss-making factory.

The CPC national congress takes place once every five years. The delegates are not full-time and come from all walks of life: state leaders, officials, workers, farmers and teachers.

The upcoming session will see a higher percentage of grassroots delegates working on the frontline like Song.

These frontline workers should account for no less than one-third of the delegates, representing provincial level regions, the central financial sector and centrally-administered enterprises in Beijing, which increased by 1.33, 13.3 and 1.33 percentage points respectively, compared to the 18th CPC National Congress.

Governments at various levels put forward that Party officials, front-line workers, women and those from ethnic groups should account for a certain proportion of the total.

Meanwhile, excellent Party members making outstanding contribution to reforms, technological innovation and poverty alleviation should also be recommended.

As a migrant worker contributing to poverty relief, Yu Dechun has been nominated as a candidate delegate in Shuizi township, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Yu, 45, has helped many women in the township find jobs related to housekeeping services in cities, increasing their annual income by 8,500 yuan per capita.

More focus on grassroots delegates represents a change in Party membership. Party authorities approved 1.965 million new candidates in 2015, of whom 977,000 were frontline workers, such as industrial employees, farmers, herders and migrants.

"The rising number of frontline delegates can better reflect the views of Party members and cement public support for the Party," said Chu Xiaotao, deputy head of organization department of Yingtan city.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 16:21:02|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the relations between the United States and Russia "may be at an all-time low."

The United States is "not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said at a press conference at the White House.

Trump said that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had completed a successful meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where "things went pretty well." But he said it was an open question where relations go from here.

"It would be a fantastic thing" if the two nations got along better, Trump said, but cautioned that "it may be just the opposite."

Any hope that the Trump administration is poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia has been dashed after the U.S. missile strike on a Syrian airbase last Thursday.

At the press conference, Trump, who frequently called for warmer ties with Putin during his presidential election campaign, defended his decision to launch 59 missiles at the Syrian airbase in response to the alleged chemical attack the United States has said the Syrian government should be blamed for.

"It can't be a worst sight. And it shouldn't be allowed. That's a butcher," Trump said. "So, I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing. And it was very, very successfully done."

When asked whether Russia had prior knowledge about the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons, Trump said it's "possible," but "unlikely" that Russia had known in advance of Syria's plan to launch a chemical weapons attack on its own citizens.

Trump's grim assessment of U.S.-Russia ties came shortly after Tillerson struck a similar tone after meeting with Putin in Moscow.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said at a news conference, adding that Moscow and Washington had agreed to establish a working group to identify problems and improve bilateral relations.

PUTIN-TRUMP HONEYMOON TURNS SOUR

Putin has condemned the U.S. military assault on a Syrian airfield, saying that the move represents an aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law under a far-fetched pretext.

Earlier in an interview broadcast on Wednesday before the meeting with Tillerson, Putin said that mutual trust between Russia and the United States, especially on the military level, had eroded in the first few months of Trump's presidency.

During Tillerson's visit to Moscow on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave the top U.S. diplomat an earful of criticism over the U.S. strike.

Calling for an "objective and unbiased probe" into the chemical attack in Syria, Lavrov said that Russia has no intention to shield anyone responsible for the incident and repeated Russia's view that the Syrian government was not responsible for the attack.

Russia on late Wednesday vetoed a United Nations (UN) resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the suspected chemical attack, saying that Moscow had consistently expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West, including the United States.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said.

Wayne White, former deputy director of the State Department's Middle East intelligence office, told Xinhua that the idea of Washington and Moscow reaching a consensus is highly unlikely.

"U.S. and Russian interests, whether in Syria, toward NATO, human rights, etc. are far too different despite President Trump's earlier interest in an understanding," White said.

"One side inevitably would have to make big sacrifices inconsistent with some of its policy interests, but Trump and Vladimir Putin are two...assertive personalities who instinctively preserve their powerful images. In some ways, they are too much alike," added the expert.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 16:41:09|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SHANGHAI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks will provide an insurance plan to help thousands of its employees in China care for their aging parents, as the global coffee chain sticks to its ambitious expansion plan in the traditionally tea-drinking country.

Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz made the announcement during his China visit this week.

According to the company, full-time employees on the Chinese mainland with parents under the age of 75 years can apply for the China Parent Care Program, which covers medical treatment for 30 common critical illnesses among the elderly in China. More than 10,000 parents are expected to benefit, it said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Schultz said the decision was made after the company discovered the Chinese have unique and powerful family responsibilities to their parents.

Schultz said the commitment was so real and powerful that a survey found 70 to 80 percent of the company's Chinese employees think taking care of their parents is the most desirable benefit they could receive.

"When I sat down (with the employees) and said, 'Tell me what is your dream for yourself,' the only thing that kept coming was not about themselves but 'to take care of my parents,'" Schultz said.

"It is a very easy decision for us....but I view it as a significant opportunity to say thank you to our people and to reassure them of fulfilling their commitment," he said.

The Seattle-based coffee chain entered the Chinese market 18 years ago. But it was not until very recently that its coffee business made leaps and bounds.

In 2011, there were only around 400 Starbucks in China, but today the number has soared to 2,600. And the coffee chain's footprint has gone beyond major metropolises to 127 cities. About 40,000 people were employed.

China has become Starbucks's largest overseas and fastest-growing market.

Schultz confirmed an expansion plan announced last year under which Starbucks China aims to double its number of stores to 5,000 by 2021 and add 10,000 new jobs every year in the next five years.

"We are going to play a 'long game' and we are investing heavily to build a big and enduring business," he said, adding that he is optimistic about the Chinese economy and consumers.

He said people have come to accept that coffee is a beverage that brings people together, which feeds people's longing for human connection just as well as Chinese tea has.

Starbucks China CEO Belinda Wong credited the company's success in China to the country's rapidly expanding middle class, a rising coffee market, and the growth of ritual coffee-drinking behavior.

Schultz said Starbucks will open its first international roastery and reserve tasting room at the end of this year in Shanghai.

Its first roastery opened in Seattle about two years ago to display premium coffee beans and demonstrate unique brewing techniques. Schultz said the Shanghai roastery will be twice the size of the one in Seattle and he cannot wait for it to open.

Starbucks will also continue digital innovation to appeal to China's millennials, Schultz said. The company has recently partnered with Wechat to enable mobile phone payment and started to offer gifting on the popular Chinese social media platform.
JAKARTA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's national search and rescue office said on Thursday that a cargo plane going missing on Wednesday had crashed into a mountain in Papua province.

A signal from the cargo plane had been detected and the crashed plane was located in the deep forest in remote Oksibil, spokesman of the national search and rescue office named only Marsudi told Xinhua by phone.

"The plane collided with a mountain in the deep forest area in Oksibbil," he said.

Rescuers flying there could not reach the area partly due to the poor weather condition, said Marsudi.

The spokesman confirmed that only a pilot was aboard the cargo plane.

The cargo plane was en route from Wajo to Sentani when the crash occurred, the spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 17:56:33|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A former senior legislator in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Gai Ruyin, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, was also fined 2 million yuan (about 291,300 U.S. dollars) and ordered to return all this ill-gotten gains by the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin, north China.

The court found Gai guilty of taking advantage of his various positions in Heilongjiang to help others secure projects, business opportunities and promotions from 2003 to 2015, according to a press release.

In return, he accepted money and property amounting to more than 23 million yuan personally or through other people, the court said.

The court decided to be lenient as Gai pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, returned his illegal gains and offered information about other crimes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 18:06:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

Wang Shouwen (L), Chinese vice minister of commerce, Keiichi Katakami (C), Japan's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Lee Sang-jin, assistant minister of Republic of Korea Ministry of Trade, shake hands during the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement in Tokyo, Japan, April 13, 2017. Top negotiators from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea(ROK) met here Thursday on pushing forward trade in goods and services as well as investment at the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA). (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Top negotiators from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met here Thursday on pushing forward trade in goods and services as well as investment at the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

Wang Shouwen, Chinese vice minister of commerce, said at the meeting that while global economy is facing a slowdown and uncertain future, and world trade and investment are encountering impediments, China's economic growth in the past decade underscores the fact that global trade has played and will continue to play a key role in driving the world economy.

Wang said that if China, Japan and ROK could make substantial headways in the FTA talks, it will send a positive signal to the world on anti-protectionism and safeguarding economic globalization.

The experiences gained from the talks on the trilateral FTA will also contribute to the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Chinese vice minister said.

Keiichi Katakami, Japan's deputy minister for foreign affairs, and Lee Sang-jin, assistant minister of ROK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, attended the meeting.

Trilateral talks on China-Japan-ROK FTA, launched in November 2012, were aimed at forging a comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial free trade agreement with unique values.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 18:26:42|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Wang Jianyi, chairman of Chinese optical cable provider FUTONG Group, lauded the company's decision to expand into Thailand as a win-win move.

"In China, competition in the rapidly growing optical cable sector is squeezing profit margins, but in Thailand the product is still in short supply," Wang said.

By manufacturing products at their destination -- in FUTONG's case at the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone, an industrial park on the east coast of Thailand -- Chinese firms are answering demand while expanding their own businesses.

At the Thai industrial zone, companies have spent 2.5 billion U.S. dollars on building plants and facilities. These firms have generated 120 million U.S. dollars in taxes and created more than 20,000 local jobs.

The industrial park is just one project under the Belt and Road Initiative, a grand trade and infrastructure plan proposed by China in 2013. Building upon the ancient routes, the modern belt and road will be a transnational network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa and promoting common development among all the countries involved.

The industrial zone in Thailand shows that China's ambitious plan more than just visionary or political rhetoric -- it is reality, and the benefits are already being felt.

FORUM TO BUILD MORE CONSENSUS

This time next month over 1,200 representatives, including the leaders of more than 20 countries and 50 international organizations, will gather in Beijing for the first Belt and Road Forum.

Attendees of the two-day forum, which will start May 13, will discuss cooperation on infrastructure, trade and energy development, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The forum comes at a time when, more than ever, countries must seek to reach broader consensus on how to achieve innovative and inclusive growth amid the sagging global economy.

One event to watch, in this regard, will be the round-table summit, as world leaders will discuss policy and strategy coordination.

A number of projects, deals and longer-term initiatives are expected to be pushed forward, while a mechanism for long-term cooperation will be discussed.

"The forum will build consensus among all participants, reinforcing the international community's confidence in the Belt and Road Initiative as well as for globalization itself," said Wang Yiwei, a senior researcher at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University.

COUNTING ON CHINA PLAN

The world economy has still not fully recovered from the global financial crisis. Moreover, uneven resource allocation between developed and developing countries has only made matters worse.

One of the priorities of the Belt and Road Initiative is to help developing countries be heard and to explore a more equitable, reasonable and justified global governance system, said Ou Xiaoli, a senior official of the National Development and Reform Commission.

China, for its part, is willing to share its experience and expertise in infrastructure, trade and energy development with countries along the routes to achieve common prosperity.

According to a report co-authored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and China Bond Rating, investors tend to favor the energy, transportation and information technology sectors.

The value of all infrastructure projects in 66 countries and regions that fell under the initiative in 2016 was just under 500 billion U.S. dollars, according to accounting firm PwC.

"Better infrastructure will help transport goods and talent from China to areas with resources and demand, and then there will be more projects in retail, real estate and other market-oriented sectors in countries with large populations," said Sean Prior, counsel at the law firm Mayer Brown JSM.

FANS AROUND THE GLOBE

Openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit are the hallmarks of the initiative and the source of its strong support, said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).

Since the initiative was proposed, it has won support from over 100 countries and international organizations, with the signing of nearly 50 inter-governmental agreements of cooperation.

In addition to developing-country partners, China signed a cooperation agreement with New Zealand in March, the first developed Western country to do so.

Since 2013, China has invested more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road, according to a CASS report.

A total of 56 economic and trade cooperation zones have already been built by Chinese businesses in 20 Belt and Road countries, generating nearly 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in tax revenue and creating 180,000 local jobs.

A recent resolution adopted by the UN also highlighted the role of the initiative in advancing regional economic cooperation, urging involved parties to help create a favorable environment for projects under the initiative by improving security, among other efforts.

The initiative offers "great potential" for advancing the UN's sustainable development agenda through economic growth, trade opportunities, job and income generation, infrastructure building and capacity building, said UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 18:31:45|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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ADDIS ABABA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States government reinstatement of bans on groups that provide abortions is endangering family planning works being done in Ethiopia, according to an NGO official.

Adam Zeleke, a Senior official at the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) which at 51 years old is Ethiopia's oldest family planning organization, says on Thursday up to 10 percent of their annual funds are affected by the ban.

In January, the administration of new U.S. President Donald Trump reinstated funding ban for international family planning charities that provide abortion or actively support the procedure.

Originally banned under the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984 from Republican Party, it was repealed by President Barrack Obama of Democratic Party in 2009 highlighting partisan divisions over abortion in the United States itself.

The volunteer based FGAE, through its 52 service delivery clinics, gives abortion services provided that the fetus or the expectant mother life is in danger, for individuals under 18 years of age, for victims of rape and incestuous relationship and for those who cannot afford to raise a child.

But the ban on abortion-related funds which amount to 20 million plus U.S. dollars annually has affected other gender and contraceptive services which have been mixed up in the ban, according to FGAE.

"FGAE gives reproductive health services to more than 500,000 people annually, helping cut the birth rate of Ethiopia's ballooning population from 7 children per family in 1992 to 3.2 in 2016," says Zeleke.

FGAE also says contraceptive use in the same period has jumped from 4 percent to 32 percent of the general population.

With a population nearing 100 million, mostly youth, Ethiopia is facing the challenge of feeding its population and providing job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of new job seekers annually.

The U.S. government provides FGAE funds through its own institution Center for Disease Control (CDC), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and an NGO Pathfinder Ethiopia.

"Although the funding ban amounts to just 10 percent of our funds, the fact that we the U.S. government was the largest provider of funds to abortion services will affect our services greatly," says Zeleke.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 18:56:49|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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DAMASCUS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Thursday said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition struck a chemical weapons depot controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Syria, killing hundreds, including civilians.

The U.S.-led airstrikes targeted the big depot containing chemical materials in the town of Hatleh in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour on Wednesday, said the army in a statement.

It added that large numbers of civilians were among those killed due to the suffocation caused by the spread of the toxic materials.

The explosion of the arm depot left a big white cloud, which turned into yellow, said the statement.

"This incident is a sign of the coordination between the terrorist groups and the powers supporting them to find pretexts to frame the Syrian army and accuse it of using chemical weapons," the statement said, almost a week after the opposition accused the Syrian government air force of firing toxic gas on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

At the time, the Syrian government rejected the accusations, blaming the rebels of storing chemical materials in the targeted area.

The U.S. was quick to accuse the government, launching a missile strike against Syria's largest airbase, causing damages and killing six soldiers and nine civilians.

This time, the military statement said that the terrorist groups, including IS and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are in possession of chemical weapons.

"The terrorist groups are capable of obtaining, and stockpiling such weapons with the help of well-known regional countries and that what Syria has been warning against in every instance the rebels used chemical weapons against civilians and government forces," the statement said.
FRANKFURT, April 13 (Xinhua)-- German federal prosecutor's office Thursday filed an arrest warrant against Abdul Beset A., a 26 year-old Iraqi who was detained following an attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus.

The authority which is located in Karlsruhe, a city in southwest Germany, released a statement, saying that the detained Iraqi is suspected as a member of the Islamic State (IS) group.

At the end of 2014, the young man had established contact with IS, before he entered German at the beginning of 2016 via Turkey, according to the authority.

However, there is so far no evidence showing that the accused participated in the Dortmund attack. Borussia Dortmund team bus was hit by three explosions on Tuesday evening, on its way from hotel to stadium, which badly damaged the vehicle, injuring one player.
GAZA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior official in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party said on Thursday there are contacts with the Hamas Movement to soon initiate practical steps toward ending 10 years of internal Palestinian discord in Gaza.

"We cannot wait until we hurt our own national cause ourselves. As Palestinian people and leaders, we must cooperate to end this tragedy," senior Fatah member Azzam al-Ahmad told the official "Voice of Palestine" Radio.

He added that everyone agrees on implementing "what we agreed upon by forming a unity government with extended full authority over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in accordance with the law."

Al-Ahmad, who leads the Fatah Party dialogue with Hamas, pointed out that all the Gaza Strip's problems, whether material, moral or political, "can only finish by ending the anxious chasm."

Regarding the Fatah members' meeting with Hamas representatives in Gaza, Al-Ahmad said that contacts are in place and several delegates are present in Gaza and it is not just merely a visit.

He stressed that "we want decisive and clear guarantees and not to waste time networking nor in meetings."

On Wednesday, Hamas welcomed the anticipated Fatah delegation scheduled visit to the Gaza Strip early next week in order to launch discussions regarding putting an end to the internal Palestinian division, which has lasted for 10 years.

Salah al-Bardawil, a senior Hamas member told reporters that Hamas welcomes any delegation in Gaza and clarified that the Fatah movement includes and involves Palestinians.

Fatah's central committee said on Saturday that a liaison committee was formed to discuss with Hamas final solutions regarding recent steps taken by the Islamic movement in the Gaza Strip.

The Central Committee said after meeting with President Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah that the newly-formed committee will promptly discuss perspectives and final solutions with Hamas, with a deadline set for April 25.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 19:11:58|Editor: huaxia

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SARI PUL, Afghanistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Eleven militants were killed after Afghan air force struck their position in the country's northern province of Sari Pul, a military source said on Thursday.

"The Afghan army's helicopter gunships launched airstrikes against a Taliban hideout in Sayyad district on Wednesday. And 10 militants were also wounded following the raid," a press officer of army's Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region told Xinhua.

The targeted militants' hideout and 15 motorcycles were also destroyed by the attack in the province, 350 km north of Kabul, the source added.

Sari Pul province, as well as neighboring Faryab and Jawzjan provinces, has been the scene of heavy clashes between security forces and militants over the past couple of years as the militants have been trying to challenge government forces in the once peaceful region.

The Taliban insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the U.S. and NATO troops.

The militant group has yet to make comments. Enditem
MOGADISHU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed vowed on Thursday to stabilize the country by defeating Al-Shabaab militant group which has waged a series of attacks against his government.

Mohamed said the militants who have continued to kill and maim innocent civilians in Mogadishu should take advantage of the amnesty issued recently, warning that those continuing to commit acts of terror will face the full force of the government.

"We will look nowhere. We will use the same tactics that we used in the past and we will liberate the country with the capability of our troops," Mohamed said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

The president, who made the remarks during the Somali National Army (SNA) 57th anniversary celebrations held in Mogadishu, said his government was ready to dialogue if the militants take advantage of the amnesty, but promised to pursue them if they do not renounce violence.

He warned that those continuing to commit acts of terror will face the full force of the government and promised to deploy the same tactics that forced out Al-Shabaab from the capital city and other major towns.

"The leaders of Al-Shabaab should know that they are not destroying the government of Somalia. The government has international support and a large army. You are destroying property and killing your brothers. The leaders of Al-Shabaab should know that they have been fighting for the last 10 years and we have patiently waited to negotiate," Mohamed said.

"If you refuse the peace that we are extending to you, we will come after you wherever you are. I am asking you to stop killing people. Let us negotiate, disarm and develop the country," he added, urging the public to brace for a major offensive that will be jointly undertaken by the SNA and AMISOM.

Mohamed pledged to tackle corruption and address the welfare of soldiers as part of ongoing efforts to rebuild the army.

He paid glowing tribute to AMISOM for the role it has played in pacifying the country but noted that for the SNA to be able to play its part, effectively, there is need to have a clean and dedicated leadership, which the administration has started putting in place.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 19:27:05|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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SANAA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A Yemeni security court here under control of Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi movement sentenced Wednesday a veteran journalist to death over charges of spying for neighboring Sunni Saudi Arabia, Houthi-controlled state Saba news agency reported on Thursday.

Yahya al-Jubaihi, 61, was convicted of "illegally establishing contact with a foreign state which is Saudi Arabia and providing its diplomats in Sanaa with reports that posed harm to Yemen's army, political position and economy in return for 4,500 Saudi riyals (1,200 U.S. dollars) from Riyadh since 2010," Saba reported.

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, however, strongly condemned the heavy sentence against al-Jubaihi, saying he was a well-known veteran journalist across Yemen, and accusing Houthis of "targeting the freedom of the press."

The Houthis ousted Saudi-backed internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and seized control of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in September 2014.

Saudi Arabia led a military coalition and intervened in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015 via an air campaign.

The campaign is attempting to restore power to expelled President Hadi and his government. So far, some 10,000 Yemenis have been killed in the air campaign and ground battles, with three million others displaced.
DAKAR, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed on Thursday in fire at a Senegalese religious retreat, according to local media.
NEW DELHI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government said Thursday that Pakistan has been denying its requests for consular access to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former navy officer sentenced to death on charges of spying.

The government said it has no information about the whereabouts of Jadhav in Pakistan.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of Indian navy and we have communicated it to Pakistan a year ago, when it came into our notice that he has been illegally detained there," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay told media.

"So far we had made 13 consular access requests to Pakistan in case of Kulbhushan Jadhav but the requests have been turned down and therefore we don't know where or in what condition he is being held."

According to Baglay, Pakistan has also not shared any details about Jadhav's condition.

India Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has told the Indian parliament that her ministry would go "out of the way" to save Jadhav.

Jadhav, according to Pakistan, was arrested on March 3 last year in restive Balochistan province and sentenced to death on Monday by a military court for carrying out "espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan." Shortly after his arrest, Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) released his confessional video admitting involvement in spying.

Balochistan is hit by a separatist insurgency and Pakistan blames India of backing the separatism in the province.

India rejects Pakistan's claims and said Jadhav was "kidnapped" and tried on "concocted charges."

New Delhi believes Jadhav has been picked up from Iran.

In these conflicting reports how and where Jadhav was detained remains shrouded in mystery.

According to media reports, he has 40 days to appeal to the court against his death penalty.

The two nuclear-armed neighbors - India and Pakistan have a long history of diplomatic spars and both sides often accuse each other of sending spies into their territories to create trouble.

Last year the two countries blamed each others that officials at their respective missions in New Delhi and Islamabad for spying and subsequently forcing each other to withdrew them.

In 2013, Sarabjit Singh, an Indian man on death row, was killed after an attack by fellow prisoners. A Pakistani prisoner Sonaullah sentenced for life died in a similar circumstances days later.

The attack on Sonaullah was seen as an apparent retaliation to the death of Singh.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 19:47:11|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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RAMALLAH, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official said on Thursday that a high-ranking delegation is expected to visit Washington at the end of April in preparation for President Mahmoud Abbas's scheduled visit to the United States.

Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad al-Maliki said in a Radio statement that the Palestinian delegation will head for Washington the last week of April to prepare for Abbas's visit with U.S. President Donald Trump early in May.

On March 10, Abbas received a phone call from Trump with an invitation to visit the U.S. soon.

Last month, U.S. Envoy for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, visited Palestinian territories and Israel, and held talks with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It was Greenblatt's first visit to the region since Trump took office as the U.S. President this January.

Greenblatt affirmed that Trump is committed to achieve permanent peace between Palestinians and Israelis through direct peace negotiations.

The last peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians ended in vain around the end of March 2014 following nine months of U.S.-sponsored peace talks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 20:34:56|Editor: Yamei

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (2nd L, front) attends a conference of an executive committee for holding a series of activities marking the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, in Tokyo, Japan, April 12, 2017. Japan will hold a series of activities marking the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations this year and the 40th anniversary of a bilateral peace and friendship treaty next year, said Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of Japan Business Federation, here on Wednesday. Sakakibara, head of an executive committee for holding the activities, said at the first conference of the committee here that Japan hopes to further enhance friendly exchanges with China through these activities. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
CAPE TOWN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A nationwide bus strike continued on Thursday, frustrating thousands of commuters who are stranded on the eve of the Easter holiday.

Thousands of bus drivers have gone on strike to protest against the dehumanizing conditions faced by employees in the bus passenger sector.

The services of Golden Arrow and MyCiti in Cape Town, Rea Vaya in Johannesburg, Gautrain buses and Putco in Gauteng Province, as well as some long-distance bus services have all been suspended because of the strike action.

In Cape Town alone, 220,000 Golden Arrow passengers were affected, according to the company.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which organized the strike, vowed on Thursday to continue the strike indefinitely until its demand for a 12-percent wage increases is met.

The union has rejected the latest wage offer of 7.5 percent increase by employers in the bus passenger sector.

Talks with employers broken down on Wednesday, leaving the striking workers with no choice but to continue their strike action, NUMSA acting national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi said.

"We were hoping that the employer would engage meaningfully with our demands and put a fair offer on the table, but that wasn't the case," he said.

It is clear that the employers do not care about resolving the strike, neither do they care about the welfare of the workers, or the public at large, Hlubi said.

"We call on all workers to unite behind this just cause for equality and dignity. We will not return to work until the employer starts to treat our members like human beings, instead of slave labor," said Hlubi.

Easter is one of the most important holidays in South Africa. From Friday to Monday, thousands of pilgrims and holiday makers will be travelling to attend church service and travelling to different holiday destinations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 20:37:21|Editor: Yamei

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang (Photo source: fmprc.gov.cn)

BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday reaffirmed that dialogue and consultation are the only effective way to solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press briefing Thursday.

Lu said it has always been the stance of the Chinese government that dialogue and consultation are the only way to achieve denuclearization and safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

"We have taken note of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's remarks that Russia and the United States agree that the only solution to the Korean Peninsula unclear issue is political," Lu said.

"We hope all related parties will forge consensus on this general direction and fundamental principle and make concrete efforts accordingly," said Lu.

Lavrov made the remarks Wednesday after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
NAIROBI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and the World Bank will partner to roll out a project to improve maternal, child and adolescent health, Kenyan officials said on Thursday.

The five-year Transforming Health System for Universal Care (THS-UC) project will begin in October and end in September 2021 and will strengthen institutional health capacity in order improve quality of health services in the counties.

Co-chair of THS-UC Project William Muraah told a media briefing in Nairobi that Kenya has received a 150 million U.S. dollar loan from the World Bank to fund the project that aims to disburse resources to the 47 counties in order to improve their primary health services.

"The five year project will improve access to and demand for quality primary health care services so as to reduce maternal deaths," Muraah said. Government data indicates that Kenya loses 362 women for every 100,000 live births.

Muraah said through the project Kenya should reduce the figure to 70 per live births by the year 2030. According to the ministry of health, 15 out of 47 counties account for 85 percent of all maternal deaths.

He said that the counties with weaker health systems will receive more priority funding as compared to the ones with stronger health systems.

THS-UC will be implemented by the 47 counties government because health is a devolved function.

Muraah, who is also the Meru County Executive Committee Member in Charge of Health, said that all the county governments are currently developing work plans to execute the project.

He noted that project is aligned to Kenya's constitution, the second medium term development plan as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 21:17:29|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China will keep its tough stance on terrorism and will maximize anti-terror efforts to "root out violent, terrorist activities," Chinese police chief Guo Shengkun has said.

China will adhere to its tough policy and reinforce the role of intelligence and information, Minister of Public Security Guo told a national anti-terror work meeting on Wednesday.

His speech at the meeting was released Thursday.

Guo, also head of the national anti-terrorism leading group, asked police authorities to campaign against violence and terrorism and "deepen anti-extremism work," as well as curb the spread of audio and video items related to violence and terrorism.

He also asked them to motivate the people to participate in anti-terror work and ensure a safe, stable environment for the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
NAIROBI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's ministry of agriculture has announced invasion of fall armyworms in the country and discouraged citizens from moving plant materials from one region to another as the pest ravages farms in the East African nation.

The pests have infested several farms targeting mainly maize, thus, worsening the country's food crisis affected by a six month drought.

"The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries announces the invasion of fall armyworms in western, southern and south rift regions. The public is discouraged from moving infested plant materials to areas where the pest has not been detected," said the ministry in a statement Thursday.

In Kenya, the movement of green maize for roasting is a thriving business, posing a serious threat in spreading the pest.

The ministry identified a variety of crops that the pest is ravaging, including cereals such as sorghum, millet, rice, millet, wheat, maize and barley. Pasture grasses like Bermuda, hay and Napier grass are also being attacked by the pest, the ministry said.

"Other susceptible crops include kales, cabbages, legumes or pulses, bananas, tomatoes, capsicum, ginger, spinach, amaranth, onions, sugar beet, citrus, cucumber and sunflower."

The ministry noted that the armyworm is a migratory pest, with the adult pest having a capacity to fly over 30km drifting through air current.

"Fall armyworm is a ferocious feeder which upon invasion quickly destroys maize. The caterpillar feeds on the outer foliage making large and ragged holes. Attack on maize at early vegetative stage can result into 100 percent loss if no control measures are taken," said the ministry.

Farmers in different parts of East Africa's biggest economy, especially those in maize growing areas like Bungoma, Busia, Siaya and Kakamega and wheat growing areas like Nakuru and Uasin Gishu, have reported armyworm infestation.

The invasion spells a huge trouble for citizens, who consume up to 4 million bags of maize every month, according to the ministry, with the country producing only 40 million bags annually and the rest is imported.

"Maize is the most important staple in Kenya with a per capita consumption of more than 78kg per annum. Currently, approximately 11,000 hectares of off-season maize have been infested. Therefore, the pest has the potential to cause national food insecurity. This pest is of great socio-economic importance and warrants attention," said the government agency.

The armyworm, according to the ministry, undergoes full egg-larva-pupa-adult metamorphosis, with the female laying tiny eggs in masses of 150-200 covered by a protective protein sheath, making it hard to eliminate.

However, the ministry recommends late evening spraying with requisite chemicals at least three times starting at two weeks after emergence, then when the maize is at knee high and just before tussling.

"Plant early and adhere to regional planting calendar, use recommended fertilizers and keep fields weed-free to boost plant vigour," the government told farmers.

County governments in affected regions have allocated millions of U.S. dollars to help farmers fight the pest. Farmers, on their own, however are also recording some level of success in fighting the pest, with some noting it is just a matter of time before they eliminate the armyworms.

"For now, I have tamed the worms through constant spraying. Farmers should remain vigilant all the time looking for signs of new attacks and spray with pesticides immediately. One should never spray once and believe the armyworms have been eliminated," Samuel Ambuche, a farmer in Bungoma, said Thursday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 21:42:41|Editor: Xiang Bo

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NICOSIA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese investors have contributed to a large extent to the revival of the construction sector in Cyprus following its collapse after the 2013 economic crisis, an expert in the property market said on Thursday.

Kyriakos Talatinis, president of Cyprus Association of Valuers and Property Consultants, told Xinhua that investment by Chinese in the Paphos area was one of the reasons the property market jumped 40 percent in 2016 compared to 2015.

He said that the Paphos area in western Cyprus attracted mostly Chinese buyers as property developers from this region were the first to visit China to attract customers after the Cyprus's 10-billion-euro bailout in March 2013.

"As early as 2013, Chinese people started buying property in Paphos, " he said.

Data showed that contracts for property transactions submitted to the land registry department reached 7,063, an increase of 43 percent in 2016 for the eastern Mediterranean island.

"Not all regions benefited by the same ratio. Land development in Limassol went up by 59 percent, and by 40 percent in Paphos. Demand came mostly from foreign purchasers and especially in Paphos from Chinese buyers," Talatinis said.

Land registry department data showed that in 2016 there had been 295 completed purchases by foreigners in Paphos out of a total of 958 for the whole of Cyprus and another 627 sale agreements in which the buyers are non-Cypriots had been filed with the land registry department, out of a total of 1,183.

Filing a sale contract with the land registry department is a guarantee for the purchaser that the same property cannot be legally sold more than once.

Talatinis said that for the size of Cyprus and its economy, even one-half of these would have made an impact.

But home buying is still far behind its 2008 peak, the year Cyprus joined the eurozone, when a total of 16,000 contracts were filed with the land registry department.

Talatinis said prices are still down to between 70 and 75 percent relative to 2008 but there is a fluctuation between regions. Prices for sea-side properties in Limassol and Paphos are close of even above those of 2008 due to foreign demand, but in other areas are still depressed.

The Federation of Associations of Building Contractors Cyprus said the increase in construction is continuing in 2017.

The association president, Costas Roushas, said data showed that building activity increased by 23 percent in the first two months this year relative to the same period in 2016, on top of an increase of 21 percent for the whole of last year.

Roushas said a factor which helped the construction of new houses was a cut of 50 percent in transfer fees introduced last year by the government.

He said that reducing value added tax on the purchase of houses to 5 percent from the current level of 19 percent could boost even more the construction sector.

Roushas said that a considerable part of the activity is due to the construction of high-rise luxury buildings in Limassol offering luxury apartment and office space.

At least three complexes up to 30 floors high are under construction along the sea-front of the city. (1 euro = 1.06 U.S. dollars)
ISLAMABAD, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Security forces have killed four militants and arrested another 12 in Pakistan's east Punjab province during the past 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

Colonel Amjad Iqbal, the spokesman of paramilitary troops Rangers in Punjab, said the forces launched a search operation in Dera Ghazi Khan district of the province on an intelligence tip-off.

The spokesman said a soldier also got injured during the clash of firing with the militants during the operation.

He said the operation was carried out under Radd-ul-Fasaad, the ongoing combat to eliminate terrorists and their networks from the country.

All the four militants were affiliated with banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and a huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered from their custody.

"Four suicide jackets, one rocket launcher, six rockets, six detectors, four charged boosters and 18 other weapons were recovered from the suspects' possession," he said.

The spokesman said Rangers arrested 12 suspected militants during raids in Sheikhupura, Sambrial and Kharian cities.
WARSAW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said that during his visit to Washington next week he would ask for U.S. help to retrieve from Russia the wreckage of a Polish presidential plane that crashed in 2010, Polish public television TVP reported Thursday.

"I have been invited to Washington by (U.S.)Secretary of State Rex Tillerson," Waszczykowski told TVP.

"We will, first of all, talk about bilateral cooperation, military cooperation, about security in our part of Europe," the Polish minister said.

They are also to discuss Russia's return to Poland of the wreckage of the presidential plane that crashed near Smolensk, western Russia, on April 10, 2010, killing all 96 people on board. Several important Polish figures died in the crash, including then President Lech Kaczynski and his wife.

"We are still waiting for support from our allies on this matter," Waszczykowski stressed. "I will certainly present the whole issue of the Smolensk disaster and our diplomatic struggle to get the wreckage back, and I will ask for assistance," the minister said.

Seven years ago, a Polish government plane, Tupolev Tu-154, crashed near a military airfield in Smolensk. Among the victims were dozens of senior government officials and military commanders.

The delegation was underway to nearby Katyn in western Russia to attend events commemorating Polish victims of Katyn executions in 1940.
MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Montenegro's upcoming accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will harm stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"We consider this step as a manifestation of inertia in Washington's policy, reflecting the logic of confrontation on the European continent, creating new dividing lines," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a protocol to ratify Montenegro's accession to NATO, and the Balkan country will officially join the alliance as its 29th member next month in Brussels.

Montenegro's accession to NATO is not based on real public opinion and has incurred criticism even in the United States, the statement added.

Tensions between NATO and Russia have escalated as both are engaged in military build-up along the Russian border. Moscow strongly opposes the bloc's eastward expansion, which it says threatens its national security. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 22:22:49|Editor: Xiang Bo

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GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police in several provinces arrested more than 430 suspects in connection with Internet-based pyramid-style schemes.

Police in Guangdong, Beijing, Zhejiang and Henan busted multiple gangs, said the Public Security Department of Guangdong Province on Thursday.

The illegal fundraising schemes involved 4 billion yuan (580 million U.S. dollars), with victims from across the country, said the department.

Guangdong police began to investigate the cases in March. Some Internet companies in the province organized themselves under the disguise of charities or high-tech biological products with promises of high returns.

In the first quarter, Guangdong police investigated more than 100 illegal fundraising cases and arrested more than 170 suspects, up 18 percent and 26 percent respectively.
JAKARTA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Two boats capsized Thursday off Indonesia's main island Java, leaving at least 11 people dead and five others missing, an official said.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster agency, said overcapacity maybe the reason for the mishaps in Majalengka regency, West Java and Gresik regency, East Java.

"In the first accident, a wooden boat in Majalengka flipped over on a river as it carried 14 farmers to harvest their crops," Nugroho said, adding that nine people died and five survived.

Meanwhile, another overloaded boat carrying 13 people also capsized on a river in Gresik, leaving two people drowned, five missing, and six survived.

Nugroho added the rescue team will continue searching the missing on Friday.

In January, 23 people were killed, 17 went missing and 190 passengers were rescued when a massive fire engulfed a boat carrying hundreds of people to an island north of Jakarta in celebration of the New Year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 22:32:52|Editor: ZD

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki meet the press after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Cui Xinyu)

BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that it has no geopolitical concerns in its role in the Middle East and reaffirmed that its stance would always be fair and just.

"China has played a positive and constructive role in the Middle East for years. There is no geopolitical consideration in its role, nor intention to make a balance with any other country," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after his talks with visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki in Beijing.

Wang added that China welcomed any country that wanted to support the region more and give more attention to the Palestine-Israel issue.

He said the Palestine issue can only be settled with concrete action.

The foreign minister voiced support for the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, the two-state solution, the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and any other help that would ease the Palestine-Israel situation.

Wang urged the relevant sides to immediately stop any action that may undermine peace talks and mutual trust, and called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, and for the building of new settlements and violence against civilians to stop.

The resolution, adopted on Dec. 23, 2016, condemned Israel's settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as illegal, and urged it to halt building.

Wang called for the resumption of peace talks as early as possible, and hoped the international community could enhance cooperation in this regard.

Wang said China has made and will continue its efforts to promote the solution of the Palestine-Israel issue.

China has always supported Palestine on its capacity building and will continue to offer support and help within its own capacity.

Riyad al-Malki is on a four-day official visit to China from April 12 to 15 at the invitation of Wang.
Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

CAIRO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is an important partner of China in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, a visiting senior Chinese official said here on Thursday.

When meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hailed the long-standing traditional friendship between the two countries and continuous developments in bilateral ties.

The presidents of the two countries have reached a broad consensus on developing the comprehensive strategic partnership, pointing out the directions of bilateral ties, she said.

"China attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with Egypt and regards Egypt as an important partner in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative," Sun said.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, known as the 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.

"China would like to comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields with Egypt and achieve joint development on the basis of mutual benefit and a win-win situation," Sun added.

She also condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Egypt and expressed condolences to the victims.

For his part, Sisi said Egypt admires the great achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC.

"Egypt highly values the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative actively," Sisi said, adding that he welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in Egypt.

Egypt is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to combat terrorism in all its forms, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 22:52:59|Editor: Tian Shaohui

Moon Jae-in, a presidential candidate of South Korea's biggest Minjoo Party, speaks during a campaign for the upcoming presidential election in Seoul, South Korea on April 13, 2017. The country's presidential elections will take place on May 9. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)

SEOUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Five major South Korean presidential candidates had heated discussions Thursday in the first TV debate, with less than a month left before an early presidential election.

The presidential by-election is scheduled for May 9 as former President Park Geun-hye was impeached on March 10 and arrested three weeks later over corruption allegations. The three-week election campaign period is to kick off next week.

The first debate was centered on security issues as geopolitical risks escalated following the news reports that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its accompanying battleships re-routed and headed to the Korean Peninsula.

The rare re-routing of the U.S. super carrier boosted worry here about a possible U.S. airstrike on nuclear facilities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

All of the South Korean presidential contenders agreed to the importance of blocking any military conflict on the peninsula, but they showed subtle difference in ways to resolve a possible security crisis.

Moon Jae-in of the biggest Minjoo Party, a frontrunner in recent opinion polls, said he would immediately have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to make sure his firm opposition to any unilateral pre-emptive strike on the DPRK without South Korea's consent.

And then, he would ask the DPRK through various channels to immediately stop any provocation, which can lead to the U.S. attack, while cooperating with China in the meantime.

Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People's Party, a runner-up in opinion surveys, said he would first have phone calls with U.S. and Chinese leaders, before announcing a statement to ask the DPRK to stop any provocations.

Hong Joon-pyo of the former ruling Liberty Korea Party and Yoo Seong-min of the minor conservative Righteous Party opened a possibility for the U.S. strike though they emphasized that any military action should be shunned.

The other key issue on security was the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, which Seoul and Washington agreed in July last year to deploy in southeast South Korea.

Two mobile launchers and a part of elements of the THAAD battery were delivered on March 6 to a U.S. military base in South Korea. One battery is composed of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, the AN/TPY-2 radar and the fire and control unit.

Sim Sang-jung of the minor progressive Justice Party showed the clearest position in an opposition to the THAAD deployment, saying THAAD is incapable of defending against the DPRK's nuclear-tipped missiles.

THAAD is designed to intercept incoming missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km. Pyongyang has capability to avoid the intercepting range as hundreds of DPRK missiles targeting South Korea flies at an altitude of less than 40 km.

Sim said the so-called "THAAD panacea" insistence on the U.S. missile shield capable of shooting down all DPRK missiles would be of no help to national security, and that any attempt to politicize security issues would be the most dangerous security policy.

Yoo Seong-min of the Righteous Party, who insisted on South Korea's purchase of two more THAAD batteries in addition to the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system operated by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), agreed with Sim's claim on a harmful effect from the security issue politicization.

Moon reiterated his stance that the THAAD issue must be relayed to next government, while Ahn said it would be hard to reverse the THAAD deployment decision, which he described as an agreement between governments, in a stark contrast to his party's opposition to THAAD in South Korea.

Ahn's change in stance on THAAD seemed to have considered conservative voters, many of whom have yet to be informed of how THAAD operates and still believe THAAD is capable of intercepting DPRK missiles.

Support for Ahn, especially among the elderly conservative voters, jumped recently as the voters failed to find an outstanding conservative politician following the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who was once viewed as a political icon in the conservative bloc.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping (3rd R) and Zimbabwean Minister of Industry and Commerce Mike Bimha (3rd L) attend the launching ceremony of the Grand Tiger pickup trucks in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 27, 2017. A joint venture of Chinese and Zimbabwean auto companies on Monday launched a top-of-the-range pickup truck, the Grand Tiger, in Zimbabwe. The launch followed the joint venture forged between Beijing Automotive Group Co. Ltd (BAIC Group) and two Zimbabwean companies to form Beiqi Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. (Xinhua)

HARARE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping has urged Zimbabwe to improve its investment climate to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

FDI into Zimbabwe has been low over the years mainly due to poor economic conditions and policy inconsistency. FDI into the country stood at approximately 300 million U.S. dollars in 2016.

While delivering a lecture at Zimbabwe Staff College on Tuesday, Huang said any country wishing to attract foreign investment should have sound laws and regulations to protect investments, state-run news agency New Ziana reported.

"Whoever is ready for cooperation and has the cooperation conditions in place will be among the first for Chinese investors to develop such cooperation with," he said.

"That is why we have been stressing the necessity for the Zimbabwean government to foster a sound and favorable environment for investors to come here and carry out business," he added.

He cited the establishment of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as a positive step, which would help attract much needed foreign investment.

Government has so far identified three SEZs - Sunway City in Harare, Bulawayo industrial hub and Victoria Falls financial hub, as part of a raft of measures the government is implementing to lure FDI.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping and Zimbabwean Minister of Industry and Commerce Mike Bimha drive the Grand Tiger pickup truck in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 27, 2017. (Xinhua)

A range of tax incentives will apply in the SEZs, including exempting companies from corporate income tax for the first five years of operation and allowing duty free importation of capital equipment.

Apart from establishing SEZs, Zimbabwe is also in the process of amending various laws that have hindered ease of doing business.

Some of the laws being amended include the Companies Act, Shop licensing Act and the Procurement Act.

The government is also aiming to reduce the days it takes to register a business from 30 days to between 10 and 15 days.

The Chinese ambassador said Zimbabwe should work to attract funding from the 60 billion U.S. dollars that China pledged to push forward China-Africa cooperation at the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit held in South Africa.

Beijing promised the funding in loans and grants to Africa over the next three years. Chinese President Xi Jinping also unveiled a ten-points economic cooperation plan for China and Africa, to be financed by the three-year financing facility.

The plan includes financial support for, among other things, industrial, agricultural and infrastructural development in Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:28:06|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recognized Ethiopia's significant gains in human development and advised the East African country to work on its achievements.

Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Ethiopia, said Thursday Ethiopia still belongs to the low human development category.

"However, the country has made significant gains in human development, with the human development value increasing by 58.3 percent from 2000 to 2015," said Eziakonwa-Onochie.

Yinager Dessie, Ethiopian National Planning Commissioner, also asserted that the Ethiopian government, in addition to its efforts in improving access to basic public services, is committed to halt major social barriers, including corruption and gender discrimination.

"The Ethiopian government believes in ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth through human capital development and improving the quality of social services," he said.

Latest Human Development Report launched by UNDP on Thursday also urged the global community to invest in combating epidemics and violence and ensuring security.

According to the report, impressive progresses were registered in human development over the past 25 years.

"People now live longer; more children are at school; and access to basic social services has improved; and overall, there has been improvement in people's standard of living," said the report.

The report, however, noted that the world's citizens are not benefiting from equitable and universal access to quality education, health care, social protection and gender equality.

Out of 188 countries for which the human development index was presented, 41 countries belong to low human development category, the majority of which being in sub-Sahara Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:33:08|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized the legal obstacles to countering terrorism after an attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus on Tuesday, Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported Thursday.

Merkel noted that variations among the laws and regulations at the federal and state level would make the country vulnerable when facing a terrorism threat.

"(There are) unfortunately very different levels of laws in individual states," Merkel said.

She referred to North Rhine-Westphalia, saying the state did not allow policemen to conduct random checks and added that surveying people perceived as potential threats was not allowed in every state.

Merkel called on states to work in close coordination with the federal government and to do everything to "ensure safety in freedom" for German citizens.

On Tuesday, a bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund team was hit by bombs. One of its players was injured.

German prosecutors have detained a Iraqi suspect over the incident and investigations are ongoing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:43:09|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- An air strike against the Islamic State (IS) group in northern Syria on Tuesday by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition mistakenly killed 18 members of allied forces there, the Pentagon said Thursday.

"The strike was requested by the partnered forces, who had identified the target location as an ISIS (IS) fighting position," the Pentagon said in a statement. "The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting position."

Media reports said the strike was intended to target IS militants south of Tabqa. The SDF, with the help of air and ground support from the U.S.-led coalition, has surrounded the IS stronghold.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:43:09|Editor: yan

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KIGALI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda government officials on Thursday paid tribute to 13 opposition politicians killed by the genocidal regime during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The murdered opposition politicians were hailed for their courage shown towards denouncing the former government's atrocities and human rights violations.

Speaking at the memorial event, Bernard Makuza, Rwanda Senate President, hailed the slain politicians for their heroism.

"Politicians played a major role in the planning and executing the genocide; however, the ones we are remembering today chose to oppose it," he said.

Some of the killed politicians were supposed to be part of a transitional government that was to be set up under Arusha Peace Accord.

The memorial event was attended by government officials, political leaders and families of the 13 fallen politicians. The event also attracted members of the foreign diplomatic corps accredited to Rwanda.

The slain politicians are honored at the last day of the official week of mourning, which started last Friday. The day is dedicated to remembering the brave politicians killed during the 100 days of genocide, which claimed about 1 million lives.

The genocide started after a plane carrying the ex-Rwandan president, Juvenal Habyarimana (a member of the ethnic Hutu majority) was shot down on April 6, 1994. Rwandan Hutus blamed ethnic Tutsis for the attack and sought immediate revenge.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:43:10|Editor: ZD

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Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (L) and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov shake hands during the fourth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee in Moscow, Russia, April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia have agreed to further expand investment and energy cooperation to promote bilateral ties.

The pledges came out of the fourth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, and the meeting between Zhang and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich in Moscow on Wednesday.

The main task of the committee meeting is to have in-depth discussions about new measures to lift the scale and level of the investment cooperation between the two countries, turning the advantages of high-level political ties into more cooperation results, Zhang said.

The committee meeting is also meant to prepare for meeting between leaders of the two countries later this year, he said.

Zhang put forward three proposals to boost two-way investment cooperation. He called on both countries to further synergize China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union to give full play to the role of investment cooperation on integrating the two sides' interests, complementing resources, synergizing industries, and conducting technology exchanges, among others.

The two countries need to actively explore cooperation on the third-party market, he said.

Besides, Zhang encouraged the two countries to continue to boost cooperation on major projects and properly implement the projects they've agreed upon.

China is ready to take an active part in the development of Russia's Far East, Russia's import substitution strategy and privatization process, and jointly set up more symbolic investment cooperation projects, the vice premier said.

He also suggested both sides enhance regional cooperation and the cooperation between small- and medium-sized enterprises from the two countries.

China has always viewed Russia as its top priority partner for investment cooperation, said Zhang.

He said China hopes that the two sides will continue to give full play to the complementary advantages in such areas as resources, market, industry, technology, capital and human resources to benefit common development.

For his part, Shuvalov said Russia is satisfied with the progress made since the third investment cooperation committee meeting held in Beijing in June 2016, and is ready to implement the goals and tasks of investment cooperation set by the presidents of the two countries.

Stressing that Russia attaches great importance to the Belt and Road Initiative and the high-level forum on it to be held in May in Beijing, Shuvalov said Russia would like to further link it with Russia's Eurasian Economic Union.

Russia will closely follow the 73 cooperation projects set up during the fourth meeting and facilitate their implementation, he said, adding that he hopes both Russian and Chinese enterprises will lift their competitiveness on the global market.

During a separate meeting with Dvorkovich, the Russian chair of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, Zhang expressed the hope for implementing the presidents' consensus on the energy sector so as to better prepare for the two leaders' upcoming meeting through his current visit.

Hailing the sound basis, wide-range areas and great potential of the China-Russia energy cooperation, Zhang said the two countries need to continue to deepen their cooperation, jointly promote the projects including the east-route gas pipeline project and the Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, and conduct cooperation in areas including gas storage and natural-gas-burning power generation.

Echoing Zhang's remarks, Dvorkovich said the Russia-China strategic partnership of comprehensive coordination is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and both peoples.

China's economic growth is conducive not only to the recovery and growth of global economy, but also to the pragmatic cooperation between Russia and China, he said.

Russia is willing to work with China to push cooperation in energy and other areas to yield more results, Dvorkovich said.

China's import of crude oil from Russia set a new record last year. According to statistics from Russia, in January 2017, Russia became the biggest crude oil exporter to China, exceeding Saudi Arabia.

According to Chinese Customs data, fuel supplies from Russia rose by a quarter last year compared with 2015, up to 1.05 million barrels per day.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-13 23:58:16|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The countdown starts for the Sunday's key referendum to decide on whether to change the constitution for an executive presidency with a neck to neck race between "nay" and "yea" sayers, but undecided voters may be the determinant of poll results, according to local analysts.

A recent survey conducted on April 12 shows a close race, putting the Yes vote slightly ahead with 52.5 percent after the distribution of undecided voters, Ozer Sencar, chairman of the pollster Metropoll told Xinhua.

Turkish electorate will go to polls to vote Yes or No for an 18-article charter change that would shift the existing parliamentary system to an executive presidency, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said will increase stability in Turkey.

But the some nine percent of the voters still undecided could determine the fate of the referendum, the analyst said, stressing that some of those undecided votes may not go to polls, but they are not at a point when their behavior are foreseeable.

If the nine percent undecided among Turkey's approximately 56 million voters tends toward Yes or No vote, they would swing the balance on referendum results, Sencar said.

As President Erdogan has appeared at the campaign stage for Yes on charter change, which will extend his powers, he reversed the halting momentum of the Yes campaign.

Sencar underlines his personal influence on voters, with rhetoric attacking at the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) that leads the naysayers, has increased Yes votes.

Erdogan uses stinging rhetoric to appeal to Turkish nationalists and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Yes campaign is backed by the AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

"Erdogan uses method of polarization in each election. He designs his rhetoric on the grounds of this polarization. He intentionally does not get into the specifics of the constitutional changes brought to the people," Sencar said while elaborating on the campaign arguments which falls away from genuine constitution change discussions.

Thereby, the president consolidated some of traditional AKP voter bases with an increase from 87 percent to 91 percent in April, the analyst said.

A recent survey by pollster KONDA on April 13 indicates seven percent increase in Yes votes after President Erdogan took the field to campaign in February.

KONDA predicts 51.5 Yes vote against 48.5 No vote with a participation of 90 percent Turkish citizens.

Meanwhile, a crisis with the Europe after the banning of some rallies by Turkish ministers in the Netherlands and Germany on security grounds has worked for the increase of Yes campaign, Sencar stated.

"There is an amazing explosion of votes abroad. Around 1.42 million votes have been cast," Erdogan said on Tuesday. Some 2.88 million voters were registered abroad in the last general election in November 2015.

Naysayers are lacking any single leader, with the main opposition CHP and the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) the two main political parties at the parliament backing No votes.

While the HDP has strong grassroots among Turkey's Kurdish voters, who makes up at least one fifth of the population, some conservative Kurdish voters remain undecided.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:03:17|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria is striving to reduce importation of petroleum products, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu said Thursday.

In a statement to Xinhua, the minister said such effort will receive a boost if major International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country build signature refineries.

Signature refineries are bigger than modular ones but do not produce up to the large-scale refineries in Nigeria. They are built mainly to augment local need to reduce importation.

Kachikwu, who recently had an audience with officials of oil giant ExxonMobil, made a case for the deepening of investment in the oil and gas sector by IOCs operating in Nigeria.

He met with Eni in January and the Italian company pledged to work with Nigeria to revamp the Port Harcourt Refinery.

He has also scheduled meetings with Shell, Chevron and Total.

Kachikwu urged ExxonMobil to deepen its investments in the country by developing human capital.

He said this could be run on joint-venture basis with the Nigerian government providing the needed incentives.

The minister reiterated the gains made through the signing of the repayment agreement for the Joint Venture Cash Call in 2016, saying the initial payments to the IOCs would be made by end of April.

He said it would be expedient if the IOCs reciprocated the government's gesture and commitment by ensuring that they ramp-up investments in the sector.

He also commended the IOC for its enduring partnership with Nigeria which, he said, had grown stronger over the years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:08:19|Editor: yan

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BISHKEK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Kyrgyzstan vowed to strengthen cooperation and coordination in border affairs as a Chinese delegation concluded a three-day visit here, the Kyrgyz Border Service (KBS) announced Thursday.

The delegation of the Border Defense Department of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security visited neighboring Kyrgyzstan's Border Service between April 10 and April 13, during which the heads of the two agencies discussed border security issues.

The two sides acknowledged the fruitful work in the field of combating transnational crime and in ensuring security and stability along the two countries' borders.

They agreed to enhance inter-agency communications, conduct regular analysis of the situation in the border areas, share information and experience, and continue joint patrolling along the borders.

In addition, they also stressed the need for conducting joint anti-terrorism exercises, with the Chinese side proposing cooperation in personnel training as well as providing military and technical assistance to the KBS.

The two sides inked an agreement on Chinese provision of technical support to the KBS worth 1 million RMB (161,048 U.S. dollars).
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:23:21|Editor: yan

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KIEV, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's central bank on Thursday lowered its estimate for the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year, citing the negative impact of the blockade in the industrial eastern region of Donbas on the economy.

According to the revised forecast, the Ukrainian economy will grow 1.9 percent this year, down from the central bank's January projection of 2.8 percent.

"This downward revision resulted from expectations that the hold on trade in eastern Ukraine and the loss of the production facilities located in the rebel-controlled areas will decrease the output of some industries," the bank said in a statement.

The export-oriented metallurgical and mining industries, as well as coke production and electrical industry, will be hit by the blockade the most, the statement said.

In the same time, the negative effects of the blockade will be partially offset by the projected good demand on the Ukrainian products on the global market, it said.

Since late January the trade between the government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine has been suspended as activists had blocked the movements of cargo trains.

The blockade has triggered the energy crisis in Ukraine, causing the deficit of anthracite coal, which is used in electricity production and metallurgy.

The Ukrainian economy grew by 2.3 percent in 2016 compared with a consolidated decline of 16.5 percent over the previous two years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:38:26|Editor: yan

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SHANGHAI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The latest benefit of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is to its non-Chinese residents, who can apply for permanent residence in China simply with a letter of recommendation from the FTZ authorities.

According to the social security bureau of Shanghai Pudong New Area, the new policy will take effect in mid-April, and apply to both the applicants and their spouses and minor children.

The move was made following 10 rules related to China's entry and exit policy announced by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), which authorize Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone and Shanghai FTZ to recommend high-level foreign staff for permanent residence permits, Chinese "green cards".

Those with permanent residence will enjoy the same rights as Chinese citizens in areas such as investment, housing purchases and schooling.

The reform is to support Shanghai's ambition of becoming a world sci-tech innovation hub.

Those who qualify for the fast track application include well-known award winners or high-level talent scheme finalists, such as Nobel laureates, the Chinese government "Friendship Award" and other world-class, national and municipal awards; people in charge of Shanghai FTZ-based national laboratories, engineering laboratories, foreign investment R&D institutions, and top-level talent from innovation and start-up enterprises.

A Chinese green card is one of the hardest to obtain with no more than 7,000 issued since 2004, when the policy was introduced. That compares with about 600,000 foreigners currently living in China, and the application procedure is rather complicated.

In 2016, 1,576 foreigners became permanent Chinese residents, an increase of 163 percent on the previous year, according the MPS.

China has made huge progress in easing its residence and entry policies for foreigners since September 2015, which has helped attract more talent from overseas as well as boosting international exchanges and the economy, according to a ministry statement.

Shanghai saw six times more permanent residence applications from foreigners and their families in 2016 from 2015. The number of such applications in Beijing last year increased 426 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:48:28|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese central authorities released a detailed 10-year youth development plan Thursday, vowing better education, employment and healthcare for the nation's youth.

"Youth" in the context of the plan released by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council refers to those aged from 14 to 35.

The Middle- and Long-term Youth Development Plan (2016-2025) sets a general goal of establishing a "youth development policy system and work mechanism" by 2020 and improving the system by 2025.

Specifically, the plan sets educational goals of an average 13.5 years of education for the newly added labor force and a gross higher education enrollment rate of over 50 percent within 10 years. It aims for 90 percent of the groups to meet physical standards and give them more accesses to mental and physical care.

"Youth is the country's future and the nation's hope," reads the plan.

Authorities will strengthen educational campaigns targeting different ages within the group to champion patriotism and socialism with Chinese characteristics, making the "Chinese dream" a common goal for them, according to the plan.

The government will also narrow the educational gap across the country and pump more capital and resources into the less developed western areas, it says.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:48:28|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Thursday warned that it would not allow lawlessness in the country following the arrest and charging of an opposition leader with treason.

Sporadic riots have been reported in various parts of the country after Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), was arrested and charged with four counts of crime including treason, for alleged failure to give way to President Edgar Lungu's motorcade.

On Thursday morning, riots broke out in Kanyama, a densely populated slum west of the country's capital Lusaka, as the opposition leader's supporters took to the streets to call for his release.

Police spokesperson Esther Mwata-Katongo confirmed the outbreak of the riots but noted that quick action by police prevented the riots from worsening.

On Wednesday, police arrested four tax drivers in southern Zambia's Choma district for inciting rioters.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo said the security wings will not entertain any kind of lawless and that anyone found trying to disturb the peace will be arrested.

"We have also seen that some social media publications are inciting people to riot. No one is going to hide behind social media and we are going to pursue those agitating lawless and violence," he said.

He told reporters in Lusaka that following the conclusion of the investigations and arrest of the opposition leader by the police, it now remains up to the courts of law to handle the matter judiciously.

Meanwhile the Zambian president said he will not interfere in the work of the police or the judiciary, saying they should be allowed to work independently.

Geoffrey Mwamba, vice-president of the UPND, demanded release of Hichilema and said the arrest was politically motivated.

"There were no police officers along that road and no vehicle in our convoy tried to block the presidential motorcade. The arrest of our president is a planned move," he said.

He said the strategy of the ruling party was to create a one party state by arresting opposition leaders on trump-up charges, closing critical media and denying citizens fundamental rights such as right to assembly.

A consortium of civil society organizations said the arrest of the opposition leader might fuel the existing tension in the country and called for dialogue between Lungu and the opposition leader.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 00:58:30|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Zambia's biggest public university for an Information Communication Technology (ICT) development program aimed at boosting knowledge in learners.

The Chinese firm signed the deal with the University of Zambia (UNZA) for the establishment of a Huawei Authorized Network Academy and Practice Center at the learning institution situated in Lusaka, the country's capital.

Thomas Hu, the company's country director, said the program includes the provision of wireless, transmission, optical fiber access and solar power courses and equipment from Huawei as well as a laboratory to allow students to get hands-on practices.

The program, he said, will enhance the empowerment and skill transfer of the ICT talents in Zambia.

Under the program, Huawei has spent 350,000 U.S. dollars to establish the academy and center while 12 ICT lecturers have been trained.

The company, he said, intends to set up a 17,500-dollar scholarship for top five students at the university to further their studies.

According to him, the massive investment in ICT development over the years requires catching up of human resources development.

Felix Phiri, Permanent Secretary in Charge of Special Duties at Cabinet Office, commended the company for the initiative, saying it will provide an opportunity to many students to attain Huawei ICT certification as well as equip them with ICT skills.

He said most of the learning institutions in the country lacked modern and advanced technological equipment to train skilled graduates for the industry.

"All too often, the private sector bemoans the lack of real-world class skills of those coming out of institutions of higher learning, complaining that young graduates do not have the hands-on experience necessary to apply themselves on the job," he said.

According to the agreement, the academy will be run by Huawei in collaboration with UNZA for three years and thereafter it will be handed over to the university.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:03:32|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda attended a welcoming ceremony for NATO's multinational battalion battle group in Orzysz, northeastern Poland on Thursday.

The decision to send four multinational battle groups to Poland and the Baltic States was confirmed during a NATO summit in Warsaw in July 2016. The battalion arrived in Poland in March. Troops from the United States will be supported by soldiers from Britain, Romania and Croatia.

Apart from Duda, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz and ambassadors of battle group member countries took part in the event.

"NATO troops have come to Orzysz to defend us and deter any enemy who could threaten Poland and its allies," said Macierewicz.

Also on Thursday, Duda held a meeting in Warsaw on with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, giving the general the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit.

After the meeting, Scaparrotti said the current deployment of NATO troops on the eastern flank showed NATO's commitment to defending Poland's sovereignty and its people, while Duda said that Poland was aware of the obligations connected with its NATO membership.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:08:33|Editor: yan

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ST. PETERSBURG, April 13 (Xinhua) -- St. Petersburg metro may hire more security staff and buy new surveillance equipment after the recent terrorist explosion.

TASS reports that some stations already have all the necessary modern equipment, including gas sensors, 24 stations have digital video surveillance systems.

On April 3, a suicide bomber organized the explosion in St. Petersburg subway, killing 15, and dozens of others were injured.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:18:37|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan on an Islamic State target, U.S. military sources said Thursday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:38:41|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A statement issued by a former governor of Zambia's central bank that the country's public debt has reached crisis levels has raised fears as to whether the country risked plunging into another unsustainable debt situation.

Caleb Fundanga, who served as Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor from 2002 to 2011, recently warned that Zambia's public debt has reached crisis levels.

The former governor's fears emanated from a recent debt sustainability analysis conducted by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that indicated that Zambia has a high risk of external debt distress, emanating from the Eurobonds maturing between 2022 and 2027.

This is in contrast to another analysis conducted by the two institutions in 2015 that had showed that the country's external debt distress was considered to be moderate.

The former central bank governor, in remarks delivered at a public discussion organized by the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), an association representing economists, added that the country will face significant fiscal pressure between 2022 and 2027 as the Eurobonds mature.

On the other hand, the ratio of external debt service to revenue is projected to increase and breach the sustainable threshold of 20 percent between 2022 and 2027 from 9 percent on average, he added.

Zambia's debt has increased considerably following the issuance of three Eurobonds. The country issued three Eurobonds of 750 million dollars in 2012, the second one of 1 billion dollars in 2014 and a further 1.25 billion dollars in 2015.

According to government figures, the debt was standing at 9.44 billion dollars as at September 2016, comprising 6.7 billion dollars of external debt and 2.7 billion dollars of domestic debt.

According to analysts, the country's external debt has escalated by 240 percent in the five-year period between 2011 and 2016 from 1.97 billion dollars to 6.7 billion dollars.

However, other independent sources have put the country's debt at about 12 billion dollars, a move that has caused consternation from stakeholders who feel that the country could plunge back into another unsustainable debt.

"The government must undertake fiscal consolidation to avoid rapid accumulation of debt as current debt levels are unsustainable," the former central bank governor said.

He has since advised the government to explore cheaper sources of finance and maximize borrowing from concessional and semi-concessional sources while moderating commercial borrowing.

The fear of the country's debt becoming unsustainable was highlighted by Finance Minister Felix Mutati in his 2017 budget presentation to parliament on 11th November, 2016.

In his address, he had stated that the government needed to be responsible to ensure debt sustainability and added that the country was "walking a tight rope".

Muna Hantuba, an economist, also expressed concern over the country debt, saying the public debt was a crisis.

The economist, who was speaking at the same public discussion, urged the government to refrain from borrowing more money and avoid growing the debt crisis.

The Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR), a social and economic lobby group, is concerned over the high debt levels especially if the borrowed money was not being used on high-return projects.

According to its statement, increased debt levels usually imply higher taxes on the already heavily taxed citizens and consequently a higher cost of living.

Zambia's debt crisis became increasingly acute in the 1980s as a result of a fall in oil prices in the 1970s and dropping copper prices that forced the government to borrow heavily to finance development.

Zambia's foreign debt, which had reached alarming proportions of about 7.2 billion dollars by the year 2000, was written off when the country attained the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative completion point in 2005.

The HIPC program was launched in 1996 by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce the external debt burden of eligible HIPC countries to sustainable levels in a reasonably short period of time.

The southern African nation was among 18 African nations that qualified for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), in which G8 countries agreed to cancel 100 percent of the debt owed.

As a result of that debt cancelation, Zambia's debt was reduced to only 500 million dollars, leaving the country with enough resources to improve its economy.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend a joint press conference in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Montenegro's upcoming accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will harm stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"We consider this step as a manifestation of inertia in Washington's policy, reflecting the logic of confrontation on the European continent, creating new dividing lines," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a protocol to ratify Montenegro's accession to NATO, and the Balkan country will officially join the alliance as its 29th member next month in Brussels.

Montenegro's accession to NATO is not based on real public opinion and has incurred criticism even in the United States, the statement added.

Tensions between NATO and Russia have escalated as both are engaged in military build-up along the Russian border. Moscow strongly opposes the bloc's eastward expansion, which it says threatens its national security.
Vladimir Safronkov (Front), Russian deputy ambassador to the United Nations, addresses an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday called for the United Nations' chemical weapons watchdog to send an international group of inspectors to investigate an alleged toxic gas attack in Syria last week.

"Today there is an emergency meeting of the OPCW Executive Council in the Hague and we have sent our proposal to form such a delegation," Lavrov said at a press conference. He was referring to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an international body for chemical weapons control.

The diplomat suggested that the group of inspectors should include experts from Western countries, countries in the Middle East and Russia.

The investigation should be carried out "transparently, independently and professionally" both in the airbase where the Syrian aircraft allegedly carrying chemical weapons took off, and in the area where the alleged toxic gas was used, Lavrov said.

The United States and its allies accused Damascus of gassing civilians on April 4, but Russia said the intoxication was possibly caused by the explosion of chemical weapons produced and stored by the rebels in a local depot during a raid by the Syrian Air Force.

On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution drafted by the United States, Britain and France demanding that the Syrian military provide unfettered access for UN investigators to details of their operations on the day of the alleged attack.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley criticized Russia for denying the UN-led investigation and blocking a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria.

Lavrov, however, said at Thursday's news conference that the vetoed proposal was formulated "unilaterally" as it only asked the Syrian government to open access to all its military facilities.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:48:45|Editor: yan

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TIRANA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Albania's state-run Albgaz sh.a, a newly-established public gas company, signed here on Thursday a Memorandum of Cooperation with Greek natural gas transmission system operator DESFA, according to Albanian Energy Ministry.

The ministry said in a press statement, Albgaz will get expertise from Greece's DESFA on operating the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

The memorandum was signed in the framework of commitments taken by the Albgaz sh.a, in respect of the agreements reached between the government of Albania and TAP AG for improvement of the Albanian section of the gas pipeline, Albanian ministry said.

Albanian authorities see such an agreement as a significant step for the Albgaz sh.a and the natural gas sector in Albania, because it paves the way to signing of a contract between Albgaz sh.a and TAP AG for maintenance and operation of the Albanian section of the pipeline.

This contract would generate revenues for the Albgaz sh.a during the coming years and create new jobs, officials from the ministry of energy told media.

Albgaz had offers of cooperation from many European gas firms, but it chose DESFA for this stage, ministry representatives said.

TAP will bring central Asian gas into Europe by 2020 via Greece and Albania to Italy. TAP is considered as the largest foreign investment ever realized in Albania so its economic impact is expected to be higher in the coming years.
African migrants from Nigeria wait at Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. (Xinhua Photo)

TRIPOLI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Libyan coastguards on Thursday rescued 23 immigrants off the coast of the capital Tripoli after their inflatable boat sank, carrying nearly 120 migrants.

Ayob Qasem, spokesman of the Libyan coastguards, said some 97 migrants are feared missing, including 15 women and children.

"The base of the boat got wrecked and the boat had sunk." Qasem revealed.

Qasem said the migrants are of African nationalities, and those rescued were taken to Tripoli naval base for medical and humanitarian assistance.

Due to the insecurity and chaos, immigrants depart from Libya though the Mediterranean towards Europe in rickety boats, many of whom drown on the way.

Thousands of immigrants have reached Italian shores this year and hundreds have drowned crossing the sea.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 03:49:25|Editor: yan

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by Bosun Awoniyi

LAGOS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The fight against corruption is gaining momentum in Nigeria as active whistleblowers in recent days exposed slush funds and accounts to the authorities, especially the nation's anti-graft police.

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has recently decided to fight corruption through the whistle-blowing policy as a new approach.

This would allow citizens who report corruption-related offenses via a secure online portal earn a cut from the recovered loot.

The whistle-blowing policy would provide government agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with actionable tips to track and recover stolen government funds.

Offenses that can be reported include mismanagement of public funds and assets, violation of financial regulations, solicitation of bribes, and manipulating data and records.

When tips lead to the successful recovery of ill-gotten funds, whistle-blowers are entitled to between 2.5-5 percent of amount recovered.

The Nigerian government also promised whistle-blowers that "confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent possible within the limitations of the law."

So far, the whistle-blowing policy appears to be working in Nigeria.

On Wednesday, the country's anti-graft police busted a home where it recovered at least 38 million U.S. dollars 23 million Naira and another 27,000 pounds in Lagos state.

On Tuesday, a tip-off by a whistle blower led to the discovery of 4 billion naira kept in two separate accounts at the Gurantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Local media reported that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in central-north Niger State.

The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

In another similar case, a whistleblower on Monday led EFCC operatives to intercept a cash haul in various currencies at the popular Balogun Market in Lagos.

The money include 547,730 pounds and 21,090 euros as well as 5,648,500 niara.

Last week, it was also a whistleblower that led the EFCC operatives to a huge cash kept in bags at a Bureau de Change in LEGICO Plaza in Victoria Island in Lagos.

Operatives found 448.85 million naira inside Shop 64, when it was forced open.

In February, EFCC retrieved 9.8 million dollars from Andrew Yakubu, former group managing director of Nigeria's state oil company following a tip off.

Commenting on the loot, Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's minister of information, said the whistle-blowing policy has led to the recovery of over 180 million dollars from various corrupt individuals as at February.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 03:59:28|Editor: ZD

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Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said here on Thursday that he is glad to attend the Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation to be held in Beijing on May 14-15.

Putin made the remarks when he met with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, who was here for the fourth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and the meeting with the Russian chair of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee from Tuesday to Thursday.

China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

China has viewed Russia as an important partner among the Belt and Road countries, Zhang told Putin, adding that the Chinese government will make good preparations for Putin's attendance.

It is the strategic consensus reached by both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin to integrate the Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union, said Zhang.

China has attached great importance to Russia's initiative of the Eurasian Economic Union and related ministries of both sides are in discussions of concrete measures to boost the integration, the vice premier said.

He called on both sides to speed up the construction of major energy projects, expand two-way investment and finance cooperation in order to promote the common development.

Hailing the rapid growth of two-way trade volume since last year, Putin said the bilateral trade structure has improved.

Sound progresses have scored on the Russia-China cooperation on major energy projects, said Putin. The east-route gas pipeline project and Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project have advanced smoothly, while the west-route gas pipeline projects are under negotiation, he said.

Putin said Russia welcomes the active participation of Chinese investors into Russia's economic development.

He also called on the two sides to explore new areas of cooperation in order to add new impetus into the strategic partnership of comprehensive coordination.

During Zhang's three-day stay in Moscow, he also met with Igor Sechin, the chief of Russian oil company Rosneft and Alexei Miller, CEO of Russian natural gas company Gazprom respectively. The two sides exchanged views on further cooperation.
praisaeng/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A passenger flying on United Airlines was stung by what appeared to be a scorpion last week, according to the airline.



The passenger was stung on a flight from Houston to Calgary, United said in a statement to ABC News. After the passenger was stung, the flight crew immediately consulted with a MedLink physician on the ground, who provided guidance and informed them that the sting was not life threatening.



Medical personnel met the aircraft after once it arrived in Calgary, United said, adding that it is "reaching out to the customer to apologize and discuss the matter."



United has been at the center of controversy after cellphone video emerged showing a bloodied passenger being dragged off an aircraft on Sunday. The passenger's attorney said Thursday that he will need reconstructive surgery and will probably sue the airline.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Chinese police Shu Jian (1st L) and Sa Yiming (2nd L) talk with two tourists from Beijing outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, May 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

MADRID, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The world's leading outbound market, China, spent 12 percent more on tourism abroad in 2016 according to preliminary data by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The data show that China's international tourism spending grew by 11 billion U.S. dollars to 261 billion dollars, consolidating "China's position as number one source market in the world since 2012, following a trend of double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004".

Chinese citizens especially travelled to Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but also to the United States and some other destinations in Europe, the WTO said.

Chinese market was followed by the U.S. market, whose spending rose by 8 percent in 2016 to 122 billion dollars, up 9 billion dollars on 2015.

In Europe, Germany, Britain, France and Italy are those markets included in the top 10, all reporting growth in outbound demand in 2016, with Germany being the world's third largest market with a 5 percent increase in international tourism spending in 2016 to 81 billion dollars.

"Despite the many challenges of recent years, results of spending on travel abroad are consistent with the 4 percent growth to 1.2 billion international tourists arrivals reported earlier this year for 2016," UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said.

"People continue to have a strong appetite for travel and this benefits many countries all around the world, translating into economic growth, job creation and opportunities for development," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 04:49:44|Editor: yan

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BUJUMBURA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Burundian senators on Thursday called for creating a commission to work with mainly Arab countries to curb human trafficking.

The call was made as Burundian foreign minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe was invited to the parliament upper chamber to answer senators' questions on human trafficking reported on some Burundian women working in Arab countries mainly Oman and Saudi Arabia.

"The commission to be set up would ensure that Burundian people working in those Arab countries are enjoying good working conditions. The commission would also ensure that Burundian agents working in those countries have return tickets and are in contact with Burundian diplomatic missions in those counties," Burundian Senate President Reverien Ndikuriyo said during the debate.

According to him, unemployed Burundian people can get hired in those countries if the employment is well-organized.

Nyamitwe said monitoring every Burundian national working in Arab countries was sometimes difficult due to the shortage of financial means.

Human trafficking is a serious issue in Burundi according to organizations in charge of children's rights promotion.

By mid June 2016, the Burundian police had arrested seven people over human trafficking and identified 11 companies involved in human trafficking in the country.

The arrested persons included three Burundians and four Kenyans.

Four of the 11 companies or organizations involved in human trafficking are based in Burundi, four in Saudi Arabia, two in Oman, and one in Kenya.

The four Burundian companies had been collaborating with the remaining seven foreign companies in the human trafficking business.

Police said that since April 2016, over 280 people, mostly girls, had fallen victim to human trafficking.

The Burundian police suspected that those girls engaged in sex work after they arrive at their destinations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 05:04:47|Editor: Tian Shaohui

Image taken by a mobile device shows debris at the site where a head-on collision between a gas tanker truck and a passenger bus occurred on a highway in Mexico's southern state of Guerrero, on April 13, 2017. The death toll from a head-on collision between a gas tanker truck and a passenger bus in south Mexico on Thursday climbed to 24, officials told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Str)

MEXICO CITY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a head-on collision between a gas tanker truck and a passenger bus in south Mexico on Thursday climbed to 24, officials told Xinhua.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto has expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims via Twitter.

The tanker was loaded with fuel when it crashed, and exploded into flames a little more than a minute after impact.

The accident occurred at or before 6:30 a.m. (11:30 GMT) along a stretch of highway in the town of Petacalco, Guerrero, near the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan.

The Century 21 Highway, which connects central Mexico with the busy industrial port, was closed for several hours during the heavy traffic of Holy Week, as vacationers headed to the coast.

Cesar Mayeres, Guerrero's secretary of civil protection, said state forensic experts reported a total of 24 victims by 2 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT), when forensic operations at the site were practically concluded.

Both drivers of the two vehicles are among the dead.

Another nine people, ranging in age from three to 56, were injured in the accident and were taken to a hospital in Lazaro Cardenas for treatment, Mayeres said.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation, said Mayeres.

The bus passengers were all members of one family and their neighbors who had rented the vehicle to travel from Morelia, the capital of Michoacan, to either Zihuatanejo or Acapulco, both beach resorts in Guerrero, for Easter weekend.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 05:59:56|Editor: yan

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KIGALI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- New Chinese ambassador to Rwanda, Rao Hongwei, Thursday presented his credentials to President Paul Kagame.

Presenting his credentials to Kagame, Ambassador Rao Hongwei conveyed to President Kagame the cordial greetings and good wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He spoke highly of Rwanda's great accomplishments achieved in national building and reconciliation.

"There is a deep traditional friendship between China and Rwanda and a strong bond between our two peoples. In recent years, through mutual understanding and sincere cooperation, the two sides enjoy stronger political trust, rapid growth in economic and trade cooperation, and closer people-to-people ties." Rao said.

"Last month, the two heads of state had a successful meeting in Beijing. Both sides agreed to enhance the level of strategic cooperation between the two countries," said the new envoy.

For his part, President Kagame welcomed Ambassador Rao on his assumption of new office.

He asked ambassador Rao to convey his cordial greetings and good wishes to President Xi Jinping and stressed the Rwandan government and himself will render full support and assistance to Ambassador Rao.

Kagame said that Rwanda and China enjoy a long-time friendship. Rwandan government and people appreciate the valuable support from China.

"Last month, I paid a successful and fruitful visit to China. President Xi Jinping and I reached significant consensus on enhancing our cooperation in various fields. By working together with the Chinese side, Rwanda is willing to bring the bilateral relations to a new high." he said.
Ruslan Bultrikov, the deputy permanent representative of Kazakhstan, speaks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency at the UN headquarters in New York, April 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

by Xinhua writer Gu Zhenqiu

UNITED NATIONS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan is proud that it is the country where Chinese President Xi Jinping first put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, and fully supports the efforts to bring this important Chinese vision into reality, a senior Kazakh diplomat told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"We are proud that this initiative was first announced in Kazakhstan during a visit of President Xi Jinping," Ruslan Bultrikov, the deputy permanent representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, said.

In a speech delivered at the Nazarbayev University on Sept. 7, 2013, President Xi proposed that China and Central Asia join hands to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost regional cooperation.

The Chinese president's speech "is very symbolic because this concept was first announced during his meeting with students, who represent the young generation and for whom great project will be carried out," Bultrikov said.

KAZAKHSTAN'S FULL SUPPORT

"Kazakhstan has been very supportive of this proposal since its announcement," he said, adding that "now (it) comes its implementation stage."

"Being the largest land-locked country, Kazakhstan is very interested in developing its infrastructure and transportation, as well as developing trade and economic relations with its neighbors and beyond," he said. "From this point of view, this immense and significant plan proposed and implemented by China, is very important for us, and is in line with our priorities and national strategies."

For example, Bultrikov said, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced in November 2014 his new economic plan, known as "Nurly Zhol" (meaning "bright path" in the Kazakh language), which will drive investment into critical infrastructure and priority sectors totaling around 9 billion U.S. dollars.

"The main objective of this national program is to build infrastructure, namely, of new roads and railroads -- to connect remote places within the country, as well as, to provide transit for foreign goods and travel from the East to the West, and from the West to the East," he said.

"So we consider this major plan as not only the restoration of the great Silk Road, which existed on our territory for a long time, but also as an absolutely new approach because this Belt and Road Initiative is not only about trade and transportation. It is (also) about developing calculation in different spheres, including technological transfer, cultural exchanges and relevant sectors," he said.

"The fact that China is implementing this project with partners is very valuable for us because China is our largest trade and economic partner and one of the largest investors in Kazakhstan, he said. "Together, we can further develop transportation and infrastructure projects."

Ruslan Bultrikov, the deputy permanent representative of Kazakhstan, speaks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency at the UN headquarters in New York, April 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

PROGRESS ACHIEVED

The deputy permanent representative said that currently, Kazakhstan, along with international donors and partners, has completed construction of the West China-West Kazakhstan Road, which will significantly reduce costs and time of transportation of goods. The building of new roads will help create new jobs in the country, he said.

"Another important encouraging aspect of this initiative is that it went global; of course, it's about connecting Asia and Europe, but now countries from different regions are interested in joining this effort. It will make a difference," he said.

China's Belt and Road Initiative, a master plan to integrate 65 countries from East Asia to Western Europe, is poised to improve the living standards of 4.4 billion people -- more than half of the world's population.

More than 100 countries and international organizations have joined the initiative, and more than 40 of them have cooperation agreements with China.

Chinese businesses have helped build 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in 20 countries along the Belt and Road, with a total investment exceeding 18 billion U.S. dollars, thus helping to generate more than 1 billion U.S. dollars in tax revenue and more than 160,000 jobs.

"We are very optimistic and most supportive of this, and are ready to work together with China and other partners "to make this Belt and Road Initiative a reality, Bultrikov said.

China will host a Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation in Beijing this May to explore ways to address regional and global economic problems, generate fresh energy for interconnected development, and ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative delivers greater benefits to people of the countries involved.

"Taking into account the very active development related to the Belt and Road Initiative and interest from many partners, countries and international organizations in the practical implementation of this project, I believe the meeting in May will further contribute to advancing and realizing the goals of this extraordinary initiative," he said.

"Taking into account that if implemented, this endeavour will cover more than half of the world's population -- almost half of world's GDP, we believe that it will be of interest not only for the countries engaged in implementing this project within the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, but also for the entire globe," Bultrikov said.

Noting a rising trend of protectionism and voices against globalization, he said, "I believe that globalization is a reality; we have to live with it, and every country is influenced by the situation of the world economy."

"The principle of free trade must prevail, and we are ready to live according to these rules," he said.

On the Chinese concept of building "a community of shared future for humankind," Bultrikov said, "We all know that the Chinese civilization is very ancient with longstanding traditions. We also know that it is the Chinese culture to foresee and plan for generations ahead, and not just for the five to 10 years to come."

"We therefore understand why the Chinese leader has made pledges which are directed to future generations," he said. "I believe that with political will from other countries and from China, of course, these ideas can be implemented and we will share the future together peacefully."

At present, Kazakhstan is one of the elected 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. As a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Council, he said his country is "closely cooperating with China and other permanent members" in the area of peace and security -- the main mandate of this major UN body.

The Belt and Road Initiative was included in a Security Council resolution on Afghanistan on March 17, he said that was "reflecting the understanding that there is no peace without development, and no development without peace."

"We are also cooperating closely with the Chinese delegation on almost all subjects within the General Assembly," Bultrikov said, citing the example of the cooperation of Kazakhstan and China, when the two countries were members of the open-ended group, together with Indonesia. for formulating and implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals."I personally was a member of the Troika," he said.

Bultrikov, who was born in June 1971, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in 1993, and he was Kazakhstan's vice minister of environmental protection from 2011 to 2012.
Angelin going ahead

Last week, Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) President-General Ancil Roget said workers were not responsible for the platform for Angelin not being fabricated in TT.

Take your platform and go! We are not prepared to have any type of construction in an environment that is unsafe, unhealthy and void of good industrial relations practice, Roget told reporters during a protest outside of the OPM in St Clair last week.

In a statement, bpTT (BPs local subsidiary) said the decision not to fabricate the platform in La Brea was difficult but, necessary to preserve Angelins project schedule. The Angelin field is located in the Columbus Basin off the south-east coast of Trinidad.

The company said while it continues talks with the National Gas Company (NGC) to progress the completion of a gas sales agreement as a prerequisite to the sanction of Angelin, it continues to pursue all options to maintain the project schedule and first gas goal of early 2019. This is a priority to ensure that gas supply volumes can be maintained in 2019 and beyond, bpTT said.

The company also said it, remains fully committed to maximizing local content in all our operations however given the compressed project timelines and other competitiveness factors for the Angelin project local fabrication is no longer a feasible option. The company said it is also, committed to maintaining an option of fabrication in-country for future platforms and will be working with local service providers on key competitiveness factors such as productivity.

Coming out of discussions which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had with BP in Houston last month, Young said, They (BP) are sanctioning Angelin. He said while some persons are blaming the Government for delays regarding the Angelin project, Young disclosed, The truth is that, no negotiations and discussions, no matter how BP tried to progress those discussions were taking place, by the prior administration. Young accompanied Rowley to meetings with BP, Shell, Exxon Mobil and EOG Resources in Houston from March 29 to 31.

Reiterating that the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government had failed to re-negotiate several energy contracts when they were supposed to, Young stated, TT is in a very different place from when these contracts were negotiated. Against this background, Young said, Coming out of those conversations, there was a finalisation of the price that the future purchase of gas would be made by NGC.

Observing that up streamers are demanding higher prices for their gas, down streamers want reduced prices to continue producing their commodities, the minister explained that Government, through the NGC, is trying to find the best price.

Explaining that what was agreed to in the discussions with BP and Shell was augured well for TT, Young said, One of the things we managed to negotiate last week with BP as well as Shell and to get them to agree on is a continued supply of gas up to 2019.

He said these companies also agreed that any increase or finds of gas or increased efficiencies on their part will see them selling to NGC to assist the downstream industry. Young said, From that aspect, weve gotten more gas going until 2019. Noting the Juniper project will be on stream in the third quarter of 2017 and will maintain the countrys gas production at its current levels, he said, When you are in a situation like this, any more scuffs of gas is going to assist. He said, What we have been speaking to them about is an allocation of more gas to the downstream (industry).

On discussions with Exxon Mobil, which is active in Guyanas emerging energy sector, Young said, The Prime Minister had prefaced that with meetings with President (David) Granger in Guyana. TT is about to sign a new MOU on energy with the Government of Guyana but, we are really looking to play a supporting role to the government of Guyana going forward. He also said Exxon was invited to TT to see the infrastructure that is available here.

In a statement on Tuesday, the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce said the lost opportunity to have the Angelin platform fabricated in La Brea, should concern us all. The Chamber said beyond the immediate loss of jobs and much needed economic activity, what has resulted is the potential elimination of any prospects of building additional platforms for neighbouring oil and gas fields.

The Chamber said, Anyone genuinely concerned about the welfare of those suffering job losses will not treat this matter cavalierly; neither would they suggest that we encourage further loss of opportunity.

With resources becoming increasingly scarce, the Chamber said TT, is in a crunch to remain attractive to foreign direct investment. The Chamber said the posturing of the labour movement and apparent delays by Government in finalising the gas supply contract with bpTT may have led to a compression of the time to deliver on gas from the Angelin project.

The Chamber also said recent statements made during Rowleys visit to Houston suggested that while there was agreement in theory, nothing was signed. Saying this points to a critical gap in our decision-making process, the Chamber reiterated that it cannot be business as usual, particularly in times of economic hardship.
Sagewan Alli: Renew focus on diversification

The Rowley administration appears not to be able to catch a break, only days before making the announcement of a continued US$5 billion-dollar investment over the next five years by BP, before sustaining this blow. Even in better times, the loss of the Angelin would have roused commentary. In the new reality of low commodity prices and, with the country clutching at straws to shore up revenues, BPs decision has serious implications.

But did it have to?

For decades since Independence, governments have recognised this countrys need to diversify away from its dependence on oil and latterly, natural gas. But as of 2013-2015, the energy sector still contributed over 40 percent of GDP, adjusted downward to the late 30s when oil and gas revenue losses are taken into account. Because it is liable to make up a significant part of our revenues for the forseeable future, it remains in the countrys interest to seek out opportunities in oil and gas. But is this being done at the expense of the non-energy sector?

The manufacturing sector averages an eight to nine percent share of GDP over the same period, while the financial sector contributes 14 percent, Distribution and Restaurants, 12 percent, Transport Storage and Communication seven to eight percent and Construction and Quarrying between about five percent. Tourism contributes just one percent to TTs GDP. This, despite successive governments giving incentives, setting up programmes and funding special purpose enterprises to the tune of hundreds of millions to develop non energy sectors in the economy. Getting diversification right is important. The country is on a deadline. By 2025-2030, studies show that TTs current oil and gas reserves will be depleted. Why hasnt diversification progressed further?

It is not correct to say there is no diversification. There certainly is an amount of diversification. We do have a manufacturing sector, we do have agriculture, and we have agro processing. We do have a tourism sector. For what its worth, a variety of sectors exist, said Indera Sagewan Alli, a competitiveness consultant and regular commentator on the countrys economic affairs.

What has been happening in TT said Sagewan Alli is not true diversification. For that she said, there should be a more balanced contribution from the other sectors of the economy to GDP. Oil and gas should not contribute more than 20 percent.

The problem is weve paid an inadequate amount of attention to these different sectors and what has happened is that they have all contracted, she said.

Some, have disappeared entirely.

Using the car assembly industry as an illustration, she said, We used to assemble vehicles in Trinidad. That was value added taking place in Trinidad. We no longer do that. Now we are simply importing vehicles. She said this was a lost opportunity for us to move up the value chain, perhaps specialising in creating certain parts for specific models of vehicles.

If we were thinking strategically, what we could have done was have foreign investment that would have supported the assembly already taking place. We did not do that.

She believes since then the country has compounded the situation by having no clear vision for our non-energy sectors. The problem, she said, was a lack of vision, versus a lack of political will, because over the last 20 years diversification efforts were some of the most well-funded government projects to date.

I believe much of what has been done has been to satisfy calls for diversification.

She said there continued to be too much disconnection between the various areas needed to make diversification work.

Even if we have a vision of where we want these sectors to go, their development cant happen in a vacuum.

First, Sagewan Alli said, TT must realise that since many of these diversification initiatives were started, the world had changed. The ability to be competitive in producing goods and services had become paramount.

We must be able to figure out what goods and services we can offer competitively, as well as the world demand for it. And there should be a match between the two.

Beyond this, the country then has to work out a strategy for achieving this and plot this plan out on a timeline with a deadline for execution, she said.

There should also be better linkages between the sectors identified for development, educational training to support them and the use of research and development coming out of the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, there also needed to be proper legislative and fiscal support for non-energy sectors during diversification and most importantly, measurement of the use of resources to see if the sectors were developing as envisioned.

Questions need to be asked, Sagewan Alli said, By spending this money, what do you hope to achieve in this fiscal year? By the end of the year, there needs to be measurement to see if they are achieving those objectives. This simply isnt being done.

We need to start looking at what we want to achieve. What kind of country we want to have? What kinds of jobs we want to create? What do we have in this country that will enable us to achieve these objectives? What can we borrow from the rest of the world to help us be more competitive and create products and services that customers want?

The dynamic must shift revenue earning capacity to other sectors, she said, While they may not earn as much as the energy sector, they are still capable of earning foreign exchange and creating sustainable employment.
WITCO reports flat profit, illegal competition

He said the company faced a drop in consumption of its products and a decline in profit before taxation to $693.7 million in 2016, about the same as the $693.5 million recorded in the previous year. In addition, it had to contend with an upsurge in illegal cigarettes smuggled into the country. He said these cigarettes are being offered at cheap prices compared to the price of its own premium Du Maurier brand, however an analysis done at the labs of its parent company, the British American Tobacco Company (BAT) found the smuggled cigarettes contained foreign matter such as feathers, insect carcasses, plastic, synthetic material, grit and droppings among other things.

He said to counter the incursions of these smuggled brands, WITCO had brought back onto the market one of its old favourites, Mt Dor cigarettes, which it was selling at a price of $17 in order to compete. He said the company was able to regain some of the market share it had lost to the cheaper brands.

Du Coudray noted that consumers across various sectors including food and alcohol were no longer loyal to brands but were looking for the cheapest product to satisfy a particular need.

He said that with the Government battling to increase its revenue, the company had to deal with increases in corporation and excise taxes and the average consumer was looking for value for their money; struggling to pay for their usual brands in all sectors with a reduced disposable income.

He said while the company has seen its revenues reduced it merely means that the market is shifting from WITCO brands to the cheap illegal products because of the economic situation. He said when this happens, WITCO loses, and the government loses because it is not collecting taxes and the consumer is also losing by buying cigarettes without proper standards.

Du Coudray said the Minister of Finance would need to consider whether he has collected taxes from all the players in the market. According to Du Coudray, The minister did indicate in the 2016/2017 budget speech an acknowledgement of an increase in illegal products in the market and promised strong legislation and enforcement. Unfortunately, we have not seen any major developments in this area.

Du Coudray said the has company introduced new products, launching the first capsule in regular sized cigarettes in the Caribbean. The smoker flicks or crushes the capsule in the cigarette filter to change its flavour. This new cigarette was put on the market in the last quarter of last year in a bid to increase the satisfaction of its customers. However, he said its attempts to introduce new products are hampered by Government regulations designed to discourage new smokers from taking up the habit.

Another restriction for the company will be the introduction of graphic packaging, showing the effect of smoking on various body parts, also intended to discourage smokers. Du Coudray said the company was awaiting the images and once it receives them it will have eight months to begin using them. However, he said while the graphic images might produce some initial reaction from the consumer, in other markets where they have been introduced, such as Canada and Australia, it has been found that sales rebound.

He said You dont need the images to know you are smoking a controversial product. They are just a reminder, so what happens is that after a short period, sales materialise back to the normal levels. The shock and awe factor is gone.

Questioned about electronic cigarettes, he said there was a potential market in Trinidad and Tobago and while he believed WITCO would have a presence in that market in the next five years, he did not see electronic cigarettes replacing tobacco which he believed will be around for the next 50 years.

In response to a question, Du Coudray said the company does not see any likelihood of staff cutbacks. While it was always looking at ways of making its operations more efficient, he said it does not foresee any cutbacks in the immediate future, adding, In fact, because of the challenges of the economy and the market we are going through, we may actually bring more people to help us deal with the challenges that we are facing.
Finance and technology

The evolution of technology in the financial sector has been occurring over the past few decades and has generally been met with favourable regulatory response. The transition to a digital financial industry began years ago and included the rise of the ATM machines. We now have electronic cross-border payment systems such as SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) and also here in Trinidad and Tobago, the establishment of RTGS (real time gross settlement systems). This process took place through a carefully developed partnership between the major central banks and financial institutions, targeted at both supporting economic and financial globalisation, and reducing the serious risks intrinsic in cross-border payments, predominantly systemic risks.

Crypto-currencies have unfortunately faced more skepticism, and understandably so. In January 2011, an ambitious entrepreneur named Ross Ulbricht produced an online marketplace called Silk Road which was truly unique. Firstly, it was not accessible on the normal Web but it existed in an encrypted and secretive part of the Internet known as the dark Net. Secondly, it presented a range of illegal merchandise not found on eBay or Amazon, typically drugs, catering to discerning users by proposing customer reviews and vendor ratings. Thirdly, the Silk Road was able to function because it used the new Bitcoin virtual currency that permitted users to stay unknown and carry out transactions with little fear of intervention by law enforcement. While the Silk Road was ultimately shut down and its inventor arrested and convicted, the potential use of the Bitcoin and the prospects for a digital economy assisted in instituting it as tool worth keeping. Bitcoin was really developed in 2008 as a concept by an anonymous developer known by the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto, who posted a paper detailing the currency to a cryptography mailing list. The paper details a decentralised system with no issuing authority that would serve as a means of exchange and also as an anonymous and fully open log of all transactions (known as the blockchain). The currency became fairly popular, but it was not until the establishment of the Silk Road that it was truly noticed. While it is obvious that Bitcoin has some eye-catching characteristics, it also has some grave difficulties that have prevented it from being embraced by the mainstream.

The lack of an issuing body and no central authority responsible for the payment scheme may lead one to believe that it is not even possible to take on any sort of regulatory effort. However, Bitcoin has some practices that suggest some form of regulation is required if it becomes widespread.

We can agree that the use of finance for economic development has long been an important focus for policy-makers seeking to support growth in developing countries. Currently, there is merit in applying technology to address challenges and create opportunities across the financial sector. It should be recognised however that policy-makers and regulators will face the challenge of rapidly transforming financial systems, technological developments and alternative currencies in coming years, since Bitcoins are presently used in transactions by some establishments in Trinidad and Tobago. It is of utmost importance that we build the necessary infrastructure to support their regulation and oversight.
Technology is the great enabler

He was speaking at a Howard University Open Day held at the Success Laventille Composite School on April 7. bmobile was a proud sponsor of the event which was hosted by i95.5 FM as part of its ongoing Laventille Nights Series.

Addressing the room full of students, parents, guardians and teachers, Dr Frederick spoke about the importance of having the support of parents, family and a good network of the right friends and mentors. He also shared his life journey of dreaming big and studying and working hard to achieve his academic and career goals, despite having financial challenges and sickle cell disease.

Two Howard alumni, Sheldon John who grew up in San Juan and Carlton Serrette, who lived in Morvant, also shared their individual life stories of being accepted to Howard despite their humble beginnings. Assuring the audience that Howard University offered an environment that will not limit them but unleash their potential, Dr Frederick stated that he invited the two alumni to speak because some persons at a previous open day held in Laventille thought that because he was from a different neighborhood, they could not have the same opportunities as he did. Trinidad and Tobago has one of the best education systems in the world and you have to apply yourself every day to take advantage of this opportunity and get a good education. Your educational pursuits do not start when you apply to university. It starts from before, he said.

Hassel Bacchus, TSTTs Acting Chief Technology Officer, discussed the importance of the use of technology in education for the advancement a society. Technology is what enables us to dream bigger and go further. Under the leadership of our CEO, Dr Ronald Walcott, we are transforming TSTT into an agile broadband company so we can deliver the services Trinidad and Tobago needs to allow its citizens to reach their full potential. We are making a multi-billion dollar investment to bring our entire nation to a point where it is, and you can benefit from, a fully-enabled ICT society. Bacchus continued, When you marry technology and education you get really spectacular results. Together, they provide the three Es: 1. They are enablers of individuals and society; 2. They encourage entrepreneurship; and 3. They are equalizers. With the advance of technology today, there is nothing that you cannot figure out, produce or do, regardless of where you live or where you are in life. Its no longer about who has and who doesnt have. Technology levels the field.

The event also attracted prospective Howard University students from all over Trinidad and Tobago. Cyril Ann Hunte, 25 and Aphea James, 19, travelled from La Brea and Bon Accord, Tobago, respectively. I always had an interest in Howard University because it reflects what I stand for as young, black woman growing up in todays society. I wish to study political science and law at Howard and needed to find out more about their scholarships and financial assistance. It was a really great experience because the two alumni who spoke made us realize that they were just like us at some point in time but they were able to get into Howard and improve on their lives. I felt inspired, said James. Hunte has been performing and teaching theatre arts since 2009. I believe that doing a Theatre Arts-Acting degree at Howard will expose me to invaluable experiences that will equip me to excel in my field and make a difference. I am glad that I came today because I learned that there are no scholarship age limits that would give preference to a younger person now leaving high school over an older person like myself.

School principal, Hamida Baksh and Tony Lee, i95.5/RED President, welcomed the open day participants. Stephen Weeks, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, discussed the steps a student should follow to become eligible to study in the United States, as well as tips to lower the costs of attending a foreign university or college. The afternoon session then closed with a question and answer segment with the Howard University President.
Growing from STEM

Recognising the need for fourth industrial revolution workers, many countries have coordinated their efforts to boost science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) careers. As Trinidad and Tobago engages in its economic planning, policy makers must recognise that if we are to re-industrialize our country, we must choose products with high value-added along the international value chain of products. Additionally, if we are to modify, utilise or simply integrate new technologies in every facet of our existence, we must develop the skills to do so. Technology is going to dramatically reshape our workforce in the coming years and Trinidad and Tobagos ability to rapidly adapt to technological change, and even more importantly, innovate, will be paramount for job creation and our future economic success.

STEM, as is being implemented, is an educational program developed to prepare primary and secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In addition to subject-specific learning, STEM aims to foster inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and collaboration skills. It is important to add that STEM must not only be limited to primary and secondary schooling, given todays pace and scale of disruption. Our country needs to ensure a modern workforce is available to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution which must include out of school programs. STEM should also be a part of the re-tooling of sections of our work force.

STEM education can contribute to the creation of critical thinkers.

It certainly has in many countries increased science literacy, and has the potential to facilitate the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy. This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the STEM areas. At a very simplistic level and not to over emphasize the point, STEM based education can lead to science and technology-based innovation which can result in science and engineering-based entrepreneurship finding its way into new technology companies which with proper incentives, planning and coordination, can produce exports. This must be both the hope and thrust of our efforts to achieve economic growth as well as diversification in a rapidly changing business environment globally.

Most jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. In this regard, in our country there has to be seen a partnering of government, the private sector, community leaders and educational institutions, especially those at the tertiary level.

Perhaps the relevant authorities, the private sector, the government planners and the education sector after careful evaluation and review of the efforts that are taking place around the world, may arrive in a timely manner at the conclusion that we must create a STEM Initiative that will provide a sustainable means to ensure related learning is truly everywhere.

One of the interesting phenomenon that is observed from several countries is that STEM education helps to bridge the gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields. Initiatives in a number of countries have been established that increase the roles of women in STEM-related fields. STEM education has the potential to break the traditional gender roles. We have an opportunity to re-engineer our economy.

Let us look at the changing global environment and identify the prerequisites to help us survive and be competitive
Charran heads new Chaguanas Chamber executive

It is for that reason that I chose to initiate the CCIC Safety, Security and Sustainability Expo that the Chaguanas Chamber will hold in June of this year. This expo will highlight all the latest technology and thinking in the areas of safety and security, but it will also address issues of crime and bullying through speakers who will bring their personal stories on how they have helped to turn around crime and bullying in their own schools and towns.

Sookhai was addressing CCIC members during its annual general meeting, held last Wednesday at the chambers new office at the corner of Cumberbatch Street and Main Road, Chaguanas.

Although he has been succeeded by Vishnu Charran as CCIC president, Sookhai promised to lead promotional efforts for the expo because he believes it is an important undertaking not just for the chamber, but for the entire country.

Thanking the people of Chaguanas for their incredible support of the chamber, Sookhai said organisations like the Chaguanas Chamber have to shine like a beacon to society and we have to show great resolution and commitment to getting things done for our members and for our people, Sookhai advised.

During his tenure, Sookhai was also responsible for the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and establishing significant relationships with organisations like YTEPP, Servol and COSTAATT, among others. Sookhai also recently led a large delegation of Chaguanas business entities to a meeting with the Minister of Works and Transport to discuss the ongoing traffic and other issues affecting the borough.

Sookhai told the gathering that he and the CCIC had been able to achieve all they had during his tenure because of the support of the membership of the Chamber and because of the incredible support of the people of Chaguanas.

The new executive of the Chaguanas Chamber is as follows: Vishnu Charran (president); Alan Julien (vice-president); Baldath Maharaj (secretary); Trevor Joseph (treasurer); Vashty Maharaj; Liaquat Shah; Deepak Lall; Zamanath Ali; Warren Thompson; Richie Sookhai (immediate past president).
Murder in Maracas

At about 11.40 pm, Fernando who worked in the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, was sitting outside his La Mango Road home, when two gunmen shot him multiple times. They ran to the back of Fernandos house and escaped. Residents who heard the gunshots, alerted police.

Relatives yesterday described the victim as a quiet person who kept to himself. They added that they had no confidence in the police solving the murder and charging anyone. I spoke to him last night, because he is always by us.

We live further up the hill.

I dont know what could have caused this, said a relative. An autopsy is expected to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre in St James today. The murder toll yesterday stood at 148.

AROUCA SLAYING In an unrelated incident, Akile Mitchell, a welder who lived in Arouca was shot dead on Tuesday night but relatives believe his murder will not be properly investigated as they alleged Mitchell was being targeted by police.

I dont think police will make any effort because they too wanted him dead, said a relative. Up until last Tuesday he was in trouble with police. Monday he was complaining his feet were swollen because he had been held for four days by police. About 4 am on Tuesday they came back and said they had a warrant to search.

They searched and then took him back to jail with 11 other men. They said he get hold for two guns, but they released him after. Police officers told him he had to die, the relative claimed.

However, the family believe Mitchell was murdered by gangsters after he refused to join the group. According to reports, police found 22-year-old Mitchells body at about 10.30 pm, after they responded to a report of gunshots being heard at Windy Hill, Bon Air North in Arouca.

Yesterday relatives said Mitchell enrolled in the Milat programme, along with other institutions and earned certificates in welding and plumbing. Relatives said he made several reports to the Police Complaints Authority after being harassed by police.
Cunupia robbery accused on $250,000 bail

Justin Heeraman, an auto electrician of Chin Chin Road, Cunupia appeared before Magistrate Joanne Connor to answer to the charges. It is alleged that Heeraman and two other men robbed the patrons of cash and cellular phones on April 4. Nine counts of robbery with aggravation were read to him. The charges were laid indictably by PC Huggins of the Cunupia Police Station and the accused man was not called upon to plead. Heeraman was arrested on Sunday by police officers and later charged.

The case was adjourned to May
Cedros proprietor freed of shooting villager with pellet gun

Stephen Singh, 63, a proprietor of Bois Bourg Village was charged with wounding 60-year-old Wayne Shine Vesprey with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. The incident occurred on November 24, 2005.

After leaving the court, Singh commented on the issue of trials by jury.

I believe it should stay, he said. There is no other fair system. His attorney Kevin Ratiram said he intends to sue the State on Singhs behalf because the accused man had given a statement to the police but it never surfaced at the trial.

The States case was led by attorney Stacy Lallo- Chong.

Vesprey testified that Singh shot him during an argument inside Singhs shop. The bullet penetrated the forehead and Vesprey was rushed to hospital.

In his defence, Singh testified that he was trying to protect his wife from being raped when he shot Vesprey.

He said Vesprey, who appeared to be drunk, entered the shop at about 12.30 pm and started dancing to the music which was being played. He told Justice Holdip and the nine-member jury that he refused Vespreys request for a nip of Puncheon rum and Vesprey started cursing.

Shine started to rock the gate and it opened.

He leaned over the counter and make a grab for my wife. He said that he will rape she. I had the gun behind the fridge and I pulled it. I fired. I didnt aim at no specific place on him. Singh also testified that he gave an interview to police officers and he signed two pieces of paper. However, he said he never saw the statement he gave.

Police officers who testified denied they ever took statements from Singh although he was, at that time, the suspect in the matter.

The jurors deliberated for just over an hour and returned with the not guilty verdict.
What has gone wrong at the port?

The Act, which was proclaimed on June 14, 1962, provides for a co-ordinated and integrated system of harbour facilities and port services. The issues of the authority and its ferry service have become more pronounced as the lease term of the inter-island ferry Super Fast Galicia comes to an end on April 21. The Galicia was initially leased for a six-month period but with a number of extensions the ferry worked the inter-island route for over three years. This lack of planning is one of the issues identified as what is wrong with the port.

The 19th report of the Joint Select Committee of the fifth session of the tenth Parliament appointed to inquire into and report on Government Ministries, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises that specifically looked at the administration and operations of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, found the authority was suffering from a lack of funds to finance its plans for the expansion of the Port of Port-of-Spain and other related facilities; the existence of various challenges regarding vessel and cargo traffic management. In particular, PATT identified shortcomings such as poor infrastructure to store cargo, excess dwelling time for cargo and unproductive work practices. The authority needs to boost its capacity to monitor and remove abandoned or derelict vessels; There was a significant disparity between the amount of revenue earned by the inter-island ferry service and the amount expended on providing the service. It appeared that the main option for increasing the services income was to increase fees/fares, among others.

These problems identified in 2014-2015 suggests change with the port and its operations is slow. Dr Trevor Townsend, senior lecturer in transport engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, said while things have changed with the port, its ferry and other services, there is still work that needs to be done Three major areas should be considered for an efficient and cost-effective running of the port and its operations; the vessels and their configurations, infrastructure, demand for the services offered.

Townsend said, What one would do from an analyst perspective is to look at all of those things and keep trimming, to see if you had the right mixture. In a more medium term you want to look at what type of vessel you had and what arrangements you would make in terms of operational costs and the configuration in terms of passengers and type of staff it would carry These were the things, he said, which should be looked at on an operational level with respect to the port on a day-to-day basis and year-to-year basis.

He added that it seemed as though the organisations and its attendant bodies had an issue with acquiring operating vessels in a good enough time frame, something any port should constantly be looking at. You also have to look at the question whether or not the organisation has the required capability of adapting with arrangements in terms of how it is funded, can it acquire the necessary operating vessels in a good enough time frame. There seems to be a problem in this case of the negotiations in terms of the vessels, where approvals have to be given and how approvals take place, what options might or might not have been available.

And these are the things that have to be looked at by the Board of management on a regular basis. While saying he was not upto- date with the specifics of the current situation, he said, there appeared to be some level of discontinuity with, how arrangements have to be made to provide a temporary measure before something more medium to longterm could be put in place. He said globally TT stood, not as good as many but better than some. However, he believes the country was not doing some things correctly, not just in terms of how we run our inter-island ferry but how we run our inter- island airline and how we run our intra-island transportation system. The fundamentals of running good transportation systems are that there must be data and an understanding of your demand and its characteristics. You must understand the cost structure of your organisation because you have to link that cost structure to your capabilities to service that demand.

You must understand the nature of the equipment you are using and the service which lies on its replacement arrangement and have those proper arrangement sin place. The more you can understand and confer those things the better able you are to provide the public with what they need. From what I have seen in almost all of our cases, that is not how we have been operating. They do what they can with what they have.

That means you would probably be doing, in most of the cases, crisis-type arrangements, Dr Townsend said.

Former chairman of the Board of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Sahadeo, said while there is a robust model existence it has not been fully implemented because the separate entities do not have the requisite autonomy to be held accountable, accordingly. When asked about some of the problems affecting the port and its operations, she told Newsday productivity levels and cost-efficiencies and effectiveness were some of the major issues.

Some of the major difficulties reside in productivity levels where it ought to be and also ensuring that the payroll cost is approximately 80 percent of the ports total operating cost and a critical review is necessary. In her view, the port must introduce key performance indicators and ensure necessary action is taken accordingly. People have to be held accountable and, in my humble view, the reason whyis because they are full legal entities.

 The fact remains by Cabinet minutes of 2002, they introduced these separate legal entities (Port of Port-of-Spain Limited, Destination Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and Trinidad and Tobago Inter Island Company Limited) to improve transparency, corporate governance and accountability.

These entities are still not fully operationalised. KPIs (key performance indicators) are not in place and hence they lack proper transparency. With the full operationalisation of these entities it should result in higher levels of transparency, corporate governance and accountability.

She said the Inter-Island Ferry service was subsidised but that it was necessary, to ensure there is a high level of efficiency [to ensure] that the subsidy is reduced. She said a subsidy can be offered but it should be a very efficient model thereby reducing Government subsidy.

She said if anything was needed by one body, for example, the Port of Port-of Spain, a request had to be put in and then a manager determine if it is valid, they then determine if it would be purchased nowhow can you hold the CEO of PPOS or TT IT accountable and they are not in control of the entire operation? The problem would have been curtailed, substantially if these separate legal entities were made to operate as such and be held accountable, accordingly.

Sahadeo said the service was an essential one and needed all players to get it right. It is an essential service and it is critical we get it right because it impacts on all of TT . It is very critical that all players, board, management, workers and the union, come together to ensure we deliver a cost-effective and efficient service.

But ultimately, she felt, I dont think we have gotten the model right as yet.
UTT students take class to the stage

As part of the MA programme the students were required to take Fundamentals in Calypso Compositions, a course that covers both theoretical and practical aspects of calypso composition.

They delved into the basics of calypso poetics, rhetorical devices, themes, genres, rhythms, and calypsonian persona, all of which was supposed to teach them how to analyse calypsoes with a layer of objectivity.

They were also taught how to find the message and see how it works with the music and the performance.

The students were given an assignment to put together a calypso tent, inclusive of marketing and performances.

According to lecturer Dr Kela Francis,The tent was their practicum; this year I decided to use the tent format and let the students make a presentation to the public.

They each composed their own calypso and presented it. It was the first time writing a calypso as well as performing on a stage for some of them. The students were all involved in several jam sessions during class time to work out their songs before the big day.

Twenty students performed for the audience, which included professor Hollis Chalkdust Liverpool and Dr Rudolph Ottley.

Among the students were seasoned performers like Wayne McDonald (bassman), Marcus Baptiste (pannist), Natalia Dopwell (vocalist), Michelle Henry (musician), Dean Williams (guitarist),Yanz Garcia (pannist) and Karen Forde (dancer). The band Acoustic Kaiso Makers and chorus were made up of students from the MACS class.

The overall performances by both the first timers and experienced performers were well received by the audience.

Professor Liverpool praised the students for a job well done, adding that some of calypsoes were well composed.
Children tell the best stories

It is another unique publication designed to engage the countrys young readers ages five to 13, as it contains their own stories with illustrations that can be coloured, bound between glossy covers. With some of the nations top yarn-spinners inspiring the children during the month-long annual caravan, many imaginative ideas find their way onto the pages of this book.

They address community spirit, problem solving at school, the environment, personal, social and community relationships and include cultural reflections and folklore, among other topics.

Each year the storytelling caravan makes it way around Trinidad and Tobago awakening the joy of hearing and telling stories. The stories told by children are collected and published to coincide with the annual April festival. The caravan is due to make stops in Couva, Chaguanas, Cedros, San Fernando, Toco, Siparia and Port-of-Spain before April 30.

Danielle Delon, director of the childrens festival says, We find that giving children an opportunity to personalise stories requires them to read and better understand the composition of stories. And, as the book is divided into segments for under- eight and nine-plus children, the illustrations offer a progression of detail, so young artists are able to practice control over the tools used to fill in between the lines. The 2016 childrens stories have contributed to the biggest collection so far in the series of annual colouring books.

Twenty-one stories, published as a 9x12 colouring book within full-colour covers, are now ready for all fans of fantasy. This is a limited edition with free copies going to children whose name appears in the book.

For more information contact the Bocas Lit Fest office at: 222 7099 or by e-mail at: info@bocaslitfest.com The 2017 NGC Bocas Lit Fest, that includes a full childrens festival, runs from April 26-30.
NOT GOOD FOR TT

However, while acknowledging Rogets statement was unhealthy, Rowley said, this is still a free country and leaders choose to lead their followers the way they see fit. At the end of the day, it is Trinidad and Tobago in the boardrooms from where I have just come. Lead in a way that is beneficial to the national well-being, Rowley urged leaders, at every level.

Fortunately it will fall to the worker as to where they are being led, he added saying that Government must ensure the best decisions are made for the wider national good.

Asked several times, in an interview yesterday morning aired on CNC 3s The Morning Brew programme, if Rogets comments had any impact on the countrys investment climate, Rowley said, I think BP was as disappointed as we were, because every single day we need to be attracting foreign investment to this country. Workers have a responsibility, he said, to influence their leadership, to understand what the reality is, and what the current circumstances call for.

BPs decision to build the Angelin platform outside of Trinidad and Tobago, he said, was taken a long-time ago and it was one of the reasons he met with top executives in the US, to see if he could get them (BP) to change their mind. Their decision, he said, was made after the contractor for the earlier Juniper project did not meet deadlines.

Rowley said it was a matter of concern when investors are picking up their plants in South America and taking them to North America where gas is more available in terms of volume and price. In TT, he said, plants are closing because of a lack of gas.

That is not the kind of environment that attracts investment in the gas industry. On discussions with Exxon Mobil in Guyana, Rowley said his discussions was based on TT having an oil refinery with a capacity to produce 168,000 barrels of oil a day. We are only producing 72,000 barrels. If we can get oil from Guyana to be refined in our refinery, it puts us in a better position, he said.

During the last Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Guyana last year, Rowley said, he spent some time with Guyanas President David Granger and his senior Cabinet members discussing the issue. TTs public and private sector is saying to Guyana, the prime minister said, that they want to be a part of that countrys oil industry arrival and its operations.

On the issue of a Petrotrin committee looking at the overall operations of the problem plagued State-owned company, Rowley said its deadline to submit a report has been extended from June 1, and will now be given until December. Noting that many things are going wrong at Petrotrin, Rowley said, Government will not be hesitant to make decisions which might be unpopular, if those are the recommendations, so as to put the company in the best position.
Guilty of killing mother and infant son

The murders took place in 2005 and 12 years later, 41-year-old Anand Baboolal, also known as Son, went on trial.

Justice Althea Alexis- Windsor ordered that he suffer death by hanging for the murders of 26-year-old Ria Ramlochan and Ishmael Timothy Ragbir.

The child was stabbed 14 times and one of his ears was severed.

The State led evidence that Baboolal committed the murders on a day unknown between August 10 and 13 at Ramlochans Solomon Street, Mayaro home.

He was arrested at a camp behind a sawmill along Tabaquite Road, near New Grant. He and Ramlochan were in a relationship and he used to visit her.

The State, represented by attorneys Shabaana Shah and Chantal Hospedales, relied on a confession which Baboolal gave to police in the Rio Claro Police Station. He told the police Ramlochan was stabbed during an argument but gave no account of how Ishmael was stabbed and ended up in the river. The State called 12 witnesses including Supt Moses Charles and Insps Alexis Garcia, Azam Hamid and Fitzgerald George.

Baboolal, who was represented by attorney Rekha Ramjit, did not testify but called, as a witness, a doctor who said he examined Baboolal on the day he was arrested.

Shah told the 12-member jury that Baboolal has nine convictions for larceny which he committed between 1998 and 2002 in Mayaro.

The jurors began their deliberations at about 1pm yesterday after receiving directions in law from Alexis-Windsor. They returned three hours later with the verdicts.

Baboolal was asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed on him.

He replied in the negative.
Rotary Club thanks Newsday for helping Shannen

In a statement sent to the media yesterday, the club said it was inspiring that the paper pushed crime stories aside and published the article written by Darcel Choy and Janelle De Souza.

In our minds, it brought the plight of our sick and disabled children in society to the nations front. (This allowed) decision makers to place the highest priority to decisions taken regarding the health and well-being of our children, all driven through care and love for each other. The organisation said Rotarians in various clubs, members of the public, employees of organisations and companies across the country responded to the call when the story was published.

Contributions made through Republic Bank Limited, as well as funds raised elsewhere have totalled $190,490.15 to date.

President Michael Ibrahim anticipates that by April 20, the date scheduled for handing over to Shannens family, our financial goal of $250,000 will be achieved.

As a result, we are asking those who wish to contribute to this worthy cause to donate a minimum of $20.
Carmona: Being a judge is a lonely job

I have to warn you, it is going to be a lonely job because many times as it has happened to the Chief Justice, as it has happened to myself personally, we have had to go to functions and see certain persons there and you could turn right back and leave because justice itself, is based to a large extent on perception, Carmona said.

And, if you are seen talking to the wrong person, people perceive it in a particular way. But you are only human and you have to speak to any and everyone not knowing who they are sometimes. Carmona spoke after formally installing Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, Registrar Kevin Ramcharan and Acting Senior Magistrate Avason Quinlan-Williams as new Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court at Presidents House, St Anns.

Saying he has followed closely, the careers of Ayers-Caesar, Quinlan-Williams and Ramcharan, in relation to clarity of vision, jurisprudential depth and objective adjudicative process, Carmona said the new appointees are well-suited to their new portfolios.

So that what is happening here today, is something that should have happened a long time...looking for judges in the trenches of the Judiciary because in the trenches you have excellence, he said. I can tell you, I have seen that excellence at the Court of Appeal, defending your judgements over the years. Carmona told the new judges that they had the ability to bring real justice in all forms and fashions through their volunteer work particularly with young people. Because not only will you all be engaged in the actual adjudication of cases, but you all are people of heart, he said.

I know that you all have gone beyond the bench to engage change among our young people.

Many times persons are prepared voluntarily without payment, to go beyond that boundary to change lives.
No Easter holidays for cops

Officers have planned extensive anti-crime operations in all nine divisions across the nation.

These exercises will include road blocks, stop and search, DUI and speed exercises. Yesterday, Tobago Divisional head Snr Supt Joanne Archie advised people visiting the sister isle to obey the law and avoid spending the weekend in a cell.

We will be out in our numbers to ensure all who use the roads  be it pedestrian or motorist  do so in a safe environment.

We are asking visitors and residents not to throw caution to the wind. We will be there not to give people a hard time, but to ensure they are safe during the holiday period on the island, Archie said.

ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw added that police will be making checks on camps across the nation and there will be patrols on the beach. Hackshaw said there will be a heightened police presence in all communities.

He advised the public to apply all precautions, ensure their valuables are secured and when possible, to travel in groups.
Lambert slams nonsensical statement from Energy Chamber

The chamber said such action is damaging to safety culture and undermines the entire safety management in the sector.

However, Lambert said he was not aware that any trade union has been using the issue of safety excessively for the purpose of collective bargaining.

He said hearing such a comment from a responsible entity was The most nonsensical statement I have heard. He said the trade unions would use the provisions of the law and the proposals of their collective agreement.

He said not all trade unions are involved in the energy sector but the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was for everyone and wherever there are workers, there are problems relating to health and safety.

In its statement, the chamber said in the energy sector where risks are high, safety is a top priority.

A strong safety culture is vital for the continued success and competitiveness of the Trinidad and Tobago energy sector, the chamber said.

Every individual working on any energy sector facility has a duty to stop work in any situation that will put themselves or others in harms way. Lambert said his union particularly does not use health and safety as a tool for the purpose of negotiation.

So whichever entity or institution has made that, it is very unfortunate and I think the whole statement is nonsensical. The chamber said adherence to worldclass safety management systems played an extremely important role in the ability of TOFCO to deliver the Juniper topside on schedule with high quality work.

TOFCO achieved over two million man hours without a lost time incident on the Juniper construction project: this is excellent safety performance. It added, Allegations of poor safety management both damage the reputation of the company and the local industry and are not supported by the facts.

The protests that shut down the Juniper project and caused delays were about jobs and a few individuals trying to seek direct personal benefits. Safety was used as an excuse for illegal strike action. The chamber said the right to refuse work enshrined in the OSH Act is very specific and there are explicit procedures in the law that need to be followed, but the right to refuse work is not in the legislation to provide a cover for illegal strikes over pay.

It said misusing this important provision in the law undermines safety.
Police engage gay rights groups

In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the Alliance for Justice and Diversity said last Wednesdays meeting with Phillip and other senior police officials was a historic session aimed at cooperation in strengthening policing.

Womantra co-director Khadija Sinanan said the meeting was a very promising engagement with receptive leaders of the Police Service.

The goal on both sides was to improve how the TTPS can serve, protect and restore the confidence of members of LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex) communities. The meeting was the fruit of the Womens Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) efforts at strengthening relationships between the police and NGOs by a series of quarterly meetings.

The LGBTQI groups used that channel to reach out to Acting Commissioner Stephen Williams who assigned DCP Phillip to build a liaison with them, respond to their concerns, and develop action steps.

CAISO head, Colin Robinson said, The primary thrust was to help us understand how the service works, how it deals with policing issues that affect us, and who we can engage to ensure good policing or address bad policing. We asked police to provide us with a trustworthy and stigma-free channel to report crimes. The police promised to work with LGBTQI communities on further meetings and linkages with police and changes to policing procedures for investigating gender-based, sexual and hate violence  including the possible creation of a broad special victims unit. The meeting also resolved to a future review of five recent murder cases to ensure LGBTQI communities have reliable public information about any patterns or threats of violence and can help solve cases.

The LGBTQI groups will participate in criminology research and in how the Police Academy assesses and continuously improves its training on sexuality and gender, the latter initiative is a key part of the Alliances safety campaign. The groups, working with the Equal Opportunity Commission and the University of the West Indies, and with the support of the European Union, hope to partner with the Academy and TTPS human resources managers to strengthen how the Service prepares officers to police domestic and bias violence. Terry Ann Roy of the group, I Am One, said, Were working to improve policing, to make people safe, not make them scared.

What we owe each other are facts, change and leadership that makes us safe. And a lot less drama. Responding to a gay policemans recent testimony to news media about unsolved murders and attacks against gay men and officers who shame LGBTQI victims and fail to take or investigate reports, the alliance pleaded with him and others to share concrete, specific details of all such issues at justicediversitytt@ gmail.com.
NGO: Dont rush into parenting

King was addressing a youth forum on Tuesday hosted by the Caribbean Youth Development Network at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

She cautioned that parenting is not something to enter into lightly.

Saying that the family is the cell of the body of society, King said, When parents fail, societies and institutions fail. The quality of parenting impacts on the quality of our people. She said parents must produce good people who can work well with others and so make the world a better place. King lamented that little is being done by other entities such as the State to address the huge crater that exists in people-making.

King asked the audience if any of them had perfect parents.

No one raised their hand.

Very few parents feel they are good enough or adequate, she remarked. They did the best they could. Parents are not magically made perfect when they have a child. However she advised those aspiring to be parents to remain authentic, even by embracing their imperfections.

Admitting to others, including your children, that you have your doubts and that you just dont know is authentic. She urged those youngsters who eventually opt to become parents to give prominence to creating good people from their offspring.

Alternatively there is no shame in not having children, she said.

If you chose to become a parent, give it the humongous amount of time it requires.

Theres nothing more important than raising good people. King urged more State help towards parenting such as better maternity and paternity leave like some foreign countries. When parents thrive, societies and organisations will thrive. She advised the youngsters to find their purpose in life which, she said, is not easy to do.

Whatever you are doing, find something in it that you like and give it your best. Then you begin to get a sense of what excites you, what floats your boat. Try different things. Listen to what people are telling you. If youre stuck, its time to move on. She urged youngsters to aim to show their parents that they can ultimately pay their bills.

If pursuing something offbeat, youngsters should create a good case to sell the idea to their parents. Parents want the best for their kids and to know that youll be okay when theyre not around.
CISL to close

Rowley gave this confirmation in response to a question from Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister explained that Government has done a general evaluation of the State Enterprise sector.

He explained that on a case by case basis, companies within the sector will be examined.

Rowley said if these companies have outlived their usefulness or strayed from their mandate, a determination will be made if dissolution is the best option.

The Prime Minister also said the vast majority of State Enterprise companies have complied with a directive to submit their financial reports by March 31 and this will better inform the Government about the true state of their respective affairs.

Recently, Government took decisions to dissolve the Tourism Development Company (TDC), Caroni Green and the Government Human Resource Service Company Ltd (GHRSL).
Govt did not terminate Galicia lease

Cudjoe explained that while the new board of the Port Authority are considering other recommendations for the domestic seabridge when the Galicia ends its service on April 21, the TT Spirit and TT Express will be used to transport critical supplies and perishable goods to Tobago.

Earlier in the sitting, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the authorised signatory for the charter party agreement for the Galicia was signed by permanent secretary in the transport ministry, Verna Johnson.

The Galicia was acquired under the former Peoples Partnership government.
Options available on forex

Asked what Government was doing about the forex shortage, Rowley said preference is given to certain categories including manufacturers and pharmaceuticals. They are given preference because they are producing something, he said.

They are creating employment, and in fact, they should be exporting and earning foreign exchange, but there is no guarantee that, that would work. If the manufacturer earns foreign exchange and does not put it back in the system after given preference, that will not fix anything. The numbers show that the amount of forex Central Bank is putting into the system, if it is properly distributed, we should be better off than we are right now, he said. Asked if the problem was in the banking system, Rowley said, The problem is all around.

You see a sign offering $8 for a US dollar. You know that is illegal, but every policeman in Trinidad and Tobago would pass that there and not ask anybody a question. That is what is happening. Admitting there is not enough forex to meet all demand, Rowley said, We as a government is saying to the banks, there are priorities...manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, public debt. Nevertheless, as a nation of distributors and with some captains of industry having made their reputation by being distributors, he said, if they do not get enough foreign exchange to buy and distribute they believe the country is falling apart.
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Battered by the oil price slump, the underdeveloped banking sector in Algeria sees new financing sources in Islamic finance to tap into the huge informal economy and catch up with Morocco and Tunisia, which have already allowed such participatory banks to operate.

As it edges towards offering banking services to suit more religiously conservative investors, Algeria wants Islamic banks to attract funds from a huge pool of cash held outside the formal banking system in a bid to offset oil prices and its energy revenues, Reuters reported.

On the footsteps of Morocco, six Algerian state-owned banks are planning to launch Islamic finance services by the end of 2018 under the supervision of a national sharia board, Reuters learned.

Yet, the underdeveloped banking system may hinder the launch of Islamic banking. The banking sector in Algeria remains state-dominated and highly corrupt thus thwarting foreign direct investments. While Algeria moved recently to privatize banks, this must not be mistaken for true liberalization. Absent is a crackdown on corruption or real reforms to create modern banking that attracts foreign direct investment.

Another huge barrier for Islamic banks is the lack of a legal framework technical expertise, which makes Algeria lag behind neighbors Morocco and Tunisia that have already developed legislation for Islamic finance and Sukuk bonds, overseen by a central religious board.

Experts expect Islamic banks to attract money from conservative swathes of the Algerian population operating in the informal economy, which, according to Reuters, accounts for $90 billion.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have repeatedly urged Algeria to reform the underdeveloped banking sector and modernize its stock exchange to help attract investment. With the drop in oil prices and the widening trade deficit, the Algerian government drafted an austere appropriation bill for 2017 with the introduction of new taxes.
The Algerian government released its 2030 vision for economic development, dubbed New Growth Model, warning of the unsustainability of the current subsidies system and urging economic diversification to reduce dependency on hydrocarbons.

In all sectors of the public service (electricity, gas, water, rail transport, telecommunications), tariffs are kept at levels lower than the cost of operations for more than a decade for social considerations, the document said adding that this financial support is no longer sustainable for the state.

In this respect, the study sees the measures to curb subsidies under the 2017 appropriation bill as a start of the end of this dependence.

The document clearly acknowledges that the slump in oil prices unveiled the fragility of the Algerian economy and its vulnerability to international oil and gas price volatility. Therefore, the study advocates developing the non-oil economy, notably renewable energy, agriculture and industry.

In view of its very low foreign debt, Algeria has time to carry out reforms. Yet, regime opacity, bureaucracy, widespread corruption and vested economic interest amid the Algerian ruling elite makes reforms hard to implement.

Trimming public spending and raising revenue through VAT and taxes on electricity, fuel and tobacco have so far provoked unrest, with rioters in the eastern city of Bejaia clashing with police and torching state buses at the start of January, says the document.

The proposed reforms in the document ignore the widespread corruption that affected almost all large-scale projects in Algeria. Algerias flagship development project, the East-West Highway, fell victim to the national malaise. Originally allocated a budget of $6 billion, rampant graft saw the project eventually completed for a price of almost $15 billion, making it mile for mile the most expensive road in the world.

For some analysts the superficial nature of the reforms suggested in the document aim at polishing a facade similar to the regimes democratic facade where a group with vested interests in maintaining the authoritarian status quo and rent economy maintain a firm grip on the government machinery by ruling without actually governing. Meanwhile, the combustible material continues to pile: imploding demography, unemployed youth, languishing oil prices, regional turmoil and latent militant groups.
Control Risks, the specialist risk consultancy, issued its 2017 RiskMap showing that Morocco continues to maintain its standing as the safest country for business and travel in North Africa.

Morocco was the only country to be given a low security risk status in Riskmap, the leading guide to political and business risk and an important reference for policy makers and business leaders.

The Riskmap showed that security conditions remain compromised in Algeria whose coloring in the map reflects high security risk in most of the country apart from a medium security risk in heavily militarized areas surrounding oil and gas wells.

The security risk in Libya has been assessed as extreme, while in western Egypt it was considered high. Tunisias risk was ranked medium by Control risks.

At the Arab level, only Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE and Oman were labelled safe in the map that evaluates the likelihood of state or non-state actors engaging in actions that harm the financial, physical and human assets of a company.

The map assesses the extent to which the state is willing and able to protect financial, physical and human assets and the extent to which state or non-state actors are capable of harming those assets.

Riskmap has also identified the following as major risks for business in 2017: Political populism exemplified by President-elect Trump and Brexit, Persistent terrorist threats, Increasing complexity of cyber security, a potential brake on US regulation could lead to a transformation of the global regulatory environment and the intensifying geopolitical pressures driven by nationalism, global power vacuums and proxy conflicts.
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President Trump and his new BFF, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Trump had spent much of his first 83 days in office attempting to roll back his predecessors initiatives. On Wednesday, he shifted focus and spent the day rolling back his own. Trump reversed course, flip-flopped, or reneged on at least five of his own promises and policy initiatives in one day. At least, thats how many we found.

1. Whether NATO is worth saving: After repeatedly declaring NATO obsolete as both a candidate and president-elect, Trump met with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Wednesday and came away with a new perspective. He likes NATO now because they made a change, but experts say that change wasnt really much of a change at all.

2. Whether the federal government should hire new workers: On his third day as president, Trump signed an executive order freezing the hiring of new federal workers outside of the military. This was the fulfillment of a campaign promise to reduce [the] federal workforce through attrition and, presumably, a part of Steve Bannons plan to deconstruct the administrative state. On Wednesday, the freeze melted.

3. Whether the U.S. Export-Import Bank should exist: Candidate Trump on the export lending agency in August 2015: I dont like it because I dont think its necessary.

President Trump on the Export-Import Bank in April 2017: Its a very good thing.

4. Whether China is a currency cheat: Labeling China a currency manipulator was supposed to happen on Trumps first day in office. Instead, on day 83, he told the WSJ, Theyre not currency manipulators.

5. Whether Janet Yellen is a good Fed chair: In that same WSJ interview Trump softened his position on Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen. In May of 2016, he said he would most likely replace her, and in September, during a debate, he said she should be ashamed of herself. Now he says, I like her, I respect her. As far as his future plans for her, he would only say, Its very early.
A member of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Photo: Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S.-led coalition in Syria mistakenly killed 18 members of an allied force on Tuesday in what U.S. Central Command is calling a misdirected strike.

The strike in Tabqah, Syria, was ordered by partner forces on the ground who believed that ISIS fighters had taken up the location. They were wrong: The strike ended up hitting fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance led by Kurds that has been fighting ISIS alongside the U.S.

The Coalitions deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The Coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident.

Tuesdays incident comes as SDF fighters prepare for an assault on Raqqa, Syria, the ISIS capital located 25 miles northeast of Tabqah. With the help of the U.S.-led coalition, the SDF is attempting to isolate the city by taking control of surrounding territories. We aim to liberate dozens of villages  and clear the last obstacles in front of us to pave the way for the operation to liberate Raqqa city, an SDF statement said. Though the group had previously said the assault on Raqqa would begin this month, that schedule has been delayed.
Photo-Illustration: Castle Rock Entertainment, Getty Images

On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services told the New York Times it intended to continue making cost-sharing reduction payments, which compensate insurance companies that cover low-income customers in the exchanges established by Obamacare. Eliminating the payments  which cost the government about $7 billion a year  would make premiums spike by about one-fifth, or cause insurers to get out altogether. House Republicans sued to stop the payments during Obamas presidency, as part of their totalistic campaign to destroy the law. Now, faced with the prospect that such a destruction would unfold on the GOPs watch, the Trump administration was indicating it would let the payments continue. 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, Health and Human Services wrote the Times.

The next day, however, HHS rescinded its statement. In its place, it issued a communique which differed from the old one not only in substance, but in style: The updated HHS position rejected the payments and expressed its reasoning using the crass, zero-sum logic and pidgin-English, populist diction favored by the president himself. We have not been contacted by Democrats to help save Obamacare, perhaps because they consider Obamacare to be a losing cause. Democrats need to help solve this failed Obamacare plan, explained an HHS spokesperson. It read as if the bureaucracy of a modern, industrialized government had been captured by hackers communicating via Google Translate.

And indeed, it soon emerged that Trump had personally dictated the new statement in a fit of anger. As he subsequently revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he plans to use the payments as ransom to compel the Democrats to agree to his terms. Obamacare is dead next month if it doesnt get that money, Trump told the Journal. I havent made my viewpoint clear yet. I dont want people to get hurt  What I think should happen and will happen is the Democrats will start calling me and negotiating.

So, now  assuming that Trump understands what he is saying and will stick to it, which can never be assured about any stance he takes  Washington has settled in for a hostage standoff. Such episodes have become familiar in American politics. In a normal political negotiation, the two sides disagree about what policies are helpful or harmful. In a hostage-style negotiation, on the other hand, the two sides agree that a particular policy is harmful, and one side threatens to allow it, out of the belief that it can exploit the other sides greater concern for the public welfare, in order to extort unilateral concessions. In recent years, as the Republican Party has radicalized, it has grown increasingly prone to hostage-style bargaining. Trumps own obsession with dominance makes him especially attracted to hostage-taking. (Recall his refusal during the primary to commit to endorsing the party nominee, explaining that he needed to use the threat of hurting the party as leverage.)

There are, however, several reasons to doubt that Trump will collect on his ransom. The first is that, while terrorists and other criminals generally operate outside of a public-opinion framework, elected officials operate within it. There is not a long record of voters reelecting public officials who openly threaten them with harm. Polls have shown that the public expects Trump and his Republican majority to make Obamacare work:

If the exchanges collapse, the public backlash will redound to the benefit of the opposition party. Democrats may have a strong humanitarian rationale for preserving the system, but their political interest runs in exactly the opposite direction. Trump is threatening Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to meet his demands or else he will give them a majority in Congress.

Whats especially absurd is that its not even clear what Trump is demanding. His putative ransom is that Democrats start calling me and negotiating. But Democrats have stated all along their willingness to negotiate over strengthening the Affordable Care Act. What theyve opposed are plans to repeal the law, or to use it as a mechanism to finance tax cuts for the rich at the expense of coverage for the poor. There are easy fixes to the problems facing some of the state exchanges  Sarah Kliff shows how Alaska did it  but Trump could get Democrats to vote for that sort of thing without a threat.

So what does Trump want? Suppose Pelosi and Schumer walk into the Oval Office, palms upraised, and agree to meet all of Trumps demands if he promises to let the exchanges live a little longer. Does he think he can get Democrats to vote for some version of his American Health Care Act, a bill that has been polling at 17 percent? That theyll throw millions of people off their insurance, in order to keep some other people from losing insurance?

Any health-care negotiation between Democrats and Trump would quickly run into the same barrier that foiled the negotiations between Republicans and Trump: The presidents utter ignorance of policy makes it impossible for him to agree to, let alone propose, anything of substance. Trump agrees with whoever he speaks with last, and speaks with lots of people who disagree with each other. Trump couldnt close deals with politicians who agree with him. Its hard to imagine him closing deals with politicians who dont.

The Obamacare exchanges are economically stable. They face a threat from massive policy uncertainty emanating from Washington; it will take at least some managerial proficiency to assure jittery insurers that the exchanges are also politically stable. Trump is threatening to kill Obamacare through naked malevolence. But the real danger is that hell kill it through incompetence.
Trump signs an Executive Orders, including an order to review the Dodd-Frank Wall Street in February 2017. Photo: Pool/Getty Images

It took just two weeks into his presidency for Donald Trump to take aim at Obamas chief piece of financial reform, the Dodd-Frank Act  that 2010 legislation aimed at creating a modicum of oversight and consumer protections on Wall Street. On February 3, Trump issued an executive order giving the Department of the Treasury a broad mandate of empower investors and issued a memo seen as a first step in reversing the fiduciary rule, which requires brokers to act in the best interests of their clients.

Neil Barofsky, for one, saw this coming. Appointed by President George W. Bush to oversee the financial bailout as inspector general, he was a harsh critic of Dodd-Frank from the beginning  not because of its complexity, but because it didnt go far enough. During a conversation at the law firm of Jenner & Block in midtown Manhattan, where hes now a litigation partner, Barofsky weighed in on how Trumps administration could defang Dodd-Frank in the immediate future, and whats in store for the U.S. economy.

Why have you always been so down on the Dodd-Frank financial regulations?

I think what were seeing right now is the proof of the objections made by me and a lot of other reform-minded people back when Dodd-Frank was implemented. We warned about the limitations of taking an incremental approach, as opposed to just taking a meat cleaver to the banks and breaking them up, or using a size cap. Its harder to put big banks back together again than it is to repeal, or scale back, or simply not enforce the rules.

What did Dodd-Frank do? It put a tremendous amount of discretion in the hands of the financial regulators. There are a couple very obvious problems with that. One, it assumed regulators would get it right  that theyd be omniscient, and would be able to see around corners, in a way that the whole history of financial regulation demonstrated that they cannot do. Second, it resided on this presumption that future regulators would be of the exact same mind as those who were responsible for pushing through Dodd-Frank  that is, they would recognize that it was important to constrain big banks, and that it was important for there to be increasing capital levels, because of the implicit guarantees of too-big-to-fail.

But obviously Tim Geithner and Ben Bernanke and President Obama were not going to be running the Treasury, the Fed, and the White House forever. All you need is a change in philosophy. And given the incredible power Wall Street has over Washington  I dont mean bags-of-money corruption, but the ideological corruption, the campaign-contribution corruption  it was inevitable that the banks would be deregulated again.

You dont actually have to do anything to gut Dodd-Frank. You dont have to apply this inane idea of canceling two regulations for every new one. You dont actually have to pass legislation. You just have to appoint a bunch of people in these jobs who are not going to care.

Its like Dodd-Frank was more of a tool kit that any presidential administration could use at its discretion, not a series of structural reforms.

Yes. What legislation should do after a catastrophe is say, Big banks got too big. They enjoyed implicit guarantees of the government. They took outsized risks, fully confident that they would never suffer the losses of failure, and that they would get bailed out, that the executives would retain their financial compensation, that ultimately shareholders would suffer from a drop in their stock price, but the creditors would all be made whole. And therefore they believed all these risks were worth taking.

Would that kind of reform legislation be reversible? Of course! President Hillary Clinton, too, could have brought back the deregulatory environment and allowed the banks to get back together again. But even that would have taken some time, and would have taken a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and the House, and a full legislative process. But they didnt do that. They regulated the banks in this technocratic way.

Now, did I think the deregulation would happen so soon, that it would be so extraordinary, that wed see so many people from the big banks filling in the regulatory apparatus? That we would so soon see a president turn to the CEOs of Wall Street and say, If I need advice on Dodd-Frank, I know exactly where to go and get it? Did I think that would happen so quickly? I wasnt that prescient.

But for those who fought so hard to keep more-meaningful reform from happening  the Tim Geithners and the Ben Bernankes and Larry Summerses of the world  if they woke up shocked to see that their entire experiment was a failure, shame on them, and shame on how captured they were in not making the big moves that needed to be made back then.

Putting aside concepts like corruption, deregulation is just the philosophy. Its a wrong philosophy, but this is sort of the free-market view of the world. To them, the financial crisis was all because of greedy homeowners and government-sponsored entities. And theyre wrong  theyre empirically wrong  but thats their belief, and they were never shaken from it throughout the crisis. If you really believe the unrestrained, giant banks are good for the world, then here we go again.

How do you respond when people say Dodd-Frank is too complex or has too many duplicative rules?

Well, yeah. Its too complex. It should have been two pages: BREAK UP THE BANKS. It could have been one sentence. I mean, obviously it couldnt be one sentence, but theyre totally right. Its too complex. The problems of Dodd-Frank are real: It did overregulate, probably, smaller financial institutions. It did increase the compliance obligations and regulatory burden on institutions that, in and of themselves, are not a threat to the financial system. That was a big political mistake. It probably did raise the barriers to entry and solidify too-big-to-fail banks as too-big-to-fail banks. Theres something to a lot of these individual criticisms.

Boom, bust, bailout. Thats the cycle.

Theres a good case to be made for bringing down each one of these very complicated and imperfect barriers, but when you start doing that and not replacing them with other sensible regulation to deal with the too-big-to-fail problem, you invite another crisis. Because, remember, banks are a lot bigger today than they were in 2008.

Why do you think that, in the bailout period and when Dodd-Frank was passed, everyone failed to understand the importance of breaking up the banks?

Not everyone. Look at Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Ted Kaufman. New York Magazine reported on Dodd-Frank when it happened. I quoted this in my book because I thought it was such a powerful and important quote: An unnamed source from the Treasury was interviewed  I have a pretty good guess about who it was  and the person was talking about the Brown-Kaufman amendment. The comment was, If we had wanted to break up the banks, it would have passed. But we didnt want it to happen, so it didnt.

And, you know, Summers and Geithner and [Gene] Sperling were going senator-to-senator to lobby against Brown-Kaufman and breaking up the banks. It wasnt that people didnt know. A lot of people knew. And frankly, if the administration had wanted it to happen, it would have happened. So I look at Dodd-Frank as more of a political failure of the reform movement. I think if the reform movement had been better organized and more ready for that moment last time, it would have happened. I have no doubt that that is not going to be what holds it back next time. That doesnt mean its going to happen, but as far as organization, as far as having thought leaders, as far as having the academic research  having all of that lined up  thats not going to be the problem.

What are the deregulatory measures immediately within reach for this administration that youre most concerned about?

Capital levels are the simplest thing to understand. Banks fund themselves  with capital and debt  so the question is: How much of their funding should consist of their own capital? In other words, when a bank makes money, what do you do with the money? Do you take the profits and give them out to your shareholders? Or do you hold onto some of it and fund your business going forward?

When you invest in your business, youre increasing your equity capital, so youre relying less on borrowed money. And that way, when losses come, as they inevitably do in the business cycle, you have the losses come out of capital. So the more you have, the smaller a dent it is when you have losses, and when you run out of capital, youre bankrupt. Thats what happened to Lehman Brothers.

One of the things that Dodd-Frank has done, and regulators have done since then, is increase the percentage of the assets of a bank that have to be funded by capital as opposed to debt. So when you lower that, it means the banks will be more leveraged  theyll borrow more and have thinner capital cushion, which means that when they have losses, theyll be closer to failure.

And the capital levels are under the discretion of the executive branch?

More or less, yes. But another measure they can take is just nonenforcement. You dont have to get rid of the living-wills requirement  meaning these documents the banks have to submit explaining how they could be wound down, in the case of failure, without destroying the entire financial system. You could just sort of say, Eh, theyre good.

Then you attack the bigger structural issues. You appoint as the Feds vice chair of banking supervision someone who doesnt believe in banking supervision. Look, we did that. We did that with [Alan] Greenspan. We have a great experiment in this country of regulators who dont believe in regulation.

So, how do you think our regulatory infrastructure will look in four years? Do you think it will all be dismantled?

It depends on what they do. If theres any silver lining to all this, its that if all they do is nonenforcement, and they dont take on the major changes in regulations, and they dont make any legislative changes, then the next administration could dial it back. We could have this ping-pong depending on whether its a Republican or a Democrat. Things will get tightened a little bit more and become a little bit more safe.

But ultimately, this doesnt get fixed until the next crisis. And when the next crisis hits, well just have to hope that the sanity of breaking up the banks has its day. That was one of the many problems with Dodd-Frank: It doesnt lend itself to dramatic fixes. So either this administration will repeal Dodd-Frank, as the president has promised, or theyll just attack certain provisions and not enforce  which I think is more likely  and then well have another crisis, and well see whos in power at that moment to effect a breakup.

So what should we expect next? Big short-term gains, and then  Yeah. Boom, bust, bailout. Thats the cycle. Were now in a full-throttled boom, so people will make a lot of money, and then they wont. Geniuses will figure out exactly how best to time this, so theyll make a lot of money on the way up, but know when to get out and short, and theyll become billionaires, and Michael Lewis will write another book about them. God bless them. I wish I could do that, too  wish I was that prescient.

Last time around, the idea that got pushed out was that everyone who didnt time it right was an idiot. Talking to people on Wall Street, its clear that everyone else was not an idiot. With the people who lost, it wasnt necessarily that they didnt know this was an unsustainable bubble. They just thought it had another year or two left in it.

You look at the markets right now, and all the dumb money  from retail investors, for instance  is coming in right now, so that means its going to go up. But when is it going to pop? The guys who know that are the ones who become billionaires.

What do you think is the best thing we can hope for during the next four years?

My best hope is that the next crisis is not as severe as the last one, and that the political environment is such that, when it happens, we can finally make the deep structural reforms that we have to so we can avoid this cycle, and protect ourselves from the political cycle as well as the economic cycle. Maybe it happens in three years, and that sets up a wave of election of people who will make the necessary reforms.

I mean, look: I hope it never happens. I hope Im totally wrong, and it turns out that Alan Greenspan and the free-marketers were right, and we just go up, up, up, up. Ive never been so hopeful to be proven wrong.
Paul Manafort. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Days after he was essentially replaced by Steve Bannon last August, Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort stepped down amid reports that he failed to properly disclose his work for former Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovych to the U.S. government, which is illegal. Around the same time, claims emerged that Manaforts name appeared 22 times in handwritten ledgers that tracked cash payments from Yanukovychs pro-Russia political party between 2007 and 2012.

Since then, the scrutiny of Manaforts business dealings and his connection to pro-Russian political figures in eastern Europe has only intensified, and now Manafort has realized that he should probably register as a foreign agent.

Manaforts spokesman, Jason Maloni, said he will register with the Justice Department after receiving formal guidance recently from the authorities regarding his years of work for Ukrainian politicians. Maloni emphasized that the work was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government.

Manafort will be the second top Trump adviser to retroactively disclose work that may have benefited a foreign government. Last month, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn registered work that could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey, which was conducted as he was advising the Trump campaign.

Its common for the Justice Department to work with those who violate the Foreign Agent Registration Act rather than prosecuting them, but thats just a small part of Manaforts potential legal headaches. While he initially claimed the ledger listing $12.7 million in illegal off-the-books payments was fake, on Wednesday the AP confirmed that Manaforts consulting firm received at least $1.2 million of that money.

Manafort acknowledged the payments, but suggested they were legal because they were not made in cash. Mr. Manafort has always denied that he ever received any cash payments for his work and has consistently maintained that he received all of his payments, for services rendered, through wire transfers conducted through the international banking system, he said in a statement.

And theres more. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that on the day he left the Trump campaign, Manafort created a shell company that received $13 million in loans from two businesses with ties to Trump. One firm was led by a Trump economic adviser and the other was backed by a Ukrainian-born billionaire who is now an American citizen. Manafort and his wife ultimately secured $20 million in loans, which appear to be part of an effort by Mr. Manafort to stave off a personal financial crisis stemming from failed investments with his son-in-law, according to the Times.

Aside from questions about his already-murky financial dealings, Manafort is also dealing with probes into his potential ties to Russia. In February, the Times reported that Manafort was one of the Trump campaign officials whose contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials are being examined by U.S. intelligence. Manafort has not been charged with a crime, and he says hes never had anything to do with the Russian government.
Meanwhile, in Yemen. Photo: Ahmad Al-Basha/AFP/Getty Images

Last week, more than 70 people were murdered with toxic gas in northern Syria. Images of the dead, many of them children, inundated social media and then cable news broadcasts. When the president of the United States and his daughter saw them, they were (reportedly) horrified. The sight of beautiful babies  cruelly murdered moved the former to abandon his years-long opposition to American action against the Assad government. Within two days, Tomahawk missiles were falling on a Syrian airfield.

Americas news media and the leaders of both its major parties hailed this muscular defense of human rights. Granted, Trumps missiles did, themselves, kill a couple of Syrias beautiful babies. And his decision to launch them without congressional approval undermines our Constitution. And no military intervention short of a full-scale ground invasion could guarantee an end to Assads crimes against his own people.

But such concerns are trivial, the pundits reasoned, when weighed against the imperative to punish crimes against humanity. After all, if the worlds one great power doesnt uphold proscriptions against violations of human rights, then, for all practical purposes, human rights cease to exist. True, the U.S. strike wont do anything to end Syrias humanitarian crisis  but merely establishing a (theoretical) deterrent against the use of chemical weapons was more than enough justification for Trumps attack.

While all those bombs were being dropped (and columns being written), Saudi Arabia was deliberately starving the people of Yemen with our governments tacit support.

For years, the U.S. has backed the Saudis intervention in Yemens civil war, despite the kingdoms fondness for dropping American-made bombs on Yemeni hospitals. Since 2015, the Saudis have imposed an aerial and naval blockade on Yemen, which has kept commercial and humanitarian resources from reaching the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula  one that imports nearly 90 percent of its food. This, combined with airstrikes that have devastated Yemens economy (and killed thousands), has left 3.3 million of the countrys residents acutely malnourished. More than 2 million of those malnourished Yemenis are children.

And in rural pockets of the nation, famine has already set in, according to a new United Nations World Food Program report.

The situation is getting close to a breaking point in Yemen with unprecedented levels of hunger and food insecurity. Millions of people can no longer survive without urgent food assistance, Stephen Anderson, WFPs country director in Yemen, said in a statement obtained by Reuters. We are in a race against time to save lives and prevent a full-scale famine unfolding in the country, but we urgently need resources to do this.

Photo: Saleh Al-Obeidi/AFP/Getty Images

In Syria, more than 70 people were murdered with chemical weapons. In Yemen, millions are on the brink of being deliberately starved to death.

In Syria, the perpetrator of the crime was a longtime adversary of the U.S., over whom we have no diplomatic sway. In Yemen, it was a longtime ally that depends on our government for military aid.

In Syria, our intervention directly killed more innocent people in the immediate term, while doing nothing to end the countrys broader humanitarian crisis. In Yemen, we could end the humanitarian crisis almost immediately, by using our leverage over Saudi Arabia to end its blockade, and delivering emergency funds to the United Nations food program  actions that would kill no one.

In Washington, many bleeding hearts, on both sides of the aisle, have hailed Trumps bombing of Syria as a moral necessity  while treating our complicity in the starvation of Yemen as unworthy of comment.

If our political leaders feel morally compelled to deliver missiles to Syria  but not food aid to Yemen  what, do you suppose, they mean by morally?
Thick as thieves. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

There was a time in the very recent past, when the idea of a billionaire president running the White House like it was the D.C. branch of his family business  leveraging his office to increase the profit margins of his hotels and resorts, giving his daughter and son-in-law veto power over vast swathes of executive policy, and subordinating his campaign promises to the best interests of his brand  would have sounded like the plot of a gratingly bleak and unsubtle satire of the post-Citizens United era.

Now, that plot may be the best-case scenario for the next four years of American governance.

Congress cant (or wont) stop President Trump from putting far-right bloggers on the National Security Council. The judicial branch cant prohibit him from starting a trade war with China, publicly disowning our NATO allies, or calling for the dissolution of the European Union. In the wake of an economic crisis or terrorist attack, the Fourth Estate will be powerless to prevent the president from using his bully pulpit to direct public anxiety onto vulnerable minority groups.

But Trumps desire to protect the value of his brand just might.

Over the past week, the president has slowly but surely de-operationalized Steve Bannon. First, the Breitbart-chairman-turned-chief-White-House-strategist lost his seat on the National Security Councils Principals Committee. Then, he was all but ordered to accept the presidents son-in-law as his superior, or else pack his bags. Finally, Trump began disparaging Bannon in public interviews, suggesting that he had almost nothing to do with Novembers victory, and that he was just a guy who works for me.

This palace intrigue had an immediate and striking effect on White House policy. Suddenly, it became Americas job to police the boundaries of legitimate mass murder in Syria; NATO stopped being obsolete, and was suddenly worth expanding; China ceased to be a currency manipulator thats coddling North Korea, and resumed its status as our number-one frenemy; and the administrative state was finally granted permission to hire new workers.

By themselves, these developments are not all unambiguously good. One could make a sound argument for Bannons position on last weeks Syria strike, or against the wisdom of expanding NATO into Montenegro. But Bannons narrow stances on these subjects are far easier to defend than the worldview that informs them. The White Houses anti-globalists didnt oppose bombing Syria out of concern over the strikes constitutionality or its second-order effects, but because they reject the idea that the American government has any responsibility to address humanitarian crises overseas  whether using bombs, food aid, or refugee admissions. Similarly, their skepticism of NATO is not chiefly informed by a desire to avoid inflaming tensions with Russia, but by an aversion to all the institutions of international governance that have sustained the postwar liberal order.

At the end of the day, its better to have our government run by Goldman Sachs and the blob, than by wild-eyed ethnonationalists with a soft spot for fascism and dreams of a civilizational war between the West and the Muslim hordes.

And to the extent that the White House is moving away from the latter, we probably have its more kleptocratic instincts to thank. As the Washington Post reports:

Trumps three oldest children  Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric  and Kushner have been frustrated by the impression of chaos inside the White House and feel that their father has not always been served well by his senior staff, according to people with knowledge of their sentiments. The Trump heirs are interested in any changes that might help resuscitate the presidency and preserve the familys name at a time when they are trying to expand the Trump Organizations portfolio of hotels.



The fundamental assessment is that if they want to win the White House in 2020, theyre not going to do it the way they did in 2016, because the family brand would not sustain the collateral damage, said one well-connected Republican operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the presidents family. It would be so protectionist, nationalist, and backward-looking that theyd only be able to build in Oklahoma City or the Ozarks.

Of course, in a just world, the Trump brand would already be poison. Its insane that a man who has touted his fondness for sexual assault, demonized Muslims and immigrants, and spread racist conspiracy theories about the first black president can earn money by licensing his personal image to other peoples businesses. But people generally like to pretend that the world they live in isnt utterly mad, and so, to this point, the presidency seems to have legitimized Trump more than Trump has delegitimized the presidency. The American mainstream once regarded Ronald Reagan as a moronic, far-right joke; now, Democrats deliver paeans to his statesmanship.

So the Trump scions still have plenty to gain or lose from how the next four-to-eight years unfold.

At present, there is no sign that President Trump is turning away from the most nefarious aspects of his reactionary populism. Anti-trade talk that threatens well-heeled investors portfolios has dissipated; draconian immigration policies that threaten the lives of the undocumented have not. Amid all this weeks headlines about Trumps pivot toward the mainstream came reports that the Department of Homeland Security is readying plans for a national deportation force. While Trump will need congressional appropriations to fulfill his grandest, most xenophobic ambitions, theres plenty he can do under existing law to make daily life terrifying for the most vulnerable people in America.

Already, undocumented victims of domestic abuse are forfeiting their access to the protections of our justice system, out of fear that ICE agents will be waiting for them at their local court houses. Already, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is instructing federal attorneys to ramp up prosecutions of those who harbor the undocumented. And as for those others who enjoy the formal protections of citizenship: Sessions is already giving police departments the green light to routinely violate the civil liberties of their African-American constituents  while also rolling back attempts to reduce the number of false convictions that our criminal-justice system produces through the use of dubious forensic science.

Donald Trump will not abandon these policies because they degrade Americas social fabric. But he may temper the worst of them because they degrade his brand.

Running as an anti-establishment outsider, Trump needed to court the enthusiasm of the GOP primary electorate and a few reactionary billionaires by getting to the right of his opponents on issues of immigration and racial equality. But running as an incumbent, hell have less incentive to center his campaign on the far-right fringe. Despite the failures of his travel ban and health-care law, Trump has lost scant support from the non-college-educated voters who responded most enthusiastically to his message on immigration. Current polling suggests hes at far greater risk of bleeding upscale, suburban support. Moving to the center to shore up his grasp on the country-club set may alienate the Mercer family, but now that hes president, Trump has plenty of other billionaires he can turn to for campaign funds.

Amazing paragraph. The populist base is one wealthy heiress. https://t.co/430IUwzZyx pic.twitter.com/PjAXxadZ1s  Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) April 13, 2017

All of which is to say: Its far from clear whether its in Trumps best political interest to fulfill all his promises to his populist base. If his personality cult is strong enough to keep such voters on board when hes threatening to cut the social programs on which they desperately rely, it is almost certainly strong enough to make them cool with allowing the good immigrants to stick around. Trump can still regale the so-called deplorables with dog-whistle appeals to their racial resentment, without deporting millions of undocumented people. And an all-talk-no-action approach to right-wing populism may make it easier for Trump to retain  or grow  his share of college-educated whites.

If Trump has no political interest in keeping right, then he definitely has no financial one. Theres a reason most major, consumer-facing brands align themselves with a toothless kind of wokeness: Young, socially liberal city-dwellers are more likely to try new products than your average elderly person in rural America  and the formers brand loyalty is more coveted, since they are less likely to die soon. Whats more, were living in an age of global capitalism; no brand wants to cater to American nationalism at the expense of overseas sales.

Trump Hotels is a global business whose consumer base skews highly educated and cosmopolitan. And Ivanka Trumps lifestyle brand is targeted at young, urban, professional women  a demographic for whom Steve Bannon holds little appeal.

If President Trump were to disregard all his campaign promises and ideological commitments and govern solely on the basis of whats best for his own bank account, America would become a more kleptocratic nation. It would probably also become a more humane and decent one than it is today.
A Border Patrol agent speaks with Central American immigrant families who crossed into the United States seeking asylum on April 14, 2016, in Roma, Texas. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

It looks like the courts will strike down President Trumps executive order punishing sanctuary cities, and congressional Republicans appear to have little interest in shutting down the government to fund the border wall. But the Trump administration isnt about to let legal troubles or a lack of money crush its dream of deporting undocumented immigrants by the thousands.

Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, is said to be pushing Congress to include funding cuts for sanctuary cities in its must-pass appropriations bill, though that heightens the risk of a shutdown at the end of August.

And earlier this week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo instructing federal prosecutors to step up their prosecution of aliens and those who harbor them. For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned, Sessions said during a trip to the border in Arizona. This is a new era. This is the Trump era.

Now the Washington Post has obtained an internal memo from the Department of Homeland Security that details how the agency could build up a deportation force like Trump promised during the campaign, and speed up the processing of deportation cases.

David Lapan, a spokesman for the department, told the New York Times that the document is only a draft that hasnt made it to the front office yet, and anything in it is subject to change.

Trump has called for hiring an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents and 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and the memo outlines several ways that could be accomplished. This includes ending polygraph and physical fitness tests for some applicants, and eliminating part of the entrance exam that tests Spanish language skills, though the appropriate level of proficiency would still be required to graduate the academy.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also determined how to expand the number of beds in detention centers by 33,000, according to the document. This includes 21,000 beds in 27 private and government facilities that could potentially serve as detention centers, as well as another 12,500 beds in exiting CBP facilities.

The Trump administration hopes to keep those attempting to enter the U.S. illegally in Mexico, regardless of their nationality, as theyre being processed in American immigration courts. Mexico objects to this, but the memo presents several options for speeding up these proceedings, such as holding video conferences or stationing more immigration judges on the border.

The memo also describes plans to expand a program scaled back under the Obama administration, which currently allows 37 local law enforcement agencies to help enforce federal immigration laws. DHS says applications from 18 new departments are under consideration, with another 50 expressing interest in participating.

DHS does note throughout its assessment that many of these plans cant move forward without new funding from Congress  and plenty of it. The memo says stationing judges at the border would cost $400,000 per location, and hiring just 500 agents would cost $100 million. Trump has requested $1.5 billion for a border wall and another $2.6 billion for border security next year, but delivering that funding doesnt appear to be a priority for GOP congressional leaders.

For now, CBP is forging ahead with the resources it does have, using $20 million in reappropriated funding to build a prototype of the southern border wall. And ICE appears to be taking advantage of Trumps expanded definition of which criminals should be targeted for deportation.

This is an administration that very much is interested in setting up that mass deportation infrastructure and creating the levers of a police state, Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, told the Post. In these documents, you have more proof and evidence that theyre planning to carry it out.
The best deals. Photo: Olivier Douliery/Bloomberg via Getty Images

On Wednesday, President Trump announced that he plans to use the powers of his office to jeopardize health-care access for millions of low-income people, while destabilizing Americas insurance markets  because he believes that voters will blame the ensuing chaos on the Democratic Party, leaving Chuck Schumer desperate to negotiate with the White House over Obamacare repeal.

Ever since his plan to finance a tax cut for the rich by throwing millions off Medicaid died without a vote, Trump has repeatedly assured the American people that their health-care system will collapse under his watch. It hasnt always been clear whether this sentiment was intended as a prediction of an event Trump (wrongly) believed to be inevitable  or as a promise to bring Obamacare down by any means necessary.

But in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president essentially confesses to the latter intention  and he has already settled on a means of sabotage.

Back in 2014, the House GOP sued the Obama White House over payments that the federal government was making to insurers, in order to compensate them for the cost of providing discounted deductibles to low-income Obamacare enrollees. Without these cost-sharing reductions, fewer insurers would participate in the Affordable Care Act and its markets would likely collapse.

House Republicans argued that the payments were being made unconstitutionally, without a congressional appropriation. Last May, a federal judge agreed  but she put her decision on hold while the Obama administration appealed. Now, all Trump has to do to trigger a health-care crisis is withdraw that appeal. And he says hes on the cusp of doing just that, as the Journal reports:

In an interview in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said the White House may lack authority to make the payments established under his predecessor to reduce copayments and deductibles for some of the poorest customers who buy insurance under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Cutting off the payments could trigger turmoil in insurance markets.



I dont want people to get hurt, Mr. Trump said. What I think should happenand will happenis the Democrats will start calling me and negotiating.

Shorter Trump: Nice affordable health care for the poor you got here, would be a real shame if something happened to it.

There are a couple obvious problems with this plan:

1) Trumps hostage and his ransom are the same thing: Hes threatening to cut off health-insurance subsidies for poor people if Democrats dont vote for his health-care plan, which significantly reduces health-insurance subsidies for poor people.

2) It will be hard to convince the public to blame Democrats for Obamacares destruction, after you publicly declared your intention to destroy Obamacare so that people would blame the Democrats for what you did.

Still, according to the Journal, Trump is seriously considering the idea:

When the Journal asked if he would agree even to release guidelines from which lawmakers could begin writing tax legislation, Mr. Trump said, simply, No. Im going to get health care done, Mr. Trump said.



 Several times he steered the conversation back to the subsidies to health insurers, known as cost-sharing reductions, that help prop up the Obamacare.



Schumer should be calling me up and begging me to help him save Obamacare, Mr. Trump said about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker. He should be calling me and begging me to help him save Obamacare, along with Nancy Pelosi,  the top Democrat in the House.



Mr. Trump said Democrats should be motivated to find negotiate on health care because they own Obamacare.

The president doesnt want to shoot this hostage, but Democrats should be calling him up and begging him not to shoot the hostage. They should be grateful for the chance to negotiate a deal in which he merely cuts off all the hostages fingers. After all, who is the public gonna blame for the hostages murder: the people who loved it, or the guy with the gun shouting all of this through a bullhorn?
Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United Airlines. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The passengers who watched Chicago aviation police drag a limp David Dao off an airplane on Sunday will receive full refunds for the cost of their tickets. The reimbursement announcement follows several apologies from United CEO Oscar Munoz, who has vowed to investigate the incident and promised that the airline will never again use force to free seats on overbooked flights.

Clearly, United has reached the point in this PR nightmare where its willing to do anything that might possibly engender good will. But travel-industry expert Henry Harteveldt told Bloomberg that he doubts the refunds will do much to move the needle  not after Uniteds disastrous response in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Still, he said, its a smart thing to do.

There were 70 passengers on Sundays United Express flight 3411 from Chicagos OHare International to Louisville International Airport in Kentucky. The cost to the company of the reimbursement has not yet been released, nor has it been said if it will be given in cash. A spokesperson would not tell Bloomberg if passengers would receive money, frequent-flier miles, or, for that matter, small bags of pretzels equal to the value of their tickets.
The leader of the free world? Photo: Dominique A. Pineiro/Department of Defence via Getty Images

There may be no better testament to the insanity of our epoch than this: Last week, a series of reports suggested that the presidents 36-year-old son-in-law, a real-estate heir with no experience in government or public policy, who had never detailed his political views to voters or stood for an election, was consolidating his power inside the White House  and most greeted this news as a welcome relief, because it meant that the former chairman of a (soft-core) white nationalist website was less likely to sabotage the European Union, the United Nations, and every other institution of the postwar, liberal order.

If America has to have an absurdly unqualified, unelected shadow president, its probably better to have Jared Kushner in that role than Steve Bannon. But its still a little scary  and a lot weird  that Kushner has as much power as he does.

As of last week, Ivanka Trumps husband was tasked with overseeing the rewriting of Americas trade agreements; solving the Israel-Palestine conflict; developing a geopolitical strategy for the broader Middle East; ending the opioid epidemic; modernizing the technology and data infrastructure of every federal agency; remodeling the governments workforce-training programs; and developing transformative projects under the banner of Trumps $1 trillion infrastructure plan, such as providing broadband internet service to every American.

And now, the Washington Free Beacon reports that Kushner has also become the unofficial head of the National Security Council:

Kushner has taken aggressive action to micro-manage the NSC, overshadowing even recently installed National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, according to sources both inside and outside the White House who described Kushners behavior as highly unusual and damaging to the countrys national security infrastructure.



Sources who spoke to the Free Beacon described wide-ranging frustration at the NSC over Kushners influence over some of the most important foreign policy portfolios, such as Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and China, among others.



Senior NSC staff are finding their hands tied when it comes to performing even perfunctory duties, such as talking points and statements on high profile issues that must go through Kushner for approval.



The installation of Dina Powell, a confidant of Kushners wife Ivanka, to the NSC is said to have been orchestrated by Kushner in order to solidify his power over the foreign policy organization, sources said.



Jared has been pegged as the shadow secretary of state, said the White House official. But in a way hes kind of also the shadow national security adviser and secretary of defense.

This report comes in the wake of Bannons eviction from the NSC principals committee, and amid growing murmurs that the Breitbart mastermind might soon be returning to the private sector. Given that context, its possible that the Free Beacons story reveals less about Kushners actual role than it does about the bitterness of the White Houses Bannonites. Especially since a couple paragraphs in the piece read like blatant attempts to drive a wedge between Kushner and McMaster:

Kushner, in many ways, has even overshadowed McMaster, who sources described as seeking to avoid infighting in the White House. This has only minimized his power on the NSC, officials said.



On the other hand, Bannons team is said to be more respectful and willing to defer to the organization as West Wing staffers have traditionally done under past administrations.

Nonetheless, even if these leakers are exaggerating the degree of Kushners micromanagement, its clear that hes one of the most powerful people in our government, and has an avid interest in shaping Americas foreign policy. And we know almost nothing about how he sees the world.

Say what you want about the tenets of Bannonism  at least, its an ethos.
Photo: David Merron Photography/Getty Images

We start learning how to form friendships pretty much as soon as were born: the first time we hold a gaze, return a smile, or recognize a face or a voice. By the time were old enough to understand the word friend, we already know that a bond with another person is something worth pursuing  it makes us feel good. But learning to form friendships is also part of a parallel learning process: We gain our first real friends by separating them from the not-friends. Kids spend the first decade or so of their lives figuring out what it takes to sustain a meaningful friendship  and they do it, in part, by discovering what it means to leave people out.

Its a process that begins before we can even talk. For the first few years of life, kids engage in what psychologists call solitary play: Plunk two tiny humans down next to one another, and they may enjoy having the company, but theyre not really going to interact. Somewhere between the ages of 3 and 5, that transforms into parallel play, where theyll do the same activities alongside one another; theyre still not playing together, exactly, but theyre getting closer. From there, they move on to associative play, which involves a little more interaction, like conversation or sharing toys. And by around kindergarten age, theyre at cooperative play, coordinating their make-believe roles or working together toward a shared goal.

As the level of their interaction grows, theyre careful to keep things at a level they can handle  which sometimes means turning away potential playmates. Two preschoolers who are playing together will often reject a third kid whos coming over  not because theyre trying to be mean, but because theyre working at the edge of their cognitive limits to coordinate their play, says psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore, co-author of the forthcoming book Growing Friendships: A Kids Guide to Making and Keeping Friends. When its already mentally taxing to be part of a functioning duo, turning it into a trio can make for information overload. As kids get older and their brains can handle more people at once, their play situations can become more elaborate and, by extension, include more people.

For a time, at least. As kids learn to play together, theyre also working on acquiring a critical piece of knowledge: that other people are actually other people, with their own opinions and their own minds. It doesnt take long for kids to learn that they like some people more than others; even a 12-month-old can show a preference for some of its fellow babies. But the ability to think about their relationships as relationships  in a way that allows them to sort some people into the more permanent category of friends, and the leftovers into not friends  is something that takes years to develop.

The psychologist Robert Selman broke this down into five distinct phases. In the first, which kicks in somewhere between the ages of 3 and 6, kids are more or less chubby little tornadoes of self-absorption. Theyre capable of liking others, and playing with others, but tend to see other kids as extensions of themselves. They get very upset when a friend has a different opinion. It kind of blows their mind, Moore says. Here the friends are really like momentary playmates  theres kind of a love the one youre with quality. These are the preschoolers who turn away the new would-be playmate. Exclusion is common, but its also momentary, without any longer-lasting social implications.

The second phase, which typically begins around kindergarten or a little after, is what Moore describes as the whats in it for me phase: Kids are more aware of their pals independence, but channel that awareness into a sort of tit-for-tat dynamic. We hear kind of a bargaining thing, like, Ill be your friend if you do this, she says. More than anything else, a friend is someone who will do nice things for them. Next is a judgmental phase, where kids gain a more sophisticated grasp of social rules and become hyperconcerned about fitting in; after that, a phase of intense, emotional bonding, where they easily become jealous of their friends other relationships. The last phase, which some kids reach as early as age 12, is mature friendship: They place a high value on emotional closeness  theyre not as possessive, Moore says, and they can accept and appreciate differences between the friend and themselves.

By the late elementary-school years, when most kids are in one of those latter three stages, almost everyone has enough of a grasp on the concept of friendship to claim membership in a friend group. For one thing, they now have the cognitive capacity to handle that group-based interaction, unlike their younger selves. More important, though, kids at the cusp of adolescence gravitate toward groups as kind of a security blanket  theyre starting to pull away from their parents and forge their own identities, and its often a lonely process. Having a gang makes it a little less so. When youre not sure who you are, Moore says, theres safety in being part of the herd.

Theres also more than just safety. When youre trying to figure yourself out, your gang can be a kind of guidepost, explains Sarah Gaither, a social-psychology professor at Duke University: We all want to maintain this positive view of who we are, and the groups we belong to only reinforce that positive view.

And if you build your identity around a group, its important to define what that group isnt. Thats what really ends up pushing kids to be more exclusionary to other kids, Gaither says. If theyre really trying to reaffirm, Im in this group and this group is important to me. Over the course of elementary school, physical aggression is replaced by tattling, and then eventually by gossip  both ways of drawing boundaries, and of keeping an errant peer in their place. The act of shutting people out, then, doesnt necessarily have much to do with the ones on the outside; more often, its an act of self-preservation.

This means that if a kid on the outside wants to break through, Moore says, they have to do it in a way that makes it clear they arent a threat to the character of the group. It boils down to a strategy she calls watch, then blend: Learn the rules of the group youre trying join  whether its little kids playing a game of tag, or high-schoolers complaining about a certain teacher  then join in only once youre sure you can play by them. If everybody is enthusiastic about something, then the kid should express similar enthusiasm, she says. This is not about having to be like everybody else. Its really just picking up the climate of the group. Fitting in, in other words, can come down to how well you draw the line: On one side is us  bonded by whatever it is that bonds us  and on the other is everyone else.
Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam. Photo: Mike Groll/AP

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a trailblazing judge on New Yorks top court, was found dead on Wednesday in the Hudson River, multiple outlets reported. Abdus-Salaam made history in 2013 with her judgeship when she became the first African-American woman to serve on the seven-member Court of Appeals in New York. Abdus-Salaam, 65, had previously earned the distinction of being the first female Muslim judge in the United States when she began as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in 1994, according to the New York Times.

Abdus-Salaams body was found fully clothed and without visible signs of trauma, police told the New York Daily News. Residents had called authorities shortly before 2 p.m. when her body was found floating on the bank of the Hudson River by the parkway near 132nd Street. Her husband, who identified the body, had reported her missing from her home in central Harlem earlier that morning, according to the Daily News. Police are still investigating how she ended up in the river.



Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the appeals court, said in a statement that the late judge was a pioneer in the field. Through [Abdus-Salaams] writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come, Cuomo said, according to the New York Daily News.

As a judge, Abdus-Salaam was a consistently liberal voice on the court. According to the New York Times, she often sided with the marginalized:

On the court, Judge Abdus-Salaam was among the most reliable and steadfast liberal voices, regularly siding with vulnerable parties  the poor, impoverished immigrants and people with mental illnesses, for instance  against more powerful and established interests. She also tended to lean toward injured parties who brought claims of misconduct, fraud or breach of contract against wealthy corporations.

Abdus-Salaam was born into a working-class family in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Barnard College. She later earned her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and it was there that she became classmates with former U.S. Attorney Eric Holder. Holder was also present at her swearing-in ceremony in 2013, where he lavished her with praise. He recalled to the audience then, [Abdus-Salaam] could boogie, but there was a seriousness about her, a strong sense of purpose at a relatively young age. Ultimately, he added, She never forgot where she came from.

Indeed, Abdus-Salaam developed an interest at a young age in her family history, according to the New York Times. Her research into her family ancestry led to the discovery that her great-grandfather was a slave in Virginia. The fact that, a few generations later, she was in a vastly different position wasnt lost on her. All the way from Arrington, Va., where my family was the property of someone else, to my sitting on the highest court of the State of New York is amazing and huge, she said in 2014 when she recalled the lineage in an interview about black history, according to the Times. It tells you and me what it is to know who we are and what we can do.
Jennifer Plotnick and Kent Rogowskis guests believed they were at an engagement party until the officiant started the ceremony. Photo: Sarah Kuszelewicz and Falcon Griffith/Chellise Michael Photography

Youre already sleeping in the citys best venue. Heres our everything guide to the apartment wedding, including how one couple pulled it off, advice from a wedding planner who specializes in atypical venues, a word from the fire marshal, and more.

How One Couple Did It

The wedding of: Jennifer Plotnick and Kent Rogowski, plus 90 guests

Where: Their Clinton Hill apartment

Why at home: It cost less than $12,000.

How they made room: We moved all the furniture in the living room to one side to create a seating area for the older crowd, which later in the evening became a place to nap for tired guests. The backyard was lined with benches and chairs, and our caterer, Comparti, had the idea to put the bar in the very back of the yard to draw people outside. The food was laid out on a long picnic table outside. Outdoors had a more relaxed vibe, while there was a DJ in our living room for people who wanted to dance.

Photo: Sarah Kuszelewicz and Falcon Griffith/Chellise Michael Photography

Which space pulled double duty: A whole bathtub was filled with cans of banana-cream pudding for dessert, and our bedroom was taken over by the catering crew and used as storage for anything that we wanted to remove from our living room.

How they decorated: Our florist, Putnam & Putnam, covered the archway in our dining room (where we performed the ceremony) with flowers and placed another incredible arrangement above our mantle. The truth is it didnt matter what the rest of the apartment looked like, because the flowers looked so good. The only things we added outside were some string lights throughout the yard and a bunch of Mexican falsa blankets so that people could sit outside and keep warm if it got too cool.

Photo: Sarah Kuszelewicz and Falcon Griffith/Chellise Michael Photography

Who came in handy: We had a security guard outside. That was good, because we werent worried about having doors open and people coming in and out.

How people made themselves at home: People were picking at the leftover catering trays. It was like, Wait, theres more mac and cheese? Let me get in there. 

A Blue Marble ice cream cart was stationed outside. Photo: Sarah Kuszelewicz and Falcon Griffith/Chellise Michael Photography

Or Have Your Wedding in Someone Elses Apartment

Photo: Courtesy of Splacer

Converted Synagogue

40 guests max; $1,000/hour

Why it works for a wedding: The chefs kitchen will please your caterer, the three terraces (and many living rooms) will space out your guests, and the Star of David windows will placate your Jewish grandma.

Photo: Courtesy of Splacer

Greenwich Village Brownstone

110 guests max; $150/hour

Why it works for a wedding: The parlor floor is laid out like a professional venue, with one intimate room for the ceremony, a second space for cocktails, and a large area with an adjacent kitchen for the reception.

Photo: Courtesy of Splacer

East Village Townhouse

60 guests max; $173/hour

Why it works for a wedding: Soaring ceilings and an open floor plan make this multi-floor split-level feel spacious. A dramatic indoor balcony is great for photos.

Photo: Courtesy of Splacer

Soho Loft

50 guests max; $143/hour

Why it works for a wedding: The bedroom is located in back, away from the loft space, making it helpful for food prep (or coat storage).

The Planner Says

Matthew David of 360 Design specializes in atypical venues.

How can you figure out the best use of your space?

Create anchor points: This is the window we want to be married in front of, this kitchen island will be where we serve food. Its important to have a floor plan for whats going to happen over time to best achieve a good flow.

What areas can be repurposed?

We often have to look for a back of house area, as it allows for more use of the main space. New Yorkers are used to seeing a coat check in hallways, but itd also be great to use a neighbors kitchen. Its about storing ice in the washing machine  using every nook and cranny.

What about decor?

Dont put enormous floral arrangements in your home. Arrange little notes of flowers like sculptures, little works of art. I would consider bringing in a lighting company, like Levy Lighting, to highlight your focal points and draw guests over to them, like a spotlight on the ceremony area or the food. No matter what you use, make sure each bulb is dimmable. Balloons can be fantastic if theyre done right  maybe hundreds of one shape in one color, filling a ceiling.

Anything else couples might not think of?

You need to watch all the scents in a small space. You might want to make food choices that are welcoming; some cheeses are very stinky.

And Now a Word From the Fire Marshal

Give Lieutenant Anthony Mancuso of the FDNY and his comrades some peace of mind and dont fill your apartment with hundreds of flickering tea lights. Theyre dangerous because people like to put them everywhere. But then they forget about them, Mancuso says. And just because theyre in a big jar doesnt mean theyre safer. You leave one burning in there and the glass gets hot and brittle. It could shatter. Flameless candles are colorful, scented, and even remote-operated these days.

*This article appears in the summer 2017 issue of New York Weddings.
President Trump loves signing things. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

On Thursday, President Trump signed a bill into law that repeals the last rule proposed by the Obama administration: a rule that prevents states from withholding Title X family-planning money from health-care providers that offer abortion. The bill narrowly passed in the Senate last month; Vice-President Mike Pence had to be called in to cast the deciding vote, sending the measure through 51-50, Reuters reported.

It was my honor to break tie vote in Senate overturning last minute Obama rule & restoring state control over Title X family planning funds. pic.twitter.com/jebspF3F3K  Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) March 30, 2017

The Title X program provides close to 4 million low-income Americans with basic health and family-planning services, such as cancer screenings, birth control, and STI screenings  because of the Hyde amendment, no Title X money goes toward abortions or abortion research. But Republicans want to see the power to distribute Title X money returned to the states, meaning state governments can choose which providers are funded and which arent.

The measure is widely seen as an attack on Planned Parenthood, which said in a statement last month that it could have far-reaching implications for peoples access to health care through the Title X family-planning program across the board, and could embolden states to discriminate against family-planning health-care providers, both Planned Parenthood health centers and independent clinics.

Its a sign of the repeal measures unpopularity that it almost died before it could be passed  last month, Pence and GOP Senator Johnny Isakson (who was literally wheeled to and from the Senate chamber due to a recent back surgery) were called in to cast tie-breaking votes that allowed the measure to proceed. And because the vote took place under the Congressional Review Act, which allows regulations to be overturned by a simple majority, there was no chance for dissenting lawmakers to filibuster.

Two Republican senators initially voted against the measure, and one  Senator Susan Collins  pointed out that it was pretty redundant. Its important to recognize that there is already a bar against using federal funds for abortion, and that bar stays in effect, she told Politico. She added, Were talking about federal family-planning funds and I dont think that those funds should be subjected to state restrictions.
I'm afraid to admit I have no clue who she is.... :X









I'm really annoyed at my beta readers for my book. I gave them copies in early Jan and asked them to have me edits by end of March and they're not done. One just started. Like I get they have lives but don't commit when I tell you my deadline straight up

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ughhh that is the worst.

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I am just so happy she is alive. I remember being terrified reading her tweets

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no against her or anything but this started to feel more like a milking the cash cow attempt. she's seven years old, she's not gonna be the one who's writing this.



also no i won't be reading this, i don't need to grasp the full concept of what my great, amazing, perrrrrrfect government helped to create. i was dying with ultimate shame when i saw her photos with erdogan.





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oh no, i have nothing against them. my cringe was at turkish government officials (and for reasons everyone could understand i'm not gonna elaborate because i love my country  and i would never criticise our president ) as for the book, i feel like it'd be more honest if they admitted it's gonna be with her mother's help etc. "her book" thing kinda rattles me (and it's not their fault ofc, it's the pr aspect).



the only problem i have with bana (or more correctly, her twitter) in general is that the tweets. these tweets are supposed to be written by a 7 year old. tone the fucking propaganda down a couple hundred notches down. (p.s. i hate all parts of the syrian civil war equally)

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The book is going to be about the war she and her family was in, a war they did not ask for. They have been given an opportunity to tell their story. It's not "milking it", they want this horrible war to stop. Look at her twitter account, they have a message and we should listen

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but i have to admit i have no idea what you mean with this "i don't need to grasp the full concept of what my great, amazing, perrrrrrfect government helped to create" so i maybe talk about a different thing than you!

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Simon and schuster, its a no from me but get those coins

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Good for her. Fuck Simon and Schuster though.

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I hate that Erdogan is using her and her family as propaganda tools. Good for her, but fuck Simon and Schuster.

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lbr whom doesn't erdogan use as pr tools?



my nerves are so rattled, i can only wish for referendum to end.

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Simon and Schuster make me generally angry considering, but I still read many of the authors they publish. I'm proud of this little girl. I hope she does well.

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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

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aww



but for real....didn't they JUST give/revoke a deal to Milo? I see them trying to redeem themselves

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y'all know that account is 100% fake, right?

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Literally nobody gives a shit about this post. Or you.



You are slippin' bb.

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you cared enough to comment!

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Not really. Commenting doesn't equal caring. You are annoying. That is all.

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Cool for her

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I was so confused by your comment for a sec but then I got it and howled

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LOL IRL

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omfg I wasn't ready for this comment

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lol fuck

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lololol damn Martha

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hahahah I'm crying

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MARTHA   

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lmao



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Oh damn, NOW who will talk to us about Sudan????

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jodie comer better win for thirteen, omg.

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She was so good! I adore her.

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the night manager was really good. I keep meaning to watch National Treasure.

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American ones suck too, honestly. Except for the Tonys, those are fun.

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victoria >>>>>>>>>>>>>> the crown

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i personally really liked it, i have the blu ray copy

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no

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no

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I liked Victoria, but I'm gonna go with 'no' because the downstairs plots were pointless and boring.

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I enjoyed Victoria, but The Crown was better. I look forward to season 2 of both though

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God no. Prince Albert ruined the show. Horrible casting.







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The Night Manager star surprisingly misses out on a nomination for his role



Wasn't that surprised, tbh. But I'm sure Benefulofhimself will pick up the pretentiousness slack if he wins

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As always, it's Sarah Lancashire's to lose, but I have a real soft spot for Nikki Amuka-Bird.



I haven't watched Last Tango since they Did The Thing (killed off the qwoc) but Nicola Walker is so good she deserves all the awards.



I really, really want Diane Morgan to win because Philomena Cunk is some of the funniest shit I've ever watched.

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they'll have to drown their sorrows in "dirty beer" as we say in humanitarian language

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lmao

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lmao

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lol

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detectives have concluded that the "muppets most wanted" actor died accidentally while engaging in autoerotic asphyxiation. he was found naked in his tent with an "I <3 T.S." tank top wrapped around his neck. the heartbroken people of south sudan have taken to the streets carrying giant effigies of their fallen savior. children wail with grief and women rend their clothes in agony as they cry out to the heavens, demanding answers from a silent god.

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this is amazing lmao

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comment of the damn year

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I made it three episodes before giving up on The Crown. I just don't care about 20th century royals.

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mte modern royals are so boring. i want some crazy murderous inbred habsburg shit.

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YES. I watched Queen Margot as a palate cleanser after The Crown, now I want to see Visconti's Ludwig.

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there's a turkish show on netflix called magnificent century about suleman, sultan of the ottoman empire which is sooooo fun to watch. it's in turkish though, so you can't really watch and multitask or you'll miss what's going on. but the drama is iconic tbh.

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I've been watching it at the slowest pace, like part of an episode every few weeks, I'm on episode 6 now... I think you're right, I just had a hard time understanding why I don't like it when I thought it should be up my alley and other friends who I wouldn't think would be as into it love it?

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it's so confusing to watch and everyone looked the same and sound the same. there's no quirks and individuality in their conversations and speeches. i was so bored.

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I watched the whole thing and you're not missing anything.



It's not even the fact that they're boring (which they are) it's such a badly paced show. I don't understand what everyone loves about it.

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I haven't watched The Crown but Happy Valley is up there with my all-time faves. It's perfection.

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+1 happy valley is amazing and sarah lancanshire gives one of the best performances on tv of all time imo

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same here. Happy Valley is amazing.

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Yep! I hope Happy Valley and Sarah Lancashire win.

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Yep yep. I hate that we didn't get a new series this year

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Absolutely.

Sarah is obviously amazing but the whole cast was just great.

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Sarah Lancashire FTW.

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I enjoyed The Crown, but Happy Valley was fantastic. I know the guy who plays Tommy is a priest on another show so I was surprised by how much I hated him on HV.

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sexy vicar yaaas! sexy vicar yaaas!

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Happy Valley was so fucking good. I honestly didn't think they were going to be able to make a second season as good as the first one but it was amazing. It deserves all the awards. The Crown was good but it doesn't compare. James Norton continues to impress me with his talent. It's amazing how much I adore him on Grantchester and want him to die every time I see him on Happy Valley. I think he should've got a nom for it tbh.

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YES QUEEN!!!! I miss Catherine

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thats hilarious

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i need a great plot twist where danny is killed off in the last episode and someone takes his place (coughmoonknight).



fuck danny and fuck finn jones too while were at it.

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I'm so on board with this idea.

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nah i think they shouldve just switched it to an asian guy, like asian dudes are barely around media-wise already, to put a eurasian girl in their place is a bit :/

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and none for gretchen weiner

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I don't know why Charlie Cox's face is cracking me up

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he looks like that blubber fish

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Ohhhhmy gooodddd I can never unsee this now jesus

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omg the blobfish? I see it, bless his heart.

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he really does lol

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he kind of suffers from the same derp-y smile that Jennifer Lawrence does

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bc he looks high as a kite? lol

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Hmmm Charlie is looking good

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Still waiting for Angela del Toro White Tiger to join this group.

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Loras isn't amazing or anything and it sucks they didn't cast an Asian actor



but Iron Fist is still a much better show than Snoredevil

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but Iron Fist is still a much better show than Snoredevil



Quite an unpopular opinion but ia.

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sis this lie!



delete this comment!!!

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sorry bb but I made it through six episodes of Daredevil and it was just so boring it literally put me to sleep. like every character was bad. even Claire was just there to be brutalized for Matt's manpain.

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I couldn't make it through Iron Fist. I wasn't a huge fan of DD, but I disagree so hard.

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now sis

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I thought Luke Cage was the worst. It was so slow and pretty much all they did sas talk, granted i didnt even make it to the end

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sis i saw the way they cut together a fight scene, ironfist is terrible

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I haven't even watched Iron Fist, but I'm inclined to believe you

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The only good Netflix Marvel show is Jessica Jones anyway

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ia, though I find it funny how the worst part of Iron Fist is... The Iron Fist. I was literally there for everyone else but him. Ward's storyline was pretty great, IMO.

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I mean I'd like to pretend this means something & iron fist is getting the shaft but it took them forever to put out the luke cage & jessica jones ones from jessica jones series so I don't think this means a single thing

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Comics related, but is anyone else absolutely guttered to see Greg Rucka leave WW? I am so upset and so absolutely worried about who they'll replace him with. I was hoping he would stay on but with how many comics he's writing that was a pipe dream. :(

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I heard it's Gail Simone coming back.

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That would make my whole year, but until then I'm going to be hell nervous. Hoping that the announcement is super soon.

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OMG PLEASE

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I hope so but Gail trolls to much. I want Fabian to do the art, he shouldn't be wasting his time on Suicide Squad.

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He is not a defender

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What if they made one and he was Asian instead just to fuck with him even more? I would die.

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Omg, that would be amazing.

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But the character isn't, nor was he ever, asian so that wouldnt happen.

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considering how condescending they were to people when asked not to whitewash brown characters, funko pop would never.

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How long did it take for POPs of the other three to come out? I guess Funko probably already had licensing to make him but just didn't rush it.



& I can't believe the 'I don't know why people buy these things' crowd didn't get here first.





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I don't know why people buy these things

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lol I agree, they're so stupid. they're literally just made to be collector bait

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it's cute to have a couple of your faves since they're cheap but some people don't know how to stop

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Truly unreal. One of the most shocking things I've ever seen.

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same

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MTE

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I am shocked at how blunt it was tbh like he didn't tip toe or anything, it was just like BAM

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I wonder if they asked Zeke if they could air that. I mean it would've been a weirdly edited tribal had they cut it out, but I wonder if they granted him that courtesy.



This was a heartwrenching tribal. Everything Varner was saying was gross.



Oh sorry, I didn't think I'd get this reaction. Sorry I thought he was out to everyone but this tribe, therefore it's a deception. Sorry. I have transgender friends and I'm their biggest ally sorry.



It was all very disgusting. And worse, he had a long time before tribal to think about it too. :/



Edited at 2017-04-13 04:56 am (UTC)

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he has trans friends, he's a gay man, he's an LGBTQ activist AND on top of all that he's from North Carolina so he should be extra aware of struggles trans ppl have right now



....and he still fucked it up

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White gays are the worst, breaking news

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(marco rubio voice) let's dispel with the notion that the community is free of lateral oppression

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People assume white gay men are allies. They dont care about anyone but themselves. I remember when they had Colton as the gay conservative contestant like it was some groundbreaking oxymoron. He is one of a million white gays who gladly voted for Trump.

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wooooooow @ this dude rn omg

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yikes. so that's why the apology is so well worded... i was gonna give him some credit but nope

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Sorry I thought he was out to everyone but this tribe, therefore it's a deception.



This was the most mind-boggling piece of logic. And when Varner said "there are levels of deception y'all don't even know about" he's clearly saying that Zeke is lying about being a man because he isn't really a man. Just terrible shit.

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The GLAAD statement says that CBS worked with Zeke and GLAAD so I'd imagine that yeah, Zeke had a lot of say in what was aired.

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Yeah...



He literally asked "why haven't you told anyone you're Transgender", and then said he said it because he thought everyone knew. Then what was the fucking point?

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I'm not a fan of Varner or Zeke, but I needed a whole box of tissues to make it through tribal. Just about every emotion possible came up--never thought I'd see that on Survivor.

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I hope he did have some say, though he said at the end he hoped someone watching at home would be helped by this and it would lead to the greater good.

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From the interview with Jeff Probst I read he asked Zeke about it and the original casting (for Millennials v Gen X) and Zeke told Jeff that he was prepared for it to come out and would deal with it. So I think going into the show Zeke was well aware that it could come up, but was just taken by surprise at tribal.



Edited at 2017-04-13 04:29 pm (UTC)

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this was so horrifying to watch.



zeke's expression throughout made me want to throw up.

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hoooooly shit how could he ever think that was okay

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I still can't believe Varner thought this was a good idea - and he really did think it was a good idea if you watch the whole tribal council; he outs him, then defends the outing and he only apologizes when he realizes no one is siding with him.



Also, isn't Sarah a Trump supporter? The entire time she was talking I was side-eyeing her cause I'm pretty sure she supports Trump

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I think Sarah is a cop in a conservative town so I would wager that she is.

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Yeah she's a huge trump supporter

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Fuck her. She deserves some heat for trying to make this about herself. Metamorphosis my ass.

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I may get some heat for this,.. so I apologize in advanced, but Sarah has always given me lesbian vibes. She took it very hard and so the whole time she was crying, I thought she was gonna say that she's a lesbian who's still in the closet or something of the sort hence why outing someone is really not cool. Idk, I don't care if she is or isn't but it's where my mind went with her and her strong reaction towards the whole situation.

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I may get some heat for this,.. so I apologize in advanced, but Sarah has always given me lesbian vibes. She took it very hard and so the whole time she was crying, I thought she was gonna say that she's a lesbian who's still in the closet or something of the sort hence why outing someone is really not cool. Idk, I don't care if she is or isn't but it's where my mind went with her and her strong reaction towards the whole situation.

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Honestly I thought she was going there too

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yeah idgi did he think that everyone was going to be like OMG ZEKE HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL US, YOU LIAR!!! GO VARNER!! ??? like I don't get his thought process at all and how it was beneficial for him to do that

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WOW wtf

This is going to be one of the worst moments in both of their lives

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thats....about as good an apology as you can make in that situation. I am actually shocked. I'm glad Zeke has so much support in his favor (I dont watch the show but still).

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I couldn't make it through the whole thing. That was disgusting.

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Pepsi: Uh-oh.

United: We're the worst.

Sean Spicer: I got this.

Jeff Varner: The week isn't over, y'all.#SurvivorGameChangers  K.A. Coleman (@KA_Coleman) April 13, 2017

The THR article is wonderful. Zeke is an amazing writer!

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*North Korea: SIKE

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now i get why so many tweets were referencing survivor. :(

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yah - they did not even go vote individually. probst was basically like "so we all agree that [the attacker] should go?"

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Probst handled it really well IMHO. In Zeke's article he talks about how Probst gave him time to collect himself and kind of kept checking to make sure he was OK as the conversation was unfolding.

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Yeah, he was voted off

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Jeff was voted out. They didn't do the usual voting though. They all just agreed he had to go.

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Nope.



They didn't vote, the host was like, "Yeah, we're all in agreement he's gone?" Everyone was like, "Yeah" so he left without a vote at tribal council. Which is basically only happens to pond scum on Survivor -he was kicked off in a gentle way. I think the host was too shocked to really react well, otherwise, he might have been kicked off more bluntly.



Edited at 2017-04-13 05:16 am (UTC)

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I know we're supposed to accept when people make good apologies but I don't understand how if he knows all that, he still did it? It just goes to show how even when you're an ally your privilege is always there. Christ on a stick.





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I don't think it's a good apology??



because of the "I recklessly revealed something I thought everyone already knew" like...he's lying, he's straight up lying because you can't say you thought people knew when you publically asked "why haven't you told everyone" and claimed it as ~desception~



the lie taints any chance of it being a good apology....

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I didn't watch the video until just now and you're right, it's just laced with a lot of buzz words but if you actually know the context it's bullshit.



I guess my end conclusion kind of should've led me to realizing the apology was shit anyways lmao, oh well.

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All of this is true, but his apology wasn't good at all.



Even in his Twipology he qualifies his ignorance with "I revealed something that I mistakenly thought everyone knew...". Which just contradicts the idea that it would be deception in the first place, or that Zeke didn't tell anybody.

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It wasn't a good apology. He kept bringing up "deception" even after he apologized, which is transphobic bullshit

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wow what a dick. you could tell he didnt expect everyone to turn on him for it because he couldnt even defend his actions.

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Yeah he really thought everyone would see it the same way he did.

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I was so relieved when everyone turned on him, because if you had asked me before I probably would have been super pessimistic and guessed that it'd be AT LEAST split but holy shit, NO ONE was with him.



it's really sad how wonderful that is, like...hope for humanity a little bit.

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In Zeke's (fantastic) article he also talks about how "outing" a trans person is also totally pointless or irrelevant unless you're specifically trying to make a point that they aren't really male or female. I'd never thought of it that way and it just struck a chord. I mean outing is always something no one should never do but it really drove home for me that Varner *was* coming from a malicious place when he did it.

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Exactly





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I was outed as gay by my brother to our uncle because "he asked if you were and so I said yes" and when I told him he had no right to do this (my brother is not a friend or ally to the LGBTQ community in anyway) he simply told me "He fucking asked me and not you, you don't dictate what I say...."

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What a scumbag. This week has reminded me that humans are trash, all of us. Shut it down!

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I'd be down with watching the world burn. Where is the meteor at?!

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You could just see Sarah having some growth as a person right there in tribal. I hope seeing her reaction makes some people watching the show grow too.



Highly recommend everyone read Zeke's article, it was really well written and just good.

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The article is so amazing! It's awesome that he's been able to take back whatever power Varner had in that moment and turn it into something great.

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holy shit that article really was amazing, so well written and I love how he kept referring to Verner as "former local news anchor"

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Her personal growth was nice I guess but she clearly didn't grow that much with the way she fanatically supported Trump after that.



Zeke's article was excellent.

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I never got into this one but their other soap 'Undressed' got my 12 yr old self SHOOKETH. I'm going to need a post on them next!

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i loved undressed, i used to stay up late to watch it and put the volume on low on the tv so my mom wouldn't catch my 11 year old self watching it

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Thats pretty much our entire generation sis. 

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Lmfao same

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saaame lol

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Sis the only thing on mtv back then that I didn't watch on damn near mute was Daria lol

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This is how everyone watched it. I had the remote in hand too, in case I needed to quickly change the channel.

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lmao I remember I thought Undressed was porn

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undressed was everything to pre-teen me

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i was in fucking love w/ this show, no one ik irl knows wtf i'm talking about when i try to mention this show and how amazing it was.

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lmao. same. well just one of my really good friends in school watched it and we would talk about it in class. i was pissed i never got to see the finale (my friend had to recap it for me) and we missed a few of the final episodes because they were aired at weird times after 9/11. it was a struggle.



it was years before i finally got to see the proper uninterrupted ending online like in 2011. smh.



Edited at 2017-04-13 05:40 am (UTC)

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I used to record the episodes starting like in the middle of the series..and I *missed* the last episodes because they aired them at 11pm and I had to be in bed because it was school nights. Ugh..lol

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I was mad Ivan finally got some man on man action and the show NEVER CAME BACK!!!

my poor lonely gay self.

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When he worked himself to eat his wife out and he went to throw up in the bathroom..I could not lol

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Lol my husband did the same thing! But I'm pretty sure he was out in high school so I dunno why he did lol

Mess

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when my friend told me Jeff kissed Ivan in the finale i was desperate to find the finale online on a fucken dial up connection. but it didn't exist lmao.



literally took years for someone to upload all the episodes on YouTube. bendito.

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Holy shit I watched this when I was 11. Don't remember much about it tho.

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I think I caught some of this but I didn't start it and the schedule was screwed up so I just gave up. If I knew that there was a gay storyline, I would have tried harder. God, I love watching Zay on GT, he seemed to always be having the time of his life even in the most far-flung places.

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you may have tried even harder to thirst over Zay in this SG scene tbh.

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I can totally relate with her lol

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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

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I have a vivid memory of watching this show when it was briefly in a 7pm time slot. There was a storyline where two teen girls decided to seduce and entrap a rapist (WHY was this such a common soap storyline in the 90s/00s). Right when the rapist was about to attack one girl her BFF burst through the window guns blazing. It was problematic AF but my tween self was shook!

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I always thought it was a game show but I may be confusing it with something else that aired around that time. Idk how to describe the show itself though and that's going to bug me.

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I lived for this show. I had basically no gay characters on TV to watch, so I tried to record as many episodes as possible. They are on unmarked VHS tapes along with Pokemon episodes somewhere in my parents garage.



I had such a crush on Ivan

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Never watched this, but have loved Megalyn Echikunwoke since seeing her in "Funny Valentines".



Is she still with that old guy, tho?

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HUH! I must've missed this but definitely knew Megalyn Echikunwoke (not sure what other show she was on but I definitely remember ha face back then. so heey gurl!!!) & Robert Hutchinson totally looked familiar?? so vague rn....



and there were some man on man action in 2001?!? where the hell have I been at that time? *clutches my pearls*

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it was ahead of it's time!!! this is why i titled this post "forgotten" or in your case "never knew." smhhh.



you binge watch it now sis. there are links below before the source. it's tacky but a fun way to kill half an hour or so if you're bored and miss the early 00's.



Edited at 2017-04-13 07:29 am (UTC)

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Definitely 

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I swear she was on Passions on another soap. Her face looks familiar from daytime.

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Would Sasha ever find out Natalia was his mother and not his sister?



I didn't even know this show existed until this post but..

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sis the details on it are cringeworthy.



when Sasha was in an accident and her brothers had already given blood for their brother Natalia demanded she give blood knowing her brothers wouldn't be a match. because of this it was revealed how Boris allowed Julie's father (William Whitmore) to come to the house and rape his daughter Natalia when she was 13. then Boris shipped her off to an asylum to give birth and shortly after boarding school in hopes she'd never come back home. Boris and his wife raised Sasha as their own and made Natalia have everyone believe he was her sister and not his mother so that it wouldn't hurt the family name. he made Julie's father sell him his company for a very low price and made him sign away any rights to Sasha and to go away otherwise he would turn him in to the police for rape. but he couldn't care less for his daughter and tells Natalia in flashbacks that she asked for it...he's a vile misogynist POS.



William died a few episodes before the finale and tells Jeff to tell Natalia that he was sorry for what he did to her. when she's told of his apology to her she says it was 16 years too late and couldn't care less about his death.

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What. The. Hell. MTV is a MESS marketing this to 12 year olds.

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damn since revivals are all the rage these days MTV should throw these actors a bone & bring this show back to give it a proper ending

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Def gonna tell my sis about this because we were HOOKED

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Wait. I do not remember the existence of this show AT ALL even though I was literally 20 at the time it aired. I was alllll about TRL and the Real World and I watched MTV constantly back then so I feel like I should totally remember it. I remember plenty of other obscure MTV programs from that era...



Would this show have been more my speed if I was, like, 14 rather than 20?



This post got me thinking about 9/11 - speaking of MTV it played the news all day long that day. At 11pm they turned (gentle, fairly soft) music videos back on and started with Coldplay's Yellow. They were brand new at the time. I hated the song before that day, but have had a soft spot for it ever since then.



Edited at 2017-04-13 08:54 am (UTC)

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it was time we had this conversation. i figured a lot of ONTD didn't know - i only knew one person IRL that knew of this show. literally nobody else knew what this was if i ever mentioned it.it was time we had this conversation. #justiceforspydergames

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Lol you have done it proper justice here today!



I just don't get it bc there's literally no reason that I wouldn't remember it! I was watching MTV ~constantly~ back then.

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They also played Rock the Boat on that loop and it made me feel so uncomfortable because Aaliyah was killed after that video shoot.

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It doesn't resonate with me at all and I was 15 in 2000.

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I remember they played ms Jackson and commons the light as well during the morning and evening music bits after 9/11. It has stuck in my memory

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I think this is Cher 3.0, Cher 2.0, and Original Cher

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The kardashians are awful but I do give them props for speaking about Armenian culture etc

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As an Armenian, I never got into the Obama hype after he failed to fulfill his promise of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. To this day, I still rage at the media outlets and people who say it didn't happen.



I hate the Kardashians, but I am so proud that they are not afraid to talk about it.



Edited at 2017-04-13 04:28 pm (UTC)

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Did you see the episode where Conan took his assistant to Armenia? I thought it was really well done.

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I died when I saw it. It was really good.

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wow i could have SWORN he did. thats shitty

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The movies stars Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac.

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has there ever been good pics of Kim's new butt?

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I saw some pics on ig. She def inflated it again. It looks bigger than what it was a few months ago but not huge like it was before she got pregnant.

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lol..it never changed? It's the same as it always was

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http://radaronline.com/photos/kim-kardashian-butt-implants-plastic-surgery-removed-claim-surgeons-kuwtk-photos/



But idk cause the pics are never clear Recently she seems to have a smaller butt look:But idk cause the pics are never clear

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This is the one where Oscar Isaac plays an Armenian Doctor? So has played an Egyptian, and now an Armenian? I guess he is the go-to guy when in it comes to people from the middle-east/eastern Europe.

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And isn't he really from Central America?

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yeah one of his parents is from guatemala

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Alfred Molina can retire!

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Ambiguously brown... But because he's a fan-favorite, apparently it never gets brought up?

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And he plays Joseph in that nativity movie.

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The movies stars Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, the film is a love story set during the period.



This made me think it was a story between their characters but I see it is not and involves another love triangle. No thank you.



But as others have said props to them for speaking out about.

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mte I was like o rly but quickly realized that's not the case oop

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Has Kourtney's lower jaw always been that asymmetrical or is it just some weird angle that's making it look that way? Also, Kim looks like she could be Cher's daughter in these photos.

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Shit, my jawline is so asymmetrical it makes me a 6. I pray I'll grow a beard one day to hide and become an 8

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My nose is crooked as hell and I've looked in to getting it fixed. I personally don't mind obviously asymmetrical faces though - too symmetrical faces are boring and robotic to me.

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There's more Armenians in California than in Armenia. I don't think there are any big names out there.

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Is there anyone else? Are Armenians seen as non-white or too "exotic" in the US? I'm racking my brain trying to remember any younger Armenian American actors. I know there is David Dastmalchian (who plays creepy rather well).Is there anyone else? Are Armenians seen as non-white or too "exotic" in the US?

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I kan't with Kourtney's wonky jaw and Kim's wonky eye. 

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why kim look like jafar tho

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lol I've been calling her that for a few months, she's a mix of Jafar and Cher

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chefar

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Oscar Isaacs accents make me uncomfortable.

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Props tbh

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Beijings patience with North Korea is wearing thin as Pyongyang continues to conduct nuclear missile tests. According to a state Chinese media outlet, Huanqui, China is considering a suspension of its crude oil exports to its neighbor should North Korea conduct a sixth nuclear test.

North Korea depends on China for 90 percent of its crude oil supply, and stopping these will wreak havoc on the dictatorship, which China has been trying to avoid, since a regime collapse is likely to result in a massive influx of refugees. It has also opposed President Trumps urging to penalize North Korea for the nuclear tests so far, but now it seems the mood is changing  having another nuclear neighbor is hardly Chinas idea of a stable regional environment.

Asias biggest economy also has other ways to make Kim Jong Un give up nuclear tests, such as stopping or reducing the food aid it sends to the impoverished nation, or cutting North Korean foreign currency transactions that go through Chinese banks.

The White House meanwhile has sent an armada to the Korean peninsula, and is now mulling over measures such as an oil embargo, a ban on the countrys only airline, and interception of ships carrying cargo to North Korea. Also among the measures being considered is penalizing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang. Related: Oil Markets Turn Bullish Amid Spiking Geopolitical Risk

Last year, a Korean media outlet described the most likely scenario for the country, should China halt crude oil supplies. The whole nation would be paralyzed in this scenario, from government agencies to the military to production.

Alternative supplies are not really an option: although Russia and some Middle Eastern producers have from time to time sent crude North Koreas way, they are unreliable suppliers, the outlet noted, especially now, when U.S.-Russian relations are at such a low point over Syria.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The EIAs short-term energy outlook, released on April 11, predicted increases in American energy production, along with an increase in imports. The agencys forward predictions on the outlook of U.S. oil and gas production are mostly bullish, despite earlier reports that total energy production in the U.S. had fallen by 4 percent, a change driven largely by declining demand for coal and low oil and gas prices. However, while the agency expects natural gas prices to climb, there are only moderate expectations for future increases in the price of oil, a sign that the EIA doesnt expect demand to seriously outstrip supply in the short-term.

The EIA report estimated the average U.S. oil production in 2016 to have been 8.9 million bpd. Looking ahead, the EIA estimates the average for 2017 to hover around 9.2 million bpd and 9.9 million the following year, an increase of 11 percent in two years.

While natural gas production declined in 2016, the agency expects this trend to be reversed in 2017, with natural gas production increasing by 0.8 billion cubic feet per day. The forecast for 2018 predicts an additional increase of 4 bcf/d.

Higher prices in natural gas, expected to rise from the March level of $2.88 to an average of $3.10 in 2017, with a further increase to $3.45 in 2018, will likely contributed to a decline in the share of electricity supplied by natural gas in the coming years, as gas loses its competitive edge. Surprisingly, the EIA predicts that natural gas share will fall from 34 percent to 32 percent by 2018, while that of coal will increase from 30 percent to 31 percent. Non-hydropower renewable energy (solar and wind) will see a modest increase from 9 percent to 10 percent.

While bullish on the Henry Hub price for natural gas, the EIA estimate is decidedly more cautious on crude oil prices. The report predicts WTI to hover around $52 for 2017, increasing to $55.10 the following year. The WTI-Brent spread will diminish, with Brent at $54.23 and $57.10 for 2017 and 2018.

Finally, U.S. domestic gas prices will rise to $2.46/gallon this summer, up from $2.23 last year. Overall, the years national average (which, of course, varies considerably from region to region) will be around $2.39/gallon, resulting in increased gasoline spending of $200 per household.

The EIA also reported activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) which set an annual high of 1.6 million bpd in 2016, surpassing the high set in 2009. GOM oil production, which because of long development times is less sensitive to short-term market fluctuations, is expected to increase in 2018, averaging 1.7 million bpd in 2017 and 1.9 million bpd in 2018. While the short-term outlook is positive, a major fall in the exploration/development rig count likely portends a decline in GOM production by 2020.

An interesting corollary to the short-term report on supplies and prices is the EIAs report on total U.S. crude oil imports, which rose by a significant margin for the first time in several years. Imports increased by 514 million barrels of oil equivalent/day, reaching 7.9 mmbop/d, which is still a ways off from the 2005 peak of 10.1 mmbop/d. Most U.S. crude oil imports come via pipeline from Canada, while Mexican imports continued their six-year decline. Imports from OPEC countries increased as well, particularly Nigerian and Iraqi crude.

(Click to enlarge)

Data from EIA

Higher imports doesnt necessarily mean a commensurate decline in U.S. production, of course. Particular varieties of overseas crude are in high demand in the U.S. The increase in Nigerian light crude imports is due to its similarity to Bakken output. As production from that region declined in 2016, refiners looked to Nigeria to pick up the slack. Thats good news for the Niger River Delta, which had a rough year, but the outlook for the countrys future exports isnt all rosy, with reports indicating that its losing export markets to the United States.

Many analysts and traders dont find much to be confident about in the EIAs regular predictions, which are variable and sometimes pretty wide off the mark. The rise in imports, after years of stagnation or relative declines, reflect changes in refinery patterns and the drop in energy production for the year. That decline was due, in part, to the low price of oil that endured for most of 2016.

Despite the expectation that coals share will go up in the coming years, the EIA still doesnt believe total coal production in 2018 (785.2 million short tons) will rival the level reached in 2015 (897 million short tons). The increase will likely be a short-term development.

An increase in prices, which may be stronger than the EIA predicts, will spur additional growth in output in 2017-2020. The agency prediction that coal consumption will increase at the expense of natural gas seems hard to parse out, given the wide belief that the U.S. coal industry is in the midst of the long-term crisis. Its possible that natural gas production will increase and be fed into higher gas exports, with a number of new LNG export terminals scheduled to be constructed before 2020.

The ramifications of political action in support of higher energy production will likely touch on coal, natural gas and oil together, but opening up federal lands and reducing restrictions are bound to aid oil and gas more than coal, which remains at a competitive disadvantage.

So, overall, the EIA offers an interesting picture of the future of U.S. energy, but one that offers only possibilities, not certainties.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report is out with OPECs crude oil production numbers for March 2017.

All data is through March 2017 and is in thousand barrels per day.

(Click to enlarge)

Looking at the above chart it seems obvious what most OPEC nations were doing. They announced in the summer of 2016 that there would likely be quota cuts beginning in 2017. And those cuts would be a percentage of their current production. So everyone began making heroic attempts to increase production by the end of 2016. Now, after everyone who felt that they should cut, has cut, they are right back to the level that they were at before the cuts were proposed.

(Click to enlarge)

There is always a considerable difference between what the OPEC nations say they are producing and what the Secondary Sources say they are producing. The March MOMR had Saudi producing 9,797,000 bpd in February while Saudi said they were producing 10,011,000 bpd. The April MOMR has revised Saudis February production up by 155,000 bpd.

(Click to enlarge)

This is a snip from one of my Excel spreadsheets. It shows revisions made in the previous two months data by Secondary Sources. For instance, Saudi Arabias January production numbers were revised down by 56,000 bpd while their February production numbers were revised up by 155,000 bp. OPEC 13 Jan. numbers were revised down by 73,000 bpd while their Feb. numbers were revised up by 124,000 bpd.

Not much is happening in Algeria. They peaked almost 10 years ago and have been in slow decline ever since.

Angola peaked in 2010 but have been holding pretty steady since.

Ecuador peaked in 2015. They will be in a slow decline from now on.

Any change in Gabon crude oil production is too small to make much difference.

Iran has increased production the last three months, though down slightly in March. However, one source says it is a fallacy.

Irans Oil Production: Fallacy Or Fallowed

We believe Iranian destocking is being misinterpreted as production, and actual production will decline as the year moves forward.

Iraq is down 73,000 bpd from their December peak.

Kuwait is down 166,000 bpd from their November peak. That is about 5.8%.

Libya still has problems, and will likely continue to have problems. Related: Is The Oil Price Rally Running Out Of Steam?

Nigeria and Libya are exempt from quota cuts because of rebel problems. Dont look for those problems to clear up any way soon.

Qatar has been in decline since 2008. Her decline will continue albeit at a very slow pace.

Saudi Arabia cut in January, then stopped cutting. I think this is where we will be for some time unless there is a real shake up in OPEC.

The UAE is down almost 200,000 bpd since December. This is the largest percentage cut in OPEC. I dont think it is all voluntary.

Venezuelas problems will continue. They ae now below two million barrels per day. They are at 1,972,000 bpd. Last March their production was 2,286,000 bpd. They have dropped 314,000 bpd in 12 months. Thats 13.7 percent in one year.

Eyeballing the chart, it looks like World oil production, total liquids, is down about two million barrels per day since peaking in November 2016. OPEC crude production is down 1.45 million barrels per day since November so Non-OPEC liquids, plus OPEC NGLs, would be down just over half a million bpd since then.

By Peak Oil Barrel

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Wilsonville, OR Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier filed an official Judicial Complaint with the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability against Multnomah County Judge Monica Herranz for her role in helping a criminal defendant to escape Federal ICE Agents on January 27th, 2017.

The complaint filed by Currier alleges, based on an audio recording and local press accounts, that Judge Herranz aided and abetted Diddier Pacheco-Salazar, a suspected illegal alien, in escaping ICE agents by opening a secure door in the back of the judges chambers to help him evade capture by the agents who were waiting to detain him in the hallway outside of Judge Herranzs courtroom. Mr. Pacheco-Salazar had just pleaded guilty to a DUII in her court prior to escaping the Multnomah County Courthouse by means of the Judges private access route.

On the audio recording of the court proceedings after Pacheco-Salazars guilty plea and the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Herranz can be clearly heard stating we dont want him to go back out there in an apparent statement of her intent to help Pacheco-Salazar avoid capture by the ICE agents awaiting him in the hall outside the normal exit from her courtroom chamber. It is also believed that the door opened to enable Pacheco-Salazar to exit the Judges chambers and avoid the notice of the ICE agents is a secure door that can be opened only by authorized personnel using a credential unique to each person.

The Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a judge from committing a criminal act. OCJC 2.1(B). A judge may not use the judicial position to gain personal advantage of any kind for another person. OCJC 2.2.

Any willful action by the Judge with the intent of circumventing courthouse security protocols to help an admitted criminal who may pose a danger to the community to evade Federal law enforcement officials is a severe ethical breach, and may qualify as a violation of the judicial code of conduct, and may also be an intentional violation of 8 U.S. Code  1324.

This looks like another example of the rampant lawlessness weve come to expect from sanctuary cities, noted Chair Currier. But this is a bridge too far for a member of our judicial system to appear to aid and abet criminal illegal aliens and to openly attempt to subvert or obstruct federal law enforcement. A judge must uphold the laws regardless of their personal or political leanings. Any witnesses, such as public employees, should be contacted by investigators to determine the exact nature and degree of any ethical breach and for the Commission to take appropriate action.

The Oregon Republican Party is the states arm of the Republican National Committee. Its Chairman and officers are dedicated to promoting Republican principles within the state of Oregon and to improving the lives and livelihoods of Oregons working families through economic freedom and equal protection under the law.
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.


Top civilian,military leadership decided not to bow down to any pressure over Indian

ISLAMABAD: The top civilian and military leadership has decided not to bow down to any pressure over the death sentence awarded to Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav.



Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at PM House and took him into confidence on the convicted Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spys trial and subsequent sentencing by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM).



Both the leaders agreed that no compromise can be made on the countrys security and stability and that elements threatening Pakistans territorial integrity will be dealt with an iron fist.



Kulbushan Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistans Mashkel area over his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, ISPR had said in a statement on Monday.



Pakistan had turned down Indias request seeking consular access to Jadhav last year due to his involvement in subversive activities in the country. Jadhav was tried by the FGCM under Section 59 of the PAA and Section 3 of the official Secret Act of 1923. He confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan through impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for the restoration of peace in Balochistan and Karachi, the ISPR had said. The army chief also briefed the prime minister on current security situation in the country, according to a statement by the PM House. The COAS apprised the PM about progress in the ongoing operation Raadul Fasaad in the country.



The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the gains made in the operation and appreciated the role of armed forces for their matchless sacrifices towards the national goal of achieving peace in the country, the statement said.



Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb also said on Wednesday that Pakistan will not tolerate threats from any country on matters related to its national security. No laws have been violated in awarding the sentence, she said, adding, Details of Jadhavs involvement have already been shared with different countries and it has been proved beyond doubt that he is an Indian spy.



The minister, however, clarified that Wednesdays cabinet meeting didnt discuss the Indian spy issue. It was not on cabinets agenda nor was it discussed during the meeting, she said.



Sitting alongside Maryam, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the state did not take revenge or followed any discrimination in the trial. India and international community must understand that the death sentence was according to Pakistani laws, he said. We did not change any law and neither are we victimising anyone, he said, adding that action was taken after evidence was collected and everything was done in accordance with the existing laws of the land.



A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Upper House of Parliament that Kulbhushan Yadav would get no concessions as due process of law was followed while sentencing him to death.



Hitting out at New Delhi, the minister had said, They used the term premeditated murder. All I want to say is it was premeditated murder in Gujarat. It was premeditated murder when Samjhota Express was attacked. It is premeditated killings of Kashmiri youths in the Held Kashmir, which continues unabated.



Following the announcement of death sentence on Monday, India summoned Pakistans High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche saying, 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 mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Chief Samuel Sam-Sumana has called on the international community to ensure that the political leadership in his country guarantees his safety in his bid to register as a voter during the ongoing voter registration process.



Chief Sam-Sumana says he has been unable to exercise his right to register as a voter for fear of his life and safety as well as that of his family.



The former Vice-President who was dismissed under controversial circumstances by President Bai Koroma in 2015 reiterated the call when he called on former President Jerry John Rawlings at his office in Accra on Wednesday.



Sam-Sumana informed the former President he had taken the matter of his dismissal to the ECOWAS Court of Justice seeking an enforcement of his fundamental human rights, describing his removal as unconstitutional. The court has set April 25, 2017 for the hearing of the matter.



A letter authored by Solicitor for Chief Sam-Sumana, Dr. Raymond Atuguba and addressed to President Ernest Bai Koroma requested the President to provide security for the safety of his client, his family, supporters and well-wishers as they take steps to participate in this all important political process.



The voter registration process opened on March 20, 2017 and closes on April 16, 2017. Presidential elections are scheduled in Sierra Leone for March 7, 2018.



President Koroma sacked Chief Sam-Sumana as Vice President in March 2015 for abandoning his duties but the former stated that he had been compelled to seek asylum in a foreign embassy because his life was in danger.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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WOOD PELLET SPECIFICATION

made from sawdust

calorific value 4539kcal/kg

ash content < 1%

density 1.270kg/liter

Diameter 8mm

Density: 1100kg/m3

Moisture content: <9%

Ash content: <1.8%

Sulfur content: <0.01%

Nitrogen content: <0.16%

Caloric value: 4750 Kcal/kg
QUEENSBURY  Kevin S. Chapman, the central New York man who pleaded guilty last year for his role in the murder of Glens Falls resident Kevin Jenks, was sentenced to up to life in prison Thursday in Warren County Court.

Warren County Judge John Hall imposed an 18-years-to-life term after Chapman apologized as he read from a lengthy statement in which he blamed money problems for his decision to take part in a robbery of Jenks.

Hall also heard victims impact statements from Jenks daughter, Monique Reyes, and sister, Cindy Jenks, who told of the impact the homicide had on them.

Reyes called Chapman a monster and a coward.

She said the loss of her father has had deep impact on her, as she suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

He was an amazing person who lit up every room he walked into, Reyes said of his father.

Cindy Jenks cried as she talked of how her other brother, disabled by a head injury, doesnt understand why Kevin Jenks is no longer around.

She said Kevin Jenks was the strength of their family.

We will all go on but our family has been altered forever, Cindy Jenks said.

Chapman read a statement in which he said he had money problems, and his co-defendant, Robert Henry, came up with plan to rob Jenks. He said he did not know of any plan to hurt Jenks.

I will pay for this for the rest of my life, he said. I would change places with Jenks if I could.

Warren County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin said he believed the maximum term was warranted. Chapmans plea deal called for a range of between 15-to-life and 18-to-life. He said the minimum was not warranted based on Chapmans dishonesty about his actions, including lying at his guilty plea about who had a gun that was brought to Glens Falls.

Chapman will have to serve 18 years before becoming eligible for parole. Hall also directed Chapman pay $1,085 in restitution.

Chapman, 50, pleaded guilty last fall to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against the man who masterminded the robbery and strangulation death of Jenks in his Dix Avenue home last July.

Henry, 46, of Ilion, was convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and numerous other felonies after a two-week trial in February.

Police said Henry was a former resident of the Glens Falls area who knew Jenks, who was a manager at CR Bard Inc. and a former Glens Falls bar owner.

Henry and co-defendant Kevin Chapman drove from the motel where they lived in Herkimer County to Jenks home to rob him, and Jenks, 58, was choked to death after he was bound. The men then looted his home, stealing electronics, jewelry and a car, among other valuables.

Police tracked them after they used Jenks cellphone when they returned to central New York.

Henry is being held in Warren County Jail pending a hearing May 5 on whether he should be sentenced as a persistent felon because of his criminal record, which includes four prior felony convictions. That could add life sentences on top of the sentence he will face for murder.
FORT EDWARD  The Cambridge man who faces a retrial for a 2011 triple murder and arson wants some of the charges dismissed as well as the alleged murder weapon barred from his trial.

The lawyer for Matthew A. Slocum filed a motion Thursday, seeking suppression of all firearms in the retrial, arguing that police learned of the shotgun from Slocum but his admissions to police have been barred from the retrial.

The reference to the shotgun stems from the suppressed statements of the defendant, wrote Slocums lawyer, Washington County Public Defender Michael Mercure.

Slocum was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder as well as arson and lesser charges for the July 2011 shooting deaths of his mother, Lisa Harrington, 44; her husband, Dan Harrington, 41; and Dan Harringtons son, Joshua OBrien, 24, in their Eagle Bridge home. He allegedly set the Turnpike Road house on fire after shooting them and fled to Massachusetts and New Hampshire with his then-girlfriend, Loretta Colegrove, and their infant son.

Slocum was convicted during a trial in 2012, but the conviction was reversed, because appeals courts found that police denied him his right to counsel when questioning him in an interview that led to a confession. That confession is barred from the retrial.

Slocum was in Washington County Court on Thursday for a status conference in his case. Prosecutors from the Albany County District Attorneys Office  assigned to the case as special prosecutors  were going over evidence issues and discussing pretrial motions. Slocum did not speak during the proceeding.

Mercure is seeking dismissal of four lesser, theft-related charges that were thrown out during the 2012 trial, arguing he can not face them again after that dismissal.

The district attorneys office informed Mercure it had emails from Slocum that he sent from Washington County Jail that may be used as evidence at trial, although prosecutors did not elaborate on what they contain. Inmates can pay to use jail computers to access email services.

Lawyers in the case are also debating whether testimony from the late Washington County sheriffs Senior Investigator Bruce Hamilton will be introduced from the prior trial. Much of his testimony relates to the confession that is no longer usable as evidence, Mercure said.

Albany County Assistant District Attorney John Galarneau also told Washington County Judge McKeighan that rodents had chewed bags containing evidence that had been stored after the trial, but it was unclear what impact that would have.

I dont see that as a major issue, as we believe the evidence implicates Loretta, Mercure said. Matthew maintains his innocence. If it is a problem at all, it is a problem for the people, not the defense.

The defense blamed Colegrove for the killings at the first trial. She was not charged, but testified against Slocum in 2012 and is expected to testify in the retrial.

McKeighan adjourned the case until May 4. Jury selection in the case is to begin June 8.

Mercure said there have been no plea deal discussions in the case.
QUEENSBURY  A three-time felon is headed to prison for 5.5 years for selling drugs in Glens Falls last year.

James J. Sennett, 50, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, in connection with his arrest last October by Glens Falls Police.

He was arrested and charged with selling unspecified narcotics on two occasions, and had prior felony convictions that included a 2011 conviction in Warren County for selling prescription painkillers.

Warren County Judge John Hall sentenced him to 5.5 years in prison to be followed by 3 years on parole. He also has to make $300 restitution for the money he was given by the police informant or undercover officer to whom he sold drugs.
QUEENSBURY -- A Level 2 sex offender from Horicon has been sentenced to 9 months in Warren County Jail for not registering his address when moving last fall.

Albert B. Denno, 36, of Route 8, pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender in connection with his arrest last fall by the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

He is a registered sex offender because of a 2012 felony sexual abuse conviction related to sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl in Warren County. He was sentenced to 4 months in jail and 10 years on probation in that case.
MOREAU  The town should stop insuring its three water towers, Supervisor Gardner Congdon proposed.

He reasoned that they are unlikely to burn down and are grounded, so they are probably safe from lightning strikes.

They are insured for up to $4.8 million in damages.

The towns insurance policy premium for all property went up by $5,000 this year, to $85,920. Congdon is trying to cut that back.

But board members worried that the town might be taking too much of a risk. The insurance would cover any problems with the water itself, even acts caused by terrorism.

If you call it vandalism or terrorism, NYMIR (New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal) covers both, said insurance agent Dave Meager. If someone gets sick from the water and says you didnt treat it properly, thats covered.

If its insured, board member Todd Kusnierz said.

Congdon also proposed dropping insurance on the towns salt shed.

Its concrete with a roof on it. I know it cost a lot to build, but theres nothing that can happen to it, he said.

Meager disagreed, citing an incident in Milton.

Their salt shed did burn down, he said.

Kusnierz also noted that other things could happen to the building, which cost the town $68,300 to build in 2012.

I think we should have insurance, he said, noting that insurance would cover it if it got struck by lightning or blown over.

Congdon disagreed.

Blown over? Its got concrete walls, he said.

Town Attorney Malcolm OHara estimated that the town would save $200 by dropping the insurance on the building. Meager agreed.

Your savings is minimal, he said. Im not saying you shouldnt do it. I dont want you to pay one cent more than you have to.

The board also considered dropping all insurance on the Sandbar Beach bathhouse and the one-car garage at the old Town Hall in the village.

They may also drop comprehensive and collision vehicle insurance on five old pickup trucks, some of which are almost 20 years old. The town would save $1,422 by dropping that coverage, and could save another $1,400 or so by increasing the deductible on heavy equipment, Meager said. The town has a $500 deductible now.

For a municipality, thats a low deductible, he said.

Those two changes could almost eliminate the entire premium increase.

As a former budget officer myself, I like to say, is there a way to reduce the impact of the increase? Meager said. Im doing my best to keep your premium within your budget.

He plans to get figures for each proposed reduction in property insurance for the towns next meeting, on April 25. The towns policy expires May 1.
KINGSBURY  A vehicle carrier driver over corrected after its load shifted causing a rollover Wednesday evening on Route 4.

No serious injuries were reported, but three people were involved as well as two vehicles. The vehicles were headed southbound as the truck traveled north at about 5:30 p.m.

State Police Sgt. Luke Splittgerber said, One woman was transported for neck and back injuries to Glens Falls Hospital. Her name was not released.

She was driving a Jeep Cherokee that experienced extensive damage as it came to rest in a ditch. The windows were broken and airbags deployed.

Splittgerber said, The driver of the truck was fine, suffering only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Shannon OBrien, of Gansevoort, was traveling south in her BMW and opted for the ditch.

I just heard a loud screeching and I saw the back end come out, OBrien said. I took the ditch.

OBrien was not sure what caused the crash.

I couldnt see him, the cab or the other car, she said.

OBrien said she was traveling at 50 to 55 mph and the sun was directly in her eyes.

Splittgerber said, The truck driver felt his load shift. He said the trailer of the truck swerved into the gravel and likely struck a utility pole at the scene. The truck then fell on its side distributing its load and blocking the roadway.

The truck was carrying three vehicles at the time destined for a junkyard. The driver put the value of the automobiles at a couple hundred dollars, Splittgerber said.

Two vehicles remained on the back of the carrier while another was thrown. Tow crews were called to the scene to remove the vehicles to allow the roadway to reopen.

The Department of Environmental Conservation was also called to inspect the cleanup of diesel fuel and oil and gasoline spilled from the carriers vehicles.

Route 4 was closed at Kingsbury Road northbound and at Route 149 southbound. Tractor trailers were rerouted at Route 32 northbound to avoid the area.

Kingsbury Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1, Fort Ann EMS, State Police, Washington County Sheriffs Office, DEC and National Grid responded to the scene.
President Donald Trump took credit Wednesday for steering NATO's focus toward terrorism, declaring the military alliance is no longer outdated after castigating its focus and financing on the campaign trail last year.

"I said it was obsolete," Trump declared at the White House. "It's no longer obsolete."

The about-face came during a joint appearance with NATO's secretary general in the East Room. Trump's original stance, which he voiced as a candidate, had caused unease among some US allies, who worried a retreat from NATO would embolden Russia's territorial ambitions in Europe.

Trump said Wednesday he'd changed views after NATO's leaders assured him the group would turn its attention to combating groups like ISIS going forward.

"The secretary general and I had a productive discussion about what more NATO can do in the fight against terrorism," Trump said. "I complained about that a long time ago, and they made a change and now they do fight terrorism."

Trump's allegation that NATO just recently began combating terror isn't accurate; the alliance has played a central role in Afghanistan for more than a decade. Its involvement in that war came after the United States invoked NATO's Article 5, the provision calling for collective defense, after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Since then, NATO troops have deployed to Afghanistan by the thousands in a bid to stabilize the country and combat terror groups based there.

Member countries have also pushed for better intelligence sharing to combat terrorism, which NATO has sought to facilitate through a new Joint Intelligence and Security Division.

That addition, however, came in the middle of last year, and NATO said then that the new division wasn't prompted by Trump's campaign rhetoric, but rather a desire among members to better share information after a string of terror attacks in Europe.

The meeting Wednesday was Trump's first face-to-face meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO leader. The two will meet again in May when Trump travels to the group's headquarters in Brussels for talks.

Trump has long insisted the US carries too much of the burden within the defense collective, and had angrily lambasted other nations for not spending sufficient amounts on defense. Since taking office, however, Trump has softened his language, saying he'll maintain US commitment to NATO while reiterating its member nations must step up their military financing.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," Trump said Wednesday. "If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United States to make up the difference, we will all be much more secure and our partnership will be made that much stronger."

Trump's position on NATO has been the subject of consternation for European leaders, who worried his dismissals of the alliance could encourage Russia, which NATO has worked to check through troop mobilizations on the bloc's eastern edge.

Trump has voiced support for the group since taking office, however, and Wednesday attempted to assure European nations fearful of Russian territorial aggression.

"They are going to have to fear nothing, ultimately," he said. "Right now there is a fear. There are problems, certainly problems, but ultimately I hope that there won't be a fear and there won't be problems and the world can get along. That would be the ideal situation."
A whole lot has been written about the Boreas Ponds property, the latest and last parcel in New Yorks grand acquisition of tens of thousands of acres of former Finch Paper land in the Adirondacks.

The Boreas land is beautiful, everyone agrees, and although much of it is quite wild, it was until recently managed as timber land and is crisscrossed with logging roads. The three ponds themselves are deeper and bigger than they would be because of a dam that was originally built to make it easier to float out logs cut from the forest.

One of the questions drawing lots of attention and debate is whether the dam should be maintained, knocked down or allowed to deteriorate.

The other questions concern access. Should the 7-mile road into the property be kept open, so people who want to enjoy this new state jewel can drive right up to it?

Should the roads around the ponds and any of the other miles of existing roads be opened to bikers and horseback riders, or should the roads, like the dam, be allowed to crumble away?

Those who want to limit and restrict access to Boreas Ponds are advocating for the land to be treated as if its still in private hands.

A private owner like Finch Paper can close its roads, knock down its own dam and restrict access to its property.

But the public owns the property now. Infrastructure that we paid for, like the roads and the dam, should be maintained.

One of the suggestions for management of the property has been to block the road a mile from the ponds and put a parking lot there. But for many older people, a walk of even one mile is an obstacle that makes visiting a place difficult or impossible.

If youre a private owner, you can prohibit bike-riding on your roads, even if theyre heavy-duty roads built to carry logging trucks.

But when the public owns the land, the publics desire to use it has to be weighed against other interests, such as expansion of the wilderness.

It is environmentalists who have pushed over the years for the state to buy Adirondack land. It was an environmental organization  the Nature Conservancy  that made possible the public purchase of the Finch holdings.

But now, it is environmentalists who want the public kept out.

The seemingly trivial disputes about use of the Boreas tract have led to such passionate debate that the Adirondack Park Agency recently delayed the decision on how to classify it.

There is a failure here by the environmentalists to see things in perspective, which is part of a recurrent inability to appreciate their own victories.

But to be fair, the most sensible thing Ive seen written about these issues was by an environmentalist. Peter Bauer, director of Protect the Adirondacks, concluded an essay that criticized the way the Park Agency has approached classification of the land, with the following:

Under every classification scenario for the Boreas Ponds tract, far more roads will be closed than retained. The forests will grow wilder and older. Log landings and tote roads will reforest.  the inexorable powers of nature will restore the forests that surround the Boreas Ponds, and the promise of the Forest Preserve will endure as a bright place on New Yorks landscape ...

The views of the High Peaks from the ponds will be just as glorious if, somewhere in the distance, someone is riding a bicycle along the shore.
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Both China and the US have pushed back on the claims of troops massing, however.

International observers fear that North Korea may conduct another nuclear test this weekend on the anniversary of the founding of Kim Jong Un's regime, but the US has broadcast loud and clear that nuclear posturing in the Korean peninsula will no longer be tolerated.

In March, Business Insider talked to Sim Tack, a North Korea expert at Stratfor, a geopolitical-analysis firm, who speculated how Chinese forces could stop North Korea's nuclear program without firing a shot.

Tack predicted China would "definitely react to and try to prevent" a US strike on North Korea. The US increasingly has touted military strikes as an option against the Kim regime, even going as far as positioning an aircraft carrier off Korea's coast.

"The overt presence of Chinese forces would dissuade the US from going into that territory because they would run the risk of inviting that larger conflict themselves," Tack said.

Chinese forces in North Korea would "be in a position to force a coup or force Kim's hand" to disarm, Tack said.

Ultimately, China, North Korea's biggest backer, would attempt "to make sure North Korea still exists and serves Chinese interests while it stops acting as a massive bullseye to the US," he added.

In this way, China could preserve its buffer state from falling to Western influence, prevent a US military strike on its borders, and even prevent a nuclear war.
Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado said during a town hall meeting Wednesday, "He needs to go. Because I just don't think he's serving the president well."

Coffman's audience erupted in cheers.

Spicer on Tuesday attempted to emphasize the atrocity of last week's chemical-weapons attack in Syria by comparing Syrian President Bashar Assad to Adolf Hitler. Spicer said, "someone as despicable as Hitler didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."

Spicer's ahistorical anecdote prompted harsh criticism far and wide, with several high-profile figures, lawmakers, and organizations urging President Donald Trump to fire him.

The press secretary, who, in roughly three months on the job, has been cornered for making a number of controversial statements, apologized profusely for the Hitler remark, but also made a couple more verbal blunders in the process.

Coffman did the same thing during his town hall meeting after saying Spicer should resign. The audience's cheers briefly turned to boos when Coffman attempted to elaborate on Spicer's Hitler comments.
But the number heavily cited across social media, $314 million, was how much the US military paid for 20 such bombs, technically called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast.

The US Air Force dropped one MOAB  the largest nonnuclear bomb in the US's arsenal  on an ISIS target in a remote part of far northeast Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the goal was to destroy "a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area."

One MOAB costs about $16 million, and 20 have been produced, according to the military equipment site Deagel.com.

Many celebrities and other Trump critics used Twitter to express their frustration at the administration authorizing the use of such an expensive bomb, but they cited the total cost instead:
The official also mentioned that due to the substantial amount of intelligence gathered from the region, the US could not have examined all of the data prior to the attack.

No communications that confirmed Russian involvement were intercepted, according to the official, however, he did say that it was likely due to the Russians being more careful in their communications, CNN reported. Russian jets, which may have been purchased by Syrian forces, were reportedly used to drop the ordinance that contained chemical agents. Further, a Russian-made drone was also reported to have been identified in the area, circling potential targets for a follow-up assault that hit a hospital.

Since the attack, US officials, including Defense secretary Jim Mattis, confirmed there was "no doubt" of the Syrian government's involvement. Additionally, Turkish officials confirmed that Syria was still in possession of chemical weapons, and that autopsies on the victims did indeed show traces of sarin gas, despite Russia's assertions that Syria's chemical weapons capabilities had been destroyed in 2013.

"We know they have the expertise. And we suspect that they have help," a US military official said on April 7.
U.S. forces in Afghanistan dropped a 22,000-pound bomb on Islamic State forces in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, the Pentagon announced in a statement.





Gen. John W. Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the bomb was the right munition to use against the Islamic State because of the groups use of roadside bombs, bunkers and tunnels.





It is the first time the bomb, called a GBU-43, has ever been used in combat. The GBU-43 is one of the largest airdropped munitions in the U.S. militarys inventory and was almost used during the opening salvos of the Iraq War in 2003. By comparison, U.S. aircraft commonly drop bombs that weigh between 250 to 2,000 pounds.





This particular bomb is not the biggest in the Pentagons non-nuclear arsenal. The larger 30,000 pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed for destroying heavily fortified bunker complexes, has never been used outside a test environment. While the GBU-57 is heavier, the GBU-43 has a larger warhead and explosive yield.





The U.S. military has targeted similar complexes and dropped tens of thousands of bombs in Afghanistan, raising the question of why a bomb of this size was needed Thursday. It was unclear what the GBU-43 strike accomplished, as the bomb is not designed to penetrate hardened targets such a bunkers or cave complexes. A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan did not respond to a query regarding the bombs effects on its intended target, an Islamic State tunnel complex in Nangahar province.





The Pentagon said in its statement that U.S. Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike.



President Trump on Thursday praised the military as the greatest in the world. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing and frankly thats why theyve been so successful lately, he said.





The GBU-43 is an evolution of the unguided 15,000-pound BLU-82 bomb. First used in Vietnam, the C-130-launched BLU-82 was often dropped to turn patches of jungle into helicopter landing zones. This earned the BLU-82 the nickname Daisy cutter. The BLU-82 was used multiple times in the early stages of the war in Afghanistan when U.S. forces were closing on Osama bin Laden in the mountains of Tora Bora on the Afghan-Pakistan border.





Nangahars Achin district is a stronghold of the local Islamic State branch in Afghanistan, which U.S. officials say is made up of mostly Pakistani and Uzbek militants. The group, which calls itself Khorasan Province, has struggled to expand beyond Achin and a handful of other districts in the east. - More, washingtonpost




The Trump administration has tried to force Moscow's hand with U.S. spy reports about chemical weapons being used in by the Assad regime. It also used them to justify recent missile strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's military bases.

Trump has also accused intelligence agencies of leaking information about his associates' connections to Moscow, and blamed them for allowing an unverified dossier to be leaked. But he alsoblamed the media

no doubtautopsies have showed that sarin gas was used.

Russia has instead argued that the Syrian air force carried out a conventional attack that hit a chemical weapons cache controlled by the rebels. However, as chemical weapons expert Dan Kaszeta told Bellingcat, sarin in storage consists of unmixed components, and dropping a bomb on them would not turn them into a nerve agent.

"It is an infantile argument," he wrote.
In particular, high-deductible health plans are on the rise. According to a September survey, the percentage of workers with an insurance plan that requires them to pay up to $1,000 out of pocket passed the 50% mark for the first time. That means consumers have a clearer picture of how much healthcare costs them, and that unexpectedly high costs are hitting more people.

There's been a fair amount of coverage about what insurers, drug companies and middlemen in the healthcare industry are doing. But what can doctors do to counter the rising medical costs patients are facing?

Elisabeth Rosenthal, journalist and author of "An American Sickness," which details how the American healthcare system got so expensive and dysfunctional, told Business Insider there's one big thing doctors can do to lower the cost of medicine.

"It's to bring up the cost issue," she said. "Because it's kind of like the scary Voldemort in the doctor's office." That is, the topic is as taboo as He Who Must Not Be Named.

To that end, here's how Rosenthal's seen doctors try to keep costs down:

By referring patients to one imaging facility over another, based on which location has the best deal. "It takes a little extra work," she said. "Physicians will tell me they'll call those facilities and no one will tell them what's charged." But if they hear that one of their patients was overcharged, they have the power to not send them to that center any more.

Patients can play a role in this too. Rosenthal recommended having doctors look at her network list, pick out which ones they would recommend based on that group.

The next step would be if centers started providing up-front prices. A movement of specialists are

Ultimately, physicians have one priorty: making sure you feel well, and costs shouldn't get in the way of that. But having these conversations about cost is a relatively new phenomenon.

"I think doctor's are on your side and they're trying to innovate, but it's new for them too, this world of prices and costs," she said. "It's just because insurers have mostly in the past just paid, we've all been kind of blind to this, and now patients are waking up."
If alien life exists, it will likely be found in a place with three key ingredients: water, warmth, and food.

Scientists have long thought such conditions may exist under the icy shell of Enceladus, a moon of Saturn that's about 272 miles (505 kilometers) wide.

Those suspicions grew after NASA's Cassini spacecraft found plumes of water shooting out fissures in the ice.

But Cassini also "sniffed" and "tasted" the water of Enceladus, and on April 13, scientists revealed they'd found traces of hydrogen  a gas that deep-sea microbes on Earth can eat for energy.

Scientists behind the new research, which was published in the journal Science, also think the gases likely form and bubble up from hydrothermal vents that litter the dark seafloor of Enceladus.

"This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment," Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of NASA's science mission directorate, said in a press release.

While the discovery does represent any evidence of aliens, the space agency says the new information "will help inform future ocean world exploration ... and the broader search for life beyond Earth."

A candy store for microbes

On Earth, hydrothermal vents form in the darkness of the deep ocean, where seawater seeps into the planet's rocky crust, meets volcanically active rock, and blasts back toward the surface.

The intense heat and chemistry of rocks can rip molecules of water apart to form hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals, which gush out of holes in the seabed. Where sunlight is lacking, this chemistry can be a lifesaver: Certain microbes can process the hydrogen into sugar.

When Cassini tasted the plumes coming out of Enceladus, about 99% was water and 1% was hydrogen.

That amount of hydrogen "is considered to be one of the most powerful chemical energy sources that could support life," Alexis S. Templeton, a geologist and microbiologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder, told Business Insider in an email.

"It would be like a candy store for microbes," Hunter Waite, a space scientist and lead author of the new study, said in NASA's press release.

, a research scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and a co-author of the study, put it a little differently: Enceladus is generating about 300 pizzas' worth of calories an hour through hydrogen production, he said during a televised press briefing about the discovery.

However, while many scientists think life on Earth may have started out at hydrothermal vents more than 3.7 billion years ago, the new evidence of hydrothermal vents at Enceladus doesn't mean we've found extraterrestrial life.

In fact, Cassini finding as much hydrogen leaking into space as it did should dishearten fans of aliens.

"Normally when you put a stack of pizzas in a cafeteria, they disappear quickly," Mary Voytek, an astrobiologist at NASA, said during a televised press briefing. "So we have this build-up of food that's not being used."

Still, many scientists we contacted were optimistic about the findings.

Kevin Hand, a planetary scientist at NASA JPL who wasn't involved in the research, told Business Insider that if Enceladus does indeed harbor such microbes, they could form the base of a food chain within the moon that could be "somewhat similar to what we see at sites like the Lost City hydrothermal site on Earth."

And Mark Sykes, director of the Planetary Science Institute, says the discovery of hydrogen gas at Enceladus backs up computer models of how subsurface oceans work on icy worlds across the solar system, including Europa (a moon of Jupiter), Ceres (a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt), Pluto, and possibly Titan (another moon of Saturn).

"For decades we have been asking the question, 'Does water equal life'?" Sykes told Business Insider in an email. "Enceladus is making the contents of its subsurface ocean directly available to us so we can drill further into this question."

An icy barrier to humanitys biggest questions

The new study isn't foolproof, though.

One of its big unanswered questions, says Philipp Heck, a cosmochemist at the Field Museum, is whether Enceladus' water jets are actually a good representation of its ocean water.

"As that liquid escapes, some of it forms ice and stays behind, and some of it doesn't and continues into the vacuum of space," Heck, who wasn't part of the research team, told Business Insider. "So the composition Cassini sampled may be different than the original liquid."

This makes it much harder to know if the water sampled by Cassini in 2015 was representative of Enceladus' long history. If the mix of chemicals in the jets and the ocean are similar, then it's likely Enceladus has harbored a life-friendly environment for millions of years.

Some scientists even want to drop nuclear-powered robots into the ocean to map its sea floor, but this could be difficult since the moon's icy crust is probably 2 to 3 miles (3.2 to 4.8 kilometers) thick.

However, the cracks that spew out water from Enceladus may offer shortcuts.

"Wouldn't it be great to dive into those ice fractures with a robotic spacecraft and swim through that ocean?" Hand said.

NASA hasn't announced any plans to re-visit Enceladus, though it is working on the Europa Clipper mission. That probe will orbit Jupiter's moon, map its icy crust, and look for water plumes similar to those spewed out by Enceladus. (Images by the Hubble space telescope suggest plumes exist at Europa, but the photos are too grainy to say for certain.)

A previous version of the mission to Europa called for a lander, but a recently approved NASA budget axed it.

Assuming NASA could scrape together enough financial support to scout for signs of life in an alien ocean world, however, Voytek knows which one she'd pick.

"My money for the moment is still on Europa," Voytek said, "but it could be on any of these moons."
They say government has refused to pay them since April last year.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana, Anthony K Ameka, says the pharmacies who accepted NHIS cards have no money and are unable to purchase drugs from suppliers anymore.

READ ALSO: Government to clear backlog Of Nurses

He expresses that though they are willing to provide effective healthcare services government is not helping considering the accumulated amount in arrears.

"Government is the major beneficiary of services provided by these pharmacies and nonpayment of supplied medicines on time makes their work very difficult. We have been pressured by producers to make payments but have no money to do that".

We are overwhelmed by the situation. For a whole year we have not had payment for services rendered and this is gradually crippling our business, he added.

He stated that importing medicines these days is very difficult and each time we import, we are expected to pay within 45 days but government does not also pay within that stipulated period.

Some of the companies are folding up because government is not settling its indebtedness and owners have to contract loans at a high interest.

Foreign companies are now taking over most of the companies in Ghana because the locals are unable to overcome some of these challenges, he observed.
The High Commissioner who spoke to 3FM NEWS said we commend the government for their seriousness in approaching the galamsey issue; they are not shying away but recognizing that it cant be ignored.

We would like to give credit to the sector minister John Peter Amewu for his excellent work in tackling the issue which is a problem for a lot of people, he added.

READ ALSO: US to strengthen bilateral relationship with Ghana for economic growth

The Ambassador also said illegal mining has become an issue of concern due to its negative impacts on the environment .

it is bad for the environment, poisoning the water bodies degrading the agricultural land, threatens Ghanaians who work in the mining industrythe menace cheats the government of revenue and is a disincentive for investment.

READ ALSO:Singapore pledges to support industries in Ghana

He intimated that the Australian government is in firm support of the Ghanaian governments fight against illegal mining.

We are working in partnership with them; were helping to sponsor a stakeholders engagement meeting later in the year to bring all concerned to talk about the issue. We see this as an issue that has to be tackled so we are keen on working with the Ghanaian people on it.

READ ALSO:Germany to help Ghana clean its payroll system
She said the note, issued to celebrate the Banks with new security features of international standard, continued to receive commendations across the globe and urged the citizenry to keep it clean to market the country.

Issued to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bank, the notes she said meet all required international standards with its new security features and has been commended across the globe. She urged Ghanaians to keep the notes clean to continue to keep the good image of the country.

Ms Ashiley made these assertions while addressing the media and representatives of banking institutions need to introduce the new GH5.00 banknote.

She highlighted the issuance of commemorative banknotes was an international practice and that the country did not do anything out of the ordinary.

Ms Ashiley said the notes were a one-off prints and that they would not be reprinted, thus, a collective item, which individuals could preserve and sell in future for some fortune.

Mr Dominic Owusu, Chief Engineer, BoG, who took the participants through public security recognition features of the note, said the tactile mark, which helps the blind to identify the note and the QR Code were very important information features attracting international attention.

He said banknotes were business cards for countries and advised the citizenry to use the notes well.
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, and the Czech Ambassador to Ghana, Margita Fuschova, signed on behalf of both countries.

The agreement gives investors a stable and predictable tax environment and consequently, will encourage investments in both countries.

READ ALSO: Here are the countries Ghana has signed Double Taxation Avoidance agreements with

It will also eliminate the incidence where income from both countries are taxed twice and as well as increase Ghanas Exchange of Information network, which allows treaty partners to exchange information in order to mitigate tax risk and tax evasion across borders.

In addition, tax evasion through the mutual assistance in the collection of taxes will also be reduced.

Furthermore, cross border trade and investments between the two countries by the elimination of tax impediments will be greatly enhanced.

The agreement will also foster diplomatic and other relations between the two countries.

READ ALSO: Ghana signs Double Taxation Agreement with Mauritius

This agreement has been entered to by both countries for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income.

The Minister for Finance expressed the hope that diplomatic and economic ties will improve with the signing of this agreement.
Among the titles causing the most buzz at Cannes this year is Sofia Coppola's American Civil War thriller, a remake of the 1971 version starring Clint Eastwood, featuring Colin Farrell as a wounded soldier who seduces the women around him, including Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.

'Okja' and 'The Meyerowitz Stories'

Netflix is premiering two movies at Cannes for the first time as the streaming giant makes increasing inroads to Hollywood alongside its rival Amazon.

"Okja", starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, tells the tale of a girl who risks everything to protect a shy giant animal.

Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman meanwhile star in "The Meyerowitz Stories", a comedy about siblings dealing with an ageing father.

'Wonderstruck' and 'You Were Never Really Here'

Two Amazon-backed movies have also made the cut for the main competition. Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams star in "Wonderstruck", the story of two deaf children living parallel lives in the 1920s and 1970s.

"You Were Never Really Here", the latest feature by "We Need To Talk About Kevin" director Lynne Ramsay, stars Joaquin Phoenix as a war veteran who tries to save a sex-trafficking victim.

'Good Time'

"Twilight" heartthrob Robert Pattinson stars in this crime flick by indie director brothers Benny and Josh Safdie, about a bank robber struggling to evade the police.

'Happy End'

Fresh from winning a string of accolades for "Elle", Isabelle Huppert is back in Michael Haneke's new family drama, set in northern France against the backdrop of the European migrant crisis.

'The Killing of a Sacred Deer'

For the second time at this year's Cannes, Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell team up for the tale of a boy attempting to bring a talented surgeon into his family, with disastrous consequences.

'Le Redoutable' and 'Rodin'

Two French biopics have made it into the main competition. "Rodin" stars Jacques Doillon as the famed sculptor.

"Redoutable" (Redoubtable), about legendary movie director Jean-Luc Godard, is the latest offering from Michel Hazanavicius, the man behind five-times Oscar winner "The Artist".

'Les Fantomes de Ismael' (Ismael's Ghosts)

This drama about a filmmaker disturbed by the return of a former lover features A-list French talent in the form of Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Mathieu Amalric.

'In The Fade'

Fatih Akin presents a story of revenge in Germany's Turkish community.

'L'Amant Double' (The Double Lover)

French director Francois Ozon's thriller follows a young woman who falls in love with her therapist before realising he's not who she thought he was.

'120 battements par minute'

A film by French-Moroccan director Robin Campillo following the work of an AIDS charity in Paris in the 1990s.

'Radiance'

The latest film by Japan's Naomi Kawase follows a photographer whose eyesight is failing.

'The Day After'

South Korean director Hong Sang-Soo will be bringing two films to Cannes -- his new feature "The Day After", and for a special screening, "Claire's Camera" featuring Isabelle Huppert, which was shot partly during last year's festival.

'Jupiter's Moon'

The latest offering from Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo, whose movie "White God" won the Cannes newcomers' prize in 2014.

'Loveless'

A brutal depiction of life in a broken family, by Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev.

'A Gentle Creature'
Here is a list of Ghanaian artists who have taken advantage of their growing brand to hook up with global music superstars.

Shatta wale and 50cent

Ghanaian Dancehall artiste, Charles Nii Armah popularly called Shatta shared a video of himself and American Rapper, Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent. In the video posted on Facebook, the musicians were really enjoying their time together judging from the laughter at the background.

READ ALSO: Shatta Wale hangs out with 50 Cent

Sarkodie and Ace-hood

Years after arguments for Ghanas BET award winner Michael Owusu -Addo popularly known as Sarkodie to do a collaboration with American artiste Ace-Hood, he shot a video with him. The video was finally shot by South African director Justin Campos of Gorilla Films and it became the talk of town for years.

Fuse ODG and Edsheeran

In June 2016, Edward Christopher also known as Ed Sheeran made a trip to Ghana and recorded a song with Ghanaian born UK residence Fuse ODG. During his stay in Ghana, Ed noted that his favorite food was Waakye which he couldn't do without.

READ ALSO: Fancy Gadam receives rousing welcome in Tamale

Reggie Rockstone/Kwaw Kesse and Wyclef.
Items that were impounded by the police during the arrest on Saturday included five excavators, two Toyota pick-ups, a box of live ammunition.

Others were a pump action gun, two locally manufactured guns and a silver pan containing gold dust.

READ ALSO: Five Chinese and five Ghanaians back in court over galamsey

The arrest of the illegal miners comes on the back of an operation conducted by the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) of the Eastern Regional Police Command to flush out illegal miners from the region.

The Eastern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr George Alex Mensah, told the Daily Graphic that the suspects, who are currently in police custody, would be put before a court, pending further investigations.

Some five Chinese and five Ghanaian illegal miners are already standing trial after being arrested around the Ankobra river in the Western region last month.
Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is a native of the region, charged the royals to involve themselves in developmental agenda within their respective communities.

The First Lady, who expressed her gratitude for the visit, encouraged active participation by the queen mothers in their various communities to help improve the lives of their people and Ghanaians in general.
Speaking at a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Accra, explained that it is a difficult terrain to police.

It is not very easy at all to gather the intelligence that we may require. We are aware that some crimes are being committed in there and it is such a difficult terrain.

READ ALSO: Five arrested over Agbogbloshie clashes

The IGP said a major solution to the problem presented in Old Fadama is for us to ensure that the people are relocated.

With intelligence, we may gather it, but for 100 percent, we are unable to achieve. These are some of the lapses in intelligence gathering that occasionally we encounter.

Two people died after a recent clash between Konkombas and Dagombas at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market on Tuesday. Several others were left injured.

READ ALSO: 2 dead after Konkombas and Dagombas clashes at Agbogbloshie

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Derry, has directed the IGP to meet with the leaders of the Dagombas and Konkombas at Agbogbloshie in Accra today [Thursday].
A statement released by the Board on Thursday said the three, namely Madugu Suraku, Maxwell Momo Golafale and Daniel Njoku Egbuta were arrested on different occasions possessing and trafficking in narcotics while going through arrival and departure formalities.

It said that Madugu, a Ghanaian was arrested on March 29, 2017 on his return from Nairobi Kenya.

"A urine test conducted on the suspect proved positive for narcotics. The suspect, upon interrogation confessed having ingested 35 pellets of a powdery substance suspected to be speedball. Forensic analysis confirmed the substance being speedball, a combination of cocaine and heroin, all nacortics substance," the statement said.

READ ALSO: What cocaine does to your body and brain

A second suspect, Maxwell Momo Golafale was arrested two days later while going through departure formalities to China.

The statement indicated that he had concealed in his luggage "two slabs of compressed dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, popularly referred to as weed."

Daniel Njoku Egbuta, the third suspect, who is a Nigerian was arrested on arrival from Sao Paolo, Brazil on April 5, 2017.

The suspect had ingested 111 pellets of cocaine. A urine test conducted on him showed that it was cocaine.

The statement added that Egbuta later confessed being an ex-convict, having served a jail term for similar drug trafficking offence in Ecuador.

He has since expelled all 111 pellets of cocaine.

The three suspects have been arraigned before court for prosecution.
The eight suspects have been charged with causing disturbance in court, resisting arrest and rescuing persons in lawful custody.

They had been denied bail by a Kumasi Circuit court on Monday, April 10, when they were remanded in police custody.

This was in spite of arguments by their lawyer, Gary Nimako, that their offence was a bailable one.

READ ALSO: Police arrest eight vigilante members who stormed court to free suspects on trial

He argued that the case centred more on national security and hence his clients should be bailed but the judge refused.

The lawyers subsequently took their plea for a bail to the High Court after the denial.
In a statement issued by ACEP, it said: this signals timely completion of the Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) field Development, estimated to produce 2,633,110 barrels of oil in 2017 when production starts in the last quarter of the year.

READ ALSO: Ameri Power Plant has no operating license

Though the projected production for 2017 is not significant compared to the existing field, this will contribute to overall fiscal stability in governments estimates for the year.

The vessel, which has the capacity to produce 58,000 barrels of oil and 98 million standard cubic feet of gas daily, was named after ex-president John Agyekum Kufour.

It will operate at the Offshore Cape Three Point oilfields in the Western Region.

READ ALSO: Breakdown of how much Ghana loses to illegal imports

The FPSO Kufuor is owned by ENI Oil, Ghana Limited, Vitol Upstream, Ghana Limited and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. It is expected to sail into Ghanaian waters by April 2017, to start work.

Ghanas first FPSO was named after the countrys first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The vessel is estimated to cost US$875 million.

The second vessel was named after Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

READ ALSO: FIGOSP proposes a minister in charge of local content

According to ACEP this development signals prospective investors of the oil and gas potential of the country.

It is, therefore, important for government to take advantage of the current upstream environment to attract capable companies to sustain oil production. Further bold step will be required to sanction companies holding on to licenses without meeting their minimum work obligation. We recommend that non-performing contracts should be reviewed and, where necessary, relinquishment decisions be urgently taken on inactive blocks to free up space for more serious investors.
Ex-President Mahama was addressing his former appointees of his administration when he met them to show his appreciation for the work they did during his governance.

But Mr Mahama justified his appointments saying the critics possibly do not like his appointees.

Just say I dont like the people, not that they are young because all those people you are referring to are above 40 years. How can you call a 40-year old man with a wife and children, a young man surrounding the President? I cannot understand.

When I became deputy Minister to my brother, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, I was 39 years old. Yes, we were young, but we served and served properly. Im sure Spio was around 40 years at the time. We cant say he was a small boy. In the evolutionary period, all those who surrounded President Rawlings were in their twenties and thirties. So its not about age, he argued.

He further stated that the NDC has always given opportunities to the young people to prove themselves and there was no need to blame them.

Our party has always given opportunity to young people that are what we are, so if we lose we cannot blame young people for our loss. And the point is that the demographic of Ghana is shifting in favour of young people, 35 and below makes up 60% of our population. So if you want to appoint officials, where are you going to get them from? he asked.

Blame me for NDC's 2016 defeat

Meanwhile, the former President has asked critics within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to blame him for the loss of the party in the 2016 general elections.

The cause of our loss is multifaceted, adding that the accusations should be directed at him.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the NDC Chairman, Kofi Portuphy said the party finds it surprising that these same groups that had previously condemned every action of the previous government have now remained silent.

All of a sudden, they have abandoned their neutral outlook. They have ceased being the conscience of the nation. We dont want to believe the attitude of some clergy and civil society towards the disturbing developments in the political scene in Ghana is borne out of political or ethnic prejudice or is arousing out of hypocrisy and double standards, he said.

Mr Portuphy added that a number of such groups only condemned the Delta Force attack on the court where 13 members of the pro-NPP vigilante group escaped.

He, however, criticised the groups for not coming out publicly to condemn the NPP attacks on members of the NDC.

Where was the Ghana Bar Association, CODEO, Peace Council when the NPP brought in mercenaries from South Africa to train these terrorist elements. Where was the Peace Council, when after the elections, these NPP elements attacked, burned down and a took over operations of toll booths at Tiafre in the Brong Ahafo Region and in Tema at the Motorway?
The passenger, 69-year-old David Dao, has obtained a personal-injury lawyer and asked the Cook County Court to issue an order for United and the city of Chicago to keep all footage, audio recordings, and any other reports and material from the flight, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The incident involving Dao happened Sunday evening in Chicago aboard a plane bound for Louisville. A fellow passenger recorded a video that showed Dao being yanked from his seat and dragged off the plane with blood on his face.

Dao told WLKY, a local Kentucky station, on Tuesday that he was still being treated at a Chicago hospital for injuries he suffered. He also said he was not doing well and "everything" was injured.

United said in a statement that it needed room on the aircraft to transfer crew for another flight and that it offered $1,000 to customers to give up their seats. When no one volunteered, it selected several passengers to deplane. Dao was chosen, but United said he refused to get off the plane.

Employees then contacted Chicago Aviation Department officers to help remove Dao. One of the officers involved has since been put on leave, and the department has launched an investigation.

United's CEO, Oscar Munoz, quickly came under fire for his initial response to the incident. He issued another statement on Tuesday formally apologizing for how Dao was treated.

"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 said. "I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right."
In an interview with GMA, Munoz said he apologized to the passenger  identified Tuesday as Dr.  and promised that nothing similar would happen on a United Airlines flight again.

"The first thing that I think is important to say is to apologize to Dr. Dao, his family, the passengers on that flight, our customers, our employees  that is not who our family at United is," Munoz said. "You saw us at a bad moment, and this can never, will never happen again on a United Airlines flight. That's my premise, and that's my promise."
The high court in the capital, Podgorica, said the 14 people were charged with "creating a criminal organization."

The two Russians were also charged with "terrorism."

Montenegrin authorities said the 14 accused attempted to take over parliament, assassinate then-Prime Minister

would have forced their way inside and, during the confusion, opened fire on the crowd "so that citizens would think that the official police are shooting at them."

Had it been executed, such a scenario would have had an unforeseeable consequence," he told The Telegraph.
Larry Pittman, a Republican representative from Concord, North Carolina, was defending a bill he filed on Tuesday that would restore a ban on same-sex marriage, in defiance of the US Supreme Court.

One commenter told Pittman to "get over" the marriage ruling, eliciting the lawmaker's head-turning response.

"And if Hitler had won, should the world just get over it? Lincoln was the same sort (of) tyrant, and personally responsible for the deaths of over 800,000 Americans in a war that was unnecessary and unconstitutional," Pittman said.

The seemingly unprompted comparison to Hitler drew immediate backlash from other commenters, one of whom asked him to explain why he thought the Civil War was "unnecessary." Pittman's office did not respond to a request for clarification.

The "Uphold Historical Marriage Act," sponsored by Pittman and three other Republicans, says that the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage "is null and void in the State of North Carolina," and contains language from the Bible. The bill would order state government to return to Amendment One, a same-sex marriage ban that was approved by voters in a 2012 referendum.

The bill is not expected to be heard.
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The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, whose acronym has inspired the nickname "Mother of All Bombs" or "MOAB," weighs over 21,000 pounds.

It was developed during the Iraq War. It had not been used in combat until now.

It was dropped on an ISIS-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, camp in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, which borders northwest Pakistan, US officials with direct knowledge of the mission told CNN.

An online simulator called HYDESim, which stands for High-Yield Detonation Effects Simulator, "maps overpressure radii generated by a ground-level detonation."

"These radii are an indicator of structural damage to buildings," the simulator says.

Through the simulator, you can see how the MOAB would affect New York City, Los Angeles, London, and other big cities, based on the HYDESim's estimate of its explosive yield. (The exact yield is classified, but it's approximately .011KT)

Based on the simulator's calculations, the effects of the bomb would be widely felt, causing "most glass surfaces, such as windows" to shatter, "some with enough force to cause injury" as much as a mile from the blast site, according to the simulator. The actual blast would likely destroy one or two city blocks.

By contrast, the US's most powerful nuclear bomb  the B83, with a 1.2 megaton maximum yield  would have a blast radius of nearly 20 miles.

The MOAB strike on Thursday "was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities," US Central Command said in a statement.

"As ISIS-K's losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers, and tunnels to thicken their defense," Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said in the statement. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K."

Watch footage of the MOAB being tested:
Now, Kim Jong-un stands within a few years of completing a credible intercontinental ballistic missile the US would very much struggle to defend against.

Despite the UN and key players like China and the US consistently voting in favor of sanctions on North Korea, the regime still finds way to slip around them.

Much like their nuclear warheads and missiles, North Korea's sanction evasion techniques are "

One tactic North Korea has used for shipping missile components and military equipment is sailing under false flags. Though it's illegal to trade military goods with North Korea, a North Korean ship, the 'Jie Shun,' was seized in Egypt carrying tens of thousands of North Korean-made explosives while sailing under a Cambodian flag.

For small Asian countries who cannot afford arms and equipment from China and can't get past US and European arms regulations, North Korea offers cheap, accessible gear.

North Korea injects uncertainty into the paper trail of its banking system by using "
US forces in Afghanistan dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, whose acronym has inspired the nickname "Mother of All Bombs," over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, which borders northwest Pakistan.

The MOAB, which was developed during the Iraq War, is the US's largest nonnuclear bomb and had not been used in combat until now.

The 30-foot-long bomb weighs 21,000 pounds  18,700 pounds of which is the warhead  and was dropped from a C-130 aircraft a little after 7 p.m. local time on Thursday, the Pentagon said.

"This is a weapon that would be used against a large footprint on the ground," CNN analyst Barbara Starr said. The target in question was reportedly an ISIS complex of tunnels, caves, and a camp where personnel were assembling.

The bomb explodes in the air above its target and creates overpressure designed to crush tunnels and everything in them.

The area is very close to the Pakistan border, Starr said, and "is still a border that is not really controlled."

"And they have seen ISIS develop on the Afghanistan side of the this border," she added.

"At 7:32 p.m. local time today, US forces - Afghanistan conducted a strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, as part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017," US Central Command said in a statement, referring to the ISIS branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan, ISIS-Khorasan.

"The strike used a GBU-43 bomb dropped from a US aircraft," the statement said. "The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities."

"As ISIS-K's losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers, and tunnels to thicken their defense," Gen. John W. Nicholson, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said in the statement. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K."

Russia, Pakistan, and China have also warned of increasing ISIS activity in Afghanistan.

The Central Command statement said US forces "took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties." However, the size and power of the MOAB means damage to the surrounding area can be extensive.

"Dropping a 21,000 lb bomb is not exactly a battle," journalist Jeremy Scahill said on Twitter about the bombing. "It's a mass killing machine."

The MOAB's deployment comes just a few days after a US Special Forces operator was killed in the same region of the country during operations against ISIS.

"The soldier was mortally wounded late Saturday during an operation in Nangarhar Province," US Navy Capt. Bill Salvin said on Twitter on Saturday.

You can see video footage of the MOAB below:

The Taliban has also been resurgent in Afghanistan in recent months, reclaiming territory that US-coalition forces had long fought to hold. In 2016, Afghanistan reportedly lost almost 15% of its territory to Taliban control.

Other important development programs, including education, infrastructure, and women's rights, are reportedly foundering.

In recent months, civilians have come under fire, both from ISIS and Taliban attacks and from coalition forces. Questions have been raised about how US officials apportion compensation in incidents where Afghan civilians are killed in US-led military operations.

US conduct in Afghanistan has also attracted criticism. The International Criminal Court has said US forces may have committed war crimes in Afghanistan through the "cruel or violent" interrogation of detainees, mostly from 2003 to 2004.

Numerous US military officials have also expressed concern about Russian activity in the country. Afghan officials have said Iran and Pakistan have provided aid to the Taliban.

Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the chief of US Central Command, has said the war in Afghanistan has settled into a stalemate and that he thought "it will involve additional forces to ensure that we can make the advise-and-assist mission more effective."

The US-led war in Afghanistan will enter its 16th year in 2017. This spring, 300 Marines are scheduled to deploy to the country.

Even after 15 years of occupation, opium cultivation in the country has risen, going up 10% in 2016, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Afghanistan's deputy minister of the interior for counternarcotics said the country's campaign against drugs was failing.

"The government is too busy fighting against terrorism and the Taliban and is losing the battle against drugs," he said in October, "but everything is interconnected."

The US has deployed heavy ordnance in the country before.

In November 2001, during the initial invasion of Afghanistan, the US dropped "daisy cutter" bombs  which weighed 15,000 pounds and were first used to clear helicopter landing zones in the jungles of Vietnam  on Taliban positions.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the gunmen also abducted four staff of two Telecommunication companies.

Lagos Police Commands Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the incident, said the policemen killed, were taken by surprise.

He said the command was after the suspected gunmen, assuring that measures would be taken to ensure the release of those held captive

NAN gathered that the gunmen had stormed the place from Ode-Omi creek, a border town between Lagos and Ogun States, to commit the crime.

An eyewitness, Jude Ajagun, said those abducted were staff of TYDACOM Limited and Erickson Limited.

We were working in a site being developed by one Onoside, who contracted us.

While on duty, we started hearing sporadic gunshots and we scampered for safety; I hid beside some blocks, while I was watching the scene.

I saw about six heavily armed men; three were wearing mask and they sighted three policemen attached to an estate developer and shot them dead.

Two other civilians were also shot while four others were injured.

The gunmen thereafter, abducted four staff of Telecom companies and marched them towards Ode-Omi, Ajagun said.

A staff of Ericson, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had been keeping vigil since Wednesday.

He said that as at Thursday, the gunmen were yet to establish contact with the company.

We are expecting a call from them to know what they want as ransom, but they have not established contact with us.

We are appealing to the kidnappers to tamper justice with mercy as those abducted are innocent.
And now, May is not sure she wants to go ahead with the wedding again.

Read her story here:

"My name is May, a 28-year-old troubled woman. I am in a serious dilemma at the moment because my wedding is coming up in June this year but I am not sure I want to go through with it.

While my fiance, Jason, and our families are looking forward to the wedding with great anticipation, my enthusiasm has been dwindling by the day and at times, I have been tempted to tell him

The reason for my lackadaisical attitude to my wedding is the sudden appearance of Prince, my ex-boyfriend who dumped me four years ago and traveled out of the country.

In truth, Prince was my first real love and despite the fact that we have been apart for four years, the love I had for him has never been able to quench and with his coming back into my life has further complicated things for me.

I find myself falling in love with him all over again and in spite of myself, I believe we were meant to be together and I am even happy he came back before I got married to another man.

I am not saying that I do not love Jason, after all, I agreed to marry him but Prince is one man that no one can ever replace.

I met Prince in my first year at the university while he was in his third year. Before I met him, I had had some relationships but they were all meaningless. Prince became my breath, my life and soul.

I worshiped the ground he walked and could do anything for him. When we made love for the first time, I felt more drawn to him and vowed never to sleep with another man as long as I lived.

But two years after he graduated, Prince traveled out of the country without letting me know. His friends too could not help matters as no one was sure where he went to. Some said he had gone to an obscure country in Europe, while some said he had traveled to either Asia or South Africa.

As days rolled into weeks, months and years and no word came from Prince, I was totally cut off from the world. I stayed for two years without dating any other man. Attempts by friends to match-make me with other men failed.

My family was becoming worried and my mother pleaded with me to forget Prince and move on with my life. After so much pressure, I decided to give in to Jason who had been asking me out for a very long time.

Our affair did not last for more than eight months when he proposed to me and shortly after, we had our introduction and a date was fixed for the wedding.

But just as I was looking forward to it, Prince suddenly showed up. I don't know how he got my number but he just called me up one day in the office and told me he was lodging in a hotel in Festac Town.

Without waiting for his invitation, I went to the hotel to see him and it was as if we did not have any break. I just fell into his hands and while we made love, I knew that nothing had ever changed.

He told me he had first traveled to China to look for greener pastures but he was deported after some months and in the past four years, he had traversed many parts of the world trying to make ends meet.

What finally killed me literally was when he said all he did was to have a better future for me. I told him I was getting married in a month's time and he broke down and cried like a baby. That was when I knew Prince was made for me and the doubts about my intending wedding crept into my mind.

I have tried to justify my actions but in truth, I see no reason getting into a marriage I will not be happy in because I will still find a way to sneak into the arms of Prince.

May."

Dear readers, after going through May's letter today on Morning Teaser, you will agree that she is really confused and needs your advice. So what will you tell her here?

How Nigeria voted:

She should follow her heart and make a decision - 24%

She should let go of the past and move on with her new life - 47%

She should tell Jason that she is no longer interested in the marriage - 18%

She should seek spiritual guidance to handle the situation - 12%
The EFCC uncovered about $38million, N23million and 27,000 from an Ikoyi apartment. This is the latest loot that the EFCC has found this week. The numbers can make someone dizzy. The amount is just staggering.

Thanks to the whistle blowing policy, the EFCC is finding stolen money faster than the Colombian government discovering Pablo Escobar's hidden money in Narcos.

It's almost unbelievable to think the many empty houses we pass every day in Ikoyi has millions of dollars and Naira stashed in them. It's the same thing as standing on a spot and not knowing there is a treasure buried under it.

This describes the struggle of the common man in Nigeria. Money is everywhere, you can feel it but you don't know exactly where it is. It's frustratingly elusive.

A lot of sharp guys in the know are now snitching and exposing a lot of corrupt politicians. Nigeria is hard. Money must be made at all costs. Everyone wants a slice of the action right now.

Anyway, whistle blowing is the new Yahoo-Yahoo. Why work all month and get a miserable pay when you can call the EFCC and blow the lid on some hidden money that you are aware of?

Just imagine how much the whistle blower who tipped the EFCC to the money in the Ikoyi apartment would get? That's a whole lot of money. Even the boys who press the keyboards all day won't see that

This might be a fool's journey. You have to be an insider within the corruption cabal to know where exactly the loot is. Who cares though? Fortune favours the bold.

There is a strong temptation to buy a torch light and search many of the abandoned/unoccupied houses in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. You never know, you might strike gold and stumble on a stash of dollar bundles hidden away.

As a patriotic citizen, it is your right to find where these corrupt politicians are hiding our money. It is your civic duty. Also, it will make you a rich man overnight. Serving Nigeria is not free, there must be some monetary reward attached to it at the end of the day.
Offor made the appeal while briefing newsmen as part of the activities to commemorate 2017 African Vaccination Week (AVW), which begins on April 24.

She recommended for a fund where people can donate money through different kind of taxes such as telephone tax and VAT to support immunisation financing.

According to her, GAVI and other partners that are supporting vaccine and immunisation programmes are gradually deflating their support in the country, meaning that Nigeria has to take full responsibility for vaccine financing.

The first phase of gradual withdrawal has commenced in 2017. Nigeria will only receive 75 per cent of the donor funding for vaccine and immunisation from GAVI and other partners.

In 2018, the support will also drop to 50 per cent and subsequently the support will be deflated by 2022, she said.

Offor said the immunisation and vaccination funding gap in Nigeria was above 130 million dollars.

As stakeholders we have developed various advocacy groups to persuade government and private sector organisations to bridge the funding gap.

Besides, Offor said the NGO is advocating for the local production of vaccines as another alternative of bridging the vaccination gap in Nigeria.

She added that National Immunisation Financing Task Team (NIFT) was also working to bring the private sector to support the government on immunisation financing and demand for vaccination services.

The AVW is an annual event instituted by WHO regional office and implemented by African countries.

The theme of the 2017 AVW is: Vaccines protect everyone, get vaccinated.
Bello said this at the commencement of the programme on Wednesday in Minna.

Represented by the Project Coordinator of the foundation, Dr Ohize Stephen, she said the training had become necessary to reduce the scourge of the disease which is the second leading cause of female cancer deaths in the country.

She said that the idea was to integrate breast and cervical cancer screening into the primary health care system in the state.

We believe strongly in strengthening the existing system and bringing in interventions into the system.

We intend to improve the capacity of these health workers to deliver and support them and their health facilities, she added.

The governors wife disclosed that the foundation would establish a cancer screening unit in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.

She said that over 35,000 females are estimated to have cancer each year in the state, with breast and cervical cancer the most common.

One of the participants, Ms Rabi Idris, applauded the foundation for the initiative, adding that it will enable them educate and mobilise the women at the grassroots.

Cancer is very rampant now and is ravaging women in the state especially in the rural area.

This training will help me educate and mobilise the women at the grassroots and ensure that they go for screening regularly, Idris said.

Another participant, Mr Salisu Sule, described the training as an eye opener, adding that he is now better informed as he has been taught the symptoms to look out for.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the house which was raided by the EFCC following a whistle blower's confidential alert, is reportedly located at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The report further revealed that other residents of the house as embattled ex-Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, a former Managing Director at the NNPC, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue and Godwin Obla, a senior lawyer and former prosecutor to EFCC.

ALSO READ: EFCC discovers $38M, N23M in Ikoyi home

Discovered in the house according to a breakdown by the EFCC are $38million, N23.2million and 27,800.

Mu'azu is yet to react to the reports that the building belongs to him.

The recovery by the EFCC is coming two days after EFCC operatives recovered 547,730 and 21,090 as well as N5,648,500 from a Bureau de Change operator in Balogun Market, Lagos.

In the same vein, the EFCC recovered N449, 000, 860 hidden in an abandoned Bureau De Change office also in Lagos six days earlier.

ALSO READ: EFCC uncovers N4B owned by ex-Dep Gov
This was reportedly confirmed by a military officer and vigilante, according to a report published by Punch.

Two male suicide bombers reportedly detonated their explosives at a checkpoint in Dalori, near a camp for internally displaced people on Wednesday evening, April 12, 2017.

We lost a soldier in the Boko Haram attack at Dalori Sector 3 checkpoint while a mobile policeman was injured, a military officer was reportedly quoted.

It was also reported that the attackers set fire to makeshift sheds at the checkpoint and carted away weapons during the attack.

ALSO READ: DSS stops terrorists from attacking US, UK embassies in Abuja
"There is a lot of negotiation going on," he said.

He said the government has "gone quite far" with negotiations to free more girls.

He said one of the major challenges that is stalling their rescue is the existence of two factions in the Boko Haram leadership.

Speaking to journalists and activists on Tuesday, April 11, at the state house in Abuja, the Vice-President disclosed that the each faction is holding on to some of the girls.

One of the factions is led by Abubakar Shekau, the erstwhile leader of the group, while a breakaway faction is led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who is believed to be the son of the late founder of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf.

ALSO READ: DSS stops Boko Haram from attacking US, UK embassies in Abuja

Boko Haram had seized 276 pupils from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on the night of April 14, 2014.

About 57 of the girls managed to escape shortly after their abduction.
In a statement to commemorate the three-year abduction of the Chibok girls on Thursday, April 13, 2017, President noted that the federal government would do everything necessary to ensure their rescue.

Buhari maintained that his administration has successfully degraded the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

The president noted that his administration would bend over backwards to ensure the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls.

We were determined to secure the release of the Chibok girls and others forcefully abducted from their homes and communities and retake the occupied territories.

He said: "Determined to secure the freedom of the abducted girls and recover lost territories, this administration gave the necessary political and logistical backing which energised gallant members of our armed forces and other security agencies to overrun the headquarters of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and scatter the terrorists from their strong base.

"Today, the group has been degraded and is no longer in a position to mount any serious, coordinated attack, other than sporadic suicide attacks on soft targets. Even at that, their reach is very much confined to a small segment of the North East where they had previously held sway unchecked.

On the Chibok girls, we have had reason to celebrate the return of twenty-four of them and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.

As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families. Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life.

Furthermore, Government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed.

Like I have repeatedly said, the federal government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. We have reached out to their captors, through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of ALL the girls, the president added.
Mr Tijjani Tumsah, the Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

Some 276 female students of GGSS, Chibok, located in Borno South Senatorial District, were abducted by members of Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, and 50 of them escaped from their abductors.

Among the remaining 219, the government negotiated the release of 21 by the sect in 2016, while three others escaped on their own.

 We intend to finish with the school before next session and make it functional for educational activities to pick up. We have varieties of programmes, including psycho-social and counselling programmes for women and girls and community engagements."

In terms of the structure itself, the school has to be fortified in terms of early warning systems to protect the girls."

A whole lot of issues that have been planned to ensure the safety and comfort of the students of the school judging by the previous unfortunate incident, he said.

Tumsah said the committee would implement relevant programmes that would boost education, which had suffered a setback through Boko Haram activities in the North-East.

He said the committee was contemplating suitable programmes that would help in de-radicalising the youth in keeping with the Muhammadu Buhari administration Plan of Action.
Egwu stated this on Thursday when members of the committee visited IDC in Owerri.

He expressed displeasure over the poor state of infrastructure in most of the industrial centres visited by the committee.

Egwu noted that the committee was in the Owerri centre of IDC for oversight function and to ascertain how the funds appropriated for the centres were utilised.

He, however, commended the Owerri centre for being little active, compared to some other centres visited.

Sen. Barnabas Gemade, a member of the Committee, also noted that the centres when functional had the capacity to promote industrialisation and increase the gross domestic product of Nigerians.

He said that reviving the moribund centres was in line with the diversification policy of the present administration.

IDCs are meant to give foundation for producing the middle level staff for industrialisation of the nation.

Because they are not working very well and have remained moribund in most of the centres, 23 of them in the country, our level of industrialisation is the way it is.

This is part of the reason for the recession which has come to this nation, Gemade said.

The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Dikko Radda, said the nations quest for industrialisation would remain a mirage if adequate attention was not paid to the revitalisation of the centres.

I believe we are going to get it right this time because the lawmakers are here and they are the people that appropriate funds for the development of these centres.

They are really worried about it. Government will put more priorities on IDCs because we are in the process of diversification of the economy.

There is no way you can diversify the economy without industrialisation, he said.

Mr Matthew Mbanu, the IDC Coordinator in Owerri, who conducted the committee members round both the old and new offices of the centre, identified inadequate power supply as the major problem facing the centre.
Sule, according to the prosecutor, D.D Fomyul, robbed one Mrs Zipporah Mang, of her Toyota Corrolla car at gun point.

The judge, Justice Y.G Dakwak, adjourned the matter till May 31, when the defence counsel, Mr David Adudu prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable him file a written address.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Mantu John, holding brief for G.D Fwomyon did not object to the adjournment, but prayed the court to give him three weeks to file his final written address.

The judge however adjourned the matter till May 31, to enable both parties file their final written addresses.

The prosecutor, Mr G.D Fwomyon, Director of Public Prosecution, had told the court that the defendant in company of two others, now at large committed the offence on Dec. 5, 2013.

Fwomyon said that the defendant with two others were armed with a locally made pistol and robbed one Mrs Zipporah Mang, of her Toyota Corrolla car, valued at N3 million.

He said that on the said date, the defendant trailed Mrs Mang to her home, Behind WAEC Office, Bukuru, Jos, and robbed her at gun point.

The prosecuting counsel said that the defendant had told the police, in a confessional statement, that himself and two others, Abba and Tutu, whom he met in prison sometime in 2010, met on the said date at Angwan Rukuba to arrange for the robbery.

The statement quoted the defendant as saying that Abba who knew the complainant and her address guided them to her house, but on reaching there met her absence.

The statement said that the defendant and his gang alighted from a Keke Napep when they saw the complainant returning home and they pointed a gun at her.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja.

A statement by spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted the INEC chairman as saying that 70 of the affected staff in three states were still in denial.

Yakubu, according to Uwujaren, said they would be referred to the EFCC for further investigation.

Also indicted, he said, are 21 retired staff mostly acting under the aegis of WANEO (West African Network of Election Observers).

Yakubu said 21 retirees had been blacklisted from monitoring elections and other activities organised by INEC in the future, according to Uwujaren.

If we get our election right, we get our democracy right as the right people will be elected and once we get our democracy right we will get national progress and development on track.

INEC is on the same page with the EFCC in this big responsibility of sanitising the country, the INEC chairman was quoted saying.

Responding, Magu was said to have expressed the anti-graft agencys readiness to prosecute all the indicted INEC staff.

We are already prosecuting some of the INEC staff, we have started in Lagos and we are in the process in Port-Harcourt, Kano and Gombe, Magu reportedly said.

While expressing satisfaction with the collaboration between both agencies, Magu commended the INEC boss for supporting the investigation involving some of his staff members.

He said: What you have done will change the course of electioneering in this country, by bringing in sanity and credibility.

It will send a signal and serve as deterrent to any person who may wish to perpetrate fraud in the electoral process whether as a monitor or staff of INEC.

Magu assured INEC of continued support from the EFCC, noting that the agencys functions are central to the future of the country, and that the next election must be different.
"The company is serene and has the utmost confidence in the management," its chairman Emma Marcegaglia told shareholders at the group's general assembly in Rome.

Eni and fellow petroleum Goliath Shell are accused of corruption in the 2011 purchase of OPL245, an offshore oil block estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion.

Both companies are charged with corruption in Nigeria and are being investigated by Italian prosecutors in connection with the deal, which allegedly saw Nigeria's former president Goodluck Jonathan and his oil minister pocket bribes.

The spotlight intensified Monday when corruption watchdogs alleged that Shell executives knew that money earmarked for the controversial deal was being used to bribe senior Nigerian officials.

But Marcegaglia said an internal investigation at Eni had found no wrongdoing.

"Internal audits were carried out with the help of independent external consultants. These checks included an examination of the documents made available by the judiciary during the conclusion of the investigation," Marcegaglia said.

She said the company was "cooperating fully" with the authorities.
In a report by The Nation newspaper, the media office of the ex-President denied the allegations on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.

In a statement signed by the ex-president's media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the allegation was regarded as false and one more in the series of fake news sponsored by those threatened by Jonathans continuously rising profile in the international community.

The statement reads The man quoted by the report said he assumed that Dr. Jonathan wouldbe bribed. Since when has the assumption of a crook been enough to smear the reputation of a patriot and international statesman like Dr. Goodluck Jonathan?

The report also wrongly claimed that Jonathan and Etete had known each other for years, according to Shell staff, when Jonathan served as a tutor to Etetes children while he was a minister. This claim is clearly ridiculous and nothing can be further from the truth.

In the first place, the former President couldnt have been a tutor to Etetes children without first establishing contact with the family. This is because Jonathan met Etete who served as the Petroleum Minister in Gen. Abachas military regime for the first time under the succeeding civilian administration, when he was already the deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. Even then, the fact remains that ex-President Jonathan has never met any of Etetes children.

ALSO READ: Goodluck Jonathan denies collecting cash from Malabu oil deal

Besides, 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 servingminister.

This story, coming so soon after the fake news that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan refused British help in rescuing the Chibok Girls (a story that the British Government debunked) and that he plans to contest the 2019 elections (another lie), proves that these fallacious stories are deliberately contrived for reasons that are yet to be publicly disclosed.

It is instructive that this same old fable apparently intended to rubbish Jonathans name locally and internationally, is being recycled with more lies added to garnish the narrative, at a time theex-President is making efforts to resolve the issues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Again, let us point out for clarity and for the umpteenth time that while he was in office and now that he is out of office, former President Jonathan did not open and does not own any bank account, aircraft or real estate outside Nigeria. Anyone with contrary information is challenged to publicly publish same, Eze said.

The ex-President also appealed to the media to report facts rather than innuendo and gossip.
Bashar said this while decorating newly-promoted officers of the command on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that it took Aliyu three years to earn a degree, adding that this had elevated him to a higher level.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aliyu was promoted from the rank of Customs Assistant 1 to Assistant Superintendent of Customs 2.

Bashar said that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, had promised to encourage officers to improve on their education with a promise to promote officers with additional qualifications.

He congratulated the newly-promoted officers, saying that they now had greater responsibilities.

Officers should not be seen fighting on the streets. You must keep off assault and you should not exchange words with your subordinates.

Take advantage of the generousity of the service because promotion is not a right, but a privilege.

I pray that the way we are decorated, we will leave to decorate others too.

I wish all the officers will make Customs proud and try to be the change agents, he said.

Bashar said that officers in his command benefited from the promotion in all the hierarchies.

Speaking on behalf of the newly-promoted officers, a Deputy Comptroller, Mr Adebisi Alade, commended the Customs management for promoting them after the tedious examination.

He said that Comptroller Bashar had improved officers attitude to work, adding that officers were proud to associate themselves with the disciplinarian.

Alade promised that they would be more dedicated and honest in discharging their responsibilities to government.

NAN reports that Comptroller Bashar decorated five other officers who were elevated to the rank of deputy comptroller.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun, confirmed the accident to journalists in Abeokuta.

He said that the deceased included one female and four males who were inside the commercial bus.

He said that the accident involved a white Mazda Bus with Registration number LAGOS LSD 454 XT and Mack truck marked LAGOS AKD 39 XU.

The TRACE spokesman explained that officials of the agency at the scene reported that the commercial bus rammed into the truck from the rear during a rain storm in the area.

He said that the accident consequently led to a gridlock which affected Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, who was travelling to Lagos.

The road traffic official said that the governor ordered his security details to commence rescue operations and those injured were rushed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

According to him, corpses of two passengers who died instantly were also taken to the mortuary.

The governor was on his way to Lagos when his convoy suddenly met the gridlock caused by the accident which occurred at the New Makun City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Immediately, the governor was aware of the accident, he ordered that the injured should be quickly conveyed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

The two victims who died instantly at the scene were equally taken to the morgue of the same hospital.
The meeting, which took place at the Government House in Abeokuta, had in attendance the deputy governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi, and his counterpart in Ogun, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Ajayi gave an assurance that people living in both communities would soon realise that they had no reason to fight each other.

Ajayi said that the informal meeting was only to discuss issues affecting the two communities.

The deputy governor promised to invite his Ogun counterpart to a stakeholders meeting in Ondo State where all the traditional rulers in both communities would have the opportunity to discuss issues amicably.

We are one. We will resolve all the issues. We are expecting the boundary commission to come and conduct the survey which had been done in Ogun, and we will amicably agree and come to live together.

The two communities have done so many things together.

 The two governors of our states are credible leaders, so I believe when the community leaders see smiles on television, they will see reason that we mean well, he said

Earlier, Onanuga, who also affirmed that the meeting was not official, explained that the sister states deemed it fit to hold a meeting to discuss some of the boundary issues.

She noted that the two states had resolved to continue with the peaceful coexistence they had been enjoying in the past.

This is not an official meeting. It is an informal one at the instance of his Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and Chairman of the Ondo State Boundary Commission.

Their administration just assumed office, the two sister states deemed it fit to hold a boundary meeting to resolve some of the issues we have between our two states and that was why the meeting was held.

I can authoritatively tell you that we have resolved to go back and talk to our people to live happily, she said.

Onanuga said the two states would work with the National Boundary Commission to conduct a survey in Ondo State similar to what was done in Ogun after which a meeting would hold to resolve the outstanding issues.
The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration told the court on Wednesday, April 12, that it only went back to the community to pack debris.

But the lawyers representing the community in court insists that armed men, who shoot anyone that comes into the community, are still stationed in the area.

On Friday, March 17, 2017, residents of Otodogbame woke up to the sounds of helicopters, gunboats and police trucks on a mission to demolish the community - the area was levelled afterwards.

Offering insight into the cause of the stalemate in the court-ordered mediation between its officials and inhabitants of Otodogbame, the government said it did not pull out of the mediation, but that the residents were making impossible demands.

"We appeared before the mediation, but they are asking the government to build houses for them, over 300 people," S. Quadri, counsel to the government told Justice S.A Onigbangbo.

"The government never made any offer to the people that were displaced, how do we relocate them, they should not just come anywhere they see and settle. If they want to settle in Lagos, they should come with their money and buy land to settle."

Earlier on Wednesday, the court had struck out contempt proceedings instituted by the Otodogbame community against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The court said it lacked jurisdiction to try Abode because of the immunity he enjoys.

ALSO READ: Lagos govt allegedly evict residents forcefully, set houses on fire

However, the court faulted the alleged action of the governor.

"If the governor had truly ordered the forceful eviction and demolition of the second applicant, he undermined the principles of the rule of law and the same process which put him in office in the first place," the judge said.

Reacting to the judges decision, Megan Chapman, co-director of Justice Empowerment Initiatives, a community-based legal and empowerment organisation which represents the residents of Otodogbame, said immunity is Ambode's escape route.

"It was reported to us as at yesterday that government brought two gun boats in the community. So, the reality may be that they arent safe to go back there and enjoy their rights in the community," Chapman said.

She said it is clear that Ambode would escape punishment because of the immunity he enjoys.

She said: "The judge has made his position clear on this case that he finds the action of the governor reprehensible and in flagrant disregard to the rule of law which is detrimental to democracy in Nigeria.

"It is beyond his powers to commit the governor to prison but if he could, he would have and thats a strong pronouncement; and I hope it reaches the ears of the governor so he understands that what he is doing is undermining the rule of law, undermining the principles of democracy and its damaging the society at large."
THE GUARDIAN

Magu doesnt need Senates nod as EFCC chair  Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that Ibrahim Magu does not need the Senates confirmation as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to function in that position.

DSS foils ISIS, Boko Haram plot to bomb UK, US embassies

The Department of State Services (DSS) has foiled a plot by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-linked Boko Haram militants to attack British, American embassies and other western interests in Abuja. Five suspected members of the group based in Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been arrested in connection with the plot.

11 listed firms fail to file 2016 financial statement to NSE

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced failure by 11 listed firms to meet up with the deadline of filing their Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the year ended December 31, 2016.

THE NATION NEWSPAPER

DSS foils planned attacks on UK, US embassies

FIVE insurgents suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)

Buhari insists on Magu

IBRAHIM Magu will remain the boss at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Presidency has said.

EFCC finds $43m, N23m, 27,000 cash in Lagos home

ACTING on a tip-off, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday found $43.4 million (about N13.237 billion), N23 million and 27,000 cash at House 16, Osborne Road in Ikoyi, Lagos Island.

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

FG negotiating with Boko Haram on Chibok girls  Osinbajo

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said negotiations are ongoing for the release of more Chibok schoolgirls still in the custody of Boko Haram terrorists, expressing optimism that the dialogue would yield the desired result.

Why Buhari did not attend FEC meeting  Lai Mohammed

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari was not on hand yesterday to preside over the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took charge.

$1.3bn Malabu scam: Why EFCC raided Adokes Kano home for documents

The raid, according to sources, was aimed at retrieving vital documents that could help the security agencies establish a solid case against Adoke, who had already been charged along with eight others over the $1.3 billion controversial Malabu Oil payout.

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Commendation as DSS foils ISIS plot to attack US, UK embassies

The Department of State Services said in Abuja, on Wednesday, that it had burst a ring of ISIS-linked Boko Haram members based in Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory.

How EFCC recovered $43 million, 27,000 and N23m during house raid

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday raided a house in Ikoyi, Lagos recovering about $43m, N23m and 27,000 in cash.

We wont replace Magu, says Osinbajo
Gasau said the present scholarship arrangement, which is disproportionately focused on the Overseas Scholarship Scheme is not sustainable any longer.

A statement by PTDF spokesman, Mr Kalu Otisi, quoted Gusau to have stated this at an interactive session with Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: FG approves N400m for Nigerian students on foreign scholarship

He said: "At the centre of the agenda is the domestication of all PTDF training and capacity building programmes, with the implication that Nigerian universities will now play a greater role in the process as partners and major stakeholders.

"The bulk of the scholarship for both the Masters and PhDs to be offered going forward, would be for training in Nigerian universities.
The PDP Chairman made the comments while speaking with journalists after a visit to the party secretariat in Calabar, Cross River state.

He (Fayose) cannot speak for the southwest PDP. The southwest PDP that I know cannot allow the likes of Fayose to be speaking for them, Sheriff said according to The Nation.

Fayose is alone and he is speaking for himself not the PDP of southwest. He is the only governor that is causing problem among the 12 PDP governors that we have today. If he wants to leave the party, he should go and there will be peace in the PDP because he is the architect of the crisis in our party.

For the record, all the southwest PDP chairmen and their leaders are with me. So where is Fayose getting his support base from? He is alone and hes just playing the script of his author. He should go if he wants, Sheriff added.

The PDP has been rocked by a leadership crisis since it attempted to remove Sheriff as chairman in May 2016.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bills were: Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Law of 2017 and Rivers State Honours Law of 2017.

Others were: Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) law of 2017, Rivers State University Law of 2017 and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Law of 2017.

The governor noted that the Return of School law was important because it allowed the State Government to intervene in mission schools already returned to their owners.

He stressed that the law would help in sustaining the quality of education in mission schools returned by the government to their previous owners.

Wike noted that the State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law is important as the previous law was no longer relevant due to the financial recklessness of the immediate past administration.

The governor stated that the past administration refused to obey the law as it carelessly withdrew funds from the savings meant for the future.

Between February 12, 2014 and May 27, 2015, the immediate past administration in the state withdrew N53billion from the funds without passing through due process.

The State is today suffering from the financial recklessness of that administration as it squandered state resources through illegal withdrawals, he added.

The governor stressed that the State University Law of 2017 was created to avert the loss of accreditation of several courses by the University due to directives by the National Universities Commission.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi Ibani, said that the lawmakers would always place the interest of the state above any other interest in discharging their legislative responsibilities.
Father Jacques Hamel, 85, was killed at the altar in front of a handful of worshippers, while conducting a mass last July in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near the northern city of Rouen.

The two 19-year-old assailants slit his throat, further horrifying France and the world two weeks after a radicalised truck driver killed 86 people in Nice.

"If it succeeds, the martyrdom of Father Jacques Hamel will be officially recognised according to Church criteria," said the Rouen diocese, for whom Hamel "died for his faith".

Beatification is a first step to canonisation or sainthood.

In October, Pope Francis agreed to waive the five-year "cooling off" period usually observed after the death of a candidate for sainthood, before launching the process for Hamel's beatification.

As Hamel is considered a "martyr", his beatification and canonisation does not require proof of miracles.

Hamel's attackers, Adel Kermiche and Abdel Malik Petitjean, were shot dead by police outside the church.
The bank, in partnership with CcHub, made the announcement at a press conference which held at the Union Bank head office in Marina, Lagos. Personalities in attendance include Union Bank CEO Emeka Emuwa; Lola Cardoso, Head of Group Strategy at Union Bank; CcHub CEO Bosun Tijani; and Femi Longe, Head of Innovation at CcHub.

The Centenary Innovation Challenge is targeted at businesses and ideas in the areas of financial inclusion, education and agriculture, so if you have an interesting idea or business in any of these sectors, be sure to apply. (Note: Businesses applying must be for-profit organisations). Application entries close on May 19, 2017.

As an Institution we are taking the lead in tackling social problems in communities where we do business in a sustainable way. Last year, we kicked off our first ever internal innovation challenge in the bank  The Annual Case Challenge and we are currently working on implementing the transformational ideas that came through that would allow us provide the simplest and smartest solutions, making our customers lives better, says Emeka Emuwa, Union Bank CEO.

We also believe that we cannot tackle these social problems alone which is why today we are partnering with Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) to launch the Centenary Innovation Challenge.

ALSO READ: 5 incubators we think were awesome this year

From April 25, 2017, the bank (also in conjunction with CcHub) will hold 7 roadshows across the country in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Oshogbo, Kaduna and Yola. 10 startups will be selected as semi-finalists and those 10 startups will go into an intensive bootcamp aimed at helping them develop and better flesh out their ideas.

Our approach to corporate citizenship helps us leverage on our heritage as a strong financial institution to support local efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development and driving social change. For the past two years, our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has focused on three strategic pillars  financial inclusion, agriculture and education and this is the foundation the Centenary Innovation challenge will be built on, said Lola Cardoso, Head of Group Strategy at Union Bank.

We have continued to engage communities across the country, which informs our internal decisions. For sustainability, we are also investing in provision of alternative energy sources and also leveraging on businesses that provide recycle resources. With the Centenary Innovation Challenge, there is no better partner than CcHub as regards our plans moving forward.

After the bootcamp, the 10 startups will pitch to a panel of experts and three startups will emerge winners. A N1 million prize awaits the second runner up, N1.5 million goes to the first runner up, and N2 million for the first place winner. This will be in addition to networking, mentorship and other non-financial opportunities that will be made available to the chosen startups.

Based on our work for the past 7 years, we have seen that there are very few credible platforms to leverage on to build sustainable businesses in Nigeria. This partnership with Union Bank for the Centenary Innovation Challenge is important to us, especially in implementing platforms that can help us provide solutions for our communities and the country as a whole," said Bosun Tijani, Co-Founder and CEO at CcHub.

"Over 98 per cent of support we get is derived from outside Nigeria, so this relationship with Union Bank is our first with a Nigerian financial institution. Clearly, this is a commitment that we would want other reputable institutions to emulate.
Contrary to what a few people might think, a lot of Nigerians love Big Brother Naija. For the drama, for the banter, for the sheer love or sometimes hate, for the housemates. And it got us wondering, what group of individuals drive Nigerian followership this much? Politicians.

So we thought up a few politicians and imagined what it'd look like if they, with their personalities and character, made it to the show.

1. The Chief Drama Queen/King.

Is there any Nigerian politician more dramatic than Uncle Dino Melaye? Dino Melaye is literally becoming a weekly show at this point, giving us back to back drama, whether he's saying people should patronise "Made in Nigeria" women, or he's fighting over something in the house,

Dino is a qualified candidate. Period.

2. The Baby Boy/Yoruba Demon.

What do we have here? Someone who can dance at the weekly Big Brother Parties? Check.

Someone who can still do ruthless things in the house just so he can win his game? Check. Ambode it is.

3. The "Everybody Hates Me" Jerk.

We all know the Big Brother House needs one person who is unnecessarily dramatic, who believes everyone is trying to victimise them. Who believes people might even kill them.

But in actual fact, no one really gives a fuck. Nyesom Wike's the guy for this one.

4. The Resident Intellectual.

The house smartass who just seems to know everything and have two heads. And yes, they still manage to have sharp mouth and have drama in them. Best candidate for this one is definitely El-Rufai.

5. Miss Independent.

Independent? Won't take nonsense? Who else? Florence Ita-Giwa.

6. Most likely to be the first to sleep with someone.

He will go to any lengths to get the attention he wants. The way he wants. When he wants. Give it up for Fayose.

Also likely to win, because life is not just fair sometimes.

7. So much potential but will be eliminated at the second eviction.

I mean, people know he's bright. People know he might hold some promise. But people just don't dig him. I mean, it sucks to be Atiku at this point.

8. The Chilled Lady who somehow makes it to the final.

Have you ever thought that perhaps, the most likely, but unhyped woman that might make it to the Presidency in Nigeria might just be Abike Dabiri? What are the odds?

9. He's probably fine, or fresh, or neat, but inconsequential in the big scheme of things.

Need I say more? Do we need to call Ben Bruce when it's pretty obvious?

10. That Sufferhead story we empathise with.

Nigerians like to hear a sufferhead story. It makes success more valid. It satisfies a deep aspiration we all have; the aspiration to blow, and go and give testimony. So, tell them you didn't have shoes were you were a kid, and they'll vote for you in drovveeeees.

Who's going to be Big Brother though?

Easy, The Godfather.
Gotovina was acquitted on appeal by a UN court in 2012 for war crimes against Serbs in neighbouring Croatia during that country's 1991-1995 war, as the break-up of the former Yugoslavia unleashed a string of bloody conflicts across the region.

The Hague-based tribunal had initially sentenced Gotovina to 24 years in jail for war crimes against Serbs during the August 1995 Operation Storm, which Gotovina commanded and which practically ended the war in Croatia.

In Bosnia, a police spokeswoman in the southern town of Trebinje said Wednesday that they had filed charges with national prosecutors against a person identified only by the initials A.G., on suspicion of "committing war crimes against civilians and humanity".

Local media identified the suspect as Gotovina.

The crimes were committed in 1992 in the western Bosnian region of Livno, police spokeswoman Jovana Cvijetic told AFP without elaborating.

Serbs fled Livno during the war, and some now live in Trebinje which is in a Serb-controlled part of Bosnia.

An association of former war camp detainees in Trebinje said it knew about the charges and that some of its members were ready to testify against Gotovina.

"We have members who were directly tortured by Gotovina," association chief Vukan Kovac said, quoted by Beta news agency.

"We will do our utmost that this time, justice be served."

Prosecutors can either launch a probe or dismiss the charges.
Soaps have their melodramatic lovers and BBB its cast of telegenic exhibitionists. The stars of this show, playing ceaselessly on national television, are mostly balding middle-aged men with glasses.

But their story is the most explosive Brazil has seen for decades.

They are the 77 former executives of major Brazilian engineering company Odebrecht who have pleaded guilty to running Brazil's biggest ever bribery network.

In hopes of getting reduced sentences, the executives opened up to prosecutors, telling them how Odebrecht ran a special department to bribe every political party and many of the country's most famous politicians.

For months, all that testimony -- in the form of videotaped depositions and documents -- remained sealed.

But late Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin ordered investigations into nearly 100 politicians on the basis of the Odebrecht allegations. And soon after, the plea bargain testimony was released to the public.

In barely disguised panic, the nation's capital emptied, legislators deserting Congress. By Thursday they showed no sign of returning.

But wherever politicians went they wouldn't be able to avoid Globo television and other outlets, endlessly replaying the videotaped testimony. Corruption had become the biggest show on air.

Lies and videotape

Top billing goes to Marcelo Odebrecht, who was CEO of the family enterprise and, until his arrest in the sweeping corruption investigation named "Operation Car Wash," one of Brazil's most prestigious businessmen.

Odebrecht was sentenced to 19 years prison in 2016. On the videos, he wears a collared shirt and sometimes a blazer, looking like a self-confident executive as he recounts his crimes -- and alleged political partners -- in detail.

Odebrecht is heard saying that he illicitly funnelled about $144 million to the politicians being investigated.

Odebrecht and his former colleagues finger just about every top leader, including President Michel Temer and ex-presidents Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and three more former heads of state.

Many of the company's payments were in the form of undeclared donations to political parties, which prosecutors say amounted to a kind of generalized bribe buying influence right across the political spectrum.

"Everyone committed this crime," Odebrecht is heard saying. "I don't know a single politician who went through any election without" the slush funds.

Twisting the knife, the disgraced executive turned state's witness says: "The guy can even say he didn't know, but he received the money."

As it happens, Temer is one of the few prominent politicians not to appear on the list of those facing investigation. As a sitting president, he has immunity.

However, any initial relief he felt must have been dented by the clip of former executive Marcio Faria telling prosecutors that Odebrecht bribed Temer's PMDB party at a 2010 meeting presided over by the then future president.

A deal was struck in Temer's Sao Paulo office for Odebrecht to win a contract with state oil giant Petrobras and "it was clear that we were talking about a bribe," Faria said.

Allegedly Odebrecht was to pay the PMDB $40 million, or five percent of the contract's value.

Until then, Temer had tried to stay above the fray, urging calm in Brasilia. But publication of Faria's testimony dragged him right into the muck.

He replied by a video of his own Thursday, saying that "what repulses me are lies."

"Its a fact that I participated in a meeting in 2010 with a representative of one of the largest firms in the country," he said.

"But it is a lie that in our meeting I would have heard reference to financial amounts or scandalous business between the company and politicians."
The ruling left-wing government says that past socialist and conservative administrations for decades allowed health contractors to overcharge Greek hospitals for equipment, supplies and medicine in return for kickbacks.

"For years, public (funds) were pillaged, hurting social security funds and benefiting powerful interests," the PM said.

Wednesday's move came as Greek magistrates are stepping up an investigation into claims of widespread bribery by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

Greece's justice minister last week said Novartis had likely bribed "thousands" of doctors and civil servants to promote its products.

"National health service doctors and state officials were bribed to promote drugs in an illegal and anti-scientific manner," Kontonis said.

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant has also been investigated by American and Chinese authorities, and forced to pay millions of dollars (euros) in fines.
The middle-aged couple live in the shelled-out northern outskirts of the Russian-backed separatist rebels' de facto capital city of Donetsk in the eastern industrial heartland of the divided former Soviet state.

They speak Russian like those around them and think of the fighting that invaded their lives three years ago on Thursday as a permanent conflict that may splinter their homeland for good.

"It will be hard for us to be one with Ukraine again," 50-year-old Arkady told AFP without revealing his surname.

"Imagine if your neighbour attacked you with a knife and wounded you. Would you stay friends with that person and invite him over for tea?"

Daily journal of grief

One of the bloodiest conflicts in Europe since the 1990s Balkans wars has killed more than 10,000 people and driven at least two million from their homes.

Irina fills in the details of those hard-to-fathom numbers.

One entry describes how her husband was picking apricots when shrapnel from a shell hit him in the head and broke one of his ribs.

"Over time, you tend to forget everything, especially when there is shelling every single day," the 48-year-old says of her diary.

The windows of their two-storey house have thick slabs of wood nailed over them to protect the glass through which icons peek out.

"Only 40 or 50 people still live here," she says of her Severniy suburb of Donetsk.

"Every home has been damaged. In March alone, they hit our neighbour's house six times. The shelling is more intense now than when the war started," Irina says.

Fellow Severniy resident Lidia said the latest fighting caused an electricity blackout -- something they have long ago grown used to.

"It feels like no one needs us," the 67-year-old pensioner says.

'Mutually beneficial war'

The European Union and the United States fully back Kiev's claim that Russia started and supported the war in order to meddle and disrupt its Western neighbour's affairs after its February 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-backed regime.

Ukraine's subsequent embrace of the West was followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the takeover of government buildings in the east in April by groups of armed men who swore allegiance to Moscow.

Kiev responded by launching a military offensive to win back the separatist region.

But Russia denies any involvement in the war to this day despite its soldiers being repeatedly captured or killed in the war zone and tanks and other heavy weapons being spotted crossing the border into Ukraine.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Arkady says he is disappointed by Kiev's deadly military tactics. But he also believes that Moscow has left his family and those like him out on a limb.

He notes that the Kremlin now recognises separatist-issued IDs which make it easier for those living in the war zone to visit their relatives and friends in Russia.

But Moscow has not supported the two rebel provinces' claim of independence from Kiev and has described the conflict as Ukraine's internal affair.

"It seems that the war is mutually beneficial to both sides," Arkady says.
State prosecutors said a 13-year-old boy was one of two new victims in recent clashes.

Opposition lawmaker Alfonso Marquina identified the teenage victim as Brayan Principal and said he was killed during unrest in the western city of Barquisimeto on Tuesday night.

The boy "was shot in the abdomen last night," Marquina said.

He blamed the death on armed supporters of the government.

A 36-year-old man was also killed in Barquisimeto in a separate incident, the state prosecution service said.

Two 19-year-old students were killed during earlier unrest, one on April 6 and one on April 11, according to authorities.

Food crisis

Maduro is fighting efforts to oust him as Venezuela, once a booming oil exporter, struggles with shortages of food and medicine and a wave of violent crime.

Dozens of people have been injured and more than 100 arrested since last Thursday, according to authorities.

Scuffles broke out between government supporters and opponents during a Holy Week procession at the Santa Teresa church in central Caracas on Wednesday.

The last major clashes in Caracas erupted on Monday during protests formally called by the opposition.

The opposition has not organized any major protests since then, but sporadic rallies and blockades have been reported across the country, including those in Barquisimeto.

Riot police in Caracas and other cities have fired tear gas and water cannon at stone-throwing demonstrators, whose leaders have vowed to keep up pressure on Maduro.

No major protests were announced for Wednesday, but opposition leaders called for huge rallies on April 19.

That will be the next big showdown in an increasingly tense crisis that has raised international concerns for stability in Venezuela.

International concern

The opposition is demanding the authorities set a date for postponed regional elections.

It is also furious over moves to limit the powers of the legislature and ban senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles from politics.

Those moves have also raised international condemnation including from the United States and the European Union.

The strongest criticism has come from the secretary general of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro.

He has echoed the opposition's claim that Maduro has installed a dictatorship.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan television interrupted the live broadcast of a military parade when Maduro, who was taking part, was hit by objects thrown from a crowd.

Reports on social media said the projectiles included eggs and stones.

He has resisted opposition efforts to hold a referendum on removing him, vowing to continue the "socialist revolution" launched by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez.
Sarin has been used in domestic attacks in Japan, notably in 1995 when the Aum Supreme Truth cult released it in the Tokyo subway killing 13 people and sickening 6,000 others.

The US believes the Syrian government employed a sarin-like nerve agent in a deadly attack in the country's northwest last week.

"There is a possibility that North Korea is already capable of delivering (via missile) a warhead containing sarin," Abe told a parliamentary diplomacy and defence committee, referring to the poison nerve agent.

His remarks were reported by public broadcaster NHK and leading national newspapers. Abe did not elaborate or say where he obtained the information, according to the reports.

But Yoshihide Suga, the government's chief spokesman, did elaborate when later asked about the comments at a regular briefing.

"Referring to the Syrian situation, our prime minister displayed a recognition that we can't deny the possibility that North Korea can equip (a missile) with chemical weapons," he said, referring to the suspected

"North Korea... is likely to maintain several facilities to produce chemical weapons and already possess a considerable number of them," he added.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked in recent days amid concerns that Pyongyang could be on the verge of executing its sixth nuclear test and as a US aircraft carrier-led strike group heads to the region.

Originally conceived as a pesticide, sarin was used by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime to gas thousands of Kurds in the northern town of Halabja in 1988.
The Russian veto came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared following talks in Moscow that there was a "low level of trust" between the United States and Russia.

China, another veto-holding power at the council, abstained in the vote, as did Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. Bolivia voted against the measure and 10 other council members supported it.

"With its veto, Russia said 'no' to accountability, Russia said 'no' to cooperation with the UN's independent investigation and Russia said 'no' to a resolution that would have helped to promote peace in Syria," said US Ambassador Nikki Haley.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," she said.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov recalled that Moscow had "consistently expressed our categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution but that Western governments had insisted on a vote.

The proposed resolution would have condemned the alleged attack and expressed the council's full backing to investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The draft would have demanded that the Syrian government 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.

Russia on the 'wrong side'

The West has accused Assad's forces of carrying out the attack in Idlib province that shocked the world.

France and Britain expressed its dismay over the Russian veto.

"This puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement in London.

In Paris, French President Francois Hollande said: "Russia bears a heavy responsibility" by systematically opposing multilateral action to protect its Syrian ally Assad.

UN investigators already have the mandate under previous resolutions to look into allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria but the West had pushed for council resolution 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.

"To Assad and the Syrian government: you have no friends in the world after your horrible actions," Haley said.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720"The days of your arrogance and disregard for humanity are over. Your excuses will no longer be heard. I suggest you look at this vote very carefully and heed this warning," she added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow following his talks with Tillerson that the OPCW should be allowed to carry out an "objective investigation".

Russia presented a separate draft text condemning the US military strikes in Syria and requesting an OPCW investigation, but it was uncleaer whether that measure would come up for a vote.
"Despite the quantity of existing problems... there are considerable prospects for joint work," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference after talks with Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Russia is open to this, open to dialogue with the US in all different areas, not only to dialogue but to joint action aimed at results in the areas where this corresponds to the interests of both countries."

Tillerson, who met with Putin earlier Wednesday, deplored the "low level of trust" between the countries, whose relations have dropped to a post-Cold War low over Ukraine and Syria.

"The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson said.

Lavrov said both sides were set on leading an "uncompromising fight against international terrorism".

He said Moscow was ready to resume a deal with Washington to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace as the two countries lead separate bombing campaigns.

"Today the president confirmed our readiness to return to its implementation on the understanding that the original aims of the air forces of the American coalition are reaffirmed, namely the fight with IS and Al-Nusra," Lavrov said.

The deal was suspended after US strikes against a Syrian airbase following last week's suspected chemical attack in Idlib province, in an act Moscow labelled "aggression against a sovereign state".

Lavrov however said that the two sides still "diverge" over their evaluation of the alleged chemical attack, which Washington has blamed squarely on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Despite initial hopes in Moscow of better ties with the US under President Donald Trump, the two powers have descended into a furious war of words over the attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun and the retaliatory US strike against the forces Kremlin ally Assad.
Davenport man faces up to 30 years for robbery, shooting

A Davenport man was sentenced Wednesday to up to 30 years in prison in connection with a robbery and shooting in December.

Jovonta E. Litt, 24, pleaded guilty last month to willful injury resulting in serious injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm or offensive weapon as a felon and going armed with intent.

During a hearing Wednesday, District Court Judge John Telleen sentenced Litt to up to 10 years each on the willful injury and intimidation charge and up to five years each on the remaining charges.

He ordered that the sentences be served back-to-back for a total of up to 30 years.

In exchange for Litts plea, Scott County prosecutors dismissed a charge of first-degree robbery.

The robbery and shooting occurred at 7:06 p.m. Dec. 1 at GD Xpress, 4607 N. Pine St.

According to police, Litt and co-defendant Nakia Ivy, 20, arranged to meet to buy drugs from the man and others.

While there, Litt brandished a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. He then fired the handgun two times, striking the man in the upper back, causing a broken rib, according to police.

The man was taken to Genesis Medical Center-West Central Park, Davenport, in a private vehicle, according to police.

Ivy was charged with first-degree robbery, willful injury resulting in serious injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. She has a final pretrial conference June 21.

Litt was charged in July with willful injury causing serious injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon after police say he shot a man in June. Prosecutors dismissed the charges in October after the victim recanted identification of Litt as the person who shot him, according to court documents.

He was convicted of second-degree burglary in 2010 and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

 Tara Becker

Brady Street block to be closed today

The city of Davenport reports that Brady Street will be closed to traffic today between 2nd and 3rd streets for water main and line repairs.

Crews anticipate repairs will be completed by the end of the day.

The water main will be shut down during this time. IowaAmerican Water is notifying affected property owners.

Drivers can access the River Center Parking Ramp from 2nd Street.

 Times staff

Moline police ask public's help in identifying robbery suspect

Moline police are asking the publics help in identifying a woman who robbed another woman outside of the Genesis Medical Health Complex on Wednesday.

Moline Police Detective Scott Williams said that at about 2:11 p.m., a woman leaving the Genesis Medical complex, located at 3900 28th Ave., was followed by another woman.

When the victim reached her vehicle, the other woman ripped the victims purse from her hands. A struggle ensued with the victim suffering injuries, Williams said.

The suspect is described as a white woman wearing a pink sweater. The suspect left with the purse in an SUV believed to be a newer Ford Escape.

Anyone who can identify the woman is asked to call Crime Stoppers of the Quad-City Area at 309-762-8613 and leave an anonymous tip. Crimes Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

--Thomas Geyer
A Port Byron woman has been arrested in connection with a purse snatching that occurred Wednesday in the parking lot of the Genesis Medical Health Complex in Moline.

Julie Marie Calderon, 51, is charged with one count of robbery and two counts of aggravated battery.

She was being held Thursday in the Rock Island County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Moline Police Detective Scott Williams said a tip to Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities led to Calderons arrest.

Williams said that at 2:11 p.m. a woman leaving the Genesis Medical complex, located at 3900 28th Ave., was followed by another woman.

When the victim reached her vehicle, the other woman, now identified as Calderon, ripped the victims purse from her hands. A struggle ensued with the victim suffering injuries, Williams said.

Calderon was able to flee with the purse.

Robbery is a Class 2 felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of three to seven years. Aggravated battery also is a Class 2 felony, but this charge could be enhanced to a more serious level of felony if the Rock Island States Attorneys Office determines the crime meets the legal requirements for enhancement.

Calderons criminal history includes a conviction in 2008 of aggravated identity theft, as well as a 2006 conviction of forgery and a conviction for drug possession in 2005. Each of those cases were prosecuted in Rock Island County.
The Rev. Willie Jones vividly remembers moving to Davenport from Mississippi in 1962.

Jones, 66, and pastor of Peoples Missionary Baptist Church in Rock Island, was in junior high school then and attending J.B. Young.

Speaking Wednesday to a crowd of about 100 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport where the Scott County and Moline YMCAs hosted a small celebration showing the impact the Y has had since its inception 159 years ago, Jones said it was the first non-segregated school he had ever attended.

I got called to the office one day, and thought I was in trouble, Jones said. But someone from the Y was there and asked me if I wanted a membership.

Jones took them up on their offer, he said, And for two years I got to go to Camp Abe Lincoln. I got to go camping and canoeing and served for a time as a counselor. What I learned there served me throughout high school, my time in the military and now in my time in the ministry.

They welcomed me with open arms, Jones said.

Davenport YMCA Branch Executive Frank Klipsch IV said that between the Scott County and Two Rivers Y facilities, about 30,000 kids are served seasonally, such as in the summer programs or in the Solutions and Achievers programs.

Klipsch said that the Y raises more than $1 million annually, and provides more than $2.5 million in direct financial assistance to families and children in need of the Ys programs.

We have 1 million visits a year at the Moline Y, said Moline Y CEO Mike Wennenkamp. There are about 2 million visits at the Quad-Citys YMCAs each year. But the Two Rivers Y is not just about Moline. There is a program office at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Rock Island, and there is the Y Quad-Cities Rowing Program at the Sylvan Boathouse on 1st Avenue in Moline which will get a strength component that is expected to be ready in early fall.

Klipsch said that one in four Quad-City residents is served by the YMCAs of the Quad-Cities, with more than 90,000 Quad-City residents being members.

While there are plenty of programs for adults, mentoring kids is huge at the Y, not to mention saving them.

Victoria Vazquez, 17, a junior at Mid City High School in Davenport, is in the Y Achievers program. At one point in her life, not long ago, a hot shower was a luxury, and shed be able to have one every few weeks. She was pretty much homeless.

Vazquez said it was the Ys Marlo Clarke, who is the Director of the Ys Achievers program, who reached out to her.

They gave me a job in the early learning center, Vazquez said. And she got career direction. I want to either go into pediatric medicine or some health care for children, she said.

Zarious Heard, 12, and Nick Kroeger, 14, both students at Frank L. Smart Intermediate School in Davenport, said the Solutions Program has benefited them both.

Heard is a social butterfly and made the rounds to everyone at Wednesdays gathering saying hello and asking them about the favorite part of their day.

I always make it to school, but I would show up late to my classes so I had a lot of calls home and referrals and got into trouble, Heard said. This was two to three months ago and my grades were terrible. Now I make it to class on time and my grades are all As and Bs.

Kroeger said he had almost all failing or D grades. Now Ive got all As and Bs.

Thats what its all about, helping people, Klipsch said. There is prosperity in the Quad-Cities, but there is also poverty, he added.

We believe its important for our community to fully understand the impact and connections being made through our charitable work, Wennenkamp said.
1. April showers continue to rain down on Q-C

A good Thursday to all. Here's what is on tap for the Quad-Cities per the National Weather Service.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely before noon then isolated showers between noon and 2 p.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent with new rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 66 degrees.

Tonight scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. with a low around 51 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday brings a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms with showers likely after 1 p.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 73 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent with new rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday night brings a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. with a low around 60 degrees.

2. Brady Street closed today between 2nd and 3rd streets

The City of Davenport reports that Brady Street will be closed to traffic today between 2nd and 3rd streets for water main and line repairs. Crews anticipate repairs will be completed by the end of the day.

The water main will be shut down during this time. IowaAmerican Water is notifying affected property owners. Drivers can access the River Center Parking Ramp from 2nd Street.

3. Moline police ask public's help in identifying robbery suspect

Moline police are asking the publics help in identifying a woman who robbed another woman outside of the Genesis Medical Health Complex on Wednesday.

Moline Police Detective Scott Williams said that at 2:11 p.m., a woman leaving the Genesis Medical complex, located at 3900 28th Ave., was followed by another woman.

When the victim reached her vehicle, the other woman ripped the victims purse from her hands. A struggle ensued with the victim suffering injuries, Williams said.

The suspect is described as a white woman wearing a pink sweater. The suspect left with the purse in an SUV believed to be a newer Ford Escape.

Anyone who can identify the woman is asked to call Crime Stoppers of the Quad-City Area at 309-762-9500 and leave an anonymous tip. Crimes Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

4. Clinton passes on Rhythm City barge

The city of Clinton's loss is Chad Pregracke's gain. Rhythm City Casino Resort had proposed donating its barge to either the city or Living Lands & Waters, but after Clinton's Tuesday committee-of-the-whole meeting, the city made it clear that it could not accept it without investor support.

Clinton City Administrator Matt Brooke told the City Council that while the barge could be gifted, it still came with a minimum price tag of $563,000, which represented the cost to relocate and bring gas and sewer to the barge. Read more.

5. Torn down homes in Bettendorf

A Times reader asks our "Ask the Times" columnist Roy Booker about three homes that have recently been torn down in the vicinity of Parkway Drive and Heather Lane. "Were they demolished because they are in the flood plain or is something else being built?," the reader asks, adding: "It is near Grant Wood School and the Bettendorf Community School District has plans to build a new school. Did the district buy the property and have the houses demolished?" Read Roy's answer.

6. Circa 21 actors share the stage and a house

Its their day off, so cast members of Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse walk down the steps of their shared house and sound off to-do lists.

These seven working actors have come from all over the country to perform in The Music Man, which runs through May 13. Part of the deal? Living under one roof.

In 1984, Circa 21 bought the eight-bedroom house to offer actors a free place to stay during their roughly two-month residency in the Quad-Cities. Over the years, the house, which can occupy 15 people at a time, has been a revolving temporary home for hundreds of actors. Read more.
BISMARCK, N.D. | The chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes is balking at a North Dakota lawmaker's suggestion that the tribe help pay for repairs at a historic Native American site as a way to improve state-tribal relations following the Dakota Access pipeline protests.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Chairman Mark Fox is rejecting the idea from Republican Rep. Jim Schmidt to pay part of the $3.5 million to restore the Double Ditch Historical Site, where thousands of Native Americans once gathered to trade along the Missouri River. Erosion has caused some graves at the site to be exposed.

Fox said protests against the four-state oil pipeline aren't related to North Dakota's responsibility to protect human graves and historic sites on state-owned land.

"I take offense to any state legislator suggesting we pay for the state's failure to properly conduct responsible government-to-government relations with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation," Fox said.

Amy Mossett, a Three Affiliated Tribes member working with the North Dakota Historical Society on the bank stabilization project, said while she was pleased Schmidt was considering repairing relations, she thought connecting Double Ditch to the protest was a mistake.

"Knowing that the state representatives from District 31 are having a discussion about reconciliation with Standing Rock is a good thing  but it's an equally important matter  separate from Double Ditch," Mossett said.

Legislators have been discussing how to fund repairs needed to stop erosion at the archaeological site. The House took away backing for a $1.25 million loan authorized during the last legislative session to complete the project. The Senate has passed a plan to transfer $1 million from the state's Parks and Recreation budget to the North Dakota Historical Society for the fixes and to allow the loan.

Schmidt has also suggested the historical society might also look for funding in a grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund.

"It fits that program perfectly," said Schmidt, adding that the Double Ditch repairs need to get done.
Pennington County saw a drop in murder cases and sexual assaults yet a rise in drug arrests and thefts between 2015 and last year, according to the 2016 sheriffs office annual report released Wednesday.

There was a significant decrease in the number of reported murders, from 10 in 2015 to three in 2016. The figures largely involved Rapid City homicides: nine in 2015 and two in 2016.

Sexual assaults were also down, from 224 to 197, a 12 percent decline.

Meanwhile, arrests on methamphetamine violations spiked by 35 percent, from 551 in 2015 to 742 last year. State and local officials have raised the alarm over what they describe as a meth epidemic sweeping South Dakota.

Use of meth and other illegal drugs, along with alcohol abuse, drives a big percentage of Pennington County crimes, said Sheriff Kevin Thom.

Thefts also rose, by 13 percent, from 2,383 to 2,693 incidents. Included in the report were data sets from the Rapid City and Box Elder police departments, which operate within Pennington County.

Thom said the rise and fall in numbers reflect the ebb and flow of crimes from year to year.

Child pornography cases decreased from 71 to 55, while solicitation of a minor increased from 24 to 39. Thom attributed these developments to greater law enforcement activities, as well as information campaigns that help improve awareness and reporting of offenses against children.

He noted that visitors to the Black Hills contribute to the number of local offenses, including thefts and traffic accidents.

The 59-page report, which gives an overview of the Pennington County Sheriffs Offices responsibilities, also provides statistics on the county jail. Its average daily inmate population last year was 537 versus 518 in 2015. These include people on electronic monitoring, or house arrest.

Federal inmates  defendants whose cases were being heard in federal court  made up about a fifth of the total: 102 in 2015 and 120 last year.

The average this year is 149, according to data provided to the Journal on Wednesday by Chief Deputy Brian Mueller, who supervises the jail.

Those numbers are up dramatically, largely driven by reservation cases, Thom said. Thats contributed to this average daily population increase.

The report also highlighted two county cases that grabbed headlines last year.

One was the discovery of an elderly womans body being stored in a freezer in a Rapid Valley home. The body, which turned out to have been transported from out of state by the womans son, was discovered in the course of a Social Security fraud investigation. The son died before the body was found, and an autopsy showed the woman had died of natural causes.

The other case was the seizure from a Creighton residence of 76 animals, many of which were emaciated. The homeowner has been charged with 37 counts of inhumane treatment of an animal. The case is still being heard at the county courthouse.

The annual report, Thom said, is part of his office's efforts at transparency and accountability with taxpayers. Last year, the sheriff's office had a budget of $30 million, a third of Pennington County's $84.7 million total budget.
For some two dozen college students and other adults, spring break was spent cleaning trails, mowing and doing other physical labor, while offering spiritual support to individuals and families in Costa Rica.

The mission trip was organized through Ridgeview Bible Church. Burt Newman, the churchs director of student ministries, said the congregation works to have a global view of missions and finds ways to practice it in a hands-on fashion. When it came time to plan this trip, the church wanted to go someplace where we had a connection, Newman said.

Ridgeview Bible Church supports the mission organization Movida, which does a lot of work in Central America. In coordinating the mission trip, Movida suggested the group visit Costa Rica, as the agency is trying to establish a greater connection there.

The group visited Upala, Costa Rica, an area that suffered damage during Hurricane Otto in November 2016. Dr. Kristi Johnson joined the group, which also included her two daughters. They cleaned trails, mowed and completed other tasks at a Christian camp and did some basic exams during home visits. She wasnt able to do any in-depth medical care because the mission trip was unable to find a Costa Rican doctor to accompany her.

Among the supplies the group took with them to Costa Rica were ostomy supplies donated by Chadron Community Hospital. The supplies were given to a local hospital, Dr. Johnson said, for which they seemed very grateful.

This was Dr. Johnsons sixth mission trip  shes been to Mexico and Jamaica multiple times  and she said her passion runs high for seeing college students realize just how fortunate they are.

It makes a huge impact, she said.

Hannah Andersen was one of those college students who took part in the mission trip. She shared her experiences with her social work classmates and the public last week. Despite the language barriers, she found a way to communicate with her host family and discovered the importance of music, food and family.

The whole experience gave me a really different perspective, she said.

Newman said it is great to see the kids immerse themselves into the culture and jump in to help others. Even though we are thousands of miles apart, it was apparent that we have the same goals in working toward Christ, he continued.

Christianity is not just an American thing.

The group stayed with host families, visited schools, provided physical labor and prayed with families. Not many of those with whom they visited spoke English, and very few of the group spoke Spanish.

But we still had the same view of Christ, Newman said. That was really cool to experience.

He hopes the church is able to continue such trips and maybe someday even plant churches around the world.
A pair of burglaries Wednesday has led to the arrest of one individual and the identification of three other suspects in incidents this week that are likely connected to an earlier rash of burglaries, stolen vehicles and thefts from vehicles.

A 17-year-old male from South Dakota was arrested this week in connection with two burglaries in Chadron Wednesday and on suspicion of being in possession of stolen property. Police are searching for two other 17-year-old males as well as Laney Bacon, 18, as persons of interest. All are believed to be from Pine Ridge, S.D.

The arrest came after two burglaries were reported early Wednesday, the first in the 700 block of Lake Street at 3:30 a.m. The resident reported seeing several individuals inside their garage; the subjects, wearing black hoodies, ran south when the resident opened the garage door. Officers responded but were unable to locate anyone.

Four hours later, a resident reported a burglary in the 400 block of West Eight Street. Officers discovered items missing from the residence during a search of the surrounding area, as well as a backpack that contained items connected to other thefts, as well as vehicle keys that had been reported missing in Chadron and Gordon, though the vehicles had not yet been stolen. The backpack was later identified as also having been stolen during a series of thefts several weeks ago in Chadron.

At a little after 10 a.m., a resident on Eighth Street contacted police again to report that a male wearing a black hoodie was in the area in which the officers had recovered the stolen items. That is when police officers were able to make contact with the juvenile suspect.

The investigation is still ongoing and there is a strong correlation to the thefts and burglaries that have occurred in Gordon, Rushville and Chadron, which resulted in stolen cars, dirt bikes, four-wheelers, guns and electronics, said Sgt. Aron Chrisman.

The juvenile was transported to a detention center in Madison on suspicion of burglary, attempted burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle and trespassing.

Police are still searching for a black 2005 Chevy Equinox with Nebraska plates 61E562. The vehicle was stolen from Gordon, and it is believed that the group of suspects arrived in Chadron in the vehicle. It is believed the three persons of interest still at large are in possession of the car at this time, Sgt. Chrisman said.

Gordon and Rushville have experienced similar thefts in recent weeks. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to contact a local law enforcement agency or the Nebraska Crime Stoppers.
DEADWOOD | Officials will be at Lead-Deadwood Elementary School from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today to encourage parents to register their children in a child-identification program.

SDCHIP generates packages of various identifying items of children for parents or guardians. The information includes dental impressions, a DNA cheek swab, a digital still photo, fingerprints and a video image interview.

The South Dakota Child Identification Program is part of MASONICHIP, an initiative of the Masons.

Attorney General Marty Jackley said it is a comprehensive child identification program designed to assist in the event a child goes missing.
CHADRON, Neb. | A pair of burglaries has led to the arrest of one individual and the identification of three other suspects in incidents this week that authorities say are likely connected to an earlier rash of burglaries, stolen vehicles and thefts from vehicles.

A 17-year-old male from South Dakota was arrested this week in connection with two burglaries Wednesday in Chadron and on suspicion of being in possession of stolen property. Police are searching for two other 17-year-old males, as well as Laney Bacon, 18, as persons of interest. All are believed to be from Pine Ridge.

The arrest came after two burglaries were reported early Wednesday, the first in the 700 block of Lake Street at 3:30 a.m. The resident reported seeing several individuals inside their garage; the subjects, wearing black hoodies, ran south when the resident opened the garage door. Officers responded but were unable to locate anyone.

Four hours later, a resident reported a burglary in the 400 block of West Eight Street. Officers discovered items missing from the residence during a search of the surrounding area, a backpack that contained items connected to other thefts, as well as vehicle keys that had been reported missing in Chadron and Gordon, though the vehicles had not yet been stolen. The backpack was later identified as also having been stolen during a series of thefts several weeks ago in Chadron.

At a little after 10 a.m., a resident on Eighth Street contacted police again to report that a male wearing a black hoodie was in the area where the officers had recovered the stolen items. That is when police officers were able to make contact with the juvenile suspect.

The investigation is still ongoing and there is a strong correlation to the thefts and burglaries that have occurred in Gordon, Rushville and Chadron, which resulted in stolen cars, dirt bikes, four-wheelers, guns and electronics, said Sgt. Aron Chrisman.

The juvenile was transported to a detention center in Madison on suspicion of burglary, attempted burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle and trespassing.

Police are still searching for a black 2005 Chevy Equinox with Nebraska plates 61E562. The vehicle was stolen from Gordon, and it is believed that the group of suspects arrived in Chadron in the vehicle. It is believed the three persons of interest still at large are in possession of the car, Chrisman said.

During the first two weekends of March, Chadron police investigated four residential burglaries, eight thefts from vehicles and three stolen vehicles. The cars were all eventually recovered, but no suspects had been identified until this week.

Gordon and Rushville have experienced similar thefts in recent weeks. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to contact a local law enforcement agency or the Nebraska Crime Stoppers.
In this photo taken on November 20, 2015, a worker sorts coal on a conveyer belt, near a coal mine at Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province. [Photo/VCG]

Mergers and restructuring among domestic coal sector are accelerating, with about 10 enterprises producing more than 100 million tons of coal annually projected to be established by 2020, Economic Information Daily reported on Thursday.

Related departments have been asked to issue guidance on promoting the sector's mergers, restructuring, transition and upgrade. Small coal mines based in different regions will implement mergers and restructuring within two years, meanwhile, about 10 big companies will be set up by 2020, the newspaper said.

The government also encouraged enterprises to strengthen trans-regional cooperation to cut overcapacity through stock swap.

China will reduce coal production by at least 150 million tons this year, Premier Li Keqiang said in the Government Work Report at the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress.

The government pledged to make more use of market- and law-based methods to address the problems of "zombie enterprises," encourage enterprise mergers, restructuring, and bankruptcy liquidations.

Last year, six enterprises' production exceeded 100 million tons, while in 2015, it was eight, Zhang Hong, deputy secretary-general of China National Coal Association, told the newspaper.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission earlier said that the number of centrally administered State-owned enterprises (SOEs) will be reduced to no more than 100, which now stands at 102.

The government also promised measures such as introducing a mixed ownership system and more efforts to make SOEs leaner and healthier, especially in the steel, coal and power sectors.

There will be about 3,000 coal enterprises in 2020, mostly large companies, running about 6,000 collieries nationwide, with large-capacity coal mines the majority, according to the coal industry 2016-2020 development plan.
Why does someone have to die or get maimed in a crash before those who text, check Facebook or indulge in other social media while driving are held accountable in South Dakota?

How many more lives must be destroyed before lawmakers start worrying more about public safety on our roads than about their personal safety while working during the legislative session?

On April 28, a former employee of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Corrections is expected to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The weapon: an SUV owned by the tribe. The trigger: a cellphone that she wouldnt put down while driving on a two-lane highway.

As the 28-year-old woman was using her cellphone to look at Facebook her vehicle swerved across the center stripe and crashed into a van with three people, including a 58-year-old woman who later died. Another passenger had her right leg amputated below the knee.

The distracted driver now faces up to eight years in prison while family members mourn the loss of a loved one  lives needlessly shattered.

In the meantime, thousands of South Dakotans have continued texting, checking Facebook and otherwise paying more attention to their phones than the road while driving through our communities and on our highways with virtually no risk of being stopped by law enforcement.

You see it every day in Rapid City if you arent one of those glued to the little screen in your hand. Stoplights are like coffee shops for those who look at their phones as soon as they stop and rarely are ready to drive when the light turns green. We see them swerving down the streets or going much slower than the flow of traffic on busy streets like West Main and Omaha. Sometimes they are pecking away on their cellphones and other times they are looking at the phone like they might be watching television at home. Sometimes, you see children in their vehicle.

Everything seems fine as they are blissfully ignorant of the dangers they pose to themselves and others until they plow into another vehicle, motorcycle, bicyclist or pedestrian that is anything but an accident.

In 2014, the state Legislature approved a bill that makes texting while driving a secondary offense, which means drivers cant be pulled over just for doing that. Rather, they can only be ticketed if they are pulled over for another traffic violation such as speeding, reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The fine is $100.

The law, however, is apparently not deterring anyone as there is a virtual epidemic of what is more broadly known as distracted driving.

Lawmakers who just invested considerable time on legislation vetoed by Gov. Daugaard that would allow them to carry guns in the capitol need to revisit our soft distracted driving laws. South Dakota needs laws that make texting while driving a primary offense with a larger fine, and lawmakers should consider legislation that only allows hands-free cellphone use.

Perhaps, stronger laws and vigilant enforcement of them might have prevented the collision in 2015 that took an innocent womans life and likely will send another woman to prison. In the meantime, the judge in this case should send a message to others by sentencing the distracted driver to the maximum sentence.
A judge has thrown out a lawsuit that challenged voting by absentee ballot in Detroit, saying a Republican candidate for secretary of state failed to produce any evidence of violations. Wayne County Judge Tim Kenny says critics have raised a red flag of election law wrongdoing. But Kenny says his ruling takes down that flag. Kristina Karamo and others sued to try to force Detroit voters to vote in person or go to the city clerks office to get an absentee ballot. They made a variety of allegations about how Detroit reviews signatures on absentee ballots and monitors ballot drop-off boxes. The judge says they failed dramatically to back up any of it.
DALLAS | Toyota will spend more than $1 billion to overhaul its largest production plant in the world, the Japanese automaker announced last week.

The $1.33 billion investment in the auto giant's Kentucky factory, which employs 8,200 people, will help the plant make Camrys more efficiently and will speed up production timelines in the future through a more nimble, higher-tech development process, the company said.

"Toyota New Global Architecture is about exciting, ever-better vehicles for our customers as it will improve performance of all models," Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz said in a statement.

The upgrades are part of the company's plans to invest $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, which is coming on top of the almost $22 billion Toyota has spent in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

Kentucky officials said Toyota's contributions to the state's economy have been crucial. Besides the Camry, the plant also makes Avalons, Venzas and the Lexus ES 350. It produces about 450,000 vehicles a year.

"Toyota is a global icon," Gov. Matt Bevin said in a statement. "This $1.33 billion investment is further proof of their commitment to producing American-made cars that are among the finest quality found anywhere in the world."

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, too, thanked Toyota for its more than 30-year commitment "to the Commonwealth."

The announcement comes as global companies with big stakes in the U.S. economy scramble to highlight their commitments to employing Americans in hopes of staving off any friction with President Donald Trump.

Trump has sent stock prices tumbling with tweets  some of which have contained inaccurate information  scolding companies for moving jobs out of the country or praising them for boosting employment stateside.

The president said in a statement that Toyota's investment is a sign manufacturers are responding.

"Toyota's decision to invest $1.3 billion in their Kentucky plant is further evidence that the economic climate has greatly improved under my administration," the statement said.

In January, Trump slammed Toyota for plans to bulk up its manufacturing operations in Mexico.

Since then, the Japanese automaker has taken pains to underscore the billions of dollars it has invested in the United States and the thousands of American workers it employs.

The Camry, the company's top-selling vehicle, has been rated as the Most American Made car by automotive website Cars.com. The Kentucky factory has produced more than a third of the Toyotas made in North America since 1986.

Toyota cited a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research that the company commissioned, which found that the automaker directly or indirectly supports the employment of almost 30,000 jobs in Kentucky. The center is a Michigan-based think tank that studies the economic impact of automakers in the U.S.

The same study said Toyota has invested $2.6 billion in Texas over 14 years and supports 50,000 jobs  many through its San Antonio truck plant.

And this year, Toyota will open its $1 billion new North American headquarters in the Dallas suburb of Plano  a construction project that was an unprecedented and expensive logistical undertaking in and of itself.

The move has been held up as a shining success for North Texas' economic development strategy, which involves reeling in big corporate employers who bring high-paying jobs and plans to invest a lot of money in new offices.

Those new offices often anchor vast mixed use developments, which in turn employ more workers and add to the tax base.

More than 4,000 Toyota employees are expected to move to the Lone Star State from Southern California  home of its current North American headquarters  as well as from New York and Kentucky.
ECHR orders Russia to pay about 3 mln to Beslan terror attack victims

Context ECHR accepts complaint filed by Beslan terror attack victims

MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI)  The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has awarded about 3 million in compensation to victims of terror attack on a school in the Russian town of Beslan.

The Strasbourg court also ordered Russia to pay costs and expenses amounting to 88,792 to the applicants.

On September 1, 2004, about 30 terrorists attacked a school in the town of Beslan, in the Republic of Northern Ossetia-Alania, taking more than 1,000 people hostages. Crisis culminated in the assault of the school by government forces. 334 people died during the events, 186 of deceased were children.

Victims of the attack and their families filed seven applications with ECHR between 2007 and 2011. Complaints were merged into one by the court with overall number of applicants reaching 447.

They claimed that Russian authorities failed to prevent the terrorist attack and fulfill their duty of protecting civilians. Applicants also claimed that assault was poorly organized and that there was no proper investigation into the events.

ECHR held that Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated. According to the Strasbourg court, Russian authorities were aware of the planned terrorist attack but did not take necessary measures to prevent the tragedy.

The court also exposed serious shortcomings in planning and controlling the operation of hostages rescue.
Moscow court upholds unification of embezzlement cases related to Russian Border Agency

MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has upheld unification of criminal cases against former head of the Federal Border Development Agency Dmitry Bezdelov charged with embezzlement and his alleged accomplices, RAPSI learnt in the court on Thursday.

In December 2016, the Meschansky District Court of Moscow has ruled to return the case against Bezdelov to the Prosecutor Generals Office. The case was also unified with similar cases against other defendants. Earlier, lawyer Boris Kozhemyakin expressed an opinion that cases may be united because of potential existence of documents proving innocence of the agencys ex-head in another case.

Investigators claim that in 2009, Bezdelov, then head of the Federal Border Development Agency, conspired with a number of other people to embezzle public funds allocated for the construction of checkpoints on the state border. From September 2009 to May 2013, they allegedly stole and laundered up to 490 million rubles ($7.5 million).

Bezdelov resigned from his post in October 2013 after a probe had revealed inappropriate use of budget funds by the agency. He was arrested in Rome in October 2014 after he had been put on the international wanted list. Italy's court of appeals upheld the decision to extradite Bezdelov to Russia in October 2015. The Supreme Court left the judgment intact.

Two defendants in the case were sentenced earlier to long prison terms. Another one absconded during the trial and was put on the federal wanted list.
CORTEZ, Colo.  Two generations ago, they were often written off as a bunch of hippies making backpacks and climbing gear for niche markets. But in recent decades, companies such as Patagonia and REI have become consumer powerhouses and political players, increasingly eager to influence decisions over public lands.

A sign of that clout came this year, when the outdoor industry decided to pull its twice-yearly trade show from Salt Lake City, where it been based since 1996. The shows injected tens of millions of dollars into the Utah economy, but industry leaders decided to pull out after Gov. Gary Herbert and other Utah Republicans started lobbying President Donald Trump to roll back the Bears Ears National Monument, a 1.35-million-acre conservation area in southern Utah that Native Americans and environmentalists have championed for years.

Industry leaders said they had mixed feelings about leaving Salt Lake but felt compelled to make a move after Herbert refused to reconsider his position.

"Outdoor recreation is a huge economic driver in Utah and Colorado, and we felt it wasn't being respected," said Sam Mix, outdoor marketing manager for Osprey Packs, which is headquartered in southwest Colorado. "Public lands are where our customers go to recreate. Without these big wide-open spaces, we'd have no business and no reason to exist."

Made up of 1,200 companies, the Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, with an outreach office in Washington, D.C. The group estimates that consumers spend about $120 billion on outdoor recreation products each year, ranging from apparel to tents, bicycles and camping gear.

Since 1989, dozens of leading outdoor companies have paid into a mechanism to support public lands and environmental causes. With membership dues based on a company's annual revenues, the industry's Conservation Alliance has doled out more than $15 million in grants.

Compared with oil companies and others with a commercial interest in public lands, the outdoor industry isn't much of a lobbying force. Recreational Equipment Inc.  REI  spent $210,000 on lobbying last year. Patagonia spent $90,000. By contrast, Exxon spent more than $11 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Yet because of its unique customer base, the industry has learned it can mobilize thousands of dedicated outdoors people through digital campaigns. Over the last three years, for instance, Patagonia alone says it has invested $1.7 million in grants and videos to promote Bears Ears, an expanse of red rock canyons, forests and Native American antiquities spread out south of Canyonlands National Park.

Patagonia, a private company with roughly $800 million in annual sales, has a long history of supporting conservation causes. In recent years, Bears Ears has been its signature issue. In 2015, it produced a lavish video  "Defined by the Line"  that introduced many outdoors enthusiasts to this region. If you click now on the company's main website, the first image that pops up is a photo of the area's red-rock mesas, superimposed with a message, "Defend Bears Ears."

Top Patagonia executives became interested in Bears Ears because of their rock-climbing employees, according to Hans Cole, whose company title is "director of environmental campaigns and advocacy." Patagonia employees, he said, brought back stories of challenging, picturesque climbing sites such as those at Indian Creek. It was only later that Patagonia learned about the cultural significance of the area, which is filled with ancient rock art and cliff dwellings considered sacred by local tribes.

When Cole paid his first visit to Bears Ears in the fall of 2014, he recalls hiking to the top of Comb Ridge and "standing on the lip of this mind-blowing landscape" while meeting tribal elders worried about the future of the area.

"We were at a point at Patagonia where we wanted to encourage our audience to get even more involved," said Cole, who has worked eight years at the company. "We were looking for a place where there was an overlap  incredible climbing and yet a need for conservation and land protection. ... Bears Ears was it."

In late December, President Barack Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Bears Ears a national monument. In announcing the decision, the White House noted the inability of Utah's U.S. lawmakers to protect the area's artifacts and habitats through public lands legislation.

Even so, the Utah delegation lashed out at what they called Obama's "midnight monument." By February, the state Legislature passed a resolution asking Trump to undo the new national monument. Herbert signed it, along with a resolution asking Trump also to rescind the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, designated by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Outdoor industry officials had warned Utah leaders not to take such action. Days after Herbert signed the resolution, Outdoor Retailer announced it would move its trade shows out of Utah after its contract with Salt Lake City ended in 2018. "We've been listening to the concerns from the industry and agree that it's time to explore our options," said Marisa Nicholson, show director for the trade group.

Some Utah opponents of the Bears Ears monument say they couldn't care less about the trade show's exit. Leaders of livestock and mining businesses oppose the monument, fearing that such designations will limit how and where they can earn their livelihoods in the future.

"Let them go!" said Sandy Johnson, a rancher whose family has raised cattle on federal land near Bears Ears since the 1920s. "You start bending to those kind of people and you become a hostage."

For Salt Lake City, though, the industry's announcement was a bombshell. According to a University of Utah economic report, nearly 32,000 people visited Salt Lake County because of Outdoor Retailer's summer show last year, spending $32 million and generating $3.1 million in local taxes. Another 21,000 visitors and $20 million in economic impact was expected from January's winter show.

In addition, Outdoor Retailer had recently signed a nonbinding letter of intent to expand from two to five shows yearly.

Salt Lake City and Gov. Herbert urged the industry to stay in town. But top executives at REI, the North Face and Patagonia were disappointed in Herbert's overtures during a Feb. 16 telephone call. The outdoor industry says it continues to seek a home outside Utah for the shows in 2019, with possible bids coming from Denver, Portland, Oregon, and other cities.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has directed his economic development team to ready a bid for the show if the state is invited to do so.

In a recent interview with McClatchy, Herbert acknowledged the industry has "had a great run in Utah" and made a case for the trade shows staying in the state.

"We have 15 million more acres of public land" than Colorado, he said. "I still hope we have opportunities to reconcile some differences and let them understand we have spent hundreds of millions of dollar on providing the best outdoor recreational opportunities in America."

Industry officials say the decision is done. "Utah is a great outdoor state," said Mix, the Osprey Packs executive. But too many of the state's elected leaders "are representing a vocal, small minority  the sagebrush rebellion contingent."

Mix said Osprey and others in the industry would continue to support land conservation efforts in Utah, even with the trade show's departure.

The industry is gearing up for whatever decision Trump might make on Bears Ears, said Corley Kenna, communications director for Patagonia. If Trump tries to rescind the monument, something the law makes no provision for, "We will use every tool available to speak out and fight it," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
HELENA  After emotional support Wednesday from a state lawmaker who said she had an abortion as a teenager and regrets it, a bill that would have asked Montana voters to decide if life begins at conception failed to clear an initial hurdle in the Senate.

I always thought Id have another chance, said Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls. I blew it because I believed what they taught me in school. ... Get pregnant, OK, no problem, get an abortion, throw it away.

House Bill 595 is carried by Rep. Derek Skees, R-Lakeside. If passed, it would put a measure on the ballot in November 2018 asking voters to decide if "personhood" starts at conception and end access to abortion in the state.

To get on the ballot the bill needs 100 votes from the House and Senate. It got 30 in an initial Senate vote Wednesday on top of 58 from the House last month. It still has a final vote Thursday, where it needs 42 votes or it will be considered failed.

In support of the bill, Fielder said science has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt life begins at conception.

Fielder cited a study by Northwestern University saying that a "zinc firework" occurs when a human egg is activated by a sperm enzyme in support of her claim life begins at conception. The Northwestern study was done to measure the quality of an egg and help doctors choose the best fertilized eggs to transfer during in vitro fertilization, according to a press release from Northwestern.

Under HB 595, fertilized eggs, zygotes, embryos and fetuses would have full protection as persons under the state Constitution. Because several forms of contraception work by not allowing fertilized eggs to implant in a womans womb, the bill would also outlaw many types of birth control.

The bill does not allow for exceptions in the case of rape, incest or of the pregnancy endangers the life of a woman. It was amended to remove the ability to file criminal charges against a woman who has a miscarriage.

Speaking in opposition to the bill, Sen. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, said that access to birth control has caused a drop in abortions.

This bill would make it more difficult for a woman to get birth control, she said.

Sands continued by saying that women vote with their bodies, and the 60-some million who have gotten an abortion in the last 40 years have made clear their choice.

Trust women and trust their vote. Vote against this bill.

Fielder said the bill is about protecting the lives of innocent children.

The womb is supposed to be the safest place on earth for life and these atrocities are being committed there, she said.

A second bill to restrict abortion was debated on the House floor on Wednesday before passing on a 60-to-40 vote. Senate Bill 329, sponsored by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, will have a final vote before moving to the governor's desk.

The bill, also referred to as the Montana Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, says a fetus has pain receptors connected to the brain by 20 weeks and bans abortions after that point with an exception for a medical emergency.

Several Democrats spoke in opposition to the bill, saying it was hypocritical of Republicans to support government interference instead of respecting a decision between a woman, her family and her physician. They also opposed no exception for a victim of rape or incest and disagreed with policy that would allow a father to take punitive action against a woman or a physician who has an abortion in violation of the bill. It would also allow a judge to have discretion on whether a woman would maintain her privacy in court.

Rep. Kathy Swanson, D-Anaconda, said the Montana Constitution is rock solid in protecting the privacy of citizens.

"How is it that we as politicians, lawmakers, that there's not regard to privacy?" Swanson said. "There's no regard to respect the decision, the wrenching decision of a woman, her physician, her family and her god."

Rep. Nate McConnell, D-Missoula, said there isn't a statute of limitations on when a father could take action. He said a man could serve time in prison for sexually assaulting a woman and when he gets out, take action against his victim if she had an abortion after 20 weeks.

"He could sue the woman for aborting the fetus he created through a heinous act," he said. "That is reprehensible."

But Republicans said an abortion is punitive to the fetus. Rep. Lola Sheldon Galloway, R-Great Falls, said she supports the bill to be a voice for an unborn child.

"They have a right to live," she said. "That's the plea."

Skees said the discussion had gotten off course and that the bill still allows a woman to make a decision to get an abortion before 20 weeks.

"Please folks, this is about pain and 20 weeks of life," he said.
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.
HELENA  After voting to again amend a referendum asking voters if the right to hunt, fish and trap should be expressly stated in the Montana Constitution, lawmakers voted to kill the measure Wednesday.

Senate Bill 236, brought by Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, would have amended the constitutions Harvest-Heritage clause to state hunting, fishing and trapping is a right held by citizens of the state. Fielder says she brought the bill in response to initiatives such as I-177, which sought a ban on most public land trapping but was defeated by voters last year.

The bill initially drew opposition from trapping opponents but also several sportsmen groups and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Concern from the groups and agency centered on unintended consequences of elevating the activities to rights, and what that meant for regulating hunting, fishing and trapping. They also contended that those protections already existed in the Harvest-Heritage clause, which says, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Fielder amended the bill prior to Senate passage to alleviate some of those concerns about changing opportunity to right. The amendment drew additional support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, but continued opposition from FWP and others.

SB 236 narrowly passed a House committee on a 10-9 vote Tuesday, after adding clarifying language that the right to hunt, fish and trap did not trump private property rights.

After Rep. Kirk Wagoner, R-Montana City, introduced the bill Wednesday on the floor, Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, brought an amendment to strip most of the bill, and simplify it to say, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals wildlife through hunting, fishing, and trapping is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Wagoner resisted the amendment but it drew support from Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, who said the Constitution should be simple, clean and effective.

The body voted 55-45 to amend the bill.

Rep. Bradley Hamlett, D-Cascade, rose in opposition, saying he still had concerns about elevating hunting, fish and trapping, and what that could mean if, for example, instream flow conflicted with senior water rights for agriculture.

The House then voted SB 236 down 48-51.

As a referendum which would then go to the voters, SB 236 needed yes votes from a total of 100 lawmakers. After passing the Senate on a 30-20 margin, it needed 70 House votes to pass.
The $90 million home of Reebok founder Paul Fireman, located on 150 Woodland Road in Chestnut Hill, is on the market.

Listed by Business Insider as the seventh most expensive home in America on the market, the home boasts eight-bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, five half bathrooms, more than four fireplaces and a four-car garage.

Built in 1999, the 26,000-plus square-foot home is surrounded by lush greenery on 14 acres of land just five miles from central Boston.

Reebok plans to move its headquarters from Canton to Boston by September 2017.

For more information on this home, visit the listing on www.trulia.com.
CALEDONIA, MI - Joel and Kristie Koning achieved last fall what many couples are contemplating with dread this spring.

They sold their old house and bought a new house in a matter of weeks.

That's a daunting task in a tight seller's market where homes sell fast and the competition from other buyers is stiff.

Despite building demand from buyers, few homes are hitting the market this spring. The average house sold last month was on the market just 28 days - a historic low, according to the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors (GRAR).

"We needed to find a house and move in before I went back to work," said Kristie Koning, an interior designer who was ending a maternity leave. The couple was looking for a bigger home than the one they had owned since they got married in 2013.

When they found the house they wanted in a subdivision outside of Caledonia, the Konings moved fast, put in an offer and had it accepted within days.

The Konings then had to sell their old house, a 1950s-era bungalow located outside of Caledonia. Fortunately, the old house sold within two days and the Konings were able to avoid double house payments.

Their success story may be difficult to repeat as the inventory of houses for sale continues to lag.

As home buyers get ready for the spring buying season, only 1,300 houses were listed on the market by GRAR members, whose West Michigan territory includes Kent County, eastern Ottawa County, Ionia County and the northern halves of Barry and Allegan counties.

New listings have been slow to come on line, according to GRAR statistics. At the end of March, new listings for the year were down 4.2 percent from the first two months of 2016.

That's almost 300 fewer listings than in March 2016 and nearly half of the 2,504 houses that were on the market in March 2014.

Meanwhile, prices are shooting up. The average pending home sale stood at $206,457 during the first three months of this year. That's up 9.8 percent from 2016, when the average home price stood at $187,018.

Adam Paarlberg, president of GRAR, said he hopes more homeowners will list their homes for sale this spring as they gain confidence in the market.

"We think there is going to be a spring surge," said Paarlberg, an associate broker with Greenridge Realty Co. "The difference is that there wasn't much of a winter slowdown this year."

"We also anticipate we'll see more people selling. The million dollar question is which one will increase more," Paarlberg said. The rise in home prices should give home owners the confidence to sell their existing house, he said.

Preparation is key for would-be buyers, especially if they are looking at a home between $150,000 and $300,000 says Realtor Pat Vredevoogd Combs, who has been counseling home buyers for more than 45 years.

"We sit down and explain the marketplace and we explain multiple offers," said Combs. "And, we look at how their offer might be accepted."

For the right house at the right price, that may mean making an offer above the asking price. It may mean writing a flattering letter which promises to care for the house, Combs said.

In most cases, buyers should have their financing lined up and a real estate agent on the lookout for listings before they hit the association's website, Combs said.

Most listings do not show up right away on the association's website, she said.

"I've got four houses coming on the market that nobody knows about," Combs said. "You need someone watching for you all the time or you are going to miss all the good buys."

Combs said she prepares her buyers to move quickly with a good offer if they find the right house in the right location. "If it's priced right and shows well, it's going to be sold within two weeks."

For those who think they won't find another house if they list their home for sale, Combs said she has a spare bedroom that's available.

"If we can't find you that perfect house, you can move in with me," she said. "In 46 years, I've never had anyone move in with me."
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!
Military force cannot resolve tension over North Korea, China said on Thursday, while an influential Chinese newspaper urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for Chinese protection.

With a U.S. aircraft carrier group steaming to the area and tension rising, South Korea said it believed the United States would consult it before any pre-emptive strike against the North.

Fears have been growing that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of U.N. sanctions and stark warnings from the United States that a policy of patience was over.

China, North Korea's sole major ally and benefactor, which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearistaion of the peninsula.

"Military force cannot resolve the issue," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing.

"Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks."

While U.S. President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he would not tolerate any provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Trump has diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive, in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with important events and anniversaries.

The possibility of U.S. military action gained traction after the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

Wang warned that history would hold any instigator to account.

"Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility," Wang said.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told parliament in Seoul he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

A Washington-based think-tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images on Wednesday showed activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that indicated it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a test was more likely, although they also said the North appeared ready to conduct a test at any time.

An influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, was to give up its nuclear programme, and China would protect it if it did.

"As soon as North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime," said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist party's People's Daily.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about threats from North Korea, telling parliament in Tokyo that Pyongyang could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

A senior Japanese diplomat said the United States was putting "maximum pressure" on North Korea to resolve issues peacefully while putting responsibility on China to sway its old ally.

"We will watch what action China takes," the diplomat said.

While Japan did not see a high risk of military action, it expected to be consulted by the United States if it decided to attack. North Korea has about 350 missiles that can hit Japan.

'Day of the sun'

About 200 foreign journalists gathered in Pyongyang for North Korea's biggest national day, the "Day of the Sun", were taken to what officials billed as a "big and important event" early on Thursday.

It turned out to be the opening of a new street in the centre of the capital, attended by leader Kim.

North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday. In 2012, it tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency said early on Thursday that Kim Jong Un had guided training of the army's special operation forces jumping from aircraft.

On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy both countries.

U.S. officials said Trump was considering sanctions that could include an oil embargo, banning North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with it.

"There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea," one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters in Washington.

Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed that China's coal imports from North Korea had plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago.

China suspended issue of permits for coal imports from North Korea on Feb. 18 as part of its effort to implement U.N. sanctions.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the United States for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a "very good" discussion of the "menace of North Korea". He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary.
POKHARA: Hotels in touristic town Pokhara have been packed out with domestic tourists on the eve of Nepali New Year 2074 BS.

According to Bharat Raj Parajuli, Vice-chair of Pokhara Tourism Council, rooms in all hotels of the town have been booked for today and tomorrow as domestic tourists continue to flock to the city rich in natural beauty to celebrate the Nepali New Year.

This tourist arrival has elated hoteliers of Pokhara as they are busy welcoming guests.

However, the arrival of foreign tourists after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake is not satisfactory, added the Western Regional Hotel Associations outgoing chair Parajuli.

There are around 500 hotels in Pokhara.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal

KATHMANDU, April 13: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the senior leaders of the Madhesh-centric parties to avoid agitation and instead come to consensus and collaboration.

The call by the Prime Minister for a dialogue comes a day after the Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of Madhesh-centric parties decided to wage a movement after rejecting the second constitution amendment bill registered by the government at the parliament secretariat.

In a telephone call to the leaders today, PM Dahal urged them to come to the negotiating table and thereby not go after the incitement of anyone, according to the PM's press advisor Govinda Acharya.

Dahal made a call to Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav, Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party Chair Mahantha Thakur and Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato and expressed his willingness to resolve any outstanding issues.

Stating that local-level elections were the need of the nation, he urged the leaders not to give themselves to instigation and resolve national issues through talks and dialogue. The government had withdrawn its earlier constitutional amendment proposal to replace it with a new one on Wednesday. However, the Madhesh-based parties said the new proposal too does not address their demands.

Saying that the prejudices cannot meet the national necessities, Dahal added that the disputed issues could be settled through talks and dialogues.

PM Dahal also drew attention of the leaders to focus on problem solving by joining the talks immediately after returning to the capital city.

He also argued that the new amendment proposal was registered at the request of the Madhes-centric political parties and stressed to hold talks and create environment conducive by remaining in the periphery of the same proposal.

The government was moving according to the needs of the country and people and the government was ready to proceed by taking all parties and sides into confidence, Acharya quoted the PM as saying.

In response, the top leaders of the Madhes-centric political parties expressed their readiness to join the talks, taking the PM's call positively. RSS
Kathmandu, Nepal: The Supreme Court (SC), the apex court of the country, has issued a verdict in the name of newly appointed Inspector General Nepal Police to nab absconding murder convict CPN Maoist center leader and former member of the parliament Bal Krishna Dhungel within seven days.

Responding to a contempt of court writ filed by advocate Dinesh Tripathi, a single bench of Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai handed down the verdict on Thursday.

Though the SC had repeatedly been issuing such verdicts to arrest the murder accused Dhungel, neither the Nepal Police nor other state agencies had shown apathy to implement the SC verdict.

Dhungel was convicted of the murder of Ujjan Kumar Shrestha, a resident of his home district of Okhaldhunga during the insurgency period.

The bench has ordered the newly appointed IGP Prakash Aryal to arrest Dhungel within next seven days, imprison him and submit the report to the Court.

Advocate Tripathi had moved to the court on Wednesday to file a contempt of court case against Dhungel.

The threats issued by Dhungel for physical attack to the Chief Justice Sushila Karki and former Chief Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Khil Raj Regmi went viral on social media, the SC had taken the threats in a note while issuing the verdicts.

Everyone should comply with the court order in accordance with Article 126.2 of the Constitution and failure to do so would result in actions as per Article 128.4 of the Constitution, the bench has stated in the verdict.

Before issuing the verdict, Supreme Court Registrar Nrip Dhoj Niraula had written a letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal urging him to arrest Dhungel.
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Are the US and Russia entering a new Cold War?
I was a latecomer to horror film; as a kid/teenager, I was far more interested in science fiction, and was a bit of a wimp when it came to horror. Arriving at it in my 20s, it's now become a big part of my life, and how horror is used to examine social/cultural/political issues has become a bit part of my academic work.

When I saw Beloved on its release, I went as a big fan of the books' author, Toni Morrison. I approached both the film (and the book) as historical text. Certainly, the book delves into a wonderful lyrical surrealism, particularly in Morrison's description of what Beloved experienced when she was buried, and in what Paul D and Sethe experienced when they were slaves.

Fantastic genre films set within known historical time periods/events are a bit rare, though not unknown. The Purple Rose of Cairo wouldn't be the same story were in not set in Depression-era America, looking at it did at unemployment/spousal abuse; The Dead Zone is a product of the cold war era and right-wing politics. In my book on genre film from Spain, I write about The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth and their ties to the Spanish Civil War, and the concepts of post- and prostetic memory.

Post-memory is that which is contained in generations that did not directly experience a trauma (such as slavery), but still feel it repercussions. Prosthetic memory is cultural; similar, in that it is experiences by those who did not witness the trauma, but it is a part of collective memory. The audience of Beloved is part of the collective memory of slavery, and Morrison and the main actors are a part of both.

Of course, Beloved was directed by a white man, and two of the three screenwriters were also white men; an issue that likely would have caused more of a stir today (though I believe it was a little frowned on at the time). And certainly, it would be great to see what a black woman at the helm, given the focus of the story on black women and women's issues.

How do later generations deal with such a traumatic history, one that still indirectly affects them, as slavery and its aftermath, from Jim Crow laws to the Civil Rights movement, continue to affect Black people in the United States? In referering to magic realist literature, Fredric Jameson talked of the fantastic as filling in the holes of history. So in using the fantastic, or more specifically in the case of Beloved, Morrison, and subsequently the film's creators, use horror to express that which history has left behind.

So how does this translate into horror? Without a doubt, slavery was/is horrific, with atrocities brought upon its victims in ways even art cannot or dares not depict. (Side note: I read an article about the diary of a Union soldier, who when traveling through the South in the last days of the American Civil War, couldn't bring himself to write about the terrible things he saw being done to slaves, because they were just too horrible).

In film (as in the life), the mother-child relationship is seen as sacrosanct, and any violation, particularly by the mother, is seen as one of the worst kinds of evil. Juxtapose this against the horrors of slavery, and this is one of the purest forms of horror: body horror that is all too human.

Looking at Beloved through this lens, I was much more frightened and disturbed than I remember from my first viewing. Not in a jump-scare kind of way, but a horror down to my soul. Demme, coming soon off of Silence of the Lambs, used much of the same techniques: extreme close-ups to put the characters in our face, so that we know them and we become them; a fixation on the body in the shadows; a way of depicting anger, pain and passion in the visual spectrum that is mimicked by a swooping camera over the intimate space, using graceful shots to confront the viewer with the barely conceivable.

Demme also has a knack for pulling out pretty gut-wrenching, intimate performances. Winfrey is not a great actor, but certainly a good one, and her Sethe is a marvel of both restraint (keeping house together to spare her living daughter Denver excessive pain, until that pain returns in the form of Beloved), and the ecstasy of pain and love, as is Danny Glover's Paul D; both people for whom the horror and trauma of what they experienced is always hot on their heels, ready to pounce and consume them even as they try to put on the brave face of their still-fresh freedom. Thandie Newton, in one of her first major roles, has the most difficult task of portraying a baby in the body of a young woman; a baby that's been dead for nearly two decades and who only knows how to express in the most extreme and violent emotional ways, both for pleasure and for pain.

People of colourful and their experiences are woefully underrepresented in genre film, especially black women. And while Paul D is a part of the story, this is a black woman's tale. When I first saw the film, I remember being horrified by young Sethe (played brilliantly by LisaGay Hamilton) and her act of killing/attempting to kill her children rather than see them return to a life of slavery. On this second viewing, while the scene is still harrowing, I understood her actions. Perhaps this is because I'm now much more educated in both past and present racial politics; or perhaps, even though I'm not a parent, with age, I understand that there are fates worse than death. In this scene, Demme again keeps much of the focus on Sethe's face, forcing us to recognize her humanity and the reasons behind her actions, even is her actions are terrible.

On this second, long-overdue viewing, Beloved was even better than I remember it; probably because I was looking at it with a better understanding of horror film, and a better understanding of racial politics. While it still works as a drama, it should be included in discussions on horror films, and even perhaps in its execution of the surrealist textual adaptation.
As a journalist, programmer, and filmmaker, I've been to my fair share of film festivals. I've just arrived home from Chattanooga Film Festival 2017, and.... WOW. Only in its fourth year, this incredible festival has managed to blow most of them out of the water. Admittedly, they've had guidance from the deranged minds at Fantastic Fest, but the execution comes from the weirdos in Chattanooga.

This festival blisters with a passion for films from its festival director Chris Dorth, Jr., CFF assistant director OG Chris Dortch, Sr, and all of the other staff and volunteers, who are too numerous to name. Chattanooga forges new friendships and strengthens existing ones. Tentative deals were struck, that festival unicorn, sometimes caught when you gather a ton of creative minds together in one place.

The festival also puts on hilarious events like the Scripts Gone Wild drunken reading, the requisite karaoke and parties, a concert on a nearby riverboat, another annual presentation from the encyclopedic font of film knowledge that is Joe Bob Briggs (this time on Tennessee films), and even a pub crawl celebrating one notorious filmmaker's retirement.

I didn't even get into the special brand of madness that is Everything is Terrible! live. The show was packed with acolytes and newcomers to the church of the weird and awkward. If you've never seen this show and it's in your area, do it. It's hard to describe the multi-media performance, but it's something that you won't soon forget. And the Acro-Cats cat circus made an appearance with a few felines for some tricks ahead of the jaw-droppingly adorable sensation that is Kedi. Everyone lost their minds; both when the live cats did tricks for treats, as well as through the astonishingly well-edited doc on street cats in Istanbul.

There were workshops for guests, too, like the Snowfort Speaks talk, wherein producers Travis Stevens and David Lawson discussed the ups and downs of making films; the Daniel Noah (of Company X and SpectreVision) pitch sessions, at which filmmakers like myself went onstage, pitched projects, and received feedback; a Cat Planet acting and movement workshop; and the Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead-led presentation on script-to-screen. That is, the duo told the audience what was originally written in a script, showed an assembly cut, and then presented a final cut of the scene in question with coloring, more edits, and added visual effects. It was a kickass learning experience.

And of course, there are the films, which is why we were primarily there in the first place. The 35mm screenings were a serious treat; the Charles Bronson and James Colburn vehicle Hard Times --- directed by Walter Hill --- looked pristine. Fantastic Fest's Zack Carlson introduced the film, and if I recall correctly, we were the first audience to see the restoration. Carlson showed off his awesome Bronson tattoo, as well! The secret screening was the excellent 1980s Rutger Hauer scarefest The Hitcher. Other 35mm screenings included the strange, found-in-a-car-trunk Jungle Trap, and the AGFA-presented The Zodiac Killer and The Dragon Lives Again, starring Bruce Lee in Hell.

All this genre-loving goodness is nothing to speak of the contemporary films! Short blocks and feature screenings alike brought in scores of filmmakers who were floored by the festival. Evan Katz appeared in person with his new, Netflix-bought crimefest Small Crimes, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) adopted from the novel by Dave Zelserman. Graham Skipper attended for the world premiere of his first film Sequence Break.

The Lure; Mayhem; S is for Stanley; Lake Bodom; The Devil's Candy; Bitch; and Buster's Mal Heart. Cast members Andre Gower and Ryan Lambert of Fred Dekker's beloved The Monster Squad came for both the film's q&a, plus a live recording of their Squad Cast. There is just too much awesomeness to be contained in a post like this, so head on over the Also playing were:; and. Cast members Andre Gower and Ryan Lambert of Fred Dekker's belovedcame for both the film's q&a, plus a live recording of their Squad Cast. There is just too much awesomeness to be contained in a post like this, so head on over the fest's website to see what you missed --- and get a glimpse of what future editions might look like.

Again, this festival was truly something special. Headed by some of the most sincere, film-loving peeps I've met in the fest world --- and with the breadth of live events, presentations, 35mm screenings, parties, workshops, and more --- I'm a total fan of the Chattanooga Film Festival. I cannot wait to attend every single festival hereafter, if I'm able. It's a sentiment of everyone I spoke to over the weekend.

Congrats to the winners of the Chattanooga Film Festival 2017 Awards:

Audience Award  Mayhem (Joe Lynch)

Best Feature  Sequence Break (Graham Skipper)

Best Short  Hell Follows (Brian Harrison)

Tennessee Filmmaker Award  Dream Keeper (Whitney Stevenson)

Student Filmmaker Award  Potential Collab (Nate Burke)

Dangerous Visions Award  End of Decay (Chris Todd and Mike Wilchester)
Just like many artists, Emily Dickinson never saw fame nor recognition as a poet in her lifetime. Her poetry and letters were only read and appreciated posthumously, after her death in 1886. Many of her admirers of her work say, not only her intimate poems touched them, but also with unusual punctuation and dashes, her style was ahead of its time.

One of her ardent admirers happens to be Terence Davies (Long Day Closes, Deep Blue Sea) one of the greatest living British filmmakers. The nationality of his female subject might be different here, but there are a lot of common themes coursing through A Quiet Passion which his past films also bear - family, struggling within a strict social norm, independence and freedom, isolation and depression.

Born in a wealthy, respected family in Amherst, MA with loving parents and supportive siblings, Emily (played by Emma Bell as younger, then Cynthia Nixon as older Dickinson) grows up to be an honest, smart young woman who can think for herself. She is seen first as a young woman in Mount Holyoke Seminary school, defying the wishes of her teacher with her logical defense to be indecisive in either accepting or denying god. But being a woman of the 19th Century, Emily struggles from early on with her self image, patriarchy, conservative, puritanical society, sexism, the thought of death and immortality.

Davies, an ardent reader of Dickinson's poetry, composed a truly beautiful script here, imagining much of the film's dialog that lends the full view of the complicated poet and the great Cynthia Nixon personifies her in flesh and blood. Even though Dickinson lived most of her adult life in isolation, through her letters and 1,800 unpublished poems, and as we see in the film, she led a quite passionate inner life.

Unlike many fathers in Davies' other films who terrorize the working class families and women, Edward Dickinson, played here beautifully by Keith Carradine, is a learned, dignified man who is a main stable force for Emily to depend upon. Strict but humble, it is his dignity and sense of right and wrong that deeply affects Emily's upbringing. She strikes up a friendship with free spirited Ms. Buffam (amusingly played by Catherine Bailey) whose acerbic wit matches her own. They talk about being friends forever but both know that when the time comes, more extroverted Buffam would marry and settle and move away. And she does.

Dickinson briefly romances a married pastor but the bitter experience turns her more into isolation. After their parents' death, Emily becomes more embittered with life, she isolates herself even further, wearing only white and communicates her thoughts mostly in letters. Her devout younger sister Vinnie (Jennifer Ehle) becomes her only source of checks and balances against Emily becoming a bitter, defeated person.

Death and immortality were her big themes in her writing as she was weary of attaching herself to anyone and always worried about everyone close to her leaving. Calling herself nobody, she was aware that her writing wouldn't be recognized by anyone in her lifetime.

Davies succeeds in showing a complicated woman bound by tradition and societal rules. But however tragic and lonely her life was, he also shows us that Dickinson lived the way she wanted to, that it was her own choosing, that she was a thoroughly modern woman, defining the world the only way she knew how. A Quiet Passion is another masterpiece from Davies.

A Quiet Passion opens in New York on Friday, April 14 (Lincoln Plaza Cinema, Quad Cinema). National roll out to follow.

Dustin Chang is a freelance writer. His musings and opinions on everything cinema can be found at www.dustinchang.com
An unabashedly old fashioned, bows-and-arrows school boy fantasy based on David Grann's non-fiction bestseller of the same name, The Lost City of Z stars Charlie Hunnam as a British army officer turned explorer, Col. Percival Fawcett, who had a perilous obsession with the Amazon jungle.

Despite years of being stationed overseas and proving his leadership abilities, according to his sneering superiors Fawcett "had a bad choice of his ancestry" -- his father was a drunkard and a gambler, and therefore forfeited his advancement in the army. With the help of the uppity Royal Geographical Society, together with Britain's interests in the rubber industry in the Amazon, Fawcett is granted an expedition into Eastern Bolivia to map the fuzzy Bolivian and Brazilian border deep in the jungle.

The two-year expedition means being away from his spirited wife Nina (Sienna Miller) and his young son, Jack. But a man must do what he's got to do -- to restore his family name in good standing in a rigid society and be a hero and whatnot.

Fawcett's small team, including Costin (Robert Pattinson) and Manley (Edward Ashley) with an Indian guide, goes up the river only to be attacked by various Indian tribes and suffer diseases and hardship. But the explorers not only find the source of the river, they also find evidence of an ancient civilization: broken potteries and sculptures of human figures.

After returning home, Fawcett becomes an advocate against the general notion of the natives of America as arrow chucking, cannibalistic savages who are forever stuck in the early Iron Age. Finding the lost civilization in the Amazons becomes an obsession for him.

With the backing of rich patron/fellow explorer James Murray (Angus Macfadyan), Fawcett and his team set out a second expedition, despite angry objections from Nina. When disease and the unforgiving climate of the jungle becomes too much for out-of-shape Murray, they have to abandon the mission. At home, the accusations fly and Fawcett strains his ties with the Royal Geographical Society.

The first World War interferes with Fawcett's obsession as he is sent to the frontline, where he sees many of his friends die and himself getting injured in the horrific battle of Somme. Now nearing 50, and his son Jack a young man, father and son try once again to find the lost city.

You can't escape the shadow of Werner Herzog when it comes to making a film set in the Amazon. Aguirre, The Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, about a man's obsession and his futile attempt to wield the course of nature both spiritually and physically, are towering examples to measure up to. All the hardships and suffering in the making of these films are justified by the breathtaking end results.

It might not be fair to compare, since Gray is a very different kind of filmmaker, who prides himself in emotionally fine-tuned dramas. Despite all the glorious pretty picture show, well-rounded characters and fine acting don't really suit the adventure genre. But that's just it. His attempt at showing 'it's the journey not the destination' lacks a proper bravado and zeal, constantly interrupted by Fawcett struggling with domestic life and in finding his stature in the rigid society.

Shot on 35mm by Darius Khondji (who also shot Gray's period piece The Immigrant), The Lost City of Z is a very handsome movie. Gray does his best to be faithful to the source material and instill every character with humanism. But I find Nina Fawcett's proto-feminist character too propped up to be believable in this otherwise male-oriented adventure film.

There is nothing particularly wrong with The Lost City of Z. I buy that one man's obsession -- 'a man's reach should exceed his grasp' -- is a worthy subject for a movie. Obviously, it's much less offensive than that last Indiana Jones film or Apocalypto, where the depiction of natives are concerned. But do we need another film about a white man's journey to validate another culture's worth in this day and age?

The Lost City of Z (as well as The Immigrant), as a sumptuous and elegant epic it might be, doesn't quite justify all the effort put in by everyone involved.

Review originally published during the New York Film Festival in October 2016. The film opens in select theaters in the U.S. on Friday, April 14.

Dustin Chang is a freelance writer. His musings and opinions on everything cinema and beyond can be found at www.dustinchang.com.
The Southern District of Florida blog was started in 2005 by David Oscar Markus , who is a criminal trial and appellate lawyer in Miami, Florida. He frequently practices in federal courts around the country, including his hometown, the Southern District of Florida and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a former law clerk to then-Chief Judge of the District, Edward B. Davis.
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 Early press reports on the new 21-member Ohio Death Penalty Task Force | Main | Notable USSC compilation of federal guideline departure provisions 

November 3, 2011

Florida defendant gets LWOP sentence for mere possession of (lots of) kiddie porn

The lengthy sentences sometimes given to downloaders of child pornography in federal court often are much longer than those handed out for this crime in state courts. However, as detailed in this local piece from Florida, headlined "East Naples man sentenced to life in prison for child porn," some state sentences for child porn possession are even more extreme than federal law provides:

An East Naples man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday following his conviction last month in one of the countys largest child pornography cases. The sentencing of Daniel Enrique Guevara Vilca, 26, came after a six-person jury found him guilty Oct. 6 on 454 counts of possessing child pornography. Collier County sheriffs investigators seized a computer from Guevara Vilcas Landover Court apartment in January 2010 and found about 300 sexually explicit pictures containing children and 38 hours of taped child pornography. Guevara Vilca faced more than 300 years in prison. The minimum sentence under a state score sheet was 152 years in prison. Guevara Vilca turned down a 25-year plea agreement before trial.... The sentence is the most severe in county history for a child pornography possession case. In 2009, Naples resident Douglas Deering received a 25-year sentence as part of a plea deal on 197 child pornography possession counts.

This companion piece, headlined "East Naples man's life sentence for child porn too harsh, attorney says," reports that the defendant's attorney will challenge the constitutionality of this sentence on appeal:

His defense lawyer, Lee Hollander, argues that others in Collier County have committed crimes more serious and violent, yet received lesser punishment than Guevara Vilca, who had no prior criminal record.... People who are actually creating child porn or molesting children are getting lighter sentences than people who are in possession of it, Hollander said. The guy is doing life in prison for looking at child porn. Im sorry, but that just doesnt compute. Less sympathetic Thursday was Assistant State Attorney Steve Maresca. He said it was offensive to claim possession of child porn is a nonviolent crime, adding that consumers such as Guevara Vilca keep alive a market for children to be sexually abused. I think (the sentence) sends a message that this is a serious crime, Maresca said. This is a crime that continues on and on. Those images are there forever, which means some of those children have to deal with it forever. [Collier Circuit Judge Fred] Hardt had little choice but to follow state law in putting Guevara Vilca behind bars for life. A sentencing score sheet required a minimum sentence of about 152 years in prison  a far cry from the 25-year plea agreement Guevara Vilca rejected before the trial. The number and severity of the charges allowed Hardt to impose a life sentence under state law. Hardt reviewed several factors that could have allowed him to depart from the minimum guideline, including the defendants mental health history and the constitutionality of the sentence. He found no reason to impose a lighter sentence. The fact that this court might  and Im not saying it does  believe that this sentence is disproportionate is not valid grounds for departure, Hardt said. Hollander said he plans to appeal the sentence, calling it a cruel and unusual punishment that violates the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The principle of his claim  that a child porn consumer shouldnt receive a life sentence when child sex abusers often receive lighter punishments  drew debate Thursday from state law professors. That argument can be made, said Bob Dekle, a University of Florida law professor who spent about 15 years prosecuting sex crimes in northern Florida. How good it is and how persuasive is another question. I dont find it very persuasive.... Tamara Rice Lave, an associate law professor at the University of Miami with expertise in sex offender laws, suggested a life sentence for child pornography possession is excessive. I dont think somebody should get life in prison for possessing child pornography that they didnt produce, Lave said. I dont think it should be the same as somebody who commits first-degree murder or a string of violent crimes. Part of what the justice system needs to do is punish proportionally. Hollander said his appeal of the sentence probably is going to end up in front of the Florida Supreme Court in some shape or form.

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"Less sympathetic Thursday was Assistant State Attorney Steve Maresca. He said it was offensive to claim possession of child porn is a nonviolent crime, adding that consumers such as Guevara Vilca keep alive a market for children to be sexually abused."

This is the fallacy that no one ever seems to question out loud in court. Possession of child pornography is not a violent crime. The images may depict violence, the production of the images may have involved violence, but possession of the images is not violent. On a computer, the images are simply a collection of bytes on a metal disk that can be combined into an image on an monitor. Viewing them does not actually send out some kind of pain ray and cause physical harm to another person far away. Simply saying it's violent doesn't make it so.

No one can defend the possession of child pornography. But there's no point in making it sound like a worse crime than it already is.



Posted by: C.E. | Nov 3, 2011 11:10:44 PM

That will teach the bastard for actually having a trial! (Remember what those are?)

I also ran across this liberal claptrap:

Contemporary policies concerning crime and punishment are the harshest in American history and of any Western country. Michael Tonry, The Handbook of Crime And Punishment (Oxford Press 1998) paperback ed. at page 3. American punishment is comparatively harsh, comparatively degrading, comparatively slow to show mercy.James Q. Whitman, Harsh Justice (Oxford Press 2003) paperback ed. at 19. The current American prison system, is a leviathan unmatched in human history.... with five percent of the worlds population[it] houses 25 percent of the worlds inmates... We have become progressively more punitive... Despite a sharp national decline in crime, American criminal justice has become crueler and less caring than it has been at any other time in our modern history...Glenn C. Loury Why are so many Americans in Prison(Boston Review 2007)(found at http://bostonreview.net/BR32.4/loury.html))

Can you believe what these left wing pinkos in the North actually write. Do they really believe this nonsense? In Texas, we execute them for stuff like this, guilty or not. Long Live the Confederacy!!

Posted by: Bubba from Texas | Nov 3, 2011 11:11:33 PM

"Viewing them does not actually send out some kind of pain ray and cause physical harm to another person far away."

Actually C.E. that not correct. There is an entire body of research that holds that merely looking is itself an act of violence. It's not a new idea but it found it current inspiration in a poem written by Nikki Giovanni in the 1980s.

"like the wind blowing

across a field of wheat

your smile whispers to my inner ear

with the relief of recognition

i bend to your eyes

casually

raping me"

This whole idea has been a constant theme of feminists for a long-time. I've always been somewhat bemused about how eager many conservatives have been to jump into bed with feminists on this topic. They may think they are out saving children but if certain groups had their way half the bubbas in the world would be put in jail for looking at their wife "funny".

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 4, 2011 12:37:47 AM

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/vitamin-eye/200907/eye-eye-visual-violence-0

Sorry of the second post. I meant to include this link to give a taste of what I'm talking about.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 4, 2011 12:42:30 AM

Bubba --

"That will teach the bastard for actually having a trial! (Remember what those are?)."

Translation: The defendant was not just a pervert, he was a dunce too.

Now there's a powerful case for you!

P.S. Yes, some of us do remember what a trial is. It's one of those things you can get any 'ole time by telling the prosecutor that he and his proposed bargain can go to a warm place.

The real reason so many defendants opt for the plea bargain -- as you must know if you ever had a criminal practice -- is that the prosecutor has dumbed down the charges so much, and given away so much of the store, that the deal is irresistable.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 4, 2011 6:47:23 AM

Article: "The principle of his claim  that a child porn consumer shouldnt receive a life sentence when child sex abusers often receive lighter punishments  drew debate Thursday from state law professors."

me: I would hope that everyone would agree that actually abusing a child is worse than looking at pictures of child abuse. I would hope that anyone, even people who believe that there is harm from transmitting images of abuse, would realize that the original abuse and production of the image is way worse than the mere possession of the image potentially several years after the fact. Anyone who thinks that it is good policy to punish people who merely possess child porn worse or even the same than actual child abusers is delusional.

Article: That argument can be made, said Bob Dekle, a University of Florida law professor who spent about 15 years prosecuting sex crimes in northern Florida. How good it is and how persuasive is another question. I dont find it very persuasive....

me: maybe the next time a convicted icky perv child molester tells his prison psychologist that he thought about using child porn as a substitute for raping the little girl next door, but decided against it because he'd get less - or at least the same - time for the rape, Professor Dekle will feel some responsibility. I doubt it though becasue people like this Professor and the prosecutor quoted above are too interested in getting the easy win to put icky pervs away to realize that by spouting nonsense like this they are actually insulting people who were actually sexually assaulted as children. Trust me, when I say that a statement like this law professor made is actually highly offensive. And again, I'm not sure if the market substitution theory for icky pervs is actually accurate or not - but I'm not willing to risk that real children might be attacked to help prosecutors and legislatures tout their toughness against icky pervs by going after real targets.

ginny :)

Posted by: virginia | Nov 4, 2011 9:53:43 AM

ugh, I managed to totally mangle that last sentence - it should say "going after easy targets rather than stopping real child abusers"

ginny :)

Posted by: virginia | Nov 4, 2011 9:56:41 AM

ginny, it's nice to demonize those who feel that child porn is an outrage and needs to be stamped out.

Posted by: federalist | Nov 4, 2011 11:28:50 AM

"The real reason so many defendants opt for the plea bargain -- as you must know if you ever had a criminal practice -- is that the prosecutor has dumbed down the charges so much, and given away so much of the store, that the deal is irresistable."

The corollary to that is that the statutory penalty for the actual crime is so perversely hideously, severe, given the nature of the crime; that a defendant would be an idiot to take a chance on a jury. Thus, any bogus plea with a lesser penalty, a defendant would be foolish not to agree to; Guevara Vilca's case being a being the foremost example.

Posted by: Jardinero1 | Nov 4, 2011 1:39:55 PM

What if a person were obsessed with viewing bodies of corpses.

And that person's twin was obsessed with viewing "porn" pictures of age 17.92 year males and females; 24 hours per day, excepting timeout for eating and health necessities?



Posted by: JAG | Nov 4, 2011 2:06:38 PM

Under the theory that viewing is as bad as doing, one who possesses a picture of someone committing a murder should be punished every bit as harshly as the murderer. And under federalist's view, anyone who points out the illogic of this is demonizing those who feel that murder is an outrage and needs to be stamped out. Huh?

Posted by: streetlaw | Nov 4, 2011 6:24:12 PM

Funny. The real promoter and generator of horrible, violent porn? This feminist running dog prosecutor. By these sprosecutions, child porn becomes a bigger profit center for international crime syndicates.

What I don't understand?

1) Why defense lawyers do not demand a Daubert hearing on the claim that buying child porn increases its production, when it is the prosecution of child porn that increases the production of horrific, violent scenes, by increasing prices.

2) Why defense lawyers do not move for total e-discovery of the computers of the prosecutor and judge. They are the most likely to have child porn on them because the US government is the biggest buyer, downloader, and subscriber to child porn in the world. The feminist running dog prosecutor can explain to the FBI how those images were part of his job.

3) These prosecutions are price supports for East European crime syndicates. I would like to know if legitimate business front organizations owned by the crime syndicates provide any funding, material support, or other considerations to the election campaigns of these feminist running dog prosecutors and judges.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Nov 4, 2011 7:51:26 PM

ginny:)

I usually object to your "icky perv" references but not today.

Note how federalist used the term "stamp out" instead of "providing justice" to your comment.

Well, Congress and the "gubermint" have been doing that for years.

You see, these types of crimes are much easier to prosecute and demonize than the actual harm. We create more lies and dumb down the voting populace. Like the POS AWA!

Loss of individual and constitutional rights only because (my views are justifiable)!

Posted by: albeed | Nov 4, 2011 11:21:27 PM

Proportionality fluctuates with emotion; the family of a victim frequently advocates Draconian sentencing. Troubling to me is secrecy in sensitive prosecutions as well as the strict definition regarding the age of responsibility. As a retired courts observer I've wondered at the disparity of convictions between 18 year-olds and younger; changing morals and reports of younger perpetrators & victims tear the standard from the eighteen-year-old and move it about as public emotion dictates. IMO, a new scaled-responsibility based on relative development is needed: a knowledgeable juvenile could be as responsible as an adult but adult sentencing needs to be diluted for statuary offenses as opposed to criminal and abusive activities. A high school or Junior high school romance ought not to be criminal nor should one suddenly become a criminal by virtue of aging. A hard age statue ought to be a graduated one.

Posted by: Bobertbobert | Nov 5, 2011 6:24:10 AM

I am a former New York County Assistant District Attorney. I read about Vilca case in the Nov. 5 New York Times article. The sentence is a horrendous miscarriage of justice. As the blogger federalist put it, the statutory penalty is perversely hideously, severe, given the nature of the crime. I assume there was trial testimony about the psychology of actually abusing versus viewing pornography. Can anyone here comment on whether that was strong, whether it was largely disallowed by the judge? What will be the arguments on appeal? Is it just as to sentencing (I am not familiar with Fla. law). Can any expert on this blog comment on the chances of a successful appeal? It would be great if an expert in the field of the psychology of pornography would contribute to this blog. Thank you.

Posted by: sumili | Nov 5, 2011 2:41:33 PM

If the viewing of child pornography is a violent crime, then didn't the law enforcement officers who found this stuff on the defendant's computer, and the judge and the jury who had an opportunity to examine the evidence against him engage in a violent crime?

Aren't law enforcement officers who look at child pornography as they attempt to track its creators engaging in a violent crime (because merely looking at such stuff is a violent crime)?

Aren't researchers who view child pornography in an effort to understand the causes and effects of child sexual abuse engaging in a violent crime?

If the viewing of child pornography is a violent crime simply because a crime must be committed in order to view it, then isn't the possession of illegal drugs a violent crime because the production, distribution and sale of such products is a violent endeavor?

I think that you can tell that I don't think that looking at child pornography, as disgusting and vile as it is, is a violent crime. Similarly, I think that looking at pictures of humans having sex with animals is disgusting and vile, and that animals, like children are incapable of giving consent. However, I don't think that looking at pictures of humans having sex with animals is a violent crime. Should people who look at pictures of humans having sex with animals be punished for violating statutes that prohibit animal cruelty?

Posted by: ND | Nov 5, 2011 2:46:24 PM

Since two people brought it up let me address the issue:

"Aren't researchers who view child pornography in an effort to understand the causes and effects of child sexual abuse engaging in a violent crime?"

and

"It would be great if an expert in the field of the psychology of pornography would contribute to this blog."



There are no experts on child porn and psychology. They simply don't exist. At least, there is no professional who would admit to it because the mere possession of child porn by anyone who is not a law enforcement officer is by definition illegal. The whole "but I just have it for research" purpose was settled in a series of court cases back in the late 80s. Child porn remains the only academic subject matter that it is illegal to study.

So those who are looking for official expertise on the subject will find that there isn't any. That's deliberate.



Posted by: Daniel | Nov 5, 2011 3:15:59 PM

"Aren't researchers who view child pornography in an effort to understand the causes and effects of child sexual abuse engaging in a violent crime?"

I once watched a judge at a sentencing tell a defendant that every time he viewed images of child pornography, he harmed the children in those images. He then asked the prosecutor to show him samples of the some of the images the defendant possessed.

Prosecutors are just as bad. If a CP case goes to trial, the defense is usually that the defendant didn't know about the images, or that someone else downloaded them, or whatever. No one denies they are child pornography. But the prosecutors fight like hell to make sure they can show the images to the jury, even if the defendant stipulates they constitute child pornography. Then, at sentencing, the prosecutor will raise the same argument: every time CP is viewed, the children are victimized all over again.

And so it goes.

Posted by: C.A. | Nov 5, 2011 8:04:43 PM

C.A. --

"If a CP case goes to trial, the defense is usually that the defendant didn't know about the images, or that someone else downloaded them."

Could you tell us the percentage of cases in which that is anything other than an outright lie? I'm well aware that it's above zero; the question is how much. Is it 10%? 15%? What?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 5, 2011 9:50:53 PM

Huh? I haven't heard of many trials where the defense was that the images were not child pornography. Not many of these cases go to trial to begin with, but the defense usually goes to knowledge, whether the defendant is the one who downloaded them, etc. In my experience the images are so unbelievably horrendous that no one would try to argue that they do not contain child pornography.

There was one case in Puerto Rico, where the Government charged a defendant with possessing child pornography. At his trial, or maybe some pretrial hearing, the actor in the video came to testify that she was in her 20's when the videos were made, contrary to the testimony of the Government's expert, who concluded she was under the age of 18. I have heard of an appeal where the defendant argued that the Government did not put on sufficient evidence that the images were of actual children, i.e., that it was possible they were photoshopped, but I don't know if that was argued at trial.

Typically in a CP cases I'm familiar with, the defendant is simply claiming that there is insufficient evidence that he was the one who downloaded the images or that there's reasonable doubt, because someone else had access to the computer.

Posted by: C.A. | Nov 6, 2011 2:15:11 AM

C.A. --

Thank you for your response. I was not, however, asking about burden of proof or questions the defense raises about that.

You had said that the defense is that the "defendant didn't know about the images, or that someone else downloaded them."

My question is: In what percentage of cases is that claim true? Defendants are sometimes successful in arguing that the government did not meet its burden, but in fact they did the deed. To give one notorious example, the OJ jury found that the government did not meet its burden, but I have yet to find a single sensate person who thinks he didn't actually do it.

So, again, my question is not about the BOP. It's simply this: In what percentage of CP cases, where the defense is that someone else did the downloading or the defendant didn't know the pics were on his computer, is that claim actually true?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 6, 2011 9:34:03 AM

I just wanted to jump in on this interesting conversation...

First, I do think that Assistant State Attorney Steve Marsesca is right to point out the market dynamics involving child pornography. If people didn't want it, there'd be no reason to make it. That does not mean, however, that those who view child pornography are perpetrating a violent crime. That would mean that every time someone looked at a photo of a murder he/she would be committing a violent crime, which is of course preposterous.

Second, before I got my PhD and became a law professor, I was a deputy public defender in San Diego. I actually handled a few ugly CP cases. In some cases it is clear that the accused (or someone who had access to his computer/email/credit card) actually downloaded the material because they paid for it or saved it into a new file or emailed it to someone else. In other occasions, however, the illegal images have been deleted and are recovered from the hard drive. That creates the real possibility of false accusations because if the accused inadvertently views CP (and it is all over the internet) or receives an email with an image and immediately deletes it, these images go into is/her hard drive and remain there indefinitely.

And finally, I'm not sure how one would be able to figure out in what percentage of cases the defendant is actually innocent of the charge. The weakest cases for the prosecution are thrown out at prelim. or are plea bargained. The stakes are very high in sex cases. Not only is it difficult to select a fair and impartial jury, but there are also serious mandatory minimums. As a result, it is easy to understand why an innocent person would plead guilty to a lesser offense.

Posted by: Tamara Lave | Nov 6, 2011 4:00:36 PM

@Tamara.

"First, I do think that Assistant State Attorney Steve Marsesca is right to point out the market dynamics involving child pornography. If people didn't want it, there'd be no reason to make it."

Except for the fact, as you hint at, most cases of child porn don't involve the actual exchange of cash. So how can there be a "market" when something is not as a general rule bought or sold. The concept of a market simply makes no sense as applied to child porn. People make child porn for all sorts of reasons but rarely is done out of an economic motive. In this regard your own experience might be misleading you. Child porn which is purchased with a credit card is going to be prosecuted simply because the money trail makes it easier to convict. But in the larger picture such cases are outliers.

To me comments like your are a sad reflection of an American cultural disease. We are so used to defining everything in capitalistic terms that we cannot simply believe that there are people out who do things without money on their minds. If there is a market for child porn it's overwhelmingly a barter-based market. I think, however, it's just better to drop the market analogy entirely.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 6, 2011 4:57:53 PM

Daniel,

i appreciate your comments, but that's not quite what I meant. I'm not saying that people make child porn out of an economic motive, although I'm sure that some do. What I mean is that if there wasn't a demand for child pornography then there would be no reason to produce it.

And the point that I'm making is that the accused's desire for child pornography is partially responsible for it being made. That's where the harm comes from, and that's why it should be punished.

Tamara

Posted by: Tamara Lave | Nov 6, 2011 7:51:55 PM

"And the point that I'm making is that the accused's desire for child pornography is partially responsible for it being made."

Stated this way I agree. I do think, however, that the key word is "partially". I think the impact of demand on supply is usually overstated. There was sexual interaction with children by adults long before photography was invented.

A primary use of photography by pedophiles is as a seduction technique. Children are trained in ordinary life to be compliant before a camera. Moreover, the act of self-recognition through a photograph typically delights a child: the identify with it as a form of play. So when a pedophile hauls out a camera the first thought in his or her mind is usually not that their going to take some photos to share with some anonymous stranger on the net. They pick up the camera to bring the child to heel. Moreover, once the photos are made some pedophiles use them as blackmail to ensure the silence of the child. It's easy to make the child feel guilty and at fault for what has happened and the simple threat of exposure is yet another control technique.

Even if society could somehow magically prevent the dissemination of every single picture of child porn it would still be made by pedophiles. They need it to control and groom the child. The actual demand by third-parties for explicit pictures is a motive in only a minority of cases. People who haven't examined the problems in detail usually overestimate, often vastly overestimate, the demand side of the equation because it serves as a basis for their vapid moral preening. Getting a conviction for possession on some poor sop who in a moment of personal weakness while going through some life crisis downloaded something off the internet and wasn't smart enough to hide his tracks is whole lot easier than actually addressing the root causes of pedophilia.

Frankly, rather than lauding harsh sentences for pedophiles all of us should feel profoundly embarrassed. If a third party has possession of child porn that means that there was some act of child abuse that we as a society failed to prevent. Talking about demand is the wrong focus. Eliminate the supply.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 6, 2011 9:54:57 PM

federalist: "it's nice to demonize those who feel that child porn is an outrage and needs to be stamped out."

me: when have I ever said that child porn is anything but an outrage? When have I ever indicated that I would not like to see it stamped out? However, if given a choice between totally eliminating all existing child porn images and all future sexual assaults of children, I would pick eliminating all future sexual assaults. And I would hope that everyone would feel the same way. Remember the fact that child porn is an outrage because a child was sexually assaulted to create those images.

I believe that as society we should focus on eliminating future childhood sexual assaults - and that sentences in those cases needs to reflect it. To punish mere possession of child porn the same as creation of child porn or the most violent rape of a child may put children at risk of being sexually assaulted if icky pervs - I honestly do not know whether it will or not, but why risk it?

ginny :)

Posted by: virginia | Nov 7, 2011 2:23:52 PM

Ginny :):

Not all CP that has been prosecuted means an actual child was abused. Check out the case of a Japanese ANIME comic collector who was prosecuted for CP.

Posted by: albeed | Nov 7, 2011 10:59:46 PM

Also, keep in mind that many states have mandated child porn laws for images depicting FICTIONAL or computer generated images of children. To state that having such images would be a "violent" crime would be like watching any Dirty Harry movie or any crime and violence movie, subjecting every viewer to committing a criminal, violent act.

The bottom line is that we are legislating emotions, not reality. Note the only sentences in excess of 100 years is for child related sex offenses, not murder or non sexual violence against adults and children alike.

Posted by: Eric Knight | Feb 3, 2012 12:57:00 AM

Do you have an update on the progress of an appeal in this case. I had the condo unit below this boy. I would only see his brother and him one or two times a year when I came to vacation for a week or two. I can't remember the brother Daniel saying anything. The older brother did all the talking. My wife and are were teachers and we always thought Daniel was mentally challenged, maybe special Ed in school. The life in prison WOP. Most people tell me that's impossible when I tell them the sentence. I guess he was smart enough to use a computer. Seems unfair but I'm sure the judge sends murders,rapists,child sex offenders,pedophiles and kidnappers to prison with the same sentence.

Posted by: Jeff wilhelm | Jan 31, 2015 11:14:51 AM

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February 1, 2012

Notable recent state child porn sentencing developments in South Dakota

Thanks to this brief new AP article, which is headlined "South Dakota child pornography convict gets 100-year prison sentence cut about in half," I learned about a fascinating ruling from last year by the South Dakota Supreme Court in South Dakota v. Bruce, 2011 S.D. 14 (SD April 6, 2011) (available here).

Working backwards, here is the latest sentencing news in this notable case:

A 100-year prison sentence handed down to a Pierre man convicted of possessing child pornography has been cut about in half. The South Dakota Supreme Court last year ruled that the initial sentence for 48-year-old Troy Bruce was excessive and ordered a new sentencing. KCCR radio reports that Judge Mark Barnett on Tuesday sentenced Bruce to a total of 55 years in prison. Bruce will be eligible for parole after serving one-fourth of the sentence. He also was given credit for about two years he already has served behind bars.

This report prompted me to wonder if the South Dakota Supreme Court had actually deemed a child porn sentence to be unconstitutional, and the Bruce ruling nearly does. Here are notable snippets from the majority opinion in Bruce:

Bruce was convicted of possessing one DVD containing fifty-five videos of child pornography. He received the ten-year maximum sentence on all fifty-five counts. Forty-five of the sentences were suspended, but the sentences on the remaining ten counts were to be served consecutively resulting in a total sentence of 100 years. Bruce contends that this sentence was cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.... When such statutory ranges are established, the legislative intent is that "the more serious commissions of [the] crime . . . deserve sentences at the harsher end of the spectrum.... Imposing the maximum possible term where the circumstances of the crime only justify a sentence at a lower range violates legislative intent to reserve the most severe sanctions for the most serious combinations of the offense and the background of the offender. Bonner, 1998 S.D. 30,  25. Further, we now adopt Justice Konenkamps recommendation that courts look at two additional determinants when assessing the seriousness of a child pornography offense: (1) the specific nature of the material and (2) the extent to which the offender is involved with that material. Blair, 2006 S.D. 75,  83.... With respect to the seriousness of this offense, the pornography involved much more than lewd images but less than the worst possible material covered by the statute.... With respect to Bruces involvement, he was convicted of possessing the one DVD containing fifty-five images. Although thirty other discs containing child pornography images were found, the court consider[ed] Counts 1 through 10 as one act for the purpose of determining parole eligibility. Additionally, there was no evidence that Bruce manufactured or distributed child pornography. Finally, there was no evidence suggesting that Bruce had ever sexually abused a child, had sexual contact with a child, or solicited a child for sexual images. This was a case of simple possession of images. Bruces character and history reflect that he was a divorced forty-eight year old with three children, one who was still a minor. Other than a careless driving offense, Bruce had no prior criminal history. He was a former member of the National Guard and a veteran who had served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.... Bruces maximum sentences were not reserved for the most serious combination of criminal conduct and background of the offender. We therefore conclude that this is the exceedingly rare case in which Bruces sentence was grossly disproportionate to the particulars of the offense and the offender. See Bonner, 1998 S.D. 30,  25. Because Bruce did not present comparative information with which to conduct an intra- and interjurisdictional analysis, we reverse and remand to the circuit court to consider that evidence on resentencing.

A concurring opinion in Bruce adds these notable observations:

In South Dakota, gross disparity in the sentence length for possession of child pornography exists. For example, in State v. Martin, 2003 S.D. 153, 674 N.W.2d 291, the defendants sentence for possession of child pornography was a term of two years in the penitentiary with all but forty-five days in jail suspended subject to additional conditions. In the present case, the aggregate sentence is a term of 100 years in the penitentiary. Yet the facts of the two cases are similar: both involve the possession but not the manufacture or distribution of multiple computer-based images of child pornography. The difference in the length of the sentences for these similar crimes is shocking.

I think it is safe to assert that, not just in South Dakota, but all across this great nation, "gross disparity in the sentence length for possession of child pornography exists." I have seen and heard of many state (and few federal cases) in which a child porn possession conviction results in only months in prison, and yet a few months ago in Florida (as reported here) Daniel Enrique Guevara Vilca received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for mere child porn possession! What a sad and disturbing mess.

February 1, 2012 at 12:06 PM | Permalink

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At the upcoming House Judiciary committee hearing on post-Booker disparity, count on the disparities in child porn cases being blamed entirely on liberal judges (despite the fact that more than half the bench were GOP appointees). When you staff the Judiciary committees with former prosecutors and DOJ detailees, the committees unsurprisingly will look for ways to give prosecutors more power.

Posted by: Thinkaboutit | Feb 1, 2012 12:20:10 PM

It is sad and disturbing. And like the rest of the "SEX OFFENDER!!!!!" mess, it's immoral. The people behind it are criminals.

I have to say if a criminal government imprisoned my child for very long for something like this, people would be paying for it with their lives. Guaranteed.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | Feb 1, 2012 1:21:58 PM

It is hard to see how a 55 year sentence addresses the appellate court's concerns for a 48 year old man. The de facto length of the maximum sentence for the man, given his life expectency, is essentially unchanged. Of course, if good time routinely reduces the length of a sentence by, for example, 50%, then the likely sentence has dropped from 50 years to 27.5 years, which would afford the man at least a plausible chance of a couple of years of freedom in his dotage.

Posted by: ohwilleke | Feb 1, 2012 1:28:48 PM

while 100 years was a ludicrous sentence given the offense, the following sentences from the opinion makes it clear that prison is where this icky perv belongs:

"One pretrial issue involved the State's use of other acts evidence in the form of a disc containing child pornography. The disc was found in Bruce's safe and was stained with his semen"

how icky!

erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 1, 2012 4:52:32 PM

Erika:

I haave read that more than 50% of American women own a V-br-t-r or a device which was illegal in Texas until a couple of years ago. How double icky!!

Posted by: albeed | Feb 1, 2012 5:15:37 PM



albeed...How double icky!! Kudos again :-)



Posted by: comment | Feb 1, 2012 5:27:59 PM

All kidding aside, I have a serious question about receipt and possession of CP.

I receive many spam E-mails from virus infected computers from people I know. However, if I have any question about the E-mails I delete them immediately without opeing them up or their attachments, or knowing their content.

If any of these E-mails contained CP, could I be charged with receipt of CP (but not possession), even though I did not know it? As I understand it, If you receive CP, you are to contact LE immeduately (and say bye-bye to your computer for a long time.)

In order to put a stranglehold on its citizens, Is this why the gubermint makes receipt prosecuted more severely than possession?

Posted by: albeed | Feb 1, 2012 5:58:35 PM

Albeed, that is what happened to my husband. He received e-mails from a drunk crazy guy (we are pretty sure he went to a treatment center before he could be sent to prison) and because my husband opened the e-mails and they contained two pictures of CP my husband was charged with Receiving, not possesion. 5 years mandatory minimum.

By the way the guy continued to send pictures to my husband. The whole thing took place one night in about a two hour time period. The Feds tried to charge my husband with the pictures that were sent after my husband logged off and had deleted the pictures from drunk crazy guy.

Posted by: JS | Feb 2, 2012 12:55:24 PM

@ albeed:

Can't we all just agree that sex in any form is icky, irrespective of whether it complies with the particulars of a state or federal statute? I think that's the major unstated premise we're dealing with, wouldn't you agree?

Posted by: Guy | Feb 2, 2012 1:03:46 PM

Guy:

You know, I am an old-fashioned type of male pig. I have had s-x with only one woman (my wife of greater than 35 years) and I still enjoy it. I think she does too.

She never referred to it as icky and neither did I.

Posted by: albeed | Feb 2, 2012 1:22:37 PM

@ albeed:

I'm having to put on my thinking cap here, but I'd be willing to venture a guess that even that, in the eyes of some keyboard commandos, would probably be regarded as icky as well. It is, after all, sex. :)

Posted by: Guy | Feb 2, 2012 6:06:54 PM

albeed, the ickiness lies not in the act of self pleasure, but in the fact that this icky perv was pleasuring himself while looking at pictures of little girls being raped.

you can try to spin a scenario where someone might innocently run across images of little girls being raped, but they pretty obviously do not apply here. its pretty obvious this icky perv gets off on little girls being raped so he definitely belongs in prison.

erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 3, 2012 8:22:04 AM

guy: "Can't we all just agree that sex in any form is icky, irrespective of whether it complies with the particulars of a state or federal statute?"

me: sex between consenting adults is never icky.

sex between an adult and a 5 year old is always icky.

why is that concept so diffiuclt for some people to understand? :)

guy: "I think that's the major unstated premise we're dealing with, wouldn't you agree?"

me: you obviously don't know me very well ;)

erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 3, 2012 8:34:24 AM

STRAWMAN ALERT! STRAWMAN ALERT!

The board now contains a proposition that the real problem with those opposed to child pornagraphy is that they oppose sex per se.

Can anyone spot the strawman in this picture?

Let me rephrase that. Can anyone NOT spot the strawman in this picture?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 3, 2012 12:24:37 PM

She never referred to it as icky and neither did I.

--

You're doing it wrong.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Feb 3, 2012 6:56:17 PM

Soronel:

Good one!

Do you have the Texas SO data yet?

Posted by: albeed | Feb 3, 2012 7:16:19 PM

albeed,

Yeah, but my premise going in was wrong. There are no offenses that land someone on a non-publicly available Texas registry. There are offenders who are not publicly listed for various reasons (certain juveniles, those whose processing is not yet complete mostly) but it is always tied to something about the offender and not the underlying offense. Given that my entire premise was wrong I didn't see much point in going forward. Certainly if you were to use a categorical approach of the sort used for ACCA predicates every offense that gets someone listed is a serious felony.

When I was in contact with TX DPS there were about 1100 non-listed offenders and close to 70k listed.

There really isn't enough data to try and quantify how many of the total are Romeo and Juliet type cases but the perusal of the public database I've done leads me to believe it's a small slice of the total.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Feb 3, 2012 8:20:35 PM

Soronel:

Any slice is too high, or do we give up on good human beings and say, O well?

Posted by: albeed | Feb 3, 2012 10:15:36 PM

soronel, when it comes to consensual relationships between adults, what one person may find icky, another person may find extremely pleasurable.

albeed, I know you wanted Texas, but try looking at Delaware and Iowa's sex offender registry which have much better search interfaces. Delaware allows searches by offense at conviction. Iowa has an excellent advanced search interface which allows you to search by almost any feature you want. Iowa also allows you to sort results by age. Both are states with lower populations so there aren't as many results. In both cases, it will reveal that "Romeo-Julliet" relationships rarely land people on the sex offender registry.

On the other hand, masturbating while looking at pictures of little girls being raped or raping little girls will always land someone in prison and on the sex offender registry. And should - because those offenders are dangerous!

Erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 5, 2012 8:06:43 AM

Erica,

What is the study you found that says people who look at pictures are dangerous?

Just your opinion?



Posted by: Curious | Feb 5, 2012 4:13:57 PM

Curious:

Yes, it is just Erika's feminist opinion.

eriKa:

That you just blew off my comment on another post that there are 6 times more sex offenders per capita in Oregon than Pennsylvania, (quite a statistical anomoly don't you think) tells everyone how arbitrary and capricious these laws are.

Posted by: albeed | Feb 5, 2012 10:33:52 PM

curious: "What is the study you found that says people who look at pictures are dangerous?"

me: when the pictures are of little girls being raped, it is pretty self evident that the person is an icky perv pedophile who desires to have sex with little girls or an icky perv sadist who gets off on the infliction of pain on girls. Icky pervs are dangerous because of the risk that they will ecsalate their behavior and actually attack and rape a child. Once a person has shown an attraction to the rape of little girls (or boys), he (or extremely rarely she) has shown him (or extremely rarely her) to be an icky perv and society needs to treat icky pervs as being dangerous.

Now because the icky perv as far as can be proved has only looked at pictures they deserve a sentencing break over that of someone who actually rapes a child. However society still needs to take steps to protect itself from the icky perv and because there is no effective treatment for pedophilia those steps need to be eliminating the icky perv's access to children through a prison sentence, placement on the sex offender registry, "treatment," and restrictions on freedom to prevent access to children following release.

erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 6, 2012 6:19:15 AM

albeed, under our federal system, states are free to set their laws as they desire. If Oregon has more sex offenders per capita due to more restrictive laws, Oregon has made that decision. If by contrast, Oregon has more icky pervs per capita than Pennsylvania, it should lead one to ask what makes Oregonians so likely to molest children or what attracks icky pervs to move to Oregon.

Erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 6, 2012 6:26:11 AM

Erika:

My comments are about justice, not what our current perverse lawmakers consider to be vote-getting prostitution. I am glad you are a legend in your own mind. However, you don't realize that your continued use of the icky pervs noun is somewhat akin to using the N word in the old south. It has no absolute descriptive value except to demean, not explain.

Posted by: albeed | Feb 6, 2012 9:28:54 PM

Some people here apparently think that the Registries and "restrictions" on freedoms somehow "prevents access to children". That is quite indicative of someone who has no grip on reality. I assure you that a person can be listed on a nanny, big government Registry and spend as much time around children as one likes. And of course, as many people on here know, some people spend a lot of time around random children just because they are listed on a government list.

BTW, where are the rest of the Registries? We are waiting.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | Feb 7, 2012 6:18:57 PM

albeed, icky pervs are icky pervs based upon their actions. are you seriously comparing the treatment of pedophiles who act upon their disgusting desire to have sex with children to discrimination based upon race?

don't be riduculous! :)

Erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 10, 2012 12:11:21 PM

albeed, incidentially, would you agree with classifing this mother as an icky pervette?

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/woman-admits-to-sex-acts-with-infant-daughter/article_150d8aba-4b97-11e1-9f78-001a4bcf6878.html

incidentially, for her 100 years in prison is too low of a sentence!

Erika :)

Posted by: virginia | Feb 10, 2012 1:43:42 PM

Erika I would kindly appreciate it if you could take your insignificant feminist views and smear them on some other blog that shares the same ignorant thoughts as your own. This blog is for open-minded individuals who want to discuss justice and injustice, not "icky pervs"

Posted by: PleaseUSJesus | Feb 10, 2014 8:06:53 PM

I am the brother of Troy Bruce. What is very shocking about this case is the amount of evidence that was not allowed in the case that would show Troy Bruce may not in fact be guilty. In a book called "Protecting our Kids?" Troy and his family were interviewed and also the case was looked at. What was found is that Troy was found guilty by the jury due to what is called (Just in Case). In other words "just in case he may be guilty" the jury found a determination of guilt. Some of the jury member interviewed we shocked at the amount of time given to Troy as they had thought that he would get a few years at the most. Many have expressed guilt over the decision. The police found a few cd disc with the CP on it. The police actually had a warrant to search for marijuana and claim they saw child porn on the main computer in the living room that 5 people had access to. Later it would be found out that in fact no child porn was on the computer, only the disc the police found. The informant for the police was Troy's ex-girlfriend, he was kicking her out as she was spending all his money at the casinos and would leave for days with his truck. Right before the raid she removed two computer towers that were hers. When she had to finally surrender them, both of the hard drives were wiped clean. Someone had formatted them. Her son also lived with them for awhile. (It was not allowed into court that her son had spent time in a facility for molesting his siblings and was not suppose to have access to a computer, he was on it all the time). Also the ex girlfriend had accused others of crimes like this. She accused a doctor of molesting her, she accused her brother in law of molesting her kids and now she was accusing my brother of having child porn.Also it was found that much of the child pornography was downloaded while Troy was away for a week and did not have computer access.

This case was so poorly handled that any appeal failed. Troy's lawyer waved right after right only to try to fight back the rights he waved. If you look at South Dakota, you will find cases were the individual molested children, recorded it and sold it. They all received less time. Many people that actually distributed this material will often receive a sentence of only months. Troy was a decorated war veteran and a registered nurse working with hospice patients. His accuser was unemployed and throughout the trial requested money from the court. She would also harass my elderly parents for over a year wanting Troy's property claiming it was hers as she lived in the apartment. She would also get a cell phone in Troy's name after he was in jail and not pay the bill. Long story short, "Just in Case" type decisions need to go away.

Corey

Posted by: Corey | Jan 29, 2016 11:24:35 AM

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April 13, 2017

Florida judge imposes 100 years in prison for child porn possession for first offender claiming innocence

This local article about a state sentencing in Florida, headlined "Man, 37, sentenced to 100 years for child porn conviction," reports on a remarkably severe sentence handed down yesterday. Here are the details:

A 36-year-old St. Johns County man is looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars after Circuit Court Judge Howard Maltz sentenced him to 100 years in prison Wednesday morning. The sentencing came nearly two months after a jury found Jesse Graham Berben guilty on 20 counts of possession of child pornography at the end of a two-day February trial. Berben, who maintained his innocence even through his sentencing hearing Wednesday, was arrested by St. Johns County Sheriffs Office detectives in April 2015 after authorities obtained a search warrant for his Washington Street apartment  where he was living with his father at the time  and finding files containing the pornography on his computer. His arrest report indicates that Berben denied knowing anything about the files or how they ended up on his computer. While he admitted to having a peer-to-peer file-sharing program that he used to download music, he denied using his computer to keep or download child pornography and said that if such files were found that it must have been compromised in some way. Berbens attorney, Tom Cushman, said after the sentencing that his client had maintained his innocence to him from the day that they first met, and that Berben had been offered a plea agreement from the state that would have netted him a prison sentence of about 5 years, but he refused to plead because he said he was not guilty and he wasnt going to plead guilty to something he didnt do and become a registered sex offender with it. The sentence he ultimately received was more than four-times the lowest permissible sentence Maltz could have handed down based on sentencing guidelines submitted in court Wednesday (the maximum sentence was life in prison). It was also beyond even what Assistant State Attorney Mitch Bishop asked for while standing in for his colleague Chris Ferebee, who prosecuted the case. Bishop, in his remarks before sentencing, said that the images  most of them movie files  found on Berbens computer depicted children, some as young as 5-years-old, engaged in various sex acts. He pushed back on the notion, expressed by some, that merely possessing such images is not nearly as bad as carrying out the acts depicted. The problem with that is that viewing these images, possessing these images creates a market for someone else to produce them, he said. I dont think that point should be overlooked. Berben, he argued, not only downloaded the files but kept them in the file sharing program, making them available to others. Bishop asked Maltz for a sentence that would include the rest of Berbens meaningful life, arguing that someone who is sexually gratified by or even sexually curious by such images does not possess much rehabilitative potential.... Cushman, citing his clients 10 years of military service and lack of any criminal record, asked Maltz to consider something far less than Bishop asked for, and pointed out that the sentencing guidelines for the possession of child pornography made his client eligible for a punishment possibly greater than if hed actually committed the act.... Maltz, though, citing the images seen at the trial, called the case quite troubling and said he agreed with the states argument against any notion that possession of the images is a victimless crime. I see little difference in culpability between those who actually sexually abuse and exploit children, and those who encourage and promote the conduct by downloading and sharing videos of such, which I think warrants a significant sentence, he said. Maltz sentenced Berben to five years in prison for each of the 20 counts, to be served consecutively. Cushman said Berben plans to appeal the sentence.

I am pretty sure that Florida lacks any general parole provisions, so the defendant in this case is certain to die in prison if his convictions or sentence is not modified on appeal. Notably, a somewhat similar case from Florida a few years ago, the Vilca case discussed here where an LWOP sentence was imposed for child porn possession, had convictions reversed based on a discovery violation as noted here. Also, in a similar case from South Dakota, the Bruce case discussed here, the South Dakota Supreme Court found a 100-year prison sentence for child porn possession constitutionally excessive.

It will be interesting to see if this case might get the level of attention that some others involving extreme prison terms sometimes do. And it will be interesting to see how the Florida courts engage with these matters on appeal.

April 13, 2017 at 11:19 AM | Permalink

Comments

While possession of child pornography is a serious crime that should be seriously punished, this sentence is totally disproportionate; it breeds disrespect for the law and brings the criminal justice system into disrepute. But nothing new under sun here as the following scholars and courts have noted:

American punishment is comparatively harsh, comparatively degrading, comparatively slow to show mercy. James Q. Whitman, Harsh Justice (Oxford Press 2003 paperback ed) at page 19 Contemporary policies concerning crime and punishment are the harshest in American history and of any Western country. The Handbook of Crime And Punishment (Oxford Press 1998) paperback ed. at page 3. See U.S. v Newhouse, 919 F.Supp.2d 955 (N.D.Iowa 2013) (totally disproportionate, unduly harsh sentences breed disrespect for the law.); See Testimony Of Justice Anthony Kennedy before the Senate Judiciary Committee February 14, 2007 in response to Senator Whitehouse (Our sentences are too long, our sentences are too severe, our sentences are too harsh... [and because there are so few pardons] there is no compassion in the system. Theres no mercy in the system.), video link accessible at Professor Bermans Sentencing Law and Policy Blog of Feb. 15, 2007); Justice Kennedy s ABA speech of 2003 (A country which is secure in its institutions, confident in its laws should not be ashamed of the concept of mercy. As the greatest of poets has said 'mercy is the mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.');

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Apr 13, 2017 12:01:15 PM

I agree completely with Mr. Levine. Such a draconian sentence, essentially a sentence of life, is the same sentence imposed on the Green River killer, and many other serial killers (Kacynski, the mail bomber, etc) . Where is our sense of justice? Absolutely outrageous. Both judge and prosecutor should hand their heads in shame.

Posted by: Dave from Texas | Apr 13, 2017 12:28:48 PM

Clearly, this is a horrible crime, if in fact, the guy is guilty. And that seems to be a big if. I know this--if I were the prosecutor, I'd want to be absolutely f'ing sure that this guy is guilty. From what I read here, I am not sure that's the case. The article may not tell the whole story.

Posted by: federalist | Apr 13, 2017 12:29:20 PM

Federalist, I agree it's a serious crime, and it should be seriously punished. But assuming he's guilty as sin, which I do, the sentence is still draconian. As Dave from Texas points out, why does this man deserve an effective sentence of life in prison, the same sentence imposed on the Green River Killer, Theodore Kacyznski, Jeffrey Dahmer, and many other maniacal killers? Give me a break. Justice is not served by such a disproportionate sentence.

Posted by: Sarah | Apr 13, 2017 12:46:43 PM

Given that I believe that any crime more serious than the theft of a couple hundred dollars should carry a presumptive death sentence I have no problems with this outcome as such. As presented the article does raise questions about actual guilt but I have encountered enough slanted reporting that I would have to see much more before those concerns became anything more than curiosity.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 13, 2017 1:17:00 PM

Sara,

Accepting the jury's guilty verdict he deserves it because at the life end of the sentencing range once you get to a certain point of seriousness all offenders have earned their ticket to the slammer. I see making that gradation on the worst of those who draw such a sentence (instead of the least) as being a logical mistake.

An example of what I mean, if you were to accept my threshold for a presumptive death sentence then it would not matter how many offenders are beyond that point. There just isn't room for gradation once you reach the life sentence or execution range.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 13, 2017 1:21:46 PM

Sorry, Sarah.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 13, 2017 1:22:07 PM

There are so many things wrong here I don't know where to begin but I'll focus on the basics, which is his guilt. This case is ripe for overturning on that grounds alone because it confuses the possession of equipment with the act of downloading.

Here is the relevant fact:

"where he was living with his father at the time"

So how did they know the father didn't do it? Did the father testify that he didn't do it so it was an issue of credibility? Courts have routinely held that if a computer is in a shared environment where more than one person has physical access to the computer a jury is not allowed to impute the act of downloading to the person who owns the computer because that abrogates the governments burden of proving who downloaded the material.

I realize that this is a sentencing blog but I'd still like to know more about whether he is really guilty or not. We have seen in other jurisdictions defendants have their convictions overturned.

Posted by: Daniel | Apr 13, 2017 1:39:23 PM

I'll be the one to chime in and say: the prosecutor's theory for why this crime deserves a harsh sentence seems dubious. In a world of peer-to-peer file sharing, does downloading of child pornography create a market for it? There are other reasons why it's bad, but if there's little or no evidence of the "market" justification, that's another reason why this sentence is way out of line.

Posted by: MW | Apr 13, 2017 3:13:27 PM

Just as an aside...

If you watch the decapitation or other murderous videos that are released by terrorists, and you download the video and keep it as a file, does that make you liable for a prison sentence just as if you actually did the terrorizing or murder yourself? While other people may claim that child porn is different because "you only get killed once, but can be victimized over and over again," they negate the actual crime by minimizing the act itself and maximizing the non-physically-destructive viewing crime.

Posted by: Eric Knight | Apr 13, 2017 3:14:27 PM

I would love to see prosecutors and judges that do these kinds of things get wacked. They deserve it. They are clearly a danger to Americans.

No respect for government or their criminal employees. F them.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | Apr 13, 2017 6:04:48 PM

Eric Knight | Apr 13, 2017 3:14:27 PM:

It doesn't make any sense to me why child porn is illegal yet it is not illegal to watch children being murdered. And frankly that doesn't make sense to any normal person with a brain.

It is nothing but America's idiotic obsession with s*x. It's a witch hunt.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | Apr 13, 2017 6:09:28 PM

If he didn't pay for the porn, then how can he of created a market for it.

I have to guess that Florida Elects judges.

Hopefully when the pythons finish eating all the animals in Florida, they will start on the Government.

Posted by: Stephen | Apr 13, 2017 6:41:48 PM

I feel for him. I too was convicted of same offense. P 2 P file downloaded for nature images and had illegal images in it. Since they were coded and not previewable, I saw them after I downloaded. I did not keep them , but the goon squad came and that was the end of my life. I received 90 days and a forever sentence on a worthless list. The authorities know where this stuff thisbut would rather chase the innocents because it's easier for them. I am eligible for reduction, but so what, my life is ruined so that judges, politicians, and law enforcement can gain points with an ignorant public. I wish him the best, and hope the judge suffers horrible tragedies the rest of his life

Posted by: Chris | Apr 13, 2017 6:45:59 PM

*I am a member of an advocacy group working for the civil rights of registered citizens.



The judge in this case is an idiot who knows nothing of the research and facts associated with child pornography. CP is free on the Internet. No market can be driven on something that is free. Claiming that there is no difference between viewing and abusing is totally illogical. For centuries the public observed public executions-- is that the same as being the executioner??

I know of some men who were convicted of possession of child pornography and they did not serve one day in prison. I believe the usual sentence is five to seven years. Given the vast disparity of this sentence and the usual sentence, I would like to know what justification the judge could have for his decision. Whatever happened to "equal protection under the law?"

I have to assume that this judge is seeking re-election points and I believe he cannot possibly have a conscience and sentence a young man to live the rest of his life in prison for this offense!

Posted by: Margaret Moon | Apr 13, 2017 10:49:13 PM

I have proposed e-discovery of the judge's computers and devices, as a duty in professional standards of due care for all defense lawyers. The lawyers are unanimous, that will be left to a pro se litigant, even if they see the reasoning behind it.

Posted by: David Behar | Apr 14, 2017 2:00:21 AM

Sarah. Thank the feminist lawyer and its male running dogs for this witch hunt of the productive male. We males owe them payback.

Posted by: David Behar | Apr 14, 2017 2:03:35 AM

Judge and prosecutor should be so ashamed, how do they sleep at night?

Hope the appeal has a better end result for this young man who has maintained his innocense from day one. Wish he had taken the plea, but I totally understand, why would you want to go to prison for 5 yrs and be put on the registry if you are innocent?

I believe those P2P share websites can corrupt your computer with CP files you didn't ask for, even if you are just dowloading music. Have read too many stories on advocacy sites about it happening to others, and I seriously doubt all those people are "making up" the same story.

Can only imagine this guy's thoughts on how the law has failed him. So sad.

Posted by: kat | Apr 14, 2017 9:05:34 AM

kat:

Decisions like this, without EVIDENCE that there was a transfer of money or a deliberate search for said files demonstrates that the law has failed ALL of us. The protections provided by the Constitution and the Law aren't worth the paper their printed on.

This not only leads to disrespect for LE, judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys who do not cry out loud enough, but outright hatred of government, lawmakers and idiots which turn a blind eye to it.

Posted by: albeed | Apr 14, 2017 12:17:53 PM

Where is the evidence that criminalizing the viewing and possessing of KP eliminates any market for someone to produce it? When has criminalizing anything deterred the behavior being targeted? If it were even remotely possible, would there be a need for judges, criminal attorneys, or jailers? Giving this guy 100 years isn't going to put a dent into the KP "market."

Posted by: Huh? | Apr 14, 2017 6:38:08 PM

IN my experience, the judicial system probably has more porn on their computers and backgrounds. One hundred years for porn (pictures), a first time offender? Somebody sure thinks they are above the Law. Incompetent judicial system? Who made the porn? Who sent the porn? Where is the Law that you can not view material that is in public view? This is completely wrong in our society, he claimed to be innocent, what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Courts are lazy and waste money for profit.

Posted by: LC in Texas | Apr 15, 2017 10:46:15 PM

While CP should be illegal, it should be treated more so like a copyright case and focus on the producer. We don't prosecute people if they possess a torture video such an ISIS video of people getting burned,amputated,beaten,etc

In addition are "adult rape" videos treated the same? What about abu grahib? If the person committed a henious, there's a great chance he/she would receive a lesser sentence.

Posted by: ash | Apr 16, 2017 1:21:00 AM

these judges one day are going to one day get a harsher punishment trust me

Posted by: spence | Aug 7, 2017 12:18:39 AM

Check out my link. This is an example of over punishment. 10 years? I can't believe it. Please sjare my story guys.

https://www.gofundme.com/the-justice-system-failed-mehelp

Posted by: Lawrence Archer | Mar 21, 2018 2:19:46 AM

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 "Four Decades and Counting: The Continued Failure of the War on Drugs" | Main | Over-burdened New Orleans public defenders talk of challenges to 60 Minutes 

April 13, 2017

"Three Reasons Why Virginia May Execute an Innocent Man"

The title of this post is the headline of this notable new commentary authored by LawProf Cara Drinan. Here are excerpts:

In 2006, a jury convicted Ivan Teleguz of hiring someone to kill Stephanie Sipe, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child. Now, more than a decade later, Virginia is scheduled to execute Teleguz on April 25, 2017, and there is substantial evidence suggesting that Teleguz is innocent. How is that possible in the United States  the land of the free, where a poor person is entitled to legal counsel and a criminal defendant has numerous chances to be heard in court? Actually, it happens with some ease, and in part, it happens because of conscious choices we have made about our legal system. There are at least three reasons for this counter-intuitive reality. 1. Prosecutors, Not Judges or Juries, Resolve Most Criminal Cases in America ... Teleguzs case demonstrates this phenomenon well. There was no physical evidence connecting him to the murder of Ms. Sipe; the prosecutions case was based on the testimony of three witnesses. Since his trial, two of those witnesses have recanted their testimony and have admitted that they lied when they implicated Teleguz in exchange for favorable treatment from the government. The Commonwealth repeatedly told the third witness, Ms. Sipes actual killer, that he would face the death penalty unless he cooperated with them by agreeing to testify against Teleguz in Ms. Sipes murder and sticking to that story. Not surprisingly, he did just that and he is serving out a life sentence while Teleguz faces imminent death. 2. The Myth of the Right to Counsel ... Teleguz suffered at the hands of a broken system. Counsel in death penalty cases are held to a heightened standard of performance, and as part of that standard, they are expected to conduct extensive, careful investigation to prepare for the sentencing phase of the trial. Teleguzs trial counsel was far from diligent, and as a result, the jury heard evidence that Teleguz was involved in another arranged murder. This evidence persuaded the jury to vote for the death penalty. Heres the wrinkle: not only was Teleguz not involved in such a crime, the crime never happened. Years after his trial, that fact came to light, and the government has now acknowledged that the alleged prior murder did not happen. But the jury verdict stands. 3. Not So Appealing Appeals Process ... Surely, the multi-layered appellate process would ferret out an error of this magnitude and provide a remedy? Not necessarily. In 1996, Congress passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) and in the process gutted the federal writ of habeas corpus, which a federal court can use to order the release of someone wrongly imprisoned. Today, the American appellate process is an intricate web of procedural rules, and, in fact, "we have purposefully designed our system of appellate review to examine almost everything but factual guilt or innocence." That might be defensible if we could be confident in the accuracy of our criminal justice system, but we cant be. Since 1989, there have been more than 2,000 exonerations in the United States. In 2015 alone, 58 people were exonerated of homicide convictions. Like many of those individuals, Teleguz has consistently maintained his innocence. Today there is new evidence to support that claim that no court has fully examined. In the next few days, Governor Terry McAuliffe cant do much about prosecutorial overreach, problems with indigent defense, and the complex appellate process. But he can recognize that, because of these systemic failures, there is substantial doubt about Teleguzs guilt. Governor McAuliffe should grant clemency and stop Teleguzs execution.

This recent AP article, headlined "Conservatives urge Virginia governor to spare inmate's life," highlights that it is not only a law professor urging Gov McAuliffe to act in this capital case.

UPDATE : A commentor has usefully noted that the Fourth Circuit opinion in this case, which is available here, provides a different perspective on this case and Teleguz's claims of innocence.

April 13, 2017 at 06:30 PM | Permalink

Comments

Professor Berman,

Do you believe that you have any obligation in your blog to correct the misstatements baldly asserted by Prof. Drinan? Have you read the opinion of the 4th Circuit in this case? It shows that alleged "recanted" statements consisted of affidavits and not testimony. It also shows that one such affidavit was made by the habeas attorney who purportedly spoke with someone overseas who claimed to be the witness. It similarly shows that all the law enforcement witnesses who were accused of misconduct testified before the U.S. District Court Judge and all flatly denied all the alleged misconduct. (One such allegation was that the prosecutor visited him in prison and brought cookies she had baked for him...) The Judge found their testimony "credible" and found the recanting affidavits "unreliable".

Education for citizenship indeed.

Posted by: Cal. Prosecutor | Apr 13, 2017 7:42:02 PM

Prosecutor needs a 12 ga vasectomy

Posted by: MidWestGuy | Apr 13, 2017 8:36:17 PM

Prosecutor: Of course, it would have been ideal if the recantations had been in the form of live testimony (and not affidavits), but as the Dist. Ct. judge noted, the witnesses were unavailable to testify. One of the key witnesses had left the US and was not amenable to subpoena power and the other pleaded the 5th because he feared exposure to additional criminal charges.

Posted by: CHD | Apr 14, 2017 8:53:15 AM

So the triggerman killed Stephanie Sipe out of the clear blue sky?

Posted by: federalist | Apr 14, 2017 9:08:03 AM

I see National Review posted a letter from twenty-five conservatives and libertarians requesting the governor to halt the execution because of doubt of guilt:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/446727/conservatives-gov-mcauliffe-dont-execute-ivan-teleguz

This includes something used to help show he was dangerous/guilty enough to execute:

"At trial, the prosecutor argued that Teleguz should be sentenced to death, in part, because he was dangerous and involved in another murder in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Yet, it was later revealed that the testimony about this supposed murder was completely fabricated  the murder in Ephrata never even happened."

The concern in all the analysis I could find focused on the deficiency of the evidenced used to convict. I could not find an alternative theory for the crime being offered. That would be useful, obviously, but not necessary.

Posted by: Joe | Apr 14, 2017 10:11:54 AM

Joe, the problem is that we can't trust "your side" (a term I use loosely)--many of these innocence claims (e.g. Roger Coleman, Troy Davis in 2011 and probably the worst of all, Kevin Cooper) turn out to be completely bogus. A lot of the "conservatives" take headlines and don't go into the weeds and take an opportunity to virtue-signal.

The true believers have time to manufacture innocence claims (Glossip) and a friendly press doesn't ask hard questions.

Your side cries wolf way too often, and it drowns out legit claims of innocence.

Posted by: federalist | Apr 14, 2017 10:41:37 AM

I guess the way to defeat conservatives/libertarians in various instances is to agree with them. The National Review promoting the case here.

Look! A squirrel!!!!



Posted by: Joe | Apr 14, 2017 10:58:06 AM

ETA: Again, the coverage focuses on doubt on the evidence of guilt. While it would be useful, and maybe somewhere it was offered, an alternative theory of the crime is not necessary. And, conservatives/libertarians in this specific case [like liberals sometimes in specific cases joined with their causes] also are doubtful.

The fact federalist is suspicious is duly noted. Likewise, in another case, a liberal minded sort would be suspicious if it was argued (with across the board support) that a claim of racism was unfounded even though the person making it seems trustworthy or whatever. We can move past that and focus on the specifics.

Posted by: Joe | Apr 14, 2017 11:02:20 AM

Fed: Your above statement has a lot of common sense. Why would a stranger kill a person, and not profit from it?

Posted by: David Behar | Apr 14, 2017 11:59:55 AM

Cal. Prosecutor: is there an affirmative misstatement in when Prof Drinan wrote, or are you just asserting that this advocate should have made the case for the other side? I am eager to avoid reprinting any blatant misstatement, but I am not sure I see what fits that description here.

Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 14, 2017 1:51:58 PM

The Fourth Circuit analyzed the "other murder" issue. Apparently, the evidence at trial did not show that Teleguz was involved in the other murder but rather that he was present when threats were made and about a week later somebody was killed. The witness's testimony was either ambiguous about the location of the murder or was mistaken as the murder. The threats took place in one location. The witness's testimony suggests that the murder took place in the same location. The evidence at the federal habeas hearing showed that the murder took place at a different location in a nearby town and that Teleguz was connected to that murder. So the claim that the alleged murder did not happen is wrong; it happened but at a different location than described by the witness (who while he witnessed the threats was merely relaying hearsay about the murder). As such, the claim that the other murder did not happen and everybody agrees that it did not happen is misleading at best.

Posted by: tmm | Apr 14, 2017 1:55:45 PM

From today's Washington Post:

"Gilkes, one of the men Teleguz allegedly asked to kill Sipe, confessed that, as a part of his testimony, he had fabricated a prior murder said to have occurred in Ephrata, Pa., and pinned it on Teleguz. The prosecution then used this testimony to paint Teleguz as a dangerous man to convince the jury to sentence Teleguz to death. Since Gilkess retraction, both federal law enforcement and a senior assistant attorney general have confirmed there is no evidence the Ephrata murder ever occurred."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2017/04/14/mcauliffe-should-grant-teleguz-clemency/?utm_term=.2bf92ba3b26f

Posted by: CHD | Apr 14, 2017 2:04:16 PM

Prof. B,

Could we start with the title of the post?

Reading the 4th Circuit opinion shows that none of Drinan's claims hold water. I expect her kind of snake-oil peddling from the anti-DP crowd, but that does not mean you have to fall over that cliff. One of the primary reasons I read your blog daily is because I have found you to be a thoughtful advocate for your positions and not a shrill zealot, willing to obfuscate, if not flat out lie. Even a brief mention of the findings by the 4th would have served that purpose. Does someone "recant" court testimony by a mere affidavit (let alone one done over the phone across the ocean)? "The Commonwealth repeatedly told the third witness..." when the District Judge hearing the matter found otherwise? The IAC issue? Appeals don't deal with "guilt or innocence"?

I quoted the OSU motto at you because I want to be educated by your pieces, not rendered insensible by extremists who far-too-often ignore anything contrary to their claims of "innocence". We have far too much of that going on from both sides of the political spectrum.

Posted by: Cal. Prosecutor | Apr 14, 2017 3:28:39 PM

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 3:40:13 PM

The title of this post, Cal. Prosecutor, is a direct quote of the title of the Prof. Drinan's commentary. When I feel like the title of a piece that I have decided to spotlight captures its essence effectively and provocatively, I often use the title (in quotes) as my post title. Doing so is not meant as an endorsement of that title, as I hope you and others understand. For example, the post just prior to this one quotes the title of a Cato commentary, "Four Decades and Counting: The Continued Failure of the War on Drugs," which I am certain Bill Otis and many others could describe as reflecting a certain kind of zealotry.

I do not think simply reporting/reprinting a commentary from a widely-read publication (HuffPo) authored by a tenured lawprof amounts to "falling over a cliff." I get that you see Prof Drinan as an anti-DP extremist based on this commentary, but I did not extensively dig into the case before posting this commentary because I know of Prof Drinan's work on other matters and her writings generally do not strike me as extreme or shrill or lies.

That all said, I very much appreciate the push back here so that I make sure I do not fall over any cliffs, and I especially see the value of adding a link to the Fourth Circuit opinion in order to allow readers to get another perspective on the case. And so I will.

Posted by: Doug B | Apr 14, 2017 4:02:50 PM

"...or are you just asserting that this advocate should have made the case for the other side?"

This subject has been reviewed many times. David Duke, former head of the KKK, hates Jews and blacks. He does not lie about them on his web site. He selects news stories that make them look bad. He should be considered a liar by that biased selection, by his repeated violation of the exception fallacy, by his not providing the other side of the story.

Journalists have a Code of Ethics duty to provide both sides of each story. When they fail to do so, the defamation should be per se since they are violating their own rule. That makes the NY Times, NPR, HuffPost equivalent in credibility to the David Duke web site, a hate speech, false propaganda outlet.

I believe all college professors or even kindergarten teachers should be neutral transmitters of information on a subject. Indoctrination by biased propaganda is a rip off of tuition fees, and should be seen as a tort of fraud. Professors who fail to present both sides are advocates, and should clearly label their utterances as such. Otherwise, the use of the title, Professor, is misleading, since the expectation is one of complete presentation of all sides of a subject. The author called herself a professor of law. David Duke is honest. She is not.

Posted by: David Behar | Apr 14, 2017 11:18:00 PM

Virginia has had a disgusting history for at least the past 25 years in sending innocent people to death row because unscrupulous prosecutors and states Attorneys General like Mary Terry who served as a nominal Democrat chose to suppress evidence that would have proven innocence of clients. Her decision to suppress evidence is an admission of the defendant's innocence and that crooked politicians like her have something to hide. People like her who knowing lie under oath and suppress exculpatory evidence shows felonious obstruction of justice. Ms. Terry and others of her ilk belong in prison for a good long time and should have to pay massive restitution to the innocent people they have knowingly railroaded. In the case of one defendant in 1990 (a Getano, I believe)came close to execution. The only thing that spared his life was when Governor Wilder, the nation's first black governor, commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. (Virginia did not allow its governors, at least back then, to free the wrongfully convicted). The fact that Ms. Terry called herself a Democrat makes her behavior all the more repugnant. It's bad enough when a Republican does that, but at least one can expect that type of crap from a Tea-Party Republican. But for a nominally Democrat to do that is totally unacceptable.

Posted by: wiliam r. delzell | Apr 15, 2017 3:47:40 PM

tmm's comment is appreciated but find it a bit interesting various qualifiers like "apparently" are included. The details seem a bit hazy.

In various cases, the question of doubt on the facts simply isn't really a strong argument to use. Here, and the mixture of the support to block the execution to me is notable, it does seem appropriate to highlight that fact.

This is not one of those clear-cut cases where taking a life, if you support the death penalty, should be done.

Posted by: Joe | Apr 16, 2017 12:22:19 PM

Joe, as someone who has handled multiple appellate cases, I do not fully trust any opinion's recitation of the evidence. Courts get to choose what part of the facts of the case they wish to emphasize in their opinions and different people reading the full record may come to a different conclusion. Not having the full record, I can only say what appears to have happened based on the opinion.

Posted by: tmm | Apr 16, 2017 7:09:42 PM

Joe, as someone who has handled multiple appellate cases, I do not fully trust any opinion's recitation of the evidence. Courts get to choose what part of the facts of the case they wish to emphasize in their opinions and different people reading the full record may come to a different conclusion. Not having the full record, I can only say what appears to have happened based on the opinion.

Posted by: tmm | Apr 16, 2017 7:09:43 PM

"Apparently" ... "suggests" ... "either ambiguous"

then ... "evidence at the federal habeas hearing showed" ... no qualifier.

I duly note the comment but am not sure that this agnosticism is consistently shown in tmm comments. But, won't assume to properly judge that from my limited memory there.

Posted by: Joe | Apr 18, 2017 4:16:37 PM

Post a comment
In one of multiple cases in recent years in which a civilian was fatally shot by San Francisco police, the District Attorney's Office announced today that no charges would be filed against the two officers involved in the shooting. As the Examiner reports, despite public pressure, DA George Gascon released a 25-page document of investigative findings Wednesday and concluded that the shooting was justified.

The incident began on February 26, 2015 when 20-year-old Amilcar Perez-Lopez was allegedly in a fight with another man  it was originally reported that Perez-Lopez was trying to steal a bicycle at knifepoint, though that is now unclear. Two plainclothes officers arrived on the scene and approached Perez-Lopez and the bicyclist, identified as Abraham P., and reportedly identifying themselves as police officers and demanding that Perez-Lopez drop his weapon. Perez-Lopez apparently did not drop his weapon, and fearing that the other man's life was in danger, officers fired on Perez-Lopez and he died.

Witnesses, including Perez-Lopez's roommates, have repeatedly said that Perez-Lopez was shot in the back, but according to the report he was first shot by one officer several times as he was running toward him with the large kitchen knife, and the second officer fired once as Perez-Lopez was "kind of moving in different directions." Both officers and Abraham P., as well as a jogger in the neighborhood who served as a witness, attest that Perez-Lopez appeared crazed, possibly in an altered state, with bloodlust in his eyes  an autopsy showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19, almost 2.5 times the legal limit for driving. The officers say that he did not appear to acknowledge that he heard them when they said they were police, and told him to drop his weapon.

The original cause of the fight remains unresolved in the report, with different witnesses saying either that Perez-Lopez was made because Abraham wouldn't sell him a bike, or he attacked Abraham because Abraham had stolen his cellphone. Still other witnesses report that Perez-Lopez was angry because Abraham wouldn't let him into a building at 2843 Folsom Street.

After the shooting, Abraham P. was heard saying, "That officer saved my life. The officer in the tan pants just saved my life."

Two of Perez-Lopez's roommates contest the officers' account that Perez-Lopez refused to drop his knife. They say they either heard the knife hit the ground before shots were fired, or that the officers didn't give Perez-Lopez enough time to respond before the shots were fired.

According to the report's conclusion, "Based on the facts, circumstances and applicable law in this matter, there is insufficient evidence to file any criminal charges against Officer [Eric] Reboli or Officer [Craig] Tiffe."

Further, the report reads, "The officers accounts describing what they observed as they reached the scene are consistent with the evidence. Contrary to stories circulated in the community that the altercation had been amicably resolved and Perez-Lopez was casually walking home alone by the time the officers showed up, overwhelming evidence confirms that the knife chase was still very much in progress when Officers Tiffe and Reboli arrived."

Perez-Lopez's family is continuing to move forward with a civil suit against the city and the SFPD, and they believe that his killing was not justified.

Previously: Activists Dispute Official Account Of Fatal SFPD Shooting, Plan Protest At Town Hall Tonight


The news that broke late Wednesday regarding the District Attorney's decision not to pursue charges against the two SFPD officers involved in the fatal February 2015 shooting of Amilcar Perez-Lopez is still reverberating around the city. Police accountability activists say they were warned as long ago as last summer that DA George Gascon thought the case was un-prosecutable, as San Francisco Magazine reports, but that isn't going to stop community members frustrated by the number of deaths at the hands of police, and the seeming lack of accountability in any of the cases so far.

A small protest of about 25 people gathered outside Mission Station and blocked an intersection at Valencia and 17th Street Wednesday night, as Mission Local reports. Some carried signs asking for the Department of Justice to investigate the case.

Officers Eric Reboli and Craig Tiffe were exonerated in the 25-page report that resulted from a two-year investigation, and in particular the DA's Office was satisfied with expert testimony that explained how it was possible that Officer Reboli said Perez-Lopez was coming toward him with a knife when he opened fire, but four of the five shots that Reboli fired entered Perez-Lopez's body from back to front. That testimony came from use-of-force expert Charles J. Key, who explained, "A subject can turn 180 degrees more quickly than the fact that he/she has turned can be comprehended [by an officer]. Given the necessity for the shooter to focus on the mechanics of shooting, the shooters recollection of the event will, also, be more specific as to what caused him/her to shoot rather than what the subject was specifically doing after the time the decision to shoot was made and during the time the shots are being fired."

Deputy Public Defender Rebecca Young spoke to ABC 7 after reading the DA's report saying she was "horrified" by how it reached its conclusions. "The district attorney's office hired experts to clear the police, hired reconstructioists to recreate the scene, and every part of this investigation seems to have been geared toward clearing these officers  not toward doing an impartial investigation."

Gascon issued a statement saying "I take my responsibility in these cases incredibly seriously. [And] It is my sworn duty to follow the facts and the law, wherever that may lead." But in this case, as activists who met with him last July said to SF Mag, "He went through, point by point: Heres what happened, heres what we turned up, here are all the Supreme Court decisions constraining me, the laws of California constraining me. Long story short: I cannot file charges against the officers; I dont have enough evidence to hold up in court.'"

Meanwhile, though this is the second recent high-profile case in which officers have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, following the fatal shooting of Alex Nieto in March 2014, 10 more cases remain in which the DA must make charging decisions involving officers and the death of a civilian.

The Mario Woods, Luis Gongora, and Jessica Williams cases, which all occurred within six months last year and led directly to the resignation of Chief Greg Suhr, are the highest profile and could present the biggest challenges for the DA's Office, which took two years and two months to come to a decision in the Perez-Lopez case.



The Chronicle runs down the remaining seven cases that remain under internal investigation:

Nicholas McWherter McWherter, 26, an armed man suffering from an apparent mental crisis, was killed after he shot and seriously wounded Officer Kevin Downs in the Sunset District on Oct. 14, 2016. ...



Javier Lopez Garcia Garcia, 25, was apparently suicidal when he was killed Nov. 11, 2015, after he ascended to the sixth floor of a construction site near St. Lukes Hospital in the Mission and fired a gun. He allegedly said at the scene, Today will be the day that I die. Herbert Benitez

Benitez, 27, had been in the Civic Center area behaving erratically and allegedly tried to take a police sergeants gun out of his holster when another sergeant shot him Oct. 15, 2015. Alice Brown

A 24-year-old woman who struggled with drug addiction, Brown was shot by Sgt. Thomas Maguire and Officer Michael Tursi on March 17, 2015, after she allegedly sped away from a gas station at Van Ness Avenue and Pine Street, crashing into vehicles and a building and driving down a one-way street in the wrong direction. Matthew Hoffman

Hoffman, 32, allegedly pulled a replica gun from his waistband, prompting two sergeants to shoot him outside Mission Station on Jan. 4, 2015. Investigators searching his phone reported finding notes about plans to force officers to kill him in a suicide by cop situation. OShaine Evans

Evans, 26, was shot by Officer David Goff on Oct. 7, 2014. Police said he was the driver for two passengers who had stolen a laptop out of a car near AT&T Park, and had a gun in his lap when Goff approached him. Goff said Evans pointed the gun at him, forcing him to shoot. Evans family has disputed the account. Giovany Contreras Sandoval

Sandoval, 34, a suspect in a carjacking [from San Rafael], was shot after leading officers on a three-county chase, flipping a sport utility vehicle in the Financial District and allegedly pointing a pistol at officers on Sept. 25, 2014.



Related: No Charges To Be Filed In Police Shooting Of Amilcar Perez-Lopez


Even for as food-obsessed a city as San Francisco is, we have a surprisingly excellent variety of bakeries and patisseries  some like Craftsman & Wolves creating modern, idiosyncratic treats and riffs on classics, and others like Tartine, Arsicault, and 20th Century Cafe keeping centuries-old traditions alive every day with their world-class confections, breads, and Viennoisserie. We are lucky to be a city where you can not only get a Parisian-quality croissant, but also some of the best focaccia this side of Liguria, and crusty sourdough loaves the likes of which no other city in the country gets to eat. If you're gluten-averse or militantly Paleo, I pity you for how many of these earthly pleasures you are missing out on in this fair city. But hey, more for the rest of us.  Jay Barmann

20th Century Cafe

Pastry chef Michelle Polzine opened up her Hayes Valley cafe five years ago in tribute to the kinds of baked goods she loved the most  traditional indulgences of the Central and Eastern European cafe scenes of the early part of the last century, things like knishes, pierogi, poppyseed babka, linzertortes, and bagels. She's filled this niche ever since, serving up what's easily the city's finest Krasinski torte (a many-layered Russian honey cake), that landed on 7x7's 100 Things To Eat Before You Die list, as well as seasonally changing specials. Polzine is also, remarkably, gluten-intolerant herself, an issue she only developed well into her career, so she will frequently offer items that are gluten-free, like mohnkuchen, a poppy-seed-based cake layered with jam.  Jay Barmann

198 Gough Street at Oak







Arsicault

Last summer, the fairly new Richmond district bakery Arsicault struck gold with a glowing honor from Bon Appetit, getting named the best new bakery in the country. Immediately there were lines down the block for baker Armando Lacayo croissants, which critic Andrew Knowlton declared were "simultaneously so preposterously flaky it leaves you covered in crumbs, so impossibly tender and buttery on the inside that it tastes like brioche, and so deeply golden that the underside is nearly caramelized." Lacayo also makes terrific kouign amann, almond croissants, morning buns, and a mean chocolate chip cookie, and if you don't believe the hype, you can at least acknowledge that a lesser baker probably couldn't maintain 4.5 stars on Yelp.  Jay Barmann

397 Arguello Boulevard near Clement





Photo of some of b. patisserie's delights: Facebook

b. patisserie

Belinda Leong's Pac Heights patisserie serves perfect macarons, cheesecakes, mousses, and elegant little individual cakes that looks straight out of a Parisian pastry case. She specializes in Viennoiserie, specifically croissants and her signature, buttery kouign ammans, which is like if puff pastry got impregnated by a god. On weekends there's also two kinds of banana bread, which will make that leaden loaf you once attempted look like roadkill.  Eve Batey

2821 California Street at Divisadero.





Black Jet Baking Co. via Facebook

Black Jet Baking Co.

Although it's the newest bakery on this list to score a brick-and-mortar retail location (they opened this month in the former Sandbox/Pinkie's space on Cortland Ave in Bernal Heights), don't mistake Black Jet Baking Co. for a newcomer. Many hav sought out baker/owner Gillian Shaw's delightful confections since she began delivering cookies and grown-up pop tarts in 2010. Black Jet's philosophy skews toward fun, classic baked goods with a twist: Think fresh, homemade versions of Hostess funny bones, Oreos, and "German Shepherd Devil Dogs."  Caleb Pershan

839 Cortland Avenue at Gates Street





A post shared by Butter Love Bakeshop (@butterlovebakeshop) on Nov 26, 2016 at 8:29am PST



Butter Love Bakeshop

Nestled in a small storefront on the western end of Balboa Street, Esa Yonn-Brown's pie and pastry prowess has garnered recognition from the NYT and Serious Eats, but has managed (so far) to avoid the crushing crowds that might impel you to skip some of the other spots on this list. Though pie is their thing (both big ones and tiny, muffin-sized gems), their buns, cookies, and cakes are also binge-worthy treats. They also bake their own delicious bread, which is then sliced and used for fantastic, daily-changing sandwiches like mom never used to make. It's one of the west side's hidden gems, a place so good I considered leaving it off this list because I don't want to share.  Eve Batey

3717 Balboa Street, between 38th and 39th Avenues





An impressive lineup at Craftsman & Wolves. (Photo: Seek New Travel)

Craftsman & Wolves

Pastry chef William Werner's modern patisserie is unlike any other you'll find in the city  or even the country  with an array of unique creations like the matcha snickerdoodle; an Earl Grey, ginger, and blond chocolate scone; and the now locally famous Rebel Within, a savory asiago and green onion muffin with sausage and a whole, runny, soft-boiled egg inside. The operation now has three locations, in the Mission, Bayview, and Nob Hill, offering similar menus, though the fancier box cakes (think violet vanilla cheesecake; and pineapple, pine, lime cake) in the pastry case are only available in the Mission and Nob Hill. Dangerously, C&W can also be found on Caviar and Uber Eats.  Jay Barmann

746 Valencia (at 18th Street), 1643 Pacific Avenue (between Van Ness and Polk), and 1598 Yosemite Avenue (at Keith Street)





Biscuits like you wouldn't believe at Devil's Teeth. Photo: Diana B/Yelp

Devil's Teeth Baking Company

In my many years in SF, I've come to realize that the buttermilk biscuits I took for granted in my home state of Indiana aren't as easy as they seemed. I've had a lot of crappy, Southern wannabe biscuits in this town! But not at Devil's Teeth, where I can get the kind of buttermilk biscuits my middle-school Home Ec teacher would have awarded an A to. Other standouts include their doughnut muffins (pretty self-explanatory), their monkey bread, and their full range of cookies. Eve Batey

3876 Noriega Street between 45th and 46th Aves





(Photo Joe Starkey / Thrillist)

Heartbaker

At Heartbaker, Former Kokkari and Aqua pastry chef Sybil Johnson is doing some great baking, not the least of which are her Italian doughnuts (bomboloni) which come filled with a variety of seasonal flavors, including amaretto custard, nutella, and rum custard rolled in cinnamon sugar. The bread pudding is also a home run, and the salted caramel brownie is so great I once yelled "get your own!" at my husband when he asked for a bite. They also serve a great brunch (with "real" food) and sport a Wednesday-Friday happy hour,

so it's a great spot even when you're craving savory over sweet.  Eve Batey

1408 Clement Street at 15th Avenue





A post shared by Jane (@janeonfillmore) on Mar 18, 2017 at 3:19pm PDT



Jane

With three locations: Fillmore Street, Larkin Street, and in that old KFC on a tough stretch of Geary, Jane is rapidly building a little baked goods empire. We're talking six types of croissants, breads galore, nine-inch layer cakes...and even, I kid you not, a decent-sized menu of baked goods for the gluten free. (I have not tried the latter items, but for even attempting they get my applause.) Founder Amanda Michael turns her house-made breads into great cafe-dining options, as well, with a solid egg sandwich and enough fancy toasts to generate a thousand thinkpieces.  Eve Batey

2123 Fillmore Street, 1881 Geary Boulevard, 925 Larkin Street





Le Marais, Michelle S. via Yelp

Le Marais

An homage to the cafe culture of owner Patrick Ascaso's native France, Le Marais has made a name for itself as a bakery, bistro, viennoiserie, and patisserie. It's also a rising empire, with two locations, a third imminent in the Castro, and a recently announced location and production facility in the Lower Nob Hill area. Le Marais replicates the light, leisurely brunches of Paris, and its hearty breads and flaky pastries stand out among the crowd. Caleb Pershan

2066 Chestnut Street near Steiner Street, 9000 North point Street near Polk Street;

and shortly at Sanchez and 18th



Photo: Yelp

Liguria Bakery

One of the oldest of old-school bakeries in town, this North Beach institution makes only one thing: focaccia. And it is the best focaccia you will ever eat. They directly supply a few of the neighborhood restaurants  providing, for instance, the bread for all the sandwiches at Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store across Washington Square Park  but otherwise they just make a couple of flavors each day, each sold as a foot-long slab, and they close up shop as soon as they sell out. It's cash only, but stupidly cheap at just $5.50 per slab, and you'll want to try to get there early enough before the pizza focaccia sells out  though the regular garlic and rosemary varieties are also heavenly.  Jay Barmann

1700 Stockton Street at Filbert





A post shared by MARLA (@marlasf) on Feb 26, 2017 at 3:16pm PST



Marla Bakery

If you're in the market for homemade english muffins, kickass bread, and a respectable bagel, Outer Richmond standby Marla Bakery has you covered, with a counter just steps from the impressive oven where it all happens. Besides those culinary workhorses, you'll find a standout dark chocolate chip cookie, a (weekends only) pecan sticky bun worth the eventual trip to the dentist, and savory scones that go beyond the standard. They also make a mean breakfast, serve a cozy and comforting dinner, and their Marla Americano cocktail is one of my favorite drinks in the city.  Eve Batey

3619 Balboa Street between 37th and 28th Avenues





Mr. Holmes Bakehouse via Facebook

Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

Mr. Holmes is the bakehouse the Cruffin built. Its wild success story starts in the Tenderloin, where daily lines still form for that mash-up croissant/muffin treat. The Holmes empire, which seems destined to grow further, has now come to include three SoCal outposts plus one in Seoul. With baked goods as delicious and unexpected (see the root beer float cruffin) as they are photogenic, Mr. Homes's clean, bright branding has brilliantly capitalized on Instagrammers' food obsessions. A trip to Mr. Holmes isn't just a jaunt to a delicious bakery  it's a social media photo op that will have your followers drooling.  Caleb Pershan

1042 Larkin Street between Post and Hemlock Streets





Photo courtesy of Neighbor Bakehouse

Neighbor Bakehouse

The husband-and-wife team of Greg and Christine Mindel opened their retail operation in Dogpatch just two years ago, but have been doing a wholesale business for the last five years. They produce some excellent sweet and savory items, including croissants, morning buns, and sauerkraut tarts  and their croissants, especially, can compete with the likes of Tartine and Arsicault. Also don't miss their more eclectic stuff, like the kimchi toast, and or the chocolate pudding "doughp bun."  Jay Barmann

2343 Third Street near 20th





Photo: Yelp

Schubert's

Another venerable, old-school SF bakery operation, Schubert's has been in continual operation for over 105 years, having begun business on Fillmore Street and then moved to its present spot in the Inner Richmond in the 1940's under original owner, German baker Oswald R. Schubert. The place is now under its fourth generation of owners, and Ralph and Lutz Wenzel are responsible for the signature, traditional cheese cakes, mousse cakes, and Swedish Princess Cakes. This is where you go for an excellent sheet cake, or a traditional, whipped cream iced Black Forest cake. And while the ingredients may not all be organic or whatever, you won't be disappointed with the flavors.  Jay Barmann

521 Clement Street between 6th and 7th Avenues





Morning buns at Tartine. (Photo: Janice C. /Yelp)

Tartine Bakery

It's all been said enough times in enough publications before that tourists actually make their way to the Mission just to get in line. The bread is, we admit, fantastic and chewy and delicious. The morning buns are insane. The cakes, cookies, open-faced sandwiches, gougeres, croissants, you name it. All of it's good. Great even. Does anyone like standing in line for things? No. Especially not before coffee. But if you happen by this place and the line isn't too far out the door, especially before the bread comes out in the late afternoon, just get in it. You know you want it. And it does go pretty fast.  Jay Barmann

600 Guerrero (at 18th Street)





Esther A. via Yelp

Thorough Bread and Pastry

Michel Suas, who became a head pastry chef in Paris at the tender age of 21, literally wrote the book on bread and pastry, but why read it when you can taste it at Thorough Bread in the Castro/Duboce Triangle. Since 2008, Thorough Bread has been baking its cakes, breads, cookies, and tarts with love and what I suspect is high quality butter in generous quantities (Suas is also a partner in b. patisserie and provides the bread there). A low-key atmosphere and a leafy back patio make Thorough Bread a lovely spot to spend the morning, to say nothing of your entire calorie allowance for the day.  Caleb Pershan

248 Church Street between 15th and Market Streets





Tout Sweet cake. (Photo: Frankie Frankeny)

Tout Sweet

This menagerie of colorful pastry located in Macy's in Union Square downsized slightly in February, but it's as eye-catching as ever. Yigit Pura, the highly pedigreed pastry chef whom you might recall from his Top Chef: Just Desserts win, opened his shop in 2012. Punnily named  tout suite is French for "right away," and tout also means "all"  Tout Sweet sources its chocolate from San Francisco's Guittard. While the macarons of every flavor might draw you in, stay for the petits gateaux: tiny, whimsical cakes you'll be forgiven for not wanting to share. Caleb Pershan

Macys Union Square, Geary Street Entrance, 251 Geary Street



Honorable Mentions:

Acme Bread Co. (Ferry Building)

Boudin Bakery (Macy's basement, Pier 39, and other locations)

The Golden West (8 Trinity Alley)

La Boulangerie de San Francisco (multiple locations)

La Victoria Bakery (2937 24th Street)

Noe Valley Bakery (4073 24th Street)

Susie Cakes (2019 Chestnut Street)




Every week, the Shepherd Express will serve as a clearinghouse for any and all activities in the greater Milwaukee area that peacefully push back against discriminatory, reactionary or authoritarian actions and policies of the Trump administration. We will publicize and promote actions, demonstrations, planning meetings, teach-ins, party-building meetings, drinking/discussion get-togethers or any other actions that are directed toward fighting back to preserve our liberal democratic system.

Thursday, April 13

Speaking Your Truth to Power, 6-7:30 p.m., OmTownYogis (1841 N. Prospect Ave.)

The Wisconsin biennial budget is currently being crafted by the Joint Finance Committee. During the month of April, the committee will be taking input on the budget from Wisconsin citizens. Each participant in this workshop will produce their own concise and effectively written message advocating a position or concern. This workshop is free, with donations appreciated.

Saturday, April 15

Release Your Tax Returns MKE County Courthouse Rally & March, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Milwaukee County Courthouse (901 N. Ninth St.)

A rally and march will be held at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on tax day calling on President Donald Trump to release his tax returns. We march because it is in the best interest of the American people to know what financial entanglements and conflicts of interest our leaders have, said the events Facebook page.

Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, 8-10 p.m., ComedySportz Milwaukee (420 S. First St.)

Laughing Liberally Milwaukee is a monthly progressive political comedy show hosted by comedian, satirist and progressive talk radio host Matthew Filipowicz. This months show features some of Milwaukees top liberal and progressive comedians including Josh Ballew, Stevie Leigh Crutcher, Jason Hillman, Dana Ehrmann, Deon Green and The Accountants of Homeland Security.

Solidarity: A Benefit for Refugees, 8-11 p.m., Riverwest Public House (815 E. Locust St.)

This benefit show, featuring performances from Painted Caves, Marielle Allschwang & The Visitations, and special guest speakers Kelly Todd and Jeremy Auit, raises funds for refugees in Syria as well as those living in Milwaukee. The cover is $5 and further donations will be accepted. All proceeds go to the Lutheran Social Services: Refugee Resettlement and Diaconia Connections.

Wednesday, April 19

Refuel the Resistance, 5-8 p.m., Bounce Milwaukee (2801 S. Fifth Court)

Every Wednesday, Bounce Milwaukee offers a space to organize, as well as a free drink to anyone who brings evidence of resistance in the past week, including protest signs, an email to an elected official or a selfie at the capital.

Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE

To submit to this column, please send a brief description of your action, including date and time, to savingourdemocracy@shepex.com. Together, we can fight to minimize the damage that this administration has planned for our great country.
Last year, the Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) digitized its collection of local concert and show posters, bringing one of its most unique collections to the public and encouraging users to engage in the process of memorializing an important chapter of Milwaukees cultural history. The Wisconsin Concert Poster Digital Collection includes hundreds of shows posters, mostly from early 1980s Milwaukee-area venues.

The collection is the work of Steve Bertolas-Jeske. As a high school junior in Germantown, a friend turned Bertolas-Jeske on to the music of bands such as the Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls and Devo  stuff that wasnt getting played on local radio. As a kid, my bedroom walls were covered in posters of the Fonz, Bugs Bunny and Spiderman, Bertolas-Jeske said. In middle school these were replaced by rock posters.

Bertolas-Jeskes grandparents lived on Van Buren Street in those days, just a block from Brady Street. On weekend family trips into the city, Bertolas-Jeske and his sister would explore the neighborhood as the adults played cards. We quickly discovered Brady Street, he said. Compared to our suburban neighborhood it was fantastic. Cool shops and quirky people.

A poster for a show at the Starship in downtown. Note the damage to the poster that resulted from it being pulled from a city telephone pole.

Visiting Brady Street became a regular weekend outing when Bertolas-Jeske got his drivers license, and when it came time to decorate his college apartment in Whitewater, he found Brady Streets telephone poles to be an unlikely source of local color. In the early 1980s, Bertolas-Jeske recalled, Milwaukees music scene was buzzing, with nearly every bar featuring live bands. The main way of promoting these shows was with posters and with Brady Street being a haven for young people, its telephone poles were plastered with cheaply-produced show bills and flyers.

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One of the most interesting features of this collection is the fact that these posters were meant to be disposable. They were made cut-and-paste style, photocopied and stapled up. Bertolas-Jeske used a pocket knife to carefully remove the staples and would even occasionally go a few layers deep to acquire a poster that had been papered-over. Some posters in the collection even have scorch marks on them, a result of the old Brady Street game of trying to set poster fires on the polls with a flicked cigarette.

A few were obtained directly from a band member who was putting them up as I happened to walk by, Bertolas-Jeske said. My most memorable acquisition was from this tall guy named Spot. He would walk around the East Side in a long coat putting up posters for the Violent Femmes Years later I figured out that this was Brian Ritchie, the bands bass player, doing some leg work and promoting the band.

A poster for a show at Zaks in Riverwest.

A collector since childhood, Bertolas-Jeske eventually covered four walls of his Whitewater apartment with show posters. He focused on bands he liked and graphics that caught his eye but grew to appreciate the paper and ink craft of the posters. He said that the local music scene changed drastically when the drinking age was changed from 18 to 21 and he eventually fell out of the habit of collecting the posters.

In 2002, Bertolas-Jeske began to thin out his various collections and decided to donate the posters to the library. The posters remained a bit of a secret gem at the library until this past year, when a digitization project gave the collection new life, complete with metadata tags that can be used to sort the posters by band and venue. The collection drew a considerable amount of attention from local music fans. Liz Kaune, MPLs Digital Projects Librarian, said that as links to the collection made their way around social media, people who had shared Bertolas-Jeskes habit of saving show posters began discuss their own collections. Eventually, Kaune set up a Flickr group where people could contribute images and memories.

Bertolas-Jeske also hopes that the new accessibility of the collection leads to a greater exploration of this era. My hope is that others will be able to add their posters from this wonderful time in Milwaukee music to MPLs online collection, he said. I am glad [the posters] have found a good home.

The poster collection can be viewed here. Anyone wishing to contribute to the collection can visit the poster collection Flickr page.
Looking to capitalize on the controversial comments of U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, some Siouxlanders are underway with a diaper drive to aid people who can use the items for their children.

Jackie Stellish, of Sioux City, said she didn't agree with the comment by King about children that drew national attention. Stellish helped launch Iowa Welcomes Everyone's Babies diaper drive, which will deliver hundreds of diapers over the month of April.

King on March 12 tweeted that America "can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies." The tweet was in support of a Dutch politician who opposes immigration and has spoken against Islam. King tweeted that Geert Wilders "understands that culture and demographics are our destiny."

King followed the controversial social media post with several interviews on national outlets where he defended his comments. Critics accused King of racism and condemned the support the tweet received from some white nationalist leaders.

Stellish said some people held Iowa protest rallies about King's comment, a wording she said "is just ridiculous." But her aim was to make a difference and widely demonstrate the values of tolerance and a helping nature that Iowans have.

"We need to turn this into a positive," Stellish said.

The diaper drive began in Sioux City with the Faces of Siouxland Multi-Cultural Fair on April 2, and will run through April 30. Stellish said the initial day was great, with more than 600 diapers.

The diapers (and baby lotion and like items donated) will go to many agencies in western Iowa counties that King represents, including the Community Action Agency of Siouxland and Mary J. Treglia Community House, both in Sioux City. Other places for diapers include West Central Community Action Agency in Denison and Upper Des Moines Opportunity in Storm Lake.

Stellish is also among the Sioux City organizers for a Saturday event. Action Iowa, a grassroots progressive action group, is working with Americans for Democratic Action and Indivisible Iowa, on a tax rally, to coincide with the typical deadline for filing federal tax returns on April 15.

Tax marches will take place in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Davenport and Sioux City. The city march will be held at noon, with a walk from the downtown Wilbur Aalfs Library to the Federal Building.

The organizers say President Donald Trump should release his tax returns and that any upcoming tax reform must include changes aiding the poor and working class people, not the rich.
SIOUX CITY | Police say a 27-year-old man sexually assaulted a child in his vehicle on April 3. Trent Warner, of Sioux City, was arrested Thursday accused of second-degree sexual abuse.

A news release said the crime took place inside Warner's vehicle April 3 while it was parked in the 1000 block of Nebraska Street. The department was notified Tuesday.

On Thursday, investigators brought Warner in for questioning and he was arrested and charged with the class B felony.

The release did not state the victim's age or additional information.

The incident is under investigation.

If anyone has additional information regarding this, or any other felony crime, the release said to call Crimestoppers at 712-258-8477.
For almost three decades, Liu Jingxu and his wife have cared for his learning-disabled elder brother in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Despite having a son and daughter of their own to care for, the couple, now both in their late 70s, took on the responsibility after Liu's parents died in 1989.

The elder brother had been raised by his parents his whole life and the only hobbies he had were reading comic books and eating snacks. Liu's wife, Sun Daofang, would buy something for him every time she went shopping.

"My brother-in-law is a grateful man," Sun said. "He receives a disability allowance of 400 yuan ($58) from the government each month and he always insists that I keep half of it - if I refuse, he leaves all the money on the table and waits until I take it."

This money was welcome at the time, as Liu made only a humble living working at a textile mill and Sun was a housewife, tending to a small parcel of land.

In June 2015, Liu's son had a brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma. Every morning for four months, his parents took the earliest bus they could and traveled the 40 kilometers to the hospital where he was receiving treatment. At noon each day, Sun had to go back home to make lunch for the elder brother.

After waking from his coma, Liu's son was paralyzed and the couple now have to take turns caring for him and the elder brother.

Last November, the brother was hit by a car while out taking a stroll. Though not badly hurt, he was hospitalized for seven days.

Liu and Sun, now age 78 and 75 respectively, struggle to stay optimistic.

"My son is getting better, but what about my brother? What if something happens to me and my wife?" Liu said.

"I often joke with him that he dare not get sick, so that we can both hang on for a few more years and die in peace."

Over the past 28 years, the couple have been told by community centers, governments, relatives and friends that they should put the elder brother in a nursing home, but Liu has always politely declined.

"There is no home sweeter than home. As long as my wife and I are able to, we will not send him away. We have been living together for 30 years and we know his temperament, habit, likes and dislikes, and he could not live a happier life anywhere else," Liu said.

Last year, Liu and his wife were honored with a good Samaritan award from the city's Chengyang district for their dedication to their family.

xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn

Liu Jingxu (right) and his elder brother at their home in Qingdao, Shandong province.Provided To China Daily

(China Daily 04/13/2017 page7)
Delek US Holdings, Inc. engages in the integrated downstream energy business in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Logistics, and Retail. The Refining segment processes crude oil and other feedstock for the manufacture of various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, asphalt, and other petroleum-based products that are distributed through owned and third-party product terminal. It owns and operates four independent refineries located in Tyler, Texas; El Dorado, Arkansas; Big Spring, Texas; and Krotz Springs, Louisiana, as well as three biodiesel facilities in Crossett, Arkansas, Cleburne, Texas, and New Albany. The Logistics segment gathers, transports, and stores crude oil, intermediate, and refined products; and markets, distributes, transports, and stores refined products for third parties. It owns or leases capacity on approximately 400 miles of crude oil transportation pipelines, approximately 450 miles of refined product pipelines, an approximately 900-mile crude oil gathering system, and associated crude oil storage tanks with an aggregate of approximately 10.2 million barrels of active shell capacity; and owns and operates ten light product distribution terminals, as well as markets light products using third-party terminals. The Retail segment owns and leases 248 convenience store sites located primarily in West Texas and New Mexico. Its convenience stores offer various grades of gasoline and diesel under the DK or Alon brand; and food products and service, tobacco products, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and general merchandise, as well as money orders to the public primarily under the 7-Eleven and DK or Alon brand names. It serves oil companies, independent refiners and marketers, jobbers, distributors, utility and transportation companies, the U.S. government, and independent retail fuel operators. Delek US Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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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.
WASHINGTON

(April 13, 2017)Responding to Sunday's incident on a United Airlines jet, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., is drafting a bill that would prohibit airlines from forcibly removing passengers after they have boarded a flight.Van Hollen's proposed Customers Not Cargo Act would make it illegal for airlines to force passengers to leave a plane due to overbooking or to accommodate flight crews flying as passengers.The proposed legislation comes after David Dao, a 69-year-old physician, was dragged by airport police off a full United Airlines Express flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport after he refused to give up his seat for airline employees who, according to United, needed to board the plane in order to staff a flight the following day. The flight was operated by Republic Airline under contract to United, according to WikiPedia A passenger-recorded video shows three City of Chicago Dept. of Aviation security personnel involved in the physical extrication where Dao can be seen being dragged down the isle by his arms, head-first on his back. Dao's face was dripping with blood in the footage, and fellow passengers could be heard screaming and yelling for the violence to stop. The security team was reportedly requested by United staff.The incident quickly went viral on social media and sparked worldwide public outrage resulting in, what many consider, less-than-genuine apologies from United.According to one of Dao's attorneys, Tom Demetrio, at a press conference today, Dao was discharged from the hospital Wednesday night. Dao lost two front teeth, suffered a "significant" concussion, has a broken nose and sinus injuries and will undergo reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said."It made my blood boil, it really upset me," Van Hollen told Capital News Service Thursday, referring to the video. "It was outrageous."Dao was one of four customers who were selected to leave the flight to Louisville, Kentucky after all passengers declined United's initial call for volunteers. Dao said he could not volunteer his seat because he had patients to see the next morning. The four were reportedly selected by a United Airlines computer software program using unknown metrics; industry experts say ticket price, frequent flyer status and even boarding time could be factors.Van Hollen plans to introduce his bill after the congressional recess."What has to happen is a change of policy," Van Hollen said.The bill would direct the Department of Transportation to update the policy on overbooked flights and push airlines to offer incentives for passengers to voluntarily deplane.Current regulations require airlines to compensate passengers when customers are involuntarily removed from a flight before boarding, but Van Hollen said the rules for bumping a passenger from a flight after boarding is completed need to be reexamined. United Airlines' policy regarding "Denied Boarding Compensation" is outlined in "Rule 25" and can be found online at www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contract-of-carriage.aspx "The financial risk of overbooking should be on the airline that overbooked, not the passenger that paid for a ticket and is sitting on the airplane," Van Hollen said.The incident highlighted a broader issue with airline rules that could potentially affect everyone, Van Hollen said."It is a very perverse and backward incentive in the system," he said.According to Van Hollen, airline companies are allowed to offer any amount of value to encourage a customer to voluntarily give up a seat before boarding, but if a passenger has to be forcibly ejected from a plane, then there is a maximum reimbursement of a little more than $1,000.Van Hollen said this could encourage airlines to eject a passenger rather than provide sufficient incentives before boarding.He said he expects bipartisan support for this bill.Demetrio, said in today's press conference that his client will probably file a lawsuit against the company and the city of Chicago.
Mens designer Andrew Christian will be stopping in Fort Lauderdale on his national book tour of SEX = POWER = FREEDOM, a book that shows underwear models in their natural habitat and is filled with messages of LGBT empowerment.

SEX = POWER = FREEDOM is more than just a collection of pictures. Christian said that he started the book to be sexy and provocative, but that as he wrote it he began to incorporate more and more positive messages to the LGBT community.

When I went out to do this [book] I did so to let LGBT people know that they are not alone all around the world, Christian said. [This book] has inspired people and given them hope.

The book is 200 pages of glossy black and white photos that, according to the books description, will push the limits of sexuality, create conversation, and stir quite a bit of controversy.

Creating this art and coffee table book has been an endeavor into bringing positive awareness about LGBT empowerment about LGBT empowerment and how it relates to political freedom in the USA around the world, the description continues. This coffee table book features the Andrew Christian Trophy Boy pushing the limits of sexual desires and what that means for everyone in modern society.

Christian has been to a lot of gay pride events all over the world, and he noticed that while American prides tend to be celebrations, pride events in other parts of the world tend to be political movements.

There are a lot more closeted people in those communities, and there are courageous people who are out and proud and have to deal with the ramifications of that, Christian said.

Christian submitted the book for print back in October, but said he rescinded the copy and rewrote much of it following Trumps presidential win.

It is remarkable how our community always comes together, we have been through hard times before and we are going through hard times now, but we will get through them, Christian said.

If you want to get a signed copy of SEX = POWER = FREEDOM and meet Andrew Christian, come to the Pride Factory, located at 850 NE 13th St in Fort Lauderdale on April 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There will also be a limited number of gold collector's books that will be raffled off during the event.
Sharing politically-charged articles on social media is one form of social activism, but its clear many women in South Florida want to do more. Thats the reason more than a hundred women and a handful of men gathered at the Pride Center on Thursday, March 16 for Nasty Women  Womens Activism 101.

Those in attendance heard from several speakers on a panel:

Equality Floridas Cindy Brown, Planned Parenthoods Carly Cass, Community Advocate Jessmarie Gonzalez, Educator T Pena, Spoken Word Performer May Reign, Community Organizer Jasmen Rogers and Social Justice Educator Lutze Segu. The Pride Centers Roya Amirniroumand moderated the discussion.

The goal of the evenings discussion was to talk to women about the various strategies available to help them become involved as activists in meaningful ways. What took place was a free wielding conversation about womens rights, oppression, trans rights and race.

The conversation kicked off with the panel giving advice on how to start as an activist.

Know who your elected representatives are, said Cindy Brown of Equality Florida. Know their position and how they voted. The most effective way to reach out to your representative is face to face. Visit them in their offices in Tallahassee or Washington, DC.

Community Organizer and Black Lives Matter Activist Jasmen Rogers advised women to find their focus by asking themselves what they feel compelled to do.

A lot of people want to join us, she said. We need writers, cooks, photographers, journalists and more. We need a lot that doesnt involve civil disobedience. Ask yourself, what can I do? What do I want to do? That will help you figure [out] how you can contribute.

Educator Lutze Segu told the audience to think locally.

Give money to grassroots, local organizations, she advised. She also encouraged new advocates to revisit past movements of activism. Queer women, trans folks, black and brown women have always been resisting. Just because you are waking up to it, doesnt mean its new.

Educator T Pena says new activists should start small.

Its easy to get overwhelmed, Pena said. Figure out what youre passionate about. Break that down to a molecular level.

One main message that was in the undertone of the evening  there is universal experience of womanhood. For example, Cindy Brown suggested attendees should not unfriend those on social media who may disagree with them politically.

Its important for us not to shut ourselves off to the opposition, she advised. Understanding where the opposition is coming from can help us have a conversation.

But Lutze Segu disagreed.

We dont need everyone to get it, she countered. Some people are going to be bigoted and homophobic. Peace to them  most Americans are mainstream and can be converted.

Guidance on ways to deal with the onslaught of social media opinions came up a lot during the conversation.

Sometimes I shut out social media to avoid burnout, T Pena said. The constant barrage of news can put you in a depressing place.

I take a day out of the week that I spend with my son, Jessmarie Gonzalez said. Surround yourself with a great group of friends for support.

Planned Parenthood Organizer Carly Cass relies on her friends but offers this advice. When you are with that group of friends, limit the venting.

The conversation eventually moved to the future with the panel discussing their goals for the next year.

My goals are to inspire the youth through literacy, said Author, Entrepreneur and Spoken Word Artist May Reign. Activism does not look like anything. It doesnt wear a head wrap. It doesnt wear a leather jacket with an afro. We need people in the control room, the boardroom and on the block.

Carly Cass plans to invest in grassroots candidates. Lutze Segu wants women to spend the coming months reading and studying other social movements. If we know our history, she told the audience, We know we can survive Trump.

Race was another recurring subject that came up often during the discussion. Cindy Brown asked what she could do to be better advocate for people of color.

Lutze Segu responded. I think white folks need to do a reckoning, she stated. You are complicit in white supremacy. You benefit from white supremacy. You dont want to make a black or brown person your cultural tour guide. Talk to other white people about oppression.

Other topics included ways cis women could be more supportive of their transgender sisters and supporting organizations like Dream Defenders, Black Lives Matter, Miami Workers, SAVE and The Pride Center.

Audience members said they supported having regular meetings to discuss activism  the question is will it help everyone get on the same page.
There are some lines that must not be crossed  even in reality TV.

On the last episode of Survivor: Game Changers, that boundary was broken.

Spoilers ahead.

On Wednesday nights episode, alum Zeke Smith was outed by fellow contestant Jeff Varner. During the episodes tribal council, openly gay Varner was making the case to stay on the island.

There is deception here, deception on levels, Jeff, that these people dont even understand, Varner told the host Jeff Probst. Theres more, he said, turning his attention to Smith. Why havent you told anyone youre transgender?

Smith and his fellow castaways sat stunned until Varner broke the silence to justify his question. What Im showing is a deception, he explained.

But the fellow castaways did not accept that explanation  instead, they rallied against Varner.

Nobody has the right to out anybody, one contestant said as the castaways erupted in Smiths defense. It was for Zeke to discuss when he was comfortable discussing it, another contestant remarked.

Two seasons playing Survivor, Ive told nobody, Smith said.

Varner shifted his tone and apologized to Smith. You cant unring the bell, Probst told Varner.

Smith explained why he didnt out himself as transgender on the show I didnt want to be the trans Survivor player. I wanted to be Zeke the Survivor player.

Instead of the typical secret ballot used to vote a contestant off the island, Probst openly polled the tribal council. They voted Varner off the island.

Nobody on the planet should do what I did tonight. Ever, Varner said in the closing credits. And Im so sorry to anyone I offended, especially to Zeke and his family.

After the episode aired, GLAAD Transgender Media Program Director Nick Adams weighed in on Smiths outing. "Zeke Smith, and transgender people like him, are not deceiving anyone by being their authentic selves, and it is dangerous and unacceptable to out a transgender person. It is heartening, however, to see the strong support for Zeke from the other people in his tribe. Moments like this prove that when people from all walks of life get to know a transgender person, they accept us for who we are."

Varner later took to Twitter to apologize.

Yep. I did that. And I offer my deepest, most heartfelt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended, he wrote. I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life.

He closed his apology with a message to people like him:

We cisgender Americans live with an enormous amount of privilege and should spend time pondering how we can use that for greater good. When we disrespect or discriminate, or turn blind eyes to it, we wound all of us. I am deeply saddened at what my mistake unleashed and I promise to use its lessons to do the right thing.

Zeke also shared a message with his fans on Twitter:

We cannot control the hazards we face, we can only control how we respond, he said. Love each other.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




NASA PAO Wheel of Fortune SpaceRef

I just love the media advisories NASA issues such as this one for Thursdays NASA to Reveal New Discoveries in News Conference on Oceans Beyond Earth press event.



They are always filled with names, affiliations, specific instruments, buzz words, tantalizing hints, etc.

This makes it so much easier for me to use Google, preprint servers, and simple journalistic tools like email and phone calls to figure out what NASA is going to announce. Who needs embargoed papers? NASA loves to make the media play connect the dots. And if you follow these missions, then its even easier to play.

This advisory includes the sentence NASA will discuss new results about ocean worlds in our solar system from the agencys Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope and lists participants including Hunter Waite, Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer team lead at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Chris Glein, Cassini INMS team associate at SwRI.

Duh ocean worlds, Cassini  they are talking about Enceladus. Hmm  2 people who work with the Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer. Lets do some Googling.

Full story
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Theres just something about going out on top. After Chef Gerard Craft won the 2015 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest, he shuttered his 11-year-old restaurant, Niche, in St. Louis. In its place now is Sardella, an Italian-influenced American restaurant that catches a bit of the Old World charm.

I really love the restaurants in Europe that are open all day long, Craft says. You can go in there in the morning and get a really, really great espresso, and then maybe some pastries, then in the afternoon a good lunch, and then at night its an actual restaurant thats serving good dishes. So we just wanted to maybe reimagine what that looked like with our mentality, food, and beverage.

Mornings at Sardella are full of natural light bouncing off the restaurants white wood, antiqued mirrors, and blue and white tiles. A camel-hued leather banquette with multiple tables and two cozy booths juxtapose the bar with table seating in between. Walking in off a busy suburban street, guests are greeted by a large seasonal flower display held behind glass and framed like a postcard. After turning the corner, guests proceed to a coffee bar to order drinks and pastries, delivered every morning from the restaurant groups commissary.

The food options are reinforced by a petite seven-item kitchen menu. A fan favorite has been the Griddler: bacon, egg, cheese, and rice griddled on a piadana flatbread served with a green salsa. The house-made English muffin stars in two traditional breakfast items: a fried egg sandwich with bacon, pepper jack cheese, red pepper jelly, and Crystal hot sauce aioli; and a cured salmon with creme fraiche and an herb salad. If you need to catch up on current events, theres a newspaper rack with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times by the pastry case.

The coolest thing in Italy is [that] morning time at the cafe is a bit like night time in the bar, Craft says. Everybodys gathering, theyre having a little espresso, maybe a pastry, and theyre just kind of talking about their general day, whats going on, politics to me thats always been something that Ive wanted to capture, in trying to kind of bring people together in the morning.

Steering the ship for the coffee program is lead barista Jordan Howe, a local coffee veteran with recent stints at Reeds American Table and the Living Room, where he was a competition barista in 2015. Sardellas coffee menu features offerings from Sump Coffee, with filter coffee brewed via FETCO while espresso drinks are made on a two-group Faema E61 Jubile machine with a Mazzer grinder. There are also fresh-squeezed juices and tea options from local company Big Heart Tea Company. Signature drinks impress, like the Cup of Sunshine latte, a riff on matcha tea. Its made with a pulverized dose of Big Hearts Cup of Sunshine tea blend (organic turmeric, ginger, tulsi, Malabar peppercorn, and cinnamon), whisked together with water, then topped with steamed milk. Howe also collaborates with Sardellas executive pastry chef Sarah Osborn and company pastry chef Mathew Rice on different ingredients for Sardellas coffee program, such as Rices Burnt Vanilla Latte.

Were working with some of the guys in our kitchen to work on new ideas for shrubs and things, Howe says, adding his goal is to offer a larger, more exciting spring drink menu than wed [been] able to in the past.

While the coffee and short-menu breakfast program operate on weekday mornings, Sardella recently introduced weekend brunch. Craft says the menu will focus on heavier food items, such as Nutella Risotto Balls breaded with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cacio e Pepe Eggs. Howe will also flex his bartending muscles, rolling out coffee cocktails in addition to the normal coffee menu.

Im really excited to let Jordan just kind of go and see what he comes up with, Craft says. Id like to see the coffee program expand and grow. I think itll happen organically.

Evan C. Jones is a Sprudge.com contributor based in St. Louis. Read more Evan C. Jones on Sprudge.
Public Citizen Applauds U.S. Sen. Van Hollen's 'Customers Not Cargo Act' to Prevent Future Corporate Airline Assaults

Statement of Lisa Gilbert, Vice President of Legislative Affairs for Public Citizen



Contact: Angela Bradbery, 202-588-7741, abradbery@citizen.org; Don Owens, 202-588-7767, dowens@citizen.org



WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- Note: In response to public pleas for greater consumer protections in the wake of a United Airlines passenger being dragged from his seat Sunday after refusing to give it up for commuting crew members, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has introduced legislation to prohibit carriers from forcibly removing boarded passengers from a flight due to overbooking, oversales or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers.

Airlines and corporations clearly are not people, because if they were, a number of them would have been arrested and prosecuted for assault, theft and/or bad public interactions with their customers. Senator Van Hollen's legislation is a timely and overdue step to reassert the rights and importance of the American consumer in the marketplace and in our democracy.

Public Citizen encourages all members of the Senate to respond to the justifiable and widespread public outrage by co-sponsoring this timely legislation.

Read this release on our press page.
Ecumenical Patriarch Will Visit WCC in Geneva

Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-79-507-6363; www.oikoumene.org/press



GENEVA, April, 13, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, on Monday, 24 April.

He will speak about issues concerning the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, the ecumenical movement, the protection of the environment and the protection of children. Interpretation in French will be available, and the lecture will be followed by a reception.

His All-Holiness Bartholomew will be in WCC during His official visit to Switzerland on the occasion of His 25th anniversary of enthronement as Ecumenical Patriarch, the 50 years of the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy and the 20th anniversary of the opening of its Institute of Postgraduate Studies, on 22-24 April.

When: 24 April, 2017, 12:00, followed by a reception

Where: Ecumenical Centre, Visser 't Hooft Hall, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

About the visit: His All-Holiness Bartholomew's visit includes two days of anniversary events in the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a public lecture in the University of Fribourg and a pilgrimage visit to the Taize Community.

Programme of the festivities in the Orthodox Centre of Chambesy

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Taize

Media contacts:

Please contact WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten: mej@wcc-coe.org, +41 79 507 63 63

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.
The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
Play at the new site will be free and first come, first served through the...
For the third straight year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use controversial lethal methods to reduce the population of salmon-chomping cormorants near the mouth of the Columbia River.

Its goal this year is to kill about 2,400 birds and spray about 4,000 nests with vegetable oil, which prevents the eggs from hatching. This years actions began April 11.

The goal is to reduce the number of breeding pairs on East Sand Island to about 5,600, about one-third as many has inhabited the island before the four-year population-reduction effort began in 2015. Next year is the last scheduled year of the effort. No official current bird count is available.

According to the Corps, double-crested cormorants eat up to 11 million juvenile salmon annually, making them a threat to the survival of juvenile salmon, which are listed on the Endangered Species Act. In some years theyve eaten up to 18 percent of all the young Columbia River salmon and steelhead making their way downriver to the ocean.

Last year, the Corps killed about 3,000 birds  mostly by shooting them from boats  and oiled another 1,100 nests. They had intended to kill 3,100 and oil about 5,200 nests. It fell short of the oiling goal because of an incident during May 2016, when the Corps reported a significant disturbance caused many cormorants to temporarily abandon their nests for six to eight weeks. The Corps stopped all culling and oiling activities during that period, according to the Corps website.

The corps has spent about $2.2 million during the first two years of the program  a cost that includes studies and reports in addition to the actual control efforts. And it expects to spend about $1 million this year, said Michelle Helms-Raper, a spokeswoman for the Corps Portland District. She said the agency has no plans to deviate from its original blueprint for cormorant control.

Our plan is to continue to follow our plan, to continue to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement this plan, and thats all we can speak to at this point, Helms-Raper said.

Robert Winters, project manager for the Corps, said the entire operation is meant to keep both the salmon and cormorant populations viable. Its a delicate balance of trying to improve salmon survival while trying to maintain a viable population of cormorants, Winters said.

Portland Audubon Society representatives continue to oppose the Corps plan, saying the agency has picked the wrong enemy.

Our perspective is that this [plan] will do nothing to protect salmon and that theyre using it as a distraction from the real causes of salmon decline, which are the Columbia and Snake River dams, said Bob Sallinger, the conservation director for the group. Their ongoing failure to address those challenges is the real problem. Their focus on cormorants is simply a distraction.

The conservation director said dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers harm salmon by impeding their passage, attracting predators, and by tampering with the water flow and temperature.

Efforts to improve fish passage through dams has improved salmon survival in recent years, and returns of adult chinook and sockeye salmon to the Snake River have been on an upswing over the past 15 years. Reasons for the species decline are complex and many-faceted. Returns still are erratic and remain well below historic levels, and the four lower Snake River dams especially remain in conservation groups crosshairs in the battle to recover endangered runs. Farther downstream, conservationists would like the corps to change the flow cycle of water through the Columbia River dams to make it more favorable to salmon survival, Sallinger says.

Sallinger also stated that the continual killing of cormorants could endanger the entire Columbia River colony.

Theres a real risk that if they continue the kind of behavior that theyve been doing up there this year and next year, they could cause complete colony failure, Sallinger said. Those colonies can only take so much stress, and the fact that theyre going to be out there again is unconscionable.

Helms-Raper is aware that certain groups, like the Audubon Society, arent happy with the lethal control methods. She said theyll continue to be transparent about their actions and the amount of cormorants culled and nests oiled.

Weve heard from some folks who have some very strong feelings about this program and about the management plan, and we understand that this can be a very emotional issue for folks, Helms-Raper said. What weve done is advise them to take a look at the information thats on the website. All of the information is there about the process that was followed and the considerations that were part of the decision-making process to get to the point where we are now.

Sallinger, meanwhile, said the Corps has failed to realize three separate issues that their program was causing.

Its far easier to blame the birds, or blame the sea lions (than the dams), Sallinger said. The risk that theyre really facing is one, that they dont recover the salmon, and two, they imperil another species because of their foolish activities, and three, that they waste millions of taxpayer dollars pursuing solutions that arent actually going to solve the problem.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland division will have a weekly update posted on their website every Thursday regarding their activities on East Sand Island. For more information, visit their website or call (503) 808-5150.
The father of a three-year-old boy who died as a result of a fire that destroyed a travel trailer in Longview April 6 has been discharged from the Legacy Oregon Burn Center.

Hospital officials did not disclose if Geoffrey Lawhead had been transferred to another facility.

Four others were injured in the fire: Allie Lawhead, Geoffrey Lawhead's wife, their two-year-old daughter Hazel, a grandmother and a neighbor. The three-year-old, Robert Lawhead, was found dead at the scene.

All of the injured were taken by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview. Geoffrey Lawhead was transferred to the Oregon burn center in Portland in critical condition the day after the fire.

Geoffrey Lawhead was still in critical condition Friday afternoon after he was taken to the Legacy Oregon Burn Center in Portland.

The family had been staying in the trailer, which was parked outside a residence on the 900 block of 17th Avenue, for a few days while trying to get back on their feet, said Cassandra Charles, Geoffrey Lawheads sister, in an interview last Friday. Charles and her partner, Jeremiah Neuneker, live in the adjacent duplex along with the Lawheads grandmother. The two owned the trailer and were letting the Lawheads live there while Geoffrey looked for a job.

The Lawheads grew up in the Rainier area and had relocated to California for a couple years before recently returning to Southwestern Washington.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family at

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A 39-year-old Cowlitz County man convicted of murdering his 7-year-old neighbor in 1994 will be re-sentenced in early May due to recent U.S. and Washington State Supreme Court rulings that state juveniles convicted of murder cannot be given mandatory life sentences without parole.

Timothy Edward Haag, of Longview, was sentenced to life without parole Jan. 13, 1995. Although Haag was 17 at the time, he was tried as an adult in Cowlitz County Superior Court and given a mandatory sentence of life without parole due to a 1994 law. That law required juveniles convicted of homicidal offenses to be given life sentences. Haag was convicted of first-degree aggravated murder after he choked and drowned 7-year-old Rachel Dillard in early June 1994.

Haag could potentially be released on parole if the court decides to grant him the minimum sentence required, which is 25 years. His defense attorney is arguing that he deserves to be given a reduced sentence and released because he has been an exemplary prisoner. However, Haag could also be sentenced to life without parole again.

Haags case is one of many across the state and nation affected by a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that stated mandatory life without parole sentences for juvenile homicide offenders is unconstitutional. The court ruled it violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Another U.S. Supreme Court ruling shortly after made the previous ruling retroactive, meaning all juvenile homicide offenders sentenced to mandatory life without parole sentences before 2012 have to be resentenced, said Terry Mulligan, director for the Cowlitz County Office of Public Defense.

The Washington State Supreme Court then followed up with rulings of their own that set state laws regarding sentencings for juvenile cases of this nature, Mulligan said. He said an advocacy group went through court records and identified all cases in Washington where juveniles were given mandatory life sentences. Haags case is the only one in Cowlitz County that fits the requirements for resentencing, Mulligan said.

In Haags trial, he admitted to the murder, but he offered little reason for his motivation. In a report filed last week in Cowlitz County Superior Court, public defender Simmie Baer and two psychologists explored in great detail Haags life in 1994, including his mental and emotional state, and the factors leading up to Rachel Dillards death.

Baers case rests on numerous factors in Haags life at the time of the murder, including trauma-related depression stemming from a combination of issues. According to court records, Haags biological father left the family and never returned. Haag and several of his four siblings lived in poverty and he was psychologically mistreated by his stepfather, whom the family moved in with because he had money. Haag was also bullied in school for years due to his height and weight and often was isolated and depressed, according to court records.

At the time of the murder, Haag was best friends with Alex Dillard, Rachel Dillards older brother. However, Alex was abused and was removed from his home and put into foster care, according to court records. He later left the state for Job Corps work.

Haag did not take the sudden loss of his best friend well. In 2015, he revealed to Baer that he was attracted to men, which had been previously unknown and was unknown at the time of Haags 1995 trial, which took place at a time when it was less socially acceptable to be gay. Haag stated he was traumatized by his fears about the rejection he would experience if his sexual orientation was revealed, according to court records.

Haag told Baer and the psychologists that he was in love with Alex and was angry at the Dillard family for causing Alex to leave. In the court reports filed, Haag is often referred to as a volcano that erupted.

Unfortunately, on that day in 1994, (Haags) heightened immaturity, depression, rage and shame created a perfect storm for his complete mental collapse, the court records state. He was a teenager burdened by trauma, loss, immaturity, shame and depression, whose self-identity and psyche shattered at the moment Rachel Dillard came into his home.

Baer and psychologists state in the court records that Haag has been a model prisoner, has since been reformed and deserves a lesser sentence. In the 22 years he has been in prison, mostly at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen, Haag has only had one infraction, according to court records.

Haag has worked numerous jobs within the prison. He earned a high school diploma and has taken classes offered for juvenile offenders with life sentences, according to court records.

Haag had led an exemplary life before this tragic event and he has led an exemplary life in prison; his caseworker Lou Ann Anderson says he is rare and uncommon, in the most positive sense of the words, according to court records. Timothy Haag is much more than his worst act; he has lived an honest, ethical, empathetic and remorseful life in the twenty-two years he has been imprisoned; he deserves a sentence of twenty-five years.

Ryan Jurvakainen, with the Cowlitz County Prosecutors office, said Wednesday his office just received the paperwork for Haags case and is reviewing it. Jurvakainen said he was not sure whether the prosecution will agree with Baers recommendation of 25 years or if it will seek a longer sentence.

Part of his review will be evaluating what other courts have done in similar cases across the state, Jurvakainen said. He said he was unsure whether Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor or Michael Evans will be the one re-sentencing Haag. There is an affidavit of prejudice filed against Marilyn Haan hearing the case, and Stephen Warning was Haags defense lawyer during the trial in the 1990s.

Haags re-sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 3.
Bagging a gobbler in the spring turkey seasons that opens Saturday in Washington and Idaho is a mini version of bowhunting for elk.

A turkey hunter who scouts out a place to hunt and acquires the know-how has a high likelihood of calling in a hormone-charged bull that can be carried back to the pickup  or Prius  in one easy load.

Much of what goes into being a safe and successful turkey hunter was covered for 21 students in a free class this week in Spokane sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Asked to summarize some of the main points of the class, instructor Rich Mann rose to the challenge even though he says he cant fully cover the topic of turkey hunting in a three-hour class.

Since his retirement as a Washington Fish and Wildlife police officer, hes been working as a field rep for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Hes also been a turkey hunter for 35 years. From that experience, the spotlighted these points.

Know the bird: Washington has three wild turkey subspecies, each with a different habitat preference. A hunter should know turkey habits and be able to identify a legal bearded turkey. Look for tracks and other indicators, such as wing drag marks, that indicate a strutting tom is present. An elongated and J shaped dropping suggest a gobbler while a dollop is usually a hen. Tracks longer than 2 1/2 inches likely are toms; shorter tracks are probably hens or jakes.

Scout: Get out before sunrise and late in the afternoon to drive, walk, look for sign and listen. Talk to landowners and other people who might have a bead on where turkeys have been hanging out. School bus drivers in rural areas can be good sources, for example. Find out whether land is public or private and get permission as necessary.

Be equipped: A license and turkey tag, full-choked shotgun, shot shells, calls and camouflage clothing are the basics to be assembled. Decoys and blinds are used by some hunters. A camo day pack with sitting pad, snacks and water, survival kit, knife and other gear should be considered.

Practice: Pattern your shotgun for loads with tight groups. Learn to make basic yelp, cluck and purr sounds starting with slate or box calls. In the field, avoid calling too much, which can turn off gobblers.

Be safe: Be as passionate about safety as you are about bagging a tom. For example:

Avoid wearing or carrying anything thats red, white or bluethe colors found in the head (aiming spot) of a spring tom.

Be sure of your target: Never shoot at movement or color. Make sure you can see the entire bird before shooting.

Keep a hunter-orange vest and cap in your day pack to be donned after shooting a turkey for an added measure of safety when carrying a turkey out through the woods.

Set up with forward openings for at least 30 yards and with a bulletproof backstop at your back, such as a large tree, for protection from a hunter who might be moving in from behind. If you see somebody coming toward your setup, dont wave or move; that might trigger an excited and undisciplined hunter to shoot your way. Call out to identify yourself as person.

Say no to decoys made for hunters to hide behind while sitting or sneaking, Mann said. The last thing I would do is be behind a fanned out turkey tail in the field. The literature says theyre effective, but so so are grenades.

Be ethical: Go beyond the basic laws to be a good sportsman by not moving in on someone elses bird. Shoot at toms that are within range, generally inside 35 yards, for a tight-pattern kill shot to the head and neck. Never abuse public or private property.
tech2 News Staff

The Reserve Bank of India has given approval to Amazon India to enable and use a digital wallet system on its online shopping portal. The official license (Prepaid Payment Instrument) was given on 22 March however the official news comes today right after Flipkart got a funding of $1.4 billion to take over eBay India.

Amazon India customers currently could only pay through a two-factor authentication processes. With the addition of an e-wallet, customers will now be able to make payments faster as well as top-up their wallet for future purchases. With this, Amazon also gets a streamlined channel to offer cashback, quicker refunds and more.

Amazon India was seen promoting its Amazon Pay platform which offered quick check-in and check-out using a customers Amazon account. However, this was only restricted to transactions on Amazon. With the new license, it seems that the company will offer their new wallet service under the same branding.

"We are pleased to receive our PPI (prepaid payment instrument) license from the RBI. Our focus is providing customers a convenient and trusted cashless payments experience. RBI is in the process of finalising the guidelines for PPIs. We look forward to seeing a continuation of the low limit wallet dispensation with simplified KYC & authentication. This will allow us to help customers adopt digital payments at scale and thereby contribute towards making India a less cash economy," said Sriram Jagannathan, VP payments, Amazon India.
tech2 News Staff

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), one of the leading institutions for technical education in the United States has taken a historic step in its partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with plans for a TCS Hall at the CMU campus in Pittsburgh. The hall will be supported by a $35 million (around Rs 225 crore) grant by TCS, which is the largest single industry donation to the university in its history.

N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, said "The history between the Tata Group and Pittsburgh has roots that go back more than a century. Our founder, Mr. Jamsetji Tata, came to the worlds steel-making capital in the early 20th Century to understand technologies that he would later use to launch Indias own industrial revolution. We are pleased to come full circle and launch this facility, fostering further digital technology research in driving what is the largest economic and development opportunity ever faced by mankind  the 4th Industrial Revolution."

Subra Suresh, President of CMU, said "The leadership of TCS and Tata Sons are harnessing the power of one of the worlds largest business groups to bring some of most promising new technologies to the marketplace. We believe that operating at the intersection of technology and humanity, CMU and TCS each bring extraordinary strengths to this unique partnership."

The Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf said "This is an exciting time for Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University. We are very pleased to have TCS break ground in Pittsburgh, as they join a number of cutting-edge companies which recognize the many benefits of locating in southwestern Pennsylvania. We look forward to increasing the state's economic growth by supporting university partnerships, which create jobs and enhance communities."

The TCS Hall will house research and academic spaces where both TCS and CMU will explore next generation technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, cloud technologies, robotics and autonomous vehicles. The grant also supports TCS Presidential Scholarships and Fellowships, with the first "TCS Scholars" to be selected in 2017.

The facility is planned as a 48,000-square-foot building and will be a brick and steel structure with an architecture that pays homage to the historic contributions of Pittsburgh to previous industrial revolutions. The facility will feature an innovation courtyard, an environmentally friendly and sustainable rain yard, and an area dedicated to the exploration of robotics.
tech2 News Staff

A team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the in China have collaborated to develop a 3D printing technique that allows objects to permanently change shape as a response to the application of heat. The technique uses layers of shape memory polymers, with the layers designed to respond differently to heat.

Martin L. Dunn a professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design said "The key advance of this work is a 4D printing method that is dramatically simplified and allows the creation of high-resolution complex 3D reprogrammable products. It promises to enable myriad applications across biomedical devices, 3D electronics, and consumer products. It even opens the door to a new paradigm in product design, where components are designed from the onset to inhabit multiple configurations during service."

Zhen Ding, a researcher at Singapore University of Technology and Design said "We use computational simulations to design composite components where the stiff material has a shape and size that prevents the release of the programmed internal stress from the soft material after 3D printing. Upon heating the stiff material softens and allows the soft material to release its stress and this results in a change  often dramatic  in the product shape."

The process is called 4D printing as the objects can transform once they have been 3D printed. The research could be used for creating objects with two states, a contracted one for shipping, and an expanded one for regular use. The new technique also has potential applications for robotics, architecture, medical devices and toys. The research was published in the journal Science Advances.
PTI

Karnataka government has said it would sign a contract worth Rs 615.82 crore with IT major Wipro to connect government offices from the Gram Panchayat level in the State. It would be implemented under the Karnataka State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) project- I and II. "KSWAN, that initially began in 2009, has ended in 2014. Now the cabinet has given the go ahead for KSWAN-I and KSWAN-II. For this, we will be signing a five-year contract with Wipro. Rs 615.82 crore bid has been accepted," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting here, he said Rs 185.60 crore would have to be paid to BSNL for bandwidth for five years. KSWAN was initially set-up in December 2009 under Centre for e-Governance with assistance of the Union Government to provide reliable and most secure network connectivity and bandwidth upgradation on-demand to user departments across Karnataka.

The network envisages establishing most reliable fault-free video, voice and data communication services to all Government offices across Karnataka. Stating that the project is to interconnect all government offices from gram panchayat level,Jayachandra said "We are aiming to connect up to 10,000 offices from 4,000." The cabinet also agreed to convene the next session of the state legislature in June, he said.

"We will have to ratify GST which will come into effect from July 1. By then we will have to do it, so it will be probably in the June first week. Also our vote on account is only for three months," he said. Among the other decisions taken by the cabinet were giving consent on the civil aviation policy that was sought by Civil Aviation Ministry, from the state.
tech2 News Staff

Mark Zuckerberg, the 32-year billionaire, co-founder and CEO of the worlds largest social network recently revealed his thoughts on what it takes to manage a global community.

Facebook is currently home to about 2 billion users, more than a fifth of the worlds total population. Of that, Indians comprise of around 200 million users, a few million ahead of the USA.

As a percentage of Indias population, that number is insignificant. As a percentage of Indias internet-enabled population, its not so bad, but its still worse than in saturated markets like the US and Japan.

Zuckerberg, in an interview with Fast Company (FC), touched on a number of points that are very relevant to a nascent market like India. With the surge in low-cost internet-ready devices and a dramatic drop in the price of data access, Facebooks next billion could easily come from India.

Facebooks CEO has always maintained that the whole point of Facebook is to make the world a more open and connected place. In the FC interview, he makes a small addition, stating that Facebook will now, hopefully build some of the social infrastructure for a global community.

If you remember Zuckerbergs ideologically charged treatise that describes Facebook as a force for change in the world, he said pretty much the same thing.

Frederic Filloux, on Medium, presents a compelling argument for why Facebook can never be a force for global change. As he explains, Facebook is an advertising machine par excellence, and thats what it will remain. He alleges that Facebook will do what it must to keep its ad-revenue high.

On fake news

FC put a similar question to Zuckerberg and he appeared to almost be offended by the very notion of it.

People want business leaders to be authentic and stand for things. One of the most frustrating things I read is when people assume that we dont do something because it will cost us money, says Zuckerberg. He tries to explain that balancing the ideals of free speech and the hurtful nature of hate speech is very hard.

People should have the ability to say what they think, even if someone else disagrees with that. And freedom of speech is a funny thing because people always want freedom of speech unless people disagree with them, he says.

He admits that Facebook is widely criticized for allowing the spread of misinformation for money, a claim that Zuckerberg believes is untrue. He believes that people in a community want information all the time, real information, and that they just need the tools to help them acquire it.

In a country like India, this argument for access to quality information hits home. Misinformation spreads through the most popular mediums of communication. In a country like India, as internet penetration increases, mediums like WhatsApp will be, and already are, sources of misinformation.

If over half of tech-savvy Americans can see Facebook as a source of news, what chance will real news have in our country?

If Facebook can indeed work out a mechanism to provide quality news, thats good news overall.

Local sensibilities

Speaking of news, India is a very touchy country. Some subjects that are fine in other countries are taboo here. Nudity, cows, religion, all such topics are hotbeds of controversy. In his treatise, Zuckerberg did explain that he was aiming for what was, in essence, community driven censorship.

Its not for someone in California to decide what Indias sensibilities are, after all.

I still believe more strongly than ever that giving the most voice to the most people will be this positive force in society.

Giving the most voice to the most people can lead you to controversial things as well. There are laws in some countries that youre not allowed to say certain things, and as a general principle we try to follow local laws. Do we agree with all of those? Not necessarily, claims Zuckerberg.

Referring to a recent case in Pakistan, where a Facebook group encouraging the depiction of Prophet Muhammad resulted in death threats against Zuckerberg, the Facebook CEO points out that Facebook simply pulled the page in Pakistan, but kept it live elsewhere.

Were trying to give people as much of a voice as we can around the world, realizing that its not perfect at any given point in time, says Zuckerberg. He believes that such issues will persist, that nothing is perfect. He hopes that 20-30 years in the future, when Facebook is closer to achieving its core objective, things will have changed.

On moving too fast

Another of Zuckerbergs arguments that is very apt for India revolves around the technological revolution. As we charge forward towards our own hopes of transforming into a digital India, people who dont adapt fast enough are going to be left behind.

Zuckerberg said that we dont acknowledge this aspect of technology. He believes that people who are the luckiest and most fortunate have a responsibility to the people who are not that lucky.

He also believes that infrastructure is key to bringing up all sections of society.

It may be that when people are economically struggling they need a stronger social support structure. But it is always an important need, and I think we are overlooking the extent to which over the last 30 or 40 years some of the infrastructure for that social community has declined, he tells FC.

Interestingly, Zuckerberg doesnt think that propping people up is the solution. Hes very clear on the fact that everyone must have a sense of purpose and meaning and dignity. He believes that this is necessary for any society to grow.

Hes not averse to giving tools that will enable this, however, and he believes that Facebook can be that tool.

A community must be able to decide for itself.

The importance of doing something

Most importantly, its necessary to do something, reveals Zuckerberg. It may not be perfect, but nothing ever is. Anything will have its ugly side and you deal with the consequences. The only way to move forward as a society/community, however, is by trying to do something.

You will face failure, but the positives will eventually outweigh the negatives.

Whatever we believe of Facebooks motivations and the means with which it intends to achieve change, one has to admit, it is trying something different.
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Chipmaker Qualcomm Inc said on Wednesday it was asked to refund Canada's BlackBerry Ltd $814.9 million in an arbitration over royalties for certain past sales.

U.S.-listed shares of BlackBerry were up 17.8 percent at $9.07 in heavy trading, while they were also up 17 percent at C$12.03 in Toronto.

Qualcomm's shares were down about 2 percent at $54.20.

The dispute started in 2016 following Qualcomm's agreement to cap certain royalties applied to payments made by BlackBerry under a licensing deal.

Qualcomm said on Wednesday it does not agree with the decision of the arbitration panel, but the payment is binding and not appealable.

With BlackBerry planning to invest for growth in its software businesses, the arbitration award will strengthen the company's balance sheet and increase the likelihood of acquisitions, Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley wrote in a note.

He increased the price target to $9.50 from $8.

Qualcomm is fighting a lawsuit filed by Apple Inc, which has accused the company of overcharging for chips and refusing to pay some $1 billion in promised rebates.

The U.S. government has accused Qualcomm of resorting to anticompetitive tactics to maintain a monopoly over key semiconductors used in mobile phones.

BlackBerry said on Wednesday a final award, which will include interest and reasonable attorneys' fees, will be issued after a hearing on May 30.

BlackBerry, which has a market valuation of about C$5.45 billion, reported revenue of C$1.31 billion in 2016, while Qualcomm, which has a market capitalization of $81.75 billion, reported a revenue of $23.5 billion.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP represented BlackBerry in the proceeding.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi 6 next week. But today we have speculated information about another flagship smartphone from the company.

According to a source, Xiaomi is working on the next version of the Mi Note. The third generation of the device is expected to come packed with high-end specifications including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor which will paired with 8 GB of RAM. As for the storage options Xiaomi could offer two variants, one with 128 GB and the other one with 256 GB.

The display is expected to be similar to what we saw on the Mi Note 2. Which means that the Mi Note 3 could feature a dual-edge curved display measuring at 5.7 inches. Even the battery is expected to be similar, offering 4,070 mAh capacity.

Even though the Mi Note 2 is a brilliant handset, Xiaomi hasn't been able to sell it much. The reason is because it usually restricts its Mi Note series to its hometown and a few other regions.

Secondly, it has been reported that the smartphone maker has been facing production issues due to the curved screen, just like Samsung.

For the Mi Note 3, Xiaomi will use the same display but will have an improved building process.

While we don't have a confirmed launch date, the new smartphone is expected to launch somewhere around Q2 of 2017.
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Yahoo Inc 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.

The company had a legal duty to make sure the funds were used properly, but instead used the settlement as "window-dressing" to "stem the immense criticism over Yahoo's complicity in egregious human rights violations," the lawsuit says. Only $700,000 of the $17.3 million settlement fund has actually been used to help jailed dissidents, according to the lawsuit.

Yahoo spokesman Mike Sefanov declined to comment, saying the company does not discuss ongoing litigation. Yahoo originally established the fund to settle a lawsuit brought by the company's users in China, who were jailed for expressing their political views after Yahoo turned over information about them to the Chinese government.

The company appointed Wu as administrator of the fund and its own general counsel as trustee, according to the lawsuit. The Shanghai-born Wu, a U.S. citizen who died last April, was director the Laogai Research Foundation, a Washington-based human rights organization. His estate is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

It was not immediately clear if a lawyer had been hired to represent the estate in the matter and an operator said there was no listed telephone number for the foundation. A number associated with Wu's last address was not in service. The dissidents claim that Wu immediately began using the funds for personal gain, giving himself and his wife substantial raises.

He and his foundation bought two Washington properties for $1.45 million and $2.55 million that were used to house a museum on Chinese prison camps, the lawsuit says. The dissidents also contend that Wu used settlement funds to defend himself against lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment and misusing federal grant money.

Yahoo ignored "numerous red flags," including direct warnings from an employee of the foundation and concerns from a shareholder, the dissidents said. The lawsuit demands that the full amount of the settlement fund be replenished, and that the settlement be modified to ensure that dissidents are the sole beneficiaries. Yahoo is expected to be acquired by Verizon Communications Inc later this year.

Reuters
Pohela Baishakh 1424

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Pohela Baishakh has come once again. Bengali New Year, Pohela Baishakh, occurring on April 14, is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in Bangladesh.

Bangla New Year or Pohela Baishakh connects all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences. After a whole year, it has come back with colours, joy and happiness to bless the Bengalis.

It will be time again to participate in fairs and festivals.

It will be a time to feast on traditional food. And, of course, it will be time to look exquisite in the colours of Baishakh (red and white).

If we walk inside the big malls or walk across the nearby neighbourhood boutique houses we will definitely be attracted by the similarity struck in the colours of the clothes put on display. But here is where creativity and art strikes in! Although in any fashion house, the colours of dresses on display are red and white- no two dresses are alike.

There is so much detail and work put on each dress that the colour theme is not at all monotonous but the trend and style in which each shop are competing to attract customer attraction brings in a whole new diversity in the collections. Then again, we have a deep attachment with these two colours during Baishakh. It represents our cultural roots and the festive times of Baishakh. This is why the colours and the dresses are even more endearing to us. The rich diversity of the collections by different designers is inevitably conspicuous.

A good amount of time before the auspicious event is spent by people looking for the perfect Baishakhi outfit. Motifs come to life and patterns dance gracefully on the traditional Baishakhi attires.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Pohela Baishakh the countrys boutique and fashion warehouses expect around 25 per cent more sales than the previous years on the occasion of the upcoming Bangla New Year, thanks to the introduction of a new festival allowance for the government employees amid political stable situation. The government has announced a festival allowance for the Bangla New Year for all its.

The government has announced a festival allowance for the Bangla New Year for all its employees to be calculated at 20 per cent of the basic pay. According to the Eight Pay Scale, the government has to pay Tk 317 crore as bonus to its employees.

While visiting several shopping spots in different areas of the capital, it was found that all the shops and boutique houses were over crowded just few days ahead of Bangla New Year scheduled to be observed on April 14 amid huge festivity.

Fashion houses and shops displayed a wide range of new collection of cloths with various colors and designs to attract the buyers, who bear the essence of Bengali culture in their minds.

While contacting with Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (FEAB) President Azharul Haque Azad he said, We are hoping over 20 per cent sales this year compared to the years before as the overall condition is different now and the government has declared the first-ever festival bonus for Bangla New Year amidst quiet political situation.

He also said, We have set a target of Tk 1,500 crore earnings from Baishakhi sales.

The local fashion houses and manufacturers are ready to achieve the target as they have already brought a lot of new colorful designs to attract the buyers, he added.

Since the flavor of the consumers is being changed all the time, we have also brought a lot of new products including Sarees, Panjabi, Salware and Kamiz designed by our designers, manager of Bangla Mela at a city branch said.

Considering the scorching summer, all the items have also been made of pure cotton to give a comfortable feeling to the consumers, he added.

Experiencing the previous years sluggish business, we have set a 30 per cent growth target for this year and we are very hopeful to attain it, said Md Salauddin Ahmed, branch in-charge of Anjans.

Salauddin Ahmed also said, We have designed some unique products like hundred percent cotton, half-silk, screen print and block print in the red and white and there are some special package for a family in a color, which includes dress for mother, father and babies.

Though the amount of festival bonus is not a big one, it, however, gives me a cushion to Bangla New year expense, said Mustafizur Rahman Nabil while shopping at Bashundhara City.

However, private sector employees have expressed their utter dissatisfaction as the government did not give any sort of indication to the private sector employees in this regard.

We are already under tremendous pressure due to the implementation of eight pay scales to bear the everyday burnt while extra benefits offered only to the government official pushed up the prices of products, Md Habibur Rahman, a private service holder, said. n



Models:

Shihab Khan, Ashraful Islam, Ringson Rinku, Hayat Khan Saba, Mishu and Kakoly.

Dress courtesy: Tolve, La Reeve

Designer: Marzia Mahzabin

Photo: Moin Ahamed


Asia Council fellowships for Bangladesh

Campus Report :

The Asia Council fellowships for graduate studies at world's top universities in US, UK and Asia opens for the first time for students of Bangladesh from March 30. The fellowship was instituted last year to fund outstanding students from selected Asian countries to avail the best in global education and enable them to emerge as future global leaders in their chosen field. The application deadline for 2017 fellowship is April 30.

The council offers three different fellowships. The Asia Council Global Leaders Fellowship is meant to support Asian students for Graduate Studies at Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Asia Council Asia Fellowship supports Asian students for Graduate Studies at National University of Singapore, Peking University, University of Hong Kong, University of Tokyo, Seoul National University and Kyoto University.
Welcoming Bangla New Year

M. Mizanur Rahman :

Pahela Baishakh is traditionally the most ebullient festival in the life of Bangalee people who get together irrespective of caste or creed and turn out happily with colourful dress with festive outlook. Though the weather that this Baishakh wears on overcast cloudy sky with a symbol of a ferocious storm called 'Kal- Boshekhi Jhor', the Bengali people waive it like a simple air.

The beginning of Pahela Baishakh gives us a focal point of pleasant enthusiasm of festivity of an auspicious time to carry ensuing days, months for a year new irrespective of social, economic, and political diversities of our people until the next Pahela Baishakh arrives at our door. Before we conceive our enormous dreams of creative works on different programmes materialised time flies like air. Yet we are not disheartened or disappointed in hoping the better future. This is what our struggle for existence. We are that people who fight to fit ourselves and achieve rights.

For ages immemorial Bangalee people are basically the lovers of nature. Their waves of air naturally appear rhythmically poetic. It is evident from their age-old customs and traditions. Ritually some customs and traditions of different religious communities differ among one another to some extent. But in their festivities we often find communal harmony. It appears from their sentiment and emotion, as they are the sons and daughters of nature itself. Nature takes them as if on its lap and brings them up on its swinging cradle like the mother herself. That is what the reason why Bangalee people usually called the land where they live as the motherland.

It is very difficult to ascertain when Bangalees have started living on cultivation. Naturally the people of Bengal used to live on cultivating their land sowing seed of foodstuff and reaping them during the harvesting season. These soft-hearted people coexist with the aliens who were allowed to trade on their soil and bartered their harvested fruits whatsoever long before the urbanisation and industrial revolution took place like other nations who boost mostly on agro-economy. Beside their foodgrains like rice, wheat, barley etc. Bangalees used to cultivate vegetables, spices and engaged themselves in developing fishery and livestock in support of agriculture. Earlier tools and appliances were not as developed as nowadays. Farmers had to eam their living on farming by strenuous but hard labour. Yet after the lot of scientific development of farming the farmers have to adopt planning objectives and best possible techniques and scientific knowledge about cultivation of crops, pattern of cropping, and economic use of land, fertiliser, seeds and pesticides.

No, there were no such developments earlier but natural bounties were abundant. In those days Bangalee people had their fisheries, poultry and livestock in plenty. There were no dearths of clothes also. They used to weave clothes in their homemade handloom. The land of Bengal used to give forth enormous agricultural products. Naturally Bangalees were so affluent that they could export surplus agricultural products to farflung countries like Southeast Asia, Middleeastern and African counties beyond Indian peninsula meeting out all local demands. The French traveller Francois Bernier had given the vivid accounts of it in details in his book 'Travels in Mogul Empire'.

Most probably Bangalees fixed Pahela Baishakh as the first day of Bengali New Year on account of its harvesting season of the year. Historically it is stated that Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) of Mughal empire while extending his suzerainty over Bengal simply ordered his General Todarmal to exact taxes or revenue from Bangalees in cash or kind during the Bengali harvesting period on very soft terms and conditions, so that his subjects would have the easy time to pay revenues. After Todarmal won Gujrat in 1574, Emperor Akbar appointed him as his Revenue Secretary. Later Todarmal won the battle of Bengal in 1576 and was made the Subedar of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa by the emperor. During this period the emperor ordered to survey the entire area under his suzerainty and introduced a new system of eaming revenue that remained in force for some considerable period of his reign. It has been assumed that the emperor Akbar might have introduced the above-mentioned Bengali day of festival. That might not be the fact. The Bangalee people who are apt to take advantage of all auspicious moments to celebrate the time of their choice with joys at heart. The event of 'Punyah' of the zamindars of those days could not signify such joyous moments, because the collection of revenues in the name of 'Punyah' by zamindars were mostly extortion exerting their muscle power over the teeming farmers under their heels could hardly be termed as the celebration of Pahela Baishakh by the people in joyous mood.

However on Pahela Baishakh, with an auspicious outlook, closing their business accounts of the previous year for opening a new red-ledger called 'Khero Khata', the Bangalee businessmen start a fresh the ongoing business transaction. A few days before Pahela Baishakh, concerned businessmen would send colourful cards inviting their customers with sweet words to attend their business place. The customers also used to repay their dues, if any, on that day to keep mutual relations with respectful reciprocity. This is what maintenance of good relation between the businessman and the customer since early times. Maintaining good-will and confidence is always a pre-requisite for every goods business.

On the auspicious day of Pahela Baishakh we all realise this in attending business places being entertained with sweetmeats and sweet words of the host businessmen. This has become an age-old Bangalee custom. It's really commendable. Throughout Bangladesh and also in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura of India including all of its surrounding villages this sort of celebration of Pahela Baishakh is in vogue till now.

So this legendary festival gives a pleasant look among the Bangalee people with a pledge of composite communal harmony. In spite of the hottest summer season intermingled with sudden change of sky-being overwhelmed with cloudy but grayish colour wrapping the shining sun by the cyclonic storm that tempts all over the horizon, but the Bangalee people remain undaunted and face it. They have been enjoying this hard time with a high morale since long unknown period. Even those Bangalees migrated abroad and living around the world celebrate Pahela Baishakh also with similar customary ebullience and enthusiasm.

The urban Bangalee people, specially in Dhaka, commemorate 'Bangaliana' by taking Panta Bhat (watered rice) with pieces of fried hilsa fish and slices of aubergine at Romna Botomul (root of the banyan tree), Dhaka, in the big fair of Pahela Baishakh.

Most of the cultural organisations like Chhayanant, Bangla Academy, Shishu academy. Nazrul Academy and others used to present Tagore's and Nazrul's seasonal songs in Bengali and stage dance drama on this occasion.

Tradesmen of different colourful toys, flutes, balloons and handicrafts crowd here and sell their items to the fascinated children. The people of almost all classes throng here to enjoy the occasion with fedstive mood. The Botomul, as it were, resounds welcoming this great festival.

"Esho hey Baishakh, Esho, Esho, Taposho Nishshasho Baye ....

(Come O Baishakh ! Come and breathe out of devotee's fragrant air ... )

The young girls having dressed with red-bordered yellow sari and red or white flowers set in bun within the tuft of their coiled hairs seem to have always been the additional attraction of the fair.

And young boys wear colourful long boutique Punjabi and payjama that give no less attraction adding to festival's seemingly graceful but enthralling ambience. Professor Muntasir Mamun in his book, "The Festivals of Bangladesh' described, "The most important function of Baishakh and the first day of Baishakh is the fair. The New Year, fairs of our country are also nothing but the changed forms of the oldest 'seasonal festivities' and 'agricultural festivals' of Bangladesh."

All festivities bear pleasure of heart. So our Pahela Baiskah festival overcoming such hottest summer brings to us blissful pleasure of our heart no matter what agonies lie ahead. Let our great Bangladesh, with its enduring and ardent people live in heavenly bliss from the first day of Baishakh for good enternally. Let us recollect a few lines of our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on this sacred occasion.

"Let us sing of them/

who brought forth on earth/

the fruits of their toil.

Their hardiest labour that contributed basket-full of fruits and flowers/

as offerings for earth ....

Let us sing of them. "
All set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh

Tribal people floating flowers in the Kaptai Lake on the occasion of 3 -day long Boisabi Festival on Wednesday.

BSS, Chittagong :

Brisk preparations are afoot to welcome the Bengali New Year-1424, popularly called Pahela Baishakh, on Friday.

Socio-cultural organisations including the district administration have chalked out an elaborate programme to celebrate the day to be participated by the people of all sects, religions and opinions. The law enforcement agencies have taken extensive security measures in the city and district for the celebration in a cheerful and festive environment.

Police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have taken special steps to tighten security in the city and its adjacent district. The authorities of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and District Police took decision to deploy 3,150 police personnel and nearly 250 RAB members for uninterrupted the celebration of "Pahela Boishakh" in the city and district. CMP sources said they would deploy 1,650 police personnel at 92 points and set up 32 check posts in different strategic places in the city.

All entry and exit points of the city are being monitored round-the-clock by setting the Closed Circuit TV Cameras, the sources added.

RAB will also deploy over 250 personnel in different strategic areas in Chittagong city and district to maintain law and order, RAB sources added. RAB personnel will be deployed in close proximity of the check-posts and they will extend security assistance to police, besides protecting all key point installations (KPIs) in and around the city.

Reazaul Masud, Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) of Chittagong district, said they will also keep alert over 1,500 police personnel at important places including upazila headquarters on the occasion.

Special security measures will be taken especially at the large Boishakhi Mela venues at DC Hill, CRB area, Shilpakala Academy, Foy's Lake, Patenga Sea Beach, Chittagong Zoo, Swadhinata Park, Chittagong Port, Naval Museum and Shishu Park, the sources added.

A 'Mongol Shovajatra' organised by district administration will be brought out in the city on Friday to be participated by people from all walks of life.

Vehicles to be restricted on Pahela Baishakh: The law enforcing agencies particularly Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has taken special security measures for Pahela Baishak, the first day of Bengali New Year. The CMP has directed to stop movements of vehicles at DC Hill area and its adjoining roads Jamal Khan, Momin Road, Buddhist Temple road, Nandan Kanon, Enayet Bazar, CRB Shirish Tola area and its adjoining roads Kazirdewri, Stadium, Tigerpass Bypass road, Patenga sea beach and its adjoining roads Katgor to seabeach, Airport to sea beach and Golden Beach roads from 6 am to 6 pm on April 14 to observe Pahela Baishak, the first day of Bengali New Year.

CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar held a press conference at the commissioner's conference hall on Wednesday morning. Addressing the press conference CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar said police has taken special measures for controlling the law and order situation on April 14 to observe the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year.

He said, "CMP will stop movements of vehicles at DC Hill area and its adjoining roads, CRB Shirish Tola area and its adjoining roads, Patenga sea beach and its adjoining roads from 6 am to 6 pm on April 14 to observe the Pahela Baishak, the first day of Bengali New Year."
World Health Day observed at Dhaka CMH

Director General of Medical Services Major General S M Motahar Hossain addressing as Chief Guest at a Scientific Seminar and discussion held at CMH. Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday on the occasion of World Health Day-2017. Photo: ISPR

A scientific Seminar and discussion was held at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday on the occasion of World Health Day- 2017, says an ISPR press release.

Director General of Medical Services Major General S M Motahar Hossain was present as Chief Guest. Consultant Surgeon General, Major General Munshi Md Mojibur Rahman; Consultant Physician General Md Abdul Ali Mia and Commandant Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Major General Foshiur Rahman were present as special guests.

The theme of this year's World Health Day was "Depression-Let's Talk".

Professor and Adviser Spacialist of Psychiatry Brigadier General Azizul Islam hosted and anchored the programme and opening speech was given by Commandant CMH Dhaka Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman. The key note paper of the programmer was presented by Senior Psychiatrist Colonel M Kamrul Hasan.

Speakers briefed on the information. symptom, management and preventive measures on depression . From this discussion it was proved that, about 75 lakhs people are suffering from depression in Bangladesh and about 35 crores of people through out the world.

Chief Physician, Chief Surgeon, Advisor Specialists and other senior officers of CMH, Dhaka, participated in the programme.


Medical diploma holders to get govt jobs

Staff Reporter :

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday published full text of its judgement that removed obstacles for the medical diploma holders of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board to get job in government, semi-government and autonomous organisations.

The medical diploma holders' lawyer M Ashsraf Ali said that from now these graduates of Bangladesh Technical Education Board would be able to compete for different concerned posts including the post of medical technologist.

The Appellate Division uphold the judgement of the High Court about the appointment of these medical diploma holders in the government, semi-government and autonomous organisations. The High Court delivered the verdict on November 21, last year.


We welcome Pahela Baishakh

THE nation celebrates 'Pahela Baishakh' - the Bengali New Year-1424 today with colourful festivities and eye catching socio-cultural events. The day breaks with welcoming soirees at the city's Ramna Botomul as it has emerged as a tradition of our New Year's celebration over the past decades. Meanwhile, soirees and celebration at other places in city parks, colleges and university campuses and open-air grounds turn the occasion to an event of endless jubilation. Similar festivities welcome the Bengali New Year in the districts and at local level. Expatriates abroad also celebrate the occasion with fanfare highlighting Bengali culture.





We welcome the New Year and join the nation wishing the people everything that would bring them good and keep them away from every other evil. The occasion always comes to fulfill people's new hopes and aspirations leaving behind pains and perils of the outgoing year. Pahela Baishakh originally appeared in Bengali calendar for collection of revenue by Moghul Empire Akbar from farmers of this region; which was later accepted by local traders to mark the opening of new business year. The occasion has assumed more socio-political colour now contributing to reshaping Bengali culture with emphasis on its secular values.



It is a public holiday and most people will stay out-door enjoying open air festivities. 'Hilsa-Panta' highlights the occasion to a growing section of people in the city although its origin can't be traced far into the past. The occasion brings brisk business to wayside vendors while band groups, theater parties and vocalists render to the crowds in streets and public places.



Needless to say we are concerned about public safety in the light of the unpleasant occurrences two years back when unruly elements went berserk sexually harassing women in Suhrawardy Uddyan. The time is also marked by militants' threats and attacks from religious extremists groups taking public their victims. We are however confident that the law enforcers will take elaborate measures to thwart the risk of such attempts in the capital and outside.



The 'Mongol Sovayatra' highlights the Pahela Baishakh celebration marching city streets from the Institute of Fine Arts of the Dhaka University in the morning. Displaying signs and symbols of old relics, ghosts and animals; which are highly ambient of pagan culture it invariably marks the cultural transition now at work in this predominantly Muslim society. Organizers claim it is part of secular culture and although it is in direct conflict with Islamic values, it nonetheless reflects the cultural diversity in our society.



We share a liberal democratic outlook within our religious faith and socio-cultural values; but nonetheless we join to celebrate the occasion with renewed commitment to our past heritage. We wish everybody a happy Bengali New Year today on this occasion.






Woman killed in `shootout` with BGB in Cox`s Bazar

Staff Reporter :

A woman was killed and four more received bullet injuries in a shootout between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and suspected drug dealers in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf Upazila early Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Jaheda Khatun, 50, a resident of Myanmar's Maungdaw Township. Those who received gunshot injuries are Maungdaw residents Rasheda Khatun, 25, Mojuma Khatun, 49, Mohammed Kashem, 70, and Mohammad Shafiq, 20, a resident of Teknaf. Cox's Bazar Sector Commander of the BGB Colonel Md Rafiqul Haque said the incident took place on the estuary of the Naf River near the Shaha Pori Island around 4:00am.

The victims were smuggling Yaba by an engine-run boat, the BGB official said.

They opened fire on the BGB patrol team while trying to enter Bangladeshi waters, the border guards retaliated, injuring the five, he said. "They were taken to Teknaf Hospital, where doctors declared Jaheda dead. The other victims have been transferred to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital," the BGB official said.

He said the BGB has confiscated the trawler with a 'huge consignment' of methamphetamine based yaba tablets. Yaba is usually smuggled into Bangladesh through 45 routes of Cox's Bazar district, bordering Myanmar's Rakhine State, according to intelligence agencies.
Chemical attack '100 pc fabrication': Assad

Syrians ride a motorcycle amid destruction in a rebel-held neighbourhood in Daraa in southern Syria.

AFP :

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US military strike, as Moscow digs in to defend its ally despite increasing strains with Washington.

In an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus-his first since the alleged April 4 attack prompted a US air strike on Syrian forces-Assad said his army had given up all its chemical

weapons and that Syrian military power was not affected by the US strike.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," he said in the interview on Wednesday in reference to the alleged chemical weapons attack.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

Western leaders including US President Donald Trump have accused Assad of being behind last week's attack in the rebel-held town Khan Sheikhun, saying his forces unleashed a chemical weapon during an air strike.

The suspected attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage. Syria denied any use of chemical weapons and Moscow said the deaths had been the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing "toxic substances". In the interview, Assad insisted it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened. "You have a lot of fake videos now," he said. "We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?" He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.
US-Russia ties `may be at all-time low`: Trump

Al Jazeera News :

President Donald Trump has declared that US relations with Russia "may be at an all-time low".

His top diplomat offered a similarly grim assessment after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier on Wednesday. "Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said flatly during a White House news conference. Only weeks ago, it appeared that Trump, who praised Putin throughout the US election campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia. But such a scenario seems highly unlikely as the two sides have clashed repeatedly over Syria following last week's suspected chemical attack and US missile strikes.

"It'd be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and if we got along with Russia," Trump said. "That could happen, and it may not happen," he said. "It may be just the opposite."

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said relations are at a low point and marked by serious distrust. "There is a low level of trust between our two countries," Tillerson said in Moscow during a news conference with Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, adding that the "degradation" of US-Russian ties needs to end. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said. US and Russia have recently traded caustic accusations following a US strike on a Syrian airbase in retaliation to the suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Syria, blamed by Washington on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia. Tillerson's comments echoed televised remarks by Putin, who earlier on Wednesday said the trust between the two countries had "deteriorated" since Trump was elected US president. "One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but has rather deteriorated," Putin said in an interview broadcast on Russian television.

"On Syria, they are miles apart and it doesn't seem that there's been any breakthrough at all," Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from the White House, said. Speaking to reporters, Tillerson reiterated Washington's position that Assad must eventually relinquish power - a position starkly at odds with Russia, which has been bombing rebel-held areas in Syria in support of Assad's forces since September 2015.

For his part, Lavrov warned against an international effort to remove Assad from power, citing the cases of Iraq and Libya to argue that the toppling of autocratic rulers by external forces leads to chaos.

He said Moscow was ready to resume a deal with Washington to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace as the two countries lead separate bombing campaigns. "Today the president confirmed our readiness to return to its implementation on the understanding that the original aims of the air forces of the American coalition are reaffirmed, namely the fight with IS [ISIL] and al-Nusra," Lavrov said.

The deal was suspended after US missile strikes against the Shayrat airbase following a suspected gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun, in an act Moscow labelled "aggression against a sovereign state".

Tillerson said the US is confident in its assessment that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in the bombing on Khan Sheikhoun and alleged that Syria has used such weapons more than 50 times in the past.

Lavrov said Russia has no intention to "shield anyone", adding that a United Nations chemical weapons watchdog must conduct an "objective and unbiased probe" into the attack that killed dozens of people.

Al Jazeera's Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said the press conference highlighted the two diplomats' "differences in style, in position and in views of the world". "There was no dramatic proposals made, no big deals discussed," Challands said. "The conversation was basically about how to stop it [the relation] from getting worse, not necessarily about grand steps to make it any better." The press conference came just moments before Russia again cast a veto at the UN Security Council, blocking a bid from the US, UK and France to condemn the suspected gas attack and push the Syrian government to cooperate with investigators.

China, which has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the civil war began six years ago, abstained from Wednesday's vote, along with Ethiopia and Kazakhstan. Ten countries voted in favour of the text, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting no.
US first female Muslim judge found dead in Hudson River

Reuters :

A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said. Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a U.S. judge. Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful. A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website. She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.
Govt employees` hospital sick itself

Reza Mahmud :

The Sarkari Karmochari Hospital at Fulbaria, Dhaka city is itself sick. Its all Intensive Care Units are not in order.

"Most of the machines and equipments of the 150 beds hospital do not work. Specially all the ventilation units render no service from its beginning," says an official on condition of anonymity.

The hospital is situated beside Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University. It has been built for the government employees and for giving limited service to the poor people. The ICU of the hospital were installed in October 2016.

When contacted, Sadia Sajmin Siddiqua, hospital Superintendent, told The New Nation on Wednesday, "All the ICU units are not in function. We are trying to restore those." In reply to a question as to 'why all the new machines are out of order?' She said, "There were some problems for the government in buying and repairing any machinery."

The Superintendent said, "One machine we found workable. But we want to avoid risk. If we admit any patient, it will be a risky decision, because the other machines are not alright."

She said also that the machines are not new, as those were bought in 2013 when the Prime Minister opened the new building of the hospital.

But the officials said that the machines had not been seen ever workable after those were set in the ICU.

Sources said, the machines had not been collected transparently. "The authority of the hospital might have linked to corruption. A fair investigation can unearth the truth," said one of the employees of the hospital.

A patient, who is a government employee, said preferring anonymity, "When it is a matter of luck to get a seat in the ICU in any government or private hospital, all the six beds of ICU are inactive here."

Some patients and their relatives alleged that a group of dishonest doctors and officials are responsible for anarchy. They use to refer serious patients in other private clinics and hospitals for a handful of booty.

It causes huge problem for the poor patients, added one of them. The officials said, there are sufficient number of doctors, nurses and other staff, but smaller number of patients.

The Superintendent said 100 seats out of total 150 beds are found full most of the time.

The official data shows that about 1, 69,338 patients had taken treatment from outdoor of the hospital in 2016.


College student killed in city road accident

Staff Reporter :

A college student was killed in a road accident in the city's Moghbazar area on Thursday afternoon.

The victim has been identified as Nazmul Huda alias Pial, 20, a third year student of Marketing Department of Government Bangla College at Mirpur. He is son of Md Abul Khayer, resident of Modinabagh in the capital's Mugda area, police said.

"Pial was injured when a motorcycle hit him at Moghbazar Intersection at 11:30am. Locals rushed him to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DCMH) around 2:00pm. He was declared dead at about 5:00pm," said Md Bachchu Mia, In-Charge of DMCH Police Outpost.

The body has been kept at the hospital morgue after conducting the autopsy, the police official said.
Batamul blast trial yet to end

Sagar Biswas :

The trial procedure of sensational Ramna Batamul bomb blasts case during Pahela Baishakh celebrations in 2001 could not come to an end though 16 years elapsed in the meantime.

Court officials said that the explosive case in this connection under Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 has been delayed as the witnesses did not respond to the trial. The next hearing date is fixed on April 24. But four accused of the case are still absconding.

In fact, the trial in Ramna Batamul bomb blast case remains stuck as the police failed to produce the arrested accused before the court. As a result, the victims' family members are yet to get justice because of the slow trial process.

Ramna Batamul bombing was a serial bomb attacks on 14 April 2001 at a cultural programme of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations arranged by Chhayanot, a leading cultural organisation of the country.

Ten people, including Md Sujan, a Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami [HuJI] militant, died and at least 40 more people were wounded in the synchronized blasts. The Islamist militant outfit HuJI later confessed their involvement in the attack.

Meanwhile, another case of murder in connection with the same incident had disposed off in 2014 where the court awarded death sentence to eight accused, including Chief of HuJI Mufti Abdul Hannan.

Mufti Hannan, however, was hanged on Wednesday [April 12] night being convicted in another criminal case.

Interestingly, the Ramna bomb blast case was cracked after Mufti Hannan gave confessional statements before the court on November 19, 2006. The case remained stuck in the court for several years, but it got speed during the tenure of caretaker government. "One of the two cases has been disposed. The witnesses are not responding in the explosive case though the court issued summons for several times. For this reason, the trial procedure is being prolonged," Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Mohammad Abdullah Abu said.

Echoing the same, Special Public Prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said: "So far we assume, the witnesses have lost interest in this case after the completion of another case relating to the incident." On the other hand, the Defence Lawyer Faruk Ahmed said the case has been delaying intentionally not producing the witnesses during trial procedure. Only two witnesses were present in the hearings in last two years We also want that the case will be disposed off soon."

According to the documents of the explosive case, after framing charge in 2009 seven witnesses gave their statements before the court. On February 2, 2014, the fresh charge was framed amending an act. After that, only two witnesses gave their statements in last two years. That means, out of 90 witnesses, only nine persons gave their statements before the court.

Earlier, two charges were filed with the Ramna police station; one for murdering people and another for illegal possession of explosives. On November 29, 2008, the Criminal Investigation Department of police submitted two charge-sheets accusing 14 persons including HuJI kingpin Mufti Hannan.

Eight years after the bomb attack, a Dhaka court in 2009 brought charges against Mufti Hannan, chief of HuJI and 13 others of his militant outfit. Of them, eight of the accused were sentenced to death in 2014.

Those sentenced included Mufti Hannan, Maulana Akbar Hossain, Arif Hasan Sumon, Maulana Tajuddin, Hafiz Jahangir Alam Badr, Maulana Abu Bakr alias Hafiz Selim Hawladar, Maulana Abdul Hai and Maulana Shafiqur Rahman. The other six, Shahadatullah Jewel, Maulana Sabbir, Shaokat Hossain alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Abdur Rauf, Maulana Abu Taher and Maulana Yahia, were sentenced to life term in prison.
Power of water diplomacy has to be effective: Friendship is not enough

The failure of the Indian government to sign the Teesta water deal basically goes to strong opposition of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Benarjee. This is the third time she foiled the attempt after 2011 and 2015. This time she was forthright and said there was not enough water to share with Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been sincerely trying to do what is right for sharing water of international river Teesta. But he has limitation, India being a democracy.



He is now sending a team to Sikkim to see the water reserves in the upstream as Mamata has said there is no water in Teesta to share. Now it should be clear to Bangladesh that sweet smiles of friendship is not everything when it comes to water sharing by India with Bangladesh. Certainly, Mamata Benarjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, is not alone in protecting selfish interest of India. Our friendship has to be made meaningful by hard diplomacy with India. Through diplomacy a country protects its interest.



Mamata's proposal that our share of water can be arranged from five other common rivers is highly deceptive. If she is so sure then let her show it, but for now she has more reasons to agree to sharing of Teesta water as temporary measure. The Chief Minister's problem is that she does not agree to sharing water of Teesta according to the international law. Sharing international water is not a matter of convenience or inconvenience, it is a right not to be denied.



This time, a new controversy over the defense MoUs with India continues in public discourse. In all intent and purpose this defence MoU looks like a joint defence deal. Every nation has its own defence arrangement. To have joint defence with India we have to know which country is our enemy.



Bangladesh government finds itself in another difficult controversy that is brewing between Bangladesh and India. We do not see any such MoU is necessary. We are not thinking of any war coming from outside. Our defence matter is highly sensitive to us for our own sovereignty. No country's defence is an open game to share with everybody.



Let us be serious about our national interests.


The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
Third Circuit Court of Appeal candidate was questioned about her role at LSI and whether the company had received document requests from federal investigators looking into the business practices of the company.

Third Circuit Court of Appeal candidates Candyce Perret, left, and Susan Theall faced off Wednesday in what may be their only dual appearance before the April 29 runoff. Photo by Robin May

Third Circuit Court of Appeal candidate Candyce Perret said at a Wednesday forum that she would resign from bench if she is elected and later indicted in the ongoing federal investigation into Louisiana Specialty Institute, a company owned by her husband, Hunter, but for which she has served as corporate counsel.

Perrets statement came in response to questions by audience member and Lafayette attorney Katherine Hurst at a noon forum organized by the Louisiana Citizens Action Network at Lafayettes Petroleum Club.

It was one of the rare occasions where Perret has agreed to participate in a forum with her runoff opponent, Susan Theall.

About 60 people attended the event, which began with opening statements from the two candidates then gave way to questions from audience members from the floor.

Perret was questioned about her role at LSI and whether the company had received document requests from federal investigators looking into the business practices of the entity for a number of years.

Perret maintained what has become her standard line that neither she nor her husband has been contacted by federal investigators. She said Wednesday that LSI has not been asked to produce records for federal investigators nor been contacted in any way.

As The IND reported in its Feb. 9 story, "Federal investigation looms over Perret Court of Appeal candidacy," plaintiff and defense lawyers moved to have LSI medical billing charges thrown out in the 15th Judicial District Court in 2013 after they discovered that LSI had submitted invoices for providers with which the company did not have contractual relationships. LSIs billing charges for care provided to a patient in what has become known as "The Stelly Case" was a sticking point in the settlement of the case. LSI and Hunter Perret refused to defend the billings to either the lawyers or, later, Judge Kristian Earles.

When it was discovered that LSI did not have written agreements with the providers, the attorneys contacted the providers, got the direct charges for the services provided and the judge ordered those bills paid, throwing out all of LSI's charges.

Attorney Ian McDonald of Jones Walker was representing the insurance company in the case. In his motion to dismiss LSIs billing, McDonald charged the company with profiteering.

Candyce Perret was not working as counsel for LSI at the time, but was doing so in 2014 when LSI charges were challenged again in a 16th JDC personal injury lawsuit known as "The Narcisse Case." Hunter Perret was called as a witness in that case, as was Dr. Baylor Jewell who claimed that his electronic signature had been used without his permission by someone at LSI. Jewell also testified in open court that he believed his medical reports had been altered in ways to make it appear that injuries were more serious than he had assessed them to be.

Hurst, who was a Vanessa Anseman supporter in the primary, according to her Facebook page, prefaced her question by saying: Its widely known in the legal community among lawyers and judges that there is a federal investigation into LSI underway. Hurst then posed the question: Would you resign your seat if you or your husband were to be indicted?"

Perret first parried by saying that the same question could be put to Theall. Perret alleged that there is an investigation underway into reports involving loans provided to Theall in her successful 2011 race for the Division M seat on the 15th JDC.

Hurst said she would then address the question to both candidates.

Perret replied that she would resign her seat, if elected and then indicted. She did not say whether she would resign her seat if her husband Hunter, who was in the audience, was indicted.

Theall said that there is no investigation underway in connection with loans she obtained in 2011 from Lafayette businessman Burton Zaunbrecher.

Theall was targeted with a number of questions about the loans by audience members during the session, including one by attorney Kay Karre Gautreaux, who lost to Theall in that 2011 election.

Campaigns get tough when the money runs out, Gauthreaux told Theall and the audience. Mine ran out that year, but yours did not. You got those loans when the maximum contribution in that campaign was $2,500.

Theall maintained that the process of obtaining the loans from Zaunbrecher had been reviewed by her CPA Mark Shirley and that Shirley had told her he ran the process by the state Ethics Administration. Kathleen Allen, director of the Ethics Administration, told The IND in March that loans to committees (in the case of judicial elections) could not exceed campaign contribution limits.

Theall told Gautreaux and the audience that the loans Zaunbrecher made to her were personal loans for which she is on the hook. She said she made the loans to her campaign.

In response to another question about the loans, Theall said that her case was different from the Ourso Case in which a father gave his candidate son money that was later classified as loans. Theall said her matter has been reviewed and that there is no investigation taking place.

Allen of the Ethics Administration told The IND in March that the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations involving contributions was three years. The fact that the loans to Theall were made in 2011 appear to make the question moot. Read more about the questionable "loans" here.

Theall and Perret were also questioned regarding judicial philosophy and experience. Both candidates pointed out that appellate courts deal only in the business of reviewing matters of law, not rehearing cases.

Both Perret and Theall said they are pro-life Catholics and that, regardless of their personal views, they would be bound by the laws as written by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

This might have been the only forum where the two candidates will face each other prior to the April 29 runoff. Perret has not accepted an invitation extended by Lafayettes Concerned Citizens for Good Government to participate in a forum Monday evening at Alesis restaurant. Theall has accepted.

In other related news on the election, The IND is pursuing a public records lawsuit against Orleans Parish Civil District Court Clerk Dale N. Atkins to unseal three cases in which Perret was sued by her former fiance, high-profile New Orleans plaintiffs attorney John W. Houghtaling II, in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Both Perret and Houghtaling are fighting this news organization's efforts to bring the suits back into the public domain. The IND, citing case law, is arguing that the trial court cannot seal an entire civil case record from public inspection and that neither Perret nor Houghtaling has standing because they "do not constitute parties in interest (with respect to the Clerk of Court's ministerial duty or any action to enforce it)" in this news organization's request to the clerk to inspect and copy the records.

On April 10, Perret emailed Fred Herman, Atkins' attorney:

Mr. Herman, I am a candidate for judge, 3d circuit court of appeal and the general election is April 29. The Independent Weekly, an online rag column, has been trying to unseal personal records of mine in CDC. They have been relentless in harassing me and my family. They were able to unseal one document ex parte through misrepresentation to the court. They are now attempting to unseal other documents, one of which is a confidential settlement agreement between me and my ex-fiance. A hearing was held in March before Judge Griffin and their request was denied. I just learned that the Independent Weekly is again attempting to unseal this confidential settlement agreement via a Petition for Mandamus directed to Honorable Dale Atkins. Before any hearing goes forward, I wanted to let you know that the parties to the agreement object to these records being unsealed and will be intervening in this matter.

Perret's statement that The IND was "able to unseal one document ex parte through misrepresentation to the court" is false. The paper received from a source the 2005 suit, in which Houghtaling sought a restraining order against her, alleging she threatened, stalked and harassed him.

Her email to Herman came the same day Houghtaling issued the following threatening email to IND attorney Gary McGoffin:

Gary, one of those suits contains a DEC action on confidential settlement terms. If you get this out and your client publishes terms of a confidential settlement by avoiding me from lodging an objection I will pursue any legal and all legal rights I have against you and your client.

A hearing in front of Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Piper Griffin has been set for 9:30 a.m April 20, nine days before the election.

Early voting starts this Saturday, April 15, and will run through the following Saturday, April 22.

Voters in eight parishes will have the final say on the candidates on April 29. The parishes in the district include Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion. The race is for the eight years remaining on the term for the seat made vacant when Jimmy Genovese of Opelousas won election to the Louisiana Supreme Court over Marilyn Castle of Lafayette in November.

Turnout in Lafayette Parish is expected to nearly double from the 9.4 percent primary turnout thanks to the presence of a proposed half-cent sales tax issue by the Lafayette Parish Public School System appearing on the ballot.

Perret led Theall by fewer than 2,000 votes in the March 25 primary, despite a huge financial advantage over Theall and Anseman.
The interim director of the Louisiana State Museum resigned this week, issuing a letter accusing the lieutenant governor and his staff of interfering with museum management and attempting to "commandeer" museum-owned apartments for personal use.

Tim Chester, foreground; Billy Nungesser, background Photo Illustration

The interim director of the Louisiana State Museum resigned this week, issuing a letter accusing Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and his staff of interfering with museum management and attempting to "commandeer" museum-owned apartments in a historic French Quarter building for personal use.

Nungesser denies the allegations, telling The New Orleans Advocate that interim director Tim Chester had not been moving quickly enough to find a permanent director or make other changes.

The Louisiana State Museum encompasses nine properties, five of them in New Orleans' French Quarter.

The State Museum is part of the state's Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which is overseen by the Lieutenant Governor's Office. But the museum also has a semi-independent board of directors.

It was during a Monday meeting of the board that Chester stepped down.

"Since last fall, the museum staff and board have been struggling with the Lieutenant Governor usurping the authority of the board with his staff writing and implementing staff position descriptions that are out of sync with the museum's brand and marketing and its internal management structure," Chester said in a letter to the board.

Chester, a consultant who took the interim position in October, also said Nungesser attempted to override museum officials and board members who objected to plans to loan U.S. Sen. John Kennedy artworks for his office (Kennedy has withdrawn the request).

"Some of the things in there are bald-faced lies," Nungesser said, referring to Chester's resignation letter as "cowardly."

"I think he's 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."

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, David Kahn, who had been hired two years earlier, resigned.

One of Chester's complaints centered on a vacant apartment in the Lower Pontalba Building, a historic state-owned building at Jackson Square.

"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.

Nungesser said he had used the apartment two or three times and noted that Chester had stayed there for 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.

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 Nungesser's office replied, "Tim Chester doesn't own that museum. The lieutenant governor does," Chester said in his letter.

Nungesser said he has not held an event at any museum facility 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.
CARBONDALE  Doug and Lisa Cherry had just started a new church in Carbondale and were busy trying to get that established.

While the church had a policy about preventing abuse of children, after an alleged incident with their underage daughter, church administrators ramped it up, said Nathan Cherry, who oversees the volunteers for the Victory Dream Center in Carbondale.

New church administrators sought to improve its volunteer process. Though the church runs a food pantry, its administrators do not allow sex offenders on the property.

Basically all our volunteers have to go through a fairly significant background check, Nathan Cherry said. "I think because of our rigorous volunteer application process, it screens out folks who obviously arent there for the right reason."

The church contracts with a service that conducts the background checks on those wanting to volunteer.

For a while and for the time being, it might just have to settle for the handful of volunteers it has, the 10 to 12 adults who have passed the "rigorous" background screening, Nathan said.

Victory Dream Center attracts about 50 to 75 local youth to its Wednesday night Reality youth meetings for sixth- through 12th-graders. On Sunday mornings, the church averages about 15 youth in its various Sunday school and youth church services.

Its an area where we really struggle, because we have so many people who have a challenging past," Nathan Cherry said. "Its hard to find people that you can really trust with the kids.

A LifeWay Research report on background checks of church volunteers indicated that almost half those screened had some sort of criminal offense. In 2008, LifeWayResearch started working with backgroundchecks.com to offer churches the service, for a fee.

The 2013 report indicated that 53 percent (44,946) of the background checks returned some type of issue, according to Jennie Taylor, a LifeWay coordinator who manages the backgroundchecks.com program. Those issues ranged from minor traffic violations to felony convictions, Taylor reported.

While most of the issues revealed didn't require any action, more than 22.5 percent (19,202) of the screenings returned records with misdemeanor or felony offenses, according to the Lifeway Research report.

Insurers like GuideStone provide coverage and advice to church leadership.

GuideStone suggests that faith-based groups develop a formal sexual and misconduct prevention program; implement sound selection and work practices; utilize physical controls; establish training and communication; plan a response to allegations; and maintain oversight and validation.

For instance, when developing a plan, the company advises that a facility have "at least two complimentary controls for every high-risk activity," such as having more than one person attend to any children and individual with "diminished mental or physical capacity." The company defines "high-risk activities" as offsite activities, toileting, touching and counseling, for instance.

GuideStone also has a checklist for churches that are developing a child-abuse prevention and control program, noting that that program "should prohibit interaction between confirmed sex offenders and at-risk individuals." It goes on to identify "at-risk individuals." It also suggests that faith facilities "provide a clean and easy way for individuals to report allegations to your organization."

In its report Protecting Children and Youth from Sexual Misconduct in Your Church, the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions also suggests that religious institutions establish a two adult rule. It notes, however, that a husband and wife working in the same room should be considered as one adult.

Elkville church adopts new policy

Churches such as the Ekville Christian Church have recently introduced child-protection plans for its church, for volunteers who work with the children.

Soon after arriving at Elkville Christian Church, Bryce Pitlick thought about introducing a policy that would govern how adult volunteers interacted with the church's youth populations.

It was a congregation where most of those who worked with youth had done so for years, with no known problems of which Pitlick was aware.

About a year after his arrival, his church did adopt such a policy, its Child Abuse Policy. The policy governed how volunteers were to interact with youth, such as not being alone with a child in a closed room, and stipulated how the church was to respond in the event there was an allegation of child abuse.

The form was given to youth volunteers, who had to sign it, saying they'd received a copy of it and that they were willing to submit to a background check. The church has not yet done any background checks, he said, but might conduct those as it approaches its Vacation Bible School season and will possibly attract volunteers who don't typically work with youth.
CARBONDALE  Seventeen-year-old Nick Mechler has been interested in airplanes as long as he can remember.

His family was staying in St. Louis Union Station Hotel for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament when Nick was 4 or 5. There was a model shop at Union Station that had not only model trains, but also model airplanes.

On the way out, we went to the store and I found a model P-51 Mustang," Mechler said. "The second I brought it into the car, I broke the left landing gear."

After some tears were shed, Mechler got a second model P-51 Mustang and broke the right landing gear. The two plans still are displayed in Mechlers room.

Now it doesnt bother me that theres a piece missing," he said. "They signify something else. They signify the beginning of when my interest was spiked in aviation in general."

Then, when Mechler was 11, he received a coupon for a free discovery flight.

I took the flight in February and I kind of fell in love with it, Mechler said.

He not only fell in love with flying at age 11, he also began his flight training.

He began taking flying lessons as part of Civil Air Patrol Shawnee Composite Squadron two years ago. Last year, on his 16th birthday, Mechler took his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a single-engine plane that seats four. He had about 40 hours of flight time under his belt when he took the skies above Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois.

Sixteen is the minimum age that the FAA will allow someone to solo. To do it on their 16th birthday is almost unheard of, said Maj. Wesley Flannell, of Shawnee Composite Squadron.

To be licensed, a pilot must pass a written test, pass a check ride and have a minimum of 40 hours of flight time. Mechler said a pilot must also log so many hours of solo and cross-country flying, as well as instruction.

The oral part of the ride took about three hours, with the flight adding about two hours. Nick completed the testing on his 17th birthday, March 24. Flannel said 17 is the minimum age to take the pilot test  also a rare feat.

Its rare for anyone to do either one, but for someone to do both is really rare. I personally have not ever heard of anyone else doing that, Flannell said.

Cadet Mechler has been one of my best students said Capt. Aron Peterson, Mechlers flight instructor. He studied hard and is a dedicated pilot. Age has nothing to do with it.

When Mechler passed his flight test and earned his private pilot license, he became the youngest pilot in the nation.

Theres something about it," Mechler said. "Aviation has its own community and everyone is helpful and kind."

That community includes members of the Shawnee Composite Squadron of CAP.

I honestly could not thank them enough, Mechler said.

Next, Mechler will work on his instrument endorsement, which will allow him to fly in conditions with less visibility and stricter weather minimums. The Carbondale Community High School junior said it will require a lot of his attention.

He also is looking at his options after high school. He would like to study aviation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, either as a civilian or with ROTC.

Mechler also would like to take a pilgrimage to see a rocket launch, but says that will not happen for a few years.

I couldnt have gotten my license if it werent for the support of my dad and his helping me through it, Mechler said. I understand how lucky I am to have the opportunity and the ability to know what I want to do.

Flannell said the Civil Air Patrol is a good option for youth who are interested in aviation or want to become pilots. Membership in the Civil Air Patrol is open to everyone 12 and older. Future or past military service is not required.

For more information, visit gocivilairpatrol.com or capvolunteernow.com, or contact Flannell at 618-926-2364, wesley.flannell@shawneecap.org.
A Campbell Hill teen is charged with driving under the influence and is recovering in a St. Louis hospital after a single-vehicle crash early Thursday.

According to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded about 1:15 a.m. Thursday morning to reports of a one-vehicle crash on Illinois 4 near Brick Plant Road in Campbell Hill.

The release said Chace Hille, 19, of Campbell Hill, crashed his 1997 Ford pickup truck into the ditch line; evidence indicated Hille was traveling southbound on Illinois 4 when he lost control and his vehicle exited the roadway, overturning before coming to rest on its side.

Hille was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a suspended license and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle. An ambulance transported him from the scene of the crash to a local hospital, and he was later taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

 The Southern
An Indiana man has been sentenced to prison for burglary, according to a Thursday news release from Union County States Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds.

Dejun Deneil Booker, 36, has been sentenced to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies.

The release states that Booker burglarized a tavern near Ware in the early morning hours of Sept. 5. Booker was arrested the next day by Union County Sheriffs Deputies after an extensive search in the vicinity of Morgan School Road. During the search, Booker also burglarized a vehicle at a residence on Morgan School Road.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police, Anna Police Department, Jonesboro Police Department and Cobden Police Department assisted the Union County Sheriffs Office with the search.

 The Southern
MARION  Gov. Bruce Rauner spent Tuesday and Wednesday touring the state to talk about the need for a balanced state budget. On Wednesday afternoon, he spoke at a rally in the lobby of Aisin Manufacturing.

Rauner told those gathered that the fight in Springfield is about a balanced budget and no more deficit spending rather than just raising taxes.

Lets be crystal clear. Thats just duct-taping over our problems. That will not solve our problems because the systems broke, Rauner said. If we get a big tax hike on all you working men and women, all that means is you got a pay cut. And, that is wrong. That is not fair.

Rauner said politicians have been misspending and wasting money for years and do not deserve more tax dollars. He said the answer is to shrink the political class and the bureaucracy in the government and put money back in your pockets of families.

We should be kicking tails. And you know what? Im a competitive son of a gun, and it frosts me that so many of our jobs are moving out to Indiana, to Missouri, to Texas, to Tennessee when weve got the best people, weve got the best location, weve got the best transportation, Rauner said.

He continued saying regulation, red tape, restrictions and taxes have put Illinois businesses in a position where they cannot be competitive. Indiana is drawing Illinois businesses because they are pro-business and pro-growth.

Companies want to come here. They want to be here, but we got to change the system. Thats what were fighting to do. Thats what this battle is about. They say its about the budget, but it is really about the future of Illinois, Rauner said.

Rauner also spoke briefly to media after the rally. When asked about whether or not he supported another stop-gap budget, he suggested that SIU and public schools need a balanced budget that would allow them to be funded for years and years.

The key to getting balanced budgets that stay balanced is to grow the economy faster and shrink some of the wasteful bureaucracy. Otherwise, we will never be funding SIU at the level they really need. We could help them for a couple months, but we shouldnt be helping them for a couple months. Lets help SIU grow and become the world class university for the long term, Rauner said.

Rauners visit also drew protests.

Its time for Southern Illinois to stand up and speak out against Gov. Rauners refusal to deal with with the Democrats, Debbie Gunter of Marion said.

Gunter, who is retired from Mississippi State University, said the lack of funds and debt in Illinois is because Republicans have kept the state income tax rates lower than in almost every other state, adding that at least 40 states have higher income tax rates, including Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

We need a state budget and we need it now, Gunter said.

Mary Ingram of Marion said the state of Illinois has been without a budget for two years, causing many not-for-profit agencies, state vendors, providers and SIU to suffer. Ingram is a retired liaison between the state of Illinois, circuit clerks offices and Illinois Disbursement Unit for Child Support.

She is owed money from the state for dental work she had done and paid for out of her pocket.

Protesters lined a grassy area between Redco Drive and the Dairy Queen Parking Lot until a young man who appeared to be a Dairy Queen employee said the owner of the property had instructed him to ask the protesters to leave his property. He said he would have to call police if they would not move.

The protesters moved to the corner of Redco and Banterra drives, just north of the Dairy Queen.
CARBONDALE  Television commentator and best-selling author Keith Boykin will speak at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this month, one of the highlights of the inaugural four-day Salukis United in Diversity Conference.

A variety of activities are planned during the April 19-22 conference, designed to bring the campus and community together to highlight and strengthen SIUs diversity and inclusivity.

Boykin will speak at 5 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms on April 22, followed by an awards ceremony and reception at 6 p.m. Boykin is the founder and first board president of the National Black Justice Coalition and the author of four books, all Lambda Literary Award nominees. The most recent publication is For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough, the winner of the 2013 American Library Association Stonewall Award for Nonfiction.

A St. Louis native, Boykin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and earned his law degree at Harvard Law School. He served as special assistant to the president and director of specialty media for President Bill Clinton, the highest-ranking openly gay person in Clintons White House. He spoke at the Millennium March on Washington and has appeared on numerous national news and media programs, including Anderson Cooper 360, The Tyra Banks Show, and the Montel Williams Show.

While there is no cost to attend Boykins lecture, attendees must register in advance at conferenceservices.siu.edu/conferences/salukis-united-for-diversity.php.

The celebration begins on April 19 as faculty and graduate teaching assistants make presentations and discuss diversity from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Centers Ohio Room. Afterward, the Chancellors Diversity Council will host a meet and greet event in the Mississippi Room, giving everyone a chance to get acquainted with the council and discuss their thoughts about campus diversity.

Students will gather at the Student Center at 4 p.m. on April 20 to participate in a Unity March and Celebration as a show of support for international and underrepresented students, faculty and staff. Students are encouraged to wear shirts that illustrate their diverse backgrounds, according to conference organizer Naomi Tolbert, a political science and international affairs major who is also vice president of cultural experiences and diversity for the Honors Assembly, a student trustee on the SIU Board of Trustees and a McNair Scholar.

This will be an inspirational Saluki celebration of the differences we have and a time to embrace them and come together, Tolbert said.

The walk will conclude in the area around the Shryock Auditorium steps for a campus-wide celebration featuring remarks by Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell, a barbecue and music provided by a DJ.

There will be Safe Zone workshop sessions at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. on April 21 in the Mississippi Room at the Student Center, giving everyone the opportunity to learn about LGBTQ issues and how to help foster an inclusive and affirming campus. A documentary focusing on race relations will be shown at 5 p.m. in the Student Centers Delta Room.

The awards to be presented following Boykins lecture will recognize groups and individuals on campus for their efforts in the past year to enhance and strengthen SIUs diversity and inclusivity.

Tolbert said conference events  all free and open to the public  will serve several purposes, including building Saluki pride, encouraging community engagement, and identifying and recognizing the efforts various units and organizations at the university are making to enhance diversity and inclusivity. The conference also is designed to give students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members opportunities to interact and address any issues or concerns.

The weeks fun and interactive events will address different aspects of diversity, providing knowledge, intercultural interactions and opportunities to enhance communication and inclusivity, Tolbert said. The goal is to get as many members of the campus and community of all backgrounds involved as possible in order to broaden the scope of understanding. We also want to create a foundation for future diversity events and initiatives.

Salukis United in Diversity Conference sponsors include the Office of the President, Office of the Chancellor, the Office of Diversity, the Diversity Council, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Student Affairs, the Student Center and University Housing.
CARTERVILLE  Parents of students in Carterville Community Unit School District 5 will have to take a new route to school beginning April 24 because of the temporary closure of West Grand Avenue.

West Grand Avenue will be closed to through traffic for construction between Greenbriar Road and Lions Drive through the completion of construction in August. The road was originally scheduled to close April 17, but the closure was delayed by one week by IDOT and the contractor.

The City of Carterville and Carterville Unit 5 School District strongly encourage parents and students leaving the elementary or high school to use the Cambria Road to Sycamore Road detour route to travel east when leaving either campus. This route is recommended because of the uncontrolled left turn across multiple lanes at Cambria Road and Illinois 13.

The West Grand Phase 2 project will encompass widening, resurfacing, curb, gutter, storm sewer and sidewalk. The project will be similar to the completed West Grand Phase 1 from Dent Street to Greenbriar, said Mayor Brad Robinson.

Eighty percent of the funding for Phase 2 is from the federal Surface Transportation Program for Urban Areas (STU) and was awarded from the Southern Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization (SIMPO). Carterville is the first community to begin a SIMPO-awarded STU project within its programmed year since the creation of SIMPO in 2010. The federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century grant program (MAP-21) is providing 80 percent of funding for sidewalks.

Robinson said Phase 2 was originally scheduled to begin in October 2016, but Carterville negotiated with the contractor and IDOT to delay the construction until April 2017 to prevent closure of West Grand for most of the 2016-17 school year.

Due to the scope of the work, there are 85 working days in the program contract. Because of this, the entire project could not be completed during the Carterville Unit 5 School District's summer break, Robinson said. Four weeks needed to be scheduled into the project either at the end of the school year or the beginning of the next school year in August 2017.

The city negotiated with the contractor and IDOT on a number of issues trying to lessen the impact on neighbors, students and their families, including lengthening the work day and leaving one lane of West Grand open using a flagger. Lengthening the work day could not be facilitated because of labor and contract issues. The contractor agreed to leave one lane open at an additional cost of more than $100,000, but IDOT would not allow this because of safety concerns with the narrow work area and open ditches.

Myself and the city council sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this will cause," Robinson said. "We encourage all drivers who must be in this area to be patient and drive carefully. We also expect progress to occur much faster on this phase in comparison to the previous project because most of the calendar days of this work count as contract work days."

He added that days between Nov. 1 and April 30 do not count against work days in road construction contracts.
Les Winkeler Sports editor Les Winkeler is sports editor and outdoors writer for The Southern Illinoisan. Follow Les Winkeler 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

As evening settled in, I walked the periphery of the Winkelers Bend clearing, gathering kindling for a fire.

The last rays of the sun funneled through the towering oaks on the west side of the Kaskaskia River, casting a mosaic pattern on the trees surrounding me. The nasal notes of omnipresent white-breasted nuthatch filled my ears, along with the occasional chattering of a red-bellied woodpecker.

Despite the myriad sounds in the air, it was clear nature was calling it a day.

The wind that had rippled through the forest earlier in the afternoon was dying down. There was still a gentle reminder of the earlier gusts, carrying away the midday warmth.

A fire would be comforting on several levels.

First, there is the inherent warmth. Second, there is something genuinely peaceful about staring into the glowing embers, watching the intensity wander through the bed of coals with the breeze. And, there was a brief hearkening back to childhood when the scary sounds of the night forest seemed swallowed by the flames of the campfire.

And, so I built the fire carefully, starting with the kindling, graduating to small dry oak branches that had been gathered from the clearing. When the branches were fully ablaze, I pilfered chunks of firewood that had been split and carefully stacked by cousins and uncles.

Winkeler: Florida trip is "Back to the Future" Its hardly a DeLorean DMC-12, but my Honda Civic has proven capable of taking me Back to t

There soaking in the warmth of the fire, I glanced up through the still-barren branches of the oaks. A nearly full moon was framed in the darkening sky. That sight only added the comfort I felt in this special place.

Sitting alone in the gathering dark, I turned to my iPod. The machine seemed to understand the time and setting, randomly choosing tunes my dad, his brothers and friends had played and sang around campfires on this very spot for generations.

The wave of nostalgia was broken in short order by the hooting of barred owls. The owls reminded me of the purpose of my visit to Winkelers Bend  the following morning would be my lone chance to harvest a turkey.

After turning the music off, my ears quickly adjusted to the sounds of the dark forest. The Kaskaskia River rolled swiftly just a few yards behind me. But, even the sucking, slurping sounds of the rushing water couldnt drown out the background chorus of frogs.

Several more owls hooted before the first turkey gobbled, probably less than 80 yards south of where I was seated. A few seconds later, another turkey gobbled to the north, and then another. One seemed to be across the river, the other was impossible to tell.

As my concentration sharpened I heard the clucking of hens, clearly just across the river.

By the time the turkey called it a night, I had heard five different birds, at least three of which were on the right side of the river. Within 30 minutes, two Winkeler cousins arrived. We plotted our strategy for the next morning, based on my campfire observations.

We opted to set up on the first bird I had heard.

He gobbled bright and early, just where I thought hed be. We set up not 40 yards away and within minutes heard him crashing to the ground. However, his next gobble indicated he had clearly headed away from us.

Our prospects grew dimmer when we saw a pair of hens headed in the same direction.

The tom continued gobbling for at least 45 minutes, but we never saw him again.
Walking into Rob Lorenzs ceramic studio in De Soto, one is welcomed by the warmth of earth-tones in the shape of coffee mugs, bowls, pitchers and jugs. He takes one of the most abundant resources on Earth, clay, and creates from this malleable material objects both utilitarian and decorative.

Lorenz originally became interested in ceramics about 10 years ago while studying for his Bachelors in Art Education. After taking a few classes in ceramics, he graduated in 2007 with a BFA in Ceramics as well as an education degree. He then returned to school in 2013 to study for a Masters in Ceramics at SIU in Carbondale.

When asked why he liked ceramics, Lorenz remarks that he enjoys the process. In fact, that process is rather extensive. The clay is first kneaded and wedged, thrown on a pottery wheel, decorated, fired, glazed, and then fired again in a kiln  sometimes for up to 24 hours.

In his personal studio, he uses an electric kiln, which gives him more control over the final product. He also enjoys using a wood-fired kiln and explains how this method gives him less control over the resulting exterior, all the surface color and everything comes from the atmosphere in the kiln  all the wood ash settles on the pots and melts and creates the glaze and the color on the pots. And although this process involves a more varied outcome, the end product is intriguing in its varied color.

Similarly, he has also used a process known as soda-firing. Pieces are fired in a gas kiln, and once the temperature reaches a certain point, a solution of baking soda is sprayed in the kiln; baking soda does the same thing as wood ash. It vaporizes and settles on the pot and melts and creates a glaze. Some of the works in his thesis exhibition were fired using this process and drew heavily from Southern folk pottery forms such as butter churns, grave markers and the most recognizable form  the face jug.

Although he did recreate these traditional forms, the soda-fired pieces are contemporary interpretation[s] of the traditional works and commercially based such as thermoses in the style of the popular Stanley thermos and Enamelware style coffee pots. Affixed to many of these pieces is the word logo (instead of an actual logo) which is meant to [poke] fun at commercialism and marketing.

And many of Lorenzs works are inspired by Southern folk pottery, particularly by the Kirkpatrick brothers out of Anna, who were well-known names in the ceramics world during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Kirkpatrick brothers often used pig imagery, and even made a flask in the shape of the pig; it was during prohibition so it was referencing the evils of alcohol. Which is why he often affixes pictures of pigs to beer glasses and whiskey jugs.

Lorenz particularly likes the pig imagery, but he also transfers images such as birds, flowers and wave patterns. Using a laser-printed image, he applies a colorant called an underglaze to the image and then transfers it to the pot. Some of these images are rather intricate, and sometimes they will come out slightly messy, which doesnt bother him.

Perusing the shelves in his studio one finds many coffee mugs, which happen to be the most sought-after items for customers due to their functionality. However, he especially enjoys making jugs and has recently been interested in making a Korean form called a moon jar that is meant to look like a moon.

Many of the forms also have different textures and colors, which is due to the varied clays that Lorenz uses in his work. Some are fired to higher temperatures, such as stoneware and porcelain, and some, like the red earthenware clay he dug out of the ground himself, fires to lower temperatures, and gives the pottery a deep red brick color and a smooth finish. Other clays can give the forms a rougher surface, depending on the particle content of the clay.

For Lorenz, the clay itself appears to be the inspiring factor behind choosing ceramics. He finds it to be an intuitive process, it's really immediate ... It's just a natural thing that people do. You can give somebody a piece of paper and a pencil and they might draw something and they might not. But you give somebody a piece of clay, most of the time they're gonna make something and they're going to enjoy it.

Lorenz often brings his work to sales, such as the SIU Holiday Craft Fair and the Scratch Holiday Bazaar, which he organized with a former graduate classmate, Stephanie Dukat. The Holiday Bazaar was held at Scratch Brewing Company in Ava (see photos from the event in Social Seen on page 13), where he has also been commissioned to make ceramic beer steins for their Oktoberfest event.
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, has developed a robust West Wing portfolio. He has been deeply involved with presidential staffing, recently launched a task force meant to modernize government using lessons drawn from the private sector, and has played the role of shadow diplomat, advising on relations with the Middle East, Canada and Mexico.

And though Kushner had no previous diplomatic or government experience, Trump also tasked him with trying to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Kushner was also the latest Trump associate to be swept up into the ongoing probe into contacts with Russian officials. The White House confirmed last week that he had volunteered to be interviewed by the Senate intelligence committee.

He has also been involved in an ongoing feud with Steve Bannon.
The man who drowned in Lake Marion near Eutawville Tuesday afternoon has been identified as 26-year-old Lenwuan Mack of Planter's Trace in Santee.

Orangeburg County Chief Deputy Coroner Sean Fogle reported Wednesday that Mack died of asphyxia due to drowning. He said the incident remains under investigation.

Witnesses say Mack jumped from the dock at the Indian Bluff Park boat landing around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

He told witnesses he knew how to swim before he jumped.

Within a moment after jumping, Mack called for help, and one of the bystanders tried unsuccessfully to bring him to safety.

The Eutawville Fire Department arrived on the scene within minutes.

About an hour later, the dive and rescue team of the Canaan Fire Department also arrived and attempted to locate Macks body.

At about 9:30 p.m., a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources diver entered the water to search for Macks body, finding it within a few minutes.

The diver and emergency responders pulled his body ashore at 9:40 p.m.
DENMARK -- Denmark Technical College was among the exhibitors at the System Legislative Luncheon on April 5, sponsored by the South Carolina Technical College System in Columbia.

All South Carolina technical colleges were invited to set up booths for the state legislators to meet students from the various technical colleges and to show their return on investment. Denmark Tech showcased robots from its Electromechanical Engineering Technology Program and a drone equipped with a GoPro camera.

In spite of the severe weather, legislators turned out to view the exhibits. Attending the event and manning the DTC booth was Interim President Dr. Christopher Hall; Stephen Mason, associate vice president for economic and workforce development; and three of the college's current engineering students, Cameron Foster, Jucobee L'Zar Archer and Robert Bradley Jr.

Unfortunately, the rainy weather thwarted their plans to fly the drone with the camera, but they were still able to display it and explain how it could be used. Hall said he was pleased with the reception Denmark Tech received.

Our students were outstanding, they were articulate and comfortable speaking with the legislators about their projects and their coursework at Denmark Technical College, he said.

The students particularly enjoyed meeting with S.C. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, who represents House District 66 in Orangeburg. Cobb-Hunter, a strong supporter of technical colleges, and had her picture taken with the students and administration. The students were very impressed that she took the time to speak with them and seemed genuinely interested in their projects.

The students answered questions about their engineering knowledge, thoughts on cybersecurity and went into detail about the building of the robots and the drone they were demonstrating. Bradley spoke about the experience.

It was great getting to rub elbows with the legislators. I have had so many opportunities here at Denmark Tech, such as an internship last summer at Norfolk State University sponsored by the college's Consortium Enabling Cybersecurity Opportunities and Research project," he said. "I recently spoke with someone going into the same field at another college who made the comment that he wished he could have the same opportunities that I have had here at Denmark Technical College. I like being a big fish in a little pond, and Denmark Tech has given me a great start.

Bradley is graduating in May and will be interning at Savannah River Site this summer.

For more information about Denmark Technical College, call 803-793-5176 or visit www.denmarktech.edu.
ROCK HILL  President Donald Trumps approval rating of 43 percent has remained steady in South Carolina for the past two months, according to the latest Winthrop Poll released Thursday.

His approval numbers in South Carolina continue to be a few points higher than his national average.

The 45th president has a disapproval rating of 47 percent among Palmetto State citizens. An earlier Winthrop Poll in February showed similar ratings.

Trump has strong support (79 percent) among residents who identify GOP or lean Republican.

Trumps support is more than 2.25 times higher than that of Congress. Only 19 percent of South Carolina residents approve of the way Congress is handling its job.

Other polling results include

 Nearly 60 percent of Winthrop Poll respondents said the country is headed in the wrong direction. Yet two thirds of South Carolina residents said the countrys economy is very good or fairly good.

 More than half (54 percent) think South Carolina is moving in a positive direction, while 67 percent think the condition of the states economy is either very or fairly good. Nearly 54 percent described their own financial situation as good or excellent.

 S.C. residents said the most important problem facing the country is politicians/government, followed by racism, jobs/unemployment, then immigration/refugees. Those surveyed said the most important issues facing the Palmetto State are roads/bridges/infrastructure, education, jobs or unemployment and racism.

 When asked if state services, including highway troopers, social workers, mental health experts, and schools, have kept pace with the growth of the Palmetto State, 62 percent of poll respondents said they somewhat or strongly felt that these services have not kept pace. Only 11 percent said that they strongly felt that services have kept pace with growth.

 S.C. Gov. Henry McMasters approval rating in South Carolina stands at 47 percent. However, his approval rating is 25 points higher than his disapproval rating, putting him very much above water.

 The S.C. General Assembly got an approval nod from 47 percent of those polled while 38 percent disapprove of the job theyre doing.

 U.S. Sen. Lindsey Grahams approval is nearly evenly split among all South Carolinians. He has a 45 percent approval rating and a 47 percent disapproval rating. His approval among Republicans, and those who lean Republican, stands at just under 50 percent.

 The states junior senator, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, is much more highly rated among the Republican base. He has a strong 82 percent approval rating among the GOP. Scotts popularity among the general public remains high as well, with 60 percent reporting approval of the job he is doing.
NORWAY -- A Norway Town Council member has been charged with interfering with a traffic stop involving a member of his family, the town's police department announced Wednesday.

The Norway Police Department obtained arrest warrants for Councilman Michael Andrew Singleton. The warrants were issued by Magistrate Peggy Doremus.

The 42-year-old was arrested by the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office on a charge of one count of hindering/interfering with an officer, according to the statement from Norway police.

The charge is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty fine of not more than $3,000 or imprisonment for no more than three years, or both, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction.

A second charge for stopping/parking in a roadway is also a misdemeanor. It carries a penalty of a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment for no more than 30 days.

According to the arrest warrant, at approximately 6:31 p.m. on April 9, while on Harrison Avenue and 3rd Street in the town of Norway, Officer Jamie T. Lucas of the Norway Police Department was conducting a traffic stop when Singleton stopped and parked his vehicle in the roadway.

Singleton exited his vehicle and demanded the officer tell him what was going on, according to the warrant.

The encounter occurred prior to Lucas issuing a traffic ticket to one of Singletons family members.

According to the warrant, Singleton told the officer that he is the police commissioner and that the officer may want to resign. He said he is the officers boss.

Further investigation found that the defendant is not the police commissioner and it is believed that he attempted to illegally use his council position for his familys benefit, according to the warrant.

The case has been turned over to the 1st Circuit solicitor, according to the Norway Police Department. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be requested.

Singleton was booked at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

Norway Police Chief Scott Ward said Singleton was due in court in Orangeburg Wednesday afternoon for a bond hearing.
The Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three Board of Trustees at its April 4 meeting approved the 2017-2018 school calendar, scheduling opening day on Aug. 17.

The schedule also designates Aug. 21, the day of the total eclipse, as a school holiday. Based on input from district teachers, the trustees made the decision to provide students with the opportunity to spend as much time as possible observing the rare phenomenon.

With the legislation that was passed allowing us to start school before the third Monday this year because of the eclipse, extensive conversations took place in the schools, among principals and staff members around this, Superintendent Dr. Jesulon Gibbs-Brown said. (In choosing this calendar option), we will be starting before the third Monday. So, we would come to school for two days, be out on that Monday because of the total eclipse and then come back on Tuesday.

In addition, board members approved a field trip for students in the Mentoring Program at Holly Hill Roberts Middle School. Participants will miss one day of school when they travel to Charleston to spend the night camping out aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.

Trustees also received updates on the following:

Aerospace engineering  The district recently received a grant that will enable it to offer aerospace engineering as a career pathway. The district is now exploring ways to bring in the additional staff necessary to teach the required courses. Gibbs-Brown said she believes this new career pathway is a great opportunity for us to be able to offer (aerospace engineering) to our students and strategically position students for future opportunities in this high-tech industry, which is expanding in the area.

Water line break at Elloree Elementary  Construction crews working on new gas lines in Elloree clipped the line serving the school in late March. Town officials provided bottled water for students and staff members to drink while the line was out of service. The districts transportation team then rounded up enough bus drivers in the middle of the day to transfer the students to Lake Marion High School for the rest of the afternoon.

Spring testing  During his curriculum update, Dr. Marty Conner reminded trustees that testing will take place for much of the remaining school year.

School buses  District Transportation Director Kevin Addison expressed his hope that warmer weather will help alleviate some of the mechanical issues that were experienced by older buses this winter.

Facility upgrades  Operations Director Gerald Wright reported contractors completed work on security improvements at the outer entrance of Lake Marion High School. Similar work is progressing at the entrance of Holly Hill Elementary, he said. The maintenance team has also begun evaluating each of the schools to determine what maintenance projects need to be tackled this summer, Wright said.

New teachers  The districts efforts to recruit new teachers continues to pay dividends, it was reported. Several local principals and district staff attended Teach Ohio 2017 on the campus of Ohio State University in early April, and more than 20 prospective teachers applied for positions in District Three at the event, it was noted. District officials are also visiting in-state colleges and universities to recruit teachers. An educating effectiveness round-table, sponsored by the University of South Carolina School of Education, will meet in the district on May 22, it was announced.

LMHS Athletic Banquet  This years event is scheduled for May 12. Details will be announced about the event once they are finalized.

The OCSD3 Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs are ranked among the best in South Carolina, according to websites dedicated to the professions.

OCtechs ADN program is ranked third out of 29 registered nursing programs in the state by RegisteredNursing.org, while the PN program is ranked fifth out of 16 licensed practical nursing/licensed vocational nursing programs in S.C. by PracticalNursing.org. The rankings are based on NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates over a four-year period, from 2011 to 2014.

It is an honor for our Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs to receive this recognition, said Kay Blackwell, dean of Nursing and Health Science at OCtech. Our programs are committed to excellence in nursing, and I am very proud of the students, graduates and faculty. We appreciate the strong support of administration in the expansion of our programs as we continue to provide the best in quality nursing care to those in our community and the surrounding areas.

Last year, 100 percent of OCtechs ADN Flex, ADN Traditional and PN Flex program graduates passed their licensure exams and 90 percent of the colleges PN Traditional program graduates passed the NCLEX.

RegisteredNursing.org cites the colleges well-trained faculty, hands-on practical skills, challenging curriculum, small class size and personalized instruction as key components in producing highly skilled nursing graduates.

After analyzing nursing programs in South Carolina, it became evident that Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College not only supports students during their time on campus, but also prepares them for a career beyond OCtech, said Brooke Wallace, founder and managing editor of RegisteredNursing.org. The strong RN program prepares students to conquer the NCLEX-RN and produces graduates who have the ability to confidently carry out what they learned into the healthcare world.

Nursing and Health Science admissions packets are still being accepted for the fall. The next health information program session will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8. Online HIP sessions are also available. All applicants are required to attend a HIP session to receive an admissions packet.

For more information about OCtechs competitive Nursing and Health Science programs, visit http://www.octech.edu/admissions/nursing-health-science.
NEESES -- Dorothy Strong has been shopping at Piggly Wiggly since she moved to Neeses about 50 years ago.

She and her late husband used to visit the grocery store every morning to get a cup of coffee at the store's restaurant. Strong's children and grandchildren have worked at the store for several years.

When the Piggly Wiggly had to close a little over two months ago following a fire, she was saddened, Strong said.

On Wednesday, the store celebrated its grand reopening.

With a smile on her face and fortified by a good breakfast, Strong said now she is happy.

"I missed it," the 85-year-old said.

In addition to the food, she just likes the atmosphere, she said.

"I sit here and look at everybody," Strong said. "I don't know where they come from to eat here. It is good to get out of the house."

She said she is "big on the Pig" because "they cook good."

The store's management team, especially Bobby Fogle, makes everyone feel welcome, Strong said.

"He does something like none other," she said, noting that Fogle engages and talks to the customers.

"Oh Lord, it is great to have it back open," Springfield resident Vivian Argo said as she shopped for milk. "It is so convenient. I don't have to be running from this place, to that place, to that place."

Argo said during the past two months, she had to find other places to shop, including Williston, Orangeburg and Denmark.

"I do prefer to have it here," she said, noting she would shop at the Neeses Pig at least twice a week. She said she has been shopping at the store "for a long time."

The reason she keeps coming back is simple, she said.

"Everybody is nice and helpful," Argo said.

Springfield resident Betsy Wishert has been a regular at the Neeses Pig for the past decade.

"I have been checking to see when they would open," she said. "I am glad they are back."

Wishert said the last two months have required shopping excursions to Williston and Barnwell. She said she has missed the employees at the Neeses Piggly Wiggly.

"The people are friendly and you get to know them," she said. "I like how they have the restaurant. That is always good. I like the layout; it has always been easy to find stuff."

Neeses residents Curtis and Rhonda Lucas say the store reopening has been a godsend as they not only do their own shopping there, but also shop for an elderly couple. The Lucases said they've been regular customers at the grocery store for 20 years.

They had to travel to Wagener to do their shopping for the last couple of months, they said.

"It feels like 50 miles," Curtis Lucas said. "We could tell the difference. We could tell a big difference in our wallets and in our gas."

"It is still very nice," he said of the Neeses store, referring to the work done to bring it back after the fire. "They did a good job in remodeling it. We have been waiting and praying."

Lucas said the store has "good people and good prices."

Store manager Robbie Stevens expressed his joy at having the store open once again.

"It is good to see customers back," Stevens said. "I am glad they did not find another home to shop."

"We are glad to be open," Store Operator Chuck Fogle said. "It is good to see everybody again."

The store held a soft reopening on April 7, but Wednesday was the official reopening.

The grand reopening celebration will continue for a month, featuring buy one-get one specials and opportunities to register for prizes.

People can register to win televisions, a gas grill, coolers and gift cards. Drawings will be held weekly for four weeks. The grand prize drawing will be held the first week of May.

The store reopening is welcome news for area residents as it is the only grocery store in Neeses.

An electrical fire started in the ceiling of the restaurant portion of the business during the early morning hours of Feb. 9. Ten fire departments responded to the blaze.

A water line that ran across the ceiling area of the kitchen melted from the heat of the fire. As a result, water fell from it and onto the fire, keeping the flames from producing more extensive damage.

Although the physical damage was confined to the restaurant portion of the building, the entire store sustained water and smoke damage.

The store had been closed while crews replaced the buildings electrical wiring and ceiling tiles. Equipment and display shelves were refurbished and made like new.

The building was insured, but Fogle declined to provide a dollar amount of the damage.

Fogle operates several Piggly Wiggly stores in The T&D Region including one in Denmark and two in Orangeburg. The grand reopening specials are running at those stores as well.
Istah Mack, pictured with his daughter, was not known to be involved in any acts of a violent nature.

A family in Chester Cottage, a community in the North Central Windward constituency, is living in fear after a male member was shot.





At about 10pm on Thursday 6th April, while making his way home, Istah Mack, a 30-year-old labourer of Chester Cottage, was shot in the left side of his chest and lower back by unknown assailants.





Mack was taken to the Georgetown Hospital by ambulance, where he was given emergency treatment and then rushed to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Kingstown, where he remains warded.





He has already undergone a series of procedures to remove the bullets and extract excessive fluid from his cheat area.





Many persons in the community are of the opinion that the incident is in retaliation for an altercation that occurred a few years ago. The incident resulted in the death of a young man, also from Chester Cottage, and a relative of Macks was implicated in the stabbing death. However, a few months ago, the case was discontinued, and the Mack family in the community has been the subject of a number of threats from persons close to the deceased.





Istahs sister - Inesha Mack, told THE VINCENTIAN that, based on the information from her brothers doctor, "He will pull through. He walk and talking better now, said Mack, "My brother dont trouble people, she added.





Inesha said that after her brother was shot, the family did not venture outside because a number of males were at the gate leading to the house that she , her mom and other siblings share.





According to Inesha, there was at least one man armed with a with cutlass. They were heard to say that anybody from the family that they get hold of will be killed.





"Dem ah kill children, man, woman. I am not going to work , I am scared, said the grieving sister.

The group of men eventually left, on noticing the police presence.





Inesha said she would like to see the arrest of the man or men responsible for shooting her brother,and those whio have made threats against her family.





"Take them in, talk to them. Let them know the lives they want to take is innocent lives, she said.





Inesha has since left the community, fearing for her life. "I have to stay somewhere else because I am afraid, my family is worried, she said, adding that her brother was not known to be involved in any "violence,, a sentiment that other persons in the community echoed.





Meanwhile, the situation in Chester Cottage remains tense as reports indicate that gunshots have been heard repeatedly in the area since the incident involving Istah.





There have also been reports of skirmishes.
The ECGC Foundation INC., in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Open Campus, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, handed over bursaries to two (2) Open Campus students on Tuesday April 11th at 10:00 am.





The ceremony was held at the Tele-Conference Room of the Open Campus, and was addressed by Mrs. Deborah Dalrymple, Head of the Open Campus, and Mr. Osmond Davy, Chief Executive Officer of the East Caribbean Group of Companies.





The recipients of the awards were: Ms. Hannah Hamilton who is pursuing a B.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management; and Mr. Kimron Shallow, who is reading for a B.Sc. in Economics.




A number of fields of bananas remain unattended to as far as combating the Black Sigatoka disease is concerned, said Saboto Caesar (inset), Minister of Agriculture.

Government may be forced to enact legislation to deal with farmers whose fields are affected by the Black Sigatoka disease, but who are not tending to them as required.





Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar made the point during last week Thursdays meeting of the House, in response to Arnhim Eustaces  MP for East Kingstown - question about the spraying programme for the Black Sigatoka.





According to Caesar, last year the ministry had to find resources to hire workers to go into fields to perform de-leafing duties.





"That is something unheard of in other countries, and it is something done by farmers, Caesar said.

He added that plantain farmers were the ones guilty of not doing the required practices for the control of the Black Sigatoka.





"What I want to note is that we might be pushed to the level of some countries producing bananas whereby the government and the chief agricultural officer would have to take drastic actions, whereby persons are not tending to their fields at the required levels.





The practice was unfair to other farmers, the minister said, who would have invested money into their fields, and he said that he thought that the time had come for legislation to be updated in order to take action against farmers who were not following the required standards.





In direct response to the question, Caesar said that the intensity levels of the Black Sigatoka had decreased from week 1, where it was 3.35 to 1.33 in week 12.





This, he said, was still higher than the preferred 2 mark, but he explained that the conditions late last year  the rainfall, some of the roads were hard to traverse, and ground crews were not able to access affected fields.

There was one aerial cycle conducted, and the second got underway last week.





Ground crew operations have also been working between January and March, covering a total of 2,037 acres of bananas, plantains and fields with a mixture of bananas and plantains.





The Banana Services Unit has also scheduled 20 Black Sigatoka Management training workshops, Caesar said.

"These would focus on detecting and improving the physical control of the disease, he said.
Judy Boucher has captured the hearts of audiences across Europe, the UK, the Caribbean and here in SVG.

The music of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the rest of the Caribbean has received a boost from an upcoming show in honour of Vincentian songstress, Judy Boucher.





The organisers of the event dubbed, Accolade: A tribute to Judy Boucher, had said that the broader intention of the event was to take a version of the show to Europe, in an effort to take advantage of opportunities available to music professionals and others in the creative industries, under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM.





The promoters of Accolade announced on Tuesday, that even before the show, it has received support towards their broader intention.





A release said that the effort has received the support of at least one of the regions development agencies, i.e. the OECS Export Development Agency.





Sobers Esprit, the Business Development Officer for the Creative Industries in the Unit, in commending the promoters for staging the show, Accolade, offered to increase the awareness of the show through its communications platforms, as well as the services of the St Vincent and the Grenadines-based Island Network, one of its clients in the music business. Island Network as a result is now providing logistical and other technical support to the show.





Accolade





The show in honour of Judy Boucher will take place at the Russells Auditorium on Saturday, April, 22, 2017, from 8:00 pm. It is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Judy Bouchers hit, Cant Be With You Tonight, which catapulted her to international recognition.





The show will feature music, dance, drama, poetry and more - all in honour of Judy. Among the highlights of the show will be a segment, during which well-known Vincentian artistes will serenade Judy with hits from her repertoire. Judy will also make a brief appearance.





Organisers say that Accolade: A tribute to Judy Boucher, is expected to be an annual event in St Vincent and the Grenadines, to celebrate Caribbean artistes/personalities.




In his address to a dedication ceremony of the World Pediatric Project designated Operating Theatre at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) on Friday April 7th, Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves said, "All children are our children. He was expressing profound appreciation and thanks to the World Paediatric Project for its continuous and outstanding initiative in working with medical and government sectors of St. Vincent & the Grenadines in developing a Regional Hub for Peadiatric Care at the MCMH.

World Pediatric Project (WPP), founded 16 years ago, is a non-profit global network linking worldwide paediatric surgical, diagnostic and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries.

WPP sends paediatric diagnostic and surgical teams to the Caribbean and Central America and, thanks to a gift from The United Children of the World Fund in 2008, The Project, in collaboration with the Virginia Commonwealth University Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in 2009, has been instrumental in constructing a new Paediatric Critical Care Unit, in the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. The new unit will increase the surgical capacity of visiting teams of medical professionals, and creating a caring environment for post-operative paediatric cases.

In addition to significantly upgrading the St. Vincent facility, WPP also provides a comprehensive training program for the units new nurses, assuring hundreds of infants and children a safe place to begin life, helping them to overcome the many obstacles and challenges life has presented them.

Each year, World Pediatric Project sends St. Vincent & the Grenadines, surgical and diagnostic teams in the paediatric specialty areas of orthopedics, general surgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, urology, physical therapy, diagnostic cardiology and neurosurgery. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, referred to the WPP doctors, nurses and other medical professionals as Angels of Life.

Prime Minister Gonsalves concluded his remarks at the dedication ceremony by announcing that the planning and design work has already begun for a brand-new 150 bed critical care paediatric hospital to be built on a site at the now decommissioned Arnos Vale Airport. The site has been chosen; and an expected construction start date within two years, will further advance St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a central Eastern Caribbean hub for the treatment of all children.

The effect of WPPs initiative has resulted in the development of a regional hub in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, centralizing paediatric critical care services for children from many of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean region. Rotating volunteer paediatric surgical and diagnostic teams of specialists travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while children from surrounding islands travel to SVG to see and be treated by the visiting professionals. We usually think of patients coming to the doctor; with WPP the doctors come to the patients.

WPPs visiting surgical and diagnostic teams have provided upwards of EC 112 million dollars (54 million in SVG) in donated in-kind medical services, through more than 7,500 surgical consultations and 940 life-saving surgeries to children from Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and of course, St. Vincent.

"Saving Lives One Flight at a Time

Due to the enormous cost of air travel, the support of a unique organization based in Las Vegas Nevada, Miracle Flights, has relieved much of the financial burden that would be the responsibility of already overextended parents and caregivers.

Miracle Flights provides children and their families, free flights to specialized care facilities and the opportunity to receive valuable second opinions. Miracle Flights also arranged the transportation at no cost for the medical professionals who arrived in St. Vincent on last weekends mission.

Mark E. Brown, the Chief Executive Officer of Miracle Flights, stated that the organization provides no-cost transportation for children and their parents or caregivers to specialists in the United States and the Caribbean.
While there is no ban on the sale of carbonated drinks in schools here, the Ministry of Education is moving to discourage their consumption.

The Ministry of Education is not considering an immediate ban on the sale of carbonated drinks in and around schools across the country.





So said Minister of Education, St Clair Jimmy Prince in response to a question put forward by Opposition Senator, Marcia Barnwell in Parliament last week Thursday.





Barnwell asked whether the Ministry of Education was considering the ban, in keeping with the governments policy on preventative health care.





Prince, however, noted that his Ministry did not condone the practice of either the sale of carbonated drinks in and around schools, and parents giving their children these soft drinks for consumption.





"We have to teach our children at home and in school to consume beverages with less sugar, and encourage them to drink more water, the education minister said.





"It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that our children receive the requisite knowledge, so that they could make proper decisions regarding their consumption of sugary beverages and the demand for them, he continued.





And while government will not move for an immediate ban on carbonated beverages, Prince mentioned the need for a consultative process to begin to discourage the consumption of carbonated drinks at home and in schools.

"We have to work with our stakeholders to come up with the best solution, he said.





In a related matter, Prince said that Ministry of Education had collaborated with the Health Unit in the Ministry of Health to provide guidelines for healthy eating in the Schools Feeding Programme.





According to the Minister, in December 2014, a decision was taken to remove corned beef from that programme, because of its high fat and sodium content.





Artificially flavoured drink mixtures have also been removed and replaced with natural fruit juices, and there is a move to remove chicken sausage from the menu and have it replaced with a healthier option, Prince explained.





Campaigns are currently ongoing in schools across the country to encourage students to eat healthy, and most schools have dedicated fruit day.





But Prince acknowledged that there were some schools that were not following the guidelines.





"The ministry is trying to reach out to those institutions to ensure that the teachers understand the importance of providing healthy foods for the students. We expect that they will adhere to these guidelines, he said.
Left: Antonio Que Pasa Gellizeau was found guilty of money laundering in July 2013. Right: Colin Williams, DPP, views the recent ruling against Antonio Que Pasa Gellizeau as a model for similar investigations.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Colin Williams is of the view that the work done in the case of Antonio Que Pasa Gellizeau, the biggest ever money laundering case in the Eastern Caribbean, could serve as a model for similar investigations and prosecutions.





The DPP was speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Monday, six days after the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal dismissed Gellizeaus appeal against convictions on two money laundering charges.





The businessman was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for bringing into the country on the yacht Jotobin April 5, 2008 at Calliaqua US$1.73 million, approximately EC$4.6 million in cash, the proceeds of criminal conduct. He was also sentenced to ten years for concealing the cash.





The sentences, handed down by Justice Wesley James at the Criminal Assizes, July 22, 2013, run concurrently.

Then Chief Magistrate Sonya Young had committed Gellizeau and Bermudian seaman Winston Franklyn Robinson to the High Court for sentencing, after convicting them on both charges March 9, 2012, at the Serious Offences Court.





Robinson was sentenced to five and a half years on October 7, 2013, for the crimes, but the Court took into account the five and a half years he had already spent in custody, resulting in him being released.





The DPP described the decision of the Appeal Court as a "solid judgement. He commended the investigators for a job well done. He explained that a lot of circumstantial evidence was put together, and a substantial amount of investigative work was done. He added that much assistance and support came from the Regional Security System  Asset Recovery Fund. He also lauded the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for good work.





The DPP pointed out that the next step is to complete the confiscation of all properties held by Gellizeau, whether in his name or in the name of other persons.





"The intention of the state is to dispossess, through confiscation proceedings, all Gellizeaus ill-gotten gains, the DPP explained.





A confiscation application for Gellizeaus assets was filed the same day he and Robinson were convicted.

The application, prepared by the DPPs Office in conjunction with the FIU, has been made in relation to EC$10 million believed to be Gellizeaus benefits from criminal conduct. This includes vehicle, houses, yachts and cash.





In the 30-page written judgement, the Appeal Court concluded that "The Chief Magistrate in her very careful reasons for decision assessed the evidence of the several witnesses and attached appropriate weight to their evidence in coming to her decision. She did not err in so doing.





The Appeal was heard in St. Vincent and the Grenadines November 25, 2016, and handed down in Grenada on April 5.





Justices Louis Blenman, Mario Michel and Paul Webster presided.





Keith Scotland of Trinidad and Tobago and local attorney Mikhail Charles represented the appellant, while Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson of Trinidad and Tobago, assisted by Crown Counsel Sejilla McDowal, appeared for the respondent.




From left to right: Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg, Professor Ihron Rensburg; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI, Cave Hill campus, Professor V. Eudine Barriteau, and Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

The University of the West Indies and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of an Institute for Global Africa Affairs, which will focus on research and policy development, and assist with curriculum development.





The agreement was initialled on Monday, March 27, 2017 by The UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UJ, Professor Ihron Rensburg.





The institute, to be managed by a board of directors, will operate at both universities and facilitate the exchange of professors and students.





It will examine a number of issues pertinent to both regions, including economic development, entrepreneurship, post-colonial governance, climate change, and youth and their identity.





Commenting on the partnership, Sir Hilary said that it presents a tremendous opportunity to share intellectual content.





"We are creating a jointly owned and managed institution to bring some of the finest thinking and research of the two universities together so as to participate in changing the conversations about sustainable development in this long 21st century, he said, following the signing of the agreement at The UWI, Cave Hill campus in Barbados.





He further explained, "There are going to be dozens of courses that are currently offered at UJ that will be of special interest to our students at the UWI. 





The UJ Vice-Chancellor anticipates that a joint Masters degree in Global Africa Studies would be introduced in a few months to be followed by a joint PhD programme.





"The conversation brought us to focus on what the new Africa and the new African should be grappling with, what our responsibilities would be as the two universities, in particular, as we put together this new Pan African joint institute between ourselves. Were deeply convinced that the manner in which industrialisation has proceeded, certainly the evolution of our continent over the last two generations cannot be repeated, said Professor Rensburg.





Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI, Cave Hill Campus, Professor V. Eudine Barriteau who was present for the signing, expects that arising from the collaboration, Caribbean students will be better equipped with African knowledge that can guide Caribbean development.
Left: It was only last year that the St Vincent Cocoa Company (SVCC) launched its first line of chocolate bars. Right: L-R: Andrew Hadley and Wilf Marriott, principals of the SVCC, have much of which to be proud.

Prestat Finest Chocolates, established in 1902, is one of the worlds oldest and most famous chocolate brands and much loved by English royalty and nobility. It was also a favourite of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the creator of Willie Wonka.





Each year, Prestat handcrafts a perfect and unique chocolate Egg for Her Majesty The Queen and fills it with a range of chocolate truffles and chocolate delights.





So it is with huge pride that the Vincentian Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of the St Vincent Cocoa Company (SVCC) can announce this years Easter Egg for Her Majesty will be made using Vincentian Chocolate.





This is following a recent visit to St Vincent by Mr Nick Crean, co-owner of Prestat, on the invitation of Harry Marriott, Chairman of SVCC.





Under the expert guidance of Andrew Hadley, Managing Director of SVCC, Mr Crean visited cocoa farms in Vincys glorious mountains, as well as SVCCs world-class cocoa handling facility at Dickson. At its offices in Kingstown, he declared: "The St Vincent Cocoa Company is one of the most impressive stories of investment and sustainability I have come across. It brings employment to the island and will benefit the economy of the region. It is clear that the cocoa industry in St Vincent has an exciting future and is in safe hands.





On tasting Vincentian Chocolate at the Companys factory, Mr. Crean declared that "Vincentian Chocolate is one of the most unique and rewarding chocolate ouvertures I have ever tasted.




The World Pediatric Project (WPP) concluded its Physical Therapy Mission at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Friday, 31st March 2017, after five days of consultation and therapy.





The mission, originating out of Richmond, Virginia, was led by Physiotherapist Mrs. Kim Wesdock who was making her tenth visit to SVG. Other members were first-time worker, Pediatric Physiotherapist Lisa Babco  visiting for the first time, and Elaine Plemmet, a pediatric specialist from St. Lucia who has joined the mission for the second year.





A total of forty-one children were seen, inclusive of two from Grenada and one from Trinidad and Tobago.

Head physiotherapist Kim Wesdock, explained that the WPP mission works closely with the Physiotherapy Department at the hospital, and when they arrive, they would already have a schedule with which to work.

Children are seen daily: annual reassessments and new patients.





According to Eastern Caribbean Representative of the WPP, Mrs. Jacqueline Browne-King, the physiotherapy mission always tends to be labour intensive. Progress of children who have been on board are assessed and their exercises are streamlined for greater effectiveness.





The new children are given a total assessment of their developmental stage, then an analysis of what they need and how best to chart their programme to benefit from the services, is conducted.





Local Physical Therapist, Mrs. Janelle Ballah and her team have been an integral part of the physiotherapy missions of the World Pediatric Project. Their job has been called a great one, despite the challenges they face through numbers.





Representative Browne-King acknowledged, "They have to cater to the in-hospital patients, the out-patients, and the community; so its really a challenge.





Wesdock was careful to explain that, in many instances, the Physiotherapy Mission of the WPP feeds the Orthopedic Mission, so the best arrangement is for one to follow the other. Therefore, the next mission of the World Pediatric Project will be the Pediatric Orthopedic Mission, scheduled to be conducted at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital between Sunday, April 9th and Friday, April 14th.





The WPP has been changing lives of thousands of children throughout the Eastern Caribbean, through the delivery of direct critical-care services.
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By Azernews





By Amina Nazarli

Representation of the EU together with the embassies of European countries will celebrate Day of Europe in the southern region of Azerbaijan -- Lankaran on May 6 and 7.

The program of the Day of Europe provides for a lot of interesting cultural events, including an exhibition, concerts and movies that will introduce the inhabitants of this region to European culture.

In addition, next year the EU office planned to implement a number of economic projects in Lankaran, therefore, it is not an accident that the event is held there.

The diplomatic mission also plans to launch a website that disseminates information about the culture and way of life of Europeans. The portal will not contain any information of a political nature. The future resource is aimed at making the European culture and values more recognizable in Azerbaijan.

Lankaran is among the brightest and most beautiful regions of the country. Exquisite architecture, wonderful climate and magnificent landscapes are the hallmarks of the region.

The region occupies the east coast of the Caspian Sea and whole Lankaran lowlands up to Talysh Mountains. On the local shore of the Caspian Sea there are many fine sand beaches. Wet subtropical climate without harsh winters, dry and hot summer and rainy autumn underlie the richness of the local flora and fauna.

Agriculture is the most developed sector here, while the fertile soil of the region is ideal for growing citrus fruits, rice, grapes, tobacco and tea-growing. The region is a home of Azerbaijan's first tea plant, built in 1937.

Another attraction of the city is the lighthouse of the 18th century. Once the Caspian Sea level was much higher, the water came up to the lighthouse. Gradually, the coastline retreated, and now you should move almost half a kilometer from the lighthouse to the sea.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Switzerland very strongly supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group for peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Philipp Stalder told Trend.

We think that both conflicting sides should sit down at the negotiation table and hold meaningful peace negotiations in a more structured way, the ambassador said. Of course, any conflict has negative impact on the neighboring countries and the whole region and that is, unfortunately, also the case for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The territorial integrity of sovereign states and the inviolability of borders are the basic principles of the international relations, Member of the Christian Democratic Union faction at the German Bundestag Mark Hauptmann said on April 12.

He made the remarks replying to the question of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) regarding the role and participation of the international organizations in the process of solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The correlating four resolutions of the United Nations Security Council explicitly marked the priority of the immediate withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces out of the territories of Azerbaijan, which were occupied against international law, and the need for the return of IDPs to their homeland, the MP reminded.

Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Hauptmann emphasized that return of IDPs to their homeland is an important concern for Germany. He also stated that Germany supports the conflict resolution within a multilateral format in the scope of the OSCE Minsk Group and will do this in future as well.

We were happy to hear that the ongoing confidence building between the conflicting parties will be priority for Austrias OSCE chairmanship this year. The peaceful solution may only be achieved at negotiation table, Hauptmann noted.

The German MP also touched upon the issue of Armenian Armed Forces attack on Azerbaijani positions along the line of contact in April 2016.

On April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire of large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers by Armenian army. Azerbaijani counter-attack led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. The military operations were stopped on April 5 with mutual consent of the sides.

He added that Germany strongly condemns any aggression. Further escalations of armed violence have to be prevented, in order not to allow Khojaly tragedy to happen again, the MP stressed.

As a result of the Armenian attack on the Azerbaijani town Khojaly in 1992, a total of 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elders. 487 people were severely wounded, including 76 children. 1,275 people were captured and subjected to unprecedented torture, the fate of 197 people still remains unknown.
By Azertac





Leadership of the "G. S. Rakovski" National Defence College of the Republic of Bulgaria arrived in Azerbaijan.

During the meetings held at the Armed Forces Military Academy, relations of the two countries in the field of military science and education, including the expansion of cooperation between the academies, as well as the implementation of joint projects were discussed, Azertac reported.

Head of the Military Academy, Lieutenant General Heydar Piriyev comprehensively informed the Bulgarian delegation about the activities, structure, international relations as well as the material and technical base of the Academy.

Speaking about the importance of developing relations between the two educational institutions, Major General Grudi Angelov, the head of the "G. S. Rakovski" National Defence College, noted that ties with the Azerbaijan are successfully developing in all areas of military science and education.

The sides also signed a document on cooperation between military academies in the field of scientific research, exchange of experience, joint activities, organization of training and other issues of mutual interest.

Then the Bulgarian delegation visited the Azerbaijan Higher Military School named after Heydar Aliyev for closer acquaintance with the development of the military education system in Azerbaijan.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

China has urged all parties, particularly the United States and Russia, to increase communication and coordination to avoid clashes in dealing with the Syrian crisis, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said

"A political solution is the only to deal with the Syria issue," Wang said on April 13, Xinuanet reported.

The statement came after Russia vetoed a UN resolution drafted by the United Kingdom, France and the United States demanding a speedy investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian province of Idlib on April 4.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said that the draft pre-judged the Syrian government as responsible for the attack.

Western powers, including the United States, blame the Syrian government for the attack. The United States fired 59 cruise missiles at the Shairat military base in central Syria in response.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that the Syrian government troops have never used or intend to use chemical weapons against civilians and against terrorists.

Wang went on to say that China calls on the international community to maintain solidarity and continue to support the UN as the main channel of mediation.

The minister confirmed that Chinese government's special envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, will visit countries involved for an in-depth exchange of views.

Wang reaffirmed China's condemnation and opposition to use of chemical weapons. "China supports an independent and comprehensive investigation into reported chemical weapon use in Syria."

Action taken should be within the UN framework and in accordance with the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations, Wang said.

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.

The stocks of chemical weapons were successfully exported from Syria. In January 2016, the O.P.C.W. announced that the last of the Syrian stocks had been destroyed.
French Tech Dubai UAE, an initiative backed by the French Government to support the start-up scene in the Middle East, will be the exclusive International Tech Partner of the Private Equity Mena Forum & Awards 2017.



After the French government selected the UAE to be part of an international start-up network called La French Tech, French Tech Hub Dubai UAE attracts entrepreneurs, local talents and investors from all around the world to come to France.



As the PE Forum will focus on the venture capital side of the private equity industry, French Tech Dubai UAE will be able to make beneficial to participants the experience from the fast growing market in France, as together with Germany and the UK they represent 65 per cent of the VC funding in Europe.



Also, the importance of a proper ecosystem is key to the success of the entire investment cycle and France is quickly becoming a Startup Nation  with one in every three French people having already been an entrepreneur.



PE Forum will take place at the St. Regis Hotel in Al Habtoor City, Dubai on April 19 and will bring together leaders in the private equity and alternative assets community, including limited partners, general partners and consultants from across the region and the world.



The event challenges the issues facing the industry through a full day of interactive sessions followed by a gala dinner honoring Women in Finance in the Middle East.



The Forum will bring together the investment community as well as showcase some entrepreneurs. During the Forum, French startups founders will run a discussion panel titled Hear it from the entrepreneur .



French Tech is a term used to describe the French startup community: everyone who works in or for a startup in France or for a French startup abroad. Entrepreneurs of course, but also investors, engineers, designers, developers, incubators, media, public organizations, research institutions, etc. who are committed to the growth of startups and to their international prosperity. - TradeArabia News Service
Liberty House Group, a major player in manufacture of steel and advanced engineering products, has roped in some of the most prominent international metals industry figures to lead its newly-launched speciality steels business.



The move comes in anticipation of completion of Libertys agreed 100 million ($124 million) acquisition of Tata Steel UK Speciality Steels, employing around 1,700 people in the North of England.



A definitive agreement was signed between Liberty and Tata Steel in February and the acquisition is expected to be completed in the near future, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.



The management board designate of Liberty Speciality Steels will include Jon Bolton as chief executive, Peter Hogg as chief operations officer and Chris Kirby as chief financial officer.



Bolton is currently chief executive of Libertys plates and UK steel development, and chair of the employers body UK Steel; while Hogg is moving from his role as director of long products maker, British Steel and Kirby joins the team following a number of years as a senior consultant to major international metals, mining and energy firms.



Bolton is one of the most widely-respected figures in the industry, jointly chairing the UK Steel Council  along with the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy - and advising government regarding the sector.



A graduate in electrical engineering, he has over 30-years experience in steel on both sides of the Atlantic, most of this in senior positions with Tata Steel and its predecessors Corus and British Steel.



Jon is also known for his contribution to the development of new skills across the sector, particularly through the Industrial Cadets programme of which he is a founder and ambassador.



Hogg, is joining Liberty from British Steel, where he became a director at the companys inception in 2016, following a 25-year career that spanned top leadership roles in the sector across the world.



Since entering the industry as a Cambridge University engineering graduate in 1991, he has distinguished himself in a series of key manufacturing and commercial roles with Tata Steel UK and its predecessor companies. This included a period as managing director of Tatas Speciality Steels division.



The chartered engineer is also a member of the management board of UK Steel and has been a leading member of the industry team constructing a steel sector deal with the UKs Governments department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.



Kirby is a chartered accountant with over 30 years experience of senior financial management internationally, including 25 years in the mining and metals industry with publicly-listed and privately-owned companies, most recently Maaden Aluminium, the largest integrated aluminium manufacturing complex in the world.



Cambridge MA graduate Chris was also group financial controller with Toronto- based copper, nickel and precious metals producer Vale Inco.



The three men will play a key role in finalising the transfer of the Tata Steel UKs Speciality business to Liberty over the coming weeks and in implementing a new plan to take the business forward, building its markets in the UK and across the world.



Executive chairman of the Liberty House Group, Sanjeev Gupta, said: "Speciality Steels will play a pivotal role in achieving our over-arching Greensteel vision and we are appointing a management team of the highest calibre to lead this crucial operation."



"The business will provide us with very significant melting capacity and will also make the high-grade steel we need for our advanced engineering operations. Were very excited to have such talented people at the helm," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Hussain Sajwani, the founder, chairman and CEO of Damac Properties, a leading luxury real estate developer in the region, received major recognition at the Top CEO Awards 2017 ceremony held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.



Sajwan clinched the top spot amongst the real estate CEOs and ranked number 11 in the list of 100 regional CEOs compiled by Trends magazine in conjunction with Insead business school.



The red carpet awards ceremony, held recently at King Abdullah Economic City  Saudi Arabia, celebrated achievements of Top CEOs in the GCC region.



It paid tribute to 100 business leaders whose efforts toward the success of their organisations are instrumental in the continued growth of the GCC and have excelled in the field of leadership, said Mediaquest, the media and events company behind the initiative.



A leading luxury developer, Damac has been at the forefront of the Middle Easts real estate market since 2002 bringing luxury living experiences to residents from all over the world. As of December 31, 2016, it has delivered approximately 17,900 homes.



On the win, Sajwani said: "It is indeed an honour to receive this award, which I whole-heartedly dedicate to my team who worked long and hard to make Damac Properties what it is today."



"This award reaffirms our success and achievements as a company, and celebrates our contribution to Dubais overall success story and the wider GCC," he noted.



Julien Hawari, co-CEO at Mediaquest, said: "Top CEO Awards distinguishes itself from other schemes by stipulating that only CEOs of listed companies are eligible for entry. The awards are based on the financials of these companies, with the entire evaluation process being fully transparent and audited."



Trends works in partnership with Insead to ensure that the program formula is the most accurate it can be and collaborates with Hawkamah to include corporate governance and disclosure criteria as integral components of the ranking, explained Hawari.



"The entire work has a final review by Deloitte, who provide an independent, authoritative stamp of approval. The overall result is that Top CEO is the most reliable barometer of business leadership performance for the region," he added.



The awards ceremony was attended by close to 400 senior business figures from a wide cross-section of industries, keen to salute and celebrate the achievements of the regions leading executives.-TradeArabia News Service
The Dentist's Lifestyle Conference and Exhibition is set to promote medical and Dental tourism in Bahrain by positioning Bahrain as the foremost destination among clients seeking cosmetic dental procedures.



The Conference, now in its second edition, will be held under the patronage of his excellency Lieutenant General Doctor Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, president of the supreme council for health.



The conference will take place on April 20 and 21, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC).



A number of high-profile partners have already signed up for the conference, including US-based company invisaligin clear aligner, Saudi Dental society, Basheer Shakib for dental supplies, and index holding - owner of AEEDC Dubai Conference & Exhibition, which is the largest dental conference in the region. DLS bahrain has also attracted dental companies from Turkey, Europe, and China.



The conference is organised by Tarteeb events management and BDA scientific Events management.



Dr. Mohammed Al Aradi, founder of BDA and the head of marketing and PR for DLS bahrain, said The conference highlights Bahrains burgeoning dental sector and the robust licensing and legal framework which makes it easy for dental practitioners to set up a business here while maintaining stringent quality controls. We hope that this conference will attract further foreign investment in this sector.



Tarteeb general manager Mohammed Al Muharraqi added: Bahrain is the ideal destination for clients seeking cosmetic dental procedures as the industry is well developed, the quality of the services offered is world-class, and there are numerous tourist attractions on offer for visitors to enjoy while they have their procedure done.



The conference sponsors include invisaligin (platinum Sponsor), McLaren Automotive motors; coral pay with their sea floating hotel "The C Hotel" which is hosting all speakers and guests, and At Bahrain Tourism Company, which will organise country tours for the visitors. The conference will include a cinema which will be sponsored by Ram Dental at the venue, an art exhibition, and a mobile dental clinic by Al Mansoori Clinics. - TradeArabia News Service
Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, has launched the first of a kind automotive refinish training centre in Dubai, UAE.



The centre will provide expert training in the use of the companys products used in the repainting of vehicles in body shops, said a statement from Axalta.



The opening of the next generation facility follows the October 2016 opening of Axaltas regional office in Dubais Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), it said.



The centre, Axaltas 47th such endeavour in the world, will host world class training programmes for body shop, repair and refinish technicians to hone their skills and learn to use the latest coating technologies found in Spies Hecker, Standox and Cromax, its premium refinish coating brands, and other refinish brands which are available in eighteen countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.



We are excited to be able to expand our presence in Dubai and the region over such a short time span, said Charlie Shaver, chairman and CEO of Axalta, who formally inaugurated the new facility.



The opening of this world-class customer learning and development facility highlights our commitment to invest in the region and support our customers, he said.



This interactive training and education facility establishes a solid foundation that will provides continuous support and development to vehicle repair specialists that will both enhance the level of refinishing services and optimise the use of our technologies in the region, he added.



Axaltas consistent investment in product development and technology solutions has resulted in innovative waterborne refinish coating systems that enable its customers to reduce waste while being more productive, profitable and sustainable.



The centre will enable customers to maximise their use of these products which can reduce the time and energy needed to repaint vehicles.



Fadi Medlej, managing director  Mena, Axalta, said: Decisions related to automotive repair are following global trends in favour of environmentally responsible products, as well as enabling refinish technicians to improve their productivity at work place while delivering superior car jobs results.



The new facility will meet the needs of refinish technicians who will be trained in the use of all our products, and especially our latest waterborne products, be able to provide vehicles with a durable and beautiful finish, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Airbus, one of the leading planemakers in the world, has shortlisted the five finalist student teams competing in the fifth edition of the Fly Your Ideas challenge.



The radical concepts selected cover a wide range of innovations going from an alternative to satellite imagery, to improved aircraft taxiing, clever ways of boarding, new areas for luggage storage or offering a new business model using existing Airbus aircraft, said a statement from the company.



Representing nine different nationalities and eight universities across Africa, Europe and Asia-Pacific, the five finalist teams embody true diversity, which is a key driver of innovation and performance, it said.



The students, competing for a 30,000 ($31,928) prize, also demonstrate a wide variety of disciplines from natural sciences to engineering and business, it added.



The runner-up team will receive 15,000 ($15,964) at a live event taking place on May 17, in Toulouse, France.



Their inventive ideas were selected from over 350 entries in Airbus biennial global student competition, run in partnership with UNESCO. Students ideas had to answer one of five challenges identified by Airbus to provide sustainable future solutions. The innovations proposed by the five finalist teams look at alternative business models, passengers experience and flight operations, said a statement.



The five finalist teams  from Hong Kong, France, Australia, Nigeria and the UK  will soon travel to Toulouse, France, where they will spend a week at the Airbus ProtoSpace facility to prototype, test and visualise their ideas using state-of-the-art equipment with personal guidance from Airbus.



At the end of their week at Airbus, the students will present their innovative projects and the newly developed prototype in front of Airbus experts and personalities from the aerospace and academic world.



Airbus launched Fly Your Ideas in 2008 with the aim of engaging with universities and students worldwide and from all backgrounds to: stimulate innovative ideas for a sustainable aviation industry and identify opportunities for R&T development and/or interaction with academic research teams. The challenge received UNESCO patronage in 2012 with a renewed partnership in 2014 and 2016, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
The upcoming second annual Maritime Tanker Conference in Dubai, UAE is expected to attract over 150 top executives from across the regional tanker business, as well as global participants.



The event will take place on October 24 at the Grosvenor House Hotel.



A high level group of expert speakers and panellists is being assembled by The Maritime Standard, and will include representatives from leading tanker owners and managers, port operators, trade organisations, brokers and analysts, law firms, financiers and technology providers.



The event has also secured sponsorship support from a number of high profile maritime companies and organisations.



The one day Conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities that remain open to the tanker sector in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent today. Speakers and panellists will assess global and regional economic and trade trends that will affect the movement of crude oil, products and petrochemicals. After key note speakers, individual sessions will highlight key issues, and solutions, and will assess likely investment patterns in ships and terminal facilities, as well as the development of technology and other support services.



Trevor Pereira, managing director of The Maritime Standard said: The inaugural event in 2016 was such a success that we have decided to return to the same venue and date, the day after The Maritime Standard Awards, to build on what proved to be a successful formula.



We will have some big names from the industry speaking and the high quality audience of decision makers and influencers will make this a Conference that will add real value, in terms of information gathering and networking. The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference is certain to generate a high level of interest so I would urge people to book now, as spaces will be strictly limited."  TradeArabia News Service
Kanoo Machinery, one of the exclusive dealers of world-class brands in the Middle East, showcased the latest high-technology Massey Ferguson tractors and Bobcat compact loaders at a recent event in Dubai, UAE.



The machinery was displayed at AgraME 2017 the largest agribusiness event in the Middle East which features manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, equipment and industry advancements, to cater to the growing market and to improve agriculture practices in the region.



During the exhibition, Kanoo Machinery featured its Massey Ferguson Global Series - the new MF4708 tractors re-engineered from the ground up to meet the needs of present and future farming, said a statement from the company.



With the MF 4700 Series, each component and every assembly have been designed to ensure rock-solid reliability and integral dependability in all weathers, in all environments - whether from haulage in Africa, through livestock farm tasks in Europe, to rice cultivation in Asia and livestock block chores in North America, it said.



Furthermore, Kanoo Machinery displayed its new Bobcat T590 Compact Truck Loaders and their attachments, ideal for loading and unloading tasks where space is limited but the need for maximum lift height is necessary, with a rated operating capacity (no more than 35 per cent of tipping load) of 992 kg, and a tipping load of 2,834 kg; plus a maximum travel speed of 11.8 km/h.



David Atkinson, general manager, Kanoo Machinery, said: We are proud to say that we are a member of The Kanoo Group, one of the largest family-owned businesses in the Middle East, established in 1890.



Our products are run by our trained staff who know the machines inside out, and are able to provide advice, parts, service and support whenever required to keep the machines running at its optimum, he said.



He added: We have an extensive inventory of fast moving machines, parts and consumables to ensure fast response time to machine breakdowns. We maintain stocks in all our branches and a more comprehensive inventory at our Distribution Centres in Al Quoz and Jebel Ali Free Zone, he added.



Kanoo Machinery's Mogallan Bhagat (field sales manager, Dubai & NE - Industrial Products), Ahmad Swaid (brand manager - construction equipment), Abdul Tausif Butt (regional manager), Mohammed Al Hashimi (regional manager - government business and export) and Mohammed Habeeb Hussain (government business - sales), actively played a part in the exhibition.



Kevin Vines (manager, business and commercial - operations, Pakistan and Middle East) and Alessandro Rigoni (regional service manager, Europe Middle East) from AGCO - the parent company of Massey Ferguson and a world leader in farm equipment, also contributed to the event participation.



Mostly from Kanoo Machinery have gathered a considerable amount of sales leads from customers in the UAE and the Middle East in the recent trade show and are optimistic with the constant growth and development of agribusiness industry in the region, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
The UAE has launched its National Space Program, which will offer a solid platform to prepare Emiratis cadres specialized in airspace sciences.



Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander approved the programmes strategy during a visit to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC).



Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan also attended the tour that also included the launch of satellite manufacturing complex as part of the MBRSC. The move is part of the UAE ambitious space programme as it aims reaching Mars in 2021 and building first settlement on the Red Planet in 2117.



The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is set to launch the Hope spacecraft in July 2020 on a seven-month journey to the Red Planet. The UAE National Space Programme also includes a new program to prepare Emiratis astronauts.

Our national space program is a solid platform to prepare Emiratis cadres specialized in airspace sciences, and qualify future generations that are able to contribute to humanity knowledge, Mohammed bin Rashid said. We plan to send the first Emirati astronaut to the space over the next few years, and starting from today, we are preparing the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to join scientists at the International Space Station.



Sheikh Mohammed said that the UAE space programme is a message to the Arab world that our sons are able to compete on the global level. Our objective is to show the world that we are able to contribute to humanity through quality knowledge and scientific discoveries, he said.



Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said that the UAE is making a new national leading achievement every day on all levels thanks to the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid. We are very proud of Emirati youth playing a pivotal role in shaping an ambitious future for their own country and pursuing higher education in the field of science and knowledge, he said.



Present during the tour were Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, along with senior government officials. - TradeArabia News Service


The UAE National Space Program, which envisages a Mars mission and preparing Emirati astronauts, was launched yesterday by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed in Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander.

The program, which will be executed by young Emirati cadres, was announced during a visit by the dignitaries to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), said a Wam news agency report.

Crown Prince of Dubai HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan also attended the tour that also included the launch of satellite manufacturing complex as part of the MBRSC. The move is part of the UAE ambitious space program as it aims reaching Mars in 2021 and building first settlement on the Red Planet in 2117.

The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is set to launch the Hope spacecraft in July 2020 on a seven-month journey to the Red Planet. The UAE National Space Program also includes a new program to prepare Emiratis astronauts.

"Our national space program is a solid platform to prepare Emiratis cadres specialised in airspace sciences, and qualify future generations that are able to contribute to humanity knowledge," Mohammed bin Rashid said. "We plan to send the first Emirati astronaut to the space over the next few years, and starting from today, we are preparing the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to join scientists at the International Space Station."

Sheikh Mohammed said that the UAE space program is a message to the Arab world that our sons are able to compete on the global level. "Our objective is to show the world that we are able to contribute to humanity through quality knowledge and scientific discoveries," he said.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said that the UAE is making a new national leading achievement every day on all levels thanks to the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid. "We are very proud of Emirati youth playing a pivotal role in shaping an ambitious future for their own country and pursuing higher educations in the field of science and knowledge," he said. - TradeArabia News Service
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.



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 per cent.



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 per cent. 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 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," 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'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 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has called for increased cross-sectoral cooperation.  TradeArabia News Service
Germany-based BMW Group sales achieved their best-ever March, with sales in the month totalling 254,862, a 5.9 per cent increase year-on-year.



It was also a record first quarter with sales of the BMW Groups three premium brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, increasing by 5.3 per cent; a total of 587,237 vehicles have been delivered to customers around the world so far this year.





Weve achieved a strong start to the year, with our X-family models and the BMW 7 Series being the main growth drivers, said Dr Ian Robertson, member of the BMW AG Board of Management with responsibility for Sales and Brand BMW.



March was the first full sales month for the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and the customer feedback for this benchmark car is already very positive.



Our electrified models also continue to show extremely strong growth, with almost 20,000 sold in the first quarter, meaning were on track to achieve our target of 100,000 electrified vehicle sales this year. As we start the biggest model offensive the company has ever undertaken, Im confident 2017 will be another record year for the BMW Group, retaining our leading position in the industry, he added.



The BMW brand achieved its best-ever first quarter, cracking the half million mark for the first time this early in the year. Global BMW sales totalled 503,445 units, an increase of 5.2 per cent on the same period last year. Sales of BMW brand vehicles in March totalled 212,093, an increase of 5.3 per cent compared with the same month last year.



Many models throughout the range contributed to this growth: in March, deliveries of the BMW X1 increased 21.0 per cent (26,759); sales of the BMW X5 were up 20.7 per cent (17,678) while deliveries of the flagship BMW 7 Series grew 74.8 per cent (7,134). The BMW 5 Series, of which the new generation sedan had its first full month on sale in most markets, was delivered to around 35,000 customers worldwide.



With its broad offering of premium electrified vehicles, the popularity of the BMW Groups innovative BMW i and BMW iPerformance models continues to grow rapidly. Since the beginning of the year, almost 20,000 electrified vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide, double the number sold by this time last year. First quarter production of electrified vehicles totalled more than 24,000 vehicles. Scandinavia continues to be a strong region for electrified vehicle sales. As of early April, over 10,000 BMW i3 vehicles have been delivered to customers in Norway since launch. March also saw the launch of the plug-in hybrid BMW 530e iPerformance in most markets. That model is expected to be a strong growth driver for electrified vehicle sales, as is the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid which will start delivery in June.



Sales of MINI brand vehicles achieved their best-ever March with a total of 42,447 delivered to customers around the world, an increase of 8.7 per cent compared with the same month last year. March rounded off the brands record first quarter with sales totalling 83,059 (+6.1 per cent). MINI continues to demonstrate solid growth around the world, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the BMW AG Board of Management responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.



The MINI Clubman in particular has shown strong growth of over 21 per cent in the first quarter, proving that its perfect blend of everyday usability and MINI-typical emotional characteristics is exactly what our customers want, he continued. With the new MINI Countryman weve just recently brought to market, Im sure the momentum were seeing at MINI will continue through the year, he added.



Following the second highest annual sales record in 2016, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sales in the first quarter of 2017 were up year-on-year. This was based on full market availability of Dawn compared with the same period last year. In total, 733 Rolls-Royce motor cars were delivered to customers across the globe (+33.0 per cent). Demand for Rolls-Royce models remains strong in most regions, although this is set against ongoing market volatility in the global luxury industry as a whole. Rolls-Royce continues to strive for long-term sustainable growth.



March was also a positive month for BMW Motorrad with a total of 18,265 motor-cycles and maxi-scooters delivered to customers, an increase of 10.9 per cent on the same month last year. In the year-to-date, sales total 35,636 units, an increase of 5.5 per cent.



BMW & MINI sales in the regions/markets at a glance



All major sales regions achieved an increase in sales both in March and in the first quarter. Many markets achieved double-digit increases, including China and Mexico/Latin America. In the beginning of April the BMW Group handed over its 3 millionth vehicle to a customer in China.  TradeArabia News Service
Motorcity, the sole and exclusive distributor of Chery vehicles in Bahrain, has announced the launch of the new sedans, Arrizo 3 and Arrizo 5, and the SUV, Tiggo 3.



Motorcity senior general manager, Dr Bijan Majidi presented the new generation of Chery products at the press conference, emphasizing on the new product lines innovative technology content and benefits:



Safety: C-NCAP five stars safety standards achievement.



Performance: High power and torque, low fuel consumption and emissions, and efficient and quiet engines.



Comfort: Environmentally friendly materials, quiet and spacious cabin, high performance A/C, active suspension system, ISO FIX children seat and safety lock and many other novelties.



The new Arrizo 3 (B segment sedan) and Arrizo 5 (C segment sedan) are both powered with a 1.5-litre high performance and low consumption engine and available with automatic transmission and CVT gearboxes. The Arrizo 5 in its luxury version includes a push-button-start, cruise control, automatic climate control, electric sunroof, leather seats and multifunctional steering wheel, among many other options.



The new Tiggo 3, 2.0-litre, 137 HP, combines style, technology, quality, reliability and safety all in one, and is considered the best seller urban SUV in the Chery range, worldwide and in Bahrain.



All the Chery models are offered with five years/150,000 km warranty and road assistance.



China-based Chery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and Motor City, one of the first Chery dealers in the GCC, is celebrating 10 years with Chery in Bahrain.



Chery has delivered its vehicles to over five million consumers across the world, earning high recognition from consumers. The brand has earned trust from overseas consumers through quality products and services, ranking among the most popular Chinese brands abroad.



Chery has exported vehicles to over 80 countries and regions, established 10 overseas manufacturing plants as well as nearly 2,000 distribution and service networks abroad, and has been China's largest passenger vehicle exporter for 13 consecutive years. By late 2015, Chery had become the first Chinese automaker whose passenger vehicle output exceeded five million units and achieved cumulative exports of over 1.1 million units, accounting for 38 percent of China's cumulative passenger vehicle exports.  TradeArabia News Service
A new talent development programme by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has been launched, in co-operation with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, said a report.



The programme, launched by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, aims to explore emerging talent and develop their artistic skills while attracting a number of distinguished artists worldwide, said a report in WAM.



"The launch of this initiative is in line with Abu Dhabi's efforts to discover talented people, enrich its resources and unleash their potential to contribute to cultural and artistic production while giving young people the opportunity to develop their skills, which will positively contribute to the civilised image of Abu Dhabi and the UAE," Sheikh Hazza said.



The programme will provide a platform to support artistically talented students through collaborative agreements with a number of local and international institutions as well as training of specialists and teachers from the Abu Dhabi Education Council by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
Some western farmers, religious leaders and land advocates are asking the new Secretary of the Interior to slow down a review, and potential dismantling, of methane gas regulations that limit flaring and leaks.

Federal agencies were instructed to review all regulations potentially burdensome to energy production in a March 28 executive order from President Donald Trump. The Bureau of Land Managements methane waste rule, finalized Nov. 15, was one of a handful of regulations singled out in the presidents order. The Department of the Interior responded with a promise to gauge whether the methane rule was aligned with the president's directions within 21 days.

Thats not enough time in some Westerners opinions.

In a Wednesday letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, formerly a congressman from Montana, groups like the Wyoming Association of Churches and Native American Voters Alliance asked that if the rule were to be reviewed by the department, it should be done with the same process that created it, including formal public comment periods and public forums.

That process reflects how the Bureau of Land Management arrived at the current rule, and it is important that you hear from the people who are most affected by the waste of resources, the letter states.

The groups request a 60-day extension to account for the intricate nature of this issue.

Three weeks is not sufficient to review a rule that was three years in the making, with hundreds of thousands of pages of comments, reports, studies and other documentation, the letter states.

A recent poll from Colorado College reported that 87 percent of Wyomingites supported strict methane emissions limits on public land. Yet, the rule has found its way to the center of controversy as a fresh Congress sought to rapidly undo federal rules and regulations that they say limit industry development on federal land. Members of Wyomings delegation have publicly supported the possible elimination of the methane rule.

Industry groups argue that the BLM rule is punitive as it requires costly manpower to check for leakage along pipelines and interconnections, as well as mandates the purchase of infrared equipment to detect leaks. Those in favor of these rules say the cost is recouped by saved natural gas resources that can then be sold.

Wyoming has similar regulations to the BLM's methane rule in the Upper Green River Basin, where pollution years ago led to increased air quality controls from the states Department of Environmental Quality. Some companies in Wyoming, like Jonah Energy, have reported a net benefit after the implementation of stricter emissions controls.

The Secretary's review of the rule is not the only challenge it faces.

The rule was flagged for repeal under the Congressional Review Act, which allows congressmen to dismantle midnight regulations from an outgoing administration with a simple majority vote in each house. However, unlike other Obama-era rules caught in the crosshairs and promptly eliminated in recent weeks, the methane rule still sits in the Senate where it was introduced. Congress only has 60 working days to utilize the CRA, which means the methane rule must be addressed by May if Congress wants it struck down.

The methane rule is also opposed in the courts, with Wyoming and other states arguing that the BLM has overstepped its bounds by regulating air quality. That power is the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency, some say. Supporters of increased gas restrictions shoot back that the methane rule is about wasted natural resources as much as air quality.

A Wyoming judge refused to stay the implementation of the methane rule while it progressed through the courts. It took effect in January.

Signees of the letter to Zinke include leaders from the Western Values Project, Native American Voters Alliance, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Vet Voice Foundation.
Saturday watercolor sessions

The schedule for the Saturday Morning Watercolor Sessions from 10 a.m. to noon for March and April at Art 321 is below. These are coordinated by Ellen Black, 265-6783. $10 per session.

April 15, painting on Yupo; April 22, practice session; April 29, building perspective, Dave Sneesby.

Tax march Saturday

Indivisible Casper will sponsor a free public rally in coordination with the national Tax March at 1:30 p.m. on April 15 in Pioneer Park (across East B Street from the IRS offices in the federal office building.) Everyone is welcome.

The rallys first purpose is to demand that the president release his tax returns. The rallys second purpose is to oppose the $54 billion increase to military spending in this already disproportionate allotment in the presidents proposed budget.

Indivisible Casper is nonpartisan, nonviolent and carries forward the sentiment of the Womens March.

Indivisible Caspers Constituents Tax March  Casper Rally page is at https://www.facebook.com/events/801112356703419/.Town Hall April 18

Indivisible Casper invites you to Constituents Town Hall Three. Every political point of view is welcome.

Wyomings members of Congress have been invited by certified letter to attend to discuss the issues of the day. Since Congress in not in session, it is hoped they will attend. If they do not, your comments and questions will be passed on to them in writing.

Please come with your questions and ideas at 7 p.m. April 18 to the Food for Thought building, 900 St. John in North Casper.

Please call Andrea at 251-0352 with any questions about the town hall.

Indivisible is a nationwide organization formed to respond to the Trump agenda in a non-violent manner. It is built on the values of inclusion, acceptance and fairness.

Learn Cybersecurity





The Natrona County Library will offer a Cybersecurity class from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 19. This course will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life, whether at home or work. You will learn how to recognize the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you. Call 577.READ x2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Using maps in geneology research





The Natrona County Library and Natrona County Genealogical Society will host a genealogy workshop on maps at 7 p.m., on Thursday, April 20 in the librarys glass enclosure on the first floor. The workshops primary focus will be the use of maps in genealogy research: what can be learned from them, where to find them, and the best types of maps. Free and open to the public. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Beginning Experience in Douglas





Beginning Experience of Wyoming is a weekend program that offers healing and renewal to divorced, widowed and separated men and women. It is a nonprofit, faith-based comprehensive program offered to all, regardless of religious preference. A Beginning Experience weekend offers support and direction to help resolve grief or anger that can follow the end of a marriage by divorce, separation or death. The next Beginning Experience weekend will be in Douglas and starts at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, April 28, and runs through Sunday around 4 p.m. on April 30. The cost of the weekend is $150, which includes sleeping arrangements, meals, and materials.

Scholarships are available. Registration deadline is April 26, 2017.

Ask these team members for more information: Curtis at 307.240.1232 or email westcurtis2014@gmail.com; Diane at 262.4142, Paulette at 267.6375.

Landowner solutions workshop





A casual learning conversation about country living issues will be held at 6 p.m. April 25 at the Glenrock Community Library, 506 S. Fourth St. Admission is free. Topics will include fighting weeds and animal health among others. Please pre-register so materials will be available. Contact Scott Cotton, UW Extension, 235-9400 or Scotton1@uwyo.edu.

Write Brain Books training





Mercer Family Resource Center will host a Write Brain Books Training from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26, at Mercer Family Resource Center, 535 W. Yellowstone Hwy. The training is $30 and includes lunch. The founder of Write Brain Books will facilitate the training, and is for anyone who works with youth and look for a new way to incorporate literacy into his or her programming/instruction.

Write Brain Books are illustrated, wordless books that inspire kids of all ages to become published authors of their own storybooks, each receiving published, hardcover copies of their original tales. To register for the training, please contact Mercer Family Resource Center at 265-7366.

For more information on the Write Brain Books training, please contact Keri Owen, NCPC grant assistant, at 265-7366 or kowen@mercercasper.com.

Call for portraits at Art 321





This is an open call to all artists in the community, working in any medium, to exhibit their artwork in the Art 321Casper Artists Guild Portrait Exhibit in May. Please note that artwork needs to be delivered to Art 321 Gallery by April 28.

McIntyre photo workshop May 5-6





If you love the photography of Suzette McIntyre now on display at Art 321 Gallery, you will be eager to sign up for her workshop coming in May. Convergent Photography is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, instructed by McIntyre. Participants need to bring a digital camera. Fee is $130 for members/ $170 non-members.

Job fair May 3





The Department of Workforce Services is holding a Youth Job & Career Fair with the intent of informing youth and young adults in Casper of job openings, career opportunities, and college or training options that are available to them in the Casper community.

Youth and young adults between ages 16 and 24 who want to jump-start their careers are encouraged to attend. Individuals should dress to impress and take copies of their resumes to the Agriculture Resources & Learning Center from 9 a.m. to noon on May 3.

The event aims to connect youth with a range of employment opportunities and help them explore the diversity of education and career options available to them in the future.

For more information, call 234-4591.

Felt scarf workshop at Nic





A felt scarf workshop will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m. May 13 at the Nicolaysen Art Museum, instructed by Tatiana Lushnikova. Fees are $40 for members, 30 for students with valid student ID, and $55 for non-members. Please pre-register and pay by May 8. Bring a friend and save $10 on your class fee. This class is recommended for high school students and older.

In this class, students will learn the process of wet felting and produce their own piece of handmade fiber art.

For more information, contact Zhanna at zgallegos@thenic.org or call 235-5247.

Corporate team building with (theater) murder





Casper Theater Company will be teaching teambuilding workshops.

After determining areas of emphasis designed to a specific business, the workshop will be steered in that direction.

For more information, visit www.caspertheatercompany.net, or Casper Theater Company on Facebook or call Casie at 247-6167, or Donna at 267-7243 to set up a time.

Teen Challenge spring groups





Smart Step Families: Putting two families together is never easy. The Smart Step Families, led by a Christian couple, will give answers and encouragement. Thursday evenings starting in March. Call Pastor Mark or Linda at 259-1081.

Insight: Discovering the path to Christian character, especially in the midst of stress. For more information, call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397. There are nine sessions to the class.

Professionals in Recovery: An ongoing Christian recovery group. For more information, call Gary at 267-7777.

Free to Grow: Helping people overcome disappointments and setbacks that have arrested or are presently hindering their emotional and spiritual development. Starts in February and meets on Thursdays. For more information, call Jane at 797-7271 or Judy at 251-5644. There are 12 sessions to the class.

Peacemaking: In this world of division and conflict, its important for Christians to stay grounded in what the Bible teaches about resolving differences with others in a God- honoring way. Sunday at 4 p.m. For more information, call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397. There are 12 sessions to the class.

Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-centered 12-step program that offers support for anyone struggling with a life controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. There are 12 sessions to the class.

New ministry at HPCC





Family Life Ministry at Highland Park Community Church is offering premarital, marriage enrichment, and parenting workshops, seminars, retreats and conferences, empowering families to thrive through Gods love. Please visit the website for more information or to register, http://hpcc.church/FLM.

Self-transformation class set





A Conscious Co-Creation/Self-Transformation & Healing seminar/live webinar will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 and 23, taught in person at the Agricultural Resources & Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, and also via live webinar.

In the seminar/playshop, participants will learn how the universal and physical laws of creation work together with thoughts and ideas to form daily experience; how modern science bears out what the ascended masters have known for eons; and how to become aware of, and instantly start changing, the patterns of thought and emotion that are prevent realizing best potentials for a healthy, joyful, fulfilling life. The class is taught by Cathy Hazel Adams, practitioner of Intuitive Multidimensional Transformation & Healing, and Matrix Energetics certified practitioner.

For full class description and registration information, visit: www.cathyhazeladams.com and click on Classes & Webinars in the left sidebar, or call 797-9677 for more information.

Dementia caregiver support





Wyoming Dementia Care offers five Alzheimers Caregiver Support groups each month. Caregivers of those with dementia-related illnesses and the loved ones they care for are welcome at any of the group sessions. Professional staff from Intermountain Home Companions will be on hand to offer separate activities and snacks for those who need care. There is no charge for Wyoming Dementia Cares support groups or for the respite care provided during the approximately one-hour sessions.

The morning support group sessions meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Central Wyoming Senior Services, 1831 E. Fourth St. The afternoon support groups meet at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Life Care Center of Casper, 4041 S. Poplar. The evening groups meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Wind Assisted Living, 3955 E. 12th St.

For information, email wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or call Dani Guerttman at 265-4678.

Family continues suicide support





Good Grief, Support will continue at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott, by request of attendees. Anyone who is grieving a suicide or death or considering suicide is encouraged to attend. Attendance, as well as the content, will be strictly confidential. The Fresh Start Cafe will be open, and you can eat during the meetings. This meeting place was offered by Dan Cantine of the 12-24 Club. You need not be a member to attend. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

New depression group begins





J.R.s Hunt for Life is offering See it Clearly, a free peer support group for people suffering from depression and other mental conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. The group is led by like-minded peers wishing to offer support. Anonymity and confidentiality is offered to all attending. Meetings are at 6:45 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 500 South Wolcott in the conference room on the second floor, (12-24 Club). Those who have considered or attempted taking their life or are struggling are welcome. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

Family offers faith-based groups





The family of J.R. Hunter, who committed suicide, now has two additional support groups, these faith-based, in addition to the groups they run on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the 12-24 Club. Those continue. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

J.R.s Hunt for Life presents two faith-based grief and depression peer to peer support groups at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Restoration Church, 411 S. Walsh. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

Grief Support Group, Good Grief: A faith-based grief support group that the family hosts on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Restoration Church. The familys loss has moved them to offer this to anyone grieving. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

Depression Support Group, See It Clearly: A faith-based free peer to peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that may lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. The group is led by like-minded peers wishing to offer support. Anonymity and confidentiality is offered to all attending. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Restoration Church. Those who have considered or attempted taking their life or are struggling are welcome. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom.

Parkinsons exercise





Rocky Mountain Therapy is offering a Parkinsons exercise program. Join us from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 E. Second St., Building 500. These classes are open to anyone with Parkinsons or caring for someone with Parkinsons.

Thursdays class is tailored for the individual with more advanced Parkinsons and focuses on improving endurance, safety and managing symptoms. We are open to all ages and can tailor the class to meet varying exercise needs. The cost of the class is $5. To RSVP, call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon.

Celebrate Recovery every Friday





Celebrate Recovery meets at 5:30 p.m. every Friday at Highland Park Community Church, just south of Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital on East Second Street. A family meal starts the evening, followed by praise and worship. At 7 p.m., theres either a lesson from Celebrate Recoverys planned curriculum or a testimony by a person who has found recovery through Christ. Then, people go to gender-specific small groups until 8:30 p.m., when dessert and fellowship conclude the evening. Child care is available at no cost. For more information, contact Chris at 265-4073.

Here and Now: Dementia-focused monthly art class





Classes are every third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no charge. Here and Now is a program made possible through a collaboration between Wyoming Dementia Care and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. It is designed to provide a supportive environment for people with dementia and Alzheimers and their loved ones.

To register, contact Dani with Wyoming Dementia Care 265-4678, ext. 106, or at wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or Zhanna Gallegos at 235-5247 or at zgallegos@thenic.org.
Thursday 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; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 7 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley, public welcome; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 4600 S. Poplar, closed; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Al-Anon: 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200. Douglas: 5 p.m., Congregational United Church, 405 N. 6th St.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Holy Week service at Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1350 E. C St., announces its schedule of services for Holy Week: Holy Thursday Morning (Divine Liturgy), 9 a.m.; Holy Thursday Evening (Crucifixion), 7 p.m.

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.

Learn about Airbnb

The Natrona County Library will offer an Airbnb class from 2 to 4 p.m. Learn how to navigate the site and create listings. Feel free to bring digital photos of the space you would like to list along with any other information about your listing, and receive help with your first post. Call 577.READ, ext. 2, or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

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. Thursdays nonprofit is NCHS Speech and Debate.

English speakers needed

CHAT, the English Conversation Club at Casper College Adult Learning Center, needs English speakers to meet international community members and help them speak English. An international potluck is scheduled in the Werner Technical Center, Rm. 105 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 268-2230 or email mdugan@caspercollege.edu.

Holy Week at St. Marks

Holy Week at St. Marks Episcopal Church, Seventh and Wolcott: Maundy Thursday services start at 6 p.m. followed by the Prayer Watch, which concludes with a 7:30 a.m. service Good Friday.

Holy Week at Christ Episcopal

Christ Episcopal Church, 415 W. Cedar in Glenrock, hosts The Maundy Thursday liturgy with Communion and Stripping of the Altar at 6 p.m.

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.

Holy Week at Grace Lutheran

Grace Lutheran invites the community to join in the Gift of the Lord week. Thursday is Maundy Thursday, the gift of bread and wine, worship is at 7 p.m., with foot washing and communion.

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.

Johnny Sketch presents workshop

Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes will hold an educational performance for fourth- and fifth-grade students at 1 p.m. 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.

Also, 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.

Open house at Werner

An open house for the Werner Wildlife Museums newest exhibit, Elemental Earth: Artisans and Nature will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. The open house is free and open to the public at the museum, 405 E. 15th St. Refreshments will be served. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

According to India Hayford, museum assistant, the exhibit features contemporary crafts celebrating life in Wyoming.

The Casper Needle Guild, a local chapter of Embroiderers Guild of America, will also be on hand to demonstrate various types of needlework. Stitchers are welcome to bring their own handwork and join the stitching circle in the Africa-Arctic Room during the open house.

Softball umpires meet

Anyone interested in umpiring adult or youth softball this summer should attend the Umpires Clinic at 6 p.m. at the Casper Recreation Center, 1801 E. Fourth St. The clinic will include information about umpire registration, league rules, pay rates and scheduling. A follow-up meeting and clinic will be held at 6 p.m. April 27 at the Casper Recreation Center. All interested umpires should attend.

Additional information is available at the Casper Recreation Center, 235-8383.

Holy Week at OSL

Join us for Holy Week Services at Our Saviours Lutheran Church, 318 E. Sixth St. All are welcome and invited. Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m.

Holy Week at Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church invites all for Holy Week. The Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m.

Beekeepers meet

Learn about bees and meet area beekeepers. Natrona County Beekeepers Association will meet at 7 p.m. in the basement of the College Heights Baptist Church, 600 W. 21st St.

Coin club meets

The Casper Coin Club will meet at 7 p.m. in the Crawford room of the downtown library. John Harold of C.C. Coins will give a presentation. Call Al at 237-1156 with questions.

Reserve for Republican women event

The public is invited to join the Natrona County Republican Women at 10 a.m. April 15 at the Ramada Plaza, 300 W. F St., for a breakfast buffet, style show, auction and door prizes.

Tickets are $40 in advance, credit cards accepted at mkt.com/ncrwgiftshop or mail checks to NCRW, PO Box 52062, Casper 82605; and $50 at the door, where credit cards, checks, cash are accepted.

RSVP before April 13. Call 307-215-9749 or email NCRWMEMBER@gmail.com.

Membership dues of $30 to NCRW can also be paid at that time.

Deadline for volleyball tourney signup

The eighth annual Casper Coed Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the City of Casper Recreation Division, will be held April 22-23. It is anticipated that teams from all over the region will play in the tournament. Saturday play will consist of pool play, which will determine the seeding for the Sunday double elimination bracket. Matches will be played at the Casper Recreation Center and Natrona County School District facilities.

The $100 per team entry fee is due no later than Thursday. Checks should be made payable to the Casper Recreational Leagues Association (CRLA). Online registration is available. Entries may be mailed or delivered to Casper Recreation Center, 1801 E. Fourth St., Casper, WY 82601. If additional information is needed, contact the Casper Recreation Division at 235-8383 or go to the website, www.crlasports.com.Follow community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur on Twitter @WYOSAS
A former Casper doctor charged with sexually assaulting six patients pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Paul Harnetty, 47, appeared in Natrona County District Court to enter pleas to 10 charges that stem from allegations he assaulted women during gynecological exams in 2014 and 2015.

The alleged victims say Harnetty, while working as an OB-GYN at Community Health Center of Central Wyoming, touched them during exams in ways that made them uncomfortable. That included touching their vaginal area without gloves and rubbing them in ways that didnt seem to be in line with a medical exam, court documents allege.

The case appears likely to revolve around two questions: Was Harnetty acting within his duties as a physician, and did that role give him significant influence over the women?

Natrona County District Court Judge Thomas Sullins scheduled a five-day trial in the matter for June 26.

Prosecutors originally charged Harnetty with 12 counts of second- and third-degree sexual assault. A judge at his preliminary hearing dismissed two of them.

Harnetty is no longer licensed to practice medicine in Wyoming. He voluntarily relinquished his license in October after the state medical board began investigating him.

He stopped practicing at the Community Health Center in October 2015 and resigned his Wyoming Medical Center privileges a month later.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises.

In several interviews this week, the president has forged new positions on topics ranging from NATO to Chinese currency manipulation. They come as other campaign promises lag, including Trump's vow to build a concrete wall along the length of the southern border and have Mexico pay for it.

"One by one we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations," Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Big changes are happening!"

One by one we are keeping our promises - on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2017

Here are some of the areas where a president who prides himself on his flexibility has been willing to dispense with past positions:

1. NATO

Trump cemented his shift in posture toward the 28-nation military alliance as he stood alongside its leader Wednesday at the White House.

As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense.

He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts.

"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office.

Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg.

Currently, just the U.S. and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2 percent target.

2. CHINA/CURRENCY

During his campaign, Trump insisted that one of his first acts as president would be to direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. It was part of a "contract" with American voters that he pledged to fulfill.

Only days ago, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump reiterated that campaign pledge.

By Wednesday something had changed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump declared point blank, "They're not currency manipulators."

Trump told the paper he'd changed his mind because China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months. He said a U.S. declaration of Chinese manipulation could jeopardize efforts to secure the country's help in containing the threat posed by North Korea. Trump has mentioned that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping have developed somewhat of a bond.

3. EX-IM BANK

Trump also appears to have grown fond of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which has been a rallying cry for conservatives who consider it a mechanism of crony capitalism. The conservative political network established by billionaires Charles and David Koch has railed against the agency.

Trump opposed the Ex-Im Bank during his campaign. But he said in the Journal interview that he supports the bank, which helps U.S. exporters by making and guaranteeing loans. Congress allowed the Ex-Im bank's charter to expire in 2015, then eventually revived it over the objections of some conservatives. But it still isn't able to conduct major business due to vacancies on its board, hurting top exporters like Boeing and General Electric.

4. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

As the U.S. relationship with Russia careens from cozy to frosty, Trump is keeping his distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump has made conflicting statements about his ties to the Russian leader in the past. At a press conference last July, he said: "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."

But during the Republican primary he boasted of their ties. He said at a November 2015 primary debate, "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night." The two appeared on the same program, but their segments were taped in different countries.

For Trump, dealing with investigations into possible contacts between his campaign associates and the Russian officials, keeping Putin at arm's length may be the best political play.

5. MILITARY

The man who once slammed the U.S. military as a "disaster" is singing its praises now that he's in charge.

In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday morning, Trump talked up U.S. military strength, sounding almost in awe of its prowess. But just a couple of months ago, the president was bemoaning the military's state at rallies across the country.

"We're going to rebuild out military. Our military is in shambles," he said at a rally in Delaware last April.

6. FEDERAL RESERVE

During his campaign, Trump was critical of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, accusing her of keeping borrowing rates low to help rival Hillary Clinton and Democrats. Trump said at the time that he would likely replace Yellen when her term as chair ends next year. At the first presidential debate in September, Trump said the Fed was "being more political than Secretary Clinton."

But that was then. Trump, in the Wall Street Journal interview, left open the possibility of re-nominating Yellen for a second four-year term.
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!)
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some April 13 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 conservation group and U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva filed on Wednesday what they say is the first federal lawsuit against President Trumps proposed border wall.

It calls for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to put together a report on the environmental impact of construction of the wall and expanded patrolling operations on the U.S.-Mexico border.

It also asks a judge to find that DHS has violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to make an environmental assessment since 2001. DHS said it does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit was filed in Tucson by the Center for Biological Diversity and Grijalva, D-Arizona, who represents Congressional District 3 and is a ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

American environmental laws are some of the oldest and strongest in the world and they should apply to the borderlands just as they do everywhere else, said Grijalva, whos expansive district includes about 300 miles of the border, in a statement. Trumps wall  and his fanatical approach to our southern border  will do little more than perpetuate human suffering while irrevocably damaging our public lands and the wildlife that depend on them.

The lawsuit names as defendants Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Kevin K. McAleenan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and the CBP.

Wildlife conservationists say the wall would be detrimental to rare animals such as jaguars and ocelots that are known to traverse the international line and are listed as endangered species.

What we need is a thorough analysis and some real science to determine just how much damage has been done and how much more would be done by the proposals that are on the table now, said Randy Serraglio of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Prior legal challenges to border fencing have been unsuccessful. The Southwest border already has roughly 650 miles of fencing in various forms, along with underground sensors and camera towers.

The latest lawsuit is broader than others and considers the larger implications of more Border Patrol operations, not just the wall, Serraglio said.

Trump has promised to build the wall and make Mexico pay for it, though Mexico has refused.

The push to add 5,000 new Border Patrol agents and to increase overall border surveillance operations have come at a time when illegal crossings are at historic low.
PHOENIX  Rebuffing prosecutors and sheriffs, Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation Wednesday to make it more difficult for them to seize property.

Reforms have been needed in this area for some time, the governor said in a prepared statement.

Ducey was not alone in his assessment: Only Rep. Becky Nutt, R-Clifton, voted against the measure.

The new law will require prosecutors to provide clear and convincing evidence to a judge that property is connected to criminal activity before they can seize it. That means either it was used as part of a crime or it was acquired with proceeds from criminal activity.

That is more rigorous than the current standard, which allows seizure based on preponderance of the evidence. The lowest of standards, it means only that it is more likely than not the property is linked to a crime.

Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, who crafted the changes, said the new standard is appropriate as there is no requirement that someone be convicted of a crime  or even charged  before prosecutors can try to take property.

The change, which takes effect later this year, also will remove some disincentives that now exist for people to challenge the government if they contend their property was wrongly seized.

Under the current law, property owners are responsible for their own legal fees, even if they win. It makes no sense, Farnsworth said, to have to hire an attorney for $20,000 to recover a vehicle that might be worth half that much.

The other change eliminates the possibility that a property owner who fights forfeiture and loses could be on the hook for the governments costs and legal fees.

Prosecutors and sheriffs from throughout the state had sought a veto.

Ducey, however, said, As public servants, we are entrusted with not only protecting public safety but also the rights guaranteed to every citizen of this great state and nation. Todays important legislation strikes an appropriate balance between enabling law enforcement to do their jobs while upholding civil liberties.

He was not swayed by prosecutors claims it will undermine the ability to fight crime.
Tucson police are asking the public for help in identifying an armed robber who pointed a gun to the back of an employee's head at a fast-food restaurant on the south side.

The robbery occurred March 1 at Arby's, 1530 W. Valencia Road, which is west of Interstate 19 near South Midvale Park Road, according to a Tucson Police Department Facebook post Wednesday.

The assailant entered the restaurant and pointed the gun at the worker, and then placed the gun to the back of the worker's head, while demanding money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

Investigators are asking the public to notice the tattoo on the man's right hand.

The robber is described as between 25 to 35 years old and is about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He has a medium build with dark hair and light skin.

Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME, an anonymous tipster hotline.
In-state students at Pima Community College will pay 3.8 percent more for tuition this fall, money that could help cover pay raises for the schools workforce.

PCCs Governing Board on Wednesday approved a $3 per credit increase for Arizona residents, making the Tucson school the third-most-costly of 10 community colleges statewide.

The cost per credit will increase from $78.50 to $81.50.

The change will add $72 a year to the annual tuition tab of a student taking 24 credits a year, who will now pay $1,956.

A student taking 30 credits a year will pay $90 more for a total bill of $2,445.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the increase, with supporters arguing the extra money is necessary to retain quality employees and improve college operations now that PCC no longer receives state funding.

I dont like year after year putting this burden on students, said board member Demion Clinco.

If we dont do a (tuition) increase, we cant do a wage increase, he added. We have to build a high-quality institution and we have to do that through (employee) compensation.

Board chair Mark Hanna, who also supported the increase, called the decision agonizing because many students already struggle financially. But the tuition increase is critical in order for our college to be financially sound and for us to reward our employees in a proper manner, Hanna said.

Luis Gonzales, the boards newest member, was the lone vote against the increase.

I dont buy the argument that you have to raise tuition for students to pay for a raise. There are other places we could cut, he said.

PCC employees last pay raise was in 2015.

International students and U.S. students from outside Arizona will see their tuition rates rise by 1 percent if they study on campus and by 5.9 percent for online classes.

Students over age 55 will pay a reduced rate of $40.75 per credit, an effort by the college to boost enrollment in that market segment.

The college has also capped tution fees at 15 credits per semester, meaning students will not have to pay extra for any other classes they want to take.
Apprentice lineman Tanner Acken with Tucson Electric Power begins his trip up a power pole to repair damage done when a City of Tucson garbage tangled with some power lines west of Norris Ave. and south of Speedway Blvd behind the Aloft Hotel in Tucson, AZ. on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The outage was reported at noon and affected about 430 customers in the area. Crews expect to work into the night to replace some broken cross members on poles and inspect and replace any necessary power lines.
PHOENIX  State senators voted 16-14 Wednesday to require judges to void citizen-backed initiatives if they are not in strict compliance with every requirement of Arizona election law.

HB 2244, approved by the Republican-controlled Senate with only one GOP lawmaker dissenting, would scrap existing laws and long-standing court rulings that say groups seeking to create statutes at the ballot box need only substantial compliance with the law.

That has been based on findings by judges that the intent of circulators and signers was clear and that voters were not deceived.

Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, said the changes will make it more difficult for groups to get their questions before voters.

He said it means that technical violations would void otherwise legitimate petition drives. And Quezada sought to narrow the scope of the legislation.

For example, Quezada proposed that a petition could be voided if the text of a ballot measure submitted to the secretary of state is not identical to whats being circulated. But other errors, like stapling a copy of the text to the petition instead of having it on the petition itself, would be judged under the looser substantial compliance law.

That proposal was rejected.

But Republicans were more sensitive to criticism that adopting a strict compliance requirement could lead to invalidating an initiative solely because the printed margins are too narrow or the size of the lettering is too small on the petitions.

They agreed to an amendment by Sen. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, requiring the secretary of state to prepare a sample initiative form. It spells out that circulators are presumed to be strictly complying with the law if they use that form.

Montenegro said this should take care of problems that can occur when initiative backers create forms but reproduce them using a printer or copier that might spit out versions that dont meet those margin and typeface mandates.

If any committee goes on that site, downloads that form, uses that form, theyll have safe harbor because they are strictly complying to what that initiative petition should look like, he said.

Those changes, however, were insufficient to satisfy Democrats who said this bill  along with two others being pushed by Republicans  is simply an attack on the right of voters to propose their own laws.

Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said the framers of the Arizona Constitution created the initiative process to ensure voters have the opportunity to act. He argued that quashing ballot efforts because they dont meet certain technical requirements violates that right.

I dont care if this is scrawled on the back of a piece of bark peeled off a cottonwood tree, Farley said. I want these petitions to be accepted if they are genuine electors, he continued, arguing that he believes the measure will be found unconstitutional.

Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, however, said the additional requirements are necessary.

She said the 1998 Voter Protection Act bars lawmakers from repealing or significantly altering anything approved at the ballot. That constitutional measure, approved by voters, followed a decision by lawmakers the prior year to effectively repeal a 1996 law legalizing the medical use of marijuana and other otherwise illegal drugs.

There is no way now to protect the people if there is unseen consequences in initiatives that are passed, Allen said.

It is completely false, Quezada responded.

He said lawmakers, with a three-fourths vote of both the House and Senate, can amend voter-approved measures to fix technical problems. The only requirement is that the change furthers the purpose of what voters approved.

HB 2244, which now needs House approval, is part of a three-bill package being pushed by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business interests in the wake of the decision by voters last year to increase the state minimum wage immediately to $10 an hour, going to $12 an hour by 2020.

HB 2404, forbidding paying petition circulators on a per-name basis, already was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey.

And SB 1236, awaiting debate, would make the organizers of initiative drives liable for fines for violations of election laws committed by petition circulators.
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally spent nearly an hour in Vail on Wednesday talking to Cienega High School students, mostly seniors about to graduate.

The two-term Republican, who represents Congressional District 2, spent most of the time answering questions from students ranging from whats next regarding Syria to explaining why she doesnt wear a Fitbit.

But McSally repeatedly found herself trying to differentiate herself from President Trump and legislation backed by the Republican-controlled Congress.

Here are three takeaways of McSallys positions from the high school town hall:

Transgender bathrooms

are state, local issue

After being told transgendered students use a bathroom in the nurses office at the high school, McSally advised students to discuss the issue with school administration and state representatives.

Did you engage the chain of command, the retired Air Force colonel asked the student who posed the question. Regardless of who you are and who you love, you should be given every opportunity in this country.

She said she has fought for LGBTQ issues at the federal level, but said this fight was best decided locally, not by Congress.

Trump administration

was tested by Assad

When a Cienega senior asked McSally about the missile strikes in Syria and told her he was entering the Air Force after graduation, McSally said she supported Trumps decision to hit Syria. She said the Tomahawk missiles fired by the United States did not cripple the Syrian regime but told the students it sent a message to Syria President Bashar al-Assad.

McSally said Assads decision to use chemical weapons against the civilian population was a test of the new administration and that the whole world was watching how Trump would respond.

Privacy hound McSally

wont use a Fitbit

McSally faulted media reports about Congress allowing internet service providers to the sell the browsing histories of their users, saying the recent rollback of FCC privacy rules isnt the real issue.

She argues Congress needs to move forward on a commonsense approach that tells users in a simple fashion what information their internet providers, social-media sites and various devices are gathering and what those companies are making available to third parties.

McSally said she shuns so-called free services that collect private information about users, even going so far as to leave a small fitness device that tracks her activities  from steps to calories burned  at home. The device was given to her as a gift, she told the crowd.
Public records

The Civil Service Meeting minutes in this case were produced by the city after repeated requests by the Star over two weeks, during which city officials violated Arizona Public Records law by failing to produce the minutes in a prompt manner.

The Arizona Public Records Law regarding open meetings says that minutes "shall be open to public inspection three working days after the meeting."

The Star made a public records request for the minutes on March 27, to which city spokeswoman Lane Mandle responded that they weren't ready yet and they'd be posted on the website as soon as they were done.

The Star responded, citing the law and statute number and hours later, received a reply that the the minutes had been requested from the city's human resources department.

The minutes were finally released on April 11, after the Star informed Mandle that a story was being prepared detailing the city's refusal to release the minutes.
We dare you to read these facts without sneezing. 

1. The name is Spanish and means "green stick"

The bark of a palo verde tree is green because it's filled with chlorophyll. Unlike most trees, this plant gets a lot of photosynthesizing done through its bark. According to The Arizona Native Plant Society, only about a third of the palo verde's food is produced by the leaves.

2. It's the Arizona State Tree!

Designated as the Arizona's State Tree in 1954, the palo verde joined the ranks of the cactus wren, bola tie and saguaro cactus blossom as a state symbol.

3. There are two types of palo verde

Arizona hosts two native species, the Foothills Palo Verde and the Blue Palo Verde.

The Foothills Palo Verde (Cercidium microphyllum) can be found mostly on rocky slopes. They have a yellow-green trunk, tiny leaves and pods that constrict around the seeds.

The Blue Palo Verde (Cercidium floridum) are usually spotted next water sources, like washes, and have a blue-green trunk.

Read more about the differences here.

4. There's also a species called "Desert Museum"

It's named after the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. According to a Los Angeles Times article, the name was created about thirty years ago when staff members at the museum began to notice thornless palo verde trees that bloomed throughout the summer.

5. They can easily live a century

The Foothills Palo Verde can live to be about 100 years old. Some can even age up to 400 years.

6. Blue Palo Verde can grow up to 30 feet

The height and low-water maintenance of these trees makes them perfect for landscaping.

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The Foothills Palo Verde can grow up to 20 feet.

7. You can eat the seeds

Harvesting happens just before monsoon season.

Pick them when the pod is green and the seed tender. Eat them like you would peas or edamame. They've been know to be a little sweet.

You can also wait to harvest them until the seed is fully developed and the pod is dry. At this stage they're best eaten sprouted.

Learn more about the harvesting process here.

8. You can also eat the flowers

You can eat these yellow bursts of spring raw. Sprinkle some in your next salad.

9. They don't contribute as much as you think to your seasonal allergies

A story written in the Star in 2011 says most palo verdes cause few or no allergy symptoms.

The pollen produced by the plant is sticky and heavy, making it difficult to travel far in the wind. However, the large quantities of dried fallen yellow flowers are known to do some damage.

Learn more about Arizona trees and allergies here.

10. The cactus is their best friend

According to a Desert Museum fact sheet, the palo verde is the primary nursing plant for baby saguaros.

The more you grow!
Editor's note: Kathryn Ferguson died Sunday, April 9 after an unexpected cancer diagnosis last week. By the time of the diagnosis, the cancer had already spread, said friend and fellow dancer Michelle Morton. Morton has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund the medical  and now funeral expenses  in support of Ferguson's husband. She is survived by her husband, sister and nieces. Morton and others plan to put on a final dance show in Ferguson's honor. #ThisIsTucson first published this profile on Friday, February 24.

As a little girl growing up in Tucson, Kathryn Ferguson envisioned her future as a goat herder.

She would practice walking barefoot in the desert, outlining the rooms of her house with rocks, imagining a goat pen just there.

Although she let the goat-herding dream go (things like school and parents got in the way), she has remained tethered to the desert, the borderlands and the people. As a Tucson native, Ferguson grew up around both American and Mexican cultures. Her godparents were Mexican-American.

For the last 13 years, she has volunteered with the Tucson Samaritans, a humanitarian aid group dedicated to providing water, food and other emergency supplies to border crossers in distress. "Crossing with the Virgin: Stories from the Migrant Trail" chronicles the border experiences of Ferguson and other Samaritan volunteers.

Ferguson, now in her 60s, also has two documentaries on the region to her name: "The Unholy Tarahumara" and "Rita of the Sky."

Her 2015 book "The Haunting of the Mexican Border: A Woman's Journey" recounts the stories she has lived and the people she has loved on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.

"It's a memoir, which I think is a very embarrassing word," Ferguson says. "I was so surprised it was a memoir but the University of Mexico (Press) categorized it that way. I thought it was just a nonfiction book about me in the desert with some other people."

After studying fine arts at the University of Arizona, Ferguson went to Spain to learn flamenco dance. She ended up in Morocco, where she discovered belly dancing, an art form that would take her around the world. Tucson was always home base, and for more than 40 years she has taught belly dancing classes out of her own studio, Xanadu Belly Dance Studio at 2408 N. Loretta Drive.

The experiences she had dancing the world nourished a passion for people and culture that she now channels toward immigration issues.

It's a delicate line to walk for Ferguson, who says she would rather transport medically compromised immigrants to a hospital than abide by the federal immigration law prohibiting the transportation of illegal immigrants.

"Because what am I going to do, sit there and let somebody die in front of me?" she says, though it hasn't been an issue yet. "Absolutely not."

About 10 years ago, two No More Deaths volunteers were arrested after they attempted to transport illegal immigrants to a medical clinic, according to Star archives. The charges were eventually dropped.

"You can provide them with food and aid because it's humanitarian assistance," says Bob Kee, a 12-year Tucson Samaritans volunteer. "You're not moving them along physically to another point. You're enabling them to stay alive. They're making the choice to go on or not, but we're not moving them in any way."

Standard procedure now is to call the U.S. Border Patrol or 911 in dire medical situations, Kee says.

"We encourage people, if they encounter someone in desperate need of water, medical attention or food and they have it, it's okay to provide it, but contact 911 or local law enforcement," says Daniel Hernandez, a public information officer for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector. Volunteers still have to be careful not to "aid or abet" illegal immigrants as the law prohibits.

In her book, Ferguson recounts her own brushes with law enforcement, and in one instance writes that she was detained and then released by government officials after a chance encounter in the desert.

"The intensity of her passion and how that sense of the humanitarian element exists in doing this work, I think for her that's really paramount," Kee says.

And so she continues to trek dusty trails with backpacks full of water, hoping to prevent another death.

"When I go out, I'm looking for people," she says. "I'm looking to see their eyes."

This is what Ferguson had to say about the border, belly dancing and life as a badass.

Note: The interview has been edited for clarity.

Why she loves the border:

"It began in my childhood, because I have just been going back and forth across the border for my whole life, but of course, in childhood, you don't know it's going to be a big deal. We used to go across just to go grocery shopping. To buy chocolate and coffee. ... It was just part of my childhood, and it was always an occasion to look forward to, to go across the border into Mexico."

Wandering the desert as a Samaritan:

"Everyday we would go out and say in Spanish, 'Hello everybody, we're friends. We bring water and food. Don't be afraid.' And then bam! Somebody steps out onto the trail in front of you and you're just shocked every single time. You're out there looking, and you're calling, and you're still shocked when somebody is out there, one person, or a few people, in the middle of nowhere. You're just walking along and you're there with the cholla cactus and the trees, and then bam! There is this face that steps onto the trail in front of you, and it's always a surprise. It's a life-changer. What is some wonderful person doing in the middle of the desert looking all beat up? Why are they out there? There is no reason they should be out there."

Documentaries fueled her love for Mexico:

"I came back from North Africa ... and I was working at the PBS station in Tucson on the video crew ... I learned how to use cameras and white balances and all of that ... I was going down into Mexico's Sierra Madre ... and I met this man who is Raramuri ... and I ended up going back and forth, still working at the PBS station. ... The documentary was about the changing world of the Tarahumara people. One guy, was who was governor of his village, couldn't wait to get rid of his traditions, and I thought this was interesting because another friend was very into the traditions. ... The other film is called 'Rita of the Sky' ... about a woman who had walked from Mexico to Kansas ... No one could speak to her because she only spoke 50 words of Spanish and the rest was her native language ... They put her in a mental hospital for 10 years and thought she was speaking the gibberish of a crazy person ... "

How belly dancing fits in:

"Instead of studying flamenco dance for a few weeks in Spain, we ended up taking this drive to Morocco. The thing that got me was the music. We were in this place in Casablanca, and there were these five drummers playing instruments. ... I had this ballet background, and I was sitting there  you eat on the floor  and the musicians come out and it's like dynamite. And then this woman comes out dressed in lace, many colors, head to toe, lace up her neck, lace to her wrists ... She came to a table near me and picks up this round bread, and she ripped it off with her teeth, this piece of bread, and she just chewed in 6/8 rhythm ... I thought what's this? And all the sudden she is waving her hands and then she just starts to dance and picks up this tray with glasses of hot tea and puts this silver tray on her head and starts dancing ... I was just hooked. It was like something between some other culture and a circus, and this driving rhythm. It just took my breath away."

What she learned dancing around the world for nine years:

"Everybody is the same. The Mexicans are the same as the Arabs as the Americans. The more I have been out around different cultures, the more I realize we are so much the same, and those things where we maintain our differences, that's like when you have a big dinner and you have olives and dates and all of this food on the table ... You have all of these cultures that are the same, that's us sitting down to eat, but everything you taste has a different taste."

Her father's gift:

"My father always encouraged me. My father used to say, 'You can do anything you want, especially you can do anything any man can do.' ... Other than love  he was so loving  that was the biggest gift I got from him ... It was never a thought that I couldn't go do something."

Doing it all as a woman:

"To see the world from a woman's point of view is like nothing else. It's fantastic. ... I think if you're a woman with a sense of humor, you're Annie Oakley. That's it in a nutshell, isn't it?"

Your name, age, occupation.

Kathryn Ferguson, author, dancer/choreographer, filmmaker.

I'm on a mission to _______________________.

Connect the dots between arts, people, and politics, and have fun along the way.

What's your astrology sign? Does it fit you?

Leo. Maybe it fits because I dream of following big cats in the wild.

Describe yourself in three words...

Feral, curious, instinctive.

And in five emojis.



Your first-ever job?

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In middle school, I wrote a play starring my next-door neighbors, and I charged admission. We earned enough to buy a pie.

How long have you lived in Tucson?

I'm a native Tucsonan.

Who and/or what inspires you?

Pretty much everything. The wild. Animals. Color, paintings, words, sounds, laughter. My father who always made me laugh. Contradiction.

The secret to coping with stress is ________________.

Dance.

Your favorite Tucson spot?

The end of a dirt road where the trail begins.

What are your favorite three songs and why?

1. "Galician Flamenca" by Gino D'Auri who was a flamenco guitarist and a friend I loved. When I need to remember who I am, I go to this song. 2. "Mal Hombre" by Lydia Mendoza, about the eternal struggle between women and men. 3. "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" by Los Lobos. It is about a misfit who comes out at night to dance and dance.

Your go-to order at your favorite Tucson restaurant?

Kimoto Vol. 1, salmon sushi at Saga Sushi.

What's your favorite Tucson-only thing?

Saguaros and everything that lives near them.

You know you're a Tucsonan when _____________.

You stay in town during the summer because you love the heat.

What constitutes your morning getting-ready routine and how long does it take?

Coffee and more coffee for 15 minutes. Listen to the birds for as long as it takes. Throw on fantastic fabrics and earrings, 5 minutes.

Favorite app at the moment?

Picmonkey.com

Give us a two-sentence pep talk.

Don't stop 'til you drop. Just one more little hill and you are there!

What would you tell your teenage self?

Don't fall in love yet.

What's a quality you got from your mama?

Love red dresses.

And one you hope to pass on to the next generation?

Find your passion.

The last great book you read?

Every five minutes it is a different book, but recently "H is for Hawk."

The last great movie you watched?

So many great movies but recently loved "Ixcanul," a movie made in Guatemala.

People would be surprised to hear you're actually a ______________ expert.

Mideastern dancer/choreographer, Egyptian style.

Is there something you've always wanted to learn, but haven't had the time?

Flamenco dance, photography.

Anything you've always wondered about Tucson?

What happens when the water leaves?

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Caramel.

Where can our readers follow you on social media?

thehauntingofthemexicanborder.com

Is there something you REALLY nerd out about?

Dogs, especially Airedales, Labradors, and Xoloitzcuintles.

What's your spirit animal?

Gila Monster.

Which fictional character (from TV, movies, books, etc.) just gets you?

Calamity Jane in the "Deadwood" TV series.

What makes you feel the most confident?

Connecting with someone while we laugh.

The best piece of advice you ever received?

Love more.
Help India!

By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

Several media outlets have been running stories since Wednesday that the Election Commission of India has issued an open challenge to opposition political groups to hack the electronic voting machines, EVMs. Outlets are also mentioning that EC has assigned the first week of May for such a challenge.



This news followed an event after representatives of 16 political parties gone to meet President of India regarding the recent controversy started on EVM.

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However, a closer look at the whole situation reveals that neither the Election Commission nor Press Information Bureau has issued any kind of official statement regarding the open challenge. Also, election commission held no press conference yesterday or day before for the announcement of same.

Several outlets are using wires of Press Trust of India (PTI) and Asian News International (ANI), where it was first announced that Election commission has challenged political groups, tech experts and scientists to show that EVMs are hackable. See the tweet by PTI below 

Many outlets carried this news from the ANI. The first two paragraphs of the news item sent by ANI, which was published on 11:56 PM of April 12 has first two paragraphs as,

Following concerns raised by the Opposition parties over the alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) post assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday threw an open challenge to the party leaders and dared them to hack the voting machines.

The invitation, given to political parties, scientists and technicians, will be available from the first week of May to prove whether the EVMs could be hacked or not.

The story doesnt mention which official under what power issued the aforesaid challenge. ANI also doesnt mention the official source as other outlets are doing while reporting the same news.

Outlets such as New Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan Times and Times of India have gone to mention official sources as the source of their news. While others are mentioning news agencies for their inputs.



Moreover, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also questioned the whole Election commission challenge with a tweet asking is the story is planted?

Why are these stories ascribed to sources? How credible are they? Why hasnt EC issued any formal statement? Or is it just a plant? https://t.co/Cxvu4nBUg8  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 13, 2017

Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party are among the group of opposition parties who claim that EVMs are being tampered in most of the elections.

The truth is that the Election Commission had issued a FAQ through PIB few days back where EC tried to point out that how EVMs are not hackable, question by question.
Help India!

By TCN News

Aligarh: Today Aligarh Muslim University organized the inaugural session on the Second Two Day National Workshop on Urdu Translation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkars Writings. The event was presided over by Brig. S Ahmad Ali (Veteran), AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor and was addressed by various eminent speakers.

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Brig. Syed Ahmad Ali, in his presidential remark, expressed his desire of mass propagation of Ambedkars ideas through the translation of some of his far-sighted works which include Ambedkars writings and speeches on the dimension of territories and states and how the size of the state affects administration and management. He also brought to focus Ambedkars ideas on the Article 370 of the constitution, which speaks of the issue of Kashmir.

Along with these issues of contemporary relevance, Syed Ahmad Ali also emphasized on Ambedkars Economic treatise, his role in the RBI and his Ph.D. thesis, Problems of Rupee: Its Origin and Solution. He congratulated the Prof. Mohammad Asim Siddiqui, the Managing Editor at Urdu-CWBA Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, for his dedication to the task.

The Guest of Honor Prof. Emeritus Farhatullah Khan made a practical observation that translation is something impossible but an inevitable task. He stressed upon the beauty and persuasive effect of Urdu language. Urdu, according to Prof. Khan, is the most appropriate language to powerfully express the ideas of a strong leader and reformer like Ambedkar. He explained the complexities of translating such terms like child labor, Dalit etc from English to Urdu.

Dr. Suhail Ahmad Farooqui of Jamia Millia Islamia, an accomplished translator of more than hundred works which include Tagores Gitanjali, commented that it is not enough to know the language and its literal meaning but in order to reach more approximation in translating a work, we need to learn about the speakers and their background as well. According to him source work and the translated work are mirror images of each other.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof. Shaikh Mastan emphasized the relevance of Ambedkar and his contribution in the making of the present-day India.

Prof. Mohammad Asim Siddiqui, the Managing Editor of the translation project explained the aims and objectives of the workshop and threw some light on the difficulties in translating his works which touch varied subjects like law, sociology, history and economics.

The event was conducted by Prof. Samina Khan of Department of English who also enlightened us with her share of assignment speaking about Women rights, Dalit women and their plights and other women issues dealt by Ambedkar.

Peer Mohammad Ashraf proposed the Vote of Thanks. A number of translators involved in the project along with academicians and scholars attended the event.

The work on the Urdu translation of Ambedkar, all 34 volumes from English to Urdu, had been assigned to AMU by Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Empowerment and Social Justice, Government of India.
 An academic group researches the DNA of a Dingo for determining the genes for domestication. darwin | sandy news.| dingo to dna as dog to domestication of dogs darwin lost water australian dingo of Sandy or genes dogs  |

The winner of the World's Most Interesting Genome Competition wasn't even human. It was dog! Sandy is a 100 percent pure desert dingo. Runners up were a sea slug, Temple Pitviper snake, pink pigeon and a bombardier beetle. ||| australian darwin australia genes Dingo it dna to Domestication of dogs in Sandy Test is or dna in genes dogs scientific |

DNA of the dog was examined by Professor Bill Ballard leading a team from NSW's universities and the University of Arizona. These scientists benefit from a money prize that went with the win: the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant. They will spend this to test some of the premises suggested by Charles Darwin. ||| Test as Dingo it go dna | Sandy on on at dna in | ||



It does not take much thought to accept Darwin's belief that canines were selectively bred by Man to domesticate them. Having a tame pure-bred dingo was a great opportunity to analyze how domestication took place. Comparing genes of domesticated dogs with Sandy will show the sequences for behavior and temperament. | Domestication interesting | not. |

 to travel news to australia |  |



Unfortunately, real canis lupus are dying out: pet dogs often leave the vehicles of travellers in the bush and breed with the wild species. In my opinion making it a species is not scientific. Considering fertile offspring is the result means there is no "mule", which would be a requirement to categorize the creature as such. | or an up Test.

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 Genetics 


What do Gibraltar and Scotland both have in common? The electorates that voted in last year's EU Referendum both overwhelmingly decided that Britain should remain a part of the European Union. But what are the differences between both countries' leaders since Brexit? The Rock's Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, has accepted last year's result and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is refuting it. With the British Overseas Territory no doubt feeling intimidated by Spain's attempt to bully them, Mr. Picardo has emerged as the right leader for the right time.

However, it is not only the Spanish Mr. Picardo has so far engaged in a war of words with, but an even bigger body; the European Union. Gibraltar's Chief Minister was quite right to attack the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, for behaving like 'a cuckolded husband taking it out on the kids.' Despite the strong possibility that Spain could easily occupy the Rock as a distraction from upcoming Brexit negotiations and from unfolding economic problems, the Chief Minister has been bold enough to take a stand against a bully. It is no secret that if the Spanish suddenly occupied the Rock, they could easily overwhelm the Royal Navy protecting it and close the border between the two countries, destroying the British Overseas Territory's economy in the process.

To give credit where its due, then today it belongs to Mr. Picardo, who seems to be the Rock's modern day equivalent to Winston Churchill at the moment.

With two key allies in Britain and America, there is no reason why Gibraltar's Chief Minister should not feel secure in attacking their Spanish neighbours. Before the events of the last three weeks, not many people had heard of Mr. Picardo, but the irony is that Brexit, an outcome he wanted to avoid, has made him the hero the Rock needs at this time.
'Grow up!' Two words a parent would say to their children when they are fighting or misbehaving. And a typical response from one of the siblings being naughty would be 'it wasn't me, it was him/her.' But this is exactly how Spain is reacting in its war of words with Britain over Gibraltar. During today's and last Tuesday's incursions by the Spanish Navy to intercept British waters, the Spanish Government were quick to deny they were provoking the Royal Navy, like a naughty children who fails to take responsibility for their actions. If I were Prime Minister Theresa May, I would inform the Spaniards that they need to stop behaving like children over its historical claim to the Rock.

Some people question the relevance history has as a subject on the National Curriculum, but it is taught to us for a reason; to prevent future generations from repeating the mistakes of the past. Ever since the creation of NATO, Europe has been at peace. With Spain and Britain being key players in this alliance, this has helped prevent numerous European countries engage in conflict over territorial disputes. But what do the Spanish hope to achieve by provoking a fellow ally and (for now) member of the EU?

The point is, history should remind the Spanish of their humiliating attempts to challenge Britain's status over Gibraltar and what happens every time Spain uses an opportunity to challenge the British.

In 1779, the Spaniards allied with the Americans during their Revolution, which culminated in a three-year battle over the Rock in between 1779-82 that Spain lost. They did the same again in 1804 when they joined the French in battling the British during the Napoleonic Wars. But the Spanish were instead occupied by the French.

Now that's what you call karma.

And again, the Spaniards have used another attempt to undermine the British to try and reclaim its sovereignty over the Rock. If Mrs May took Lord Howard's advice literally in the wake of constant Spanish incursions into Gibraltar's waters, it may serve to benefit the current Spanish Government to read some historical textbooks, 'grow up' and accept the Rock will remain British, with or without Brexit.
Nuclear Concerns as North Korea prepare to celebrate the "DAY OF THE SUN"

Approximately 200 reporters including those from Japan and U.S are in the capital of North Korea Pyongyang, as the North Korean's prepare to celebrate the "Day Of The Sun" on April 15th, marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of the countries founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather Kim II Sang, there are growing concerns that the North just might be planning to hold it's 6th Nuclear test in a decade, even though historically they have never done Nuclear tests on this date.

These concerns are raised due to satellite images from U.S- based monitoring group 38 North. The images of the North's Punggye-ri site on the 12th of April showed, "continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the main administrative area, and a few personnel around the sites command centre" stated 38 North on their website.

Journalists, we're woken up before dawn and told to leave their mobile phones and wear suits and taken to an undisclosed location, where their Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un showed up and opened a new highrise apartment complex in spite of U.N sanctions. However later there were images of Kim Jong-un at a specials operations military exercise, where his commandos were jumping out of aircraft.

Effectively giving off a show of military and economic strength. Japan's Nikkei business paper said on Thursday that the U.S had sent a "sniffer" plane to Japan to monitor any nuclear tests.

North Korea historically marks significant dates with shows of military force and analysts presume that they might detonate a Nuclear weapon to celebrate the birthday this Saturday.

Doing this will, however, serve as a big test to Trumps already aggressive stance towards the North.

Nuclear Activity

Mt. Mantap is the world's only active nuclear test site after most other nuclear states gave us such activity in a bid to end arms races and their costly repercussions of military actions and reactions. North Korea does their testing by burying approximately 5,000 feet high, that's about halfway up this mountain of 7'234 feet.

Previous test sites five and two were done at 2,625 feet deep with a magnitude of 5.3 and 1,600 feet deep with a magnitude of 4.5. To prevent radioactive spilling the test site is usually partly backfilled, and underground tunnels culminate in a hook, allowing them to seal themselves up after a blast. A design believed to have come from Pakistani nuclear tests.

Experts now rely on a kind of seismologic data used to track earthquakes to pinpoint the geographic site of a nuclear blast. Each of the Norths detonations generated shock waves that registered across the globe. By spacing their nuclear tests, doing 5 in a span of 10 years, Siegfried S. Hecker a former director of the Los Alamos weapons laboratory in New Mexico, the birthplace of the atomic bomb stated, "You can learn a lot in that time."

Nine countries are known to possess nuclear arms, most having advanced from simple atomic bombs to more complicated hydrogen bombs.

Nuclear experts estimate North Korea is between stage 1 and 3, an intermediate stage of development. Stating that the way to achieve more destructive power is by raising the amount of thermonuclear fuel that an exploding atom bomb can ignite.
Sean Spicer, the Press Secretary for Donald Trumps White House, created a heck of a headline this afternoon at todays press briefing, when he compared Trumps latest enemy to a certain Nazi dictator that Trump himself has often been compared to. He spoke ill of Russia for standing by Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, following his chemical weapons attack on his own citizens. Spicer said that even somebody as despicable as Adolf Hitler did not go as far as to sink to the use of chemical weapons.

One reporter asked Spicer to clarify, because Hitler did sink to that

One of the journalists in the room finally asked Spicer to clarify what he was on about, because Hitler and his Nazi cronies sunk to using gas chambers to wipe out millions of Jews and other non-Aryan minority groups they wanted rid of. Spicer then dug himself into a deeper hole by saying that while Hitler did use gas, he did not use it against his own people the same way that Assad is doing. But yes, he did. German Jews and gypsies were Hitlers own people, right?

The reporters in the room were very quick to remind Spicer that there was that thing called the Holocaust that Hitler did in which a few chemical weapons were thrown around, because when someone in the White House makes a glaring mistake in their (alternative) facts, journalists go nuts.

Spicer does remember the Holocaust, it turns out. He was listening in history class when his teacher told him Hitler used deadly gases in the Holocaust centres...I understand that.

Spicer was misunderstood by spectators

Spicer cleared up his comments later, saying that he was in no way attempting to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. See, journalists have seen his comments as making light of the Holocaust.

Instead, he means to emphasise how terrible and devastating the Syrian chemical weapons attack was by draw(ing) a contrast between it and the Holocaust.

He then refocused on Assad, saying that Hitler didnt gas innocent people. Of course he did, unless being Jewish or being black or being disabled is a crime. Spicer said that the way that Assad used (chemical weapons), going into towns and dropping them on innocent people, before just ending the statement there and kind of trailing off.

He could clearly see how much hed f*cked up by even mentioning Hitler when he said that being taken to task on his lack of knowledge about World War II was not the intent of his comments.

News outlets are trying to make sense of Spicers remarks

Spicer, tugging at his sweaty collar and taking a big gulp, cleared the air a little bit by finally saying that both the Syrian attack and the Holocaust are reprehensible and inexcusable. News outlets, confused by the shocking and probably historical moment, went to historians. Apparently most historians actually agree with Spicer that the Nazis did not use chemical weapons during the Second World War. CNN said that while Hitler was faced with a mustard gas attack whilst serving in World War I, he did not sign off on the Nazis using chemical weapons against Allied forces, even when Allied forces were showing signs of winning. So who knows? Its the era of alternative facts.
Officials from Gibraltar have confirmed that a Spanish gunship has entered British waters off the Rock in a second illegal move to antagonise Britain.

A Spanish Navy ship called Infanta Cristina embarked upon a similar move last week, where the Royal Navy forced it to leave.

These events emerge amid increasing Brexit tensions over the Rock's future.

Last Tuesday, the Foreign Office said the Royal Navy 'successfully challenges all unlawful maritime incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.'

However, Spain's foreign ministry refuted the claim, saying the ship was sailing through Spanish territorial waters.

Both Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confirmed to the people of Gibraltar that the British Overseas Territory will remain British once Brexit has been fully implemented.

Mrs May would 'go to war'

Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, has said he remains committed to the Rock remaining as a British Overseas Territory.

The Infanta Cristina entered British waters last Tuesday lunchtime as part of a venture the Gibrlatar Government said was an 'illegal incursion.'

But it soon left the waters after it was challenged by the Royal Navy's HMS Scimitar.

This incident came a day after the Spanish Government suggested the British should 'calm down' over Gibraltar's future.

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis made the remarks in response to former Conservative leader Michael Howard's comments over the Rock.

The former Tory home secretary said on The Sunday Politics Mrs May is willing to 'go to war' over the British Overseas Territory's future.

'Like a cuckolded husband'

An EU document suggested Spain would be provided with a veto on post-Brexit agreements regarding Gibraltar, meaning they could use upcoming negotiations as an opportunity to deny Britain access to the Single Market if it does not surrender its sovereignty over the Rock.

Mr. Picardo, said the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was behaving like 'a cuckolded husband who is taking it out on the children' for allowing Spain to use Brexit as an opportunity to settle its historical claims to the Rock.

US President Donald Trump also provided his support for the Prime Minister's position on Gibraltar.

However, Lord Howard compared Mrs May to his former boss, Margaret Thatcher, who went to war to defend the Falkland Islands from an Argentinian invasion in 1982.

Following the former Tory leader's comments, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the EU had made an 'absolutely catastrophic error' and Britain would not be intimidated.

'A UN breach'

A spokesman for HM Government of Gibraltar said Infanta Cristina's incursion was a 'breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.'

But it remains unclear which Spanish ship carried out today's incursion.

This event represents the emerging difficulties the Prime Minister will have in trying to secure Gibraltar's future as a British Overseas Territory once Britain prepares to negotiate its way out of the European Union.

It also adds to the sense of anxiety people travelling to Spain from Gibraltar, and vice versa, for work face over the complexities of negotiating a successful outcome for both sides.

A lack of certainty over how Brexit would affect Gibraltar's status resulted in the Remain side winning a 96% share of the vote in last year's EU Referendum.

The Rock has had three referendums in 1967, 2002 and 2013 to decide whether or not it wants to remain British, and in each one, the people of Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining as a British Overseas Territory.

Spain lost Gibraltar to the British in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession. The Rock's status as a British colony was confirmed by the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) which ended the conflict.

However, the Spanish attempted to retake Gibraltar during the American Revolution (1775-83) where it fought a three year battle over the Rock (1779-1782) and lost.

The British also managed to prevent the Spanish from reclaiming the Rock during the Napoleonic Wars when Spain allied with the French in 1804.

More follows on this story.
NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE AND NUCLEAR HISTORY

North Korea started missile tests in the year 1993 with the latest happening in April 2017. The first missile was a Rodong missile, a single-stage liquid propellant medium-range ballistic missile, developed in the mid-1980's by North Korea as a scaled up adaptation of the Soviets SS-1 more commonly known by its NATO reporting name Scud. In 1999 it agrees to a moratorium on long-range missile tests, in 2005 it fires short-range missiles into the Sea Of Japan, in what has been interpreted as political gestures.

After failed missile tests in July of 2006 and July of 2009, in 2012 they successfully launched a three-stage rocket containing Kwangmyongsong-3 unit 2 satellite. in 2013 and 2014 they conducted missile tests and in May 2015 claimed a successful missile launch from a submarine. In February 2016 they had the successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite, in the same year they designed a test engine for an intercontinental ballistic #missile and also claims to launch a missile capable of striking the United States.

In February 2017 North Korea launched its first medium-range ballistic missile the Pukguksong-2 missile over the Sea of Japan. In March 2017 North Korea launches four ballistic missiles from the Tonghchan-ri launch site in the North West.

Some flew up to 620 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan. In April North Korea fired a middle-range ballistic missile from its Eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.

On the Nuclear side, North Korea started its Nuclear tests in 2006 and over the span of a decade has done tests also in 2009, 2013 and twice in 2016.

All the tests were done underground with the first test registering a yield at 2KT (kilotons), later revised to 0.7KT by The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run Geology institute in Germany. The same institute in 2016 registered an initial yield of 25KT. As you can see the increase in yield is substantial.

THE TENSION BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES

Now since President Kim Jong-un formally came to power in April 2012, he has continued to push the agenda of defence and military strength. As the new government in the United States comes into place President Donald Trump decided to send an armada into the Korean Peninsula in response to Kim Jong-uns missile and nuclear threat. North Korea is not taking this lightly as their officials state "they would counter reckless acts of aggression with whatever methods the U.S wants to take." While also stating "We will make the U.S fully accountable for the catastrophic consequences that may be brought abut by it's high-handed and outrageous acts."

President Trump on Tuesday responded on Twitter stating, "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 also states "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 Korea problem." This has the makings of a stage set for a #showdown, which I would offer would not be the best route to go, because of the collateral damage of a war between these two countries both with nuclear capabilities. The collateral damage would be of obscene amounts...

Frankly, I am not convinced that a war will be worth it, in the long run, I support the ideology of peace over war all the time. We'll be keeping a close eye on this, and time though will tell, what happens. Do keep watch for updates on this issue from us in the future.
Ukip was created as a container for hard-right Eurosceptic but could reimage themselves and use left wing arguments to great effect. They created a perception that they stood up for the working classes. This gained them some popularity that flourished under Nigel Farages leadership. Where they forced the Conservatives to promise a referendum on the UKs membership to the European Union (EU) in the run up to the 2015 general election. But has UKIP run its course?

With a couple of Conservative defectors including Douglas Carswell and Arron Banks as a major donor they were growing but after Brexit what is next for the party?

Post-Brexit UKIP

The party has seen Brexit as their great success and legacy, but others more liberal minded will see the rise in hate crime and deep rooted divisions within society as their legacy. They increasingly and constantly used toxic language to stir the dissatisfaction towards Westminster against institutions such as the EU. It has even contributed to the Conservatives lurch towards the right, and despite several UKIP MEPs they have done little to help change or improve the EU either.

However, since the 23rd June 2016, UKIP has struggled to adapt itself from the vote to leave the EU. They have lost Arron Banks as a major donor and Nigel Farage spends most of his time in America attempting to climb Trumps greasy pole.

Douglas Carswell, their only MP quit the party stating that it was mission accomplished. Current Leader Paul Nuttall failed to capitalise on the Brexit support during the Stoke-on-Trent by election, where Labour held. Furthermore, they are only contesting just 48% of council seats in Mays local election, less than the Green party.

UKIPS lack of direction

Whether it is a lack of funding or they are focusing their efforts on seats they have more chance at success hasnt been confirmed. However, this highlights a clear decline for UKIP though. They have no real push for an alternative message, they have lent heavily on Euroscepticism throughout the country and have seen a decline in support since Brexit and the Conservatives increasingly right wing approach.

The party offer little else and with sexist, racist, xenophobic plus other abhorrent remarks by several leading members, they are often in the news for the wrong reasons.

They have little else of substance within the manifesto that blamed immigration or the EU at every opportunity. But the issue for them is that they have two fronts of attack, immigration and the EU. With one of those removed from the equation, they are more likely to become BNP 2.0. UKIP need to find another approach or platform soon but with political apathy rising and a system that needs a serious overhaul. The question currently remains, how long before UKIP follow the BNPs route back to obscurity?
Tillerson's mission

It's not every day an American Secretary of State flies into Russia with a serious agenda. Rex Tillerson, it seems means business as he meets his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov and both want to see where the other one is coming from.

Tensions have obviously escalated since the American air strike on the Syrian base in retaliation for Assad's chemical attack. Tillerson may have as some have described dubious links to the Russians never the less he is hoping to pull Russia away from its orbit of supporting Bashar al-Assad.

Is Tillerson on a hopeless quest?

How likely is it that Rex Tillerson a hard-bitten negotiator previously from the oil industry can make Putin see sense and distance himself from Assad?

Well, when you consider that Bashar al-Assad is Russia's man in the Middle East and ensures their writ runs in Syria not very likely.

The Russians have a naval base on the Med on the Syrian coast and have military personnel there so they have too much to lose in giving up Assad. The most likely outcome of the meeting between Tillerson and Lavrov is some kind of compromise deal.

Although tensions exist now between Russia and America neither wants to see Syria become an Islamic state run by Jihadis of either Islamic State or Al Qaeda.

This could be a working basis by which a compromise agreement can be made and hopefully de-escalate simmering tensions between the two sides.

What was said before Tillerson's meeting

As Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow for talks with Sergei Lavrov a Russian deputy foreign minister described the American behaviour as "Loutish and primitive".

Sergei Ryabkov was the minister who said this and said the Americans position on the 6-year long Syrian war remains a mystery.

Vladimir Putin is apparently humiliated by the American air strike even though the Americans supposedly briefed him. Why does he feel humiliated one could ask well there could be many reasons but those are best known to him.

One thing is certain though Tillerson's counterpart Sergei Lavrov and the other Sergei have said they regard the American attack as provocative and illegal. Maybe next time and God forbid there is a next time the Russians will take action against US interests in the Middle East.

As if to prove this in the aftermath of the American strike the Russians said they would be beefing up Syrian air defences.

Tillerson and Lavrov

Both men know that in their negotiations there is now a lot at stake and perhaps the Syrian conflict could cause a wider conflagration. Let us hope that in their talks the deal they hammer out will be for a peaceful way forward for Syria and the world at large.
pakistan is a state carved out of British India by the machinations of the English rulers. Unfortunately, the nation has degenerated into chaos and Islamic militancy. The nation is itself faced by a local homegrown Islamic movement. In 2014 the radical Islamic militants attacked a school in Peshawar and massacred over 150 children.

Pakistan which had introduced a moratorium on death penalty in 2008 revoked it and death by hanging was restored. Initially, this was only for terror-related crimes, but within 2 months was extended to all crimes that merited a death penalty as per the PPC.

The Pakistan government has now gone on an execution spree and over 400 convicts have been executed by hanging in 2016. 94% of the persons hanged are for non-terrorist related crimes like murder.

The latest person to be awarded the death penalty is the alleged Indian agent Kulbhushan Yadav. Amnesty international has adversely commented on these hangings, where very little opportunity is given to an accused to defend himself.

Most executions

Pakistan is in the dubious company of China and Saudi Arabia which have carried out the maximum executions since 1989. China leads but numbers are not available as the execution data is kept secret. Yet thousands are executed every year, mostly by firing squads.

Saudi Arabia carries out execution as per the Sharia by beheading the convict. In Pakistan, the mode for hanging is death by the noose. This is in vogue since British days.

400 hanged to death in 2016

The judicial system in Pakistan is antiquated and many a time a convict does not have an opportunity to defend himself. Many courts award the death sentence as a routine, with the result that hundreds are on death row in Pakistan.

The Pakistan government enforces the death penalty rigidly and over 400 were hanged to death last year.Pakistan thus is fertile ground for Killing Fields.

The law in Pakistan appears inadequate. In a recent verdict, the Pak Supreme Court acquited 2 individuals of the charge of murder, after they had already been executed. Even the Pak prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged to death on dubious evidence by the man who had ousted him, general Zia ul Haq.

Last word

The state of Pakistan is riven by violence and crime. Despite the hangings, the terror acts and crimes have not come down but have shown a marked increase. Pakistan also has the dubious distinction of enforcing the punishment of death for blasphemy. This has been adversely commented upon by the USA.
Research undertaken by ecologists from the Mexican National Autonomous University has revealed that the proposed border wall with Mexico will turn out to be an ecological disaster because it will have an adverse effect on the wellbeing of at least 800 species of wildlife. They will forfeit their freedom of movement and that will lead to a disturbance of the ecosystem.

The crux of the problem

Fox News reports that according to the study, the creation of a physical barrier in the form of a border wall will break up the present ecosystem which is home to animals like jaguars, black bears, and bighorn sheep.

The result will mean not only a disruption in the pattern of their migration but also to several associated problems.

Professor Gerardo Ceballos, the leader of the research team, has devoted the last six months traveling the full length of the border, from Tijuana to Texas. He has pointed out that the U.S.-Mexico border consists of mountains, jungle, coastline, and wildlife have always enjoyed full freedom to hunt, reproduce and migrate.

He goes on to add that nearly 800 species of wildlife would face the heat and 140 of them are already in danger of extinction  these are the bald eagle, grey wolf, armadillo, and jaguar. The range of their movement will reduce drastically and this will, in turn, affect their reproduction patterns.

Suggestions on how to avoid the eco-disaster

Professor Gerardo Ceballos feels that if the purpose of the wall is to prevent entry of illegal immigrants from Mexico into the U.S., it could be achieved by other more effective and less harmful methods. One option could be to resort to aerial surveillance or augment the presence of Border Patrol.

These would be better options because these would not destroy the ecosystem.

AnimaNaturalis is the leading animal rights organization of Mexico and its founder Leonora Esquivel, has indicated that her organization will take up cudgels on this issue in case the construction of the border wall gets the approval of the U.S. Congress.

Her organization had recently taken up the cause of animals performing in circuses and succeeded in banning the practice.

In her opinion, the border region is an area of natural beauty and diversity. Playing around with the ecosystems and introducing a physical barrier is detrimental to the wellbeing of wildlife.

Ecology plays an important part in our lives and environmentalists cry themselves hoarse whenever they feel there is an imminent threat. In view of the revelations of the study, it would be worthwhile for the authorities to reexamine the Mexican border wall issue and ensure that the ecological balance is not disturbed.
Over the last week and a half, the story that has dominated the news cycle has been Donald Trump and his allegations that former President Barack Obama wiretapped his office inside Trump Tower. With the White House still refusing to release evidence to back up the claim, one host on MSNBC has had enough.

MSNBC on Trump

Ever since his upset election win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November, the pressure has counted to mount on Donald Trump in regards to the scandal linking his administration to the Russian government. Days after the Washington Post broke the bombshell story revealing that current Attorney General Jeff Sessions had been in contact with the ambassador to Russia during the election, the former host of "The Apprentice" scrambled to change the narrative.

Taking to his Twitter account, Trump pushed the aforementioned wiretapping conspiracy, but has since refused to issue any further comment. After the Department of Justice asked Congress for more time to find proof, MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski decided to give her thoughts during the March 14 edition of "Morning Joe."

The House Intelligence Committee had requested evidence of Donald Trump's wiretapping claim, and gave a deadline of Monday. However, the White House pushed for an extension via the Justice Department, and Mika Brzezinski is now calling out the president. "If the president was lying, don't you think at some point he ought to say, 'I apologize, I am just an idiot,'" Brzezinski said, before adding that Trump might also want to say of himself, "I will not do that again, because it was idiotic."

Justice Department asks for more time on Trump wiretapping claim https://t.co/6XsandOAdT pic.twitter.com/wAqijtYS04  Fox News (@FoxNews) March 14, 2017

"Were you lying, Mr.

President?," Mika Brzezinski went on to ask. "Did you make it up? Was it some little spurt of activity that you had out of need to have action?" she continued. The MSNBC host referred to Trump's claim as a "very serious allegation," while also ripping into White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for defending the "ridiculious" allegation.

Moving forward

As of press time, no evidence has been released by the White House to validate the allegations made by Donald Trump. Since the claim was first made, Barack Obama released a statement denying any wrongdoing, and only time will tell how the situation concludes.
According to "All Christian News" on Monday, March 13, 2017, a pastor is being accused by another pastor of setting fire to his own church in order to collect insurance money. While this is a sad and unbelievable story, there is evidence that this has allegedly happened on more than one occasion.

Accused of setting fires

Pastor Thaddeus Matthews in Memphis, Tennessee is claiming that Pastor Stephen L. Brown set fire to his church so he could collect insurance money. In fact, Matthews has accused Brown of setting two fires.

The first fire occurred at the Light of Glory International Church in Memphis in 2010 just two years after the church was started.

It took more than 60 firefighters to put out the fire. A 45-year-old firefighter was overcome with heat exhaustion and taken to the hospital where he later recovered. The roof of the church partially collapsed. Brown collected $400,000 from the Insurance Company in addition to donations from church members and people in the community.

Brown requested $1.1 million from the insurance company for damages caused by a second fire. Reportedly, the insurance company has declined to honor Brown's request for compensation. However, the pastor is not giving up on his claim. He plans to appeal the insurance company's decision.

Pastor's advice

Pastor Matthews is advising Pastor Brown not to repeal the insurance company's decision because the fires are suspicious, and if the cases are turned over to federal investigators, the pastor could go to jail for arson if he had anything to do with the two fires.

Matthews also believes that if Brown pushes the issue, the insurance company might make it extremely hard for other churches who might have a legitimate claim.

Did the pastor start the fires at his own church? Even though the insurance company paid $400,000 for the first fire, Pastor Matthews believes Pastor Brown had something to do with both fires. The insurance company is standing firm on its decision not to honor the $1.1 million claim.
When Donald Trump was running for president, he crafted a unique foreign policy that talked tough on building up the military, but promised not in act too aggressively in areas where the United States was not heavily involved. Over the last week, the president has made foreign policy decisions that have left many scratching their heads.

Bomb dropping

One of the biggest talking points used by Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election was that he would destroy the Islamic State (ISIS) starting from the day he got into office. No one really knew what to make of Trump's rhetoric, as he's been known to make comments but not always deliver with action.

Two weeks ago, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a chemical attack that killed close to 100 of his own people, including dozens of innocent women and children. In response, Trump ordered the military to fire 59 tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase, which has resulted in a mixed reaction from both critics and supporters. Just a week after the attack on Syria, the United States military dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in history on a tunnel in Afghanistan that was being used by ISIS. As reported by Bloomberg on April 13, the president has broken his silence.

The military dropped a 21,000-pound bomb called the GBU-43B on the ISIS tunnel and complex located in the eastern part of Afghanistan on Thursday morning.

The bomb is also known under several other names, like "MOAB" or "Massive Ordnance Air Blast," but it's more popular nickname is the "Mother of all bombs." The bomb was first available to be used in 2003 during the start of the Iraq War under former President George W. Bush, as well as in later years by then President Barack Obama.

Both commanders in chief, however, declined to use the weapon.

BREAKING: U.S. military drops largest non-nuclear bomb in arsenal on ISIS tunnel in Afghanistan, @ckubeNBC reports  NBC News (@NBCNews) April 13, 2017

Trump Speaks on Bomb Dropped in Afghanistan: Very Successful Mission https://t.co/1GsbKnzKbk (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/IjkTF37l7r  Mediaite (@Mediaite) April 13, 2017

Trump's take

While addressing reporters in the White House on Thursday, Donald Trump praised the dropping of the bomb, while taking time to gloat over what took place.

Trump referred the action as a "very successful mission" and that he was "very proud of the military." When asked if he was the one who authorized the dropping of the bomb, the billionaire real estate mogul didn't give a straight answer, but simply replied, "Everybody knows exactly what happened." Trump's comments were similar to the vague nature of the remarks made earlier in the day by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer who took questions from reporters during a press briefing.
The Daily Mail apologized to First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday and agreed to pay an undisclosed sum of money to cover damage from the two lawsuits stemming from an article that suggested that she was an escort before meeting the president.

The Daily Mail issues a full retraction and apology

A lawyer for the British tabloid said that the publication acknowledges that the story they publish was not true and they would like to withdraw from them. He went on to say that the newspaper would like to offer a genuine apology to Mrs. Trump and for any stress it may have caused to her personally and to her businesses.

To settle the lawsuits, The Daily Mail agreed to pay her damages and all her legal costs.

The settlement details

The terms of the settlement weren't immediately available, according to The New York Times. She had initially asked for damages to the tune of $150 million, at least, but that's not what she received.

Mrs. Trump received $2.9 million for damages. While it wasn't the amount she originally asked, Melania's attorney said she was pleased with the offer.

How it came to legal action

The Daily Mail published the article in August and used quotes from a magazine based in Slovenia, the country Mrs.

Trump was born. In September, Melania announced her plans to sue the magazine, as well as a Maryland blogger.

The British tabloid quickly posted a retraction once they knew it was not true. Trump went forward with the lawsuit.

The state of Maryland rejected the lawsuit, stating they didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case.

Melania filed a new case in New York in early February.

The case doesn't mention the White House or President Trump. The lawsuit claims that the article caused her to lose business revenue and alleged that her value depreciated because of the things stated about her.

Melania Trump wins $2.9 million in damages from Daily Mail, gets apology. pic.twitter.com/3uW6XAOhA8  Tennessee (@TEN_GOP) April 12, 2017

According to BBC, Trump's lawsuit stated, "Melania has a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...

to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which [she] is one of the most photographed women in the world".

Statement from Trump's attorney

According to the New York Times, Melania's attorney, Charles Harder confirmed the settlement in a statement.

He said,"The legal actions concerned allegations published in late August 2016 questioning the nature of work undertaken by Mrs. Trump in the 1990s when she worked as a professional model and republished the allegations that she provided services beyond simple modeling."

According to the attorney, the August 2016 article also alleged that Donald and Melania met three years before they claim, suggesting that she was "his call girl."

You can see how that could be damaging to her reputation.

The magazine admitted that the allegations were not true, and they hope to Mrs. Trump will forgive them for the inflammatory article.

The Daily Mail only retracted part of the story

The publication admitted that Melania never worked as an escort, but stood by the claim the first lady initially met Trump in 1995, not in 1998 at Fashion Week as they claim.

In Melania Trump's eyes, this case is closed, and she accepted The Daily Mail's apology for publishing to the damaging story.

Daily Mail Apologizes, Pays Damages To First Lady Melania Trump For Defaming Herhttps://t.co/afRM1BHXlS pic.twitter.com/UMyDg7xMo2  Gary Nabhan (@GPN14) April 12, 2017

Do you think The Daily Mail will think twice before posting a fake story about someone else?

Did you believe the scoop that Melania Trump was an escort?

The Daily Mail stated they would publish the details of the settlement and the retraction in the US and UK online versions. They will pay $2.9 million in damages, plus pay Mrs. Trump's legal fees.
With news that #President Trump has Changed his mind on the virtues of #NATO on Thursday, critics and analysts around the world dug deep into his changing ideologies and pointed out his shift in thinking and attitude.

The #NATO alliance has in fact not changed much at all in the last three months, and if there have been any transformations in its structure or objectives these were most certainly put in place before Trump arrived in the West Wing.

Persuasion works

President Trump has, for the past few weeks, been lobbied, persuaded and informed by both his own inner core team as well as those leaders in the UK and Germany on the virtues of the #NATO group.

And he has, we are led to believe, found new positives in an organization that he once called musty and outdated.

But as #Ivo Daalder, currently head of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, points out, nothing really has changed in the last 80 days in NATO. And Daalder should know. He was an ambassador to NATO when President Barack Obama was in office and knows the lay of the land. Daaldo added that the one element that has changed is Trump's understanding and appreciation of the alliance and how it makes #Europe and beyond a safer and more stable place.
Now that President Trump is facing a renewed threat from Russia, his views of #NATO have changed. And for good reason. If the United States is to be in conflict with the Soviet super force, then Trump will need NATO to protect US interests. But it was a different story a few months ago.

When running for the presidential election, Donald Trump had roundly criticized NATO, calling it an old fashioned and obsolete institution which suffered from musty thinking and outdate attitudes, one that focused on the adversaries of yore, and not sophisticated new threats.

Trump explained the NATO connection as a burden to over-drained American resources and emphasized this by claiming that many in the organization didnt pay for their share of expenses and that the United States had to dig deep into their pockets to fund the alliance's objectives. .

No longer obsolete

But yesterday Trump described NATO as being rehabilitated, and he took credit himself for championing it and turning it into a cost sharing and new age terrorism-fighting stronghold of Europe and the US. He described it as being 'no longer obsolete', this on Wednesday as he generously met with NATOs secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.
Fox News is reporting that The United States has dropped the largest nonnuclear bomb in its arsenal on an ISIS tunnel complex in Nangarhar Province in Eastern Afghanistan. The GBU-43B Massive Ordinance Air Blast weapon, known popularly as the mother of all bombs was developed during the early days of the Iraq War but has never before been used in combat. The MOAB contained 21,000 pounds of explosives and made a 300-meter blast crater. The weapon was delivered by an MC-130 aircraft. As of this writing, American military personnel are assessing the damage wrought by the MOAB weapon.

The United States military has not yet revealed why the weapon was used, but likely two considerations came into play.

The MOAB was designed to wipe out an extended area such as an enemy base. Since the target was described as being a tunnel system, the weapon was likely deployed to collapse the complex using its blast effects. The bomb also likely wiped out every ISIS jihadi in the strike zone with devastating results to that organizations plans for Afghanistan.

The other reason the MOAB was used was likely psychological. Big explosions that wiped out an entire target along with anyone in it tend to be impressive and fearsome. The use of the weapon sends a message to every enemy of the United States that is hard to ignore.

Whether the enemy is ISIS or some other entity, such as North Korea, it must be wondering what is coming next and whether it would be wise to concentrate too much in a single place.

While the use of the MOAB is said to have been under consideration for months, its deployment constitutes part of a new aggressive strategy on the part of the United States.

It comes on the heels of a missile strike on a Syrian airfield that was used to launch a Sarin gas attack as well as the deployment of a United States Navy carrier battle group off the coast of North Korea to counter that countrys threats to launch nuclear weapons against its enemies.

The message is quite clear. If you propose to become a problem for the United States, then you should be prepared to be attacked and destroyed.

After eight years of a relatively passive national security policy on the part of the Obama administration, the new approach is at once bracing and frightening.

Enemies of the United States always have the option to stop being a problem. Indeed, that would be the preferred outcome of the deployment of a shock and awe weapons such as the MOAB.
Thursday was a Big Day in a big week in the #United States and things showed no signs of slowing down. In no particular order: President Trump expressed a newfound appreciate for NATO today, calling it a great alliance which was a complete turnaround on his previous NATO views, since he had once described the international organization as 'obsolete'. Elsewhere on Thursday, there was the shocking death of a prominent high court judge as well as both a misdirected bomb in Syria and a mega blast that the US military issue to ISIS held caves in Afghanistan.

NATO turnaround

President Trump is increasingly known for his changeable thinking, and Thursday was no different. He decided this week to celebrate #NATO as a leading alliance with new thinking and aims, this after disparaging the organization last year when he was running for President.

He met with some #NATO senior leaders in the White House and was seen to be celebrating the newfound common ground between the leaders of Europe and America. The meeting took place between Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of Alliance and Trump at a press conference on Wednesday.

New York judge dies

In New York on Thursday, news spread about the death of #Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a judge on New York States highest court, whose body was discovered in the Hudson River in Manhattan on Wednesday.

There were no signs of trauma and later reports spoke of the suicide of her brother a few years earlier, as well as the death of her mother a year ago.

Abdus-Salaamwas a judge at #New York States loftiest court and she served justice as the first black woman ever in that position. She was fully clothed when her body was taken out of the Hudson River, and even there was uncertainty surrounding her death but it wasn't being treated as suspicious.

Her surviving husband has clarified and identified that it was her body.

Abdus-Salaam had been one of only seven judges within the #State Court of Appeals since 2013. Mr Cuomo, who had nominated her, spoke of her working lass roots and her deep and compassionate understanding of the issues facing New Yorkers every day. In nominating her, #Cuomo had tried to diversify the court, and a second African American judge, Rowan Wilson, joined her in the court only recently this year.

Abdus-Salaam was a steadfast liberal and was very reliable and trusted, and often saw on level with vulnerable parties, such as immigrants and the mentally ill when they appeared against more powerful New Yorkers.

US airstrike mistakenly kills 18

Elsewhere on Thursday, news came that an airstrike by the United States' coalition bombed and killed 18 Syrian soldiers who had actually sided with the US, the military reported. The Tuesday bombing blast took place in Tabqah, Syria, and it was the third time in four weeks that US coalition strikes had injured or taken down allies or indeed civilians.

This most recent bombing was asked for by coalition allies who are based around the city of Tabqah, according to the US military's central intelligence headquarters where the combat operations in the Middle East are managed and overseen.

Another bomb is dropped

In other bombing news, on Thursday news arrived that the United States set off the mother of all bombs on a cave held by the Islamic State in Afghanistan according to the Pentagon. The bomb was the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US's stockpile and it was so huge that it had to be deposited from the back of a cargo airplane.

Technically known as the GBU-43-B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, it struck a deep underground burrow complex within the #Nangarhar Province of #Afghanistan, and the US military didn't state exactly how many deaths resulted but the number is expected to be sizable.
The White House accused Russia and Syria, with the most serious charge so far, arguing that there is incontrovertible evidence that Syria used sarin (a chemical weapon with extreme potency) in an air strike last week, and that Russia is trying to cover up the attack and is thus helping their allies.

"The Syrian regime and its primary ally Russia want to confuse the world by not admitting its responsibility for the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people in this and in the previous attacks," the US National Security Council said in a statement the statement.

Russia bombed a hospital

The press release states that the use of chemical weapons is "unacceptable" and represents "a clear threat" to the United States and the world. Although it does not mention Russia specifically, the communication warns: "This is a critical moment - we need to show that deception and false facts have no weight and that excuses of those who protect their allies make the world a more dangerous place."

The three officials of the administration of the US President Donald Trump, who wanted to remain anonymous because of commenting on classified information, confirmed for USA Today that Syria and its ally Russia are trying to cover up evidence of an attack with chemical weapons in the town of Khan Sajkun, which killed 50 -100 civilians, including a large number of children.

US officials said that the testimony of eyewitnesses, video footage from the field, hospital records, and analysis of the World Health Organization, all indicate that it was sarin. Also, medical testing samples of blood and urine of victims conducted in Turkey have confirmed that precisely this type of extremely deadly poison was used in the attack.

The rebels were not able to manufacture evidence in such a short time

Rebels are simply not able to manufacture such evidence in such a short time, it was explained further in the statement, which was released just in time as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United States Rex Tillerson was traveling to a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

Associated Press reports that the Pentagon were aware of the drone, probably Russian, which was flying above the place of the attack. Shortly after the attack, that plane bombed a hospital where survivors were transported for treatment. US officials believe that Russia thus attempted to conceal evidence of war crimes of their allies.

Although Trump in recent days did not comment on further plans of the United States regarding Syria, his colleagues confirmed that the US is ready to carry out new attacks against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in the event that its forces use the poisonous gas again. In a statement, the US Department of Defense said that the rocket attack on the airbase Sejrat destroyed 20% of operable aircraft of the Syrian army, as well as platforms for filling ammunition, fuel, and air defense. Thanks to the destruction of the Syrian Air Force assets, using a single airstrip is at the moment, of "military worthless interest," the statement added.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the US Military has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb called M.O.A.B an acronym for Massive Ordinance Air Burst Bomb at a suspected ISIS headquarters in afghanistan. The attack was in retaliation for the death of a Green Barrett soldier in the country a few days before during a firefight with Taliban and ISIS insurgents. The bomb is also nicknamed the "Mother of all bombs" due to its massive size.

What is M.O.A.B.?

The MOAB is America's largest non-nuclear weapon, which is a 21,000 lbs conventional bomb, which is designed to destroy any target, even a highly bomb-proofed bunker utterly.

The bomb was dropped on an area, which was suspected to house a large contingent of ISIS fighters in the Nangahar province in the Afghanistan. This is the most destructive attack the US made in the country after the US was pulled out of the country. Nangahar Province is in a mountainous area in North Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. The Pakistan border is one of the most problematic areas in Afghanistan as ISIS insurgents easily cross this area to fight with the Taliban.

What is the impact of M.O.A.B. in modern warfare?

This was the first time the "Mother of all bombs" was deployed on an enemy target. Though it was part of the Air Force arsenal during the Iraq war, it was only during this attack was the bomb first used in combat.

An ordinance of this size can easily demolish and devastate any structure in any kind of terrain. Ever in the mountainous area of Nangarhar, this massive weapon can easily destroy tunnels and even bunkers that have been dug into the mountain itself. This weapon is also not nuclear, so radiation will not be a hazard, making it an effective weapon for destroying highly defended strategic targets.

As compared by Fox News, a single Tomahawk missile used to bomb Syria after the alleged chemical attack of Assad's forces on a rebel-held village weighed only 1,000 lbs. Weapons of this type are essential for eliminating targets of opportunity without committing soldiers into the area. This has been the tactic used by the United States to neutralize enemy targets without essentially sending squads of infantry.

The Pentagon also said that they had made all the precautionary measures to avoid civilian casualties in the attack. It is still not sure how the military will be able to halt the surge of ISIS fighters helping Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, which is slowly gaining ground in the area. According to military intelligence, the Taliban has now gained more ground today than it had during the start of the Afghan war 16 years ago.
We can only hope that someone at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida took a photo of the cake that could go down in history as one of the most unusual political comments of all time. Not since Marie Antoinette allegedly made her comment about cake during the period before the French Revolution has a piece of pastry played a part in important events.

Tension

Chinese President Xi Jinping well knew the importance of his Summit with United States President Donald Trump last weekend. The matters on the agenda at the Mar-a-Lago resort included trade issues and naturally the means to limit North Koreas development of a nuclear arsenal that worry not only Americas Asian allies but also Beijing itself.

As often happens in international affairs other issues then raised their head and the Chinese President found himself dealing with an American President distracted by the crisis between the United States and Russia over Syria. A few days before the Bashar Al-Assad regime attacked the rebel held town of Khan Sheikhoum with gas weapons and the images of dead civilians, and particularly children, made the rounds of the world.

As a result, and reportedly also after the distressed reaction of daughter Ivankas to the images, President Donald Trump instructed the National Security Council (NSC) to prepare recommendations for an American reply to the attack.

In the meantime pressure between the United Nations and Russia increased with the Russian veto a motion to the United Nations Security Council sponsored by the United States, Great Britain and France condemning the actions of the Kremlins ally.

Dessert

These actions were the background to the revelation that President Donald Trump made in an interview on FOX Business when he described how he advised President Xi of the attack.

In his own words, as reported by Huffington Post, the President said, I was sitting at the table. We had just finished dinner. Were now having dessert.

And the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that youve ever seen. And President Xi was enjoying it.

President Trump was then told that the missiles were ready to launch and then on their way. The President then explained in the interview, ..., the missiles were on their way and I said Mr. President, let me explain something to you...

Weve just launched 59 missiles heading to Iraq (sic) and I want you to know this. And then he was eating his cake and he was silent.

In answer to the question of President Xis reaction President Trump replied So he paused and then he asked the interpreter to please say it again. I did not think that was a good sign.... He was OK with it. He was OK.

We now know that the official Chinese reaction to the American attack on Syria came on President Xis return to Beijing and it was not as OK as President Trump stated.

Presidential

The simple fact that the attack was carried out so quickly after the recommendations of the NSC already indicates a willingness for precipitous action in a delicate international situation should serve as a warning sign of the lack of foreign policy agenda by the Oval Office but to consider and carry out the attack during a State visit by a rival of Russia and to tell its President of the attack in such an offhanded way is not the sign of presidential behaviour.

Furthermore, the Presidents obvious enjoyment at explaining how he advised the Chinese President of the attack hides two important aspects of his behaviour. It displays a lack of respect towards the Chinese President who should have been formally advised of the attack and this incident once again shows that the President does not personally follow the actions he has ordered as he also did during the attack in Yemen in the first week of the presidency when an American soldier was killed.

While President Trump promised a new form of diplomacy during his successful residential campaign few imagined that the promise would be kept in this way.

Diplomacy is not simply speaking in polite terms to opponents, it is also protecting the image and reputation of the country on the world stage and the incident at Mar-a-Lago with President Xi Jinping was certainly not that.

As with his tweets, we must now wonder whether or not the photo of the Chocolate Cake will be placed in the national archives because it certainly played an unwelcome role in a serious international situation.
In stating that relations with Russia may be at an all time low President Donald Trump tacitly admits the reality of a foreign policy crisis that was avoidable on the part of the White House. The decision to launch a military strike on a Russian ally was never going to solve the issue of Bashar Al-Assad and only highlighted the lack of foreign policy guidelines by an Oval Office that is about to end its honeymoon period.

Message

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had an important appointment in Moscow on Wednesday. He was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin after a long meeting with the countrys Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The simple fact that Americas highest ranking diplomat was made to wait two hours for the scheduled appointment was a message to the world that the relationship between Moscow and Washington was at a crisis point.

Yet weeks ago when the Secretary of State announced that he would not attend the NATO conference for the Moscow meeting Americas allies were worried that the Oval Office had decided to relax its stance on its historic rival who was still under international sanctions as a result of its conflict with the Ukraine and the annexation of that countrys region of Crimea.

Attack

What changed the stance in the few short weeks was not just the gas attack on the Syrian rebel town of Khan Sheikhoum in Iblid province last week that led to the Americas Tomahawk strike on Syrias Shayrat air force base in retaliation.

Up to that point President Trump seemed to prefer rapprochement with Russia to maintaining its close ties with its NATO allies. With the release of the images of dead civilians in Iblid attack, and particularly those of the children that shocked the world the Oval Office decided to act in an extraordinarily short time for such a reply.

This attack angered not only the Kremlin but also many Trump supporters who had backed him due to campaign promise that he would not undertake such actions during his term of office.

Without doubt the National Security Council in its recommendations to the President for its possible replies to the gas attack had stressed the major issue of the Syrian situation.

Dictator Bashar Al-Assad is an ally of Russia and such an attack was a direct affront to Moscow.

Inconsistencies

The emotive reply to the tragedy in Khan Sheikhoum was always bound to have a negative impact on relations with Russia given that countrys previous vetoes of a U.S. sponsored motion in the UN Security Council denouncing the attack. Worse still, the attack also came as President Trump was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

This change of diplomatic direction was not the first by Donald Trump since entering office on January 20th.

Over the last nearly three months he has changed his stance with China at least three times first over the One China policy, then on trade and finally on North Korea.

Finally on Wednesday President Trump praised NATO after previously stating that the United States led alliance was obsolete.

These changes of foreign policy are, to say the least, confusing to Americas allies and also to the public.

The contemporary plan to subject the State Department to major budget cuts and the failure to fill important positions in his Administration give the impression of a rudderless ship rather than an Oval Office with a sure direction for the country as a world leader.

While the current crisis with Russia may not be the worse between the two countries, and the simple memory of the 1962 Cuba Crisis quickly comes to mind, it is one that could deteriorate if it is not handled correctly.

Allies and foes

The only way that the White House will be able to resolve the current situation is to set a clear and precise path for future foreign policy for the country. At the present time the constant changes of stance and attitude by the Oval Office are increasing distrust on the part of Americas international rivals and uncertainty on the part of its allies who have often planned their own foreign policy agenda on Americas ambitions.

The White House should be worried by todays statements reported in the Australian press by former Australian Foreign Minister and former head of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans at a speech in that country's National Press Club who defined President Trump as the most ill equipped President in US history and that Australias foreign policy must be less United States, more Asia and more self reliance.

If one of the United States staunchest allies sees the President of the United States in this way, how do Americas foes see him?
The recent US bombing of Syria following the use of outlawed chemical weapons on innocent civilians deserves praise. The US government however needs to tread carefully to avoid starting another unnecessary war in the Middle East.

Parties broke international agreement

It is without a doubt the parties involved in the Syrian war broke the international agreement on the use of chemical weapons. Even though it has not been verified whether the Syrian regime or the rebel groups deliberately used banned chemical weapons on unarmed civilians. The Russian authorities have been quick to assert that the incident was caused by fumes resulting from a destroyed chemical manufacturing plant.

The US and other parties have downplayed this assertion.

The gruesome images of men, women, and children suffocating to death should be a wake-up call for the international community to unite to end the proliferation of chemical weapons and its use on innocent populations. It is not the first time chemical weapons have been used in Syria. In 2013, dozens of people suffocated to death after a rebel-controlled region was hit by chemical weapons.

US should Work with Assad to end war

The US government should shun blunt accusations on both Russia and the Syria regime and instead seek ways it can work with The Russian government especially in finding an amicable solution to the sickening Syrian conflict.

Its time the Trump administration realized that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad aught to be part of the solution if sustainable peace is to be guaranteed in the region. Failure to acknowledge Assad as the legitimate leader of Syria will only intensify the conflict and plunge Damascus into greater disaster.

The US should note that the strategic location of Syria will favor Russia should both the US and Russia seek military actions without common agreement.

The Russian federation is also not relenting on its support for President Assad. After the US bombing of an airfield alleged to have been used in a chemical attack, Moscow vowed to revamp the Syrian air force. Russia has further deployed its warships within the same waters used by the US to launch the attack on Syria.

The US and Russia should work together

Having two military giant nations loaded with missiles and even atomic weapons (if need be) within the same location is extremely dangerous. A simple provocation or mistake would simply result in a full fledged battle. This would likely exacerbate the situation in Syria. Considering the fact that both the US and Russia have their own vested interest in the middle East, the UN and the international community should act speedily in finding ways to avoid another bloodshed in the Middle East.

President Trump should tread carefully to avoid the mistakes similar to the ones President George W Bush made before invading Iraq in 2003. As it later turned out Saddam Hussein never had weapons of mass destruction.

This is despite the widely accepted rhetoric that branded Saddam Hussein as the problem of the time. Western powers too, including Britain should avoid endorsing any further US-led attacks on other sovereign states without verified intelligence information.
Scheana Shay has been under a lot of pressure to share the man she is dating with the world. She announced she was seeing Robert Parks Valletta recently, but has pretty much kept everything about their relationship under wraps. Shay teased fans and followers with glimpses of him earlier this year on Snap Chat, but only admitted to the fact they were an item when she felt like the time was right. According to Radar Online, she is being accused of being shady about keeping him off her social media accounts.

Things have not been easy for Scheana Shay over the last few months.

Her marriage crumbled last fall, shortly after Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz tied the knot. The marital issues she faced will be displayed on "Vanderpump Rules," and the reunion proved to be harder than she imagined. Her estranged husband, Mike Shay showed up to film. There are rumors circulating the two hashed out some of their personal issues on camera, which is exactly what the network wanted.

Scheana is still legally married

While divorce papers were filed and signed in December, Scheana and Mike Shay are still married. They officially parted ways before the holidays, with her purchasing him a ticket to Michigan to see his family. Scheana mentioned that gesture on "Watch What Happens Live" shortly after the new year began.

That was also around the time she was being coy about who she was seeing, and fans thought it might have been Mike Comrie. As of now, Scheana is still married to Mike but she already feels like the chapter has been closed.

Bad relationship luck

Being in a relationship isn't easy but being in one with a married man can ruin your life.

Scheana Shay was one of the women Eddie Cibrian cheated on Brandi Glanville with. This caused a lot of havoc for Shay, especially when it came to events being held at SUR for the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Aside from being the other woman and having her marriage fail, there is still hope for Scheana to get her happily ever after.

Fans wish Scheana Shay the best and hope that things with her new beau work out well. Once she starts dropping photos of him on social media, fans are going to go nuts.
Australia: the Great Barrier Reef is dying and one scientist has described it as 'terminal.' Global warming appears to be the culprit according to The Nature Journal. In 2016, the results of a study were published that showed severe concentrations of coral bleaching stretching to the north, and this was bad enough, but 2017 has scientists despairing over the state of the Great Barrier Reef. Science Alert reported that scientists, who say Global Warming is killing the reef, pointed out that this year the bleaching has spread 500 km (311 miles) further south.

Great Barrier Reef - four years of bleaching

There have been four big bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef since 1998, but this is the first time it has happened in two consecutive years. Scientists point out that it takes at least a decade for coral to recover from a bleaching event and James Kerry from James Cook University's ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies said that the second consecutive year of damage is probably going to allow 'zero' chance of recovery in places.

Scientists report that "out of the 2,300 km (1,430 miles) of Great Barrier Reef, 1,500 km (932 miles) is now bleached." While Bleaching does not immediately kill the corals, over time they starve to death, Science Alert explains.

According to findings within the science community coral reef bleaching that the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing is caused by the water warming up. The corals become very stressed when temperatures rise and this causes them to eject the algae that live in their tissues. The beautiful colors that are caused by those colorful algae disappear and the coral turns 'bone white.'

The coral reef is home to hundreds of corals and a stunning array or marine life.

Some experts hold out little hope for reefs

There are proponents of Global Warming and those who simply don't believe in it, but as the Science Alert article points out, it is time to get real.

When an expert in his field like James Cook University water quality expert, Jon Brodie is moved to tears and describes the Great Barrier Reef as 'terminal,' to the Guardian, then disbelievers should know that things are severe. It is possile that ultimately the only way the reefs will survive is if there is a huge reduction in carbon emissions. To cite Science Alert - 'World, if you're waiting for a wake up call, this is it.'

It is not too late but action has to be taken immediately if our grandchildren are going to ever experience this wonder of the world.
View of a stand of China Construction Bank at a financial expo in Beijing, Sep 8, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

China's banking regulator on Wednesday issued a notice vowing to address regulatory loopholes and urging the country's lenders to effectively control risks.

The move is the latest following a string of measures taken by the regulators to contain systemic risks and asset bubbles, an indication of tightening financial regulation in the country.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission said in the notice that it will strengthen supervision and address regulatory shortcomings to prevent practices that exploit regulatory loopholes.

The CBRC is also drafting rules to better regulate the financial institutions' shareholders, aiming to clarify the qualifications and quantity requirement and to improve transparency of shareholders' backgrounds and their capital sources.

The regulator ordered the banks to raise the standard and quality of the information disclosure on the financial products, while pledging tougher punishment for wrongdoings.

It also urged local bureaus of the CBRC to strengthen supervision through information technology as well as on-site inspection.

Chinese commercial banks are facing the twin pressures of declining profitability and rising funding costs, as the central authorities push for financial deleveraging to prevent risks that will weigh on their earning prospects, analysts said.

The CBRC on Monday issued guidelines that highlighted 10 major risks in areas including inter-bank lending, wealth management and investment business, property and online financing.

"The new guidelines will mean stricter regulation of the interbank business and banks' off-balance-sheet business," said Qu Jun, an analyst at GF Securities Co.

"Banks with a relatively weak capital position and high liabilities in the interbank business will see greater business constraints and increased pressure on profitability pressure in line with the process of tightened regulations and the acceleration of financial deleveraging," he said.

China has ramped up efforts to curb financial risks as worries have emerged about high corporate leverage, rising credit defaults by companies, as well as risks in the property market.
A CRH train production site of CRRC's Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]

CRRC Sifang Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China's rail giant China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, will provide 11 eight-unit trains for the rail project linking Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia, the company announced on its website on Wednesday.

CRRC has not disclosed the deal value, however, according to Chinese news portal Sina.com, the value was 2.51 billion yuan ($364 million).

The deal is part of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract signed on April 4 between a consortium of Chinese and Indonesian firms and KCIC, a firm tasked with monitoring the high-speed train project and unveiling the construction phase of the project.

The 142-km-long railway project, expected to be built in three years, could cut the travel time between these two cities from several hours to half an hour.

CRRC also signed a $191 million contract with Malaysian authorities on March 11, promising to build 22 multiple units for the latter. The purchase marks the company's first successful attempt to localize its manufacturing and management in Malaysia, which signifies great progress for China's future rail exports.
While it's a well-known cliche that you can find a Chinese restaurant in just about any city in the world, it was still interesting to see them in Rome and in Palermo, the capital of Italy's province of Sicily.

The Ristorante Cinese Hong Kong in Palermo serves Chinese dishes with an Italian twist. There's fettuccini con frutti di mare (noodles with seafood); capellini con pollo in brodo (chicken noodle soup); ravioli al vapore (steamed dumpling) and panini cinese (steamed bao).

In Rome, in Via Carfour, around the corner from the Roman Colosseum and many of the city's ancient ruins, can be found the Citta in Fiore Chinese restaurant.

On the same street, quite a few of the vendors selling souvenirs were of Chinese and Japanese origin.

I spoke in Italian to a Chinese woman who ran one such shop; she had been in Italy for several years. Of course I had to add a zai jian at the end of the conversation, which drew a smile. Another vendor I spoke to had been in Italy for 25 years.

It's not only businesspeople. When I arrived in Rome from New York and had to go through passport control, I would say at least 70 percent of the hundreds of people standing on line at that particular time were young visitors from China.

On Via del Colosseo, I saw a young Chinese couple who apparently were getting married, with the young woman wearing a beautiful qipao.

A poster at the airport in Palermo advertises Alitalia flights to Pechino (Beijing). It features three flight attendants superimposed on the Great Wall.

In February, President Xi Jinping welcomed his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella to Beijing.

"China welcomes Italy to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative," Xi said.

Xi called for more cooperation in technological and industrial innovation and in heritage, promoting the building of culture centers and language teaching in the respective countries.

Xi also stressed that China was willing to work with Italy to maintain world peace, development and stability through communication on global economic governance, multilateralism and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Italy is China's fifth-largest trading partner in the European Union, and China is Italy's top trading partner in Asia.

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce was optimistic about Belt and Road Initiative-related projects, its chairman Sergio Bertasi said during Mattarella's state visit.

"A large part of Belt and Road Initiative-related projects will be in the Balkans/Eastern European area, which is an area well known to Italy and where Italian companies have great ties with local companies," Bertasi said.

"The Belt and Road Initiative could further leverage Chinese interest for investments in Italy, a hub in the ancient Silk Road," he said.

According to a January study by Rhodium Group and the Mercator Institute for China Studies, between 2010 and 2016, Italy ranked third among European destinations of Chinese investments abroad ($13.3 billion) behind the UK and Germany.

"I recall Made in China 2025 as a formidable opportunity for cooperation between Italian and Chinese companies. Italy and China will equally benefit from the modernization of Chinese industry," Bertasi said.

Sun Yanhong, associate researcher on Italian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in February that the two countries "share a great yearning for works on innovation" as they restructure economically.

Italy needs capital, and China offers a market to help revitalize its economy, Sun said.

Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 04/13/2017 page2)
The chief of the International Monetary Fund warned of protectionism and praised China ahead of the IMF/World Bank annual spring meeting in Washington next week.

"We are at a moment where the global economy needs both - a foundation of sound domestic policies combined with a steadfast commitment to international cooperation," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Wednesday at Bruegel, an economic think tank based in Belgium.

She described the world economy as "gaining momentum as a cyclical recovery holds out the promise of more jobs, higher incomes, and greater prosperity going forward".

"But just as we see this momentum unfolding, we also see - at least in some advanced economies - doubts about the benefits of economic integration, about the very 'architecture' that has underpinned the world economy for more than seven decades," she said, clearly referring to the sentiment in the Brexit, the ongoing French presidential election as well as the rhetoric and policy of US President Donald Trump.

Lagarde believes that the finance ministers and central bankers from the 189 IMF member countries meeting on April 21-23 will have these questions in mind.

IMF's World Economic Outlook to be released before the meeting will show that the outlook for advanced economies has improved with stronger manufacturing activity.

Meanwhile, the emerging and developing economies have driven the global recovery in recent years, and they will continue to contribute more than three-quarters of global GDP growth in 2017, with China remaining the main engine.

Lagarde cited China as a success story, saying that "we estimate that China's integration into the global trading system accounted for as much as 10 percent of the average overall productivity increase in advanced economies between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s".

"Enormous gains like that translate over time into higher living standards. Today, billions of people enjoy longer, healthier, and more prosperous lives, largely because of our ability to harness the power of trade and productivity," she said.

Lagarde warned of some downside risks: political uncertainty, including in Europe; the sword of protectionism hanging over global trade; and tighter global financial conditions that could trigger disruptive capital outflows from emerging and developing economies.

She called on the world to build on policies that have delivered so much for the world. "And at the same time, we must avoid policy missteps - or as I have described them, 'self-inflicted wounds'," she said.

Lagarde noted the negative side effects of technology and trade, from job losses in some sectors to social challenges in those communities.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 04/13/2017 page2)
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Benjamin Radford

In July 2007, a rancher in the small Texas town of Cuero captured a strange creature that had been attacking her livestock. She claimed the blue, hairless animal had been lurking around her ranch for years, and when it was hit by a car, she suggested she had finally captured a chupacabra, the vampiric goat-sucking monster of lore. Tissue samples were sent to biologists at Texas State University for DNA analysis, and while the rancher waited for the results she sold thousands of "2007: Summer of the Chupacabra" T-shirts and caps.

New Mexico, of course, has its own chupacabra stories. Most are merely rumors and speculation about the fate of dead livestock, idle talk with no hard evidence. That is, until 2002, when a bizarre creature was found half-buried in the rocks and sand on the sun-baked West Mesa outside of Albuquerque.

It wasnt a dog or coyote. It wasnt a bird or cow. In fact, it was unlike anything the finder had ever seen. The creature was dead but not rotting, nor was it a skeleton. Instead it was dried, almost as if the desert winds had carefully preserved the mystery. It had a vaguely human-like face, a pointy head, what seemed to be stubby wings and a long tail. The man who found it passed it along to his friend Bob Wheeler, who kept the curiosity and occasionally showed it to his friends and family to freak them out.

One person thought it looked like a gargoyle; another suggested an alien. But Wheeler settled on his own identification: [To people of] Spanish heritage, its the chupacabra, Wheeler told a reporter from KOB Channel 4. The goat sucker is what they call it." In February 2005, one of Wheelers friends suggested he ought to have professionals identify the creature. The remains were taken to Brian Gleadle of New Mexicos Department of Game and Fish. Rio Rancho Journal writer Barbara Armijo reported the results on Feb. 12: A creepy-looking skeleton found on the West Mesa several years ago is not the remains of the dreaded chupacabra, a mythical creature said to suck the blood from goats.

Benjamin Radford

Instead of a chupacabra, Gleadle said, the bizarre creature is a skate, an animal related to stingrays. Yet Gleadles explanation doesnt complete the story, for he didnt fully identify the crusty creature either. Gleadle offered an opinion as to the objects origin: Its common for a slice of the actual wing to be used as a food source, and thats what we believe was the case with this one  Someone had to have caught it in the ocean, most likely the Gulf of Mexico. They then probably cut the part that was edible and tossed the rest.

Whether skate or chupacabra, the story had legs. Some mystery-mongering websites were quick to post stories and images of the creature, and it made the local news. KOB-TV's website noted that After doing some research, Eyewitness News 4 has concluded that the creature probably lived in the ocean at one time and probably isnt either a chupacabra or an alien.

When I saw the newspapers photograph of the ex-chupacabra, I immediately recognized it as a Devil Fish, also known as a Jenny Haniver. It is in fact a cut-up, deformed and carefully dried skate; it was created as an oddityessentially a faked monster. Jenny Hanivers date back more than 300 years and are sold in curio shops around the world but especially in the Caribbean. I have seen dozens of them in carnival sideshows, and in fact I own one.

But the mystery deepens: Why did an ocean animal end up on a desert mesa? A clue can be found in the newspapers photograph. The left leg of Wheelers creature was broken off at the knee, which probably explains why it was thrown away. The skate was never used for food; it would not have been specifically formed into a Jenny Haniver, nor would it have been so well-preserved if that had been the case. It was merely a damaged curio item, tossed out on the mesa instead of in the dump.

Wheelers identification of the Jenny Haniver as a chupacabra is instructive, since the remains look nothing like the typical descriptions of the vampiric beast. (It is far too small, for example, has wings and lacks spiny back ridges.) The chupacabra label was simply a catch-all name for something strange I cant identify. This often happens in monster sightings, where any phenomenon that seems odd or inexplicable is identified as Bigfoot, or a lake monster, or a chupacabra.

The Cuero, Texas, chupacabra was also finally identified, the results made public just after Halloween: The strange, blue-hued creature was not a chupacabra, nor even a gray fox as some suggested. DNA sequencing revealed that it was instead a Texas coyote with a bad case of mange.

The Cuero and Westside chupacabras are only the latest of many strange-but-known finds over the years mistakenly labeled as mysterious creatures. In these casesunlike the real chupacabrawe have the body; we have hard evidence. And, when hard evidence is available, we find an explanation.
HCM CITY  A series of cultural activities were held at the HCM City Youth Cultural House yesterday to celebrate the common New Year festival of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.

They were organised by the HCM City Buddhist Association, the city Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the cultural house, and attended by nearly 1,000 guests.

The four countries traditional New Year customs were re-created, including bathing a Buddha idol in water and wearing wish bracelets.

There was a performance of traditional music and dance from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, and an exhibition of photos featuring their landscapes and peoples.

Le Hung Quoc, HUFO director, said: The celebration aimed to promote cultural exchanges between the city and neighbouring countries and help the citys people know more about their New Year celebrations.

As part of the celebrations, the citys Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union had organised from April 5 to 9 several cultural events in which local students and their Lao and Cambodian counterparts studying in the city took part.

They attracted 300 local students and 72 foreigners, who also went on a field trip to Bao Loc city in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Lam ong.

On April 14 the Lao and Cambodian New Year will be celebrated at the Laotian Students Dormitory in District 3.

In Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, the New Year is respectively called Bunpimay, Chol Chnam Thmay, Songkran, and Thingyan, and falls usually between April 13 and 15.  VNS
PARIS  The Cannes Festival was due on Thursday to unveil which films have made the cut for its 70th birthday edition, where the silver screens finest will be vying for glory next month.

Organisers of the worlds top film event on the French Riviera traditionally guard their selections jealously for the competition and the out-of-competition programme, but there has been fevered speculation over the line-up for months.

Sofia Coppolas The Beguiled is one film that industry insiders agree is likely to earn a spot at this years Cannes.

The daughter of Francis Ford Coppola is a Cannes veteran who previously premiered Marie Antoinette (2006) and her last feature film The Bling Ring (2013) at the festival.

Her latest offering The Beguiled, an American Civil War drama about a young soldier who seduces all the women around him, features an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Colin Farrell and Elle Fanning.

Organisers have tapped Pedro Almodovar, Spains most celebrated living movie director, to lead the jury at this years festival, which will run from May 17 to 28.

The official selection of movies in competition will be announced at 0900 GMT on Thursday at a Paris hotel by festival director Thierry Fremaux and the president of the event, Pierre Lescure.

The organisers typically wade through some 1,800 films to winnow them down to shortlists.

It is a weary process for Fremaux, who said last year that he and his selection committee "watch the movies right to the end".

Another favourite to earn a slot in the official competition  also starring Kidman and Fanning -- is John Cameron Mitchells sci-fi romance How to Talk to Girls At Parties.

Netflix debut?

Other films in the running include Todd Haynes Wonderstruck, starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams, a story about two deaf children told simultaneously in two different timelines.

South Korean director Bong Joon-hos "Okja" with Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal - about a young girl risking everything to save her best friend, a giant animal - could become the first Netflix-backed feature to screen at the festival.

War Machine, another Netflix-backed effort starring Brad Pitt as a US army general in Afghanistan alongside Swinton and Ben Kingsley, is also in the running.

Other likely contenders include Redoubtable, a biopic of legendary French director Jean-Luc Godard, by Michel Hazanavicius who made Oscar-winning silent movie The Artist.

Ismaels Ghosts by Arnaud Desplechin, about a filmmaker disturbed by the return of his former love, has also been tipped, featuring A-list French talent in the form of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marion Cotillard and Mathieu Amalric.  AFP
A NANG  A New Zealand Navy ship (HMNZS Te Kaha), with 177 crew members, arrived at a Nangs Tien Sa Port on Wednesday for a four-day visit to the city.

Crew members of the ship performed a traditional Maori dance during the welcome ceremony at the port.

Crew member of a New Zealand Navy ship perform their traditional dance at a Nangs Tien Sa Port during the four-day visit.  VNS Photo Cong Thanh

The crew members, led by Lieutenant Colonel Steve Lennik, will have a sport exchange with Vietnamese Navy Zone 3 and performance with students of Phan Chau Trinh high-school during the visit.

The ship will leave on Sunday.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  A group of nine lawyers will defend oan Thi Huong, with her murder trial due to begin on Thursday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The 29-year-old Vietnamese national and another 25-year-old Indonesian woman, Siti Aisyah, are the two main suspects of the murder of a North Korean man named Kim Chol at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13 this year. They face the death penalty if convicted.

Bui Quoc Thanh, vice head of MOFAs Consular Department, told the press on Wednesday afternoon that the group includes two Malaysian lawyers, Hisyam Teh Toh Teik and Naran Singh, who the Vietnamese embassy hired on March 29 for the case.

They are considered among Malaysias best and most experienced criminal defence attorneys.

Naran Singh has three lawyer partners working on Huongs case while Hisyam Teh Toh Teik has one. The Viet Nam Bar Federation also sent three Vietnamese lawyers to defend Huong.

Thanh said that both the Vietnamese and Malaysian lawyers believe she is innocent.

Viet Nam asks Malaysia to assure a fair, objective and non-discriminatory trial and to ensure the legitimate rights of oan Thi Huong, he said.

During up to seven consular visits with Huong in the Kajang state prison, she always asked embassy officials to inform her family that she was healthy and they should not visit, Thanh said. She was concerned about their safety should they come to Malaysia.

Huongs father, oan Van Thanh, flew to Malaysia on Wednesday and had the first contact with Huong since her arrest.

Huong is in stable condition and in good health, an embassy official said.  VNS
HA NOI  President Tran ai Quang has lauded extended co-operation between Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Japans Kyodo News in recent years, saying it is in accordance with the Viet Nam-Japan extensive strategic partnership.

During a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for Kyodo News President and Editor-in-Chief Masaki Fukuyama, President Quang highlighted significant progress in bilateral ties in the 44 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973.

Expressing support for co-operation plans between the two news agencies, the State leader said as official news agencies of Viet Nam and Japan, VNA and Kyodo News should popularise each countrys culture, business environment and people, contributing to deepening mutual understanding and trust.

At the same time, both sides should continue providing timely, comprehensive and objective coverage of Viet Nam -Japan ties to boost the bilateral extensive strategic partnership, he said.

On the APEC Year 2017 with nearly 200 meetings and the 25th APEC High-level Week to be held in a Nang, the host said it enables the two news agencies to co-ordinate in coverage to contribute to the success of the events.

He told his guest that Viet Nam is refining mechanisms and administrative procedures, improving competitiveness and its business climate, and prioritising industrialisation and modernisation, during which, the country is ready to support foreign enterprises, including those from Japan.

Amid increasing trade protectionism, Viet Nam backs global trade liberalisation, he said, adding that countries should accelerate negotiations and signings of bilateral free trade agreements to enhance economic, trade and investment links.

On regional and global issues, he said during meetings, Vietnamese and Japanese leaders underscored the need to work together at multilateral forums to maintain peace.

Fukuyama, for his part, briefed the host of the outcomes of collaboration between VNA and Kyodo News.

He said the Japanese people as well as major corporations, groups and local companies are interested in business opportunities in Viet Nam, so Kyodo News holds an important responsibility for presenting full and accurate coverage of Viet Nam, its people, culture and business climate. VNS
National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (centre left) meets with Vojtech Fillip (centre right), Chairman of the Czech Republic and Morava Communist Party and Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in Prague yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc

PRAGUE  Viet Nam attaches great importance to developing multifaceted co-operation with its traditional friends in Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, said National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

She made the affirmation at a meeting with Vojtech Fillip, Chairman of the Czech Republic and Morava Communist Party and Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in Prague yesterday as part of her four-day visit to the European country, which started on Tuesday.

Ngan said she supported the enhanced ties between the Party of Viet Nam and the Czech Republic and Morava Communist Party, which she said was an important co-operation channel between the two countries.

The co-operation between the two countries has progressed across many fields over the years, including politics, trade-investment, national defence and security, and science and technology. The two sides continue to exchange many visits of high-ranking delegations.

Ngan said she hoped that the Czech Republic and Morava Communist Party would continue working to promote comprehensive relations between the two countries, particularly in fostering the relations between localities of the two countries.

Agreeing with the top Vietnamese lawmaker, Czech Republic and Morava Communist Party Chairman Fillip said the two countries should establish co-operative relations between the two Parties at both central and local levels. The Czech side was ready for increasing this co-operation, he said.

He proposed to increase co-operation between press agencies of the two countries, which would help to facilitate exchanges and information sharing between the two Parties.

He expressed his belief that the upcoming State visit to Viet Nam by the Czech President would contribute to lifting the relations between the two countries to new heights.

Later the same day, NA Chairwoman Ngan received leaders from the Czech Chamber of Economy, the Czech Top 100 Association, and a beer firm.

She expressed her pleasure at meeting with the leaders of the Czech association, hoping that they will encourage businesses to invest and do business in Viet Nam. She briefed participants on Viet Nams legal system towards further international integration, as well as the countrys favourable conditions for investors to expand their operations in the region. Viet Nam was willing to serve as a bridge for Czech businesses to expand to other markets in Southeast Asia, she affirmed.

Echoing Ngans sentiment on the economic and trade relationship not meeting its potential, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Economy Borivoj Minar said Czech associations wanted to improve the situation. He stressed that many Czech firms and associations had visited and sought opportunities for investment and business in Viet Nam recently.

According to Minar, the Czech Republic is an open market and his chamber is willing to provide support to bring Vietnamese commodities to Europe. Many Czech goods, including manufacturing products and food, were present in Viet Nam, he said, hoping for more Czech products to enter the Southeast Asian market in the future.

Viet Nam was attractive to Czech firms, he said, adding that Czech businesses were ready to co-operate and transfer technology to produce goods such as manufacturing and produce preservation technology. Through Viet Nam, Czech enterprises wish to expand to other markets in the region, he said. - VNS
PRAGUE  Viet Nam attaches great importance to developing relations with traditional friends in Central Eastern Europe, with the Czech Republic a prioritised partner.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the statement during talks with President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Stech in Prague on Wednesday.

She said Viet Nam remembers the assistance of the Czech state and people in the cause of national independence and reunification.

The top legislator thanked the Czech parliament and government for recognising Vietnamese-Czech people as one of the countrys ethnic minority groups in 2013, calling this a valuable asset for the two nations friendship.

She highlighted the traditional friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic over the past 67 years, which have been nurtured by the two countries leaders and peoples.

Viet Nam is willing to create favourable conditions for Czech businesses to explore long-term investment in Viet Nam, Ngan said.

The Southeast Asian country also hopes to work with the Czech Republic at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN-EU, she added.

She affirmed that Viet Nam will help the Czech Republic enhance relations with ASEAN, and proposed the European nation support Viet Nams candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-21.

Bilateral co-operation has seen progress in various fields in recent years thanks to high-level delegation exchanges, she said.

She welcomed Czech President Milos Zeman to pay a State visit to Viet Nam in 2017, a move expected to open a new period of development for bilateral amity.

There is a plenty of room for the two countries to step up co-operation in economics, trade and investment, she said, noting that the Czech Republic added Viet Nam  the only nation in ASEAN  into its list of 12 key trade markets.

Chairwoman Ngan proposed the Czech Republic enable businesses to sign deals to export Viet Nams farm produce and seafood to the market and to import industrial goods, materials and spare parts from the Czech Republic.

She also called on the European country to make it easier for representatives of Vietnamese businesses to obtain visas to study the Czech market, seek partners and attend trade fairs and exhibitions.

Senate President Stech said Viet Nam has the closest relations with his country in Southeast Asia.

The two sides need to reach an agreement on investment protection to drive economic relations forward, he said, adding that Czech companies are willing to set up joint ventures with Vietnamese firms to boost investment in science and technology.

He described Viet Nam as a successful economy in Southeast Asia, and suggested the two sides make use of their respective strengths for mutual development.

Both sides agreed to push the EU to sign the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement, which will boost trade between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic.

Parliamentary co-operation has been reinforced over the past few years thanks to regular high-level delegation exchanges.

The host and guest agreed that the two countries legislative bodies should increase rapports at multilateral parliamentary forums such as Inter-Parliamentary Union and Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership.

Viet Nam and the Czech Republic will coordinate to monitor the implementation of co-operation agreements and projects signed between the two countries governments.

At a meeting with the press, the two sides affirmed that they reached consensus in various fields, and the co-operation potential is enormous.

Chairwoman Ngan said leaders of the Vietnamese and Czech legislative bodies had a candid discussion on issues of mutual concern.

President Milan Stech said both sides agreed to create a legal investment protection corridor for private enterprises.

With a large population and high economic growth, Viet Nam can attract Czech investors, he added.

The same day, the President hosted a banquet to welcome the Vietnamese top legislator and her entourage to visit the Czech Republic.  VNS
PRAGUE  Chairwoman of Viet Nams National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka agreed that the two countries should enhance co-operation during their meeting in Prague on Wednesday.

Ngan is visiting the Czech Republic on April 12-14 as part of her European tour, which began on April 6.

Speaking at the meeting, the top Vietnamese legislator said despite progress in co-operation between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic in trade and investment, the two nations should work to unleash their potential.

Two-way trade reached US$249 million last year and the Czech Republic ranked 45th out of 116 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam with 34 foreign direct investment projects, worth approximately $90 million, she noted, proposing leaders of the two countries increase visits to each other for market research and improve the work of the Viet Nam-Czech Intergovernmental Committee for economy and science-technology co-operation.

Ngan suggested her host stimulate Czech investment in Viet Nams fields of interest, including renewable energy, metallurgy, mining, infrastructure development, supporting industries, environment, textile and garment, and mechanical and electronic manufacturing.

The Czech PM agreed, saying that Czech exports to Viet Nam only made up about 10 per cent of bilateral trade and it is time to boost partnerships in trade, commerce and investment.

Aside from strengths in foreign direct investment, the Czech Republic has advantages in supplying advanced technologies in mining and energy, Sobotka said, adding that the European country wishes to join projects in infrastructure development, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and information technology in Viet Nam.

On education, Chairwoman Ngan hoped the Czech Republic will push co-operation agreements and collaborative training projects in fields of its strength, like engineering, agriculture, medicine and pharmacy, electrics and electronics.

She also asked for continued support from the Czech government in strengthening the comprehensive partnership between Viet Nam and the European Union (EU) and hoped it would push the ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement and the EUs recognition of Viet Nam as a market economy.

In security-defence, Ngan expected the Czech Republic would assist Viet Nam in training cyber-security specialists. She also affirmed the National Assembly of Viet Nams support for the two governments to ink deals on combating crime and on the transfer of prisoners.

Echoing his Vietnamese guest, PM Sobotka said Czech enterprises look forward to opportunities in security-defence.

They also agreed to fast-track the launch of streamlined visa processing between the two countries. Sobotka said he expects the number of Czech tourist arrivals to Viet Nam to grow considerably once Viet Nam simplifies the application process for short-stay visas.

Meeting with Czech President

The same day, Chairwoman Ngan was also welcomed by Czech President Milos Zeman. In the meeting, Ngan stressed that the two countries have enjoyed time-honoured friendship and co-operation nurtured by many generations of their leaders and people over the past 67 years.

Viet Nam remembers the Czech Republics support for its past struggle for national liberation as well as the current nation building and development, she affirmed, thanking the country for recognising Vietnamese-Czech people as an ethnic minority group.

In past years, the two sides have enjoyed progress in bilateral relations in polictics, diplomacy, trade, investment, defence, science and technology, while co-operating at regional and international forums as the United Nations and AsiaEurope Meeting.

Viet Nam is willing to help the Czech Republic boost collaboration with ASEAN and its member states, Ngan said, adding that it can also supply human resources for the Czech Republic as the European country lacks labourers.

Viet Nams top lawmaker told the host that during her visit, she met with President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Stech and Chairman of the Czech Parliaments Chamber of Deputies (lower house) Jan Hamacek to discuss measures to boost bilateral parliamentary co-operation.

She asked for continued support from the Czech President to develop the parliamentary relationship, for the interests of the two countries people and for peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

President Milos Zeman expressed his delight at the expansion of investment in Viet Nam by Czech and Vietnamese-Czech businesses.

He said that a number of enterprises will accompany him during his upcoming State visit to Viet Nam. He hoped the two countries will sign many economic contracts to improve the bilateral relations.

He asked Viet Nam to consider porviding a short-term visa waiver for Czech citizens.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  A Malaysian court in Sepang district of Selangor state postponed a hearing for two women suspected in the death of a North Korea citizen to May 30.

Judge Harith Sham Mohamed Yasin announced the postponement on Thursday.

The hearing, which was scheduled for the same day, was postponed due to a lack of documents. As such, the case was not transferred to the Shah Alam High Court for a joint trial.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad said that they need another month and a half to prepare necessary documents.

Earlier, the two suspects - Vietnamese national oan Thi Huong, 28, and Indonesian national Siti Aisyah, 25, were taken to the courthouse under heavy security.

The murder of a North Korean man, named Kim Chol, took place at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13. On March 1, the two women were charged with murder and pleaded innocent, claiming they thought they were taking part in a game show.  VNS
HA NOI  Politburo member and Secretary of HCM Citys Party Committee inh La Thang on Thursday attended the opening ceremony of HCM City days in Osaka 2017 as part of a visit of HCM Citys high-ranking officials to Japan.

The event has been held to celebrate the 10-year partnership between HCM City and Osaka prefecture and the 20-year partnership between HCM City and Osaka City.

In the context of improved Viet Nam-Japan ties, the partnership between HCM City and Osaka has been a bright spot, Le Thanh Liem, standing deputy chairman of HCM Citys Peoples Committee said.

The two-day event has been filled with exhibitions which feature HCM Citys achievements and sport and tourism exchange activities between the two countries and cities.

Visitors to the event can also enjoy traditional music and a fashion show of Vietnamese traditional dress (ao dai) and conical hats.

The same day, Thang and HCM Citys delegation met with Osaka Prefectures Governor Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Citys Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura.

Thang said that Osaka is one of localities that offers the most important environmental solutions to HCM City, including water management techniques, solid waste classification, climate change adaptation and student exchanges.

Thang confirmed receiving Ichiro Matsuis letter about sending a delegation of Japanese students to HCM City in 2017, saying that HCM City will support the students.

On the occasion, Thang also thanked leaders of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City for helping the Vietnamese living and working in Osaka.

For his part, Osaka Prefectures Governor Ichiro Matsui said that HCM City days in Osaka introduces Vietnamese culture and energetic HCM City, saying that the event would promote friendship between the two sides.

Osaka is preparing to host World Expo 2025, hoping HCM City will engage in the event which is a good chance for the two countries to promote economic and tourism co-operation, he said.

Osaka Prefecture is Japans second largest economic hub. The city has seen rapid economic development but still preserves ancient architectures and cultural identities.

Earlier on Wednesday, Thang and Governor of Hyogo Prefecture Toshizo Ido attended a conference boosting economic co-operation between the two localities in which the two leaders agreed to expand co-operation in industry, seaport service and hi-tech agriculture.  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers speech at a teleconference with leaders of 63 cities and provinces nationwide held in the northern province of Lao Cai on Wednesday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

LAO CAI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged ministries, sectors and localities to seek measures to promote traditional herbal medicines, to take advantage of the countrys potential in the field.

Addressing a teleconference with leaders of 63 cities and provinces nationwide held in the northern province of Lao Cai on Wednesday, the PM noted that for thousands of years, Viet Nam has used herbal medicines.

With three quarters of its natural area mountains and forests, Viet Nam has more than 5,000 herbal plants with medicinal value, which are a great advantage for localities to exploit the resources for domestic use and exports, he said.

PM Phuc affirmed that traditional medicines are a treasure of the country, which can contribute to poverty reduction.

He asked for solutions to tackle problems facing the sector, including poor planning in developing production chains that leads to low effectiveness and small-scale production as well as difficulties in markets, risk of extinction of many rare herbal plants and limited use of advanced technology in the field.

The government leader also called for support policies for herbal plant growing as part of high technology agriculture development, while stressing the need to ensure confidentiality of some rare and precious herbal plants.

He suggested three centres for traditional medicine research be set up nationwide, asking ministries, sectors and localities to raise public awareness of traditional medicine and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in this field.

It is also a must to tighten control of the trade and distribution of herbal medicinal materials to prevent smuggling and protect domestic herbal medicine production, he said.

Representative from many provinces said they will turn herbal medicine development into one of the economic priorities so as to tap into local advantages.

An official of central Quang Nam Province, which is famous for Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis or Vietnamese ginseng), said it is necessary to expand and upgrade transport infrastructure to attract investment in developing this rare indigenous species.

Home to nearly 1,000 medicinal plant species, northern Quang Ninh Province asked the Government to increase support for businesses and local households to tap into this resource, enhance the training of specialised pharmacists, and promote the trade of Vietnamese herbal medicine in the region and the world.

Meanwhile, the northernmost province of Ha Giang considers herbal medicine development as a start-up priority, an official said, adding that they have contracted research institutes to develop products from local herbal plants.

According to the Institute of Medicinal Materials, Viet Nam has 5,117 herbal plants and fungus, along with 408 species of animals and minerals used as materials for nearly 1,300 traditional remedies.

Domestic demand for herbal medicinal materials is about 60,000-80,000 tonnes per year, mostly for producing foods, medicines and cosmetics. The Ministry of Health assessed that the economic value of herbal plants is much higher than other food plants, suggesting that sustainable growing will help reduce poverty for many regions.

Boosting tourism industry

Yesterday, Phuc also instructed the northern province of Lao Cai to focus on developing its tourism industry, which is considered a key economic sector in the fight against poverty and the promotion of the cultural identities of ethnic minority groups in the northwestern region.

Tourism should contribute 30 per cent to GDP, he said at a working session with local authorities.

Tourism contributed to 11.5 per cent of the provinces GDP in 2010-2015. In 2016, Lao Cai welcomed 2.77 million tourists, up 33 per cent from 2015. The province has set a target of welcoming 6 million tourists by 2020.

Lao Cai is expected to become a key tourism centre of the northwestern region by 2020, with Sapa becoming a national tourism site.

The PM also instructed the province to boost border gate economic development.

Promoting border gate economic development was a way for Lao Cai to build the locality into a commodity entrepot for countries in the Mekong sub-region and China as well as a modern logistics centre for the region, with a system of seaports, airports, railways and road transport, he said.

He asked Lao Cai to deal with issues relating to the environment and social security and strive to fulfill its socio-economic tasks in 2017, particularly in completing the disbursement of investment capital for infrastructure development.

Responding to the provinces proposals, PM Phuc agreed to invest in developing the Lao Cai border gate economic zone into a commodity entrepot for countries in the Mekong sub-region.  VNS
HA NOI  Experts have called on the Ministry of Finance to be considerate and transparent with their plan to spend the environmental protection tax applied on gasoline, which they have just proposed to double.

The Ministry of Finance is drafting an amendment to the law on environmental protection tax. It suggests lifting the tax on gasoline from the current VN1,000-4,000 to VN3,000-8,000 per litre.

Higher tax rates for other fuel products, such as diesel and fuel oil, are also proposed in the draft amendment.

Should the new tax rate be applied, the price of gasoline will rise to more than VN22,000 (roughly US$1) a liter, according to analysts.

Some experts and lawmakers say the hike would hurt peoples daily lives and Vietnamese gas production.

Tran Ngoc Vinh, NA deputy from Hai Phong Province, said environmental protection is a necessary task, but protection the environment cant be based on taxation.

Most people use personal vehicles when traveling to work, a hike in gasoline prices would be a burden for them, Vinh said.

Ngo Tri Long, former head of the Ministry of Finances Price Management Institute, said that the proposed ceiling rate is so high that it will surely affect the market in general, Long added.

Moreover, its irrational if the Government tries to collect tax to make up for budget mismanagement, and its absolutely a bad thing for the whole economy, Long said.

Previously, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed concerns about the negative impact the new tax rate will have on the economy.

au Anh Tuan, head of VCCIs Legal Division, said the proposed environment tax hike would hurt enterprises and the economy, since fuels are an important input for the transport, agriculture and seafood sectors.

Need for transparency

Pham inh Thi, director of the ministrys Tax Policy Department under the finance ministry, said gasoline contains chemicals that adversely affect the environment. It is therefore subject to special consumption taxes and environmental protection taxes with different names around the world.

However, Ngo Tri Long said the most important thing is transparency in spending the environmental protection tax revenue.

In 2016 the total collection of environmental tax was VN40 trillion (US$1.7 billion) but we spent only VNDD10 trillion ($440 million). That means we havent used up the fund, why do we need to increase the tax rate? he said.

Moreover, he said the tax is often set as a percentage of a goods price, but in this case the tax was set at too rigid a number.

That means that whatever the price of gasoline, the tax will always be VN4,000, or VN8,000. Why? Its unusual, he said.

Nguyen Quang Thai from the Viet Nam Economics Science Association, wondered about tax collection.

Will it stand as a separate fund or will it all go the state budget? If it is for the environment protection causes, it must be spent on the environment he said.

This must be clear so that even if the tax is increased, people can still accept it, he said, adding that he doubted that the National Assembly would pass such proposal.

Responding these opinions, Thi, head of the Department of Tax Policies, emphasised the ratio of 1% budget collection spent on environmental protection was just direct expenditure, not including indirect expenditure.

The environmental protection tax is collected according to the State Budget Law and spent according to the State Budget Law, not that the revenue from the environmental protection tax is only used for environmental protection, he said.

Therefore, it is impossible to say the environmental protection tax is spent less than collected and used not for the right purpose.

However, such answer was not satisfactory to some.

Bui Thi An, an NA deputy from Ha Noi, said more information needs to be announced.

Its necessary to say upon what foundation such tax figures were proposed. How much do we need to make the air clean? How specifically will these tax revenues be spent? she said.

An added that it has been more than a year since the environmental protection tax was increased from VND1,000 to VND3,000, but no report has been announced on the spending of those funds.

Nguyen Xuan Phuong, a resident of Hoan Kiem district, said if the tax will be strictly and seriously used to improve the environment, then hes all in for it.

I can say I , and many people, would be more than willing to pay the proposed tax if it is spent effectively on our environment, he said. VNS
Having control over their lives, making independent decisions, and keeping up to date on social and political issues can help ensure womens rights at work and at home, participants said at the Women Bettering the World summit held on Wednesday in HCM City.  Photo vietnamfriendship.vn

HCM CITY  Having control over their lives, making independent decisions, and keeping up to date on social and political issues can help ensure womens rights at work and at home, participants said at the Women Bettering the World summit held on Wednesday in HCM City.

With the participation of more than 1,000 guests, including female leaders of many countries, the summit, held for the first time in Viet Nam by Forbes Viet Nam, discussed the status of women empowerment in todays world.

Participants agreed that more women worldwide hold important roles in Government and big companies and are succeeding in fields once dominated by men.

However, most women still struggle to balance work and home life, while many people in various parts of the world continue to believe that women should not do what men do and that housework should be the priority.

Women should be able to have control over their lives in all fields of life, especially in financial issues, said Nguyen Thanh Phuong, chairwoman of Viet Capital.

Phuong said that todays women should have the right to make her own decisions about family and career.

Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, CEO of REE, said women should keep up to date on political and social issues, which can help them succeed in business.

Dont assume that as a woman, you can wait for help from others, Thanh added. It is never too late for women. Set your standards for happiness and your needs.

ao Thu Hien, CEO of Golden Path Academics, said that women should determine their own lives but should seek a balance between private and public life.

All decisions are yours. Dont ever ask what you have to do. Just ask what you want to do, she said.

Gender equality

Although acknowledging years of progress for women, participants at the summit said there were still obstacles to women empowerment.

Nguyen Van Anh, director of the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women and Adolescents, said women still suffered from domestic violence, not only in rural areas but in urban areas as well.

They do not dare live with their desires, Van Anh said.

Van Anh said that her centre, which opened 20 years ago, continued to see domestic violence cases.

The difference is that people who come to us now are younger. This is a positive sign because it shows that women know how to respond after a conflict in the family, she said.

Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former ambassador of Viet Nam to the EU, said she saw positive signs of increasing gender equality in the country.

People have recognised the role of women in the development of the country and society, while many women have joined sectors once dominated by men.

However, Ninh said that many women continue to suffer from domestic violence and remain poor.

She said that Viet Nam lagged behind other countries in gender equality.

We have gained progress in gender equality, but it hasnt been adequate to our potential. We should do more, Ninh said.  VNS
HA NOI  Oversized billboards featuring popular brands have been common in Ha Noi for a long time now. However, removing these illegal billboards is trickier than erecting them, needing committed enforcement and companies to follow regulations.

The large signs that cover the front and sometimes also the sides of a building pose a legitimate fire concern. Firefighting forces said the panels block possible exits for those inside buildings should fire occur. Also, as they are made from highly inflammable materials such as styrofoam or plastic and furnished with lighting systems, they can cause fires.

The lesson of last years devastating fire that destroyed a karaoke bar and killed 13 remains raw and the tragedy began with an overbearing store sign that covered the front of the eight-storey building and went up in flames after an electrical malfunction.

Throughout the city, its hard not to notice ubiquitous and large black boards with the words thegioididong.com (roughly translated as Mobile World) in yellow.

Owned by Mobile World Investment Corporation, The Gioi Di ong chain specialising in consumer electronics is a household name. Their store signs are conspicuous, and so are their violations.

According to the Ministry of Constructions regulations, the total area of a front-facing store sign must not exceed 20 sqr.m, however, the sign panel of the The Gioi Di ong store located at 470-472 Le Duan stretched upwards of 120 sqr.m, six times above the limit. Independent billboards (not attached to buildings) usually found on highways must not be bigger than 120 sqr.m, but The Gioi Di ongs billboards measure 130-150 sqr.m.

Bui Minh Hoang, head of the culture management office under the municipal Department of Culture, said that metal-frame advertisement board or store signs over 20 sqr.m on buildings are only legal with a permit from authorities.

However, none of the stores belonging to this brand can produce such permissions, Hoang added.

Similarly, the The Gioi Di ong on ai La Street, Hai Ba Trung District, stretches dozens of metres in width and is at least five metres high, vastly over the limit.

Perhaps most egregiously, in the outlying district of Thanh Tri, a The Gioi Di ong store featuring a 100 sqr.m sign towers near the headquarters of the districts Peoples Committee.

Article 34 of the Law on Advertising (2012) says that signs must contain information regarding its owners, however, the brands signs contain only the website of the company plus its logo.

The company has made systematic and flagrant violations not only in the city, but also in other provinces, Hoang said.

According to Hoang, these violations from a well-known brand indirectly led to more companies doing the same, thinking that this practice would go unpunished.

Cleanup campaign soon commenced

As an extension of the sidewalk cleanup campaign currently underway in cities throughout the country, the capital citys authorities are planning a similar scheme to tackle illegal billboards.

In reality, these oversized and garish advertising boards werent erected unnoticed.

The management of billboards on buildings is delegated to local governments (wards and district-level). However, as far as accountability is concerned, a recent inter-sectoral campaign to get rid of billboards in ong a District shone a light on this murky subject.

The local construction department said it wasnt their job, but the culture departments responsibility, however, the culture department can only demolish offending boards, but the buildings the boards are on are within the construction departments jurisdiction.

Nguyen Duy Tuan, Department of Culture and Communications of the outlying Thanh Tri District said local officials have only been able to meet with the employees, never the owners [of The Gioi Di ong] so not one violation has been corrected.

In addition, under law, the highest fine for each illegal billboard is a paltry VN 10 million (US$440).

In 2016, the municipal Peoples Committee took down some 190 billboards that werent attached to buildings. Vo Nguyen Giap street, for example, is no longer cluttered with panels that obstruct drivers vision. This was not an easy task considering the resistance from offenders, ranging from litigation threats, small protests and harassment directed against officials.

Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee Nguyen uc Chung has directed competent agencies to tackle oversized storefront signs next.

The culture department does not have enough manpower to list and handle all the storefront signs. An inter-sectoral task force has been established to take an inventory of all billboards and offending signs in the city by the end of April, Bui Minh Hoang, head of culture management, said.

Once the violating cases have been identified, reminders will be issued to local governments to take care of the signs and a report will be compiled to submit to higher-ups for further guidance, he added.

It remains to be seen whether authorities renewed efforts will produce fruitful results, but targeting transgressions is a good first step.  VNS
HA NOI  Following an overall inspection of all karaoke shops, Ha Noi has decided to suspend 126 shops and asked more than 530 others to temporarily close.

The 530 shops can reopen by the end of this year if they address the violations.

The information was declared this week in a meeting attended by the press and the Ha Noi Party Committees Commission for Publicity and Education.

Deputy director of the Ha Noi Department of Fire Prevention and Control Police Nguyen Tuan Anh said following a fire at a karaoke shop on No 68 Tran Thai Tong Street, Cau Giay District, on November 1 last year, which killed 13 people, the police conducted an overall inspection of all karaoke shops.

The police checked more than 1,500 karaoke shops and imposed administrative fines on 353 shops, worth VN871 million (US$38,700).

Common violations included lack of fire prevention and control measures because the shops were located in small alleys, limited water sources and large advertisements that hindered an emergency exit in case of a fire.

Tuan Anh also said the capital had nearly 2,700 water outlets for fire control, but 380 outlets could not be used because they were too far from water plants.

The capital needed some 4,000 more water outlets for fire control, he said.

Under the present conditions, firemens ladders could reach only till the 16th floor, therefore fire prevention was very important, Tuan Anh said.

Director of the Ha Noi Department of Fire Prevention and Control Police Hoang Quoc inh said information about a fire was generally reported to the police 6-10 minutes late. Almost 70 per cent of fires were informed to the police by neighbours, while only 30 per cent were informed to by house owners themselves.  VNS
A NANG  Some 136 at-risk babies have received milk over two months from 46 donor mothers from the countrys first human milk bank at the a Nang Hospital for Women and Children.

International and Vietnamese experts on breastfeeding, newborn care and human milk banks heard this at a workshop held today in central a Nang City, organised to learn more about the establishment of the countrys first human milk bank.

At the event, hospital representatives shared initial achievements and challenges of the milk bank and the role of early essential newborn care in ensuring there are enough milk donors to feed all infants in need of human milk.

Since 2015, the a Nang Department of Health and the a Nang Hospital for Women and Children have been working with PATH and Alive & Thrive to highlight the importance of human milk and the ability of human milk banks to offer a solution for optimal growth and development for at-risk children. As a result of this partnership, Viet Nams first human milk bank opened on February 6, 2017.

The hospital has trained health staff across departments to provide breastfeeding support for all mothers and infants to ensure infants receive the best nutrition possible. Since its opening, 136 at-risk babies have received milk from 46 donor mothers, who passed strict hygiene and safety testing, totaling 60 litres of donated human milk.

Nguyen uc Vinh, director of the Maternal and Child Health Department at the Ministry of Health, said: The human milk bank is giving at-risk children of a Nang City a chance of survival. We hope the lessons and experiences from this model will be applied in other locations in Viet Nam.

The human milk bank represents more than just a location where breast milk is donated and received to save the lives of vulnerable children; it also aims to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding and promote the same in society. The rate of breastfeeding in Viet Nam in general, and in a Nang city in particular, should be increased to a level of importance equal with breast milk, director of the a Nang Health Department Ngo Kim Yen said.

One of the key things we see in the development of the human milk bank here in Viet Nam is that it cannot operate alone -- it must be integrated within a wider model of newborn care, Program Director of Alive & Thrive in Southeast Asia Roger Mathisen said.

The human milk bank provides a link between neonatal care and breastfeeding, connecting at-risk newborns with human milk. An integrated approach linking neonatal care, human milk banking and breastfeeding promotion is vital to its success, Mathisen added.

Studies have repeatedly shown that of all the known solutions to reduce child mortality (22 deaths out of every 1,000 live births among children under five in Viet Nam), human milk has the greatest potential impact on child survival and development; it contains the key nutrients infants need to build strong immune systems and is the best and easiest food for babies to digest.

While all newborns can benefit from human milk, not all women are able to provide breast milk for their babies. Sometimes the mother is too ill or on medication incompatible with breastfeeding. For infants at greatest risk -- pre-term, low weight or orphaned -- the World Health Organisation recommends donor milk as the best alternative.

The a Nang Hospital for Women and Children is the top-ranked hospital in the field of pediatrics and obstetrics with 900 planned beds and 1765 actual beds. Each year, the hospital welcomes 13,000-15,000 births. The hospitals neonatal pediatrics department provides treatment for some 120 babies with low weight, premature birth or illness each day, and is also a training centre for neonatal care for many domestic and international hospitals.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ha Noi Peoples Court on Wednesday sentenced two Japanese men for trafficking seven gold statues via the Noi Bai International Airport in August last year.

Iwamura Masakazu, 46, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and Kitada Takayoshi, 34, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

Iwamura Masakazu is the former director of the Japan-based RG Innovation Company, which mediates on behalf of Vietnamese workers who wish to work in Japan. Aware that gold products are sold at very high prices in Japan, after visiting Viet Nam several times to study the trade market, Iwamura Masakazu decided to take gold products from Viet Nam to Japan to earn profits.

Iwamura Masakazu asked Kitada Takayoshi for help, who agreed to be part of the scam.

In July last year, the two men visited the Sinh Dien Gold and Gemstones Co Ltd in the northern province of Bac Ninh and asked the owner of the company to make seven gold statues. They made an appointment to collect the products one month later.

To deceive Vietnamese customs, Iwamura Masakazu asked Kitada Takayoshi to get the seven gold statues plated in silver.

On August 3 last year, the Noi Bai International Airport Customs found seven statues in Kitada Takayoshis luggage that were not declared at customs.

Customs check revealed that the seven statues weighed nearly 7kg and were worth more than VN6.7 trillion (US$297.6 million).  VNS
HA NOI  Three Vietnamese teachers have won prizes in the Microsoft Education Exchange 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

This year, the annual forum attracted around 300 educators from 83 countries and territories, who discussed and shared experiences in education innovations. As part of the exchange forum, a competition was organised among teachers.

Participants were divided into five-person groups of different nationalities and had to work on a randomly selected project and submit it in 24 hours.

Tran Thi Thuy, a teacher from uc Hop High School in Hung Yen Province, and her group won the first prize of this years education exchange.

Le Thanh Ha from Ha Nois Olympia School was also awarded the first prize for a group challenge.

Nguyen Thi Lieu, vice-principal of uc Tri Junior High School in HCM City, was honoured with the Outstanding Individual title after she, for the first time, challenged herself with playing new roles of a mentor and an international judge at the forum.  VNS
Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov holds up his hand as he votes against a draft resolution that condemns the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria at the Security Council on April 12, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. AFP/VNA Photo

Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov holds up his hand as he votes against a draft resolution that condemns the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria at the Security Council on April 12, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. AFP/VNA Photo

UNITED NATIONS, United States  Russia on Wednesday vetoed a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government co-operate with an investigation of a suspected chemical attack, blocking Security Council action against its ally for an eighth time.

Britain, France and the United States had put forward the measure in response to the suspected sarin gas attack in rebel-held Khan Sheikhun on April 4 that left 87 dead, including 31 children.

The Russian veto came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared following talks in Moscow that there was a "low level of trust" between the United States and Russia.

China, another veto-holding power at the council, abstained in the vote, as did Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. Bolivia voted against the measure and 10 other council members supported it.

"With its veto, Russia said no to accountability, Russia said no to co-operation with the UNs independent investigation and Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped to promote peace in Syria," said US Ambassador Nikki Haley.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," she said.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov recalled that Moscow had "consistently expressed our categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution but that Western governments had insisted on a vote.

The proposed resolution would have condemned the alleged attack and expressed the councils full backing to investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The draft would have demanded that the Syrian government 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.

Russia on the wrong side

The West has accused Assads forces of carrying out the attack in Idlib province that shocked the world.

France and Britain expressed its dismay over the Russian veto.

"This puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement in London.

In Paris, French President Francois Hollande said "Russia bears a heavy responsibility" by systematically opposing multilateral action to protect its Syrian ally Assad.

UN investigators already have the mandate under previous resolutions to look into allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria but the West had pushed for council resolution 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.

"To Assad and the Syrian government: you have no friends in the world after your horrible actions," Haley said.

"The days of your arrogance and disregard for humanity are over. Your excuses will no longer be heard. I suggest you look at this vote very carefully and heed this warning," she added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow following his talks with Tillerson that the OPCW should be allowed to carry out an "objective investigation".

Russia presented a separate draft text condemning the US military strikes in Syria and requesting an OPCW investigation, but it was unclear whether that measure would come up for a vote.

The OPCW executive council will discuss the investigation during a meeting Thursday in The Hague, the Russian envoy said.  AFP
WAVERLY  The director of a Waverly day-care center has been arrested on misdemeanor charges after police searched her home and vehicle last week.

Kelly Raney Hampton, 44, of Waverly, was arrested April 6 for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a prescription drug. She was released from the Bremer County Jail the same day.

Hampton is the director of the Little Learners Preschool and Daycare on Technology Place in Waverly, according to records with the Iowa Department of Human Services.

According to police, officers were notified about the odor of marijuana at an apartment building at 401 24th St. N.W. at 12:18 p.m. April 6.

Police found the smell coming from Apt. 2, where Hampton lived, and a short time later she arrived at the building.

Authorities were able to obtain a search warrant for the apartment and her vehicle, and they found a plastic bag with suspected meth residue in her dresser, an unlabeled bottle with two hydrocodone pills and pipes in her apartment and marijuana in her apartment and under the drivers seat in her vehicle, according to court records.
WATERLOO -- Waterloo police have apprehended a man that failed to return to a correction facility this week.

On Wednesday, officer, acting on a tip from Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers, located and arrested Nicholas Robert Campbell-Scott, 19, in the area of East Donald and Niles streets.

Campbell-Scott had been wanted for going missing from a Residential Center in Cedar Rapids. He had been serving time for second-degree robbery, eluding, possession of contraband, burglary and carrying weapons.

Campbell-Scott was transported to the Black Hawk County Jail and booked in on his warrant.

He was admitted to the work release facility on March 31, and went missing Sunday.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been detained on probation charges and his brother has been charged with attempting to support ISIS following a series of FBI raids.

The Waterloo resident, 37-year-old Wayne Johnathon Jones II, is only being held for allegedly absconding while on probation for a 2001 misdemeanor battery conviction out of Kenosha, Wis., according to jail officials and court records. He was taken into custody during a predawn raid at his Western Avenue apartment Wednesday.

He is currently in the Black Hawk County Jail and is being held without bond.

Officials at the FBI declined to comment on the Waterloo operation.

In a simultaneous raid in Illinois, Wayne Jones brother, 35-year-old Joseph D. Yusuf Abdulahad Jones, and his brothers friend, Edward Abdul Wali Schimenti, 35, both of Zion, Ill., were taken into custody. Both are charged with conspiring to provide and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, a terrorist organization.

The Illinois men allegedly gave cellphones to a person they believed was an ISIS devotee traveling to fight in Syria. The cellphones were to be used as detonators for improvised explosive devices. Joseph Jones told the man he hoped the phones could be used to kill many nonbelievers, court records state.

Joseph Jones and Schimenti also drove him to an airport to begin his journey overseas. Schimenti told him to drench that land with they, they blood, court records state.

The traveler, it turned out, wasnt an ISIS follower going to Syria. He was a confidential informant working with the FBI.

According to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Joseph Jones and Schimenti pledged their allegiance to ISIS and advocated on social media for violent extremism.

In one online posting, Joseph Jones bemoans his inability of find a good black Islamic State flag on eBay. Nothing but filthy Shia and Iranian flags pop up, he wrote, according to court records.

In the fall of 2015 the two met three people they believed were fellow ISIS followers, but two of the individuals were undercover FBI employees and the third was cooperating with law enforcement.

Over the next several months Joseph Jones and Schimenti met the undercover informants on numerous occasions, during which Joseph Jones and Schimenti discussed their devotion to ISIS and shared ISIS execution videos, the complaint states. Some of the meetings took place in Waukegan, Zion, Bridgeview, North Chicago, Highland Park and Chicago.

One of the undercover operatives eventually brought Joseph Jones an Islamic State flag and in April 2016, Joseph Jones allegedly shared photos of himself and Schimenti holding the flag in front of a sign reading Welcome to Illinois Beach State Park, court records state.

Joseph Jones allegedly asked an undercover FBI agent to share the photo on his Google+ account with a caption reading Support from dar ul fuffar, meaning support from the land of the infidels.

During a later recorded conversation with the cooperating source, Schimenti commented he would like to see the ISIS flag on top of the White House, according to court records.

In February and March 2017, Schimenti worked out with the cooperating source at a gym in Zion, the complaint states. Schimenti believed the man intended to travel overseas to fight for ISIS, and Schimenti commented the exercises would make you good, you know, in the battlefield, according to the complaint.

At one point in the sting operation, Schimenti allegedly made comments about the Great Lakes Naval Station in the Chicago area, and investigators believed he was considering it as a target. At another point, the complaint refers to comments Schimenti made about being angry at a gay coworker.

Sharia [Islamic Law] comes here, we are putting you [homosexuals] on top of Sears Tower and we drop you, Schimenti said, according to the complaint.

Last month the pair furnished several cellular phones to the cooperating source, believing they would be used to detonate explosive devices in ISIS attacks, the complaint states. On April 7, Joseph Jones and Schimenti drove the cooperating source to OHare International Airport in Chicago with the understanding he would travel to Syria to fight with ISIS, the complaint states.
WATERLOO  As Waterloo Community Schools begins applying a new collective bargaining law to its staff contracts, the initial proposals offered to employee groups for negotiations this week looked grim.

Each of the three proposals was largely a long list of items to be deleted from the contracts. Some components are now excluded from public employee bargaining under the legislation signed by Gov. Branstad while others are permissive  meaning they can be included in the contract if both sides agree.

Its directly attributed to the changes in the law, the districts chief negotiator Brett Nitzschke, of the Cedar Rapids law firm Lynch Dallas, said at one of the sessions.

Because of the requirements under the law its the districts position if somethings excluded we have to take it out, he said at another session. District negotiators also took out the permissive items, but he made clear that they will discuss those issues with each group and consider continuing to include them in the contracts. The tactic is being used to reserve the districts right under the law.

Nitzschke added, This is a lot of change that were trying to implement because its been forced on us.

Negotiators also offered initial wage proposals for the contracts, which will go into effect July 1. Increases of 1.1 percent in base wages were included for the Waterloo Education Association and the Waterloo Educational Support Personnel. No increase was included in the proposal to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2749.

Nitzschke noted that those are only a starting point. He said the district is also waiting for the Public Employee Relations Board to clarify what constitutes base wages  a brand new term included in the legislation.

During the past two weeks, each the groups have offered their initial public bargaining proposals. Now they begin negotiating behind closed doors with the district.

The WEA contract covers 887 teachers, counselors and family support workers. The WESP contract covers 353 secretaries, home school workers, clerk typists, paraeducators, study hall monitors and behavior intervention specialists. The AFSCME contract covers roughly 200 food service, custodial and maintenance staff.

In an opening statement, Superintendent Jane Lindaman counseled the employees to come at the process with a collaborative spirit.

With recent legislative changes, there is no doubt that the negotiations process is not only complex, it is also unclear, sometimes with more questions than answers, she said. Now as we kick off this process, I want to urge each person in the room to think of the changes not as something to fear, but something to navigate.
DECORAH  A motion to rezone property in Bluffton for a new home failed to receive approval from the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors on Monday.

The supervisors held the second reading of an ordinance to rezone 10 acres of agricultural property to R-2 unincorporated residential before voting to waive the third and final reading and vote on the matter. Supervisors Dean Thompson, John Beard and Mark Kuhn voted against the rezoning and Board Chairman John Logsdon voted in favor of the change. Supervisor Floyd Ashbacher was absent.

Wayne Mashek of Cresco wanted the rezoning to build a house on the property located on the east side of the road between 3294 and 3306 Chimney Rock Road near Bluffton. The Winneshiek County Zoning Commission has recommended the rezoning be approved.

His plan was to build the house set back from the top of the bluff, over the Upper Iowa River, so it is out of the Bluff Impact Zone but still in the Bluff Protection Zone. If the supervisors had approved the rezoning, Mashek would have been required to submit a site plan to the Zoning Commission to build within the protection zone.

Beard said bluff protection and impact zones were established for a reason.

If we make any variations, it opens us up for a challenge for any respective change in the use. It makes it harder for P&Z and our Board, he said.

After a public hearing on the rezoning last week, Thompson said allowing a change to unincorporated residential zoning would be contrary to the countys 2012 comprehensive plan for conservation of bluff land.
Lawmakers will pay a greater share for their state health insurance coverage under one of the 26 bills that Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law Wednesday.

At present, lawmakers pay $20 a month for single health insurance and from $20 to $344 a month for family coverage, according to the Legislative Services Agency.

Noncontract executive branch employees pay $26 to $79 a month for single coverage and from $210 to $335 per month for family coverage.

Senate File 230 says lawmakers will pay the same health insurance premiums as those non-contract executive branch employees.

Other bills that will become law dealt with longer straight truck lengths on Iowa highways, the regulation of bass fishing tournaments and the tagging of deer carcasses.

RESTROOM CAMERAS: Legislation to ban video monitoring of public restrooms, locker rooms or showers in public buildings cleared the House Government Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

However, some members pushed back, arguing cameras can be helpful in preventing bullying, vandalism and other crimes.

SF 499, which has been approved by the full Senate Government Oversight Committee, was drafted in response to the Iowa City Public Library, where video cameras were installed in public restrooms as a theft deterrent.

Pete McRoberts of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa told lawmakers there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a restroom, and it is very concerning for a government agency to videotape anyone in a state of undress.

Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, agreed people should not be filmed while sitting on toilet doing their business, but questioned whether they should have an expectation of privacy in the common area of a restroom.

The committee approved the bill 7-2, making it eligible for consideration by the full House next week.

SOBRIETY MONITORING: Iowa senators voted 49-0 Wednesday to require drivers arrested for or convicted of impaired driving to participate in twice-daily sobriety monitoring as well as require some drivers to install ignition interlocks.

SF 444, which now goes to Gov. Terry Branstad, also says a distracted driver who struck and killed someone could be convicted of a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The bill makes cellphone use while driving evidence of reckless driving with willful or wanton disregard for public safety.

The legislation also creates a 24/7 monitoring program for people convicted of alcohol-related crimes.

FENDER-BENDER PROTOCOL: The Senate voted 49-0 Wednesday to change the protocol for drivers involved in fender-bender accidents.

House File 313, which goes to the governor, requires Iowa drivers involved in a minor, property-damage traffic accident to first move the vehicle from the travel portion of a roadway if the vehicle can be removed safely.

Current law requires the driver involved in an accident resulting only in damage to stop the vehicle at the accident scene until the driver has fulfilled the legal requirement relating to the exchange of personal information with the other driver involved.

However, safety officials say that increases the possibility of secondary accidents.

VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION: The Iowa Senate voted 47-2 Wednesday to send the governor legislation allowing Iowans to sign a voluntary exclusion prohibiting them from entering an Iowa-licensed casino.

Under current law, a voluntary exclusion is for life. Senate File 442 would allow a person to choose either a lifetime ban or a five-year exclusion. The five-year exclusion could be renewed for another five years or for life.

The bill allows banned persons to attend functions at a casino but not be on the gaming floor.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS: The Iowa Senate confirmed 40 of Gov. Terry Branstads appointments to state posts, boards and commissions. During Wednesdays votes, senators approved Doug Ommen (49-0) as Iowas insurance commissioner; Howard Hill (37-12), Chad Ingles (37-12) and Bob Sinclair (46-3) to the state Environmental Protection Commission; Nancy Maher to the state Transportation Commission; and Jeff Lamberti (49-0) and Carl Heinrich to the state Racing and Gaming Commission. Maher and Heinrich were among 35 appointees approved by a 47-1 en bloc vote, while the other confirmations were handled via individual voters. Gubernatorial nominees are required to receive a two-thirds majority  or at least 34 affirmative votes  to be confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
Even before the Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch as a justice of the Supreme Court, and before it nuked the filibuster for nominees, the Trump administration and conservatives were already plotting to fill the next vacancy.

Indeed, they have made overtures to swing Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to get him to feel comfortable with retirement. If Kennedy goes, or if a liberal justice gets sick or dies, Democrats have few levers to stop Republicans from confirming a nominee even more conservative than Gorsuch. The future, then, holds a Supreme Court where Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. is the swing vote  a scary eventuality for progressives.

Last year was the real moment for the left to act on the Supreme Court. Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia had died, creating the first opportunity in decades to move the court to the left on issues including the environment and civil rights. There could have been a majority to overturn the controversial 2010 Citizens United decision, which has ushered in a new era of big money in politics.

But within an hour of the public announcement of Scalias death, Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell pledged no nominee from President Barack Obama would get a hearing before the Senate. When Obama nominated a well-respected moderate judge, Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Republicans stood their ground  and Democrats failed to take to the streets.

Whether it was because Garland was a middle-of-the road white male, or because liberals did not understand what was at stake or for some other reason, the court issue did not motivate the left. But it did motivate the right. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, easily won re-election in Iowa despite his obstruction.

According to exit polls, of the one in five voters who said Supreme Court appointments were their most important issue, 56 percent supported Donald Trump and 41 percent supported Hillary Clinton. Of the 28 percent of voters who said Supreme Court appointments were not important to their vote, 52 percent supported Clinton while 39 percent supported Trump.

If Kennedy or Justice Stephen Breyer or Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves and Trump gets to appoint a replacement, the court will move dramatically to the right.

There could well be five justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case guaranteeing women the right to an abortion. The court could hold that all affirmative action plans in public education violate the Constitution. The court could make it much harder to assert claims that restrictive voting laws violate the equal protection clause or the Voting Rights Act. If progressives think the Supreme Court is conservative now, just wait.

With the filibuster gone, the options for the left should another vacancy occur before 2020 are slim. The left could encourage protests and try to pressure moderate senators not to confirm a hard-right nominee, but that seems unlikely.

Sad as it may be, liberals may have no choice but to put faith in Roberts as a political actor. With Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Clarence Thomas, Gorsuch and another hard conservative to his right, Roberts could calculate overturning Roe v. Wade  and turning the abortion question over to the states  would actually be disastrous for the Republican Party.

Suddenly every state election would become a battle over abortion, and many apathetic liberals could turn into motivated ones. Granted, Roberts would almost certainly not fight to save Roe  but he might vote to kill it with 1,000 cuts rather than overturn it outright.

I dont mean for liberals to find comfort in this scenario. (Roberts likely wont have any compunction against destroying what is left of affirmative action or removing the remaining limits on money in politics. Want to donate $100 million to your favorite presidential candidate? No problem.) On the contrary, the possibility Roberts restraint is the best hope for preserving progressive constitutional rulings shows us the left is in a truly poor position.

The only real solution is for Democrats to pray for the current justices good health  and then to take back the presidency and the Senate. And once they do, perhaps theyll play hardball themselves by increasing the number of justices on the court and packing it with liberals.
Apr 13, 2017 | By Benedict

BeeHex, a 3D printed pizza specialist that was once affiliated with NASA, is collaborating with cauliflower pizza crust company CaliFlour to develop a 3D printed vegan pizza crust. The companies recently demonstrated the 3D printing process at a sold-out event in Columbus, Ohio.

Cali'flour partners with BeeHex on 3D printed vegan pizza crust

You might think BeeHex and its 3D printed pizzas are the future of food. You might, on the other hand, think that BeeHex (along with similar niche 3D printing companies) is dragging 3D printing down into the depths of pure novelty. Either way, its hard to ignore the now Columbus-based company, what with its frankly bizarre backstory and headline-grabbing 3D food printer.

If you arent familiar with the food 3D printing company by now, heres the gist: in 2013, the group of engineers that would eventually form BeeHex were awarded a grant from NASA to develop a 3D printer that could print food in space for hungry astronauts. Yum. Later on, members of Congress noticed this had happened, decided it was a colossal waste of money, and hastily pulled the plug on the project. The BeeHex crew rallied, continued their research, and decided to make a terrestrial food 3D printer instead. This 3D printer now 3D prints customizable pizzas at concerts and sporting events.

The BeeHex pizza-making 3D printer

In what will surely be music to the ears of vegans everywhere, BeeHex has now announced a partnership will cauliflower crust specialist CaliFlour that will see it 3D printing vegan pizzas crusts (and plant-based dessert doughs.) The two companies recently showcased their new printed foodstuffs in front of a 300-strong crowd at GroundWork, a nonprofit-friendly IT firm based in Columbus.

CaliFlour represents the type of forward-thinking collaborations were looking for, commented BeeHex CEO Anjan Contractor. Their organic, plant-based approach to crusts appeals to vegan and health-conscious markets that appear ready to grow tenfold over the next year.

BeeHex says its work with CaliFlour is a continuation of its commitment to making fresh food products whose calories can be easily counted. More importantly, the 300 spectators witnessing the first BeeHex 3D printed vegan pizza crusts seemed to be impressed. Perhaps they just came for free pizza, but 300 attendees for a product launch cant be scoffed at.

Pizzas 3D printed by BeeHex (non-vegan)

The team at BeeHex combines the authenticity and technological capability that it takes to revolutionize how food is made, said CaliFlour founder Amy Lacey, who even suggested that the BeeHex pizza printing system made dough better than human hands. Anjan, Jordan French, Ben Feltner, and Chintan Kanuga are rapidly building out what could be the next major platform play in the Internet of Things space in a way that lets people personalize their foods.

After raising $1 million in a funding round at the beginning of March, BeeHex moved its headquarters to Columbus. To complement its pizza printing powers, the company is now working on a fine-point dessert 3D printer for frostings, cakes, and other desserts.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Apr 13, 2017 | By Tess

Dutch 3D printer manufacturer Nectar has announced that it has received a one million euro investment from Dutch investment company TIIN Capital and venture capital firm PPM Oost. The funding will allow the Arnhem-based 3D printer developer to increase its production, sales, marketing, and R&D for its upcoming Nectar One 3D printer.

Nectar was founded in 2013 by Nick Wilderink and Stein de Haan, the companys current CEO and CTO, respectively. The two were driven to develop an affordable 3D printer that would enable users to not only make accurate and good quality 3D prints, but to do so in a user-friendly and accessible way. The fruit of their labors is the Nectar One, an industrial delta-style 3D printer which features a modular architecture and an integrated HEPA and carbon filter module.

Currently, Nectars team is working hard to bring its first product to market, and the added boost from the 1 million investment is sure to help the process along. According to the companys blog, it needed capital to scale even further and expand [its] business to drive growth. Thanks to TIIN Capital and PPM Oosts interest in the Dutch 3D printer developer, Nectar will be able to increase its production and invest more in its sales, marketing, and R&D departments.

Were glad that we have two very experienced investors on board with TIIN Capital and PPM Oost, commented Wilderink. They are a huge asset to our business and will help bring hassle free 3D printing to many more companies. Nectars focus on reliability, usability and ease of use mean that we had to build our own 3D printer and software from the ground up. This requires a significant investment in time and money and with our current round we will be able to expand production and R&D to further build upon the Nectar One ecosystem.

So far, the 3D printer has already been tested by launch customers such as Teijin Aramid, a Dutch subsidiary of Japanese Chemical and Pharmaceutical company Teijin. The company was provided with one of the first Nectar One 3D printers to manufacture complexly structured prototype components. A recent post by Wilderink on 3D Hubs says that the 3D printer is ready to ship and that the company is looking for makers or businesses to provide feedback about the Nectar One.

Nectar has listed a number of specifications for its upcoming 3D printer on its website:

Build volume: 280 mm  x 400 mm height

Maximum bed temperature: 150 degrees Celsius

Maximum nozzle temperature: 300 degrees Celsius

Closed Loop Filtering System

Replaceable Active Carbon & HEPA Filters

LAN-port, USB-B & 230V Power

The 3D printer is also compatible with a range of different materials, including ABS, PLA, HIPS, ASA, PC, PA 12, and PET G. The Nectar Ones cost is listed as 5,999 on the Nectar website, though if you participate in the 3D Hubs feedback program, you could be eligible for a 20% discount.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Apr 13, 2017 | By Tess

A team of students from a German university has built a single-person racing vehicle using 3D printing technologies. The impressive racer, called TOXIC, is powered by a single cordless electric drillthe kind you might find in your own tool kit.

Last summer we wrote about the annual Akkuschrauberrennen (Cordless Screwdriver Race) that is hosted by the HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim, Germany. For nearly a decade, the event has brought together students teams from various universities to design and build the fastest one-person vehicles operated by nothing but a cordless electric screwdriver.

For the 2016 races, the competition required that all teams use an organic-inspired design and incorporate at least one 3D printed component into their racer. Obviously, this piqued our interest immensely. (You can read more about the races and their results here.)

Team Toxic, comprised of five students from Hochschule Coburg (or the Coburg University of Applied Sciences), built a truly stunning 3D printed vehicle for the races that we would be remiss to not mention.

The vehicles structure (as well as its name) was inspired by the shape of a stinging scorpion, which can kind of be discerned by looking at it. Its framework, however, is what we really want to draw attention to. The racers 3D printed framework integrates a visually striking triangular structure which provides strength and durability to the vehicle without adding on too much weight.

Of course, being built for one purpose (going fast while only being powered by a cordless drill), the rest of the vehicle is quite rudimentary, using the drivers shifting weight for steering, for instance. At its full power, the TOXIC racer has reached speeds of up to 12 miles per hour. (A full battery runs for about a mile.)

Impressively, Team Toxic took home the second place audience award with its 3D printed vehicle at the 2016 races, which took place on June 25, 2016. As the 2017 annual Akkuschrauberrennen approaches, we cant wait to see what kind of 3D printed vehicles will be showcased this year!

Students Achim Staude, Bastian Reichhardt, Christian Kropfeld, Martin Ehlers, and Christoph Uebel all worked on Team Toxic.

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willi wrote at 4/14/2017 3:49:01 AM:That is some pretty hefty music for 12mph! Still, it looks very nice! :-)Eric Spidell wrote at 4/14/2017 12:05:29 AM:Wow! I want the files to print my own!




Apr 13, 2017 | By Benedict

Select KFC restaurants in India are offering customers 3D printed figurines of themselves when they buy the KFC I-Box, a 5-in-1 chicken meal. The chosen restaurants have set up Twindom full-body 3D scanning booths where customers can get themselves digitized.

KFC India staff show off their new 3D printing capabilities

Its been a long time since I wondered what toy I might be getting in my McDonalds Happy Meal. Regardless of the fact that I prefer adult portions, I dont imagine that any plastic trinket would persuade me to buy a particular kind of fast food, from McDonalds, Burger King, or anywhere.

At least, thats what I thought before I heard about this ridiculous new campaign from KFC. The chicken behemoths Indian locations are offering customers the chance to turn themselves into 3D printed selfies, miniature figurines made using a combination of 3D scanning and 3D printing technology, when they buy an I-Box 5-in-1 meal.

We can only presume that the 3D printed figurines are boneless.

Excited chicken lovers queue for their 3D printed selfies at a KFC restaurant in India

KFC launched the campaign last month across select Indian restaurants, where Twindom 3D scanning booths have been set up to allow I-Box customers to digitize and 3D print themselves. Once the process is complete, they can pick up their chicken, fries, soda, and tiny miniature clone, presumably feeling like theyve got a pretty good deal.

Toy collectibles are passe and so are selfies, said Lluis Ruiz Ribot, CMO of KFC India. The KFC I-Box takes things to a whole new level: the Smart Toy is unique, personalized, and a mini-you.

The unusual marketing campaign was brought about with the help of Little Me, a 3D printed figurine company based in Mumbai that brought a number of Twindoms Twinstant Mobile full body 3D scanners to the participating KFC restaurants. These $23K scanners can be set up in about 20 minutes, and take 5-10 minutes to generate 3D previews.

A Twinstant Mobile 3D scanning booth

Interestingly, KFC isnt the only company trying to cook up publicity with 3D printed selfies. Landmark Bank in Texas recently launched a campaign called Become a Landmark in an attempt to entice new customers to open an account. The reward? A 3D printed figurine, of course. Landmark Banks slogan for the campaign is Dont be a number, be a Landmark, the idea being that the customer will get personalized, long-term attentionlike a landmark.

Landmark Bank attempts to woo prospective bankers with its 3D printed figurines

The idea of using 3D printing as a way to offer personalization to customers is interesting and one I think we will see more of as brands look to differentiate and create unique experiences to drive customers to physical stores. said Will Drevno, co-founder of Twindom.

Posted in Fun with 3D Printing

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KW wrote at 4/27/2017 10:44:53 PM:What KFCs offer this? Do you know their location?A. Graves wrote at 4/14/2017 3:17:24 AM:Which printer are they using?




Apr 13, 2017 | By Tess

A joint team of international researchers has unveiled its latest achievement: a 3D printing method that allows printed objects to permanently transform into different forms when exposed to heat. The new technique, a type of 4D printing, was the result of research conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology in the U.S., the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and the Xi'an Jiaotong University in China.

4D printing, which introduces the element of time and movement into 3D printing, has been in development for some time, with researchers from around the globe developing various different printable materials that can change form once exposed to elements such as water and heat. Much of the existing 4D printing research has relied on the use of hydrogels, which are incredibly soft, making it difficult for them to maintain their form once they have transformed.

With new research coming out of Georgia Tech, SUTD, and Xi'an Jiaotong, however, it now seems to be possible to create 3D printed objects that can transform permanently, marking a significant step forward for 4D printing technology. The research was recently published in the journal Science Advances under the title "Direct 4D printing via active composite materials.

The 4D printing process consists of 3D printing layers of shape memory polymers (SMPs), with each layer essentially programmed to react differently when exposed to heat. SMPs, for those unfamiliar, are smart polymers which are designed to remember their original shape and to shape-shift into a pre-determined shape when heat is applied. A previous study by the research team dealing with SMPs was able to make objects that could fold on themselves using hinges.

Jerri Qi, a professor from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, said of the new method: This new approach significantly simplifies and increases the potential of 4D printing by incorporating the mechanical programming post-processing step directly into the 3D printing process. This allows high-resolution 3D printed components to be designed by computer simulation, 3D printed, and then directly and rapidly transformed into new permanent configurations by simply heating.

To demonstrate the new 3D printing technique, the research team manufactured a number of different transformable objects, including a rather complex flower whose petals contract and bend when exposed to hot water, and a lattice structure which can expand up to almost eight times its original size when placed in the same water.

"Our composite materials at room temperature have one material that is soft but can be programmed to contain internal stress, while the other material is stiff," explained Zhen Ding, a postdoc researcher at SUTD. "We use computational simulations to design composite components where the stiff material has a shape and size that prevents the release of the programmed internal stress from the soft material after 3D printing. Upon heating the stiff material softens and allows the soft material to release its stress and this results in a changeoften dramaticin the product shape."

As seen in the demo videos, the transformations for the 3D printed objects is remarkably fast, taking only about five seconds to completemuch faster than previous hydrogel 4D printing techniques. The researchers even have some degree of control over the final transformed shape, as it is controlled via various printing parameters which are implemented.

While the process is still in its early stages, the technology does show promise for a number of different applications. For instance, 4D printed objects could be extremely useful for creating compactly stacked or rolled structures, which can be shipped easily and then expanded when they are needed. The research team even says that it could one day be possible to have objects react to different types of stimuli, such as light, or even electricity.

Martin L. Dunn, a professor at SUTD, said the technique "promises to enable myriad applications across biomedical devices, 3D electronics, and consumer products," adding that it "even opens the door to a new paradigm in product design, where components are designed from the onset to inhabit multiple configurations during service.

Posted in 3D Printing Technology

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Apr 13, 2017 | By David

As modern society becomes increasingly globalized, some of the most popular technological innovations on the market are aimed at keeping people in contact with their loved ones. The latest product from robotics startup OhmniLabs is a telepresence robot, made using 3D printing technology, that will allow families to stay in touch and participate in the same activities no matter where they are in the world. An Indiegogo campaign has been launched to raise funds for the project.

Based in Santa Clara, California, the OhmniLabs team is made up of robotics experts and tech entrepreneurs who believe in the power of consumer robots to make a positive impact on peoples everyday lives. And the team is certainly making use of its extensive experience in AI, machine learning, multi-agent systems, industrial design, mechanical & electrical engineering, and cloud infrastructure to make its dreams a reality.

The new robot currently being crowdfunded is known as the Ohmni, and it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about telepresence. It is specifically designed for homes and families, and will allow for the kinds of shared experiences and group interactions that existing video chat solutions, such as Skype or Google Hangouts, arent ideally suited to. According to Thuc Vu, co-founder and CEO of OhmniLabs, We created a robot that people can use everyday to not only communicate but experience life together. The possibilities are endless. I use Ohmni with my grandma in Vietnam and its amazing how natural our interaction is.

The Ohmni was built almost entirely from 3D printed parts, on-site at the OhmniLabs base in Santa Clara. It was designed from the ground-up with simplicity being the most important factor. Only the most basic level of technical knowledge is required to use the robot, meaning that elderly family members will be able to stay in touch just as well as their more tech-savvy relatives. Additionally, operation of the Ohmni is 100% remote, as it is controlled via a small docking station; and set-up is incredibly quick and straightforward, with the robot being fully assembled out of the box, ready to connect to WiFi and make a call at the touch of a button. Finally, no account or software installation is necessary, as the robots cloud technology can integrate with a Google or Facebook account to authenticate a user.

The robots ultra-smooth head and body movements can be controlled using a mouse or touchpad, which reportedly makes the experience of video calling feel more natural, as the camera can track exactly where the user wants it to without any jerkiness or awkward repositioning. The GlideDrive motor technology also means that the robot is whisper-quiet, helping to eliminate any sounds that could interfere with a familys interactions. From an aesthetic perspective, the Ohmni robot makes use of a variety of high-quality materials, such as brushed aluminium and bamboo, so users won't have to sacrifice style to incorporate the Ohmni into their homes.

OhmniLabs has conducted a pilot program over the past six months to gain feedback on their product, collaborating with families that have elderly relatives living far away. The ability to easily connect on a daily basis has proven very helpful for these people and feedback has been positive, so much so that this program was recently featured in the New York Times Retirement section.

The crowdfunding campaign starts today and is scheduled to end on May 10. Early backers will be receiving the first Ohmni robots, 3D printed to order, in four months time. The Super Early Bird price is just $1,599 per unit, and there are a number of other benefits and pledge options to take advantage of if you visit the Indiegogo page.

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Megan Mayhew Bergman at The Paris Review:

Its February 1959. Marilyn Monroe and Isak Dinesen have joined Carson McCullers for lunch at her home on the Hudson River in Nyack, New York. A photograph from that day shows Marilyn and Carson leaning into each other. Isak, invited to America by the Ford Foundation for what would be her first and last visit, toasts Arthur Miller, whos nearly out of the frame.

Carson wears all black and a depressed demeanor. Marilyn, in fur and a plunging neckline, tells a story about finishing pasta with a blow-dryer. Isaks cheekbones announce themselves underneath the hem of her turban; she recalls the first time she killed a lion and ingests little more that day than oysters, grapes, and amphetamines. In eight years they will all be dead.

For me, the picture is like looking at the fractal nature of womanhood: something carnal, intellectual, and willful existing inside of one body. Internal conflicts shaped Monroe, McCullers, and Dinesen as creators. Marilyn aspired to make her own films and control her image while negotiating a growing dependence on pills and fear of abandonment. McCullers, broken down by seizures, divorce, and addiction, continued to write in the shadow of the masterpiece she wrote at twenty-two. Dinesen, brave enough to face down a lion and manage a coffee farm outside of Nairobi, began to starve and diminish herself.

more here.
Nikhil Barot in Nautilus:

A little over a decade ago, Farr Curlin, a physician and professor of medical humanities at Duke Divinity School, became curious about the spiritual lives of his colleagues. He already knew that patients religious beliefs and communities matter: Both influence medical decisions and change the meaning of illness. But the influence of physicians religiosity on their work was relatively unknown. So he and his colleagues conducted a national survey of physicians religious characteristics. He found that, compared to a sample of the general U.S. population, physicians were twice as likely to cope with their own major life problems without relying on a higher power. Doctors were also less likely to carry their religious beliefs into other dealings in life. Curlins survey was the first of many to show that doctors are less inclined to bring up spiritual and religious matters with patients and their families, even though addressing these dimensions of illness can help coping with death, and even though patients frequently welcome the discussion.

When spiritual needs are not met, concluded Michelle Pearce, a University of Maryland clinical psychologist and her colleagues in a 2012 paper, patients are at risk of depression and a reduced sense of spiritual meaning and peace. Yet according to a 2013 study, despite recognizing the importance of spiritual care to patients, physicians and nurses infrequently provide it. A report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that most cancer physicians, nurses, and patients believe such care would have a positive impact. The evidence suggests that physicians might do well to take a Past Spiritual History, similar to the Past Medical and Past Surgical Histories that are a routine part of patient-doctor encounters. A Past Spiritual History represents a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to understanding illness, which may not only enrich the dialogue between patients and health providers, as one 2006 study concluded, but also inform what treatments are acceptable within a given patients system of values. For many people, this spiritual history unfolds within the context of an explicit religious tradition, wrote Christina Puchalski, a professor of medicine at George Washington University, and colleagues, in the Journal of Palliative Care. For others it unfolds as a set of philosophical principles or significant experiences.

More here.
1 bottle dry sparkling wine, chilled

Roll up each strip of lemon rind; place 1 into each of 8 Champagne flutes. Add 1 tablespoon liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon juice to each glass. Divide Champagne evenly among glasses. Serve immediately. Serves 8.Recipe adapted from Cooklng Light.

Michelada

4 cups chilled Clamato

4 cups chilled Mexican lager (about three bottles)

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tapatio or Sriracha)

1 teasooon Maggi seasoning (can substitute liquid aminos or soy sauce)

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Lime wedges (for serving)

















Mix Clamato, lager, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and soy sauce in a large pitcher. Mix salt and chili powder on a small plate. Rub rims of pint glasses with lime wedges and dip in salt mixture. Fill glasses with ice, fill with lager mixture, and garnish with lime wedges. Serves 8.Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.
Since local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus was first reported in Brazil in early 2015, the virus has spread rapidly, with active transmission reported in at least 61 countries and territories worldwide, including the United States. Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe brain anomalies. The virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, but other routes of transmission include sexual, mother-to-fetus during pregnancy, mother-to-infant at delivery, laboratory exposure, and, possibly, transfusion of blood products. Most persons with Zika virus infection are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms; hospitalizations and deaths are rare. When symptoms are present, maculopapular rash, fever, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis are most common. Zika virus testing is recommended for persons with possible exposure (those who have traveled to or live in an area with active transmission, or persons who had sex without a condom with a person with possible exposure) if they have symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease. Testing is also recommended for pregnant women with possible exposure, regardless of whether symptoms are present. Treatment is supportive, and no vaccine is currently available. The primary methods of prevention include avoiding bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes and reducing the risk of sexual transmission. Pregnant women should not travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission, and men and women who are planning to conceive in the near future should consider avoiding nonessential travel to these areas. Condoms can reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
Eshel initially resists. But whatever gifts God may have denied to Norman, charm and the power of persuasion were not among them. He buys those shoes for the guy, sticks Eshel's business card in his pocket and files Eshel in his mind as a possible cog in some yet-to-be-crafted business deal.

Three years later, Eshel finds himself unexpectedly elevated to prime minister of Israel. Norman can't believe his luck  or maybe he can, for he's so relentlessly enthusiastic about everything that it's hard to tell if he understands 90 percent of his efforts are futile. In any case, Norman cashes in on his newfound international influence  unaware that the favors a New York fixer bestows on a Queens borough bureaucrat can have shattering results on the world stage.

Gere hurls himself into the role of Norman with an abandon his character would savor. Perpetually wide-eyed, his hair tousled like a 5-year-old's, Gere's Norman lurches across the snow-packed landscape of urban parks, barking greetings to businessmen who at that moment would clearly prefer to have a mugger on their heels.

It's a funny bit, but Gere  who even now continues to establish himself as one of the screen's most subtly inventive actors  allows glimpses of the pain that lies beneath Norman's hyper exterior. He is clearly alone in the world. He seems to have been married, but maybe not. He wears the same clothes most of the time, and we never get to see his home. In one especially poignant scene, Norman appears to be bedding down for the night in Penn Station.

Cedar masterfully leaves a gauzy veil draped across his central character, a man whom time has passed by. Then again, time may never have been in sync with Norman's odd bundle of needs: a desire to help others entangled in a passion to be seen as a player in the city he seems to wander like an aging, homeless dog. When Norman makes one final grand gesture to seal his biggest deal, it strikes us as outrageous  and just right.
Joya DiStefano waves a sock puppet to show she disagrees with what U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is saying during a town hall meeting at Aiken Technical College on Monday night.
Assyrian Party Meets With Kurdish Party After Office Closure

TEV-DEM official Abdul Salam Ahmed meets Assyrian politician and ADO leader Gabriel Moushe Gawrieh in Qamishli. ( ANHA) Abdul Salam Ahmed, member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Society Movement in Syria (TEV-DEM) on Wednesday met with Gabriel Moushe Gawrieh, the head of the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) after the local self-administration shut down the office of ADO in northeastern Syria last month.

The PYD-led self-administration also closed two headquarters for the Assyrian Democratic Association in the cities of Qamishli and al-Malakiyah (Derik) in mid March.

Officials of the PYD-linked TEV-DEM and ADO discussed on Wednesday the recent political crisis "and the need to respect the laws of the administration," Ahmed was quoted by ANHA as saying.

According to the TEV-DEM official, both parties agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss all issues and exchange views. It's however unclear if ADO will be able to open its office again.

The local canton administration issued a 24-hours deadline in mid March that political parties had to register according to the law of April 2014, or face closure. Following the deadline, all offices of non-registered parties in Rojava were closed.

"The meeting between the two parties took place in a crucial stage as a result of closing down offices of ADO by Self-Administration, as ADO lacks an official permit. The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts to alter this decision," David Vergili, a representative for the European Syriac Union in Brussels told ARA News. "The power of the Democratic Self Administration [in northern Syria] relies on its authenticity, pluralism and full representation of all segments and groups in the region."

"The process is still alive and cooperation and bilateral relations are key to ease tensions and find durable solutions for a long term projects," he said.

This is the first time that TEV-DEM officials meet with a leading member of ADO--an Assyrian party that is part of the Syrian Opposition Coalition.

"They are with Etilaf [opposition], but they are able to play on two sides," Vergili added.

The Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) was established in Syria in 1957 and is the largest Assyrian political faction in the country. ADO is also one of the founders of the Syrian National Council (SNC)--in October 2011.

Gabriel Moushe Gawrieh spent two years in the jail of the Syrian government and was released in June 2016.
April 13, 2017

Usama Abdul Raouf, vice president of Al-Azhar University's Assiut branch, announced the opening of special classes for female students at the all-male faculties of pharmacy and medicine in early 2018. The March 27 decision was made to spare female students the long commutes to other branches of Al-Azhar University.

The decision sparked controversy. Some thought that Al-Azhar was giving up its Sharia values that forbid the mixing of men and women, while others saw the decision as a victory for the civilized world and an opportunity for cultural and social development in Upper Egypt and change in Egyptian societys perception of women.

Raouf told Al-Monitor that Al-Azhar University took the step to make the lives of women students easier and that the Assiut branch is only administratively affiliated with the all-male faculties.

He added, Female students will study in a building within the same campus three meters from that of male students and separated from it with a fence. Behind it, a medical science building was constructed to hold classes for female students as a prelude to establishing independent faculties of pharmacy and medicine for them in the future. Equipping the morgue at the Faculty of Medicine requires huge funding. That is why the morgue at the all-male student faculty is also used by female students but on a different schedule. Three days for male students and three days for female students.

Raouf explained that Al-Azhar University was founded in 970 as an Islamic university for the study of Sharia-related topics such as the Hadith. Nonreligious courses such as engineering and medicine were introduced in 1961, the same year women were first allowed to study at the university.

He said that Islamic courses cover several topics that may cause embarrassment to students such as intercourse and menstruation, noting that male and female students have always been separated but benefited from the same material and educational resources. He asserted that Islam guarantees women rights, including the right to education, but prevents mixing between male and female students.

The existence of all-female faculties allows female students to ask questions about sensitive issues without being embarrassed by the presence of young male students. The presence of young men among female students puts psychological pressure on both sexes, and this may cause them to be distracted by emotional and sexual issues and affect their ability to learn, he said.

Raouf dismissed the idea that women could be adversely affected by an all-female university equipped with all the necessary resources for their education. Women form their personalities through proper education and upbringing and not by mixing with men, and this is what makes their character strong, he said.

Amna Nasir, the former dean of the Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies at Al-Azhar University's Alexandria branch and a parliament member for the governorate of Assiut, told Al-Monitor that when she headed the school in 1997, she tried to enroll female students in Al-Azhars all-male Faculty of Engineering in Cairo and had to fight a fierce battle with the university council.

She was able to enroll the female students, who took classes in a building adjacent to the department's main building during their sophomore year, but finished their senior years in mixed classes. This was the first and last time Al-Azhar University students mixed, she said.

Nasir indicated that she promised before the university council to assume full responsibility for the change and said, After 40 years in the service of Al-Azhar as a professor I believe separation between male and female students is not justified in Islam.

She explained, In the era of the Prophet Muhammad, men and women mixed. Umm Omara was a female Muslim fighter who fought alongside men. Rufaida al-Aslamiya was a female medical and social worker who treated wounded men in wars. Umm Hani was a great female companion who gave shelter to two male nonbelievers from Mecca. The Prophet Muhammad learned about her actions and said, 'We shelter the person you have sheltered, Umm Hani.' The two men embraced Islam.

Nasir told Al-Monitor, Criticism and objections by intellectuals against Al-Azhar were able to shake the rigid mindsets. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis open mind and balanced perspective in dealing with Egyptian women's issues will surely spread to other issues, including the curriculum and internal rules of Al-Azhar, which in the near future will be bound to reconsider its curriculum. I believe mixed education will spread in all Al-Azhar faculties.

She concluded, Mixed education in Upper Egypts universities will bring about cultural and societal development and change societys perspective on women, since men will feel that their fellow female university classmates are worthy of leadership positions.

Sheikh Sherif al-Hawari, a member of the Salafist Calls board of directors, has a different opinion. He told Al-Monitor that mixed education could lead to great aberrations and indecency.

He argued, In the era of the Prophet Muhammad, men and women were allowed to mix under specific rules and cases of necessity. To this moment, necessity knows no law. Islam does not prohibit a woman from having a necessary medical surgery by a non-Muslim surgeon. But the rule in Islam is that men and women should not mix. It is not permissible to generalize the special cases that occurred in era of the Prophet Muhammad without considering the reasons.

Hawari went on, When male and female students mix, they tend to commit sins. Whoever denies this denies an established fact. Even in Europe and the United States, where liberalism originated, churches have been demanding for decades the prohibition of mixed public education, but to no avail, and this is why these churches established gender-segregated education. Legislation was passed to [allow such practices] in light of the spread of the negative effects of mixed education that threatened entire communities.
April 12, 2017

On April 2, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received its first operational Magic Wand mid-range anti-missile system (also known as David's Sling). In the future, this advanced weapons system will also be able to handle cruise missiles. The incorporation of Magic Wand into Israel's missile defenses complements Israel's other anti-missile systems such as the Arrow and Iron Dome. It provides Israel with a perfect, multilayered response to almost all of the ballistic threats posed by the rockets and missiles in its enemies' arsenals. Iron Dome can intercept short-range Qassam and Grad rockets fired at it by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, as well as short-range rockets that Hezbollah might fire. The Arrow anti-missile system (Arrow 1, Arrow 2 and the new Arrow 3 archetype) is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles such as Iranian Shahab missiles, which follow a suborbital trajectory outside the atmosphere. Shahab missiles are designed to carry particularly heavy payloads, including nuclear warheads. Magic Wand is the final piece of the puzzle. It is designed to intercept mid-range missiles such as Scuds.

Israel may be the first country in the world with such a multilayered defense system, yet it has already proven its mettle in several operational trials. In 2014, Iron Dome had an impressive record intercepting Hamas rockets fired during Operation Protective Edge, almost completely eliminating the strategic missile threat posed by Hamas to the Israeli Home Front.

A few weeks ago, on March 17, Israel's Arrow missile also received an unanticipated public unveiling when it successfully downed a failed Syrian surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile (SAM) fired at Israeli air force jets during a sortie in northern Syria. Syria's antiquated, heavy missile missed the aircraft, reached high altitude and then began falling back to earth. Once the Arrow's sophisticated radar system recognized that it would fall in Israeli territory, posing a significant threat, it immediately initiated the automatic firing of an Arrow missile at the SAM, which it intercepted successfully. Nevertheless, no one in Israel was particularly happy about this, since it forced the country to admit that it had launched an attack on Syria. While Russia issued a formal reprimand, the Israeli leadership, particularly its defense establishment, reconsidered its initial reservation. As it turned out, they were pleased by this tangible evidence that the Israeli Home Front now benefits from a level of defense unprecedented anywhere else in the world.

Despite these achievements, Israel is still far from being fully impervious to the ballistic threat posed by its enemies. It is estimated that Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Syria now have about a quarter of a million rockets and missiles between them. In the most extreme scenario, with Iran joining the melee, the number of missiles increases considerably.

The most ominous threat now facing Israel is the possibility of a surprise rocket and missile attack in which all of its enemies  Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Syria and Iran  fire tens of thousands of rockets and missiles at Israel in a single day, in a coordinated attack. Israel compares such a scenario to the "1973 Yom Kippur surprise," in which Egypt and Syria attacked Israel simultaneously. As of now, Israel has no response to such an attack.

The assessment is that, in such a scenario, the Israeli air force will successfully destroy thousands of long-range missiles and launchers, mainly those belonging to Hamas and Hezbollah. Similarly, Israel's missile defense systems will intercept many more missiles. Nevertheless, the Israeli Home Front will still suffer hits from thousands more rockets and missiles, the most accurate of which could reach Israeli air force bases, impeding the air force's capacity to respond. One senior Israeli military official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that "the only response to such a threat is deterrence. Our enemies know exactly what price they will pay for initiating such a move, and it will be much higher  incomparably higher  than the price paid by Israel."

But Israel's defensive systems must also deal with another challenge, i.e., extremely short-range rockets whose range is measured in hundreds of meters to just a few kilometers from the border. While these kinds of rockets are for the most part very primitive and basic, the fact that they are in the air for no more than a few seconds makes it difficult to some extent for existing anti-missile systems to identify, pinpoint and hone in on them, and to intercept them on time. With this kind of threat, the impact of the more ancient rockets is actually the most dangerous one. During Operation Protective Edge, the IDF paid an especially high price in the number of soldiers killed by mortars at meeting points along the border.

Hezbollah has begun developing enormous mortars with explosive warheads that are much heavier than those of regular mortar shells. Their short, steep trajectory could make it especially difficult for Israel to shoot them down. In other words, they could threaten IDF soldiers taking up position along the northern border, as well as adjacent Israeli localities. It is estimated that integrating laser-guided interceptors as an additional part of the solution to the threat will provide an adequate response to this problem.

In this clash of minds and developments, Israel leads the rest of the world by several orders of magnitude. On the other hand, this has resulted in an internal debate among defense experts within the country. Israel's approach to defense has always been based on three pillars: deterrence, warning and guaranteeing a decisive outcome. The fact that Israel's enemies are aware of its enormous power deters them from engaging in confrontations. Israel's intelligence agencies provide warning of its enemies' hostile intentions well in advance, and the IDF has the ability to shift the conflict to enemy territory and conclude it decisively.

The modern era has reduced the possibility of a decisive outcome in battle considerably. Traditional gauges of victory are irrelevant when a sovereign state is locked in combat against guerrilla groups. In the past decade, Israel introduced a fourth component  defense  to its overall approach to security. It is an element that has not figured as prominently before now. A tangible example of this new component is the multilayered missile defense system, but this leaves many in the defense establishment feeling uneasy. They worry that the systems' defensive capacities could cause the critical operational branches of its military to atrophy. As one senior defense official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, "When the political leadership is unruffled by the 50 days of Operation Protective Edge and the Home Front doesn't suffer any significant casualties, the need for a decisive outcome is not as urgent as it once was. The country's leadership could then evade the need for ground maneuvers or achieving any decisive outcome whatsoever."

Regardless of how they feel about it, however, no one (in Israel) today would agree to forego Magic Wand, Iron Dome or the Arrow missile defense system willingly, at least not until all the rockets and missiles surrounding Israel rust. That is precisely what former Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon recommended long ago.
April 10, 2017

In an exclusive two-part interview with Al-Monitor, Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, dismissed the April 6 US military strike against the Shayrat air base in Syria as muscle flexing and a one-time incident.

Speaking April 8 in Beirut, Hezbollah's number 2 also called the missile strike a blatant and unjustified attack. Qassem argued, There was no investigation into what actually happened in Khan Sheikhoun, which on April 4 had been the target of the apparent chemical weapons attack that led US President Donald Trump to order the missile strike as a warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he blamed for the incident.

Qassam further remarked, The American attack on Syria is an attempt on the part of the US to shirk its responsibility in taking part in a political solution in Syria and a confirmation that it continues to support the terrorist path in moments of loss. The US, however, will not be able to achieve any of its objectives. The Syrian army is keeping up morale, making gains and moving forward. There is no turning back. The US and its terrorist allies and proxies will face more defeats.

Two days earlier, on April 6 at a Hezbollah office in southern Beirut, Qassem said that it was too early to judge if the American administration would take unilateral action against the Syrian government after US officials blamed the Syrian government for the chemical attack in Khan Sheikoun. After the attack, he asserted, The US military strike is merely muscle flexing and a show of strength. Things ended there because any deviation from the existing equation in Syria or any interference against the regime will lead to dangerous results because of the Russian presence [in Syria]. There is no reason for escalation. Although the US has not determined its policies in dealing with the Syrian crisis,  toppling the regime is out of the question.

Hezbollahs number 2 also warned that Israel would face serious consequences if it escalated militarily against the Syrian regime and its allies. He therefore ruled out Israel becoming directly involved in Syria or being able to change the situation on the ground there. He added that Hezbollah has no intention of establishing a permanent presence in Syria.

Qassem downplayed the likelihood of an Israeli war on Lebanon, saying that recent Israeli talk of Hezbollah being its biggest military threat did not necessarily mean that Israel was preparing to go to war.

The following part of the interview took place April 6.

Al-Monitor: During Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Libermans visit to Washington March 7, sources said that a war on Lebanon was at the top of the agenda during the discussions. It was also reported that Liberman received a message that the United States will support Israel in any future war. In light of these reports, do you think 2017 will witness a new Israeli war on Lebanon?

Qassem: I do not think it would be convenient to respond to or even discuss sources, which would lead to a lot of analysis that may not even be realistic. Regarding the issue of a new war on Lebanon, we must look at Israels current situation, as it will try to avoid going into a losing war. This is not to mention its ongoing problems, as it is seeking to gain further acceptance by the international community. Israel is also waiting for developments in Syria. In light of all this, I do not believe Israel is looking into a new war in the near future. But we, as Hezbollah, are accustomed to always be prepared for any surprises. In terms of readiness, we are prepared to defend ourselves against any Israeli folly. But I do not expect this to happen anytime soon.

Al-Monitor: How do you explain Israeli statements that Hezbollahs threat to Israel has become greater than that of Iran? There are many Israeli statements suggesting an imminent war.

Qassem: Wars are not based on statements, but on decisions and facts. Statements may have other objectives sometimes, such as generating additional momentum for the Israeli leadership or to boost morale in the face of many challenges, including preparation for a possible event in the future. Statements are not always an indication of an imminent war.

Al-Monitor: We often hear Israeli officials talking about the danger of Irans and Hezbollahs permanent military presence in Syria. Do you believe that Israel will escalate its military activity inside Syria in the near future?

Qassem: Israel has been helping Syrian rebels all along, in order to fight the regime and to change the equation in Syria. We can say that it has failed in doing so.  The developments in the Syrian arena that have tipped in favor of the regime are an indication that Israel has lost its bet and failed in this direction.

I do not believe there is much for Israel to do in Syria. This was the maximum that it could do. The issue is not linked to an Israeli decision alone, as this is a complex equation. Israel cannot have free rein in Syria without anticipating serious consequences.

Al-Monitor: Does Hezbollah intend to have a permanent presence in Syria?

Qassem: No. Hezbollah is currently present in Syria to support our Syrian brothers so that the Syrian resistance will not fall under the mercy of Israel. As long as we are needed in Syria, we will remain there. When Syrians reach political solutions to save their country, and they no longer need us, we will return home. We do not have any political, military or financial ambitions in Syria. We are fighting there to protect the resistance axis. This does not require our permanent presence there. We will stay in Syria as long as we are needed there.

Al-Monitor: That means that Hezbollah is not planning on creating a new resistance front in the Golan Heights?

Qassem: The question of the Golan Heights concerns the people of the Golan and Syria. If the people there decide to start a resistance or a similar action, this would be their call and the call of people working on the ground. But we do not want to discuss Hezbollahs position in this regard.

Al-Monitor: A recent report by the International Crisis Group said that Hezbollahs alliance with President Bashar al-Assad has become a burden, and the party is now seen as a Shiite militia. What do you think of this statement?

Qassem: Hezbollah is a resistance fighting to bring down the Israeli project and is now fighting [in Syria] to put an end to the new takfiri project, which emanates from the Israeli plan. When we fight, we cooperate with all concerned parties, be they Sunnis, nationalists, secularists, Christians or any other national affiliations, according to the place, time and circumstances. Therefore, Hezbollah is a resistance project, and everyone knows that. Hezbollahs network of contacts, be it in the Lebanese or Syrian arena, or anywhere it is needed, goes beyond sects and factions. These inaccurate reports have no weight on the ground and are only part of the political media lobbying to harm Hezbollah, but they are ineffective.

Al-Monitor: Some believe that Hezbollahs support for Assad has decreased its popularity, especially among Sunnis.

Qassem: The majority supporting President Assad in Syria is an overwhelming Sunni majority in addition to prominent scholars, who are well known and respected in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Our support to Syria is in support of the Syrian homeland, with all its sects and factions regardless of their affiliation. These accusations by some parties in Syria are merely attempts to compensate for their losses, after Hezbollahs success within the national and Islamic frameworks.

Al-Monitor: Obviously, there is a big difference between the Barack Obama administration and the Donald Trump administration. The latter seems to be much more aggressive toward Iran. In light of this, do you expect any American escalation against Hezbollah?

Qassem: In my opinion, there is no difference between the Obama administration and the Trump administration. The Obama administration was also hostile to Iran [and] issued sanctions against Hezbollah while also waging bad and negative propaganda against the party. This is not to mention that it supports Israel.

Al-Monitor: But Obama said in an interview with Thomas Friedman, for instance, that the main threat to Saudi Arabia comes from inside Saudi Arabia and not from Iran. Trump has a different rhetoric, one that is closer to that of the Gulf countries, that Iran is the source of all problems.

Qassem: The difference between Obama and Trump is that the latter makes direct hostile statements with a lot of uproar and clamor. But for us, all the US administrations are alike, supporting Israel to the fullest against the Palestinians. They are also for the Saudi war on Yemen. This is why I cannot say there is a fundamental difference between the Trump administration and the Obama administration except for some media and tactical additions in Trumps rhetoric against us and against Iran.

Al-Monitor: On the domestic level, do you think the election of President Michel Aoun has brought further momentum to Hezbollah or not?

Qassem: The election of President Aoun has reinforced the stability of Lebanon. After a long vacuum, now the administration is working toward achievements for the benefit of the country. Boosting the countrys strength means boosting the strength of all its components, including us.

Al-Monitor: Do you think the Lebanese parliamentary elections will be held as scheduled?

Qassem: It is too late to hold the elections as scheduled, unless a law is passed in the coming days and if there is enough time for the necessary preparations to hold them. We will have to wait and see if the law will be passed.
April 13, 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Palestinians have mixed expectations about a potential US role in reviving the peace process with Israel. Some are optimistic that Jordans King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be able to convince US President Donald Trump's administration to energize negotiations impartially, while others fear Trump's previously stated support of Israel indicates he will either heavily skew the process in Israel's favor or torpedo it all together.

After the Arab League Summit on March 29 in Jordan, Abdullah and Sisi set in motion political action in the United States to mobilize the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. The two leaders are making their move based on agreements reached during the summit: Arab leaders there mainly agreed to work toward setting "a specific timetable for ending the conflict based on the two-state solution, observing the Arab Peace Initiative adopted during a 2002 summit.

Azzam Ahmad, a member of political party Fatah's Central Committee, said in an April 2 statement that the Fatah-ruled Palestinian Authority (PA) is counting on Sisi and Abdullah to convey to Trump the decisions reached during the recent summit and during a March 29 tripartite meeting among Sisi, Abdullah and PA President Mahmoud Abbas. During that meeting, the leaders agreed to coordinate their next steps and persuade Trump of the Palestinian wish to resume the peace process with Israel.

Sisi visited Washington and met with Trump on April 3. Their talks addressed the Palestinian cause, among other issues. Two days later, Abdullah met with Trump, after which he praised Trump's commitment to dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying he had high hopes for the Arab League peace initiative, which could help Trump bring together Palestinians and Israelis. Abbas is due to meet with Trump in Washington this month.

Palestinian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tayseer Jaradat told Al-Monitor that Abdullah and Sisi have seen a positive change in Trump's position on the Palestinian cause, most notably when he instructed CIA director Mike Pompeo to meet Feb. 15 with Abbas in Ramallah. Another sign of this change are the two meetings held in March between Abbas and Trumps special representative for international negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, during which they exchanged views on how to revive the political process.

A Fatah source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the PA is awaiting details of the meetings that Sisi and Abdullah held in Washington. Meanwhile, the PA is also preparing to send a delegation of officials to Washington soon to prepare for Abbas visit.

Author and political analyst Ahmad Rafik Awad told Al-Monitor, The PA is greatly relying on the Egyptian and Jordanian roles, as they are important players in the Middle East. The US administration and the international community perceive Jordan and Egypt with utmost respect and credibility as moderate states and partners in the fight against terrorism, especially since they have signed peace treaties with Israel.

Awad added, The PA wants Egypt and Jordan to be a bridge and a mediator with the US administration to explain Palestinian positions."

Despite that reliance, some members of the Palestinian leadership have expressed concerns about the US administration potentially striking a deal to eliminate the Palestinian cause by, for example, launching a broad, regional political process involving Israel and Arab countries before finding a solution to the Palestinian cause.

We don't know how Trump might handle the Palestinian cause or how he might respond to our position on reviving the peace process," Abbas Zaki, a member of Fatahs Central Committee, told Al-Monitor.

Trump has bound himself from the very beginning to support Israel by appointing ambassadors and envoys like Thomas Friedman. So no matter how diplomatic Trump can be, he can only look at the Palestinian cause through the eyes of his pro-Israel advisers," Zaki said. "Trump declared his absolute support for Israel even before taking over the presidency by pledging to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to support the [Israeli] settlements.

He added, This is why we fear that Trump might strike a deal to eliminate the Palestinian cause altogether, especially since he realizes that Arab countries have no power or influence in the region compared to Israel."

About the nature of such a deal, Zaki said it could favor the Israeli policy of allowing settlement activities to continue and insisting on recognizing the Jewish character of the State of Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital, as well as denying the Palestinian refugees their right to return, all of which are conditions that Palestinians can't accept.

Nayef Rajoub, a leader of Hamas in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, The endeavor of the Egyptian president and the king of Jordan is only a desperate attempt to breathe life into the dead peace process." He believes the attempt will fail, or "succeed," only at the expense of the Palestinian cause.

Like Zaki, Rajoub expressed concern about Washington potentially cooking up a way to intentionally thwart Palestinian efforts.

I believe the US administration has a new political scheme in the making to eliminate the Palestinian cause. Both the Palestinian and Arab situations are weak [compared with Israel's], which makes it impossible to reach a political solution to our issue. [It] only paves the way for further concessions," Zaki said.

Despite the Palestinian reliance on Egypt and Jordan to persuade the United States to launch the peace process without bias in Israels favor, the Palestinian situation will remain on hold pending the options Trump presents to Abbas during their upcoming meeting in Washington.
April 13, 2017

With a message of fighting terrorism through the art of theater, the Sharm el-Sheikh International Festival for Youth (SITFY) brought together performers from around the world to share their stories and give Egyptians a taste of other cultures.

For its second run, from April 1-8, the festival hosted 18 theater performances from 15 different countries, including Egypt, France, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Spain, South Korea and Tunisia, temporarily transforming the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh into a cultural hotspot of events.

By establishing this festival, we wanted to respond in a cultural way to all the terrorist attacks that have recently taken place, because culture and arts are our way to enlighten the minds of people, Mazen El-Gharabawy, festival president, told Al-Monitor.

SITFY was first held in January 2016, a few months after the downing of a Russian plane in the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015. At that time, a number of countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom and France, decided to suspend flights to Sharm el-Sheikh. Egypt experienced a tragic drop in tourist visits, a crisis from which it still suffers.

We wanted to invite theater practitioners from all over the world to come to Sharm el-Sheikh, perform and watch other peoples performances and prove to the whole world that this city is safe and stable, Gharabawy, who is also an actor and theater director, said. The festival is being organized with the support of the Egyptian Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Youth and Sports, in addition to the South Sinai governorate and other institutions.

The dominant theme of our festival is arts counterterrorism. Some of the performances we chose are tackling issues related to war and terrorism, because these issues not only affect Egypt but also other parts of the world. So, we are all affected by the same issues, said Gharabawy.

To spread theater culture among young people, festival organizers invited some 350 students from universities in Cairo, Fayoum, Gnoub al-Wady, Aswan, north and south Sinai, and other governorates, to take part in workshops on acting, directing, puppetry, scenography, street art and writing for theater.

We invited university students from each governorate in Egypt, especially the border cities, to participate in the activities, through which we help them understand arts better and teach them more skills, so they become more involved in arts and think in a positive way in all aspects of life, festival director and actress Wafaa al-Hakim told Al-Monitor. We want to integrate students in society to prevent them from becoming potential extremists or adapting harsh attitudes at a young age. Arts help people to be more understanding and creative.

This years festival featured performances that tackled illegal migration, the war against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, terrorism and oppression in different parts of the world.

In the Tunisian-Canadian production Al-Shaqaf, which in colloquial Tunisian also refers to a small boat used to transport illegal migrants, the everyday tragedy such migrants face was presented in a deeply painful but realistic way.

Every day we have illegal migrants drown at sea, but all of them are treated as numbers. But what are their stories? We wanted to tell what might have brought them here, director Sereen Qanoun told Al-Monitor.

The play was jointly stage directed by Tunisian Sereen Ezzeddine Qanoun and Lebanese-Canadian Magdy Abu Matar. The piece, which won for Best Play Script at the festival, highlights why some people attempt to illegally migrate.

Not only war urges people to escape from their countries, but so does social oppression, said Qanoun. We wanted any person from any country, when watching the play, to feel concerned about the issue.

South Korea was presented by Butterfly, directed by Ha Kyung-Hwa, a professor of acting from Suwon Womens University. The emotional piece examines the oppression of women and is inspired by the story of the comfort women, who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in conquered territories before and during World War II.

In the performance, actresses recall the horror that South Korean women suffered at the time and how they retain a sadness from the experience. The performance won the festival prize for Best Choreography.

My performance is about unfairness toward women, Kyung-Hwa told Al-Monitor. Now our relationship with Japan is OK, no problems. But we cant forget the history.

The director also mentioned that she was inspired by a statue of a comfort woman outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. In one of the scenes, the actresses wear mufflers like the statue there.

Angela Jeon, coordinator of the South Korean troupe, said that when she heard about the festival she called her friend Kyung-Hwa, and they applied. It is a beautiful city, and the weather is so nice. People are so kind, Jeon told Al-Monitor.

Taking advantage of Sharm el-Sheikh's warm weather, the Iraqi performance Maot Saleh lel Shorb (An Edible Death) was performed on the beach. The piece, which deals with illegal immigration, begins with actors emerging from the sea, having survived a boat wreck. They then narrate the tragedies that led them to escape from their countries.

The performance highlights the horrors of IS in Iraq, the war in Syria and instability in other Arab countries, all of which have pushed people to escape to Europe where they hope they can lead better lives.

We not only speak about Iraqis, however, director Mohamed Zaki told Al-Monitor. We refer to the situation of all the Arab people.

Zaki, who was affected by the performance, remarked, There are many people who escaped war and illegally migrated by the sea.  Some of them were friends of mine who drowned at sea.

After An Edible Death wooed the audience, the festival organizers said they will work on hosting more street and open-air performances at future festivals.

We wish that we could make street activities not only in Sharm el-Sheikh, but also in all the streets of Sinai and in all the Egyptian governorates, festival director Hakim said.
April 12, 2017

Picture this: A group of well-mannered, middle-aged men and women are traveling to the picturesque Aegean town of Ayvalik as the mosques loudspeakers announce, Strangers have entered our village, do not open your doors. Members of the secular nongovernmental organization (NGO) Ataturkist Thought Association experienced this April 4 as they approached the town to talk to the residents about the upcoming referendum. They were the ones the imam called strangers. Ahmet Uzgec, the head of the NGO, told the media that there is quite a bit of confusion among citizens. Some elderly were told that if the April 16 referendum on providing greater powers to the Turkish presidency does not pass, their retirement funds will be cut off, along with the government aid provided for the disabled.

The event in Ayvalik, where advocates of the NGO were shunned by the imam, was not an isolated incident. Not many can dispute that the mosques have become campaign centers for Erdogans referendum. Indeed, there are several examples, some of which were documented by opposition media outlets.

For example, on Feb. 3, Huseyin Gulec, the imam of a prominent mosque in the Umraniye district of Istanbul, was recorded by a phone camera advocating for "yes" during his Friday sermon. Umraniye has voted overwhelmingly for Islamist parties since 1994, but it is still home to rather moderate Muslims as well. Gulec told the congregation that those who oppose the presidential system are ignorant. The imams statements were passionately pro-government as he defended the state of the Turkish economy and warned against those criticizing the government. He cursed the naysayers, saying they were against the grandiose infrastructural successes of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), such as the third airport. However, Gulec backed down as one member of the congregation yelled, This is a mosque and we are here to pray, but you are declaring naysayers as traitors. Immediately, Gulec reverted back to reciting prayers in Arabic.

In Turkey, nearly all mosques  and there are almost 85,000  are registered under Turkeys official religious body, the Diyanet, which is currently operating under the prime ministers office. The Diyanet has extensive human and capital resources both inside and outside Turkey. The Turkish state not only trains and pays the salaries of the imams, but also covers the expenses of the mosques. In return, the imams  who are government employees  have to follow strict government guidelines in their sermons. Imams who fail to adhere to these sermons, particularly in Kurdish areas, have been prosecuted for decades.

Al-Monitor interviewed 14 imams from Ankara and Istanbuls conservative districts March 14-19. Imams are gently prodded to advocate for the yes vote, but they are also advised not to be too provocative. The Diyanet employs the carrot and stick policy on them: Imams are fearful that pro-AKP mukhtars (elected local officials) attend and report about their sermons. Those who are not supportive of the referendum efforts can be labeled as being pro-Gulen movement and punished. Others have mentioned the rewards the government provides for the good imams.

Another added that they are also competing against the alternative mosques and religious orders, saying, Those orders get the lions share. We are the ones walking a tight rope. If we do not advocate for the government, we are out of a job. If we do and a member of the congregation complains about us, we are taken to court for organizing a political movement. But religious orders can do as they please without any supervision.

Indeed, the imams observation about religious orders are crucial. Although these establishments are generally quite circumspect, some news reports have emerged about their efforts. For example, a video of Masum Bayraktar, a prominent figure from the Ismailaga Order, shows him telling his followers that naysayers are nonbelievers and foreigners. He used the derogatory word for foreigner, gavur, known for centuries to denigrate non-Muslims. Bayraktar sought solidarity among believers against the nonbelievers. He warned his followers repeatedly that if they waver, nonbelievers would take away all of their Islamic freedoms.

There are undeniable signs of concern among the Islamists. First, learning from the bleeding wounds from his battle with the Gulen movement, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is worried about the burgeoning religious orders and subgroups. Initially, the AKP government acquired its core support from these groups by opening up space for them on social and economic fronts. However, when Gulens rivalry turned dangerous, Erdogan began fearing that other rivals might emerge.

Therefore, the AKP tightened its grip in social and economic arenas; 1Turkey saw the growth of Erdogan-family led NGOs, such as the Ensar Foundation or younger sons TURGEV and younger daughters KADEM. Under the emergency law since August 2016, hundreds of NGOs have been shut down, along with Alevi and Shiite media outlets, while Erdogan-approved ones are flourishing.

During Al-Monitors interviews with the imams, another common concern was the rise of alternative mosques, known as street masjids. Although masjid literally means a place of worship, in Turkey it has been used differently than a mosque. For example, Friday prayers are not allowed in a masjid. However, it has become an open secret that some of these masjids are more active and popular than mosques. Local imams are worried about losing congregations to these masjids and wonder why the government allows them.

Who leads and attends these alternative services? We see that younger imams are not able to be government employees because there is a supply surplus in imams and growing unemployment overall, and these imams are against the idea of being told what to preach by the state. Their congregations are mostly young and middle-aged Turks who are dismayed by the economic difficulties, marginalized in the suburban peripheries of big cities and looking for alternative ideas to the stale government rhetoric. An attendee of a neighborhood masjid told Al-Monitor, I am tired of hearing the same old lies on television, in the papers and at the mosque. So I come here now. Real Islam does not need the Diyanet, it is solely based on the Quran [holy book of Islam] and the hadith [words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad], and this is how I pray. We are always asked for donations at the regular mosque; here at least I know we are supporting the imam and not some unknown cause. When asked about his vote for the referendum, he lifted his hands up and said Hayirlisi  meaning for the best, but also including syllables of no in Turkish.

The Diyanet and its mosques in every small town provide an unmatched power for the government. But this is a referendum, so the weight of votes in small towns will not be as high as in local and general elections. Erdogan has lost several crucial allies during this referendum process, but the Diyanets imam army seems to be dedicated. In major cities, the Diyanet is losing some ground to its competitors. Erdogan, a savvy politician, is well-aware of that, and that is why a brand-new Erdogan image appeared last week: A photo of Erdogan teaching the Quran to his grandson  taken on the night of the July 15 attempted coup  is now being praised on all pro-Erdogan media outlets.
Bad southern accents in movies make our skin crawl, and we hear them pretty often. In fact, it's all too rare when we feel like Hollywood gets it right when it comes to depicting the South, its people and culture with any accuracy on the big screen. So when they do finally nail it, we breathe a sigh of relief. That inspired us to look back at the films that actually understand the region, putting a magnifying glass on the South and actually managing to transport us to the place through the settings, characters, music, food and, yes, the accents. It's all about authenticity. We couldn't list them all here, but these are a few of our favorites.

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Sling Blade (1996)

Arguably our all-time favorite film about the South, made with such care by an actual southerner in Arkansas native Billy Bob Thornton, who plays a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover as he gets released to start a new life in a small town. Thornton earned an Oscar nomination for best actor and even won for adapted screenplay, only further confirming this slice-of-life's greatness in our eyes.

What makes it so southern? The language, the accents, the biscuits. Just listen to the texture in the voices of Thornton's characters, starting with the delightfully antiquated manner in which his protagonist Karl speaks. Also keep an eye on outstanding supporting performances from Alabama native Lucas Black, Arkansas native Natalie Canderday and Kentucky native Dwight Yoakam, who nearly steals the whole show. While somewhat dark in subject matter at times, it's as fine a piece of southern filmmaking as you'll find.

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The Apostle (1997)

After his happy life spins out of control, a charismatic preacher from Texas changes his name, goes to Louisiana and starts a new community church. A California native and longtime Hollywood vet would seemingly have no business understanding the South as much as he clearly has throughout his career in films like "The Great Santini" and "Get Low." But the Oscar-winner gets it like too few do, and his masterpiece reflecting that knowledge comes in this redemption drama exploring the importance the Christian faith in the area.

What makes it so southern? The people, the setting and the church. Duvall shot most of the film in Louisiana, and he rounded up locals to fill the shoes of its colorful characters in need of the Holy Ghost. Look for Alabama native Walton Goggins in a small role as a member of Duvall's congregation. And if "Sling Blade" ever had movie "kin," this is it, considering Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton trade cameos in each film. Thornton knocks his two scenes out of the park as a racist construction worker and non-believer keen on destroying Duvall's new church, delivering one of the more powerful scenes of the 1990s late in the film.

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Mud (2012)

Two young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the vigilantes that are on his trail and to reunite him with his true love in Arkansas native Jeff Nichols' coming-of-age adventure starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Sam Shepard.

What makes it so southern? The place, the tone and the boys. Nichols filmed the entire film in his home state of Arkansas including towns like Dumas, De Witt, Lake Village, Crocketts Bluff and Stuttgart, while casting many roles with locals. The true stars of the show are newcomers Tye Sheridan (from Texas) and Jacob Lofland (from Arkansas) as the boys who help McConaughey's vigilante, giving a young pair of talented southern actors an opportunity instead of rummaging through Hollywood casting calls. Nichols reportedly Nichols cast boys who could already pilot boats and ride dirt bikes, instead of ones who would have to be taught on set.

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No Country for Old Men (2007)

Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than $2 million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande in Joel and Ethan Coens' bleak adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's bleak novel. It won Oscars for best picture, directors, screenplay and supporting actor (Javier Bardem).

What makes it so southern? The pace, the tone, the dread. Here comes the "Texas ain't even the South" chatter, and it can just get on for all I care. For a pair of Minnesota boys who now live in New York, the Coen brothers latched on to more southern "isms" than most modern filmmakers born outside the region (and heck, born inside it, too). First of all, they cast prominent roles with a couple of actors who actually pull off the accents with precision -- Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Woody Harrelson -- also casting smaller roles with real-life southerners like Beth Grant, Gene Jones, Margaret Bowman and Kathy Lamkin. The film moves at a slow and steady tick, much like many of its characters speak.

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Raising Arizona (1987)

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated. Sticking with the Coens for a moment, you might scratch your head and think...Arizona?

What makes it so southern? The accents, the wackiness. I've personally never been to Arizona, but I wouldn't guess they'd talk precisely like the folks in Alabama do on a daily basis. Yet this is the world the Coens created to tell this story. Of course, they don't ever specifically confirm the film actually takes place in the titular state, with one of the characters' names being Arizona, after all. But stars Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter nail a pair of southern accents, as do co-stars like John Goodman, William Forsythe, M. Emmet Walsh and Trey Wilson. The language, with words so carefully chosen by the Coens, even feels deep-fried, with Cage even at one point telling his missus, "I'll be out directly" before wandering into a convenience store he plans to rob.

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To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his portrayal of noble attorney Atticus Finch in this 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee's novel of the same name. Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Ala., during the 1930s, it tells the story of Finch and his family as he defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice.

What makes it so southern? The values, the history, Harper Lee. A must-see for southerners. It won three Oscars for actor, adapted screenplay and art direction and scored five more nominations for picture, director, supporting actress (Birmingham native Mary Badham), cinematography and musical score. Widely considered an American film classic, the film stays true to the book in confronting the South's troubled past during its troubled present at the time when it came to race relations. Instead of stereotyping the region as we often see in other films, director Robert Mulligan and screenwriter Horton Foote fleshed out Lee's thoughtful characters, painting them with a less broad brush than we're used to now.

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Moonlight (2016)

A chronicle of the childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood of a young, African-American, gay man growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Barry Jenkins' portrait of masculinity in the South won the best picture Oscar, along with screenplay and supporting actor (Mahershala Ali) for 2016.

What makes it so southern? The fear, the internalization, the soundtrack. We so rarely see films at this level about poor black characters, let alone poor black gay characters in the South, that Jenkins and co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney's 3-act story of a young men struggling with his sense of identity felt so vibrant and fresh even for 2016. It will ring true for people with a similar struggle to its protagonist, young Chiron, whose environment doesn't fully nurture that identity as he struggles with masculinity, sexuality and general self, causing him to internalize every last emotion all the way into his adulthood, when he finally has a chance to express it with a long-lost friend. Its soundtrack also features Atlanta's own Goodie Mob, complete with the the chopped and screwed technique the film's composer even applies to its score. Co-stars Bessemer native Andre Holland (read our Q&A).

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Hud (1963)

An honest and hard-working Texas rancher has a conflict with his unscrupulous, selfish, arrogant and egotistical son who sank into alcoholism after accidentally killing his brother in a car crash.

What makes it so southern? The quiet, the simmer, the family drama. Filmed in and around the Texas Panhandle, director Martin Ritt's drama based on Larry McMurtry's 1961 novel finds a desolate town full of troubled individuals who can't escape one another despite their disdain in such a small town. The always-likable Paul Newman does some career-best work, managing to turn just about every last viewer off, no matter how charming his Hud can seem. Melyvn Douglas, Patricia Neal and Brandon deWilde round out a terrific cast.

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Selma (2014)

Ava DuVernay's critically acclaimed chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 earned an Oscar nomination for best picture and a win for best song ("Glory").

What makes it so southern? The reverence, the compassion, the moment. The first true Hollywood portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. on the big screen captures the Civil Rights leader's essence thanks to David Oyelowo's thunderous performance as well as DuVernay's grasp of the character as well as the moment in time that would shape the South and the nation forever. Also filmed in Georgia, the production shot the key Bloody Sunday march scenes at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, recreating an unfathomable event that we'll never forget.

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Mississippi Burning (1988)

Two FBI agents with wildly different styles (Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe) arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists in 1964, as the investigation is met with hostility and backlash by the town's residents, local police and the Ku Klux Klan. It received seven Oscar nominations including best picture, director, actor and supporting actress (Frances McDormand).

What makes it so southern? The sweat, the energy. While roundly criticized by many for its fictionalization of history by black activists involved in the Civil Rights Movement, the brutal confrontation of the South's past seems like a breath of fresh air compared to more schmaltzy efforts to do so these days. Its detractors make sound points about the fact that Hollywood could use less Civil Rights Era stories told exclusively from the perspective of white people, but this managed to entertain while still asking tough questions of the region's history. Difficult to watch at times due to the violence, it brings the best out of Gene Hackman, who plays a former Mississippi sheriff, as well as several actors actually born in the South including Michael Rooker (Alabama), Brad Dourif (West Virginia), Stephen Tobolowsky (Texas) and Frankie Faison (Virginia). Filmed in Mississippi and Alabama, it might tweak history and paint with a broad brush at times, but it also gets plenty right about the culture.

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Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Biographical story of Loretta Lynn, a legendary country singer that came from poverty to worldwide fame, as she rose from humble beginnings in Kentucky to superstardom and changing the sound and style of country music forever. Michael Apted's take on Lynn's life won Sissy Spacek and Oscar and gave young Tommy Lee Jones one of his first big breaks.

What makes it so southern? Loretta daggum Lynn, country music, a man named Doo. Again, we come back to the accents, and Spacek (a Texas native) gives one for the ages, disappearing into the Kentucky girl and even doing her own (excellent) singing! It's also a pleasure to watch Jones make a star out of himself as the alcoholic, abusive and downright pathetic husband who new his young wife had star potential and wanted to ride it to the top. A joy to watch, with some sad bumps in the road.

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A Face in the Crowd (1957)

An Arkansas drifter becomes an overnight media sensation, becoming drunk with fame and power as he's in danger of being exposed for the fraud he is. Elia Kazan's downright prophetic southern satire was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

What makes it so southern? The ferocity, the irresistibility. Even longtime fans of "The Andy Griffith Show" will simply not recognize the man who would play the sheriff of Mayberry, here as the wild, rambunctious and charming Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, the drifter discovered by a producer of a small-market radio program in rural northeast Arkansas who quickly rises to fame on national television. Brimming with "down-home" wit and a bloated ego, Rhodes' unique brand of charisma captivates people with little to no familiarity with the place that created him, suggesting that when outsiders get a taste of the South, they can't let it go.

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Deliverance (1972)

Intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, an outdoor fanatic takes his friends on a river-rafting trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country. Director John Boorman's thriller also stars Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox was a critical and commercial success that earned three Oscar nominations and a dollop of notoriety.

What makes it so southern? The river, the woods, the danger. The film's legacy certainly hasn't done the South any favors, in that pop culture has largely hijacked it due to one controversial scene and used it to paint the region as nothing but a backwoods hell hole where city folk come to suffer. But upon further review, it remains on the greatest thrillers ever made with tightly wound suspense, shocking violence and a tangible reverence for the nature in which the story takes place.

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In the Heat of the Night (1967)

An African American police detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racially hostile southern town in Norman Jewison's 1967 best picture winner starring Sidney Potier and Rod Steiger.

What makes it so southern? The tension. A city cop comes to philosophical blows with a smalltown police chief in this adaptation of John Ball's 1965 novel. While set in Mississippi, Jewison filmed most of it in Illinois, though that doesn't cheapen the impact enhanced by the performances, namely Steiger's Oscar-wining turn as a racist cop in need of a reality check.

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The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)

When a deaf and mute man moves to a small city to be near his only friend confined in a hospital, he grows attached to his landlady's sensitive 16-year-old daughter in this adaptation of the Carson McCullers novel of the same name.

What makes it so southern? At first glance, not much, given it calls no attention to its setting, an unnamed small southern town. Frankly, that's why we love this melancholy ensemble drama featuring rich performances, led by a young Alan Arkin, who earned an Oscar nomination in a silent role. It also stars Sondra Locke, Stacy Keach (from Georgia), Percy Rodriguez and Cicely Tyson. Filmed in Selma and Demopolis (featuring a scene in the historic Hotel Albert), it rarely comes up these days in conversations about movies about the South. But the fact that it uses the setting so quietly as the rather sad story plays out is one reason we love it.

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Bernie (2011)

In small-town Texas, an affable mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp. Richard Linklater's true crime comedy stars Jack Black in what some consider a career-best performance as the titular Bernie Tiede.

What makes it so southern? The gossip, the extras, the choir. Born in Houston, Linklater finally told his most obviously southern story, buoyed by Black's spunky charisma, complete with an accent and every little affectation under the sun, which might seem overdone before you consider the character's a put-on of sorts. The director brilliantly uses locals to recount the true story via interview, including co-star Matthew McConaughey's own mother, who steals a few scenes.

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Tender Mercies (1983)

A broken-down, middle-aged country singer gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter, and tries to put his troubled life back together. Robert Duvall won his only Oscar in Bruce Beresford's redemption tale written by Horton Foote.

What makes it so southern? Country music, Duvall, a sense of purpose. We happily return to the Duvall well with this quietly powerful family drama that teaches us it's not too late to get our act together, especially for the sake of our loved ones in need of our presence. Tess Harper and Allan Hubbard lend steady support as Duvall's country singer's newfound family and foundation. Filmed in Waxahachie and Palmer, two towns in Ellis County in north central Texas, we recommend it if only for one of the best songwriting lessons ever filmed, proving Duvall could have made it as a musician.

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Hustle & Flow (2005)

With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee. Craig Brewer's southern rap parable famously won the Oscar for best song, with Three 6 Mafia accepting the award on stage.

What makes it so southern? The grit, the inspiration, the struggle. Terrence Howard scored an Oscar nomination of his own for his heartfelt take on DJay, a depressed pimp unsatisfied with where his life as led him in his hometown Memphis. Finally able to express himself emotionally, through songwriting as well as thoughtful conversations with pregnant prostitute played by Taraji P. Henson, DJay opts to use his personal struggle and the environment that produced him to further his artistic ambition. We also recommend Brewer's followup, the Mississippi blues-soaked drama "Black Snake Moan."

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Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

What did we miss?

We couldn't name them all, so we want you to share your picks for favorite movies that actually understand and accurately depict the South. Please name your favorites in the comments.

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Ben Flanagan | bflanagan@al.com

The best and worst movies about Alabama

Read this list of the 25 best and worst movies about Alabama, according to critics.
Mike Warsaw.jpg

Pope Francis has appointed EWTN CEO Mike Warsaw as a Consultor to the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications.

(EWTN)

Pope Francis appointed EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw as a Consultor to the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications.

The appointment was announced at the Vatican on Wednesday, April 12. As a consultor, Warsaw will have a role in advising Pope Francis and the Holy See on matters related to media and communications. The appointment comes as part a broad restructuring of the media operations of the Vatican.

"I am extremely humbled and honored by the Holy Father's appointment," Warsaw said. "This is a tremendous recognition of the role which EWTN plays in the life of the church throughout the world. I am grateful to Pope Francis for his confidence and look forward to serving the universal church in this post."

Warsaw joined EWTN in 1991 and has held senior management positions in the areas of television production, satellite operations and technical services. He became president of EWTN in 2000 and assumed the post of chief executive officer in 2009. Warsaw was named chairman of the board of EWTN in 2013. In that capacity he oversees the network's strategic direction and mission around the world. With the network's 2011 acquisition of the National Catholic Register, Warsaw assumed the role of publisher of that newspaper.

Prior to joining EWTN, Warsaw was employed by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and the Catholic Distance University.

The Secretariat for Communications was established by Pope Francis in an apostolic decree on June 25, 2015. It has the task of carrying out the restructuring, reorganization and consolidation of the various communications outlets of the Holy See including the Vatican Television Center, the Vatican Publishing House, L'Osservatore Romano newspaper, Vatican Radio, the Holy See Press Office, Photographic Service and the Vatican Internet Service. The office is headed by Monsignor Dario Vigano, who serves as Prefect.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 36th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN's 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 268 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, "The National Catholic Register" newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell

Birmingham Mayor William Bell said the city school board should consider a candidate from the state or from within the city school system for the superintendent post.

"I think some consideration should be made to include in the process of their deliberation that someone from the state of Alabama should be included in that process," he said at a Thursday morning press conference. "At this time, I am not prepared to say who that someone should be."

He said most of the last five or six superintendents have been from out of the state.

"All of them came without really knowing all of the challenges that the city school system faces," Bell said. "We've never really had anyone with a substantial understanding of our school system remaining in that capacity for a long enough period of time to make the type of changes that are necessary."

The names of the five finalists for the Birmingham City Schools superintendent were released Tuesday afternoon. They are: The finalists are: Garrett L. Brundage, of Conyers, Ga.; Ronnie A. Dotson, of Grayson, Ky.; Timothy Gadson III, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Lisa N, Herring, of Louisville, Ky.; and Regina Thompson, of Blythewood, S.C.

The lack of a finalist from Alabama drew outrage from the community and from, at least, three board members: Cheri Gardner, Sherman Collins Jr. and Daagye Hendricks.

Many parents and community members say they wanted to see interim superintendent Larry Contri receive the permanent post.

Contri, a 49-year veteran of the school system, has declined to comment on whether he applied for the job.

Birmingham Board of Education President Wardine Alexander

School Board President Wardine Alexander said on Thursday that Contri planned to retire on June 30.

Alexander said board members learned the names of the finalists at the same time the public did. She said she was "surprised" that none of the candidates were from Birmingham.

When asked if she would prefer a local candidate, Alexander said she values all of the city school employees.

"I wanted the best candidate to come to the top," she said.

The school board contracted with the Alabama Association of School Boards to conduct the nationwide superintendent search in order to keep the process confidential, Alexander said.

The association said 47 people applied for the position.

The search process began about two months after the Birmingham Board of Education fired superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan. Castlin-Gacutan was fired without cause after a 6-3 vote on Sept. 22, 2016. She had only served 16 months on the job.

On Thursday, Alexander said each school board member had a chance to tell the association what they were looking for in a superintendent, and whether an internal candidate should receive additional weight.

Hazel Boykin, a parent of a seventh grader at Bush Hills Academy, said she is upset about the candidates for the superintendent post. She said the school board doesn't listen to the parents.

She said the school board isn't acting in the best interest of students. "They don't have (parents) involved in the process," Boykin said.

Boykin said the parents she has talked with support Contri because he knows the needs of the students.

Richard Franklin, president of the Birmingham American Federation of Teachers, said teachers are also concerned that none of the finalists are from Birmingham. He said he knows of several administrators in the school system who applied for the superintendent post and didn't even get an interview.

Franklin said the selection process hasn't been transparent, and as a parent he is disappointed that parents haven't had any input in the process so far.

Alexander said the board is moving forward with interviewing the five finalists on Wednesday. She said parents will be able to share their input by completing a survey following the interviews. Public input will have the same weight as the board, Alexander said.

Bell said he has received numerous calls from the community concerned that none of the finalists were from Alabama. He said he plans to speak with every board member individually, but ultimately the decision on who to hire is up to the school board.

He said the hiring decision rests with the board.

Hiring timeline

The five finalists for Birmingham schools superintendent will be interviewed via Skype from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 in the auditorium of Birmingham City School's Central Office. The interviews are open to the public and will be livestreamed on the school system's website.

Following the interviews, Birmingham residents will be asked to complete a survey about the candidates. The survey can be completed through noon on Friday, April 21.

According to the school system, survey scores and board members' scores on the five candidates will be presented to the school board on Friday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. Two finalists will be selected during that meeting.

The two finalists will be interviewed at the central office on Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. A resident survey on the two finalists will be online from April 25 until noon on May 1.

The new superintendent is expected to be in place by July 1.
Updated at 1:13 p.m. Highway 119 in Pelham is now open following an investigation into suspicious packages. The packages weren't explosives, police said.

Update: Police Chief Larry Palmer told reporters at the scene shortly before 12:30 p.m. that the packages were not explosives. Shortly before 12:50 p.m., the department reported on Facebook the road would soon reopen.

Original article continues below.

A busy highway in Pelham is still closed while police are investigating two suspicious packages.

Police said before 9 a.m. Cahaba Valley Road, also called Highway 119, was shut down between Southgate Dr. and Oak Mountain State Park Road due to the packages being investigated.

Capt. Pat Cheatwood confirmed the two packages are coolers and were located at the Taco Bell on Highway 119.

The roadway was still closed as of 11:00 a.m.

Some businesses surrounding Taco Bell have been evacuated as a precaution, but police said businesses not on the main roadway are still open. Alabama Bone and Joint, which is located on Cahaba Valley Road, is open and is continuing to see patients.

"As soon as it is safe to reopen the roadway we will do so," the police department posted on Facebook.
In 2017, Rola Sleiman began her role as an officially ordained pastor in Tripoli, Lebanon.

Tripoli, Lebanon  To anyones knowledge, Rola Sleiman is the first female pastor in the entirety of the Arab Christian world.

Its a straightforward tale: a young churchgoing girl decides to study theology in university, and upon graduation returns to the church of her youth in Tripoli, Lebanon. The only twist is that she is the first woman to reach such a vocation.

I didnt really have it in my head to become a pastor, says Sleiman as she sat in Tripolis National Evangelist Presbyterian Church. And yet, she became an officially ordained pastor on February 26, 2017  a historic appointment for a role which had previously been restricted to men.

Its evident that Pastor Sleimans direct demeanour and good humour helped pave her path to the pulpit. She stands at the podium, making sure her pants are hidden while she jokes with the churchs organ player. Im getting photographed in my jeans  its going to scandalise our congregation! she laughs.

WATCH: Lebanons women warriors

Explaining how she fell into the role of the first female pastor, she recalls the initial circumstances which brought her to this point. The way everything turned out, looking back, I think it was Gods will to make this statement.

She says this tentatively, processing the enormity of her ordainment.

This is my church, and I wasn't going to leave it, by Rola Sleiman

Sleiman didnt come from exceptionally devout roots: Her parents were Evangelist Presbyterian churchgoers, but not more religious than the average household. She attributes her theological path to a teenage phase, when, like many her age, she began questioning: She wanted answers, so she read.

I read the Bible, the Quran, the Old Testament  and I was convinced with my faith. Im not saying its the Truth for everyone, but to me, this is where I felt convinced.

Her path was clear at an age where most teenagers struggle with their purpose. When Sleiman was 17, she applied to be adopted by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the denominational umbrella which forms the Evangelical Presbyterian federations throughout the Levant.

The Synod adopted her and subsequently sponsored her degree in Theology and Christian Education.

Upon graduation, she had the option to serve in several of the Synods churches around Lebanon, including in her hometown of Tripoli. Sleiman was drawn to Tripoli and the church she had grown up attending. I felt there was something that I had to do here, in my hometown  I just felt that I had to go.

It was a gut feeling which proved accurate. In 2006, George Bitar, the pastor of the church which Sleiman grew up attending, left the country to travel. Having formal theological training qualified Sleiman to take on the task of leading Sunday services on a temporary basis.

However, as the 2006 July War with Israel erupted in Lebanon, Bitar was unable to book a flight home, and Sleiman ended up conducting services for six months.

When Pastor Bitar returned, it was brief. He had attained a visa to the United States, and in 2008 moved there with his family for good. In the absence of an appointed pastor for the church, Sleiman continued as interim minister, building a relationship with her congregation as time passed.

This is my church and I wasnt going to leave it, she says with conviction.

Still, as Reverend Sleiman was not an officially ordained pastor, difficulties manifested. She was unable to perform sacraments or baptisms without supervision from an ordained cleric in the Synod  male supervision.

Additionally, the Synods committees, a collection of elders and pastors from across Syria and Lebanon, could not vote on a number of issues without the presence of an ordained representative from Tripoli.

READ MORE: Sexism in Lebanon  Different and unequal

Tripolis National Evangelist Presbyterian Church needed a pastor. It was time for the Synod to officially appoint a representative so decisions could be made.

When the church was asked who they wanted to represent the congregation, the answer was obvious. After years of being interim minister, My church was used to me. They didnt think of me in terms of gender, as a woman or a man. I served them, doing visitations, preaching well, and I convinced them through my service, says Sleiman.

Ultimately, the vote to ordain Reverend Sleiman passed in the Synod 23 to one, with remarkably little resistance.

The city of Tripoli, known as the second capital of Lebanon, has been heavily affected by the neighbouring civil war in Syria, with sectarian fighting and car bombs making news headlines. Furthermore, in 2014, assailants set fire to Tripolis Christian-owned Saeh Library and torched up to two-thirds of the librarys 80,000 books and manuscripts in what was reported as a religiously motivated attack.

But mainstream media has depicted her beloved city in a skewed light, insists Sleiman, by focusing on distorted sectarian divisions and a small number of youth that join organisations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

While Lebanons delicate confessional system has historically suffered due to sectarian divisions and civil strife, Sleiman believes in representing her denomination peacefully. To me, it was about pastoring our small group, in order to take care of it and ensure [our] continuity, she says.

Tripoli is a historically diverse city, but its Christian population dwindled during Lebanons 15-yearlong civil war, that began in 1975. Heavy economic burdens intermingled with religious tension, leading many to immigrate. Christians now make up an estimated six percent of the population in Tripoli.

Evangelical Presbyterians are a tiny denomination spread across Lebanon and Syria, and representing their presence is a significant factor in Pastor Sleimans decision to lead and foster her congregation in its current location, which consists of approximately 33 families.

Although there is an Evangelical Presbyterian sister-school on the outskirts of town, the National Evangelical Church itself is situated in the centre of the old city, surrounded and well-known among the majority Muslim shopkeepers in the neighbourhood.

READ MORE: A Day Without a Woman strike aims to raise awareness

Her congregation is on great terms with the surrounding community, asserts Sleiman. I cant imagine living in any other city, she says. The people [of Tripoli] are so supportive.

Being the first female pastor in the Arab world is a responsibility that at times seems ordinary to Sleiman; other times the enormity of the historic appointment weighs on her.

The title hasnt added to anything I wasnt already doing. On the other hand, I feel there are so many more eyes on me, like people are waiting either for me to succeed or fail.

Beyond the historic religious decision, Sleiman has been thrust into the position of promoting gender equality in Lebanese society through her work.

Lebanons delicate political structure has left much to be desired politically, especially for women, who frequently bear the brunt of most socioeconomic problems. The month of March marks International Womens Day every March 8.

This year, as hundreds of women marched the streets of Beirut to demand equal rights, Rev Sleiman began her role as an officially ordained pastor in Tripoli.

Reverend Sleiman, who has a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother, was born and lived in Tripoli all her life and considers herself Lebanese, but does not have Lebanese nationality. Because Lebanese mothers cannot pass on their nationality to their children, Sleiman must periodically renew her Syrian passport and residency permit to maintain legal status in Lebanon.

We have laws that oppress women, she says, while clarifying her position against the oppression of all peoples. Its time to leave all that behind.

Some people would tell you my ordination happened late. I think, better late than never. At least a door has opened, Sleiman muses. These doors need to be opened everywhere.

Pastor Sleimans strides are not lost upon her. Alhamdulillah, she says, using the Arabic word which both Christians and Muslims use to denote Thank God.
Veeru Kohli now works to eradicate this form of slavery in Pakistan, home to about two million bonded labourers.

Azad Nagar, Pakistan  The car made its way down the narrow, winding, mostly unpaved road towards Azad Nagar  a settlement on the outskirts of the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad that is inhabited by freed bonded labourers.

Inside was Veeru Kohli, a former bonded agricultural labourer who is now an activist working for the eradication of this form of slavery.

Almost 45.8 million people are trapped in bonded labour across the world and Pakistan is home to more than two million of them, according to the Global Slavery Index.

Kohli is a familiar face in Azad Nagar, which means land of the free. More than 100 families currently live here in thatched roof houses that lack electricity and running water. A small temple serves as a place of worship for the mostly Hindu residents.

Kohli does not know her age but appears to be around 50 years old. She is wearing a bright pink ghagra and choli  skirt and blouse  with a black shawl draped over her shoulders and a vermilion on her forehead, a practice followed by Hindu women.

She vividly recalls how the contractor at the farm in Umerkot, around 150km from here, where she worked as a bonded labour would beat up her children.

Life was hell back then, she says. We worked for a feudal lord and never got to see any sort of payment for all our efforts.

There was no accountability, sometimes my children used to eat, other times there was no food. We would get random vegetables from the jungle and eat them raw, she explains as she sits on a charpai, or cot, surrounded by other women.

The business of slavery

Bonded labour was outlawed in Pakistan in 1992, but it is still widespread in brick kilns, as well as in the agriculture, mining and fishing sectors.

The bonded labourers become trapped after taking out a small loan  often to pay for medical care or a wedding. As the loan accrues interest  often at exorbitant rates  they are unable to pay it back and future generations of their family remain enslaved.

I started working when I had two kids, Kohli says, although she doesnt remember which year that was or how old she was. We were desperate for money. My children worked with me, cutting grass and picking up cow dung.

Altogether we were eight families, around 45 people, enslaved by that feudal lord for over two years. In addition to beating up my children, he didnt let me marry off my girls. He didnt let us leave despite repeated requests.

Members of religious minorities, underprivileged castes and poor Muslims are especially vulnerable to the system of bonded labour.

If those feudal lords liked someones girl, they would summon them and convert them to Islam. How can you change someones religion like that? But this is what happened there. Its not right but it happened openly, Kohli says, struggling to contain her emotions.

After being enslaved for two years, Kohli finally fled in 1998. She didnt use the bus for fear of being caught  as had happened to some before her  but instead, walked barefoot through the jungle.

She walked for two days, her feet bleeding from the thorns that had become embedded in them, before reaching her brothers home about 50km from there.

With his support and the involvement of the police, she then returned to the feudal lord who had enslaved her to demand that he free the rest of her family.

The real struggle

But, Kohli explains: After being freed, I realised the real struggle had only just started. My aim was to free as many bonded labourers as I could because, having gone through what they do, I feel the pain and the suffering.

Unfortunately, those in power are either part of it or turn a blind eye, refusing to accept bonded labour exists in Pakistan, she adds.

Kohli has travelled across Pakistan as part of her campaigning work, for which she was honoured with the Frederick Douglass Freedom Award, named after the African-American former slave and abolitionist and given by the NGO Free the Slaves, in 2009. She was also invited to speak on the issue in neighbouring India.

With the belief that boardroom talks and lectures have limited impact, she decided to enter politics.

We beg these politicians for small things but never hear back. I hoped to win a seat in the Assembly [Sindh Province] and work for the poor, she says.

I got death threats and was also offered bribes following that decision, but I stood firm.

She failed to win a seat in the 2013 Assembly but her courage in taking on the then ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in a region where it is well-established inspired many of those looking for a political alternative.

Then last December, she decided to challenge Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the son of the assassinated former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, in the PPP stronghold of Larkana, in Sindh, about 300km north of Azad Nagar.

Larkana has in the past elected Benazir Bhutto to the National Assembly. It is also the birthplace of the partys founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazirs father.

The elections are yet to be held but before Kohlis election campaign could pick up momentum, she decided to withdraw her name.

Limited funding and resources are the main reasons she cites for pulling out of the race.

I really wanted to stand up against Bilawal and show him that ordinary people have a voice too, but its unfortunate that fighting against the influential requires a lot of resources, she says.

Larkana is in a big mess right now. We couldve worked to improve the condition of the city. But were poor, were labourers and barely have enough to eat. We couldnt carry out the plan we had.

A hero for other women

In Azad Nagar, women come out of their houses to greet Kohli as she walks past. They tell her how much better their lives are now that they are no longer bonded labourers.

The settlement was built with help from a local NGO Green Rural Development Organization (GRDO) and Action Aid in 2006.

With space for 310 families over 4.5 hectares of land, Azad Nagar was planned as a place where freed bonded labourers would live temporarily as they began their new lives. But it has become a permanent home for many of its residents.

We started with two or three families, we thought they could come here, stay for a bit and then move on to where they would find work, says Ghulam Haider, one of the founding members of GRDO.

Some families arrive and stay for longer, some even become a permanent fixture. We dont force them to leave. They have found work here on the fields or in the nearby towns. They are happy here and more importantly, they live a free life.

In the middle of the settlement, a small school now lies unused. Of the 150 or so children who live here, only 16 go to school. They attend one that is about 1km away. The other children play in the fields or help their parents with chores.

As we enter the closed school, some children are quickly ushered in to recite the alphabet in English. They smile as they jump from chair to chair.

The older residents of Azad Nagar also seem happy.

This life is so much better for us. We work on the brick kilns next door and are able to earn some money, say Soomri, who gave just one name. Earlier, we were kept in bondage literally. My three sons were chained up. The two years we spent there were hell, she adds.

Her face is wrinkled and her hands rough from the work she was made to do as a bonded labourer. On one of her fingers is a wedding ring.

After we fled, they kidnapped my husband who was later beaten to death, she says. They wouldnt even let us bury his body.

Sharing tales of misery

Such stories are not uncommon here. But still the women laugh and talk animatedly about what has happened in the settlement since Kohli last visited.

But Kohli cannot stay long. She is on a mission to free some other bonded labourers. So she walks towards the car, stopping at one house to enquire about the wellbeing of those who live there.

These people are like family to each other, she says. They share a past full of struggle. But if we stay together, we can form a better future.

Kohli might have withdrawn from the election race but she continues to inspire others to fight for their rights and for a brighter future.

I tell them to earn an honest living and send their kids to school. There is no fear any more, she reflects.
Istanbul, Turkey  Vehicles of rival campaigns wander the streets of Istanbul as they blast their propaganda songs calling on Turkeys citizens to vote on their side in the upcoming referendum on April 16.

Only days left to the key vote, Yes and No camps campaign at full speed in the 15 million megalopolis in a last ditch effort to convince Turks before they vote to accept or reject the proposed constitutional changes that might deeply change how Turkey is governed.

The proposed constitutional amendments seek to transform Turkeys political system into an executive presidential one, significantly empowering the top office, while abolishing the prime ministry, which holds the main executive power in the current system as the head of the cabinet.

READ MORE: Turkeys constitutional reform  All you need to know

The Yes camp seeks support for what they say is a more stable and secure Turkey under a new system. The No camp believes the changes will lead to a one-man rule that will undermine Turkeys democratic institutions and lead to arbitrary governance.

The constitutional changes are backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) he founded and the far-right Nationalist Action Party (MHP), whose support at parliament was key to take the proposal to a public vote.

The MHP has been going through an internal fragmentation since their leadership decided to back the proposed constitutional amendments. Various senior MPs, who entered the parliament under the partys banner, campaign for No.

The AK Party carries the whole Yes campaign, with very limited and separate appearances from the MHP, the smallest of the four parties represented in the parliament.

The two parties argue the new system will prevent a return to fragile parliamentary coalitions at a time when the country is facing challenges such as multiple security concerns, an influx of refugees from Syria and the fallout from a failed coup, which led to an ongoing state of emergency across the country.

Stability and security

Erdogan said at a recent rally that Turkeys current system has created many short-lived governments, adding that government changes have histrorically been far more frequent in Turkey than Western countries.

The fact that we had 48 governments is not the expression of the strength of our democracy, but the instability of it. The governing systems codes are stability and security, he said in another rally, adding that Turkey paid a great price in the past due to lack of both.

During the past few years, deadly bomb attacks claimed by or blamed on Kurdish fighters groups and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) killed hundreds of security forces and civilians. Security concerns were further emphasised when some members of the Turkish army dramatically tried to topple the government last July in a failed coup until they faced strong resistance from the populace and the rest of the army.

Turkey accuses Fethullah Gulen, a religious leader who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, of orchestrating the coup attempt that killed around 300 people in total and led to purges within state institutions. The government says the purges aim at removing Gulens supporters from the institutions.

Many Yes voters express their confidence in Erdogan and say the need for economic and political stability is the reason for the direction of their vote. I have seen Turkeys most volatile times during my lifetime: economic downturns, coups and lousy coalitions, said Fatma Aksoz, a Yes supporter, in the district of Eminonu.

We have had a stable government for 15 years now. What if we stay in the current system and in years ahead, we have to deal with another coalition government and instability? the 57-year-old pensioner told Al Jazeera.

Q&A: Executive presidency will help Turkish democracy

Yes voters angry at EU

Among the backers of the constitutional changes, there also seems to be a strong and growing negative sentiment against the European Union (EU) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democracy Party (HDP).

Eighteen-year-old student Enes Arslan told Al Jazeera: Terrorists (Kurdish separatists), the party that supports them (HDP) and the EU are Turkeys foes and they are against the presidential system. Thats enough reason to vote for the changes.

The opposition Peoples Democracy Party (HDP), which is for No in the upcoming vote, has been hit by a series of arrests of its officials, including MPs and coleaders. The government blames the HDP, which is the third largest party in parliament, of having links to the outlawed armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is viewed as a terrorist group by the EU and US.

And recently tensions have been high between the EU and Turkey. Turkish officials have been engaged in a war of words with Germany and the Netherlands since last month after the two EU member states barred Turkish ministers from speaking at referendum campaign gatherings within their borders.

There are millions of Turks living in Europe, mainly in Germany, France and the Netherlands, who might end up determining the outcome of the referendum.

Turkish citizens living abroad cast their votes at Turkish diplomatic missions between March 27 and April 9.

READ MORE: Turkeys opposition: Referendum will deepen problems

No camp against one-man rule

No campaign, mainly carried out by the main opposition centre-left Republican Peoples Party (CHP), argues that the proposed changes will degrade separation of powers and governmental checks and balances in Turkey by giving one individual too much power.

The supporters of the CHP play anthems and promo songs across Istanbul referring to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey, as they wave national flags and hand out leaflets calling for rejection of what they say will be the end of democracy in the country.

Power, without any checks, would be disastrous. Democracys existential goal is not to leave power unchecked, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu recently said at a rally.

The HDP, which has been hit by mass arrests, is running a much smaller campaign.

Every word of the president is perceived as a rule in the current climate. They are trying to take the nation hostage by formally taking this [climate] into law through the referendum, Ahmet Turk, a senior HDP MP, said.

Both CHP and HDP officials and supporters say that the AK Party and the presidency use state resources at its disposal for campaigning purposes and Turkeys media outlets cover the No campaign far less than the opponent one. We are going to this referendum in unequal conditions. They use the states planes, vehicles, money and television channels, said Kilicdaroglu.





No voters worry about future

Many of the No voters worry about their future under the new system as they are not sure how their lives will be affected. A president with such powers might make further arbitrary changes in Turkish laws at every level that will immensely affect our daily lives, 59-year-old pensioner Cevdet Ersal told Al Jazeera, adding that the changes will create a monarchy.

Hilal Mert, a 19-year-old student, said: I want to live in a country where different institutions can monitor each other through a separation of powers. Who will stand for my rights if there is nobody to monitor the one holding the power?

A Yes vote in the upcoming referendum will allow the president to assign ministers, high-level state officials and vice-presidents, a newly established position, as well as half the members in the countrys highest judicial body. Furthermore, it will allow the president to dissolve the parliament, and issue executive decrees and state of emergencies.

Turkish presidency traditionally used to be a neutral and largely ceremonial role without any political responsibility in line with the current constitution.

However, Erdogan has effectively transformed the office to a more politically active one after he became Turkeys first president to be elected by popular vote in 2014  in line with a set of prior constitutional changes passed in a similar referendum in 2010.

Before taking over the presidential office, Erdogan served three terms as prime minister since 2002, when his party secured a landslide victory in the first elections it entered at a time the country was suffering from political instability and a major economic downturn.

After taking over the presidential office, Erdogan claimed numerous times that the fact that he was elected with popular vote had transformed the presidential office compared with past presidencies and this change was needed for a stronger Turkey.

Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @um_uras
Upholding journalistic integrity is the only way to combat pay-per-click business model poisoning media, say experts.

In an age overwhelmed with clickbait stories, where clicks mean money, is mainstream journalism losing its relevance? And are there any alternative sustainable business models, which allow professional journalists the freedom to produce meaningful and balanced journalism?

These were some of the questions put to a panel of TV and radio directors from across the globe at the UNESCOs Journalism Under Fire Colloquium, recently held in Paris.

Vicente Jimenez, director-general of the Spanish radio network Cadena SER, kicked off the discussion by citing some of the most-read stories in Spain last year:

We are often looking for stupid or irrelevant stories for large amount of clicks to increase our income. by Vicente Jimenez, Director General of Cadena SER

Compulsory military service for unemployed people! Workers forbidden from attending university! A ban on Halloween processions to avoid offending Muslims!

They were all fake news.

Jimenez argued that the click business model was poisoning media.

We are often looking for stupid or irrelevant stories for large amount of clicks to increase our income, he said. Look right now at the top newspaper websites and youll find many stories about cats, about the different ways of cooking some meal, or whether Lady Diana was taller than her husband.

Giles Trendle, Al Jazeeras acting managing director, agreed that the media was challenged by the proliferation of new platforms and mediums.

Read more: Fake news symptomatic of crisis in journalism

But, he said, engaging with new technologies should not necessarily mean losing ones soul.

Hold firm to your editorial principles, which is a valid business model in itself. We have to champion what we do as quality, credible, balanced journalism that is factual and comprehensive, and cherish our editorial integrity, Trendle said.

The fundamentals of quality journalism will eventually prevail over the low-grade yellow journalism, he added.

Everybody told us we would fail

With less than 1 percent of El Salvadors population able to access the internet, the business reasons for setting up an online investigative news site in the 90s may not have been obvious.

But without resources to set up a print newspaper, Carlos Dada and his colleagues launched El Faro online in 1998.

El Faro specialised in long investigative stories and Dada, editor-in-chief, explained: Everybody told us we would fail because the internet, this new media, was there for breaking news, short stories.

El Faro did survive and became platform agnostic, using a mix of media platforms to reach out to as many people as possible.





Dada said that holding firm to their social mission of educating their readership to become informed citizens, and in doing so strengthening democratic institutions, has been key to their business success.

According to Andrius Tapinas, the founder and chief executive of Liberty TV in Lithuania, crowd-funded journalism could be a way forward in an environment starved of state subsidies, especially for small media outlets.

Although Lithuanian television stations are freely accessible online, Tapinas  with a group of journalists  took a gamble to set up an online television channel that viewers could access through a monthly subscription.

Six months after its launch, Liberty TV competes with state television in terms of audience numbers, Tapianas said. With a stable subscriber base, the channel avoids the tyranny of the click business model.

Tapinas also emphasised the need for innovation.

Our TV channel is the biggest Lithuanian broadcaster on YouTube but we get four times less subscribers than a 17-year-old guy who is doing some fun stories from his mothers basement, Tapinas said. So do we cry, or do we adapt by maybe hiring this guy?

Crowd-funded journalism has also been implemented successfully by other media outlets, notably by the French online investigative and opinion journal Mediapart, which is entirely funded by its 130,000 subscribers, and which has over the past few years broken important corruption stories such as the Cahuzac affair.

That scandal led in 2013 to the resignation of Francois Hollands former budget minister, Jerome Cahuzac.
Indian politics is headed in a most challenging direction, one which could have momentous implications for the countrys pluralistic society and the world.

This sharp political turn in India has been most starkly visible in the growing political success of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), founded in 1980.

In 2014, the BJP won a landslide electoral victory, bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power. In March this year, the party swept to victory again in local elections across India, including in the countrys most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP won over three quarters of the seats on offer.

The new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has attributed the partys success to the prime ministers strongman image and popularity. Supporters of Modi point to his focus on economic development and growth to explain his popularity. India was the fastest-growing major economy last year, posting a GDP growth of 7 percent, compared to 6.8 percent for China. Critics, on the other hand, claim the so-called Modi-wave is based on an appeal to divisive Hindu majoritarian politics.

Hindutva





At the centre of this controversy is the BJPs ideology of Hindutva, or Hinduness, which is rooted in a belief that a Hindu majority in India is united around a common culture which forms the basis of the nation.

This claim is a contested one, and has its roots in the regions encounters with colonialism during the 19th and 20th centuries. During this time, a Western, orientalist image of India as essentially religious was pervasive, and ushered in the birth of a public sphere in which different parts of the elite claimed to speak on behalf of distinct and competing religious constituencies.

The defining Hindu nationalist contribution to these debates was to envision the boundaries between the Hindu majority and the Indo-Islamic or Christian minorities as not only religious, but national as well.

This allowed for the reframing of upper-caste Hindus not as a powerful minority, but as part of an imagined national Hindu majority. The vision of a Hindu nation was built around ideas of Hindu unity and organisation, or Hindu sangathan.

OPINION: A new India where fringe is the mainstream

One influential and controversial symbol of this vision can be seen in the contemporary politics of cow protection.

While the cow is considered to be a sacred animal by some Hindus, the BJP and other Hindu nationalist organisations have long presented beef consumption and cow protection as a dividing line between Hindus and non-Hindus.

During their electoral campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP pledged to pass laws to end the river of blood of cows, oxen and buffalo. Abattoirs, many of which are run by Indian Muslims, have since faced a crackdown by state authorities.

A central tenet of diversity in Hindu politics was the idea that numerically large lower-caste groups were a key part of the Hindu society, and it was this shifting consciousness which allowed for the imagination of a Hindu majority in the region. by

At times, Hindu organisation has been accompanied by a violent activism directed towards anyone accused of eating beef or slaughtering cows.

Caste politics

Many leading thinkers primarily view the growing power of Hindu nationalism through its encouragement of Hindu and Muslim intra-communal conflict. Yet, this ignores the much-contested place of lower-caste groups within Hindu nationalism.

Addressing the politics sparked by these conflicting views provides another compelling prism through which to understand the significance of Hindu mobilisation and recent electoral victories.

During the course of 19th century debates, Hindu activist organisations such as Arya Samaj turned their attention to the issue of caste and, in particular, the position of lower-caste groups within the Hindu society.

This raised questions over where the boundaries of Hinduism were, considering that caste practices often cut across religious traditions, and Hindu as a religious identity was unfamiliar to many, who now found themselves categorised within it.

A central tenet of diversity in Hindu politics was the idea that numerically large lower-caste groups were a key part of the Hindu society, and it was this shifting consciousness which allowed for the imagination of a Hindu majority in the region. The BJP seeks to mobilise this diversity into a consolidated idea of Hindu identity and nationhood.

OPINION: Indias beef sanctity

While the BJPs campaigning in recent elections around symbols such as the cow have played a role in this, grassroots movements affiliated with Hindu nationalism that have been operating outside, politics and whose activism is often incorrectly seen as of little consequence to Indias social landscape, also played a role.

My own research demonstrates how these seva (service) projects, including approximately 14,000 schools and cultural societies, link the histories and heroes of lower caste groups into a broader story of Hindu society.

For example, in dramatic folk plays about the Hindu God-King Rama in Uttar Pradesh, lower-caste groups such as Nishads are placed at the forefront of the myth and celebrated for their masculine and ethical qualities, in a manner similar to the BJPs presentation of an angry Rama in colourful badges, stickers and posters.

OPINION: Can caste be banned from Indian politics?

Alongside this incorporation, in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand, tribal and lower caste groups use these ideas of moral comportment to shatter stereotypes and create a space for themselves in the Hindu nation.

These stories present the cultural ethos of marginal Hindus as central to building any Hindu nation, claiming that its decline is the responsibility of more powerful Hindu figures, whose actions, such as alcohol consumption, are corrupt and quite inimical to the demands of an ethical Hindu identity.

While these ideas of Hindu organisation and nationalism have been on the rise, they have been increasingly challenged by thinkers who assert an alternative and independent lower-caste identity.

These activists claim the legacy of BR Ambedkar, the principal framer of the Indian constitution. An important leader of the Dalit, or the former untouchable, caste, Ambedkars work helped inspire the rise of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), or the Majority Peoples Party.

Since the 1980s, the BSP has put forward a forceful critique of Hindu nationalism, and from this period onwards lower-caste politics have developed into a major aspect of Indian life.





This brings us back to the 2014 and 2017 elections.

Of all the competing views of community, religion and nationhood offered during the campaigns, it was the BJPs invocation of the symbols of Hindu unity which gained popular support and caused lower-caste parties to regress.

In the most recent polls, the Hindu nationalists successfully captured 69 of the 89 seats reserved for lower-caste representatives, compared to just two for the BSP.

Tracing Indias difficult and momentous turn towards Hindu nationalist politics allows us to consider an increasingly powerful paradigm at work in the world: one which twists the kaleidoscope to reveal not the messy entanglements of human history and belonging, but instead sharp divisions and monopolised spaces.

Ketan Alder lectures in religions and politics at Lancaster University. He is currently writing a book on Hindu activism in modern India.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Survivors tell authorities 15 women and five children among the missing after boat headed for European shores sinks.

At least 97 people are missing and believed to have drowned after their Europe-bound boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, according to the Libyan coastguard.

Spokesman Ayoub Qassem said 23 migrants were rescued around 10 kilometres off the coast of Tripoli after authorities received a distress call. Fifteen women and five children are among those still missing.





The boat, which was packed with African nationals seeking asylum in Europe, completely collapsed, he said.

The survivors, all men, were found clinging to a flotation device.

Those who had disappeared were probably dead, Qassem said, adding that bad weather had prevented the recovery of their bodies.

Libya has become a key departure point for people risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Hailing mainly from sub-Saharan countries, most of the asylum seekers board boats operated by people traffickers in the countrys west, heading for the Italian island of Lampedusa 300 kilometres away.

READ MORE: IOM  African migrants traded in Libyas slave markets

Since the beginning of this year, at least 590 people have died or gone missing along the Libyan coast, the International Organisation for Migration said in late March.

In 2016, more than 5,000 people lost their lives at sea  an annual record  as they undertook perilous journeys to escape war, poverty, and persecution. In 2015, at least 3,771 refugees died while crossing the Mediterranean, up from 3,279 deaths the year before.

More than 24,000 asylum seekers arrived in Italy from Libya during the first three months of the year, up from 18,000 in the same period last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The German government on Thursday said it would support a ban on the export of boats from the European Union to Libya as part of measures to stem the flow of people across the Mediterranean.

In February, EU leaders inked a deal to give $215mn to Libyas fragile government to stop migrant boats in the countrys territorial waters.
In first interview since deadly gas attack in Idlib, Syrian leader says US missile strike based on falsified evidence.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a fabrication to justify a US military strike, AFP news agency reported.

In his first interview since the April 4 incident prompted a US cruise missile attack on Syrian forces, Assad insisted his army gave up all of its chemical weapons three years ago and that Syrian military power was not affected by the US strike.

Definitely, 100 percent for us, its fabrication, Assad said of the poison gas incident.





Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack, added Assad, who has been in power for 17 years.

Western leaders including US President Donald Trump have accused Assad of being behind last weeks attack in the rebel-held town Khan Sheikhoun, saying his forces unleashed a chemical weapon during an air strike.

Assad said his forces had not been diminished by the 59 US cruise missiles launched at an Syrian airbase in Homs in retaliation for what Trump called a very barbaric attack.

Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists, hasnt been affected by this strike, Assad said.

The chemical attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of victims suffering from gas poisoning provoked global outrage.

At the time of the incident Syria denied any use of chemical weapons, and Moscow said the deaths had been the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing toxic substances.

But in his latest interview, Assad insisted it was not clear whether an attack on Khan Sheikhoun had even happened.

READ MORE: Russia slammed for vetoing yet another Syria resolution

You have a lot of fake videos now, he said. We dont know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?

An open source investigation by journalist Elliot Higgins pieces together the timeline of the Khan Sheikhoun attack and attempts to debunk previous claims by the government in Damascus and Russia that the chemical cloud was released after Syrian jets targeted a rebel weapons depot in the town.

US military officials said they observed a drone flying over a hospital in Khan Sheikoun that was providing treatment for gas victims.

About five hours later, the UAV [drone] returned, and the hospital was struck by additional munitions, one official said.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has begun an investigation into the alleged attack, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding Syria cooperate with the probe.

A British delegation at the worlds chemical weapons watchdog said on Thursday that samples taken from the attack site tested positive for the nerve agent sarin.

Assad said Syria would only allow an impartial investigation into the poison gas incident.

He insisted several times his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.

The OPCW has blamed Assads government for at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving the use of chlorine.

In the lead up to the government takeover of the rebel-held half of Aleppo last last year, Human Rights Watch reported on the governments systematic use of chlorine gas, marking at least eight incidents in which military helicopters dropped the chemical into residential areas.
Scientists around the world are working to capture an elusive image of a black hole for the first time ever.

A hundred scientists in eight locations around the world have coordinated efforts over the past two weeks to capture the first-ever image of a black hole.

The project, called the Event Horizon telescope, is hoping to get a picture of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole shielded by dust and gas 26,000 light-years from Earth, at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy.

To do this the scientists combined the power of eight radio telescopes in Spain, Mexico, Chile, the United States and Antarctica.

The bigger your telescope, the better your resolution, Heino Falcke, a professor of astroparticle physics and radio astronomy at Radboud University in the Netherlands, told Al Jazeera.





We need to [be able to] see a mustard seed in New York from Europe and need a telescope the size of the Earth to get that resolution. Couple radio telescopes around the world [together] and then you essentially get that.

Unlike traditional optical telescopes that detect light waves, radio telescopes pick up radio frequencies emitted by objects such as planets and stars. These are frequently very weak, which is why large telescopes are needed.

They need to be at very high mountains because humidity absorbs those radio waves, said Falcke.

Radio telescopes have been linked together in this way for more than 30 years, but this is the first time so many have been focused on one part of the galaxy at the same time.

Although the team said this initial attempt went well, they will have to be patient.

Each telescope produces 2-3 million gigabytes of data per night during the experiment, making the transmission of the data a challenge.

It is stored on hard drives as it is impossible to send by the internet right now, particularly from Antarctica where it is now winter and there are no flights back, we have to wait half a year to get all this data together and combine it, said Falcke.

The data will also have to be correlated, a complicated process that researchers said could take up to a year.

Once it is analysed, the team hope to have an image of black hole and the bright matter that is believed to hurtle around it.

It may be like a solar eclipse where you see a dark shadow in the middle and then fire around, Falcke said.

Hawking: There may be a way out of black holes

This ring is called an event horizon, the area around a black hole where the gravitational pull is so strong it makes escape  even for light  impossible.

Falcke said getting an image and a better understanding of this exotic region is important as it would confirm or challenge the fundamental theories that underpin physics.

We think [black holes] exist but we have never seen it, so proving that it actually exists in our universe I think is very fundamental, he said.

[If] you can test it and measure it very precisely in the years to come, [you will] see whether Einstein is correct with his ultimate theory of time and space, or do we need to change it?

To do this the researchers hope to add additional telescopes to the array in coming decades, allowing them to conduct even more precise observations of black holes and their effect on the universe.
US put North Korea on notice it wont tolerate any provocation, while Pyongyang threatened a nuclear strike in response.

Military force cannot resolve tension over North Korea, China said on Thursday, while an influential Chinese newspaper urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for Chinese protection.

With a US aircraft carrier group steaming to the area and tension rising, South Korea said it believed the United States would consult it before any preemptive strike against the North.

Fears have been growing that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of UN sanctions and stark warnings from the United States that a policy of patience was over.

China, North Koreas sole major ally and benefactor, which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.





Military force cannot resolve the issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing. Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks.

While US President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he would not tolerate any provocation, US officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Trump has, however, diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive.

Wang warned that history would hold any instigator to account.

Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility, Wang said.

North Korea vows to respond to reckless US moves

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told parliament in Seoul he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a preemptive strike. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

A Washington-based think-tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images on Wednesday showed activity around the Norths Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that indicated it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a test was more likely, although they also said the North appeared ready to conduct a test at any time.

An influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, was to give up its nuclear programme, and China would protect it if it did.

As soon as North Korea complies with Chinas declared advice and suspends nuclear activities  China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime, said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist partys Peoples Daily.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about threats from North Korea, telling parliament in Tokyo that Pyongyang could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

A senior Japanese diplomat said the United States was putting maximum pressure on North Korea to resolve issues peacefully, while putting responsibility on China to sway its old ally.

We will watch what action China takes, the diplomat said.

While Japan did not see a high risk of military action, it expected to be consulted by the United States if it decided to attack. North Korea has about 350 missiles that can hit Japan.

North Korea says its not afraid of US military strike

On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy both countries.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the United States for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a very good discussion of the menace of North Korea. He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary.
US Central Command says air strike was supposed to hit an ISIL fighting position in Syrias northern Raqqa province.

At least 18 members of the American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a US-led coalition air strike that mistakenly targeted them in Syrias Raqqa province.

In a statement released on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said 18 SDF fighters died in the air raid south of the city of Tabqa on April 11. The attack was believed to be hitting members of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

SDF was founded in Syrias mainly Kurdish northeastern region in October 2015, and is made up of at least 15 armed factions, mostly fighters from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units and the Free Syrian Army.

The strike was requested by the partnered forces, who had identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position. The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position, CENTCOM said.

The coalitions deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families. The coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident.

The coalition added it is assessing the cause of the friendly fire attack.

READ MORE: Evacuation from Syrias Madaya and Zabadani begins

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday at least 25 other SDF fighters were killed in clashes against ISIL in the suburbs of Tabqa.

The incident occurred as US-backed Syrian forces prepared to retake Raqqa, ISILs stronghold in Syria, as they moved in from the citys north.

SDF captured the strategic Tabqa airbase from ISIL last month.The airbase is 45km west of Raqqa,

Raqqa province was taken by ISIL in January 2014 from the former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, and ISIL seized Tabqas airbase from the Syrian government in August 2014.
Central Command says largest US non-nuclear bomb used in combat dropped on ISIL caves and bunkers in countrys east.

The US has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb it has ever used in combat in eastern Afghanistan on a series of caves used by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, according to the Pentagon.

The GBU-43 bomb was dropped on Thursday from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, said Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesperson.

Also known as the mother of all bombs, the GBU-43 is a 9,797kg GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area.

But the ultra-heavy explosive  equal to 11 tonnes of TNT with a blast radius of 1.6km on each side  could potentially cause many civilian casualties.

Towering flames

The non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 fighters and destroyed a deep-tunnel complex of ISIL, Afghan officials said on Friday while ruling out any civilian casualties.

As a result of the bombing, key Daesh [ISIL] hideouts and deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed, the Afghan defence ministry said.

The bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district, according to Esmail Shinwari, the local governor.

The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area, Shinwari told AFP news agency.

An Afghan armed opposition source told AFP news agency from an undisclosed location that local residents had described the ground shaking like an earthquake, with people being knocked unconscious by the blast.

People have started leaving the area fearing more bombings, he said.

Another armed opposition source told AFP that 800 to 1,000 ISIL fighters were believed to be hiding in the area.

Right munition

General John Nicholson, head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said the bomb was used against caves and bunkers used by ISIL in Afghanistan, also known as ISIS-K.

As ISIS-K losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, he said.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K.

ISILs offshoot in Afghanistan, created in 2015, is also known as the Khorasan Province.

READ MORE: On the front line of Afghanistans battle with ISIL

Mark Kimmitt, a retired brigadier-general in the US army and former deputy assistant secretary of defence, played down the use of the GBU-43, saying it is just another tool the military has.

It allows us to go after deeply buried and hardened structures. Its good use against tunnels and its also good use because its going to set off IEDs in the area, he told Al Jazeera.

Kimmitt said it was not at all certain that political authorities were informed of the raid before it was carried out.

Although the size of the bomb was a bit larger than normal, it was a routine military mission against a routine military target, he said.

The White House would not confirm whether or not President Donald Trump had authorised the use of the bomb.

Everybody knows exactly what happened and what I do is I authorise my military, Trump told reporters.

We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done their job as usual. So, we have given them total authorisation.

US officials say intelligence suggests ISIL is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighbouring Kunar province, among tens of thousands of civilians.

ISIL strength

Estimates of ISILs strength in Afghanistan vary.

US officials have said they believe the group has only 700 fighters, but Afghan officials estimate there are closer to 1,500 in the country.

Western and Afghan security officials believe fighters frequently switch allegiances between armed groups, making it difficult to know who is to blame for violence.

Peter Galbraith, a former US diplomat and former UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said ISIL would have to be targeted in different locations for the US military strategy to succeed.

READ MORE: Dear Donald Trump  Letters from Afghanistan

ISIL doesnt concentrate its forces  so you have to target it in many different places, he told Al Jazeera.

He said conditions for military operations in ISILs Syrian and Iraqi strongholds, Raqqa and Mosul, are different, as they are urban areas with civilian populations.

A bomb of this magnitude could cause a lot of collateral damage, Galbraith said.

But when youre using it in a remote, rural part of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, you presumably can have some confidence that youll not have civilian casualties, or at least not many of them.
Kremlin objects to the ruling that blamed Russia for deaths of more than 300 hostages in 2004.

Russian authorities breached European human rights laws when they stormed a school seized by fighters in 2004, contributing to the deaths of more than 300 hostages, the continents rights court ruled.

However, following the ruling on Thursday, the Kremlins spokesman objected to the ruling, saying it was impossible for it to agree with this phrasing.

Such phrasing for a country that has suffered an attack is absolutely unacceptable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Armed fighters demanding withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya seized around 1,100 children, parents and teachers as they celebrated the first day of the school year in September 2004.

Three days later, some of the rebels detonated explosives during a bloody shootout when Russian forces moved in.

On Thursday, the France-based court said authorities did not take necessary preventive measures to save lives.

It said the security forces use of tank cannon, grenade launchers and flame-throwers contributed to casualties among the hostages.

It noted failures to increase security before the attack despite imminent threats against schools in the area.

The Russian Justice Ministry said it would appeal the verdict and that a number of the courts conclusions were not backed up.

It contended that the judges failed to grasp the gravity of the situation during the siege and specifics of efforts taken to free the hostages.

The court also said Russian authorities had been aware of a possible attack on public places such as schools but had not prepared sufficiently.

While certain security measures had been taken, in general the preventive measures in the present case could be characterised as inadequate, it said.

The court ordered that Russia pay nearly $3.2m in total compensation to the 409 surviving hostages and relatives of the deceased.

IN PICTURES: The Beslan massacre, 10 years on

All the necessary legal action regarding this ruling will be taken, Peskov said, adding that the courts finding showed it did not examine the tragic events in sufficient detail.

The head of the Mothers of Beslan group, Aneta Gadieva, said the payment ordered was meager.

Somebody will get 5,000 euros, somebody will get 20,000 euros. Thats a small sum in compensation for moral damages, she was quoted as telling state news agency TASS.
Two female suspects appear in court but lawyers warn they feared a trial by ambush with police not sharing evidence.

A Malaysian court postponed a hearing for two women accused of killing North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns half-brother at Kuala Lumpur airport earlier this year.

Kim Jong-nam died after the two women attacked him at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February as he prepared to board a flight to Macau.

The hearing, which had been scheduled for Thursday morning, was postponed to May 30 after defence lawyers complained about lack of access to police evidence, including CCTV footage and the suspects mobile phones.





Wearing bullet-proof vests, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were to a heavily guarded magistrates court near the airport where Kim Jong-nam was fatally poisoned on February 13.

One of their lawyers warned they feared a trial by ambush with police not sharing evidence.

Police accuse the pair of having wiped the banned nerve agent VX on Kims face at the airport.

US and South Korean officials say the murder was orchestrated by the Norths leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, had spoken out publicly against his familys dynastic control of the isolated, nuclear-armed nation.

Pyongyang denies the accusation, insisting he died of a heart attack.

READ MORE: Who produced the VX poison that killed Kim Jong-nam?

Lawyers for Aishah and Huong told the Malaysian magistrate court that police had not responded to requests to provide evidence, including CCTV recordings and statements from three North Korean suspects that were allowed to leave the country.

The three suspects returned to Pyongyang along with the body of Kim Jong-nam as part of a swap deal with North Korea, which had banned nine Malaysians from leaving the country in a diplomatic spat.

Weve lost an opportunity to cross-examine them, Aishahs lawyer Gooi Soon Seng told reporters outside the court. There should be no trial by ambush.

Malaysian police have identified four other North Koreans as suspects. They are believed to have left Kuala Lumpur for Pyongyang on the day of the killing.

About 100 police officers, include commandos in balaclavas and carrying assault rifles, guarded the court compound during the womens appearance.

The case is due to be transferred to an upper court where the women will be tried for murder. If convicted, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia.

Aisyah and Huong have told diplomats from their countries that they had believed they were carrying out a prank for a reality television show, and not a murder.

Tran Huy Hoang, a young Vietnamese man who attended the hearing and described himself as a cousin of Doan, told AFP news agency she loves to travel and party but she never do anything violent.

All of us believe she was cheated, he said.
Lawyer for academic critical of president alleges authorities want to confine her to a mental hospital.

A Ugandan academic detained for likening President Yoweri Museveni to a persons bottom fears authorities are trying to have her declared insane to lock her up in a psychiatric facility.

Stella Nyanzi, a research fellow at Ugandas Makerere University, was charged with cyber-harassment for referring to Museveni as a pair of buttocks in one of her Facebook posts, according to court documents.

Nyanzis lawyer, Nicholas Opiyo, said on Thursday she told him two men presenting themsleves as doctors tried to trick her into taking a psychiatric test a day earlier. The two were from a government mental hospital, he claimed.

They [the government] do not want to go to trial, Opiyo said. They just want to delegitimise Stella, characterise her as a fool, a mad person  and confine her to a mental hospital.

READ MORE: Academic Stella Nyanzi charged with cyber-harassment

At her court hearing on Monday, Nyanzi had objected to prosecutors request for an evaluation of her mental health.





Frank Baine, a spokesman for the Uganda Prisons department, denied the two men who visited Nyanzi were mental health specialists. The medical exam was a routine medical exam that every new inmate undergoes to avoid risks of spreading infection, he said.

In Uganda mental exams are usually reserved for suspects accused of crimes such as statutory rape.

Nyanzi, a single mother of three, remains in custody pending a bail hearing. She has denied the charges but said she often writes metaphorically to speak truth to power.

She is popular on Facebook for her relentless criticism of Museveni, 72, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Nyanzis arrest and prosecution was an indicator that those who express critical views of the Ugandan government, especially the first family, can face its wrath.

Museveni secured his latest term in office last year in a poll that independent monitors said lacked credibility and transparency.

Some Ugandan politicians have been recently saying they would back a proposal to remove the age limit from the countrys constitution, the last obstacle to a possible life presidency for Museveni.
More than 1,100 soldiers to be stationed in Orzysz, about 57km south of Russias Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad.

Poland on Thursday welcomed the first US troops in a multinational force being posted across the Baltic region to counter potential threats from Russia.

More than 1,100 soldiers  900 US troops as well as 150 British and 120 Romanians  are to be deployed in Orzysz, about 57km south of Russias Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, where Moscow has stationed nuclear-capable missiles and an S-400 air missile defence system.

Three other formations are due to become operational by June across the region.

READ MORE: Russia vows response to NATO plan in Poland and Baltics

Deploying of these troops to Poland is a clear demonstration of NATOs unity and resolve and sends a clear message to any potential aggressor, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti, said at a welcoming ceremony for the first arrivals at Orzysz, 220km northeast of the capital, Warsaw.

Poland, alarmed by Russias assertiveness on NATOs eastern flank, has lobbied hard for the stationing of NATO troops on its soil, especially since Moscows annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Polish President Andrzej Duda called the deployment a historic moment awaited by generations.

Russia vowed to take retaliatory measures in May 2016 if NATO deployed more battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, adding it would reinforce its western and southern flanks with new divisions.

OPINION: Is a Russia-NATO conflict in the making?

Moscow has reacted angrily to the alliances military presence in countries that were once part of the Soviet Union and to exercises close to its borders.

Russia said it would install S-400 surface-to-air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad, in retaliation for the NATO deployment of its so-called defence shield in Eastern Europe.
Mob attacks three students in university canteen over blasphemy allegation, killing one and wounding two others.

Islamabad, Pakistan  One university student has been killed and two others wounded during a violent mob attack after being accused of committing blasphemy in the northern Pakistani city of Mardan, police say.

The three men were attacked by fellow students while conversing in the cafeteria of the Abdul Wali Khan University on Thursday, local police official Pir Muhammad told Al Jazeera.

Other students who overheard the victims talking first surrounded them and then started attacking them, said Muhammad.

The two who were wounded have been taken to the hospital and are safe and sound.

According to local police official Tariq Aziz more than 100 people suspected of being part of the mob have been arrested so far.

In Pakistan, a shrine to murder for blasphemy

Blasphemy against Islam is a sensitive subject in Pakistan, where punishment for the crime ranges from a fine to a mandatory death sentence, depending on the specific offence.

Currently, about 40 people are on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan, according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Increasingly, however, right-wing vigilantes and mobs have taken the law into their own hands, killing at least 69 people over alleged blasphemy since 1990, according to an Al Jazeera tally.

Those killed have included people accused of blasphemy, their lawyers, their relatives, judges hearing their cases and members of their communities.

Several people were arrested following the attack in Mardan on Thursday, and an investigation into who was responsible for instigating the violence was ongoing, said Muhammad.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras Web Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim
UK ambassador to UN asks how anyone could look at the faces of lifeless children and yet veto resolution.

Western powers have lashed out at Russia after it vetoed a United Nations resolution that would have condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons in northern Syria and demanded a speedy investigation.

The vote on the Security Council resolution drafted by Britain, France and the United States was 10 in favour, Russia and Bolivia against, and China, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia abstaining.

After the vote on Wednesday, Britains UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft looked at the Russian envoy and asked: How could anyone look at the faces of lifeless children and choose to veto a resolution condemning those deaths?

He said samples taken from the site of the April 4 attack had been analysed by British scientists and tested positive for the nerve gas sarin. He said President Bashar al-Assads government was responsible.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told the council that with its veto, Russia said no to accountability, Russia said no to cooperating with the UN investigation, Russia said no to helping keep peace in Syria. Russia chose to side with Assad, even as rest of the world, even the Arab world, comes together to condemn the murderous regime.

It was the eighth veto by Russia, a close ally of Assad, on a Western-backed Syria resolution and reflected the deep division that has left the UNs most powerful body struggling to tackle the use of banned chemical weapons and to help end the six-year Syrian conflict.

China has vetoed six resolutions.

Call for investigation

The draft resolution would have required Assads government to provide access for investigators and information such as flight plans.

Russias UN deputy ambassador Vladimir Safronkov told the council before the vote that a resolution was unnecessary, and the draft put forward by the Western powers pre-judged that the Syrian government was responsible for the attack on Khan Sheikhoun in which nearly 90 people died.

Safronkov said Russias foreign minister asked US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during talks earlier on Wednesday in Moscow to jointly request the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to immediately put together an independent international mission to visit Khan Sheikhoun and the airbase that the US attacked in retaliation.

Tillerson is considering the request, he said, and we expect that Washington will have a constructive reaction.

READ MORE: Syria chemical attack survivors vow to fight for justice

In Washington, President Donald Trump was asked if he thought it was possible that Syrian forces could have launched the alleged attack, from an airbase they share with Russian forces, without Russia knowing about it.

I think its certainly possible. I think its probably unlikely, he said. I would like to think that they didnt know, but certainly they could have. They were there.

After the vote at the UN, French President Francois Hollande said Russia bears a heavy responsibility for continuing to protect Assad and blocking a united international response.

US-based Human Rights Watch said the veto tells those responsible for chemical attacks that they can flout the laws of war and attack civilians without consequences.

Under a 2013 deal between the US and Russia, struck after a chemical attack in suburbs of Damascus killed hundreds of people, Syria was supposed to dismantle its chemical weapons arsenal.

The Russians really became the guarantor for Assads behaviour in regards to chemical weapons and the guarantor for Assads promise that he had given them all up, Jessica Ashooh, of the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think-tank in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera.

She said that in light of that deal, the Idlib attack was very embarrassing for the Russians.

We saw a veto from Russia today because the reality is, theres absolutely no question that Bashar al-Assad and his regime were responsible for the strikes.
Tributes flow in for first black woman to serve as a judge on New Yorks highest court after unexplained death.

Tributes were paid on Thursday to Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first African-American woman to serve on New Yorks highest court.

Police pulled Abdus-Salaams fully clothed body from the Hudson River on Wednesday, a day after she was reported missing. The 65-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. No cause of death has been announced.

There were no signs a crime had been committed in her death, a police spokesman said on Thursday.

Law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity told US media that investigators were treating the death as a suicide.

One of the officials said both the judges mother and brother had died in recent years around Easter, the brother by suicide.

Results of an autopsy conducted on Thursday were inconclusive.

The cause and manner of death are pending further studies following todays examination, Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the citys medical examiner, said in a statement.

Abdus-Salaam was widely reported to have been the countrys first female Muslim judge.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo hailed Abdus-Salaam as a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all.

As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the states Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer, Cuomo said. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

Bright legal mind

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be missed deeply.

Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her, DiFiore said.

Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said her example and work on civil rights issues were inspiring to women, Muslims, and African Americans.

Her story was a story of success, empowerment and inspiration, he said.

The president of the New York State Bar Association, Claire P Gutekunst, noted Abdus-Salaam grew up poor in a family of seven children in Washington, DC, and rose to become one of the seven judges in New Yorks highest court, where her intellect, judicial temperament and wisdom earned her wide respect.

Abdus-Salaam graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School. She became a public defender in Brooklyn after law school, the New York Times said, representing people who could not afford lawyers.

She went on to serve as a lawyer for New York state government and citys office of labour services.

In one of her first cases, she won an anti-discrimination suit for more than 30 female New York City bus drivers who had been denied promotions.

She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.

On Twitter and Facebook, some social media users criticised what they called a muted reaction to Abdus-Salaams death, while others alleged foul play.

The body of Muslim Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found in the Hudson River. WTF??!! How is this not in all of the headlines?   (@sanejones) April 13, 2017



https://twitter.com/fred_mim/status/852530606072152064
As tensions rise over Syria, US president seems to walk away from campaign promise to improve ties with Moscow.

President Donald Trump has declared that US relations with Russia may be at an all-time low.

His top diplomat offered a similarly grim assessment after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier on Wednesday.

Right now were not getting along with Russia at all, Trump said flatly during a White House news conference.

Only weeks ago, it appeared that Trump, who praised Putin throughout the US election campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia.





But such a scenario seems highly unlikely as the two sides have clashed repeatedly over Syria following last weeks suspected chemical attack and US missile strikes.

Itd be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and if we got along with Russia, Trump said.

That could happen, and it may not happen, he said. It may be just the opposite.

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said relations are at a low point and marked by serious distrust.

There is a low level of trust between our two countries, Tillerson said in Moscow during a news conference with Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, adding that the degradation of US-Russian ties needs to end.

The worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship, he said.

READ MORE: Trump  Putins best frenemy

US and Russia have recently traded caustic accusations following a US strike on a Syrian airbase in retaliation to the suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Syria, blamed by Washington on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia.

Tillersons comments echoed televised remarks by Putin, who earlier on Wednesday said the trust between the two countries had deteriorated since Trump was elected US president.

One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but has rather deteriorated, Putin said in an interview broadcast on Russian television.

On Syria, they are miles apart and it doesnt seem that theres been any breakthrough at all, Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the White House, said.

Differences over Assad

Speaking to reporters, Tillerson reiterated Washingtons position that Assad must eventually relinquish power  a position starkly at odds with Russia, which has been bombing rebel-held areas in Syria in support of Assads forces since September 2015.

For his part, Lavrov warned against an international effort to remove Assad from power, citing the cases of Iraq and Libya to argue that the toppling of autocratic rulers by external forces leads to chaos.

He said Moscow was ready to resume a deal with Washington to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace as the two countries lead separate bombing campaigns.

Today the president confirmed our readiness to return to its implementation on the understanding that the original aims of the air forces of the American coalition are reaffirmed, namely the fight with IS [ISIL] and al-Nusra, Lavrov said.

The deal was suspended after US missile strikes against the Shayrat airbase following a suspected gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun, in an act Moscow labelled aggression against a sovereign state.

Tillerson said the US is confident in its assessment that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in the bombing on Khan Sheikhoun and alleged that Syria has used such weapons more than 50 times in the past.

Lavrov said Russia has no intention to shield anyone, adding that a United Nations chemical weapons watchdog must conduct an objective and unbiased probe into the attack that killed dozens of people.

Russian veto

Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said the press conference highlighted the two diplomats differences in style, in position and in views of the world.

There was no dramatic proposals made, no big deals discussed, Challands said.

The conversation was basically about how to stop it [the relation] from getting worse, not necessarily about grand steps to make it any better.

READ MORE: What next for US-Russia ties after Syria strike?

The press conference came just moments before Russia again cast a veto at the UN Security Council, blocking a bid from the US, UK and France to condemn the suspected gas attack and push the Syrian government to cooperate with investigators.

China, which has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the civil war began six years ago, abstained from Wednesdays vote, along with Ethiopia and Kazakhstan.

Ten countries voted in favour of the text, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting no.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to end its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti and replace it with a smaller police.

The move signals the international community believes the impoverished Caribbean nation is stabilising after successful elections.

The peacekeeping mission  one of the longest-running in the world and known as MINUSTAH  has been dogged by controversy, including the introduction of cholera to the island by UN troops that killed thousands of Haitians, as well as sexual abuse claims against them.





The 15-member Security Council acknowledged the completion of Haitis presidential election, along with the inauguration of its new president, as a major milestone towards stabilisation in the Caribbean country.

What we now need is a newly configured mission which is focused on the rule of law and human rights in Haiti, British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said.

Peacekeepers do fantastic work but they are very expensive and they should be used only when needed, Rycroft said.

The shutdown of the $346m mission, recommended by UN chief Antonio Guterres, comes as the United States looks to cut its funding of UN peacekeeping.

The US is the largest contributor paying 28.5 percent of the total budget.

Al Jazeeras Mike Hanna, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, said the decision to downsise may be because of American pressure to save money.

The US has been demanding that the UN become leaner and meaner in its operation, and has at times threatened to withhold some of the massive funding that it gives the organisation, Hanna said.

READ MORE: Haiti: Jovenel Moise confirmed as new president

There are 2,342 UN troops in Haiti, who will withdraw over the coming six months.

The new mission will be established for an initial six months, from October 16, 2017 to April 15, 2018, and is projected to exit two years after its establishment. It will be a police force of about 1,000 personnel.





UN peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 when an uprising led to the ouster and exile of then-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It is the only UN 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.

UN peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse and blamed for the cholera outbreak. Haiti was free of cholera until 2010, when peacekeepers dumped infected sewage into a river.

The UN does not accept legal responsibility for the outbreak of the disease, which causes uncontrollable diarrhea. Some 9,300 people have died and more than 800,000 sickened.

In late March, the council reduced the size of its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the ceiling down from 19,815 troops to 16,215.

Missions in Liberia and Ivory Coast are also set to end, while the joint UN-African Union peace operation in Sudans Darfur region is also expected to be drawn down.
Arrested on treason charges, Hakainde Hichilemas party claims he has been denied access to a lawyer.

Zambian police have denied the main opposition partys claim that its detained leader Hakainde Hichilema was denied access to his lawyers and family members.

Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungus motorcade on a main road.

We have not blocked lawyers and Mr Hichilemas members of the family from visiting him because that is his constitutional right, police spokeswoman Esther Mwaata-Katongo said.

READ MORE: UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema charged with treason

Hichilemas lawyer Jack Mwiimbu, however, said that he had seen his client on Wednesday but had since been prevented from visiting him.

There are instructions for him not to be seen by anybody without authority from police headquarters. We have therefore started processing court papers. We want the court to compel the police to allow us to see our client, Mwiimbu told Reuters news agency.





Mwiimbu said Hichilema had complained on Wednesday of feeling unwell after police fired tear gas into his house when he was arrested.

Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

The two political leaders are old rivals, with Lungu beating Hichilema narrowly in two presidential elections. Lungu, the Patriotic Front leader only just won last Augusts vote, which the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says was rigged.

On Saturday, Lungu passed through Mongu, 500 km west of the capital Lusaka, and his motorcade was obstructed because Hichilema refused to give way, police said.

The opposition leader disobeyed police orders to give way to the presidential motorcade in an attempt to put the life of the republican president in danger, the police chief told reporters in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Zambias economy has been depressed for years by low commodity prices, mine closures, rising unemployment, power shortages and soaring food prices that Hichilema blames on mismanagement by Lungu.

Hichilema has launched several legal attempts to challenge the result of the August election, which he lost narrowly.

He says that the vote was rigged and accuses Lungu of political repression in Zambia, which has been known for its relative stability.

The election campaign was marked by clashes between supporters of Lungus Patriotic Front (PF) party and the UPND.

Hichilema, a wealthy self-made businessman, has run unsuccessfully for president five times.

The UPND called on supporters not to protest on Thursday as it said the government was seeking a chance to impose a state of emergency.

Some supporters at the press conference carried placards reading Release HH before Zambia goes into flames.
First dates can be a pain.

Among people, theyre often characterized by awkward silences or unshakable nerves.

But among jumping spiders, a pencil-eraser-sized arachnid common in Florida, they can be fatal.

In the first study of its kind, a UF researcher has found that cross-species courting attempts by male jumping spiders sometimes end with a phenomenon called sexual cannibalism.

Lisa Taylors research was published April 5. Taylor, who researched while pursuing her doctorate at Arizona State University, said the predatory females will eat a male if he doesnt interest her or if he is the wrong species, of which there are more than 100.

Despite this apparent violence, Taylor said the findings dont hamper her adoration for the bite-size bugs.

Most spiders that people are familiar with are kind of scary and creepy, and just not particularly charismatic, she said, but jumping spiders are really adorable.

She said the males courting habits could be explained by them being unable to tell the different species of females apart. Its up to females to distinguish the bright, multi-colored males, and they may attack them as an available food source.

Kevin McGraw, an ASU life sciences professor, advised Taylor on her study. He said sexual cannibalism is only shown in a few spider species and praying mantises.

He said female jumping spiders have evolved to be larger so they can produce and carry more eggs, while male jumping spiders are smaller and more agile.

Im not saying the females are couch potatoes by any stretch, McGraw said.

A micro-CT image of a scanned jumping spider, called Anasaitis canosa.

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A UF doctoral student told police officers and academics Wednesday that security in schools will likely increase after Mondays school shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Kenneth Noble, a P.h.D. candidate in the College of Education, spoke at the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere at noon to an audience of nine about his dissertation on the history of policing in schools. He explained how an increase in police presence in schools started after the Columbine shooting, which happened about 18 years ago.

Part of the push for a larger police presence in schools has come from a media portrayal, but also the fact that (school shooting and crime) are happening, Noble said.

He said police officers in schools work to keep the school safe from crime and also improve the citizenship and respect for authority of students.

Noble expects school security to be more of a topic of discussion after Mondays shooting, in which a man allegedly shot his estranged wife to death before killing himself, according to the Associated Press. In the gunfire, two students were also shot, and one 8-year-old student died after being taken to the hospital.

With any school shooting, it causes concern, he said.

In Alachua County, the 16 schools in the Alachua County Sheriffs Office jurisdiction have at least one school resource officer stationed on campus, said ACSO spokesperson Art Forgey. He said Eastside High School and F. W. Buchholz High School have two deputies.

University Police also have one officer stationed at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, Sgt. Tim Peck said. Peck, who attended Nobles talk, said police officers are a good resource for schools.

(School resource officers) offer a personal touch, a personal interaction with a police officer, he said.

Contact Meryl Kornfield at mkornfield@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @MerylKornfield

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Dirtybird Records has made quite the name for itself in the tech house world since its inception in 2005. The label, founded by techno king Claude VonStroke, seeks to present fans with a sound VonStroke describes as tech funk, a more lively type of techno that keeps it light and fun.

Over the past twelve years, the notable label has curated various events, such as the annual Dirtybird BBQ and Dirtybird Campout, while simultaneously bringing many heavy hitters on board, from Justin Martin to Shiba San.

This Friday, Gainesville will host Dirtybirds own Ardalan at Over Easy Creatives bimonthly event, Over Easy and Friends. The event will be held at Gallery Ultralounge, located at 233 W. University Ave., from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets range from $10 to $15.

Bringing the San Francisco-based artist was a team effort coordinated by Orlando group Alliance Events and Gainesville groups Over Easy Creative and Lucid Nightlife.

Les Voss, the owner of Over Easy Creative and one of the openers for Friday, said Ardalans sound fit perfectly with the events the group normally hosts.

Even though we havent met Ardalan, it feels like we have because the networks there, Voss said. Listening to someones music, you almost get a sense of who they are, and it seems like he fits perfectly with our vibe.

Voss said Ardalans sound is lighter than some techno and will fit well in a setting like the one Gallery offers.

Id say its a little more playful, he said. Its like a happy techno.

Voss said Alliance Events contacted him and Matt Collins, the owner of Lucid Nightlife, about bringing Ardalan to Gainesville the day after he plays a show in Orlando.

Islam Ahmed, the director of Alliance Events, said Ardalan popped up on his radar back in 2015 when he opened up for Martin at an event in Orlando.

I watched Ardalan for the first time ever as support, and it was completely mind blowing, he said. I fell in love with the label, and I actually ended up going to Miami the next day with Justin Martin and Ardalan to check out what its like to experience that in Miami.

Hunter Reid, a Tallahassee-based producer who will also open the show, said he too is an Ardalan fan and also a fan of Dirtybird as a whole.

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Dirtybird is a huge influence in my musical style, and a few of their artists have been the most helpful to me in finding and honing my sound, he said.

Reid added he plans to test out some of the music from his new extended play Friday and is excited to see what everyone thinks.
Clarification: This article has been updated to reflect that Twelve'Len is a featured act, not a headliner. There will also be two outdoor stages instead of one.

Swamp Records is showcasing musical talent from Florida on the last day of classes.

A variety of local Gainesville and Florida-native bands will take the stage for the fourth annual Swamp Records Showcase on Wednesday.

The event will be hosted at a new venue this year, Heartwood Soundstage. Despite the location change, Swamp Records Co-President Stephanie Elkin said the essence of the show will remain the same. The event will feature one indoor and two outdoor stages, with 14 acts performing from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Lavares Joseph, a Miami native, multi-genre artist known by his stage name, TwelveLen, is one of the featured acts.

Joseph discussed the importance of celebrating community through art.

If youre not the one to highlight whats going on in your city or your state, no one else is, he said.

Student Government Productions has presented past showcases, but this is the first year the event is entirely self funded by Swamp Records. They took to the community for sponsorships, Elkin said.

Swamp Records promotes and supports local Gainesville music talent, so many of the artists performing already work with the organization.

While the performing artists are primarily from Gainesville, the showcase has acts coming from all over the state.

We see who is making moves in the Gainesville music community, who is making moves up and coming, who is exciting, and also extend that beyond Gainesville to the whole Florida music community, said Elkin, a 22-year-old UF masters in international business student.

The main goal of Swamp Records Showcase is to bring the community together and highlight the diverse talent in the area, Elkin explained.

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Our music community is so unique and special, she said. Gainesville is home to a bunch of really talented and creative people.

Local community vendors and food trucks will service the event, including Soup to Nuts Food Truck, Dank Cakes and Always True Co.

Tickets are $8 in advance on eventbrite.com and $10 at the door.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that 52,000 trees were planted last year.

Gainesville has been deemed a tree city by the Arbor Day Foundation for the last 30 years, and for the last three, two local for-profit companies have teamed up to provide the city with a fun way to celebrate its trees around Earth Day.

This Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., the third annual Tree Fest will take place at Swamp Head Brewery.

This free event is the result of a partnership between Solar Impact, Inc., a local solar energy company, and Swamp Head Brewery, the first solar-powered brewery in Florida.

Theyre (Swamp Head) very interested in sustainability, said Mike Garrett, the director of sales and marketing at Solar Impact, Inc. Solar was a big piece of their dream for their new building. Weve got just enough solar in Swamp Head to make it the first solar-powered brewery in the state of Florida.

Swamp Head gave out trees every Earth Day before Tree Fest started thanks to a partnership with the Alachua Conservation Trust.

Were two for-profit companies in the Gainesville area, making a commitment to be here, trying to make a positive impact, Garrett said. People are going to Swamp Head anyway. Now when youre drinking, youre also fundraising.

For every beer sold during Tree Fest 2017, five trees will be planted. For every T-shirt sold during Tree Fest 2017, 20 trees will be planted.

Money raised from the sponsorships will directly increase the number of trees planted as well. There are currently more than 30 sponsors.

We have a significant number of private individuals who like this idea so much that they give us a couple hundred dollars (as sponsors), Garrett said. One hundred percent of every single dollar we collect from sponsorships goes directly to tree planting.

Noon to 5 p.m. is family and community time at the event. There will be free bounce houses for kids, and community partners will be tabling and offering activities. The bounce houses and tabling will shut down at 5 p.m, and live music will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Food will be available from Cilantro Tacos, Pops Brick Oven Pizza, LEJ Pretzel Company and DeConna Ice Cream. Cinema Verde, Citizens Climate Lobby and Keep Alachua County Beautiful are some of the organizations that will be tabling.

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Last year, 52,000 trees being planted. The goal for this year is to raise enough money to plant 75,000 trees.

The 1-year-old longleaf pines will be planted by the Alachua County Conservation Trust at the Little Orange Creek Preserve, a new nature park set to open in Hawthorne, Florida.

If we can throw the coolest and most impactful Earth Day party in Florida, thatd be pretty nice, Garrett said.
In March, Gainesville-based punk trio UV-TV released their debut full length album, Glass. Having spent the last couple of years making their rounds through Gainesville clubs and going on brief tours of the East Coast, UV-TV made a name for themselves in Florida. However, 2017 finds these three Gainesville punks thinking bigger. They signed to Canadian-based label Deranged Records, which released Glass, and they are currently on a tour of the U.S. lasting about a month, which will be their longest to date.

You have probably seen UV-TV play around town before, opening for touring acts like B Boys or Parquet Courts, or playing smaller benefit shows at the CMC or the Atlantic. Maybe youve even seen UV-TVs members working at Pop-A-Top downtown. Comprised of Rose Vastola, Ryan Hopewell and Ian Bernacett, UV-TV is a trio of gawky 20-somethings. They play noisy, feedback-driven punk songs with occasional ambient breaks.

Glass opens with fast and loud power chords on Wasting Away. The instrumentals immediacy hearkens back to classic hardcore punk bands like Minor Threat or Circle Jerks, but just as quickly as the track begins, its traditional punk instrumental is offset by vocalist/bassist Vastolas saccharine vocals. Her vocal relationship with the rest of the bands sound on this track, and on much of the album, is reminiscent to Blinda Butchers work on My Bloody Valentines Loveless. Though surrounded by a harsh and noisy instrumental, its sweetness is a welcome addition to the bands sound.

Glass finds UV-TV experimenting with style, from noisy bubblegum pop punk tracks reminiscent of Peach Kelli Pop on Youre High, to Sonic Youth-inspired dissonance on the title track, to Yeah Yeah Yeahs-style shrill and hypnotic guitar riff on Hear.

While much of Glass shows UV-TV riffing on short and simple pop punk song structures, the moments when the band hits their stride are often the least characteristic of this. UV-TV will occasionally embrace the downbeat  the slow-burning meandering instrumentals on tracks like Severed Hand, and this is when they are the most interesting to listen to. Its these long plays that showcase the strong chemistry between the members of this band, from the call-and-response vocals of Bernacett and Vastola, to the heavy grooves in rhythm between Vastola and drummer Hopewell.

Glass closes on Dissolve: a six-minute-long soundscape that slowly builds in intensity toward one long climax of textured strumming and conceited guitar noodling. This big rock-star crescendo is then sped up exponentially until the slow tempo reaches for speed and energy paralleled by the first tracks of the album. In this theatrical final track, UV-TV gives their listeners closure. Glass comes full circle by its finale, and it still managed to stay fresh and interesting throughout.
A fresh appeal is being made to the Nigerian Government by UN human rights experts* to take all necessary measures to rescue 195 girls still missing after they were kidnapped in 2014 from their secondary school in Chibok, northeastern Nigeria. It is deeply shocking that three years after this deplorable and devastating act of violence, []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
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.
Jaxport CEO Eric Green said the $23.5 million grant marks a milestone in our initiatives to build the port of the future and move cargo in the most efficient and eco-friendly way possible.
It is a rule of thumb in contemporary politics that you should not mention Hitler in any context. Democrats and liberals regularly compare Republicans and conservatives with Nazis, but for the GOP, the MSM will make sure it backfires with round-the-clock selective righteous indignation.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers inarticulate invocation of Hitler in the context of Syrian sarin gas attacks was meant to condemn the use of such weapons, the operative word here, in war against civilian or even military targets. As Spicer meant to say, even the evil Hitler never dropped sarin gas bombs on London. The Nazis feared retaliation in kind. Spicer meant to justify our cruise missile retaliation. Spicer is aware of the Holocaust and he millions who perished in the ovens and the gas chambers and in ghoulish medical experiments. He did not mean to excuse these atrocities, but to condemn the Syrian and Russian version.

Spicers remarks have met with calls from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the usual liberal suspects for Spicers resignation. Yet Pelosi and et al see no problem with embracing the anti-Semitic likes of Al Sharpton, an Obama adviser, or Rep. Keith Ellison, deputy chair of the DNC.

The mainstream media, having failed to derail or even anticipate Donald Trumps victory, have now seized on attempting to discredit various Team Trump members. They started with one of the architects of his victory, calling Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and Breitbart publisher Steve Bannon a white nationalist. They cite as evidence some Breitbart headlines designed to provoke and attract readers as being beyond the pale. Compared to what? The New York Times, perhaps?

Publishers dont necessarily control every jot and tittle of content in their publications, but if one concedes the point of Bannons critics, those who have problems with Bannon advising Trump had no problem with race-baiter Al Sharpton serving as advisor to President Obama on, of all things, race relations: As Politico magazine reported:

A few days after 18-year-old Mike Brown was gunned down in Ferguson, Missouri, White House officials enlisted an unusual source for on-the-ground intelligence amid the chaos and tear gas: the Rev. Al Sharpton, a fiery activist who became a household name by provoking rather than pacifying. In Ferguson, Sharpton established himself as a de facto contact and conduit for a jittery White House seeking to negotiate a middle ground between meddling and disengagement. Theres a trust factor with The Rev from the Oval Office on down, a White House official familiar with their dealings told me. He gets it, and hes got credibility in the community that nobody else has got. Theres really no one else out there who does what he does.

Let us be grateful for that. If one wanted to send a sane message about justice and peace, Al Sharpton is arguably the worst person to call. He is an instigator, not a peacemaker, someone who rose out of obscurity by propagating the false Tawana Brawley rape case in which New York law enforcement officials were accused of raping a black teenager. As Investors Business Daily noted, Tawana Brawley paid for her part in that big lie. Al Sharpton never has.

Sharpton embraced the hands up, dont shoot mantra meant to indict racist cops and police departments after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri after he committed a strong-arm robbery on his way to assaulting Officer Darren Wilson. Blessed are the peacemakers, but Al Sharpton is not one of them.

The Sharptons of the world dont want to solve the real problems of the black community, preferring to exploit back unrest with clueless race-baiting such as when Sharpton and his National Action Network organized

the Justice for All march in Washington, D.C. last December:

You thought youd sweep it under the rug. You thought thered be no limelight, he said. We are going to keep the light on Michael Brown, on Eric Garner, on Tamir Rice, on all of these victims because the only way  Im sorry, I come out of the 'hood -- the only way you make roaches run, you got to cut the light on."

As IBD notes, Al Sharpton has made career of anti-Semitic and racial agitation:

Sharpton has made a career of racial incitement. He once called Jews "diamond merchants" and described whites moving businesses into Harlem as "interlopers." He helped incite three days of anti-Semitic rioting in 1991 in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, turning a tragic traffic accident into a riot where two people died and more than 100 were wounded. Then there was Freddy's Fashion Mart in Harlem in 1995, subject to the Sharpton campaign to drive out "interlopers." To scare the Jewish owner away, Sharpton turned a tenant-landlord dispute into a racial conflict, resulting in arson of the store and seven deaths.

So the liberal left was okay with Sharpton, but thinks Steve Bannon is a white nationalist who threatens all human decency? This comes as the Democratic National Committee considers Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, the only Muslim in Congress who has deep ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, for the position of SNC Chairman. As the watchdog group Jihad Watch reports:

Ellison has spoken at a convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Yet ISNA has actually admitted its ties to Hamas, which styles itself the Palestinian arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Justice Department actually classified ISNA among entities who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood.

It gets worse. In 2008, Ellison accepted $13,350 from the Muslim American Society (MAS) to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Muslim American Society is a Muslim Brotherhood organization: In recent years, the U.S. Brotherhood operated under the name Muslim American Society, according to documents and interviews. One of the nations major Islamic groups, it was incorporated in Illinois in 1993 after a contentious debate among Brotherhood members. Thats from the Chicago Tribune in 2004, in an article that is now carried on the Muslim Brotherhoods English-language website, Ikhwanweb.

Also, the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) raised large amounts of for Ellisons first campaign, and he has spoken at numerous CAIR events. Yet CAIR is an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror funding case  so named by the Justice Department. CAIR officials have repeatedly refused to denounce Hamas and Hizballah as terrorist groups.

Nor did the liberal left and the mainstream media, forgive the redundancy, have problems with the curious pasts and associations of Hillary Clinton advisor Huma Abedin. As Investors Business Daily has editorialized:

Abedin also has some interesting family connections. Her father is said to be close with the Saudi government's Muslim World League, and her mother is said to be a member of the Muslim Sisterhood. World Trade Center bombing prosecutor Andrew McCarthy wrote in National Review: "The ties of Ms. Abedin's father, mother and brother to the Muslim Brotherhood are both specific and substantiated." The Muslim Brotherhood took power in Egypt with the Obama administration's approval after it had all but abandoned the government of Hosni Mubarak, a long-time ally and friend. It was while Abedin was advising Hillary that State dropped its long-standing policy of having no dealings with the Muslim Brotherhood.

As Andrew McCarthy wrote in National Review, Huma Abedins family and work history suggested a devotion to Islamic supremacist ideology that may go a long way to explaining our imploding Middle East policy from Baghdad to Egypt:

Ms. Abedin worked for many years at a journal that promotes Islamic-supremacist ideology that was founded by a top al-Qaeda financier, Abdullah Omar Naseef. Naseef ran the Rabita Trust, a formally designated foreign terrorist organization under American law. Ms. Abedin and Naseef overlapped at the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs (JMMA) for at least seven years. Throughout that time (19962003), Ms. Abdein worked for Hillary Clinton in various capacities.

The Democratic Party also had no problem with venerating former KKK member Robert Byrd or with Hillary Clintons admiration for Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, whose objective was the extermination of the black race. They are quiet about the racism of the Orwellian-named Black Lives Matter movement or that Jim Crow laws were written by Democrats.

Steve Bannon is not a white nationalist. Sean Spicer is not an anti-Semite. They are patriotic Americans. Their only real crime is getting Donald Trump elected President of the United States.

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.
Should the United States have prolonged the Syrian civil war by arming the rebels? Based on recent experience, one wonders if deposing ruling monarchies is in the best interest of either the peoples of the Middle East or of the world at large. Consider the following:

The failure of the Carter administration to support its ally Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, led to establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the regions greatest threat. The reward to the United States for its implicit support of the Iranian revolution was an attack on its embassy, the ensuing hostage crisis, throngs in the streets screaming Death to America, and support of terrorism aimed at the U.S. and its allies. The result to Israel is likely to be increasingly dire in months and years to come.

The failure of the Obama administration to support U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt, and a key supporter of the peace with Israel negotiated by Anwar Sadat, led to a near takeover of Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood, described as a terrorist organization by a number of allies in the region. Only intervention by the military saved Egypt from Islamic totalitarianism.

While hardly virtuous, Muammar Gaddafi, following a wakeup confrontation with President Reagans military followed by the implicit threat of George W. Bush's anti-terrorism campaign after 9/11, had given up his nuclear ambitions and was actually providing significant assistance in world efforts to defeat Islamic terrorism. Hillary Clinton, Obamas first-term Secretary of State, decided that Colonel Gaddafi should not be allowed to put down a rebel insurrection within Libya and led an international effort to free Libya from his predilection to violence. Again, our interference resulted in tragedy for America and disaster for the people of Libya.

Saddam Hussein, the counterweight to Iran in the Middle East, was a cruel dictator with the propensity to involve himself in world politics and commit despicable acts. After 9/11, in addition to its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Bush administration opted to invade Iraq due to concerns over Husseins weapons of mass destruction. The ensuing government of Iraq was transformed from Sunni Muslim control that kept a firm hand on its Shiite Muslim majority population to Shiite Muslim control that abused its minority Sunni Muslim population. The result has been a continued reign of terror as car bombs and suicide bombers continue attacks on both branches of the Islamic tree.

Our involvement in Iraq was then followed by the disastrous and premature Obama decision to withdraw U.S. forces, thereby creating the opening for creation of a caliphate by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that has been on a murderous rampage throughout not only the Middle East but now extends into Europe, Africa, and even the United States.

That brings me back to the question of Syria: if the United States had not encouraged Syrians in their rebellion against the Assad government, if we had not surreptitiously armed Islamist rebels with weapons from Gaddafis stockpiles in Libya, if we had not trained and equipped something we called the Free Syrian Army, might not the civil war in Syria have ended by now with far fewer casualties than our prolonging of the war effort has allowed? I dont know the answer to this question, but it seems worthy of serious consideration.

Is it a curious coincidence that this revolutionary wave engulfing one Islamic nation after another from Tunisia in 2010, to Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Iraq occurred within mere months of one another? Is it a coincidence that demonstrations, protest and riots over this same period of time occurred in Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Sudan with lesser protests in half a dozen other nations?

Is it a coincidence that where such demonstrations were immediately met with violent response and repression from governments, pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators such unrest largely passed but where the U.S. and its allies have intervened in support of regime change, battles still rage and horror rules the day creating a tidal wave of refugees threatening western civilization?

Do the United States and/or Western Europe really want to force regime change in Syria or should we instead support a ceasefire with the current government in place? There are steps we can take short of regime change that perhaps, based on our recent experience might lead to a better result.
Everyone by now who does not live under a rock has seen the horrible beating of Dr. David Dao by an OHare International Airport security officer, with what seems to be OHare airport police backing the security officer up. Most everyone with a conscience is offended and horrified at what occurred to Dr. Dao. Pretty much everyone would also tell you that the response from United was one of the worst PR boners of the past 100 years. Between stating in an email to United employees that the doctor had been belligerent, to suggesting that the doctor actually fell and hurt his head while being beaten by airport security, to then having the CEO of United apologize for having to re-accommodate passengers on an overbooked flight (the flight was not overbooked), to finally having to apologize only after losing one billion dollars in stock valuations. The list goes on and on.

United now has become a punchline, a joke, about how badly airline passengers are treated by both the airports and by the carriers themselves. We can all agree that airports have become a horrid place to be, and there are many reasons for air travel having become such a mess. Everything from the FAA to the TSA to other problems I cannot even fathom.

But there is an even bigger threat to our freedom here. That is: the fact that at an airport, OHare law enforcement seems to have acted at the behest of United Airlines to make up for the stupidity of the employees and station managers of United. Meaning that for any and all intents and purposes, OHare police were literally acting as enforcers for a corrupt or inept company who wanted to cover up its mistake of improper scheduling -- and instead of spending a couple thousand dollars transporting the employees, Uniteds station manager called in their paid for Gestapo to do their dirty work.

United could have said to the passengers that this plane cannot take off until the doctor has left -- and then sat on the runway until either Dr. Dao relented or until someone else relented. Of course, United could have done the smart thing and not loaded anyone until they had four passengers who would give up their flight for the United employees.

But no  instead, they corrupted local law enforcement, whose authority we should try to respect, into doing their dirty work, to cover up their own ineptitude. One of the great things about the American experiment is that our court system and law enforcement responders have always been neutral whenever they go to a crime scene or to handle a domestic violence scene. Police might make a mistake, but at least they are trying to be fair whenever they respond to any situation. But not here. Not this time.

At OHare airport, law enforcement works for the airlines who have mistreated their passengers and in this case, law enforcement and airport security physically abused Uniteds passenger to make up for Uniteds mistake. This is not the first time United has tried something like this. Just last year, United tried to remove a first-class passenger from a flight to make way for a higher priority passenger. When the passenger protested, United employees threatened to call the airport police and put the man in handcuffs. Imagine -- threatening a first-class passenger with arrest and jail because United wanted to give the seat to a higher priority passenger. So it is very evident that United feels as though it can have its passengers arrested if they cant make up for its own ineptitude. And federal law backs up United here. If a passenger does not obey any flight attendant, that passenger has committed a federal crime. So all United (or any other air carrier) need to when they make a mistake is to remove the passenger or threaten them with being arrested. Most people will get off the plane rather than being arrested. God bless the good doctor for refusing to give into such bullying.

(For the record, the passenger who was fraudulently bumped from first class suggested to Uniteds senior management that they refund his ticket and donate $25,000 to a charity of his choice. United instead offered the first-class passenger $500 credit to his next flight on United. And of course nothing to any charity)

So for United, they dont need to train their employees on how to handle difficult situations. When there is a problem, all the employee or station manager need do is call the police and have the officers arrest someone  yes, thats good for business. But federal law allows for United to do this. Meaning that federal law has helped to corrupt local law enforcement by all but requiring airport police to arrest someone who has a legitimate disagreement with an airport employee while on the plane, no matter how inept the airline employee has been. While we can all agree that under no circumstance should any passenger be allowed to be unruly during a flight, we cannot use federal laws/statutes and those who are sworn to enforce those laws to make up for the incompetence of corporations and their employees. The end result would be tyranny by cop. And by Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines.

John Massoud is a local District GOP Chair in Shenandoah County, is the head of the Freedom Caucus of the Shenandoah County GOP, and also is a businessman in Northern Virginia. And in 32 years of operation, Mr. Massoud also has never had any of his customers arrested because of a mistake made by any of his employees or contractors.
The moral sentiments of the population determine what political leaders are willing to do. The moral sentiments of a country may be consistent with reality or may be based on Utopian fantasies, but, either way, they control public policy.

Some people say that Americas problems are solely the result of people abandoning morality. But some of our biggest problems are actually the result of widely accepted, but irrational moral ideals that are destructive in the long run.

To illustrate, lets examine the concepts earn and deserve. In reality, material products and human services are the product of human labor. Food and shelter, for example, do not exist in nature ready for use. Medical care does not exist in nature. Humans must work to create these things. Poverty is the default position.

This is not a situation that was devised by mean people. This is not a situation that can be wished away. This is just reality.

Earning the material things you desire means producing them by your labor or trading what you do produce in a free exchange with others for the things they produce. I will give you my eggs for your potatoes. Money was invented to make this exchange easier. Earning is the name given to your required productive effort.

Personal responsibility is the name we give to the acceptance of realitys demand that work is required to get the things we desire. In Americas past, this was a widely understood virtue.

In America today, a corrupted concept of deserve has replaced the concept of earn. In its original usage, deserve meant to do things or show qualities worthy of reward or punishment. So, if you did all the things necessary to grow a crop, you earned the resulting harvest. Today, deserve is completely divorced from that meaning.

Today, deserve is a utopian term pertaining to a world of wishes, detached from reality. You may have the moral sentiment that all people deserve (have a moral right to) free housing, free food, free medical care, etc.. You could also say that you think it would be wonderful if fairies delivered these goods to people. Reality does not allow for either free things or fairies. These two wishes are equally unrealistic.

But reality is not a relevant concern to Utopian dreamers who imagine that, with the right leaders in charge, everyone can have everything they really need for free somehow.

That is our current situation in America. The prevailing moral sentiment is that everyone deserves all the basic things they want whether they earn them or not. Only mean people would argue or think otherwise. All Democrats and some Republicans accept this utopian moral ideal. This determines what legislative initiatives are even possible to discuss.

Here is an example of how legislating utopian ideals works in practice. Progressives believe that everyone deserves to own a home. Community organizers (including Obama) organized protests demanding that banks drop their standards for making home loans. Increasingly, the government required banks to make irrational home loans to people who had little possibility of ever repaying the loan. In the mortgage crash of 2008, reality reasserted itself, as it always does. The mortgage plan that had no possibility of working, stopped working.

The point here is that moral sentiments can require politicians to follow a path that is certain to fail. Do not confuse utopian actions with benevolence. Utopianism leads to chaos and destruction. Truly benevolent actions help people in the long run, in the real world.

Consider more examples of destructive policies that are supported by popular moral sentiment and are therefore unlikely to be successfully challenged.

A recently released study by the Food and Nutrition Service showed how the recipients of food stamps spent their money at one grocery chain, so this is just a small sample of what was spent nationally. For this chain, the amount spent in 2011 for soft drinks was nearly $358,000,000; for candy, $134,000.000; for cakes and cookies, $146,000,000, and so on.

The proper way to look at this policy is this  we are borrowing massive amounts of money from our grandchildren for the purpose of harming current welfare recipients. It is a lose-lose policy, bad for people at both ends of the transaction. I dont believe there is much chance of replacing policies like these with better policies because current moral sentiments do not allow restriction on people who deserve to eat whatever they want. Doing the right thing for our grandchildren would not be allowed.

One of the primary things that should bring people down from their utopian fantasies is thinking about the immorality of placing debt on the next generations. Except for emergencies, it is clearly immoral to consume for our pleasure now and give the bill to our grandchildren.

Short-sighted politicians simply avoid thinking about our unbelievably massive debt in any serious way. They buy votes by borrowing from the future and spending now. Debt limits are not limits at all.

Politicians of both parties, when confronted, admit that this wild spending is not sustainable, but then they cast that thought aside and spend more. Things that are not sustainable will end. Politicians who expand all our big-government programs pretend they are the good people who care. They are, in fact, guaranteeing great harm from the coming collapse of unsustainable utopian programs.

Another big social problem that cannot be addressed honestly is the quiet catastrophe of millions of men who choose not to work. There is explosive growth in the number of men who want to live as children for their entire life, letting others work to provide the things they need. There are currently 2 times as many infantilized men in this dont care about work category as there are men who are reported by the government as unemployed. This is truly shameful behavior and should not be tolerated, but it will be tolerated and even defended by todays moral arbiters.

How many people do you think can hop into the wagon before those pulling the wagon refuse to pull? There is a limit.

An even more important issue where politically correct morality does not allow honest policy discussions is race relations. No person who honestly assessed the problems in the black subculture would say that racist white policemen shooting blacks for no reason is their most significant problem. Yet we grant the moral high ground to a well-funded racist hate group which makes this absurd claim in destructive protests across the nation.

In reality, a subculture that celebrates violence, denigrates women, does not value education, ignores the responsibility of caring for children, and ignores personal responsibility in general, has no chance of success. Melanin offers no protection from this fact. It is true for all people.

People who really cared about black lives would concentrate on the changes that would help the most. But the things that would help most cannot be honestly discussed. Even black people who talk about black cultural values are attacked by the PC thought police.

The enforced moral position regarding a significant subculture in the black community is that nothing at all is their responsibility and none of their problems are their fault. The problems are all the fault of white people and police. White shaming is rapidly being institutionalized in education, government bureaucracies, and popular culture. Following Alinskys advice to rub raw the sores of resentment may achieve his desired goal of revolutionary hatred, but it is not what decent Americans, black or white, want to see.

Decent Americans seek to follow the moral advice of Martin Luther King, who had a dream that one day people will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Sadly, Kings dream was crushed by the so-called black leaders who followed him. To them, any judgement of character is absolutely forbidden; skin color is everything.

White people, at some point, will rebel against the false charges of racism that are relentlessly hurled against them. When they have had enough and start to answer the charges rather than meekly ignore them, the left will say, See, we told you they are racists. The left will claim the moral high ground and they will continue to shape destructive social policy.

Mao sent moral crusaders into the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. Young, idealistic monsters purged China of wrong thinking. We have similar self-righteous moral crusaders at our colleges and on our streets. They will not tolerate opposing viewpoints. People like Charles Murray and Heather MacDonald were recently silenced by organized mob violence at Middlebury and Claremont colleges. By the thousands, social justice warriors are organizing for action. We will see much, much more of them in coming months, with increasing disruption and violence. Their actions will have the moral support of the media, the universities, and leftist politicians because these are the very groups who are creating this army. It remains to be seen whether the majority of Americans will tolerate the violent intolerance.

The recent ObamaCare debate should have made clear the reasons why Republicans cannot do what needs to be done to create a long-term sustainable system. Our utopian moral ideals have already closed that possibility. Whatever legislation is passed will be an entitlement program involving massive government spending and promising more than can be delivered.

Thinking that government bureaucracies are the key to managing anything efficiently and inexpensively means that you have not paid any attention at all to how the world works.

Government-run health care is a black hole for debt that will consume resources beyond our wildest imagination. And we already have more in debt than any nation in history. By some estimates, our debt, including unfunded obligations, is two hundred trillion dollars, which is more the twice the yearly economic output of the entire world!

Add massive new entitlements to our other unfunded obligations simply cannot work. But current moral sentiment will require that we do it.

If disaster is the certain outcome of an action, how can it be considered good? Beware of good people who cannot think.

There is an imaginary world where the laws of economics do not apply, where wishing is more powerful than facts, where debts never come due, where racist police are the biggest threat facing black communities, where politicians can control the worlds climate with a vote, where open borders and a welfare state are a desirable combination, where Islam has nothing at all to do with Islamic Jihad, where you can load ever increasing freeloaders into a wagon, whip the ever decreasing horses, and expect the horses to pull the load forever.

Progressives live in that world. They believe that reality can change its nature to fit our desires. But there is an objective reality that is indifferent to our wishes.

We are going to keep racing toward the cliff because it is the right thing to do. And by right I mean right in the Utopian dream world that shapes our moral sentiments. In the real world this can only be destructive.

Bryce Buchanan has a blog at www.realitybatslast.com
Numerous cities have declared themselves to be sanctuary cities, where local police are forbidden to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in enforcing our national immigration laws. Legislation is now moving through the California legislature to implement such a policy throughout that entire state. Why this energy to protect violators of our laws? Oddly, the answer goes back to the founding. Due to a residue of the notorious three-fifth compromise, sanctuary cities encourage illegal immigration because undocumented residents (to use the politically correct term) are counted in determining representation in the House of Representatives and state legislatures. The more undocumented a city has, the more seats it gets.

When the Framers were deciding how to apportion the House of Representatives, the southern states wanted to count slaves and the northern states wanted to only count free citizen residents. They compromised by counting three-fifths of the non-free population. To implement this, the House is apportioned on the basis of the gross total population rather than the citizen population. As illegal immigration was not a great issue in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment simply carried forward this practice. As a result, the Census Bureau explicitly includes both legal non-citizen and undocumented residents in the census.

In our era of historically high immigration, this has a major impact on legislative apportionment because these immigrants are very unevenly distributed. The Census Bureau estimates that the proportion of non-citizen population in the states varies from 14% in California to less than 1% in West Virginia. This has a direct impact on the states political power. California, on its way to becoming the first sanctuary state, has five or six more members of the House (and consequently Electoral College votes) counting its non-citizen population than if House seats and Electoral College votes were based on only citizen population. No wonder California politicians favor illegal immigration.

This disparity can be even more pronounced within states. In my new book Fifty States, Not Six I show how New York City has ten or more seats in the 150 member Assembly (the lower house of the New York State legislature) counting non-citizens than it would if apportionment were based on the citizen population. This is true across the Nation, where immigrants tend to concentrate in urban areas, which generally are the areas which have declared themselves sanctuary cities.

For example, according to the Census Bureau estimates 7.4% of Illinois residents overall are non-citizens. However, in Cook County (Chicago) non-citizens are 11% of the population, which is 61.5% of Illinois total non-citizen population. Without Cook County, Illinois non-citizen population would be only 4.8%. This difference corresponds to about five seats in the Illinois House of Representatives, which would go to other parts of the state if apportionment was based on the citizen population. On a national level, this also means that Cook County probably has one more seat in the federal House of Representatives than it would if only citizens were counted. That is a seat which would otherwise go to downstate Illinois or to suburban areas.

If you ask what difference one seat in Congress could make, consider Representative Luis Gutierrez grotesquely gerrymandered Illinois 4th district. Congressman Gutierrez core constituency appears to be undocumented aliens. If you ever wondered how a member of Congress could be elected when his prime constituency supposedly cannot vote, now you understand. If apportionment were based on the citizen population, it is doubtful that the 4th district would survive, and Congressman Gutierrez would have to face a constituency of native-born African-American citizens for whom amnesty for undocumented aliens is not the highest priority.

Of course, sanctuary city politicians claim that their policies are based on compassion for the stranger. However, if they really cared about poor people, one wonders why they promote flooding our Nation with low-skilled workers who deprive the native-born poor of all races of wages and opportunities. The more logical explanation is the desire to increase the size of the low-skilled, welfare-dependent electorate. Many believe that these non-citizens are being allowed to vote right now. However, even if this is not true, it is undeniable that non-citizen residents are increasing the representation of sanctuary cities in Congress and state legislatures.

So, what do we do about this? The surest solution is to amend the Constitution to apportion on the basis of the citizen population rather than the gross population. I propose such an amendment in Fifty States, Not Six. (By allocating electoral votes proportionately, the amendment would also permanently eliminate the Democrat blue wall.)

However, our Constitution is the most difficult to amend in the world. A fallback position relates to the Census. Although the federal constitution is an impediment for the federal House of Representatives, states arguably could apportion their legislatures based on citizen rather than gross population. However, states rely on the federal census to do their apportionment, and the federal census only counts the gross population. The 2020 census is not so far away. Congress should pass a law providing that the 2020 census count the citizen population as well as the gross population. This way states wishing to apportion based on the citizen population would have the information to do so. In addition, the results of these parallel counts would illuminate the selfish motives of sanctuary cities, and build support for a constitutional solution.

Our country should be governed equally by all of its citizens. However, by encouraging illegal immigration, sanctuary cities are showing yet again their belief in the old leftist principle that some are more equal than others.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and pretty much everyone on Twitter had a good chortle at Andrea Mitchell's expense when, after she shouted out a question at a press briefing, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov dourly asked her: "Who is bringing you up? Who is giving you your manners?"

T-Rex laughed along with the crowd when Lavrov told her she was free to shout again once they got their statements done. Tillerson's guffaws were all over Twitter and the blogosphere.

What was surprising here was Mitchell's thin-skinned response. She whined to MSNBC that Tillerson should have stuck up for her. Then she sniffed that it was just typical "Putin hospitality," quoting former President Obama's Putin-hating ambassador, Michael McFaul. Apparently, she expected Tillerson to defend her own obviously out-of-order behavior and considered Putin a brute for not rolling out the red carpet for her.

This was surprising from someone billed as a veteran foreign correspondent, supposedly familiar with the ways of foreign lands.

I don't really fault her for trying to get a question in in an unconventional way. The news industry is competitive, and every once in a while, such a calculated faux pas yields a story. But if one is going to do that, one must recognize that rebukes are the flip-side of taking the risk, and having a thick skin while on the job and trying to produce news is a must.

Stranger still is her apparent ignorance of one of the most important keys to understanding anything about the Russians and how they think: they are formal.

Formalism is a very Russian characteristic. Formal describes how Russians are. If you can recognize that, you can go pretty far to making yourself understandable and recognizable to a Russian. The California-style laid-back, loosey-goosey, every-day-is-casual-Friday whatever culture of the sun-baked West Coast couldn't be more different from the formal, propriety-obsessed culture of the Russians, particularly the Russian state.

In his excellent book called Inside Out, detailing the experience of renovating and improving a building in post-Wall St. Petersburg Russia in the 1990s, Glenn Williamson, now a professor of real estate at Georgetown University, had this intriguing passage on page 13:

Sitting at the table during the negotiations was nevertheless a priceless experience. The Finns thought we owed them money for work they had done. We thought they owed us work that was incomplete. Finns tend to be laconic  yes or no, five or ten  and to the point. They mean what they say, exactly as they said it. Turks, on the other hand, tend to talk a lot. They are sincere, but the words are more about building a relationship, and less about what is actually said. Their first-choice solution to problems was often to suggest we go out to dinner. On their part, Russians can be quite formal. The translator hired by Skanska to translate from Finnish to Russian was very dramatic, almost as if he were auditioning for a play. He would deliver the words with wild hand gestures to convey their full meaning. At one point, Kleptov turned away from his Finnish counterpart and spoke directly to the translator. "I don't care what he said," Kleptov declared, "but you are a translator and I am a director and you cannot speak to me in that way."

Sound like Lavrov? Quite a bit. And quite a useful thing to know when dealing with Russians: they like their propriety. Such details ought to have been known to Mitchell if she were the experienced correspondent she claims to be and had any knowledge of Russian culture. Apparently, she didn't. No wonder she got Lavrov's lesson in Russian manners.
A Diesel in the Shed.

You can have your solar panels

and your turbines on the hills;

You can use the warmth of sunshine

to reduce your heating bills.



You can dream youre self-sufficient

as you weed your veggie bed;

As long as you make sure to keep

A diesel in the shed.

When I was a kid on a dairy farm in Queensland, Australia, we relied on green energy. Horses and human muscles provided motive power; firewood and beeswax candles supplied heat and light; windmills pumped water; and the sun provided solar energy for growing crops, veggies and pastures. The only "non-green" energy used was a bit of kerosene for the kitchen lamp, and gas for a small Ford utility.

Our life changed dramatically when we put a diesel in the dairy shed. This single-cylinder engine drove the milking machines, the cream separator, and an electricity generator, which charged 16 lead-acid 2-volt batteries sitting on the veranda. This 32-volt D.C. system powered a modern marvel  bright light, at any time, in every room, at the touch of a switch.

There were no electric self-starters for diesels in those days  just a heavy crank handle. But all those efforts, all that noise, and all those fumes were superseded when every house and dairy got connected to clean, silent "coal power by wire." Suddenly, the trusty "Southern Cross" diesel engines disappeared from Australian sheds and dairies.

In just one lifetime, candles and kerosene were replaced by diesel, which was then replaced by clean, silent, ever ready electricity.

Today, after Aussies have enjoyed decades of abundant reliable cheap electricity from coal, green energy gambling has taken Australia back to the era that kept a diesel in the shed.

Tasmania is the greenest state in Australia. It once had a vibrant economy that created mines, sawmills, farms, orchards, oil and metal refineries, dams, hydro-power, and railways. It is now a green no-go land. Greens have stopped new hydro developments, opposed mining, crippled the timber industry, prevented new wood chip developments, and will probably celebrate when the last refinery closes.

Tasmanians get their electricity mainly from hydro assets created long ago by their more productive ancestors. But recently, a long drought caused a shortage of Tasmanian hydro-energy  they became reliant for up to 40% of their electricity needs on the Bass-link undersea cable bringing electricity from reliable coal-fired stations in Victoria and New South Wales. However, the overloaded Bass-link cable failed, and an old gas-powered station was brought back into service (importing gas from Victoria) to keep the lights on. Subsequently, their politicians hurriedly put 150 diesel generators in their shed (costing A$11 million per month).

South Australia is the next greenest state in Australia, hosting about 35% of Australia's wind turbines. These were force-fed into existence by mandatory green energy targets and tax benefits. In a burst of green destruction, they also closed their gas-fired power stations and demolished their coal-fired station. However, wind power failed recently, and a storm tore down their lifeline-bringing reliable coal power from Victoria. Now Premier Weatherill is planning to install up to 200 megawatts of diesel generators in his shed. Many residents are following his lead.

As some wag said:

Question: "What did South Australians have before candles?"

Answer: "Electricity."

The U.K. has been badly infected by the green energy virus. Engineers warned that this intermittent and unpredictable supply had increased the risk of blackouts, so the U.K. government offered subsidies for emergency backup power. This subsidy, plus consumer concerns, put so many diesels in British sheds that they now provide a major backup capacity for U.K. electricity.

Many Spaniards found that a diesel in the shed was very profitable. Their government had been drinking green ale and offered attractive subsidies for solar power produced. The subsidy was very successful  so successful that someone eventually noticed that some suppliers were even producing "solar" power at night. It was coming from diesels in their sheds.

Finally, our green media likes to feature some green energy enthusiast who is "off the grid." But it usually emerges later in the show that there is a diesel in his shed, too.

Those who remember the days of relying on a noisy, smelly diesel in the shed have no wish to be dragged back there by green zealots.

Viv Forbes is a writer in Rosevale, Queensland, Australia and can be reached at this email: vforbes@carbon-sense.com.

Further Reading:

Tasmanias Bass Link cable fails. Gas imports boom:

http://www.smh.com.au/ business/energy/hit-from- basslink-power-cable-failure- 560m-and-rising-energyquest- 20160602-gp9mxg.html

Tasmania puts some diesels in the shed:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/ 2016-06-08/hydro-tasmania-to- decommission-diesel- generators-basslink-fixed/ 7492078

South Australia demolishes their last coal power station:

https://wattsupwiththat.com/ 2017/04/10/south-australia- demolishes-their-last-coal- power-station/comment-page-1/# comment-2473296

South Australia puts some diesels in the shed:

http://www.danvhp.com.au/2017/ 03/jays-green-credentials- burned-by-diesel-generators/

UK offers subsidies to put some diesels in the shed:

https://www.theguardian.com/ environment/2015/may/06/uk- energy-bill-subsidies-driving- boom-in-polluting-diesel-farms

The Sun in Spain shines better at night:

http://www.theecologist.org/ News/news_round_up/465409/ spanish_nighttime_solar_ energy_fraud_unlikely_in_uk. html

All about diesel back-up Generators:

http://www.aip.com.au/pdf/ Diesel_fuel_Back-up_ Generation.pdf
An arrest has finally been made in connection with the 2010 murder of border patrol agent Brian Terry, who was killed with a gun supplied to a drug cartel by the U.S. government in the Fast and Furious scandal.

Fox News:

The suspect, Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, was apprehended by a joint U.S.-Mexico law enforcement task force that included the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC).

A $250,000 reward had been sought for information leading to the arrest of Osorio-Arellanes, who was captured at a ranch on the border of the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua. U.S. authorities have said they will seek his extradition.

Terry was killed on Dec. 14, 2010 in a gunfight between Border Patrol agents and members of a five-man cartel "rip crew," which regularly patrolled the desert along the U.S.-Mexico border looking for drug dealers to rob.

The agent's death exposed Operation Fast and Furious, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) operation in which the federal government allowed criminals to buy guns in Phoenix-area shops with the intention of tracking them once they made their way into Mexico. But the agency lost track of more than 1,400 of the 2,000 guns they allowed smugglers to buy. Two of those guns were found at the scene of Terry's killing.

The operation set off a political firestorm, and then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress after he refused to divulge documents for a congressional investigation.

Four members of the "rip crew" already been sentenced to jail time in the U.S. Manual Osorio-Arellanes was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in February 2014.

In October 2015, Ivan Soto-Barraza and Jesus Sanchez-Meza were convicted by a federal jury of nine different charges, including first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery.

Rosario Rafael Burboa-Alvarez, accused of assembling the "rip crew," was sentenced to 27 years in prison after striking a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The last remaining member of the "rip crew," Jesus Rosario Favela-Astorga, is believed to still be at large.
I was reading a very poorly written Los Angeles Times article about North Carolina legislators introducing a bill to define marriage as between a man and a woman, and I was surprised to read the following sentence:

Opponents of the legislation castigated it as an unnecessary step that will stoke division in a state still reeling from the fallout of a controversial bill regulating which bathrooms transgender people can use.

I have rarely seen a sentence so sensationalistically, so chock-full of so many liberal buzzwords. The over-dramatization of facts makes this news article read like an action thriller. Compare "The Earth reeled from the fallout of the asteroid impact." to "North Carolina reeled from the fallout of the bathroom legislation." It's a totally ridiculous use of words for this situation. Let's look more closely at the key words and phrases:

Controversial :

Whenever a Democrat does something radical, and Republicans try to restore things to the way they were, the Republicans are called "controversial." Having separate bathrooms for boys and girls, which was the rule for as long as we had public bathrooms, is now "controversial." So is enforcing immigration law, or repealing Obamacare to restore the system of insurance we had before 2009. Suddenly finding a constitutional right to abortion, or gay marriage, where none existed before, however, is not controversial.

Castigated :

Castigate means to criticize severely. But in the print media, only liberals do the castigating  Chuck Schumer castigating Trump (why doesn't matter), Obama castigating Republicans, and the New York Times castigating Trump. Why are liberals always the ones to do the castigating? Why are Republicans never described as castigating Democrats?

Furthermore, given the sexual nature of this topic, I can't help but wonder if the writer, consciously or not, used the word castigated as a proxy for castrated. Republicans came out against gay marriage, and their opponents were so outraged they tried to orally castrate them.

Stoking division :

If you read the print media, the phrase "stoking division" goes only with Republicans. Trump stokes divisions when he talks about Islamic terrorism. Also concerns rather than divisions can be stoked, when talking about Trump's economic policies. It's funny that liberals, who are the ones to talk constantly about race, class, and gender, are always the ones to talk about stoking divisions when they are the stokers in chief.

By the way, stoking can mean to encourage, but it can also mean to "add coal to." That's an odd phrase for a liberal to use. Or maybe they use it on purpose, to tie Republicans to energy sources they find morally objectionable. Stoking can also be seen as a form of work or labor, something else liberals probably find objectionable.

And again, remember that this "stoking division" phrase was picked in the context of an article about sexual orientation. Again, I can't help but wonder if "stoking division" was a place marker for "stroking diversion," in the conscious or unconscious mind of the writer.

Reeling from the fallout :

Reeling involves losing one's balance. Reeling is a bipartisan term. President Trump can leave Washington reeling, but President Trump can also be reeling under liberal attack. Usually, Republicans are reeling when they have done something the media consider immoral, and liberals are reeling when Republicans either try to cut the budget or enforce existing laws, both of which are also considered immoral.

And where you have reeling, you often have fallout. Fallout is most often used to describe a lethal cloud of radioactive gas or debris, but it has come to have a symbolic meaning, for the results of an action taken. This article talks about "Muslim ban fallout." Well, better Muslim fallout than nuclear fallout, right?

As a way of exaggerating the importance or negative impact of a policy, it is often said to have "fallout."

But why can't writers in the liberal media simply write what they mean without using all this flowery symbolic language? Why can't they simply say, "Opponents of defining marriage between a man and a woman say North Carolina is still suffering from economic boycotts from its bathroom decency bill"? I think they feel that if they write plainly, their writing will lose whatever mystique they imagine it has.

What are your favorite liberal media buzzwords?

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
Don't be surprised if your Brazilian friends refer to every politician as a crook. Frankly, they've got good reasons to reach that conclusion.

Down in Brazil, where the last president was impeached for corruption, the new man is now sitting under a huge cloud of his own.

This is from Simon Romero of The New York Times:

A judge on Brazil's Supreme Court authorized new corruption investigations on Tuesday involving dozens of the country's most powerful politicians, dealing yet another blow to the beleaguered government of President Michel Temer. The ruling by Justice Luiz Edson Fachin allows federal prosecutors to start new inquiries of at least eight ministers in Mr. Temer's cabinet, including his chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha, and his foreign minister, Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, as well as much of the Senate. Altogether, this means that nearly a third of the cabinet and nearly a third of the Senate will be the target of inquiries in this new phase of the colossal scandal that emerged three years ago into graft around Petrobras, Brazil's national oil company.

Brazil has been Exhibit A of crony capitalism for some time. It is a terrible drain on the economy, one of the top 10 GDPs of the world.

Graft is so common that it is an accepted cost of doing business, or not at all different from having good coffee around when your customers come in for a plant tour.

According to a 2013 report by Forbes:

A 2010 study by the FIESP (the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo State, in its acronym in Portuguese), the average annual cost of corruption in Brazil is between 1.38% to 2.3% of the country's total GDP. The World Bank lists Brazil in its database with a GDP of $2.253 trillion as of 2012, while the OECD expects Brazil to grow 2.5% this year. If the numbers of the FIESP study are to be believed, just in 2013 something between $32 billion and $53.1 billion can be accounted as "corruption money," which, it is important to remember, gets out of circulation that hits growth. To put into perspective, if that money was invested in Brazil's precarious education system, the number of Brazilian students enrolled in elementary school could be improved from its current 34.5 million to 51 million.

Better schools and better bridges and better roads and so on.

Last, but not least, let's not forget about the voters. In other words, they voted for these people. Yes, they voted for them when the economy was booming and there was plenty of money to pay for all of those campaign promises.

The investigation of President Temer will take months, so don't expect an impeachment or resignation any time soon. Nevertheless, it just makes Brazilians more cynical, and they were pretty cynical before all this started a couple of years ago.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
According to several sources, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has ordered 600,000 people to evacuate the capital city of Pyongyang. The report originally appeared in Pravda, but a reporter for Channel News Asia tweeted that foreign journalists have been told to prepare to move out of the capital  without their cell phones.

We've been told to be ready to move out at 620am, but no idea why. Also, no cell phones allowed. #Pyongyang #Dprk pic.twitter.com/DO1yziIEMq  Jeremy Koh (@JeremyKohCNA) April 12, 2017

Daily Express:

Reports in Russian newspaper Pravda Report claim more than 600,000 people  around 25 per cent of the city's population  are being urgently evacuated, as tensions escalate between North Korea and the United States. According to South Korean media, residents in the kingdom have said goodbye to each other, sparking concerns the tyrannical leader could be about to act after months of nuclear weapon testing. Foreign reporters have been told to prepare for a "big and important event" on North Korea's biggest national celebration, called 'Day of the Sun'. A tweet from Channel NewsAsia's Beijing Correspondent Jeremy Koh said: "We've been told to be ready to move out at 6.20am, but no idea why. Also, no cell phones allowed." More than 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks the 105th birthday of its founding president Kim Il Sung on April 15. Officials in North Korea have already warned nuclear war could break out at any minute thanks to the "extremely tense" situation on the Korean Peninsula. The US sent a navy strike group towards the Western Pacific in a show of force, with North Korea retorting with warnings of a nuclear attack in retaliation to any show of aggression. China has also moved 150,000 soldiers close to the North Korean border in preparation for war. The move comes after president Trump launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield in response for the country's brutal chemical attack which left 79 civilians dead. North Korean officials have given no clues as to the nature of the "surprise event" or where it would take place. However, past announcements of a similar nature have turned out to be relatively low-key.

Kim issued another nuclear warning yesterday  i.e., if provoked, North Korea would use nuclear weapons.

So what is going on? To sum up:

1. The U.S. is moving a carrier strike force to the Korean peninsula.

2. China has moved 150,000 troops to Korean border to handle an expected flood of refugees if an attack occurs.

3. Kim has threatened to use nukes if provoked.

4. Reporters are being told to expect a "big event," while some reports  perhaps not reliable  claim that Kim has ordered the partial evacuation of the capital.

Taken together, the signs are ominous. But should these stories be understood as being part of a pattern? Or is the juxtaposition of all this information a coincidence?

Certainly, prudence demands the former. But if you've read Barbara Tuchman's "Guns of August," you might recognize that it's entirely possible that the confluence of events could easily lead to misinterpretation, and what seems bellicose or ominous as part of a pattern is actually separate reactions to similar events.

Nothing takes place in a vacuum, of course. But we may be reading too much into what's really happening in North Korea. Intelligence reports indicate that Kim may be readying another nuclear test to coincide with the North's national holiday, the "Day of the Sun," which honors the birth of North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung. Or Kim may be about to order another missile test. Either event could be misinterpreted and lead to war.

So even if there's nothing really ominous about these events, tensions are so high that a misunderstanding or an error could let loose the dogs of war on the Korean peninsula.
President Trump has changed his positions on Syria, NATO, China, the Fed, and the Ex-Im Bank (not to mention Obamacare repeal and prosecuting Hillary Clinton), all within the past few days.

President Trump is abandoning a number of his key campaign promises on economic policy, adopting instead many of the centrist positions he railed against while campaigning as a populist. Trump will not label China a "currency manipulator," ... despite a campaign pledge that he would apply the label on his first day in office. He also said he was open to reappointing Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet L. Yellen after saying last year that the central banker should be "ashamed" of what she was doing to the country. And he embraced the Export-Import Bank, a government agency that he mocked last year and that has long been despised by conservatives who labeled it crony capitalism. Last week, he ordered airstrikes against the Syrian military, even though he promised during the campaign to keep the United States out of conflicts in the Middle East. The shift on Syria enraged some of Trump's campaign supporters who had embraced his isolationist foreign policy. Also on Wednesday, Trump praised the work of NATO, a pact between the United States and some of its closest allies that Trump once called "obsolete." "It was once obsolete; it is no longer obsolete," he said Wednesday after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump's embrace of moderate positions also suggests a waning influence among the hard-line nationalist White House advisers who helped Trump win the election, as well as the rise of other advisers  many of whom hail from New York  who have more centrist, even left-leaning views.

It doesn't matter if Trump pledged to do something on his first day in office.

It doesn't matter if he called something obsolete just two months ago.

It doesn't matter if he explicitly promised to do or not to do something.

Trump is unmoored by any political belief system. He's like an army tank that can be driven in any direction. When the driver is Steve Bannon, we sometimes applaud. But now that Jared Kushner & Co. are in the driver's seat, they are driving in the opposite direction. If Ivanka had married Chairman Mao, I believe that President Trump would be espousing the virtues of class warfare and collective farming, and pro-Trump websites would tell us what a clever plan this is to revolutionize food production in America. When you combine a lack of belief system with government by nepotism, this is what you get.

The only thing that surprises me is people who are surprised by this.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
"Donald Trump must get those kids out of the White House," a blunt South African observer of our politics barked at me, weeks back. "You're looking more and more like us." She was alluding to the nepotism on display in the Trump White House.

Since the president started strafing Syria, it has become evident that Trump's favorite offspring needs to be booted from the People's House. The British press, more irreverent than ours, seconded the broad consensus that Ivanka had nagged daddy into doing it. For The Kids: The First Daughter was, purportedly, devastated by the (unauthenticated) images of a suspected gas attack in Syria.

Brother Eric Trump confirmed it: "Sure, Ivanka influenced the Syria strike decision." White House spokesman Sean Spicer didn't deny it.

Eric had headed back to the Trump Organization, as he promised during the campaign. Ivanka just wouldn't go.

Who could fail to notice that the first daughter, a cloistered, somewhat provincial American princess, has been elevated inappropriately in the White House, while first lady Melania, a cosmopolitan steel magnolia, has been marginalized?

That Ivanka, now her father's West Wing adviser, drove the offensive in Syria is but a logical deduction.

Ivanka promises that she and her poodle, Jared Kushner, are in compliance with the law. Clever lawyers told her so. Legalistic assurances pertaining to the 1967 Anti-Nepotism Statute mean nothing. Law is hardly the ultimate adjudicator of right and wrong.

Donald's daughter has no place in the White House, no matter how cutely she "argues" for her ambitions:

"I want to be a force for good." (Who defines "good," Ivanka? Limited and delimited government means that it's not you.)

"I want to pursue my passions." (Your passions, Ivanka, are not necessarily the people's passions  or even within the purview of their government.)

Whether she's tweeting about the accomplishment that is the war on Syria or about inflicting her kids on China's first couple, Ivanka's tweets have the insipid emptiness of a contestant in a beauty pageant.

"Proud of my father for refusing to accept these horrendous crimes against humanity."

"Proud of Arabella and Joseph for their performance in honor of President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan's official visit to the US."

Such provincialism and solipsism were certainly part of the Obamas' international persona. Barack and Michelle gave the queen of England an iPod, customized with images and audio from Mr. Obama's inaugural and DNC addresses.

Wily Arabs are hip to White House dynamics. They know who's running the White House and whom to flatter. For doing their bidding, Syrian rebels  "we don't know who they are," cautioned the Old Donald  have even given President Trump an honorific:

Abu Ivanka al-Amriki: father of Ivanka the American.

I don't think President Donald Trump's dispiriting deviation of policy on Syria signaled a lack of core beliefs. What the folly of bombing Syria signals, very plainly, is that what Ivanka wants, Ivanka gets. Republicans and Democrats likely know it but won't say it. The former because Ivanka is a woman. Republicans dare not wage war on a woman, much less if she wages war on Syria. The latter because Ivanka is a Democrat by any other name.

In Ivanka, you have a point person in an ostensibly populist, rightist administration who has no idea that men, not women, are lagging in the labor force and in institutions of higher and lower learning. Democrats appreciate that.

In Ivanka, you have a businesswoman, in an ostensibly business-friendly administration, who has vowed to "close the [mythical] gender pay gap" on our dime. A business magnate should have grasped the following logic: "If women with the same skills as men were getting only 78 cents for every dollar a man earns, men as a group would have long since priced themselves out of the market. That entrepreneurs like Ivanka haven't ditched men en masse to employ women suggests that different abilities and experience are at work, rather than a conspiracy to suppress women" ("The Week of the Whining Womin").

Democrat-dominated news networks are mum about the Susan Rice spying and unmasking scandal. GOP TV is deaf and dumb about the clash between the America First faction of the administration (Steve Bannon) and the Kushner couple (Ivanka and Jared). The gentle reader should know by now that there's not a dime's worth of difference between the standard operating procedures of the two parties and their media.

On Twitter, former supporters of Donald Trump were quick to turn on Jared Kushner. The hashtag #FireKushner gained momentum.

But I ask you to study Mr. Kushner. The man's a mouse. Have you ever heard Jared Kushner utter a word in public? Do you even know what he sounds like? The poor man looks low T  like he might one day go the way of Bruce Jenner, now Caitlyn Jenner.

Jared's not wearing the pants in the Kushner castle. Behind every "good man" is a woman. Pushing, pushing. And that woman is the beguilingly beautiful Ivanka.

President Trump's not listening to his uncharismatic son-in-law; he's listening to Ivanka. And Ivanka is promoting Kushner, who is channeling Ivanka.

For Ivanka did Donald Trump ditch the policy he promised the Deplorables on Syria, not for her husband.

On Daddy's coattails has Ivanka Trump inveigled her way into the People's House, where she'll ambitiously promote her anemic husband and their joint agenda.

More than anything, Ivanka and Jared crave respectability. Both have been scarred by the scandals of their fathers. Befitting young Democrats in high society, the Kushners would like to be able to press flesh with local and global elites. There will be none of that  no warm welcomes from the gilded and the glamorous at Davos  with Donald's unsexy America First agenda.

Ilana Mercer is the author of The Trump Revolution: The Donald's Creative Destruction Deconstructed (June 2016). Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to Ilana's YouTube channel.
Now here's a list from estimable investigative report Sharyl Attkisson about where the major press leans ideologically. Nice to see that one publication with the masthead matching the one here, right there in the center on the right side, situated between The Economist and National Review.

Attkisson asked for advice on tweaking the chart as to the placements, which I can helpfully offer for starters: The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Economist, and Forbes can all move a couple of ticks leftward. Daily Beast can move several ticks left. Meanwhile, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, the Daily Signal, and the Daily Caller can probably move a tick or two to the right. Readers are encouraged to help her out with their own takes if they are so inclined.

But what's most significant is how many new media organizations are being included in her list of most influential news carriers. American Thinker, along with several other emerging publications, such as Hot Air and Zero Hedge (and many others), has come to supplant the traditional mainstream media as readers turn to alternatives. And it's becoming impossible to ignore, as Attkisson's chart demonstrates.

Nice to see American Thinker so recognized. Thanks, Sharyl Attkisson.
(ANSA) - Rome, April 13 - A Serbian suspected of killing two people and thought to be armed and dangerous was named Thursday as Norbert Feher, Italian police said after consulting officials in Serbia where he is wanted for robbery and sexual violence.

The 41-year-old Feher, who also goes by the name of Igor Vaclavic, under which he was tried in Ferrara some years ago, is the suspected killer of Davide Fabbri, a 52-year-old who was shot dead during an attempted robbery at his bar at Budrio, near Bologna, on April 1, and of a voluntary environmental ranger who was shot dead near Ferrara Saturday.

To escape a manhunt, police said Wednesday, Feher may have stolen a boat belonging to a farmer that recently went missing in the area of the search.

Special police units, helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and marksmen are being used in the manhunt across the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara and Ravenna.

The suspect was said to be armed with at least two guns and around 40 bullets.

A provincial police agent was also seriously wounded in Saturday's shooting on the Mondo Nuova road around 8 km from Portomaggiore.

Police said Feher is foraging fruit, vegetables and eggs as he continues to elude his pursuers.


- ROME- Syrian state-run news agency Sana said Thursday that ''hundreds of people, including civilians'' were killed in eastern Syria in a raid carried out by the US-led anti-ISIS coalition against a ''depot of chemical weapons of the Islamic State'' in the region of Dayr az Zor. Sana quoted the army chief of staff.



''Many people died suffocated by toxic gas inhalations'' in the raid, wrote Sana, adding that this allegedly occurred ''yesterday between 5:30 and 5:50 pm''.



According to the Syrian army, the ''depot of poisonous substances'' struck was in Hatla, east of Dayr az Zor, in the region by the same name bordering with Iraq.



Syrian President Bashar al Assad on Thursday told Agence France Presse, in an interview quoted by international media that a gas attack blamed on his government last week in Idlib province was ''100 percent fabrication''. He claimed that the Syrian army had given up all chemical weapons.



Assad told AFP that the US strike did not reduce the capability of Syrian government forces.






Syria:U.S. intercepted chemical warfare communications, CNN 'U.S. did not know prior to Idlib raid it was going to happen'

(ANSAmed) - WASHINGTON, APRIL 13 - A US senior official was quoted by CNN as saying that the US military and intelligence community intercepted communications featuring chemical experts and Syrian military personnel discussing preparations for the sarin attack in Idlib last week.



The intercepts were part of a review of all the intelligence right after the attack to determine responsibility for the use of chemical weapons in the attack in north-western Syria, which killed at least 70 people, CNN reports.



The same source stressed that the US did not know prior to the attack that it was going to happen, CNN also said.



The US usually gathers a significant volume of communications intercepts in areas like Syria and Iraq. The material is often not procesed unless a specific event requiring investigation by intelligence analysts takes place.



According to CNN, no intelligence intercepts revealing that Russian military or intelligence officials discussed the attack have so far emerged.



The source told CNN that the Russians are likely to be more careful in their communications in order not to be intercepted.



(ANSAmed).




Turkey: 543 PKK, ISIS suspects detained in anti-terror raid 412 allegedly tied to Kurdish rebels and 131 to jihadists

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 13 - A reported 543 suspected militants of the PKK and ISIS were arrested in Turkey last night in an anti-terror operation. Security forced detained 412 alleged Kurdish rebels in operations across 21 provinces while 131 suspected jihadists with the so-called Islamic State were arrested in 13 provinces, according to the Turkish interior ministry.



Weapons, ammunitions and documents were seized during the operations.



The raids occurred after the PKK claimed an attack Tuesday against a police station in Diyarbakir and three days ahead of a key referendum on the presidential system. (ANSAmed).




Kosovo: Gabriel urges Belgrade, Pristina continue dialogue

(ANSAmed) - PRISTINA, 13 APRIL - German Vice Chancellor and FM Sigmar Gabriel, who is visiting Pristina, reiterated a call to Belgrade and Pristina to normalis relations and continue dialogue. Speaking after a meeting with Kosovo PM Isa Mustafa, Gabriel said peaceful relations between Serbia and Kosovo were a precondition for EU membership for both sides. He said the EU could do "significantly more" to support Western Balkan countries on their way to the EU. The EU should do more to back "infrastructure projects" in the Western Balkans, he said. A Kosovo army can only be formed in line with regulations and in coordination with Serbs, Gabriel also said, urging the Kosovo assembly to pass a border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to pave the way for a visa liberalization. (ANSAmed)
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. FAST (The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology) announced the formation of the Advisory Board and the appointment of the Chief Executive Director, IDeA Foundation told Armenpress.

Impact investor and social entrepreneur, co-founder of the IDeA Foundation Ruben Vardanyan made his first statement on the intention to create the FAST Foundation in July 2016, noting that the Foundation would focus on "the development of environment for technological innovations in Armenia and mobilization of scientific, technological and financial resources of the Armenian and international community".

Ruben Vardanyan and Noubar Afeyan on behalf of the IDeA Foundation, Fr. Mesrop Aramyan on behalf of the Ayb and Luys Foundations, the high tech and innovations entrepreneur Artur Alaverdyan became the co-founders of the FAST Foundation. Board of Trustees of five people was established, including the co-founders; Artur Alaverdyan was appointed Chairman of the Board.

At the present moment the following persons have agreed to become members of the FAST Advisory Board:

Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., Flagship Pioneering, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, MIT, Senior Lecturer 2000-2016, current Corporation Board member (USA), Naira Hovakimyan, Ph.D., W. Grafton and Lillian B. Wilkins Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering (USA), David Yang, Ph.D., ABBYY, Founder and Director of the Board (USA/Russia), Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE PC FRS, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Director (UK), Serge Tchuruk, Alcatel, former CEO and Total S.A., Chairman, former CEO (France), Garaped Antranikyan, Hamburg University of Technology, President (Germany), Mikhail Pogosyan, Moscow Aviation Institute, Rector (Russia), Yuri Oganessian, Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Scientific Director (Russia), Andre Andonian, McKinsey and Company, Managing Partner (Japan), Armen Gevorgyan, Staff of Presidential Administration, Chief (Armenia), Hovhannes Avoyan, PicsArt, CEO and Founder (USA/Armenia), Vardan Sahakian, PhD in Physics, State Committee for Science, Deputy Head, the scientist with the highest scientometric indices (h-index) in Armenia (Armenia).

Other members might join the Board in future.

As the Head of the Advisory Board Noubar Afeyan stated: The future of Armenia will depend greatly on its capacity to innovate and to provide competitive products and services within the global markets. The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology is a timely catalyst in making this potential a near-term reality.

In my opinion the main mission of the FAST Foundation is that it will consolidate the intellectual power in Armenia and abroad, focusing it on solving the actual tasks which determine the scientific and technological progress of the country, Yuri Oganessian mentioned.

Back in Soviet times Armenia held absolute leadership in scientific and technological innovations of the big country. In 1956 the USSR government launched the Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute after Mergelyan, and since then we were well known for leading IT and software developments in USSR. The collapse of former Soviet Union, the major earthquake, the long-lasting economic and energy crisis destroyed the economy of the country leading to mass immigration. I am hopeful that FAST will give the opportunity to re-establish ourselves again as leaders in a number of major industries, in education and academic fronts as well, and this time we will come across as leaders on a global scale outside the borders of former Soviet Union, Naira Hovakimyan commented.

This is an immensely exciting time for Armenia with the launch of The FAST Foundation. As a society we are facing increasing challenges in every industry and through the development of a platform for bringing about the technological revolution in Armenia, we can remain at the forefront of the development of innovative technologies, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham said.

The businessman, architect of innovative ecosystems Armen Orujyan was appointed Chief Executive Director of FAST. Athgo, a non-profit organization created by him in 1999 in Los Angeles, is one of the leading business platforms in the world and has the status of consultant of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Under his leadership, Athgo promoted the development of innovative ecosystems in Europe and Africa, nearly 10,000 young innovators, entrepreneurs and students from 80 counties of the world obtained the support for implementation of their projects and initiatives, including a financial one.

The world is experiencing an exciting and unprecedented technological transformation. Exponential advances are taking place in all verticals empowering people and economies. FAST propelled by its Founders vision, historical scientific accomplishments of Armenia and Armenians around the world, and access to global resources can thrust Armenia into becoming one of the leading if not the leading scientific and open innovation hubs. I envision a world where Armenia is a trendsetter of disruptive and cutting edge innovation in the region and beyond. I find it inspiring and a privilege to be involved with the Founders and all other stakeholders in helming this initiative forward, Armen Orujyan stated.

During the 9 months from the first announcement of FAST, its co-founders have conducted a series of efficient discussions in different cities in the world with the participation of scientists, investors and entrepreneurs. The team in Yerevan has created a database of almost 5,000 scientists and engineers from Armenia and the Diaspora. More than 120 people from that database contributed to the discussions of the FAST initiative. A significant contribution into this preparatory work was made by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), American University of Armenia, Synopsis, NSF, National Instruments and more than a hundred people who made important and valuable suggestions.

Our main goal is to unite the state and the private sector, the general public and the elite, the citizens of Armenia, the diaspora and our partners in other countries, the donors and the international organizations, - in order to turn Armenia into one of the leading R&D hubs of the world together, Ruben Vardanyan stated.

We want to accelerate the creation of an innovate ecosystem in Armenia for science-intensive startups, to promote the commercialization of science by using the potential of the local and global scientific, engineering and entrepreneurial community. The main task of FAST is to build a road with a two-way traffic between Armenian science and the global business, Artur Alaverdyan said.

FAST intends to become a platform for bringing the technological breakthrough in Armenia in the areas of IT and computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, advanced engineering and manufacturing technologies. The Foundation will be based on 4 pillars: education, research, start-ups and production. Expert council will be formed for every direction.

FAST is planned to pursue three main goals: to serve as a catalyst for technological development, concentrate the efforts and last, but not least, to coordinate the progress in the field. At the same time, FAST will operate according to the principle of an open platform that is ready for the development of partnership relations with private, state, public and scientific organizations in Armenia and in foreign countries. Organizationally FAST will operate as a FOF, without pursuing a commercial objective by itself. The initiative will create commercial venture funds and other business structures.

The scope of the initial financing for the development of the Foundation will be up to USD 15 million. The co-founders will launch a global fundraising campaign to attract up to USD 250 million within five years.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Georgian Business Days will be held in Armenia in May, economic development and investments minister Suren Karayan said after the Cabinet meeting, speaking on the economic cooperation with the Georgian side.

Georgian businessmen will be briefed on not only the possibilities of the Armenian market, but also the Meghri Free Economic Zone on the Iranian border. Production in this FEZ will enable facilitated exports not only to Iran, but also to EEU states. We will have specific substantial discussions, Georgia has great interest in making investments in Meghris FEZ, he said.

The government approved the decision on creating the FEZ on March 30. It is expected to begin operating in autumn.
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbuls Armenian Patriarchate Archbishop Aram Ateshian announced that upon inviting elected Patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan to the St. Savior hospital he had notified him on presenting a written agreement draft, Ateshian told Istanbuls Armenian Zhamanak daily.

He also commented on Bekchians April 11 announcement, speaking on his viewpoint on refusing to step down from his post.

We are trying to reach the combination of our Church right and the states expectation. With this very purpose we had prepared the agreement draft, which was refused by Archbishop Garegin Bekchian. One of the goals of that agreement was to keep our Church Assemblys reputation high. If Archbishop Garegin Bekchian had accepted the draft, then we would have been able to have the chance to make new steps based on the agreement between us. In the event of such agreement, in order to notify on a tangible solution result we would have to try to go to the Istanbul governorate together. Petros Shirinoghlu, chairman of the board of trustees of the Holy Savior national hospital, would have assisted us. Therefore, I would have been able to personally introduce the elected locum tenens to the relevant authorities, there must have been some kind of a guarantee on his activities prospects and the further perception of official bodies. We have already explained all this nuances, however, unfortunately, we were unable to have a positive result. Therefore, the persistence over not stepping down which was attributed to me and this circumstances endless repetition created an impression of lack of seriousness among us in this current difficult situation, he said.

On the morning of April 13, Ateshian and Bekchian served Holy Thursday masses, Bekchian in the Holy Stepanos Church and Ateshian in Istanbuls Holy Mother of God Church, dedicated to the Last Supper.
After she was detained by the Cuban authorities and had her passport confiscated, [the artist and activist] suffered harassment, surveillance and physical abuse. Her crime was proposing to restage Tatlins Whisper #6, a performance piece about free speech, in Havanas Revolution Square. She was granted an exit visa to go to London for this years Frieze, but warned that she might not be allowed back.
Kap-Dwa: A mysterious, 3.5-meter-tall, two-headed Giant from Patagonia

There isnt a shortage of ancient texts and general evidence that supports the notion that giants existed on Earth. However, youve probably never encountered a story like this. Meet Kap Dwa, a two-headed, 3.5-meter-tall giant from Patagonia.While there are many elaborate hoaxes that show massive bones and strange-looking skeletons all around the globe, there are some discoveries that challenge our understanding of life on Earth. Kap Dwas story is beyond fascinating and many find it hard to believe.So, where did he come from?The story begins in 1673 when this massive two-headed giant was captured by Spanish sailors where he remained captive until he was killed while trying to escape from his captivators, as the Spaniards killed him with a pike through the chest.The story fades away after that, but it is believed that his mummified remains somehow got to England in the 19century.In 1914, after being passed from one showman to another, the mummified remains of Kap Dwa ended up at Westons Birnbeck Pier. There, his remains spent some 45 years on display until Lord Thomas Howard purchased the remains in 1959. Kap-Dwa continued to amaze people and somehow ended up in Baltimore Md, in a strange, collection at Bobs Side Show at The Antique Man Ltd in Baltimore, owned by Robert Gerber and his wife.You may think, this is nothing but another elaborate fake.However, Kap-Dwa does exist and the mummified remains can be found in Gerbers collection.Mr. Gerber however, tells a much different story than the above.According to Gerber, Kap-Dwa was in fact found already dead on a beach with a massive spear embedded in his chest. The creature was mummified by locals in Paraguaynot Patagonia until an English Captain called George Bickle came across his remains, eventually transporting him to England, to a museum in Blackpool where he stayed on display for several years.Eventually, the mummified remains were transported back to the Americas to Baltimore.Ok, so he did exist, does that prove Giants were common in the past?Well, while its certainly possible that such a being may have existedand Kap-Dwa is most likely realthere is abundant proof of fake giants all around the globe. This, however, does not mean that because one of them is fake, all others are as well.We can find numerous ancient texts and accounts that mention the existence of giants. Some of these texts can even be found in religious books like the bible.There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. -Genesis 6:4The Nephilim are believed to have been the offspring of the sons of God and the daughters of men before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33.And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. -Numbers 13:33.Kap-Dwa may have been real, and our planet is anything but uncommon when it comes to people with extraordinary height.The tallest man on Earth, when last measured on 27 June 1940, was found to be 2.72 m.The issue with the two heads can also be explained as conjoined twins are not that uncommon.It is up to you to conclude whether or not, something like this is possible, and whether or not the existence of Kap-Dwa proves that in the distant past, giants did exist on Earth, and there are still many things that remain unexplained on Earth.
Bhaskar also took a jibe at the media for hyping about USFDA observations.

Bhaskar also announced that Hyderabad would host the IPHEX 2017 from April 27-29.

Hyderabad: The Indian pharmaceutical sector is expected to see a slight fall in the export value in FY17 due to price erosion and lack of any blockbuster drug, a top official said here on Wednesday.

Pharmexcil director general Ravi Uday Bhaskar cited the lack of any blockbuster drugs in the fiscal year and price erosion in Africa and Latin American markets saw a dip in the export value.

He said, In FY 2015-16, two blockbuster drugs had their patent period expired. It helped the pharma sector greatly as it notched up $16.89 billion in exports. With no major drugs in the 2017 fiscal, the pharma sector has seen a near-flat year. Till February 2017, the pharma sector has exported drugs worth $15.21 billion and this is expected to touch $16.14 billion.

When asked about the reason behind the dip in exports, he added: Price erosion in African and Latin American market has played a role in the dip.

On USFDA regularly sending observations against Indian pharma firms, Mr Bhaskar said, India is exporting 35 per cent of drugs manufactured here to the United States. Therefore its only logical that USFDA inspect the Indian firms more regularly and throughly to protect its citizens.

Mr Bhaskar also took a jibe at the media for hyping about USFDA observations. Observations are similar to a showcause notice and only 10% of the complaints are really serious while the rest only need 2-3 days to comply with standards.

He also announced that Hyderabad would host the IPHEX 2017 from April 27-29.
Ranbir will be playing the mercurial actor in Rajkumar Hirani's highly anticipated biopic.

Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor inarguably is among the top young lead actors in the country today, largely owing to his immense talent and versatility.

However, Rajkumar Hirani's upcoming biopic on mercurial actor Sanjay Dutt remains his biggest and most sensational project till date, where he will be seen playing the eponymous star.

While pictures of Ranbir sporting long locks, also 90's Sanjay Dutt had gone viral, the actor has pulled a shocker with his latest look for the film.

Ranbir has phenomenally metamorphosed into a middle-aged Sanjay Dutt, with a salt and pepper beard and a receding hairline.

The pictures are such that one might need to look twice to realize it's not Sanjay.





The film, which also stars Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Anushka Sharma, is slated for a Christmas release, and already has generated sky-high hype.

However, the film will face some tough competition with Salman Khan's 'Tiger Zinda Hai,' which is all set to clash with the biopic during the Christmas weekend.

But for now, let's just admire Ranbir's transformation.
She said that her ad was from 10 years ago and also reminded him of his close relative who had also promoted it.

Mumbai: While the debate over promoting fairness creams has been going on since a long time, some of the biggest Bollywood celebrities have come on board such brand endorsements.

Abhay Deol made headlines on Wednesday when he took to social media to slam celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Sonam Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Ileana DCruz, Vidya Balan, Sidharth Malhotra for promoting fairness creams as it was propagating racism.

The actor shared pictures of the ads they featured in and gave interesting captions for the pictures.

Out of all the celebrities, Abhays Raanjhanaa and Aisha co-star Sonam was the only one to respond to the criticism.

The actress reminded Abhay how he had conveniently skipped his cousin Esha Deols ad also promoting a fairness cream.

Abhay responded by saying that even that was wrong too.

Sonam also said that she had shot for her particular ad ten years ago and was not aware of the ramifications then but complimented him for bringing up the issue.

However, for reasons unknown Sonam later deleted the tweets.

It would also be interesting to see what Shah Rukh, Deepika and other stars also have to say about it.
The book is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE, which clarified that it 'doesn't recommend any books by private publishers'.

New Delhi: Excerpts from a class XII Physical Education textbook defining 36-24-36 as the "best body shape for females" have sparked an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.

The book titled "Health and Physical Education" written by Dr VK Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

CBSE, however, clarified that it "does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools".

"36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration," read an excerpt from the chapter "Physiology and Sports" which is going viral.

Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.

In a statement, the CBSE said, "Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them."

This, however, is not the first incident about improper content being found in textbooks taught in CBSE schools in recent months.

Excerpts from a class IV environmental science textbook that suggested students to "kill a kitten" as part of an experiment had gone viral on social media, forcing the publisher to withdraw it from the market last month.

Similarly, a class XII Sociology book cited "ugliness" and physical disability of a girl as reasons behind the dowry issue prevalent in the country.

The HRD Ministry had last month said that CBSE has no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers.

"There is no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has no mandate to prescribe or recommend the textbooks of private publishers in its affiliated schools," Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha had said in response to a written question in Lok Sabha.
'There were, in fact, 5 ministers in Justin Trudeau govt who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them,' he said.

Chandigarh: Terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month.

Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father, the Chief Minister alleged during a programme in a private TV channel. There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them, he claimed.

On the issue of beef ban, the Punjab Chief Minister said, people has the right to and should be allowed to eat whatever they want. Amarinder also made it clear he was not in favour of a ban on Pakistani artistes, and said he would be happy to invite them to Punjab and would also love to visit Pakistan again.

Urging New Delhi to be wary of China on the other border, he said it is time to mend fences and make friends with Pakistan.

Recalling Englands War of Roses, the Chief Minister said the India-Pakistan tension is going the same way and needs to give way to peace.

Asserting that there a deliberate malicious attempt by vested interests to pull down Rahul Gandhi, he urged the people to give the Congress vice president a chance.

Amarinder said he had always found Rahul Gandhi extremely perceptive and willing to listen, besides being open to suggestions and ideas. He admitted that the AAP had posed a challenge in the recently-concluded assembly polls, and claimed that their failure to project a Punjabi for the Chief Ministers post cost them heavy

AAP had no future unless they change their style of functioning, the Chief Minister said and states have to work with the Centre and it is important to maintain a working relationship.

Amarinder claimed that He had excellent relations with the previous NDA government at the Centre during his last tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Referring to his governments crackdown on drugs, he said with the STF launching a crackdown, things were moving in the right direction.

Hundreds of youngsters were voluntarily coming to the rehabilitation centres and the anti-drugs helpline had so far received more than 4,000 calls, Amarinder said

He, however, ruled out formation of an Unified Command of the northern Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir, to fight drugs and terrorism.

Responding to a question, Amarinder said though the NIA had given a clean chit to former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh in the Pathankot terror attack, he had not done the same and would bring the police officer to book.

On the contentious SYL issue, the Chief Minister reiterated his stand that the state had no water to spare and pointed out that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken note of his concern on the issue.
Only 576 voters of the total 34,169 cast their votes across all polling stations till 2 pm.

Women coming out from a polling station after casting their vote for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir at Budgam. (Photo: PTI/File)

Srinagar: Only 1.68 per cent voters cast their franchise till 2 pm at 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where repolling was ordered by the EC following violence during Sunday's polls for the prestigious seat.

Only 576 voters of the total 34,169 cast their votes across all polling stations till 2 pm, officials said in Srinagar.

While no votes have been polled in Khansahib Assembly segment so far, only three votes were cast in Budgam segment and 27 votes in Chrar-e-Sharief segment, the officials said,

They said Beerwah segment recorded 293 votes and Chadoora saw 253 people cast their votes during the corresponding period. The voting began at 7 am and will end at 4 PM.

Barring a stone pelting incident at Soibagh area in Budgam district, the situation in the poll bound areas has been peaceful so far, the officials said.

Miscreants pelted stones at polling station at Soibagh but they were chased away by the security forces, they said.

There was an altercation between opposition National Congress and ruling PDP workers at Badran in Beerwah area over allegations of bogus voting, the officials said, adding that the issue was later resolved with the intervention of the polling staff and security personnel posted on duty there.

Eight people were killed in firing by security forces as unprecedented election-day violence marred the bypoll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat which saw the voter turnout plunge to an all-time low of 7.14 per cent.

Rampaging mobs took to streets in scores of places across the Lok Sabha constituency straddling Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts, perpetrating wanton violence and arson, even setting ablaze a polling station and attempting to set on fire two others, amid a boycott called by the separatists.
Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said the report by the NGT clearly indicts the Art of Living for damaging the flood plains of Yamuna.

New Delhi/Gurugram: Disagreeing with the report of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) holding Sri Sri Ravi Sankar's Art of Living (AOL) foundation responsible for destroying the Yamuna floodplain during the 'World Culture Festival' in 2016, the foundation on Thursday said there is not enough scientific data in the report, which seems arbitrary.

"We have a fundamental doubt on this report that has been put out. We don't see enough scientific data on this report, which can then justify and then go to the next step to quantify the amount of 'so called' damage. I have personally gone through that 31-page report, not enough scientific data is available. It still seems very arbitrary," Art of Living spokesperson Jaideep Nath said.

He further said there are some photographs in the report which comprise pre-monsoon and post monsoon.

"An area, in most of north looks very brown in the month of March-April and through the summer months, then the rain blesses the land and everything becomes green. You cannot say after pictures are brown and the previous ones seem very green. That is not right," he added.

He requested the court to evaluate the issue objectively.

"There is no damage. They are talking of soil compaction, but in actual the soil is not compact, the nature of the soil is that it cannot get compacted," Nath said.

"Our legal team is ready along with the environmentalists who work with us. There has been an unfair accusation made that art of living has damaged something," he added.

Meanwhile, environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said the report by the NGT clearly indicts the Art of Living for damaging the flood plains of Yamuna.

"It clearly says that almost 119 hectares of the flood plain have been completely destroyed. It also says that it will take almost Rs. 40 crore and minimum 10 years to restore the flood plains," he said.

"All the vegetations have been destroyed, all the small water bodies on the bank of Yamuna has been destroyed. If someone has damaged the environment, however powerful that organization is, it needs to pay and the responsibility needs to be fixed," he asserted.

The NGT appointed Committee of Experts has said that the rehabilitation of Yamuna floodplains destroyed by AOL's 'World Culture Festival' will cost Rs. 13.29 crores and take almost 10 years.

The green panel had last year allowed the AOL to hold the three-day ' World Culture Festival' on the Yamuna flood plains but following the event the former slapped a fine of Rs. five crore as interim environment compensation on the foundation for damaging biodiversity of the ecologically sensitive floodplains.

The Art of Living had submitted the final installment of its compensation amounting to Rs. 4.75 crore in June 2016.

The foundation had deposited the compensation amount through demand draft to the DDA on June 3, 2016.
Thousands of security personnel were deployed across Budgams five segments ahead of the re-poll.

Srinagar: The re-poll held on Thursday at 38 polling stations located in Jammu and Kashmirs central district of Budgam, the worst-hit by violence during by-poll to prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday, was by and large peaceful. But the voter turnout is embarrassing lowest 2.o2 percent.

The re-poll concluded in a peaceful atmosphere. Out of 35,169 voters, a total of 709 voters exercised their right of franchise which amounts to a poll percentage of 2.02, said J&Ks Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Shantmanu.

The by-poll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat held on Sunday was marred by widespread violence leaving eight people dead and dozens wounded which augmented anger among the people in Kashmir Valley. Also a meager 7.14 percent of over 1.2 million voters turned up to use their democratic right which was the lowest in five decades. This raised questions about the sanctity of this election.

The Election Commission (EC) ordered re-poll at 38 polling stations in five Assembly segments of Budgam even though the by-poll to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat scheduled for April 12 was deferred by it till May 25 in view of widespread violence witnessed in Srinagar.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed across Budgams five segments ahead of the re-poll. Each area where the re-poll was being held gave the look of a fortress whereas strict security restrictions were imposed elsewhere in the district after invoking Section 144 CrPc. The Internet services available at fixed broadband lines were again suspended for more than six hours on Thursday whereas mobile internet services remain suspended since April 8 night. [Director General of Police, Shesh Paul Vaid, said that the Internet services in the Valley will be fully restored by Thursday night]

A vast majority of voters stayed away from the polling as no votes were polled at 27 out of 38 polling stations, the official sources said. The 2.02 percent turnout is the lowest in the election history of Jammu and Kashmir, they added.

Witnesses and official sources said that while not a single vote was polled at 27 polling stations, three out of 7,122 votes were cast in Budgam, 261 out of 14,837 in Chadoora, 58 out of 8,126 in Charar-e-Sharief and 357 out of 4, 233 in Beerwah segments.

The Kashmiri separatists have termed the lowest turnout as their victory and said that the same should service as eye-opener to New Delhi and its stooges in the State. The alliance of key separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik which had asked the people to boycott the elections on the premise that any such exercise held within the ambit of Indian Constitutions cannot be a substitute to promised plebiscite said in a statement here, Delhi and its henchmen must stop these flop shows and foolish moves as these are proving a nuisance and a reason for continuous bloodshed.

The Mirwaiz also wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.com The utter contempt people of #Kashmir have shown towards farce called election, an eye-opener for those who cant read writing on the wall. Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference working president, Omar Abdullah, while reacting to 2.02 percent voter turnout tweeted If you thought things couldnt get worse than the 7 % we saw on the 9th of April.

Though the CEO said the entire exercise was a peaceful affair and thanked people and officials for making it so, street clashes were reported from a few areas of Budgam during or soon after the re-poll was over. The security forces fired teargas canisters and shotgun pellets to disperse stone-throwing crowds while the former were withdrawing from poll duty in NasurUllah Pora village of Budgam. The locals alleged that the security forces ransacked some residential houses and damaged stationary cars and other vehicles in the area, the charge denied by the authorities. Clashes were reported also from Beerwah, Soibug, Magh-e-Mehtab and a couple of other areas but these were marginal when compared to Sundays violence and mayhem witnessed across the constituency, the police sources said.

The by-poll result will be declared on April 15. The by-poll to the two Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir Valley- Srinagar and Anantnag-were necessitated by the resignation of sitting members of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including its president Mehbooba Mufti. While Ms. Mufti who was elected from home constituency Anantnag in the 2014 elections quit her Lok Sabha seat to fulfil the Constitutional obligation following her appointment as Chief Minister, her party colleague Tariq Hameed Karra resigned from both the PDP and Parliament in protest against its forging an alliance with ideologically-divergent BJP to form coalition government in the State. The voting in Anantnag is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
The Centre had earlier told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for NEET from current academic year.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the central government to include Urdu as a language in National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), a common entrance test for admissions in MBBS and BDS courses across the country, exam from academic session 2018-19 onwards.

A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar told the petitioner, who has sought a direction for making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017 scheduled on May 7, that it would not be possible for the government to include Urdu this year.

"We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards," the bench said.

When the counsel for the petitioner insisted that Urdu language should be included in NEET examination from this year itself, the bench said, "the whole problem is that this year it is not possible."

"There are lots of difficulties. Please try to understand that we can't ask them (Centre) to do miracles. The examination is on May 7 and today is April 13. Lots of process is involved in this," the bench said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said that they were not opposed to the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in Urdu medium also from 2018 academic year onwards.

The solicitor general had on March 31 told the Supreme Court that a students' body seeking NEET examination in Urdu language has accused the Centre of being communal.

The submission was made while referring to the affidavit filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad.

The Centre had told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.

At present, NEET is being conducted in ten languages -- Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada languages.

The court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, MCI, DCI and CBSE on the plea suggesting making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.
Lets not let things drift. It is in the national interest of Pakistan to have good relations with India, Mr Kasuri said.

New Delhi: The news item Pak envoy calls Jadhav terrorist that appeared in this newspaper on April 12 erroneously mentions that the event Improving Indo-Pak Relations organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress at the India International Centre in New Delhi was cancelled.

The event was held as per schedule and the participants at the event included former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, former BJP leader Sudheendra Kulkarni, PDP MP Muzzaffar Beg, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani and Prof Bhim Singh, among others, said O.P. Shah, the events organiser.

Speaking at the event, former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said both neighbours should not stop the process of dialogue.

Lets not let things drift. It is in the national interest of Pakistan to have good relations with India, Mr Kasuri 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 added.

These remarks by the former Pakistani leader come at a time when the Pakistani authorities have sentenced Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of espionage.
Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa said that there would be no compromise on Mr Jadhavs death sentence.

File photo of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of 'espionage'. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi/Islamabad: India is placing its fourteenth request to Pakistan for consular access to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav through the Indian high commission in Islamabad, government sources said in New Delhi on Thursday.

Indias ministry of external affairs (MEA) also said it had no information on reports that a former Pakistan Army officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel had been kidnapped near the Indo-Nepal border on the Nepalese side, sparking speculation that a prisoner swap was being considered as a last option by the government to save Mr Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

However, Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa said that there would be no compromise on Mr Jadhavs death sentence.

Pakistan has ignored 13 previous requests by India over the past about one year for consular access to Mr Jadhav. Pakistan has accused Mr Jadhav of carrying out sabotage activities in Balochistan on behalf of India, which has rejected the charges, terming them ridiculous and baseless.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that India would go to any extent to ensure justice for Mr Jadhav described by the Indian government as a kidnapped, innocent person.

On whether Mr Jadhav was carrying a genuine Indian passport under an assumed name, the MEA said ascertaining of any fact would first require consular access to him. The MEA wondered whether any genuine spy would walk into Pakistan with his original passport with him, which is what the Pakistanis have alleged.

New Delhi also said it had no knowledge of Mr Jadhavs location in Pakistan or his condition, asserting that the government was making all efforts to get him back. The MEA also said the two countries were in touch through diplomatic channels.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the Pakistani military courts verdict was verdict was indefensible and against the principles of natural justice, with no due process of law being followed. Referring to the literal meaning of the word Kulbhushan, Mr Baglay said that while Kul meant family, Jadhav was dear not just to his family but to the entire nation. He said the entire country was concerned about his welfare and that the sentiments of all Indians were with him.

The issue has triggered fresh tension in Indo-Pak ties and India has warned Pakistan of the consequences Mr Jadhavs hanging could have on their ties and vowed to go out of the way to save him amid pervasive outrage in the country.
The court had asked the Centre to provide funds to EC for introduction of VVPAT system with the EVMs.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to file its replies by May 8 on petitions filed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a Samajwadi party MLA challenging voting through electronic voting machine without addition of voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT).

A bench of Justices J. Chelameswar and Abdul Nazeer issued notice after hearing senior counsel and former finance minister P. Chidambaram appearing for BSP and SP MLA. The court also permitted Congress, Trinamul Congress and other parties to intervene after senior counsel Kapil Sibal informed that the Congress was also intervening in the matter.

At the outset Mr Chidambaram said, We only want a direction to the EC to comply with a 2013 Supreme Court directive which made it mandatory for use of VVPAT in EVMs. EVMs remain highly vulnerable and susceptible to hacking. What one man can invent, another man can hack.

Explaining the VVPAT, Mr Chidambaram said if the EVM is fixed to a VVPAT machine, the voter can see whether the symbol the voter presses is the symbol the EVM registers in the system. Verification of the vote is an indispensable part of voting. Only a paper trail can restore the confidence of the people. In the absence of VVPAT, if the voter presses a button on the EVM, he will not know what the machine has recorded.

He read out the 2013 Supreme Court judgment which had directed the EC to introduce in a phased manner the paper trail in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, saying it is an indispensable requirement of free, fair and transparent polls which will restore confidence of the voters. The court had asked the Centre to provide funds to EC for introduction of VVPAT system with the EVMs.
MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan had not shared with India any details of Kulbhushan Jadhavs location, or his condition.

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the Indian government is not aware of the whereabouts of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan had not shared with India any details of Kulbhushan Jadhavs location, or his condition.

In a press conference, Baglay also said India had no access to the former naval officer, accused by Pakistan of being a R&AW agent. So far Pakistan has denied all our requests for consular access. The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque, Baglay stated.

"Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy and these two facts were communicated to Pakistan more than a year ago," he added.
Amarinder Singh had earlier alleged that Sajjan, like his father, is a Khalistani sympathiser.

New Delhi: Canada on Thursday described as disappointing and inaccurate the comments allegedly made by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh that five ministers, including defence minister Harjit Sajjan, in the Justin Trudeau government were Khalistani sympathisers.

According to news agency reports, Mr Singh had earlier alleged that Sajjan, like his father, is a Khalistani sympathiser and he (the CM) would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India in April.

There are, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who are Khalistani sympathisers, and I will not have any truck with them, Mr Singh was quoted by news agencies as saying.

Reacting to the remarks, the Canadian high commission in New Delhi was quoted as saying, The comments regarding Canadas ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate. It also said Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and looks forward to further advancing it.

We regret that the chief minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canadas minister of defence. The chief minister is welcome to visit Canada, the high commission was quoted as saying.
Mr Siddaramaiah said he was told that the EVMs used in the two by-polls had voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).

Bengaluru: The Congress may be sceptical and carping about the vulnerability of electronic voting machines to tampering, but for chief minister Siddaramaiah, it is not an issue, at least in Karnataka.

We cannot say tampering (with EVMs) has taken place in these elections, he said, buoyed by the victory of the Congress candidates in the Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly by-polls, in which the party retained both the seats in spite of a tough fight by the BJP.

His party had only spoken about the scope for tampering, Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters when asked about his stand on EVMs in the light of the outcome of the by-polls.

The chief minister said he had asked the party candidates and agents to ensure that the EVMs were thoroughly checked and also told the officials to educate the voters about them.

Mr Siddaramaiah said he was told that the EVMs used in the two by-polls had voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).

His remarks come against the backdrop of a campaign launched by the Congress-led Opposition on alleged EVM tampering after a string of defeats in the Assembly polls, including in Uttar Pradesh where the party was decimated.

Ratcheting up pressure on the Election Commission, the Congress had also led an opposition delegation to President Pranab Mukherjee and taken up the issue of alleged EVM tampering with him, noting that it raised bona fide concerns on the possibility of manipulating electoral outcomes.

The Congress wants a return of the old ballot paper system but there are divisions within the party on the issue.

Former Union minister M. Veerappa Moily reportedly said in an interview that by questioning the reliability of EVMs, the Congress was displaying a defeatist mindset.
The the level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health

New Delhi: South Asian nations including India are "vulnerable" to emerging infectious diseases like Zika and Ebola and their level of preparedness is "inadequate" to protect public health, a new analysis on Wednesday said.

Inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity may accelerate the spread of the emerging infectious diseases in the region, which is already burdened by diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, an analysis as part of a collection of twelve analyses on health in South Asia published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) said.

The analysis pointed out that although sporadic cases of dengue infection were seen in many South Asian countries in the 1960s, regular epidemics only occurred in the early 1990s in India and Sri Lanka.

"In India and Sri Lanka, by around 40 years of age 90-95 per cent of adults have been infected with the dengue virus, while 41 per cent have been infected with chikungunya," it said.

Noting that Anthrax is endemic in large parts of South Asia, the analysis said that in the border areas of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, poor vaccination and surveillance

have been accompanied by "increasing" anthrax cases, which prompted Bangladesh to announce a "red alert" in 2010.

Noting that rabies remains endemic in eight countries in South East Asia, with 1.4 billion people at risk, the authors in the analysis said that the region contributes about 45 percent of global rabies deaths, while the "rhetoric" on elimination continues to grow.

"Brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and a range of food-borne diseases contribute to the morbidity and mortality attributable to zoonotic infections but are struggling to gain

the attention of policymakers in the subcontinent, despite it resulting in 150 million illnesses, 175,000 deaths, and 12 million disability-adjusted life years," the analysis said.

The analysis found that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A/H5N1, which was introduced to the subcontinent in 2005 through wild birds, has since become

endemic across large parts of northeast India and Bangladesh, across porous international borders.

"It has resulted in losses of around USD 500 million," the analysis by Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP) Director Ramanan Laxminarayan and colleagues said."South Asia stands vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases. Examining the vulnerability to emerging and growing infectious disease threats and the capacity to respond to outbreaks, the analysis finds the level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health," it said.

South Asia is defined by the World Bank as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is home to a quarter of the world's population. It bears a significant proportion of the global burden of infectious disease, with longstanding battles against TB, HIV and malaria.

"Emerging and growing infectious diseases, like Zika, Ebola, MERS-CoV, and avian influenza, are adding to the already significant burden of disease, and their spread may

accelerate in the face of factors such as inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity.

"The current state of affairs appears to result from a severe policy neglect, including a general lack of commitment to the 'One Health' approach in policy discourse, which would consider the interrelation of animal health, human health, and

the environment," the authors noted.

The analysis found that Nipah virus emerged in Malaysia in the late 1990s, initially being misdiagnosed as Japanese encephalitis (JE), and there have since been frequent

outbreaks in Bangladesh and to a lesser extent in India.They said the lack of preventive measures and surveillance has led to some previously sporadic diseases like Nipah virus and Chandipura virus becoming "endemic" in these countries.

There has also been a marked rise in incidence, even as mortality rates have decreased, for some diseases, they said.

"With rapid shifts in urbanisation and increasing population, South Asia has the opportunity and obligation to implement meaningful policy changes to prepare against emerging infectious diseases.Millions of lives are at stake and betting against the spread of emerging infectious diseases would be irresponsible," said Laxminarayan.

The analysis noted that the elimination of polio from many countries in the region, most recently in India, is a "landmark" achievement."At the global scale, South Asia must become more engaged in the health security agenda. The government of India is a

founder contributor to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), an initiative that aims to accelerate the development of new vaccines for high threat pathogens.

"This leadership is commendable, but such research and development pipelines need to be linked to strengthened surveillance, response, and research platforms within South Asia to ensure that it can be evaluated and implemented locally. Finally, global science communities can help enhance regional conversation to encourage local collaboration," it added.
Metropolitan cities are increasingly becoming pet friendly, with taxi services, spas and restaurants especially for pets.

Lets say youve had a great evening out, or are enjoying an exotic vacation. Even as you revel, you know that, the only thing on your pets mind is your arrival back home. If only you could treat your pet to something nice!

Thats just what we have in Hyderabad now. The city is increasingly becoming pet friendly, with a plethora of services at the pet parents disposal.

Sean, from a pet taxi service in the city with a customer, Dodo.

Srivatsava Gorthy, a Hyderabadi based in California, has started a pet taxi service, Unikorn. Sean Thomas, the programme manager, explains, Cab drivers are usually apprehensive about customers with pets because they shed fur or there are chances of the pet soiling the seats. Our services help you get your pet to the vet or anywhere else. Some people have said that theyve been waiting for something like this. The service, priced at seven rupees per kilometre, is rather economical. We have had car owners who prefer this service, just so that they dont have to clean up after, adds Sean.

A puppy lounging at a pet-friendly cafe

The city has also seen a rise in cafes that allow pets, like the Autumn Leaf Cafe in Jubilee Hills, and the Coffee Cup in Secunderabad. The latest addition to this bandwagon is a cafe primarily meant for pet dogs  Cafe De Loco, founded by Roochira and Hemant Sakarwal. The open space, with eye-level seating for pet parents and their dogs, was inaugurated by Amala Akkineni. A few months ago, while on a vacation with my family, I started weeping on the flight because all of us were off to have fun, while Pluto (her pet Shih Tzu) was in a homestay. I wanted something special for pets, so that they too can enjoy an evening and socialise with other dogs, says Roochira, who is looking forward to host birthday parties for pets. The dog park at Necklace Road is another paradise for canines. What started in 2013 with just about three to four regulars, now boasts of 200 pets. Sunday mornings are the busiest, but the park is open on weekdays too.

Muskaan, of a pet grooming service, highlights how pet grooming has picked up pace in the last three years. Stylish haircuts like spikes and mohawks and body massages are popular.
The girl, who was brought to Delhi from Bihar, was 'beaten mercilessly leading to swelling in her eye and several marks on her body'.

New Dehi: An eight-year-old girl employed as a domestic help in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area was allegedly assaulted by her employers following which she was rescued by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

The minor girl, approached neighbours for help, who called up the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) helpline.

"The girl was brought from Bihar and made to work as a domestic help. Last evening the girl was beaten mercilessly leading to swelling in her eye and several marks on her body. The girl was so traumatised that she ran to a neighbour's house crying, who informed us," a DCW official said.

"The girl has been rescued and placed in a shelter home. Police is investigating the issue and we have been told that the employers are absconding. The victim's parents have been informed about the incident and they are coming from Bihar," he added.
The accused was arrested the next day and booked for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act.

New Delhi: A Class XII student was allegedly shot at outside south Delhi's Saket District Centre following a brawl in a pub, police said today.

The student, Ankit Meena had gone to the pub with his friends on Sunday. On the dance floor of the pub, when he was trying to get out, Ankit brushed past Bhanu who got angry, they said.

Bhanu allegedly got into a scuffle with him and later shot at Ankit while his friends had gone to get the car, police said.

The accused was arrested the next day and booked for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act, they said.

Ankit is a student of Government Boys School in J block area of Saket. His father has a furniture business while his mother is a homemaker, police said.
Dan Crawford | April 12, 2017 7:58 pm



by Barkley Rosser {originally published at Econospeak)

For the world as a whole and the US in particular, when it is put like that it is pretty obvious: China. It has the worlds largest population, largest economy in PPP terms, a rising military, expanding interests around the world, including making territorial demands on several neighbors, not to mention being a nuclear superpower as well as cyberpower, and more. Syria has a population of 22 million and an economy half the size of Puerto Ricos. It is not a major oil exporter.

However, last week it certainly looked like Syria was more important. President Trump meets with President Xi at Mar-a-Lago, and almost nothing is reported about the meeting other than some vague remarks. Important matters such as trade policy (the US has initiated an anti-dumping suit against China in steel), South China Sea issues, North Korea nuclear testing issues (US has just sent a major naval group towards the place), issues over currency management (with Trump long charging China with currency manipulation, even though it is now widely accepted that while they did it in the past the Chinese are not doing so now), climate change (where China is becoming world leader on the international policy stage while Trump claims that global warming is a Chinese hoax). They barely had a press conference, and what really went on in the meeting remains largely mysterious.

So, wow, much better to have the headlines and the commentaries taken up with the apparently one-shot firing of 59 Tomahawk missiles at a base in Syria, after apparently warning both the Russians and the Syrians we were going to do it, in response to a chemical attack in Syria that killed about 80 civilians, including some children. This was certainly a bad attack, but it remains unclear if it was the Syrian military or some rebel groups, although probably it was the government, and if it was the government, it is unclear if it was done by some local commander on his own or with the explicit orders of President Assad, and if the latter, was it done with the foreknowledge of their allies, the Russians, and most especially President Putin. The Russians and Iranians are claiming that the rebels did the chem weapons attacke and are denouncing the US attack. But who really knows? I sure as heck do not, and I am not sure anybody in the US government knows either, especially given the 25 reasons that have since been given for this by various administration officials.

There is also the weird matter that if it was the Syrian government, they probably did it in response to Trump declaring that we did not favor overthrowing Assad, which was previous US official policy, alhough in fact little had been done in a long time to do that, with the US effectively cooperating with the Russians and Syrians against Daesh/ISIS, if quietly and not fully.

So on the relation between this stuff and China, once Xi Jinping got home the Chinese media jumped all over Trump for the missile attack, saying almost certainly accurately that a major reason Trump did it was to distract people from all the investigations of his Russia ties. See? He is doing something Russia does not like, and Putin has announced no more cooperation on saying where planes are flying in Syria. Wow, what a great outcome. And that Xi appears not happy with Trump probably means that Trump was as unpleasant on trade to Xi in private as he was to Merkel in public, not to mention to the Mexicans. And we know Xi is not happy with this new naval maneuver with regard to North Korea. Indeed, some people think Trump did the missile attack to scare North Korea and China, although it is unclear Trump is really smart enough to think that one through. So for all the official happy talk, it looks like this very important meeting did not go well, although it is not clear that not having all those commentators praising Trump for being presidential while shooting off missiles in Syria would have helped on this more important matter of US-Chinese relations.

As a final point I want to remind people of something that I have seen zero commentators mention, even the astute Juan Cole who does at least note that what is going on in Syria looks like classic power politics not driven by economics. That is that the Russia-Syria alliance is a strategic and deep one. The only Russian naval base outside of Russia is at Tarsus in Syria, in Latakia Province where the ruling Alawis are dominant. It was rebel advances into that province threatening their base that led the Russians to engage in massive bombing raids to support the Assad government, and Cole does note that not using chemical weapons (which the Syrians were supposed to have gotten rid of) will mean they will bomb a lot instead, and horrible as chem weapons are, thousands of children were killed in the bombing in Aleppo. In any case, that naval base has been there since 1971 in Soviet times. This is a deep strategic relationship, and this must be kept in mind.
The book, titled Health and Physical Education, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

New Delhi: A day after a social media outrage broke over excerpts from a Class 12 textbook defining a perfect female body, Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday condemned the said definition as sexist. He has ordered action in the matter even as the private publisher has decided to stop the printing and sale of the book.

Excerpts from the Physical Education textbook, which went viral and irked negative reactions read, 36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration. Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum. The book, titled Health and Physical Education, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE. The text is unacceptable. I have instructed the officers to take appropriate action, Mr Javadekar said.

CBSE, however, clarified that it does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools. Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them.

The publishers also announced that they have stopped the printing, selling and distribution of the revised book with immediate effect.

We do review our books from time to time but some points have remained uncorrected due to an oversight and hence the book will again be reviewed by our editorial board and any inconsistencies found will be corrected, the publishers said.
The governments counsel said that she was unaware of the NGOs objections and sought time to file replies to the allegations.

Mumbai: Expressing concerns over malnutrition-related deaths in Melghat, activists complained to the Bombay high court that no action has been taken by authorities to curb the same among children aged 0-5 years in the region, despite giving presentations on the same to the court a couple of months back. The court has asked the authorities to submit reply within two weeks.

A division bench of Justices V.M. Kanade and C.V. Bhadang was hearing the public interest litigation filed by Dr Rajendra Burma regarding the plight of tribal areas where malnutrition deaths among infants was very high. The court had held a special hearing on March 1 wherein various government authorities and NGOs working in the area were present.

The authorities had made presentations on the measures taken to curb and address the malnutrition deaths issue. The court had asked the NGOs present, to file replies in light of the presentations.

On Wednesday, while referring to government statistics for the period of April 2016February 2017 of Melghat area, the NGOs pointed out that the number of deaths had risen contrary to the governments claims and the presentations were an eyewash.

Purnima Upadhay of NGO Khoj said, The statistics show that in 11 months the number of deaths in children in the age group of 0-5 is 485 while the number of still born cases are 172. These are statistics of Melghat alone, the number would be higher if one takes cases from other regions too.

She further pointed out that no official took the trouble to visit the affected areas and none of the assurances given to the court through the presentation were being implemented. She also informed that the government websites to address the malnutrition issue were non-functional.

The governments counsel said that she was unaware of the NGOs objections and sought time to file replies to the allegations. The court allowed the same and gave them two weeks keeping the matter for hearing on May 3.
The PACs report on the woman and child welfare department in the state was tabled in the House on April 7.

Activists have expressed fears that if the suggestion were to be included in the law, it would be misused widely and malpractices would increase.

Mumbai: Undeterred by the uproar cause by the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC) suggestion to make pre-natal sex determination and tracking of pregnant women mandatory, PAC chairman Gopaldas Agarwal has defended his panels controversial suggestion.

Mr Agarwal said, We have put a thought across the table for debate and discussion. If one wants to accept it, its okay; and if one wants to drop it, theres no issue. Our aim is to improve the child sex ratio in the state, and it has been proved that 1994s Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PcPNDT) Act has failed. Therefore, we all need to think out of box to find the solution to this problem.

The PACs report on the woman and child welfare department in the state was tabled in the House on April 7. Social and womens activists have slammed the suggestion, claiming it would weaken the cause. They said, instead, the PcPNDT Act must be strengthened.

However, buttressing his argument, Mr Agarwal said, The PcPNDT Act holds only doctors responsible. But it is the social responsibility of parents to save the girl child. Our suggestion could help create social awareness. If we start tracking pregnant woman with female foetuses along with the district health officer, the doctor and the woman concerned plus an NGO that is experienced in this field, it could improve the situation.

Activists have expressed fears that if the suggestion were to be included in the law, it would be misused widely and malpractices would increase.

According to Mr Agarwal, If we keep a watch on such women with this long chain of tracking, it will definitely put pressure on her and her family members.

He added that doctors would also be held responsible for their misdeeds.

I am not protecting doctors. They will be booked as per the law if they do anything illegal.

PAC guidelines are not mandatory for the House or while making or amending laws. But many a time, these suggestions are taken as guidelines. In this case, Mr Agarwal firmly said that he didnt feel it was wrong to make such suggestions. Everyone is free to speak. If the state government or legislative Houses thinks that our opinion is good, they can discuss and suggest amendments in the PcPNDT Act to the Centre. He added the panels was not the ultimate solution and the people concerned could some of their own to make a strong provision.
Florence Schechter is trying to raise the money through crowdfunding and other social media

The woman thought of the idea while she was research for a video on animal ideas and she didn't find information on vaginas in general. (Photo: Youtube)

Talking about orgasms has always been tough for women and not many are able to talk about everything related to the vagina too. Recently, a UK woman decided to do something about the lack of enough information about the vagina and is now on a mission to open the world's first vagina museum by crowdfunding for it.

According to a report in the Metro, Florence Schechter was troubled when she didnt find enough information on vaginas when she recently wanted to make a video on animal vaginas. The Youtuber then moved to check about vaginas in general but did not find much so she thought of making a vagina museum like they have one for penises in Iceland.

Florence has now launched a campaign to open the worlds first vagina museum that would educate people and celebrate it at the same time. The Youtuber now has a dedicated Instagram account for the cause and is hoping people would help her achieve the task of making the museum
Mobile network has not yet reached around 50,000 villages across the country, the government said today.

There are many locations in the Northeast, Naxal-hit states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep where mobile network has not reached yet, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in Lok Sabha.

"We have never claimed that mobile network has reached all over the country. There are around 50,000 villages where mobile network has not reached," he said.

The Minister said he has written to all states to inform his Ministry how many of the villages in their state the mobile network has not reached. Sinha said an ambitious project 'BharatNet' is being implemented for providing 100 mbps broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats, approximately 2,50,000, in the country.

The phase-I to connect 1,00,000 GPs is being implemented currently, he said.

"As on March 31, 2017, trenching and ducting has been completed for 11,294 km (4,780 GPs), Optical Fibre Cable has been laid for 12,172 km (4,213 GPs) and 443 GPs have been provided with broadband connectivity," he said.

Replying to a supplementary, the Minister said the problem of call drops has been resolved to a great extent and as per a survey of TRAI, the call drop situation has been improved by 60 per cent.

He said with the allocation of more spectrum through auction and installations of BTS (Base transceiver station) in more areas, call drop problem has been improving.

Replying to another question, Sinha said the government has no plans to offer shares of BSNL to its employees and the company is making operating profit in last two years after increasing the customer base.
Trump said Xi paused for 10 seconds and then asked the interpreter to say it again. I didnt think that was a good sign.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady in meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife (Photo: AP)

Washington: US President Donald Trump gave the order to strike Syria with dozens of cruise missiles during dessert with visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he said in an interview aired Wednesday.

We had finished dinner. Were now having dessert. And we had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that youve ever seen and President Xi was enjoying it, Trump told the Fox Business television network.

And I was given the message from the generals that the ships are locked and loaded, what do you do? Trump said. And we made a determination to do it, so the missiles were on the way.

And I said, Mr. President, let me explain something to you -- this was during dessert -- weve just fired 59 missiles. Trump said Xi paused for 10 seconds and then asked the interpreter to say it again. I didnt think that was a good sign.

But then, Trump said, Xi responded that anybody that was so brutal and uses gases to do that to young children and babies, its OK.... He was OK with it. He was OK.

Trump had been hosting Xi at his private Florida resort Mar-a-Lago on April 6. The US missiles struck a Syrian air base in retaliation for Syrias alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town, killing 87 civilians, many of them children.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Tuesday there was no doubt the Syrian regime was behind the chemical attack. But Russia, Syrias ally, disputes that, saying no evidence has been produced.

Trump, in his interview, said all 59 missiles fired hit their targets and called the display of military prowess unbelievable, amazing, incredible, brilliant and genius.

Trump regularly spends his weekends at his Mar-a-Lago resort, which his staff has nicknamed the Southern White House.
They feature Sikh families explaining how the world's fifth-largest religion aligns with American values

The ads, which will air in part on CNN and Fox News, make no mention of the more than 300 hate crimes (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

New York: Sikhs in the United States are launching a million-dollar awareness campaign that seeks to stop violent attacks against followers by explaining more about who they are and what they believe.

The "We are Sikhs" campaign set to launch Friday is funded by Sikh leaders who have become frustrated with attacks that have persisted since Sept. 11, 2001, from the angry and uninformed who see followers' beards and turbans and wrongly believe they are Muslims.

The ads, which will air in part on CNN and Fox News, make no mention of the more than 300 hate crimes reported by Sikhs in the US since the 2001 attacks.

Rather, they feature Sikh families explaining how the world's fifth-largest religion aligns with American values of tolerance, religious freedom and opportunity for all.
Monitoring group says Pyongyang may launch its sixth nuclear test, Kim oversees a special forces operation.

Washington: North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the 38 North monitoring group reported.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as primed and ready. Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggyeri nuclear test site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North portal, new activity in the main administrative area, and a few personnel around the sites command centre, the North Korea-related analysis website said.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said on Thursday. The Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim watched from an observation post as special forces dropped from light transport planes like hail and mercilessly blew up enemy targets.

The North has said it is ready for war with the US, while speculation is mounting that it might conduct a nuclear or missile test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said on Wednesday night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated on Saturday.

President Donald Trumps administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options on the table. The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week.

We are sending an armada. Very powerful, Mr Trump has said, referring to a strike group heading to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.
The statue of lady justice has ruffled feathers in the Muslim-majority nation with hardliners saying it is a Greek god.

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been accused of kowtowing to hardline Islamists after expressing dislike for a controversial statue that religious radicals want removed from the Supreme Court.

The statue of lady justice has ruffled feathers in the Muslim-majority nation, with hardliners staging massive protests in recent weeks against what they say is a Greek god unbefitting Bangladesh.

Protesters want the statue of the blindfolded woman holding scales, said to represent justice, destroyed and replaced with a Koran, despite Bangladeshs secular Constitution.

Ms Hasina, who had kept the furore at arms length, broke her silence late on Tuesday after inviting top Islamist leaders to her residence where she described the statue as ridiculous.

I dont like it myself. Its being called a Greek statue, but how did a Greek statue get here? she said in comments published in online news portal bdnews24.com.

Court officials have defended the statue as a symbol of justice while secular groups expressed dismay that Ms Hasina and the secular ruling party, the Awami League, was seemingly siding with hardliners on the issue.

The government and Awami Leagues kowtowing to this type of demand will be suicidal for Bangladesh, Shahriar Kabir, secretary of Bangladeshs leading secular rights group, said.

Ms Hasina also said on Tuesday her government would recognise degrees from hardline madrassas, paving the way for millions of religious scholars to qualify for jobs.
UN said at his daily briefing here in response to a question on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.

United Nations: Amid spiralling Indo-Pak tensions over the death sentence handed down by Pakistan to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, the UN on Thursday underlined the need for the two countries to engage in dialogue. However, the world body said it was not in a position to comment on Jadhavs case.

We are not in the position to judge the process, to have a position on this particular (Kulbhushan Jadhav) case, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his daily briefing here in response to a question on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.

Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue, Dujarric said.

His remarks come just days after Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa approved Jadhavs execution after a military court sentenced him to death for espionage and sabotage activities, evoking a sharp reaction from India which warned Islamabad to consider the consequences on bilateral ties if he is hanged.

Reacting strongly to Jadhavs sentencing, India has said that if the ruling was carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder.
Dina Ali had her passport confiscated, was gagged, tied with duct tape, wrapped in a sheet by two men at Manila airport in Philippines.

She claimed that her family wanted to kill her and that Philippines and Saudi governments violated human rights and international law. (Photo: Videograb)

A Saudi woman was gagged, tied with duct tape and wrapped in a sheet by two men at Manila airport in Philippines.

According to a report in The Australian, Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, trying to flee from her family in Saudi Arabia, landed in Manila early on Monday morning, from where she intended to go to Australia and seek asylum. She said she had also obtained a tourist visa in secrecy.

However, her passport, boarding pass and travel documents were confiscated by Philippines Airlines staff and they said that they had orders to not allow her to board her flight to Sydney.

She said in a video, They took me and locked me up for thirteen hours, just because Im a Saudi woman, with the co-operation of the Saudi embassy.

She claimed that her family wanted to kill her and that Philippines and Saudi governments violated human rights and international law. She alleged that they had confined her and treated her like a criminal.

Saudi Arabian women are not allowed to travel without approval from their male guardian, and Saudi embassies are known to assist families in tracking down women who have fled abroad, said the report.

A Canadian tourist Meagan Khan who came to help her at the airport was quoted as saying that Lasloom said her family, her uncles, are very strict and abusive to her, so she ran away.

Khan said Laslooms family forcibly asked her to choose between being a teacher or a slave - and so the victim worked as a teacher. But she was not allowed to leave the house without being escorted by a man.

Khan also lent her phone to the victim so that she could put up posts on Twitter. On Monday afternoon, two men accompanied by a woman from the Kuwaiti embassy approached Lasloom, who identified the men as her uncles and Saudi diplomats.

One of the men claimed he was her father but she angrily denied it and insisted that he was her uncle. The tearful victim kept saying, theyll kill me if I go back.

The police interviewed her before she asked for a lawyer. A local lawyer was hired for USD 1200, who Lasloom said was hired by her family so that it could be claimed that she had received legal representation.

Feminist activist Moudhi Aljohani said that police officers fooled Lasloom into moving to Terminal 1 where she was forcibly put on a Saudi Airlines flight. She screamed and physically resisted, attracting attention of other passengers. She alleged that her uncles had assaulted her in front of the Filipino officials.

It is believed that Lasloom has been detained with an Amnesty International representative, said the report.

Ex-Muslim activist Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, who has helped people flee Saudi Arabia, said that Lasloom did not explain her circumstances to him. But he said that most of the people who sought his help were either domestic violence victims, gay or had rejected Islam.

Abdulmohsen recollected an incident where one woman who attempted to flee to New Zealand last year, was nabbed in South East Asia and sent back to Saudi Arabia, where a male relative sexually abused her.
Words such as enemy and foreign spy agency by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and R&AW.

Islamabad: Pakistan claimed on Thursday "foreign spy agencies" may have "trapped" and then abducted one of its former army officers, who has mysteriously disappeared from a Nepalese town close to the Indian border.

Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him. "He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without naming any country.

But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Zahir, who retired from service in October 2014 from the artillery wing of the Pakistan Army, worked for a private firm but had posted his profile online seeking another employment.

A caller, who identified himself as Mark Thompson, had reportedly contacted Zahir - via email and telephone - for the job interview and he was provided an air ticket to travel to Nepal.

An initial probe by Pakistani security agencies has showed that a phone number registered in the UK was computer-generated to contact Zahir and emails and website domains were registered in India.

From Nepal, Zahir had contacted his family last Thursday and since his phone numbers could not be reached. His last message from Lumbini read he had reached his destination.

His disappearance has coincided with the death penalty handed down to former India naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani army court for his involvement in "terrorism and espionage". But Pakistan has repeatedly refused India any consular access to Jadhav.

The sentencing has evoked strong reactions from India, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying the country will go out of its way to secure Jadhav's release.

Today, Zakaria warned against linking Zahir's case with Jadhav's as the Indian national was an "irrefutable proof of Indian state's involvement in terrorism, subversion and terror financing."

"It would be unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Zahir," he said.

He said the "R&AW agent was arrested red-handed", who identified himself and has "confessed" in their custody.

The foreign office spokesperson also said four terrorists arrested by Sindh Rangers yesterday from Karachi have "confessed" to having "links" with the R&AW. "India remains involved in subversive and terrorist activities and terror financing in Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav is an irrefutable proof. The arrest of four terrorists by Sindh Rangers, yesterday, is also a case in point," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh [also] confessed to India's involvement in [then] East Pakistan in 1971," Zakaria said.

Zakaria condemned the killing of what he said were 14 Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the past one week. He said 250 others were also injured. He called upon the international community to help stop bloodshed in Kashmir.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Spiritual retreats are organised in preparation for the renewal of priestly promises. For Indonesias Catholics, seeing so many religious is a source of joy and curiosity. Catholics in Semarang, Malang and Bogor show enthusiasm.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  In what is becoming an annual tradition, priests gather during Holy Week across Indonesia for a two-day retreat with their bishop to prepare the renewal of their priestly vows during Mass Chrism.

In Jakarta, the ceremony falls on Holy Thursday. Other dioceses have already performed the solemn event in the past few days.

This morning, in the capital hundreds of priests and religious attended the Mass in the cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo.

In Semarang, more than 330 priests attended the Chrism Mass in the local cathedral on Tuesday, with great participation of the local community.

For Catholics in Indonesia, seeing so many religious together is always a source of joy and curiosity.

Fr Sukendar Wignyomartaya told AsiaNews that in anticipation of the service, the archdioceses priests took part in a retreat whose central theme was the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia.

"Spreading the Word of God in the contemporary social context" was the topic religious discussed in the diocese of Malang during their retreat, which also saw the presence of Mgr Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan.

In a brief statement to AsiaNews, the bishop expressed his joy for the enthusiasm with which priests and faithful attend the Chrism Mass in every diocese.

The diocese of Bogor, in West Java province, also organised two days of recollection. The main theme of our retreat was the fidelity of us priests to Jesus, the Church and humanity, Fr August Surianto Himawan told AsiaNews.
Some 128 are from the Vicariate of Phnom Penh, the others from the apostolic prefectures of Battambang and Kompong Cham. The new converts are mostly young adults with a Buddhist background. In Cambodia, MEP missionary notes that the Church promotes "integral evangelisation", which embraces people in "in all their dimensions".

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/EDA)  About 300 Cambodians will be baptised during Holy Week, joining Cambodias 23,000-strong Catholic community.

The ceremony will be held on the Easter Vigil, in each of the countrys three ecclesiastical districts: the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh and the apostolic prefectures of Battambang and Kompong Cham. In the vicariate alone, 128 people will be baptised in a festive service that will unite the whole community.

In the recent past, Easter celebrations have become particularly important in Cambodia. The first Mass celebrated after the years of war that devastated the country took place in 1990.

That "Easter Sunday Mass has remained in the memory of the faithful as the Resurrection Mass, said Fr Vincent Senechal, vicar general of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (Societe des missions etrangeres de Paris, MEP), who worked in Cambodia as a missionary from 2002 to 2016.

The main religion in the nation of 15.9 million inhabitants is Theravada Buddhism (96 per cent). By contrast, Catholics constitute only 0.2 per cent of the population, but their presence in the Southeast Asian nation dates back to the 16th century.

In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot perpetrated mass slaughter. This was followed by Vietnams domination (1979-1989). The result can be seen in the numbers: In 1970, there were 65,000 Catholics; in 1990, there were 5,000.

Relations with the authorities and the discreet but steady work of evangelisation of the missionaries have given a new impetus to the countrys Catholic community, which is getting ready to embrace hundreds of new believers.

In addition to 300 baptisms, the vitality of the local Church is reflected in the ongoing diocesan investigation on 35 martyrs killed under the bloody Maoist regime, in the ordination of new priests, like Fr Stephane Se Sat last December, and in the construction of new places of worship, like the Chapel of St Therese of the Child Jesus in Takeo, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh.

Local Church sources report that the new converts reflect the sociological reality of the country: they are young adults, mostly ethnic Khmer, from a Buddhist background, who heard about the Church through its presence in various social domains, in particular health care, education and vocational training.

As Fr Senechal noted, the Church in Cambodia promotes an "integral evangelisation, aimed at developing people in all of their dimensions: socio-economic, educational, professional, spiritual and family."

One of the Churchs initiatives of social entrepreneurship is the "Peace Village" set up in late 2015 by Mgr Olivier Schmitthaeusler, which allows disabled people and people living with AIDS to live alongside able-bodied people.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The desecration was discovered by a faithful who visited the church to pray. The case was registered against unknown persons. Christian Leaders condemns yet another act of intimidation against the Christian minority. "Clear indication of awakening sectarian strife".

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Unknown criminals have desecrated a cross in Santacruz West, an affluent suburb of Mumbai (Maharashtra). The desecration of the cross in the local church took place yesterday. A woman of 42 entered the place of worship around 7 in the morning to pray. She went to the altar and noted that the cross had been "decorated" with a garland of slippers. Speaking to AsiaNews, Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), condemns yet another act of intimidation against Christians that falls in a week, Holy Week, already marked by numerous incidents of violence and abuse against the minority and its sacred places.

The case was registered against unknown assailants at the local police station in accordance with sections 295 (damage or injuries to a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 427 (act of vandalism causing damage amounting 50 rupees) of the Indian penal Code.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Sajan K George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) said, "GCIC decries the desecration of the Holy Cross, which deeply wounds our Religious Sentiments especially during Holy Week, This is most shameful that a garland of slippers was put on the Sacred Corpus of Jesus Christ. In Indian traditions, flower garlands are used to venerate and honour and here the Sacred Body of Jesus was garlanded with slippers- this is a clear indication of rousing communal disharmony and wounding religious sentiments, and a move to incite the Christian people with this shameful act.

The president of the GCIC notes that what happened yesterday is the "second episode of desecration in the space of two months in Mumbai, after the decapitated statue of the Virgin in Kurla district". This is even more sad, he concludes, because "Mumbai is the financial and cosmopolitan capital, tolerant of all religions. Here it is really common to see people of all castes and faiths who flock to Marian shrines and bring offerings to the Virgin Mary like coconuts, flowers, candles, and more. So adorning the sacred body of Jesus with a garland of slippers is a malicious act intentionally done".
The Interior Ministry reveals the name of attacker, discovered through DNA. Mahmoud Abdallah Hasan Mubarak, already known to the authorities and on a list of "suspects on the run". Continuing investigations to identify even the suicide bomber in Tanta. Coptic Orthodox, Catholics and Anglicans celebrate low key Easter in sign of mourning for the victims.

Cairo (AsiaNews) - The Egyptian Ministry of the Interior has identified one of the suicide bombers who April 9 last struck the church of Tanta and Alessandria,causing 45 dead and over a hundred injured; the explosions were claimed by the Islamic State (IS), who also announced further violence against the Christian community.

In particular, the authorities have revealed the name of the aggressor that struck in Alexandria and assured "further efforts" to trace the suicide bomber who blew himself up in Tanta, during the celebration of Palm Sunday.

Ministry sources say that " tests carried out on the remains of the DNA [of the corpse] recovered on site" show that the author of the massacre at St. Mark's Church, in Alexandria, was Mahmoud Abdallah Hasan Mubarak. "He was born in 1986 in Qena, in the south, - says the source - and lived in the Suez province."

The identification would take place by comparing the DNA found at the scene with those of a list "of suspects on the run".

The alleged bomber was working for an oil company and was linked to a "terrorist network" attack against the Coptic Cathedral of St. Mark in Abassiya in Cairo last December. "The security services - concludes the ministerial source - continue their efforts to identify the suicide bomber who carried out the attack on the church of St. George in Tanta".

Meanwhile, the Christian community in Egypt, under a three month a state of emergency in accordance with provisions of President al-Sisi in response to the attacks, is preparing to celebrate a low key Easter in sign of mourning for the victims. Yesterday the Coptic Orthodox Church announced that there will only be celebrations on Easter Sunday, while all other rites will be cancelled. Similarly the Catholics and Anglicans have called off the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.

The Christian leaders explain that "considering the situation" all the festivities "were cancelled, with the exception of one celebration" of the Easter Mass. Easter will also be dedicated to the memory and prayer for the victims of the attacks. The traditional delivery of sweets to the children by the Copt Patriarch Tawadros II has also been cancelled.

As anticipated to AsiaNews by Fr. Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, the attacks have cast "a shadow" on Easter and stolen "the joy of the feast." However, Pope Francis has confirmed his visit later this month, hoping it will restore confidence and calm to the affected communities who fear "new attacks in the future .
The vote scheduled for May 19. Since 1979, the outgoing leader has always won a second term. Grand Ayatollah loyalist , Ebrahim Raisi, to challenge Rouhaniand as well as Hamid Baghaei, former number two of Ahmadinejad who has stunned everyone by announcing his candidacy. The challengers accuse Rouhani of undermining the economy. President responds with data indicating "progress."

Tehran (AsiaNews)  Irans presidential elections in scheduled for next May 19, sees the nations conservative wing - fragmented into factions often in opposition to each other - looking for a single candidate to beat outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani. A task is not easy since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 all of the Republic's leaders have been re-elected for a second term.

To avert the debacle of 2013, conservatives have relied on primaries, held on April 9, which have decreed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei loyalist Ebrahim Raisi as main challenger to Rouhanis. Called the "knight" of spiritual guidance and leader of Iran's Shiite establishment, he is a member of the hard-liners who oppose the current leadership. Raisi heads the powerful Astan Quds Razavi charitable foundation, is the guardian of the tomb of Imam Reza, one of the most important sites for Shiite pilgrims in Mashaad, North-east city and the birthplace of the presidential candidate.

In the recent past his name even had emerged as a potential replacement for the 77-year old ayatollah Khamenei. For this Raisi stalled before welcoming the nomination. A defeat in the presidential election, in fact, greatly reduces chances of seeking - in the future - the highest and most prestigious office in the country. His profile reassures conservatives and attracts the attention of the most "religious" voters, though his figure does not seem - for now - capable of securing a majority of the vote. Descending - so it is said - from the Prophet and depicted with his black turban, the 56 year old conservative leader has made a career in the judiciary to become, in 2014, the Attorney General of Iran.

Another possible challenger is the ultraconservative Hamid Baghaei, a close associate of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And Ahmadinejad is also back at the center of the political stage and announced yesterday, to everyone's amazement, his registration in the lists of candidates for president. In direct contravention to Khameneis instructions, "blocking" the race for the third term in view of this "divisive" figure, the leader of the ultraconservative has defined the words pronounced by the Supreme Leader "just a suggestion." He has the support of the most radical and extremist fringe of the Iranian leadership, which wants a "strong man" to contrast with Donald Trump.

Now it is up to the Council of Guardians of the Constitution to assess the applications and announce, on April 27, the official list of candidates.

However, rather than religious issues, Raisi and Baghei (and Ahmadinejad himself) intend to focus on issues like poverty and corruption to defeat Rouhani, accusing the incumbent president of having worsened the economic situation of the country. Even the nuclear deal, according to these critics, has not resulted in the much desired kick start to the economy compared to a partial abandonment of the nuclear program and "concessions" to the international community.

The economic issue will be central in the next election campaign, and it is no coincidence that, in these days, and even before announcing a candidacy, President Rouhani held a press conference in which he strongly defended the achievements under his mandate. Dismissing criticism from conservatives, the head of state talked about tangible improvements in the agriculture, health, energy and access to the Internet.

"In every element considered - said Rouhani - the figures show us that after [the nuclear deal] there is more space for movement and progress" in the economic field. The purchase of aircraft thanks to contracts with Boeing and Airbus will allow 4 billion dollars that the Iranians spend on travel to remain in the coffers of the country.

He did not spare harsh criticism of the United States for imposing sanctions on Iran, and having attacked an air base in Syria, one of the key allies of Tehran, in response to an alleged chemical attack by Damascus against rebels and jihadis in the province of Idlib. He called sanctions imposed by Donald Trump in the beginning of this mandate "unreasonable" and accused Washington of acting "as if it thought it were the leader of the world." Conversely, Rouhani held out his hand to the old regional rival, Saudi Arabia, stressing that Tehran is "ready to improve relations" with Riyadh, if " attacks stopped" in neighboring Yemen.
China abstains with Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. Bolivia votes with Russia. Trump calls Assad "a butcher" and "animal". Lavrov recalls US failures in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. Journalist Rober Perry, chemical attack launched from Saudi-Israeli base in Jordan. Pat Buchanan: The 400 thousand deaths in Syria are everyones responsibility.

New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution criticizing the Syrian government for the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun (Idlib). The resolution demands the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation by providing information on its military activities on the day of the attack, the names of the squadrons commanders, and access to air bases.

The resolution, proposed by the US, Britain and France, had 10 votes in favor, two against (Russia and Bolivia), three abstentions (China, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia). A few hours earlier, US President Donald Trump had called his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad "a butcher" and an "animal".

Western governments immediately attributed responsibility for the gassing to Syria. It gave Trump the opportunity to make a radical U-turn in his Middle East and international policy.

In addition to Syria, this change in course has also affected Russia. From a possible partner in the fight against terrorism, Trump now sees relations with Moscow as "at the lowest level."

Similar concepts were used yesterday by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after his meeting, which lasted six hours, with Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov. At the press conference that followed, Tillerson reiterated condemnation of Assad and his exclusion from the future of Syria.

Lavrov warned against hasty conclusions, recalling US policy failures in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. And with regards Iraq, he also recalled the "charade" of false accusations on the possession of weapons of mass destruction that were never found, but were the pretext for the invasion of the country.

To show Moscow's willingness to dialogue, Lavrov said that Russia will resume the agreement for the prevention of aircraft accidents in the Syrian sky - stopped after the US attack on the Sharyat air base - and Putin met Tillerson for two hours, in a visit that was not previously announced.

The Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack continues to be subject to the most varied hypotheses and readings. For the US there is "evidence" that the raid was carried out by the Syrian air force. But at Moscow's request to publish proof, Washington says it cannot for security reasons.

According to sources quoted by US journalist Robert Perry, the raid was actually launched from Jordan, as a base for special operations where Saudis and Israelis work to support the Syrian rebels. The incident was specially designed to force a change by the Trump administration following the March declaration that the White House no longer sought the removal of Assad.

Pat Buchanan, a Republican, and former White House counsel, questions whether the US president does not want to drag the country into a war against Assad and his allies in Syria. "This gas attack [Chemical]  he adds - is an atrocity ... The civil war in Syria has caused 400 thousand deaths. Were they all killed by the Assad army? Of course not, but also by aircraft and by US drones, by the Russians, the Israelis, Turks, and then again by the Kurds, the Iranians, Hezbollah, al Qaeda, by the Islamic state and the rebels supported by the United States. "
Francis celebrated the Mass for the Lord's Supper in the Paliano prison, near Frosinone. The "pope stands in for Jesus and I would like to do the same as He did." Francis performed the rite of "washing of the feet" with 12 of the facilitys 70 inmates, ten Italians, an Argentine and an Albanian.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The "Washing of the Feet" on Holy Thursday "is not a folk ceremony" but a gesture to remember what Jesus did, to remember that "God loves us to the end", despite our sins, said Pope Francis during the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the prison of Paliano, near Frosinone, south of Rome.

The Holy Father told the 70 inmates, especially those who turned states evidence, that, as Jesus teaches us, the pope is the first called to "serve" in order to "sow love."

Francis commented He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end, a passage in the Gospel that recounts the Last Supper. The Lord, he said, knew he was going to betrayed, and that Judas was going to hand him over, but he loved to the end and gave his life "for each of us."

"Loving to the end is not easy, because we are all sinners, we all have limits, defects, so many things, and, yes, we all know love, but we are not like God who loves without looking at the consequences, to the end. He is an example. And to show this, He who was 'the leader, who was God, washed the feet of his disciples."

Washing the feet, the pope said, "was a custom performed before the midday and evening meals" because people got their feet dirty from walking. "But slaves performed this," Francis noted. Jesus "overturned" this rule and did it himself. Speaking to Simon Peter, who did not want to let Jesus do it, he said "that He had come into the world to serve, to serve us, to be a slave to us, to give his life for us, to love to the end."

"Today, as I was coming, and when I arrived, people greeted me. 'The pope is coming, the leader. The head of the Church . . . '. The head of the Church is Jesus, right! Lets not joke about it. But the pope stands in for Jesus and I would like to do the same as He did. In this ceremony, the priest washes the feet of the faithful: he overturns [the positions]. Whoever seems the greatest has to do slave labour, in order to sow love, to sow love among us."

Francis asked the inmates to help each other, to perform "a service" for one another "because this is love, this is like washing the feet. It is serving others." Once, Francis said, "the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, the most important." Jesus told them that "the one who wants to be important, must be the smallest and the servant of everyone." This, he added, is what God does with us. God "serves us; he is the Servant."

"All of us are poor souls! But He is big, He is good. And He loves us the way we are. Therefore, during this ceremony, let us think about God, about Jesus. This is not a folk ceremony. It is a gesture to remember what Jesus gave. After this, he took the bread and gave us His Body; [then] he took the wine, and gave us His blood. And so is Gods love. Let us think about God's love, today only."

Afterwards Francis proceeded to perform the rite of the "washing of the feet" to 12 of the 70 detainees, ten Italians, an Argentine and an Albanian. They included three women and a Muslim who will be baptised in June. Paliano is a special prison. It is the only correctional facility in Italy reserved for people who turn states evidence. Two prisoners are purging a life sentence, whilst the others can expect to be freed between 2019 and 2073.
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The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age  You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. People, mostly women have refused to let people know their real age, despite being public figures. The few ...

Demystifying Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Biography, Husband & Education Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and actress. As a seasoned Nigerian writer, she has been called the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. She has been making Nigeria proud in the global scene ...

Wole Soyinka  Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Quick Facts Professor Wole Soyinka, a great and brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The name, Wole Soyinka, is a household name both in Africa and beyond especially in the field of literature. With over 50 pieces of work, his writing includes poems, novels, memoirs ...

5 Most Vulgar Kenyan Radio Presenters It appears being vulgar is the real deal nowadays especially for the fact that the world is becoming more exposed and civilized. Sadly, but true, young people are constantly being exposed to images, discussions, and content that most people would deem detrimental to the African culture and moral statutes. This is because most of us ...

6 Sexiest News Anchors In Kenya Some news anchors have been stealing eyes every time they appear on-screen. Most of us hardly concentrate on the programme they present as our entire focus is usually on their striking physique and beautiful faces. It is common knowledge that Kenyan women are amazingly beautiful. From the celebrities to the everyday woman, they are all in ...

Interesting Oprah Winfrey Quotes To Keep You Motivated Oprah Winfrey is one of the worlds most powerful women in the media and business sectors. Her life is the typical success story that motivates and lifts ones morale. One amazing thing about this media mogul is her sincerity about past hurts, mistakes, healing, and success. The renowned talk show host and media personality is the first ...

Chinua Albert Achebe Biography- Family, Net Worth & Death Chinua Albert Achebe, of blessed memory, was a Nigerian prolific author best known for his inventive style of writing and simplicity of expressions. Famed as one of the finest writers Nigeria has ever produced, Achebe lived and died an international hero and a literary giant, who left behind unforgettable legacies and footprints in the sands of ...

Steve Harvey  His Wife, Kids & Height Steve Harvey is an American comedian, actor, radio and TV show host, producer and an author of different relationship advice books. Steve Harveys Early Life Born in Welch, West Virginia, on January 17, 1957, as Broderick Stephen Harvey, Steve was the last of five children. His family relocated to Cleveland when he was young and there, he attended Glenville High School from ...

Intriguing Things You Should Know About Danny Kokers Rise to Fame and Who His Wife Is Danny Koker is popular as the star of the History Channel reality TV series, Counting Cars. Prior to him appearing on the show, the TV personality was a musician who had embarked on a number of national tours with his rock group, Counts 77. He and his group have released quite a number of songs ...

Fun Facts You Didnt Know About Andy Cohens Rise to Prominence and His Partner Andy Cohen is one of Americas top media personalities who gained prominence after helping to bring the Bravo network back to life. He also hosted a couple of shows on the network, including the popular nightly series Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. After rising to the position of head of production and development at ...

Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent  and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ...

Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ...

Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife  and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ...

What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ...

Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ...

Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ...

Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ...

Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ...

Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ...

What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ...

Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ...

How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ...

Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina  American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ...

Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ...

Team Valor Pokemon Go  7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go  The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ...

Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...

Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

Natasha Bertrand Biography  Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...

What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner  Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...

Nikki Mudarris  Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...

5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...

Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ...

Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ...

Tati Westbrook Bio  Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ...

Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ...

Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ...

Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ...

The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ...

Lisa Joyners Biography  Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ...

Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ...

Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ...

Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! The couple, who began dating in 2013 and have a son named York Banks Asla, has decided to end what everybody taught was the perfect relationship. Neither person has come out to give a reason for the breakup, but what is obvious right now is that ...

What to Note About Dr Terry Dubrows Qualifications, TV Works and Marriage to Heather Kent In the realm of people that we expect to see regularly on our screens, medical doctors are closer to the bottom of the list. Aside from the fact that their work has little correlation with TV, they are presumably too busy to pursue life as TV personalities. Yet, a few of them have usurped this ...

Jessica Goch  Bio: 5 Things You Didnt Know About Ninjas Wife Jessica Goch is the Schofield-born American Social Media Influencer who has worked as a model but is now better known as a host and interviewer of prominent Electronic sports celebrities at popular gaming events/tournaments. The screen queen also serves as the manager of her famous husband Ninja aka Tyler Blevins whose exploits on Twitch and Fortnite has ...

CNNs Chris Cuomo Biography  Wife, Family & Net worth Chris Cuomo needs no elaborate introduction as he has starred graced many prominent Television cable networks and his voice has been heard through acknowledged radio shows. He is a television journalist and Lawyer who has previously worked for ABC News as Chief law and justice correspondent as well as a co-anchor on 20/20. If you still ...

Neil deGrasse Tyson  Family, Religion & Net Worth Neil deGrasse Tyson is a distinguished American astrophysicist and author who has been able to achieve so much after falling in love with astronomy at the age of 9. He has since attended and become an alumnus of prestigious universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and also recorded numerous achievements in his field of ...

Is Simon Cowell Gay? Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend and Why is He Famous? Simon Cowell is a well-known talent show judge, TV producer, entrepreneur and one of the most popular TV personalities that Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his company, Syco, Cowell is the brain behind hugely successful talent hunt shows such as The X-Factor UK, The X-Factor US, Britains Got Talent, Americas Got Talent and ...

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! For close to four decades, Jansing has continued to soar in her ...

Jaclyn Glenn Biography  Age, Height & Ex-Boyfriend American Youtuber, Jaclyn Glenn, rose to prominence through her self-titled YouTube channel Jaclyn Glenn. She has remained an acclaimed atheist and continues to air her views on hot issues from politics, religion, animal rights, to atheism. During the heated 2016 US Presidential elections, Glenn featured in Hump Trump: Official Donald Trump Song. Her parallel acting career ...

Is Pat Sajak Married to a Wife or is He Gay With a Partner? Pat Sajak is one of the most popular TV game show hosts in America. He commenced his career as a radio disk jockey as well as a TV weatherman before being tapped to host Wheel of Fortune, the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States. Sajak has hosted the popular game show from 1983 ...

Nayyera Haqs Bio  What To Know About Her Husband, Parents And Family Nayyera Haq can take anyone on political debates as well as discussions on social issues affecting many. Her ability to masterfully deliver her stance on every issue or political debate has made her a regular face in morning and evening news media platforms. This is not a common feat especially for someone from her kind ...

Inside Guy Fieris Family With Wife, Kids and Sister Who Died of Cancer Over the years we have seen men dominate the kitchen and churn out amazing delicacies from it. Some do it way better than their female counterparts and one of such men is Guy Ramsay Fieri  an American TV host, celebrity chef, restaurant owner, bestselling author of four culinary books, and game show host. His ...

Meet Phil Mudd of CNN  The Former CIA and FBI Exec, Is He Married, Who Is The Wife? When it comes to discussing issues surrounding terrorism, American Counterterrorism and National Security Expert, Phil Mudd, occupies a globally significant position. He has voiced his interest in the fight against terrorism and insecurity on many popular media platforms, both print and broadcast, such as CNN, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, ABC, NBC, Fox, The New York Times, ...

Jim Hoffer: Biography, Wife  Mika Brzezinski, Children and Net Worth Jim Hoffer is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works as an investigative reporter for Eyewitness News, New York City. In his over two decades of investigative journalism, Hoffer has been at the front lines of several crucial stories from the 9/11 attack to the crash of American Flight 587 to the 2003 Blackout. On top of ...

The Ups and Downs of Erin Mcpikes Journalism Career and Other Facts About Her Personal Life Erin McPike is a journalist working for the Independent Journal Review (IJR) as a White House Correspondent but she gained widespread recognition for her coverage of general news. Whether its breaking news or some mainstream story, McPike has a reputation of baring the facts. As a journalist, her work as a White House Correspondent for Independent ...

Bert Kreischer Is Married To LeeAnn Kreischer With 2 Kids  Meet His Family Those familiar with Bert Kreischer mainly have the image of a large-bellied party man whose college life inspired the National Lampoon film, Van Wilder. It is an image that one would not naturally associate with a wholesome family. The standup comedian still maintains his wild party animal image on stage. But, back at home, he is ...

How Brendan Greene Became a Game Designer to Look Out For and Facts About His Failed Marriage The name Brendan Greene may not easily ring a bell in the larger society but for gaming enthusiasts, he is considered a god and this is because of his invention of the video game, Player Unknowns Battlegrounds, also called PUBG. Based on the popular last-man-standing/battle royale concept, Greenes creation has taken the gaming world by ...

WFAAs Sonia Azad Bio  Does The Reporter Have A Husband Or Boyfriend? Emmy Award-winning journalist and Health & Wellness reporter Sonia Azad is on the news segment News 8 Daybreak for the television station WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, a channel which she joined in October of 2015. Besides her time on the news, Azad is also a marathon runner and a certified yoga instructor. She has covered major news ...

This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ...

Understanding The Enigma That Is Gavin McInnes, The Controversies He Has Stirred and All About His Wife Gavin McInnes is a polemical English-born writer and TV personality, who is best known for his racist and fascist ideologies, as well as his co-ownership of Vice Media and Vice Magazine. He is also an actor a
HopgoodGanim has launched a new patents practice, its first non-legal service offering, tapping a veteran of Australias mining, energy, and minerals sector to oversee the new unit.The new director, who cannot be named yet due to contractual matters, is said to have vast international and patent prosecution experience and a background in metallurgical and mechanical engineering and minerals processing. He will be working closely with partner Hayden Delaney, who oversees the firms intellectual property law team.Hes a person Ive been working with for a number of years. I know him very well. Hes already been working closely with a number of our clients at the firm and its great to be able to have him as part of the firm and as part of the team so that together, we can offer our clients a full suite of IP services, Delaney said.Unlike most law firms and competitors in the space, we integrate a patent-attorney practice with an IP law practice, enabling us to service our clients needs from every aspect of the IP life cycle through from IP protection, patent prosecution, [and] trademark prosecution through to IP commercialisation, complicated licensing transactions, he said. And finally, if you need us, we have a capable set of IP litigators who are there to enforce and protect your IP assets when you need it most, he said.HopgoodGanim said that the new practice and the new appointment reflect client demand for more than just legal advice. Though the patents practice is the first non-legal offering of the firm, it has already been expanding business advisory services for some time, said Bruce Humphrys, HopgoodGanim managing partner.Delaney said that he personally appreciates the chance to work with clients from product concept to launching in the market.Personally, its very fulfilling as a commercial lawyer to be able to work closely with a client from the very early stages of a product idea or invention, through to seeing that idea come to fruition on the open market and to then be a part of that process to protect their intellectual property, he said.He said that the new practice allows them to cater to clients who may be avoiding conflicts of interest.Given the current market where a large number of patent attorney firms are consolidating and listing on the ASX, we know that clients are looking for independent firms which are not impacted by perception of conflict that can occur within consolidated groups, Delaney said.
International law firm DLA Piper has closed its office in Canberra according to a news report.The firm has quit the Australian capital amid partner exits including office managing partner Anthony Willis who joined Maddocks in February.The report from The Lawyer says that the firms government clients in Canberra will be serviced by co-managing partners in Australia, Jim Holding and Melinda Upton , from the remaining offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.The latest round of promotions as Clyde & Co has added nine lawyers to the partnership, almost half of them in Asia Pacific.In Perth, Tim Searle becomes a partner in the insurance practice; insurance saw the lions share of promotions across the firms global offices.Kevin Martin is promoted in Hong Kong and China to corporate and insurance partner; Leon Alexander will become partner in trade & commodities/marine in Singapore; and Dennis Wong is promoted to partner in Hong Kong & Chinas projects & construction team.The Vietnamese-born doctor who has made headlines around the world after being dragged off an over-booked aircraft is to sue the airline.David Dao has hired two attorneys; one specialising in personal injury claims against airlines, and a corporate law specialist.The case is likely to focus on two key elements.Firstly, whether United Airlines had a legal right to remove Mr Dao; reports suggest that while the terms of carriage allow for denial of boarding, it does not allow for removal from the aircraft except for certain circumstances.Secondly, the amount of force used will be a key part of the damages that are sought.
The number of skilled occupations open to people from abroad wanting to make a new life in the state of Western Australia are set to be cut drastically.The state's current skilled migration occupation list has been closed while a review is undertaken. Western Australia's new Premier Mark McGowan said he will limit the number of jobs available to foreign workers.McGowan has written to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull requesting that the city of Perth be removed from the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme [RSMS] which offers foreign workers a path to Australian permanent residency.Under RSMS if a foreign worker is offered a full time job by their sponsor where there is deemed to be a genuine need for skilled overseas employees they can gain residency and almost 5,000 were hired under the scheme in the 2015/2016 financial year.McGowan confirmed that the review of the current list of 160 occupations where the state needs skilled foreign workers will be subject to extensive cutbacks to the number of professions on it.It is thought that engineers, electricians, bricklayers, nurses, and mechanics could be taken off the list, which has not been updated since 2014.'Obviously we need skilled doctors, we need haematologists, we even need pastry chefs. But some of those other occupations obviously should be removed. We need the list to reflect the reality that tens of thousands of West Australians are now out of work,' he said.'This is about putting West Australian jobs first, it is about making sure West Australians get the opportunities for jobs in our state,' he added.He has the backing of Labour Party leader Bill Shorten who pointed out that a changing economy meant it was time to tighten temporary work programmes. 'Perth's inclusion in the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme reflected the huge demand for workers during the peak of the mining boom. Those times have passed and it's time it changed,' he explained.However, previous state Premier Colin Barnett is against the changes and said that the overhaul pf the list would deprive regional areas in particular of specialists such as doctors.He claimed that the number of people arriving in Western Australia from overseas was typically only about 1,000 a year and the new policy would mean turning away people who could became valuable Australian citizens.
The number of people visiting Australia in the 12 months to February 2017 increased by 10% compared with the same month last year, the latest figures show.But while the country remains ever popular there was a fall of 2.1% in the numbers visiting in the month of February with 780,100 doing so and officials have taken steps to keep encouraging people to visit Australia.Some $5 million is being made available to the tourism sector in Queensland which has recently been affected by Cyclone Debbie to make sure all facilities are ready for new visitors.Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo said that the message is that this part of Australia is open for business and pledged funds to mend damaged infrastructure.Funds will also be spent on marketing Queensland abroad in conjunction with Tourism Australia and with money from the Queensland Government a total of 10 million will be spent overall.With 8.35 million visitor arrivals in the 12 months to the end of February 2017, Australia wants to continue to attract a high number of people. A breakdown of the figures show that those arriving for a holiday were up 16.8% year on year and business visitors increased by 2.5%.Students increased by 11% to 549,700 over the same period, while those arriving to work fell by 2% to 300,900.While more visitors are expected from China, there is a new direct air route from Melbourne and Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam launching next month. Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Keith Pitt, said that the flights will boost tourism and business opportunities in both countries.The Jetstar Australia flights will begin in May 2017, operating four times weekly from Sydney and three times weekly from Melbourne, subject to regulatory approval.Pitt explained that the routes will build the rapidly growing Vietnamese tourism market, which has seen a 21% increase in Vietnamese visitors to Australia in the past 12 months.Tourism is a $120 billion a year industry employing about one in 12 Australians and accounting for 10.9% of Australia's exports and Australia is also a leading destination for Vietnamese students abroad.'Vietnam is Australia's fourth-largest international education market and we want our universities to remain a preferred choice for Vietnamese students,' Pitt added.Pitt has recently attended the Executive Education and Training Showcase, involving 15 Australian education and training institutions, highlighting the potential for Australian education providers to deliver tailored education products and services in Vietnam.
dazbuster said: Hi all, so yesterday my wifes 309 visa sponsorship was finally approved and she must leave australia for decision.

Any idea how long the decision takes once she has left?

She leaves next saturday to thailand to wait to return ..... Click to expand...

Ours (a PMV, but similar) was done the next working day, after leaving Australia.I emailed the immigration office from the airport, after passing Passport control, to say we had left. But it was after 6pm on a Friday. ( I was hoping to get a message back before the flight took off, so we could turn around immediatelyBut we got it on the Monday.It seems most are a day or two, but some do take a lot longer.We originally gave Immigration details of our departing flight and return flight into Australia 7 days later, and asked if that would be sufficient, they only said ".".
Highlighting the rapid growth of Armenias information technology (IT) sector, an Armenian software company has attracted $5 million in funding from private investors in the United States.

Founded by three Armenian IT engineers and an Armenian-American finance specialist in 2013, the company, Teamable, develops special software used by businesses for hiring skilled workers. It allows them to look for and identify potential employees through their social media accounts.

Teamable currently employs 36 people working at its offices in Yerevan and San Francisco. Most of them are software engineers based in the Armenian capital.

The company announced on Wednesday that two U.S venture capital firms, True Ventures and SaaStr Fund, will invest $5 million in its operations.

Vazgen Hakobjanyan, one of the companys founders, said on Thursday that the funding will result in many jobs and new opportunities in the sector. The company has already had stable revenue for the last two years, he told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). This business model has been tested and is working.

Teamable already has over 50 corporate clients, among them the U.S. taxi network Lyft, the online payments operator Stripe and the Chinese-American Internet service provider Baidu.

What sets Teamable apart is that our smart algorithms surface candidates based on the unique qualities and needs of each company, rather than keyword searches that yield candidate pools that are too general to be useful to recruiters, the companys Armenian-American chief executive and co-founder, Laura Bilazarian, was quoted by VentureBeat.com as saying.

Hakobjanyan stressed the importance of Diaspora Armenian involvement in the local tech industry. Armenia has strong software developers, an open culture, an energetic generation [of young people] that wants to achieve big things, and a Diaspora, he said. We can achieve wonderful results if we use it correctly.

This is why we are saying [to the Diaspora] come here not to give us money but to do business with us and it usually works, added Hakobjanyan.

IT is the fastest growing sector of Armenias economy, having expanded by over 20 percent annually for over a decade. Around 15,000 people currently work for 450 or so IT firms operating in the country. Officials in Yerevan say they generated more than 4 percent of Gross Domestic Product last year.

The Armenian IT industry is dominated by subsidiaries of U.S. tech giants like Synopsis, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics and VMware. The sectors expansion is also increasingly driven by homegrown Armenian companies like Teamable. More than 300 of them have reportedly been set up since 2007.

The most successful of these startups is PicsArt, one of the worlds leading mobile photo editing and sharing applications. The company now employs over 350 people in Armenia and boasts 90 million active monthly users worldwide.

Like Teamable, PicsArt has an office in San Francisco mainly dealing with sales, marketing and investor relations. It raised $15 million in venture capital funding in 2015 and another $20 million in 2016. Another Armenian software firm, CodeFights, attracted $10 million last year.

Industry executives say that the inadequate professional level of many graduates of IT departments of Armenia universities hampers even faster growth. According to their estimates, there are between 2,000 and 4,000 job vacancies in the sector at present.

In January this year, a team of government officials and IT executives proposed a wide-ranging reform of engineering education in Armenia aimed at addressing this personnel shortage. Prime Minister Karen Karapetian welcomed their plan.
13 April 2017 17:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

A group of Armenian women, wearing black clothes, had gathered outside the Government Building in Yerevan on April 13, protesting against the soldier deaths.



The mothers of five Armenian soldiers, who were killed in non-combat conditions in different years, demanded the government to find out the real reasons of the deaths of their sons in the army.



They demanded the government to punish those responsible for the death of their children, Armenian media report.

Mothers complained that neither Armenias Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan nor President Serzh Sargsyan received them so that they could demand answer from them.

[Defense Minister] Vigen Sargsyan says he is incompetent. I asked him about the murders, he said he is not competent. But why does he sit in the chair of Defense Minister then?, asked Irina Ghazaryan, whose son Arthur died in non-combat conditions. She added that Vigen Sargsyan should apologize.

Recently, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office informed that this year six soldiers died in non-combat conditions in the Armenian Armed Forces since the beginning of 2017. Two deaths were caused by murders, two soldiers died of accidents, one committed suicide, and another one died of health problems.

The statistics of non-combat losses of the Armenian Armed Forces continues to grow steadily. Armenian media state that a total of 206 deaths were recorded in the Armenian army from 2010 to 2015, and a considerable part of them, 48, were suicides, while 43 were murders.

As for 2016, a total of 162 deaths were registered in the Armenian Armed Forces, including 51 cases in non-combat conditions.

Frequent death cases, violence, brutality, and non-obedience reign in the army of the Former Soviet republic. The government is faced with protests and disagreements among people who are unwilling to do their military service.

Armenian parents are afraid of sending their sons to Army and therefore try to find any opportunity to keep their sons far from that horror. Many youth flee abroad so that not to serve in the army.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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13 April 2017 14:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Joseph S. Nye

I frequently travel overseas, and invariably my foreign friends ask, with varying degrees of bewilderment: What in the world is going on in your country? Here is what I say.

First, do not misinterpret the 2016 election. Contrary to some commentary, the American political system has not been swept away by a wave of populism. True, we have a long history of rebelling against elites. Donald Trump tapped into a tradition associated with leaders like Andrew Jackson and William Jennings Bryan in the nineteenth century and Huey Long and George Wallace in the twentieth century.

And yet Trump lost the popular vote by nearly three million. He won the election by appealing to populist resentment in three Rust Belt states  Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin  that had previously voted Democratic. If a hundred thousand votes had been cast differently in those states, Trump would have lost the Electoral College and the presidency.

That said, Trumps victory points to a real problem of growing social and regional inequality in the United States. J.D. Vances recent best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy compellingly describes the vast difference between California and Appalachia.

Research by the Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton shows that the demographic trends among lower-income whites without a college degree are worse than those for African-Americans, who historically anchored the lower extremes of inequality. In 1999, mortality rates among whites with no college were around 30% lower than those of African-Americans; by 2015, they were 30% higher.

Moreover, manufacturing employment, once a prime source of high-paying jobs for working-class whites, has fallen sharply over the last generation, to just 12% of the workforce. These previously Democratic voters were attracted by Trumps promises to shake things up and bring back manufacturing jobs. Ironically, Trumps efforts to repeal President Barack Obamas health-care legislation would make their lives worse.

The second thing I tell my foreign friends is not to underestimate Trumps communications skills. Many are offended by his tweet storms and outrageous disregard for facts. But Trump is a veteran of reality television, where he learned that the key to success is to monopolize viewers attention, and that the way to do that is with extreme statements, not careful regard for the truth.

Twitter helps him to set the agenda and distract his critics. What offends commentators in the media and academia does not bother his supporters. But as he turns from his permanent self-centered campaigning to trying to govern, Twitter becomes a two-edged sword that deters needed allies.

Third, I tell my friends not to expect normal behavior. Normally, a president who loses the popular vote moves to the political center to attract additional support. This is what George W. Bush did successfully in 2001. Trump, by contrasts, proclaims that he won the popular vote and, acting as though he really did, appeals to his base voters.

While Trump has made solid centrist appointments to the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security, his picks for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services are from the extremes of the Republican Party. His White House staff is divided between pragmatists and ideologues, and he caters to both.

Fourth, no one should underestimate US institutions. Sometimes my friends talk as though the sky is falling and ask if Trump is as dangerous a narcissist as Mussolini. I tell them not to panic. The US, for all its problems, is not Italy in 1922. Our national political elites are often polarized; but so were Americas founders.

In designing the US Constitution, the founders goal was not to ensure harmonious government, but to constrain political power with a system of checks and balances that made it difficult to exercise. The joke goes that the founders created a political system that made it impossible for King George to rule over us  or for anyone to ever do so. Inefficiency was placed in the service of liberty.

It is still early in the Trump presidency, and we cannot be sure what might happen after, say, a major terrorist attack. So far, however, the courts, the Congress, and the states have checked and balanced the administration, as Madison intended. And the permanent civil servants in the executive departments add ballast.

Finally, my friends ask what all of this means for American foreign policy and the liberal international order led by the US since 1945. Frankly, I dont know, but I worry less about the rise of China than the rise of Trump.

While American leaders, including Obama, have complained about free riders, the US has long taken the lead in providing key global public goods: security, a stable international reserve currency, relatively open markets, and stewardship of the Earths commons. Despite the US-led international orders problems, the world has prospered and poverty has been reduced under it. But one cannot be sure it will continue. The US will need to cooperate with China, Europe, Japan, and others to manage transnational problems.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump was the first major party candidate in 70 years to call the American alliance system into question. Since taking office in January, statements by Trump and his appointees suggest that it is likely to persist. American hard and soft power, after all, stems largely from the fact that the US has 60 allies (while China has only a few).

But the stability of the multilateral institutions that help manage the world economy and global commons is more uncertain. Trumps budget director speaks of a hard-power budget, with funds cut from the State Department and the United Nations system. Other officials advocate replacing multilateral trade deals with fair and balanced bilateral arrangements. And Trump is repudiating Obamas efforts to address climate change. I tell my friends I wish I could reassure them on these issues. But I cannot.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: What I Tell My Non-American Friends

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13 April 2017 17:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan regards the UAE as one of its most important partners in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

"The UAE is one of the most important partners of Azerbaijan in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region," said Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UAE, Dashgin Shikarov.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is the most important partner of the Emirates in the Caucasus, he added.

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE, especially their political component, are at a high level: relations between these countries are based on multi-vector cooperation taking into account mutual interests. The two nations see rapidly increasing economic cooperation and are keen to promote tourism.

Frequent visits of the leaders of two countries significantly strengthened the political ties between the countries, at the same time stimulated the growth of economic interaction, particularly in the field of tourism.

The tourism has become popular recently between the countries thanks to facilitation of visa regime for the UAE citizens. President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on simplifying the visa regime for citizens and residents of the UAE.

The overall trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE for the past two or three years amounted to approximately $70 million. Mainly Azerbaijan imports goods from the UAE, which are, in fact, re-exported from other countries. It is mostly metallurgical and chemical products, textiles, building materials, tobacco products, household equipment. Azerbaijan mainly exports to the UAE fruits, juices, nuts, metal semi-finished products and so on.

Realizing the strategy of development of the non-oil sector, trade mission have been established in the UAE, as well as in other countries, to promote the brand "Made in Azerbaijan". That enabled Azerbaijan to supply 200 tons of apples and a container of pomegranate juice to the UAE. The sides also reached an agreement to export honey, meat, mineral water, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables to Dubai.

Earlier UAE Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori noted on the eve of the sixth meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic, commercial and technical cooperation, which will be held on April 20 in Abu Dhabi, the economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UAE does not reflect the existing potential between the two countries.

According to the minister, during the meeting the parties will discuss the possibilities of strengthening cooperation in the spheres of energy, environment and natural resources.

Such meetings are a good platform for the development of bilateral economic ties, investments and trade at a level that justifies the expectations of the heads of the states, he said.

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Azerbaijan will start large-scale exercises on April 16 to inspect the combat readiness, organization of command and control of troops and means, including their interoperability in a combat simulated environment, Trend reported.

April 13, 2017, 17:29 Azerbaijan to start large-scale exercises

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: The exercises will involve 30,000 military personnel, more than 250 tanks and armored vehicles, up to 200 missiles and artillery systems of different calibres, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, 25 combat aircrafts of various purposes, as well as new types of electronic warfare assets and unmanned aerial vehicles. The drills will last until April 21.
13 April 2017 14:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan plans to open trading houses in the United Arab Emirates and China, said Sahil Babayev.



The Deputy Minister of Economy announced about this while addressing the 4th International Caspian Energy Forum Baku 2017 on April 12.

He stressed that Azerbaijan has already opened such a trade house in Belarus, and the work is underway to open trading houses in Russia and Ukraine.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a relevant decree on January 26, and endorsed the economy minister to appoint trade representatives to the countrys diplomatic missions abroad and open trade houses in foreign countries to facilitate the export process, promote an export of competitive Azerbaijani production and enable the countries to expand trade operations.

Trade representatives will take measures to expand Azerbaijan`s economic and trade relations with foreign countries, protect economic interests of Azerbaijan, increase export of Azerbaijani goods and services, promote Azerbaijans business environment and investment opportunities.

Babayev said that in the first quarter of 2017, Azerbaijan's exports increased by 50 percent, while non-oil exports saw a 32.5 growth, and agricultural exports rose by 44 percent, and exports of industrial products increased by 25 percent.

The Trade House of Azerbaijan passed a state registration in Belarus on February 21.

The Minsk City Executive Committee registered the Trade House, which will support the promotion of Azerbaijani goods under the Made in Azerbaijan brand in Belarus, and engage in marketing research, participation in exhibitions and other activities related to the promotion of Azerbaijani goods.

The entity in Belarus became the first Trade House established as part of the state policy to encourage export of Azerbaijani production.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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13 April 2017 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Russian and Azerbaijani entrepreneurs enjoy effective and fruitful cooperation which was highlighted at a meeting with local entrepreneurs that is taking place in Baku on April 13.

Russian companies willingly participate in a variety of oil and gas projects, as Azerbaijan proved to be a reliable partner.

Professionalism, qualifications, technologies and opportunities that exist in Azerbaijan allow implementing the most complex and ambitious projects here, according to Alexander Kaznacheev, the first vice-president of Russian Gazprombank.

"It's a special pride for us to tell you about the business with the [Azerbaijani state oil company] SOCAR. Relationships were built for years, now we can say that we have made a unique project called SOCAR Polymer," he stated at the meeting.

The experience that the bank acquired in Azerbaijan allows us to say that we can invest in this country, Kaznacheev said.

Kaznacheev noted that one of such projects is our next SOCAR GPC project, which is deemed to mark the beginning of a new era in development of Azerbaijans petrochemical industry and turn the country into a major player in the industry.

SOCAR launched the GPC project worth $4 billion to maximize added value of the upstream-midstream-downstream oil and gas chain and create a cutting-edge standard processing industry in Azerbaijan. The Dutch ING Bank, the State Development Bank of China as well as the Russian Gazprombank act as financial consultants to SOCAR GPC.

Azerbaijan is seen as an advantageous investment destination for many as REC  a joint stock company specialized in export transactions, providing consultations on issues related to exports, assistance in organizing exports, providing financial and non-financial support, and interacting with relevant ministries and agencies  is considering a number of projects with the country.

A member of the board, managing director for client work and underwriting of Exar JSC Nikita Gusakov, in his turn, noted that the Russian Export Center (REC) supported export to Azerbaijan for about $500 million.

"Azerbaijan is a strategic market for Russian companies, and it has always been a country of special focus for us. We have quite large projects planned, including a joint one with Gazprombank," he said.

Currently, REC is considering 10 more projects on financial support worth over $460 million and 15 projects on non-financial support, according to Gusakov.

The largest export project of the REC in Azerbaijan, as he noted, is the support of supplies for the Azerbaijani Railways CJSC with track equipment worth $231 million.

Other projects include support for the export of metallurgical products worth $40 million, food products ($2 million), animal and vegetable products ($18 million), radio electronics and electrical equipment ($115 million), ground transportation ($19 million) and others.

Gusakov mentioned that the company develops the network of trading houses and currently we have four trading houses in different countries, while several more are functioning on the basis of trade missions of the Russian Federation."

This year REC plans to open four or five trading houses in various countries including Azerbaijan, according to Gusakov.

"The trading house is a platform that entrepreneurs can use to sell their goods. In Azerbaijan we basically aim at working with small and medium-sized enterprises," he said.

At the same time, he added that, for the REC, the trading house in Azerbaijan will be the first one in the South Caucasus.

Russian-Azerbaijani partnership is regarded as an important factor of regional stability.

Azerbaijan ranks fifth in Russia's foreign trade with the CIS countries (following Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan). At the same time, Russia is also considered to be a leading importer of Azerbaijani goods.

Today, more than 600 companies with Russian capital operate in Azerbaijan. About $3 billion of the Russian investments were invested in economy of Azerbaijan, while the share of the Azerbaijani investments in the Russian economy constitutes $1 billion.

The overall trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia in 2016 amounted to $2 billion.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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13 April 2017 18:08 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 727.1 million manats ($437 million) to depositors of Parabank, Zaminbank, Dekabank, Kredobank, Caucasus Development Bank, Atrabank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Gandjabank, Texnikabank and Bank Standard, which were closed in 2016.

Banks Volume of paid compensations (million manats) Volume of paid compensation out of the total volume (pct) Bank Standard 436,613 99 Zaminbank 54,566 75 Dekabank 3,087 98,7 Kredobank 27,771 99,9 Caucasus Development Bank 1,974 94,4 Atrabank 14,28 98,1 Bank of Azerbaijan 24,161 97 Gandjabank 0,976 94 Texnikabank 120,433 98,2 Parabank 43,199 98,5

The licenses of all the banks were revoked in 2016, as their assets were not classified in line with the law, and they didnt create adequate reserves and their aggregate capital did not meet the minimum requirements.

Some 32 banks are currently implementing their activities in the country.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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13 April 2017 10:03 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Representation of the EU together with the embassies of European countries will celebrate Day of Europe in the southern region of Azerbaijan -- Lankaran on May 6 and 7.

The program of the Day of Europe provides for a lot of interesting cultural events, including an exhibition, concerts and movies that will introduce the inhabitants of this region to European culture.

In addition, next year the EU office planned to implement a number of economic projects in Lankaran, therefore, it is not an accident that the event is held there.

The diplomatic mission also plans to launch a website that disseminates information about the culture and way of life of Europeans. The portal will not contain any information of a political nature. The future resource is aimed at making the European culture and values more recognizable in Azerbaijan.

Lankaran is among the brightest and most beautiful regions of the country. Exquisite architecture, wonderful climate and magnificent landscapes are the hallmarks of the region.

The region occupies the east coast of the Caspian Sea and whole Lankaran lowlands up to Talysh Mountains. On the local shore of the Caspian Sea there are many fine sand beaches. Wet subtropical climate without harsh winters, dry and hot summer and rainy autumn underlie the richness of the local flora and fauna.

Agriculture is the most developed sector here, while the fertile soil of the region is ideal for growing citrus fruits, rice, grapes, tobacco and tea-growing. The region is a home of Azerbaijan's first tea plant, built in 1937.

Another attraction of the city is the lighthouse of the 18th century. Once the Caspian Sea level was much higher, the water came up to the lighthouse. Gradually, the coastline retreated, and now you should move almost half a kilometer from the lighthouse to the sea.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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13 April 2017 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Switzerland very strongly supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group for peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Philipp Stalder told Trend.

We think that both conflicting sides should sit down at the negotiation table and hold meaningful peace negotiations in a more structured way, the ambassador said. Of course, any conflict has negative impact on the neighboring countries and the whole region and that is, unfortunately, also the case for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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13 April 2017 11:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Russias Embassy in Baku continues to monitor the situation with Russian citizen Alexander Lapshin, detained in Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on April 12.

Blogger Lapshin, who owns citizenship of several countries, will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Zakharova said that the period of investigation of Lapshins case has been extended to July 15.

No complaints have been received from Lapshin regarding the detention conditions. Lapshins medical examination has been conducted at the request of the Embassy, and we keep control on the situation, said Zakharova.

The blogger illegally visited Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied lands and now is charged under the articles 281.2 (appeals directed against state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He violated Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.

Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016.

As for Marat Ueldanov, Zakharova said that on March 28, the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan sent a note to the Foreign Ministry with a request to conduct a medical examination of Ueldanov.

The Russian citizen of Armenian origin, Marat Ueldanov, was arrested in early June 2016 in Azerbaijan on charges under the article on illegal acquisition, production, storage and distribution of narcotic drugs on a large scale.

The Embassy is in constant contact with lawyers and relatives of the detained citizens, Zakharova said.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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13 April 2017 11:15 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan has particular role in enhancing intercultural dialogue, said Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier as he met the country`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Davor Ivo Stier expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations between the states, stressing the importance of cooperation in energy sector, Azertac reported.

On cooperation in energy field, Mammadyarov provided insight into the TAP project. The FM said there are wide opportunities for cooperation in economic field.

The minister thanked the Croatian Government for support to Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity and sovereignty and the country`s stand regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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13 April 2017 10:52 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has stated that the country has been a reliable EU partner and has demonstrated a strong political will to develop relationship with EU based on mutual respect, equal partnership and common interests.

The minister made the remark as he addressed a meeting of Foreign Ministers of Visegrad (V4) Group and Eastern Partnership countries, the Foreign Ministry reported.

The minister noted that this traditional format is an excellent opportunity to review state of play on our cooperation, as well as to deliberate on ways and means for further synergy.

We welcome the EUs commitment in the Global Strategy for the EUs Foreign and Security Policy, adopted in 2016,that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states, the inviolability of borders and peaceful settlement of disputes are key elements of the European security order and these principles apply to all states, both within and beyond the EUs borders.

Recent visit of President of Azerbaijan to Brussels in February opened a new chapter in bilateral ties with official launching of negotiations process on a new bilateral document, said.

Mammadyarov emphasized that Azerbaijan is entering into negotiation process with strong belief that the new and ambitious agreement will upgrade the ties to a level of strategic partnership and would meet the needs and the priorities of the parties in the changing political and security environment.

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.

Mammadyarov went on to say that strategic partnership in the field of energy remains the cornerstone of the Baku-Brussels cooperation.

The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is a unique project of energy security and diversification with right balance of interests between producers, transit countries and consumers. Strong political support for timely implementation of SGC has been once again expressed during the 3rd Meeting of SGC Advisory Council, recently hosted by Azerbaijan and attended by high level dignitaries from SGC countries, partner states and European Commission, he said.

Mammadyarov continued: We are willing to enhance our dialogue in other areas of common interest, inter alia, connectivity, environment, education, tourism, culture and mobility, as well as people-to-people contact, support for small and medium enterprises.

Due to its strategic role of a natural bridge between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan has always been an active participant and key enabler of regional and trans-regional connectivity initiatives. Today Azerbaijan has involved in implementation of three major projects to promote East-West and North-South corridors, so called geographical crossroad.

Launch of the strategic Baku  Tbilisi  Kars project (BTK), railroad connection between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey will facilitate regional trade and uninterrupted railway access between East and West. We expect that the project will be completed this year. With improving cost and time performance of shipments between Asia and Europe BTK will be a strong alternative to current routes.

The minister reminded that in 2016 there was launched the first container train starting from China crossing Central Asia, Caspian Sea further to Azerbaijan and Georgia with destination to Europe. This test train proved that this route can reduce the transit period from 30-35 to 15 days.

Azerbaijan is also embarking on another remarkable project - construction of a new Baku International Sea Trade Port (Alat)  the biggest and multi-purpose port in the Caspian Sea with potential capacity of handling 25 million tons of cargo annually. Standing at the intersection of railroad connections to Europe, Russia and Iran, and in close proximity to Baku airport the Alat Port will allow seamless connection to regional hinterland and air cargo, as well as cost effective rail ferry access to other Caspian Sea ports, the minister said.

Ministerial Declaration on Developing the external dimension of the TEN-T adopted last summer in Rotterdam provides solid platform to enhance our transport dialogue. We welcome the inclusion of the Azerbaijani part of the East-West corridor, both road and rail, into TEN-T core networks, as well as inclusion of the North-South corridor into TEN-T comprehensive networks, he said.

Mammadyarov further said that future of EaP strongly depends on lasting security, peace and stability in the region suffered from conflicts. We believe that timely and active role to be played by the EU is important for stability and development in our region, he added.

He said Azerbaijan is interested in a negotiated settlement of the conflict and roadmap based on principles of international law. Particularly, as it is enshrined in the Global Strategy for the EUs Foreign and Security Policy-2016.

However, the country keeps all rights to restore its violated territorial integrity by all possible means in its disposal if already decades-old negotiations do not yield any results, Mammadyarov said.

Te minister said that the April events of 2016 and the most recent provocation taken place in the line of contact on February 25, 2017 proved the fragility of the situation of no war, no peace.

Despite above-mentioned concerns and against the backdrop of geopolitical and security changes and challenges in the EU neighborhood, strengthening dialogue with the EU is among our priorities. Over the recent years bilateral and multilateral tracks of the EaP proved to be useful instruments in sharing experience and exchange of best practices with European partners.

At the end of April we are embarking on negotiations with EU on a new bilateral Agreement. It is a must for Azerbaijan that the new Agreement clearly reflects EU`s support for and respect to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

The respect to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as well as to other countries of EaP, is not only the issue for us; it is also the matter for the EU, and crucial for development of the region, Mammadyarov added.

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13 April 2017 11:11 (UTC+04:00)

Leadership of the "G. S. Rakovski" National Defence College of the Republic of Bulgaria arrived in Azerbaijan.

During the meetings held at the Armed Forces Military Academy, relations of the two countries in the field of military science and education, including the expansion of cooperation between the academies, as well as the implementation of joint projects were discussed, Azertac reported.

Head of the Military Academy, Lieutenant General Heydar Piriyev comprehensively informed the Bulgarian delegation about the activities, structure, international relations as well as the material and technical base of the Academy.

Speaking about the importance of developing relations between the two educational institutions, Major General Grudi Angelov, the head of the "G. S. Rakovski" National Defence College, noted that ties with the Azerbaijan are successfully developing in all areas of military science and education.

The sides also signed a document on cooperation between military academies in the field of scientific research, exchange of experience, joint activities, organization of training and other issues of mutual interest.

Then the Bulgarian delegation visited the Azerbaijan Higher Military School named after Heydar Aliyev for closer acquaintance with the development of the military education system in Azerbaijan.

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13 April 2017 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and the U.S. celebrated the 25th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations with a solemn event at the International Mugham Center in Baku on April 12.



A special exhibition organized at the Center featured the history of bilateral ties between the two countries.

U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta, addressing the event, spoke of the history of these relations, noting his country was one of the first to recognize Azerbaijans independence.



Cekuta said over the past 25 years, the U.S. provided over $1.3 billion as assistance to Azerbaijan.

This is a humanitarian assistance to help farmers, to help develop new industries, to help develop new companies and new businesses, noted the ambassador.

The important thing about the relationship between Azerbaijan and the U.S. has been the people and what they have done together to build a strong relationship, as well as to help make Azerbaijan a strong, prosperous, democratic, independent country, added Cekuta.

The diplomat said that during the 25-year period, over 6,000 Azerbaijanis have studied in the US and also Americans have come to Azerbaijan to study and work at universities.

Along with this, U.S. education specialists, teachers and professors assisted Azerbaijanis in various educational institutions in Azerbaijan, he noted.

The ambassador also said the U.S. has been supporting Azerbaijan in diversification of its energy supplies.

We have continued working with Azerbaijan over 25 years and discussing the energy projects to move them forward. These projects are very important for European energy security and global energy security, added Cekuta.

In turn, Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev expressed congratulations on behalf of the Azerbaijani government, noting the two countries are reliable partners and successfully cooperate also in the humanitarian sphere.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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I attended the government primary school but absconded when Fr Theis started Mariant Catholic Mission primary school near my village of Kondo. I didnt like walking to Kandep every morning in the cold with barely any clothing covering my body. Fr Theis was my teacher at Mariant.

The other was American missionary, Fr Jerry Gerald Theis SVD (pictured), who established the first mission station at at Pindak village, later moving to the present location at Mariant in Kandep.

One was Jim Fenton, an Australian. He was the patrol officer who in 1960established Kandep patrol post in what is now Enga Province.

Fr Theis and Jim Fenton are two people mentioned in my book, I Can See My Country Clearly Now. They were the first to bring change to my backward people. I was privileged to meet Jim Fenton in Brisbane last year when I attended the Brisbane Writers Festival.

In 2013, at age 81, Fr Theis came to Mariant from Mt Hagen where he lived to celebrate his Golden Jubilee with my people  50 years spreading the word of God.

I missed that special occasion but my family was there to participate in the festivities which lasted three days.

I want to share with PNG Attitude readers the Easter Message Fr Theis sent me a couple days ago.

Fr Theiss Easter Message We are a bit early in exchanging our greetings. Thank you for news from my 'home' in Kandep. How have you been keeping? I hope that many people are clinging to the world view of Jesus Christ and not that of tribalism and politics. Our USA culture 'stinks' these days and so I am still preaching Christ crucified, died, buried and risen. The mention of your sibling, Clara, brought back many memories. How is she? How is her life today? Of course I still remember Agnes Maiapu and the 'boys'. Give my greetings to all your family and all the members of Kondo and surrounding tribes. Ask them to be forgiving of any harm I may have unknowingly caused in my youth and inexperience; pray for me a sinner. [Signed] Fr Jerry Theis SVD (the 'J' in my formal name stands for Joseph. 'Jerry' is what my family and friends call me)

On behalf of my family, I wish Fr Theis SVD a Happy Easter. The photograph here is of him as a young man with his parents before travelling to Papua New Guinea.

I thank him for starting the new mission school near my village. I dont know what I would be doing today if Fr Theis hadnt guided me along the path when I took those first uncertain steps to receive an education. Me, a boy straight from the village.

No, Father, nobody holds any grudges against you. You opened their eyes and years to the outside world. You showed my people a new way of life. Your good name still lives among them.

Of eight students you taught, one became a lawyer, one a high school headmaster, another a primary school headmaster, another a DPI Officer, another trained to be a surveyor but instead became a church pastor. The only girl, Agnes is a retired primary school teacher. And me? A radio broadcaster and journalist.

Thank you, Fr Theis. God will continue to bless you and keep you in good health to celebrate more Easters to come.
13 April 2017 15:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group countries called for further progress in the ongoing process of negotiations with Azerbaijan over new framework agreement with the EU, according to the joint statement of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries following the April 12 meeting in Warsaw, Poland.

The ministers reaffirmed their strong support to the Eastern Partnership as a strategic dimension of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and a key and active factor of stability and economic progress in Eastern Europe.

They also called on EU institutions for appropriate steps to keep Eastern Partnership high on the EUs agenda according to the EU Global Strategy and ENP Review, the statement said.

The ministers recognized the wish of Azerbaijan to continue visa liberalization dialogue and expect further steps in that direction, according to the statement.

The Visegrad Group, also called the Visegrad Four, or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states  Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia  for the purposes of furthering their European integration, as well as for advancing military, economic and energy cooperation with one another.

The first meeting on a new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan was held in Brussels on February 7, 2017.

The next round of negotiations on a new agreement on strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union will be held in Baku on April 25.

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.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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13 April 2017 18:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

The fourth meeting of the joint commission on demarcation of the state borderbetween Azerbaijan and Russia is being held in Baku on Thursday.

The Azerbaijani delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister, Chairman of the State Commission on demarcation of state border between Azerbaijan and Russia Khalaf Khalafov, while the Russian delegation is led by Vadim Viktorovich Postnov, Co-Chair of the Azerbaijan-Russia Joint Commission on Demarcation.

The event brings together members of state commissions, government officials and experts of both countries, as well as heads of border districts.

The meeting which is to last until April 17 is focused on determination of the state border line on the area with the designation of special border marks in the Azerbaijani-Russian state border, as well as the work carried out to date.

Azerbaijan is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south and has an 11 km border with Turkey in the south west.

AzerbaijanRussia border is 390 km in length. The boundary is set by the contract signed in Baku on October 3, 2010.

The border demarcation between Azerbaijan and Russia is carried out in accordance with the agreement on the delimitation [determination of the general position and direction of the state border between neighboring states through negotiations] of borders by the parties. Russia remains at the moment the only neighboring country with which Azerbaijan has fully completed the process of delimitation.

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13 April 2017 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan's Armed Forces will conduct large-scale exercises on April 16-21, Defense Ministry reported on April 13.

The Armed Forces will conduct military maneuvers in order to inspect combat readiness, organisation of command and control of troops and means, including their interoperability in a combat simulated environment.

The exercises will be held in accordance with the plan approved by the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev.

Defense Ministry noted that the exercises will involve 30,000 military personnel, more than 250 tanks and armored vehicles, up to 200 missiles and artillery systems of different calibers, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, 25 combat aircrafts of various purposes, as well as new types of electronic warfare assets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

During the maneuvers, Azerbaijan's Armed Forces will exercise different methods of modern combined arms operations in difficult terrain conditions.

The scenario of the exercises will cover the disposition of command and control posts to a theatre of operations, deployment of mobilized resources to designated areas, establishment of strike groups and their application on designated directions, transferring of combat aviation to alternative airfields, as well as movement of rocket and artillery troops into reserve firing and starting positions.

The Azerbaijani Army, which today is considered the most modern army in the Caucasus, consists of Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the Navy, and the Land Forces.

Today, Azerbaijani Army is one of the most powerful, highly disciplined armies in the world and the leading in the region, which is equipped with modern military machinery.

The skills and combat readiness of the Azerbaijani army are growing year by year, as the countrys Armed Forces regularly conduct military exercises. The army building process in Azerbaijan is progressing as well.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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13 April 2017 10:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held a joint news conference following bilateral discussions in Moscow on Wednesday, April 12, Sputnik reported.

Lavrov reiterated Moscow's calll for an "independent and thorough investigation" in both Idlib and Sha'irat incidents. "We have other affects available to us, and we are not trying to impose anything on anyone" but Moscow doesn't believe it is fair or just to place all blame on Damascus prior to an objective probe of the chemical attack. Lavrov expressed that a UN security council resolution would be counterproductive and may only legitimize accusations against Damascus. On April 14, Moscow will host Afghanistan, central Asian nations for a summit, and Lavrov has an extended an invitation to the US to allow their representation at the summit.

Lavrov and Tillerson discussed the "special responsibility" Moscow and Washington bear for maintaining "strategic stability." This will include "business-like, pragmatic" discussions on arms reductions, Lavrov said. Business interests in both nations want to reverse the trend of negative relations between Moscow and Washington, he added.

"On the whole, we all realize the current situation is far from easy, and the international situation is far from easy," and that other parties may want to try and take advantage of these tensions. "We are open to this dialogue..and not just dialogue, but [to] working together," in areas of mutual interest. "We understand each other bettter after today's talks," Lavrov noted.

"There's a low level of trust between our two countries," Tillerson began his remarks. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said. He then stated Moscow and Washington should end tit-for-tat strategies which can provoke tensions. Moscow and Washington have agreed to create a working group dedicated toward solving low-level problems. "We both believe in a stable and unified Syria," the US diplomat said.

Tillerson said Washington's belief that Assad planned and executed a chemical attack is "conclusive" and said it is not the first time Damascus has used chemical warfare since 2011. Lavrov disagreed: "Russia insists on an objective investigation." There is "no proof" that Washington's account of what happened in Idlib is true, Lavrov said.

"They have brought this on themselves," Tillerson said of international pressure against Assad. "We think its important that Assad's departure is done in an orderly way," he added. "the final outcome in our view does not provide a role for Assad or the Assad family. We will not accept that, we don't believe the world will accept that," Tillerson said. Lavrov said the US and Moscow are not "world's apart" on many issues, as one reporter had suggested. "We need to learn the lessons of the past, otherwise we cannot be successful in the present," he said.

For instance, in Yugoslavia, NATO "launched war" to bomb presidential areas, the Chinese embassy, and when they finally ran out ammunition, they went to the UN Security Council. "Many of these actions were in violation of the Geneva convention," Lavrov said. Similarly, in Iraq, "all the pretexts" the US used for invading the country, such as WMDs, "were fake." In Libya, an international coalition that ousted former dictator Muammar Gaddafi has not produced an positive example that might be followed for a regime change operation.

"The very statehood of Libya is even in danger right now," the Russian foreign minister pointed out. Moscow knows the "obsession" with overthrowing a dictator, Lavrov said. "We've seen all that and we all know how it's going to end."

Tillerson said cybertools have "emerged" to influence elections as well as interfere with the software systems relied on by weapons systems. "I can only confirm that we are interested in having close cooperation on cybercrime," Lavrov stated.

"We discussed no further sanctions" based on recent events in Ukraine, Tillerson said. "He did not make any threats in our discussions today," Lavrov confirmed. The Russian diplomat said he is not interested in hypothetical and speculative scenarios in Syria, but that "we want to establish truth." "There is a presumption of innocence" in Syria, Lavrov said.

Lavrov said that he had requested evidence that Russia interfered with the US elections, but that he has seen nothing resembling fact.

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13 April 2017 15:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamilla Aliyeva

The U.S. and Russia, trying to reduce rapidly rising tensions amid situation in Syria, have clashed over a range of issues, especially the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, during a daylong visit by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Moscow on April 12 which included the talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting, during which a number of topical issues like Syria, Ukraine, Korea and issues of bilateral relations were discussed, lasted for about five hours.

Before the beginning of the meeting, Lavrov stressed that Moscow had accumulated a lot of questions on the recent statements of the United States, which relate to bilateral relations and international problems.

Earlier both countries expressed their readiness to cooperate with each other on a constructive and equal basis.

Lavrov also called Tillerson's visit "timely", as it provides an opportunity "to frankly and honestly try to clarify the prospects for cooperation on all issues, primarily on the formation of a broad anti-terrorist front."

The U.S. Secretary of State, for his part, expressed the hope that this meeting with Lavrov would help Moscow and Washington to establish an open dialogue and would "explain and express those points" in which the positions of Russia and the U.S. diverge.

Following this meeting, Tillerson held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin.

At a joint news conference after a meeting with Putin, the two sides summed up the results of the talks in Moscow.

"The talks turned out to be thorough, frank, covering the whole range of issues that are key for our bilateral relations, for interaction on international affairs," Lavrov said at a news conference.

"We reaffirmed our common commitment to an uncompromising fight against international terrorism," he said, noting that several times the leaders of Russia and the United States discussed the topic on the phone.

The history has proved, when Moscow and Washington cooperate, not only our nations win, but the whole world, according to Russian Minister.

Tillerson stated that relations between Moscow and Washington are "at a low point" and marked by serious distrust. He noted that the sides agreed that there should be more high-level communication between U.S. and Russia, both at the diplomatic and military level.

Lavrov said that Moscow and Washington will appoint special representatives to uncover "irritants in relations" without emotions.

Moreover, Moscow and Washington have agreed on the need for the United Nations to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Lavrov also expressed Russias view that there is no need for a U.N. Security Council resolution on the attack until the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog has completed an objective probe.

Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's position once again that the Syrian government wasn't responsible for the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in northern Syria. He also warned against an international effort to remove Syrian President Bashar Assad from power as it would profit the Islamic State group. Lavrov cited the Western experience in Iraq and Libya to argue that the ouster of autocratic rulers by external forces leads to chaos. He insisted that Russia wasn't holding on to Assad, but supports dialogue between various Syrian factions to determine the country's future and to preserve it as a united, secular state.

However, Tillerson stressed that Washington believes that Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family would not be able to participate in the future governance of Syria, but the departure of Assad should be "orderly." He added that enough evidence to bring war crime charges against Assad may be collected over time, but there was not enough proof at the moment.

Both sides agreed to continue consultations on Syrias future. The Russian foreign minister also expressed concern that Washington appeared to protect the terrorists of the Jabhat Fatah al Sham (formerly known as Nusra Front) group (outlawed in Russia) active in Syria, in order to try to overthrow Assads government by force.

In connection to that, Putin said, as quoted by Lavrov, that Russia was ready to return to the suspended memorandum of understanding on preventing aerial incidents in Syria, if the United States confirmed that their goal there was to fight the terrorists of Daesh (banned in Russia), the Nusra Front and other terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is "not getting along with Russia at all" and relations between the two global powers are at an "all-time low." Trump said in a White House news conference that he's hopeful he can improve relations with Putin but "we're going to see what happens."

According to some experts, this meeting was used by two sides to reassert their firm stances on Syria rather than coming to a common compromise. There were only a handful of issues Tillerson and Lavrov said they broadly agreed on  that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized, that Syria should be unified and stable after the Islamic State is defeated, and that there should be more communication between U.S. and Russian diplomats and militaries. Russian experts also put a strong emphasis on Tillerson's meeting with Russian leader as they predicted that this meeting would happen only if Tillerson and Lavrov found some common ground.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
13 April 2017 16:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Kazakhstan hopes for facilitation of the visa regime with the countries of the European Union.

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced about this in a message released following a meeting of Kazakh FM Kairat Abdrakhmanov with a German Bundestag delegation.

The delegation was led by the head of the Germany-Central Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Manfred Grund.

Abdrakhmanov stressed the need for further expansion of people-to-people contacts between Germany and Kazakhstan, and the EU and Kazakhstan in general, noting that Kazakhstan is taking serious steps to this end.

Previously, Kazakhstan introduced a visa-free regime for the OECD and EU nationals, holding any passport type, for a stay for a period of up to 30 days. Astana is also taking other measures to facilitate visits of foreign investors, business delegations and tourists to the country.

Kazakhstan is improving the standards in the sphere of control of citizens documents, the country does not pose a risk of migration, and therefore counts on counter-steps from the European side to facilitate the visa regime for Kazakh citizens visits to the Schengen Area, which will correspond to the agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU, the Foreign Ministry said.

The European Union and Kazakhstan signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) in Astana on December 21, 2015. This agreement, which constitutes the first of its kind signed by the EU with one of its Central Asian partners, elevates relations between the EU and Kazakhstan to a new level.

In 1991- 2014 the EU funded more than 350 projects in Kazakhstan for the total amount of 180 million euros, which have been allocated to policy advice and technical assistance to various ministries, agencies and committees of the government of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has not received any new bilateral assistance from the EU since 2014. Nevertheless, since 2014 Kazakhstan participates in European Unions regional Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) program for the Central Asia for 2014-2020.

The program envisages projects in five Central Asian countries with a total budget of 245 million euros.

The EU will launch 9 new projects worth almost 3.76 million euros in Kazakhstan in 2017 in the sphere of juridical reform, democracy and human rights, NGO and local public administration.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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13 April 2017 16:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

China has urged all parties, particularly the United States and Russia, to increase communication and coordination to avoid clashes in dealing with the Syrian crisis, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said

"A political solution is the only to deal with the Syria issue," Wang said on April 13, Xinuanet reported.

The statement came after Russia vetoed a UN resolution drafted by the United Kingdom, France and the United States demanding a speedy investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian province of Idlib on April 4.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said that the draft pre-judged the Syrian government as responsible for the attack.

Western powers, including the United States, blame the Syrian government for the attack. The United States fired 59 cruise missiles at the Shairat military base in central Syria in response.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that the Syrian government troops have never used or intend to use chemical weapons against civilians and against terrorists.

Wang went on to say that China calls on the international community to maintain solidarity and continue to support the UN as the main channel of mediation.

The minister confirmed that Chinese government's special envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, will visit countries involved for an in-depth exchange of views.

Wang reaffirmed China's condemnation and opposition to use of chemical weapons. "China supports an independent and comprehensive investigation into reported chemical weapon use in Syria."

Action taken should be within the UN framework and in accordance with the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations, Wang said.

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.

The stocks of chemical weapons were successfully exported from Syria. In January 2016, the O.P.C.W. announced that the last of the Syrian stocks had been destroyed.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
13 April 2017 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Turkish Summertour and Coral Travel tour operators intend to initiate flights from Azerbaijan to the Turkish city of Bodrum, the Turkish media reported on April 13.

Summertour is expected to initiate charter flights from Azerbaijan to Bodrum seven days a week, while Coral Travel intends to initiate flights to Bodrum twice a week from May.

Tour operators expect a lot of Azerbaijani tourists to visit Bodrum this year.

Summertour also plans to initiate direct flights from Azerbaijan to Turkeys Alanya beach resort city in 2018.

More than 600,000 Azerbaijani tourists visited Turkey in 2016, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.

Azerbaijani tourists often travel to Turkey for vacation in July and August. Turkey which provides high-quality and inexpensive vacation for many international tourists has long ago become one of the most favorite destinations for many Azerbaijanis.

Other popular destinations of Azerbaijanis include Georgia and European countries.

The number of foreigners visiting Turkey dropped to 25.3 million in 2016. That is a 30 percent drop compared to 2015.

Turkeys tourism revenue dropped to $22.1 billion in 2016, a 29.7 percent decrease compared to 2015, as the number of foreign arrivals to the country witnessed a dramatic plunge, the official data showed.

Turkeys Tourism Ministry confirmed that the drop is correlated to a number of terrorist attacks and to the failed military coup on July 15, 2016.

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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. Morning high of 65F with temps falling to near 55. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 47F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
But if our publishers need some perspective on their plight, and some inspiration, then they ought to read Phil Fitzpatrick's remarkable article ' The Lost Creative Writing Generation of Papua New Guinea' , which was published late last year on the popular PNG Attitude blog.

All of these complaints are justified. The life of a Kiwi book publisher can be a difficult one.

The book market here is so small, this or that publisher says. Grants are inadequate. Bookshops are closing, as internet imperialists like Amazon expand.

Fitzpatrick begins his article by recalling the beginnings of written Papuan literature in the 1960s and '70s. As agitation for independence from Australia grew, the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby became a base for a generation of young writers. They worked in English and Tok Pisin, rather than one of their nation's eight hundred or so indigenous languages, and adapted traditional oral storytelling techniques to the page.

Ulli Beier, a German Jewish scholar who had taught in Nigeria before fleeing the Biafran conflict, got a job teaching creative writing at the University of Papua New Guinea, and began to edit and publish anthologies of the nation's emerging literature. A Papua Pocket Poets series was successful, and the journals Kovave and Papua New Guinea Writing were established.

In the 1980s, though, Papua New Guinean writers struggled for support. Papua New Guinea had won independence, but successive governments struggled to find funds for roads and schools, let alone literary grants and creative writing courses. Libraries decayed and closed, local publishers folded, and the Australian and New Zealand literary worlds remained steadfastly uninterested in Papua New Guinean texts.

Over the last decade the internet and cheaper publishing have revived PNG literature. After Digicel raised its towers across Papua New Guinea, bringing the worldwide web to the territory beyond Port Moresby, writers began to self-publish on blogs and social media.

When Phil Fitzpatrick and his friend Keith Jackson established an annual Crocodile Prize for creative writing in 2011, they were deluged with material. Fitzpatrick pays tribute to Martyn Namorong, the self-styled 'educated savage'.

Namorong 'bombarded' Fitzpatrick and Jackson with 'short and incendiary essays' on Papuan society and politics. Namorong grew up in a logging camp in Papua New Guinea's western province, and learned English by listening to shortwave broadcasts from Radio Australia.

Namorong has made himself an enemy of the government of Peter O'Neill, a businessman who was elected on an anti-corruption platform but has since been fighting a warrant for his arrest on charges of corruption. Last year police opened fire on students of the Papua New Guinea University, after they marched to demand that O'Neil address the charges against him. Seventeen students were wounded.

Taking advantage of cheap Chinese publishers, Fitzpatrick and Jackson began to produce anthologies of new Papuan writing, and then to issue books by individual authors. By the time Fitzpatrick and Jackson had established Pukpuk Publications, some Papua New Guinean writers had begun to bring out their own books. Baka Bina, for instance, used Amazon's CreateSapce to self-publish a novel called A Man of Calibre, which describes 'two torrid days during a family dispute in an Eastern Highlands village'.

Apart from Rapa Nui and the Philippines, no Pacific society developed its own script and written literature before contact with Europe. There has been a tendency for scholars to contrast the oral traditions of the Pacific with the written traditions of the West, and to suggest that the two are profoundly different, and perhaps incompatible.

But the alacrity with which PNG writers have adapted an indigenous storytelling tradition to new technology and new publishing opportunities shows that there need be no dichotomy between oral and written literatures.

The PNG literary movement of the 1970s stalled partly because of a lack of support from the country's wealthy southern neighbours. We shouldn't let a new Papuan generation suffer the same neglect. I'm ordering some books from Pukpuk Publications.
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Two U.S. senators are seeking to limit the duration opioids are prescribed to treat acute pain.

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and John McCain unveiled legislation Thursday that would limit opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a seven-day supply. A similar measure has been adopted by several states, including Arizona and New York.

Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and McCain, R-Arizona, said their bill would target one of the main causes of the opioid epidemic  the over-prescription of drugs that are used to relieve acute pain, such as a broken bone or a wisdom tooth extraction.

The legislation wouldn't apply to prescriptions for chronic pain treatment, the senators said.

The regulation would be enforced through the Drug Enforcement Agency licensing process. Doctors and other medical professionals must be licensed by the DEA to prescribe schedule II, III or IV controlled substances and they must renew the licenses every three years.

Gillibrand and McCain's bill would require medical professionals to certify during the licensing process that they will not prescribe more than a seven-day supply of opioids as initial treatment for acute pain.

In many cases across the country, heroin addicts have said they switched to the drug after their prescription for painkillers ran out. Heroin tends to be easier to obtain and cheaper than prescription opioids.

"Too many lives have been destroyed, too many families have been torn apart and too many communities all over New York are suffering because of this tragic epidemic," Gillibrand said. "I am proud to join with Senator McCain in this urgent fight against the over-prescription of opioids and I look forward to seeing it pass through the Senate as quickly as possible."

McCain highlighted the heroin and opioid epidemic in his state while making the case for the bill's passage. He said individuals who are addicted to prescription opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

In Arizona, McCain said that more than 1,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for drug overdoses in 2014. Heroin overdose deaths increased by 44 percent from 2013 to 2014.

"We have a long way to go to end the scourge of drugs across our communities, but this legislation is an important step forward in preventing people from getting hooked on these deadly drugs," McCain said.

Gillibrand has advocated for tougher restrictions on the prescribing of opioids to treat acute pain.

Last year, she called on then-President Barack Obama and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue guidelines on how medical professionals should prescribe opioids for acute pain treatment.

Gillibrand also partnered with a Republican, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, to introduce legislation that would require the CDC to issue opioid prescription guidelines.

New York took action last year to limit initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain treatment. Prescriptions for the medication may not exceed seven days.

The idea for the legislation came from the state Senate's Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction.

State Sens. Fred Akshar, George Amedore, Terrence Murphy and Rob Ortt, members of the task force, praised Gillibrand and McCain for introducing legislation to establish a national standard.

"We offer our strong support and partnership to help advance this important initiative on the federal level," the senators said in a joint statement Thursday. "When it comes to helping our most vulnerable neighbors who are battling this disease of addiction, we cannot allow partisan politics to prevent the passage of common sense policy that will ultimately save lives."
The central Bank is in plan to hire more workers following a high rate of bank malpractises. According to the CBK governor, the national treasury and the CBK has failed to combat the banking crisis in Kenya. He said that by adding more watchdogs will make the financial system in Kenya be more proactive and more secure.The CBK has posted several in jobs that will make the CBK more adhesive to the financial sector cartels. Some of the positions include the information systems auditors, general operations auditors, risk officers, portfolio officers, market analysts and finance officers. CBK has been trying for the last two years to expand its inspection staff to enforce compliance in the banking sector.It is clear that we need to strengthen our bank supervision dramatically in order to evade such cases of banks closure. We have several examples which happened within the last four years. Some of the banks were not necessarily to be closed if we had a a good well vast financial knowledge watchdogs." Says the CBK governor Njoroge.
Former finance minister David Mwiraria died at Karen Hospital today after a long battle with Cancer. The former minister had been diagnosed with cancer since 2015 and was always treated.He went to London, then South Africa and later today died at Karen Hospital.He was among the closest friends of the former president Mwai Kibaki and the former prime Minister Raila Odinga. He was born on September 3, 1938, and he was among who fought for Kenya multipartyism.He was also the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources previously Finance Minister of Kenya until December 2007 when Kenya held its General Elections.He was one of the Former President Kibaki top benches. He was also allegedly to be part of the anglo-leasing scandal. The scandal which also involved the ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi. The family is yet to give out an official statement.
Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first African-American woman to serve on the state Court of Appeals, was found dead Wednesday near the Hudson River in New York. She was 65.

The New York Police Department told media outlets that Abdus-Salaam's body was found in the water along the Hudson River in Manhattan. She was reported missing before her body was found near the river.

There were no obvious signs of trauma or foul play, authorities said.

Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the state Court of Appeals, remembered Abdus-Salaam as a beloved colleague.

"Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her," DiFiore said. "Sheila's smile could light up the darkest room. The people of New York can be grateful for her distinguished public service. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and we will miss her greatly."

Abdus-Salaam was nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the seven-member Court of Appeals in 2013. She was confirmed by the state Senate in May 2013 to fill the seat vacated by the late Judge Theodore Jones Jr.

Prior to her nomination to the state Court of Appeals, Abdus-Salaam served as an appellate division justice.

After learning of Abdus-Salaam's passing, Cuomo released a statement calling her a "trailblazing jurist."

"As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the state's Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer," Cuomo said. "Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

"I was proud to appoint her to the state's highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues during this trying and difficult time."

Abdus-Salaam was born in Washington in 1952. She earned a bachelor's degree at Barnard College and graduated from Columbia Law School.

The early part of her career was spent working as an attorney, including an eight-year stint as assistant attorney general in the state Department of Law, Civil Rights and Real Estate Financing bureaus.

She was elected to the New York City Civil Court in 1991. She went on to serve 15 years as a state Supreme Court justice in Manhattan.

When Cuomo nominated Abdus-Salaam to the state Court of Appeals, she pledged to treat those who appear before the court with respect and dignity.

"This nomination presents me with an opportunity to continue to serve New Yorkers," Abdus-Salaam said in April 2013, "and advocate for justice and fairness here in New York state."
Raila Odinga hosted by ODM Gubernatorial Candidate Hon Simeon Lesirma. I am accompanied by Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel and ODM Kajiado Chairman Daniel Osoi. PHOTO | Courtesy

ODM party is considered to be the biggest party in East Africa. According to the latest report, ODM has 7,006 Aspirants while JAP has 6,568 Aspirants. In Tanzania before elections, CCM had 2,700 Aspirants while CHADEMA had 1,780 Aspirants while Uganda largest Party NRP had 4,028 Aspirants.The ODM has the resources of being a standalone party compared to Jubilee. The 6,568 Aspirants were withdrawn from the former independent parties like TNA, URP, APK etc. To boost up the Numbers Jubilee has been buying local parties across the country as claimed by the Majority leader Hon Adan Duale.NASA coalition has a Total of 11, 045 Aspirants from the major parties. The NASA big parties Wiper (990), ANC(2,100), Ford Kenya(946) while small parties contribute to 3000 Aspirants.The Jubilee Affiliate parties contribute a total of 1,900 Aspirants while KANU has the largest number of 880 Aspirants. The registered candidates will compete with one another in order to make the next government. Currently, ODM has the largest number of Senators and Governors across the country.In Total Jubilee and its affiliates has a total number of 9,568 Aspirants while NASA coalition has 14,045. These numbers comprise of all Aspirants from all political levels which include; Women Representatives, Members of County Assembly, Members of Parliament, Presidential flag bearers, Members of the Senate and Governors.
People in Kenya are carrying too much staff than expected. Both physical and mental. Kenyan Economy is going in the bad side. Politicians should not celebrate this. PHOTO | Courtesy

It has been very difficult to convince people on what the Government has done because the Majority of Kenyans have become poorer than they were five years ago. That is the main reason the Jubilee introduced the Public information Portal so that Kenyans see what it has done in a portal.The Government has introduced the real delivery of failure as what the critics mock. According to the political Analyst Prof Edward Waswa Kisiang'ani, he contrasted what was there in the former President Mwai Kibaki regime and now. He said that country is now in preparation to be sold if the debts and cost of living will not be constrained.In 2013 and in 2017, Prices were as follows for the main commodities; Milk(Ksh 40) to Ksh 70, Sugar (Ksh 80) to 150, Unga (Ksh 70) to Ksh 180, Electricity (Ksh 13 per unit) to Ksh 18, Parrafin (Ksh 50) to 80, Water 20lts (Ksh 3) to Ksh 20 even school fees rose from KSH 7000 for day secondary schools to Ksh 15000 and Ksh 26000 to Ksh 55000 for Boarding schools respectively. The National debt rose from 1 Trillion to 4.3 Trillion, Job lost rate rose from 2% to 60% due to Company and Small/ Medium scale businesses closure and that brought to an inflate rate of 10% from 3% in 2013.Because of lack of better words, the government introduced the portal where the majority of Kenya can assess mobile phones for calls and text but not data. Kenya is considered to have approximately 25 Million people with handheld devices for communication. A quarter of it surf using different service providers."If people cannot see the development record in their respective areas and are languishing in poverty, purporting to be good in a portal will not help. Even the majority of people do not even understand what is a portal. So the government has two things to tell people. To define a portal then to defend track record" Prof Kisiang'ani said.
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Police officers were the scene of a serious sexual attack in Bath - exactly a week after it happened.

The officers were on Victoria Bridge Road in the early hours of Good Friday (April 14) to see if they can identify any witnesses to the assault.

A woman was attacked on the road sometime between 4.15am and 5am last Friday (April 7) by a man of slight build who was wearing a black top and red cap.

A 30-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released but is still under investigation.

Police are still trying to contact two men who helped the victim after the attack.

Speaking ahead of the witness appeal, Detective Inspector Adam Bunting said: "The victim is being kept fully supported and informed as our inquiry progresses.

"We're deploying local officers at the scene exactly a week after the incident in the hope we can identify anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time.

"In particular, we're still keen to speak to two men who supported the victim in the moments after the assault before officers arrived.

"We believe the two men, who are described as being aged in their 40s or 50s, could have information which could assist us.

"Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, is urged to contact us as it could prove to be crucial."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5217076623.

Victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent, can self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7 365 days a year. Visit their website at www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk or call 0117 342 6999.

For advice on how to keep yourself safe you can visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-advice/dealing-with-threats-and-hate-crime/keeping-yourself-safe/ .

You can also visit www.thisisnotanexcuse.org for details of charities and organisations who are experts in supporting victims.
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Update: 8:05 a.m. The Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey reopened Saturday morning after being closed since Wednesday due to wildfires. The Suncoast Bike Trail going into the park is also open.

Original Report: Over 100 wildfires continue to burn across the state, prompting Gov. Rick Scott to put the Florida National Guard on standby. In the Tampa Bay area, Pasco County is seeing the worst of it with four wildfires. Two are 100 percent contained.

Florida Forest Service officials gave updated numbers on the fires Thursday morning in a press conference.

The Campground fire has burned about 75 acres and is 100 percent contained, according to Judith Tear of FFS. About 1,600 gallons of water were dropped on the fire yesterday. The fire was caused by lightning.

The fire at Silver Palm is 70 percent contained and involves about 55 acres, Tear said. The Bike Trail fire is 150 acres and about 65 percent contained.

There are 11 burn bans across the state, including locally in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Polk counties. There are four fires in Pasco County.



A fire in Hudson (South Wind) started Wednesday and burned about 18 acres but is 100 percent contained. A cigarette is believed to be the cause of that fire.

Officials stressed that Starkey Wildnerness Park and the Suncoast Bike Trails are still closed until further notice. There have been reports of residents going around barricades to go inside the park, which is affecting the work being done by fire crews. About 75 residents have been evacuated from that area.

The Guard will provide a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to fight the fires in the Tampa area if necessary. The aircraft would be flown in support of the Florida Forest Service and will be equipped with the ability to both collect and dispense large quantities of water onto fires without having to land.

There are 11 burn bans across the state, including locally in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Polk counties. There are currently no plans for a statewide burn ban -- the last time that happened was 1998.



According to the FFS, escaped debris like burning embers are the leading cause of wildfires in the state.

Pinellas and Polk remain at high risk for fires, according to officials but the most active area has been Pasco County.
Two state agencies are teaming up to encourage farmers to sell food products at service areas along the Thruway.

The state Department of Agriculture and Thruway Authority are seeking vendors for farmers markets at the service areas. The agencies view the opportunity as a way to promote agriculture and New York-made food products to a larger audience.

Nearly a dozen farmers participated in the farmers' markets last year during the spring and summer months. There are 19 service areas along the Thruway.

Bill Finch, acting executive director of the Thruway Authority, said his agency takes pride in the initiative. State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball called the markets a "welcome addition" to the service areas.

"They highlight each of the region's agricultural strengths and provide our farmers a unique opportunity to connect with new consumers," Ball said. "Taste NY Farmers Markets also give travelers healthy food options and a chance to interact in person with our state's great producers."

Vendors interested in participating should email travelersservices@thruway.ny.gov for more information.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore are among those who paid tribute to Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a Court of Appeals judge who was found dead Wednesday near the Hudson River in Manhattan. She was 65.

Abdus-Salaam was the first African-American woman to serve on the state Court of Appeals. She was nominated to the court in 2013 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state Senate quickly confirmed her nomination.

Here are statements from some of New York's top leaders on the passing of Abdus-Salaam:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all.

"As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the States Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

"I was proud to appoint her to the states highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues during this trying and difficult time."

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore

"The New York Court of Appeals was saddened to learn today of the passing of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a most beloved colleague since she joined the Court in May 2013. Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness, and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her. Sheila's smile could light up the darkest room. The people of New York can be grateful for her distinguished public service. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and we will miss her greatly."

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

"The passing of Justice Abdus-Salaam is an enormous loss for New York, our judiciary, and all who knew, respected, and loved her.

"Justice Abdus-Salaam was not simply a trailblazer as the first Muslim female judge in the United States and the first African-American woman on the New York Court of Appeals. During her time on the bench, Justice Abdus-Salaam earned the respect of all who appeared before her as a thoughtful, thorough, and fair jurist.

"I join all those who knew Justice Abdus-Salaam in mourning this terrible loss."

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

"I am shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of State Court of Appeals Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. Justice Abdus-Salaam was a dedicated public servant who served New York with honor and distinction as the first African-American woman to sit on the Court of Appeals. She was highly respected and an inspiration to so many throughout her career. Her passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. This is a sad day for all New Yorkers. On behalf of the New York State Assembly, I extend our deepest condolences to Justice Abdus-Salaam's family and friends."

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan

"I am shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic and unexpected death of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge of the Court of Appeals.

"Nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the State Senate in 2013, she was the first African-American woman to ascend to the state's highest court, where she served with professionalism and with honor.

"On behalf of the entire New York State Senate, we offer Ms. Abdus-Salaam's family our condolences and our prayers during this extraordinary difficult time. While they have lost a cherished member of their family, New York has lost a committed judge, public servant, and leader far too soon."

Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam. Her elevation to New York's highest court as the first African-American woman and Muslim was an inspiration to so many. New York was a better place because of her life of service. We offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

The Women's Bar Association of the State of New York

"The Womens Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) expresses our condolences and sincere sorrow on the loss of Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam. A long-time member of WBASNY, we knew her to be as warm and approachable as she was scholarly and distinguished. As the first African-American woman and the first Muslim to sit on our states highest Court, she will be long remembered as a trailblazer and an example to women in the law. She will be missed by our members and by the legal community as a whole. On behalf of WBASNY members across New York, we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends."

Correction: Some of the statements here identify Sheila Abdus-Salaam as a Muslim. She was not.
A martial arts teacher in McKinney formally from Beaumont has been accused of sexually assaulting two students.



A woman said that Timothy Vidal, who worked at Tiger Rock Martial Arts, had sex with her and made inappropriate remarks toward her when she was 16 years old.



Vidal was already in custody for another assault, the Dallas Morning News reports. Sgt. Jon Felty with the Allen Police Department told that outlet that Vidal turned himself in last week in connection with an assault on a 16-year-old female.

This victim came forward after learning of his arrest. She said in an affidavit obtained by the Dallas Morning News that he raped her when they went to a storage facility during work hours. She said that this happened twice.



A third incident reportedly happened in Galveston, where they traveled for a competition. The victim said she was raped in Vidal's rental unit.



The fourth attack, the victim said, happened at a La Quinta Inn & Suites.
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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 agency added Gilliland to the 10 Most Wanted List and is offering a $7,500 reward for his capture. The Multi-County Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $1,000, according to information provided by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

A jury in Liberty County convicted Gilliland of murder in 1988 and he was sentenced to life in prison. Gilliland was released in 2014 on parole to a halfway house. He fled the De Valle, Texas, facility in October 2016.



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.



Police say he has connections to Baytown, Conroe, Midway and Liberty County.



Anyone with information may call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or text the letters "DPS"  followed by a tip  to 274637 (CRIMES) from a cell phone.
Houston ISD is investigating an incident at Longfellow Elementary in southwest Houston where it was reported that an inappropriate image was shown to students during a presentation.

HISD senior media relations specialist, Ashley Anthony, said the school notified parents of children in the 5th grade class of the incident when it happened last week.
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On April 12, 1861, the bloodiest conflict in American history began when Confederate forces attacked a Union-controlled fort in South Carolina.

It was the first act of aggression mounted by the Confederacy, which had formed just a few months earlier.

150 YEARS LATER: Confederate memories still linger in Texas

At the time, Texas had only been a state for 16 years, but it too joined the Confederacy despite protest of Sam Houston, who was replaced as the state's governor because of his refusal to pledge an oath of allegiance to the rebellion.



Roughly 3 million men, 90,000 of them Texans, participated in the war. By the end of the conflict 620,000 died, or roughly 2 percent of America's population. The introduction to Ken Burn's "The Civil War" best explains why the bloodshed is so surreal even to this day:

"American homes became headquarters, American churches and schoolhouses sheltered the dying, and huge foraging armies swept across American farms and burned American towns. Americans slaughtered one another wholesale, right here in America in their own cornfields and peach orchards, along familiar roads and by waters with old American names."

IN PHOTOS: Civil War-era maps show Texas, Gulf of Mexico in new light

The last battle of the war took place in Texas, near Brownsville, and actually ended in a Confederate victory. According to the Texas State Historical Association, when the victorious commander interviewed captured Union prisoners, he learned that Confederate forces were surrendering throughout the South.

Shortly after, despite the general who oversaw Texas during the war attempting "to keep his command intact," he "found his soldiers heading for their homes."

Click through to see the most eerie and rare photographs of the civil war.
During an interview with Fox Business Network, President Donald Trump said he wants to pass a healthcare bill before diverting his efforts to tax reform, Politico reports.

Here are four highlights:

1. President Trump said to Fox Business, "I want to do it first [healthcare] to really do it right."

2. After Republicans withdrew the American Health Care Act from the House floor, President Trump indicated he wanted to move onto tax reform and pursue a tax code overhaul.

3. During the interview, President Trump said he did not intend to "put deadlines" on a healthcare or tax reform legislation, but told Fox Business that "healthcare's gonna happen at some point."

4. President Trump said if the party passes a healthcare bill, they will have a smoother path in implementing a tax overhaul. He did say however if a healthcare plan doesn't come to fruition soon, he will "start the taxes, But the tax reform and the tax cuts are better if I can do healthcare first."
Los Angeles-based Shriners for Children Medical Center is holding a dedication ceremony for its new facility which features an ASC, according to Pasadena Now.

Here are four notes:

1. The new $77 million medical center is replacing Shriners' Children's Hospital in Los Angeles and will be located in Pasadena, Calif.

2. The 75,000-square-foot facility will house an ASC in its outpatient care facility.

3. The outpatient care facility will also include rehabilitation units.

4. Shriners Hospitals for Children Administrator Lou Lazatin told Pasadena Now, "There is no facility of this kind that is totally dedicated to kids. This is really to serve the children of the San Gabriel Valley."
The following hospitals announced or completed plans in the last week to expand, upgrade or renovate their facilities.

1. SwedishAmerican plans $130M tower, upgrades at Rockford location

Rockford, Ill.-based SwedishAmerican, a division of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's UW Health system, will invest $130 million in a tower and other renovations to its Rockford campus.

2. Christus Spohn Hospital to relocate trauma center

Corpus Christi, Texas-based Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial will shutter its trauma center May 2 and move it to Christus Spohn Shoreline in Corpus Christi the same day.

3. Aurora Health Care plans $324M healthcare complex

Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care is expanding, with plans to build a replacement hospital and new outpatient surgery center and medical office building in the greater Sheboygan, Wis., area.

4. Massachusetts General to help develop new 300-bed hospital in China

Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital and Jiahui Health Network are pursuing a strategic collaboration to create Jiahui International Hospital in China's Shanghai Province.

5. Medical City Arlington completes ED renovation, expansion

Medical City Arlington (Texas) has finished the expansion of its emergency department, part of a larger $100 million expansion and renovation project.

6. St. Joseph Mercy Brighton opens 1st Short Stay Center in Michigan

St. Joseph Mercy Brighton (Mich.) expanded its facility to include a Short Stay Center that will allow patients the opportunity to stay overnight at the hospital without requiring inpatient admission.

7. Mercy Health's new Ohio facility officially open to patients

Mercy Health Howland Medical Center opened in Warren, Ohio.
Nonprofit hospitals will likely face an array of challenges amid regulatory and political uncertainty, but those located in states that may expand Medicaid in the future could see a financial boost, according to Fitch Ratings.

Here are seven things to know.

1. At present, 31 states  plus the District of Columbia  have opted for Medicaid expansion, leaving 19 nonexpansion states.

2. The GOP's ACA replacement bill called for a Medicaid expansion "freeze" to take effect by Jan. 1, 2020. However, the American Health Care Act was pulled from the House floor last month due to lack of support.

3. Since President Donald Trump's decision to pull the AHCA, a number of states have pursued Medicaid expansion. In North Carolina, GOP lawmakers proposed a bill to expand Medicaid. Additionally, Maine residents will have a chance to vote on Medicaid expansion in November, according to Fitch.

4. Some states have tried to expand Medicaid recently, but were not successful. For instance, Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on March 30 vetoed a bill to expand the state's Medicaid program under the ACA. The state House subsequently voted to uphold the governor's veto. And in Virginia, lawmakers earlier this month rejected expanding the state's Medicaid program.

5. Nonprofit hospitals in states that opted for Medicaid expansion initially saw financial benefit, such as decreased bad debt, and Fitch predicts the same would happen initially for nonprofit hospitals in states that expand the program in the future.

6. States that expanded Medicaid effective January 2014 will see federal funding for expansion decrease beginning this year. "States such as Washington and Connecticut have announced reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates for 2017. This would likely also affect hospitals in the states that expand this year over the longer run," Fitch said. The agency noted payment related to Medicaid expansion could also change under President Donald Trump's administration, which subsequently could affect nonprofit hospitals.

7. Overall, Fitch said it has a negative sector outlook on nonprofit hospitals "based on our long-term view that the sector will be increasingly challenged by regulatory and political uncertainty, the growth in Medicare and Medicaid payer exposure and meager rate increases."
Here are 10 recent news updates on health IT companies.

Healthcare providers can purchase Allscripts' interoperability solution on the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform.

Amazon and Merck unveiled the Alexa Diabetes Challenge to explore how voice-command technology can support chronic disease management.

Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare and GE Healthcare are embarking on a seven-year partnership to improve patient wait times and efficiency of care.

GE Healthcare and eMedApps joined forces to bring a new business continuity solution into GE Healthcare's Centricity EMR.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted IBM a patent for its drug discovery machine learning model.

IBM opened the IBM Watson Health Center in Helsinki, Finland, as part of a five-year collaboration agreement between IBM and Tekes, a Finnish funding agency.

Health Catalyst named Carolyn Wong Simpkins MD, PhD, its chief medical informatics officer and Stanley Pestotnik its vice president of patient safety products.

McKesson hosted a dedication event on April 6 for the grand opening of its new Las Colinas campus in Irving, Texas.

McKesson on April 3 completed its acquisition of CoverMyMeds, a Columbus, Ohio-based provider of electronic prior authorization solutions.

MDLive, a virtual medical and behavioral healthcare provider, appointed Richard Gilbert, MD, president of its medical group.
Galax, Va.-based Twin County Regional Hospital announced its CEO Jon Applebaum is departing for a new role, according to a Galax Gazette report.

Here are four things to know:

1. Mr. Applebaum is taking on the role of president and COO at Novant Thomasville (N.C.) Medical Center.

2. He will assume his new position on May 6.

3. He has served as Twin County Regional CEO since 2007.

4. Twin County Regional Hospital has started the search for a new CEO.
The incident aboard a United Airlines flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport represented a major test of leadership for United CEO Oscar Munoz, and he "flunked," according to some critics.

In an op-ed published in The Los Angeles Times, reporter Michael Hiltzik said the United employees' "toxic" decision to drag a Kentucky physician off of United flight 3441 to make room for airline personnel "can be blamed directly on the men at the top, their chief executives," according to the report.

According to Mr. Hiltzik, Mr. Munoz's two initial responses to the incident were to side with the employees, stating the staff treated the passenger  David Dao, MD  "politely" and "apologetically" until Dr. Dao became "disruptive and belligerent," leaving airline employees with no other option but to "call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight," according to the report. In an email to company employees obtained by the LA Times, Mr. Munoz reportedly said he "stand[s] behind all [employees]."

Mr. Munoz did not acknowledge any mistreatment on the part of the employees until his third public statement Tuesday, in which he "deeply apologize[d] to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard," stating "no one should ever be mistreated [that] way," according to the report.

For Mr. Hiltznik, Mr. Munoz's "knee-jerk support of United's staff" underlies a larger issue with the company's internal structure and employees' inability to deal with workday glitches. Mr. Munoz's apologies and promises to conduct an investigation don't empower employees on the ground to take the initiative to solve customer complaints before they become a major issue.

"[Mr. Munoz's responses don't give] a concrete indication of plans to change United's culture to encourage creative thinking on the ground. If United's culture doesn't change, he'll have to take the blame [for more public relations issues that are sure to come]," he wrote.
HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, said physicians should continue to submit ideas for how to move Medicare away from a fee-for-service model, according to Bloomberg BNA.

Dr. Price met with the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee April 11 for its first voting meeting on alternative Medicare payment models. The advisory committee, created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, has already received half a dozen alternative payment recommendations.

At the meeting, Dr. Price said innovative payment models that replace fee-for-service models may work better and curb physician burnout. He said burnout in part results from Medicare's "one size fits all" model, the report states.

Dr. Price also said it is important for providers in rural and underserved areas, who may think the U.S. healthcare system favors larger groups, to send recommendations for alternative payment models.

HHS requested limited-scale testing for two recommendations thus far: Elgin-based Illinois Gastroenterology Group's care management program for chronically ill patients, sponsored by SonarMD, and the American College of Surgeons-Brandeis Advanced APM, which uses episodes of care to quantify cost and value-based reimbursements, Bloomberg reports.

This article was updated April 14, 2017 at 12:03 p.m.
Diagnosed with a severe joint disorder at 21 years old that left her unable to smile or talk, as well as depressed and suicidal, one nurse executive credits the compassion of the caregivers who tended to her during her hospital stays as the motivating force she needed to persevere and live the life she wanted.

At 21 years old, Debra Fox, RN, was diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder, a disorder that causes severe pain in one's jaw joints and muscles. Forty-eight surgeries later, Ms. Fox is still unable to smile, but she said she's doing much better than ever before. Now, the 57-year-old woman serves as CNO of Las Vegas-based University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Ms. Fox credits her survival to the compassion and care of those attending to her throughout many hospital stays. She said it's now her mission to ensure everyone that walks through UMCSN receives the same level of quality care in their time of need.

"Often, the difference between death and survival in a health crisis is how a caregiver interacts with you, how much confidence he or she showed in your ability to survive and thrive  I've personally experienced both the best and the worst in nursing care. I made a vow that if I survived and recaptured my career I would provide a work environment where nurses could engage with patients in a therapeutic way, where correct behaviors were role-modeled. If patients come away from UMC[SN] saying all our caregivers are compassionate and caring, then I'll be happy."

To view the full article, click here.

If you would like to contribute a quote for this series, please email Alyssa Rege at arege@beckershealthcare.com to be featured in "Quotes from the Front Line," a daily series that highlights the joys and the frustrations medical personnel face daily while on the job.
As the Cayuga Economic Development Agencys business development specialist, my focus is new business for Cayuga County. I work to attract new businesses to either expand or relocate here and provide assistance to entrepreneurs who want to start or acquire a business. The attraction side of my work involves collaboration with local, regional and state partners. These are usually multi-million dollar projects, and they can take a few years to materialize. On a smaller scale, I work with dozens of entrepreneurs each year to help them build successful business plans and find connections to the resources they need to start and grow. The following story describes this kind of business assistance that starts with an entrepreneurs idea and ends with a new retail store: L.B. Lightning Cyclery in downtown Auburn.

It was Mike and Pam Parks dream to turn their longtime hobby of building, fixing and restoring bikes into a small business. Having recently retired from his career in government and settling in the town of Genoa last spring, Mike drafted a business plan and set to work making that dream a reality.

From his work with the government, he was aware of the Small Business Administration and contacted the Syracuse district office, which referred him to the Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College. They referred him to CEDA and the Auburn chapter of SCORE, located at 2 State St. in Auburn.

Our first meeting, like most of them, began with learning of his plans to open a retail store to sell bikes and accessories with a workshop to provide repair service. We analyzed his drafted business plan and I helped him improve areas that were lacking information or detail by asking key questions and offering suggestions. He already had most of his plan figured out: the products and services he would provide, which suppliers he would use, the estimated startup costs and a general location. According to Mike, I "asked a lot of questions throughout the process that helped generate additional thoughts and ideas in the development, operation and marketing of the business."

One of my strengths is my knowledge of local information. The assistance I was able to provide included filling him in on all of the things going on locally that might positively or negatively influence his plan. Since Mike and Pam moved here from out of state, this local information was invaluable. We discussed things like the Emerson Park Master Plan, the future Owasco River Greenway Trail, the YMCAs Bon Ton Roulet, Erie Canals Go Bike Erie initiative, Auburns Downtown Revitalization Initiative plan, and the growing tourism industry. We also looked at the available commercial properties, discussed the developments underway, and weighed the pros and cons of various locations throughout the city.

Ride the Lightning: Bicycle retail, repair shop opening in downtown Auburn AUBURN  Mike Parks spent the majority of his life in Washington, D.C. An employee of the st

I referred him to other business professionals and made introductions to various business people and bicycle enthusiasts throughout the community to provide further ideas, advice and assistance.

As a certified SCORE mentor, I sometimes co-mentor to assist entrepreneurs in the areas of expertise they require. Mike took advantage of SCOREs free and confidential services and consulted with Irene Stafford, a former business owner and accountant. With his financials calculated, we discussed available funding opportunities such as local loan programs, those offered by our regional partners, and SBA guaranteed loans.

Mike had already enlisted the help of a local commercial broker, but since he really wanted to be in the downtown Auburn area, I referred him to the Business Improvement District, an organization that works closely with all of the downtown businesses, property owners and tenants. While my focus is all of Cayuga County, our partners at the Auburn BID know the downtown properties inside and out.

L.B. Lightning Cyclery was a good candidate to work with Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Graphic Design & New Media class to have a business logo designed. Mike had a client meeting with a few of the students, who would each design a few mockups from which he could choose. From there, he was able to make some iterations to the design and now has a custom-designed logo with mockups for T-shirts, building signs and stickers, created by Lucas Wingfield, a senior at Skaneateles High School.

Once L.B. Lightning Cyclery was ready for its grand opening, Mike took advantage of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerces free ribbon-cutting ceremony and officially cut the red ribbon on Oct. 28. He has since joined the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and takes full advantage of all the membership benefits to promote his new business.

Throughout the process, I followed up with Mike at key points for status updates, to discover if he had hit any snags, and to discuss strategies to keep everything moving forward.

The kinds of entrepreneurs I work with vary greatly from one to the next. Some people are just throwing around ideas, while others have 50-page business plans and patents that will change the world. Therefore, every meeting is fun and interesting, and the services I am able to provide change with each situation.

If you know someone who is thinking about starting or acquiring a business, please share the information that CEDA and SCORE provide free and confidential business assistance. There are so many services for new and existing businesses at 2 State St. that you just have to give us a call to find out how we might be able to assist your business!
The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, legal battles, rallies, unionization efforts and contract agreements. All events were reported since March 21.

1. Butler Hospital union workers reach labor deal with Care New England

A union representing employees at Butler Hospital, a substance abuse and psychiatric facility in Providence, R.I., approved a four-year agreement with Care New England.

2. Tufts Medical Center RNs to picket amid ongoing contract talks

Many of the nearly 1,200 registered nurses at Boston-based Tufts Medical Center planned to picket over ongoing contract negotiations.

3. Montana nurses vote down unionization effort

Employees at Great Falls, Mont.-based Benefis Health System voted against joining the Montana Nurses Association.

4. Northwestern Memorial employees call for $15 minimum wage: 3 things to know

Workers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago rallied over wages.

5. Queen of the Valley appeals employees' union vote for third time

Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., for the third time is appealing a union election that took place last fall.

6. Federal mediator heads to Massachusetts hospital after 19 failed negotiation attempts with nurses union

A federal mediator was solicited to help with negotiations between Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center and the union representing its nurses.

7. 1,200 Tufts Medical Center RNs give go-ahead for possible strike

Nearly 1,200 registered nurses at Boston-based Tufts Medical Center voted for a potential one-day strike.

8. Vibra Hospital of Western Massachusetts nurses ratify union contract

About 80 nurses from Springfield-based Vibra Hospital of Western Massachusetts ratified a three-year union contract.

9. Nearly 500 workers at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital join SEIU

Workers at Partners HealthCare's Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital in Boston voted in favor of unionization.
Bedford, Mass.-based ConforMIS reported results from its iTotal PS total knee replacement study.

Researchers compared knee kinematics of 13 patients implanted with the iTotal PS customized total knee replacement device with 18 patients implanted with the Zimmer Biomet NexGen PS total knee replacement device. The study used real-time mobile X-ray imaging and 2-D and 3-D registration to evaluate patients six months post-surgery.

Researchers presented the data at the 2017 British Association for Surgery of the Knee Annual Meeting, held from March 28 to 29.

Here are four takeaways:

1. The study revealed iTotal PS patients experienced a greater average range of motion during a deep knee bend (112 degrees) compared to the NexGen PS patients (94 degrees).

2. The iTotal PS patients also demonstrated greater lateral femoral rollback of 11.73 mm compared to 4.69 mm for NexGen PS patients.

3. While iTotal PS patients saw medial translation of 2.8 mm, NexGen PS patients only saw 1 mm.

4. iTotal PS patients also saw greater axial rotation of 10.85 degrees versus 7.58 degrees for NexGen PS patients.
Democrats in Oregon filed an ethics complaint against orthopedic surgeon and state representative Knute Buehler, MD, R-Bend, over unreported payments from medical device and pharmaceutical companies, according to The Bulletin.

The ethics complaint alleges Dr. Buehler didn't disclose payments he received from Stryker and Pfizer while serving as a state representative from 2013 to 2015.

The payments made from Stryker and Pfizer to Dr. Buehler are available on the CMS Open Payment Program. Dr. Buehler's office reported he sought guidance from the ethics commission on the payments, but Stryker wasn't a "business with which [he] is associated" according to state statutes.

According to the Open Payments data, Dr. Buehler received 13 payments from Stryker in 2013 totaling $15,854; $12,250 was consulting fees. The following year he received payments totaling $52,367 with consulting fees reaching $35,250. In 2015, Dr. Buehler received $27,723.98 from Stryker with consulting fees of $17,000. All the payments from Stryker were made directly to Dr. Buehler.

He also received $1,000 from Pfizer in 2014.

Dr. Buehler alleges the charges are "politically motivated" and called them an abuse of the ethics process. He is a rumored potential candidate for the Oregon governorship election in 2018.
Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for April 13, 2017.

Cervical Spine Research Society names 5 new officers

The Cervical Spine Research Society elected new officers for the 2016-2017 year:



 Darrel S. Brodke, MD: President

 Jeffrey C. Wang, MD: President-elect

 Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD: Vice President

 Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD: Treasurer

 Rick Sasso, MD: Secretary





Medtronic voluntarily recalls neurosurgery product

Dublin, Ireland-based Medtronic is voluntarily recalling all unused units of its StrataMR adjustable valves and shunts. The company decided to issue the product recall following a boost in the product complaint rate. The product is intended to manage hydrocephalus by controlling the cerebrospinal fluid flow drained from the brain to subdue intracranial pressure.





Mazor Robotics earns FDA clearance for Mazor X Align software

Caesarea, Israel-based Mazor Robotics earned FDA approval for its Mazor X Align software. Mazor X Align helps surgeons create a patient-specific, 3-D spinal alignment plan, combining preoperative planning, image processing and computerized anatomy recognition elements. The company plans to release the software to a limited number of Mazor X customers in early May.





Brigham and Women's Hospital becomes 31st INSPIRE study site for spinal cord injury

Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital is the 31st INSPIRE trial site and Yi Lu, MD, PhD, will serve as the principal investigator at the site. The study examines InVivo's Neuro-Spinal Scaffold, designed to treat patients within the first few hours after spinal cord injury.





Aesculap offers warranty against delamination & visualization  A 1st in spine industry

Center Valley, Pa.-based Aesculap Implant Systems launched a warranty program for its Plasmapore surface-enhancing technology portfolio. Under the warranty, Aesculap will give facilities a device replacement if a reoperation occurs due to a "clinically relevant delamination or the generation of impaction debris or a CT or MRI artifact caused by the device that impedes a physician's ability to visualize adjacent anatomy."





Dr. Scott Blumenthal performs 1st US herniated disc surgery with Anchor Orthopaedics tissue kit

Scott Blumenthal, MD, of Plano-based Texas Back Institute, performed the nation's first herniated disc repair surgery with the AnchorKnot Tissue Approximation Kit by Burlington Mass.-based Anchor Orthopaedics. He noted the majority of discectomy procedures heal through the body's scar tissue, often taking six weeks or more. By using the AnchorKnot Tissue Approximation Kit, Dr. Blumenthal said patients return to function and rehabilitation earlier.





Self-employed specialists earn 28% more than employed peers

Medscape surveyed more than 19,200 physicians in more than 27 specialties, seeking information about their salaries. While self-employed primary care physicians make 4 percent more than their employed counterparts, self-employed specialists see a significant 28 percent jump in earnings compared to employed specialists.





Global cervical artificial disc replacement market to exceed $3B by 2024

The global artificial disc market will likely surpass $4.5 billion by 2024, according to a Global Market Insights report. The cervical segment of the global market accounted for more than 65 percent of total revenue and will likely exceed $3 billion by 2024, while the lumbar segment drew in $240 million in 2015.




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Co Tyrone meat firm Dunbia says it has "no plans" to move any of its Northern Ireland operations to Britain. The processor was responding to a story in the Belfast Telegraph reporting that the company had considered moving some of its work to Britain amid concerns over the fallout from Brexit.

However, the Dungannon-based company stopped short of denying or clarifying whether it had discussed at a senior level moving some processing across the Irish Sea.

In a statement it said: "The headline and implications of this story are completely untrue. Dunbia has no plans to move its Northern Ireland operations to Great Britain."

Well-placed sources said the company had discussed considering focusing its meat processing in Britain because of concerns over potential delays at ports if border controls were introduced after Brexit came into force.

The firm was contacted on Tuesday for a comment regarding whether the issue had been discussed or considered at a senior level, but it did not wish to respond.

Dunbia is run by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson and has annual sales of around 787m.

In 2015 the Belfast Telegraph revealed that the company was being put up for sale.

Last year the firm sold its pork arm in Cullybackey, Co Antrim, to Cranswick plc, which is based in England.

The pork operation employs around 360 staff and processes almost 8,000 pigs a week. Cranswick's latest accounts show the business was acquired for 16.9m in cash, with a further 1.25m payable under certain conditions.

Dunbia has seen its pre-tax profits grow to more than 7m.

It saw turnover fall from 826.6m to 787.6m. In its latest company accounts, ending March 27, 2016, the firm said a drop in turnover "was driven by deflation in livestock price".
Alison Clarke and Leanne McDowell model clothes from Ballymenas Marmalade Boutique and Camerons during a recent promotion

Northern Ireland retailers are anticipating a busy Easter with seasonal shoppers already taking to the high streets, it has been claimed.

From high street butchers to shopping centres, traders expect the later timing of Easter this year will work to their benefit.

Overall, retailers estimate that this week and next should add around 5% to 'normal' sales.

Aodhan Connolly of the NI Retail Consortium said people will be splashing out on everything from food to furniture.

"For food, gatherings here mean that the pre-Easter week is the second largest of the year after Christmas," he said.

"Traditionally in Northern Ireland, the four-day break encourages shopping trips for larger ticket items, like furniture and larger appliances."

Mr Connolly said that Easter would bring a welcome fillip to the sector.

"2017 has been a tough year so far for retail," he added. "Our footfall has been down since the start of the year and the political and economic instability can only have a detrimental effect on consumer confidence and spend."

And he said the Easter effect was particularly welcome as companies were now facing new pressures from the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and a rise in the national living wage.

"Retailers will be hoping Easter boosts retail sales in April, whether it's shoppers making the most of the holiday or those choosing to spruce up their homes," Mr Connolly said.

Glyn Roberts, the chief executive of Retail NI, said: "Definitely the timing of Easter will be better for retailers this year as the prospect of better weather should bring people out shopping."

Paul McMahon, the chairman of Belfast Chamber of Trade, said footfall in the run-up to Easter was up on the year before - but that it was due to the later timing of Easter.

"With some schools already on their break, we are seeing the benefits of increased spend across all sectors which we expect to be sustained in the coming week," he said.

John Apperley, co-owner of McAtamney Butchers - a chain of 11 businesses - said: "Definitely the next week or two will be busy - and the fact that Easter is a bit later this year will help.

"But it does depend on the weather. If it's good weather, people will definitely be out."

And Mr Apperley added some McAtamney Butchers would open on Easter Monday.

"We'll be open in Ballymena and Coleraine as Easter Monday and Tuesday are good shopping days in towns like that," he said.

Retailers in Ballymena also said they were anticipating a good Easter.

Alison Moore, manager of the Business Improvement District - set up to improve shopping in the town, said it had held a fashion event last Saturday to encourage visitors to the town over Easter.

"Retailers in the town reported a busy and successful day of trading," she said.

"As part of the event, several fashion bloggers reviewed the town's retail offering and as a result we expect further visitors to visit the town over the coming weekend and weeks ahead."

Ms Moore said Easter promotional events were also being held at Fairhill shopping centre, shoe shop McKillens and Bluebird Children's Clothing.

This week, research company Springboard said footfall in Northern Ireland's shops fell by nearly 4% during March, the second month in a row which had experienced a steep drop. Numbers had declined across all retail destinations.
Robson Green was appearing on Top Of The Pops during the meeting in 1995.

Robson Green has said he was once locked in conversation with Cat Stevens for 20 minutes before realising who the star was.

Green was performing with his then band-mate Jerome Flynn on Top Of The Pops in 1995 when he started discussing the music industry with Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam.

Speaking ahead of the release of the new series of Grantchester, Green, 52, said that Stevens came into their dressing room where they chatted for two hours.

He said: I only realised 20 minutes into the conversation that it was Cat Stevens/Yusuf. Eventually I asked, Whats your link with the music industry? He said, I wrote the song Boyzone are singing.

And I suddenly put two and two together and went, Oh my God, its Cat Stevens!

Stevens, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, wrote Father And Son and it appeared on his 1970s album Tea For The Tillerman.

Boyzone reached number two in the UK singles chant with their cover of the track in 1995.
Devastated Bangor parents Marty and Emma Bells daughter Josie died when she was just five months old from a rare lung condition and other serious complications. Here, her dad pays an emotional tribute - and offers a public thank you - to the medical teams who cared for her.

A distraught dad whose baby daughter passed away just three weeks ago has paid a heartfelt tribute to the courage of his little girl who smiled through a gargantuan battle for survival.

The heart-rending story of little Josie Bell's short life is told by her dad Marty who is bursting with pride and love for the five-month-old who faced a series of complicated surgeries. Doctors did everything they could to try and save the fragile infant, but months of dedicated care just weren't enough.

Little Josie passed away on March 24 leaving a huge gap in the lives of her devoted family, mum Emma (35), dad Martin (28) and young brother Ollie (5) and sister Ava (3).

The Bangor tot seemed in full health when she was born which made her illness, detected just before Christmas, all the more shocking. Doctors said they had never seen a case like it after discovering the two-month-old baby's lungs resembled those of someone aged 60.

Josie came through a series of complex surgeries, which her dad said she smiled through until the very end when she shut her eyes.

She passed away peacefully in her mum's arms. Since then the family has gone to spend time with relatives in England to grieve after losing their beloved little girl.

Marty says: "She was so brave and so determined and we are very proud of her.

"She overcame a lot of hurdles which I think many kids wouldn't have got through. There is no doubt that it was absolutely horrendous what she went through, but she smiled the whole time.

"It actually gave us precious time with her. It is very hard, though, and we have good days and bad days. But we are a very close family and we are supporting each other. The positive thoughts we have of Josie help us cope."

Josie came into the world "a little smiler" and for the first two months of her life she appeared normal, healthy and happy, grinning all day long.

In December she developed a cough and Emma took her to their doctor who suspected she had picked up a viral infection and advised keeping a close eye on her.

A day later on December 6, though, she was struggling to feed and her worried parents took her back to the doctor who immediately rang for an ambulance to take Josie to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she was treated for bronchiolitis and had to be resuscitated twice that night.

Her parents could never have guessed at that point that they would not get their beautiful baby girl home again or the major surgeries that lay head for her.

Over the next three months Josie came through many invasive operations on her tiny body and on several occasions it was thought she wouldn't make it, only for her to surprise everyone by pulling through.

In the end, though, her parents believe it was all too much for her.

Marty recalls: "When she went to hospital the doctors quite quickly put her on a ventilator which she stayed on from December 6 until March 24 when she passed away.

"CT scans were taken of her lungs and the doctor told us he had never seen anything like it before. Josie's lungs resembled those of a 60-year-old and they had no idea why.

"Four days after she was admitted to hospital she needed ECMO treatment which unfortunately wasn't available here and her only chance was to go to Glasgow where they had the ECMO machine, similar to a heart-lung machine used for open heart surgery, to oxygenate her blood."

After being taken to Scotland, Josie appeared to be doing well. Then on Christmas Eve her condition suddenly deteriorated. Marty and Emma received a night-time call summoning them to the hospital as she wasn't expected to make it.

Marty explains: "She looked really fragile and was critical, on the edge of passing away. She surprised everybody by rallying again and after a couple of days she was comfortable enough to come out of sedation. She was smiling and happy.

"You would expect the child to be miserable but she just kept smiling at us and really did look happy."

However, on January 3, doctors discovered a problem with Josie's heart. Her blood was overflowing into her lungs and de-oxygenated blood circulating in her body. A week later on January 10, she had to endure open heart surgery and, not for the first time, her parents were told to prepare for the worst.

Incredibly Josie woke up from the surgery with a beautiful smile on her face. Marty says: "It felt as though she was saying 'what are you getting upset about, I'm fine'."

Slowly she showed signs of improvement and doctors decided Josie was strong enough for a biopsy in an attempt to find out what was wrong with her lungs.

This involved yet more surgery. After the operation doctors decided to send baby Josie back to the Royal as she no longer needed the oxygen machine.

But Marty was worried it was too soon for his fragile daughter to make the journey. On January 30, Josie left Glasgow on a private jet with a medical team on board on her way back to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Josie travelled in an incubation pod but the pressure in the cabin caused one of her lungs to collapse.

She was stabilised back in Belfast, but then developed trouble feeding. And there was more bad news to come as specialists found out she had a problem with her bowel.

This necessitated more surgery on February 2 when she underwent an operation to repair her bowel. She also had an appendectomy simultaneously and a procedure to insert a feeding tube into her intestine.

Marty says: "She was critically ill. We were signing forms again for major surgery and she was very weak. We were told the chances were that she wouldn't come out of this surgery.

"But again she did well. She was still sedated and was having good days and bad days.

"Three weeks before she passed away the medical staff told us that they had got to the limit of what they could do for her. They had given her all the operations and medicines they could.

"There was nothing more they could do for her," he adds. "They had to keep her sedated as she would have been in a lot of pain and was on life support. We had to make the decision whether to switch the machine off or not. As a father and mother having to choose whether to let your daughter go... I just couldn't do it.

"We always believed she could fight this and she had fought it all with a smile on her face. Then she had a serious episode and was on the edge of death.

"We had just left the hospital to go home and see the other children when we got a phone call and rushed back up. They had managed to get her back. At that stage she had been sedated for three weeks and we hadn't seen her smile or her eyes open.

"We decided that Josie was letting us know she was tired of fighting. It was time to give her a break and let her go.

"She wasn't in any pain but they were running out of options. Had she woken up she would have been in a lot of pain and that helped us to make the decision.

"On Thursday, March 23, all of our family gathered and the kids took hand prints and foot prints of Josie. We took pictures and we spent the day with her.

"The next day it was just me and my wife and the medical staff withdrew the care. Emma said she had brought her into the world and she wanted to be holding her when she left the world.

"I held Josie and then my wife held her, and she passed away in her mum's arms.

"It always felt that Josie had done things exactly as she wanted to do. As well many major surgeries she had blood tests, scans, X-rays and 90% of the time she had a smile on her face.

"As hard as it was and as hard as it is now, we are immensely proud of how much she fought. Josie came through so much and we are just very proud of her.

"A lot of bad things are said about the health service but with Josie we saw the good side. All the nursing staff and doctors were amazing, and not just to our baby, but they helped my wife and I too.

"We are really happy with the level of care she had and everyone gave her every chance."

While it's early days for the family, Marty hopes in the future to raise funds for the hospitals who cared for his daughter to keep little Josie's memory alive.

He adds: "We want to try and do something to preserve her memory in a nice way and keep her name going."

Devastated Bangor parents Marty and Emma Bell's daughter Josie died when she was just five months old from a rare lung condition and other serious complications. Here, her dad pays an emotional tribute - and offers a public thank you - to the medical teams who cared for her. By Stephanie Bell
AUBURN  As a young Hispanic male growing up in the Bronx, Eli Hernandez and his brother-in-law had what many minorities call "The Talk."

"If you get pulled over, put your hands on the wheel," his brother-in-law said. "Ask permission. Act as if you have no rights."

Now, Hernandez is having that talk with someone else: the Auburn city manager and chief of police.

On Wednesday night, Hernandez was one of dozens of local leaders and community members who attended a public forum with Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler and City Manager Jeff Dygert. The event  a 90-minute discussion at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn  was organized by the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the NAACP to begin building a more positive relationship with city officials.

"I think that it's very important for all of us to make sure that we secure Auburn as a safe haven," said Hernandez, the president of the local NAACP chapter. "What has been happening all over the country, we don't want to ever happen here. ... Not in our town."

We don't have a specific problem in the city of Auburn," Butler added. "We've been lucky not to have a major incident like you've seen all across the country. But I'm not naive to the fact that it could happen at any minute.

That's why Butler and Dygert agreed to host the forum, giving the community an opportunity to discuss police and city relations.

Both the chief and the city manager shared their plans for the city's future, including an effort to increase diversity in the workforce while providing police officers with additional training in the field.

"We're trying to get a feel for how we can improve relationships within the city," Dygert said.

One way Butler said he hopes to do that is through anonymous surveys of both the police and the public  surveys that Syracuse University's school of public affairs has helped design. Those surveys will then be used to establish a strategic plan within the department to improve relations with the community.

This is a process. It's not an overnight thing, Butler said. But this is a great start.

And Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, a board member at Booker T. Washington, agreed.

These meetings are historical, she said. I've lived here over 40 years and this kind of communication has not happened. ... We are definitely on the right track to building a positive relationship with our city leadership.

"This gives me hope."
Nobody is saying a luke warm can of beer equates to a pint poured, left to settle and placed in front of you in the cosy surrounding of a welcoming pub. But the Easter drinking laws don't apply at the off-licence and most should be open as normal. It's worth bearing in mind that they close all day on Easter Sunday.

Visit a Belfast hotel and you WON'T get served before 5pm on Good Friday. If you are a resident, however, present your room key and the optics and taps are yours through the day.

Hop on the Ferry - out on the high seas the law doesn't apply, although you'd need good sea legs as opposed to hollow ones.

All aboard: Hitch the Enterprise south - licencing laws don't restrict service in the bar carriage on the Belfast to Dublin service. Although you can't drink on normal Northern Ireland Railways services. The Republic has similar licencing laws to our own, if you considered staying in the Fair City.

Pubs can't serve alcohol before 5pm on Good Friday - but there are places to legally get a pint.

It's that time of year once again when the Good Friday licencing laws leave a few of us baffled over when and where you can wet your whistle.

In Northern Ireland alcohol can only be served between 5pm and 11pm on Good Friday. Bars have to stop serving at midnight on Thursday and Easter Saturday. And on Easter Sunday, bars and restaurants have to stop serving alcohol at 10pm.

Off-licences are closed all day on Easter Sunday.

Click through the above pictures to see where and when you can get a drink - legally - before the pubs open.

Hospitality Ulster chief Colin Neill has said the sector is faced with losing out on 16million with the closure. Restriction in the Republic are set to ease next year in the Republic. Mr Neill warned that Northern Ireland could be left.

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Easter opening hours

FRIDAY APRIL 14

5pm to 11pm

Pubs and restaurants can open earlier than 5pm to serve food, but not alcohol.

SATURDAY APRIL 15

11.30am to midnight (If they have a late licence)

SUNDAY APRIL 16

12.30pm to 10pm

EASTER MONDAY

Back to normal.
More than 250 counselling sessions were held in Northern Ireland in the last year for children who are lonely. (NSPCC/PA)

More than 250 counselling sessions were held in Northern Ireland in the last year for children who are lonely.

Across the UK, more than 4,000 young people were counselled for loneliness in 2016/17. Some were aged just six.

The NSPCC said children were reaching out to Childline for help with feelings of isolation as they struggle with the pressures of growing up in today's society.

Latest figures show that in the last 12 months it delivered 4,063 counselling sessions - equivalent to 11 a day - to children and teenagers across the UK.

In Northern Ireland, Childline's two bases in Belfast and Foyle carried out 256 sessions.

Neil Anderson, who heads the NSPCC here, said it was a multi-faceted problem. "There is no single reason for this number of young people suffering from loneliness and as result there is no simple fix to the problem," he said.

"What is clear is that the world is becoming an increasingly complex place to grow up in with children and teenagers facing daily pressures to achieve what society defines as a successful life - grades, relationships, physical appearance.

"It is therefore vital that children and teenagers have people around them, in particular parents, who they can really open up to about how they are feeling."

This is the first year Childline has recorded loneliness as an issue, with children aged as young as six seeking help for the problem more commonly associated with the older generation.

Many young people said they feel invisible and misunderstood. Other factors include the growth of social media.

The NSPCC found 73% of counselling sessions about loneliness were with girls.

One 15-year-old girl who came forward said: "I've thought about ending my life because I think it's pointless me being here.

"I don't feel like anyone cares about me and I'm lonely all the time.

"I've tried to talk to people about how stressed and anxious I feel, but they're not bothered.

"It's like I'm worthless. Whenever I compare myself to other people, it makes me realise how pathetic I am. I wish I was different."
Northern Ireland drivers are paying 17% more for their car insurance than they did just a year ago, according to a newly released survey.

The latest Confused.com car insurance price index shows that drivers here are now forking out 943 for the average comprehensive cover - a rise of 135 on the previous year.

Female drivers in Northern Ireland have the third highest premiums of all women in the UK, with average premiums costing 925, an annual increase of 127.

Meanwhile, the average price for male drivers has been revved up by 142 to 958.

Of all motoring groups, 17 to 20-year-old males pay the heftiest insurance at 2,430.

In contrast, 66 to 70-year-old men pay the least, with their cover costing 421.

Across the UK, motorists are now paying just 77 less than the highest-ever average premium of 858, which was set in 2011, and prices look like surpassing this figure by the end of the year.

But the cost of the average premium could shift up another gear and pass the 1,000 mark in 2018 due to extra pressures imposed on the insurance industry.

These include a cut to the Ogden rate used to calculate payouts, which will see insurers handing over more for personal injury claims, as well as the insurance premium tax (IPT) increasing to 12% in June.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, a former chair of the Assembly's economy committee, described the increases as "a disgrace".

"These price hikes will add to the cost of living and will further stretch families," he said yesterday.

"I think that it is partially because we don't have the same competition in the market here.

"Often you will see adverts about deals and when you ask for a quote and put in your address you will find a big disparity with other parts of the UK.

"As many of us have found, the price drops when you shop around online, and I would certainly urge people to do so."

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, added: "Drivers in Northern Ireland are seeing car insurance prices accelerate, and there seems to be no signs of slowing.

"And as the industry adapts to additional pressures, such as the drastic Ogden rate cut and the hike in IPT to 12% from June this year, we could be on course to drive past the 858 peak we saw in 2011.

"As car insurance costs continue to climb, average premiums could even break the 1,000 barrier by next year.

"Thankfully, insurers are now required to show drivers their premium from the previous year at point of renewal.

"So, being able to compare the amount they paid in the previous year and armed with the knowledge that prices are rising across the board, motorists should be more inclined to shop around."
The DUP leader has promised to better understand the Irish language as she announced a series of meetings with supporters of the tongue.

Arlene Foster pledged to engage with those lacking party political baggage or demands.

An Irish language act is a key demand of Sinn Fein in exchange for returning to devolved government at Stormont.

Mrs Foster said: "We do want to respect and indeed better understand the language and culture which we are not a part of and, to that end, over the next short period of time, I do intend to listen and to engage with those from the Gaelic/Irish background, those without party political baggage or indeed demands, people who genuinely love the Irish language and don't want to use it as a political weapon.

"So I very much look forward to that engagement over the next short period of time."

In February, the former Stormont First Minister said more people spoke Polish than Irish in Northern Ireland and declared the party would never agree to an act protecting it.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said a deal to restore powersharing is being held up by disagreement over "mainly rights-based issues", such as language.

Mrs Foster said yesterday: "In terms of the Irish language, we firmly believe that it needs to be seen in the context of the whole cultural respect and affirmation of identity in Northern Ireland.

"We do recognise that there are people who love the language, who want to speak the language and be facilitated in that respect, but we also say that in respect of Ulster Scots and Orange and British identity that there needs to be respect held for those cultures as well.

"So it is about not just one side or the other, it is about mutual respect for everybody and that is the way in which we are approaching these negotiations; to have that affirmation of identity not just for one section of the community, but for everyone who lives in Northern Ireland and we think that is a very positive way forward."

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the party's MEP Diane Dodds had joined Irish language activist Linda Ervine recently, speaking to people in mainly-loyalist East Belfast about the issue.

He said: "It is important that kind of engagement takes place, we have no difficulty with that whatsoever."

Meanwhile, early May has been set as the latest deadline for the Stormont talks to restore devolution.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said he is likely to either announce another Assembly election - which would be the third in a year - or bring back some form of direct rule from Westminster in or around the middle of next month.

As meetings between the five main parties dwindled towards an Easter break last night - with no more round-table sessions expected until the week after next - Mr Brokenshire said he believed the gaps between the parties are "surmountable".

"But if no Executive is formed by early May, I will need to take further steps to ensure Northern Ireland has the political stability it needs," he said.

"This is likely to mean, however undesirable, either a second election or a return to decision-making from Westminster."

Mr Brokenshire, who has said there is no public appetite for either option, is attempting to achieve momentum in a talks process which gives every impression of becoming increasingly bogged down.

Despite the lack of any deal, there has been some progress. On dealing with the legacy of the Troubles, the last few weeks are said to have revived a high degree of consensus on proposals contained in the Stormont House Agreement.

On the controversial Irish language act, there are proposals in an options paper on legislation, which also includes Ulster Scots. It also sets out the possibility of combining the roles of an Irish language and Ulster Scots commissioner in a single post.

Other vexed issues include, however, setting a budget, a programme for government, a Bill of rights tailored for Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage and whether Mrs Foster should stand aside as First Minister until the inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal is over.

With the shutters coming down last night, Mr Adams pointed the finger at his party's power-sharing partners.

"The DUP are at a crossroads but the problem for us is that we don't know whether they know they are at a crossroads or not," he said.

But he also added that far bigger problems had been overcome in the past and rejected suggestions that the crisis would not have escalated if the late Martin McGuinness was still alive.

"We are not negotiating here for Martin McGuinness. Martin is gone - God rest him. We are negotiating for the future and Martin was about the future more than anything else," he said.

"The DUP in particular and the British government have not yet embraced the fact that the institutions can only go forward on the basis of rights for everyone.

"It's about rights for ethnic minorities, for unionists, for women, for gay and lesbian citizens and Irish speakers."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he was furious, angry and frustrated.

"I don't know how I can look at the public out there when I meet them over the next couple of days that once again we have missed another deadline. I don't think it's good enough," he said.

Ulster Unionist senior negotiator Tom Elliott asked why Sinn Fein could not await the findings of a commission into equality issues they had agreed to in the St Andrews deal. Accusing SF of "going through the motions", the MP said it appeared they did not want to see the Assembly and Executive "up and running".

If direct rule is implemented "it will be a long time before these institutions are back up and running. That's not to the benefit of Northern Ireland," he added.

TUV leader Jim Allister said that "mandatory coalition will never work. It is time to bury it".

"It is long past the point where we must recognise that it cannot work and move on," he said.
The project aims to generate 57 years' worth of research

Pictured (l-r) are director and chief executive of South West College Malachy McAleer, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) Gina McIntyre, and Jill Cush Head of Innovation and Business Development for South West College. Picture: Michael Cooper

A cross-border EU-funded project will generate almost 60 years of renewable energy research, promoters said.

The four-year scheme will be led by South West College in Northern Ireland and aims to develop new products and processes for sale.

It will also facilitate access to state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment to ensure research can be delivered to a world-class standard.

The Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) announced funding worth 5.8 million euro (4.9 million), to be matched by government departments in Belfast and Dublin.

SEUPB chief executive officer Gina McIntyre said: "The region as a whole is adversely affected by low levels of research and innovation within certain business sectors.

"The Renewable Engine project will help to address this through the creation of a new cross-border collaborative partnership that will generate industry-relevant research.

"This research will prove invaluable for businesses working within the renewable energy sector in terms of increasing both their competitiveness and profitability."

Upon completion, the project aims to generate 57 years' worth of research developed at PhD level and above.

The SEUPB added: "This research will lead to commercial advantage for the participating businesses, on both sides of the border."

Project partners involved within the creation of a "super cluster" include Queen's University Belfast, the Institute of Technology Sligo, the University of Strathclyde, Manufacturing NI, Action Renewables and Mid Ulster Council.
The IRA should issue posthumous pardons to all those killed by its security department on the watch of British agent Freddie Scappaticci, a former republican prisoner has said.

Anthony McIntyre last night said it would be hypocritical for republicans who campaigned against other miscarriages of justice to continue to rely on corrupted and contaminated evidence.

And he accused IRA and Sinn Fein leaders of engaging in a massive cover-up when Scappaticci was identified in the media as the top British agent Stakeknife.

Mr McIntyre was speaking after a BBC Panorama investigation linked Stakeknife to at least 18 murders.

A 35m inquiry  Operation Kenova  has been set up to investigate his activities.

The Ulster Unionist Party yesterday said that the inquiry, led by Bedfordshire Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, would be very uncomfortable for senior Sinn Fein figures.

And the party warned that the probe must not be compromised for the sake of the peace process.

Scappaticci was identified in the media in 2003 as Stakeknife, the Armys most senior known agent in the IRA. He has denied the allegation.

The Belfast bricklayer ran the IRAs security department, known as the nutting squad, for over a decade while working for Army intelligence.

Former IRA member McIntyre, who knew Scappaticci, said that the Provisional leadership had behaved disgracefully after the spy had been unmasked.

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Like the Catholic Church hierarchy in sex abuse cases, the IRA leadership acted to protect themselves and their own reputations by covering up the truth about Stakeknife, rather than reaching out to help those who had been wronged, he said.

Stakeknife sent dozens of people to their deaths as alleged informers.

Surely the IRA leadership is not going to continue to rely on the evidence of a British agent?

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Any case he was involved with is tainted beyond salvation.

The evidence cant be relied upon.

Republicans who were screaming about miscarriages of justice in the cases of the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four cannot remain silent on this, he added.

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Stakeknifes involvement makes the verdict reached against dozens of men and women gravely unsafe. Im thinking in particular of the executions of Charlie McIlmurray, Michael Kearney, Vincent Robinson and Anthony McKiernan.

BBC Panorama reporter John Ware has claimed that when Scappaticci was outed by the media, he decided not to flee the country but instead met two senior IRA figures.

They reached an understanding that he would issue a firm denial that he was Stakeknife, which the Provisionals wouldnt challenge.

After Stakeknifes outing, the Sinn Fein PR machine also swung into action. Martin McGuinness denounced the nameless, faceless securocrats making outrageous allegations against the west Belfast man.

Gerry Adams said that he would have to accept Scappaticcis claims of innocence and rebuked those journalists who had pursued the story.

Mr McIntyre said: The IRA leadership, who put people down holes for the slightest misdemeanour, effectively colluded with a top British agent to cover up his nefarious role in the deaths of Irish citizens.

Freddie Scappaticci continued to live in west Belfast and no senior Sinn Fein or IRA figure said a single bad word about him.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie yesterday said that the current investigation into Stakeknifes activities would be very uncomfortable for a number of senior republicans.

He insisted that, if there was any evidence of wrongdoing, then those responsible must be brought before the courts.

I sincerely hope that the Operation Kenova investigation into the activities of Stakeknife covers all angles, including looking at the inner workings of the republican movement, Mr Beattie said. It is crucially important that this investigation is allowed to proceed unhindered, no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient that may be for Sinn Fein.

In the past we have seen investigations dropped to facilitate the peace process. In terms of Stakeknife, it looks like the tentacles go right to the top of the republican movement in both the IRA and Sinn Fein.

Mr Beattie said he had received reassurance from the Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory that the investigation would examine IRA structures right up to Army Council level.

The UUP man said that there must be a clear and unambiguous statement from Sinn Fein that it would co-operate with the inquiry.
A mother who died after falling from a boat while on holiday in Northern Ireland slipped while checking its mooring ropes, police have said.

The woman's husband dived into the waters of Lough Erne but failed to find her.

The couple, from Co Donegal in the Irish Republic, were in a hired cruiser with their two young children when the incident happened shortly after 1am.

The dead woman was in her 30s.

The boat was moored at Devenish Island, a popular visitor attraction near Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

It is understood she was checking the vessel was securely tied to the jetty before going to bed when she slipped and fell into the water.

Emergency services found her body just before 2am. Intensive attempts to resuscitate her failed.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Inspector Clive Beatty said the woman's husband dived into the lough to search for her.

"Police arrived a very short time later with all the other emergency services and at 0154 hours we recovered a body from the water," he said.

"We performed CPR ourselves and transferred then to the ambulance who continued to conduct CPR until 0257 hours when unfortunately she was pronounced deceased at hospital."

Mr Beatty said the two children were asleep on the boat when their mother fell into the water.

"They are a family from Donegal and they were up here on holiday just for the Easter weekend," he told BBC Radio Ulster.

"We'd like to extend our sympathies to the family at this very tragic time."

Former Stormont first minister Arlene Foster, an Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, extended her condolences.

The Democratic Unionist leader said: "This is heartbreaking news for the area. I want to extend my sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of this young woman. The death of a young life will come as an immense shock to this area and in particular the woman's family.

"Lough Erne and Devenish Island is often pictured as a scene of beauty but today it is the scene of such tragic circumstances. I wish to thank the emergency services and the RNLI who attended the scene. As we enter into the holiday period, I would urge everyone to exercise caution while on the water."

Sinn Fein Assembly member Jemma Dolan said: "The news of the death of a woman in her 30s in a boating tragedy in Lough Erne near Devenish Island has shocked the local community.

"I'd like to commend the efforts of the emergency crews who came to the scene to provide assistance.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of this young woman from Donegal at this difficult time."

Enniskillen RNLI were tasked on Thursday morning to reports of a person in the water at Devenish West jetty.

A lifeboat was launched and assisted police in caring for the victim before transferring her to waiting paramedics on the mainland.

Local fire crew provided assistance on the mainland.

A statement said: "All involved at Enniskillen RNLI would like to pass on their condolences to the family and friends who are in our thoughts and prayers."
Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a security alert in the Pacific Avenue area of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 13th 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

A suspicious object which sparked a security alert in north Belfast was deemed "nothing untoward".

Pacific Avenue, just off the Antrim Road was closed and the Army bomb squad called to the scene.

Deputy Mayor or Belfast, Mary Ellen Campbell said a suspected pipe bomb was behind the alert and residents evacuated from their homes.

Police added: "A security alert which started earlier at Pacific Avenue in north Belfast has ended. Police say nothing untoward was found. The road has now been reopened to traffic."

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Exploratory drilling may soon begin at the site of the Central New York Regional Welcoming Center on South Street in the city of Auburn.

Drilling was supposed to begin Thursday and continue into Friday, said Jennifer Haines, director of planning and economic development for the city. It did not appear that drilling had begun on Thursday, she said, but she expected it to take place soon. Parts of the parking lot across from the Auburn YMCA at 25 South St. may be closed during that time, she added. It is expected to take a day or two.

Called geotechnical drilling, the work is part of a site investigation to know what may be in the soil. Haines said there used to be structures including the Women's Educational Industrial Union and two residential buildings on that site.

"We just want to make sure that we know what we're getting into," Haines said.

A traffic study of the area is also in the works and will help the city and designers determine pedestrian and car traffic flow to make the area safe. Haines said that study is expected to be complete in four to six weeks.

Haines presented more on the city's plans for the welcome center to the Cayuga County Legislature's Planning Committee meeting Tuesday night. The center, which will be built with state funding and operated by the city, will be designed by a Brooklyn-based firm called nArchitects.

The city has held several stakeholder meetings, she said, including with members of the YMCA, the Seward House, Auburn Public Theater and others. There are plans to hold a public meeting sometime in May to give updates on the center and get feedback. Haines said a date for that had not yet been scheduled. The city is also looking for feedback and suggestions about the welcome center on its webpage, auburnny.gov/Public_Documents/AuburnNY_WelcomeCenter/index.

The center, she told legislators on Tuesday, will promote central New York and the Finger Lakes Region, highlighting the lakes, tourism, wine, beer, agriculture and could also include I Love NY retail and Taste of NY products. There also may be office spaces with tenants, which could include the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District and the Cayuga County Tourism office. The center is slated to open in the fall of 2018.
The funding of Orange lodges and halls out of a Stormont grants scheme poses "major questions about the role of institutionalised bigotry", Sinn Fein has said.

Declan Kearney said money handed over by the Community Halls scheme had quadrupled from 500,000 to 1.9m on the watch of former DUP minister Paul Givan. He said: "It has been suggested that this scheme was in place to help groups which would not apply for funding from the Lottery scheme, reportedly because of a 'faith-based' reluctance to benefit from gambling.

"This explanation simply does not stack up, particularly following the revelations that Orange lodges and other groups which had supposedly not applied for Lottery funding did in fact do so."

"It now transpires that the Randalstown Ulster Scots Cultural Society will receive 8,500 in Big Lottery Funding for improvements to Randalstown Memorial Orange Hall, despite already receiving 25,000 from the Community Halls scheme."

He added: "The restoration of public confidence in the political process and re-establishment of the political institutions will depend upon transparency, fairness and equality in the governance of all public funds and decision-making. There is no place for any form of institutionalised bigotry in terms of public policy or government."
Clergy from various churches in Lisburn at last years Good Friday event

A Presbyterian minister is remaining tightlipped over whether he plans to take part in a popular cross-community Easter procession.

Rev Michael Davidson has refused to say whether he will attend tomorrow's annual event, where the head of the Presbyterian Church Dr Frank Sellar is expected to speak.

The Walk of Witness, where a cross is carried, has become a popular way for representatives from the main Christian churches in the city and the public to mark Good Friday.

It is understood that Rev Davidson, who was installed as minister of Railway Street Presbyterian Church in September 2015, did not attend last year.

The Walk of Witness takes place through the city centre and starts at 12.30pm.

In a statement, a Church spokesman said that attendance was a matter of "personal conscience", despite it being advertised on the Church's website.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Sellar will be at the walk, which he said he was "looking forward to".

The Church spokesman added: "It is anticipated that Presbyterians from a number of our local congregations will be attending this annual Good Friday's event in Lisburn.

"This year the Moderator, Dr Frank Sellar, has been invited to address the inter-church gathering and he is looking forward to the opportunity to speak about the sufferings of Christ on the cross leading to cleansing, forgiveness and new life to all who place their hope and trust in Him.

"No doubt some will be more comfortable with participating than others, and that ultimately is a matter of personal conscience, which no doubt we would all want to respect."

When contacted by the Belfast Telegraph, Rev Davidson said he had no comment to make.

He added: "I have plenty of Easter services and I am preparing for one at the moment."

One Railway Street Presbyterian Church member contacted the Belfast Telegraph to express their disappointment.

"We could have no representation there," they said.

It comes days after a Church of Ireland minister refused to take part in a similar event in Lambeg because of theological differences with the Catholic Church.

Rev Eddie Coulter said he held "deeply held theological disagreements" with Rome.
A mother and baby who narrowly escaped injury when thugs hurled a brick through a window just inches from where they slept have fled their Antrim home.

One-year-old Nadia Olivia would normally sleep alone in a cot where one of the bricks landed, but on Tuesday night her parents decided to bring her into their bed as she had been suffering from a cough.

Her father Patryk Grzechnik, a 24-year-old joiner originally from Poland, moved to Northern Ireland with his girlfriend Martyna two years ago in search of a better life.

Yesterday neighbours spoke of their anger over the attack on the family's home at Tarragon Park, branding it "wicked".

The racist thugs smashed two of the windows, throwing bricks through the kitchen window at the front of the house and the upstairs bedroom window right beside the bed where the family of three were sleeping.

Police are treating the incident - which happened at 2.20am yesterday - as a hate crime.

Mr Grzechnik told how the loud bang of the brick breaking the glass woke them up.

Shards were thrown across the bed and floor and a chunk of brick landed in the baby's cot.

He said he did not know why he had been targeted, adding that he was relieved no one had been injured.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: "I like it here and I like my neighbours.

"I don't know why this has happened to me.

"I think maybe because of Brexit some people don't like immigrants and they think of us because we are from Poland - but I don't know.

"My girlfriend is too scared to stay here now and she has taken Nadia with her. I will stay here, but I don't know what I will do next.

"My friends in Poland ask me why. But I like it here."

SDLP councillor Roisin Lynch was among those to visit Mr Grzechnik. She said: "The reckless thugs who smashed the windows in the home not only sought to terrorise this family, but they could have seriously injured a young child, who luckily wasn't in the cot that a brick landed in.

"Those responsible for this attack stand alone and against people in our town."

Alliance councillor Neil Kelly said: "This is an absolutely outrageous attack, carried out by a bunch of cowards who have no reason to treat others in this way."

PSNI Sergeant John Hamilton appealed for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

They can contact Antrim police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 80 of the 12/04/17. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sergeant-Major Francis James Joyces medals which fetched nearly 2,000 in an auction

Eight medals awarded to a Northern Ireland war hero have sold for nearly 2,000 at auction.

They were presented to Company Sergeant-Major Francis James Joyce, affectionately known as Paddy, who was born in Belfast in January 1877.

The sale price was more than double the sum expected.

Mr Joyce overcame a difficult start - at 13 he was staying at the Caistor Union Workhouse in Lincolnshire - and, at the age of 20, he joined the Army by enlisting in the King's Royal Rifle Corps.

He fought in numerous battles in the Boer War in South Africa.

In one of these battles, at Bakenlaagte on October 30, 1901, he was wounded after taking a bullet in his left arm.

He later recalled: "I took cover behind an ant-heap but it did not stop the bullet through my left arm, just a sharp twinge, that's all, not enough to stop me firing whenever I could get my man.

"They were now within 50 yards. I had visions of them rushing us and felt for my sword-bayonet. I had left it behind - the only time I had ever left any kit behind.

"However, the loss of my sword saved my life. For I know that with it I would have stood up to attack."

Attached to the ribbon of Mr Joyce's Queen's South Africa 1899-1902 medal are six clasps, one for each of the major battles at which he fought during the Boer War. They are Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Cape Colony and, by coincidence, Belfast.

Mr Joyce fought at the Battle of Belfast, which took place in the Mpumalanga Province in August 1900.

After surviving the horrors of the Boer War, Mr Joyce went on to serve in Malta, Greece, Egypt and India.

Then in 1915, during the First World War, he was in action in France.

He spent more than 20 years in the Army before returning to England and settling at Winchester, where he died at the age of 59 on April 27, 1936.

Yesterday his eight medals sold at Spink in London for 1,920, more than double the 700-900 they had been expected to fetch.

The medals were his Meritorious Service Medal, his Queen's South Africa 1899-1902 Medal, his King's South Africa 1901-1902 Medal, his British War and Victory medals, his 1914-1915 Star, his Delhi Durbar Medal and his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

His Meritorious Service Medal, with its distinctive crimson and white-edged ribbon, was awarded for "meritorious service by those members who are of irreproachable character with at least 20 years of service and already hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal".
A protest calling for the return of the girls

Ministers have stressed their commitment to tackling Islamic extremists in Nigeria on the third anniversary of the mass abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls.

More than 270 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram from a school in Chibok, in north east Nigeria, in an event which sparked an international outcry and led to a global Bring Back Our Girls movement supported by former first lady Michelle Obama.

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood and International Development Minister James Wharton issued a joint statement condemning the actions of the "barbaric terrorists" and calling for the return of the stolen girls.

Nigeria announced the release of 21 schoolgirls in October after negotiating with the extremist group but at least 195 girls remain captive.

It comes days after Nigerian security officials foiled an attack by Boko Haram on the British High Commission in the capital Abuja.

Mr Ellwood and Mr Wharton said: "Our thoughts are with the Chibok girls who remain missing, their families and all those abducted by Boko Haram.

"We are working side by side with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and call for the release of all those who have been taken.

"During our visits to Nigeria last year, we heard how people's lives have been devastated by Boko Haram.

"We are committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against these barbaric terrorists."

The Foreign Office travel advice for Nigeria warns of "a continuing high threat from terrorism" and "major towns and cities remain particularly at risk".
The vast majority of Taser uses in 2016 were non-discharges

Police in England and Wales deployed Tasers at a rate of 30 times a day last year, new figures show.

Forces recorded a total of 11,294 uses of the devices in 2016 - a rise of 904, or 9%, on the tally in the previous 12 months. Of these, five "uses" were due to accidental discharges.

Home Office statistics show that the number of instances where the weapons were discharged fell in 2016.

Of the known 11,289 uses, 17% (1,910) were discharges - a decrease of 10, or 1%, on 2015.

Of the 1,910 discharges, 92% (1,755) were fired, which was a rise of 26, or 2%, on the previous year.

Instances categorised as "drive stun" and "angled drive stun" accounted for the remaining 155 discharges.

The vast majority of Taser uses in 2016 were non-discharges , with 9,379 in this bracket - an increase of 11% on the previous year.

Red-dot was the most common type of use, accounting for 51% (5,744) of the total uses in 2016.

This is where the device is not fired but deliberately aimed and then partially activated so a laser red dot is placed onto the subject.

The new figures relate to use of the Taser X26, which will be replaced by a new device, the Taser X2.

Authorised for use earlier this year, t he X2 model can be fired twice if it misses or does not subdue the target on the first go.

Taser use has been at the centre of controversy in the past after a number of deaths.

Surveys carried out by rank-and-file police associations have indicated there is strong support for the equipment to be issued to more frontline officers.

Che Donald, lead on Taser for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "There has been a fall in the number of times Taser was discharged, which demonstrates that each use of Taser is proportionate to the manner and threats faced by officers.

"More than 80% of uses were non-discharges - with the number of red-dot uses making up more than half of all Taser usage.

"This shows that by virtue of possession of a Taser, police officers are gaining compliance of members of the public. This is further evidence that greater roll-out of Taser across the service would be beneficial."

Policing Minister Brandon Lewis said: "Taser is an important tactical option to help specially trained police officers resolve potentially violent situations safely.

"However, any use of force by the police must be lawful and proportionate.

"These statistics provide important insight into the police's use of Taser.

"But we're going even further, and from April 1 all officers will be recording who Taser and other types of force are being used on, the location and outcome of any incident, along with the ethnicity and age of those involved bringing unprecedented transparency to police use of force."

Lucy Wake, Amnesty International UK's government and political relations manager, described the figures as "alarming".

She said Taser "should only be used in a strictly limited set of circumstances, namely a threat to life or the risk of very serious injury".
MORAVIA  The Moravia Central School District Board of Education has adopted the proposed 2017-18 district budget.

School Business Administrator Jeff Lawrence and Superintendent John Birmingham presented the budget at a school board meeting Wednesday that had few changes from the version presented at the previous board meeting.

The tax levy increase for the district is 1.84 percent, while the tax cap for the district set by the state is 3.14 percent.

The budget will see a 3.94-percent spending boost, at $22,382,141.

The recent state aid increase for the district, $103,930 more than the figure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal from the earlier in the year, will not alter the budget dramatically, Lawrence said.

"Just because we're getting more state dollars doesn't mean we have to run right out and spend it," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said if the district has extra funds by the end of the next fiscal year, that money will be directed toward reserves.

"Because there are some things down the road that we want to accomplish, and that money will then lower the impact of the tax burden on the community," Lawrence said.

Six retirements at the end of the year will create approximately $103,000 in salary breakage. An elementary school special education teacher and a teaching assistant will also be added to staff.

In regard to the teachers' retirement system pension funds, rates will see a dip, resulting in an approximated savings of $100,000.

Additionally, health insurance rates are set to remain flat, with a minor bump from new teachers who might take health care benefits and retirees accepting health care.

The district will also propose the purchase of three 66-seat buses.

Voters will head to the polls May 16 to vote on propositions, the budget and board of education candidates.
Maria Ridulph was just seven years old, when she was murdered.

A Belfast-born man has been cleared of the murder of a seven-year-old girl in the United States.

Jack Daniel McCullough (77) was convicted of murdering Maria Ridulph in 2012 and jailed for life.

She was abducted while playing with a friend near her home in Sycamore, about 50 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, in 1957.

The Belfast man was only a teenager at the time and he wasnt arrested and convicted of the crime until more than 55 years later, after a career in the US military and later as a police man in Seattle.

Last year evidence was uncovered supporting his alibi that he was in a different city, attempting to enlist in the US Air Force, at the time of the brutal murder which shocked the States at the time.

The FBI concluded that Mr McCullough could not have driven the 35 miles in a 22-minute time span and therefore could not have committed the crime.

Lawyers for Mr McCullough have said they could pursue legal action for the wrongful conviction.

Mr McCullough was born in Belfast and moved to America with his mother at the age of seven.
Negotiations are continuing with Boko Haram over the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by the extremist group, Nigerian officials say.

The government "has gone quite far with negotiations", Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Wednesday night.

He spoke shortly before Friday's three-year anniversary of the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls from a village in the country's north east. At least 195 of them remain captive.

Nigeria in October announced the release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls, saying for the first time that it had been negotiating with the extremist group, mediated by the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The government denied a ransom was paid and that it had freed some detained Boko Haram fighters in exchange for the girls.

At the time, officials said they were pressing on with negotiations and expected the release of a second group of 83 girls "very soon".

No more have been freed.

Mr Osinbajo indicated that Nigeria has faced some challenges in the latest negotiations but did not give details, citing security reasons.

The failure of Nigeria's former government to act quickly to free the girls sparked a global Bring Back Our Girls movement.

Members of the movement demonstrated on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, demanding that the government does more.

The vice president said securing the safe release of the schoolgirls and others held by Boko Haram is "a matter of conscience".

Nigeria's military in the past year has rescued thousands of Boko Haram captives while liberating towns and villages from the group's control, but many have been detained as possible Boko Haram suspects.

The Nigeria-based Boko Haram's seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes, with millions facing starvation.

AP
Northern Ireland is an English-speaking community with two indigenous minority languages, Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots. However Sinn Fein continue to demand a stand-alone Irish Language Act, with Irish Gaelic as an official language in Northern Ireland alongside English. They want to ignore our linguistic plurality and replace it with a divisive linguistic polarity.

That is why the demand by Sinn Fein for an Irish Language Act continues to be one of the areas of contention in the current political negotiations.

Much of the debate has been about the cost of such legislation and it was noticeable that when the Gaelic League published its proposal for an Irish Language Act, with an estimated cost, the head of another Irish language group suggested that this was an underestimate. Sinn Fein are evasive about both the content and the cost of an Act but some things are clear.

Actions speak louder than words and the actions of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are an example of the strident approach of republican politicians.

New council signage has Irish as the first language with English relegated to a secondary position and just in case anyone isnt aware of that Irish first policy, the council has erected 18 Irish-English boundary signs on roads leading into the council area.

Such signs have not received a universally warm welcome and already some of them have been defaced with the Irish words painted out.

Most unionists regard the Irish first signs as simply ethnic territorial marking by Sinn Fein and the SDLP. The first language on the signs is not the language that is shared and used by almost everyone in Northern Ireland, whatever their creed, culture or politics, but a minority language which is totemic for just one community.

So would an Irish Language Act mean the introduction of such Irish-English signage across Northern Ireland?

Well some years ago a Sinn Fein minister proposed the introduction of Irish-English road and traffic signs so we know its part of their vision.

Meanwhile, Translink are consulting on the introduction of Irish language signage on buses in Londonderry.

There is already bilingual Irish-English signage on buses in nationalist west Belfast and Translink propose to introduce such signage in Londonderry as a pilot on one route and with the intention of rolling it out across the city.

A stand-alone Irish Language Act would move this process into top gear and provide a legal basis for implementing the Sinn Fein vision of an overwhelmingly Gaelic Northern Ireland, one that would be a cold house for unionists.

The Irish Gaelic language is a totemic language for Irish nationalists and republicans and that was illustrated in the recent census in the Irish Republic. Most people there like to have Irish as the first official language of the state but only 1.7% speak it every day!

We have two indigenous minority languages in Northern Ireland, Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots, and both are part of our cultural diversity and cultural wealth.

Both have a rich history and impact on our lives every day. Many of our place names are Anglicised versions of Gaelic names while some are derived from Ulster-Scots words.

At the same time our Ulster dialect draws heavily on the Ulster-Scots language and to a lesser degree on Irish Gaelic.

The Belfast Agreement made substantial commitments to Irish Gaelic in response to demands from Sinn Fein, while ignoring other linguistic and cultural traditions.

Those commitments have facilitated the growth of Irish-medium education and broadcasting. However, they have not provided the basis for a shared and better future, based on equality as well as diversity.

The census in the Republic is a stark reminder of the totemic nature of indigenous minority languages, especially Irish Gaelic, and fundamentally the contention in Northern Ireland is about cultural identity more than language.

If we are to build that shared and better future we need a proper engagement around these matters and that will take time. All our indigenous cultural identities should be valued, not just one.

The attitude of Gerry Adams and Michelle ONeill may persuade some into considering a quick fix, but that would be a mistake.
It was interesting to read the letter by Diane Dodds last week regarding Gibraltar.

I certainly hope that she will put as much energy into getting the best deal possible for Northern Ireland as she appears to be seeking for Gibraltar.

Of course I am sure that Diane Dodds does not need to be reminded that her party supports Brexit - the very thing that has resulted in Gibraltar being in this potential mess.

I hope she's happy now.

Worried

Carrickfergus
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, along with Michelle ONeill and other party colleagues, speaks to reporters at Stormont

Hands up who knows what the key sticking points are in the Stormont talks?

Anyone?

Is it too much to expect the parties to publicly spell out just what the problems are?

We all have a bit of a stake in the stalemate, after all.

Of course, we know the main issues which have been under discussion - legacy, Irish language, Brexit, same sex marriage etc.

But what precisely are the seemingly unbridgeable gaps between the parties?

Take an Irish Language Act, for example.

Are the DUP and UUP opposed to any legislation on the subject, no matter what it contains? Is it just the title of the proposed Act, or the fact that it wouldn't cover other languages?

Or are there more concrete areas of disagreement on how far to promote the use of Irish in the public sphere and the estimated costs involved?

If it's principally about the cost, how much are they talking about?

Then there's the legacy dilemma.

We've been told for many months that progress is being held up by disagreement over national security - particularly the extent to which disclosures relating to the Troubles could be blocked on national security grounds.

Presumably, the talks have looked in great detail at potential mechanisms for deciding when disclosures could be withheld - and who would take such decisions.

Any chance we could see just what has been proposed, what has been ruled out by one side or another, and why?

I am, of course, being hopelessly naive once again.

Negotiations happen in secret. Parties don't reveal their hands.

It's a game of poker, disguised as a game of chess, masquerading as a downhill ski slalom. Or something like that.

But there is an infuriating vagueness, a slackness of language that is adding to the feeling of deja vu all over again, the mood of 'can you all please just stop'?

I still keep reading that power-sharing collapsed over RHI. Really? Over a problem that at its worst would have cost around 0.2% of the Executive's annual current account spend?

It was plainly about much more than RHI.

There's a need for more frank speaking on legacy too. Whatever can be agreed at talks is inevitably going to be limited, when it comes to dealing with the past.

It's not going to give victims what they actually deserve - their loved ones back and the years of pain rubbed out.

Any mechanisms established for looking into the past will also lead to few, if any, fresh prosecutions.

And expectations of full truth-telling about Troubles actions should be managed too. Memories will have faded, witnesses will be unreliable or just not there anymore. And that's before we come to all the vested interests in keeping secrets under wraps.

There's loose talk, meanwhile, on the idea of London-Dublin 'joint authority' in the event of the Stormont talks failing.

Few people spell out what they actually mean by the phrase. Do they mean London working hand in glove with Dublin when it comes to big decisions about this place?

That's already been the case for many years.

Or are they actually talking about Northern Ireland being shifted out of the UK? Into a new, hybrid constitutional position where day to day government - including running and funding public services - is jointly done by London and Dublin ministers?

Who thinks that's even close to the thinking of either Theresa May or Enda Kenny? And how would it fit with the consent principle in the Good Friday Agreement?

The joint authority talk is partly fuelled by the idea that it was on the agenda if the 2006 St Andrews Agreement hadn't been struck and implemented.

But what was talked about then was a much more vague "British-Irish partnership" that didn't have to mean very much at all.

Ian Paisley used that "threat" to justify his power sharing U-turn, but that spin has no bearing on where we are today.

Where we are is where we've been since all the March 2 votes were counted.

It's a mess that can be fixed, but might not be.

Surely a bit more plain speaking and blunt honesty would help a bit?
Pictured is Kyle Hewitt, who was arrested by State Police for allegedly pouring bleach into the gas tank of what he thought was the vehicle driven by someone he was engaged in a dispute with. The vehicle actually belonged to someone who was not involved in the episode.
On the days when I need to heat up my lunch and am waiting for the microwave oven to do its job, I often find myself staring in amazement at a copy of a framed 1873 page from a predecessor paper, the Auburn Daily Advertiser.

The front page has eight columns of content. The left two columns are devoted to news reports, one locally focused and one with dispatches from around the globe. The rest is filled by dozens of advertisements, mostly text, hawking all kinds of products: steam engines, stoves, German lessons, "millinery goods," seltzer, wallpaper and many more items.

In short, it looks nothing like the pages of today's newspapers.

How we got from the look of that page nearly 150 years ago to today would be a fascinating anthropological study. But I'm confident that one big driver of the years of changes is a continuous quest to make our products better.

Newspapers and newspaper websites are must evolve. We try every day to provide articles, photos and videos that our readers will want to see, and we aim to do it through a convenient and clear format. Feedback and a lot of trial and error result in frequent adjustments to the way we go about things.

That brings me to a few changes we've made with content and presentation in recent weeks. They're all aimed at doing things a little better.

One is the launch of a new look for our nation/world page in the print edition. Although our mission is to be, first and foremost, a provider of local news and information, we know that many readers also want us to give them a rundown of the biggest stories beyond our market. The new nation/world page format attempts to provide a more engaging design while also including a wider variety of stories. Prior to making this change last week, our nation/world page would typically have two to four stories. Now we have a design that still does that, while also finding room for briefs or roundups that bring the total number of topics covered up to about 10 each day.

A change in local content that started in recent days is a tweak to our "Look Back" feature in the Lake Life section. For several years, this glimpse back at what was in our paper on different dates in history included images on Sundays only. It turns out, that's by far the most popular day of the week for the "Look Back," so we've now tweaked the presentation to have a photo every day.

A final change came about as a result of a reallocation of staff time. At the start of the year, facing a shortage in available employee hours, we stopped collecting and publishing enterprise listings from the Cayuga County Clerk's Office. That content was taking a considerable amount of time to gather and type up for publication. Now we've figured out a way to bring back enterprise listings that pertain to business entities, and they will be featured about once per week, on our records page in print and the records section online.
March was a bloody month in Bangladeshs war on terror  the single deadliest month since terrorists laid siege to a cafe in Dhaka in an Islamic State-claimed attack that left 29 dead in July 2016.

At least 30 people were killed amid a flurry of bombings, grenade attacks and other types of violence that began March 6 and unfolded as Bangladeshi security forces launched counter-terrorism raids nationwide. Eighteen suspects, three law enforcement officials and five children were among the dead. (See timeline)

Officials and security experts said militants have re-organized and are bolder now, resorting to new tactics and more powerful explosives. Moreover, 10 of the slain militants died by blowing themselves up  a tactic rarely seen in Bangladesh since 2006.

The bombs recovered from the JMB are much more powerful than those they used before, Sanowar Hossain, an additional deputy commissioner with the Bangladeshi polices counter-terrorist branch, told BenarNews.

The sudden prevalence of suicide bombings is yet another sign that local militants have developed links with the so-called Islamic State (IS), according to Nur Mohammad, a former police chief in Rajshahi district, where banned domestic group Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was born.

What happened is the JMB got connected with the destructive IS ideology. Like the IS, the JMB radicalized the youth with the misinterpretation of Islam that they would straight go to heaven if they were killed in suicide bombings for the cause of Islam, Mohammad told BenarNews.

This is an undeniable fact that the local militants belonging to the JMB have connections with the IS, he said.

Sanowar Hossain pointed to a 10-kilogram (22-pound) bomb found in a bag recovered from a man who died in a blast at a police checkpoint at the entrance to Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on March 24. At least six police personnel were injured while trying to defuse the bomb, he said.

[T]he militants are regrouping with renewed violent strength. They are not eliminated; they went into hibernation following the death of their members in police raids after the Holey Artisan cafe attack, security analyst Sakhawat Hossain, a retired brigadier general, told BenarNews.

More Musas may emerge

At least 59 suspected militants have been killed in 16 raids carried out by police and security forces since the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe siege in July 2016.

They include Tamim Chowdhury, the alleged leader of the cafe attack, killed in a raid last August; and the man who took over for him as commander of Neo-JMB, a faction that embraces IS ideology.

Mainul Islam, alias Musa, was killed in a 72-hour operation against a militant hideout in northeastern Sylhet district in late March, police said.

Musas killing was a blow, but more Musas may emerge in the future, a source in the Bangladeshi polices counter-terrorist branch told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

Neo-JMB militants stockpiled huge quantities of bombs and explosives at dens that were raided last month in Sitakundo, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Comilla districts, another police source told BenarNews.

Sources cited an intelligence report detailing how the Neo-JMB had become more organized following the death of Chowdhury, a Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen. The group has recruited a pair of bomb experts who have experience working in Syria. Between December 2016 and February 2017, Neo-JMB added other recruits, the sources said.

Origins

Neo-JMB is an offshoot of JMB, which was founded in 2003 with the mission of turning Bangladesh into a state governed by Sharia law. In 2005, JMB carried out 600 simultaneous bombings across the country, but they resulted in only two deaths.

JMB became dormant for several years after its founder, Sheikh Abdur Rahman, and his second-in-command, Siddiqul Islam (Bangla Bhai), were executed in 2007 for the bombings two years earlier.

But they were not finished. They have come up full strength. Not only JMB, al-Qaeda subscriber Ansarullah Bangla Team has been very powerful and active in Bangladesh, Shafqat Munir, a research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, told BenarNews.

ABT is a group that local police have blamed for targeting secular bloggers, intellectuals and gay-rights advocates in killings that took place in the country from February 2013 to May 2016.

But while Bangladeshi authorities have killed many more suspected Neo-JMB members than they have arrested, the chief of the national polices counter-terrorist branch recognizes guns and firepower alone arent enough to eradicate the militant threat.

The authorities need to attack extremism at its roots, developing a more comprehensive approach to help young people resist the lure of joining radical groups, Monirul Islam said.

Counter-terrorism programs at present are largely limited to police operations but they need to be expanded, he said.

Militants cannot be eliminated in this way. The religious affairs ministry, education ministry, information ministry and cultural affairs ministry must work together. We need a separate program for those who are in jail, Islam told BenarNews.
Bangladesh is preparing to kick off the Bengali New Year with a colorful parade deemed by UNESCO as part of the worlds heritage, but fundamentalists in the Muslim-majority nation are calling for the festivals cancelation, saying it promotes non-Islamic values.

Unease over the encroachment of hardline Islam ideology on Bengali culture has been deepened by what many see as concessions made to fundamentalist groups in recent days by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mangal Shobhajatra, the parade that starts the new years festival known as Pohela Boishakh, is a long-standing tradition that brings together thousands of people of all faiths and backgrounds and celebrates Bangladeshs cultural richness and diversity. This years Mangal Shobhajatra procession will take place on Friday.

Symbols of non-Muslims are used in Mangal Shobhajatra. It is not acceptable to make the majority people observe this kind of event, which are performed by infidels, Maulana Abdul Latif Nejami, chairman of the conservative group Islami Oikkyojot, told BenarNews.

The Mangal Shobhajatra, an integral part of Pohela Boishakh, was introduced by fine arts students at Dhaka University in the 1980s to add a colorful procession to the first day of the Bengali year. The celebration has spread to other cities, as well.

In 2016, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Mangal Shobhajatra to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

But just five months after the UNESCO listing, Islamic groups are demanding a ban, saying the celebration contradicts the tenets of their religion and is not part of their countrys culture.

Government officials have responded by imposing a series of restrictions on celebrations across Bangladesh, citing security concerns.

Among those restrictions is a directive from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to conclude new years celebrations by 5 p.m. During the past week Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has been warning that all people who participate will be subject to a body search by police, and that festive masks and horns will not be allowed.

The restrictions caused Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, an alliance of cultural organizations, to drop its programs at Rabindra Sarobar in the capital Dhaka, even as members plan to celebrate the Bengali new year.

We will defy their threats and celebrate Pohela Boishakh with more festivity and enthusiasm this year, Sammilito Sangskritik Jotes Ramendu Majumder told BenarNews.

Concerns over religion

Secular groups have criticized recent moves by government officials, including a statement made this week by Prime Minister Hasina to a group of Qwami madrassa members that she does not like the new Statue of Justice that stands in front of the Supreme Court, because it is not Islamic enough. She said she would meet with the chief justice to discuss its removal.

Conservative Muslim groups had been staging streets protests in recent weeks demanding that the statue of the woman wearing a sari and holding the Scales of Justice be removed.

The womans statue holding the scales cannot be the sign of justice. Allah is the sign of justice and the Quran is the rule of justice. Erecting a scale-holding Greek or Roman statue at the Supreme Court premises in a Muslim majority country like Bangladesh is in no way acceptable to the people, Mohiuddin Ruhi, the joint secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam, a national organization of teachers and students at madrassas, told BenarNews in February.

Government officials also recently agreed to recognize the madrassas Dawra-e-Hadith degree as equivalent to a masters degree. Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury questioned the move, telling The Daily Star the education system implemented by the madrassas  Islamic boarding schools  is not comparable to mainstream education.

Previously, educators expressed concerns over changes being made in textbooks following demands from Hefazat-e-Islam, whose influence is coveted by the ruling Awami League and opposition parties to win votes.

Violence

Previous Pohela Boishakh celebrations have been met with violence, including in 2001 when a bombing by Islamic militants killed at least 10 and injured 50 people. Other terror attacks in different venues over the years have also targeted cultural activists, secular writers and publishers and people of different faiths.

More recently, someone defaced a Pohela Boishakh mural at Chittagong University on Wednesday. That same day someone partially erased the description from the Dhaka University monument Memory Eternal, consisting of names of university teachers, students and staff who died while fighting for Bangladeshs independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Islami Tradition Protection Committee, an alliance of Islam based political parties, has been carrying on protests against the new years celebration.

Mangal Shobhajatra is not any part of Bengali culture, committee member Maulana Sultan Mohiuddin told BenarNews. Symbols of the deities of a particular religion are carried in Mangal Shobhajatra. This cannot be continued in a Muslim majority country.

The minister of cultural affairs defied any threats.

The celebration will be more jubilant this year, Asaduzzaman Nur said. To curb militancy is a priority for this government. Political movements are not enough to resist militancy, so cultural movement is a must.

Fine arts students at Dhaka University craft projects for Mangal Shobhajatra, the Bengali New Year's procession, April 4, 2017. [Newsroom Photo]
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Throughout this years budget process, lawmakers heard a lot about the need to bring New York states criminal justice system in line with the rest of the nation and pass Raise the Age. Yet for many people from the Finger Lakes region, there is another criminal justice reform that needs to be enacted, legislation that hits close to home, but has stalled in the New York State Assembly for several years.

That legislation is Brittanys Law.

This important public protection measure is named for 12-year-old Brittany Passalacqua. In 2009, Brittany and her mother, Helen Buchel, were brutally murdered by Helens boyfriend, John Edward Brown. The killer had been released from prison where he was incarcerated for inflicting domestic violence on his infant childa heinous crime that Helen was unaware of and vital information that could have saved them both.

To help prevent further tragedy, Brittanys Law would require convicted domestic violence offenders to register with the state Criminal Justice Division upon parole or release from incarceration, hospitalization or institutionalization. This information would be disseminated to the public via a registry similar to the one for sexual offenders.

In todays information driven world, knowledge, more than ever, is power, and in cases like Brittany Passalacqua, it can be lifesaving. Like sexual abuse, perpetrators of domestic violence are often repeat offenders, prone to escalating violence. By creating a registry of these violent offenders, we can help keep New York safe for everyone.

This year, I will join with state Sen. Cathy Young as a co-sponsor of Brittanys Law to pass the bill in the New York State Senate. My only hope is that now my Assembly Democrat colleagues will pass Brittanys Law and the governor will sign this important criminal justice measure into law.

Pam Helming

Canandaigua

Helming is senator for the New York State 54th Senate District
The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information.

These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community.

They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth.

In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind!
PHOENIX -- State senators voted 16-14 Wednesday to require judges to void citizen-backed initiatives if they are not in "strict compliance'' with every requirement of Arizona election law.

HB 2244, approved by the Republican-controlled Senate with only one GOP lawmaker dissenting, would scrap existing laws and long-standing court rulings that say that groups seeking to create statutes at the ballot box need only "substantial compliance'' with the law. That has been based on findings by judges that the intent of circulators and signers was clear and that voters were not deceived.

Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, said the changes will make it more difficult for groups to get their questions before voters.

He said it means that technical violations would void otherwise legitimate petition drives. And Quezada sought to narrow the scope of the legislation.

For example, Quezada proposed that a petition could be voided if the text of a ballot measure submitted to the secretary of state is not identical to what's being circulated. But other errors, like stapling a copy of the text to the petition instead of having it on the petition itself, would be judged under the looser "substantial compliance'' law.

That proposal was rejected.

But Republicans were more sensitive to criticism that adopting a "strict compliance'' requirement could lead to invalidating an initiative solely because the margins are too narrow or the size of the typeface is too small.

They agreed to an amendment by Sen. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, requiring the secretary of state to prepare a sample initiative form. More to the point, it spells out that circulators are presumed to be strictly complying with the law if they use that form.

Montenegro said this should take care of problems that can occur when initiative backers create forms but reproduce them using a printer or copier that might spit out versions that don't meet those margin and typeface mandates.

"If any committee goes on that site, downloads that form, uses that form, they'll have 'safe harbor' because they are strictly complying to what that initiative petition should look like,'' he said.

Those changes, however, were insufficient to satisfy Democrats who said this bill -- along with two others being pushed by Republicans -- is simply an attack on the right of voters to propose their own laws.

Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said the framers of the Arizona Constitution created the initiative process to ensure voters have the opportunity to act. He argued that quashing ballot efforts because they don't meet certain technical requirements violates that right.

"I don't care if this is scrawled on the back of a piece of bark peeled off a cottonwood tree,'' Farley said. "I want these petitions to be accepted if they are genuine electors,'' he continued, arguing that he believes the measure will be found unconstitutional.

Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, however, said the additional requirements are necessary.

She said the 1998 Voter Protection Act bars lawmakers from repealing or significantly altering anything approved at the ballot. That constitutional measure, approved by voters, followed a decision by lawmakers the prior year to effectively repeal a 1996 law legalizing the medical use of marijuana and other otherwise illegal drugs.

"There is no way now to protect the people if there is unseen consequences in initiatives that are passed,'' Allen said.

"It is completely false,'' Quezada responded.

He said lawmakers, with a three-fourths vote of both the House and Senate, can amend voter-approved measures to fix technical problems. The only requirement is that the change "furthers the purpose'' of what voters approved.

And Quezada said there is a remedy if lawmakers truly believe that an initiative is harmful and should be repealed: Send the measure back to voters, something that needs only a simple majority.

"That's why it's called the Voter Protection Act,'' Quezada said.

"The Voter Protection Act protects the people,'' he said. "It doesn't protect us. The people are being protected from us.''

HB 2244, which now needs House approval, is part of a three-bill package being pushed by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business interests in the wake of the decision by voters last year to increase the state minimum wage immediately to $10 an hour, going to $12 an hour by 2020.

HB 2404, forbidding paying petition circulators on a per-name basis, already was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey. And SB 1236, awaiting debate, would make the organizers of initiative drives liable for fines for violations of election laws committed by petition circulators.

Backers of the changes said they are trying to protect the integrity of the initiative process. But Allen made it clear she is focused in particular on the newly approved minimum wage hike.

"The unseen consequences of that we can't fix,'' she said.

"I have so many small business owners not knowing what they're going to do to face this bill,'' Allen continued. "And they were outnumbered in that election by those who take these wages.''

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro, D-Tucson, said she foresees a legal challenge if Ducey signs this measure into law. She said it is up to the courts, and not the legislature, to decide how to interpret the constitutional right of voters to propose their own laws.

"And it will yet again waste taxpayers' money like we've done so many times,'' Dalessandro said.

Montenegro tacked on another amendment to require the secretary of state to prepare a handbook of rules and regulations for initiatives ahead of each election and make that available on its web site. He said that should help initiative backers be in strict compliance with the law.

But there's a political element to all of that: Montenegro already has announced he intends to challenge incumbent Michele Reagan in next year's GOP primary. And Reagan was the subject of an investigation last year by the attorney general's office last year after Reagan failed to update the broader election manual ahead of the election despite a requirement that the manual "shall'' be updated before every election.''

Michael Bailey, the chief deputy attorney general, acknowledged that Reagan adopted unique interpretation of that law. But he declined to pursue the matter, saying the current law on handbooks is not absolutely clear and, no matter what, Reagan committed no criminal offense.
Last month the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled two Muslim women, one in Belgium, the other in France, who were dismissed by their employers for wearing headscarves did not suffer direct discrimination. This was on the basis that employers are within their rights to ban visible political or religious clothing and symbols in the workplace as long as it is part of a requirement for all staff to dress neutrally.

This is contrary to an earlier ruling by the European Court of Human Rights upholding the rights of employees to display religious symbols at work. The ECJ ruling has been interpreted by some as Islamophobic, given the ramifications will likely impact Muslim employees due to their Islamic clothing and symbols being seen as far more objectionable and less neutral than clothes and symbols associated with other religious traditions.

The decision also prompts debates about the extent to which views that were formerly the preserve of the far-right about Muslims and Islam have begun to shape and inform the political and policy mainstream thereby having the potential for Islamophobia to become increasingly unquestioned and worryingly normal.

For more than a decade now, Europes far-right milieu has been shifting their ideological focus away from the historical threat posed by Jews and Judaism to the contemporary equivalent presented by Muslims and Islam. Citing the alleged Islamification of certain European cities  of which the greater visibility of Muslim women has been a recurrent discourse - the argument goes that Muslims will eventually destroy the very nation states that in the words of the far-right had generously sought to afford them a new home. For the far-right, its all part of the Islamic invasion.

At its most extreme, this line of argument was justification enough for Norways Anders Behring Breivik who, shortly before killing eight people with a bomb in Oslo and a further 69 at a summer camp on the island of Utya, uploaded a manifesto to the internet that sought to justify his actions on the need to resist the Islamic invasion of Europe in order to protect the continents identity, culture and values. Germanys Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund (National Socialist Underground) and Swedens Peter Mangs have put forward something similar.

Islamophobic campaigns have also brought about unprecedented success for some from within the far-right also. For example, the British National Party achieved unprecedented electoral success in local, European and London mayoral elections on the back of campaigns such as Islam Out of Britain and Islam Referendum Day. Elsewhere, those such as Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) in Belgium and the Dansk Folkeparti (Danish Peoples Party) in Denmark have achieved similar.

It is not uncommon in Europe for Islamophobic messages to feature in the discourse of those in the political mainstream either. Some examples include the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who stated that Milan would soon be an Islamic city or the Sverigedemokraterna (Swedish Democrats) which called for measures to limit the birth rate of Muslim migrants to the country. Most recently  and most resonant with the far-right - the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban referred to the current refugee crisis being part of an Islamic master-plan to take-over Europe.

The normalisation of Europes Islamophobia is most concerning however when it can be shown to go against the liberal values upon which contemporary Europe is founded; fairness, equality and liberty among others. For some, this is explicitly stated as with the self-declared socialist Pim Fortuyn whose political ideology  and that of his political party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (Pim Fortuyn List) - was informed by the perceived incompatibility of Muslims and Islam with the liberal way of life he stated was definitive of the Netherlands.

In France, left-wing movements such as Resistance Republicaine (Republican Resistance) have recently protested holding placards bearing slogans such as Islam out of the Louvre and No to the Islamisation of Alsace-Lorraine.

In France too, its ban on the wearing of the niqab or full-face covering worn by a small number of Muslim women continues to be justified on the basis that such a garment has no place in a secular, liberal society. Similar bans also exist in Belgium, Switzerland and Bulgaria as also some parts of Germany and Italy.

Maybe the most shocking were the scenes that accompanied the forcible undressing of Muslim women on a number of French beaches last summer due to locally imposed bans on the wearing of burkinis. Most striking though was the lack of any concerted or vociferous protest against those womens human rights from within either the social or political spaces. Instead, debates raged about why too much clothing on a beach could be seen to be a threat to us and who we are. The same could be said of last weeks ruling by the ECJ when the socio-political response failed to even constitute a whimper.

An interesting comparison can be made to the United States and the response to Trumps proposed Muslim ban. Aside from legislators and politicians in various states seeking to overturn the ban, the response by thousands of ordinary Americans was to take to the streets and protest against what they saw was the undermining of American values. For ordinary Americans, Muslims were the victims rather than the cause. In Europe, rarely are Muslims seen to be the victims irrespective of what injustice they have to endure or what spurious allegations are made of them. Maybe Trump is providing us with a timely distraction behind which we can hide just how normal our Islamophobia might be.
Pannar Seed, a DuPont seed business in Africa, recently announced the appointment of a local leading agri-input supplier, Elgon Kenya Limited, as its distributor within Kenya for its maize hybrids. Through this strategic collaboration, Elgon will distribute selected Pannar maize varieties to farmers from the beginning of the 2017 sales season.

Hans via pixabay

The collaboration with Elgon extends a long-standing relationship with DuPont and aligns with our strategy to address, through collaboration, the challenges which impact the productivity of Kenyan smallholder farmers, said Humphrey Kiruaye, commercial head of DuPonts seed business in Kenya.

Elgons strong presence and breadth within the market will augment our footprint and address these challenges by giving Kenyan maize farmers access to seed in the market."

Elgon Kenya Limited is the largest agri-input supplier and has a vast supply chain network across Kenya. The company offers farmers a one-stop shop for agrochemicals, seeds, and fertilisers.

A call on farmers to embrace hybrid seeds

The Elgon Kenya Ltd managing director, Bimal Kantaria, called on farmers to embrace certified hybrid seeds since this is the first step towards better yields and success in farming.

We have to adapt to changing conditions and ensure that our farmers have easier and timely access to varieties that can comfortably feed them and the nation. We are glad our collaboration with Pannar is steering this resolve forward, Kantaria said.

Maize is a staple crop and a significant contributor to Kenyas economic and social development, providing jobs, income, and food. The country currently has a national average maize yield of about two metric tons per hectare, which is below the yield of the US yield of 10 tons per hectare.

By adopting hybrid seed and using improved farming inputs and techniques, participating farmers will be able to achieve significant productivity gains and increase their yields two-fold or more.

Elgon Kenya is the largest agri-input supplier company in Kenya with a firm grip in other sectors such as cereals, seeds, irrigation, tea and coffee which attract the bulk of food producers in Kenya. The company has rolled out key interventions and low-cost innovations targeting smallholder farmers, such as miniature irrigation kits, low-cost greenhouse sheeting materials, fertiliser packaging, a farmers clinic programme, and an annual reward scheme now in its fifth year.

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Safrea unravels the fake news phenomenon

Fake news, post-truths, alternative facts - call it what you will, there's a definite need to cut through the clutter of bias, opinion and untruths getting published as hard news. Here's what Herman Wasserman, professor of media studies at UCT and Lauren Green, senior analyst at BrandsEye mentioned at Safrea Cape Town's recent fake news event.

The month kicked off with news of an international alliance set to combat the spread of fake news and improve public understanding of journalism across the globe. Its a positive step as fake news is simply everywhere these days, especially online where there are fewer gatekeepers than before. This means anyone can publish news at the click of a button, spreading misinformation and damaging the credibility of the publishing industry overall. Thats why theres a strong local move against fake news too  at 6pm on 23 March, the South African Freelancers' Association (Safrea) Cape Town hosted a fake news event. On the night, speakers Wasserman and Green discussed the rise of fake news in South Africa and abroad, and how media professionals can buck the trend. Wassermans main points are summarised below Herman Wasserman, professor of media studies at UCT. We're living in a 'post-truth era', where public opinion is shaped by ideas that appeal to emotion and personal belief rather than objective facts. The media ecology has changed with a move to online commercial media, cutbacks to investigative journalism, the sharing economy and the 'filter bubbles' we find ourselves in  confirmation bias. Fake news plays into these fears, biases and preconceptions. On the point of what consumers can do to ensure theyre linking to credible online news sources, Wasserman recommends making use of fact-checking services and platform tagging through Google and Facebook. We also need greater media literacy in terms of learning how to spot fake sites, and a rising trend amongst users as creators and curators to take responsibility and think before sharing. Doing so will strengthen links between journalists and audiences in doing what fake news producers won't  investigate, analyse, contextualse, research and connect not only facts, but truths that resonate. I also chatted to Green post-event Lauren Green, senior analyst at BrandsEye. Talk us through the current scourge of fake news. What has led to this, and whats the result on reliable publishers, advertisers and readers alike? Talk us through the current scourge of fake news. What has led to this, and whats the result on reliable publishers, advertisers and readers alike?

There are important distinctions to be made within the holdall category of fake news. There is no doubt of the increase in explicitly fake news based on content lacking veracity but we also have, for example Donald Trump lambasting the media who disagree with him as being fake news.

White House Correspondents Dinner will be full of lying Neocon hacks, ignorant morons & #FakeNews propagandists pic.twitter.com/hoSycwGBza  Ian56 (@Ian56789) April 11, 2017

Media bias is something that has always existed in subtle ways  more recently weve seen the rise of a so-called alternative online press, whose bias is significantly more explicit (i.e. Breitbart). Also, within the context of fake news, there should be a distinction between highly sensationalised click bait news and content that aims to shift political or social discourse.

Social media has obviously led to an increase in the dissemination of this content  its no longer limited to face-to-face interaction or dark corners of the web. There is also the added legitimacy of stories being shared by respected authors, close friends or acquaintances. Actor James Woods, for example, tweeted a lot about voter fraud during the US election.

What we saw when we analysed the reaction to a fake story about Hilary Clinton being endorsed by an Isis leader is that fake news can have real traction. Through our crowdsourced analysis we found that 87% of the authors who shared this article believed it to be true. In what appears to be confirmation bias in action, the motive for sharing fake news was that it bolstered their reasons for distrusting the candidate. When the FBI announced that no wrongdoing had been found within the email scandal, this story received very little traction.

Simply lumping all these categories together may be a reason for citizen confusion and in this context of blurred boundaries, it may be that citizens themselves are not making distinctions between bias or content that contests their world view, alternative online press and explicitly fake content. This obviously has the possibility of seeding distrust of any news source.

Definitely. Whats the difference between fake news that originates in SA to the rest of the world then? Definitely. Whats the difference between fake news that originates in SA to the rest of the world then?

The SA online news sites producing fake content with sensationalist headlines, e.g. On his first day in office, Donald Trump said he will arrest Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and SIX other African leaders before the end of February.

Or theres, South Africa offers Khama Billiat, Tendai Ndoro and others permanent residency so they can play for Bafana Bafana. These seem only to be aiming at clickbait. These sites produce a mixture of fake and true stories, more often than not accompanied by incredibly sensationalist headlines. We dont seem to have a prevalence of hyperpartisan sites as in the US and elsewhere in the world.

South Africas fake news disseminated through social media, particularly through Twitter, appears to be politically motivated. Our analysis on the paid Twitter phenomenon has shown that there is a clear attempt to undermine the treasury and defend the Guptas.

How can we each do our part to squeeze out fake news? How can we each do our part to squeeze out fake news?

The first rule is for people to never share articles they havent read in full! Also, if citizens are reading from an unfamiliar source they should do their best to investigate the source. If an article seems too outrageous to be true, consumers should first check what other credible news sources have followed the story.

Hopefully we dont see the kind of confirmation bias we saw in the US, which allows fake stories to travel far further than they should. But as the conversations around fake news and media bias become more commonplace, hopefully consumers will become more discerning. Africa Check has created a great guide on this.

Seems its up to everyone to get things back to a clear moral, ethical standpoint. Dont believe everything you read...

Click here for more from BrandsEye on fake news and click here for more from Safrea, which regularly holds free events for its members.
Following its reacquisition from Tiger Branded Consumer Goods of South Africa, the Nigerian Dangote Flour Mills has returned to profitability after four years of losses.

Thabo Mabe, CEO of Dangote Flour Mills.

It has posted a profit before tax of N11.82 billion for its financial year ended on 31 December 2016.

Review of the results indicated that the groups operating profit went up to N16 billion, compared to a loss of N8.6 billion posted at the preceding year. Profit after tax went up to N10.6 billion in contrast to a loss of N12.5 billion in 2015.

Revenue went up by 120% from N48 billion to N105 billion, while gross profit increased by 556.8% to N29 billion compared to N4 billion in 2016. Capital market analysts described the companys performance as heart-warming given that the company had recorded losses in the past.

Dangote Flour Mills consist of Dangote Flour, Dangote Pasta and Dangote Noodles. Having reacquired the flourmills, the new board of directors and management started a restructuring process.

Speaking on the repositioning, the chairman, Dangote Flour Mills, Ighodalo Asue, said, We bought back Dangote Flour Mill from Tiger Branded Consumer Goods and by this move, it means we have a stronger, better, sophisticated and more focused company.

Since the takeover, we have taken many steps to reposition the company through expansion to drive growth. We are also using this medium to restate our commitment to increasing our shareholders.

The group chief executive officer, Dangote Flour Mills, Thabo Mabe, attributed the return to profitability to several strategies adopted by the company to increase market share and create value for shareholders. He noted that the company was driven by the vision of putting its products on the table of every Nigerian.
A R4bn titanium dioxide pigment (TiO 2 ) production plant is planned for the Richards Bay industrial development zone (IDZ).

The plant, a technology partnership between Nyanza Light Metals and Avertana of New Zealand, will utilise waste steel slag that Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium has been stockpiling at its Witbank operations - about 45m tonnes, which equates to about 200 years of project life.

South Africa consumes around 35,000,tonnes per annum (tpa) of titanium pigment, mainly in paint manufacturing. The Nyanza project will produce 50,000 tpa of titanium dioxide pigment, which it will sell locally and export to the rest of Africa and the Middle East.

Job creation

The agreement follows a successful pre-feasibility study coupled with piloting studies conducted between 2015 and 2017 by Nyanza and its technical partners. About 550 permanent jobs and 1,200 indirect jobs are anticipated when the plant is fully operational, with 800 being created during construction. Building of the plant is expected to start in 2018, with production scheduled to begin in 2020.

New technology

The project will bring new technology to South Africa and help the governments industrialisation programme and efforts to add value to the South African mining and mineral processing value chain.

Avertana, which has developed a proprietary process to extract titanium from the waste steel slag, refines titanium as well as other industrial minerals and chemicals from steel waste, with a lower carbon footprint than existing processes and with minimal residual waste.

The overall manufacturing process is novel and unique and will be a world first. This is largely because conventional processes use purer feed stocks such as rutile and ilmenite, which have titanium content ranging from 50% to 96% while Nyanzas feed stock has a TiO 2 content of 32% or less. The focus of the feasibility studies has been to develop a unique process and demonstrate that we could use this waste steel slag and produce a world-class grade pigment, says Donovan Chimhandamba, CEO of Nyanza.

Market

Titanium dioxide pigment is the most widely used white pigment in the world, accounting for about 70% of the pigment market. Due to its unique opacifying and whitening capabilities, it is used in everything from paints and coatings, cosmetics, and foods to papers and plastics.

Global annual demand for titanium dioxide pigment is estimated at about six million tonnes, equating to approximately $15bn, with the paints and coatings sector accounting for more than 57% of demand. Titanium dioxide pigment prices in 2011 reached heights of $4,300 per tonne.

Successful implementation will see the following benefits accrue to the country:
The Green Talents - International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development was launched in 2009 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and honours 25 young researchers each year. The 2017 competition is now open for entries.

Sustainable development means finding a balance between the need for socio-economic development, the protection of the environment, and the preservation of our earth for present and future generations. These topics of global political relevance demand international research cooperation. The 2017 Green Talents competition will address these topics with a special focus on the theme of Sustainable Production and Consumption.

Long-lasting contacts between up-and-coming talent and established experts have an important role to play here. This is why the Green Talents competition aims to build up an extensive, interdisciplinary network of experts from science and industry to work together on the opportunities, and creating liveable and decent conditions for all, explains minister and patron of the award Johanna Wanka.

Access Germanys research elite

Since its inception, the award has recognised 182 young researchers and scientists from 51 nations for their outstanding achievements and contributions to making their communities, countries and societies more sustainable. The award winners are selected by a jury of German experts and are granted access to Germanys research elite.

The 2017 Green Talents award includes an invitation to the fully funded two-week Science Forum 2017, consisting of:

a visit to leading German science and research facilities with unique insights from experts at these institutions,

individual appointments with German experts of the winners choice to discuss opportunities for research and cooperation,

networking opportunities at the award ceremony in Berlin with participating Green Talents alumni,

a fully funded research stay of up to three months at an institution of the award winners choice in 2018, and

exclusive and unique access to the Green Talents alumni network.

Deadline for submissions is 23 May 2017, 12pm CEST. For more info, download the competition flyer or go to www.greentalents.de.
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is on a mission to make the city more disabled-friendly by improving accessibility to all tourism hotspots.

Konstantin Labunskiy via 123RF

Raising awareness about the struggle of disabled people, the metro has trained tour guides to be sensitive to the needs of those with disabilities and avoid marginalising them. There are about 100,000 disabled people in the Bay.

The municipality, with the East Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, hosted a workshop at Kwantu Towers yesterday to raise awareness about the need to accommodate disabled tourists. Guides from Port Elizabeth companies attended the workshop, which looked at ways to communicate and physically prepare their businesses for disabled customers.

Avoiding incidents where disabled tourists feel helpless

For freelance tour guide Willy de Jong, 76, disability awareness will help avoid "stupid" incidents. "I have been a tour guide for more than 22 years now and I have come across stupid incidents that would have been easily avoided if we had known better," De Jong said.

He referred to a recent incident where a wheelchair-bound tourist could not get into a taxi being used as a shuttle because there was no ramp. "In the past, we were forced to use boards to create a ramp but now we can use portable ramps," De Jong said.

"This helps avoid an incident where they feel helpless."

The Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities' executive director in the Bay, Brian Buizuidenhout, said more workshops should be held as disabled people were marginalised in tourism. "It is important that we understand that everybody deserves their space and recognition.

"People with disabilities are tired of being ignored in terms of facilities that are made available."

Including disabled people in the tourism economy

Bezuidenhout said the metro needed to invite the 100,000 disabled people in the city to contribute to the economy. "They are an important part and they are not helping the economy in terms of tourism because the facilities are not in place," he said.

Lungton Tours owner and tour guide Lunga Ngabaza said even though he had never had to accommodate a disabled customer before, the workshop had helped him to prepare for it. "Why would you leave a customer behind just because they are physically challenged? That alone is a reason why more tour guides ought to be involved," Ngabaza said.

Promoting universal access

The workshop was in line with a commitment made by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism last year to pursue awareness and training on how to ensure people with disabilities felt welcome in the city.

Economic development, tourism and agriculture political head Andrew Whitfield said it was important to constantly promote universal access and ensure that visitors with disabilities felt welcome in the Bay.

He said the campaign also included sign language training, designed to encourage tour guides to develop the skill further and facilitate the best experience possible.

Source: Herald
Part of attracting investment to a country is education. This is no difference in Africa. The advantage the continent has is that it does not need to replicate the West, instead it can look at what is on offer globally and choose the best.

This is according to Tony Blair, former prime minister of the UK who addressed VIPs, the media and delegates at Monash South Africa as part of a panel discussion on Preparing higher education and skills for an international world at Monash South Africa, in Gauteng.

African countries need to make education a priority he said. As prime minister, education was a priority for me, however, if I was back in office today, I would make it an even bigger top priority.

No substitute for education

There is no substitute for education and this applies not only to primary education, but also tertiary education, that is university education, and to be successful, a country must have at least one world-class university. One good institution serves as an example to others. The lessons are clear, universities, like any other institution of a country, must be of a high standard and run properly.

He said todays world requires a mix of public and private providers. State institutions often need to be shaken up, and while this can be a difficult lesson, it can be very necessary.

Adding to this, he said that countries need to look outside of themselves. There is a huge market of ideas in the world today, go out and explore and bring back the best. Get outside providers if that is what it is going to take, he said.

Technology is vital

Education today is about learning to be creative. The accelerated pace of change is the single biggest characteristic of the world today. Therefore, you have to be equipped for tomorrow. Technology is vital here, not only in teaching young people how to use it, but teaching them how it works in the workplace.

Young African people are very happy and committed to their countries. Therefore, apart from education, governance and security are important for countries so that their citizens feel safe and secure. Young people will not stay if they feel there are no opportunities or if they feel unsafe. For young people to stay and work in Africa, governments need to think about what they want and need. Where there is a well-run government, there is never a shortage of young people.

Government also needs to devote funds to education. Like everything else, there is a way of doing it well and a way of not, and sometimes it is the most basic of things that need to be fixed, like teachers turning up. There is no point of enrolling a child if there are no teachers, he said.
As part of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities Programme, Durban aims to create a city that will survive and thrive in spite of environmental and societal changes. To this end, Tongaat Hulett, Dube TradePort Corporation and the eThekwini Municipality have entered into a partnership to develop a resilience framework for the northern area of Durban.

An aerial view of the uMdloti River from the N2 to the sea.

The key corridor of land identified for this project stretches from the Ohlanga River in the south to the uThongathi River in the north and includes the uMdloti River. It extends inland to the outskirts of Verulam and beyond Tongaat into the Buffels Kloof area.

The project arose out of an acknowledgement that economic development is key if we are to alleviate poverty, which is an imperative at national, provincial and local government level, explains Rory Wilkinson, planning director of Tongaat Hulett Developments. In order to achieve this, cities need to grow in a way that optimises land use, infrastructural provision and promotion of investment which will generate inclusive economic development, while managing the pressure urbanisation places on the natural environment through large-scale land transformation.

Sustainable approach to development

All parties acknowledge the need for balanced, sustainable development, based on enhancing the ecological footprint and incorporating a process towards obtaining both agreement on the extent of this footprint as well as an approach to development in the region. At the heart of the framework is the effect on degraded wetland habitat in the region, much of which is under sugar cane.

All partners recognise the need for growth and development to overcome poverty and to provide economic upliftment for the community and that this should not come at a cost to the natural environmental assets which need to be preserved, protected and, where possible, enhanced.

The concept of resilience means that business, government and society generally need to move beyond the concept of sustainable development to the ultimate goal of creating environments that are adaptive to change, explains Hamish Erskine, CEO of Dube TradePort Corporation. By building ecosystems that have the capacity to respond to development-induced changes, we will be ensuring that we are creating a lasting impact on the well-being of our people. Our partnership in driving this northern development area is one of the cornerstones of this principle. Our continued efforts need to be integrated and our strategies need to be aligned in order for us to collectively accomplish this goal across our land holdings, which may prove to be a model for development throughout the region.

Limiting impact on natural environment

In the case of Durbans northern corridor, resilience means avoiding impacts on the natural environment wherever possible and seeking synergies that lead to enhancement of ecological performance wherever possible. If this is not possible, then impacts need to be mitigated appropriately. The development and preservation of greenbelts in the estuarine regions of the three river systems, referred to as receiving areas is key to this mitigation and enhanced resilience. These ecosystems play a critical role in water purification, flood attenuation and maintenance of the areas natural biodiversity, all of which are important in adapting to the likely negative impacts of climate change.

Consultants BiomimicrySA, Eco-Pulse Environmental Consulting Services and GroundTruth have undertaken studies which have led to the development of a wetland management framework that provides for wetland gains and losses within the existing mitigation hierarchy and ultimately, the environmental rehabilitation of these consolidated offset receiving areas to compensate for wetland losses in an area where environmental thresholds have already been exceeded. This, in turn, provides mitigation for where wetlands will be impacted upon by proposed development. The project is a pilot initiative between the three partners, and the learnings from this experience could help to inform how developments and environmental impacts are managed in future.

Proactive rehabilitation

We are looking to exceed the loss from the developments with proactive rehabilitation and enhancement to reach a position of net gain of environmental functioning in the region, adds Wilkinson. This will ensure a solution that addresses the issue of an integrative approach to urban development. Through adopting a holistic rather than piecemeal approach, we can achieve the best ecological functioning and social and economic gains. We envisage the partnership between the eThekwini Municipality, Tongaat Hulett and Dube TradePort as one which creates a joint future for the expansion of the city and its environs.
The Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum's newest exhibit, Todos Unidos: The Hispanic Experience in Flagstaff., focuses on how Hispanic residents experienced Flagstaff from the 1880s to 1950s.

Todos Unidos is an opportunity to explore a wide range of complex historical issues interpreted through objects and immersive text. The exhibit presents the connection between past and current topics facing the community. The public grand opening of Todos Unidos is set for Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Todos Unidos will be on display for one year.

Debuting with Todos Unidos is Cuseum - a new way of interacting with visitors. Cuseum is a free downloadable smart phone app that will assist visitors in the exploration of Flagstaffs communities. By providing access to exclusive exhibit media content and location based notifications, visitors can continue their museum experience long after they leave Pioneer Museum.

Built in 1908 as the Coconino County Hospital for Indigent, the Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum showcases Flagstaffs history from 1882 to the present. The museum is located at 2340 N. Fort Valley Road. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $6 (adults), AHS members and veterans free. For more information, call 774-6272.

Humanities showcase documents contemporary human experience

During the Northern Arizona University Humanities in Action Showcase, students, faculty and staff will share their research and insights about the evolving human condition. The free and public showcase is Thursday from 4-6 p.m., at Ashurst Hall on the NAU campus.

The Humanities in Action Showcase highlights research work about northern Arizona trends, how humanities and the arts enhance life, how to build bridges of understanding across professions, and more. Faculty and students from the Departments of English, Global Languages and Cultures, History, the Honors Program, the School of Art, Philosophy in the Public Interest, and the Interdisciplinary Writing Program/the University Writing Commons, will present posters, works of art, music and/or spoken word, and short talks on topics including: the arts and the technological revolution; traditional and contemporary Navajo identity; films within films; teaching global diversity to create local tolerance; the value and importance of philosophical conversations; climate science and the literary arts; and designing sustainable housing for the homeless and a harbor in Havana.

Humans continue to use philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language as modes of expression to understand our world, said Alexandra Carpino, interim associate dean for NAUs College of Arts and Letters. Knowledge of these records of the human experience provide us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection with the past, present and future.

For more information about the showcase, call 523-8801.
Businesses are faced with a host of new opportunities and challenges as they introduce new digital tools and services within their organisations for the benefit of both their customers and employees. The need to effectively educate, manage, and empower their employees as they work through transitions and become accustomed to the changing workplace and business landscape are among these challenges.

Galina Peshkova via 123RF

Lyndy van den Barselaar, managing director of Manpower South Africa explains that the digital age presents opportunities for business and economic growth. According to a report released this year by Siemens, the adoption of digitalisation by African countries could add $300-billion (about R4 trillion) to the continent's economy by 2026, with South Africa poised to derive the majority of the resulting benefits.

Empowering employees in the digital age

Naturally, the evolving business landscape and the addition of advanced digital tools are spurring the need for new skills in order to empower employees and businesses alike. Empowering employees in the digital age involves increasing both the authority levels and accountabilities for the employees, by implementing policies and creating an environment conducive to knowledge sharing.

Employees who operate a specific function within a business develop their skills daily, in so far as they know exactly what works efficiently and what doesn't, and have creative ideas on improving situations and solving problems. They become experts without the power of exercising their expertise. Empowerment makes it possible and takes it a step further by creating opportunities for them to gain experience, learn new skills and generate knowledge  which is particularly important where new technologies and platforms are being introduced.

Employee empowerment benefits individuals, managers and the overall productivity of a business, and if adapted to well, can result in employees becoming more involved, stimulated, and feeling valued, explains van den Barselaar.

She states that employee empowerment can be achieved in three ways:

Firstly, through providing the necessary training for the digitalised employee or customer, since digitalisation is not only about improving what businesses do with technology, it is about changing businesses through the adoption and use of technology. Digitalisation often alters the way businesses interact with their employees or how they are able to create a unique value proposition using technology. Shifting toward a fully digital working environment can be an ongoing learning process. It is important for an organisation to assess the gaps between the current and required skills and implement training to ensure these gaps are closed, she explains.

Secondly, through setting goals and looking ahead. It is important that employees have a clear idea about the outcome of various tasks, as it empowers them with a broader perspective of the organisations overall mission, vision, goals and, strategic plans. The better an employee understands his or her job, and how it contributes to the overall success of the organisation, the better equipped they are to make informed decisions in this regard.

Thirdly, through granting adequate authority and a human-focused strategy. Empowerment implies accountability, along with the freedom to make decisions. The performance management process helps to create the accountability for results and the outcomes of decisions the employee makes through ongoing communication and the performance review process. Performance reviews become even more imperative when new technologies are introduced, as they provide a platform for discussion around the use of these technologies, their role in the business and how the employee is adjusting to the use of such technologies, says Van den Barselaar.

Technology has enabled companies to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalised experiences, not only for their customers but also for their employees. Empowering employees and providing relevant technologies assists in building a satisfied workforce, resulting in higher-quality work and productivity, she concludes.
Sandra Gordon, head of Pam Golding Properties Research, provided advice at the inaugural Property Buyer Show on what to look for when investing in property.

You have to do your homework, she said, in order to identify the areas of the market that are performing well. You can't base your investment decisions on oversimplified data as the South African property market incorporates a wide range of performances that are driven by a number of factors.

Gordon pointed to three fundamental factors, according to Savills, that are crucial in determining how the property market works: demographics, affluence, and availability of land and housing. Where these three factors are positive, she said, the property market is generally buoyant.

Bottom-heavy population pyramid

South Africa currently has a bottom-heavy population pyramid with two thirds of the country's population under the age of 34; 34 is also the average age of the first-time property buyer. "If you've got all of those people coming into the market, it pushes everyone else up the property ladder," explained Gordon, and they are already having a huge impact on the market. According to data from Ooba, loans issued to first-time buyers rose from 40% in 2007 to 55% in 2015. While this has dropped a bit since then, due to the economic sensitivity of first-time buyers, it is anticipated in the long term that that percentage will continue to rise. "In terms of sheer numbers," said Gordon, "South Africa has a strong positive for the local housing market."

The stand out regional market of late has been the Western Cape, with semigration to the province from the rest of South Africa becoming increasingly popular. According to FNB's data on repeat buyers, 17.4% of all sales in the Western Cape were to people in other provinces, particularly from Gauteng - this is another major source of demand for the Western Cape housing market, said Gordon. Cape Town, apart from its profile as a major tourist destination, also has international appeal based on the lifestyle it offers high net worth individuals and millennials.

Growth in cities

While South Africa's declining GDP is not good news for the national property market overall, growth in South Africa's cities remains strong, she said, using Cape Town as an example - over the next five years, there are plans for around R16bn worth of investment in the city's CBD. Other growth nodes she referred to include Kwazulu-Natal's North Coast and Sandton CBD. "Yes, it's disappointing that the overall economy is not growing well and there are repercussions, but in terms of property markets, there are still really vibrant growth nodes and those are the areas in which you want to look for properties as an investment," said Gordon.

Expensive vs expansive cities

Contrasting Cape Town and Joburg, Gordon spoke of expensive cities versus expansive cities - Cape Town's limited land availability due to geographical constraints makes it an expensive market, while Joburg's expansiveness allows for greater room for development and in turn a greater supply and lower average house price.

Sandra Gordon, head of Pam Golding Properties Research, at the Property Buyer Show

Lifestyle trends

Once these fundamentals are established, as a potential investor, you need to understand the type of lifestyle people are looking for and what kind of property would be most suitable to them, said Gordon. Things to consider include traffic congestion and access to reliable public transport, transport expenses, and distance from work and schools.

A very strong international trend, which is now picking up in SA as well, is the 'live, work, play' lifestyle which entails giving up the large suburban home and making use of public and/or private facilities. Another lifestyle trend involves self-sufficient estates which provide a range of facilities including schools, hospitals and retailers. Transport corridors are also attractive to property seekers owing to convenient public transport access.

While people usually downscale during economic downturns or are prompted to because of their life stage, it is now also becoming a lifestyle trend, explained Gordon, as smaller homes require less of an ongoing time and monetary investment to maintain. According to data from Absa, nearly 83% of current housing stock in South Africa is freehold homes, 12% is sectional title or apartments, and 5.3% is estates. While freehold homes dominate the market, over the last three years nearly half the units that have been built are apartments. "What that's telling you is that the current stock is old-fashioned," said Gordon. "The future is about apartments, and that's where the demand is and the market is responding to that by producing more apartments, but it's going to take a time before that adjustment is reached."

Whether to Airbnb a property or rent it long-term is something that also needs to be considered when buying an investment property as this impacts how long it would take to pay off that property. With Airbnb, however, beware the potential backlash, warned Gordon: "It is worth investigating what you can generate using Airbnb versus long-term rental. The only difficulty with Airbnb is that you are starting to see major backlash against it across the world because in some cities it is pricing locals out of the market."

The Western Cape leg of the Property Buyer Show took place 8-9 April at the CTICC. For more info, go to www.propertybuyershow.com.
Thousands of anxious commuters hoping to visit their loved ones over Easter are scrambling to make alternative travel plans as the bus drivers' strike bites.

Image via Greyhound

Regular bus commuters queued for taxis and crowded into trains across the country as the strike began yesterday.

Long-distance travellers were affected in many cities. Passengers demanded answers and refunds from bus companies including City to City Translux and Greyhound.

Troubled commuters

Themba Jack at Cape Town Station waiting to travel to Port Elizabeth did not know if he would get home in time to prepare for an important church event. He was told to wait for two hours before he could collect a refund. He booked a City to City ticket on 6 April 2017. I am in a hurry. I need an alternative [and] my money is with them he said.

Chiedza Gochera was shocked to find no buses for her trip to Harare Zimbabwe at Park Station, Johannesburg. I am unhappy. I am travelling with my daughter and I fear for her safety and mine  This is such an inconvenience and nothing was communicated to us about the strike. I will have to buy another ticket and hopefully Greyhound will refund me she said.

Alex Wilsons plan to visit his brother in Cape Town was scuppered at an empty bus terminal in Durban. The 28-year-old Malawian national from the Bluff spent R670 on his ticket and was due to board an Intercape bus at 9.30am.

Im disappointed that Im no longer going. I was going to spend two weeks but I will have to make another plan to get there he said.

Caster Mathebula 30 of Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga was also left in the lurch in Durban. He had booked a ticket with Greyhound to travel to Johannesburg.

Unions, employers meeting

Unions representing striking workers met employers yesterday afternoon in a bid to reach an agreement that could end the strike.

Autopax spokesman Nozipho Jafta said: We have not been able to operate any of our services today. So what we have done those who want a refund and where we have cash we were able to refund them or told them to come back tomorrow.

Refunds were a sore point for many. Nokulunga Bokvel who booked a City to City bus from Cape Town to Queenstown in Eastern Cape had to borrow R170 to make alternative travel arrangements. I booked a return ticket but they said they can only refund me for one for now and we will have to see later. I had to ask someone from work [for the extra R170] said Bokvel.

Unions are demanding a 12% wage increase. From the time we began mediation ... they have not demonstrated any commitment to engage meaningfully with the demands a union spokesman said.

Source: The Times
Amplify, a paid fellowship for content creators launched in 2016, has seen its first graduates qualify. Three teams of young storytellers from Rwanda, Kenya and Nigeria presented their final projects to a judging panel, comprising Professor Bitange Ndemo, Pamela Sittoni of Nation Media Group, Patricia Obozuwa of GE Africa and Google Kenya's Charles Murito.

The panel described the presentations as a bold, dynamic and provocative approach to storytelling. Each country cohort was tasked with creating a branded content campaign for GE Africa. The judges singled out Kenya in particular for their attention to detail and their ability to bring to life some compelling stories about the impact GE Africa was having in Kenya.

Zain Verjee, aKoma co-founder.

Zain Verjee and Chidi Afulezi, co-founders of aKoma, a content and storytelling platform focused on Africa, created Amplify in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, to develop a fellowship of young, dynamic multimedia content creators who will create compelling stories about Africa.

Launched in September 2016, the intensive six-month fellowship saw 25 fellows  writers, photographers, animators, and videographers  learn technical, creative and business skills to enhance their careers in content creation for Africa.

Verjee says, Seeing our first group of Amplify fellows flex their creative talent and take storytelling to new levels in their final presentations, both creatively and technically, has been an incredible experience. Our fellows consistently delivered stories and insights from across Africa that are generally ignored by international media outlets. The entire process of this inaugural fellowship has revealed the dynamic talent bursting out of every seam of the continent.

Stories are important to our perception of one another and our understanding of us, says Jamie Farshchi, editorial manager, The Mastercard Foundation. Through aKoma, the Amplify fellows are broadening our understanding by telling stories that may not otherwise be heard.

Patricia Obozuwa, director of communications and public affairs of GE Africa expressing excitement at the graduation said, We are committed to skills development in Africa and as such, are proud to partner with aKoma on this first of a kind training initiative. There is no better time than now to invest in developing content creators who can help tell the African story in new and exciting ways.

Verjee concludes, Together with our partners, The Mastercard Foundation and GE Africa, we have been able to deliver mentorship, facilitate pan-African collaboration between young creatives and foster a community of learning, shared interests and importantly passion for authentic African storytelling. The Amplify Fellows are the next generation of influencers and thinkers for Africa, and we are thrilled to have been a part of their journey.

Founded by CNN alumni Zain Verjee and Chidi Afulezi, aKoma is an open source content platform and storytelling community where a combination of user generated and original content about Africa and its diaspora are created, published and shared with the world.
Addressing attendees at a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa, Abel Sithole, senior research associate at the Institute of Futures Research (IFR) of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), asked What is Africa to you?

Abel Sithole

Ultimately, it is Africans own perceptions of Africa that dictate what can be achieved on the continent. The continent should revise its view of itself, and Africans need to consider themselves as equal to the rest the world. Once this mindshift has been achieved, the continent will be in a position to negotiate on equal terms with China and the rest of the world, as Africa is an equal contender with other continents.

He identified a lack of insight into the multitude of cultures in Africa as one of the many challenges experienced when conducting business in Africa. The majority of the panel agreed that a true understanding of Africa required one to experience the continent by visiting it and not merely relying on external sources of information.

Basic things we take for granted in South Africa and the rest of the world, actually present potential investment opportunities which could be explored.

Ivan Thuynsma, panel member and Vesta sales director for South and West Africa was of the opinion that another challenge and Africas Achilles heel, is the absence of a long-term infrastructure plan that is to the benefit of the continent. However, Africa is unique when compared to the rest of the world. It should not be intimidated by, nor measured against, Western standards. Africa offers a vast number of opportunities for those prepared to venture into business.

The panel acknowledged and concluded that good leadership and selecting people with similar values are crucial success factors in exploiting business opportunities in Africa. This will offset the challenges of corruption, which is a worldwide phenomenon and not only an African challenge as incorrectly perceived by many. Ultimately, our perception of Africa dictates what can be achieved on the continent.

The panel discussion forms part of a new module, Perspectives on African Frontiers, as part of USBs MBA programme. The aim is to equip students with a keen appreciation of the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa by developing an intimate understanding of the contextual environment within which businesses operate on the continent.
A few years ago, there was a sense of hope and optimism around Africa. Today that sense has faded and so we need to work to get back to that. Despite this, Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, says he is optimistic about the continent.

CEO of Monash South Africa Sharad Mehra and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Blair addressed VIPs, the media and delegates at Monash South Africa in Gauteng on the topic of internationalisation and Africa.

We are seeing a new generation of leaders emerge and countries are taking their destiny into their own hands. People are not looking at outside reasons why their country is not functioning well, and there is a desire and determination to make it work. This is different to before. While there are still great challenges in government, there are ways to overcome this, and that is why I am optimistic about Africa, he states.

However, vital to this is the business environment. Getting business to invest in a country is not complicated; it requires a business environment that is not bogged down in corruption or bureaucracy. Vital and allied to this is the rule of law.

While he says that he cannot think of a single first world country that is successful where these elements are not present, he admits that reform in any institution is difficult.

That said, there are smart people here, so Africa needs to make it work. It is about the institutions and an attitude of mind. Internationalisation is about looking at what is out there, choosing the best option and bringing it back.

If your government is operating properly, a country can achieve anything. It is about doing the right thing or not. How Africa internationalises is up to it. But, there are many lessons the countries on this continent can learn from.

In 1960 the West African country Sierra Leone and South Korea in Asia were both third world countries. Today one is still a third world country, while the other, South Korea, is a first world country. Why? Because South Korea put in place institutions that are resilient and not corrupt, and accepted the role of the market and the state. It successfully worked to escape old-fashioned idioms, looked at lessons from across the world, and then implemented them.

On the continent Rwanda is an example of a country that has benefited from lessons across the world, in particular the reform of its education system. Singapore is another good example of a country that deliberately went a particular route, and as a result as has gone from inviting intellectual capital into its country to exporting it today.

He believes globalisation is a good thing, and is the opening up of the world. London, he says, is a great city because of its diversity. Anti-globalisation protests represent different things for different people, so anti-globalisation right wing protests are against immigrants, but the same protests, but for the left wing, are based on the concept that international capital is bad. But you cannot stop immigration any more than you can stop capital moving around the world. It is futile to resist globalisation, so what we need to do is better prepare people for it.

When you look at Africa as a contributor to globalisation and the global economy, you have to first look at intra-African trade. Currently this sits at only 12%. Therefore, Africa has to make this a priority and break down the barriers between the continents different countries.
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The Coconino County Democratic Party recently named Flagstaff City Council member Eva Putzova as this years Eleanor Roosevelt award winner. The award is given annually to someone in the community who has demonstrated Democratic values in their service to the community.

Though she never held elected office, Mrs. Roosevelt was viewed as a tireless defender of the average American. She was the champion of the underdog, saying I see it as our duty to comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable.

According to a press release, Putzova was chosen because she ran her campaign for Flagstaff City Council as a Democrat on the theme of Shared Prosperity for all residents of Flagstaff. She led the 2015 lawsuit that struck down the Arizona Legislatures attack on the autonomy of Charter Cities. She led the initiative campaign to raise Flagstaffs minimum wage. Putzova worked with indigenous residents to change the Columbus Day holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day.

She continues to lead the efforts to provide affordable housing to Flagstaff. Putzova came to the U.S. from Slovakia in 1998, moved to Flagstaff in 2001, and became a U.S. citizen while residing here. Her service to the Flagstaff community began with her board membership and subsequent presidency of Friends of Flagstaffs Future, where she tackled issues of zoning, climate change, clean energy and social justice.

She was an early supporter and organizer for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2016. She has been a champion values including raising wages, expanding access to affordable housing, ending systemic racism, guaranteeing civil rights for people of color and women and the LGBT community, honoring indigenous people and tribal nations, combating climate change, and building a clean energy economy.

Putzova recevied the award at the annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Dinner. The March 25 event drew 200 community members to the Doubletree by Hilton. Special guests and speakers included Jonathan Nez, vice president of the Navajo Nation; Congressman Tom OHalleran; State Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai; and Col. (ret.) Hollace Lyon, senior vice-chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.
PHOENIX (AP)  Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation Wednesday that will make it tougher for prosecutors and law enforcement to seize cash and property from people suspected of a crime, effectively overhauling the state's civil forfeiture laws despite opposition from state prosecutors.

Ducey signed the measure after being caught between the state legislature and county prosecutors.

House Bill 2477 by Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is meant to reform rules dictating when prosecutors can seize someone's assets. Officers can currently seize property based on suspicion alone without the need of a conviction or a charge. Police and prosecutors acquire Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization or RICO funds after seized property is forfeited.

The governor commended Farnsworth for his work on the legislation and Arizona lawmakers' bipartisan support of it in a written statement.

"This bill will allow law enforcement to take appropriate action against drug cartels and other criminal enterprises, while ensuring citizens do not have their property seized without proper due process," Ducey said in the statement.

The bill has support from diverse groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the state chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

The measure will change Arizona's civil asset forfeiture laws to require prosecutors to prove property was involved in a crime by "clear and convincing" evidence, a step above the current standard.

Farnsworth has said RICO laws have deviated from their original intent to pursue big criminal enterprises like cartels and are now hitting smaller time infractions. He has said his bill will increase accountability through its reporting requirements and redirect the laws to fulfill their actual purpose.

Opponents say the changes would cause logistical issues for county boards of supervisors and county attorneys. They also criticize the bill's further standard of proof and the claim that excessive seizures take place.

The governor's approval comes after recent inquiries into whether officials in Pinal County have misused seizure profits and a guilty plea from a former top Pima County official to misusing RICO funds in February.
Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans is challenging residents to commit to water conservation throughout the month of April.

The city is competing in the Wyland National Mayors Challenge for Water Conservation, which asks residents to take an online pledge to conserve water through various activities, such as only running full loads in the dishwasher, committing to less food waste and other water-saving habits.

As of Wednesday evening, Flagstaff was leading the contest in its category against cities of a similar size. Bozeman, Mont., and Andover, Minn., were in second and third place as of Wednesday evening.

Cities with the highest percentage of residents who make a pledge are entered for drawings, including home improvement gift cards, home irrigation equipment and the grand prize of a Toyota Prius, city spokeswoman Meg Roederer said in a press release.

To take the pledge, visit mywaterpledge.com during the month of April.
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CAMP VERDE  Zach Hauser hopes that part of his family-owned property will remain a farm forever.

Hauser and his dad have applied for conservation easements for much of their property. This sets restrictions on the land, essentially making it only usable for farming purposes.

My kids kids kids down the line, they cant sell it and try to subdivide it, Hauser said. It would have to be sold to someone like me, as a farmer.

Its just one of the measures the Hauser family has taken to ensure the farms success in the future. Making sure theyre sustainable also fits in with their long-term goals. The farm recently switched from a flood system to a drip irrigation system on a carrot field to help reduce their water usage.

Its an improvement funded by the national water restoration campaign, Change the Course. The campaign brings together the public, corporations and conservation organizations to raise awareness and restore freshwater ecosystems.

Change the Course funds 32 projects in 10 states, mostly in the Southwest. Eight of those projects are in Arizona.

On average, each American uses about 100 gallons of water a day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agency projects that by 2030, Arizona will see a 109-percent increase in population, with each Arizonan using between 126 to 150 gallons of water per day.

For the Hausers, the decision to switch to drip irrigation was an easy one.

Hauser said the flood system uses pretty much twice what the crop actually needs  drip can get in the 90-percent range efficient so youre barely putting on what the crop needs and maybe a little bit more.

Thats critical because the Verde River provides irrigation for farming, rafting and fishing for locals and a habitat for wildlife.

(The Verde River) is our only source of water in this valley, Hauser said. If theres no water here, theres no farming.

Hauser and his father own Hauser & Hauser Farms, a 600-acre farm spread out throughout the area. Its the biggest user of water in the Verde Valley.

The drip irrigation system, which costs between $1,000 and $3,000 per acre, is one of the many projects Hauser & Hauser Farms has installed with the help and financing of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the nonprofit organization that founded Change the Course.

Its really expensive. Its not a cheap thing to get into and then theres a learning curve, Hauser

said. For somebody to just do it on their own, that would be a big leap of faith.

Thats why the foundation steps in to help. About 30 major corporations help underwrite the projects through Change the Course.

Val Fisherman, chief development officer at the foundation, said corporations often want to help balance their own water footprint by becoming sponsors.

Coca-Cola, a major partner for Change the Course, vows to use 27 percent less water per liter of product over 13 years. According to its website, the company used 2.7 liters of water to make 1 liter of product in 2004, mostly to keep equipment clean. By 2015, Coca-Cola lowered this number to 1.98 liters of water to make 1 liter of product.

Change the Course gives these corporate donations to smaller nonprofits to fund water conservation projects.

Its a big win for small nonprofits who might not get the time in front of these large corporations, Fisherman said. Were like another fundraising arm for some of these nonprofits.

Some of the money has funneled down to the Arizona Nature Conservancy, which funds water conservation projects in Arizona, including the drip irrigation system on Hauser & Hauser Farms.

The conservancy has worked with the Hausers for seven years, said Kimberly Schonek, Verde River project manager at the Nature Conservancy.

Schonek said the conservancy works a lot in the Verde Valley, between Sedona and Prescott, mostly on irrigation ditches.

(Were) trying to focus our work on how to use water efficiently as possible while integrating it into their farm needs and then reaching out to other farmers, Schonek said.

Change the Course funds about half of the conservancys water conservation projects in the Verde Valley. It provided all funding for Hauser & Hauser Farms drip irrigation system and a project that will replace a ditch with a pipe.

The ditch, which was built in 1903, runs about a mile from West Clear Creek to 10 shareholders. Schonek said the pipe would provide more water to the farmers and people who need it.

They lose somewhere around 20 percent of their water theyre trying to convey, Schonek said of the ditch.

The pipe wouldnt necessarily save money, but it would lead to less water waste because water will no longer seep into the soil, said Jess Mulcaire, part shareholder of the ditch.

Hauser said he wouldnt save money with the drip-irrigation system on his carrot farm, either.

Right now, our water usage is based off a per-acre, so the amount of water is not regulated, Hauser said. But us being responsible, we like to use as little as possible.

Hauser said because theyre the largest user of water in the area, they will set an example that will inspire others to do the same.

We got to do our part to preserve it and hopefully others will want to do the same, Hauser said. Its our only source of water in this valley. We have to take care of it.

Change the Course plans to expand its reach to all of North America, helping to provide funding to water conservation efforts nationwide.
WASHINGTON  Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, and the Center for Biological Diversity challenged President Donald Trumps proposed border wall on environmental grounds Wednesday, going to court to force the administration to follow environmental protection laws before starting construction.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Tucson charges that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have failed to abide by the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires an environmental analysis of the proposed border wall before construction.

Grijalva and the center are calling on the agencies to conduct an in-depth investigation of the proposals environmental impacts, according to a news release from Grijalvas office. That goal was echoed by a Randy Serraglio, the centers Southwest conservation advocate, who said he is hoping for good, sound scientific analysis of the walls environmental impact to come out of the suit.

We feel that the Trump administration should follow the law, and his border wall proposal is not only preposterous, its potentially extremely damaging, Serraglio said.

Both Homeland Security and CBP declined to comment on the suit Wednesday because as a matter of policy the agencies do not comment on pending litigation.

The suit comes the same month that Homeland Security officials began reviewing bids from companies interested in starting construction on border wall prototypes. It was filed just two days after Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited the border in Nogales, where he issued new guidance calling on federal prosecutors to more vigorously pursue immigration cases.

Grijalva said that given Trumps efforts to follow through on the border wall and other immigration and deportation campaign promises, advocates felt litigation was the only way to get some transparency and some honest facts and science.

We dont expect to be heard by Sessions, we dont expect to be heard by Trump himself, Grijalva said of the need to go to court to force action.

Serraglio said that the last programmatic environmental impact statement for the U.S.-Mexico border enforcement program was done in 2001, and things have changed dramatically since then.

Those things, according to the lawsuit, include greater scientific knowledge and the designation of final critical habitat within 50 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border under the Endangered Species Act.

Serraglio said the existing sections of the border wall were built without environmental review. At that time, the suit said, then-Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff waived more than 35 laws that might have hindered the construction of the original border wall.

Serraglio said the consequences of that construction are already being felt, and include millions of dollars of damage caused by flooding and erosion in areas surrounding the border. He also said the natural movement of many species, some endangered or threatened, is completely blocked by the current wall, which could get worse with an expansion.

Its (the wall) absolutely unnecessary, it will be incredibly expensive, the effectiveness is unknown, Serraglio said.

Grijalva left little doubt about where he stands on the issue.

Trumps wall  and his fanatical approach to our southern border  will do little more than perpetuate human suffering while irrevocably damaging our public lands and the wildlife that depend on them, Grijalva said in a prepared statement.
What kind of representative government do we have in Arizona? The state legislature recently passed bills to block citizen initiatives, making it nearly impossible for Arizonans to put their own laws before the voters. (Arizona Daily Sun, March 19, 2017) At the same time we have representatives Bob Thorpe and Brenda Barton who wont meet with constituents or talk to them, or even answer emails.
Our Founding Fathers separated church and state for a reason. They had witnessed divinely inspired monarchs brutally suppress new ideas and religious clerics torture and execute men of science. Those who believe that the Grand Canyon was created 6,000 years ago have a right to their opinions, but they do not have a right to promote them with state and federal dollars.

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), under the pretext of helping the disadvantaged, are a thinly veiled attempt by a few to create a Christian theocracy in the U.S., and a few narrow-minded state legislators are using it to pander to their base and profit from the construction of private schools. No wonder they refuse to meet with us.

ESAs may provide educational choice, but they present a longer-term threat to our liberty and are de facto unequal. Shame on Arizona for leading the nation down this dangerous slope.

In my 70 years I have not been more fearful for our American way of life since the era of Joe McCarthy. Creating an excellent public education system with school choice in Arizona  not starving our public system through huge tax credits to the wealthy  is the answer.

STEVE FINGER

Flagstaff


A file photo.

WASHINGTON (PTI): The US sees India as a pivotal nation for its security in the Asia Pacific region, the Pentagon has said as the Trump administration quietly started the process of implementing the recent designation of India as a "major defence partner".



"The relationship between India and the United States is on track. Secretary (James) Mattis has made the defence relationship with India a top priority," Pentagon Spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told PTI.



"He sees India as a pivotal nation in the region going forward for our security," Davis said, weeks after Mattis had a successful meeting with India's National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval at the Pentagon.



According to media reports, Doval's American counterpart Lt Gen H R McMaster is slated to visit India soon. The White House refrained from making any comment on the visit.



Keeping defence ties on the forefront of the India-US relationship, the Trump administration is believed to have started the process of implementing in letter and spirit the recent US designation of India as a "major defence partner" .



Mattis in his first phone conversation with the then Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is believed to have said that he is ready to take off the India-US defence relationship from where it was left by his predecessor Ashton Carter.



The assurance is being fast implemented by the Pentagon, sources said.



A day before Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the US, the Department of Commerce federal notification that relaxed India-specific defence export control norms.



Under this, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by establishing a licensing policy of general approval for exports or re-exports to or transfers within India of items subject to the EAR.



In addition, BIS amended the end use and end user provisions of the Validated End User (VEU) authorisation to state that items obtained under authorisation VEU in India may be used for either civil or military end uses other than those that are for use in nuclear, missile, or chemical or biological weapons activities.



The move on the last day of the previous Obama administration is believed to address some of the major concerns of India when it comes to import of state-of-the-art defence technology and military hardware to India.



"The changes in the Export Administration Regulations, reflective of India s status as a Major Defence Partner, will enhance defence ties as well as private sector linkages," a State Department official told PTI.



License applications to export military and related dual-use items to India will generally be approved, the official said.



"Under the Department of Commerce's Validated End User program, Indian entities can qualify for a general authorisation for exports and re-exports of military and related dual use items, consistent with US law, for projects in support of official US-India defence cooperation, other than those that are for use in nuclear, missile, or chemical or biological weapons activities.



"India is the only country in the world authorised to receive both military and dual-use items under a VEU programme," the State Department Spokesperson said in response to a question.



"Our defence partnership with India is among our most important in the world. The United States supports India s rise as a net security provider in the region, and the breadth of our defence cooperation, including through the US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, is continually expanding," the official said.



The support to India US defence relationship comes from the opposition Democratic party too, reflecting the bipartisan support to the ties between the two largest democracies of the world.



"This remains an exciting time in the US-India relationship, as we are starting to realise the potential of our bilateral cooperation and economic investment," Senator Mark Warner, ranking Member of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee said.



Noting that India is fast becoming one of the largest, most dynamic, and most diversified markets in the world, Warner said one aspect of the bilateral relationship between the two countries that has gained real momentum in recent years is the defence trade relationship, which is part of a broader growth in bilateral defence cooperation.



"Given the growing convergence of Indian and US security interests and the deepening of our defence trade and technology cooperation relationship, last year my colleagues and I advanced legislation to make permanent the organisational structures within the Department of Defence that support this aspect of the relationship," said Warner, who is also Democratic Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, which is the only country-specific caucus in the US Senate.



"Additionally, I have been advocating with the US administration for approval of the Indian request for unmanned, unarmed drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance that could advance our shared interest in better maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean," he said.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wearing a variety of striking shades of pink, students throughout Brandon School Division came together on Wednesday to celebrate respect while standing up against bullying.

This is the sixth year Pink Day is being celebrated in Manitoba, and only the second year its been celebrated twice, once in February and now in April, said Maxine Schminke, respect education outreach co-ordinator with the Canadian Red Cross.

Compared to the first year, (Pink Day celebrations) have just snowballed, Schminke said. Its great to see how all the schools are supporting it and the kids are celebrating it.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun King George School students Jenaya Shotbolt, Chanice Chartrand and Phoenix Rockley with Youth Revolution serve up pink floats at recess on Wednesday morning during the Canadian Red Cross Pink Day in support of bullying prevention. Schools throughout Brandon held their own Pink Day events.

Each school got creative in how they wanted to celebrate, ranging from assemblies and school walks to pink ice cream sundaes and photo booths.

The students of George Fitton School got especially ambitious, organizing a Pink Day flash mob assembly, while Valleyview Centennial School students did a pink bunny hop through the halls.

The overall message this year is hashtag heroes assemble, so its about being a hero for somebody, not just on Pink Day, but everyday, Schminke said.

Its about intervening in bullying situations when they happen, being a support person for someone who has been targeted, standing up for respect and creating a different school culture thats free from bullying, Schminke said.

While students want to make a difference in the amount of bullying that happens within schools, some students are already seeing a difference.

Grade 5 student Daniel Perez at King George School said he hasnt been bullied at all so far, and that he believes Pink Day is the reason.

I think that everyone can stop bullying, if you want to, you can do it, said Perez, adjusting a pink lei that was doubled up around his neck. We have really learned about bullying  and I want to keep on (learning).

Perez is an anti-bullying ambassador at King George, part of a group of students that have been trained in bullying prevention.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun King George School student Haley Saunders with Youth Revolution helps Grade 1-2 students in Brittany DesRoches' class with an exercise about kindness on Wednesday morning during the Canadian Red Cross Pink Day in support of bullying prevention. Schools throughout Brandon held their own pink day events.

They are in charge of going around to each classroom and educating their classmates on bullying, through games and different exercises, Perez said.

They asked me last year if I wanted to do (be an ambassador), and I wanted to help people so I said yes, he said. Ive learned that people sometimes take bullying as friendly teasing  but sometimes it goes over the line, so its just knowing and learning those boundaries.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For his leadership role in the local indigenous community, Barry French was given a few prestigious awards during an event at Victoria Inn on Wednesday.

Hosted by the Interprovincial Association on Native Employments Westman Chapter, a luncheon found French named one of the days Champions of Aboriginal Employment.

The Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council then joined the chapter in bestowing him with a star blanket, after which the Rotary Club of Brandon Sunset presented him with a Paul Harris Fellow award; one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Barry French, centre, is presented with a star blanket by Jason Gobeil, Aboriginal Community Coordinator with the Brandon Urban Aboriginal People's Council and Doug Pople, career planning and placement officer with Brandon University, during the Champions of Aboriginal Employment Luncheon at the Victoria Inn's Imperial Ballroom on Wednesday.

Following Wednesdays awards ceremony, French said that as a product of his indigenous environment he still finds it difficult to feel proud of himself, but that he managed to get there that afternoon.

I have to admit, its a bit overwhelming, so its very kind of people, he said.

Presenting the Champions of Aboriginal Employment award on behalf of the host organization, member Jason Gobeil cited French as a personal mentor who provides a staple of wisdom and knowledge in our community.

Also calling French a gift to our community, Gobeil commended the community steward for his efforts toward the betterment of his community.

French is an active person.

In addition to his present employment as a staff training co-ordinator with the Brandon Correctional Centre, French volunteers with a number of organizations in the Brandon area.

French is a member of the Interprovincial Association on Native Employments Westman Chapter, is a board member with the Prairie Mountain Health Board and has volunteered with various other organizations, including anti-gang initiatives.

Much of this work has centred on improving the lives of the local indigenous community. While hes a member of the Inuk Inuvialuit of the Inuit, he retains deep connections with Westmans indigenous communities.

In Westman, French has found significant limits in public understanding of indigenous people, as exists through much of Canada.

Things are improving in large part thanks to the Truth and Reconciliations work, however theres still a lot of gaps in public knowledge, such as of the existence of Project Surname, a 1970 effort of the federal government to assign last names to the Inuit in northern Canada.

A lot of people also dont realize half of indigenous youths time spent in the residential school system was devoted to working, French said.

We need to focus a bit ore on the truth part of truth and reconciliation, he said. If you dont have the facts youre just making stuff up, and thats a dangerous thing to do.

We have a to look at future-based perspective in terms of engaging the indigenous community with the mainstream, so we have to look at what are the factors in the past that created the challenges.

French is retiring from his position at the Brandon Correctional Centre in 10 business days, but he still plans on remaining involved in local efforts to improve relationships between the indigenous community and the community at large.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Birdtail Sioux First Nation Chief Ken Chalmers of delivers the keynote speech during the Champions of Aboriginal Employment Luncheon at the Victoria Inn's Imperial Ballroom on Wednesday.

Its definitely something Im passionate about and I know theres a lot of work to do, he said.

While he said that hed like to ease back in his public roles on retirement, he admitted that its unlikely to happen and that

hes more likely to be dragged back in.

Its important work, French said. If we dont have people doing the little things now, then the big things later are going to be too hard.

During Wednesdays ceremony, Alternative Landscaping, the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Spearing Service Ltd. were also honoured with Champion of Aboriginal Employment awards for their inclusive hiring practices that incorporate indigenous people.

Spearing Service L.P. Manitoba operations manager Jason Schmecht said that the oil industry fluid management company he represents has found success by tapping into indigenous job placement agencies.

While he said that he recognizes there are various bits of discrimination floating around regarding the hiring of indigenous people, he affirmed, We found that not being the case, and that they have nothing but good things to say about their hires.

The annual Champions of Aboriginal Employment Awards Luncheon continues to serve an important role in Brandon, organizing chair Dayle Hughson said.

Its very important to encourage young aboriginal people that they are going to be able to get jobs, that they should continue their education and go to university, finish high school, go to ACC; it just helps them to look at people who have been successful, she said. It just kind of gives them something to drive for.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A petition being circulated in Brandon calls on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to maintain current funding levels for Assiniboine Community Colleges English language classes.

Written in both English and Spanish, the petition states the major budget cuts will have a devastating impact on hundreds of students, and urges Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen to reverse the decision.

It is not in our national interests to place further obstacles before people we have welcomed and who are enthusiastic about contributing to Canadas economy, states the petition.

IRCC and ACC recently finalized a new three-year contract, which slashes the colleges budget for its English Language Training program from $730,000 to $196,000 in 2017-18. It will be decreased to $185,000 in 2018-19 and $176,000 in 2019-20.

The number of student registrations in the program is now 503. With the cuts, the college will only be able to take 100 students next year  one-fifth of the current number of registered students. IRCC has stated the higher level classes have been under-utilized in Brandon. The local organizations dispute that claim.

IRCC recently told The Brandon Sun that they are focused on ensuring the recent influx of vulnerable newcomers have access to language services. Many are arriving in Manitoba through Canadas Syrian refugee initiative.

Given that these people have higher needs and lower literacy levels, IRCC has allocated settlement funding dollars towards the basic, lower-level language classes that this population requires, stated an IRCC spokesperson recently.

As a result, IRCC has had to make some tough decisions, including reducing funding for higher-level language classes.

Canadian Language Benchmark levels 1 to 4 are the focus, while levels 5 to 8 are reduced. ACCs program offers only the higher levels, and the demand continues to increase, as immigrants work to pursue higher education and better-paying career paths.

CLB Level 4 is not adequate for full comprehension and engagement with the community, states the petition. It is certainly not sufficient for employment (and specifically professional positions) since most employers require a minimum of Level 6 or higher, even for jobs in retail and stores.

HyunJoo Lee is currently enrolled in ACCs English training. She is originally from Korea, and has dreams of becoming a health care aide. She must achieve Level 8 before she can pursue that goal.

I have to do more study and more assessment, Lee said, adding there will only be a few class options and only one teacher at ACC next year.

Its not enough  its really awful, and very hard.

Lee and her classmates have signed the petition, which was dropped off at the office of Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire.

Everybody (is) very unhappy, she said. We want to keep study(ing) English to further our goal and (pursue)  higher education, like college or university.

Maguire said he supports the efforts of the ESL instructors and students in urging the government to reverse this drastic cut and inexcusable action.

The petition was recently dropped off at my office and I know more people are looking to sign it, he said. I will personally deliver the petition to the Liberal government and let them know what their cut means for Westman communities and residents.I will continue to press them to reverse this decision.

Maguire said he has repeatedly asked for a meeting with the immigration minister, to no avail.

It is apparent the Liberals have no intention whatsoever of listening to the people of Westman, he said. The Liberal government and its ministers are completely ignoring emails and correspondence on important matters facing Westman constituents.

IRCC responded to The Brandon Suns request for comment via email:

We will continue to work with this organization and other service providers in the area to monitor and assess the needs of the community, and will make adjustments to funding as necessary, stated IRCC spokesperson Nancy Chan.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
People gather in front of the Harris County Courthouse Annex No. 8 on Baker Road for a National Day of Prayer observance in this file photo. Some area leaders are seeking to have the facility named in memory of Harris County Precinct 3 Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man accused of trying to kill another man by cutting his throat has been allowed to withdraw his guilty plea to attempted murder by a judge who believed the accuseds word over that of his former lawyer.

Justice John Menzies ruled that the accused, who maintains his innocence, entered the guilty plea after receiving misleading legal advice from his lawyer at the time. Menzies ruled the lawyers version of what happened in this case was not credible.

The accused entered a guilty plea as a result of being advised of a plea bargain with the Crown which did not exist, Menzies stated in a written decision released on Wednesday.

The court should not allow the guilty plea to remain in effect where accused persons are being persuaded to enter guilty pleas on the basis of misleading legal advice. It would be a perversion of justice.

Jesus Arnoldo Sorto Granados was charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Those charges were laid in relation to an Aug. 16, 2014 incident in which its alleged that a man used a knife to slit the throat of another at a Brandon house party during a dispute.

The victims trachea was cut and the wound came within millimetres of major arteries. The wound needed 100 stitches and victim was hospitalized for 11 days.

Sorto Granados pleaded guilty to attempted murder on May 3, 2016, the day his trial was set to begin. As a result, the Crown dropped the remaining charges.

Sorto Granados is originally from El Salvador an has lived in Canada for 12 years.

A transcript of those proceedings showed that, through a Spanish interpreter, the accused confirmed to Menzies that hed tried to kill the victim and he waived his right to a trial.

He also confirmed that he entered the plea voluntarily, while the Crown pointed out there was no true plea bargain in place.

However, last month Sorto Granados applied to have his guilty plea withdrawn, maintaining he was innocent of the crime.

He argued that his former lawyer, Bob Harrison, had pressured him to plead guilty.

Both Harrison and Sorto Granados testified during the hearing into the plea withdrawal.

The accused claimed that, the day before the plea, Harrison told him he would get six years in prison if he pleaded guilty to attempted murder, but he could get 15 years if it went to trial.

Menzies also pointed to an affidavit in which Sorto Granados states that, the morning of his trial, Harrison again told him that the Crown would ask for six years if he pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He claims he pleaded guilty to avoid a 15-year sentence.

On the stand, Harrison told court that it came as a surprise when Sorto Granados expressed a desire to plead guilty minutes before his trial.

Harrison said hed never told Sorto Granados to plead guilty, nor discussed entering a guilty plea with him until the morning of his plea. Harrison acknowledged that, prior to that day, hed told his client that the Crown wanted eight to 10 years while he would ask for six, but maintained he never mentioned 15 years.

Both Harrison and Crown attorney Jim Ross confirmed in court that there was no Crown offer for six years.

In his decision, Menzies said the matter came down to credibility and he believed the accuseds version of events over those described by Harrison, who he found evasive in his testimony.

Menzies stated that he didnt believe Harrisons claim that he hadnt discussed a plea bargain or guilty plea with the accused prior to the morning of his trial.

Menzies said Harrison confirmed that hed talked to the accused about what he would seek if he pleaded guilty and that hed told Sorto Granados there was a sentencing advantage to such a plea.

I do not understand how these conversations could arise absent a discussion about pleading guilty, Menzies stated in his decision.

Menzies also referred to a letter Harrison sent to his client on May 6, 2016, three days after the guilty plea. It stated that, two days before he pleaded guilty, Sorto Granados had been informed that Crown and defence would seek six years.

During cross-examination by Sorto Granados current lawyer, Norm Sims, Harrison said the letter was mistaken and should have said the Crowns position was 10 years.

But Menzies found the letter confirmed the accuseds account and contradicted Harrisons claim that he hadnt discussed a guilty plea with the accused prior to the day of the plea.

Menzies wrote that he was convinced that Harrison had told his client that there was a plea deal for six years if he pleaded guilty, and that was a major factor in why Sorto Granados did just that.

A viable defence is also a factor in deciding whether a guilty plea can be withdrawn. Sorto Granados maintains he didnt try to kill anyone  that hed been attacked by at least three people, pulled a knife in self defence, and that the accused was cut in the struggle.

Harrison agreed that Sorto Granados had maintained that position even prior to his preliminary hearing in June 2015.

 ihitchen@brandonsun.com
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Police are concerned for the well-being of a 16-year-old girl who entered into an unknown vehicle on Highway 250 near Beresford.

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This article was published 20/03/2017 (2059 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it comes to the business implications of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus promise to legalize marijuana, Rick Macl plans on getting in on the ground floor.

Last weekend found the local cannabis advocate open Brandons latest head shop, Growers n Smokers, at 223 18th St. North.

Where other head shop owners might beat around the bush, Macl isnt one to bite his tongue when it comes to his businesss true intentions. His shop is about the promotion of cannabis, marijuana, pot or whatever other word one prefers.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Rick Macl, owner of Growers n Smokers on 18th Street North, stands behind the counter in his marijuana supply shop on Saturday after opening the store on Friday.

Understandably averse to the idea of going to prison, Macls promotion of cannabis is limited by the confines of the law, which means his shop does not sell any actual cannabis, focusing instead on its related paraphernalia.

The business will change as the laws allow, and Macl has a two-year plan to transform his shop into a cannabis dispensary as soon as legally possible.

Until then, hes focusing on the sale of equipment that will allow those legally allowed to grow marijuana at home to do so.

A self-described poster boy for ADHD, Macl can talk your ear off when it comes to subjects hes passionate about, and cannabis is most certainly one of these subjects.

Although he admits to illicit recreational smoking in the past, it wasnt until about six years ago that he began recognizing its medicinal properties. Promoting these properties has since become one of his lifes callings.

Around that time, he was playing with his son on the floor when he heard a popping sound. He tried to get up off the floor and found that he was unable to, paralyzed from the waist down.

His paralyzation was thankfully only temporary, and he was able to become mobile enough to visit a doctor who informed him that a bulging disc in his back had been pushing on nerve endings, which hed later receive surgery to correct.

Macl was prescribed Oxycontin to deal with the associated pain, which he took for more than a month until he reached a breaking point.

Glued to his couch in a dazed state, he remembers getting up from his couch to do something and promptly forgetting what that something was.

Returning to the couch, he remembered what that something was, got up and then forgot, again.

Repeating this process about five times within approximately 10 minutes, he realized the zombie-like state Oxycontin had put him into.

The next day, he returned to his doctor and told him, verbatim: Youre killing me with this stuff. Im done!

He was then prescribed cannabis, at which point a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He was a whole new version of himself, and considered himself normal again.

Over the subsequent six years, he investigated different strains with varying levels of THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis), CBD (a component with different health benefits), and terpenes (flavours) until he found the best products to meet his health needs.

Now, he wants to help others, with Macl considering Growers n Smokers an educational hub for his visitors  a one stop shop.

Theres a big educational gap in our health-care system at this time, he said, noting that while few doctors do prescribe cannabis, they rarely identify which strains might assist with different ailments. Theres a vast difference between strains, with some beneficial and others detrimental depending on ones condition. This, Macl said, is an important area of education he intends to fill.

Until hes able to sell cannabis himself, he plans on linking customers with Health Canada-approved, and therefore legal, cannabis suppliers, with his personal favourite being Alberta-based Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc.

Using intel from clients, hes also compiling a list of doctors willing to provide patients with cannabis prescriptions. So far, he has nailed down six, including four in Brandon.

Only its second day of operations, Growers n Smokers was already boasting a steady stream of clients on Saturday.

Most of the people who came in the businesss door had grey hair on their heads, and many of them carried the same passion as Macl, including one older gentleman whod been smoking cannabis for decades and balked at the idea of doctors more readily prescribing Oxycontin than they do marijuana. He had to drive out to Alberta to get his prescription, while Oxycontin is much more readily prescribed.

Things should change by this summer, Macl said, optimistic that Trudeau will follow through on his election promises to legalize marijuana, which might allow him to take the next step with his business.

Setting up Growers n Smokers on this premise might have been a gamble, but Macl is maintaining his optimism that itll be a winning one.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
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Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Islamophobia  the fear of Islam  has recently been targeted by the federal government with its passage of motion M-103, which condemns those who target Islam. I confess I am an Islamophobe. But let me explain.

I strongly believe everyone should be able to worship  or not worship  as they choose and have their right to do so respected. I also believe people should have the right to join  or leave  any religion without fear of reprisal.

I also believe we all have the right to freely criticize other belief systems, religious or secular, with the corresponding obligation to tolerate criticism of our own belief systems. That criticism can be harsh. I do not believe extremely intolerant concepts such as Holy War, apostasy, or blasphemy laws have any place in a civilized country. Finally, I believe women must have the same rights as men.

In short, I believe in tolerance. I fear any belief system, religious or secular, that is intolerant. And the reason I fear certain segments of Islam is because they are intolerant.

I point to Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that base their oppressive systems on Sharia law  a literal interpretation of the Quran. Citizens of those countries do not have the right to exercise many of the rights we in the West believe to be fundamental.

A person who renounces Islam is guilty of apostasy and liable to the death penalty. A person who blasphemes faces the same fate. Women do not have the same rights as men. This is all done in the name of Islam. Aspects of the operating philosophies of al-Qaida  and now the Islamic State group  are but more radical versions of this fundamentalism.

Intolerance of this kind is by no means unique to the Islamic world. Something similar to Sharia law applied for thousands of years in the Judaeo-Christian world. A person reading Leviticus will be struck by the eerie resemblance of those passages to todays proclamations from IS.

Apostates and heretics were put to death in that Old Testament world, as they were later in New Testament times. The concept of Jihad, or Holy War, was very much a part of those worlds.

The chilling exhortations of the fierce prophets of old to annihilate every sinful man, woman and child in the name of God, or the battle cries of the bloodthirsty popes of the Middle Ages calling on the faithful to go to the Holy Land and slaughter infidels (namely Muslims) because God commanded them to, make these ancient warmongers brothers-in-arms to the worst of the IS brutes of today. The Jewish and Christian worlds lived for a very long time with absolute intolerance.

But heres the thing: the Jewish and Christian worlds evolved. They changed. Their holy books didnt change  those books still contain all the vicious and bloody parts that inspired the old violence, hatred and intolerance. But, after countless religious wars, burnings of so-called heretics and other atrocities, these religions reinterpreted their holy books in such a way as to first allow  and then, insist upon  tolerance.

Today, only the lunatic fringe of the Christian or Jewish world still believes in primitive concepts such as Holy War, apostasy sanctions or blasphemy laws. But, such is not the case in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, or with those in the West who advocate intolerance.

Hatred of Muslims must be loudly denounced, just as anti-Semitism or other extreme forms of intolerance must be denounced. Respect for the freedom of others to hold any belief is essential to our way of life.

Muslims, like everyone else, must be free to worship in peace. But, just as I can be critical of Israels settlement policies, or the Popes sexist policies, I insist on my right to criticize Islams intolerance. And that is why I am an Islamophobe.

 Brian Giesbrecht was a Manitoba provincial court judge from 1976 until 2007. He is now retired. This column was also recently published by the Winnipeg Free Press.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Make them enter legally

Regarding all the recent immigrants who are coming over the border illegally. I think our government should concentrate more on taking care of our country. There are a lot of things that we have to take care of here. There is a new Trump tax that is coming in that is threatening Canadian businesses and industry. There is enough hardship going on already with trying to feed people with food banks, etc. We do not need people illegally crossing into this country. If they are doing it legally, then that is fine. But this just puts more strain on government resources and organizations in this province and country with them jumping the border. We should just transport them back to the United States and have them do it the proper way.

Time to stand up for blood services

Who are the brain dead who decided to close the blood clinic in Brandon? This could cause tragic consequences for blood supplies due to less donations. We should all stand to have this overturned.

Decision to close blood services a bad one

I want to send a short note to voice my disappointment with the decision to close the mobile clinic that collects blood in Neepawa. Im disappointed with ALL the closures, but will only speak to the one that affects me. I had hoped that the closure of the Brandon clinic, that more resources could go into the mobile rural clinics. When I almost lost my husband in 2008 to what should have been a routine surgery, I recognized the importance of blood donation. I also own a business, and recognize that operational costs have to make a business viable. Im just not sure at what cost lives become about making a business decision. Im fairly certain that most of the donors from Neepawa and its service area will not travel to Brandon to donate.

The good and the bad

To the gentleman from Deloraine who rescued the poor defenceless cat from the garbage you will forever be the cats guardian angel, thank you. To the individual who did this to an innocent little creature there are no words to describe you.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Volunteers with a Brandon military museum are left shrugging their shoulders after they were left without any federal funding this year.

They arent the only ones.

After allocating $4.6 million to military museums in the 2015/16 fiscal year, the federal government, through the Directorate of History and Heritage, did not have a dime to give to Canadian Armed Forces museums for the present year, National Defence said.

Colin Corneau Faye Carkener looks over medals given to the mothers of soldiers who died in the First World War, popularly called "Dead Mens' Pennies", kept at the 26th Field Regiment Museum, Tuesday afternoon. Carkener's father started the museum in 1978, largely with hat pins and other military paraphernalia gathered by her grandfather.

The stewards of the 26th Field Regiment RCA/XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum in Brandon didnt want to provide an exact figure on this years funding ask but they were seeking in the neighbourhood of $50,000, shared museum curator Edd McArthur.

The money would have gone toward a bigger project the museum wanted to get off the ground, as well as regular maintenance like artifact management or hiring a summer intern.

McArthur wasnt one to cast blame. Their museum based in the Brandon Armoury is, after all, owned by the military, which ensures their operation and covers heating and lighting.

We dont want to become adversarial, McArthur said, stating they have already submitted their funding application for next year.

Museum vice-president Brian Midwinter said the volunteer group would press on like always. Their current fundraising activities are enough to keep their affairs in order.

Like with every other institution supported by the federal government, were subject to what Im going to call the vagaries of the budgeting and financial management process, he said, so if nobodys getting anything, were not getting anything.

The museum will survive without funding, like in the past. Last year, the groups funding application, which specified their demands, was received after deadline and not approved.

Prior to that, McArthur believes, the museum annually received at least some money they sought.

Through donations and fundraising, the Brandon museum collects $5,000 to $6,000 annually. One of their main appeals is the Vimy Night Fundraiser Celebration, which ran last Saturday.

Requests for comment from the RCA Museum were deferred to CFB Shilo spokesperson Lori Truscott spoke on behalf of the RCA Museum. She did not have enough information to discuss how a loss of funding may affect operations, she said.

In a recent year, DHH provided $71,500 through the Museum Development Funding grant and an additional $60,000 for the acquisition of a 13-pounder artillery piece, Truscott shared.

According to a spokesperson with National Defence, the CAF Museums Committee is the body which considers the funding requests of CAF museums.

The funding is provided through the Military Personnel Command, which must prioritize funding for a number of military activities, including the training, health and welfare and care of personnel and their families, the statement read.

There are currently 70 military museums in Canada.

Colin Corneau Edd McArthur, curator of the 26th Field Regiment RCA/XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum, looks over medals kept at the museum's Armouries building location, Tuesday afternoon.

In Brandon, museum volunteers didnt have much to say about the money they lost out on.

Theyd rather talk about their mission, preserving the histories of two local regiments and their contributions to various war efforts.

Midwinter pulled out a recent find, discovered by a museum researcher, of a stack of papers detailing his grandfathers enlistment and medical records from the First World War.

Midwinter never knew where his grandfather, Charles William Midwinter, was wounded, learning recently it happened at Passchendaele.

Through the facilities available out of this museum, weve been able to close that information loop in the family history, said an appreciative Midwinter.

This is the kind of stuff that were really about here.

The museum is open Tuesdays at the Brandon Armoury from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese
An Irish man has been found dead in Manchester.

The 20-year-old was found shortly before 1.40am on Wednesday morning, near a car park on Spear Street.

He has been formally identified as Dylan Crawford.

He was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he was later confirmed dead.

A Home Office post mortem took place yesterday which was inconclusive and an investigation is underway to establish the cause of death.

Officers investigating the death have now arrested two men on suspicion of theft and supplying prohibited drugs.

Police are also appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Boyce of GMPs City of Manchester team said: We are still working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Dylans death.

This has been a fast moving investigation and we have now made two arrests, however our investigation continues and we need witnesses to come forward.

We are also looking for anyone who was around the Spear Street, Back Piccadilly Street and Oldham Street area between 11.30pm on Tuesday and 12.30am on Wednesday to come forward.

Even at this time of night the area would be fairly busy so it is possible that somebody may have seen something. No piece of information is too small.

According to his Facebook profile, Dylan was working as cabin crew at Ryanair.

The Manchester Evening News says his family said: Our Dylan was a loving, kind and a very trustworthy individual. He saw the good in everyone and that was his downfall.

He loved to travel and would give the world to anyone. He was the heart of our family and words cant describe how devastated we are.

Our home will never be the same without him. We love you son, brother, cousin and friend. May you rest in peace, darling."

Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 4409, quoting incident number 150 of 12/04/17, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A former high-flying bank executive who exposed alleged law-breaking in the industry a year before the crash is relying on friends for food, he has told a parliamentary watchdog.

Jonathan Sugarman said his life had been "utterly destroyed" because he did "the right thing" in trying to uphold the law in his role as a risk manager for Unicredit Ireland, the Irish arm of Italys biggest lender.

The Central Bank - the industry watchdog - did nothing when he warned regulators the bank was operating with billions of euro less than it was legally required to have in available cash, he said.

Despite walking into a Garda station in Rathmines, Dublin, eight years ago to report alleged offences under the Central Bank Act, he said he has never heard anything back after being told the complaint was passed to the fraud squad.

Mr Sugarman told the Oireachtas Finance Committee it was the "harsh fact of the matter that official Ireland has absolutely and completely destroyed the lives of every single whistle-blower" regardless of which organ of the state was exposed.

Asked why he did not take a case against the Central Bank, he responded: "I have no means."

He added: "Thanks to friends I can feed myself. When I needed to go to the dentist a few weeks ago, my friends got together and paid the dentist."

Fianna Fails John McGuinness, chairman of the committee, declared his shock at Mr Sugarmans evidence and vowed to quiz the Central Bank and Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan about his plight.

"I find what you have told us absolutely shocking," Mr McGuinness said. "It is a story I have heard many times in relation to whistle-blowers. I respect you and applaud you for it - your story has been listened to today."

Mr Sugarman said that a year before the 2008 banking bailout, he went to the Central Bank and said his own employer was operating with a 20% liquidity breach.

This effectively meant the lender had 4 billion to 5bn less in available cash than was allowed under the regulations.

The Central Bank acknowledged the letter the next day but he never heard anything again.

"Naturally the bank was delighted - we got off scot-free. Why would we make issue of it? We are here to make money."

Mr Sugarman said the Irish banks had to be bailed out in 2008 - costing the taxpayer 64 billion euro - because everyone was breaching the regulations.

Every breach of the liquidity regulations was an offence, he said, punishable by up to five years in jail.

"How many risk managers are sitting in Mountjoy (prison)?" he said.

"The letter of the law clearly states that they face five years in prison.

"In Iceland they have 25 bankers in jail."

He resigned from Unicredit in September 2007 over "issues of integrity" when outside consultants told him the lender was operating at an even higher liquidity breach of 40%.

Bosses persistently blamed it on a technical glitch and auditors KPMG signed off on the banks accounts, he said.

Mr Sugarman has been unable to find work since - even elsewhere in Europe.

"What I find absolutely incredulous is that my life has been utterly destroyed simply because I did the right thing," he told the committee, which is investigating the banking sector.

"People who didnt adhere to the regulations got off absolutely scot-free.

"I have been unable to work for over 10 years and I am totally unemployable as a result of upholding the law of the Republic of Ireland."

Mr Sugarman said the kindess of others was putting food on his table and keeping a roof over his head.

He says revelations this week that the Central Bank continues to find regulatory breaches among international banks in Dublins IFSC financial district show little has changed.

"How could this possibly be going on 10 years after Jonathan Sugarman came through the Central Bank front door and said, Im telling you we are in breach, nine years after all the banks were found to be in breach?" he said.

- Press Association
The government recently announced a proposal to make more of our rivers swimmable' by 2040  it has attracted significant controversy, demonstrating the level of concern about the state of our rivers among ordinary New Zealanders. In this talk, Catherine Knight, author of, will provide important context to this debate by exploring some of our complex  and often conflicted  history with rivers since humans first settled in Aotearoa New Zealand. She will argue that knowing our history is an important foundation to forging a better future, both in terms of our environment and our socioeconomic wellbeing.
A Catholic priest has been jailed for 17 years for repeatedly sexually abusing a teenage boy when he worked as a teacher in the 1970s.

Father Michael Higginbottom, 74, was working at St Joseph's College, a boarding school in Upholland, Lancashire, when the sexual abuse took place.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that his victim attended the seminary, for boys who wanted to become priests, for six months when he was aged between 13 and 14.

In a victim statement read to the court, he said: "My sexual abuse happened so often I became numb to what was happening to me.

"I cried so often I believe I could have drowned in my own tears."

The victim, now in his 50s, said he used to pray that he would die to escape the abuse.

He said: "There are worse things than death - living with an evil man and being left alone at Upholland."

The trial heard he would be struck with a strap if he did not attend Higginbottom's living quarters, where much of the abuse happened, at appointed times.

The first incident happened about a week after the victim arrived at the school.

He said he was invited into Higginbottom's living quarters and the priest locked the door and ordered him to undress before sexually assaulting him.

When he returned home from the school he became rebellious and his schoolwork suffered, he said.

He added: "Upholland, and him, have stolen so much of my being. I had to salvage something out of this empty shell."

The court heard the victim also made allegations against two other priests at the school, but both had since died.

Adam Birkby, defending, said that since the offences, Higginbottom had led a "positive" life as a parish priest.

He said he suffered a number of health problems including type-2 diabetes and a heart condition.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary QC said: "For a period of six months in the late 1970s you made a young boy's life a living hell.

"What you did to him there effectively destroyed the remainder of his childhood and did a good job of destroying any faith he ever had."

Higginbottom, of West Farm Road, Newcastle, had denied four counts of buggery and four counts of indecent assault but was found guilty after a trial.

The court heard that during his time as a physics teacher at the school, which has since closed, he would give electric shocks to pupils as a punishment.

Judge Menary said: "You employed methods which today, if not then, would be recognised for what they were - cruel and sadistic bullying."

The trial jury was told that allegations had been made against Higginbottom by another former pupil in 2007 and the Catholic Church had settled the claim out of court for 35,000.

Police had investigated the claims and, although Higginbottom was charged, no evidence against him was offered in court and not guilty verdicts were entered.

Higginbottom was told he would be subject to the notification requirement of the Sexual Offences Act for the rest of his life.
Hundreds of people in New Zealand have been evacuated from some coastal areas as the second major storm in just over a week made landfall near the North Island town of Whakatane.

But residents of the nation's largest city, Auckland, breathed a sigh of relief as the remnants of Cyclone Cook moved past them to the east.

Authorities had earlier worried the storm could hit the city and cause major problems.

"It seems Auckland has largely survived ... unscathed," tweeted Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.

Civil defence authorities said people from about 250 homes in the beach town of Ohope were told they had to evacuate, while other households chose to leave.

Authorities had earlier advised people in low elevations on the Coromandel Peninsula to evacuate to higher ground, as large waves were expected to batter the coast.

Air New Zealand suspended flights from Tauranga Airport and other flights around the country were also delayed or cancelled.

The military said it had placed 500 troops on standby. The storm also caused power disruptions to hundreds of homes in Whakatane and Tauranga.

Sarah Stuart-Black, director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, said the storm was "extremely serious" and severe weather warnings were in place for much of the country.

"We are watching very carefully, we're not through this yet," she said on Thursday evening.

The storm was expected to move south overnight and reach the capital, Wellington, early on Friday, causing more problems along the way but also losing some of its punch.

The MetService weather agency predicted rainfall could exceed 100 millimetres in some places and cause more flooding in areas still recovering from heavy rainfall last week.

Last Thursday, the town of Edgecumbe was flooded when a river burst through a concrete levee on the Rangitaiki River as the remnants of Cyclone Debbie hit.

The water forced 2,000 people to evacuate and flooded hundreds of homes.

Many people have been unable to return to their homes since then and authorities have been scrambling to shore up the breached levee.

That system and others will be tested again by rainfall from the latest storm.

MetService predicted winds from the storm could gust to 150 kilometres per hour and that waves could rise to over five metre.

AP
Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a maximum security prison on Maundy Thursday.

During the pre-Easter ritual meant to show his willingness to serve society's most marginal, Francis urged the prisoners to help one another and similarly "be the servant of others".

Francis travelled to the Paliano detention centre, south of Rome, to celebrate Maundy Thursday Mass at the only Italian prison dedicated to housing Mafia turncoats.

These "collaborators of justice" can reduce their sentences by cooperating with anti-Mafia prosecutors.

Many of the inmates are serving lengthy terms: Two of the 12 inmates who participated in the foot-washing ceremony are serving life terms. The remaining 10 are due to be released between 2019 and 2073. Francis also visited two other inmates currently in solitary confinement.

In his homily, Francis reminded the inmates that his gesture of washing their feet re-enacted the gesture of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before he was crucified, essentially doing the work of a slave out of love.

"If you can do something, a service for your companions in prison, do it," Francis urged them during his homily. "This is love. This is like washing feet: to be the servant of others."

It was the third Maundy Thursday that Francis has spent at a detention centre, part of his long-standing emphasis on ministering to prisoners and the need to give them rehabilitation and hope.

"The Holy Father gave us a message not just of hope, but he told us that the love of God is great and is ready to forgive everyone," prison director Nadia Cersosimo told Vatican Radio.

Paliano has 60 to 70 inmates, including about 50 Mafia turncoats. The prison also houses four women and has a special ward for tuberculosis-infected inmates.

The Vatican said three of the 12 inmates who had their feet washed are women and one is a Muslim who is due to be baptised a Christian in June. Prisoners prepared cakes as gifts and offered the Pope vegetables from the prison's organic garden.

In an interview with La Repubblica, Francis said his emphasis on reaching out to inmates comes from his heart.

"When I'm looking at a prisoner, I ask myself: 'Why him and not me?'" he said. "'Why did he fall and not me?' It's a mystery that brings me closer to them."

Francis opened the most solemn period of the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar by celebrating Mass on Thursday morning in St Peter's Basilica before heading to Paliano.

On Friday, he will participate in the torch-lit procession at Rome's Colosseum, re-enacting Christ's crucifixion.

Saturday brings the late-night Easter vigil, with Easter Sunday Mass the following day.

AP
Russia's foreign minister says Moscow expects the UN's chemical weapons watchdog to conduct an extensive probe into last week's chemical attack in Syria.

Sergey Lavrov said that inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should both visit the Syrian air base, which the US said had served as a platform for the attack, and the town of Khan Sheikhoun that was hit to get a full and objective picture.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said claims he was behind a deadly gas attack targeting his own people is "100 percent fabrication".

Addressing the allegations the Syrian leader said his army has already given up chemical weapons.
Russia has agreed to support an independent investigation into the use of chemical weapons in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

Mr Erdogan's office said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to back a probe by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

A spokesman said the two leaders held a telephone conversation on Thursday, during which the Turkish leader stressed that the use of chemical weapons "is the greatest crime against humanity".

A statement said: "The two leaders agreed that the attack in question be investigated by the OPCW, which is an independent organisation whose legitimacy is recognised."

Mr Erdogan and Mr Putin also discussed peace efforts for Syria and their joint efforts to extend a ceasefire agreement to the whole of the country.

Meanwhile, a misdirected airstrike by the US-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in Syria, the US military said.

US Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for a strike intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa.

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18.

Central Command said the strike was launched on Tuesday.

Several nations have lent their air power to the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group. It was not clear which air force was behind the strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike on Thursday, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded.

The SDF-linked Hawar News Agency reported the group was holding funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, though it did not link them to the strike.

An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, says three days of mourning have been declared for the town.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF meanwhile announced the launch of a fourth phase of their campaign to capture Raqqa, a Euphrates River city that is home to 300,000 people.

The SDF, with US-led air and ground support, has surrounded Tabqa, some 25 miles south west of Raqqa. They say they are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is less than five miles north east of the city.

But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. It is unclear how many stages are planned for the campaign.

In a separate development, President Bashar Assad said a chemical attack on a rebel-held town earlier this month that was widely blamed on his forces was a "fabrication".

"Definitely, 100% for us, it's fabrication", Mr Assad told Agence France-Presse in his first comments since a US missile strike on a Syrian air base in response to the chemical attack.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

Syria strongly denied it was behind the April 4 chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 87 people.

AP
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible 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.
The ACT's unemployment rate remains stable at 3.7 per cent, according to March data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It's the second-lowest jobless figure in Australia, behind only the Northern Territory at 3.5 per cent.

The ACT has the second-lowest unemployment rate in Australia. Credit:Photography Project

The trend unemployment rate in Australia increased by less than 0.1 points to 5.9 per cent. The number of people in work rose by 16,500 to slightly more than 12 million.

"We have seen strengthening in full-time growth over recent months, following falls in full-time employment recorded through much of 2016," ABS spokesman Jacqui Jones said.
A man accused of stabbing his wife to death in a "frenzied" attack as she breastfed their 10-month-old son has been found guilty of murder.

Maged Mohommed Ahmed Al-Harazi, 36, did not visibly react as the jury handed down its verdict in the ACT Supreme Court trial on Thursday after less than five hours of deliberations.

Maged Al-Harazi was on Thursday found guilty of murdering his wife Sabah Al-Mdwali in March 2015.

His wife's family members exclaimed "yes" and clapped from their seats in a packed public gallery.

The five-week trial heard from more than 100 witnesses and revolved around whether Mr Al-Harazi was the killer who inflicted 57 stab wounds on his wife, Sabah Al-Mdwali, in the early hours of March 17 in 2015.
The safety scare involving a Qantas jet last week is so rare and serious that most pilots go their whole career without encountering such a scenario, an aviation expert says.

Fifteen people were injured when the Qantas 747 flying from Melbourne to Hong Kong on April 7 had a "stick shaker" incident about 110 kilometres southeast of its destination, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said.

The ATSB, which is investigating the incident, said the pilots experienced "airframe buffeting" while holding at 22,000 feet and disconnected autopilot and "manouevred the aircraft in response".

The safety watchdog is treating it as a "serious incident", meaning there were indications that an accident causing loss of life or aircraft damage nearly occurred.



The "stick shaker" is a warning system that causes the aircraft's control stick to vibrate, alerting pilots they are about enter a "stall condition", said Keith Tonkin, an aviation expert and managing director of Aviation Projects.
The battle for cashbox, Molopo Energy, is getting a little testy.

In its bid to take over Molopo and install its own management, shareholder Keybridge Capital  who has John Bolton, father of corporate raider Nicholas as its largest investor  has rejected assertions, made by the corporate watchdog, that it has any related parties issues.

Ombudsman: Kate Carnell has discovered big business offers loans to small business in her inquiry into late payments. Credit:Sean Davey

The stoush escalated this week when the Australian Securities and Investments Commission applied to the Takeovers Panel, asking for orders to force Keybridge Capital and its former subsidiary, Aurora Funds Management, to reduce their combined stake in Molopo, which stands at about 37 per cent.

ASIC has sought interim orders restraining Keybridge and Aurora and their respective associated entities from exercising any voting rights, acquiring any further relevant interests in Molopo and disposing of any Molopo shares.
Internet giant Google's decision to not take up residence at the Bays Precinct in Sydney has set the leasing market aflutter, as it means the group will be back in the market for new digs.

It is currently in the Pymont environs at the GPT Group's Workplace6 with Accenture and the Mirvac 1 Darling Island Road, which it shares with Fairfax Media, the publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald.

An artist's impression of the redeveloped White Bay Power Station.

Google last year extended its lease at Workplace6 until 2021, and with Accenture hotly tipped to move to the Lendlease Sydney International House at Barangaroo in the next few years, it will allow Google to take out the rest of the property.

But over the years the Google mandate has alternated between 20,000 square metres up to 100,000 sq m. That is why the Bays precinct is an obvious new home for the group. Google, like other tech businesses, also prefers a campus-style office in a city fringe area as opposed to a high rise corporate, CBD tower.
We can't have it both ways.

We can't demand justice for toddler Mason Lee, and then risk prosecutions at the centre of his treatment by releasing prematurely a report into his case.

A report into Mason Lee's death will remain secret until the court process is complete.

We can't say we want a government that responds to the advice of experts and then demand the same government act against that advice.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the report will be released in full following the trials, and her decision not to release it immediately comes after a briefing to cabinet from the DPP, who advised it should not be made public yet.
In a recent submission to Treasury Department the St Vincent de Paul society implored the government to dump the work-for-the-dole scheme developed by Tony Abbott as a junior minister in 1998 on the ground it was not only cruel, but ineffective.

"For too long, governments have taken a harsh approach to the long-term unemployed, wielding a punitive stick on the back of those already doing it tough. Work for the dole is a demonstrable failure, with studies showing that the program provides neither a pathway to a job nor any substantial training or skill development," the submission said.

"Forcing job seekers to accept almost any job on minimally acceptable terms and conditions, including casual and insecure forms of work, does not help jobseekers secure decent and sustainable employment. We have not made progress if the 'welfare poor' becomes the 'working poor'."

Now you might suspect that Vinnie de P is stacked with bleeding hearts and this is the sort of soft line it would take, but there is hard data to back their position.
ACT Parks and Conservation Environment director Daniel Iglesias said the traps were invisible "killing machines" and they were sadly fairly widespread.

The limp bodies of these freshwater aquatic mammals, which play a similar ecological role to otters in the Australian environment, were found at Yarramundi Reach on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

Native water rats, platypus, and other species are being killed by illegal traps left in Canberra's lakes. Compliance ranger with parks and conservation service Richard Kosh. Photo: Jamila Toderas Credit:Jamila Toderas

Platypuses, native water rats and other species are drowning in illegal traps left in Canberra's lakes.

Two platypuses killed in an illegal opera house style trap at Point Hut Pond in 2015. Credit:ACT Environment Directorate

"We don't know how many nets are in use but what we do know is while these nets are illegal for use in the ACT you can buy them quite readily," he said.

The yabby or opera house traps are illegal for use in any public waterway in the ACT and are only legal for use west of the Newell Highway, which runs through Narrandera.

Penalties for illegal use in the ACT are high as $7000 but the government said prosecuting such cases was difficult.

"There are significant fines for people we are able to determine are using, in possession of [the nets], or killing the native animals," Mr Iglesias said.
Amendment limiting damages from hog waste disposal does not apply to current federal lawsuits

Rep. Jimmy Dixon, a retired Duplin County hog farmer, pleaded with fellow House members to remember the people who put food on the table.A handful of his Republican colleagues (and several Democrats) said being faithful to the principles of common-law jurisprudence, separation of powers, and property rights outweigh the interests of any single industry, no matter how important.The House passed House Bill 467 - a measure limiting court damages in some nuisance lawsuits to the actual value of the property involved - Monday evening by a 68-47 margin. But not before an amendment passed from Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, blocking the law from applying to current federal lawsuits involving hundreds of plaintiffs and one major defendant - Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer.Blust also noted the common-law standard of requiring parties that damage the lives or property of others to compensate victims fully.Blust said.The amendment passed by a 59-56 vote after more than an hour of debate. The lower damage limits would apply to future cases, but not the massive litigation now before U.S. District Court Judge Earl Britt.Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, another primary sponsor of the original legislation, said damage limits should apply to the Smithfield lawsuits because Britt had noted the North Carolina statutes were not clear about the monetary damages that apply to "temporary nuisances" like seasonal treatment of hog lagoon waste, implying he wouldn't rule on the cases until he got some guidance from the legislature.But House Minority Leader Darren Jackson, D-Wake, said Britt wasn't asking for help. He was citing the law.Blust, and Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, warned their colleagues against intervening in existing lawsuits. Blust said the bill would encourage more constituents to come forward and ask lawmakers to change damage amounts if they were likely to lose a lawsuit.Rep. Joe John, D-Wake, a former member of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, argued that the bill would violate separation of powers, placing the legislative branch in the center of an ongoing judicial dispute.Blust said, adding,The bill passed an initial vote on Thursday by a 64-48 margin with no discussion or debate, a little more than 60 seconds after the bill was introduced. Rep. Bill Richardson, D-Cumberland, objected to final passage of the bill, giving legislators a few days to review it and get input.H.B. 467 goes to the Senate.
Two Australian children are spending Easter under guard as Immigration Department officials work to deport their Fijian parents.

The Prasad family, from Eastlakes in Sydney's south, were taken from their home on Monday. Father Jitend Prasad was originally placed in Villawood detention centre and mother Joytika put under round-the-clock guard with her three children in an apartment in Parramatta.

The Prasads, ethnic Indians, have lost numerous appeals for protection from the Australian government. They said they had been threatened by indigenous Fijians during the 2000 military coup and would be persecuted again if forced to return to village life in Fiji without land or income.

The case is unusual because the couple have two Australian-born children, Jasmita, 15, and her brother Jasneel, 12, who are full Australian citizens and cannot be forced to leave the country, even if their parents are deported.
Barnaby Joyce has been called "irresponsible" by one of Australia's most senior conservationists after the Deputy Prime Minister dismissed wetlands adjoining Adani's Abbot Point coal port as little more than a "duck-shooting pond".

The brawl over Adani's threats to the onshore environment and the Great Barrier Reef escalated as Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson broke ranks to question a potential $1 billion government loan to develop rail infrastructure for the Indian conglomerate's proposed Carmichael mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin.

Australian Conservation Council president Geoff Cousins said Mr Joyce had "failed to check his facts" on the Caley Valley wetlands, a 5000-hectare bird habitat that environmentalists say was damaged by coal dust contamination from the Adani terminal during cyclone Debbie.

Mr Joyce this week played down the wetlands' ecological value, describing it as a "swamp" built for duck shooters.
A losing candidate in Saturday's North Shore by-election will take the extraordinary step of legally challenging the election results to try to instigate an inquiry into claims election officials provided incorrect information to voters.

Mosman Councillor Carolyn Corrigan was on Thursday morning declared to have lost Saturday's byelection for the seat of North Shore by about 3400 votes on a two-party preferred count despite a 15-point first preference swing away from the Liberal Party.

Cr Corrigan secured 45.3 per cent of the two-party preferred vote on the final count. But the government declared victory on a tense election night after it became apparent that not enough preferences were flowing to her from other independents and the Greens to close the gap with Liberal candidate Felicity Wilson.

In an extraordinary eleventh-hour appeal Cr Corrigan formally asked the Commission to suspend its announcement of results pending an inquiry in a letter sent late on Wednesday.
Ten years ago, mining towns were some of Queensland's richest postcodes. Today, it is affluent suburbs in Brisbane's "wealth belt" that are some of the most well off.

An analysis of Tax Office data has shown those with Queensland's highest incomes live in suburbs like Ascot, Hamilton, Bulimba and Teneriffe.

Eagle Farm in the 4009 postcode had the highest average taxable income for 2014-15 at $105,319.

The 4007 postcode, home to Ascot and Hamilton, had an average taxable income of $103,320.
Pubs and clubs will be handed $4000 to install ID scanners as concerns mount venues will be forced to close early if they do not meet the deadline to have the machines ready to go in less than three months.

ID scanner companies have advised that "very few licensees" have committed to buying their approved systems, despite them being mandatory in Safe Night Precincts from July 1 in venues that trade after midnight.

ID scanners will be installed at pubs and clubs in Queensland's Safe Night Precincts. Credit:Wayne Taylor

That meant some Brisbane bars could be forced to shut their doors early at 10pm until they could get the ID scanners installed.

And with a two-month lead time required to get the ID scanners installed by the due date, the clock is ticking.
A man captured in a citizen's arrest after allegedly flashing his penis at a woman and sexually assaulted three others in the previous week does not think he has done anything wrong, a court has heard.

The 39-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, was kept behind bars after a magistrate was told he had the mental age of a 14-year-old and his alleged offences would likely go before the Mental Health Court.

The man appeared in Roma Street Magistrates Court on Thursday, Credit:Tammy Law

The Everton Park man, whose mother is his full-time carer, was accused of sexually assaulting three women in the suburb from March 28 to April 11 and attempting to assault a child.

Police described the allegations as random groping and said a member of the public detained the man on Monday after he exposed his penis to a woman near a shopping centre on the corner of busy South Pine Road.
Drivers allegedly more than five times over the limit, a motorbike tearing down a highway at nearly double the speed limit and a car crashing into a fish and chip shop - the first day of the Easter road campaign just about had it all.

There were no fatalities on south-east Queensland roads by Friday afternoon, but two people were left in a critical condition in hospital.

The driver of a ute is suspected by police of dangerous driving prior to hitting a tree. Credit:7 News Queensland - Twitter

A motorcycle was recorded on Thursday by a speed camera on the Bruce Highway at Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast doing 193 kilometres per hour in a 110 zone.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man was charged after allegedly returning a blood-alcohol level of 0.273 in the carpark of a fast food outlet at Mount Isa just before midnight.
Hundreds of impatient motorists on the Eastern Freeway are being fined every month for illegally driving in the express lane that is reserved for buses, taxis, motorbikes and cars carrying more than one person.

Data indicates the problem has grown worse in the past year, with the number of fines issued jumping by 55 per cent.

Wait your turn ... The Eastern Freeway near Hoddle Street. Credit:Eddie Jim

Victoria Police issued 2372 fines for driving in the freeway transit lane in the 12 months to March 20, compared with 1526 fines in the previous 12 months, data obtained by the Victorian Liberals shows.

The transit lane is enforced on the freeway's citybound lanes between 7am and 9.30am on weekdays.
The grandson of Carlton great Laurie Kerr has been found not guilty of the brutal murder of his mother because he was in a psychotic state at the time.

However, Stephen Bailey will stay in prison for another six months, because of a shortage of beds at Victoria's high-security psychiatric hospital.

Stephen Bailey (left) is lead into the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Thursday. Credit:Joe Castro

The body of his mother, Penelope Bailey, was found in a creek bed in suburban Donvale in 2015, three days after her son was arrested when he was seen running through traffic in his underwear.

The Supreme Court this week heard Bailey, 36, was experiencing a "florid state of psychosis" when he killed his mother on October 5 in her Mont Albert North home.
Hospitals are putting violent patients into comas as a last resort to protect staff who are being sprayed with blood, held hostage, and bashed on the job, a leading doctor says.

Simon Judkins, a spokesman for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, said more funding was needed to protect health workers from a growing number of dangerous patients, including some who are lashing out due to long waits for care.

Simon Judkins, spokesman for the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. Credit:Jason South

Dr Judkins, an emergency physician who is also an advisor to the Victorian government, said some people with ice-induced psychosis were now being put into comas, and placed on ventilators in intensive care units for 24 hours to protect themselves and staff who do not have enough resources to restrain them.

"We've put them into comas just to control them," he said. "It's a last resort but it happens pretty frequently."
A Kalgoorlie policeman has described the town's 2016 riots as the "scariest day" of his 27-year long career, during a court hearing into the case of a man accused of running down a teenager in the town.

Inspector Tony Colfer made the comments in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday during a hearing into the case of the man charged with the manslaughter of 14-year old Kalgoorlie boy Elijah Doughty.

Young people mourning for Elijah. Credit:Heather McNeill

Elijah's death on August 29 last year sparked tensions in his Goldfields home town with Indigenous supporters carrying signs calling for 'justice' and saying 'the lives of our kids matter'.

A violent riot erupted outside the Kalgoorlie Courthouse when the accused man was first due to appear in court, leaving officers injured and police cars damaged.
Bangkok: Lawyers say the defence of two Asian women accused of the nerve-agent assassination of Kim Jong-nam has been damaged by Malaysia allowing North Korean suspects to leave the country.

Gooi Soon Seng, a lawyer acting for 25-year-old Indonesian Siti Aiysah, says a suspect identified as Ri Ji-u, known as James, "is a key to our defence" as Ms Aiysah had met Mr Ri before the attack on Mr Kim at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13.

Selvi Sandrasegaram, centre, lawyer for Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah in the death of Kim Jong-nam. Credit:AP

She and 28-year-old Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong claim they were duped into believing they were taking part in a television prank show, Just for Laughs.

Lawyers for both women complained during a court hearing in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday about the release of Mr Ri and two other North Korean suspects on March 30, one of them a diplomat at North Korea's embassy. They also complained they have not being provided with statements police obtained from the suspects.
Mr Sudarsa's battered and bloodied body was found on Kuta beach on August 17 last year with 42 injuries. The court heard the Bali police officer of 35 years and Taylor had fought in the sand after the British DJ had accused him of stealing Connor's handbag. Taylor, 35, from Halifax, admitted to bashing the police officer with weapons including a beer bottle smashed into the back of his head, but insisted he was acting in self defence. However Connor said her only role had been to try and separate the brawling pair. Prosecutor Agung Jayalantara told Fairfax Media last month prosecutors were appealing the decision because they had requested both Connor and Taylor face the same sentence - eight years' jail.

It is standard operating procedure for prosecutors to appeal in Indonesia if the sentence is less than two-thirds of that requested by prosecutors. Despite being found guilty of the same crime as Taylor, Connor said it was not a discrepancy that she had been given a lesser sentence because what the two had done had been very different. "David being sentenced to six years was fair because he was the one who hit the back of the victim's head, causing him to die, as per the forensic doctor's conclusion," Connor wrote. "When what I did was just to separate the fight. Even though I was involved in the fight, the prosecutor has to see that nothing I did caused the victim's death." Therefore, Connor said, she should not be given the same punishment. "In my opinion the sentence by the judges was not a discrepancy, but the right decision," she said.

"If it's the same punishment then it is very unfair for me, because it violates my rights, as I am being punished for an unintentional crime." Connor said she had offered a donation to assist the victim's family and help lessen their burden but in the end it was not something they had accepted. "David and I didn't intend or want the fight that caused Wayan Sudarsa's death. What I did at the time was to defend myself from something I saw as a threat." The judges in the Denpasar District Court rejected key elements of Connor's defence including her claim that her only role in the police officer's death was to break up the fight. Judge Wayan Sukanila said Connor was not trying to separate Taylor and Mr Sudarsa when she sat on top of the police officer but was trying to help Taylor and prevent the victim from fighting back.

He was equally sceptical about her claims that she cut up Mr Sudarsa's cards in order to protect him from identity theft, saying she instead acted out of guilt. Connor said it was a "one-sided opinion" for the prosecutor to suggest she had not learned her lesson from the sentence. "I, Sara Connor, personally feel very guilty," she said. The lesson she had learned from the incident, her life experience in Bali and the punishment imposed had been a bitter one that would last all her life. Connor begged the High Court judges to give justice to her in accordance with the level of her mistake. "Let me learn from my mistake to be a better person. Give me also the chance to redeem myself," she said. Prosecutor Agung Jayalantara said Connor's signed statement, which she submitted and signed herself rather than through lawyers, was the counter argument to their appeal.
Bannon's trouble is he fights too hard  he calls his office "the war room." And his mistake was to go to war against Trump's son-in-law and counselor Jared Kushner and his less hardline allies in the administration. White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaking to the media. Credit:AP On Monday, Spicer hosed down reports of the Bannon-Kushner infighting, but on Tuesday, Trump was talking them up. He told the New York Post that he had issued an ultimatum: "Steve is a good guy, but I told them to straighten it out or I will." US President Donald Trump and then-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington in February. Credit:AP

It was a cruel jab - Bannon headed the Trump campaign for the last 11 decisive weeks; he was a key player in the transition; and on arriving at the White House he was the man. But there was an echo in Trump claiming that he hardly knew Bannon. It was the language the administration has resorted to in disowning a cast of troublesome characters, including sacked National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and Bannon's predecessor as campaign boss, Paul Manafort. "Bannon's more of a libertarian than anything else, if you want to know the truth," Trump said overnight during an interview in the Oval Office. Spicer's Tuesday gaff was so bad that he went on national TV to make an abject, if rare White House apology for what was an appalling clanger  "Hitler  didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." The spokesman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "I mistakenly used an inappropriate, insensitive reference to the Holocaust  I apologise. It was a mistake to do that." But he still hadn't recovered his stride  having earlier mispronounced Assad's name, he expressed regret that his comments had distracted from Trump's "attempts to destabilise the region."

Later on Tuesday, Spicer was still groveling in an interview with Politico: "I don't even know how to explain it. It was a straight up mistake." Spicer is no stranger to trouble  often because his boss demands that he trade in falsehoods, like his first inauguration day appearance in the press room, when he insisted against all the evidence that the Trump crowd had been bigger that Barack Obama's. He's also confiscated his staff's phones to have them searched for clues to identify the dozens of White House staffers who leak to the media. Ari Fleischer, a press secretary for George W. Bush, came to Spicer's defense - "Until you've stood at that podium, you have no idea how hard it is day in and day out to never make a mistake Sean made a big one today. He handled it properly. He apologised." "Now, he's going to take a pounding, and he's going to move forward," Fleisher told The Washington Post. Some media critics gave Spicer a pass, blaming his stumble into such a weird rabbit warren not on anti-Semitism so much as the failure by Donald Trump to enunciate a coherent Middle East policy that Spicer might then be able to sell from the lectern.

There have been occasional reports of Trump's frustration with Spicer, but his cutting public remarks about Bannon sounded like a kiss of death, though the signaling from the White House on how they might be read was contradictory  probably because they were being filtered by factional allies and enemies. But it follows Bannon's ceremonial removal from his prestigious perch on the National Security Council, at a time when the portfolio of Kushner, husband to Ivanka Trump has been expanding. And Trump, apparently is sick and tired of hearing about how Bannon won the election and is deemed to be so such a force in the White House that some refer to him as President Bannon. Trump has had a go at both Kushner and Bannon  but in private. He has reportedly taken to mocking media coverage of the breadth of Kushner's vast portfolio; but he has also taken to evicting Bannon from some meetings, telling him that his presence is not required. But Kushner has something that Bannon can never trump  Kushner is family. And even if Bannon is retained, it could be challenging for such boisterous and aggressive operators to continue to serve a president who so dissed him in public. Even before Trump's outburst, there were reports that Bannon's influential connections beyond the White House were looking for a post for him. Trump reportedly holds Bannon responsible for the bungled launch of Trump's migrant and refugee crackdown and, in part, for the botched negotiations with Congress on the failed GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.

But as the self-appointed holder of the torch for the populist and nationalist policies, on which Trump ran for election, Bannon collides frequently with Kushner, Ivanka and others  who he disparages as "the Democrats"  who have been urging Trump to back away from some of his campaign promises and much of his rhetoric. To the extent that the internecine wars are about the direction and future of the Trump presidency, the timing could not be worse for Bannon  in the aftermath of Trump's missile strike on Syria and his Florida summit with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, some analysts detect a retreat from the isolationist cocktail of his America First rhetoric and Bannon's "destruction of the administrative state," as Trump aligns himself more with the Washington foreign policy and national security establishment. The evidence, they say, is that he is backing away from his frothy anti-China rhetoric  on Wednesday he even abandoned his oft-repeated threat to formally brand Beijing as a currency manipulator. On trade with China, Trump is talking about diplomacy, not tariffs. Loading And though Trump personally has not backed away from his bromance with Russia, his national security team is hammering Moscow  on Syria and on Crimea.
Washington: An airstrike by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group killed 18 Syrian fighters allied with the United States, the military said Thursday.

The strike, on Tuesday in Tabqah, Syria, was the third time in a month that US-led airstrikes may have killed civilians or allies, and it comes even as the Pentagon is investigating two previous airstrikes that killed or wounded scores of civilians in a mosque complex in Syria and in a building in the west of Mosul, Iraq.

Fighters from the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces carrying the coffins of their comrades, who were killed Tuesday by a misdirected airstrike by the US-led coalition. Credit:AP

Tuesday's strike was requested by coalition allies who were on the ground near Tabqah, the US Central Command, which oversees combat operations in the Middle East, said in a statement. The fighters had called in the airstrikes and "identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position," it said, using another name for the Islamic State.

The Central Command statement said that the target location turned out to be a "fighting position" for the Syrian Democratic Forces, who have been fighting the Islamic State alongside the United States.
A Detroit emergency room doctor has been charged with performing genital mutilation on young girls in what is believed to be the first criminal case of its kind brought by US prosecutors.

Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, was charged in federal district court in Detroit with female genital mutilation, transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and making a false statement to a federal officer, court records show.

One of the tools that can be used to carry out the process, held by Jennifer Chiwute from Tanzania speaking in Australia promoting a campaign to end female genital mutilation. Credit:Simon O'Dwye

In a criminal complaint, FBI Special Agent Kevin Swanson alleged that two young girls travelled with their parents from Minnesota so Nagarwala could perform the procedure on them in early 2017, and that investigators had identified other children who might have been victimised between 2005 and 2007.

The Justice Department said the case is believed to be the first brought under the particular US law that criminalised female genital mutilation.
Well done to Chemical Synthesis CDT PhD student Krishna Mistry (working with Paul Pringle and Duncan Wass) who won a prize for the best talk at the 14th European Workshop on Phosphorus Chemistry held recently at Cluj in Romania.

The 14th European Workshop on Phosphorus Chemistry was held from March 20  22, 2017 at BabesBolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The workshop supports and reinforces the position of European groups within the field of phosphorus chemistry worldwide. The topics of the workshop covered all modern aspects of phosphorus chemistry in a wide range of disciplines including organic, inorganic, polymer and biomolecular chemistry as well as material science and others.
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...
Jensen Ackles is a busy man. Not only he is in the midst of filming the end of Supernatural season 12, he also has a three-year-old daughter and two newborn twins at home. Jensen shared an adorable photo on his Instagram account of what it is like to handle his newborn twins and the specific challenges that can emerge. In addition, Jensen also posted some behind-the-scenes footage filming a scene for an upcoming episode of Supernatural.

3 Reasons Supernatural Should Have Kept Mick Davies Alive>>> In the cute snapshot Jensen can be seen feeding his twins, daughter Arrow Rhodes and son Zeppelin Bram, simultaneously. The color-coordinated outfits tell us that Arrow is (probably) on the right with Zeppelin on the left. Jensen wrote underneath the picture When the remote control is right between your legs and you cant change the channel.

When the remote control is right between your legs and you cant change the channel. #twins A post shared by Jensen Ackles (@jensenackles) on Apr 10, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

Its easy to miss the first time with the endearing fatherly love catching your eye but there is a remote in front of Jensen. As much as the dad jokes about not being able to change the channel he does seem a little too preoccupied with his young ones to look at anything else.





[WATCH] Supernatural Preview: Who Is Black Bill?>>>



As mentioned, Jensen also posted a video of the filming of Supernatural. In the quick video Jensen can be seen on a set cameras monitor dramatically coming around a corner in character and shooting off two shots from his handgun. It looks like it is just a regular handgun too, not the infamous Colt which has factored back into Supernatural again.

Just another Monday morning I love this job! #slowmo #doubletap #spnfamily A post shared by Jensen Ackles (@jensenackles) on Apr 3, 2017 at 9:24am PDT

Yet the background does offer some kind of hint. Its pretty unremarkable but it does look similar to the Sam and Deans Men of Letters bunker. Could Sam and Dean be on the precipice of having their home invaded by the British Men of Letters or some other antagonists? The chances are pretty good as Supernatural has been building up to a huge conflict on the horizon.

What are your theories on the set video? Is the shooting taking place at the bunker? Could it be at some other location? Is it too hard to tell? How adorable are Jensens newborn twins?

Supernatural season 12 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW. Want more news? Like our Supernatural Facebook page!





(Image and video courtesy of Instagram,/ Jensen Ackles)




Contact: Attila Nemecz

Attila Nemecz Attila.Nemecz@beaufortccc.edu

WASHINGTON, NC Due to a drop in full-time equivalent (FTE) students, Beaufort County Community College is making a necessary ten percent budget cut. The drop in FTE will result in an anticipated $1.1 million reduction in funds from the state. While supply, travel and equipment budgets will be reduced significantly, personnel will also be reduced due to its disproportionate share of the budget. Half of the community colleges in North Carolina are facing similarly lean budgets.BCCC has experienced a downward trend in FTE during the past few years. The vice presidents of all divisions were asked to make a reduction in their budgets. While reductions were made in other areas, personnel loss could not be avoided as it is approximately 74 percent of the overall budget.The staffing reductions will not take place until July 1, 2017 when contracts are regularly renewed. The reductions include three full-time faculty, four full-time staff and four part-time staff non-renewals. Additional savings will come from leaving three full-time and two part-time positions unfilled and downgrading one position., said Dr. Barbara Tansey, president of BCCC.The budget from the state is based on a two-year rolling average of FTE students attending the community college and, therefore, a reduction is expected during the 2017-2018 fiscal year. While the number of students has remained more stable in the current year, a significant drop in enrollment two years ago is now being felt in the budget. College administrators are hopeful that this unprecedented cut will be the last major cut. As the student populations stabilizes, so will the budget.The number of students in curriculum and continuing education programs dropped from 3,797 in the fall of 2015 semester to 3,541 during the fall of 2016, a 6.7% decrease. Since community colleges accommodate different kind of students, enrollment numbers are standardized using a formula called Full-Time Equivalent (FTE). One FTE equates to a full-time student taking 16 credit hours for two semesters. The drop in FTE was 8.1% for the year, and the budget formula was weighed down by a more significant decrease during the previous year.Staffing decisions were based on the performance of programs and changes in statewide mandates. Care was taken to not eliminate any programs or hurt services on which students rely.The college experienced a decline in enrollment after it withdrew from the Federal Student Loan Program in 2014 after BCCC's default rate spiked to 29 percent. More recent trends in student enrollment are a reflection of a larger demographic shift in the region. All of the counties in BCCC's service area have lost population during the last six years, with Beaufort losing 233 people, Hyde losing 393 people, Tyrrell losing 266 people and Washington losing 1,033 people. All of the counties have seen their citizens get older as well, with the average age in Beaufort and Washington Counties now at 44 years old.said Tansey.The college has shifted its focus to dual enrollment programs for high school students, with a third of its enrolled students now coming from those programs.The College hopes that these are the only budget reductions and contract non-renewals it will have to make. These reductions will help BCCC continue its mission to provide accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training and lifelong learning opportunities to the people of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington Counties.
The Builders Merchants Federation has launched its second Regional Centre of Excellence in the North West, at Sentinel Performance Solutions' facility in Warrington.

Matt Haines, BMF regional manager West Midlands, North West and North Wales, attended the launch with Sentinel's trade marketing director Neil Davies, and trade marketing manager Daniel Cheung.

BMF members around the country have welcomed the new regional centres, which will give them access to BMF training and events on their doorstep.

Speaking at the launch, Neil Davies said: "Sentinel is proud to be partnering with the BMF. At Sentinel we look forward to working with the BMF as we seek to educate and inspire the next generation of builders' merchants to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing construction industry."

Mr Haines added: "The BMF is very appreciative of Sentinel allowing the BMF to use the impressive facilities at their Warrington Offices, very conveniently located five minutes off the M62, to become a second Centre of Excellence in the North West Region. We very much look forward to welcoming members to the venue when the BMF Regional Meeting is held there on 4 October, 2017."

Pictured, from left: BMF regional manaeger Matt Haines, and Sentinel's trade marketing director, Neil Davies.
Everything you need to know for election day in Burlington County

elections
"Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue at Knuckleheads in Kansas City on February 8, 2008. Magic Dick (harp player for the J. Geils Band), heats up the house with the classic "Whammer Jammer" - includes Tommy Castro (guitar), Chris Sandoval (drums), and Scot Sutherland (bass)....though I think Tommy and Scot are just clapping - Dick and Chris are doing all the work."

It is just as important to me to read the comments under the videos to get some background information on the life and times of each musician. Those comments will give an indication of their impact people. It also is a great place to gain a few personal tidbits from people who may have known or seen them in their best or worst of times.Usually, I gain a newfound appreciation for musicians that I only knew incidentally. That is certainly the case with the J. Geils Band. Stan has indicated in the comment section that they were truly a Rock and Roll band that I would enjoy.Subsequent research has confirmed his statement. I was aware of the song below but never really associated it with the band. The mouth harp has always been one of the most versatile instruments of musicians. Unlike a Piano or Guitar, it is easily transportable and can be brought out at a moment's notice to render the melody of a song. Beyond that, it allows the jamming of a true musician in a free form performance.The video was recorded in 2008 and it is a rendition ofby Richard Salwitz, known as Magic Dick . He was a member of the J Geils band. While there are several versions of the song done by the band, I chose this video because it shows the energy and virtuoso of Magic Dick. Interestingly enough, this is not the J. Giles band. It also reminds me that some of the best music is still performed in bars with smaller crowds. Here are the notes from the YouTube link.
Telecom major Bharti Airtel has modified its 'fastest network' commercial campaign by dropping the word "officially"  a move that follows rival Reliance Jio contesting the claim.

The advertisement regulator, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), had asked the company to modify or withdraw the commercial that claimed Airtel to be "officially the fastest network" in India by April 11.

The modified advertisement is pitching Airtel as "India's fastest network" without the word "officially" as was seen in the earlier advertisement.

Bharti Airtel had come out with the advertisement campaign claiming it to be officially the fastest network in India on Ookla's finding.

Rival Reliance Jio contested the claim and moved the ASCI against the commercial.

Reliance Jio alleged that Airtel deliberately used the word "officially" in its advertisement to "deceive" Indian mobile consumers as Ookla, LLC is a commercial enterprise which gives awards for money and does not have any accreditation from the Indian government.

The ASCI found the ad to be misleading and asked the company to modify or withdraw the commercial by April 11.

Upholding the complaint filed by Reliance Jio, the ASCI said that the Airtel TV commercial (TVC) was "misleading" and "contravened Chapters" of its Code as well as guidelines on disclaimers clauses.

Bharti Airtel did not reply to an email query sent to it. However, a company source said that "Airtel has filed review petition with ASCI and advertisement continues to be on air as per norms."

One of the conditions for seeking a review of an ASCI decision is that the advertiser should confirm suspension of the offending advertisement, pending review.
Online marketplace Amazon India has secured a licence to operate pre-paid payment instrument (PPI) or mobile wallet in the country as it tries to compete more aggressively against rivals Snapdeal and Paytm.
Sandeep Aggarwal, founder and chief executive officer of Droom, plans to raise $50 million and to become a unicorn, a start-up with valuation of $1 billion, by the end of this financial year. The e-commerce platform launched Credit, a marketplace to get loans to buy used automobiles, a first of its kind in India, on Thursday.
Infosys on Wednesday appointed Independent Director Ravi Venkatesan as co-Chairman amid calls from founders to diversify the board.

The board expansion comes against the backdrop of an ongoing tussle between the founders and the management over contentious issues such as CEO salary hike, severance package to former employees and corporate governance standards.

"Ravi will help me enhance the board engagement in supporting the management in the execution of the company's strategy," R Seshasayee, Infosys Chairman, said in a statement.

Venkatesan, who has been on the Infosys board since April 2011, has made "valuable contribution to the development of strategic direction of the company during his tenure", the company said.

"This is an exciting time for the technology industry and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with Sesh (Seshasayee), Vishal and his leadership team in their transformational journey," Venkatesan said.
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Ravi Venkatesan doesnt own a car. He instead uses Uber for his commutes across Bengaluru every day.

A keen observer of how technology disrupts businesses, Venkatesan knows how Uber and its rival in India, Ola, have enabled thousands of drivers to transition into the formal economy. To him, while technology disrupts businesses, it also creates opportunities that never existed in the past.

At Infosys, as the newly-appointed co-chairman, he will bring these insights to help shape Chief Executive Vishal Sikkas vision to take the IT services behemoth to its next phase of growth. For this transition to succeed, a leadership that understands the need to adapt is essential, Sikka has been articulating over the past two years.

Venkatesan seems to think alike. Success requires correct diagnosis. What the industry is facing is not disruption but a crisis stemming from a self-inflicted inability to adapt. Success now requires the courage and tenacity to shift focus, resources and most of all intellect away from legacy businesses towards the brightest opportunities, wrote Venkatesan on November 1 on his LinkedIn post. What will make the difference at the firm level is nothing more than the quality of leadership.

The 53-year-old, who led Microsoft India and Cummins as its chairman and helped cement their businesses in the country, doesnt like to flaunt his success. Soft-spoken and polite, he builds relationships, while ensuring that the organisation keeps pace with the changing times without compromising on its core values.

So, when the rift between the board and its founder N R Narayana Murthy came out in the open, Venkatesan was the backroom boy who engaged with the old guard.



Murthy, who had raised concerns over corporate governance lapses, and questioned R Seshasayees leadership of the board, had also sought that a co-chairman be named, initially recommending Marty Subramanyam, a former director and a professor to the post. Although the management did not elaborate on how the decision was made, it appears that Murthy, too, is in agreement with the choice.

Venkatesan has the right credentials. Having served as India heads for two multinational firms, Cummins for 16 years and later at Microsoft, he has global exposure. On the board of since 2011, he has seen Infosys change from a founder-led board to a professional one. Those who know him say he has the mindset to work with leaders without ego. Venkatesan is on the board of several large and is the chairman of Bank of Baroda.

He is passionate about education and social issues. Cummins College of Engineering, Indias first engineering college for women, in Pune, was established by him. He is also the co-founder of Social Venture Partners, a global network of philanthropists who invest in the social sector, besides being a venture partner at Unitus Seed fund, which identifies technology start-ups that look at disruptive traditional businesses.

His social venture is to identify large scale problems and find ways to solve them. The returns are not for private gain, says a business leader who knows about his work.

Venkatesan and his wife, Sonali Kulkarni, the India head of Japanese firm Fanuc, are nature lovers who can regularly be seen taking walks in Bengalurus Cubbon Park. They love dogs and have adopted a street dog, Toffee. They both married late  Venkatesan was 47 and Kulkarni, a great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, was 45 then.



In between his busy schedule, Venkatesan has found time to write a book, Conquering the Chaos  Win In India, Win Everywhere, a playbook for multinationals looking to win in the local market.

From his past interviews, it is easy to see the direction Infosys is headed. The challenges for Indian becoming global are in many ways the same as they are for Microsoft or GE operating in India. The top one is to find the right balance between being Indian and being local. So in America, they need to feel like an American company. The country head should be American, said Venkatesan in a 2013 interview to Business Standard.

The majority of employees should be American. Most operating decisions should be taken locally, not in India. Promotion should be blind to the passport. You have to operate sensitively and sustainably so that each country sees you as a force for good not someone who is taking away jobs.

That should be music to Donald Trumps ears.
A 21-year-old Delhi University (DU) student allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in north Delhi's Roop Nagar area, following which her former boyfriend has been booked for abetting the suicide, police said on Wednesday.
Citizen Group Files Suit Against Beaufort County Board of Commissioners

Suit alleges multiple violations of state Open Meetings Law



Washington, NC, April 13, 2017: The Citizens for Better Government of Beaufort County, NC ("CBG"), with the assistance of the Civitas Institute, has filed suit against the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners. The suit alleges that the Board has, on numerous occasions, violated North Carolina's Open Meetings Law. Specifically, the suit alleges that the Board has illegally entered into closed session on several occasions.



The Board closed its meetings to the public four times in 2015. A review of the redacted minutes of the closed sessions revealed discussions that should have taken place in view of the public.



CBG is represented by Jonathan Strange of The Strange Law Firm and Elliot Engstrom of Engstrom Law, PLLC.



"Decisions made in backrooms out of the public's view are bad business," said CBG Chairman Ray Leary. "The CBG originated as the "Stop the Jail Committee". As we worked on that issue we came to realize that the problem was not so much the bad decision on the jail as it is the culture that has developed with the County Commission to make their decisions outside of their public meetings. This interferes with the Board's accountability to the public.



We have tried on repeated occasions to get the Board to comply, without success. We believe, and North Carolina law requires, that the public's business should be conducted in public. We are determined to make sure that the Board will conduct the public's business in open meetings as required by North Carolina law."



"We are honored to partner with the CBG in this important effort. Government that operates with transparency and citizen oversight is more likely to be thrifty and efficient in the use of public resources," said Francis X. De Luca USMCR(Ret), President, Civitas Institute.



The suit seeks an injunction requiring the Board to comply with the Open Meetings Law.



"CBG is not seeking monetary damages from Beaufort County," Leary said. "We are simply asking the commissioners to follow the statutes governing closed meetings and public records."



Contact: Ray Leary

Citizens for Better Government of Beaufort County NC



(252) 402-5662  willeary@suddenlink.net



PO Box 954

Chocowinity, NC 27817


on Thursday executed banned Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two associates for a 2004 attack on a shrine that killed three people and wounded the British high commissioner at the time.

Hannan was hanged at Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur along with his accomplice Sharif Shahedul alias Bipul at 10:01 PM (local time), Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.

His associate Delwar Hossain Ripon was executed in Sylhet jail, the minister added.

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun Ur Rashid said the autopsies of Hannan and Bipul have been completed and their bodies will be sent to their village homes amid tight security.

President Abdul Hamid had rejected their mercy petitions this week.

Earlier, the authorities beefed up security in and around the Kashimpur jail. The family members of Hannan - his wife, two daughters and elder brother - met him in the jail this morning.

Ripon's family members also met him at the Sylhet jail.

Hannan, 60, who studied in India and Pakistan, had fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan before returning to join HuJI, media reports said.

On March 19, the Supreme Court reconfirmed its earlier verdict, endorsing death penalty to Hannan and the two others for the 2004 attack on the then UK envoy.

The then Bangladeshi born British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury narrowly escaped the grenade attack at a shrine in northeastern Sylhet that killed three people, all policemen, and injured 70 others. Anwar sustained minor injuries.

The HuJI operatives carried out the attack at the shrine of saint Hazrat Shahjalal in Sylhet, also the birthplace of Chowdhury, as he went to visit there 18 days into his new assignment in Dhaka.

A speedy trial tribunal originally tried the case and delivered its verdict on December 23, 2008, sentencing to death HuJI leaders Sharif Shahedul Alam and Delwar Hossain alongside Hannan.

Hannan and seven other kingpins and operatives of Huji were earlier sentenced to death by another court in Dhaka for a deadly 2001 bomb attack that killed 10 people during Bengali New Year celebrations at a public park.

HuJI was formed in 1992 by Bangladeshis who took part in the Afghan war against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

The US has designated HuJi as a foreign terrorist organization and "specially designated global terrorist" while Indian officials suspected the outfit's links in the Jaipur serial bombings and several other blasts there.

has witnessed a spate of attacks on secular activists, foreigners and religious minorities since 2013.
The BJP on Wednesday disowned a youth leader whose offer of Rs 11 lakh to anyone beheading West Bengal Chief Minister sparked outrage. Police filed a case against him.

An unperturbed Banerjee said she considers such threats as "blessings".

As the Trinamool Congress and Congress raised the issue angrily in Parliament, demanding action against Yogesh Varshney, the Bharatiya Janata Party distanced itself from the Aligarh-based leader.

BJP Secretary Rahul Sinha said such comments cannot be condoned.

"We doubt if he has the credibility to be a BJP Yuva Morcha leader. Such comments cannot be supported by anyone. He has made a most jihadi-like statement," Sinha said in Kolkata.

"We will continue to oppose on political grounds. But the BJP does not approve the politics of hatred and murder though such extreme comments were made by Trinamool Congress leaders earlier," he said.

Speaking in Murshidabad, Banerjee said: "I am being abused variously. I consider that as blessings. The more they abuse us, they more we will march forward.

"Now we are in Bengal. Slowly we will move on to Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh."

In the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar condemned the remarks.

"The statement ... is completely wrong. We condemn it. is an elected leader and she must be respected," he said.

Varshney of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha made the statement after police clashed with people taking part in a Hanuman Jayanti rally in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday.

"She stands up for Muslims. Aren't Hindus human beings? If there was some humanity, then there wouldn't be so much discrimination against the Hindus," he said after apparently seeing a video of police assaulting the rallyists to disperse them.

"There is only one thought that crossed my mind after watching that video... Whoever will cut off Mamata Banerjee's head, I will give that person Rs 11 lakh as reward," Varshney said.

Varshney's offer went viral on social media, triggering widespread condemnation. He later apologised, saying he made the statement in a fit of rage.

Describing the comment as a provocation against a popular Chief Minister and an attack on women, opposition leaders denounced Varshney.

Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said people like Varshney had no idea what stuff Banerjee was made of.

"She was thrown out of the Kolkata police headquarters and dragged out of Writers Building (Secretariat) during CPI-M regime. Police dragged her by the hair from Singur during the land movement (in 2006) but nothing could stop her," Chatterjee said.

Eminent Bengali writer Nabanita Deb Sen said: "I feel so annoyed. Where are we living? Fatwas are being issued, death threats are being given. Why shouldn't he be arrested and punished?"

Thespian Bivas Chakraborty added: "Politics is going into the hands of mentally disbalanced and insane people. In such a situation, nobody is secure."

In Parliament, Trinamool leader Saugata Roy sought action against Varshney.

"I urge the government to take all possible action against the leader who has threatened a popular and down-to-earth Chief Minister," he said.

Supporting him, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said action should be taken against the BJP leader.

--IANS

team-md/mr/vd
As India-Pakistan ties remain heated with the neighbouring nation's latest step to impose death sentence on former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Union government is exploring all the options that can be taken to save Jadhav.
India said on Thursday that the alleged Indian spy sentenced to death in Pakistan was innocent of the charges hurled at him.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also said that New Delhi was not aware where was held and the condition he was in due to Islamabad's refusal to provide consular access to him.

"We have no information and the Pakistan government has also not shared with us his location and how and where he is held and what his condition is," spokesman Gopal Baglay told the media.

He reiterated that there was no credibility to Jadhav's secret military trial and described as "baseless" the charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad levelled against him.

He said India was engaged in efforts to bring back Jadhav but added that he would not like to speculate on the steps being taken, including who all New Delhi may talk to.

The spokesman said he had no information about the alleged abduction of a retired Pakistani military officer in Nepal.
The imposition of a death sentence on one year after the former Indian naval officer was captured is the latest in the Pakistani militarys efforts to keep the India-Pakistan issue on the boil.
this year is a festival to particularly savour for Christians around the world. In a relatively rare occurrence, Eastern and Western traditions find that their liturgical calendars coincide, with Sunday happening on the same date. It wont happen again until 2034.
Platforms like eBay, Uber, Airbnb, and Freelancer are thriving, growing the and disrupting existing business. The question is how to ensure that the transformations they entail have a positive impact on society. Here, universal basic income may have a role to play.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will be launched as planned on July 1 to boost economic growth and state revenues, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday, despite calls from some businesses for a delay.
The new three-year strategic paper, which forms part of its 15-year vision document, and seven-year national development agenda that replaced the five-year plans would be conceptually different from the earlier documents.




"Strano e difficile a crederci, ma e proprio cosi!  Strange and hard to believe, but that's right!

This is how Italian journalist and blogger Veronica Triolo begins her post on an American writer who con sorriso, grinta ed entusiasmo, si e appassionata al nostro paese (with a smile, determination and enthusiasm, became passionate about our country). This passion, she notes,non e superficiale e non e basata sui soliti banali stereotipi (isnt superficial nor based on the usual banal stereotypes) but reflects years of study and research on every aspect of Italian culture: from history to art, music, fashion, cinema, food, wine and lifestyle.

When we met after a presentation of LA PASSIONE at the British Institute in Florence, Veronica wondered how her "pazzo e disordinato paese" (crazy and messy country) was able to fascinate and inspire me. You can read her complete interview in Italian at fragolosablog.com. Here is an English translation:

Your passion for my country is really flattering. Dont you have the impression we take all we have -- history/art/cultural heritage/lifestyle/food/fashion -- for granted?

Italians grow up surrounded by cultural richesin their churches, monuments, countryside, wherever they turn. Rather than taking it for granted, I think that they accept and appreciate the beauty around them as a given, part of their heritage and birthright. They may not realize how extraordinary their patrimony is until they get to know other countries and culturesor until foreigners like myself, looking at Italy through what one reader called virgin eyes, point out Italys unique contributions to Western civilization.

What are the main differences of attitudes towards life of an American, compared to an Italian?

Americans come from so many different cultures and countries that we have a broad range of attitudes so its hard to generalize. However, many Americans focus on pursuing goals, whether educational or economic, so at times we strive so hard to achieve them that we lose touch with the everyday joys of living.

Many Americans are always on the go, rushing to appointments, wolfing down fast food, working all hours of the day and night. Italians also work hard, but they take the time to savor a good meal, to chat with friends, to hold their families close, to stop and appreciate beauty wherever they may find it. This is one of the important life lessons Ive learned from Italians.

What is the most efficient way or method to promote Italy abroad? (Your book being a perfect example.)

I wrote all three of my Italy-based booksLA BELLA LINGUA, MONA LISA and LA PASSIONEto share the richness of your culture with other foreigners. The more that non-Italians learn and understand about Italys language, history, art, crafts, food, fashion and other cultural endeavors, the more they can appreciate them.

Italy has done a remarkable job in promoting its culture through the Made in Italy promotions. As I note inLA PASSIONE, people in every part of the world sip espresso, drive Fiats, buy Italian purses and clothes and relish Italian cooking. In my view, the world seems more Italian than when I first discovered Italy thirty years ago. Im happy to play some small part in continuing to spread a passion for Italy and its wonderful, warm-hearted people.
When it comes to assuring protection and justice to (feriwalas) in India, Delhi seems a bit serious, even as those like Nagaland and Gujarat lag, shows a report published by think tank Centre for Civil Society on Wednesday.
Europe-based company ERGO has begun scouting for a new partner for its life business in this country. The Avantha Group, with which it had signed a joint venture (JV) agreement, has decided to withdraw, and the partnership stands effectively dissolved.
Business Reform Action Plan 2017

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the World Bank Group, released the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2017 for implementation by States/UTs on 13.04.2017.

The BRAP includes 405 recommendations for reforms on regulatory processes, policies, practices and procedures spread across 12 reform areas, that is, labour regulation enablers; contract enforcement; registering property; inspection reform enablers; single window system; land availability and allotment; construction permit enablers; environmental registration enablers; obtaining utility permits; paying taxes; access to information and transparency enablers and sector specific reforms spanning the lifecycle of a typical business.

This year there are 103 new set of reforms (out of 405) focusing on central inspection system, online land allotment system, online single window system for granting construction permits, registration under Inter State Migrant Workmen (RE&CS) Act, 1979, approval for boiler manufacturer and boiler erector etc. BRAP 2017 also includes two new sectors i.e. Healthcare and Hospitality.

The last date to implement the reform is 31.10.2017.
The Indian delegation led by the Commerce and Industry Minister of State Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, participated in day-long India conference in Nagoya city, in Aichi Prefecture of Japan..

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Governor of Aichi Prefecture, Hideaki Ohmura thanked the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for establishing the Aichi Desk in 2016 within the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Governor Hideaki acknowledged that the India Conference will further encourage the companies in Aichi Prefecture to invest in India..

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Smt. Sitharaman commended the contribution of Aichi Prefecture towards manufacturing value addition despite high savings rate among the Prefectures in Japan. It was discussed that India could learn from Aichi Prefecture as to how manufacturing can grow along with savings. The Minister acknowledged the increase in FDI from Japan in recent years. Although Japan is the 3rd largest foreign investor in India (USD 25.2 Billion in cumulative FDI during the April 2000 December 2016), behind Mauritius and Singapore (ranked 1 and 2) , it can be considered a top investor as the other two countries are used by companies from across the world to route investments..

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Smt. Sitharaman urged the Governor to consider diversification of investment in other sectors such as Food Processing, Textiles, Medical Equipment, Electronics, Information Technology, etc. Both sides agreed for deeper engagement in future..

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The Minister invited Governor Hideaki to lead a delegation of Japanese companies to MSME clusters in India to explore partnership and investment opportunities. It was discussed that the delegation could visit before the expected visit of Japanese Prime Minister in second half of 2017. Governor Hideaki mentioned that Aichi Prefecture companies have an appetite to grow their business overseas and hoped the partnership would bring prosperity to both sides..

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The Minister reiterated the potential for huge synergies between India and Aichi Prefecture. She highlighted key reforms undertaken to ease the business operations in India including passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, advancement of the Budget session, introduction of a new Insolvency and Bankruptcy code, reduction in corporate tax and commitment to level it with international benchmarks, etc..

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Smt. Sitharaman also emphasized the importance of flagship initiatives including Digital India, Start-Up India, and JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile) trinity in driving the future growth. She said India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25% and Japan is a natural partner in our goals.Ambassador of India to Japan Sh Sujan Chinoy termed Commerce and Industry Minister's visit as a rare opportunity to review economic relations between the two countries..

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A presentation on 'Make in India was made by Secretary DIPP, Mr. Ramesh Abhishek. The Secretary highlighted the unparalleled opportunities and advantages that investors could leverage by Making in India. The Secretary stressed on the recent reforms undertaken on Ease of Doing Business, the investments being made and planned for skilling under the Skill India program, and strengthening of Intellectual Property Regime..

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The Indian economy is more open than ever with 100% FDI allowed in most sectors and the impact was shown in the comparison of FDI data from before and after the launch of 'Make in India' initiative. Total FDI increased by 56% from USD 83.7 Billion during July 2012-September 2014 period to USD 130.4 Billion during October 2014-January 2017 period; during the same period equity FDI increased by 69% from USD 57 Billion to USD 96.1 Billion. Secretary further highlighted the huge investments India is making in Infrastructure development ..

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Several meetings with leading Japanese companies were held to explore areas of mutual cooperation. The Minister also held interaction with the Japanese and Indian media..

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MJPS
The UK Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon is on a four-day visit to India from April 11, 2017. The India-UK delegation level talks were held here today where the UK side was led by Sir Michael Fallon while the Indian delegation was headed by the Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley. .

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Following is the text of the Joint Statement issued after the talks: .

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Minister of Defence Shri Arun Jaitley and Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon set out a shared vision for the India-UK Defence Partnership. .

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At the invitation of Minister of Defence Shri Arun Jaitley, the Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon visited India for the India-UK Strategic Defence Dialogue during 11-14 April 2017. The visit reaffirmed and consolidated UK-India defence cooperation in the framework of the Defence and International Security Partnership, agreed in November 2015, and the subsequent Joint Statement between the Governments of India and the UK in November 2016. .

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This enduring defence partnership will encompass not only cooperation in defence industry but also stronger military to military engagement, including training and advanced joint exercises. .

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The renewed engagement will place capability and technology development at its core and seek to harness the complementary strengths of both nations in defence manufacturing and use the combined strengths of their respective private and public sectors to develop defence solutions for use in both home and shared export markets. .

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The Defence Ministers will also continue to consult and co-ordinate policies across a range of global security challenges, especially those intended to eliminate the scourge of international terrorism, in pursuit of their shared goal of a more secure world. .

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AN ENHANCED DEFENCE PARTNERSHIP.

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Based on the Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) and building on existing Defence Consultative Group (DCG) mechanisms, both sides will explore additional areas for institutional engagement. .

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The Ministers agreed to further strengthen their naval and maritime interactions, including enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through the bilateral technical agreement to exchange information to track terrorist and pirate vessels, a key deliverable of the DISP. The two Ministers also agreed to further develop cooperation between the UK Hydrographic Office and the Indian Navy Hydrographic Office. .

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India and the UK will endeavour to build a range of Capability Partnerships focussing on varied aspects of military effectiveness such as specialised training interactions and exchange of best practices in the following areas Counter Terrorism (CT), Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED), Air Force Training, Air Total Safety, Aircraft Carriers, Maritime Safety, Shipbuilding and UN Peacekeeping. Efforts are already underway with exchanges of subject matter experts to discuss air safety collaboration and future CT requirements. The Ministers tasked the relevant Executive Steering Groups (ESGs) to finalise proposals for consideration at the next DCG meeting scheduled later this year. .

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As India and the UK continue to transform and modernise their defence structures with a shared desire to maximise the efficiencies and operational benefits of establishing joint force structures, the two Ministers agreed to share relevant experience in this domain. .

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DEFENCE INDUSTRY.

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Whilst acknowledging the progress being made, the two Ministers recognised the potential for further cooperation in defence manufacturing between the UK and Indian companies under the Make in India framework. .

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Shri Jaitley welcomed the UKs interest in manufacturing in India as evidenced through recent announcements including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bharat Dynamics Ltd. and Thales UK on technology transfer opportunities for missile systems and efforts to develop an Advanced Hawk jet trainer jointly by the BAE Systems and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). .

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To further encourage and facilitate cooperation between the UK and Indian companies, the two Ministers agreed to extend the current Defence Equipment Cooperation MOU and work towards early completion of an expanded MOU, that will provide a platform for the UK and Indian industries to collaborate on and support transfer of technology on projects in areas of mutual interest. .

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The two Ministers welcomed measures to ensure life cycle support and sustenance of UK-origin defence platforms used by India, which may include setting up joint ventures and other collaborative arrangements. .

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The UK and India will encourage interactions between the Indian Army Design Bureau and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)/Army Capability Branch through their Defence Equipment Sub-Group. .

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The UK and India will explore establishing a secure communications method in order to share classified material. The two countries will also consider upgrading their bilateral General Security Arrangement. .

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY .

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The two Ministers recognised the need for stronger R&D cooperation, including access to Defence R&D training, to enable new and vibrant technology partnerships across the Defence domain. .

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They noted recent progress made on Defence Science and Technology collaboration with the signing of the Phase 2 follow-on research Collaborative Project Agreement on Human Sciences, signed at Aero India 2017. .

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CONCLUSION.

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The above commitments will better enable the UK and India to meet the evolving threats and challenges that face democracies in the 21st Century. Both countries recognised their shared perspectives on the regional and international security situation and agreed to maintain their close interaction in this regard. .

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Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon thanked Minister of Defence Shri Arun Jaitley for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and looked forward to a return visit by the Minister of Defence to the UK." .

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NW/NAO/MKT/DK
President of India condoles the passing away of Dr. Akhilesh Das

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of veteran Parliamentarian, educationist and philanthropist, Dr. Akhilesh Das.

In a message to his wife, Smt. Alka Das, the President has said, I am sad to learn about the passing away of your husband, Dr. Akhilesh Das, a friend and colleague for long years. A veteran Parliamentarian, educationist and philanthropist, Dr.

Das served the nation in various capacities including as Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel. As Mayor of Lucknow, Dr. Das contributed extensively in the development of the city and acquired the reputation of being an able administrator. In his passing away, the nation has lost a well known public figure, whose services shall be remembered for long. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I pray to the Almighty to give you and all members of your family the strength to bear this irreparable loss.
Until a few days ago, Americans and the world had reason to think that the Trump administrations policy toward Russia would involve cooperation and harmony and seek to reverse the acrimony and dysfunction that had come to characterize relations between the Kremlin and the Obama administration.
Lawyers for the passenger dragged from a plane in Chicago filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court on Wednesday to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.
Fake news has become an important focus for news foundations, democratic interest groups and various journalism academics and researchers, following claims that the US presidential elections may have been influenced by anti-Clinton propaganda created by Russia and shared on social networks.
As the USS Carl Vinson and its carrier battle group steam through the Pacific toward the Korean Peninsula, many are wondering if the Trump administration could be so rash as to attack North Korea.
After Ross Gay's father was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, Gay, while caring for his dad, made a surprising and gratifying discovery. His old man had freckles. "The reason I got that close to him was because he was dying, but the joy it gave me to find out that he had freckles was a kind of grace," Gay said. "Instead of being purely devastated by his dying, I was flummoxed by his ...
has announced to compensate all passengers on the flight in which a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat after refusing to give up his seat on an overbooked flight.
The devastating gas attack in Syria, attributed to the Assad regime, and the swift US missile response is a game-changer for all parties involved in the Syrian conflict. This is a complex war, but it helps to look at the key players in three interlocking layers.
faces write-offs, restating accounts and restructuring its power assets after the Supreme Court disallowed compensatory tariff for changes in international regulations.

The company is exploring restructuring subsidiaries, so that all assets can be brought under the holding company, said a person with knowledge of the development. An email query to went unanswered.

owns the 4,620 MW Mundra power plant, unlike other plants in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, which are owned by subsidiaries. Adani Power has six subsidiaries.

The idea is being considered, however, it is one of the many options being considered, the source added.

Adani Power may have to act sooner on a write-off. The company has recognised Rs 4,400 crore as revenue from the Mundra project on account of compensatory tariff up to December 2016. This amount may have to reversed or 80% of it written off.

According to analysts at Nomura, at least 80% of the compensatory tariff is attributed to changes in Indonesian coal pricing regulations.

Adani Power will also have to restate financial statements of previous years and inform the stock exchanges accordingly. This will widen the companys losses, according to analysts.

Another option available to Adani Power is refinancing debt in order to save on the interest cost. Adani Power may need to infuse more equity to maintain its debt-equity ratio as an erosion of net worth is likely with the write-off, said an analyst with a brokerage firm who did not wish to be identified.

The earnings downgrade is damaging in light of the leverage at Adani Power -- 400% financial leverage when compared to the equity capitalisation of the Adani group, said Tim Buckley, director of energy finance studies of the Sydney-based IEEFA.

This raises the question whether Adanis Mundra power plant will potentially end up as a $5 billion stranded asset, he added.

The plants long-term power purchase agreement is too low to allow a viable return. Given excess thermal power generating capacity in India, Mundra could see falling utilisation rates combined with expensive fuel and a non-commercial electricity offtake tariff, he said.

Tata Power, the other company affected by the Supreme Courts ruling on Tuesday, may need to explore fewer options. Analysts at Ambit Research said Tata Power could look at sourcing domestic coal at competitive rates and selling power to merchant .

The Supreme Court has referred the case back to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to quantify the tariff relief for plants that had to use imported coal due local shortages.

The Adani groups Tiroda and Kawai projects have no local coal linkage and the interpretation by Rajasthan and Maharashtra regulators on non-availability of domestic coal as a "change in law will be critical, according to Anirudh Gangahar and Archit Singhal at Nomura.

In their view, full recovery of the compensatory tariff -- Rs 3,300 crore has been recognised so far for the two projects -- is debatable.

Adani Power is likely to go back to the CERC for compensatory tariff at Tiroda and Kawai, said an analyst with a brokerage firm who did not wish to be identified.

However, analysts do not see much scope for compensatory tariff for domestic regulatory reasons.
The Rs 2,50,000-crore gems and industry has recommended 1.25 per cent of levy for it under the coming Goods and Services Tax (GST).
are once again gaining traction, given the improving ordering scenario. The low base effect is helping them post better order growth than in the year-ago period. While the mention of infrastructure usually prompts investors to look at stocks such as Siemens, BHEL, L&T and ABB India, there are mid-cap stocks such as VA Tech Wabag, Jain Irrigation, Greaves Cotton, Carborundum Universal (CUMI) and Sintex Industries, which investors can look at, given the niche segments they cater for. Being uniquely positioned, most of these companies were vulnerable to the pressures of demonetisation as their clients were sensitive to such unforeseen events. However, the recovery has been convincing since then and companies expect a steep improvement in FY18 in terms of profitability and ordering activities.
The four per cent drop in shares of on Thursday is likely to impact several equity mutual fund (MF) schemes. is one of the most-owned stocks by India's equity schemes with an allocation of over three per cent, or Rs 19,500 crore, of the total equity asset under management. Nearly 460 equity schemes (including exchange-traded funds or ETFs, Equity Linked Savings Scheme, and balanced funds) have invested in shares of . Put together, MFs own 191 million shares of the information technology (IT) major, making it the most-owned stock in the sector. Despite negative flows for Indian IT sector over the last few quarters, Infosys has continued to remain among the top five picks of fund managers.




After an absence of 38 years, McLaren is to return to the Indianapolis 500 next month, using Honda engines.

On May 28, McLaren will enter a single car in the 101st Indianapolis 500, powered by Honda.

The car will be run by the Andretti Autosport team, headed by founder, owner and Chief Executive Officer Michael Andretti, a former IndyCar champion, who raced in Formula 1 for McLaren alongside the legendary Ayrton Senna for a single season (1993) and is the son of three-time IndyCar champion and one-time Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti.

The McLaren-Honda-Andretti entry, a Dallara DW12 chassis as used by all IndyCar teams, will be driven by current McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, who has started 275 Grand Prix, has won 32 of those races, has become Formula 1 world champion twice, and has been Formula 1 runner-up three times.

Its engine will be a Honda 2.2-litre twin-turbo V6, limited by IndyCar regulations to 12,000rpm.

Since the Indianapolis 500 will take place on May 28th, the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix, Fernando will not race at Monaco this year.

The Indianapolis 500 will be the only 2017 IndyCar race in which Fernando will compete, however, and the Monaco Grand Prix will therefore be the only 2017 Formula 1 race in which he will not compete.

In due course McLaren-Honda will announce the identity of the driver who will race Fernando's car at Monaco.

Fernando Alonso said, "I'm immensely excited that I'll be racing in this year's Indy 500, with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport."

"The Indy 500 is one of the most famous races on the global motorsport calendar, rivalled only by the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix [which Fernando has won twice, one of those victories at the wheel of a McLaren (in 2007)], and it's of course a regret of mine that I won't be able to race at Monaco this year."

"But Monaco will be the only 2017 Grand Prix I'll be missing, and I'll be back in the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in early June," he added.

Zak Brown, Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group, said, "As an American, albeit one who fell in love with Formula 1 at a very young age, I've always regarded the Indy 500 as a fantastic motor race."

"Equally, this project wouldn't have been possible without Honda's support and encouragement. And our car - the McLaren-Honda-Andretti - will be decked out in the papaya orange livery made famous by our founder Bruce McLaren, and in which Johnny Rutherford drove McLaren IndyCars to Indy 500 victory in both 1974 and 1976.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Baloch leaders have condemned Pakistan for sentencing Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav to death.

Dubbing the death sentence given to Jadhav as 'inhuman and illegal', Baloch Republican Party (BRP) member Ashraf Sherjan said that Pakistan is committing a crime by giving a death sentence order to Jadhav.

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do everything to save Jadhav's life.

Sherjan said Pakistan is indulging in a fake propaganda by stating that Jadhav is connected to Balochistan.

"No spies can take their national ID card and work as a spy with spy agencies but Pakistan is doing this to label Kulbushan Yadav involved in Balochistan activities Iis totally a fake propaganda," he said.

Sherjan said Pakistan should bring Jadhav to the international court if he is guilty and connected to any terrorism activity in Balochistan.

He added that Pakistan by itself does not have any right to give death sentences to an Indian citizen, or for that matter to any foreign citizen.

"Just last month, Pakistan tried via Interpol Brahamdagh Khan Bugti which totally failed then later few weeks ago when Abdul Bugti was delivering his speech at UN, Pakistan and China both tried to stop him and over there also Pakistan failed," he said.

"So, all Pakistan's attempts on Baloch leaders are failing now and they have now brought Kulbhushan Jadhav who is an innocent Indian citizen. So that's why I'm requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rest of the Indian leaders to save the life of Kulbhushan Jadhav," he added.

Meanwhile, representative of Balochistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Mehran Marri called the death sentence given to Jadhav as 'extra judicial killing' and a 'premeditated murder'.

He said Pakistan has been carrying out pre-meditative murder and extra judicial killing in Balochistan for 70 years with full impunity.

"Pakistan is forgetting that Jadhav is not a Baloch, he is from India, he has is got a backing of a very strong country and India will give befitting reply to Pakistan," he said.

Marri appreciated the comment of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy, who had said if Pakistan takes such measures then India should recognise Balochistan as an independent sovereign country.

"We thank him for that comment and hope he follows through what he has said," he added.

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 in Pakistan earlier this week 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.

External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj had on Tuesday 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 neighbors and vowed to go "out of the way" to save Jadhav amid an outrage in this country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Development and progress of Bangladesh can only be expedited if curbs are put on the spread of drug addiction, terrorism and militancy, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday.

Seeking the wholehearted cooperation of the nation's citizens, the Daily Star quoted Hasina, as saying,"The goal ahead of us is to expedite the country's development through implementing various development initiatives by curbing terrorism and militancy, and we seek your cooperation in materialising this goal."

The prime minister said this during a video conference at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka with local administration, public representatives and people from all strata of four districts under the Mymensingh division.

The video conference was connected to 4019 points of Mymensingh, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Sherpur, and reached out to some 28 lakh people. Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, MPs, secretaries concerned were present on the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Banned militant outfit Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two associate's were on Wednesday night executed by the Bangladesh Government for killing three persons in a grenade attack on the then British high commissioner Anwar Choudhury at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) Shrine in Sylhet in 2004.

The HuJI chief was responsible for killing of more than a hundred people in 13 terror attacks between 1999 and 2005, reports the Daily Star.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was quoted by an online news website Bdnews24.com as saying that Hannan, along with his accomplices Sharif Shahedul and Delwar Hossain Ripon, were executed at Kashimpur in Gazipur.

Earlier, Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid had rejected their plea for clemency against the death sentence.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh had this year on March 19 upheld the death sentences for the HuJI chief and his two accomplices and later rejected their pleas to review the decision.

Hannan had also been sentenced to death for killing 10 people and injuring scores in a bomb attack on Chhayanaut's programme at Ramna Batamul on the Bangla New Year in 2001.

A Sylhet court had earlier sentenced Hannan and his two associates to death on December 23, 2008. The High Court upheld the death penalty on December 7 last year.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Kotalipara upazila in Gopalganj have vowed to resist the burial of Hannan in his ancestral home, reports the Dhaka Tribune.

Locals alleged that his father was against the independence of Bangladesh, and also flew the Pakistani flag after 1971.

A meeting was held recently at the house of Hiron Union Parishad chairman Munshi Ebadur Rahman where participants said they would resist if Hannan's body was brought to the area for burial.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kids are coming to school more often and getting better at computing numbers at Lame Deer Middle School since world-class musicians began working with students.

But something numbers cant show is the joy musicians from the Silk Road Ensemble have brought to the Northern Cheyenne students.

It wasnt immediate.

When percussionist Shane Shanahan, bagpiper Cristina Pato and bamboo flute player Kojiro Umezaki first started visiting Lame Deer School in 2011, students were shy.

On Monday, when the three musicians visited the school, there were high fives in the hallway, and holas" of greeting to Pato, who is from Spain.

Lame Deer Middle Schools math proficiency improved by 41.67 percent between 2011 and 2013. Reading proficiency and attendance also improved, important achievements attributed to arts education.

Lame Deer School superintendent Gerald Chouinard said a creative environment gives kids choices.

It provides them with opportunities, Chouinard said. Integration of the arts and outside cultures gives the students the ability to share our culture with the outside. It builds year after year.

Lame Deer music teacher Natalie Parker said having professional artists come to the school brings an intangible gift.

It brings joy to the kids, she said.

When the Silk Road Ensemble, founded by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, first visited Lame Deer School, students were apprehensive about the strangers.

They wouldnt participate. They just looked at them. The students have grown having that relationship. You can just see the brightness in their faces.

One special moment was three years ago when Parker took a group of Lame Deer students to perform at the White House. Two students who were on that trip, Kaylyn American Horse and Haden Standing Water, are now high school students planning their futures.

It encourages me to do things and not be afraid, said sophomore American Horse, who wants to be a veterinarian.

Standing Water, a junior, said he envisions pursuing music and traveling, maybe to Germany, where he can perform possibly in a military band. It all started with learning to play the marimba.

This makes me want to go more places, he said.

Chokecherry pudding and fry bread

The musicians battled heavy fog and several inches of snow to get to the school from Billings and Wyoming on Monday morning. In February, they picked up a Grammy Award for Best World Music and Monday, they were eating tacos in a bag and talking about making chokecherry pudding and fry bread.

Shanahan taught students different rhythm patterns and Umezaki showed his group how to use their feet to press dough flat to make Ramen noodles.

"The relationship is everything," said Umezaki, who was born in Japan. "What art does is show them there are no boundaries."

Pato led a storytelling circle where students wrote and illustrated stories based on their favorite foods.

Do you know what person came up in all of their stories? Their grandmothers, Pato said.

When the Turnaround Arts School program scaled back in 2015, the Silk Road Ensemble was so committed to the students at Lame Deer School, they kept visiting, using their own money matched by the school district to follow through.

You have choices in life, things you have to do and things we want to be doing," Pato said. "When we met the children here, even when the program ended, we had to keep coming. What I love about it is they share their culture with us, and we share ours with them.

Principal Steve Ewing said his students have many challenges, but the most daunting is poverty.

If there was a way to overcome poverty, that would take a lot off of our kids, Ewing said. Here, there are two meals to eat a day and a safe place to be.

Lame Deer Middle School is 99 percent Native American and 100 percent of them qualify for free and reduced-cost lunch. There are 142 students in the high school and 93 students in the middle school, which is the target group of the Turnaround Arts Schools.

Lame Deer art teacher Susan Wolfe is a bit of a hero to the tribe and the students. She worked with the Office of Public Instruction to apply for the Turnaround Arts School program, which pairs some of the countrys lowest achieving schools with professional musicians, writers and artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Trombone Shorty, Elton John and Jason Mraz, in addition to the Silk Road Ensemble.

"I have seen the Ensemble reach kids who have never spoken in the classroom," Wolfe said.

Art fills the hallways at Lame Deer School, and Ewing has three student sculptures in his office. Not only have the arts boosted scores and attendance, but they have boosted morale.
U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a four-day visit, met his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley on Thursday.

Fallon was given a special guard of honour upon his arrival. He later laid the wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti here.

Fallon, who is accompanied by a high-powered delegation, will chair the first India-UK strategic dialogue. The dialogue was decided to be held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's November 2015 visit to Britain.

This visit is expected to further cement the bilateral defence and international security partnership.

Fallon, the third British Cabinet Minister to visit India in April, is also expected to visit Mumbai. He will also meet Indian Defence Ministry officials, military staff, business and opinion leaders, the British High Commission said.

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The Central Board of Employees Provident Fund (CBEPF/EPFO) held its 217th special meeting in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Union Minster of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya.

In pursuance of the government's policy for optimum use of information technology for efficient service delivery and widening the reach of EPF benefits, Mr. Dattatreya launched the Aadhaar Seeding Application.

The EPFO has developed this seeding application with the support of Common Service Centers (CSC) and CDAC. The CSCs are ICT enabled front end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of government and private services.

With the implementation of the Aadhaar Seeding Application, a provident fund member or pensioner can walk into any field offices of the EPFO or CSC outlets with UAN and Aadhaar and seed the Aadhaar with the UAN.

The Board has recommended a proposal of extending minimum assured benefit of Rs.2,50,000/- (Rs. Two lakh fifty thousand) on death of EDLI member. Provisions have also been recommended in EDLI Scheme for Loyalty cum life benefit to members on superannuation on completion of 58/60 years of age/total and permanent disablement with minimum 20 years of contributory service as a pilot project for two years. Thereafter the scheme will be reviewed.

Central Board also took note of the fact that EPFO has enrolled 49,39,929 workers during January 1, 2017 and March 31,2017.

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claimed Thursday that the alleged chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun was a "fabrication" to justify the U.S. missile strike.

Acoording to media reports Assad said in an interview, his first since the alleged April 4 attack prompted a US air strike on Syrian forces, "Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

He added that the Syrian army had given up all its chemical weapons and that Syrian military power was not affected by the U.S. strike.

The suspected chemical attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage.

Syria denied any use of chemical weapons and Russia backed its claim saying said the deaths had been the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing "toxic substances".

In the interview, Assad insisted it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened and questioned the authenticity of the videos being circulated online.

"You have a lot of fake videos now. We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?," he said.

Denouncing the chemical attack, President Donald Trump ordered a strike that saw 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles destroy the airbase in central Syria.

It was the first direct US military action against Assad's forces since the start of Syria's civil war six years ago and led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow.

Russia accused the United States of breaking international law with the strike against the Syrian regime, a key ally that Moscow has supported with air strikes since 2015.

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The Congress Party on Thursday said the death sentence awarded to Indian Kulbhushan Jadhav is a calculated game played by Pakistan and expressed disappointment over the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not handle this matter with the seriousness it deserved.

Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI that there is absolutely no allegation against Jadhav about the espionage activity in which he was involved.

"But what is surprising is that Prime Minister of India's intervention we have not seen till today. It is a clear violation of international understandings, agreements, rules and everything.Why the PM of India did not contact the PM of Pakistan or he did not asked the UN," Chacko said.

"This is the calculated game of Pakistan to put the blame on India that we are entering in espionage activity, but unfortunately the issue is not being handled with the seriousness it deserved by the Prime Minister of India and the government," he added.

Slamming Pakistan's military court for issuing the death sentence to Jadhav, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier on Tuesday issued a stern warning and said 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.

Pakistan's Security Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua, however, yesterday said that Pakistan and India cannot remain enemies forever and need to engage with each other to resolve their disputes.

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declined to comment on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, citing the world body was not in a position to judge the case.

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 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 by officials of his/her government.

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Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday downplayed the allegations of EVM tampering and said that opposition parties are leveling baseless allegations as they are not able to digest the upsurge of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the nation.

Asserting that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA dispensation works with utmost transparency, Naidu said that the opposition parties are hell bent in denouncing the government to spoil its impression in front of the masses..

"The Congress Party and the Communist Party, in the wake of numerous defeats, are behaving like this. They are not able to digest the fact that people of the nation have selected the BJP. Which is why they are trying to create a negative image of our party then they are also not letting the parliament function. These rival parties don't want people to think good of the BJP and Prime Minister Modi," said Naidu.

"Now they are targeting the Election Commission. When they win then it's okay, and when they don't then its wrong. When the Congress won in 2004 then the EVMs were correct, when the AAP won in Delhi with 67 seats then EVMs were right and now that the BJP has won then all of a sudden, they are alleging that the machines were tampered. The complaints the opposition parties have made against the BJP in front of the President are wrong. We work with utmost transparency," he added.

A Congress-led delegation has submitted a memorandum on the alleged irregularities in EVMs to President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.

The delegation included several popular leaders like Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad among others.

Post meeting with President Mukherjee, Azad said that the alleged tampering of EVMs, and the backdoor entry by the BJP to form the governments in Goa and Manipur, have raised questions on the electoral process in the country.

Azad said that the united Opposition sought the president's intervention to maintain the constitutional safeguards in India.

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Strongly condemning the video in which a security personnel is being roughed up by a youth while he was returning from a polling booth in Srinagar, Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said that at least a 100 jihadi lives must be taken for every slap on an Indian soldier's face.

The video features a CRPF personnel using immense restraint even when he is attacked by the youth.

The video shows the jawan walking when suddenly a local attacks him. The impact of the attack makes the jawan's helmet roll down the road. This caused him some injuries.

Expressing his anger towards the same, Gambhir wrote on Twitter, "For every slap on my army's Jawan lay down at least a 100 jihadi lives. Whoever wants Azadi LEAVE NOW! Kashmir is ours. #kashmirbelongs2us."

For every slap on my army's Jawan lay down at least a 100 jihadi lives. Whoever wants Azadi LEAVE NOW! Kashmir is ours. #kashmirbelongs2us  Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 13, 2017

Gambhir did not stop there and explained what the Indian flag signifies.

"Anti-Indians hav forgotten dat our flag also stands 4: saffron - fire of our anger, white - shroud for jihadis, green - hatred 4 terror," he added.

Meanwhile, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag also lashed out at the video, saying that abuse of the country's CRPF jawans is completely unacceptable.

"This is Unacceptable ! Can't do this to our CRPF jawaans .This rot has to stop. Badtameezi ki hadd hai," Sehwag tweeted.

This is Unacceptable ! Cant do this to our CRPF jawaans .This rot has to stop. Badtameezi ki hadd hai. pic.twitter.com/rZbqGbXk6O  Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 13, 2017

In wake of the prevailing tension in the Kashmir Valley, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday deferred the Anantnag by-polls till May 25. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held on April 12.

A school designated as polling station for Anantnag by-polls was set on fire in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. A Panchayat Ghar was also set ablaze in Pulwama district.

The Srinagar parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout for the by-polls in the wake of the clashes.

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The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Saudi Arabia to investigate the death of a Pakistani transgender woman at a Riyadh police station following a raid on an event space in February.

It also said that Saudi authorities should also immediately release five Pakistanis who remain in detention if they are held only on suspicion of committing morality related "offenses".

On February 26, local media outlets reported that Saudi police in Riyadh had raided a rented hall and arrested 35 Pakistanis gathered there. A Saudi news website released photos of 10 of the Pakistanis at the hall, some dressed in women's clothes, as well as a box of rings.

Pakistani transgender activists told Human Rights Watch that some of the those gathered at the hall, including the detainee who died in detention, are transgender women, known as Khawaja Saras in Pakistan.

"Saudi Arabia's aggressive policing of the private consensual activities of Saudis and foreigners diverts resources from actual problems such as preventing and solving crimes," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

"Saudi Arabia should immediately end this nightmare for Pakistani families by credibly investigating why this woman died in police custody and releasing the other Pakistanis still in jail," Whitson added.

The HRW said it confirmed the death by reviewing official documents after earlier media reports, including assertions by a family member that she was tortured in custody.

March 28 media reports in Pakistan said that a representative of the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry told a meeting of the Pakistani Senate's Human Rights Committee that Saudi authorities had arrested the 35 Pakistanis after monitoring them for two months. He confirmed that 29 of them were eventually released, while five remain in detention.

The son of the transgender woman who died in detention told the committee that his family received her body on March 11.

"When we opened the coffin, my father's teeth and jaw were broken. Moreover, there were marks of wounds on the body," he was quoted as saying.

Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry denied the torture claims while admitting only that "[o]ne 61-year-old person suffered a heart attack and died in the hospital after being treated."

Saudi Arabia has no written laws concerning sexual orientation or gender identity, but judges use principles of uncodified Islamic law to sanction people suspected of committing sexual relations outside marriage, including adultery, extramarital and homosexual sex, or other "immoral" acts.

An HRW review of LGBT-related cases from 2013 listed in a Saudi Justice Ministry of Justice report found three cases in which authorities accused men of wearing makeup or dressing in women's clothes. The sentences ranged from 20 days in prison to a year-and-a-half, and between 20 and 300 lashes.

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New Delhi [India], Apr. 13 (ANI): India, the land of culture and rich heritage, has a number of museums both to educate and entertain the future generation.

But if we examine the state of most of our museums, they lack maintenance and upgradation, which can be attributed to lack of interest among the people and to administrative apathy.

ANI spoke exclusively to renowned Australian heritage and museum specialist Vinod Daniel on the same, and he said that the basic mantra to determine the success or failure of a museum or a heritage site is driven by three important operational factors namely autonomy, leadership and institutional skills.

He threw light on the loopholes that exist for museums and their preservation.

Daniel said, "We need to think over how we can make the museum more attractive for the audience. In the West, they make sure that whatever they do is more audience oriented. Hence, it becomes more interesting for the people to visit such places.

They set their target group. For example, if it's a museum for children then the whole focus is on them and their choices. Their approach is very scientific. I think that kind of approach needs to happen."

Clearing some misconceptions, he said museums are not just buildings to store history, but also to entertain and educate the audience.

Citing an example, he said, "If you go to Singapore right now, its cultural sector is one of the most vibrant, right from the way the museums are maintained and promoted, to the festivals and events they do in certain periods of the year, to innovative things that they try."

He said it is not enough just to have a good policy to change the current not-so-good situation of the Indian museums.

Daniel said, "Leave the policy, things should be sorted out at the operational level. What I feel is firstly a director should be appointed for five-plus years. Many museums have administrators of the IAS level who are generally rotating. When they rotate, you can't have a proper leadership as change in this sector takes time."

"Secondly, you should have a space there for the directors to work in an autonomous way, where they don't have to report to the government in a line management way. Most of the museums report directly to the government and is totally dominated by their thinking and changes happening there."

In 2011, the UNESCO had on a related note said that Indian museums have "substandard maintenance."

Daniel continued saying, "If you see all the big museums, may be Australian museums, they all report to a board, who might be appointed by the government. But there lies a point of separation in it."

"Thirdly, you need a skilled workforce which understands what museums are and at different levels be it technical, administrative or at the curative level. As directors or managers, the appointed people should understand what museums are. I think a big focus should be to upskill the current staff as a lot of them have no training. At the same time, you need to plan for the future and have professional degree programs in technical areas."

Stating that some museums in India are doing well, he concluded, "Many think, let's put some money and bring a difference. Money can bring a change, but on a very temporary level. I think it is much more about people and their ideas."

Daniel is recognised globally for his work on museums and heritage preservation and is a member of the International Council of Museums. He has also been Chair of Ausheritage and is a former member of the Board of the Australia-India Council.

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Former foreign secretary Bhupatray Shashank on Thursday said Pakistan has been giving different expressions all along on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, adding that India must consider concrete strategy to deal with Islamabad.

"Initially Pakistan government was saying that it has not yet reached a stage in the matter of investigation to share with the international community. It shows that there were different voices and they were giving different expression all along on Kulbhushan. Ultimately when the decision was made it was military courts decision.This action against Kulbhhushan Jadhav is against all norms of international conduct. Whatever they have been trying to do for bilateral relations with India they seem to have forgotten all that process," Shashank told ANI.

He further said that the Indian Government should consider various strategies to deal with Pakistan in a situation when the latter is speaking in different voices.

"Pakistan is going through various internal churns and military seems to be trying to impose its will on everyone else. The military is taking the decision on substantive matters. India should consider all these factors and see where it goes from here," he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier in the day said that India has no information of Jadhav's whereabouts, adding that Pakistan's 'indefensible' verdict is violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. And these two facts were communicated to Pakistan one year ago when the matter of his illegal custody came to our knowledge. We had made 13 requests for the consular access, but it was denied by the Pakistan," MEA official spokesperson Gopal Baglay told the media here.

"What is his condition, where is he being held, these facts cannot be ascertained. The Pakistan Government has also not shared with us his location or any specific details as to how and where is he being held and what is his condition," he added.

Crying foul over the proceedings against Jadhav, Bagley said that the former has been denied proper defence, adding the verdict is indefensible.

"No due process has been followed in the proceedings which is complete violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," he added.

Baglay further said that Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned as soon as the information of Jadhav's death sentence came to India's knowledge.

"It was made clear to the Pakistan Government that given the circumstances of the case namely kidnapping of Jadhav, absence of any credible evidence to substantiate the concocted charges against him and the farcical nature of proceedings against him. the Government of India will regard it as premeditated murder if the indefensible sentence awarded to him were carried out," he added.

Reiterating External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's assertion, Baglay said lack of evidence and denial of consular access shows that charges levelled against Jadhav are baseless.

"The EAM also informed the Parliament that Government of Pakistan had approached us this year to access the investigation and this further underlines the insufficiency of evidence," he added.

Stating that Jadhav's matter is associated with the sentiments of the nation, Baglay said the Parliament has spoken in one voice on it and would ensure justice to the former.

"The senior ministers of government have told the Parliament that government will do everything that is possible to ensure justice to Kulbhushan. We are engaged in achieving this objective," he added.

Earlier, Swaraj warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if Jadhav's death sentence is carried out.

She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented then it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there was no evidence against Jadhav.

Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused of espionage, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday triggering tension between the two Asian neighbours..

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Union Minister for External Affairs (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday informed that 10 Indians who were working as a crew on a commercial vessel which was hijacked in Somalia by pirates have been rescued.

Swaraj in a series of tweets announced the development.

"I am happy to inform that 10 Indian nationals working as crew on MV AL Kausar which was hijacked by pirates have been rescued," Swaraj tweeted.

Swaraj also took the occasion to thank the government of Somalia for their participation.

"We thank Federal Government of Somalia, Galmudug state authorities and people of Somalia for their help and cooperation, she added.

Swaraj lauded India's High Commissioner in Kenya Suchitra Durai for her successful endeavours in the regard.

"I appreciate Ms.Suchitra Durai, our High Commissioner in Kenya for her good work," she said.

Pirates stormed the "Al Kausar" ship off the Indian Ocean coast near Yemen on March 31, holding the 10-man crew hostage.

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HELENA  Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has appointed a new director of the state Department of Corrections.

Reginald Michael previously was the Chief U.S. Probation Officer in Miami. Michael said in a statement released by the governor's office Wednesday that he will aim to strengthen the corrections system, reduce recidivism and improve public safety.

The statement says Michael has worked in criminal justice for more than 30 years.

He replaces Mike Batista, who retired before Bullock was sworn in for his second term in January. The department has been run since then by interim director Loraine Wodnick.
IT Major Infosys Ltd. on Thursday announced the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan as the board's co-chairman.

Venkatesan, an Independent Director, will now take over as the co-chairman owing to the decision taken by the Infosys board amidst an ongoing string of arguments between the founders and the management over issues such as salary hike and corporate governance standards among others.

Recognising Venkatesan's contribution to the company's growth trajectory since his recruitment in April 2011, Infosys board stated the appointment is crucial towards implementing the company's strategy.

Earlier today, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka while discussing the company's Q4 results said the company is expecting the revenue growth to be between 6.5 to 8.5 percent in constant currency.

With regards to fiscal year 2017, the board announced a final dividend of Rs. 14.75 per share amounting to Rs. 4,078 crore.

The revenues were Rs. 68,484 crore for the year ended March 31, 2017, with a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 9.7 percent. Operating profit was tabulated to be Rs. 16,901 crore,with YoY growth recorded at 8.2 percent.

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Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday said that the Congress and other opposition parties should not bang their heads over the use or non-use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) post their defeat in the recent polls.

Naqvi told ANI that the opposition parties should introspect as to why they lost instead of banging their heads about faulty EVMs.

"The Opposition parties should accept a fact that they have been mandated by the voters to sit in the opposition. Instead of crying foul play over the EVMs, they should introspect and correct the reasons behind their defeat," said Naqvi.

"Now, when the Election Commission has thrown open a challenge to them to examine the EVMs, they should come forward and try to do the same," he said.

The Election Commission yesterday issued a challenge to all political parties to prove that the EVMs can be tampered with. This came after Congress, Left, AAP and others claimed that the EVMs were tampered with to favour the BJP.

Refuting the charges of EVM tampering, Naqvi said, "The Congress formed two successive governments at the Centre when elections were held through EVMs. Similarly, Mamata Banerjee became chief minister of West Bengal, Arvind Kejriwal won Delhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati became chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Kumar became Bihar Chief Minister, and Left Parties won elections in EVM based elections."

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitender said, "It is a joke that when other political parties won elections conducted on EVMs then they didn't find blame with the machines, but when the BJP won then they alleged that the EVMs have been manipulated to help BJP."

He added, "One of our political friends even claimed that the EVMs were manipulated in such a way that every vote was going in the BJP's kitty. Should someone ask if this was the case then why did opposition parties win even few seats?"

He said the countrymen, especially 65 percent youths of this country believe in logic and not in leaders who only talk and don't deliver.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a u-turn over his stand on NATO by saying that he no longer considers it to be 'obsolete'.

"I complained about that a long time ago, and they made a change and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," the Washington Post quoted Trump as saying during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday.

Trump had been consistently critical of NATO and its importance to U.S. allies.

He had called NATO as an outdated organisation and said that it is costing the United States too much money.

Trump had even suggested replacing it with an alternative organization focused on counterterrorism and repeatedly using the word 'obsolete' for it.

Stoltenberg said that NATO had established a new division for intelligence, which had enhanced its ability to fight terrorism and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism in an even more effective way.

"But we agreed today, you and I, that NATO can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism," he said.

Calling on NATO members to meet their financial obligations, Trump said that member-nations are expected to contribute two percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defence.

Stoltenberg said ensuring that the cost burden is better shared amongst the member countries has become a top priority for him.

Thanking NATO members for condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons, the US President said he has absolutely no doubt over the U.S. strikes in Syria as it was a right thing.

He added that it was done very successfully.

Trump described his meeting with NATO Secretary General as 'great' and said that that the two agreed on the importance of getting countries to pay their fair share & focus on the threat of terrorism.

"Great meeting w/ NATO Sec. Gen. We agreed on the importance of getting countries to pay their fair share & focus on the threat of terrorism," Trump tweeted.

Trump described Bashar al-Assad as "a butcher" for the chemical attack which the United States Government has accused him of carrying out on his own civilians.

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Pointing out at the irony of Pakistan sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death and claiming itself to be a peace-loving country at the same time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said Nawaz Sharif makes such statements due to the Pakistan Army's control over him.

BJP leader S. Prakash said Sharif comes up with statements in order to please the Pakistan military as he did not have complete authority over administration.

"A former navy officer is sentenced to death without trial or evidence, but still they claim him to be a terrorist. Such concocted stories are webbed and are made to believe for their own compulsions. I am sure the Government of India is keenly observing all the developments and that Kulbhushan Jadhav will be safely brought back to India," Prakash told ANI.

Appreciating India's humanitarian gesture of rescuing two Pakistan commandoes Prakash said even during the Pathankot attack, two people were arrested on suspicion, but the Indian Army returned them to Pakistan after finding them innocent.

Resonating similar sentiment, another BJP leader Shaina NC said it was ironical that Nawaz Sharif talked about a peace-loving country when Pakistan is giving conviction to a person who is falsely implicated in an espionage case.

"We need to stand united to speak up against this injustice. We will ensure that Jadhav comes back to India," Shaina told ANI.

"In the name of humanity, India has always stood up and by rescuing these two Pakistanis on the shores of Gujarat, it is apparent that we are a country with a difference. We will not let down our people, but at the same time we do believe that there is an aspect to being human," she added.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and fishermen saved the lives of two members of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), who had crossed over to the Indian waters off the coast of Gujarat, and recovered bodies of four, after their boat capsized in the Indian waters on April 9, a day before Kulbhushan Jadhav was awarded death sentence by the Pakistan Military Court on charges of espionage in Balochistan.

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Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Thursday dubbed as 'unfortunate' the incident in which a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was roughed up by a youth in Srinagar and assured action against the perpetrators.

This is a very unfortunate incident. There will be stern action against perpetrators. It's noteworthy how jawans were patient. Our security forces are disciplined. Such incidents aren't acceptable at all. Action will be taken," Singh said.

The video features a CRPF personnel using immense restraint even when he is attacked by the youth.

The video shows the jawan walking when suddenly a local attacks him. The impact of the attack makes the jawan's helmet roll down the road. This caused him some injuries.

In wake of the prevailing tension in the Kashmir Valley, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday deferred the Anantnag by-polls till May 25. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held on April 12.

A school designated as polling station for Anantnag by-polls was set on fire in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. A Panchayat Ghar was also set ablaze in Pulwama district.

The Srinagar parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout for the by-polls in the wake of the clashes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
North Korea appears to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in a show of defiance towards United States President Donald Trump, who has not ruled out military action to pressurise the regime into abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

The U.S.-based monitoring group 38 North on Thursday said that the satellite images from the North's Punggye-ri site showed it was "primed and ready" for what would be the country's sixth nuclear test since 2006, The Guardian reports.

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," 38 North said on its website.

"In the courtyards of the main administrative area are approximately 11 probable tarp-covered pallets of equipment or supplies, a formation of personnel, and several individuals walking about," the site added.

South Korean officials, however, have played down speculation that a nuclear test was imminent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Pakistan Army said Thursday there will be 'no compromise' on the issue of death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav by a military court.

The remark comes as Pakistan faces hostile backlash from India over the death penalty to Jadhav.

In a Corps Commanders' Conference presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, "The forum was also briefed about Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav. It was concluded that no compromise shall be made on such anti state acts," according to an ISPR statement.

The statement said that the forum also reviewed national security environment and recent developments in the region.

"Forum reviewed progress of operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and provision of support to ongoing National Housing and Population census. COAS appreciated formations, intelligence agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies for successful execution of operations," the statement added.

Jadhav was awarded the death penalty on April 10 in an unprecedented decision that sparked a diplomatic spat between the two hostile neighbours.

Pakistan media reported yesterday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Bajwa have agreed not to come under pressure from India over the issue.

During a meeting, the Army Chief took the Prime Minister into confidence regarding Jadhav.

On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned Islamabad that it risked damaging bilateral ties with New Delhi if it went ahead with the execution of Jadhav.

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 multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

India has, however, so far categorically denied such charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said Thursday that the role of foreign intelligence agencies cannot be ruled out in the disappearance of retired Lt Col Habib Zahir, a former Pakistan Army officer, who went missing in Nepal earlier this month.

Addressing a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Lt. Col. Zahir had been trapped in Nepal "after being lured into a job offer", reports the Dawn.

He said Pakistani authorities are in touch with the Nepali government to trace the missing ex-army man and Nepal is cooperating in this regard.

Zakaria, however, warned against linking Zahir's disappearance with the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy sentenced to death by a Pakistani tribunal earlier this week on charges of espionage and sabotage.

"It is unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Habib Zahir," he said, reminding that Zahir had retired from the army a long time before Jadhav's arrest.

Lt.Col. Zahir, who retired from the army in 2014, went missing on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site close to the Indian border, where he arrived after somebody by the name of Mark Thompson had contacted him via email and telephone for a job interview in Nepal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Nagpur tomorrow on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said, "I am extremely honoured to be visiting Nagpur tomorrow, on the very special occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti

"In Nagpur, I will pray at Deekshabhoomi, a holy spot that is very closely associated with Dr. Ambedkar. A series of development projects are going to be inaugurated in Nagpur tomorrow, which will have a positive impact on people's lives," he added.

The Prime Minister further said the development projects include IIIT, IIM and AIIMS and launch of Koradi Thermal Power Station, adding that he would also address a public meeting.

"Will join culmination of the DigiDhan Mela, where I will present awards to Mega Draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna. We are unwavering in our efforts towards creating a strong, prosperous and inclusive India of Dr. Ambedkar's dreams," he added.

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Speaking on consular access being denied to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav despite several requests by India, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday said it should have been granted to the Indian High Commission.

"It is very clear that Pakistan has completely violated Geneva Convention based on the public international law. Though Indian Consulate had approached 13 times for consular access Pakistan had denied it without any reason. Now India has applied for the counsular access and I hope Pakistan this time will give it," Nikam told ANI.

He further said the appeal is required to be preferred by Jadhav himself under his own signature.

"For preferring the appeal and giving instructions to our Consulate, his mental condition is required to be examined. I am apprehending that when Pakistan is wholly relying upon the 'so called' confession of Jadhav, then it is quite possible that they might have tortured him very badly," he added.

Nikam also said that though there might be no external injuries but internally Jadhav must have sustained injuries.

"Our consulate will require to examine firstly his health and to seek proper instructions from Jadhav for doing the further legal step," he said.

He asserted that the first legal step will be that Jadhav will require to challenge the said order of death penalty awarded by the Army Court of Pakistan before the Supreme Court.

"I will not be satisfied with this legal step also because even if this death penalty is stayed and if it converts into life imprisonment, there is no guarantee about the life of Jadhav. Therefore we must ask for fresh trial for Jadhav," he added.

He said that the trial should take place in the presence of human activists, representatives of United Nation and as well as Indian Consulate nominee because then that will be the justice.

"We will require to convince the whole globe for a fair trial because according to us Jadhav was apprehended in Iran when he was on a private business purpose which has been confirmed by Iran itself," Nikam added.

The Indian High Commission in Pakistan will make a fresh request for consular access to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, sources said.

This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs earlier in the day said that India has no information of Jadhav's whereabouts, adding that Pakistan's 'indefensible' verdict is violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations.

" Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. And these two facts were communicated to Pakistan one year ago when the matter of his illegal custody came to our knowledge. We had made 13 requests for the consular access, but it was denied by the Pakistan," MEA official spokesperson Gopal Baglay told the media here.

"What is his condition, where is he being held, these facts cannot be ascertained. The Pakistan Government has also not shared with us his location or any specific details as to how and where is he being held and what is his condition," he added.

Crying foul over the proceedings against Jadhav, Bagley said that the former has been denied proper defence, adding the verdict is indefensible.

"No due process has been followed in the proceedings which is complete violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," he added.

Baglay further said that Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned as soon as the information of Jadhav's death sentence came to India's knowledge.

"It was made clear to the Pakistan Government that given the circumstances of the case namely kidnapping of Jadhav, absence of any credible evidence to substantiate the concocted charges against him and the farcical nature of proceedings against him. The Government of India will regard it as premeditated murder if the indefensible sentence awarded to him were carried out," he added.

Reiterating External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's assertion, Baglay said lack of evidence and denial of consular access shows that charges levelled against Jadhav are baseless.

"The EAM also informed the Parliament that Government of Pakistan had approached us this year to access the investigation and this further underlines the insufficiency of evidence," he added.

Stating that Jadhav's matter is associated with the sentiments of the nation, Baglay said the Parliament has spoken in one voice on it and would ensure justice to the former.

"The senior ministers of government have told the Parliament that government will do everything that is possible to ensure justice to Kulbhushan. We are engaged in achieving this objective," he added.

Earlier, Swaraj warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if Jadhav's death sentence is carried out.

She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented then it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there was no evidence against Jadhav.

Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused of espionage, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday triggering tension between the two Asian neighbours.

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HELENA  After voting to again amend a referendum asking voters if the right to hunt, fish and trap should be expressly stated in the Montana Constitution, lawmakers voted to kill the measure Wednesday.

Senate Bill 236, brought by Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, would have amended the Constitutions Harvest-Heritage clause to state hunting, fishing and trapping is a right held by citizens of the state. Fielder said she brought the bill in response to initiatives such as I-177, which sought a ban on most public land trapping but was defeated by voters last year.

The bill initially drew opposition from trapping opponents but also several sportsmen groups and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Concern from the groups and agency centered on unintended consequences of elevating the activities to rights, and what that meant for regulating hunting, fishing and trapping. They also contended that those protections already existed in the Harvest-Heritage clause, which says, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Fielder amended the bill prior to Senate passage to alleviate some of those concerns about changing opportunity to right. The amendment drew additional support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, but continued opposition from FWP and others.

SB 236 narrowly passed a House committee on a 10-9 vote Tuesday, after adding clarifying language that the right to hunt, fish and trap did not trump private property rights.

After Rep. Kirk Wagoner, R-Montana City, introduced the bill Wednesday on the floor, Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, brought an amendment to strip most of the bill, and simplify it to say, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals wildlife through hunting, fishing, and trapping is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Wagoner resisted the amendment but it drew support from Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, who said the Constitution should be simple, clean and effective.

The body voted 55-45 to amend the bill.

Rep. Bradley Hamlett, D-Cascade, rose in opposition, saying he still had concerns about elevating hunting, fish and trapping, and what that could mean if, for example, instream flow conflicted with senior water rights for agriculture.

The House then voted SB 236 down 48-51.

As a referendum which would then go to the voters, SB 236 needed yes votes from a total of 100 lawmakers. After passing the Senate on a 30-20 margin, it needed 70 House votes to pass.
Expressing grave concern over the video in which a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel is being roughed up by a youth while he was returning from a polling booth in Srinagar, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured that he has spoken to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General (DG) Sudeep Lakhtakia and the issue will be sorted out soon.

"I have spoken to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General (DG) Sudeep Lakhtakia and we spoken about it, things will be sorted soon," said Rajnath.

Meanwhile, CRPF DG Sudeep Lakhtakia also stated that the law will take its own course but their men should not lose their moral.

"The process of law will take its own course. We will see that morale of CRPF men is not hurt or get low," Lakhtakia told ANI.

The video features a CRPF personnel using immense restraint even when he is attacked by the youth.

The video shows the jawan walking when suddenly a local attacks him. The impact of the attack makes the jawan's helmet roll down the road. This caused him some injuries.

In wake of the prevailing tension in the Kashmir Valley, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday deferred the Anantnag by-polls till May 25. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held on April 12.

A school designated as polling station for Anantnag by-polls was set on fire in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. A Panchayat Ghar was also set ablaze in Pulwama district.

The Srinagar parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout for the by-polls in the wake of the clashes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday said that relations with Moscow are at "a low point" after meetings in Russia that seemed to do little to bridge a deepening diplomatic divide over the Syria chemical attack.

"Relations are at a low point; there is a low level of trust between the two countries," Tillerson said at a news conference with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, CNN reports.

Tillerson and Lavrov spoke to the press after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in an extended display of U.S.-Russian disagreements over the chemical attack that left more than 80 dead.

In a blatant response to the alleged chemical attack, the U.S. launched dozens of Tomahawk to destro the Shayrat airfield in Syria, believed by Washington be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack on a rebel-held town on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the strike as "act of aggression" and said it violated international law.

Meanwhile, Tillerson said that he and Lavrov discussed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at length and that he made clear that the Trump administration has come around to the view that the Syrian President cannot stay in power.

"Our view is that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end and they have brought that on themselves with their conduct," the top U.S. diplomat said.

Washington has been investigating Russia's possible involvement in the chemical attack in Syria that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to launch the first direct military assault against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The Pentagon has been looking for any evidence that Moscow knew about or was complicit in the attack in Idlib province that killed at least 80 people and injured dozens more, the CNN reported quoting a senior US defense official as saying.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, "That is not true," when CNN asked about U.S. allegations that Russia may be complicit.

Russia has also denied a chemical weapons attack took place in Syria saying the deaths in Khan Sheikhoun were caused by a Syrian regime airstrike on a rebel-controlled chemical weapons factory on the ground.

Western leaders backed the U.S. action, saying Assad had brought it on himself.

The U.S. military official said the Pentagon was examining specifically whether a Russian warplane had bombed a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun five hours after the initial chemical attack, with the aim of destroying evidence.

A U.S. defense official says intelligence shows a Russian drone flew over the hospital in Idlib that was treating victims of the chemical attack, prior to the site being later bombed by an unknown aircraft.

The Russians operate drones in the area routinely so the Pentagon cannot be certain the drone operator even knew what was happening, but the drone was a Russian asset. The U.S. military has a variety of classified technical means to determine who is operating aircraft in the region.

Approximately 20 Syrian regime planes were destroyed in the US strike, according to two U.S. senior military officials.

Reacting to the U.S. strike Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Washington had carried out an "unjust and unabashed assault" against Syria which "shows nothing but short-sightedness, a narrowness of vision and blindness to political and military realities."

A statement from Syria's general military command said the strikes caused "extensive material damage" and undermined counter-terror operations by the Syrian Army.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear the petition of Haji Ali Dargah in connection with entry of women in its sanctorum.

The Supreme Court last year on December 1 extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court to facilitate an appeal against its decision to lift the ban on entry of women near the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Haji Ali Dargah till October 24.

Prior to 2011, the dargah did not discriminate against women and allowed free entry of people across religions. However, in March 2011, the dargah's board of trustees imposed a ban on women's entry calling it a "grievous sin".

On October 24, the Haji Ali Dargah Trust had told the Supreme Court that it was ready to implement the Bombay High Court's order to allow women's enter to the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine located in South Mumbai and had sought four weeks for infrastructural changes to make arrangements for it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear the petition seeking direction to ban sex determination test advertisements on search engines.

The apex court, last on April 11 heard the plea in the regard and observed that it cannot curtail free choice of a researcher as right to know is a fundamental right.

A three-judge bench presided by Justice Dipak Misra asserted that the court cannot refrain a researchers quest.

"We cannot curtail free choice of researcher as right to know is a fundamental right. This will be dangerous," the apex court said.

"There should be no advertisement on sex determination. If somebody does it, it is an offence. But suppose we pass any general order (banning all info relating to sex determination on web), it would offend Article 19(1)(a). It has got its own pedestal and sanctity and we don't think anybody should derail it," it added.

Sabu Mathews George, the petitioner in this case, sought blocking of sex determination test advertisements on web portals including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi presented that the distinction between right to know and advertisement must be recognised.

The apex court adjourned the matter till April 13.

The apex court had earlier on February 17 pulled up search engine giants Google, Yahoo and Microsoft for allowing online advertisements on sex determination tests, prohibited in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Syrian Army claimed Thursday that a US-led airstrike against the Islamic State near Deir ez-Zor killed a large number of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

According to SANA news agency, "The General Command of the army and armed forces said that the aircrafts of the so-called "US-led International Alliance" on Wednesday between the hour 17:30 and 17:50 carried out an airstrike against a position of ISIS terrorists that includes a large number of foreign mercenaries in the village of Hatla to the east of Deir Ezzor, causing a white cloud that became yellow as a result of the explosion of a huge store that includes a large amount of toxic materials."

In a statement issued Thursday, the Army General Command stressed that the airstrike of the "US-led International Alliance" killed hundreds, including large numbers of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

This comes amid escalated tensions between the two countries as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on the Shayrat airfield of the Syrian air forces, believed by Washington to be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun killing 87 people, including many children.

The majority of the international community has blamed the attack on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but the government has denied involvement in the toxic attack and blamed rebel groups.

Russia and Iran have meanwhile stood by the Syrian government over the issue.

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Launching a veiled attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its open challenge, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Thursday questioned the poll watchdog, citing those who are involved in the 'roaring' business of hacking would never expose themselves.

In a series of tweets, Digvijay Singh said, "Those who are hacking are doing roaring business why should they expose themselves?"

Emphasising that the poll panel's only aim was to bring the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to power at any cost, Singh asserted that the saffron party and the hackers are the biggest beneficiaries.

"BJP and the Hackers are the only beneficiaries. No one kills a Golden Goose?" Singh tweeted.

Following concerns raised by the Opposition parties over the alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) post assembly polls, the (ECI) on Wednesday threw an open challenge to the party leaders and dared them to hack the voting machines.

The invitation, given to political parties, scientists and technicians, will be available from the first week of May to prove whether the EVMs could be hacked or not.

The move comes days after the Opposition parties suggested that the entire voting process be held through ballot paper.

A 13-member delegation led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi also met President Pranab Mukherjee and presented a memorandum to him in this regard.

In the memorandum, they raised questions over the malfunctioning and alleged tampering of the EVM machines, while stating that it has raised question on the electoral process.

The delegation of opposition parties also sought his intervention.

"Non-BJP ruled states are being destabilised by misusing the powers of Governors, the recent example being Goa and Manipur," the opposition stated.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday showcased a positive view towards both China and Russia.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.," tweeted the President.

I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2017

He followed it with yet another tweet this time about good ties with Russia in the future saying, "Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!."

Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2017

Backing away from a campaign pledge, Trump said Wednesday that his administration won't label China a currency manipulator in a report due this week, though he does think the U.S. dollar "is getting too strong."

Trump began to bash China in the 2015 speech that began his campaign, saying Beijing kept its currency artificially low to give its manufacturers an unfair advantage in global trade.

The change in opinion on China comes as the US faces an intractable crisis in North Korea.

North Korea appears to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in a show of defiance towards Donald Trump, who has not ruled out military action to pressure the regime into abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

The US-based monitoring group 38 North said on Thursday that the satellite images from the North's Punggye-ri site showed it was "primed and ready" for what would be the country's sixth nuclear test since 2006.

As for Russia, Trump said on Wednesday, "We're not getting along with Russia at all," following last week's airstrikes on Syria, Moscow's key Middle Eastern ally.

In response to the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Khan Sheikhoun, the U.S. launched dozens of Tomahawk to destroy the Shayrat airfield in Syria, believed by Washington be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack on the rebel-held town.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the strike as "act of aggression" and said it violated international law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United States National Security Advisor Lt Gen H.R. McMaster is expected to visit Pakistan soon as part of his upcoming tour of the region for assessing the situation in Afghanistan, The Dawn reports.

Gen McMaster would be the first high-level Trump administration official to visit Islamabad. He is also expected to travel to India and Afghanistan.

However, the Islamabad leg of his trip has not been officially announced.

With concerns over Russia's growing role in Afghanistan, McMaster's visit almost coincides with the 12-nation meeting on Afghanistan being hosted by Moscow on April 14.

The U.S. declined an invitation for the meeting, aimed at formulating a regional approach for peace and stability in Afghanistan, questioning Russian motives.

A series of meetings have also begun in Islamabad to finalise Pakistan's message during Gen McMaster's visit, as reported by The Dawn.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday in an interview with the state-run newswire APP urged the Trump administration to play a role for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Pakistan is attending the Moscow meeting on Afghanistan, but has been stressing that U.S. participation was a must for the process to succeed.

"We continue to be encouraged by Pakistan's operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistan's efforts have reduced the ability of some militant groups to use North Waziristan and Fata as a safe haven for terrorism," said Adam Stump, a U.S. Defence Department spokesperson.

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The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declined to comment on the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, citing the body was not in a position to judge the case.

"We are not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this particular case," The Dawn quoted UN secretary general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as replying to a poser.

"Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we underline and continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution and to engage through engagement and dialogue," he added.

Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif ruled out any possibility of an immediate execution of Jadhav, citing three appellate forums were available for him under the law.

India has sent out a stern message to Pakistan with the Parliament strongly condemning the Pakistan Military Court's verdict sentencing Jadhav to death on charges of spying.

Replying to the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on April 11, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the government would do whatever is possible to give justice to Jadhav.

Singh said India's request for basic consular access to Jadhav was denied several times.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a suo motu statement made in both the Houses of Parliament, warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if death sentence on Kulbhushan Jadhav is carried out.

She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented, it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there is no evidence against Jadhav.

There were also strong protests in front of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

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 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Central Bank of India rose 2.11% to Rs 103.90 at 10:24 IST on BSE after the bank's board of directors approved allotment of equity shares to the government on a preferential basis.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 April 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 41.34 points or 0.14% at 29,597.71

On BSE, so far 12,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volumes of 6.93 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 103.90 and a low of Rs 102.65 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 112 on 20 June 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 73.10 on 24 May 2016.

The large-cap bank has equity capital of Rs 1902.17 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Central Bank of India's board of directors approved raising of equity capital by issuance and allotment of 5.59 crore equity shares at Rs 104.15 per share aggregating to Rs 583 crore to the government on a preferential basis.

Central Bank of India reported net loss of Rs 605.70 crore in Q3 December 2016, lower than net loss of Rs 836.62 crore in Q3 December 2015. Total income fell 1.79% to Rs 6787.87 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015.

The Government of India holds 81.28% stake in Central Bank of India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 March 2017').

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Alexis Bonogofsky and Mike Scott will present the seminar Politics and Chill at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Petro Hall on the Montana State University Billings campus.

Scott is senior organizing representative with the Montana chapter of the Sierra Club. Bonogofsky is a writer, photographer, organizer and goat farmer.

Bonogofsky said she and Scott have been holding workshops and speaking to students recently who are discouraged by polarization. They feel politics is angry and vitriolic.

The goal of the hour-long seminar, she said, is to de-politicize politics and help students engage without being dragged into the rhetoric.

Its a nonpartisan, low-key and fun way to get people talking about politics, she said. The last time she and Scott led a workshop, about 65 people attended.

According to a news release from student organizers Abbie Deubner and Baylie Bullington, who are both in their first year of study at MSU Billings, some fellow students have reported they are intimidated even by the process of registering to vote  much less knowing for whom to cast their ballot.

In light of the recent election, a lot of students believe the best way to avoid conflict is to dismiss politics altogether, the two students said. So we decided to do something about it!

The students said Bonogofsky and Scott will help students think outside the box when it comes to politics, without being partisan.

It is worth the time, the students said. They are very good at what they do.
Heritage Foods rose 1.71% to Rs 1,092.20 at 11:25 IST on BSE after the company said it has completed acquisition of dairy business of Reliance Retail.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 12 April 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 51.52 points or 0.17% at 29,591.96. The S&P BSE Small-Cap was up 86.88 points or 0.58% at 14,939.15.

On the BSE, 834 shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 5,305 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 1,103.95 and a low of Rs 1,089.20 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 1,173.85 on 13 February 2017. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 496.50 on 29 April 2016.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 12 April 2017, falling 0.91% compared with 0.68% rise in the Sensex. The scrip, however, outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 22.1% as against Sensex's 8.79% rise.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 23.20 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Heritage Foods said that the company has received approval from Competition Commission of India and completed the process of acquisition of dairy business of Reliance Retail. The company is taking control of entire dairy business of Reliance Retail with effect from 12 April 2017, Heritage Foods said. Post the transaction closure, Reliance Retail will continue to trade in dairy products including Heritage dairy products through its retail and wholesale channels, it added.

Heritage Foods' consolidated net profit rose 75.11% to Rs 19.91 crore on 14.43% growth in total income to Rs 667.97 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015.

Heritage Foods operates in dairy, retail, agri, bakery and renewable energy segments.

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Infosys fell 2.01% to Rs 949.30 at 10:10 IST on BSE after the company reported weak Q4 March 2017 results before market hours today, 13 April 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 36 points, or 0.12% to 29,607.48.

On the BSE, 5 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 2.56 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 990.95 and a low of Rs 941.40 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,278 on 3 June 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 900.30 on 9 November 2016.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 12 April 2017, falling 6.40% compared with 0.68% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 3.12% as against Sensex's 8.79% rise.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1148.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

Infosys' consolidated net profit fell 2.8% to Rs 3603 crore on 0.9% decline in revenues to Rs 17120 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q3 December 2016. Consolidated operating profit fell 2.8% to Rs 4212 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q3 December 2016.

Consolidated net profit rose 6.4% to Rs 14353 crore on 9.7% rise in revenues to Rs 68484 crore in the year ended March 2017 over the year ended March 2016. Operating profit rose 8.2% to Rs 16901 crore in the year ended March 2017 over the year ended March 2016. The result is as per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The board of the company has identified that to pay up to Rs 13000 crore, or $2 billion, to shareholders via dividend or share buyback in Financial Year ending March 2018 (FY18). The board announced a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per share for the financial year ended 31 March 2017.

The company said its consolidated revenue is expected to grow 6.5%-8.5% in constant currency terms in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2018, under IFRS.

The company said its revenue is expected to grow 2.5%-4.5% in Rupee terms in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2018, under IFRS, based on the exchange rates as of 31 March 2017.

The company said its revenue is expected to grow 6.1%-8.1% in Dollar terms in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2018, under IFRS, based on the exchange rates as of 31 March 2017.

Liquid assets including cash & cash equivalents and investments at Rs 38773 crore as on 31 March 2017.

Infosys' CEO, Dr. Vishal Sikka, said that unanticipated execution challenges and distractions in a seasonally soft quarter affected the company's overall performance. At the same time, Infosys continued to see many positive signs of its strategy execution; its software-led offerings continued to show strong momentum and client success, with continued adoption of Mana, our AI platform; Zero Distance marked its 2-year anniversary as a grassroots cultural movement for innovation with IFRS - INR strong client resonance, and the company's employee engagement continued to drive down attrition, especially with top performers.

Attrition declined during the quarter reflecting the company's focus on better employee engagement. Utilization during Q4 reached 82% which is the highest in Q4 over the past several years, said U. B. Pravin Rao, COO.

In FY2017, operating margins were steady as the company continued its sharp focus on operational efficiencies. Cash provided by operating activities during the year was robust and exceeded $2 billion, a new high, said M. D. Ranganath, CFO. The company's capital allocation policy is aimed at balancing the strategic and operational needs of the company as well as enhancing shareholder returns.

Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting.

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Held on 12-13 April 2017

The Board of Director of Infosys at its meeting held on 12-13 April 2017 approved the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan, Independent Director as the Co-Chairman of the Board. The Board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per equity share for financial year ended 31 March 2017. The dividend will be paid on 27 June 2017.

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For manufacture and supply of High Energy Materials for aerospace and defence applications

Premier Explosives announced that the Company has received the Management System Certificate from DNV GL Business Assurance, USA after the company has been found to conform to the Quality Management System Standard: ISO 9001:2008 and AS 9100c. This certificate is valid for Development, Manufacture and Supply of High Energy Materials (Propellants, Pyrotechnics, Special Devices and other Chemicals) for Aerospace and Defence Applications.

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At least 10 Taliban militants were killed during an ongoing military operation in Afghanistan's Helmand province, a military statement said on Thursday.

"Over the last 24 hours, 10 militants were killed and 14 others wounded during a military operation codenamed Maiwand 5 after Afghan security forces made advances in Aynak area," the statement said.

Among the victims was a local Taliban leader named Zia-ul-Haq, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The security forces also found 54 landmines and roadside bombs and the operation will continue before the area is cleared off militants," the statement added.

--IANS

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The High Court on Thursday stayed the trial against opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in four separate vandalism and arson cases.

The court also issued four separate rulings asking the government to explain why the proceedings should not be scrapped, the Daily Star reported.

A High Court bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah passed the order after hearing four separate petitions by Khaleda seeking to stay the proceedings.

After the BNP was prevented from holding a rally on January 5, 2015 to protest the anniversary of the 10th Bangladesh parliamentary elections, Khaleda called a nationwide blockade, bdnews24.com reported.

In the course of the blockade that lasted 90 days, vehicles and buildings were fire-bombed, leading to almost 150 deaths.

The former Prime Minister was named in several of those cases on charges of inciting violence.

Among the four cases, three were filed with Darussalam Police Station and another case was filed with Jatrabari Police Station in 2015 during anti-government agitation enforced by Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance.

Trial courts later took cognisance of the charges of the cases after police submitted chargesheets to the court.

--IANS

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The Indian Army has sought a camouflage system to make its armoured fighting vehicles invisible to all kinds of sensors, said an army report.

The army in the report said the modern sensors can locate armoured vehicle -- tanks and personnel carriers -- through their heat and radar signature and to ensure the safety of the vehicles it desires protective systems that can render the vehicle completely invisible.

"The sensors are fitted right from satellites, aircrafts, helicopters, UAVs in the third dimension to the ground-based long range surveillance equipment operating continuously during day and night. Thus, camouflage now is a necessity for survivability of the force right from the time it moves out of its permanent locations to the time it prosecutes its might on the enemy," the report said.

The Indian Army on March 24 released the 'Compendium of Problem Statements, Volume II' here.

The 28 new problem statements, part of Volume II, would allow the industry and academia to understand the needs of the army and come up with indigenous solutions for military requirements.

At present, the armoured vehicles are camouflaged through paints and multi spectral camouflaged nets. These passive methods do not provide the level of protection that is required in future conflict scenario.

The army has asked the industry to come up with the solution through electronic camouflage which will blend the vehicle in its surrounding. This would enable the vehicle to change the image of the hull in concert with the changing environment.

In another option, the army has suggested for development is that of 'Quantum Stealth', a system being developed by a Canadian company, where a special material would make the vehicle invisible by bending the light waves around the target and will also removes infrared (night vision) and thermal signatures and also the shadow of the vehicle.

Speaking to IANS, Maj. Gen. Rajiv Narayanan, former Additional Director, Military Operations, said: "That's the way ahead. It generates artificial signature around it. It can deceive the enemy. We cant wish it away."

"You need futuristic technology for Indian industry and academia," said Narayanan while talking about the idea behind the sharing of problems with industry, "This kind of projects will improve the thinking of academia. As researchers come to DRDO from academia it will also benefit."

The first volume, with 50 problem statements, was released on December 5 last year.

--IANS

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The Indian Army has sought a camouflage system to make its armoured fighting vehicles invisible to all kinds of sensors, a report has said.

The Army, in the report, said the modern sensors can locate armoured vehicle -- tanks and personnel carriers -- through their heat and radar signature and to ensure the safety of the vehicles it desires protective systems that can render the vehicle completely invisible.

"The sensors are fitted right from satellites, aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles in the third dimension to the ground-based long-range surveillance equipment operating continuously during day and night.

"Thus, camouflage now is a necessity for survivability of the force right from the time it moves out of its permanent locations to the time it prosecutes its might on the enemy," the report said.

The Army on March 24 released the 'Compendium of Problem Statements, Volume II' here.

The 28 new problem statements, part of Volume II, would allow the industry and academia to understand the Army needs and come up with indigenous solutions for military requirements.

At present, the armoured vehicles are camouflaged through paints and multi spectral camouflaged nets. These passive methods do not provide the level of protection required in future conflicts.

The Army has asked the industry to come up with the solution through electronic camouflage which will blend the vehicle in its surrounding. This would enable the vehicle to change the image of the hull in concert with the changing environment.

In another option, the Army has suggested for development is that of 'Quantum Stealth', a system being developed by a Canadian company, where a special material would make the vehicle invisible by bending the light waves around the target and also removes infra-red (night vision) and thermal signatures and also the shadow of the vehicle.

Speaking to IANS, Maj. Gen. Rajiv Narayanan, former Additional Director General, Military Operations, said: "That's the way ahead. It generates artificial signature around it. It can deceive the enemy. We can't wish it away."

"You need futuristic technology for Indian industry and academia," said Narayanan while talking about the idea behind the sharing of problems with industry.

"This kind of projects will improve the thinking of academia. As researchers come to Defence Research Development Organisation from academia it will also benefit."

The first volume, with 50 problem statements, was released on December 5 last year.

--IANS

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Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli says a magnum opus like the two-part "Baahubali" could be possible thanks to an actor like Prabhas, who has dedicated so much time to the project.

Rajamouli was at an event here for the IMAX poster launch of "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" on Wednesday.

Praising Prabhas, Rajamouli said: "The whole film 'Baahubali' was possible because of Prabhas, who being a lead actor in the south film industry, believed in this project and gave three and half years of his life to the film. I don't think anybody can get so much involved in the project with that kind of passion, time and commitment."

"I think whether director or producer or any other professional involved in it, we are all being carried on a big ship called 'Baahubali'. 'Baahubali' is the ultimate product and we are the people who worked on it, so I don't think I am a bigger person than the project," added Rajamouli when asked about how a filmmaker often gets less attention compared to his film.

Speaking about the IMAX experience, he said: "It was 15 years ago when I first saw a film in IMAX format. In our childhood, we used to see film on 70mm screens and then suddenly we got this larger than life experience in IMAX, through which we literally felt like being in that space and time itself.

"So the first image I saw, and I decided to make my films in IMAX format. And today, when the dream has got fulfilled, it's a quality moment for me."

"Baahubali 2" has been digitally remastered in the IMAX format.

Its story lent itself to the format, Rajamouli said, adding: "People need to see it on bigger screens with wider sound to experience what we intended to see."

"We have big theatres now but we still need more number of theatres to take the audience there. It's a business model now to release the film in maximum number of theatres to get maximum viewership. And for a film like 'Baahubali', where people are anticipating so much about the movie that trailer of the film has crossed 100 million views is on par with any Hollywood film.

"So, it makes all sense to release the film at maximum number of theatres."

The movie also features Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan in pivotal roles.

--IANS

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Unhappy even after meeting the President and five central ministers, Tamil Nadu farmers protesting here for a month on Thursday expressed their anger against the BJP.

The farmers, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here, have been demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

"The BJP is completely against farmers and is pro-corporate. They can waive of lakhs of crores of loans of the corporates but not farmers," said P. Ayyakannu, President of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association.

Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.

Claiming that nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water, the protesting farmers said the BJP and its central government were apathetic to their suffering.

"Only President Pranab Mukherjee seemed serious about our issues, but none of the five ministers we met seemed really concerned," he said.

"Worse is that the Prime Minister is not even ready to meet us though we farmers stripped ourselves outside his office. Our action was meant to say we have nothing... We will continue our agitation."

The farmers had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley thrice. He gave them assurances but the farmers don't see their demands being met yet.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Tamil Nadu.

But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.

--IANS

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MISSOULA - Law enforcement officials have cancelled their missing person advisory after Lacey Moore, 17, was found and is safe.

Moore had called 9-1-1 Wednesday morning saying she was being held at gunpoint outside an apartment building in Missoula.

The Montana Department of Justice, which had issued the missing/endangered person advisory for Moore, did not provide additional details.

At 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, Moore called police saying she was being held at gunpoint near an apartment complex at the intersection of Milwaukee Way and Catlin Street before the line went dead. Attempts to call her back were unsuccessful.

As police were driving over, they received another call that a shot had been fired. By the time they arrived, three cars believed to have been involved had left the scene.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won the Dholpur assembly seat in Rajasthan as Shobha Rani Kushavah trounced Congress rival and former minister Banwari Lal Sharma by over 38,000 votes in the April 9 bypoll.

The bye-election for the seat was necessitated after Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Banwari Lal Kushavah, the BJP nominee's husband, was disqualified due to his conviction in a murder case in 2016.

Of over 1.91 lakh voters, 77.14 per cent cast their ballots. In all, 15 candidates were in the fray.

Shobha Rani, who took a lead from the very first round, polled 91,548 votes against Sharma's 52,875. There were 952 None Of The Above votes too.

As soon as results were declared, BJP supporters burst firecrackers, danced to the drumbeats and offered sweets to each other.

"It is vote for development. People have voted for 'Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas'," Medical Education and Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf said.

"It is a win of Raje's leadership, her vision and the state's development under her leadership," Public Works Department Minister Younis Khan told IANS.

The bypoll was a prestige issue for both the Congress and the ruling BJP.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje along with state BJP President Ashok Parnami and her Cabinet colleagues spent days in the constituency to woo voters. Raje also organised a road show in the constituency.

Congress fielded senior leaders, including state unit President Sachin Pilot, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Leader of Opposition in assembly Rameshwar Dudi to campaign extensively in favour of party candidate.

In the 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won only 21 of the 200 assembly seats whereas the BJP swept the polls by winning 163 seats.

The BJP had 160 members in the assembly, with the figure now reaching 161 with the Dholpur win. The Congress has 24 MLAs in the 200-member assembly.

--IANS

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The ruling Congress on Thursday retained the two assembly segments of Nanjangud (SC) and Gundlupet in Karnataka, while main opposition BJP drew a blank in the hard-fought by-polls on April 9.

In the prestigious Nanjangud constituency, ruling party's candidate K. Keshavamurthy defeated Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Srinivasa Prasad by 21,334 votes.

In the Gundlupet constituency, Mohan Kumari Uruf alias Geetha of the Congress defeated BJP's C.S. Niranjankumar by 10,877 votes.

Of the 1,56,315 votes polled in Nanjangud, Keshavamurthy secured 86,212 (55 per cent) and Prasad 64,878 (41.5 per cent).

The total electorate in the reserved seat is 2,01,823.

The by-election was necessitated due to the former lawmaker (Prasad) resigning from the reserved constituency in October after he was dropped from the Cabinet as Revenue Minister in June. He joined the BJP in early January.

The by-election for Gundlupet was caused due to the death of Congress lawmaker and Cooperation Minister Mahadeva Prasad in early January. Geetha is his widow.

Of the 1,74,955 votes polled in Gundlupet, Geetha bagged 90,260 votes (51.6 per cent) and Niranjankumar 79,383 votes (45.4 per cent). The total electorate is 2,00,892.

Nanjangud in Mysuru district is 170 km and Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district is 210 km from Bengaluru in the state's southwest region.

"I thank the voters of Gundlupet and Nanjangud for electing our candidates. The outcome motivates our leaders and cadres for the assembly elections due in 2018," party's state unit President G. Parameshwara told reporters here.

BJP's state President B.S Yeddyurappa, who campaigned extensively, acknowledged the defeat of the party's candidates in both the assembly seats.

"I accept the defeat in the bye-election. But we will bounce back in the 2018 assembly elections with 150 seats. I thank our party workers for poll campaigning," Yeddyurappa said in a tweet.

As the regional outfit Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) did not contest, the Congress managed to prevent the division of "secular" votes.

--IANS

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Actor Manraj Sigh, who features in web-series "Romil And Jugal" in which two boys deal with the stigma around homosexuality with their family and society, says he once faced a dilemma in life -- when he cut his hair.

The young Sikh describes the action as an act of rebellion.

Asked if he had ever faced a dilemma over any of his decisions, Manraj told IANS here: "Yes, I did. I am a Sardar, but I am more inclined towards spirituality rather than being religious. So at age 19, when I cut off my hair, it was a shock for my mother.

"She is a religious lady, so accepting my outlook towards religion and spirituality was not easy for her. It was quite a rebellious thing at that young age.

"It was a very difficult phase where I had to make my mother understand my belief, which is not very conventional, given that she is a religious and traditional person."

Asked if he took such a step because he wanted to become an actor and turban might create an obstacle to get roles in films, he said: "No. Why do I have to grow my hair to belong to a community? It feels like you are from one organisation that divides people.

"I believe in spirituality and humanity, which is more universal and that brings people closer."

Before stepping into acting, Manraj worked in the marketing field for an international fashion brand. Now he is happy to feature in "Romil and Jugal", a web-series coming out on Ekta Kapoor's ALTBalaji platform.

Manraj is playing the character of a young homosexual boy Jugal, who comes from a progressive south Indian family. He discovers his sexual orientation early on in life.

What intrigued him to accept the role?

"One of the important facts of our web-series is the way we have dealt with the subject. Here, we are treating these characters as normal people with different orientation who deserve equal respect and not in a caricaturist manner," Manraj explained.

He feels more discussion in society about the LGBTQ community can reduce the stigma around it.

"I think one of the very important facts that can resolve distance and create awareness is conversation. We do not converse openly with our parents if we have a different sexual orientation. In school, kids do not get to know about the fact that homosexuality exists.

"Their mind is conditioned with the fact that homosexuality is abnormal, unnatural and a crime for some. In our show, we are not giving any lecture, but treating these characters as normal, and showing a homosexual love story as a normal one... That says a lot."

Dircted by Nupur Asthana, it also features Rajeev Siddhartha, Suchitra Pillai and Mandira Bedi. It will go live from April 16.

--IANS

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Delhi Congress leaders on Thursday met President Pranab Mukherjee and sought his intervention to register an FIR against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, over corruption allegations by the Shunglu Committee.

"Met Rashtrapati ji requesting him to intervene for registration of FIR against Kejriwal government on corruption found by Shunglu Committee," Ajay Maken, who led the Congress delegation to the meeting, said on his Twitter account.

In the memorandum submitted to the President, Maken appealed to the President of India to file FIR against Kejriwal, his ministerial colleagues and Delhi government officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act, following their indictment by the Shunglu Committee report.

"The Shunglu Committee report, which examined 404 files of the Delhi government, has indicted the Kejriwal Government on various cases of corruption, nepotism and gross abuse of official position by various public servants within the AAP government, including the Chief Minister of Delhi," said Maken after meeting Mukherjee.

The Shunglu Committee had raised questions on several appointments by the Delhi government and had also found irregularities in allotment of government bungalows.

--IANS

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A 25-year-old youth on Thursday alleged that he was thrashed by policemen, first in a flat and then in a police station, in east Delhi at the behest of his father's creditors.

Anshul Mishra, a resident of south Delhi's Madanpur Khadar area, alleged that he was picked up on Wednesday morning by Assistant Sub-Inspector Surajbhan, posted in Geeta Colony Police Station, and three others when he was coming back home from Loni area of Ghaziabad.

"Surajbhan and his associates were working at the behest of some people whom my father Shivdutt Mishra owes some money. They first took me to Surajbhan's flat where they tortured me to know my father's whereabouts," Anshul told IANS.

"I was released on Thursday morning in Sarita Vihar area of south Delhi by Surajbhan and his associates who threatened me not to go to police," he said.

Anshul, who works as an accountant, said he was asked to go to Geeta Colony Police Station when he went to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at Sarita Vihar.

"He was not beaten up by any policemen... The matter is being probed. His father, who works as a building material supplier, owes some people Rs 3 crore but has been untraceable for sometime," a senior police officer said.

He is falsely accusing the policemen, the officer said.

--IANS

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It's been a bumpy ride for a 65-year-old yellow cab driver, Gazi Jalaluddin. A good student who was forced to give up formal education due to poverty, he now runs two schools and an orphanage in his native Sundarbans, ensuring a smoother journey for the underprivileged in a land at the mercy of the rivers.

"I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep it up through driving. My two sons are also driving and help in the endeavour. There are 425 students in total. Since it's run as a non-governmental organisation (Sunderban Orphanage and Social Welfare Trust) we do not have access to government funds. I have tried communicating with the local district administration about assistance but to no avail," the bespectacled Gazi said while taking a break from ferrying passengers.

Gazi's schools are located in the Joynagar area of the Sundarbans (in South 24-Parganas district), about 60 km from Kolkata.

With a 25-member staff -- 21 are teachers -- the schools are completely dependent on the income from taxi rides, donations from good samaritans and passengers who are considerate enough to offer some money when they learn of Gazi's unique venture.

His cab proudly displays his mobile number (9735562504) and an appeal for help with the message: "This taxi's total income is spent for the development of orphans mission, Sikkhyatan mission and IIPF school for the orphans. So kindly don't give any traffic case against this taxi."

Gazi divides his time between Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas and Joynagar in the Sundarbans area of the same district. Part of the week he spends at Narendrapur plying the cab and the rest back home in the Sundarbans.

Citing his wife as an inspiration, Gazi revealed his family lives on the premises of one of the schools.

"I had to quit studies when I was seven years old. I had stood first in class two and was going to the next class. But my parents were unable to afford books; so I had to give up. That drove me to do something for the underprivileged," Gazi reminisced without any pangs of remorse.

His dream of setting up a school finally took wing in 1998. But the road was not short and the journey was peppered with obstacles.

"I spent my boyhood begging on the streets of Kolkata and then I started plying rickshaws. Gradually I started driving a taxi. From 1980, I used to arrange books and clothes for children and ensure they went to school. I used to impart driving lessons to the youth to make sure they have a source of livelihood.

"When I reached a financially stable position, I started a small primary school with 16 students in the plot of land I own. I gave up the plot (four to five kathas) for school use. That became bigger with the acquisition of more land and is now a school-cum-orphanage," he explained.

Later on, through donations of land, he acquired around seven kathas from locals and passengers. This became the site for his second school.

"In both the schools, students are taught till Class 4 and in one we have recently introduced Madhyamik (Class 10 board exams under the West Bengal education board). My earnings through taxi rides is around Rs 450 (a day). The money that is left from food expenditure and maintenance of the vehicle goes to the schools.

"I want to expand the schools and target secondary and higher secondary education. I have faith in people and hope they come to our aid as poverty is still the root cause of unemployment and lack of education in the Sundarbans. Life is difficult for the people in the remoter areas due to natural disasters. Education will go a long way in helping them achieve self-sufficiency," Gazi signed-off on his way to pick up another commuter.
Australia may be considering India a priority country in its international relationship as the two nations move towards closer strategic and security cooperation following Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's just-concluded visit to India, but in its official travel advisory Australia continues to flag India as a travel destination that warrants a "high degree of caution" .

In fact, an intending Australian traveller to India may be well discouraged from planning a visit to the country -- or even cancelling a planned visit -- if he or she were to read all the warnings and caveats about the "high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime, and the high rate of vehicle accidents" as well as the safety of women, poor air quality and social volatility.

The Australian travel advisory was updated as late as March 20 this year -- days before Turnbull visited India and reviewed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi "the entire gamut of bilateral relations; number of forward-looking decisions taken to further strengthen our partnership".

India has been trying to woo visitors from Australia with its "Incredible India" campaign. Last year, India organised "Confluence: Festival of India in Australia" from August to November "to provide a boost to tourism and to the art precincts in" Indian cities.

But the advisory on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian government says "there are several regions of India where we advise Australians to reconsider your need to travel, or avoid all travel".

"Violent protests and demonstrations occur sporadically throughout India," says the advisory.

"Exercise a high degree of caution in India because of the high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks."

The advisory also includes venues of Indian festivals, religious sites and markets where "travellers should maintain heightened vigilance".

Without naming Pakistan or any other country, the advisory points out that militants cross "the border into India with the intention of conducting attacks".

"It is likely they will continue to try and do so. Terrorist groups regularly issue statements threatening to launch attacks in India."

"The threat of terrorism exists in all Indian cities and tourist centres. In the past, terrorists have targeted areas frequented by tourists including hotels, markets, tourist sites, transport hubs and public transport networks, and religious sites.

"Attacks have also targeted local courts, sporting events and cinemas, and Indian security and political establishments. Major tourist sites and shopping centres are also potential targets for attack," the advisory goes on to say.

Cautioning against "dangerous" road travel, "undisciplined and aggressive" driving practices "poor quality and congested" Indian roads, Australian visitors are also warned that "you are three times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in India than in" the home country.

"Accidents are commonplace and the number of road traffic deaths is high. Travelling by road at night is particularly dangerous due to insufficient or non-existent street lighting and the presence of other vehicles driving with headlights off or on high beam. Vehicles may travel in the wrong direction, often without warning."

The advisory also flags women safety as a high-priority issue, cautioning females visiting India for religious purposes against risks of sexual assaults by faith leaders.

"There are persistent allegations and media reports of sexual misconduct involving religious groups and their leaders in India. Australians visiting India for such religious purposes should be aware of these risks."

It also notes that foreign women could be subjected to "unwanted attention and more serious harassment and assault" in India where "successful prosecutions are rare".

After reading this ominous advisory not many Australians may be inclined to make India their immediate travel destination.

(Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at sarwar.k@ians.in <mailto:sarwar.k@ians.in>)

--IANS

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The Modi government on Thursday exempted the Digital India Day to be held on Friday in the Christian-majority states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram on account of Good Friday, an official said.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram, Niti Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant said on account of Good Friday the state governments were facing an issue about organising Digi Dhan Mela.

"It has been decided that the Digi Dhan Mela may be held on any other date convenient to the governments of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland," Kant stated in his letter.

The decision came after the Meghalaya and Nagaland governments decided not to observe the Digital India Day in view of Good Friday.

On Wednesday, Lok Sabha member Conrad K. Sangma of the National People's Party wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to defer the Digital India Day so that the secular fabric of India remains honoured both in writing and spirit.

Good Friday is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. It is observed as a day of prayers, penance and fasting to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago.

On Tuesday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had also raised objections against the BJP-led NDA government for its decision to observe Digital India day 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 asked.

Meghalaya's opposition parties -- United Democratic Party and Hill State People's Democratic Party -- too have opposed the NDA government's programme.

Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar said the state government will not join any activity relating to promotion of digital payment on Good Friday.

It is a part of a mega draw and 'Digi Dhan' planned for April 14 for the promotion of digital payments in 100 cities across India. The list does not include Nagaland, Kumar said.

Objecting the NDA's government to hold the programme on Good Friday, the powerful Young Mizo Association in Mizoram termed BJP government's decision as a show of disregard to one's religion.

It also appealed the Lal Thanhawla-led Congress government not to organise Digital India Day or any other official function on Good Friday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued fresh summons against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for questioning in a money laundering case after he failed to appear before it during the day, an official said.

The senior Congress leader had allegedly avoided earlier summons to get recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He is said to have excused himself by referring to his official commitments.

The ED has already questioned his wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh in the case.

In the first week of April, the Enforcement Directorate attached Virbhadra Singh's Delhi farmhouse worth Rs 27.29 crore.

The agency's move came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against Virbhadra Singh and others last month for allegedly amassing assets worth Rs 6.03 crore.

The ED had filed a criminal case under the PMLA against Virbhadra Singh, his wife Pratibha, Life Insurance Corporation agent Anand Chauhan, his associate Chunni Lal, Joginder Singh Ghalta, Prem Raj, Lawan Kumar Roach, Vakamullah Chandrashekhara and Ram Prakash Bhatia in 2015 following the CBI's FIR dated September 23, 2015.

The case was registered after a preliminary inquiry found that Virbhadra Singh, as Union Minister from 2009 to 2012, allegedly accumulated assets worth Rs 6.03 crore, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income.

After his Delhi farmhouse was attached, the Chief Minister accused the central government of harassing him and destabilising the state government, alleging that central agencies like the ED and CBI were being misused against political opponents.

--IANS

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I have a confession to make. Charlize Theron's villainy in the eighth segment of the very fast and fairly furious franchise didn't scare me one bit. She is way too beautiful to be intimidating in any irrevocably evil way, even when she threatens to kill an adorable little baby.

And when we see her playing with her computer to nuke-destruct civilisation, we can only say, 'Baby, you can do it better with your killer looks.'

8 is a curious blend of wish fulfilment and fantasy play. It's partly froth and partly filth, like, junk food for the soul.

You know this is an fiercely formulistic con- game with appalling acting even by Oscar winners like Theron and Dama Helen Mirren who appears as Jason Statham's mom wearing too much makeup and looking out of place. From Shakespeare to Dwayne Johnson is like being caught between The Rock and a hard place.

But Dame Helen can claim solace in the company she keeps. Every character, big or small, appears ridiculous at some point in this irresistibly high-powered homage to the roar of the engines as they scrape roadways that have seen better days. The only actor who manages to create a credible character is Jason Statham. He takes the goings-on seriously and actually imparts an edgy enthusiasm to contempt-spewing lines thrown at Dwayne who seems to be happy just snarling his way through the storm.

Diesel actually sheds lengthy teardrops rolling down his chubby cheeks in a sequence that dares us to laugh.

We comply.

The plot could have been written on toilet paper while the writer was daydreaming on the potty. It's one helluva heroic joyride for Dominic who while honeymooning in Havana (the city's aerial shots at the start of the film are a touristic delight) is accosted by the stunning villainess. The plot disbands the F & F gang only to bring them back together in unexpected ways when Dominic(Vin Diesel) turns traiter. But wait. Don't judge the Adude by his cover. He has a reason for bowing down to the bad woman's evil intentions.

Some of Theron's attempts at being mean are unintentionally hilarious. When Diesel's wife Letty (Michelle Rodrigeuez) is watching Theron catches hold of Diesel and smooches him on the lips.

Theron's character Cipher has never shown any romantic interest in Diesel in any part of the narrative. So why the kiss? We may well ask and by extension, why the film at all? Well, the answer to that lies in the velocity and vivacity with which the narratives gambols from stunt to stunt.

continues to possess the power to surprise, shock and embarrass us, sometimes all together in a whoop of muddled emotions to go with the mixed martial arts that the characters throw at each other like kids pelting popcorn at a screening of Godzilla Goes Bananas.

This is a film that audaciously extends the parameters of its pyrotechnics, taking wild leaps of a faith and not caring about minor details like logic rationale and continuity. You will see a character at the beginning of the film racing his swanky car with Diesel's rickety van. You know that character is meant to appear somewhere again. But the writers just don't know where to put him.

But that's okay. There is room for everything and everyone in this baggy after-thought including a cute baby who is part of the film's climactic stunts. The baby, named Brian after the late much-missed Paul Walker, has a ball.

We do too. We don't miss Walker. There is no pause for nostalgia here.
Google has introduced Areo, one single app for food delivery and home services, currently live in Bengaluru and Mumbai on Android devices.

"Areo lets users search for local restaurants and home services like electricians, plumbers, and painters, and schedule their deliveries or appointments through the app," the company said in its Google Play store.

The app also provides customer reviews of the available companies, eateries to help you make informed choices from product quality to the timeliness of service.

The app has paid by card, net banking or cash on delivery services.
Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari on Thursday said Hyderabad's founder Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah was a secular ruler.

Delivering the first Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah lecture at Moulana Azad National Urdu University here, he said though Qutb-shahis were of Iranian origin, their approach to governance was pragmatic and secular.

He quoted historian Haroon Khan Sherwani that during the reign of Ibrahim, father of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, "very little differentiation was made between the Hindus and the Muslims so far as the affairs of the state were concerned".

"This was also the case in Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah's period when 'a characteristic of the epoch was a spirit of camaraderie which existed between the Hindu and the Muslim sections of the population' and 'the whole policy of the government seems to have been that of equality of opportunity for both the Hindus and the Muslims for practically all the officers of the state," Ansari quoted the historian.

"His court represented the culture of the Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and while he seems prejudiced in his enunciation of the inferiority of the non-Shiah sects of the Muslims he is culturally at one with the Hindus and the Parsis as well as the man in the street so far as his appreciation of their way of life is concerned."

He noted that for Shah, Telugu was 'like a mother tongue' and he used Telugu words in his Dakhni-Urdu poems, offered patronage to its literary personages and whose Firmaans and official announcements were bilingual.

The Sultan thus made 'a deliberate attempt to synthesize cultures in the Deccan imbibing in the people of Hyderabad a relish of tolerance, love of spectacle, and mildness of nature.

It is not altogether accidental that one of his successors became a patron of the Kuchipudi dance form.

Shah occupies a place in our history and his personality and contributions are studied with much benefit by any one interested in the evolution of architecture, language and culture, the Vice President said.

He noted that Shah was the founder of Hyderabad designed to be 'a replica of the paradise itself'.

An early 17th century English traveller praised it 'for its sweetness of air, convenience of water and fertility of soil' and ranked it higher than any in the realm of the Moghul emperor or other princes.

Dakhni-Urdu has its own pedigree and was the court language of Bijapur and Golkonda kingdoms.

A contemporary of Tulsidas, Mirabai and Surdas, his poetry is bound to earth and revels in the universality of love and mystic experiences.

It 'is intensely Indian and secular in its moods'. The seventeenth century historian Mohammad Qasim Ferishta depicted his temperament as 'forgiving and gentle'.

Work on the construction of Hyderabad commenced in 1590-91.

Hyderabadis like ancient Athenians, look upon their city and fall in love with it. Much has been written about its charms.

It is important to consider the context of the times and the place in history of the Qutbshahi dynasty that lasted a mere 164 years - from 1523 to 1687, when its last incumbent, Abul Hasan, surrendered to a Moghul general.

In this short span, it witnessed a blossoming of architecture, poetry, music, art, dance and cuisine and became a byword for culture apart from being a vibrant centre of international trade.

Shah's policy of peace and diplomacy 'had warded off Moghul political influence as much as lay in his power' and his passing away on January 31, 1626, after a rule of 31 years, left the door open for Emperor Shah Jahan to pursue his program of subjugating the Deccan kingdoms.

Ansari said contemporary Hyderabad crafted with skill and success a place for itself in the new world of the 21st century.

"One can only hope that its inherited tradition of tolerance, co-existence, inclusiveness and cultural effervescence would continue to signal its uniqueness and remain an example for the country," he added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and France on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their cooperation in the field of railways and agreed that mutual collaboration and exchange of expertise will benefit both countries.

In a bilateral meeting, Minister of Railway Suresh Prabhu and France's Minister of State for Transport, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Alain Vidalies decided to share their experiences regularly "in order to address the common challenges", a release said.

India has over 66,600 km of railways and over 7,000 stations. It is focused on safety, speed up-gradation, renovation and improvement of stations, passenger amenities, freight transport and network de-congestion.

On the other hand, security and improvement of the facilities is a constant concern in France, which has 30,000 km of railways, more than 2,000 km of High Speed tracks and about 3,000 stations.

According to the release, both sides agreed that mutual collaboration and exchange of expertise will benefit the stakeholders in the two countries.

In the meeting, both sides exchanged views and recalled the long standing technical cooperation between French National Railways and the Indian Railways.

"India and France are committed to developing this cooperation under the aegis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2013 between the Ministry of Railways of India and the French National Railways (SNCF). This bilateral meeting is intended to build upon and deepen the mutual cooperation already existing between the two countries," reads the release.

On semi-speed corridor, both countries had in 2015 decided to carry out a technical and execution study for upgrading the speed of passengers trains on the current rail corridor between Delhi and Chandigarh (244 km) up to 200 kmph.

The study is likely to be completed by September 2017, as per the release.

"The relevant partners, including government entities, agencies and companies, scientific and technical research bodies and private companies, will be invited to join the cooperation, when appropriate, and under the umbrella cooperation program of two sides," the release said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following last week's chemical attack in Syria that claimed over 80 lives, India on Thursday reiterated its position against the use of chemical weapons anywhere in the world.

"You know that India is a signatory of the chemical weapons convention," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said in weekly media briefing here.

"It has been our consistent position that the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere under any circumstances should not happen," he said. "And any perpetrator of such an act should be held accountable."

On April 4, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others.

Two days later, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shairat military base in central Syria, where from, according to the US, airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off.

On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a UN resolution that would have required Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to cooperate with international inquiries into the attack.

On India's position vis-a-vis the rest of the world on the issue, Baglay referred to a statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday which said: "We both believe in a unified and stable Syria and we agree we want to deny a safe haven to terrorists."

He said that India believed that it was important to defeat terrorism "which in that particular theatre is represented, among others by the IS (Islamic State) and cooperation of all countries is vital to achieving this objective".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Celebrating 70 years of friendship with Russia, India on Thursday kicked off year-long celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The celebrations would be taken to different cities and towns of the country through organised cultural events, business meetings and other activities.

During the launch function here, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) President Lokesh Chandra said the last 70 years since independence had been of a "very close friendship", which actually dates back around 200 years.

"We hope that this friendship that we share would continue for years to come," he said.

Joint Secretary (Eurasia) G.V. Srinivas said India was ready to celebrate the festival of friendship in partnership with the Russian community and other stakeholders throughout the coming year.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India will build pipelines to carry diesel and natural gas to Bangladesh, Indian officials said on Thursday.

A 131-km pipeline -- India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline -- will be constructed from Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in northern Bangladesh to transport high speed diesel, Petroleum Secretary K.D. Tripathi told the media here, a day after a Union Cabinet meeting.

Besides, a pipeline from Dattapulia in West Bengal will take natural gas to Khulna in Bangladesh.

Tripathi said the pipelines are part of a non-binding Framework of Understanding which India will enter into with Bangladesh for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, which got the Cabinet nod.

Also, the Indian Oil Corporation is looking to transport liquuefied petroleum gas to northeastern states via Bangladesh.

Indian and Bangladeshi firms on Monday signed memoranda of understanding of over $9 billion designed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including power, oil and gas.

Among the major MoUs, Reliance Power executed project agreements with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for Phase I of the 750 MW liquefied natural gas power project at Meghnaghat, near Dhaka, worth $1 billion, out of a total proposed investment of $3 billion.

Reliance Power has also signed an MoU with PetroBangla to set up a 500 million standard cubic feet per day LNG terminal at Kutubdia Island near Chittagong in Bangladesh.

The MoUs signed include those on LNG terminal use between India's Petronet LNG and Petrobangla.

--IANS

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French film "Les fantomes d'Ismael" ("Ismael's Ghosts" in English) has been picked as the opening film of the 70th edition of Cannes Film Festival, where India's "Afternoon Clouds" will also participate.

Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, the film stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Marion Cotillard. The category -- Un Certain Regard -- will kick off with Mathieu Amalric's "Barbara", a biopic of the mono-monikered French chanteuse, reports variety.com.

From India, "Afternoon Clouds" directed by Payal Kapadia, a third-year film direction course student (2012 batch) of Film and Television Institute of India, has been invited to participate in the Cinefondation selection of the festival, which will run May 17-28.

In the category -- In Competition -- American directors Sofia Coppola ("The Beguiled"), Noah Baumbach ("The Meyerowitz Stories"), and Todd Haynes ("Wonderstruck") are competing with each other.

The line-up in the above category also includes works from filmmakers like Michael Haneke ("Happy End"), Andrey Zvyagintsev ("Loveless") and Hong Sangsoo - who will have two films -- "The Day After" and Isabelle Huppert-starrer "Claire's Camera" .

English-language entries from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (who follows up his Cannes-launched "The Lobster" with "The Killing of a Sacred Deer") and South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho, whose "Okja" stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, are also part of the line-up.

At a press conference on Thursday here, festival president Pierre Lescure and general delegate Thierry Fremaux announced 49 films from 29 countries, including films from 12 women directors and nine first-time feature helmers, reports variety.com.

Russia makes an especially strong showing this year.

"Russia used to be lagging behind. This year, we saw many Russian films, many beautiful works which suggest that there is some sort of new wave or a renewed vitality in this big country," Fremaux said.

This edition also sees the inclusion of a virtual reality project from Alejandro G. Inarritu entitled "Carne y arena", as well as two television projects, David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" revival and season two of Jane Campion's "Top of the Lake".

Fremaux also addressed several emerging trends at the conference, including the rise of online distributors and the inclusion of two television series.

"Basically, two big players have appeared in the last few years, Amazon and Netflix, which are two new operators for filmmakers, producers, and for festivals," he said.

Both "Okja" and "The Meyerowitz Stories" are Netflix original productions (though Fremaux described the latter as a Scott Rudin production), while Amazon Studios backed both "Wonderstruck" and Scottish director Lynne Ramsay's "You Were Never Really Here" (which Fremaux said is not yet done, and which was accepted with three scenes still to shoot).

Although the 2017 line-up was announced on Thursday, Fremaux suggested that there's always the possibility that Cannes may add one or two more titles before the start of this year's event.

Scheduled to take place at the same time but not part of the "official selection", Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week will be announcing their line-ups later this month.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab, saying that their heroism will never be forgotten.

"Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour and heroism will never be forgotten," Modi tweeted.

The massacre took place on April 13, 1919 when a crowd of non-violent protestors, gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Thursday urged Japan to focus on its sky-high government debt if the world's third largest economy wants to ensure its future prosperity.

The latest OECD Economic Survey of Japan encourages reforms in order to increase labour force participation and create more "regular" jobs, especially for women, boost productivity and put public finances on a sustainable track, Xinhua news agency reported.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said in reference to the latest survey that Japan's demographic and fiscal challenges will require greater efforts and further reforms.

Such reforms are necessary "to notably raise productivity, which now lags behind the leading OECD economies", he said

"In the labour market, employment opportunities for women must be expanded. Achieving stronger and sustainable productivity gains should lead to more inclusive growth that distributes the dividends of increased prosperity fairly across society," said Gurria.

It is important that Japan remove "obstacles to female employment, notably by increasing the availability of affordable childcare" and "changing its culture of long working hours through a binding ceiling on overtime work which would improve work-life balance for all workers," the survey said.

It added that "breaking down dualism in the labour market -- the current segmentation between 'regular' and 'non-regular' workers, with differing levels of benefits, pay and employment protection -- is key to promoting inclusive growth."

It went on to say that an increase in welfare spending linked to the aging population would put "upward pressure" on government debt, which hit 219 per cent of GDP in 2016 and is the highest ever recorded in the OECD.

The report urged Japan to implement a "detailed and credible fiscal plan to put the debt ratio on a downward path".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taking strong umbrage to a CBSE text book holding "36-24-36 shape of females to be the best", Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday directed action in the matter.

A portion of the book on health and physical education meant for Class 12 reads: "36-24-36 shape of females is considered to be the best".

Published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, the book says that "even Miss World and Miss Universe beauty pageants take the 36-24-36 body shape into consideration while judging their contestants".

There has been outrage after the text book's contents went viral on social media.

Javadekar said officers concerned have been told to take appropriate action and said the government will ensure that CBSE schools follow books published only by the NCERT.

"Such sexist contents are absolutely unacceptable and highly condemnable. This is not a NCERT book, rather from a private publisher. That is why we have been asking CBSE schools not to use books by private publishers," he told the media here.

"Officers have been instructed to take take strict action against those behind this textbook," he said, adding the ministry may seek criminal action against the author and publisher of the book.

--IANS

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Independent legislator in Maharashtra, Omprakash Babarao alias Bachhu Kadu, raked up a controversy here on Thursday by alleging that actress and Bharatiya Janata Party star MP Hema Malini is a "bumper drinker".

Objecting to comments by some people linking alcoholism with farmland suicides in the states, Kadu said it is erroneous to relate the two.

In the past, he said Congress leader Narayan Rane commented that farmers commit suicide due to alcoholism, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had observed that farmers burdened by excessive cost of weddings ended their lives.

"It is wrong to say thisa All sorts of people make all kinds of allegations. Who does not drink? Seventy-five per cent of lawmakers drink, even journalists drink. Hema Malini is a bumper drinker, has she committed suicide," Kadu asked.

He was speaking after addressing a farmers' rally in Nanded this afternoon when he sought to "clarify" how alcoholism and farmland suicides were not connected.

Controversies are not alien to this six-time legislator from Achalpur in Amravati, who has shot into limelight for various causes and agitations, like climbing onto a water tank in 2006 in a "Sholay"-style act to draw the government's attention to farmers suicides in Vidarbha.

More recently, last year he had assaulted a health department official after which the government employees retaliated against him with a strike, forcing police to lodge a complaint in the matter, and even unilaterally rejecting a fat salary hike for legislators.

--IANS

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A man dragged off an "overbooked" flight in an incident which shocked the world has launched legal action against the passenger carrier.

Dr David Dao, 69, refused to give up the seat he had paid for after being asked to leave, and was dragged by his hands on his back off the parked plane, which had been bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

He was left bloodied after the Sunday evening incident at Chicago Airport and the footage provoked outrage, reported CBS News.

The Dao family issued a statement expressing gratitude for the "outpouring of support".

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, the lawyers want the airline and the City of Chicago, which runs O'Hare Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

The filing with the Cook County Circuit Court likely presages an eventual lawsuit against United for the April 9 incident.

Dao is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday, his legal team said.

The airline's chief executive, Oscar Munoz, said in an interview to ABC News on Wednesday that he will not resign.

Munoz said he felt "shame and embarrassment" and vowed it would never happen again.

The airline said it is "reaching out" to customers on Flight 3411 and "offering compensation for their flights".

Much of the uproar stemmed from Dao's status as a paying passenger who was being removed, against his will, to make room for additional crew members on the overbooked flight.

Three security officers have been placed on leave after the incident, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Their names have not been released, according to the report.

On Capitol Hill, powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers denounced how Dao was treated and called for United to explain the situation.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, announced plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would prohibit the forcible removal of passengers already aboard an aircraft "due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers".

Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon.

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycott of the No.3 US carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.
A 26-year-old man and his juvenile accomplice have been arrested for firing at a Delhi University student during a brawl in south Delhi, police said on Thursday.

Police said accused Prince Kumar and the juvenile assaulted Akash Sharma, 20, and fired twice at him over a trivial issue on Wednesday night when the latter went to a park near his residence in Chirag Dilli.

They were arrested on a tip-off from Malviya Nagar and Mehrauli.

Raids are on to nab one more accused, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said.

Sharma, who was injured in the chest and lower back, is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday recalled the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab, saying that their heroism will never be forgotten.

"Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour and heroism will never be forgotten," Modi tweeted.

"Remembering the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. India will always remember their sacrifice for the nation and its cause," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangram Ahir also paid tribute to the Jallianwala Bagh martyrs.

"Tributes to all the heroes of Hindustan who were martyred in the Jallianwala massacre that took place 98 years ago on April 13," Ahir tweeted.

The massacre took place on April 13, 1919, when a crowd of non-violent protesters, gathered in Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab's Amritsar city, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army.

--IANS

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A special court here on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant for arrest against controversial preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik after he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate despite four summons issued to him.

Naik is currently away in Saudi Arabia.

Informed sources said the Enforcement Directorate may now seek Letters Rogatory, or letters of request, from the same court for Saudi Arabia. These letters are a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court.

The ED first issued summons to Naik in January, after which three more summons were issued at regular intervals. The agency had submitted an application for issuance of fresh NBW on Monday.

The central agency registered a criminal case against Naik and others in December last year after taking cognisance of a National Investigation Agency (NIA) complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Sources in the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said the 51-year-old preacher established dummy companies in India and abroad for diversion of funds.

As part of its ongoing investigation, the ED last month attached property worth Rs 18.37 crore belonging to the IRF.

The Islamic preacher is also accused of promoting enmity between groups on religious and racial grounds, which are being investigated by the NIA.

The NIA also has sent him several summons to appear at its headquarters in Delhi but he has allegedly avoided them.

All the notices by the Enforcement Directorate and the NIA were served at Naik's Jasmine Apartments in Mazgaon area of Mumbai.

Naik first came into the limelight when his name cropped up during investigations into the terror strike at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 1 last year.

One of the terrorists involved in that attack allegedly claimed to have been inspired by Naik's speeches. Naik is evading arrest after his activities came under scanner.

Though Naik offered to speak to the Enforcement Directorate via videoconferencing or answer a questionnaire, the sources said the agency is not keen on the idea, saying it will "set a wrong precedent".

The Enforcement Directorate revealed that videos of Naik's provocative speeches were produced and exported to Dubai to be telecast.

The agency has recorded the statements of Naik's siblings -- his sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. They two said they were unaware of Naik's financial dealings.

The sources said Naik's overseas properties were also under the ED scanner.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Condemning a BJP youth leader's bounty to behead West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a Muslim organisation on Thursday sternly warning against any attempt to harm the popular leader.

"Mamata Banerjee is a secular leader and a secular Chief Minister. We strongly condemn the Fatwa to behead her and challenge anyone who even dares to lay a finger on our beloved leader," General Secretary of state's minority council, Maulana Shabbir Ali Azad said.

"The Muslims and the secular people of the state are with Mamata Ji. So if she is remotely affected by anyone, anything can happen in Bengal," he warned.

Taking a swipe at the RSS for their recent activities in the state, the said Banerjee has single-handedly stopped the right wing Hindu organisation from doing " of hatred".

"It is only because of Banerjee that Bengal is free from the nuisance of the RSS. She believes in walking the path of peace and harmony. The people of Bengal is with her.

"Even in the rally in Birbhum, these people attacked the police first.The state Police was forced to lathi-charge in order to protect themselves," Azad said referring to the clash between Hindu activists and the police during a Hanuman Jayanti rally.

The minority council also announced organising a massive rally in the city on April 21 in an attempt to encourage the environment of peace and harmony among the different communities. The organisers claimed several Hindu religious leaders, including Acharya Pramod Krishnam, the founder of Shri Kalki foundation would be present at the rally.

"We would organise a massive rally on April 21 from Kolkata's Rani Rashmoni Road to promote the message of peace and harmony in the state. People of all religions including several noted Hindu spiritual leaders Awould be present there," said Md Kamruzaman, general secretary of All Bengal Minority Youth Federation.

--IANS

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Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Narayan T. Rane on Thursday dismissed all talk of him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.

However, he confirmed that the BJP had made an offer to him "long ago", and he has neither accepted nor declined it, indicating his political options were open.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday afternoon, Rane scotched all rumours of joining the BJP, especially after some private TV channels showed clips of him purportedly travelling in a vehicle along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Ahmedabad on Wednesday night, and both ostensibly on way to meet BJP President Amit Shah.

"I was in Ahmedabad for some personal work, and I did not meet anybody. I returned this morning at 6.45 a.m. If I was planning to leave the Congress, my meeting with Shah or Fadnavis would have remained a secret. But, I did not go there secretly," Rane explained.

Referring to TV images, he said these "are not true, I don't know when these were taken", though he admitted to have travelled with Fadnavis on two occasions earlier.

Rane was the Maharashtra Chief Minister of the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition in 1999.

He said that from the Ahmedabad airport to Hotel Grand Hyatt, he travelled in his own vehicle, and since his meeting continued till late, he stayed back at the hotel.

Rane made it clear that though there is an offer from the BJP since 2014, there is no discussion or any move for him to quit the Congress presently.

"If I was planning to quit Congress, I would do it directly without meeting anybody... When I take the decision, I will openly speak out," Rane asserted, puncturing the political speculation on his next move for the second time in a week.

On his perceived disillusionment with the Congress, he said it arose out of a need for the party to become strong enough to win the next elections.

"I have met (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi recently on this... He heard me out, but no steps have been taken to strengthen the party and there are no solutions to my grievances," he said.

Since the Congress debacle in the February civic elections in Maharashtra, speculation has been rife in political circles over Rane's future moves, especially after he and son Nitesh Rane openly criticised the state Congress leadership, and he was recently seen hobnobbing with various BJP leaders.

--IANS

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Nepal and China will be holding their first-ever joint military exercise from April 16 to 25, the Nepal Army said on Thursday.

While the Chinese military aid to Nepal has significantly boosted in recent years, Kathmandu and Beijing would be holding a joint military exercise in Nepal for the first time.

In his visit to Nepal last month, Chinese Defence Minister and State Councillor Chang Wanquan had announced military aid worth 300 million Yuan to Nepal Army for its UN peacekeepers, mainly logistics.

The 10-day-long military exercise would be focused on disaster response and counter-terrorism.

"In a bid to give continuity of such joint military training and exercises with the neighbouring countries and friendly nations and in the context of terrorism that is posing serious threat to the global peace also its possible challenges to the global security, we are holding first ever joint military exercise with China under the banner of 'Sagatrmatha Friendship-2017'," said the army in its statement.

Sagarmatha is the Nepali name of Mt. Everest.

The upcoming joint military drill has, however, raised eyebrows in New Delhi, with strategic circles in the Indian capital questioning the intent of such an exercise.

"Nepal Army has been conducting joint military exercises, seminars and training with various nations with whom Nepal has diplomatic ties," the army said.

The statement further read that such kind of multilateral and bilateral training slots and exercises would provide opportunities to exchange professional skills and would boost their capability and further strength the diplomatic and military ties.

Nepal has been holding such joint military exercise with India, the US and recently held a multilateral joint military exercise with various nations involved in UN peace-keeping operations.

--IANS

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Evacuations were underway in New Zealand's North Island on Thursday as Cyclone Cook is scheduled to hit Bay of Plenty with full force, the media reported.

People in low-lying areas of Tauranga were asked to evacuate before it got dark, Radio New Zealand reported.

The Whakatane district council earlier asked people in Ohope's West End to leave their homes due to the risk of extreme storm surges and coastal inundation.

The storm is due to make landfall later in the day over Bay of Plenty. Officials have warned of high waves, storm surges and landslides.

It is expected to bring torrential rain and winds gusting at up to 150 km per hour, and has been classified as an extra-tropical cyclone.

It will then move to the South Island early Friday, reports the BBC.

Hundreds of homes in Bay of Plenty were without power, with more than 800 properties in Tauranga affected and 170 more in Waihi.

Parts of the North Island are now under a state of emergency, with residents in the low-lying parts of Coromandel, which has already seen landslides and closed roads, being told to leave immediately.

New Zealand weather officials say that Cyclone Cook will be the worst to hit the country since 1968.

--IANS

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25 Years Ago-1992

Mandan Mayor Robert Dykshoorn has won re-election to a second mayoral term, beating challenger Matt Erhardt, 1,516 votes to 1,371. Dykshoorn said that at age 39, not only is he the youngest mayor among the major cities of North Dakota, but hes also the first mayor in 60 years to be re-elected, and the burdens of the office are the reason for that. Prior to being elected mayor, Dykshoorn served two terms on the Mandan City Commission.

Voters also elected Robert Christensen to his first full term on the city commission with 1,542 votes. Dan Ulmer was the top vote-getter among the commission candidates with 1,667. Park Board member Roger Arenz won re-election with 1,839 votes, while Mandan attorney Tom Bair won the other seat with 1,895 votes, over Jeanette Sagmiller who had 1,493.

The 2-mill levy to help fund the Bis-Man Transit System, which offers reduced fare rides to the handicapped and elderly, easily passed, 1,673 to 1,078.

Funerals this week:

George Fibiger, 78, Mandan, raised, educated at Glen Ullin. Married Ann Hoffman, 1940. Was an electronics repairman for Byerly Electric and Gambles; was owner, operator of Fibiger TV; worked for John Iverson Co., 1968 until retiring in 1977. Was a member of Mandan Eagles. Survivors include wife, two sons and two daughters and their families, one brother and four sisters.

Eldor Reinhardt, 69, Mandan, raised, educated at Hazen. Married Ann Usselmann, 1948. Was a bricklayer, 35 years, retiring in 1977. Was a member of Mandan Eagles. Survivors include two sons and their families, one brother, two sisters.

* * *

Temperatures recorded Tuesday, April 14: a high of 55 degrees above zero; 28 degrees for the low.

50 Years Ago-1967

Former city auditor Arnold T. Livdahl and former Postmaster J.J. Murray were recently honored by the Mandan Elks Lodge for their longtime service to the lodge and to the city. Livdahl, an Elk since 1928, has held all the offices of the lodge, including exalted ruler, as well as the states highest office, deputy grand exalted ruler. Murray, a member since 1921, has also been exalted ruler, serving also as trustee and secretary of the lodge. Both Livdahl and Murray hold lifetime memberships in the Mandan lodge.

Anton Ereth and his sisters, Mrs. Carl (Marie) Thresher, Regina, Saskatchewan, reunited this week for the first time since Ereth left Rumania in 1907. Ereth left his family at the age of 22 and set out for America, moving to Mandan in 1908. When he left his homeland, he also lost contact with his family until this past Christmas, when he received a letter from his sister. Mrs. Thresher was 11 years old when her brother left for the states.

* * *

The new isolate, which was purchased for the Mandan Hospital by the Mandan Hospital Volunteers, was on display last Saturday evening at the benefit dinner-dance, sponsored by the organization, to raise funds to purchase the $1,500 machine. Total net proceeds of the party, including dinner tickets, the candy booth and the White Elephant game, came to $1,150.

Dinner was served smorgasbord- style to more than 400 people and was followed by dancing to the music of the Frontiersmen Orchestra. A musical highlight of the evening was a guest performance by MHS sophomore Gary Chipper Wood on the drums.

75 Years Ago-1942

The American Red Cross will collect from the countrys clothing stores the wool strips clipped from trouser legs in obedience to the no-cuffs-on-pants order of the War Production Board. Selling the cuffs for conversion into reprocessed wood should bring into the coffers of local Red Cross chapters about $2 million annually.

Some 1,100 Japanese enemy aliens at the Fort Lincoln internment camp stayed indoors last week, watching through windows, the furious blizzard that cut visibility to less than half a block. Grouped in barracks inside the 10-foot mesh-wire fence, they looked in awe as a howling northwest wind blasted snow against and around their warm shelters. To most, if not all, it was their first view of a blizzard and was a strange contrast to the California homes from which most of them came.

After last weeks storm, Gregor Rauchwater found it necessary to hitch up a team of horses to get into Mandan for the first time in six years  the result of the high-piled, windswept drifts of the recent blizzard.

Carl Blomberg, of Mandan, probably wont be so prompt about removing storm windows and storm doors from his home in the future. But if he does, hell probably make certain that the regular door is properly bolted against North Dakota breezes. The Blombergs woke up the other morning to find a man-sized snowbank in their living room, driven in by the high winds of the Missouri Slopes three-day blizzard a week ago.

Funeral services were held this week for Mrs. David (Alice Barrows) Taylo, Sr., 94, pioneer Mandan resident, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Bowers. Mrs. Taylor arrived in Mandan in 1881, along with her husband and two children. Mr. Taylor was the first Northern Pacific Railroad superintendent west of the Missouri River and was instrumental in completing the railroad tracks to the Montana border.

100 Years Ago-1917

The Revelers Dancing Club will hold their first, after Lent, dance next Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barth of St. Anthony are the proud parents of twins.

Fred W. Sommerfeld, who for some weeks was near death following operations for abscess of the ear and skull, is now nicely recovering. He was able to leave the Mandan hospital Saturday and was at his office for a couple of hours the following Monday.

Conductor J.K. Porter has met with a bad accident when chopping kindling wood at his home, 114 Seventh Ave. N.W. The axe caught in a clothesline twisting the handle from his hands and throwing the blade against his forehead, resulting in a severe cut.

That war is actually upon us was evident today by the militia men of Company F and Company A on duty. The United States war department has placed a ban on publishing anything concerning movements of troops, hence it is possible only to report that Company F is doing duty 'somewhere near Mandan.'

Mike Lasky and Mel Murphy were taken up before Judge Campbell today and each given 30 days jail time. Murphy was also given a $50 fine. Both men had engaged in fisticuffs in one of the downtown restaurants.

Lester Howard, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Grosgebauer, was laid to rest in the Union Cemetery yesterday. He passed away after a months illness with scarlet fever. Owing to the nature of the illness, the funeral was strictly private, but friends and relatives made their sympathy evident with a shower of beautiful flowers.

125 Years Ago-1892

On Thurs., April 14, at 2:30 p.m., the thermometer recorded 55 degrees above zero.

The choir of the Episcopal Church is rehearsing Jacksons Te Deum for the Easter service.

To the gentlemen: If you want no fires to build in the morning and want your meals on time, buy your wife a 'Quick Meal' gasoline stove at the C.A. Heegard store, West Main, Mandan.

Tomorrow morning, there will arrive in Mandan, at 7 oclock, a handsomely decorated special train of 14 cars loaded with 'Quaker Oats.' The train is sent out by an oatmeal manufacturing company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Representatives of the company accompany the train and distribute samples of the oats and other souvenirs.

The trustees of the Methodist church met at the office of Dr. S.D. King last night to consider ways and means of replacing the church which was destroyed by fire last week. After some discussion, it was decided to rebuild the church at the same location.

Let us hope that our new mayor will appoint a pound master who will do his duty. At all hours of the day and night, there are vagrant cows, horses and colts roaming all over town, ever ready to scare the life out of buggy horses that are not accustomed to that sort of thing. Stray horses, kicking their heels in the air all over town, are a nuisance. The people pay taxes on purpose to have such estrays taken up and put where their owners cant get them without paying a fine.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he stuck to his stand of not meeting Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, scheduled to visit India and Punjab next week.

Defending his "Khalistani sympathiser" remarks against the Canadian Minister, Amarinder Singh alleged that Sajjan and several other ministers and top leaders in Canada were sympathetic to those indulging in anti-India activities, notwithstanding Canada's claims to the contrary.

"Sajjan is welcome to attend conferences and meetings, and even visit Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar. But I will personally not entertain him as I have concrete information about him being a Khalistani sympathiser, just as his father Kundan Sajjan, a board member of World Sikh Organisation, was," the senior Congress leader said in a statement here.

"The state government will provide full security to the visiting minister and also ensure that he gets treated as per the protocol, but I will not be seen hobnobbing with a Khalistani sympathiser," the Chief Minister added.

"Other Canadian ministers and MPs, including Navdeep Bains, Amarjit Sohi, Sukh Dhaiwal, Darshan Kang, Raj Grewal, Harinder Malhi, Roby Sahota, Jagmeet Singh, and Randeep Sari, are well known for their leanings towards the Khalistani movement," Amarinder Singh alleged.

The Chief Minister said on Wednesday that he will not meet the visiting Sikh minister.

The Congress leader cancelled his Canada trip in April last year after Canadian authorities told him he could not allowed to visit that country for holding political rallies and meetings in the run-up to the 2017 Punjab assembly elections.

Amarinder Singh had wrote an angry letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to protest against what he said was "gag order".

Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh "not to act petty and spiteful and give the minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves".

"Amarinder Singh should not let a personal incident cloud his judgement and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan and other Punjabi representatives in Canadian Parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner," the former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said.

Aam Aadmi Party spokesman and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said: "It reflects Amarinder Singh's vindictiveness towards Punjabis living in Canada."

He said the Chief Minister should withdraw his remarks against the Canadian Minister.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said North Korea may already have the ability to fire ballistic missiles equipped with sarin nerve agent.

His warning came amid looming concern about another missile or nuclear test by the communist country, reported Nikkei Asian Review.

Abe, while addressing the Japanese Parliament's diplomacy and defence committee, said North Korea's nuclear and missile technologies are making progress and labelled the situation "a new stage of threat".

"The denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is our biggest goal and must be achieved at any cost. The security situation around our country is getting increasingly severe," said the Prime Minister.

"We have just talked about Syria. There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to put sarin on warheads to strike the ground," he said.

Abe did not provide any evidence why he felt North Korea had the capability to equip missiles with chemical weapons, said the report.

Meanwhile, a Washington-based think tank 38 North, that monitors North Korea, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast, Efe news reported.

Experts have warned of continued activity in Punggye-ri for weeks and fear North Korea may soon carry out its sixth nuclear test, especially as important events are approaching with the country celebrating the fifth anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's transition to power.

In addition, the country will commemorate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, on Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on April 25.

These celebrations coincide with increased tension in the peninsula after the US responded to the latest North Korean missile launch by sending a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier towards the peninsula, said the report.

--IANS

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Online and offline efforts to build up public support to secure the release of former Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav -- awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court -- continued to grow on Thursday.

Besides, lawyers and activists from Mumbai, New Delhi and other places plan to move various courts to secure his safe and secure homecoming.

Social media sites like Change.org recorded several petitions by individuals, rights activists, politicians and lawyers who urged the Indian and Pakistani governments and even the United Nations to ensure Mumbai-based Jadhav's release.

Besides the 15-plus other petitions on Change.org, other social media networks like Facebook and Twitter are full of messages sympathetic to Jadhav and offering support and help to his family members who have left for an undisclosed destination since Tuesday.

Nationalist Congress Party legislator Jitendra Awhad and activist Hasan S.A. Mulani said they have petitioned Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

They said the death sentence handed to Jadhav on April 10 has "shocked and saddened the people of India and those around the world".

An Inter-Services Public Relations statement on April 10 said Jadhav was nabbed from Balochistan on March 3 last year for alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against the neighbouring country.

"Right from the day of Jadhav's arrest, India has been asking for consular access as we believe that Jadhav was 'snatched' from Iran by Pakistani agencies in 2016. The Iranian government has also said that Jadhav was in that country and not engaged in any illegal activity," they said.

In a petition to the UN and other top Indian officials, Imran Khan urged that Jadhav's execution without providing him legal aid, which is possible only by giving India consular access to him, will not only violate his right to legal remedies but also his basic right to life.

The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday launched a three-day signature drive at all district headquarters, which will then be handed over to the respective collectorates.

"Many thousands, including youth and women, are queueing up to sign these petitions and offer sympathy to the Jadhav family," MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.

Other efforts include formation of human chains by various groups and individuals, special prayers in temples, appeals by various celebrities and different forms of protests against Pakistan.

All major political parties -- the Congress, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen -- have demanded that the Centre take immediate steps to ensure Jadhav's immediate release.

--IANS

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The Airlines (PIA) on Thursday blacklisted an unspecified number of passengers for violating a no-smoking rule and misbehaving with the crew during its Islamabad-Birmingham flight earlier this week.

PIA acting CEO Nayyar Hayat directed airline authorities to ban the concerned passengers for their "unruly" behaviour on PK-791 with immediate effect, Dawn online reported.

"The concerned passengers were not only smoking during the flight but also misbehaved with cabin crew," an airline statement said.

The flag carrier's action comes a day after UK police arrested a British man of Pakistani origin for allegedly verbally abusing an air hostess and smoking during the same flight.

The flight attendant had reportedly confronted two to three men for smoking in the lavatory, a serious violation of global flight rules.

In response, the men had misbehaved with her and one man in particular hurled verbal abuse at her, reports Dawn online.

The air hostess complained about the incident to the pilot, who upon landing in Birmingham alerted the police.

British police personnel then made a number of passengers connected to the incident disembark and later arrested one man from the group.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted people on the occasion of harvest festivals being celebrated across the country.

They greeted the nation on Baisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu Pirappu and Naba Barsha and acknowledged the hard work of farmers to ensure good harvests.

"Warm greetings to all my fellow citizens, particularly those engaged in cultivation and agriculture on Baisakhi. Baisakhi celebrates the sweat and toil of our farmers who bring good harvests and happiness to our homes," Mukherjee said on his offical Twitter account.

"Let us on this day show gratitude to Mother Earth and pledge to protect nature for its best blessings on our lives. On this happy occasion, let us share our happiness with one and all, especially those who are in need. Let us resolve to re-double our efforts to contribute to the nation's prosperity, unity and fraternity," he added.

"My best wishes to the citizens on the occasion of Baisakhi," Modi said in a tweet.

Baisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu Pirappu and Naba Barsha are the harvest festivals of India, which also mark the traditional New Year in regions and states from Punjab to Bengal to Assam.

--IANS

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President Pranab Mukherjee will lay the foundation stone of B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics in Bengaluru during his two-day visit to Karnataka and Maharashtra on April 14 and 15, an official statement said.

"On April 14, the President will lay the foundation stone of B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics in Bengaluru. On April 15, he will award the President's Standard to Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra," it added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The three violent attacks against Indians in the US are not indicative of the whole country and students should not take them into account while deciding whether or not to apply to US universities, according to a former assistant dean at Stanford University.

"There is no denial that there has been sporadic and random violence against Indians in the US. These incidents were tragic and disturbing but they are not indicative of the country as a whole," Martin Walsh told IANS in an interview while on a visit here.

He said that US is a big country and these incidents have not taken place in cities where the top universities are.

"If I were student in India looking at the US, I would not have let that determine for me applying. I would also really focus on areas where universities have a fairly diverse population or large South-Asian population," he said.

"When I am researching, I would look at universities (to see) if there (is) any record of violence. Universities are very transparent with that. A well-researched college could make the student and parents feel safe," he added.

Walsh is counsellor to one of the top private schools in the US and was in the capital to conduct an interactive session for Indian students aspiring to study in the US. It was organised by leading California-based technology start-up Stoodnt.com.

Walsh discussed the many factors that international students need to keep in mind to get through to the top US universities.

"At highly selective universities in the United States, numbers are not going to be enough for students. They are really looking for students who have shown an intellectual spark -- be it in the classroom or out of the classroom," Walsh said.

"They want applications that show that by admitting the student to the campus, they are admitting someone special, they are admitting a deep thinker who creates, who researches and follows great passion," he added.

"They are looking for a spark that could be achieved by a lot of different things -- by engagement with the community, inventing an application, etc," he explained.

With President Donald Trump's immigration policies, international students tend to feel apprehensive in applying to US universities.

According to Walsh, "it is a unique political period".

"We are still trying to figure out how it will impact applications. We will have a lot more data on that in the next four weeks," he said.

(Mudita Girotra can be contacted at mudita.g@ians.in <mailto:mudita.g@ians.in>

--IANS

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West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday described its triumph in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency by-poll as a reaffirmation of the people's faith in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's developmental agenda.

"People reaffirm faith in Mamata Banerjee as Trinamool sweeps Kanthi Dakshin by-poll. We congratulate the people of Kathi for the result," the Trinamool Congress posted on its Twitter handle.

Trinamool candidate and former Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party's Sourindramohan Jana by over 42,000 votes in the six-cornered fight.

"We expected this result. The people of Dakshin Kanthi have wholeheartedly supported the wave of development under the guidance of our leader Mamata Banerjee. The result shows that the people of the state are with us," said Bhattacharya, the winning candidate.

"Though the number of polled votes was less in the by-poll compared to the general election, our party has increased the vote percentage, which shows more people have come out to vote for us," she said.

The Trinamool leaders also accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the BJP of having a "secret understanding" that enabled the latter to increase its vote share and jump to the second spot, pushing the Left Front nominated Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate to the third position.

"This is not that the voters are turning away from CPI-M to BJP. It is clearly a case of secret understanding between the two parties that apparently shows BJP's rise in the election," Trinamool Congress leader Subhendu Adhikari claimed.

BJP candidate Sourindramohan Jana said his party had expected the result to be a "bit better", but was "happy" as the outcome reflected the BJP's growing popularity in the state.

"We expected the result to be a bit better, nevertheless we are happy with it. People came out to vote for us amid the atmosphere of terror created by the ruling party," Jana said.

"This vote is against the growing hooliganism and lobbying of the ruling party. Also people are slowly getting aware of the developmental schemes of the BJP. As a result we have come to the second spot," he added.

The BJP's vote share has gone up by around 22 per cent compared to the assembly polls last year.

Communist Party of India candidate Uttam Pradhan, who had finished second in 2016, lost his security deposit this time.

The Congress also put up a poor show, with its nominee Nabakumar Chanda getting only around 1.3 per cent of the votes.

Left Front spearhead CPI-M conceded the result was "far from satisfactory".

"The result is far from satisfactory. We have to evaluate the result to find out the lapses," said Left Front legislature party leader and CPI-M state secretariat member Sujan Chakraborty.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ride-hailing service Uber on Thursday announced its return to Taiwan, ending a two-month suspension after being hit with millions of dollars in fines by the government.

In a statement, the company said its return came after "constructive talks" with authorities in Taiwan, and explained that it would be using a new business model, partnering with licensed rental car companies to resume services in Taipei, Efe news reported.

"Today we are so happy to be with you and so excited to be working with the Ministry of Transport to bring Uber back. It makes today's moment that much more special for all of us and that's a really nice thing," said Uber's Asia Regional General Manager Michael Brown.

The US-based company halted operations on February 10 after racking up millions of dollars in fines under a law barring unlicensed taxi services.

The previous month, authorities hiked the penalty to as much as 25 million Taiwanese dollars ($824,470) per infraction.

It added that more than 1 million people had downloaded the app since it began operations in Taiwan four years ago, with 15 million trips taken using the platform.

In the statement announcing the resumption of services, the company said it was keen to give rental car partners and their licensed drivers "access to more economic opportunities that the Uber app provides".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on New York States highest court and the first Muslim judge in the US, was found dead in the Hudson River, city authorities said.

Officers with the New York Police Department's Harbour Unit on Wednesday afternoon responded to a report of a person floating by the shore near West 132nd Street in Upper Manhattan, The New York Times reported.

Judge Abdus-Salaam, 65, was taken to a pier on the Hudson River and was pronounced dead by paramedics.

The police were investigating how she ended up in the river, and it was not clear how long Judge Abdus-Salaam, who lived nearby in Harlem, had been missing.

There were no signs of trauma on her body, the police said. She was fully clothed.

A law enforcement official said investigators had found no signs of criminality. Her husband identified her body.

Since 2013, Judge Abdus-Salaam had been one of seven judges on the State Court of Appeals, reports The New York Times.

Before that, she served for about four years as an associate justice on the First Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, and for 15 years as a State Supreme Court justice in Manhattan.

She was previously a lawyer in the city's Law Department.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement on Wednesday that Judge Abdus-Salaam was a pioneer with an "unshakable moral compass".

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all."

--IANS

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In 2016 there were 14,331 reports received in North Dakota of suspected child abuse and neglect resulting in 1,805 children who were confirmed as victims, according to the North Dakota Department of Human Services-Children and Family Services Division.

"In 2016 Morton County, we completed 522 child protection assessments," said Jennifer Wetsch, Child Protection Services supervisor.

Morton County Social Services, Custer Health and Morton County's NSDU Extension Service have teamed up this April during Child Abuse Prevention month to bring attention and resources to the community regarding the issue.

Today, Mandan and Bismarck city employees are participating in the Wear Blue Day campaign to bring awareness to child abuse. The city with the most employees wearing the color blue will win a trophy and bragging rights, the winning city will be announced on Tuesday.

The contest between Bismarck and Mandan city employees will be judged by representatives from Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota, one of the sponsors of North Dakotas Wear Blue Day.

This year local schools also are getting involved in the campaign as students from Mandan Middle School have challenged students from Horizon Middle School and students from Mandan High School challenged students from St. Marys High School.

Students, faculty and administrators wearing blue are asked to take a group photo and post them to social media using the hashtag #preventchildabusend or send them to info@pcand.org for posting on Prevent Child Abuse North Dakotas Facebook page and website. The middle school and high school with the greatest percentage of their student body wearing blue will receive an award.

Community members are encouraged to wear blue every Friday in April to recognize and bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention month.

The NDSU Extension Service is offering a Common Sense Parenting course, a six-week series focusing on encouraging good behavior, preventing problems, correcting problem behavior, teaching self-control and parents are teachers. The series began April 4, however, Liz Larson, the Extension parent educator encourages parents and guardians who want information to sign up for their newsletter. Larson can be contacted at 701-667-3342 or email her at Liz.Larson@ndsu.edu.

"This year we're focusing on not only bringing awareness about prevention month but also doing prevention work, which is helping to support families and putting on classes," said Larson.

Babies and Mother Beyond Birth Education is a program of Custer Health that provides a home visit from a public health nurse to a new mother and her baby. This year, all new moms in Morton County will receive a "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD to learn more tactics on how to calm a crying baby and in return stay calm themselves.

All of these events and opportunities are funded by a grant from Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota in collaboration with Department of Human Services.

For more information on preventing child abuse visit www.pcand.org/ or call 701-223-9052.
The West Bengal Minority United Council on Thursday appealed to the state government to impose "complete ban" on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The council accused the RSS of destroying the atmosphere of peace and plotting a communal riot in West Bengal.

"The RSS is trying hard to destroy the atmosphere of love that prevailed in the nation. We have got the report that nearly 5,000-6,000 RSS activists have arrived in Bengal from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states with a motive of starting a riot," state's Minority Council General Secretary Shabbir Ali Azad said at a press conference.

"We appeal to the state government to impose a complete ban on an organisation like RSS," he added.

"RSS had no role in the nation's freedom movement, rather their activists had worked as the agents of the British since the pre-Independence era. Till today, their only motive is to divide the country by polarising the countrymen," he claimed.

Criticising the armed rallies on the occasion of the Ram Navami and the Hanuman Jayanti in the state, All Bengal Minority Youth Federation General Secretary Md. Kamruzaman said the minority community cannot be scared by showing weapons.

"Some people are thinking that by brandishing weapons they would be able to scare the minority communities of the country. They should know the Muslim community is not scared of them. We are in favour of peace and harmony in the country," Kamruzaman said.

He said the onus of stopping the communal forces in the country is on the secular people, including the Hindus and Muslims.

"Almost 95 per cent people belonging to the majority community believe in secularism. We would appeal to them to join us in the protest against the rising communalism and fascism in the country," he added.

--IANS

mgr/ssp/pgh/vt

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Veteran India, a group of all India ex-servicemen, will hold a two-day national convention and seminar on Nationalism and Patriotism in New Delhi on April 14 and 15. The organisers said the highlight will be all the three living recipients of Indias highest military award, the Param Vir Chakra, will attend the convention. They are Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, Captain Bana Singh and rifleman Sanjay Kumar. Several other gallantry award winners and war veterans will also be present at the convention. It is seldom that the governments Press Information Bureau spreads the word about events that are non-government, but an exception was made in this case. The convention is being held in the backdrop of India-Pakistan tensions over Islamabads decision to hang retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the "impressive performance" of the BJP in the assembly by-polls held in various parts of the country.

He thanked the people for their "unwavering faith in of development and good governance".

"Impressive performance by @BJP4India and NDA in the by- polls in different parts of the country. Congratulations to Karyakartas," Modi tweeted.

Impressive performance by @BJP4India and NDA in the by-polls in different parts of the country. Congratulations to Karyakartas.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2017

"I thank the people for the constant support, blessings & unwavering faith in of development and good governance," he added in another tweet.

I thank the people for the constant support, blessings & unwavering faith in of development and good governance.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2017

In the by-polls held on Sunday last, the BJP won in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam, according to the results declared.

There was some solace for the Congress in Karnataka where it won both the seats.

The by-polls were held in nine Assembly constituencies in seven states, besides the Srinagar parliamentary seat.

Two seats each are in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and one each in West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

In the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, repoll was ordered in 38 booths, which took place today.
Punjab CM Capt on Wednesday called Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser and said he will not meet him when he visits India later this month. He alleged that five Sikh ministers of the Justin Trudeau government in Canada were Khalistani sympathisers.
Only 1.68 per cent voters cast their franchise till 2 pm at 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where repolling was ordered by the EC following violence during Sunday's polls for the prestigious seat.

Only 576 voters of the total 34,169 cast their votes across all polling stations till 2 pm, officials said here.

While no votes have been polled in Khansahib assembly segment so far, only three votes were cast in Budgam segment and 27 votes in Chrar-e-Sharief segment, the officials said,



They said Beerwah segment recorded 293 votes and Chadoora saw 253 people cast their votes during the corresponding period. The voting began at 7 AM and will end at 4 PM.

Barring a stone pelting incident at Soibagh area in Budgam district, the situation in the poll bound areas has been peaceful so far, the officials said.

Miscreants pelted stones at polling station at Soibagh but they were chased away by the security forces, they said.

There was an altercation between opposition National Congress and ruling PDP workers at Badran in Beerwah area over allegations of bogus voting, the officials said, adding that the issue was later resolved with the intervention of the polling staff and security personnel posted on duty there.

Eight people were killed in firing by security forces as unprecedented election-day violence marred the bypoll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat which saw the voter turnout plunge to an all-time low of 7.14 per cent.

Rampaging mobs took to streets in scores of places across the Lok Sabha constituency straddling Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts, perpetrating wanton violence and arson, even setting ablaze a polling station and attempting to set on fire two others, amid a boycott called by the separatists.
A 28-year-old man and his accomplice have been arrested in connection with the murder of the former's live-in partner almost nine years back, police said today.

Bijender was in a live-in relationship with Aarti. He killed Aarti in 2008 following an argument over persuading her to not to stay in touch with her family. Rahul (30) allegedly helped him in dumping the body after crushing her face, DCP Crime(Cyber and FICN) Bhisham Singh said.

A day after Aarti went missing, the accused had approached her parents and told them that she has left his house with someone else, the police officer said.

"The accused also asked her parents to lodge a complaint with police. He, however, accompanied them to lodge a missing report in Sultanpuri Police Station. The duty officer asked them to bring Aarti's photo, but since they did not have it, they did not file a complaint," Singh said.

Aarti's body was recovered near a factory by the police in Najafgarh and a case of murder was registered. However, in 2010, the case was marked as 'untraced' as neither the deceased nor the accused could be identified.

After the murder, Bijender sold his house in Sultanpuri and started residing in Aman Vihar area and got married in October, 2009. He used to introduce his wife as Aarti so that nobody in the area would suspect him, the officer said.

In order to ensure that Aarti's parents never contact him or make efforts to find her, he even sent fake letters in the deceased's name to her parents. Bijender had forcibly got Aarti's signatures on blank papers before killing her, he said.

"In the letter, it was written that she has left Bijender and got married to the son of an advocate and is leading a happy life. In it, her parents were asked not to contact Bijender or her as she doesn't want any interference in her personal life," the DCP said.

It was also written that she is moving out of Delhi with her husband and she would remain in touch with them through letters. After receiving the letter, Aarti's family members were satisfied that she was living a better life.

For the last eight years, this case remained a blind case as neither the body had been identified nor the accused.

It was only after the Crime Branch received information about Rahul's involvement in dumping a body near Ply Factory, Najafgarh about nine years back that the mystery unravelled.

On Tuesday, Rahul was nabbed from near BDO Office, Najafgarh and he led police to Bijender who was arrested from Balbir Vihar in Kirari Suleman Nagar area, Singh said.

During interrogation it was revealed that in 2006, while he was living in Sultanpuri area, Bijender came in contact with Aarti. Two years later, she left her parents' house and started living Bijender, the DCP said.

After three-four months, a dispute arose between them and on the night of September 23, 2008, he strangulated her to death. Bijender then hired an auto and told the driver that his wife is possessed by evil powers and he is taking her to Najafgarh for exorcism, the officer said.

He took the body to Najafgarh along with his brother Joginder and called Rahul help in disposing of the body. Joginder will be interrogated for his involvement in the case, police said.

After Aarti left the house, her father remained in trauma and developed health problems. He died around three years back. Her mother is living with her two brothers in Sultanpuri area.

Bijender has three sons and has been working as a taxi driver in the area. He was even involved activities related to black magic, police said.

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A fire ripped through makeshift shelters at a Muslim religious retreat in Senegal, killing at least 22 people and triggering a stampede, firefighters said today.

The blaze broke out yesterday as worshippers gathered in the town of Medina Gounass in the southeastern region of Tambacounda, a senior official with the firefighting service told AFP.

The cause was as yet unknown, the official said.

Images of billowing clouds of smoke, the charred corpses of animals and devastation at the site circulated online, testifying to the fire's impact.

While some victims were badly burnt, others were hurt in the panicked stampede triggered by the blaze, the firefighter added.

Around 20 of the injured are in a serious state and are being treated at the regional hospital in Tambacounda city, around 80 kilometres away.

The fire ripped through straw shelters constructed for the multi-day event, according to Senegal's local press, allowing it spread rapidly through an open-air gathering packed with people.

Senegalese Muslims gather in their hundreds, even thousands, to worship at the site every year, and pilgrims were weighed down with food and luggage, the local press reported.

A similar incident at the same site in 2010 caused the deaths of six people and several injuries, Le Quotidien newspaper reported.

Senegal's poor record on fire safety was also thrown into the spotlight in 2013 when a fire in a Koranic school killed nine children, triggering an outcry and calls for tighter regulation.

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At least 22 people were killed in a fire at a Muslim religious retreat in southeastern Senegal, firefighters said today, with 87 injured.

The fire broke out yesterday as worshippers gathered in the town of Medina Gounass for the event, a senior official with the firefighters said, adding that around 20 of the injured were in a serious state.

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The government-run All India Radio (AIR) has received messages from its listeners in Pakistan against the move to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, an official with the broadcaster's external services division claimed today.

AIR has been broadcasting a number of programmes -- such as news, press review, commentary and panel discussions -- highlighting the former Indian navy officer's case to the radio listeners in Pakistan since the issue came to light.

"We are getting between 100 to 140 messages daily condemning the decision of the Pakistan military court," an official with AIR's external services division said.

A Pakistani military court has sentenced Jadhav to death in an alleged espionage case, nearly a year after he was arrested by security officials in Balochistan.

AIR broadcasts a number of programmes in various languages -- including Urdu, Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi and Saraiki -- in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The official said the listeners of all the languages are sending messages through emails and WhatsApp to AIR.

"The gist of the messages are that the people are considering this act of Pakistan as unislamic as punishing innocent is against the tenets of Islam. Travellers are given high regards in Islam," the official added.

He said the messages also highlight the concerns of the listeners on "people to people contact and relation between the two countries" if Jadhav is executed.

AIR runs various programme to highlight India's point of view on different issues through its network for listeners in Pakistan.

India has warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if Jadhav is hanged.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that India will go "out of the way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian" and his execution will be taken as a "pre-meditated murder".

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today paid homage to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, saying their sacrifice had not gone in vain as the incident marked a decisive step towards ending the British rule in India.

Today was the 98th anniversary of the massacre.

In a statement issued here, Amarinder said the nation will always remember the victims of the massacre, who laid down their lives to give the freedom struggle a strong lease of life, eventually culminating in the ouster of the British from India.

The massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, when non-violent protesters, along with Baisakhi pilgrims, were subjected to unprovoked firing by the British Indian Army troops, commanded by Colonel Reginald Dyer.

More than 1,000 people were believed to have died in the action, which left the nation in a state of shock and paved the way for widespread public rebellion.

Recalling the shocking brutality of the British, Amarinder said the incident underlined the importance of a more humanitarian approach by the police and armed forces around the world, adding that neither war nor peace gives an excuse to such forces for destroying innocent lives.

The chief minister urged all the countries to embrace peace and live together in the spirit of brotherhood and amity.

"Let incidents like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre serve as a grim reminder to all of us that brutality and violence destroy the very fabric of all that humanity stands for," he said.

Amarinder also extended his greetings to the people, particularly Punjabis around the world, on the auspicious and festive occasion of Baisakhi.

"Punjab today stands at the threshold of a new era and is ready to shrug off the legacy of pain and suffering of the past several years," he said while stressing on the need to live in harmony and bonhomie for collective progress.

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It was a huge milestone Thursday in a long journey for Mary Rennich who watched an amended medical marijuana bill pass and head to the governors desk for an assured signature compared with two years ago when she recalled choking up as similar legislation went down in flames.

Rennich, of Bismarck, said shed told herself while in the House chamber during the 2015 session after two pieces of medical marijuana legislation failed that a ballot measure would be introduced and passed.

Rennich has a very special reason for the legalization of medical marijuana: Her son has lissencephaly, a malformation of the brain which can cause severe mental disability, poor motor functions and seizures. Her sons had regular and severe seizures for about 25 years; she and her husband never know when a seizure might be his last.

Its a hope for us that our Sam will eventually be able to try a medicine that has far fewer side effects than the two dozen FDA-approved medications that weve tried the last 25 years without much success, Rennich said.

By a 38-9 vote, the Senate voted Thursday morning to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 2344.

The bill sets up a framework for ensuring the proper licensing, production, dispersal and general oversight of medical marijuana. The North Dakota Department of Health is expected to have the program up and running in a year or so; administrative rules are expected to be crafted over the interim as well.

Rennich, who was involved in pushing the ballot measure that garnered 64 percent of the vote in November, said medical marijuana is one of few remaining options for her son.

If we can help stop even 25 percent of the seizures he has every week  that would be a fantastic thing, Rennich said.

Her concerns whether or not Gov. Doug Burgum would sign the bill were quickly extinguished when the governor told reporters hell be signing SB2344 following review by himself and senior staff.

Were committed to moving as quickly as we can, said Burgum, who admitted to smoking recreational marijuana during the summer of 1976. During that summer home from college, he embarked on a hitchhiking trip from the family farm in Arthur to Alaska, returning home in time for harvest. He said, after the trip, hes never tried it since.

SB2344 is a step forward for the state, according to Burgum, adding that a rapidly changing national landscape for medical and recreational marijuana will need to be watched closely as the program evolves.

Societys going to have to get its hand around this, he said.

The scale of what was accomplished with SB2344 in response to last years ballot measure wasnt lost on lawmakers heavily involved with the bill.

This is a huge landmark in the state of North Dakota, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said.

Senate Human Services Committee Chairwoman Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, said SB2344 was probably the most complex bill with the most hours put into it by lawmakers since welfare reform was undertaken during the 1997 session.

It was like a quilt with a lot of pieces  (we) tried to turn it into a blanket, Lee said.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said the purpose of SB2344 was to ensure theres a safe, affordable product available to the public as soon as possible. He thanked lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for their work.

This was a great example of a joint effort, Carlson said.

House Minority Leader Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, said no bill is perfect and some minor adjustments may be necessary in two years. Legislative changes to ballot measures by statute require a two-thirds vote in the first seven years after passage.

What North Dakota crafted, largely with Measure 5 backers, could become model law, Mock said.

Anita Morgan, who worked on the ballot measure last year and whose husband was the Measure 5 groups chairman, said she was irked while watching online from her home in Fargo as the Senate congratulated each other during their morning floor session. She was critical of lawmakers for not supporting legislation in 2015 and for calling the ballot measure deeply flawed throughout this session.

Morgan said it took an extensive push from supporters to take what they early on saw as a bill that destroyed the spirit of their ballot measure to get to where they are today.

The House version is about 80 percent there, said Morgan, adding supporters will hold the states feet to the fire to have the program up and running within a year or another initiated measure will be likely.

As for Rennich, she aimes to be involved in the medical marijuana program if possible, perhaps volunteering or helping as a staffer at a licensed facility.

This is about trying to stop suffering, Rennich said. This is about families. This is about patients. This is about compassion.
Canada termed today as "disappointing and inaccurate" the comments by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, were "Khalistani sympathisers".

Singh had yesterday alleged that Sajjan like his father is a "Khalistani sympathiser" and he would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India later this month.

"There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them," Singh had further claimed.

Reacting to the remarks, the Candian High Commission here said, "The comments regarding Canada's ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate."



It also asserted that Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and look forward to further advancing this relationship.

"We regret that the Chief Minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canada's Minister of Defence. The Chief Minister is welcome to visit Canada," the high commission added.

Sajjan is scheduled to travel to India next week during which he will hold talks with the leadership here as well as speak on 'conflict prevention and peacekeeping in changing world' on April 18 at a think-tank here.

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Regional carrier Air Carnival, which commenced operations only last July, has been acquired by angel investors for about Rs 70 crore.

Air Carnival Chairman and Managing Director S Irudaya Nathan signed the deal with the new owner, whose identity has not been disclosed, yesterday, a source in the know of developments told PTI.

The deal is valued at around Rs 70 crore, the source said.

The new investor is expected to take control of the airline by July, the source said.

Promoted by Coimbatore Marine College (CMC) group, Air Carnival commenced operations in July last year with one ATR- 72 aircraft.

Nathan had last week told PTI that discussions for offloading 100 per cent stake in Air Carnival to a prospective buyer were in advanced stages.

Calls made to Nathan remained unanswered.

Air Carnival operates 10 daily flights to three cities -- Chennai, Trichy and Tuticorn -- from Coimbatore.

"We are diluting entire stake in the carrier. The discussions (with the prospective buyer) are about to be finalised within this week," Nathan had said last week.

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Devotees across Punjab and Haryana today thronged gurdwaras, including Golden Temple at Amritsar, to mark the festival of Baisakhi which is being celebrated with joy and enthusiasm.

For the predominant Sikh population of Punjab, Baisakhi is a big festival as it marks the foundation day of Khalsa panth or Sikh order by tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.

Farmers are jubilant over the festival as for them it marks the start of harvest season.

The Sikh community celebrated Baisakhi by participating in the special prayer meets and Baisakhi processions.

In Amritsar, several devotees paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple.

In the villages of Punjab and Haryana, cries of 'Jatta aayi Baisakhi' reverberated in the skies as gaily-dressed men and women moved towards the fields to celebrate the occasion.

In some villages, performance of traditional folk dance 'bhangra' and 'gidda' was performed by men and women respectively.

Taking an early bath in ponds or rivers, people visited gurdwaras to express gratitude to the Almighty for the bountiful harvest and to pray for prosperity and good times in future.

At several places in Punjab colourful Baisakhi fairs were also organized to celebrate the day.

People participated in these fairs with a lot of enthusiasm.

After Ardas (prayer as per Sikh rituals) and distribution of Karah Parshad (sweet pudding), langar (community kitchen) was served.

People greeted friends and relatives by exchanging a box of sweets or other traditional gifts.

The Khalsa Panth was founded in Anandpur Sahib in 1699.

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Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today launched the official website of Raj Nivas here and said its purpose was to connect with the people of the Union Territory.

Launching the site, she said, "The purpose of the website was to connect with the people of Union Territory."



"We encourage people to be heard and the website now launched is developed in keeping with the Centre's guidelines and incorporates features that allow it to be accessed by differently-abled citizens thus making it more inclusive," she added.

Elaborating on the website, the Lt Governor said the key feature of the website is integration of petition monitoring system for grievances redressal, for the convenience of the user.

Every complaint received through the website is acknowledged and the complainant also gets a unique ID number for future correspondence through preferred mode of communications including SMS, e mail or whatsapp, she said.

While the concerned departments will redress the grievances, the office of Lt Governor will monitor the steps taken to solve the grievances, she added.

An exclusive whatsapp number - 9500560001, is another feature of the website, which enables reporting grievances, Bedi said.

Director General of Police S K Gautam, Development Commissioner G Narendra Kumar, and State Informatics Officer Shukla were among those present at the event.

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BJP candidate Dr Anil Dhiman today won the Bhoranj (SC) Assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh by 8,290 votes.

The BJP candidate Dr Anil Dhiman defeated his nearest Congress rival, Promila Devi by 8,290 votes. Dhiman polled 24,453 votes against 16,144 votes polled by Devi while Pawan Chandel, a BJP rebel who contested as an Independent, polled 4,630 votes.

263 voters opted for NOTA. The polling for by-election was held on April 9.

The seat fell vacant following the death of BJP stalwart and former minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, who won the seat six times in a row since 1990 and now his son Dr Anil Dhiman has retained the seat.

With this, the strength of the BJP has increased to 28 in the 68-member House.

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Gujarat Governor O P Kohli today gave his assent to a bill providing for a sentence up to life term for slaughtering cow and up to ten years in jail for transporting beef in the state.

The governor assented to the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, passed by the state assembly on March 31.

"The Governor has signed the bill. The Act will come into force soon," Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told PTI.

The bill, which amends the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 2011, proposes a punishment ranging from ten years in jail to the life sentence for "slaughter of bovines, including cows, calves, bulls and bullocks."



Under the 2011 Act, the maximum punishment is seven years' prison term and the minimum is for three years.

The new law also proposes imprisonment ranging from seven years to ten years for transportation, sale and storage of beef. Earlier, the maximum punishment for this offence was three years.

The vehicles used for transportation shall be confiscated permanently, the bill says while the present law only provides for confiscation of vehicle for six months or until the court orders its release.

The new law also makes all the offences involving bovine slaughtering and beef transportation etc non-bailable.

In 2011, when Narendra Modi was the state chief minister, the Gujarat government had imposed a complete ban on by amending the act.
The BJP today won Dholpur assembly by-election, with its candidate Shobha Rani Kushwah defeating her nearest rival of Congress Banwari Lal Sharma with a record margin of 38,678 votes.

With this win, the BJP's tally increased to 161 in the Assembly of 200.

Shobha Rani got 91,548 votes against Congress candidate Sharma's 52875 votes, scoring a vote percentage of 62.15.

In the 2013 assembly polls, the seat had been bagged by Shobha Rani's husband B L Kushwah, who had contested on a BSP ticket.

He had won despite the Modi wave and the BJP then came third.

This time, the BJP fieled Shobha Rani.

The by-poll was necessitated as B L Kushwah had lost his membership of the Assembly after he was convicted and awarded life imprisonment in a murder case in December last year.

The BJP termed the win as the victory of development agenda while the Congress accused the BJP of openly misusing the government machinery and threatening officials to win the by-election.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said the victory with such a huge margin had not been witnessed in 30 years.

She congratulated the party workers, saying it was the victory of the Dholpur's people.

She said Dholpur's people are a family and the victory belongs to the 'family'.

"People from all castes voted for the development and rejected the caste politics," Raje told reporters.

The result has no impact on the government's overall stability but the by-election held ahead of the 2018 assembly polls was a test for the Chief Minister as Dholpur is her home ground.

"We contested the election on the development agenda and the result shows that he people have expressed confidence and faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and rejected the caste politics," BJP state president Ashok Parnami said.

Congratulating the party workers on the victory, Parnami said it was the BJP government which carried out the development in Dholpur and that all the promises made by the party to the people of Dholpur will be fulfilled in next one year.

On the other hand, Congress accused the BJP of misusing the government machinery to win the elections anyhow.

"The BJP has won just one seat and it does not mean that it will repeat the victory in the 2018 assembly elections," state Congress President Sachin Pilot said.

"In the democracy, we respect the mandate of the people. It was the election of management and resources. The BJP fully misused the government machinery," he said.

Pilot added, "If the BJP was so sure of the government's three years of work, why then did the Chief Minister have to stay there even after the campaigning period was over?"



He said, "Raje stayed in Dholpur despite the campaigning period getting over. Voters were threatened and influenced by the BJP."



However, on question of EVM machines with paper trail, he said it is transparent and the Election Commission conducts free and fair polls.

He alleged that B L Kushwah, who had won from the constituency in the 2013 assembly elections, was "trying to influence voters from the jail" and Congress complained to the Election Commission, following which he was shifted to Sriganganagar jail from Dholpur.

Incidently, Banwari Lal Sharma, who lost to Shobha Rani, had earlier been defeated by B L Kushwah in the last elections.

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Bulgarian ultra-nationalists looked set today to enter government for the first time after a new pro-Russian "patriotic" alliance agreed a coalition with former premier Boyko Borisov's party following elections on March 26.

The United Patriots, which includes the anti-Semitic Ataka ("Attack") party, stoked anti-immigration sentiment to come third in the elections while also railing against Muslims, Roma and gay people.

The tie-up of the fractious alliance with Borisov's pro- EU centre-right GERB party, which came first in the elections, will give the coalition a majority of just two seats.

"If we have not agreed on a government platform with these people, we would have had to go for new elections in several months and end up in the same situation," Borisov said in a special address in parliament, flanked by the leaders of the United Patriots.

One of them, Valeri Simeonov added: "Despite the differences that we have, we are obliged in the interest of the Bulgarian people to form a common government as there are no other (coalition) options available."



With Bulgaria and Russia enjoying close historical, cultural and economic ties, the patriots campaigned on a platform of getting EU sanctions on Moscow lifted.

However in its joint programme the coalition commits Bulgaria to continued membership of the European Union and the NATO military alliance, and to curbing immigration.

The parties also pledged to boost the minimum salary in the EU's poorest country from the current 460 leva (230 euros) to 650 leva within four years and to hike state pensions.

Former firefighter and bodyguard Borisov is set to return as prime minister but negotiations on the divvying up of ministerial positions will begin on Monday, he said.

Borisov, 57, has already served twice as premier, from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2014 to 2017.

He quit early both times, first in 2013 after mass protests and then last November after his candidate lost the presidential race to air force commander Rumen Radev, backed by the opposition Socialists (BSP).

The government will rely on loose backing from the new Volya party of businessman Veselin Mareshki, who likes to be called the Bulgarian Donald Trump, and which won 12 seats in the 240-seat parliament.

Parliament is expected to convene on April 19 and President Radev is due to hand out the first mandate for forming a government to GERB shortly after that.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Chinese official has criticised India for staking claim over the legacy of ancient Tibetan medicine by filing a competing bid with to declare it under Unesco's intangible cultural heritage list.

"The Tibetan medicine system originated in Tibet and has developed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the north-west and south-west China," Qin Yongzhang, an ethnologist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying by state-run Global Times.

Qin said that the "Tibetan-in-exile" communities in India may help practice and spread the Sowa-Rigpa (Tibetan Medicine) in India and may say that the medicine system has been inherited and developed well in India to help it win the bid.

India nominated Sowa-Rigpa to enhance its soft power, gain confidence and benefit financially, Qin said referring to reports of India filing a counter bid for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Heritage list of Tibetan medicines.

"The truth is that Tibetan medicine not only originated but has developed in China," he said.

Qin claimed that thousands of types of Tibetan medicine are from China's Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and Tibetan medicine hospitals are spread across China, with considerable medicine literature published in recent years.

" considers Tibet an inseparable part and a "core interest," and also repeatedly criticised India for inviting the 14th Dalai Lama, who considers a separatist, to Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls South Tibet, the Global Times said.

China has accelerated the development of Tibetan medicine and pharmacology.

The central cabinet has listed Tibetan medicine system in the first batch of China Intangible Cultural Heritage in May 2006, it said.

Unesco will consider both countries' bids at the organisation's session in 2018.

"In 2007, the output value of Tibetan medicines reached 660 million yuan ($96 million), with sales of 450 million yuan," the report quoted an official Chinese publication.

"Some Tibetan medicines are sold in other Chinese regions and even abroad," it said.
on Thursday said that it has an "open attitude" for cooperation with India and Russia in the defence sector, downplaying reports that it has turned down a Russian proposal for a trilateral meet keeping Pakistan's sensitivities in mind.

" has an open attitude towards China-Russia-India cooperation in defence and is willing to maintain communication with all parties on the meeting of leaders of ministries of defence of the three countries," Chinese Defence Ministry said in a written response.

The ministry was responding to a query about reports that had turned down a Russian proposal for the trilateral meet scheduled later this month apparently keeping the sensitivities of Pakistan in mind as well as New Delhi's decision to permit the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Southern Tibet.

However, Chinese official media termed the development of a strategic triangle "unrealistic", given the mutual distrust between China and India.

The three countries have already got a mechanism called RIC (Russia, India, China) under which the foreign ministers of the three countries meet every year.

"China has not conveyed any direct messages to India on this subject. But the question whether it is a suitable time to form an architecture of a security cooperation among the three regional powers remains to be addressed," an article in the state-run Global Times said about the defence ministers meeting proposed to be held later this month.

"With the absence of a trilateral security pattern involving Russia, China and India which are located in a single geopolitical space, the development of a strategic triangle would be however unrealistic now, given the mutual distrust between China and India," the article said.

India has long regarded China as a threat as it feels both are contesting for supremacy in regions such as South Asia and Southeast Asia and are vying for the same markets worldwide, it said.

"Meanwhile, apart from India's concerns over China's relations with Pakistan, the border dispute remains another thorny issue. In spite of regular joint working group meetings and ministerial meetings between the two sides, there has been no substantial progress on the border issue," the article said.

"The latest Dalai Lama episode has further intensified the tensions between the two", it said.

The article also took exception to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu's reported comments that the state shares its border only with Tibet, not with China which the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday criticised.

"During his visit to Tawang, the Dalai Lama and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made provocative political statements, which exceeded the scope of religious activities," the article said.

"India has not only disregarded China's territorial sovereignty, but also violated the political basis of Sino- Indian ties," it claimed.

On the trilateral defence cooperation, it triggered heated discussion in the West, especially the US when it was mooted by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998, the report said.

"Objectively speaking, among the relations among China, Russia and India, the relations between China and India are relatively weak. The India-Russia relationship in the past couple of decades had seen ups and downs, but it was able to stabilise and go back to normal thereafter. The ties between China and Russia have also been on a fast track given the bonhomie of the recent years," it said.

"The idea of the China-Russia-India strategic triangle need not be viewed as futile since an active and positive global role of the three countries could contribute to a more just and balanced world order that China has been promoting," it said.

"But the basis of such a triangle is that the parties concerned respect the national interests of the others, which India should particularly take note of," it said.
The North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner will be extending office hours until 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, which is Tax Day.

We are extending our hours on April 17-18 to be more accessible to taxpayers who may have last-minute filing questions, Rauschenberger said. Our individual income section is staffed with experts who can help.

Taxpayers may stop in to the Office of State Tax Commissioner on the 16th floor of the North Dakota State Capitol Building for assistance with, or to drop off, their North Dakota individual income taxes. The south door of the building will be open after 5 p.m. both days. Taxpayers should note that building security changes were implemented this year, including a security check at the south door.

The office is closed Friday.

If taxpayers are unable to stop in-person, the individual income tax staff will be available by phone at 701-328-1247.

As of April 1, nearly 340,000 North Dakota individual income tax returns have been processed.
Drug firm Cipla said today its joint venture pact with Iranian firm Ahran Tejarat Company has been terminated.

The JV agreement between company's wholly-owned subsidiary in Netherlnads, Cipla Holding BV, with Ahran Tejarat Company stipulated all regulatory approvals had to be obtained on or before March 29, 2017, Cipla said in a filing to BSE.

"The JV agreement had lapsed as the condition was not met and has been terminated by the mutual consent of the parties", it added.

Cipla had announced in December 2016, that Cipla Holding BV had entered into a JV agreement with Ahran Tejarat Company. As part of the pact, Cipla Netherlands was to hold a 75 per cent stake in JV firm in Iran while the JV partner was to hold the remaining 25 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Handcuffed and facing the judge, two young women accused of poisoning Kim Jong Nam appeared in court today as their lawyers said Malaysian police still have not handed over security camera footage and documents crucial to the defence.

Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam are the only suspects in custody in the February 13 killing of Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korea's ruler. Four North Korean suspects fled the country the day of the murder, police say.

"The accused person should not be denied her fundamental right to a fair trial," said Aisyah's attorney, Gooi Soon Seng. He said he has been waiting for police to provide CCTV footage and statements from three North Korean men who were questioned and released.

"Neither side may seek unfair advantage by concealing weapons behind its back. There should be no trial by ambush," Gooi said.

The judge postponed the hearing until May 30.

The women are accused of smearing Kim's face with banned VX nerve agent at a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur. But they say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden-camera show.

The women face the death penalty if convicted.

Gooi said he fears the women will become scapegoats because all the other people believed to have knowledge of the case have left the country.

The four North Koreans who flew out of Malaysia the day of the murder are believed to be back in Pyongyang. And another three who stayed inside their country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur to avoid questioning by police were allowed to fly home late last month after Malaysia struck a surprise deal with Pyongyang to ease tensions.

Malaysian police have said they questioned the three men and found no grounds to hold them. But Gooi said today that at least one of those three men identified by police as Ri Ji U and known to Aisyah as "James" was key to her defence.

"This amounts to a miscarriage of justice," Gooi said of Malaysia's decision to allow the men to leave the country. "They (the defendants) are already scapegoats."



Gooi told The Associated Press yesterday that James recruited Aisyah in early January to star in his video prank shows. Over the course of several days, he had her rub oil or pepper sauce on a victim's face, "from forehead downwards," which he would film on his phone, the lawyer said.

They practised at malls, hotels and airports, he said. Aisyah was paid USD 100-USD 200 for each prank and hoped the income would allow her to stop working as a social escort, Gooi said.

Gooi said Aisyah flew to Cambodia in late January, where James introduced her to Hong Song Hac, one of four North Korean suspects who left Malaysia on the day of the murder. Hong had introduced himself as Chang, a Chinese who produces video prank shows for the Chinese market, he said.

Gooi said Hong asked Aisyah to do several more pranks at the Kuala Lumpur airport a few days before Kim was attacked. He said Aisyah met Hong at the airport on the day of the killing, and that Hong identified Kim to Aisyah and allegedly put the poison on her hand.

Malaysia never directly accused North Korea of carrying out the attack, but speculation is rampant that Pyongyang directed a hit on a long-exiled member of its ruling elite.

Tram Hux Hoang, a cousin of the Vietnamese suspect, said she is doing well in prison and had even gained weight.

"The family and many Vietnamese people believe that she is innocent," he said outside court today. "We believe she was cheated and we hope that the truth will come out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Election Commission should be "more vocal and visible" to assure the public that Electronic Voting Machines are "tamper-proof", former poll body chief S Y Quraishi said amid a raging row over alleged EVM tampering.

"The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are totally tamper-proof and there are enough safeguards in place. Political parties and their leaders have a right to protest and if they question the process, then there are remedies," Quraishi told PTI here.

He asserted that it is incumbent on the commission to proactively and "aggressively demonstrate" that the machines cannot be manipulated.

"The Election Commission should be more vocal and visible because the nation wants to hear the reassurances from the present Election Commission and not from me or previous officials. They have to come out and openly, vocally and aggressively demonstrate that this (EVM tampering) cannot happen," he said



Quraishi was in the city to deliver the keynote address at the 13th Annual India Business Conference at the prestigious Columbia Business School. The conference is hosted by the South Asia Business Association.

Quraishi, who was the Chief Election Commissioner from July 2010 to June 2012, said political parties and candidates have a right to question and it is "incumbent" on the Election Commission to "satisfy everybody, which they should do more proactively and more aggressively.

"Keeping quite or being media shy is not an option. It is their duty to inform the nation when it wants to know what is happening on specific complaints," he said.

"The Election Commission should be more vocal and visible because the nation wants to hear the reassurances from the present Election Commission and not from me or previous officials. They have to come out and openly, vocally and aggressively demonstrate that this (EVM tampering) cannot happen," he added.

Quraishi said even if the Election Commission has explained several times in the past that the EVMs cannot be tampered with, every time allegations are made, the body should respond.

"Since elections are a repeated exercise and since rumours keep on floating, every time such things happens (the Election Commission) should reply," Quraishi said.

Quraishi also strongly rejected some allegations that votes go to one particular polilitical party irrespective of which button is pressed on the EVMs, saying such allegations are "absolutely wrong". He emphasised that no fixed button is assigned to any political party when the machines are being manufactured in designated factories and buttons are eventually assigned according to candidates in alphabetical order, making it even more impossible to manipulate the EVMs.

Further he said, the EVMs are always kept under tight security. From the time, they leave the factory, which district they will go to within a state or which constituency, this is decided randomly by a computer. "So how can you manipulate the machine," he said.

Quraishi pointed out that there may be a "stray" occasion of a machine mall-functioning, and in that case there are provisions that the machine should be replaced immediately.

"Eversince we introduced the EVMs in 1982, every single party at one time or another has challenged and questioned it. And finally came around. The EC was able to demonstrate and prove that EVMs were absolutely non-tamperable," he said.

He further added that the Indian election is a role model for many countries and there is an institute in the Election Commission where other nations have got training in how to conduct and manage elections.

"That's the kind of role it is playing. When the world looks up to us and for us to undermine the people's confidence in this (election process) would be very counter-productive," he said.

A delegation of leaders of various political parties, led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had met President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday and raised issues of alleged EVM tampering.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 33-year-old former software engineer was arrested by Cyberabad Police here last week for allegedly live streaming sexual acts with his wife, without her knowledge, on a porn site for money, police said today.

The accused, a resident of Jeedimetla in the city, had been allegedly live streaming videos recorded through his laptop's webcam, which was positioned in his bedroom.

"The woman, working with an IT firm, came to know about the existence of her explicit videos last November after her friend from Kerala informed her," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime Police Station) S Jayram said.

On her complaint, police registered a case under section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

During the course of investigation, the police found that it was the woman's husband who was behind the act.

He was arrested on April 7 and remanded in judicial custody.

The officer said that the police traced the IP address of the video link to Thrissur in Kerala.

"When served with a notice, the owner of the IP address told the police that he had downloaded the video from a website and transmitted the same on internet," Jayram said.

According to police, the accused used to position his laptop facing his unsuspecting wife in their bedroom for live streaming the act.

The ACP said the woman was not aware of the secret filming as the accused used to play a movie on the laptop.

Police said that the accused had registered himself on a porn website and was paid for posting videos. Besides, he had also offered male escort service.

"His mobile phone and laptop were checked and incriminating evidence was found. His bank accounts were also verified and enough technical evidence was found," the ACP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If Pakistan executes the death sentence against it will be treated as murder of an Indian national, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre on Thursday said.

He said the Centre was trying to bring international diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure Jadhav's release.

"We have given a strong message to authorities in Pakistan that the way in which the verdict has been given by the army court, is not transparent and not in accordance with bilateral relations between the two nations," Bhamre told PTI.

"We have been constantly asking for proof (against Jadhav) and under which provisions has he been tried that Pakistan felt to give that (death penalty). We condemn this," he said.

"If this verdict is implemented, we will consider it as murder of an Indian . In any case, we will not tolerate this," Bhamre said.

Refusing to divulge details of the steps being taken by the Centre to secure Jadhav's release, Bhamre said, "We are bringing international diplomatic pressure (on Pakistan) as much as possible. We are very sure positive results will be out very soon."



A Pakistani military court recently sentenced 46-year-old Jadhav to death after declaring him a "spy".

Pakistan claims that its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Baluchistan 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."



After the sentencing, India warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if 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 recently 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.
A former Australian foreign minister has dubbed Donald Trump the most "psychologically ill-equipped president" in US history, and called on Australia to distance itself from Washington in favor of forging closer ties with China.

Gareth Evans served as Australia's foreign minister from 1988 to 1996. On Thursday, he urged Australia to become more independent, back away from its longtime reliance on the US and instead recognize China as a "global rule-maker."



In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Evans questioned whether Australia's historically close alliance with the U.S. Still serves the nation's interests amid China's rising power and Trump's unpredictable leadership.

Evans called Trump "the most ill-informed, under- prepared, ethically challenged and psychologically ill- equipped president in the United States history.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Oil has received a green signal from the Gujarat government to acquire 75 acres of land in three villages in the state to begin the expansion of its refinery near here which will increase its overall capacity to 18 MTPA, a top official said here today.

"We have received a go-ahead from the state government to acquire 73 acres from three nearby villages a few days back. This will enable us to begin the Rs 10,000 crore expansion plan of the Gujarat refinery," IOC Executive Director Sudhir Kumar told PTI here.

The expansion will involve the company setting up new units which will increase the overall capacity to 18 MTPA (metric tonnes per annum) from 13.7 MTPA now, he added.

Kumar did not divulge as to how much money it will cost for the company to acquire the land. He also did not say when the process will begin.

In fact, the refinery was looking to 130 acres for the project and the proposal has been pending with the government for the past many years now.

The state first allowed IOC to acquire of 55 acres in the first phase several years ago.

Kumar said the capacity expansion will include new units like mother unit, IndMax, AVU (atmospheric & vacuum distillation unit) of 9 MTPA along with few a upgrade of secondary units.

He also said Gujarat Refinery, set up in 1966, making it one of the oldest facilities in the country, will soon be investing Rs 2,770 crore to upgrade its diesel treating and hydro-treating units to meet BS-VI norms.

The refinery, which has 40 units producing 30 products, has already invested Rs 1,315 crore in two phases to upgrade its three diesel treating and hydro-treating units to make it compatible to make 100 per cent BS-IV diesel and petrol from this month, Kumar said.

The refinery will have to invest an additional Rs 2,770 crore to upgrade its equipment and machinery to produce BS-VI fuel from April 2020, he added.

It can be noted that earlier Gujarat government was planning to acquire the land for the project and had last July began a social impact assessment for the same in three villages -- Koyali, Karachiya and Bajva-- under the state's new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 for public purpose.

The Gujarat Refinery is located at Koyali village on the city outskirts, and is spread across 1,950 acres, which includes Asoj and Dumad terminals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hafed is estimated to have earned a profit of around Rs 125 crore during financial year 2016-17, an official said today.

"This is more than double the profit when compared to the profit of Rs 53.64 crore earned during the financial year 2015-16," the official said here.

Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (Hafed), which was set up in 1966, now proposes to further strengthen its core competence for the benefit of Haryana's farmers, he said.

Noting that Hafed has expanded its activities to serve customers across country by providing hygienic and safe consumer products, he said Hafed would further expand its agro processed consumer product range while also focusing on marketing.

Hafed plays a leading role in serving the economic interests of the farmers of Haryana by providing efficient and timely marketing support and safe warehousing, he said.

Hafed is a cooperative federation that has become Haryana's largest state procurement agency, procuring wheat, paddy, mustard, moong, bajra and sunflower from farmers of the state.

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The Madras High Court today refused to stay the release of multi-lingual film 'Baahubali 2' in Tamil Nadu.

Chennai-based film distributor ACE Media had moved the court seeking a stay on the scheduled April 28 release of the film citing unpaid dues of Rs 1.18 crore to it.

ACE Media submitted that M S Sharavanan of Sri Green Productions had taken theatrical exhibition rights of the Tamil movie for the entire state's territory.

In January he had approached ACE for a loan, to be paid to Prabhu Deva Studio Pvt Ltd, on the promise that he would return the amount with an additional sum of Rs 10 lakh before the release of 'Baahubali 2.'



ACE Media proprietor claimed he came to know that Sharavanan was trying to sell theatrical exhibition rights to a third party and that the negotiations took place on April 9 during the film's audio release.

When queried about it, he was informed that the amount would be given after the movie's release.

Describing it contrary to the terms of the February 1, 2017 agreement, ACE Media said its inquiries revealed that the debtor had no intention of returning the money and that he was colluding with others to release the film in the name of a third party.

He sought a stay on distribution, exhibition and release of 'Bahubali 2' in any form anywhere in Tamil Nadu without settling the dues.

But Justice K Kalyanasundaram refused to stay the film's release.

The judge, however, directed Sharavanan to reply to the ACE Media's allegations by April 18.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some persons claiming to be members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini allegedly assaulted a man, who was on his way to drop off his fiance at her house, and misbehaved with the woman.

The incident occurred yesterday, hours after some members of the youth brigade founded by UP CM Yogi Adityanath barged into the house of an inter-faith couple in the city and roughed them up.

Medical police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar said the couple were on their way to the woman's home on a scooter when they were intercepted by six men, claiming to be cadres of Hindu Yuva Vahini.

The men misbehaved with the woman and beat up her fiance when he objected. They also attacked the man's brother when he came to rescue the couple.

Thereafter, the men took the brothers to the police station and told the SHO that they were troubling the woman.

The police arrested the brothers but set them free when the woman reached the police station and narrated the incident.

"The man works in a private bank. He went to drop off his fiance last night when half a dozen people stopped them near PVS Mall and misbehaved with the woman.

"They claimed that they were part of the Hindu Yuva Vahini and were doing so under the anti-romeo campaign," Kumar said.

The attackers have been booked on charges of voyeurism, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Two of them have been arrested, he said.

In another incident yesterday, the youth brigade had created a ruckus after some local residents informed them that a man had called a woman to his friend's rented accommodation.

The activists had told police that the two were allegedly found in an objectionable position.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently instructed police not to harass "innocent" couples after some unsavoury incidents involving anti-romeo squads.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Everyone likes to believe the state is fair and tries to do the right thing when it comes to the public and businesses. Two proposals being considered by the Legislature raise the question over whether its always practical to be fair.

Senate Bill 2134 will be hashed out in conference committee after the House amended and approved it recently. The bill changes how minerals under Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River are leased. Its a touchy subject since a number of lawsuits have been filed over the issue. Opponents of the bill say oil companies and the federal government will benefit the most under the proposal and it will be costly to the state. Its estimated to cost the state $187 million.

The bill establishes a process to review a 1950s federal survey of the Missouri River channel as it existed before the Garrison Dam. At the moment, the board of University and School Lands leases minerals based on a 2009 survey the state conducted to define the ordinary high water mark of the Missouri River.

Differences between the two surveys have resulted in various parties claiming ownership of the same minerals, prompting some lawsuits and claims that the state is taking private property.

Under the bill, the Department of Mineral Resources would get $800,000 to hire a consultant to review the 1950s survey and make recommendations to define the ordinary high water mark of the river. Eventually, the North Dakota Industrial Commission would act on the findings. Individuals would have two years to take their case to court if they disagree with the findings. The Land Board would distribute bonus, rent and royalty payments for an estimated 25,000 acres that would be surrendered. The changes in how the minerals are leased could cost the state an estimated $187 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvement Fund. The measure also would cost the state an estimated $29.4 million in revenue for 2019-21.

The House, in a 79-11 vote, supported the bill.

With legislators struggling to balance the budget the Tribune Editorial Board doesnt believe this is the time to make the change. It would be best to let the courts resolve the issues. Even if the Legislature acts, it doesnt guarantee an end to the court cases. If legislators think they may have to make some royalty payments in the future, they can plan for it.

Another measure before the Legislature involves a controversial land transfer.

House Concurrent Resolution 3019 asks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to return land around Lake Oahe and Lake Sakakawea to its original owners. The resolution points out that the corps returned about 25,000 acres of land not needed to operate the Lake Sakakawea reservoir to the Three Affiliated Tribes. The resolution says "fairness dictates" the corps do the same for off-reservation land.

Outdoors groups are opposed to the resolution, fearing the land transfer would impact areas now open for fishing, hunting, boat ramps, camping and general recreation. The resolution is now in conference committee and legislators have a number of questions they want answered. They want information on the Three Affiliated Tribes transfer and the impact on existing cabin owners' access if corps-owned property between them and the lake is returned to private ownership. Theres also a question of whether the land should be transferred to the state or the original owners. Of course, if the land goes back to the original owners it also will return to the tax rolls.

Fairness would seem to dictate that the original owners have the first chance to get the land back. It wasnt a case of whether people wanted to sell the land, they had no choice. The problem is the land has been put to other public uses. Not everyone will necessarily want to buy back the land. At least one legislators family had land in the area, but hes not a sponsor of the resolution.

If legislators get satisfactory answers, they should consider having the land transferred to the state. Additional compensation should be considered for the original landowners. This is a resolution, so theres no guarantee the corps will respond to it.

In the case of HCR3019 fairness wins out, but with SB2134 practical considerations mean the state should wait on a decision.
The bodies of Harkat-ul-Jihad al- Islami chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two associates were buried after they were executed for a deadly attack on a shrine in 2004 that killed three persons and wounded the British high commissioner to Bangladesh.

Hannan, 60, was hanged last night at Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur along with his accomplice Sharif Shahedul alias Bipul, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.

His associate Delwar Hossain Ripon was executed in Sylhet jail, the minister added.

The bodies of the three were taken to their family plots in Moulvibazar, Chandpur and Gopalganj immediately after their sentences were carried out.

Hannan has been buried at his family's graveyard in Gopalganj after his execution at Dhaka's Kashimpur Jail.

Hannan's older brother Moulana Aliuzzaman Munshi received the body, Kamrul Farooq, police official at Kotaliparha, was quoted as saying by the bdnews.

Bipul, an accomplice of Hannan, has been buried at his family's plot in Chandpur Sadar Upazila's South Moishadi village.

Bipul's body was buried immediately after funeral prayers upon its arrival today, said Moishadi Union Parishad Chairman Moniruzaaman Manik. Bipul is survived by his wife and 9-year old son.

The body of Ripon has been buried near his ancestral home in Moulvibazar. The funeral prayers were held at the Brahminbazar Union Konagaon village Eidgah field around 2:30 pm on Thursday. The body was then buried at a grave near the Eidgah field.

The three militants were executed after President Abdul Hamid rejected their mercy petitions this week.

Hannan, who studied in India and Pakistan, had fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan before returning to join HuJI, media reports said.

On March 19, the Supreme Court reconfirmed its earlier verdict, endorsing death penalty to Hannan and the two others for the 2004 attack on the then UK envoy.

The then Bangladeshi born British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury narrowly escaped the grenade attack at a shrine in northeastern Sylhet that killed three people, all policemen, and injured 70 others. Anwar sustained minor injuries.

Hannan and seven other kingpins and operatives of Huji were earlier sentenced to death by another court in Dhaka for a deadly 2001 bomb attack that killed 10 people during Bengali New Year celebrations at a public park.

HuJI was formed in 1992 by Bangladeshis who took part in the Afghan war against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today she hid nothing about the agreements she signed with India, rejecting her predecessor Khaleda Zia's accusations that she failed to secure Dhaka's interests and gained "nothing, but assurances".

Zia, the leader of Bangladesh's main political opposition party BNP, has criticised the four-day India visit of Hasina, that concluded this week, during which the two countries inked 22 agreements including in defence and civil nuclear sectors.

India announced a USD 4.5 billion Line of Credit to Bangladesh and an additional assistance of USD 500 million for its military procurement. But the two countries could not sign the long-pending Teesta waters sharing pact primarily due to opposition from West Bengal, through which the river passes.

Zia yesterday said that Hasina brought "nothing from India, but assurances". She said the visit was Bangladesh government's failure to secure its interests from its stronger neighbour, claiming Hasina's Awami League government was "advised" by many political groups and civil society members against signing the defence deals with India.

Hasina responded to Khaleda's criticisms at a meeting of the Awami League's Working Committee, bdnews24.Com reported.

"The BNP leader said we kept the people in the dark while signing the memoranda of understanding (MoUs). I have only one question to ask her: Whom did she consult when she signed the defence deal with China? No-one saw what was in it," Hasina said.

"At least, I didn't hide anything like she did," she added.

The prime minister said the deals had been placed for clearance by the Cabinet before the signing, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali spoke about those in a press conference before the visit and those were disclosed in the Bangladesh-India joint statement.

"Now if someone can't see even after having eyes, then I have nothing to do," Hasina said, in a dig at her arch rival.

She said Bangladesh has gained by signing the agreements and MoUs with India. "We will be able to bring power from India; diesel will come through pipeline; LNG will also be brought to overcome the gas crisis."



About Khaleda's criticism for the failure to have India sign the Teesta water-sharing deal, the prime minister asked, "Khaleda Zia was also in power, then why couldn't she bring Teesta water?"



She alleged Bangladesh was actually paying for not protesting against a barrage India built on the Teesta river in Gazaldoba when Khaleda's husband BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was in power.

She also criticised Khaleda for "not raising" the Ganges water-sharing issue during her India visit when the latter was prime minister in 1991.

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Accusing India of "expansionism", the Chinese state media claimed today that New Delhi "occupied" Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and warned Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama against selling China's sovereignty.

An article titled 'Tawang's history affirms China's sovereignty' in the Global Times alleged that "India has pursued expansionism" since gaining independence in 1947.

"Influenced by the British, India sent troops to the north, beyond the traditional customary border between China and India," said the article written by Jia Liang of theCentre for Tibetan Studies of Sichuan University.

The new piece is part of a number of critical articles Chinese state media organisations have published since the Dalai Lama began his visit to Arunachal Pradesh on April 4.

China considers parts of Arunachal Pradesh as "Southern Tibet" and is opposed to visits by the 81-year-old Nobel laureate or foreign diplomats to the region. It has lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Dalai Lama's visit, though it was not the first time he visited the state.

Tawang, in northern Arunachal Pradesh, is believed to be the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama in 1683 and is at the centre of the Tibetan Buddhism, which makes China wary of the influence of the 14th Dalai Lama, whom it considers a "dangerous separatist".

The article said prior to his exile in India in 1959, the Dalai Lama refused to recognise India's sovereignty over Tawang but changed his stand later.

"In February 1951, the Indian army occupied Tawang and expelled all the administrative staff dispatched by the local Tibetan government. In 1954, the Indian government set up the North East Frontier Agency there and modified the official map. And by 1960, the Indian army completely seized the Tibetan region south of the 'McMahon Line'," it said.

"The Chinese People's Liberation Army once retook the town in the 1962 border war, but the Indian army reoccupied the area the next year," it said, without elaborating why the Chinese military withdrew from the region after announcing a unilateral ceasefire.

"In 1972, the North East Frontier Agency became the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh," which was officially upgraded to a state in February 1987 after a legislation was passed by the Parliament of India at the end of 1986.

China has reiterated many times that it does not recognise the 'McMahon Line' and Arunachal Pradesh, it said.

Referring the Chinese military taking over Tibet in 1951, the article said, the Dalai Lama in a telegram to Chinese central government pledged to assist the PLA in "safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland".

But, the article claimed, after the 1962 war, the Dalai Lama "slandered that China invaded India and he gave 17.5 kilogrammes of gold to India as a financial endorsement for fighting against China."



"The Dalai Lama and his supporters, who have been in exile in India for a long time, have obsequiously depended on New Delhi for their survival," it said.

"Nevertheless, handing an area of some 90,000 square kms, including Tawang where the Sixth Dalai Lama was born, over to another country is outrageous. It is also noteworthy that the Tawang Monastery was built by the fifth Dalai Lama," it said.

Referring to Dalai Lama's comments in 2010, that "it is indisputable that I am a son of India... I am a Tibetan in appearance because my parents are Tibetans, but spiritually I am Indian," the article said. "As of last month, he has labelled himself as 'a son of India' at least 21 times".

"Therefore, as 'a son of India' why is he qualified to talk about 'representing the people of Tibet' and the religion, language, culture and human rights in Tibet?," it said.

"It is suggested that the Dalai Lama (should) not go further on selling out national sovereignty and territory. He should stop campaigning for the illegal and ineffective 'McMahon Line' as it is a tremendous betrayal and harm the Chinese people, including more than six million Tibetans," it said.

"What's more, the Dalai Lama should not overestimate his influence on China-India relations. It has been proven in both history and status quo that no matter how the Dalai Lama acts as a pawn or a troublemaker, the fact that the 'McMahon Line' and 'Arunachal Pradesh' are illegitimate and ineffective cannot be disputed," it said.

"The Dalai Lama should refrain from promoting any illusion about 'Tibetan independence'." And, it said, if the Dalai Lama continued to support calls for Tibet independece he will "meet his Waterloo".

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Officials of Kheri district in India and Kanchanpur in Nepal have agreed to a joint survey of their boundaries to resolve border dispute.

An agreement was signed by officials of the two countries at a meeting yesterday at Mahendranagar in Nepal, Kheri District Magistrate Akashdeep told newspersons here today.

The pact envisages carrying out of a survey of the entire border between Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas of Nepal by a joint survey team, he said.

The survey work would be completed by June, he said, adding that after ascertaining the boundaries through a GPS survey, construction and repair works over the missing and damaged border pillars would be carried out following odd-even formula.

The Nepal administration would repair or construct pillars with odd numbers while even-number pillars would be maintained by the Kheri administration, he said.

Both countries would ensure safety and security of the survey teams in each other's territory, he said.

Survey of the border in Kheri would commence from pillar number 200 in Basahi where a violent protest by Nepalese citizens took place on March 9, resulting in injuries to nine SSB jawans and 27 Basahi villagers, the DM said.

At yesterday's meeting, officials of both sides agreed to maintain mutual harmony and cooperation and check recurrence of such incidents, Akashdeep added.

The March 9 incident had erupted into a major diplomatic issue between the two countries with Nepal claiming that one of its citizen was killed in firing by SSB men.

The SSB headquarters in Delhi recently submitted the findings of an internal inquiry report to the Union Home Ministry stating that no bullet was fired by the paramilitary during this incident.

The Sashastra Seema Bal, which works under the command of the Union Home Ministry, is tasked with guarding the 1,751 km Indo-Nepal border.

Uttar Pradesh shares a 599.3 km open border with Nepal touching seven districts - Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Sravasti, Balrampur, Sidhharthnagar and Maharajganj.

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An Indian expert on urban poverty alleviation and advocacy for slum dwellers has been named by UN Secretary-General to a high-level independent panel that will assess and enhance effectiveness of the agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development.

Sheela Patel, a Padmashree awardee, is Founder and Director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) and a global expert on urban poverty alleviation and advocacy for slum dwellers.

Patel founded SPARC in 1984, a Mumbai-based non- governmental organisation focused on housing and infrastructure rights for the urban poor.

During this time, Patel has played a key role in the expansion of Mahila Milan, a federation of collectives of women living in slums across India, the UN said in a statement.

Patel is also the Chair of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI), an international network of poor people's organisations and supporting non-governmental organisations active in Asia and Africa.

Patel received the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award from the Synergos Institute in recognition of her extensive efforts to ameliorate urban poverty, and the Padmashree, the fourth-highest civilian award in India for her work on urban poverty alleviation.

Patel is part of the eight-member panel that will report directly to the Secretary-General.

"We live in the century of unprecedented urban growth. For the first time in history, more than half of the world's population is living in cities," Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, adding that this gives special significance to the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which was held in October 2016 in Ecuador.

Participating states adopted the New Urban Agenda as a collective vision and political commitment to promote and realise sustainable urban development, rethinking how cities are planned, managed and inhabited.

As part of the follow-up and review of the Habitat III outcome and in light of the New Urban Agenda, the Secretary- General was requested to submit an evidence-based and independent assessment of UN-Habitat to the General Assembly during its 71st session.

The independent assessment, to be submitted by the panel, will contain recommendations on enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and oversight of UN-Habitat.

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Info Edge (India), the parent company of online recruitment portal Naukri.Com, today said it has brought AmbitionBox under its fold.

AmbitionBox is a discovery platform that assists job-seekers with company reviews, company information, interview tips and advice.

"AmbitionBox enriches a job-seeker's journey and helps them make an informed choice. This ties into our core purpose of connecting job-seekers to jobs and companies which are relevant and the right match for them," Info Edge co-promoter, MD and CEO Hitesh Oberoi said.

Through onboarding, the company bought over the domain, content and business of AmbitionBox, and Mayur Mundada and Subramanya T H, founders of AmbitionBox, joined Info Edge to develop the site further with the help of Naukri resources, a company release said.

"Mayur and Subramanya have built a valuable product which will immensely benefit the 50 million job-seekers on Naukri," Oberoi added.

The company, however, did not disclose any financial details.

The move strengthens the service suite offerings for the brand and makes job search "a more holistic experience". Users can log in to the platform and share their interview advice and company reviews anonymously or otherwise while job-seekers benefit from the content.

"We believe Naukri and AmbitionBox have very strong synergies and hence, it made complete sense for us to join hands," Mundada said.

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India has no information on retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's location in Pakistan or his condition, the external affairs ministry said today, noting that it is in touch with the government there on this "immensely important" issue.

It is also understood that India, which has been denied consular access to Jadhav 13 times, has again moved a request for access to him.

Asserting that the whole country's sentiment is with Jadhav, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the government will not spare any effort in securing justice for the "kidnapped innocent" Indian national but refused to divulge details.

The 46-year-old Jadhav has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities.

Baglay criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition, adding that the international norm is consular access, and India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

He also referred to India's demarche to Pakistan where it was clearly conveyed that given the circumstances of the case which includes kidnapping of Jadhav, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against him, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider this as a "premeditated murder".

He also quoted the external affairs minister's statement in the Rajya Sabha where she had warned Pakistan of consequences of Jadhav's issue on bilateral ties.

She had also talked about Pakistan asking India to assist in the investigations against Jadhav in January.

"The Parliament of India has spoken in one voice, the whole country's sentiments are with Jadhav... The government is trying its best to ensure justice to Jadhav. At the moment, we are engaged in achieving this objective but I would not like to speculate on the future steps, specifically," the spokesperson said.

The government is in touch with Pakistan through the Indian High Commission on this "immensely important" issue, he added.

Baglay said Jadhav is an innocent Indian who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy and these two things were conveyed to Pakistan in March, 2016 when issue of his "illegal custody there came to our attention".

On reports of Jadhav carrying a fake identity or original Indian passport, Baglay said, "We cannot ascertain anything since we did not have any consular access. What kind of spy keeps an original passport, especially if he is going on so called spying mission.

"These facts are illogical and create doubts over allegation of his being a spy... We need to know how he came to be in Pakistan in the first place."



India has been maintaining that Jadhav, who had legal business interest in Iran, was kidnapped by Pakistan authorities.

The trial of Jadhav was "opaque and farcical", no due process was followed and all legal norms and international relations were defied, Baglay said.

The issue has triggered fresh tension in Indo-Pak ties and India has warned Pakistan of the "consequences" Jadhav's hanging could have on their ties and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid pervasive outrage in the country.

He also said there was no information on capturing of any Pakistani army officer and termed as "speculative" some of the options including swapping of prisoners to get him released.

Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family going for appeal against the verdict.

India had even spoken to the Iran government about Jadhav as he had a legal business pertaining to Chhabahar port there.

Baglay said he has no idea what progress has the investigation made, when asked about the status of the probe ordered by Iran last year.

Asked about if the US NSA was visiting India and if Jadhav's issue will come up apart from a possible America trip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said he does not have information on the date for NSA of the US.

"If and when it takes place, I am sure his discussion with our NSA and other meetings will cover prominently the situation in the region, most importantly in Afghanistan and also the threat of terrorism which emanates within our region from a specific country which effects the entire region.

"This will obviously be on priority. I cannot decide what the two dignitaries will discuss. But generally speaking the sense is that regional situation will help both the countries to consolidate this partnership," he said.

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Union minister and senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir issue was a "creation" of the Congress and accused the party of making the issue "political" now.

"The Jammu and Kashmir issue is a Congress creation. Had it been left to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who successfully unified 565 princely states, he would have tackled it successfully," he told reporters here.

Naidu was reacting to the mention of the Kashmir issue in a memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee by the opposition parties yesterday.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, briefing the media on the memorandum, had said the continuous violence and "failure of governance" in Jammu and Kashmir were matters of grave national concern.

Hitting back, Naidu said, "You (Congress) have taken it on yourself. Now, the Congress party is trying to create problems for the country by making it political."



He also alleged, "You are hard on nationalists and soft on terrorists...You sympathise with the Al Ummah and try to find fault with the RSS."



Without naming Pakistan, Naidu said a neighbouring country was "aiding, abetting and funding terrorists". Instead of condemning terrorists, they tried to make a common cause with the advocates of terror, he added.

Reacting to reports that some Congress leaders in Kerala were planning to join the BJP, the Union minister claimed that the saffron party was not making any efforts to woo anybody.

However, he added, "No wise men and women can stay in the Congress as it is a sinking ship. It has deviated from reality."



When asked specifically if Congress MP Shashi Tharoor would join the BJP, Naidu quipped, "He (Tharoor) is an intelligent person. Whether he is politically wise or not, only time will tell.

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Japan's military scrambled a record number of jets last year mostly in response to an increase in approaching Chinese aircraft, the government said today.

Tokyo ordered its jets to the skies 1,168 times in the fiscal year through March, the defence ministry said, with 73 per cent of the missions against aircraft either known to be or believed to originate from China.

"Activities of Chinese jets are on the rise in terms of their frequency, area, and duration," said Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, head of Japan's joint chiefs of staff.

"Considering the modernising trend of the Chinese military, we expect this to continue," he told a press conference.

The total number of scrambles marked an increase of 295 from the year before, the ministry said, noting that none of the cases resulted in violations of Japan's airspace.

Japan and China are at odds over a set of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that sit in rich fishing grounds.

The islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, are a running sore in Tokyo's relations with Beijing.

Japan has administrative control of the islets but China claims they have been part of its territory for centuries.

The two countries have clashed diplomatically over their ownership, with both sides sending ships and aircraft to nearby waters to assert their claims.

Japanese officials believe China has been trying to analyse the capacity and response patterns of Japan's defence and coastguard personnel.

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Jawaharlal Nehru University's Central Library will be renamed as Dr B R Ambedkar Central Library at a function here tomorrow, nearly a year after nod was given for its rechristening.

The JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) had announced that it would boycott the event which HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar was expected to address through video-conference, to raise various issues faced by the students.

JNUSU President Mohit Pandey said, "We will boycott the video-conference of the minister as several of our questions need to be answered. We are shocked with this one-way communication in which he just wants to address students and not listen to our issues."



However, the minister's programme was cancelled due to other commitments and the event would be inaugurated by Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar.

Setting up of Dr B R Ambedkar Archive section which would digitise and create a portal to help research students access collection of materials on Ambedkar, besides throwing open to students the renovated structures after adding new facilities has been scheduled on the occasion.

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) too had plans to protest on the occasion to raise the issue of research students being denied their stipends for over four months.

The JNU Teachers' Association too had announced a protest on the day demanding a solution for seat cuts.

JNU in June last gave a go ahead to the renaming of the varsity's central library as Dr B R Ambedkar Central Library following demands from the RSS' student wing ABVP.

The ABVP which is locked in an ideological battle with the Left-backed groups on the campus had also demanded a statue of the architect of Indian Constitution be installed there.

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A-21-year-old Kashmiri student of a college here was arrested on Sunday, along with her male friend, for allegedly trying to snatch revolver of a police officer in Bharti Vidyapeeth area, police said today.

However, the girl, identified as Farah Sheikh, has alleged that the police attacked her and her 23-year-old friend after she questioned their "high handed" behaviour towards him.

Sheikh is a third year student of BBA at Sarhad College here.

A senior police officer today said that an enquiry has been initiated into the claim made by Sheikh.

As per the FIR registered by Sahkar Nagar police, the incident occurred on intervening night of April 8 and April 9.

According to police, Sheikh and her friend Shaurya Dandriyal were arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a patrolling team of police personnel in the Vidyapeeth area after they were asked not to loiter till late night.

Police said that Sheikh slapped a woman police officer and tried to snatch her revolver.

Sheikh and Dandriyal were booked under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

They were produced in a court on Sunday, which granted them bail on the same day.

When contacted today, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Pankaj Dahane said that police are looking into the allegations levelled by the girl.

"An enquiry has been initiated and we are reviewing both the versions," he said.

Sheikh, who hails from Valley and presently staying in a private hostel in Bharati Vidyapeeth area, told PTI today that she had gone to Sahkar Nagar near her hostel to hand over the project work to Dandriyal.

"On that night, when I came down from my private hostel in Bharati Vidyapeeth area at around 12 midnight to hand over the project work to my friend Shaurya, I saw two policemen on bike talking harshly to him."



"When I intervened and tried to seek explanation from them, they asked us to go home and do not roam till late night. They later started behaving disrespectfully with us and used aggression against us, which prompted me to shoot their video using my mobile phone," Sheikh claimed.

She said that few more police personnel, including a woman officer, came to the spot and tried to snatch her mobile phone handset.

"They started beating us and took us to police station, where they again beat us up," she claimed, adding that the police didn't allow them to call up their families.

"Despite repeated requests, the police personnel did not allow us to call our families and forcibly snatched my phone. They deleted all videos which I had shot," she said.

Sheikh alleged that the police "lied" to her college authorities by telling them that she was drunk and abusive.

She met Pune city Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla yesterday and apprised her about the incident.

"On Wednesday, I met the police commissioner and put forth my side of the story as I was feeling that injustice was meted out to me. I am happy that she assured me that she would order an inquiry into the incident," Sheikh said.

When contacted, Sanjay Nahar, the founder president of Sarhad Organisation which runs the college, said Sheikh was very hardworking.

"She stayed in Sarhad's hostel till 2014. However, she moved out after she started working, and put up in a private hostel," he said.

Sheikh, however, is all praise for Pune which attracts students from all parts of the country and even from abroad.

"My overall experience with Pune is very good and the city has given me a lot. While studying here in Sarhad, I have taken a part-time job to meet my expenses. However, the incident has left me shocked and I feel that my career can be in jeopardy," she said.

Nahar added: "Sarhad is home for scores of Kashmiri students and police should take utmost care while handling such situation and they should handle such situation with great sensitivity as wrong message should not go outside the state.

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The Kremlin today slammed a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that there were "serious failings" in Russia's handling of the 2004 Beslan school siege as "absolutely unacceptable".

"It is impossible for us to agree with this phrasing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "Such phrasing for a country that has suffered an attack is absolutely unacceptable.

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President Vladimir Putin's meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hasn't produced any positive shift yet in Russia-US relations, the Kremlin said today.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader yesterday gave Tillerson his view of the causes of the current "deadlock" in bilateral ties. "We hope that the US president will become aware of that analysis," he said today.

Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that Putin's meeting with Tillerson reflected the "understanding of the need to maintain a dialogue to search for solutions." He added there was no talk yesterday about a possible Trump-Putin meeting.

Asked if the meeting at the Kremlin marked any positive change, Peskov said: "Too early yet."



Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Trump's administration has found itself under pressure from those who "want to prevent it from curing the wounds inflicted by Barack Obama's administration and are using the Russian card in internal political struggle."



Russia's hopes for a thaw in Russia-US ties following Trump's election have been shattered by the congressional investigation into alleged ties between Trump's campaign associates and Russia.

The tense back-and-forth over last week's deadly chemical attack in Syria has added to the strain.

"It's deplorable, and we regret what is going on, but we can do little except asking to back accusations with facts," Lavrov said.

"There hasn't been a single fact, although under the pressure of President Donald Trump's foes the White House has been forced to periodically make statements containing unfounded accusations against us."



Still, Lavrov sought to put a positive spin on the talks with Tillerson, saying they helped improve mutual understanding.

"The results will not come quickly," Lavrov said. "But at least we agreed to establish a dialogue on a number of important issues, including problems created by the previous administration.

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The Maharashtra Government plans to rope in Bollywood celebrities to support and promote its initiatives in select sectors and also to provide assistance to set up agri-businesses for farmers.

The government has approached some well-known names in the Hindi film industry to popularise its initiatives in sectors like animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries, a Minister said.

Mahadev Jankar, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister, told PTI he was buoyed by the response of Tata Trusts which announced setting up of a veterinary hospital in Navi Mumbai in association with the NGO People For Animals.

"The response of Tata Trusts was a decisive factor for me to approach celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai among others.

"I have written to some of these celebrities and spoken to a few others. Their response has been positive. According to their convenience, I will invite all for a meeting on how to take the issue forward," he said.

Starting allied agri-businesses like backyard poultry, goat farming, fisheries for farmers in the suicide-prone districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada is an important initiative of the government, Jankar said.

The minister said Akshay has provided financial assistance to farmer widows. He also purchased a 5 acre land near Mumbai and gave it to landless cultivators who grow organic products on it.

"We want him to start an app for farmers like he did for jawans (to help them financially)," Jankar said.

Jankar said he has written to Shah Rukh and others seeking their contribution to make farmers self-reliant.

He listed various projects undertaken by his department - mobile vans for animals in distress, vaccination for stray dogs and cats, shelter and conservation of indigenous cows, women entrepreneurship schemes for rural and tribal areas, veterinary clinics in urban centres, production facilities for clean and hygienic milk.

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Insurgent group NSCN-IM today accused the Centre of delaying the final settlement to the decades-old Naga issue and said "the China option" was open for the outfit.

In an interview with 'The Week' magazine, 'chief of Naga Army' Phunting Shimrang alleged that the central government was trying to "humiliate" the Nagas by delaying the settlement.

"It is only after we went to China, that India woke up. Will India wake up only if the Naga army starts doing that again?" Shimrang was quoted as saying by the magazine.

He also dismissed the suggestion that the Naga problem is India's "internal issue".

'The Week' said the interview was taken at NSCN-IM headquarters in Hebron in Nagaland.

In another interview, 'home minister' of the self-styled parallel NSCN-IM government R H Raising shed light on the framework agreement signed on August 3, 2015 by NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the government's interlocutor R N Ravi in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It (the pact) talks about the existence of two entities without us foregoing our rights. It recognises the identity, history and territory of the Nagas," the magazine quoted him as saying.

Raising also said "India and the Nagas have agreed to co-exist" and an early settlement is beneficial for India.

"But if India wants to put Nagas under its constitution, the Naga struggle will continue," he said.

The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years with the first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today refuted speculations of senior Congress leader Narayan Rane joining the BJP, and dismissed such reports as 'kite-flying' by the media.

Rane too earlier in the day rubbished the talk.

The denial came in wake of television channels showing pictures of both Rane and Fadnavis in the same vehicle which was reportedly on its way to BJP President Amit Shah's residence in Ahmedabad last night.

Talking to reporters here, Rane admitted being in Ahmedabad last night but denied reports that he met Shah along with Fadnavis.

"There is something wrong in the pictures. They are not true," he said.

Fadnavis, separately denied meeting Rane and said," there is no truth in reports of me meeting (Narayan) Rane or he joining the BJP."



"The media is only indulging in kite-flying," Fadnavis told PTI, when asked to comment over the media reports.

Rane said there is no talk of him quitting the Congress.

"There is no proposal or discussion to quit the Congress as yet. When I take such a decision, I will speak out," he said.

The former Maharashtra CM said his disillusionment is out of the need for the Congress party to be strong and win the next elections.

"Even though I met (Congress Vice-President) Rahul Gandhi recently, no steps are being taken to strengthen the Congress. Rahul heard me out but there is no solution to my grievances as yet," he said.

In a jibe at Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan, Rane said he has never demanded that Chavan be replaced. "How can I ask for replacement of someone is doing such a brilliant job."



When asked about his son Nilesh Rane leaving no opportunity to target Chavan, Rane said, "Nilesh is a former MP and has a voice of his own. He can have different views."



The Konkan leader also said there was an offer from BJP in 2014 to him to join the party.

"I did not say yes or no. Even Ramdas Athavale wanted me to join his party (RPI-A)," he said.

Rane said he has travelled with Fadnavis on two occasions earlier.

"I was in Ahmedabad yesterday for personal work but did not meet anybody. I was back in Mumbai this morning at 6.45 AM. If I wanted to quit the Congress, I would not have met anybody. I will take a decision directly and my meeting with Fadnavis and Shah would have remained a secret," he said.

Rane said he had a personal meeting at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

"I don't go out after 10.30 pm so there is no question of me meeting Shah at night. Does any one have a video grab of me stepping out of Shah's house. Recently BJP minister Jaykumar Raval met me at my Kankavli home. Will I discuss joining BJP with him sitting in my living room," he asked.

He said he met Fadnavis during the recently concluded Budget session as well.

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In a major U-Turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is "no longer obsolete," asserting that he is committed to the military alliance.

"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS," he said about NATO which was formed in 1949.

Since then its member states have more than doubled, increasing from 12 to 28. On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

"In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism," Trump said.

Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack using the most horrible weapons.

"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said.

Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of GDP to defence.

If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger, he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.

"Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world," he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

"I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds.

Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom," he said.

Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

"Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer," he said.

Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

"NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way," he said.

NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May," the NATO Secretary General said.

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The Indian Navy today took control of a dhow with 10 crew members, nearly two weeks after the vessel was hijacked by pirates off the island of Socotra in the Arabian sea.

The Indian Navy accepted the Dhow 'Al-Kausar' from the Mayor of Hobyo in Somalia and escorted it into international waters and onward towards its next destination.

The Indian registered dhow was hijacked off the island of Socotra on April 1 and then the vessel was taken to the port of Hobyo, on the eastern coast of Somalia. The 10 crew members were captured and held by pirates.

Following the incident, the Navy had redeployed its ship, operating in the Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Patrol, to the east coast of Somalia to monitor the ongoing situation and remain standby for any other contingency operations, the Navy said in a statement.

"In the interim, negotiations commenced between the owner and the hijackers for the safe release of the vessel, its cargo and crew. All inter-government agencies maintained a close watch and effective coordination during the progress of negotiations.

"Based on the outcome of the negotiations, the dhow along with its cargo and two crew members were released on 11 Apr 17, and the balance eight crew were released on Apr 12," it said.

The Navy said Somalian Security Forces also provided support and assistance during this operation with armed guards being positioned on the dhow off Hobyo harbour as well as search parties undertaking operations to locate the balance crew ashore.

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The National Green Tribunal directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee today to look into the issue of waste disposal during the upcoming IPL matches to be held at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in the capital.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the pollution control board to examine the concern raised in a petition seeking compliance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016 during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches here.

It, however, dismissed the petition while noting that it did not mention about the source of waste generation.

"What kind of waste is generated during the matches? What is the source of waste generation? Your petition does not mention about it. We find no merit in this plea," the bench said.

Advocate Rahul Khurana, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that there was mismanagement during IPL 2016, when approximately 10 metric tonnes of waste was generated at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium which was lifted without segregation.

When the bench refused to issue notice to the parties in the case, the counsel withdrew his plea.

The petition filed by Ghaziabad-resident Ajay Mehra sought compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and sought constitution of a committee of representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Delhi government and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to ensure the same.

"Approximately 40,000 persons gather for each match and 10 metric ton waste generated at the stadium here during the event of one match at FSK stadium which include biodegradable, non-biodegradable wastes and domestic hazardous waste i.E. food remains, plastic wrappers, packets, bottles, etc," it said.

It contended that during the last edition of IPL, no certificate was produced to the effect that segregated waste was handed over to waste collector or agency specified by local authority i.E. NDMC.

"Even separate dustbins were not placed to ensure segregation of waste," it said, adding that non-disposal of waste in accordance with the SWM Rules, 2016 would result in unhygienic and unhealthy condition in the city.

The IPL matches will be held at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here on April 15, 17, 22, May 2, 4, 12 and 14.

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The National Green Tribunal today refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to make the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) mandatory in all elections across the country to save enormous amounts of paper from being wasted every year.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said there was nothing substantial with regard to environment and ecology in the plea.

"Why don't you approach the Election Commission. You have not raised any contention with regard to the environment," the bench said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Salek Chand Jain, through advocate Sugriva Dubey, seeking directions to the Centre and the Election Commission of India to use only electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all elections across the country to save trees from being cut.

During the hearing, the counsel sought liberty to withdraw the petition after which the tribunal "dismissed the plea as withdrawn".

The plea sought directions not to allow any publicity materials like posters, pamphlets, flyers and cards made of paper by the candidates.

Earlier, the NGT, in a separate matter, had restrained Delhi University Students Union from pasting pamphlets and other material on the walls on the varsity campus as it pollutes the environment by creating litter and defacing the walls.

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Non-disclosure of other insurance policies cannot be considered as fraudulent concealment, the apex consumer commission said while asking an insurance firm to pay Rs 15 lakh to kin of a man whose claim was rejected.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) asked the Aviva Life Insurance Company Ltd to pay the claim to Gujarat resident Rekhaben Ramjibhai Parmar, wife of the insured, late Ramjibhai Parashotambhai Parmar.

"In our opinion, the non-disclosure of other insurance policies does not fall within the ambit of ... The Insurance Act, as the concealment was neither wilful nor fraudulent," the commission bench headed by its president justice D K Jain said.

The apex commission, while upholding state commission's order allowing the plea of Rekhaben against the district forum's verdict, said the agent himself had admitted that it is the normal practice that in non-mediclaim policies, the question regarding existence of other insurance policies is not asked.

"By no stretch of imagination it can be held to be a material fact fraudulently suppressed, entitling the Insurance Company to repudiate the claim on the stated ground," the apex consumer bench said.

According to the complaint filed by Rekhaben, her husband had taken an insurance policy with the firm for Rs 15 lakh for the period of March 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

He was admitted to a hospital due to breathing trouble on April 13, 2008 which turned out to be pneumonia and he expired the next day itself, the complaint said.

The claim was repudiated on the ground that the insured had not disclosed information regarding other policies of more than Rs 20 lakh which he had taken from other companies.

The insurance firm contended that had it been declared, the Company would have got an opportunity to decide whether the policy was to be issued or not. Hence, they claimed that there is no deficiency of service on their behalf for repudiating the claim.

The district forum dismissed the claim of Rekhaben against which she approached the state commission which asked the firm to pay the claim and othe benefits payable under the insurance claim.

The company's revision petition was dismissed by the apex consumer commission.

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A 45-year-old Pakistani man has been arrested here for running an international child pornography racket online for which he exploited 25 children on the pretext of imparting them computer education, officials said, calling it a first-of-its-kind scandal in the country.

"We have arrested Saadat Amin, 45, from Sargodha district of Punjab province on the charges of selling child pornography on Internet," Federal Investigation Agency cyber crime wing Lahore chief Shahid Hasan told PTI.

He said the FIA has taken action after receiving a letter from the Norwegian embassy that its police had arrested a man - James Lindstone - in connection with the child pornographic content and Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan.

"We traced Amin with the help of the lead provided by the Norwegian embassy," the FIA official said and added that this scandal is a "first-of-its-kind" unearthed by FIA in the country.

The official further said the suspect had been selling child pornographic content online for last few years to customers in Norway and Sweden.

"The suspect used to lure children on the pretext of imparting computer hardware and software education and even paid their parents. So far we have the information that some 20 to 25 children have been used by the suspect for the sexual act he filmed for the purpose. Besides he hacked thousands of porn child content from the inaccessible websites of Russia and Bangladesh which he sold online and made good bucks," the FIA official said.

"So far we have recovered more than 65,000 porn content from the suspect's computer system," the FIA official said and added the statements of the affected children will also be recorded.

The FIA said the suspect who is an "engineering graduate and a very good hacker".

"A thorough investigation is underway and we will also expose other persons involved in this heinous crime," the FIA official said.

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A 32-year-old Pakistani national has pleaded guilty in a US court to the charges of smuggling undocumented migrants into the US.

Sharafat Ali Khan along with other co-conspirators arranged the unlawful smuggling of large numbers of undocumented migrants to the US between March 2014 and May 2016, according to admissions in the plea agreement.

For their smuggling operation, Khan admitted that he and his co-conspirators used a network of facilitators to transport undocumented migrants from Pakistan and elsewhere through Brazil and Central America and then into the United States by land, air or sea travel.

Khan, who was extradited to the US from Qatar on July 13, 2016, further admitted that he was responsible for managing safe houses for the migrants and arranging a network of associates in other countries to serve as escorts during different legs of the smuggling route, the Justice Department said.

He also admitted that voyage included harsh conditions that caused a substantial risk of serious injuries or death including lengthy foot hikes with little food and water through the Darien Gap, a dangerous tropical forest area in Panama, federal prosecutors alleged.

Judge Walton scheduled Khan's sentencing hearing for July 6, 2017.

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Pakistan claimed today "foreign spy agencies" may have "trapped" and then abducted one of its former army officers, who has mysteriously disappeared from a Nepalese town close to the Indian border.

Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him.

"He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without naming any country.

But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Zahir, who retired from service in October 2014 from the artillery wing of the Pakistan Army, worked for a private firm but had posted his profile online seeking another employment.

A caller, who identified himself as Mark Thompson, had reportedly contacted Zahir - via email and telephone - for the job interview and he was provided an air ticket to travel to Nepal.

An initial probe by Pakistani security agencies has showed that a phone number registered in the UK was computer- generated to contact Zahir and emails and website domains were registered in India.

From Nepal, Zahir had contacted his family last Thursday and since his phone numbers could not be reached. His last message from Lumbini read he had reached his destination.

His disappearance has coincided with the death penalty handed down to former India naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani army court for his involvement in "terrorism and espionage". But Pakistan has repeatedly refused India any consular access to Jadhav.

The sentencing has evoked strong reactions from India, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying the country will go out of its way to secure Jadhav's release.

Today, Zakaria warned against linking Zahir's case with Jadhav's as the Indian national was an "irrefutable proof of Indian state's involvement in terrorism, subversion and terror financing."



"It would be unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Zahir," he said.

He said the "R&AW agent was arrested red-handed", who identified himself and has "confessed" in their custody.

The foreign office spokesperson also said four terrorists arrested by Sindh Rangers yesterday from Karachi have "confessed" to having "links" with the R&AW.

"India remains involved in subversive and terrorist activities and terror financing in Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav is an irrefutable proof. The arrest of four terrorists by Sindh Rangers, yesterday, is also a case in point," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh [also] confessed to India's involvement in [then] East Pakistan in 1971," Zakaria said.

Zakaria condemned the killing of what he said were 14 Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the past one week. He said 250 others were also injured. He called upon the international community to help stop bloodshed in Kashmir.

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Pakistan's top military Generals on Thursday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to Indian Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, notwithstanding India's stern warning that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties.

The decision was made at a Corps Commanders meeting presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief Gen Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.

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.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned that 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.

The top Pakistani military officials also reviewed the security environment and recent developments in the region at the 201st conference of Corps Commanders.

They discussed the progress of nationwide operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' and provision of support to ongoing housing and population census, the statement said.

Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country, it added.
A journalism student of a top university in Pakistan was mercilessly beaten and then shot dead by a vigilante mob of students from the same varsity, supecting him of publishing blasphemous content online and promoting the Ahmadi faith, police said today.

Mashal Khan, who studied journalism at the Abdukl Wali Khan University in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was suspected by the mob of running Facebook pages that published blasphemous content, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Alam Shinwari said.

Khan was assaulted by a large group of students and appears to have succumbed to a gunshot wound, the DIG was quoted as saying in the Dawn newspaper.

Another student, Abdullah, was injured in the clashes.

The report said the two students were also believed to be promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook by the mob.

A mob of university students first surrounded Abdullah and forced him to recite verses from the Quran. Although he repeatedly denied he was an Ahmadi, the students beat him nonetheless.

The police, when alerted, reached the varsity and rescued Abdullah, after which the mob set its sights on Khan, who was in the hostel at the time, an eyewitness told the newspaper.

Khan was beaten and shot by the mob.

A video footage of the incident showed Khan lying on the ground surrounded by men, who beat him mercilessly with sticks. A student requesting anonymity claimed that several leaders of the university's student bodies were part of the mob.

University administration official Fayaz Ali Shah confirmed that the mob had accused Khan of blasphemy before killing him. He said an investigation is underway.

Hostel warden Muhammad Ali claimed that: "Three to four thousand students were approaching. I was alerted that they were approaching, so I closed the gates but they broke in, found Mashal and fired at him and started beating him."



At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred within the university premises. The campus was shut down until further notice. The hostels were vacated and a search for the remaining culprits was ongoing, police said.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, which introduced the draconian laws in 1985 in a bid to appease rightwing parties. These laws have been often alleged to have been misused to settle personal scores.

Punjab's liberal governor Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 when he termed the regulations "black law".

And the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan has been repeatedly targeted in sectarian violence in Pakistan for a long time by Islamic extremists, who view them as heretics.

On April 7, an Ahamdi doctor was shot dead by unidentified men in Punjab province. The incident happened 10 days after Malik Saleem Latif, an advocate from the Ahmadi community who was a cousin of Nobel laureate Abdus Salam, was shot dead by unidentified men in Nankana Sahib.

Last year, at least six Ahmadis were killed because of their faith.

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The paramour of a woman has been arrested for his alleged involvement in her murder, police said today.

The 40-year-old man, Dharmender Sirohi, suspected the woman Mamta of cheating on him with other men and hatched a plan to kill her, said Chinmoy Biswal, additional DCP-I (South).

On April 8, he took her to Agra on the pretext of a long drive and both of them consumed liquor on the way.

"Once she got intoxicated, he slit her throat with a knife and killed her. He then threw her body in a tunnel along with the knife used in the offence and drove back to Delhi," said the officer.

The incident came to light on April 9 after the woman's body was found and a case was registered in Sikandra police station, Agra but the body remained unidentified.

On April 10, a kidnapping case was registered against unknown persons in Sector 7, Faridabad, Haryana.

Police received information about a woman whose matrimonial home was in Mehrauli and who had been missing from her parental home in Faridabad.

The informer also said that she had been murdered at an unknown place, said the officer, adding that it was learnt that she was having an extra-marital affair.

Sirohi was arrested from near Khokha Market, Saket on April 12.

During interrogation, he told police that he had met the victim in 2004 and they got into a relationship. In spite of both of them being married, they continued their relationship clandestinely.

Soon their family members got wind of it. Even this did not act as a deterrent and they kept their love affair going, albeit with utmost secrecy.

However, of late, signs of discord appeared when the accused started suspecting that the deceased was showing a lack of interest in him and he found that Mamta was involved with others, said the officer.

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Paris Jackson is reportedly worried about her brother Blanket's living arrangements.

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 reported.

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.

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.

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A photo exhibition on Indian culture showcasing pictures captured by noted Egyptian artist Ashraf Talaat over the past 16 years in India has been held in Egypt as part of the mega cultural festival 'India by the Nile'.

The exhibition entitled "Images of India" was opened yesterday by India's ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya.

Bhattacharyya praised Talaat's work and said he hoped the exhibition will tempt more Egyptians to travel to India and experience the country in their own way.

"The exhibition is a collaborative project because we have and amazing Egyptian artist photographer who has captured India through his lens,"Bhattacharyya told PTI.

"He has displayed the emotions, the variety of colours, of the sentiment, of family life and community in a manner which is unparallelled," he said.

The exhibition is being held at The Egyptian Center for Cultural Cooperation in Zamalek and captures the spirit of India.

"This is part of India at 70 and its part of the India by the Nile we wanted to do as many events outside. It's a collaboration between us and the Ministry of culture," Bhattacharyya said.

Talaat displays a collection of photos, some of them taken only a few months ago.

"I have more than 500 or 600 photos from India which I took through my trips there in the past 16 years," he said, adding that it was the people of India which attracted him the most during his journey.

"This is because they represent the Indian tradition. Most of the new generation now wear modern western clothes. But, I want to feature the indian culture before it disappears because one day all of us will wear modern clothes," Talaat said.

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Worried over unclaimed corpses piling up in city morgues, some even for four months, the Delhi High Court has asked the authorities to streamline the process for their quick disposal.

"You (Delhi government and other agencies) will have to streamline the process for quick disposal of bodies from the mortuaries," a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Yogesh Khanna said.

The oral observation came when the bench was told that investigating officers (IO) have to pay from their pockets to cremate the unclaimed bodies.

It expressed concern over the "decades old" practice of the cops having to pay for such cremation.

The bench also indicated that the mortuaries should have some kind of standard with regard to cleanliness and other services.

"You will have to formulate a guideline after taking the views of all the stake holders," the bench said, adding that apart from government and hospital authorities, views of local bodies like the New Delhi Municipal Council, Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Delhi Cantonment Board should also be taken before formulating any guideline.

It asked the Delhi Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of all the concerned authorities and file a status report with regard to its outcome by the next hearing on July 27.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Delhi government submitted that it has filed its plan and timelines for implementing the recommendations and suggestions made by a court-appointed amicus curiae regarding the dignity of unidentified and other dead bodies.

The Delhi government's submission came in the backdrop of the bench's earlier observation that in the absence of any legislation, once all stakeholders come up with proposals, the court will step in and issue directions to streamline the process.

The court had also said that the problem was due to the lack of a proper system and added that since the Centre has decided not to proceed with a separate Coroners Act, it will issue directions till a legislation comes into place.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by it after a murder accused died in custody and one of his eyes was found missing when his body was kept in the mortuary.

The court, in its earlier order, had sought to know the reasons for delay in disposal of such corpses after amicus curiae told the bench that some bodies have been lying in the morgues since August 2016 and were in a putrefied state.

It had asked the police to consider some manner of preservation of DNA samples of the bodies which are to be disposed of as unclaimed and unidentified for future reference.

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Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today extended Tamil New Year greetings to the people of Union Territory.

In her message on the eve of Tamil new year, Bedi said, "Tamil new year dawns at the beginning of the month of Chithrai tomorrow and marks the beginning of new hope and aspiration inculcating a sense of festivity and prosperity."



She said, "May all be blessed with good health, peace, prosperity and joy in their life on the auspicious occasion."



The Lt Governor also greeted Malayalees, Bengalis, Punjabis and Assamese living across the globe and here on the eve of Vishu, Baisakhi, Bihu and Naba Barsha celebrated by people in respective states.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and a host of leaders were among those who greeted the people on the eve of Tamil New Year.

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Pakistani-origin British actor Riz Ahmed has vowed to dedicate the entire month of April to "music time", as he release an EP and tour with other bands.

The 34-year-old actor and rapper - who is also known as Riz MC - has revealed he is putting his acting career to one side for the upcoming weeks so he can focus on making music and touring with artists Hermes and Swet Shop boys, reported Metro online.

"Now what we do is bursts of activity. I've been doping a lot of promo over the last several months and then this year I've been writing scripts.

"April is touring with the band, recording music and releasing an EP, Sufi La, on Record Store Day (April 22). April is music time," Ahmed says.

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Russia's foreign ministry today called the approval by the United States of Montenegro's accession to NATO a "deeply mistaken" move that creates divisions in Europe.

The decision by US President Donald Trump to sign off on the accession by the Balkan country to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Tuesday "reflects the logic of confrontation on the European continent and creates new dividing lines," the ministry said in a statement.

"We consider the course towards including Montenegro in NATO is deeply erroneous, goes fundamentally against the interests of people in this country and harms stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole," it said.

It added that the accession was forced upon Montenegro through what it called "puppet NGOs" that work to "create the illusion of public support for the one-sided policy of the Montenegrin authorities."



The population of Montenegro, on the Adriatic Sea, is mostly Orthodox Slavs and Moscow has long considered it to be in its sphere of influence.

The White House yesterday moved to accuse Moscow of being behind an attempted coup during Montenegro's October elections, which saw a group of Serbian nationals jailed last month.

The country hopes to become a NATO member later this year, which would reinforce the bloc's presence in the Balkans as Greece, Croatia and Albania are already members.

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A student at a military academy in Russia's second city Saint Petersburg has been arrested and charged with "complicity in terrorism", a court said today.

Cadet Vadim Osipov was ordered to be held in custody until June 9 as investigations continue, the press office for the military court said, without giving more details about the case.

The announcement of the arrest comes in the wake of a deadly bomb attack on the city's metro system on April 3 that killed 14 people.

Officials made no link between Osipov's detention and the metro bombing.

Authorities have blamed that attack on 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, thought to be a Russian national born in Central Asian Kyrgzstan, who died in the blast.

The has been no claim of responsibility for the attack but investigators say they are probing possible links to Islamic State jihadists.

Eight people -- all from mainly Muslim Central Asia -- have been detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over alleged involvement in the attack.

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The Centre was today directed by the Supreme Court to include Urdu as a language in the NEET exam, the common test for admission into medical courses, from academic session 2018-19 onwards.

The apex court made it clear that it cannot ask the government to do "miracles" and include Urdu as a language for this year's NEET examination.

"In any case, we are saying it is not possible this year. There are lot of difficulties. Please try to understand that we cannot ask them (government) to do miracles. The exam is scheduled on May 7 and today is April 13. Lot of process is involved in this," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra told the counsel appearing for the petitioner.

"We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, told the court that they were not opposed to the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in Urdu medium also from 2018-19 academic year onwards but this year it would not be possible due to paucity of time.

"We are not opposed to it but the problem is the time this year," he said.

The apex court was hearing a petition which has sought a direction for making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.

During the hearing, the lawyer representing the petitioner argued that there were 11,000 Urdu medium students and if Marathi can be one of the languages for NEET exam for 500 Marathi students in Maharashtra, why it cannot be in Urdu for such a large number of students.

"The whole problem is that this year this is not possible," the bench said, adding, "we just cannot ask the respondents (Centre, CBSE and others) to do miracles."



The counsel appearing for the CBSE told the bench that it would not be possible for them to include Urdu as a language for NEET examination scheduled on May 7 this year.

The petitioner's counsel contended that in Maharashtra, the state government had come out with a notification that even for admission in Unani medicine course, candidates will have to qualify NEET.

"The entire course for Unani medicine is in Urdu but the candidates appearing in the exam to get admission in Unani medicine course do not have the option of Urdu language in NEET," he said.

The bench, however, observed that it would be very difficult to ask the Centre and others, including CBSE and Medical Council of India (MCI), to change the entire pattern of examination to include Urdu as a language this year.

The bench, while disposing of the plea, recorded the submissions of the Solicitor General that the government was not opposed to include Urdu as a language for NEET exams from next year onwards.

The government had on March 31 told the apex court that a students' body seeking NEET examination in Urdu language has accused the Centre of being communal.

The submission was made while referring to the affidavit filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad.

The Centre had told the apex court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.

At present, NEET is being conducted in ten languages -- Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada languages.

The court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, MCI, Dental Council of India and CBSE on the plea suggesting making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Trust to remove the encroachments in a 908 sq mt area around the famous Mumbai mosque by May 8 while making it clear that the area containing the shrine will remain protected.

The order was passed after the Haji Ali Trust volunteered to take up the task of removing the encroachments.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also said that the removal of the encroachment will be subject to the satisfaction of the two authorities indicated in the Bombay High Court order of February 10.

The High Court had ordered the formation of a joint task force comprising the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Collector to remove illegal encroachments on the approach road leading to the .

The bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, passed the order after senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam informed that he has the instruction from one of the trustees that the trust itself will volunteer to carry out the removal and demolition of the encroachment.

"We thereby allow the trust to remove encroachments besides the 171 sq mt area covered under the lease where the mosque subsists," the bench said.

While appreciating the Trust for volunteering to remove the encroachments, the bench asked it to ensure that the encroachments shall be removed on or before May 8.

The bench also clarified that in view of the offer made by the Trust, it is restraining the joint task force from removing the encroachments as ordered by the high court.

The bench also gave liberty to the Trust to place for consideration before the apex court the beautification and architecture plan for maintaining the access and surroundings of the area.

The bench also made it clear that no other court other than the apex court will entertain the petition relating to the removal of encroachment around the shrine.

It also said it will be open for any party desiring modification of its order to approach the apex court with an application in the pending petition.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had asked the counsel for the trust to take instruction and inform whether it was ready to assist in the removal and demolition of encroachment in the 908 sq mt area.

The court also assured that 171 sq mt land on which the mosque is built will be protected.

The bench had made it clear that 171 sq mt land having the mosque on it will be protected, but the encroachments in the remaining area have to be removed and demolished.
Egyptian authorities today identified the second bomber who blew himself up during a Palm Sunday service at a Coptic Christian church in the northern city of Tanta.

The interior ministry identified the attacker has been identified as 40-year-old Mamdouh Amin Mohamed Baghdady, who lived in the upper Egyptian City of Qena.

It said he was a member of a "terrorist" cell, and announced the arrest of three other members of the cell.

This is the second identification as yesterday the Ministry identified the suicide bomber responsible for the other Palm Sunday's attack that took place at Alexandria's St Mark's Cathedral.

The attacker was identified as Mahmud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, born in Qena in 1986.

At least 46 people were killed and more than 120 others injured in the twin bombings that hit Egypt's St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The ministry said Abdallah and Baghdady were associates of Amr Saad Abbas Ibrahim, a fugitive who is the leader of a terrorist cell that orchestrated last December's deadly suicide bombing of Cairo's St Peter and St Paul's Church, which killed 29 worshipers, mostly women and children.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's population of 85 million. Egypt's Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants.

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.

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The secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the Indus Water Treaty relating to two controversial hydropower projects have been postponed until the end of this month, a Pakistani media report today said.

The talks were scheduled for April 11-13 but have been delayed until the end of April, The Nation reported quoting sources, but didn't cite any reason for the postponement.

Pakistan's Minister for Power and Water Khawaja Asif last month had said the two sides would meet in Washington on April 11-13 to resolve the issues related to Kishanganga (330MWs) and Ratle (850 MWs) projects India is constructing in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Indus Water Treaty Commissioner Asif Baig told the newspaper that April 11-13 were not the scheduled dates for the meeting as these dates were only a proposal.

He said the World Bank with the consensus of both the countries will provide new dates for the meeting.

He said he does not know about the new dates.

Pakistan has reservations over the designs of both the hydropower projects and is seeking the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) through the World Bank - the so-called guarantor of the 1960 treaty - while India insists to resolve the issue through neutral experts.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, New Delhi has to share all details of any hydropower project on the rivers on which Pakistan has water rights under the treaty.

Pakistan says no design of these projects was shared, which is a violation of the 57-year-old treaty.

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One student was killed when he fell down from a running train trying to take a selfie, while two of his friends were run over and killed by another train when they were searching for him in the tracks in Howrah district today, GRP sources said.

A group of students were taking selfies near the door of an EMU train when suddenly one of them fell down from it and was killed between Liluah and Belur railway stations, Government Railway Police (GRP) sources said.

When the train slowed down, four other students alighted from the train in search of their friend who had fallen down but two of them were killed and as many injured when another train coming from the opposite direction hit them, the GRP sources said.

The injured have been admitted to hospital, they added.

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- Sisi pledged to hunt down the perpetrators of last week's twin church bombings as he visited Coptic Pope Tawadros II today, his office said.

Sisi's visit to the papal seat in Cairo came a day after the interior ministry identified one of the two suicide bombers who struck two Coptic churches on Palm Sunday, killing 45 people.

The Islamic State group claimed the attacks, which followed a December 11 suicide bombing that killed 29 people in a Cairo church.

Sisi said "state agencies were exerting their utmost effort to chase down the perpetrators of those vile acts," the presidency said in a statement.

The interior ministry yesterday offered a 100,000-pound (about USD 5,500) reward for information leading to the arrest of 18 suspects it said were members of jihadist cells linked to the the church attacks.

Sunday's first bombing at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta, north of Cairo, killed 28 people.

The second struck outside Saint Mark's church in Alexandria, killing 17 people after a suicide bomber was prevented from entering the building.

Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency after the bombings and called on the army to protect "vital" installations around the country.

The Coptic Church said yesterday it would cut back Easter celebrations to a single mass after the bombings.

The violence came ahead of Catholic Pope Francis's first visit to Egypt, which a Vatican official said will go ahead as planned on April 28 and 29 despite the attacks.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem described the U.S. border with Mexico as a war zone last year when she sent dozens of state National Guard troops there. Noem said theyd be on the front lines of stopping drug smugglers and human traffickers. But newly released records from the National Guard show that in their two-month deployment, the South Dakota troops didnt seize any drugs and sometimes went days without encountering any migrants at all. Noem justified the deployment and a widely criticized private donation to fund as a state emergency because of drugs making their way across the southern border to South Dakota. But the records cast doubt on whether the deployment was effective in addressing that.
Far away from their CRPF colleagues facing stone pelters in Kashmir, two SSB men are recuperating in Chennai from grievous eye injuries they received after protesters attacked them in a similar fashion during recent clashes along the Indo-Nepal border.

While jawan S Prabhakar has lost complete vision in his left eye, his senior and 31-year-old company commander T K Hans has been meted with a cruel fate to spend all his life with only 50 per cent vision in his right eye.

The duo were injured in a cross-border stone pelting incident on March 9 when a crowd from the other side gathered along the Basai border post of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Lakhimpur Kheri district and clashes erupted over the construction of a culvert near the "missing" border pillar number 200 along the India-Nepal International Border.

The two SSB troops were rushed in a bleeding condition from the IB area to nearby hospitals after they were hit and have been under medical treatment since then.

The incident had erupted into a major diplomatic issue between the two countries with Nepal claiming that one of its citizen was killed in firing by SSB men during the incident.

The SSB headquarters here has recently submitted the findings of an internal inquiry report to the Union Home Ministry stating that no bullet was fired by the paramilitary during this incident.

"I was hit in the eye by a stone shot aimed from a 'gulel' (catapult) while my jawan constable S Prabhakar was similarly hit by stones when we were out to control the situation on the border.

Our task was to ensure that the sanctity of the IB is not violated by the protesters.

"I remember there was heavy stone pelting on that day and a total of 13 jawans were injured during the entire incident," Hans told PTI from Chennai where he is recuperating from his eye injuries at the Shankar Netralaya for the last month.

The 2014-batch Assistant Commandant said he has been told by the doctors that he will never regain 50 per cent of his vision in his right eye, while constable Prabhakar has "permanently lost the vision of his left eye and it cannot be restored" after treatment at the same medical centre in Chennai.

Hans, who hails from Jharkhand's capital Ranchi has a blood clot in his right eye and it will require him to visit the hospital for a few more months before he can resume normal duties.

A native of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, Prabhakar has been sent on a month-long medical leave.

Prabhakar rues that his fate has been like that of his friends from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who face such stone pelters every day in the Kashmir valley.

Senior SSB officers said the two troops will be provided all service-related benefits and monetary compensations that they deserve after getting injured in the line of duty.

"I just wish to get back on duty as soon as possible. My single eye is capable to keep the country's borders safe," Hans said when asked if he will be able to discharge his duties as good as before.

The SSB, which works under the command of the Union Home Ministry, is tasked with guarding the 1,751 km Indo-Nepal border.

Uttar Pradesh shares a 599.3 km open border with Nepal touching seven districts - Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Sravasti, Balrampur, Sidhharthnagar and Maharajganj.

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A steam train clocked (100) miles 161 kilometres per hour on Britain's mainline railway network for the first time in almost 50 years.

Tornado, a Peppercorn-class A1 steam locomotive, reached the landmark speed during a test run yesterday aimed at proving it can operate passenger services at 90mph (145 kph).

A steam locomotive has not hit 100mph in Britain since 1968, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Built by heritage enthusiasts, Tornado hit the three- figure speed on the East Coast Main Line -- the route between London and Edinburgh -- during a run between Doncaster and Newcastle in northern England.

The test run was part of a bid to raise Tornado's speed limit for passenger services from 75mph (121 kph) to 90mph by the end of this year.

Preservation steam locomotives have been restricted to 75mph since the end of steam services on the main lines in the 1960s.

Tornado was the first steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost half a century when it was completed in 2008.

If Tornado can run at 90mph it will be able to fit in better with other trains on the busy main railway lines.

Pulling passenger carriages yesterday on a secret run, it ran at 10 per cent above the 90mph mark to demonstrate a sufficient safety margin.

"We are delighted to have completed the test runs that move us one step closer to 90mph operations with Tornado," said Graeme Bunker-James, operations director for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

"This will allow us to ensure that the locomotive continues to haul trains on the busiest parts of the UK network, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy travelling with Tornado.

"As part of these tests, the locomotive operated at 90mph for a sustained period and also achieved 100mph under these special conditions and running with clear signals."



Workers on the locomotive, their faces blackened, celebrated with a cup of tea after hitting the landmark.

The world speed record for a steam locomotive is 126mph (203kph), set by the Mallard further south on the same railway line in 1938.

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Realty firm Supertech will invest around Rs 2,500 crore to complete 15,000 housing units across various projects in Delhi-NCR this fiscal, even as its sales took a 50 per cent hit due to lower demand post note ban.

The Noida-based realty firm delivered 8,500 units last fiscal and is targeting to complete 15,000 units in 2017-18.

"Our sales booking stood at about Rs 1,500 crore during 2016-17 as against Rs 3,000 crore in the previous year. There is a demand slowdown in the property market. Demonetisation also affected demand but sales have started to improve," Supertech Managing Director Mohit Arora told PTI.

He said the company has delivered 20,000 units in the last three fiscals and is now focusing on completing ongoing projects.

"In the current financial year, we are targeting to hand over 15,000 housing units. To complete these units, we will need about Rs 2,500 crore," Arora said, adding the investment will be funded through internal accruals and debt.

He said the company has receivables of Rs 4,000 crore from the customers against sold units.

Supertech Chairman R K Arora said the company's projects have been delayed by few years due to various reasons but now the company is focusing on delivering these units.

Gong forward, he said, the company plans to launch affordable housing projects comprising 40,000 units at an investment of Rs 3,500-4,000 crore.

"We have signed an MoU with CREDAI for 20,000 affordable homes. We have land bank and will not buy extra land. We are tweaking building plans to comply with the conditions specified under the Prime Minister Awaas Yojana," Arora told reporters.

The affordable housing has huge demand, he said.

Superetch has projects in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Meerut, Muradabad, Dehradun, Haridwar, Rudrapur and Bengaluru.

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The Telangana government has chalked out a plan to completely reform prisoners so that they don't take to crime once they are released and make the jails centres of economic growth and employment generation.

The state prisons department has come out with the ambitious plan which is to be implemented by 2025.

"The department has conceived a 'Grand Vision 2025' for itself. We are not in competition with any prisons department in the country or for that matter any other department in Telangana, but we are competing with the best jails in the world," Director General (Prisons and Correctional Services) V K Singh told reporters here today.

The department has drawn a road map which has never been implemented by any jail in the world, he said.

Singh said the grand vision is for five important parameters -- good administration, crime reduction, economic growth, employment generation and social services.

"Our idea is to make the jails centres of economic growth, employment generation and social service.

"We have a vision to make the jails an 'ashram' where prisoners will undergo positive changes. Reformation and rehabilitation programme will be of such a high order that those who enter the jail once, refuse to be a criminal in future," he said.

The jail officers should act as parents and prison life should not be retributive but elevating and transformational, Singh said.

"Telangana jails have almost become corruption free and we have announced an award of Rs 5,000 to anybody who proves that corruption exists in prisons," the officer said.

"We have achieved such expertise in the field of management and administration that we have written to all IIMs asking them to study the radical changes brought in our prisons department.

"However, still we have many miles to go and there are aberrations here and there. We want to change the very culture of the prisons department by 2025," he said.

The department will out be a great employer by 2025.

"We want to open 100 petrol bunks in the next two years that will be run by prisoners released after serving sentence and supervised by retired government employees. By the end of this year we will be opening around 50 such petrol bunks," Singh said.

Under a new programme, he said, jails will be transformed into production and skill development centres.

"We will open outlets in almost 10,500 villages where jail products will be sold. We dream of giving employment to 10,500 women through our outlets and around 2,000 jobs in our petrol bunks and other ventures," Singh said.

"Our dream is to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore by 2025 by selling jail-made products. We also want to achieve a Rs 2,000-crore turnover through sale of petroleum products (at fuel outlets run by released inmates)," the top jail official said.

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Terrorist attacks against India are an attempt to "destabilise, break and weaken" the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said.

He added that security agencies, in the present and emerging security scenario, should develop core competence against cyber crimes that are increasing globally.

Singh added India's progress has become a sore in the eye of certain elements as they cannot see it emerging as the fastest growing economy, which he said, will rise to be a USD 5 trillion economy from the present USD 2 trillion.

"Why are terrorist incidents taking place? They are taking place to destabilise, break and weaken India. Forces inimical to India are not liking the country's progress and hence have cast an evil eye on this country," he said after inaugurating new infrastructure facilities for CISF jawans at a camp here.

He said one of the biggest challenges of the current times is to effectively tackle cyber crimes as they can be perpetrated by sitting in "any corner of the world".

"All organisations need to develop core competence and go for technical upgrade to meet this challenge...There will be no dearth of resources in this regard," he said.

While inaugurating the new residential and working facilities for the troops of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, the minister said he is not satisfied with the present housing available for the men and women of these forces.

"We are trying to find solutions to enhance this satisfaction level for the jawans and officers of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)," he said.

He asked the CISF to also develop "core competence" in effectively securing strategic installations of the country as terrorists target these facilities.

CISF should also emerge as the most credible organisation for security consultancy in the country, he added.

During the event, CISF Director General O P Singh said in order to ensure enhanced housing facilities for jawans the force has recently been sanctioned 25 acres of land in Ghaziabad near here.

He added the force will purchase over 650 flats for its personnel in the national capital soon and keep on enhancing these facilities.

The facilities inaugurated today on 15.5 acres of land in south Delhi's Mahipalpur area include barracks for 1,350 jawans, mess rooms for officers and junior officers and kennels for sniffer dogs of the force.

The 1.47-lakh-strong CISF is tasked to secure the country's 59 civil airports and is also deputed to guard strategic installations in the aerospace and nuclear domain.

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Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister K Palaniswami today greeted the people on the eve of Tamil New Year day, the birth of Tamil month 'Chithirai', to be celebrated tomorrow.

"The Dawn of a new year not only signifies a new beginning but also underlines our commitment to the common goal of development, revival of the spirit of hard work and promotion of cultural ethos", Rao said.

On this occasion, all should take a resolve to promote the country's rich heritage, culture and tradition and join hands to build a prosperous India, he added.

"I extend my hearties greetings and best wishes to the people on Tamil New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu", he said.

Palaniswami, in his message, said "Let us pledge ourselves to unite together for the progress of the State on the occasion of Tamil new year".

In a separate release, he also extended his "Vishu" greetings to Malayaliss living in Tamil Nadu on the occasion of the Malayalam new year, also being celebrated tomorrow.

AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran, PMK Leader Anbumani Ramadoss were among those who extended their greetings on the occasion.

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At least 20 people were killed and nine injured today when a bus crashed into a petrol tanker in southern Mexico, the emergency services said.

The vehicles crashed early in the day on a highway near the border of Guerrero and Michoacan states, said Marco Cesar Mayares, secretary of the Guerrero state Civil Protection service.

"For the moment we have 20 people confirmed dead, but we are still working to clear the wreckage," he said.

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US President Donald Trump today expressed confidence that things will "work out fine" with Russia and hoped that China would "properly deal" with North Korea.

"Things will work out fine between the USA and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!" Trump told his more than 27.8 million followers on Twitter this morning.

His tweet came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left Moscow following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

A day earlier, Trump had said that the US-Russia relationship are at a low point.

Last night he was scheduled to speak to Tillerson.

Trump's tweets appear to be a reflection of the talks that he had with his Secretary of State.

In another tweet, he hoped that China would act on North Korea.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with its allies, will! USA," Trump said.

The US president hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar a-Lago residence in Florida last week.

The two leaders again spoke over phone this week.

Trump has been asking China to act on North Korea and co-operate with it on Syria.

Trump yesterday praised China for abstaining a UN Security Council vote on Syria and taking actions against North Korea.

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President Donald Trump has said that there is a "very good chemistry" between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps tackling the threat of North Korea.

"President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things," Trump told reporters at a joint conference yesterday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier.

"I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, we're just going to go it alone," Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

"That'd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations," he cautioned China, if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval.

North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US.

Trump said he was "very impressed" with Xi.

"I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does," Trump said.

In an interview with 'The Wall Street Journal', Trump said the US has "tremendous trade deficits" with everybody, but the big one is with China.

"It's hundreds of billions of dollars of year for many many years. And I told them. I said you know, we're not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say - but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. That's worth having deficits. And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, I'll make great deals," he said.

In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator.

This was one of his top campaign promise.

"They're not currency manipulators," he said.

"Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea," the report said.

In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear.

"You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction. And he doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he - you know he will," he said.

"So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue on North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, it's very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time," Trump said.

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President Donald Trump has praised China for its decision to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning last week's chemical attack on civilians in Syria, terming it an honour for the US.

"I think it's wonderful that they abstained. As you know, very few people expected that. And no, I was not surprised that China did abstain," Trump told reporters at a joint White House conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"Very, very few people thought that..That was going to happen. So we're honoured by the vote. That's the vote that should have taken place," Trump said, responding to a question on his relationship with China.

Later, a senior White House official described this as a positive step.

China's abstention at the UN was "another significant victory for all civilised peoples because it really showed how isolated the Assad regime and its international sponsors" are, the official told reporters.

Trump also praised China for taking steps against North Korea.

"We have a very big problem in North Korea. And as I said, I really think that China's going to try very hard and has already started," he said.

"The vast amount of coal that comes out of North Korea going to China, they turned back the boats. That's a big step," Trump said.

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US President Donald Trump's national security advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster will visit Afghanistan to assess the ground situation of the war-torn nation and find out how they can make progress alongside Afghan partners and NATO allies.

"I'm sending General McMaster to Afghanistan to find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies," Trump told reporters yesterday at a joint White House conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

However, the White House refused to give any further details of McMaster's travel to Afghanistan or any other country in the region.

"I can't comment on any potential travel at this time," a senior administration official said.

Afghanistan was one of the major topic of discussion between Trump and Stoltenberg.

"Our mission in Afghanistan is a major contribution to the fight against international terrorism," Stoltenberg told reporters.

McMaster's trip to Afghanistan would be the first high level visit of a top Trump Administration official to the war-torn nation.

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Britain's engineering major Rolls Royce and DRDO have been working on developing an engine for military jets and the UK is keen on many such joint projects, British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said today.

After holding talks with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, he said Britain has also agreed to having defence equipment cooperation with India for collaboration in developing military hardware, including air defence missile systems.

Sir Michael said the two sides also agreed to cooperate in readying aircraft carriers, which are under construction, for sea trials. The cooperation will cover technical aspects, training regimes and doctrines on deployment of the aircraft carriers.

On the jet engine project, Stephen Phipson, head of the UK's defence and security organisation in the departnment of international trade, said the gas turbine engine will have high-class military technology without elaborating on details.

"Together we can build one of the most efficient jet engines," he said.

Sir Michael, here on a four-day visit, stressed on deeper bilateral ties in defence production notwithstanding UK's strict export control regime. He said the British government had approved 99 per cent of all export licences for defence supplies to India last year.

"We want to see collaboration between our defence companies so that they can use India as launchpad for export to third countries," he said.

Replying to a question, he said there was no specific talks on fighter aircraft.

The Defence Secretary said the two countries agreed to continue bilateral defence exercises. Army, navy and air force of the two nations will have exercises this year.

The British Defence Secretary said the two sides resolved to ramp up cooperation to contain cyber crime, particularly in the financial services sector.

Identifying terrorism as a major threat, he said Britain wants to deepen cooperation with India in fighting the menace.

Referring to Afghanistan, he said the UK will work with India and other governments in the region to bring down tension in the war-ravaged country.

Asked about alleged corruption involving a British defence firm which is active in India, he refused to comment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United Nations Security Council today agreed to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti after 13 years and replace it with a smaller police-only force.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution that will end the mission known as MINUSTAH by October 15.

The decision provided a boost to the new US administration's hopes of cutting back its multi-billion dollar financial contribution to UN peacekeeping.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley has launched a review of all peacekeeping missions to find ways of cutting back costs and improving the operations, which have been plagued with sexual abuse and corruption scandals.

After the vote, Haley spoke out against sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, saying children in Haiti will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" she asked.

The council agreed that the 2,370 soldiers serving in MINUSTAH will be gradually withdrawn over six months to make way for the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).

That mission will have 1,275 police, which will also be drawn down over two years as the police force is built up in the poor Caribbean country.

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.

Haley said sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" and that the United States will continue to demand that countries hold accountable soldiers who face allegations while serving under the UN flag.

She cited the example of a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers in Haiti -- they reportedly lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies. Dozens of peacekeepers were sent home over the claims.

"The children were passed from soldier to soldier," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognise that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

With its annual budget of USD 346 million, MINUSTAH does not rank among the costliest peace operations run by the United Nations, but its closure signalled a shift toward smaller missions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
America's relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low", US President Donald Trump has said, but he hoped that it would be wonderful if the two countries got along.

"It would be wonderful as we were discussing just a little while ago, if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"This has built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country. We're a very, very strong country. We're going to see how that all works out," Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has just concluded his maiden visit to Russia during which he met his Russian counterpart and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I'll be speaking in with Rex Tillerson in a little while, calling in. I think he had a very successful meeting in Russia. We'll see. We'll see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is what's most important, not just talk. And I think that based on everything I'm hearing, things went pretty well, maybe better than anticipated," Trump said.

Trump hoped that the European countries would have nothing to fear from Russia.

"I want to just start by saying hopefully they're going to have to fear nothing ultimately. Right now, there is a fear. And there are problems. There's certainly problems. But ultimately, I hope that there won't be a fear and there won't be problems and the world can get along. That would be the ideal situation," he said.

Stoltenberg said NATO and its member countries need to find ways to talk with Russia.

"We believe that the precondition for a political dialogue with Russia is that we are strong and that we are united. That based on that, we can talk to Russia because Russia is our neighbour. Russia is here to stay. So we have to find ways to manage our relationship with Russia," he said.

"I am absolutely certain that the US supports this approach, partly because the United States is contributing with forces to our enhanced presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and also in the southeast of the alliance in Romania.

And the US and the President has clearly expressed that they want dialogue with Russia, but based on unity and strength in the alliance," the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg said he strongly believes that the only way to deter Russia is to be strong.

"But the only way to avoid a new Cold War, avoid the arms race, and avoid increasing tensions is to continue to engage Russia in a political dialogue and to make sure that what we do is defensive and proportionate in response to a more assertive Russia," he said.

"The most important thing is to have a strong alliance, to stay united and be firm and predictable in our approach to Russia. And that means that we have to invest in our collective defence. That's exactly what we are doing; deploy more troops in eastern part of the alliance; increase the readiness of our forces; and increase defence spending," he said.

Stoltenberg welcomed the very strong message from Trump on the importance of increased defence spending.

"We have started to do this, so we are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, providing credible deterrence," he said.

"But at the same time, we have to find ways to engage with Russia, to talk with Russia. Because Russia will not go away. Russia will be our biggest neighbour. We have to find ways to live with them and to try and avoid a new Cold War, a new arms race," Stoltenberg said.
The US sees India as a pivotal nation for its security in the Asia Pacific region, the Pentagon has said as the Trump administration quietly started the process of implementing the recent designation of India as a "major defence partner".

"The relationship between India and the United States is on track. Secretary (James) Mattis has made the defence relationship with India a top priority," Pentagon Spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told PTI.

"He sees India as a pivotal nation in the region going forward for our security," Davis said, weeks after Mattis had a successful meeting with India's National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval at the Pentagon.

According to media reports, Doval's American counterpart Lt Gen H R McMaster is slated to visit India soon. The White House refrained from making any comment on the visit.

Keeping defence ties on the forefront of the India-US relationship, the Trump administration is believed to have started the process of implementing in letter and spirit the recent US designation of India as a "major defence partner".

Mattis in his first phone conversation with the then Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is believed to have said that he is ready to take off the India-US defence relationship from where it was left by his predecessor Ashton Carter.

The assurance is being fast implemented by the Pentagon, sources said.

A day before Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the US, the Department of Commerce federal notification that relaxed India-specific defence export control norms.

Under this, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by establishing a licensing policy of general approval for exports or re-exports to or transfers within India of items subject to the EAR.

In addition, BIS amended the end use and end user provisions of the Validated End User (VEU) authorisation to state that items obtained under authorisation VEU in India may be used for either civil or military end uses other than those that are for use in nuclear, missile, or chemical or biological weapons activities.

The move on the last day of the previous Obama administration is believed to address some of the major concerns of India when it comes to import of state-of-the-art defence technology and military hardware to India.

"The changes in the Export Administration Regulations, reflective of India's status as a Major Defence Partner, will enhance defence ties as well as private sector linkages," a State Department official told PTI.

License applications to export military and related dual-use items to India will generally be approved, the official said.

"Under the Department of Commerce's Validated End User program, Indian entities can qualify for a general authorisation for exports and re-exports of military and related dual use items, consistent with US law, for projects in support of official US-India defence cooperation, other than those that are for use in nuclear, missile, or chemical or biological weapons activities.

"India is the only country in the world authorised to receive both military and dual-use items under a VEU programme," the State Department Spokesperson said in response to a question.

"Our defence partnership with India is among our most important in the world. The United States supports India's rise as a net security provider in the region, and the breadth of our defence cooperation, including through the US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, is continually expanding," the official said.

The support to India US defence relationship comes from the opposition Democratic party too, reflecting the bipartisan support to the ties between the two largest democracies of the world.

"This remains an exciting time in the US-India relationship, as we are starting to realise the potential of our bilateral cooperation and economic investment," Senator Mark Warner, ranking Member of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee said.

Noting that India is fast becoming one of the largest, most dynamic, and most diversified markets in the world, Warner said one aspect of the bilateral relationship between the two countries that has gained real momentum in recent years is the defence trade relationship, which is part of a broader growth in bilateral defence cooperation.

"Given the growing convergence of Indian and US security interests and the deepening of our defence trade and technology cooperation relationship, last year my colleagues and I advanced legislation to make permanent the organisational structures within the Department of Defence that support this aspect of the relationship," said Warner, who is also Democratic Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, which is the only country-specific caucus in the US Senate.

"Additionally, I have been advocating with the US administration for approval of the Indian request for unmanned, unarmed drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance that could advance our shared interest in better maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With over 65 per cent of Americans ignorant about Sikhism, the Sikhs in the US are launching a million-dollar awareness campaign to inform them about their religion amid a spike in hate crimes against the minority community in the country.

The month-long "We are Sikhs" ad campaign will be launched by the non-profit organisation National Sikh Campaign on April 14 on the occasion of Vaisakhi, a holy day for the community.

"We have found that there is widespread ignorance about the Sikh faith and identity, about the turban and beard. Over 65 per cent of Americans have no clue that there is a community called Sikhs," co-founder and senior adviser of the National Sikh Campaign Rajwant Singh told PTI.

Singh, who is a dentist based in Washington DC and has lived in the country for over 35 years, said the main goal of the campaign is to get the information out to Americans across the nation about who Sikhs are, their belief in equality, respect for women and all religions and that Sikhism is the fifth largest religion.

"We have been part and parcel of America for the last 100 years and have been making this country strong. We want to change the narrative, rather than always being the victims of hate crimes - many people mistake us for belonging to the Taliban or ISIS," Singh said.

While numerous initiatives have been undertaken since the September 11 attacks to spread awareness about the Sikh faith, Singh said "the needle has not moved. We felt that the messaging has to be very clear. The 'We are Sikhs' campaign is more positive, proactive and has a targeted messaging," he said.

In the years since the 9/11 terror attacks, Sikhs remain more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American.

In the latest incident of hate crime, a Sikh man was shot near Seattle last month after the gunman allegedly told him to "go back to your own country."



Elaborating on the campaign, Singh said the "seven- figure" targeted ad campaign will run on cable TV networks like CNN and Fox as well as on local TV stations and will have a heavy presence on social media. There will be 40-50 spots on CNN and other networks and will be shown in morning and prime time bulletins, circulating throughout the day.

The campaign will run for a month throughout the nation.

"We have brought a very scientific and very targeted messaging element to the campaign. Our focus is to build a proactive and positive message and try to educate and inform Americans about the positive contributions the Sikhs have been making in America," Singh said.

For the campaign, the organisers roped in prominent marketing experts and firms, which have in the past done presidential-style campaigns for Barack Obama and George Bush. The campaign has been tested over a period of time and through polls and focus groups, the organisers narrowed in on what message would move the public opinion.

"We found that most Americans have no clue about the Sikh religion but once they were educated and informed that the turban is not a symbol of anti-Americanism but a positive expression of faith and respect, they developed warm feelings towards the religion," Singh said, adding that the campaign employs a "very targeted and methodological" way of presenting facts about Sikhism.

The National Sikh Campaign will also conduct a poll after the ad campaign has been run to gauge its impact and how it can be improved further.

Singh said a 16-year old Sikh boy told him that if the ads were shown to his classmates, "they will say Sikhs are cool."



This was an important feedback coming from the youngsters who are the ones who have to go through bullying because of their religion, Singh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttarakhand Governor Dr Kishan Kant Paul today hailed the role of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in nearby Wellington in helping cementing diplomatic ties with friendly foreign nations.

Interaction with overseas students at the prestigious defence institute enabled better diplomatic ties, he said speaking at the convocation of the 72nd Staff Course of DSSC.

Paul exhorted the staff and student officers at the college to discharge their responsibilities with dedication and patriotic fervour in accordance with the traditions of the institution.

He also expressed hope that the college would continue to produce military leaders of impeccable repute and resolve, yearning to serve the nation.

A total of 421 officers of the Indian Armed Forces, 40 officers from 31 friendly foreign countries and five civilian and paramilitary officers graduated from DSSC today.

The Uttarakhand Governor presented medals to award winners and parchments to international student officers, in the presence of DSSC Commandant Lt Gen Amrik Singh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India is "evaluating" foreign direct investment (FDI) guidelines for the food retail space in India as the government has permitted 100 per cent FDI in the sector.

India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of US retail giant Stores.

Walmart India President and CEO Krish Iyer said the government's decision to permit 100 per cent FDI in food retail is a good step and it would also help reduce wastage.

"I think this 100 per cent FDI in food retail is an extremely good step and it's a very noble objective in terms of being able to double farmers' income and reduce food wastage," Iyer said at a select media briefing here.

When asked whether the company is planning to enter the sector, he said: "We have been evaluating the guidelines and at an appropriate time, we will look at that sector".

Walmart India operates in the wholesale segment, at present, and has 21 cash and carry stores across nine states.

It plans to increase the number of stores to 50 stores by 2021.

"We are building a pipeline of stores and we already have about 16 stores in the pipeline," Iyer said, adding they are at various stages of implementation in terms of licensing and construction.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony of the Walmart Women Entrepreneurship Development (WEDP) programme, under which it trains women entrepreneurs in professional and soft skills to help build robust business.

With a view to benefit farmers and reduce wastage of fruit and vegetables, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget for 2016-17 allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment through FIPB route in marketing of food products produced and manufactured in India.

With regard to its Best Price wholesale stores, Iyer said: "Our major focus has been in the states where we are already present and therefore new stores will also be in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra".

On being asked about foray into new states, he said India as a whole is an attractive market but it is important to keep focus wherever we are present because creating a deeper presence and deeper penetration makes a better business sense.
Chunky Pandey has stunned everyone as a menacing guy in "Begum Jaan" trailer, and the actor says he was not sure if he would get that part in the film.

"After the release of 'Housefull', I was auditioning for 'Begum Jaan' and people on the sets were telling me to say dialogues like 'Aakhri Pasta' (his character in 'Housefull'). At the back of my mind I thought I would not get the film," Chunky told PTI.

"But Srijit was sure he wanted me to play this evil part. He wanted me to lose real Chunky Pandey... He wanted the world to see my evil side. He saw the evilness in me and he wanted to bring that out in 'Begum Jaan'," he says.

Chunky, who is known for his comic timing, is playing a villainous character of Kabir in the Vidya Balan starrer but the actor says it was not tough for him to get into the dark zone.

"He is not a villain... This is the face of evil. Evil will always exist in this world. I always had a wicked streak in me, the sadist side in me also comes in my comedy films. But to do something like this is crazy. It came very naturally to me and I am most scared about that," he says.

Sporting a bald pate, kohl-lined eyes and tobacco- stained teeth, Chunky reveals his wife failed to recognise him in this new avatar.

"My wife couldn't recognise me. The whole personality has changed. She always thought I am a villain and I had to prove her right so I did 'Begum Jaan'," he says.

"I was little resistant (about the look) after seeing myself I was happy. You don't get a film like 'Begum Jaan' everyday in your career. Srijit compelled me to lose my identity, with this creepy, almost-bald look.

"I was earlier asked to cut my hair short, later Srijit just took all my hair off he also asked me to shave off my eyebrows. I told him no as I was travelling for work and could be stopped at immigration."



He believes his 'repulsive role' will get him critical acclaim, something he says he misses since his "Tezaab" days.

The film also features Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi and Gauahar Khan.

Calling them power house performers, Chunky says, "These are actors with whom you have to be on your toes. You have to up your performance. I had to be best. It was a delight to work with them."



Srijit's 1947-set film "Begum Jaan" which is a remake of his Bengali movie "Rajkahini, will release this Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A recovery in Indian exports gathered steam in March with a pick-up in demand for engineering and petroleum products, bolstering an economy still recovering from the government's cash clampdown.

However, a surge in gold and crude oil imports widened the monthly trade deficit to a four-month high of $10.44 billion, data released by the government showed on Thursday.

Merchandise exports grew 28 percent to $29.23 billion in March year-on-year, while imports rose 45.25 percent to $39.67 billion over the same period.

The export numbers bode well for India's $2-trillion economy that is still smarting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision in November to ban high-value currency notes.

They will also cheer Modi who aims to lift India's share in global trade to 5 percent by 2020. Indian goods exports currently account for just 1.6 percent of global trade, compared with nearly 14 percent for China.

Higher volumes and prices doubled petroleum imports to $9.7 billion in March from a year ago. Gold imports surged by more than four times to $4.2 billion last month on restocking as well as demand from the marriage and festive season.

The trade deficit for the year ending in March declined to $105.72 billion from $118.7 billion in the previous year, the data showed.

Thursday's figures come a day after the World Trade Organization (WTO) forecast an annual 2.4 percent growth in global trade this year despite "deep uncertainty" about economic and policy developments globally, particularly in the United States.

Global trade grew by "an usually low" 1.3 percent in 2016, the slowest pace since the financial crisis, failing to match even its revised forecast of 1.7 percent of last September.

(Reporting by Manoj Kumar and Rajesh Kumar Singh)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WILLISTON  After a dismal paddlefish roe sales in the past year, North Star Caviar of Williston announced this week that its fish cleaning plant will halt operation this year  a first in its 25-year operation.

Were super disappointed that we can't continue to offer this, Williston Area Chamber of Commerce President Janna Lutz said Wednesday. Were sad this resource cannot be sold to give back to the community.

A late delivery in January of last year left international market buyers sitting on product that missed their crucial holiday sales. Then, disappointing 2016 summer roe sales left North Star Caviar with 1,200 pounds of caviar on hand.

North Star Caviar attributes the loss to a saturated market from Chinese farm-raised products, according to a press release on Wednesday. Regardless of whats driving the caviar market, the nonprofit was forced to make difficult decisions this year.

The small nonprofit has contributed $2 million in community grants throughout its two decades of operation, though it announced in January it wouldnt have the funds to support grant funding until it found a caviar buyer.

The company is now going to cut expenses even further by ceasing its operation of its fish cleaning plant at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers  a $70,000 yearly expense.

The caviar extracted from paddlefish is taken in return for free fish cleaning for fishermen. Caviar sales have made grant funding a success over the years, but the North Star Caviar Board voted to suspend the fish cleaning service.

North Star Caviar is working with North Dakota Game and Fish to try and cover the collection of jaw samples and field dressing of the fish, Greg Hennessy, chairman of the North Star Board and co-founder of the venture, said.

Lutz remained optimistic that if the market changes in North Stars favor, it will look to offer fish cleaning services and community grants in 2018.

Our thanks to all the fishermen in-state and out-of-state that have partnered with us over the years, Hennessy said in the release.

North Star Caviar was founded in 1993 as a joint venture between the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of Fort Union/Fort Buford. Part of proceeds from the sale of caviar go to the states Game and Fish Department to support paddlefish research. The rest of the money is given as grants to nonprofit groups in the region for historical, cultural, and recreational projects and efforts which improve conditions of habitat and land and water access for outdoor activities.
It also announced the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan, an independent director, as co-chairman of the board - part of efforts to address the founders' corporate governance concerns.

Some founders and former executives of the Bengaluru-based company have publicly accused its board of governance lapses and urged it to follow the lead of rival Tata Consultancy Services that announced a $2.4 billion share buyback in February.

Infosys said it would return up to 130 billion rupees ($2.02 billion) to shareholders in the fiscal year ending March 2018, adding the manner of the payout will be decided by the board.

However, Infosys shares fell 2.4 percent in early trading on Thursday, as the market had been hoping for a larger payout.

The company also reported a small rise in consolidated net profit to 36.03 billion Indian rupees ($559.45 million) in the three months to March, while revenue grew 3.4 percent to 171.20 billion rupees.

Analysts, on average, had expected a consolidated profit of 35.67 billion rupees, according to Thomson data.

Infosys said it expects revenue for the year 2017-18 to grow 6.5 percent to 8.5 percent in constant currency terms.

($1 = 64.3975 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Arnab Paul in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina Gibbs)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The head of State Bank of India (SBI) , the country's largest lender, said she expects a boost to annual profit of as much as Rs 3,000 crore ($465 million) in three years on cost and efficiency gains from the absorption of associate .

Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya also said in an interview that signs of more factory activity pointed to a turnaround in India's weak credit cycle this financial year (FY)  welcome news for a government keen to revive private investment.

State-run this month merged five subsidiary lenders and absorbed them into the parent company. It had fully owned two and had majority stakes in the others, but all had previously operated separately.

Workforce integration will start in June, said Bhattacharya who joined 40 years ago and rose through the ranks to become its first female chief in 2013. has said it will shut or move some branches and close overlapping units.

"Total bottom line impact (of) around two to three thousand crores (Rs 2,000-3,000 crore) is what we are thinking of," she said. "I'll have a better hang of these numbers by the middle of May."

That would compare with a net profit of Rs 11,590 crore for the year ended March 2016 if results of the five subsidiary were included.

Profits at state-run lenders have been under pressure, weighed down by a record $150 billion in stressed assets. The pile of bad debt, combined with slower economic growth and deferral of large projects, has prevented lenders from boosting credit growth.

As of March 17, banking sector loans had grown just 4.4 per cent, compared with 10.9 per cent in the previous year, the weakest pace since the fiscal year ended March 1954.

But Bhattacharya, 61, said she was hoping for good growth from the July-September quarter.

"I've already had a number of meetings with people saying their capacity utilisation has gone up. Commodity prices have gone up, so to that extent people are coming with working capital requests," she said.

SBI has forecast loans to grow 11 per cent this FY after an expected 6.5 per cent growth in the year ended March.

Bhattacharya also said the central bank would need to offer rates matching or higher than the reverse repo rate of 6.00 per cent, the rate lenders get for deposits at the RBI, should it implement a special facility to drain cash from the banking system.

India's central bank wants to withdraw some of the big cash pile accumulated in the banking system since the government banned circulation of big currency notes, but lenders are keen to get proper returns in exchange for transferring cash.
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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his ministry officials on Wednesday presented to the Council of Ministers a blueprint for launch of the path-breaking GST from July 1 to transform the Indian economy.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a detailed presentation to the Council -- the supreme executive organ headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- on how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be implemented and the challenges before it is rolled out.

The biggest tax reform since Independence, GST has been in the works for more than a decade. It will transform the USD 2 trillion economy and market of 1.3 billion people into a single economic zone with a single national sales tax.

GST will subsume central taxes like excise duty which is levied on manufacturing and service tax as well as state taxes like VAT that is chargeable on sale.

Sources said Adhia informed the meeting of the four-slab rate structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent finalised by the GST Council. He explained how the fitment of different goods and services in these slabs is being done to keep their impact on consumers as well as exchequer neutral.

GST will broadly be in line with current levies on most goods and services, sources said.

Besides making it easier to do business in India, GST will improve compliance, boost tax revenue and expand GDP by up to 2 per cent by vanquishing out-of-tax-net parallel trade.

Also, checkpoints at state borders will be dismantled, making movement of goods smooth, he told the meeting.

Sources said Jaitley intervened during the presentation to explain how states will benefit from GST and that the new indirect tax regime is not anti-state but actually pro-state.

At the fag end, the Prime Minister said more such presentations will take place.

The role of GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all 29 states, was explained in detail so as to counter any propaganda against any right of states being encroached or trampled upon, they added.

The meet, which also saw a presentation being made on Digital India and how demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes has helped the economy and the nation, lasted two-and-a-half-hours.
President Pranab Mukherjee has given his approval to four supporting legislations related to Goods and Services Tax (GST), paving the way for the roll out of one-nation-one-tax regime from July 1 in India.

The legislations were The Central GST Act, 2017, The Integrated GST Act, 2017, The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, and The Union Territory GST Act, 2017, officials said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his ministry officials presented to the Council of Ministers a blueprint for launch of the path-breaking GST from July 1 to transform the Indian economy.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a detailed presentation to the Council -- the supreme executive organ headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- on how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be implemented and the challenges before it is rolled out.

The biggest tax reform since Independence, GST has been in the works for more than a decade. It will transform the USD 2 trillion economy and market of 1.3 billion people into a single economic zone with a single national sales tax.

GST will subsume central taxes like excise duty which is levied on manufacturing and service tax as well as state taxes like VAT that is chargeable on sale.

Sources said Adhia informed the meeting of the four-slab rate structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent finalised by the GST Council. He explained how the fitment of different goods and services in these slabs is being done to keep their impact on consumers as well as exchequer neutral.

GST will broadly be in line with current levies on most goods and services, sources said.

Besides making it easier to do business in India, GST will improve compliance, boost tax revenue and expand GDP by up to 2 per cent by vanquishing out-of-tax-net parallel trade.

Also, checkpoints at state borders will be dismantled, making movement of goods smooth, he told the meeting.

Sources said Jaitley intervened during the presentation to explain how states will benefit from GST and that the new indirect tax regime is not anti-state but actually pro-state.

At the fag end, the Prime Minister said more such presentations will take place.

The role of GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all 29 states, was explained in detail so as to counter any propaganda against any right of states being encroached or trampled upon, they added.

The meet, which also saw a presentation being made on Digital India and how demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes has helped the economy and the nation, lasted two-and-a-half-hours.




Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday received honorary Canadian citizenship and praised Canada's open embrace of refugees under the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada last year accepted 25,000 refugees from Syria and in January, when US President Donald Trump issued an immigration ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, Trudeau pointedly tweeted that refugees were welcome in Canada.

"Your motto and your stand - Welcome to Canada - is more than a headline or a hashtag," Yousafzai said in an address to legislators in the Canadian Parliament.

"I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world's most defenceless children and families," she said.

Yousafzai, an Pakistani education activist who came to prominence when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head in 2012, is only the sixth person to receive honorary Canadian citizenship.

Other recipients include Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.


Reliance Jio has complained to the telecom regulator Trai against incumbent operators' "unfair and deceptive" methods to retain customers. The company is claiming that Airtel, Idea and Vodafone are not letting users port-out by using customised retention offers.

The Mukesh-Ambani led company is demanding the strongest action possible against these telecom operators. According to Reliance Jio, these plans are deceptive because companies are approaching customers "surreptitiously". It claims that other telecom operators, in a bid to retain customers, are approaching users on a one-to-one basis and that the same offers are not available to general public.

"At the outset, we submit that so far as these MNP offers are concerned, these are in gross violation of extant telecom laws including Telecom Tariff Order, 1999," Jio has said in the five page letter to TRAI.

Reliance Jio also asked TRAI to look into the deliberate vilification of their company by other major telecom operators.

Jio alleged that the call centres of these operators are providing "false and malicious" information to subscribers regarding the service quality and network coverage of the new operator.

"The call centre recordings reveal a vicious campaign underway to defame and vilify the services being offered by Reliance Jio," it alleged.

Responding to the allegations, a Vodafone spokesperson said that as its customer needs are diverse, the company offers them "exciting and engaging propositions catering to their myriad requirements, in accordance with applicable norms, regulations and industry best practices".

"Vodafone's commitment to its hundreds of million customers is to always provide super value and experience across product, service and network," the spokesperson added.

A Bharti Airtel spokesperson too dismissed the allegations saying the company is in full compliance of all regulatory guidelines including tariff orders and MNP regulations. "We categorically deny these allegations," the spokesperson added.

Idea Cellular hasn't responded to the allegations, so far.

With inputs from PTI


India's second largest telecom service provider, Vodafone on Tuesday announced that users can now avail 4GB of free data when they upgrade their SIM cards to 4G network. It comes as a counter against Reliance Jio's plans. The new Vodafone 4G SIM cards are available at Vodafone Stores, Vodafone Mini Stores and multi-brand outlets across Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Vodafone offer is available for both prepaid and post-paid users. Prepaid users can use 4GB free data through a validity period of 10 days. Whereas, Vodafone post-paid users can use the 4GB free data until the next billing date."The free data shall be added to the customer's data balance on upgrading to a 4G SIM," Vodafone said in a statement.

Pushpinder Singh Gujral, Business Head of Mumbai, Vodafone India said that Vodafone is proud to be the preferred telecom services provider to over 9 million customers in Mumbai and it is offering the 4GB data to their customers to make them experience the benefits of Vodafone's Data Strong Network .

Vodafone SuperNet 4G services are available across 17 circles in India- Kerala, Kolkata, Karnataka, Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (East), West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam & North East, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & Goa, Uttar Pradesh (West).

Recently, Reliance Jio stirred up the telecom industry in India after it introduced its disruptive data plans that has led other major telcos to churn out more resources. Reliance Jio on Tuesday announced its new plan called 'Dhan Dhana Dhan' offer under which the user can get three months of unlimited data and free calls for a one-time recharge of Rs 309.

Interested Vodafone customers, who want to switch over to 4G network, can use the following steps:

1. Buy a SIM card from any of the Vodafone stores

2. To activate the 4G SIM card, SMS 'SIMEX ' to 55199 from your existing Vodafone number

3. You will receive a response SMS from 55199 with partial SIM number entered

4. Then, you need to send the last 6 digits of the new SIM number to 55199 within 2 hours of receiving the SMS mentioned in the above step

5. You will receive a success SMS, post which your 4G SIM will be activated within 20 minutes.

6. Subsequently, replace your old SIM in the handset with the new 4G SIM and 4G services will get activated.

Vodafone had recently announced a merger with Idea Cellular to form a new entity. The merger is expected to be implemented within a course of two years, post which the newly formed entity will be the largest telecom service provider of this country.
The Hyrum City Council Chambers was filled to capacity Wednesday evening as members of the <a href=http://www.cachevalleyhistory.com/>Cache Valley Historical Society</a> gathered to hear retired <a href=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/uwcnf/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5228922>Logan Hotshot</a> Superintendent Scott Bushman and former Logan District Ranger Dave Baumgartner share The Way We Worked: A History of Fighting Forest Fires in Northern Utah and the West. Also in the audience were a number of wildland firefighters, both past and present, whose collective experience helped shape the <a href=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/uwcnf/recarea/?recid=8985>Logan Ranger District</a> and will continue to impact its future.

The Cache Valley Historical Society sponsored the lecture in partnership with the <a href=http://hyrumcitymuseum.org/>Hyrum City Museum</a>, which is currently hosting a <a href=http://hyrumcitymuseum.org/smithsonian-exhibit-the-way-we-worked-at-hyrum-city-museum/>Smithsonian Exhibition</a> with The Way We Worked as its theme. Created by the National Archives, the touring exhibition examines the strength and spirit of American workers through archival images, compelling videos and fascinating interviews. Yesterdays presentation was part of the Hyrum City Museums complementary programming to augment the Smithsonian Exhibition with activities of local significance.

Learning more about fire towers, smoke jumper missions, hotshot crews and smoke chasers, members of the audience were introduced to an in-depth history of Logans first wildland firefighters. Sharing over 100 years of photographs and reading from a 1907 journal, Bushman explored the evolution of fighting forest fires in the Logan Ranger District and its ties with Utah State University. Bushman himself retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 2009, after 35 years of fire management experience and leadership.

Georgiana Banellis, a member of the Cache Valley Historical Society, said the discussion delivered more than she expected.

I had no idea how dangerous and how exciting the work of a firefighter can be, she said. Sometimes we dont realize how specifically they are trained to do their jobThey work as a team, very close-knit individuals, and they do have academic background. It seems like its just not a guess of what theyre supposed to be doing. They have the right equipment, the gear and the accommodations, very little rest, and theyre very dedicated professionals. I was very impressed with what I learned tonight.

One of a handful of children in the audience, eight-year-old Jack Pixton had the opportunity to try Bushmans wildland fire equipment pack on for size.

What I learned tonight is that there were boulders and other dangers besides fires, he said.

Both Bushman and Baumgartner told personal stories of some of these obstacles, describing working 21-day shifts at a time with only 48 hours off in between. Sometimes, they slept on sloped ledges so narrow that they had to tie themselves to the mountainside. Other times, firefighters were injured by chainsaws or by boulders, as Pixton described, and had to be airlifted to safety. Rarelybut too oftencrew members made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in a fire. Working as a hotshot, Bushman said, was much different than serving on a historical <a href=http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/thecivilianconservationcorps.html>Civilian Conservation Corps</a> (CCC) fire suppression crew.

We had fitness standards, we had our own transportation, he said. We carried a lot of stuff. We were trained to fight the big fires, kind of like the heavy infantry. We had our own permanent overhead. We were mobile. We were on a national availability list, and we would go for long durations.

The evenings presentation concluded with Bushman and Baumgartner recalling their efforts in suppression of the tragic Cramer Fire of 2003 near Salmon Idaho, where two firefighters lost their lives.

When we go away to fire school, said Baumgartner, you know, they throw all these kinds of tricks at you just to see how you react to those kinds of things, and yet this was all real.

The Cache Valley Historical Societys next activity will be a discussion of The Aftermath of the Mountain Meadows Massacre by Barbara Jones Brown. The event will take place on May 10. Information about ongoing programming at the Hyrum City Museum is available at <a href=http://www.hyrumcitymuseum.org/>www.hyrumcitymuseum.org</a>.

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jennifer@cvradio.com
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LOGAN  A 22-year-old former Logan man, originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, has pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Derrek Shoup appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning. In March 2016, he was charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony.

State attorney Jacob Gordon told the court Shoup was 21 at the time when he had sex with the teenager, who was a reported acquaintance. It allegedly occurred in May 2015.

Last December Shoup waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over to answer the charge.

During Tuesdays court appearance, Shoup accepted a plea deal from prosecutors, pleading guilty to attempted sexual activity with a minor, amended to a class A misdemeanor. The guilty plea will keep the victim from having to testify during a trial.

Judge Brian Cannell scheduled sentencing for June 13. He also ordered probation agents to complete a pre-sentence report in the meantime, outlining the defendants criminal history.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to a group of Utah State University students.

LOGAN  Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox encouraged students of Utah State Universitys political science department to make a difference by becoming involved and staying informed. His 50-minute discussion took place during a USU Institute of Government and Politics event on campus Wednesday afternoon.

Cox said the lack of involvement is making the political divide worse, because candidates running for election cater to those who are more vocal, which is usually the hyperpartisan. With that, compromise becomes rare and damaging and incendiary comments are made.

Like most of those in attendance, Cox was a once USU political science student. He graduated in 1998, and said during that time, politicians on different sides of issues were often kind to each when they werent on the floor. He said they would work through issues and come to compromises. He added that oftentimes they would go out to eat or attend other events together. He said it has changed now.

Now that is absolutely not the case, he said. They dont talk to each other. They dont spend any time together. They genuinely dont like each other.

Ive often compared Washington D.C. to a dumpster fire, but its not fair to dumpster fires. However bad you think it is, I think it is worse.

But Cox has hope it could change, and he thinks millennials could play a big part in it.

Millennials could be the most influential voting bloc in the country, he said. The problem is we dont have enough of you getting involved.

Cox issued a challenge to the students to surround themselves with people different than themselves, instead of just listening to political debate. He said by getting to know those who are different, they will come to realize those people have similar goals and values, but it is just that often the method of reaching those are different.

He cited state legislation that was passed a few years ago as an example of working together across political divides. In the same piece of legislation, additional protections were offered to both the LGBT community as well as different religious groups and faiths.

This was at a time when states in our country and our country itself were being torn apart by these two factions, he said. We had leaders of all religious faiths, the LDS church, the Catholic church, Jewish and Muslim faiths coming together with leaders of the LGBT community and they were hugging and crying together and it was a cool thing. You can do that.

Cox said the availability of many different media organizations makes it too easy for people to only follow the new source with slant they agree with, which polarizes the country even more.

I like to read publications on the left and the right, and compare them every day, he said. Filter these results. Figure out what is right and what is true, dont rely on someone else. Then find ways to get involved.

A good way of getting involved, Cox said, is reaching out and communicating with those in office. He said many of them, especially at the state and local levels, are actually more available than most think.
Crews are still cleaning up flood damage in some parts of Cache County. Cache County Executive Craig Buttars informed the Cache County Council Tuesday that disaster declarations have been made by both Cache County and by the state of Utah.

We are waiting for a federal declaration to come from the White House, said Buttars. We are hoping that will come by April 25th. That way we can begin to plan for the reconstruction and for the roads that need repair.

Buttars said for any federal money received, the county must match it by 25%. He says the major damage was on the Mendon Road, which has been closed since the flooding began.

Buttars also informed the council that a contractor will soon be selected for a multi-purpose building to be built along with improvements at the Cache County Fairgrounds. Buttars said four bids were submitted and they were all good bids.

He said the lowest bidder was Darrell Anderson Construction Company, a Logan-based company.

They had considered things in their recommendations that some of the other companies hadnt considered, Buttars explained, like the possibility of asbestos or things like that that need to be cleaned up in the process of tearing the old buildings down.

They even have the equipment and the ability to do that themselves. That was one important factor but there were several.

Members of the Cache County Council are hoping to start construction on the project shortly after the 2017 Cache County Fair.
Workers move coal to a transport vehicle in Tianjin on Wednesday. Tianjin has banned polluting diesel-powered coal trucks from its port three months ahead of schedule. Photo: Xia Weicong/Caixin

(Beijing)  Tianjin has intensified its war on smog by banning polluting diesel-powered coal trucks from its port three months ahead of schedule, Caixin has learned.

Under the move, all coal handled by the port will be transported by railway instead of diesel trucks beginning at the end of April. The city had originally agreed to apply the ban in July.

The ban is part of a plan proposed in March by Chinas Ministry of Environmental Protection, which contained radical measures to tackle air pollution, such as reducing targeted cities steel output by 50% in winter and setting up coal-free districts. All ports in Hebei province, which borders Tianjin, are required to ban diesel-powered coal trucks by September.

Tianjins Environmental Protection Bureau announced in a conference late Tuesday night that it would move up the start date, following Tianjin Mayor Wang Dongfengs visit to the port, according to sources close to the matter.

One of the reasons behind the decision could be Tianjins deteriorating air quality, said a source close to the ministry. From January to March, the city dropped eight places to 10th-worst in Chinas air-quality rankings.

As one of China's most heavily polluted areas, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has struggled to battle severe smog in recent years. The port of Tianjin, Chinas second-largest by cargo volume, was ordered to stop handling all goods due to low visibility caused by smog. The delays cost importers 78 million yuan ($11.3 million), according to the minutes of a meeting Caixin acquired.

Banning coal-carrying diesel-powered trucks in the port is a costly step, which is designed to reduce emissions to improve air quality in many cities, most importantly in Beijing.

The trucks depart from northern Chinas coal-producing Inner Mongolia region, running 500 to 900 km to the Port of Tianjin. From there, about 100 million metric tons of coal products are shipped each year to users in southern China for power generation.

Such trucks have become a major contributor to Beijings air pollution. Eight thousand trucks pass through the capital each day, and 7,000 of them are coal-carrying, according to a research report Caixin acquired in March.

A source close to the ministry said that the huge emission created by those trucks can offset one of Beijings major anti-smog measures, which uses an odd-even system to restrict car use every weekday based on the final digit of a cars license plate.

In 2016, Tianjins port handled a total of 110 million metric tons of coal, 51% of which was transported by trucks, port data showed.

The port authority said in February that it was applying for permission to build more railway lines for transporting coal. Local media reported that it was seeking cooperation with neighboring ports in Hebei province in coal transportation.

China Railway Corp. has supported Tianjins port by approving in February the use of nearly 3,000 trains to Taiyuan, Huhehaote, and other locations to meet the expected demand. The company said they would provide more trains in the future.

Contact reporter Song Shiqing (shiqingsong@caixin.com)
UBA Staff and Laureats UBA

The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence in customer service, by celebrating staff who have strives to implement the Banks core values of Enterprise, Excellence and Execution.

Lagos, 8th April 2017  Eko Hotel Expo Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, the United Bank for Africa gathered customers, captains of industry, dignitaries from politics and diplomacy, staff and Board members from its 19 African country network, to witness the 2017 UBA CEO Awards.

The prestigious annual event was first established in 2008 to celebrate outstanding performance within the UBA Pan-African family, showcasing excellence, significant innovation and service in key areas of the Groups business.

UBAs industry-leading recent promotion of 3000 staff members illustrated the Banks appreciation of their contributions and their service delivery to customers. Amongst a distinguished audience, the Bank and senior management on Saturday night again celebrated its staff at the CEO Awards Ceremony, in UBAs inimitable style  bringing together Lions and Lionesses from across Nigeria and Africa.

Over 10 Awards were given. Of each award category, the GMD, Kennedy Uzoka said We recognize and appreciate that there are so many staff members who have demonstrated aspects of each of our core values, but we have had to single out the very best. We celebrate our Lions and Lionesses who used their ingenuity and creativity, as well as their industry experience and passion, to work tirelessly to deliver excellent service to our customers and to continue to achieve exceptional results within the Group.

There were winners who had excelled in innovation and execution across Africa. There were also those who were rewarded for their entrepreneurial abilities. The CEO of UBA Ghana, Mrs Abiola Bawuah was chosen in the special award category of Business Leader who defied all odds and opened up new opportunities for the Bank. Mrs Bawuah was described by the GMD as a relentless CEO, who breaks barriers, extends the horizon and motivates, inspires and encourages others.

UBA Cameroon also received an award for highest sales of Visa Prepaid cards in Francophone Africa; Isong Udom the MD/CEO received this on behalf of the subsidiary.

The Award which stole the show went to Ibrahim Ogbanagbo, the UBA security staff at the UBA Oba Akran branch in Lagos, who found $10,000 cash belonging to a customer and returned it to the customer. Ogbanagbo talked about how the $10,000 could have changed his life and how he could have taken it, but how his upbringing, as well as UBAs value and focus on Integrity would never have allowed him to do so. He was given the Excellence Award for his display of honesty and integrity.

The Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu went on stage to congratulate Ogbanagbo personally. Elumelu said that Ogbanagbo exemplified someone who is committed to the hallmarks of Excellence in the execution of his duties.

This is an example to us all. How anyone, no matter their position in our Group can distinguish themselves and set an example. Today, we stand here to celebrate a junior UBA staff member, who returned money that was misplaced and who through this action, gained much more than he could ever have imagined. As a leading pan-African bank, this is what we stand for and we commend Ibrahim Ogbonagbo for living the principle of integrity.

In all it was a night to remember, an evening of reward and celebration, and perhaps most poignantly, the story of how the integrity and honesty of a UBA security staff could become the role model of an African group of over 25,000 people and a symbol of the paramount commitment of UBA to its customers.

By Wilson MUSA
Ayah Paul W. Musa

The Yaounde Appeals Court has rejected the Babeas Corpus appeal by defense Counsel of jailed AYAH Paul Abine on grounds that the complainant did not go through the right quarters before filing the appeal.

The court session scheduled which started by 11 am Thursday April 13, 2017 was given few minutes of recess after Justice Ayah Paul pointed out some irregularities in the process.

The case was later adjourned due to some technical reasons according to Judges at the Appeal Court.

It was said that the defense counsel did not follow the normal procedure for filing appeal cases, according to the judges; the individual concerned was supposed to personally present it to the President of the Appeals Court upon acknowledgement receipt.

The Counsel of AYAH Paul has immediately filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, meaning that the fate of the National President of the Popular Action Party, PAP, will only be decided by his own colleagues at the countrys highest court.

This is the second time the Habeas Corpus is being rejected. The first was on March 21 when the Mfoundi High Court turned down the appeal.

AYAH Paul Abine was arrested on January 21, 2017 in the heart of Anglophone crisis.

By Wilson MUSA
Francois Louceny Fall U. N.

The representative of the United Nation, UN, Secretary General to the Central Africa sub region, Francoise Lounceny Fall has called on the Government of Cameroon to free all persons arrested during the crisis that have hit the two English Speaking regions of the country.

The UN representative made the declaration in Yaounde Wednesday night April 12, 2017 to the Press after spending three day investigation in Cameroon.

Mr Fall also called on the Government to reinstate Internet in the two English speaking regions. The release of those arrested and return of internet according to the UN staff is the right step in the right direction towards restoring peace in these regions.

The representative of the UN Secretary General to the Central African sub region before his media outing met with various strike leaders including those imprisoned, Teachers Trade Unionists and other key actors in the struggle.

He welcome measures put in place by Government to solve the crisis and urged them to immediately implement the measures and also put in motion the National Committee to promote Multiculturalism and Bilingualism.

Francoise Fall however said the UN cannot decide on the form of the state because it is the responsibility of Cameroonians to decide through ballot.

Mr Fall revealed that he met with Prof. Maurice Kamto of CRM political party, the man who few days back criticized the UN and other International bodies for keeping sealed lips on the Anglophone crisis.

By Wilson MUSA
| BY Ricki Green |

When Moodley was at Naked, he received some of the industrys top honors for campaigns like Steal Banksy for Art Series Hotels, which won Cannes and Effie Gold, Overstay Checkout for Art Series Hotels, which won Cannes Silver, and the Speedkills for Transport Accident Commission (TAC), which received Gold at both New York Festivals and Spikes Asia.
| BY Ricki Green |

CB Exclusive  Saatchi & Saatchi Australia has today announced the hire of Aussie expat Sesh Moodley (left) to the new deputy executive creative director role, based at Saatchi & Saatchi in Sydney.

A native of Sydney, Moodley joins Saatchi & Saatchis Sydney office after five years in the US, most recently as ECD at Victors & Spoils Boulder, an innovative agency model started by Crispin alums. Prior to Victors & Spoils, Moodley worked as creative director with Crispin Porter + Bogusky for three years focusing on the growth of key business across Miami and Boulder, where he ran one of the agencys biggest accounts, Best Buy. Moodley departed his CD role at Naked Comms Sydney in 2012 and moved to AKQA San Francisco where he led creative efforts for global brewer Anheuser Busch.

Throughout his career, Moodley has enjoyed multiple wins at Cannes, D&AD, Clio, One Show, Spikes, New York Festivals and the Effies including Grand Prix recognition. He has also received two Warc awards for innovation.

The agency has also confirmed the promotion of current executive creative director, Mike Spirkovski (left) to the newly created position of national chief creative officer. Both appointments come off the back of last years big hire that saw award winning strategist Kate Smither join the senior management team as chief strategy officer.

Spirkovski joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 2014 from iris Sydney, and under his creative leadership, the agency has achieved significant creative success for its clients, most notably, best campaign of the year at the AdNews Awards (2015), best car ad in the world at the One Show Automotive Awards and its second Innovation Lion in a row at Cannes for Toyotas LandCruiser Emergency Network, which has also won at numerous local and international award shows. Prior to joining iris in 2013, Spirkovski was creative director at Droga5 Sydney where he helped grow the agency to win accounts such as Woolworths and Qantas.

Says Michael Rebelo, CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and New Zealand: It was such a natural decision to elevate Mike into this new position. He has been the creative partner every CEO wishes for, a fine leader of our creative department and a top partner and friend to our clients and the agency team. The great thing about Mike, even though he has achieved so much for Saatchi & Saatchi, is that his ambition is boundless.

As the deputy executive creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, Moodley will oversee all brands and creative product across the Sydney office, working in to national chief creative officer, Mike Spirkovski.

Says Moodley: Ive always been a big fan of Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney and their game-changing ideas for big brands. I couldnt be more stoked to be back home for this role working with Mike and the team. What also excites me is the opportunity to help lead the agencys creative efforts for some of Australias most iconic brands. I cant wait to get stuck in and live up to their Nothing is Impossible spirit.

Says Spirkovski: Its a privilege and an honour to take up this new role. Im really proud of what we have achieved as an agency over the past few years, and now with a strong deputy like Sesh in place, I know we will strive for even greater things. Ive known Sesh since our days at Leo Burnett in the mid 2000s. Hes a prolific creative thinker whos always on the edge of finding change and ways to grow and do better work. Sesh has developed into an inspiring leader, one that we are lucky to have as part of the Saatchi team.
| BY Ricki Green |

Bonds has launched a new campaign via Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne reminding Australians to refresh their sock drawers. Featuring long standing Bonds Ambassador Pat Rafter, the campaign launch film sees Rafter return to the limelight for what he thinks will be his next big Bonds Underwear commercial. The ad takes a humorous turn when Rafter realises his underwear modelling days are over and hes been relegated to a sock model.

Rafter has been the face of Bonds for over ten years and whilst his prior engagement with the brand has seen him front Bonds Underwear and the Bonds Baby Search campaign, this time he toes the line as the face of Bonds socks.

Says Emily Small, head of marketing, Bonds: Pat has been an ambassador for Bonds for over ten years. He was the natural choice when it came to promoting our comfy socks range and is always up for a laugh.

Its clear that former Bonds underwear ambassador Rafter was an obvious shoe-in for the Bonds Sock campaign, continuing to win over Aussies with his charm and humour.

Hailed as Australias favourite sock, Bonds Socks offer cushioned soles to provide extra comfort, a contoured heel for a better fit and Invisi Grip technology so socks always stay in place.

Rafter, in the twilight of his modelling career, shows us he is a jock of all trades in the latest campaign for Bonds Socks that launches on TV and social, along with in store and OOH activity.

Bonds

Head of Marketing, Bonds: Emily Small

Marketing Manager, Bonds: Michelle Taylor

Brand Manager, Bonds: Kedda Ghazarian

Clemenger BBDO

Creative Chairman: James McGrath

Creative Directors: Richard Williams & Ant Phillips

Group Managing Director: Simon Lamplough

Account Management: Paige Prettyman, Rebecca Orlandi

Strategic Planner: Michael Derepas

Senior Producer: Lisa Moro

Print Producer: Sharon Adams

Production Company: Guilty

Director: Tony Rogers

Production Producer: Rohan Timlock

DOP: Marin Johnson

Editor (Offline): Tim Parrington

Colourist: CJ Dobson

Online: Sam Coates

Sound Engineer: Paul LeCouteur
| BY Ricki Green |

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced new initiatives in 2017 to support young creatives to thrive in the industry.

To share and promote the voices of young creatives, Cannes Lions launches The Future of Creativity: The Cannes Lions Young Creative Poll. This short questionnaire, open to those aged 30 and under, takes less than two minutes to complete and will gauge how young creatives globally feel about the industry and their future within it. The results will be published in May.

The Cannes Lions School builds upon its world-renowned training and learning offering, with the launch of The Night School. The school Campus, home to the academy classrooms, will be transformed after dark into a space for all Cannes Lions attendees to explore creative ideas and have fun through crafted workshops. Running from Tuesday 20  Thursday 22 June, with a different theme each night, special guests will be interviewed by Night School host Jon Burkhart, co-author of Newsjacking: The Urgent Genius of Real-time Advertising and co-founder of Urgent Genius, the worlds first blog dedicated to reactive creativity.

Cannes Lions launches its third week-long Masters of Creativity programme designed to support industry talent to make the transition into senior management. This years challenging brief, available to download from www.canneslions.com, asks participants to convince European adult consumers that Oreo cookies are not just for kids. It will be led by Jill Baskin, Mondelez International VP global creative, and Karen Costello, SVP executive creative director, The Martin Agency.

The 2017 masters are:

Content: Eleonore Ogrinz, Head of International Advertising, Red Bull

Creative Effectiveness: Adrian Farina, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Visa, Inc-Europe

Creative Selling: Beth Rilee-Kelley, President, The Martin Agency

Creativity: Rob Reilly, Global Creative Chairman, McCann Worldgroup

Data: Alan Schulman, National Director of Content Marketing & Creative Experience, Deloitte Digital

Innovation: Scott Galloway, Clinical Professor, NYU Stern School of Business

Media: Nick Brien, Global CEO, iCrossing and President of Hearst Marketing Services

Strategic Leadership: Sarah Watson, BBH Global and NY Chief Strategy Officer

Starting on Sunday 18 June, delegates attend eight exclusive presentations from leading professionals and are then assigned into multi-disciplined, multi-functional teams who will present their pitches on Friday 23 June. The jury is chaired by Keith Reinhard, chairman Emeritus, DDB Worldwide and senior marketing officials of the Mondelez International team.

Says Baskin: Oreo is the worlds favourite cookie but theres still room to grow. We look forward to seeing how this dynamic group of creative thinkers and brand activators find ways to get Europeans to consider Oreo as an adult treat, in addition to a biscuit kids love.
| BY Ricki Green |

Acclaimed international director Paul Middleditch will join Brisbane Advertising and Design Club (BADC) as guest speaker at a special lunch event next week, Friday, April 24 from 12:30pm-2:30pm at The Sky Room at Brisbane Convention Centre.

Middleditch is the creative mind behind some of the nations most memorable and awarded campaigns, including Carlton Draughts Big Ad and Yellow Pages Not Happy Jan and will deliver an insightful speech that poses the question: is the Big Ad dead?

His long list of credentials, madcap humour and unbridled energy presents an opportunity for all interested to hear from one of the best in the business at an entertaining and inspiring networking event.

The keynote address will focus on the power of great storytelling in a media landscape thats overflowing with content, also sharing his personal insights into the industry, gained during a long and successful career.

The event includes a two-course lunch and beverage package.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Australian National Maritime Museum has appointed The Certainty Principle as the creative agency to promote three major museum exhibitions in 2017.

Its latest collaboration is Escape From Pompeii: The Untold Roman Rescue  a world class international exhibition that brings to life the untold story of the Roman Navy and its dramatic attempt to rescue citizens of Pompeii following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.

The key art was created and animated in 3D and is being used across all campaign assets, including a projection on the roof of the museum, TV commercials, online and social content, print, outdoor, transit and signage in and around the museum and Darling Harbour.

Says Jackson Pellow, brand and marketing manager, the Australian National Maritime Museum: Given peoples ongoing fascination with the story of Pompeii, this exhibition is expected to attract significant audiences over the coming months. The pressure was on to deliver exceptional creative that would drive visitation, and already the pre-launch sales are well above target.

While many people know of the tragic eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under huge amounts of volcanic ash and debris, not many know that the Roman Navy attempted to evacuate people affected by the eruption or indeed its important role in the success of the Roman Empire. The exhibition is told through the words of the Roman Navys commander of the fleet, Pliny the Elder and his nephew, Pliny the Younger who witnessed the event and created the only surviving first-hand account of the disaster.

Says Matt Daunt, CEO, The Certainty Principle: Were thrilled that we have been able to help bring this untold story of Pompeii to life. We worked closely with the curators of the exhibition to ensure everything we were creating was in line with the vision of this incredible story. The result is a powerful and engaging campaign reflecting the intensity of the Roman Navys evacuation attempt.

The exhibition includes an extraordinary collection of objects, some of which have never toured outside Italy before together with an 8-minute 3D animation that recreates the events on that fateful day in 79AD. It is a rare and exciting chance for visitors to see 2,000-year-old Roman artefacts and haunting body casts of victims of Mount Vesuvius.

The Certainty Principle will also be working with the Australian National Maritime Museum on the upcoming Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 exhibition which opens on 31st May.

Escape from Pompeii: The Untold Roman Rescue exhibition is now open at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
| BY Ricki Green |

The One Club for Creativity, the worlds foremost non-profit organization devoted to elevating creative work in all aspects of advertising and design, today announced the appointment of Michael ORourke (left) as executive director in charge of the ADC Awards and programming.

He will oversee all ADC Awards programming and growth on a global level as the prestigious 96-year old organization expands its progressive remit in its first year under recently formed The One Club for Creativity (TOCC) umbrella organization.

ORourke joins TOCC from the International Awards Group/New York Festivals, where he served as president and spent the past 10 years managing New York Festivals Advertising Awards, AME Awards, Midas Awards and Global Awards. He was responsible for all facets of award show programming and marketing, exhibitions and screenings of winning work, and educational and civic partnerships.

Says ORourke: ADC began as a progressive force back in 1920 as the first creative organization for the commercial arts. Im extremely honored and excited to now be able to leverage The One Club for Creativitys global platform and resources to continue and expand this legacy as a progressive catalyst for the next 100 years of commercial craft, design and innovation. Im energized by the opportunity to be part of the clubs esteemed heritage and give back to the creative community of a global stage.

Says Kevin Swanepoel, chief executive officer, The One Club: Michaels background, deep industry knowledge and enthusiasm make him the ideal fit to lead the ADC Awards into the next phase of its evolution. His vision is in sync with the programs progressive mission, and we look forward to the inspiring initiatives hell lead.

ORourke becomes the latest addition to TOCCs formidable senior management team, led by Swanepoel. The team includes Yash Egami, vice president, content and marketing, who has led The One Club charge in those areas for more than a decade; Gabriela Mirensky, director, awards and design, who previously served for a dozen years as director of competitions and exhibitions at AIGA; and Tony Gulisano, global chief growth officer, who has over three decades of experience directing award programs, including 26 years with the Clio Awards.

Says Swanepoel: Weve assembled a powerhouse leadership team who have a level of skills, connections and experience thats unmatched by any other creative industry organization in the world. This team is laser focused on achieving our vision of being the worlds foremost non-profit organization to celebrate and elevate the global creative community.

Merger officially approved, three ADC board members join The One Club board

The One Club and ADC announced their merger in October, last year to form The One Club for Creativity, which serves as the umbrella organization for The One Show, ADC Awards, Young Guns, Creative Week, One Screen, Hall of Fame and a wide range of global education and diversity programs. The new entity celebrates the legacy of creative advertising and design, and uses that legacy to inspire future generations.

The merger was recently officially approved by the New York State Attorney Generals office, effective April 1, 2017. As part of the merger, three members of the ADC board of directors  Brian Collins, chief creative officer, COLLINS; Philippe Meunier, creative chief/co-founder, Sid Lee; and Robert Wong, executive creative director, Google  have joined The One Club board.

The awards shows each have their distinct focus: the ADC Annual Awards maintains its historical concentration as the champion for craft, design and innovation, while The One Show continues its focus on creativity of ideas and quality of execution.

The One Club for Creativity now offers an unparalleled array of complementary programming across creative disciplines. All initiatives fall under five key pillars: education, inclusion, diversity, professional development and gender equality.

In addition to awards shows, TOCC programming includes Creative Boot Camps, Here Are All The Black People multicultural creative career fair, Creative Leaders Retreat, Young Ones honoring students, Creative Womens Leadership Series, the 50/50 Initiative, Paper Expo, Hands On, Henry Wolf Photography Workshop for NYC public school students, Saturday Career Workshops for talented high school juniors in the five boroughs of New York and others.

Says Swanepoel: No other organization gives back to the advertising and design industries with this level of comprehensive educational and development programming on a global basis. The One Show and ADC Awards generate the revenue that is then funneled right back into the industry to fund these important initiatives.

TOCC will celebrate excellence in craft, design and innovation for professional work at the ADC 96th Annual Awards Gala on May 8, 2017, 6:00-11:00 pm at Artbeam, 540 West 21st St., NYC. Student winners will be presented at the Young Ones & ADC Student Awards Ceremony on May 9, 2017, 6:00-10:00 pm at West Edge NYC, 88 10th Avenue, NYC. Both awards shows are part of The One Club for Creativitys Creative Week in New York.
| BY Lynchy |

Dentsu Aegis Network Indonesia has appointed SK Biswas, Chief Operating Officer of Dentsu Aegis Network Indonesia, to succeed industry veteran Harris Thajeb as CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Indonesia. Harris Thajeb will move into the role of non-executive Chairman and continue to work closely with Biswas focusing on local stakeholder relationships.

Biswas (pictured), who was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Dentsu Aegis Network Indonesia in September 2016, has over 25 years experience in the communications industry, more than half of which are in senior leadership positions in emerging markets, managing creative, media and digital agencies. He will report directly to Dick van Motman, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Southeast Asia.

Whilst we were plotting acceleration of growth in Indonesia especially with the recent addition of Dwi Sapta group, both Pak Harris and I agreed that one of the key imperatives is to have this 900-strong team spearheaded by the next generation of leadership. We both identified Biswas as the perfect candidate for this task given his convergent experience, energy level and deep knowledge of the local market. I could not ask for a better transition and leadership evolution having the old and the new guards partner so maturely and closely, said Dick van Motman, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Southeast Asia.

Thajeb said, In the last few months, Biswas has proven himself considerably in his role as Chief Operating Officer. At Dentsu Aegis Network, weve always had a focus on talent and Im confident of Biswas ability to ensure that we will power through the next phase of growth in the market, bringing not just scale but greater innovation and differentiation to our businesses and clients.
Here are the battleground states that could have us waiting on election night
"People have rightly explored options about what you can do around housing affordability. [We have] ruled out [changes to] negative gearing and now the PM has dealt with this issue as well. So there are other ways that you can provide help but you don't want to fuel the prices. You don't want to create a situation that is worse than what we have got at the moment," he said.
One Coast tag.JPG

The Mississippi legislature has approved the sale of a new specialty tag featuring the 'One Coast' concept. Orders for the new tag are now being taken through Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.

(Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast image)

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi legislature has approved a specialty tag featuring the 'One Coast' concept and orders for the new tag are now being accepted.

Sponsored by Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, proceeds from the sale of the specialty tag will go to the non-profit Tourism Fund, designed to support and enhance the efforts of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast by promoting and advancing tourism on the Mississippi coast.

The One Coast tag will cost $31 if paid by check; $32.25 if paid online through PayPal (including $1.25 PayPal processing fee). This fee is in additional to the normal cost of a Mississippi car tag.

The new tag can be pre-ordered online at https://www.gulfcoast.org/one-coast-tag/.

In announcing the new tag, Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast noted the following:

Tag registration dates will remain the same. Those purchasing the specialty tag are only paying for that tag and not their annual renewal. Renewal dates will remain the same.

Tags will be available mid-July, contingent upon the pre-sale of at least 300 of the One Coast tags. Buyers will be notified when the tags will be available and can be picked up at a county courthouse.

The One Coast tags must be picked up within 50 days of the buyer being notified. Existing tags must be turned in to claim the new specialty tag.

The Mississippi Department of Revenue reports annual revenues of about $10 million from the sale of specialty car tags throughout the state. There are currently more than 200 specialty tags available in the state.
Our work with law enforcement agencies across the country has allowed us to crack down on a wide array of animal cruelties -- like cockfighting. Photo by Meredith Lee/The HSUS

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Yesterday, we hosted John Thompson, the deputy executive director of the National Sheriffs Association, at our national headquarters and bestowed upon him a Humane Leadership Award for helping bring humane sensibilities into the consciousness of the nation. Thompson is straight out of central casting as a law enforcement man, yet his heart is just as broad as his shoulders, as hes shown time and time again. He led the effort to get the FBI to embrace a new animal cruelty reporting framework to accumulate data on perpetrators and put that information into a central, searchable database. He actively engages legislative and law enforcement leaders to pass critical animal welfare laws and improve the national landscape for animals, the people who care about them, and the communities in which they live.

The Humane Society of the United States is privileged to work with the brave men and women dedicated to making our communities safer. To that end, we partner with law enforcement officials across the country on a wide array of investigations, trainings, and legislation. The National Sheriffs Association is one of our best partners.

In a cooperative effort between The HSUS and federal authorities that lasted three months, a Southern District of Alabama grand jury indicted four individuals last month on federal charges in connection with the investigation of a major cockfighting pit in Citronelle, Alabama. The FBI arrested four suspects yesterday eight months after federal law enforcement officers, with The HSUS on site, searched the Citronelle property where they uncovered a huge arena with bleacher seating, concession stands, trophies, cockfighting paraphernalia, and rental holding spaces for participants birds with room for more than 1,000 animals. In 2012 The HSUS filed a complaint with the Alabama attorney generals office requesting an investigation of the Alabama Gamefowl Breeders Association, arguing that it is unlawfully masquerading as a nonprofit entity while profiting from illegal cockfights. In the indictment, an undercover FBI agent describes attending an illegal cockfighting derby at the Citronelle property on May 7, 2016, when the agent witnessed the president of the Alabama Gamefowl Breeders Association address the crowd about his groups efforts to block legislation to strengthen the penalties for cockfighting in Alabama and soliciting donations. The AGBA president was not among those indicted, but its secretary was indicted for selling merchandise at the derby.

This is the sort of spade work we are doing with law enforcement agencies every day. In 2016, in cooperation with the National Sheriffs Association, we recognized 20 additional law enforcement professionals with Humane Law Enforcement Awards. Awardees were acknowledged for their commitment to humane law enforcement training and their pursuit of animal cruelty prosecutions. Recipients included a Detective with Naples Police Department who pursued felony animal cruelty charges after an individual drop-kicked a native bird off a pier, as well as a group of officers and an assistant district attorney in Cabarrus County, North Carolina who worked with our Animal Rescue Team to shut down a puppy mill.

Our work with law enforcement officials touches upon the entire spectrum of the American justice system, from Sheriffs to prosecutors to Attorney Generals offices. Through our Law Enforcement Training Center and Humane State program we have trained thousands of officers on animal cruelty and fighting investigations. In addition to our daylong trainings, we often participate in National Sheriffs Association conferences nationwide, most recently in Georgia, Maine, and Missouri, and with their counterparts at the Prosecutors Associations.

Recently we held our first collaborative domestic violence/law enforcement training at the Kansas City Police Academy. The HSUS partnered with the Kansas City Police Department, the Great Plains SPCA, and the Rose Brooks Center to train officers about investigative techniques for cruelty and fighting investigations, the link between cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence, and on how we can work together to protect our communities. Fostering these relationships is critical as we continue to advocate for the passage of The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a critical piece of federal legislation that will provide greatly needed protections and funding to both victims of domestic violence and their pets.

In our Humane Puerto Rico and Humane Oklahoma programs, we are making animal cruelty training available to just about every law enforcement agent in these jurisdictions, and already thousands have participated. We are soon to launch Humane Kansas, and bring the same comprehensive animal protection program that were delivering to Oklahoma and Puerto Rico.

Like so many other people in society, many law enforcement agents dont know the severity and scale of animal cruelty and neglect, until we document these problems and present them. John Thompson was one of those peopleindifferent, at one point, to the plight of animals. It was exposure to The HSUS and the love of a pet dog he acquired that pricked his conscience and set him off on a determined course to help all animals. Now he cannot be deterred in fighting animal cruelty, everywhere. Just like The HSUS.

And with thousands of law enforcement personnel fighting animal cruelty with us, we wont be deterred in our quest to create a humane society.
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.
TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) eleven Indian students have been awarded a three-year tuition fee waiver worth 1.1 million AUD by the Australian government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull who arrived here on a four-day visit inaugurated the TDNBC.

The announcement was done by the Australian Education and Training Minister Senator Simon Birmingham during his visit to TDNBC in Gurgaon with a high-level delegation.

A statement issued by TERI read, "The visit marked the celebration of the Indo-Australian academic and research alliance.''

"The TDNBC 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," the statement quoting Simon Birmingham said.

More about the program:

Under the scholarships program, each student is provided with a full tuition-fee waiver from Deakin University up to an amount of approx. AUD 100,000 for a period of three years.

Under the program, students travel to Deakin University in Australia for a period of six to eight months during their Ph.D. to work closely with their supervisor.

"Under this program, Deakin University and TERI will provide joint supervision to the students.

TDNBC envisions meeting the demand for a global, skilled workforce in nanobiotechnology," said Jane den Hollander, VC, Deakin University.

TERI DG Ajay Mathur said that 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," he said. The Researcher's Residences at TDNBC, having an accommodation for 50 residents, was also inaugurated by the Australian minister today.

2,000 private schools supplied with NCERT books: Javadekar
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently sent a show-cause notice to all its affiliated schools across the country for not providing complete information on their official website.

The CBSE board has fined Rs 50,000 to 2,077 schools for not complying with its order for making a list of details about the institutions public.

The CBSE board currently has 18,179 affiliated schools, both government and unaided across India.

More about the CBSE norms:

All the CBSE schools were informed earlier to make all the details public on their website.

The details included right from the number of water taps to Wi-Fi facilities including a complete breakup of monthly fees of each class and school results.

The schools had to disclose their reserve funds and balance sheets online.

In order to provide all the details online, CBSE had initially fixed October 31, 2016, as the deadline but later extended it by a month as many schools expressed their inability to furnish the data at such short notice.

"We will offer another opportunity to the schools to comply once the (board) exams are over. However, we have issued notices to these schools imposing a penalty of Rs 50,000 each for non-compliance and they have to pay the fine," Chaturvedi said.

The CBSE memorandum said, "The information shall only be filled online through the link given on board's website and also uploaded on school's website."

About CBSE:

CBSE was established in 1962. CBSE affiliates all Kendriya Vidyalayas, all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, private schools and most of the schools approved by central government of India.

Every year, the board conducts the class 10 and class 12 exam in the month of March.

State Elections Cause Delay In CBSE Class 10 & Class 12 Results
The admit cards for the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test(NEET) undergraduate programme 2017 will be released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on April 15. Candidates can download it from the CBSE official website.

How to download the NEET UG admit cards:

In order to download the NEET UG admit cards, candidates must follow the steps given here:

Log on to the official website cbseneet.nic.in

Click on the link, 'Download NEET 2017 admit cards'

Fill in the necessary details

Click Submit

After submitting the same, the admit cards will be displayed on the screen

Save it to your computer and take a printout for future use.

What will the NEET UG admit card contain?

The admit card will have the details that the candidate had alreadu the candidate's roll number, name, father's name, category, sub-category, photograph, signature, date of birth, language of question paper with name and address of examination centre allotted. Candidates are advised to verify their details on the admit card before printing it.

NEET UG paper pattern

The test shall consist of one paper containing 180 objective type questions (four options with single correct answer) from physics, chemistry and biology (botany and zoology) to be answered on the specially designed machine-gradable sheet using ball point pen.The duration of the exam will be of three hours.

About NEET UG

It was formulated in order to bring in a common entrance exam for the undergraduate medical courses. After a lot of legal arguments, NEET succesfully came into force on April 2016 replacing All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT)

Undergraduate medical courses from Institutes such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, Postgraduate Institute for Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, Jawarharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research JIPMER are outside the purview of NEET since they were framed by different laws.

Deadline to Choose Centre and Correct Application for NEET 2017 Closes Today: Apply Now!
Stylist June Ambrose Calls Out Adidas for Copying in New Campaign

June Ambrose is speaking out against adidas for copying a costume she created for Missy Elliott 10 years ago. According to Ambrose, who took to her Twitter account last week to call out the German sportswear giant, rapper Dej Loaf wears a costume in adidas most recent Originals campaign that looks a bit too much like the blowup suit finished with black patent leather that Missy Elliott wore in her 1997 debut video, "The Rain."

Ambrose, a bona fide stylist phenomenon, who has worked with everyone from Jay Z and Nas to Pharell and Justin Timberlake on some of the most iconic music videos to date, tweeted: They say imitation is a form of flattery, however, recognize my original work with @MissyElliott @HypeWilliams #fail #copycats. She elaborated in a statement to the New York Post, saying: We did a lot of things with [adidas] and Missys brand. I didnt expect that from [them]. I was insulted. Its like the big corporation taking advantage  As an artist, collectively as a group its like were hidden figures now.

Jeff Sledge, VP of A&R at Elliotts record label Atlantic Records, spoke out about the costumes this week: Missy loves Dej and shes worked with Adidas, so theres nothing against them. She just felt hurt the creatives werent given proper credit. Its blatant that its Missys thing from The Rain. They couldve given some kind of nod or something,

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By Alyson Klein and Andrew Ujifusa

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has announced a slate of hires for key positions in the department. Many of these folks have been working in the Education Department since the beginning of the Trump administration, but now they will have more formal, official roles.

None of these folks have received formal nominations from the White House, and will not need Senate confirmation to step into their roles. But some will be serving in an acting capacity in positions that they can be nominated formally for later.

For instance, Candice Jackson will be a deputy assistant secretary in the Office for Civil Rights and acting assistant secretary. And Jason Botel, who had been serving as a senior White House adviser, will be a deputy assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education and will serve as acting assistant secretary of that office.

Heres the full rundown:

Josh Venable - Chief of Staff

Venable worked in politics in DeVos home state of Michigan, but spent almost two years as the national director of advocacy and legislation at the Foundation for Excellence in Education, started by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Dougie Simmons - Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations

Simmons has worked for the Republican National Committee and for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who later became one of President Donald Trumps rivals for the GOP nomination.

Ebony Lee - Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy



This isnt Lees first stint at the department. She worked in the Office for Innovation and Improvement during President George W. Bushs administration, from 2005 to 2007. Since then, she has been working on charter school policy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Lee has been a point person on implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Robert Eitel - Senior Counselor to the Secretary

Eitel most recently worked on regulatory issues for Bridgepoint Education, which runs for-profit universities. He also served as a deputy general counsel in the department under President George W. Bush.

Candice E. Jackson - Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Acting Assistant Secretary

Candice E. Jackson previously worked as an attorney in private practice in Vancouver, Wash. Her 2005 book Their Lives: Women Targeted by the Clinton Machine focused on women who said they were harassed or intimidated by President Bill Clinton and his supporters, and highlighted instances in which Clinton was accused of sexually assaulting or raping them. Civil rights advocates were not happy about her prospective appointment.

She also coordinated a public event featuring several of these women during the 2016 presidential campaign, with President Donald Trumps support.

James Manning - Senior Adviser to the Under Secretary and Acting Under Secretary

Manning headed up the education departments transition for the Trump team.

Manning worked on higher education issues at the department under President George W. Bush. Read testimony Manning gave to the House foreign affairs committee in 2007 about postsecondary issues here . America must remain the primary destination for international students. We must work together to make sure our nations institutions of higher education continue to be open to students from around the globe, Manning said.

Jana Toner - White House Liaison

Toner served in a similar role during the George W. Bush administration.

Jason Botel - Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education and Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education

Botel has been a senior White House adviser for the Trump administration. He is a Teach for America alum who started a KIPP charter school in Baltimore. Most recently, he was the executive director of MarylandCAN, an advocacy organization in Baltimore.

Jose Viana - Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for the Office of English Language Acquisition

A former Elementary and Middle School teacher and school administrator, who has most recently served as the State Program Administrator for Migrant Education for the state of North Carolina. Jose is a first generation American, whose father was a political prisoner from Cuba, according to the department.

Also slated to join these folks is Carlos Munizthe White House announced that the president would nominate Muniz as the departments general counsel.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
This post features an interview conducted by the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans team (@era_nola ) with responses from community leader Flozell Daniels, Jr. (@Flozell Daniels ).

In Mondays post, we discussed our latest study on the effects of the New Orleans school reforms on segregation . We had the chance to discuss our findings with Flozell Daniels, Jr., the CEO and President of the Foundation for Louisiana . In his civic capacity, Daniels currently serves as Ex-officio and Policy Committee Chair of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Board of Directors; he is also a founding member and Board Chairman of the Orleans Public Education Network.

ERA-New Orleans: Do you think increasing integration in New Orleans publicly funded schools should be a priority going forward?

Daniels: While there are merits to students being exposed to different kinds of people and cultures and diverse environments in the school setting, increasing integration really cannot be a priority in the short term. The data reminds us that the schools are so overwhelmingly segregated that it seems our focus ought to be on evidence-based investment to improve achievement, which would strengthen students and their families where they are. This debate has run for more than 40 years now, and in New Orleans, we have seen little change pre- or post-reform. So while the efforts of some schools to create more diverse student bodies are laudable, the emphasis should continue to be on improving student outcomes. This seems to be backed up by the evidence that when the schools are integrated, they tend to be higher-performing schools.

ERA-New Orleans: How do you see school choice addressing school segregation in NOLA so far and in the long run?

Daniels: I have long held that, not withstanding the best efforts of many people, school choice has not created actual choice for most families and public schools. The evidence tells us that the overwhelming majority of schools are segregated, so there is a bit of a chicken and egg analogy here which seems to suggest, as I have said before, that until absolute outcomes significantly improve, white parents will not choose to send their children to low-performing schools. I also dont understand school choice to create a space that answers the very difficult questions around this communitys history of racial segregation in education that in many ways continues today. It seems to me that making investments in proven strategies that will substantively improve schools at the neighborhood level might improve the likelihood of diverse people in neighborhoods sending their children to neighborhood schools, therefore having more integrated and diverse environments.

ERA-New Orleans: What do you take away from the study that may inform your work and others in New Orleans?

Daniels: Now that this study has reminded us that we have seen no significant change in ameliorating segregation, it seems that our focus should be on building consensus on what strategies work to improve academic and psychosocial outcomes for children in public schools.
With almost a week left until the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show kicks off, Citroen has spilled the beans on the interior of the new C5 Aircross.



Previewed by an official rendering, the cabin of the new SUV is dominated by a large screen mounted in the middle of the dashboard, and by the digital display that replaces the traditional analogue dials.

Double air vents, a multi-function steering wheel, an automatic gearbox, electronic parking brake, and five drivetrain settings that should enhance its off-road abilities, are also visible, along with plenty of storage spaces in the minimalistic layout of the interior.

Citroen didnt have much to say about their new C5 Aircross, except that it features an Advance Comfort program that sees the debut of a suspension system equipped with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, a first for the French brand  Citroen will illustrate how it works in Shanghai.

Joining it on the showroom floor will be the C-Aircross and CXPerience studies for their China premiere, alongside a new generation C5, and the local C3-XR SUV.

PHOTO GALLERY
If youve ever visited an automotive plant  or really any other factory  chances are youve seen what an assembly line looks like. Its just the way things are done, and while methods and practices evolve and improve over time, its hard to imagine when they were done any differently.



But they were. More than 104 years ago, no one was building anything on an assembly line. And more than any vehicle its made or technology its championed, that  above anything else  remains Fords greatest contribution to the industrialized world.

According to the United States Census Bureau, it was 104 years ago today  on April 13, 1913  that the Ford Motor Company set up the first moving assembly line at its old plant in Highland Park, Michigan  before the city (on Detroits outskirts) was even incorporated.

Before Henry Ford implemented the assembly line, it took workers more than 12 hours to complete a single Model T. Once it was installed, though, it took only 93 minutes. Eventually, the bureau reports, a new Model T rolled off the assembly line every 24 seconds until Ford had made 15 million of them. Most automakers havent produced that many of any model  in fact most havent even come close.

The production improvement didnt just help the companys bottom line  although you can bet it did that, too. While most car prices only increase over time, the assembly line actually drove Fords prices down  from $825 in 1909 (before the assembly line) to $260 in 1925. If thats not progress, we dont know what is and the rest of the world followed.

Photo Gallery

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Talk about Soviet cars and one of the first things that pops to mind is the Lada Niva.



With its back to basics flair, the SUV has been around for 40 years, and during this time, it was slightly updated, but beneath the skin, it remains as Spartan as ever.

However, turning 40 means that Lada had to prepare something, and they did  two special editions of the Niva, or 44 as it is currently called: the Edition and 40th Anniversary, which will be produced in 1977 examples.

The former can be ordered in beige, red, white, terracotta and gray-blue, on top of a few interior enhancements that include the bright red-orange instrument cluster, stainless steel sills, eco-leather wrapped steering wheel and seats, with a combo of different shades, and the logo that reminds about their anniversary status.

As for the 40th Anniversary models, these come with a camouflage look on the outside, a factory first for the aging SUV, along with black seats with contrast stitching, and same special logos.

Ladas special vehicles will arrive at dealers this June.

PHOTO GALLERY
While Citroen continues to drop new teasers of the C5 Aircross, the brands latest SUV has leaked in all of its glory.



Published by AutoHome and Worldscoop, these images portray the final production version of the vehicle, which was inspired by the Aircross Concept, though has a more toned-down look.

Citroen have yet to detail the exact specifics of the car, but the Chinese media reports what was already on everyones mind, which is that it uses the PSA EMP 2 platform, shared with the new Peugeot 3008, known as the 4008 locally.

The architecture however isnt the only thing thats being shared by the two vehicles, as almost the entire engine lineup is expected to be adopted by the new C5 Aircross. This includes the turbocharged 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter units, producing 167hp and 204hp locally, both married to a 6-speed auto gearbox, which power the Peugeot 4008 in China. A 2.0-liter turbo could then join the family later on.

Besides the regular version of the SUV, Citroen might also launch a long wheelbase version, in the same vein as the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace/L, with up to 7 seats, but this is nothing more than a simple rumor at this point.

Citroen will launch the new C5 Aircross in China in Q3 this year, subsequent to its premiere at Auto Shanghai. Dongfeng-PSA will then be responsible with the local production, while the European models will be assembled in Rennes, France.

* Article has been updated with new photos. Thanks go to David for the tip!

PHOTO GALLERY
It looks as though the Trump administration has had bigger fish to fry lately, which might place specific trade barriers off the front burner.



That being said, analysts as well as other industry executives from the NADA/J.D. Power Automotive Forum warned the public about getting complacent with regards to this issue.

Im from the school of politics that its never dead until its actually dead, argued John Bozzella, president of the Association of Global Automakers, while discussing proposals for a border adjustment tax on goods crossing in from Mexico.

I do agree that we need tax reform, he states, but a border adjustment tax raises the price of every single car every dealer in this room sells.

Furthermore, Peter Welch, president of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that customers would revolt if dealers tried to increase prices because of a border tax, as reported by Autonews.

Our customers are incredibly price sensitive  $1,700 is one number Ive read. If that actually trickles down to the hood of a car, we would see an economic calamity the likes of which weve never seen before.

On the other end of the spectrum, Nariman Behravesh, chief economist for IHS Markit, went on to say that the border adjustment tax is dead, while mentioning that the upside to that is that a pro-growth agenda could be really good, unlike protectionist populism.

Opening image via Donald Trump@Facebook

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Contributed

Andrew Weaver was teaching a class of University of Victoria undergraduates about climate science and public policy when he realized he needed to do more than just lecture.

The internationally recognized climate scientist, who was part of a team that shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, often asked students whether the present generation owed anything to future generations in terms of the environment it leaves behind.

Students usually agreed that their grandchildren deserved an Earth free of the worst impacts of climate change. But when Weaver asked whether they voted, they replied their votes didn't count or that politicians were all corrupt.

"You have the power to change the system," he remembers telling students. "If you're not engaged in it, you have no one to blame but yourself."

But Weaver could only say those words for so many years without taking action himself.

He had spent decades contributing to science that proved climate change was real and it was primarily human-caused. As part of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he'd authored multiple reports that showed clear scientific consensus on the issue.

Weaver had advised former Liberal premier Gordon Campbell on his groundbreaking climate plan, which included Canada's first carbon tax. But he watched as politicians from all sides attacked the plan.

When he was asked a fourth time to run by former Green leader Jane Sterk, Weaver said yes.

"I said, 'OK, Jane, I'll run. The reason why I'll run is not because I have this idea of being a career politician. I'll run because I have to practice what I preach.' "

He didn't expect to win in Oak Bay-Gordon Head in 2013, but he became the first Green elected to the B.C. legislature. He is a prolific writer of private member's bills that have sometimes attracted Premier Christy Clark's support, including a proposal to ban mandatory high heels for restaurant servers.

Although he doesn't see politics as a career path and has called for term limits for legislature members, Weaver has a knack for the political game. Despite leading a third-place party, he's managed to grab a disproportionate amount of media attention.

Weaver's friends say he is unusual in politics because he makes decisions based on evidence rather than on partisanship.

Weaver, 56, is on leave from the University of Victoria. He's authored 16 scientific papers since he was elected.

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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.
Thirty-five educators from the United States and Canada will explore some of the worlds marvels as fellows of the Lindbald Expeditions National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program , a national fellowship program for teachers committed to geographic education.

The finalists were announced last month, after more than 500 teachers applied with responses on how they will further their students understanding about the planet and challenge them to think critically about generating solutions for a healthier, more sustainable future.

The program is designed to give teachers opportunities to learn alongside environmental and geographic specialists on expeditions to the Canadian High Artic, Antarctica, Southeast Alaska, Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, or the Galapagos Islands, so that they may incorporate their field-based experiences into their own instruction and professional communities.

Wendi Pillars, a frequent contributing writer for Education Week Teacher from the Center of Teaching Quality Collaboratory and an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City, N.C., is one of the selected teachers.

Pillars will take part in an 11-day expedition to Norways Arctic Svalbard, which she described as the land of the ice bears and home to the midnight sun, arctic flora, fauna, and all sorts of Nordic magic of yore. (Fun fact: There are actually more polar bears than people in Svalbard!)

Pillars has taught in Czech Republic, Norway, England, Nepal, and the Philippines. She said her experience abroad has taught her how to understand cultural differences and to stop and observe from a place of curiosity, which she encourages her students to practice.

Theres definitely an interdisciplinary aspect with global education. Global perspectives offer students different viewpoints to learn about different cultures, Pillars said.

She will be traveling in June with three other teachers, naturalists, and Lindbalt-National Geographic photographers aboard the National Geographic Explorer, the partnerships ice-class vessel and expedition ship. The entire cohort gathered at National Geographic headquarters in Washington for a three-day conference in March to meet and learn from naturalists, scientists, researchers, and past fellows in pre-expedition workshops and training.

It was wonderful to be around a diverse group of educators. Some were formal educators and others were informal, like zookeepers and tour guidesall of these different perspectives, Pillars said. Just being around teachers who are also looking for new ways to think about and incorporate global education into classrooms was wonderful.

Teachers on each expedition are provided with a box of tech tools, like 360 cameras and GoPros, to use with guidance from a certified photo instructor from the program. That way, teachers can show their students landscapes, wildlife, and footage of their travels.

Fellows make a two-year commitment to National Geographics education program and are also expected to engage with the community in some outreach of their choosing.

For her community outreach, Pillars will be offering professional development for teachers in her district to teach them how to better integrate global education into their classrooms.

I always think theres a danger of separating certain skills in different classes because then its easy to pawn off the responsibility and say that global education will happen in that class, Pillars added. In actuality it would be far more impactful for students to see and understand the interdisciplinary connections within different content areas. I think it will help teachers to reframe their content at a time when its vital to rethink what we are teaching, to reconsider what will hold the greatest value for our students in their futures.

Through her adventures, Pillars hopes her students catch the bug of curiosity.

Our school has a high percentage of English-language learners, and their ability to travel freely is limited, she said. For many of them, this type of travel is an idea they would have never even entertained. My goal is to open any window I can for them into what our world holds, and ideally, plant seeds of wonder for further exploration.

She also hopes that this opportunity will help all of her students learn how to think more deeply about the world around them.

The idea of an authentic audience pervades my instructionstudents understand that the work they do is not just for my eyes, but to teach others in some way, Pillars said. We speak to experts via Skype to clarify information, we have written books to teach elementary students and produced videos for the community on different topics, as examples. Doing this helps foster the idea that learning is meant to be applied, to take action in some way.

Image by Flickr user Christopher Michel , licensed under Creative Commons ; headshot provided by Pillars
Photo: Getty Images

A Nanaimo man who is part of a Block Watch group may have thwarted a break in  to his own home.

Jason Grant was returning to his Brookfield Drive home on April 7 when he saw a man at the side of his house.

I initially thought he might be a door-to-door salesperson, or dropping off fliers, said Grant, who casually asked the man what he was doing and was told, "I thought Ryan lived here."

Grant assured the stranger there was no Ryan and watched as the man walked away. He immediately called police, who quickly located the individual.

The man is well known to Nanaimo and Lower Mainland police, was on probation for various break and enters. Officers didn't have sufficient grounds to arrest him, but did ensure he left the area.

Block Watch is a free, community-based crime-prevention program where neighbourhoods take a proactive approach to crime by forming a communication chain between residents.

Vernon and Kelowna both have block watch programs.
Photo: Thinkstock.com

After decades as a marijuana renegade, British Columbia is eagerly anticipating the federal government's bill legalizing marijuana.

Growing pot has become a backyard tradition in B.C., and politicians, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens are convinced marijuana offers unprecedented economic, social and health opportunities as Ottawa gets ready to introduce its legislation.

Vancouver-based Tantalus Labs, which grows medical marijuana in greenhouses, released a report this month that said the industry could create 15,000 jobs in B.C.

It said B.C.'s illegal marijuana market provides 40 per cent of Canada's black market and is worth $2.7 billion, with 85 per cent of that going to organized crime.

Dan Sutton, executive director at Tantalus, said "B.C. bud is a household name, globally. We have a storied cultural history associated with cannabis and it's time for us to leverage that brand."

None of B.C.'s provincial political parties have touted marijuana legalization in the May 9 election campaign.

NDP Leader John Horgan said he supports legalization. "I've been thinking about it a lot," he said in a recent interview. "We need to be prepared here in B.C."

Horgan said he's met with the B.C. Government Service Employees Union about marijuana sales. The union has 4,000 members at government-run liquor stores and provincial liquor distribution outlets. He's also met with operators of private beer and wine stores, pharmacies, marijuana dispensaries and craft beer brewers.

"We need to find a way, a (sales and distribution) model that, I think, is a hybrid of all those things," Horgan said.

Liberal Leader Christy Clark said she has three concerns about marijuana once it becomes legal: she wants organized crime out of the business, assurances that legal marijuana is safe and of high quality, and that it's kept away from children.

Clark said in an interview last week she doesn't want people to believe that there are no risks associated with smoking pot because the government has legalized it.

Green Leader Andrew Weaver said the Greens will support marketing opportunities for B.C. craft marijuana growers.

"We will fight very hard to ensure that the big multinationals do not step in and take up the market," he said.
Photo: CTV

Two of six teens were thrown from their vehicle in a violent crash in Vancouver's Shaughnessy neighbourhood, Wednesday.

Their Mazda 5 struck a tree about 3:30 p.m., causing severe damage to the vehicle and sending the engine flying into a nearby fence.

One of the teens was ejected through the rear window, and all six were sent to hospital with varying degrees of injury.

Police say only two were wearing seatbelts.

None of the injuries are believed to be life threatening.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

A construction worker died Wednesday after a fall at a Surrey job site.

The workplace accident happened about 4 p.m. at a mansion under construction on the 3100 block of 137A Street.

The victim was taken to hospital, but died from injuries sustained in the fall, according to WorkSafe BC.

The worker is believed to be a man in his fifties.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: The Canadian Press

While tensions between his country and the United States appeared to be escalating rapidly, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a high-profile appearance in Pyongyang on Thursday, not to denounce Washington but to cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of a new highrise district.

With more than 100,000 people gathered in a huge rally to mark the event, Kim stood front and centre on a red-carpeted stage to cut the ribbon.

The event was part of the run-up to the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday and is North Korea's most important holiday.

Nothing official has been announced, but a large-scale military parade is expected Saturday.

Tensions in the region have risen with the dispatch of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the area and the deployment of thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops, tanks and other weaponry for their biggest-ever joint military exercises. Pyongyang has warned of war if it sees any signs of aggression from south of the Demilitarized Zone.

Life in the North's capital, however, has been outwardly quite normal over the past week, with residents turning out each day to prepare for their parts in mass events such as the parade, synchronized card displays or dancing parties in public plazas.

North Korea also has a history of connecting landmark construction projects to important political dates. The most recent previous example is another new street, Mirae Street, which was built in time for the 65th anniversary in 2015 of the founding of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party.

Pyongyang has invited a large contingent of foreign media to cover the events, and the modern and shiny new residential street is clearly one of the places they most wanted the foreigners to see.

The sprawling development project also includes Pyongyang's tallest apartments, at 70 stories tall.
Motorists are being advised snow tires are still needed if you are travelling higher elevation provincial highways today.

Snow is falling on the Okanagan Connector, Highway 1 through Rogers Pass and Highway 3 from Salmo to Creston.

Snow accumulations up to five centimetres can be expected through the morning and into the early afternoon.

Expect rain or wet flurries later in the day as temperatures at higher elevations warm up.

More flurries can be expected in the evening and overnight.

DriveBC is also warning Highway 3 will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. for avalanche control in both directions 30 kilometres west of Creston for 27 kilometres.
Photo: Contributed

It's a purr-fect political product for those who want their pet to take a swipe at B.C. Premier Christy Clark.

Politikats is a company founded by a University of B.C alumni that makes a line of politically inclined cat scratching posts of global leaders. They have created a scratching post for Canadian cats who loves B.C. politics.

"Politikats, which mostly focused on world leaders, like Putin, Trump, and Netanyahu, didnt have to look far from home to find its newest model for cat owners who like to let their felines literally take a swipe at leaders whose policies incite strong opinions, says the company.

The one-of-a-kind, handcrafted cat scratching post took more than 140 hours to make and will be auctioned off one day before the May 9 election, with proceeds going to support a grassroots entrepreneurship initiative for First Nations youth on Vancouver Island.

Clarks head was hand-carved in clay, cast in a mould, and entirely handpainted. Her body was 3-D-printed and hand-wrapped in sisal rope. The B.C. premier stands atop a luxurious, red velvet carpeted base.
Photo: The Canadian Press

British Columbia's New Democrats have unveiled their election platform, forecasting three years of balanced budgets coupled with big spending promises for affordable childcare and relief for commuters in the Lower Mainland.

The NDP expects to reverse a Liberal tax cut to the top two per cent of earners, as well as introduce a housing speculation tax and a one-per-cent increase to the corporate tax rate.

Draining $500 million from what the NDP call Premier Christy Clark's liquefied natural gas "fantasy fund" will be used to eliminate tolls on two of the Lower Mainland's busiest bridges over three years.

A speculation tax of two per cent is predicted to raise $200 million a year and apply to all property owners who don't pay income tax in B.C.

In a statement, Liberal candidate Mike de Jong says there's no way for the NDP to balance the budget, which he describes as reckless.

The NDP is hoping to upset B.C. Liberal hopes for a fifth straight election victory when voters head to the polls on May 9.
Photo: Contributed

A winning ticket sold in Coquitlam will be making someones day a lot brighter after winning big on Wednesday's Lotto 6-49 draw.

The lone winning ticket is worth $9.3 million.

On that same draw, another ticket sold in Burnaby matched five winning numbers plus the bonus number drawn to win over $100,000.

All lottery prize winners have 52 weeks from the draw date printed on their ticket to come forward to claim their prize.
Photo: CTV

UPDATED: 2:35 p.m.

British Columbia's New Democrats are promising three years of balanced budgets while also reining in auto insurance rates and BC Ferries fares if they win the provincial election.

The NDP expects to finance its campaign commitments by reversing a Liberal tax cut to people who earn more than $150,000 a year, hiking the corporate tax rate and putting a price on housing speculation.

"It's affordable. It makes sense. It's fully costed," NDP Leader John Horgan told supporters Thursday as he released his party's platform at a restaurant in Coquitlam.

The NDP says it will phase out medical service premiums and eliminate interest on student loans if it wins the May 9 election.

A $500-million prosperity fund that was supposed to consist of revenue from liquefied natural gas earnings, which Horgan calls Premier Christy Clark's "fantasy fund," will be used to eliminate tolls on two of the Lower Mainland's busiest bridges over the next three years.

"There are no tolls in Kelowna. There are no tolls on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Why should there be tolls for people who live south of the Fraser River?" Horgan asked about the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges.

The NDP would increase the corporate tax rate by one point, to 12 per cent, which Horgan said would raise funds while keeping B.C. competitive. Horgan said he wouldn't change a Liberal plan to reduce the small business tax.

Runaway housing prices have been an issue in parts of British Columbia and the NDP would bring in a speculation tax that would apply to all out-of-province property owners. The two-per-cent tax on a property's assessed value would give the government $200 million a year in additional revenue, the party said.

"If they're not paying taxes in British Columbia, they're not growing our province," Horgan said.

The platform also includes plans for $10-a-day childcare and an annual $400 rebate for renters.

While operating expenses are predicted to produce small surpluses over the next three years, the New Democrats expect to add $7 billion to the province's debt over five years through capital expenditures aimed at creating 96,000 jobs.
Illinois Men Pledge Allegiance to ISIS, Get Arrested

The Department of Justice announced the arrest of two Illinois men, Joseph D. Jones and Edward Schimenti, who allegedly pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and advocated their support for violent extremism on social media.

Jones, also known as "Yusuf Abdulhaqq," and Schimenti, also known as "Abdul Wali," were charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, which has been designated as a terrorist organization. And their support allegedly went beyond just watching some videos and posting photos online.

Conspiracy

According to the criminal complaint, Jones and Schimenti befriended three individuals they believed were fellow ISIS devotees in 2015. As it turns out, two of the individuals were undercover FBI agents and the third was cooperating with law enforcement in their sting operation. Jones and Schimenti discussed their devotion and commitment to ISIS with their newfound friends, according to the DOJ, and even "shared photographs of themselves holding the ISIS flag at the Illinois Beach State Park in north suburban Zion." Schimenti allegedly said he wanted to see the ISIS flag "on top of the White House."

Providing Material Support

Perhaps the most damning of the allegations, however, accuse Jones and Schimenti of procuring cell phones for use in explosive devices and aiding what they believed to be their friend's trip to join ISIS in Syria:

According to the complaint, last month, the pair furnished several cellular phones to the cooperating source, believing they would be used to detonate explosive devices in ISIS attacks overseas. On April 7, Jones and Schimenti drove the cooperating source to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago with the understanding that the source would be traveling to Syria to join and fight with ISIS. Schimenti told the source to "drench that land with they, they blood."

The pair are now facing at least 20 years in prison, if convicted.

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Photo: CTV

The University of British Columbia has approved a new sexual misconduct policy that will create centralized offices at its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses to prevent and respond to sexual violence.

All public universities in B.C. must have policies by May 19, but UBC began working on a policy several months before Premier Christy Clark's government passed legislation last year.

The policy was accepted by the board of governors Thursday, will take effect in about a month, and cover a broad range of misconduct including sexual assault, harassment and stalking.

The university will hire directors of investigations to review reports and refer them to external investigators, who will have 60 days to complete their work.

Until now, sex assault reports have often been resolved informally with a few cases advancing to a non-academic misconduct process where allegations were judged by a panel of students.

An independent review of UBC's handling of multiple reports about a PhD student in 2015 found that while staff acted in good faith, miscommunications and an unclear process led to delays.
Photo: The Canadian Press FOhio State Attorney General Mike DeWine, right, alongside Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader

Fear in the community is holding back information about the unsolved massacre of eight family members in southern Ohio nearly a year ago, investigators said Thursday.

Some of that fear is of retaliation by the killers, and some is fear of witnesses incriminating themselves over their own criminal activity  likely involving drugs  unrelated to the slayings, investigators said.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind or in any investigator's mind that there's information that may be part truth, but not all the way true," said Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader.

Witnesses who come forward will be treated fairly, said Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office is leading the investigation. The focus is on the homicide, not those individuals' crimes, he said.

On April 22, 2016, investigators found seven adults and a teenage boy from the Rhoden family shot to death at four homes near Piketon, in southern Ohio. A newborn, another baby and a young child were unharmed.

One of the victims, Christopher Rhoden Sr., operated a commercial marijuana growing operation on his property "with the purpose of distributing the marijuana," according to DeWine's office.

Reader on Thursday pleaded for more donations to the reward fund, stuck at $10,000 for several months, for information leading to a conviction.

The sheriff hinted that the victims' involvement in drug crime may be holding people back from donating.

"These are human beings, regardless of what they did for a living, regardless if they live in rural Pike County," said Reader, who grew emotional at times talking about the "complete devastation" of the killings.

Both DeWine and Reader said they expect an arrest someday, with DeWine saying "significant progress" has been made and the case is still his office's top priority. DeWine expressed frustration that he couldn't make public all the information investigators have gathered.

"We are going to find you. We are going to arrest you. And justice will be done," DeWine said, addressing the killers.

Despite a massive investigation, no arrests have been made and no suspects identified.
Photo: Twitter

Almost a month into spring and winter seems unwilling to relax its grip on parts of British Columbia.

Environment Canada says a snowfall warning is in effect for the entire Peace River region of northeastern B.C.

Up to 10 centimetres of snow is forecast Thursday, with as much as 15 centimetres closer to the Rocky Mountains.

The weather office predicts a second wave of snow will blanket the region Thursday night.

Special weather statements are also in effect for northern sections of the Chilcotin region of central B.C. and for areas around Fort Nelson in the province's northeastern corner.

Environment Canada says as much as 20 centimetres of snow could come down northeast of Fort Nelson before Saturday.
Photo: CTV

President Donald Trump is sending North Korea a message, calling it a "problem" country that "will be taken care of."

Trump made the comment after he was asked about the U.S. military's decision to drop the largest non-nuclear weapon it has ever used in combat on an area of eastern Afghanistan.

He was asked whether dropping the bomb sends a message to North Korea as it continues to pursue nuclear and other weapons, Trump replied it makes no difference.

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," Trump said.

Trump wants to work with China to help control North Korea, but over the past weeks he has signalled a willingness to handle the issue alone.

Trump and China's president discussed North Korea at a meeting last week in Florida.

 with files from CTV
Photo: The Canadian Press

President Donald Trump is sending North Korea a message, calling it a "problem" country that "will be taken care of."

Trump made the comment after he was asked about the U.S. military's decision to drop the largest non-nuclear weapon it has ever used in combat on an area of eastern Afghanistan.

Read more.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A misdirected airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the U.S. military said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong co-ordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for the strike on Tuesday that was intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa. The strike hit an SDF position instead.

Several nations have lent their air power to the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, and it wasn't clear which air force was behind the errant strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded. On Thursday, the group held funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, the SDF-linked Hawar news agency said, though it did not say whether they were killed in the friendly fire incident.

An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, said three days of mourning had been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF, meanwhile, announced the launch of a new phase of its campaign to retake Raqqa. The Kurdish fighters, with U.S.-led air and ground support, have surrounded Tabqa, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the city and are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Its closest position is less than eight kilometres (five miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control.

Meanwhile, President Bashar Assad said a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town in northern Idlib province last week that was widely blamed on his forces was a "fabrication."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called Assad's comments "an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion."
United Airlines Passenger Dragged Off Flight Lawyers Up

Dr. David Dao was one of four passengers on a United Airlines flight that was recently forced to give up his seat for UA employees. The airline claims that the flight was overbooked and it needed four passengers to give up seats for employees that needed to be at the plane's destination for work.

After Dr. Dao boarded, while in his seat, he was asked to exit the plane. When he refused, stating that he had patients to see the next day, police were called, and he was forcibly removed from his seat, and literally dragged down the plane's aisle and off the plane. The incident was captured by cell phone video by a few passengers, who posted the videos to social media.

Social Response

United Airlines has been embroiled in a public relations nightmare as a result of their corporate policies that resulted in Dr. Dao being battered and physically dragged off a flight while bleeding. The airline quickly attempted to defend their actions. However, the social media backlash seemingly caused the airline to do a 180, issuing an apology and a statement asserting that police will never be used again to remove a passenger from an overbooked flight.

Despite the public apology and claims of corrective action, Dr. Dao has retained attorneys to potentially pursue legal claims.

Legal Claims

Although the intensity of the online backlash has subsided slightly, the passenger has retained an attorney. In addition to potential claims for injury against the airline, there are potentially claims against the police department and officer for excessive force.

Furthermore, in the aftermath of the incident, many media sources started researching Dr. Dao's background. However, media outlets may have published rather private, personal and potentially embarrassing information about Dr. Dao, which could cause him financial damages.

As a result of these published articles about Dr. Dao, he may have strong claims for defamation against the media outlets that failed to check their sources and reported inaccurate information. Additionally, Dr. Dao could have claims for invasion of privacy.

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Put Down Your Tablets and Smartphones and Start Using a Desktop PC

For the past ten years or so, we've been careening to a Star Trek-like future, where all our computing is done in a simple, hand-held device. Smartphones let us bill hours via apps, tablets let us port word processors around as easily as a magazine.

But if you want to experience the future, you might want to look to the near past. The desktop PC, that humming, churning plastic box from the '90s, has suddenly jumped to the forefront of innovation.

Put Away Your Phone, Grandpa

As laptops, tablets, and smartphones have taken over an increasing share of the computing market, desktops have been largely left behind -- until recently.

"With nothing left to lose, desktop makers are rethinking what a stationary computer is good for," the Wall Street Journal's Geoffrey Fowler reports. "Now you can draw on them, stack them in modular pieces, or use them to surround your head in pixels." The future of desktop computing is far removed from the boxy, budget PC running Windows 7 in a sad, florescent-lit office. Hell, so is the present.

HP, for example, has a PC with a massive, curved screen. Using it is a bit like computing on an IMAX theater, according to Fowler. Microsoft, now that it's moved into hardware, has released an elegant, though expensive, touch screen PC.

Some computers are looking more like home decorations than PCs. The Pavilion Wave, for example, resembles a small speaker or sculpture, allowing it to disappear into the background, while still offering decent computing power. And it costs about as much as an iPad.

Should You Upgrade to a PC?

The current PC evolution is fueled by several well-timed developments, according to Fowler. First, large screens are cheap, and if there's one place where PCs outperform their hand-held competitors, it's on screen space. Second, Windows 10 has allowed programmers to integrate touch and other inputs more easily. The cloud, too, has changed PCs, allowing them to become smaller and sleeker as the tough computing gets handled in a server farm somewhere in Iceland.

What's this mean for legal professionals? You might not need a touch screen or a sleekly designed computer (though they're both cool), but almost every lawyer could use more screen space. Now you can get it, without having to clutter up your office with two or three separate monitors.

These new PCs' huge screens can let you multitask with ease, spreading docs and windows and projects across your screen like you might have once scattered files across your desk.

Does this mean you have to run out and buy a new PC, or give up your beloved tablet? Of course not. But if you're in the market, now is a good time to experiment with some of the personal computer's evolving, cutting-edge forms.

Want information on effective advertising? Let the experts at FindLaw's Lawyer Marketing give you a hand.

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Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall selected a highland as their spot for a vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They were seen to enjoy the trip for a romantic getaway, and the wedding is expected to come soon.

Bullock and Randall were locked arm-in-arm as they walked into the car on the weekend vacation according to E! News. They went for a shopping at local Whole Foods store and looked very relax. She donned a plaid jacket and ripped jeans paired with Uggs boots, while her lover looked equally casual with a t-shirt, a hooded jacket, and a jacket as three layers with a beanie hat.

"They were both smiling and having a good time," a local citizen describe the celebrity couple. The citizens in the resort city in Wyoming can see how Bullock is very happy with him around. Furthermore, Randall is able to get close to her children.

A friend of hers told Daily Mail that Randall is like a father to her kids. Bullock has two adopted children Louis and Laila, aged seven and five. While Randall has one daughter Skylar, who is now 22-year-old. She was estranged from her father since she was a baby.

Randall and Bullock currently stay in her mansion in Beverly Hills with Louis and Laila. Bullock also took Skylar to live with them. Skylar is reported to be happy with her two adopted siblings. It seems the wedding between Randall and Bullock will come soon.

Since they started the relationship, Randall and Bullock stay low from the spotlight and never share their picture in the social media. This made it difficult for the media and fans to keep track on them, but one certain thing is that she has found happiness with him. Watch the exclusive photos from E! News as the couple spent their weekend in Wyoming below:


Fiji: clinker shipment unloaded for Pacific Cement Ltd

13 April 2017

The vessel MV Festival, carrying 24,000t of clinker for Pacific Cement Ltd, has reached Lami Town, Fiji. The method of discharge has been changed due to a High Court ruling, meaning trucks must now be loaded in a barge and the clinker unloaded into the trucks onboard said barge. As this process takes longer than the previous method, the vessels crew had to apply for visa extensions, which were approved.

The Suva High Court had banned Pacific Cement from offloading clinker from the barges to Trucks in Lami as it did not have a permit to do so.

Published under
Iraq and Pakistan discuss co-operation for cement industry

13 April 2017

Iraq and Pakistan have discussed close mutual cooperation in the areas of cement, trade and commerce. While meeting Shamim Ahmed Firpo, president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on 12 April, Ambassador of Iraq in Pakistan, Dr Ali Yasin Mohammed Karim, said that some factories including 18 cement plants were available in Iraq, but they were not working properly as compared to Pakistans advanced industrial units and infrastructure.



"As factories in Iraq need improvements, therefore the private and public sectors of Iraq and Pakistan can undertake joint ventures in all the sectors of the economy including cement industry.



We prefer private sector's joint ventures which are quicker as compared to joint ventures at public sector level," he added.



Commenting on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Iraqi Ambassador said that Iraq was considering establishing gas terminals at Port Qasim and Gwadar worth billions of dollars to facilitate meeting the energy requirement of several industrial sectors, including the cement industry.



Attock Cement and Lucky Cement have already formed joint ventures with Iraqi entrepreneurs for cement production.

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This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way.
Without any forethought or preparation, Christopher Knight walked into the Maine woods in 1986 and lived there in complete solitude for the next 27 years, subsisting on what he was able to steal from local cabins. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the North Pond hermit, one man's attempt to divorce himself completely from civilization.

We'll also look for coded messages in crosswords and puzzle over an ineffective snake.

Show notes

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CNN is reporting that President Trump is now implementing the "bomb the shit out of them" portion of his campaign promises.

The U.S. bombed Afghanistan Thursday. The so-called 'mother of all bombs," a 21,600-pound munition, was dropped on an area identified as an ISIS base. The U.S. military is currently assessing damage, and no information has been provided on casualties.

Is Trump sending a message to North Korea? Couldn't the sending of messages be more conservatively accomplished with a witty tweet?

FIRST ON CNN: The US has dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb in combat on Afghanistan https://t.co/ET0PLACzOe  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 13, 2017









Trump implementing "bomb the s*it out of them" https://t.co/lIQXuNQVRt  John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) April 13, 2017

JUST IN: U.S. military bombs Afghanistan targeting Islamic State caves  Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) April 13, 2017

US drops largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan battlefield, military sources say. Watch CNN: https://t.co/ltOn6zeTH5  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) April 13, 2017

It's the 1st time a MOAB was used in the battlefield, officials say; it was developed during the Iraq War but never used in the battlefield  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 13, 2017

DOD: A US MC-130 dropped a GBU-43 with 11 tons of TNT on a series of caves targeting #ISIS in Achin, #Afghanistan today at 7pm local time.  Kristina Wong (@kristina_wong) April 13, 2017

MOAB  also known as 'Mother of all bombs"  a 21,600 lbs munition; dropped Thursday & US military currently assessing damage  David Wright (@DavidWright_CNN) April 13, 2017

NEW: The U.S. has dropped a 21,000 lb. bomb on ISIS fighters in Afghanistan. Largest US weapon outside of a nuclear bomb @ckubeNBC reports.  Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) April 13, 2017

The GBU-43/B is called the "Massive Ordnance Air Blast" or its nickname, the "Mother of All Bombs." The US's largest non-nuclear bomb. https://t.co/UBe2n8eKBd  Kristina Wong (@kristina_wong) April 13, 2017

DOD: First time this bomb has been used in combat. This has been in the works for months. No assessments of civilian deaths. https://t.co/ScC1HRKO1m  Kristina Wong (@kristina_wong) April 13, 2017
Bowalley Road Rules



The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.

So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.

These are based on two very simple principles:

Courtesy and Respect.

Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.

Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.

Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.

However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.


Entertainment / Music

by Staff Reporter

A 24-year-old Bulawayo based musician, Dama, has vowed his 8 to 4 job as law firm clerk will never stop him from creating music.Dama, born Muziwandile Khumalo, hails from Tsholotsho.Recently Dama told Sunday News that he dreams of making music his full time job."I grew up around people who appreciated music. My brothers were very musical people and they taught me to play the guitar. It was not until 2009 when I moved to Bulawayo that I realised how much that had influenced me, I realised I wanted music to be my full-time job," said Dama.Dama said with his musical background he could have chosen any genre of music but since people of Bulawayo love house music, he had to sing for the people."I try not to make my music monotonous, I keep it diverse, soulful and versatile while it still remains within the confines of house music. That way, people who do not necessarily enjoy house music are still able to enjoy my music," he said.In December last year Dama released "Ngena Wena".Ngena Wena is a joint effort from Dama and Melloworks Studios for production as well as from Shirati Drums. The track, like all of Dama's work, is distributed for free on social media and other online platforms.
The Tennessee Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will convene their 112th State Conference at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs Conference Center April 20-23.



The Chief John Ross Chapter of Chattanooga will be will be attending the Conference and taking part in workshops, business sessions, committee meetings, and social functions. Honored guests will include the State Regents of Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Workshop topics include Preserving Our History with Myers Brown of the Tennessee State Library & Archives; Creating Family Archives and Beyond with Pamela Byers of Byers Genealogy Research Services; and Leaving a Legacy with Carolyn Bendall, a Total Image Consultant.

The speaker at the opening night session will be Dr. Michael Birdwell, history professor at Tennessee Tech and renowned Sgt. Alvin C. York historian. Speakers at the Saturday events include Rich Meyer, the director of Alumni and DAR Relations at Hillside School in Hillside, Ma.; Patricia Ann Pierce and Yvonne Wood, both members of the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument Board; and Anne Byrn, local cookbook author, who will speak about the history of cake baking in America.



Chapter regents, including the Chief John Ross Regent Jessica Raz Mines Dumtru, will be honored at the Chapter Regents Banquet.
Virginia R. Petty, 89, of Chattanooga, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at her home.

A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Virginia was loving wife, mother and friend to all she met, a life well lived. She has gone to be with her Savior, now sheltered in the arms of God.

Virginia married her high school sweetheart on June 28, 1947. She graduated from Central High School Class of 1945, and for 20 years she served on the Planning Committee for class reunions. For a brief period in the mid 1980s she worked for J.C. Penney at the East Gate location in the ladies dress and coat department. She was well known for her trade mark hair styles worn over the years as times changed, meticulously well kept, and for her style, grace and elegance. Virginias kindness and loving spirit has blessed many souls over the years, she will be forever missed by her family, friends and loved ones. A true lady always knows when to leave.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph A. and Kitty T. Roberts, and sister, Betty Joyce Hasty.

She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Homer T. Petty, sons, Michael and Darrell, former daughter-in-law, Cindy Holton, grand-dog, Jenny, nephew, Mark (Penny) Hasty and his son, Chase.

A graveside memorial will be held at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, April 24, at 11:30 am.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Hospice of Chattanooga and her wonderful caregivers Nurse Kim, CNAs Tonya, Ruby, Amissa.

Please share your memories of Virginia with the family at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com.

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn. 37412.
News / International

by AP

Dakar - Senegal says at least 20 people have been killed in a fire while attending a Muslim spiritual retreat in the eastern part of the country.Government spokesperson Seydou Gueye said on Thursday that several others were injured in the fire on Wednesday in Medina Gounass village.President Macky Sall offered condolences to victims' families. He said the interior ministry would visit the site on Thursday.Senegalese national TV reported that strong winds and makeshift shelters allowed the fire to spread, though the cause of the fire was not immediately known.Thousands of Muslim men from Senegal, Guinea and other West African countries meet annually in Medina Gounass for the spiritual retreat.
Representatives from IBM Watson, pictured in its housing case, will be on hand at the Chicago Machine Learning Venture Capital Summiton April 19. (Andrew Spear / The Washington Post)

Inventors, major companies and venture capitalists will unite next week for the first Chicago Machine Learning Venture Capital Summit.

Representatives from Google, IBM Watson, Microsoft and some of Chicago's top investment firms will be among the speakers at April 19 event.

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Cayse Llorens, founder and managing director of the summit, believes the technology has the potential to change the way people interact with everything from email and music to financial planning.

"We want to see that spark at this summit that creates the next Uptake, the next Tempus, the next Google, the next IBM Watson," said Llorens, who's also studying venture capital at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. "All the key players are going to be in a room to do that."

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Three local startups will also face off in a pitch competition: bSmart, which aims to help diabetics track and predict blood sugar levels; Enodo Score, a predictive analytics platform for commercial real estate; and Heretik, e-discovery software to make the contract review process smarter. All three startups will receive access to TechNexus resources as a prize.

The summit will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, 540 N. Michigan Ave. More than 500 people are expected to attend, Llorens said.

Robert Holly is a freelance writer.

Twitter @robertwadeholly
Josh Chapman, the former CEO of GiveForward, will serve as thefirstchief operating officer for health-tech incubator Matter. (GiveForward photo)

Chicago health-tech incubator Matter has hired Josh Chapman, the former CEO of GiveForward, to serve as its first chief operating officer.

Chapman said he'll focus internally on helping the hub expand, allowing Matter's CEO, Steven Collens , to work with external partners.

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Chapman most recently worked as CEO of Chicago-based GiveForward, a crowdfunding website that focused primarily on medical care. That company was acquired by San Francisco-based YouCares in March; Chapman left the company March 15. Before joining GiveForward, Chapman was vice president of operations at Cars.com.

Collens told Blue Sky at the start of 2017 that a goal was to establish Matter as a presence on the national stage. "We're creating a much more intentional focus on our culture, performance and accountability," he said at the time.

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Chapman said his background with GiveForward, working with patients in need of medical assistance and their families, will bring insight to Matter. The two-year-old health-tech hub, based in the Merchandise Mart, has 20 employees and 200 member companies.

"For me, the opportunity to become a part of the Matter community, a community of health-care innovators who aspire to heroic change, was extremely attractive to me," he said. "My last role, as the CEO of GiveForward, was focused specifically on people going through medical situations, so I learned a lot about health care."

agorden@tronc.com

Twitter @AudreyGorden
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to north suburban-based Abbott Laboratories related to battery and cybersecurity problems with heart devices made by a recently acquired company.

The Wednesday letter adds to Abbott's woes over devices. In recent weeks, Abbott's new, dissolvable heart stent also has faced scrutiny over safety concerns.

The letter accuses St. Jude Medical  a Minnesota company acquired by Abbott in January  of failing to recognize and address problems with the batteries in its implantable defibrillators, which have since been recalled.

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The devices, implanted in the chest, can provide pacing for hearts that beat too slowly and deliver shocks to stop dangerously fast rhythms. Normally the devices alert patients, through a series of vibrations in the chest, months before they need to be replaced. Batteries in some of the devices, however, ran out sooner than expected, giving patients, in some cases, as little as 24 hours' notice before the batteries died.

As of October, two people had died in incidents associated with devices that couldn't deliver needed shocks to the heart because their batteries died early. Other patients reported fainting or dizziness from devices in which the batteries ran out early.

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St. Jude also may have failed to properly investigate and prevent possible cybersecurity issues with its pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, according to the letter.

The FDA issued a notice in January that St. Jude's implantable heart devices are vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks that might allow a third party to control the devices remotely.

The FDA said at the time there hadn't been any reports of patients being harmed because of cybersecurity issues, and St. Jude pledged to "immediately deploy" cybersecurity updates. That FDA notice came less than a week after Abbott acquired St. Jude, though an investment firm first called for a recall of the devices last fall, alleging cybersecurity problems.

"We take these matters seriously, continue to make progress on our corrective actions, will closely review FDA's warning letter, and are committed to fully addressing FDA's concerns," Abbott spokesman Jonathon Hamilton said in a statement Thursday.

In its letter, the FDA said if Abbott didn't promptly correct the violations, its actions could include "seizure, injunction and civil monetary penalties." Some other Abbott devices waiting for regulatory approval might not get approved until the violations are corrected, the FDA said.

Analyst Rick Wise with brokerage and investment banking firm Stifel wrote in a report Thursday that the problems outlined in the FDA letter may be a "lingering concern" for Abbott, though they "are fixable and resolvable given Abbott's considerable manufacturing expertise and some time."

Debbie Wang, a senior equity analyst with Morningstar, said the problems aren't going to sink Abbott but could become an issue if they take too long to resolve. That's partly because any delay in fixing the issues could hold up FDA approval for other Abbott products, she said.

Abbott, for example, has been working to get FDA approval for implantable defibrillators that can safely go through MRI scans.

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"That could be held hostage by the FDA until the company has sufficiently addressed all these concerns," Wang said.

Abbott spokesman Hamilton said in a statement that the company is "evaluating how this may impact anticipated product approvals" from the California facility that the FDA inspected before releasing its letter.

The FDA letter Wednesday followed a rough few weeks for one of Abbott's other devices as well: a dissolvable heart stent called Absorb. The device is used to open blocked heart blood vessels and gradually dissolves in the body.

The stent grabbed attention last summer when it became the first technology of its kind approved in the U.S. But late last month, the FDA wrote a letter to health care providers warning them that patients who received the stent had a higher rate of major heart problems compared with those who received the company's metallic, drug-coated stent. The FDA said it was working with Abbott to conduct additional analyses.

Shortly after that notice, Abbott wrote a letter to doctors in Europe advising them that starting May 31, the devices may only be used in Europe at certain sites that monitor the effects of the devices on patients over time. Last week, regulators in India issued their own alert, asking doctors to report any adverse events with Absorb.

Hamilton said Absorb trials around the world have shown the stent works just as well as metallic, drug-coated stents when implanted properly. He said the data showing a higher rate of heart problems among those with Absorb stents stems from the stents being implanted in too-small blood vessels and not being implanted correctly, he said. He also said that most of the hospitals that use Absorb in Europe will continue to be able to use it under the new guidance.

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Wang, with Morningstar, said she doesn't expect the recent issues with Absorb to have too much of an impact on Abbott, noting that Absorb was always likely to be a niche product with limited use.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lschencker
The Canada Goose store in SoHo in New York. (Arash Moallemi)

Goodbye, Armani suits. Hello, $900 parkas.

Canada Goose has leased 10,000 square feet in the Park Hyatt Chicago, where the maker of down parkas is planning a rarity: a standalone store.

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The "Arctic luxury apparel" retailer currently has just two stores, which opened in late 2016  in the Yorkdale mall in Toronto, where the company is based, and in New York's SoHo neighborhood.

Now, Canada Goose is planning a two-level store in the Park Hyatt hotel, according to real estate sources.

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The space in the North Michigan Avenue building was previously occupied by a Giorgio Armani store, which relocated to nearby Oak Street in 2015.

The Canada Goose store in Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. (Arash Moallemi)

Canada Goose's Chicago store will be more than twice the size of its first two shops and is part of an expansion effort by the company, which went public in March on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.

A Canada Goose spokeswoman declined to comment on plans for Chicago. Retail broker Peter Caruso, a vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle who represented landlord Hyatt Hotels in the lease, declined to comment.

A March 15 regulatory filing listed a 10,188-square-foot "inactive" space in Chicago on a list of Canada Goose's leased facilities, with a lease expiration of June 2027. That appears to be a reference to the future Michigan Avenue store, but the prospectus does not include addresses.

The company sees opportunities for stores in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and West regions of the U.S., according to the prospectus. It adds: "In the fall of 2016, we opened our first two retail stores in Toronto and New York City and anticipate opening a select number of additional retail locations where we believe they can operate profitably."

Private-equity firm Bain Capital has a controlling interest in Canada Goose, which raised $255 million in the initial public offering.

Canada Goose was founded in a Toronto warehouse 60 years ago and typically sold coats to rugged outdoor adventurers. In recent years, the brand's circular red logo became ubiquitous in large, cold-weather cities after several celebrities took a liking to the fur-lined parkas.

The Canada Goose store in SoHo in New York. (Arash Moallemi)

The company's fiscal 2016 revenue was $290.8 million.

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So far, most sales have been online or at other retailers' stores. But in its prospectus, the company said it plans to open three new retail stores in fiscal 2018, with a long-term target of having 15 to 20 shops.

rori@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @Ryan_Ori
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and two members of his medical team, Dr. Allen Anderson, left, and Dr. Duc Pham, on Jan. 11, 2016. (United Airlines/PRNews Foto)

United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz, who on Jan. 6 had a heart transplant, said Friday that he is headed to his Chicago home from the hospital.

In a letter to employees of the Chicago-based airline, Munoz, who had been in the top job for six weeks when he was felled by a heart attack, said he feels "as strong as ever."

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He credited his medical team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

"My doctors have been impressed with my progress and foresee a quick recovery," Munoz wrote. "I feel great, and it won't be long before we are working side by side again."

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Meanwhile, he said he expects to participate in key meetings.

"My new heart makes me feel like I've been given a new set of wings," he said.

United has said Munoz is expected to return from medical leave at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter. He had a heart attack Oct. 15.

Munoz, 57, also noted that United received its highest customer satisfaction performance for a holiday period in more than three years.

byerak@tribpub.com

Twitter @beckyyerak
The "ringleader" of a yearslong telemarketing scheme must pay at least $65,000  and possibly up to $2.2 million  after settling with the Federal Trade Commission in a massive lawsuit.

The consumer protection agency said Thursday that Justin Ramsey, who was responsible for placing millions of unsolicited telemarketing calls to people on the national do-not-call list, will have to pay the full $2.2 million penalty if he and his company are found to have lied about their finances.

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Calling someone whose number is on the national do-not-call registry is illegal for telemarketers unless the recipient has provided his or her explicit, written permission or they have an existing business relationship with the caller.

But as far back as 2012, according to the FTC's lawsuit, Ramsey began collecting phone numbers from websites such as yellowpages.com and 411.com and began calling them in an attempt to sell home security systems.

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The number of calls grew to an enormous scale. In a single week in 2012, Ramsey allegedly placed 1.3 million prerecorded calls, 80 percent of which affected people who were already on the do-not-call list. The range of products Ramsey tried to sell gradually expanded to include "auto warranties, solar products, debt relief services, and vacation and travel packages,'" according to the complaint.

Even after the states of Indiana and Mississippi sued to stop the calls, Ramsey continued. In one case he threw out a document served to him by the Mississippi attorney general's office without reading it, according to the FTC complaint. In an email obtained by the FTC, Ramsey complained about the do-not-call list to a business partner.

The complaint names two other people as defendants: Brian Offner and Christopher Herghelegiu, who were executives of two companies also named in the suit. Both men settled separately with the FTC.

More than 2.4 billion robocalls are placed every month, according to the Federal Communications Commission, which has also taken action to stem the practice. Some are legitimate calls by businesses trying to serve their customers. But many other robocalls  such as the kind Ramsey made  are illegal. Unsolicited automated messages account for the largest source of consumer complaints to the FCC.

Phone companies have asked the government for greater leeway to block problematic calls before they ever reach consumers. In addition to selling services Americans do not want, robocalls are known to have misled innocent people into scams or fraudulent schemes that impose costs on millions of consumers. Many robocalls originate from overseas, or deliberately mask their location using a technique known as "spoofing."

The settlement now goes to a judge for final approval.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Ahead of Zimbabwe's independence on April 18th, Ambassador Harry Thomas Jnr will on April 13th (4 pm Zimbabwe time) participate in a panel discussion on the future of Zimbabwe. The discussion is organized by VOA Africa Division and will be moderated by veteran journalist Blessing Zulu.Ambassador Thomas Jr. started his assignment in Zimbabwe on February 25th 2016 after presenting his credentials to President Robert Mugabe. His assignment to Zimbabwe is his second as a diplomat since the southern African country attained its independence in 1980.He joined the Foreign Service in 1984, and has served as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines from 2010 to 2013 and to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005. He also served in the White House as the Director for South Asia at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2002. His other postings include: New Delhi, India; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Columbia University, Ambassador Thomas Jr. also served at Arizona State University as the State Department's Diplomat-in-Residence for the Southwest from 2013 to 2015.After meeting President Mugabe, the top American diplomat pledged "to continue the important work of building strong and respectful relations between" the two countries."We stand by the commitments that we made to the people of Zimbabwe at independence in 1980; to work together to promote democratic institutions, equitable economic growth, public health, and food security," he said at the time. "The United States shares the desires of the people of Zimbabwe, who want to see a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Zimbabwe that provides for its people and contributes to regional stability."Ambassador Thomas' immediate assignment has included overseeing U.S. government response to the 20152016 El Nino induced droughts and the construction of the New Embassy Campus in Bluffhill Harare. The latter has created more than 850 job opportunities for local Zimbabwean workers and injected more than $30 million dollars into the local economy each year since construction work began. On the humanitarian front, the United States has ensured that humanitarian assistance reaches two million Zimbabweans during the El Nino-induced drought that led to widespread crop failure and left 4.1 million rural Zimbabweans food insecure.During the VOA organized discussion, Ambassador Thomas Jnr. will be joined by Dr. Chipo Dendere, Assistant Professor, Gettysburg College; Dr. Tawuya Katso, Developmental and Social Consultant; and Dr. Rhoderick Machekano, Zimbabwe Diaspora Network North America (ZDNNA) while Amanda Bennett, VOA Director will give the opening remarks.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 (Redfin)

2141 Ohio St. in Chicago: $1,249,00 Listed on April 5, 2017 This four-bedroom home in Ukrainian Village has luxury-level finishes throughout and includes complete Smart Home controls. The main floor features oversized windows for natural light, an accent wall and ceiling accents, a large kitchen island with a quartz countertop, high-end stainless steel appliances and natural white oak hardwood floors. The second level has a total of three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a stackable washer and dryer hook-up, and a master suite with a spa-inspired bath, and a walk-in closet with a full closet system. The lower level has a fully equipped media room, a full bathroom, a dry bar, a laundry room and a large guest bedroom. The home also includes four outdoor areas, including a deck and pergola above the garage and a rooftop with indoor access. Agent: Al Medina of Redfin, 773-303-6486 To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and her husband, Ray, have traded up, paying $723,500 for a newly built, two-story single-family house in Wheaton .

Before being elected lieutenant governor in 2014, Sanguinetti, 46, had served on Wheaton's City Council since 2011.

Located in a mixed-use residential development in northeast Wheaton, the Sanguinettis' new house has a three-car garage and sits on a 0.34-acre parcel. Because the couple purchased the house new, few details were available about its features. Also listed on the deed is the name of Ray Sanguinetti's father, Alfred.

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In December, the Sanguinettis sold their five-bedroom, 1,959-square-foot house on Wheaton's east side for $387,000.

A spokeswoman for the lieutenant governor did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the deal.

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Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.







Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 (VHT Studios)

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Billionaire Ken Griffin, Illinois richest man, paid $58.75 million in November for the top four floors in the Near North condominium building at 9 W. Walton St., known as No. 9 Walton. This photo shows a rendering of the lobby. (JDL Development / E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune (inset))
Most people in Elmwood Park and the neighboring communities are familiar with New Star Restaurant. New Star Restaurant started over 60 years ago, by the well-known Moy family, and was loved by all the residents of Elmwood Park. In 2014, Tommy Moy retired and the restaurant has been honored to carry on the torch to continue serving all of their customers the same honest and delicious Chinese food every day, according to its website.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, New Star Restaurant provided our nonprofit organization, Spotlight, with a most delicious and very reasonably priced meal for our group of 120 people. Spotlight Youth Theater is a children's educational theater company for students ages 6-18. They offer classes in voice, drama, dance, camps, as well as produce 30 fully staged musicals a year. Spotlight Youth Theater helps foster leadership, discipline, arts, excellence, teamwork and self-confidence in the youth of our community.

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As each play finishes its production, the families that are involved with the production come together to celebrate all the hard work that the talented actors and directing team had accomplished. One of the best ways to celebrate such a fantastic accomplishment is through fellowship and food. We had reached out to New Star Restaurant to see if they would be interested in providing our meal at an affordable cost, since this is a nonprofit organization. Not only did New Star Restaurant accommodate our request for reasonable pricing, they provided us with a most delicious dinner. The food was delivered nice and hot, and the students and their families all were extremely pleased with the service that New Star Restaurant had provided us. Many people requested ordering again from New Star Restaurant.

Thank you again to New Star Restaurant. You now have a new fan base in Spotlight Youth Theater.

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Samantha Chierici

Chicago
From left to right, Lake Forest College students Lexie Nogulich, a sophomore from Glen Ellyn, junior Jack Hirsch from Riverwoods and senior Xhris Fitzgerald of Lake Forest converse with Rebecca Graff, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, after their panel presentations on the Archeology of Now at the 20th Student Symposium at Lake Forest College on April 11. (Gina Grillo / Pioneer Press)

On April 11, Lake Forest College canceled all classes to devote a full day to its 20th Student Symposium, a public event dedicated to celebrating student achievement throughout the academic year.

The annual event included 50 presentations, both scholarly and creative, representing the multidisciplinary works of LFC students.

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"The Symposium promotes those students who are committed to critical thinking and who represent the values of our liberal arts institution," said Davis Schneiderman, associate dean of the faculty and chair of the Symposium committee. "It provides an opportunity for them to share their work with their peers and faculty, and is a distinction and an honor."

This year's event included presentations on everything from archaeological explorations of the Ogilvie Transportation Center to a study of the implications of the election rhetoric between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and the market potential for solar energy on the LFC campus.

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Jack Hirsch, a junior from Riverwoods, presented his research on the contemporary archaeology of LFC's dormitories.

"This gives us the opportunity to research the issues that we are most passionate about, those issues first inspired through our course readings," he said.

This year's symposium included an inaugural "The World in 2050" contest, where students produced responses to the question: what will the world of the future hold at the half-century mark?

Two first place winners this year were Sam Miller for his entry entitled "Perpetual Motion," and Jacob Badagliacco for "The Pendulum Planet: 2050," and both received an award of $2,000. Cash prizes for third and fourth place, along with four honorable mentions, were also awarded.

Gina Grillo is a freelance for Pioneer Press.
Lizzie Black Kander has been called the "Jane Addams of Milwaukee" for her tireless social service work, which included editing and publishing "The Settlement Cook Book" in 1901. The book provided more than recipes; it taught newcomers to this country how to cook and eat like Americans. Over 113 years, 40 editions and more than 2 million copies sold, "The Settlement Cook Book: The Way to a Man's Heart" remains the most famous and profitable charity cookbook ever published.

"She is the perfect ideal of an American. Something has to be done, and she does it," says Jan Longone, adjunct curator of American culinary history at the University of Michigan's Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library in Ann Arbor. "She really made a difference across America. She introduced new cuisine, new techniques and helped people assimilate."

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For as Angela Fritz wrote in a 2004 article for the Wisconsin Magazine of History, the cookbook's goal "was not to catch a man but to become an 'American.' It was Lizzie Black Kander who set those goals, and in the course of achieving them created a piece of American culture that could be found in kitchens throughout the country."

Born in Milwaukee, Kander spent much of her life working with and for the city's poor and immigrant communities, notably recently arrived Jews from Russia and eastern Europe. In 1898, she began offering cooking classes to girls at the Milwaukee Jewish Mission, which merged in 1900 with another Jewish charitable group to become The Settlement. Kander served as its president for nearly 18 years, according to the biography "A Recipe for Success: Lizzie Kander and Her Cookbook."

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As author Bob Kann wrote in the book, Kander noticed students were spending too much time copying down the recipes instead of cooking with them. So she suggested a cookbook be written for use in the class. When The Settlement board rejected her request for $18 (about $500 today) to publish the cookbook, Kander went out and found the money.

"The Settlement Cook Book" was "an immediate success," notes the Wisconsin Historical Society in its online page about Kander. "Combining recipes with instructions on cleanliness, food storage, and housekeeping, Kander's cookbook was an amalgam of Jewish and American traditions, all presented within a modern domestic science framework," the society wrote.

What seems surprising today is the number of non-kosher dishes in the cookbook.

"There were few so-called Jewish recipes in the book, because there was an assumption that the immigrants already knew how to prepare those," Ellen F. Steinberg, author of "From the Jewish Heartland: Two Centuries of Midwest Foodways," wrote in an email.

Besides learning to cook in the American way, readers learned how to entertain like Americans, whether that meant mixing a Manhattan cocktail or coming up with lemonade for 150 people. And then there was advice on how to live American, from properly dusting a room to setting a table to lighting a fire.

"That sounds funny to us, but for someone who didn't know how to work in someone's house, learning how to light a fire was important," says Steinberg, a food writer and cultural anthropologist living in River Forest, Ill.

A second edition followed in 1903. Kander, as Kann and Langone noted, was not satisfied with just reprinting the first edition. She corrected recipes, reorganized them and added new ones. And so it went. Kander never stopped working on the cookbook, tailoring successive editions to changes in economic conditions, technological innovations and cultural fads.

"As it got bigger, it got more encompassing, more all-American," Steinberg said. "There were recipes for everyone in there."

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There were 23 editions of "The Settlement Cook Book" published before Kander died in 1940 at age 82. Proceeds from the book, as her obituary in The New York Times noted, raised the initial $75,000 needed to organize the Milwaukee Jewish Center. Sales continued to benefit the community for decades as further editions were produced.

Over the decades, "The Settlement Cook Book" became a much-beloved, essential companion to many. And that's why Lizzie Kander still matters to Kann.

"Her cookbook is still being used throughout the world. Her cookbook is still cherished with families," says the Madison, Wis., based author. "There are still animated discussions in families on which generation should inherit the family cookbook from the previous generation.  The cookbook is still alive, still being used."

wdaley@tribune.com

Manhattan cocktail

From the 1903 edition of "The Settlement Cookbook." Sheridan rye is an old whiskey brand. Apricotine is an apricot liqueur.

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1/3 whiskey (Sheridan rye)

1/3 Vermuth bitters

1/3 water

And add a dash of angostura, apricotine and orange bitters, and a slice of lemon peel. Sweeten to taste.

Potato flour cake

This recipe from the 1903 edition of "The Settlement Cookbook" calls for potato flour, which would make the sponge cake a good Passover dessert. Garnish with fresh fruit and confectioners' sugar with a kosher-for-Passover certification (or skip the confectioners' sugar).

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9 eggs

1 3/4 cup sugar

Scant cup of potato flour

1/2 lemon (rind and juice)

Separate the whites and yolks of eggs. Beat the whites of seven eggs very stiff. To the well-beaten yolks of nine eggs and the whites of two, add the sugar and lemon juice. Beat thoroughly, add the potato flour, and beat again. Now fold in the beaten whites very carefully, and bake slowly in a moderate oven. Bake forty to fifty minutes.

Nutrition information per serving: 202 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 167 mg cholesterol, 31 g carbohydrates, 9 g protein, 73 mg sodium, 2 g fiber

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Note: The recipe as published is short on details. In the test kitchen, we baked the cake at 325 degrees, using a 10-inch tube pan with a removable bottom. Then we inverted the pan over an empty wine bottle to cool for 90 minutes. A thin knife was used to run around the edges of the cake before removing the pan.

To build a fire

From the 1903 edition of "The Settlement Cookbook."

It is necessary to have:

1st, Fuel.  Something to burn.

2nd, Heat.  To make fuel hot enough to burn.

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3rd, Air.  To keep the fire burning.
International Cannes Film Festival General Delegate, Thierry Fremaux (L) and Festival President Pierre Lescure (R) stand by the 70th festival's 2017 offical poster, during a press conference to announce the movies in official competition for the 2017 International Cannes film festival, on April 13, 2017 in Paris. (Lionel Bonaventure / AFP/Getty Images)

The Cannes Film Festival turns 70 this year, and for its anniversary edition, the glamorous cinema showcase will launch star-driven new work from American directors Sofia Coppola ("The Beguiled"), Noah Baumbach ("The Meyerowitz Stories"), and Todd Haynes ("Wonderstruck") -- which should see such celebs as Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler, and Julianne Moore walking the red carpet -- but not a single Hollywood studio film.

Kidman stars in a whopping four projects at this year's fest: Coppola's "The Beguiled," Yorgos Lanthimos' "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," John Cameron Mitchell's out-of-competition title "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," and Season 2 of Jane Campion's series "Top of the Lake."

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The lineup includes fresh features from such world-renowned filmmakers as Michael Haneke ("Happy End"), Andrey Zvyagintsev ("Loveless") and Hong Sangsoo, who brings two films to the Croisette, "The Day After" and the Isabelle Huppert-starrer "Claire's Camera." There are also English-language entries from Greek director Lanthimos (who follows up his Cannes-launched "The Lobster" with "The Killing of a Sacred Deer") and South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho, whose "Okja" stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton.

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In all, festival president Pierre Lescure and general delegate Thierry Fremaux announced 49 films from 29 countries at Thursday's press conference in Paris, including films from 12 female directors and nine first-time feature helmers.

Despite being the source of so much controversy in world news, Russia makes an especially strong showing this year, whereas prolific film hubs China and India are entirely unrepresented. There is also a surprising lack of new work from Romania, Belgium, Italy, and Spain, which have had strong showings in recent years. "Russia used to be lagging behind," Fremaux said. "This year, we saw many Russian films, many beautiful works which suggest that there is some sort of new wave or a renewed vitality in this big country."

Among other surprises was the inclusion of a virtual reality project from Alejandro G. Inarritu titled "Carne y arena," as well as two television projects, Campion's "Top of the Lake: China Girl" and David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" revival.

The festival will open with French director Arnaud Desplechin's "Ismael's Ghosts," which stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Marion Cotillard, while Un Certain Regard kicks off with Mathieu Amalric's "Barbara," a biopic of the mono-monikered French chanteuse. The choice of "Ismael's Ghosts" comes two years after Fremaux was strongly criticized for letting the Directors' Fortnight steal away Desplechin's "My Golden Years." (Though not yet announced, Directors' Fortnight is expected to open with Claire Denis' "Black Glasses" and close with Sundance breakout "Patti Cake$," and will surely include a number of high-profile projects left out of the official selection, such as Ruben Ostlund's "The Square" and Bruno Dumont's Joan of Arc musical "Jeanette.")

Fremaux makes a point of never discussing films that were not selected, but addressed several emerging trends at the press conference, including the rise of online distributors and the explosion of high-end TV drama. "Basically, two big players have appeared in the last few years, Amazon and Netflix, which are two new operators for filmmakers, producers, and for festivals," he said, pointing out that Amazon had more films in competition last year.

Both "Okja" and "The Meyerowitz Stories" are Netflix original productions (though Fremaux described the latter as a Scott Rudin production), while Amazon Studios backed both "Wonderstruck" and Scottish director Lynne Ramsay's "You Were Never Really Here," which Fremaux said was not yet done but was accepted with three scenes still to shoot.

"Regarding the situation with Netflix, it's a unique and unheard-of situation for us. After discussing it at length with Pierre Lescure [and the team, we came to the conclusion that] the Cannes festival is a lab," Fremaux said. "We're not going to start debating here the fact that even [television] series, unless proven otherwise, are using the classical art of filmmaking and of cinematic narration....It's because those two series are signed Jane Campion and David Lynch, who are filmmakers and friends of the Cannes Film Festival, that we are showing their work."

As it is, France already hosts several television festivals, with a new one called Cannes Series coming to the city next April, while the Berlin, Toronto, Sundance, and SXSW fests now all feature series sections. But Fremaux was firm that his event would not follow suit. "As you know, our friends at the Berlin Film Festival opened a section for series. That's not our intention. The Cannes Film Festival is a festival of films."

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Although the 2017 lineup was announced Thursday, Fremaux suggested that there's always the possibility that Cannes may add one or two more titles before the start of this year's event, which will run May 17-28. Scheduled to take place at the same time but not part of the "official selection," Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week will be announcing their lineups later this month.







Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced most of its 2017-18 season of theatrical productions Thursday  including the first programming at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, its newest indoor theater on Navy Pier fashioned from the shell of the former open-air Skyline Stage.

The first production in The Yard will be James Thierree's "The Toad Knew" (Sept. 19-23) presented by his French ensemble La Compagnie du Hanneton. Part of the World Stage series, "The Toad Knew" is a fanciful piece about family relationships. It premiered last August at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.

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In the winter, CST will stage its educational "Short Shakespeare!" program in The Yard: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" runs Jan. 24 to March 10, 2018.

But the most prominent attraction in what will be a relatively light debut season for the new space will be a "Macbeth" (April 25 to June 24, 2018), adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and the illusionist Teller. The Scottish play will be replete with illusions by the team that previously combined on "The Tempest."

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Artistic director Barbara Gaines kicks off the new Courtyard Theater mainstage season with an all-female production of "The Taming of the Shrew" (Sept. 16 to Nov. 12), featuring additional dialogue by Ron West, a longtime performer and writer at Second City.

In the winter, associate artistic director Gary Griffin will stage Lolita Chakrabarti's "Red Velvet" (Dec. 1 to Jan. 21, 2018). "Red Velvet" was first seen in 2012 at the Tricycle Theatre in London and later at the St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn with Adrian Lester; it's a piece about the 19th century African-American actor Ira Aldridge.

A production of Friedrich Schiller's "Mary Stuart" (Feb. 21April 15, 2018), as translated by Peter Oswald, follows at the Courtyard, directed by New York-based Jenn Thompson. Oswald's translation debuted in 2005 at the Donmar Warehouse in London and then moved to the West End.

And in May, Ireland's acclaimed Druid Theatre will bring Garry Hynes' well-received 2016 production of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" to Navy Pier. Having previously stood Druid watch at the Galway International Arts Festival, Vladimir and Estragon will wait on Navy Pier from May 23 to June 3, 2018.
Ed Gero in "The Originalist" at Arena Stage (Arena Stage)

Court Theatre will present the Arena Stage production of John Strand's "The Originalist," the Hyde Park company announced Wednesday.

Edward Gero will star as Antonin Scalia in Strand's play about a polarizing court case taken on by the divisive supreme court justice and a Harvard Law School grad with opposing views. Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith will direct.

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The production premiered at Arena with Gero, traveled to the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida and will play the Pasadena Playhouse in California before reaching Chicago next year.

The cast of "The Originalist" also includes Jade Wheeler as Cat and Brett Mack as Brad.

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The production closes out the company's 63rd season, playing May 10-June 10, 2018 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

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'Quixote' added to Writers Theatre's 2017-18 season

'The? Unicorn? Hour?' lets stunts and ridiculousness out for a romp

In 'Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday,' siblings confront growing old







Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
In this June 8, 2015, file photo, a loggerhead sea turtle heads to the ocean, as onlookers watch at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Fla. (Alan Diaz / AP)

Many Florida beaches welcome a special type of visitor as the weather gets warmer: sea turtles.

Female sea turtles crawl out of the water from spring to early fall to build nests and lay eggs on the beach at night. Babies hatch some 60 days later and crawl back into the sea. It's a fragile process. Only an estimated one in 1,000 turtles survives to adulthood, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

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It's a crime in Florida to disturb sea turtle nests or harass turtles. Visitors should keep their distance, staying behind any turtle they might see, and must not shine lights in nesting areas, including flashlights, cellphone lights or camera lights. Some beaches turn off artificial lights to promote nesting activity.

There are several sanctioned ways to observe sea turtles.

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Turtle rehab facilities around the state sometimes hold public releases when an injured turtle has recovered enough to return to the sea.

And public sea turtle watches take place at night on a number of Florida beaches, typically with participants registering in advance for the walks, which tend to fill up quickly. Trained guides who hold special permits scout for nests, looking for a turtle that's far enough along in the process that she won't be distracted. Tour participants are then escorted to the area for a look. The tours usually take place between 8 p.m. and midnight.

In this July 9, 2013, file photo, Bill Ahern, a conservation specialist for the Miami-Dade County Parks, holds a loggerhead sea turtle egg as he prepares to relocate the nest on Haulover Beach in Miami. (Lynne Sladky / AP)

Sign-ups open May 1, for example, for weeknight walks June 1-July 27 in Melbourne Beach, Florida, hosted by the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The walks cost $15 and are limited to 20 people a night.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists guided sea turtle walks as well as facilities that house captive sea turtles at myfwc.com.

In many areas where nesting takes place, turtle patrols hunt for nests by day and rope them off so they can't be disturbed. In Gulf County in northwest Florida, where sea turtle season runs from May 1 to Oct. 31, the St. Joseph Peninsula Turtle Patrol on Cape San Blas takes a "turtle walkabout" each morning at dawn looking for signs of crawls. Nests are marked, and small groups of visitors can join part of the patrol, which includes measuring and marking nests with posts and caution tape so beachgoers know to stay away. Details at floridacc.org.

Three varieties of sea turtle, green, leatherback and hawksbill, are classified as endangered. Two varieties, loggerhead and olive ridley, are listed as threatened.

In this July 9, 2013, file photo, a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling makes its way into the ocean along Haulover Beach in Miami. (Lynne Sladky / AP)

Sometimes, visitors may simply stumble across a nest or nesting turtle. For example, it's not unusual to see loggerhead turtles on Florida's central east coast, where they nest by the thousands. "When it's high season for nesting," said Visit Florida spokesman Tim Declaire, "all you need is a late-night walk on the beach."

Just remember: Don't get too close and don't shine any lights. When nesting is disrupted, a turtle may fail to lay her eggs or may not fully camouflage her nest. Hatchlings face additional challenges: They may die before reaching the water or be caught by predators.

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lays out warnings and other information in this brochure: myfwc.com.

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Police officers investigate the scene of a shooting in the 1000 block of West Winona Street, where a man was shot and killed on March 31, 2016. (Alexandra Chachkevitch / Chicago Tribune)

One day early last year, I woke up to the sound of gunfire.

It was not the first time I'd heard the successive popping of a weapon, but it always had been in the distance. This time, it was outside my bedroom window.

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My first instinct was to jump out of bed and look out. But I decided to lie still, as if the slightest stir from my apartment would alert the shooters that someone was watching, and that the witness might then herself become a victim.

So I remained quiet. Until the noise of screeching tires alerted me that it was OK to move about.

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I live in Uptown, by no means a highly affluent community but certainly not a ghetto. Its landscape is strewn with vintage walk-ups, glossy high-rises, magnificent old theaters left over from the heyday, and more than its fair share of halfway houses and homeless shelters.

It is a neighborhood of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East, of urban professionals, lakefront liberals and working-class families with carefree children who ride scooters on the sidewalk in the summer.

But it also is home to the Conservative Vice Lords, the Black Gangster Disciples and the Black P Stones, three of the Chicago's most notorious street gangs. And every now and then, the violent side of Uptown crosses over into the peaceful side, putting everyone at risk.

According to police, the shooting that occurred on my block was gang-related. A man had been sitting in his parked car when two men walked up and started firing, striking him in the chest, arm and hand. The injured man was able to drive himself to a hospital.

Later that morning, I noticed two police officers standing on the corner across the street. It isn't clear why they were there. They didn't seem to be scouring for evidence or looking for witnesses. Perhaps their only mission was to reassure residents that the neighborhood is safe.

But there is no safe harbor from Chicago's violence, not really. Regardless of where you live or your station in life, it is possible that violence will somehow cross your path.

A Cook County judge was shot to death Monday after coming to the aid of his girlfriend who had been shot in the leg outside his home in a middle-class African-American neighborhood on the South Side. A day later, two 12-year-old boys on spring break were shot and injured outside a store in the affluent Old Town neighborhood on the Near North Side.

The corner of Broadway and Wilson Avenue in Uptown on Jan. 1, 2017, near where two people were shot and killed around 4:25 a.m. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

There have been shootings at or near some of the city's most public places  Navy Pier, Grant Park and McCormick Place  proving that violence knows no boundaries.

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It's been said many times that the violence is not just a problem for poor, predominantly African-American and Latino communities on the South and West sides. It's a problem shared by all of us.

That doesn't mean that Chicagoans should be afraid to move around freely in our beautiful city. But we do need to take off our blinders while doing so.

After a series of incidents near Navy Pier, the city beefed up security in the area and instated a youth escort policy requiring those under age 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Adults entering the grounds may be asked to present a driver's license or another valid ID. And on Michigan Avenue during the summer, police officers are stationed on almost every corner.

That's what happens when the city's most popular tourist areas are threatened by the violence. But in our neighborhoods, it is up to us.

The morning after the shooting on my block, I approached the officers standing on the corner, not as a reporter but as a citizen, and asked, "What can we do as residents to make this stop?"

One of them said, "Call the police if you see suspicious characters loitering in the area."

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I replied, "What do you mean by 'suspicious'? This is Uptown; almost everybody looks suspicious."

He smiled and shrugged. Clearly, he did not have an appropriate answer. But I didn't really need him to tell me what I should do.

Long before I moved to the neighborhood four years ago, my street was part of a thriving block club. Residents came together to force out the prostitutes who picked up clients from the corner near my front door. They went to court over slumlords who took advantage of their immigrant tenants, and they forced gangs from our block to others some distance away.

But over time, as people moved away and the problems eased, the block club faltered. Gradually, the problems that had taken years to ward off began creeping back.

The shooting outside my window energized me. I promised to inquire about the block club and volunteer. But before the month's end, the excitement had waned. Family commitments and work required too much of my time, so I let myself off the hook.

I did nothing. Neither did many others on my block. Not because we didn't care, but because we are not perfect people.

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By summer, there was another shooting, this one in front of a fast-food restaurant. The familiar flashing blue lights indicated that something awful had occurred.

Not too awful, though. No one was injured that time. But by the end of last year, nine people in Uptown had died.

dglanton@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dahleeng
Opinion / Blogs

We thank you every day the almighty,We thank you for blessing your Comrades,We thank you for the fauna and flora,We thank you for the plateau between the Zambezi and Limpopo.The land that has invited cunning forces,Coming all the way from beyond,We thank you for all the riches, culture and personality.All enshrined in the womb of our ancestors,We thank you for giving us time to honour our heroes,Our own Sons and daughters of Zimbabwe,Their sacrifices remained a Midas touch.Great salutation gallant fighters,You fought for your land,Your fight was for our well being,Your choose was above special,You left us with endless tears,But your blood wiped them dry,Today liberation is a song, a song for many.With neo-colonialism a satanic hymn,Sons and daughters of Zimbabwe.That land is in the hands of black majority,It should be given financial and technical support,To fulfil the desire of your spirits;The spirits of Nehanda Nyakasikana and Sekuru KaguviWe need total empowerment,Land, land, land is our national heritage.Sanctions imposed by Western countries,Had boomeranged in causing the region and many black Zimbabweans.To open their eyes, to this unwarranted pressure.Our land means our sovereignty,Our resources means our integrity,A great honour to our heroes,Rest in peace, Lala Nokuthula.Sons and daughters of Zimbabwe.Long live Zimbabwe,Long live our Independence,We salute you, thank you!!!Zikhomo Kwambili, asante sana.We salute you for the INDEPENDENCE
The chemical spill from the U.S. Steel facility in Portage caused beaches in and around Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to close and left officials scrambling to determine the extent of damage caused to the local environment. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

While federal environmental officials scrambled to protect Lake Michigan from a cancer-causing metal spilled into a northwest Indiana tributary, their political bosses in President Donald Trump's administration are pushing a new budget that would scuttle efforts to crack down on the pollutant nationwide.

The spill of hexavalent chromium, reported Tuesday by the U.S. Steel Midwest Plant in Portage, prompted the neighboring Ogden Dunes community to shut off its drinking water intake and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to close four beaches as a precaution. Chicago conducted emergency testing of water drawn at an intake crib off 68th Street, about 20 miles across the lake from the spill, but found nothing unusual.

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U.S. Steel said it appears a broken pipe joint allowed a still-undetermined amount of wastewater to spill into a ditch next to the plant, where steel forged at the nearby Gary Works is coated with hexavalent chromium and other rust-inhibiting materials.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said there was no immediate threat to Lake Michigan. But the spill draws renewed attention to a toxic metal made infamous by the movie "Erin Brockovich."

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(Tribune Graphics)

Steel mills and chrome plating operations are major industrial sources of hexavalent chromium, which testing nationwide shows already is routinely found in the water supplies of more than 200 million Americans, including millions in the Chicago area. The Portage plant is one of six facilities on the southern shore of Lake Michigan that legally released a combined 1,696 pounds of the metal into Lake Michigan and its tributaries during 2015, according to federal records.

The EPA and the National Toxicology Program linked the dangerous form of chromium to stomach cancer nearly a decade ago. Yet plans to adopt the first national standards for the metal in drinking water have been repeatedly delayed by objections from the chemical industry, and there are signs the new administration could scrap the effort altogether.

Trump's proposed budget would abolish the Integrated Risk Information System, the EPA office working on hexavalent chromium standards in drinking water, as well as sharply reduce funding for scientific reviews of toxic chemicals and cut back on the agency's enforcement of environmental laws.

The administration also is moving to eliminate a program that has provided roughly $300 million a year to fund cleanup and restoration work on the Great Lakes, including projects that address past environmental damage caused by U.S. Steel and other polluters in northwest Indiana.

"Considering what we're seeing right now in northwest Indiana, that doesn't make any sense," said Molly Flanagan, vice president for policy at the nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes. "This situation is exactly what the EPA was created to do: respond to environmental emergencies, regulate polluters to make them follow the law and protect us from nasty things that endanger public health."

Chicago began quarterly testing for hexavalent chromium in drinking water about six years ago after the nonprofit Environmental Working Group reported finding the metal in the city's tap water and in drinking water from more than two dozen other cities.

Results posted online by the Chicago Department of Water Management show levels as high as 0.30 parts per billion in treated drinking water last year  15 times higher than a health goal California officials adopted in 2009 based on the National Toxicology Program study. But levels in Chicago and other cities are below a controversial regulatory limit California later adopted: 10 parts per billion.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment defines the health goal, 0.02 parts per billion, as an amount that reduces the lifetime risk of developing cancer to a point considered negligible by most scientists and physicians. The state's regulatory limit was adopted based on other considerations, including the added cost of water treatment.

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At home, people can reduce chromium levels in their tap water with reverse osmosis technology or devices certified by NSF International, a nonprofit group that tests the effectiveness of water filtration. Inexpensive and widely sold carbon filters aren't certified to address the problem, the group says.

The Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk in Portage, Ind., shown here on April 12, 2017, was closed after a spill of hexavalent chromium by the U.S. Steel Midwest Plant. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

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Industry lobbied fiercely against tougher regulations after it became clear that hexavalent chromium has contaminated water supplies throughout the nation. The "Erin Brockovich" movie dramatized one of the most high-profile cases: a miles-long plume of the toxic metal dumped by a utility in rural Hinkley, Calif., that led to a $333 million legal settlement over illnesses and cancers.

The American Chemistry Council, the chemical industry's chief trade group, contends other studies show "no adverse health effects" at the current EPA standard of 100 parts per billion for total chromium, a measurement that includes the dangerous form of the metal and other forms, one of which is an essential nutrient in tiny amounts.

Health groups say hexavalent chromium is so dangerous that a national standard is long overdue.

"Even a single gallon of hexavalent chromium could contaminate billions of gallons of drinking water," said David Andrews, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group. "The lack of a drinking water standard ... is just one more example of our failed drinking water regulations."

Indiana officials once sought to relax limits on chromium discharges from U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest industrial polluter on the Great Lakes. State officials backed down and imposed more stringent restrictions after Tribune reporting prompted federal regulators in 2007 to block a new water permit for the steel mill.

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mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @scribeguy
Listings are subject to change. Please call the venue in advance. To submit items to the calendar, go to newssunonline.com/community.

Monday

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Six Drinks That Changed the World: Did you know that each time you reach for a beer or sip a cup of tea you are making history? Joyce Haworth tells the story of six remarkable beverages that, in small and great ways, affected some of the most amazing transformations in human history. Samples are served and registration is required. Please call or visit the library's website to register or for more information. 1 p.m. Monday, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich, free, 847-438-3433

Knights of Columbus Bingo: Knights of Columbus is having weekly bingoas a fundraiser to help support Santa Maria church and the community. Knights of Columbus is a nonprofit family fraternal service organization. 6:45 p.m. Monday, Santa Maria Del Popolo Catholic Church, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein, free, 847-566-8213

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Tuesday

Expand Your Connections  Building Your Network: This event is facilitated by Marc Silver, partner, Barnus & Thornburg, LLP. Reframe your thinking about what networking is all about. Show up and you might be surprised to find the information and connections you are looking for while helping others. Bring your business cards and handbills. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Career Resource Center, 40 East Old Mill Road, Lake Forest, free, 847-295-5626

Vernon Hills High School Spring Band Concert: The Spring VHHS Band Concert includes the Concert Band performing "The Orange Bowl March" by Henry Fillmore, "Tis a Gift" by Anne McGinty, and "Jungle Fantasy" arranged by Iwai. The Symphonic Band performs "Americans We March" by Henry Fillmore, "Ovation Overture" by James Hosay, and "Incantation and Dance" by John Barnes Chance. The Wind Ensemble performs: "Molly on the Shore" by Percy Grainger, and "Symphony #3 Slavyanskaya." Tickets available at the door. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Vernon Hills High School, 145 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills, $2-$3, 847-932-2283

Wednesday

Start Strong Business Boot Camp: This accelerated small business boot camp in four sessions, explores business fundamentals needed to start and run a new business. Evaluate your business idea including personal objectives, business feasibility, market potential and financial strength. This class provides the resources, support, and motivation. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus, 19351 West Washington St., Grayslake, $100, 847-543-2033

Start Smart: High school graduation is fast approaching and if you are looking for direction, this is presented by Career Vision. This is for high school students, college sophomores and their parents to learn how to identify college majors and career direction. Please call the library or visit their website to register. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich, free, 847-438-3433
A decorated Army veteran with a green card who has been ordered back to his native Mexico asked the state for forgiveness while his attorney implored the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Thursday to ask Gov. Bruce Rauner to pardon his felony drug conviction.

The petition for clemency is one of three efforts to keep Miguel Perez Jr., who served two tours in Afghanistan, from being deported. In addition to appealing a final order of removal, they hope a pardon would encourage the government to grant citizenship retroactively to when he joined the military in 2001. Advocates say erasing crimes from immigrants' records has halted deportations in the past.

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"I'm pretty much asking for forgiveness and hope they get the right message to Gov. Rauner," Perez, 38, said in an interview Wednesday from a Wisconsin detention center where he awaits deportation to Mexico  a country he hasn't lived in since he was 8.

"I really want to say I'm sorry to the state of Illinois," said Perez, who did not appear at Thursday's hearing.

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Cecilia Garcia, left comforts Esperanza Perez, mother of Miguel Perez, as she leans on the Rev. Luis Retamal of Grace Covenant Church, where she is a congregant. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

The Cook County state's attorney's office opposes Perez's petition for clemency, a legal request filed with the state for leniency or forgiveness of a past crime.

"We cannot lose track of the specific facts of this case, which is why we are opposing executive clemency," assistant Cook County State's Attorney Peter Goutos told the review board Thursday. "We must hold the big drug dealers accountable."

While Perez was convicted of delivering less than 100 grams of cocaine, Goutos said he was arrested for delivering much more and received a reduced sentence after a plea deal. Goutos also pointed out that Perez was given a general discharge from the military after a drug infraction and was arrested for misdemeanor cannabis possession as a teenager.

Perez is one of many legal permanent residents who have served in the U.S. military, then confronted the possibility of deportation to their native countries after committing a crime.

After returning to Chicago after his military service, he sought treatment at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Maywood, where doctors diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder. He was supposed to return for more tests to determine whether he also had a traumatic brain injury. But the hours of waiting and slow progress took its toll.

In the meantime, he reconnected with a childhood friend who provided free drugs and alcohol. On the night of Nov. 26, 2008, while with that friend, Perez handed a laptop case containing cocaine to an undercover officer. Perez pleaded guilty to the drug charge and served half of a 15-year prison sentence.

If the 4.4 pounds of cocaine Perez delivered had ended up on the streets, it "would have affected tens of thousands of people once distributed throughout our community," Goutos said.

Perez's attorney, Chris Bergin, emphasized to the board that Perez accepts responsibility for committing the crime.

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"We're not here today to excuse in any way the fact that he handed a lot of drugs to an undercover officer," said Bergin, who added that Perez is receiving psychological help and medication in custody. "He's somewhat back to the old Miguel and he understands how terrible it was, that decision, that drugs can be used to destroy a lot of lives."

The family of Miguel Perez Jr. pleads for his safe stay in the United States on Feb. 6, 2017. Perez Jr. faces deportation to Mexico where cartels frequently force former U.S. military members to share training tactics or face execution. (Chicago Tribune)

After hearing a number of cases Thursday morning, members of the review board were scheduled to meet in closed-door sessions to decide what they will recommend to the governor. The board's guidance remains confidential unless the governor chooses to disclose it.

Last year, Rauner cleared a backlog of clemency petitions that dogged at least two previous governors but granted only 3 percent of the requests. Of 2,333 petitions, Rauner issued 79 pardons. He also commuted the sentence of a drug offender. That rate is far lower than that of Rauner's predecessor, Gov. Pat Quinn, who approved roughly 36 percent of petitions as he tried to clear the backlog he inherited from his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich. Rauner has said he wants to make decisions on future clemency requests within six months.

According to the governor's office, Rauner considers how long it has been since petitioners completed their sentences, why they need clemency and whether it's affecting their ability to get professional businesses licenses or a job. He also takes into account the applicant's military and community service records, the nature of the crime and their acceptance of responsibility.

As is the case with many other green card-holding veterans, Perez, a father of two U.S. citizen children, mistakenly thought he became a U.S. citizen when he took an oath to protect the nation. Military superiors never offered to help him expedite his citizenship, his attorney told the review board Thursday.

"Had that been done we wouldn't be sitting here today?" asked Donald Shelton, a member of the review board from Springfield. "Absolutely right," Bergin replied.

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Perez discovered the oversight when he was summoned to immigration court shortly before his release from Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg last year. Instead of heading home to Chicago from prison, Perez was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transferred to the Wisconsin detention center for immigrants awaiting deportation.

In a statement released Thursday, the state's attorney's office said its opposition to a pardon did not equate to support for Perez's deportation. His immigration proceedings are a separate matter.

"Regardless of the outcome of Mr. Perez's clemency hearing, he is still subject to removal by the federal government," the statement said. "Mr. Perez's case is an unfortunate reminder of the need for immigration reform, particularly when it comes to veterans who have served our country."

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Edith Crigler, a member of the panel from Cook County, commended the presentation given by Bergin and other advocates on behalf of Perez.

"It seems to me a lot of his trouble started after his deployment," she said. "Most of the guys who returned from the terrible, terrible war ... weren't able to get adequate care."

Last month, an immigration judge denied Perez's request for relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, a protection that resembles asylum, and ordered that he be deported  a decision Perez has appealed. He and human rights advocates believe his life would be in danger if he were sent back to Mexico.

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Perez's mother, Esperanza Montes Perez, pleaded with the board to bring her son home.

"He has already served his debt to society," she testified. "I believe he deserves a pardon from the state of Illinois. My son is my hero. I love my son. I need my son by my side."

mbrachear@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @TribSeeker
A police sergeant replaces a soda can, used as a temporary evidence marker for a bullet casing, with an official marker at a double shooting on the corner of Chicago and Lockwood avenues in the Austin neighborhood Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Two men were transported to different hospitals, one in critical condition. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Four men were wounded Thursday in shootings in Chicago, according to police.

In the latest attack, two men were shot on the West Side in the Austin neighborhood. That shooting happened about 3:30 p.m. near Chicago and Lockwood avenues, police said.

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Police said the victims were standing on a corner when a white Dodge Caravan pulled up and someone fire shots.

A 26-year-old man suffered a wound to the left knee and was taken to West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park where his condition was stabilized. The other victim, 32, was shot in the leg and was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, police said.

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About 25 minutes before the West Side shooting, another person was shot in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side.

About 3:05 p.m., a 26-year-old man was walking in the 1000 block of West Wilson Avenue when he was approached by four men. One of them pulled out a gun and fired shots, striking him in the left thigh, police said.

The victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where his condition was stabilized, police said.

Earlier Thursday, a 20-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by shooting in the South Chicago neighborhood, police said.

According to preliminary information, shortly after 10:15 a.m., the victim was in the 8000 block of South Coles Avenue when someone in a black vehicle drove up and fired shots in his direction.

The man suffered a wound to the hip, and walked into Advocate Trinity Hospital and reported he was shot in a drive-by, police said.

No one is in custody and police were investigating.
Cook County Circuit Judge Jessica O'Brien has been removed indefinitely from the bench after she was indicted earlier this month on federal mortgage fraud charges.

A civic-minded judge whose inspiring rags-to-riches story helped her become the first Filipina elected to the Cook County bench was indicted Wednesday on mortgage fraud charges.

Judge Jessica A. O'Brien, who presided over a small-claims courtroom and had served in prominent roles on numerous bar association boards, allegedly lied and concealed relevant facts from lenders to obtain more than $1.4 million in mortgages on two South Side investment properties that she purchased and sold between 2004 and 2007.

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O'Brien was then working as a special assistant attorney general for the Illinois Department of Revenue, where she also reportedly held the position of chief counsel to the Illinois Lottery. A spokesman for the Department of Revenue was not able to confirm that Wednesday afternoon. She resigned from the department after she was elected judge in 2012, the spokesman said.

O'Brien was reassigned to non-judicial duties Wednesday by 1st Municipal District presiding Judge E. Kenneth Wright Jr., a spokesman for Chief Judge Tim Evans said. An executive committee of Evans and 17 other judges will meet next week to decide whether O'Brien will be removed from the bench while the case is pending.

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She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

O'Brien, who is married to a judge, immigrated to the United States after high school, earning degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management, according to her online biographies. She then made a career change and went to John Marshall Law School, graduating in 1998 and later serving on its board.

She was the first Asian elected president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois and also served on the board of governors for the Illinois State Bar Association. The judge also co-founded a foundation in 2008 that award scholarships to law students from diverse backgrounds.

While working for the Department of Revenue, O'Brien also owned a real estate company and worked part time as a loan officer for a Lincolnwood business, federal prosecutors say. Her co-defendant Maria Bartko also worked at Amronbanc Mortgage Corporation as a loan originator.

In August 2004, O'Brien applied for a mortgage on a property in the 600 block of West 46th Street, falsely stating that she made $6,800 a month as an IDR attorney and omitting the $260,000 she and Bartko owed on another property they'd purchased, according to the charges.

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A little over a year later, O'Brien refinanced mortgages on that property and another she bought a month later in the 800 block of West 54th Street, falsely stating she made $20,000 a month at her realty company O'Brien Realty LLC.

In 2006, she applied for a commercial line of credit to pay expenses on the two properties, falsely stating that her realty company made a $100,000 annual profit, the charges say. A year later, O'Brien decided to sell the properties to Bartko.

The future judge allegedly paid Bartko and a straw buyer to purchase the two properties, according to the charges.

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She is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

Her husband, attorney Brendan O'Brien, was elected as a Cook County judge last year.

sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveSchmadeke
The police oversight agency that the city was forced to create in the fallout of the major Chicago Police Department scandal in 2015 has an official start date: Sept. 15.

The website for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, chicagocopa.org, was also announced. And on Wednesday, COPA released proposed rules and regulations that will guide the agency that replaces the long- and often-criticized Independent Police Review Authority.

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The rules and regulations will go into effect on the Sept. 15 start date.

COPA was authorized by the Chicago City Council last year after revelations that IPRA had been ineffective and had failed to properly investigate or punish police misconduct.

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The failures were documented in Tribune investigations as well as a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights probe launched after the release of video of the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald.

McDonald, a black teenager, was shot 16 times in October 2014 by Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is white, as he appeared to be walking away from the officer. The police dashcam video of the shooting was made public in November 2015, after the city dropped its objections to its release. The video release sparked weeks of protests and led to murder charges against Van Dyke, the firing of police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and eventually the Justice Department investigation.

The investigation concluded about a year later that black and Latino residents were more likely to be victims of excessive force by Chicago police, but also that oversight of officers who break the law or violate department rules has been lacking.

To contain the political fallout, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced immediately after the video was released that former federal prosecutor Sharon Fairley would take over IPRA and that the agency would be overhauled. In August 2016, the City Council voted to create COPA.

Fairley, who will lead the agency during the transition, provided hiring updates and new details on COPA's structure on Wednesday in a seven-page report. Among those are that COPA has created an advisory panel of community members. They are also developing an information technology system independent of Chicago police and a way for complainants and officers to track their cases online.

The rules and regulations released Wednesday mark an effort by COPA to be transparent about how its investigators will conduct its inquiries, COPA spokeswoman Mia Sissac said. The rules cover an assortment of issues, including how complaints can be filed, the recording of interviews, and when COPA can recommend when an officer under investigation can be placed on restricted duty.

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The public will be allowed to comment on the rules until May 29. The document and instructions on how to comment are on the agency's website.

"The point is the public input from both the community members and the Chicago Police Department members is very important," Sissac said. "We have to engender trust. To be effective we have to have the confidence and trust of the community."

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Attorney Sheila Bedi called the decision to post the proposed regulations "encouraging" and a "commitment towards transparency."

But Bedi, a professor at Northwestern University's MacArthur Justice Center, also cautioned that simply asking for public comment is not enough, pointing to the recent decision by the Chicago Police Department to seek comment regarding its proposed use-of-force policy. Bedi said public comments were not adequately considered.

"It is important that IPRA/COPA does not go the way of the Chicago Police Department where comments were submitted and it was very clear they only took into consideration what the officers said," Bedi said.

asweeney@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @annie1221
Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles was killed and a female companion was wounded after the two were shot April 10, 2017, outside his residence on Chicago's South Side. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

In a surprise twist, Cook County prosecutors charged Thursday that the killing of Associate Judge Raymond Myles had been hatched weeks ago as a plot to rob his girlfriend, not to target the judge.

At a bond hearing for the first suspect charged in the shooting, prosecutors said the gunman had been tracking the movements of Myles' girlfriend for two to three weeks to learn her schedule.

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Joshua T. Smith, identified by authorities as the getaway driver, gave a videotaped statement to detectives in which he said his partner decided to lay in wait for the girlfriend before 5 a.m. Monday after observing she regularly left the judge's Far South Side house to work out early in the morning, according to prosecutors.

The gunman confronted the woman by the back garage of the two-story brick residence, shooting her in the left thigh and snatching her gym bag. Apparently hearing the gunfire, Myles, 66, emerged on the rear porch and confronted the gunman. He was shot fives times and killed. His girlfriend, 52, is expected to survive.

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Smith, who said he stayed in the getaway car in the alley behind the judge's house in the West Chesterfield neighborhood, told detectives he heard gunshots, then picked up the gunman and drove off.

The gunman fled with only the woman's gym bag but tossed it away in anger when he discovered it contained no money, prosecutors said.

Police are still seeking the gunman and are investigating a possible third participant, according to law enforcement sources.

Smith, who drove a car owned by his former girlfriend, told her and her daughter to lie to police and claim that the car had been stolen in an effort to throw off investigators, according to prosecutors.

Smith, 37, dressed all in black, was ordered held without bond during a hearing Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, the same courthouse where Myles had worked for years and won respect as hardworking and friendly. Spectators packed the courtroom, many standing to be able to witness the hearing.

To avoid a conflict of interest because of Myles' nearly two decades on the bench, Robert A. Miller, a judge from DuPage County, traveled to the courthouse on Chicago's Southwest Side to handle the bond hearing.

Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles (Circuit Court of Cook County)

"This defendant agreed with another person to rob a female," Miller said in ordering Smith to be held without bond. "They both set off with the knowledge that the robbery was going to take place with the firearm."

Smith faces felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery  not armed robbery or attempted murder as well as first reported by the state's attorney's office. He also was charged with a misdemeanor count of obstruction of a peace officer for allegedly instructing his ex-girlfriend and her daughter to lie to police for him. Police have said the ex-girlfriend did not know about the robbery plot.

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Smith's family members who attended the bond hearing declined to comment later.

In court, Smith's lawyer, assistant public defender Kristina Yi, had asked the judge to set a bond, noting that Smith was not alleged to have fired any gunshots and calling the evidence against him circumstantial.

Since his discharge from parole in 2008 after pleading guilty to armed robbery five years before Smith has been "a positive and contributing citizen" who co-owns a small business and has two teenage children, Yi said. She also noted that he had voluntarily met with police.

In a statement to reporters after the hearing, Yi noted her admiration for Myles' reputation as a tough but caring jurist and said his death was a "tragic loss."

"He believed in the human spirit and potential for change," she said. "We will diligently carry out our obligations and duty.  Judge Myles would have expected nothing less of us."

(Tribune Graphics)

Smith crossed paths with Myles briefly in 2001 when court records show he appeared before the judge on a charge that he did not have proper documents for a vehicle. The charge was later dismissed, according to the records.

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The brazen attack on Myles, believed to be the first fatal shooting of a Chicago-area judge in more than three decades, touched off a massive investigation with Chicago police working around the clock since Monday morning.

In court, Assistant State's Attorney Guy Lisuzzo said surveillance cameras captured a burnt orange Pontiac Sunfire circling the block and the area around Myles' residence in the 9400 block of South Forest Avenue early Monday. Smith drove the car while the gunman rode in the passenger seat, he said.

Smith stopped in an alley near Myles' home, and the gunman got out to await the judge's girlfriend, according to the prosecutor. Smith allegedly backed up the car some distance.

The two knew that she regularly left the house early in the morning to go to the gym, Lisuzzo said.

When the woman came out, Smith's partner confronted her, shooting her in the leg and grabbing her gym bag, Lisuzzo said.

When Myles came out of the house to confront the gunman, he was shot twice in the left thigh, once in the shoulder and once in the left hip. He also was grazed by a bullet on his right thigh.

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The gunman ran back down the alley and jumped into the Pontiac, and the two fled, Lisuzzo said.

When the gunman realized the bag contained no money, he became upset and tossed it out the car window into a garbage container, according to the prosecutor.

Smith then dropped the other man off and drove the car to his garage, Lisuzzo said. He allegedly told his ex-girlfriend and her daughter to tell police the car had been stolen.

At a Wednesday night news conference at police headquarters following Smith's arrest, Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said video surveillance in the area of the judge's home played a crucial role in identifying the car used in the holdup and its license plate. The cameras did not capture the shooting itself, however, she said.

There had been a push recently to get cameras installed throughout the neighborhood  an effort that the judge had joined in.

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Tactical officers found the getaway car in the Calumet Police District on the city's Far South Side on Tuesday night, even though its license plate had been switched since the shooting in an attempt to "hinder our investigative efforts," Staples said. The officers noticed the car had different plates on the front and rear, she said.

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Staples told reporters that the shell casings found outside the judge's home matched those retrieved at the scene of an attempted armed robbery and shooting in the Englewood neighborhood in January.

A man, who police sources say has gang affiliations and a long arrest record, was shot and wounded in that incident. But aside from the ballistics evidence, Staples said the two shootings don't appear to be linked. Police said that guns used in Chicago shootings often change hands and that the victim of the January holdup attempt was not cooperating.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

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Police are asking for the public's help locating a man who went missing Sunday in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood.

Brandon Robinson, 21, was last seen April 9 in the area of the 2100 block of East 72nd Place, Chicago police said. He was wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates jersey and dark jeans.

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Police said he frequents the area Roosevelt Road and Wabash Avenue. Robinson may be in need of medical help, police said.

He is described as black with a medium complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs about 140 pounds. Police said he has tattoos on his chest and arms.

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Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call detectives at 312-747-8380.
Former Milwaukee police Officer Christopher Manney, who was fired for improper procedure in the lead-up to a fatal shooting, started the process to appeal in circuit court May 7, 2015. (Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

MILWAUKEE, Wis.  A federal judge has ruled that a Milwaukee police officer who fatally shot Dontre Hamilton in 2014 violated Hamilton's constitutional rights by illegally patting him down for weapons.

The decision by U.S. District J.P. Stadtmueller means Hamilton's family could be entitled to receive damages from the officer, Christopher Manney, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Manney was fired for not following police procedures during the confrontation with Hamilton, but the officer was never charged with a crime. Hamilton's family filed a civil suit against Manney.

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The shooting happened when Manney approached Hamilton in a city park after receiving a report that he was asleep there. Manney came up behind Hamilton and patted him down. The two struggled and Hamilton got control of Manney's baton. Manney shot Hamilton 14 times.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle listensas Cook County Democrats host a forum with Democratic gubernatorial candidates at Erie St. Cafe on March 27, 2017. She announced Wednesday that Cook County taxpayers will be out an extra $1.6 million after mistakes were made in seeking federal grant funding. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Cook County taxpayers will be out an extra $1.6 million after mistakes were made in seeking federal grant funding for the county Department of Homeland Security.

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday that the errors were discovered after she fired Ernest Brown from his post as the agency's executive director of homeland security and an internal investigation of the department was conducted.

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Preckwinkle, however, said she did not dismiss Brown because of suspicions about financial issues. Instead, she was reacting to a media report of crimes committed by now-convicted police officers working in public housing during the 2000s, when Brown was their commander.

"I asked for his resignation," Preckwinkle said. "He declined to resign, so I fired him. I did so on the basis of information that I learned about his tenure in the Chicago Police Department. I lost confidence in his ability to lead the department (of Homeland Security)."

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Brown was dismissed in November, and died in January of an apparent heart attack suffered at a South Loop restaurant.

The county found invoices that were not submitted to the state for federal grant reimbursement. Officials said the state oversees more than $21 million in Urban Area Security Initiative program grant funds the county receives each year.

Most of the $1.6 million in question was for training purposes for homeland security programs, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency later denied reimbursement. The state agency said the expenses were ineligible "because the federal procurement guidelines were not followed and pre-approvals were not obtained," said Martha Martinez, who heads up the county's Bureau of Administration.

The County Board on Wednesday approved spending $1.6 million in local taxpayer money to cover the mistakes, though officials said they still hope to convince the state to pay about $534,000 that covered salaries.

Meanwhile, the county Homeland Security Department was placed under the supervision of the administration bureau. The county has hired two people and might hire two more to oversee the grant process. At least part of those salaries would be covered with grant funds, officials said.

And the Homeland Security Department, now being run by interim Executive Director Mark Edingburg, will have to prepare quarterly and annual reports on grant funding. "There are several layers of corrective action that are being taken," Preckwinkle told county commissioners before the vote.

Preckwinkle hired Brown in October 2015. At the time, he was police chief in west suburban Darien. While in the Chicago Police Department, he had climbed to the rank of chief of patrol and at one time was viewed as a possible contender for the superintendent's post.

From 2000 to 2002, Brown commanded Chicago police officers assigned to public housing. During those years, a sergeant and officer under his command were arrested and convicted of robbing a purported drug stash house of $20,000 in cash and what appeared to be 11 pounds of cocaine.

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Brown's leadership of police in public housing and his relationship to later-convicted Sgt. Ronald Watts was noted in a story by Jamie Kalven of the Invisible Institute  a story about corrupt cops and the police code of silence that Preckwinkle said brought issues surrounding Brown to her attention.

hdardick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReporterHal
Opinion / Columnist

Ever wondered why the Zimbabwe Government and its ministers find parastatals attractive despite them costing the taxpayer billions of dollars? Our previous article asked questions on the wisdom of the government taking over Telecel mobile network. This article explores the reasons and why the Telecel conundrum and indeed government ownership of parastatals are attractive to politicians but costly to the taxpayer.Zimbabwe is known to have generated Rolls Royce parastatal related millionaires overnight without any explanation on how they made their money. In most cases Zimbabwe's miraculous millionaires do not have any business; they simply become millionaires through their relationship with government officials or parastatals.We will explore why ministers are very keen to be appointed into ministries that are responsible for parastatals by scrutinising the money trail and hypothesise on why the government would want to own Telecel despite the fact that they already own NetOne.Parastatals are companies that are owned by the public/tax paying citizens. Traditionally, they are organisations that are considered of significant strategic importance to the country or critical to the public but too unprofitable for a private company to invest in. In recent times, questions have been asked about why the Zimbabwean government wants to hold on to parastatals when they are neither of strategic importance nor profitable. Some examples that come to mind are mobile phone networks as questioned in our last article, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and the Cold Storage Commission (CSC).Our quest starts with a look at the governance of parastatals. The parastatal board (senior management team) is appointed by the responsible minister. Decisions on how to spend money (including on tenders) is made by the parastatal board. The boards are not necessarily performance managed in terms of how much they improve shareholder value, they are considered 'good' if they are loyal and play ball. Directors who come up with innovative ideas and strategies that represent the best interests of the taxpayer are sidelined because their ideas put the looter's opportunities in jeopardy. That explains why ministers are very keen to 'reshuffle' the boards of parastatals soon after their appointments; they want to put 'their people' into the board - people who will do the minister's bidding - people who do what the minister wants instead of what the public deserves.Zimbabwe's parastatals are costing the taxpayer a fortune and have contributed immensely to the national debt. They are unprofitable and do not represent value for money. In fact, taxpayer's money keeps pouring in as debt, and comes out on the other side in individual pockets. That is the reason why parastatals are the most heavily geared companies in the country - their debt outweighs equity.The question then is: How are parastatals looted? If one follows the money, one can have a feel of where the money leaks out of these institutions. Two main looting opportunities are salaries and perks of the 'boards' and procurement/tenders. Salaries and perks are where executives are paid exorbitant salaries that are not commensurate with their responsibilities and performance. Salary scandals were explored extensively when the 'Ca$hbert' Dube PSMAS scandal was unearthed. Only a feeble mind to believe that everything that Cuthbert Dube earned ended up in his personal pocket.Procurement and tendering are other vehicles of looting. A minister running a ministry that oversees a parastatal and appoints the board of the parastatal has a lot of say in how that parastatal award tenders. Looting from tenders is generally done in three main ways; awarding tenders to cronies, inflating tender value in order to cream off the extra value or kickbacks or a combination of cronyism and inflated values. In all cases, the objectives are the same; steal from the citizens and benefit personally.The cronies have also perfected the art of looting; they make sure that they keep the minister and the ruling party happy. They donate to the cause. Jonathan Moyo's admission that he diverted Zimdef money to party programs is just a tip of the iceberg. President Mugabe has been alerted to scandals many times and he chooses to look away. Readers may recall Minister of Energy Samuel Undenge admitting that a high profile tender had been awarded unprocedurally but nothing was done to him. That emboldens the looters and the vicious cycle goes on and the taxpayer continues to pay. The Zimbabwean government is even known to shun 'foreign' strategic investors because such investors are considered to stand in the way of the looting spree. We are not surprised to learn that MTN (one of the biggest players) was turned away from acquiring a 49% stake in NetOne. If the Stragegic Parternship had been approved as proposed way back in 2012, the state of mobile communications in Zimbabwe would be at par with world standards.A forensic audit of all material tenders that have been awarded by parastatals would be interesting. Who was awarded the tenders, did the tenders represent value for money for the taxpayer, whom are tender winners related to? Not long ago, we heard one Wicknell Chivayo boasting that he made his money from tenders when he was asked what business he was involved in. As hard to swallow as his answer might seem, Chivayo actually described what happens in the real world of tendering in Zimbabwe. An audit of those awarded tenders would even be more interesting as it gives insights into how they spend the money.The looting process is as follows;1. Citizens' money is poured into parastatals2. Parastatals award inflated tenders to cronies through a crony board appointed by the minister3. Cronies give kickbacks to public officials and donate to 'the party'4. Ministers look away and parastatals run out of cash5. Ministers go back to the citizens to ask for more cash and the cycle goes onThere is a fundamental corporate governance flaw in giving one person (the minister) sole power of appointing boards of directors of parastatals. For transparency and accountability, such authority should lie with the parliamentary committee which would thoroughly scrutinise any deals.Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) strongly believes that at the centre of rebuilding Zimbabwe is good governance. There is no way good governance can prevail if a minister who knows very little about the ministry they run is given excessive powers to do as they please for as long as they keep the master happy through looting of public assets.Also, acquisition of a private mobile operator by Government is contrary to the global trend where governments are moving out of mobile communications business. The money wasted in this business could be put to better use if it was spent on health, education, infrastructure and other social services.The collapse of many parastatals that used to perform very well at independence was not accidental. It was a product of many years of systematic and state-sanctioned looting, which continues to this day. There must be an end to this madness and the only way of achieving this is through electing a proper and responsible government.When looting becomes second nature to ZANU PF, we must not accept it as normal.David Mutori is a UK-based economist and pro-democracy activist. He can be contacted on mutorid@gmail.com. Benjamin Paradza is the Exiled Judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe and President of ZUNDE. He can be contacted on contact@zunde.org; wwwzunde.org; @zundezim
Republican Presidential hopeful Ben Carson speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington on March 4, 2016. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images)

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was rescued by firefighters from a stuck elevator while touring an affordable housing development in Miami on Wednesday morning.

The secretary was visiting the Courtside Family Apartments as part of a two-day listening tour in the area to learn about the challenges low-income people face finding affordable housing. The Miami Herald estimates Carson was trapped for about 20 minutes.

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The #BreakingNews no one asked for but everyone deserves. Ben Carson and wife freed from Miami housing complex elevator. per @JuliaNBC6 pic.twitter.com/FmEFwqNLg8  Chris Stewart (@CStewartNews) April 12, 2017

Alonzo Mourning, the famed former Miami Heat player, was waiting for Carson when he was released. Mourning partnered with Miami's Housing Trust group to develop the complex in response to the need for more affordable housing in the area; it was funded through a public-private partnership. Michael Liu, the director of Miami-Dade County Public Housing, was also in the elevator.
When Stephen Bannon reported for work Wednesday, he did not act like a man who had just been publicly humiliated by his boss.

The White House chief strategist cycled in and out of the Oval Office for meetings with President Donald Trump and took a seat in the front row of the East Room for the afternoon visit of NATO's secretary general, flanked by some of the very advisers with whom he has been feuding.

But for Bannon, the day's routine obscured the reality that he is a marked man - diminished by weeks of battles with the bloc of centrists led by Trump's daughter and son-in-law and cut down by the president himself, who belittled Bannon in an interview with the New York Post.

The president's comments were described by White House officials as a dressing-down and warning shot, though one Bannon friend, reflecting on them Wednesday, likened Bannon to a terminally ill family member who had been moved into hospice care.

The man not long ago dubbed the "shadow president" - with singular influence over Trump's agenda and the workings of the federal government - is struggling to keep his job with his portfolio reduced and his profile damaged, according to interviews Wednesday with 21 of Trump's aides, confidants and allies. Some colleagues described Bannon as a stubborn recluse who had failed to build a reservoir of goodwill within the West Wing.

"Bannon is a brilliant pirate who has had a huge impact," said former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump supporter. "But White Houses, in the end, are like the U.S. Navy - corporate structures and very hard on pirates."

For now, at least, Bannon may survive the turmoil, and he and other White House staffers are striving to be on their best behavior after their infighting earned them a scolding by the president over the weekend, according to the aides and allies, many of whom requested anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about internal dynamics. Bannon declined to be interviewed.

But the mercurial president has a long history of turning quickly on subordinates, and the political hit late Tuesday in the New York Post was trademark Trump, using the friendly Manhattan tabloid to publicly debase his chief strategist. The president said Bannon was hardly the Svengali of his caricature, but rather "a good guy" who "was not involved in my campaign until very late."

Bannon's associates were caught off guard by Trump's comments. Some interpreted them as a paternal "love tap" by Trump to assert his own dominance, while others worried they amounted to an indirect firing. Bannon himself was humbled, people close to him said, and his allies scrambled to defend him, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who praised him in an appearance on Laura Ingraham's radio program.

In a second interview, with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump referred to Bannon as "a guy who works for me" - and pointedly noted, as he did with the New York Post, that he was his own "strategist," even though chief strategist is Bannon's job title.

Trump also is increasingly embracing more mainstream policy positions championed by daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and their allies, including ascendant National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, instead of Bannon's brand of combative nationalism.

On Wednesday alone, Trump flipped from Bannon-favored positions on issues such as the Export-Import Bank and Chinese currency manipulation, alarming some Bannon aides who feared their wing had lost influence with the president.

On Ingraham's show, Sessions dismissed the suggestion that Bannon's worldview, which he shares, was being sidelined. "I'm an admirer of Steve Bannon and the Trump family and they've been supportive of what we're doing," said the attorney general, who in recent days has unveiled tough policies aimed at illegal immigration and drug crimes. "I've not felt any pushback against me or on anything I've done or advocated."

Thomas Barrack Jr., a close Trump friend who chaired his inaugural committee, spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington meeting with the president and his senior team. He characterized the ideological disagreement between Bannon and others as natural and even healthy.

"The way this president makes decisions is he encourages different points of view from different people, and he curates those and comes up with his own positions," Barrack said. "The lack of unanimity is just the way this president manages. He is in command and control."

Trump and his team are scrambling to notch accomplishments that they can hail at the 100-day mark later this month and to impose new discipline on a White House that has been riven by disorder and suspicion since Trump took office.

Justice Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court and sworn in this week, upending Senate procedure and marking a significant victory for Trump's conservative base. But the absence of any other major legislative achievement and the public failure of a health-care overhaul has gnawed at the president, and other White House advisers have been quick to assign partial blame to Bannon, according to Trump staffers and outside allies.

Bannon's effective demotion began last week when he was removed from the National Security Council's principals committee. But his real problems began much earlier. Trump bristled at the media depiction of Bannon as a puppeteer, punctuated by the Feb. 13 Time magazine cover labeling Bannon "The Great Manipulator."

Trump fashions himself as the leading man - the protagonist of every story in which he stars - and was content to have Bannon as his sidekick, but he did not welcome the competition for top billing.

Bannon further imperiled his standing with the president by getting crosswise with Kushner, officials said. The two men were close during last year's campaign; Kushner came to see Bannon as a wartime consigliere. But in the White House, Bannon went to war with the business leaders Kushner helped recruit to the administration - Cohn and others, including Dina Powell, the senior economic counselor and deputy national security adviser.

Bannon privately derided them as "globalists" and "Democrats," officials said, even though Powell worked in George W. Bush's administration and has been called a principled conservative by leading Republican senators.

Bannon's supporters believe he is an essential conduit between Trump and his nationalist, populist base. The wealthy Mercer family, which has nurtured Bannon's political rise and infused Trump's campaign and allied groups with millions of dollars, is closely monitoring Bannon's falling fortunes. Rebekah Mercer, who directs the family's political activities, is unnerved and worried about losing her best link to a president her family takes credit for helping get elected but believes Bannon will be able to maintain his influence, people close to the family said.

Ingraham wrote in an email that Bannon is "a reminder in the West Wing of what the president's core supporters expect of the administration and the promises that must be fulfilled. I think the president has really keen political instincts - and I have to believe he knows his chances of a successful first term are better with Steve on the inside than on the outside."

But other Trump loyalists dispute the idea that Bannon is the id of the Trump movement, pointing out that Trump has been advocating some of the same populist positions - especially on immigration and trade - for decades and for more than a year on the campaign trail before Bannon's hiring last summer.

These people argue that a better representative of Trump's voters inside the White House is Stephen Miller, the senior policy adviser and former Sessions aide who joined the campaign early and helped Trump hone and communicate his ideas. They said Miller has worked closely with Bannon but also has strategically aligned himself with Kushner, who came to see him last year as indispensable at Trump's side.

As tensions have heightened in recent weeks, the Bannon and Kushner camps have devolved into opposing firing squads. Team Bannon believes the hosts of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," a show the president watches regularly, are speaking regularly with Kushner and projecting his anti-Bannon sentiments. Kushner allies, meanwhile, finger Bannon as responsible for unflattering stories involving the president's son-in-law, including those focusing on Kushner's talks with Russians.

Inside a White House led by a president increasingly hungry to make deals, even with Democrats, Bannon's dogmatism appears to have weakened him.

"The West Wing is finally appreciating it's a democracy, not a dictatorship, but the rules are hard to navigate when there is such a high degree of polarization," said Richard Hohlt, a longtime Republican consultant who has observed seven different presidents since his arrival in Washington. "It becomes difficult in a democracy if you're going to be all ideological purity, all the time."

Trump's three oldest children - Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric - and Kushner have been frustrated by the impression of chaos inside the White House and feel that their father has not always been served well by his senior staff, according to people with knowledge of their sentiments. The Trump heirs are interested in any changes that might help resuscitate the presidency and preserve the family's name at a time when they are trying to expand the Trump Organization's portfolio of hotels.

"The fundamental assessment is that if they want to win the White House in 2020, they're not going to do it the way they did in 2016, because the family brand would not sustain the collateral damage," said one well-connected Republican operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the president's family. "It would be so protectionist, nationalist and backward-looking that they'd only be able to build in Oklahoma City or the Ozarks."

Bannon has borne at least part of the blame for the administration's problems governing. He was intimately involved in the entry ban, which was twice blocked in federal court, and the failed health-care push especially hurt him. Trump thought Bannon would be able to bring along the House Freedom Caucus - a group of hard-line anti-establishment conservatives - but they helped tank the bill to scale back the Affordable Care Act.

Reince Priebus, the often-embattled chief of staff, is among the aides who feel growing pressure from the president to show that the administration can govern. Priebus has been telling confidants, "I'm not going to have a Memorial Day where the number one headline is 'Republicans can't produce a budget' when everyone else in America can," according to multiple people with knowledge of his plea.

For Trump, one bright spot was the decision to launch 59 missiles in Syria last week. The president was pleased with the process, overseen by national security adviser H.R. McMaster, that brought together his war cabinet and corralled its expertise in a way that resembled a more traditional White House.

"He's in the best place that I've seen him since the inauguration," Barrack said. "He's confident. He thinks he's found the groove, and with his team too. . . . He looks great. His energy level is off the map. And I think he now feels the commander in chief role."

The Washington Post's Damian Paletta contributed to this report.
Second City  Third City  Fourth City?

Ever since the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago has been the midcontinental metropolis. But that distinction is slipping away as our population decreases. Demographic trends indicate that Houstonians will outnumber us by 2030. We've already lost our Second City title to Los Angeles, and now we're on the way to losing our current spot in the rankings to an agglomeration of office parks and strip malls with a negligible cultural footprint.

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There's more than simple civic pride on the line here. Sitting atop the standings with the anchors of the East and West coasts is essential to Chicago's reputation as a global city.

"The farther we fall down that list, the less appeal the city and region have," says Alden Loury, director of research and evaluation for the Metropolitan Planning Council.

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There is, however, a way for Chicago to augment its population and keep Houston in its place. It's the same method the city used to grow to international prominence in the first place: Annex the suburbs.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago expanded aggressively, luring in the formerly independent entities of Lake View, Jefferson Park, Hyde Park and Pullman with the promise of city services such as sewers and electricity. But except for the addition of O'Hare, that movement ended in 1930. By the post-World War II era of suburbanization, Chicago was boxed in by established villages that marketed themselves as escapes from filthy, crowded city living.

By contrast, Houston has used annexation-friendly state laws to inflate itself to three times Chicago's geographic size over the past 70 years.

"Houston and other Sun Belt cities are really different than Eastern cities, in that many of them have never been surrounded by municipalities," says Kyle Shelton of Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research. "Annexations were easier for them to pursue because they didn't have anyone to fight." As a result, seven of the nation's 10 largest cities are in the Sun Belt. Toronto used a similar process to leap past Chicago in population, amalgamating with five neighboring suburbs. Miami, Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte, N.C., and Indianapolis have all merged with their surrounding counties.

The time has come for Chicago to take another look at annexation. Consider this: According to the Illinois Municipal League, Illinois has 1,298 municipalities  more than any state, including California with 478  and more than a shrinking state struggling with a fiscal crisis can afford to maintain. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the Chicago area lost 19,570 people in 2016, more than any metro in the nation. Building subdivisions halfway to the Mississippi River may have made sense when the population was expanding. But now that it's contracting, we should look at whether we need every little Bedford Park and Burnham  and whether excessive taxation and layers of government are hurting our ability to compete with the more efficiently run Sun Belt.

Many inner-ring suburbs have been left behind by Chicagoland's creep across the prairie, as middle-class homeowners flee to ever-more-distant communities. So they jack up property taxes to provide basic services, repelling businesses and developers. Meanwhile, the Loop  a gritty wasteland during the suburban heyday of the 1970s and '80s  is filling up with wealthy professionals.

Unlike our fellow Midwestern population losers Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis, Chicago has something to offer its suburbs: lower taxes. Because it contains so much valuable commercial, industrial and residential property, Chicago's 6.9 percent property tax rate is the lowest in Cook County, according to the Cook County clerk's office. The village of Riverdale, which lies across the Calumet River from a Chicago neighborhood of the same name, pays 29.7 percent. There's a long list of border suburbs where property tax rates are double those of the city, including Cicero, Stickney, Bridgeview, Bedford Park, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Blue Island, Calumet Park and Dolton.(Suburbs that join the city would be able to keep their school districts, since those entities are separate from municipalities.)

"There are some places that are really struggling outside Chicago, especially some places to the south," says Loury. "Now is really an opportune time, given what's happening with the state budget. There are municipalities starving for revenue. They should really be thinking about making a case to join the city. Some of the south suburban communities are in free fall. I'm not sure they can support themselves with a lack of amenities and the high tax rate."

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What does Chicago have to gain? More people mean more tax dollars from the state and federal government. And vacant suburban land would become more desirable at the city's lower tax rate. Loury can envision Chicago expanding "several miles to the south," but thinks annexation would be a tougher sell to middle-class north and northwest suburbs  even Harwood Heights and Norridge, which are surrounded by the city.

But just because something makes sense financially doesn't mean it's easy to make happen. Politics and civic pride are two obstacles: In Illinois, annexation requires a referendum in both the annexing city and the targeted community. Village residents and trustees are reluctant to give up power and patronage. Consider the story of East Cleveland, a bankrupt Ohio suburb whose mayor was recalled after proposing annexation to Cleveland.

"Most municipalities have their own culture and their own identity, so it's not common that you'd see a municipality dissolve itself," says Brad Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League.

Joining the city is a bureaucratic change, not a surrender of local identity. Few communities have as much self-regard as Hyde Park or Beverly, but they maintain their sense of distinctiveness within the confines of Chicago. If they could get over themselves, so can Lincolnwood and Elmwood Park, which, far from having their own cultures, have been rendered indistinguishable from the city neighborhoods across the street by decades of urban sprawl.

As Columbia College history professor Dominic A. Pacyga wrote in "Chicago: A Biography," an 1889 annexation "(made) Chicago the nation's second-largest city overnight."

If we annex enough land this time around, we can not only keep Houston at bay, we can pass Los Angeles, and become the Second City all over again.

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Edward McClelland is the author of "Nothin' but Blue Skies: The Heyday, Hard Times and Hopes of America's Industrial Heartland" and "How to Speak Midwestern."

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White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday tried a humble apology after arguably his worst 24 hours on the job  no small feat, considering his previous gaffes, mispronunciations, lies, exaggerations and insults. "I made a mistake  there's no other way to say it  I got into a topic I shouldn't have, and I screwed up," Spicer said in an appearance at the Newseum. The topic, of course, was the Holocaust and his bizarre assertion that not even Hitler used gas on his own people. (That it was uttered on Passover made it all the more cringe-worthy.)

Listen, a guy who speaks of "Holocaust centers" and issues multiple clarifications in writing after his original statement (which the press room generously offered to let him correct) cannot characterize such profound ignorance and stupidity as a "mistake"  as when one gets a name (like Bashar al-Assad) or fact (like crowd size) wrong.

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So the White House should fire him, as many Democrats, including Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are suggesting? Maybe not so fast.

In a way, Spicer is the perfect figure to transmit  indeed channel  the president and his administration. Spicer's condescension ("Stop shaking your head," he instructed April Ryan) is nothing new, nor is Spicer's historical ignorance. Remember, this crowd claimed that leaving "Jews" out of the Holocaust Remembrance Day statement was appropriate. Likewise, Spicer's lack of mastery over basic policy issues, his fake conspiracy theories, preference for bullying and bluster, and abject dishonesty mirror those of his boss, to an almost uncanny degree.

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The ethos of arrogance  they are so important that they need not be held accountable for their statements  has been the one constant since Trump announced his campaign for the presidency. Trump's victory, however, does not mean underlings like Spicer can get away with egregious lies and bizarre gaffes. For one thing, Spicer has to face the press (not just a single friendly interviewer) en masse and on an almost daily basis. For another, Spicer lacks the confidence to pull off the lies, not to mention the stature to deflect inquiry. He's a sitting duck for fact-checkers, cable TV news vilification and, most important, "Saturday Night Live" mockery.

And so it doesn't seem equitable to fire Spicer for gross and perpetual dishonesty, ignorance and rudeness. If that were the standard, most of the Trump staff would need to go. The press has contempt for him and vice versa, but that shouldn't be grounds for firing him. After all, Trump thinks the media are "losers" and "the most dishonest people"; there's no reason that Spicer's attitude should cause alarm in this White House. Spicer doesn't know basic facts? The fellow who never seemed to grasp during the campaign what the nuclear triad is and until recently thought NATO (whose forces took part in Afghanistan) was not concerned with terrorism isn't exactly the sort of person to demand precision and accuracy, now is he?

Spicer is uniquely inept and unpleasant, to a degree we've not seen in any White House press secretary. But then we've never had a president like Trump, one lacking in the desire to "get it right" and to learn what he needs to know. In that regard Spicer is the perfect reflection of the Trump White House  its boorishness and its cluelessness, its willful ignorance and its disdain for alternative, reliable sources of facts.

Besides, who else (other than those already working in the White House) could Trump get to debase himself by defending Trump's lies?

Washington Post

Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.

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U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider supports the airstrikes in Syria over chemical weapons, but says President Donald Trump must seek congressional approval for further action against Syrian President Bashar Assad. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The U.S. missile strike April 7 in response to the use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has stoked a long-overdue public debate about our nation's interests, engagement and strategy for addressing Syria's ongoing civil war and the humanitarian crisis it has created. As we consider our responsibilities and options, I believe it is important to distinguish between the broader civil war and the Syrian regime's recent and prospective use of chemical weapons.

Furthermore, going forward it is imperative that Congress and the American people have their voices heard. Any further U.S. military action must only be undertaken with the formal authorization of Congress, and after full and complete deliberation.

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Six years into the Syrian civil war, nearly 500,000 people are dead, millions have been forced from their homes, and no end to this awful tragedy is in sight. Amid this chaos, one thing seems certain: There is no easy solution to the crisis. Only through working to change the dynamic of the battlefield can the international community bring forth the conditions for a political solution.

Separately, we must be clear that chemical weapons, like biological and nuclear weapons, constitute a class of weapons altogether different from conventional warfare, and their use is wholly unacceptable at any time and at any scale.

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It would always be better if the response came from the international community, but as long as Russia, Assad's benefactor and protector, continues to block any direct action at the United Nations Security Council, it falls to the U.S. to take the lead.

That's why I supported last week's limited action against the airfield from which Assad's air force launched the chemical attack. It sent a clear and proportionate message that such use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. Furthermore, we should be forthcoming in signaling to Assad our absolute commitment that any future use of chemical weapons is equally unacceptable.

However, one strike and bold statements on chemical weapons alone cannot and will not bring an end to the broader Syrian civil war. It is now incumbent upon President Donald Trump and his administration to formally and clearly articulate a comprehensive strategy for confronting the Syrian crisis. Such a strategy must include precise definition of our national interests, goals and objectives, and demonstrate balanced application of both hard and soft power. Without a coherent strategy, our measured response to Assad's chemical weapons could be the first step toward a devolution into a quagmire that once again leaves the United States embroiled in a foreign conflict in the Middle East with no clear mission or plan for exit.

Unfortunately, the signs coming from the administration are not encouraging. President Trump campaigned for office on a platform of diminishing the United States' involvement in world affairs. His recently proposed budget outline would reduce funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development by nearly a third. His Cabinet officials offer unfocused and unclear proclamations, frequently contradicting one another and sometimes even themselves. The administration has to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, capably committing to defeat Islamic State while simultaneously working to bring an end to the civil war and hold Assad to account as the war criminal he is.

But it is also time for Congress to exercise its constitutional responsibility, and deliberate and vote on an updated Authorization for Use of Military Force, not only in regard to the civil war in Syria but for our ongoing global campaign against Islamic State, al-Qaida and the violent extremism threatening our world.

The brave men and women serving our nation, in our military as well as our diplomatic services, deserve nothing less.

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Deerfield, represents the 10th District. He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Early in Barack Obama's presidency, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was dispatched to Moscow in a bold bid to reset relations with Russia. She came with a prop, a big red button that she thought said "reset" in Russian. She was mistaken  the prop actually said "overload"  and the reset bid went nowhere. The Kremlin continued marginalizing (or killing) its political opponents, invaded U.S. ally Georgia, then invaded Ukraine.

Shortly after his election, Donald Trump signaled a new course with the Kremlin, with fawning language about Vladimir Putin and talk of a new friendship with Russia. That hasn't worked either: The Kremlin still treats its citizens' dissent like a crime, Moscow has deployed ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of a 1987 nuclear arms treaty, and Washington accuses Russia of covering up Syrian President Bashar Assad's chemical attack on his civilians.

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Attempts by these two U.S. administrations to wipe the slate clean with the Kremlin have fallen flat for one fundamental reason: Resetting relations with a country and a government that hold views so antithetical to America's  and that chronically aim to undermine American interests  just isn't going to happen. And, for now, it shouldn't.

Rapprochement certainly wasn't the feel in Moscow this week, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. The talks were fraught with tension, and afterward, the only thing both sides could agree on was that U.S.-Russia relations neared rock bottom. Ties with Russia, Trump said, "may be at an all-time low."

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So be it. It's Russia that has evoked memories of the Cold War. The most recent example: Moscow's denial of Syria's atrocity. The air base that Trump hit with Tomahawk missiles was targeted because it's where Syrian jets took off from before dropping sarin gas onto the town of Khan Sheikhoun, killing at least 85 people. Russian troops were stationed at the base. How likely is it that those Russians didn't know what Assad's forces also stationed there were up to?

Consider also what happened last October in tiny Montenegro, an eastern European nation the size of Connecticut but with fewer people (626,000) than North Dakota. Montenegro has allied itself with the West, and in so doing has rankled Moscow. On Election Day in the Balkan nation, Serbian and Russian nationalists tried to assassinate the country's prime minister, an attempt that U.S. officials suspect was engineered by Russia's intelligence community. The attempt failed.

Trump just signed Senate legislation backing Montenegro's accession to NATO. That's sure to incense Moscow, which still sees NATO through an us vs. them prism. Trump's support for NATO expansion, as well as his about-face on his views about the Western military alliance  "I said it was obsolete, it's no longer obsolete," he said Wednesday, with NATO's secretary-general at his side  suggest that Trump's starting to get it: A reset with today's Russia isn't possible. Tomorrow's Russia? We can hope.

That said, the U.S. has three major opportunities to find common ground with the Kremlin:

Washington and Moscow share an enemy  Islamist militancy. The suicide bomber who recently struck a subway train in St. Petersburg was an ethnic Uzbek who may have trained with the Islamic State. The attacker who rammed a stolen beer truck into a crowd in Stockholm earlier this month, killing four, was an Uzbek who had shown an interest in Islamic State, Swedish authorities said. Former Soviet republics in Central Asia have become seedbeds for Islamic State terrorists, and it behooves Russia to cooperate in the fight against Islamist militant groups. That cooperation can begin in Syria, where Russia and Assad have ignored going after Islamic State, instead leaving it to U.S.-backed Syrian Kurd and Arab militias to do the job.

Another common interest: North Korea. Russia maintains ties with Pyongyang but shares U.S. concerns about Kim Jong Un's nuclear arsenal. It also shares a border with North Korea. While China is the key to any resolution to the North Korea conundrum, having Russia more involved in the effort to rein in the reckless dictator would benefit Washington and Moscow.

Even in Iran, where the U.S. and Russian policy diverge, there's a common aim  Russia, too, doesn't want to see a nuclear-armed Iran, and backed that up by signing on to the Obama-engineered nuclear arms deal with Tehran.

Working together where interests coincide is the necessary first step toward stabilizing U.S.-Russia relations. But the Trump administration's shelving of a more extensive reset is not only the right course. Given the Kremlin's intense pursuit of an anti-American agenda, for now it's the only logical course.

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Regarding your editorial "Sour milk from the dairy industry": Dairy interests are right to object to the use of "milk" to describe beverages made with almonds, soy beans, rice and other plants.

One beef is that the imitators have stolen milk's "nutritional equity." Cow's milk is an economical, nutrient-dense beverage. For about a quarter you can buy 8 grams of protein, plus calcium and essential vitamins and minerals. The more-expensive sweetened almond milk has 1 gram of protein and 14 grams of added sugar.

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The dairy industry isn't seeking special protection. It is just asking the federal government to enforce its own legal definition of milk. Milk comes from a mammal, says Uncle Sam, and milk cannot be adulterated. If a dairy processor were to water down cow's milk and label it as milk, that would be a fraud. But bottlers of almond-flavored water face no such action when they take the word "milk" and apply it to their beverages.

If food definitions are going to have any meaning, the federal government has to do its job. The dairy industry is asking for nothing more than that.

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 Jim Carper, Deerfield, editor in chief, Dairy Foods
Opinion / Columnist

It never rains but pours for the new political outfit called the National People's party. The party that is still nursing the wounds of an acrimonious split that saw Joyce Mujuru parting ways with the Elders Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa over alleged irreconcilable differences has once again been embroiled in yet another clashes that saw the party Spokesperson Jealous Mawarire exchanging fights with the Presidential Spokesperson Gift Nyandoro. There is a lot to learn from these latest upheavals plaguing the new political party. The resignation of Jealous Mawarire from the party is a microcosm of the macrocosm, a minor reflection of the major battles that lie ahead.It's self-evident on the part of Joice Mujuru that being at the helm of a political party is no walk in the park. These two dramatic episodes have forced a lot of people to question the leadership qualities of Joice Mujuru. If she cannot manage her officials, what more of a government?Welcome to the field of opposition politics Madame Joice Mujuru. A field where discipline of party cadres is difficult to enforce. A field where there are less incentives to lubricate loyalty and maintain unity unlike in government where benefits of incumbency and the trappings of office incentives party cadres to fight for a common goal. However there are salient issues in these upheavals that might be behind, one being phallocracy and the politics of infiltration.Phallocracy is a society or system which is dominated by men and in which men sex is thought superior. Africa and Zimbabwe in particular are phallocratic societies where the leadership of women in powerful positions is frowned upon and deemed taboo. It is this pervasive patriarchal tendency that is making life difficult for Joice Mujuru. This is one of the reasons why Joice Mujuru is finding it difficult to be in full control of the fledgling political outfit.The other thorn in the flesh with regards to opposition is the politics of infiltration. It can be orchestrated in a subtle and sophisticated way and put the opposition formations in a state of quandary. There are innuendos that the two guys from NPP (Mawarire and Nyandoro) stage-managed a fight. They know their motives. Issues of press statement cannot lead to such fist-fighting. It's highly probable that either one of them is an agent provocateur or both of them. Agent provocateurs exist in politics. There is more to meets the eye. I personally smell a dead rat. The spectacle of brawling politicians is not a new phenomenon but it normally takes place in the form of ''legislative violence'' which broadly refers to any violent clashes between members of the legislature triggered by highly divisive issues.An agent provocateurs is an individual who clandestinely infiltrate a group with the ulterior motive of weakening it from within. As such they will in reality be representatives of a different group diametrically opposed to the interests of their apparent allies. The objective maybe to create unrest, disunity, and ill-will or just to create a scene while professing to hold the ideals of the group at heart.Alternatively an agent provocateur may encourage fellow group members to carry out crimes or other nefarious activities while secretly reporting their activities to the real master. A political organization or government may use agents' provocateurs against political opponents. The provocateurs try to incite the opponent to do counter-productive or ineffective acts to foster public disdain or provide a pretext for aggression against the opponent.Joice Mujuru and the National People's party need to exercise a lot of caution in their recruitment drive. They need to be wary of charlatans and imposters who come in sheep's clothing with the intention to sabotage and dent the image of the new political outfit.
A 22-year-old Batavia man remains in Cook County Jail on drug charges in connection to a March traffic stop on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Diego Luna, of the 1200 block of East Wilson Street, was arrested March 26 by tactical officers in the Jefferson Park neighborhood, according to Chicago police, who said Luna had nearly 10 pounds of marijuana, a small amount of an unspecified controlled substance, cash and other items at the time of the stop. Prosecutors charged Luna with manufacturing and delivery of marijuana.

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Luna - who is being held on $100,000 bail, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office - was listed in jail records as having a court appearance on Thursday, but Cook County prosecutors said Luna has a hearing scheduled for April 17.

Kane and Kendall county court records show Luna with a history of minor traffic violations.

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Marijuana and other items that Chicago police say that Batavia resident Diego Luna had in his vehicle during a traffic stop in the city. (Chicago Police Department / Handout)

Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
An Aurora man who police say fled a local hospital to avoid arrest after crashing a car during a police pursuit last month is back in custody after a Kane County judge increased his bail in two unrelated cases to a total of $250,000.

Billy J. Cole Jr. was released from jail Saturday after his stepbrother posted the $7,500 bond for his $75,000 bail for a handful of felony charges connected with the police pursuit, crash and foot chase March 27 in Aurora.

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At the time of the crash, Cole was out on two separate bonds  one cash and one signature  on unrelated charges of attempted murder and aggravated drunken driving.

He's facing felony charges including attempted murder, class 3 felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor DUI in connection with a December 2015 attack in Aurora while he was driving a Chevrolet Malibu with three passengers, according to court records.

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About two months after his release from Kane County Jail by posting $5,000 bond in the attempted murder case, Cole was charged Dec. 20 with two counts of aggravated DUI on a suspended or revoked license, both class 4 felonies; reckless driving, a class A misdemeanor; and driving with license revoked, a class A misdemeanor, according to Kane County court records.

Court records indicate Cole did not sign conditions of bond, which included abstaining from alcohol and driving, on the December DUI case, but was released again Feb. 15 on a personal recognizance bond by Judge Donald M. Tegeler Jr.

Tegeler on Wednesday raised the attempted murder bail to $150,000 and added a $100,000 bail to the DUI case, essentially revoking the signature bond, according to court records.

While Kane County deputies initially took Cole into custody after the crash, which also injured his sole passenger, medics took him to Rush-Copley Medical Center. He stayed one night and walked away the next day as officials were preparing a warrant, Kane County Sheriff spokesman Lt. Patrick Gengler said.

Cole eluded authorities for about two days, until they got a court order for his cellphone records and found he was in Quincy, where U.S. marshals took him into custody, Gengler said.

He faces charges of aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, a class 3 felony; aggravated reckless driving causing great bodily harm, disability or disfigurement, a class 4 felony; leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a class 4 felony; driving on a revoked license where two or more people were injured, a class 4 felony; driving on a license revoked for DUI, a class 4 felony; resisting or obstructing a peace officer, a class A misdemeanor; and disobeying a stop sign, a traffic offense.

Since Cole was 18, he has served time for several criminal convictions, most recently discharged from prison in October 2014, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

When medics took Cole to the hospital, the sheriff's office didn't know the full extent of his criminal record, Gengler said.

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The sheriff's office, under the impression Cole was likely to be there for another day, didn't assign an officer to watch him at the hospital, Gengler said.

To Gengler's knowledge, Cole, knowing he would eventually be arrested, walked out of the hospital before he was medically discharged.

When to assign an officer to guard someone at the hospital is ultimately a judgment call unless the person is already in custody at the jail, in which case the sheriff's office does assign someone, Gengler said. After discussing the case with Sheriff Donald Kramer, Gengler said the department, moving forward, will continue to evaluate each case based on its individual facts.

"In the Cole case we did not think that he was going to flee based on the medical information we were provided," Gengler said in an email Wednesday. "That turned out to not be the case and now looks like we may have made the wrong decision."

hleone@tribpub.com

Twitter @hannahmleone
Richard Irvin speaks at a recent forum on safety in Aurora at Main Baptist Church while Police Chief Kristen Ziman (left) and Mayor Robert O'Connor listen. Irvin will take the oath of office as Aurora's next mayor May 9. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

Just five days after becoming Aurora's mayor-elect, Richard Irvin was in church listening to some of the older men reminisce about a bygone Aurora.

They were talking about being denied entrance to certain restaurants or stores, or the use of certain bathrooms.

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Which means the historic nature of Irvin being elected the 58th mayor of Aurora  and the first of African-American heritage  is not lost on him. He has his own story in that regard, one that has become well-known throughout town, of being raised by a single mother in public housing, joining the U.S. Army, fighting in Operation Desert Storm, and coming back to become a lawyer, practicing in his hometown.

And now he will be mayor, a symbol, he said, "to give other young people motivation, a beacon of hope for success for the future."

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Irvin's campaign manager, Dennis Cook, puts his own historic twist to it, pointing out that Irvin was elected on April 4  the same day in 1864 that the U.S. Senate began its debate on the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery.

"I think it's great," Cook said of the historic moment.

Cook said just a couple of days after election day, he had to travel to Boston for a meeting. While standing in a group in the historic statehouse there, he suddenly heard someone shout out, "One Aurora!" Hearing Irvin's familiar campaign slogan, he turned and looked to find an old friend "I haven't seen in a while."

He had been following the election online, and had read the stories about the outcome.

Also following the story were Gov. Bruce Rauner and former Gov. Pat Quinn, who both called Irvin this week to offer congratulations and to remind him of the historic nature of his election. Irvin said it pointed out to him the status Aurora enjoys "as the second-largest city in the state of Illinois."

But what really brings a smile to Irvin's face is talking about walking down the street this week and having a man working on a garbage truck jump out to shake his hand.

"The garbage man," he said, chuckling. "That was nice."

And it fits with the coalition that supported him, he said, a combination of blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, independents, rich and poor.

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"I want to be the mayor of all of us," he said. "Here in Aurora, we have overcome so many obstacles. This was just one more to overcome in our progress toward equality."

The historic nature of Irvin's election is not just one for the city, but for Irvin himself.

He began thinking about being mayor 20 years ago, and unsuccessfully ran twice before for the position. He also ran two successful, citywide campaigns for alderman at large, a position he has held for 10 years.

This explains why he was at a loss for words election night, and has been on a whirlwind in the short time since his ascendancy to the top elected position in town.

He already has been taking meetings with the mayor's office, city staff and with people serving on his transition team. He said his transition is important so when he takes the oath of office May 9, "we can hit the ground running from day one."

Irvin also attended a meeting with the board of directors for Invest Aurora, the city's non-profit corporation that deals with economic development and redevelopment. The corporation effectively replaced the city's Economic Development Commission, and Irvin made reinstating that commission one of his campaign planks.

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Irvin said this week the two entities are not mutually exclusive. He said he would use Invest Aurora "in conjunction with creating the Economic Development Commission" for what he considers a key goal of his administration: to attract, retain and expand business "throughout the whole city."

Irvin also said he realizes there will have to be some fence-mending after a long campaign that got ugly at the end, and ended with him beating opponent Rick Guzman by only about 170 votes.

He paraphrases the political philosopher Machiavelli in calling politics war without bloodshed.

"The campaign was a war," he said. "There was a victor. Now it's time for us to heal. Now we've got to join together to fight for what's best for the city."

To that end, he says rumors that he will make big changes immediately at City Hall on his first day, possibly laying off a large number of employees, are not true.

"That would be irresponsible," he says. "I will assess our strengths and weaknesses, and decide what's best going forward."

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One job he does have to fill is his own alderman at large position. He will appoint the new alderman to finish the about two years left on the term. He said he already has been getting calls and inquiries about it, and will appoint someone within about a month.

"Man, it's only been a week; it feels like it's been a month," he said. "I had a couple days to come off the high, a couple days to think about the gravity of it, about the responsibility. I don't look at it this as a job, I look at it as a responsibility."

slord@tribpub.com
Michelle Meyer, executive director of Mutual Ground, said the nonprofit signed a contract with the state Department of Human Services in July for $489,000 in funding. She said the Aurora shelter has received only $116,000 of the contracted amount so far this year. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News)

Those who work to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault came to Aurora Wednesday to "demand that the state" come through on its funding promises for social services.

Officials for the agencies said the state budget crisis that has gone on for nearly two years has pushed them into uncharted waters with respect to the future of their services.

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"It is difficult for us to plan because we don't know what the future looks like. We don't know where the funding is coming from," said Carrie Boyd, director of policy for the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

She said the coalition's member agencies signed and executed contracts with the Department of Human Services.

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"We have rendered those services and upheld our end of the bargain. We now demand that the state uphold theirs," Boyd said.

Michelle Meyer, executive director of Mutual Ground in Aurora, said the group signed a contract with the state Department of Human Services in July including $489,000 in funding.

She said the Aurora shelter in August received $116,000 of the contracted amount and nothing since.

She said Mutual Ground also had a contract with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault for $194,000 and it has received $56,600 of the contracted amount.

If Mutual Ground doesn't receive any payments during the next couple of months, the state will be $510,000 behind in its payments, Meyer said.

She said Mutual Ground is meeting with donors and planning fundraisers to help make up the budget gap.

"We are doing everything in our power," Meyer said. "We are only 12 days into this month and we have turned away seven adults and 11 children that requested shelter. That's huge."

She said since the first of the year, 45 adults and 12 children have been turned away from counseling, which forces people to seek counseling that they must pay for or do without, she said.

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She said the shelter's staff has been reduced by 33 percent, from 46 to 31 staff members, because of the funding shortage.

"Even though we haven't received funding, we have been trying to do more with less," Meyer said. "We are doing our part. The state needs to do its part."

Vickie Smith, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the group is reaching out across the state to inform communities what is going on with the state budget.

"Raising additional dollars to try to make up what the state is not honoring in their own contracts is a daily challenge," she said.

Smith praised the work of the case workers in the room that answer the phone calls and have the person-to-person meetings with families and their children forced to say, "'I am sorry. There is no room.' This is not the time to say that to people who have nowhere else to go," she said.

"It's beyond heroic that you are able to maintain your composure and ability to face these families who have nowhere else to turn but us," she said.

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Gretchen Vapnar, executive director of the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, directed her comments to Springfield.

"There are so few of you who will look into our eyes," Vapnar said about lawmakers.

Vapnar said the Elgin agency has not received $400,000 in contractual funding agreed to by the state. She said the agency provides 8,760 hours in service to clients annually.

State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, said that the most difficult time she has "spent in Springfield has been the past two years."

"Who would have thought that the Rod Blagojevich days were the good old days," she said.

She said the ongoing budget problems are impacting all sectors of the state, including businesses.

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Holmes said she did support Senate Bill 6 which was a provision of a proposal that would have fully funded domestic violence and sexual assault services with $18.6 million for fiscal year 2017.

"I know you don't want to hear the blame game. But the grand bargain was blown up by the governor," Holmes said. "In his political war, it doesn't even make sense."

"I am sorry for the state, I am embarrassed for the state and I will continue to fight," Holmes said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Thord Umbenstock, a resident of Countryside Nursing Home in Dolton, went missing at a Homewood Walmart Tuesday afternoon. (Homewood Police Department / Handout)

A Dolton man was reported missing after a nursing home group outing, Homewood police said.

Thord Umbenstock, 64, a Countryside Nursing Home resident, disappeared Tuesday afternoon from a Homewood Walmart, 17550 S. Halsted St., officials said.

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His last known location was getting off a Pace bus at 95th and State between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, officials said. Security cameras captured him walking north from the store at approximately 3:27 p.m. Tuesday. Umbenstock is 6-feet 3-inches tall, 265 pounds and was last seen wearing a black and blue jacket, orange shirt and blue jeans, officials said.

Caregivers told police that he has a history of mental health disorders, officials said.

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Anyone with information should contact the Homewood Police Department at (708) 206-3420.

mmccall@tribpub.com

@MatthewMcCall_
Sister Jacquie Dewar, left, and Lauren Plesha, a junior at Mother McAuley High School, help assemble Easter baskets on Tuesday for children staying at Margret's Village shelter in Chicago. (Gary Middendorf)

Seventeen-year-old Lauren Plesha carefully slid decorative plastic wrapping over the small wicker basket. Inside the basket was an assortment of goodies, including a stuffed animal and jelly beans.

A few minutes earlier, other students from Mother McAuley High School in Chicago had poured candy into pastel plastic eggs and readied other treats for loading into other Easter baskets.

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None of the teens have met the recipients of the baskets, but that didn't matter to those who gathered Tuesday at Mercy Circle assisted living facility in Chicago to create the Easter-themed bundles.

The teens from McAuley were joined in the effort by Mercy Circle residents from the Mercy Circle assisted living facility. The baskets they created are headed to children staying at one of two South Side homeless shelters.

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"I know I'm really fortunate to have everything that I do and have the mom that I do. So to reach out and help kids and mothers just feels really good," Plesha said.

Nonprofit organization Margaret's Village oversees Maria Shelter, which has been open in Englewood for more than 40 years, and Believe Shelter in South Chicago.

At any given time, about half the beds at either shelter are taken by children. Fifty teens and younger children will be getting baskets this time.

"I can't wait to see their faces, when their eyes light up, because they'll get an Easter basket," said Angela Hicks, executive director of Margaret's Village.

They will be delivered Thursday, she said.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"I overheard a mother telling her little girl 'I'm not going to be able to get you an Easter basket this year, but I promise you we are going to do something special,'" Hicks said. "So that mom is going to be happy, that child is going to be surprised."

The effort to put together Easter baskets for the residents at the shelters was started years ago by Joan Guilfoyle. Her daughter, also named Joan Guilfoyle, said she was happy to see the effort continuing with the students at Mother McAuley High School.

"My mother was a kind and generous spirit. She wanted to do things for people all the time. And this was one of her ideas," Guilfoyle said.

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Supplies and gifts for the baskets were paid for by the Mother McAuley Mothers' Club, Mercy Circle and the office of 19th Ward Alderman Matt O'Shea, who attended Monday's event. State Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, and State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, also helped put together the Easter presents.

O'Shea, who brought together the McAuley students and Mercy Circle residents for the basket preparation, said the event gives seniors an opportunity to be active while also teaching the "youngsters" about service to the community.

"There's no greater need than what you're seeing in the Englewood community, and Margarette's Village  is a wonderful organization that has been in Englewood for years," he said.

Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Lemont High School students placed among the top ten in 15 categories at the 2017 Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference last month in Springfield. Lemont students combined to win four events, marking the fifth time in eight years the school has brought home multiple titles. Lemontas state champions included juniors Reece Graham, Martynas Juskelis and Alex Paulius, and sophomore Anna Mietus. (Lemont High School \ Handout)

H-F grad wins endowed prize for music

Clara Deck, a graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School and a senior geology major at The College of Wooster, received the Josh Farthing Endowed Prize at Wooster's 47th Annual Recognition Banquet. The Josh Farthing Endowed Prize is awarded to a non-music major who demonstrates a strong interest in music.

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Mystery author to bring new book to Evergreen Park library

Award-winning, best selling author Sara Paretsky will return to the Evergreen Park Public Library at 6:30 p.m. April 24. In her new book, "Fallout," Paretsky brings her legendary investigator V. I. Warshawski back for a puzzling case that will take the private investigator out of her comfort zone and into deadly new territory as she searches for a young film student and a former film star who are on the run in the heart of the Midwest. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is encouraged at 708-422-8522 or online at evergreenparklibrary.org.

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Weather spotter training event pairs with health expo

The 2017 New Lenox Severe Weather Spotter Training/Health and Safety Expo will take place April 26 at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Road. The event is sponsored by the New Lenox Safe Communities America Coalition and Citizen Corps Council, the National Weather Service, Will County Emergency Management Agency, and Lincoln-Way District 210. The free Health and Safety Expo will be from 5 to 7 p.m. just outside the Performing Arts Center. Approximately 50 organizations from the health, safety, fitness, preparedness and emergency response industries will participate. Attendees will have the opportunity to receive free literature, giveaways, and health screenings. The free Severe Weather Spotter Training will be held from 7. to 8:30 p.m. The training will provide those in attendance with information regarding what to look for during severe weather season. The program is open to anyone wishing to learn about severe weather. Registration is at Eventbrite, https://basic_spotter_tng_lwwest.eventbrite.com. More information is at 815-462-2123.

March for Babies set for SXU's Chicago campus

Saint Xavier University will host the annual March of Babies 5K Walk at6 8 a.m. April 30 at its Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. It is the third year the university has hosted the family-friendly walk. About 2,000 people are expected to participate in the event, which has a fundraising goal of $250,000. Last year's event brought in $240,000 for the cause, which is the signature fundraiser for the March of Dimes. More information on the event and participation is at www.marchforbabies.org/event/southsuburban.

Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
A McDonald's eatery in Oak Forest would tear down its existing structure and build a new one at the same site under a plan approved Tuesday by the City Council.

In a 7-0 vote, aldermen agreed to allow McDonald's, 5441 W. 159th St., to provide two drive-thru lanes instead of a single lane that currently exists at the site.

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There also would be an elimination of three parking spaces on the property, which would shrink by three yards.

The changes are meant to accommodate the additional drive-thru capacity, while also making it easier for motorists to enter and leave the McDonald's property from 159th Street proper, instead of turning onto Debra Drive and enter an adjacent housing subdivision.

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Ald. Richard Simon, 2nd Ward, said some residents complained to him about what they feared would be an increase of McDonald's-related traffic near their property.

But Simon said Tuesday he and city Administrator Troy Ishler had talked in detail with McDonald's officials to get them to make adjustments in their design to keep traffic out of the subdivision as much as possible.

With the changes, Simon said, "I support this the way we have it now."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Oak Forest community Planner Katie Ashbaugh said the city's planning and zoning board gave its approval to the McDonald's expansion project back in February, following a review by Baxter & Woodman, the city's engineering contractor.

She said Illinois Department of Transportation officials had done their own review of the proposal to ensure that traffic flow didn't cause problems for the nearby neighborhood.

The new facility also will include a spruced up interior and an overall larger eatery, city officials said.

In other business, the City Council also approved the sale of property on 159th Street at Lorel Avenue to allow for a planned Sherwin Williams paint store.

KC Realty is acquiring the site for $100,000, and is negotiating a deal by which the site will be sold to Sherwin Williams later this year. The site is located next to a Family Dollar store at 5400 W. 159th St.

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Mayor Henry Kuspa said the development of a paint store at the location still needs review of the city's planning and zoning board, then will come before the full City Council for a review some time this summer.

Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Opinion / Columnist

Budgets

Transparency

Service Delivery

Infrastructural Development

Re-Engangement Plan

Partnership With Stakeholders

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo heads Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability. He is also a development consultant and analyst. He can be contacted at greatorminds@gmail.com

One thing I have observed with the current mayor of Harare Bernard Manyenyeni he is a professional guy who does his things in a professional way. In fact as MINDS we promote professionalism in all private and public institutions. Our role on governance matters is to promote transparency and professionalism. I took part in the state of the city address and this programme was done in a more and professional way. I'm going to outline things that the mayor pointed out that made some of the things successful and also failures at the same time. This meeting was worthy attending because it was not a political meeting but rather it was an update on the state of the affairs of the nation. Harare has become the centre of power due to economic, social development and it is the centre of tourism and attraction as well.The mayor bemoaned the issue of budgets. The council's revenues compared to the current expenditure we are really in danger zone and at the same time, salaries and wages have consumed much of the revenue making it difficult for the day to day running of the council business. Most of the revenue are going to ZINARA and as we speak ZINARA is not accountable for most of the funds. I think there is need for decentralization of power and at the same time the issue of devolution should be implemented urgently.Bernard Manyenyeni is one of the guys who has done exceptionally very well as far as transparency is concerned. If you see people trying to push people like Manyenyeni out then you should know the reasons behind that. He will leave council chambers with clean hands. This is what we have been advocating as a nation to urge people in strategic positions, and positions of influence to be transparent and accountable for public resources.Most of the people in general they complain citing the issue of service delivery but the mayor has made it clear that one of the major challenges is finance and accountability. The wage bill is too big to an extend that more than 65% of the council revenue is being consumed by wage bill. So what can be really done with such matters? The first one will be to downsize staff and give them packages so that the wage bill will be reduced. The other issue will be to venture into projects that can sustain the council, coming up with new incoming generating schemes and at the same time, having internal controls and cutting expenditure. There is also need for council to clean up the mess.The mayor bemoaned the lack of proper infrastructure. There is need for a proper budget to come up with good propositions. Look Harare is the heart of Zimbabwe were most of the business usually takes place, and it is the centre of attraction and there is need to improve our standards and at the same time to have clear objectives. Most of our buildings in town they need renovation because they are too old and they pose a danger to the public and tourists. There is also need for the city of Harare to look further on the issue of improper structures, or shacks and illegal structures around Harare. The local Government ministry and city of Harare should come up with a manageable housing policy document that should be followed consistently.In every economic plan and objectives there is need for a re- engagement plan with investors and international community. We are in this worst era because we do not have capital injection as an economy, bad policies and governance. What the Government through the ministry of Local Government and Harare city council is to come up with a plan to engange Diasporas who can invest in the city of Harare and at the same time approach donors who can assist financially or who may want to partner with the city of Harare. But remember all investors are worried about the political environment and at the same time the issue of property rights and protection of investments.If one wants any organization to be successful there is need to involve all stakeholders to build a strong institution. You cannot go it alone, every successful manager is supposed to involve other stakeholders for you to be a successful person, and this is what Manyenyeni has managed to do. In leadership you need to consult and involve others for their inputs and contributions.
Terminal 1 is seen in the foreground as a United Airlines airplane rolls down the runway after landing at O'Hare Airport on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Despite recent revelations that Fox News and anchor Bill O'Reilly had settled five complaints of sexual harassment against him to the tune of millions  his ratings went up.

A few days later, a United AirIines passenger was dragged from an airplane to make room for crew members on a full flight  and United's stock initially went up.

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And for this, we pay good money?

The shock wasn't so much that monetary values seem to increase in direct correlation to the diminution of moral values but that we've become passive bystanders to appalling behavior and allegations. Well beyond defining deviancy down, as the great statesman Daniel Patrick Moynihan once described our cultural devolution  we hardly know what it is anymore.

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Which reminds me of another great social observer, author Flannery O'Connor. Frequently asked why Southerners write so much about freaks, she replied that it was because Southerners could still recognize them. Whether this was ever true is debatable only beyond the Confederate states.

What is true today is that social media has become the church lady and the party-line operator rolled into one. If somebody misbehaves, not just two people know about it. Within hours or minutes, millions do. Like a single organism endowed with the accumulated moral fortitude of human society, Twitter demands justice.

In viral videos of the airplane fiasco, passengers are heard protesting as security officials dragged the man down the aisle toward the exit. But even their objections were relatively muted. Was this a one-off, crazy incident, they must have wondered? Or, was it just a matter of time until the blood-sucking, tentacled tripod machines in "War of the Worlds" reach down to select their next human cocktail to drain? But maybe that's just me.

Still. It happened. Right here in the USA. On a plane. To a random guy.

United stocks rallied and the friendly skies were no wiser.

That is, until the outrage gathering on social media reached investors. By the time the market closed Tuesday, United's shares were down 1.1 percent and the company had lost $255 million in market value  not because of the airline's treatment of the passenger but because of investors' loss of faith in the company's ability to handle a crisis.

As for O'Reilly, o'really?

I was beginning to think I was the last person on the planet for whom mention of "O'Reilly" prompted the instant association to "loofah." O'Reilly. Loofah. O'Reilly. Loofah. Yes, my fellow Americans, not only is O'Reilly a smug, sarcastic, windbag/anchor of the self-promoting commercial called "The O'Reilly Factor," he is also allegedly a sex talker of some renown.

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Thirteen years ago, O'Reilly settled with a "Factor" associate producer, Andrea Mackris, who sued for sexual harassment. Specifically, she alleged that in telephone conversations, he bragged about his global sexual exploits, encouraged her to release tensions with a mechanical aid, and spoke of a shower fantasy with Mackris and "that little loofah thing." Later in the same conversation, for reasons unknown, she said he changed his terminology to that "falafel thing"  word of the day, eh?  which falls somewhat short of corr1ecting the record.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Your honor, I did not say her little loofah thing. I said her little falafel thing. There's a big difference, you know.

The upshot of the Mackris and more recent Fox News scandals was that women were paid for their silence, in some cases quite well. Gretchen Carlson was awarded $20 million to settle her suit alleging that Fox News boss Roger Ailes sexually harassed her for several years. Ailes is gone; Carlson is rich.

Mackris was paid as well, though not nearly so well. The tapes she supposedly had that would have proved her case were never released, she faded into scandal history, and O'Reilly went on to become Fox's ratings god for reasons I've failed to glean.

Then #bootoreilly was born and thousands of women shared their experiences with workplace harassment. At last count, more than 60 advertisers, including Jenny Craig, Advil and Mercedes-Benz pulled their commercials from the show. Even O'Reilly is only as valuable as the bucks he brings in.

In a pre-Twitter age, the United event might have gone unnoticed by more than a few reporters who corralled a few passengers for interviews  if that. Pre-social media, allegations of O'Reilly's brutish behavior might have been passed off as just-a-guy having some innocent fun.

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Alas, and for good, the party's over for boors and bullies. Except, of course, for the president of the United States.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.
Markham Mayor David Webb Jr., center, is shown at a Markham City Council meeting in a file photo from December. Markham's next mayor should address the city's failure to publish meeting agendas and minutes on its website, columnist Ted Slowik writes. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

Uncertainty about the mayoral situation in Markham is raising additional questions about a lack of transparency and possible Open Meetings Act violations.

I'll tell you why it also raises questions about 150 Tinley Park public employees who appear to receive $100,000 or more in total annual compensation.

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But first, regular readers will recall I wrote about the Markham mayor's race in January when I noticed campaign signs around town for Roger Agpawa. He's the fire chief in Country Club Hills who pleaded guilty to a felony charge 20 years ago as part of a medical fraud scheme.

State law prohibits convicted felons from holding elected municipal office, but apparently no law says a felon can't run for office. What would happen, I wondered, if Agpawa won the Markham election?

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Voters answered that hypothetical question last week by apparently electing Agpawa to be their mayor, according to unofficial results.

The Cook County state's attorney's office said in a letter to Markham officials last month it would take the city to court if Agpawa is sworn into the mayor's seat.

John Murphey, village attorney for Country Club Hills, suggested the Illinois General Assembly should address the issue by amending state law to allow convicted felons to hold elected municipal offices if their convictions occurred 15 or more years in the past.

I think it's unlikely the state legislature could address the issue before Markham needs to act to fill its looming mayoral vacancy.

It's up to the Markham City Council to decide what to do about the situation. The most logical path, experts have told the Daily Southtown, would be for the four sitting Markham aldermen to choose someone from the council to serve as mayor. The four were elected in 2015 and serve until 2019.

I sought information about the Markham City Council from the city's website. Names and phone numbers for aldermen are provided, and I left phone messages with all four city council members but did not hear back from any of them before my deadline.

I was struck by how Markham's website provides no information about city council meetings. No agendas or minutes are published and I could find no information about when scheduled meetings occur.

I called the city and was told by a representative in the mayor's office the city council meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

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Websites have been around for more than 20 years, and most communities in the south suburbs do a good job utilizing the internet to make information available to citizens.

Most towns take advantage of this low-cost opportunity to promote transparency. Publishing meeting agendas and minutes is a basic step. Many communities go above and beyond minimal expectations.

A lot of villages and small cities in the Southland publish detailed financial reports, strategic plans, ordinances, building codes, permit applications and other information to make it easier for residents and others to conduct business with the city.

These are taxpayer-funded operations, after all, and the prevailing wisdom is that people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.

For example, Tinley Park on Wednesday published on its website its 2018 fiscal year employee compensation report. Village Treasurer Brad Bettenhausen says in the introduction that publication of the report complies with state law requiring Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund employers to post a list of employees who receive $75,000 or more in annual compensation.

Thanks to Tinley Park's compliance, anyone could see that Village Manager David Niemeyer appears to top the list with a salary of $182,774, a vehicle, pension, insurance and other benefits that push his total compensation to $236,011 for the year.

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I counted 150 Tinley Park employees who apparently receive at least $100,000 annually in total compensation. These include department heads, patrol officers and maintenance workers but also people with job titles like reference librarian, utility billing technician and telecommunicator.

I left a message asking Bettenhausen to confirm that 150 individuals are listed as receiving $100,000 or more in total compensation, but did not hear back from him.

Five individuals, including Niemeyer, apparently will receive more than $200,000 in total compensation this year.

Kudos to Tinley Park for making the information available on its website. I think the village may want to take steps to rein in costs to taxpayers for generous employee salaries and benefits, but I give village officials credit for promoting transparency.

Similarly, Orland Park publishes extensive public documents. From the homepage, you can click on a link and quickly access minutes of board of trustees meetings dating back to 2006.

Chicago Heights, Homewood, Olympia Fields  if you visit the websites of towns throughout the Southland you'll find most offer easy access to public information. Some sites look like they've adopted newer formats more recently. Others look outdated, but nonetheless serve utilitarian purposes of providing information.

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Towns appear to use a variety of functions to provide people with basic public information through their websites. The city of Palos Heights uses the Google Drive tool to provide access to PDFs of city council agendas and minutes.

Markham's failure to publish meeting agendas, minutes and notices on its website may violate the Open Meetings Act.

"A public body that has a website that the full-time staff of the public body maintains shall also post on its website the agenda of any regular meetings of the governing body of that public body," the law states.

It's possible Markham's website is maintained by someone other than a full-time staff member. Some smaller communities contract with vendors to maintain their websites. When that's the case, a representative of the municipality  typically someone in the clerk's office  will provide meeting agendas for online publication.

I called and emailed the Markham clerk and deputy clerk on Wednesday but did not receive a response before my deadline.

Steven R. Miller, Markham's city attorney, said he was unaware agendas were not published online and could not say whether Markham was in compliance with the Open Meetings Act.

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"That one I can't answer," Miller told me. "I haven't looked at the website."

The Illinois attorney general's office provides a public access counselor to answer questions about Open Meetings Act compliance. The act "requires that all public bodies designate employees, officers or members to receive training on compliance with this law."

"Each public body must submit the list of designated persons to the public access counselor," the attorney general's website says. "Designees must successfully complete the electronic training on an annual basis."

I spoke by phone with a representative of the attorney general's office who said if Markham's website is maintained by a full-time employee, the city should post meeting agendas to comply with the Open Meetings Act.

Josh Sharp, vice president of government relations for the Illinois Press Association, agreed.

"If a government body has a public website, the law says there are three things it must publish: minutes, agendas and notices of upcoming meetings," Sharp told me.

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Because of the law's compliance training requirement, a municipality that doesn't publish agendas, minutes and meeting notices cannot plead ignorance, he said.

"To say they don't know, that just isn't true," Sharp said.

I'm curious to find out who maintains Markham's website and who are the city's Open Meetings Act compliance designees. I'll let you know when I find out.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

It may be that Markham complies with the letter of the law, but its failure to publish meeting agendas and minutes on its website violates the spirit of the Open Meetings Act, in my opinion.

Markham is a city of about 15,500 residents. I have seen Markham comply with another Open Meetings Act requirement that meeting notices and agendas be posted in buildings at least 48 hours prior to meetings.

I've seen websites for smaller, more rural communities with fewer staffing resources do better jobs making basic public information available to residents.

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This is a deficiency I would urge the next mayor of Markham to address. At this point, no one can say who will be Markham's mayor when David Webb Jr.'s term ends in a couple weeks.

Presumably, that's up to Markham aldermen Ernest Blevins, Clifton Howard, Rondal Jones and William Barron to decide as it stands.

tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
BBK  I will respect the presidency when our president stops lying, tweeting nonsense, and stops the weekly trips to Florida that is costing us $3 million every trip. You should be concerned about the Supreme Court. Our democracy is in jeopardy. Maybe, you should stop telling others to "grow up" because they have a different point of view from yours  and respect others' opinions.

Orland Park

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It seems to me funny that stores advertise dressing up for Easter. All the people I witness being shown on airplanes, shopping or eating out wear flip flops, pajama pants and old worn out hoodies. And that's just the men.

Oak Forest

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I'm not a Cubs fan, but the idolization of professional athletes has crossed the line of "overkill." People, they make millions, they produce nothing of lasting substance for mankind, they work six months a year and about six hours a day. Save your money and time and focus your attention on serving those more deserving of your commitment. Pro athletes don't need you, however, many "lower profile" others do.

Note to Gov. Bruce Rauner  the people of Illinois are not stupid. Of course, your quickie tour of the state has everything to do with next year's election. You are a do-nothing governor who has already sunk $50 million into your campaign fund. Your job is to work with the state legislature to better Illinois. You can start by helping to solve the current budget crisis so Illinois doesn't sink deeper into debt. Your so-called reforms cannot solve the state's problems if people and businesses don't want to locate here because of the fiscal crisis both you and the legislature are currently exacerbating.

El

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For years, a wild turkey has captured the attention and curiosity of some neighborhoods in Bartlett where it is often seen roaming around. Its sightings are documented on a local Facebook page.

So when rumors began circulating the turkey  who goes by the names Loosey or Lucie  had been fatally injured in a hit and run Wednesday, locals panicked.

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Bartlett resident Heather O'Brien, along with friends Ramses Godinez and Destiny Garcia, set up a makeshift memorial on Wednesday to honor the local celebrity.

"When the news of her rumored death happened (which still has yet to be confirmed), members of the community were extremely upset over it," said O'Brien, 20. "Seeing how important to our community the turkey was, I decided to make a memorial in her honor where she was rumored to have been hit by a car."

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The memorial included flowers, candles, a cross, a frame with a picture of the turkey, and two signs. One read, "her last words: gobble-gobble-gone" and the other said "in memory of the Bartlett turkey" with the advice to please drive carefully.

A makeshift memorial near the corner of Bartlett Road and Struckman Boulevard in Bartlett. The memorial is for a wild turkey that has been a surprise but welcome resident of the neighborhood for years. The animal was believed to have been killed by a driver Wednesday, but police say no animal was found and no driver reported hitting a turkey. (Rafael Guerrero / The Courier-News)

It hasn't been confirmed Loosey/Lucie was involved in an accident. On Thursday, Bartlett Police Cmdr. Michael McGuigan said there were no police reports filed involving an incident with a turkey, nor had public works or other agencies picked up turkey road kill.

"As far as we know, that turkey is still alive," he said.

Danielle Mancinelli, who often sees the turkey sleep near her Bartlett home, said she heard it could have been a goose that was hit, not a turkey. Other people online said it may have been a duck.

However, had a turkey been killed, it would have been difficult to identify it as there are "many turkeys" in the area, said McGuigan. According to a Thanksgiving 2015 Chicago Tribune story, more than 150,000 wild turkeys live in Illinois and in every county.

The Facebook group "I spotted the Bartlett turkey" and its page exploded upon news something had happened to the bird, from well wishers to deniers. The group has more than 700 followers, and pictures show the animal in the neighborhood as far back as 2009. A wild turkey can live for as long as 10 years.

"The turkey was someone loved by everyone in Bartlett," added O'Brien.

A female wild turkey, dubbed Loosey or Lucie by Bartlett residents, with Suzanne LaPlante in 2010. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

raguerrero@tribpub.com
Elgin Community College instructor Alison Douglas, left, listens in as interim vice president of teaching, learning, and student development Peggy Heinrich, right, talks about adult education funding with Douglas' advanced ESL students. (Rafael Guerrero / The Courier-News)

At Elgin Community College, its adult education services, which include English as a Second Language classes, receive about $1.45 million from state and federal sources.

When and how the state's portion of the total makes it to ECC  about $842,000  has become a growing concern amid an ongoing budget impasse in Springfield.

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"If you've been following the news, you know that the state of Illinois has been having some trouble," ECC interim vice president of teaching, learning and student development Peggy Heinrich told students in an ECC advanced ESL class Wednesday.

Half of the 28 students who make up ECC's advanced ESL group got a one-hour introduction into how their class and others get money to operate, with Heinrich and state Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, speaking on the subject.

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"Investing in adult basic education is important," said Castro, a former ECC student. "Not only does it set you in a good path, it also helps you get a good job and provide to our economy. There is the triple effect if you don't invest in education when you see it in the end, when people are not getting good jobs or being able to compete in the marketplace."

The students arrived with thoroughly-researched questions. During the session, one student realized how the lack of funding made it more difficult for her to attain in-school childcare for her children while she took classes.

"Their life experiences provide some richness to what they ask," said Alison Douglas, ECC English professor.

The 28 students come from 10 countries and speak 8 languages, said Douglas, who instructs the advanced ESL class. Student Chong Wiitanen, 32, whose first language is Thai, said he found the presentations informative and eye-opening.

"I'm surprised the state is in so much debt," he said, referring to Castro's remark that the state loses about $11 million every day with no budget. "I'm still surprised at the cuts to education and that we may run out of money."

Fellow classmate Jose Camargo, 21, said he's been following state news more closely of late, thanks to headline-grabbing stories regarding Chicago Public Schools and Chance the Rapper's efforts to help them. He said someone has to help out the colleges, too.

"When I hear about literacy programs where students can learn other languages, I think there should be more partnering happening," said Camargo, whose first language is Spanish.

Partnerships may have to become an option for ECC because funding is uncertain, like other community colleges and public higher education institutions in the state. Unlike other colleges, though, the impact on ECC has not been significant outside of some layoffs  at least not yet. The ECC board of trustees planned to use reserves to offset adult education operation costs this school year, but a stopgap budget by the state last year alleviated that need.

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Trustees cannot bail ECC and its adult education services forever as reserves have a finite amount, said Castro. The future of the ECC/Harper College Education and Work Center, for instance, is murky, she said. The Hanover Park center provides ESL classes, computer courses, adult basic education and GED classes, among other services, to a majority-Latino population and other groups.

"You have many programs who can sustain themselves and many who cannot," said Castro, a first-term state legislator. "ECC's elected board has had the foresight to be very strong fiscally and put money away in case of emergencies. However, they can't do it forever, and I realize that."

raguerrero@tribpub.com
The owner of Nick's Liquors  closed at its Clock Tower Plaza location for several weeks  will be fined $2,250 for nonpayment of its Elgin liquor taxes following a liquor commission vote Wednesday.

The City Council, which also meets as the liquor commission, heard an update on the Smooth Fox restaurant and bar following a fight there over the weekend.

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According to Elgin Corporation Counsel Bill Cogley, Condos Riverside Corp., the owner of Nick's Liquor at 71 Clock Tower Plaza, paid the city via check in late November for three months of its taxes. Those checks, totaling about $8,000, bounced, Cogley said.

"Despite numerous notices, they have not paid for the subsequent months as well," Cogley said.

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The store later closed.

No one from Nick's Liquors attended the council meeting, which approved the complaint for nonpayment of the city liquor tax on a 5-1 vote. Commissioner Carol Rauschenberger voted against additional fines, noting health problems of one of the principal owners.

The corporation's attorneys did file a response to the city's complaint, but it did not contain any admissions or denials to the complaint, Cogley said.

Cogley said he was waiting on an Elgin police report to see whether a complaint should be filed against the Smooth Fox, 51 S. Grove Ave.

Elgin police were called to the bar and restaurant just before 3 a.m. Sunday for a large fight outside the building, Cogley said.

While that fight is still under investigation, Elgin Chief of Police Jeff Swoboda said, several people were arrested on misdemeanor charges.

When those people were released from the Elgin jail, a second fight broke out in front of the police station, Swoboda said. More arrests were made, he said.

Police also asked the restaurant manager for access to the bar's video surveillance system as they investigated another incident, Lt. Jim Lalley said. Lalley said the request was declined.

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The question of bringing in Smooth Fox owner Justin Hodge in front of the liquor commission may be moot on several points, Cogley said.

Hodge is in Kane County Jail on issues not related to his liquor license. The bar has not renewed its liquor license.

Because the commission meets on a monthly basis, any request by Hodge for renewal would not be decided until the May meeting.

After April 30, Smooth Fox would no longer be allowed to sell liquor, Cogley said.

Mayor David Kaptain said he was not interested in a special meeting to approve a Smooth Fox liquor license. "We are not going to have a special meeting for his needs," Kaptain said, noting that Hodge had been a no-show at previous meetings the commission had asked him to attend regarding other police calls and problems at the location.

"He has been negligent in attending. We owe him no special favors at this point," Kaptain said.

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Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
It is hard for Kane County Sheriff's Court Security Deputy Kim Duda to believe her friend and colleague, Holly Quinn, isn't at her post in the Kane County Judicial Center where she has been a friendly, familiar face for 20 years.

Quinn, 59, died on Friday.

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"She has to be here," Duda said Tuesday. "She takes care of everybody. It still doesn't seem real."

Quinn's funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Williams Kampp Funeral Home in Wheaton.

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Quinn, of Winfield, graduated from West Chicago Community High School in 1975 and earned her associate's degree from College of DuPage in 1977, according to her obituary. She worked with the Glen Ellyn police department and joined the Kane County Sheriff's office in 1997, working as a deputy in court security, it stated.

"It's a great loss" for the department, Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer said. "She was well liked in the courthouse. She came to work every day with a good attitude."

Duda said Quinn always remembered family and friends' birthdays, sending cards or calling. She even remembered Duda's daughters' birthdays and always had something for them, she said.

"She was always there for me or whoever else needed her," Quinn's husband, John said. The two would have celebrated their sixth anniversary in June. "She was special to me. She was always a go-to person if you were in a bad mood, she would change it."

"I am still at a loss," John Quinn said.

Lisa Quinn had good memories of her stepmom. "Her and I always had so much fun, even if we were going to the store," she said, adding the family is trying to cope with the loss. "I loved her so much."

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Hundreds of mourners packed a hall on the Northwestern University campus Wednesday to remember Mohammed Ramzan, the 19-year-old freshman who died earlier this week in a boating incident with his crew team.

The patter of feet and thumps of folding chair seats as people walked into Lutkin Hall on the university's Evanston campus and took a seat were the only sounds to be heard as the evening memorial service for Mohammed Ramzan got underway.

"He was the embodiment of what we all hope to be: generous and gracious," said Patricia Telles-Irvin, Northwestern University's vice president for student affairs.

Many of the mourners, most of them dressed in black, sobbed.

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"It is OK to let yourself feel, let yourself mourn and have time to heal," said Telles-Irvin.

The mother of Mohammed Ramzan, right, the 19-year-old Northwestern University freshman and crew team member who died Monday, arrived from Pakistan and attended a vigil held Wednesday, April 12, 2017 for Ramzan at Lutkin Hall on the university's Evanston campus. Ramzan fell out of the boat the team was in as they practiced early Monday morning. HIs body was recovered later that day. (Genevieve Bookwalter / Pioneer Press)

Others noted how the mourning for Ramzan extended beyond the memorial service.

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"Our entire campus is grieving right now," said Christina Cilento, president of Northwestern's Association of Student Government.

Ramzan's mother, Seema Naz Ramzan, entered the hall dressed in a black coat and wearing a pink and green floral hijab. She was seated in the front row.

Several people, including university officials, said she had only hours earlier arrived in Evanston from Pakistan, following news of her son's death.

She was escorted by a man identified as Ramzan's grandfather  and he also aided the mother in walking.

Seema Naz Ramzan sat quiet and solemn throughout the service in the hall, which included several speakers, and a candlelight vigil held outside.

The memorial service started with a reading in what organizers said was Ramzan's favorite chapter from the Quran.

The text was recited in English and his native language Urdu.

Ramzan went missing Monday morning after he fell overboard while practicing with the Northwestern University club crew team, according to a NU news release.

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His body was recovered later that day from the North Shore Channel in Lincolnwood, university officials said.

Neither the university nor the crew team has provided details about the incident, including how Ramzan fell into the water.

Also, the Illinois State Police, which is heading the death investigation, would not comment.

A GoFundMe page was started late Monday night to raise money for funeral expenses for the family, according to the website.

As of Wednesday night, the page had raised more than $21,000 toward a $15,000 goal.

The organizers who set up the crowd-funding campaign said on the site that money left over from the funeral expenses would be donated to a charity "very dear and near to his heart."

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In addition to several students who spoke at the memorial service of their friendship with the first-year freshman from Auburn, Washington, Maytham Al-Zayer, a member of the crew team, also paid tribute to Ramzan.

"He exuded love, trust and comfort," Al-Zayer said. "His soul may have been too beautiful for this world."

Tahera Ahmad, associate chaplain and director of interfaith engagement at Northwestern, told of the questions she said motivated Ramzan, and encouraged students to consider how those questions apply to their own lives.

"He was a mercy to all of us," said Ahmad.

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook
Opinion / Religion



Ihechukwu Njoku - freelance Nigerian journalist

The world has reacted with shock to the announcement that USA used its largest non-nuclear weapon for the first time in an attack targeting ISIS forces in Afghanistan on Thursday evening.U.S. forces used a GPS-guided GBU-43 bomb, which is 30 feet long, weighs a staggering 21,600 pounds and has been described as the 'Mother Of All Bombs.'A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 300 meters wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. Anyone at the blast site was vaporized and all living creatures within a 1.7 mile radius of the blast are not expected to survive.Followers of Nigerian 'Prophet' T.B. Joshua were quick to point out that last Sunday 9th April 2017, the cleric had warned of an incident that would occur on Thursday which would "cause conflict" between the super-power nations."I want us to lift up our voices and pray this coming Thursday - whatever that will happen that will cause a conflict between the super-power nations," Joshua told his congregation and viewers on Emmanuel TV."I see a situation where one will tempt the other - and that will provoke the whole thing," he continued in the prediction."This coming Thursday and Friday, pray that whatever that will happen that will cause one of the super- nations provocation to retaliate, the Lord should hold their temper. We ask for calmness, in the name of Jesus Christ!Joshua then instructed his congregants to observe a period of prayer and fasting on the days mentioned. "The foundation for a devil's workshop is on the ground," he solemnly noted.His prophecy comes on the backdrop of another prophetic message in January 2016 in which he called for prayers for North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, stating that he saw an 'arrow' being released from North Korea with global repercussions.Tensions are at an all-time high in the Korean peninsula with news of an imminent nuclear test by North Korea amidst President Donald Trump's assertion he would "solve" the North Korean problem, with or without the assistance of China.
One of Lake County's most experienced lawmen is hanging up his badge after 50 years on the job, a tenure that included high-profile cases and numerous leadership positions.

On Thursday, Lake County Undersheriff Ray Rose, who earlier in his career was the lead investigator in the infamous Patricia Columbo triple-homicide case, officially announced his retirement, effective April 30.

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Rose, 70, said a final trigger for his decision to retire was realizing he would need to take time off for his grandson's graduation from college this spring.

"It's going on 50 years I've been doing this. With summertime approaching, I think it's time to catch up with my life," Rose said Thursday. "It's time to start looking at things a little differently."

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Highlights of Rose's career include climbing up through the law enforcement ranks in Franklin Park and Elk Grove Village before serving more than 20 years as police chief in Mundelein.

He is also a past president of the Illinois Police Chief's Association and the Lake County Police Chief's Association, and has chaired a number of task forces and committees including the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG).

In 2013, after retiring from Mundelein, he accepted his appointment as undersheriff by Sheriff Mark Curran.

During the time since, he has concentrated his efforts on progressive law enforcement issues, including a more community-oriented view toward law enforcement and programs beyond incarceration to address people with mental health and addiction issues.

"We're moving from the warrior capacity to the guardians of the community capacity," Rose said.

Rose said the shift in programs and philosophy at the Sheriff's Office has only worked because the employees have bought into it, and that while there are still "some bumps" between administration and deputies, he believes the office is running steadily in the right direction.

Rose cites the Elk Grove Village murder investigation and eventual conviction of Patricia Columbo and Frank DeLuca as the biggest case in his career.

"They killed her father, mother and 13-year-old brother (in 1976). They shot them and stabbed them. She stabbed her brother 87 times with a scissors," Rose said. "I was the lead investigator in Elk Grove Village.

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"I've been to every one of the parole hearings since then except one. The whole purpose of that is to remind them how incredible and vicious this crime was and why they shouldn't release them."

Rose said one thing he will continue doing in retirement is attending those parole hearings, and he is scheduled to conduct a slide presentation on the case for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office this spring.

"It was the biggest crime that I was involved in and it was a true learning experience on so many levels. It was a triple homicide," he said. "Now you hear about something like that almost every day on the news. As a society, we can't tolerate this kind if thing."

In recent years, however, Rose has focused on being a leader in countywide rehabilitation and educational efforts aimed at helping with crime prevention, treating those with addiction and mental health issues and reducing recidivism. He said the deputies and staff of the Sheriff's Office have embraced the effort through actions ranging from new training programs to saving scores of people from overdose deaths with the opioid antidote naloxone.

"Hats off to them for buying in," he said.

County Board Chair Aaron Lawlor was among those praising Rose on Thursday, saying, "I think Ray Rose has made a transformational change in the Sheriff's Office."

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"He's been a role model to all of us," Lawlor said. "Especially now, when it's hard to be in law enforcement."

Curran said Thursday he has no immediate plans to name a replacement for Rose, noting that a series of new administrative hires, including deputy chiefs from Evanston and Vernon Hills, has helped shore up the experience that will be lost when Rose leaves April 30.

"Undersheriff Rose, he's been in the business 50 years and worked hard for 50 years," Curran said. "You don't gain wisdom without years. This is an industry where most people get to age 50 and they can draw a pension. Not many stick around to give back."

Personally, Curran said integrity is the word he would use to describe Rose.

"You hear that a person is a straight-shooter," Curran said. "The undersheriff not only has no hidden agendas, but cares about people on a personal basis."

Sgt. Christopher Covelli, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said Thursday he was grateful to have had the chance to work with Rose.

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"I met him for the first time when he came here in 2013. He's touched so many people and so many lives," Covelli said. "One of the qualities I find most insightful is that he always stands up for what is right, even if it's hard, and instills that in all of our employees.

"He instills leadership qualities in everyone who works for him," Covelli added. "He shares his knowledge in hopes they will take that and use it in their careers."

Rose said he plans to stay in the Lake County area with his wife, where he still has a granddaughter attending local schools and longtime friends and family connections. His children and grandchildren figure heavily in his retirement plans.

"Everything right now is good," he said.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

Twitter @jimnewton5
State Rep. Scott Drury, left, and Ralph Martire, right, of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability spoke during a forum in Lake Forest on April 10. (Mark Lawton / Chicago Tribune)

Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, said he has a solution for the state budget crisis, although people may not like it: raise state income taxes.

Martire spoke, along with State Rep. Scott Drury, 58th District, on Monday at the Gorton Community Center as part of the "Understanding the Budget Impasse: Finding Pathways to Resolution" event, organized by the Lake Forest Lake Bluff League of Women Voters.

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The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, a non-partisan nonprofit based in Chicago, projects the deficit will grow in fiscal year 2017 from about $9.4 billion to more than $12 billion, Martire told an audience of about 50.

Resolving the growing state deficit would take about $7 to $7.5 billion, he said.

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"It's not a lot of money in the context of the Illinois economy," Martire said. "We have a $770 billion economy. We're talking about 1 percent of our economic activity."

That translates to an increase from 3.75 percent to 5.25 percent on state income taxes, Martire said. Along with an increase in state income taxes, Martire proposed expanding sales tax to include consumer services and taxing some  though not all  retirement income.

But Drury said getting a tax increase approved in the General Assembly would be challenging.

"You just don't trust the Illinois government with your money," Drury said. "It's not waste, fraud and abuse, it's an utter lack of trust in the system. People don't think the money is going to a good cause."

Gaining the trust of residents would require state officeholders to be honest about the problem, Drury said. And that's a challenge.

"It's easier to run and get re-elected doing nothing than it is to do our job," Drury said. "It's about winning elections. That's why I don't think we'll have a (state) budget for two more years."

To pass a budget, Drury suggested that each political party create a budget and put them into sealed envelopes.

"Let's unseal them in a public square and debate them," Drury said. "We'd have a budget in 10 minutes."

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Resident James Borg said he was impressed by the talk.

"I thought it was a superb program," Borg said. "(Martire) has such a clear, informative presentation."

"It was very enlightening," said resident Joyce Newcomb.

mlawton@pioneerlocal.com

@pioneerlocal.com
Federal officials said they have broken up a massive Mexico-to-Illinois heroin smuggling ring, resulting in the seizure of more than 190 kilograms of the drug and the arrests of 18 men and a woman, three of them from Aurora.

Warehouses in Naperville, St. Charles and Sugar Grove were used to unload at least some of the heroin, which was sold across the Chicago area, including the parking lot of a shopping mall on Chicago's southwest side, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois.

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The release did not provide a dollar value for the drug, as heroin prices have fluctuated in recent years. An agent of the U.S Drug Enforcement Agency told NBC News in 2014 heroin was worth $65,000 per kilogram, which would make the recent seizure worth $12.4 million.

"Operation Over the Top" lasted more than a year, and included last month's seizure of 80 kilograms of heroin from a home in Hanover Park, the release stated. Authorities also raided and shut down a heroin "stash house" in Bensenville, and removed another 85 kilograms of heroin and cocaine from warehouses in St. Charles and Sugar Grove, and from a vacant lot on Chicago's west side, the release stated.

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Three members of an Aurora family were part of a faction of smugglers and drug dealers who unloaded their heroin at unidentified warehouses in Naperville, St. Charles and Sugar Grove, according to the release.

David Contreras, 39; his brother, Juan Contreras, 35; and Juan Contreras' nephew, Edgar Rodriguez-Contreras, 32, stored the heroin, which had come hidden in secret compartments inside of semi-tractor trailers, the release stated. The compartments were then filled with money and the trucks took back to Mexico, the release stated.

Rodriguez-Contreras, David Contreras and two other men pleaded guilty earlier this year to their roles in the ring, admitting they had conspired with Juan Contreras in the crimes. All are awaiting sentencing.

Juan Contreras is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to appear Oct. 16 in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Hanover Park resident Julio Cesar Flores-Saenz, 29, was arrested last month with approximately 80 kilograms of heroin hidden in his home and a compartment of a vehicle he owns, the release stated. Authorities said Flores-Saenz last October distributed four kilograms of heroin to men in Philadelphia and Riverside, Calif.

Noel Miranda, 36, of Chicago, is accused of selling a kilogram of heroin in December to an undercover buyer in the parking lot of the Ford City shopping center, just south of Chicago Midway Airport, according to the release.

The other ring members are from Bensenville, Chicago and Midlothian, as well as Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico, the release stated.

The probe was led by the Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from agents of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division.

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"This investigation is an example of the extraordinary determination and cooperation among our law enforcement partners," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joel R. Levin. "Our office remains committed to halting the stream of heroin and other dangerous narcotics into our communities."

wbird@tribpub.com
DuPage County prosecutors plan to retry the man whose conviction for the 1995 arson murder of his mother-in-law in Naperville was set aside by a judge based on advances in fire science.

Judge Liam Brennan, who last week vacated the conviction, set a $100,000 bail for William Amor at a hearing Thursday and remanded him to the DuPage County Jail. Brennan had ruled it would have been impossible for Amor to have set the fire as described in a police confession.

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Amor's attorneys from the Illinois Innocence Project said they would explore options to raise the $10,000 cash bond Amor would need to be released while awaiting retrial.

Amor will be retried for the 1995 murder of Marianne Miceli, who died in a September 1995 fire at the Naperville condo she shared with Amor and his wife, Miceli's daughter, Tina.

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"This case has actually gotten better against the defendant," Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pawl told the judge.

Amor was found guilty in 1997 of lighting the fire that killed his mother-in-law, telling investigators that he sparked the blaze with a cigarette and some newspaper soaked in vodka. But new advances in fire investigation, as described by experts during hearings last year, made that confession "scientifically impossible," Brennan ruled.

And with the confession acting as the linchpin of the state's case against Amor, its subsequent unraveling cast doubt on the original jury's finding of guilt, Brennan ruled. Amor has said that he made the confession under duress from the investigators.

The ruling returned the case to the pretrial status, meaning Amor was entitled to a bond hearing, and the judge was presented with two diametrically opposed arguments: The Innocence Project attorneys argued that Amor should be released on his own recognizance, and prosecutors asked that he be held without bail.

Pawl pointed to Amor's history of failures to appear on DUI and other traffic counts from the 1980s. Amor's attorney, Erica Nichols Cook, argued that her client's alcoholism accounted for his spotty past record, but that Amor had been sober for 22 years. A friend in South Bend, Ind., had agreed to take in Amor, Nichols Cook said.

The judge said he would not at this point agree to Amor living out of state should he post bond, but Brennan said he would be willing to revisit the issue. Amor is due back in court May 10.

Miceli, who was 40 and partially disabled from a childhood accident, reported the fire at the condo, but was found dead of smoke inhalation by the time firefighters arrived. Amor and Miceli's daughter had left the condo a short time before the fire was reported to go to a movie.

Amor later confessed and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, which, under the sentencing laws in effect in 1997, makes him eligible for parole next year.

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Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
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Kautman-Jones endorses Davis Please support Meredith Davis in her re-election to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners - 8th District. I have had...
Heading an administrative staff, managing advertising, tracking all transactions and commissions for 25 real estate brokers, and even troubleshooting the computer system in her office on occasion is no easy task for any employee, but Margaret Kinnare manages to do it all with finesse and ease.

That's why Kinnare, a River Forest resident, was recently was presented with the Administrative Professional of the Year Award for 2016 by the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network. Her day-to-day efforts as office administrator at RE/MAX in the Village, 189 S. Oak Park Ave., have made major contributions to the continued success of her place of work, the folks at RE/MAX said.

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"It feels terrific, and it was such a surprise," said Kinnare. "It's especially nice to know it reflects the views of the people I work with every day."

According to RE/MAX, the award recognizes the efforts of administrative staffers that make major contributions not only by facilitating daily operations but also by creating an office environment that supports the productivity and spirit of the entire brokerage team. Kinnare said not only does she work with some terrific people but she also is crazy about the nearby residents.

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"I adore the group I work with and the community I work in," Kinnare said. "Having my desk right at the front window has helped me get to know so many neighbors and to watch the revitalization of downtown Oak Park in recent years. People stop in almost every day just to say hello, and I've made many new friends."

Besides her daily multi-tasking, Kinnare also was recognized for her exceptional versatility. She has worked in real estate since 1995 and joined RE/MAX in the Village in 2007, initially focusing on handling the advertising program. Over time, however, her duties expanded.

"I come in each day with a plan of what I'm going to accomplish that day, but I have to be flexible because unexpected demands arise constantly," she said. "Also, I have someone who assists me several days a week, and that's a huge help."

She said working in such a busy and successful office keeps her working constantly, "but that is exactly what I like," said Kinnare.

"I don't enjoy work that has a lot of down time," said Kinnare. "The brokers I work with are experienced and highly professional, so even though the pace is fast, they are on top of things, which makes my job much more manageable."

Way to go to RE/MAX in the Village Realtors Elissa Palermo and Gary Mancuso, who recently joined the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, which means they both have earned more than $1 million in gross commissions while affiliated with RE/MAX.

Mark your calendars now for the "Upside of Downsizing," a seminar for retirees with Realtor Roz Byrne of RE/MAX in the Village and Meredith Morris, an Oak Park resident who is owner of Caring Transitions  Chicago Western Suburbs. The pair will share their downsizing expertise at 10 a.m. April 29 at Brookdale Oak Park, 1111 Ontario St.

Felicia Dechter is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.
Oak Park and River Forest High School Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams is taking time away from the school following the shooting death of her grandson, officials said Thursday.

According to a statement released by district spokeswoman Karin Sullivan, Pruitt-Adams lost her 17-year-old grandson, who died Wednesday in Missouri.

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"We have been deeply saddened to learn that yesterday, District 200 Superintendent Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams lost her beloved 17-year-old grandson during a shooting in University City, Mo.," the statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Pruitt-Adams and her family, who have requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time."

Taylor Simpson, a junior at Lieberman Learning Center, was identified as the shooting victim as well as being Pruitt-Adams' grandson in a letter released by the School District of University City.

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According to Sullivan, Pruitt-Adams left the school to be with her family in Missouri, and is expected to be away from OPRF for all of next week. Pruitt-Adams joined OPRF as interim superintendent in the summer of 2016 and was named the district's superintendent in December.

Before joining OPRF, Pruitt-Adams retired as the superintendent of the School District of University City in University City, Mo., a position she had held since 2007.

"Our hearts are broken," School District of University City Superintendent Sharonica Hardin-Bartley said in the letter released by the district. "This is a terrible tragedy, and our prayers are with Dr. Pruitt-Adams and all of Taylor's family."

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @steveschering
Oak Park School District 97 administrators spelled out a budget approval timeline April 11 at the board of education's first meeting after voters approved two revenue-generating referendum questions on April 4.

Oak Park voters supported the two questions  a tax rate increase and a bond issue  by wide margins. Officials had said the district would have faced steep staffing and programming cuts had the effort failed. The tax increase, which would bring about roughly $13 million in new revenue in its first year, was approved by about 54 percent of voters. Just over 59 percent of voters backed the bond issue, which would produce $57.5 million for facilities improvements.

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District administrators and board members were careful to emphasize community involvement, fiscal transparency and better district communication moving forward.

"We are not going back out to the community for another referendum," District 97 Superintendent Carol Kelley said April 11. "So, what that means is that everything that we do now, we're talking about aligning our fiscal resources to our vision because we want to make sure that we are being fiscally responsible and also really intentional in honoring the community's voice."

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The District 97 vision, listed on its website, says it "will create a positive learning environment for all students that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child."

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Alicia Evans echoed her colleague.

"So, now we have the money to do what we need to do," Evans said. "We need to make sure we are very respectful of the voice of the taxpayers that gave us their confidence."

Over the next month, Evans and Kelley said, the district will develop a working draft of the budget. Then, after community input, including the district's "Let's Talk" forum, a final document will be presented to the board in late July or early August. Final approval is expected in September 2017.

"I've been talking to a lot of voters; they've been expressive ," school board member Jim O'Connor said. "There's definitely a lot of people who are expecting us to make this stretch, just like they do their own budget at home."

Acknowledging that message, board members amended a motion requesting up to $1.1 million for new classroom library and reading curriculum materials from district administrators. Administrators said the last refresh was more than a decade ago.

Board members requested district administrators inventory existing material and bring back a specific dollar amount by June 2017.

Board President Jim Gates gave his support for the program, which the board had previously discussed in January 2017, but said the optics of a significant purchase "on the heels" of the referendums were not great. The board, Gates said, must demonstrate why the program is cost-effective and necessary, reaching out to the community to explain the rationale.

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"I think it's critical, especially with a big-ticket item like this," Gates said. "And not just to the school community. We know how those folks voted; we've gotta get this out to the broader segment of the community."

Thomas Vogel is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Three Park Ridge residents recently reported being targeted by phone scammers asking for money, two of them nearly falling for the scam, police said.

On March 27, a woman told police she was contacted by a man who claimed to be her grandson and asked for money in order to return from a trip he had taken. The woman does not have grandchildren, police said, and when she informed the caller she was going to call police, he allegedly threatened her.

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The following day, police said an 80-year-old woman received a call from a man posing as her son who needed money after being arrested. According to police, a second caller then got on the line and instructed her to purchase four, $1,000 Walmart gift cards and then call him back with the card numbers so the money could be transferred.

Ron Davis, administrative services supervisor for the Park Ridge Police Department, said the woman did purchase the gift cards, but before sharing the account numbers, she called her son and learned he had not been arrested.

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On April 4, a 43-year-old woman nearly lost $2,000 when she was contacted by men claiming to be with the FBI, police said. According to police, the callers told the woman she owed taxes to the IRS and needed to pay it by purchasing two, $1,000 gift cards and calling back with the account numbers.

Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen said the woman attempted to buy the cards, but was told by a cashier that she was being scammed. The woman never made the follow-up call to provide payment, Jogmen said.

Police advise residents not to send money via gift cards over the phone or wire money to an unknown address. In the event that a person claims to be a family member, police recommend verifying their identify by calling the individual directly on their known phone number.

"If you are contacted, double and triple check with family before making any hasty financial decisions," Davis said.

"The sad part is, once that money goes away, you're never going to see it," he added.

In late February and early March, police said an elderly Park Ridge couple lost $46,000 in a so-called "grandparents scam" when they loaded money onto more than 20 gift cards and shared the account numbers with someone on the phone, believing they were helping a grandson pay his bail and legal expenses related to an arrest in Chicago.

Park Ridge residents who receive a suspicious phone call or are unsure about the legitimacy of a call they have received should contact the Park Ridge Police Department at 847-318-5252.

jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com

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Twitter: @Jen_Tribune
Design Your Own Bookmark contest

Throughout April, children ages 4 to 13 are invited to visit the Hammond Public Library, 564 State St., to design a bookmark. The winning bookmark will be chosen during children's book Week, May 1-7. It will then be printed and distributed throughout the library's Summer Reading Program. More information is with Youth Services at the library, or 219-931-5100, Ext. 336.

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Library to host an historical look at Gary

Gary native and author, Kendall Svengalis, will present an historical view of his hometown at 2 p.m. April 19 at the Hammond Public Library, 564 State St. The program is free. The presentation is part of the research Svengalis conducted for his mystery novel, The Great Emerson Art Heist. Signed copies of the book will be available for $20. Information is with Mary Schons at 219-931-5100, Ext. 327.

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Dinner to benefit flood victims in Peru

The Peruvian community of Northwest Indiana will partner with The Valparaiso International Center to host a presentation and dinner from 6-9 p.m. April 21 at 309 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso. Pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian options will be available, as well as carryout. All proceeds will go to Caritas Felices, a Peruvian foundation that helps children and families in need in the small towns of northern Peru. The minimum donation for dinner and one dessert is $10 per person. RSVP is with Kenneth Kincaid at kkincaid@pnw.edu or Sonia Kincaid at soniark.pe@gmail.com.

Bishop Noll entrance exam

Bishop Noll Institute will host an entrance exam for prospective students at 8 a.m. April 22 at the school, 1519 Hoffman St., Hammond. Participants are to arrive by 7:50 a.m. through Door A and bring No. 2 pencils. The test takes approximately 3-1/2 hours. Walk-ins are welcome. The exam is $25. Register at 219-932-9058 or nrepay@bishopnoll.org.

Softball umpire training

The Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department will host a USA Softball Umpire Training Clinic from 12:30-5 p.m. April 23 at the Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S. East St. Registration will begin at noon. Those who complete the clinic will be eligible to umpire for Girls Youth Softball, Adult Women's Softball and Adult Men's Softball. The clinic is free. Register by April 19 with John Stroia at 219-661-2272 or jstroia@crownpoint.in.gov, or with David Chandler at 765-729-9780 or dchandler@usasoftballindiana.org.

Kona Ice giving away free shaved ice on Tuesday

Kona Ice will be hosting its fourth annual National "Chill Out" Day, by giving out free shaved ice Tuesday afternoon via trucks parked at NorthShore Health Centers in Portage and Lake Station. The truck will be at the NorthShore Health Center in Portage, 6450 U.S. 6 from noon to 1 p.m., then it will travel to the NorthShore Health Center in Lake Station, located at 2490 Central Avenue and give away free shaved ice from 1:30-2:30 p.m. To learn more about Kona Ice's giveback efforts, visit: http://www.kona-ice.com/giveback-programs/

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Partners for Clean Air Awards luncheon

The regions' top leaders in air quality improvements will be honored at the Michiana Area Council of Governments' (MACOG) 2017 Partners for Clean Air Award Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25 at Matterhorn Conference Center, 2041 Cassopolis St., Elkhart. Shawn Seals, senior environmental manager in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Office of Air Quality, will deliver the keynote address. She will provide an update on the status of air quality in the state and region and also will discuss the $39 million Indiana is set to receive as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at http://southshorecleancities.org/events.php. More information is with Lauri Keagle at 219-644-3698 or Carla Keirnan at 575-287-1829 Ext. 302.

 Staff report
The Purdue Northwest student steel bridge team competed in the recent American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) regional Great Lakes Student Conference Competition at Milwaukee. Pictured (from left) are Juan Padilla, Alex Metz, Sang Kang, Neil Weber, Romulo de Carvalho Silva (captain), Krista Tracy, Kawthar Alahmed and Maeve Cucolotto. (Photo Provided by Purdue University / Post-Tribune)

Learning through engagement and discovery is a strategic goal of Purdue University Northwest.

Such student learning is experiential in nature, integrating classroom and laboratory lessons with the applied learning that occurs in a job or internship, competitive interactive setting and through personal encounter.

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Throughout the year, Purdue Northwest students test and enrich their knowledge in various ways of engaged learning and discovery.

Student teaching, student nursing clinical experiences and the development of senior design projects by engineering, technology and other students are traditional examples of how college/university students apply in real world ways the classroom and laboratory lessons they master. But the list goes on.

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Astronaut-like challenges

Two weekends ago, two teams of engineering students traveled to Huntsville, Ala., to defend their three 2016 titles at the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Human Exploration Rover Challenge.

The competition, held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, challenges College-University Division student teams from across the globe to design, construct and race human-powered rover vehicles. The vehicles are designed to perform in challenging terrains similar to uninhabited planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

Though mechanical difficulties prevented the PNW rovers from successfully defending two of their titles, PNW did reclaim its "On to Mars 3  Rover Sample Retrieval Challenge" award for its ability to pick up large and small rocks, sand and liquid samples in the fastest time. In a vote of all participating teams, PNW also received the "Team Spirit Award."

Steel bridge building

Additionally, during the same weekend, another group of PNW engineering students, representing the university's American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) chapter, placed fourth in the ASCE regional Great Lakes Student Conference Competition, just missing a qualifying berth in national competition.

The competition challenges students to apply their knowledge of civil engineering in a series of related contests. One such contest, the Steel Bridge category, tested the student teams to respond effectively to such real world engineering issues as spatial constraints, fabrication processes, project management and effective teamwork.

"The steel bridge competition simulates a real world design challenge, requiring the bridge be designed for safety, economy and constructability," Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and faculty advisor Chien-Chung Chen said. "Our students' participation in this competition enabled a great experiential learning opportunity in application of critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, project management and time management skills."

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PNW students competed against peers from 18 other colleges and universities, including Purdue West Lafayette, Rose-Hulman Institute, the University of Wisconsin, Notre Dame and the University of Illinois.

Student Research Day

More than 200 undergraduate and graduate students from PNW's Hammond and Westville campuses presented research they have been conducting during the past academic year under the guidance of faculty mentors during Student Research Days March 28-29.

Poster sessions were held during which the student researchers could discuss their scholarly projects with attending visitors.

"This event is an opportunity for students to really shine and showcase the work they've been doing," interim Associate Dean of the PNW Honors College and Student Research Office Director Vanessa Quinn said. "It also affords them the opportunity to gain valuable experience presenting their research and develop professional skills they will need down the road. Students are exposed to high impact practices that bear directly on their long-term success."

Wes Lukoshus is assistant vice chancellor of media relations and communications at Purdue University Northwest.

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wlukosh@pnw.edu
Delivering harmonic versions of hit rock 'n' roll songs, Under the Streetlamp highlights the vocal prowess of, from left, Brandon Wardell, Christopher Kale Jones, Eric Gutman and Shonn Wiley. The quartet performs with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville. (Photo courtesy of Star Productions)

Vocal verve meets symphonic grandeur at the American Songbook concert April 27 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.

The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra presents the vintage stylings of Under the Streetlamp, a quartet that puts a 21st century energy into throwback pop.

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Its material covers doo-wop, 1950s rock and the Motown sound.

PBS specials such as "Rockin' Round the Clock" have greatly contributed to the national following that has been built.

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"We tend to give people exactly what they want from a song," said Brandon Wardell, a member of Under the Streetlamp. "We make sure we give them something new so they're not just listening to us trying to imitate the artist."

Although evoking nostalgic feelings is a key for Wardell and his comrades, the covers of pop standards and rock hits are intended to emit a fresh sheen.

Under the Streetlamp touts a marketing slogan in that vein: "Retro never sounded so now."

Dishing "what people remember from the radio" decades ago is done with the accents that spring from the quartet's custom design, Wardell said. "We stand on the shoulders of the artists that did the songs originally, and we make them fit into our sound."

The scheduled fare includes Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" (1959), Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" (1972) and 1964's "Goin' Out of My Head," a Top 10 single for Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Likewise set for a performance at the 3,400-seat venue is Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" (1967).

"That is absolutely breathtaking with an orchestra," said Wardell, a North Carolina native who performed on Broadway in the Beach Boys musical "Good Vibrations."

There is good chemistry between Under the Streetlamp and the region the Star Plaza Theatre calls home, said Kirk Muspratt, conductor and music director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

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"Under the Streetlamp and Northwest Indiana are a perfect match," Muspratt said in an orchestra press release.

He pointed to two of the quartet's PBS specials that were taped at the Star Plaza Theatre.

"Once I learned that they now had a symphony show, I wanted us to be one of the first orchestras in the country to present it," he said. "It will be a big hootenanny of every kind of pop music."

The music of the Beatles and Detroit's Motown legacy resonates with 38-year-old Eric Gutman, the newest member of Under the Streetlamp.

Although born after the heyday of the Fab Four and Motown's peak years, Gutman's familial background helped ingrain his love of the tunes he now sings professionally.

"I love this music; my dad brought me up on this music," Gutman said. "I'm from the Detroit area."

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Aside from well-synced harmonies, Under the Streetlamp throws in some choreography and the music of a backing band when it hits the stage.

Having just joined the group a matter of weeks ago, Gutman dove into the group's repertoire.

"I had to learn two dozen or so songs," he said.

Most of the members of Under the Streetlamp have had prominent cast roles in the hit musical "Jersey Boys," which tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

'American Songbook'

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Where: Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville

When: 7:30 p.m. April 27

Tickets: $29-$69; students $10

Information: 219-836-0525, www.NISOrchestra.org
Earl Harris, Jr. watches as members of the Indiana house and senate were sworn in at the state capitol in Indianapolis, IN., on Nov. 22, 2016. Harris Jr. has introduced a bill in Indiana aimed at assisting East Chicago amid lead and arsenic contamination. (Mark Davis / Post-Tribune)

An East Chicago legislator's bill to help address lead and arsenic contamination in the city is moving forward to the governor.

A bill entered by Earl Harris, Jr., D-East Chicago, is aimed at securing more resources for East Chicago to help address contamination issues both at the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site and the city as a whole. Both the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill and it was sent to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature Wednesday.

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"I cannot express my happiness that we were able to help the residents of East Chicago, who did not create the problem but have been unfortunate victims of it," Harris said, in a statement.

Harris' bill would compel the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to assist with clean up of the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site and test soil and water throughout the city; have the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to relocate residents of West Calumet; and push IDEM to do more thorough testing of the city's water.

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Harris lauded Holcomb's attention to addressing the contamination issues in East Chicago, including a disaster declaration the governor signed in February  a request that former governor and Vice President Mike Pence denied.

Holcomb's disaster declaration will bolster efforts to assist residents affected by lead and arsenic contamination around the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site. As a part of that declaration, state officials would ask the EPA for funding to replace lead pipes at the Superfund site.

At Holcomb's direction, Indiana state agencies have already begun providing assistance to the city, including relocation assistance for the residents of the West Calumet Housing Complex and pledging to provide water filters to residents in the remainder of the Superfund site.

Akeeshea Daniels discusses the fallout from an announcement during the summer of 2016 that lead and arsenic contamination were discovered in the soil of the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago. She and her neighbors had to move. Dec. 8, 2016. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

clyons@post-trib.com

Twitter @craigalyons
What's Quickly? It's where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com.

U.S. Steel has leaked a potentially carcinogenic chemical into Lake Michigan. With the EPA being dismantled, we won't be getting these bulletins much longer.

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Trump remembers the details of the chocolate cake he was eating while launching the missiles, but couldn't remember which country he was attacking. Sad.

In addition to Manafort, Flynn, Erik Prince, J.D. Gordon, Caputo, Gates, Cohen, Stone and Kushner, Trump had Carter Page, a Russian spy on his campaign team. Let me repeat that, Trump had Carter Page, a Russian spy, on his campaign team.

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The White House press secretary needs to be articulate, sensitive and able to put out fires, not create them. Time for Sean Spicer to go. Surely, there is a better candidate for the job.

White House accuses Russia of cover-up in Syria chemical attack. Gee, who ever thought that guy in Russia was a nice guy?

Betsy DeVos has rolled back the reform on how student loan debts can be collected. By the way, DeVos has an interest in Performant Financial, which collects on defaulting student loans. Who knew?

Protections against predatory collection of student debts instituted by the Obama administration have just been rescinded by Betsy DeVos. It's all part of the Trump administration effort to make it seem that Obama never existed.

Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Thank heavens the Washington Post journalist who exposed that idiot in the White House to be liar that he is was not fired. If it wasn't for the media and their mostly accurate reporting, we would never know what a liar, cheater, misogynist, evil person the WH occupant really is. It would be hidden under the "rug" like his income taxes and non-existent charitable donations.

Trump and his insider pals have been doing everything possible, legal and illegal to manufacture some evidence to fit his wild accusations. At the end of the day he will still be found guilty.

If you book a flight and do not show, you still have to pay for it so United's overbooking is just to make more money. They are getting paid for the seat twice.

I hope United Airlines files a lawsuit against the unruly passenger who refused to follow directions to give up his seat. If he gets away with this with no penalties, you will see passengers all over the world not following flight crew directions. The airlines will lose all authority. It will end up just like Chicago where the police officers have lost authority to chase runaway or resisting arrest criminals.

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So Bill O'Reilly has a best selling book. What's the title? "The Least Expensive Way to Settle Sexual Harassment Lawsuit"?

Fox News: The poster channel for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Doing all they can to bring sexual harassment and assault to the forefront.

Read more at www.post-trib.com/quickly.
The Made in Illegality campaign -- which includes The Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), as well as the French Union La CGT. France's financial support goes beyond the French government's November 2016 decision to support labeling products produced in the settlements and instead supports the boycott of such products.





The campaign's goals include "prohibiting the import of settlement products," "excluding the settlements from their bilateral agreements and cooperation with Israel," and "excluding companies which are active or located in the settlements from public markets and public procurement procedures..."





The French government (Agence Francaise de Developpement, AFD) provided the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine with 46,560 in 2009, 199,000 from 2011-2014, and 225,000 from 2014-2017. The Council of Ile de France Region provided the Platform with 62,000 in 2013, 22,000 in 2014, and 20,000 in 2015. Claude Leostic, President of The Platform, was denied entry to Israel, and compared Israel to Nazi Germany: "...The people of France resisted the Nazi barbarians... But you have been suffering for more than 40 years, as incredible as it seems in this modern world, and that came after the Nakba..."





According to NGO Monitor, "40% (225,000) of The Platform's 2014 project "Mieux agir pour le respect du droit en Palestine" (Improved Action for the Respect of Rights in Palestine) was funded by the French government (AFD). This project was partnered with Ittijah. In 2010, the head of Ittijah, Amir Makhoul, was sentenced to nine years in prison for spying for Hezbollah during the 2006 Lebanon war....
CJE SeniorLife will close its Personal Care Program later this month due to inadequate state funding and the financial crisis in Springfield, officials recently announced.

"For eligible older adults, CJE provides personal care services at home through a subsidized program for low income seniors administered by the Illinois Department on Aging," CJE SeniorLife says about the program on its website. "These services, for those who qualify, include assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, errands, light housekeeping, meal preparation and respite."

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The program is set to discontinue April 28.

The elimination of the program means discontinuation of these in-home services or care management to about 265 low-income and at-risk older adults, according to CJE SeniorLife.

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"These vulnerable and frail older adults will need to be transferred to new providers in a service network that is shrinking daily as more providers cancel state contracts due to lack of payment," CJE SeniorLife officials stated in a news release announcing the closing.

Officials said closing the Personal Care Program will also result in elimination of about 86 jobs held by CJE's full-time and part-time in-home employees.

"This was an extremely heart-wrenching decision for our board and senior leadership team," CJE SeniorLife President and CEO Mark Weiner said in the news release.

Weiner said CJE  which stands for Council for Jewish Elderly  was founded 45 years ago to provide services and programs meant to aid in the independence of older adults in the community.

"Home and community-based services have been the cornerstone of our agency's work and we know for a fact that it is more cost-effective for people to age-in-place than move to a nursing home," he said about the nonprofit in the release. "But our state's fiscal crisis is causing us to cut a vital program, and while we are committed to protecting our mission, we also have to be financially prudent."

CJE officials said the decision was made after "extensive deliberation" by the executive committee of CJE's board of directors and its senior leadership team.

Seniors in Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie are among those served by CJE, a company spokeswoman confirmed.

As a result of the closing, according to the news release, CJE will terminate the Managed Community Care Program contract and its chore housekeeping contract. CJE had already closed its Community Care Program providing in-home personal care services through the Illinois Department on Aging earlier in the year.

Agency officials said that since July 2016, CJE SeniorLife has been reimbursed less that 40 percent of what it was owed by the state.

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Over the last nine months, they said in the release, CJE reached out to the Illinois Department on Aging, state legislators and the comptroller's office to try to get reimbursed for services, but were unsuccessful.

"CJE simply does not have the resources to provide these services indefinitely without jeopardizing the viability of the entire organization," according to the release.

CJE annually serves more than 23,000 seniors with a wide range of health and human services, according to the organization.

Department on Aging spokewoman Veroncia Vera told the Skokie Review that seniors enrolled in the CJE program would not lose services as a result of its closure.

"Any affected CJE clients will be transitioned to other providers under the Community Care Program and will continue to receive the care and assistance they need without interruption," said Vera.

Vera said the Department on Aging also looks forward to the state coming up with an appropriations plan.

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"We urge legislators to work with the governor to pass a balanced budget with reforms to ensure the long-term stability of our human services programs and protect our aging network and the seniors they serve," she said.

CJE officials said other SeniorLife services and programs for low-to-moderate income seniors in the city and surrounding suburbs will continue to operate.

Those include adult day services with transportation, independent housing, short-term rehabilitation at Lieberman Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Skokie, assisted living at Weinberg Community for Senior Living in Chicago, benefits counseling and home-delivered meals.

CJE SeniorLife's home delivered meals manager Magdalyn Guzzo recently said that state funding owed to that program, which serves nearly 300 seniors, has not come through for a couple years.

What has made continuing on possible, she said, is that the program receives nearly 40 percent of program funding through the Older Americans Act distributed through the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

CJE SeniorLife's Personal Care Program relies more heavily on state funding, according to the organization.

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Many of CJE's surviving programs also benefit from support by Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, grants from foundations and corporations and donations.

CJE officials said over the next few weeks leaders will work the Illinois Department on Aging and AgeOptions to transition at-risk seniors from the personal care assistance to other programs.

misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

@SKReview_Mike
Investigators are trying to determine what caused a house fire in Skokie on Saturday that left three people temporarily homeless, authorities said.

The fire happened on the second floor of a two story residential building in the 4800 block of Elm Street in Skokie, authorities said.

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Fire officials said there was smoke coming out of the home when firefighters arrived.

No one was home at the time of the blaze, they said.

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It took 18 fire fighters about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze, the structure sustained fire and smoke damage and three people were temporarily displaced due to the fire and fire damage, authorities said.

Brian L. Cox is a freelancer
Students from Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park used prayer, song, dance and personal reflections to commemorate Christ's final day, and to celebrate their anticipation of the joyful coming of his resurrection.

The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that focuses on specific events from throughout the day including Jesus being condemned to death, carrying the cross, falling, being nailed to the cross, dying and being laid in the tomb.

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Students, parents and community members gathered Wednesday in the chapel at the Congregation of St. Joseph to take part in the telling of the sacred story.

For each station of the journey, a student narrated the station and another offered their personal reflections on what the station means to them. For the second station that marks how Jesus takes up the cross, one student discussed how she relates to it because of her own struggle with dyslexia.

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She mentioned that she is planning a career in theater and will need to continue to work to overcome dyslexia.

"I will continue to tap into my courage to continue this journey with my cross," said Meghan Rooney of Hinsdale.

Another student related to the seventh station, when Jesus falls a second time, to his family's challenges when his father was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

"I truly believe it was our Christian faith that kept us on our feet," the student said.

He said he believes the station is about rising above adversity.

"I don't believe the seventh station is about Jesus falling. It's about Jesus getting back up," he said.

During the narration and reflection on the stations, other students carried a large cross slowly through the chapel.

Makalya Lee, a senior from Lyons, said taking part in the event was inspiring.

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"It's awesome," she said. "I think it really helps me connect with God and my classmates, too."

"The kids' reflections were really beautiful," added her mother, Georgina Lee.

Kathy Altosino of Woodridge attended with friends. She, too, was touched by how the students related events from their own lives to each of the stations.

"Their personal stories brought reality to it," she said.

For some stations, students depicted aspects of the journey through dance. For others, the choir performed songs that members chose themselves.

Janet Rausch, campus minister, said the students started working on some aspects of the program a month ago.

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"I love that the kids drive this," she said. "I love their personal stories. They chose the music and they drive the stories."

amannion@tribpub.com

Twitter @triblocalam
Lucy Spahr of Winnetka, a junior at New Trier High School, won an honorable mention in the 2017 "StudentCam" documentary competition sponsored by the C-SPAN public affairs network. (Lucy Spahr)

When Winnetka teen Lucy Spahr first heard of the 2017 "StudentCam" documentary competition late last year from David Heineman, her Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher at New Trier High School, she knew she wanted to take part. And the 17-year-old junior knew what she wanted her documentary to be about.

"The question was, 'What is the most important issue you think the Congress should address in 2017?' I immediately thought of global warming, especially considering the attitude in Washington now," Spahr said.

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Spahr set to work on "Global Warming: The Dead Zone"  writing a script, gathering news clips, informational graphics and shooting her own footage with the help of family members, then boiling what she had down to a film of just over six minutes.

StudentCam judges were impressed with the result: Spahr's documentary won honorable mention in the public affairs network's contest, which drew more than 2,900 entries from students in 46 states and Washington D.C, according to C-SPAN. On April 4, C-SPAN officials visited New Trier to honor her efforts at a school assembly and to present her with a $250 check.

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The contest, which has been held since 2006 according to the contest website, requires students in middle or high school to create a five- to seven-minute documentary on an issue affecting their community or the nation. Young videographers must use some C-SPAN footage to do so, and they need to include different points of view on the issue, thus reflecting C-SPAN's dedication to showing multiple sides of all issues, competition rules state.

As a young boy he loved playing at the ocean, but the story flashes forward, and he can't do that anymore...  Lucy Spahr

This year's theme was "Your Message to Washington," asking participants to outline what they thought was the most urgent issue for America's new president and Congress to address this year.

Doug Hemmig, a spokesman for C-SPAN, said judges noticed Spahr's dedication: "What stood out as well was her passion for the topic, the interest that she took in it."

Hemmig said they were also impressed with what he called her unique look at global warming "through the eyes of the ocean and the water."

Spahr said she thinks her film stood out from other entries because she didn't create a film that was solely a news documentary. Instead, she wrote a narrative script as the backdrop for the news clips and graphs she included, speaking in the voice of an old man, walking along the water's edge.

"As a young boy he loved playing at the ocean, but the story flashes forward, and he can't do that anymore, because ocean oxygen levels are down because of global warming, and the ocean is a dead zone," Spahr said.

Spahr cast younger brother Spencer, a New Trier freshman, and grandfather Donald Lubin of Highland Park as the old man and his younger self.

She completed her work in a matter of weeks, getting it to judges by the deadline, which was Inauguration Day. She heard last month that her work had won an honorable mention.

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Although this was Spahr's first documentary, she has always had an interest in video, and last summer created a music video with friends, she said.

Mother Alice Spahr said her daughter made films for fun when she was younger, and this summer took a film class while attending a summer program at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"She definitely has a special talent at storytelling and being able to use different components to put something together," she said.

Lucy Spahr's mother and grandfather were on hand for the April 4 assembly to view the video, which her mother called "very moving."

Heineman, too, called the film moving.

"I was really impressed. Beyond the issue that she's raising, and the content she used, the way she tells the story was really compelling," he said.

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Spahr donated her $250 to the Greenpeace organization, her mother said.

Spahr said she would be interested in making another documentary.

"It's really rewarding to film, and editing, and watch how everything comes together," she said.

Information on this year's StudentCam contest is available at www.studentcam.org. Spahr's documentary can be viewed here: https://www.viddler.com/v/7c81fcfd.

kroutliffe@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @pioneer_kathy
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 12, 2017] WatchGuard Video Issues Response to Taser/Axon's Free Offer and Industry-Wide Competitor Challenge

ALLEN, Texas, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WatchGuard Video, the market leader in video evidence systems for law enforcement has issued the following response to the recent offer of free body cameras by Axon Industries (AAXN), formerly Taser International (TASR), and their challenge to other competitors in the body camera space. "WatchGuard believes that companies who serve the law enforcement community should be held to a high standard of ethics, and the standard for companies that manage criminal evidence should be even higher. The "Free Offer" promoted by Taser/Axon (AAXN) last week for law enforcement agencies, in our opinion, represents their latest maneuver to avoid the competitive bid process and a mechanism to logistically force agencies into a costly, long-term Evidence.com subscription. Agencies that accept the offer will discover firsthand, at the end of the trial period, the only option to retain searchable access to their evidence is through a paid subscription that can cost 10 times as much as the plastic Axon camera. In our opinion, the offer is a trap, not a trial. The offer made by Taser for a "one year free trial" of their body camera and storage is a trap, not a trial. Taser knows that once law enforcement agencies use their camera, it will capture video that will become case evidence. This case evidence will be subject to various retention requirements which can last for up to seven years. The trap is that Taser provides no option for agencies to manage this evidence outside of their paid subscription service. In our opinion, there are significant "gotchas". Unlike nearly every other vendor in the industry, Taser does not offer evidence management software that can run on computers that are on-premise or on another loud service. Other companies in the industry such as WatchGuard Video, L3/Mobile-Vision, and VieVu all provide agencies with the ability to continue to use a version of their evidence management software, without cost, for the long-term management of the evidence if the agency discontinues utilizing the vendor's hardware. Taser does not offer any database program for agencies to manage, or even retain a basic search capability for their evidence outside of their paid subscription service. The Evidence.com software purposely provides no database export, only a raw file export. We believe this "gotcha" is the explicit design and intent of this thinly veiled trap.



In our opinion, nothing is "Free" and this offer is no exception. This "free" offer from Taser appears as another attempt at avoiding the competitive procurement process. The administrators who believe this is a no-cost agreement and contend that it should not be subject to the competitive bid process, will be the same administrators who, in one year, will have to convince their city to budget and fund an Evidence.com subscription for the long-term management of the collected evidence. Our response to Taser's competitor challenge is with an offer of a different kind. WatchGuard Video urges all law enforcement agencies to consider the quality of the equipment, the ethics of the vendor and the real cost of ownership with any technology purchase. WatchGuard Video promises that the total three-year cost of ownership for a complete deployment of VISTA HD body worn cameras with Evidence Library 4 Web software will be less than the total cost of ownership of a comparable deployment with Axon cameras and Evidence.com software, even if the first year from Taser is without charge . WatchGuard challenges all U.S. law enforcement agencies considering Taser's offer to conduct a fair, three-year total cost-of-ownership comparison. If the three-year deployment proposal from WatchGuard Video is not less than a comparable three-year deployment proposal from Taser, WatchGuard Video will give the city 25 VISTA cameras with a perpetual, no cost license to evidence management software."

About WatchGuard Video

WatchGuard Video is the technology pioneer and market leader for law enforcement video systems and evidence-management software. One-third of the agencies in the United States utilize WatchGuard's proprietary solutions to capture, manage and share digital video evidence using the most durable, reliable and highest-quality American-made products including the 4RE in-car and VISTA body camera systems. To learn more please, visit www.watchguardvideo.com or call 1-800-605-6734. AXON, Taser and Evidence.com are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other countries. Contact: Jaime Carlin

[email protected]

469-342-8974 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watchguard-video-issues-response-to-taseraxons-free-offer-and-industry-wide-competitor-challenge-300439075.html SOURCE WatchGuard Video

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By Dezan Shira & Associates

Editor: Alexander Chipman Koty

On March 31, Shanghai became the first city in mainland China to grant a residence permit to a foreign worker providing domestic services. The development is notable given the Chinese governments usual reluctance to grant foreigners visas for unskilled labor, and reaffirms Shanghais status as the mainlands most international city.

The first foreigner accorded the one-year permit was a maid from the Philippines, who was granted a visa to work for an American executive in Shanghais Pudong district. The Shanghai Entry-Exit Administration Bureau has now granted the permit to over 20 foreign domestic workers.

Employers must apply to the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau on behalf of the foreign domestic worker that they would like to hire.

Individuals eligible to apply for a foreign domestic worker to obtain residency are:

Foreign high-level professionals with a permanent residence permit (green card) or work permit;

High-level professionals from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan; and,

Foreigners with a masters degree or above.

Foreigners employed in the following areas are also eligible to apply on behalf of a domestic worker:

The Shanghai Free Trade Zone;

The Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park;

Higher education or scientific research institutions; and,

Professional areas the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau recognizes as helpful to scientific and technological innovation.

RELATED: Payroll and Human Resource Services

The application requires supporting documents such as a labor contract, a statement of financial support, proof of personal insurance, and a health certificate. Each foreign employer is allowed to employ only one foreign domestic worker. Chinese nationals are not permitted to hire foreign domestic workers.

Foreign domestic workers can first enter China with a tourist visa before applying for the residence permit. However, the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau in Pudong is currently the only office able to process such applications.

Foreign domestic workers were ineligible to work in Shanghai until July 2015, when limited high-level executives and professors were allowed by the authorities to hire foreign domestic workers. This latest reform is part of a series of measures from the Shanghai municipal government aimed at attracting foreign experts and professionals to the city. The municipal government eased visa policies for foreigners in December 2016.

The relaxed visa rules for foreign domestic workers are expected to lead to the arrival of more workers from countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Filipino domestic workers are already working in China illegally, though there is demand for more given their English language ability.

Both domestic service employers and employees will benefit from the reform in Shanghai, which will create more transparency and regulatory oversight for a local labor market that was affected by grey practices.



About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

Dezan Shira & Associates Silk Road and OBOR investment brochure offers an introduction to the region and an overview of the services provided by the firm. It is Dezan Shiras mission to guide investors through the Silk Roads complex regulatory environment and assist with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing business operations in the region.
Cuba hosted a Chinese Bridge language proficiency contest on Wednesday, featuring seven local students of Chinese.

Students enrolled at the Confucius Institute in Havana demonstrated their language skills, as well as their knowledge of China's history and culture.

Sponsored by the institute, in conjunction with the University of Havana and China's Ministry of Education, the contest aims to promote cultural ties between the East Asian country and other regions of the world.

Following three competitive rounds in which students demonstrated their verbal and grammatical skills, and familiarity with Chinese customs and culture, Diana Blanco was declared the winner.

"I'm really excited about winning this contest because studying Chinese is very important in my life," said Blanco, currently an intermediate-level student.

"I am grateful to the jury and the professors of the Confucius Institute for selecting me as the winner and I will continue to deepen my knowledge of the language," she added.

During the competition, Blanco related a tale about her dreams, correctly answered history, grammar and general knowledge questions, and recited a poem, all in Chinese.

China's ambassador to Cuba, Chen Xi, was on hand to present the award, which includes an invitation to travel to Beijing as Cuba's contestant in the international Chinese Bridge competition.

Fellow intermediate-level students Deborah Velazco and Jessica Jaime came in second and third place, respectively, with performances that earned them the praise of the public and the jury.

Chen congratulated the contestants on their high level of language proficiency and artistic interpretations.

"Language is an instrument for communication and for developing cooperation, and in this sense it is important that many more Cubans learn Chinese to deepen our relations more fluidly," said the diplomat.

Chen also highlighted the work carried out since 2008 by the Confucius Institute, where hundreds of Cubans have studied Chinese.

"Every day, more and more Cubans are interested in studying the Chinese language and it is largely a result of the successful work of the Confucius Institute, which strives for more people to learn Chinese every year," he said.

More than 100 million people around the world study Chinese, allowing Beijing to better strengthen its economic, trade and cultural ties with different nations, said Chen.

The diplomat also thanked the Cuban government for its cooperation since 2006 in offering more than 3,000 scholarships to young Chinese students keen to study Spanish in the island.
[April 12, 2017] DSLUG 2017 Conference Registration is Open

TAMPA, Fla., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th annual Dynamics SL User Group (DSLUG) Conference is taking place Sept. 12-15 in Tampa, FL and it is THE conference for Dynamics SL users and partners to attend.

Join over 500 of your Dynamics SL peers for unparalleled education and networking opportunities. 2017 is an exciting year for the DSLUG Conference, as we celebrate 10 years of this premiere annual event for Dynamics SL users. Experienced. Progressive. Growing.

The DSLUG conference brings you the most experienced Dynamics SL speakers, with content and networking experiences addressing what is top-of-mind for SL users across roles, industries, and specialty topics. Attendees consistently rate the conference content as excellent, with an average 2016 session rating of 4.8 out of 5 and speaker rating of 4.89 out of 5.

Mark your calendars and add one more day! This year's conference has grown to include an additional day of content t provide even more valuable content and networking experiences. With over 100 sessions in four days, you'll have the opportunity to explore solutions and gain a deeper understanding of Dynamics SL.



"A truly informational conference - it was money well spent for me. In addition, the DSLUG community was very welcoming and I felt very comfortable asking questions or diving in for more information."  Sarah Reidy, Director of Information Technology What will you get out of attending the DSLUG 2017 Conference?

Learning opportunities from experienced and sought-after Dynamics SL end users and partners

Dedicated networking opportunities and sessions focused by role, industry and specialty topics

Special access to Microsoft leadership, Microsoft-led educational sessions, and Microsoft support personnel

Numerous independent software vendors showcasing their latest solutions and creative capabilities

Exclusive general sessions and product roadmaps, special events, and a wealth of knowledge to immediately apply in your role Register Now for Early Bird Savings!

Click here to learn more and register for the DSLUG 2017 Conference. Register before May 31 to take advantage of Early Bird savings of $200 on your conference registration. Membership is required to attend. If you're not already a member, this conference offers a timely opportunity for you to add DSLUG membership for your organization while registering to attend the event.

We look forward to welcoming you to the DSLUG Conference in September!

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dslug-2017-conference-registration-is-open-300439104.html SOURCE Dynamic Communities

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Chinese language has become more and more popular in Thailand due to the increase of Chinese tourists and China's development, which drives a Confucius Institute in Bangkok to voluntarily help train local teachers to meet the growing demand for learning Mandarin here.

On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, Mandarin teachers around Bangkok came to the Confucius Institute at Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University (BSRU) to take their weekly three-hour course of Mandarin and Chinese culture, taught by teachers of the institute.

"Our teachers voluntarily use their spare time to train local teachers here every week," said Wen Xiangyu, Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute, which was established in 2006.

In Chinese teacher Song Chunzhi's class, some 20 Thai teachers were learning Chinese expressions and making new sentences under Song's instruction.

"I have been taking the course for three years, it helped me a lot," said Nantawat Radsamee, a Mandarin teacher in a primary school called Wat Ladplakao after the class.

The Confucius Institute also went to Nantawat's school and held a cultural event there to celebrate the Chinese lunar Year of the Rooster in February, which attracted many pupils to join.

Prasat Seri, an fine arts teacher, has been attending the course for several years. He even drew pictures to teach Chinese characters and made a picture book, which was later promoted by Bangkok's Department of Education as a standard textbook to teach Mandarin in all primary schools of the city.

Prasat expressed gratitude to the teachers of the Confucius Institute in helping him check and edit the picture book.

"I love the course, especially the cultural part as there are always something new every week," he said.

Besides Song's class, there were other three classes ongoing every Saturday as the Confucius Institute has put local teachers in different classes according to a language test at the beginning of every semester.

According to Wen, the Chinese dean, the Confucius Institute at the BSRU has cooperated with Bangkok's Department of Education in this training course for at least five years.

Around 1 million Thais are learning Mandarin right now, which means a lot of Mandarin teachers are needed, said Wang Wei, a teacher at the Confucius Institute.

Teachers of the Confucius Institute, originally from Tianjin Normal University of China, used their expertise in education to start the training program with Bangkok's Department of Education.

"We have thought of many activities to attract local teachers to keep coming to the classes," said Wen, and every year, 20 outstanding teachers of some 100 teachers in total get the chance to study Mandarin in Tianjin Normal University for a month with full scholarships.

She said Bangkok's Department of Education and the BSRU have given much support to the training program.

Thanita Praewanich, deputy director of Bangkok's Department of Education, praised teachers of the Confucius Institute for their expertise and devotion during a ceremony to mark the end of the training course in this semester late March.

"In five-year time, the training course here has covered 438 schools around Bangkok, and some outstanding local teachers went to China for further study, and became mainstay of our educational system," Thanita said, adding that the training program should go on.

Sutipporn Chotratanasak, Thai dean of the Confucius Institute, said the Confucius Institute even helped the BSRU to become more popular due to the training program and a postgraduate program.

Besides the training program, the Confucius Institute is working with the BSRU and Tianjin Normal University to enroll Thai students for a postgraduate program.

Every year, some 25 Thai students would choose to be in the postgraduate program and they would go to learn in Tianjin Normal University with full scholarships and come back for work, mainly as Mandarin teachers in secondary and primary schools, according to Wen.

"We have enrolled students for the program for three years, and some 94 percent of the first batch of students have found schools and the second batch is doing internship here in our institute," said Wen.

Wang believes training local teachers are very important for the Chinese-language teaching in the long term. "Thais cannot always rely on Chinese to teach them, they have to have their own Mandarin teachers."

"Some schools told us they don't need teachers with master degrees, but I think they will gradually understand a teacher with a master degree can help them improve their Chinese-language teaching significantly," Wang said.
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With profitability appearing achievable last year, ofo Inc is planning a simultaneous expansion at home as well as overseas markets this year, said Dai Wei, the bike-sharing startup's founder and CEO.

A rider in Qingdao, Shandong province, scans bar code for riding an ofo bike. [Photo/China Daily]

Ofo's iconic yellow bikes will be available for rental in 200 Chinese cities and 10 foreign markets by the year-end, Dai, 27, said in an email.

That would signify a major scaling up of operations since ofo has been operating in only 43 Chinese cities and three foreign marketsthe United States, the United Kingdom and Singaporeso far.

The startup's 2.5 million bikes out in various markets make it one of the leading players after Mobike.

Profit appears possible in 2017, Dai said, as "ofo was very close to making a profit last year".

Free-rides now offered by Chinese bike-sharing companies to attract new riders, only delay profits. Such free bicycle rides can't be compared with the cash-burning subsidy wars waged by taxi-hailing apps such as Didi Chuxing and Uber last year, he said.

In China alone, intense competition followed the emergence of 29 bicycle-sharing service providers that put 3 million bikes on streets. According to the China Bicycle Association, the figure will reach 20 million in China this year as the concept of sharing economy becomes increasingly popular.

Industry analysts said more and more Chinese bike-sharing service providers will likely go global.

In March, Mobike followed ofo into the Singapore market, its first foray overseas. The two players charge just half a Singaporean dollar (36 cents) for each ride.

"Important factors that determine outbound destinations (for business expansion) are the (local) government's stance, regulatory environment, and local riding behaviors," Dai said.

The bike-sharing service entails high operating costs, he said.

Ofo started off on college campuses in 2014. It received funding from Didi Chuxing and Lei Jun, founder of gadget maker Xiaomi. The latest round of funding raised $450 million, valuing ofo at over $1 billion.
With the high-profile development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area gaining pace, Hong Kong is looking to play its part to fulfill the area's ambitions, said the city's top mainland affairs official on Wednesday.

Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, Hong Kong's secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, made the remarks after talks with the National Development and Reform Commission.

Tam said the NDRC is considering making Hong Kong the locomotive of the strategy and the bay area's window to the world.

The NDRC is expected to submit a full plan of the strategy to the State Council at the end of this year.

In a sign of Hong Kong's determination to get a slice of the action, outgoing Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying will lead a delegation of senior officials and business leaders on a three-day visit to six mainland cities in the bay area next week.

As the one and only world-class financial hub in the area, Hong Kong has an irreplaceable role as the "super connector" between overseas and mainland markets for this mega project. It stands out among the 11 cities across the bay area, as a gateway for overseas investors to the massive mainland market, and a springboard for mainland firms going global, said Dominic Wu Sze-yin, chairman of the Asia Financial Risk Think Tank.

"The city has what it takes to become an exporter of high-end service industries and government management expertise, putting the Pearl River Delta region on course to upgrade its industries amid ever-increasing labor and manufacturing costs," said Fielding Chen Shiyuan, Hong Kong-based Asia economist at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Back in the 1980s, the region timed its takeoff when Hong Kong sought to relocate its manufacturing business and invest excess capital. Nowadays, hard-pressed local manufacturers, feeling the pinch from cheaper manufacturing bases in neighboring less-developed countries, have undergone a yearslong painful transformation.

"Again, this is where Hong Kong could come in, by helping the region climb up the value chain and find the next new growth engine," Chen said.

For Hong Kong, the bay area plan ensures it will reap the fruits of the regional economic integration, he added.
After suspending business on the island for two months, Uber announced their return to the Taiwan market Thursday, after several rounds of negotiations with regulators.

Taiwan insisted that the company could only operate as a "technology platform" rather than as a transportation company because it registered as such when it entered Taiwan in 2013.

"Uber will partner with local car rental companies and mainly work as an online booking platform on the island," said Ku Li-kai, Uber's general manager in Taiwan.

Only licensed commercial drivers registered with local rental car companies can accept orders on Uber. Users place orders on Uber and select rides based on driver information and price. Uber does not provide price comparison but only shows one price from one company at a time. If the passenger does not like the price offered, another request must be made.

Though authorized to resume operations, Uber still faces huge fines amounting to over 830 million new taiwan dollars (27 million U.S. dollars) for unlicensed ride-sharing services.

In February alone, Taiwan's transport authority issued 22 fines to Uber amounting to over 230 million new Taiwan dollars, and ordered the company to suspend services. The company later announced it would quit Taiwan.

Ku said Uber would continue to work with authorities to settle the issue.
Shijian 13, China's most advanced communications satellite, is launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

A Chinese satellite will not only enable passengers of high-speed trains to watch high-definition videos more smoothly but also help those at the scene of natural disasters report emergencies.

Shijian-13, China's first high-throughput communications satellite, was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday.

The satellite, with a transfer capacity of 20 Gbps and a designed orbital life of 15 years, was sent into orbit on a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

The satellite, which has a higher message capacity than the combined capacity of all of China's previous communications satellites, is capable of providing better Internet access on planes and high-speed trains, as well as in less-developed regions.

While in orbit, the satellite will undergo tests on its broadband multimedia satellite communications system and the high speed laser communication technology between the ground and the satellite.

"The launch is a milestone for China's communications satellite technology," said Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

Different from previous satellites fueled by chemicals, Shijian-13 is the first Chinese satellite to be powered by electricity.

Using electricity as propellant could potentially improve efficiency by as much as 10 times compared with those that use chemicals as a propellant, said Zhou Zhicheng, commander in chief of Shijian-13 satellite system, adding that it can also help extend satellite life and reduce launch weight significantly.

For the first time, a large number of domestic components have been used on the communications satellite. It is also the first time a laser communications system has been installed on a Chinese high orbit satellite with a long lifespan.

The satellite and the rocket were designed by academies affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology respectively.

It was the 246th flight mission by a Long March carrier rocket.
A nurse at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital cares for an inpatient. [Photo/China Daily]

China will press to strengthen medical partnerships and arrange closer ties between top-tier hospitals and grassroots medical services to provide better health management and care for urban and rural residents.

A set of measures was approved during the State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

"The goal for the medical partnerships is to make quality medical care more accessible to the wider public, especially in less-developed areas," Li said. "We've managed to set up nationwide medical insurance coverage and increased medical competence in grassroots medical institutions. The coverage is among the highest in the world. What we mostly need now are medical professionals."

People are demanding more and better healthcare, and the allocation of medical resources is a tough balancing act.

The idea of building partnerships across medical institutions providing different levels of care would help bridge the gap of resources. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, by 2016 medical partnerships had been set up in 205 cities across China.

"Currently, high quality medical resources are mostly in big cities. These should further trickle down to lower tiers so that wider demand will be met," Li said. "We must encourage joint partnerships of city level hospitals and grassroots institutions, while imposing expense reimbursements."

Wednesday's meeting yielded new measures.

Administrative fragmentation between regions, fiscal expenses, insurance payouts and human resources will be resolved. More diversified forms of medical partnerships will be encouraged, with top-tier hospitals taking on leading roles. The guidelines encourage an internet-based medical information platform to help better diagnose and prescribe treatments for rural patients.

More will be done to allocate high quality medical resources to wider regions. To do this, teams of medical professionals will be sent to less developed areas with enhanced sharing of health and medical services.

China will accelerate building a cascaded medical system and will introduce demand-oriented and contract-based family doctors. The government plans to cover all impoverished regions with such services this year while inviting private healthcare institutions to participate.

The guidelines stress better coordination systems and policies in new medical partnerships, allowing a more balanced allocation of resources across different levels of medical centers. The government will encourage diverse forms of payments and performance at grassroots levels will be included in evaluations of medical practitioners, who often can work at any organization within the partnership.

"The government needs to have well-designed, concrete guidelines to build medical consortia, taking local conditions in different regions into consideration," Li stressed. "Local governments are encouraged to have their own ideas in exploring systematic innovation."

Wang Chen, president of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said strengthening medical partnerships is the best approach available to improve the nation's health system.

He said medical resources remain limited, fragmented and unevenly distributed. Also medical doctors' abilities vary.

"As it's hard and time-consuming to train quality physicians, medical partnerships is the most feasible way to systemize and optimize resources available now," he said.
Photo from Metro police's Weibo account shows four foreigners who dined on a Metro train yesterday attend an "education" meeting with police and the Metro operator. [Shanghai Daily]

Four foreigners who set up a table and dined on a Metro Line 11 train last Friday in Shanghai wrote an apology letter yesterday.

The incident sparked an online uproar, with the foreigners accused of displaying bad manners.

The Metro operator and police officers have summoned and talked to the foreigners, whose nationalities and names were not released, about their behavior and they apologized in the office of Shanghai Shentong Metro Group.

Metro police said a total of six foreigners were involved, all of them working for the same company. As two of them were on a business trip, the remaining four attended the meeting, which was held yesterday.

Eating and drinking on the Metro is not illegal but is discouraged in Shanghai. However, setting up a table in the middle of a train carriage could be dangerous as it might block movement of commuters or injure others, which could mean a 50 yuan (US$7.25) fine, according to the Metro operator.

Police said they did not punish the foreigners because after checking surveillance footage, the table was small, not as big as it looked in the photo (initially published on the Internet), and there were not many people in the carriage.

Whether to ban eating or drinking on the Metro has long been a controversial subject in many Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Beijing.

In Hong Kong, it is illegal. People there can be fined HK$2,000 (US$257) if found eating or drinking on Metro trains or platforms.

Eating and drinking are also banned on Singapores subway. But there is no such rule in New York.
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Konggar Airport in Tibet [File Photo]

Konggar Airport in Tibet, one of the highest-altitude airports in China, was able to accommodate a Tibet Airlines wide-body Airbus 330 aircraft overnight for the first time, the airline announced Wednesday.

The 3,600-meter-high airport in Lhasa was able to accommodate the plane after the airline's technicians solved the problem of re-starting the aircraft's engine in a low air pressure environment after an overnight stay.

A new oxygen diffusion device has been designed to increase air supply during the engine ignition process, the airline said.

High-altitude airports (over 2,438 meters above sea levels) pose safety issues for pilots as low air pressure affects flight performance. All five airports in Tibet are classified as such.
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A former senior legislator in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Gai Ruyin, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, was also fined 2 million yuan (about 291,300 U.S. dollars) and ordered to return all this ill-gotten gains by the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin, north China.

The court found Gai guilty of taking advantage of his various positions in Heilongjiang to help others secure projects, business opportunities and promotions from 2003 to 2015, according to a press release.

In return, he accepted money and property amounting to more than 23 million yuan personally or through other people, the court said.

The court decided to be lenient as Gai pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, returned his illegal gains and offered information about other crimes.
[April 12, 2017] Active Allocator Partners With TradeIt to Enable Multi-Broker Portfolio Optimization Execution

NEW YORK, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveAllocator Holdings LLC ("ActiveAllocator") announced integration with TradeIt, a proprietary order management system which securely routes trade orders to brokers to facilitate securities order execution. This partnership enables investors to optimize their existing portfolios on ActiveAllocator by linking their brokerage account and sending order messages to their broker directly from ActiveAllocator's platform. To take advantage of this feature, users login to their broker via secure oAuth popup, specify the type of order and number of securities to trade generated by ActiveAllocator, and execute the trade to optimize their portfolios. TradeIt further provides real-time portfolio data from the user's brokerage firm, which is imported into ActiveAllocator to provide the most current picture of their portfolio's forward facing characteristics. Sameer Jain and Brian Jones, ActiveAllocator's co-founders, noted, "Our integration with TradeIt for trade execution will now allow our customers to optimize their portfolios by buying or selling publicly listed equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with their choice of broker. They can now trade securely, safely and quickly through most of the popular brokerages." "TradeIt is fast becoming the platform of choice for seamless order execution through many of the large brokerages," said Nathan Richardson, co-founder and CEO of TradeIt. "Our partnership with ActiveAllocator helps financial advisors and retail investors to increase their investible universe, makes for automated implementation, permits scalability in managing assets, eases trading and periodic rebalancing and helps express house views while making strategic allocation decisions."



ActiveAllocator helps investors go beyond traditional model portfolios by utilizing disruptive technology driven personalization for purposes of creating directional, semi-directional and non-directional market exposures. In fostering trade execution, it further augments advisor-client interactions by bringing in analytics driven, fact based, collaborative, product agnostic thinking to investment decision making. This enables financial advisors who offer various types of advisory services and programs, including wrap programs, mutual fund asset allocation programs, financial planning services, retirement plan consulting services, investment research, and other customized advisory services to bring added value to their practices. About ActiveAllocator

ActiveAllocator.com is the world's first portal that seamlessly integrates traditional, illiquid and alternative investments within recommended portfolios. A FinTech digital disruptor, ActiveAllocator offers financial advisors a seamless way to understand and assess alternative investments' potential contributions within the context of their client's actual portfolio holdings. ActiveAllocator can help advisors allocate client assets appropriately, as well as to identify and gain exposure to an appropriate set of active managers and funds. About TRADEIT TradeIt is a technology that connects developers to major US brokerage firms with a single, modernized API integration. App publishers use TradeIt to embed multi-broker trading functionality that makes their content actionable for their users. TradeIt is live on 30 apps for investors and boasts 80 content partners across the digital finance ecosystem. For more information please visit www.trade.it. Contact

Email: media(at)activeallocator(dot)com

Phone: +1 312 498 1903

https://www.activeallocator.com/

[email protected]

www.trade.it Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCQc0_-XLg 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/active-allocator-partners-with-tradeit-to-enable-multi-broker-portfolio-optimization-execution-300439116.html SOURCE Active Allocator

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A classroom at Tongxin Experimental School in Picun, a village near Beijing's Capital Airport. The slogan above the blackboard reads "study hard, become a good person". [John Sexton/China.org.cn]

When, on April 6, the Chinese Ministry of Education announced a significant increase in the country's secondary education coverage, this signified the next phase of the government's sustained efforts to raise the standard of living of the nation's poorest families.

The stated target of 90 percent coverage by 2020, an increase of 2.5 percent from 2016, aims at providing opportunities for talented youngsters in China's rural western regions, facilitating a more level playing field with respect to that enjoyed by their more affluent counterparts in the nation's large cities in the east.

This initiative appears to form an integral part of the government's policy to reduce the pressure in the country's major population centers, encouraging residents without an official urban household registration, or hukou , to leave the overpopulated first-tier cities for greener pastures elsewhere.

Yet, a fact of modern life in the rapidly developing urban centers is that continued development requires manpower. Life would grind to a halt if the majority of workers in low-skilled jobs  motorcycle couriers, restaurant staff, cleaners, construction workers  would leave for less expensive living quarters in the country's interior.

Despite the government's well-meaning efforts, migrant workers are probably here to stay for the foreseeable future. But many face impossible personal choices, particularly regarding to their children's education. Instead of leaving their offspring behind, many choose to take their families along on their journey seeking a better life.

Yet, without urban hukous, they are ineligible to send their children to the public schools in the cities. The major cities simply don't have the resources to accommodate the huge annual influx of children from migrant families without compromising on educational quality.

These children are forced to join the end of the line. They are only allowed to attend public schools if space permits, and then often only after paying substantial out-of-district tuition fees, money most of their parents can ill afford - despite the fact that new, tighter regulations in Beijing for example have resulted in many migrant parents paying into the city's social security system in the last few years.

It is therefore not surprising that many migrant parents opt to send their children to privately run schools set up in their local communities, which often charge lower fees but which may not offer the same level of education quality as the much better-resourced public schools.

Figures are hard to come by, but to give an idea of the scale of the problem, according to a study based on information from the All China Women's Federation and published by the Financial Times last year, in 2010 there were 35.8 million migrant children in China, up by 41 percent compared with 2005. Of those, 16 million were of secondary-school age.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, the capital's school population in 2015 included 470,800 migrant children and 647,200 children in the possession of local hukous. In other words, more than 40 percent of the school-aged children attending the first nine years of Beijing's public schools were not officially registered in the capital.

Although these numbers may seem large, they represent a mere fraction of the total number of migrant children in Beijing. The most recent figures available indicate that in 2008, some 20 million migrant children were living with their parents in China's first- and second-tier cities. In Beijing alone, an academic study led by scholars at Stanford University found that in 2014, there were 230 well-established schools for migrant children.

I know from experience that these schools are often bare-bones institutions, with few of the educational resources that are much more abundantly available at their public-school counterparts, even in remote western areas. A few years ago, my colleagues and I traveled to remote Sichuan to engage the local secondary-school population in hands-on physics education.

Although we brought extensive kits with us as a gift to the local school district, we soon learned that our materials were superfluous to their needs; instead of resources, they rather needed experience in modern, hands-on teaching methods.

Yet, at the schools for migrant children in Beijing which my students and I visit on a monthly basis to offer "Fun with Physics" days, jointly with the Migrant Children's Foundation (MCF), materials are among the resources most needed.

Our efforts to provide an appreciation of scientific thinking to children from migrant families merely scratches the surface. Although the MCF is increasingly working with students from both local universities and international schools, the scale of the education problem is too large for just a voluntary effort to make a lasting impact.

Mass migration from the rural western areas to the affluent eastern cities will likely remain a fact of life for decades to come. Educational authorities would certainly welcome more resources to foster hidden talent among the largely ignored community of migrant workers.

Richard de Grijs is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/RicharddeGrijs.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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Laos witnesses slight drop in tourism revenue in 2016 Laos received just more than 4.23 million foreign visitors in 2016, down from 4.68 million foreigners in 2015.[Photo/Xinhua]

Tourism injected more than 724 million US dollars into Laos' national budget during 2016, according to the latest data from the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism on Sunday.

The revenue generated by tourism in 2016 dropped slightly from the figure of more than 725 million US dollars generated by the sector in 2015. The decrease was partly due to the fact that foreign tourist arrivals to Laos declined in 2016, reported Lao state-run media Vientiane Times.

Laos received just more than 4.23 million foreign visitors in 2016, down from 4.68 million foreigners in 2015. Visitors from Thailand and Vietnam, the main sources of foreign visitors to Laos, dropped remarkably by more than 400,000 and 100,000 people respectively.

The number of foreign visitors had fallen because Thai authorities have been promoting domestic tours vigorously, encouraging people there to travel within Thailand through promotional incentives. Foreign tourist arrivals to Laos in previous years were also boosted by a large number of Vietnamese workers who entered the country on tourist visas.

After governments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional bloc of which Laos is a member, tightened measures to regulate foreign workers, it is believed that Vietnamese workers were more reluctant to enter Laos, further contributing to the drop, according to the report.

Tourism services have also been deemed inadequate in some respects, including the inability of some drivers and tour guides to speak English, which can pose problems when visitors need to get to places.

Meanwhile, tour operators have suggested activities and improvements to tourist sites to help promote the year 2018 as Visit Laos Year.
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U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 12, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration won't label China as currency manipulator, and complained that the U.S. dollar is too strong. In an interview with Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump said "they (China) are not currency manipulators," according to the report. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration won't label China as currency manipulator, and complained that the U.S. dollar is too strong.

In an interview with Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump said "they (China) are not currency manipulators," according to the report.

Trump during the election campaign had accused China of manipulating its currency to gain from exports, while many economists have argued that the Chinese currency, RMB, has been at equilibrium level in recent years.

The International Monetary Fund declared the RMB as no longer undervalued in 2015.

In the interview, Trump again complained that the U.S. dollar is too strong. "I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially that's my fault because people have confidence in me. But that's hurting -- that will hurt ultimately," Trump said.
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Wu Wen and Xing Ya, two Chinese giant pandas arrived on Wednesday evening at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam for a 15-year stay in a Dutch zoo, making The Netherlands the seventh European country that hosts this endangered and adorable black and white bear.

The KLM special cargo flight transporting the pandas landed at around 19:30 local time. When the cages were unloaded from the plane, hundreds of people watching the live broadcast on a big screen in a nearby hall erupted into applause.

During their debut at the hall shortly after a sanitary check, both Wu Wen (Beautiful Powerful Cloud, the female panda) and Xing Ya (Elegant Star, male) made tentative steps then strolled in rounds in their tailor-made cages, saluting crowds of camera as if with somewhat curiosity.

The two three-and-half-year-old giant pandas moved in an agile way that does not match their weight of over 100 kilograms. The bamboo leaves prepared by their hometown keepers in their cages for the 9-hour trip were almost half consumed.

"It's a small step for Wu Wen and Xing Ya, but a big step for the history of Sino-Dutch relations," said Wu Ken, Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands.

The two black-and-white woolly balls also enthralled children waiting at the scene for the big moment. While some were screaming in excitement, some were holding their breath in awe for their first meeting with the pair.

There are some 2,000 giant pandas in the world. A conservation reliant vulnerable species, most of them live in captivity inside China. Before Wu Wen and Xing Ya traveled to the Netherlands, China had only agreed to carry out joint research on pandas with 12 countries, among which six in Europe. They are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Belgium.

The arrival of Wu Wen and Xing Ya in The Netherlands "fully proves the high level of our bilateral relations which are now at their best time," said Wu Ken.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands. "This significant 'panda moment' marks the beginning of a new chapter in our relations," he added.

"What a beautiful day. What a special moment," said Ronald van Roeden, Deputy Secretary-General at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He recalled many years of efforts by the Netherlands to take part in the cooperation project for the protection of the giant panda. Ouwehands Zoo located in the center of the country had been bidding for this since 2000. During the state visit of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to China in October 2015, an agreement was finally signed.

"With this symbolically expression is given to the excellent status of the relationship of the Dutch-Chinese relations...And now they are here, finally! And we are proud and unbelievably happy with their arrival to the Netherlands," he said.

After the ceremony, Wu Wen and Xing Ya headed for their new home in the zoo in Rhenen, where a special compound with 7 million investment by the Ouwehands Zoo is waiting for them.

The pandas are expected to be given some 50 kilos of bamboo per day, which will be provided by a bamboo grower in the central south of the Netherlands. The bamboo grower also supplies a selection of different types of bamboo for pandas in Vienna and Edinburgh.

The zoo will also launch education program on endangered species and research projects on the breeding of panda in collaboration with Wageningen, the Dutch leading university and research institute on agricultural and nature.

However, eager visitors will have to stay patient before seeing the panda pair at the zoo, because they will first be held in quarantine for up to six weeks.
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Vladimir Safronkov (C, front), Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, addresses a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Russia Wednesday vetoed a Western draft resolution on an alleged chemical attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

Among 15 council members, ten voted in favor; Bolivia and the council's veto-wielding power Russia voted against; China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan abstained.

The document drafted by the United Kingdom, France and the United States demanded the Syrian military to provide UN investigators with unfettered access to details of their operations on the day of the alleged attack.

The text also condemned the reported use of chemical weapons and demanded a speedy investigation.

On April 4, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others.

Two days later, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shairat military base in central Syria, where the United States believes airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off.

Ahead of the vote, Russia's Deputy Representative to the UN Vladimir Safronkov told the council that putting the draft resolution into a vote did not serve a useful purpose.

Safronkov said Russia has proposed an independent international mission sent by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to visit Khan Sheikhoun and the Shairat airbase for investigations.

He said that Russia hopes the United States can give a constructive response to this suggestion.

China's Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi said China supports the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in conducting a comprehensive, objective and impartial investigation into relevant cases.

Liu said China supports the language in the text that condemns the use of chemical weapons and demands an investigation into the alleged chemical attack.

However, he said some elements of the text need to be amended to secure consensus among council members and therefore China abstained.

"We deeply regret the failure to reach such consensus on the draft resolution," he noted.

Liu also called upon relevant parties to stay on the course for the political settlement to the Syrian issues, uphold the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led principle and support the United Nations as the main mediator.

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.

After the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said with its veto, Russia said no to cooperation with UN's investigation and Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped to promote peace in Syria.
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The U.S. is "not getting along with Russia at all" and the relations between the two countries "may be at an all-time low" , U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. It came shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Moscow that the U.S. and Russia have reached a "low point" in relations.

The Russian government has condemned the missile strikes by the United States on a Syrian airbase last Thursday, calling Washington's move "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law."

At Wednesday's press conference, Trump defended his decision to launch 59 missiles at the Syrian airbase in response to the alleged chemical attack the U.S. has said the Syrian government should be to blame.

"It can't be a worst sight. And it shouldn't be allowed. That's a butcher," Trump said. "So, I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing. And it was very, very successfully done."

Asked about Russia's prior knowledge about Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons, Trump said it's "possible", but "unlikely" that Russia had known in advance of Syria's plan to launch a chemical weapons attack on its own citizens.

"I know they're doing investigations into that right now. I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," Trump said.

Stoltenberg said within the NATO alliance, the U.S. military action on Syria has been met with understanding.

"Any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, cannot go unanswered and those responsible must be held accountable," the NATO chief said.
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Bolivia's right-wing factions on Wednesday agreed to work in concert to prevent the reelection of President Evo Morales and his Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.

With general elections still some two years away, opposition figures, including two former presidents, an ex-vice president and three leaders of conservative parties, pledged to join forces to defeat the left-leaning government in 2019.

At a press conference held in La Paz, the parties signed a pact, which they titled a "joint declaration in defence of democracy and justice."

The declaration accuses Morales of having "broken the limits of independence and coordination between the branches (of government), and transformed the judiciary into an instrument of political persecution."

Several of the signatories said they were the subject of legal proceedings that were politically motivated.

Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, has been popularly reelected to office since first being elected in 2005, and has said he would like to run again. He lost a recent referendum on a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to run again by a slight margin.

Bolivia's deputy minister of autonomy, Hugo Siles, accused the right wing of launching an "intentional disinformation (campaign) obviously motivated by political interest."

The declaration was signed by former presidents Jorge Quiroga (2001-2002) and Carlos Mesa (2003-2005), and ex-vice president Victor Hugo Cardenas (1993-1997), as well as the leaders of the National Unity party, businessman Samuel Doria Medina; Social Democratic Movement, Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas; and Sovereignty and Liberty party, La Paz Mayor Luis Revilla.
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The number of children used in "suicide" attacks in the Lake Chad conflict has surged to 27 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nine over the same period last year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a new report on Wednesday.

The increase reflects an alarming tactic by the insurgents: so far, 117 children have been used to carry out bomb attacks in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon since 2014.

Girls have been used in the vast majority of these attacks, the report said.

As a consequence, girls, boys and even infants have been viewed with increasing fear at markets and checkpoints.

Meanwhile, the report also highlights the challenges that local authorities face with children taken into administrative custody for questioning and screening, raising concerns about the prolonged periods of custody.

In 2016, almost 1,500 children were under administrative custody in the four countries.
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South African Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete has decided to postpone debate and vote on the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma, Parliament said Wednesday.

The decision followed a request by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), under whose leader the motion was tabled, for postponing the motion pending conclusion of the Constitutional Court application by the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.

The motion was originally scheduled for April 18, as requested by DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

But the UDM approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Monday, asking for an order to have voting on the motion of no confidence conducted through a secret ballot.

The ConCourt on Tuesday granted the UDM access to argue its application for a secret ballot when a motion of no confidence in Zuma is conducted.

Under the court ruling, other involving parties can file opposing papers until April 21.

Following the court order, several opposition parties have called for the postponement of the debate.

The UDM said a new date should be set for April 25 so as to allow the respondents time to file their papers.

While agreeing to the postponement, Mbete did not say when the debate would be conducted, according to Mothapo.

The postponement of the motion will be referred to the National Assembly Programme Committee for its consideration after the constituency period, Mothapo said.

"The Programme Committee will be requested to reflect on the implications of the postponement of the motion of no confidence on the programme of the House, especially in light of Rule 90 (rule of anticipation)," the spokesperson said.

In terms of Rule 90, postponed motions remain on the programming system of the Assembly, thereby blocking any MP from tabling a similar motion until the one that has been tabled is debated and voted on.

The DA submitted the motion in the hope of toppling Zuma, who has been criticized for reshuffling the cabinet on March 31, with the sacking of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and nine other ministers.

The move has prompted international rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch to downgrade SA's credit rating to junk status.

Opposition parties believe that a secret ballot would allow MPs of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to vote in favor of the motion.

The ANC has rejected calls by opposition parties for a secret ballot.

The party has said 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 that is dominated by ANC MPs.
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The Egyptian interior ministry identified on Wednesday the suicide bomber who blew himself up in Saint Mark's Church in Egypt's Alexandria governorate on Sunday, killing 11 Christians and six Muslim police officers.

In a press statement, the ministry identified the suicide bomber as Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak from Suez City.

"The suicide bomber was born on Sept. 28, 1986 in Upper Egypt's city of Qena and worked for a petroleum company," the statement read.

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.

The ministry added that the attacker is linked to an extremist Islamist terrorist group led by a wanted terrorist leader from Qena.

"This terrorist cell carried out a suicide attack last year against the Cathedral of Saint Mark in the Abbasia district in Cairo," according to the ministry.

The ministry also revealed that another cell working under the umbrella of the same group has attacked a police checkpoint in the New Valley governorate, killing a number of police men.

The ministry did not mention if this group belongs to the Islamic State (IS) group which claimed responsibility on Sunday for the bombings of two churches.

Egypt has been fighting a terrorist wave that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military removed former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and blacklisted his Muslim Brotherhood group as "a terrorist organization."

Mostly claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the IS regional militia, the terrorist attacks focused on security forces in restive North Sinai in the beginning; but after massive security raids that killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects, terrorists started to target the Coptic minority in the most populous Arab country.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. They have largely coexisted peacefully with the Muslim-majority public for centuries.
[April 12, 2017] Centric Software Opens New Office in Hong Kong

CAMPBELL, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Centric Software announces the opening of a new office in Hong Kong, bringing its innovative Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions to local retailers, brands and manufacturers. Centric Software is the leading PLM solution for fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods companies. The opening of the Hong Kong office confirms Centric Software's explosive growth in Asia, having recently opened an office in Tokyo, Japan in 2016 and Shanghai, China in 2014. In addition, the company recently announced the signature of its first customer in Australia, Redbubble. Leveraging the success and continued growth in the region, now with 25 Asian customers, Centric plans to further develop the market in Hong Kong and the surrounding regions. "Prior to the opening of our new Hong Kong office, we had already built strong momentum with several large customers. Companies in Hong Kong and throughout South East Asia need modern, mobile-based PLM solutions. It's a big space to grow," said Nick Wei, Regional Sales Director Hong Kong at Centric Software. "The fashion market is very competitive and companies need every possible advantage beginning with the products they make and sell; products are the heart of any brand, retailer or manufacturer. Making great products starts with reat product development technology, like Centric PLM," Wei adds.



Supporting not only retailers and brands, but also original design manufacturers (ODM) and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) with flexible, configurable, out-of-the-box and intuitive PLM, Centric Software solutions enable companies to speed time to market, improve team collaboration and cut costs while developing deeper bonds with trading partners. "Fashion companies here are really excited to finally have a modern, mobile PLM solution available to them. They want innovative easy to use, cloud and mobile-based PLM software that provides a 'single version of the truth' solution," Wei explains, "Centric's mobile applications, which are the first to be developed in the sector, keep product teams connected at all times to aid product design development and execution."

"In Asia, when a company invests in a technology partner, they want to know you are present and a have strong local team to service them. This new office will allow Centric Software to work in close proximity with our customers and provide them with the industry best practices and Agile DeploymentSM knowledge needed to enable their ambitious growth strategies," Wei concludes. "We are very excited to announce the opening of our new home in Hong Kong," said Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. "We will continue to build on innovations made with our customer partners in the region and will look forward welcoming new ones into the Centric family." Centric Software, Inc. (www.centricsoftware.com) From its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in trend capitals around the world, Centric Software builds technologies for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods. Its flagship product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, business planning, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB packages extended PLM including innovative technology and key industry learnings tailored for small businesses. Centric Software has received multiple industry awards, including the Frost & Sullivan Global Product Differentiation Excellence Award in Retail, Fashion and Apparel PLM in 2016 and Frost & Sullivan's Global Retail, Fashion and Apparel PLM Product Differentiation Excellence Award in 2012. Red Herring named Centric to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Copyright 2017, Centric Software Inc, All rights reserved.

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A video, showing a black young man was slammed and beaten by a white policeman for allegedly jaywalking in Sacramento, capital of California, has sparked nation-wide outrage in social media Wednesday.

The video, first released by witness Monday, showed that the officer followed and confronted the man, identified as Nandi Cain Jr., after Cain crossed an intersection and asked Cain took his hands from pockets.

Cain stopped and argued that he had done nothing wrong.

After some words were exchanged between Cain and the officer when they were standing in middle of the street, Cain took off his jacket, then the officer violently threw Cain to the ground and began to punch him in the head.

Bystander Naomi Montaie, who took the video and posted it on Facebook, was heard screaming in the video, "Oh my God! Why'd you take him down like that? No! That was wrong!"

Montaie filmed the five-minute-long video as the officer called for back-up. Six additional officers arrived to assist in Cain's arrest. Cain was initially charged with resisting arrest but it was later dropped and he was released.

Sacramento police released the dashcam video of the incident later, in which viewers can hear the officer demanded Cain to get down to the ground and Cain's response, "I don't have nothing."

Sacramento City Council discussed the incident Tuesday night. A policeman said in the meeting when he reviewed the dashcam video, he was troubled by what he saw and alerted superiors.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg asked what would have happened if no one caught the incident on camera, and called the incident "disturbing."

Sacramento police said in a statement that the officer was already on unpaid administrative leave and the department would turn the results of the investigation over to the Sacramento County DA' s office.

Cain was quoted by NBC as saying that at that time he felt like the policemen were going to draw a gun out and shoot him or try to break his arms off.

"It was supposedly for jaywalking," Cain said of the initial arrest. "And then, when they put me in handcuffs and they were driving off, I heard them (talk) about they were going to get me for resisting arrest. But as you can see on the video clearly, I didn't resist at all."
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Missile Frigate Yulin [File photo / Xinhua]

The Chinese military confirmed on April 12 that a PLA (People's Liberation Army) vessel had rescued a Tuvalu-registered cargo ship from pirate control in the Gulf of Aden on April 9.

The Ministry of National Defense (MOD) said in a statement that a PLA task force on escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia received intelligence at dusk on April 8 that a Tuvalu-registered cargo ship (hull number OS 35) had been hijacked by pirates in the waters northwest of the Socotra.

The distress signal sent by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) said a boat carrying an unconfirmed number of pirates had berthed alongside the cargo ship. The Chinese guided missile frigate Yulin instantly dashed to the area while informing other countries' escort fleets of the incident.

Yulin launched the rescue operation in the early hours of April 9, shortly after arriving at the scene at midnight. Sixteen Special Forces soldiers boarded the hijacked vessel and managed to rescue all 19 crew members. All of the personnel and cargo on the ship were unharmed.

But the MOD's information bureau did not mention whether there were casualties on the pirates or whether they were arrested, pending trials.

The MOD said that the rescue operation exhibited the Chinese military's resolution and capability in anti-piracy missions, and exemplified China's commitment to preserving international navigational safety.

The statement added that China maintained an open and clear attitude towards international cooperation on anti-piracy.

Other sources claimed the Indian navy also participated in the rescue operation but only PLA soldiers boarded the cargo ship and freed its crew.
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Former U.S. President Barack Obama will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin next month at a religious conference, local media Zeit Online reported on Wednesday.

They will meet at the historic Brandenburg Gate, according to the organizers. The two figures will take part in a discussion event, covering topics like "democracy" as well as "local and global responsibilities."

Obama's successor Donald Trump is expected to visit Germany in July when Germany hosts the G20 summit in Hamburg.
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In line with a UN resolution, China suspended all coal imports from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Feb. 19, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Thursday.

The action was in accord with the UN Security Council Resolution 2321,which took effect on that date, GAC spokesperson Huang Songping told a press conference.

The UN Security Council adopted the resolution on Nov. 30, in response to the fifth DPRK nuclear test on Sept. 9 last year.

A total of 2.7 million tonnes of coal was imported from DPRK in the first quarter of 2017, down 51.6 percent year on year, all before the resolution came into effect, said Huang.
[April 12, 2017] Libre Wireless Technologies Supplies Media Syncing Platform to Lenbrook International to Create World's First Hi-Fi Amplifier to Feature Chromecast Built-In for Audio

Libre Wireless Technologies, Inc., a leading embedded WiFi (News - Alert) and Wireless solutions provider, has been chosen by Lenbrook International, manufacturer of respected high fidelity audio brands NAD Electronics, PSB Speakers and Bluesound, to implement Google's (News - Alert) popular Chromecast built-in platform into the world's first high fidelity amplifier. The NAD C 338 HybridDigital Integrated Amplifier, launched earlier this year, is the first NAD product to contain Libre Wireless's LibreSync media streaming modules and software platform, which includes Google's Chromecast built-in for Audio. In combination, the NAD C 338 reshapes the landscape for what a hi-fi amplifier can be, featuring not only NAD's legendary true-to-source, powerful HybridDigital amplification technology, but also as a hub for wireless streaming of high-resolution audio content from Google services and a user's own local music library. "We are quite proud to be selected by Lenbrook and their NAD brand, recognized worldwide for innovation and performance," says Jordan Watters, Chief Revenue Officer at Libre Wireless Technologies. "Our strengths are well aligned as Libre similarly strives to deliver best in class performance and industry leading features to our partners. The NAD team has shown their aggressive pursuit of delivering value to their customers by being one of the first in this category to offer the best in high performance amplification combined with Chromecast built-in and the latest and greatest in WiFi streaming technologies."



"We are very excited about this partnership, as it fits into our broader strategy to redefine the hi-fi amplifier," says Greg Stidsen, Director of Technology and Product Planning for NAD Electronics. "Expectations of what technology should be capable of doing just continue to shift as consumer lifestyles shift. So partnerships like this one with Libre Wireless will become increasingly important to ensure we can keep up with changing consumer demands." About Libre Wireless Technologies, Inc.

Libre Wireless Technologies has extensive expertise and experience in developing WiFi/Wireless technologies with IoT, Media streaming and voice interface/control software and SDK platforms, electronic modules and RF/antenna design solutions. The Libre team has deep WiFi/BT (News - Alert) technology, IoT and A/V system design experience combined with world wide sales, technical support and design partnerships. The LibreSync platform incorporates unique media streaming technology, scalable mic-to-cloud voice processing modules, broad mobile platform ecosystem support, seamless interoperability, scalable price/performance solution options, optimized and flexible WiFi/Bluetooth options (1x1 11n, 2x2 11n, 11n/ac) and extensive system level features. Optimized for performance, power, size and cost, LibreSync solutions provide ODM's and CE Brand customers with the most complete, flexible and ecosystem leading Smart Home, voice and media streaming platform available. About Lenbrook International Based in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, Lenbrook International designs and manufactures renowned high fidelity audio brands Bluesound, NAD Electronics and PSB Speakers. A subsidiary of the privately held Lenbrook Group of Companies formed in 1978, its products are distributed in over 80 countries through sister companies Lenbrook Americas, Lenbrook Asia, as well as through a network of partners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170412006277/en/

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US President Donald Trump's decision not to label China a currency manipulator is a positive step in the two sides' efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation. It provides further proof that China and the United States are warming to each other after the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on April 6-7.

On Wednesday, Trump backed away from his campaign promise that he will name China a currency manipulator as one of his first acts in office. The US Treasury Department also confirmed that its semi-annual report on currency practices of major trading partners, due out later this month, will refrain from doing so as well.

The US stance immediately won approval from Beijing, which said it will contribute to the healthy development of two-way trade and investment.

China has repeatedly denied the accusation that it is a currency manipulator, and in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump agreed this is not the case, saying, "they (China) are not currency manipulators".

Such an objective, and justified, approach to the currency issue will certainly help maintain the good momentum that has been maneuvered in ties.

It is natural for China and the US to have differences on issues. But as long as the two sides act in good faith to resolve those differences through communication and consultation, their disagreements can be managed.

As Xi said in his meeting with Trump, China is willing to work together with the US to enhance high-level exchanges and dialogues and expand cooperation.

As far as bilateral trade is concerned, it has brought huge benefits to the two peoples as the two countries have become each other's top trading partner. In the first quarter, bilateral trade in goods registered a growth of 21.3 percent.

China has made it clear it does not pursue a trade surplus and it hoped the US would loosen restrictions on its exports to China. The two countries have decided to give themselves 100 days to discuss issues in trade, which shows the two sides are making concrete efforts to work together.

Both intrinsic factors and the external environment have contributed to frictions in bilateral trade. Putting the blame solely on one side and threatening punitive measures have only deepened the divide.

Accommodating each other's concerns and following the principles of mutual respect and mutual trust is the only way to usher in a win-win outcome.
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Shanghai Municipal Financial Services Office (SFSO) held the 3rd Singapore-Shanghai Financial Forum (SSFF) on Wednesday to promote financial linkages and collaborations between Singapore and China's Shanghai.

Nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Singapore and Shanghai's financial institutions and corporates, according to the joint media release statement by MAS and SFSO.

An agreement was signed between Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Singapore Exchange to deepen capital market cooperation and encourage more Chinese corporates to tap Singapore's capital markets.

Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) and Bank of Shanghai also pledged to work closely together to extend their collaboration in areas such as trade finance, corporate and investment banking and loans and cross-border financing.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) and Nufin Data Private Limited further agreed to co-develop financial technology and data analytics solutions.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Municipal Financial Services Office will also work with Singapore in fostering multi-level and multi-dimensional cooperation, to further the development of the New Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Deputy Managing Director of MAS Jacqueline Loh said this edition of the SSFF takes Singapore-Shanghai financial cooperation to new heights, with entities from both sides forging agreements to work closer together.

"We will build on the strong partnership with our Shanghai counterparts to facilitate greater collaboration as we navigate the new financial world order," Loh added.

Jin Xingming, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, said Singapore and Shanghai can deepen cooperation in the three areas of renminbi internationalization, developing the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthening FinTech capabilities in times of changing global financial world order.
A worker fills an order at the Lazada's warehouse in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Photo/Agencies]

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd expects to complete the construction of an e-commerce and logistics hub in Thailand by 2019, taking the internet behemoth closer to Southeast Asian economies and its goal of shedding its reliance on the Chinese market.

Building of the park is on a "steady course" and marks the company's long-term investment in Thailand, Alibaba said in an emailed statement to China Daily.

Under an agreement with the Thai government in December, Alibaba vowed to help develop the country's e-commerce sector through providing training to small businesses and individuals, and exploring ways to enhance its logistics capabilities.

Alibaba said the hub is designed to provide a one-stop service connecting SMEs, manufacturers, service providers and logistic partners, complementing its existing investment in Lazada Group, a dominant regional e-commerce platform in which Alibaba holds a majority stake.

"We hope the park will empower Thailand's innovative internet startups and boost the country's technology ecosystem," the statement added.

Under the agreement, Alibaba and its subsidiary Lazada will offer e-commerce training to 30,000 Thai SMEs to aid their access to both domestic and international e-commerce platforms and nurture software developers.

The deal also calls for Alibaba to advise the country's postal serviceThailand Poston shipping and logistics.

The Chinese online giant is marching into a region on the cusp of a digital shopping boom fueled by fast-growing mobile phone usage.

Consultancy eMarketer projects that e-commerce sales, excluding travel, will grow at a rate exceeding 15 percent in Thailand annually over the next four years, reaching $5.69 billion by 2020.

In a similar move, Alibaba in March established the first digital free trade zone dubbed Electronic World Trade Platform in Malaysia, offering small businesses lower barriers for entry and easier access to financing.

"Alibaba's investment here will be different from that in Malaysia, where it is expected to be an e-commerce platform only. In contrast, its investment in Thailand will be broader, covering production platforms ... particularly in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam," Thai Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying.
US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington DC, on April 12, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON  US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration won't label China as currency manipulator, and complained that the US dollar is too strong.

In an interview with Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump said "they (China) are not currency manipulators," according to the report.

Trump during the election campaign had accused China of manipulating its currency to gain from exports, while many economists have argued that the Chinese currency, RMB, has been at equilibrium level in recent years.

The International Monetary Fund declared the RMB as no longer undervalued in 2015.

In the interview, Trump again complained that the US dollar is too strong. "I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially that's my fault because people have confidence in me. But that's hurting -- that will hurt ultimately," Trump said.
A view of Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour. [Photo/Agencies]

With the high-profile development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area gaining pace, Hong Kong is looking to play its part to fulfill the area's ambitions, said the city's top mainland affairs official on Wednesday.

Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, Hong Kong's secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, made the remarks after talks with the National Development and Reform Commission.

Tam said the NDRC is considering making Hong Kong the locomotive of the strategy and the bay area's window to the world.

The NDRC is expected to submit a full plan of the strategy to the State Council at the end of this year.

In a sign of Hong Kong's determination to get a slice of the action, outgoing Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying will lead a delegation of senior officials and business leaders on a three-day visit to six mainland cities in the bay area next week.

As the one and only world-class financial hub in the area, Hong Kong has an irreplaceable role as the "super connector" between overseas and mainland markets for this mega project. It stands out among the 11 cities across the bay area, as a gateway for overseas investors to the massive mainland market, and a springboard for mainland firms going global, said Dominic Wu Sze-yin, chairman of the Asia Financial Risk Think Tank.

"The city has what it takes to become an exporter of high-end service industries and government management expertise, putting the Pearl River Delta region on course to upgrade its industries amid ever-increasing labor and manufacturing costs," said Fielding Chen Shiyuan, Hong Kong-based Asia economist at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Back in the 1980s, the region timed its takeoff when Hong Kong sought to relocate its manufacturing business and invest excess capital. Nowadays, hard-pressed local manufacturers, feeling the pinch from cheaper manufacturing bases in neighboring less-developed countries, have undergone a yearslong painful transformation.

"Again, this is where Hong Kong could come in, by helping the region climb up the value chain and find the next new growth engine," Chen said.

For Hong Kong, the bay area plan ensures it will reap the fruits of the regional economic integration, he added.
A rider in Qingdao, Shandong province, scans bar code for riding an ofo bike. [Photo by Huang Jiexian/For China Daily]

With profitability appearing achievable last year, ofo Inc is planning a simultaneous expansion at home as well as overseas markets this year, said Dai Wei, the bike-sharing startup's founder and CEO.

Ofo's iconic yellow bikes will be available for rental in 200 Chinese cities and 10 foreign markets by the year-end, Dai, 27, said in an email.

That would signify a major scaling up of operations since ofo has been operating in only 43 Chinese cities and three foreign marketsthe United States, the United Kingdom and Singaporeso far.

The startup's 2.5 million bikes out in various markets make it one of the leading players after Mobike.

Profit appears possible in 2017, Dai said, as "ofo was very close to making a profit last year".

Free-rides now offered by Chinese bike-sharing companies to attract new riders, only delay profits. Such free bicycle rides can't be compared with the cash-burning subsidy wars waged by taxi-hailing apps such as Didi Chuxing and Uber last year, he said.

In China alone, intense competition followed the emergence of 29 bicycle-sharing service providers that put 3 million bikes on streets. According to the China Bicycle Association, the figure will reach 20 million in China this year as the concept of sharing economy becomes increasingly popular.

Industry analysts said more and more Chinese bike-sharing service providers will likely go global.

In March, Mobike followed ofo into the Singapore market, its first foray overseas. The two players charge just half a Singaporean dollar (36 cents) for each ride.

"Important factors that determine outbound destinations (for business expansion) are the (local) government's stance, regulatory environment, and local riding behaviors," Dai said.

The bike-sharing service entails high operating costs, he said.

Ofo started off on college campuses in 2014. It received funding from Didi Chuxing and Lei Jun, founder of gadget maker Xiaomi. The latest round of funding raised $450 million, valuing ofo at over $1 billion.
Chinese farmers should view product promotion through the lens of "Internet Plus," said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on April 12.

"Innovation has always been key in brand-building. We have long passed the time where farmers only toiled on their land. In our era, 'Internet Plus' must be highlighted. China is the world's largest consumer of meat and crops, with an annual consumption of 50 kilograms and 450 kilograms per capita respectively. It is time that we promote our brand overseas," said Song Chengmin, a macroeconomic management official with the NDRC, at a conference on agricultural branding in Linyi, Shandong province.

The conference was held by the Linyi government and the People's Tribune on April 12. Its theme was the proposal made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 to strengthen brand-building for agricultural products.

Hu Xiaoyun, director of the China Academy for Rural Development at Zhejiang University, pointed out that it remains difficult to sell many Chinese agricultural products at high prices, even though they are equal in quality to their overseas counterparts.

"Even at some high-end venues in China, we are served foreign tea instead (of Chinese tea). This is heartbreaking because tea originated in China and we see a huge amount of tea production every year," Hu said.

In fact, China is not short of agricultural brands, but is enmeshed in an age of "wilderness," according to Dang Guoying, a researcher with the Rural Development Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Dang told reporters on the sidelines of the conference that a large crowd of small Chinese brands cannot win out against Western giants. To spur domestic agricultural development, authorities should encourage brand-building rather than offering blueprints.

"On top of the agenda is our mission to find a carrier to hold the brand. It is usually giant agricultural cooperatives that do this job in the West. There are reportedly up to 1 million co-ops in China, which is in fact bad for brand-building," Dang explained. Echoing the NDRC official, Dang also agreed that access to the internet could bring down the cost of agriculture.

"With the help of the internet, some less developed regions have become known in other regions, and business deals have been made. This pattern could promote basic infrastructure construction," Dang said, adding that a beneficial cycle could be perpetuated in rural areas to boost sales as well as brand-building.
BEIJING  China's leather exports dropped 11.3 percent year-on-year to $76.4 billion in 2016 on weak demand, according to the China Leather Industry Association.

Exports to the United States, the largest overseas market, declined by 15 percent year-on-year, Ye Xiangju, deputy secretary general of the China Leather Industry Association, said at a press conference.

The decline was caused by higher raw material costs, lower demand and weaker comparative advantage of Chinese leather products in the international market, according to Ye.

In 2016, imports dipped 7 percent from the previous year to $8.9 billion, Ye said.

For the first time, imports of finished leather products surpassed raw materials in value during last year.

The industry's sales revenue last year stood at 1.4 trillion yuan ($203 billion), up 3.2 percent year-on-year, 2.9 percentage points lower than that in 2015.
[April 13, 2017] kCura Brings Relativity Fest to London



400 members of the e-disclosure community will join the developers of Relativity for an all-day conference full of forward-thinking discussions and presentations on the latest in legal tech. LONDON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- kCura, developers of the e-disclosure software Relativity, brings its annual event Relativity Fest London to the United Kingdom on 25 April 2017. The event brings some of the best aspects of Relativity Fest to the UK, including keynotes, educational sessions, and networking with legal professionals from around the globe over the course of a full day. "We are excited to bring the Relativity Fest experience to the United Kingdom and share it with our international community," said Steve Couling, VP of International at kCura. "The last few years have been evolutionary for e-disclosure in Europe and Asia Pacific. With a growing number of courts approving technology-assisted review, progressive adoption of analytics, and the increasing complexity of cross-border litigation, there couldn't be a better time for legal professionals to come together to discuss the future of e-disclosure." The event sessions will cover all the latest trends and market developments in e-disclosure: Analytics Around the Globe

With legal departments seeking to drive down costs, and case law in the United States , Europe , and now Australia validating the defensibility of TAR, analytics is quickly becoming the most important piece of a caseteam's toolkit. The panel of industry experts will discuss the successes, the roadblocks, and specifics of implementing analytics in different regions.

With legal departments seeking to drive down costs, and case law in , , and now validating the defensibility of TAR, analytics is quickly becoming the most important piece of a caseteam's toolkit. The panel of industry experts will discuss the successes, the roadblocks, and specifics of implementing analytics in different regions. From Processing to ECA and Investigation: Know Your Data Before Review





A case getting off on the right foot comes long before the first coding decision is made. This session will demonstrate how Relativity Processing can be used to streamline the process by keeping all data in one platform.

A case getting off on the right foot comes long before the first coding decision is made. This session will demonstrate how Relativity Processing can be used to streamline the process by keeping all data in one platform. Creating Dashboards for Your Entire Case Lifecycle

In this session, attendees will learn how to enhance their Relativity experience with data visualization. With the ability to use Relativity dashboards for reporting and interacting with their data, case teams will be better equipped to do everything from prioritising their review from the outset, to running quality control checks prior to production. Relativity Fest London will include a robust lineup of speakers from the e-disclosure industry such as the Honorable Andrew Peck, US Magistrate Judge, Southern District of New York; Steven Whitaker, former Senior Master, Senior Courts in the Queen's Bench Division; Chris Dale, Founder of the eDisclosure Information Project and many others. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest features of Relativity and new ways to rapidly review and analyze data to uncover the true story behind it. Reviewers can now save even more timeand tell a more accurate and cohesive storywith easy-to-read email thread visualisations that help them quickly identify relationships between senders and recipients, as well as gaps in information and missing documents.

Attendees will also learn more about Relativity's hybrid connected experience, which allows legal teams to easily unite all their data, including matters and workflows, regardless of where they resideon-premises, in an appliance, or in the cloud with RelativityOne. "We have always been passionate about bringing our community together to help solve the most complex and challenging data problems," said Andrew Sieja, president and CEO of kCura. "Relativity Fest London is a great opportunity for us to become closer and more connected to our customers in the UK and throughout Europe." Register for Relativity Fest London that will take place at 155 Bishopsgate on the 25th of April 2017. About kCura kCura are the developers of Relativity, an e-discovery platform used by more than 12,000 organizations to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Relativity has over 150,000 active users in 40+ countries from organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 Fortune 100 companies, and more than 195 of the Am Law 200. Corporations, law firms, and government agencies use Relativity on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid platformwith hosted, on-demand solutions available through a global network of partners. As a platform, Relativity also allows developers to design, build, and integrate applications that extend its functionality. kCura has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for six consecutive years and received the CityLIGHTS Lighthouse Award from the Illinois Technology Association in 2016. Please contact kCura at [email protected] or visit http://www.kcura.com for more information. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/445801/Relativity_Logo.jpg

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HONG KONG  Hong Kong could make good use of its unique advantages and contribute to the success of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said Wednesday.

As the international financial center in Asia, Hong Kong could make good use of its unique advantages under "one country, two systems", its world-class talents and its extensive experience in handling large-scale projects in contributing to the success of the AIIB, Leung said during a meeting with AIIB President Jin Liqun.

AIIB announced last month that its board of governors had approved 13 applications to join the bank, including Hong Kong.

During the meeting held Wednesday afternoon, Leung thanked Jin for his enormous support for Hong Kong's participation in the AIIB, and the two exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

Hong Kong would become a new member of AIIB once it confirms the acceptance of the bank's articles of agreement and deposits the first instalment of capital subscription with the bank, Leung said.
Tourists pose for a photograph in front of the Xiongxian government building in North China's Hebei province, April 8, 2017. The building has become a new attraction after an announcement came that the county would be part of the Xiongan New Area. [Photo/VCG]

XIONGAN NEW AREA  Expansive economic zone in the making, Xiongan New Area is like a magnet for those seeking fortune.

Since an announcement was made April 1, people have crowded squares and streets in front of government buildings in Xiongxian, Anxin and Rongcheng counties, taking photos, exchanging information and looking for places to set up shop.

When a brief property craze died down, private entrepreneurs, internet engineers, scholars, restaurateurs and lawyers came here, joined by ministries and State-owned companies from Beijing. More than two dozen State-owned enterprises have pledged support for development of the new area.

Feng Chuan, 28, drove with his wife and a friend to the gates of Xiongxian county government on the weekend.

"I come to see for myself what Xiongan looks like now, and to understand why this area was chosen. I should be prepared for future opportunities here," Feng said.

Feng quit a well-paying post at Standard Chartered Bank to work with a software firm in Tianjin. "Xiongan will become the capital of innovation in the future. We are looking for opportunities in the internet industry," he said.

"I hope specific plans for the area will be made public as soon as possible," Feng added.

"We hope to start our own business and make the first bucket of money in our life," said his wife Bi Ying, giggling shyly.

A family from Changzhou, Jiangsu province, about 1,000 kilometers to the southeast, drove here overnight to look into the possibility of opening a branch of their restaurant business here.

"People have to eat, right?" said Yu Hongping, the father.

On April 1, China announced plans to create Xiongan New Area, a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. The new area spans the counties of Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin in Hebei, and is home to Baiyangdian, a major wetland in northern China.

Chinese leaders hope the new area will help address severe "urban ills" of traffic congestion and air pollution in Beijing, by curbing the capital's population growth and moving non-capital functions out of Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for efforts to build Xiongan into "a demonstration area for innovative development."

"General Secretary Xi has set the goal, we need to figure out how to realize it, how to innovate," an official with the preparatory committee of Xiongan told Xinhua.

"Xiongan is a move to adjust China's economic and spacial structure," said Xu Kuangdi, a renowned metallurgist and former mayor of Shanghai. Xu is also director of an experts council for coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

"Xiongan represents a strategic effort to seek coordinated development between big cities and small towns. It is a ground to test new economic growth models and push for supply-side reform," Xu said.

Growth based on innovation, new ideas and methods, not exports or investment, is seen as a solution to China's growth conundrum. Top Chinese leaders have called for efforts to eliminate barriers to innovation and unleash productivity.

Experts said new rules regarding household registration and real estate management may be enforced in Xiongan, which is expected to be an example of a future city in China.

Xiongan New Area will initially cover around 100 square km and expand to 2,000 square km in the long term. Location of the central area and industrial layout, among other details, have yet to be published.

An official with the preparatory committee said they might welcome hi-tech industries such as 5G communications, bio-medicine, artificial intelligence and internet finance industries.

"There will not be large communities like Tiantongyuan in northern Beijing, no broad streets, but a green, organically connected and well-functioning place, a forest city, you might call it," the official said.

According to a government circular on Xiongan, the three counties feature geological advantages, convenient transport, an excellent environment and ample room for development.

"There are never any traffic jams here," said Zhou Jinhua, a retailer who sells doors, in Rongcheng County.
XIAMEN  More bridges instead of barriers are expected to allow cross-Straits intelligent manufacturing industries to jointly tap the market, as they are more complementary than competitive.

The remark was made by Li Rongmin, head of the Taipei office of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, at the 2017 Xiamen Industry Exposition which opened Wednesday.

He said that the mainland encourages investment both in and from Taiwan. Cross-Straits industries should cooperate in fields such as standards, personnel exchanges, finance and Internet cloud computing.

"Taiwan is strong in research and the electronic information industry," said Li, "but not in its investment environment."

The Chinese mainland has been growing very rapidly in international resource integration, robot manufacturing, 3D printing and other technologies. It also has great demand for semiconductors and high-end machine tools, he added.

Intelligent manufacturing is what the cross-Straits cooperation should aim for, said Gou Tai-chiang, chairman of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, who is attending the expo.

It would be conducive to cross-Straits industrial transformation and upgrading from traditional manufacturing to high-end manufacturing, said Gou.

"I hope that the cross-Straits industries, with support from the internet and big data, will combine Taiwan's technology and product foundation with the mainland's talent and market, and grasp the opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Xiamen Industry Exposition, authorized by the Ministry of Commerce, has been held annually since 1997. The event has received more than 10,000 enterprises as exhibitors over the past two decades.
NEW YORK  US President Donald Trump has pledged a massive infrastructure plan in the country, which may bring increasing opportunities for Chinese companies, US experts said here on Wednesday.

"The Trump administration has been very focused on investing infrastructure, including public-private partnerships ... We are open for business and welcome Chinese companies to participate and bid for the projects," said Patric Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on an event titled "Skyclub Dialogue: Infrastructure Development and Investment" in New York.

Foye further explained that as the government agency oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure in the two states, Port Authority processes bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports, which are "revenue-generating assets" and "expect to attract capitals from all over the world, including China."

His viewpoints were echoed by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations, who also spoke at the event.

"When I look at the $1 trillion price tag that President Trump has put on the infrastructure needs of the United States ... I looked at the three trillion reserve in China, I looked at the expertise that exists in China and I looked at what China Construction America and other Chinese construction companies are doing, creating jobs in the United States," said Orlins.

China Construction America Inc (CCA), a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, is among the Chinese companies that have been playing an active role in the US construction market.

Founded in 1985, CCA now has 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are local employees, according to the company's president Ning Yuan, who also attended the event.

Yuan said the company has successfully completed six bridge projects in the New York Metropolitan area and ranks number ten in bridge contractors across the United States.

CCA is fully funded and ready to get involved in more public-private partnership (PPP) projects, he noted.

Foye pointed out that Chinese companies like CCA should focus not only on capital-raising but also on engineering solutions and creativity when bidding on a project.

"Continued growth and success of the Chinese firms in the US will eventually give them a competitive advantage in the PPP market," said Foye.
XIAMEN  China's eastern port city of Xiamen will open a freight train service to Moscow on April 21, according to a meeting Thursday.

The train will go via the cities of Nanchang, Nanjing, Jinan and Jinzhou, and pass Manzhouli Port before entering Russia.

It will take 13 to 14 days to finish the journey, which stretches 10,920 kilometers to Moscow.

The freight service will be operated by Xiamen Haicang Investment Group.

The Xiamen-Moscow freight train service will boost the opening up of Xiamen and China-Russia trade, and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xiamen has active trade with Russia. In 2016, exports from Xiamen to Russia reached about 5 billion yuan ($727 million), and imports from Russia were 1.9 billion yuan.

The 2017 BRICS Summit will be held in Xiamen in September.
Chinese bike-sharing company ofo Inc has signed a deal with China CITIC Bank to offer expanded financial services for ofo users.

Under the partnership, announced on Thursday, CITIC Bank will provide tailor-made co-branded cards for ofo users. Card holders won't have to pay the 99 yuan ($14.4) deposit normally required to ride ofo bikes.

The co-branded card, which is a credit and debit card, also entitles holders to free personal accident insurance.

Ofo said the two companies will work on a series of cooperation programs, including the management of deposits, payments, cross-border finance, credit support, marketing and pro bono programs.

"We two will work on more innovative programs in the future, combining the sharing economy and financial services. Thus, we can offer better services for our clients and boost the development of both industries, ofo chief executive officer Dai Wei said.

Guo Danghuai, vice president of CITIC Bank, said: Our partnership with ofo will enable us to offer more inclusive financial products and services via the new form of sharing economy. 

Ofo has deployed more than 2.5 million bikes and has more than 30 million registered users. It has provided over 500 million rides since its debut, according to the company.

In March, ofo tested waiving its deposit for Sesame Credit members in Shanghai. By teaming up with Sesame Credit, a social credit rating unit backed by Ant Financial Services Group, the company allowed users with 650 points or higher to ride without paying the deposit.
Ant Financial Services Group has lashed out at rival Euronet Worldwide in an increasingly hostile battle for a United States money transfer company.

In January, Ant Financial announced plans to buy MoneyGram for $880 million but was hit with a counter bid of $940 million from Euronet which claims to have a better chance of closing the deal because it's not subject to national security probes that foreign investors are subject to.

Euronet chief executive officer Mike Brown said earlier this week that a deal with the Chinese company posed a risk to national security and was unlikely to get clearance from US regulators due to the proximity of many MoneyGram vendors to US military bases.

Euronet has conducted broad-based political attacks in Washington against Ant Financial and the integrity of MoneyGram's business and data security practices, in an attempt to stop a compelling transaction involving a core competitor, Doug Feagin, president of Ant Financial International, said in a statement.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US has the power to veto foreign investments if it concludes that national security is being threatened.

Brown's comments have outraged Ant Financial.

Euronet has sought to create phantom national security arguments and encouraged political interference in a commercial transaction," Feagin said. "A closer examination of Euronet's self-serving claims demonstrates that its hostile bid for MoneyGram does nothing to advance American interests."

He said Euronet has over 85 percent of its assets outside of the US, including nearly all of Euronet's servers and data centers where its customer information resides.

He also claimed that Euronet derives only 28 percent of its revenue from the US and pays virtually no tax in the country, according to its annual report to shareholders.

Besides, Euronet has told investors it plans to cut $60 million in costs if it acquires MoneyGram, which would inevitably impact US facilities and employment, leading to significant US job cuts, he said.

If Ant Financial proceeds with the acquisition, Feagin said MoneyGram would continue to independently operate all its data systems and Ant Financial would not have access to any US customer data.

Additionally, the entire Texas-based MoneyGram management team and all of its employees in the US, including the data security team, will remain in place at MoneyGram, he noted.

The Chinese e-payment giant remained confident of closing the transaction and fulfilling the shared mission of serving people who don't use traditional banks with MoneyGram.

Alex Holmes, chief executive officer of MoneyGram, has also refuted Browns claims in a Financial Times interview published on Wednesday.

The reality is that we collect and transmit a limited amount of personally identifiable information from most of our customers. This information is stored at our secure IT facility in the US. These practices will continue unchanged under our proposed merger with Ant Financial, Holmes was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

He added that MoneyGram would remain subject to examinations and audits by US regulators while operating independently from Ant with respect to data collection.

Feagin said Ant Financial intends to invest significant additional money and resources in MoneyGram, including expenditures to maintain the highest standards of data security and user privacy.

Ant Financial is China's biggest internet-finance conglomerate, with its online payment and escrow service, a money-market fund, a credit-rating system and an internet bank. It has set a target of having 2 billion customers globally over the next decade.
China's tech giant Tencent has been crowned the most valuable brand among Chinese-listed companies this year, beating the country's telecom companies and big banks, according to a recently released list.

The rankings prepared by Tsinghua University's National Entrepreneurship Research Center and National Business Daily, looked at 4344 Chinese enterprises that were listed on the A-share market or as concept stocks overseas as of last year.

"We can measure any Chinese listed company's brand value on the basis of its data," Professor Zhao Ping of Tsinghua University's National Entrepreneurship Research Center told china.com.cn.

In the list, the concept of brand value covers a company's business earnings, a brand's contribution to total revenue and brand potential.

The top five companies' brand value combined accounts for 53 percent of the brand value of the top 100 companies.

Let's take a look at the top 10 most valuable Chinese brands.

No 10 Agricultural Bank of China

Brand value: 104,901 million yuan ($15.2 billion)
[April 13, 2017] Impartus Rolls Out Revamped Interactive Video Learning Solutions

BANGALORE, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The start-up with its game-changing video-based learning solutions aims to improve the quality of higher education in India Impartus, a provider of innovative video-enabled learning solutions aimed at the higher education sector, today rolled out a newer version of its video solutions; making out-of-class learning more interactive and engaging for students and educators. Its core features of 'Lecture Capture', 'Video Conferencing' and 'Flipped Classroom' makes it a must-have tool for institutes adopting video learning strategy. The new version of Impartus' solution now provides a completely redesigned interface with enhanced user experience. Students can now engage and collaborate more effectively. The key features now include an improved video conferencing experience, in-video search, unlimited cloud storage, discussion forums and interactive video quizzes. Impartus' all new discussion forum enables students to post their questions, they can also upvote, downvote and write answers for the existing questions thereby sharing their knowledge. The advance search including In-Video Search lets students discover more relevant and comprehensive content. They can find their peers, follow them and get familiar with their learning patterns. Students can now upload all of their course content on the cloud and can access it from anywhere/anytime. Impartus' new user interface is available on both Android and iOS. "At Impartus, we are makingcontinuous efforts to make learning more engaging, and our new release has significant feature additions along with a fresh interface designed based on detailed user feedback. Videos have become a part of mainstream education and our comprehensive solution facilitates interactive learning, making it simpler for students to comprehend even the most difficult topics. The goal is to improve learning outcomes and enable effective learning by students which are not limited by classroom boundaries," says Amit Mahensaria, Co-Founder and CEO of Impartus Innovations.



"I have immensely benefited from my institute's decision to adopt Impartus' video platform, which has proved to be extremely useful. The USP of the platform is that it is highly interactive, which makes it fun and interesting to use. The new version and features are designed in a way, which enables us to study better and also create a healthy competitive study culture as we are able to view how peers are utilizing the app," says Aditi Ghosh, a student of BITs Pilani, Hyderabad. "We have observed that technology has been really effective in enhancing learning requirements of students and equally effective in helping teachers improve their teaching methodologies. Impartus' solution has enabled our teachers to evaluate their lectures and teaching techniques and improvise to suit students' requirements. They have also been fast and responsive in customising their solution to suit our needs. Through Impartus' interactive platform, teaching is no more limited to the lectures in classrooms," says Dr B Sadashive Gowda, Principal, VVCE Mysore.

About Impartus Impartus provides innovative video learning solutions that drive better outcomes for the education sector. Impartus Lecture Capture is currently being used by over 85+ leading institutions across India such as IIM Bangalore, BITS Pilani, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, College of Engineering, Pune, Shiv Nadar School, NIT Surathkal, KMC Manipal, VIT Vellore, SASTRA University and IIIT Bangalore. We have achieved market leadership in India and an expanding presence across emerging markets including Malaysia, Greater China and Kenya. Impartus' head office is located in Bangalore, India. The company is funded by Kaizen Private Equity, India's premiere education-focused private equity fund. Learn more at http://www.impartus.com or write to us at [email protected]. Media Contact:

Gurpreet Singh Sachdeva

[email protected]

+91-9901503011

Impartus Innovations Pvt. Ltd.



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Tourists riding shared bikes visit the Forbidden City in Beijing on March 18. With the advent of the era of shared bicycles, a variety of colorful bicycles add vibrancy to the Chinese capital. [Photo by Du Jianpo/For China Daily]

Zhang Qiang, a 30-year-old engineer, was stunned when he saw that his bike, parked near a subway station in Beijing, was surrounded by fleets of internet-connected bicycles, which can be borrowed and returned with just a smartphone.

This is the Rainbow War as each bike company paints their products in orange, blue, yellow, green and other colors. Within just a year they have become a common sight in major cities.

But the rapid growth also spawns security concerns and worries that streets may be crowded with bicycles, just as Zhang witnessed. Several cities are rolling out policies to regulate the sector.

Wang Xiaofeng, CEO of Beijing Mobike Technology Co Ltd, and Dai Wei, CEO of ofo Inc, two arch rivals in the bike-sharing industry recently talked with China Daily, sharing their opinions on overseas expansion plans, government regulation and how the sector will reshape itself. Beloware the edited excerpts.

Wang Xiaofeng (left), CEO of Mobike, and Dai Wei, ofo CEO.

Why is bike-sharing burgeoning in China?

Wang: Dock-free bike sharing is a home-grown innovation. We are the first one to experiment with the idea. The chic design and convenience of Mobike lures a greater number of young users, which fueled its popularity. Usually, it is very, very time-consuming for consumers to embrace new internet-connected products. But we markedly shortened the process. We built a network of more than 1 million connected bikes within just 300 days. That helps us stand out from other IoT applications.

Dai: ofo was the first across the world to raise the concept of bicycle-sharing free from docking stations. Thanks to the use of smartphones and the mobile internet, users can pick up bikes wherever they find them at their convenience. By thinking outside the box, public bike services are regaining vitality.

Will 2017 be the year of a cash-burning subsidy war among industry players?

Wang: The bike-sharing sector is in an infant stage where more efforts are needed to cultivate users. But giving out subsidies is not the only solution and we will embrace more innovative ways. We are, for instance, using "red envelopes" to motivate users to choose bikes that sit idle. It can not only lure new users but help dispatch bikes to where demand is high.

Dai: The ride-for-free promotion we offer is different from the last round of competition waged between Didi Chuxing and Uber, as it only slows down profit schedule other than burning cash to subsidize users.

Cooperation will outweigh competition in the bike-riding industry in the future. Ofo's idea is to set up a grand sharing plan in cities, connecting all bike manufacturers, products and users. The company will stick to it and help establish a smart commute system, assist regulators in devising industry guidelines and optimize users' transportation experience.

Riders in Kunming, Yunnan province, park shared bikes in April 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

There are cases of users vandalizing shared bikes. How should the companies address the issue?

Wang: Such cases are isolated and only a tiny, tiny number of users are damaging bikes. The problem is over-exaggerated to some extent. We have taken a range of steps to prevent such cases from happening, starting from product design. Our real name verification system and credit system also help solve this problem. Our bikes have a very low damage rate.

Dai: The vandal cases are isolated. Ofo appeals to its users to remember others, especially by parking bikes in the right place. We at the same time have increased our operational staff to ensure supervision. The staff check the condition of the bikes and their parking.

In the future, ofo will actively work with related regulatory bodies in setting up parking points and ensuring the safe and orderly use of shared bikes. Ofo is also working with China Telecom and Huaiwei in a joint research on a narrow band of the internet of things, or NB-IoT solutions for smart bicycle locks.

Cities including Shanghai and Beijing are considering regulating bike-sharing amid security concerns and sidewalk congestion. What role should the government play in the booming sector?

Wang: Bike-sharing is a new thing. It takes time to straighten out relevant policies and laws to guide the industry. We welcome the government to play an important role in that. Also, it is unsustainable if enterprises just blindly throw bikes into a city without careful planning. Rather than wait until the government moves to rein in the wild growth, it is better to start refining services as soon as possible.

Dai: The government plays an important role in guiding healthy and orderly development of the industry. Bike-sharing companies should maintain an active dialogue with the government, assisting in devising industrial standards and setting up parking points.

What are the keys in replicating the bike-sharing model to overseas markets?

Wang: It is a systematic project to march into an overseas market. It means far more than just throwing bikes into foreign cities. Mobike, for instance, registered a company in Singapore as early as August, 2016, but we did not offer services there until March. It takes time for us to partner with local banks, transportation partners and authorities to offer a highly localized solution. Singaporeans, for instance, don't use WeChat and Alipay that much. They need a more local way to pay for the bike-sharing service. We now have dozens of Singapore-based employees. It is important to offer truly localized products.

Dai: Localization is an issue faced by any Chinese firms when going abroad. Ofo is no exception. The challenges include adapting to their specific rules and regulation, learning local consumer behavior and bonding with local culture. Ofo has been busy exploring a localized model that is replicable for peers to follow in their overseas expansion.

Please use three keywords or phrases to describe the bike-sharing industry over the past year and predict new trends in 2017.

Wang: The keywords for 2016: Home-grown innovation, Rainbow War, and smart transportation services.

The keywords for 2017: Refining services: Enterprises should focus on refining services and optimizing operations this year. No more blind expansion is needed.

Smarter commute: The industry will become increasingly smarter and technology will play a very more important role.

A more orderly market: Bike-sharing is beneficial to almost every one. It doesn't touch the vested interests of anyone. We desire a more standardized and orderly environment to grow.

Dai: The keywords would be sharing, smart commute and new travel. Ofo will accelerate its expansion at home and abroad. Right now, we have covered 43 Chinese cities and started trial operations in Singapore, London and California. I believe we have taken a concrete step, and will keep benefiting the world with low-carbon and environmental-friendly ways to commute.

Contact the writers at masi@chinadaily.com.cn and daitian@chinadaily.com.cn
A cashier scans a buyer's WeChat Pay code on his mobile phone at a supermarket in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

WeChat Pay, one of the Chinese mainland biggest mobile payment platforms, has boosted its cross-border business by launching a new service in Hong Kong.

In a move that is expected to promote businesses of local merchants, it opened a channel for membership card applications when customers pay through WeChat.

After paying for their goods through the platform, they will receive information from local merchants' WeChat official accounts automatically on becoming a member.

The virtual membership card will enable customers to be given details on vendors' latest activities, while at the same time help local merchants gain new followers and promote their businesses.

Hong Kong, which is a major destination for Chinese mainland outbound tourists, is a key market for WeChat Pay to develop its cross-border business, said Grace Yin, director of WeChat Pay international operations.

"We will further increase our investment in the cross-border payment business in Hong Kong to help local merchants better serve mainland tourists," Yin said.

WeChat Pay's move comes at a time when Hong Kong's retail industry is still struggling to recover from a "chilling winter" caused by the decline in the number of mainland visitors.

Mainland arrivals dropped 6.7 percent year-on-year in 2016, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The situation saw a slight improvement this year, rising 1.1 percent from January to February compared with a year earlier.

"Linkage of WeChat payment and the merchants membership system will enable us to provide a better shopping experience to consumers, thereby enhancing our brand reputation. Moreover, with data on WeChat Pay users, we will be able to understand our consumers better," said Wang Yifan, social media specialist with British cosmetics brand Lush, which has a number of stores in Hong Kong.
Chinese players and their UK partner unveiled plans for the world's first crowdfunding index in London on Tuesday, in an initiative to systematize data for the rapidly expanding sector.

The index is being jointly developed by the Chengdu-based fintech and big data company BBD, the Academy of Internet Finance at Zhejiang University and Cambridge-based Crowdsurfer Ltd, a UK company which collects data about crowdfunding sites.

"The index will capture information from thousands of crowdfunding platforms worldwide and enable investors to assess investment opportunities and manage risks," said Zeng Tu, CEO of BBD China. The index will be available to the public in the coming months.

The index will play a role that is similar to that of the FTSE Index to the global equity market. The index's changes will be indicative of the ups and downs of the crowdfunding market as a whole.

Crucially, it will be available to banks and asset managers, so they can create derivative products, such as a fund that tracks the index, which has not yet been formally named.

The derivative products will allow investors to enjoy the profits of the industry without directly investing in crowdfunding platforms.

Regulators and policymakers will be able to use the index to monitor the size and growth of the alternative finance segment, and create policies to support its healthy development.

Crowdfunding gained prominence after the 2008 financial crisis severely battered the credibility of traditional banks. It has been supported by the growth of internet technology.

By 2015, 11.4 billion yuan ($1.65 billion) had been raised through crowdfunding platforms in China. The World Bank forecasts great crowdfunding growth potential in China, estimating it will be worth $50 billion by 202552 percent of the global total.

Crowdsurfer Chairman Richard Baker said the index will capture both peer-to-peer crowdfunding and equity crowdfunding, and may have sub-indexes for different industries.

The Academy of Internet Finance opened a London office on Tuesday. Ben Shenglin, AIF's dean, said it will work on the index, build fintech collaborations and support knowledge exchange with British universities.
A photo of Fu Gui at 4 posted by his family on baobeihuijia.com (left) and a photo of Fu Gui at 10 posted by himself on the same site.[Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING  Baidu succeeded in using artificial intelligence to reconnect a man with his family 27 years after he was abducted, the company announced Wednesday.

Working with baobeihuijia.com, a charity group dedicated to connecting missing children and their families, Baidu used its cross-age facial recognition program to analyze pictures of abducted children uploaded by the victims and their birth families and identified potential matches through the comparison of selected facial features.

Fu Gui, 33, who was born in Chongqing Municipality, western China, was abducted in 1990 and later transferred to Fujian Province, southeastern China. He registered with baobeihuijia.com in 2009, and his natural family did the same in early 2017.

Baidu's facial recognition program was able to draw up a short list of potential identities for the man from pictures uploaded to the site, and a DNA test later verified the correct match.

Baidu has about 200 million sample pictures that it uses to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of its facial recognition program, which can be over 99 percent accurate.

Baidu's founder and CEO Robin Li, who is also a national political advisor, proposed during the annual parliamentary sessions in March that AI systems, like facial recognition, could be used to help find missing children and suggested that there should be a central database with missing children's information.
As one of the top 10 candidates for the Global Teacher Prize, Yang Boya attends the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai in March. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As the only Chinese among the top 10 teachers in the world by the Global Teacher Prize, Yang Boya talks to the global audience about her psychological support programs and also about China's education system's positive points and shortcomings.

Yang, 28, a psychology teacher at the Affiliated Middle School of Kunming Teachers College in China's southwest Yunnan province, has set up a center where students can seek professional guidance from psychologists.

"As a psychologist as well as a teacher, I developed support programs with my colleagues for teenagers five years ago," Yang says. "We interacted with many teenagers from different schools as we tried to understand their problems and aspirations."

Yang and her team realize that the values of teenagers reflected the values of their families. "Even when they showed improvement during our program, old habits returned as soon as they went home," she says.

So they begin to develop a training program for parents. "Our program is highly interactive. We use simulation, role play and other experiential activities to help parents not only gain scientific understanding about adolescent development, but also become the kind of parents who empathize with their children and walk alongside them."

"As the programs progressed, we received a phone call from the local government which wanted to collaborate with us to expand and scale up the program. Their involvement brought us more credibility, technical expertise, and resources. It also brought more teachers onto our team," Yang says.

She says students are the first stakeholder in education, parents the second, and government the third. "In order to gain greater influence, we need to expand our reach beyond students and involve parents."

As the first Chinese teacher among the top 10 candidates for the Global Teacher Prize, Yang attend the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai in March.
Disillusioned with standardized, test-based tuition, some parents are setting up their own schools. Zhao Xinying reports.

Brad Walsh, a Canadian teacher at ETU, with some of his students.[Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Having seen the ETU School in Beijing develop from an idea to a facility with 15 full-time teachers and more than 30 students, co-founder Li Yinuo is confident of success and feels ready to take the next step.

"Our goal for 2017 is to expand our school from the current scale of K-Grade 1 (kindergarten to Grade 1) to K-Grade 3, which means a further 80 or 90 students will be recruited in the academic year that will begin in September," said the mother of three, a former partner at McKinsey, a global management consultancy, in Beijing and Palo Alto, California.

ETU is located on the campus of the No 80 High School in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Although it has just three classrooms and one teachers' room, the school has attracted attention from parents disillusioned with standardized, test-oriented education in traditional schools. A large number of education specialists seeking innovation in the field have also expressed an interest.

When ETU's spring semester started in February, Feng Shu transferred her 6-year-old son to the new project from an international school near Beijing's North Fifth Ring Road.

"Although the facilities and hardware at ETU are not as fancy as those at my son's previous school, I took the decision to bring him here because I believe that rather than producing 'testing machines', ETU tries its best to help children discover themselves and help them to become happy, fulfilled people," the Beijing resident said.

Finding a way out

The idea of establishing the school came to Li early last year when she was trying to move her family back to Beijing from California's Silicon Valley. Like many parents, Li found it hard to find an ideal place for her eldest son.

"Our efforts to find a satisfactory school ended in vain because the public ones available to us were too uniform and reliant on tests, while international schools offer an education that is too Westernized and lacks Chinese roots," she said.

Li is not alone in her concerns. Yang Dongping, director of the 21st Education Research Institute, a think tank in Beijing, said many parents are concerned and dissatisfied with their children's education. They believe State schools are too reliant on exams, and the excessive workload exerts too much pressure on children.

"But for a long time, parents could only face this education system with an attitude of 'tolerate, criticize and go back to tolerating'," he said, adding that many parents choose to break the cycle by sending their children to study overseas.

That dissatisfaction may be one of the driving forces behind a recent exodus of children. At the end of 2015, almost 35,000 Chinese children were studying at K-12 level in the US, according to a report published last year by Eol, a leading Chinese education portal. In 2010, the number was about 9,000.

Li was reluctant to follow that path because she didn't want her son to grow up as a "foreigner", knowing little about Chinese language and culture. She said she had seen many young Chinese in the US "suffering from a vague national identity and failing to integrate into either community".

In her opinion, the ideal education should be tailored to inspire, motivate and protect children's intrinsic desire to learn, tap their potential, discover their strengths and help them become the person they want to be. It also should help them grow up as globally competent citizens, or as she described it, "truly Chinese, truly global".

According to Yang, rather than complaining and leaving, many parents, particularly well-educated couples in big cities, are now trying a "third way" by conducting educational experiments and exploring diverse forms of learning, such as homeschooling, which is discouraged by the education authorities.
Shijian 13, China's most advanced communications satellite, is launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on Wednesday.[Photo/Xinhua]

Technology makes transmission of high-resolution video possible

China launched its most advanced communications satellite at 7:04 pm on Wednesday, marking the start of the country's large-capacity communications network in space.

Shijian 13, which was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and based on its DFH-3B communications satellite platform, was lifted atop by a Long March 3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.

The satellite, which weighs 4.6 metric tons, is expected to stay for 15 years in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above Earth, the academy said.

The satellite features a Ka-band broadband communications system capable of transmitting 20 gigabytes of data per second, making it the most powerful communications satellite the nation has developed.

Zhao Jian, a space program official at the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, which oversees China's space programs, said the transmission capacity of Shijian 13 exceeds the total capacity of all of the country's previous communications satellites.

He said that in addition to its communications missions, the satellite will also be tasked with conducting space-to-ground laser communications experiments.

Zhou Zhicheng, head of the China Academy of Space Technology's Institute of Telecommunication Satellite, said Shijian 13 would use electric propulsion after it enters orbit, which will extensively reduce the chemical fuel the satellite carries.
All public hospitals have been told to end the longtime practice of drug price markups by the end of September as part of the ongoing healthcare reform, the top economic planner said on Wednesday.

Public hospitals' loss of revenue will be offset for the most part by an increase in the prices of patient services, and more government investment is expected, a National Development and Reform Commission statement said.

The markups, a key source of income for public hospitals, are a major but thorny issue in healthcare reform, which aims for universal coverage of basic healthcare services, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Since the 1950s, public hospitals have been selling drugs at a markup. The maximum is 15 percent. Although the policy helped make up for a lack of adequate government healthcare funding, "gradually it evolved into a way to reap profits, contributing to worsening problems like overprescribing, an excessive use of antibiotics by hospitals, and rising medical expenses", said Wang Hesheng, vice-minister of the health and family planning agency.

With the expected drop in revenues from drug sales, authorities will adjust the fees for medical services, the NDRC said on Wednesday.

Charges related to the expertise of medical staff, like those for diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation, will rise, while those for tests requiring major medical equipment will drop, the commission said.

The commission also is requiring local price regulators to carry out other necessary reforms following the measure, including changing medical insurance payments so rising service fees are covered by insurance reimbursement. Also, attention must be given to meeting the basic healthcare needs of low-income people.

Many public hospitals in China had already abolished drug price markups before Wednesday's announcement.

In Beijing, more than 3,600 medical institutions, including all public ones, had abolished the practice starting Saturday.

The measure is expected to lower the cost of outpatient treatment by about 5 percent, but the cost for inpatient treatment, including surgery, will rise by about 2.5 percent, said Li Sufang, deputy director of the Beijing Commission of Development and Reform.

Drug sales accounted for a third of the income of public hospitals last year, according to the Beijing Commission for Health and Family Planning.
The Chinese mainland accused Taiwan of harming cross-Straits relations by playing up a case involving a Taiwan man who is under investigation on the mainland, an official said on Wednesday.

Lee Ming-che, a Taiwan resident, was detained on suspicion of harming national security this month.

An Fengshan, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated at a regular news conference on Wednesday that Lee is being investigated in accordance with the law for suspected activities endangering national security.

The communication mechanism across the Taiwan Straits has been suspended since last year because the island's new leader, Tsai Ing-wen, has failed to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.

Considering human rights, the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits has entrusted a Taiwan-based NGO to inform Lee's wife of the case and pass letters from him to his family, An said.

Families can also pass on related goods to Lee, he said, adding that so far, the association has not yet received any goods from the family.

"Some groups in Taiwan with ulterior motives have used the case to attack the mainland, cause trouble and interfere with the investigation. They won't succeed," An said.

Lee was reported missing on March 19, while in Guangdong province. According to media reports, Lee had planned to attend a meeting that day in Zhuhai, but failed to show up.

An also welcomed Taiwan businesses to join the Xiongan New Area development.

"All businesses, regardless of their country, region or city, are welcome to join the Xiongan New Area program, as long as their line of work suits the overall industrial plan of the area," An said.

On April 1, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council announced the establishment of the new area to boost the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.
Hundreds of restaurants and guesthouses around a well-known lake in Yunnan province have suspended business for the construction of a project to protect the ecological environment.

Most venues close to Erhai Lake, a popular tourism spot in Yunnan's Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, posted notices about the suspension of their services, after the prefectural government announced on March 31 that a pollutant-interception project would be constructed, according to a China Daily reporter who visited the area.

The decision to suspend businesses was made as the rapid development of the local economy, including the development of its tourism industry - which has brought large numbers of tourists to the lakeside - has imposed great pressure on the environmental carrying capacity. Local authorities said measures must be taken to curb the exacerbation of the issue.

The project was initially due to be completed in December 2018, but the first stage of the project is now expected to be finished ahead of schedule and come into service by the end of the year, with a sewage processing capacity of 5,000 cubic meters a day, authorities said.

Many business owners around the lake expressed their understanding of the policy, saying that a clean and beautiful Erhai Lake will guarantee the prosperity of Dali and of their own lives.

However, they also said they face practical problems, such as how to make a living during the suspension.

A local resident and founder of a guesthouse close to the lake, surnamed Zhao, started his venture after he graduated from college in 2014.

He said that many tourists had booked stays at his guesthouse before the policy was issued, so he now has to contact the 189 bookings to explain to them one by one that they have to cancel their stay because of the suspension.

The owner of another guesthouse near the lake, surnamed Shi, said he didn't know what to do apart from wait to see what happens.

"Numerous people running a business like mine have lost their sources of income. Some had borrowed money to start their businesses and now have to worry about paying debts without having an income," he said.

Zhang Yong, deputy Party chief of Dali, said the prefecture is drafting a series of regulations on running guesthouses near the lake, with possible clauses such as valid licenses being required, and guesthouses having their own sewage treatment facilities and meeting discharging standards set by environmental authorities.

The regulations are expected to be released before the construction of the project is completed, Zhang said.

Li Xinyi in Dali contributed to this story.
[April 13, 2017] Cloud Foundry Announces 2017 European Summit in Basel, Switzerland

SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Foundry Foundation, home of the industry-standard multi-cloud platform, today announced the date and location of its 2017 European Summit in Basel, Switzerland, from October 11-12 at the Congress Center Basel. Registration, a speakers call for papers and sponsorship opportunities are now open for the event. More than 700 businesses, developers and vendors from across Europe gathered at last year's Summit in Frankfurt to share best practices and hear senior executives from leading organizations like Allianz, Bosch, Fidelity, Siemens, Volkswagen, Rakuten and the Dutch Government describe how Cloud Foundry has helped them build and deploy robust, resilient and flexible cloud-native applications across multiple cloud platforms. Last year the event sold out - secure your spot at the lowest possible ticket price of 180 if you register by 18 April. "Cloud Foundry Summits have become the place for companies, both providers and users, to catch up on the latest advances in the cloud native world and make valuable business connections," said Abby Kearns, Executive Director, Cloud Foundy Foundation. "For enterprise developers especially, the Summits are a place to learn not just from their peers, but also to train and become certified on Cloud Foundry."



Attendees will join other developers and CIOs to gain first-hand access to Cloud Foundry roadmaps, training and tutorials, and to see how others are using Cloud Foundry to support continuous innovation and application portability. Attendees will also have access to the new Cloud Foundry Developer Certification (CFDC) at Summit. Performance-based, community-based and independent of any distribution vendor, Cloud Foundry Developer Certification is the guaranteed way to demonstrate cloud skills and allow developers to be highly productive while working on top of Cloud Foundry. Cloud Foundry is an open source technology backed by the largest technology companies in the world, including Cisco, Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Google, IBM, Pivotal, SAP and SUSE, and is being used by leaders in manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services. Only Cloud Foundry delivers the velocity needed to continuously deliver apps at the speed of business. Cloud Foundry's container-based architecture runs apps in any language on your choice of cloud  Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, OpenStack, SoftLayer, VMware vSphere, and more. With a robust services ecosystem and simple integration with existing technologies, Cloud Foundry is the modern standard for mission critical apps for global organizations.

Keynote speakers and full conference schedules will be announced later this summer. For more information about Cloud Foundry Europe 2017 visit https://www.cloudfoundry.org/event/europe-2017/. You can submit a speaking proposal for Summit Europe here or register for Early Bird pricing here for 315 before August 8. About Cloud Foundry Foundation

The Cloud Foundry Foundation is an independent non-profit organization formed to sustain the development, promotion and adoption of Cloud Foundry as the industry standard platform for cloud applications. Cloud Foundry makes it faster and easier to build, test, deploy and scale applications. Cloud Foundry is an Apache 2.0 licensed project available on Github: https://github.com/cloudfoundry. To learn more, visit: http://www.cloudfoundry.org. Contact:

Jessica Rampen

Cloud Foundry Foundation

[email protected]

650-787-3548 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cloud-foundry-announces-2017-european-summit-in-basel-switzerland-300439206.html SOURCE Cloud Foundry

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Liu Jingxu (right) and his elder brother at their home in Qingdao, Shandong province.Provided To China Daily

For almost three decades, Liu Jingxu and his wife have cared for his learning-disabled elder brother in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Despite having a son and daughter of their own to care for, the couple, now both in their late 70s, took on the responsibility after Liu's parents died in 1989.

The elder brother had been raised by his parents his whole life and the only hobbies he had were reading comic books and eating snacks. Liu's wife, Sun Daofang, would buy something for him every time she went shopping.

"My brother-in-law is a grateful man," Sun said. "He receives a disability allowance of 400 yuan ($58) from the government each month and he always insists that I keep half of it - if I refuse, he leaves all the money on the table and waits until I take it."

This money was welcome at the time, as Liu made only a humble living working at a textile mill and Sun was a housewife, tending to a small parcel of land.

In June 2015, Liu's son had a brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma. Every morning for four months, his parents took the earliest bus they could and traveled the 40 kilometers to the hospital where he was receiving treatment. At noon each day, Sun had to go back home to make lunch for the elder brother.

After waking from his coma, Liu's son was paralyzed and the couple now have to take turns caring for him and the elder brother.

Last November, the brother was hit by a car while out taking a stroll. Though not badly hurt, he was hospitalized for seven days.

Liu and Sun, now age 78 and 75 respectively, struggle to stay optimistic.

"My son is getting better, but what about my brother? What if something happens to me and my wife?" Liu said.

"I often joke with him that he dare not get sick, so that we can both hang on for a few more years and die in peace."

Over the past 28 years, the couple have been told by community centers, governments, relatives and friends that they should put the elder brother in a nursing home, but Liu has always politely declined.

"There is no home sweeter than home. As long as my wife and I are able to, we will not send him away. We have been living together for 30 years and we know his temperament, habit, likes and dislikes, and he could not live a happier life anywhere else," Liu said.

Last year, Liu and his wife were honored with a good Samaritan award from the city's Chengyang district for their dedication to their family.
Michelena takes water samples from the Wenruitang River in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Wenzhou Evening News]

Toby Michelena, a professor from Wenzhou-Kean University, is always taking some of his students to the Wenruitang River in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province to gather water samples at weekends.

In December last year, Michelena and his students launched a one-year project to study the Wenruitang River and its fauna for the purpose of restoring the river's ecosystem.

"We are now researching an 18-kilometer section of the river which runs across the core region of Wenzhou and many agricultural areas," Michelena said proudly. He added that he feels real satisfaction in protecting the river and helping it become cleaner.

Michelena used to practice environmental protection in Washington and he has long been interested in water pollution. Therefore, after arriving in Wenzhou, he started to keep an eye on the water quality of the Wenruitang River, a significant waterway in Wenzhou.

Michelena hopes that he and his team will be able to use their knowledge to analyze the source of the river's pollution and set specific goals and plans to make it cleaner.
NANCHANG -- Once laid-off, Song Ying's life experience, full of ups and downs, has earned her a chance to attend China's major national meeting this year.

The mould worker, 48, from Guixi Huatai Copper Industry Company, was just elected by around 50,000 Communist Party of China (CPC) members in Yingtan city, eastern China's Jiangxi Province, as a national delegate candidate to the 19th CPC National Congress.

Her nomination, which still needs to be reviewed, does not affect her everyday work, developing new moulds in the workshop.

Nationwide, a total of 2,300 delegates will be elected before June to represent China's 88 million CPC members to take part in the national congress.

The meeting, slated for the second half of the year in Beijing, will discuss and set the future direction for the Party and state, as well as elect a new central leadership.

"I didn't expect so many people to trust and elect me. I'm very grateful," said Song, who became a CPC member five years ago.

People placed their trust in her for various reasons. At the age of 33, she was laid off from a brewery where she worked for 16 years, but pulled herself together to find a job as a warehouse keeper in a copper firm.

Song wanted more, and she pushed herself to become a skilled mould worker, learning from colleagues.

Over the past decade, she has led a team to develop new technologies, creating a profit of more than 30 million yuan (around $4 million) for the previously loss-making factory.

The CPC national congress takes place once every five years. The delegates are not full-time and come from all walks of life: state leaders, officials, workers, farmers and teachers.

The upcoming session will see a higher percentage of grassroots delegates working on the frontline like Song.

These frontline workers should account for no less than one-third of the delegates, representing provincial level regions, the central financial sector and centrally-administered enterprises in Beijing, which increased by 1.33, 13.3 and 1.33 percentage points respectively, compared to the 18th CPC National Congress.

Governments at various levels put forward that Party officials, front-line workers, women and those from ethnic groups should account for a certain proportion of the total.

Meanwhile, excellent Party members making outstanding contribution to reforms, technological innovation and poverty alleviation should also be recommended.

As a migrant worker contributing to poverty relief, Yu Dechun has been nominated as a candidate delegate in Shuizi township, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Yu, 45, has helped many women in the township find jobs related to housekeeping services in cities, increasing their annual income by 8,500 yuan per capita.

More focus on grassroots delegates represents a change in Party membership. Party authorities approved 1.965 million new candidates in 2015, of whom 977,000 were frontline workers, such as industrial employees, farmers, herders and migrants.

"The rising number of frontline delegates can better reflect the views of Party members and cement public support for the Party," said Chu Xiaotao, deputy head of organization department of Yingtan city.
The United Nations Belt and Road Initiative workshop was held on April 12 at the United Nations' headquarters in New York.

The workshop, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, was called "The Belt and Road Initiative: Progress and Future Cooperation - Dialogue between the United Nations and Chinese experts".

The forum was aimed at helping United Nations secretariat officials understand how the initiative intersects with the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) is an NGO with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of CEFC, Patrick Ho Chi Ping, was invited to introduce the Belt and Road Initiative at the workshop. Ho said that China's BRI is in line with all the SDGs covered by the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Belt and Road Initiative, in the form of Globalization 2.0, will provide strong support for the achievement of the UN 2030 goals. The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda covers 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. It contains five categories; people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

The agenda will push the world towards three unprecedented achievements the eradication of extreme poverty, overcoming inequality and injustice, and the mitigation of climate change.

The agenda shows that investment in infrastructure is essential for achieving sustainable development and strengthening community building in various countries.

BRI provides powerful support and protection for achieving these goals. Ho emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative is not just a wish and a slogan anymore, rather, offering the only realistic path to much-needed global growth, sustainable development and peace at a time of rising uncertainty.

Hong Pingfan, Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Unit of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said that the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has established capacity development projects in particular to assist countries in the area along the initiative to analyze and formulate policies.

International cooperation on the initiative is also advanced to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations agenda for 2030 and sustainable development goals. Hong said that the project has four main tasks.

First, to provide training and build a network of cooperation. Secondly, to carry out different levels of policy discussion. Thirdly, to proceed with cross-country joint research and policy analysis and finally, to publish research results and a variety of related papers.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs will select 20 countries to undergo international cooperation in the first phase.

Director of the General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, Ion Botnaru, said that globalization is facing a huge challenge, and infrastructure construction is fundamental. The initiative supports infrastructure in the nick of time.

The establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has brought hope for the project. The importance of the Belt and Road Initiative is not limited to infrastructure. It is a comprehensive initiative that people in both developed countries and developing countries benefit from.

This is why we want to intensify efforts to put it into practice, Ion Botnaru said that aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the United Nations 2030 agenda is the most important issue at present.

When you have a political agenda that is supported by 193 member states, as the 2030 agenda is, it will then be much easier to get the support and cooperation of the local government.
Cuba hosted a Chinese Bridge language proficiency contest on Wednesday, featuring seven local students of Chinese.

Students enrolled at the Confucius Institute in Havana demonstrated their language skills, as well as their knowledge of China's history and culture.

Sponsored by the institute, in conjunction with the University of Havana and China's Ministry of Education, the contest aims to promote cultural ties between the East Asian country and other regions of the world.

Following three competitive rounds in which students demonstrated their verbal and grammatical skills, and familiarity with Chinese customs and culture, Diana Blanco was declared the winner.

"I'm really excited about winning this contest because studying Chinese is very important in my life," said Blanco, currently an intermediate-level student.

"I am grateful to the jury and the professors of the Confucius Institute for selecting me as the winner and I will continue to deepen my knowledge of the language," she added.

During the competition, Blanco related a tale about her dreams, correctly answered history, grammar and general knowledge questions, and recited a poem, all in Chinese.

China's Ambassador to Cuba, Chen Xi, was on hand to present the award, which includes an invitation to travel to Beijing as Cuba's contestant in the international Chinese Bridge competition.

Fellow intermediate-level students Deborah Velazco and Jessica Jaime came in second and third place, respectively, with performances that earned them the praise of the public and the jury.

Chen congratulated the contestants on their high level of language proficiency and artistic interpretations.

"Language is an instrument for communication and for developing cooperation, and in this sense it is important that many more Cubans learn Chinese to deepen our relations more fluidly," said the diplomat.

Chen also highlighted the work carried out since 2008 by the Confucius Institute, where hundreds of Cubans have studied Chinese.

"Every day, more and more Cubans are interested in studying the Chinese language and it is largely a result of the successful work of the Confucius Institute, which strives for more people to learn Chinese every year," he said.

More than 100 million people around the world study Chinese, allowing Beijing to better strengthen its economic, trade and cultural ties with different nations, said Chen.

The diplomat also thanked the Cuban government for its cooperation since 2006 in offering more than 3,000 scholarships to young Chinese students keen to study Spanish in the island.
The opening ceremony of the "Chinese Culture Enters ASEAN" activity was celebrated in grand style at the Bangkok Chinese Cultural Center on March 31, with distinctive Chinese music, dances, acrobatics and performances featuring Confucian traditions provided by the Shandong art group.

More than 400 distinguished guests from China and Thailand attended the ceremony, including Wissanu Krea-ngam, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Phinij Jarusombat, Thailand's former deputy prime minister and president of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council, Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Chinese ambassador to Thailand Ning Fukui.

Wissanu said at the ceremony that Chinese culture is profound and boasts a long history. The cultural exchange activity will give Thai people an opportunity to understand Chinese culture as well as the Qilu culture, and promote friendship between the two peoples.

Liu said that Shandong has rich cultural resources and has made great contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture to the whole world.

Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Culture Enters ASEAN" activity at the Bangkok Chinese Cultural Center on March 31. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn]

Several cultural events took place during the three-day cultural exchange activity in Bangkok, all expressing the essence of Qilu culture. They included a book fair, exhibitions of drawings of Confucius, Shandong painting and calligraphy and intangible cultural heritages and cultural lectures.
A potential homebuyer checks out a property project in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Dec 17, 2016. [Asianewsphoto by Long Wei]

The fixed-asset investment in 23 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions (excluding agricultural households) is expected to increase to more than 45 trillion yuan ($6.52 trillion) in 2017, raising public concerns.

Some people have even inappropriately compared the fixed-asset investment with the 4 trillion yuan stimulation package in 2008. The fact is, the government had allocated 4 trillion yuan as extra investment to offset the impact of the global financial crisis and stimulate the economy, and the amount was far less than the total social fixed-asset investment. For example, China's annual social overall fixed-asset investment reached 45 trillion yuan in 2013, rising to 50 trillion yuan in 2014, 56 trillion yuan in 2015 and about 60 trillion yuan last year.

Based on last year's growth rate of fixed-asset investment, the overall amount for this year is expected to be about 65 trillion yuan. Thus the 45 trillion yuan fixed-asset investment of the 23 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions is in accordance with the growth tendency of such investment in recent years.

That people are surprised to see even reasonable economic data shows their concern about local government debt. Although provincial-level governments can generally manage their local debts, some can encounter risks. So if a province or region faces a shortage of pension payment funds, it should be alert to financial risks.

Besides, people should understand that government funds do not account for the entire amount of fixed-asset investment; a considerable amount actually comprises social investment. Private investment declined sharply last year because of some economic factors, including periodical and structural adjustments. And reducing costs is one of the key tasks of the supply-side structural reform, which is expected to promote private investment.

Since government debts in some regions are the result of debt replacement and past accumulation of debts, the total debts signify the cumulative financial risk of the few past years. Also, local governments' special debt is included in the government-managed fund, which mainly consists of income from the transfer of rights to use State-owned land. Last year, the income from the transfer of such rights was 3.74 trillion yuan, up 15.1 percent year-on-year, which accounted for 88 percent of the local government-managed fund (4.24 trillion yuan).

In some regions the income from transfer of State-owned land use rights declined sharply, which was partly responsible for the increase in local government debt.

Investment should be facilitated and promoted, as President Xi Jinping said during a panel discussion with lawmakers from Shanghai at the annual session of China's top legislature last month. But the scale of local government investment should be strictly controlled, and the central government must provide necessary support for local governments so that they can meet their capital shortage in order to deliver public services and public goods.

Moreover, the market should be allowed to play a decisive role in resource distribution, and as private investments are of great significance to macroeconomic stabilization and local economic development, proper channels should be created to attract them to local projects. For instance, the public-private partnership is a significant financing channel for local governments' fixed-asset investment.

According to Ministry of Finance data, PPP projects across the country saw rapid growth last year, when 11,260 PPP projects were registered with a cumulative investment of 13.5 trillion yuan. And since large scale fixed-asset investment is expected to be made in local areas through PPPs this year, local governments should properly weigh the risks of both local government debt and PPP in order to avoid fiscal risks.

The author is a research fellow at the National Academy of Economic Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
A 69-year-old male who was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight is seen a video clip. [Photo/Twitter]

Video of an Asian passenger being dragged off a United Airlines flight by airport police in Chicago on Sunday night, which went viral on the internet, has drawn widespread public anger.

The apparent overuse of force by law enforcement personnel was disturbing, as the 69-year-old man, David Dao, can be seen to be bloodied and obviously dazed.

Dao posed no security threat at all to other passengers. But he was forcibly removed from the overbooked plane after he refused to relinquish his seat when asked to do so, with justifiable reason: As a doctor, he needed to get home to treat patients.

The way Dao was treated is inexcusable, yet the airline's CEO Oscar Munoz in his statement on Monday called Dao "disruptive and belligerent", suggesting he was to blame for the altercation.

This callousness fueled more outrage, and sparked calls for people to boycott the airline.

The CEO's latest statement on Tuesday, in which he described the removal as "truly horrific", and that the airline took "full responsibility", at least recognizes the truth of the matter. However, his promise to review the airline's overbooking policies may have come too late, because the damage to the airline's image has already been done.

It is common for US airlines to "bump" passengers from overbooked flights. But the latest case should prompt the airline industry to review this practice. Although, the airline claimed that Dao was randomly selected by a computer, one cannot help but wonder what parameters are used for the selection process.

Meanwhile, no company can thrive by showing it does not care about its customers.

In this sense, the US airline companies can learn from their Asian counterparts, such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, which excel in ensuring customer satisfaction as shown by numerous surveys and awards.
A surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 is test-fired by DPRK on Jan 12, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

For those convinced a military solution to the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula is unavoidable, Chinese President Xi Jinping's latest emphasis on "resolving problems through peaceful means" in a phone conversation with his US counterpart on Wednesday should act as a reminder that the worst-case scenario should and can be avoided.

Tensions on the peninsula have spiraled to such a degree that both Pyongyang and Washington appear to be readying themselves for a costly showdown.

After dispatching the US Navy Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Korean Peninsula, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again vowed to "solve the North Korean problem", with or without Beijing's help.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, however, has shown little sign of backing off. Instead, it responded with a threat of nuclear attack on US forces in the region and "in the US mainland".

But the bellicose rhetoric aside, Republic of Korea Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun made a crucial point that testifies to the special significance Xi placed on a peaceful resolution when he urged people not to "get blinded by exaggerated assessment of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula".

The truth is that although the prospect of war may seem real, no party really wants a war. Many sources indicate Washington is increasing the pressure in the hope that Pyongyang will change course without a shot being fired. Otherwise, it would not have insisted that Beijing could and should help rein in Pyongyang.

Nor should we neglect what happened on Tuesday in the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang. In sharp contrast to its war rhetoric, Pyongyang reinstated its long-gone foreign affairs committee, appointing two diplomats known for dealing with their US and ROK counterparts in past negotiations. Maybe this is not intended specifically for the current crisis. But it does reveal an interest in diplomacy on Pyongyang's part.

The ROK, on the other hand, knows full well it would be the foremost casualty should war break out, and that a peaceful removal of the nuclear/missile threat from the DPRK would be in its best interests.

Since peace is in the interests of all stakeholders, they should not give up on a non-military solution.

And the first step is to stop adding fuel to fire.

The DPRK, in particular, must refrain from conducting another nuclear/missile provocation on Saturday, when celebrating the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding father.

While the US and the ROK should suspend their large-scale military exercises and cease their belligerent brinkmanship.

A misstep by either side at such a critical juncture could prove disastrous, and the damage irreparable.
WeChat Pay advertisements hang from the ceiling at a supermarket in East China's Hangzhou city. LONG WEI/CHINA DAILY

IN 2013, a company that sold self-made coins based on the "five elements" of feng shui to its customers at 5,000 yuan ($725) a piece and offered a percentage to those who sold the coins to other people was charged by the Ministry of Public Security with illegal pyramid selling, and 33 of the organizers were detained or arrested. However, a recent online video shows the organization is still alive, even expanding. Thepaper.cn comments:

Reports show that the pyramid selling organization came back to life with the help of social media chat groups.

Those doing illegal pyramid selling can expand with unprecedented efficiency and attract large numbers of new members within a very short time by micro-marketing using social media platforms such as WeChat.

Worse, this makes it even more difficult for the police to catch them. Traditionally, pyramid selling groups would shut their members in a certain place and effectively brainwash them. The police could strike by finding these places. Now the pyramid sellers can brainwash their victims online and the organizers can hide their identities. That makes it even more difficult for the police to catch them.

Many of the victims of such online pyramid selling schemes are senior citizens who lack the ability to distinguish information online. A typical example is the above-mentioned coins. On Saturday, a China Central Television report revealed the whole process and many senior citizens watched the report. But some pyramid selling organizers continued cheating in their WeChat groups by saying that the government supports the coins and the report was fake.

It is time for the authorities to take more effective measures. As the illegal pyramid selling organizers go online, the police should go online, too, so as to track down the gang leaders. More importantly, transparency should be further promoted so that people will more easily get to know the names of the pyramid selling organizations. Only with the joint efforts of all will such illegal pyramid selling be curbed.
Saudi Arabia Homeland Security & Public Safety Market 2017-2022 - Research and Markets

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Saudi Arabia Homeland Security & Public Safety Market - 2017-2022" report to their offering.

Saudi Arabia Homeland Security 2015-2022 Cumulative Market - $112.5 Billion

Saudi Arabia Holds the World Record of HLS & PS Market Size / Per Citizen

The turmoil in the Arab world, the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and the Iranian driven Sunni-Shi'ah divide in the Kingdom, are forcing the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia to face critical junctures. Saudi Arabia government, which has at its disposal $610B of petrodollars reserves, spends "whatever it takes" to secure the country's stability and defeat any internal or external regime change threats. This policy places Saudi Arabia as the global leader in Homeland Security & Public Safety market size per capita.

Saudi Arabia plans to procure during 2017-2020 as much as $90B of Homeland Security & Public Safety related products and services. This huge market will create a highly profitable business environment for state-of-the-art security products and service providers.

The reprt provides an updated extensive data of 11 leading vendors active in Saudi Arabia including:







- Airbus Defense and Space

- BAE Systems

- Boeing (News - Alert)

- Finmeccanica SpA

- General Dynamics Corp.

- L-3 Security & Detection Systems

- Leidos Inc.

- Lockheed Martin Corp.

- Northrop Grumman Corp.

- Raytheon

- Thales (News - Alert) Group

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Business Opportunities in the Saudi Security Sector

3 Market Drivers

4 Market Inhibitors

5 SWOT Analysis

6 Competitive Analysis

7 Market Dynamics

8 Saudi Arabia Homeland Security & Public Safety Market - 2015-2022

9 Aviation Security Market

10 Border Security Market

11 CBRN Security & Hazmat Safety Market

12 Saudi Intelligence Community Market

13 Critical Infrastructure Protection Market

14 Maritime Security Market

15 Police Modernization & 1st Responders Market

16 Private Sector Security Market

17 Safe City Market

18 Other Vertical Markets

19 Homeland Security & Public Safety Biometrics Market

20 Homeland Security & Public Safety C2/C4ISR Systems Market

21 Cyber Security Market

22 Emergency Communication Market

23 Immigration Enforcement Market

24 Perimeter - Border Security Technologies Market

25 Video Surveillance Market

26 Explosives & Weapon Detection Market

27 Personal Protective Gear Market

28 Intrusion (News - Alert) Detection Technologies Market

29 Homeland Security & Public Safety Video Analytics Market

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rb4xn6/saudi_arabia

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005569/en/
Guizhou province will roll out a series of new tourism policies to attract travelers from far and wide in the coming months.

The southwestern province will offer tourists from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei as well as travelers from outside the mainland free tickets to major scenic spots between April 29 and May 16, Guizhou tourism development commission's director Li Sanqi says at a tourism promotion event in Beijing early April.

The tickets will half-price from May 17 to June 10.

Self-drivers from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei in cars with less than seven passengers will pay no highway charge in Guizhou during April 29-May 16.

Air flights connecting Guizhou to the three northern sites will be discounted from April 29 to June 10, and some prices will be more than 50 percent off.

The province is also inviting veteran travelers and travel business operators from countries and regions along the Road and Belt, such as Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, to experience local tourism resources and plan optimized tour packages and tips. The campaign will be ongoing through September.

The idea is to build an image of Guizhou among foreign guests, according to Li.

The province witnessed more than 40 percent growth in both the number of visitors and tourism income in 2016.

Guizhou boasts majestic landscape scenery and diverse ethnic elements and is an important hub connecting central and southern China.

Related:

Miao Sisters Festival celebrated in SW China's Guizhou

Breaking down the process of ancient tea making
Torsten Dressler, managing director of Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center gives a welcome speech at the Kempinski 120th anniversary festivities. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The first Kempinski luxury hotel in China will embrace a mixture of European elegance and Asian design through a recently launched renovation project, the hotel executive said.

The move is part of celebrations of the hotels 25 years in China and the 120th anniversary of Kempinski, said Toresten Dressler, managing director of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, during an Ignite the Night event with bespoke celebrations on April 8.

The hotel celebrated worldwide deserts with a competition for Dessert of the Year at the hotel beginning in April, he said.

In the competition, parties competed to make the best dessert to mark the celebration of the 120th anniversary. The winning dessert will be featured worldwide in all Kempinski properties.

Markus Semer, chairman of the management board and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, said: Our founder, Berthold Kempinski, paved the way for a new standard of hospitality, based on timeless European elegance and impeccable service.

He created venues that introduced guests to new experiences, in unique and original surroundings, and his innovative and entrepreneurial approach has remained the inspiration for our development over the years.
JAKARTA -- A plane with several people on board lost contact on Wednesday in Papua province of eastern Indonesia, search and rescue operation have been underway, spokesman of Indonesian transport ministry J. A. Barata said.

"The cargo plane lost contact today (Wednesday). Now we are checking the number of crew," Barata told Xinhua via phone.

Marsudi, spokesman of the national search and rescue office, said the C208 Caravan plane was on route of Wajo and Sentani.

It departed at 2:45 p.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive at 3:24 p.m. local time, Marsudi said.

"The plane sent S.O.S. message during the flight," Marsudi said.

"Search and rescue for the plane is underway now, involving a plane and personnel from local search and rescue office. But the weather seems unfavorable," said Marsudi.
UNITED NATIONS -- A Chinese envoy said Tuesday that China hopes the new Haitian government will embark on a path of development suited to its national conditions.

"We hope the new government in Haiti identify as soon as possible a development path that fits its national situation, accelerate infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and other major sectors of development with a view to eradicating poverty, creating more jobs, improving people's livelihoods," among others, said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN at a Security Council meeting on Haiti.

Sandra Honore, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), briefed the Council on developments in the country from October 2016. Since then, she said, Haiti has made significant progress in consolidating democracy and maintaining security and stability with the inauguration of Jovenel Moise as President on Feb. 7, marking the restoration of constitutional order.

"China hopes all parties in Haiti jointly maintain this positive momentum and contribute to the overall stability and development of the country," said the Chinese envoy.

Liu expressed hope that the international community, including countries in the region, will continue to contribute to improving conditions in Haiti, help build a stronger national police force, and support the government's effort to maintain stability.

"At the same time, we hope that the international community will provide more assistance to help hurricane stricken areas in Haiti to build," he said.

In her briefing, Honore noted that the island's police force continues to show an increased ability to combat crime and maintain public order. Areas for improvement include strengthening internal management and oversight and increasing the police-to-population ratio.

She said a six-month extension of MINUSTAH, set to expire on April 15, would encompass the creation of a new mission, which would unfold against the backdrop of a significantly improved political situation. It would also occur at a time when there was a crucial window of opportunity to address the root causes of the political crisis that had preceded the elections.

The Chinese ambassador commended the move, saying that "this is a recognition of the Haitian government's ability to maintain stability."

"China supports the recommendation by this Security Council and the Secretary General and hopes MINUSTAH withdraws in an orderly manner, while ensuring stability in Haiti," he said.
Sir Keith Burnett and Professor Zhen Huang, vice-president for international affairs at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, sign the exchange agreement. [Photo provided by the University of Sheffield to chinadaily.com.cn ]

The University of Sheffield and Chinas Shanghai Jiao Tong Universityhave signed an agreement to begin exchanges of students, a further strengthening of Sheffields China program, which is among the most active in British education.

The exchange will provide Shanghai Jiao Tong undergraduates with opportunities to study abroad at a leading research university. Similarly, students attending the university in South Yorkshire will get a chance to learn at an institution ranked in Chinas top 10 that is in one of the worlds major metropolitan cities.

The program will be available to students across all disciplines. Sheffield expects most interest from China to be directed at its engineering and mechanical engineering departments.

Sir Keith Burnett, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said the agreement augments the universitys close relationship with China.

"Im delighted that now our students will also be able to experience one anothers universities," he said.

The University of Sheffields Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are collaborators on a joint research institute, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Located in the historic heart of the UKs steel industry, the University of Sheffield is known for its advanced manufacturing, and the SAST will work on the development of thin-walled structures for rockets in Chinas space program.

As well as the SAST institute, Sheffield agreed last year to form a research institute with Nanjing Tech University, from East Chinas Jiangsu province. It will offer courses in chemistry, financial mathematics, and materials physics.

Sheffield is home to 2,800 Chinese students and is the fourth most popular choice among Chinese students among Russell group institutions, a self-selected association of 24 public research universities in the United Kingdom.

Burnett, who speaks Mandarin, founded the Sheffield China Gateway scheme, which is being developed with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce to attract and support inward investment and Chinese businesses.

Last year, Chinas Sichuan Guodong Construction Company announced plans to invest 1 billion pounds ($1.25 billion) during the next 60 years into the city of Sheffield, the biggest-ever Chinese investment into the UK outside London.

The initial investment will be 220 million pounds during three years and will reportedly involve a major hotel development, student accommodation, retail structures and leisure space.

Burnett said: "China is a quarter of the worlds population and we face many similar challenges around energy, sustainable jobs and healthcare as our populations age. If we can pool our expertise and energy over years and decades, we have the potential to do real good in the world and to bring a powerful boost to the future economy of the UKs Northern Powerhouse."

The Northern Powerhouse is a development plan that was started by the previous Conservative government that is aimed at boosting the economy and transport links in the North. It is chaired by former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

To contact the reporter: angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com
President urges US leader to help defuse Korean Peninsula situation

The Korean Peninsula issue should be settled through peaceful means, President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, adding that Beijing is willing to continue a dialogue with Washington on the issue.

Xi spoke by telephone with Trump on the issue just days after his meeting with the US president on April 6 and 7 in Florida.

Xi "stressed that China sticks to the target of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and that China is committed to peace and stability of the peninsula," according to a news release issued by the Foreign Ministry.

"China holds that the issue should be solved through peaceful means and is ready to maintain communication and coordination with the United States on the issue," the statement said.

The two presidents also talked about the situation in Syria. Xi said any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and that the path of political settlement should be followed.

He expressed the hope that the UN Security Council would speak in one voice, as it is important for the council's members to remain united over the issue.

Xi said his recent tete-a-tete with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida has produced important results, which have won a positive response from among the Chinese people and the international community.

He and Trump have increased mutual understanding and established sound working relations, he added.

He urged the two sides to promote economic cooperation, expand exchanges in military, law enforcement, technology and communication, enhance communication and coordination regarding major global and regional issues through a newly established four-pronged dialogue mechanism.

Xi also asked teams from China and the US to work together to make sure Trump's visit to China later this year will achieve fruitful results.

Trump has called the meeting with Xi at Mar-a-Lago a success. He said he was looking forward to his state visit to China this year.

When asked about the reason behind the phone conversation, which came right after Xi's US trip, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday that the two presidents agreed to keep close communication through all kinds of channels.

"After all, the time of the meetings was limited," he said.

Lu said Beijing had taken note of remarks made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Washington would consider talking with Pyongyang after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the north stops all nuclear and missile tests.

Ruan Zongze, executive deputy president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the situation on the Korean Peninsula issue is "very severe" and became an important topic of the phone conversation between the two leaders.

The US and the Republic of Korea to the south are conducting their biggest-ever military exercises, and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group is heading to the area.

"Once the situation is out of control, it will be a disaster to China and the region. So China has clearly expressed its resolution to keeping stability there, which is Beijing's bottom line," Ruan said.

The change of tone is a move forward in the right direction on the issue, Ruan added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
The Dalai Lama's actions won't change Beijing's position on Tibet-related issues and the boundary question, a Foreign Ministry official said on Wednesday, after India invited the Dalai Lama to visit the disputed eastern section of the China-India boundary despite China's concerns.

The Dalai Lama's behavior, like claiming to be a "son of India" and endorsing false statements by the so-called Arunachal Pradesh officials in disputed areas in Southern Tibet, indicate that the Dalai Lama clique's position is thoroughly "foreign", said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

Lu made the remarks when asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's attack on the Chinese government during his stay in the disputed region, as well as Indian officials' repeated, inappropriate speeches over the boundary question.

China strongly objected to India over the visit, and Lu said China will "take further measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and national security".

"The 14th Dalai Lama's show won't change China's position one bit on the boundary question and Tibet-related issues," Lu said. On the contrary, it will only make people see more clearly the Dalai Lama's true intention to split China and undermine the interests of its people, including the Tibetan ethnic group, all under the cover "of religion", Lu added.

The spokesman also slammed India's insistence on inviting the Dalai Lama to the disputed region and "indulging" him, as well as Indian officials making provocative political speeches.

This shows that the Dalai Lama's trip goes beyond what India claimed to be "religious activities", Lu said. It also shows that India had violated the "solemn commitment" it made over Tibet-related issues, and its behavior will adversely affect the two countries' efforts to solve territorial disputes through negotiations, he added.

"The boundary question and Tibet-related issues bear on the political foundation of China-India relations," Lu said, urging India to stop "provocative moves".

Jia Duqiang, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said India "will gain nothing from the move", which will damage its ties with Beijing.

"China will not make any concessions when it comes to its core interests, sovereignty and Tibet-related issues", he said.

Jia said to repair ties, India must give assurances that such incidents will not happen again.
US President Donald Trump listens during a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hold in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, April 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The US is "not getting along with Russia at all" and the relations between the two countries "may be at an all-time low" , US President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. It came shortly after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Moscow that the US and Russia have reached a "low point" in relations.

The Russian government has condemned the missile strikes by the United States on a Syrian airbase last Thursday, calling Washington's move "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law."

At Wednesday's press conference, Trump defended his decision to launch 59 missiles at the Syrian airbase in response to the alleged chemical attack the US has said the Syrian government should be to blame.

"It can't be a worst sight. And it shouldn't be allowed. That's a butcher," Trump said. "So, I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing. And it was very, very successfully done."

Asked about Russia's prior knowledge about Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons, Trump said it's "possible", but "unlikely" that Russia had known in advance of Syria's plan to launch a chemical weapons attack on its own citizens.

"I know they're doing investigations into that right now. I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," Trump said.

Stoltenberg said within the NATO alliance, the U.S. military action on Syria has been met with understanding.

"Any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, cannot go unanswered and those responsible must be held accountable," the NATO chief said.
An increasing number of families in the United States are turning to Chinese nannies, whose language skills may be one of the reasons that make them a better option.

For Chinese immigrant families, nannies who speak Mandarin can help pass on cultural heritage and use traditional child-rearing techniques.

Other parents hope a nanny will give their children a head start in life to help prepare them for the future. It seems that wealthy US families believe that exposing their children to Mandarin at an early age is one way to do that, according to a report from Chinese online publication Red Star News.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, many American parents seek caregivers fluent in another language and culture. Nanny agency Bay Area 2nd Mom has seen a sharp increase in recent years in requests for nannies who speak a language other than English. The Chinese language is one of the favored ones.

In New York, Chinese-speaking nannies are in such high demand they can command a salary of around $20,000 more than the average nanny would earn.

One Chinese woman even managed to secure a salary of $70,000-a-year after two families tried to outbid each other to get her, according to childcare service agency Lifestyle Resources.

The report also cited US President Donald Trump' granddaughter, Arabella Kushner, as an example. Arabella, 5, is the child of Trump's daughter Ivanka and Jared Kushner.

Arabella, accompanied by her little brother, Joseph, sang the traditional Chinese song, Jasmine Flower (or Mo Li Hua), and recited the Three Character Classic (or San Zi Jing) to visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

Arabella has reportedly been learning Chinese since she was a very small child, taught by a Chinese nanny.

Apart from nannies, there are several other ways for a US child to learn Chinese.

Missionary schools in communities and immersion elementary language schools in the US have offered Chinese classes, Yang Yanli, a veteran Chinese teacher who worked in some US schools, told Red Star News.

In middle schools and colleges, they have optional courses for students to learn the language, according to Yang. Also, people can have a Chinese home tutor for their children, she said.

Yang was born in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, and graduated from Beijing Normal University. She immigrated to the US with her husband about 10 years ago.

Yang once taught students Chinese in a US public school, later in a missionary community school. She also worked as a Chinese governess.

"Students in many US cities start to learn a foreign language -- which is usually Spanish and French -- in their seventh school year. Because of China's development in recent years, many schools have begun offering Chinese classes too. The number of students taking up optional Chinese classes is increasing in colleges, compared with years ago," Yang said.

Yang once taught twins Chinese at their home in Maryland. The parents worked for Ronald Reagan before, with photos of the former US president on their house desk.

In addition to hiring Yang as governess, the family had a Chinese nanny. What's more, the parents kept a Chinese student living with them, offering the student meals and accommodation for free. All this was to help their twin children learn Chinese, according to Yang.

Yang herself, like most Chinese immigrants in the US, wanted her children to study Chinese too. Her second child was born in the US, and she sent the child to a missionary school for Chinese classes, because she didn't want them to forget their mother tongue.

US families who have adopted Chinese children also send them to learn the language.
A relative of one of the victims reacts after a church explosion killed at least 21 in Tanta, Egypt, April 9, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]

CAIRO - Egypt on Wednesday named the suicide bomber who attacked a cathedral in Alexandria as 31-year-old Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, describing him as a fugitive with links to militant cells that carried out previous strikes in the country.

Abdullah detonated his explosives at the entrance to Saint Mark's Cathedral, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, killing 17 people as mass was being conducted. Hours earlier, another bomb tore through a church in Tanta, a city in the Nile Delta.

Egypt's government imposed a three-month state of emergency in the wake of the attacks.

The interior ministry said in a statement that Abdullah had been a resident of Suez province and used to work for a petroleum company.

It posted a photograph on its Facebook page of a man it said was Abdullah, placing the image alongside a picture taken by a surveillance camera outside the church.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Palm Sunday attacks, which killed 44 people in total and wounded scores more a week before the Coptic Easter.

The interior ministry said Abdullah had links with the Islamist militant cell behind the December suicide bombing on Cairo's main Coptic cathedral, an attack also claimed by Islamic State.

Authorities are still trying to identify the Tanta attacker, the ministry said. It added that security forces killed seven suspected militants in a shootout on Monday as they met to plan attacks on minority Christians.

The statement named 19 other suspected militants believed to belong to the same cells and offered a 100 thousand Egyptian pound ($5,515.72) reward for any information on them.

Sunday's attacks were the latest against a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, and a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.

Islamic State has waged a low-level war against soldiers and police in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for years but it is increasingly targeting Christians and broadening its reach into Egypt's mainland.

Reuters
[April 13, 2017] KinerjaPay Corp. Adds Leading Multi-Finance Companies to Its Platform

JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Cash & Credit, Mega Auto Finance and WOM Finance Provide Credit To Millions Of Indonesians KinerjaPay Corp.,(OTCQB: KPAY), a digital payment and ecommerce platform, ("KinerjaPay" or the "Company") announced that consumers can now use its platform to make payments to Columbia Cash & Credit, Mega Auto Finance and WOM Finance. Edwin Ng, Chairman and CEO for KinerjaPay Corp. commented, "These three multi-finance companies are leaders in Indonesia's motorcycle sector, which was estimated to include 80 million motorcycles from various brand in in 2015. Exposure to their customers provides KinerjaPay with a substantial opportunity to build our own member base." Ng went on to say, "Multi-finance companies are less regulated than traditional banks, therefore tend to generate higher yields than conventional bank loans. However, as they cannot accept deposits, they rely on borrowing and bond issuances for their capital and therefore their cost of capital is higher. Participating in the KinerjaPay platform not only facilitates their ability to collect payments, but should make it easier for them to attract customers, both of which would improve their return on capital." Columbia Cash & Credit is a pioneer retail chain store, that has been providing installment options for its customers in Indonesia since 1982. The retail business comprises a network of approximately 300 outlets in 300 cities, serving 1.5 million customers in Indonesia. Mega Auto Finance (MAF) and Mega Central Finance (MCF), established in 2007, provide retail motorcycle financing specifically for Yamaha (Indonesia's best-selling motor cycle brand) and Suzuki motorcycles through partner dealers and branches across the country. MAF's and MCF's networks currently operate approximately 200 branches in Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. WOM Finance is also engaged in motorcycle financing, specalizing in the Honda brand. The Company services 1 million active customers through seven regional offices and is supported by a network of 170 offices throughout Indonesia.



The Indonesian economy generates nearly $1 trillion annually, however only 42% of the 250+ million citizens have bank accounts and only 5% have credit cards. KinerjaPay's network of payment channels and mobile apps allow un-banked Indonesian consumers and business to shop and pay bills quickly, safely and conveniently. About KinerjaPay

KinerjaPay enables consumers to "Pay, Play and Buy" through its secure web portal and mobile applications. Based in Indonesia, the Company provides easy and convenient payment solution while shopping online at its marketplace platform. With its current omni-channel platform, users can perform various payment services such as credit card bill payment, utility, phone bill, healthcare insurance and direct transfer to anyone at their convenience. KinerjaPay is also planning to launch other eCommerce verticals such as travel market, delivery services, and online gaming in the near future. The Company's services are available through its mobile applications and on its website at http://www.kinerjapay.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about KPAY's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, KPAY or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by KPAY with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of KPAY's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause KPAY's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause KPAY 's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors summarized in KPAY 's filings with the SEC. In addition, KPAY operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. KPAY does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with an investment in our securities which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2016. For more information, please visit our website http://www.kinerjapay.co. There you will find access to all of our past press releases and SEC filings regarding the activities discussed in this letter. Media Contact:

KinerjaPay Corp.

Email: [email protected]

+62-8229-777-0098



SOURCE KinerjaPay Corp.

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Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche! (Onwards!) and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, waves to supporters at the end of a campaign rally in Pau, France, April 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Polls showed France's presidential election campaign tightening further on Wednesday as financial markets fretted about the rising popularity of a far-left candidate who wants to put France's European Union membership to a vote.

Investors have long been anxious about election frontrunner Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, who has promised a referendum on whether to quit the EU and ditch the euro.

She has been joined on the list of investors' concerns by far-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, who has surged in the polls after strong performances in two candidates' debates.

The Communist-backed Melenchon also wants a referendum on EU membership after an attempt to renegotiate the EU treaties.

The latest Ifop-Fiducial poll on Wednesday showed Le Pen winning 23.5 percent in the April 23 first round, one point ahead of centrist Emmanuel Macron.

Both Le Pen and Macron's support dipped by half a point from Tuesday while conservative Francois Fillon was stable on 19 percent and Melenchon unchanged on 18.5 percent.

The top two candidates go through to a run-off on May 7, where polls say Macron would easily beat Le Pen.

Traders cited the French election, as well as US relations with Syria and North Korea, as reasons why investors switched to safe assets, such as gold or US Treasuries, on Wednesday.

"Risk sentiment is not strong at the moment because of tensions in North Korea and also risk of a ... rising Melenchon," said Nomura currency strategist Yujiro Goto in London.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, April 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Russia and the US on Wednesday agreed to keep on fighting international terrorism and continue discussions on Syrian conflict settlement, despite turbulent bilateral relations and a string of pending disputes between the two countries.

In a news conference following talks with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and a two-hour joint meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the discussions were fruitful, underlining good prospects for future joint work.

"It has been a long day...The talks were comprehensive, frank and covered the whole spectrum of issues, which are key to our bilateral relations and interaction on the international affairs," The minister said.

According to Lavrov, the two parties reaffirmed their determination in the talks for the uncompromising fight against international terrorism and had deepgoing discussions in that context about grim situations in various regions including Syria, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan as well as possible cooperation in addressing those issues.

"With all the existing problems, both objective and artificially created ones, we still have quite a few prospects for joint work. Russia is open to dialogues with the US in different areas, and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions," he said.

Echoing the Russian stance on cooperation, Tillerson said that Russia and the US will continue discussions about how to find a solution to the Syrian conflict.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov and I agreed we would consider further proposals made about the way forward in Syria, including consulting with our allies and coalition members." Tillerson said in the news conference.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have further aggravated over Syria after the US missile strike on a Syrian military airfield Thursday, which it claims to be in response to the alledged Syrian government's chemical weapons attack last Tuesday in Khan Sheikhoun.

Earlier in an interview broadcast on Wednesday before the meeting with Tillerson, Putin said that mutual trust between Russia and the US, especially on the military level, had eroded in the first few months of Trump's presidency.

Putin's view was share by Tillerson who, on the first visit by the Trump cabinet to Russia, said that ties between the two countries were at a low point marked by serious distrust.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said in the news conference, adding that Moscow and Washington had agreed to establish a working group to identify problems and improve bilateral relations.

With a shared willingness to mend the battered ties, Russia and the U.S. agreed on Wednesday to work together on an investigation of the Syrian chemical weapons attack, although the divergence in their stances have not changed much.

Tillerson reiterated Washington is "quite confident" that the recent chemical attack was planned and executed by Syrian government forces, which involved chlorine bombs and other chemical weapons on more than 50 occasions.

Calling for an "objective and unbiased probe" into the chemical attack in Syria, Lavrov said that Russia has no intention to shield anyone responsible for the incident and repeated Russia's view that the Syrian government was not responsible for the attack.

Russia vetoed on late Wednesday a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected chemical attack, saying that Moscow had consistently expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West including the US.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said.
CANBERRA - Fifteen passengers on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong were injured after a "stick shaker" incident occurred on a Boeing 747 jet last week, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed on Thursday.

"Stick shaker" is a term used to describe when the control stick shudders to warn those in control of the plane that a stall could be imminent. It's a phenomenon one aviation expert described as "extremely rare" but "very serious."

In a statement released on Thursday, the ATSB said it would be conducting an investigation into the incident, which occurred last week.

"The ATSB is investigating a stick shaker activation involving a Qantas Boeing 747, VH-OJU, 110 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong on 7 April 2017," the statement said.

"While holding at flight level 220, the flight crew received a stick shaker activation and detected airframe buffeting. The flight crew disconnected the autopilot and maneuvered the aircraft in response. Fifteen passengers received minor injuries.

"As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the flight crew and gather additional information."

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the incident late Wednesday, and said in addition to the ATSB investigation, the airline would conduct its own review of the stick shaker incident.

"Customers on QF29 experienced unexpected in-flight turbulence when travelling from Melbourne to Hong Kong on Friday. We notified the ATSB of the occurrence, and our own teams are also reviewing the event," the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told News Corp that a stick shaker was an aerodynamic stall which occurs when "the angle of attack of the wing increases beyond a point such that the lift begins to decrease." He said they were both "extremely rare" and "very, very serious."

"The airflow over the wing begins to separate and it breaks up. There is a sudden decrease in altitude, which is why some passengers may have been injured," Thomas said on Thursday.

The ATSB has said that a report into the incident will be released "within several months."
US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington DC, on April 12, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will not label China a currency manipulator.

Trump made the remarks in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, indicating that China will not be named a currency manipulator in a US Treasury Department report on the exchange rate policies of its major trading partners. The report is expected to be released later this week.

"They're not currency manipulators," Trump told the Journal.

During the campaign, Trump vowed to impose 45 percent tariffs on Chinese exports into the US, triggering concern about a possible trade war between the two largest economies.

Such concerns have been greatly eased lately, especially following the first meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping in Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last week.

Both sides have spoken positively of the meeting. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said both sides reached several important consensuses and the meeting has set a constructive tone for the development of the bilateral relationship.

Wang praised the meeting for boosting mutual understanding and establishing a good working relationship and personal friendship between the two leaders. Trump also accepted Xi's invitation to visit China this year.

The two sides also announced the China-US Comprehensive Dialogue mechanism to be overseen by the two presidents. It includes four pillars: Diplomatic and Security Dialogue; Comprehensive Economic Dialogue; Law Enforcement and Cybersecurty Dialogue; and Social and Cultural Issues Dialogue.

Most top US economists don't believe China has manipulated its currency in the past years.

The most recent US Treasury semi-annual report issued last October said China met only one of the three criteria for measuring a currency manipulator.

In its last annual evaluation of the Chinese economy, the International Monetary Fund described the value of the Chinese currency, known as yuan or renminbi (RMB), as "remains broadly in line with fundamentals."

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also signaled in the past months that the US is unlikely to name China a currency manipulator anytime soon.

Larry Summers, US Treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 and an economic adviser to former President Obama from 2009 to 2010, admitted recently that the US has been wrong to push for the appreciation of the yuan while the market force is to keep it down.
Ex-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reacts as he submits his name for registration as a candidate in Iran's presidential election, in Tehran, Iran April 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN -- Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registered for the upcoming Iranian presidential election on Wednesday.

During the registration in Iran's Interior Ministry, Ahmadinejad, expressed hope for victory.

He vowed to serve the Iranians, and try hard for the establishment of "justice and freedom" if he is reelected as the president.

Ahmadinejad was accompanied by his confidant former controversial deputies Hamid Baqaee and Rahim Mashae. Baqaee also registered for the presidency.

In Sept. 2016, local media quoted Iran's Supreme Leader as saying that "I do not find it advisable that you (Ahmadinejad) participate" in the next presidential elections.

The former hardline president, Ahmadinejad, was a two-term president for 8 years, before President Hassan Rouhani took the office in 2013 election.

On Tuesday, Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced registration of candidates for Iran's 12th presidential race began in capital Tehran.

The registration will last for five days and all the hopefuls will undergo the subsequent vetting process by the country's high legislative body, namely the Guardian Council of the Constitution.

The Guardian Council will assess the qualification of the applicants and announce the names of the qualified candidates by April 27.

According to the schedule released by Iran's Interior Ministry, the campaign for presidential race will kick off on April 28 and will continue until the end of May 17.

The hopefuls will have 20 days for electoral campaigns, ahead of the election day slated for May 19.

The candidate should basically be an Iranian national, prudent and capable of taking on leadership duties, and being religious and believing in the Islamic republic's principles and its official religion.
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a draft resolution on the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib as Russia vetoed it.

Russia and Bolivia vetoed the draft resolution tabled by France, the UK and the US. Ten of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of it. China, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained.

The draft resolution asked Syria to provide immediate and unfettered access to and the right to inspect any and all sites. It also requested the UN secretary-general report on the issue every 30 days pursuant to resolution 2118 (2013), in which the council had decided that Syria would not use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons.

On April 6, two US naval vessels deployed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shayrat airbase in Syria in what Washington asserted was a response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians in Idlib province on April 4, which killed more than 80 people. The Syria government denied possession of or any use of chemical weapons and of all weapons of mass destruction.

Vladimir Safronkov, Russia's deputy representative to the UN, said before the vote that the draft failed to serve a useful purpose. He requested to conduct an independent investigation immediately on the incident in the town of Khan Shaykhun and the Shairat airbase.

Liu Jieyi, China's ambassador to the UN, said: "China opposes the use of chemical weapons by any state, organization and individual under any circumstances."

China supports the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to conduct a comprehensive, objective and fair investigation in the alleged chemical attack and to hold the perpetrators accountable based on solid evidence that can stand the test of history and facts, Liu said.

Liu said China supports the draft resolution's text condemning the use of chemical weapons and demanding an investigation.

"Regretfully, in spite of efforts by China and other Security Council members, we couldn't reach agreement on the draft," Liu said, calling for all parties to remain committed to a political solution to the Syria issue.

Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, said after the vote that with the veto, Russia said "no" to a text that would have promoted peace in Syria.
Russia votes against motion on alleged attack; China abstains

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a draft resolution on the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib as Russia vetoed it.

Russia and Bolivia vetoed the draft resolution tabled by France, the UK and the US. Ten of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of it. China, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained.

The draft resolution asked Syria to provide immediate and unfettered access to and the right to inspect any and all sites. It also requested the UN secretary-general report on the issue every 30 days pursuant to resolution 2118 (2013), in which the council had decided that Syria would not use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons.

On April 6, two US naval vessels deployed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shayrat airbase in Syria in what Washington asserted was a response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians in Idlib province on April 4, which killed more than 80 people. The Syria government denied possession of or any use of chemical weapons and of all weapons of mass destruction.

Vladimir Safronkov, Russia's deputy representative to the UN, said before the vote that the draft failed to serve a useful purpose. He requested to conduct an independent investigation immediately on the incident in the town of Khan Shaykhun and the Shairat airbase.

Liu Jieyi, China's ambassador to the UN, said: "China opposes the use of chemical weapons by any state, organization and individual under any circumstances."

China supports the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to conduct a comprehensive, objective and fair investigation in the alleged chemical attack and to hold the perpetrators accountable based on solid evidence that can stand the test of history and facts, Liu said.

Liu said China supports the draft resolution's text condemning the use of chemical weapons and demanding an investigation.

"Regretfully, in spite of efforts by China and other Security Council members, we couldn't reach agreement on the draft," Liu said, calling for all parties to remain committed to a political solution to the Syria issue.

Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, said after the vote that with the veto, Russia said "no" to a text that would have promoted peace in Syria.

wanglinyan@chinadailyusa.com
China is willing to develop more balanced economic and trade ties with the United States, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday in response to US President Donald Trump's saying he no longer regards China as a currency manipulator.

"We have no intention to stimulate exports through devaluing the currency, and there is no basis for the continuous devaluation of (Chinese currency) renminbi," spokesman Lu Kang told a news conference.

Lu said that during the first meeting between President Xi Jinping and Trump in Florida last week, the two leaders had a "long and deep discussion" on economic and trade issue. The two sides reached an important consensus on making joint efforts to expand cooperation in all areas and properly handle disagreements, he added.

"China is, of course, not a currency manipulator, which is an objective fact," Lu said, adding that China will continue to push forward the reform on the formulation mechanism of RMB exchange rate.

Lu's comments are in response to the recent remarks by Trump that his administration won't label China as a currency manipulator. Trump also complained that the US dollar is too strong.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump said "they (China) are not currency manipulators".
A rare pair of vases from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) is expected to fetch 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) in the upcoming Christie's Asian Art sale in London.

A magnificent pair of famille rose butterfly' double-gourd vases from the Qianglong period (1736-1795).

The porcelain vases will be the centrepiece of the136 -lot auction on 9 May at Christie's headquarters on King Street.

The auction giant said it is the first time a pair of these rare Qinglong vases will go to auction. Previously, only four other single vases of this type have gone under the hammer.

Cherrei Tian, Christie's specialist in Chinese Works of Art and Paintings said the vases are not identical but are complementary to each other.

"The flowers on the vase are facing down, some rising and blooming in slightly different ways," Tian added, "The leaves and butterflies are painted so delicately, which is a contrast to the solid colours of the petals. It just shows the superb craftsmanship of the period."

The pair, recently discovered in a country home in England, were collected in the 1930s by an English lady from a noble family and have been passed down to the current owner.

Tian said, "They have never been on the market, it is the first time the vases has ever been offered at auction. For Christie's to offer them as a pair is really exciting."

She added that the vases reflected the lifestyle of the Emperor Qianlong who was particular with his taste, "Qianlong was an emperor who had everything, and so for him if it was not extreme, he would not have it."

Other highlights on offer at the Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale include a white marble two-handled vase, also from the Qinglong period. This piece is expected to go for 20,000-30,000 pounds.

A series of paintings which belonged to the late Sir Percy Cradock, the British ambassador to China from 1978 to 1983, will also go under the hammer. The collection includes a painting by Zhang Daqian (1899-1983).

Scholar and Pine by Zhang Daqian

A second Asian art sale will take place at Christie's South Kensington branch on 12 May.

One of the standout pieces of that sale is a rare pair of Republic Period famille rose porcelain landscape' seals signed by the renowned ceramicist He Xuren (1882-1940) and dated 1927. They were a gift to the Chinese Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang army, Zhu Peide, and bear his seal.

A fine and rare pair of famille rose landscape' seals

Katie Lundie, associate specialist, Chinese Works of Art said, "Republic porcelain tends to attract young collectors looking for a more individual and free style, and can be distinguished from the pieces of the 18th and 19th centuries, which have a more rigid array of designs and were largely made under strict imperial supervision. They would be particularly desirable to a collector looking for a one of a kind', specially-commissioned and historically-significant show piece."

Christie's Asian Art week last month in New York broke sales records, a success London is hoping to replicate.

To contact reporter: boleung@mail.chinadailyuk.com
[April 13, 2017] Webgility and Skubana Host Free Webinar on How to Pump Up Your Profits Online

SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Webgility, the leader in multi-channel e-commerce automation software, today announced that it will host a free webinar, Thursday, April 20, at 11:00 a.m. PDT on how to increase online profits via efficient inventory and improved accounting. Registration is now open. Featuring Skubana CEO Chad Rubin, and hosted by Webgility Head of Product Rob McGrorty,the webinar will share everything high-volume e-commerce companies and Amazon super sellers need to know to build a streamlined, profitable business. "Automation is the secret sauce of efficient e-commerce business. Instead of spending time worrying about logistics, now entrepreneurs can focus on growing their businesses and improving their specialties," said Rubin. "This webinar is going to lay out how you can automate online sales, no matter how many channels you want to sell on, all while keeping your records accurate and up-to-date." In this webinar, Webgility and Skubana will reveal: why syncing multi-channel inventory reduces costs and improves profit margins;

insider secrets to increasing profits while selling on multiple channels;

tips on being fully efficient n Amazon FBA; and

how to automate your accounting and learn from the data



Webgility, Inc. is the leading provider of e-commerce automation software for multi-channel retail companies, managing millions of transactions for 10,000-plus online stores every month. Webgility's e-Commerce Virtual ERP is an antidote to the "app fatigue" plaguing today's online sellers. By integrating with best-of-breed online retail solutions, Webgility's Unify software anchors the Virtual ERP and brings efficiency, order, and scale to otherwise chaotic workflows and business operations. In doing so, Unify empowers online retailers to focus on their passion rather than their operations. Webgility is a certified partner of Intuit, QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, and works with more than 85 e-commerce platforms (including Amazon, eBay, BigCommerce, Shopify, and Magento), payment processors (PayPal, Stripe, Shopify Payments, Square), and SaaS providers. For more information, visit http://www.webgility.com. To learn about Unify for Skubana, visit http://skubana.webgility.com

ABOUT WEBGILITY

Webgility, Inc. is the leading provider of e-commerce automation software for multi-channel retail companies, managing millions of transactions for 10,000-plus online stores every month. Webgility's e-Commerce Virtual ERP is an antidote to the "app fatigue" plaguing today's online sellers. By integrating with best-of-breed online retail solutions, Webgility's Unify software anchors the Virtual ERP and brings efficiency, order, and scale to otherwise chaotic workflows and business operations. In doing so, Unify empowers online retailers to focus on their passion rather than their operations. Webgility is a certified partner of Intuit, QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, and works with more than 85 e-commerce platforms and SaaS providers, payment processors, and hosting providers. For more information, visit http://www.webgility.com. For more information, please contact: Eileen Conway

Zealot Communications for Webgility

650-245-9015

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/webgility-and-skubana-host-free-webinar-on-how-to-pump-up-your-profits-online-300439137.html SOURCE Webgility

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Last week, I attended a lecture on China labor law by our own Steve Dickinson. The thrust of Steves speech was that Chinas employment laws have changed, they are being enforced against foreigners, and they are very different from U.S. employment laws. In a nutshell, the biggest differences are that written contracts with all employees are required in China and firing an employee in China generally must be for cause. Neither of these are true in the United States.

Judging from the audience questions (and this was an extremely sophisticated audience), many were surprised by this and many had trouble understanding the full import.

A few days later, Steve and I were talking about this with a group of Chinese lawyers in Qingdao with whom we are working on a couple of international litigation matters. In explaining to them some of the cases we have handled for American clients who got themselves into trouble by improperly laying off Chinese employees, it soon became apparent to Steve and me that the Chinese lawyers were not grasping why these American companies were making these mistakes. They would ask questions like, how could these American companies really believe they could lay off 100 people without first securing their approval and that of the government as well? When Steve and I told them about US employment laws, the Chinese lawyers found them so bizarre, they actually laughed.

We told them of how there is a saying in the United States that one can fire an employee for good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all, just so long as the reason for firing is not one prohibited by law (such as racial or gender discrimination). We talked about how one might fire an employee for wearing a green shirt. We told them of how most employees in the United States do not work under written contracts and how companies generally prefer not to use employment contracts. It took at least half an hour for us to give a basic explanation of employer-employee relations in the U.S. Even then, it was pretty clear these exceedingly bright international lawyers were still nonplussed.

It was a good exercise for Steve and me as it helped reinforce American companies (Europes employment laws are not so wildly different from Chinas) so often act on Chinese employment law matters based on completely false assumptions as to how things are really done there.

What are you seeing out there?
In China, an offer letter () is a written document delivered by an employer to an employee stating the employers intent to enter into a labor relationship with the employee. An offer letter typically proposes the employees work title, work location, wages, and the term of the employment arrangement.

Despite the relatively common use of employment offer letters in China (especially by state-owned enterprises) no Chinese law specifically addresses them. For that reason and for the reasons set forth below, employers should be careful in using them.

To begin with, despite what many believe, offer letters are not an official labor contract and they do not satisfy the legal requirement that labor contracts be in writing. Under Chinese law, an offer letter is regarded as an employers unilateral act expressing its willingness to enter into an employment relationship with a potential employee. An offer letter is deemed to be an offer () and it is governed by Chinas Contract Law, not by Chinas Labor Contract Law. A labor contract is a legal document evidencing the existence of a labor relationship between the employer and the employee but an offer letter has no such effect. So even when the employee returns a signed offer letter, the employer must nonetheless execute a formal labor contract with the employee within one month after the employee begins working for the employer to be in compliance with Chinese law.

Under Chinas Labor Contract Law, an employer can be required to pay its employees twice the employees monthly salary if it fails to execute a written labor contract within one month of the commencement of the employment relationship. Further, if the employer goes more than a year without having a written labor contract with an employee, the employee lacking the written labor contract will be deemed to have entered into an open-term labor contract with its employer, which essentially means there is no definitive end date to the labor relationship.

Nearly all of the offer letters our China lawyers have reviewed made statements violating PRC labor laws. This alone generally makes it a bad idea to refer to the offer letter in any eventual labor contract. But on top of this, nearly all of the offer letters we see also usually also contain terms that conflict with the labor contracts and/or other employment agreements such as the employers rules and regulations.

When an offer letter makes sense for our clients, we usually recommend that they insert a provision in the formal labor contract (in Chinese, of course) explicitly providing that the labor contract supersedes the offer letter.

In conclusion, if you are going to use an offer letter, you should, at minimum make sure of the following:
It is common for China employers to deliver an offer letter to a potential expat employee stating the employers intent to enter into an employment relationship with that employee. An offer letter is typically a 1-2 page document and it usually proposes the employees work title, responsibilities and duties, work location, wages, employee benefits, and term of employment.

As more and more Chinese companies are hiring foreign high level executives, our work representing expats on their employment contract negotiations has soared. Five years ago, our China employment lawyers did maybe one or two of these a year and now we commonly have one or two of these sorts of representations going at any given time. What we have learned from them is that Chinese companies tend to be incredibly one-sided and sloppy in the way they handle their employment relationships.

When retained by an executive expat, the first thing we usually do is review their offer letters. And one of the first things we notice  nearly every single time  is that the Chinese company is proposing to hire the expat executive on illegal terms. In other words, pretty much every offer letter we see calls for an employment contract/employment relationship that would violate Chinas labor and employment laws. And if you are wondering how or why this is so often the case, let me tell you: if you are the foreign employee and you are working on an illegal contract, you are setting yourself up for big problems and those big problems will 99 times out of 100 end up hurting you and benefiting your employer. In other words, these Chinese employers are acting illegally for a reason: it is a great way for them to gain permanent leverage over you.

The following represent three incredibly common mistake/illegalities we see in not just offer letters but also employment contracts and employer rules and regulations when my law firms China employment lawyers represent executive expats in their employment negotiations with Chinese companies, along with my comments on why they matter.

1. In accepting this offer, you certify you understand your employment will be on an at-will basis. Quoting a phrase popular in China, I shall repeat important things three times (), so here goes: China is not an employment at-will jurisdiction, China is not an employment at-will jurisdiction, China is not an employment at-will jurisdiction. This means Termination of a China-based employee generally requires cause. Employers nonetheless sometimes put in their documents that the employee is being hired on an at will basis because this can cause their foreign employees to believe they can be fired for good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all even though they cannot. See Chinas Labor Laws: The Cultural Disconnect Goes Both Ways.

2. During the first six months probation period. The Chinese employer puts this in the documents but does not mention anything regarding the proposed term of employment. Without there being any proposed term of employment there is no way to determine whether the proposed probation period complies with Chinese law, and that is exactly how the employer wants it. Six months is the longest probation period allowed under Chinese law, but unless the proposed term of employment is three years or longer, the proposed six-month probation period violates the law. When we see a provision like this (and we see this provision all the time) is push back and say, well if you are calling for a six month probation period, the employment term is three years and we ask that you please write that in the documents. At which point the potential employer says, no, we were thinking of a one or two year employment term and then we get them to reduce the probation period accordingly, to the benefit of our expat executive client.

3. During the probation period, the Company will have the right to terminate your employment with or without cause. Also not legal. Since the probation period is part of the term of employment, the probation period also cannot be treated as employment at-will. Chinese employers put in provisions like this for the same reasons they put in provisions trying to get their potential employees to believe that their entire employment term will be at will and for the same reason they regularly write in an overlong probation period: to gain leverage over their expat employee.

A bit of context may be helpful here. We have represented a number of Chinese companies in their United States and European (mostly Spain and Germany) operations and, almost without exception, they tend to be wary of hiring foreigners. Rightly or wrongly they view foreigners as overpaid and spoiled and they particularly do not like having to pay a foreigner $300,000 for a job they view as similar to one for which they are paying $150,000 to a Chinese citizen in China. This sort of thing causes all sorts of tension within the company and it is not unusual for foreign hirings not to work out because of this. I know this is probably an exaggeration, but it seems like the rare case where there is not someone powerful within every Chinese company scheming to make the life of the new expat hire miserable from day one, in an effort to drive the expat out of the company. Chinese companies know their history with expat hiring and retention is poor and the above sort of terms are their way to prepare in advance for the expat leaving, which they see as nearly inevitable. Our job as lawyers representing expat executives is to get them documents that will make it as difficult as possible for their Chinese employers to terminate them and to make it as lucrative as possible for the expat executives should such a termination occur.

And offer letters are important no matter what the employment contract eventually says, especially since so many China employment contracts expressly incorporate the terms of xyz offer letter. Of at least equal importance though is that the negotiations over the terms of your offer letter will set the stage for the negotiations over your actual employment contract. And if you agree to offer letter terms that tell your China employer that they can push you around, they will obviously expect you to agree to those same terms and additional similar terms in the employment contract itself. On the flip side, if you show your potential China employer that you know the score and you wont be bullied, you have set yourself up for receiving an appropriate and maybe even favorable employment contract down the road.
[April 13, 2017] United States Healthcare IT Market Outlook 2022: Cloud Computing and M-health Technologies Propelling Healthcare Industry

DUBLIN, Apr. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "US Healthcare IT Market Outlook 2022" report to their offering. The US Healthcare IT market has witnessed a gradual shift owing to factors like government initiative programs, emergence of latest technology and strategic collaboration in the sectors among players. The stringent regulation followed by increasing adoption of healthcare IT system in hospital is reviving the healthcare IT market while encouraging the investments from existing and new players. The latest report US Healthcare IT Market Outlook 2022 provides comprehensive insight on the industry by its segment and component. The component segment of US Healthcare IT industry is driven by HIT hardware followed by HIT services and HIT software. While the segment wise market is segmented into clinical information system and non-clinical information system, the clinical information system industry drives the Healthcare IT market by segment. A comprehensive insight on the sub-segment of the industry provides descriptive analysis on the driving factors staing overall growth of the industry.







Moreover, the report covers the regulatory framework related to the industry while providing an idea about the fluidity of the healthcare IT industry. Further, it covers a detailed analysis of the potential growth areas which helped in clearly identifying and highlighting the segments that offer the maximum opportunities for growth in the country.



Further, with a view to provide a balanced outlook of the US healthcare IT market, our report includes the competitive landscape of key industry players, namely, Allscripts, GE Healthcare, Mckesson, Cerner, Athenahealth Inc, Medical Information Tech Inc etc. covering key financials, strength & weakness analyses and recent activities. On the whole, the report provides all the pre-requisite information for clients looking to venture in this industry, and facilitate them to formulate schemes while going for an investment/partnership in the US Healthcare IT industry.





Key Topics Covered:



1. Analyst View



2. Research Methodology



3. Market Trends and Drivers

3.1 Cloud Computing and M-health Technologies propelling healthcare industry

3.2 Rising Strategic Collaborations in Healthcare Industry

3.3 Government Initiatives forming Comprehensive Healthcare System

3.4 Innovative Technology Advancing HIT Market

3.5 Virtual Healthcare Accelerating Healthcare Information Technology



4. Healthcare IT Market Outlook 2022

4.1 By Component

4.1.1 HIT Hardware

4.1.2 HIT Software

4.1.3 HIT Services

4.2 By Segment

4.2.1 Clinical Information System

4.2.2 Non-Clinical Information System



5. Potential Growth Areas

5.1 ICD 10 System

5.2 Telemedicine

5.3 Patient-Centric Monitoring

5.4 Personal Health Records



6. Regulatory Assessment



7. Competitive Landscape



- Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

- Athenahealth Inc

- Cerner Corporation

- GE Healthcare

- McKesson Corporation

- Medical Information Tech Inc.



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nx74qh/us_healthcare_it Media Contact: 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

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[April 13, 2017] Brandwatch reveals speaker lineup at Now You Know Conference 2017

NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandwatch, the leading social intelligence company, is announcing its full keynote and speaker agenda for the firm's second annual Now You Know Conference on May 8-9 in Denver, Colorado. Professor Nick Bostrom, global authority on superintelligence and existential risk, and Altimeter CEO Charlene Li, join the Now You Know Conference in Denver as keynote speakers to examine the theme of truth during these complicated times of fake news, alternative facts, and the prevalent question of data validity. Also featured during the two-day conference is an all-woman panel on creativity and data in marketing including prominent tech and design players Alex Sinclair, Global Creative Director, IBM Interactive Experience, Elizabeth Lukas, CEO of North America at Decoded, Becky Wang, CEO at Crossbeat, and Joanna Pena-Bickley, Global Chief Experience Officer at ThinxMachine. Hundreds of social intelligence practitioners and marketing professionals from the world's most recognizable brands and agencies will descend upon the southwestern tech hub for two days of riveting talks, interactive workshops, roundtables andmasterclasses. Attendees will have the privilege to hear from experts at Walmart, Bank of America, 3M, Metia and many more digitally-savvy companies.



"Leaders are not yet fully embracing the technologies and practices that are driving digital transformation in business today," said Charlene Li, Principal Analyst at Altimeter. "I'm excited to address this important topic in my keynote talk at Brandwatch's Now You Know Conference this May. It's vital for business leaders to acknowledge and adapt to the demands of digital leadership. I'll be sharing how to activate the necessary shift from a traditional mindset to one that encourages engagement throughout the organization." Reflecting on last year's conference in Chicago, Allyson Hugely, President, Measurement and Analytics at Weber Shandwick, commented it was, "Hands down one of the best informational and networking events I've attended in years."

Partners and sponsors for the event include Turbine Labs, Hootsuite, Accenture Interactive, Uber, FullContact, The Curtis, Revel decor, and InsideHR Communications. There's still space left at the conference. Purchase tickets here to get closer to the the truth at this year's Now You Know Conference in Denver. About Brandwatch Brandwatch is the world's leading social intelligence company. The company's flagship products, Brandwatch Analytics and the Vizia platform, fuel smarter decision making around the world. The Brandwatch Analytics platform gathers millions of online conversations every day and provides users with the tools to analyze them, empowering the world's most admired brands and agencies to make insightful, data-driven business decisions. The Vizia platform distributes visually-engaging insights to the physical places where the action happens. The Brandwatch platform is used by over 1,300 brands and agencies, including Unilever, American Airlines, Whirlpool, Asos, Walmart, British Airways, and Dell. Brandwatch continues on its impressive business trajectory, recently named a global leader in enterprise social listening platforms by the latest reports from several independent research firms. Increasing its worldwide presence, the company has offices around the world including Brighton, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Stuttgart, Paris and Singapore. Brandwatch. Now You Know. www.brandwatch.com |@Brandwatch |press office |contact Contact: Dinah Alobeid, 1-917-846-2381 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brandwatch-reveals-speaker-lineup-at-now-you-know-conference-2017-300439401.html SOURCE Brandwatch

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(Photo : Getty Images) A Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the world's largest aircraft, arrives at Beijing Capital Airport.

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Keywords: girl forgotten, left behind, parents forgot child



A couple left their daughter behind in a plane after landing in Guangzhou, local media reported.



The parents boarded the plane with their 10-year-old daughter at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The girl reportedly sat alone at the back of the plane during the entire flight. When the aircraft landed in Guangzhou's International Airport just past midnight on Tuesday, the parents got off the plane.



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During one of their routine checks after every flight, cabin crews found the girl still asleep. Her parents were already heading to the arrival hall in a shuttle bus when the girl woke up. The family reunited 20 minutes after the child was found. The father thought that his daughter was following them when they were getting their luggage.



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[April 13, 2017] SAP Promotes Proven Leaders to Strengthen the Company

WALLDORF, Germany, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced newly expanded responsibilities of key executives. Robert Enslin and Bernd Leukert will shift and expand their portfolios as members of the Executive Board of SAP SE. The Supervisory Board of SAP SE has named Adaire Fox-Martin and Jennifer Morgan to the Executive Board. The moves underscore SAP's commitment to customers' ongoing digital transformation and its effort to foster top talent. "I am pleased that executives such as Rob, Bernd, Adaire and Jen are stepping into bigger leadership roles to transform the way we drive innovations with our customers," said Hasso Plattner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. In addition, two new leadership assignments were announced for current EMEA President Franck Cohen and SAP Cloud Platform President Bjoern Goerke. Cohen will become chief commercial officer and Goerke chief technology officer. "We have always considered it a privilege to nurture careers and leaders," said Bill McDermott, CEO and Member of the Executive Board. "SAP is a company focused on innovation, scale and growth. I'm proud of this leadership team and know they are poised to keep SAP on the rise." The Supervisory Board has asked Enslin, head of Global Customer Operations, to be president of the new Cloud Business Group. He will oversee SAP Ariba, SAP Fieldglass, Concur, SAP SuccessFactors, and SAP Hybris solutions as well as the SMB Solutions Group organization. Leukert, head of Products & Innovation at SAP, will expand his portfolio to accelerate SAP's platform and digital transformation strategy. Enslin and Leukert will jointly lead key growth businesses at SAP, ensuring that development teams and customer-facing teams are in lockstep with one another from the design thinking and innovation process to customer-facing initiatives. With Enslin's increased focus on cloud businesses at SAP, Fox-Martin and Morgan will ascend to the co-presidency of Global Customer Operations, overseeing all SAP regions and building on their success in the Asia-Pacific-Japan region and North America, respectively. Fox-Martin will oversee EMEA and Greater China. Morgan will oversee the Americas and Asia-Pacific-Japan regions. As chief commercial officer, Cohen will lead SAP's channel business as well as assume responsibility for all sales processes and go-to-market initiatives across SAP. As CTO, Goerke will advance the company's technology strategy and serve as a key external spokesperson.



All changes will be effective May 1, 2017. Steve Singh, president of Business Networks and Applications, will leave SAP SE at the end of this month. Singh collaborated closely with Enslin, and together they transitioned Concur solutions into the SAP product family. Singh built a strong foundation for business networks at SAP and plans to focus on other entrepreneurial interests outside of SAP.

"Steve Singh's character and entrepreneurial spirit are greatly admired around the world," McDermott said. "When SAP acquired Concur Technologies, we knew Steve would play a significant role in strengthening the SAP cloud portfolio. We also knew he would eventually go back to his start-up roots. We could not be more grateful for everything Steve has done." SAP will publish its financial results for the first quarter as planned on April 25, 2017. For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews. About SAP As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device  SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 345,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.  2017 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices. For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24

United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727) For more information, press only:

Nicola Leske, +49 6227 7-50852, [email protected], CET

Rajiv Sekhri, +49 6227 7-74871, [email protected], CET

Andy Kendzie, +1 202 247 7064, [email protected], ET

SAP News Center press room; [email protected]



For more information, financial community only:

Stefan Gruber, +49 6227 7-44872, [email protected], CET To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sap-promotes-proven-leaders-to-strengthen-the-company-300439402.html SOURCE SAP SE

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(Photo : Getty Images) China to start construction of its first ever Antarctic airfield as early as year's end.

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China has picked a location to set up its first ever airfield in Antarctica, with plans for construction expected to begin as early as year's end.



The airfield, which aims to facilitate Beijing's research efforts on the region, will be station near China's Zhongshan station on Antarctic's Prydz Bay. Members of China's 33rd expedition, which ended recently ended a 161-day mission, conducted a survey on a three-square-kilometer area and chose a place for the future airfield, China Daily reported citing Sun Bo, the deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration's Polar Research Institute of China.



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"At first the airfield will have only one runway, so the construction will be easy," Sun said, adding that this would only entail flattening and maintaining the selected area. He also noted that fixed-wing jets need to have a pair of runners to land.



"Next, we plan to build some runways in the same area. They will be flatter than the first runway and will be capable of accommodating large fixed-wing planes that are not equipped with runners," Sun said.



China currently has four Antarctic bases - Changcheng, Zhongshan, Taishan, and Kunlun. And supply vessels are used to transport crews and equipment in and out of the continent. It works with other nations for aerial observation, for which it has a Xueying 601 plane, but it does not have its own airstrip.



Actual work on the site will likely begin after the 34th expedition starts its mission later this year. The 33rd Antarctic expedition, with 328 members, has returned to its base in Shanghai last Tuesday. The mission conducted scientific research and experiments around the four bases. The two vessels that carried the team, the Xuelong icebreaker and Haiyang 6, also carried out oceanographic and geological research.



Meanwhile, China has also reportedly selected a location for its fifth Antarctic station, China Daily noted, citing Lin Shanqing, the deputy head of State Oceanic Administration. The proposed station will reportedly be built near the Ross Sea, with construction slated to start in 2018.



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Tagschina, Antarctica, Antarctic expedition, Xueying 601 plane, Xuelong icebreaker, Haiyang 6
(Photo : PLA) PLAGF tanks on parade.

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China has massed over 150,000 men of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF); hordes of tanks and other offensive military hardware along its 1,400 kilometer-long border with North Korea in a mammoth show of force apparently meant to attain two contradictory goals.



State-run Chinese media, including the Global Times, said the deployment of the troops to the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Jilin bordering North Korea was made ahead of persistent reports North Korea plans to explode its sixth nuclear bomb on or before April 15, the 105th birthday of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.



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Kim also ignited the Korean War on June 25, 1950 in an attempt to subjugate South Korea and bring the entire Korean peninsula his rule. China fought alongside North Korea against a coalition of 16 nations led by the U.S. that fought under the United Nations Command.



Global Times only a few days ago published an editorial defining China's reasons for invading North Korea. It said the threat of a "nuclear leakage or pollution" that damages the environment of northeast China (which shares a border with North Korea) will trigger a response from China.



"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 Northern Theater Command, one of five new war zones of the People's Liberation Army.



China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said it wasn't aware of any build-up of Chinese troops along the country's northeastern border with Korea and blamed South Korean media for the war mongering.



Global Times, which is owned by the People's Daily (the newspaper of the Communist Party of China, cited South Korean diplomats as saying it was true China held "military drills" along the North Korean border.



There have also been reports in Chinese state-run media that China and South Korea agreed to take new measures against North Korea if the rogue state conducts another nuclear test or launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.



Analysts, however, speculate the massing of Chinese troops isn't only aimed at destroying North Koreans nuclear weapons-making facilities. It might also be aimed at preventing the U.S. from launching devastating missile strikes at these facilities.



One of these experts said China will definitely try to prevent a U.S. attack on North Korea by deploying PLAGF forces along its border with North Korea. The logic is that the presence of Chinese forces should deter the U.S. from bombing North Korea's nuclear facilities, which are located along the border with China, because an attack will run the risk of igniting a larger conflict.



Positioning PLAGF group armies along the border might also persuade North Korean officials who oppose Kim Jong-un to launch a coup d'etat and overthrow the despotic young leader.



China has no intention of destroying North Korea, which serves as a buffer state against the U.S. and South Korea, but is only interested in deposing Kim. By supporting anti-Kim forces, China hopes to exert significant influence over any post-Kim government.



Should the reports of 150,000 men of the PLAGF and their equipment massing at the border be true, this will mean a large part of the fighting strength of the Northern Theater Command responsible for the North Korean border area has been re-located to the border.



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Tagschina, People's Liberation Army Ground Force, North Korea, Kim Il Sung, Liaoning, Jilin, Kim Jong Un
(Photo : GETTY IMAGES) A woman and her son watching TV in Chongqing.

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Never underestimate a child who wants to watch TV.



Parents of a 10-year-old boy were left mourning after the boy surnamed Lu jumped from his bedroom window of the family's 20th-floor apartment in Chongqing on Monday night. The child was angry and upset because his parents banned him from watching TV.



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Their street's surveillance camera showed that the boy hit a car, bounced off its hood, and landed on the street near a passerby.



Police has declined to give any details of the incident.



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TagsTV, bizarre news, Weird News, TV, hit a car, grizzly crime, Suicide, children, children suicide in China, TV in China, parents, parents said no tv
(Photo : Getty Images) China launched its first ever throughput communications satellite Shijian-13 on Wednesday, aboard a Long March 3B rocket.

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China has launched its first high-throughput communication satellite, Shijian-13 (also called Chinasat 16), which cannot only give better internet access to planes and remote regions but also help during natural calamities.



"The launch is a milestone for China's communication satellite technology," Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense, said.



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The satellite took off at 11:04 GMT on Wednesday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province, boarding a Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will release the Shijian 13 into an elliptical, egg-shaped orbit with a high point of about 22,300 miles above the Earth and a low point of a few hundred miles up.



The satellite would provide better internet service for planes as it has a transfer capacity of 20 Gbps. It would also allow passengers of high-speed trains to enjoy watching videos in high definition. Aside from these technological advantages, the satellite could help people on the ground report emergencies in case natural calamities strike.



With an orbital life of 15 years, the Shijian-13 is China's first satellite to be powered by electricity and could potentially improve by as much as 10 times compared with chemically powered propellants. The electric propulsion system is also lighter compared with traditional rocket thrusters.



State-run Xinhua described the satellite as China's first high-throughput, a class of telecom relay aircraft that could deliver more bandwidth and capacity to end users through frequency allocation and targeting high-demand regions with spot beams.



China plans to launch five more communications satellites within this year. The country is targeting to send 22 communication satellites into space by 2025.



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Tagschina, Satellite, communication satellite, Shijian-13, Long March 3B rocket
Shijian-13.

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China for the first time launched a satellite on April 12, the 56th anniversary of history's first human spaceflight that saw Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin become the first person to orbit the Earth.



Gagarin was also the first human to travel into space. He achieved this feat aboard the Soviet spacecraft, Vostok-1. This historic day has since been celebrated as the International Day of Human Spaceflight.



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Shijian-13 is an experimental geostationary communications satellite that will test electric propulsion on a DFH-3B bus. It will be renamed ZX 16 or ChinaSat 16 after the experimental phase.



The satellite carries China's first high-throughput satellite payload (HTS) with a capacity of 20 gigabits per second. Its transfer capacity of 20 gigabits per second capacity is larger than all of China's communications satellites combined.



It will provide Ka-band satellite broadband and multimedia services. Shijian-13 will enable better internet access in less-developed regions of China, as well as on airplanes and high-speed trains.



She was launched aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province at 7:04 p.m. on April 12.



Shijian-13 is also the first Chinese satellite powered by electricity. This method of propulsion will improve its efficiency by as much as 10 times compared to satellites using chemicals as propellant.



"The launch is a milestone for China's communications satellite technology," said Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.



A large number of domestic components were used to build Shijian-13. It also has the first laser communications system installed on a Chinese satellite in geostationary orbit.



The satellite and the rocket were designed by academies affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology respectively.



China plans to launch six communications satellites this year. Shijian-18 will be orbited in June to test the DFH-5 satellite platform.



By 2025, China will have 22 communication satellites. Five of these will be based on new designs, according to a medium-long term development plan for civilian space infrastructure released in 2015.



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Tagschina, April 12, 1961, yuri gagarin, Vostok-1 spacecraft, International Day of Human Spaceflight, ChinaSat 16, Long March-3B carrier rocket
(Photo : US Navy) F/A-18E/Fs aboard the USS Carl Vinson.

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A squadron of warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will join the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and its carrier strike group to patrol the Sea of Japan (or East China Sea) off the east coast of the Korean peninsula as North Korea prepares to explode its sixth nuclear bomb.



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Japanese media confirmed the news of the involvement in the U.S. Navy partols by an unspecified number of JMSDF warships. Speculation is rising this JMSDF battle group might include the massive helicopter carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184), the second of only two ships in the Izumo-class of helicopter destroyers. Kaga was commissioned into the JMSDF on March 22.



She is outfitted primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and carries specialized helicopters for this purpose. She can deploy up to 28 aircraft (mostly helicopters) or 14 larger fixed wing aircraft.



Reliable sources told Japanese media JMSDF intends to join the Carl Vinson's Carrier Strike Group for drills in the Sea of Japan. Tokyo has not issued an official statement about the deployment of JMSDF warships to patrol with the Americans.



Japan's willingness to conduct joint naval patrols along North Korea's eastern border is being seen by some analysts as illustrating the U.S. isn't acting alone in Asia against North Korea's unending provocations.



These provocations involve a relentless launch of ballistic missiles and a sixth nuclear bomb test that might occur on or before April 15, the birthday of the late Kim Il-sung, founder of the North Korean state and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong-un.



Only a few days ago, the Carl Vinson and her Carrier Strike Group One (CSG-1) were redeployed northwards from the South China Sea to patrol the Sea of Japan.



The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) said CVN-70 was being sent to waters off North Korea "to maintain readiness." The carrier is escorted by two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers belonging to Destroyer Squadron 1.



The Carl Vinson CSG last month took part in joint drills with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces (ROKAF) to prepare for any sudden change on the peninsula. These changes might include a collapse of the North Korean regime or an invasion of South Korea by the north.



The USS Carl Vinson is the flagship of CSG-1. Units assigned to CSG-1 are the USS Carl Vinson; Carrier Air Wing Seventeen; the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 1.



The offensive power off Carrier Air Wing Seventeen rests on its four squadrons of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 strike fighters totaling over 40 jets.



The U.S. Navy deployed CSG-1 to the disputed waters of the South China Sea on Feb. 18, a month later than originally expected. The Vinson belongs to the United States Third Fleet.



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TagsJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force, JMSDF, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), U.S. Navy, JS Kaga (DDH-184), Carrier Strike Group One (CSG-1)
(Photo : Getty Images) A massive investment program in clean energy is slated to attract 5.4 trillion yuan ($780 billion) of new investments into the Chinese energy system over the next 15 years.

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China's wind and solar industry is anticipated to increase fivefold by 2030, significantly boosting the country's GDP, according to Greenpeace.



A massive investment program in clean energy is slated to attract 5.4 trillion yuan ($780 billion) of new investments into the Chinese energy system over the next 15 years. And the wind and solar sectors could pump a whopping 14.3 trillion ($2 trillion) into the country's GDP. By 2030, China's wind and solar industries would be worth 1.57 trillion ($230 billion) and contribute 1.1 percent of China's annual GDP, Business Green reported.



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"The potential benefits of wind and solar energy in China are staggering," Yuan Ying, climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace East Asia, said. "Not only could China rid itself of fossil energy sources to the tune of 300 million tonnes of standard coal, it could also save enough water to meet the annual basic needs of 200 million people and add billions of dollars to the national economy."



Demand for direct job opportunities is also expected to leap fourfold to 2.4 million. And indirect jobs like transportation and raw material production is forecasted to increase to 5.3 million in 2030 from 1 million in 2015. Overall, China's wind and solar industries will employ 7.7 million people by 2030.



Ditching coal for emissions-free renewable energy could also bring financial gains. The external environmental benefits are slated to reach 0.3 RMB/kWh, amounting to 456 billion yuan ($66 billion) as a result of replacing fossil energy sources. In 2015, the two industries added about 0.16 RMB/kWh.



Coal-powered plants could also bring water crisis to the country since they consume massive amounts of water. In 2015, the development of solar and wind energies reduced water consumption by 0.57 billion cubic meter. The figure is forecasted to increase to as high as 3.6 billion cubic meter per year in 2030, which is equivalent to the yearly basic needs of 200 million citizens.



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Tagsrenewable energy, solar power, Wind energy, china, China GDP, Greenpeace
[April 13, 2017] Atento appoints Marcelo Geraldi Velloso as Executive Director for Multisector Businesses in Brazil

SAO PAULO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO), the leading provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing services (CRM/BPO) in Latin America, and one of the three top providers worldwide announces the appointment of Marcelo Geraldi Velloso as Executive Director for Multisector Businesses in Brazil. Prior to joining Atento Brazil, Mr. Velloso served as Atento's Business Vice President in Mexico, where he was responsible for operations, clients and business development for the telecommunications, finance and multisector verticals. Born in Belo Horizonte, MG, the executive holds a Bachelors in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a General Management Graduate Certificate from Harvard University in Boston. He has over 20 years of professional experience in major companies in Latin America, especially in the banking and financial services sector. Before joining Atento, he held leadership positions in HSBC Mexico, where his scope of responsibilities included retail banking administration and aset management. He was responsible for managing over 11,000 people and 1,000 banking branches throughout the country. Mr. Velloso began his career in the area of marketing and product management for the Gillette Company in Brazil and the United States.



"The appointment of Marcelo Velloso to lead Atento's multisector business practice in Brazil reflects our commitment to adding the best talent to our team and providing the best services to our clients. His broad experience in sectors such as telecommunications and financial services, will contribute greatly to the success of our business," says Mario Camara, Managing Director of Atento Brazil. Mr. Velloso says "I'm extremely happy and honored to be a part of the Atento team in Brazil. I am looking forward leveraging my experience and industry knowledge to growth or business and contributing to the success of our clients in the country."

About Atento

Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing (CRM BPO) services in Latin America, and among the top three providers globally, based on revenues. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM/BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 13 countries where it employs 150,000 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM/BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atentos shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2016, Atento was named one of the Worlds 25 Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work for a fourth consecutive year. For more information visit www.atento.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atento-appoints-marcelo-geraldi-velloso-as-executive-director-for-multisector-businesses-in-brazil-300439436.html SOURCE Atento S.A.

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A nurse in Sweden must assist with abortions if she wants to keep her job, a Swedish court ruled this week.

The Swedish Appeals Court decided Wednesday that Ellinor Grimmark could be forced to help with abortions or else be fired from her job.

Grimmark was fired from her position at a hospital in 2014 because she refused to assist abortions. She filed a claim that the hospital wrongly discriminated against her, but as she looked for other work, she said that other employers didnt want to hire her because of her objection to abortions.

As a midwife, I want to exercise a profession which defends life and saves lives at all cost, she told a newspaper. Are healthcare practitioners in Sweden to be forced to take part in procedures that extinguish life, at its beginning or final stages? Somebody has to take the little childrens side, somebody has to fight for their right to life.

A midwife described to me how she had held an aborted baby in her arms, still alive, and cried desperately for an hour while the baby struggled to breathe, she added. These children do not even have a right to pain relief. I cannot take part in this.

According to LifeNews.com, because the ruling contradicts international law that protects conscientious objection, Grimmark is considering taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Participation in abortions should not be a requirement for employment as a medical professional. In accordance with international law, the court should have protected Ellinors fundamental right to freedom of conscience, said ADF International Director of European Advocacy Robert Clarke in a statement to LifeNews after the ruling. For that reason, Ellinor is considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the fifth time, the annual SOLA Conference for collegians will be taking place this spring, from April 28 to 29 at New Life Community Church in Artesia, CA.

The conference, which has drawn hundreds of college students each year, is unique in that it is hosted and organized through a partnership between several local churches in Southern California. This year, the conference is organized by pastors and leaders from nine churches, including All Nations Community Church, Bethel English Church, Christ Central of Southern California, Crossway Community Church, Good News Chapel, Good Stewards Church, Gospel Life Mission Church, New Life Vision Church, and Living Hope Community Church.

This years conference will be held under the theme, Here We Stand: Always Reforming, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Our identity as a network and movement is shaped around the 5 SOLAs of the Reformation, and we didnt want to miss this opportunity to explicitly champion these amazing doctrines, said Michael Lee, the executive pastor of All Nations Community Church. We dont believe there is a better message to offer collegians than the call to live under the authority of scripture alone, to rely on Christ, grace, and faith alone, and to live for the glory of God alone.

Different aspects of the sola themes  grace alone, scripture alone, and glory to God alone  will be explored during the main sessions, which will feature speakers such as Joshua Harris, author and preacher; Ryan Kwon, the lead pastor of Resonate Church; and Steve Bang Lee, the college and teaching pastor at Living Hope Community Church.

While some seminars will touch upon the Reformation theme as well  such as one titled, How the Protestant Reformation changed the world  many will be on more specific topics such as struggling with shame as Asian American women; gender identity and the Christian response; choosing to be committed to a local church; and what evangelism and missional living may look like in a post- Christian society; among others.

Organizers expressed hopes that the conference would comfort, inspire, and challenge college students as they reflect on the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation, what the Protestant Reformation meant at that time, and what it means for current day Christians.

Personally, I would love our students know that though they may feel part of a marginalized faith as our world continues to change, theyre not alone. Theyre standing on the shoulders of giants who have walked before them, said Steve Bang Lee. I pray that gives them a sense of strength and peace to know that theyre not part of some isolated religious movement, but theyre part of an unstoppable Kingdom that Jesus is moving forward.

I also would love for the students to walk away with a sense of inspired responsibility that in the blink of an eye, they will be the spiritual leaders of their generation, and that the things they sow in to in the here and now, will have a ripple effect in the then and there, Lee added.

The SOLA Conference has grown in a number of ways over the years. For one, the number of churches involved in the organizing process has grown, from four churches in 2015, seven in 2016, and nine this year.

The conference has also grown to become an entity beyond the conference itself: the SOLA Network.

Led by a team of pastors from the nine local churches which organize the conference, the SOLA Network offers resources online through blog articles and videos through which Christian leaders offer their insights. The SOLA Network will also be hosting another conference in June specifically for young adults, called SOLA Nexus, for the first time this year.

And in its fifth year, the SOLA Conference has become a known, regular gathering that many college students now look forward to each year to reexamine and rejuvenate their faith, according to Stanley Ng, the executive and college pastor at Bethel English Church.

The SOLA Conference has been bringing multiple groups of collegians from multiple parts of Southern California to worship at one place, all in One Name, said Ng. It can be easy for students to find themselves back into the general routine: the repeating aim for a decent grade, the part-time work hustle, the balance of fun and friends  all that eventually overwhelms us.

SOLA is the annual pitstop for collegians to engage with the gospel with other collegians, he continued. Its an opportunity to connect, pray, and fellowship.
Alabama governor Robert Bentley went far beyond what most Americansincluding his evangelical supportersconsider cheating, according to a new survey.

Bentley resigned Monday amid an investigation into administration-wide efforts to cover up his ongoing affair with an aide who previously attended his Sunday school class. Among the evidence against the former governor are logs of romantic text messages the two exchanged while Bentley was still married to his wife of 50 years.

His sloppy communication revealed his secret. His wife saw the messages on her iPad, which had been synced over the cloud to the governors phone: You look beautiful and Im so in love with you, followed by heart-eyed emojis.

Evangelicals are more likely than Americans on average, but less likely than mainline Protestants and Mormons, to consider such text messages as a form of infidelity, according to new research by YouGov and Deseret News.

Flirtatious messages cross ...

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'Church Security Seminar' to be Held in Ft. Worth, Texas Contact: Chuck Chadwick, National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management, 972-712-8818



FORT WORTH, Texas, April 12, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of how to address critical church security issues during the upcoming seminar entitled "The Three Strands of Church Security." The 1-day seminar, presented by the National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management, to be held at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, is designed to help church leaders address critical security issues faced by all churches.



Session topics include: Security Policies and Procedures



Emergency preparedness  Active Shooters, Emergency planning, Evacuations



Mail and package screening precautions, Offering Security and Procedures, Background Checks, effective emergency communications.



Getting Started - How to get a Security Ministry started at your church?



Assembling and training your Church Security Team



How to protect your Pastor, church staff and congregation during services and throughout the week.



Terrorism  What should your church really be concerned about?



Handling Disruptive/Exceptional Persons



Technology - What measures are the most effective - Burglary, Fire, Access Control and Video Surveillance systems. The seminar will be presented by nationally known speaker:



Chuck Chadwick  Chuck started his career in church security in 2002 as the director of security for one of Dallas / Fort Worth's largest Christian churches with attendance of over twenty thousand per weekend and numerous campuses throughout the metroplex.



In 2005 Chuck founded the National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management serving thousands of churches across America.



In 2006 he licensed Gatekeepers Security Services which serves Texas churches with over 350 licensed Personal Protection Officers.



In 2009 the Christian Security Institute was established as a private security school training hundreds of licensed church personal protection officers.



2016 brought about the American Society of Christian Gatekeepers which serves individuals with security strategies dealing with Christian ministries.



Today Chuck spends most of his time managing these various entities and in research and development of church security resources. The conference will be Saturday, April 29 9:00 a.m.  noon. Admission is $49 per person.



The location: Christ Chapel Bible Church, 3701 Birchman Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76107



For more information, call 972-712-8818 or visit the seminar website at www.nocssm.org.



The National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management was founded in 2005 by Charles "Chuck" Chadwick to help churches throughout the nation in addressing church specific security and safety issues.

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Houston's second annual Black Restaurant Week will be April 17 through the 30, when the city will highlight black-owned businesses.

Among the notable places participating are Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Lucille's, Kitchen 713, Da Marco's, The Shack and several others.
The teen accused of killing his parents was released on bond Wednesday afternoon, according to court records.

Antonio Armstrong Jr., 17, is accused in the July 2016 deaths of his parents, Dawn and Antonio Armstrong who were found dead inside their southwest Houston townhome. He was released on a $200,000 bond.
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A Baytown politician, in his very first elected position, recently got to bend the ear of a political vet to see just what he's in for, thanks to NPR.

Charles Johnson was recently elected to Baytown's city council. He's not leaving his job at a nearby chemical plant because council member pay isn't too terribly much. He filled out the paperwork, did the door-to-door campaigning, won the election, and was sworn in back in January at Baytown City Hall.

NPR's "All Things Considered" caught up with him as he moves into his fourth month in office.

HOT AND FRESH: Krispy Kreme to open in Baytown

NPR paired Johnson with Ryan Coonerty, who is the Third District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County, California, for a mentoring session of sorts to see what tips the Californian could share with the Texan. It's part of a new series called "Been There" which features people who have put in the time with those that are just starting their journey.

Johnson is an example of a private citizen and family man that decided to get into public life to make a difference where he lives. That's where a lot of politicians start, as outsiders. Even though he grew up in Baytown and started a family there, he had a lot of learn about city politics.

Coonerty was the mayor and a councilman in Santa Cruz for close to a decade, so he had plenty of similar experiences to share.

A NEW CAUSE: Harris County officials push to name courthouse in Baytown after Clint Greenwood

"All of a sudden you have ran, campaigned and then you are standing before your community with your hand in the air and you are upholding to some pretty high ideals to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and to really serve your community," Coonerty said in the NPR piece. "It's humbling and inspiring and scary all at the same time."

Coonerty said that interacting with people who had more experience than him was a challenge. Learning all about his colleagues and what motivates their constituency was key.

He also gave Johnson some tips on dealing with the public, like bringing business cards everywhere and getting your frozen foods at the grocery store last.

"Because, people are gonna stop you in the aisles, and they're gonna want to talk to you, and your food will melt. Everything is gonna take you a little bit longer, cause people all have opinions," Coonerty said.

WANTED: Baytown robbers on the loose after shooting clerk

Constituents also have strong opinions on issues that a politician has to vote on. Coonerty said that this is the hard part, because it's not easy to make a decision that will make everyone happy.

Another essential tip from Coonerty was the essential art of ribbon-cutting at various ceremonies.

"You don't want to screw up somebody's big opening of their restaurant by not being able to actually cut the ribbon," Coonerty said. "It's actually surprisingly tricky to cut things with those giant scissors."

Judging by Johnson's official Facebook page he's been doing a fine job in his community so far.
(Bloomberg) -- A developer has dropped plans to use the Trump Organizations new Scion brand for a proposed $50 million hotel in downtown Dallas after the project drew national attention, scuttling the potential partnership.

Dallas Councilman Philip Kingston said he was informed by Mike Sarimsakci, founder of Alterra International, on Tuesday that he plans to team with a different hotel operator for the project. Kingston said he met with Sarimsakci and others at Dallas City Hall at Sarimsakcis request after Kingston and another council member criticized the developers plans to go into business with President Donald Trumps company. The Trump Organization said it asked Sarimsakci to halt the plan after he called attention to it by talking to local and national media.

The current situation is the result of a phone call this developer made to our company asking whether he should pursue the project with the city council. We told him that he should not, Trump Hotels said Thursday in an emailed statement. This developer made quite a bit of noise about a potential deal and now there is more noise about the possible dissolving of this deal.

Sarimsakci didnt respond to calls and emails seeking comment. The news about the project being halted was reported Wednesday by the Dallas Morning News.

More for you Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago kitchen had more than a dozen health code violations

Sarimsakci said in February that the Scion project would be funded by individual investors in countries including the U.S., Turkey, Qatar and Kazakhstan. The 220-room hotel was set to open in the first quarter of 2019. Trumps family company, now run by his two oldest sons, would have licensed the Scion brand and managed the hotel, and didnt plan to invest any equity capital, Sarimsakci said at the time. He said he had signed a letter of intent with the Trump Organization.

Trump No More

Mike is trying to proceed with the project, but the Trump Organization is no longer the operator he is seeking to do a deal with, Kingston said in an interview Wednesday.

Hotel-development projects often dont come to fruition, Trump Hotels said in its statement.

Trump Hotels Chief Executive Officer Eric Danziger outlined plans for a national expansion at an industry conference in January, five days after the president took the oath of office amid calls by ethics experts to divest himself of his business holdings.

Trump Hotels business model with Scion is to find partners to put up the equity capital while the company licenses its brand and manages the properties, a typical arrangement in the lodging industry. The companys Scion line is intended to attract travelers seeking less expensive accommodations and a more modern design than Trump Hotels namesake luxury properties offer.

Trump Hotels had previously declined to comment on the Dallas project, citing company policy not to speak about deals that arent signed. A letter of intent is merely an informal agreement to explore a deal.

We do not announce deals that are not signed for a variety of reasons. We also take our relationships with partners and potential partners very seriously and we keep the specifics of our business dealings private, Trump Hotels said in its statement Thursday. Having said that, we wouldnt want for this situation to be misconstrued or misrepresented.

The new hotel Sarimsakci plans to develop is still likely to have foreign money backing it, Kingston said, citing his conversation with the developer.

Kingston said he is a Democrat who voted for Hillary Clinton in the November election. He said Trumps anti-Mexican and anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric, along with his actions and conflicts of interest as president, caused him to object to the Scion project.

Bad Brand

The president is a bad brand and we have to protect the Dallas brand, Kingston said. Were trying to sell ourselves internationally as a city thats welcome and open for business travelers, new residents, innovators, young professionals, and the president is an extremely bad brand. Hes a hateful and ignorant man who says things that are hurtful to the people I care about.

The Trump administration imposed a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries in January, sparking chaos at airports, lawsuits and criticism from technology and travel industry executives. Judges blocked the executive order, and a federal judge ruled last month that a revised travel ban was just a cleaned-up version of the original.



Kingston, a practicing lawyer, said Trumps disregard for the rule of law -- and for the decisions of the judiciary -- is specifically hurtful to me and my profession.

2017 Bloomberg L.P.
Sansoro Health Raises $5.2 Million to Drive Integration of Digital Health Applications with Electronic Medical Records

Sansoro Health, an award-winning pioneer in data integration for health care, today announced that it has closed $5.2 million in Series A funding led by Bain Capital Ventures. Sansoro Health makes it easy to exchange real-time health care data between digital health applications and electronic medical records (EMRs). The new funding will be used to expand sales, marketing and operations to accelerate Sansoro Health's vision of transforming health care IT ecosystems through real-time digital health interoperability.

"Innovation in health care will drive improved patient outcomes at lower cost, and meaningful change demands modern, secure data exchange," explains Jeremy Edes Pierotti, CEO, Sansoro Health. "True interoperability empowers health care organizations to evolve, adapt and innovate to serve patients. We could not be happier to have the recognition and partnership of Bain Capital Ventures, a leading health care and technology investor that recognizes what is needed in health care to accelerate progress."

Sansoro Health won the 10th annual Venture+ Forum startup competition as part of the 2016 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference. The company was also selected by Healthcare Informatics (News - Alert) as one of only six national "Up and Comers 2016." Additionally, Sansoro Health won the Software and Web Applications category of the 2016 annual Leaders in Health Care Awards, presented by Minnesota Business.

Sansoro Health's integration software Emissary creates value for leaders across digital health, insurance, life sciences and health systems by quickly and securely connecting applications to EMRs for a seamless exchange of health data. The plug-and-play solution leverages robust web services to provide bi-directional, EMR-agnostic APIs to connect third-party technology products with major EMR platforms. Emissary has been implemented by nearly 20 healthcare organizations since its introduction in 2015 - facilitating the exchange of thousands of API calls per month.







"Sansoro Health solves the #1 problem for most hospital CIOs, who often have a 2-3 year backlog of systems to integrate," said Yumin Choi, managing director of Bain Capital Ventures. "Jeremy has built a spectacular team with deep industry expertise, and they've developed an elegant solution that is far superior to anything we've seen in this space. Unlike other vendors that rely on limiting data formats, Sansoro offers robust integration that can cut implementation from months to days."

BCV has a long history of success in healthcare technology and services. Active portfolio companies include Apixio (healthcare data science), Quanterix (high-definition diagnostics) and Remedy Partners (bundled payment SaaS (News - Alert) and services). Prior exits include ABILITY Network (Summit Partners); Accelecare (Healogics); Boston Heart Diagnostics (Eurofins); Enclarity (LexisNexis (News - Alert)); Humedica (UnitedHealth); Liazon (Towers Watson); Liberty Dialysis (Fresenius); MedeAnalytics (Thoma Bravo); MedHOK (Hearst); MinuteClinic (CVS); and National Cardiovascular Partners (Fresenius).

Prior to the Series A investment, Sansoro Health received $1.2 million in seed funding in 2016, led by San Francisco-based investor Healthy Ventures with additional funds from TreeHouse Health and angel investors.

About Sansoro Health

Sansoro Health makes it easy to exchange real-time health care data between digital health applications and electronic medical records. Sansoro's core product, EmissaryTM, leverages APIs for a quick and secure plug-and-play solution enabling innovators to scale quickly and health care to take the next big step towards true interoperability. For more information, visit http://sansorohealth.com.

About Bain Capital Ventures

Bain Capital Ventures partners with disruptive B2B founders to accelerate their ideas to market. The firm invests from seed to growth in enterprise software, infrastructure software and industries being transformed by data. BCV has helped launch and commercialize 200-plus companies since 1984, including investments in DocuSign, Kiva Systems, LinkedIn (News - Alert), Rapid7, SurveyMonkey, Taleo and TellApart. BCV has approximately $3.7 billion of assets under management with offices in San Francisco, New York and Boston. Follow BCV via LinkedIn or Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005726/en/
Three gunmen are on the run after robbing a northwest Houston IHOP early Thursday morning, police said.

The men entered the IHOP off of Highway 290 near Hollister Road around 2:45 a.m. They held up the employees at gun point and demanded money. The employees opened the cash register and the safe. The robbers nabbed the cash from both and escaped.
Some heavy hitters are scheduled to appear at next week's "Celebration of Reading." Several boldface names, including David Brooks and Sue Grafton, will be in Houston Thursday to read and discuss their work at the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's big book event.

An annual fundraiser hosted by Barbara Bush and by Maria and Neil Bush, "A Celebration of Reading" supports the work of the Bush family's local and national literacy foundations.

Here's the lineup for Thursday's event:

David Brooks: The New York Times columnist was just added to the lineup last week. His most recent book, "The Road to Character," is about finding the core values that lead to a rich, rewarding life amid the distractions of a self-centered culture. He's known for more best-sellers that reflect on our culture, including "Bobos in Paradise" and "The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement."

More Information A Celebration of Reading

6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby

Tickets start at $100; www.bushhoustonliteracy.org See More Collapse

Sue Grafton: Grafton's the author of the "Alphabet Series" of mystery novels, which started with "A is for Alibi" in 1982. Since then, she has churned out a bestseller for every letter of the alphabet  "B is for Burglar," "C is for Corpse," and so on. Grafton's series has almost reached the end: The 25th installment, "Y Is For...", will be published in August.

Jim Gaffigan: The stand-up comedian is also the author of two books. "Dad is Fat," Gaffigan's first book, is a collection of essays on life with his wife and five kids. "Food: A Love Story," published last year, is billed as "an in-depth, thoroughly uninformed look at everything from health food to things that people actually enjoy eating."

Read Chronicle columnist Ken Hoffman's interview with Gaffigan.

Bill Browder: Browder, the co-founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, is author of the bestseller "Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice." Browder made his fortune investing in Russia; in 2005, he had become the country's largest foreign investor when he suddenly was deported and declared a threat to national security. In 2009, Browder's tax attorney was killed in prison after alleging that Russian officials had committed fraud against taxpayers.
Houston native Harris Wittels loved jokes and he loved Phish, so the inaugural Harris Phest honoring the comedian and writer will offer some version of both.

A stand-up comedian and writer for "Parks and Recreation," "Master of None" and "The Sarah Silverman Program," Wittels died in February 2015 in Los Angeles. His sister Stephanie Wittels Wachs will mark his birthday, April 20, with the event at the 8th Wonder Brewery.
Humble Rotary invited Michael Bell, community engagement manager for Rise Against Hunger, to speak on the work he does with the possibility of the future involvement from the Rotary Club.

Rise Against Hunger advocates for hunger issues around the world, specifically targeting countries with the highest rates of food scarcity.

"We were founded in 1998. We started packing meals in 2005, and since then our meals have been distributed to over 70 different countries but we focus in areas with high rates of food insecurity," Bell said.

Bell was first introduced to the organization when it was known as Stop Hunger Now, while in college in Jackson, Mississippi.

"I volunteered with their meal packaging program, and then when I moved down here to Houston, I was looking for something to do and I learned that they wanted to launch a program here in Houston," Bell said.

With a need to always help people and work to eradicate world hunger, Bell said the road to success is thanks to the number of volunteers and partnerships that have help grow the organization.

"Over all, the growth of our organization since the beginning, since 2005, our meal packaging program has grown exponentially, now we really are with the brand change," said Bell.

Bell said that Rise Against Hunger also works by investing in the community.

"We invest in the communities that we serve, so we don't consider ourselves a food bank. We distribute our foods internationally to developing countries with high rates of food scarcity," said Bell.

To follow along with how many meals Rise Against Hunger packages and the latest numbers on total people served, visit http://www.riseagainsthunger.org.
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Galveston police named a 21-year-old known gang member as a suspect in a shooting Sunday at the San Luis Hotel and Conference Center that left a security guard in critical condition.

Police arrested and charged Tyronne Davis Haynes Monday at 6:35 a.m. for criminal trespassing in a neighborhood about half a mile from the hotel. He is being held in the Galveston County Jail on a $5,000 bail.

Haynes, who has not been charged in connection with the shooting, is a documented member of a gang in Missouri City called Gorilla Mob 187, Galveston Police Department Capt. Joshua Schirard said.

Police believe at least two other gunmen were involved in the shooting of 23-year-old Philip Molis. Both are likely members of the same gang, Schirard added.

Police are offering a $30,000 reward raised by community members for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the case.

"These suspects don't care if it was a police officer, a security guard," Schirard said. "They just turned around and shot."

Molis was patrolling the back parking lot of the hotel around 10:15 p.m. Sunday when he saw several people involved in what he thought was suspicious activity, Schirard said.

When the security guard approached, the gunmen turned around and fired at him, striking the security guard multiple times, Galveston police said Monday. The gunmen then fled the parking lot.

Molis was transported to the University of Texas-Medical Branch hospital where he underwent surgery. He is still in the hospital in critical condition, family members said Thursday.

"He has so much he wants to accomplish in life and so much motivation to do so," said a woman who said she was aunt at a press conference on Thursday. "This tragedy has truly broken our family's spirit."

Molis had been a security guard at the hotel since 2011, family said.

At least 10 cars were broken into on Sunday at the hotel. Galveston police have not said at this time if anything was stolen from those vehicles.

Police are asking community members with information to contact their tip line at 409-765-3762 or the Galveston branch of Crime Stoppers at 409-763-8477.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted Texas death-row inmate Duane Buck the right to pursue his claims of ineffective counsel and relief under a rule that covers mistakes and neglect - a move that could spare him from execution.

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race improperly tainted Buck's death sentence and remanded the case to the lower court for a new hearing.

In a two-page ruling filed Thursday, the federal appeals court also ordered him released unless the state initiates proceedings for a new trial for punishment within six months or "elects not to seek the death penalty and accedes to a life sentence."

Buck was convicted in Houston 20 years ago for the killings of his ex-girlfriend, Debra Gardner, and her friend, Kenneth Butler. He was sentenced to death after a psychologist testified he would be a continuing threat to society because he is black.

The case, which has made national headlines for years, could be a harbinger of how the country's highest court deals with death penalty cases with racial overtones, experts have said.

After February's decision, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said her office would review Buck's case, including speaking with the victims' families and looking over mitigation evidence, before deciding how to proceed.

"Racially charged evidence has no place in any courtroom, and this administration will not tolerate its presence," she said. "We remain committed to seeking justice for the victims of Duane Buck's heinous criminal acts and will do so without what Chief Justice Roberts described as the 'strain of racial prejudice' present at the 1997 trial in which Buck was convicted."
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Jerry Ivins' life changed in high school when he tried out for a high school play in an effort to attract attention from a girl he had a crush on.

"I was just trying to meet a girl," explained the Deer Park resident, who chairs the theater and film department at San Jacinto College's central campus in Pasadena.

This week, Ivins could change the lives of a number of high school thespians when he judges the state AAA University Interscholastic League one-act play finals in Bastrop.

At San Jac this year, Ivins has also hosted several preliminary rounds of UIL contests, including a regional 6A meet on April 8 in which the quest for a state title ended for Pasadena Dobie High School's production of scenes from "Wit" and Pearland Dawson High's "Antonio Lorenzo Vannozzo's Pinnochio."

Earlier that week, Deer Park High's production of scenes from "Love of a Pig," Dickinson's High "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" and Friendswood High's "Golden Boy" competed in an area 6A meet that Ivins hosted.

"All roads seem to lead to San Jac," he said.

When Ivins was a child, his family moved to Mississippi from Oklahoma.

"It was way out in the country (in Mississippi) where I grabbed a movie camera and started making films," he recalled. "I've had jobs since I was 8, and I spent my money on developing Super 8 films that I made."

When Ivins was a teenager, his family moved to Paris, Texas.

"I was so shy, I stared at my shoes," he said. "But I was desperate to meet this girl. I didn't have the courage to talk to her; so I auditioned for the UIL play. I was one of two guys in the whole school to try out."

Both Ivins and the object of his affection were cast, but it was Ivins who was honored at the district UIL contest, as best actor, in "Where Have All the Lightning Bugs Gone?" by Louis E. Catron.

Paris Junior College took notice.

"They ran right up to me and offered me a scholarship," said Ivins, who would collect more honors in productions at the junior college, including his performance in "Lou Gehrig Did Not Die of Cancer."

Ivins continued to study theater education in college. "My parents thought it was crazy. I was the black sheep of the family for not getting a job at a factory," he said, laughing.

Ivins was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock when he began directing stage productions and managing UIL one-act play contests.

This fall, San Jac will host the Texas finals of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Association competition.

"The benefit to our students is the connection they make with other universities," Ivins said. "Our students work backstage with the competing schools, and a number of times, they will apply at those universities, and someone will say, 'I remember you from San Jac.' A lot of our students win scholarships that way."

Something else San Jac does is present an awards to a crew member from every school that competes in a UIL contest at the college.

"It isn't an official UIL award, but we make a big deal out of it," Ivins said.

The crew awards are chosen by Jay Thomas of South Houston, who is the events and facilities coordinator at San Jac, and others who work backstage with the high schools that compete in UIL.

"The awards are based on how professional the tech kids are and how much their work enhances the production," Ivins said.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be reached at donmaines@att.net
[April 13, 2017] RASTRAC Announces StreetComplete for Specialty Vehicle Mapping

AUSTIN, Texas, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RASTRAC, a leader in the GPS tracking and fleet management industry, has developed StreetComplete to give users the ability to map service coverage area with real-time, color-coded, aging routes. This makes it a powerful, versatile, and fully customizable tool designed for any application that requires repeated coverage or monitoring of a specific service area. The customizable color coding system allows users to have an "at a glance" view of how much time has passed since a route received service. For example, in winter, municipalities often use StreetComplete to manage snowplow operations. With this program, custom timers can be set according to the city's needs, and fleet managers can see which roads are the most in need of clearing. Knowing how long it has been since a given route was visited is an effective means for improving coverage in each service area. Since the user can customize the time ranges assigned to each color, StreetComplete is a very versatile application for performing live monitoring of a given service area. For example, a green color code may be set for a route that was just completed, a yellow one for a route that is nearing the normal deadline for the next maintenance, and a red code for a route that is overdue. This allows one to quickly assess which routes are most in need of service. While nomal GPS tracking solutions can help improve the distribution of your assets in the field, using StreetComplete can help you take this a step further. "Knowing which areas are most in need of service allows you to redistribute your field assets to where they can have the biggest impact without overlapping. This helps improve the overall efficiency of your field operations," says Mike Feeley, National Sales Director at RASTRAC.



StreetComplete will be shown at the APWA 2017 North American Snow Conference in Des Moines, Iowa April 23-26, 2017 at booth 1144. ABOUT RASTRAC: RASTRAC (www.rastrac.com) is a leading GPS fleet tracking and remote asset management solution for companies of all sizes. Founded in 1993, RASTRAC has provided vehicle tracking solutions to companies all over the world to help them reduce their operating expenses. The GPS fleet tracking and remote asset management solutions offered can help reduce unnecessary costs on everything from excess fuel usage to costly vehicle breakdowns, and more.

Media Contact:

Brian Dziuk

Phone: 512-918-0700

Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.png Related Links StreetComplete Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C2T4QJ6t_M 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/rastrac-announces-streetcomplete-for-specialty-vehicle-mapping-300439276.html SOURCE RASTRAC

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A Houston man is suing the city over its charitable feeding ordinance, saying the 2012 ban on feeding the homeless violates his religious rights.

Phillip Paul Byrant, who describes himself as a devout Christian, filed a lawsuit in Harris County court challenging the ordinance, which requires advocates to obtain permission from property owners - public or private - before feeding more than five people.
Houston police are investigating after a man was shot in west Houston.

The man was shot around 8:20 p.m. in the 9400 block of Briar Forest Drive.

Police officers are currently on scene. Officials did not provide any further details on the mans's condition or a suspect involved in the shooting.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
Blanco Middle School counselor Lisa Rogers was arrested Tuesday after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The district released this statement:

"It is with heavy heart that I am writing to notify you that, yesterday evening, Blanco school officials were notified that Blanco Middle School counselor Lisa Rogers has been arrested and is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

"There is an ongoing criminal investigation, but we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of all of our students remain our highest priority."

ARRESTED: Texas martial arts teacher accused of sexually assaulting two students

Counseling services will be provided to students at the high school and middle school campuses, district officials said.

No further details were immediately available, as the district aims to be "vigilant in protecting student privacy."
Dozens of criminal prosecutions could be in jeopardy after errors by a Houston crime-scene investigator raised questions about key evidence in cases that include 26 homicides, five officer-involved shootings and six child deaths since 2015.

The revelations Wednesday in a crime lab audit sent prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney's Office scrambling to untangle the possible problems, first with a blanket notification to criminal defense attorneys and then a public statement.

"Any deficiencies in the collection of evidence at a crime scene are extremely disturbing and important," said David Mitcham, the trial bureau chief of the DA's office. "It's not minor. It can create problems of proof later in a court of law."

It is the latest in a string of unrelated evidence problems that have left prosecutors reviewing hundreds of cases in the past year.

More Information Evidence troubles aren't new Harris County has been beset in the past year with a series of problems involving forensic evidence. In July, 298 wrongful convictions were identified as part of an ongoing audit of Harris County convictions that had been based only on roadside tests or circumstantial evidence that later was found to be incorrect. The same month, the Houston Forensic Science Center identified problems uncovered in an audit of crime scene unit investigations that might have effected officer-involved shooting cases. In September, the Harris County District Attorney's Office announced the office was reviewing hundreds of cases after revelations that officials at the Precinct 4 Constable's Office had improperly destroyed evidence. Also in September, questions were raised about testing in DWI cases after a toxicology expert resigned amid scrutiny that she had misrepresented her academic qualifications. In October, more than 4,200 criminal cases involving 15,000 pieces of evidence were under review after a sprinkler malfunctioned in the Houston Police Department's evidence room. See More Collapse

The crime scene investigator made errors in 65 cases since 2015 by failing to gather possible blood evidence, collect weapons or shell casings or take photos at crime scenes, among other shortcomings, according to an audit by the Houston Forensic Science Center.

The independent crime lab replaced the beleaguered Houston Police Department lab that had gained national notoriety for mismanagement and other problems.

The alert Wednesday sent defense attorneys likewise digging through case files.

"Everybody knows the HPD crime lab, now called HFSC, has had their issue over the past years," said Tyler Flood, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. "It just seems like new issues keeping popping up and this is the newest one in the saga of that laboratory."

Houston Police Officers Union President Ray Hunt sharply criticized the crime lab and the DA's office for their handling of the situation, saying police officers are being used as scapegoats. He said the officers were not trained properly for the jobs they were doing.

"I'm tired of every time they have a problem, they want to put the blame on a police officer," Hunt said Wednesday. "So let's let it lie where it belongs - on the management of the Houston Forensic Science Center."

Police Chief Art Acevedo said Wednesday that the department will conduct an "administrative inquiry" into the problems.

"At this time, we have no indication of misconduct by any HPD employees but have been made aware that corrections to reports were needed," he said in a written statement.

The lab notified the Texas Forensic Science Commission of the problems, and the state agency will consider the audit at its next meeting in May, officials said.

The full commission could decide to investigate, table or take no further action, said Kathryn Adams, the state commission's coordinator.

Evidence left at the scene

Auditors reviewed 88 cases handled by the officer, and found that 65 had incomplete documentation, including 32 with administrative errors. In eight cases, evidence had been misplaced.

The investigator repeatedly failed to collect DNA swabs or test for latent fingerprints, and left sometimes-bloody evidence - a towel or belt used to strike a homicide victim - sitting at the scene.

In at least two cases, the investigator failed to take measurements of bloody footprints, and once reported he did not take photos because he "did not want to contaminate his camera equipment," according to the audit.

The crime-scene investigator, Justin McGee, an HPD officer assigned to the lab, has been sent back to patrol. His supervisor, Sgt. Jeff Cruser, who was cited in the audit for failing to catch McGee's mistakes during routine checks, has been removed temporarily from service, officials said.

Efforts to reach the officers Wednesday were unsuccessful and HPD public information officers declined to make them available for comment.

After years of reform, the crime lab - still located in HPD's downtown headquarters - became independent in 2014 and is now overseen by a civilian board. New standards were adopted while new technicians and supervisors were brought in.

More than a dozen crime scene investigators, however, are HPD officers, a source of continued friction.

Peter Stout, the lab's president and chief executive, said officials called for an audit after spotting possible problems during a review of records.

"We - the laboratory - (found) performance that we were not happy with and that caused us to go look through all of the records of this particular investigator to see what may be the extent of the problem," Stout said. "This is part of the challenge of getting a unit that we have known from the start had issues and this is part of fixing those issues."

According to Stout, the forensic center has been working to hire civilians in the crime scene unit, which now employs about 30 people, including 13 Houston police officers, he said.

The district attorney's office learned about the problems on April 3 from the Houston Forensic Science Center and began notifying defense attorneys late Tuesday, Mitcham said.

"We appreciated the prompt notice," Flood said. "We need to know as fast as possible because there are cases happening in court every day and we just want to make sure that none of those are handled improperly."

Cases under review

Among the cases with evidence problems are five officer-involved shootings between the fall of 2015 and spring 2016.

The most recent came in March of last year, when officers responded to a call for a shooting in progress in the 200 block of South 70th. They found 28-year-old Johnathon Sanchez armed with a pistol, and opened fire when he pointed the gun at officers, according to police.

Sanchez was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, but seven months later prosecutors added a murder charge, accusing him of fatally shooting a woman the day of his arrest.

Among the evidence that the audit says was mishandled in the case was a spent cartridge case left at the scene that the investigator concluded "appeared to be unrelated."

Allen Isbell, Sanchez's attorney, said the revelation will factor into the defense strategy, especially when it comes to putting together two alleged crime scenes.

"The big thing is if they say the casings found at the shooting with police officers matched the casings or bullets found where the woman was murdered," Isbell said. "It's two different scenes."

He said he was shocked to hear about yet another evidence debacle at the crime lab.

"I'm surprised, quite frankly," he said. "Since we went through all of this before I thought we'd be doubly careful this time, and it appears that somebody was not careful. It's troubling to think, since scientific evidence is so important to a jury, that we don't make sure to cross every t and dot every i before we give out a report."

In another shooting, Geno Salinas is accused of murder in a case he said was self-defense.

His attorney, Deborah Summers, said the crime scene investigator's inaccurate measurements or recording of those measurements may make a difference in the case.

"We really need a very accurate picture of what was happening," Summers said. "There's certainly some questions about how some of the evidence was collected and what was not collected."

Other cases of officer-involved shootings - including the death of a driver after a fatal car crash in November 2015 and the accidental shooting of a 16-year-old suspect during a foot chase - were described as having "minor" errors.

The cases involving six child deaths and several instances of child abuse cited problems including findings that possible evidence had been left behind or not reported - including a towel that may have contained blood and a BB gun.

Crime scene photos revealed the evidence but it was not collected or included in the report, the audit said.

Child Protective Services officials were not aware of any investigations that may have been affected, but they contacted the Houston Forensic Science Center for more information, according to a CPS representative.

Lise Olsen and St. John Barned-Smith contributed to this report.
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The absence of the Houston Police Department and sheriff's office was glaring during a Monday morning news conference where Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans to ramp up anti-gang initiatives in Harris County.

But HPD officials confirmed on Wednesday that it is in fact assigning two squads to the initiatives despite the governor's omission explaining just how local law enforcement would fit into the state's efforts.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo declined to speak on the governor's motives or why they were excluded but simply chalked it up to a minor oversight.

The governor's office said it was simply a matter of wanting to focus on the state and federal aspect of the effort.

However, during the Monday news conference Abbott and DPS director Steve McCraw made sweeping statements about Houston and Harris County.

They mentioned residents living here illegally fuel violent crime, that violent crime is "increasing at an alarming rate" and "residents are living in constant fear" - sentiments HPD and Turner refute.

Acevedo said crime is not increasing and has remained relatively flat for the past five years.

The police chief did not comment on why the governor would make such statements but said it goes against the data his department has collected.

Turner not only agreed with Acevedo, but warned he would not tolerate such inaccurate narratives about the city.

"I don't want you coming to the city of Houston and knocking this city. I'm not going to accept that from anyone," he said. "I appreciate the governor's concern, but we will do our very best to protect the citizenry, and I applaud HPD, Chief Acevedo for what they're doing."

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett also said Abbott's visit and statements were startling.

Emmett said he called Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who said he was not notified of Abbott's new initiative.

Emmett said the county, like the city, already has an active task force to fight gang violence.

He added that while the county does have crime, the idea that there was a "burgeoning problem" in the region came as a surprise.

Still, HPD will provide two new squads to assist in what local officials are calling a welcomed effort.

Details are still being worked out, but the squads will focus on gang violence and violence perpetuated by documented gang members, Acevedo said.

In addition to the two squads, the state will deploy Texas Rangers and DPS special agents to support local law enforcement in Houston.

Abbott's office also will provide $500,000 in new funding from the governor's criminal justice division to increase Texas Anti-Gang Center resources in the Houston area.

The FBI also will provide additional personnel.

Abbott said he was inspired to act based on a series of violent headlines out of Houston since January.

"This recent wave of senseless violence cannot continue," he said.

Acevedo agreed with Abbott in that Houston and Harris County are constantly facing ongoing challenges, noting that the partnership with the state is not new and only a part of an evolving collaboration.

"I don't think the sky is falling, but there is plenty of crime to go around in the city of Houston," Acevedo said. "And in a time of limited resources, partnerships are important."
Houston police are searching for the gunmen responsible for a shooting outside a southwest-side shopping center on Wednesday that sent three young people to the hospital.

The victims, an 11-year-old girl and two boys, believed to be about 15 or 16, were shot about 4 p.m. in the 5800 block of Renwick. They were taken to area hospitals with what Houston police said were non life-threatening injuries. The girl was shot in the arm while the two boys were shot in the foot and the leg.
AUSTIN -- The Senate's chief budget writer asked Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday whether an accounting maneuver that the Senate used to balance its budget is legal.

If Paxton agrees, it would affirm the Senate's plan to delay for one month the transfer of $2.5 billion from sales tax revenues to the state highway fund.

The request appears to cloud the legitimacy of the Senate plan, until Paxton's decision is rendered.

Senate leaders said privately they are confident Paxton will affirm their plan, the Nelson's request was only to quiet criticism about its transfer plan once and for all.

The Senate budget maneuver has been blasted by House leaders as improper and illegal, with House Speaker Joe Straus saying his chamber would not go along with the other chamber's plan. The House has instead proposed drawing roughly the same amount from the state's savings account -- commonly called the Rainy Day Fund -- to balance its version of the budget.

In a two-page letter to the head of Paxton's opinions committee that affirms decisions about the wording and meaning of state law, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jane Nelson asked whether "a delay in making each fiscal year deposit to the state highway fund under . . . the Texas Constitution until September of the following year violate that constitutional provision."

"The Comptroller expressly informed me that it is not possible to calculate net revenue and remit the appropriate payment to the highway fund until after the close of the fiscal year" on August 31, Nelson wrote.

"Is a strict interpretation of (the constitutional provision) required when it would be impossible to actually comply? Or may the Comptroller comply with that provision by making the payment as soon as it can be calculated?"

The request to Paxton came Wednesday after Comptroller Glenn Hegar, in a two-page letter to Nelson, appeared to leave open the question of how the transfer could be handled. Hegar noted that he "identified a conflict in the constitutional provision (establishing the fund) that requires the transfer be made out of net revenue and where the same provision also appears to require that the transfer be made in the same fiscal year as the revenue was collected and deposited to (the state's general revenue fund)," Hegar states in his letter.

"The concept of net revenue is critical to this discussion."

On Tuesday, Nelson asked Hegar to clarify how the transfer needed to take place to be legal. With budget negotiations between the Senate and House expected to start next week, she asked for an expedited response.

"A resolution of this issue is paramount in order for the conference committee on Senate Bill 1 (the budget) to make an informed decision about our state budget," Nelson said in her clarification request to Hegar.

Senate leaders said Wednesday that they would let Nelson's correspondence speak for itself. House officials said they had not seen the request for a Paxton opinion, but they reiterated their earlier opposition to the Senate plan and highlights why they questioned the maneuver in the first place.
[April 13, 2017] Campus Montreal - Over $581 million raised for research, merit scholarships, infrastructure and campus life

MONTREAL, April 13, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - This morning, accompanied by Helene David, Minister responsible for Higher Education, and Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, the leaders of HEC Montreal, Polytechnique Montreal and Universite de Montreal announced that Campus Montreal's major fundraising campaign has raised $581 million in philanthropic donations, beating its target of $500 million. "We carried out the most ambitious fundraising campaign ever seen in a Francophone university environment," announced Guy Breton, Rector of Universite de Montreal, at the beginning of a press conference this morning. "These donations will provide direct support for major projects in four areas: research, merit scholarships, infrastructure and campus life. Above all, they will help us better pursue our mission for the benefit of all." Michel Patry, Director of HEC Montreal, reminded the audience that philanthropy often serves as a catalyst for getting promising projects off the ground. As an example, he pointed to the founding of IVADO, the Institute for Data Valorization. "Campus Montreal was the catalyst at the oriin of IVADO," Mr. Patry said. "Today, international Internet giants like Google and Microsoft are showing an interest in the institute's work."



Christophe Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montreal, added that this major fundraising campaign has already led to the establishment of 30 research chairs and funds in medicine, engineering, management, entrepreneurship, humanities and social sciences. "Campus Montreal's philanthropic commitments enabled existing organizations to be strengthened and new ones to be proposed," he explained. "It's mission accomplished, and we'd like to say 581 million thank yous to all those who made this campaign possible."

Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, reminded the audience of the important role that universities play in the city. "After Boston, Montreal has the second most students of any city in the Americas," he said. "What's more, we've just been ranked as the top university city in the world for welcoming foreign students." "Universities are places of knowledge and research that bring unique dynamism to our city," Mr. Coderre added. "It's very reassuring to see that the philanthropic community is doing its part."

"Campus Montreal was able to rally driving forces in the philanthropic community for the benefit of the three institutions helped by the campaign: places of knowledge, research and expertise. In my eyes, the success of this campaign represents a cultural shift in Francophone philanthropic circles, and that's an extremely welcome development. When our universities receive philanthropic support, the entire province benefits," commented Helene David, Minister responsible for Higher Education. Campus Montreal is an umbrella organization that has conducted a joint fundraising campaign for HEC Montreal, Polytechnique Montreal and Universite de Montreal since 2013. Donations will be added to the final count until fall 2017, Campus Montreal's five-year anniversary as a public organization. Together, these three institutions are in the top percentile of the world's best universities. They form one of the largest Francophone university complexes in the world, and the leading university research hub in Quebec. Campus Montreal's major financing campaign was headed by John Parisella in the role of Executive Director. Louise Arbour, Helene Desmarais, Geoffrey Molson, Michael Sabia and Thierry Vandal served as co-chairs. SOURCE Campus Montreal

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[April 13, 2017] New Nursing Education Center Opens in Portland, Ore.

Regional health care professionals gathered April 12, 2017, for the Grand Opening of Concordia University Portland's new Nursing Skills Center at 9600 SW Barnes Road in Portland, Ore. adjacent to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. The new facility is specifically designed to support Concordia University's new accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program, which expands the university's decade-long track record of graduating caring and competent nurses with a heart for service. The new 11,980 sq. ft. facility includes large lab spaces, two simulation rooms, with high-tech medical mannequins that simulate real patient conditions, an observation room, student collaboration space, faculty offices and conference rooms. It will house students enrolled in the ABSN program, a 16-month option for students who qualify. With a nursing shortage looming for Oregon - an estimated shortfall of 6,000 nurses by 2025, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration - Concordia University-Portland is stepping up to prepare more nurses through both its nationally accredited bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program and the new ABSN program.



Concordia graduates pass the national licensure exam at 91.67%, well above the national average pass rate of 83.7 %, and higher than any other private university in Oregon. "As a military veteran and non-traditional student, I appreciate the accelerated curriculum both online and in the skills center because I already have a lot of practical experience from my time in the military," shares Tim Walker (News - Alert), a Vancouver, Wash. native, who is a member of the first cohort of students in Concordia University's ABSN program.

"As the demand for nurses increases in our community, Concordia is committed to providing the latest and most advanced educational options for students," says Dr. Sarah Sweitzer, Dean of Concordia University's College of Health and Human Services. "Concordia's Accelerated BSN program allows students to earn the same quality degree in a concentrated timeframe, so graduates can serve the community as soon as possible. With three start dates per year, students may apply to start right away." To learn more visit accleratednursing.CU-portland.edu or call 866.892.5321. ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY Concordia University-Portland is Oregon's largest private, nonprofit university. Located in northeast Portland, Ore., Concordia is a Lutheran, liberal arts university with a mission of preparing leaders for the transformation of society. Founded in 1905, Concordia Portland serves approximately 5,000 students on its campuses and online, through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Services, College of Arts & Sciences, School of Management, and Concordia University School of Law in Boise, Idaho. For more about Concordia University, visit www.cu-portland.edu and www.concordialaw.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005959/en/

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Akkineni young hero Naga Chaitanya's latest ongoing 14th untitled film shooting took place at an alarming rate. The film's first schedule ended on March 11th and second schedule began from this month April 3rd in surrounding areas of Hyderabad. Now, this second schedule was also completed. The filming took place as continuously so far without gaps. Some scenes have depicted in night at Saroornagar and also some hospital scenes were filmed in this second schedule. Lavanya tripathi is playing the female lead opposite Chaitu.

This schedule was filmed on these both lead actors. Next schedule begins from this month 15th. Versatile actor Srikanth is playing pivotal role. Pellichoopulu fame Vivek Sagar is composing the tracks. The movie is being directed by debutant Krishna RV Marimuthu and is produced by Vaaraahi Chalana Chitra along with Suresh productions as co-producers. Rajamoulis son SS.Karthikeya being working as line producer.
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Announces an Investigation Concerning Possible Violations of Delaware Law by Cotiviti Holdings, Inc.

Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Cotiviti Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:COTV) concerning possible breaches of Delaware law by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to:

http://zlk.9nl.com/Coviti_Holdings_COTV







or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413006009/en/
Fundatia de Binefacere Caritas Moldova solicita oferte de pret de la companii cu privire la productia de materiale de vizibilitate
[April 13, 2017] AFAR Launches Trip Planner

NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In its mission to inspire, enable, and guide discerning travelers to deeper, richer, and more fulfilling experiences, AFAR introduced its newest tool, Trip Planner, on Thursday. AFAR's Trip Planner is a significant step towards fulfilling the company's vision of seamlessly converting inspiration into action for the world's most frequent and discerning travelers. In a world where travelers have an almost infinite access to content, and booking travel is one click away, AFAR built its trip planner to help bring travelers closer to deeper experiences. AFAR Media pioneered the saving of its travel recommendations into customized lists when it launched Place Pages (i.e. places to eat, drink, stay, do, and shop). Today's evolution expands its trip planner capabilities by making the saving of travel content easier and more useful for its 78,000+ places and 3,000+ articles and slideshows. Travelers can now 'one-click save' all content across AFAR.com, including places, lists, articles, and slideshows. In addition, travelers can arrange their trip plan into days, add notes, and create custom items unique to their trip. The new bookmarking browser tool allows travelers to clip travel rcommendations, points of interest, and other practical information from around the web into their AFAR trip plans.



"We know travelers visit multiple sites when planning trips," said AFAR's CTO, Derek Butcher. "Our goal was to make sure they could save content from around the web in one place that converts inspiration into action. In doing so we've vastly expanded trip planning capabilities for AFAR travelers." The product has been in beta for the last month. Mr. Butcher confirmed that feedback from testers was overwhelmingly positive, with most comments focused on the ease of saving travel recommendations into lists, making trip planning easier and more organized. "We designed Trip Planner to make saving travel recommendations easier and more useful for our audience. We're excited that Trip Planner is bringing experience closer to our audience than ever before," commented Butcher.

The AFAR Trip Planner is sponsored by American Express Travel and made possible by their commitment to cultivating meaningful experiences. About AFAR Media: AFAR Media is dedicated to inspiring and enabling deeper, richer, and more fulfilling travel experiences. AFAR launched as a print travel magazine at the height of the recession in 2009 to approach travel in a way that no other media publication was doing and has grown into the most critically acclaimed multiplatform travel media company, with the most traveled and most influential audience. Based in New York and San Francisco, AFAR's diverse portfolio of platforms includes: AFAR magazine; AFAR.com; Learning AFAR, a non-profit program that introduces the importance of travel to high school students; the AFAR Travel Guide mobile app; and AFAR Experiences, an immersive travel event series. Media Contact: Irene Wang, 646-873-6552, [email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afar-launches-trip-planner-300439590.html SOURCE AFAR Media

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On The Kicker this week, we discuss White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers job performance to date. Spicers gaffe in comparing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Adolf Hitler was only the latest in a string of controversies emerging from behind the lectern in the Brady Briefing Room. Then, we have some fun imagining the life of a journalist in 2027. The impetus for the conversation was a recently published CJR story on the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism.

Finally, author and Columbia Journalism School professor Todd Gitlin talks with Dave about the medias love affair with war. Gitlin is a fierce critic of the manner in which journalistsboth in print and especially on televisionreport on events like last weeks missile strike in Syria. He and Dave discuss the historical context for this concern, and how the media could better cover military action.

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Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
Booming online retail sales are good news for the U.S. Postal Service, but its carriers are incurring a cost: more dog bites.

Dog attacks on postal workers rose last year to 6,755, up 206 from the previous year and the highest in three decades, as internet shopping booms and consumers increasingly demand seven-day-a-week package delivery and groceries dropped at their doorstep. The high for attacks dated back to the 1980s, at more than 7,000, before maulings by pit bulls and other potentially aggressive dogs became a public issue.

Los Angeles topped the 2016 list with 80 attacks on postal workers, followed by Houston with 62 and Cleveland with 60.

The Postal Service released its annual figures Thursday as part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which begins Sunday.

A longtime cliche of movies, dog biting of mail carriers  or at least dog chasing  is no laughing matter for the post office. Medical expenses and workers compensation cost the Postal Service millions of dollars each year.

Overall, an estimated 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs annually, mostly children. In the last year, dog attacks on carriers rose 3 percent. Still, while dog bite claims are rising, there are signs attacks may be less severe: The average cost per claim fell last year by more than 10 percent to $33,230, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm.

Its always on your mind as a carrier, Is there a dog in the area and is it a threat? said James Solomon, a 17-year postal carrier. Officially, 2 percent of carriers were bitten last year, but Solomon says every carrier he knows has some kind of dog experience to tell, from outrunning to cajoling a territorial pet.

The post office hopes more public awareness will help.

After a 14 percent jump in dog attacks in 2015, the post office launched a Trip Hazards app on handheld devices to help warn carriers of potentially hostile dogs. Customers are asked on package pickup applications if there are dogs at their addresses. In extreme cases, residents will be told to pick up mail at a post office until a repeat offender dog is restrained.

Even good dogs have bad days, said U.S. Postal Service Safety Director Linda DeCarlo in Los Angeles. Dog bite prevention training and continuing education are important to keep pet owners, pets and those who visit homes  like letter carriers  happy and healthy.

She urges owners to secure their dogs in a separate room before opening the door and to remind family members not to take mail directly from letter carriers in front of their dog, which may view it as a threatening gesture.

Rising dog attacks come amid double-digit increases in the post offices package business. While U.S. population growth means more residences to deliver to, postal carriers are also visiting homes more frequently and at all times of day, with packages or groceries in hand, thanks to agreements struck with Amazon in 2013 and 2014.

United Parcel Service said its 66,000 deliverers suffered about 900 dog bites last year, a percentage that has remained fairly stable. Spokesman Dan McMackin, a former UPS driver who used to carry dog biscuits to woo surly pets, said he found pit bulls and smaller dog breeds to be more nettlesome than hunting dogs  such as Labrador retrievers and beagles  who dont have much to prove.

FedEx Corp. said it does not collect numbers on dog attacks.

Solomon, who lives in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, said he thought he had learned all the tricks to prevent attacks: watch the dogs mannerisms, use the mail satchel as a shield, or pull out the emergency dog spray if needed  it contains an extract of cayenne pepper.

But last week, those safeguards werent enough when a woman answered his knock.

It was three little hot dogs who came out and bit me on the shin, Solomon said, describing dachshunds. It didnt hurt that much, but it was very aggressive, one after the other.

Robert Lieb, a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University, said he expects dog attacks to keep increasing. Still, the online industry continues to change, and dogs may prove to be less of a problem if Amazon changes its delivery to a new method: drones.

The question is whether drones will land or parachute the packages down, said Lieb, a former shipping consultant. I would see eagles, not dogs, taking out drones.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A 20-year-old man whose pickup collided with a church minibus last month in rural Texas, killing 13 people, told state troopers he had taken prescription medication before driving and had marijuana in his truck, according to court records.

The records obtained from Uvalde County showed a state trooper found two whole marijuana cigarettes and five partially smoked ones in Jack Dillon Youngs truck after the March 29 crash that happened on a two-lane highway about 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday. An affidavit from another state trooper seeking a blood test for a toxicology report said the trooper had probable cause to believe Young was intoxicated during the collision because the man told a trooper he had taken prescription medication earlier in the day, including clonazepam and the generic forms of Lexapro and Ambien.

A phone call to a number listed for Youngs family went unanswered Tuesday. A message left by The Associated Press for the judge who signed the documents was not immediately returned.

No charges had been filed in the crash as of Tuesday. District Attorney Daniel Kindred has said it could be more than a month before the investigation file from the Department of Public Safety is forwarded to his office.

The collision took place near Garner State Park. The small church bus carrying 14 older congregants from the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels was returning from a retreat.

Officials from Uvalde and Real counties confirmed they had received phone calls about a white pickup truck driving erratically and crossing the highway shortly before the wreck. A couple who had been driving behind Youngs pickup filmed his car crossing into the oncoming traffic lane and onto the shoulder.

The couple later confirmed they had called the county law enforcement officials and later 911 when the collision occurred. The man later told police and reporters, including the AP, that Young had told him he had been texting before the accident.

A National Transportation and Safety Board investigator said Young was not wearing his seatbelt, while most if not all of the 14 church bus occupants had been wearing theirs. Only one passenger in the back row of the bus survived the crash.

The NTSB investigation of the crash, which will include a likely cause and any safety recommendations for the future, could take up to a year to complete. Kindred and other officials said that report has no bearing on when or whether criminal charges are filed.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
An early warning system for earthquakes has been expanded to Oregon and Washington, joining California in testing a prototype that could give people seconds or up to a minute of warning before strong shaking begins.

The system isnt ready to issue public quake warnings yet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which has been working with university partners to develop the ShakeAlert system.

But this version allows early adopters in Oregon and Washington to begin using the early signals to figure out what they need to do in the event of an earthquake. Such pilot projects are helping to make the system more reliable and pave the way for broader use.

Officials with USGS, the University of Washington and others held a news conference Monday in Seattle to announce the systems roll out across the U.S. West Coast. California has been testing the production prototype since early 2016.

Even a few seconds of advanced notice can help people to duck and cover or cities to slow trains, stop elevators or take other protective measures, agency officials say.

In Washington state, a Seattle area firm RH2 Engineering has signed on as a pilot user to test the system to prevent water tank spills, The Seattle Times reported. The firm develops municipal water and sewage plants and hopes to use the system to be able to close valves in the event of an earthquake.

The advantage of earthquake early warning is that it gives us forewarning that the shaking will occur, and we can be sure the valve is fully closed by the time the shaking starts, the firms Dan Ervin told the newspaper. The company is working on software and hardware to process the warning signals and automatically close valves.

The early warning system detects earthquakes using a network of ground motion sensors. The amount of warning time depends on distance from an earthquakes epicenter. Locations very close to the epicenter may not get any warning, but others farther away could get anywhere from seconds to minutes.

The University of Oregon is working with the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Oregons largest public electric and water utility service, to install sensors on its hydroelectric facilities, canals and water treatment plant, the Daily Astorian reported.

The USGS says it will cost $38.3 million in capital investment to complete the ShakeAlert system so that it can begin issuing alerts to the public. It will cost about $16.1 million each year to operate and maintain it.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[April 13, 2017] AARP Launches "Operation: Stop Scams" with Events in Communities Nationwide

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The AARP Fraud Watch Network brings fraud-fighting efforts to consumers nationwide in "Operation: Stop Scams" -- a month-long series of events in communities coast-to-coast, as AARP state organizations sponsor more than 150 free local events in nearly every state and the District of Columbia from Friday, April 14, through Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Events include: paper-shredding events, fraud education programs  popularly referred to as "scam jams," Fraud Watch Network background presentations, tele-town halls and phone bank call-out sessions to warn consumers of the latest scams. Consumers can find their closest local event at www.aarp.org/OperationStopScams. "Many Americans clear out and discard their obsolete financial documents at the end of the tax-filing season in April. Our shredding events in dozens of communities provide a convenient and safe way for people to destroy this sensitive paperwork," said Nancy LeaMond chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP. "April also brings the personal finance awareness activities of Money Smart Week, so we're excited to do our part with events to teach consumers to be smart about avoiding fraud and scams." Money Smart Week, April 22-29, is collaborative between thousands of organizations across the United States that offer financial education programs, classes and activities.



Examples of AARP "Operation: Stop Scams" events range from a financial forum in Louisville, Ky.; to a "Scam Jam" in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; to a Clinton Township, Mich., presentation by AARP Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. Paper-shredding events total more than 100. Some 250 tons of sensitive documents were destroyed during a similar AARP National "Shred Fest" in 2016. The AARP Fraud Watch Network launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages. The website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map, fun educational quizzes, and video presentations featuring Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. Users may sign up for "Watchdog Alert" emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarp-launches-operation-stop-scams-with-events-in-communities-nationwide-300439613.html SOURCE AARP

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[April 13, 2017] PBS SoCal KOCE to Invest $49 Million Earned from FCC Broadcast Incentive Auction to Expand Its Free Services across Southern California

PBS SoCal KOCE, the flagship PBS station for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California, announced it earned $49 million through its participation in the FCC (News - Alert) Broadcast Incentive Auction and will invest these one-time revenues in expanding its mission across the region. There will be no change for viewers; PBS SoCal will continue to broadcast, for free and in high quality (UHF), the full line-up of PBS programs on all four of its current channels over the air, via cable and satellite, and online at pbssocal.org. "Our priority as the primary PBS station for Greater Los Angeles is to ensure we can deliver PBS programs to the 18 million people across the six counties in our region well into the future. We retained the bandwidth necessary to accomplish that," said Andrew Russell, President and CEO of PBS SoCal. "The one-time auction revenues allow us to achieve another important objective: to invest in expanding our mission by providing more services to more people across the region." Following a long and thoughtful process, PBS SoCal's board of trustees and management decided to participate in the FCC Broadcast Incentive Auction in which broadcasters were able to sell all or part of their broadcast spectrum. Through a channel sharing agreement with local Los Angeles full power television station KSCI, PBS SoCal retained most of the stations' combined spectrum, ensuring sufficient bandwidth to serve the Southern California region while earning revenues that will be invested in building for the long-term future of PBS SoCal. That plan includes increasing investment in PBS and other programming, making strategic investments in content production and broadband services that reach more audiences via mobile and web, and building a strong financial foundation for PBS SoCal's future by restructuring debt and creating an investment fund that generates annual revenues. "PBS SoCal remains deeply committed to serving Southern Calfornia and advancing the PBS mission," Russell continued. "While these one-time auction revenues will help us expand our mission, we are grateful for the individuals, foundations and corporations whose collective ongoing support comprises more than 80 percent of our annual budget. Your support continues to be essential - particularly as our important federal funding is under threat - to ensuring the news, public affairs, arts and science programs that are critical for an educated and informed citizenry."



The President's budget proposes the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting, which amounts to $1.35 per citizen per year. The loss of federal funding would have a devastating effect on PBS's ability to produce the quality content our viewers love - educational kids' programs like Daniel Tiger, documentaries from Ken Burns, unbiased news from PBS NewsHour and FRONTLINE, and dramas from Masterpiece would all be affected. Local PBS stations would struggle to operate and some would close - ultimately resulting in a collapse of the PBS system. A recent bipartisan survey found that 73% of voters across political lines oppose the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting. Congress will ultimately decide through the budget process if funding continues. "There is no viable replacement for federal funding of public broadcasting," Russell said. "The one-time funds from the spectrum auction will not come close to closing the large fiscal gap that would be left by the loss of annual federal support. Federal funding is vital seed funding that helps stations raise the local support that represents more than half of our annual budgets."

ABOUT PBS SoCal KOCE: PBS SoCal is the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We deliver the full schedule of PBS programs plus content that is for, about and by the people of Southern California. Our content is available free through four broadcast channels, at pbssocal.org, on our mobile apps, and via connected TV services. And we provide the community with early education resources and cultural and educational experiences through partnerships, events and grassroots outreach. PBS SoCal has offices in Century City, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Connect with us at pbssocal.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413006097/en/

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[April 13, 2017] Integrity Applications Board Appoints Avner Gal as Chairman Emeritus and Scientific Advisor

ASHDOD, Israel, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Integrity Applications, Inc. (OTCQB: IGAP), maker of GlucoTrack, a noninvasive device for measuring glucose levels of people with Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetics, announced that it has appointed Avner Gal as Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Gal co-founded Integrity Applications and served as the company's CEO, Chairman of the Board and a director for 16 years. Mr. Gal is also joining Integrity's Scientific Advisory Board and will continue to work with the company in a part-time consulting role. "As a co-founder and prior CEO of Integrity, Avner has unique insight into and understanding of the company's challenges and opportunities," said John Graham, CEO and Chairman of Integrity. "We are pleased that he will continue to contribute his technical and scientific expertise as we move forward with realizing the commercial potential of the GlucoTrack device. We thank Avner for his many years of service and strong stewardship of the company, which set the stage for this important new phase of growth." About GlucoTrack

GlucoTrack is a non-invasive device that measures and displays an individual's glucose level in less than a minute without requiring a finger stick to draw blood. GlucoTrack features a small sensor that clips to the earlobe and measures the wearer's glucose level by taking measurements using three technologies. The measured signals are analyzed using a proprietary algorithm and displayed on a small handheld device the size of a mobile phone. The derived glucose measurement is also announced verbally, facilitating use by vision-impaired diabetes patients. GlucoTrack has received CE Mark and KFDA approvals for Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetics, and is urrently being commercialized in Europe, South Korea and other geographical areas.



GlucoTrack is expected to begin clinical trials for United States FDA approval in the first half of 2017. The product is currently experimental in the United States and is limited to investigational use only. About Integrity Applications, Inc.

Integrity Applications was founded in 2001 and is focused on the design, development and commercialization of non-invasive glucose monitoring technologies for patients with diabetes and pre-diabetics. The company has developed GlucoTrack, a proprietary noninvasive glucose monitoring device designed to obtain glucose level measurements in less than a minute without the pain, incremental cost, difficulty or discomfort of conventional invasive finger stick devices. Integrity Applications operates primarily through its wholly-owned Israeli subsidiary, A.D. Integrity Applications, Ltd. For more information, please visit www.integrity-app.com and www.glucotrack.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "expect", "plan" and "will" are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that certain important factors may affect Integrity Applications' actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be made in this news release. Factors that may affect Integrity Applications' results include, but are not limited to, the ability of Integrity Applications to raise additional capital to finance its operations (whether through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, strategic collaborations or otherwise); risks relating to the receipt (and timing) of regulatory approvals (including FDA approval); risks relating to enrollment of patients in, and the conduct of, clinical trials; risks relating to its current and future distribution agreements; risks relating to its ability to hire and retain qualified personnel, including sales and distribution personnel; and the additional risk factors described in Integrity Applications' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017. Contact:

Sami Sassoun, CFO Integrity Applications

[email protected]

+972 (8) 675-7878 Ext. 400 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/integrity-applications-board-appoints-avner-gal-as-chairman-emeritus-and-scientific-advisor-300439577.html SOURCE Integrity Applications, Inc.

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Being newly retired is definitely a reason to celebrate  and spend  some of the hard-earned money you've saved over the years. Yet with Americans living longer, experts say you need to plan for a retirement that could last 30 years or more. Add in ever-rising medical costs, mostly stagnant Social Security checks and all of a sudden that pile of cash doesn't look so big. The issue of outliving your money is a real threat. To avoid having that happen don't make these classic new-retiree mistakes.

Spending too much too soon

Making the transition from earning money to spending money when you first stop working is tricky. Especially if you're healthy and eager to enjoy all that new free time. "We get this all the time, where recently retired clients will do a trip to Europe or Asia, then spend four weeks in Caribbean, saying, 'When we get older we'll slow down,'" said Chris Schaefer, who leads MV Financial's Retirement Plan Practice Group, Bethesda, Maryland. "They're eating so much of principal in early retirement that they don't have enough to last." Schaefer suggests that working with a financial planner to create a withdrawal strategy for your retirement accounts is key. He says a good starting point is taking out no more than 4 percent of your total nest egg a year.

Overspending on the house

Robert Daly | Getty Images

Wanting to be debt free is an admirable goal and one that works for many retirees. However if you haven't paid off the mortgage yet, rushing to do so may not be your best move. As long as you have the cash flow to comfortably make the payments, Schaefer says don't sacrifice your retirement savings by using a big chunk to pay it down. Instead keep it invested where it should continue to grow. Plus having a mortgage offers tax benefits you can still claim as a retiree.

Overspending on the kids

Hemera Technologies | Getty Images
In one of its latest efforts to raise funds, Singaporean real estate developer City Developments Limited issued a green bond  a fixed income product with proceeds used to finance projects or activities that help the environment. "Green financing offers us an alternative financing stream. There is an increased interest in socially responsible investments and a growing demand for relevant products," Sherman Kwek, CDL's deputy chief executive, said in a statement earlier this month. The company's issuance, which raised 100 million Singapore dollars ($71.1 million), is the first in Singapore as the Southeast Asian city state seeks to grow its marketplace for sustainability-oriented investments.

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Such products, though not new in the finance world, saw demand rise at a faster pace after the Paris climate change agreement was reached in December 2015. The accord, which came into effect in November 2016, will see nearly 200 countries work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of containing climate change. Moody's Investors Service said in January this year that green bond issuance rose 120 percent in 2016 to a record $93.4 billion, and it has the potential to hit $206 billion in 2017. Reflecting the wider global appetite for green investment products, commonly known as sustainable or impact investments, a report published last month by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) showed that socially responsible assets under management grew to $22.9 trillion at the start of 2016, 25 percent more than 2014. Such assets account for 26.3 percent of total managed assets. Industry players interviewed by CNBC said global investors are increasingly considering environment, social and governance (known in the industry as ESG) factors. That shift comes alongside growing awareness of climate issues  from the melting Arctic ice caps to Southeast Asia's trans-boundary haze pollution. "Impact investing makes sense to investors because it allows them to diversify their portfolios with a new asset class As years pass and more actors are participating in impact investing, this inspiration is paired with results that show that positive impact can be generated alongside financial returns," said Durren Shahnaz, founder of Impact Investment Exchange, a platform that helps social enterprises raise funds. As environmental and social development issues continue to dominate headlines, tighter regulations have come into force, requiring companies to be more transparent about their commercial activities and to improve governance standards, the interviewees said.

Activists protest the Polar Pioneer, an oil rig leased by Royal Dutch Shell Plc that is bound for the Arctic, at a rally and march in Seattle, Washington. Jason Redmond | Reuters

Legislation plays a big part in promoting sustainable investing in Europe, the region that is leading the pack with $12 trillion worth of assets under management. That represents 52.6 percent of total assets held by European firms, according to the GSIA report. "The Nordics are certainly leading the way in terms of ESG integration. The U.K. and the remainder of continental Europe are also fairly advanced," said Eric Cockshutt, head of responsible investment of Swiss asset manager Unigestion, offering the example of French legislation that requires pension plans to disclose the carbon footprint of their holdings. Asian firms, meanwhile, have less than 5 percent of their holdings  $526 billion  in sustainable assets. The region offers significant growth opportunity as pollution issues have raised awareness of the impact that companies' value chains can have on the environment, said Arnout van Rijn, chief investment officer at Robeco Asia Pacific. "Across this region the landscape is beginning to change too, in part driven by the increasing awareness of the massive capital needed to finance the region's transition to a low-carbon future In China there is a remarkably active interest for the topic among the large institutions," he said.

The business case for sustainable investing

Van Rijn said there is a growing body of academic research, such as a 2015 study out of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, which found that sustainability-themed investments perform just as well, if not better, than competing products without a sustainability element. "Various studies theorize that firms that adhere to sustainability principles should outperform those that do not because they prioritize long-term corporate objectives over short-term profits. This allows them to enjoy more stable earnings growth and less downside volatility," he said. "However, if investors focus too much on the quarterly earnings or short-term performance and pay less attention to long-term strategies, companies are discouraged from investing in sustainable practice that could benefit them in the long-term."

A Chinese man wears a protective face mask as he passes by the CCTV Headquarters on November 30, 2015, in Beijing, China. Getty Images
The commercial space industry is dominated by Western heavyweights, such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. But players in Asia say they aren't worried about that competition. As corporate spending eclipses government activity throughout the global space sector, Japan's PD Aerospace and China's Kuang-Chi Science are among Asia's homegrown private firms planning to offer spaceflight services to civilians.

PD Aerospace - Koike Terumasa Design & Aerospace

Shuji Ogawa, CEO of PD Aerospace, acknowledges that it's unlikely Asian companies can rival SpaceX, Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin, but he said there's more than enough demand to go around. "When we have reached their present stage, they will have advanced further," he said. "Space tourism is a universal dream, not only for Japanese but for all people. It is important for us to view the Earth from space." His Nagoya-based company is currently developing a reusable sub-orbital space plane featuring a propulsion system that alternates between jet and rocket mode. It's expected to carry eight people  two pilots and six passengers  over 100 kilometers above the Earth. The Karman line, which lies 100 km above sea level, is the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. PD Aerospace says it intends to conduct its first trial in 2020, with the hope of commencing tourism operations in 2023. Because Japan is small, securing testing areas has been a challenge, Ogawa said. The initial price tag for a trip is set at 14 million yen ($126,639) but Ogawa intends to eventually lower the cost to 398,000 yen ($3,600). "We want to offer space tours to ordinary people." In comparison, Virgin Galactic charges $250,000 for a voyage designed to exceed 100 km in altitude, according the company's website. Meanwhile, a trip to Mars  54.6 million kilometers from Earth  could cost $200,000 with SpaceX. Blue Origin has yet to reveal pricing details. Those figures would mark a significant reduction from previous spaceflight costs. In 2011, the world's first space tourist, American Dennis Tito, paid $20 million to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), which typically orbits 350 km above the Earth. In 2008, England-born Richard Garriott de Cayeux paid $30 million to spend 12 days on the ISS. More recently, SpaceX announced it will fly two individuals to the moon next year but didn't reveal how much the duo would be forking out.

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In December, PD Aerospace received 20.4 million yen from ANA Holdings, Japan's largest airline group, and 30 million yen from one of the country's leading travel agencies H.I.S. for a 7 and 10.3 percent stake, respectively. Ogawa said more funding was in the pipeline but couldn't reveal any details.

Near space travel

"There is one very realistic factor that makes Asia the perfect market for space tourism: Asia is a heavily populated continent and in most cities, traffic gridlock is a headache," Liu Ruopeng, chairman of Kuang-Chi Science, told CNBC.

There is one very realistic factor that makes Asia the perfect market for space tourism: Asia is a heavily populated continent and in most cities, traffic gridlock is a headache. Liu Ruopeng chairman of Kuang-Chi Science

The Shenzhen-based firm has built a capsule attached to a giant helium balloon that's capable of taking six passengers anywhere from 20 to 100 km above Earth  an area known as near space. "Near space is a highly undeveloped area and has great potential. Here, passengers don't need to be trained like astronauts to be physically qualified to travel. Everyone can go," said 34-year-old Liu. Called the "Traveler," the platform can also collect meteorological and agricultural data, deliver high-speed wireless network coverage and conduct high-precision ground monitoring. Ticket prices have yet to be decided, but Liu said the initial cost would be much lower than current prices.

The "Traveler" by Kuang-Chi Science. Kuang-Chi Science

The Traveler has already undergone two unmanned test runs since 2015  the second of which housed a live turtle  and a third is scheduled for later this year, according to the company. It hopes to complete a trial with humans on board by 2020. Like Ogawa, Liu doesn't view other spaceflight players as rivals  he calls them "complementary companies." A Duke University graduate, Liu was especially confident on demand from his home country. "People in China have witnessed great changes in their life in recent years. More and more Chinese travel abroad and one day, they will travel to space...Consumers are looking forward to this." Space is just one of the many sectors in Kuang-Chi Science's portfolio. Aside from the Traveler, the firm has also manufactured jetpacks for personal transportation, emergency rescue and military use. It also boasts a clean energy powered vehicle designed to transport goods to remote areas, with more flexibility than airplanes and a payload of 30 tons. These ambitions have earned Liu the nickname "Elon Musk of China." "Musk and I actually focus on different areas, but we are both innovators trying to expand possibilities for humans," he said.

Elsewhere in Asia

Outside of North Asia however, private space tourism has yet to take off.

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Alan Levine | Flickr

Kentucky is home to 95 percent of the world's bourbon, but until recently, what you've see in stores and on bar shelves is limited to what's currently available  or what the seller has been able to hang on to. Antique bottles are relegated to museum displays or private collections. But a new law signed last month by Kentucky governor Matt Bevin that will allow individuals to sell their vintage bottles to licensed retailers changes all that. "It's going to unlock a bunch of treasures that are truly going to transform the Kentucky bourbon experience," Kentucky Distillers Association president Eric Gregory told NBC News. "We really have no idea what's out there... generations of bottles that have been trapped with no way to see the light of day because there was no way for people to sell them. Now they can sell them legally and locally More from NBC News:

Retailers Use Augmented Reality, High Tech To Lure Shoppers

Explosions Rock German Soccer Team Bus Before Champions League Match, Injuring Player

Sean Spicer: 'I've Let the President Down' Laws vary from state to state and some larger markets allow people to sell their so-called "dusties" to retailers, Gregory explained. "You go to these places in New York and D.C. and they are meccas for whiskey lovers around the world." "With the success of these incredible whiskey bars around the country, we said 'Why can't we do that here?'" Gregory told NBC News. "We are the birthplace of bourbon. We believe the world's largest bourbon library should be here in the commonwealth." Lawmakers agreed. In a state divided on many topics, "bourbon brings people together," explained Gregory.

A rare win for the consumer

A taste of history

"The bourbon and whiskey world is very interested in tasting history," said Chris Zaborowski, who owns Westport Whiskey & Wine in Louisville, Kentucky. That said, it may not necessarily be what consumers expect. Zaborowski and his family had a tasting of a pre-Prohibition bourbon they found when his mother passed. "It was a surprisingly rough and raw whiskey," he said. "It was an interesting curiosity. By modern standards people would have thought it was too harsh and astringent  but I was glad we had the experience." "A lot of it is just the experience of getting to taste history," said Larry Rice, an avid collector himself who owns the Silver Dollar whiskey bar in Louisville. "But there are differences [in modern and vintage whiskeys]. The main thing is chill filtration. I jokingly say it's like cooking bacon and taking the fat out  bacon is better with fat. There are a lot of richer notes lost in the process [which is standard among many distilleries now] and that didn't start happening until the '90s."

During tastings with friends from his personal collection of more than a thousand bottles, Rice also likes to compare brands through the decades as they've moved from house to house or changed mash bills (the grain recipe), proof, or water source. When Rice launches his bar's vintage offering after the new law takes effect in January 2018, this sort of insider knowledge will be offered as part of the experience, providing historical context along with tasting notes and theories on what makes these whiskeys different. "You need more service in a purchase like that than just pouring a shot," he said.

So what's the price tag on vintage bourbon?
China's imports from North Korea in the first quarter of 2017 rose 18.4 percent in yuan value from a year ago, while exports to North Korea jumped 54.5 percent in yuan value terms, Chinese customs said on Thursday in a press conference.

China's total trade with North Korea was worth 8.4 billion yuan ($1.22 billion) in the January to March period. China's trade surplus with North Korea totaled 1.52 billion yuan, an increase of 3.9 times, the customs said.

China's coal imports from North Korea plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago at 2.678 million tonnes.

China suspended issuing permits for importing coal from North Korea on February 18 as part of its efforts to implement United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang. ($1 = 6.8743 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Emphasizing the low likelihood of Zuma being ousted, Newton said "Zuma still remains very firmly in control. He enjoys dominance of the national executive committee, the ANC, which he has cultivated through patronage, and I think the chances of him being ousted in the short-to-medium term are pretty low."

"I think markets have consistently underestimated Zuma's ability to survive, despite the fact that the [African National Congress] itself is clearly deeply divided, despite the fact that there will be thousands of protesters on the streets today," Newton said.

Speaking with CNBC'S "Capital Connection" on Wednesday, the former diplomat said it is likely Zuma will continue holding on to power as president in the foreseeable future.

Despite the weak economic outlook, expect Zuma to stay in power, according to political analyst Alastair Newton.

A string of sweeping changes in South Africa's cabinet by President Jacob Zuma late last month hurt economic confidence and major ratings agencies downgraded the country's sovereign credit rating to "junk" status.

Commenting on Zuma's claims that the protests mounted against him were "racist" in nature, Newton said there was little reason to believe so as there were protesters of all colors calling on the leader to step down. Newton added, in his view, that this was "a true reflection of a rainbow nation."

Looking ahead, Newton said Zuma was likely to appoint a like-minded successor as head of the ANC at its end-of-year conference, with his former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma likely to be chosen as successor.

Amid the chaos in the South African government, with multiple finance ministers being replaced over the past three years, the country's economy has struggled.

"The country has clearly been struggling economically for some considerable time. If you look at GDP growth it's been very poor indeed and, certainly, that is even poorer if one puts it alongside the demographics of the country," Newton said.

Echoing the comments of Michael Power, a strategist at Investec Asset Management who had spoken earlier with CNBC's "Street Signs," Newton recommended a wait-and-see approach for current and potential investors in South Africa.

"Things may pick up once Zuma is gone or once we know who his replacement is going to be because markets are very good at dealing with poor situations if they are stable situations," Newton said.

He did, however, offer a silver lining for potential visitors to South Africa.

"With the Rand plummeting, South Africa becomes even more attractive to tourists," Newton said, encouraging more people to consider visiting the country. "It's pretty cheap going down there right now and it still has a wonderful, wonderful, tourist offering."
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President Donald Trump has not given up on the holy grail of repealing Obamacare, and on Wednesday he revealed his next move, threatening to use health insurance subsidies as a weapon to get Democrats to negotiate on reform. Trump said his administration may not have the legal authority to make cost-sharing reduction payments, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. So-called CSR subsidies reduce out-of-pocket costs for low-income Affordable Care Act enrollees, but Republicans in Congress sued the Obama administration, saying they expenditures were not authorized under the ACA. Trump told the Journal he did not want people to get hurt by stopping the payments, but that what he thinks "should happen is the Democrats will start calling me and negotiating." Democrats cried foul at the president's apparent hardball tactic. "President Trump is threatening to hold hostage health care for millions of Americans, many of whom voted for him," said Senate minority leader Charles Schumer in a statement. "This cynical strategy will fail."

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"Refusing to make the Cost Sharing Reduction payments has no purpose but to hurt millions of people, and manufacture a crisis," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. Earlier in the day, hospital, physician and insurance industry groups sent a letter urging the president and congressional leaders to maintain the subsidies for this year and next, calling it the most "critical action" to stabilize the individual market. "Analysts estimate that loss of CSR funding alone would increase premiums for all consumers  both on and off the exchange  by at least 15 percent," the group said in the letter, adding, "Hardworking taxpayers will pay more, as premiums grow and tax credits for low-income families increase, than if CSRs are funded." The renewed uncertainty over CSRs comes at a key moment for insurers. Initial 2018 rate submissions are due in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia in the week after Easter. "If I were a carrier right now, I guess I would be thinking about... two sets of rates. If I were only allowed to submit one set of rates, I guess I would submit the most conservative one," said Katherine Hempstead, a senior advisor at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In the spring of 2015, some states allowed insurers to submit two sets of rates, when the Supreme Court was deciding the legality of Obamacare tax credits in the King v. Burwell case. So far this spring, while the Trump administration has delayed the federal deadline for rates on healthcare.gov until June, individual states have not indicated whether they'll allow contingency bidding. "I fell like people will try to serve (the individual) market  but the question is what part of the market do carriers think they have the best chance of serving, depending on how much public money there's going to be in the market," said Hempstead.

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Still, it's important to note that the company is still growing and hasn't posted declining growth. Amongst the seven largest Airbnb markets  namely the US, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, U.K. and Germany  available listing nights still grew at 40 percent year-on-year over the last three months, UBS said.

Airbnb was not available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

UBS found that worldwide year-on-year growth of Airbnb available listings per month has been on a downward trend since October 2016. For example, Airbnb available listings in that month grew around 110 percent, while in February 2017, it had slowed to around 35 percent.

The Swiss investment bank analyzed data from 127 cities where Airbnb is present to look at growth of the company's listings and impact on hotel brands.

Airbnb's growth rates have slowed in the past few months partly due to increased regulation around the shared accommodation sector, UBS said in a note released on Wednesday.

Airbnb's listing nights booked hit 52 million in 2016 versus 25 million in 2015, more than doubling, UBS said. Gross bookings worldwide have also more than doubled and reached $6.4 billion in 2016.

Many cities around the world have moved to regulate shared accommodation, which is a reason behind the recent slowdown in Airbnb's growth. For example, in Barcelona, a special license is required for short-term rentals. The city stopped issuing licenses in 2014, so the only way to start a new Airbnb would be to buy an existing property with a license, UBS said. Airbnb was fined 600,000 euros ($638,454) by the Barcelona city council for offering unlicensed accommodation on its site.

New York meanwhile introduced legislation allowing the state to fine Airbnb hosts for listing properties for terms less than 30 days if a permanent resident will not be present.

"Our analysis suggests it is likely that regulation is having a negative impact on the supply and demand growth of Airbnb, especially in New York and Barcelona. Both cities showed year-on-year declines in available listing nights of around 10 percent in Feb 2017," UBS said in its note.

But this is not necessarily the case for all markets where regulation has been introduced.

"We believe that the findings are less conclusive for San Francisco, London and Paris, although in our view it appears there is a negative impact from regulation on Airbnb listing night growth given the slowdown," UBS said.

The negative impact of regulation does not remove Airbnb as a threat to hotel chains, but it does reduce it, UBS concluded.

"Nevertheless, we believe Airbnb is still likely a threat to hotels, but think the change in regulations has reduced the magnitude of the threat," the investment bank said.
Some call it "private equity inflation."

It is a problem for the industry that occurs as the market rises over a long period of time. That causes acquisition valuations to go higher, which allows private equity firms to sell or take their portfolio companies public at steeper prices.

That, in turn, puts more money into the coffers of private equity, which means there is more competition when bidding for new assets, driving prices higher yet again.

During the first quarter, private equity firms paid a median enterprise value multiple of 10.8 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, according to a new report by PitchBook. That's the highest level since at least the financial crisis, the report showed.

"PE firms are victims of their own success when it comes to pricing," the report said.

Compounding their challenges (or blessings) is that it's among the best environments for fundraising ever. North American funds secured their highest first-quarter fundraising total ever, raising $62 billion, according to recent data by Preqin, an alternative assets research firm.

Despite the large amount of cash on hand, private equity saw a tick down in deal activity during the first quarter. The PitchBook report showed that 745 transactions closed during the quarter, which was a 14 percent decline from the previous three months.

One area private equity firms are putting money to work is tech. Of all the private equity deals completed during the first quarter, one-fifth of them involved companies in the information technology industry, according to PitchBook. That's compared to the 10 to 15 percent range that has existed over the last decade.

Tech companies  even ones that have never been public  are finding it beneficial to be acquired by private equity so that they can focus on their long-term growth initiatives, rather than conceding to investors with quarterly earnings and the like, according to the report.

Two of the biggest examples during the first quarter include KKR's $2 billion acquisition of Optiv Security, as well as Thoma Bravo's $800 million purchase of Planview.

While mega-deals, which PitchBook defines as having enterprise values above $2.5 billion, were a big trend in 2016, they were less so during the first quarter. Only two deals of this size were completed during the first three months (Blackstone's $6.1 billion acquisition of TeamHealth Holdings and Koch Equity Development's $2.5 billion growth equity investment in Infor), according to PitchBook.

PitchBook said it expects to see more mega-deals during the remainder of the year, as private equity has so much capital to deploy. Even if they have to pay up for it.
"Anchor Hocking's decline was the result of a series of bad buyouts and bad management, beginning when trader (and Donald Trump's Special Adviser on Regulatory Reform) Carl Icahn temporarily gained control of the company in 1982."

Instead, Anchor Hocking's decline was the result of a series of bad buyouts and bad management, beginning when trader (and Donald Trump's Special Adviser on Regulatory Reform) Carl Icahn temporarily gained control of the company in 1982. Over the next 30 years, Anchor Hocking experienced a series of leveraged buyouts and private equity purchases, each of which saddled the company with a growing debt load and highly credentialed management with little-to-no experience in glass making.

As Anchor Hocking's debt grew, management cut worker pay and benefits, and investment in the surrounding community of Lancaster disappeared.

So back to the original question.

Why are Americans ignoring "experts"?

The story of Anchor Hocking illustrates one big reason why. Beginning with Carl Icahn, a philosophy graduate of Princeton with no background in glass manufacturing, a three-decades-long series of management "experts" and financiers walked in and out of a profitable company, loading Anchor Hocking with debt, reducing worker pay and benefits, and paying large fees to CEOs, consultants, and board members who almost never had industry experience.

And while Anchor Hocking workers weren't displaced by cheap overseas labor, workers in industries that are impacted by trade have heard economists say for years without reservation that in the long run, trade makes everyone better offeven as they watched good jobs leave and their communities disintegrate.

That lack of trust in experts is further intensified when workers and communities see these same experts explain how Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel is worth almost $5 billion, despite starting a company that loses half a billion dollars a year.

If you were on the wrong side of this story, a lot of what has happened in the economy in the last 30 years would make no senselike how Evan Spiegel can become a billionaire by losing a fortune, but the still profitable company you've spent years working for can only survive by cutting your pay.

If your grandfather and father had made a good living making glass, and you saw that way of life disappear while MBAs with no knowledge of what it means to be a glassmaker became wealthier in the process, you could start to think that anyone positioning themselves as an expert uses most of their expertise to think of new ways to rip you off.

Maybe that's the reason why millions of people could come to believe Facebook memes over highly credentialed experts, and how such skepticism contributes to the overall distrust of knowledge. For example, only 39 percent of Americans say they have "a lot" of trust in information from climate scientists.

But America didn't catch a resistance to facts, as though ignorance was the common cold.

There are a lot of reasons why experts are trusted less, but MBAs who swear the only way to save a profitable company is by loading it up with backbreaking debt, and economists who dismiss the human impact of trade, could be among the guilty parties.

And, if you can't trust experts on issues that touch your day-to-day life, it becomes much harder to trust experts on more abstract issues like climate change.

And if we want that to change, one place to start is with experts taking responsibility for the damage they've done to communities like Lancaster, Ohioand to workers and companies across America.

Commentary by Dustin McKissen, the founder and CEO of McKissen + Company, a strategy, marketing, and public relations firm based in St. Charles, Missouri. The firm does consulting work analyzing how politics effects the business climate for clients in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. He was named one of LinkedIn's "Top Voices" in 2015 and 2016. He holds a Bachelors degree in Public Policy, and a Masters degree in Public Administration and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational and Industrial Psychology. Follow him on Twitter @DMcKissen.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter.


Baidu Inc, China's biggest search engine, agreed to buy xPerception, a U.S. company that develops visual perception software and hardware, as it expands efforts to produce driverless cars.

Often dubbed the 'Google' of China, the Chinese language search provider hopes that the acquisition will strengthen its previous ambitions. Baidu will house the company in its California-based research unit, which is currently developing AI and deep learning software. The company's latest move follows a series of ventures into artificial intelligence, virtual reality and driverless cars.

Formed by two former engineers from U.S. augmented reality startup Magic Leap, xPerception's acquisition signaled a challenge from Baidu to Google - which introduced its own driverless car, Waymo, back in 2009. It also opens a window of opportunity for AI innovation from China, a developing field for the country.

Rolling out driverless cars has been one of the top priorities for Silicon Valley for years  and it has become a heated race. Google last month took Uber to court alleging that the latter stole the trade secrets behind its driverless car unit.

Michael Ramsey, transportation and mobility analyst for the research firm Gartner, explained that the acquisition could "help push Baidu closer to the leaders" but that it has a long way to go.

"Right now, the largest tech players are scrambling to catch Uber, which has a big head start on virtually everyone," Ramsey told CNBC in an email. "That means that if you don't have the capability in-house, you have to acquire it.

"XPerception has expertise in processing and identifying images, an important part of the sensing for autonomous vehicles. The purchase may help push Baidu closer to the leaders, but it is just one piece."

Baidu hopes to harness the potential of xPerception's visual perception camera in its bid to develop autonomous cars. The camera's features include sophisticated tracking technology, three-dimensional obstacle detection, and object recognition.
Cahall also says that the combination would create a "$1 trillion company with almost limitless opportunities in content and technology" thanks to Apple's cash balances, which could be helped by repatriation, and Disney's low debt.

In terms of mutual benefit, the Disney analyst, Steven Cahall, assumes in his note that Apple could get Disney for a 40 percent premium, and the Apple analyst, Amit Daryanani, believes a merger could boost Apple's service revenues to 29 percent of its earnings.

"Why am I so dismissive of this? Because while the combination is rational ... the Disney analyst who promoted the idea calls the option  the possibility  'greater than zero percent,'" the " Mad Money " host said. "Talk about a low bar. They're basically just saying anything's possible."

On Thursday, RBC analysts put out two notes that predicted Apple could consider Disney as a takeover candidate, but Jim Cramer was not entirely convinced.

For Cramer, the biggest problem is the degree of speculation that went into the analyses.

"Like 'Aladdin,' like 'Lion King,' the story is fiction," he said. "Apple hasn't done any big deals like this, although the company did say in one conference call that they're open to them."

That openness is the crux of the issue  neither company is likely to comment on the speculations, so the thought-out scenario these analysts presented cannot be contested.

And although Cahall argues Apple might do well to move away from hardware and better technology at Disney's theme parks could create "a leader in content creation and distribution that could top Netflix , Google , and Amazon ," the odds of an acquisition remain slim.

"The fact is that if you buy Disney's stock on this, I'd tell you that you might as well believe in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and Han Solo and Captain Marvel and anybody else in the stable," Cramer said.

Dreaming about strong possible mergers is no new tale on Wall Street, from Kraft-Heinz and Unilever to T-Mobile and Sprint to Facebook and Snap.

But Cramer noted that it's possible that Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger, who also sits on Apple's board, may not want the companies to merge.

"The only thing that's really accomplished by this kind of speculation? The short-sellers will be afraid to bet against Disney's stock because of newfound fears of a takeover lurking. It really does put a bid underneath, simply because it was just too juicy to ignore," Cramer concluded.

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In a market confused by President Donald Trump's policy moves and counteracting earnings, Jim Cramer found one stock with 44 percent growth that may be the new hot play in tech. That's why the "Mad Money" host sat down with Robert Bernshteyn, CEO of Coupa Software , for his take on business and how the company plans to maintain its rapidly accelerating growth. "We maintain it one customer at a time, and we think about our business by removing every variable to faster growth that may be stopping us. Is it not enough salespeople? Not enough awareness? Not enough systems integrators?" the CEO asked. "Wherever the bottleneck is, we remove it so we can build the values of service business to go faster and faster." Coupa recently put up a secondary offering of its shares, but Cramer noticed that in-the-know investors didn't want to sell their stock in the cloud computing company, which helps its clients, including Caterpillar and Amazon , optimize how they spend their money. "We're in a really nice position from a cash flow scenario. We haven't burned a lot of money and we've created a lot of recurring revenues, so we're going to do this very carefully and build into this market opportunity for years to come," Bernshteyn said.

A still from the Disney movie "The Lion King." Source: Disney

In other tech news, on Thursday RBC analysts put out two notes that predicted Apple could consider Disney as a takeover candidate, but Cramer was not entirely convinced. "Why am I so dismissive of this? Because while the combination is rational ... the Disney analyst who promoted the idea calls the option  the possibility  'greater than zero percent,'" the "Mad Money" host said. "Talk about a low bar. They're basically just saying anything's possible." "Like 'Aladdin,' like 'Lion King,' the story is fiction," he said. "Apple hasn't done any big deals like this, although the company did say in one conference call that they're open to them." That openness is the crux of the issue  neither company is likely to comment on the speculations, so the thought-out scenario these analysts presented cannot be contested.

The GBU-43/B, also known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, detonates at Eglain Air Force Base in Florida on November 21, 2003. The 21,700-pound bomb was dropped from 20,000 feet to reach its target on one of Eglin's test ranges. Upon detonation, it created a plume that rose more than 10,000 feet over the Florida Panhandle. Dod | Reuters

First Horizon CEO Bryan Jordan Source: CNBC
The United Airlines passenger who was videotaped being bloodied and dragged off an overbooked plane by airport police signaled Wednesday he would fight back in court.

David Dao filed an emergency "bill of discovery" against the carrier in Illinois State Court demanding that evidence documenting Sunday's "re-accommodation" aboard a Kentucky-bound plane be "preserved and protected."

That includes all surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, incident reports and other items.

Dao "currently has no access to them and believes that serious prejudice" will befall his case if the items are not safeguarded, the court papers state.

A 69-year-old doctor, Dao was one of four people who was randomly selected to get off the oversold plane just before it was supposed to take off Sunday from O'Hare International Airport for Louisville, in order to make room for United flight crew members who needed to get to an assignment.
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

 The bank reported quarterly profit of $1.65 per share, beating estimates of $1.52 a share, with revenue also beating forecasts. JPMorgan benefitted from better lending results, among other factors.

Citigroup  Citi earned $1.35 per share for the first quarter, 11 cents a share above estimates. Revenue was also above forecasts. An improvement in fixed-income trading was among the factors helping Citi's results.

Wells Fargo  The bank reported quarterly profit of $1 per share, three cents a share above estimates. Revenue came in below forecasts, however. Wells Fargo directors are likely to receive the support of key shareholder Berkshire Hathaway , according to The Wall Street Journal. The bank's annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for April 25, and it's expected to be contentious in light of last year's sales practices scandal.

 PNC came in 13 cents a share above estimates, with quarterly profit of $1.96 per share. Revenue also beat Street projections. The bank was helped by increased loan volume, as well as improved expense management.

Apple  The company has a secret group of engineers working on sensors to monitor blood sugar levels. The project was said to have been originally conceived by CEO Steve Jobs before his death in 2011.

 RBC Capital analyst Steven Cahall said investors have been increasingly speculating that Disney could become a takeover target for Apple , if tax laws are changed to allow easier repatriation of overseas cash.

 Goldman's bid to narrow a gender bias lawsuit was rejected by a U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan. Goldman is accused of discriminating against women in the areas of pay and promotion, which it denies, and said it is continuing to "contest this matter vigorously."

 Tesla is embroiled in some controversy, with a group of shareholders urging the automaker to add two independent directors to its board who do not have any ties to CEO Elon Musk. Musk did not take kindly to the idea, tweeting that those investors should buy stock in instead.

 Pier One forecast a steeper-than-expected current-quarter loss, pressuring its shares in after-hours trading. The retailer's 2017 profit fell 24 percent as it closed stores, although its profit margins did improve.

 Hostess announced that a secondary stock offering was priced at $15.25 per share, compared to Wednesday's close of $15.65 a share. The shares are being sold by a number of funds with stakes in the snack maker, and the company will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale.

 Adobe saw its credit rating upgraded to "A" from "A-" by Standard & Poor's, which said the software maker is likely to achieve continuing operating performance growth. It maintained its evaluation of Adobe's outlook at "stable." Separately, Adobe was rated "buy" in new coverage at Guggenheim Securities, which believes that Adobe can continue to outperform expectations because of strength in digital marketing.

 Hanesbrands increased its first-quarter financial guidance, with the underwear and activewear maker saying 2017 was off to a strong start. Separately, it announced that Chief Financial Officer Richard Moss would retire at the end of this year.

,  SunTrust likes both theme park operators, starting coverage on both stocks with a "buy" rating. It said the dramatic overhaul at Six Flags since its 2010 bankruptcy has accelerated growth and margins, while saying SeaWorld is in the early stages of a turnaround.
Speaking the same day that First Horizon reported its first-quarter earnings and met, if not exceeded, expectations, Jordan insisted that despite the hesitation, business is still strong.

"What's happening with consumer confidence, which is measured still [at] very, very high levels and, really, small business confidence at high levels, is not driving the same kind of spending or borrowing that you might expect given those confidence levels," he told " Mad Money " host Jim Cramer on Thursday.

First Horizon chairman, president, and CEO Bryan Jordan has noticed some discrepancy between consumer and small business confidence and their spending and borrowing patterns.

"We're very comfortable in our ability to continue to grow loans, to add value to customers, help them identify and capitalize on opportunities that they have, so even if we don't get a significant surge in growth, we feel very confident in our ability to drive great profitability and at the same time improve the returns in our business," Jordan told Cramer.

In the first quarter, the Tennessee-based bank saw a slight rise in loan growth and a major boost in efficiency, suggesting that there is money still to be made despite loan growth that may be slow to come.

And while Jordan expressed some concern about the multi-family and retail areas of commercial real estate, he said First Horizon is on a promising trajectory, especially with the company's recent acquisition of investment banking and brokerage firm Coastal Securities.

"We think it's a great add to our strong distribution network and the product set that we already have available, and we think it'll have significant impact on our profitability over the remainder of this year and going forward," the CEO said. "In fact, we think it adds something like $175,000 to $200,000 per day in average daily revenue."

As banks wait eagerly for word on President Donald Trump's plans for tax, health care, and regulatory reform, Jordan voiced his words of advice for policymakers in Washington.

"I think the key thing for the economy and really boosting growth is lower taxes, and I think just pulling back the impact of regulation a little bit," Jordan said. "If we ... allow people to build plant[s], to make investments, to have less uncertainty about how you might evaluate the regulations around environmental rules and banking and financial institutions, I think all that's good for the economy. And I think if the president and Congress can capitalize on that, I think this economy can pick up an awful lot of momentum."

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Despite blowing out this week to levels rarely seen since the euro zone sovereign debt crisis of 2012, the yield gap between French and German government debt could widen still further in coming weeks, according to analysts.

"In spite of being close to the widest levels seen since 2012, the two-year and 10-year France-Germany spreads are pricing in a low probability of a Le Pen victory, in my view. I think the probability being reflected in this spread is too low compared to the tighter first round result that polls suggest," Antoine Bouvet, rates strategist at Mizuho International, told CNBC via email on Thursday.

The spread - used as a "fear gauge" by investors ahead of the French elections - has closely tracked political developments in recent months, narrowing as the risk of a victory for a candidate perceived to be 'market-unfriendly' is viewed to have ebbed and vice versa. Specifically, after several months of spreads sitting at elevated levels versus historical norms, the yield differential shrank alongside the swelling of momentum for centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron during February and then rose once again following last week's surge by far-left newcomer rival Jean-Luc Melenchon after a notable performance by the latter in two recent televised debates.

Indeed, an average of the latest opinion polls from five closely watched providers (as compiled by Berenberg) demonstrates a tightening of the four-horse field with Melenchon rising to just over 18 percent in opinion polls, trailing marginally behind scandal-hit Republican candidate Francois Fillon on 18.8 percent and only a handful of points short of Macron on 23.1 percent and Le Pen on 23.5 percent.

"For France, Europe and markets, a run-off between Melenchon and ultra-right Marine Le Pen on 7 May would be a choice between bad and ugly," according to Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, in a note to clients on Thursday, who attributes a 10 percent likelihood each to the odds of either Le Pen or Melenchon becoming the next French president.
President Donald Trump (C) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) look on during dinner at the Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 6, 2017.

Florida health inspectors recently cited the kitchen at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate for at least 10 violations, including potentially dangerous handling of raw meat and uncooked fish.

Referred to by Trump as the "Southern White House," Mar-a-Lago has been a regular weekend getaway where Trump has shared meals with multiple foreign leaders, most recently Chinese President Xi Jinping. The club charges $200,000 for its exclusive memberships, according to the Miami Herald, making its fancy restaurant's failures all the more surprising.

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Three of the kitchen violations were deemed "high priority," which means they could contribute to the spreading of foodborne illness. This included raw and undercooked fish that had "not undergone proper parasite destruction," and meats  chicken, duck, beef, ham, etc.  that were stored at potentially dangerous temperatures.

Inspectors also cited the restaurant for several lesser violations, like not properly maintaining its walk-in freezers and not providing hot water at the employee hand washing sink.

Still, during their Jan. 26 visit, inspectors determined that Mar-a-Lago's restaurant met the minimum standards required to stay open.

On Thursday, Trump will make his seventh trip to the club as president.
From the rugged Scottish Highlands to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, the U.K. is dotted with acres of lush, green land. Now, one green energy business is looking to harness the potential of grass and turn it into a gas.



"A few years ago we discovered that we could make gas from organic sources and pump it into the gas grid just the same as we do with green electricity, so we set out then to find a good way to make green gas, and we've come up with the idea of making it from grass," Dale Vince, founder of Gloucestershire based Ecotricity, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy.

Ecotricity say that once the grass is sourced it is to be taken to an anaerobic digestion plant where microorganisms in an oxygen free environment break it down, producing green gas and a natural fertilizer.



Ecotricity say that this biogas can then be purified and turned into biomethane, which can be sent to the gas grid alongside more conventional fossil fuel gas.



"Grass is appealing because it's got a greater energy density than food waste, twice as much," Vince said. "It produces cleaner gas but it doesn't come with the problems of energy crops, which are all associated with intensive farming, pesticides and fertilisers and loss of habitats for wildlife," he added.
When asked by Wells Fargo analyst Matthew Burnell during a conference call about the number of open positions inside the White House, specifically those relevant to regulating banks, Dimon interrupted: "I said I'm not interested."

JPMorgan Chase 's strong first-quarter numbers put CEO Jamie Dimon in a good mood on Thursday. But the air almost went out of the room on the bank's earnings conference call when the CEO, whose overseen a double in JPMorgan's stock price over the last five years, joked about joining the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has struggled to fill a number of key positions, including Labor secretary. Andrew Puzder, Trump's first nominee for the post, withdrew from consideration in late January. Current nominee Alexander Acosta's vote was still pending as of Thursday.

But Dimon didn't sound worried at all, reiterating his faith in Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Trump Chief Economic Adviser Gary Cohn, both Goldman Sachs alums.

"They want to find the right people for those jobs," Dimon said. "I gather they are talking to lots of people. But even after they announced it, remember they need to be vetted and confirmed, and that ... can take 90 days. So the sooner the better, but I think getting the right people is equally important."

Dimon did get serious at one point during the call, saying current regulations are crippling many consumers' ability to achieve the American dream and take out a mortgage, a problem he thinks needs addressing. "I could care less [if] banks, the nonbanks do it," he said. "My point about that was how it's hurting the growth of America."

Watch: Dimon talks about JPM's performance
There's no limit for the level of support that France's Front National could receive in the upcoming presidential vote and recent polls are proof of that, a key member of the far-right party told CNBC on Thursday.

"I remember during the local elections, they told me that there was the glass ceiling and that I would not be able to win, but we won," David Rachline, mayor of the southern city of Frejus and the election campaign manager for the National Front, told CNBC.

"And for the regional elections, they said we could not go over 20-22 percent in the first round because of the glass ceiling but we scored 30 percent in the first round and in some regions, we scored 45 percent in the second round. So that is the proof that there is no glass ceiling," he explained.

The rising support for the far right is the biggest concern for market players when they look at France and the wider European Union. The Front National's main aim is to break away from the European Union, claiming that the political union is holding back the French economy.
North Korea may undertake more nuclear activity as early as Saturday in response to Washington's talk of pre-emptive strikes on the rogue nation and the strategic deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Every year on April 15, Pyongyang celebrates the birthday of its founding father Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un, with parades and drills showing off military hardware. This year, festivities could take on a nuclear element as Kim looks to assert power following President's Trump's tough stance on his country.

"It is highly likely that North Korea would engage in some form of provocation, another missile launch or even a sixth nuclear test, on or around April 15," Shawlin Chaw, senior analyst at Control Risks, told CNBC.

"The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) has stated it is ready for war in response to the U.S. show of force this week and will most likely use the politically sensitive date to retaliate and reinforce its legitimacy with its own people," Chaw said, referring to the USS Carl Vinson's recent move.

North Korea has only demonstrated military action twice on April 15 in recent years. In 2012, it launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite and last year, it tested an intermediate-range missile that reportedly failed.

To mark the national day, around 200 foreign journalists were in Pyongyang, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Kim Jong-un needs to appear strong to his own people on April 15, especially in the context of perceived foreign bullies bringing their warships into the region, explained Steven Ward, assistant professor at Chosun University.

"But a missile test isn't Kim's only option. A less provocative choice might be an underground nuclear test," he said.

On Wednesday, commercial satellite imagery of the nation's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site revealed "continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," U.S. think-tank 38 North said on its website.

That same day, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to each other via telephone about the "menace of North Korea," according to a tweet from the president, who also said Washington was prepared to deal with the pariah state without China, if necessary.
President Donald Trump's plan to make pipeline builders use American materials would potentially lead to higher costs, production delays and canceled projects if implemented without substantial exceptions. It would also force the industry to fundamentally retool its supply chain and expose companies to risks that come with relying on a single market for raw materials and equipment. Requiring the nation's pipelines to be built and repaired with American-made pipes and raw steel has become a pet project for the president. It's become a regular fixture of his energy policy speeches, and Trump has threatened to withhold permits that companies need to lay pipe on federal land if they don't play ball.

This is not the '70s and '80s where you can say, Made in America and put an American flag on a t-shirt. The world is very different. Lisa Goldenberg president of Delaware Steel

But a group of six oil and gas associations warns the plan would disrupt established supply chains and send rising steel prices even higher. In some cases, American mills would simply be unable to meet the demand, they said. "Relying solely on U.S. pipeline grade steel and pipe production could lead to long construction delays and higher costs, potentially canceling planned pipeline projects or blocking new pipeline projects," the associations said in comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The organizations that contributed to the dozens of pages of analysis, submitted as part of a request for comments by Commerce, include the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and the Association of Oil Pipelines. The U.S. steel industry does not currently make the type of steel used in many pipelines, but it says it is ready, willing and able. "We have all the necessary high-cost materials that would go into cost-effectively making steel, but we've got to have a leveled playing field to compete," Doug Matthews, senior vice president at U.S. Steel , told CNBC. "That's [why] we're excited about with the administration's push right now." The oil and gas associations argue that the government may have to incentivize steel makers and manufacturers to make pipeline-quality steel and line pipes because they are "among the slowest, most expensive products for domestic mills to produce." Consequently, many mills would prefer to use their facilities to make less time- and cost-intensive products. There are 40 to 50 mills that make line pipe for U.S. projects, about half of which are located in the United States, the trade groups estimate. When it comes to making large, technically sophisticated pipes, there are just a handful of American providers. A boom in U.S. shale oil and gas production has driven an increase in construction of mills capable of churning out these products, but there are still only eight mills that make pipes with a diameter of 30 inches or larger. For pipes of that size that need to be a certain thickness, that number falls to three. No American mills make pipes of the highest grade, size and thickness.

Keystone XL pipeline sections in Little Rock, Ark. The pipes were manufactured by Welspun in Arkansas. The steel, however, was sourced from various countries. Justin Solomon | CNBC

The few mills capable of making these pipes would be further taxed by Trump's insistence that manufacturers also use raw steel made in the U.S. More than half of the steel plate and coil used to make these pipes is imported. Limiting imports of these inputs would actually hamper the ability of mills to manufacture pipes for U.S. projects, the groups said. "A decrease in the availability, or increase in cost, of these imported steel products could impact the production capabilities and economics of these domestic pipe mills, which could ultimately impact the steelworkers employed at these domestic facilities," they said. The companies that make valves and other equipment for pipelines also import parts for assembly in the United States. They say it could take years to build the facilities to make those parts at home, a process that could increase prices for valves by 75 to 150 percent. "This is not the '70s and '80s where you can say, Made in America and put an American flag on a T-shirt. The world is very different," said Lisa Goldenberg, president of Delaware Steel, a trading and processing firm. "The whole idea of Made in America in a global universe is a tricky one," the former president of the Association of Steel Distributors told CNBC.

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Two owners of allegedly defective Remington Model 700 rifles say they will seek to block a landmark class action settlement approved by a federal judge last month, arguing the agreement does not go far enough. That means the fate of as many as 7.5 million allegedly unsafe guns is once again in question.

The settlement covers the iconic Model 700 and a dozen other Remington models with similar designs. In 2010, CNBC investigated allegations Remington covered up a deadly design defect that allows the guns to fire without the trigger being pulled. Remington has steadfastly denied the allegations and maintains that the guns are safe, but said it was settling the class action case to avoid prolonged litigation. Remington has agreed to replace the triggers in millions of the guns free of charge, and provide product vouchers for models it says are too old to be retrofitted.

But Lewis Frost, a deputy sheriff in Louisiana who owns three Model 700s, and Richard Denney, an Oklahoma attorney who also owns three 700s, have argued that the settlement's mechanism for notifying the public deliberately downplays the alleged risks the guns pose, and doesn't do enough to get word out about the replacement offer. Attorneys general in nine states and the District of Columbia made similar arguments in court. As of mid-February, only about 22,000 owners had filed claims to get their guns fixed.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith in Kansas City dismissed the arguments and approved the settlement. While Smith said he was "concerned" about the low claims rate, he concluded that Remington and plaintiffs' attorneys had made "reasonable" efforts to notify the public. On Thursday, Frost and Denney said in a court filing that they are appealing the ruling to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The filing does not describe the specific grounds for an appeal.

An attorney for the plaintiffs in the class action case, Mark Lanier, called the appeal "so sad," and said in an e-mail that it has "no chance of success."

"In the meantime," Lanier wrote, "millions of guns will remain unfixed while these professional objectors try to hold up the process to make some money."

As part of their appeal, Denney and Frost seek to block the $12.5 million in fees Smith awarded to Lanier and his fellow plaintiff attorneys. In response, Lanier says the plaintiffs will now try to recover additional fees from Frost and Denney to cover the cost of litigating the appeal.

Attorneys for Frost and Denney did not respond to requests for comment, nor did attorneys for Remington.

The impact on owners who have filed claims or were considering filing claims is unclear. Lanier said the process would stop while the appeal is pending. But as of Thursday afternoon, a special web site containing settlement information and claim forms was still operating, with no mention of the appeal.

The settlement covers Remington rifle models 700, Seven, Sportsman 78, 673, 710, 715, 770, 600, 660, 721, 722, 725, and the XP-100 pistol.
Rising tensions between Pyongyang and Washington are sounding the alarm about the dangers of mistakes or miscalculation on both sides, which could lead to military action.

The U.S. military announced on Sunday that it had dispatched a carrier strike force group led by the USS Carl Vinson to the waters off the Korean Peninsula. In response, Pyongyang vowed it was ready for war.

Tensions continued to heighten as satellite images from the U.S.-based analysis firm 38 North revealed the secretive regime led by Kim Jong Un could be making preparations for a sixth nuclear test as soon as Saturday.

And on Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted, "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not we will solve the problem, without them!"

"Regardless of what U.S. intentions are, there is uncertainty on the peninsula when you have three large militaries in close proximity to each other  and uncertainty can lead to miscalculation," said Bruce Klingner, former chief of the CIA's Korea branch and now senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center.

North Korea has made progress with its ballistic missiles that can reach Japan and South Korea. Defense experts say it may not be long before Pyongyang develops a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach North America.

Its fleet of about 70 submarines is considered an additional threat since some are capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. The North Koreans also have biological and chemical weapons in their arsenal.

"North Korea's military is not the most advanced in the world but if they really wanted to they could kill millions of people in a very short order," said Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest, a think tank founded by former President Richard Nixon.

"We need to keep these things in mind when we get into the escalatory spirals because events could really go out of control very quickly."
A creature that appeared to be a scorpion fell from an overhead bin and stung a man on a United Airlines flight, the company confirmed to CNBC on Thursday.

According to multiple reports, passenger Richard Bell was on a United flight from Houston to Calgary on Sunday, when the creature fell from an overhead bin and stung him.

United told CNBC the airline crew immediately consulted with a physician on the ground who provided guidance throughout the incident. The company said the man's injuries were non-life threatening.

"Medical personnel met the aircraft after it arrived in Calgary," United spokesman Charles Hobart told CNBC.

The news came after United sparked outrage earlier this week when a video surfaced of a passenger being dragged off an overbooked United Express flight.

United CEO Oscar Munoz at first supported the action. Later, he apologized "for having to re-accommodate these customers." On Tuesday, he issued a detailed apology.

Watch: The latest on United's very bad week
Starbucks is offering to foot the bill for critical illness insurance coverage for the parents of some employees in China.

Called the "Starbucks China Parent Care Program," the insurance plan will cover more than 10,000 parents of the coffee giant's Chinese employees, the company said in a press release.

Only the parents of employees who have worked with the company for a minimum of two years qualify for the health insurance program. The policy also stipulates that employees' parents have to be below 75 and live in China in order to qualify for coverage.

Treatment for 30 critical illnesses that afflict the elderly in China will be covered by the policy, Starbucks said.

The insurance provider involved in the initiative is the state-owned China Taiping Insurance, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported. Starbucks did not reply to emails sent after office hours by CNBC to verify that information.
Susan Fowler  the engineer who became famous in Silicon Valley for her devastating blog post that chronicled pervasive sexism and sexual harassment at Uber  is getting a new online publication to run that will be about and also aimed at coders.

The good ones, this time.

Launching this morning and backed by Stripe (where she has been working since she left Uber), Increment is described as a "collection of insider tips cultivated from inside Silicon Valley's largest and most influential companies and entrepreneurs."

While there are lots of places online that talk about the intricacies of writing code, at Fowler's pub  her title is editor in chief  the quarterly publication will be chock full of long-form technical writing "that unearths how the most secretive and highest-performing engineering teams build and operate software systems at scale."

It will include opinion pieces, expert interviews, how-to guides. The first iteration will be about on-call and incident response techniques.

In other words, it's like the New Yorker for geeks.

Such an effort might seem unusual for Stripe, a payments software company. But it recently bought Indie Hackers, a knowledge-sharing platform for entrepreneurs, and also runs the Stripe Atlas Forum, which the company calls an "invite-only community for founders to swap challenges and solutions."

Fowler herself might seem like an unusual choice for this too, given she is a techie. But if you consider the book she has written titled "Production-Ready Microservices: Building Standardized Systems Across an Engineering Organization," you get it.

She is also a very well-known and adept blogger and accessible writer, given the complex tech topics she handles. It is an especially hard thing to pull off since she covers things like The Ops Identity Crisis and So You Want to Learn Physics....

Of course, it was her explosive and perfectly executed Reflecting on one very, very strange year at Uber that really put her writing on the map. Its publication has led to a full-scale meltdown at the massively funded car-hailing company.

As she wrote in the first paragraph of the most elegant takedown of bro tech culture that I have ever seen: "As most of you know, I left Uber in December and joined Stripe in January. I've gotten a lot of questions over the past couple of months about why I left and what my time at Uber was like. It's a strange, fascinating, and slightly horrifying story that deserves to be told while it is still fresh in my mind, so here we go."

Since then, Uber has been dealing with a troubling executive exodus and is in the midst of an investigation of the heinous practices Fowler outlined so clearly. (If a Pulitzer could go to a techie, Susan probably deserves one here given the huge impact of her post.)

Not surprisingly, Fowler could not talk to me about Uber, given the controversy and also ongoing legal issues there. And, let's be honest, she also does not want that mess to soil the new effort at Increment, which seems like a pretty promising idea.

In a statement, she said: "The decision to join Stripe and run Increment was a pretty easy one for me: It was an opportunity to be impactful, to collect and share best practices from the most effective engineering teams in the world. Increment is a step toward flattening the distance between the Silicon Valley elite and developers everywhere."

Stripe CEO and co-founder Patrick Collison also weighed in about why he backed such a publication. "As software becomes more important in the world, the practice and art of software engineering becomes more important too. Increment aims to illuminate the most sophisticated practices from the best companies in the world," he said. "Our hope is that Increment can help surface the institutional wisdom and practices of the most effective software engineering organizations in the world so that the industry as a whole can make faster progress."

Here is a gander at the first issue:

By Kara Swisher, Re/code.net.

CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Recode's parent Vox, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said an alleged poison gas attack blamed on his government last week in Idlib province was "100 percent fabrication" used to justify a U.S. air strike, news agency AFPreported on Thursday.

Syria's military had given up all its chemical weapons in 2013 after an agreement made at the time, and would not have used them anyway, AFP quoted Assad as saying in an interview.

The United States and its allies say the Syrian military carried out the Idlib attack, something Syria has already denied.

The April 4 attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun killed scores of people and prompted the United States to launch a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base in response, its first direct assault on the Assad government in the six-year-old conflict.

Assad said Syria would only allow an "impartial" investigation into the poison gas incident. On Wednesday Damascus ally Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution to condemn the attack and push the Syrian government to cooperate with investigators.

Russia said the gas was part of rebel stockpiles, which the rebels have denied.

It was the deadliest such incident since a sarin gas attack killed hundreds of people in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus in 2013, prompting threats of U.S. military action.

Samples taken from Khan Sheikhoun last week tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, the British delegation at the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW said on Thursday.

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The luxury electric car known as the Lucid Air made its auto show debut in New York on Thursday. Scheduled for production in 2019, the vehicle has long been considered a potential competitor to the Tesla Model S. While skepticism remains (after all, even Tesla has had only two profitable quarters), the Air's makers say the vehicle offers advantages that could disrupt the entire luxury sedan segment. The Lucid Air's electric powertrain allows it to conserve a considerable degree of space in the vehicle, which Chief Technology Officer Peter Rawlinson says is one of the car's key advantages.

The Lucid Air Alpha test car, displayed at the New York Auto Show, reached a software-limited 217 miles per hour on a text track in Ohio. Robert Ferris | CNBC

The Air is shorter, narrower and lower than a Tesla Model S, but has the same interior space as a much larger Mercedes S-Class sedan, Rawlinson told reporters. It's also fast. The company recently tested the car's stability at high speeds, reaching 217 miles per hour at a winter test track Ohio. Stability at high speeds is particularly important in the German market, home to the luxury brands Rawlinson considers the company's true competitors, he told CNBC. Rawlinson previously served as a Tesla vice president and chief engineer for the Model S.

A Lucid Air on display at the New York Auto Show on April 13, 2017. Robert Ferris | CNBC

Customers paying the starting price of $60,000 ($52,000 with federal tax credits) will get the Lucid Air with 240 miles of range. The car can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in "less than 2.5 seconds," according to the company. An optional upgrade will give 400 miles of range on a single charge. That would be the longest of any electric car. All production cars will come with the hardware needed for full autonomy, and  as with Teslas  the software will be introduced via over the air updates as the technology becomes available and legal conditions permit. The car has other features, such as headlights made up of clusters of hundreds of microlenses, which swivel and project beams of light at different focal lengths to illuminate more of the road.

The interior of a Lucid Air on display at the New York Auto Show on April 13, 2017. Robert Ferris | CNBC
On Christmas Day 2016, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky did something unusual: He spent hours on Twitter engaged in market research that would drive Airbnb's market strategies in 2017.

He began with a simple question: If @Airbnb could launch anything in 2017, what would it be?

Hundreds of ideas flowed in, ranging from actionable product ideas like adding cleaning services and meal booking options to the site's services, to ideas about improving the brand's corporate social responsibility, such as reducing discrimination and donating more to charity. Chesky even let on that he's considering outlandish ideas like hosting Airbnb sites on Mars.

Twitter users relished the opportunity to send in their suggestions, and even more importantly, they received acknowledgement that their ideas were being heard and considered by the company's ultimate decision-maker. It remains to be seen how Chesky's impromptu research will affect Airbnb's 2017 fortunes, but the move may have cemented many fans' loyalty for the brand.

While that story teaches a lesson about how CEOs can use social media to strengthen the public perception of their brand, it also delivers a powerful lesson that corporate leaders who know how to engage well on social media also exhibit other strengths that make them better leaders.

In DDI's High Resolution Leadership study, we examined the difference in leadership skills among 250 candidates we assessed for CEO positions and how those skills correlated to the candidate's activity on social media. We found that, compared to their peers who are not active on social media, CEO candidates who are social are:

89 percent better at empowering others

52 percent stronger at compelling communication

46 percent more influential

36 percent better at cultivating networks

19 percent more passionate for results

16 percent better at making decisions

In addition to showing strong leadership behaviors, social CEO candidates also share personality traits that make them better wired for business judgment than their non-social counterparts. Not surprisingly, social CEO candidates are more sociable and are energized by interacting with others. They are also less argumentative, less avoidant, and more action-oriented. Social CEOs also tend to not be perfectionists, which helps them to avoid micromanaging or excessively criticizing others. The downside, however, is that these social executives also tended to be more attention-seeking than their peers, which may mean that they require more feedback from others.

Despite the positive associations between great leadership and an active social media presence, today's CEOs are tentative about social media. In our analysis of the Harvard Business Review's list of 100 Top-Performing CEOs, we examined how engaged top CEOs were on social media. And even with the minimal criteria of counting any CEO as "social" if they had at least a profile photo and multiple connections on LinkedIn and/or Twitter, the results were disappointing: Only 20 percent of CEOs qualified.

Of those, 18 were on LinkedIn, seven were on Twitter, and only four were on both platforms. Similarly, researchers at the University of North Carolina found that only about 8 percent of CEOs were on Twitter, and of those, only about 70 percent actively tweeted.

While the current generation of leaders may be shy about social media, our study showed that the next wave of executives just below the C-level are twice as likely to engage on those platforms. Interestingly, the study also showed that women candidates were more likely than men to be active on social media. While women were only 12 percent of the candidate pool, they represented 33 percent of the CEO candidates who were on Twitter.

In the future, social media savvy may no longer be something that's "nice-to-have" for prospective CEOs. Instead, it could be a powerful selection criterion that helps companies to identify CEOs who are well-prepared to lead. It might even tip the scales toward more companies choosing women CEOs.

Stephanie Neal is a research scientist at DDI's Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research (CABER). She conducts evaluation studies and research on leadership and talent in the workplace, and is the co-author of DDI's Global Leadership Forecast. Participate in the 2017|2018 Global Leadership Forecast by visiting http://www.ddiworld.com/glf-survey. DDI is the research partner of CNBC for the annual Asia Business Leaders Awards (ABLA).
The recent spike in fear comes just as geopolitical risk heats up. The Pentagon said Thursday U.S. military forces dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan , the first time the so-called mother of all bombs has ever been used in combat.

U.S. markets are closed for trading Friday for the Easter holiday.

The CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX) , considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed above its 200-day moving average for the first time since the election this week. The indicator jumped more than 2 percent Thursday afternoon at one point to a fresh high for the year.

Stocks may be in for a deeper pullback, now that the so-called fear index is finally breaking out higher.

U.S. stocks fell, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average closed at two-month lows Thursday.

"I'd say it's probably more of a Trump trade [reversing] than the geopolitics, but going forward I think the geopolitics is the topic the market is focusing on," said Andres Jaime, global FX and rates strategist at Barclays.

Meanwhile, tensions around North Korea are heating up as the communist state has warned of a nuclear attack on the U.S., which has sent a Navy strike group toward the western Pacific. North Korea celebrates the birth of its founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday.

VIX 12-month performance

Source: FactSet

The fear index on Thursday hit 16.22, its highest since Nov. 10, after closing above its 200-day moving average on Monday for the first time since Nov. 8.

"The VIX confirmed a breakout above its 200-day moving average [Tuesday], supporting a pickup in volatility in the days ahead," BTIG's chief technical strategist, Katie Stockton, said in a Wednesday note.

"We expect the inversely correlated SPX to break its 50-day moving average in a short-term setback that will lead to a retest of March's low" of 2,322, she said.

A key factor for the renewed fear was concern about geopolitical events such as tensions with North Korea, the conflict in Syria, or the French elections.

The geopolitical risk has been known for some time, but "now it's creating a critical mass," said Dan Veru, chief investment officer at Palisade Capital Management. "The market's being forced to recognize the impact [from] global disruption."

"You're seeing significant institutional demand for protection. Right or wrong, their models are indicating now there's an increased risk of further market disruption," he said.

In another concerning move, the S&P 500 closed below its 50-day moving average Wednesday for the first time since Election Day.

However, the VIX is also still well below its historical highs. The index hit a 52-week high last June of 26.7, and Veru pointed out on Wednesday that VIX futures for May and June actually point to a decline in the fear index.

"That tells you based on what options players feel, that there's a great deal of risk on the near-term time horizon and they don't see as much risk in May as they see right now in April," he said.

The major U.S. averages also remain within 3 percent of their all-time highs.

"A deeper pullback would be constructive in that it would generate short-term oversold conditions within the framework of the long-term uptrend," Stockton said.

 CNBC's Gina Francolla and Robert Hum contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump said he is very proud of the U.S. military after what he called a "very, very successful mission."

Earlier, U.S. forces dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan.

"Everybody knows exactly what happened and what I do is I authorize my military. We have the greatest military in the world and they've done their job as usual. So, we have given them total authorization," Trump said after meeting with first responders at the White House on Thursday.

The president said his confidence in the military is "frankly why they've been so successful lately."

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and compare that to really what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference," he said.

The Pentagon said the strike was "designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities."

Trump did not provide further details on the operation.

Earlier, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the bomb targeted caves that ISIS fighters used to "move around freely." He explained that in order to defeat the terrorist group, the U.S. must deny it operational space.

Spicer said that the military did what it could to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage. He declined to give further details, saying it would be best to direct those questions to the Department of Defense or the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.



There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties after the bombing, which took place in a remote part of Afghanistan.

ISIS has been using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels as the terror group's losses increased, Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, explained in a statement.

"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K," Nicholson said in a statement.

Thursday's bomb comes on the heels of last week's missile strike on a Syria-government air base, which Trump authorized in response to what U.S. intelligence officials said was a chemical attack carried out by the Syrian regime.

More from CNBC:

US drops largest non-nuclear bomb ever in Afghanistan

What we know about the 'mother of all bombs' that was dropped on Afghanistan

Watch: We dropped a very large bomb, says Colonel
President Trump made three startling economic policy reversals on Wednesday, stepping away from pledges he made as a candidate and even policies he supported only days ago.

The shifts confounded many of Mr. Trump's supporters and suggested that the moderate financiers he brought from Wall Street are eclipsing the White House populist wing led by Stephen K. Bannon, the political strategist who is increasingly being sidelined by the president.

More from The New York Times:

After campaign exit, Manafort borrowed from businesses with Trump ties

Who is Ron Estes, Kansas' newest Congressman?

Trump says he didn't know Bannon until campaign, but they met in 2011

In a series of interviews, Mr. Trump said he no longer wanted to label China a currency manipulator  a week after telling The Financial Times that the Chinese were the "world champions" of currency manipulation.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president said he no longer wanted to eliminate the Export-Import Bank. And he said that he might consider reappointing Janet Yellen as chairwoman of the Federal Reserve when her term ends next year.

Yet before the election, he regularly denounced China and said that Ms. Yellen should be "ashamed" of herself because of what he said was her political bias.

Mr. Trump's latest pronouncements suggest he is moving toward a more mainstream economic approach, although on other issues that he discussed on Wednesday, like a tax overhaul and health care, his policy and strategy appeared muddled.

Mr. Trump asserted in a Twitter post on Wednesday night that his agenda remained on track.

@realDonaldTrump: One by one, we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening.

Mr. Trump began the day with an interview with Fox Business Network in which he backed away from the so-called border-adjustment tax favored by Speaker Paul D. Ryan and House Republicans.

He also backtracked on his claim last month that he was moving on from his plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act to focus on taxes. Now he is again putting health care first.

In an interview published by The Journal midday, Mr. Trump revealed his softer approach to China  the about-face coming less than a week after meeting with China's president, Xi Jinping  and made another reversal on health care.

He said that the government would not continue to pay subsidies to health insurers under Obamacare only days after the administration said it would.

Mr. Trump said the threat to withhold subsidies was a way to force Democrats to negotiate with him over the future of the Affordable Care Act.

In the Journal interview, Mr. Trump said that "Democrats will start calling me and negotiating" because they want to avoid any interruption of the "cost-sharing" subsidies, which reduce out-of-pocket costs for seven million low-income people.

On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services had issued a statement saying that "the cost-sharing subsidies will be funded" while a federal appeals court weighed the legality of the payments.

Mr. Trump's remarks coincided with a letter in which doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and employers pleaded with him and with Congress to help stabilize insurance markets by authorizing a continuation of the subsidies.

"Time is short and action is needed," said the letter, sent Wednesday by eight groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association.

The president's comments on Wednesday recalled his reaction when Republican leaders pulled a bill to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law from the House floor last month.

Mr. Trump predicted then that "Democrats will come to us" in an effort to save the law, which he said was imploding. They did not.

To make the muddy waters even murkier, Mr. Trump took his plans to rewrite the tax code into uncharted territory when he threw cold water on the border adjustment tax that is the linchpin of the tax reform plan.

After months of waffling on that tax, he instead called for a new "reciprocal tax" that appears to be a different kind of levy on imports.

"I don't like the word adjustment because our country gets taken advantage of, to use a nice term, by every other country in the world," Mr. Trump said in the Fox Business interview. "So when I hear border adjustment, adjustment means we lose."

He added: "I love the idea of reciprocal. You can call it a reciprocal or a matching tax or a mirror tax."

The notion left tax experts scratching their heads. "I'm genuinely confused," said Itai Grinberg, a tax expert at Georgetown University's law school.

"If one imposes a tax that varies based on the country of origin of the good or service, then what one may in substance have is something akin to a country-specific tariff regime."

What is clear is that all of the uncertainty surrounding the White House's economic plans is causing frustration among some of Mr. Trump's supporters, including those who helped get him elected.

Larry Kudlow, the economist who advised Mr. Trump when he was a candidate, panned Mr. Trump's reciprocal tax idea as a nonsensical approach that would essentially raise taxes.

He suggested that the scattershot approach to economic policy coming from the White House was probably because of poor leadership at the National Economic Council, which is led by Gary Cohn, and the diminished role of the Treasury Department, which is steered by Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

"It's complete chaos," Mr. Kudlow said. "It sows confusion, and people lose confidence. The process is broken."

Last Friday, Mr. Trump named Kevin Hassett, a conservative pro-immigration economist, to lead his Council of Economic Advisers. Ardent supporters worried it was an abandonment of the tough stance he took on the issue during the campaign.

Mr. Trump shared few details about how a reciprocal tax would work. It is unclear if, in his thinking, the United States would match tariffs that countries levy on certain American products against other products that those countries produce or if he wants to effectively have a value-added tax with different rates for goods and services from each country.

Either way, economists warned that economic effects could be calamitous.

"Any economist will tell you that tariffs are often, if not always, self-defeating," said Michael J. Graetz, a tax law professor at Columbia University. "It doesn't appear to be a sound idea as a matter of tax policy." Howard Gleckman, a fellow at the Tax Policy Center, said, "It looks like Trump is not happy with the border adjustment tax idea for whatever reason and he's looking for an alternative."

With more changes apparently in store, Mr. Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, added an additional major reversal on his behalf: He said on CNBC on Wednesday that the president's campaign promise to eliminate the national debt was "hyperbole."
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas. RODNEY WAYNE ALLEN, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS NO. PD-1252-15 Decided: April 12, 2017

OPINION

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of murder. The trial court assessed his punishment at forty-five years in the penitentiary. On appeal, Appellant argued that the trial court erred to exclude evidence which he contended was relevant to his claim of self-defense. The court of appeals rejected his claims, partly on the basis of procedural default and partly on the merits. Allen v. State, 473 S.W.3d 426 (Tex. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). We granted discretionary review in order to examine the rulings of the court of appeals. Having examined the record and the briefs, we have determined that our decision to grant review was improvident. Accordingly, we dismiss Appellant's petition for discretionary review as improvidently granted.

PER CURIAM.
"The Chinese will take action to rein in North Korea before they allow it to escalate into a full-on war situation," Basu said.

"At the moment we're not expecting full-on conflict because this doesn't really benefit the North Koreans or anyone around the region," said Anwita Basu, lead analyst on Indonesia, the Philippines and North Korea for the Economist Intelligence Unit.

While it's an intense couple of days for markets, several political analysts say North Korea will likely not cross a red line as the U.S. and China find a way to step up economic and military pressure on the nuclear threat.

The posturing by all sides is heating up ahead of a major North Korean holiday this weekend. The country celebrates the birthday of its founding dictator Kim Il Sung on April 15. State media warned the U.S. Tuesday of a nuclear attack at any sign of American aggression. Meanwhile, a U.S. Navy strike group is en route towards the western Pacific.

In preparation for potential conflict, hedge funds have bought protection against a South Korean default. South Korea's five-year-default swap jumped to $55.59 on Tuesday and rose Thursday to $58.97, its highest since late June last year.

South Korea 5-year credit default swap (12-month performance)

Source: Reuters

Ultimately, the fear is that North Korea could send a nuclear weapon as far as the U.S. But analysts say it's unclear whether the small country has the capability yet.

If it comes to a show of strength this weekend with a nuclear test, the first reaction will likely be economic sanctions by the U.S., South Korea, Japan and China, John Park, director of the Korea Working Group at the Harvard Kennedy School, said in an email.

The majority of North Korea's trade is with China, giving Beijing some leverage over the small nation. China suspended coal imports from North Korea earlier this year.

For China, "their bottom line is they don't want regime change in North Korea unless it's something they can very carefully manage. They don't want to have to clean up the mess with the collapse of the North Korean state," said Isaac Stone Fish, senior fellow at Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations. Fish believes that North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un "is acting rationally" and is "playing a very sophisticated game of brinksmanship."

Beijing has advocated for maintaining a calmer status quo in its tense triangle of relations with North Korea, the U.S. and American allies South Korea and Japan.

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing that "military force cannot resolve the issue" and that "whoever provokes the situation  will have to assume historical responsibility."

"We'll know if the PRC leadership is serious when we see reports of Beijing actually cutting off the supply of refined oil products into the DPRK," Park said, referring to China and North Korea by their official names.

"With no refining capabilities, the DPRK is highly dependent on the PRC for its primary energy needs," Park said. "The DPRK would grind to a halt."

Meanwhile, the U.S. has deployed a missile defense system in South Korea. The U.S. Navy strike group and Japan's navy will also attempt to take down any North Korean missiles, Park said.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that he has "great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea" and said in a tweet Wednesday that he had a "very good call" with the President of China on "the menace of North Korea."

Tweet

Trump, however, reversed many of his key positions on Wednesday and remains an uncertainty.

"It leaves us and others very much in doubt with what Washington is likely to do," said Donald Straszheim, head of China research at Evercore ISI. "This is stuff that's spooky, dangerous and the future is not knowable."

"In as much as it potentially involves the use of weapons of mass destruction, it's hard to overstate just how important it is," he said. "We're talking about nuclear weapons here. We're not talking about something less than that."

Watch: North Korea's next step
President Trump has backtracked on a handful of major issues, from whether to label China a currency manipulator to his opinion of the NATO to the status of Fed Chair Janet Yellen. (CNBC)

Trump has not given up on repealing Obamacare, threatening to cut health insurance subsidies. Senate minority leader Charles Schumer said in a statement the president's "cynical strategy will fail." (CNBC)

The White House is quickly identifying ways to assemble the nationwide deportation force that President Trump promised on the campaign trail as he railed against the dangers posed by illegal immigration. (The Washington Post)

North Korea could conduct its sixth nuclear test as early as Saturday in response to Washington's talk of preemptive strikes on the rogue nation and the strategic deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier. (CNBC)

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned lawmakers there today that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas toward his country. (AP)

Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution to condemn Syrian President Bashar Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons. Moscow, an ally of Assad, also demanded a speedy investigation. (AP)

A groundbreaking African-American jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in the Hudson River in New York City. The judge had been reported missing. (Reuters)

The United (UAL) passenger who was videotaped being dragged off an overbooked plane by airport police filed an emergency "bill of discovery," seeking the airline's documentation of Sunday's confrontation. (NBC News)

Meanwhile, United is promising to reimburse the 70 passengers on board the flight from which Dr. David Dao was forcibly removed. It's part of continuing attempts to make amends for his rough treatment. (WSJ)

Apple (AAPL) has a secret group of engineers working on sensors to monitor blood sugar levels. The project aimed at helping treat diabetes was originally conceived by CEO Steve Jobs before his death in 2011. (CNBC)

Samsung said preorders for its Galaxy S8 are already exceeding those for the previous S7 device. The flagship smartphone goes on sale next week in South Korea, the U.S. and Canada. (CNBC)

Uber reportedly used a secret piece of software called "Hell" to spy on drivers for its rival Lyft, as pressure continues to mount on the dominate ride-hailing service after swathes of bad press. (The Information)

Just under three hours after Burger King unveiled a new advertisement designed to hijack your Google Home to read a long-winded description of its Whopper burger, Google has disabled the functionality. (The Verge)
[The stream is slated to start at 11a.m. , ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]

Attorneys for Dr. David Dao are scheduled to hold a news conference to discuss the removal of Dao from an overbooked United Airlines flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Aiport on Sunday.

On Tuesday, attorneys for Dao issued a statement on behalf of the doctor and his family.

"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. Dao's medical care and treatment," said Chicago attorney Stephen Golan of Golan Christie Taglia, adding that Dao's family has asked for privacy.

Dao, who is being treated for his injuries at a Chicago hospital, is also represented by Chicago aviation attorney Thomas Demetrio of Corboy & Demetrio.

United CEO Oscar Munoz issued an apology Tuesday, expressing outrage and regret, and promising a "thorough review."
"In deeming a select group of banks 'too big to fail,' Washington saved Wall Street from collapse, but as a result, unelected bureaucrats and overregulation handcuffed community banks, regional banks, credit unions and other lenders."

Our smaller communities and hopeful entrepreneurs have been shut out. Those who are seeking to start or grow their small business are incapable of accessing the capital necessary to merely plant both feet on the ground. Favorable stock market figures aren't translating to the average American's paycheck.

The celebrated American Dream of starting a business and attaining true financial independence is not achievable for these individuals because President Obama and Dodd-Frank's America put big cities and big banks first.

The poorly-constructed, 2,000-page Dodd-Frank Act has ballooned to 25,000 pages of rules and regulations. It appears Washington forgot that real people rely on banks to access the capital they need to finance their businesses, educations and homes.

In deeming a select group of banks "too big to fail," Washington saved Wall Street from collapse, but as a result, unelected bureaucrats and overregulation handcuffed community banks, regional banks, credit unions and other lenders.

These smaller financial institutions have their hands tied with onerous regulations and high compliance costs, and their ability to loan money is constrained.

To provide the relief these Americans need, Congress must roll back some of the heavy-handed Dodd-Frank provisions.

That is the only way to fuel our economic engine in West Tennessee and across the country.

In 2010, I joined the board of BankTennessee, a community bank in West Tennessee. It is no secret that this was an unfavorable time to join a bank board, as it was just two years after the financial crisis. The economy was stagnant, and banks across the country were struggling to resume routine business.

Joining the board of BankTennessee in 2010, the year of Dodd-Frank's fruition, afforded me a unique vantage point to observe six years of the palpable damage the law inflicted on America's small businesses and financial institutions.

After seeing the obstacles BankTennessee and banks across the nation faced following the crisis, I know how important it is to roll back Dodd-Frank so, once again, individuals can access capital.

This was one of the reasons I decided to run for Congress.

After being elected to the House of Representatives, I set my sights on becoming a member of the financial-services committee a committee enthusiastic about the economic opportunities that lie on the other side of regulatory reform.

Rural communities and our working class  made up of some of the most patriotic and dedicated people in America  have not had the luxury of Washington's protection.

A majority of Americans cited the economy as their number one concern in the voting booth last November. President Donald J. Trump was elected because he recognized that half of America has been left behind in this two-speed economy.

Now, as a member of the financial-services committee, I am working with Chairman Jeb Hensarling and my colleagues on the committee to change the current system.

In our first full committee hearing this February, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen delivered her semiannual monetary policy report to Congress. A couple things stood out to me in her remarks. Chair Yellen said that our nation is at full employment and that, while there is still room for improvement, wages are rising.

Chair Yellen should take a drive through West Tennessee. She would see how that may be true for the half of America that benefitted from Dodd-Frank. Unfortunately, Chair Yellen's evaluation was not considering a dynamic economy  an economy that encourages new businesses, new job creation and new salaries.

In 2014, the number of small businesses added to the economy was 650,000 firms short of the average. That translates to a loss of roughly 6.5 million jobs.

By implementing one-size-fits-all regulations, Washington bureaucrats have made lending nearly impossible for smaller banks, shutting down their ability to empower dependable clients who would reinvest in their communities.

With nowhere else to turn, entrepreneurs and small businesses who do not qualify for bank loans turn to credit cards and home-equity lines of credit, but Dodd-Frank has shut down these avenues, with credit-card issuance at a record low of 50 million fewer accounts than before the recession.

The American people should be in charge of their own economic opportunity, not bureaucrats in Washington.

Now, Congress and the Trump administration have an opportunity to roll back the regulations causing this dichotomy in the American economy.

The financial-services committee has already hit the ground running on legislation that will dismantle Dodd-Frank and open the door for all Americans to achieve financial independence. I am encouraged by the ambitious and productive schedule Chairman Hensarling has mapped out.

Our committee is working to grow the American economy and help put more people back to work with full-time, good-paying jobs.

Dodd-Frank created two Americas, but I see a unified U.S. economy that serves all Americans.

Commentary by Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), who represents Tennessee's 8th District, which includes 13 counties and portions of Shelby and Benton Counties. Kustoff also serves as a member of the House financial-services committee. Follow him on Twitter @repdavidkustoff.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas. GAREIC JERARD HANKSTON, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS NO. PD-0887-15 Decided: April 12, 2017

OPINION

Following the denial of his motion to suppress, Appellant, Gareic Jerard Hankston, was convicted of murder and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed Appellant's conviction, holding that the warrantless acquisition of Appellant's cell phone records from Sprint (comprised of call logs and historical cell site location information (CSLI)) did not violate Appellant's rights under the Fourth Amendment or under Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution. In light of our recent decision in Ford v. State, we did not grant review of Appellant's Fourth Amendment claim. We did, however, agree to address an issue that was unresolved by Fordwhether Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution affords broader protection under these facts than the Fourth Amendment provides. We hold that Appellant's rights pertaining to call logs and cell site location information possessed by a third party are the same under both the Fourth Amendment and under Art. I,  9. We hold that the State's acquisition of Appellant's cell phone records pursuant to a court order did not violate Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution. We affirm the decision of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

BACKGROUND

Appellant's girlfriend, Crystal Jordan, had been stalked by Keith Brown for some time. Brown lived two houses down from Jordan's mother's house, and on several occasions he would stand outside the mother's house and watch Jordan when she visited her mother. He would leave notes on her mother's door. After Jordan moved to an apartment, Brown would still approach her. On the evening of May 19, 2011, Jordan was in her apartment when she heard a knock at the door. She looked out the window and saw someone who looked like Brown standing outside.

She also saw a van that looked like Brown's. Jordan did not open her door, but instead called 911, her parents, and Appellant. The police came and went, and thereafter Jordan left her apartment to go to her mother's house. Appellant had not shown up, and she did not know where he was. Jordan testified at trial that, while she was at her mother's house, she heard gunshots. Some time thereafter, Appellant arrived at Jordan's mother's house.

Witnesses testified at trial that on that same evening Brown came home around 9:00 p.m. Shortly thereafter, someone started banging loudly on his front door. Brown started to open the door but tried to shut it again. The person on the other side of the door fired six gunshots through the door, striking and killing Brown with four of them.

In the course of investigating the murder, Appellant's cell phone records were obtained by members of law enforcement without a warrant. The cell phone records were acquired from Sprint pursuant to a sealed application and court order. The application stated that the records were being requested because law enforcement believed the records would assist [the] investigation by providing information as to who [Hankston] was in contact with on the date of the Complainant's murder.  [and] will also aid in proving/disproving the defendant's whereabouts before and after the murder. Appellant was eventually charged with the murder of Keith Brown.

A. The Motion to Suppress

Appellant filed a motion to suppress his cell phone records. At the hearing on Appellant's motion to suppress, the State agreed to stipulate that the records were obtained without a warrant. The State relied on Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 18.21 as authority to obtain records with only a court order. The court order allowed the State to obtain cell phone records for the twelve months preceding the issuance of the order. No witnesses testified at the motion-to-suppress hearing, during which the trial court judge inspected the court order. Appellant's trial counsel argued at the hearing that the records were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment and in violation of Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution. He also argued that the Texas Constitution provides greater protection than the Fourth Amendment under these facts. The trial court denied Appellant's motion to suppress, finding that the court order was issued in compliance with state and federal law, and finding that the disclosure did not violate the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution.

B. The Trial

At trial, the State presented Officer Michael Burrow as a witness. He was one of the investigating officers. Officer Burrow testified that, in the course of their investigation, they obtained Appellant's cell phone records by court order, and the State introduced them into evidence as business records. Officer Burrows testified that cell site location and call information was obtained to establish what [Appellant's] pattern of behavior was the night of the incident. To see who he was in contact with, and to prove or disprove any statements that he made.

The State also presented Officer Robert Brown as a witness, who testified that the cell phone records helped establish Appellant's whereabouts during times relevant to when Brown was killed:

Q. What does the analysis of the cell phone records and cell tower locations indicate to you, regarding the location of the defendant at the time of the 911 call?

A. It indicates that he's in the area. That the time of the call being placed, in regards to this incident, that he's in that area and that he's moving in and about that area. And he's moving from that sector 3, of that tower, to the next sector and then south. In a very rapid succession or time wise.

* * *

Q. All right. But we do know that the murder is committed and then we have a 911 call made at 9:32 p.m.?

A. Correct.

Q. And at 9:32 p.m., we have the defendant  what  what is he doing?

A. He's trans  well, the device is transitioning and it's moving.

Q. Fleeing the area? Would that be consistent with someone fleeing the area?  Would the activity on the defendant's cell phone be consistent with him fleeing the area at that time?

A. Yes.

The jury found Appellant guilty of the murder of Keith Brown and assessed his punishment at twenty years in prison.

C. On Direct Appeal

Appellant urged on direct appeal that the State's acquisition of his cell phone records violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution. As to the Fourth Amendment challenge, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals held:

Appellant cannot successfully claim that the State's acquisition of his cell tower records from Sprint violated his reasonable expectation of privacy. The cell site records acquired by the State are simply the business records memorializing appellant's voluntary subscriber transaction with Sprint for the service he wanted from his cellular provider, i.e. the ability to transmit and receive data on Sprint's network of cell towers. The fact that this data happens to reveal the general location of appellant's cell phone, and presumably appellant himself, at given points in time is of no consequence to the legal analysis. The State's actions did not violate appellant's Fourth Amendment rights because he could not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily conveyed to a third party.4

The court of appeals also overruled Appellant's challenge under the Texas Constitution. Following this Court's holding in Johnson v. State, the court of appeals held that [a] plain reading and comparison of the language of the Fourth Amendment and Art. I,  9 reveals no substantive difference and they both protect the same right. Quoting from our decision in Crittenden v. State, the court of appeals emphasized:

Absent some significant difference in the text of the two provisions, or some historically documented difference in attitude between the respective drafters, there would be no apparent reason to prefer an interpretation of Article I,  9 any different from our preferred interpretation of the Fourth Amendment. We will not read Article I,  9 differently than the Fourth Amendment in a particular context simply because we can.8

The court of appeals noted that Appellant based his Texas Constitutional challenge on this Court's 1993 case of Richardson v. State, which preceded Johnson and Crittenden. This Court held in Richardson that the use of a pen register may well constitute a search under Article I,  9 of the Texas Constitution. However, the court of appeals did not follow Richardson, but instead utilize[d] Fourth Amendment precedent to conclude that the State's acquisition of appellant's cell phone records [did] not violate Article I, section 9 of the Texas Constitution.

D. Appellant's Petition For Discretionary Review

Appellant argues that the State improperly used his cell phone records that it obtained without a warrant (but with a court order) to establish that, close to the time of the murder Appellant was near the complainant's home and that immediately thereafter his phone usage was more than any other comparable time frame in the preceding 206 days (between May 1, 2011 and November 22, 2011). Appellant claims that the Texas Constitution provides greater protection in regards to records from third parties than does the U.S. Constitution, and that, under Richardson v. State, this Court rejected the third party doctrine, finding that under the Texas Constitution, Art. I,  9, a person has an expectation of privacy in the numbers they dial. According to Appellant, this same expectation of privacy applies even more to cell phones because in today's society cell phones never leave our sides, and allowing data points to be created in numerous public and private locations enables the State to virtually reconstruct one's past actions and deduce a tremendous amount of private information.

The State counters this by arguing that the Texas Constitution places no additional restrictions on the state's ability to investigate crime above and beyond the restrictions already imposed by the U.S. Constitution. The State claims that [i]t would be absurd to suggest that these general understandings and expectations of the people change based on whether such people see themselves as Americans or as Texans.  [T]he reasonable expectations of the cell phone consumer are logically that of a national consumer of a nationwide product rather than the expectations of a provincial consumer of a local product. The State urges us to follow our reasoning in Ford v. State, disavow Richardson, and affirm the decision of the court of appeals because Appellant's cell phone records were legitimate business records containing information that Appellant initially conveyed to a third party. We granted Appellant's petition for discretionary review to address whether the State's acquisition of Appellant's cell phone records amounted to a search or seizure under Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution.

ANALYSIS

A. Does Art. I,  9 provide greater protection in this case than under the Fourth Amendment?

Both the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution protect individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Under the Fourth Amendment,

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.12

In nearly identical language, Article I,  9 provides,

The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause supported by oath or affirmation.13

In 1991, in Heitman v. State, this Court decided that it did not have to automatically adopt and apply the Supreme Court's interpretations of the Fourth Amendment to Art. I,  9, of the Texas Constitution, even though Art. I,  9 and the Fourth Amendment contain essentially the same wording. We held in Heitman that the states are free to reject federal holdings as long as state action does not fall below the minimum standards provided by federal constitutional protections. In reaching the conclusion that we are not bound by Supreme Court decisions addressing the comparable Fourth Amendment issue, we recognized that state constitutions cannot subtract from the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, but they can provide additional rights to their citizens.

Two years later, in Richardson v. State, this Court addressed whether the installation and use of a pen register by law enforcement personnel required probable cause under the Texas Constitution. In Richardson, officers believed the appellant was controlling a cocaine and crack distribution organization using telephones located in the county jail, by placing calls to a private telephone. The officers sought court orders pursuant to Article 18.21 authorizing them to install a pen register to catalogue the telephone numbers dialed from the county jail telephone line and also the private telephone line they suspected the appellant was calling. This Court acknowledged that Art. I,  9 and the Fourth Amendment provide the same basic protection and also recognized that the purpose of both provisions is to safeguard an individual's legitimate expectation of privacy from unreasonable governmental intrusions. This Court said that, [t]he litmus [test] for determining the existence of a legitimate expectation of privacy as to a particular accused is twofold: first, did he exhibit by his conduct an actual (subjective) expectation of privacy[;] and second, if he did, was that subjective expectation, one that society is prepared to recognize as reasonable.   In Richardson, the issue was framed as follows:

Ultimately, in the context of both the Fourth Amendment and Article I,  9, whether the government's installation and use of a pen register constitutes a search necessarily depends upon whether appellant has a legitimate expectation of privacy in the numbers he dialed on the telephone. In other words, in determining the legitimacy of appellant's expectation of privacy, the appropriate inquiry is whether appellant expected that the numbers he dialed on the telephone would be free from governmental intrusion, and, if he did, is this expectation one that society is prepared to recognize as reasonable.21

The Richardson Court discussed at length the Supreme Court case of Smith v. Maryland, acknowledging its holding that the installation and use of a pen register is not a search because an individual entertains no actual expectation of privacy in the phone numbers he dials, and, even if he did, such an expectation is not legitimate.  This Court repeated the explanation given by the Supreme Court in Smith that telephone users typically know that they must convey numerical information to the phone company; that the phone company has facilities for recording this information; and that the phone company does in fact record this information for a variety of legitimate business purposes. The Richardson Court also discussed the Supreme Court opinion in United States v. Miller holding that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit obtaining information revealed to a third party.

Nevertheless, the Richardson Court rejected the reasoning of Smith and Miller, and instead chose to side with the states that have held that their state constitutions provide an individual with a protected privacy interest in the telephone numbers dialed from a telephone. This Court concluded in Richardson that the installation and use of a pen register was indeed a search:

The mere fact that a telephone caller has disclosed the number called to the telephone company for the limited purpose of obtaining the services does not invariably lead to the conclusion that the caller has relinquished his expectation of privacy such that the telephone company is free to turn the information over to anyone, especially the police, absent legal process. 28

This Court remanded the case to the court of appeals to determine whether the search was reasonable under Art. I,  9.

Only two other cases decided by this Court since Richardson have held that Art. I,  9 provides greater protection than the Fourth Amendment. In 1994, in Autran v. State a three-judge plurality decided that the Texas Constitution provided greater protection than the Fourth Amendment in the context of inventory searches. In 1997, in State v. Ibarra, this Court held that, although the federal constitution requires the State to prove voluntariness of consent by a preponderance of the evidence, the Texas Constitution requires proof by clear and convincing evidence.

Twice in 1995 this Court addressed the issue of whether Art. I,  9 provided more protection than the Fourth Amendmentfirst in Crittenden v. State, and again in Johnson v. State. In both cases this Court found that Art. I,  9 and the Fourth Amendment provide the same protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. In Crittenden v. State, this Court addressed the legality of a pretext stop under our state constitution analog to the Fourth Amendment. Acknowledging Richardson, and then departing from it, this Court held that,

Having adopted the objective approach under the Fourth Amendment, not because of binding precedent, but because it makes more sense than the alternatives, we can hardly justify concluding otherwise for purposes of Article I,  9. Indeed, we would abuse our prerogative to construe even like provisions of the state and federal constitutions differently, see Richardson v. State, 865 S.W.2d 944, 948 (Tex. Cr. App. 1993), and stretch judicial credibility to the breaking point, were we somehow to hold that what makes more sense for purposes of the Fourth Amendment does not also make more sense under our own state constitutional analog.36

In Johnson v. State, another plurality decision, this Court noted that [t]he Fourth Amendment and Art. I,  9 both protect the same right (freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures) to the same degree (persons, houses, papers, and effects/possessions). Although acknowledging that we are not bound by Supreme Court precedent, this Court emphasized that we are not obliged to be different. Because we can [grant defendants greater rights under the Texas Constitution than afforded under the United States Constitution], however, does not mean that we should do so. The Court acknowledged the strong similarities between the state and federal provisions and insightfully noted that,

It is not unreasonable to conclude  that the framers of the Texas Constitution chose to draft Art. I,  9 to protect Texas citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the state in the same way they were protected from unreasonable searches and seizures by the federal government. If they had intended to grant to citizens greater protections from state actions than they enjoyed from federal actions, then they could have drafted Art. I,  9 at that time to reflect that intent.40

Neither Autran nor Johnson is binding on this Court. However, we agree with the reasoning of Johnson, which mirrors the logic of Crittenden. With regard to Ibarra, we find that holding to be confined to the context where the State must prove voluntariness of consent. We are therefore more persuaded by the cases deciding that, even though we are not bound by Supreme Court case law when it comes to interpreting our State Constitution, we are not precluded from following it either. This reasoning is particularly appropriate when the state constitutional provision we are interpreting and its federal constitutional counterpart are almost identically worded. We are thus free to adopt the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourth Amendment, and apply it in this case, simply because it makes more sense. Therefore, as discussed below, if we are not going to find that the acquisition of cell phone records is a search under the Fourth Amendment, then we are not going to find that the acquisition of cell phone records is a search under Art. I,  9.

B. Ford v. State and Love v. State

Recently, in Love v. State, we confirmed that individuals do not have a privacy right in the numbers dialed on their phones. We also reiterated in Love that cell site location information obtained from the records of a service provider is not protected under the Fourth Amendment. We concluded, therefore, that call logs and CSLI are not  constitutionally protected.

In Ford v. State this Court unanimously decided that, under the Fourth Amendment, Jon Thomas Ford had no legitimate expectation of privacy in records held by a third-party cell-phone company identifying which cell-phone towers communicated with his cell phone at particular points in the past. Like the Richardson Court, we looked at Smith v. Maryland and United States v. Miller. But, unlike the Richardson Court, we chose to follow those cases.

In Ford we noted that, like the bank customer in Miller and the phone customer in Smith, an appellant neither owns nor possesses the records he seeks to suppress. Rather, the cell-tower records are created by the cell-phone companies themselves and are subject to their control. The cell-phone company collects and stores this historical cell-site-location data for its own business purposes, in part to optimize service on its network[,]  and [t]his type of non-content evidence, lawfully created by a third-party telephone company for legitimate business purposes, does not belong to [the defendant], even if it concerns him.

As in Ford, Appellant voluntarily availed himself of [Sprint's] cellular service. [C]ell users know that they must transmit signals to cell towers within range, that the cell tower functions as the equipment that connects the calls, that users when making or receiving calls are necessarily conveying or exposing to their service provider their general location within that cell tower's range, and that cell phone companies make records of cell tower usage. In Ford, we acknowledged, but declined to follow, the reasoning that [p]eople cannot be deemed to have volunteered to forfeit expectations of privacy by simply seeking active participation in society through use of their cell phones. We were not persuaded by the argument that cell phone users must forego the use of technology that has become a pervasive and insistent part of modern, everyday life or forego the protections of the Fourth Amendment. We noted in Ford that, unlike in United States v. Jones, there was no GPS device, no physical trespass, and no real-time or prospective cell cite location information in this case. We concluded that the State's warrantless acquisition of four days' worth of historical cell site location information, recorded by Ford's cell phone service provider, did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

C. The third-party doctrine applies under Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution.

In this case, as in Ford, Appellant neither owned nor possessed the records he sought to suppress. Call logs and historical CSLI are created by the cell phone companies and are subject to their control. Cell phone records are clearly business records lawfully created by Sprint for legitimate business purposes. Appellant voluntarily provided his call information and historical cell site location information to Sprint so that it could perform the service for which it had contracted.

Since we have long held that the Fourth Amendment and Art. I,  9 both protect the same right to the same degree, and since we have recently held that the Fourth Amendment does not restrict law enforcement from obtaining cell phone records revealed to a third party, we come to the logical conclusion that Art. I,  9 does not restrict law enforcement from obtaining cell phone records revealed to a third party. Therefore, we decline to follow Richardson v. State. Other states have also held that their state constitutional counterparts to the Fourth Amendment should be similarly interpreted under this type of case.

CONCLUSION

Addressing Appellant's claims within the framework of the Texas Constitution, Art. I,  9, we hold that Appellant did not have a legitimate expectation of privacy in the numbers he dialed on his cell phone or the location information derived from the signals relayed by the cell towers transmitting his calls. There was a voluntary conveyance of the cell phone records, and, under the third-party doctrine, that conveyance destroyed the reasonable expectation of privacy in the conveyed information. We conclude that the State's acquisition of Appellant's cell phone records did not violate Art. I,  9 of the Texas Constitution. We affirm the judgment of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

FOOTNOTES

. 477 S.W.3d 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).

. See also Love v. State, No. AP-77,024, 2016 WL 7131259, at *3 (Tex. Crim. App. December 7, 2016)(holding that call logs and CSLI are not  constitutionally protected under the Fourth Amendment).

. The cell phone records at issue in this case were obtained by the State using a court order issued under a prior version of article 18.21  5(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 18.21  5(a). See Act of May 29, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 958,  1, 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 4026, 4030 (amended 2013) (current version at TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 18.21  5(a)). Under the prior version, a showing of probable cause was not required to obtain a court order requiring a cell phone service provider to disclose electronic customer data. See id. The statute required only a reasonable belief that the information sought is relevant to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry. Id.

. Hankston v. State, No. 14-13-00923-CR, 2015 WL 3751551, at *5 (Tex. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2015) (internal citations omitted) (not designated for publication). At the time the Fourteenth Court of Appeals decided Hankston, we had not issued our opinion in Ford v. State. The appellate court did, however, cite to the Fourth Court of Appeals opinion in Ford v. State, 444 S.W.3d 171, 188 (Tex. App.San Antonio 2014), affirmed, 477 S.W.3d 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015), along with several other cases that we cited as authority to support our holding in Ford.

. 912 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

. HankstonId. , 2015 WL 3751551, at *6 (quotingciting Johnson, 912 S.W.2d at 232).

. 899 S.W.2d 668 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

. Id.Hankston, 2015 WL 3751551, at *6 (citing Crittenden, 899 S.W.2d at 673 n. 8 (emphasis in originaladded)).

. 865 S.W.2d 944 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

. Id. at 953.

. Hankston, 2015 WL 3751551, at *6.

. U.S. CONST. Aamend. IV.

. TEX. CONST. Art. I,  9.

. 815 S.W.2d 681 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).

. Heitman, at 682 (citing Cooper v. California, 386 U.S. 58 (1967))___.

. Id. at 690.

. 865 S.W.2d 944 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

. Id. at 948.

. Id.

. Id. at 948-49 (quoting (citing Chapa v. State, 729 S.W.2d 723, 727 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)).

. Id. at 949.

. 442 U.S. 735 (1979).

. Richardson, 865 S.W.2d at 949 (quotingciting Smith, 442 U.S. at 743).

. Id. (quoting Smith, 442 U.S. at 743).

. 425 U.S. 435 (1976).

. Id. Richardson, 865 S.W.2d at 949 (citing Miller, 425 U.S. at 443).

. Id. at 950 (first citing State v. Hunt, 45 A.2d 952 (N.J. 1992); then citing People v. Blair, 602 P.2d 738 (Cal. 1979al Rptr. ___); then citing Commonwealth v. Beauford, 475 A.2d 783, 791 (Pa. 1984); then citing People v. Sporleder,666 P.2d 135 (Colo. 1983) ____;; then citing State v. Gunwall, _____ 813720 P.2d 808 (Wash. 1986) ; then citing State v. Thompson, 760 P.2d 1162 (Idaho 1988); and then citing Rothman v. State, 779 P.2d 1 , 7 (Haw. 1989));.

. 865 S.W.2d at 951.

. On remand, the Court of Appeals overruled the appellant's constitutional complaint on a different ground. It held that the appellant lacked a reasonable expectation of privacy in a number that he called from a county jail telephone, and therefore he lacked standing to challenge the installation of a pen register on a line that he called. Richardson v. State, 902 S.W.2d 689 (Tex. App.Amarillo 1995). No further appeals ensued.

. 887 S.W.2d 31 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).

. Since Autran was a plurality decision, it is not binding precedent. See Hatcher v. State, 916 S.W.2d 643, 645 (Tex. App.Texarkana 1996, pet. ref'd) (We decline  to follow the plurality opinion in Autran because we do not believe that Autran constitutes either binding precedent or sound law.); Garza v. State, 137 S.W.3d 878, 884 (Tex. App.Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. ref'd) (declining to follow Autran and instead following Johnson v. State, 912 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995), holding that the Fourth Amendment decisions of the Supreme Court should be viewed as providing guidance in interpretations of Art. I,  9); Trujillo v. State, 952 S.W.2d 879, 881 (Tex. App.  Dallas 1997, no pet.) (Autran, a three-judge plurality opinion, is not binding precedent.); Rothenberg v. State, 176 S.W.3d 53, 57 (Tex. App.Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. ref'd) ([T]he high court has never followed Autran's specific holding concerning the validity of inventories of closed containers under the Texas Constitution.); Uballe v. State, 439 S.W.3d 380, 385 (Tex. App.Amarillo, 2014, pet. ref'd) (rejecting the argument that the Texas Constitution provides greater protection against unreasonable searches and seizures than the United States Constitution and declining to apply the Autran plurality opinion).

. 953 S.W.2d 242 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

. Id. at 245.

. 899 S.W.2d 668 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

. 912 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

. Crittenden, 899 S.W.2d at 673.

. JohnsonId. , 912 S.W.2d at 232.

. Id. at 233.

. Id. (citing Johnson v. State, 864 S.W.2d 708, 718 (Tex. App.  Dallas 1993).

. Id. at 233-34.

. Crittenden, 899 S.W.2d at 673.

. See Ford v. State and Love v. State, infra at nn. 44, 45, and 62.

. 2016 WL 7131259, at *3 (citing United States v. Miller, 425 U.S. at 443, and Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. at 743-45).

. Id. (citing Ford v. State, 477 S.W.3d at 329-30, nn. 5-7).

. Id.

. Eight judges agreed with the decision. Judge Yeary did not participate.

. Ford, 477 S.W.3d at 330.

. 442 U.S. 735 (1979).

. 425 U.S. 435 (1976).

. Ford, 477 S.W.3d at 329-330. See also In re Application of the United States for an Order Directing a Provider of Elec. Commc'n Serv. to Disclose Records to Gov't, 620 F.3d 304, 313 (3d Cir. 2010) (cell-site-location information is obtainable under a  2703(d) order and does not require the traditional probable cause determination; nevertheless disagreeing with the factual premise that cell phone customers are aware that their cell phone providers collect and store historical location information); In re Application of the U.S. for Historical Cell Site Data, 724 F.3d 600, 615 (5th Cir. 2013) (government can use Stored Communications Act orders to obtain cell-site information without implicating the Fourth Amendment); United States v. Davis, 785 F.3d 498, 511 (11th Cir. 2015) (en banc) (defendant had no objective reasonable expectation of privacy in  business records showing the celltower locations that wirelessly connected his calls).

. Id. 477 S.W.3d at 330.

. Id.

. Id. at 330-331 (citing quoting Davis, 785 F.3d at 511).

. Id. at 331.

. Id. at 331-32 (quotingCiting Davis, 785 F.3d at 511).

. Id. (quoting United States v. Graham, 796 F3d 332, 356 (4 th Cir. 2015), overruled by 824 F.3d 421 (4th Cir. 2016) (en banc)).

. Id. (quoting Ford v. State, 444 S.W.3d 171, 202 (Tex. App.San Antonio 2014) (Chapa, J., dissenting)).

. 565 U.S. 400 (2012).

. Ford, 477 S.W.3d at 333.

. Id. at 331 (citing In re Application (Fifth Circuit), 724 F.3d at 611-12) (concluding that cell phone companies are not required by the government to record or store CSLI).

. See Crittenden, 899 S.W.2d at 673 (Having adopted the objective approach under the Fourth Amendment, not because of binding precedent, but because it makes more sense than the alternatives, we can hardly justify concluding otherwise for purposes of Article I,  9.); Johnson, 912 S.W.2d at 232 at ______. (A plain reading and comparison of the language of the 4th amendment and art. I sec 9 reveals no substantive difference.  [B]oth protect the same right (freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures) to the same degree (persons, houses, papers, and effects/possessions).). See also Garza v. State, 137 S.W.3d at 884; State v. Oages, 227 S.W.3d 397, 400 (Tex. App.Eastland, 2007, pet. ref'd) (relying on Crittenden to apply New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454 (1981) as the bright line rule in Texas for automobile searches incident to arrest, and also citing to Johnson to note that although Texas courts can hold that defendants have greater rights under the Texas constitution, this does not mean that Texas courts should do so); Clark v. State, No. 06-03-00262-CR, 2004 WL 2290262, at *2 (Tex. App.Texarkana 2004, pet. ref'd) (mem. op.) (not designated for publication) (citing to various sister courts of appeal that similarly reject the argument that the Texas Constitution provides greater protection than the Fourth Amendment).

. See Ford, 477 S.W.3d Fordat 329. is state

. See State v. Mello, 27 A.3d 771, 774 (N.H. 2011) (holding that the defendant voluntarily provided the information to Comcast, which recorded it in the ordinary course of business for billing purposes and used it to provide the defendant with Internet service; having voluntarily provided this information in order to use Comcast's service, the defendant cannot now claim a privacy interest in it); State v. Perry, 776 S.E.2d 528 (N.C. App. 2015) (holding that the state constitution provision provides the same protections against unreasonable search and seizure as the Fourth Amendment, and expressly recognizing the third-party doctrine discussed in Miller and Smith).We decline to follow Massachusetts's lead in holding that its state constitution counterpart to the Fourth Amendment provides greater protection. Massachusetts has adopted the argument that the nature of cellular telephone technology and cell phone data and the character of cellular telephone use in our current society render the third party doctrine of Miller and Smith inapposite; and it recognizes that the cellular telephone is like a permanent attachment to the user's body and thus has become an indispensable part of modern American lifenecessary to social interactions as well as the conduct of business. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Augustine, 4 N.E.3d 846 (Mass. 2014) (holding that the state constitution affords more protection to individuals than the United State's constitution in relation to third party records).

RICHARDSON, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
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Columbia City Council returns to trash collection system discussion

A trash collection solution that could include roll carts returned to the Columbia City Council on Monday.
The state veterinarian has released the control zone surrounding two Lincoln County poultry farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The statewide poultry health advisory is also lifted, and poultry owners can now resume regular activity.

We have determined through extensive testing that HPAI has not spread to other poultry flocks in our 10 kilometer control zone, State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. Poultry owners across Tennessee should continue to monitor their flocks and immediately report any spike in illness or death.

The first confirmed detection of H7N9 HPAI occurred March 4 in a commercial chicken flock in Lincoln County. Samples from a commercial flock on a premises less than two miles away also tested positive for the same strain of avian influenza on March 14.

Once HPAI was detected, the flocks were depopulated and buried and animal health officials established a controlled zone in the 10 kilometer radius of the affected facilities. Poultry movement was restricted within the zone and birds from commercial and backyard flocks were tested weekly for three weeks. No additional samples have tested positive for avian influenza and testing is now complete. Cleaning and disinfection continues at the two affected premises.

We greatly appreciate the hard work of all involved in this response, Commissioner of Agriculture Jai Templeton said. From our staff and partners on the local, state and federal level to the flock owners and all connected to the poultry industrythis was truly a team effort. I certainly hope Tennessee never has to deal with this situation again, but should we face another challenge, I am confident that our state is prepared.

A commercial chicken flock in Giles County tested positive for H7N9 low pathogenic avian influenza on March 8. The flock was depopulated and buried and domesticated poultry within a 10 kilometer radius of that premises were also tested and monitored for illness. That surveillance zone was released on March 30.

Although the Tennessee Department of Agriculture did not prohibit poultry exhibitions, shows or sales during this avian influenza situation, the department issued a poultry health advisory and discouraged commingling of birds. Should avian influenza be detected again in the state, the department may take additional action.

Neither HPAI nor LPAI pose a risk to the food supply. No affected animals entered the food chain. Furthermore, the Tennessee Department of Health confirms that the risk of a human becoming ill with avian influenza during poultry illness incidents is very low. This virus is not the same as the China H7N9 virus affecting Asia and is genetically distinct.

The primary difference between LPAI and HPAI is mortality rate in domesticated poultry. A slight change to the viral structure can make a virus deadly for birds. Avian influenza virus strains often occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl without causing illness in those birds. With LPAI, domesticated chickens and turkeys may show little or no signs of illness. However, HPAI is often fatal for domesticated poultry.

The state veterinarian encourages poultry owners to remain vigilant in monitoring for flock health and offers the following tips:

Closely observe your poultry flock.

Report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the state veterinarians office at 615- 837-5120 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.

Prevent contact with wild birds.

Practice good biosecurity http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/ with your poultry.

Enroll in the National Poultry Improvement Plan www.poultryimprovement.org.

Follow Tennessees avian influenza updates and access resources for producers and consumers at http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-businesses-avianinfluenza.

The state veterinarian and staff are focused on animal health and disease prevention. Each year, the Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory tests approximately 22,000 samples from poultry for avian influenza. Since March 3, the lab has tested more than 2,700 samples.
President Trump, as part of his plan to roll back regulations put in place by President Obama, just signed legislation that eliminates the prohibition against internet service providers selling customer data without their written consent. Although the original restriction had not yet taken effect, its elimination ignited a firestorm of controversy among privacy organizations, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the American Civil Liberties Union (which tried to no avail to get Trump to veto the legislation at the last minute).

Having done a good bit of privacy consulting in the healthcare world, I have become somewhat of a privacy fanatic myself. For example, I pay higher medical insurance rates because I don't care to share medical information with my employer.

Despite this, the change in regulations is not keeping me up at night, and I think it poses only a limited privacy risk for the enterprise.

As you probably recognize, since ISPs route our requests to the appropriate sites and relay the response back to us, they have access to a good bit of information about us. Among this data is the sites we visit, and the frequency of those visits. On the surface, this may be troubling. If you examine in more detail exactly what they can see, however, it is a good bit less troubling -- for a variety of reasons.

First, most web traffic is now Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encrypted. Google reported recently that as of March 2017, 85% of traffic crossing its servers was encrypted. This encryption forms a secure tunnel between your browser and the destination website.

An ISP is not able to decrypt this traffic, or to see significant details about the destination. It does know the address to which the request gets routed, but little else. When it amasses the destinations, however, it does have some information about its customers' browsing habits.

I suspect that many people would prefer that their browsing habits remain private.

Second, in the enterprise, your data is aggregated with browsing information from all other users. The typical network uses network address translation (NAT), which means that while each PC has a unique address internally, all requests appear on the public network as coming from a single address. Because of this, an ISP only sees a bunch of website requests, with no idea which individual made them.

In a larger company, it is likely that a wide variety of sites are accessed, so this information would be of limited value to advertisers (the likely primary customers for such data). As an example, the ISP might know that someone from a large company went to the website for a particular vendor, but it won't know who specifically viewed the site, or exactly what they looked at.

Finally, Reuters recently reported that many major ISPs -- including Comcast, AT&T and Verizon -- said they would not sell data. Given the limited value of the data they have, and the downside risk of incurring the wrath of their customers, I find it likely that they will live up to this commitment.

I do find it amusing that so many in the industry are focused on ISPs and the sale of customer data, while ignoring the more serious privacy risks we face from search engines and social networks.

An article written by Leo Notenboom in 2013 detailed how a search engine -- having obtained significant information from the browser, and after examining the details of searches -- can do some degree of user identification. He recounted a study using anonymized data that was still able to identify some users based on the search phrases used.

In a process known as fingerprinting, the search engines "learn" about search users from their addresses, items searched for, cookies and other details, and can then match those traits with an individual in many cases. Google used these techniques to implement its one-click "reCaptcha" process to confirm a user is not a robot. Once you understand these techniques, you will likely worry less about ISPs selling your data.

It seems that more people are becoming aware of privacy exposure from browser and social media use. In a recent poll conducted by Politico, respondents said they trusted their ISP a bit more than Google or social networks, by a margin as large as 22%.

If you want to ensue the best available privacy for your browsing, or that of your employees, consider the following:

1. Use good browser privacy settings

It is possible to limit some information available to others about your browser experience by changing a variety of settings on your browser, as described by Heimdal Security in its comprehensive guide on that subject.

2. Use a browser specifically designed for privacy

There are a few alternative browsers, like Comodo Dragon or Epic Privacy, that are designed from the ground up to maximize privacy.

3. Use a VPN tunnel

A virtual private network is a secure, encrypted tunnel from your network to another destination. By using a VPN tunnel with an appropriate service, you can eliminate almost all of your ISP's visibility into your web traffic. You must ensure, however, that your VPN provider protects your information, rather than selling it to third parties.

4. Use an alternate DNS service

The domain name system (DNS) translates human-readable site names to IP addresses, which are what routers need to get your traffic to its destination. Much of what your ISP can tell about your traffic comes from the fact that their servers usually handle the DNS name resolution for you. You can prevent them from seeing some of that data by using an alternate DNS service.

Cisco's OpenDNS, for example, which is free for individual use and available as a subscription product for businesses, can send your DNS queries across an encrypted tunnel, thus protecting some of that information from your IPS.

Bottom line

Scott McNealy, the former CEO of Sun Microsystems, is somewhat famous for having said: " You have zero privacy anyway. Get over it."

While there is some truth to his statement, there is much you can do to maximize the privacy of your Internet activity, with or in spite of regulatory decisions by a government.
Maya Marsden (center) plays Lord Farquaad during a dress rehearsal of Shrek: The Musical, Jr. at Chichester Central School. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m.

Bridget Mercier as Shrek and Piper Collins as Donkey act out a scene during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at Chichester Central School in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Chichester Central School students play their respective parts during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at the school in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Jace LaCross as Pinocchio delivers lines during a dress rehearsal of Shrek: The Musical, Jr. at Chichester Central School.

Bridget Mercier as Shrek and Piper Collins as Donkey act out a scene during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at Chichester Central School in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

The fairy-tale misfits ensemble sings a song during a dress rehearsal of Shrek: the Musical, Jr. at Chichester Central School. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. ELIZABETH FRANTZ photos / Monitor staff

Leah LaCross, as Princess Fiona, sings a song during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at Chichester Central School in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Maya Marsden plays Lord Farquaad during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at Chichester Central School in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Chichester Central School students Madelyn Pitman as one of the three little pigs helps Gracelyn Humphreys as Fiona prepare for a dress rehearsal of Shrek: The Musical, Jr.

Chichester Central School students play their respective parts during a dress rehearsal of Shrek the Musical Jr at the school in Chichester on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Performances of the drama club production will be Friday at 6:30 and Saturday at 1 p.m. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Bridget Mercier, as Shrek, acts out a scene during a dress rehearsal of Shrek: The Musical, Jr. at Chichester Central School. ELIZABETH FRANTZ photos / Monitor staff

Students at Chichester Central School will take you on a chaotic romp through fairy tales with their production of Shrek: The Musical, Jr.

The kids have been rehearsing for two-and-a-half months to tell the story of an ogre named Shrek, played by Bridget Mercier, and his mission to save his home and a princess.

Co-director Kate Mara, a reading teacher, said Shrek is a good ensemble show, necessary when the cast can range from 30 to 70 students. Second-grade teacher Bea Douglas is also directing.

There are no cuts from the cast; everyone gets some role, Mara said.

Its an opportunity for kids that dont fit in other places, she said.

Everyone belongs. Its a theme that carries into their show, where a reclusive ogre discovers people he cares about.

Shrek is sent away from home by his parents at 7 years old to make his own way in the world, with the just the warning that people wont accept him because of his appearance, and they sing Big, Bright, Beautiful World.

Mara said the song is her favorite because its the first piece and the ensemble sings it together.

I love when you get to hear kids become one voice, she said. Its an amazing, powerful thing.

Shrek goes on to live in a swamp alone until a gang of misfit fairy tale characters moves in after being kicked out from the kingdom by Lord Farquaad (Maya Marsden).

Shrek goes to Farquaad to reclaim the solitude of his swamp, is befriended by Donkey and is tasked with rescuing a princess for Farquaad to marry to become king.

Like Shrek, Princess Fiona (played by Gracelyn Humphreys, Olivia Berkeley and Leah LaCross) was sent away by her parents.

Shrek rescues her from the tower wheres shes guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, and the two become friends and eventually fall in love, though they dont express their feelings.

After a great misunderstanding, Fiona runs off to marry Farquaad. The wedding is interrupted and Fionas secret is revealed, along with a secret about Farquaads parentage.

And everyone lives happily ever after and sings the Monkees Im a Believer, with which Mara said the kids have a lot of fun.

Its a program were very proud of, Mara said.

She hopes through the show, the children learn to be part of a team, make commitments, look out for each other and self-manage.

The students will perform for their peers Thursday. Mara said the students are very excited and get a lot of confidence from the program.

Theyll come in Friday morning (to school) like they are king of the world, Mara said. Its so positive ... to watch these kids perform their hearts out.

Public shows will be Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at Chichester Central School. Tickets are $5 and seating is first come, first served. Doors open a half-hour before the show begins.
One of the things that makes America great is that fact we are a nation that believes in second chances. Consequently, there are countless individuals who have made mistakes, payed the price for those choices, and have moved on take make meaningful contributions within society.

Demetrus Coonrod was duly elected to the City Council. During her campaign she was forthright about some of her past decisions. From this point on the responsibility and Christian thing to do is not "drag her name through the mud" on past events but rather to work her and her colleagues to improve the lives of all Chattanoogans.

Eventually, she should be evaluated, but on how she performs as a member of the Chattanooga City Council. This is the ethically and morally correct thing to do.

Rev. Dr Jeffrey T. Wilson



* * *



Society claims to want to rehabilitate convicts. It instead seems to try to place roadblocks in their way.

Ms. Coonrod has turned her life around. There is no one in government who better understands the conditions fostering violence in our city.

The Chattanoogan should be supporting her rather than trying to drag her down. Let us hope that the City Council, including Ms. Coonrod, can make changes that will reduce the unacceptable level of violence in our city.

John L. Odom

* * *

Wow! I must have been asleep at the wheel when the news broke about Ms. Coonrod's police record. One would think her opponent would have been screaming about her record loud enough to wake the dead. Just like Romney, I'm sure he now wishes he had been more vocal in the negatives regarding his opponent.

I did learn one thing though that's important to everyone, a felon can get their voting rights back regardless of their track record.

One thing I do think, Ms. Coonrod is abundantly qualified to deal with the gang problems in her district, I'm just not sure which way that wind blows.

Good luck Chattanooga, first Berke and now this, hold your head high, I have a feeling it's gonna be a record year of "I told ya so's".

Sue White

* * *

I am appalled at the audacity of whomever decided to send their dossier on Ms. Coonrod to this publication in the wake of her overwhelming victory in the City Council District 9 runoff. Not once did Ms. Coonrod shy away from talking about her history, she never mislead anyone, and she never lied. The voters didnt care about her past - she made it to the run off, and she earned 60 percent of the vote to win the election. What is the actual point of shaming her now?

Last night, as I watched the returns come in, I was proud to live in a district that elected a black woman, single parent, and fully restored felon to represent one of the more economically disadvantaged districts in Chattanooga - a district where gun violence, poverty, and lack of economic development are the norm for several neighborhoods.

Ms. Coonrods personal experiences give her more insight into these realities than any other member of Chattanoogas City Council. She will be a voice for those rarely heard in government and considered in policy creation. And not only did we make history by electing a representative from one of the most marginalized communities in the country; we elected a strong, intelligent, compassionate, hard-working, dedicated woman to a position that rarely sees a female candidate.

Ms. Coonrod is a community activist, an advocate for public education and access to early childhood education. She makes sacrifices to care for her children. She cares about the things the people of District 9 care about. She worries about her neighbors and is committed to improving their lives. She is a human being and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Ive never seen anyone work as hard with as little as Ms. Coonrod did during her campaign. She canvassed countless doors and made many more phone calls, all while working full-time and caring for a young child. Im impressed with her strength and fortitude, and inspired by her ability to overcome hardship. I am looking forward to watching her work for the people of our district as Councilwoman. She earned every vote she got, and she deserves our collective support.

Khristy Wilkinson

Chair, Hamilton County Democratic Party

* * *

I read with disgust the political hit-job on Ms. Coonrod that apparently passes for journalism at the Chattanoogan. This piece has no valid purpose other than to attempt character assassination against Ms. Coonrod who won a seat on the City Council. It is arguable that it would never be valid journalism, but given that it was published the day after she won fair and square, belies its purpose of pure dirty, hateful politics.

Ms. Coonrod, like any other person on the planet, is not perfect, but she has paid for her mistakes in a system we have set up collectively to handle her crimes. Society has been "made whole." Ms. Coonrod has done something many people unfortunately don't, she has risen up and overcome her past. And more importantly, she has approached the community optimistically, willing to share her talents to make the community better for all.

The community, including the Chattanoogan, should hold her forth as an example of how people can be rehabilitated and give back to the community. And we should be encouraging to her and others who work hard to put their pasts behind them and contribute to society. Our country decided that people who go through the criminal justice system should come out on the other side and be restored to community life. These are our American values. It is anti-American to tear someone down in the way this paper has chosen to attempt to tear down Ms. Coonrod.

I hope Ms. Coonrod knows that the Chattanoogan does not speak for all people and that most people in the community are better than is portrayed by this paper.

Myrlene Marsa

* * *

After reading the news account about Demetrus Coonrod, I was wondering what the intent was here. If the article was to inform the voters in her district, it came too late. If the article was meant to indicate the success of the implemented re-entry programs, and the millions of dollars spent on these programs, then the article may have succeeded.

We need to think about this for a moment. The voters of District 9 ousted incumbent Yusuf Hakeem for Ms. Coonrod. What message does this send?

One can only hope that Ms. Coonrod leaves her failures and tribulations in her past and proves herself through actions on the City Council by showing that she can work well with her peers (fellow Members of Council) and serves the people and not herself. She has the burden to show how people who make serious mistakes in their life can turn their life around and be successful.

My personal advice to Ms. Coonrod would be to avoid any unethical and unlawful temptations brought before her and remember the various support groups that the FBOPs introduced to her within our community. She needs to stay strong and vigilant and do whats right. People believed to be of greater integrity have performed poorly.

Lastly, it bewilders me, as it must with other voters, that nothing was said about Ms. Coonrods short comings before the elections. Only after Yusuf Hakeem lost his seat did anyone believe this was important.

This is the year of whining losers and there isnt much credibility with them as well.

Don T.D. Gala, Ph.D.

Hixson

* * *

Should Demetrus Conrod continue to serve? First, yes, it is the will of the voters in District 9. Secondly, section 8.53 of the City Charter gives her or any person who have fully restored their rights that option. Perhaps the main reason is that she is a model of what restorative justice reform can and should strive to achieve. For several years, many individuals and organizations dedicated to criminal justice reform have advocated on the behalf of Restorative Justice as opposed to Retributive Justice. Upon studying the philosophies of old, as a society we have mostly accepted the notion that justice is affixed on a scale and we must seek to find the balance between truth and untruth, equal and unequal, just and unjust, as we seek to find an equilibrium that balances the needs and safety of the greater society as opposed to the fairness of an individual or entity. The organization Restorativejustice.org defines restorative justice as: a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that allow all willing stakeholders to meet, although other approaches are available when that is impossible. This can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities. Restorative justice concerns itself with constitutional rights and societal responsibilities, due process under the law, and proportional sentencing as it helps offenders atone, make amends for crimes committed, grants the victims of crime a voice by stressing the harm that has been caused and that should be repaired, and it affords all the opportunity to participate in the American dream. For too long our system has been based on retributive justice, which is retribution, payback, penalties, and ultra-punitive measures that have given us a criminal justice system that is at times feels beyond breach an incapable of being repaired as the time fits the crime model has greatly outweighed any of the progressive elements associated with the true essence of justice.

There is reason to be concerned with elements of criminal justice today because the challenges we face seem insurmountable. We are contending with due process and fair trials; mandatory sentencing laws; disproportionate incarceration rates where seventy-percent of inmates are persons of color; the fastest growing prison demographic are women of color; the more than two-thousand infants that will be born to mothers behind prison walls this year; a rapidly increasing rate of recidivism that suggests most offenders will reenter prison within a year while many fathers son, son and mothers daughter, daughter enter the never ending vicious cycle. We should also be disturbed about our probation processes in order to ensure that they are effective and productive; many offenders have mental incapacities or are drug offenders, and they need mental health treatment and services in order to become productive citizens. We should be troubled about reentry into society, and push for more attainable job and professional skills as well as assisting those who have reentered society find gainful employment; we should help ex-offenders restore their voting and citizenship rights once they have fully paid their debts to society. Expungement clinics are excellent ways to help aide in this area. Likewise, many of us support the second amendment and the right to bear arms, but on a week where we saw one child accidentally slain and several gun-related killings we should ask are there limits on the accessibility to guns? If not, would not a program of gun safety be practical or should we just accept this as a necessary price to pay for open carry? Nevertheless programs offered should be based on rehabilitation, reentry and redemption, through pushing for things such as Ban the Box and viewing crime and violence as a Public Health Emergency.

There are other areas of the criminal justice system we should be looking at as well. At a time when we recently faced a horrific tragedy at Ooltewah due to bullying and negligence, restorative justice practices can help with school climate and help reduce the school to prison pipeline by dealing with present-traumatic stress as well as assisting with adverse childhood experiences by offering meditation, reflection, guided practice and the need to report out of the ordinary situations and circumstances when they occur. We should be paying attention to the Jocques Clemmons incident in Nashville, and review our own police-public procedures so that we will not become the next Ferguson or Baltimore. This should include studying the merits of civilian review boards. Another judicial vacancy just occurred and it begs to reason when will Chattanooga and Hamilton County have some diversity on the judicial bench? There was also a recent story about the lack of personnel at the public defenders office, and we should ask is this agency fully able to give citizens the constitutional right to representation and a fair trial? These are just a few areas that can greatly help reduce crime and help many find a sustainable path to societal reentry.

Our goal for ex-offenders should be for them to find rehabilitation, reentry and redemption through balancing the great scales of justice so that there is equilibrium. It does not say that there will not be peaks and valleys in their road to redemption, and sometimes there will be bumps in the road. The goal is to be a productive member of society and do the best you can according to your ability to do so. Jarrett Adams, the co-founder of Life after Justice in New York, is one example of what restorative justice can accomplish. For ten years he served behind the dark prison walls as he persistently pushed to have his wrongful conviction overturned. He would teach himself the law while in prison and file multiple appeals. Finally he caught the attention of the Wisconsin Innocence Project who would finally help him win exoneration. Upon release, he would go on to earn his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in May 2015 and start a public interest law fellowship with the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, the very court that reversed his conviction because of his trial lawyers constitutional deficiencies. Today he works with Life After Justice and the Innocence Project in helping to overturn the wrongful convictions of others. It is not that people are unblemished, flawless and perfect. Also, we all have our setbacks, shortcomings, and thorns of the flesh. We must remember a seed must first be planted in good ground before it can bloom and reach its full potential because after the darkness there must come light, and after the storm there is still hope, and the hope that we must instill in ex-offenders is that there is still reason to hope because the dreams may yet be able to live again, and we must allow the dreams to live on. We should not give in to confirmation biases, attitude polarizations or weapons of mass distraction and take one person at a time as they come. This is the true nature of restorative justice, not to say that wrong has never been committed, but to state that if you are earnest and sincere, you can overcome. Like Jarrett Adams, I believe Demetrus Conrod has overcome and we should let her dream to serve the people live.

Respectfully, Eric Atkins

Chattanooga Criminal Justice Coalition

* * *

It sure is amazing all of these Democrats want to evaluate a politician on their future accomplishments today. I'm sure these same Democrats had the same opinion regarding Trump. Hypocrites.

Jimmy Gray

* * *

So the party that brought us Ward Crutchfield, Billy Long and Duke Franklin now elects a convicted violent criminal who is an admitted racist as a member of City Council? Well their new chairman, a community organizer from Detroit, ran on a platform of making Chattanooga more like Detroit. With the election of Ms Coonrod it appears we are well on the way to looking like Detroit.

Electing someone with a criminal background could be a good idea, after all FDR defended his pick of Joseph Kennedy Sr as SEC commissioner by saying, "it takes a crook to catch a crook." Using that criteria I have some suggestions for our local Democrats for future elections or appointments.

Mayor-Kwame Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit, who should fit Khristy Wilkinson's wishes. He was recently convicted of 24 felony offenses from his term as mayor but he will probably be out on parole and available for our 2021 mayor election.

Superintendent of Schools- Barbara Byrd Bennett, former head of both Chicago and Cleveland school systems. She is currently serving a term for steering contracts to her former employer, but like Mr Kilpatrick, will be out on parole by the time our illustrious School Board gets around to doing something.

City Police Chief- well we have our own Billy Long who just served an eight year term for corruption as county sheriff. If we elected him we wouldn't even have to pay his moving expenses.

All joking aside it is pathetic what our local Democrats have become. The party of Marilyn Lloyd, JoAnne Favors, Ralph Kelley, Kirk Walker, the Reverend and Honorable Sam Payne, Kenny Smith and others has become a caricature of itself. Even as a Republican I hope the local Democrats return to some form of respectability.

Douglas Jones

Ooltewah

* * *

This is a remarkable exchange. On the eve of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we have those who accept the failings and the change and we have those who pass judgement. For all of us I pray and I ask, what would Jesus do?

Prentice Hicks

* * *

Mr. Hicks asks what would Jesus do. Might He clear the tables and forcefully throw the money-changers from the temple or, in this case, out of the courthouse?



He was known for being a bit of a wild man, you know, and getting angry about hypocrisy. He was also judgemental toward the unrepentant. We forget about those traits.



If those who behave poorly aren't taken to task for it, how do we ever regain our society? What example do we set for our children when they see those who behave poorly suffer no consequences?



Vicki Rodgers

* * *

It's no surprise to me that progressive liberals are vehemently objecting to a news source giving its readers what the late Paul Harvey would say is the rest of the story.

You see, it's the rest of the story they often want to hide, especially when it pertains to politics and religion. I saw this as an active journalist and continue to see it now more than ever as a retired journalist who still seeks all the information I can get regarding someone or some thing. What you don't know, I have learned over the years, can indeed hurt you.

What would Jesus do concerning the issue with Ms. Coonrod? Shed light on the subject. After all, He is the light of the world. Then He would tell Ms. Coonrod to Go thy way and sin no more and follow the light. Hopefully, this is what has happened, and the rest of the story will have a happy ending.

As a side note, the nationally broadcast Chris Plante Show" recently mentioned the Chattanoogan.com expose of Ms. Coonrod's past in discussing corruption and looking the other way by the Democratic Party.

Jim Ashley
The Syrian regimes use of chemical weapons flouts the rules of war and must be punished. President Donald Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, this week warned that if you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent peopleyou will see a response from this president.

Meanwhile Rex Tillerson, the American Secretary of State, laid a wreath in the Tuscan village of SantAnna di Stazzema, where the Nazis murdered 500 people, and declared: We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world.

Such sweeping language could be used to justify an extraordinarily wide range of interventions. But it also justifies the attempt, however inadequate, to write a profile of the rules of war.

One should not of course imply that the internationally agreed laws and conventions which are supposed to govern the use of armed force necessarily do so.

As one British expert commented, when I told him I had been asked to write a profile of the rules of war: People will generally do whatever they think they can get away with.

But what you can get away with in a democracy is conditioned not just by whether people think what you are doing is moral and practical, but whether they think it is legal.

One has only to recall the lengths to which Tony Blair went to make the legal case for the Iraq War, and the corresponding energy with which his opponents sought to show he was acting illegally, to see that the question matters more than a purely realist conception of foreign policy might suggest. Law, it turns out, is one of the many realities which has to be taken into account.

At the weekend, Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, took great care, in a piece for the Sunday Times, to indicate the legal basis for the American action:

After the horrors of chemical attacks in the Great War, the use of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases was banned by the Geneva Protocol in 1925. However, President Bashar al-Assads regime has a history of using such weapons against its people. It flouted international law in 2013 by gassing nearly 1,500 people to death outside Damascus. Yet despite agreeing later that year to destroy its chemical weapons, Syria has again been caught in the act. Airstrikes are never undertaken lightly but this is a wholly unacceptable situation. Something had to be done to stop more people dying. So, in his first test as commander-in-chief, President Trump made the right call by resorting to careful and narrowly focused military action.

What is the difference between a gas attack and a barrel bomb? According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Assad regime last year dropped 13,000 barrel bombs. It stands to reason that these must have inflicted vastly greater suffering on innocent men, women and children than the most recent gas attack has done.

In moral terms, as Spicer suggests, to kill someone with either is abhorrent. But in legal terms, as Fallon indicates, there is a significant difference. So the White House had to correct what Spicer had said about barrel bombs: a prelude to the correction and apology he himself had to make a day or two later after his deplorable claim that Hitler did not use chemical weapons.

The Hague Conference of 1899, which drew up the first of the Hague Conventions, made various attempts to lay down the laws and customs of war. It included declarations on the launching of projectiles and explosives from balloons, on the use of projectiles the object of which is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases. and on the use of bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body.

Gas was nevertheless employed on an extensive scale during the First World War. A renewed attempt to outlaw it was therefore made in 1925, in the Geneva Protocol on Asphyxiating or Poisonous Gases. In 1968, Syria acceded to this protocol.

The Geneva Convention of 1949, which was ratified by Syria in 1953, and has indeed been ratified by every single member of the United Nations, extended protection to civilians: previous conventions had applied only to combatants.

Other weapons which have been treated as particularly noxious include landmines, laser weapons, biological weapons and cluster munitions. But neither Syria nor some other countries have ratified all these later protocols.

To suggest that these agreements have had no effect would be as unrealistic as to pretend they have never been broken. Some amelioration of the horrors of war has sometimes been achieved.

The 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, administered by a nongovernmental organisation based in the Hague, is a treaty prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Syria not only refused to sign it, but stated in 2012 that it possessed chemical and biological weapons and would use them if attacked.

On 21 August 2013 the Ghouta chemical attack took place on two opposition-held suburbs of Damascus. On 29 August, Britains Joint Intelligence Committee said at least 350 people had been killed, and it was highly likely that the attack had been carried out by the Syrian government, which had used chemical weapons on a smaller scale on 14 previous occasions.

On the same day, the Commons debated whether to take part in military action in response. The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, said:

The question before the House today is how to respond to one of the most abhorrent uses of chemical weapons in a century, which has slaughtered innocent men, women and children in Syria. It is not about taking sides in the Syrian conflict, it is not about invading, it is not about regime change, and it is not even about working more closely with the opposition; it is about the large-scale use of chemical weapons and our response to a war crimenothing else. Let me set out what the House has in front of it today in respect of how we reached our conclusions. We have a summary of the Governments legal position, which makes it explicit that military action would have a clear legal basis.

MPs nevertheless voted by 285 to 272 against taking military action. Ed Miliband, the Leader of the Opposition, said after the debate that people didnt want a rush to war and Britain doesnt need reckless and impulsive leadership, it needs calm and measured leadership.

But re-reading Camerons speech now, one can see him going out of his way to provide calm and measured leadership, and to demonstrate the legality of what he proposed:

We must ensure that any action, if it is to be taken, is proportionate, legal and specifically designed to deter the use of chemical weapons.

Barack Obama nevertheless decided the United States would refrain from taking military action. He instead struck a deal, brokered by the Russians, under which the Assad regime agreed to to give up every single bit of its chemical weapons and to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.

It now appears overwhelmingly likely that the Assad regime broke the agreement and kept back the sarin which was used in the latest attack. The New York Times remarked a few days ago that this shows the danger of doing deals with dictators.

One might also say it shows the limitations of a measure like the Chemical Weapons Convention. Three states, North Korea, South Sudan and Egypt, have neither signed nor acceded to that treaty, and one must reckon there are others which, like Syria, flout its provisions.

But amelioration rather than total prevention was the original aim of the Geneva Conventions. In 1859, a Swiss businessman, Henri Dunant, happened to witness the aftermath of the battle of Solferino, fought between the French under Napoleon III and the Sardinians under Victor Emmanuel II against the Austrians under Franz Joseph.

Dunant was appalled by the wretched inadequacy of the arrangements for looking after the many thousands of casualties scattered in agony across the battlefield. He did what he could to organise local relief efforts, given irrespective of the national origins of the wounded, and wrote a book, A Memory of Solferino, which a few years later led to the setting up in Geneva of what became the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Rules of war have always existed in various customary forms, and from the 17th century onwards acquired parliamentary authority as applied to the Royal Navy and the British Army. According to the American Law of War Manual issued in 2015 by the Department of Defense,

The law of war is part of who we are. George Washington, as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, agreed with his British adversary that the Revolutionary War would be carried on agreeable to the rules which humanity formed and to prevent or punish every breach of the rules of war within the sphere of our respective commands.

But international humanitarian law sprang from the Red Cross, with the first Geneva Convention signed by 16 countries in 1864. The Geneva Conventions seek in time of war to uphold the protection of prisoners and of civilians; provide for the care of the wounded; ban torture; and prohibit methods of warfare which cause excessive suffering.

The more seriously one takes international law, the more sceptical one may be about President Trumps willingness to observe it. Professor Philippe Sands, of University College London and Matrix Chambers, who appears frequently before international courts and whose most recent book, East West Street, explores the origins of genocide and crimes against humanity, declared in 2015 that We need a Syria strategy, not half-baked reasons to drop bombs, and reacted with horror when I asked him about the most recent American attack:

Is there a plan? Is there a policy? Is it legal? Decisions taken on the hoof invariably risk escalation as one thing leads to another. Applause on Syria and chemicals, why not North Korea and nukes?

And yet as someone who has always felt instinctively sceptical about international law, I cannot help feeling impressed by the way it hangs together, and provides a basis for distinguishing between civilisation and barbarism.

It cannot provide a substitute for statecraft, or for the exercise of wider judgment about whether a particular war is just. For that, one needs Thomas Aquinas, recently examined by Charles Guthrie and Michael Quinlan.

A former officer in the British Army observed that international law does not restrain bands of irregulars, whether in the Balkans or Ukraine or Syria, where a bunch of thugs may operate under the command of the biggest thug.

But that same officer spoke movingly about the horror of gas as a weapon. If the Chemical Weapons Convention did not exist, it would have to be invented. And who can honestly maintain that it ought not to be enforced?
Daniel Hannan is an MEP for South-East England, and a journalist, author and broadcaster. His most recent book is What Next: How to Get the Best from Brexit.

Does anyone actually believe that Sean Spicer, Donald Trumps press spokesman, is a Holocaust denier? Sure, he expressed himself with unbelievable gaucheness. His declaration that you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons broke pretty much every rule of media management, starting with the most basic rule of all: dont press Hitler into contemporary arguments.

Still, its pretty clear what the poor fellow was trying to say. Even a regime as murderous as the Third Reich, he was arguing, shrank from doing what Assad is accused of doing  that is, using poison gas as a weapon of war. The Nazis enslaved whole populations, machine-gunned civilians and, ultimately, set up death camps. But they drew the line at using poison gas in bombs. The gas masks with which Britons were issued in 1939 remained unused, even as Hitlers dying regime hurled V2s across the Channel.

We can all agree that it was a tasteless comparison. But that is not enough for his detractors. They have to go straight to Volume 10. Here, for example, is Steven Goldstein of the Anne Frank Centre for Mutual Respect: On Passover, no less, Sean Spicer has engaged in Holocaust denial, the most offensive form of fake news imaginable, by denying Hitler gassed millions of Jews to death President Trump must fire him at once.

Needless to say, broadcasters went with the Holocaust Denial Row line, and social media exploded with rage, the original quotation quickly forgotten as people competed to be visibly angrier than each other. Spicer was basically a Nazi! Trump himself was little more than a Nazi! In fact, Trump was worse than a Nazi! And so on, and so on.

When a public figure expresses himself awkwardly, the reaction follows four stages. First, strip the quotation of any context. Second, forget the speakers record and credentials. (If Sean Spicer really were a Nazi sympathiser, I think wed have had some intimations before now.) Third, put the worst possible construction on his motives. Fourth, demand his dismissal.

Everything is at full blast. No one ever says, OK, that was badly phrased, but his apology sounded genuine, or Yeah, she expressed that clumsily, but I know what she was getting at. Nothing short of a resignation will do. Indeed, hectoring demands for resignation are a form of conspicuous consumption. Lukewarm condemnation simply wont do the trick.

No one likes to step into the path of a lynch mob. Think of the way Sir Tim Hunt was treated when he made an ungainly joke about falling in love with women in laboratories. Again, no one was prepared to consider the context. Indeed no one would have guessed, from the coverage, that it was a joke at all, a light-hearted opening to a speech that was followed by a but seriously, and then his main point about women playing an increasingly significant role in science. Although there were plenty of journalists in his audience, no one felt brave enough to correct the virtue-signallers and, before long, UCL had dismissed the Nobel Laureate from his post.

We can all think of examples of Twitter storms that pass as quickly as they form, leaving blue skies  and often, also, shattered individuals. Dont think its an exclusively Leftist phenomenon either: Diane Abbott, Emily Thornberry and even, on occasion, Ken Livingstone, have been mobbed for things they didnt quite say. Indeed, angry reactions to misreported phrases are older than social media. Al Gore never claimed to have invented the Internet. Jim Callaghan never said Crisis? What crisis? Marie Antoinette never (as far as we know) said Let them eat cake.

Still, there is something uniquely ugly about the way social media aggregate and exaggerate our most brutish instincts. Mobs are, as Shakespeare understood, nasty and fickle. We have a reminder of their inconstancy every year at this season. Four days ago, we recalled the way a jubilant crowd placed palm leaves before Jesus as he rode a donkey into Jerusalem; tomorrow, we remember the same crowd baying for his crucifixion.

One of the virtues of representative democracy is that you no longer have to infer the mood of a crowd from its loudest members. People can express their opinions in a measured way. Mob gives way to majority. Rabbles are dissolved into a wider and wiser electorate.

But Facebook and Twitter return us, in some ways, to a pre-democratic age. Emotion is elevated over fact, and details trampled underfoot. Donald Trump is a beneficiary of that change, as his opponents are quick to point out  before, in many cases, indulging in precisely the loutish behaviour that they condemn in his followers.

So let me end by saluting one of the few who stepped into the path of the mob, namely Brendan Cox, husband of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox. Here is what he had to say as the outrage reached its peak on Tuesday: Spicer is stupid, but he didnt Deny Hitler gassed Jews and suggesting he did belittles the gravity of the charge. Quite. Odd, in a way, that that should have needed saying, but in our current age, in which information is so easily available and so rarely accessed, it evidently did.
James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. The focus of this column is Theresa Mays conservatism for ordinary working people.

A report in the Financial Times this week revealed a London-based academic believes he can predict when a CEO will resign or be forced out. Analysing the content of senior executives messages to shareholders, the academic looks for tell-tale signs like a lack of future focus and excessive negativity.

Politics and business are different and leaders in their respective fields talk differently and are held to account in different ways. The same sort of analysis therefore wouldnt work. But now were several months into Theresa Mays leadership  with a potential reshuffle not a million miles away  its an interesting exercise thinking about the signs to look for as Prime Ministers prepare to move Ministers out of their jobs.

Lets take the two most obvious signs out of consideration: presiding over a catastrophic event in a departments remit; and extreme personal impropriety. Either of these and a politician is out the door, full stop. But what about those less blatant signs?

Prime Ministers will tolerate reasonable ideological differences between themselves and Cabinet Members and Ministers  recognising parties are broad churches and that certain politicians connect with hard to reach parts of their movement. However, theres much less tolerance for politicians with a lack of personal affinity with the leader  particularly amongst junior Ministers.

It looks as though Theresa May takes personal loyalty very seriously. Her first Government was stuffed full of people with whom she had a history of mutual respect; her main advisers go way back. Time will tell, but its likely those that arent perceived to be personally aligned will get moved on next time. Those that didnt back her leadership bid and havent publicly ingratiated themselves with the new administration should be getting nervous.

Another sign is excessive timidity and anonymity. Ministers that dont drive a clear agenda within their Departments  changing policy and generating media coverage  are living on borrowed time. Some senior politicians worry taking such a course just raises the likelihood of mistakes for which theyll be punished. At one level, this fear is reasonable. But a Prime Minister will always tolerate a risk-taker with a plan more than someone that meekly does what their officials tell them.

Poor media performances on the most insidery shows also mark a Minister down for demotion. Prime Ministers will accept politicians failing miserably to connect with the masses on the biggest news bulletins  something that happens all the time. But they wont tolerate a politician that cant held their own on shows like Today or the Daily and Sunday Politics. The opposite should be true but rarely is.

There are two other signs  one visible to all, one visible only internally. Harsh but true, older Ministers that have been around a long time but outside the centre of things are likely to be shuffled out. Admiration for quiet competence has its limits. And finally, the less visible one, those Ministers that seem to be drowning in departmental administration are often on the way out. It sends a strong signal that they have neither the basic competence to run their own show, nor the desire.

There is a handful of Ministers who unfortunately display two or three of these signs. They know who they are  and so does Theresa May.
The Turney Center Industrial Complex, which is the politically-correct name for a medium-security state prison about an hours drive west of Nashville, is a very bad place to call home. There are more than 1,500 inmates in the lock-up and the prisoner-to-guard ratio is allegedly 128-to-1. To no ones surprise, about 16 inmates jumped three guards there late Sunday afternoon and two were stabbed repeatedly. Both are in critical condition after being air-lifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The third was taken hostage until a special team rescued the officers after about three hours. What is most disturbing is that the Tennessee Department of Corrections played the incident down, calling it  you guessed it  a disturbance when the true picture is Turney Center is almost as bad as the over-stuffed Hamilton County Jail. When two under-paid and over-worked guards are admitted to a hospital, both in critical condition, a disturbance is hardly a large enough wheelbarrow to adequately describe what really happened.

Sadly, just about every state and county prison in Tennessee is a smoldering time bomb and what is most maddening is the politicians who serve the people quickly turn their backs on those who need help the worst. It is believed that almost 40 percent of the male and female citizens incarcerated in Tennessee have some degree of mental illness. Psychotropic drugs will cost County Sheriff Jim Hammond OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

So when County Mayor Jim Coppinger said during yesterdays County Commission meeting that it costs Hamilton County taxpayers EIGHTY-TWO-THOUSAND-DOLLARS-A-DAY to house our county miscreants, lets agree it is long overdue for both the state and the county to be proactive on the mentally ill and the homeless.

Jana Jahn, working closely with Sheriff Jim Hammond and his administrator, Gino Bennett, can tell us right now how we can save well over a million dollars a year in jail costs, how we can triple those savings in a common-sense approach in related costs, and how we can humanely help some who cant help themselves. We act as though we are the ones who are mentally ill because the almost-immediate savings would be astronomical but  you know the rag  thats not my department.

No, it is every human beings duty to help his fellow man.

Moccasin Bend Hospital is a state-operated mental facility. It has 150 beds and serves 54 of Tennessees counties  that over half the state. Three beds per county, are you kidding me? Our opioid addictions are now epidemic yet somewhere there is an elected official(s) who thinks three beds for all of Hamilton County is satisfactory. The excuse? We dont have the money  Thats bunk!

We read that most health insurance plans are balking at opioid addiction so what that means is those addicts will go to the only place that will accept them  the county jails. A disaster is unfolding right before our eyes and the Tennessee Department of Corrections calls the stabbing of two guards by inmates as a disturbance. We aint got a cut dogs chance.

The Turney Center Industrial Complex  dont you just love that nice way to call a 1,500-inmate prison  is a cauldron of problems. Nashville writer Amanda Haggard described it like this:

* * *

The department has been understaffed, a hepatitis C epidemic in the prisons is on its way to becoming a class-action lawsuit, inmates and their families claim gangs have taken over units in prisons, and assaults on guards have become the subject of legislative inquiry.

Correctional officers questioned the department's two-category incident classification, which didn't consider an incident to be assault unless it resulted in injury. A 2012 Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury report first flagged a need to alter classifications of incidents. Those concerns were echoed in a 2014 comptroller report.

They weren't looked at until 2015. When the department moved to change how it categorized assaults on guards at the start of 2016, the number of reported assaults nearly doubled.

* * *

In the last eight months it has been reported there have been 11 attacks on guards at the Industrial Complex. Closer to home, the Hamilton County Jail is critically understaffed. The sheriff freely admits he is now at 40 fewer guards than almost every study suggests. The gang altercations are atrocious. For example, when Jermichael Brooks was led into the federal courtroom for a hearing after allegedly killing another gang member in February, he had been beaten so badly by fellow inmates he was nearly blind and could barely stand without assistance at his court appearance.

Some feel the most dangerous places in the state are not the inner-city streets, but are now inside the jails. In Hamilton County there is at least one bad fight every day; bad being determined by the fact one or more participants must be transported to the emergency room.

Hamilton County officials are still waiting for a proposal to build a new jail and workhouse in the county. Early estimates are $100 million and, if ground were broken today, completion time is about four years. Between now and then weve got no choice but to use the only facilities available  the same ones! It is a recipe for disaster and look no further than two critically-injured guards in Nashville.

Our county jails are this states biggest problem, its most aching need, and until we can change the mindset that three beds per county in a mental facility is adequate, we in Hamilton County are facing the worst five-year sentence you can imagine.

I believe some deaths are imminent without some quick solutions. No, Ill guarantee it.

* * *

As you should have expected, there was a call in the state legislature to restore a Prison Oversight Committee due to the very serious and very real problems that are obvious to anyone who looks. But since a Democrat, Mike Stewart of Nashville, voiced his concern, any action was immediately sent back to subcommittee by the Republicans. This is the truth!

Republicans said the Democrats were just playing politics and any effort toward prison oversight was shameful. "No amount of oversight would have prevented that attack," Rep. Bill Sanderson scoffed. The problem is that the shameful Sanderson is the chairman of the State Government subcommittee, which stripped out a provision in a bill from Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, that would re-establish oversight committees for three state departments  corrections, children's services and TennCare.

Like I say, we aint got a cut dogs chance.

royexum@aol.com
BEAUHARNOIS, Quebec  While conducting an operation on the evening of April 9, 2017, members of the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) observed a vessel traveling eastbound on the St. Lawrence River.

The boat went ashore in the area of Pie XII Boulevard and the Beauharnois Canal, Valleyfield, Quebec. The police converged on scene and arrested three (3) males between the ages of 21 and 25 from the province of Quebec. As a result, a total of 1,587 kilograms of contraband fine cut tobacco as well as the conveyance, a 1998 Ford cube van, were seized. The individuals were released from custody on a Promise to Appear in Valleyfield Provincial Court on June 28, 2017.

Oftentimes we are asked about the financial costs associated with this contraband issue, said Sergeant Garry Belair, acting CRTF Ops NCO, In this seizure alone, $245,526.35 was lost to Ontarians in possible tax revenue. Assuming a registered nurses average annual salary of $70,000.00, the taxes lost could have funded 3.5 nurses in our hospitals. It is important for everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to your local police force so they can continue to protect your neighbourhood.

If you have any information regarding this crime or other criminal activity in your area, you can contact the CRTF at 1-613-937-2800 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477

The CRTF is a joint forces partnership led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and includes the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.
CORNWALL, Ontario  It appears there may be an answer in sight for the citys ongoing shopping cart conundrum.

The issue has been discussed with the Property Standards Advisory Committee, as well as local store representatives over the past few months with one common goal: to solve the issue of the cart eyesore. Store representatives also took part in these meetings, sharing their thoughts on the topic, as well as potential solutions.

Since then, weve drafted a bylaw which will require that  within reason, market owners be responsible that their property does not leave store premises, said City of Cornwall Supervisor of Bylaw Enforcement, Christopher Rogers.

In the interim, store owners will be given information on how the proposed changes would impact their business. Currently, the city has no intention of imposing fines, but does expect stakeholders to take responsibility for their property.

Were not saying we want to set fines, said Rogers. What were saying is, either you pick up your carts or we will.

The proposed bylaw will first go to council; if approved, it will force store owners to keep a tighter rein on their shopping carts.

Whatever hasnt been recovered by the owner will be collected weekly and taken back to Municipal Works yard with a service fee to retrieve them, said Rogers. Were not doing this arbitrarily, and were trying to be as reasonable as possible.

The retrieval fee is currently set at $25 per cart, which could become a costly expense for some stakeholders. As it stands, there have been mixed responses from local business owners.
CORNWALL, Ontario  A 17-year-old Cornwall youth was arrested on April 10, 2017 and charged with threats and breach of probation for failing to keep the peace.

It is alleged on April 10, 2017 the youth threatened to burn down his school and police were contacted to investigate. During the investigation the youth was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as per provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

WARRANT

CORNWALL, Ontario  Jacques Trottier, 21, of Deux Montagnes, QC, was arrested on April 11, 2017 on the strength of a warrant. It is alleged the man failed to attend court on September 13, 2016 for drug offences and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On April 11, 2017 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody on the strength of the warrant and held for a bail hearing.
The Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Libertarian Party of Tennessee will be hosting the State Libertarian Party Chairman, Tom Arnold, as guest speaker on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Casual Pint, 5550 TN-153 in Hixson.



Mr. Arnold became involved with the Libertarian Party in 2012. He is working toward free and fair ballot access for everyone. He said hopes to have Libertarians on the ballot across Tennessee in the next two years.



"Tom has a heart for young people. He is focused on mentoring the future leaders of the party to redirect the current course of government. His goal is that we could live free from as many governmental constraints as possible.



"Tom was born on the fourth of July and has been a lover of liberty ever since. He is an eighth generation Tennessean and currently lives with an addlepated Sheltie on a 13 acre farm in Jackson county. Tom is a philosopher, poet, political hack, farmer and highway contractor," officials said.



Mr. Arnold said his favorite quote on liberty is from Walt Whitman's Caution: Resist much, obey little; Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved; Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city, of this earth, ever afterward resumes its liberty.


Our Hamilton County government has known of the overcrowding and inhumane conditions at their Hanoi Hilton jail for at least two decades.

A review of County Commission meeting minutes from 2007 to 2016 shows that the sheriff has addressed the jail overcrowding and requested funding for a new jail annually, and always been denied. The Hamilton County Grand Jury closing report has included pages on adverse jail conditions for the same period. Yet, nothing happens to resolve this horrible situation.

Government has a responsibility to abate unlawful conditions when they become aware of them. In this case, Hamilton County has known of pervasive human rights violations at their jail for at least a decade. That is a fact. What is going to take to get Hamilton County to move on a serious pending disaster that is cooking at their jail?

Roy Exum has presented demographic information and data to support this pending disaster.

The majority, yes majority, of inmates at the Hamilton County jail are mentally ill or drug addicted or both. People with mental illness are prone to self-medicate which evolves to addiction. We dont lock up people up with diabetes without treatment. Why are we failing to treat this revolving door of illness with a group with no resources?

Hamilton County does saddle these folks with jail fees of $32 a day for their stay, and adds fees, isnt that special. This ensures that inmates leave the jail with sometimes thousands in debt. People with serious illness, no resources, and government gives them more problems.

The majority, yes majority, of inmates are in jail due to drug related crimes. Each inmate needs to be evaluated for untreated mental illness. To lock people up with illness and no treatment is simply barbaric. I realize some people are determined to self destruct, and not all will be saved.

The number of inmates with mental illness and drug addiction warrants a 24-7 clinical psychologist at the jail. When I inquired about mental health triage, Hamilton County stated that they contracted with a local nonprofit who sends an evaluator out as requested. That is so unacceptable. There needs to be a full time evaluator based upon the jail demographics.

The majority of inmates comprise a revolving door and will return due to crimes associated with mental illness and drug addiction. I believe the sheriff knows this, and our County Commission must not care or they have acted over the last two decades or so.

Looking at the problem from a cost stand point, I am sure it is less costly to fund the barbaric revolving door of the mentally ill and drug addicted coming through the door, instead of treatment. Our jail and courts are clogged beyond function, because of this revolving door.

Ask our sheriff what percent of inmates he estimates Hamilton County would have without the drug addicts and mentally ill? He knows, and has asked for funding over and over, only to be denied.

The truth is only small percentages of the population are true criminals and have criminal conduct disorders. The rest have drug addiction and are committing crimes related to their addiction, or have serious mental illness. Take out the drug addicted and mentally ill, and the jail would be ghost town.

Since we are not a barbaric people, the Hamilton County jail must have humane facilities and government guards, not for profit corporations where locals die in custody from untreated drug withdrawal, or unknown causes.

It seems to me that booking triage should include a mental health and drug screening.

The jail should not have 40 plus men in a holding cell sleeping on a concrete floor with one toilet and urinating over men in the floor. I cannot believe our local governments are allowing these conditions, and approving by lack of action.

The county employees are doing all they can with no resources, and that must change before there is a death.

I think the public has to right to hear what the tentative plans are to address this problem.

I heard a county commissioner state that the county is getting out of the jail business by contracting with a corporation that has a very scary track record with inmate deaths.

Like it or not, Hamilton County government must provide incarceration. So please, do a better job, before you get sued for human rights violation. Or perhaps, Hamilton County government does not care, because they are knowingly allowing pervasive human rights violations to occur for decades.

Regardless of their crime, the mentally ill and drug addicted need to be treated humanely.

Hamilton County tell us what the tentative plans are for the jail. The public would like input, where are the public hearings on the jail?

April Eidson

* * *

Thank you for your comments, Ms. Edison,

Unfortunately, they do lock people up without checking their blood sugar or blood pressure or obtaining the medication they need. If the jailed person under physician care for these disorders asks for medical help, they are threatened. Trust me.

Ted Ladd

Ooltewah
Chattanooga Police said a man was shot at, pistol whipped and robbed during an early morning incident April 3 at the Raceway on South Broad Street.

Police said Andre "Scrappy" Porter and Deonta Brooks carried out the 4 a.m. robbery and assault.

An officer said he found Barry Dent at the scene bleeding from the head in several different locations. He also had a crack in the skin in the back of the head from a bullet. There were two large lumps that were bleeding on the back of his head.

Dent said he had texted Brooks about meeting him to buy a nickel bag of marijuana, and they agreed to meet at the gas station.

He said Brooks was wearing a red sweater with lines and white shorts.

Dent said they all were inside the convenience store, then they went outside to smoke. He said he had to defecate and, while his pants were down, the pair held him at gunpoint and demanded his money. He said they threatened to shoot him if he did not comply.

He said Porter hit him with the pistol, then handed it to Brooks.

A shot was fired when he tried to run away, he said.

They took $300 from his wallet as well as his his blue Schwinn bicycle, he stated.

Police were shown video of the three together in the store. Employees said Brooks had formerly worked at the Raceway.

The victim identified Brooks and Porter from photos taken from the video.

Police went to a nearby residence at 2707 Long St. and a female gave consent to search the house. Porter was apprehended as he came down some stairs. Brooks was found hiding in a ceiling crawl space.

Police said the blue Schwinn bicycle was outside the residence, and they saw a red sweater with lines inside.

Officers found a gun similar to the one described by Dent under the living room chair cushion. Police said there were three children under the age of three in the house who had access to the revolver.

Police said Porter openly admitted to being involved in a drug deal and hitting Dent with the gun. He said Brooks was the one who fired the shot as the victim ran away

Police said Porter is a validated member of the Bounty Hunter Blood street gang.
Channel programs News

Analyst: Infosys Could Be ISV Acquisition Target Due To Software Strength, Performance Woes

Michael Novinson

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Independent software vendors (ISVs) might see Infosys an acquisition bargain due to its buildup of software-centric capabilities and execution challenges, according to Technology Business Research (TBR).

The Hampton, N.H. analyst firm said systems integrators like Bangalore, India-based Infosys have become appealing acquisition targets because they've built proprietary software products and adopted key performance indicators (KPIs) around product design and development that aren't usually found in the industry.

"The traditional IT services model is dying, it's eroding, and they need to transform," TBR's Boz Hristov, a senior analyst covering professional services, told CRN. "This year is going to be really critical for Infosys in terms of make-it-or-break-it."

[RELATED: Report: Oracle Conducting Due Diligence For Possible Accenture Acquisition Bid]

At the same time, Hristov said ISVs like Salesforce, SAP and Oracle are making efforts to develop vertical consulting and business integration expertise. SIs will find it easier to develop software capabilities than ISVs will to organically build consulting skills, Hristov said. This is because SIs have for been doing software development for years and already have software engineers on staff, he explained.

Companies like Infosys have been preparing for ISV acquisition bids by developing KPIs, which Hristov said would make the integration process easier. Infosys maintains robust SAP, Oracle and Microsoft practices, according to Hristov, and has made the development of a digitally-versed, software-centric sales force a pinnacle of its strategy.

"While embracing software company-like culture is a disruptive approach to the IT services market  it could be a two-edged sword if Infosys does not reach critical mass," Hristov wrote in a note to clients. "If Infosys does not master these attributes, it risks experiencing the pressures of market consolidation and potentially becoming an acquisition target."

Infosys announced Thursday that sales for its 2017 fiscal year  which ended March 31  climbed above $10 billion for the first time, yet fell well short of projected revenue growth of between 8.6 percent and 9 percent. The company's stock fell $0.78 (5.11%) in trading Thursday to $14.48 and has lost more than 25 percent of its value over the past year.

Some of Infosys's recent investments haven't panned out as expected, with Hristov saying the company's retail and consumer product goods businesses have remained mired at 15 percent of total revenue despite the acquisition of e-commerce platform Skava two years ago.

Infosys didn't respond to requests for comment.

And Hristov wrote that Infosys's revenue growth guidance of 6.1 percent to 8.1 percent for the coming fiscal year would make it tough for the company to hit its goal of $20 billion in revenue by 2020. Continued underperformance would make Infosys's acquisition price more appealing to ISVs, Hristov said, and wouldn't scare many bidders away since the company still possesses engineering and technical talent.

Infosys has a lot of cash on hand, Hristov said but has been shy about deploying a large amount of cash for major acquisitions on the scale of Bangalore, India-based Wipro's $500 million purchase of Salesforce superstar Appirio in October.

However, Hristov said Infosys had invested more heavily in startups, but those have yet to move the needle much. Hristov said Infosys would need to buy a large consultancy that's really strong in specific verticals or geographies to regain the market position it enjoyed five or ten years ago.

Some of Infosys's senior leaders come from the ISV world, Hristov said, most notably CEO Vishal Sikka, who oversaw all products and innovation for enterprise software giant SAP before joining the SI in 2014.
Networking News

Master Agent Avant Adds Cable-Based Services Through New Partnership With Comcast

Gina Narcisi

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Avant, a self-proclaimed born-in-the-cloud master agent, has added cable-based services to its portfolio via a newly minted partnership with Comcast.

The partnership with the cable giant will ensure solution providers have another low cost, high-speed access option to sought-after cloud and SD-WAN services for their end customers, according to Drew Lydecker, Avant's president and co-founder.

"This is a wise move on Avant's part, and it's going to give us the opportunity to add value to their partners and customers. Our network is ideally suited to complete the solution," Craig Schlagbaum, vice president of indirect channels for Comcast Business, told CRN.

[Related: Master Agent Avant Expands SD-WAN Portfolio For Solution Provider Partners ]

Avant is great at helping partners sell more complicated, next-generation deals, according to Schlagbaum. Avant partners can tack cable on as an additional connectivity option for every SD-WAN sale, for example, he said.

"Because we've tried to take the leadership position around SD-WAN, having a partner like Comcast is going to be extremely vital for us," Lydecker said.

Comcast has directly connected itself to three of the major cloud providers, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and, as of Thursday, IBM Cloud. The Philadelphia-based cable company also continues to light up buildings with fiber and is now boasting 2 million lit buildings in the U.S.

Because cable doesn't operate on the same infrastructure that local exchange carriers are using, cable offers much-needed redundancy for cloud environments, Schlagbaum said.

"Customers need both if they are going to go full cloud because if that network goes down, they have no alternative except wireless, which would choke the network."

Avant in March brought in channel veteran Shane McNamara to kick-start its brand-new cable practice. McNamara previously created a successful cable practice while at his last employer, Qology Direct, which included reselling Comcast services. McNamara told CRN that he planned on tapping those relationships once again for Avant.

The Chicago-based master agent plans to unveil partnerships with all the major cable and fiber providers in the U.S., Lydecker said.

Avant Monday also unveiled updates to its sales enablement tool, BattleApp, that partners can use to select, sell and support connectivity and channel-friendly cloud services.

BattleApp 2.1 offers an expanded fiber locating tool and data center functionality locator. The tool now lets partners more easily toggle between "front office" -- the interface partners can show their customers -- and the back-office mode, which includes commissions and billing information.

BattleApp's technology "Matrices" also have been updated to include more at-a-glance information on products and services, such as SD-WAN and cloud, Lydecker said.
Reaching A 10-Year Low

The PC market receded to its lowest level in a decade in the first quarter, shutting out smaller vendors and pitting the industry's largest players  Dell, HP Inc. and Lenovo  against one other in an all-out battle for supremacy in the commercial sector.

The global PC market contracted again in the first quarter as shipments declined 2.4 percent year-over-year to 62.2 million units, according to research firm Gartner Inc. This is the first time the global PC market has seen shipments of less than 63 million units since 2007. The decline was driven by weak demand, as well as price increases in response to memory and SSD shortages.

Gartner expects the consumer PC market to continue to shrink, which means it will be critical for vendors to grow in the commercial PC market. Business customers are the key to growth, and ultimately, survival, Gartner said.

Here are five keys to the Q1 PC market.
VMware's Wavefront Deal Packs A Microservices-DevOps Punch

Ajay Singh, senior vice president and general manager of VMware's Cloud Management Business Unit, told CRN that the company's acquisition of Wavefront provides the virtualization market leader with microservices and DevOps prowess for its Cross-Cloud Services offensive.

Wavefront, named to CRN's 10 Coolest Big Data Startups of 2016, develops a cloud-hosted, real-time analytics platform that monitors and manages cloud applications. It provides monitoring to optimize clouds and modern applications by delivering insight using millions of data points per second in real time. Wavefront, for example, provides intelligent alerts to proactively monitor and manage application performance.

"Wavefront is by far the leader in ingesting and monitoring data," said Singh. "The company can offer millions of metrics per second, or in the industry jargon, PPS, or points per second. That's what some of Wavefront's high-end customers like Workday, Box and British Gas are experiencing."

The Wavefront deal comes just one week after VMware sold its vCloud Air public cloud platform to European hosting giant OVH.

Solution providers said the two recent moves underscore VMware's stepped-up focus on providing hybrid and cross-cloud software and services.

Singh spoke with CRN about the acquisition of Wavefront, the impact on the AWS strategy, and why VMware does not want to be in the public cloud business.
Here is the Fort Oglethorpe arrest report for April 7-13:

04-07-17

Breanna Shay Sample, 35, of 730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville arrested on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and endangering the life of a child while driving under the influence of drugs.



04-08-17

Derek Nathaniel Reed, 28, of 292 Everglades Boulevard, Rossville arrested on charges of outstanding warrant and windshield required.



Amanda Maria Rodriguez, 23, of 146 Sherry Court, Chickamauga arrested for criminal trespass.



Lindy Cara Artman, 32, of 115 Avis Drive, Dalton arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, open container and driving on wrong side of roadway.



04-09-17

Randy Allen Fisher, 51, of 3128 Hamill Road, Hixson arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.



Roger Eugene Foutz, 46, of 708 Park Avenue, Rossville arrested on a charge of giving false name/information to police.



Olajwuon Sherriff Blair, 24, of 2527 Lick Skillet Road, Summerville arrested on charges of driving while license suspended/revoked, possession of marijuana and excess volume from car radio.



Mary Elizabeth Akins, 32, of 1021 Williams Avenue, Ft Payne, AL arrested on charges of driving while unlicensed, failure to yield and outstanding warrant.



Latoya Michelle Mathis, 37, of 3711 Hoyt Street, Chattanooga arrested for theft by shoplifting.



Mark Lewis Rediker, 35, of 4411 NE 167th Place, Citra, Florida arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and failure to obey traffic control device.



Casey Mitchell Faulstick, 21, of 12935 SE 117th Ct, Ocklawaha, FL arrested on an outstanding warrant.



04-10-17

Joshua Shane Humphrey, 27, of 230 Old Osborne Road, Chickamauga arrested on charges of disregard for traffic control device and an outstanding warrant.



Erica Faith Buckner, 27, of 917 Hulana Drive, Rossville arrested on a charge of theft by shoplifting.



Donte Emil McKenzie, 23, of 2413 Northbriar Circle, Chattanooga arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, driving while license suspended/revoked, excessive volume from vehicle radio and operation of an unsafe vehicle.



04-11-17

Sarah Katherine Rose, 32, of 7049 Highway 95, Lafayette arrested for loitering and prowling.



Kevin James Leavitt, 24, of 7114 Tanager Court, Chattanooga arrested on an outstanding warrant.



04-12-17

James Patrick Stevens, 21, of 134 Highland Drive, Rossville arrested on charges of theft by receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling.



Michael Christopher Nunley, 46, of 511 Thomas Avenue, Chickamauga arrested on charges of possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession of marijuana and possession of schedule IV.



Brittany Taylor Hess, 24, of 158 Ferndale Drive, Rossville arrested on charges of theft by receiving stolen property, possession of schedule IV, affixing to misrepresent and loitering and prowling.



Henry Scott Henderson, 46, of 613 Tremont Street, Chattanooga arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and improper U-turn.



John David Burris, 38, of 254 Westside Drive, Rossville arrested on charge of driving while license revoked.



Citation Statistics:



Speeding.5

Entering or crossing roadway1

Driving while license suspended or revoked3

Window tint violation1

Required position & methods of turning at intersections1

Excessive volume from vehicle..2

Failure to signal turn or lane change..1

Possession of marijuana.1

Possession of controlled substances.1

Following too closely.3

License required.2

Vehicles to drive on right side of roadway..1

Failure to obey traffic control devices.5

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.4

Driving unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle.1

Suspended registration.1

Seat belt violations..2

Operation of vehicle without current plate.3

Possession of open container of alcoholic beverage while operating vehicle..1

Failure to obey stop signs and/or yield signs..1

Proof of insurance required.2

Vehicle turning left..1






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No action has been taken against pimps, punters or brothel owners in Croydon in the past three years.

There would appear to be either no issue with prostitution in the borough, or limited enforcement by police.

At the last count there were an estimated 32,000 prostitutes operating in London alone, according to official government statistics.

These were thought to have around 25 clients each per week. This can be on the street, on call, or in a brothel as part of a tough lifestyle "far from the Pretty Woman image".

Figures obtained by the Advertiser through an FOI (Freedom of Information) request show, however, that since the start of 2015 police have only taken action against prostitution offenders 106 times in the whole of London.

Across the capital only 18 of the 32 boroughs recorded any charges or summonses where individuals were accused of committing crimes related to prostitution.

This means that almost half the boroughs in London saw no criminal action taken against anyone seeking sexual services, keeping brothels, controlling prostitutes or trafficking sex workers.

In Croydon, and 13 other London boroughs, there has not been a single prostitution prosecution of any kind in the past three years.

Authorities are encouraged to help those working in the sex trade escape exploitation. Police guidelines urge officers to direct sex workers to support services, while also "disrupting criminal behaviour".

There seems to have been little disruption of criminal behaviour, though, with only 40 offences recorded across London in 2015, 58 in 2016 and eight so far in 2017.

According to charities offering support to sex workers, the methods of prostitution have changed with technology.

Many women are contactable online, and fixed red-light districts are rare. The trade is also now heavily intertwined with human trafficking.

Those involved in the trade are often exploited and abused according to Mark Wakeling of support group Beyond the Streets.

He said: "These women are living lives far from the Pretty Woman image.

"The majority are from backgrounds of abuse and exploitation that simply carries on into later life.

"I know one woman who thought it was a great compliment when she was first paid for sex, because before then it had just been taken from her."

Women may be controlled by traffickers or pimps, be held in brothels or work on the streets.

The table below shows the limited number of boroughs where action has been taken and for what:

Borough Offence Charges in 2015 Charges in 2016 Charges in 2017 Total Barnet Keeping a brothel used for prositution 1 0 0 1 Brent Keeping a brothel used for prositution 0 1 0 1 Keeping a brothel 1 0 0 1 Camden Controlling a prostitute for gain 1 0 0 1 Ealing Keeping a brothel used for prositution 0 1 0 1 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 1 1 0 2 Enfield Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 2 3 0 5 Greenwich Keeping a brothel used for prositution 1 0 0 1 Controlling a prostitute for gain 0 3 0 3 Hackney Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 1 6 0 7 Haringey Keeping a brothel used for prositution 2 1 0 3 Hounslow Keeping a brothel used for prositution 3 1 6 10 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 0 4 0 4 Islington Controlling a prostitute for gain 0 0 1 1 Kensington and Chelsea Keeping a brothel 1 0 0 1 Lambeth Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 5 11 0 16 Newham Controlling a prostitute for gain 0 4 0 4 Keeping a brothel used for prositution 0 1 0 1 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 0 5 0 5 Redbridge Controlling a prostitute for gain 0 0 1 1 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 16 8 0 24 Southwark Controlling a prostitute for gain 0 1 0 1 Tower Hamlets Keeping a brothel used for prositution 2 0 0 2 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 1 0 0 1 Waltham Forest Keeping a brothel used for prositution 1 0 0 1 Soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their services as a prostitute in a street or public place 0 1 0 1 Westminster Controlling a prostitute for gain 1 6 0 7 40 58 8 106

The business is in the words of police "market driven" and remains lucrative for criminals who exploit sex workers.

Prosecution is sought for those who seek to exploit them, but the prostitutes themselves are now better understood as victims of the trade.

There are therefore few prosecutions against prostitutes  but, in London, there also appears to be little action against those exploiting prostitution.

Mr Wakeling said: "There has been a shift away from seeing prostitutes as a nuisance, and away from punishing them.

"Instead there has been a move to trying to understand how these women end up in in the sex trade and being exploited.

"At the same time, and this isn't definite fact just a thought, we don't have the legislative framework and the law might not be clear for police, and there is a big difference in attitudes and how things are enforced from place to place.

"There may be a lack of clarity.

"There may also be issues with resources, which you see with other services. As attitudes change it might not be a priority to investigate prostitution.

"There should be more responsibility from central government for these lives.

"The main thing is to help them achieve their dreams."

Croydon Community Against Human Trafficking (CCAT) works to identify victims of trafficking, who are often engaged in sex work.

Despite the lack of charges relating to prostitution, the group has estimated that hundreds of people could be engaged in this work across Croydon.

Help with exiting the trade can be found at beyondthestreets.org.uk

* What are your experiences of prostitution in Croydon? Call 01737 305571 of email craig.simpson@essnmedia.co.uk
Chatbots have everybody talking  both about chatbots and to chatbots. Whats sometimes lost in the conversation, however, is much acknowledgement of the security risks this beguiling interface technology can introduce.

Broadly speaking, chatbots allow people to engage conversationally with messaging and other applications. The sophistication of the chatbots can range from rudimentary to I-cant-believeits-not-a-person levels of engagement. Millions of people already routinely use chatbots with Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Apple and Amazon, and dozens of smaller players and platforms are pouring into the chatbot market.

Even casual users sometimes have qualms about the amount of personal information they share with these conversational platforms. If your Facebook or Microsoft chatbot knows not just about your links and preferences, but also your calendar schedule and your minute-byminute location, its reasonable to wonder whether your privacy may be compromised. That compromise could come intentionally via the chatbot owners exploitation of your personal information for marketing or other uses, or maliciously if hackers break into the chatbot database or message stream.

For enterprises, as well as individuals, poorly secured chatbots can also put everything from credit card numbers to intellectual property at risk. Individual users will often provide their card numbers to chatbots so they can automatically order and pay for items. For their part, company employees interacting with a chatbot may unthinkingly provide sensitive corporate information that theyd normally be hesitant to enter in a less personable application. Indeed, criminals are designing malicious chatbots specifically to trick employees into doing just this.

Sound security

As with all cybersecurity issues, the first defense against chatbot risks is education. You need to teach your employees to exert caution and commonsense when interacting with these applications, be they consumer-focused or business bots. Another standard element of defense also holds true: Survey your employee base to learn which chatbots your workers are using in their professional lives so you can intelligently evaluate your risk.

Ideally, any chatbots your employees use will support encrypted communications and data, either optionally or  best yet  by default. You should also do your best to determine where data provided to a chatbot is stored, how long it is stored and who has (legitimate) access to it.

Similarly to evaluating a cloud services provider, you should also perform due diligence in assessing the security controls and practices employed by the chatbot operator. Not surprisingly, chatbot-specific security standards and policies are even less mature than the chatbot technology itself. Still, you should press chatbot operators for whatever security information they can provide, and blacklist any services that fail to meet your corporate requirements.

Given that a huge amount of chatbot access and communications is smartphone based, its also important to understand the security controls provided by your mobile operator(s). Although chatbots and chatbot traffic introduce a new target for cyberattacks, many existing network controls have a role to play in protecting this proliferating technology. Better to talk to your mobile operators now about your chatbot security concerns and needs, rather than have others chatting about your data exposure sometime in the future.

Dwight Davis has reported on and analyzed computer and communications industry trends, technologies and strategies for more than 35 years. All opinions expressed are his own. AT&T has sponsored this blog post.
The 19th annual Chair-ries Jubilee, themed Go Green in 17, will raise money for arts in education on Friday, April 21, at the Museum Center at 5ive Points, beginning with a silent auction and social hour at 6 p.m.



Chair-ries Jubilee is a project of the Allied Arts Council of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and is but one way the council serves as an arts education advocate and a means for promoting local artists.



Each year we invite the support of corporate sponsors and individuals who want to assist in bringing arts-related programs to area schools and in promoting arts education, Nancy Casson, event chairman, said. Sponsorships have allowed us to showcase the artwork of a variety of talented artists throughout our community while raising nearly $430,000 since the first Chair-ries Jubilee 19 years ago.



Ms. Casson continued, Each year we put the money raised right back into our school arts programspublic and privatethrough teacher grants and visiting artists. We deeply appreciate the generous sponsorship support we have received this year. We encourage you to thank them for their interest in the arts and to support them with your business.



Platinum sponsors for this years event are Industrial Services of Cleveland, Inman Street Climate Controlled Storage, and Stanberry & Stanberry, DDS.



Business sponsors for this years event include the following: ABCOR Packaging; Advantage Resourcing; American Portables; Andrew Johnson Bank; Associates in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Assured Alarms Inc.; Athens Federal Community Bank; Award Realty; AXA Advisors LLCKevin C. Moore, CLU, RICP, AEP; Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon Inc.; Baskin Robbins; Bender Realty; Black Fox Farms; Boundless Moving & Storage LLC; and Bradley Rentals Inc.



Other business sponsors include Brookes Edge Apartments c/o Shumate Development Corporation Inc.; Bullins Construction; BW James Jewelers; Caldwell Paving; Capital Tire Service; Carroll & Greene Co.; Cate Brothers Development; Cathy Boettner, Business Strategist; Chattanooga Allergy Clinic; Check Into Cash; Church of God International Offices; Cindy Chase/Crye-Leike Realtors; Cleveland Abstract & Title Insurance Co. Inc.; Cleveland Boat Center; Cleveland City Ballet/Bang-A-Rang Productions; Cleveland Custom Pallets; and Cleveland Daily Banner.



Also sponsoring the auction are Cleveland Plywood Co.; Cleveland State Community College; Cleveland Tire Center; Cleveland Utilities; Coldwell Banker Hamilton & Associates LLC; Crawfords Pharmacy; Dennis Anderson Shelter Insurance; Dockins Graphics Inc.; Don Ledford Automotive CenterChevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac; Easy Auto; Elders Ace Hardware of Cleveland; Eric L. Evans State Farm Insurance; Eyecare Associates of Cleveland; First Tennessee; Flowers Bakery of Cleveland LLC; Four Seasons Lawn Care & Property Maintenance; Gibco Construction LLC; Gobbles Automotive; Gray Epperson Automotive; Greg Calfee Builders LLC; and Gwen Ellis Real Estate Appraisal.



The business sponsor list continues with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland; Hardees/J&S Restaurants Inc.; Harting, Bishop & Arrendale PLLC, CPAs; Haskell Interiors; Health Services Management Group LLC; Hospice of Chattanooga; Hughes Retirement Group; Igou Graphics; Insurance Incorporated; Isbill Floral Gallery; Jerry Hoffer, Attorney at Law; Jim Rush Funeral Home; Key Advertising Inc.; Larry Hill Ford; Lee University; Legacy Village of Cleveland; Life Care Centers of America; and LifeCircle Womens Healthercare.



Additional sponsors include MacPC Market; Manufacturers Chemicals LLC; May & May Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry; McMurray Law Office PLLC; Modern Way Printing Co. Inc.; MurMaid Mattress Inc.; Neely Printing Co.; Ocoee Insurance Services; Ocoee OB/GYN Center for Womens Health; Olin Corporation; Pediatric Dentistry of Cleveland & Ooltewah; Pinnacle Financial Partners; Platinum Financial Funding LLC; Pryor Orthodontics; Ralph Buckner Funeral Home & Crematory; RE/MAX Experience; Regions Bank; Resolute Forest Products; and Rodgers Group.



Rounding out the list of business sponsors are Santek Waste Services Inc.; SmartBank; SouthEast Bank & Trust; Southern Heritage Bank; Southern Style Home Builders LLC; State Senator Mike Bell; Surfs Up Car Wash; Tennessee Valley Urology Center PC; Tennova HealthcareCleveland; The Red Ribbon; Volunteer Rid-A-Pest; Voytik Center for Orthopedic Care; Waterhouse Public Relations; Whirlpool Corporation, Cleveland Division; Wright Brothers Construction Company Inc.; and WTNB-TV.



Couples sponsoring the event include the following: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Banks, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper J. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Y. McCoin Jr., Dr. and Mrs. William Reynolds, Margaret and David Schenk, and Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Wright.



Friends of Chair-ries Jubilee include Bowater Employees Credit Union and Coldwell Banker Hamilton & Associates.



Tickets, available at the Chamber of Commerce or The Red Ribbon, are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
BRIDGEPORT - A Chicago resident, who claimed he was on his way to visit his sister in Hartford, will be spending the next 12 years in the state.

Police said Jose Adorno was in fact a courier of large amounts of heroin - in this case nearly 28 pounds.
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HARTFORD  In a roomful of supporters and agency heads, tears broke the governors businesslike facade.

Dannel P. Malloy said his rejection of a third term, a decision he announced Thursday afternoon, frees him from partisan politics so he can better steer the sharply divided General Assembly through its current budget crisis.

In January 2019, Malloy will begin the next act of a life that began as a dyslectic child in Stamford, led to law school, a stint as a criminal prosecutor, mayor of his hometown and nearly seven years in the Governors Residence.

Im overwhelmed at how happy I am, Malloy said, flanked by his wife, Cathy, eldest son Dannel and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, as he made a brief statement, then answered questions from reporters.

Malloy said that he first thought of leaving last August, then again in September and finally a couple of times over the last few weeks.

I look forward to the next 20 months and then I look forward to the next 20 years, he said.

Much left to take on

Malloy said the three-day holiday weekend would allow for some general decompression before he heads back to work Monday on state budget negotiations.

More Information Dannel P. Malloy career timeline xxxPlease explain a littile more here to fill in some space and add some flavor xxx NOVEMBER 1995 - Dannel P. Malloy, a former New York City prosecutor, wins the Stamford mayor's seat. SEPTEMBER 2006 - A 14-year mayor of Stamford, Malloy loses the Democratic gubernatorial primary to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., who then gets crushed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in the general election. NOVEMBER 2010 - Malloy wins the gubernatorial election over Greenwich millionaire Tom Foley by 6,404 votes, days after bags of Bridgeport votes are finally counted after local polling officials failed to order enough ballots. JANUARY 2011 - Malloy takes the oath to become the state's 88th governor, the first Democrat since Gov. William A. O'Neill left office 20 years earlier. JULY 2011 - After a months-long negotiation and two controversial votes by unionized state employees, Malloy finally persuades them to accept major changes to contractual health and retirement benefits. Earlier in the year, he and Democratic state lawmakers approve the largest tax hike in state history. APRIL 2012 - Malloy signs law repealing the death penalty. DECEMBER 2012 - Minutes after a lone gunman murders 20 first-graders and six adults in Sandy Hook Elementary School, Malloy arrives on the scene in Newtown. Hours later, when public safety workers are slow with information, he tells anxious families that their children and loved ones are dead. APRIL 2013 - Malloy signs new laws prohibiting the sale of military-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines, making Connecticut's gun laws among the toughest in the nation. NOVEMBER 2014 - In a rematch of their 2010 campaign, Malloy wins re-election over Foley by 28,000 votes. JUNE 2015 - Despite a campaign pledge against raising taxes, he officiates over a two-year, $1.3 billion hike in taxes. NOVEMBER 2015 - After then-Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana rebuffs a family of Syrian refugees, Malloy, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, welcomes them to New Haven. Six months later, Malloy receives the 2016 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, which cites his acceptance of immigrants. APRIL 2016 - In response to discriminatory legislation over LGBT rights, Malloy who occasional displays the gay-feriendly rainbow flag in front of the Governor's Residence, orders a state employee travel ban to North Carolina. JUNE 2016 - Quinnipiac University Poll finds Malloy with a 24 percent popularity rating. FEBRUARY 2017 - Malloy offers a budget with a major shift in the way public schools are funded, earning the emnity of Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike as the General Assembly grapples with a $1.7 billion deficit projected for the fiscal year beginning July 1. See More Collapse

Listen, Im going to be governor until January of 2019, and every single day I expect that myself and my staff will be working very hard to continue the process of finishing the work that we began literally on the first day I was sworn in, Malloy said. I think weve done a damn good job, quite frankly and that was why we were re-elected.

With low popularity ratings, a $1.7 billion budget deficit and recent GOP gains in the Legislature, it was less likely that Malloy, the first Democratic governor since 1991, could hold on for another four years.

He said he doesnt expect to change tactics during his remaining time in office, even amid bipartisan criticism of his proposal to drastically change the way public schools are funded in the state, shifting the burden to wealthier towns and forcing all communities to pay for a share of their teacher retirements.

We will not push off debt that should be responsibly paid now, Malloy said. And we will not borrow to save ourselves from difficult but necessary reductions in spending.

Challenging times

Asked about talks with unions on benefit concessions, Malloy sighed audibly, then indicated he is prepared to follow through on layoffs of as many as 4,200 state workers.

The engineer of the two largest tax hikes in state history, Malloy has also made a national reputation for promoting gun safety after the December 2012 school massacre in Newtown. he also welcomed refugees to the state, a position for which he won the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2016.

Crime has dropped sharply during Malloys tenure, and prison populations have reached record lows.

Throughout our work, we have tried to play the long game for Connecticut, Malloy said, fighting back tears. Not doing what is politically expedient, but rather what we believe in is in the best interests of the state that we all love and the people of Connecticut that I serve. We must continue to focus on the long game.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said he expects no change in the governors style.

Dan Malloy has worked very hard for the state of Connecticut, Duff said. Nobody has worked harder for really long-term benefits, even in the face of making decisions that arent always popular. I know Connecticut will be better off, long-term, for his hard work and for his vision.

Malloys departure from the potential field of party candidates for governor creates openings for Comptroller Kevin Lembo or others, including Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, whom the governor described as the best lieutenant governor in the United States.

But potential Democratic successors will be hard-pressed to emulate Malloys proven tenacity on the campaign trail, or his frenetic daily schedule, let alone a fundraising target of $250,000 to enter the states public-financing program.

Im sure I will continue to play a role in politics in Connecticut for not just the next 20 months, but for years beyond that, Malloy said.

Governor Malloy assumed the office during some of the most challenging times in our states history, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven. His work on the 2011 bipartisan jobs legislation and embrace of raising the minimum wage and creating a state earned income tax credit has enabled countless families to find a job and improve their lives. The Governors leadership in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy  one of the darkest days and periods in our nations history  will be long remembered for the strength and comfort he brought to the afflicted families and to the entire state.

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said that he and the governor dont always agree, but he appreciates Malloys effort and sincerity.

Governor Malloy has led our state during some of its most difficult times and enormous economic challenges, Fasano said in a statement. He has governed when our communities had to rebuild following devastating storms and when we all had to heal following unspeakable tragedy.

kdixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT
10/31/2022

I could just scream! Have you ever thought that  or even said it aloud? With this being the day for the annual Halloween observance, screaming seems to be the order of the day. Ghosts, goblins, ... more
After qualifying six national qualifiers for the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference competition last year, Georgia Northwestern Technical College raised the bar for 2017. After the state PBL competition wrapped up in Atlanta this past weekend, the Bobcats would find themselves planning 11 trips to nationals in Anaheim, Ca. June 24-27.

GNTC would take home 19 state awards for their business skill knowledge and career-related performances in Atlanta. Competitions against the best in the state tested the understanding of career paths which included everything from Accounting to Website Design.

All entries at the state competition which placed first or second in performance events, as well as all entries which placed first, second, or third in written events, qualified for competition at the NLC event in California this summer.

Bobcats qualifying from GNTCs team for the West Coast trip are Corey Carlile of Aragon, Ga. in Small Business Management Plan (1st); Nicholas Post of LaFayette, Cage Gary of Ringgold, and Brett Notabartolo of Trion, Ga. in Management Analysis and Decision-Making Team Event (1st); Gary and Notabartolo in Marketing Analysis and Decision-Making (1st); Ronal Bueso of Dalton and Jonathan Herrera of Dalton in Business Sustainability Team Event (1st); Miguel Ramirez of Rome, Ga. in Management Concepts (1st); Allie Long of Ringgold in Organizational Leadership (2nd); Selena Spivey of Dalton in Computer Animation (2nd); Elisabeth Harp of Calhoun and Amanda Teeters of Chickamauga for Desktop Publishing Team Event (2nd); and Harp in Networking Concepts (3rd).

Harp and Carlile are making a repeat appearance on the national stage. Both qualified to compete at the national competition in 2016. Ms. Harp placed ninth in the nation in Computer Concepts. Three years ago, Daltons Mario Trejo from GNTC took home the nations top spot in the Justice Administration category.

Other categories GNTC placed in at the State PBL Competition were; Hospitality Management Team Event (3rd) by Melisa Fajardo of Dalton and Bueso; Business Communications (3rd) by Ramirez; Help Desk (3rd) by Fajardo; Future Business Executive (4th) by Jalen Hamilton of Rome, Ga.; Computer Concepts (4th) by Teeters; Statistical Analysis (4th) by Long; Accounting For Professionals (5th) and Accounting Principles (5th) by Cynthia Kirk of Rockmart, Ga.; Sales Presentation (5th) by Corey, and Management Concepts (5th) by Meagan Casker of Calhoun.

We had a solid team in Atlanta, said GNTC PBL Advisor Dione Waddington. Almost doubling our number of national qualifiers from last year just proves how much this group has grown. We could see multiple winners at nationals. Also participating from GNTC at the state PBL event were Demonte Parker, Darius Fugh, Sprite Dyer, Bryan Tapia, Jennifer Sandoval, and Brandy LeVan.

PBL, along with the Future Business Leaders of America, is the largest and oldest student business organization in the nation. Students will participate in more than 55 business and business-related competitive events at the NLC. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the professional skills organizations.

For more information on Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges Phi Beta Lambda professional skills association, you can call the college at 866-983-4682.
Lee Universitys all-female choir Ladies of Lee performed at Tennessee Music Education Associations annual conference held in Nashville at the Opryland Hotel.

We were so excited to represent Lee and our School of Music at the TMEA state conference this year, said Dr. Jonathon Rodgers, director of Ladies of Lee. It's an honor to have been selected through a blind-audition format. This is the first time the choir has been selected to perform at an event like this.

Ladies presented a concert Friday morning performing in multiple languages including English, Estonian, Hebrew, and Latin. The program featured several works arranged by Lee faculty, as well as music from the Renaissance period.

We recently presented this program on campus at our annual spring concert, and the reports were wonderfully positive and enthusiastic, said Dr. Rodgers. The ladies looked forward to sharing this music that has received so much of their time, effort, and attention over the past several months.

According to Dr. Rodgers, the choir received two standing ovations at the TMEA conference, one during the middle of the performance and another at the end.

Ladies of Lee tours throughout the United States under the direction of Dr. Rodgers and recently went to India to serve and perform.

The TMEA was formed in 1945 as a non-profit organization representing all phases of music education at all school levels and aims to promote the advancement of high quality music education for all.

For more information about TMEA, visit http://www.tnmea.org/about.html. For more information about Ladies of Lee, contact Rodgers at jrodgers@leeuniversity.edu or the School of Music at 614-8240.


Legislation which revises Tennessee law to broaden the rights of Tennesseans to use their cell phones at the polling place passed the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 30-0. Senate Bill 517, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), regulates voting without infringing on a citizens First Amendment rights.

The bill stems from the 2016 presidential election when famous Tennessean Justin Timberlake took a selfie at a polling place in Germantown, Tn. The photo became national and international news due to the controversy surrounding Tennessees law prohibiting such action.

Sometimes citizens are waiting in long lines in hallways before they even reach the room with the voting machines, said Senator Kelsey. We need to allow folks to call home about the grocery list while they are waiting.

The legislation allows certain exceptions prohibiting the use of cell phones by election officials or commissioners, which mostly pertain to acts of harassment. It also ensures that a recording of a marked ballot, including selfies, would be prohibited only if it had been recorded in an effort to commit voter intimidation, voter fraud, or the sale of a vote.

This law helps us to continue to conduct our elections with integrity and reliability, as the ban on cell phone use is a narrowly tailored restriction to achieve that interest, added Senator Kelsey. At the same time, it employs common sense so that we dont infringe on our citizens First Amendment rights.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is scheduled for a vote in the Local Government Committee on Tuesday.
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.
Window Cliffs State Natural Area Opens to the Public

On Friday, April 7, a team joined nearly 100 visitors at Window Cliffs State Natural Area, within Burgess Falls State Park, to celebrate the newest addition to Tennessees 85 State Natural Areas. The Land Trust for Tennessee is honored to have worked with the State of Tennessee to protect this area of the upper Cumberland highlands.



Join a Big Payback Adventure

Wednesday, May 3 , The Land Trust for Tennessee will take part in The Big Payback, a 24-hour online giving event hosted by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. On, The Land Trust for Tennessee will take part in The Big Payback, a 24-hour online giving event hosted by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.





This Earth Day, celebrate the blooming of spring at The Land Trust for Tennessees Glen Leven Farm, a historic 65-acre oasis located four miles from downtown Nashville. Plant a Tennessee wildflower, sample raw honey from the Glen Leven Farm Honey Bee Sanctuary and more. V iew more event details here.
Janice Hill began the search for a program for her autistic son, Joseph Hill, during his junior year of high school. She decided on the TigerLIFE program at the University of Memphis because of its proximity to her home and because she and her daughter had both attended the U of M. She soon discovered that TigerLIFE would dramatically change her sons life.

Hes more outgoing  hes more confident, she said. He is more independent. He exercises every day.

Started in December 2011, TigerLIFE is a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities designed to transition them from high school to the workforce.

After Joseph started TigerLIFE in the fall of 2016, his mother said he began to look to the future and set goals for himself.

He told me, Momma, I want to go to school, even if I dont get but a two-year degree in something, she said. He was telling me, This summer I may go try to find a job at Kroger  something he has never said before.

Moe Williams, associate director of the University of Memphis Institute on Disability and founder of the TigerLIFE program, developed the program as part of his Masters thesis. Williams was working at the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau as the director of education programs while working on his Masters degree.

I was running a summer employment workshop, and they wouldnt allow students with disabilities in the workshop, Williams said. I couldnt understand that.

Williams was told those students with special needs were not ready to go to work.

Well, so are most young people, Williams said. They were like, These programs are not for those types of students.

After hearing that, Williams began researching education programs for students with special needs. He discovered there were already places for special needs people to receive postsecondary education training, but most of them were at universities and came with a high price tag to the student.

Someone impoverished cannot afford a program that costs them $50,000 a year, Williams said. Even for middle-class families, $50,000 a year is hard to handle.

Williams decided a program needed to be offered at the U of M.

Were the place where everybody is equal, Williams said. (Students) can get funding  they can go to school and become somebody.

With the help of colleague Chrisann Schiro-Geist, Williams developed a pilot program he pitched to Shelby County Schools. After that program was up and running, he began research for what became the TigerLIFE program. After the program started, he set out to get funding so the special-needs students could attend.

I started beating the pavement and tried to convince everybody they should be supporting this program, Williams said.

Williams and the late Lois DeBerry, former speaker pro tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives, worked together and successfully convinced Gov. Bill Haslam to give scholarships to students with special needs. Haslam enacted the STEP UP Scholarship, a program designed to assist students with intellectual disabilities enroll in an individualized program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution. It mirrors the HOPE Scholarship in how much money students receive.

After high school graduation, many special needs students dont get jobs, said Gianna Gray, a graduate student pursuing her masters degree in special education. Many go back home or go to a mental institution, which are not the best things for them, she said.

Since the TigerLIFE program started, the employment placement rate of their graduates is 79 percent. For Janice Hill, a chance at future employment for her son is only one of the benefits of TigerLIFE.

Hes just more outgoing, and hes happy, she said. Before, when he was going to high school, he was very unhappy. He really didnt even want to go to school, but now he looks forward to going to school every day.

Moe Williams founded TigerLIFE as part of his master's thesis.
The Salvation Army will celebrate Easter with its traditional Easter Sunrise Service at the National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave. beside the flag pole overlooking downtown Chattanooga.

For over four decades, The Salvation Army has partnered with the Chattanooga National Cemetery for the Easter Sunrise Service. All are invited to worship at 7:08 a.m. as the sun rises over Chattanooga.



The service will begin with Mr. Scott Maclellan playing bag pipes. Additional music will be provided by the internationally acclaimed Jericho Brass band. The guest speaker, Salvation Army Chattanooga Area Commander Major Robert Lyle, will deliver the message.



The Salvation Army is expecting an attendance of more than 300. Arrive early for available chairs. The service will be held rain or shine.



For more information on The Salvation Army or this sunrise service, contact Kimberly George at 423-308-7715 or email to Kimberly_George@uss.salvationarmy.org.
The novelist Julian Barnes has written such a piece for the London Review Of Books about Britain as it heads for Brexit

Sometimes one reads an article in which everything is illuminated  all ones suspicions, anxieties and fears. A light is cast on previously shadowy waters.

The novelist Julian Barnes has written such a piece for the London Review Of Books about Britain as it heads for Brexit. Though not a widely read publication, it is influential among the generally Left-leaning literary classes.

Barnes, it should be said, is the celebrated author of many novels. His 2011 work The Sense Of An Ending, which won the prestigious Man Booker Prize for fiction, has been made into a film that opens tomorrow.

This is perhaps why  aware of the value of publicity  he has chosen this moment to grace the London Review Of Books with a diatribe that demonstrates the lack of proportionality, and the hysteria and hatred, evinced by the most extreme Remainers.

And also, most spectacularly, the piece reveals a susceptibility to what has recently become known as fake news  but used to be called getting your facts wrong, or even telling a lie.

In the course of a sideswipe against the Mail  seemingly regarded by some Remainers as being single-handedly responsible for the Brexit vote last June  he makes an utterly false accusation.

Referring to the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox a week before the referendum, Barnes claims the Mail gave its readers 30 pages of more important news and comment before deigning to report Jo Coxs murder.

His insinuation is that this paper wished to downplay the murder of the pro-Remain Jo Cox by a deranged fascist. Ive no doubt that, coming as it does from such an illustrious source, it is being repeated over a thousand fashionable dinner tables, and accepted as gospel truth.

But its not true. On June 17, 2016, the whole of the front page of the Mail was devoted to Jo Coxs tragic murder. So were pages four, five, six and seven. The voluminous coverage was extremely sympathetic, even anguished.

So the eminent Julian Barnes has himself been guilty of disseminating fake news. The irony is that his incorrect charge should come after he has accused Brexiteers in the same article of purveying multiple lies.

Boris Johnson gets it in the neck over comments he made when explaining why EU countries would be foolish not to make trade deals with a post-Brexit Britain. Barnes criticises Johnsons claim that Italy exports 300 million litres of prosecco a year to the UK, maintaining that the true figure is only 45 million.

Actually, one apparently authoritative retail website asserts it is 77 million litres, but lets accept that Boris made a mistake, though it is surely true that the Italian prosecco industry will do whatever it can to ensure tariffs are not applied to its exports to Britain.

My suggestion is simply that Boriss error pales into insignificance compared to Barness downright falsehood. I dont accuse him of a deliberate lie. Much more likely, this was laziness born of prejudice.

British author Julian Barnes poses after winning the 2011 Man Booker Prize for Fiction with his book' The Sense of an Ending' at the Guildhall in London

As a writer who started out in journalism, Barnes certainly ought to know that it is inconceivable that any national newspaper would virtually ignore the murder of an MP.

His article contains other illuminating nonsense. Having listed alleged eruptions of racism unleashed by the Brexiteers (the wall-daubings, the increase in racial abuse, the throwing of s**t at foreign women), he makes the extraordinary disclosure that as a largish white man he feels abashed when receiving nervous glances on pavements from smaller, less white women.

May I suggest that, far from thinking that they are about to be assaulted by a hefty pro-Brexit 70-something thug, these women are throwing anxious glances in the direction of a plainly troubled man who provokes their sympathy?

On occasion, the novelist strays from fantasy into a kind of hate-filled negativity that ultra-Remainers who are politicians (e.g. Nick Clegg and Peter Mandelson) usually try to conceal. Barnes doesnt.

He says he hopes  his word  that leading Brexiteers will be well punished by EU negotiators, that Europe will make us stump up all we owe, that a hard Brexit will ensue, that the European Union will make us wait as long as Canada had to wait for a trade deal.

Barnes also hopes that all those who voted to quit the EU will discover that the bright new future without all those Poles and Romanians and Bulgarians means that they will now have to pick strawberries, grade potatoes and care for the demented. . . [and their wages] wont be any higher.

Boris Johnson gets it in the neck over comments he made when explaining why EU countries would be foolish not to make trade deals with a post-Brexit Britain

Here is a leading novelist who wants his fellow countrymen to suffer for having had the impertinence to vote for Brexit, and hopes that his country will be punished by Europe (which in his mind is indistinguishable from the EU). Do we call that plain nastiness, or does it bear the name of treachery?

Let me say that I have some grieving Remainer friends with whose concerns and worries I sympathise, though I do my best to allay them. But with the kind of unhinged and sometimes fact-free hatred shown by Julian Barnes, my only response is despair and disbelief.

It wouldnt matter if he were a fool in a pub, but he is a feted writer, one of the most influential in Britain. Behind him are legions of less prominent intellectuals who will go on talking about Brexit as though it is the end of civilisation, while doubtless telling their friends the Mail barely covered the murder of Jo Cox.

Can we ever restore a measure of reason and proportionality to political debate in Britain, and, for that matter, America? Across the Atlantic, the revered and lofty New York Times has just published a mammoth article which suggests (without, of course, producing any hard facts) that London post-Brexit will no longer be a successful international city.

Though much less convulsed with loathing than Julian Barness tirade, a piece by the reporter Sarah Lyall betrays the same sense of determination that everything will turn out badly. A succession of unhappy Remainers are encouraged to air their fears.

Needless to say, neither Barnes nor Lyall mentions that the apocalyptic warnings of Remainers during the referendum campaign  and Id argue that many of those were plain lies  have not so far come to pass, and they do not address the possibility that their own intimations of doom may be even partly misguided.

Both writers apparently live in a kind of intellectual bubble or echo chamber, talking to like-minded people, and not bothering to engage rationally with those with whom they disagree. In Julian Barness case  so dissociated is he from the world around him  he actually imagines fears in non-white women passing in the street.

Surely the lesson of the referendum was that of the failure of the Remainers to understand and judge the public mood. I will spare Sarah Lyall, since she is an American, though she tells us that she lived in London for more than 15 years until returning home in 2013.

But Barnes, being British, is different. In common with so many of his kind, he does not like much of his country or many of his countrymen.

He and his ilk often portray those who voted to leave the EU as insular. Reading his venomous piece  its casual inaccuracies, its narrow prejudices, its rancour  that is the very word I would use to describe Julian Barnes.
Gone are the days of the humble hot cross bun and the modest chocolate egg.

Instead, Australian cafes are going all out this Easter to ensure their customers have access to the most elaborate, creative and non-traditional treats imaginable.

Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the stand-out creations on offer this year and where you can get your hands on them before Sunday.

Instead, Australian cafes are going all out this Easter to ensure their customers have access to the most elaborate, creative and non-traditional treats imaginable

BUNNY SHAKES

A number of cafes in Sydney are offering their customers eye-popping shakes this Easter, served in none other than chocolate bunnies.

XS Espresso in Wetherill Park, New South Wales, have shared snaps of their mouthwatering chocolate milkshake creations served in Crunchie Bunnies topped with Drumstick ice creams and clumps of fairy floss.

Staff at Bondi foodie hub Milky Lane are also serving bunny thickshakes - each of them served in Dream bunnies and topped with whipped cream and cherries.

In a delectable twist, the Muharam Cafe in Melbourne has swapped shakes for hot chocolates and is serving marshmallow and chocolate egg-stuffed variations to their customers this Easter.

While they haven't served their shakes in bunnies, the Vogue Cafe at Macquarie has a special Easter shake too, topped with a large chocolate egg and a mini chick.

XS Espresso in Wetherill Park have shared snaps of their mouthwatering chocolate milkshake creations (left) and Milky Lane are serving bunny thickshakes in Dream bunnies (right)

Vogue Cafe has a special Easter shake (left) too, topped with a large chocolate egg and a mini chick and Muharam Cafe has swapped shakes for hot chocolates (right)

HOT CROSS BUNS WITH A TWIST

If there's one thing Australian cafes have mastered, it's taking something simple and transforming it into something wonderful and wacky.

And this is exactly what many have done with the beloved hot cross bun.

Gelatissimo is offering a Gelato Easter Bun this year - a warm toasted bun filled with a scoop of gooey, sweet gelato.

Sydney company Kayter Co's Hot Cross Yums are also a standout this year, with the delicious buns offered in an array of heavenly flavour combinations.

These include buns flavoured and loaded with Creme Eggs, Nutella, Milo, fairy bread, peanut butter and jelly and chocolate doughnuts.

Tella Balls Dessert Bar, in Dulwich Hill, NSW, is offering spicy cinnamon and sugar coated buns injected with a large dose of Nutella.

Gelatissimo is offering a Gelato Easter Bun this year (left), while Tella Balls Dessert Bar have upgraded their buns and are offering spicy cinnamon buns injected with Nutella (right)

Kayter Co's Hot Cross Yums are also a standout this year, with the delicious buns offered in an array of heavenly flavour combinations

Hot cross bun bagels and hot cross bun macarons have also appeared in some stores

INDULGENT EASTER DESSERTS

Adriano Zumbo never disappoints when it comes to the holidays.

This year, in addition to hot cross buns and chocolate bunnies, the famed Australian pastry chef has also created a 'Down the Rabbit Hole' Easter carrot cake.

The intricate creation is made with carrot cake, carrot & lychee gel, cream cheese mousse with a ginger & lemon cream and hazelnut sable glaze.

It is then topped with toasted hazelnuts, chocolate carrots, mini chocolate Zumbarons & carrot cake pieces.

Staff at The Grounds of Alexandria are also kicking it up a level this year, with pink Easter bunnies made from choux pastry with a raspberry cremeux filling.

Adriano Zumbo's Easter cake is made with carrot cake, carrot & lychee gel, cream cheese mousse with a ginger & lemon cream and hazelnut sable glaze

Staff at the Grounds of Alexandria are also kicking it up a level this year, with pink Easter bunnies made from choux pastry with a raspberry cremeux filling

GIANT EASTER TREATS

True to tradition, the Grounds of Alexandria team have once again created their giant Easter egg.

The enormous 500 kilogram egg is sitting among the sunflowers at the Sydney cafe and is a whopping three metres tall.

On Saturday, staff will crack the egg with customers and everyone will share it.

Ganache Chocolate in Melbourne has also launched enormous Easter treats, including a 800 gram Easter bunny available in store.

Also on offer is a $145 edible half egg shell made with milk or dark chocolate and stuffed with 50 fine pralines.

True to tradition, the Grounds of Alexandria have once again created their giant Easter egg - an enormous 500 kilogram egg that is three metres tall

Ganache Chocolate in Melbourne have also launched their enormous Easter treats, including a 800 gram Easter bunny available in store

EASTER BURGERS

One of Sydney's favourite burger bars, Bar Luca, has also jumped on the bandwagon for Easter and launched a special Hot Cross Yum burger.

The burger features fried chicken, smashed egg, lettuce and maple bacon and is then topped with a hot cross milk bun.

The elaborate burger costs $17.

Sydney's favourite burger bar has also jumped on the bandwagon for Easter and launched a special Hot Cross Yum burger

EASTER DOUGHNUTS

Doughnut Time has launched three special Easter doughnuts this year - Yolk Addict, Scavenger Jackpot and Chubby Bunny.

The first is made with Yellow, white & eggshell cream glaze, mini white sprinkles topped with Cadbury Creme egg and the second, blue & white creme glaze, crushed Oreo, M&M speckled eggs, chocolate eggs and a mini Malteser bunny.

The third, Chubby Bunny, is made with pink & white cream glaze, mini marshmallows, rainbow sprinkles and custom chocolate bunny.

Doughnut Time has launched three special Easter doughnuts this year - Yolk Addict, Scavenger Jackpot (pictured) and Chubby Bunny

EASTER CAKES

Sydney-based Sugar High Desserts is offering an enormous exploding Easter egg cake this Easter stuffed with treats and topped with a giant egg and tiny chickens.

The team at Sydney dessert company Smash Cakes are also doing Easter cakes, with their enormous chocolate domes stuffed with tasty treats and topped with all kinds of Easter themed chocolates.

Sugar High Desserts are offering an enormous exploding Easter egg cake this Easter stuffed with treats and topped with a giant egg and tiny chickens

EASTER BASKETS

Sugar High Desserts also has an enormous Easter hamper filled with a creme egg donut, a mega donut, mini donuts , fairy bread marshmallow pops, a hot cross bun flavoured waffle, a rainbow popcorn crunch and a mixture of Easter eggs and chocolate.

The amazing creation is just $68.

Kayter Co's $58 Easter box has Easter themed doughnuts, four mini doughnuts, LCM bars, Nutella 'brookies', Nutella fairy floss, Nutella syringes and mini Nutella jars.

Sugar High Desserts is selling an enormous Easter hamper filled with a creme egg donut, a mega donut, mini donuts , fairy bread marshmallow pops and a hot cross bun flavoured waffle

EASTER COCKTAILS

It's not just desserts that cafes are offering this Easter, with many also creating limited edition holiday cocktails.

Milky Lane is serving customers Kinder Surprise egg shots filled with Vodka, Kahlua and cream and then topped with dark chocolate.

Sydney cafe Hat Trick, in Macquarie, has taken it to a new level with stunning milo and patron frozen martinis served inside a Cadbury chocolate egg on top of fairy floss and embellished with a tiny yellow chick for decoration.
Mariana Sfakianakis, 22, regularly reminds her 50,000 Instagram followers that she's not the same girl she once was.

The Sydney-based business administrator and personal assistant shared a childhood image of herself with leg casts on in hopes she could inspire other people to stay strong, even if they have a disability.

'I was born in Greece as a premature baby. Doctors had told my mum prior to giving birth that I was going to be a stillborn and so we had no preparation for post labour.

Mariana (pictured) said she is a completely different person today and credits exercise as her saviour

The Sydney-based 22-year-old Mariana Sfakianakis posted this image to Instagram in an effort to explain what her life was like growing up with cerebral palsy

'I was immediately rushed over to the intensive care unit but by that time I had lost large amounts of oxygen which caused damage to my brain resulting in a permanent condition called cerebral palsy,' she said in a caption on Instagram.

Mariana's condition affected the movement in her legs, muscle control and balance. She moved to Australia at the age of five in hopes of finding more advanced doctors and treatments.

'As a young kid I never understood what was really happening and why I was different to all the other kids. I got bullied for not walking like all the others and for also being in a wheelchair.

'This caused major anxiety, depression and being so young I never really knew how to deal with it besides self harm. When I reached year six I had multi level surgery, almost not making it through the eight hour procedure leaving me with nine scars on my legs,' the caption continued.

Mariana's condition affected the movement in her legs, muscle control and balance. She moved to Australia at the age of five in hopes of finding more advanced doctors and treatments

Mariana's Instagram page is filtered with incredible fitness feats and personal bests. She told Daily Mail Australia exercise is what helped her overcome longstanding mental and physical issues

The surgery was thankfully a success but the 22-year-old still couldn't move her legs for almost eight months. She was forced to learn how to walk again using a frame and then crutches.

'Although I was told that I would never be 100 per cent normal my results were incredible and I was gratefully content. I never wanted to be perfect. Just better,' the caption finishes.

Mariana's Instagram page is filtered with incredible fitness feats and personal bests. She told Daily Mail Australia exercise is what helped her overcome longstanding mental and physical issues.

'Although I was told that I would never be 100 per cent normal my results were incredible and I was gratefully content. I never wanted to be perfect. Just better,' she said

The kids at school were not as educated about disabilities as they are now Mariana said

'Starting high school in a wheelchair was a struggle that lead me to depression and anxiety. It took me many years to overcome it before I decided to drop out in year ten and start my fitness journey.'

The kids at school were not as educated about disabilities as they are now, Mariana explained. The 22-year-old wasn't able to run and keep her balance and was in 'daily pain' as a result of her walking pattern. Children found ways to stir her about it.

'It was quiet often verbal but also physical bullying. I was always very soft and didn't stick up for myself because I was scared.

Girl, look at that body! Mariana uses exercise to overcome some of her physical and mental issues

'I thought that there was nothing I could really do and if I did stick up for myself it would only make it worse.

'I spent most days crying and feeling very lonely which most times lead to self harm. That was the only way I knew how to deal with it,' she said.

Social media and exercise has completely transformed Mariana's life. Her followers see her an inspiration, particularly those in 'similar situations'.

'I've built myself to be a strong and independent young lady that is always focused on improving everyday. My fitness journey has had a huge impact on my life today and the support of all my friends and family,' she said.
The County Schools are seeking $24.5 million in additional revenue, including over $11 million for a five percent teacher raise.

The new money would also include funding for new vocational offerings on the Chattanooga State campus. There would be 100 students included the first year, 200 the second and 300 the third at the Chattanooga Polytechnic Academy. Focuses will be advanced manufacturing, construction trades, IT and chemical engineering. Funding will provide for five educators and tuition support. Students would continue to have a home high school. The initial budget is $586,000.

The schools are projecting $372.2 million in revenue and are seeking $396.7 million.

Board members said they fully back the request, but said there is no indication that members of the County Commission plan to raise taxes.

Board member David Testerman said, "All of this is great, but we may be spinning our wheels. We can play like there's a Santa Claus. Ho Ho Ho. But it ain't going to happen."

Joe Smith, another board member, said, "We've got to have some more revenue. The commissioners need to grow some kahunas or we're going to continue to stay where we are."

He recommended that the schools go to the commission with a balanced budget, "but also tell them what we need."

Interim Supt. Kirk Kelly said, if the commission says no to a tax increase, there would still be time to drop down to a balanced budget.

Board member Joe Galloway said, "We need this money desperately. We could make strides if we had the money."

Christie Jordan said the schools gained $1.76 million in savings, mainly from more teachers opting to retire. Other savings come from stormwater initiatives and the phasing out of the Career Ladder program.

She said it appears the sales tax revenue will be $1.5 million more than projected earlier. She said the property tax revenue should be up $1.9 million.

Dr. Kelly said the teacher pay hike is needed to help catch the county schools up with nearby counties who compete for teachers. He said the starting pay is at $37,501 and county salaries are 35th in the state.

Other increases are to prepare for online testing, technology, professional development and a tele-medicine program being tried in several schools in conjunction with Erlanger physicians.

The board will vote next week on how to proceed with the budget.
At 19 years old, Emma Isaacs bought her first property, one of many to come for the Sydney-born entrepreneur.

Now 37 and a mother-of-four, Emma is the CEO of Australia's biggest community for woman, Business Chicks.

Speaking to Channel Seven host Edwina Bartholomew for Whimn, Emma shared her humble beginnings as a daughter of a teacher and an accountant, to dropping out of university to start her business at 18 years old.

'I had my first business when I was 18. I bought my first property when I was 19. Ive never taken a pay cheque that I havent written myself,' Emma told the publication.

Emma Isaac, 37, is the CEO of Australia's biggest community for woman, Business Chicks

Business Chicks is a community of women supporting one another to achieve their business and career goals.

Emma explained when she started her company 11 years ago, she had 250 members - there are now 4,500.

After graduating from high school, Emma went to university for six months before realising she wouldn't learn quickly in a lecture theatre.

'Its taken me a while to say I am a proud uni drop out,' she said.

Living the life: 'This is the only life I know. I had my first business when I was 18,' Emma said

Business Chicks is a community of women supporting one another to achieve their business and career goals

Although years have since passed, Emma said she was still asked when she would get her degree.

'I had a goal to buy 10 investment properties. On the day I bought my tenth, I said to Mum, "Guess what I did today. I bought my 10th investment property",' Emma said.

She said her mother's reply was to ask when she was going back to university.

Its taken me a while to say I am a proud uni drop out

'Im one of 23 grandkids and Im the only one without a university degree,' she said.

Emma's mentality has always been 'If it is meant to be, it's up to me' and has kept this mantra while taking her business overseas to America.

Hosting events all over Australia and internationally, Emma and her company have the backing of celebrities and mentors such as Sir Richard Branson, Julia Gillard, Nicole Kidman and Nigella Lawson, to name a few.

Emma with blogger Jules Sebastian (left) and Naomi Simon (right) for an event

Emma poses with Australian actress Magda Szubanski at an event in Melbourne

Currently pregnant with her fifth child, Emma reflected on the trauma her family went through when her daughter Millie, now seven, was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma at age four.

'It was a really, really tough time. I dont want to sound like a Hallmark card but we do always try and see the best in things.'

Hard work and determination paid off for the mother-of-four, but not without set backs along the way.

'I dont want to be seen as the person who has it all together. Im the first person to tell you that I lock myself in the cupboard away from the kids,' Emma said.

Working with inspirational women constantly, Emma said those who inspire her are women who leave their comfort zones.

Emma said those who inspire her are women who leave their comfort zones

Emma is currently pregnant with her fifth child and lives in Los Angeles

Now living in Los Angeles with her family, Emma said her business has taken her all over the world and afforded her incredible experiences, but it was all due to hard work.

'Most of the time, the first thought you have in the morning is about your business and over the years, youll endure many sleepless nights,' she told The Huffington Post.

'If youre female, lots of people will think your success is due to a man.

'For some people, the fact that youve singlehandedly navigated your way to success is unfathomable.'

As for her success at being an entrepreneur for two decades, Emma said it's the best thing.

'We live in a time where people just get the highlight reel, the press release of peoples lives. The more we can be honest with each other, the better for all women,' she told Whimn.
Evicted from her 4 million Belgravia flat in 2014, allegedly 20,400 in arrears, Nancy DellOlio mysteriously manages to maintain a champagne lifestyle.

But now, the former inamorata of the ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and theatre grandee Sir Trevor Nunn has shown how she makes savings.

She turned up to a Christies auction for the Terrence Higgins Trust in an outfit she created herself. This is one of my own designs, the former Strictly contestant says of the black satin dress.

Nancy DellOlio, 55, turned up to a Christies auction for the Terrence Higgins Trust in an outfit she created herself

I do it with the help of a designer, because when I have inspiration I like to create my own outfit.

Sadly, there are no plans for Nancy, 55, to launch her own label: There are already too many people doing that.

The Oldies 45-year-old editor, Harry Mount, is sexing up the geriatric mags London offices.

They are now shared with new title The Amorist, edited by Rowan Pelling, who launched The Erotic Review.

The Amorist is a romantic and witty erotic magazine  and a delightful neighbour, Mount says.

Its led to an unusual breed of chit-chat by the watercooler. Prize for the best so far goes to a visitor who said politely to one colleague: I didnt recognise you without your chains!

Sheen's girl has Mum's A-list looks

With her glossy long brown hair, creamy English rose complexion and big brown eyes, young Lily Sheen, 18, has clearly inherited the winning looks of her mother, Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale

With her glossy long brown hair, creamy English rose complexion and big brown eyes, young Lily Sheen has clearly inherited the winning looks of her mother, Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale.

Lily, 18, whose father is Kates ex-boyfriend, Welsh actor Michael Sheen, shared this selfie online, prompting her mother to comment: You look thrillingly sneaky.

Former Oxford student Kate, 43, whose father was Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, has also passed on her intellect.

Lily recently won a place at an American university which she will join later this year.

Sleep's new dream: to jive with the Duchess

Ballet legend Wayne Sleep says the Duchess of Cambridge has the makings of a talented hoofer  but lacks the glamour of Princess Diana.

Ballet legend Wayne Sleep says the Duchess of Cambridge has the makings of a talented hoofer  but lacks the glamour of Princess Diana

I think Kate would be a good dancer, The Real Marigold Hotel star tells me.

Shes got a natural decorum and holds herself really well, so she might have had lessons for that.

Sleep, who famously jived on stage with Diana to Billy Joels Uptown Girl, adds: I couldnt compare the two. Kates not quite as glamorous as Diana, but she has her own spot.

I would dance with Kate, of course, if William gave me permission.

Radio Times editor Ben Preston surprised fans of The Archers at the mags South Bank TV festival when he welcomed Tom Watson to a discussion on the domestic abuse storyline which gripped millions on Radio 4.

Rob, who was stabbed by wife Helen when she could no longer stand his coercive behaviour, is actually played by Tim Watson  although Labours Deputy Leader Tom Watson may well end up (metaphorically) knifing Jeremy Corbyn.

Much-missed Countryfiler Julia Bradburys hobby might shock John Craven out of his wellies. Last year I revealed that the 46-year-old had taken up pole-dancing.

Now, shes honing her technique on a pole in her London basement. Im excited, she gushes. Ive started following pole dancers on Instagram and when I re-post an amazing move, I get so many hits.
A mother whose autistic daughter 'demolished' a classroom during a 'meltdown' says teachers need to be trained to step in.

Paula Brand claimed three teachers stood by and watched for half an hour as her daughter Isabella, seven, upended every desk in the room at at Miami State School on the Gold Coast.

The entrepreneur said it was Isabella's third meltdown this term and claimed school principal Kate Bentley was the only one of 30 teachers willing to intervene.

Paula Brand's autistic daughter Isabella, 7, 'demolished' a classroom in a meltdown says teachers should be trained to intervene when disabled children have episodes

'If a child is left to demolish a classroom for half an hour while three teachers stand by and watch, what message does that send to kids who have to yet again evacuate a classroom and stop learning?' she said.

Ms Brand said teachers needed crisis management training to know how to calm down disabled students during episodes, and restrain them if necessary.

'I don't know exactly what the appropriate measures would look like but if teachers need to wear a flak jacket to pick the child up and take them out of the class, I'm all for it,' she said.

Teachers have the choice whether to intervene but Ms Brand said it should be mandatory after they were all trained.

'Yes teachers would be in the firing line, but the fact is they are in the firing line so they need to be prepared for it,' she said.

She claimed three teachers at Miami State School (Isabella pictured in uniform) on the Gold Coast stood by and watched for half an hour as she upended every desk in the room

The Gold Coast entrepreneur said it was Isabella's third meltdown this term and school (pictured) principal Kate Bentley was the only one of 30 teachers willing to intervene

'Teaching these days is about how to deal with child abuse, disabilities, poverty, bullying - teachers have so much to do.

'But its a massive systemic issue with 65 kids in every school with autism and it's not going to go away, so just like there's mandatory bomb training they need to know how to deal with these situations.'

Ms Brand said better training would also prevent destructive episodes from happening in the first place as teachers would spot the signs in advance.

'It should never get to that stage, teachers should be trained to watch for the triggers and prevent meltdowns before they happen,' she said.

Ms Brand said teachers needed crisis management training to know how to calm down disabled students during episodes, and restrain them if necessary

'The situation is different from a child being violent, where police should be called instead. Autistic kids having meltdowns there's no intent to damage anything or hurt people, they don't even remember it.

'They'll come out of it and ask "are we going to get on to that maths problem now?" while everyone else is traumatised.'

Ms Brand said if schools couldn't manage it, the government should build schools to effectively teach disabled students.

She said Isabella only acted out at school and didn't even need medication at home, an assessment backed up by her pediatric psychologists.

Drs Chris Wever and Glen Craig wrote in a letter to Ms Brand that the girl's behaviour was 'exclusive to the school environment' and not seen elsewhere.

Ms Brand said better training would also prevent destructive episodes from happening in the first place as teachers would spot the signs in advance

She said Isabella only acted out at school and didn't even need medication at home, an assessment backed up by her pediatric psychologists

They wrote the 'triggers' for her episodes were 'around peer interactions and during unstructured activities'.

'The key is early identification of warning signs, as once she "explodes", things have gone too far,' they wrote.

No medication would be a 'magic wand' and the environment should be looked at first.

Miami State School deputy principal Lucy Hirst told the Gold Coast Bulletin the school would not discuss specific pupils.

'Our teachers handled the situation well and are well trained,' she said.

A report commissioned by the Queensland Government recommended 'restrictive practice' be used as a 'last resort' to prevent harm to staff and students.

It suggested teaching methods, culture and behaviour management should ideally be used to prevent it from becoming necessary.

The report found there was 'ambiguity' about when teachers should intervene and standardised policies should be written and their use monitored.
Brits are gearing up for a long bank holiday weekend off work and it seems that the party has already started for Lady Kitty Spencer.

Princess Diana's niece looked a little worse for wear as she enjoyed drinks in the sun with her friends at The Anglesea Arms pub in Chelsea, London.

The 26-year-old blonde looked chic in a blue crop top, which showcased her stomach, and a pair of skin-tight white jeans.

Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer looked worse for wear as she flashed her stomach as she enjoyed a night out with friends at a pub in London

The socialite, who is known for her penchant for a party, enjoyed an Aperol Spritz as she mingled with pals.

She, who is usually known for her polished and poised appearance, was also seen resting against a wall as she made a quick phone call during the evening.

Lady Kitty recently returned from a trip to Australia, where she was on hand to start a game of polo in Perth.

The niece of Princess Diana rode into Duncraig Stud in a Bentley before settling in to enjoy the luxury car company's Polo in the Valley event.

The socialite, who is known for her penchant for a party, enjoyed an Aperol Spritz as she mingled with pals on the sunny evening out

At one point the socialite, who was dressed in tight white jeans and a midriff-baring top, made a phone call

The 26-year-old blonde looked chic in a blue crop top, which showcased her stomach, as she kicked off the bank holiday celebrations

Kitty has been travelling around Western Australia, where she has fed kangaroos, taken a day trip to Rottnest Island and snapped gorgeous pictures of Cottesloe Beach.

It was a welcome break for the daughter of Earl Spencer, who has kept busy with her philanthropic endeavors and a recent walk down Dolce & Gabbana's runway.

Kitty, a former Tatler cover girl, has been following down the footsteps of her model mother Victoria Lockwood - who she grew up with in South Africa.

Lady Kitty recently returned from a trip to Australia, where she was on hand to start a game of polo in Perth

She also recently walked in the Dolce & Gabbana show where she posed for snaps backstage with the designers

The Cape Town University graduate then returned to her English roots to study luxury brand management at Regent's College.

She has since been signed to Storm model agency, where she is represented by Kate Moss' agent, Paula Karaiskos.

Kitty is in a long-term relationship with property tycoon Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, who she has been dating for the last two years.

Barattieri is 20 years her senior and a divorced father of three children.

Kitty had been gallivanting around Western Australia, recently taking a day trip to Rottnest Island
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The Queen visited Leicester Cathedral to mark Maundy Thursday by distributing alms in a tradition dating back to the 13th century.

Her Majesty, dressed in a vibrant turquoise coat dress by Angela Kelly, was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the annual service where the Maundy coins were distributed to 91 men and 91 women - representing each of her 91 years.

The 182 recipients of the Maundy money are all senior citizens who were given the gifts in recognition of the service they have given to the church and their local area.

Today, hundreds of well-wishers lined the street waving Union Jack flags and wearing novelty crowns as they awaited the arrival of the Queen, who adorned her coat with a gold and diamond flower clip brooch.

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The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh pose for a photograph with clergymen and local schoolchildren following the service at Leicester Cathedral this morning where she handed out a traditional Maundy Thursday coin for each of her 91 years

The 90-year-old monarch traditionally hands two purses - one white and one red - to each person during the service. The red purse contains a 5 coin, commemorating the Centenary of the House of Windsor and a 50p coin commemorating Sir Isaac Newton.

The white purse will contain uniquely minted Maundy coins, equating in pence to her age, as Her Majesty prepares to celebrate her 91st birthday on April 21. The coins, a ceremonial gift from the Sovereign, are legal tender but recipients normally prefer to retain them as a keepsake.

Local florist Rosie prepared the yellow and purple flowers  known as Nosegays  for the Queen's visit today, while Peter from the Royal Almonry prepared the handmade purses for presentation, according to Buckingham Palace's official Twitter account.

The Royal Maundy is an ancient ceremony which originated in the commandment Christ gave after washing the feet of his disciples the day before Good Friday.

It appears to have been custom for members of the Royal Family to take part in the service since the 13th century, the Royal Mint said.

Historically, the sum of 5.50 in the Red Purse is made up of 3 for clothing, 1.50 in lieu of provisions and 1 for the redemption of the Sovereign's gown.

The royal party pose with Leicester clergymen and a group of Yeomen following the service which sub-dean Canon Alison Adams has called 'a great celebration of faithful service to the community from both the City and County of Leicester'

While the royals gathered for photographs outside the cathedral, a huge crowd gathered in nearby Jubilee Square to watch the service on a large screen. The Queen has now visited every Anglican Cathedral in England for the Royal Maundy service

Important visit: Speaking ahead of the Queen's arrival, sub-dean Canon Alison Adams, said: 'Her Majesty The Queen visited us at the start of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and we are proud to welcome her back'

Her Majesty leaves the Cathedral following the service. According to the Cathedral's website, Maundy Thursday has been hosted in all cathedrals across the country during the Queens reign, apart from Leicester  making them the last one to host it

Tradition: Local florist Rosie prepared the yellow and purple flowers  known as Nosegays  for the Queen's visit today, while Peter from the Royal Almonry prepared the handmade purses for presentation

Annual tradition: Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Leicester Cathedral to mark Maundy Thursday by distributing alms in a tradition dating back to the 13th century. The Queen has attended Maundy Thursday since 1952

The White Purse contains uniquely minted Maundy Money, which, unlike coins in general circulation, bear the portrait of the Queen produced by Mary Gillick at the start of her reign.

Gillick, a sculptor, designed the portrait which appeared on the coins of the UK and some Commonwealth countries from 1953 until preparations for decimalisation began in 1968.

The portrait of the Queen wearing a wreath on her head was considered to reflect the nation's optimism as it greeted a new monarch in the post-war years.

The first monarch to take part in a Maundy Thursday service was King John, of Magna Carta and Robin Hood fame, who distributed gifts of clothes and money to the poor in Knaresborough in 1210.

The Queen and Prince Philip, carrying nosegays, arrive for the service at Leicester Cathedral. The Queen has now visited every Anglican Cathedral in England for the Royal Maundy service, with Leicester being the last

The Queen hands out Maundy money to senior citizens during the Royal Maundy service at Leicester Cathedral

The monarch traditionally hands two purses - one white and one red - to each person during the service. The red purse contains a 5 coin, commemorating the Centenary of the House of Windsor and a 50p coin commemorating Sir Isaac Newton

Age-old tradition: The 182 recipients of the Maundy money, pictured, are all senior citizens who were given the gifts in recognition of the service they have given to the church and their local area

Dressed in a vibrant Angela Kelly coat dress and matching hat, is joined today by the Duke of Edinburgh for the annual service where the Maundy coins will be distributed to 91 men and 91 women - representing each of her 91 years

The Queen is greeted by a clergyman as she arrives at the Cathedral on Thursday morning. The 182 recipients of the Maundy money are senior citizens who are given gifts in recognition of the service they have given to the church and their local area

A lifetime of service: Her Majesty has taken part in the Royal Maundy Service in all but four years of her reign, including in 1954 when she was away touring the Commonwealth. The 1952 service marked her first public engagement as Queen

John was also the first to present the poor with silver coins and is recorded as having done so in Rochester in 1213.

John's grandson Edward I, the king known to posterity as 'the Hammer of the Scots', was the first to confine the tradition to Maundy Thursday alone, which, until his reign, could be conducted on any day of the year.

By 1363 and Edward III, the tradition had evolved into a ceremony that is still recognisable today, with monarchs handing out money equivalent to their age in years.

The ceremony was little changed by the dawn of the Tudor period, although rulers could - and did - increase the number of beggars involved to show their religious devotion and humility.

Welcome back, Ma'am! The Queen last visited the East Midlands city in March 2012 as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour, while the cathedral is the final burial place of King Richard III, whose remains were discovered in the city in September 2012

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh travelled in the State Bentley limousine from Leicester station along Humberstone Gate, High Street and Jubilee Square on their first visit to the Midlands since Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee in 2012

The Queen and Prince Philip arrive in their chauffeured Bentley. The Queen was just eight years old when she first attended the Maundy Day service as Princess Elizabeth in 1935 at Westminster Abbey

The royal party arrive at Leicester Cathedral. The Duke of Edinburgh, 95, appeared to be in good health after suffering from a 'heavy cold' at the start of the new year which forced the royals to miss a number of high-profile engagements

Throngs of well-wishers line Leicester city centre on Thursday morning as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrive for the annual service, traditionally held in a different location every year

None took it more seriously than Mary I - or Bloody Mary - who in 1556 washed the feet of 41 'poor women' and spent the entire ceremony on her knees.

Later monarchs were less keen on the service, with some, among them Charles I, rarely bothering to take part.

Charles II, anxious to curry favour with his subjects following the Restoration, took part in the ceremony without fail, including during the plague years.

Although today's ceremony takes place in a different location each year, Queen Victoria insisted on doing it at Westminster Abbey - a custom that remained in place until the Queen took the throne in 1952.

The Queen was just eight years old when she first attended the Maundy Day service as Princess Elizabeth in 1935 at Westminster Abbey.

Steeped in history: The Royal Maundy is an ancient ceremony which originated in the commandment Christ gave after washing the feet of his disciples the day before Good Friday

The Queen has attended the service for all but four years throughout her reign. Historically, the sum of 5.50 in the Red Purse is made up of 3 for clothing, 1.50 in lieu of provisions and 1 for the redemption of the Sovereign's gown

Guests of honour: In Leicester this morning, large crowds lined the street waving Union Jack flags and wearing novelty crowns as they awaited the arrival of the Queen and Prince Philip on their first visit to the city since 2012

She has taken part in the Royal Maundy Service in all but four years of her reign, including in 1954 when she was away touring the Commonwealth.

In 1960 she was also forced to pull out because of the imminent birth of Prince Andrew, again in 1964 for the birth of Prince Edward and in 1970 due to a tour of New Zealand.

The Queen last visited the East Midlands city in March 2012 as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour, while the cathedral is the final burial place of King Richard III, whose remains were discovered in the city in September 2012.

Speaking ahead of the Queen's arrival, sub-dean Canon Alison Adams, said: 'Her Majesty The Queen visited us at the start of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and we are proud to welcome her back.

'This will be a great celebration of faithful service to the community from both the City and County of Leicester.'
A year on from her prison release, she's been living it up on a seemingly never-ending holiday in Ibiza.

And Michaella McCollum Connolly looked to be enjoying every minute her newfound freedom this week as she continued to soak up the sun on a beach.

The 24-year-old one-time drug mule from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, 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 friend Melissa Reid - dubbed the 'Peru Two'.

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Fresh start: Michaella looked to be enjoying every minute her newfound freedom in Ibiza

The 24-year-old been living it up on a seemingly never-ending holiday in Ibiza this month

Michaella continued to soak up the sun on a beach with a female friend earlier this week

This week Michaella, sporting a new blonde style, posed up a storm in a pink backless swimsuit as she enjoyed a dip in the sea with a female friend.

The pair were seen relaxing on the sand and enjoying cocktails before heading into the sea for a paddle.

Michaella is currently enjoying her second Spanish sojourn this year but her stint in Ibiza is believed to be her first visit since she and Reid agreed to try and bring in the drugs.

But they were caught and arrested at the beginning of August 2013 - just two months after Michaella arrived on the Balearic party isle to work as a dancer in a bar.

Michaella, who is believed to be considering a career in reality TV following her release, has been spotted in Ibiza on an almost daily basis in a seemingly endless array of skimpy swimsuits.

Troubled past: The one-time drug mule hit headlines when she was jailed in Peru in 2013

Infamous: Michaella and friend Melissa Reid were dubbed the 'Peru Two' after their arrest

Michaella, sporting a new blonde style, poses up a storm in a pink backless swimsuit

She has clearly been enjoying her newfound freedom since her release, after a holiday earlier this year to Marbella

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.

The pair relax on the sand and enjoy cocktails before heading into the sea for a paddle

The party continues: Michaella is currently enjoying her second Spanish sojourn this year

Michaella enjoys a dip in the sea with a female friend during her endless Ibiza break

Back to the scene of the crime: Michaella's stint in Ibiza is believed to be her first visit since she and Reid agreed to try and bring in the drugs and were caught in August 2013

Moving on: Michaella is believed to be considering a career in reality TV following her release

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.

Reid was released from prison in June last year, flying back to Scotland shortly afterwards.

Michaella's holiday in the Spanish sun comes after she was reportedly offered 250,000 to reveal her prison hell in a tell-all book.

Michaella and Melissa - dubbed the 'Peru Two'  were sentenced to six years and eight months

The limelight beckons: Michaella's holiday in the Spanish sun comes after she was reportedly offered 250,000 to reveal her prison hell in a tell-all book

It emerged last month McCollum - who was released from prison in March last year - is in the final stages of negotiation to write a book about her experience in jail according to the Sun.

Since her release, she has gone to great lengths to build up her public profile and image.

Last week, it was revealed that she had agreed a six-figure deal to present a crime TV documentary which will see her examine unsolved or unusual crime cases.
A Catholic high school in Canada has come under fire for housing a pro-life presentation that compared terminating pregnancies to the Holocaust.

The talk occurred at Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, Alberta, during a mandatory religion class for grades 10 to 12 last month, Global News reported Monday.

A clip of the presentation, recorded by an anonymous student, shows a woman arguing at length against the procedure, after students were shown an alarmist clip claiming that abortions were similar to Adolf Hitler's killings of 'unwanted' people.

Shocking: Students at a Catholic high school in Red Deer, Alberta, were given a pro-choice presentation (pictured) which included a video comparing the procedure to the Holocaust

The three-minute clip, titled 'The Case Against Abortion: Personhood', uses excerpts from what looks like a documentary about the Holocaust, which all reference Nazi murders of disabled children and adults.

'Then once the war began,' the subtitles read at one point, 'this killing was extended to disabled adults as well (and then to all "unwanted" persons).'

The video was the first part of a presentation by Red Deer And Area Pro Life, an anti-abortion organization. One student, who asked to remain anonymous, recorded the talk that followed.

'Let's just say that a woman does get raped and she does get pregnant and she bravely and courageously decides to have that child,' the presenter told the students.

'She's making the choice to have that child. Later on down the road, after she has a healthy baby boy, she can't stand to look at him because he reminds her of her rapist. He acts as a trigger. Would we say it's OK to kill her baby boy then?

'So, why are we saying that it is OK for her to kill that same baby boy when he's just younger and more dependent inside of her womb?'

Outrage: The three-minute clip (pictured) uses excerpts from what looks like a documentary about the Holocaust, which reference Nazi murders of disabled children and adults

Footage: 'Then once the war began,' the subtitles read at one point, 'this killing was extended to disabled adults as well (and then to all "unwanted" persons)'

The woman, who according to Global News said she was at school studying social work, stated her personal opinions despite challenges from the students.

She can be seen in footage recorded by one of the students, which also includes a portion of the shocking clip. The video has also been made available online.

'I don't think we can ever justify anyone having an abortion based off of these circumstances,' she told the teenagers. 'I don't think there's ever a good reason to have an abortion.'

The presenter has spoken at the same high school at least six times this year, one student told BuzzFeed News.

After one student blew the whistle on the shocking talk, campaigners advocating for fact-based sexual education have called on authorities to investigate what students are being taught about sexual health in Alberta schools.

The presentation was inappropriate and misleading, using incorrect information and, quite frankly, frightening Education minister David Eggen

'One thing that was shocking was the astounding medically inaccurate information that's being provided to students,' Cristina Stasia, the founder of sexual education advocacy group Accessing Information Not Myths, told Global News.

'We know they're happening in our schools. We know that groups are coming in, they are politically motivated groups, they are not experts in their field. They are being allowed to disseminate all this inaccurate information to students.'

Alberta's education minister David Eggen called the video 'completely outrageous' and said it had left him 'offended'.

'The Red Deer and Area Pro-Life group presenting in schools  I have a big problem with that too,' he said.

The official further bashed the clip, adding: 'The presentation was inappropriate and misleading, using incorrect information and, quite frankly, frightening.'

Eggen is now working with the district with regards to the presentation.

The pro-life group, meanwhile, has defended the presentation to Global News. As of Tuesday, the school board had banned the video referencing the Holocaust, but hadn't renounced future presentations from the same organization.
Mud splattered, semi-naked and posing suggestively with power tools - these are not ordinary scenes from a lumber yard.

Jonathan LeFleur, from Dallas, Texas, the subject of the picture series, was taking part in a 'dudeoir' shoot photographed by his brother-in-law Josh Melton.

The pictures, shot on location, were intended as a wedding anniversary gift for Jonathan's wife but since being shared on Facebook they have been viewed by thousands.

Role play: Jonathan LeFleur, from Dallas, Texas, posed semi-naked in suggestive poses, pictured, in a lumber yard

Surprise! The photographs, shot by his brother-in-law Josh Melton, were intended as an anniversary present for his wife

Spotlight: But since being shared online the pictures have been viewed by thousands

Josh assigned his brother-in-law the character 'Johnny Lumber' and photographed him wearing just a high vis jacket, underpants, boots, sunglasses and a hard hat.

The pictures show Jonathan with his chest and tattoos exposed as he poses in risque positions with poles, machinery and building materials.

Pictures shows him leaning backwards on a pole, touching his buttocks and in one he is curled into a metallic cylinder.

In character: Wearing nothing but a high vis jacket, boots, underpants, a hardhat and sunglasses, he was photographed with poles and building materials

In the zone: He appeared to relish playing the role 'Johnny Lumber' - assigned to him by Josh

Purpose: The pictures are being used to create a calendar for Jonathan's wife Alexandria

Others in the series, which are being used to create a calendar for his wife, show him in model-like poses reclining on planks of wood.

Josh proposed the shoot after Jonathan came to him for advice about getting his wife Alexandria an anniversary present.

'His nickname is Jonny Lumber so it seemed fitting that we would let him play out that role! So much fun and I suppose we can now add Dudeoir to the resume,' Josh wrote on Facebook.

Melton said his sister's 'jaw hit the floor' when she received the gift.

Shocked: Josh said his sister Alexandria's 'jaw hit the floor' when she saw the pictures

Confident: Pictures shows him leaning backwards on a pole, touching his buttocks and in one he is curled into a metallic cylinder

Natural: Alexandria said her husband has 'the perfect personality' for dudedoir shoots

Attention-seeking: Jonathan said he has enjoyed the attention, saying: 'Now I just want it to keep going'

'I've seen one or two in the past and joked about him doing them because he has the perfect personality for it, but I wasn't expecting him to ever actually commit,' Alexandria told local news website mySA.

'They presented me with a slideshow of pictures and I about died.'

Jonathan said he has relished the attention, saying: 'Now I just want it to keep going.'

He added: 'I haven't been the best at giving her gifts in the past...so I think this has made up for the previous years and all the lack of surprises.'
The make-up world has been shaken to its very core by a strange new trend that's rocking Instagram. Feather eyebrows - brows parted down the middle and held in place with glue - have inspired a slew of intense reactions; some thrilled, some disgusted.

After a Finnish make-up artist debuted the look in an Instagram post, the now-trend had commenters proclaiming the look as either simply 'brilliant,' or just plain 'nasty.'

When the initial backlash and praise had settled, the artist followed up with another post, acknowledging the fact that while she originally intended for feather brows to be a joke, she is thankful for both the love and the hate shown for the trend.

The eyebrow heard 'round the world: Make-up artist Stella Sironen posted this look to her Instagram account on Sunday night, and the internet was instantly divided

Just joking! On Tuesday, Sironen followed up her original picture with another post admitting that while the look had initially been a joke, she was grateful for everyone's feedback

Out of this world talent! Sironen, who is based in Helsinki, Finland, is the artist behind some of the most colorful and creative beauty looks on Instagram

The controversial look comes to us from Stella Sironen, a talented Helsinki-based make-up whose Instagram account (which currently has more than 46,000 followers) showcases her wide array of abilities.

In particular, Sironen has a masterful command of the eyebrow. Almost all of her photos showcase a sharp, perfectly sculpted brow.

Her go-to brow products include Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel, as well as dip brow pomade by the same brand. For the feather brows, she used a glue stick.

Speaking to Daily Mail Online, Sironen notes that eyebrows are 'a really sensitive and sacred subject for a lot people, especially for the young Instagram generation' and that despite advances in other make-up techniques, 'brows have remained untouchable for years.'

Sironen credits her friend Leevi Ikaheimo for inventing the look whilst 'he was casually brushing my eyebrows.' Indeed he created quite the departure from Sironen's usual look.

'Suddenly he bursted out laughing and I opened my phone front camera just to see that he had made a middle part on my brows.' Sironen fixed the look with glue, added eyeshadow, and posted a pic to her Instagram account. 'It's been a wild ride ever since!' she says.

High praise: Many Instagram users praised Sironen for rewriting the rules of the eyebrow game and doing something completely original

Wrap it up! Not everyone was as thrilled with Sironen's look - this commenter insisted that '2017 is cancelled' if the trend catches on

Common ground: Many were left conflicted, such as this commenter who acknowledged Sironen's talent, but still found themselves admitting feather brows are 'a little gross'

The internet had no clue what to make of Sironen's off-beat look, leaving the comments section of her Instagram totally divided.

Many had trouble wrapping their heads around the unexpected eyebrows, and expressed deep concern about what this look means for the future of 'brows 'round the world.

'I don't like it and I'm allowed to say it,' reads one comment. 'I'm crying this is not good,' says another.

'No one is going to go in the streets like that...come on.'

Meanwhile, the other half of the great brow debate praised Sironen's creativity and ability to take risks with her look.

'Amazing! Don't let anyone stop you!' says one supporter of the feather brow look. 'We want a tutorial!' demanded a fan.

Copycats! Though Sironen says she initially intended feather brows to be a joke, many others are already trying out the unique style for themselves

The votes are in: Make-up artist Sara Atlas considers this look 'totally wearable' and her 'new everyday brow'

Opening minds: '[I'm] so happy that this fake trend is blowing up and pissing off a lot of closed minded people' says make-up artist Kacy Wilkins

Sironen doesn't let the negative reactions bother her though.

'I love to make people question the norms of make-up,' she tells us.

Of course, there are also those who feel the look is too far out of their reach to be concerned:

'My brows are too stuck in place to do this,' reads a comment. And: 'I wish I had enough eyebrow to recreate.'

Perhaps most unexpectedly is that, despite Sironen's admission the look was intended as a joke, people are already recreating feather eyebrows. The results of these inspired looks can be seen under the Instagram hashtag '#featherbrows.'

'[I'm] so happy that this fake trend is blowing up and pissing off a lot of closed minded people,' writes make-up artist Kacy Wilkins in an Instagram post copying Sironen's look.

Though the trend is just a few days old, one woman has already created a YouTube tutorial featuring feather brows.

Whether or not Sironen's feather brows were originally intended as a joke, there is no denying that she certainly succeeded in starting a trend.

Sironen tells Daily Mail Online she hopes 'this encourages fellow make-up artists to explore the potential of brow art.'
My cheeks are tear-stained; my palms clammy. With my jaw clenched as tightly as the seatbelt buckled around my waist, I sink my face deep into the scarf I keep scrunched in a ball for comfort.

But as the engine starts its familiar roar, any attempt to soothe myself is futile. On a plane, about to take off, I am terrified.

For those who believe me to be TVs toughest woman, the admission that I am frightened of flying will be met with incredulity. After all, I am a Sky news anchor with a wealth of experience reporting from some of the worlds most dangerous disaster zones.

She is a Sky news anchor with a wealth of experience reporting from some of the worlds most dangerous disaster zones. But on a plane, about to take off, Kay Burley is terrified

I have covered everything from wars to tsunamis. Known for my somewhat combative style, I tackle politicians and present live in front of millions without so much as a single butterfly in my stomach.

And yet I sob uncontrollably the minute I set foot on a plane. Ludicrous? Undoubtedly. But I am by no means unique.

The news anchor says, 'By revealing my phobia, I hope to dispel the myth that this is something to be embarrassed about'

Around 30 per cent of people are anxious before boarding a plane, and when we focused on the fear of flying on my Sky news programme recently, record numbers of people contacted me via social media to share their own anxiety.

With the Easter holidays upon us, thoughts for many turn to air travel.

By revealing my phobia, I hope to dispel the myth that this is something to be embarrassed about.

Though Ive never relished the prospect of flying, my fear was sparked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I was relaying events live on air from our London studio in September 2001 as the second aircraft flew into the Twin Towers in New York.

Like everyone, I felt shaken and sickened by the sight, as well as desperately sad for those who lost their lives. I must have also realised, on some level, how quickly a supposedly robust plane could disintegrate.

My job is to deliver the news, not react to it, however, so I suppressed my emotions and continued my 12-hour shift. It was only later that the horror manifested itself as a fear of flying.

Kay posted this photograph on Twitter, writing, 'Thank you British Airways for being so considerate to a nervous flyer'

It crept up insidiously as anxiety which grew stronger every time I set foot on an aeroplane. The snap of a seat buckle; the passenger call buzzer  innocuous sounds Id once barely registered became cause for unease. Was there something wrong with the engine? The wings?

For years, I betrayed no greater outward signs of disquiet than a flushed face and a tendency to self-medicate with a gin and tonic. But in 2010, my ability to control my anxiety came to an abrupt end while I was on a flight back to London from Teesside.

Wed been in the air for a matter of seconds when the pilot announced over the tannoy that one of the warning lights on the plane wasnt quite the right colour.

His voice was calm, his decision to turn back to the airport to investigate merely precautionary, he said. But I took it as a validation of my worst fears.

Terrified and shaking, I sobbed so hard that by the time wed landed my face was a mascara-streaked mess. Heaven knows what other passengers thought  I turned to the window in a desperate attempt to disengage from my environment.

Kay: 'I present live in front of millions without so much as a single butterfly in my stomach. And yet I sob uncontrollably the minute I set foot on a plane. But I am by no means unique'

Kay, pictured with Ed Miliband, says flights leave her beset with anxiety - 'from the time my ticket was booked until the wheels touched down on the runway'

Rather than wait for a new plane, I drove a hire car the six-hour journey home, heart pounding. Since then, I have taken the train to avoid flying where possible.

This is easier said than done when your job demands being at the scene of breaking news as quickly as possible  and no matter how terrified I am, professionalism prevents me from turning an assignment down.

In the past year alone, I have flown dozens of times, criss-crossing the Atlantic to report on the presidential elections and traversing Europe for Skys coverage of the EU Referendum and Brexit.

But each flight left me beset with anxiety, from the time my ticket was booked until the wheels touched down on the runway.

Some frightened flyers torture themselves with imagined scenarios of airborne explosions and attacks. On a subconscious level perhaps I do fear disaster, but I refuse to entertain such lurid fantasies. My overriding fear is the loss of control. After all, I call the shots on every aspect of my career. I am also very much in control of my personal life.

Sky News Crew with Kay Burley reporting from New Orleans on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She says, 'no matter how terrified I am, professionalism prevents me from turning an assignment down'

I have four strong, capable men at my disposal. They have become trusted confidantes, taking calls, meeting me for coffee as I await flights and walking me on board when my legs feel like buckling

The only time I surrender my destiny to someone elses decision-making is when I fly. It is terrifying.I have found tricks that make flying more bearable  some more sensible than others. I hold a superstitious belief that booking the same seat every flight, towards the front of the plane or near an emergency exit, can help keep me safe. If my working day is over, I take a herbal sedative or sleeping pill.

To deal with the interminable taxi to the runway and the knuckle-whitening take-off  the worst part for me  I self-soothe by tapping my chest with the palm of my hand, while my producer Emily attempts to distract me by reading in-flight magazines out loud.

I squeeze her hand so hard that I worry one day Ill break her fingers. Although Im always too fraught to eat or sleep, a glass of wine dampens my anxiety and an eye mask helps shut out my surroundings, as does soothing music  my current favourite being Ed Sheeran.

HOW YOU CAN SOOTHE YOUR FEARS Follow this advice courtesy of British Airways Flying With Confidence course: Remember turbulence is not dangerous. It is caused by nature and is a normal part of flying. Practise long, deep breaths and combine the deep breath in with a muscle contraction. Clenching your buttocks is most effective, as it overrides other nervous signals going up and down your spinal cord. Remind yourself that wings enable aircraft to fly, not engines. A commercial aircraft at 30,000 ft can glide for 100 miles even if all engines fail. Split up a long flight into half-hour sections and plan activities: write a letter; watch a film; read a book; eat a meal. Visualise yourself stepping off the aircraft into the arms of your loved ones, or into a sunny country or successful business meeting. Advertisement

But any relief is fleeting. The more tired I am, the more impossible it is to cope. Returning from covering Donald Trumps inauguration this January, I was so emotional and exhausted I thought Id have to get off the plane.

In the end, the cabin services director sat with me for take-off, muttering soothing platitudes as I cried. If he recognised me, he was too polite to say so.

Inevitably, I favour staycations in the Cotswolds and driving to France over exotic holiday destinations. The one exception is taking my son Alexander, 23, on our annual safari to Ulusaba in South Africa, a ritual we enjoy too much to relinquish.

But last September, on the day of our flight, I got an email saying our British Airways aeroplane had been struck by lightning. There was a possibility wed be delayed.

Hysterically convinced I should cancel the holiday, I noticed captain Mark Mannering-Smith, former head of in-flight safety for British Airways, was following me on Twitter. I messaged him for advice.

Using humour to dispel my fears, he reassured me that the aeroplane would be safe after a cuddle (safety checks by engineers) and, mercifully, he was right. The flight wasnt delayed and, when I thanked Mark, he suggested he helped me tackle my phobia.

The next month he booked us on a day return, one hour 45 minute flight to France  far enough for me to face my fears, but not too far to push me over the edge.

Mark introduced me to the pilot, and it suddenly dawned on me that the man in charge was as keen to land safely as I was. As we prepared for take-off, Mark talked me through sounds I found sinister.

Kay Burley hosting a Shy News interview with Justice Secretary Michael Gove (centre) and Faisal Islam

The engine starting. The doors shutting. Even the air conditioning. He reassured me they were normal and instilled in me how stringently aircraft are checked, and how extensively pilots are trained.

Still concerned I was by no means cured, Mark, my hero, asked three pilots  Ben Whitlow, Tobi Larsen and Jonny Knowlson  to give me their numbers so there was always an expert whose counsel I could summon when I was due to fly.

Perhaps it sounds like I was given preferential treatment on account of my profile, but I know British Airways is just as caring towards all frightened flyers.

I have four strong, capable men at my disposal. They have become trusted confidantes, taking calls, meeting me for coffee as I await flights and walking me on board when my legs feel like buckling.

Knowing the support is there is a relief  although as an independent woman who has rarely had recourse to rely on a man, the irony of being dependent on four is not lost on me.

Still, they stopped me having to seek professional help, which I worry might be so full on it could put me off getting on an aeroplane ever again.

I cant pretend I no longer freak out before flying, but thanks to my posse of pilots I am, finally, a work in progress.
Art 120's 6th Annual Scenic City Art Car Weekend returns April 28-30. Organizers said they are so grateful to everyone in the community whose generosity and support has helped them continue their programs uninterrupted since the Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed the shop.

Organizers almost called off Art 120's signature event of the year, but could not deny the nearly 3,000 children who will be served by the ArtCarAVan this year.

The weekend activities include:

ArtCarAVan and Artist Breakfast at The Camp House

Friday, 7:30-9 a.m.

Participants will send the artists off to visit schools with a breakfast thanks to the Camp House. Art cars will line up at 149 East ML King Blvd. Art 120 will also be accepting donations for their

fire relief fund.

Tailgate Party and Kid's Parade at The Aquarium

Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Art 120 is partnering with the Tennessee Aquarium to celebrate their 25th anniversary with an

art car tailgate party in their parking lot. Plus, enjoy a special parade of children's art cars created by Hamilton County students. Free.

Children's Booksigning at Barnes and Noble

Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

Award winning children's author, Cathey Graham Nickell and illustrator, Bill Meganhardt, will be at the Hamilton Place Mall Barnes and Noble for a special booksigning: Arthur Zarr's Amazing Art Car. Bill will create a live, whimsical drawing based on audience input. The finished art will be raffled off. Proceeds benefit Art 120 programs.

For the full schedule visit art120.org.
Parkinson's disease affects around 127,000 people in the UK.

As the condition has no cure, sufferers are forced to endure the debilitating movement disorder.

Yet, scientists may be one step closer to finding a solution.

Researchers used a selection of small molecules to reprogramme brain cells so that they produced the chemical messenger dopamine, which regulates movement.

In Parkinson sufferers, dopamine-producing brain cells have died, causing tremors and moving difficulties.

Parkinson Disease occurs as the cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine have died, causing tremors. The new treatment may reprogramme brain cells to make dopamine

WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE? Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disease. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Other symptoms include slowed movement and rigid muscles. Scientist suspect a mix of genetic and environmental factors are responsible. It has no cure with treatment focusing on controlling symptoms. Source: NHS Choices and Parkinson's UK Advertisement

Swedish scientists tested a cocktail of molecules in mice with Parkinson-like symptoms.

After treatment, the mice's symptoms appeared to improve.

The revolutionary approach may overtake brain cell transplants, which was previously thought to be the only hope of a cure.

According to study author Dr Ernest Arenas, this new treatment will not require the immune system-suppressing drugs needed in transplants.

The therapy makes dopamine-producing cells from those already in the brain, meaning patients will not reject them, which is a risk with transplants, he said.

Although the potential cure could transform Parkinson's treatment, scientists warn further animal studies are needed before the approach can be tried in humans.

Professor David Dexter, deputy director, Parkinson's UK said: 'Further development of this technique is now needed,' the BBC reported.

'If successful, it would turn this approach into a viable therapy that could improve the lives of people with Parkinson's and, ultimately, lead to the cure that millions are waiting for.'

This comes after scientists from the University of Oxford found infection with hepatitis B and C viruses raises the risk of Parkinson's by up to 76 per cent.

This is thought to be due to the viruses targeting the motor system once they leave the liver.
The family of a four-year-old Pakistani boy with a melon-sized tumour on his ear have been told it's incurable cancer.

Kamran Ali Channa complained of a small growth and pain in September last year - but local doctors initially dismissed the problem.

As the strange lump grew quickly, his poverty-stricken family became desperate for answers and tried various different hospitals.

Eventually he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, despite a host of doctors missing the signs, after they spent their entire life-savings to seek answers.

But experts at the National Institute of Child Health Hospital (NICH) in Karachi, believe his disease was actually curable if it had been caught early enough.

Kamran Ali Channa's family have been told his melon-sized tumour on his ear is incurable cancer (pictured with his mother Shamshad, 30)

Dr Jamal Raza, a director at NICH, explained that Kamran has rhabdomyosarcoma cancer which was now spread to different organs in his body.

He said: 'It's a late referral case. Since it is on the face, there is a lot of disfigurement and it looks horrendous.

'It has already spread to his lungs and his spine which are not easy to treat. The cancer is now at stage four and currently he's on weekly chemotherapy.'

'His condition was initially curable. There was a chance to save his life if he was given the right treatment in the early stage but due to improper care and delayed treatment, his condition today is serious.

'He's in a lot of pain, it's an aggressive facial tumour but even if we remove it surgically, the cancer in other parts of his body will remain.'

His family have been forced to take loans from family and friends to be able to get the best possible care for their son.

Kamran Ali Channa complained of a small growth and pain in September last year - but local doctors initially dismissed the problem. It continued to grow

His father, Imtiaz Channa, 33, who works as a taxi driver, said: 'I have already taken loans from many different people for his treatment.

'I'm not even sure I'll ever be able to repay the money but my only focus is my child suffering from this life-threatening disease. I'll do anything to save him.

'I'm running around trying to borrow money from friends and relatives but unfortunately, there's little help.

'I wish there was someone who could help us in some way. I hope people remember my child in their prayers. I just want to see my child live.'

When the family first met with a doctor in a government-run hospital in Ghotki, in the northern part of the country, they were sent home.

They then visited another hospital in Sukkur - 44 miles (71km) away. Here, doctors advised surgery to remove an extended bone.

The family used some of their savings of 1110,000 Pakistani Rupees (840) to pay for the two-day treatment. However, nothing changed.

Eventually he was diagnosed with terminal cancer after his family spent their entire life-savings to seek answers

Experts believe his disease was actually curable if it had been caught early enough (pictured with his father Imtiaz Channa, 33)

WHAT IS THIS FORM OF CANCER? Fewer than 60 children are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in the UK each year. Most of them are younger than 10 years old. It's more common in boys than girls. These tumours develop from muscle or fibrous tissue and can grow in any part of the body. The most common areas of the body to be affected are around the head and neck, the bladder, the testes, the womb or the vagina. If the tumour is in the head or neck area, it can occasionally spread into the brain or the fluid around the spinal cord. The causes of rhadomyosarcoma are unknown but research is going on all the time. Source: Macmillan Advertisement

Imtiaz added: 'I used all my savings to pay for that surgery. I believed the doctors when they said an extra bone was causing the swelling.

'I even did extra shifts to earn more money for his treatment but the mass continued to grow.

'When we went back the next month to the same doctor who operated, he said he was busy with other patients and advised I take him to a better hospital.'

Kamran was then taken to Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital in Punjab at the end of October.

The family was once again forced to fork out more money, around 175,000 Pakistani Rupees (1,340) for three weeks of tests and treatment.

However, at the end of it all, the family where given the shock news that Kamran had cancer.

Imtiaz added: 'We were devastated. After meeting with so many doctors nothing had helped.

'My wife and I were speechless but I couldn't give up. I had to get my son better treatment.'
Doctors have removed a dead foetus from the stomach of a baby boy in India.

Initially thought to be born with a tumour, surgeons found a lump in his abdomen was actually the remains of his twin.

It was eventually removed from the unnamed 14-day-old boy during a two-hour long procedure.

Known as 'foetus in fetu', only 200 cases of the rare condition have ever been reported worldwide.

Initially thought to be born with a tumour, surgeons found a lump in the unnamed boy's abdomen was actually the remains of his twin

It is caused by the incomplete separation of twins, which fails to grow and instead becomes an internal part of the healthy twin.

A team of three experts at the SDM Medical Hospital in Dharward, a city in Karnataka, performed the operation.

Lead surgeon Dr Venkatesh Annigeri said: 'There was a tumour-like structure inside the baby's abdomen but soon we realised that it was the babys ill-fated twin that had failed to successfully separate and grow.

'It was a low birth weight baby, very minute structures, anaesthesia complications, and the foetus was adherent to vital structures of the baby.

It was eventually removed from the 14-day-old boy during a two-hour long procedure

WHAT IS FOETUS IN FETU? Foetus in fetu is an incredibly rare condition that affects only one in five million live births. It is a condition where the malformed foetus is found in the body of its twin. The foetus is found in the abdomen in 80 per cent of cases, although there have been reports of it occurring in the skull. There are only around 200 reports of it ever happening. While the diagnosis is gaining popularity, the World Health Organisation has classified 'foetus in fetu' as a variant of mature teratoma, a type of cancer where the tumour is well-developed. Advertisement

'It was only for the second time that I have come across such a rare case in my long medical career.'

The surgery was very challenging because the foetus was stuck in between the pelvis and retroperitoneum - a gap in the stomach.

He also said the condition could have been diagnosed if the mother had underwent an ultrasound.

Initially, the baby was taken to a different hospital nearby after they noticed a growth in his stomach.

They also reported that he had difficulty in passing urine, before he was transferred to the specialist unit.

The lump was found to be abdominal distention, which occurs when gas, fluid or solids accumulate in the tummy.

In this babys case it was due to the failed twin attached inside his abdominal cavity, the doctors said.

After the successful completion of the surgery, the baby recovered in neonatal intensive care unit of the hospital.

Local reports suggest that he is now ready to be discharged and sent back home.
A study has explained why condom-less sex drastically increases a woman's risk of infections, even if preventative treatment is used.

Unprotected sex with a male partner disrupts the highly delicate balance of bacteria in women's vaginas.

A healthy vagina typically has much higher levels of one particular strain of beneficial bacteria over others, which helps to prevent infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Some studies have shown that taking a progestin-only contraceptive pill can help to keep vaginal bacteria stabilized.

However, a new study by researchers in Australia warns that sex without a condom boosts levels of two BV-linked bacteria so significantly that it is incredibly difficult to keep that balance in check.

Having sex with a new partner further increases the risk.

Scroll down for video

Having sex with a man without a condom disrupts the vagina's bacterial balance, raising levels of bacteria that are associated with vaginal infections, Australian scientists have found

WHAT IS BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS? Bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes unusual vaginal discharge, but not soreness or itching. Around 30 per cent of women have BV at any one time. It occurs when there is a change in the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina. The discharge may be white or grey, thin and watery, and fishy in odour. Around half of BV cases have no symptoms. Treatment usually includes a course of antibiotics or a gel you apply inside the vagina. Source: NHS Choices and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement

Vaginas have five different strains of bacteria, with the Lactobacillus species typically being the most dominant.

There is general consensus among sexual health researchers that vaginas are healthiest when dominated by the L. crispatus strain.

This helps to keep the intimate area at a healthy pH, as well as fighting off bacteria, yeast and viruses before they establish.

Indeed, studies have shown that women with high levels of L. crispatus have a lower risk of all infections - including HIV.

Yet, this can be easily thrown off kilter, as semen and even menstruation can reduce Lactobacillus numbers, allowing BV-causing bacteria to thrive.

The new study by Melbourne's Monash University showed condom-less sex with a new partner significantly drives up levels of two dangerous bacteria: Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus iners.

To reach this conclusion, the research team tracked the bacteria living in 52 women's vaginas for a year.

Each woman swabbed her vagina every three months and kept a record of any sexual activities.

They also made a note of whether a condom was used during penetrative sex.

Overwhelmingly, women who had unprotected sex with new partners ended up having higher concentrations of Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus iners in their vagina than women using condoms or women in long-term relationships.

Lead investigator Lenka Vodstrcil, a research fellow at the university's sexual health center, said the findings suggest high levels of bacteria are sexually-transmitted, just like any other STI.

The findings are not unprecedented; Dr Janneke van de Wijgert, professor of infection and global health at University of Liverpool, went at far as to call sex with a new partner 'a microbial assault on the vagina,' according to New Scientist.

However, it builds on previous studies linking BV to condom-less sex - helping shed more light on the little-understood issue of what causes the debilitating condition.

Sex with a first-time partner further raise the risk as the vagina adapts to bacteria on the penis

BV is the most common vaginal infection in child-bearing women. And yet, more than 120 years after it was first identified in women, scientists remained stumped.

It causes unusual vaginal discharge, but not soreness or itching.

The discharge may be white or grey, thin and watery, and fishy in odour.

Treatment usually includes a course of antibiotics or a gel you apply inside the vagina.

Speaking to New Scientist, Dr van de Wijgert warned that it is difficult to get foolproof data from studies like Vodstrcil's, since participants often lie about the amount of sex they had or whether a condom was used.

Yet even with limitations, this study aligns with previous research showing how bacteria can transmit and fester.

Aside from wearing a condom during sex, male partners can reduce a woman's BV risk by keeping the penis clean, particularly the area under the foreskin.
Aspirin may be useless in preventing heart attacks in patients at risk - contradicting official NHS advice.

Those with fatty build-ups in their arteries receive no benefit by taking the over-the-counter drug, a new study found.

Known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), doctors have long advised patients to take a low doses of aspirin.

It was thought the drug helped to thin the blood and prevent the deadly clots that cause strokes and heart attacks.

But a review of 11 previous trials of aspirin on patients with PAD shows it may not be the 'miracle drug' it was believed to be.

Those with fatty build-ups in their arteries receive no benefit by taking aspirin, a study found

Researchers at the University of Florida Health found it had no impact on reducing death rates or incidences of stroke or heart attacks.

Despite advising patients not to give up taking aspirin just yet, they said their analysis on the drug is the most up to date for those with the condition.

Study author Dr Anthony Bavry said: 'Among patients with PAD, many of them may not be deriving the benefits from aspirin that they expect to be getting.

Dr Ahmed Mahmoud, who was also involved in the study, said: 'Aspirin might not be a miracle drug for certain patients.

'We need to reconsider the evidence, and see who benefits from aspirin therapy and who does not.'

After six years, 7.7 per cent of PAD patients who took aspirin had died - compared to 8.5 per cent in a control group.

Known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), doctors have long advised patients to take a low doses of aspirin

WHY ARE THEY PRESCRIBED ASPIRIN? Typically, a daily, low dose of aspirin (75mg) is prescribed for people who have heart disease, or who have had a heart attack or certain types of stroke. It's prescribed in this form to reduce the risk of blood clots forming, inhibiting circulating blood cells known as platelets. One of the most important protective roles of platelets is to stick together and block cuts and breaks in blood vessels. However, in people at risk of heart attacks and some kinds of stroke, platelets can stick together inside vessels - causing a clot and stop blood flowing to the heart or brain. Aspirin reduces the chances of this happening, which makes it useful for patients at risk. Source: BHF Advertisement

However, writing in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers said this did not reach statistical significance.

Rates of other major cardiac events, including heart attacks and strokes were also found to be similar.

They were keen to point out that further research is needed to confirm the findings and that patients should not immediately stop taking aspirin.

It is estimated that 8.5 million people in the US suffer from PAD, while it affects one in five of over-60s in the UK, figures suggest.

They are often recommended a 75mg dose of anti-platelets, such as aspirin, by their doctors, based on official recommendation from the health service watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

But recent evidence suggests it may also cause bleeding in the stomach and, in rare cases, bleeds in the brain that actually lead to strokes.

Studies have also shown aspirin is far less effective than other less risky blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin.

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation said: 'Peripheral arterial disease is a devastating condition and a major cause of lower limb amputation and infection in the UK.

'This research challenges current guidelines, by suggesting aspirin doesnt improve the outlook for people suffering from PAD, although further trials are needed to confirm this.'

A joint study by British and Dutch researchers last month found taking the drugs doubles the risk of heart attacks.
The Valentine House by Emma Henderson (Sceptre 17.99)

THE VALENTINE HOUSE

by Emma Henderson (Sceptre 17.99)

In 1914, Sir Anthony Valentine builds a chalet high up in the French Alps and every summer les rosbifs arrive, to the benefit of the curious locals who work for them.

For Mathilde, one of the domestic uglies chosen so as not to attract Sir Anthonys roving eye, it proves to be a deeper commitment: her life is shaped by the Valentines.

Later, George, a great-great-grandson, finds healing for his grief among the mountains. Between those two generations is spun a family history of secrets, silences and tragedy.

Hendersons Grace Williams Says It Loud was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and this more than matches it.

Gripping and poignant, it is also a passionate love letter to a landscape that has captivated the author.

The Tyrant's Shadow by Antonia Senior (Corvus 17.99)

THE TYRANT'S SHADOW

by Antonia Senior (Corvus 17.99)

In 1649, Oliver Cromwell is faced with a complicated political situation. Parliament is intractable and some consider him as tyrannical as the king he executed. Furthermore, the future Charles II is keeping a close watch from his exile.

Working as a lawyer for Cromwell is Will Johnson, but he is grieving for his dead wife, taking solace in drink.

His sister, the clever, principled Patience, has married a charismatic preacher and is struggling to keep her ideals intact. In a central irony, state and domestic tyranny appear to mirror each other.

The deft unpeeling of love and commitment gone sour is cleverly shown to encompass both the Protectorates religious ferment and personal dramas.

With wonderfully drawn characters confidently written, this is terrific.

White Highlands by John McGhie (Little Brown 14.99)

WHITE HIGHLANDS

by John McGhie (Little Brown 14.99)

With atrocities committed on both sides, the Mau Mau Rebellion, an uprising in Kenya against British rule during the Fifties, was a horrible episode.

Responsible for a documentary on the subject, the author has now written a densely plotted novel about the murder, violence and racial injustice that terrorised the colony during that time.

In 2008, British lawyer Sam Seymour joins a legal mission dealing with compensation claims from the Fifties. She has no idea she will be disinterring secrets involving her own grandparents of whom she knows nothing. What part did they play? And does she wish to know?

British colonialism painted areas of the map a pretty pink, but the fight to shore up the empire resulted in shocking episodes, and the authors indignation is palpable.
Stiff Upper Lip by Alex Renton (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 16.99)

STIFF UPPER LIP

by Alex Renton (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 16.99)

Undeterred by a well-nigh unbroken litany of sex abuse scandals over the years, the British still pack more children off to boarding schools than any other country on Earth.

Amazon tribesmen who routinely scald their children with hot water, or scratch their skin with sharks teeth in order to prepare them for the rigours of life, wouldnt dream of doing anything as drastic as sending them away from home for up to eight months a year.

As far as Alex Renton is concerned  himself a boarding school survivor, as its rather ludicrously become known  this enforced separation has had a catastrophic effect on the mental health of former pupils.

Time and again in Stiff Upper Lip, there are accounts of middle-aged men who have never been able to form loving relationships, express their feelings, or even experience happiness because at a very early age they effectively walled themselves up for their own protection.

They had learned a terrible lesson  that love is not reliable, that trust may be betrayed.

Emotionally stunted, physically and often sexually brutalised, theyve stumbled through life with a nagging sense of being incomplete, of having left some vital part of themselves behind with which they can never be reunited.

Time and again in Stiff Upper Lip, there are accounts of middle-aged men who have never been able to form loving relationships, express their feelings, or even experience happiness because at a very early age they effectively walled themselves up for their own protection

But the effects of such an education are far more wide-ranging, Renton believes.

With so many ex-boarders going on to become pillars of the Establishment, its no wonder institutions such as Westminster, the BBC and the NHS have traditionally turned blind eyes to sex abuse. When faced with anything embarrassing, anything grubby, their instinct has been to brush it under the carpet.

As a boarding school survivor myself  I was sent to prep school aged eight in the Sixties where, with wearisome predictability, I was sexually abused, not by a master, but by the head boy  I found myself nodding along with many of Rentons points.

I, too, learned to keep secrets as a child. To bottle up my emotions and screw on the top as tightly as possible. Certainly, I never felt I could tell my parents what had happened. And telling any of the masters was unthinkable  even then, I had a pretty good inkling whose side they were likely to be on.

The first person I ever told was my wife, and I was 50 at the time. Periodically, I still wonder how it has affected me. These things are hard to quantify, of course, but like a lot of the people who Renton interviewed, Ive always had a sense that my childhood came shuddering to a premature close  and that nothing has ever been quite the same since.

Even the Victorians recognised that sending their children off to boarding school had a very peculiar effect on them.

Around 1850, many parents noticed their sons had stopped crying. Prior to this, gentlemen  or those aspiring to be gentlemen  had no qualms about bursting into tears.

Prime ministers Pitt, Fox and Wellington wept buckets without feeling remotely embarrassed, while poet laureate Alfred Tennyson would blub uncontrollably as he read out his own verses.

Renton himself was sent  aged eight  to Ashdown House in Sussex, where on his first day he saw a short woman in a checked coat presenting a curly-haired boy even smaller than me to the headmaster. This turned out to be Princess Margaret and her son, David (pictured)

But then, all at once, boys stopped crying. Had their tear ducts suddenly run dry?

Rentons explanation is that, sent off in ever-increasing numbers to boarding schools, they learned to bottle up their feelings.

So why did the Victorians start sending their children away to be educated? In part, they wanted them to become upstanding Christian soldiers. But there were other, less exalted motives.

Parents had grown increasingly concerned that if their children stayed at home, little Hector or Augustus might be faced with an irresistible temptation  wanting to have sex with the servants.

The big problem  as we now know  is that a great many of the men who worked in these new boarding schools were mad, bad, or both.

Sadists, pederasts, tinpot tyrants... all were enthusiastically welcomed aboard. In 1860, a pupil at a private school of the highest class in Eastbourne was beaten to death by the headmaster.

Most of the stories in Stiff Upper Lip are less drastic than that, but still memorably awful: the persistent bed-wetter recalling how the matron at his school would rub his nose into his urine-soaked sheets every morning; the girl with a dairy allergy who was forced, again by the matron, to drink a glass of milk, then to clear up the mess after she vomited.

Renton himself was sent  aged eight  to Ashdown House in Sussex, where on his first day he saw a short woman in a checked coat presenting a curly-haired boy even smaller than me to the headmaster.

This turned out to be Princess Margaret and her son, David.

Rentons mother commented about the headmaster: He seems very nice. In fact, he turned out to be a sadistic drunk who beat boys so severely that they had purple welts for weeks afterwards. But while Renton convincingly argues the case against boarding schools, he has overlooked one key element  its absurdity.

Rightly, he doffs his cap to George Orwell, whose essay about his own prep school days, Such, Such Were The Joys, is savage in its criticisms.

But however savage, Orwells essay is also extremely funny, and its the absurdity of boarding school life  most notably its idiotic rituals and traditions  that helped make it so sinister.

The playwright David Hare remembers how at his public school, Lancing College, boys were ordered to swim naked on the unlikely pretext that if we wore trunks, the fibres from our garments would clog up the filters.

You can huff away with shock and indignation at this, of course, but youd need to have had a complete sense of humour bypass not to crack a wry smile at the same time.

Ah, but everything has changed now. At least thats what parents tell themselves as they pack their children off to boarding schools.

Certainly, some things have changed. These days, fees have increased so much that schools can afford to be far more selective about who they employ. Partly as a result, the beatings, the bullying, the sexual abuse are largely things of the past.

Nor is there any doubt that a lot of the children who go off to board aged 13  rather than at eight  find it a rewarding and enjoyable experience. They have their own rooms, can go home at weekends and may call their parents whenever they want.

Yet none of this is enough to persuade me to send my children  aged ten and nine  away to school.

Some things havent changed. For instance, headmasters have no more legal obligation to report instances of sexual abuse to the police now than they did 50 years ago.

And, as Renton concludes at the end of this grimly depressing, often lumpily written yet enormously valuable book: theres one thing that can never change  they are still boarding schools.
The Air Force is raising an army to cover all its bases. Seeking to foil any Pathankot-like attacks by Pakistani groups, the IAF is creating a combat force of its own men and women who are being trained in Punjab's Bathinda district to tackle such terror strikes.

Four Pakistani terrorists laid siege to the Pathankot air force station in January last year. Half a dozen security personnel were killed before the attackers were neutralised by the National Security Guard in concert with the IAF's Commando Force but with little support from manpower at the base.

'We felt that there was a need to review our training for quick reaction situations as we needed to train men and women who can act as first line of defence against any such future attacks,' Group Captain S Pasricha, who heads the Bathinda airbase, told Mail Today.

The IAF is creating a combat force of its own men and women who are being trained in Punjab's Bathinda district to tackle such terror strikes

Indian security personnel stand alert on a road leading to an airforce base in Pathankot

Bathinda is home to the first security training school (STS) of the Air Force which is tasked to impart tough Army-like training to 225 officers and air warriors in each course so that they are able to handle all kinds of modern weapons and easily counter a group of terrorists trying to attack airbases.

The Number One STS, which came into being in August last year, has so far, trained close to 1,300 personnel including female officers who go back to their home bases after four weeks' training and become part of the anti-terrorist quick reaction teams there.

'We are training both officers and men together with no relaxations for anyone.

'Everybody is made to go through the gruelling training process which includes carrying out Army-like night patrols, route marches and ambushes so that we can kill and destroy the intruders or at least contain them effectively on our own,' STS commanding officer and chief instructor Wing Commander Manpreet Singh said.

He said the trainees are 22-25 years old as only those people are being detailed for training who are young and have put in a few years in the service.

Delhi Police arrest suspected terrorists suspected of playing a role in the Pathankot Air Base terror attack

IAF officials say the terrorist attack around New Year's Eve over 15 months ago was a much-needed jolt for the force which was till then not focusing enough on the need for preparing its men for ground combat.

'We had quick reaction teams earlier where 40-50 men once in six months would go for a course. But, now after Pathankot, our focus has totally changed. We now also have the second security school in Naliya, Gujarat for imparting QRT training to personnel who are swift and agile,' Pasricha said.

As Mail Today spent two days through the gruelling physical training sessions with the trainees, we could see the security mindset of the force changing.

'The troops who are trained for being technicians or men and women who are supposed to fly aircraft are talking and discussing about killing terrorists as they take the Pathankot attack as a personal challenge and are fully charged about their new experience,' says Flight Lieutenant Siddhartha, who trains troops for chasing and killing terrorists in encounters.

Indian soldiers are seen conducting search operations on a rooftops of quarters at Pathankot Air Force Base during a terror strike

Old-timers in the service say this is the first time that the Air Force has been so highly focussed about physical toughening of men and women.

Instructors at the base say the female officers are also matching the performance of the men in these tough physical drills.

'A bullet won't discriminate between officers and airmen or men and women and that is why, there is no discrimination in training as well,' said Squadron Leader Mihir Mehta, an instructorat the base.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is set for a rough ride ahead over a controversial land allotment in Gurugram

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is set for a rough ride ahead over controversial land allotment in Gurugram.

The Prime Minister's office has instructed the state's Manohar Lal Khattar-led administration to take appropriate action in the matter amid allegations of malpractice over the construction of an amusement park while under Hooda's Congress government.

The Millennium City, which gives Haryana the lion's share of its revenues, has long been the nerve centre of land scams as it is a major hub of housing and infrastructure projects in Haryana.

When contacted by Mail Today, Hooda's office refused to comment on the issue.

The department of personnel and training (DoPT) under the Centre sent a letter to the chief minister's office (CMO) on April 5, directing that a complaint made by Gurugram-based Right to Information (RTI) activist Harinder Dhingra against Hooda be placed before CM Khattar for 'appropriate action'.

'As the direction comes from the Prime Minister's Office, so appropriate action will surely be instituted by the government,' said the chief minister's officer on special duty Jawahar Yadav.

Haryana Urban Development Authority had allotted on lease 58 acres of prime land allegedly at throwaway rates to International Recreation & Amusement Limited (IRAL), the holding company of the Appu Ghar, for development of amusement parks in 2009.

This included 25 acres in Sector 29 and 23 acres in Sector 52-A and 53-A of Gurugram.

'We can show all the documents including the tender documents which are in order,' said Rakesh Babbar, director of International Recreation & Amusement Limited.

'Our water park is one of the best in India and we are doing very well. We have opened Smash recently for which Sachin Tendulkar was the brand ambassador.

'We are not able to get an atmosphere that is conducive for doing business. See his (Harinder Dhingra's) record: there is not one person of consequence in Gurugram that he has not complained against or he has not filed an RTI against.'

Dhingra made his complaint to the PMO in September 2016 and even met the Prime Minister.

'The promoters had met the chief minister (Hooda) and submitted the proposal for making Appu Ghar on June 22, 2010 which became the letter of intent (LoI) on June 26.

The whole machinery of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) was pressed into service and in the first week of July tender was also floated.

The specifications of the tender were tailor-made for initiators of the project and as such no other bidder qualified,' he said.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda at Parliament, Delhi

He also alleged Master Plan 2021 for Gurugram was tweaked at the request of the then CM.

'Land earlier locked for bus stand and under 'open spaces' was acquired and then 42 acres of land was allotted to the company for just Rs 94.5 crore against the official circle rate of Rs 826 crore and commercial rates of Rs 3,000 crore,' Dhingra said.

A group of Gurugram residents last year took to the streets and participated in a candlelight march to press for a CBI inquiry into the issue.

'The water park does not make money. It is not commercial, which is why the government thought that it will develop this by giving some land for commercial use also. This is an open area.

Therefore, it was given on concessional rates, because we are not doing any commercial activity and thus cannot be charged commercial rates,' said Babbar, who is the brother of BJP Delhi unit vice-president Rajiv Babbar.

'They say there was a bus stand here, but according to government there was nothing like that.

'Only my reputation and my brand Appu Ghar is being maligned. Just as in Disneyland, such big amusement and tourist spots can't be made possible without hand-holding of the government.'
Recruitment firm Hays has unveiled a slowdown in its UK and Ireland business as London trading remained tough during the third quarter.

The firm flagged earlier this year that its UK business had suffered a Brexit hit, after British companies applied the brakes to their hiring plans following the EU referendum vote.

Fees in the UK and Ireland slipped 4 per cent for the three months to the end of March this year, as it was dragged down by an 8 per cent decline in the capital.

Hays domestic market has continued to see tough times and as a result shares are down

While smaller recruiter Robert Walters said this week that London banks were hiring more staff, Hays echoed rival PageGroup's sentiment that there had been no meaningful recovery as uncertainity lingers about trading arrangements once Britain leaves the EU.

Finance Director Paul Venables, said: 'The banking market is in a better place than it was in a year ago, but it is still pretty subdued.'

However he said the hiring market for manufacturing jobs was healthier, with demand strong from large international companies in regions outside of London.

He added: 'That's a real positive for the next year or two... The market is in a much better place than it was 9 months ago.'

Shares in the FTSE 250 listed company were off 1p at 167.4p.

Nevertheless problems at home were softened by better trading conditions abroad.

As a result the company said fees for the third quarter had hit an all-time high, driven by an 18 per cent leap in growth across continental Europe and the rest of the world.

Total net fees grew 10 per cent on a like-for-like basis over the period.

But the recruiter Hays says larger manufacturers hiring again in the UK

Chief executive Alistair Cox added that the record fee performance had given the firm confidence to lift its expectations for full-year profits.

He said: 'Growth was broad-based and driven by strong performances in our international businesses. Europe delivered excellent results, led by an all-time record performance in Germany, as we continued to invest in additional headcount.

'Growth in Australia accelerated further and was strong across all states. In the UK, while the public sector market remained tough, we saw continued signs of improvement in the private sector market.

'Looking ahead, conditions remain good in the vast majority of our markets, notably Australia, Europe and North America. In the UK, market conditions remain in line with the underlying Q3 trends.'

Hays, which employs 9,600 people across 33 countries, now expects annual operating profit to be at the top range of market predictions of between 199million and 209million.
Eleven English majors traveled with Lees Dr. Kevin Brown to Louisville, Ky., for the 93rd Sigma Tau Delta International Convention, where students presented their original creative and critical pieces.

The international convention is an excellent opportunity for our students to share their work, hear pieces by their peers from around the world, and listen to readings from award-winning writers, said Dr. Brown, professor of English at Lee. It shows them how wide the world of English is and helps them find their place within it.

The student presenters included Anna DuPree, Katie Hass, Bethanie Hathaway, Evan Humphreys, Evan Pell, Hannah Rogers, Hailey Rudd, and Eric Sheranko. Additionally, Ms. Hass, Charity Parris, and Rebekah Taylor served as presentation panel chairs.

I feel that Ive grown a lot as an English major, and attending two conventions definitely contributed to that significantly, said Mr. Pell, a senior English and Spanish major. My favorite part of convention has always been the way it fosters friendships between different people in the English major at Lee. I love getting to hear my peers present their academic and creative work, some of which I never would have had the opportunity to hear if it hadn't been for convention.

With over 900 submissions, approximately 600 students from throughout the United States and abroad had their work accepted by a panel of judges. These students were invited to present their work at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention.

Pieces presented at the convention were eligible for awards, which were given on the last night of the event at the convention gala. Lees chapter won second place for its chapter display, arranged and designed by Ms. Hass and Ms. Taylor to highlight the years events.

"Being able to attend the Sigma Tau Delta convention as a freshman was especially rewarding because I was able to learn more about how other English students go about writing and presenting their works successfully, said Ashley Walker, an English and humanities major. As I hope to submit and present my own work at future conventions, I believe that this knowledge will prove beneficial in the long run.



While in Louisville, the group presented work, chaired presentation panels, attended workshops, and heard internationally and nationally known authors speak. Dr. Brown, who serves as a board member and the Southern Regent for the honor society, attended board meetings, led regional meetings, and moderated several presentation panels.

According to Dr. Brown, Lees chapter of Sigma Tau Delta is one of the most active chapters in the Southern Region. They host an annual symposium, organize monthly events, induct new members every semester, and have attended 12 of the past 13 conventions.

Sigma Tau Delta is an international collegiate English honor society and one of the largest members of the Association of College Honor Societies. The organization was established in 1924 to recognize achievement in English language, literature, and writing. The society, exclusive to four-year colleges and universities, inducts approximately 9,000 members annually into over 880 active chapters in the United States and abroad.

For more information about Sigma Tau Delta or the 2017 international convention, visit www.english.org.






Matt Horan, whose Poole company C3IA Solutions works with GCHQ, wants to help Britons beat scams that now cost consumers 5billion every year - and knows the tricks on how to infuriate them

One of Britain's top IT experts with a fearsome reputation for turning the tables on cold callers and fraudsters is today helping MailOnline readers do the same.

Matt Horan, whose Poole company C3IA Solutions works with GCHQ, wants to help Britons beat scams that now cost consumers 5billion every year.

Phone and internet fraud has reached 'epidemic' levels in the past year with 5.6million people being ripped off on the phone or online.

Con artists are using new tactics every day to get people to part with their cash, with victims sucked in losing an average of 2,500 each.

Mr Horan found fame this year after he was filmed posing as an ignorant computer user as a conman tried to take control of his computer.

After 35 minutes of wasting their time the supervisor became so irate he told Mr Horan to 'f*** off' before slamming down the phone.

Today he is spelling out the top scams used by fraudsters and has set out how to spot the tell-tale signs you are being ripped off.

Mr Horan found fame this year after he was filmed posing as an ignorant computer user as a conman tried to take control of his computer - he frustrated the cold caller so much he hung up after saying 'f*** you'

The scams

Phishing: Spoof emails asking for you to enter information, respond to a request, donate something or pay something. If people respond they hand data over to fraudsters;

Vishing: It is a scam when caller is trying to get you to do something that will compromise your PC or provide them with account information. They may also ask to take over your machine claiming there is something wrong with it;

ID Fraud: People have their cards cloned when using ATM machines and the card is then used to purchase theatre tickets, shopping, meals or other luxuries;

WarDriving: WarDriving involves criminals driving around and finding an insecure WiFI Access Point and then using this for access to the internet. This has been greatly reduced to establishment free WiFI Hotspots and also users now utilising strong WiFI encryption using WPA2;

eBay fakes: There are increasing instances of fake items being sold and over the internet, even though some seem to have good references and approval ratings, these can be spoofed;

Man in the Middle: This is when fraudsters make a near perfect copy a website that you are trying to log into. The victim Google's their bank, for example, and follows the link that is presented. The victim then logs into his/her account entering their credentials because this is a fake site. The fraudsters then capture the victim's account details and almost at the same time log into the real site using the victims credentials. It is then just a case of transferring money out of the account, buying goods, or changing account details so the victim cannot gain access and the fraudster has full access;

How to fight back

Tip 1: Remember: If the caller is genuine they will know your account details already. They will never ask it. They will not need your email address, address, mobile phone number or account reference number;

Tip 2: If they call you always ask them to give you a direct dial number that you can call them back on. Con artists will often refuse;

Tip 3: If your telephone has a 'number calling' display and you don't recognise the number then ignore it and check it online. If it is a genuine call they will call back. If it doesn't display a number, or the number is withheld, then don't answer it;

Tip 4: If the caller is asking you to donate money and claim to be a fundraising organisation, always ask them for their registered charity number. Always ask what the money is for, who the trustees are and do not pay any money over the phone. Confirm the information given against that on their website and the Charities Commission. If they are legitimate they will be happy for you to do this;

Tip 5: Frustrate them. Keep callers on the phone for some time. Ask genuine probing questions about what they are doing and why. If they start getting angry or defensive it is a good sign they are not genuine and will often hang up;

Tip 6: If it sounds too good a deal or bargain then, as a general rule, it will be;

Tip 7: If anyone asks for your bank account details, passwords, your answers to security questions or any other personal information then just hang up;

'Ferociously greedy' fraudster family tricked pensioners in a 1.3million cold-calling scam to finance their own life of luxury

A family of fraudsters who tricked pensioners out of 1.3million which they spent on expensive cars and watches were jailed for over twenty years.

The 'ferociously greedy' Mohammed family cold-called victims posing as fraud advisers from Visa or high-street banks and saying they had been targeted in a scam.

Led by Atif Mohammed, 25, the family then invited their victim to hang up and redial their own bank's fraud team themselves to gain their trust.

But they stayed on the line, intercepted the return call and either put on a fake voice or handed the phone to another family member to pose as a legitimate bank official.

Atif Mohammed (left) and his cousin Asif Ali (right) ran a phone scam which stole the savings of pensioners

Shabeer (left) and Shakeel Ahmed (right) were also took part in the con, which saw people phoned up and told they had been targeted by fraudsters and encouraged to pay money into a bank account

Call centre worker Zoe Latif (left) gave the gang victim's details. Atif's mother Shameem Ali Mohammed (right) had stolen property

At least 42 elderly and vulnerable people from across the UK were encouraged to transfer their savings - up to 129,000 in one case - into another bank account.

The fraudsters then spent the money 'like water' - on luxury cars including a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo, a white Land Rover, a Ferrari and a Mercedes, Bristol Crown Court heard.

It also funded designer bags, gold, expensive watches, gambling ventures and trips abroad, including repeat visits to Dubai where they bought a house.

The Mohammeds, originally from Pakistan, called thousands of people using dozens of phones over 13 months as part of the 'vishing' - voice phishing - scam between December 2013 and January 2015.

Most of the victims will never get their money back because banks view such incidents - where people willingly transfer money - as their own fault.

Seven members of the family, from Glasgow, were jailed for between two and six years last year.

Sentencing them, Judge Barry Cotter QC said: 'Those who fell for it tended to be the more unworldly and naive.

'Whilst they were not specifically targeted as vulnerable, it is obvious that it was people who did not have a suspicion that many people would have who were victims.'

The gang made thousands out of the scam and 100,000 in cash was found when they were arrested

The group frittered the money away on expensive goods including these watches (above and below)

'Heartless' cold callers hounded an elderly couple to their deaths and robbed them of their life savings with daily early morning calls

John and Olga Moyle were 'hounded to death' during their final years and were bombarded with early morning calls

A 'heartless' cold caller 'hounded an elderly couple to their deaths' by bombarding them with fraudulent calls that forced them to sell their home of 50 years after they found themselves 74,000 in debt.

A court heard how Barbara Stone targeted John and Olga Moyle on a daily basis - sometimes calling from as early as 7.45am - while the devoted husband attempted to care for his wife, who was dying from cancer.

Stone convinced the pair to place adverts in a lifestyle magazine for the small holiday home they owned in France.

The 62-year-old persuaded 'frail' Mr Moyle to hand over 8,000 a month for almost a year, falsely promising non-existent sponsors would reimburse the money, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

But not a single booking for the property, near Nice, was ever made - and the Moyles were eventually forced to sell the Shropshire home they had lived in for almost 50 years to pay off the massive debts they built up because of the scam.

Grandmother Mrs Moyle, 84, died just a month after the house was placed on the market in 2011.

And Mr Moyle, who had pleaded with Stone to stop, passed away four years later at the age of 83.

Now a judge, Trading Standards, and the couple's devastated daughter all came to the conclusion that the 'relentless' sales representative's actions played a part in their deaths.

Stone, of Winston, Leicester, admitted two counts of fraud by false representation between January and November 2010, and was given a 22-month suspended jail term.

Barbara Stone (pictured right) arriving at Nottingham Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation

Santander customers losing thousands to terrifying smishing scam - and the banking giant fobs off fraud victims in just 24 hours

Victim: Claire Pearson, from Wallington, is a Santander customer who lost 72k in an text messaging banking scam. The cash was taken when she was seven months pregnant

Fraud victims who have lost their life savings are being fobbed off by Santander in as little as 24 hours, Money Mail and This is Money can reveal.

Mother-to-be Claire Pearson, 38, from Surrey, lost almost all of the 71,700 inheritance she'd received from her late father.

Claire was about to put down a deposit on a house in February when she received a text message saying her debit card had been used for a large payment she didn't recognise.

Terry and Cecilia Allen lost their 3,200 holiday fund for a much-needed break to Spain in May after their son and daughter died.

In March, Terry, a 75-year-old retired engineer, received a text message, which appeared to be from Santander, asking him to confirm a transaction on his account for an Uber taxi in London.

The couple, who live in Basingstoke, Hampshire, hadn't visited the capital, so Terry replied with an 'N' for no.

A further text message asked him to reply with the 'One Time Passcode' that he'd receive.

Terry says this is the only code he divulged.

Customers who have lost thousands of pounds in sophisticated scams are being sent carbon-copy letters by the bank rejecting their requests for a refund.

The documents all bear the same signature and use similar sentences to blame the customer for allowing a crook to get at their money. Some are identical apart from a few words.

Nearly all of the letters we've seen fail to explain how customers  many of whom are traumatised  can complain, or point out that they can take their cases to the financial ombudsman, which settles disputes between banks and their customers.

The City watchdog usually forces banks to spell out these rights when they dismiss customers' gripes.

But Santander says that these rules don't apply in these cases because customers are making 'claims' rather than 'complaints'.

Our findings call into question whether Santander is carrying out full investigations into fraud cases before sending rejection letters.

Ripped off: Daniel Hughes, 19, and Terry Allen, 75, lost almost 5,000 between them in the scam

Callous: Santander customers who have lost thousands of pounds to sophisticated scams are being sent carbon-copy letters by the bank rejecting requests for a refund
Li Liangwei goes around China pretending to be Donald Trump.

The 65-year-old man has jet-black hair, admires Communism and speaks no English. Nevertheless, he has decided to pursue a new career in his sunset years impersonating a figure from a far-away land: Donald Trump.

The retired magazine publisher, who comes from Hunan, the home province of Chairman Mao, said he doesn't care much about politics.

However, as soon as Mr Li saw Trump on TV, he thought the US President is a 'clever person', an 'inspirational figure' and a 'great leader'.

Scroll down for video

Li Liangwei, a retired magazine publisher, is a Donald Trump impersonator from China. The 65-year-old tours around the country to shoot commercials pretending to be the US President

Mr Li said that Trump's hand gesture represents the billionaire president the best. Pictured, Trump gives a double thumbs-up as he arrives to speak at the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriff's Association Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, in 2017

'I can tell if someone is a good person or a bad person at a glance. When I saw Trump, I knew he would be a great leader,' Li Liangwei told MailOnline during a phone interview.

'Roman wasn't built in one day. Trump has aspired to be a great person since he was young. He has extensive knowledge and always thinks for his country.'

Mr Li, who is five years younger than Trump, added: 'It's an extraordinary thing to become the US president at the age of 70.'

When Mr Li performs, his agent, Zou Dangrong, would arrange his hair to be dyed and whitening foundation to be applied before he takes the stage.

However, the impersonator stressed that 'appearance isn't everything'.

'I specialise in imitating Trump's gestures and facial expressions,' Mr Li said.

While promoting a tea brand, Mr Li holds a small barrel of tea in his left hand and does a thumbs-up with his right hand to imitate Trump

US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he speaks during his swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC

Apparently, the man is best known for his Trump hand gestures. In one promotional photo, Mr Li stretched out both arms and gave a double thumbs-up - a posture which he thinks best captures the billionaire leader.

In another commercial clip provided by Zou Dangrong, Mr Li was promoting a tea brand, called 'Above the Moon'. The man held a small barrel of tea in his left hand and did yet again another thumbs-up with his right hand.

'His thumbs-up gesture is spot on,' Zou Dangrong told MailOnline, referring to Mr Li's imitation effort. 'When he uses his thumb to say something is okay, he looks a lot like Trump, his posture, his hairstyle, the look in his eyes, etc.'

It is Mr Zou who discovered what he calls the 'uncanny resemblances' between Li Liangwei and Donald Trump.

China's Trump impersonator Li Liangwei (middle) stands with a team of actors pretending to be his bodyguards. The man was discovered by agent Zou Dangrong who also manages the Chinese impersonator of Barack Obama

The retired magazine publisher said he doesn't care much about politics, but as soon as he saw Trump on TV, he thought the US President is a 'clever person' and an 'inspirational figure'

Li Liangwei (right, without makeup) has jet-black hair and speaks no English, however the man said that 'appearance isn't everything' while impersonating Trump (left, pictured on April 11 in Washington, DC)

Mr Zou owns a TV production company in Hunan Province. He also manages Xiao Jiguo, the Chinese impersonator of Barack Obama.

'As Trump won the election and Obama's second term drew to a close late last year, I wondered if I could find a Trump impersonator - because it would be harder and harder for Obama's look-a-like to find business,' said Mr Zou.

He tried to research on the internet and through his connections, but failed to find suitable candidates.

Mr Zou discovered Mr Li by chance.

The two had known each other for decades. When Mr Li worked at a magazine in Hunan Province in the 1990s, Mr Zou was his staff. Mr Zou later left to start his own business.

One day last November, the two had dinner together. While debating over a topic, Mr Li put down his glass, rose a hand and did a thumbs-up.

Mr Li immediately asked him to do that gesture again. He told Mr Li: 'You look like someone. You look like US President Trump.'

Mr Zou said he took pictures of Mr Li and shared them on WeChat, a Chinese social media app. The picture received great feedback, with many people commenting on the 'striking similarities'.

Mr Li's agent would makeup artists to give the man a make-over before he performs. Hair dye would be used and whitening powder would be applied

'I specialise in imitating Trump's gestures and facial expressions,' Mr Li stressed, adding that his looks wouldn't hinder his effort of copying Trump

The agent then hired makeup artists to give Mr Li a 'westernised' make-over, aided by hair dye, whitening foundation and blue contact lenses. Thus, a new star was born.

Mr Zou said: 'There are many similarities between Trump and Mr Li.

'First of all, Trump has written books since 1980s; Mr Li was a writer and a magazine publisher. Secondly, they were both born to established families and are keen on social activities. In addition, one of Trump's daughters sings while Mr Li's daughter is a doctor of international music.'

According to Mr Zou, most of Mr Li's clients have been medical firms which wish to promote their plastic surgery procedures, such as eye bag removal.

Speaking of Trump's controversial comments, especially those on China, Mr Zou explained: 'Trump is debatable in China. He's not like Obama, whom everybody likes.'

Mr Zou believed Trump is still at the stage of teething in his presidential role and that he is getting to know about China.

'In conclusion, he is very smart and capable,' added Mr Zou.

Li Liangwei seemed to agree. He said: 'The relationship between countries are like the relationship between family members. There will always be disagreements, but they usually pass the day after.'

He added: 'Trump's sayings and doings reflect the process of his strategy planning, and it's a great process. I like the fact that he doesn't change his decisions easily based on other people's comments.'

Funnily, the impersonator, who speaks in thickly accented Mandarin, concluded our interview with an impression he thought he did even better: of Chairman Mao.

'I came from the same place as Chairman Mao. Do you know my accent is just like his?'

The man then had a little cough and gave the famous announcement the Great Helmsman delivered on the Tian'anmen Square in 1949: 'I declare the People's Republic of China is founded.'
It is the explosive feud at the center of the world's most talked about podcast: the battle for John B. McLemore's rumored trove of buried gold.

On the one side is 26-year-old Tyler Goodson, a dope-smoking tattoo artist who claims he is the rightful heir to McLemore, a brilliant and allegedly wealthy malcontent who committed suicide by drinking cyanide.

But standing in his way is the 'conniving cousin' Reta Lawrence, 63, accused of arriving on the scene within hours of McLemore's death to sweep up his land and riches in the absence of a will.

The ensuing skirmish lands Goodson in court and provides the central intrigue for S-Town, the smash hit podcast which was downloaded by more than 16 million listeners in its first week alone.

John B. McLemore is the central figure in the new podcast, S-Town, the most downloaded audio show in history. The seven part mini-series lays bare McLemore's battle with depression, his secret homosexual liaisons and the ugly skirmish for his property and possessions

Despite his apparent scorn for his hometown Woodstock, which he called S**t Town, McLemore spent his entire life in the town with his mother, Mary Grace, 88

The battle for McLemore's rumored trove of buried gold is a central story line of the new blockbuster podcast

The tatted up McLemore first contacted American Life podcast producer Brian Reed in 2012 urging him to investigate the son of a wealthy man who allegedly boasted about getting away with murder. But the podcast soon morphed into an exploration of McLemore's bizarre life

And when DailyMail.com tracked down both parties to see how things have played out, we found their simmering legal battle shows no signs of fizzling.

'People are going to believe what they want to believe and that's fine,' Charles Lawrence, Reta's 67-year-old husband, tells DailyMail.com. 'But if you listen to the podcast you know who the white trash is.'

S-Town took shape when Brian Reed, an investigative journalist and This American Life producer, agreed to meet McLemore five years ago to examine an unsolved murder.

Reed established that the murder never happened but developed a close friendship with the mercurial clock restorer who killed himself in June 2015 on the front porch of his rural Alabama home.

Rather than abandoning his project, Reed began piecing together the labyrinthine mysteries of McLemore's eccentric life, from the giant hedge maze he built on his land to the rumored hoard of gold he buried beneath it.

The setting for this twisting, turning narrative is S-Town, or 'S**t town', McLemore's unflattering nickname for his tiny hometown of Woodstock, where Tyler says he is now public enemy number one.

On the one side is McLemore's 'conniving cousin' Reta Lawrence, 63, with her husband, Charles, 69, accused of arriving on the scene within hours of the clock worker's death to sweep up his land and riches in the absence of a will

On the other side is 26-year-old Tyler Goodson, a dope-smoking tattoo artist who claims he is McLemore's rightful heir

Goodson regarded McLemore as a father figure and insists he was promised the entire 148 acre estate, complete with the exotic flowers, orchards and the giant hedge maze the two men build together

'I've had a lot of love from around the world but people in this s**t town hate me because of this,' Goodson tells DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

'It's caused a whole lot of drama. I lost my construction job. The guy I work for knows I'm not the villain but he thinks all this excitement is bad for business.'

Goodson regarded McLemore as a father figure and mentor, insisting he was promised his entire 148-acre estate, complete with the exotic flowers, orchards and the elaborate maze the two friends built together.

The father-of-four spent almost every day at the reclusive McLemore's side, tending to his grounds and helping care for his elderly mother, Mary Grace.

But there was also a dark side to their relationship, with the younger man consenting to tattoo McLemore's torso and pierce his nipples repeatedly in a nightly sadomasochistic ritual dubbed 'church'.

Tyler was with McLemore hours before his death to mark Father's Day but he left when the two men got into an argument and never spoke to his troubled older friend again.

'I started caring for John because he cared about me,' said Goodson, who no longer speaks to his own father.

'He saw what a piece of s**t daddy we had. He could have been a rough daddy as well but he was a good dude.

The reclusive McLemroe, here at the entrance to his elaborate maze, committed suicide in June 2015 by drinking potassium cyanide

DailyMail.com reveals that Tyler Goodson, who helped John build the maze, may not have been the only alleged intruder accessing the property after McLemore's death, with reports circulating about S-Town fans creeping through to catch glimpses of his house and maze

McLemore's intricate hedge maze has adjustable gates for 64 possible solutions. S-Town producer Reed said that throughout work on the podcast he was drawn to how different McLemore was from other people. 'Being with him really felt like really being off the grid in a way that the normal rules of society don't totally matter, and he created that feeling'

An online 'Save the Maze' campaign is dedicated to finding a way to preserve the labyrinth

'I was his groundskeeper. I didn't charge him because it felt like it was my responsibility. I took him leftovers every night and brought his mama a biscuit in the morning.

'When he died it was like I was in shock. I would dream it didn't happen and think I could get up and go back over there.'

Goodson did go back onto McLemore's property - repeatedly - allegedly taking away his laptop, papers and even his dog, Pipsqueak, and retrieving tattooing equipment and tools he claims are his.

He also scoured the earth with a metal detector and dug holes in search of buried gold.

When Goodson took a bus, a trailer and sold two more of McLemore's vehicles by allegedly forging ownership documents, McLemore's cousin Reta, from Welaka, Florida, intervened to have him arrested.

To date he faces five counts of first-degree theft of property, two counts of first-degree forgery, one count of third-degree trespassing and one count of second-degree possession of a forged instrument in a case scheduled for June.

Lawrence and her retired husband Charles, 67, are incredulous at suggestions they acted improperly to cut Tyler out, regarding him as a gold digger who leached off McLemore and had no right to his legacy.

Most of Woodstock has come to regard McLemore's gold as an elaborate hoax with many siding against Goodson, who allegedly used the stolen lumber and materials to build a new home across town

John B. McLemore's grave in the Green Pond Presbyterian Church Cemetery

They say they arrived at his home the night of his suicide solely to take care of Mary Grace, not to stake an early claim to McLemore's land or hunt for treasure.

'We don't really think there was any gold. There might have been at one time but we think probably that was all gone,' said Mr. Lawrence, a retiree with no children.

'My wife made a comment about finding it on the podcast that made her look bad. It was taken out of context but it was basically made as a joke.

'In the same way she made a comment about removing John's nipple rings. But she was frustrated with the police, frustrated with someone breaking in on the property every night.

'She was trying to make arrangements for a funeral, trying to make arrangements to take care of an 88-year-old woman.

'And all of a sudden an undertaker tells you "I can't get the rings out", oh really? It was out of frustration.

'There was no reward for us. We don't need money. We are responsible for Mary Grace and we are doing the best we can to make sure she's comfortable and taken care of. Other than that we have no interest in it.'

Most of Woodstock has come to regard McLemore's gold as an elaborate hoax with many siding against Goodson, who allegedly used the stolen lumber and materials to build a new home across town.

In spite of all evidence to the contrary, Goodson, however, remains convinced the gold is still buried under McLemore's home.

Either that or it's been spirited away by a cabal of local bigwigs, including Woodstock's former town clerk, Faye Gamble, or McLemore's former lawyer, Boozer Downs.

'When he died it was f**ked up. I just assumed that he had something set up,' he told DailyMail.com.

'Once I went to his lawyer's office and that son of a b***h shoved me out the door, I knew something was wrong.

'John B didn't have a will, are you f**king kidding me? Who is gonna have a suicide note that is so elaborate it could be a book and not have a will?

'I think there is gold. Boozer and Faye may have a portion of it. But what they got is just chump change. The rest of it is there.

'Finally I said to hell with it. I said "just let me get my damn s**t". And they wouldn't even let me do that.'

Brian Reed, an investigative journalist and This American Life producer, met McLemore five years ago when he visited his rural Alabama home to examine an unsolved murder. Reed established that the murder never happened but developed a close friendship with McLemore

The series has polarized opinion among Woodstock's 1,500 inhabitants, with many torn between their admiration for Reed's storytelling and unease at being thrust into the spotlight

S-Town has proved a global smash hit, racking up as many downloads in one week as the first season of its critically acclaimed predecessor, Serial, achieved in two months.

The final episode poses another beguiling, unanswered question - whether McLemore's mental illness was brought about by his repeated exposure to the poisonous chemicals he used to meticulously restore clocks.

The mercurial horologist had an international reputation through the brilliance of his work but was notorious for persisting with an outdated, dangerous method called 'fire gilding' which exposed him to dangerous levels of mercury.

Mercury poisoning is said to have given rise to the phrase 'mad as a hatter', owing to the plight of 19th century milliners who suffered brain damage, tremors, slurred speech and even hallucinations after working repeatedly with the hazardous metal.

Reed muses in S-Town that similar exposure could have been the underlying cause for the paranoia, depression and suicidal thoughts exhibited by McLemore in his final years, a particularity worrying hypothesis for Goodson.

'I've been there when he was gold and silver plating and every time he would get the goddamn cyanide out.

My lawyer is going to get someone to test me,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Since John B died I have taken on some of those nervous traits and suicidal thoughts. It may be the poisoning - or it may just be John B haunting me.'
A survivalist accused of shooting a Pennsylvania state trooper dead during an ambush wrote in a journal that he was shocked cops didn't catch him for 48 days.

Suspected gunman Eric Frein, 33, kept a diary almost every day while he was on the run in the Pocono Mountains in 2014, according to prosecutors.

'30 Days. A lot longer than I expected to last,' he purportedly wrote on October 10, 2014, almost a month after allegedly killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and critically wounding Trooper Alex Douglass on September 12, 2014.

Prosecutors say he staked out the police barracks in Blooming Grove in northeastern Pennsylvania before unleashing the deadly attack.

Eric Frein arrives for arraignment to court on October 31, 2014 in Milford, Pennsylvania, the day after his capture; he'd eluded cops for 48 days

Eric Frein, left, is led from the Pike County Courthouse after his preliminary hearing in Milford, Pa. on January 5

The journal entries were read aloud to a Pennsylvania jury in Frein's murder trial on Wednesday, according toNBC News.

Frein has pleaded not guilty, but could face the death penalty if convicted.

He is charged with murder of a law enforcement officer and terrorism.

The journal is supposed to contain many of the fugitive's thoughts during his time on the run.

It was found in an abandoned airplane hangar police believe he was living in towards the end of his time on the run.

Frein was captured on Oct. 30, 2014.

A few days after the killings, he writes that he is in touch with someone else.

'(Cell phoned) home twice to let them know Im still alive. Got text saying Im a suspect,' he wrote according to the Pocono Record.

Then he takes an almost light-hearted turn. 'They called me a survivalist! HA!' he wrote. 'Catchy phrase I guess.'

Frein, 31, was arraigned at the Pike County Courthouse in Milfordn and pleaded not guilty to murder

'They called me a survivalist! HA!' Catchy phrase I guess,' he purportedly wrote in a journal kept during his time on the run

Frein is charged with killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson II (left) and critically wounding Trooper Alex Douglass (right)

Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin, front center, arrives for the first day of the trial of Eric Frein on April 4

A few days later, he wrote: 'Slept like a human. Got buckets for catching rain water. Listened to radio. Classical made me cry. (Unreadable word) made me laugh. Needed both.'

By mid-October, he wrote: 'Have lasted longer than I expected to last. Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner.'

By the end of October, he is running out of food and beginning to sound desperate:

'Found two packages of crackers. Broke into a place. Was careful not to damage anything. Took rice, Ramen and oil. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.'

Prosecutors say Frein hid in the woods across the street from the barracks and opened fire during a late-night shift change, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and critically wounding Trooper Alex Douglass.

On Tuesday, the jury saw video that showed two state police interrogators repeatedly pressing Frein for answers on why he targeted two troopers he said he didn't know.

He was reluctant to answer, finally agreeing with the investigators' statements that he did it to 'wake people up' and that he wanted to make a change in government, according to the video.

'There's nobody to vote for,' he said.

Earlier, the college dropout seemed to suggest he had been despondent over his life.

'Thirty-one. Still living with my parents. No prospect for any sort of future ... drive a truck or something,' he told them.

Above, camping equipment thought to have been used by shooting suspect Eric Frein is seen

A mattress and sheet are seen in the hangar within the abandoned Birchwood Resort, where Eric Frein was caught in Tannserville, PA on October 30

Frein said he planned the ambush using Google Earth, choosing the Blooming Grove barracks because the heavily forested area provided ample cover.

He said he took two Adderall pills, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, on the day of the shooting, then got into position in the woods about an hour before.

Authorities say Frein shot Dickson as he was leaving the barracks at the end of his shift, then shot Douglass, who was just arriving and had bent over to tend to his fallen colleague.

Frein said he could hear Dickson yelling in pain after the first shot. Frein agreed with Trooper Michael Mulvey when Mulvey suggested that Frein then shot Dickson a second time to 'put him out of his misery.'

'That sounds horrible,' Frein said.

A Pocono Police car sits on the route to the hangar where Eric Frein was captured in October 2014 after a 48-day manhunt

Defense attorneys had tried to suppress the nearly 3 1/2 hour video, arguing police had violated his right to remain silent, but a judge overruled them and said the jurors could see it. His lawyers are appealing that ruling to a higher court.

The police interviewers quickly struck up a rapport with Frein, who had been at the top of the FBI's most-wanted list, giving him cigarettes and coffee and complimenting him and his parents as he sat in a chair, shackled to the floor, in a corner of the interview room.

'You, sir, are the champion of hide and seek,' Mulvey told him.

Cpl. Benjamin Clark asked Frein to give 'closure' to Dickson's widow and two young sons by providing an explanation for the attack. He and Mulvey asked Frein dozens of times why he did it. But Frein either couldn't or wouldn't answer the question directly.

Outside court, his attorneys said the video showed he was sorry.

'I think there is legitimate remorse here,' attorney Michael Weinstein said.

Static was laced throughout the video's audio track, often making it impossible to hear what was being said.

And Frein primarily spoke in a soft voice that could be difficult to make out. The judge acknowledged the sound problems and told jurors to do the best they could with it.
A Florida prosecutor fired a double-barreled response to Gov. Rick Scott's efforts to take 21 criminal cases away from her after she said her office would no longer seek the death penalty.

State Attorney Aramis Ayala filed lawsuits Tuesday in federal court and with Florida's highest court, challenging Scott's ability to remove her from death-penalty cases in her district, which covers Orlando and its suburbs.

Ayala's complaint with the Florida Supreme Court says Scott overstepped his authority and asks the justices to declare her the prosecutor in the cases that were ordered taken away from her.

If the justices won't do that immediately, the lawsuit asks them to stop the transfer of cases from her office until the state's highest court decides whether Scott's actions were proper or if they violated the state's constitution.

Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala (pictured on March 16) has filed a lawsuit, challenging Gov. Rick Scott's ability to remove her from death-penalty cases

Gov Rick Scott (pictured on March 7) removed almost two dozen death-penalty cases from Ayala's office and re-assigned them to another prosecutor, when she announced last month that that wouldn't be seeking the death penalty in any of the cases

Ayala's federal lawsuit claims Scott's actions violated the U.S. Constitution by disregarding the choice of Orlando-area voters who picked Ayala during last year's election. The federal lawsuit also said Ayala's due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment were violated by the governor's orders.

'Earlier in her career as an Assistant State Attorney, Ayala had been willing to seek a death sentence in an appropriate case, and she held that belief throughout her campaign for State Attorney,' the federal complaint said. 'However, although Florida law grants State Attorneys the authority to seek the death penalty in first-degree murder cases where aggravating factors are present, neither the Florida Constitution nor the Florida Criminal Statutes require them to do so.'

Ayala's attorney, Roy Austin, was asking the federal court to temporarily freeze any action on the complaint until the Florida Supreme Court lawsuit is resolved.

Austin is a high-profile, Washington-based addition to Ayala's fight against the governor. Austin was a former deputy assistant to President Obama for the White House's office of urban affairs and worked as a deputy assistant general in the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights division.

Austin called the governor's actions 'unprecedented.'

'While this is absolutely a Florida case, regarding the Florida Constitution, the implications for prosecutors around the country can't be ignored,' Austin said in an interview. 'If a governor can step in and replace the judgment of an elected prosecutor in Florida, then all prosecutors need to be concerned about prosecutorial discretion. It has national implications if the governor is allowed to conduct this unconstitutional conduct.'

During last year's election Ayala received more than $1 million in support from a Washington-based political action committee with ties to liberal Hungarian-born U.S. billionaire George Soros.

Ayala, Florida's first African-American state attorney, has come under fire since announcing last month she wouldn't seek the death penalty, in its current structure, against Markeith Loyd or any other defendant. Loyd is charged with killing an Orlando police lieutenant earlier this year. Loyd was also accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend late last year.

Ayala said she would consider changing her mind only if the death-penalty system changes so it doesn't drag out for years and delay a sense of closure for victims' families.

After Ayala's announcement, Scott removed almost two dozen death-penalty cases from her office and re-assigned them to another prosecutor. That prosecutor, Brad King, also was named a defendant in the federal lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Florida lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to cut Ayala's office's budget by about $1.3million.

The Orlando prosecutor's fight has attracted support from civil rights groups and legal scholars from around the country.

When asked about Ayala on Tuesday, Scott said, 'I just think every citizen deserves a state attorney that's going to fully prosecute cases.'

Later in the day, when asked specifically about the lawsuits, Scott said he hadn't seen them, but he repeated his opposition to her decision to not to seek the death penalty against Loyd.

'I'm going to think about the victim and the victim's family,' Scott said.
One is a talented busker with 'the voice', another a bikini model with definite X factor - but no singing talent.

These two women took to the streets of London to see who would make the most money during a 20 minute busking session opposite the Houses of Parliament.

Musician Louisa Baker, 25, performed some of her own tunes, while 26-year-old beauty Jodie Western opted for Old McDonald Had A Farm, which she sung over and over again.

Both women won admirers, with passer-by James Hughes, from Dublin, calling Jodie's performance 'magnificent' and praising her 'real courage'.

And one woman lauded Ms Baker's singing talent, saying her songs 'spoke to me' and were something she would love to listen to at home.

But who won the real test - getting the public to cough up the most money? Find out below.

Tourist James Hughes, from Dublin, said Jodie Western's rendition of Old McDonald Had A Farm was 'magnificent'

Musician Louisa Baker, 25, performed some of her own tunes, which one passer-by said 'really spoke to me'

But both women knew the real test was who would make the most money from the public over 20 minutes. Pictured: Ms Western having a photo with Mr Hughes

At the end of the 20 minutes, Ms Baker had made three times the amount of money as Ms Western, who still came out with a very respectable 6.48

THE BEAUTY 6.48 Advertisement
A 37-year-old man has been charged in the killing of a judge who handled criminal cases, as police say that robbery was the motive.

Joshua Smith was charged in the shooting death earlier this week of 66-year-old Associate Cook County Circuit Judge Raymond Myles.

The deadly shooting happened early Monday morning outside Myles' home on Chicago's South Side.

Police say his 52-year-old girlfriend was also shot in the leg, but is expected to survive. Her name has not been released because police say she is a witness in the killing.

The Cook County state's attorney's office said Wednesday that Smith is the alleged getaway driver and that he was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and armed robbery.

Chicago Judge Raymond Myles, 66 (left), was shot dead outside his home on the city's south side early Monday morning. Joshua Smith (right), 37, was charged in his shooting death on Wednesday

Smith is expected to appear in bond court on Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

This is not Smith's first run in with the law, as he was charged in Cook County Circuit Court in 2002 with armed robbery, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated unlawful restrain, according to court records.

Smith pleaded guilty in 2003 to armed robbery and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said Wednesday that Smith did not act alone and that the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities are still seeking the gunman and a third participant in the fatal shooting, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Staples said the gun in the shooting was also used in an armed robbery in January that left that victim wounded.

Video cameras on Myles' home and others in the area helped police identify the car used by the suspects in the shooting and its license plate, Staples said.

A 52-year-old woman, who police said was Myles' girlfriend, was also shot in the leg. She is expected to survive as police are searching for the gunman and a third participant (scene above)

When police found the vehicle, it had a different license plate than the one seen in the videos, she said.

She said police don't think the car owner took part in the crime.

Police have said the woman that Myles knew had already been shot and that Myles exchanged words with the attacker and then was shot, too.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said earlier that investigators were 'questioning individuals' in the case who were 'people of interest.' He declined to specify how many.

The Cook County state's attorney's office said Wednesday that Smith is the alleged getaway driver and was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and armed robbery. Above police gather outside Myles' home on Monday morning

The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward in the case.

The horrific attack against Myles is thought to be the first fatal shooting of a Chicago-area judge in more than three decades.

Myles was up before dawn as he prepared to go to the gym to exercise with his girlfriend before going to his courtroom.

However, as the woman went outside of his home, she was confronted near the garage by a gunman before being shot in the leg.

Authorities say Myles was killed shortly before 5am on Monday when he came outside of his home to help his girlfriend.

One of his neighbors who was awakened by the gunshots told the Tribune that he heard the woman screaming.

Above is Judge Myles' home. Neighbors say they were woken up to gunshots just before 5am. The victims' bodies were found in the back of the property, where the garage is

'She was screaming, 'Don't kill him, don't kill him!' ' the neighbor said.

Authorities said they investigate about 10 death threats a year against judges in Cook County, but there was no record of any threats against Myles in recent years.

Myles'd death has shocked his fellow colleagues as many have described him as friendly.

LeRoy K. Martin Jr., presiding judge of the Criminal Division, told the Tribune that Myles 'was enthusiastic about his most recent assignment to the 'youthful offenders' call, where he heard narcotics cases involving defendants about age 27 and younger.'

'He was very patient with people and gave out a lot of tough love,' Martin said.

Myles received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He was appointed to the court in 1999.

Circuit court judges appointed him an associate judge in 2001 and Myles had served in the criminal division since 2009, according Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
Experts warn Sunday's attack was the work of Assad using Russian fighter jets

This is the shocking moment Vladimir Putin risked the wrath of Donald Trump after dropping cluster bombs in Syria  just four days on from a gas attack that killed 89 civilians.

Enormous fire balls lit up the skies over Latamneh and Saraqeb, rebel held cities in northern Syria.

The latest attacks are just a few miles from Khan Sheikhoun, where last week's sarin chemical attack prompted Donald Trump's first airstrikes against the Assad regime.

'Flames were flying and falling from the sky, said witness Laith Ahmed, a volunteer with the White Helmets, who responded to the attack at Saraqeb.

'The bomb exploded at a height of about 150 metres above the ground, and then the sub-munitions began to fall. At every point one touched the ground, it sent flames in all directions', he added.

Provocation: Enormous fireballs light up the skies over Latamneh, Syria, after Bashar al-Assad regime jets backed by Russia drop illegal cluster bombs on the ground below

Strikes: The latest attacks are just a few miles from Khan Sheikhoun, where last week's sarin chemical attack prompted Donald Trump's first airstrikes against the Assad regime

Bombing: The fresh cluster bomb attack is widely believed to have been carried out by Assad and backed up by Russia just four days after the chemical 15 miles away that killed 89 people

Aftermath: A piece of shell lies on the ground in rebel-held Latamneh, in northern Syria after the use of RBK-500 ZAB-2,5SM bombs, believed to have been supplied by the Russians

This latest attack and Russia's likely involvement will further raise tension at a time when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Moscow trying to persuade Vladimir Putin to drop support for tyrant Assad.

A member of Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), a group of researchers monitoring Russia's involvement in Syria, told MailOnline: 'Russian forces were definitely involved in this firebombing campaign.'

'Multiple flaming explosions and a large spread of the flame suggests the use of RBK-500 ZAB-2,5SM bomb with incendiary sub-munitions, the remains of which were observed in the aftermath of other recent airstrikes in the area', said Kirill Mikhailov, a researcher at CIT.

'The 'firework' when the burning munitions hit the ground is unmistakable. This type of munition wasn't used before Russia's entrance into the war,' he added.

Abeeda Abu Al-Bara, filmed the incendiary attack on Saraqeb on Sunday night. 'The bomb exploded in the sky after it was dropped from the warplane. It broke into more than 50 bombs, like fireballs. It is indescribable,' he said.

Mr Ahmed, a Syrian civil defence worker, 39, said rescue workers were forced to inhale white smoke as they extinguished the flames.

'The burning continued for 10 minutes and then ended. We inhaled the smoke, but its effect was very limited  just some pain while breathing.'

Grieving: In last week's sarin gar attack 20 members of Abdul Hamid Youssef's family including his wife, Dalal al-Saha, and their nine-month-old twins Ahmad and Aya (pictured)

Victims: The Syrian anti-government activist group Edlib Media Center provided this photo showing victims of a suspected chemical attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun on April 4

Desperate: A man carries a child into a makeshift hospital following the attack, which raised put US and Russia on the brink after Trump launched launched 59 tomahawk missiles on an airbase suspected of launching the planes, which carried out the attack in Khan Sheikhoun last week

Mr Ahmed said that civil defence teams, who had battled against incendiary weapons before suspect Russian involvement because of the time of day, when only Russian jets are in the sky.

He recognised the sounds as similar to jets used by Russian forces.

'As White Helmet workers, this kind of strike has become very usual for us  we faced it many times.'

But deploying internationally-condemned cluster bombs after last week's chemical atrocity will fuel anger over aimed at Assad and his Russian allies.

'Russia's use of incendiary munitions just hours after the US strike against Assad is clearly a political statement', said Kyle Orton, a Syria analyst at the UK-based think tank Henry Jackson Society.

'Moscow's main aim was underscoring that the regime remained and that, while weapons of mass destruction were off the table, the pro-regime forces still had a lot of leeway in the means by which they could kill Syrians that would be tolerated by the international community.'

Western experts said thermite was among the explosives found in RBK-500 ZAB-2,5SM bombs, which weigh 500kg.

Thermite is a mixture of iron oxide and aluminium powder that can burn at temperatures as high as 2,500C, and is almost impossible to extinguish, as it does not require an external air source.

Mark Hiznay, Associate Arms Director at Human Rights Watch, said of the effects of thermite: 'This is burning metal  if that gets on you, you can imagine  that is going to be a very painful experience.'

Backlash: Trump reacted with fury when he saw pictures of the victims of the chemical attack and ordered a Tomahawk missile attack against Shayrat airbase. Pictured: Victims receiving treatment after a chemical gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun last week

Retaliation: Trump said Assad 'choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children' and that 'even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered' as he launched strikes on Syria's president

Another harrowing image from the chemical attack showed children being doused with water in an attempt to save them from what is believed to be the banned nerve agent Sarin. Pictured: The children who passed away in the Sarin gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun on April 4

He said the bombs contain 114 submunitions that are released before the bomb hits the ground.

'A certain percentage of these will have a delayed explosive charge, meaning they themselves will explode after a certain time and burn until all the explosive material runs out.'

In 2008 more than 100 countries banned the use of cluster bombs, which are still permitted by Russia, China and the US.

However, Russia has committed to a convention banning use of incendiary weapons near civilian populations. Syria has not signed the convention.

In Latamneh, video footage showed incendiary bombs falling like deadly fireworks with bomblets exploding into lethal shooting stars.

More footage showed sparks spewing on the ground and igniting fires.

Eyewitness Fayad al-Satouf described three attacks over the town.

'There were 14 incendiary bombs that fell on Latamneh on Saturday between 2am and 6am in two rounds, and another six at 6am on Sunday,' he told MailOnline.

'Of course we have got used to the bombings in our region  not a day passes without at least 10 airstrikes in this area.'

MailOnline showed CIT images from activists in Latamneh, who confirmed that the aftermath was typical of a thermite attack.

Recent images from pro-Kremlin media outlets from Shayrat airbase suggests that the Syrian army may now also possess the RBK-500 ZAB-2,5SM - but the bombs were not used before Russia's involvement in Syria.

Evidence also pointed to the use of Russian jets alongside Russian bombs.

Abeeda Abu Al-Bara, the media activist from Idlib, said he believed the Saraqeb attack was carried out by a Russian aircraft that had taken off from the Syrian government's Hmeimim Air Base.

'We know the type of aeroplane as it takes off via radio stations. The pilots speak in Russian. We have got used to recognising the Russian aeroplanes, the Su-25 and Su-35 craft.'

Explosions: But these latest pictures reportedly taken on Sunday could suggest Assad is ignoring rising tension between the US and Russia over the Middle East and continuing to use banned bombs in civilian areas

Strike: Incredibly no one was hurt in this attack, although the lack of casualties at Latamneh is due to the town shrinking from 30,000 six years ago to a ghost town of around 1,500 today

Evidence: Western experts said thermite, a mixture of iron oxide and aluminium powder that can burn at temperatures as high as 2,500C and is almost impossible to extinguish, was among the explosives found in the bombs used, which weigh 500kg

Claims: A member of Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), a group of researchers monitoring Russia's involvement in Syria, looked at pictures of the bombs used in the weekend's attack and told MailOnline: 'Russian forces were definitely involved in this firebombing campaign.'

'Before the attack the planes circle over the town, and then they bomb it. The area has been under intense bombardment since the Russians intervened in Syria.'

There were no fatalities in either Latamneh or Saraqeb, as the bombs hit unpopulated suburbs.

In Saraqeb, one man is thought to have been injured while riding his motorbike when the attack happened.

The lack of casualties at Latamneh was due to the town shrinking from a bustling place of 30,000 six years ago to a ghost town of around 1,500 residents. Most of them live on farmland away from the city centre, according to the media activist Fayad al-Satouf.

'A lot of people have left our region to go to [refugee] camps', he explained. 'I am not scared of the airstrikes anymore, but my fear is for the women and children. When there is an attack like this the women and children escape to the fields in a state of severe panic. We try to prepare ourselves for these attacks. This is what our lives have become.'

This is not the first time Russia has deployed cluster bombs in Syria. Last year, extensive video and photo documentation showed bombs with Cyrillic lettering dropped over Rustan, in Homs province.

Russia has not commented on the latest attacks over rebel-held areas of Syria. It has condemned the US airstrikes on the Shayrat Air Base, insisting that the Kremlin is focused on supporting Syrian government troops 'to continue liberating their country from terrorists.'
Two Chicago men who posed for photos holding a black ISIS flag and threatened to throw gays from the city's tallest building were arrested yesterday on federal terrorist charges.

A two-year FBI sting operation culminated this week when Joseph D Jones and Eddie Schimenti were accused of providing material support to ISIS.

A 65-page indictment says the pair provided cellphones to an 'ISIS supporter' who said they would be used to detonate car bombs in Syria. Unbeknown to them, the man was in fact an undercover FBI agent.

Joseph D Jones, (left), and Edward Schimenti posed in front of an ISIS flag in this photograph, believed to have been taken by an undercover FBI agent

Jones, a part-time chef and college student, and Schimenti, who worked at a cancer treatment center, drove the FBI operative to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport last week on what they thought would be the first leg of a journey to Syria.

Schimenti allegedly told him to 'drench that land...with blood.'

The pair, both 35, were photographed holding the ISIS flag at the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, where they both live. They had posted it on their social media accounts.

The pair appeared in a federal court in Chicago for a brief initial hearing before Magistrate Judge David Weisman.

Joseph D Jones poses with with ISIS flag at Illinois Beach State Park. The pair posted the image on their social media accounts

Schimenti's mother, Joni, told reporters outside court: 'Eddie is no terrorist'.

But if convicted the pair could face a maximum prison term of 20 years.

A detention hearing was set for Monday, after which they would enter pleas.

The complaint includes photos of them holding the IS flag at the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, where they live. It also has postings on their social media accounts.

While he helped the man he believed would go to Syria get into condition at a local gym, Schimenti conceded he was not close to fighting shape.

'I'm all big, fat. But (God willing), the brothers will just have me be the one to cut the neck,' he said.

Schimenti, who used the pseudonym Abdul Wali, allegedly told an undercover agent in February that he was angry about a co-worker because they were gay.

He hinted at what he wanted to do to homosexuals in Chicago: 'We are putting you on top of Sears Tower and we drop you.'

The 108-story Willis Tower is the tallest building in Chicago but is still referred to by its old name.

A photo posted on Schimenti's Google Plus profile shows a masked man holding a knife, and caption written in capital letters saying if you cannot travel abroad to fight 'then slaughter the pagans next to you'.

After watching an ISIS video of captured soldiers being burned alive as they spoke Arabic, Schimenti says: 'I don't know what they're saying but I love it.'

A video was posted on Jones' Google Plus profile entitled, 'Some of the Deadly Stabbing Ways: Do not Forget to Poison the Knife,' the complaint says. Another time, a person in on the FBI sting asked Jones if he ever thought about traveling to Syria to live in Islamic State territory. Jones, who was also known as 'Yusuf Abdulhaqq,' allegedly answered: 'Every night and day.'

This is the latest of several area cases related to Islamic State. A Chicago federal judge last year sentenced former Illinois National Guard Hasan Edmonds to 30 years in prison and his cousin, Jonas Edmonds, to 21 years for plotting to join Islamic State fighters and to attack a National Guard armory just outside Chicago.

The complaint makes a brief reference to Schimenti allegedly suggesting in March that the Naval Station Great Lakes, a training ground for U.S. sailors just south of Zion, could be a terrorist target.

The sting started in September 2015 when an undercover agent approached Jones at the Zion Police Department - where Jones was being questioned about the killing of one of his friends - and the two began talking about Islam. The complaint didn't offer details about the killing.

Schimenti grew increasingly suspicious about the undercover agents, suggesting that at least some weren't actually Islamic State sympathizers. He once suggested something was 'fishy' about them, adding that he had a good sense of such things because of his own criminal history. Jones also spoke about past convictions.
The first two inmates facing lethal injection in Arkansas's unprecedented multiple execution plan  where seven men will be put to death in 11 days  are seeking a stay from the state Supreme Court.

Attorneys for Don Davis and Bruce Ward asked justices Wednesday to block their executions, currently scheduled for Monday April 17, while the US Supreme Court takes up McWilliams v. Dunn, concerning access to independent mental health experts by defendants.

Davis and Ward's state court filing stated, 'To execute Don Davis or Bruce Ward before that question is answered would deeply offend "the integrity of the judicial process." '

Death row inmates Don William Davis (left) and Bruce Earl Ward (right) are scheduled for execution on Monday, but their lawyers have asked for a stay pending the outcome of a US Supreme Court hearing, which is due to hear oral arguments on April 24

The US high court is set to hold oral arguments  about whether an indigent defendant on death row was prevented access to an independent expert who could evaluate his mental health  in that case on April 24, a week after the Davis and Ward are scheduled to be put to death.

The two Arkansas inmates' attorneys say they were denied access to independent mental health experts in their cases.

The outcome of McWilliams v. Dunn is said to be of particular importance to the Arkansas inmates because Davis is believed to have an IQ that is low enough to make him intellectually disabled, while Ward's paranoid schizophrenia is part of his lengthy history of mental illness, reports NBC News.

Arkansas is hurrying to execute the inmates before their supply of midazolam expires

These Arkansas death row inmates are scheduled for execution from April 17 to 27, although one of them has already received a stay of execution. Top row, from left, Bruce Ward, Marcel Williams, Jason McGehee (received a stay) and Kenneth Williams. Bottom row, Stacey Johnson, Ledell Lee, Don Davis and Jack Jones

Although Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge will read Davis and Ward's motion, Rutledge's office says she does not intend to alter the execution schedule.

'[Rutledge] supports the death penalty,' Rutledge's Communications Director Judd Deere told NBC News. 'The families have waited far too long to see justice for these horrible murders and this office is prepared and will continue to respond to all challenges that might occur between now and the executions.'

The two men are among seven inmates Arkansas plans to put to death over a 11-day period. The filing is among a flurry of lawsuits aimed at halting the executions, as Arkansas' decision to rush multiple executions has been put under a microscope.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchingson's administrations scheduled the unrelenting pace of the multiple executions using the explanation that one of its lethal injection drugs, midazolam, will expire at the end of the month and it was not evident when the state could expect a replenishment of the hard to come by drug.

Death row inmates are strapped to gurneys, like this one, before being injected with lethal drugs. In Arkansas, they use a cocktail that includes the controversial sedative midazolem

There is some controversy around the use of midazolam  the sedative that puts the inmates to sleep before the other drugs stop their hearts  in lethal injections.

While Arkansas lawyers have said that the drug has been successfully used in other states and that its injection protocols fall within constitutional guidelines, medical experts have said that the drug is not even suitable as a surgical anesthetic, reports Reuters.

DATES ARKANSAS DEATH ROW INMATES ARE SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTION Don Davis, 54 - April 17 Bruce Ward, 70 - April 17 Ledelle Lee, 51 - April 20 Stacey Johnson, 48 - April 20 Jack Jones Jr., 52 - April 24 Marcel Williams, 46 - April 24 Kenneth Williams, 35 - April 27 Advertisement

In addition, lethal injection cocktails including midazolam reportedly resulted in problematic executions in Oklahoma, Arizona and other states. There, witnesses said that the inmates were clearly in pain and suffering while on the death chamber gurneys.

The seven men scheduled for execution would be the first to be put to death in Arkansas in 12 years. They would also be the highest number of executions in a row since the death penalty was reinstated in Arkansas in 1976.

Eight men were originally scheduled to be put to death before the end of the month, but Jason McGehee, 40, was given a stay after his parole board successfully argued that he should have his sentenced reverted to life in prison.

The remaining seven men are scheduled to be executed between April 17 to 27.
A Colorado newspaper has discovered 40-year-old, unseen photos of serial killer Ted Bundy smiling for the cameras as he is led down the steps of a courthouse.

The images of the man who admitted murdering 30 women were locked in an antique safe in the newsroom of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.

They portray the anxious times in 1977 when Bundy escaped from local law enforcement agencies twice in six months.

He escaped from the same courthouse just six days earlier and was caught after a huge manhunt.

Bundy was then brought back to wait for his murder trial in Colorado.

He was also suspected of murders in Florida, Utah and Washington and was eventually executed in Florida in 1989.

Serial killer Ted Bundy, then 30, center, is escorted out of court in Pitkin County, Colorado in 1977. The Glenwood Springs Post-Independent discovered the 40-year-old photo of Bundy, along with others, that had been locked in an old safe in the newsroom, which a local locksmith volunteered to open. The photos show Bundy in custody in 1977, the year he escaped from local law enforcement twice while awaiting a murder trial

Before he died, he confessed to killing 30 women across the country. But he is suspected of killing, or attempting to kill, even more.

It's not clear when the photos were placed in the Glenwood Springs safe, which was being used as a table in the newsroom.

No one currently at the newspaper knew the combination, or what was inside, but local locksmith Wayne Winton was curious when he spotted the safe and volunteered to crack it.

In this 1977 photo serial killer Ted Bundy, center, is escorted out of court in Pitkin County, Colorado. Bundy astonished and terrified the public at the time for being one of the first serial killers that came to the public's attention for not only his demonic killing spree in which he mainly targeted college women, but also his good looks, polished demeanor, and the brazenness with which he abducted women often in broad daylight, once two in one day

The negatives were locked in a combination safe made by the Moosler Safe Co, which had long gone out of business. A local locksmith, Wayne Winton, offered to try to crack it open

Inside were some documents, a little cash and envelopes containing negative film, one marked 'Bundy Capture.'

In the photos, taken in June 1977, Bundy was 30, reported the Post Independent.

Bundy had been arrested in Utah in 1975 and was convicted the next year of kidnapping a woman there. He was then brought to Colorado to face murder charges in the death of a woman who disappeared from a ski resort in Aspen.

On June 6, 1977, he was at the Pitkin County Courthouse in Aspen, researching in the law library because he planned to defend himself.

The negatives contained not only pictures of Bundy being hauled back to jail, but the manhunt that ensued both times he escaped - once he found in the mountains of Colorado, the second time near Alabama and transferred to Florida, where he was suspected of killing two young co-eds and a 12-year-old girl

He jumped out a second-floor window and fled.

Bundy was recaptured six days later, found wandering in the nearby mountains. One of the most creepy photos in the series were of Bundy being hauled back to jail by police, a wide grin on his face.

Other photos displayed the panic on show at the time: shotgun-wielding police officers searching vehicles at roadblocks, tracking dogs sniffing Bundy's shirt, and even a hitchhiker holding a sign reassuring drivers that 'I AM NOT BUNDY,' according to the Post Independent.

Despite his vanishing act, Bundy managed to escape once more that year. He was being held in the Garfield County jail in Glenwood Springs, about 40 miles northwest of Aspen.

A tracking dog was given one of Bundy's shirts to sniff, hoping he could pick up the serial killer's scent

But on December 31, 1977, he sawed a hole in the ceiling of his cell and managed to crawl out of the jail.

This time, the escape would prove deadly for three women in Florida, as Bundy had made his way there and even managed to rent an apartment and live an anonymous life despite the target of a countrywide manhunt.

Bundy was re-arrested in Florida in February 1978 and charged with the murders of two young women who were inside their Florida State University Chi Omega sorority house and a 12-year-old girl abducted outside of her school in Lake City, all killed in the weeks after his second Colorado escape.

He died in Florida's electric chair on January 24, 1989. A large crowd gathered outside the prison, many holding signs celebrating his death.

Bundy was born in 1946 to an unwed mother who lied to him by claiming that she was in fact his older sister and that his grandparents were in fact his parents.

He was raised in the Philadelphia home of his maternal grandparents.

Bundy spent the early years of his life being raised by his maternal grandparents. His grandfather, Samuel Cowell, was particularly violent, according to a biography of Bundy (above)

In interviews, Bundy spoke warmly of his grandfather, Samuel Cowell, despite the fact that he was known to family members as a tyrannical bully and a bigot who beat his wife and the family dog and swung neighbourhood cats by their tails.

In one instance, Samuel Cowell threw Bundys aunt down a flight of stairs for oversleeping.

These revelations were written about in a book titled The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy.

The books authors, Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, came to discover that Bundy would resent his mother for lying to him about who his parents were.

The identity of his biological father has never been definitively determined.

At a young age, Bundy was said to have been prone to strange behaviour.

His aunt, Julia, recalled waking up one day from a nap in her parents home  only to find herself surrounded by knives taken from the kitchen.

Bundy, who was three years old at the time, stood by his aunts bed, smiling.

As an adolescent, he was said to have been fascinated by pictures of naked women as well as real-life detective stories involving sex crimes and sexual violence.
Bill O'Reilly has been replaced by guest host Dana Perino on The O'Reilly Factor on Wednesday night as the embattled Fox News host begins his 'vacation' - his longest time off in a decade.

Fox would not discuss whether network executives influenced the duration or timing of O'Reilly's break, as the host faces an internal investigation into sexual harassment claims against him.

But his vacation announcement immediately set off speculation about whether cable television's most popular host will return at all.

Bill O'Reilly (right) has been replaced by guest host Dana Perino (left) on The O'Reilly Factor as the embattled Fox News host begins his 'vacation' - his longest time off in a decade

The Fox host left on Wednesday for the two-week trip to Italy - including a visit to the Vatican, theNew York Times reports.

O'Reilly claimed that he booked the time off months ago and often likes to go on vacation at the time of year, but this is the first time he's taken such a long break at this time of year in a decade.

Perino, a Fox News contributor and co-host of The Five, stepped in to replace O'Reilly on Wednesday. She was also the first Republican woman to serve as the White House press secretary.

'Hi, I'm Dana Perino, in for Bill O'Reilly who is on vacation,' she introduced herself on Wednesday.

During the show, she interviewed White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, touching on his blunder yesterday when he claimed that Hitler never used chemical weapons against civilians.

Bret Baier is due to host Thursday's show and Greg Gutfeld will fill in Friday this week and next, while Perino will return to take O'Reilly's chair from Monday through Thursday next week.

'Other than the vacation guest hosts, The Factor broadcast will remain unchanged,' Mark Fabiani, an attorney representing the host, said by e-mail to Bloomberg.

Eric Bolling hosted in O'Reilly's absence last year. Laura Ingraham, Juan Williams, Michelle Malkin and John Kasich have all subbed on 'The O'Reilly Factor.'

O'Reilly said he likes to take vacation around this time and that he booked this year's break in October to coincide with his children's spring break, Fabiani said.

That would appear to stave off stories that the cable host had been pressured to make himself scarce for a while. His show has seen an advertiser exodus since reports emerged of settlements reached with five women to keep quiet about harassment accusations.

Perino, a Fox News contributor and co-host of The Five, stepped in to replace O'Reilly on Wednesday

During the show, she interviewed White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, touching on his blunder yesterday when he claimed that Hitler never used chemical weapons against civilians

'I grab some vacation, because it's spring and Easter time,' O'Reilly said Tuesday. 'Last fall, I booked a trip that should be terrific.'

Transcripts over the last decade show O'Reilly has taken at least some time off in March or April every year, although usually they amount to long weekends. He took a week off at the end of March last year. He appeared to be away for six consecutive days in April 2010, although not every night's transcript was available for that time. O'Reilly usually takes vacation time in August, too.

Dozens of advertisers announced they would not run commercials on 'The O'Reilly Factor' following a New York Times story on April 2 that the five women have been paid a total of $13 million in settlements. O'Reilly has denied any wrongdoing.

The amount of ad time by paying customers on his show has since been cut by more than half, an analysis by Kantar Media revealed.

The stories haven't cut into his audience, though. 'The O'Reilly Factor' averaged more viewers the week after the report than it did the week before, the Nielsen company said. O'Reilly this year has seen the biggest ratings of his career.

Joe Muto, a former Fox producer who used to work with O'Reilly, said he wouldn't be surprised if the vacation was O'Reilly's idea. The pugnacious O'Reilly is used to political attacks, but is bothered when criticism reaches the broader culture, noting last weekend's 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Alec Baldwin impersonating O'Reilly and John Oliver suggesting on HBO that he wanted to buy ad time on O'Reilly's show.

'He has to lay low, and as long as another shoe doesn't drop, it could blow over for him,' said Muto, who wrote 'An Atheist in the Fox Hole' in 2013 about his experiences as an anonymous 'mole' writing his experiences working at Fox.

Dozens of advertisers announced they would not run commercials on 'The O'Reilly Factor' following a New York Times story on April 2 that the five women have been paid a total of $13 million in settlements

Joe Muto said O'Reilly is used to political attacks, but is bothered when criticism reaches the broader culture, noting last weekend's 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Alec Baldwin impersonating O'Reilly (pictured)

Since last weekend, Fox's parent 21st Century Fox said it has asked the same law firm that investigated harassment charges against former Fox News chief Roger Ailes last year to look into another woman's claim that spurning O'Reilly's sexual advances slowed her career.

The vacation plans set off a round of palace intrigue. New York magazine reported anonymous sources suggesting some division among the Murdoch family that runs 21st Century Fox. The magazine said that while family patriarch Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan, wanted to keep O'Reilly, son James would like to see him taken off the air. The company declined to comment Wednesday.

The Fox issues have spilled over into Britain, where Murdoch is attempting to gain full control of broadcaster Sky PLC. British media regulator Ofcom is reviewing public interest issues surrounding 21st Century Fox's plan to buy the shares it doesn't already own in Sky. It and the U.K. competition regulator are due to report next month to Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, who will decide whether to approve the takeover.

Fox already owns 39 percent of Sky, a broadcasting and broadband company with operations throughout Europe. An earlier attempt to buy the remaining shares was scuttled by the 2011 phone-hacking scandal that rocked Murdoch's British newspapers.

On Wednesday U.S. online civil liberties group Color of Change wrote to U.K. media regulator Ofcom, urging it to investigate racial discrimination and sexual harassment at Fox News and 21st Century Fox before allowing the bid for Sky to move forward.
A destructive disease outbreak has devastated Queensland's prawn farming industry and forced prices to surge ahead of Easter's peak seafood period.

The highly contagious disease - known as white spot - has infected Australian prawns and restaurants have hiked the price of seafood dishes which feature the beloved crustacean, as wholesale prices hit $42 a kilogram.

Chefs have placed signs in restaurant windows warning incoming customers of hefty prawn prices, while other establishments have wiped prawns off the menu entirely, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The white spot disease has infected prawns and forced retailers to hike prices and restaurants to drop them off the menu entirely

White spot disease was first detected on Australian shores late 2016, and is believed to have been introduced to Queensland prawn farms by fishers who bought infected prawns from retailers to use as bait in local waters.

It was discovered in six major farms in southeastern Queensland, costing over $25million in damages and even forcing the closure of some.

Since the outbreak, the entire hospitality industry has suffered from prawn shortages and the rising cost of the wholesale seafood from retailers.

The Sydney Fish Market has assured its customers that its prawns are safe to eat and says prices won't change from last Christmas.

'Sydney Fish Market sympathises with prawn farmers affected by the outbreak of white spot. The disease has been devastating for the industry but thankfully only a small portion of Australias prawn supply have been impacted,' spokesperson Kelly Seagrave told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is important to remember that Australian prawns are safe to eat and supply of local wild caught and farmed Prawns has been amped up for Easter so there are plenty of prawns for everyone. Consumers can expect to pay the same prices that they were at Christmas time.'

Prices have risen to $42 per kilogram as the prawn farming industry struggled with low supply

The white spot virus affected prawn farms in Queensland - pictured above shrimp farm in North Queensland

A prawn drought in the middle of the Easter period has meant restaurants and supermarkets feel the pressure to provide an extra supply - and prices have reached an average of $36 to $42 per kilogram.

An investigation by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in December last year found the white spot disease was not found in wild prawns, and warned recreational fishers to not use prawns meant for human consumption as bait.

'To reduce the risk associated with product already in the country, the department is working closely with major retailers to withdraw infected product from the market,' the department said.

'The source of the outbreak of white spot disease in south-east Queensland has not been determined. There are a number of possible pathways, such as contaminated imported feed, probiotics, contaminated equipment, overseas visitors, poor on-farm biosecurity practices, and brood stock, as well as imported uncooked prawns used as bait.'

Prawns are a high demand seafood in Australia during the busy Easter period (stock image)

However Australian supermarkets Coles and Woolworths appear to be be selling prawns for far less than $42 per kilogram.

Fresh cooked tiger prawns are for sale at Coles for $25/kg, and raw giant ocean tiger prawns cost $34/kg.

At Woolworths, large tiger prawns are selling for $29.99/kg and raw giant tiger prawns for $35/kg.
An Connecticut man wearing an NRA t-shirt was arrested for pulling a gun on his former neighbor during a drunken argument, police say.

Mario Williams of Shelton, Connecticut was taken into custody after being accused of pointing a gun at his ex-neighbor and using it to threaten him during a dispute as they stood outside a local grocery store in the early evening of April 10.

When cops arrived at the Wooster Street Market in Shelton, they found Williams, 58, clad in a heather grey NRA t-shirt, with the gun still in his possession.

Mario Williams, 58, was wearing a NRA t-shirt and 'intoxicated' when he allegedly pulled a gun on his former neighbor during an argument outside a local market in Connecticut

In a press release, Detective Richard Bango said that after arriving on the scene, police officers spoke with Williams' unnamed former neighbor, who told the cops that they had been "arguing over neighborhood issues," when Williams pulled out a handgun and pointed it at him.

Det. Bango added that, Wiliams was discovered to be under the influence.

Williams was charged with first degree reckless endangerment, second degree threatening, breach of peace and carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

He was released from jail on $2,500 bail and is due to appear in Derby Superior Court on April 24.
Commuters making their way to work on a morning train have been left shaken after a man unleashed a racially abusive attack towards other passengers.

The shocking moment the man verbally attacked a number of passengers on a South Morang train, in Melbourne's inner north, was captured on video by a commuter.

Footage of the vile incident, which has since been posted to social media, shows the man's expletive-laden rant and his racial attack against one passenger who he called 'Chinese scum'.

Scroll down for video

Commuters making their way to work on a morning train in Melbourne have been left shaken, after a man (pictured) unleashed a racially motivated attack towards other passengers

The video begins with the aggressive man yelling 'what are you going to do?' at one passenger.

Although he's being held back a female friend who urges him to 'settle', he continues to be aggressive towards the other passengers, particularly an Asian man.

'Trouble ain't coming from me mate... you f***** listen here,' he says.

With one woman seemingly reduced to tears and pleading with him to step off the train, the man tells her that she's 'alright' before launching into a tirade.

Footage of the vile incident, which has since been posted to social media, shows the man's expletive-laden rant and his racial attack against one passenger who he called 'Chinese scum'

After abusing passengers for more than one minute, the man was encouraged by one of his male friends to step off the train at the next stop, the man disembarks at Northcote station

'It's this b**** here and this Chinese scum, calling me f****** Goku scum,' he yells.

'They f****** started it, you can f****** hear them.'

After being encouraged by one of his male friends to step off the train at the next stop, the man disembarks at Northcote station.

As passengers yell insults at him as he walks off, the man returns for one final barrage of abuse.

'You're f***** scum,' he screams, before telling passengers they should be 'sticking up him, not that Jew b****'.

'You're f***** scum,' the man screamed, before telling passengers they should be 'sticking up him, not that Jew b****'

It's unclear who instigated the incident, however one eye witness spoke about the tirade to Melbourne radio station 3AW.

'It was unprovoked altogether; there was absolutely no malice from any of the individuals sitting on the train,' she said.

Melbourne's train operator Metro Trains are investigating the incident, while it has also been referred to Victoria Police.
A groundbreaking judge was found dead inNew York City's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam's body was spotted floating in the water after her husband reported her missing the day before.

The 65-year-old judge was fully clothed, with no obvious signs of trauma suggesting foul play, the New York Post reported.

Abdus-Salaam, a classmate of former Attorney General Eric Holder at Columbia Law School, became the first African-American woman to serve on New York's Court of Appeals.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam's body was spotted floating in the Hudson River around 1.45pm on Wednesday. She was pronounced dead before her husband identified her

The 65-year-old judge (pictured with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo) was found fully clothed, with no obvious signs of trauma suggesting foul play, the New York Post reported

Witnesses noticed Abdus-Salaam's body floating in the water near 132nd Street and Hudson Parkway in Manhattan at around 1.45pm and called 911, police said.

The 65-year-old, who had been reported missing from her Harlem home the day before, was removed from the river and pronounced dead at the pier before her husband identified her body.

The medical examiner has not determined a cause of death and an investigation is ongoing.

Abdus-Salaam was noted for being the first African-American woman to serve on New York's Court of Appeals when she was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

The judge was divorced and recently remarried Reverend Gregory Jacobs in June

Cuomo issued a statement on Wednesday, memorializing her as a 'trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all'.

He added: 'As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the States Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer.

'Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

'I was proud to appoint her to the states highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing.

'On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues during this trying and difficult time.'

New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio also paid tribute, writing: 'Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Sheila Abdus-Salaam. She was a humble pioneer. My thoughts are with her family.'

The judge was divorced and had remarried Reverend Gregory Jacobs of the Episcopal Archdiocese of Newark, in June, the NY Daily News reported.

The couple were said to be very happy, and chose to live in separate homes, a neighbor said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio paid tribute to Abdus-Salaam, who was hailed as a 'humble pioneer'

The 65-year-old had been reported missing, and her husband identified her body after witnesses called 911

Abdus-Salaam, who was born Sheila Turner in 1952, was one of seven children.

She grew up in Washington DC with working class parents and was inspired to pursue law after the civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman visited her high school.

The judge recounted the life-changing talk and said: 'She was riveting...she was doing what I wanted to do: using the law to help people.'

Abdus-Salaam, who later referred to a career in law as 'God's work', graduated from Barnard College in 1974 and received her law degree from Columbia three years later.

She was classmates with former US Attorney Eric Holder, who said during her swearing in ceremony in 2013: 'Sheila could boogie, but there was a seriousness about her, a strong sense of purpose at a relatively young age.

'She never forgot where she came from,' he added.

She was classmates with former US Attorney Eric Holder, who said during her swearing in ceremony in 2013 (pictured): 'Sheila could boogie, but there was a seriousness about her.'

Abdus-Salaam, who traced her family's history and learned her great-grandfather was a slave in Virginia, marveled at the trajectory of her life in 2014.

She said: 'All the way from Arrington, Virginia, where my family was the property of someone else, to my sitting on the highest court of the State of New York is amazing and huge.

'It tells you and me what it is to know who we are and what we can do.'

Abdus-Salaam worked as an attorney before she began her career as a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1992.

She joined the Supreme Court of New York County in 1993 before she was appointed to the highest court 20 years later, where she served until her death.
From growing much needed crops during the First World War to making jams and cakes, the WI has always cared about food.

And now the institute has gone to war with supermarkets over confusing eat by labels on products that are said to cause huge levels of food waste.

Tins, jars and bottles carry wildly different information on how long the food inside will last once opened.

The WI has gone to war with supermarkets over confusing eat by labels on products that are said to cause huge levels of food waste. Pictured, a graphic showing the differing sell-by dates

The National Federation of Womens Institutes (NFWI) is calling on supermarkets and manufacturers to come up with a standard system.

Experts claim extending the period that products can be stored and used by just one day could help prevent an astonishing 250,000 tonnes of food waste a year.

The WI found big brands tend to recommend customers can store and use products for a longer period.

Heinz says its tomato ketchup can be kept and used for up to eight weeks after being opened, but for a Waitrose own-label version it is just six weeks.

The eat by information on a jar of Hellmanns mayonnaise is three months, but just one month on the Asda equivalent.

Customers are advised to drink Highland Spring mineral water within seven days, but a similar Morrisons Yorkshire water must be drunk in three days. On tinned tomatoes, the Cirio brand suggests people can eat them for three to four days after being opened, but Co-ops own brand advises two days and for a Sainsburys product its just one day.

There is a similar pattern for tinned tuna, tinned fruit, jams, sweetcorn and chutneys.

The Government, the Food Standards Agency and supermarkets are looking at the food date label system to see if it can be improved to help tackle waste.

Currently, products tend to have a best before date as a guide to when the food or drink is likely to be most tasty. The use by date is a legal definition designed to protect consumers from eating something that might make them ill.

A WI survey found only 45 per cent of its members understood best before dates were an indicator of food quality. More than one in four  26 per cent  did not know use by dates were a marker of food safety. The situation is further complicated by the fact there is no standard for storage periods after a product has been opened.

Marylyn Haines-Evans, chairman for public affairs at the NFWI, said: WI members are some of the more informed members of society about food and cookery, so the fact that they are still confused about food labelling and once-opened information is a damning indication that supermarkets must do more to help all consumers reduce their food waste and ultimately save money.

We would like supermarkets to extend the amount of time that consumers have to use a product by making all of their once-opened instructions on packaging consistent and reflective of the true open-life of the product, and for all once-opened instructions to be removed on products where food safety is not an issue.

She added: Its time for supermarkets to start publishing their food waste figures so they can really be held to account, and stop short-changing consumers on shelf-life information.

The British Retail Consortium, which speaks for supermarkets, welcomed the WIs study but would not comment on the confusion about how long food lasts once opened.

It said: Its great to see the WI highlighting the importance of date labelling. Understanding the difference between a use by and a best before date is the biggest thing we can all do to cut the millions of tonnes of food wasted.
Married Australians who purchased a white car early in the morning could be paying lower insurance premiums than others, a Senate inquiry has revealed.

Insurer's policies were evaluated alongside each other at the general insurance inquiry held in Sydney on Wednesday, exposing money-saving tips for car owners, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Government agencies and consumer group Choice also submitted evidence to the inquiry, which will determine if an independent comparison service will be beneficial for consumers.

Married Australians who purchased a white car early in the morning could be paying lower insurance premiums than others, a Senate inquiry has revealed (stock image)

Choice said during the hearing that owners of white vehicles receive lower premiums compared to others, such as drivers of red cars which are viewed to be a greater risk.

Although the difference in premium costs was initially established because white paint costs less than coloured paint, insurance companies told the inquiry owners of white cars make fewer claims.

People who buy their vehicles in the morning also seem to 'have better claims experience,' Nicholas Schofield with Allianz communications said.

As a result, insurers will begin to offer better prices to those who purchase vehicles in the morning, Mr Schofield said.

'If you are a single male, own a red car and buy your insurance late at night, you're pretty much stuffed,' Senator Nick Xenophon, who is a member of the inquiry, added.

Insurer's policies were evaluated alongside each other at the general insurance inquiry held in Sydney on Wednesday, exposing money-saving tips for car owners (stock image)

People who buy their vehicles in the morning also seem to 'have better claims experience,' Nicholas Schofield with Allianz communications told the inquiry

When inquiry members asked insurers if marital status is a factor in lower premiums, the groups said they would look into the request and report back to them, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Insurers were also pressed about a practice referred to as 'red-lining,' which excludes homes in those 'red' suburbs or streets from coverage.

'It might be more accurate to say red dots than red lines,' the Insurance Council of Australia's risk manager Karl Sullivan said.

The council's CEO Rob Whelan told the inquiry he would also look into the member's concerns insurers are providing 'kickbacks' to strata management companies.

'It's a commercial transaction which is as far as I'm aware a normal part of business in strata,' Mr Whelan said.

The inquiry will hold a second hearing in Melbourne on Thursday.
Lord Carey warned ministers risk breaking the law by discriminating against Christians facing oppression in Syria

A former Archbishop of Canterbury last night launched a stinging attack on 'politically correct' aid officials who are 'institutionally biased' against helping Christians.

Lord Carey warned ministers risk breaking the law by discriminating against Christians facing oppression in Syria.

He claimed Syrian Christians are not benefiting from British help as they avoid UN refugee camps, funded with UK aid, because of fears of persecution from rogue Islamist groups operating inside or Muslim officials who are hostile to converts to Christianity.

By staying away from the camps, Christians are missing out on food, shelter and opportunities to come to Britain in a relocation scheme.

Lord Carey, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, said: 'In the run-up to Easter, British taxpayers will be appalled by this institutional bias against Christians by politically correct officials.

'In this the British Government is not just breaking its manifesto pledge to look after Christian refugees it also appears to be breaking the law. The conflicts in the Middle East have resulted in suffering and persecution of Christians. They have been killed or chased out of the birthplace of their faith.

'The British Government has repeatedly promised to help persecuted Christians but has done nothing. Instead Muslim officials have been put in charge of the billions of British taxpayer aid in the UNHCR camps. This is ensuring that help and aid rarely reaches the Christians.'

He added: 'The Government's asylum and aid policy in Iraq and Syria and the neighbouring countries needs to focus properly on those who need help the most.

'This will result in much more effective help for minorities like Christians and Yazidis who are facing genocide.'

In its 2015 election manifesto the Conservative Party had promised it would be 'supporting persecuted Christians in the Middle East'. Legal advice obtained by Lord Carey shows the Government could be breaching the European Convention on Human Rights for 'indirect discrimination' against minority refugees.

Christians made up nearly 10 per cent of the Syrian population before the civil war began in 2011 but they have received less than 2 per cent of the asylum places provided by Britain.

Lord Carey (pictured) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002 and last night launched a stinging attack on 'politically correct' aid officials

In the first year after it was launched in September 2015, just 64 out of the 4,175 Syrians admitted to the UK were Christians.

John Pontifex, of Aid to the Church in Need, a charity helping Christians in the region, said: 'At the start of the war there were around 300,000 Christians in Aleppo, now there are as few as 30,000.

The Christian community is facing extinction in a place where Christian heritage dates back to 50AD, if not before. We will have it on our conscience if at this critical juncture it becomes clear that we acted precious little if at all to help them in their hour of greatest need.'

During visits to the region, Mr Pontifex said he had met with Christians who were too scared to seek help at the camps.

'Unless the Christians abide by Muslim customs they are not welcome,' he added.

A Government spokesman last night said: 'UK aid is provided in line with humanitarian principles, so whoever needs our help the most gets it first, regardless of race, gender or religion.

'We work with trusted partners who operate in line with those same principles of neutrality and impartiality, including in practicalities such as refugee camp management and staffing. To suggest otherwise is wrong.'
When aristocratic writer Nicholas Monsons 21-year-old son Rupert Green killed himself earlier this year after becoming addicted to skunk cannabis, he vowed that he would not let the youngsters death be in vain.

The hereditary peer began a crusade to have the highly potent skunk reclassified as a class A drug and, I can reveal, he has now won a very important ally.

Theresa May has written to Lord Monson expressing her deepest sympathy over Ruperts death and apparently suggesting there could be a change in the law.

Lord Monson's 21-year-old son Rupert Green (left) killed himself earlier this year after becoming addicted to skunk cannabis. Tragically, Monson's elder son, Alexander (right), died in 2012 in police custody in Kenya aged 28, after being arrested on suspicion of smoking cannabis

I am greatly encouraged by the Prime Ministers extremely fulsome letter, he tells me.

In it, she talks about the misuse of drugs and refers specifically to skunk, which, I think, is a first in an official letter of this kind.

She shares my concerns. Im scenting a wind of change in official thinking.

'Previously, the drug has always just been bracketed under the term cannabis. Skunk is up to 12 times stronger and should be treated differently.

Theresa May has written to Lord Monson apparently suggesting there could be a change in the law to have the highly potent skunk reclassified as a class A drug

Tragically, Monson also lost his elder son, Alexander, in 2012.

He died in police custody in Kenya at the age of 28, after being arrested on suspicion of smoking cannabis.

Monson has spent the five years since trying to prove that his son was battered to death by a police officer, while the Kenyan authorities have repeatedly blamed Alexanders death on a drug overdose.

The letter was a real surprise, because I did not know Theresa May and had never spoken to her. She wrote to me out of the blue to express her sympathy over Rupert and Alexanders deaths. I was very touched.

Rupert, a biology student at Essex University who used the surname of his mother Karen Green, had suffered from psychosis after becoming addicted to skunk. He had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Monson adds: Theresa May has said she will follow my correspondence with the Home Office on this subject with interest.

Now Andy wades in to woo China

As DonaldTrump cranks up pressure on China over its rogue Communist ally North Korea, Britain has fired up its own diplomatic weapon: Prince Andrew.

I hear that Airmiles Andy invited the Chinese ambassador, Liu Xiaoming, to Buckingham Palace for talks on Tuesday.

The Princes spokesman refuses to comment on whether North Korea came up in conversation, saying: We never discuss private meetings.

Trump claimed in a tweet this week that North Korea is looking for trouble, going on to warn: If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!

Thankfully, Prince Charles, who once described the Chinese Communist leadership as appalling old waxworks, was absent and Prince Philip didnt pop his head round the door.

He has called Beijing ghastly and, while on an official visit to China, once told a group of British students: If you stay here much longer, youll all be slitty-eyed.

Tory MP to wed Cambridge don

Cameron cutie Claire Perry, 53, is set to marry Cambridge professorBill ONeill, a laser engineering expert whom she met through constituency work in Wiltshire

Cameron cutie Claire Perry left her job as a transport minister as soon as Theresa May entered Downing Street, but she has found consolation in the tender embrace of a Cambridge professor.

I hear Perry, 53, is to marry Bill ONeill, a laser engineering expert whom she met through constituency work in Wiltshire.

They are engaged, one of Perrys friends tells me. The wedding bells should be soon.

The usually voluble MP for Devizes is uncharacteristically reticent when I ring her, telling me: Private lives are just that  happy Easter!

Her reluctance to talk could be linked to the awkward circumstances in which her romance with ONeill was revealed by a newspaper in 2013.

Three months earlier, she had announced she had separated from her husband, City fund manager Clayton Perry, after 17 years of marriage and dismissed the wild speculation that she was having an affair.

Our world was the first live global TV link where The Beatles played All You Need Is Love, but the BBC has pulled the plug on an ambitious special broadcast planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer Of Love event.

BBC editor Guy Freeman says some of the collaborating international producers were having trouble securing funding.

He adds: With a heavy heart, we have no choice but to put this project on hold. Clearly, all you need is money.
The nine-year-old boy who was wounded in a murder-suicide at a San Bernardino elementary school smiled from his hospital bed - just two days after the horrifying attack.

Nolan Brandy was being treated in hospital on Wednesday after he was shot by his teacher's husband, Cedric Anderson, in a classroom at North Park Elementary School on Monday.

A photo released by school officials showed Brandy in a hospital bed with a blue and white stuffed rabbit on his lap and his parents leaning over him.

His father's hand lay gently on Nolan's head as the boy smiled.

A photo released Wednesday by school officials showed Nolan Brandy, 9, smiling and recovering in a hospital bed with a blue and white stuffed rabbit on his lap as his parents leaned over him; Brandy was shot by his teacher's husband, Cedric Anderson, 53, in a classroom at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino on Monday, officials said

Brandy and another student were behind teacher Karen Smith when Anderson, 53, began firing 10 rounds from a .357 Magnum, officials said.

The other boy, eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez, died after being rushed to a hospital.

Anderson shot and killed himself in the classroom before police arrived.

Brandy's parents, Leon and Rachel Brandy, were thankful for the outpouring of community support after the shooting, they said in a statement issued by school officials.

Jonathan Martinez, 8, was shot in a San Bernardino special-education classroom on Monday and died at a hospital; he is seen here in photo from the Bernardino City Unified School District

Karen Elaine Smith, 53, was shot and killed as she taught a special education class at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California on Monday; she is seen here in a photo provided by the San Bernardino Police Department

'Please continue to pray for him and also for Jonathan Martinez's and Karen Smith's families,' the family said in the statement.

Martinez had Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by learning delays, mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities and heart problems. He had previous heart surgery and school officials said he was a happy child who loved music and playing with friends.

Anderson walked into the classroom and opened fire without saying a word, San Bernardino police Chief Jarrod Burguan said.

Cedric Anderson, 53, has been identified by authorities as the person who shot to death Karen Elaine Smith, identified as his wife, and Jonathan Martinez, 8, on Monday; he is seen here in a photo provided by the San Bernardino Police Department

Lena Hammerling and her daughters Melissa, left, and Maci, right, and an unidentified child look at a sidewalk memorial on Tuesday dedicated to the teacher and student who were shot to death Monday at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California

Pictured here is a sidewalk memorial on Tuesday dedicated to the teacher and student who were shot to death at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California on Monday

San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, center at podium, briefs reporters at police headquarters in San Bernardino, California on Tuesday

Anderson accused his wife earlier this year of infidelity, just one month into their marriage, though police have said there is no evidence of that.

Smith, 53, told family members that Anderson had threatened her after she moved out, but she didn't take him seriously and thought he was just seeking attention, Burguan said.

When he failed to win her back, he shot and killed her, the police chief said.

People pray on Tuesday before placing flowers at a sidewalk memorial to the teacher and student who were shot to death Monday at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino

Jeffrey Imbriani and his grandfather Ruben Gutierrez describe their experiences on Tuesday after a teacher and student were shot to death Monday in San Bernardino

Anderson had been arrested four times since 1982, though none resulted in convictions, Burguan said. The arrests were made on suspicion of spousal battery in 2012 and suspicion of brandishing a knife in 2013. Police in Torrance were called to his home five times that year.

Anderson's ex-wife filed for a restraining order against him in 1996, after he told her he would kill her and her children and take his own life when she refused to pay for their divorce, the woman wrote in court documents.

One of Anderson's girlfriends was granted a restraining order in 2013 after she said he held a pillow over her face, according to court papers. Attempts to reach members of Anderson's family have been unsuccessful.

Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil for the victims Tuesday evening at North Park Elementary. The school will remain closed until Monday, the school district's superintendent said.

After placing flowers on Tuesday, people turn away from a sidewalk memorial for the teacher and student who were shot to death Monday in San Bernardino
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Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons was left in a world of pain after slicing her foot in competition at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Fitzgibbons, 26, was seen emerging from the water clutching a bloody left foot and with a look of extreme agony on her face after falling awkwardly from her surfboard.

The current joint world number one was navigating her way through the waves in her round three heat on Wednesday when disaster struck.

Surfer Sally Fitgibbons clutches her foot in agony after suffering an injury while competing in her third round heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on Wednesday

Blood could be seen dripping from the foot of surfer Sally Fitzgibbons after she suffered a nasty cut in competition

Fitzgibbons fell awkwardly from her surfboard while competing in her round-three heat

It is understood Fitzgibbons's surfboard fin sliced open her foot after she fell during competition

It is understood the surfboard fin sliced open her foot.

Fitzgibbons received three stitches in her foot, on what was the opening day of the contest, forcing her to retire from her heat.

She is now in a race against time to maintain her place in the competition after the painful accident.

She has a crucial extra 24 hours of recovery time before deciding if she will continue her quest for a third Bells Beach crown.

Fitzgibbons was said to be in a world of pain after the accident and required injections by medical staff and three stitches

Fitzgibbons' bloody foot, and look of agony, were in full view as she emerged from the water after falling awkwardly in competition

Fitzgibbons (pictured) now has a crucial 24 hour period of recovery to see if she will continue in the competition

Organisers of the world-famous event have called a lay day for Thursday and will assess conditions again on Friday morning.

Fitzgibbons, who won last week's Margaret River Pro and captured back-to-back Bells Beach titles in 2011-12, has slipped into a round four sudden-death clash with Hawaii's Tatiana Weston-Webb.

Those who know her expect the 26-year-old to tough it out like she did when she ignored a perforated eardrum to win the 2015 Fiji Pro.

She took to Instagram to post a photo of herself recovering from her agonising accident and to thank supports for their well-wishes.

'Another awesome tale to tell from Bells. Thanks for sending me all your love and good vibes,' she wrote.

There were concerns Fitzgibbons had severed a tendon on Wednesday due to the amount of blood she lost and the pain she was in.

Fitzgibbons took to Instagram to post a photo of herself recovering from her agonising accident

A cool, calm and collected Stephanie Gilmore, of Australia, rides the waves during her second heat contest at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on Wednesday

No sweat off my back: Ella Williams, of New Zealand, takes a stand as she manoeuvres her way through the middle of a wave

Australian Keely Andrew took a tumble from her board during her heat and was forced forward by a wave

A determined Bronte Macaulay, of Australia, navigates her way through the waves in her second heat contest

An animated Sage Erickson, of the U.S., performs a balancing act as she cuts through a wave

World Surf League's Jessi Miley-Dyer said Fitzgibbons was in a lot of pain after the accident and needed injections as medical staff tried to assess the extent of the wound.

'She has a pretty big gash on her foot, on the top,' Miley-Dyer said.

'I don't know how deep... but there is a fair bit of blood.

'They've given her a couple of needles, just to be able to see better, how deep it is and do a little bit of exploration.

'It's kind of a tricky place, on the top of your foot there - it's not a big gash, but it is pretty solid.'

Silvana Lima, of Brazil, (at left and right) has a swell time as she competes at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Courtney Conlogue, of the U.S., on full flex as she rides a wave in her third heat against Coco Ho

Lakey Peterson (at left) and Carissa Moore (at right) show off their surfing skills as they battle the waves at Victoria's Bells Beach

Silvana Lima, of Brazil, is a picture of determination as she holds steady to stay on her board after slicing through a wave

Coco Ho (at left) and Ella Williams (at right) in action at the Rip Curl Pro at Victoria's Bells Beach on Wednesday

Fitzgibbons shares the world No.1 ranking with compatriot Stephanie Gilmore after two rounds.

Gilmore also faces a do-or-die fourth-round meeting with Brazil's Silvana Lima.

First-round heats of the men's competition will be held when the tournament resumes, with Australia's three-time world champion Mick Fanning up first against Matt Wilkinson and Jadson Andre.

An ecstatic Silvana Lima, of Brazil, waves to fans after defeating Australian Laura Enever in their second heat match-up

A plethora of surfing fans gathered on Wednesday to watch the round two heats of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
Teachers have threatened to put a nail in the coffin of the Governments Sats programme by boycotting all primary school testing.

It may mean hundreds of thousands of pupils are stopped from taking the tests, aimed at measuring progress and identifying issues.

A major teaching union voted yesterday in favour of shunning the assessments, over fears they cause suffering and stress to children.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which has around 200,000 members, wants to join forces with other teaching unions to bring the testing regime to its knees. If successful, it would plunge the Governments plans for reforms into chaos.

Teachers have threatened to put a nail in the coffin of the Governments Sats programme by boycotting all primary school testing

The boycott could come as early as 2019, and would mean all union members in schools would refuse to administer the tests.

However, any boycott would need the support of other unions, and all of them would have to ballot members beforehand.

The move would be a blow to Education Secretary Justine Greening, who last month announced plans to abandon tests for seven-year-olds. She was criticised at the time for giving in to demands by the unions. Previous Tory education secretaries have strongly advocated the need for testing at that age.

Give chess lessons to boost brainpower Chess should be given the same status as sports, with schools given funding to teach it, teachers have argued. They said the Government should recognise it as a mind sport because of its brain training qualities. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers urged ministers to make sure each child is offered chess lessons at school. This would help the confidence of less sporty pupils, they said. But they added that chess should not replace traditional sports. Hank Roberts, former ATL president, said the UK is one of the few countries that does not recognise chess as a sport. He added: This is a very, very cheap and easy way to give lots and lots of kids an improvement in their thinking skills. Azra Haque, a teacher from north-west London, said: One of the best ways to prevent the mind decaying is by using your brains processor. Great ways to do this are playing chess, Scrabble and some other board games. But Emma Parker, an ATL member from Durham, said: We have other items that should be a higher priority. Studies have shown playing chess can boost memory and problem-solving skills. Many schools run lunchtime chess clubs, but it is not compulsory and does not receive funding in the way sports do. Advertisement

Under Miss Greenings plans, testing for 11-year-olds will remain and a baseline test for five-year-olds will be introduced so progress can be measured.

But the ATL said she had not gone far enough and demanded an end to all compulsory national tests in primaries.

At the unions conference in Liverpool, Jean Roberts, a teacher from north-west London, said: The time has come to put the nail in the coffin of testing. Our children deserve better.

Michael Catty, a delegate from Hertfordshire, added: Education in this country is in a pit and it will get deeper and deeper. It has been dug by the twin evils of testing and league tables. Combine those two together and education doesnt count.

We cant do anything about league tables. But we can do something about testing. Nobody wants it  Lets get rid of it. Delegates resolved to explore a possible boycott of primary testing.

Sats tests in reading, writing and maths are held in May, and it is understood no national action by the union will take place this year.

For a boycott to be effective, it would need support from the NAHT, the main union for primary school teachers, and the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

The ATL is due to merge with the NUT later this year. Members of the latter are set to vote on a similar boycott motion this weekend. A previous official boycott of Sats, in 2010, affected a quarter of primaries in England, and tens of thousands of pupils.

A Department for Education spokesman said it wanted testing that measures the progress  fairly and accurately, recognises teachers professionalism in assessing their pupils, and does not impose a disproportionate burden.

He added that the department was consulting with teachers on a number of proposals.
A controversial imam has claimed he was sent an obscene email threatening to have his mother raped by camels.

Shia preacher Mohammad Tawhidi last week revealed he had been driven into hiding by a chilling threat where a $5000 bounty was placed on his head.

And Tawhidi this week posted an emailed copy of an apparent follow-up message, which suggested he get intimate with a kangaroo.

The email subject line was 'f*** you' and the text called him a 'Jewish piece of s***'. It said: 'We see through you, you might think you have it easy but just you wait'.

Mohammad Tawhidi - pictured here at a rally - has been praised by the conservative side of politics but criticised by others who have questioned his religious credentials

The emailed threat the sheikh claimed to have received this week

Tawhidi - celebrated by some as 'the renegade imam' and criticised by others who have questioned his religious credentials - has attracted headlines only recently.

He started an organisation called the Islamic Association of South Australia and has become a regular media commentator.

The IT-educated preacher has called for Islamic schools to be shut down. He attended an Islamic school in Western Australia himself.

Tawhidi did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday and has claimed to have gone into hiding.

Now living in Adelaide, Tawhidi is the son of a Perth imam, who he asked not to be named given the apparent threats to his safety.

The imam claims he has gone into hiding after he received a number of threats

His Iraqi family moved from Iran to Australia in 1995 and he says he makes a living through being an entrepreneur and property investments.

He admitted to Daily Mail Australia he was sympathetic to the conservative side of politics.

When asked about the apparent threats to Sheikh Tawhidi last week, a South Australian police spokeswoman said: 'We are unable to provide information relating to an individual member of the public and whether they have sought police assistance.'

In response to his claims of being 'assaulted' to the Australian newspaper, the spokeswoman said: 'We can advise however that there have been no incidents relating to the removal of persons from a mosque or similar place as you have indicated.'
Dorinda Medley is back for a new season of Real Housewives of New York, and has already made a new friend in fellow castmate Tinsley Mortimer.

The always opinionated and amusing Dorinda chatted with DailyMail.com about what to expect this season from the ladies of New York, and said things will be much more fun and far less dark, comparing it to 'Sex and the City.'

And for those hoping to see more of Dorinda she confessed that she was finally exploring possible ways to extend her brand, but offered no other hints of what might be to come.

She also said there will be less of boyfriend John Medhessian on the new season as well as daughter Hannah, who moved out of Dorinda's apartment just two months ago.

There will be lots of Tinsley though, and Dorinda said that she and the newest New York housewife had a bit of slow start when it came to hitting it off, but are now forming a real friendship.

Dorinda Medley is back for a new season of Real Housewives of New York, and has already made a new friend in fellow castmate Tinsley Mortimer

Dorinda (second from right) admitted it was jarring that Tinsley (far right) announced within seconds of meeting her that she had a mugshot, but the two have since grown closer

'She's really interesting,' said Dorinda of Tinsley.

'I didn't know anything about her so it was really fun getting to know her.'

Dorinda did admit however that it was a bit jarring at first, with Tinsley announcing within seconds of meeting her that she had a mugshot.

'It was a bit much,' admits Dorinda.

'I almost wanted to day, "Oh my god. Did you buy a frame for it?"'

Also making things difficult was the fact that Tinsley was living with Sonja Morgan, who after last season was not on the best terms with Dorinda.

'I wasn't even sure if she was going to accept me,' said Dorinda.

In the end though, she feel for Tinsley's 'southern charm.'

Things gets difficult for the new girl said Dorinda though, who said that Tinsley has to deal with some past issues as she come sailing back into the city.

Tinsley Mortimer in her April 2016 mugshot after she was arrested for trespassing at the home of her ex-boyfriend Nico Fanjul

Mortimer was one of the biggest names on the Manhattan society scene in the early and mid aughts, having moved to the city to attend college at Columbia where she earned a degree in art history.

She transferred to the prestigious Ivy League university from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in order to be closer to Topper.

Mortimer then scored the job a million girls would kill for when she began working as a beauty assistant at Vogue straight out of school.

From there, Mortimer moved into public relations, joining the team at Harrison and Shriftman where she worked as an event planner.

Mortimer's big moment came around 2006 when the public and press took a new interest in the city's young socialites, who at the time included Byrdie Bell, Olivia Palermo, Fabiola Beracasa, Amanda Hearst, and Lauren Santo Domingo (nee Davis) to name just a few.

There was even a website dedicated to ranking the women called Socialite Rank.

None of these women were covered more than Mortimer however, and she soon leveraged her newfound fame to launch a line of handbags with Samantha Thavasa and a clothing line, Riccime by Tinsley Mortimer, which were both available in Japan.

Her former Vogue co-worker Plum Sykes also included a character that was loosely based on her in her 2004 novel Bergdorf Blondes.

Mortimer soon began to command as much as $10,000 to host an event and was named a brand ambassador for Dior, which allowed her to launch her own lip gloss for the high fashion house.

She called the shade Tinsley Pink.

Tinsley told police she had been assaulted by Alexander Fanjul (right) on numerous occasions. The left photo was taken by police on December 31, 2013

Mortimer was also frequently name dropped on the show Gossip Girl, which detailed the lives of a group of wealthy private school kids in New York City. She later appeared in a cameo role on the show's second-season premiere.

In 2010, the same network that aired Gossip Girl, the CW, gave Mortimer her own reality series called High Society.

The show followed Mortimer as she posed for photo shoots, picked out clothes and hopped from party to party in the Big Apple.

It also starred Mortimer's sister Dabney Mercer, Social Life editor Devorah Rose and Paul Johnson Calderon.

The show was not a hit with critics or viewers however, leading to its cancellation after eight episodes and much public ridicule for Mortimer.

At the same time, Mortimer's marriage to Topper, her high school sweetheart, had come to an end.

Mortimer's big moment came around 2006 when the public and press took a new interest in the city's young socialites. Pictured with Ivanka Trump in 2008

Mortimer, who grew up in Richmond, Virginia, met Topper while the two attended the prestigious Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.

The two eloped when they were just 18, but Mortimer's parents - real estate investor George and interior designer Dale - forced her to annul the marriage. They wed again in May 2002 in Mortimer's hometown of Richmond.

Reports that the two had split began to circulate in early 2009 and the pair divorced a year later.

There were also allegations that Mortimer had begun a relationship with a member of German royalty, Prince Casimir Wittgenstein-Sayn, while still married to Topper.

Topper is heir to the Standard Oil fortune thanks to his grandfather Henry Morgan Tilford, who was a president at the company. His family can trace their routes back to John Jay, author of the Federalist Papers.

Pictured, Mortimer with ex-husband Topper Mortimer in 2007. Reports that the two had split began to circulate in early 2009 and the pair divorced a year later

He is the son of magazine editor Senga Mortimer and brother of designer Minnie Mortimer, who is married to Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan.

Since his split from Mortimer, the notoriously press shy hedge fund manager has had relationships with Vogue staffer Valerie Boster and shoe designer Tabitha Simmons.

He and Simmons recently became engaged.

Mortimer moved down to Palm Beach soon after she and her ex finalized their divorce, and has dated former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis and Prince Lorenzo Borghese, who was on the ninth season of The Bachelor.

She has released her first book shortly after moving to Florida, Southern Charm. It tells the story of a girl from down South who moves to Manhattan and quickly becomes an 'It Girl.'

Mortimer also launched a line of home goods last year, hoping to achieve the success of another blond socialite who built herself a billion dollar empire - Tory Burch.
A teenage couple and their newborn daughter have been found after they allegedly abducted the three-day-old girl from a hospital in Sydney's west.

Jenifer Morrison, 15, and Jayden Lavender, 14, hid their daughter Aria Jayde Lavender under a blanket as they allegedly took her from Nepean Hospital in Penrith at about 12.30am on Thursday, police claim.

Officers confirmed the trio had been found 'safe and well' in Willmot, in western Sydney, at about 4.15pm.

Jenifer and Jayden went unnoticed by hospital staff and were believed to have left on foot without permission.

NSW police officers said they were concerned for the welfare of all three children given the newborn still needs medical assistance and the mother gave birth just days ago. An alert for the teens was broadcast every 15 minutes by police.

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A 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy (pictured together) who allegedly abducted their three-day-old baby from Nepean Hospital in Penrith at about 12.30am on Thursday have been found 'safe and well'

Officers said they were concerned for the welfare of all three children (pictured is Aria Jayde Tanya Lavender just moments after she was born)

Jayden's mother Tracy Lavender posted images of Aria (pictured with Jayden) just moments after she was born to Facebook

Tracy Lavender, Jayden's mother and the grandmother of newborn Aria, spoke to reporters outside the hospital after the two teens and baby were found.

'The baby's healthy - seven-and-a-half pounds, I knew that my son would look after his baby and his girlfriend,' she said.

Jayden was seen cradling his newborn daughter as family members embraced him, glad that the trio were found without harm.

It's believed the two teenagers allegedly abducted their newborn baby and fled under the cover of night because they feared they might be separated from their daughter.

At the end of the day its breaking both of their hearts, theyve never done nothing wrong, Ms Lavender told reporters.

They dont want to be apart from their baby, theyre good parents.

Tracy Lavender, Jayden's mother and the grandmother of newborn Aria, spoke to reporters outside the hospital

Ms Lavender said she believed the entire ordeal happened because her son and his girlfriend feared they may be separated from their newborn daughter

'They dont want to be apart from their baby, theyre good parents,' Ms Lavender said

Penrith detective inspector Grant Healey gave an impassioned plea to the young parents on Thursday afternoon before they were found safe.

'To Jenifer and Jayden, the two parents, you're not in trouble. We'd just really appreciate if you could go to the hospital and check out to see if you're alright,' he said.

'The doctors still need to see your baby and make sure it's progressing nicely.'

Detective Insp. Healey would not comment on accusations that the teenager's were worried their child would be taken from them.

Police officers claim CCTV footage captured an adult man leaving with the children.

The hospital footage also shows the teenagers carrying what appears to baby clothes as they left, he said.

Nepean Hospital said it immediately notified police when it discovered the mother and child had not been discharged.

'We are concerned for the wellbeing of the mother and her baby and urge her to come forward,' hospital general manager Brett Williams said in a statement.

Detective Insp. Healey said police are working with the newborn's grandparents, who are helping police locate the teens.

The young couple have posted numerous pictures together on social media (pictured)

Police officers said it is believed a man is also with the children (pictured) but his identity is unknown

'To Jenifer and Jayden, the two parents, you're not in trouble. We'd just really appreciate if you could go to the hospital and check out to see if you're alright,' Penrith detective inspector Grant Healey said in a press conference (pictured)

The baby's grandparents have taken to social media to express love for the newborn, posting pictures in hospital, including one of the young father cradling his daughter wrapped in a blanket.

'My Pride and Joy ... My Grand Daughter,' the grandmother said on Facebook.

'I love you more then words. Can explain your perfect in everyway [sic].'

Jenifer and Jayden are both Caucasian and have brown hair.

Jayden is believed to be wearing black and white hooded jumper, police said.

Jenifer was last seen wearing a white hooded 'Everlast' jumper, grey tracksuit pants and 'Ugg' boots.

Officers said the pair have links to the NSW Central Coast and Mount Druitt area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A woman whose former partner created fake pornographic profiles of her online claims he styled his new girlfriend to look like her, as he sent men to her home to act out rape fantasies.

Robyn Night, 37, had more than 50 men come to her house after Ryan Kotynski, 42, impersonated her on websites about rape fantasies. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years in February.

The Brisbane mother told Daily Mail Australia that Kotynski's reasoning behind his depraved actions were that he was 'lonely and depressed', despite having a girlfriend during the four-year-long ordeal.

Ms Night claims he styled his new partner to look like Ms Night as she did during their relationship.

Robyn Night, from Brisbane, pictured with husband River, said at least 50 strange men showed up at her family home over four years

Ms Night claims her former partner Ryan Kotynski, (pictured during their time together) styled his new girlfriend to look like her, as he sent men to her home to act out rape fantasies

The Brisbane mother told Daily Mail Australia that Kotynski's (pictured) reasoning behind his depraved actions were that he was 'lonely and depressed'

Looking back Ms Night realises there were clues to the identity of her tormentor after she was first contact by a strange man.

'I got a message on Facebook from a random guy who had seen pictures of me on an adult website, I thought he was trying to scam me.'

But after the stranger said he knew her address, the mother-of-one investigated further.

She was greeted with doctored photographs of her that were pornographic in nature and uploaded to her fake profiles. 'The words 'gang bang sl*t' were there in big red letters, and other pictured of naked women, who were overweight and had long black hair,' she said.

'They looked like I did before [when she and Kotynski were dating].'

But this was just the beginning, over four years beginning from 2011, the mother was receiving messages from men every day, and had 50 turn up to her house looking for the woman advertised as a 'extreme no limits slave pig'.

Kotynski and Ms Night even exchanged amicable messages online during this time, asking about each other's lives until sometime in 2012 when she gave birth to her son.

'I saw he had a girlfriend, it didn't even cross my mind he was behind it all.'

She told Daily Mail Australia she alleges the 42-year-old had got his new girlfriend to wear long black hair extensions, to mimic her own style during their time together.

'She thought he liked long black hair.'

His new partner had no idea of Kotynski's online torment of Ms Night.

The mother was so scared for her safety she installed security cameras and put up signs, pictured

Looking back Ms Night realises there were clues to the identity of her tormentor after she was first contact by a strange man

Robyn Night, from Brisbane, pictured with husband River, said she even exchanged amicable messages with her stalker until 2012, unaware he was the behind her ordeal

Robyn Night (right) and husband River leave the District Court after her ex-boyfriend's sentencing

The mother revealed how she had to install security cameras to detour strange men from knocking on her door and even changed her appearance to hide from them.

It would happen then go quiet for three or four months  then I would take the signs down, and then they would turn up again.

She was constantly hounded with notes in the mail, phone calls and text messages, and men coming to her door looking to have violent sex with her.

The stress from the constant torment caused her to have a miscarriage when she was pregnant with her second child in 2014.

I found out I lost the baby at 11 weeks, but it had actually passed at five weeks and five days.

My body didnt know I had lost the baby, I was still having severe morning sickness.

It wasnt until she spotted some bleeding and went to the hospital that she learned of the devastating loss.

Photographs of Ms Night were doctored to appear pornographic in nature and were uploaded to her fake profiles

She said during the years of torment she became a recluse, afraid to even go to the park with her son in case someone from the adult sights saw her.

'It made me fearful whenever anybody knocked on the door I didn't know what they were going to do or what they were going to ask of me,' she said.

Ms Night said she contacted four different police stations to report the 'insidious' behaviour but was turned away as she had not been 'technically' assaulted.

In February, Kotynski was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Kotynski admitted to setting up the online profiles and giving out the passwords to others, however he denied uploading the images and making some of the more offending comments.

The online profiles included Ms Night's address and phone number and directed men to rape, gang rape, or torture her.

Ms Night said during the years of torment she became a recluse, afraid to even go to the park with her son in case someone from the adult sights saw her (pictured speaking with A Current Affair)

Kotynski admitted to setting up the online profiles and giving out the passwords to others, however he denied uploading the images and making some of the more offending comments

Ms Night said during the years of torment she became a recluse, afraid to even go to the park with her son in case someone from the adult sights saw her (pictured with husband River)

Ms Night had been in a relationship with Kotynski for two years after meeting him at a pub and exchanging phone numbers.

'The next day he came over to the unit I was living in  and i thought to myself "I'm going to marry this man",' she said.

They quickly moved in together but the relationship diminished soon after and the former couple began to head in different directions.

'I even tried to rekindle things after we broke up and he didnt want anything to do with me.

'I feel bad for some of the choices I made during that relationship, but nothing I could have done could have warranted his behaviour.'
A Brisbane man has been charged with a series of sexual assaults after he exposed himself to a woman before he was put under citizen's arrest.

The 39-year-old is accused of committing three allegedly linked sexual assaults on women between March 28 and April 11.

The Everton Park man was detained by a member of the public at a Brisbane shopping centre on Tuesday morning until police arrived, the Brisbane Times reports.

The Brisbane man was charged with allegedly groping and exposing himself two women (stock image)

The arrest was made after an appeal for public assistance following Queensland police investigations into the alleged assault

His charges were an attempted indecent treatment of a child under 16, another alleged attempted groping and one count of wilful exposure, police say.

One of his assaults allegedly involved him groping a 19-year-old woman's shorts, before fleeing when a passing motorist stopped.

The arrest follows an appeal for public assistance following police investigations into the alleged assaults.

Detectives are also encouraging anyone else who may have been a witness to or victim of a similar incident in the Everton Park area to report the matter to police.

The man is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A mother and her two young daughters have been missing for two months after mysteriously disappearing from a Melbourne suburb.

Thuy Thi Tran, 27, and her children, two-year-old Emily Nguyen and four-year-old Caysy Nguyen were last seen on February 14 in St Albans, north-west Melbourne.

Police have expressed grave concerns for the young family's welfare as both children require medical attention.

A mother and her two daughters have been missing for two months from St Albans, Melbourne (pictured)

The two girls Emily Nguyen, 4, (pictured left) and Caysy Nguyen, 2, (right) disappeared with their mother

Police believe Ms Tran and her children have been frequenting the suburbs of Avondale Heights, St Albans, Sunshine and Richmond.

Police have released an image of Thuy, Emily and Caysy in the hope someone may know their current whereabouts.

The images show Ms Tran wearing a red dress and black blazer as walked with her two young daughters on a Melbourne street.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms Tran, Emily and Caysy is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Thuy Thi Tran, 27, (pictured) was last seen at St Albans, north-west of Melbourne on February 14
George W. Bush's former press secretary Dana Perino sympathized with Sean Spicer over his Hitler scandal in an interview as she appeared as guest host on The O'Reilly Factor.

White House Press Secretary Spicer sparked outrage yesterday after he compared the Nazi leader favorably with Syrian President Bashar Assad, claiming that Hitler 'didn't even sink to ... using chemical weapons.'

Trump's press secretary quickly apologized, but his garbled defense at the Tuesday press briefing drew further criticism after he referred to Hitler's death camps as 'Holocaust centers'.

The White House was forced to issue two different clarifications and then Spicer appeared on TV to apologize for the remarks.

But Spicer finally found a sympathetic ear when he appeared on The O'Reilly Factor for a live interview with guest host Perino - who is standing embattled host Bill O'Reilly while he takes a vacation.

Former Bush press secretary Dana Perino sympathized with Sean Spicer over his Hitler scandal in an interview as she appeared as guest host on The O'Reilly Factor

Perino, who had Spicer's job under George W. Bush from 2007 to 2009, told him that 'there's no job that will humble you like the White House press secretary job.'

She added that Spicer, who had apologized profusely for the blunder - including on the O'Reilly Factor - was being too hard on himself.

'Sean, were you a little harder on yourself than even the president was?' she asked him, 'Did you get a chance to talk to him?'

Spicer replied that he had spoken to Donald Trump after the blunder, describing the president as 'one of the most gracious bosses and leaders you can imagine.'

He told her that 'you are harder on yourself' because he realized he had 'an awesome responsibility and a great privilege and honor to have this position.'

He also lamented how his error had created a distraction from the president's agenda.

'I knew that it needed to be fixed and I sincerely regret what I did to other people above my own mistake,' he said.

'When you're guilty of making a mistake you recognize, at least for me, I was a little bit hard of myself because I realized I was a distraction from the great work that the president has and continues to do on behalf of this country.

'And when you overshadow his accomplishments It's disappointing to myself and I hope people will overlook it and forgive me.'

Press Secretary Sean Spicer (pictured) went on CNN Tuesday to apologize for comments he made comparing Hitler, more favorably, to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad

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'

Perino was sympathetic to Spicer telling him he was being too hard on himself

Perino, a Fox Contributor and host of The Five, assured Spicer: 'I do think you're a little harder on yourself than you need to be.'

She recalled that when she had the job, she was taught a few lessons about 'dignity, graciousness, empathy, and certainly humility'

Spicer agreed, revealing that Perino had shared some 'very sage advice' before he took his role - to be prepared as possible.

'And you're as prepared as possible and that you're as focused as possible, and obviously you see what happens when you're not, but it's an awesome responsibility, takes a lot of hard work every day but you do your best,' he said.

During yesterday's disastrous press briefing on Tuesday, Spicer told reporters: '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.

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.

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

'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.'

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.'

But 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.'

Hitler primarily used Zyklon B, a powerful cyanide gas, to exterminate Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, priests, political dissidents and other enemies of the state.

During an appearance on CNN, Spicer was asked 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, adding that he was apologizing to 'anybody who not just suffered in the holocaust or is a descendant of anybody, but frankly anyone who was offended by those comments.'

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.
Anti-Reformist Challenger Tops Dean Angelo To Head Up Police Union

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 12, 2017 10:41PM



Screenshot from 'The Contract'

The controversial, ever-outspoken Dean Angelo is out as head of Chicago's major police union. Angelo lost to challenger Kevin Graham, a patrolman and stalwart opponent of police reform in Chicago, in Wednesday's runoff election.

Graham significantly bested his incumbent rival, landing more than 56 percent of the vote, compared to 43.79 percent. The turnout was considerable: 9,811 votes cast, according to reports.

Run-off Election Results, Kevin Graham-56.21% Dean Angelo-43.79%  FOP7Chicago (@FOP7Chicago) April 12, 2017

Angelo was not immediately available for comment, but he told the Sun-Times ahead of his loss that rank-and-file disaffection in the face of media and political disparagement was to blame. Low morale among officers has been a fairly common refrain for the outgoing leader.

The defeated union chief told the paper:



You have a no-one-has-your-back mentality in our ranks more prevalent now than ever before. Media and politicians have demonized this job over the last couple of years. Then they wonder why people in the community dont want to work with or trust the police. How do you trust Satan reincarnated that youve created?

Angelo has been outspokensometimes outrageously soin his pro-police policies and pushback against political oppositionalthough Graham could prove to be even more hardline. Late last year, the outgoing FOP boss appeared to acknowledge and defend a code of silence among police officers in Chicago while being interviewed in an Al Jazeera documentary.

And last month, Angelo said that police care more about black lives than "a lot of black politicians." Those comments followed an attempt by the Black Caucus and other aldermen to fundamentally reform the police contract. Meanwhile, Graham is expected to prove as equally vociferous, if not more so, against a contract re-work.

Angelo in the past didn't officially comment as to whether the union supports a consent decree to enforce recommendations made by the Obama-era Department of Justice, which found a pattern of unconstitutional abuses in the Chicago police department. Graham on the other hand was fiercely critical of Angelo for cooperating with the DOJ's probe, and he reportedly welcomed Attorney General Jeff Sessions' internal review that casts doubt on a potential decree.

Angelo and other police union leaders met with President Donald Trump and other high-ranking administration officials late last month. After the meeting, he said that Trump is "on our wavelength" and "truly supportive of us."
NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell was scolded for her 'manners' by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after she shouted a question during his meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The exchange happened during a press conference in Moscow for Tillerson's first visit to Russia since he was appointed by president Donald Trump.

Video of the incident begins by showing Tillerson, Lavrov and other officials sitting down at a table at the start of the press conference.

Before anyone could be seated at the table, Mitchell started shouting: 'Mr. Secretary, the Russians don't believe the intelligence. How confident are you, Mr. Secretary?'

But before the 70-year-old journalist could finish her sentence, Lavrov quickly interjected.

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NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell (circled) was scolded for her 'manners' by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after she shouted a question during his meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

The exchange between Mitchell (left) and Lavrov (right) happened during a press conference in Moscow for Tillerson's first visit to Russia since he was appointed to the position by president Donald Trump

'Who was bringing you up?' Lavrov asked Mitchell in reference to how she was raised.

'Who was giving you your manners, you know?' he added while grinning.

Mitchell however claims that she was not the one being targeted, stating: 'My colleague Carol Morello was the brave journalist who started asking questions.

'Lavrov was looking right at her. I was on the opposite side of the room, behind him, out of sight. Perhaps I was a convenient foil, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't his target.'

The exchange comes as tensions between Russia and the U.S. escalate following Trump's missile strike in Syria last week.

This is also not her first incident with Tillerson, as a little over a month ago the veteran journalist was kicked out of a State Department press conference for repeatedly shouting questions at Tillerson.

Mitchell was escorted out of a meeting between Tillerson and the foreign minister for Ukraine on March 7 due to how she reportedly behaved during a press conference for the pair.

This is also not her first incident with Tillerson (above left on Wednesday next to Lavrov), as a little over a month ago the veteran journalist was kicked out of a State Department press conference for repeatedly shouting questions at Tillerson

At the time of this incident, she was shouting questions at Tillerson about Russia and China.

'Mr. Secretary, China has said there will be consequences for the deployment now of anti-missile defenses in South Korea, can you respond?' Mitchell asked.

'Can you respond? Excuse me Mr. Secretary can you respond?' she said repeatedly, before beginning to question the Ukraine foreign minister.

'Mister Minister are you sure the Trump administration will be strong against Vladimir Putin?' she asked.

Furthermore, on Monday she blasted Tillerson for him refusing to bring the press pool with him during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

'There is just an attempt, and it's successful, to shut down not just me but The New York Times, The Washington Post, Agence France-Presse, CNN. I mean, we're all just shut out,' she explained during a Politico podcast.

'You should not be flying into Beijing without a press corps. You should not be going to Moscow without the press corps. It's wrong.'
Winter is coming and that means so is the peak flu period.

With just weeks until the coldest season of the year descends on the southern hemisphere, Australians are being urged by the federal government to get their flu vaccinations.

Health minister Greg Hunt said on Thursday, while getting his own vaccination, that it was important to get the flu shot every year as the virus changes.

Health minister Greg Hunt receives a flu vaccine from Dr Brian Morton in Sydney on Thursday

Mr Hunt (receiving the vaccine) had his vaccine as he announced flu shots were now available at general practices and other vaccination providers

Mr Hunt said an annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone from six months up.

'Flu shots are available now at general practices and other vaccination providers. They're also available for purchase at many pharmacies,' Mr Hunt said.

'The flu shot this year will cover two A strains of influenza (Michigan and Hong Kong) and two B strains of influenza (Brisbane and Phuket).'

Mr Hunt said the influenza vaccines have been through stringent safety testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Health minister Greg Hunt said this year's flu shot will cover two A strains and two B strains of influenza (stock image)

Mr Hunt (at right with Dr Brian Morton) said the annual influenza vaccination is recommended for any person six months of age and older

Mr Hunt (at centre) braved his flu shot on Thursday, which was administered by Dr Brian Morton, with North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman providing a helping hand

The federal government is providing 4.5 million does of the vaccine free of charge for those most at risk of getting sick.

'Under the [National Immunisation Program], those eligible for a free flu shot include people aged 65 years and over, most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those who suffer from chronic conditions,' Mr Hunt said.

'Pregnant women are also eligible for a free flu shot. It's safe to receive at any stage of pregnancy and not only protects Mum, but baby too.'

Health minister Greg Hunt (centre) discusses this year's flu shot with Dr Brian Morton (at left) and North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman (at right)
A teenager 'pushing back' while on her hands and knees could have led her accused rapist to believe she was consenting to anal sex, a court has heard.

The trial of Luke Lazarus, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, finished on Thursday and the 25-year-old will learn his fate later this month.

Lazarus is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in a laneway behind Soho nightclub, which was owned by his family, in Sydney's inner-city Kings Cross about 4am on May 12, 2013.

Accused rapist Luke Lazarus, who is set to learn his fate later this month, leaving court

Luke Lazarus is accused of raping an 18-year-old virgin in a laneway on her first night out in Kings Cross

Luke Lazarus is accused of raping an 18-year-old virgin behind Soho nightclub in Sydney's Kings Cross

It was the alleged victim's first night out in Kings Cross.

Lazarus admits having anal sex with the woman, while she was on all fours, within minutes of meeting her on the dance floor but insists it was with her consent.

In closing submissions, defence counsel Phillip Boulten, SC, said his client might have had a 'sense of over-entitlement' when at Soho but he had not raped the alleged victim.

'The accused said 'when I went to have anal intercourse with her she pushed back in a way that I interpreted as a clear signal of consent',' Mr Boulten told the District Court.

'And she said 'I may well have done that'.'

'Even if that was the only argument that I mounted here, that in my submission is so important that it by itself might have resulted in acquittal.

'But that's not the only argument and I'd ask Your Honour to find him not guilty.'

Mr Boulten said the alleged victim became distressed only after Lazarus asked her to write her name in his phone below other women on what has been described as a 'trophy list'.

Luke Lazarus with his mother leaving the Court of Criminal Appeal where he his rape conviction was overturned in April last year

Luke Lazarus, pictured leaving the Court of Criminal Appeal last year, is being tried before a judge without a jury

Luke Lazarus was originally tried for rape before a District Court jury in 2015

Lazarus has conceded he did not behave like a 'gentleman'.

'The events in the back laneway were likely to be a matter of almost immediate regret and confusion for the complainant and for the accused, irrespective of whether consent was given or not,' Mr Boulten said.

'It was a set of circumstances where if the accused's version is correct or could possibly be correct there were several reasons for the complainant to be very, very confused, upset and disturbed.

'The fact that she was upset, crying and distressed is also consistent with the accused's version of what happened in that laneway.'

Luke Lazarus, pictured centre, tries to shield his face from cameras at an earlier hearing

Luke Lazarus pictured with his mother outside the District Court in Sydney this week

Accused rapist Luke Lazarus, pictured outside the District Court, is set to learn his fate later this month

The Crown submitted the woman had drunk an estimated 16 standard drinks on the night of the alleged rape. Mr Boulten said the defence estimate was eight.

'It is my submission she has exaggerated her level of intoxication,' he said.

The woman was not so drunk that she did not know what she was doing, 'rather she was at that level of intoxication where she may be uncharacteristically reckless'.

After meeting on the Soho dance floor, the woman and Lazarus had almost immediately begun kissing passionately. Within three minutes, they were heading out the back door.

The pair gave conflicting evidence about what happened outside. Each says they had anal sex, with the woman down all fours. Lazarus says the woman encouraged him. The woman says she repeatedly asked him to stop.

Nightclub owner's son Luke Lazarus has pleaded not guilty to having sexual intercourse without consent

Mr Boulten told Judge Robyn Tupman that her complaints to friends after the encounter with Lazarus did not prove she had been raped.

He said 'every night...people have sex in all sorts of different circumstances that they would not like people to know about'.

'That includes sexual intercourse for the first time. People have their first sexual encounters in the most diverse of circumstances.

'Even the anal intercourse aspect is something I'd urge Your Honour to be careful about.

'Really, the morals, mores and expectations of sexual activity in the early 21st century for young people is not exactly the same as they were 30 or 40 years ago, even in the so-called liberated 60s.'

Former Cranbrook student Luke Lazarus says he had consensual sex with a virgin behind a Kings Cross nightclub

Mr Boulten said character witnesses had given evidence that Lazarus was respectful of women and never violent. Lazarus had also been unshaken in his evidence.

'He's had advantages and he's probably had a sense of over-entitlement at the Soho bar,' Mr Boulten said.

'Basically he's a young, decent fellow. Never been in trouble before. Studying. Going about his life the way that you'd expect a young fellow might.'

A jury found Lazarus guilty of the same charge in 2015 and he served 11 months of a minimum three-year prison term but that conviction was overturned on appeal.

Judge Tupman reserved her decision until April 24.
Handcuffed and wearing bullet-proof vests, two women accused of assassinating Kim Jong-un's half brother arrived at court ahead of a murder trial that could see them both hanged.

Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam are the only suspects in custody in the February 13 killing of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged brother of North Korea's dictator.

Pictures show the pair being escorted by armed police in to a court building in Sepang, Malaysia as they face accusations that they poisoned Kim to death at Kuala Lumpur International airport. Four North Korean suspects fled the country the day of the murder, police say.

Lawyers for the two women said Malaysian police still have not handed over security camera footage and documents crucial to the defence.

Prosecutors are expected to apply for the case to be transferred to an upper court, where the women would be tried for murder. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia.

Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong (pictured) of Vietnam are the only suspects in custody in the February 13 killing of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged brother of North Korea's dictator

Handcuffed and wearing bullet-proof vests, two women accused of assassinating Kim Jong-un's half brother arrived at court today as their lawyers warned of a 'trial by ambush'. One of the defendants, Siti Aisyah, from Indonesia, os pictured above with her head bowed

Pictures show the pair being escorted by armed police in to a court building in Sepang, Malaysia as they face accusations that they poisoned Kim to death at Kuala Lumpur International airport

'The accused person should not be denied her fundamental right to a fair trial,' said Aisyah's attorney, Gooi Soon Seng. He said he has been waiting for police to provide CCTV footage and statements from three North Korean men who were questioned and released.

'Neither side may seek unfair advantage by concealing weapons behind its back. There should be no trial by ambush,' Gooi said.

The judge postponed the hearing until May 30.

The women are accused of smearing Kim's face with banned VX nerve agent at a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur. But they say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden-camera show.

The women face the death penalty if convicted.

Gooi said he fears the women will become scapegoats because all the other people believed to have knowledge of the case have left the country.

The four North Koreans who flew out of Malaysia the day of the murder are believed to be back in Pyongyang.

And another three who stayed inside their country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur to avoid questioning by police were allowed to fly home late last month after Malaysia struck a surprise deal with Pyongyang to ease tensions.

Kim Jong-nam (pictured) was assassinated as he walked through Kuala Lumpur International Airport

The women are accused of smearing Kim's face with banned VX nerve agent at a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur

Siti Aisyah (left), from Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong (right) of Vietnam are suspected of poisoning Kim Jong-un's brother to death

Doan Thi Huong poses for a photo during a motor show in Hanoi, Vietnam in July, 2016

Malaysian police have said they questioned the three men and found no grounds to hold them. But Gooi said Thursday that at least one of those three men - identified by police as RI Ji U and known to Aisyah as 'James' - was key to her defense.

'This amounts to a miscarriage of justice,' Gooi said of Malaysia's decision to allow the men to leave the country. 'They (the defendants) are already scapegoats.'

Gooi told the Associated Press on Wednesday that James recruited Aisyah in early January to star in his video prank shows.

Over the course of several days, he had her rub oil or pepper sauce on a victim's face, 'from forehead downwards,' which he would film on his phone, the lawyer said.

They practiced at malls, hotels and airports, he said. Aisyah was paid $100-$200 for each prank and hoped the income would allow her to stop working as a social escort, Gooi said.

Malaysia never directly accused North Korea of carrying out the attack, but speculation is rampant that Pyongyang directed a hit on a long-exiled member of its ruling elite

Tram Hux Hoang, a cousin of the Vietnamese suspect (above), said she is doing well in prison and had even gained weight

There was a heavy police presence as the two women arrived for their court appearance in Malaysia this morning

Selvi Sandrasegaram (centre) lawyer for Indonesia suspect Siti Aisyah, is surrounded by journalists outside Sepang court in Malaysia

Gooi said Aisyah flew to Cambodia in late January, where James introduced her to Hong Song Hac, one of four North Korean suspects who left Malaysia on the day of the murder. Hong had introduced himself as Chang, a Chinese who produces video prank shows for the China market, he said.

Gooi said Hong asked Aisyah to do several more pranks at the Kuala Lumpur airport a few days before Kim was attacked. He said Aisyah met Hong at the airport on the day of the killing, and that Hong identified Kim to Aisyah and allegedly put the poison on her hand.

Malaysia never directly accused North Korea of carrying out the attack, but speculation is rampant that Pyongyang directed a hit on a long-exiled member of its ruling elite.

Tram Hux Hoang, a cousin of the Vietnamese suspect, said she is doing well in prison and had even gained weight.

'The family and many Vietnamese people believe that she is innocent,' he said outside court Thursday. 'We believe she was cheated and we hope that the truth will come out.'
The last original 'Cocaine Cowboy' drug dealer was arrested while out on a bike ride with his wife following decades on the run after he was unmasked as one of the richest drug dealers in American history.

Gustavo Falcon was arrested by US Marshals in Kissimmee, Florida, despite a series of rumors about his whereabouts including that he had fled to Cuba.

Along with his brother Augusto 'Willy' Falcon and accomplice Salvador 'Sal' Malgluta, Gustavo formed the original Cocaine Cowboys in the 1980s  notorious playboy drug dealers who were known for racing powerboats, owning mansions and flying in private jets.

After dropping out of high school to deal drugs, they collectively smuggled at least $2billion of cocaine into the US and were one of the top five drug dealing networks in US history.

Magluta and Willy were eventually convicted and are serving time in federal prison, but Gustavo went on the run.

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Caught: Gustavo Falcon (pictured left in arrest photo and right in 1990), 56, was arrested Wednesday in Florida after being on the run for 26 years

Back in 1991, he was indicted for trafficking cocaine from Colombia to South Florida along with his drug kingpin brother, Willy Falcon (right), and co-defendant Sal Magluta (left).

Authorities had accused the trio, who were high school dropouts, of smuggling 75 tons of cocaine, worth more than $2billion, into the United States between 1978 and 1991. Pictured above left is Magluta and Willy; pictured above right is Falcon

Gustavo was captured by a team of U.S. Marshals from Miami that traveled to the city in central Florida, NBC Miami reported.

The 55-year-old, who at one point owned his own powerboat team, was booked at the Orange County Jail at 6:24pm on Wednesday.

'He is the last of the 'Cocaine Cowboys,' said Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Office in Miami told the Miami Herald.

During his arrest on Wednesday, federal officials said Gustavo had fake driver's licenses dating back to 1997 that used fake addresses in Miami in his possession.

He also had fake licenses for his wife, Amelia, and children, who are now aged in their 30s, authorities said.

Golden said the couple went by the name of Luis Reiss and Maria Reiss.

He explained that back in 2013 they caught a break when Gustavo was involved in a car accident, and he used his fake identification with the Miami address.

They used their speedboats to haul billions of dollars of cocaine to Miami from Colombian drug cartels. Pictured above is one of their speedboats

In addition, they were well-known figures in the local speedboat racing circles as they could often be spotted racing their powerful and fast boats in South Florida. Pictured above left is their speedboat Seahawk

Prosecutors say the trio had once operated the largest cocaine smuggling organization on the East Coast and one of the top five in the world. Above authorities seize drugs related to the group

Authorities say Gustavo and his family had been renting a home in the Kissimmee area, as it was under surveillance by the Marshals Office for some time before his arrest Wednesday.

Since 1999, Gustavo and his family had been living in the Orlando area which surprised authorities as it had long been thought he fled the country to Cuba, Mexico or Colombia.

'We figured this all out a month ago,' Golden said. 'We pulled their drivers' licenses and saw it was the same Gustavo Falcon.'

Gustavo did not resist at all during his arrest and even confessed to his real identity, authorities said.

He is set to make his first court appearance on Thursday in federal court.

Dating back to the 1980s, the two brothers and Magluta were well-known figures in the local speedboat racing circles as they could often be spotted racing their powerful and fast boats in South Florida.

At the time, authoritie said they laundered their profits through offshore bank accounts and dummy corporations established in the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Republic of Panama. Above authorities seize drugs related to the group

Willy and Magluta (pictured in 1991) were acquitted in 1996 of the charges after it was discovered they bought off witnesses and at least one jury member

In 1986, Willy won the Offshore Challengee off the Florida Keys while Magluta won three national championships.

Magluta was also a member of the commission that oversaw the American Power Boat Association.

'They were like gods in the doper community,' Sean Convoy, a then-supervisor for the U.S. Marshals Service in Miami, told the Miami New Times in 1992.

'All the other smugglers talked about how invincible they were. All you'd hear was, `Willy and Sal this' and `Willy and Sal that.'

'I don't think there was a police agency here that didn't have something going at some time to try and catch them.'

Authorities had accused the trio, who were high school dropouts and childhood friends, of smuggling 75 tons of cocaine, worth more than $2billion, into the United States between 1978 and 1991 using their speedboats to haul the drugs to Miami from Colombian drug cartels.

At the time, authorities said they laundered their profits through offshore bank accounts and dummy corporations established in the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Republic of Panama.

Gustavo, who was nicknamed 'Taby', was last seen in South Florida in 1991 shortly before he was indicted.

Willy and Magluta were acquitted in 1996 of the charges after it was discovered they bought off witnesses and at least one jury member.

In addition, the trial was also complicated when several witnesses were killed by a Colombian hitman.

Despite facing decades in prison if they were convicted on the hefty charges they faced, Willy and Magluta were still living an expensive lifestyle that included a Lear jet, their powerboat racing team, Vail ski vacations, at least a kilo of gold, South Florida waterfront mansions and Las Vegas junkets.

Plus, they still continued to smuggle cocaine even while on the run.

But in 2003, Willy struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors in Miami on money-laundering charges.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be released in June.

During his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz called him a 'gentleman' and wished him 'all the best.'

Above is the wanted flyer issued by U.S. Marshals for Falcon showing that he is wanted for the possession of cocaine

'Each day is the beginning of the rest of your life,' Seitz told Willy.

'Your actions also impact far beyond your family, to other families who have suffered addictions.

'Your conduct over the years feeds that.'

The judge placed him on three years' probation when he is released and he was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

However, since he was born in Cuba, he could be deported or held indefinitely by immigration officials once he completes sentence.

Magluta was retried and convicted in 2002 of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

But he was acquitted of orchestrating the murders of three cooperating government witnesses, including a lawyer gunned down in his office, and the attempted murder of a fourth.

Magluta was sentenced to 205 years in prison but that was reduced in 2006 to 195 years.


Former VFL footballer Stephen Bailey has been found not guilty of the brutal murder of his mother because he was in a psychotic state at the time.

His mother Penny Bailey, 59, is pictured

Penelope Bailey's body was discovered in a creek bed in suburban Donvale in 2015, three days after her son was arrested when he was seen running through traffic in his underwear.

Details of the 59-year-old's injuries have been suppressed.

Bailey, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of mental impairment and Victorian Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye on Thursday accepted his plea.

Justice Kaye relied in part on evidence from psychiatrist Adam Deacon, who said Bailey's schizophrenia was active at the time of the killing.

Melbourne man Stephen Bailey, 36, earlier this week pleaded not guilty by reason of mental impairment to the murder of his mother, Penny Bailey, 59, in Mont Albert North in 201

Victorian Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye on Thursday ruled in Bailey's favour, accepting his plea on the grounds Bailey was incapable of reasoning that his conduct was wrong

'Mr Bailey was severely psychotic at the time of the offence. He didn't have any insight into his mental state,' Dr Deacon told the hearings.

'He would not have been able to reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure that what he was doing was wrong.'

Bailey had been a confident 'fitness freak' when he played for VFL club Box Hill and for two SANFL clubs in Adelaide.

But in 2011 he started to develop paranoid thoughts, which developed into voices directing his actions.

Mr Bailey is pictured being led into the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Tuesday

Mr Bailey pleaded not guilty earlier this week by reason of mental impairment

Bailey believed a wealthy establishment known as the 'Mime Order' controlled him and once told his sister he thought he was Jesus.

He lived with his mother from 2014 until he was arrested on October 7, 2015.

His mother's body was discovered three days later near Mullum Mullum Creek in Donvale after police analysed Bailey's phone to track where he had been before he was arrested.

Justice Kaye said the evidence established Bailey did not know his actions were bad.

His mother Penny Bailey, 59, was killed in Mont Albert North in 2015

Mr Bailey, who was accused over the murder, is pictured on Tuesday

'He was incapable of reasoning, with a moderate degree of sense and composure, as to whether his conduct, as perceived by reasonable people, was wrong,' Justice Kaye said on Thursday.

Ms Bailey was the daughter of former Carlton footballer Laurie Kerr and his wife Vivienne, who is the AFL club's number one female ticket holder.

Bailey will remain in custody while the court waits for the Department of Health and Human Services to find a facility for him.

He is listed to appear again on June 22.
A Mexican cartel member suspected of killing a Border Patrol agent in 2010 with a gun supplied by the US government through a botched sting known as 'Operation Fast and Furious' has been arrested in Mexico, according to a US marshal.

Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, who was captured on a ranch bordering the Chihuahua and Sinaloa states on Wednesday, may be facing extradition to the US for the death of Brian Terry, US Marshal David Gonzalez said.

Two guns were found at the scene of Terry's death, which exposed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) operation, which allowed criminals to buy up to 2,000 guns in Arizona.

The federal government hoped to track the firearms once they made their way into Mexico, but the agency lost track of more than 1,400 of the guns.

Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes (left), accused of being the gunman who killed Border Patrol agent Brian Terry (right) in a 2010 shootout, was captured in Mexico on Wednesday

Osorio-Arellanes, who was arrested without incident on Sunday, 'is suspected of being the triggerman in the killing of Brian Terry," Gonzales said.

The US Marshal told Reuters that Mexican and US authorities worked together to track down the cartel member, adding that the United States would seek his extradition.

Osorio-Arellanes is accused of being part of a five-man cartel 'rip crew' - out to rob drug dealers along the border - who confronted Terry and three other Border Patrol agents on December 14, 2010 in a shootout north of Nogales, Arizona.

Two weapons discovered at the scene were later connected to the bungled gun-running Operation Fast and Furious that embarrassed the Obama administration and strained relations with Mexico.

Revelations of the operation created a political firestorm, leading to congressional investigations and turnover within the ATF and Justice Department.

Three other members of the rip crew and a fourth man charged with conspiracy in the fatal gun battle were ultimately convicted in U.S. federal court and sent to prison.

The sixth man wanted in the case is believed to remain at large.
A West Australian couple have been fined a combined total of $80,000 after RSPCA inspectors made a gruesome discovery of animal cruelty on their rural property.

Melissa Sykes and Patrick Lawson were found to own 14 starving dogs and horses on a farm which also had decomposing animal carcasses littered on the ground in South Trayning, 250km east of Perth.

The pair were fined $40,000 each and were banned from owning or coming into contact with animals following a year-long investigation.

RSPCA inspectors found disturbing scenes of decomposing horses (pictured) left to rot on the ground

Many horses on the property were found to have infected legs and overgrown hooves (pictured)

Ms Sykes and Mr Lawson were convicted over a series of horrific animal cruelty offences after the RSPCA seized three emaciated dogs, two of which were chained to a tree, and found 10 horses that had no access to proper food but were in fair health.

While cruelty charges often result in animal ownership bans, this case was considered so serious that the ban extends to contact with any animals, an RSPCA spokesman said.

'They can't be within three metres of an animal,' he said.

'If they go to a park and there's a dog there, they have to leave the park - it's very serious.'

RSPCA WA inspectors first attended the couple's property in March 2016, finding decomposing animal carcasses around the home and property. They included those of sheep, horses, chickens and emus.

The couple were told to provide sufficient food for the horses and to improve their health, but on a follow up visit their health had deteriorated and they were taken by the RSPCA.

The animals found at the property were subject to a rare and serious case of animal cruelty

Decomposing emu carcasses were also discovered at the WA rural property (pictured)

Vets found two of the horses were pregnant and others were suffering from a range of other conditions including overgrown hooves, lice infestations and sand ingestion.

Chief inspector Amanda Swift said Ms Skyes and Mr Lawson had shown utter disregard and reckless indifference for the animals they were responsible for, and RSPCA were pleased with their sentence.

'Sadly we didn't get there in time for some of the animals, thank goodness we were able to rescue some and stop the suffering,' said Ms Swift.

'The ten-year prohibition order imposed on them which prevents them from being within metres of any animals reflects the severity of their actions. This speaks volumes about the seriousness of the cruelty and suffering these animals endured.'

The remaining animals were all rescued, placed in foster care and have made a full recovery.

The pair faced Merredin Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Dogs were found on the farm starving and emaciated (pictured) but were rescued by the RSPCA
Jillian Tait, 33, plead guilty to third degree murder and other charges to avoid the death penalty for her role in her 3-year-old son's abuse and torture death in 2014

A mother accused of helping torture and beat her three-year-old son to death in 2014 has pleaded guilty to third degree murder so that she can escape the death penalty.

Jillian Tait, 33, also admitted conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, assault and related charges on Wednesday, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Although Tait's guilty pleas means she cannot be sentenced to death, she is still eligible for a prison sentence of between 64 to 128 years.

In 2014, Tait and her boyfriend, Gary Lee Fellenbaum III, 25, were arrested and accused of abusing Tait's son, Scott McMillan, three, and his six-year-old brother.

Authorities said that Scott had been punched and beaten with both blunt and sharp objects for weeks.

He was also strapped to a chair with electrical tape and beaten until he was unconscious.

Tait and Fellenbaum allegedly hit both boys with their fists and beat them with frying pans, metal rods and whips. They also hung the kids upside down and assaulted them while they were suspended by their feet.

McMillan died on November 4, 2014 after brutal beatings that took place in Fellenbaum's mobile home in West Caln Township, Pennsylvania between November 2 to 4 of that year, according to police.

Scott McMillan, 3, was allegedly abused and tortured by his mother and her boyfriend

After enduring weeks of being beaten, McMillan died on November 4, 2014

One of the whips authorities believe Tait and Fellenbaum used to hit McMillan

A whip, held together with electrical tape, which was allegedly used to tie McMillan to chairs

A bent curtain rod found at Fellenbaum's home, believed to have been used to hit McMillan

After having beaten him into an unresponsive state and then put him on an uninflated air mattress, Tait and Fellenbaum went car shopping, bought pizza and engaged in sexual activity as he lay dying, according to officials.

Speaking in West Chester, Pennsylvania's Chester County Justice Center on Wednesday, first assistant district attorney Michael Noone told County Judge William P. Mahon that prosecutors reached the plea deal with Tait because she accepted responsibility for her actions and agreed to testify against Fellenbaum.

Prosecutors also said that while Tait's violence towards her son might've contributed to his death, it was Fellenbaum's actions that actually killed him.

Fellenbaum's trial is due to start in September. He has been charged with first degree murder, third degree murder, criminal homicide and other charges related McMillan's death.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Gary Lee Fellenbaum, 25, whose actions allegedly caused McMillan's death. Fellenbaum's estranged wife, Amber (right), plead guilty to charges stemming from having witnessed the child abuse, but not reporting it

The uninflated air mattress where McMillan was placed, unresponsive, after being beaten on the day that he died, while his mother and her boyfriend went shopping and ate pizza

Authorities believe Fellenbaum dented this wall by smashing McMillan's head against it

Prosecutors have said that they will seek the death penalty for him.

Fellenbaum's estranged wife, Amber, was also arrested in 2014. She lived in the mobile home at the time when McMillan was being abused, but failed to report what she witnessed. She eventually called 911 on the day of McMillan's death, after he had been unresponsive for hours, according to authorities.

Amber plead guilty to all four charges against her on Wednesday  two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment  and agreed to testify against her husband during his trial.

She is eligible for a maximum prison sentence of nine to 18 years.

Both women will be sentenced after Fellenbaum's trial concludes.

All three adults are being held in Chester County Prison. Tait and Fellenbaum are ineligible for bail due to the nature of the charges, while Amber is being held instead of paying a $500,000 bail, reports Lancaster Online.
An extravagant 'Buddhist temple' that doubled as a hotspot for drug deals has been linked to two brutal murders in the past three years.

The colourful building on Kennedy Street, Guildford, in Sydney's west, was the scene of 37-year-old Chinese national Qin Wu's murder in February this year.

And in 2014 another man, Ting Huang, is also said to have been stabbed to death at the same address, before his body was wrapped up and dumped at a cemetery.

Now pictures from inside the temple show hundreds of Buddha statues, a variety of trinkets, books and colourful tapestry's adorning the walls - a far cry from what you'd expect at the alleged scene of multiple crimes.

A Sydney 'Buddhist temple' has been linked to two brutal murders in the past three years

The colourful building in Guildford also reportedly doubles as a hot spot for drug deals

Wu was not the intended target, Detective Sergeant Justin Moynihan said in a statement on Thursday.

'It is possible Qin may have been shot when he intervened in an argument between his friend and a group of men who arrived during their visit at the house,' he said.

'At the time of the incident, the house was also being used as a temple, so there were numerous visitors every day and we would like to speak to anyone who visited in the days leading up to his death.'

Forensic evidence indicates another person may have been shot, but despite searching hospitals across Sydney police have not found the injured person.

Pictures from inside the temple show hundreds of Buddha statues, a variety of trinkets, books and colourful tapestry's adorning the walls

The bizarre exterior is a far cry from what you'd expect at the alleged scene of multiple crimes

Police also believe at least two people left the house after the shooting and returned with a third person, although they were not at the house when police arrived.

'Ultimately, someone out there knows something, and they might be concealing an offence. Now is the time to come forward,' Det Sgt Moynihan said.

The Guildford house was the scene of an unrelated murder three years ago, police have confirmed.

In 2014 Zhen Fang fatally stabbed Ting Huang, 25, whose decomposing body was found wrapped in a doona in a car boot near Rookwood cemetery in Lidcombe.

Fang, 38, was sentenced in March for at least 14 years behind bars for the frenzied knife attack.

The temple was the scene of 37-year-old Chinese national Qin Wu's (pictured) murder in February this year. Police believe he was not the intended target
With Grotesque Profits & Worse Ethics, Airlines Are A Bloody Outrage

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 12, 2017 9:52PM



Getty Images

Remember when the airline industry wanted to charge you to use the bathroom on flights? One of the most basic necessary bodily functions, one that sometimes you really can't delay, which could get really ugly and painful if you're sealed in a jet thousands of miles in the sky with no other options. No? It wasn't long ago at all, just back in 2015, in fact. Pay-to-pee sounds like the sort of sci-fi micro-aggression that would be the hallmark of a dystopian young-adult novel, but it almost happened.

I mention this, of course, to illustrate that the incident on United Express Flight 3411now known to the world as the time Dr. David Dao was violently removed from his seat on the plane, dragged down the aisle, and had his face bloodied from smacking into an armrestis symptomatic of a larger, ongoing disease in the airline industry, one that places a perverse emphasis on profit motive, sometimes at the expense of basic human dignity.

First, there's the overbooking bet that airlines constantly wagera problem the industry apparently felt comfortable solving by throwing money at passengers, even if, as we saw with United, still parsimoniously, ever mindful of the bottom line. (You gotta be mindful of your return when you're only netting $2.3 billion in profits, as United did just last year.) True, 3411 wasn't overbooked, as United originally stated. But all 70 seats were sold and occupied, and when crew members needed those seats, the decision was made to enforce the full extent of the small printDao's sense of humanity be damned.

"Why is an armed agent of the state using violence to enforce a contract freely entered into by two private parties?" asked Fusion's Alex Pareene. "Because that is more or less how you define 'classical liberalism.'" When you take the capitalist impulse to its illogical end point, people are literally left on the floor.

There's a rather grotesque class element at play here, too. This stuff doesn't happen if you're, say, a frequent flier or a high "status" passenger. Chances are these passengers aren't getting approached about removal in the first place.



Photo: Scott Olson

Yahoo explains:



"For passengers looking to take advantage of the budget seats offered, this unspoken ranking and largely unknown class system is important to know. Though companies take great pains to say otherwise, if you paid less, you are not as valued a customer."

It's also impossible to not to see a racial component, too. Marie Myung-Ok Lee argues in Paste, convincingly, that the violence to which the airline officer resorted probably would not have been inflicted on a white man. In media, through United, or via law enforcement, Dao was cast as "perverted, unreasonable, loud, bumbling." The brutality was only compounded, of course, when outlets dug up victim-blaming tabloid details of his past.

Given all that we've witnessed in recent American history, it's no surprise that a minority, non-"status" person would be physically harmed for "violating" the capitalist contract. (Yes, one could argue that Dao being a doctor affords him "status," but not as far as airplane politics are concerned.) But the airline industry seems to always be pushing the line, seeing how far it can stress the norms of market (and moral) acceptability.

Remember, this is the industry that squeezed down its market share from 18 to 10 large/mid-sized airlines within just 10 years, leaving the winners with even greater spoils. Eighty percent of U.S. flights are handled by just four carriers.

Money wrote in 2016:



"Travelers have reason to be wary of such mergers. Many of today's hated airline practices, including adding loads of fees, eliminating hubs and routes, shrinking seat space, and packing planes fuller than ever, can be traced back to the previous round of mergers that saw carriers such as Continental, US Airways, and AirTran disappear."

Yes, it's true that the initial mergers that kickstarted this trend happened while the industry was in free fall. But that hasn't been the case for some time, and the carriers are now bending over backwards to maintain lack of competition and profits that are now at a windfall.

The Washington Post reports:



"According to the IATA North American airlines have raked in over $20 billion in profits for each of the past two years. They expect that number to dip, slightly, to around $19.5 billion next year. "2017 is expected to be the eighth year in a row of aggregate airline profitability, illustrating the resilience to shocks that have been built into the industry structure," the IATA writes in its annual analysis."

There are media corners that have been quick to chastise unfettered-capitalist critiques of the United fiasco ('sup Breitbart). But that just plays into the hands of airliners' avariciousness, airliners who rack up earnings but would rather not allow you a pot to piss in.
An Oklahoma Congressman is in hot water after telling an audience of voters at a town hall meeting that it's 'bullcrap' that they pay his salary.

Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin has been holding a series of town hall meetings throughout his district.

They covered the issues affecting people around America - including healthcare and taxes.

But one got heated when he insisted that he pays his salary, not his constituents.

'You say you pay for me to do this? Thats bullcrap. I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go,' he said.

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'That's bullcrap' Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin said when constituents told him they paid his salary

'You say you pay for me to do this? Thats bullcrap. I pay for myself,' he said as people protested

Mullin has been holding a series of town halls in the Second District to listen to concerns of his constituents, but many have complains that he shuts them down if they don't agree with him

Several people begin objecting and yelling.

'Im just saying this is a service for me, not a career, and I thank God this is not how I make my living,' he said.

A spokesperson later explained that he was referring to the amount of taxes his company, Mullin Plumbing, had paid out over the years, and that it was more than the salary he draws.

'The congressman is referencing the federal taxes that he and his businesses have paid to the government over the years, prior to his being in office,' said spokesperson Amy Lawrence. 'Like all business owners, Congressman Mullin pays his taxes, which contribute to congressional salaries.'

The base salary of a Congressional representative is $174,000.

It's unclear how much Mullin Plumbing has paid in federal taxes over the years. The 39-year-old congressman has held office since 2013.

Mullin, a conservative, has been taking a lot of flack from constituents worried about their healthcare options

In another video at a different location, he says, 'Im paying more taxes inside my company and personally than Ill ever receive from Congress.'

Constituents did not seem very happy with his inference that he was paying his own salary, and that he was doing them a favor with his 'service.'

'What about the free healthcare he and his family receive or the lifetime retirement this little snot will get? And he inherited his business from his Daddy. So Markie Wayne is just another self serving brat who thinks he's entitled to this position. What a great ad this will make to run against him November 6th 2018,' wrote Jami Summerlin on Facebook.

'Don't worry Markwayne, your 'service' will no longer be needed soon,' wrote John Gibson.

On April 11, he cancelled a town hall meeting in Tahlequah due to 'safety concerns.'
Tomi Lahren tried to justify her comments on abortion that got her fired from TheBlaze and begged Glen Beck to 'let me move on' from her contract in her latest interview.

The 24-year-old was sacked from conservative news network after she appeared on The View last month and said that being pro-life would make her a hypocrite given her support for limited government.

Her comments sparked an immediate uproar among conservatives, and Lahren claims Beck and his company launched a public smear campaign against her in retaliation, according to the Dallas Morning News.

But in an interview with ABC News, she stood by her views saying: 'I believe you can be anti-abortion and pro-choice  I don't believe in abortion.'

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Tomi Lahren begged Glen Beck to 'let me move on' after she was fired but still bound under contract

The alt-right poster girl (left) also opened up about the pro-choice comments that got her sacked from TheBlaze last week by Glenn Beck (right)

She stressed that her belief in limited government was consistent with allowing women the freedom to get abortions in the first trimester.

The conservative shock jock has sued Glenn Beck and TheBlaze for wrongful termination.

Lahren became very emotional as she discussed the fact she is still bound under contract, which means she cannot find another job until her contract expires in September.

TheBlaze said they found the lawsuit puzzling as they are still paying Lahren adding that they had complied 'fully with the terms of our agreement with her.'

Lahren appealed to Beck in tears on ABC, to allow her to 'move on.'

Lahren (right, on The View in March) filed a lawsuit claiming she was wrongfully terminated for saying it was hypocritical to support limited government and be pro-life at the same time

'It's my job, it's my life. Without that, I feel lost. When your outlet is taken away from you, when your catharsis is stripped from you, and you don't understand why and you're so disappointed and you're so blindsided by it, it hurts.'

The outspoken 24-year-old joked that she was 'supposed to be tough' as she cried, while insisting she was not a feminist, and said: 'I will not lay down and play dead ever  because I'm not the kind of girl that sits in the corner and cries about things.'

Lahren, who joined the Blaze in 2015, became a viral sensation for her incendiary rants.

But she upset her fans after she appeared on the daytime talk show The View on March 17, saying she was pro-choice.

Lahren said: 'I can't sit here and be a hypocrite and say I'm for limited government but I think the government should decide what women do with their bodies.'

'Stay out of my guns and you can stay out of my body, as well,' she said.

Lahren said a producer from The Blaze who accompanied her to The View taping congratulated her immediately after the appearance - but the fallout was swift.

Her conservative fan base immediately lashed out on Twitter, incensed that she had branded many of them hypocrites.

When Lahren defended herself for being an 'independent thinker' on Twitter, Beck stepped in and appeared to question her intellectual honesty.

Lahren, who became a viral sensation for her incendiary rants, wants to break out of her contract and find another job after claiming Beck and The Blaze publicly smeared her

Lahren (left), who joined Glenn Beck's media outlet The Blaze in 2015, was suspended from her show after she appeared on The View last month and said she was pro-choice (right, Beck)

When Lahren defended herself for being an 'independent thinker' on Twitter, Beck stepped in and appeared to question her intellectual honesty

At The Blaze, Lahren's email account was shut down, supervisors stopped communicating with her, and her dressing room door was marked with yellow caution tape, according to the lawsuit filed in Dallas County, Texas, on Friday.

She also claims she was ordered to stay off social media, where Lahren has more than 4.2million followers on Facebook alone.

Lahren claims both Beck and The Blaze knew about her views on abortion, and did not appear to have a problem with it before she appeared on The View, the lawsuit said.

The Blaze continued paying Lahren during her suspension, 'presumably hoping they could find an exit strategy to sanitize their unlawful conduct', the lawsuit alleges.

But a human resources director said the 24-year-old was terminated for her pro-choice comments, the lawsuit states - and Lahren has yet to return to her show.

Her attorney Brian Lauten said Lahren wants to break out her contract and find another job, likening her to an eagle with its wings clipped.

She is now seeking attorney's fees and costs 'as well as all other relief'.
Coles has been forced to wind back its new 'I'm free' marketing campaign, after a number of female staff members were reportedly sexually harassed.

The supermarket giant reportedly told employees on Wednesday to stop holding up paddles brandishing the new slogan, following complaints of suggestive comments by male shoppers.

Coles' new campaign intended to promote the opening of extra checkouts over the Easter period, but instead led to widespread harassment against many young staff, News.com.au reports.

Coles has been forced to back down on its new 'I'm free' marketing campaign, after a number of female staff members were reportedly sexually assaulted

Employees at Coles stores across the country were reportedly told to stop using the signs on Wednesday, but were not informed of the reason behind the decision.

'A lot of staff are getting smut talk from customers [as in], "Are you free? Let's go together",' one employee reportedly claimed.

'I'm assuming that more young women were sexually harassed in Coles stores as [my partner] was,' another man said.

'Being asked by old men to come home with them since they are "free", or middle-aged women saying that they should have more respect for themselves.'

'A lot staff are getting smut talk from customers [as in], "Are you free? Let's go together",' one employee reportedly claimed

Coles are being blamed by some for contributing to the problem, with their own TV ad for the campaign including suggestive interpretations of the 'I'm free' slogan.

In the commercial, one female employee fans herself with a paddle while admiring a young male shopper, before flirtatiously saying 'I'm free'.

Other staff took to the Facebook page of their employer to voice their anger at the public response to their new slogan.

'I work on the checkouts and OMG! The comments have been horrible!! We have also removed all signs down,' employee Emily Henderson wrote.

'We have had it from BOTH male and female, old and young.'

Coles are being blamed by some for contributing to the problem, with their own TV ad for the campaign including suggestive interpretations of the 'I'm free' slogan (pictured)

Employees have taken to Facebook to share their stories of harassment at the hands of shoppers (pictured)

In a statement, a Coles spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the campaign had been a success, and that the harrassment was 'unfortunate'.

'Use of the "I'm Free" signs to indicate an open checkout was a fun way of activating the campaign,' the statement said.

'Unfortunately in response to a small number of customers behaving disrespectfully to team members, we have now removed the hand-held signs.'
A Sydney apartment - known to sellers as a 'glorified roof space' - has been sold for $1million despite being a 50sqm refurbished attic.

The cramped waterfront loft is located in the exclusive suburb of Elizabeth Bay and its hefty price tag means it is valued at $20,000 per square metre.

Selling agent Charlie Mortimer of Ray White Double Bay described the property as 'quite unusual' as it's kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and laundry are all disconnected from each other.

The tiny bedroom (pictured) has spectacular waterfront views of Sydney's luxurious Elizabeth Bay

An unusual feature of the $1million roof-space is its curved roof and disconnected rooms

The apartment's bedroom, bathroom, laundry and kitchen are all in separate spaces across the rooftop (floor plan pictured)

'The kitchen is located at street-side, the bed overlooks the water and the bathroom is in the middle of the apartment rooftop,' Mr Mortimer told Daily Mail Australia.

'Once upon a time it actually was a roof-space for storage but it has been refurbished into a beautiful loft.'

The owner will have to cross the rooftop terrace - which is a shared space - to access the bedroom or bathroom from the dining room and kitchen.

The 50sqm apartment is also slightly bigger than it appears to be because the slanting roof reduces the amount of space classed as 'inhabitable', Mr Mortimer said.

According to the agent, the miniature property sold for $1million mostly because of its glittering location with spectacular waterfront views.

The 50sqm apartment is also slightly bigger than it appears to be because the slanting roof discounts some of the space as 'inhabitable', Mr Mortimer said

The kitchen is located at street-side - on the opposite end of the roof from the bedroom

The Elizabeth Bay loft's $1million price tag is because of the spectacular waterfront views (pictured)

The roof-space home was created into a livable space several years ago, but was recently renovated by the architect and seller to give it a 'boathouse feel', according to realestate.com.au.

It was last sold in 2004 for $535,000 and had been rented out since 2012 for $650 per week.

Mr Mortimer said the property generated a lot of interest and around 140 people turned up to the open home.

The new owner of the Elizabeth Bay roof space is a Sydneysider from Kurnell, 20km south of the CBD.

The property is located in the exclusive suburb of Elizabeth Bay in eastern Sydney (pictured)
The Trump administration is considering introducing a complete oil embargo on North Korea and a global ban on its airline as part of a wider strategy to force Kim Jong-un to back down over nuclear missiles.

Air Koryo is North Korea's national carrier but has a reputation as being the 'world's worst airline'. It only flies a handful of routes but grounding it would be a major blow to Pyongyang.

President Trump has sent an 'armada' of US Navy ships - led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson - to the region, triggering an angry response from North Korea and raising fears of a military confrontation.

But although military options remain on the table, a pre-emptive strike on North Korea remains a last resort and the Trump administration is considering economic and diplomatic measures to pile the pressure on Kim.

Air Koryo is North Korea's national carrier but has a reputation as being the 'world's worst airline'

Trump has approved a broad approach on North Korea and asked his national security team to craft a more detailed framework for new international sanctions and other actions to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

A senior official told Reuters: 'There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea.'

The administration is considering an array of stiffer sanctions that could be applied on a 'sliding scale' proportionate to North Korean actions.

Some steps could be applied unilaterally, and others through the United Nations, where China has a Security Council veto.

President Trump is determined to put pressure on Kim Jong-un and force him to back down

Among the options are intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang.

UN economic options include an embargo on oil supplies to North Korea; a global ban on Air Koryo, its national airline; and interdiction of North Korean freighters on the high seas, a step that would go beyond an existing requirement for nations to inspect ships transiting their territory, the officials said this week.

The United Nations also could prohibit the use of North Korean contracted labor abroad and expand the restrictions on North Korean coal exports to a total ban, the officials said.

Another step could be a ban on North Korean seafood exports, Pyongyang's fourth-largest export to China, its main trading partner, and expanded efforts to seize assets of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrives for an opening ceremony of a new residential housing project in Pyongyang today. He is set for a major showdown with Trump

U.S. administration officials said final decisions on specific sanctions targets have yet to made, but they privately expressed doubts about how much further Beijing is willing to go to bring its defiant ally to heel - in spite of increasing Chinese concerns that North Korea might soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or new missile launches.

A phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday was intended to reinforce U.S. pressure on Beijing to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a U.S. official said.

On Wednesday, Trump, who met Xi at a first summit in Florida last week, praised China for sending coal ships back to North Korea under existing U.N. sanctions. Trump said he thought Xi wanted to help, but added: 'We'll see whether or not he does.'

While Trump emphasized the warmth of his interactions with Xi, he warned the Chinese leader last week that new sanctions could include penalties against Chinese banks and companies doing business with North Korea if Beijing did not step up pressure, one U.S. official said.

'If that's the only option the Chinese leave us, there's a real possibility that Chinese entities will get hit,' the official said.

The U.S. aim would be to tighten the screws on North Korea in the same way it pressured Iran to open negotiations on its suspected nuclear weapons program - by penalizing all foreign firms dealing with the country.

'The amount of pressure that has been brought to bear economically on North Korea is far short of what was brought to bear against Iran,' another senior administration official said.

Some analysts cautioned that targeting Chinese entities with so-called 'secondary sanctions' could backfire and make Beijing less willing to cooperate, and that dealing with a country that already has nuclear weapons differs from dealing with one accused of trying acquire them.

'If you want to rely on sanctions to achieve your goal, you have to find a way to persuade or force the world into going all the way to a near full embargo or at least an embargo on key commodities like petroleum and on North Korean hard currency export earnings,' said Joseph DeThomas, a former State Department official who worked on Iran and North Korea sanctions.

'Only if the regime sees continuation of sanctions as fatal will it consider change,' he said.

In a sign of Beijing's growing frustration with North Korea, China's Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday that North Korea should halt any nuclear and missile activities 'for its own security' - a reference to the approaching U.S. naval force.

It said that if North Korea made another provocative move, 'Chinese society' might back unprecedented sanctions 'such as restricting oil imports.'

While run by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, the Global Times does not always represent government policy.
Two minority student groups at Harvard have been forced to apologize after they put up fake deportation warnings in dorm rooms to frighten students.

Notices from the fake 'Harvard Special Investigations Unit' were put up this week warning that one of their fellow students had been detained indefinitely.

'We regret to inform you that a resident of this dorm has been detained indefinitely due to suspicious actions, suspected violent inclinations, or suspicion of being a deportable alien (i.e. questionable residency status),' the flyers read.

Notices from the fake 'Harvard Special Investigations Unit' were put up this week in the undergraduate dorms warning that one of their fellow students had been detained indefinitely

The notices did say on the back that they were not real and hoped the 'unsettling nature' of the flyer would force people to reflect on the reality that many lived in fear of being deported, the Harvard Crimson reports.

They were posted in the undergraduate dorms by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee and supported by Harvard Concilio Latino, the Harvard Islamic Society and the Harvard Black Students Association.

Two of the groups have since apologized after the flyers caused widespread outrage.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee issued a statement on its Facebook page saying: 'We sincerely and wholeheartedly apologize for causing triggering experiences that caused pain for many in our communities, rather than bringing light to these issues in a more productive and sensitive manner.

Two of the groups have since apologized after the flyers caused widespread outrage

'While those who drafted this notice are themselves affected by the issues of administrative detention, criminalization, state violence, and deportation, from Palestine to the United States, we recognize that we made a mistake in how we sought to bring attention to the issues.

'When we heard from students and co-sponsors about the way the notice was being received, we immediately stopped distributing the notices, met with the boards of groups directly involved, and sought to better understand what was happening and to prevent further hurt.'

The board of Concilio Latino said it was not previously aware of the flyer's exact contents.

'(The flyers) are fake, but the effects they may have had on any of you are beyond real and represent something entirely antithetical to what Concilio stands for,' the statement reads.
Australia's acting prime minister has been accused of behaving 'like a child' over his refusal to fast-track disaster relief funds to flood-affected farmers.

Nationals member Barnaby Joyce has drawn the ire of Queensland farmers and state politicians, for refusing to hand out $25,0000 grants in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.

Mr Joyce has been slammed by Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after the government rejected her plea to hand out the Category C grants immediately, with a fierce battle of words erupting on Wednesday.

Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has drawn the ire of Queensland farmers and state politicians after refusing to hand out $25,0000 grants to flood-affected farmers in the wake of Cyclone Debbie

While Ms Palaszczuk was upset, it was Queensland treasurer Jackie Trad who really let loose at the 'childish' acting PM, the ABC reports.

'He's acting like a child on this matter,' Ms Trad said.

'What we need is for them to assess the information we put forward, to recognise in the first instance that primary producers and many small businesses in the disaster affected areas have been significantly impacted.

'That was the purpose of the letter from the Premier to the Prime Minister. Number one, acknowledge it.'

But Mr Joyce hit back, furthering the heightened tensions by calling the Queensland politicians 'smart alecs'.

Insisting that the funding application form did not include the correct information, Mr Joyce said until it did funding wouldn't be given the green light.

Mr Joyce has been slammed for 'acting like a child' by Queensland treasurer Jackie Trad

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) and Ms Trad (left) were angered after the government rejected their plea to hand out the $25,000 Category C grants immediately

'They're just trying to be smart alecs by sending across this ridiculous little letter saying, "Please give us a lot of money, love the Queensland premier",' he told ABC Radio.

Earlier, he said Queensland was seeking a total of more than $20 million, having sent further information for the Whitsundays, Mackay and the Scenic Rim last night.

'I can't just write a blank cheque,' the acting prime minister said.

'You've actually got to fill out the application form.'

Mr Joyce later heightened the tensions by calling the Queensland politicians 'smart alecs'

'This is an absurdity  they've got 14,000 extra public servants since when the LNP was in, and that's as good as we're going to get.'

But the public stoush between Federal and State politics has angered farmers, many of who are on their knees following Cyclone Debbie's destruction.

'Both sides are having a bit of a stoush in public is in poor taste to the people on the ground who are suffering  very poor taste,' farmer Carl Walker said.

'There's people out there, possibly even going to lose their businesses.'
Ex-tropical Cyclone Cook has hit New Zealand's North Island, with Auckland avoiding the worst of the storm as it heads south, and emergency services urging people to delay their Easter plans.

The cyclone made landfall near the Bay of Plenty reported the NZ Herald, before moving across to Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.

The cyclone is now believed to be tracking across the lower North Island.

Thousands of people have been evacuated with Thames, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty are under states of emergency.

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Firefighters are pictured assisting members of the public as high winds from Cyclone Cook brought trees down onto houses and roads in Napier, New Zealand. Auckland avoided the worst of the storm as it headed south

Firefighters are pictured helping to secure a trampoline blown around by high winds from Cyclone Cook in Napier. Emergency services have urged people to delay their Easter plans

The cyclone made landfall near the Bay of Plenty before moving across to Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. Pictured is a woman with enormous tree bought down on her front lawn in Hastings

Two people have been hospitalised in Hawke's Bay after a tree hit their car.

Residents in low-lying Coromandel east coast, Tauranga and Ohope have been told to evacuate, while people in the Bay of Plenty are on high alert to evacuate with little notice.

An estimated 137 schools and 133 early learning centres have been closed on the North Island.

About 1400 homes in the Bay of Plenty Region, including in Tauranga, also remain without electricity.

People have been warned against any unnecessary travel as there are many road closures due to fallen trees and land slips.

MetService severe weather forecaster Lisa Murray warned residents not to underestimate the impending storm.

'I have never seen an event like this in the 12 years I have been a forecaster in New Zealand this is not an event to be taken lightly,' she said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated with Thames, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty under states of emergency. Pictured are more trees bought down in Hastings

A state of emergency was declared in the country's north as it braced for what was predicted to be its worst storm in nearly 50 years

Residents in low-lying Coromandel east coast, Tauranga and Ohope have been told to evacuate, while people in the Bay of Plenty are on high alert to evacuate with little notice

An estimated 137 schools and 133 early learning centres have been closed on the North Island

'Half an old man pine just came down in the cyclone. Hoping the other half stays put as if it does come down it will block our driveway, destroy our fences and shelter belt,' one woman wrote alongside this photo on Thursday

The NZ Transport Agency warned it might need to close the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Thursday night due to heavy rainfall and dangerous gale force winds.

The cyclone was expected to hit the shore near Tauranga on Thursday night.

Flights were also disrupted by the weather. People were told to expect delays and cancellations.

MetService severe weather forecaster Lisa Murray warned residents not to underestimate the impending storm. Pictured are firefighters assisting residents in Napier

Flights have also been disrupted by the wild weather. People were told to expect delays and cancellations across the North Island

The eastern coastline was told to expect high waves. The areas were also warned to prepare for water to inundate the region.

Minister of Civil Defence Sarah Stuart-Black warned residents they should 'self-evacuate' if they saw rising floodwaters.

'If you see rising floodwaters don't wait for an official warning to move, heed the natural warnings and self-evacuate if you need to,' she said on Thursday.

'Cyclone Cook is an extremely serious weather event which the government is taking seriously. People need to change Easter travel plans if necessary. Put safety first no matter what.'

The NZ Transport Agency warned it might need to close the Auckland Harbour Bridge (pictured) on Thursday afternoon due to heavy rainfall and dangerous gale force winds

Parts of the Bay of Plenty (pictured) in the north were already flood ravaged early Thursday

Residents in Auckland and Northland were hit with heavy rain on Wednesday night, with one woman saying she woke to a flooded house on Thursday morning

Police Inspector Pete McKennie warned residents to stay off the roads while the storm passed through.

'Keep off the road, keep roads free for emergency transport if required,' he said.

Residents in Auckland and Northland were hit with heavy rain on Wednesday night, with one woman saying she woke to a flooded house on Thursday morning.

Some homes in West Auckland required water to be pumped after rain overflowed drains and seeped into houses.

'I stepped out into water, straight off the bed straight into water, it was covering my whole foot,' one home resident said.

The pier in Hamurana Springs on the North Island was completely submerged on Thursday

Intense weather conditions are predicted for Tauranga, Hamilton and Whangamata on Thursday

'I stepped out into water, straight off the bed straight into water, it was covering my whole foot,' one home resident (left) said

MetService warned the storm could cause mass power outages and flash flooding.

'I don't think many people are going to be spared from the weather associated with this low, but the places that are going to be impacted the most will be Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula,' MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow told the Sydney Morning Herald.

He compared the storm to Cyclone Giselle which sank the Wahine in Wellington's harbour in 1968.

'A lot of people have been comparing it with [Giselle]. This is very definitely a significant storm,' he said.

Roads on the North Island were already flooded on Thursday, before the cyclone was predicted to hit the shore

Eerie photo of Lake Taupo posted to Instagram shows dark clouds over the waters
The 26-year-old new Duke of Westminster - Britain's youngest billionaire - is reportedly locked in a row with Army reservists nicknamed his late father's 'unofficial bodyguard' over luxury hotel plans for their London headquarters.

Hugh Grosvenor, who is Prince George's godfather, is said to want to evict F Company, The 7th Battalion The Rifles, from The Rifles Club in Mayfair, which was opened by the 1st Duke in 1890.

Following his father Gerald's death in August last year the Grosvenor Group inherited by his son are said to have started negotiations to end their 140 year stay there.

The site is yards from the new Bond Street West Crossrail station, which will open in 2018 and see journey times to Heathrow cut to 27 minutes.

Hugh Grosvenor is reportedly locked in a row with Army reservists nicknamed his late father (right) Gerald's 'unofficial bodyguard' over hotel plans for their London headquarters

The Grosvenor Group is said to want to evict F Company, The 7th Battalion The Rifles, from The Rifles Club in Mayfair, pictured, which was opened by the 1st Duke in 1890

The business is said to have offered a '25million sweetener' to the battalion to buy back the lease and develop it into a five star hotel.

Duke of Westminster takes command of the Queens own Yeomanry TA in Cumbria and had close links with reservists

The Rifles Club is part of the 300 acres the new Duke of Westminster inherited across London's Mayfair and Belgravia  two of the most expensive areas in the world  and he also has estates in Oxford and Scotland.

The building, which is believed to have between 80 to 100 years left on its lease, contains an armoury, gym, mess and drill hall.

A spokesman for Grosvenor Britain & Ireland refused to comment on the story but one Army source told the Telegraph the decision would have left his father 'turning in his grave'.

The F Company insider said: 'The Rifles have a long-standing association with the Grosvenor family, and were considered the unofficial bodyguard to the last Duke.

'But now that relationship seems to be over, and the new Duke is slinging us out.

'The whole thing has caused outrage, and many in F Company are now looking to join other rifle companies in London. I imagine if the former Duke could see what was happening to us he would be turning in his grave.'

The Ministry of Defence told MailOnline the negotiations are ongoing and that the Grosvenors started them.

An MoD spokesman said: 'The MOD was approached by Grosvenor regarding the remaining lease.

'F Company 7 Rifles are transferring to the London infantry Regiment, as part the Army 2020 Refine plan to optimise the Army Reserves. 7 Rifles are not being disbanded and their move is not linked to the ongoing lease negotiation. To suggest otherwise would be wrong.'

Hugh Grosvenor following Pippa and James Middleton after the christening of his god son Prince George

Following his father's death he became Britain's youngest billionaire and one of the world's most eligible bachelors.

But last month it emerged that Hugh Grosvenor, 26, is dating recruitment consultant Harriet Tomlinson, also 26.

The Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor,is dating recruitment consultant Harriet Tomlinson, also 26

Photos of the pair, who went to school together, reveal they have been on a string of romantic holidays and sources say she is the 'love of his life'.

The Duke inherited 9.3billion and became the world's richest man under 30 when his father Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, died of a heart attack aged 64 last August.

Miss Tomlinson, daughter of a curtain factory boss, grew up just a few miles from the Duke's sprawling family seat, Eaton Hall, on the outskirts of Chester.

They both attended the 30,000-a-year Ellesmere College boarding school in Shropshire and Miss Tomlinson is understood to have been a 'huge support' to him after his father's death.

The Duke inherited the fortune of his father  a close friend of senior royals  and mother Natalia even though he has two older siblings, as he was their only son. He also has a younger sister.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: 'Hugh and Harriet are blissfully happy together. They have a lot of shared interests and are both very down to earth and family-orientated.

'She's a really lovely girl and very much the love of his life.'

Miss Tomlinson and sister Grace, 23, were brought up by their mother Louise, 55, who used to work for Boots, and father Grahame, 81.

According to her LinkedIn online profile, Miss Tomlinson graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff, with a degree in teaching four years ago, before studying for a public relations and event planning postgraduate diploma at University College London.

A keen runner, she has worked in events management, but is currently a consultant with property recruitment firm Deverell Smith, which is based in the City of London.

He is understood to have taken Miss Tomlinson on several holidays abroad, including a recent trip to California.

He is understood to have taken Miss Tomlinson on several holidays abroad, including a recent trip to California, pictured

Britain's youngest billionaire hired a Ford Mustang for the romantic break to America

The young couple are believed to have stayed in the luxury Ventana resort on the Big Sur coast, which is renowned for its views of the Pacific and where rooms cost upward of 500 a night.

Photographs posted online show the pair with their arms around each other and drinking wine in front of a spectacular view, as well as the Duke, who is godfather to Prince George, joking around in a yellow Ford Mustang convertible.

Pictures from the Duke's student days at Newcastle University, where he studied countryside management, had shown him drinking and with friends, leading to reports he could be at risk of squandering his inheritance.

But the source added: 'Hugh likes to enjoy himself as much as anyone else and is far from a bore. But he is happiest when he is enjoying time with Harriet and their close circle.

'He was left crushed when his father died but Harriet has been a huge support and is helping him to get used to his new responsibilities. They're a lovely couple and deserve all the happiness in the world.'

Miss Tomlinson and the Duke of Westminster both declined to comment on their relationship.
Holidaymakers leaving Australia's biggest cities are already creating gridlock as they jam the major highways ahead of the Easter long weekend.

A lull in the Sydney rain has encouraged motorists to head north up the coast, creating delays on the Pacific Highway from the Central Coast to Coffs Harbour on Thursday afternoon.

South of Brisbane the same stretch of road, along known as the M1, is also banked up with bumper-to-bumper traffic for about 20 kilometres on the Gold Coast.

Everybody hurts: traffic comes to a standstill on the M1 at Gaven on the Gold Coast

People leaving Brisbane for northern NSW and the Gold Coast aren't having a good Thursday

The major arterial roads out of Melbourne are also jammed as drivers head towards popular holiday spots like Torquay

It's occurring as some Queenslanders head to northern New South Wales coastal getaways like Byron Bay, which is hosting the popular Bluesfest this long weekend.

North of Brisbane, the Bruce Highway is also banked up as holidaymakers head to popular Sunshine Coast havens like Noosa.

The major arterial roads out of Melbourne are also jammed, with traffic heavy on the the Princes Highway as drivers head towards the Great Ocean Road and popular holiday spots on the Surf Coast like Torquay.

Double demerit points are also coming into effect on Thursday night in NSW, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

Holidaymakers leaving Melbourne are also experiencing delays ahead of the Easter weekend

Motorists heading northbound on the M1 have been stuck in an Easter gridlock near Newcastle

Motorists are advised to check state government live traffic sites for the latest information on the Easter gridlock.

The M1 Pacific Motorway out of Sydney was experiencing heavy holiday traffic on Thursday afternoon on the Central Coast, with a broken down car at Ourimbah and at Mooney Mooney Creek.

Traffic was also heavy on the NSW Mid-North Coast at Mackville south of Coffs Harbour.

Motorists hoping for a smoother run inland on the New England Highway didn't fare much better with heavy traffic at Hexham, in the Hunter region.

The Gold Coast in Queensland is also copping the usual Easter holiday traffic, with a bumper-to-bumper snarl for 20 kilometres heading south on the M1 from Helensvale to Gaven.

There's more congestion farther south between Worongary and Burleigh Waters.

The Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, Bruce Highway traiffic is also banked up with delays at Beerburrum.

A summary of traffic delays on the Pacific Highway north of Sydney on Thursday afternoon

The Queensland government has released grainy footage of heavy south-bound traffic on the Gold Coast as its subjects leave for NSW
United To Refund All Tickets From Notorious O'Hare Flight; 2 More Aviation Officials Put On Leave

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Apr 12, 2017 9:32PM



Getty Images

With United Airlines under intense scrutiny over its handling of a Sunday night flight out of O'Hare International Airport in which a passenger was violently forced off the plane because the flight did not have enough seats, the airline now says it will refund the tickets for all passengers on the flight.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Department of Aviation is investigating what happened, and has put two more aviation officials on leave of absence. One aviation officer was already put on leave earlier this week for his role in grabbing and dragging the passenger off the flight as his face bled.

"The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) continues reviewing the details surrounding the incident. As part of our review, two additional officers have been placed on administrative leave until further notice," the department said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. "The employees  collective bargaining agreement prohibits the CDA from releasing their names at this time."

As local authorities investigate exactly what led the officers' involved in the incident to grab the bloodied passenger, Dr. David Dao, and drag him off the plane, United Airlines officials are doing damage control while the company's stuck plummets. CEO Oscar Munoz was on Good Morning America Wednesday to say he is ashamed of what happened and to promise that United would never call on law enforcement to remove a ticket-holding, seating passenger from a plane due to not having enough seats again. Wednesday afternoon, United announced that it will be refunding the cost of the flight for each passenger on the Sunday night flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, according to the Sun-Times.

In the widely shared video of the Dao's violent removal from the plane, passengers can be seen and heard reacting with shock and outrage to the aviation officers' actions. Several passengers filmed the incident and voiced their outrage over what happened on social media Sunday night as the incident unfolded.
Judge Richard Scarratt, pictured, criticised a social worker who told a couple christening their son could 'hinder' his adoption

A council social worker told a couple christening their son would make it more difficult to put him up for adoption, a court heard.

The female Kent County Council employee told parents adoption attempts might be 'hindered' if the little boy, now about 15 months old, was 'christened into the Christian faith'.

Details of the case have emerged following a ruling by the judge following a private family court hearing in Chatham, Kent.

Presiding, Judge Richard Scarratt said the unnamed worker's comments were 'regrettable'.

He added Kent social services bosses had asked him to make decisions about the boy's future.

The judge said social services had raised concerns after the boy's father was convicted of raping a woman.

They had planned to place the child up for adoption but subsequently decided that he could live with a relative.

Judge Scarratt had approved the baby's move to a relative's home and said his parents would be able to stay in touch.

The judge said his parents wanted to continue to care for their son and planned to christen him.

He said the father had taped a conversation they had with the social worker and complained about her conduct.

During the court hearing, the social worker had 'admitted' what she said to the couple.

In his ruling, Judge Scarratt said: 'She admitted ... that she had informed the parents that a christening which they wanted might reduce the pool of possible adopters.

'This is when, of course, the care plan was for adoption. She told the parents that it would hinder adoption if the child was christened into the Christian faith.

'It is regrettable in my view that the social worker ... had indeed acted as the parents stated she had, discouraging the christening because it might hinder adoption.'

The judge said Kent County Council had apologised to the couple but he said the apology had been 'too late and inadequate'. Pictured is the council headquarters in Maidstone

The judge also criticised the social worker for not visiting the parents at their home enough when making assessments.

He said: 'I am not remotely surprised that the parents felt, when the care plan was one of adoption outside of the birth family, that the social worker was gunning for adoption, if I might put it so crudely.'

Judge Scarratt said council bosses should hold an internal inquiry into the social worker's conduct.

The judge said the council had apologised to the couple but he said the apology had been 'too late and inadequate'.

He has not identified the family involved.
A heartbroken father is furious that his autistic son is being kept 600 miles from home, claiming: 'Criminals get treated better.'

Paul Browne's son Darren moved to a specialist facility in Birmingham in 2008 because there was nowhere in Scotland which could cater for his needs.

Initially, Mr Browne and his wife Joan, who live in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, were told their 29-year-old son would be there for a maximum of two years.

Paul Browne (left) is furious that his autistic son Darren (right) is being kept 600 miles from home, despite a court ruling ordering him to be placed somewhere close to his family

But, nine years on, Darren is still living in Birmingham, despite a High Court judge in London ordering carers to move him back to Scotland.

Renfrewshire Council had been due to move Darren to a facility in Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire, but recently halted plans because they said his needs were too 'complex'.

Mr Browne, 58, said he is furious because carers did not even go to Birmingham to assess his son.

He said: 'Then they turn round and say that they can't accept him because the carers had not grasped the complexities of his situation.

'How can they possibly say that when they did not send anyone down?

'They've given me a figure of 50,000. They say that's what it would cost a year to look after Darren. But 50,000 is pittance compared to the 5,000 a week that it costs to look after him in England.

'So to say the cost is an issue is complete garbage.'

Mr Browne (left)and his wife Joan, who live in North Lanarkshire, were told their 29-year-old son (right) would be there for a maximum of two years - but he is still there nine years on

The Brownes were also told recently that Darren's life expectancy is sitting around the mid-30s, meaning they are missing vital time with their son. He is pictured left and right as a child

Despite the court order, Darren is now facing a further two years at the Wast Hills hospital in Birmingham.

Mr Browne, who works with the homeless, said: 'Criminals get treated better than my son.

'I don't know how they can go against a court order. We go down once a month to see him but it's very difficult for him and us. My heart is breaking.

'It can take Darren two or three days to recover from saying goodbye. These people don't realise that he is a human being.'

Despite the court order, Darren (pictured) is now facing a further two years at the Wast Hills hospital in Birmingham

Adding to the agony, the Brownes were told recently that Darren's life expectancy is sitting around the mid-30s, meaning they are missing vital time with their son.

Mr Browne said he would never have allowed Darren to be sent to Birmingham if he had known how the situation would unfold.

'If I had known he was going to be in England for 11 years when I said he could go, I would never have signed off on it,' he added.

The case is due to be reviewed at the High Court later this month.

Mr Browne added: 'The judge has called for a hearing because he wants to know why his order to send Darren back to Scotland was ignored.

'Whoever turned it down went against the law. The judge wants to know why.'

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said plans were in place to move Darren, but they later had to 're-evaluate the situation' because carer could not meet his needs.

They said: 'Renfrewshire HSCP has been working over the past year to agree a care package and provider for a client who is currently in a private hospital in Birmingham.

'We had identified a provider last year but have had to re-evaluate our situation as we cannot agree a position that would fully meet the client's complex care needs.

'Therefore we have taken the decision to withdraw from the current process and prepare a new plan for future provision of care in Scotland.'

They added: 'We recognise the challenges that can present with any client with a complex need and strive to work closely with service users, family and carers.

'We also work closely with our care providers to identify the most appropriate care, treatment and support package for each individual.'
The leader of a banned Islamist extremist group and two of his aides have been hanged for a grenade attack targeting a British high commissioner 12 years ago.

Mufti Abdul Hannan, the head of Harkatul Jihad Al Islami and his two HuJI associates were sentenced to death in 2008 over the carnage, with Bangladesh's highest court upholding the sentences last month.

The explosion at a 14th century Sufi shrine in the northeastern city of Sylhet killed three people and injured the ambassador Anwar Choudhury - a Bangladeshi-born British diplomat who has since become the UK's ambassador to Peru.

Bangladeshi Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami (HUJI) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan (centre) is flanked by police officers as he appears in court in Dhaka on June 23, 2014

Mufti Abdul Hannan, center, leader of banned radical group Harkatul Jihad al Islami, stands at a court in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Authorities hanged Hannan and one of his aides Sharif Shahedul Islam at a high security prison outside Dhaka

HuJI was the first Islamist militant outfit to emerge in Bangladesh, and rose to prominence as Hannan escalated its deadly operations.

All three terrorists sought clemency from the Bangladesh president in a last-ditch attempt to commute the execution orders to life sentences, but he rejected their pleas.

Authorities hanged Hannan and one of his aides Sharif Shahedul Islam at a high security prison outside Dhaka at 10pm on Wednesday.

Anwar Choudhury, the target of the 2004 grenade attack for which the terrorists were hanged

Another associate, Delwar Hossain, was executed at a jail in Sylhet.

Their bodies were then taken back to their villages, where they were buried amid tight security, police said.

'Hannan was buried in his village at around 5.45am after a funeral prayer attended by 15-20 of his relatives,' local police chief Kamrul Faruq said.

'We've stepped up security to prevent any violence,' he said, adding the funeral passed off peacefully.

He said Hannan was a 'hated figure' even in his village due to his roles in a series of deadly blasts and two attempts on the life of then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, who also comes from the same district.

Hannan, 60, was a madrassa teacher who studied in India and Pakistan and fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan before returning to join HuJI.

Prosecutors said Hannan had headed HuJI since the late 1990s, masterminding deadly attacks on a church, secular gatherings, and mosques used by Islam's minority sects.

In August 2004, in one of the country's deadliest extremist attacks, he masterminded the blasts at a political rally of Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister, outside her party office in central Dhaka.

Hasina narrowly survived what she said was an assassination attempt.

At least 22 people were killed.

By the time Hannan was arrested in late 2005, more than 100 people had been killed in attacks he orchestrated across the Muslim-majority nation.

Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami (HUJI) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan (centre) is flanked by police officers as he leaves a court in Sylhet on December 23, 2008. Hanan and two others were sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of plotting to kill the British ambassador in a grenade attack in 2004

Tensions in the moderate Muslim country have been running high in recent weeks following a resurgence of extremist attacks, at least three of which have been claimed by the Islamic State group.

Al-Qaeda and the IS have claimed dozens of attacks in recent years, but Hasina's secular government insists local groups are to blame.

Police have arrested scores of suspected extremists and killed more than 60 people since an attack on a Dhaka cafe last year in which 22 people were killed, many of them foreign hostages.
President Donald Trump has called the United Airlines incident 'horrible' and called on airlines to increase the amount they offer passengers to give up their seats on overbooked flights.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump said: 'You know, there's a point at which I'm getting off the plane, seriously. They should have gone up higher. But to just randomly say "You're getting off the plane", that was terrible.'

Dr David Dao is recovering after the incident in Chicago on Sunday and his lawyers have asked the Cook County Circuit Court for an order requiring United and the city of Chicago to keep all video, cockpit recordings, passenger, employee and crew lists relating to the horrifying incident.

President Trump (left) said airlines should raise the amount of money they offer to passengers to persuade them to give up their seats when flights are overbooked. Yesterday New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (right) urged the Trump administration to prevent overbooking

It comes after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie denounced United Airlines as 'awful' on Wednesday and demanded the Trump administration step in and prevent the aviation industry from overbooking flights following the forced removal of a bloodied passenger on Sunday.

After the social media uproar ignited widespread calls for a boycott, United CEO Oscar Munoz issued an apology and promised to investigate the incident.

The New Jersey governor told Fox & Friends on Wednesday that the incident was the result of a problematic culture at United.

Watch the latest video at <a href="//video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

'Everybody who flies commercial knows United is awful,' he said. 'They know it's awful.

'I don't think they've ever really recovered from the merger between United and Continental, and I don't think they've integrated employees. I don't think they've set a culture there, and you've got a CEO who takes off after the guy was dragged down the aisle.'

In 2010, United Airlines' parent company UAL Corp bought Continental Airlines Inc for $3.17billion in an all-stock deal that at the time formed the world's largest carrier.

Today, American Airlines Group is the largest aviation company after its 2013 merger with US Airways.

Christie was reacting to the national backlash that erupted against United after one of its passengers (right) was filmed being violently dragged off a plane just before takeoff (left) to make room for the airline's crew members even though he paid for a ticket

After the social media uproar ignited widespread calls for a boycott, United CEO Oscar Munoz issued an apology and promised to investigate the incident. The bloodied passenger, Dr. David Dao (above), 69, is seen above moments after he was forced out of his seat

Christie says he sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao informing her that he has instructed New Jersey authorities to look into action that would curb 'the abusive practice' of overbooking flights.

'We would ask, in the context of the president's efforts at regulatory reform to improve the lives of our citizens, that you consider the immediate suspension of this overbooking authority until a thorough review can be done by your department,' Christie wrote to Chao.

The governor told Fox & Friends his constituents often have no choice but to fly United since the airline accounts for some 70 percent of flights that take off and land at Newark International Airport.

Given the relative lack of alternatives, airlines feel they have the freedom to overbook flights with impunity, Christie said.

The New Jersey governor told Fox & Friends on Wednesday that the incident was the result of a problematic culture at United

In 2010, United Airlines' parent company UAL Corp bought Continental Airlines Inc for $3.17billion in an all-stock deal that at the time formed the world's largest carrier. A Continental Airlines jet is seen at Bush Airport in Houston in the above 2010 file photo

'They kicked those people off to make money and they're doing it with the permission of the federal government,' he said.

'So what I'm saying to the administration is, stop them from doing it.'

The Department of Transportation and other agencies are said to be looking into the matter.

So far, it doesn't look like any major regulatory initiatives are in the offing.

Christie says he sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (seen left with President Donald Trump) informing her that he has instructed New Jersey authorities to look into action that would curb 'the abusive practice' of overbooking flights

Shares of United were trading slightly higher on Wednesday  this just one day after the company lost $255million in value as it was still grappling with the aftermath of the incident

'It was an unfortunate incident, clearly, when you watch the video. It is troubling to see how that was handled... Law enforcement is reviewing it. And I think for us to start to get in front of what should be a local matter, not necessarily needing a federal response.'

Shares of United were trading slightly higher on Wednesday  this just one day after the company lost $255million in value as it was still grappling with the aftermath of the incident.
A grief-stricken sister has told of how her life has changed since her big brother was killed in a fight and dumped in a wheelie bin in Adelaide.

Adelaide man Daniel Hind, 29, was killed by Timothy Seymour in a drunken clash in August 2015 and his body was found in a bin in a paddock more than three weeks later.

In the Supreme Court on Thursday Mr Hind's youngest sister Chelsea Hind gave a heart wrenching statement.

A grief-stricken sister has revealed how her life has changed after her older brother Daniel Hind (pictured) was killed in a fight and dumped in a wheelie bin in Adelaide in August 2015

'Daniel and I were very close,' she said in her victim impact statement. 'He was a big part of my life. I would always listen to what he had to say.

'We would always help each other. He was always there.'

Ms Hind said she and her brother had been painting the house just before he went missing.

And when she found out what had happened to him her life was 'completely flipped'.

'I don't feel well and I don't want to eat,' she said, sniffing and tearful. 'I used to be very fit and healthy. Now I am skeletal.

'I don't like people as much as I used to.'

Mr Hind (pictured) was killed by Timothy Seymour in a drunken clash. His sister Chelsea Hind told the Supreme Court on Thursday that her brother's death had ruined their family

When she directed her words to Seymour, who sat in the dock in a shirt and tie, Ms Hind raised her voice.

'You have single-handedly ruined our family,' she said. 'You continued to eat, sleep, shower and work while my brother was dumped in a paddock.

'How could anyone do this to another human being? I wish you bad luck.'

Seymour, 35, had been drinking at home with Mr Hind and knocked the younger man out during a clash in the kitchen before falling asleep on the couch.

Ms Hind said her father had breakdown from the grief and he was in hospital for months. Her mother Mindy Hind said family gatherings will never be the same and she still feels sick every time she walks past a wheelie bin

In the morning Seymour realised what he'd done and he stuffed the body in a wheelie bin.

But Mr Hind's body was eventually found in a paddock in Waterloo Corner and Seymour was charged, later pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Hind's family said they were torn apart by the loss and they are reminded of his death whenever they put the bins out.

His father Philip Hind said he had a breakdown from the grief and he was in hospital for months.

His mother Mindy Hind said family gatherings will never be the same now her first-born son is gone and she still feels sick every time she walks past a wheelie bin.

Seymour will be sentenced at a later date.

Chelsea Hind told the court she had lost huge amounts of weight, describing herself as 'skeletal'. Pictured is the crime scene where police discovered Mr Hind's body in 2015
Tensions boiled over in a fraught UN discussion over Russia's support for Syria when a furious ambassador from Moscow snapped at a British diplomat: 'Look at me while I'm talking to you'.

Jabbing his finger towards Matthew Rycroft, Russias deputy ambassador Vladimir Safronkov responded furiously to claims that Moscow had been 'humiliated' in its support for dictator Bashar al-Assad.

The extraordinary outburst came as Russia vetoed a UN resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and urging a speedy investigation into a chemical attack which claimed 87 lives last Tuesday.

Mr Safronkov said: Look at me, when Im speaking, dont look away. Why are you looking away?'

And he told the British ambassador: Youre losing sleep that we might be working together with the United States, co-operating with the United States  that is what you fear.

'Youre doing everything to make sure this kind of co-operation is undermined. He added: What have you done to advance a cease-fire? You welcome various opposition groups in London and Paris, illegal armed groups.

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Russia's deputy UN ambassador Vladimir Safronkov snapped during discussions about a resolution condemning the use of chemical weapons in Syria

The Russian official told British ambassador Matthew Rycroft (pictured): 'Look at me while I'm talking to you'

The exchange happened on a day in which:

The UN Security Council was told British scientists had discovered evidence of nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance, at the scene of the attack

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said there were 'low levels of trust' between the United States and Russia after meeting Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on Vladimir Putin to use his influence on Assad to end the war

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov, accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role

Putin said there was 'no evidence' that Assad was behind the chemical attack

Tests on victims of last Tuesday's chemical weapon attack in Syria revealed the presence of sarin, or a sarin-like substance

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said sarin, or a sarin-like substance, had been detected at the scene of last week's attack, and said President Bashar al-Assad (pictured) was 'highly likely' to be responsible

The Russian envoy snapped during the angry exchanges at yesterday's meeting of the UN Security Council

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson later said he was 'dismayed' by the Russian veto  and urged Vladimir Putin to use his influence with Assad to bring the war to an end.

'Last week in Syria, a barbaric attack was committed,' he said.

'British scientists have completed an analysis of samples obtained from the site of the attack and concluded that sarin, or a sarin-like substance, was used.

'Our assessment, like that of the US, is that it is highly likely the Assad regime was responsible.

Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the gas, experts stated

Russia has vetoed a UN resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and urging a speedy investigation

'I am dismayed that Russia has once again blocked the UN Security Council and in so doing refused to condemn the use of chemical weapons or support a full UN investigation into the attack.

'This puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument. But it doesn't have to be this way.'

He said Russia now faced a choice between 'acting as a lifeline for Assad's murderous regime, or it could live up to its responsibilities as a global power, and use its influence over the regime to bring six long years of failed ceasefires and false dawns to an end'.

A Syrian child is treated in the aftermath of last week's attack in the Idlib province in northern Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday angrily defended Assad, saying there was no evidence the Syrian dictator was behind the attack

Mr Johnson said it was 'highly likely' the Syrian regime was responsible for the toxic gas attack and called on Russia to stop acting 'as a lifeline for Assad's murderous regime'.

He said: 'This puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument. But it doesn't have to be this way.'

It comes after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss the escalating tensions in Syria, where he admitted there were 'low levels of trust' between the two nations.

Mr Johnson backed US calls to find a political solution and said the G7 leaders were ready to work with Russia to end the violence in Syria.

France on Wednesday blasted Russia's vetoing of a UN draft resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into a suspected chemical attack.

'Russia bears a heavy responsibility through its systematic opposition - in order to protect its ally Assad - to a multilateral response to the issue of Syria,' the office of French President Francois Hollande said in a statement.

The foul-tempered exchange happened during discussions over a resolution calling for last week's chemical attack to be condemned

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was 'dismayed' by the Russian veto  and urged Vladimir Putin to use his influence with Assad to bring the war to an end

US. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) during their talks in Moscow yesterday

The resolution 'was designed to allow a rapid, thorough inquiry by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to establish responsibility for the chemical attacks on April 4 in Idlib province', the statement said.

Russia's veto was the eighth time it had chosen to oppose a majority of the (UN Security) Council in this way, it added.

'Only the coming together of the international community in favour of a political transition in Syria will allow this martyred country to find peace, stability and sovereignty again.

'France will continue to mobilise in this way.'

Earlier, Britain's UN ambassador had lashed Russian support for the 'murderous, barbaric criminal' Assad and warned the Kremlin it was on the 'wrong side of history'.

Mark Rycroft said Russia had been 'humiliated' by its steadfast support of the Syrian dictator's regime during six years of hellish civil war and last week's chemical strike.

In a special session of the UN Security Council in New York, Russia's ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role.

Mr Rycroft, right, made an impassioned case against Russian involvement in the Syrian war at a special session of the security council today, pictured

In his impassioned speech against Russian involvement, Mr Rycroft said: 'Time and time again, Russia has abused its veto protect the regime and to defend its use of chemical weapons.

'What has Russia got in return for its seven vetos in six years? Russia's initiative in 2013 to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons has been exposed as a shambles.

'Russian pride in the Astana process has been turned to humiliation and Russia's credibility and reputation across the world have been poisoned by its toxic association with Assad.

'They have chosen to side with a murderous, barbaric criminal rather than with their international peers. They have chosen the wrong side of history.

'However, it is not to late for Russia to change course, not to late for Russia to use its influence over the regime to bring conflict to an end.'

Russia's ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role

The text of last night's motion reads called 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 all air bases to UN investigators.

Amid heated scenes, Mr Rycroft added: 'Use of the weapons Assad agreed in 2013 to destroy is just the latest in a long list of abhorrent attacks. With that attack, he has made clear he is not committed to a ceasefire or to the Astana process, ruining Russia's credibility.

'And as we mourn the victims of the chemical attack, we must not forget the 13.5million people who thanks to Assad are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and in urgent need of a long overdue peace.

'It is clear today as it has been for some time there can be no place for Assad in Syria's future.'

Philip Hammond defended Mr Johnson today amid a backlash over his botched demands for the G7 to impose sanctions on Russia

Philip Hammond defended Mr Johnson amid a backlash over his botched demands for the G7 to impose sanctions on Russia.

The Foreign Secretary went into a key summit with counterparts from the powerful nations earlier this week insisting that Vladimir Putin should be hit with punitive measures unless he abandons the Syrian regime.

But he was branded a 'total let down' after fellow G7 ministers rebuffed the appeal in the wake of last week's chemical weapons attack on Idlib province.

Chancellor Philip Hammond moved to shore up his Cabinet colleague yesterday, insisting the UK would not stop 'making the case' for a tough line over Syria.

A No10 source insisted Mr Johnson had the full support of Theresa May and dismissed claims he had failed his first big test.

The episode was particularly embarrassing because Mr Johnson had cancelled a planned trip to Moscow at the weekend to concentrate on getting an agreement.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano welcomes Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson, before a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 in Lucca
Some of the new 'indestructible' 5 notes have been left so battered that the security features have rubbed away just six months after they were launched, prompting police to think they were fake.

Officers issued an alert to the public after notes circulating in Wadebridge, Cornwall, were found without two of the main currency security features - a security hologram and an image of Big Ben.

The notes looked so different that police urged the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency and flagged their concerns to the Bank of England.

But today, the Bank of England insisted the notes - which were only released in September and feature Winston Churchill - were real currency that had accidentally been damaged due to 'extreme use'.

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Some of the new 'indestructible' 5 notes have been left so battered that the security holograms have rubbed away, prompting police to think they were fake. On this ruined note, the gold picture of Big Ben has been rubbed off and the hologram is coloured, not clear

The new fivers normally feature a gold Big Ben and clear holograms on the front (shown above). The Bank of England said the notes had been ruined due to 'extreme use'

Although bank chiefs had promised the new notes would be 'much more durable', a spokesman said today that they are 'not indestructible'.

She added that the money can be damaged through 'prolonged washing at high temperatures'.

The notes that sparked concern did not feature a gold Big Ben on the front, while the normally-clear hologram had turned green.

When the polymer 5 note was launched, those behind the design said it boasted new security features making it harder to counterfeit.

The security features include two clear holograms on the front - one at the top and one at the bottom - as well as a gold picture of Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben.

There is also a portrait of the Queen in the window and special microlettering which experts say would be almost impossible to forge.

The notes looked so different that police urged the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency (pictured) and flagged their concerns to the Bank of England

The Bank of England - which is due to release a similar 10 note this summer featuring Jane Austen - also said it was more hardy than the old notes and would last twice as long is circulation.

THE SECURITY FEATURES ON A NEW FIVER See-through window : There is a see-through window, with a a clearly defined portrait of the Queen and the words: 5 Bank of England printed twice around the edge;

: There is a see-through window, with a a clearly defined portrait of the Queen and the words: 5 Bank of England printed twice around the edge; Big Ben: There is a finely detailed metallic image of the Elizabeth Tower over the window. The foil is gold on the front and silver on the back. When the note is tilted a rainbow effect can be seen;

There is a finely detailed metallic image of the Elizabeth Tower over the window. The foil is gold on the front and silver on the back. When the note is tilted a rainbow effect can be seen; Colour change: Around the edge of the window is a coloured border which changes from purple to green when the note is tilted;

Around the edge of the window is a coloured border which changes from purple to green when the note is tilted; Foil patches: On the front of the note is a silver foil patch. When the note is tilted, the word Five changes to Pounds;

On the front of the note is a silver foil patch. When the note is tilted, the word Five changes to Pounds; Crown: On the front of the note is a silver foil patch containing an image of the coronation crown which appears 3D. When the note is tilted a multi-coloured rainbow effect can be seen;

On the front of the note is a silver foil patch containing an image of the coronation crown which appears 3D. When the note is tilted a multi-coloured rainbow effect can be seen; Blenheim:  On the back of the note, there is a circular green foil patch which contains the word BLENHEIM;

On the back of the note, there is a circular green foil patch which contains the word BLENHEIM; Lettering: By running your finger across the front of the note you can feel raised print in areas such as the words Bank of England. Advertisement

The new notes - printed by Basingstoke-based company De La Rue, which has worked with the Bank of England since 1974 - are printed on polymer rather than paper, a thin flexible plastic film which the Bank says is cleaner, stronger and more secure.

De La Rue describe themselves on their website as producing 'high quality paper for integration into premium security documents such as banknotes.'

The company also claims that their paper is 'long lasting and robust.'

Several people then took to experimenting to see what would destroy the note, including ripping, washing and ironing them to prove the Bank wrong.

Last week, chemistry professor Martyn Poliakoff said the note could be damaged by pouring liquid nitrogen over it and hitting it with a lump hammer - but few people had the same success.

Anyone with a damaged note can apply to the Bank of England to exchange it.

Claimants must fill in a form and send it, along with the bank note, in the post.

It is then assessed by the Bank and claims are paid directly into the applicants bank account, if successful.

Police said people can identify a fake 5 note because it does not have a gold Big Ben clock tower on the front, unlike the real one.

The genuine 5 notes also have clear holograms on the front of the note, on the top and bottom. On fake notes, these will be coloured and not holographic.

One science presenter also discovered that, if you shine a laser pointer through the right spot on the Queen's neck on the 5 note and then project it onto the opposite wall, you will see a triangular star field.

Since they were released in September, Britain's new plastic 5 notes have become a valuable collectors' item with notes bearing AA01 serial numbers from the first printing run becoming prized collectors' items.

Bank chiefs claim the new notes are so durable they will last twice as long as the old fiver. A total of 440million 5 notes have been printed (file picture of new notes)

Each unique number can be found twice on the reverse side of the note, on the left hand side and the bottom right.

A total of 440million 5 notes have been printed, meaning there is roughly a one in 440 chance of a note having a valuable AA01 serial number.

The old fiver, featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, will continue to be valid until May 5.

OUTRAGE OVER 'NON-VEGAN' BANK NOTES Vegans and vegetarians pledged to boycott the 5 note when it was released after it emerged it contained tallow, a type of animal fat. The Bank has since said that it may use palm oil as an alternative - although environmentalists were not happy about that either. Controversial palm oil, often found in peanut butter, has been linked to deforestation on a large scale as trees are cleared to make way for plantations. The Bank of England said it was the 'only practical alternative'. Advertisement

The Bank of England said more than 50% of 'Fry fivers' have already been returned to be destroyed, leaving around 160 million in circulation.

Some banks and building societies may still accept paper 5 notes after May 5, but this is at their own discretion.

The Bank of England will continue to exchange the old 5 notes for all time, as it would for any other Bank note which no longer has legal tender status.

PCSO Pete Sobye, of Wadebridge police, said: 'If you find yourself in possession of a fake 5 note, contact your bank. Or if you have been given a number of these as payment, contact police on 101.'

A Bank of England spokesman said: 'The Bank of England is aware that a small number of polymer 5 notes have been damaged due to extreme use, for example prolonged washing at high temperatures.

'In some cases this has resulted in the foil Elizabeth Tower being removed. These notes are damaged genuine banknotes not counterfeits, and a lot of other security features remain intact such as the Queen's portrait in the window and the microlettering.

'Polymer notes are stronger than paper notes and last longer in usual day-to-day use but they are not indestructible. '

When contacted by MailOnline, De La Rue declined to explain why the notes were fading or whether anything would be done in the future to improve their durability.

Innovia, which provides polymer banknote substrate, has also been contacted for comment.
Five young people were killed in a horror crash in Iowa in the early hours of Monday morning.

Zachary Wolf Hartley, 20, Alex Parvon-Charles Wiebke, 19, Roderick Lemeual Lewis, 18, Donte William Foster, 17, and Sydney Nikole Alcorn, 14, all died in the smash.

Police say a Jeep being driven by Foster left the road and hit a tree before bursting into flames. All the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Donte William Foster, 17 (left), was driving in the early hours of Monday morning when his Jepp left the road and hit a tree, killing himself and four others including Zachary Wolf Hartley, 20

Alex Parvon-Charles Wiebke, 19, remembered by friends as a gentle giant and athlete, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash

A memorial has been set up close to the scene where they died, comprised of five stumps created when one tree was cut down - one for each victim.

Police say it is not the same tree that was hit in the accident, which was torn clean out of the ground with the force of the impact.

Town history of mourning mass death Cerro Gordo county, where this accident took place, was also the site of the 1959 plane crash that came to be known as 'The Day the Music Died'. That accident happened around 20 minutes from Mason City, just north of Clear Lake. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. 'the Big Bopper' Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson were all killed. Advertisement

Investigators are still probing the cause of the accident, saying they have no idea what could have caused it.

Hundreds of mourners have turned out to sign the stump, laying flowers, putting up pictures of the dead, and lighting candles for the victims.

Nick Kmoch, the ministry director for North Iowa Youth For Christ, knew all five victims. He told the Global Gazette: 'It's going to take time.

'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.'

Dan Long, principal at Mason City High School where Foster studied and was due to graduate in June, told the Des Moines Register: 'Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden.

'All of us will be feeling a variety of emotions: anger, shock, sadness, or confusion. What is most important is that we care for and support each other.'
North Korea may already be capable of launching chemical weapons, Japan has warned.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he feared Kim Jong-un 'has a capability' to fire missiles tipped with sarin - the same deadly gas used to kill 87 Syrian civilians in a horrifying gas attack last week.

That atrocity prompted the US to launch a surprise wave of missiles on one of dictator Bashar al-Assad's airbases.

Abe told a parliamentary session: 'There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads.'

Kim Jong-un (pictured in Pyongyang today) may already be capable of launching chemical weapons, Japan has warned

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he feared Kim Jong-un 'has a capability' to fire missiles tipped with sarin - the same deadly gas used to kill 87 Syrian civilians in a horrifying gas attack last week

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated over Pyongyang's continued nuclear and missile testing programme (file picture of a North Korea test rocket launch)

Members of a Japanese doomsday cult killed 12 people and made thousands ill in 1995 in simultaneous attacks with sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo rush-hour subway trains.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated over Pyongyang's continued nuclear and missile testing programme, with the United States warning it could take unilateral action and sending a navy carrier group to near the Korean peninsula in a show of force aimed at deterring more tests.

North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday, North Korea's biggest national day called 'Day of the Sun'.

Leaders have in the past used the date to carry out weapons tests.

North Korea has launched several missile tests this year, the latest on April 5 when it fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast. It conducted its fifth nuclear test on September 9, 2016.

Washington-based 38 North , who monitors North Korea, has reported 'unusually high levels of activity' at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site (above) over the past four weeks

Tensions are high after Trump tweeted that he had 'a very good call' with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Tuesday night dealing with 'the menace of North Korea'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cuts the ribbon during an opening ceremony of a newly constructed residential complex in Ryomyong street in Pyongyang

South Korea said today it believed it would be consulted by the United States before any possible pre-emptive U.S. strike against Pyongyang and China urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for greater protection from Beijing.

China, North Korea's sole major ally and benefactor, has called for a peaceful resolution after a sharp rise in rhetoric between the United States and Pyongyang.

On Thursday, an influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un was to give up its nuclear programme.

'As soon as North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime,' said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist party's People's Daily.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he won't tolerate provocative actions by the North, U.S. officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Trump has diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive, in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with major commemorative events.

Officials gave no details as to the nature of a so-called 'big event' or where it would take place, and similar announcements in the past have been linked to relatively low-key set pieces

US military officials fear North Korea has placed a nuclear test in a tunnel with the potential to detonate it on Saturday. Pictured: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) flanked by vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission Choe Yong-Hae at an opening ceremony for 'Rymoyong street', a new housing development in Pyongyang today

The possibility of U.S. military action against North Korea in response to such tests gained traction after the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike against the North.

'Under the South Korea-U.S. alliance, any important measure on the North is taken under consultation with the South Korea government and it will continue in the future,' Yun told a parliamentary hearing.

A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that showed it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said on Thursday there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, although they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

Around 200 foreign journalists gathered in Pyongyang for North Korea's biggest national day, the 'Day of the Sun', were taken to what was billed by officials as a 'big and important event' early on Thursday.

It turned out to be the opening of a new street in the centre of the capital, attended by Kim.

North Korea marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday. In 2012, it tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency reported early on Thursday that Kim Jong Un had guided training of the army's special operation forces jumping from aircraft.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un (second from right) attends a ceremony for the opening of a housing project in Pyongyang today. The regime warned foreign journalists to prepare for a 'big event' on Thursday and is thought to have put a nuclear device in a tunnel at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site

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.'

TENSE STAND-OFF: The U.S. dispatched a naval strike group to the area amid continued missile launches and hot rhetoric from North Korea

'Watching the brave combatants mercilessly blow up the enemy targets, he said with pleasure that the commanding officers made correct decisions, adding those combatants carrying out their duties independently and pro-actively were reminiscent of fierce tigers crossing the mountain ranges in the southern half,' KCNA reported.

On Tuesday, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression. The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy both countries.

U.S. officials said Trump was considering tougher sanctions that could possibly include an oil embargo, banning North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang.

'There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea,' one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters in Washington on Wednesday.

Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed that China's coal imports from North Korea plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago.

China suspended issuing permits for importing coal from North Korea on Feb. 18 as part of its efforts to implement U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the United States for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a 'very good' discussion of the 'menace of North Korea'. He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China if necessary.
Rachel Essaid (pictured above), 18, had begun dating 32-year old company director Imraan Hasham they met in a nightclub

A controlling company director who bullied his teenage girlfriend by banning her from using a phone and throwing away her clothes in a bid to force her into marriage has escaped jail.

Imraan Hasham, 32, called his young girlfriend a 'slag' and would tell her to put her 't*** away' if she wore revealing clothes.

Rachel Essaid met the businessman when she was just 17 at a nightclub in Bolton. Hasham lied about his age, telling the teenager he was 20 and the pair embarked on a relationship which quickly became abusive.

But Magistrates took pity on 32-year-old Imraan Hasham at a hearing in Manchester this week, who admitted to controlling behaviour, after hearing about how the case might affect his chauffeuring business.

Through a statement to the police, she told the court Hasham wanted to marry her in a mosque and preferred it if she stayed home to cook and clean. She told how she was forced to keep the blinds closed when she was in the house so people wouldn't look at her.

Hasham admitted engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour during a court hearing at Manchester Magistrate's Court this week.

But he was sparred jail after saying the future of his business was now 'up in the air' as a result of his arrest.

The victim's ordeal began after she met Hasham in March 2016 at the Level nightclub in Bolton.

Abusive: Rachel Essaid (left), 18, would be called a 'slag, a low life and ugly' by Imraan Hasham (right) whenever she wanted to dress up for an evening out

Controlled: Hasham would force Rachel Essaid (pictured above) to keep the blinds closed at home so no one could see her inside

They embarked in a year-long relationship which ended in March last year after police were called when Hasham threw Miss Essaid onto his bed and tried to smother her during an argument when she tried to leave his house to see her family.

He bit her on the hand so that she couldn't use her phone and later threatened to kill Miss Essaid's stepfather when he helped her pick up her belongings from Hasham's home.

Scared: Rachel Essaid (pictured above) told police she felt afraid of Hasham, who was 14 years her senior

Officers discovered Hasham had a dark past having previously served an eight and a half year stretch over a terrifying bank raid during which a woman cashier was kidnapped at gunpoint. He also had convictions for a criminal damage and affray.

In a statement Miss Essaid who has had to undergo counselling told detectives: 'He does not like me having friends. He calls them slags. For a while now I have been wanting to end the relationship but I feel I cannot get away from him.

'He says that my life would be 's**t' without him. I am scared of him.

'He has said in the past that he would get his gun and shoot me or smash me in the face with a bottle. I feel that he does not want anyone to see me. I am not allowed to open the blinds or go out.

'I have no self-confidence and feel worthless. I have lost all my independence and I fear I am not strong enough to say 'no' if he contacts me.'

Prosecuting, Matthew Treece said: 'He told her he was 20 but was actually 32. The relationship was initially good and she started staying at his house frequently. She described the defendant as sometimes nice but controlled certain aspects of her life.

'He would take her to and from work and wouldn't allow her to use her mobile phone. He would also make comments about her make up and the way she looked. He has taken items of her clothing and thrown it away because he didn't like them.

Mr Treece told magistrates Miss Essaid was scared to leave.

He said: 'She said that she thinks he gives her gifts to have power over her and that she wanted to leave the relationship but was scared that she couldn't get away. She was scared that he would follow her and turn up at her work and claims the relationship was not normal and the way he was with her was not normal.'

The court heard how Hasham would take Rachel Essaid to and from work and wouldn't allow her to use her mobile phone

The court heard how the victim felt Hasham wanted her to stay at home and do the chores.

Mr Treece said: ' She said she felt that he didn't want anyone to see her - he would force her to keep the blinds closed and wouldn't let her out on her own.

Police were called in last March after Hasham threw Miss Essaid onto his bed and tried to smother her during an argument when she tried to leave his house to see her mother

'He said he wanted to marry her in a Mosque and she said she thinks he just wants her to do the cooking and cleaning.'

On occasions, Miss Essaid had put on dresses and was immediately told to get changed and to 'put her t*** away.'

He said: 'Hasham would make her go and get changed out of a long skirt and put trousers on instead. He would call her a prostitute and she claims that he just wanted to her cover up at all times.

'She also worked at a school he would not like the fact that she worked there with males. On one occasion when he was picking her up he saw her waving at a male PE teacher which caused an argument.'

Physical violence flared on February 5 when Miss Essaid said she wanted to go and see her mother. Mr Treece added: 'She told the defendant she needed more clothes as this was the only way he would let him see her.

'But the two of them argued and when she tried to get out of the bedroom he wouldn't let her and he pushed her back onto the bed and her smothered her.

'On February 6 there were a large number of calls early in the morning which she says is normal of the relationship.

She told police on that morning, she went to the bus stop to get the bus from work outside her mother's house and a few minutes later he pulled up in his car signalling for her to get in.

A bus pulled up behind and as the defendant was in the bus lane it was causing a scene so she agreed to get in the passenger seat.

NEW LAW TO CONVICT CONTROLLING PARTNERS The governments coercive or controlling behaviour offence was introduced in 2015 to crackdown on abusive partners who mentally manipulate their spouses for their personal gain. From December 29, 2015 controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships became an offence punishable with a maximum prison sentence of five years. The law change was intended to help victims who experienced the type of behaviour, which stops short of serious physical violence, but amounts to extreme psychological and emotional abuse, bring their perpetrators to justice. But despite the introduction of the law, figures released in August 2016 showed eight out of 22 police forces in England and Wales have not charged a single person with the offence, according to a Freedom of Information request. Nine forces have made two or fewer charges since the new law came into effect in December 2015, including Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Advertisement

The court heard how he then pulled over and started verbally abusing her and called her a 'slag, a low life and ugly'.

She started to cry but he continued. She then got a message on her phone and he grabbed her phone and bit her left hand so that she would let go.

He then bent the phone causing the screen to crack.

Prosecution said: 'As she tried to get out of the car the defendant grabbed hold of her and put his hand over her mouth so that she couldn't scream. A passer by described the complainant as very distressed and said she could hear a man shouting very aggressively.

'The complainant spoke to the police and her step father picked her up from work and drove to the defendant's house to pick up her stuff. After some time spent knocking on his door the defendant opened and said: 'Why have you bought another man to my house?'

'He then said to her step father: 'I will f***ing kill you. If you know what is good for you, you will get back in your car and drive off.'

In 2006, Hasham was locked up for conspiracy to rob over a raid at the National Westminster bank in in December the incident the victim was grabbed by a gang of men as she opened the branch and was bundled into a waiting Ford transit van.

While some of the robbers stole cash, the 43-year old woman was threatened with a handgun and told to lie face down on the floor whilst her hands were bound and tape placed across her mouth. Later the van was doused in petrol, some of which splashed on the woman before it was torched as she was dragged out of the vehicle.

Marriage: Hasham said he wanted to marry Rachel Essaid in a Mosque

Dark past: Hasham, who launched a reign of terror over teenage girlfriend Rachel Essaid pictured above, fled to Kenya after being involved in a bank robbery in 2004

Hasham fled to Kenya but was arrested after returning to the UK in 2006. It emerged one of the bank employees helped plan the raid.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Declan Doherty said of the latest offences: 'This was a relationship that was loving at times but it clearly wasn't without its problems. The defendant met this victim in a nightclub in Bolton. He had no idea that she was 17 and she told him that she in fact 19.

Defending Hasham, Mr Doherty said: 'He didn't find out until her mother approached the defendant and told him. He says had he known, the relationship probably wouldn't have continued.

'He accepts he used violence and accepts that at times he commented on her make up and clothes - but there were times where he was very complimentary about her clothing. The defendant owns his own business which is now up in the air.'

Hasham was given 26 weeks jail sentence suspended for 18 months and and was banned from contacting Miss Essaid for two years under the terms of a restraining order. He was also ordered to pay 500 compensation for breaking the victim's phone and pay 1265 costs.

Chairman of the bench Peter Kurshaw told him: 'This is a serious offence and the gravity along with the vulnerability of the victim over a long period of time is not acceptable.'

After the case Detective Constable Zoe Lomax, from Greater Manchester Police's domestic abuse unit said: 'The victim in this case was brave to come forward and stand up to her abuser. The impact this relationship has had on her life has been massive.'

The new legislation came into force in December 2015 to address 'controlling or coercive behaviour' in intimate or family relationships which causes someone to fear violence or alarm or distress.
Dr. Dao Suffered Broken Nose, 'Significant 'Concussion & Lost 2 Teeth: Lawyer

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 13, 2017 4:08PM

The United passenger who was violently dragged off a flight on Sunday in an incident that sparked international outrage suffered significant injuries. Kentucky doctor David Dao suffered a broken nose, a "significant" concussion, lost two front teeth and will require reconstructive surgery, the passenger's lawyer said in a press conference on Thursday morning.

What happened to Dr. Dao could have happened to any one of us," said Tom Demetrio, of Corboy & Demetrio, who, along with attorney Stephen Golan, is representing Dao.

Dao was discharged from a Chicago hospital late on Wednesday, Demetrio said. Hes shaken," the lawyer added. Demetrio told reporters at the press conference that Dao described the United experience as "more horrifying and harrowing" than when he fled war-torn Vietnam.

Demetrio also characterized United CEO Oscar Munoz's apology as "staged," though added that it has been accepted.

Dao's daughter, Crystal Pepper, thanked those who've offered Dao and his family support. What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance We hope in the future nothing like this happens again," she said on Thursday.

Demetrio did not yet announce a lawsuitor lawsuits. "Were not ready to sue, were doing our due diligence." But he suggested that probable legal action could be multi-pronged.

"Just because United is responsible doesnt mean the city of Chicago isnt responsible," he added. He called the aviation officers involved storm troopers for a moment. Dao's legal team filed documents on Wednesday to preserve key materials related to the incident, including the crew list, explanations of company policy and pertinent aviation-police files.
Qatar Airways has joined the fray of carriers poking fun at United Airlines after a passenger was violently removed from a flight on Sunday.

Qatar Airways tweeted an update Wednesday for its iPhone app which states it 'doesn't support drag and drop. We take care of customers as we unite them with their destinations.'

'Were united in our goal to always accommodate our passengers, even with our app updates,' the company said in its tweet.

After the initial backlash against United picked up steam, one meme on social media included a similar joke about United's app 'supporting drag and drop.'

While initially it was convincing, the 'update' was photoshopped and fabricated.

Qatar Airways tweeted an update Wednesday for its iPhone app which says it 'doesn't support drag and drop. We take care of customers as we unite them with their destinations'

After the initial backlash against United picked up steam, one meme on social media included a similar joke about the airline's app 'supporting drag and drop.' While initially it was convincing, the 'update' was photoshopped and fabricated

Dubai-based Emirates released an ad that toyed with the Chicago-based carrier's longtime slogan.

The ad on Tuesday mocked United CEO Oscar Munoz for past comments denigrating Emirates.

'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.

Dubai-based Emirates released an ad (above) after video went viral of a United passenger being forcefully removed that toyed with the Chicago-based carrier's longtime slogan

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 United Airlines.

Royal Jordanian also took the opportunity to poke fun at 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.

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, Dr. David Dao (above), 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

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, Dr. David Dao, 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.

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

Another tweet by Royal Jordanian shows an image of a smiling pilot under the caption: 'Our pilots happily welcome you onboard our flights!'

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.

The videos ignited an uproar on social media, the second time in less than a month that United was criticized for its treatment of passengers.

The Mideast airlines' gloating is the latest chapter in a long-running industry battle for access to the American market.

Emirates and Qatar have been criticized by US carriers over their rapid US expansion.

All three airlines have been caught up in the US ban on electronics onboard.

Emirates and Qatar have been criticized by US carriers over their rapid US expansion. An Emirates jet is seen above taxiing to a gate at Dubai International Airport in Dubai

US airline companies have long complained that the Gulf trio of Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways enjoy an unfair competitive advantage because they receive billions in government subsidies. A Qatar Airways jet is seen above landing in Los Angeles last month

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 Airways 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 European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that there were 'serious failings' in Russia's handling of the Beslan school siege in North Ossetia in 2004, in which more than 330 people were killed.

The court said although Russian authorities had received information that a terror attack was being planned, insufficient measures had been taken to disrupt the plot, and security at the school had not been increased.

Chechen militants stormed the school on September 1, 2004, beginning a three-day hostage crisis. A total of 184 children were among the dead.

The Russian government has been condemned over its handling of the 2004 Beslan massacre

In the damning judgement, the court ruled: 'The authorities had been in possession of sufficiently specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution,' the court said in its judgement.

'Nevertheless, not enough had been done to disrupt the terrorists meeting and preparing.'

It added that 'insufficient steps had been taken to prevent them travelling on the day of the attack; security at the school had not been increased; and neither the school nor the public had been warned of the threat'.

The case was brought by more than 400 Russians who were either involved in the incident or whose relatives were taken hostage or killed.

The militants were demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the war-torn republic of Chechnya.

They rigged the gymnasium of the school with explosives and packed more than 1,100 hostages inside, including around 800 children.

The massacre was one of a string of brutal attacks Russia suffered in the 1990s and 2000s stemming mainly from an insurgency in Chechnya that morphed from a separatist rebellion into a Islamist campaign.

The overwhelmingly Muslim Russian North Caucasus has since emerged as one of the major sources of foreign jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq.

The Kremlin on Thursday slammed the ruling.

Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'It is impossible for us to agree with this phrasing. Such phrasing for a country that has suffered an attack is absolutely unacceptable.'

Chechen separatists took more than 1,000 hostages - mostly children - in the city of Belsan

The Beslan massacre: 52 hours of horror A recap of the bloody siege: Militants seize the school: At 10:20 am, around 30 insurgents, some wearing explosive belts, seize the school in the Russian republic of North Ossetia at the start of the academic year. They lock hundreds of hostages into the gymnasium and open fire on police. One hostage taker and 11 other people are killed. The insurgents threaten to blow up the building if security forces storm it, rig the gymnasium with explosives, and demand the release of Chechen rebels detained in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia. Around 65 of the children manage to escape. Standoff: On September 2, the president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, negotiates the release of a group of 15 children and 11 women. Conditions deteriorate however, and just after midnight, two blasts rock the school. Rebels say they detonated two grenades in fear of an imminent attack. Storm breaks: At 1:08 pm on September 3, two more explosions are heard, followed by sustained gunfire. Some hostages escape and some insurgents try to get away as well. Russian special forces penetrate the school about an hour later and confusion reigns for several hours, with armed local residents taking part in the assault. As conflicting casualty figures are issued on September 4, ITAR-TASS news agency identifies Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev as mastermind of the siege. He claims responsibility on September 17, and is reported killed by Russian special forces in July 2006. A final casualty toll puts the deaths of civilians and security forces at more than 330, including 186 children, and the number of wounded at around 750. Thirty one militants are killed, and one is arrested. Advertisement

Russian authorities argue they took the best course of action faced with armed extremists, but many of the survivors and their relatives believe the security services were to blame for the firefight.

The case was brought to the Strasbourg-based court by more than 400 Russians either involved in the incident or whose relatives were taken hostage or killed.

'The authorities had been in possession of sufficiently specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution,' the court said.

'Nevertheless, not enough had been done to disrupt the terrorists meeting and preparing.'

The judges found that 'insufficient steps had been taken to prevent (the attackers) travelling on the day of the attack; security at the school had not been increased; and neither the school nor the public had been warned of the threat'.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia found it 'impossible' to agree with the wording of the judgement.

'Such phrasing for a country that has suffered an attack is absolutely unacceptable,' he told journalists.

The court found that through its actions, the Russian state had violated Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees a right to life.

There was an additional violation in the use of 'lethal force by security forces'.

'In the absence of proper legal rules, powerful weapons such as tank cannon grenade launchers and flame-throwers had been used on the school,' which had contributed to the casualties among the hostage, the court said.

The judges also said there were 'serious shortcomings' in the investigation into the attack, especially that there had been 'no proper examination of how the victims had died'.

The claimants in the case say the authorities were primarily seeking to eliminate the attackers with little care taken to avoid deaths of hostages.

Their lawyers have particularly criticised the lack of in-depth autopsies on the bodies of 116 victims found burned in the gymnasium.

The massacre was one of a string of brutal attacks Russia suffered in the 1990s and 2000s stemming mainly from an insurgency in Chechnya that morphed from a separatist rebellion into an Islamist campaign.

Russian and international experts describe Beslan as a political shock for Russia comparable to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and say it marked a turning point for the Kremlin's policy in the Caucasus.

There were two separatist wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and 2000s, but violence in the region has largely been suppressed under the iron-fisted rule of strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

However, the overwhelmingly Muslim Russian North Caucasus has emerged as one of the major sources of foreign jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq.

In January, Kadyrov said his forces had detained more than 50 insurgents linked to the Islamic State group in a security operation.
Sir Richard Dearlove has accused President Donald Trump of borrowing Russian money at the height of the financial crash

A former MI6 chief has accused President Donald Trump of borrowing Russian money at the height of the financial crash to keep his businesses afloat when other Western powers would not lend to him.

The accusation was made by Sir Richard Dearlove, head of the Secret Intelligence Service between 1999 and 2004, as questions continue to swirl about Trump's previous business dealings with Russia.

It also comes at a time when relations between the two superpowers reached a new low because of their disagreement over Syria.

Speaking yesterday, Trump said the US was 'not getting along with Russia at all.'

That rhetoric was in stark contrast to his election campaign when he boasted how he would 'get along very well with Putin' and described him as being 'very talented.'

As Trump's 'bromance' with Putin deteriorates Sir Richard, who oversaw MI6 whent he 'dodgy dossier' was released, warned any shady business deals done in 2008 could come back to haunt the billionaire.

He said: 'What lingers for Trump may be what deals - on what terms - he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when others in the west apparently would not lend to him'.

In a wide-ranging interview with Prospect Magazine, Sir Richard described Trump's claims that either the US National Security Agency (NSA) or British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had bugged Trump Tower on the orders of his predecessor Barack Obama as 'deeply embarrassing.'

GCHQ rejected allegations that it spied on Trump as a 'nonsense' and 'utterly ridiculous' in a rare public rebuttal.

Discussing that Sir Richard said: 'The only possible explanation [for the accusations] is that Trump started tweeting without understanding how the NSA-GCHQ relationship actually works.'

As Trump's 'bromance' with Putin deteriorates Sir Richard warned any shady business deals done in 2008 could come back to haunt the billionaire

Since his election, Trump has been on a warpath with intelligence agencies, blaming it for the leaks about his associates' Russia ties and even comparing them to Nazi propaganda.

The president has repeatedly denied having any business dealings with Russia.

Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele claimed the Russian government holds compromising material on Trump in a secret dossier that made outlandish claims about his sex life, including allegations of an orgy in a Russian hotel.

Elsewhere in the interview, Sir Richard criticised Europe's leaders for their failure to anticipate and prepare for mass migration [particularly from Africa] despite the CIA issuing a warning in 2001.

He said: 'We shouldn't really be particularly surprised by what's happened. We just didn't prepare for it.'

He also said the rise of the far-right in Europe was more of a concern than the Islamist terrorist threat.

The spymaster described Trump's claims that either the NSA or GCHQ had bugged Trump Tower on the orders of his predecessor Barack Obama as 'deeply embarrassing'

He told the magazine: 'The Islamist terrorist threat is obviously serious but containable and ultimately manageable.

'The deterioration of European politics, with the rise of parties on the extreme right, is a far more serious problem for the UK.

'It is not in the UK's national interest to see continental Europe being split apart by the revival of nationalist movements as a post-Brexit Britain returns to a mid-Atlantic rather than continental orientation to its foreign policy.'

Sir Richard was in charge of MI6, Britain's spy agency, when the 2002 'dodgy dossier' was published.

In the dossier, the government set out its case on Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction capabilities.

Sir Richard ensured the material was shown directly to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair - who subsequently wrote a foreword to the so-called 'dodgy dossier' saying that Hussein's threat was beyond doubt.

Together with the earlier September Dossier, the government justified its involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Thomas Brown, 28, of Coventry has been jailed for sexually assaulting a five-year-old - telling her it was the 'tickling game'

A paedophile teaching assistant has been jailed for sexually assaulting a five-year-old - telling her it was the 'tickling game.'

Thomas Brown, 28, admitted he touched the girl under the armpits - like he did to the other children.

But he was arrested after the girl's parents reported him to police after she came home and told them Brown had played a 'tickling game' with her at school.

Brown, of Coventry, was found guilty of sexual assault on the girl and admitted downloading indecent images of children during his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Stephen Eyre QC jailed him for a total of three years five months and placed him on the sex offender's register for life.

Prosecutor Scott Coughtrie said: 'This case is about a school teaching assistant who, while conducting his duties, was caring for five-year-olds.

'He approached one of them, a girl, and while no-one was watching placed his hand down her trousers and began tickling her bum.

'Such was her belief that this was perhaps normal behaviour that a few days later she asked her parents for 'the tickling game.'

'Her parents asked her to demonstrate, and she then conducted a full demonstration to her mother of what had happened.'

The paedophile teacher has been placed on the sex offenders register for life after the girl told her parents about the sexual assault

'It is the prosecution case that Thomas Brown has sexually assaulted this girl for his own sexual gratification.'

When asked if he agreed what he was doing was inappropriate, Brown replied: 'No I don't.'

During a video-recorded interview the girl demonstrated where Brown molested her. She said: 'He touched this part with his fingers. He touched this part of my skin, my bottom.'

Asked how many hands Brown had used, she replied: 'Two, he hasn't got any more.'

She added: 'He said 'sorry' to me, and he said 'I will never do it again.' Nothing happened next. He just walked away.'

Brown denied sexually abusing the girl, telling the court: 'I would play a game. I would chase after them and tickle them.'
Molotov cocktails were thrown at the presidential election campaign headquarters of France's far-Right candidate Marine Le Pen today by a group protesting against racism.

Emergency services were called to the central Paris building run by Ms Le Pen's National Front (FN) party at around 3am today, and found the main entrance door and hallway damaged.

A source close to the investigation said a message was left from a group called Fighting Xenophobia, and that although damage was minimal, it was an attempt to set part of the building on fire.

Marine Le Pen (pictured) said she had not been given details of the attack yet, but knew it was 'an extreme left-wing group acting with impunity'

Reacting on France 2 TV today, Ms Le Pen said she had not been given details of the attack yet, but knew it was 'an extreme left-wing group acting with impunity'.

The National Front (FN) leader said: 'These groups have been feeling with impunity for months.

'They have destroyed businesses, burned cars during demonstrations, attacked the police.

'l'm not surprised because Francois Hollande's government has let them do this months while I have repeatedly called for their dissolution.'

Ms Le Pen, who is currently leading opinion polls for the first round of the presidential elections, said she was going to make a criminal complaint.

It is estimated she will receive 24 percent of the vote, with Emmanuel Macron behind her with 23 percent, Francois Fillon lagging in third with 20 percent and Jean-Luc Melenchon's deficit stretching wider with the polls suggesting he will receive 17 percent.

Fighting Xenophobia (FX) meanwhile said the attack was specifically made to mark a racist attack by FN thugs on a man called Loic 'ten years ago'.

French presidential election candidate for the far-right Front National (FN) party Marine Le Pen

FX said their attacks 'will continue every day until the elections'.

Last week two FN offices in other parts of France were vandalised, and the party called for better security, including a permanent police presence outside the Paris HQ.

Commenting on the arson attack, Interior Matthias Fekl said the 'unacceptable acts' could influence people's decisions at the ballot box.

Mr Fekl said: 'We were in touch with the National Front candidate's team as early as last night and we will see if, in conjuction with them, it's necessary to strengthen security arrangements.'

The FN has a long history of far-Right extremism behind it, and its honorary president remains the convicted racist and anti-Semite Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pen's father.

She has reported a rift with him, but he is funding her election campaign with a donation of some six million euros, and remains an FN MEP.

In recent weeks investigative journalists in France have also highlighted Marine Le Pen's close links with neo-Nazis.

The head of the FN in Nice, in the south of France, was last month exposed denying facts about the wartime Holocaust on a hidden camera.

At the weekend, Ms Le Pen herself denied that the French were directly responsible for a notorious round-up of Paris Jews in 1942 - despite the country accepting responsibility in 1995.

Ms Le Pen has, in turn, denied any links with racists, anti-Semities or xenophobes and is convinced she can appeal to moderate voters.
A shopper was chased down the street by a woman who accused him of trying to film up her skirt before he was tackled by a 100-strong mob in an extraordinary Oxford Street row caught on camera.

The 'chaos' in central London on Sunday night was sparked when the alleged victim started screaming: 'F***ing pervert. He has a video between my legs'.

She claims he put his shopping bag between her legs and used a mobile phone placed in the top to take a voyeuristic up-skirt film of her knickers and crotch.

The incident was caught on camera by a passing cyclist who saw the woman running down Oxford Street in tears. Within seconds a group surrounded the man she was chasing.

The detained man shouts 'let go of me' as he is pulled to the pavement and his accuser repeatedly kicks him before being dragged away by a man telling her: 'Don't do that, that's assault'.

The police arrived at 7.22pm and arrested him only to change their minds and de-arrested him 14 minutes later after finding no footage on his phone and his accuser had not stayed to give a statement.

Mob: This is the moment a woman started kicking a man she accused of filming up her skirt on Oxford Street on Sunday

Surrounded: A policeman picks up the accused off the pavement after up to 100 people surrounded him after accusing him of voyeurism

Held: Police let him go just 14 minutes later after finding he had nothing on his phone - pictured is an officer looking at the device. The alleged victim had gone without speaking to them

The cyclist who witnessed the row said up to 100 people surrounded the man during Sunday night's citizens' arrest.

Irate: The alleged victim swears repeatedly in the film and calls the accused a 'f***ing pervert'

He said: 'I've never seen anything like it. The way everyone surrounded this guy, it was like a mob.

'The woman was screaming the place down.

'As they got closer to me, a young man then stepped him to stop him getting away. They were headed in my direction and I restrained him too as the lady clearly was crying and very, very upset.

'At first I thought it was an argument, then maybe I thought someone was stealing her bag or something. But she was yelling, saying the man had tried to film up her skirt. I realised it was quite serious.

'I almost fell off my bike. Then others stepped in and I was concerned a scuffle might break out. The police were sought to come and make an arrest, which we were happy about.

'The man was questioned and his mobile phone was looked it. There was a young woman who said she saw the whole thing, but the victim herself had disappeared.

'Perhaps she was worried because she had kicked out at him on the floor. There must have been a crowd of more than 100 people. It was chaos'.

Spark: A passing cyclist was on his way home from work when he spotted at commotion on the pavement next to the 55 bus

Held: The suspect (pictured with the red bag on his back) was grabbed by a member of the public as the woman screamed she had been the victim of a crime

Violence: The clearly very upset woman starts kicking the man she accused as he sat on the ground

Warning: She was then dragged away and warned that she could be arrested for assault

In the footage, the woman drags the man to the ground with the help of passers-by but then lashes out at him as he sits on the pavement near Oxford Circus Tube station.

The alleged voyeur is later handcuffed by police while a witness explains what she claims to have seen - but the victim flees the scene.

At one point the woman accusing the man of voyeurism screams 'f*****g pervert' at him as she sobs, but eventually disappears amid the commotion.

Dozens of onlookers came to a standstill as three police officers eventually surrounded the man to look at his phone, search his pockets, and study his ID.

One woman, who claimed to have witnessed the episode, can be heard telling a police officer: 'I was standing behind him and my boyfriend was like "what's he doing?".

'Because they were looking at the show and she was standing in front and she just started going like this... and then he was holding his bag.

'In his bag was his phone, upside down, under her skirt. And she goes... and then she sees his phone. And then she goes "what are you doing? and then he runs away.

'So that's what I saw, and then he starts acting all guilty and runs away, so...'

The cyclist, who asked not to be named, said the altercation happened just after 6pm on Sunday as he made his way home from work.

He said: 'The arrested man was very lucky indeed he was not beaten up.'

Scotland Yard has said the man was de-arrested after officers failed to find any incriminating evidence on his phone and the alleged victim was not there to give a statement.

A spokesman said: 'At around 6.10pm on Sunday, April 9, police in Oxford Street were alerted to an altercation near Oxford Circus Tube station.

'Officers attended and found a man being detained by several members of public. A 36-year-old man was arrested at 7.22pm on suspicion of voyeurism.

'Officers searched the man and seized his mobile phone. He was de-arrested at 7.36pm following further enquiries.'
A mother claims her autistic daughter is at risk of starvation because Tesco has discontinued the only product her child will eat for supper.

Five-year-old Ruby Passey's condition means she is extremely selective and will only eat the supermarket's own brand 'Potato Alphabet Crispy Potato Letters' with her evening meal.

But the food giant reportedly discontinued the item last month, leaving what mother Nicola Passey, 31, has described as a 'life or death situation', with her child refusing to eat anything else.

Five-year-old Ruby Passey has a condition which means she is extremely selective and will only eat certain foods. Her mother is growing increasingly concerned after learning Tesco has discontinued its alphabet potato range - the only thing Ruby eats for dinner

'It's serious!': Mother Nicola Passey (above with daughter Ruby) said people who don't usually understand autism might think she is being petty, but said it was a serious issue and a 'life or death' situation

Mrs Passey said the family have only four bags of the frozen potato bites left, she said Ruby is noticeably anxious and struggling to even drink enough fluids.

The mother of two from Rugeley, Staffordshire, said: 'She would rather starve than eat anything else.

'Her condition means that she doesn't like change.

She said: 'It has to be the Tesco's own brand potato alphabet shapes. If they smell different, are different sizes, are a different colour, she just won't eat them.

'She'll always have them with either Birdseye chicken dippers or Bernard Matthews turkey dinosaurs.

'But if she doesn't have the potato letters she won't eat them either. She's had the letters for years.'

Nicola Passey first discovered that Tesco were reportedly discontinuing the vital frozen potato letters around three weeks ago after she tried to do a shop online and couldn't order more (Above, Ruby enjoying her favourite food)

The mother-of-two first discovered that Tesco were reportedly discontinuing the vital frozen potato letters around three weeks ago after she tried to do a shop online and couldn't order more.

She claimed she rang her local stores and was informed they were no longer stocking the product, so the concerned mum desperately contacted Tesco headquarters to beg them to change their minds.

A full-time carer for Ruby, Mrs Passey said a friend managed to salvage six bags - but now, with only four left, she and husband Daniel, 27, fear what will happen when they are finally gone.

She said: 'She's more anxious now and she's started to make excuses to not eat already, saying things like she has tummy ache. She's drinking less now too.

'It's as serious as a life or death situation.

'I get angry but then I can't get angry with her, I can't force her to eat something.'

'People who don't really understand autism might think that I'm being petty, but it really is that serious.

'I have had people make comments saying 'why not just give her another brand?' but do they think I haven't tried that already?

'She can tell if they're not the Tesco ones.'

Mrs Passey said the family have only four bags of the frozen potato bites left, she said Ruby (above) is noticeably anxious and struggling to even drink enough fluids

Nicola Passey (right) is so concerned, she is now petitioning for Tesco to bring their potato letters back for her daughter's wellbeing

Mrs Passey's concerns for her daughter, who also has sensory modulation disorder, run so deeply that she is now petitioning for Tesco to bring their potato letters back for her daughter's wellbeing.

The mother, who has an older son Reece, eight, said: 'We know what she's got to eat but that doesn't mean that she's going to eat it.

'I'm really worried about it and we've seen specialists. It's really stressful, but they've told us that at the moment at least she's eating something - if we try to force other foods on her she might not eat anything.

'Tesco has told me that the product has been discontinued because of low sales, but I don't believe a popular children's product would sell less that something like potato croquettes that are still on the shelves.

'This is really important to us and there may be other families out there struggling with something similar who don't have the courage to speak out.'

A Tesco spokesman said: 'We constantly review the products that we sell, and always try to have the right range and products available for our customers.

'Unfortunately this particular product is no longer available at Tesco but we will speak to the customer to find if there are other ways we can help.'
A 12-year-old girl launched a vicious race attack on a Muslim mother and her daughter that left one of her victims too scared to leave her house.

The schoolgirl and accomplices Paul Anderson, 37, and Joanna Farrer, 38, were found guilty of racially aggravated assault after targeting their victims in Eltham Hill, south east London.

A fight broke out after the youngster racially abused and swore at the Muslim mother, aged 42, who was waiting for her 23-year-old daughter to collect her.

The schoolgirl and accomplices Paul Anderson, 37, and Joanna Farrer, 38, were found guilty of racially aggravated assault after targeting their victims in Eltham Hill, south east London

When her daughter confronted the child, she launched a tirade of racial abuse and kicked the woman in the stomach - pulling her hair.

She then grabbed hold of her top and ripped it before punching the victim in the face.

The injured woman backed away and called the police, but the teen soon returned with Anderson, Farrer and another unidentified woman.

Anderson punched the mother in the face, causing her to fall to the ground - while one of the women tried to rip away her headscarf.

He then turned on the daughter - hitting her on the nose and kicking repeatedly once she fell on the ground.

The vicious attack only ended after the desperate mother managed to flag down a passing ambulance, causing the thugs to flee.

The suspects were identified with the help of a taxi driver who witnessed the assault which happened at 8pm on May 5 last year. They were arrested ten days later.

Following a two-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Anderson, from Brockley, and Farrer, from Eltham, and the girl, were found guilty of two counts of religiously aggravated actual bodily harm.

Following a two-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Anderson, Farrer and the girl, were found guilty of two counts of religiously aggravated actual bodily harm

Yesterday, Anderson was jailed for three years and four months and ordered to pay 2,000 compensation to the victims.

Farrer will be sentenced on April 21, while the girl who is now 13 and can not be identified, will be sentenced at Bromley Youth Court on a date to be set.

Detective Inspector Melanie Pressley, of Greenwich Community Safety Unit, said: 'This was a brutal and completely unnecessary attack on two Muslim women who were racially abused and then assaulted.

'I have no doubt the attack would have continued had it not been for the passing ambulance one of the victims was able to flag down.

'The victims were left terrified by what happened and lived in fear they would be targeted again. Victim 2 was too afraid to leave her house for some time.

'I am delighted we have been able to secure these convictions due to an excellent investigation by Detective Constable Nwosu and show that hate crime will not be tolerated in our community and we will seek out and bring offenders before the courts.

'It is shocking that the instigator of this attack was just 12 years old and I hope having a conviction to her name at such a young age will be a wake-up call and encourage her to change her ways.'
The US attack on a Syrian air base came after years of heated debate and deliberation in Washington over intervention in the bloody civil war.

Chemical weapons have killed hundreds of people since the start of the conflict, with the U.N. blaming three attacks on the Syrian government and a fourth on ISIS. One of the worst yet came Tuesday in rebel-held northern Idlib and killed dozens, including women and children.

That attack prompted President Donald Trump, on day 77 of his presidency, to dramatically shift U.S. policy, with the first direct U.S. attack on the Syrian government.

Trump blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for the attack and called on the international community to join him in trying to end the bloodshed.

A timeline of events in Syria leading up to Tuesday's attack:

March 2011: Protests erupt in the city of Daraa over security forces' detention of a group of boys accused of painting anti-government graffiti on the walls of their school. On March 15, a protest is held in Damascus' Old City. On March 18, security forces open fire on a protest in Daraa, killing four people in what activists regard as the first deaths of the uprising. Demonstrations spread, as does the crackdown by President Bashar Assad's forces.

April 2011: Security forces raid a sit-in in Syria's third-largest city, Homs, where thousands of people tried to create the mood of Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of protests against Egypt's autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Aug. 18, 2011: President Barack Obama calls on Assad to resign and orders Syrian government assets frozen.

Summer 2012: Fighting spreads to Aleppo, Syria's largest city and its former commercial capital.

August 20, 2012: Obama says the use of chemical weapons would be a 'red line' that would change his calculus on intervening in the civil war and have 'enormous consequences.'

March 19, 2013: The Syrian government and opposition trade accusations over a gas attack that killed some 26 people, including more than a dozen government soldiers, in the town of Khan al-Assal in northern Syria. A U.N. investigation later finds that sarin nerve gas was used, but does not identify a culprit.

August 21, 2013: Hundreds of people suffocate in rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital, with many suffering from convulsions, pinpoint pupils, and foaming at the mouth. U.N. investigators visit the sites and determine that ground-to-ground missiles loaded with sarin were fired on civilian areas while residents slept. The U.S. and others blame the Syrian government, the only party to the conflict known to have sarin gas.

Aug. 31, 2013: Obama says he will go to Congress for authorization to carry out punitive strikes against the Syrian government, but appears to lack the necessary support in the legislature.

Sept. 27, 2013: The U.N. Security Council orders Syria to account for and destroy its chemical weapons stockpile, following a surprise agreement between Washington and Moscow, averting U.S. strikes. The Security Council threatens to authorize the use of force in the event of non-compliance.

Oct. 14, 2013: Syria becomes a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, prohibiting it from producing, stockpiling or using chemical weapons.

June 23, 2014: The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says it has removed the last of the Syrian government's chemical weapons. Syrian opposition officials maintain that the government's stocks were not fully accounted for, and that it retained supplies.

Sept. 23, 2014: The U.S. launches airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Syria.

Aug. 7, 2015: The U.N. Security Council authorizes the OPCW and U.N. investigators to probe reports of chemical weapons use in Syria, as reports circulate of repeated chlorine gas attacks by government forces against civilians in opposition-held areas. Chlorine gas, though not as toxic as nerve agents, can be classified as a chemical weapon depending on its use.

Aug. 24, 2016: The joint OPCW-U.N. panel determines the Syrian government twice used helicopters to deploy chlorine gas against its opponents, in civilian areas in the northern Idlib province. A later report holds the government responsible for a third attack. The attacks occurred in 2014 and 2015. The panel also finds that the Islamic State group used mustard gas.

Feb. 28, 2017: Russia, a stalwart ally of the Syrian government, and China veto a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing sanctions against the Syrian government for chemical weapons use.

April 4, 2017: At least 86 people are killed in what doctors say could be a nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province. Victims show signs of suffocation, convulsions, foaming at the mouth and pupil constriction. Witnesses say the attack was carried out by either Russian or Syrian Sukhoi jets. Moscow and Damascus deny responsibility.

April 4, 2017: President Donald Trump issues a statement saying that the 'heinous' actions of Assad's government are the direct result of Obama administration's 'weakness and irresolution.'

April 5, 2017: Trump says Assad's government has 'crossed a lot of lines' with the suspected chemical attack in Syria.

April 6, 2017: The U.S. fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for the gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians, U.S. officials said. It was the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Trump's most dramatic military order since becoming president. Trump said strike on Syria in the 'vital national security interest' of the United States.
Caroline Grieve admitted her fitness to teach is currently impaired at the hearing

An English teacher claimed she was 'drowning in work' when she faked exam results for 40 pupils.

Caroline Grieve has avoided being struck off after she created fake National 5 English results for almost half her students at Dumfries High School.

She has been given a reprimand by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) which will be recorded for six months.

Ms Grieve, who was said to have struggled with the workload more than the other members of the team, started altering results so that the pupils were not punished for her 'mess'.

She admitted that her fitness to teach was currently impaired.

The hearing in Edinburgh was told that Ms Grieve was interviewed after the discrepancies emerged by a quality improvement officer from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Sheelagh Rusby, investigating officer said in a statement read out to the hearing: 'I asked why she had marked the work as a fail but then entered it as a pass.

'She said she didn't want pupils to miss out because of her mess or mistakes.'

Pupils sit National 5 exams in Scotland at the age of 16.

The problem was discovered shortly after a new principal teacher of English, Claire Harrison, arrived at the school in January 2015. She felt procedures relating to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exams were 'very ad hoc'.

She told the hearing: 'Caroline had been open that she struggled with time management and organisation.

She said she had felt like she was drowning in her workload when she started to enter fake results into the system so her pupils wouldn't suffer

'I went to Caroline for evidence [of pupils' work] and I took it home and it looked like there were a lot of discrepancies, there were some bits of evidence missing.

'I went back to her and asked for the missing evidence and she looked panicked. There was a lack of rigour and she struggled more than others on the team.'

THE NATIONAL 5 QUALIFICATION The National 3, 4, and 5 qualifications have replaced the Scottish grades, coming into place in 2013/14. Pupils in Scotland have three years of 'broad general education' before starting their National 3, 4, 5. Students will be around 14-15 when they start the grades, sitting the exams around age 16. The National 5 is the most advanced, and the equivalent of a Standard credit or a good pass on the old O grade. National 4 and 5 is completed during the fourth year, and then pupils go on to do their highers and advanced highers. All are monitored by one exam board, the SQA. Advertisement

Ms Harrison said she did not believe Ms Grieve had acted deliberately. 'I never got the impression she tried to dodge or manipulate anything,' she said.

Giving evidence, Ms Grieve said: 'I felt like I was drowning in my workload. I had forgotten about inputting the marks completely. Staff were sent an email reminding them to input the data.

'As a result of the health issues I was suffering at the time I can't recall in detail when the email was sent but it was close to the deadline. I hadn't put in place any planning to make the time.'

She added: 'I genuinely believed I had the evidence. I was not a rational person at that time, I was so disorganised I didn't know what I had and didn't have.'

Ms Grieve was given a 'reprimand' by the council for six months.

Reprimands do not disqualify the person from teaching or monitor the individual's progress. They remain on the person's register for a set amount of time before they are removed.

The panel found the following to be proved: 'During the 2014/15 school session, whilst employed by Dumfries and Galloway Council at Dumfries High School as a teacher of English, you did falsify National 5 Qualification Exam Grades in relation to approximately 40 pupils which were, as a consequence thereafter, submitted to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) including by, for example:

'a) Recording 6 out of a total of 108 unit results as a 'pass' when you had marked those unit passes as a 'fail' on the evidence, and which you knew had been marked by you on the evidence as such and which results were subsequently confirmed following verification as a 'fail';

Ms Grieve faked the results for 40 of her 108 pupils, during 2014/15 while at Dumfries High, above

'b) Recording 34 out of a total of 108 unit results as a 'pass', for which there was no evidence, or incomplete evidence, available to you on which to judge the result a 'pass' and which results could not be verified due to lack of such available evidence;

The following was found unproved: 'Recording 13 out of a total of 108 unit results as a 'pass', when you had marked those unit passes as a 'pass' on the evidence and which results were subsequently confirmed following verification as a 'fail'.'

The panel stated: 'It appeared to the Panel that a Reprimand was an appropriate disposal. The dishonesty was in the past. The mitigation was substantial.

'The Respondent's rehabilitation had been thorough. She showed insight and contrition. The Reprimand would be recorded on the Register for a period of six months.'
Nicole Kidman & Werner Herzog Can't Pull 'Queen Of The Desert' Out Of The Sand

By Joel Wicklund in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 13, 2017 2:48PM



Nicole Kidman and Robert Pattinson in Queen of the Desert. (Photo by Lena Herzog. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films release.)

Whether he's at the peak of his abilities or far from it, one criticism rarely lobbed at Werner Herzog's work is that it's ordinary. From his early career, helping forge German cinema's New Wave, to the intimate yet ambitious scope of his recent documentaries, ordinariness just seemed like it wasn't in his toolkit.

Alas, it is.

Queen of the Desert, Herzog's biographical epic about pioneering explorer Gertrude Bell, is a pretty ordinary film. Not a bad one, mind you, but somehow it would have been less of a letdown if this directorwhose body of work has had such unique flavorhad made a truly terrible but less conventional movie.

Still, disappointing as it is, the movie does succeed in reminding audiences what a good actress Nicole Kidman is as she reaches a tricky career stage. Kidman turns 50 this summeran age when American studios shove too many good actresses to the sidelines of supporting maternal characters. She has already been Dev Patel's adoptive mother in Lion, she plays the repressed headmistress of an all-girls school in Sofia Coppola's upcoming remake of The Beguiled, and she'll be Aquaman's mama when the swimming superhero reaches movie screens in 2018. Uh-oh.

Not that maternal roles can't be good or even great ones, but if Kidman saw Hollywood's infamously poor treatment of middle-aged actresses coming her way, playing someone as daring as Bell under the direction of a maverick like Herzog must have looked like a great way to dodge that pitfall.

Playing the character from her twenties through her forties, Kidman is excellent as Bell, who left behind a comfortable, affluent life in England to explore the Middle East during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An archaeologist and writer, she travelled through lands that provided considerable hardships for men not used to the region's climate and customs. A woman leading her own team though harsh desert environs seemed almost impossible to her contemporaries.

Despite the entrenched sexism of British and Arabic societies, Bell quickly gained a reputation as an expert on the areas she explored. Middle Eastern leaders welcomed her and British authorities called her into duty as they pushed forward with a colonial agenda. Among other things, she was deeply involved in the creation of the country we now know as Iraq.

Herzog, who also wrote the screenplay, only hints at the thorny political issues the U.K.'s Middle East policy set in motion. It's the back end of the story here. The focus is mainly on Bell's joy in living among and learning about other cultures, as well as her relationships with foreign service representative Henry Cadogan (James Franco) and Army officer Richard Wylie (Damian Lewis). Despite emphasizing Bell's intrepid independence, Queen of the Desert is surprisingly old-fashioned in letting the romantic subplots almost take over the film.

That romanticism might have worked with less stilted dialogue. There are a few nice lines, particularly during Wylie's cautious early flirtations with Bell, but too much of Herzog's writing is formal to a fault. The cast enlivens it as much as they can, but the characters feel like biopic structures more than living, breathing people.

Bell's desert journeys eventually led her to cross paths with the famed T.E. Lawrence, played winningly here by Robert Pattinson, who's a good deal less intense than Peter O'Toole's beloved incarnation of the character in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. (Herzog doesn't shy away from the shadow of that 1962 classic either. Aside from majestic wide shots of travelers on camels bound to bring the earlier film to mind, Klaus Badelt's music has deliberate nods to Maurice Jarre's instantly recognizable score.)

While Pattinson gets the most colorful supporting part, the aforementioned romantic partners are more central to the storyline. Franco is decent, but his character makes an early exit. Lewis (Homeland) fares better as Wylie, making his character's longing for Bell almost painful to witness. The show belongs to Kidman, but Lewis steals a couple of scenes.

Visually, the film is blandly attractive. Herzog collaborated again with ace cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger, and the Jordanian and Moroccan locations gave them plenty to work with, but the movie still feels like it escaped from the "epics anonymous" school of cinema.

Bell was a natural subject for Herzog, who has long been fascinated by explorers and adventurers. But unlike the obsessives he dramatized or documented in Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo or Grizzly Man, Bell is pretty much a model of responsibilityat least by contemporary standards. As good as Kidman is in the role, the onscreen Bell lacks the oddball characteristics that mark the protagonists in Herzog's most memorable work.

But while some have been quick to use Queen of the Desert to argue Herzog should retire from narrative films and concentrate on the documentary arena (where he has thrived in recent years), I can't go along with that. As recently as 2009, with the wonderfully warped Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Herzog showed he could still upend viewer expectations in the narrative form.

Here's hoping he's ready to be that unruly again soon.

Queen of the Desert. Written and directed by Werner Herzog. Starring Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damian Lewis. 127 mins. Rated PG-13.

Opens Friday, April 14.
A humpback whale rescued after being trapped in fishing nets for several hours has shown no ill effects from her ordeal by putting on a stunning show for tourists.

The 20-tonne mammal - known as Doris - thrilled onlookers as she frolicked off the coast of Cornwall at Falmouth Bay.

Sightseers on a local wildlife cruise were treated to the sight of the gentle giant breaching the surface a total of 25 times.

The 20-tonne mammal - known as Doris - thrilled onlookers as she frolicked off the coast of Cornwall at Falmouth Bay

Sightseers on a local wildlife cruise were treated to the sight of the gentle giant breaching the surface a total of 25 times

Keith Leeves, who has run AK Wildlife Cruises for many years, described the moment as 'pure joy'.

He said: 'We know it's the same whale that got herself entangled in nets in Devon because we could see rope burn marks on her. So we know this is Doris.

'But thankfully she was freed by the RNLI and conservationists and there she was putting on a magnificent show on her journey to the Atlantic.'

Last month the 45ft humpback got tangled in whelk pot lines off the South Devon coast around 100 miles away.

She was in danger of drowning from exhaustion as she got herself into difficultes at Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth.

Keith Leeves, who has run AK Wildlife Cruises for many years, described the moment of seeing the whale, pictured, as 'pure joy'

Last month the 45ft humpback got tangled in whelk pot lines off the South Devon coast around 100 miles away

The whale was saved in a three-hour rescue as the RNLI and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue joined forces with local fisherman. Here she is pictured making a splash

But she was saved in a three-hour rescue as the RNLI and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue joined forces with local fisherman.

A team of nine eventually managed to board a fishing boat and haul the whale to the surface to expose her tail and cut the rope tangled around it.

Capt Lees said whale sightings were becoming increasingly common around this time of year.

He added: 'Last year we sighted humpback whales off the coast of Falmouth on April 8.

'But this year they returned on April 11. I was convinced that we'd see them again. and we did which was truly incredible and amazing.'

A team of nine eventually managed to board a fishing boat and haul the whale to the surface to expose her tail and cut the rope tangled around it. Here she is pictured frolicking in the sea just weeks after the rescue ordeal

Capt Lees said whale sightings were becoming increasingly common around this time of year

Capt Leeves, who has seen porpoises, common dolphins, minke whales and many other species of sea mammals over the years, said this was extra special.

He said: 'Doris breached 25 consecutive times. She certainly put on a magnificent show for us. She was very relaxed.

'We kept our safe distance. But this was pure bliss to watch.

'She showed her tail then would dive back down and disappear for a few minutes before coming back up and whoosh! She'd breach and do it all again.

'She did it 25 times which was amazing.

Capt Leeves, who has seen porpoises, common dolphins, minke whales and many other species of sea mammals over the years, said this whale sighting, pictured, was extra special

'Doris safely passed through our waters and gave everyone onboard something truly special, magical and incredibly exciting memories which will no doubt stay with us all forever.

'Long may these truly beautiful, charismatic and endearing humpback whale swim and return yearly to our Cornish and Devon coastal seas.'
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One of Britain's wealthiest towns has been hailed as the UK coffee capital as the 11th branch of Costa opens, despite fierce opposition from residents.

Cheltenham will now have 19 big-name coffee shop branches within two miles of the centre, with Costa's latest outlet next to its rivals Soho Coffee Co in an old NatWest.

But some residents say the Gloucestershire spa town is well past coffee saturation point, and three quarters of locals say they do not want the new Costa to open.

Costa now has 11 outlets in Cheltenham, where Starbucks, Caffe Nero, Boston Tea Party and Soho Coffee Co are also found

Cheltenham will now have 19 big-name coffee shop branches within two miles of the town centre, with Costa's latest outlet (right) located next to its rivals Soho Coffee Co (left, in purple)

The 11 Costas are joined in the town by four Soho Coffees, two Caffe Neros, a Boston Tea Party and a Starbucks, in addition to a range of independent cafes.

The new Costa will be a short walk from two others - one at a former pub site in Imperial Circus and the other in a Waterstones bookshop in the Promenade.

Costa said it will be its second equity owned store in the town centre - and while it officially opens tomorrow, it will be open this afternoon for a soft launch.

The other Costa outlets include a store on a retail park and five Costa Express machines in petrol stations that cater to customers on the go.

But in a recent poll of 300 readers for the local newspaper an overwhelming 72 per cent said they did not welcome the new Costa opening on the High Street.

Admin assistant Jane Fisher, 38, said: 'This is getting ridiculous now. I actually like drinking Costa, but I already know where to go to get one.

Some residents say the town is well past coffee saturation point, and three quarters of locals say they do not want the new Costa to open. A Starbucks can be seen in the background

The 11 Costas are joined in the town by four Soho Coffees, two Caffe Neros, a Boston Tea Party and a Starbucks, in addition to a range of independent cafes

'It would be lovely to see some other brands moving into Cheltenham rather than the same one - Zara is top of my list.'

Cheltenham's big-name coffee shop branches Costa Coffee (11)

(11) So ho Coffee Co (4)

Caffe Nero (2)

(2) Starbucks (1)

(1) Boston Tea Party (1)

(1) TOTAL: 19 Advertisement

Retail supervisor Jack Dunham, 23, said: 'It's such a lovely building, so I think it's good news that it's being used.

'But to be honest I'm disappointed because I don't really think we need another Costa.'

But Cheltenham Borough Council planning committee chairman Garth Barnes said he hoped there would be no negative impact on the independent cafes.

He said: 'I'm not one to object to commercial enterprise or competition between businesses, but Costa do seem to be over-egging it.

'They're appearing on every available street corner countrywide.

'We have a lot of well-used independent coffee shops with good ambience and I would hope that people would continue to support our home-grown businesses.'

There are two Caffe Nero outlets in the town. One is seen with a Starbucks in the background

The Gloucestershire spa town's only Starbucks is pictured with Caffe Nero in the background

Costa has cited research by Allegra Strategies arguing that coffee shops are good for town centres.

It claims: 'Branded coffee shops generate high levels of patronage, they have become an established town centre user and they are attractors in their own right.

'Coffee shops are one of the main social hubs on the High Street and are seen as safe places to go where people from all backgrounds can congregate.'

'Ninety three per cent of consumers in case study locations agreed that coffee shops improved the vitality of their local high street.

'The presence of coffee shops on a high street encourages 75 per cent of consumers to shop for longer and 68 per cent of consumers interviewed would choose to visit another High Street if the one they were on did not have a coffee shop.'

A Costa spokesman told MailOnline: 'Tomorrow we officially open our second Costa store in Cheltenham town centre in the former NatWest building, in addition to the Waterstones concession.

'The store has undergone a beautiful restoration in order to capture the charm of the building and we look forward to welcoming customers in over the Easter weekend.'
The mother of Thomas Kelly, who was killed in a one-punch attack in 2012, has spoken of her second son's death from suicide in 2016, saying their family has to keep going for their daughter's sake.

Kathy Kelly told Business Chicks their family - husband Ralph and 21-year-old Madeleine - are still coming to terms with the loss of Stuart, just two years after Thomas' tragic death.

Ms Kelly said it was something they want no other family to have to endure, and she often felt frustrated when people questioned how she coped.

Kathy Kelly (right) whose son Thomas Kelly was killed in a one-punch attack in 2012, has spoken of her second son Stuart (centre) and his death from suicide in 2016, saying their family has to keep going for their daughter's sake. Pictured left is her husband Ralph

Stuart Kelly (pictured) took his own life in 2016. He said he carried 'a deep scar that you cannot see' following his brother Thomas's death

'Well, I've been in a heap plenty of days. I'm in a heap many days of the week,' Ms Kelly said.

'Some days I just cry. But at the end of the day, I get up because what else am I going to do? And I have to because we still have Madeleine.'

Kathy Kelly told the Parramatta Advertiser she was blindsided when her son Stuart, 18, took his own life in July 2016.

'He was fit and strong. If you asked him if anything was wrong he'd say 'does it look like anything is wrong with me?,' Ms Kelly said.

'We had absolutely no idea of that internal pain.'

Ms Kelly opened up about Stuart's death at a mental health forum for young men last week in Parramatta, in Sydney's west.

Stuart Kelly (centre), flanked by parents Ralph and Kathy, was a vocal campaigner against alcohol-fuelled violence after his brother Thomas died in a coward-punch attack

Stuart's older brother, Thomas, died in 2012 after he was coward-punched while on a night out in Kings Cross.

He was deeply affected by Thomas's death and he publicly campaigned strongly against alcohol-fuelled violence.

'I carry a deep scar that you cannot see. It's always there, it never leaves,' Stuart said in a speech calling for an increase in penalties for offenders.

Kathy Kelly (pictured) said the family had no idea of Stuart's internal pain

Stuart's brother Thomas (pictured) died in a coward-punch attack in 2012

Ms Kelly told the forum hearing those words were 'heartbreaking' and left the family in tears.

She implored the young men at the forum to speak up about mental health issues in the hope it will remove the stigma surrounding the illness.

Meanwhile, Stay Kind Day will be held for the first time on July 23 and it will dedicated to Stuart.

Lifeline: 13 11 14
An inspection has found wires installed almost 40 years ago caused spark

The parents of a 17-year-old lifeguard who drowned after being electrocuted at a neighborhood swimming pool in North Carolina are suing two companies who they claim failed to carry out electrical repairs.

Rachel Rosoff drowned in September after she was electrocuted while getting ready to start her shift at the pool in Raleigh.

Her colleague arrived later and found her face down in the pool. When he tried to resuscitate her he too suffered an electric shock but survived.

An inspection by Wake County found the shock was caused by wires in the ground installed almost 40 years ago.

Lifeguard Rachel Rosoff (pictured) was killed in Raleigh, North Carolina when she arrived to start her shift alone and fell into the pool after being electrocuted

The New York Daily News reported her parents are now suing two co mpanies, Williams Electric Motor Repair and Future Connections Electrical Inc, claimed they failed to make repairs dating back to 2011.

Their attorney, David Kirby, told ABC11: 'They knew of discovered conditions which were dangerous at this pool, and they didn't correct them.'

He said 'This was a horrible death. She was paralyzed by the electricity, but she consciously drowned.'

The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court this week, alleges Future Connections installed the wrong capacitor in the pool's pump motor.

Rachel's colleague arrived for his shift on September 3 and found her face down in the pool (pictured). He then tried to resuscitate her, but was also electrocuted

The News & Observer reported that investigators have discovered the water had become electrified when the pump motor was not working and a faulty ground wire prevented the flow of electricity that would have tripped a circuit breaker.

Neither company have commented on the allegations.

The pool was inspected in July but that check did not include the electrical equipment surrounding the pool.

Inspector found this piece of wire that had corroded over decades next to the pool where the teenager died
We all have our favourite pet when we were little. For four-year-old Qi Qi, she loves the stray puppy she picked up on her way to school.

The little girl has become an internet star in China after a video emerged showing her taking the pet dog to school by hiding it in her bag.

And when she was caught by a teacher, a terrified Qi Qi cried and begged the teacher as she mistakenly thought the teacher would throw away her dog.

Four-year-old Qi Qi, from China, put the dog in her bag and brought it to her school in secret

Qi Qi's grandmother said the girl really liked the dog and would even share her lollipop with it

The footage was filmed on April 7 at a kindergarten in Suining, south-west China's Sichuan Province, according to the video provider Pear Video.

The report said that Qi Qi had found the dog on her way to the kindergarten. She liked the puppy so much that she decided to take it with her to school by hiding it in her school bag.

The puppy, however, barked in the class. Qi Qi's teacher heard it and called the girl to the office afterwards.

The four-year-old thought her teacher was going to get rid of her pet. Terrified, she cried and begged the teacher: 'Don't throw it away. It won't bite!'

The teacher, who is unnamed, later said to Pear Video: 'I told her to come to my office. She kept telling me the dog wouldn't bite people. She told me not to throw it away.'

Qi Qi cried when her teacher caught her hiding a puppy in her bag as the animal barked

The girl had picked up the stray puppy on her way to school and took it with her to class

The teacher explained that there is a river outside the kindergarten and the pupil, by mistake, thought she would dump the puppy into the river.

She also said Qi Qi has a twin sister.

Apparently, Qi Qi adored her puppy so much that she would share her lollipop and lunch with it. Her grandmother went to the kindergarten the next day and explained the matters to the teacher.

The video has been viewed nearly five million times since it was published earlier today on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

Web users praised Qi Qi's kindness, calling her a 'cute' and 'strong' girl.

Some also said that the girl would get rewards in her future life for being so loving and sympathetic.
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These are the remarkable never-before-seen pictures of Britain's first ever special forces unit.

The men of the Long Range Desert Group carried out clandestine operations deep behind enemy lines in the Second World War and were the 'brains' behind the SAS.

They also launched hit-and-run raids and gathered intelligence on German and Italian targets.

They carried out numerous missions in tandem with the SAS, using their unparalleled knowledge of the treacherous Sahara desert to guide the elite unit to enemy airfields where attacks would be launched.

Members of G Patrol after their formation in late 1940, possibly one their way to attack Murzuk. The Long Range Desert Group members were the brains behind the SAS

Camouflage netting conceals the LRDG vehicles from any enemy aircraft. The group members worked in conjunction with the SAS on several missions, but without the intelligence they had gathered, the work would have been near impossible

Left, having recently returned to their base at Kufra, this LRDG partol recieves a much needed short back and sides. Right, Tom Merrick, one of the best navigators that the LRDG had, would train other members in the art of crossing the desert using the sun

'Stuck on a razorback', three LRDG soldiers discussing the best method to extricate their vehicle. Photos in this collection have never been seen before, and were taken without permission as cameras were banned

The group traversed huge areas of the Sahara that had never been explored by Europeans before, and their information gathering was so important to success in North Africa that General Bernard Montgomery said without them operations would have been 'a leap in the dark'.

Now, photographs of the men have been released in a new book.

An LRDG vehicle bogged down in the mud after a desert storm. The men of the group were tasked with exploring huge areas of the Sahara, gathering intelligence for later missions against the German and Italian forces

The LRDG signallers used commercial procedure when communicating on wireless so the Germans would think it was an Egyptian company

David Lloyd Owen (standing far left) with members of his Y Patrol. Owen first joined the group in 1941, and nearly lost an arm during an air raid the following year in Kufra. But he rejoined in 1943 and took command by the end of the year

The irrigation pools at Siwa were the perfect way to cool off at the end of a long patrol. The LRDG never numbered more than 350 men and was disbanded in August 1945

A LRDG observation post in the Libyan Desert, with a soldier perched precariously on top of a palm tree with a ladder-type structure resting next to it

On the left, Bill Kennedy Shaw (left), LRDG intelligence officer and Shorty Barrett the unit's quartermaster and right, David Lloyd Owen, Jake Easonsmith and Gus Holliman, LRDG officers. Only Lloyd Owen survived the war

One memorable photo is a highly symbolic image of a soldier with his foot on the head of a bust of Mussolini as the Allies began liberating western Libya from Italian rule.

Another remarkable image is of a member of the Long Range Desert Group perched precariously on top of a palm tree from where he carried out reconnaissance.

There are striking images of sandstorms, tanks driving through the desert and a wounded soldier waiting to be flown to hospital.

A group of LRDG soldiers outside the mess room in Kufra Oasis in September 1941. The group was the brainchild of Major Ralph Bagnold, who believed men were needed on the ground to gather intelligence

The LRDG salvaging one of the enemy's petrol pumps. They gathered information about German and Italian forces which became crucial to the Allied Forces war efforts throughout North Africa

Guy Prendergast unloading stores. Prendergast had been a Saharan explorer through the 1920s and 1930s before he became an Army officer. He had already worked alongside the Major Ralph Bagnold and built up a great deal of experience and information which became useful to the forces

Officers shown left to right: Benny Watson, Ginger Low, Ron Low and Tiny Simpson display their booty following the sacking of the Italian Fort at El Gtafia in 1941

A wounded LRDG soldier enjoys a cup of tea at Kufa as he waits to be flown to a Cairo hospital following raids in September 1942

THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR The North African campaign began in June 1940 and lasted for three years. Allied and Axis forces pushed one another back across the Sahara. At this point, the Allies consisted predominantly of British, French and British Indian forces, with the Axis countries being Germany, Japan and Italy. The Allies had the back up of American forces in North Africa from 1942. Although both sides had former colonial interests in the region, the Axis aims were around denying the Allies access to Middle Eastern oil supplies and cutting Britain off from the network it had in North Africa. In three phases, the campaign covered western Egypt and eastern Libya (the Western desert campaign), Algeria and Morocco (Operation Torch) and Tunisia (the Tunisia campaign). The skirmishes started almost as soon as war was declared, with Italian forces invaded Egypt in September 1940 and British forces responded in December. There were numerous pushes back and forth, but the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942 is regarded as a turning point, when the British army drove Axis troops all the way back through Libya. Operation Torch of November 1942 brought in thousands of British and American troops, flushing out remaining Axis troops from Tunisia and bringing the campaign to an end. Throughout the entire three year campaign, Germans and Italians suffered 620,000 casualties, while the British Commonwealth lost 220,000 men. Nearly 900,000 German and Italian troops were killed or 'neutralised' in the conflict. Allied victory in North Africa allowed the invasion of Italy in 1943. Sources: The Atlantic and USHMM Advertisement

What the images reveal is the close bond that existed between the members of the unit whose diligence dovetailed perfectly with the superior firepower of the SAS to defeat the enemy.

Cameras were banned so the soldier who took the fascinating photos did so without the authority of his senior officers.

With the surrender of the Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943, the Long Range Desert Group moved operations to the eastern Mediterranean, carrying out missions in the Greek islands, Italy and the Balkans where they operated in boats, on foot and by parachute.

The short-lived unit - which never numbered more than 350 men - was disbanded in August 1945 after the War Office decided against transferring them to the Far East to conduct operations against the Japanese Empire.

In his book, historian Gavin Mortimer has interviewed surviving veterans and gained special access to the SAS archives to tell the story of the origins and dramatic operations of the unit.

The Long Range Desert Group was the brainchild of a contemporary of Lawrence of Arabia, scientist and soldier Major Ralph Bagnold, who insisted men on the ground were needed to carry out crucial reconnaissance missions which he felt were not possible by air.

They were established almost a year and a half before the SAS were formed in November 1941 making them the first ever special forces unit.

At first the Long Range Desert Group was made up of soldiers from New Zealand since Maj Bagnold was impressed by their 'speed and thoroughness' in adjusting to the extreme desert conditions.

In time, the unit would incorporate soldiers from Britain and Southern Rhodesia.

The extraordinary men of the unit would stay hidden concealed in bushes or ditches for days at a time just yards from German and Italian forces observing the enemy's every move and relaying that valuable information via radio to the SAS.

Mr Mortimer, 46, who lives in Paris, said: 'The Long Range Desert Group was actually established before the SAS and for the war-time generation they were more famous than them.

'It was only the Iranian siege of 1980 which propelled the SAS into public consciousness.

'The Long Range Desert Group disbanded at the end of the war and they have been lost to history so this book is really to make people aware of the importance and contribution of that unit to the Second World War.

'They were the brains of the operation in the desert while the SAS were the brawn. It was their role to navigate them to their targets.

'I believe the Long Range Desert Group were more important and valuable to the winning of the war in North Africa than the SAS.

Simpson of S1 Patrol was wounded in the soldier during an attack on an Italian roadhouse at Tmed Hassan on 8 November 1941

Left, A collapsible canoe was used by the SAS during raids against shipping in Benghazi harbour in 1942. Right, a bust of Mussolini makes an ideal footrest for this LRDG soldier

'They would drop deep behind enemy lines and their surveillance was crucial as they reported back to General Montgomery the strength of the Germans and where to attack them.

The Long Range Desert Group in World War II is written by Gavin Mortimer and costs 25

'They were the eyes and ears of the offensive. What they did was painstaking - they would spend days hidden just yards from the main coastal road which the Germans would use.

'They would take notes of how many vehicles passed, how many soldiers there were and even the mood of the soldiers - if they were singing or depressed - and this information would be radioed back.

'Personnel would work in pairs sometimes hidden in a bush or concealed in a drop in the ground. They would camouflage themselves and observe using binoculars.

'When night came, they would hurry back to their patrol a mile or two further into the desert and would radio in all the information.

'There were very narrow escapes. Once a German convoy camped just yards from where a couple of men were hiding and one of the soldiers wandered over and relieved himself in the bush they were concealed in.

'I began my research three years ago and there were still 15 veterans from the Long Range Desert Group. Now that number is six or seven.

'I was able to speak to some veterans who have never spoken publicly about their experiences before now. They are such a modest generation but what they did took extraordinary discipline and courage.'
Almost half the refugees in Austria that underwent an age test turned out to be adults, it has been claimed.

According to the Austrian Interior Ministry 2,252 asylum seekers had to undergo an 'age diagnosis test' as they were thought to have been lying about their age.

From that, it was found 919 turned out to be older than 18 - a rate of 41 per cent.

Speaking to the Austrian press, a police officer said: 'It is absurd for us to see grown men with beards and graying hair that claim to be 17 years of age.'

Another policeman said: 'Men are trying to get into the system as minors.'

Almost half the refugees in Austria that underwent an age test turned out to be adults

Many migrants in Austria and other countries in Europe have said they are underage because they are likely provided with better accommodation and almost impossible to deport.

If there are reasonable doubts about the age of a refugee then an 'age assessment' is arranged.

The tests involve X-rays of the subjects' teeth and fingers and cost around 900 Euros.

MP Walter Rosenkranz, of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, said any migrant who had lied should automatically lose 'any right to protection'

MP Walter Rosenkranz, of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, said any migrant who had lied should automatically lose 'any right to protection.'

He also said they should be made to pay for the medical test.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka has promised to tighten the laws and said asylum seekers would face punishment if they lied about their age.

More than 130,000 people have applied for asylum in Austria since the start of the refugee crisis, with the country sitting on the route from the Greek islands into western Europe.

Austria had hardened its stance towards refugees in recent months but this week it was revealed it had decided to join the EU relocation programme.

Mr Sobotka said he would make preparations for the country to receive refugees, with the first group expected to be around 50 unaccompanied children from Italy.

The decision to take in more refugees comes as it was revealed attacks on refugee accommodation had doubled in Austria, with homes firebombed, vandals spraying Nazi graffiti on walls and a man threatening to 'get a gun and shoot the dogs'.

Albert Steinhauser, an opposition Green party politician, said he was dismayed to find out that more than three quarters of the 49 recorded cases remain unsolved.
This Mini driver came within inches of a high-speed collision with a white van after attempting a risky overtake at a junction.

Dashcam footage, filmed on March 14 by Marcus Watkin, shows the white van slowing down and indicating right.

The small blue car whizzes past and is forced to slam its brakes and swerve to avoid crashing into the rear of the van.

The dashcam footage, filmed on March 14 by Marcus Watkin, shows the white van slowing down and indicating right

After re-entering the correct lane, the Mini driver continues on despite nearly losing control of the car and ignoring the road-markings telling drivers not to over-take.

Captioning the astonishing clip, Marcus said: 'Minding my own business on way back from Oswestry today, coming out of Whittington heading to Ellesmere I was witness to a guy who thought he was on the Italian Job film set.'

'What a tool, I bet his a** went a bit tight during the braking!

'Good job I checked my mirrors when I was braking, as i spotted him starting to overtake.'

The footage has received more than 16,000 views and has been shared by almost 230 social media users.

One viewer, Bridie Tonge, said: 'Blooming scary. There are some idiots around.'

The small blue car whizzes past and is forced to slam its brakes and swerve to avoid crashing into the rear of the van

After re-entering the correct lane, the Mini driver continues on despite nearly losing control of the car and ignoring the road-markings telling drivers not to over-take

Keren Davies wrote: 'What a bloody idiot.'

Steve Evans commented: 'Mini driver doesn't know what those arrows in the road mean then.'

Steve Watkins responded: 'Too many folk in too much of a hurry.'
Two teenage parents fled a Sydney hospital with their newborn daughter and bought camping supplies from Kmart after being told they could not take her home.

Fifteen-year-old mum Jenifer Morrison and her boyfriend Jayden Lavender, 14, hid their baby Aria Jayde under a blanket and secretly left Nepean Hospital at 12.15am on Thursday, sparking pleas from police for them to come forward.

Authorities held concerns for the welfare of the mother and three-day-old Aria, but when the teenagers were located at Willmot, in Sydney's west, after 16 hours on the run, both were found to be healthy and safe.

Jayden's mother Tracy Lavender says Jenifer's first instinct was to run, after being told by a social worker she wouldn't be able to take Aria to Ms Lavender's house to live.

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Jenifer Morrison (right), 15, and her boyfriend Jayden Lavender, 14 (pictured) fled from Nepean Hospital in Penrith after a social worker told them they couldn't take their newborn baby home

The teenage parents hid their baby Aria Jayde (pictured) under a blanket and secretly left Nepean Hospital at 12.15am on Thursday

According to Jayden's mother Tracy Lavender (who posted images of Aria on Facebook), the trio bought a tent and camping supplies from Kmart and spent the night together

Jayden was just 13 years old when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant with his child

The pair caught a train to Mount Druitt and bought a tent, sleeping bag and camping supplies from Kmart. They had just $80 in cash and a few pairs of clothing for Aria.

They spent the night camping in the wilderness until they were found by authorities, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Ms Lavender said Jayden was well-versed in outdoor survival and knew the Willmot area well.

It was Father's Day when Jayden, aged just 13 at the time, found out Jenifer was pregnant. He proposed to her weeks later and they began planning a wedding - with the blessing of Ms Lavender.

The young couple, engaged but unable to legally get married, live at Ms Lavender's home in Dharruk, with three other children.

'Jayden would not walk away from her,' Ms Lavender told AAP on Thursday.

'He's been by her side since she told him she was pregnant.'

'The baby's healthy - seven-and-a-half pounds, I knew that my son would look after his baby and his girlfriend,' she told reporters outside hospital on Thursday.

At the end of the day its breaking both of their hearts, theyve never done nothing wrong.

They dont want to be apart from their baby, theyre good parents.'

Jayden cradles his newborn daughter Aria after spending 16 hours on the run from police

The pair (centre and left) caught a train to Mount Druitt and bought a tent, sleeping bag and camping supplies from Kmart, according to Jayden's mother Tracy (far right)

Ms Lavender said her son was well-versed in outdoor survival and knew the Willmot area well

The young couple have posted numerous pictures together on social media (pictured). They were picked up in Willmot at 4pm on Thursday after 16 hours on the run

The first Ms Lavender heard of the drama was when a police officer knocked on her door early on Thursday morning. She assumed the worst because her nephew died the day Aria was born.

'It devastated me,' she said. 'I was in such disarray, I didn't know what to do.'

Detectives told her to stay at home in case her son returned.

'I stayed there as long as I could, and then I couldn't bear it anymore,' she said.

Ms Lavender found Jayden in Willmot and said paramedics checked over Aria, who was healthy.

'They were crying, she (Jenifer) said she just wanted to be with Aria on Easter.'

Ms Lavender (pictured) said she believed the entire ordeal happened because her son and his girlfriend feared they may be separated from their newborn daughter

Ms Lavender (right, in Stussy jumper) says Jenifer's first instinct was to run after being told by a social worker she wouldn't be able to take Aria to Ms Lavender's house to live

Jenifer and Jayden appeared upset as their baby was checked by paramedics

Ms Lavender says Jenifer's first instinct was to run after being told by a social worker she wouldn't be able to take Aria to Ms Lavender's house to live

Police had said the teens may have been travelling with an unknown man, but Ms Lavender said that person was merely a stranger in the hospital who helped Jayden with his bags after seeing him in tears.

'That tells me he knew that it wasn't the right thing to do,' she said.

'But he had to do what was right for his baby and his girlfriend.'

Ms Lavender believed the social worker assigned to Jenifer's case had 'an attitude' and the department had unfairly told her she wouldn't be able to take her baby back to Ms Lavender's western Sydney home, where a nursery had been set up, because of concerns about domestic violence and drug use.

She said those issues related to a foster son who had not lived there for six months.

'When the children are begging to come back to a place and the only thing stopping them is one worker, maybe they should bring in another worker to assess the situation,' Ms Lavender said.

'You're talking about two kids that have just had a baby, that just wanted to stay with their baby - that's all it comes down to.'

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital as the matter is being dealt with by the department of Family and Community Services.

The teenage couple had just $80 in cash and a few pairs of clothing for Aria

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital

Ms Lavender (pictured) believes the social worker assigned to Jenifer's case had 'an attitude'

The matter is being dealt with by the department of Family and Community Services
Did you give an order to strike Khan Sheikhun with chemical weapons last Tuesday?

President Assad: Actually, no one has investigated what happened that day in Khan Sheikhun till the moment. As you know, Khan Sheikhun is under the control of Al-Nusra Front, which is a branch of Al-Qaeda, so the only information the world have had till this moment is published by Al-Qaeda branch. No one has any other information. We don't know if the whole pictures or videos that we've been seeing are true or fabricated. That's why we asked for investigation to what happened in Khan Sheikhun. This is first.

Second, Al-Qaeda sources said that the attack happened at 6, 6:30 in the morning, while the Syrian attack in the same area was around noon, between 11:30 to 12. So they're talking about two different stories or events. So there was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago. Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

Assad hit out at the US, saying it launched strikes with no evidence that his regime was behind last week's chemical attack, which he denies

So what happened this day?

President Assad: As I said, the only source is Al-Qaeda, we cannot take it seriously. But our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack. It wasn't an attack because of what happened in Khan Sheikhun. It's one event. Its stage one is the play that we saw on the social networking and on TVs, and the propaganda, and the stage two is the military attack. That's what we believe is happening because it's only (a) few days - two days, 48 hours - between the play and the attacks, and no investigations, no concrete evidence about anything. The only thing were allegations and propaganda, and then (the) strike.

So who, according to you, is responsible about this alleged chemical attack?

President Assad: The allegation itself was by Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, so we don't have to investigate who. They announced it, it's under their control, no one else. About the attack, as I said, it's not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now, and you have the proof that those videos were fake, like the White Helmets for example. They are Al-Qaeda. They are Al-Nusra Front who shaved their beards, wore white hats, and appeared as humanitarian heroes, which is not the case. The same people were killing Syrian soldiers, and you have the proof on the internet anyway. So the same thing for that chemical attack. We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all? Who committed the attack if there was an attack? What's the material? You have no information at all, nothing at all, no one investigated.

The Syrian president was interviewed by AFP bureau chief Sammy Ketz in Damascus

So you think it's a fabrication?

President Assad: Definitely, a hundred percent for us, it's fabrication. We don't have an arsenal, we're not going to use it. And you have many indications if you don't have proof, because no one has concrete information or evidences, but you have indications. For example, less than two weeks, around ten days before that attack, the terrorists were advancing in many fronts, including the suburbs of Damascus and Hama, which is not far from Khan Sheikhun. Let's suppose we have this arsenal, and let's suppose that we have the will to use it, why didn't we use it when we were retreating and the terrorists were advancing? Actually, the timing of that attack - or alleged attack - was when the Syrian army was advancing very fast, and actually the terrorists were collapsing. So why to use it, if you have it and if you have the will? Why to use it at that timing, not when you were in a difficult situation, logically? This is first.

Second, if you want to use it, if you have it and if you want to use it - again, this is if we suppose - why to use it against civilians, not to use it against the terrorists that we are fighting? Third, in that area, we don't have army, we don't have battles, we don't have any, let's say, object in Khan Sheikhun, and it's not a strategic area. Why to attack it? What's the reason? Militarily, I'm talking from a military point of view. Of course, the foundation for us, morally, we wouldn't do it if we have it. We wouldn't have the will, because morally this is not acceptable. We won't have the support of the public. So every indication is against the whole story, so you can say that this play that they staged doesn't hold together. The story is not convincing by any means.

With the US airstrike, Trump seems to have changed his position on you and Syria drastically. Do you have the feeling that you lost what you have called a potential partner?

President Assad: I said "if". It was conditional. If they are serious in fighting terrorists, we're going to be partners. And I said not only the United States - whoever wants to fight the terrorists, we are partners. This is basic for us - (a) basic principle, let's say. Actually, what has been proven recently, as I said earlier, that they are hand-in-glove with those terrorists, the United States and the West, they're not serious in fighting the terrorists, and yesterday some of their statesmen were defending ISIS. They were saying that ISIS doesn't have chemical weapons. They are defending ISIS against the Syrian government and the Syrian army. So actually, you cannot talk about partnership between us who work against the terrorists and who fight the terrorism and the others who are supporting explicitly the terrorists.

So can we say that the US strike changed your opinion on Trump?

President Assad: I was very cautious in saying any opinion regarding him before he became president and after. I always say let's see what he's going to do. We wouldn't comment on statements. So, actually, this is the first proof that it's not about the president in the United States. It's about the regime, and the deep state - or the deep regime - in the United States is still the same. It doesn't change. The president is only one of the performers on their theatre. If he wants to be a leader, he cannot, because as some say he wanted to be a leader, Trump wanted to be a leader, but every president there, if he wants to be a real leader, later he's going to eat his words, swallow his pride if he has pride at all, and make a 180 degree U-turn, otherwise he would pay the price politically.

Assad claimed the US is 'being governed by this complex of military industrial complex, the financial companies, banks, and what you call deep regime'

But do you think that there will be another attack?

President Assad: As long as the United States is being governed by this complex of military industrial complex, the financial companies, banks, and what you call deep regime, and works for the vested interest of those groups, of course. It could happen anytime, anywhere, not only in Syria.

And your army or the Russians will retaliate if it happens again?

President Assad: Actually, if you want to talk about retaliation, we are talking about missiles coming from hundreds of miles, which is out of our reach. But actually the real war in Syria is not about those missiles - it's about supporting the terrorists. This is the most dangerous part of this war, and our response is going to be what we started from the very first day, (which) is smashing the terrorists everywhere in Syria. When we get rid of the terrorists, we wouldn't worry about anything else at that time. So, this is our response. It's a response, not reaction.

So what you say means that retaliation by the Syrian army or by the Russians will be very difficult, because the boats are very far?

President Assad: For us, as a small country, yeah, of course it is, everybody knows that. It's out of reach. I mean, they can have missiles from another continent. We all know that. They are a great power. We're not a great power. Talking about the Russians, this is another issue.

Would you accept the findings of an OPCW investigation?

President Assad: Since the very first time, when we had in 2013, I think, the first attacks by the terrorists on the Syrian army by chemical missiles at that time, we asked for investigation. We were the ones who asked for investigations every time there was chemical attacks or allegations about chemical attacks. We asked. And this time, we were discussing with the Russians yesterday and during the last few days after the strike that we're going to work with them on (an) international investigation. But it should be impartial. We can only allow any investigation when it's impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes.

The Syrian president said there was no sarin gas at the base bombed by the US last week

And, if they accuse the government, would you step down?

President Assad: If they accuse, or if they prove? There's a big difference. No, they are already accusing the government, and if you mean by "them" the West, no, we don't care about the West. If you mean the chemical agency, if they can prove that there's an attack, we have to investigate who gave the order to that attack. But a hundred percent, as Syrian army, we don't have, and we cannot - even if we want, we cannot - we don't have the means to commit such (an) attack, and we don't have the will.

So you mean that you don't have chemical weapons?

President Assad: No, no, definitely, a few years ago, in 2013, we gave up all our arsenal, and the chemical agency announced that Syria is free of any chemical materials.

Because the Pentagon said that there are chemical weapons in the airbase. You deny it?

President Assad: They attacked that airbase, and they destroyed the depots of different materials, and there was no sarin gas. How? If they said that we launched the sarin attack from that airbase, what happened to the sarin when they attacked the depots? Did we hear about any sarin? Our chief of staff was there a few hours later. How could he go there if there was sarin gas? How could you only have six martyrs if you have hundreds of soldiers and officers working there, but there was sarin, and they didn't die? The same fabricated videos that we've been seeing about Khan Sheikhun, when the rescuers tried to rescue the victims or the supposedly dead people or inflicted people, but actually they weren't wearing any masks or any gloves. How? Where's the sarin? They should be affected, right away. So this is all allegation. I mean, this attack and these allegations is another proof that it was fabricated and there was no sarin anywhere.

If you say that you didn't give any order, it is possible that the chemical attack could have been carried out by a rogue or fringe element from the army?

President Assad: Even if you have a rogue element, the army doesn't have chemical materials. This is first. Second, a rogue army cannot send an airplane at their will, even if they want. It's an airplane, it's not a small car to take it from place to place or a small machinegun to use it. You can talk about somebody who has been using his pistol on his behalf the way he wants and break(s) the law, that could happen anywhere in the world, but not an airplane. This is second.

Third, the Syrian army is a regular army, it's not a militia. It's a regular army, it has hierarchy, it has very clear way of orders, so this kind of "rough personnel tried to do something against the will of the leadership of the army" never happened during the last six years of the war in Syria.

Did the Russians warn you before the US attack? And were they present in the airbase?

President Assad: No, they didn't warn us because they didn't have the time to warn, because the Americans called them maybe a few minutes before the launching, or some say after the launching, because it takes time to reach the base. But actually, we had indications that there was something that was going to happen, and we took many measures in that regard.

Assad has said that videos showing the aftermath of a chemical attack could be 'fake'

Do you confirm that 20 percent of your air force has been destroyed in this attack as the Americans said?

President Assad: I don't know what's the criteria, what's the reference of 20 percent. What's the hundred percent for them? Is it the number of airplanes? Is it the quality? Is it, how to say, the active airplanes and stored airplanes? I don't know what do they mean by this. No, actually, what we and the Russians announced about a few airplanes being destroyed, most of them are the old ones, some of them were not active anyway. This is the reality, and the proof is that, since the strike, we haven't stopped attacking terrorists all over Syria. So, we didn't feel that we are really affected. Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike.

You know, your government said in the beginning that you hit a chemical weapon depot. Is it true?

President Assad: It was a possibility, because when you attack any target related to the terrorists, you don't know what's in it. You know that this a target - it could be a store, it could be 9a) warehouse, it could be a depot, it could be a camp, it could be a headquarter, we don't know. But you know that the terrorists are using this place and you attack it, like any other place, and that's what we've been doing since the beginning of the war on (a) daily basis, on (an) hourly basis sometimes, but you cannot tell what's within this. So, that was one of the possibilities - that the airstrikes attacked a depot of chemical materials. But this is conflicting again with the timing of the announcement, not because only the terrorists announced it in the morning, but because their media, their pages on Twitter and on the internet announced the attack a few hours before the alleged one, which is 04:00 in the morning. (At) 04:00 in the morning, they announced that there's going to be a chemical attack, we have to be ready. How did they know about it?

Don't you see that Khan Sheikhun is a huge setback for you? For the first time in six years, the US attack your army and yesterday after a brief honeymoon, yesterday Tillerson said that reign of Assad family is coming to the end. Don't you think that Khan Sheikhun is a huge setback for you?

President Assad: There is no reign of Assad family anyway in Syria. He's dreaming, or let's say, he's hallucinating, so, we don't waste our time with his statement. In reality, no. Actually, during the last six years, the US was directly involved in supporting the terrorists everywhere in Syria, including ISIS, including Al-Nusra, including all the other like-minded factions in Syria. This is clear, and this is proven in Syria. While if you want to talk about the direct attacks, actually only a few months ago, there was a more dangerous attack than the recent one, just before (former US president Barack) Obama left. I think a few weeks before he left, it was in Deir Ezzor in the eastern part of Syria when they attacked a very strategic mountain. It was a Syrian base, a regular Syrian army base, and that helped ISIS to take over that mountain. And if the Syrian army wasn't resilient and strong enough to repel ISIS, the city of Deir Ezzor would have been now in the hands of ISIS, means a direct link between Deir Ezzor and Mosul in Iraq, which would have been a very strategic gain to ISIS. So, actually, no, the American government was directly involved. But this time, why did they attack directly? Because, as I said, the terrorists in that area were collapsing. So the United States didn't have any other choice to support their proxies, the terrorists, but to directly attack the Syrian army because they sent them all kinds of armaments and it didn't work.

So for you, it's not a huge setback?

President Assad: No, no, it's actually part of the context, the same context for six years. It took different shapes, but the core of the American policy and the Western policy towards what's happening in Syria, it hasn't changed at all. Forget about the statements. Sometimes we have high-pitch statements, sometimes you have low-pitch statements, but it's the same policy.

You have gradually pushed most of the rebels into Idlib. Do you plan to attack it next?

President Assad: We're going to attack terrorists anywhere in Syria, Idlib or any other place. What's the timing, what's the priority, this is a military issue and should be discussed on the military level.

You said before that Raqa is a priority for your government, but the forces advancing on the city are mostly US-backed Kurds. Aren't you afraid of being excluded from the liberation of Raqa?

President Assad: No, we support whoever wants to liberate any city from the terrorists, but that doesn't mean to be liberated from terrorists and being occupied by American forces, for example, or by another proxy, or another terrorists. So, it's not clear who is going to liberate Raqa. Is it really Syrian forces that are going to hand it over to the Syrian army? Is it going to be in cooperation with the Syrian army? It's not clear yet. But what we hear is only allegations about liberating Raqa. We've been hearing that for nearly a year now, or less than a year, but nothing happened on the ground. So, it's just, let's say, a hypothetical question, because there is nothing concrete on the ground.

The US and Russia are the co-sponsors of Geneva process. Because of the tension between the two countries, do you think that this process can continue?

President Assad: Look, there's a big difference between the process being active, which could happen anytime, to reactivate the process and to be effective. Till this moment, it's not effective. Why? Because the United States is not serious in achieving any political solution. They want to use it as an umbrella for the terrorists, or they want to get in this forum what they didn't get on the ground in the battlefield. That's why it wasn't effective at all. Now, it's the same situation. We don't see this administration serious in that regard, because they still support the same terrorists. So, we can say yes, it could be reactivated, but we cannot say we expect it to be effective or productive. No.

After six years, Mr. President, aren't you tired?

President Assad: Actually, the only thing that could make pressure on you is not the political situation, not the military situation - actually the human situation in Syria, the daily blood-letting, the daily blood-shedding, the suffering, and the hardship that inflicted every house in Syria, this is the only painful thing that could make you feel tired, if it is accurate to say "tired", while if you talk about the war, about the politics, about the relation with the West, no, I don't feel tired at all, because we are defending our country, and we're not going to get tired at all in that regard.

What makes you lose sleep?

President Assad: Again, the suffering of the Syrian people. The humanitarian interaction between me and every Syrian family directly or indirectly, this is the only thing that could deprive me from sleep from time to time, but not the Western statements and not the threat of the support of the terrorists.

Today, there are people from Fuaa and Kafraya who will move from their village to Damascus and to Aleppo. You are not afraid that in fact it will be a displacement of population, that the Syria after the war will not be the same Syria as before?

President Assad: The displacement in that context is compulsory. We didn't choose it. We wish that everyone could stay in his village and his city, but those people like many other civilians in different areas were surrounded and besieged by the terrorists, and they've been killed on (a) daily basis, so they had to leave. But of course they're going to go back to their cities after the liberation. That happened in many other areas where the people are going back to their homes. So it's temporary. Talking about demographic changes is not in the sake or in the interest of the Syrian society when it's permanent. As long as it's temporary, we wouldn't worry about it.

(Source: AFP)
Rep. Schakowsky Wants To Ban Involuntary 'Bumping' From Flights

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 13, 2017 5:59PM



U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joins demonstrators speaking out against police brutality outside the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare International Airport on April 11 in Chicago (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

As a myriad of official bodies conduct hearings and reviews over the alarming, violent dragging of United passenger David Dao from his flight at O'Hare International Airport, one lawmaker is putting forth legislation that would abolish the controversial airline practice of "bumping" customers from overbooked flights or fully booked flights that require space for crew.

The first-of-its-kind legislation from U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) would abolish what has become deeply thorny territory for airlines. Overselling has been common in the industry, a way to maximize selling capacity since some would-be passengers don't show for their scheduled flights; but the bloody removal of Daowhich, according to his lawyer, left him with a broken nose, a concussion and the loss of two front teethfrom a fully booked flight has left the practice and how airlines deal with deplaning under sharp scrutiny.

The bill, if passed, would "end the practice of involuntarily 'bumping' passengers from oversold aircrafts once and for all. If an airline chooses to oversell a flight, or has to accommodate their crew on a fully booked flight, it is their responsibility to keep raising their offer until a customer chooses to give up their seat."

United initially said that the flight from O'Hare was "overbooked," but later clarified that it was fully booked but needed seats for four crew members. Three passengers agreed to take another flight, but Dao, who is a doctor and said he had patients to see the next day, did not. Three aviation officers have been put on leave after footage of the incident sparked international outrage.

[H/T Crain's]

Schakowsky added, I am glad that United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz is finally giving this situation the serious attention it deserves... However, I do not want to rely on voluntary compliance from the airlines to prevent this sort of incident."

I plan to introduce legislation that would end the practice of involuntarily bumping passengers from oversold aircrafts once and for all. pic.twitter.com/2wE96aSWUJ  Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) April 12, 2017

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) has also said that Congressional action may be necessary. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin were among 21 senators who wrote a letter to United and CEO Munoz demanding an explanation of United's operating procedure for deciding forcible removals, how often over the last year the airline has deplaned a passenger already onboard, and why a full $1,350 incentive wasn't offered to Dao, among numerous other questions.

Ginger Evans, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, is expected to appear at a City Council hearing to investigate the infamous incident.
A Los Angeles girl is raising funds by selling lemonade to help her 19-month-old sister who is battling 'Childhood Alzheimer's'.

Emily McGlocklin, four, set up a lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money for a treatment that could slow the progression of her sister Marian McGlocklin's disease - Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC).

Marian started experimental treatment earlier this week in Chicago for the condition which is often referred to as 'Childhood Alzheimer's'. She is involved in a new clinical trial of a drug developed to stabilize children in decline and halt the disease's progression. She will need this treatment every two weeks.

Emily McGlocklin told ABC 7 she set up the stand because 'it's for me... to know how much I love my sister'.

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Emily McGlocklin (pictured), four, set up a lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money for a treatment that could slow the progression of her little sister's disease

Big sister checking on Marian McGlocklin immediately after the little one's IT infusion. Marian was put to sleep for a 15-minute procedure where she a needle was inserted into her spine for an injection of the treatment that could slow the progression of 'Childhood Alzheimer's'.

She started treatment on April 10 at Rush University Hospital in Chicago. They will not know how well it is working for a few weeks or months, her family shared this photo of her in hospital this week on their Facebook page

McGlocklin is shown here having just woken up in the hospital to crackers and apple juice

McGlocklin's mother Sara updated a Facebook page on Tuesday with a post saying: 'Marian has officially begun and received her first treatment!! All went very well thanks to the incredible team at Rush University Hospital.

'It's a miracle that something that can help save her life is administered in only a few minutes. We won't know how well it's working for a few weeks or months - Marian is one of the youngest to receive it.

'The sense of relief and gratitude that there is a lifeline extended to her is inexpressible. Next steps are FDA approval for this treatment (we are praying) and development of other important research and possibilities to cure NPC.

'We can help save Marian and all kids alive with NPC today! Thank you for caring about our little girl, we are on this journey together.'

Paul and Sara, pictured with their four-year-old daughter Emily (center left) and Marian (center right). They spent a year and four months pursuing tests until Marian was diagnosed

Patricia Dickson, chief of medical genetics at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, explained how the condition affects patients saying: 'The muscles get stiff and the patients are unable to walk and speech becomes extremely difficult and eventually they do die from their condition.'

It affects just 500 children worldwide. In most cases, symptoms appear around the age of four. Sufferers rarely live past the age of 10. There is no cure for the disease.

Sara and her husband Paul spoke to DailyMail.com about their race against time before the disease robs Marian of her speech and mobility - and kills her.

They said they received nothing concrete from medics about what her condition was until shortly after McGlocklin's first birthday in September 2016.

'We saw that she wasn't reaching her milestones on time,' Sara McGlocklin said.

'You know, we were like, "Oh she's not holding her head up. She's not reaching for a toy. She's not holding eye contact".

'And then every time we were at the brink of worrying, she'd reach the milestone so we just thought she had a learning delay.'

Marian McGlocklin, 19 months, was diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C - a rare, progressive genetic disorder where patients are unable to metabolize cholesterol and other lipids properly within their cells. It causes dementia, muscle stiffness, and death

Only 500 children in the world have been diagnosed - and there was a one in 150,000 chance that Marian (right) would have the disease. Her four-year-old sister Emily (left) was tested as well, but her results came back negative

Doctors at Children's Hospital Los Angeles detected an enlarged spleen, combined with ongoing, mild muscle weakness.

For five months, they visited a number of specialists - a hematologist, a gastroenterologist, a geneticist, and a neurodiagnostician - and ordered a battery of tests.

Finally, this February, the McGlocklins received a diagnosis of NPC.

HOW TO SPOT NPC Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) is a disease where patients are unable to metabolize cholesterol and other lipids properly within their cells. Excessive amounts of cholesterol then accumulate within the liver and spleen, and excessive amounts of other lipids accumulate in the brain. Signs and symptoms: Vertical gaze palsy (the inability to move the eyes up and down)

Enlarged liver

Enlarged spleen

Jaundice in young children In most cases, neurological symptoms begin appearing between the ages of four and 10. Generally, the later that neurological symptoms begin, the slower the progression of the disease. NPC causes enlarged organs, lung damage, and slow and steady neurological deterioration. Patients are eventually unable to walk, talk or even breathe. There are an estimated 500 cases diagnosed worldwide. Doctors say there may be more, but that people confuse the disease with a learning disability or clumsiness. There is currently no cure for NPC. Half of children die by age 10 and the majority will die before age 20. A late onset of symptoms can lead to a longer life span, but it is extremely rare for any person with NPC to reach age 40. Source: National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation Advertisement

NPC is a rare, progressive genetic disorder, which is characterized by an inability of the body to metabolize cholesterol and other fatty substances (lipids) inside of cells.

This causes enlarged organs, lung damage, and slow and steady neurological deterioration, in the form of dementia.

'It was horrible, it was kind of my worst fear,' Sara McGlocklin said.

'I was upstairs and I could hear the girls playing and laughing with the babysitter and it was just so difficult to comprehend and face.

'How do you go grocery shopping with this happening? How do you go about your day worried that your child might die?'

But there was some good news. Weeks after Marian McGlocklin's diagnosis, the family learned that a clinical trial could stabilize - and even halt - the disease's progression.

Cyclodextrin (or VTS 270) has been tested. In lab trials on mice, it extended sufferers' lives five-fold.

The drug has now reached Phase II/III trials on humans.

VTS 270 is a sugar compound found in fat-free dressings and margarine.

It appears to stabilize children in decline and substantially halt NPC's progression, something which seemed scientifically impossible only a few years ago.

Currently, VTS 270 can only be administered via spinal tap under anesthesia in a hospital every two weeks, indefinitely, and the treatment is only available in Chicago.

McGlocklin's use of VTS 270 began on April 10 at Rush University Hospital in Chicago. For the indefinite future, she will be traveling back and forth from California to Illinois for treatment.

Her parents wrote on a Facebook page that documents McGlocklin's journey that they will not know how well the treatment is working for a few weeks or months.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to cover travel and medical expenses. Out of their $150,000 goal, more than $61,000 has been raised.

The family is currently working towards raising money and awareness to help Marian fly to Chicago for a clinical trial. Her mother, Sara, said she believes Marian will either be the last child to die from the disease or the first to survive it

Genetic researchers say this type of family-driven funding is what is pushing progress towards finding a cure.

'Doctors have told me that they think NCP will be like cystic fibrosis where, you know, in the last 20 years, the life expectancy has tripled,' Sara said.

'But Marian could start declining in 10 years, five years or tomorrow. So we wonder if that increased life expectancy will be at the beginning, at the middle or at the end of her journey.

'Will it happen in time for Marian? And I hope that it will.'
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Kim Jong-un has unveiled a huge new 770ft skyscraper complex hailed by officials as 'ultra modern' - despite the most luxurious penthouse apartments having no hot water.

Foreign reporters had earlier been warned to expect a 'big and important' event in the secretive state today - but it turned out to be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the housing project.

Thousands of cheering North Koreans watched on as the dictator opened the sprawling Ryomyong Street development, which includes 5,000 flats.

The tallest of the buildings is 70 stories while North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju insisted they 'incorporate the latest architectural science and technology, including solar and geothermal technology, and the greening of roofs and walls'.

But reporters shown around showpiece penthouse apartments - finished with ice green wallpaper and purple sofas - found that none of them had hot water supplies.

It comes amid reports Kim Jong-un has ordered 600,000 residents out of the city to make way for the country's elite. But there are some suggestions the move was part of Kim's preparations for war amid heightened tensions with the West and after the US sent an 'armada' of warships to the the Korean Peninsula.

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Kim Jong-un has unveiled a huge new 770ft skyscraper complex hailed by officials as 'ultra modern' - despite there being no hot water in the most luxury penthouse apartments

Tens of thousands of cheering North Koreans watched on as the dictator cut the ribbon on the sprawling Ryomyong Street development (pictured), which includes 5,000 flats

Officials to the left of him, generals to the right, and in the middle of mounting tensions over his nuclear ambitions, Kim opened the prestige housing project with huge crowds of his adoring citizens looking on

Male and female soldiers were even brought in to celebrate the grand opening of the apartment complex in central Pyongyang

North Korean women in uniform walk along Ryo Myong street after the opening ceremony of a new residential housing project in Pyongyang

North Korean soldiers look at items in a pharmacy in a shopping mall that was built as part of the sprawling housing development

Officials to the left of him, generals to the right, and in the middle of mounting tensions over his nuclear ambitions, Kim opened the prestige housing project with huge crowds of his adoring citizens looking on.

Completion of the development, just down a wide avenue from the mausoleum where Kim's grandfather Kim Il-Sung and father Kim Jong-Il lie in state, was repeatedly promised in time for Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the North's founder.

North Korean authorities seek to present their isolated, impoverished country as prosperous and modern, and international media outlets were invited for the occasion.

Kim has made frequent visits to the street to inspect construction work there, according to state media.

Soldiers, officials and citizens packed a plaza from early morning, waiting for hours before Kim led the delegation onto the platform.

Pak Pong-Ju lauded Kim, saying the project was a demonstration of 'the 'do or die' spirit of our people and army who are willing to implement the Party's orders in all cases', he said, and 'a victory against imperialists' sanctions'.

Thousands watched on as Kim Jong-un officially unveiled the new high-rise apartments. It came amid reports 600,000 people had been moved out of the city to make way for the country's elite

The high-rise apartments boast impressive views of the city and across the countryside beyond - but even the most upmarket rooms do not have hot water

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks Day of the Sun. Pictures show the exterior of one of the high-rise apartment blocks

Soldiers applaud and cheer as their leader cuts the ribbon on the apartment blocks today. Foreign journalists had been warned to expect a 'big event' today

Retail offering: A vendor is pictured in a shop in a newly constructed residential complex in North Korea's capital, Pyongyang

After the opening, Kim Jong-Un was whisked away in a blacked-out Mercedes limousine. He was a frequent visitor to the housing block as it was being constructed

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks Day of the Sun.

Officials had given no details as to the nature of a planned 'big' event today or where it would take place, and similar announcements in the past have been linked to relatively low-key set pieces. In the end, it turned out to be the grand unveiling of a block of flats.

In 2016, for example, foreign journalists underwent hours of investigation by North Korean officials ahead of what turned out to be a pop concert to mark the finale of a ruling Workers' Party congress.

As the grand opening took place this morning, reports emerged that Kim had ordered as many as 600,000 residents out of the city of 2.6million - to 'purify' the capital and introduce more of the country's elite.

A source told Korea Joongang Daily: 'Population control was the pretext of the latest order, but in reality, the purpose is to 'purify' the North Korean capital and allow only the loyal elite class to live there.'

Separate reports suggest the move was actually a mass evacuation amid continued preparations for war in the region.

North Korean authorities seek to present their isolated, impoverished country as prosperous and modern, and international media outlets were invited for the occasion

Crowds converged on the new apartment buildings to watch their leader unveil the new apartment block this morning

Devotion: Adoring citizens cheered as the dictator cut the ribbon on the new development. There was no sign of concern over looming tensions with the West

North Korean men push their bicycles along Ryomyong residential area, a collection of more than a dozen apartment buildings with the tallest some 770ft

Tens of thousands turned out for the grand opening of the new apartments in central Pyongyang. Soldiers are pictured in front of the development this morning

The North is under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and tensions have soared in recent weeks.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked fears in Washington that Pyongyang is moving closer to its goal of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland - something US President Donald Trump has said 'won't happen'.

Shinzo Abe, prime minister of US ally Japan - in whose exclusive economic zone three North Korean missiles landed in recent weeks, warned Thursday that Pyongyang may have the capacity to launch a warhead loaded with sarin nerve gas.

The same deadly gas was used to kill 87 Syrian civilians in a horrifying gas attack last week. That atrocity prompted the US to launch a surprise wave of missiles on one of dictator Bashar al-Assad's airbases.

There is speculation Pyongyang might conduct a sixth nuclear test, or another missile launch, to coincide with the Kim Il-Sung anniversary - specialist US website 38North described its Punggye-ri test site as 'primed and ready' on Wednesday - and Trump has dispatched an aircraft carrier group to the Korean peninsula.

Massive crowds were seen in the capital as Kim Jong-un cut the ribbon on a giant complex of skyscrapers. Reporters said the most luxurious flats did not have running water

Completion of the sprawling Ryomyong Street development, just down a wide avenue from the mausoleum where Kim's grandfather Kim Il-Sung and father Kim Jong-Il lie in state, was repeatedly promised in time for Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the North's founder

A series of skyscraper apartment blocks have been put up in just over a year along Ryomyong Street, which runs out of downtown Pyongyang, past North Korea's top university and down to the palace where the country's past leaders are kept embalmed

Kim Jong-Un snips a ribbon to unveil the housing project while journalists capture the moment on camera. A guided tour of the more luxury flats revealed that they did not have hot water supplies

North Korean officials were allowed in to inspect the interior of the housing complex during the official opening ceremony this morning

Inspection: A man examines a placard showing the layout of the sprawling network of apartments this morning

'We are sending an armada. Very powerful,' he told the Fox Business Network. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier.'

'He is doing the wrong thing,' he added of Kim. 'He's making a big mistake.'

The North has reiterated its constant refrain that it is ready for 'war' with the US.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty and Pyongyang says that it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion.

Last week's US missile strike on Syria vindicated its stance, it said at the weekend.

Successive governments in Washington have only attacked states which 'do not have nukes', the official KCNA agency quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying, 'and the same is true of the Trump administration'.

'What happened in Syria once again taught a bitter lesson that no one should have an illusion about the imperialists and one can defend oneself from the imperialist aggression only when one has one's strength.'

Though Kim attended the opening he did not make a speech. North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju said the project 'incorporates the latest architectural science and technology, including solar and geothermal technology, and the greening of roofs and walls'

The construction has gone on at breakneck speed, interrupted only by flooding in northeastern North Korea last autumn, when resources where temporarily diverted to reconstruction of homes there

Thousands of North Korean men and women gather at the Ryomyong residential area, a collection of more than a dozen new apartment buildings

There has been little sign of the tensions on the streets of Pyongyang in recent days, where the focus is on preparations for Saturday's anniversary

Saturday marks the 105th birthday of national founder Kim Il Sung, and North Korea has a history of connecting landmark construction projects to important dates

TENSE STAND-OFF: The U.S. dispatched a naval strike group to the area amid continued missile launches and hot rhetoric from North Korea

US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had 'great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea'

IS KIM PLANNING A TOXIC GAS ATTACK? North Korea may already be capable of launching chemical weapons, Japan has warned. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he feared Kim Jong-un 'has a capability' to fire missiles tipped with sarin - the same deadly gas used to kill 87 Syrian civilians in a horrifying gas attack last week. That atrocity prompted the US to launch a surprise wave of missiles on one of dictator Bashar al-Assad's airbases. Abe told a parliamentary session: 'There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads.' Advertisement

On Thursday, KCNA reported separately that Kim had watched special forces drop from light transport planes 'like hail' and 'mercilessly blew up enemy targets' during an exercise.

'The contest proved once again that our Korean People's Army... will show a real taste of gun shot and real taste of war to the reckless invaders,' KCNA said.

With a broad smile on his face, Kim praised his troops for their precision, saying 'the bullets seemed to have their own eyes', KCNA said, without identifying when the operation was held.

The Rodong Sinmun - the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party - carried several photos from the contest including one of Kim watching the troops parachuting down from jets into an open field. Another showed him grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked by cheering soldiers.

The sabre-rattling has unnerved China, the North's sole major ally, which has made clear its frustration with Pyongyang's stubbornness but whose priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep.

Beijing has urged Trump to take a peaceful approach to resolving the issue, but the Global Times newspaper, which sometimes reflects the thinking of the leadership, issued an unequivocal warning to Pyongyang that it should 'avoid making mistakes at this time'.

The smiling North Korean leader is seen watching his 'elite fighting force' on a military training exercise in photos released today

Yesterday Kim oversaw a commando operation in which special forces dropped from light transport planes 'like hail' and 'mercilessly blew up enemy targets'

Kim praised his troops for their precision in the training exercise (pictured), saying 'the bullets seemed to have their own eyes', state news agency KCNA said

The Rodong Sinmun - the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party - carried several photos from the contest showing firefight excercises

Analysts believe that the activity at the site is indicative of final preparations for another nuclear test. This satellite image, taken yesterday, shows 'small groups of people' working at the facility

North 38, which monitors North Korea, has released a series of picures with one showing how tarp covers pallets of equipment or supplies to protect them from view while workers have been seen walking around the site in another sign of activity at the site

Satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site taken on April 12 appears to show vehicles parked around the North Portal of the site. North Korean monitoring service 38 North said the facility is 'primed and ready' for a sixth nuclear test

A new test would be a 'slap in the face of the US government' and Beijing would not 'remain indifferent', it said.

Today, Trump tweeted that he had 'great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea.'

In contrast, on Tuesday, the US president tweeted that '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.'

But there has been little sign of the tensions on the streets of Pyongyang in recent days, where the focus is on preparations for Saturday's anniversary.

At Ryomyong Street, Kim took a pair of scissors from a tray to cut a wide red ribbon to rhythmic cheers from the crowd, before waving to his admirers, and turning to walk back to his Mercedes limousine.

No phones, no laptops, no water, no toilets: Reporters herded onto 'imperialist bus' to watch ceremony 'more powerful than hundreds of nuclear bombs'

Foreign journalists invited to Pyongyang for the grand opening of a block of flats have revealed the bizarre procedures they were forced to follow during the event.

Scores of reporters and photographers from around the world have flown to the country for this week's celebrations of the 105th birth anniversary of founder president Kim Il Sung.

But today they revealed how they were herded together for hours, banned from drinking water and not given access to phones - just so they could watch Kim Jong-Un open a new apartment block complex.

Minders last night ordered media workers to down tools and pack up their laptops because 'you won't be coming back here tonight' before being told of a 'big and important' event on Thursday.

Some 200 foreign reporters have been invited to Pyongyang to capture the celebrations ahead of the most important day in North Korea's calendar on Saturday

Only passports and cameras were allowed - no phones or water. One minder then said: 'I am being very direct now. Please urinate and excrete before the event as there will be no water closets.'

At 4.45am, they were woken up and piled into buses for the People's Palace of Culture for what turned into a two-hour security check, where wallets and food was taken away and tied up in black plastic bags.

A Reuters team boarded a bus after the security check, only for a minder to shout get off: 'This bus is for Americans only!

'That's the imperialist bus,' O Kum Sok, another minder reportedly said.

Once at Ryomyong, the new residential street, tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the area, some in military dress, most in traditional suits and dresses holding balloons, plastic flowers and North Korean flags.

A brass band played as the square filled up. Then around 10am. the crowd fell silent.

Fervent clapping and cheering then followed as Kim Jong Un and top government officials walked onto the stage to a fanfare from the brass band reserved to mark his public appearances.

There is speculation North Korea might conduct a sixth nuclear test to coincide with the Kim Il-Sung anniversary. US President Donald Trump has dispatched an aircraft carrier group to the Korean peninsula in a show of force

It is 'a very significant, great event, more powerful than the explosion of hundreds of nuclear bombs on the top of the enemies' heads,' said North Korea's premier Pak Pong Ju, the main speaker at the opening ceremony.

The completion of Ryomyong Street is one of the examples of 'a brilliant victory based on self-reliance and self-development against manoeuvres by the U.S. and vassal forces', he said, using the state's typical descriptions of the United States and its allies.

A translation of the speech was provided when reporters returned to the hotel.

Kim did not speak but clapped intermittently, the reporters said. After about twenty minutes of speeches, a thick, red ribbon was unfurled on stage. Kim cut the ribbon and was whisked away in a shiny black Mercedes as his sister Kim Yo Jong bowed deeply.
A British family who saw a child being abducted in Australia nearly 50 years ago are being sought by police after a man was charged with her kidnap and murder.

Detectives are appealing for the Goodyear family from Nottingham to come forward after they gave a statement on the day UK-born Cheryl Grimmer disappeared in 1970.

The three-year-old girl has never been found after she went missing from a shower block during a family trip to Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Cheryl Grimmer (left) disappeared from New South Wales in 1970 - and her mother Carole Grimmer (right) was pictured with her three brothers Stephen, Ricki and Paul one day later

The military join police in the search for three-year-old Cheryl in January 1970 after she disappeared from Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong

But last month a 63-year-old security guard from Melbourne, who cannot be named, was charged with abduction and murder in Australia's oldest cold case.

Peter William Aubrey Goodyear, his wife, Mavis, and their two daughters, Karen and Jannette all gave statements on the day she vanished - January 12, 1970.

Mr Goodyear, then 37, claimed he had been standing outside the shower changing rooms waiting for his family when he saw a man leaving carrying a child.

But later that year the family moved out of a hostel in Australia to a plantation in Papua New Guinea before returning to Oxton, Nottinghamshire.

According to reports at the time, Mr Goodyear told police he saw a man running away with a motionless, fair-haired girl under his arm on the day Cheryl vanished.

He said: 'I saw a little, dark man carrying a limp, blond-haired girl to the car. My daughter said to me, "Daddy, why is that man carrying that little girl?"'

Last month a 63-year-old security guard from Melbourne, who cannot be named, was charged with abduction and murder in Australia's oldest cold case

Police staged a re-enactment of the Grimmer family's day at the beach in December last year, in a bid to convince the killer to turn themselves in

But all attempts to contact Mr Goodyear  who had been working as a labourer in Australia at the time  or any other members of his family in Britain have so far failed.

NSW Police Detective Sergeant Damian Loone said: 'We have been making inquiries with authorities in Britain in a bid to find Mr Goodyear, if he is still alive, to determine whether he can still assist our ongoing inquiries.

'To date, those efforts have not been successful. We are keen to hear from anyone, here or abroad, who can help us locate the Goodyears.'

Last month relatives of the three-year-old snatched from the front of a surf club in 1970 have cried outside Wollongong Local Court.

One family member said she 'cannot leave her children alone for one second' as a result of the toddler's disappearance outside the surf club.

Cheryl was last seen out the front of a toilet block at Fairy Meadow Beach, about 90 minutes south of Sydney, after going to the changing rooms with her brothers.

Cheryl's parents Carole and John, pictured eating with their children the day after she went missing in January 1970, died without ever knowing the truth about what happened to her

Cheryl was last seen out the front of a toilet block at Fairy Meadow Beach, about 90 minutes south of Sydney, after going to the changing rooms with her brothers

Her brother Stephen Grimmer and niece Melanie, both became emotional outside court in March, saying the whole incident had been 'very traumatic'.

In court documents, investigators alleged the man, now aged 63, murdered Cheryl between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on the summer afternoon in 1970.

Detectives allege Cheryl was subjected to a 'horrific' fate and will allege she was strangled and taken to nearby bushland.

Legal Aid solicitor Laura Fennell told the court her client needed 'urgent psychiatric care' from Justice Health while he was remanded in custody.

Outside court Stephen said he had been planning to look the man accused of being his sister's killer in the eye.

Cheryl's brother Stephen Grimmer was supported by his partner (front) as he left a court in Wollongong last month

This ransom note for $10,000 was sent to Cheryl's parents after three days but no one showed up to collect the money where police dressed as council workers lay in wait

The Grimmer family say they have been deluged with tributes from friends and relatives, including from Britain where the family emigrated from in the 1960s.

Plans are in the works for a commemorative plaque to be laid for Cheryl at the surf club where she went missing. The case will return to court on May 24.

His name and identity have been suppressed because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime.

Australian police revealed last December they believed the youngster was allegedly kidnapped by a teenage boy - who would now be in his early 60s.

Their renewed interest followed a re-enactment of the Grimmer family's day at the beach in December, in a bid to convince the killer to turn themselves in.

Cheryl's brother Stephen Grimmer, 52, revealed in December last year that his parents Carole and John died without ever knowing the truth.

Mrs Grimmer died three years ago, and on her deathbed made the brothers promise to find out what happened the day her daughter went missing during the family trip.
A sorority girl who was body slammed to the ground by police outside a Colorado bar spoke on Thursday morning for the first time since a video of her arrest went viral.

Michaella Surat, 22, said she was left 'humiliated' when Fort Collins police officers violently threw her to the ground outside Bondi Beach Bar on April 6.

'All the bones were shattered in my face. I was just so humiliated because people were watching me.

'I cant go to school without feeling like someone is going to approach me and hurt me, I'm getting death threats online,' she said through tears during a Good Morning America interview.

The encounter began when Surat approached police to try to find her boyfriend who was earlier pulled out of the bar because of a fight.

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Michaella Surat wept as she told Good Morning America how she was 'humiliated' by Fort Collins Police officers in Colorado who body slammed her while arresting her outside a bar on April 6

WATCH: "I was so humiliated." The College student caught on camera being slammed to the ground by police speaks out: https://t.co/KFMJLOenrx pic.twitter.com/bCnDbblvYw  Good Morning America (@GMA) April 13, 2017

Police say she 'shoulder checked' a bouncer and an officer while trying to get to him.

On Thursday, she insisted she had done nothing wrong when trying to find him.

'I found out my boyfriend got kicked out of the bar and so I went out to see what happened, and then the altercation happened and one think led to another. It just escalated,' she said.

Another reveler inside the bar recorded her arrest on their cell phone. The shocking footage was shared on Instagram and Twitter where it has since been viewed more than 800,000 times.

It showed the officer tossing her to the ground in one motion, her legs and high heels flying up behind her as her face landed on the concrete.

Surat's family shared photographs of her injuries afterwards. They included a dark blue bruise on her chin, a concussion and bruises on her legs.

Surat was trying to get to her boyfriend who had been thrown out of the bar when she encountered the police officer. He was filmed trying to restrain her before throwing her suddenly to the ground head first

After footage of the arrest went viral, Surat's family released photographs of her shocking injuries. They included a dark blue bruise to her chin she said stretches to her hairline

The college student said she can't open her mouth wide enough to eat. Her horrified parents (above with her on Thursday) said they cannot bear to watch the video

'I can't open my mouth to eat,' said the college student on Thursday as she showed the camera how her facial bruise stretches up her jawline to her ears.

Surat was charged with third degree assault and obstructing a peace officer and will return to court next month

Fort Collins Police are investigating the incident and are refusing to release the officer's body camera footage until they have reached a conclusion.

They say the social media video lacks 'context'. While Surat's lawyer admits she was 'highly agitated' and 'irritated' before she was thrown to the ground, both he and her family say she did not deserve to be treated so violently.

'I was still equally as appalled. She was confused about where her boyfriend was. She was certainly irritated, highly irritated and agitated. Nothing I saw in that video warranted the very aggressive response I saw from the officer. Nothing,' her attorney said on Friday.

Surat's parents said they could not even watch the video.

'Seeing my daughter planted on the ground like that, it went chin, body, feet,' her mother said. Her father said she may have died.

'One little hair off differently, that could have been her death.'

The student's lawyer said he had viewed the police officer's body cam footage and that it was 'equally appalling'

The college student herself echoed the angry comments of hundreds of thousands of social media viewers who have accused the officers of using excessive force.

'It shouldn't happen to anyone no matter their size, race, color, whatever,' she said.

Surat was charged with third degree assault and with obstructing a peace officer. She will return to court next month.

Her family has not pursued civil action against the police department.
Pictured, a member of staff at Poole Community Health Clinic returns to work after moving her car to avoid parking fines

Medics are being forced to interrupt treating patients to move their cars as they face a daily battle to avoid parking fines.

Staff at Poole Community Health Clinic in Dorset, return to their vehicles up to four times a day in order to dodge 40 charges.

The 81-strong team have to make the frustrating 12-minute dashes after their permits for the centre's car park was revoked.

One medic, who did not want to be named, told the Mirror: 'It's just a total nightmare, I'm actually in the middle of seeing someone right now but instead I have to worry about making sure I don't get a ticket. It's ridiculous.'

To avoid the fines many of the medics - including doctors and nurses - set alarms on their phones, while others are slapped with tickets on a weekly basis.

Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the clinic, said that the permits had been revoked to accommodate more visitors and patients.

A spokesman explained that the Trust would be talking to nearby Poole Hospital to try and resolve the parking row.

He said: 'Patient care is our top priority, and we are confident these issues are having a minimal impact on the services we provide at the site.'

Left, a member of staff at the Poole medical centre makes a dash for her car while, right, a traffic warden looks for vehicles without tickets or permits

The revelation at Poole comes after it was revealed last year that NHS hospitals in England made more than 120million from parking charges.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously called for hospitals to operate pay-on-exit parking regimes  rather than pay-and-display for a fixed period  and said fees for drivers visiting seriously ill patients should be cut or axed.

He said hospitals should make parking convenient, and waive fines if visitors or patients overstay through no fault of their own.
An evasive Carter Page issued a series of qualified denials on Thursday, refusing in an interview to say who hired him to work on Donald Trump's presidential campaign  and leaving open the possibility that he talked with Russian agents about easing U.S. sanctions if Trump were elected.

'Something may have come up in a conversation' last year when he was in Moscow to speak at the New Economic School,' he admitted Thursday.

But Page insisted there's no chance he or anyone linked to Trump will be convicted of a crime following a government probe into whether he acted as an agent for Russia in the months preceding the November election.

'That would be ridiculous. Absolutely not,' he said on ABC's 'Good Morning America' program.

Page, an oil industry consultant who advised the Trump campaign about foreign policy, said 'tons of false evidence' has been published suggesting that he had illicit contact with Russians who were recruiting him as a spy.

But he scurried away from questions about his legal predicament and his ties to the White House.

Carter Page, an oil industry consultant who advised President Donald Trump's campaign about foreign policy, dodged questions Thursday on ABC about his links to Russians whom federal investigators believe were trying to recruit him as a spy

Trump's campaign, transition and White House have all distanced themselves from Page  who was cast out of the president's circle of influence after published stories put him inside Moscow's orbit

'I don't talk about that,' Page said when asked who first brought him into Trumpworld. 'I do not talk about any ongoing investigations,' he offered meekly in response to a question about whether he's persuaded the FBI that he's no Russian spy.

In a partisan swipe at a now-retired Democratic Senate majority leader, Page placed the blame for his public image problem on 'that dodgy dossier which Senator Harry Reid last August sent to [FBI] Director Comey.'

The dossier, a largely discredited amalgamation of unverified intelligence reports, first emerged in a January report on the Buzzfeed website.

It appeared to show that Russia had assembled embarrassing information about Trump that could be used as leverage against him  including a report that placed him in a sexually compromising position with Moscow prostitutes.

Thursday's interview will fuel further suspicion that Page discussed with one or more Russian agents the potential that Trump could ease U.S. sanctions.

'Absolutely not. I never offered that,' he said at first. 'No. Nothing along those lines. Absolutely not.'

But under light questioning from host George Stephanopoulos, the Bill Clinton aide-turned TV anchor, Page turned squishy  twitching and mumbling his way to uncertainty.





Under light questioning from host George Stephanopoulos, the Bill Clinton aide-turned TV anchor, Page turned squishy  twitching and mumbling his way to uncertainty

'I mean, it may  topics, I don't remember,' he said, before suggesting that he would learn along with the rest of the world what he himself had said if the U.S. government were to release the transcript of his conversations that persuaded a federal FISA Court judge to green-light surveillance of him.

'I don't recall every single word that I ever said,' Page offered, shifting gears into the possible. 'But I would never make any offer, or intimate anything.'

'Something may have come up in a convers I have no recollection,' he said.

Asked flatly if he could rule out the idea that he had discussed sanctions relief that could come from a then-hypothetical Trump administration, he conceded: 'Someone may have brought it up. I have no recollection.'

'And if it was, it was not something I was offering or that someone was asking for.'

News emerged Tuesday that the FBI obtained a secret FISA court order last summer to monitor page's communications.

That result indicates that federal agents persuaded a judge that probable cause exists to believe Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power.

One-time Trump adviser addressed the New economic School last year in Moscow  a speech that put a hotter spotlight on him as law enforcement probed his alleged Russia ties

Page said he was confident that he had never discussed with Russians any information about hacked emails that may have proven decisive in November's presidential election.

'Not a word. Not once. Absolutely sure,' he said.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that state-sponsored Russian hackers were responsible for the hacks, which drove public opinion downward about both the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Page has not been charged with any crimes, and it is unclear whether the U.S. Justice Department might accuse him or others in connection with Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

But last week he acknowledged in a statement that he 'shared basic immaterial information and publicly available research documents' with Russian spy Victor Podobnyy.

The Trump campaign insisted late in the fall that Page was merely an 'informal foreign policy adviser' who did 'not speak for Mr. Trump or the campaign.'

By January, eventual White House press secretary Sean Spicer would claim that 'Carter Page is an individual whom the president-elect does not know and was put on notice months ago by the campaign.'

Page told ABC on Thursday that 'since [the] inauguration I've not spoken with anyone,' in Trump's orbit.

But reaching back to the days following the Republican National Convention, he said: 'There were various people I would speak to from time to time, old colleagues, et cetera. ... Light contact, and no discussions of anything substantive, related to the things that have been accused.'
Kate Hudson and Rosario Dawson are just two of the A-list Hollywood stars whose nude photos have allegedly been leaked online by hackers, who earlier this week posted images of a topless Miley Cyrus.

Others who have allegedly fallen victim to this latest hack include Whitney Port, Dianna Agron, AJ Michalka, Yvonne Strahovski, Suki Waterhouse, Lily Rabe and Marin Ireland, who are all seen topless in photos posted online.

Photos or video of Leonardo DiCaprio's ex Kelly Rohrbach, Carice Van Houten from 'Game of Thrones,' Sam Worthington's wife Lara Bingle, and Audrina Partridge were also reportedly uploaded by the hackers.

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Exposed: Nude photos of Kate Hudson (above in February) have allegedly been leaked online by hackers

A-list victims: Dianna Agron (left) and Rosario Dawson (right) also had alleged nude photos posted online

Latest bunch: Miley Cyrus (above in 2014) was the first of this new group of stars to have images put online, which allegedly showed her topless

Hacked: Whitney Port (left) and AJ Michalka (right) also had their personal photo allegedly posted online

The images of Hudson show the actress sitting down and exposing her bare breasts while completely nude in two photos, along with three photos of her in a thong shot from behind.

Dawson is completely nude in the 11 images of her that leaked online, most of which show her lying in a bed.

There are also two topless photos of her standing in front of a mirror.

Port wears nothing but a pair of lace underwear in the five images of her, which show her bare breasts.

Agron is topless in two of the leaked photos online, including one of her that shows the actress from the waist up and was taken in front of a mirror.

The photos of Michalka, Strahovski and Waterhouse show the women topless and bottomless, with images of both their breasts and genitalia.

Rabe and Ireland meanwhile are topless in the photos that have been leaked online.

The images of Rabe date back to the time that she was filming the first and second season of 'American Horror Story' it seems based on the costumes she is wearing in some of the photos,

Horror: Yvonne Strahovski (left) and Suki Waterhouse (right) had alleged nude photos leaked online

Caught up: Leonard DiCaprio's ex Kelly Rohrbach (above) has also allegedly been targeted by hackers

More big names: Lara Bingle (left) and Audrina Partridge (right) are also reportedly naked in photos or video obtained from the hack

No game: Carice van Houten (above) of 'Game of Thrones' had images of herself posted online according to a report

This leak comes just a few weeks after images of actresses Emma Watson, Demi Lovato and Amanda Seyfried began circulating online, less than three years after nude photos and video of over 100 Hollywood star were leaked in what came to be called 'The Fappening.'

CELEBS ALLEGEDLY HACKED AJ Michalka (singer/actress) Audrina Partridge (The Hills) Carly Pope (Arrow) Carice Van Houten (Game of Thrones) Dianna Agron Kate Hudson Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) Kelly Rohrbach (Baywatch) Lara Bingle Worthington Miley Cyrus Rosario Dawson Suki Waterhouse (model) Whitney Port (The Hills) Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) Advertisement

Lovato was also among the victims of the original 'Fappening' leak as well, making this the second time she has been forced to deal with this situation.

In the new photo of Lovato she is laying in bed with her top unzipped while smiling at the camera.

Three years prior the images released of Lovato showed her in bed with boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama, with the two covered up in most of the shots.

There was however one image that was allegedly of Lovato's breasts and one of her backside among those that were leaked online.

The images of Watson and Seyfried first appeared on Reddit and 4chan last month, with hundreds of photos of the two A-list stars and other big names part of the online dump.

Watson was seen trying on clothes and in a swimsuit in her photos with the exception of a few that claimed to be of the actress filming herself nude in a bathtub.

There was no face visible in those videos however and Watson firmly denied that she was the person being filmed in a statement last week.

'Photos from a clothes fitting Emma had with a stylist a couple of years ago have been stolen,' said Watson's publicist.

'They are not nude photographs. Lawyers have been instructed and we are not commenting further.'

The images of Seyfried were more graphic and reportedly showed her with a former boyfriend.

Seyfried did not comment on the leak and her lawyers sent letters demanding that images of their client 'in various states of nudity or in intimate moments with her former boyfriend' be removed from websites.

Last hack: Demi Lovato (above earlier this month) had a nude image of herself leaked online in March

Scandal: Emma Watson (left) and Amanda Seyfried (right) had photos leaked just before Lovato

It is unclear who is behind this latest leak, but should they be caught the consequences will be severe as witnessed by the sentence handed down to Ryan Collins, the man who stole the nude photos of celebrities that were leaked back in 2014.

Collins accessed at least 50 iCloud accounts and 72 Gmail accounts, most of which belonged to female celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton and Kirsten Dunst.

He would send emails to the victims that appeared to be from Apple or Google, asking for their usernames and passwords, and then access their accounts after they responded with the information.

He would then access their email and, in some cases, download the entire contents of their iCloud backup.

The married father-of-two was ultimately sentenced to 18 months in jail for his crime.
Two Ohio inmates used discarded computers to access their prison's network to create passes to get into restricted areas and plan a tax fraud scheme.

A state watchdog released a report on Tuesday stating a lack of supervision at the Marion Correctional Institution allowed the prisoners to hide computers in the ceiling and run wiring to connect them to the network.

The two tech-savvy convicts were also able to access the internal records of other inmates as part of their scheme.

One of the prisoners planned to steal the identity of a fellow inmate and file tax returns under that inmate's name, officials said.

Two Ohio inmates used discarded computers to access their prison's network to create passes to get into restricted areas and plan a tax fraud scheme. Pictured is part of their illegal set-up

The two tech-savvy convicts were also able to access the internal records of other inmates as part of their scheme. This picture shows the spot where the computers were found hidden in the prison's ceiling

The inmates accessed websites that had information about manufacturing drugs and makeshift weapons, according to the report.

The scheme was discovered by prison technology employee Gene Brady, who was alerted when an inmate tried to bypass security controls using the stolen username and password of a former employee.

Brady had allowed the prisoners to go through salvage computers and other hardware, authorities said.

He has since been placed on paid leave.

This map shows how far one of the inmates had to travel with the computers - from the RET3 area to a training room at P3

Investigators concluded prison officials did not properly report the problem after finding the computers in July 2015.

Officials said then-Warden Jason Bunting failed to report the criminal activity to both the State Highway Patrol and the inspector general.

Bunting later resigned from his post at Marion to become superintendent of the Northwest Ohio Development Center.

These pictures show the room being used by the prisoners to store information and hard-drives before (left) they were caught, and after (right)

A prisons spokeswoman said authorities took steps to address some of those findings and will review the report to determine if any further action needed.

A Marion County prosecutor and the Ohio Ethics Commission are expected to review the findings to determine if any employees should be disciplined.

Officials also will determine if the prison Wi-Fi networks need to be strengthened.

This picture shows some of the wiring and connections that were used by the inmates in their scheme
A cable company is hiring off-duty police officers to accompany workers after a series of violent robberies on marked trucks in Cleveland.

Spectrum cable company is hiring the officers after five workers from other companies were robbed at gunpoint and a Spectrum employee was shot four times during a house call on January 24, according to Cleveland.com.

The 32-year-old Spectrum employee was shot by someone who drove by in a car and fired at least 10 gunshots at him.

Spectrum cable company (file image) is hiring the officers after five workers for other companies were robbed at gunpoint and a Spectrum employee was shot four times during a house call on January 24

A company spokesman said in an emailed statement that Spectrum has the safety of customers and employees as their 'highest priority'. The police officers (file image) will ride in full uniform and stand near Spectrum workers

He had been putting his climbing equipment on his truck. The employee was taken to a local hospital for injuries that were not life threatening.

A company spokesman said in an emailed statement that Spectrum has the safety of customers and employees as their 'highest priority'. The police officers will ride in full uniform and stand near Spectrum workers.

Since February 20, five workers from other companies have experienced armed robberies. All of the incidents happened between 10.30am and 1.30pm, according to Cleveland.com.

In February, a Lipton beverage delivery driver was robbed by two teens who stole the driver's cash and cellphone before running away.

A month later, the same teens were arrested for rummaging through a Direct TV worker's van. They stole the worker's wallet and two cellphones at gunpoint.

Also in March, a Dominion gas company employee was in his work van when a man opened the passenger door and pointed a gun at him. The robber stole a cellphone, $6 and a water pump, according to the news site.

Five days later on March 10, an Illuminating Company meter reader was robbed and carjacked at gunpoint by two men. They stole cash, cellphones and the car.

Most recently, a Digital Dish employee was held at gunpoint by two men who stole his wallet, iPad and iPhone, before hijacking his car.
An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for repeatedly raping a 13-year-old girl and murdering their 18-day-old son by suffocating him with a pillow.

Ron Turner learned his fate on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and 91 other criminal counts, including sexual abuse of a child and first-degree rape.

Investigators said Turner had previously confessed to smothering his newborn son, Prince Younique Ken Williams, using a pillow in an effort to stop rumors that he was the boy's biological father.

Infanticide: Ron Turner (left), 29, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the August 2016 suffocation murder of his 18-day-old son, Prince Williams (right), and for sexual assault of the baby's 13-year-old mother

According to prosecutors, DNA testing later confirmed that the 29-year-old was the boy's father, reported The Oklahoman.

Prince was born to his 13-year-old mother on August 5 and passed on August 23 at a home in the 900 block of East Side in Oklahoma City, where police were summoned for a report of an unresponsive baby.

Turner was arrested in connection to the infant's death in mid-December following a nearly four-month investigation.

Second suspect: Stephen Weeden, 27, has been charged with sexually assaulting the same 13-year-old victim

Under questioning, Turner admitted to holding a pillow over his son's face for 10 seconds until he stopped breathing, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Turner claimed that Princes mother had first tried to smother her son but was unable to do it, prompting him to step in.

The 29-year-old man also confessed to repeatedly sexually abusing the 13-year-old girl and four other minors between August 2015 and August 2016.

Another suspect, 27-year-old Stephen Weeden, has been charged with sexually assaulting the same 13-year-old victim.

Weeden told investigators that Turner forced him to have sex with the teenager, who later corroborated his story to police.

The girl said that both Turner and Weeden had multiple sexual encounters with her, and that Weeden would allegedly guard the door to her bedroom when she and Turner would have intercourse.

Under duress: Weeden told investigators that Turner forced him to have sex with the teenager

Recounting the chain of events leading to her newborn sons death, the girl said she watched Turner place a plastic bag over the babys head, and when that method failed, the man grabbed the pillow, according to court filings.

Fox 25 reported that the 29-year-old then allegedly threatened the girl that if she were to tell anyone about what happened, she would be lying next to her son. He then left the house.

The 13-year-old reportedly told police she knew what Turner did was wrong but she did not want him jailed.

Weeden is being held in jail on $200,000 bail and his case is still pending.
The municipal government of Beijing has introduced new financing models to develop its metro and intercity transportation system.

The Chinese capital is currently building 20 metro lines across the city and six railways linking Beijing with nearby cities Zhangjiakou and Tangshan. The projects will cost approximately tens of billions of yuan.

The municipal government of Beijing introduced an ABO model (Authorize-Build-Operate) last year to finance the construction of the transport system, the first among Chinese cities to do so. The municipal government authorized Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co., Ltd. (BII) to bear responsibility for building Beijings rail transit system.

Based on the agreement, the municipal government each year earmarks 29.5 billion yuanabout 40 percent of the total construction fundsto BII, while BII is responsible for the remaining funds.

BII has raised capital by bond financing, equity trusts, insurance funds and financial leasing, according to a company manager Zou Shunhua. The company has channeled social capitals for metro Line 14 and Line 16, which helped reduce 30 billion yuan of government funding.

BII is also responsible for the rail network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In late 2014, BII worked along with its counterparts in Tianjin and Hebei to establish the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Intercity Railway Investment Co., Ltd, which will build 24 railways in the region by the end of 2030.
As President Donald Trump stares down a looming crisis with North Korea, a majority of Americans don't have confidence in his ability to handle the situation.

The data contain a huge split between Republicans and Democrats on the confidence issue  with the president having lost the confidence of a majority of independents, according to a new CBS poll.

Asked about President Trump's ability to handle the situation, 56 per cent of Americans said they were 'uneasy' about his capabilities, compared to 39 per cent who said they were 'confident' about them.

Boosting the 'uneasy' faction were independent voters, who joined an overwhelming majority of Democrats who are concerned.

Fifty-seven per cent of Independents are uneasy about Trump's ability to deal with the situation, compared to just 34 per cent who say they are 'confident.'

A majority 56 per cent of Americans said they were 'uneasy' about President Trump's capability to handle the North Korea situation

There are stark party splits on the issue. Just 20 per cent of Democrats said they have confidence in the president on the issue, compared to an overwhelming 78 per cent of Republicans.

The contrasting reviews come as Trump continues to try to keep the heat on China after pushing President Xi Jinping to use his country's influence to try to resolve the issue.

Trump wrote on Twitter Thursday: 'I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will!'

The tweet ended simply with the abbreviation: 'U.S.A.'

CONFIDENCE GAME: A CBS poll shows a major party split over confidence in President Trump's ability to handle the North Korea situation

Trump is promising to solve the North Korea with or without China

The reviews of Trump's ability to handle the challenge which has vexed several previous admissions comes as the administration has been amping up its rhetoric in response to North Korea.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday that provocations from North Korea have become 'too common, too dangerous to ignore any more.'

'Theres a realization that the time for talk, the time for some of this  kind of long term negotiation strategy and engagement is past,' Toner said.

Trump said Thursday that North Korea is 'a problem it will be taken care of.'

Trump said in the Fox Business interview that North Korea was the first issue he raised with Xi.

'I said you've got to help us with North Korea, because we can't allow it. And it's not good for you. And you have a tremendous power because of trade,' Trump said.

The smiling North Korean leader is seen watching his 'elite fighting force' on a military training exercise

'Now, he then explains thousands of years of history with Korea. Not that easy. In other words, not as simple as people would think,' Trump said, commenting on an issue that has bedeviled policy makers for decades.

'They've had tremendous conflict with Korea over the years. Now, his father was in China four times. He was never in China,' he said, referring to Kim Jung-un.

'Now, he then explains thousands of years of history with Korea. Not that easy. In other words, not as simple as people would think.' - President Trump describing his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping

'So I said, look, you have a tremendous power because of trading through the border. If they don't get food, they don't get, you know, they can't sell their coal. In fact, I hear today two massive coal ships from North Korea were sent back to North Korea, heading to China. They were sent back, which is a very good sign.'

Trump added: 'But I think China can help us. I hope China can help us. We talked about trade and I can tell you, China will do much better on trade if they help us with North Korea.'

According to the poll, there has been a drop in the number of Americans who say he is 'too friendly' with Russia. Trump said relations with Russia had reached an all time low, days after the U.S. attacked Syria in response to a chemical weapons attack.

Forty-eight percent say his approach to Russia is about right, compared to 35 per cent who say he is too friendly with Moscow, a drop from 43 per cent in February.
Police have located a 26-year-old Boston University law student, whose belongings were found abandoned on the bank of the Charles River Thursday morning.

Tamika Danielle Jeune was found safe at a South Shore hospital.

It's still unclear how she got there, or why she was admitted.

Police have located 26-year-old Boston University law student Tamika Danielle Jeune, whose belongings were found abandoned on the banks of the Charles River Thursday morning

Jeune was located at a South Shore hospital Thursday morning. Above, a view of the Charles River

A passerby found Jeune's computer, BU identification card, wallet, shoes and other belongings early Thursday morning.

Jeune is from Dorchester and lives in an off-campus apartment on Beacon Street.
Pictures have emerged of the 'beautiful piece of chocolate cake' which President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were eating when he decided to inform his guest about the US missile attack on a Syrian airfield.

Trump told Fox Business interviewer Maria Bartiromo: 'I was sitting at the table. We had finished dinner. We're now having dessert. And we had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you've ever seen and President Xi was enjoying it.

Now a photograph has been posted on Instagram of the cake the pair were eating at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when the President decided to break the news.

Lawyer Lucas A Ferrara posted the picture and wrote: 'Want a slice of Trump? (Then you have to try his chocolate cake).'

Lawyer Lucas A Ferrara posted a photograph of the chocolate cake which Trump and Xi shared

SWEETENER: President Trump says he broke the news to Chinese President Xi Jinping about an imminent U.S. attack on Syria over dessert during their meeting last Friday at Mar-a-Lago

'And I was given the message from the generals that the ships are locked and loaded, what do you do?' Trump explained. 'And we made a determination to do it, so the missiles were on the way. And I said, 'Mr. President, let me explain something to you.'

'This was during dessert,' he reemphasized.

'So what happens is I said we've just launched 59 missiles heading to Iraq and I wanted you to know this. And he was eating his cake. And he was silent.'

Bartiromo then corrected that the president meant to say Syria, where the U.S. launched strikes following a chemical weapons attack that the U.S. says President Bashar al-Assad conducted on his own people.

Trump said he decided to inform Xi to avoid an even more awkward situation.

I WILL TELL YOU: Trump recounted the delicate discussion during a conversation with Fox Business interviewer Maria Bartiromo

WHAT'S FOR DESSERT? Trump passed on the news to Chinese President Xi Jinping to avoid an even more awkward situation when Xi returned home

'And I want you to know that, because I didn't want him to go home. We were almost finished. It was a full day in Palm Beach. We're almost finished and I  what does he do, finish his dessert and go home and then they say, you know, the guy you just had dinner with just attacked a country?' Trump said.

Asked how the often stone-faced Chinese leader responded, Trump said: 'So he paused for 10 seconds and then he asked the interpreter to please say it again. I didn't think that was a good sign.'

'And he said to me, anybody that uses gases  you could almost say or anything else  but anybody that was so brutal and uses gases to do that young children and babies, it's okay.'

'We had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you've ever seen and President Xi was enjoying it,' Trump said, describing the moment he broke the news

Asked directly whether Xi agreed with the strike, Trump said: 'He was okay with it. He was okay.'

China's foreign ministry took a much harsher view of the attack, according to a statement picked up in the Russian state media.

China has long inveighed against what it considers U.S. military aggression and interference in other nations' affairs, making a new Middle East attack a delicate diplomatic situation.

Trump teased the story when asked how it came about, and didn't bat down the suggestion that 'right there, you're saying a reminder, here's who the superpower in the world is, right?'

'You have no idea how many people want to hear the answer to this. I have watched speculation for three days now on what that was like,' he said, prompting Bartiromo to ask if it happened 'before dessert or what?'
The US-led coalition has killed 18 'friendly fighters' in Syria after mistaking them for ISIS fanatics, it has emerged.

An airstrike accidentally targeted a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) unit which was battling the terror group south of Tabqa, which is near the strategically important Euphrates River.

It is not clear which air force was behind the April 11 strike, which hit advancing allied fighters not far from the Tabqa dam and military airport close to the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

It is understood the victims were killed after giving the wrong coordinates to the US.

An airstrike accidentally targeted a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) unit which was battling the terror group south of Tabqa, in the province of Deir al-Zor (file picture)

The US-led coalition said in a statement: 'The strike was requested by the partnered forces, who had identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position.

'The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position.

'The coalition's deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families.

'The coalition is assessing the cause of the incident and will implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.'

WHO ARE THE SDF? The Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) is a predominantly-Kurdish force from the People's Protection Units, or YPG, but also includes ethnic Assyrians, Turkmen, Armenians and Arabs. The US-led coalition is supporting the SDF with arms, air strikes, training and advice as they fight ISIS. Advertisement

Officials were assessing the cause and would 'implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future,' the statement added.

The strike occurred on April 11, just days after Donald Trump ordered a wave of missile strikes on one of dictator Bashar al-Assad's airbases.

SDF troops backed by coalition air power and other military assistance have been fighting for control of Tabqa since March.

The town is considered an important waypoint ahead of the main offensive for Raqqa, ISIS' last bastion in Syria.

In its own statement, the SDF described the incident as a 'painful accident' resulting from a 'mistake'.

'The accident caused a number of deaths and injuries,' the statement said.

'The general command of the Syrian Democratic Forces is coordinating with international coalition forces to investigate the incident and uncover the reasons and conditions that led to this accident.'

The US-led coalition has killed 18 'friendly fighters' in Syria after mistaking them for ISIS fanatics, it has emerged. It is not clear which airforce carried out the strike (file picture)

Washington has blamed a chemical weapon attack last week on President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and launched cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week

The friendly fire comes as the Syrian army claimed a separate US-led air strike hit poison gas supplies belonging to jihadists, releasing a toxic substance that killed 'hundreds including many civilians'.

The bombing in the eastern Deir al-Zor province late on April 12 proved ISIS and al Qaeda-linked militants 'possess chemical weapons', a statement by the army flashed on Thursday by Syrian state TV said.

The report could not immediately be independently verified.

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State on Thursday denied the Syrian army report.

U.S. Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in the area of Deir al-Zor at the time.

'The Syrian claim is incorrect and likely intentional misinformation,' Dorrian said in an email to Reuters.

The Russian defence ministry said it had no information about people killed in an attack by international coalition forces in Deir al-Zor, according to RIA news agency. A ministry spokesman said Russian forces had sent drones to check the area.

Earlier, Russia's foreign minister said Moscow expects the UN's chemical weapons watchdog to conduct an extensive probe into last week's chemical attack in Idlib, Syria.

Sergey Lavrov said that inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should visit the affected areas to get a full and objective picture.

The US blamed the Syrian government for launching the attack, but Russia claimed that the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian planes.
Britain's spy chiefs have issued a call for Russian speakers to help protect the nation as a war of words heats up with the Kremlin.

The Government is urging linguists to take up a 'fascinating career in intelligence' by joining MI5 or GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters).

Successful applicants to the 30,490 role will be analysing Russian intelligence to keep the country safe as relations with Vladimir Putin's administration remain strained.

The Government is urging Russian linguists to take up a 'fascinating career in intelligence' by joining MI5 or GCHQ (pictured, the GCHQ building in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

While the job demands a grasp of the Russian language, it will go 'beyond translation and transcription' with applicants needing a knowledge of the culture, history, politics and ideology of the country.

The application states: 'There are openings for Russian specialists at both MI5 and GCHQ.

'MI5 is responsible for the domestic security of the UK  the work of linguists helps to identify and counter threats to the UK from terrorism, espionage and proliferation.

'GCHQ is focused on collecting foreign intelligence which linguists translate and analyse to protect the UK from threats such as terrorism, hackers, espionage and organised crime. Technology is critical to meeting these 21st Century threats.'

Pictured: The GCHQ's Twitter advert for their new role, which starts at a salary of 30,490

The call by the GCHQ comes just two days after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ordered Russia to 'live up to its responsibilities as a global power', after the Kremlin vetoed a UN resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Mr Johnson said he was 'dismayed' by the move and urged Putin to use his influence with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to bring the war to an end.

'Last week in Syria, a barbaric attack was committed,' he said.

'British scientists have completed an analysis of samples obtained from the site of the attack and concluded that sarin, or a sarin-like substance, was used.

'Our assessment, like that of the US, is that it is highly likely the Assad regime was responsible.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was 'dismayed' that Russia vetoed a UN resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria

Britain's UN ambassador Mark Rycroft has lashed Russian support for the 'murderous, barbaric criminal' Assad and warned the Kremlin it was on the 'wrong side of history'

'I am dismayed that Russia has once again blocked the UN Security Council and in so doing refused to condemn the use of chemical weapons or support a full UN investigation into the attack.

'This puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument. But it doesn't have to be this way.'

Britain's UN ambassador Mark Rycroft has also lashed out at Russian support for the 'murderous, barbaric criminal' Assad and warned the Kremlin it was on the 'wrong side of history'.

But in a special session of the UN Security Council in New York, Russia's ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role.
The veteran journalist who was randomly attacked during rush hour on the New York subway is speaking out, as police appeal to the public for information about her attacker.

Cate Corcoran, 51, was attacked on the A Train in Brooklyn around 6pm on Wednesday, as the train approached the Nostrand Avenue station.

Corcoran, the editor of real estate blog Brownstoner, was sitting and looking at her iPhone when a man viciously punched her in the face, sliced her cheek with an unknown object and then took her phone and ran from the train car.

'I just worried that I was going to bleed to death  fortunately, that didnt happen,' Corcoran said in an interview with the New York Post.

Police said the attack was unprovoked and came without warning.

Cate Corcoran, 51, was attacked on the A Train in Brooklyn around 6pm on Wednesday. Police are seeking the suspect seen right in the brazen rush hour assault

Cops secure the scene as they investigate the assault. The woman was transported to hospital and received several stitches for the cut in her face

'I just worried that I was going to bleed to death  fortunately, that didnt happen,' Corcoran said. The veteran journalist edits the Brooklyn real estate blog Brownstoner

'I have heard about a lot of the subway slashings over the year,' Corcoran said, referring to an apparent rising trend in the vicious attacks.

Witnesses said blood streamed down Corcoran's face after the attack, and that paramedics rushed to the scene.

'They [paramedics] wrapped everything, they wrapped her whole face and they took her out on a stretcher,' witness Joel Cabrera told CBS New York.

Corcoran was transported to an area hospital and received 40 stitches before being released later that evening.

The stoic New Yorker, who moved from San Francisco just weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks, said she would not be deterred from taking the train in the future.

'That would be impractical,' she told the Post. 'In the future I will be careful to ride in a car closer to the conductor and with more people in it.'

Meanwhile police have appealed to the public for information about her suspected attacker, who ran from the train and slipped through the Nostrand Station turnstiles before cops arrived at the scene.

Police describe the suspect as a black man with a beard, between the ages of 25 to 30, 5'11" to 6' tall, roughly 250 to 300lbs. He was wearing a red hooded jacket and black jeans at the time of the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Theresa May dismissed Bashar Assad's denial over the Syrian chemical weapons attack today - insisting only his forces had the ability to carry out the atrocity.

The Prime Minister set out an uncompromising line after the dictator denied responsibility, and even suggested footage of the horrors could have been faked.

'It is only the (Assad) regime who has the capability to make such an attack,' she told journalists on a visit to the Sandhurst military academy this afternoon.

Mrs May also praised the 'excellent job' Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson did at a summit of G7 ministers - despite his failure to secure agreement on sanctions against Russia.

Theresa May (pictured on a visit to Sandhurst military academy today) has dismissed Bashar Assad's denial over the Syrian chemical weapons attack

Assad branded claims his regime carried out a sarin gas attack on his own population '100 per cent fabrication'

Scores of civilians died when sarin was deployed in a town in Idlib province, prompting Donald Trump to launch a punitive missile strikes against one of the regime's airfields.

The strikes were welcomed by the UK and the West, but have sent relations with Russia - Assad's staunchest supporter - into a tailspin.

It was Mrs May's first public comments since the crisis erupted last week, after she spent the past five days on a walking holiday with husband Philip in North Wales.

But Downing Street has insisted she remained fully in touch and was still speaking to other world leaders.

In an interview with AFP today, Assad, who faces calls to be tried as a war criminal, suggested video footage of the alleged atrocity could be fake, and said: 'The story is not convincing by any means'.

He insisted it was 'not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now.'

And referring to footage which showed people foaming at the mouth, which sent shockwaves around the world, he said: 'We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?'

The US and UK say tests carried out on the site have established the presence of sarin gas, or a similar substance.

At a summit of G7 foreign ministers in Italy earlier this week, Mr Johnson appealed for the imposition of sanctions on Russia for refusing to abandon support for Assad.

But he was snubbed by counterparts, with Germany and Italy warning against backing Moscow 'into a corner'.

Mrs May today dismissed criticism that her Foreign Secretary had bungled the situation by making the bloc appear divided. 'Boris Johnson did an excellent job at bringing together the G7, bringing together international opinion,' she said.

Mrs May said that Boris Johnson (pictured at the G7 summit in Italy this week) did an 'excellent job' despite failing to get agreement on sanctions

Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the gas, experts stated

Assad's interview was released less than 24 hours after world leaders clashed over a UN resolution condemning the attack, which human rights groups say killed 87 people.

Tensions boiled over in a fraught UN discussion over Russia's support for Syria when a furious ambassador from Moscow snapped at a British diplomat: 'Look at me while I'm talking to you'.

Jabbing his finger towards Matthew Rycroft, Russias deputy ambassador Vladimir Safronkov responded furiously to claims that Moscow had been 'humiliated' in its support for dictator Bashar al-Assad.

The extraordinary outburst came as Russia vetoed a UN resolution condemning the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and urging a speedy investigation into a chemical attack which claimed 87 lives last Tuesday.

Mr Safronkov said: Look at me, when Im speaking, dont look away. Why are you looking away?'

And he told the British ambassador: Youre losing sleep that we might be working together with the United States, co-operating with the United States  that is what you fear.

'Youre doing everything to make sure this kind of co-operation is undermined. He added: What have you done to advance a cease-fire? You welcome various opposition groups in London and Paris, illegal armed groups.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador Vladimir Safronkov snapped during discussions about a resolution condemning the use of chemical weapons in Syria
A Delaware judge on Thursday convicted Trinity Carr, 17, of homicide after a school bathroom fight that left a 16-year-old girl dead.

Family Court Judge Robert Coonin delivered his ruling after hearing a week of testimony in the nonjury trial, according to WDEL.

An autopsy found that Amy Joyner-Francis died of sudden cardiac death, aggravated by physical and emotional stress from the April 2016 fight at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington.

Carr was charged with - and ultimately convicted of - criminally negligent homicide for her role in the fight, which was captured on cellphone video.

The judge ruled that Carr's assault against Joyner-Francis was premeditated, and that is why she was deserving of a guilty verdict.

Video courtesy of CBS Philly

Trinity Carr (center) is seen exiting the New Castle County Courthouse with family following closing arguments in her case on Thursday

A Delaware judge on Thursday convicted Carr (above), 17, of homicide after a school bathroom fight that left a 16-year-old girl dead

An autopsy found that Amy Joyner-Francis (above) died of sudden cardiac death, aggravated by physical and emotional stress from the April 2016 fight at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington

'(Carr) struck the first blow without warning, carried on a relatively brief but violent attack and she had to be pulled off her victim,' Coonin said, according to The News Journal.

Two other 17-year-olds, Zion Snow and Chakeira Wright, were charged with misdemeanor conspiracy.

All three, who were 16 when the fight happened, were tried as juveniles.

Defense attorneys argued that the death of Joyner-Francis, who had a rare heart condition undetected by her doctors, was unforeseeable.

Carr was charged with - and ultimately convicted of - criminally negligent homicide for her role in the fight, which was captured on cellphone video (above)

They also suggested that she was a willing participant in a fight between 'mutual combatants.'

Prosecutors argued Joyner-Francis was not looking for a fight but trying to avoid one, and that she would not have died had she not been assaulted.

'Distress, the unexpected nature of the attack, the brute ferocity of it raining upon her, all led to Amy's death,' deputy attorney general Sean Lugg said during closing arguments this week, adding that the alleged assailant showed 'a level of barbarism that reasonably would result in the outcome.'

Carr's attorney, John Deckers, argued that Carr shouldn't be held culpable for Joyner-Francis' death because a reasonable person would expect the consequence of a school fight 'is not death, but rather discipline.'

All three girls charged in the case opted not to testify.

Coonin ruled last year that Carr would be tried as a juvenile.

Had she been tried and convicted as an adult, Carr would have faced up to eight years in prison.

Paramedics (pictured) wheeled Joyner-Francis out of the school on the morning of April 22, 2016 in Wilmington, Delaware

Medics performed CPR on the victim before a helicopter arrived to transport her to a hospital

A student cried in front of Howard High School of Technology after a city official announced that Joyner-Francis had died

Dr. Richard Ringel, a pediatric cardiologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, testified that Joyner-Francis suffered from Eisenmenger syndrome, an extremely rare condition for someone her age in which a heart defect combines with severe pulmonary hypertension.

While Ringel did not dispute the autopsy results, he said there was no way of knowing that Joyner-Francis was at risk of sudden death, any more than a person could predict that an athlete who appears healthy and fit one day suddenly collapses and dies on the playing field the next day.

Prosecutors said that in an online group chat the day before the attack, Joyner-Francis offered advice to one of her friends about a problem involving a boy, telling her friend to 'just be careful.'

A detective testified that the defendants were later brought into the chat, and that the alleged attacker thought Joyner-Francis - who had warned that someone might betray another person - was talking about her.

Chakeira Wright (right) is seen leaving the New Castle County Courthouse following closing arguments Tuesday. She's charged with third-degree conspiracy in the death of Joyner-Francis

Zion Snow (right) is also charged with third-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor

A Snapchat posting by one of the defendants that same day shows Joyner-Francis talking to Carr in the bathroom, purportedly to try to defuse the situation.

The posting notes that the girl later charged with homicide was 'bouta fight her,' followed by several emojis indicating that a person was laughing so hard she was crying.

The fight broke out around 8:15am on April 22 of last year before classes at the vocational school.

An autopsy concluded that Joyner-Francis died from a 'cardiac incident' that stemmed from a pre-existing heart condition, rather than injuries sustained in the beating.

But the state Department of Justice said: 'The cardiac incident would not have occurred if she had not been assaulted.'

Joyner Francis suffered cuts and bruises and had her fingernails ripped out, according to a police detective's testimony.

A video of the fight also shows Carr punching Joyner-Francis in the head and chest, with witnesses saying someone slammed her head against a sink.
A drone capable of detecting sharks with a 90 per cent success rate will roll-out at Australian beaches next summer to help prevent deadly attacks.

The Westpac Little Ripper Lifesaver can spot sharks from the air in real-time and alert swimmers through an in-built megaphone.

Little Ripper Chief operating officer Ben Trollope told 9 News the drone will detect sharks quicker and help save more lives.

The Westpac Little Ripper Lifesaver can spot sharks from the air in real-time with a 90 per cent success rate. The drone also has the capability to alert swimmers through an in-built megaphone

Ground-breaking drone technology means the Little Ripper is capable of distinguishing between sharks and other marine life

Little Ripper Chief operating officer Ben Trollope (left) said the drone will detect sharks quicker and help save more lives

'We believe this is something that will give us the capability of seeing sharks a lot more readily and we think it should be rolled out worldwide,' he said.

Aerial patrols by helicopter detect sharks with an accuracy of 19 per cent, while by plane is only 12 per cent, according to 9 News.

Ground-breaking drone technology means the Little Ripper is capable of distinguishing between sharks and other marine life.

The result is a shark-patrol that is up to eight times more effective than traditional methods.

A whaler shark spotted last weekend off the coast of south New South Wales. There were 26 recorded shark attacks in Australia in 2016, including two fatalities

Little Ripper drones are battery powered, 'unmanned helicopters' which have autopilot capabilities.

They were first trialed in early 2017 at beaches on the east coast, including in Byron Bay.

Little Ripper drones will patrol 'most main beaches' in Australia from summer onward, 9 News said.

There were 26 recorded shark attacks in Australia in 2016, including two fatalities, according to the Australian Shark Attack File.
Prince Charles could become Prince of Transylvania as one of the country's mayors is offering him a new title to add to his collection.

Charles has boasted in the past of sharing a bloodline with legendary 15th-Century prince Vlad the Impaler and the Mayor of Alba Iulia hopes to extend the similarities.

A spokesman for the mayor of the Transylvanian city of Alba Iulia said Charles had been offered the honorific title because of his promotion of Transylvania.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales receives a hug from Valentine Blacker, son of William Blacker who is a local conservationist during a walking tour of the Old Town when he visited in March this year

His connection with the country goes far back, and he is said to have first fallen in love with Romania in 1988

Mihai Coser said that Charles is 'more Romanian than many Romanians.' So far, he says there has been no response to the offer.

Charles visits Romania yearly, including a three-day visit last month.

The prince already has a fair few titles, including Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

Prince Charles has set up an arm of his foundation in Romania, and they run a range of courses through the Transylvania area to preserve the way of life

Above, Prince Charles in Romania with the President Emil Constantinescu in 1998. He has visited the country every year for several years

One of his titles, Knight of the Garter, is the senior British Order of the Cavalry.

His Knight of the Thistle title comes second in precedence to this, and is Scotland's highest honour.

PRINCE CHARLES' 16 TITLES His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Knight of the Garter (KG) Knight of the Thistle (KT) Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) Order of Merit (OM) Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) Privy Counsellor (PC) Aide-de-Camp (ADC) Earl of Chester Duke of Cornwall Duke of Rothesay Earl of Carrick and Baron of Renfrew Lord of The Isles Prince and Great Steward of Scotland Source: Prince of Wales Advertisement

The Prince of Wales visits Romania every year, and also has an extension of his foundation to cover charitable work in the country.

The foundation offers 'hands-on courses from heritage restoration, to management and hygiene'.

Charles loves the country so much, he bought an 18th century house in Viscri in 2006, and restored it.

He also has a sustainable guest house in Zalanpatak, which boasts five bedrooms, and a drawing room with a huge fireplace.

The Prince is said to have become enamored with Romania after first visiting in 1988, telling people he was 'totally overwhelmed by its unique beauty and its extraordinarily rich heritage'.

In a special edition of BBC Radio 4s On Your Farm in 2015, he said: 'I hadn't been aware just how extraordinary this part of the world is with all its biodiversity, the wildflower meadows.

'It just seemed to me, particularly this area of the Carpathian mountains, to be literally the last unspoilt, untouched area.'

In March, Charles and Camilla were dispatched to Romania, Italy and Austria as part of a series of high-profile visits while the UK government triggered Brexit.

He went to Romania alone, meeting Romanian and British officials, before Camilla joined him later.

Prince Charles loves Romania, and the local people - seen here performing traditional music during a cisit in 2015 - seem to love him

During his 2015 visit, above, local media reported he was asked to judge a local lawn mowing contest

The monarchy was destroyed in Romania after the Second World War when the Communists came to power. Recent surveys say the idea of restoring the system is growing in popularity.

According to Romania Insider, a survey showed that two-thirds of people thought the monarchy should have been reinstated after the 1989 revolution.
English Heritage has been slammed after turfing an ice cream seller off his patch of more than 30 years to replace him with a burger van.

Melvin Nobbs said he has been running his ice cream van outside Deal Castle in Kent for three decades but has been given notice to move on.

The 62-year-old said he had 'built up a reputation' in the area and fears he will no longer be able to support his family or pay his mortgage if he moves to a new site.

English Heritage has applied for a licence to serve fast food, drinks and snacks at the site, which it owns, but the move has been criticised by local residents, who are campaigning for him to stay.

Ice cream seller Melvin Nobbs, left, has been told to leave his patch outside popular tourist attraction Deal Castle in Kent, right, by land owners English Heritage

Mr Nobbs, a married father of one, said he first feared his 'days were numbered' when the body asked him to sign a contract two years ago giving English Heritage 20 per cent of his profits in exchange for trading on its land.

He said: 'I was a bit shocked to get lumbered with a contract. I thought at the time, 'my days are numbered', and now this has come about.

'It's disappointing because the manager of the castle came out last summer saying that he wanted to tell me first that there was going to be a burger van but it wouldn't affect the ice cream van.

'The only thing it would affect would be the cold drinks.

'The money that I get here, I wouldn't be able to earn anywhere else. I give them 20 per cent which is a fair whack.

'I'll struggle to get other work. I'm worried because I have a family and a mortgage to pay.'

He added: '[Ice cream] is what people want and that's why people come here. I sell a totally fresh product whereas many others sell a long life ice cream.

'It's made in London by an Italian company. People say it's so nice and creamy.

'There's a lot of people who come here now because they know I've been here for so many years.

'But I don't know what I'm doing. I need security.'

Mr Nobbs, pictured, has been trading at the site for 30 years and fears being unable to support his family if he has to move. English Heritage wants to replace him with a fast food van

Mr Nobbs said he can sell as many as 300 Mr Whippy 99 ice cream cones on a summer day, which combined with drinks and other lollies can rake in as much as 1,000.

Local residents have called for him to remain at the site and said English Heritage is wrong to foist 'unhealthy and fatty snacks' on tourists visiting the castle.

Jayne Lennon, a 38-year-old mother-of-three who lives a mile from the castle, said 'It's outrageous - Melvin is always smiling and cheery, his ice creams are great and people love him.

'They shouldn't swap him for a burger van - it will be selling all sorts of unhealthy, greasy food.

'English Heritage is backed by the Government and I thought they wanted us all to steer clear of stuff that will make us pile on weight.

'People are going to be really upset about this and some are already talking about starting a petition to save Melvin and his van.

'Having an ice cream van in places like Deal Castle, where there are lots of holidaymakers and tourists, is an English tradition and we must fight to save it.'

Cowan Galloway, who lives opposite the 16th century castle, added: 'I really am incensed that someone can lose their livelihood in this cavalier way.

'Melvin has been there for more than 30 years. He is part and parcel of the furniture and seascape. He has no other means of an income.'

Residents have also complained about the potential bad smell a fast food van could bring as well as possible littering and seagull problems.

English Heritage, who own the land, have told Melvin there may be the opportunity to extend the notice.

Deal Castle, pictured, was built on the orders of Henry VIII in 1539 to protect Britain against a French invasion

Deal Town Council's planning committee recommended refusal for English Heritage's van in a unanimous decision taken at a meeting last Wednesday.

English Heritage, who own the land, have told Melvin there may be the opportunity to extend the notice.

The body said Melvin has been the only food seller allowed to operate on this particular stretch of beach since 2014.

Neil McCollum, English Heritage director for the South East said: 'We have always had a good working relationship with Mr Nobbs and we extended the notice we gave him so he could trade from Deal Castle over the busy Easter holidays.

'I'm sorry that he's worried, but I know that Deal Castle is not his sole patch, he also trades successfully from a number of different locations across the town, and we wish him all the best.'

Deal Castle was built on the orders of Henry VIII in 1539 to protect Britain against a French invasion.
Four dead bodies have been found in a Long Island park.

The corpses had suffered 'significant trauma' before they were discovered in Central Islip Park on Wednesday morning.

Police say they victims were recently murdered. They would not disclose the nature of the injuries, whether the victims were male or female or give any indication of their age.

Who found the bodies and whether police have yet honed in on any suspects is also not clear.

It comes six months after the discovery of the remains of five other teenagers in the area who police say were murdered by local high school gangs.

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Four dead bodies were found in Central Islip Park on Wednesday morning. The victims had suffered 'significant trauma'. Police were seen working in a wooded area of the park on Thursday (above)

Authorities are yet to reveal whether the bodies discovered on Wednesday are linked to the previous youths' deaths.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Justin Meyers spoke only to say the bodies found on Wednesday appeared to have suffered 'significant trauma'.

'We believe the homicides were committed recently,' he told Newsday.

In September, the bodies of two teenage girls aged 15 and 16 were found mutilated by machetes in nearby Brentwood.

Nisa Mickens, 15, was found in the street a day before her best friend Kayla Cuevas, 16, whose body was discovered in the backyard of a home.

The pair had both been beaten with bats before they were hacked at with knives.

After discovering their corpses, police bolstered their investigations into gangs in the area. The investigation led them to the discovery of another three teenagers' remains.

There was a large police presence at the park on Thursday morning as authorities continued to investigate

Suffolk Country forensic investigators worked at the park on Thursday morning

Police have been investigating gang violence in the area since the remains of five other teenagers were found in September

The skeletal remains of Oscar Acosta, 19, and Miguel Garcia-Moran, 15, who had been missing for months were found by train tracks while Jose Pena-Hernandez, an 18-year-old who was a well known gang member, was found in woods behind a disused psychiatric facility.

Authorities say he was killed in retaliation for breaking the protocol of a high school gang.

The other four killed were all students at Brentwood High School.

Police have not commented on whether the bodies found on Wednesday could be linked to the earlier murders or if the victims were teenagers or young adults.

Eight members of the gang MS-13 gang were arrested in March for the girls' members.
President Donald Trump took an optimistic tone toward U.S.-Russia relations on Twitter Thursday  hours after saying they were at an 'all time low.'

Trump's turnaround followed a press conference late Wednesday afternoon where his stance toward Russia was uncharacteristically negative, as the two powers stood at odds over the U.S. military action against Syria, a key ally of Moscow.

'Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!' Trump tweeted Thursday morning.

Just yesterday, Russia used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block a resolution on Syria. It's foreign ministry has denied U.S. claims that Russia may have had advanced knowledge of a the chemical weapons attack that prompted Trump to order the launch of 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield.

WE CAN WORK IT OUT: President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that things will end up 'fine between the U.S.A. and Russia,' a day after saying relations were at a low point

That military attack drew condemnations from Moscow, adding a new level of tension to a nuclear power with whom Trump hoped to forge improved relations and cooperation.

The U.S. used special procedures to provide a brief warning to Russians who were known to be on the ground at the airfield the U.S. struck as part of their mission to prop up Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in the bloody civil war there.

Trump's view of the state of U.S.-Russia relations was much more jaundiced on Wednesday, when he said flatly that the two nations were 'not getting along.'

He said it would be 'wonderful' if we could get along with Russia.

LASTING PEACE: President Donald Trump took an optimistic tone toward U.S.-Russia relations on Twitter Thursday

'Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all time low in terms of relationship with Russia, this was built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens.'

Then he added cryptically: 'Putin is the leader of Russia, Russia is a strong country, we've a very, very strong country. We'll see how that all works out.'

Trump spoke repeatedly during the campaign about how much better it would be if the U.S. could get along with Russia and join to fight against ISIS. But on Wednesday, he held out the possibility things might get worse.

'I'm also going to see about Putin over a period of time. It would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and we got along with Russia. And that could happen and it may not happen, it may be just the opposite,' Trump said.

'I would love to get along with everybody. Right now the world is a mess, but by the time we finish I think it's going to be a lot better place to live ... By the time I'm finished it's going to be a lot better place to live in because right now it's nasty.'

Trump did say that Tillerson had a 'very successful meeting' in Russia, where he met with Putin for two hours.

Although the specifics of that meeting haven't yet been revealed, Tillerson had a a frosty press conference with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

'We'll see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is what's most important, not just talk,' Trump said.

Trump also sent a signal of impatience with China, a day after he hailed the country's president.

GESUNDHEIT: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a cold reception in Moscow, where he held a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

'I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.,' Trump tweeted.

Trump at the Wednesday press conference called the president of China, Xi Jinping, a 'gentleman.'

'I don't know Putin but I do know this gentleman,' Trump said at the event, which he held with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

The FBI is investigating the ties of Trump associates and Russia, and there were reports this week that the feds got a special FISA Court warrant to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page during the campaign.

The same images of babies who got gassed in Syria that prompted Trump to order a military strike appears to have clouded his view of Moscow, who is providing military support to Assad in Syria.

''I would like to think that [Russia] didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out' if Russia knew about the gas attack in advance,' Trump said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and President Donald Trump hold a news conference in the East Room of the White House

GENTLEMEN: President Donald Trump (L) pumps his fist as he and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) walk together at the Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida

'It was very disappointing to see. It was disappointing no matter who does it. But when you get into the gases, especially that form, it was vicious and violent and everybody in this room saw it all too many times over the last three or four days, young children dying, babies dying, fathers holding children in their arms that were dead, dead children.'

'There can't be a worse sight and it shouldn't be allowed,' Trump continued. 'That's a butcher. That's a butcher. So I thought we ought to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing and it was very, very successfully done, as you well know.'
A stand-up comic who took a tongue-in-cheek shot at ISIS in the title of his latest show has revealed how the 'funny' gesture landed him 'in trouble' with police.

Luke Joseph Ryan, 32, called his latest comedy festival show 'Merry Christmas ISIS' hoping to grab the attention of reviewers and fans of the comedy festival  instead Victoria Police got involved.

The comic told Daily Mail Australia he came up with the name after finding a photograph of himself without a shirt on, in an army-inspired camouflage hat.

Luke Joseph Ryan, 32, called his latest comedy festival show 'Merry Christmas ISIS' hoping to grab the attention of reviewers and fans of the comedy festival  instead Victoria police got involved

The comic said the police presence at the theatre made him nervous

The comic, left, says he is a 'professional idiot' and didn't mean anything by his title

'I was with a friend and we decided this was the worst photograph you could use for a comedy show.

'Then we tried to think of a name to go with it  so we could have the worst show title as well.'

The gag saw anti-terror police contact Mr Ryan with 'serious questions about the content in the show'.

'The funny thing is in a 50 minute show there is like half a joke about ISIS and it goes for less than 30 seconds,' he said.

Being called by police was unnerving enough  but then police turned up to take guard at his shows.

'I was with a friend and we decided this was the worst photograph you could use for a comedy show,' he said

He said the show had 'nothing to do with ISIS' and of the 50 minute piece there was only 'half an ISIS joke'

'They could have done some research  I am in a theatre with less than ten people in the audience  I don't think I would be a good ISIS target,' he said.

The comic isn't sure if he can rule-out using the name of the terror organisation in further stand-up shows.

'I don't know if I have learnt my lesson or if this is really funny,' he said.

'I mean it was really stressful at the time  but I still don't know if what I have done is great or really bad.

Police arrived at the show to guard the building after phoning him to question the nature of his jokes

'I mean it was really stressful at the time  but I still don't know if what I have done is great or really bad,' he said

'I guess I did choose a word that would make people go argh,' he said.

The self-described 'professional-idiot' claims his comedy doesn't touch on serious issues.

'I am just silly  my show is just me being silly for an hour,' he said.

Mr Ryan took the show to Perth first where he didn't have anyone take issue with the name  it wasn't until he landed in Victoria concerns were raised.

'When I first got away with the name my friends were trying to say it was white privilege,' he said.

'But it did end up blowing up in my face  I guess a title like that is even bad if you are white.

The comic at the Astra's - the Merry Christmas ISIS show was meant to be his comeback to the annual comedy festival scene

'Then again if I was brown I would probably be in a jail cell for it.'

It was the comic's comeback at the festival  after he took a break from the scene for a few years.

'I thought I would return in style  get most of my attention from police instead of reviewers or mainstream media,' he said.

The show will come to Sydney where the comic hopes he doesn't have any more brushes with the law.

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that police attended the venue.

'Victoria Police conducted a proactive risk assessment of a one man show in Melbournes CBD to ensure the safety of all patrons,' the spokesperson said.

They would not comment on what the concerns of the show might be.

'As a long standing practice, Victoria Police do not comment on specific intelligence and security matters.'
China has flexed its military muscle on state television as tensions escalate between the US and North Korea.

China Central Television (CCTV) yesterday revealed footage of the country's various missiles in a daily military programme.

According to media, one of the weapons featured in the programme was DF-21 missile. The anti-ship ballistic missile boasts a firing distance of up to 1,926 miles (3,100km) and has been dubbed 'the killer of aircraft carrier'.

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China Central Television showed footage of the nation's powerful missiles yesterday. In the programme, by CCTV 7, multiple weapons, said to be DF-21 missiles (pictured), can be seen

DF-21 (pictured), an anti-ship ballistic missile, can reportedly strike up to 1,926 miles (3,100km) and it has been dubbed 'the killer of aircraft carrier'

Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate during a military parade on September 3, 2015 in Beijing. The missiles are potentially capable of sinking a U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in a single strike, media have claimed

The programme, Military Reports, was broadcast by CCTV 7, a channel dedicated to showing military and agricultural content.

The 30-minute show contained several reports, and the missiles appeared in the first two reports.

In the first report, the state-controlled station aired footage from a series of mock battles carried out by People's Liberation Army recently.

The exact location of the battles was not revealed, but it was reported to be deep in the Tianshan Mountains in western China.

In yesterday's programme on CCTV 7, the reporter introduced a meteorological expert working for the PLA Rocket Force, named Zhu Lishi. Meanwhile, footage of deadly missiles were used to help demonstrate Mr Zhu's job

The programme featured several drills carried out by the PLA Rocket Force, which handles the country's growing missile arsenal

The 30-minute show also mentioned a number of 'large scale' and 'intensive' mock battles the Chinese army have carried out recently in the Tianshan Mountains

The report then broadcast footage from the mock battles, which showed soldiers firing tanks and launching multiple missiles simultaneously

While introducing the mock battles, a female news anchor, who was dressed in a military uniform, said that the Chinese army had been focusing on mock battles in the past year.

She said: 'Officers and men spent all their thoughts and energy on battling and how to win battles.'

She added: 'Soldiers improve through drilling while an army improve through fighting.'

The report then broadcast footage from the mock battles, which showed soldiers firing tanks and launching multiple missiles simultaneously.

A brigade commander, named Ding Wei, told a CCTV reporter that these battles were 'large-scale, intensive and effective in examining military power'.

The Military Reports programme featured more missiles in its second report, which introduced a meteorological expert working for the PLA Rocket Force.

While the report praised how the man, named Zhu Lishi, used his meteorological knowledge to predict weather in order to ensure the accuracy of missile tests, the footage displayed the missiles in the arsenal.

Zhu Lishi (pictured) has served the Chinese army for 41 years. The man said he once helped the Rocket Force to successfully complete a test despite challenging adverse weather conditions

Mr Zhu said he was able to predict the movement of the clouds precisely and 'we managed to launch the missile into the gap of three clouds'

According to Chinese news website QQ.com, the missiles in the report are all DF-21 missiles. The QQ report said: 'The camera shows that the warehouse is filled with DF-21 missiles. Rows of DF-21 missiles were big, and when they were lifted, they showed absolute power.'

In the report, Zhu Lishi also shared a story on how he once helped the Rocket Force successfully complete a missile test which was interrupted by stormy weather.

Mr Zhu, who has served the army for 41 years, said that he was able to predict the movement of the clouds precisely and 'we managed to launch the missile into the gap of three clouds'.

This is not the only time CCTV 7 has shown off the country's arsenal of missile in April.

Another Military Reports, broadcast on April 6, revealed footage of a DF-10 missile being fired during a drill, according to China's guancha.cn.

The programmed introduced An Shuangbin, a technician from the PLA Rocket Force whose 'superb skills' in operating missiles have apparently become the inspiration for the whole team.

DF-10 is the best performing long-range cruise missile in the world, according to Sina.com.

Sina also said the 990-pound (450kg) beast could strike a maximum distance of 1,242 miles (2,000km) and could reach Japan and Taiwan if it's fired from inland China.

China Central Television revealed footage of a DF-10 missile being fired during a drill (pictured) in another programme aired on April 6

The programmed introduced An Shuangbin, a technician from the PLA Rocket Force whose 'superb skills' in operating missiles have apparently become the inspiration for the whole team

DF-10 is said to be the best performing long-range cruise missile in the world. It's been reportedly that the weapon can strike a maximum distance of 1,242 miles (2,000km)

Military vehicles carry DF-10 ship launched cruise missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China

China Central Television Station's missile coverage appeared at a sensitive time. In the past week, military tensions have been ramping up between US and North Korea, which borders China, over a nuclear test Kim Jong-un might carry out.

It was reported on April 10 that the Chinese army had deployed 150,000 troops to the North Korean border to prepare for pre-emptive attacks.

However, China's National Ministry of Defense denied the allegations during a press conference yesterday, calling them 'a total fabrication'.
Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's closest aide and the estranged wife of disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner, is reportedly meeting with publishers to discuss a book project.

Playbook revealed Thursday morning that an Abedin tell-all is likely in the works, with people approaching the Democratic nominee's longtime aide, hoping she will sell her story.

Hollywood Reporter heard from sources Abedin is seeking as much as $2 million for the tome, which has Hillary Clinton's blessing.

Top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin is talking to publishers about writing a book - and reportedly asking for $2 million to tell her story

Last week, Huma Abedin (far right) was spotted at the Women in the World Summt in New York City alongside Barkha Dutt (far left), Arianna Huffington (left) and Tina Brown (right)

Huma Abedin (right) stands behind her boss Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (left) on the eve of the presidential election, which Clinton would go on to lose to Donald Trump

The book, writes the Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel, is to be 'a reflection of how her personal and professional lives collided during the campaign.'

On the professional side of things, Abedin's boss was riding high in the presidential polls until FBI Director James Comey wrote a letter to Congress alerting them that more of the former secretary of state's emails were found.

That Friday afternoon announcement came 11 days before the presidential election.

While Clinton was cleared by the FBI, again, the emails becoming front and center, again, put a dent in her numbers, allowing for Donald Trump to win.

The personal backstory of this starred Abedin's husband Weiner, who DailyMail.com exposed for sexting with a minor, which opened a new FBI probe.

Clinton's emails were found on a computer that Weiner shared with his wife and turned over to the feds as part of the new investigation.

A selling point for Abedin, the Hollywood Reporter pointed out, is that she's never publicly talked about these incidents  whether it's her time on the presidential campaign trail or the dissolution of her marriage with the perverted ex-congressman.

While Hillary Clinton was running for the White House last year, her top aide Huma Abedin (left) stepped out with husband Anthony Weiner (right) at the Met Gala

Anthony Weiner (pictured) showed up to the Democratic National Convention last July, but by August top Hillary Clinton Huma Abedin had separated from the disgraced congressman

Abedin was seen in the documentary Weiner, which detailed her husband's 2013 New York City mayoral run, which was derailed thanks to his rabid sexting habits, but has rarely spoken publicly since.

While the aide worked for both the Clinton White House and Hillary Clinton in the Senate, she became a political curiosity 10 years ago during the run-up to the 2008 presidential campaign.

Back then, Vogue labeled Abedin Hillary's Secret Weapon.

Marrying Weiner in 2010 allowed her to be considered one of Washington's power couples.

But then, starting with Weiner's first sexting scandal in 2011, things started crashing down.

From there, Weiner had his unsuccessful and scandal-tainted mayoral run in 2013.

Abedin and Weiner separated in August 2016, after she discovered he was again being unfaithful, messaging women on the internet while their son lay beside him in bed.

And then, three months later, Hillary Clinton lost her second shot at the White House, and could assign Weiner some of the blame.

'She's more interesting than her husband. We know who she is. She's the ongoing mystery,' Princeton University presidential historian Julian Zelizer told the Hollywood Reporter. 'But she'll have to put herself out there. That's what the publisher will be looking for.'
This is the 'torture board' a woman was allegedly strapped to before being linked up to electrodes and having a 240 volt charge sent through her vagina during an S&M 'sex game'.

'Dominant' Keiren Batten, 43, who is allegedly obsessed with sadomasochistic sexual practices, is accused of sexually assaulting the 27-year-old woman while she was strapped to the wooden board and wearing a black gimp mask.

But Cambridge Crown Court he denied the charge and claims it was he who was electrocuted, with a jury told he 'liked to clamp his genitals'.

The court also heard today from a previous girlfriend of Batten, who told the court that she used to attach electric clamps to his genitals and nipples and plug the device into the mains.

Keiren Batten allegedly used this wooden 'torture board', pictured, to sexually assault a woman during an extreme S&M sex game

She said she also burnt his backside and nipples with a cigarette.

Batten, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is charged with sexually assaulting his alleged victim in 2014 by clamping the crocodile clips of a home-made electrical device to her vagina.

Prosecutor Simon Wilshire has described Batten as 'obsessed with sadomasochistic sexual practices' and having 'dangerous sexual desires re bondage, sadism and restraint'.

Today, the 6ft long, door sized, stained, wooden home-made board was brought into court and shown to the jury of seven women and five men.

They saw the leather belts, straps, chords, metal chain, hoops and sturdy fastening clips.

The board was found by police leaning against the wall of the woman's bedroom after she reported what had happened.

The court also heard that Batten had had admitted assaulting the former girlfriend who gave evidence today in 2010.

Batten, 43, allegedly gave a woman a 240v mains-electric shock on her vagina during an S&M sex game

In a written statement read by the prosecution, the ex-girlfriend said she and Batten had bondage sex, including using candle wax on her nipples, but that Batten never did anything sexually to hurt her.

She said she was never tied to the door but that she whipped and spanked Batten while he was tied to it.

She said she also attached crocodile clips to his testicles and nipples with one electrical device but didn't turn on the power as 'a tease'.

There was a second device with two prongs, which was turned on. She would attach it his testicles to give him an electric shock, she said.

In the current trial, the alleged victim claims Batten was controlling and that she agreed to his requests for '50 Shades of Grey' extreme sex because he said she was 'boring in bed'.

He is accused of whipping her and smacking her with a spiked paddle, tying her up with ropes, gagging her, dripping hot wax over her body, and making her wear a gimp mask and dress up.

She agrees she consented to him attaching the crocodile clips of the lamp lead to her nipples at first but then told him never to electrocute her again because of the pain.

But in another sex session he allegedly clamped her genitals and turned on the mainspower while she was strapped face down on the torture board, she alleges.

She told the court that when he went back on his promise not to turn the power on and did it felt like she was 'put into a microwave'.

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

'All you can hear is your ears going bang and everything in your body is hot.'

'I just caught my breath because you think you are going to die. I have never experienced anything so hideous in my life', she said.

Batten, of Hitchin, denies the one offence of sexual assaultin 2014 and two of common assault. The latter relate to a head butt and push during arguments.

Batten, who is defended by Neil Fitzgibbon, is due to start giving evidence next Tuesday.

As previously reported, the alleged victim said she thought she'd 'had a heart attack and would die'.

Speaking from behind a screen, the woman told the jury that being touched by the home-made electrical 'shocker' was 'like being put in a microwave.'

She said: 'It's like everything in your body in heat, really really hot. All you hear is your ears going bang.'

The court previously heard how a nurse who conducted a medical examination on the alleged victim found scars on her back and shoulder blades, but no injuries to her genital area.

The court heard how shortly after meeting one another, Batten introduced the woman to his 'sexual board' which was attached with rope and chains.

A sadomasochist tortured a woman with a home-made 'shocker', sending 240 volts through her vagina while she was strapped to the restraint board, Cambridge Crown Court was told

On a later occasion, it is alleged, she allowed Batten to attach the shocker to her vagina but only on the condition he did not switch the power on.

She told police that he turned it on against her wishes and she 'never experienced anything so hideous in my life'.

Batten also denies two offences of common assault involving alleged head-butt and shove.

The prosecutor said Batten and his ex had normal sex 'as well as consensual bondage type sex and during those activities Keiren Batten did not do anything sexually to hurt her'.

The trial continues.
A 19-year-old pneumonia patient was denied a life-saving lung transplant because he had marijuana in his system.

Utah teen Riley Hancey became sick over Thanksgiving and had to be put on life support within days of being admitted to the hospital.

Eventually, doctors said he would need a double lung transplant to survive. But they denied him a place on the transplant list after finding THC - the main intoxicant in marijuana - in his system.

Riley's father Mark Hancey was in the room when a doctor told his son he was going to die.

He says his son broke down in tears when the doctor said 'You will die. You better get your affairs in order,' according to KSL.

'She was willing to let him die over testing positive for marijuana. This is what shocked me,' he added to Buzzfeed News.

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Riley Hancey, 19, was denied a life-saving double lung transplant because he had marijuana in his system

The Utah teen came down with a severe form of pneumonia over Thanksgiving and had to be put on life support within days of being admitted to the University of Utah Hospital

Mr Hancey says that his son doesn't usually do drugs, but had some weed after Thanksgiving dinner, when he met up with an old friend.

'It's not like he's a smoker for 30 years and (had) deteriorating lungs because of that,' Mr Hancey said.

Marijuana can stay in the system for about a month after use, but tends to exit the system faster for infrequent users.

Officials at the University of Utah Hospital refused to talk specifically about Riley's case, but said that the medical center follows international guidelines for transplants and makes decisions on a case by case basis.

When the hospital discovered marijuana in the teen's system, they denied him a place on the transplant list, Riley's father Mark (father and son pictured above) said

The hospital said in a statement that they 'do not transplant patients with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use or dependencies until these issues are addressed'

Riley's parents scoured the country looking for another hospital that would take their son for a transplant

They said they were denied by half a dozen hospitals before the University of Pennsylvania agreed to take Riley and put him on their transplant list

'We do not transplant organs in patients with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use or dependencies until these issues are addressed, as these substances are contraindicated for a transplant,' the statement said.

Utah is one of the few holdout states that have not legalized marijuana for either recreational or medical use. It has been ok'd for a very narrow range of patients who suffer from seizures.

After being denied the transplant at University of Utah, Riley's parents started scouring the country for another hospital that would conduct the transplant.

They said they were denied by half a dozen hospitals before the University of Pennsylvania finally stepped up and agreed to perform the surgery.

Riley was taken by air ambulance to the Philadelphia hospital on February 17.

Riley was taken to the University of Pennsylvania by medical transport plane on February 17 (above)

He underwent an eight hour surgery on March 31 and has been recovering since then

A pair of lungs became available on March 31, when he underwent surgery.

'He looked so healthy,' his dad said after the eight-hour surgery. 'It made all the difference, and he still looks healthy. ... He still fighting, and he's doing well.'

Mr Hancey says his son is doing well after the surgery, but original plans to bring him back to Utah for his recovery have been cancelled because Riley is too weak.

Instead, he will spend the next year at Penn, recovering from the surgery. His family plan to take turns traveling back and forth from Utah to be by Riley's side.

Ironically, part of Riley's treatment at Penn has been the drug Marinal, a synthetic form of THC that stimulates appetite.

Doctors are positive that Riley will be able to get back to his outdoorsy lifestyle when he recovers.

Friends have set up a YouCaring page to help the family with the costs that won't be covered by insurance - such as flying to visit Riley. That fund has raised more than $23,000.
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has spoken out after her supposed fame on the holiday island of Bali has made her 'fat'.

Officials have said Corby has complained of being stressed after piling on the kilos, and she holds the local media responsible.

She claims she cannot swim or jog near her secluded home at a Kuta beach as she is constantly pursued by photographers, The Daily Telegraph reported.

She told Bali Immigration chief, Muhammad Natsir, that she is 'always chased by people' and revealed 'that's why I am fat now'.

Corby has also asked Bali Immigration and Corrections bosses when she will be allowed to return to Indonesia, with her imminent deportation back to Australia just a few weeks away.

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Schapelle Corby has claimed that she has become 'fat' because pesky photographers won't give her the space to exercise

Head of Bali corrections, Surung Pasaribu, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Corby was interested in returning to Indonesia.

'She's happy to go home, who wouldn't be? She's happy to be with family, to be with her mother, I think her father passed away,' Pasaribu said.

'She asked after she returned to Australia, how long until she can return to sightseeing in Indonesia?'

Foreigners who are deported from Indonesia are refused entry to the country for at least six months.

Yet the 39-year-old has questioned when she can 'return to sightseeing' in Indonesia amidst speculation she may be banned indefinitely.

Mr Natsir said her ban was not in the hands of immigration and she should liaise with the Indonesian Consulate on her return to Australia, according to The Age.

Schapelle Corby (pictured in 2008) has questioned Bali officials when she will be allowed to reenter Indonesia with her imminent deportation looming

'Her ban would be up to the arresting department, the initiator, not up to us.'

Her interest in returning to the country has fueled continuous speculation that she is in a relationship with imprisoned Ben Panangian - who she met during her time in prison.

However the two have remained tight-lipped about their relationship in public.

When asked by a judge about the nature of his involvement with the Australian during a court appearance back in December 2014, Panangian replied: 'I know her just as a friend', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

It is believed Panangian would struggle to receive an Australian visa upon his release due to his previous convictions.

Schapelle Corby is pictured with her rumoured boyfriend Ben Panangian, yet the supposed relationship could soon be coming to an end with her deportation back to Australia

Schapelle Corby's Balinese parole officer has revealed what the convicted drug smuggler is really like, just weeks before she is deported back to Australia.

Bali parole officer Ketut Sukiati said Corby, 39, was a different person behind closed doors, and very private.

'She was friendly, fine, she will greet everybody, smile, she will say good morning to every staff member,' Ms Sukiati said.

'She's not a very open person we have to talk to her slowly to get her to open up to us, so we can guide her [during her parole].

Corby will be deported back to Australia on May 27, more than 12 years after she was found with 4.2kg of cannabis in a body board bag she carried on a flight from Brisbane to Denpasar.

The then 27-year-old was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She won parole in 2014.

Ms Sukiati said Corby was desperate to return home, but was holding herself together.

'She said she wants to go home of course she looked normal when she said it, not too excited or anything,' Ms Sukiati said.

Schapelle Corby, with her face covered, reports for a parole hearing before being released on February 10, 2014

Ms Sukiati (pictured) said Corby was desperate to return home, but was holding herself together

The Balinese parole officer revealed Corby was a relaxed person, but her personality changed when media was nearby.

Ms Sukiati said Corby's 'face changed' and she 'closed off' when she saw a journalist or photographer.

She also claimed Corby was single, despite reports she was in a relationship with Indonesian man Ben Panangian.

Corby was photographed more than once alongside Panangian since her release from prison in 2014.

Ms Sukiati said Corby's 'face changed' and she 'closed off' when she saw a journalist or photographer (Corby pictured in a Denpasar District Court holding cell in 2006)

The former Gold Coast beauty therapist was released on parole in Febuary 2014 after she served nine years in the notorious Kerobokan jail.

She was ordered to remain on the idyllic holiday island until 2017 when her sentence finished.

Ms Sukiati revealed Corby was due to visit the parole office for the last time on May 27, after which she would be taken to the airport to be deported.

Bali immigration office head Ari Budijanto said Corby would be allowed to shield her face from media for the majority of her journey from Bali to Australia.

But Mr Budijanto said she would be forced to reveal her face when she was identified before boarding.

The former Gold Coast beauty therapist was released on parole in Febuary 2014 after she served nine years in the notorious Kerobokan jail (pictured inside Kerobokan prison in 2008)

Ms Sukiati (pictured third from right alongside fellow parole officers) revealed Corby was due to visit the parole office for the last time on May 27, after which she would be taken to the airport to be deported

Corby has remained silent about her plans upon returning home to her family on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

One of her parole conditions specified she must avoid the media.

Corby has maintained her innocence since she was arrested in 2004 and convicted of drug smuggling in 2005.
More than a dozen health violations were found in the kitchen at Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort just days before he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Miami Herald reports 13 faults were found in the president's kitchen - with most relating to 'dangerous fish' and food being stored in broken coolers.

Three of the violations were deemed to be a 'high priority', which is the classification given when 'illness-causing bacteria' could be found on dining room plates.

The findings came from a visit to the Palm Beach resort on January 26 - six days after his inauguration. Abe was with Trump at his Florida holiday spot across the weekend of February 12.

More than a dozen health violations were found in the kitchen at Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago resort just days before he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Trump is pictured with Melania Trump at the resort on February 4

A total of 13 faults were found in the president's kitchen - with most relating to 'dangerous fish' and food being stored in broken coolers. Pictured is the dining room at the Mar-A-Lago in November 2016

One of the specific findings in the report, according to the Herald, was that: 'fish designed to be served raw or under-cooked had not undergone proper parasite destruction.'

As a result of that incident, the kitchen crew was told to throw all the fish away or cook it immediately.

Another violation related to meats being stored at dangerous temperatures.

The Herald reports investigators found duck and raw beef were kept at 50 degrees, chicken at 49 degrees, and ham at a staggering 57 degrees.

The findings came from a visit to the Palm Beach resort on January 26. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was with Trump at the resort across the weekend of February 12

The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service says all raw meat should be stored at below 40 degrees.

Some of the other violations included rusted shelves inside walk-in coolers, and sink water where employees washed up being too cold to actually sanitize their hands.

The violations were revealed after Trump came under fire for his frequent trips to the resort since he took office.

Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are seen together at the Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida on February 11

Trump, who said during the election campaign he would 'rarely leave the White House', has traveled to the Palm Beach spot on seven weekends since he was sworn in.

It is estimated those trips have cost $23.1million.

By contrast, Obama spent just under $97million on travel in his eight years as president, according to Judicial Watch, a government watchdog. The costs work out at an average of $12.1million a year.
Hours after warning China that the U.S. and its allies will restrain North Korea if it is unable to do so itself, President Donald Trump said the conflict with the country 'will be taken care of.'

A strike on ISIS in Afghanistan today may have served as a warning to shot to China.

'It doesnt make any difference if it does or not,' Trump said Thursday at the end of an unrelated Roosevelt Room event. 'North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of.'

He issued the pronouncement a day after hailing China's Xi Jinping as a 'gentleman' who 'wants to help us with North Korea.'

Trump said Thursday afternoon: 'I think China has really been working very hard. Ive really gotten to like and respect, as you know, President Xi, terrific person, spent a lot of time together in Florida, hes a very special man.'

But his language about the U.S. and its allies left open the possibility of military action against a nation that borders China and has been propped up by Beijing over the years.

WATCH OUT: Hours after warning China that the U.S. and its allies will restrain North Korea if it is unable to do so itself, President Donald Trump said the conflict with the country 'will be taken care of'

Trump said in a tweet Thursday morning, 'I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will!' Trump wrote.

The message ended simply with the abbreviation: 'U.S.A.'

He was equally cryptic in a comment to Fox Business that aired Wednesday, where he was asked what he had planned for North Korea, a hermetic nation believed to have developed several nuclear weapons.

'You never know, do you?' Trump responded.

'I don't want to talk about it. We are sending an armada, very powerful. We have submarines, very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that I can tell you,' Trump continued. 'And we have the best military people on Earth. And I will say this. He is doing the wrong thing. He is doing the wrong thing.'

Trump and Xi spoke on the phone Wednesday evening, U.S. time to follow up their visit last week at Mar-a-Lago.

The official statement from President Xi, as translated by CNN, stated the goal of resolving the issue 'through peaceful means.'

He issued the pronouncement a day after hailing China's Xi Jinping as a 'gentleman' who 'wants to help us with North Korea'

The president said he has 'great confidence' in China's ability to solve the problem

'China adheres to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula and insists on preserving peace and stability on the peninsula. China advocates to resolve the issue through peaceful means, and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the US on the Korean Peninsula issue,' according to the official statement.

At a news conference the following day, Trump vouched for the Chinese leader in personal terms, even as he kept noteworthy distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'I don't know Putin, but I do know this gentleman,' Trump told reporters at a press conference along with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 'President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together.'

Trump gushed on Wednesday about his meetings and dinner with Xi at Mar-a-Lago that reached no known accommodations on trade or Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea but brought them closer together

Trump gushed about his meetings and dinner with Xi at Mar-a-Lago that reached no known accommodations on trade or Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea but brought them closer together.

'I've spent a lot of time with him over the last two days and he is the president of China. You were there, most of you were there and it was quite an interesting period of time,' Trump said.

Continuing, he said, 'I think he wants to help us with North Korea, we talked trade, we talked a lot of things, and I said the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea.

'Otherwise we're just going to go it alone. That will be alright too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations,' Trump declared, hinting at comments he would make on Thursday. 'But I was very impressed with President Xi and I think he means well and I think he wants to help, we'll see whether or not he does.'

Earlier, Trump told Fox Business that when he told Xi that the U.S. had launched an attack against Syria, Xi told him he was 'okay' with it.

Analysts believe that the activity at the site is indicative of final preparations for another nuclear test. This satellite image, taken yesterday, shows 'small groups of people' working at the facility

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and President Donald Trump hold a news conference in the East Room of the White House

Trump also hailed the diplomatic accomplishment of China's abstention at the UN Security Council of a vote to condemn Syria. Russia vetoed it anyway.

'We did talk last night, I think it's wonderful that they abstained, as you know very few people expected that and no I was not surprised that China did abstain,' Trump said, having spoken with Xi by telephone late Tuesday.

'Very few people thought that that was going to happen, so we are honored by the vote, that is the vote that should have taken place.'

Trump said in the Fox Business interview that North Korea was the first issue he raised with Xi.

'I said you've got to help us with North Korea, because we can't allow it. And it's not good for you. And you have a tremendous power because of trade,' Trump said.

'Now, he then explains thousands of years of history with Korea. Not that easy. In other words, not as simple as people would think,' he said, commenting on an issue that has bedeviled policy makers for decades.

GENTLEMEN: President Donald Trump (L) pumps his fist as he and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) walk together at the Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida

'They've had tremendous conflict with Korea over the years. Now, his father was in China four times. He was never in China,' he said, referring to Kim Jung-un.

'So I said, look, you have a tremendous power because of trading through the border. If they don't get food, they don't get, you know, they can't sell their coal. In fact, I hear today two massive coal ships from North Korea were sent back to North Korea, heading to China. They were sent back, which is a very good sign.'

Trump added: 'But I think China can help us. I hope China can help us. We talked about trade and I can tell you, China will do much better on trade if they help us with North Korea.'

Turning to Russia at his press conference, Trump said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had a 'very successful meeting' in Russia, where he met with Putin for two hours, then held a frosty press conference with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

'We'll see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is what's most important, not just talk,' Trump said.

The Rodong Sinmun - the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party - carried several photos from the contest showing firefight excercises

Kim praised his troops for their precision in the training exercise (pictured), saying 'the bullets seemed to have their own eyes', state news agency KCNA said

Yesterday Kim oversaw a commando operation in which special forces dropped from light transport planes 'like hail' and 'mercilessly blew up enemy targets'

He said it would be 'wonderful' if we could get along with Russia.

'Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all time low in terms of relationship with Russia, this was built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia, Russia is a strong country, we've a very, very strong country. We'll see how that all works out,' Trump said.

'I'm also going to see about Putin over a period of time. It would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and we got along with Russia. And that could happen and it may not happen, it may be just the opposite,' Trump said.

'I would love to get along with everybody. Right now the world is a mess, but by the time we finish I think it's going to be a lot better place to live. .... by the time I'm finished it's going to be a lot better place to live in because right now it's nasty.'
An elementary school in Florida is accused of punishing young special needs students by putting them in a so-called 'discipline box' made partially of drywall.

The parents of a three-year-old with cerebral palsy filed a lawsuit against Duval County Public Schools, in Jacksonville, claiming their child along with hundreds of other students were abused in their preschool classroom.

The 37-page lawsuit explains that students knew the box as 'jail', and if they were sent to jail, it was a form of punishment.

A school in Jacksonville, Florida is accused of punishing young special needs students by putting them in a so-called 'discipline box' made partially of drywall, seen above

The mother of the child involved in the lawsuit took a photo of the 'discipline box' inside Love Grove Elementary School in 2012.

Attorney Aaron Bates is representing the family. He said the district failed to properly train its teachers and staff.

'Not a valid crisis intervention, behavioral intervention technique,' he said, but added that 'the school administration knew about it, teachers used it'.

The document explains, between August 2011 and June 2012, there were 304 instances of seclusion on 120 students - 70 percent of them have emotional-behavior disorders.

Records show the child transferred to Spring Park Elementary School in Duval County and encountered additional problems there and on the school bus.

The lawsuit also claims that staff forced the student's legs into the wrong braces, twisting his feet and causing bruising, sores and bleeding.

The school district released a statement saying it could not comment on pending or anticipated litigation.
A TV documentary has recalled the lives of German children who grew up being entertained by Adolf Hitler as he plotted mass murder.

For the first time, German citizens have opened up on their privileged lives in the mountian idyll of Berchtesgaden.

Hitler and the Children of the Obersalzberg documented how the Nazi Fuehrer plotted mass murder in his Berghof holiday home in between entertaining local youngsters and their parents - all for propaganda.

Filmmakers tracked down the surviving children of the time who gave their accounts of life far away from the front lines and death camps.

Gerhard Bartels (pictured, bottom left) is held by the crouching Nazi dictator as another child smiles at him

A new documentary proves how Hitler (pictured, right) plotted mass murder in his Berghof holiday home in between entertaining children and their parents.

Rupert Zuckert, pictured today, who grew up near Adolf Hitler's Berghof holiday home

Rupert Zuckert recalled his time as a youngster (pictured) of life far away from the front lines and death camps

Emma Ponn - one of the women featured in the new documentary called Hitler and the Children of the Obersalzberg

Gerhard Bartels was one of them.

He lived with his parents on a nearby lake and said Hitler was a frequent visitor to the house because his uncle Isidor Weiss was Hitler's sergeant in the trenches in WWI.

Bartels, now 85, said: 'I was not allowed to play with the other children that day he came in case I might get my clothes dirty.

Gerhard Bartels who lived with his parents on a nearby lake and said Hitler was a frequent visitor to the house because his uncle Isidor Weiss was Hitler's sergeant in the trenches in First World War

'I didn't like that, I just wanted to be out with the other children.

'I remember I once asked him what life was like for him and he replied: "Nothing is easy".'

The film, a joint production of ORF and Bayerischer Rundfunk, said the documentary was intended to portray the 'manipulative perfidy of the Nazi regime'.

Hitler forced numerous people off the Kehlstein Mountain to build his retreat and up to 20,000 soldiers, staff and assorted flunkeys were in and around the Berghof at any one time.

Cronies such as Martin Bormann and Herman Goering acquired their own homes on the lower slopes to be near him.

Filmaker Robert Altenburger said he wanted to depict 'the parallel of idyll and horror that prevailed here'.

Marga Bankert, daughter of forestry official Christian Bankert, who also lived in the area, was among those photographed the cult of the leader-loving children.

The families that Adolf Hitler and his cronies would entertain while plotting crimes against humanity

Zdenek Hulka was one of filmmaker Robert Altenburger's subjects. The director said he wanted to depict 'the parallel of idyll and horror that prevailed here'

With other children, she had to repeatedly stand to attention to greet him whenever he visited and the images used for Nazi propaganda.

'One day he took me on the arm and said to me: "You beautiful Aryan German child,'' she said.

'I didn't knew what it was', she recalls today.

Only in the very last days of the war, the ideal world of the Obersalzberg collapsed when, on April 25, 1945, 359 bomber of the Royal Air Force appeared overhead and destroyed most of the Berghof.

Later the Americans arrived and destroyed what was left to prevent it becoming a shrine to surviving Nazis.

Now the mountain has a museum to Nazism built upon it and it has become one of the country's biggest tourist draws.
The letters sent by William Donaldson - better known by his nom de plume Henry Root - are expected to be sold off at auction for 4,000

The correspondence from a British satirist who once wrote to Margaret Thatcher cheekily offering a pound towards her fight against Soviet adventurism are being put up for auction.

The series of hilarious letters sent from the late William Donaldson - better known by his nom de plume Henry Root - are expected to be sold off for 4,000.

The writer adopted the character of a retired wet-fish merchant and wrote scores of letters in the 1970s and '80s to the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Cliff Richard, Mary Whitehouse, Jeffrey Archer and a young Harriet Harman.

The Henry Root letters, as they became known, would be enclosed with a 1 for each recipient, caught their targets, often political figures, off guard.

It could be said that he was the Ali G of his day, attempting to antagonise famous faces with his close-to-the-mark ramblings.

Copies of the letters he sent and the original responses which belonged to Donaldson's third wife have emerged for auction in Sherborne, Dorset.

Having stored the archive in several boxes for years, she has decided now is the time to dispose of the collection.

He wrote several letters to Margaret Thatcher and would often get replies on her behalf from Downing Street - the former prime minister even once sent him a signed photograph

Margaret Thatcher would often reply to 'Henry Root' via her office - in this letter she enclosed a 1

No one in the British establishment was safe from Mr Root's pen and paper - he wrote to both the then-prime minster Margaret Thatcher and HRH Queen Elizabeth

In his letter to the Queen, dated April 9, 1979, Root wrote: 'I appreciate that under the constitution you cannot poke your nose into things too directly, but I do have a small suggestion to make.

'You're always opening things: hospitals, schools, theatres, factories, fly-overs, playgrounds, etc.

'Why don't you close a few things?

He said: 'I have in mind such blemishes on the face of our society as The National Liberal Club, BBC 2, Soho's 'foreign' cinemas and so-called massage parlours, the National Council for Civil Liberties, subversive periodicals such as 'The New Statesman' and 'Time Out', which are devoted to the understanding and our British institutions.

'And the new white tile universities, which see it as their function to stuff the impressionable young students with half-baked left-wing notions.'

Unsurprisingly, the Queen didn't reply. However, other famous figures did get back to him.

Joking tone: A letter to her Majesty telling that instead of always opening things maybe she should close a few

A letter to Cliff Richard talking about age is among the collection of amusing letters up for sale at auction

A response to Mr Root's letter on behalf of Margaret Thatcher in October 1979

A letter to Mary Whitehouse talking about how she has lost her voice and they can ill afford her vocal absence from the 'media' scene

A letter to former Prime Minster's hsband Denis Thatcher, sent in September 1979

A letter to Jeffrey Archer leting him know that he realised he isn't an empty-headed film-star

The writer adopted the character of a retired wet-fish merchant and wrote scores of letters in the 1970s and '80s to the likes of David Steel (left) and Mary Whitehouse (right)

He wrote several letters to Margaret Thatcher and would often get replies on her behalf from Downing Street - the former prime minister even once sent him a signed photograph.

On January 1, 1980, making light of the New Year's Honours' list, Root wrote: 'So - it's honours for big business! Nothing wrong with that!

'You were voted into office to promote the interests of your own class - the lower-middles on their way up - and this is what you're doing. Well done!

'The wets and have-nots may bleat, but they have no one to blame but themselves. They were stupid enough to vote for you!

'How inspiringly your list compares to the last one, which could best have been described as honours for tap dancers and international criminals!'

Root received a reply a week later from Downing Street which read: 'The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your letter of 1 January.

'She was grateful to you for writing as you did.

'The views which you expressed have been noted.'

A letter to Michael Parkinson informing him he is compiling a list of humiliating celebrity incidents and most of the were on his 'chat' show

Pictured: Television presenter Michael Parkinson received a letter or two from Mr Root

The Conservative Party, however, were not best pleased when Root wrote to them and bluntly asked 'how much would a peerage cost?'

The curt reply said a peerage 'could not be bought'.

In one letter Root pokes fun at Jeffrey Archer, saying he's not a film star because he 'hasn't got the looks' then giving him a backhanded compliment about his ruthlessness.

He added: 'So you left a few people with their backsides exposed! So you handed a few folk the stick by the muddy end!

'So what? You can't get to the top in this life without making an omelette.'

In another letter, to a young Harriet Harman, he dryly makes fun of the sexism prevalent in society at the time.

He wrote: 'Why should an attractive lass like you want to confuse her pretty little head with complicated matters of politics, jurisprudence, sociology and the so-called rights of citizens?

'Leave such weighty considerations to us men, that's my advice to you.'

In his letter to the then 38 year-old Cliff Richard, he wrote: 'We must be about the same age, you and I.

'You're a credit to the over-forties Cliff. Twenty years at the top and still number one. Con-grat-u-laaaaations!'

One recipient who did see the funny side was prominent campaigner Mary Whitehouse.

A letter to Harriet Harman telling her to leave complicated matters of politics to the men which didn't receive a reply

Banter: A letter to former Liberal Democrat leader David Steel in 1979 congratulating him on his conference showing down

Witty reply: The letter from Mr Root prompted a response from the House of Commons on behalf of Mr Steel

Politicians were never far from Henry Root's mind. The satirist wrote to both David Steel (left) and Harriet Harman in the 1970s and '80s

A collection of hilarious hoax letters sent to the Queen and other famous figures to poke fun at them have emerged for auction and are tipped to sell for 4,000. Writer and satirist William Donaldson, who died 12 years ago in 2005

In the letter, Root wrote: 'So! According to your doctor you've lost your voice because you talk too much.

'This blow comes at a time when we can ill afford your vocal absence from the 'media' scene.

'Who else is to speak out against the pornographers, left-wing subversives and gay Christians coming out of the toilet!'

Surprisingly, Mrs Whitehouse complied with his request for a photograph and signed it 'To Henry Root, with very best wishes, Mary Whitehouse'.

William Donaldson, author, who is most famous for the 'Henry Root letters'

In addition to the letters, there is correspondence from William Donaldson and his publishers, friends and acquaintances, newspaper cuttings, signed presentation books and photographs.

The Cambridge graduate lived a very eventful life - he lost a couple of fortunes, lived in a brothel and was an early promoter of Bob Dylan.

Richard Bromell, auctioneer at Charterhouse Auctions in Sherborne, Dorset, which is auctioning off the Henry Root Letters, said: 'Donaldson certainly led an interesting wife - he went bankrupt, had several glamorous wifes and so on.

'He wrote to anyone and everyone and most of the time they didn't understand that he was taking the mickey.

'I'm amazed anyone replied to any of the letters, especially the Conservative Party replying to a message were he bluntly asks how much for an MBE.

'The letters are hilarious. Although I was just too young to read his books when they came out, I must admit to have spent probably too much time working on so called research having now read most of them.'

The auction takes place on April 20.


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A family of five enjoying a day out on the water in Virginia on Monday came dangerously close to a catastrophe when their small fishing boat ended up dangling on the edge of a reservoir dam.

At around 5.30pm that evening, first responders in Loudon County received a distress call from a man saying that he and his family were stranded in a boat at the top of Goose Creek Reservoir Dam.

The motor on their fishing vessel had failed, leaving the family to drift to the very edge of the 20-foot dam.

Stranded on the edge: A family of five on Monday ended up dangling from the edge of the Goose Creek Reservoir Dam in Virginia after the motor on their fishing vessel failed

Rushing to the rescue: Responding rescuers found the vessel carrying two adults and three children teetering on the very edge of the 20-foot dam

Photographs taken at the scene to document the incident show a portion of the boat, occupied by two adults and three small children, suspended precariously over the watery abyss.

Fire units from three nearby towns were dispatched along with rescue boats to the scene, located upstream from the Luck Stone Quarry off of Belmont Ridge Road.

Responding rescuers found the vessel teetering on the very edge of the dam, with its terrified occupants all seated in the bow to keep the boat from plunging over the dam.

With the exception of one adult, all were wearing life vests.

Initial attempts to reach the stranded family using an aerial ladder failed because the boat was too far from shore in a swift-moving current.

First responders were eventually able to use a throw rope to deliver an additional lifejacket to the vessel.

Disaster averted: A water rescue crew weas able to connect a tow rope to the familys disabled fishing boat and pull the occupants to safety

Survivors: Once on dry land, each boat occupant was evaluated by EMTs and found to be unharmed

In the meantime, other crews were sent downstream with rescue equipment in case the boat fell over the dam.

When a water rescue crew arrived on the scene at the top of the dam, they were able to connect a tow rope to the familys fishing boat and pulled the occupants to safety.

Once on dry land, each person was evaluated by EMTs and found to be unharmed. They have not been identified.

Chief Keith Brower praised the work of the rescue crews for saving five lives.

Officials said the incident highlights the importance of Coast Guard-approved life-jackets. They are reminding boaters to wear the flotation devices at all times during boating operations.
Theresa May spoke of her 'incredible pride' today as she hailed the first woman Army officer to graduate for combat duties.

The Prime Minister singled out the achievement of the new Royal Tank Regiment officer - who is one of her constituents - as she attended the passing out ceremony at Sandhurst.

But she also warned the new recruits that terrorist groups and shifting international alliances are making the world more dangerous than ever before.

The Prime Minister singled out the achievement of the Royal Tank Regiment officer - who is one of her constituents - as she attended the passing out ceremony at Sandhurst today

The Royal Tank Regiment has been on the front line in campaigns including the 2003 Iraq war

Mrs May was acting as the Queen's representative at the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Academy in Surrey. The monarch is attending the traditional Maundy Thursday celebrations in Leicester instead.

Of the 190 officer cadets who graduated from the famous training college today, 163 are being commissioned into the UK forces. Some 17 of the UK contingent are female.

The government announced that women would be allowed to serve in front line roles last summer after a review - defying critics who said it could disrupt discipline and questioned whether they would be physically able to play their part.

The army has already had a woman infantry soldier, Guardsman Chloe Allen. But she joined the forces as Ben Allen before transitioning from male to female.

The unnamed officer is the first woman to graduate from Sandhurst for front line duties, and will be driving tanks.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We can confirm that the first female officer has commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment and will now go on to begin her training to qualify as a Royal Armoured Corps Troop Leader.

'This is a result of the decision to enable women to serve in Ground Close Combat roles and we wish her every success.'

The parade was the PM's first public engagement since the crisis over the chemical weapons attack that killed scores of civilians in Syria - and sparked missile strikes by the US.

Mrs May gingerly handled swords which were being awarded to the best cadets at the Sandhurst ceremony today

Mrs May spent the past five days on a walking holiday with husband Philip in North Wales as the tense stand-off with Russia over its links to the Syrian regime unfolded.

But Downing Street has insisted she remained fully in touch and was still speaking to other world leaders.

Addressing the recruits today, Mrs May commended former Sandhurst graduate Captain Michael Crofts for tending to the wounded on the day of the Westminster terror attack.

She told the parade: 'The threats we face today are more complex than ever before. And the missions that you will be asked to undertake will be similarly complex.'

Mrs May said the armed forces remained crucial for keeping Britain safe, 'whether it is the Royal Air Force flying missions against Daesh over the skies of Syria and Iraq, the Royal Navy protecting our sea lanes in the Gulf, or the British Army playing a leading role in UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia and South Sudan'.

The Prime Minister also restated her commitment to meeting Nato's requirements for investing 2 per cent of Britain's GDP on the armed forces, and promised to do 'everything possible' to support military families.

Mrs May said two centuries ago there would not have been any female cadets graduating.

But she said the group passing out today included the first Bahraini woman to graduate.

Mrs May told the parade that the armed forces fulfilled a crucial role in keeping us safe

She added: 'And also a constituent of mine who will be the first ever female officer to serve in the Royal Tank Regiment  a direct result of the decision to enable women to serve in the combat arms  something of which we should all be incredibly proud.'

Sandhurst trains the Army's officers and has previously hosted many famous graduates and members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and Prince Harry in 2005/06.

Other famous cadets who have passed out there include the Sultan of Brunei, Sir Winston Churchill, fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, James Bond author Ian Fleming and actor David Niven.
A Florida house fire left a young boy dead after he accidentally started it when playing with a lighter.

Five-year-old Hassan Jerome Vann died from smoke inhalation, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

His parents and younger sister managed to get out of the home, after the fire broke out in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, the newspaper reports.

A Florida house fire left a young boy dead after he'd been playing with a lighter

Hassan's father Robert Vann, told the newspaper that his four-year-old daughter said the boy had played with a lighter in his room.

The 71-year-old said: 'He was fascinated with the lighter. He was flicking it and watching the flame.'

Something in the room was set alight, according to the report.

Five-year-old Hassan Jerome Vann died from smoke inhalation, it's been reported. He was reportedly located dead in a bedroom

Hassan's mother, 36-year-old Ebony Vonkisha Jackson, was able to hear an alarm and woke up Robert Vann, the newspaper said.

Together, they escaped the home with their daughter Hassana - but didn't know Hassan was stuck in the home, according to the report.

Robert Vann said: 'I tried to get back to get in the house, tried to get to him. But the flames wouldn't let me.'

Police told the newspaper that the fire began in the children's bedroom and set off a living room smoke alarm.

Hassan been located dead in a bedroom - and authorities have said that there are no pending charges, the Tampa Bay Times said.
A Spanish warship has been chased out of Spanish waters for the second time in a month.

According to the Royal Navy HMS Scimitar intercepted the Infanta Cristina off the Gibraltar coast shortly after 9am British time.

It is the second time the Scimitar was forced to respond to an incursion into British waters.

HMS Scimitar was forced to intercept the Spanish warship Infanta Cristina earlier today

The Spanish warship, pictured today, entered UK territorial waters around 10am local time

Today's incursion followed ugly scenes last night in Madrid as drunken Leicester City fans sang an obscene claiming Gibraltar as British.

Several fans were arrested during the clashes which took place before

Disputes between Gibraltar and Spain over the waters are frequent but the latest comes after the territory of some 33,000 people took centre stage in the wrangling over Britain's exit from the European Union, which was triggered on March 29.

An EU draft position published earlier this month after Prime Minister Theresa May filed formal divorce papers said the application of any EU-UK trade deal to Gibraltar had to be agreed between Britain and Spain, which has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave.

In response, May issued a statement saying London was 'steadfast' in its commitment to the territory. Her spokesman however played down comments by a former leader of her Conservative Party that she would be prepared to go to war to defend it.

Following the previous incursion, Gibraltar's government published a video on Twitter of the Spanish Navy patrol ship Infanta Cristina in the sea off the territory and accused it of carrying out an 'illegal incursion' into its territorial waters.

The ship was around a mile off the coast of Gibraltar, a witness who lived on the said

The Spanish vessel was intercepted to the east of Gibraltar and escorted out of British territorial waters around 10am local time today according to the Royal Navy

A spokesman for Spain's foreign ministry said Spain did not recognise the waters as belonging to Gibraltar and the ship had been on a routine patrol.

'An illegal incursion, no, because for us it is the utilisation of our waters,' the spokesman said on the phone.

'Spain does not recognise other rights and situations belonging to Great Britain in the maritime spaces that are not included in Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht,' he said.

Gibraltar was captured by Britain in 1704 and ceded to Britain in 1713 under the treaty.

In a 2002 referendum, Gibraltarians rejected by 98 percent a proposal for joint British-Spanish sovereignty.

A UK Government spokesperson said: 'The Royal Navy challenges all unlawful maritime incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW)  and did so again on this occasion.'

A spokesman for the Government of Gibraltar said: 'We condemn Spain's ongoing refusal to comply with the UN International Convention on the Law of the Sea.'
A 29-year-old man has been shot in the legs and buttocks in Punchbowl in Sydney's west.

Police attended an address in Telopea Street about 8pm on Thursday after reports a man had been shot, but were unable to locate the victim at the scene.

A short time later, police said a man who is known to them had presented to Bankstown Hospital with gunshot wounds.

A 29-year-old man has been shot in the legs and buttocks in Punchbowl in Sydney's west. Police were called to an address on Teleopea Street about 8pm on Thursday night

They were unable to locate a victim at the address (pictured) however, a man known to police presented to Bankstown Hospital a short time later with gunshot wounds

A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident are taking place. Pictured are police at the scene in Punchbowl

He has been transferred to another hospital and is expected to undergo surgery.

Officers attached to Bankstown Local Area Command are being assisted by Campsie Local Area Command.

They have established a crime scene and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to contact Bankstown detectives via Crime Stoppers.

The man has been transferred from Bankstown Hospital to another hospital and is expected to undergo surgery for the bullet wounds
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These shocking pictures reveal how hunting dogs are trained to attack a tethered brown bear in Russia.

An annual contest in the northeastern Sakha Republic sees judges giving the native laika dogs marks for their ability to contain the beast.

The bear is tied to a chain fixed to an overhead cable and has only limited movement - with no way of escape if it is bitten by dogs.

But organisers deny cruelty - even insisting the female bear called Masha used in the competition finals was rescued from a zoo and is now 'very lucky' to live in good conditions and only 'work' one day a year for the dog contest.

Shocking pictures reveal how hunting dogs are trained to attack a tethered brown bear in Russia. Two laika dogs are pictured snapping at the bear at one contest in northeastern Siberia

An annual contest in the northeastern Sakha Republic sees judges giving the native laika dogs marks for their ability to contain the beast. The bear can be seen roaring as the hunting dogs move in

The bear is tied to a chain fixed to an overhead cable and has only limited movement - with no way of escape if it is bitten by dogs. At one point the bear could be seen standing up on its hind legs to defend itself

In a qualifying round with another bear, the beast was said by one witness to be exhausted.

Organisers say there is new interest from the Russian army in skilled dogs, as the military expands operations in the Arctic, and comes face to face with polar bears.

These contests are held all around Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, the largest constituent area of the Russian Federation, almost the size of India.

'Some 80 laika breeders compete for the top prize, a snowmobile,' reported The Siberian Times.

In a qualifying round with another bear, the beast was said by one witness to be exhausted. It is pictured tethered to a chain and attempting to fight off two dogs

Organisers say there is new interest from the Russian army in skilled dogs, as the military expands operations in the Arctic, and comes face to face with polar bears. The beast is pictured fighting back

These contests are held all around Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, the largest constituent area of the Russian Federation, almost the size of India

Striking pictures of the contest have led to complaints of cruelty to the tethered bear. A dog and brown bear face off in one of the competitions

Nikolay Chepurnikh, a laika expert, said: 'The competitions are really simple. A dog is let off a leash to follow a bear's trace.

'If the bear tries to escape, the dog should stop it. This is how we assess a dog's hunting potential.'

Pictures of the contest have led to complaints of cruelty to the tethered bear.

'This is like some spectacle from Roman times,' said one.

'It's bear baiting and should be banned,' said another.

Other comments were: 'Why torture the animal like this?' and 'So sorry for the bear'.

A white hunting dog attempts to get close to the brown bear, which is restricted in its movements by a chain

Biting back: The bear braces for another attack from the dogs in another photo from the contest

Organisers deny cruelty - even insisting the female bear called Masha used in the competition finals was rescued from a zoo

Organisers insist the bear is 'very lucky' to live in good conditions and only 'work' one day a year for the dog contest

Photographer Maria Yegorova - who saw a qualifying contest - said the bear appeared exhausted, but she denied the traditional 'dog training' was cruel.

'The bear was sleepy or seemed like this, because at every opportunity it laid down to rest,' she said.

Expert Valentin Zaitsev, chairman of the jury at the finals in Yakutsk, said: 'I don't remember a single case when a dog bit a bear so that it bled.

'There are dogs that can actually harm a bear. But I think animal rights defenders simply don't have enough information. Here, a bear isn't tortured, its claws and teeth are not harmed.'

While some have accused the contest of being cruel, many in Russia believe it to be a good way of training hunting dogs

New life: Masha the bear was reportedly one-year-old when she was rescued from a zoo

The bear squares up for another battle with the two hounds as they make a renewed attack

Founder of Bayanay hunting club Alexander Kononov said: 'Masha was one year old when we took her from a zoo.

'They had too many bears, and eagerly agreed to pass her into our hands.

'Since that day she has lived a very comfortable life. We built her a den. She is very lucky, as usually single brown bear cubs don't survive alone.

'Today is her one and only working day in the year. She is now eight years old and is very used to dogs.'

Watching brief: A bear handler inspects the training session while the bear attempts to protect itself

According to her handlers, the bear is now eight years old and is 'very used to dogs'
A video released on social media showed that a bloodied passenger, who appears to be of Asian descent, is being dragged off a United Express flight by the aviation security officers, after he refused to give up his seat.

In the 21st century, the concepts of "human rights" and "civil liberties" are often used by different governments to level criticism at each other. In the discourse of Western media, societies with lots of repression and coercion are deemed to be "bad" while societies with lower levels of it are deemed to be "good."

However, the flaws in this logic can be seen when looking over the history of these very concepts. While all societies throughout history have had some notion of authority and repression against those who challenged it, concepts like "natural rights" and "due process" are fairly recent in terms of human existence. The subsistence farming economies of medieval and ancient times were not conducive to concepts like "free speech" or "freedom of religion."

Only with the rise of technology, mercantilism, and international trade which gave countries the ability to gradually emerge from primitive feudalism, did these modern political concepts arise. Only once they had achieved a new level of development with the dawn of capitalism and global trade could societies begin to accommodate greater levels of personal liberty. This trend has continued. As material abundance and stability has increased in Western countries, so has the level of personal freedom.

Western countries, with a far higher level of prosperity, stability and abundance, now speak as if all societies, under all circumstances, should have the same level of civil liberties and freedom as they currently enjoy. Many observers note that this unrealistic demand is often enforced hypocritically, with certain, defiant or independent regimes being targets for criticism, while the "human rights abuses" of pro-Western regimes in the underdeveloped world are ignored.

In the ongoing dialogue between the USA and China relating to the issue of human rights, it is important to compare the incidents which are highlighted for criticism.

In the United States, a 69-year old passenger named David Dao was violently dragged from his United Airlines flight for refusing to give up his seat. Video of the incident has been circulated across the internet by many Chinese people. The Chinese public has reacted to the video of this man being so violently ejected from United Airlines Flight 3411 and called it a violation of human rights.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other publications in the United States have loudly criticized China for the practice of televising confessions from those convicted of corruption. Many voices in American media deem televised confessions to be a kind of immoral public humiliation, and editorials have loudly criticized the practice, calling it a human rights violation.

So how do these two occurrences compare to each other?

While those who read confessions on Chinese television are people who have been convicted of crimes, and opted to apologize in exchange for leniency, the man dragged from United Airlines Flight 3411 was never subject to any legal process.

However, when comparing these two controversial acts of punitive repression, the primary difference can be found, not even in the nature of how they were carried out, but for what purpose they served.

Why was David Dao violently dragged from the plane and injured so badly by police that he needed to be hospitalized? Because United Airlines wanted to save money by flying four of its employees in the place of ticketed costumers. David Dao was ejected violently because his refusal to give up his seat impeded corporate profits. To serve the end of a single company saving at most several thousand dollars, heavy-handed public repression was unleashed.

But why is it that confessions are being broadcast on Chinese television? It is because corruption motivated by greed is something that the people of China overwhelmingly recognize as a problem and want to see rooted out. President Xi's anti-corruption campaign is wildly popular among a Chinese public that is outraged by the crimes of corrupt officials. The televised confessions, condemned in the Western press, serve as a deterrent and warning to other officials who would consider graft, extravagance, or putting their own selfishness ahead of society.

What is the difference between these two occurrences, dubbed "human rights violations" by detractors? One act of repression is done without due process, for the purpose of helping a single corporation save money. Another act of repression involves legal process and is done for the benefit of the entire nation in order to root out the problem of corruption.

The global conversation about human rights remains simplistic, with assumptions and accusations often being hurled to serve political ends. Regardless, when comparing the United States and China, looking into what purpose a criticized practice may serve can often shed light into understanding bigger differences between the two countries and their political systems.

Caleb Maupin is a journalist and political analyst who resides in New York City focusing on U.S. foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
A motorcyclist was decapitated in a freak accident after a driver in a Ford Taurus crashed into a telephone pole and caused a tension wire to fall across a road in California.

Fabian Zepeda, 27, who was expecting his first child with the love of his life, Vanessa Quintana, was traveling south on Macy Street in San Bernardino just moments after a man driving a Ford Taurus crashed shortly after 9am.

The driver of the car lost control of his vehicle and struck a mailbox before driving across a home's yard, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.

Motorcyclist, Fabian Zepeda (pictured with his wife), 27, was decapitated in a freak accident after a driver in a Ford Taurus crashed into a telephone pole and caused a tension wire to fall across a road in California

Zepeda was traveling south on Macy Street in San Bernardino just moments after the driver crashed shortly around 9am. Pictured is the helmet he was wearing at the time of the accident

The driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a mailbox before driving across a home's yard. Zepeda at his wedding (left) and with his wife, Vanessa Quintana

Officials said the car (pictured) then hit a wooden telephone pole that snapped in half, causing a tension wire to fall across Macy Street

Coroner's officials said in a statement that the car then hit a wooden telephone pole that snapped in half, causing a tension wire to fall across Macy Street.

Authorities said Zepeda, who was married and about to be a father to a baby girl, was decapitated when he drove into the wire that stretched across the road.

He was knocked off the motorcycle as it continued down Macy Street until it crashed at Highland Avenue, according to Mercury News.

Police say the driver of the vehicle didn't appear to be intoxicated and he wasn't arrested pending further investigation.

However, officials had his blood drawn to be tested as a matter of protocol.

Zepeda leaves behind his wife Quintana, who created a GoFundMe account to raise funds for his funeral arrangements, and his unborn child.

Zepeda's motorcycle crashed near Highland Avenue after he was thrown off it

Police say the driver of the vehicle didn't appear to be intoxicated and he wasn't immediately arrested pending further investigation. This graphic shows the series of events that led to the tragic accident

Authorities shut down the road surrounding the crash scene for several hours as crews worked to repair the pole. Zepeda is pictured at a track on his motorcycle

'Fabian Zepeda was a loving son, husband, brother, and friend. He was the most caring, loving, family orientated unique individual who always managed to care for others before himself,' she wrote.

The couple had only been married for one year and Quintana was expecting their first child.

'On Jan. 2017, we found out we were expecting our first child. I am now 4 months pregnant with our baby girl. I am very happy to keep a little blessing from my husband,' she wrote online.

Authorities shut down the road surrounding the crash scene for several hours as crews worked to repair the pole.

Police said they will conduct a joint investigation with San Bernardino County sheriffs deputies.

Authorities said Zepeda (pictured) was decapitated when he drove into the wire that stretched across the road
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The doctor dragged from an overbooked United Airlines flight says the treatment he received at the hands of 'storm trooper' police officers was more horrifying than when he fled Vietnam during the fall of Saigon.

David Dao's attorney, Thomas Demetrio, revealed that the 69-year-old grandfather had been left with a broken nose, concussion and lost two front teeth as he was forcibly removed from the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday night.

His daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, said her father was 'healing right now' and told how 'prayers and support' had come from around the world.

Pepper and Demetrio spoke at a press conference in Chicago and revealed that the scale of his injuries meant Dr Dao was only released from hospital on Wednesday night - and is still to undergo further reconstructive surgery.

Demetrio, who confirmed Dr Dao plans to sue the airline, launched a scathing attack on United, and further wounded its crisis-hit CEO Oscar Munoz, revealing that a claim the company boss had made that it had reached out to the doctor was untrue.

And he also thrust Rahm Emanuel, Chicago's Democratic mayor into the firing line as the City of Chicago employs the unarmed cops used by the airline to drag Dr Dao from the plane.

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Attorney Thomas Demetrio (pictured) launched into an attack on the airline, while defending Dr David Dao during a press conference in Chicago on Thursday morning

Crystal Pepper (pictured) also spoke to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning, thanking those from 'around the world' who have supported her father and her family

Attorney Thomas Demetrio launched into an attack on the airline, while defending his client during a press conference in Chicago on Thursday morning.

What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being under any circumstance. We were horrified, shocked and sickened to see what happened to him and what he had to go through. We hope that in the future nothing like this happens again. Thank you so much again for your support. Crystal Dao Pepper, Dr Dao's daughter

'Here's the law  pure and simple. If you are going to eject a passenger, under no circumstance, can it be done with unreasonable force or violence,' he said.

'If unreasonable force of violence is used the common carrier  United Airlines in this case  is responsible.

'For each of us in this room we owe each other a reasonable care standard.

'I'm not to be careless and hurt you but in the world of common carriers, they have the highest duty of care to provide protection and safety to its fare-paying passengers.

'As we all saw on the video - that was not done.

'And I would defy anyone to suggest there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr Dao disembark that plane.'

The lawyer then went onto to describe how his client, who fled Vietnam at the end of the war, had told him he was more fearful on Sunday night than he was when Saigon fell in 1975.

'He told me that he had left Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified,' Demetrio said.

'He said that when they were dragging him down the aisle it was more horrifying than what he experience in leaving Vietnam.'

Pepper (pictured) added: 'We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident'

Now he's in the firing line too: Democratic Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is the ultimate boss of the unarmed police officers who dragged Dr Dao from the plane in an incident which left him badly injured. The doctor's attorney said a statement by United that he had tried to strike law enforcement was false

Vietnamese civilians are seen being carried to safety aboard the USS Blue Ridge in April 1975 after an evacuation in Saigon. Demetrio said Dr Dao compared him experience escaping Saigon to being dragged off the United flight

He added the concussion was so severe, Dao did not remember what exactly occurred when he was removed from the flight, including when he got back on the plane.

Demetrio described the three officers as 'storm troopers' and said: 'Were they doing the right thing? No.

'This was not a troubled passenger, a nutjob, this was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out? No. This is a 69-year-old man  is this really the way we want to treat the aged?'

He went on: 'Just because United is responsible doesn't meant the City of Chicago isn't also responsible. But more than one can be responsible for a single event.'

A focus on the City of Chicago puts Mayor Emanuel, once President Obama's chief of staff, in the line of fire over the United incident for the first time.

The three officers were not named and have been suspended - although initially only one was removed from duty. Chicago city authorities have not revealed if they had any previous disciplinary offenses.

When asked about a statement unearthed by DailyMail.com earlier this week where United stated that Dr Dao had tried to strike the officers, his attorney responded: 'He didn't try to strike anyone. He just wanted to go home.'

Dr Dao and his wife Teresa were on the flight as they returned to their home in Elizabethtown, outside Louisville, after a vacation in California. Dr Dao was ordered off the plane when his name was selected to make way for four United staff members.

Hours before the press conference, another passenger on the plane had told how one of the officers was laughing during the incident.

But the focus of the lawyer's criticism was on United. Also at the press conference was Stephen Golan, a corporate law specialist who is also representing the doctor.

'For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve,' he said.

'I conclude that what, based upon hundreds, literally hundreds, of tales of woe of United that here is what we want as a society: we want fairness in how people treat us, we want respect, and we want dignity.

'That's it. It seems so simple. Forget the law for a second just treat us with respect, make us feel like you really care.

'I must say I do not believe this is limited to the airline industry. I think corporate America needs to understand we all want to be treated in the same manner they treat their own family members.

'So, our role, going forward will be to just get the facts. And to get them out. We're going to be vocal about the whole subject of what we as a society say passengers are entitled to.

'Are we going to just continue to be treated like cattle - bullied, given rude treatment?

Thomas Demetrio is pictured speaking to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning about the Dr David Dao incident

Crystal Dao Pepper (middle) leaves a press conference at the Union League Club in downtown Chicago on Thursday morning

WHAT INJURIES DID DR DAVID DAO SUFFER? ' Significant' concussion Broken nose Sinus injury Lost two front teeth Requires 'reconstructive surgery' Advertisement

'We all have enough angst for flying as it is... But don't treat the people who help make you the corporate entity you are like Dr Dao was treated.

He also said a lawsuit will 'probably' be filed against United, and that the airline has not 'reached out' to Dr Dao in the wake of the incident.

Demetrio also spoke about United CEO Oscar Munoz's multiple press conference and apologies since the incident.

'Yesterday Mr Munoz gave an interview, he was asked point blank: 'Did Dr Dao do anything wrong?'' he told the reporters.

'You know what he did? He hesitated. Then he regrouped and said no, Dr Dao did nothing wrong. That no one should have been treated the way Dr Dao was.

Dr David Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth (left) after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off (right) the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare

'Stating the obvious. But he didn't say it initially. Initially he backed up his people. And that may be part of the problem - it's us versus them.'

Munoz's reputation has been battered by the crisis, the company's share price has fallen and shows no sign of recovery, and he even is facing questions over whether someone was removed from a flight simply to make way for him. His predecessor had to quit because of a corruption investigation.

Demetrio delivered a further blow to his and his company's PR reputation as he raised questions over whether Munoz was telling the truth during an interview on Wednesday with GMA when he claimed to have reached out to the doctor.

Demetrio said that he had not heard from Oscar Munoz or his representatives, neither had the Dao family, and said that when Munoz stated this during an interview, he believed that he 'misspoke'. He declined to use the term lie.

'RESPECT US': DR DAO's LAWYER'S AIRLINE BLAST For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve,' he said. I conclude that what, based upon hundreds, literally hundreds, of tales of woe of United that here is what we want as a society: we want fairness in how people treat us, we want respect, and we want dignity. That's it. It seems so simple. Forget the law for a second just treat us with respect, make us feel like you really care. I must say I do not believe this is limited to the airline industry. I think corporate America needs to understand we all want to be treated in the same manner they treat their own family members. Hopefully this lawsuit will create an international discussion on how we are going to be treated going forward. We have to figure out, United has to figure out, the airline industry has to figure out. What are we going to do? Maybe airlines need to start expecting the unexpected, but not at the expense  certainly not at the physical expense  of its paying passengers Advertisement

The attorney also acknowledged Dr Dao's past.

He was revealed to be a convicted felon who had obtained prescription drugs illegally, taking some himself, and giving others to a patient half his age in return for gay sex.

His wife had reported him to authorities and he was sentence to five years in prison which was suspended in favor of probation, lost his medical license, was assessed as having control issues and is now only allowed to practice one day a week after anger management therapy, drug testing and polygraphing.

But the attorney said that his client was 69 and had experienced 'bumps in the road' and added that the focus of the law would exclusively be what had happened on the plane.

There had also been claims that Dr Dao's race was an element. So widespread were the claims that when he was initially wrongly identified as Chinese, the story became a sensation in China, and there remain calls for a boycott of United which has lucrative routes to Asia.

But Demetrio dismissed a question suggesting the incident was racially-motivated, saying: 'I do not think this is a matter of race at all. I don't think that's the case at all, what happened to Dr Dao could have happened to any one of us.'

'And we're them. Dr Dao, to his great credit, has come to understand he is the guy. He is the guy to stand up for customers going forward.'

It was also revealed during the press conference that Dr Dao's wife Teresa was told to leave the plane after he was dragged off, his other attorney, Stephen Golan, said. It is unclear why that was the case.

Earlier, Dr Dao's daughter spoke about the horror of seeing her father being physically abused.

Crystal Dao Pepper spoke to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning, firstly thanking those from 'around the world' who have supported her father and her family in recent days.

'On behalf of my dad and my entire family, we would like to express our gratitude for the huge outpouring of prayers, love and concern we have received,' she said.

'We would also like to thank all the nursing staff, physicians and staff who have taken care of my dad.

'It has been a very difficult time for my entire family, we are truly grateful for your support.'

She added: 'We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident.

'Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated. We hope in the future nothing like this happens again.'

Chicago city, which Demetrio said had also not contacted the attorneys and family, is also potentially involved in any lawsuit as the airport police who removed Dao from the plane are employed by the city.

Video has emerged showing Dr David Dao arguing with police and a flight attendant just moments before he was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday night

Dr David Dao is the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren

Chicago's Aviation Department said on Wednesday that two more officers had been placed on leave in connection with the incident. One officer was placed on leave on Tuesday.

CRYSTAL DAO PEPPER'S STATEMENT On behalf of my dad and my entire family, we would like to express our gratitude for the huge outpouring of prayers, love and concern we have received from all over the world these past few days. We would also like to thank all the nursing staff, physicians and staff who have taken care of my dad. It has been a very difficult time for my entire family, we are truly grateful for your support. What happened to my dad should never happen to a human regardless of circumstance. We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident. Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated. My dad is healing right now. We hope in the future nothing like this happens again. Advertisement

Chicago's aviation officers are not part of the regular police force, unlike in many other big cities. They get less training than regular officers and can't carry firearms inside the airports.

Alderman Chris Taliaferro said he was concerned the incident 'really has put at risk' aviation officers.

The comment was made ahead of a meeting where the City Council is expected to ask a series of questions stemming from the incident, including whether the airport officers even had the legal authority to board the plane.

'They are allowed in the terminal and baggage area, but my understanding is they may not be allowed on a plane,' Alderman Michael Zalewski, who leads the council's aviation committee, said.

An Aviation Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions about the duties of the aviation police force, but Zalewski said the question will be put to the agency's commissioner.

The department will also be asked about training. Zalewski said airport officers receive four months of training compared with the six months cadets must complete before joining the city's police department.

'We don't know what that two-month gap means,' he said, adding that he will ask if the airport officers receive the same kind of training in de-escalating tense situations that city police officers get.

The roughly 300 aviation police officers earn between $50,000 and $88,000 a year and cost the city about $19 million a year. They are city employees but not members of the Chicago Police Department.

It comes as legal experts predicted Dao would be in a strong position in any potential suit, given the wide public outrage over the incident.

United's CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured) has been forced to issue a series of statements and apologies about the incident, and on Wednesday he announced a change to United policy.

'United is looking at a legal claim, but they're also looking at a huge public relations and business problem,' Justin Green, a partner at the law firm Kreindler & Kreindler in New York who represents airline passengers, said.

'United, if they're smart, will quickly and quietly settle the case.'

Prior to the press conference, it was revealed Dr Dao's lawyers had already taken preliminary steps toward filing a lawsuit.

On Wednesday they filed an emergency motion in Cook County Circuit Court asking a judge to ensure the airline and city preserve surveillance video showing passengers boarding Flight 3411 to Louisville.

They're also seeking cockpit voice recordings, incident reports and other materials.

It comes after Dr Dao told local reporters in Louisville earlier this week that 'everything' hurt after the ordeal.

The doctor was bleeding from the face in videos of the incident, and his head could clearly be seen being slammed into an armrest.

United was blasted over the incident, as Dr Dao became a sympathetic figure for most - if not all - who saw the shocking footage.

The airline's CEO was forced to issue a series of statements and apologies about the incident, and on Wednesday he announced a change to United policy.

Munoz told GMA the airline would never again call in police officers to haul a passenger from an overbooked flight.

He also said during the interview he was 'ashamed' when he saw the video.

United announced Wednesday passengers on United Express Flight 3411 would be compensated with cash, travel credits or miles in an amount equal to the cost of their tickets.
A mother wearing a 'Support Your Local Bartender' tank top drove drunk with her six-year-old son in the car and crashed.

Ladion L. Logan, 31 of Jamaica, Queens, hit a parked car near Jerusalem and Uniondale avenues in Uniondale, Long Island, Wednesday evening.

She then fought with responding officers before she was arrested on driving while intoxicated charges, police say.

As officers investigated, they say that Logan began yelling and cursing at the them.

Ladion L. Logan, 31 of Jamaica, Queens, drove drunk with her six-year-old son in the car and crashed in Uniondale, Long Island

After a struggle, she was placed under arrest and it was determined she had been driving drunk.

Logan's six-year-old son was in the car at the time of the accident, but was unharmed. He was released to the care of family members.

Logan was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated - Leandra's Law - resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child.

She was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Attorney information for Logan was not made immediately available, according to NBC New York.
A Muslim educator has argued only Islamic scholars should interpret the Quran after a video surfaced of Islamic women condoning domestic violence.

The video showed female members of the hardline political group Hizb ut-Tahrir describe beating women as a 'beautiful blessing' in a discussion in Sydney's west.

At one point, the headscarf-clad pair even demonstrated how to use a small stick called a 'sivaak' to hit 'disobedient' women.

The women, Reem Allouche and Atika Latifi, claimed to be quoting the Quran verse about wives that reads: 'leave them alone in sleeping places and beat them'.

But another Sydney Muslim, Silma Ihram, said the passage was taken out of context and it shows that reading the Quran should be left to experts, reports Sky News.

Silma Ihram said the passage was taken out of context it shows that reading the Quran should be left to the experts

'You are taking a passage of the Quaran out of its context and trying to act as an Islamic scholar,' Ms Ihram said.

When asked about the correct interpretation of the quote, she argued it was not her place to say.

'That is for a scholar to do and not for you or meWhat you're trying to do is take an isolated verse and quote out of context of where it's supposed to be embedded.'

'You're trying to apply an English understanding of that particular verse as a standalone verse which is not what any scholar would do.'

'If you look at the example of the prophet, if you look at the teachings of the scholars, you will find that there is nothing in that verse that permits any kind of domestic abuse.'

Political leaders have condemned the video posted on Facebook by Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia.

Muslim men are allowed to hit their wives if they disobey them and domestic violence is a 'beautiful blessing', according to the women's branch of a radical Islamic group

Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the video was abhorrent.

'As far as this government is concerned, violence is violence, murder is murder, it does not matter if you put the word domestic or family in front of it,' she said on Thursday.

'On behalf of the Turnbull government, I absolutely condemn the statements made and the video that has been made by these women. It is absolutely abhorrent that in 2017 in Australia, anyone would be condoning violence against women.'

Labor MP Ed Husic, the first Muslim elected to federal parliament, said the behaviour described in the video was unacceptable.

'It's not acceptable in any form to strike anyone, either between husband and wife, or anywhere,' he said in Sydney.

'Violence is not an answer or acceptable outcome whatsoever and I believe they are right to describe it as thus.'

In a video of the debate, which has been posted on Facebook, Ms Allouche says men should use the sivaak to punish their wives.

She then uses one of the sticks to hit Ms Latifi while the pair burst into laughter.

Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche (left) told the women's arm of hardline Islamist political group Hizb ut-Tahrir that men are permitted to hit women with sticks

Other permissible methods to punish women involve using a twisted scarf or piece of fabric, the women say.

Ms Allouche says the act is 'symbolic', while Ms Latifi claims it's 'a beautiful blessing'.

The women agree that they should only be beaten if they are caught 'committing sin' - pointing out that this means seriously disrespecting Allah or their husbands.

'Disobedience to the husband. Immoral acts or cheating. Admitting anyone to the home that the husband doesn't like,' Ms Latifi explains.

Ms Allouche smiles as she adds that does not mean a man can beat his wife simply for not cooking dinner, with the women agreeing that violence should only be used to 'promote tranquility'.

The pair agree that men have the right to beat their wives because husbands take a 'leadership' position within the family.

During the 30-minute discussion at a meeting Sydney's west, Ms Allouche and fellow panellist Atika Latifi (right) describe how beating women is a 'symbolic act'

The all-women meeting was held in Lakemba in Sydney's inner west, The Australian reported.

The government considered banning Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2007 but eventually deemed it to be a political group.

Islamic leader Keysar Trad apologised at the weekend for saying hitting women was a 'last resort', admitting to Sky News presenter Andrew Bolt that he had made a 'slip up'.
A mother elephant and her calf were hauled to their feet by villagers using a tractor after getting caught in a drought.

The 20-year-old female and her child came to the Palayam forest range in Coimbatore, India, on April 7, in search of water and food.

The elephant had become so dehydrated that she collapsed on the ground.

The 20-year-old female and her child came to the Palayam forest range in Coimbatore, India, on April 7, in search of water and food

Her baby, however, stood by her side all through and kept trying to help the mother stand up.

When a patrolling team saw the elephant in distress the next morning, they informed their seniors officials about the sighting.

Forest rangers aided by local villagers managed to pull the elephant back to her feet after around 50 hours.

Dr. K.Ashokan, a vet, said: 'We immediately rushed to spot and provided with the all necessary medical treatment to the ailing elephant.

'Around 30 bottles of glucose and painkillers were administered. Luckily, the baby elephant was all fine and he did cooperate with us.

'The calf also helped his mother to stand up. The jumbo was too heavy, so we took a help of an earth mover.'

Forest rangers aided by local villagers managed to pull the elephant back to her feet after around 50 hours

Dr. K.Ashokan, a vet, said: 'We immediately rushed to spot and provided with the all necessary medical treatment to the ailing elephant.' Pictured: The animal back on her feet

As the rescue operation continued, the forest rangers and villagers ensured that the baby and mother are well fed.

They offered jackfruit, bananas and coconut leaves to the mother-son duo.

'It took twenty one hours to cure the elephant. My team and villagers worked in tandem day and night and we finally we got success around 3 pm on April 9,' said Dr Ashokan.

For the past one and a half years, the area has received scant rain that resulted in dried up well and parched forest.

This is probably the reason why more and more wild animals are coming out of the forest and clashing with humans for water and food.'
Two police officers are being sued for $412,500 over an allegation they assaulted a woman while off duty at a wedding and pulled down her dress leaving her naked to the waist.

According to court documents, Jessica Stradley is suing officers Patrick Mawdsley and Matthew Ginnow as well as Portland Police over the incident which happened on August 22, 2015.

Stradley claims she was at the wedding in Boring, Oregon. The groom was a serving member of the police department and a large number of officers were guests 'and virtually all of them had been drinking alcohol for a number of hours'.

Jessica Stradley claimed off-duty Portland police pulled down the top of his dress during the wedding reception of an officer after she was wrongly accused of stealing a purse

Stradley claims she was pushed to the ground and suffered a bang to her head

Court documents show Stradley is seeking $412,500 in damages from the two officers

Jessica Stradley is suing officers Patrick Mawdsley and Matthew Ginnow as well as Portland Police over the incident which happened on August 22, 2015. She is seen above in a Facebook photo wearing the dress

Stradley said a wife of a police officer accused her of trying to steal a purse which was sticking out of her handbag.

According to court documents she tried to explain that someone had placed it there mistakenly and tried to place it on a table.

It is alleged that the wife told her husband and several police officers including Mawdsley and Ginnow 'immediately attacked'.

Stradley's husband Cory said some of the officer described them as 'a bunch of f****** Russians.

He claimed it was stupid to think anyone would try and steal a purse of someone attending a police wedding.

It is alleged one of the officer pushed Mrs Stadley into a second officer who pushed her to the ground.

Another is alleged to have said: 'I'm going to 'F****** kill you.'

It is claimed that after Stradley returned to her feet, she was pushed over by an officer into a pole and suffered a cut to her head.

Stradley has also included Portland Police in the civil lawsuit, file photograph

A glimpse of the dress can be seen above in this Facebook photo

The court document claimed as she tried to walk away 'one of the officers pulled down on her strapless dress, exposing her down to the waist'.

When leaving the house, she told the officers she was going to call the police.

It is claimed they responded: 'Go ahead and call the f****** police. We are the police.'

Mr Stradley claimed when he tried to get the names of the officers involved, one responded: 'Go ahead and call Clackamas County, I'll tell them your wife punched me in the face. What do you think they're going to believe, you guys, or a bunch of cops.'

Another said: 'We know Clackamas County deputy sheriffs, we know lots of them , and they'll be happy to come down and do a report.'

Mrs Stradley claims following the incident she has suffered from 'pain, humiliation, indignity, fear, intrusive thoughts, heightened vigilance, symptoms of brain injury, bruising and battering injuries about her body and an injury to her left shoulder.

According to the court documents, she is seeking $400,000 in non-economic damages and a further $12,500 in economic damages plus costs from Mawdlsey, Ginnow and the City of Portland.
An elderly woman with a degenerative bone disease and severe arthritis was left 'in distress and pain' after a flight from LA turned into a 16-hour ordeal thanks to callous United staff, her granddaughter has claimed.

Australian Paz Orquiza, then 94 was returning from what will likely be her last-ever visit to family in Los Angeles on February 2 when her troubles began.

Orquiza's family had booked her a $3,596.24 business class ticket so she could fly in comfort. Her daughter, Rose Benedicto, was to fly in economy, and help out with feeding and chair adjustments.

But when they got on the plane, staff said Benedicto wouldn't be allowed to leave economy to help - and staff wouldn't help either, her granddaughter said.

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Frail: Paz Orquiza (left on the plane and right in the bed where she spends most of her day), 94, endured 16 hours of agony on an LA-Australia flight in February because United staff wouldn't let family help her, forcing her to move from her $3,600 business seat to economy, family said

Denied: Orquiza's daughter, Rose (right), was told she couldn't step in from economy on occasion to help her mom. Orquiza has a degenerative bone disease and severe arthritis

In her Facebook post, granddaughter Marianne Santos Aguilar says that the family had no problems with Orquiza's flight from Melbourne, Australia, to LA,

There, the crew made 'every effort' to ensure a comfortable flight, she said, and Benedicto was allowed to help out Orquiza with tasks such as opening food and reclining seats.

But on the return flight, staff were far less helpful.

The flight attendant, 'without any sympathy or compassion,' told Benedicto that she could either take Orquiza to economy class, buy a business-class ticket for another flight or leave the elderly woman to suffer.

And so the 94-year-old - who spends most of her days bedbound - was moved to the more cramped economy class.

'My aunt tried to comfort my grandmother, who was in tears, and was horrified to see how much pain she had to endure during this flight,' Aguilar wrote.

'Upon arrival to Australia, my grandma's legs had swollen, she suffered from a stiff neck and her whole body ached.'

'She was in great distress and pain from this ordeal. She was prescribed stronger pain medication and Valium to help with sleep.

'Our family is heartbroken that this painful plane ride back to Melbourne will be the last memory of our trip for my grandma, and this has ruined an otherwise incredible family reunion,' she added.

Last trip: Orquiza (bottom-left in pink shirt) had been visiting family (also pictured) in LA for what will probably be her last-ever trip, her granddaughter said

Pained: Orquiza (pictured on another day) had swollen legs and an aching body, and was left in tears, her family said. They said they had no problems on the initial flight from Australia to LA

Orquiza, who turned 95 on February 28, suffered pains for a week after the flight, she said.

But speaking to DailyMail.com on Thursday, Aguilar said she is now in good health.

However, she said, the elderly woman 'does not like to be in the spotlight' and so being moved in front of other passengers 'may be something that will stay with her forever.'

She added: 'My grandma is a strong woman and for her be in tears on that flight upsets the whole family.'

Aguilar also said that the airline had offered to refund $860 of the $3,600 ticket, and had given the family $500 in airline credit that they do not intend to use.

She said United told her the refund was a 'fare adjustment to reflect the cabin change' - but said that the numbers did not appear to add up.

The family has still not received the refund, two-and-a-half months after the incident, she said. They received an email two days ago saying it would take several more weeks.

United Airlines has been contacted for comment.

Aguilar's remarks are part of flurry of bad press that has struck United in the wake of Sunday's violent ejection of Dr David Dao from a United plane after he was told to leave because it was overbooked.
Donald Trump is reportedly leaning on the counsel of prominent Wall Street banker Stephen Schwarzman as he swings his policy platform to the political center.

Schwarzman, a long-time Trump friend, is talking with the president several times each week, according to insiders who spoke with Politico.

The inside-the-beltway newspaper reported that the Blackstone Group hedge fund billionaire was instrumental in convincing Trump not to roll back an Obama-era 'Dreamers' program that protects children of illegal immigrants from deportation.

And Schwarzman was recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort club in Florida. He spoke with the president about how to reorganize White House personnel.

Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, is increasingly becomg a Trump-whisperer as he speaks with the president several times a week

Trump held a meeting on Tuesday with CEOs from General Motors, PepsiCo, General Electric, IBM, Wal-Mart; Schwarzman sat at his left hand

Trump's informal kitchen cabinet is increasingly chock full of CEOs, a development that is in keeping with his familiarity with New York's elites but sometimes rubs his lower-middle-class base the wrong way.

The West Wing is undergoing a Game of Thrones-type power struggle, with son-in-law Jared Kushner arguing for more centrist positions.

That trend would favor business titans in the president's personal circle of influence, many of whom are Democrats.

He was elected on the strength of a populist uprising from 'America First' conservatives and disaffected nationalists in the U.S. heartland.

Their chief advocate in the White House has been strategist Steve Bannon, whose power is said to be on the wane as Kushner's star rises.

Financial titans Gary Cohn (left), Dina Powell (center) and Steve Mnuchin (right) are now working in the Trump White House and are among his most influential advisers

Also gaining influence are Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Gary Cohn, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and National Security Council deputy Dina Powell.

All of them hail from New York City billionaire circles. Cohn is a life-long Democrat.

Mnuchin, another hedge fund manager, chose Hillary Clinton fundraiser Craig Phillips to helm the Treasury's fresh look at economic regulations.

'The president is a business person, so he's very comfortable being around business people and he learns best by talking to people and observing things,' Schwarzman told Politico on Tuesday.

'He likes being with business people who have run businesses that are bigger than his. It's just a highly supportive environment, whether it's Gary Cohn or Jared, certainly Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross and Dina Powell, these are all people whove had very similar experiences.'
A scorpion fell from an overhead bin and stung a man on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Calgary.

The news comes after the airline sparked outrage earlier in the week when a video surfaced of a passenger being dragged off an overbooked United Express flight.

Richard and Linda Bell were on United flight 1418 flying home through Houston from a vacation in Mexico when a feisty, eight-legged creature showed up.

The scorpion fell on Mr. Bell's head from the overhead compartment.

Richard and Linda Bell were on United flight 1418 flying home through Houston from a vacation in Mexico when a feisty, scorpion showed up

The scorpion fell on Mr. Bell's (right) head from the overhead compartment. Mrs. Bell (left) said she initially thought it looked like a lobster

Mrs. Bell told Global News that it reminded her of something else entirely. She said: 'I looked down and I thought, 'aw, it kind of looks like a little lobster'.'

The creature was about an inch-and-a-half long, and honey-colored.

After the scorpion fell onto Richard's plate, he picked it up and it stung him.

'It felt like a wasp sting,' he reportedly told Global News.

Another passenger then stomped on the scorpion before it was thrown in a toilet.

The airline crew immediately consulted with a physician on the ground who provided guidance throughout the incident. The company said the man's injuries were non-life threatening.

'Medical personnel met the aircraft after it arrived in Calgary,' United spokesman Charles Hobart told CNBC.

On Sunday, a viral video surfaced of a passenger, Dr. David Dao, being dragged off of an overbooked United flight.

United CEO Oscar Munoz at first supported the action. Later, he apologized 'for having to re-accommodate these customers'.
Police in New York City announced on Thursday there were no signs of foul play in the death of the United States' first female Muslim judge after her body was found on the bank of the Hudson River in an apparent suicide.

Medical examiners are still planning to perform an autopsy on 65-year-old Sheila Abdus-Salaam to determine the exact cause of death.

The NYPD harbor unit retrieved the woman's fully clothed body from the Hudson on Wednesday, a day after her husband of less than a year reported her missing.

Apparent suicide: NYPD said on Thursday no signs of foul play were found in the death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, whose body was spotted floating in the Hudson River Wednesday

The 65-year-old woman was dressed in a gray sweater over a T-shirt, black sweatpants and a pair of New Balance sneakers. She wore a white watch on her wrist.

She still had a MetroCard in her pocket, and there were no obvious signs of trauma on her body suggesting foul play, the New York Times reported.

An unnamed law enforcement official familiar with the case shared with the Times that Judge Adbus-Salaam called her chambers in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday morning to notify the staff she would not be coming in because she was unwell.

When the judge failed to show up for work the next day, her aide sent a text message to her husband, who then called 911 to report her missing.

She was last seen alive leaving her office on Monday evening. Investigators were able to retrace her steps, determining that she took a No 6 train at around 8pm.

Abdus-Salaam's apparent decision to end her life came after several tragic events that occurred in her life in recent years.

About three years ago, the judge's brother committed suicide, the newspaper reported. Then in April 2016, Abdus-Salaam lost her mother.

A police source speaking to the New York Daily News on Thursday said the newlywed judge was struggling with depression.

Abdus-Salaam was a classmate of former Attorney General Eric Holder at Columbia Law School and has been hailed as a pioneer after her rise from a working-class family in Washington DC.

The divorcee had recently remarried an Episcopal reverend, according to the New York Daily News.

The 65-year-old judge (pictured with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo) was found fully clothed, with no obvious signs of trauma suggesting foul play, the New York Post reported

Witnesses noticed Abdus-Salaam's body floating in the water near 132nd Street and Hudson Parkway in Manhattan at around 1.45pm and called 911, police said.

The 65-year-old, who had been reported missing from her Harlem home the day before, was removed from the river and pronounced dead at the pier before her husband identified her body.

Abdus-Salaam was noted for being the first African-American woman to serve on New York's Court of Appeals when she was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

The judge was divorced and recently remarried Reverend Gregory Jacobs in June

Cuomo issued a statement on Wednesday, memorializing her as a 'trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all'.

He added: 'As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the States Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer.

'Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

'I was proud to appoint her to the states highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing.

'On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues during this trying and difficult time.'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also paid tribute, writing: 'Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Sheila Abdus-Salaam. She was a humble pioneer. My thoughts are with her family.'

The judge was divorced and remarried Reverend Gregory Jacobs of the Episcopal Archdiocese of Newark, in June, the Daily News reported.

The couple were said to be very happy, and chose to live in separate homes, a neighbor said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio paid tribute to Abdus-Salaam, who was hailed as a 'humble pioneer'

The 65-year-old had been reported missing, and her husband identified her body after witnesses called 911

Abdus-Salaam, who was born Sheila Turner in 1952, was one of seven children.

She grew up in Washington DC with working-class parents and was inspired to pursue law after the civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman visited her high school.

The judge recounted the life-changing talk and said: 'She was riveting... she was doing what I wanted to do: using the law to help people.'

Abdus-Salaam, who later referred to a career in law as 'God's work', graduated from Barnard College in 1974 and received her law degree from Columbia three years later.

She was classmates with former US Attorney Eric Holder, who said during her swearing in ceremony in 2013: 'Sheila could boogie, but there was a seriousness about her, a strong sense of purpose at a relatively young age.'

'She never forgot where she came from,' he added.

She was classmates with former US Attorney Eric Holder, who said during her swearing in ceremony in 2013 (pictured): 'Sheila could boogie, but there was a seriousness about her.'

Abdus-Salaam, who traced her family's history and learned her great-grandfather was a slave in Virginia, marveled at the trajectory of her life in 2014.

She said: 'All the way from Arrington, Virginia, where my family was the property of someone else, to my sitting on the highest court of the State of New York is amazing and huge.

'It tells you and me what it is to know who we are and what we can do.'

Abdus-Salaam worked as an attorney before she began her career as a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1992.

She joined the Supreme Court of New York County in 1993 before she was appointed to the highest court 20 years later, where she served until her death.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be 'missed deeply.'
 Flash

Guizhou province will roll out a series of new tourism policies to attract travelers from far and wide in the coming months.

The southwestern province will offer tourists from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei as well as travelers from outside the mainland free tickets to major scenic spots between April 29 and May 16, Guizhou tourism development commission's director Li Sanqi says at a tourism promotion event in Beijing early April.

The tickets will half-price from May 17 to June 10.

Self-drivers from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei in cars with less than seven passengers will pay no highway charge in Guizhou during April 29-May 16.

Air flights connecting Guizhou to the three northern sites will be discounted from April 29 to June 10, and some prices will be more than 50 percent off.

The province is also inviting veteran travelers and travel business operators from countries and regions along the Road and Belt, such as Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, to experience local tourism resources and plan optimized tour packages and tips. The campaign will be ongoing through September.

The idea is to build an image of Guizhou among foreign guests, according to Li.

The province witnessed more than 40 percent growth in both the number of visitors and tourism income in 2016.

Guizhou boasts majestic landscape scenery and diverse ethnic elements and is an important hub connecting central and southern China.
Dailyn Cruz Abrera (pictured) was arrested Wednesday and charged with killing her three-month-old son, Lucas Paez Cruz

A Kentucky woman has been charged with murdering her infant son.

Dailyn Cruz Abrera, of Louisville, was arrested Wednesday and charged with killing her three-month-old son, Lucas Paez Cruz.

The arrest warrant says the 26-year-old woman called dispatchers on March 30 and told them she had smothered her baby.

According to the dispatchers, she also 'wanted to know the fastest way to die'.

Louisville officers responded to the home and found the boy dead in a bed.

Authorities said Abrera was distraught when officers arrived at the Fountain Square Apartments in West Buechel.

She then told them she smothered the crying baby to death.

'She admitted to intentionally killing her child,' Homicide detective Chris Rutherford told WAVE 3.

Upon arrival to the police station, Abrera made a full confession to what happened.

Online jail records show the mother was being held in the Louisville jail on a $500,000 cash bond.

Rutherford said the mother was the only one in the apartment with the child at the time but that she also lived with her parents.

Authorities have not released complete details or a motive for the killing. Abrera is due back in court on April 24.
Britain's spy agencies reportedly played a crucial role in revealing that President Donald Trump's campaign team was in contact with Russian intelligence operatives.

Once officials in the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) learned of suspicious 'interactions' between Trump's inner circle and suspected Russian agents in late 2015, they passed the information on to the United States.

The tip was passed on during a routine exchange of information, according to an intelligence insider.

During the following six months into 2016, a number of western agencies, including ones in Germany, Estonia and Poland, shared their own information about interactions between people close to Trump and Russians.

Officials in the GCHQ learned of suspicious 'interactions' between Trump's inner circle and suspected Russian agents in late 2015, and passed the information on to the United States.

It is believed that the GCHQ (pictured) never carried out a targeted operation against Trump or proactively sought information. The alleged interactions were picked up as part of routine surveillance of Russian intelligence assets

Australia, a member of the 'Five Eyes' spying alliance including the United States, UK, Canada and New Zealand, also shared material, a source told The Guardian.

It is believed that the GCHQ never carried out a targeted operation against Trump or proactively sought information.

The alleged interactions were picked up as part of routine surveillance of Russian intelligence assets.

It is believed that the Dutch and France's spy agency also passed over information.

Britain's MI6 also played a role in intelligence sharing, a source said, but the spy agency declined to comment.

Trump and his Republican supporters want FBI and Congressional investigations to target claims that Obama spied on his successor, rather than Moscow's interference in the election.

Trump has repeatedly called the Russian interference story 'fake news' while alleging, without offering evidence, that the previous administration of president Barack Obama spied on him and his campaign.

MI6's former chief Sir Richard Dearlove, described called Trump's wiretapping claims 'simply deeply embarrassing for Trump and the administration'.

'The only possible explanation is that Trump started tweeting without understanding how the NSA-GCHQ relationship actually works,' Dearlove told Prospect magazine.

His spokesman Sean Spicer complained Monday that US media was, in its focus on the Russia issue, pursuing the wrong story.

Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer complained Monday that US media was, in its focus on the Russia issue, pursuing the wrong story

Spicer has also falsely claimed that the 'British spying agency' GCHQ' has carried out surveillance of Trump during the campaign.

The allegations were called 'utterly ridiculous' by a GCHQ spokesman, who said the claims 'should be ignored'.

The United States and UK have said that the GCHQ did play an early role in prompting the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation in late July 2016.

The agency was a 'principal whistleblower', one insider told The Guardian.

It is believed that the FBI and CIA were slow to kickstart an investigation because US law prohibits them from surveilling private communications of American citizens without warrants.

'It looks like the [US] agencies were asleep,' a source told The Guardian. 'They [the European agencies] were saying: 'There are contacts going on between people close to Mr Trump and people we believe are Russian intelligence agents. You should be wary of this.''

'The message was: 'Watch out. There's something not right here.''

The White House on Wednesday tried to distance itself from a one-time campaign aide to Trump, Carter Page, after revelations that the FBI investigated him last year for ties to Russian intelligence.

The Washington Post reported that federal investigators obtained a rare warrant from the top-secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to monitor Page's communications -- the first confirmation of government surveillance of Trump's team.

The White House on Wednesday tried to distance itself from a one-time campaign aide to Trump, Carter Page (pictured), after revelations that the FBI investigated him last year for ties to Russian intelligence

During the 2016 election campaign, then candidate Trump personally referred to Page as one of his foreign policy advisors.

It has now emerged that federal prosecutors and an intelligence court judge at least suspected the former Moscow-based banker was also working for, or with, the Russians.

The White House rushed to play down Page's ties to Trump and the campaign.

One current official told AFP that Page never met Trump, did not have a campaign pass and was only mentioned as an advisor because the billionaire candidate was under pressure to show he had a policy brain trust.

The official admitted that Page could have written policy memos for the campaign, but his name was only on a list of supposed advisors because of a recommendation from Sam Clovis, an Iowa conservative now working in Trump's Department of Agriculture.

Russia-US ties following Trump's election have been shattered by the congressional investigation into alleged ties between Trump's campaign associates and Russia.

The tense back-and-forth over last week's deadly chemical attack in Syria has added to the strain.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Wednesday that relations between Washington and Moscow, a key ally of the Damascus regime, were at a 'low point'.

Donald Trump took an optimistic tone toward US-Russia relations on Twitter Thursday  hours after saying they were at an 'all time low'.
A federal judge whose unusual behavior preceded her mysterious removal from a string of cases was ordered to get treatment for alcoholism so severe a colleague believes she cannot take care of herself.

The chief judge for the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Judge Patricia Minaldi of Baton Rouge, Louisiana to complete at least 90 days of substance abuse treatment due to the severity of her alcoholism, court records released Thursday revealed.

Minaldi has been on medical leave since December. She has served as a judge in the Western District of Louisiana since her nomination in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush.

Last month, a federal magistrate who is a longtime friend of Minaldi filed a lawsuit challenging her mental and physical capacity to manage her personal and financial affairs.

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Judge Patricia Minaldi of Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been ordered to complete at least 90 days of substance abuse treatment due to the severity of her alcoholism

The suit against Minaldi - one that legal experts said could be unprecedented for the federal judiciary - has been sealed from public view.

Dozens of cases originally assigned to Minaldi have been reassigned to other judges since late December.

Court officials didn't explained why Minaldi was pulled off several cases, including one marred by mistakes in routine trial procedures.

On December 6, a criminal trial in Minaldi's courtroom was cut short without explanation before a jury could be picked to hear the case against a man charged with producing child pornography and crossing state lines to have sex with a minor.

In February 2016, Minaldi was pulled off another man's fraud case following a series of mistakes in routine trial procedures.

In January of 2014, Minaldi was arrested for first-offense DUI after officers stopped her and found what they believed to be a glass of white wine in her car

Court documents unsealed showed that even basic requirements - like telling jurors the burden of proof lies with prosecutors, not the defense - weren't followed.

In January of 2014, Minaldi was arrested for first-offense DUI after officers stopped her and found what they believed to be a glass of white wine in her car.

Dashcam video obtained by local news organizations showed her arguing with an officer and refusing to get out of her car before police arrested her outside her Lake Charles home.

She pleaded guilty in that case, expressing her remorse and telling a judge she wanted to 'accept responsibility,' and served one year of probation.
The Syrian father whose twins were gassed to death by Bashar al-Assad has begged world leaders not to fall for 'the lies of his criminal regime'.

Abdul Hamid al-Yousef, from the town of Khan Sheikhoun, lost 22 members of his family in the chemical attack last week, including young twins Ahmed and Aya.

Assad gave his first interview since the attack on Wednesday, in which he denied it had taken place and said videos of children dying could have been faked.

Speaking to Mail Online through his cousin Aya Fadl, who was also affected by the gas attack, Abdul Hamid said: 'I pray that all the governments of all the world do not believe the lies of this criminal regime.

'How can he pretend that they are not dead? How? We saw them. We buried them with our own hands.

Abdul Hamid al-Yousef, whose twins Ahmed and Aya were gassed to death is Syria last week, has lashed out at Bashar al-Assad after he said the attack was '100 per cent fabricated'

Speaking exclusively to Mail Online, Mr al-Yousef said: 'How can Assad pretend that they are not dead? How? We saw them. We buried them with our own hands'

The distraught father also begged with world leader not to fall for the lies of Assad's 'criminal' regime, adding: 'He has lost touch with reality and lost his legitimacy'

'For Assad we all are terrorists, so we expect that he will lie again and again. To him those women, those children are all terrorists.

'Assad has lost touch with reality and lost his legitimacy.'

The dictator, who faces calls to be tried as a war criminal, said earlier on Wednesday that 'the story is not convincing by any means'.

He insisted it was 'not clear whether [the gas attack] happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now.'

And referring to footage which showed people foaming at the mouth, which sent shockwaves around the world, he said: 'We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?'

Ms Fadl, Abdul's cousin who had to be hospitalised after breathing in gas and miscarried her six-week-old baby days later, also spoke to Mail Online.

She said: 'Everything that comes from the regime is false. I believe that those dead children can tell the truth, not a corrupt regime such as this.

'My baby was killed by this liar and Assad says that it was fabricated. My God.'

Aya Fadl (left), Mr al-Yousef's cousin, also spoke to Mail Online. She said: 'Everything that comes from the regime is false. I believe that those dead children can tell the truth'

Mrs Fadl had to be treated in hospital after breathing in the gas, and miscarried her six-week-old baby days later. She said it was 'impossible' for Assad to call her story fake

Her husband Alaa, pictured with their young son, likened Assad's crimes to those of Hitler, saying he is 'tired of seeing war and murder'

In a direct appeal to Western leaders, she added: 'Don't allow this regime to do what it has done before, don't let Assad kill us again. Stop him.'

Assad made the comment in an interview released on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after world leaders clashed over a UN resolution condemning the attack, which human rights groups say killed 87 people.

Tests carried out on the site have established the presence of sarin gas, or a similar substance, the UN Security Council heard yesterday.

Speaking to AFP, Assad also said:

His army 'gave up' all chemical weapons in 2013

He will only allow an 'impartial' probe into the chemical attack by 'unbiased' nations

Syrian firepower is 'not affected' by a US strike last week

The US is 'not serious' about finding a political situation to end the country's civil war

He accused US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson of 'hallucinating' by saying the Assad family reign was coming to an end

British Prime Minister Theresa May today said it was 'highly likely' that Assad's regime carried out the attack, which was branded an 'affront to humanity' by US President Donald Trump.

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Assad branded claims his regime carried out a sarin gas attack on his own population '100 per cent fabrication'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pictured during an interview with AFP's Beirut bureau chief Sammy Ketz in capital Damascus

In his first interview since 59 American cruise missiles hit a central Syrian air base three days after the chemical weapon attack, Assad said footage of the attack aftermath were not 'conclusive proof' it had happened.

He said evidence came only from 'a branch of Al-Qaeda', referring to a former jihadist affiliate which is among the groups that control the Idlib province, where the atrocity happened.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth, sent shockwaves around the world.

He said Khan Sheikhun had no strategic value and was not currently a battle front.

He continued: 'Definitely, 100 per cent for us, it's fabrication... Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack.'

Assad said images of children allegedly killed as a result of last week's attack could be fake

The Syrian regime has been blamed for a chemical weapon attack last Tuesday, which claimed an estimated 87 lives

The Syrian dictator said he would only allow an 'impartial' investigation into the incident, stating that he would only sanction a probe by 'unbiased' countries.

He told AFP bureau chief Sammy Ketz: 'We can only allow any investigation when it's impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes.'

The dictator hit out at the US, saying peace talks aimed at resolving his country's civil war were ineffective because Washington was 'not serious' about ending the conflict.

'The United States is not serious in achieving any political solution. They want to use it as an umbrella for the terrorists.'

He claimed his regime handed over all its chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, and could not have carried out last week's attack.

He hit out at US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who earlier this week claimed the Assad family 'reign' was coming to an end

Assad claimed his regime handed over all its chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, and could not have carried out last week's attack

'There was no order to make any attack... We gave up our arsenal a few years ago. Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them,' Assad stated.

And he claimed to be unfazed by international opposition, stating that the suffering of Syria's people 'is the only thing that could deprive me from sleep from time to time, but not the Western statements and not the threat of the support of the terrorists'.

He hit out at US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who earlier this week claimed the Assad family 'reign' was coming to an end.

The Syrian leader stated: 'There is no reign of Assad family anyway in Syria.

'He's dreaming, or let's say, he's hallucinating, so, we don't waste our time with his statement.'

Russia last night blocked a UN resolution which called for a speedy investigation into the use of sarin nerve gas last Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin has angrily refuted claims that Assad ordered the attack, saying there was 'no evidence' to back this up.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth, sent shockwaves around the world

US forces carried out an air strike on a base in central Syria, claiming Assad was behind last week's attack

US President Donald Trump said last week's strike from US warships in the Mediterranean was in the 'vital national security interest', and the US had to 'prevent and deter' the spread and use of chemical weapons

End of my reign? Rex Tillerson is hallucinating, says Assad The under-fire dictator has rubbished a statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson claiming that the Assad family 'reign' is coming to an end. Assad became president following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1971 until his death in 2000. He was tutored in politics by his father, who had initially planned to hand over power to oldest son Bassel until the latter was killed in a road accident in 1994. In the interview with AFP, Assad said: 'He's dreaming, or let's say, he's hallucinating, so, we don't waste our time with his statement.' After his brother's death the current president, a former ophthalmologist, was forced to leave London, where he had met his wife Asma, a British-Syrian and Sunni Muslim who worked for financial services firm JP Morgan. Assad, pictured at the age of 34 (left), was tutored by his father, Hafez al-Assad (right) The current Syrian president (second from left, back row) pictured with his family When Assad came to power, he relaxed some of the heavy restrictions on freedom that existed under his father. But as the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011, he responded with a brutal crackdown, labelling it a 'terrorist' conspiracy aimed at breaking the 'axis of resistance' against Israel. Since then, 320,000 people have been killed and more than half the population has been forced from their homes - but Assad has shown no inclination to step down. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has stated that the Assad family 'reign' is coming to an end, a claim the current president refutes Assad (right) pictured alongside then Syrian army Chief of Staff General Ali Aslaan (left) shortly after coming to power in July 2000 Experts say his unwavering self belief has helped him to maintain a firm grip on power despite the raging conflict. 'He was from the same school as his father, and this school has always understood the importance of time, how to turn bad headwinds into good,' said Waddah Abed Rabbo, editor-in-chief of Syria's influential Al-Watan daily newspaper. Still, the key to his victory, Abed Rabbo and others said, was the steadfast support Assad was able to count on from his foreign allies. Assad (centre) pictured waving to crowds at his father's funeral on June 13, 2000, days before succeeding him as Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, pictured in 1998, died on June 10 2000 at the age of 69 'He never doubted his victory because he knew that his country had for decades nourished a solid strategic alliance with Russia, Iran and others,' he said. Assad has two sons and a daughter, and says he still lives in his Damascus home, drives the children to school and goes to work in his downtown office. Former Dutch ambassador Nikolaos van Dam said: 'It has always been a struggle for life and death. There was no question of stopping this war. It was either win or lose.' The Assad clan hails from the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, in a country with a large Sunni majority. Advertisement

Assad, who has been in office since July 2000 when he succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad, is under increasing pressure amid calls for him to face trial for war crimes.

British Prime Minister Theresa May today said it is 'highly likely' that Assad was behind last week's attack.

After British scientists yesterday said sarin had been used, Mrs May said: 'They are very clear that sarin or a sarin-like substance was used and as our ambassador to the United Nations made clear yesterday, like the United States, we believe it is highly likely that attack was carried out by the Assad regime.

'Apart from anything else, we believe it is only the regime that has the capability to take such an attack and make such an attack.'

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson branded his regime 'murderous' in a strongly-worded statement yesterday.

Mr Johnson said it was 'highly likely' the Syrian regime was responsible for the toxic gas attack and called on Russia to stop acting 'as a lifeline for Assad's murderous regime'.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured today at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, said it was 'highly likely' Assad's regime was responsible

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands prior to their talks in Moscow yesterday

The US President said today he is confident there will be 'lasting peace' between the USA and Russia

Yesterday US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss the escalating tensions in Syria, and admitted there were 'low levels of trust' between the two nations.

But President Trump today attempted to de-escalate the crisis, writing on Twitter: 'Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!'

Assad's comments come a day after fraught discussions at the United Nations. In dramatic developments yesterday:

The UN Security Council was told British scientists had discovered evidence of nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance, at the scene of the attack

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said there were 'low levels of trust' between the United States and Russia after meeting Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on Vladimir Putin to use his influence on Assad to end the war

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov, accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role Putin said there was 'no evidence' that Assad was behind the chemical attack

How did it get to this? Ten key developments in the Syria conflict REVOLT AND REPRESSION March 15, 2011: Unprecedented protests break out, demanding civil liberties and freedom for political prisoners after 40 years of repressive rule by the Assad family. Denouncing 'an armed rebellion by Salafist groups', the government crushes demonstrations in Damascus and the southern city of Daraa. The protests continue to spread and demonstrators call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down. In July, defected army colonel Riyadh al-Assad sets up the Turkey-based rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). Islamist groups join the revolt. Anti-government activists gesture on the streets of Daraa, 100kms south of the capital Damascus on March 23, 2011 'BARREL BOMBS' USED March 1, 2012: Regime forces seize the rebel-held Baba Amr district of Syria's third city Homs after almost a month of heavy shelling. July 17, 2012: FSA fighters launch a battle for Damascus, but the government holds firm. From 2013, the regime pounds rebel strongholds across the country with improvised 'barrel bombs'. A defaced poster of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen near garbage containers in Aleppo on July 24, 2012. The words on the poster read, 'We coming, duck ass' HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN April 2013: The Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah says it is fighting alongside government forces. Iran boosts its military support for longtime ally Assad. CHEMICAL WEAPONS August 21, 2013: Rebel backer Washington accuses the regime of killing more than 1,400 people with chemical weapons in rebel-held districts near Damascus. In September, the United States and Assad ally Russia agree a plan to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons, averting punitive US strikes against the regime. RISE OF JIHADISTS From 2013, jihadists, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, expand in the north at the expense of moderate rebels. In 2014, the Islamic State group (IS) seizes swathes of territory before proclaiming a self-styled 'caliphate' in areas it controls in both Syria and Iraq. ISIS fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province June 30, 2014 COALITION AIR STRIKES In September 2014, US president Barack Obama vows to build an international coalition to defeat IS. Later that month, the US and its allies launch air strikes against IS in Syria. The strikes benefit Kurdish groups, which in 2013 declared autonomous administrations in Kurdish-majority areas. In January 2015, coalition-backed Kurdish fighters oust IS from the flashpoint border town of Kobane. RUSSIA INTERVENES September 30, 2015: Russia launches air strikes in support of Assad. Moscow says it is targeting 'terrorist groups' including IS, but the opposition and the West accuse it of targeting non-jihadist rebels. Government forces, on the back foot since March 2015, begin to retake territory. Flames rise after the war crafts belonging to the Russian army carried out airstrikes on two hospital in the Azaz town of Aleppo, Syria on December 25, 2015 TURKEY INTERVENES August 24, 2016: Turkey launches cross-border 'Operation Euphrates Shield' to tackle both IS and Washington-backed Kurdish militia groups that Ankara considers 'terrorists'. REGIME RETAKES ALEPPO December 22, 2016: After a suffocating siege and a crushing offensive, the army declares it is in full control of second city Aleppo, which has been divided between rebels and government forces since 2012. Thousands of rebels and civilians are evacuated under a deal sponsored by Iran, Russia and Turkey. On December 30, a nationwide ceasefire comes into force under a Russia-Turkey accord which sidelines the US. A wounded Syrian child cries after the war-crafts belonging to the Russian army bombed the opposition controlled Firdevs neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria on October 11, 2016 Buses are seen during an evacuation operation of rebel fighters and their families from rebel-held neighbourhoods in the embattled city of Aleppo, Syria on December 15, 2016 CHEMICAL ATTACK, US MISSILES April 4, 2017: A suspected chemical attack kills 87 civilians, including 31 children, in rebel-held Idlib province. Western governments accuse Assad of using banned chemical weapons, which both Damascus and Moscow deny. Overnight April 6-7, a barrage of 59 US Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from warships in the eastern Mediterranean hits an airbase in central Syria, the first US military action against the regime. Advertisement

There were furious exchanges at the UN Security council yesterday, where Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Rycroft lashed Russia's support for the 'murderous, barbaric criminal' Assad, and warned the Kremlin it was on the 'wrong side of history'.

Mr Rycroft said Russia had been 'humiliated' by its steadfast support of the Syrian dictator's regime during six years of hellish civil war and last week's chemical strike.

In a special session of the UN Security Council in New York, Russia's ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov accused Britain of 'arrogance' and defended its role.

Mr Safronkov snapped at the British diplomat: 'Look at me while I'm talking to you'.

Jabbing his finger towards Mr Rycroft, he fumed: 'Look at me, when Im speaking, dont look away. Why are you looking away?'

And he told the British ambassador: Youre losing sleep that we might be working together with the United States, co-operating with the United States  that is what you fear.

Investigators sent to Turkey to probe chemical attack Global chemical weapons investigators have been sent to Turkey to collect samples in an inquiry into an alleged chemical weapons attack in neighbouring Syria last week that killed 87 people. The fact-finding mission was sent by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague to gather bio-metric samples and interview survivors, sources told Reuters on Thursday. The toxic gas attack on April 4, which killed scores of people including children, prompted a US cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base and widened a rift between the United States and Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his conflict with rebels and militants fighting to oust him. Syrian authorities have repeatedly denied using any chemical weapons. Russian officials said the gas had been released by an air strike on a poison gas storage depot controlled by rebels. Washington said that account was not credible, and rebels have denied it. Turkish health minister Recep Akdag said tests had confirmed that sarin gas was used in last week's attack Samples taken from the poison gas site in Syria's Idlib governorate tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, the British delegation at the OPCW said on Thursday. 'UK scientists have analysed samples taken from Khan Sheikhoun. These have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance,' the delegation said during a special session on Syria at the OPCW in The Hague. The UK result confirmed earlier testing by Turkish authorities that concluded that sarin had been used for the first time on a large scale in Syria's civil war since 2013. The Syrian leader, pictured in February, faces increasing international pressure following a chemical weapon attack last week The OPCW mission will determine whether chemical weapons were used, but is not mandated to assign blame. Its findings, expected in three to four weeks, will be passed to a joint United Nations-OPCW investigation tasked with identifying individuals or institutions responsible for using chemical weapons. International investigators have concluded that sarin, chlorine and sulphur mustard gas have been used in Syria's six-year-old conflict, with government forces using chlorine and ISIS militants using sulphur mustard. Last week's poison gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held province of Idlib near the Turkish border was the most lethal since a sarin attack on Aug. 21, 2013 killed hundreds in a rebel-controlled suburb of the capital Damascus. Advertisement

The attacks sparked international condemnation, and on Tuesday Turkey announced that blood and urine tests on victims had revealed the presence of the lethal gas.

Health minister Recep 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.'
Richard Westgate, 43, had a number of health issues but grew 'angry, frustrated and disillusioned' when British medical professionals were unable to cure him

The family of a British Airways pilot, who believed he suffered from toxic fumes in the cockpit, said the industry 'has its head in the sand' after a coroner ruled he died from an accidental overdose.

Richard Westgate, 43, had a number of health issues but grew 'angry, frustrated and disillusioned' when British medical professionals were unable to cure him.

The pilot, who 'lived for flying', then grounded himself from piloting planes when bosses refused to permanently sign him off.

He moved to the Netherlands when Dutch medical experts and scientists believed his claims and set about trying to cure him.

But on the opening day of his inquest at Salisbury Coroner's Court, Wilts, coroner Dr Simon Fox QC said the issue - known as aerotoxic syndrome - was not something the parties will address.

And the airline industry argued there is no threat of fumes affecting passengers or crew.

But speaking today outside court after a week-long inquest into her son's death, Judy Westgate said she was 'dismayed' at Dr Fox's decision.

She said: 'Richard loved life and had so much to live for.

'He found his calling as a pilot, both in paragliding and flying passenger jets - something he considered a privilege.

'A few years ago he started to get sick but his symptoms baffled doctors, either they didn't know what was wrong or they chose not to help. The result was they all turned him away.

'His sickness turned to excruciating pain - and still he felt the doctors betrayed him.

'When Richard died four years ago, (the original) Coroner Sheriff Payne believed there could be a problem with poisons in cabin air of the aircraft Richard flew and started the inquest accordingly.

'To our dismay however, the coroner was suddenly switched last year and the new coroner instructed that aerotoxic syndrome would not be discussed as 'a proper issue' in relation to Richard's cause of death.'

The syndrome, Mr Westgate claimed, caused him to suffer years of poor health including severe headaches, mental confusion, sight problems and insomnia.

He died in December 2012 and a post mortem revealed he had been taking pentobarbital.

His twin brother Guy Westgate, 47 and also a BA pilot, told the inquest that his brother was working with researchers and campaigners to see if his claims could be true.

Guy told the inquest: 'Richard believed he was unfit to work. He was trying to get signed off to be permanently unfit to work and kick start his insurance payouts.

'That whole process was stopped because of the current system. No one was prepared to give a diagnosis of what he had.'

Pam Love (left), Guy Westgate and their mother Judith Westgate leave Wiltshire and Swindon Coroners Court

Guy, who attended the inquest with his sister Pam Love and their mother, wept as he described the pain his brother had been suffering to the court.

He said: 'He would describe the pain as if his brain was being sandpapered.

'He couldn't find any other way to describe the severity of the pain.'

Richard Westgate had been on medical leave since September 2011 with his various deficits, for which he was seeking care.

Prior to his death, Richard had instructed lawyers to sue BA for health and safety breaches as he was convinced his problems were related to being exposed to toxic chemicals on board the planes he flew.

Richard Westgate (pictured) had a number of health issues but grew 'angry, frustrated and disillusioned' when British medical professionals were unable to cure him

Guy added during the inquest: 'The Dutch team he found were the first people who believed in him. He had been let down by doctors, BA doctors, BALPA [British Airline Pilots Association] doctors.

'The specialists he found in Holland were the first group who finally gave him light at the end of the tunnel. He went there to be cured.

'He intended to come back as Richard Westgate. He was angry, frustrated, disillusioned. He couldn't believe he was let down by so many people.

'He couldn't believe the medical profession let him down so badly.'

The inquest came about following a report to prevent future deaths issued by former senior coroner for Dorset Sheriff Stanhope Payne.

Prior to his death, Richard Westgate instructed lawyers to sue BA for health and safety breaches as he was convinced his problems were related to being exposed to toxic chemicals

Sheriff Payne wrote to the Civil Aviation Authority and British Airways in February 2015 outlining his concerns that Mr Westgate may have been poisoned after 'testing of samples taken both prior to and after death disclosed symptoms consistent with exposure to organophosphate compounds in aircraft cabin air'.

He said the matters of concern were the 'consequential damage' to the health of pilots, and whether the 'impairment to the health of those controlling aircraft may lead to the death of occupants'.

The inquest heard the cause of death was a pentobarbitial overdose - a group of drugs which helps slow the nervous system. His body was found on December 12, 2012 at Bastion Hotel, in Bussum, Netherlands.

Coroner Dr Fox QC ruled that Mr Westgate didn't intentionally take his own life, and died from an accidental overdose.

Recording a narrative verdict Mr Fox said: 'On that night he misjudged the amount of pentobarbitial with which he was self medicating.'

He added: 'Mr Westgate died in his sleep in his hotel room on the night of December 11/12, 2012 as a result of taking an unintentional overdose of the sedative pentobarbitial.

'It was an accidental death.'

Coroner Simon Fox passed his condolences to Mr Westgate's family.

A BA spokesman said afterwards: 'Our thoughts are with the family at this time.'
This is the moment a nude man jumps into the popular Trevi Fountain in Rome in front of stunned tourists and started swimming.

The incident took place at the Trevi Fountain, in the Italian capital city of Rome. The video shows the man swimming in the fountain while stunned tourists film him.

After crossing the whole fountain, the man is seen getting out of the fountain totally naked and the tourists shout with surprise.

A police officer was waiting for him in the right side of the square where the fountain is and the man is seen quietly leaving the area accompanied by officials.

Video shows a man swimming naked in the Trevi Fountain, in the Italian capital city of Rome, as stunned tourists film him. After crossing the whole fountain, he was arrested

The 30-year-old man, whose name might be Manolo and who might be Spanish, local media report, was covered up by police and tried to escape, injuring one of the officers.

He has been charged with violence against a public official and resisting arrest.

His belongings and documents were found by the edge of the fountain and are being investigated by the authorities.

A police officer was waiting for him in the right side of the square, and once he crossed the foutain he was seen leaving the area accompained by police

His belongings and documents were found by the edge of the fountain and are being investigated by the authorities

It is illegal to jump into the Trevi Fountain, throw rubbish in the water or fish out coins. Officials are looking into whether or not the man caused any damage.

Local media said that this was yet another assault on Italy's heritage.

Reports listed other cases, including the breaking of one of the tusks of the elephant of Minerva.

In another incident, an Ecuadorian man who was arrested for writing his wife and daughter's names on the Coliseum.
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The Uber driver accused of killing six people and injuring two - including a 14-year-old boy - during a deranged rampage through Kalamazoo, Michigan, in February last year, appeared in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing.

Jason Dalton, 46, of Cooper Township, slouched under the baleful eyes of his alleged victims' friends and family as his attorney requested that his testimony to police be declared inadmissible in court.

Attorney Eusebio Solis said in a Circuit Court brief that Dalton, who pleaded insanity after the shootings, told Kalamazoo and State police detectives 25 times that he did not wish to speak to them - but still they pressed him, mLive reported.

In court: Jason Dalton, 46, sits in court Thursday as part of a pretrial hearing. His lawyer argues that Dalton's statements to cops from after the February 2016 killings should not be allowed as he invoked his Fifth Amendment right

Angry: The friends and family of Dalton's alleged victims watched the hearing. His lawyer said that Dalton invoked the right not to self-incriminate 15 times, and declined to speak to officers 25 times - but they kept on asking questions

Sad: A family member of one of the six victims looks on. Dalton's lawyer said that he broke down only after police repeatedly infringed on his constitutional rights

Thoughtful: The men and women watching seem contemplative as they face the man accused of robbing them of their loved ones. The prosecution says that it was necessary for police to talk to him as they didn't know if there was more than one shooter

According to the brief, Dalton invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to self-accuse at least 15 times during questioning but police persisted, eking out small details.

He also invoked his Sixth Amendment right to an attorney, Solis said, but eventually gave in after hours of being prodded by cops.

'The detectives continue their questioning extracting bits of information from the defendant until the defendant succumbs and gives up his resistance and begins answering the questions to him,' Solis wrote.

Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting replied in a brief on April 5, saying that police kept questioning Dalton because they couldn't be sure he was a lone wolf.

'At the time of his interview, the defendant was the suspect in a seven-hour crime spree that left six dead and two others critically injured,' Getting wrote.

He added that detectives 'were unsure if there were additional victims or conspirators who had not yet been identified by police.'

And, he said, Dalton waived his Fifth Amendment rights after starting a conversation with police.

'His waiver of these rights was knowing, intelligent and voluntary making his subsequent admissions admissible,' he said.

Judge Alexander Lipsey said that he would decide on whether Dalton's statements are admissible by next Thursday. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 6, with jury selection scheduled for June 13.

Dalton faces six counts of murder, two of assault with intent to commit murder, and eight felony firearm counts.

Glare: Dalton shoots a glare at the camera as he enters court. The prosecution says that police also needed to figure out whether there were any victims unaccounted for, and that Dalton later waived his Fifth Amendment right and started talking

'Insane': Dalton has pleaded insanity in the shootings, saying that a devil controlled him through his Uber app. None of his victims were passengers. He has been declared fit to stand trial, which will begin June 6

Judy Brown, Barbara Hawthorne, Mary Jo Nye, Mary Lou Nye, and father and son Rich and Tyler Smith were fatally shot in the 2016 rampage.

Victim Tiana Carruthers was shot four times but survived after playing dead, while 14-year-old Abigail Kopf was resuscitated after her heart stopped. She subsequently suffered speaking difficulties and memory loss.

All eight were hit in shootings at three different locations across Kalamazoo. None of the victims were passengers.

After being arrested, Dalton told police that a 'devil' had appeared in his Uber app and controlled his body, telling him who to kill with noises.

He is pleading insanity in the shootings. He was found fit to stand trial on April 22, 2016, and was told to stand trial on May 20.

During the latter court date, he interrupted Carruthers' testimony about protecting the four children she was with, causing her to burst into tears.

He shouted about 'old people with black bags' and screamed 'you need to go to temple' before Judge Christopher Haenicke was forced to call a recess.

At one point Dalton also took a sip from his cup and announced: 'This tastes like watermelon. I never had that before.'

Dragged out: On May 20, 2016, Dalton was dragged from court after interrupting the testimony of one of the two survivors, shouting about 'old people with black bags' and saying the witness needed 'to go to temple'
Naomi Facey, from Russell, New Zealand, went into labour two weeks early and her baby was saved by midwife Sue Bree, who kept her hand inside the birth canal for ninety minutes

A midwife has been hailed a hero after she saved the life of an unborn baby girl by keeping her hand inside the mother's birth canal for ninety minutes.

Mother-to-be Naomi Facey, from Russell, New Zealand, went into labour two weeks early and saw a bit of her umbilical cord was hanging out.

She knew she had suffered a prolapsed cord, which can suffocate a baby in labour.

She and partner Neil Bolton, who run a holiday park together, called midwife Sue Bree, who told them to call the emergency services.

Mr Bolton told the NZ Herald: 'She [Sue Bree] told Naomi to get head down, bum up, to keep the baby's weight off the cord. Then I had to hang up and call 111.'

As Ms Facey was trying to keep the baby from suffocating, Ms Bree took the ferry from Opua to Russell so she could tend to the mother.

Using her hand, the midwife managed to keep the child from getting caught in the umbilical cord.

With her other hand, she called an obstetrician at Whangarei Hospital and used Ms Facey's bottom to hold the device.

A fireman came to the house to take Ms Facey to the nearby school, where an air ambulance was waiting.

Ms Facey was taken to hospital by air ambulance and gave birth to baby Emilia (left) in an emergency cesaerian section. Pictured right, Ms Facey with partner Neil Bolgon

At this point, Ms Bree said: 'If you are religious, now is the time to start praying.'

When she arrived at the hospital, she was given an emergency cesarean section and gave birth to baby Emilia.

Ms Facey told the paper: 'I don't know that they'll ever know how grateful we are. Words can't express it.'
A Louisville teacher who witnessed a passenger being violently dragged off a United Airlines flight said one of the police officers was laughing as the violent incident unfolded.

The teacher, Jason Powell, who was on board the plane about to depart Chicagos OHare Airport on Sunday, wrote a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune recounting his experiences.

The disgusting mishandling of the situation included everyone from the rude ticket agent who demanded that this man give up his seat on the flight United overbooked, to one of the officers laughing in the midst of the incident, to the violent, abusive way the passenger was dragged off the plane by the officer, he wrote in the letter which was published Tuesday.

It was the worst possible model for my students, and frankly, was traumatizing to many of us who watched this from such close proximity.

A Louisville teacher on board the United Airlines flight about to depart Chicagos OHare Airport when a passenger was dragged off the plane by police said on Tuesday that one of the officers was laughing as the violent incident (above) was taking place on Sunday

Chicago's aviation officers are not part of the regular police force, unlike in many other big cities. They get less training than regular officers and can't carry firearms inside the airports. One of the officers on board the United plane is seen in the amateur video above. It is not known which officer was reportedly laughing

The airline has faced a vicious nationwide backlash after video of a bloodied Dr. David Dao, an internal medicine specialist from Kentucky, being dragged out of an airplane was posted to social media and quickly went viral.

United was also criticized for its public handling of the crisis.

Initially, the companys CEO, Oscar Munoz, appeared to place the blame on Dao for the incident.

But as public anger swelled, Munoz backtracked and issued a formal apology.

Munoz said on Wednesday that United will no longer enlist police officers to remove passengers.

Daos lawyer, Thomas Demetrio, held a news conference in Chicago on Thursday during which he said that a process has begun toward legal action against the airline.

In response to the continuing backlash, United CEO Oscar Munoz said on Wednesday that the airline will no longer enlist police officers to remove passengers. A United passenger plane is seen at Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey, in the above 2015 file photo

Demetrio likened the cops who forcibly evicted Dao from the plane to storm troopers and said that the incident was more terrifying than when his client left Vietnam during the fall of Saigon.

'Heres the law  pure and simple. If you are going to eject a passenger, under no circumstance, can it be done with unreasonable force or violence,' Demetrio told reporters.

'If unreasonable force of violence is used, the common carrier  United Airlines in this case  is responsible.

Powell wrote that some of the passengers got up and left the plane so that they did not continue to witness the abuse.

He also wrote that another father was trying to console his eight-year-old daughter. The man then turned to one of the officers and said, You ought to be ashamed of yourself!

The now-infamous eviction of Dao was carried out by members of a little-known police force that guards Chicagos two large airports  OHare and Midway International Airport.

Daos lawyer, Thomas Demetrio, held a news conference in Chicago on Thursday during which he said that a process has begun toward legal action against the airline

Chicago's aviation officers are not part of the regular police force, unlike in many other big cities. They get less training than regular officers and can't carry firearms inside the airports.

Three of them were put on leave amid outrage over how they treated the passenger.

Cellphone footage of the confrontation 'really has put it at risk,' Alderman Chris Taliaferro said Wednesday, a day before aldermen were scheduled to grill United and the Chicago Aviation Department about why a Kentucky physician was yanked out of his seat after he refused to get off the full jetliner at O'Hare Airport.

The City Council is looking for answers about the embarrassing video that has been seen around the world.

The roughly 300-strong aviation police officers earn between $50,000 and $88,000 a year and cost the city about $19 million a year.

They are city employees but not members of the Chicago Police Department.
A brazen 'Gone in 60 Seconds' gang have been jailed for stealing high-end cars by using sophisticated software to break into keyless Range Rovers, worth a combined 3million.

The high-tech thieves targeted more than 120 vehicles worth as much as 60,000 each over a 12-month period, and were locked up for a total of more than 46 years.

Using key programming technology to steal vehicles including Range Rovers, Mercedes and BMWs, the gang of six men and one woman made their getaway cars look like minicabs - complete with TfL private hire stickers - to commit the thefts.

Manjit Sandhu (left) orchestrated the gang who bought specialist equipment used by locksmiths to bypass keyless cars' security systems in a matter of seconds. Heena Bux (right), 21, found cars to break into and arranged for others to drive them away

Sufiyan Mahmood (left), 19, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal as was Faisal Khan, 23, of Forest Gate, east London. Khuram Zaman (right) was locked up for four years, six months for being part of the gang

Geoffrey Cairns (left), 55, one of the getaway drivers, was jailed for three years and six months. Faisal Khan (right), 23, was sentenced to four years and six months

Manjit Sandhu orchestrated the gang who bought specialist equipment used by locksmiths to bypass keyless cars' security systems in a matter of seconds.

Heena Bux, 21, found cars to break into and arranged for Khuram Zaman, 20, Mohammed Islam, 20, and Geoffrey Cairns, 55, to drive them away.

They also burgled car keys from homes in the east and west of London and drove the owners' vehicles away from their driveways within minutes.

Mohammed Islam was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal

The vehicles were then shipped in containers from Britain around the world, to places including Africa and Eastern Europe, between March 2015 and August last year.

One thief, Sufiyan Mahmood, was even captured on CCTV driving a stolen car through a McDonald's drive through after taking it from the owner's home.

Police got wind of the crook's plans and started watching their homes.

On August 17 last year police raided the Blakesley Arms pub in Newham, east London, run by gang leader Manjit Sandhu's dad - finding car keys, a key programmer, 'blank' keys and a lock-picking tool.

The 32-year-old ring leader even committed one offence on the same day he received a suspended sentence for being involved in the theft of another car in an unrelated incident.

In one theft, some of the offenders stole a BMW after breaking in to a house to get the key, but were unaware that the stolen car was fitted with a dash cam that captured images of them as they got in and out of the car.

Sandhu of Hornchurch, east London, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday after he was caught on his own CCTV system leaving home to commit the crimes.

He was jailed for 12 years on Wednesday, which included two years for the activation of a suspended sentence as he was previously convicted of vehicle theft.

One thief, Sufiyan Mahmood, was even captured on CCTV driving a stolen car through a McDonald's drive through after taking it from the owner's home

On August 17 last year police raided the Blakesley Arms pub in Newham, east London, run by gang leader Manjit Sandhu's dad - finding car keys (pictured above), a key programmer, 'blank' keys and a lock-picking tool

Appearing alongside Sandhu, co-conspirator Islam, of Forest Gate, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal as was Cairns, of Romford, and jailed for three years.

Cairns was jailed for three years and six months.

Mahmood, 19, of Forest Gate was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal as was Faisal Khan, 23, of Forest Gate, east London.

Khan was sentenced to four years and six months with Humzah Bhariwala, 23, of Forest Gate, found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and handed an 18-month term.

Mahmood was sentenced to seven years, six months' imprisonment along with a further four months' to run consecutively for an unrelated charge of possession of drugs and mobile phones whilst on remand in prison.

Buz, of Leytonstone, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal as was Zaman, of Walthamstow.

The crime was similar to the plot of Gone in 60 Seconds, which focuses on a group of car thieves and the dozens of vehicles they have to steal in a matter of days

Zaman was locked up for four years, six months and Buz was given a total of nine years, six months' imprisonment, which included two years for the activation of a suspended sentence having previously been convicted of burglary.

Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, who leads the Met's Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, said: 'This was an extremely prolific and well-organised criminal gang.

'They brought distress to many victims whose homes they broke into, who not only lost their vehicles but in many cases were traumatised by the thought of someone having been in their house while they slept.

'Although the case involved over 120 offences, it is clear that this team were responsible for an even greater number of crimes.

'Almost all of the houses that were burgled had uPVC front doors that had not been double locked, allowing the offenders to gain entry very quickly using simple tools.

'I would urge all householders to ensure that their front door is correctly locked at night - this means not only lifting the handle on a uPVC door, but also using the key to lock it.

'Unless it is locked with the key, the door remains vulnerable to the method employed by the criminals in this case.'
One of China's major giant panda habitats, the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve is located in Qingchuan County on the northwestern edge of Sichuan Basin, approximately a five-hour drive from downtown Chengdu. Established in 1978, Tangjiahe Nature Reserve covers an area of 400 square kilometers. Around 430 species of wild animals including pandas, takins and golden monkeys inhabit the area. [China.org.cn]

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It was the smirk that did it for me.

The small, barely perceptible little glint of amused mockery that spread across President Bashar al-Assads pinched little face throughout his interview this morning.

Particularly when it appeared as he asked about the little children he gassed to death: Were they dead at all?

Yes, you repulsive excuse for a human being, they were bloody dead; their short lives brutally exterminated by Sarin gas dropped from YOUR planes.

We all saw the horrifying videos, we all winced and wept at the photographs.

President Bashar al-Assads pinched little face in an interview this morning when he asked about the little children he gassed to death: Were they dead at all?

Not dead? How dare he. The twin babies pictured being held by distraught father Abdel Hameed Alyousef, 29, killed in the attack

We also know the US tracked your deadly planes on radar and that Turkish doctors confirmed the use of Sarin gas.

There is not a scintilla of doubt that these children are dead, nor about the manner in which they died or who was responsible.

YOU killed them, you despicable creature.

Unlike the trumped up WMD charges against Saddam Hussein that were used to justify the illegal disastrous war in Iraq, here is clear and present evidence that a nations leader has just used WMD to murder his own people.

Of course, todays interview wasnt really an interview at all.

It was conducted by the AFP news agency but filmed by government officials and only a few of the actual questions and answers were approved for release to the world.

What we did see though was a desperate dictator whos suddenly lost control of a war he thought he was about to win.

We also saw what lies inside the sub-human soul of a man who has slaughtered 400,000 of his own people and no longer has any concept of what death even is.

The lies came thick and fast:

* It was a 100% fabrication that his forces used chemical weapons this week.

* He has never used chemical weapons.

* In fact he gave them all up three years ago.

* Its not something he would morally do because its not acceptable.

Etc.

Then came the conspiracy theories, led by the ridiculous claim that America worked hand-in-glove with ISIS to commit the atrocity in order to give them an excuse to attack Assad in retaliation.

You dont have to like Donald Trump to realise this is the least likely and most offensive theory ever espoused.

Nor do you have to be a genius to deduce that if someone takes a whole week to publicly deny a chemical weapons attack, as Assad did, then theyre probably speaking with severely forked tongue.

I got a small, personal insight into Assads twisted, deviant mind when some of his emails were published a few years ago including one from him to his wife recommending she watch a YouTube clip from an Americas Got Talent audition show that I judged.

It featured a bloodthirsty illusionist named Kevin James who cut his assistant in half using an electric saw.

That was Assads favourite act.

Hardly surprising, really, given that his equally repellent father was known to dissolve his victims limbs in acid.

Now Assad Jr delights in similar real-life butchery like targeting heavily populated civilian areas with nerve gas or barrel bombs full of chlorine, blowing hospitals or torturing political prisoners.

He has no moral compass, no sense of humanity.

And as we have now seen confirmed from his own mouth this morning, he has lost all grip on reality.

In short, as happens to many people in war, Assads gone mad.

So what should be done with him?

President Obama believed in America leading from behind when it came to foreign policy and military action.

It was an abject failure as a strategy, making the United States appear weak and ineffectual, and emboldening the likes of Assad and his main supporter, Russias Vladimir Putin.

President Trump, by contrast, is swiftly showing himself to be a man of action.

A week ago, he unleashed 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on Assads air force.

On Sunday, he re-routed US naval forces towards the Korean peninsular after new aggressive behaviour from bellicose North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Today, he dropped the worlds biggest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS target in Afghanistan, a 21,000 weapon nicknamed MOAB - Mother of all Bombs.

Trump will not tolerate dictators crossing red lines. Assad, Putin and Jong-Un should all be very worried men. They are facing a President who is prepared to back up words of warning with decisive intervention from the worlds most fearsome military

These are three major statements to the world that Trump is not going to tolerate dictators crossing red lines like chemical weapons or impudently threatening American national security, and he is absolutely determined to fulfil his campaign pledge to wipe out ISIS.

Assad, Putin and Jong-Un should all be very worried men today.

For too long they have been free to act with impunity on the global stage because the leader of the free world let them.

Now they are facing a new US President who is prepared to back up words of warning with decisive intervention from the worlds most fearsome military.

Until this morning, I reluctantly believed the only way for the horrific Syrian war to end was for Assad to remain in power, however unpalatable that may be, and then be removed if and when peace is achieved.

But then I watched him smirking as he questioned if his tiny victims were even dead, and I felt a groundswell of fury build up inside me.

Smirking Assad today branded claims his regime carried out the attack on his own population '100 per cent fabrication'. Watching him, my fury built - he is deluded and needs to go

There was something so wildly deluded and so insanely sinister about his demeanour and rhetoric that I have zero confidence he will do anything but continue to commit war crimes.

The argument against removing him is who will take his place?

Its a legitimate question, particularly after we have seen so much chaos in countries like Iraq, Libya and Egypt after the regime change removal of their dictators.

But I now see no benefit to Syria or the rest of the world in allowing this disgusting man to stay in power.

He deliberately gassed those kids because hes a monster, pure and simple.

And history shows that monsters carry on being monsters until somebody stops them.

Its time to get rid of Bashar al-Assad.
Two Qurans were found in a men's toilet at the University of Texas Dallas late last month

Police are searching for whoever is responsible for depositing two Qurans in a toilet at the University of Texas Dallas last month.

Two copies of the Islamic religious text were found in a men's room toilet at the campus' student union on March 28.

A student found the books and immediately went to campus police to report the incident.

Police believe the books were deposited in the toilet between 6pm and 7pm, and have been reviewing security footage to pinpoint the person or persons responsible.

So far, they say about a half dozen students went into the bathroom during that time period.

UT Dallas Police Chief Larry Zacharias says the incident was 'very rare and strange' since no note was left behind taking responsibility for the act.

Zacharias said that they initially suspected the books were taken from the Reflection Room, which is also in the Student Union. But both people who entered the room during that time frame left the room empty handed.

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Since no one has claimed the Qurans as stolen property, the incident can not be considered a crime.

Nonetheless, police continue to investigate.

UT Dallas junior Mohammad Syed, president of the campus' Muslim Student Association, says he was shocked by the story.

'It's definitely saddening and a little disturbing as well,' Syed told NBC Dallas-Forth Worth. 'It's something that we do not expect to happen, especially at this campus.'

He added: 'UT Dallas is a very welcoming environment. And I have nothing but good things to say about it.'
Plans for a Trump-brand hotel in downtown Dallas have been scrapped, partly because of objections over foreign money, according to a city councilman.

The New York-based Trump Hotels wanted to launch its new concept, Scion, on a vacant lot near Dallas City Hall, but the city opted to work with another company instead, said council member Philip Kingston.

Mukemmel 'Mike' Sarimsakci, Dallas Scion developer, is still promoting the $50million project on his real estate company's website as 'under development'.

Plans for a Trump-brand hotel in Dallas have been scrapped amid foreign money controversy

When plans for the 220-room affordable alternative were initially announced in March, groups gathered in protest and petitioned the city to oppose the project, slated to open in 2019

Trump Hotels wanted to launch its new concept, Scion, on a vacant lot near Dallas City Hall. This architectural rendering depicts a six-story glass-walled building with a row of shops

Sarimsakci, who has renovated two historical Dallas buildings, failed to pay property taxes in the city on time but did eventually do so, The Dallas Morning News reports.

He also faces dozens of lawsuits from unpaid debts related to a California furniture business.

The Turkish-born developer allegedly raises much of his capital from investors in other countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan, Kingston said.

Larry Hamilton, who owns the lot planned for Scion, said Sarimsakci is still contractually bound to purchase the property.

Sarimsakci's architectural rendering of the Dallas Scion depicts a six-story partially glass-walled building with a row of shops along the bottom.

Trump Hotels denied there had been a formal agreement for Sarimsakci to develop a hotel under the Scion name and advised him not to do so.

Trump Hotels deny there's been a formal agreement for Mukemmel 'Mike' Sarimsakci (left) to develop the Dallas Scion. Critics of the project believe President Trump (right) is a 'bad brand'

'It is very common in the hospitality business that some projects do not come to fruition,' the company's statement said. 'That is why we ensure that all opportunities are appropriately vetted and approved before any announcement.'

When plans for the 220-room affordable alternative were initially announced in March, groups gathered in protest and petitioned the city to oppose the project, slated to open in 2019.

Although the Scion brand won't carry Trump's moniker, critics want to ensure it's tied to the president.

'The president is a bad brand and we have to protect the Dallas brand,' Kingston, a Democrat who voted for Hillary Clinton in the November election, told Bloomberg. 'Were trying to sell ourselves internationally as a city thats welcome and open for business travelers, new residents, innovators, young professionals, and the president is an extremely bad brand. Hes a hateful and ignorant man who says things that are hurtful to the people I care about.'
The grieving father of a young college student who committed suicide after being accused of sexual harassment says school administrators rushed to judgement in the case and are responsible for his death.

University of Texas at Arlington student Thomas Klocke killed himself about a month after he was barred from classes when a classmate hit him with 'bare, unsupported' harassment allegations, Klocke's father claims in a federal civil suit against the school.

The suit claims school administrators doled out 'swift and harsh punishment' against Klocke without evidence, 'to preserve the appearance of their leadership' on gender issues and it led to his suicide.

The ordeal began in May of 2016, when a male student Klocke said he had never spoken with before sat down next to him and addressed him by name, telling Klocke he was 'beautiful,' according to Klocke's statements to investigators at the time.

Klocke said that, as class got underway, he typed 'stop - I'm straight' into his laptop for the classmate to see, to which the classmate responded 'I'm gay.' Klocke said he again typed 'stop' as the classmate continued to glance at him, and then eventually moved to another seat in the room.

University of Texas at Arlington student Thomas Klocke killed himself about a month after he was barred from classes when a classmate hit him with 'bare, unsupported' harassment allegations, Klocke's father claims in a federal civil suit against the school

After the class, the gay student contacted Heather Snow, the schools dean of students and vice president of student affairs, who advised him to draft a complaint and send it directly to her, according to the suit.

The gay student's version of event's was different. In a complaint email to Heather Snow, the schools dean of students and vice president of student affairs, he said that after Klocke made a comment about 'privilege in today's society,' Klocke typed 'Gays should die' on his laptop for the other student to see, the suit says.

He also accused Klocke of feigning a yawn while saying 'you're a fa***t'.

The gay student 'told Snow that he felt terribly scared and uncomfortable, after which Thomas supposedly told him you should consider killing yourself,' according to the suit.

Snow and Daniel Moore, the schools associate director for academic integrity, denied Klocke a Title IX hearing to investigate the claims and 'summarily decided' to bar him from attending the classroom portion of the course, the suit claims.

The suit was filed by Wayne Klocke (pictured), an attorney, on behalf of his son's estate

The school's administrators 'have a vested interest in enacting swift and harsh punishment (almost always upon males) who are merely accused of sexual harassment, sexual violence or aggressive behavior, in order to preserve the appearance of their leadership on the issue,' the suit says.

Klocke, who needed the course to graduate and planned to attend graduate school the following year, killed himself in June of 2016.

The harassment claims and their treatment by administrators caused 'such embarrassment, rage, frenzy, and mental or emotional anguish and pain that he took his own life,' the suit says.

The suit was filed by Wayne Klocke, an attorney, on behalf of his son's estate on April 4.

In a statement to the Daily News, the university said it had 'followed its policies and procedures' and could not comment further.
President Trump may have another Capitol Hill battle on the horizon, as his nominee for Army secretary, Mark Green, is taking heat from liberal groups over his stance on transgender Americans.

In the past, Green has made statements like 'transgender is a disease,' while suggesting 'armed citizens' stick up for the highly controversial 'bathroom bans' that some states have implemented.

A state senator from Tennessee, Green would replace the history-making Eric Fanning, President Obama's pick for the position, who was the first openly gay Secretary of the Army.

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Mark Green, President Trump's pick for secretary of the Army, has called being transgender a 'disease' in the past, which makes it likely he'll face a confirmation fight

Mark Green, is a Tennessee state senator, whose military record helped him earn the support of the two U.S. senators from his state

LGBT groups have already come out swinging against Green, after Trump announced Friday that he intended to place the Tennessee lawmaker in the Army's top civilian post.

David Stacy, the government affairs director of the Human Rights Campaign told the Hill newspaper that the president 'couldn't have picked a worse nominee to pick a fight with Congress.'

HRC, an LGBT rights group headquarted in Washington, D.C., has already started reaching out to members of Congress in an attempt to thwart his nomination.

He told the Hill that he has heard a 'high degree of concern' coming from both Democrats and more moderate Republicans, who tend to favor LGBT rights.

'Nobody's committing their boss on a yes or no vote this early,' Stacy also said, according to the Hill. 'The degree of engagement has been very high because of obvious things in his record.'

One obvious thing about his record, which may complicate Republican defections, is that he is indeed qualified for the position.

A West Point graduate, he did three tours of duty in the Middle East, receiving the Bronze Star and a handful of other accolades.

In Iraq, Green was the first American military member to interrogate Saddam Hussein, once the Iraqi dictator was captured, the Hill newspaper pointed out.

Green's home state Republicans in the Senate, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, are both backing the nominee.

'This is a good opportunity for the rest of the country to benefit from Tennessean Mark Green's leadership skills, military experience and dedication to service members,' Alexander said Friday.

Corker sang a similar tune, saying, 'As a West Point graduate and former military officer, Mark Green is well-suited to serve our nation as secretary of the Army.'

But a number of moderate Republicans, including Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who is pro-gay rights, along with Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, are keeping quiet thus far.

Last year at a Tea Party event in Tennessee, Green panned President Obama's efforts to make it a federal policy that transgender school children could choose to use the bathroom of their choice while attending public schools.

'We are back to where the country was at its beginning, and it's the armed citizen who will defend this nation,' Green said. 'And there's something else that we've got to protect ourselves from, and it is an overreaching federal government.'

'The notion that Mr. Obama thinks that he can tell the state of Tennessee who can go into a men's bathroom or a women's bathroom is absurd,' Green added.


A Detroit emergency room doctor has been charged with performing female genital mutilation on two young girls from Minnesota.

Prosecutors say Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, was arrested Thursday, days after two seven-year-old girls identified her as the person who performed medical procedures on them at a Livonia clinic in February.

The FBI says the girls were accompanied to the clinic by their mothers.

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville was arrested Thursday, days after two 7-year-old girls identified her as the person who performed female genital mutilation on them in February

Female genital mutilation of minors is illegal in the U.S. unless there's a legitimate health reason.

This is believed to be the first case brought under 18 U.S.C. 116, which criminalizes the practice.

Nagarwala is also charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and making a false statement to a federal officer.

Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Lemisch said in a statement: 'Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls. It is also a serious federal felony in the United States. The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law'.

'According to the complaint, despite her oath to care for her patients, Dr. Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims,' acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department's Criminal Division added.

What is FGM? Female genital mutilation is the practice in which some or all of the female genitals are removed, typically with a blade or a razor and sometimes without anesthesia. This includes removing the clitoral and the fold of skin above it, and removing labia  the inner 'lips' of the vagina. In the most severe form, the inner and outer labia are removed and the opening of the vagina is closed with a small hole so the woman can pass urine and menstrual blood. Sometimes the vagina is then cut open for sex or childbirth. Women sometimes bleed to death or can be left with horrifying health effects, such as infections, chronic pain, cysts, infertility and problems giving birth. Female genital mutilation is prevalent, particularly, in the Middle East and African subcontinent and within pockets of the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths, according to the organization. Worldwide, an estimated 140 million women and girls have undergone the procedure, according to the World Health Organization. More than 3 million girls in Africa undergo the procedure each year. Advertisement

'The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse.'

According to Detroit News, Henry Ford Hospital has confirmed that Nagarwala was employed at the facility - even though her employer has not been identified on court records.

Henry Ford Hospital issued the following statement: 'The alleged criminal activity did not occur at any Henry Ford facility,' health system spokesman David Olejarz said Thursday. 'We would never support or condone anything related to this practice.'

Nagarwala's attorney, Shannon Smith, declined to comment after a brief court hearing. The doctor will remain in custody and return to court Monday.

In a court filing, the FBI says Nagarwala denied performing genital mutilation.

The FBI also says the doctor is a member of a 'cultural community' that believes in the practice.

Nagarwala is reportedly part of a Gujarati-speaking Muslim community in Michigan. She lives in Northville with her husband, Moiz Yusuf Nagarwala, 48, who works at Visteon Corporation, an 'automotive electronics supplier'.

Gujarati is spoken in India and other parts of the subcontinent and also within certain Indian communities in Africa.

A child forensic interviewer talked to one of the girls, who said she was brought to Detroit with a second girl for a 'special girls' trip,'according to the FBI.

The girls said they were told to keep the trip secret.

The FBI had launched an investigation after receiving a tip that Nagarwala performed female genital mutilation on two seven-year-old girls at a Livonia medical clinic, according to the criminal complaint.

But according to the complaint, Nagarwala does not work at the clinic and there are no billing records indicating that she has performed medical procedures there.

In February, FBI agents obtained a court order to review the doctor's phone. The records showed several calls between Nagarwala's phone and a Minnesota phone number, according to the FBI.

And hotel records showed that two families, each with a young girl, stayed at the hotel on February 3.

Seven days later, an FBI child forensic interviewer talked to one of the girls, who said she was brought to Detroit with a second girl for a 'special girls' trip.'

After arriving in Farmington Hills, the girls were taken to a doctor because 'their tummies hurt.'

'While at the doctor's office, a procedure 'to get the germs out,' was performed on the first girl, according to the criminal complaint.

A traditional razor blade used to perform female genital mutilation in parts of Africa

The girl was shown a photo of Nagarwala and said she was the doctor who performed the procedure, according to the FBI.

She told the FBI that Nagarwala 'pinched' her on the 'place (where) she goes pee.'

'(The girl) said that she was told not to talk about the procedure,' FBI Special Agent Kevin Swanson wrote in the complaint.

A subsequent medical examination showed that the young girls' genitals did not appear normal and a section had been altered or removed.

'Finally, the doctor observed some scar tissue and small healing lacerations,' the agent wrote.

The complaint details the second girl's experience with the doctor and she said she underwent a procedure and identified Nagarwala as the doctor.

'She said that she 'got a shot,' and that it hurt really badly and she screamed,' the FBI agent wrote. 'Her parents told her that the procedure is a secret and that she is not supposed to talk about it.

'(The girl) said that after the procedure, she could barely walk, and that she felt pain all the way down to her ankle,' the agent continued.

A subsequent medical exam showed the girl's genitalia had a small incision and a small tear.

On Monday, Minnesota Child Protective Services personnel and a federal agent interviewed the second girl's parents.

They confirmed the trip to Detroit, saying they took the girl to see Nagarwala for a 'cleansing' of extra skin, according to the court filing.

Agents have identified other children who may have been victimized by the doctor between 2005 and 2007, including children in Michigan, according to the FBI agent.

A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report in 2012 found that roughly 513,000 women and girls in the US were at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation, which was more than three times higher than an earlier estimate based on 1990 data.
A man has died after 'deliberately cutting his own throat' in Glasgow city centre.

He is said to have 'inflicted serious wounds upon himself' on St Vincent Street in front of shocked shoppers.

The man in his forties was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he later died.

Police in stab-proof vests and cordoned off the area, which was covered in blood,

A man has died after 'deliberately cutting his own throat' in Glasgow city centre. He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he later died. Pictured, police at the incident

Officers cordoned off the area around West Nile Street and St Vincent Street after the man 'inflicted severe wounds upon himself' in front of shocked shoppers

One witness wrote on Twitter: 'I've just seen a man cut his own throat in Glasgow. I don't think I'll ever forget that.'

Shaun Keegan, 29, from Glasgow, told the Scottish Sun: 'We saw this middle aged man quite calmly and deliberately cutting his own throat.

'We think it was a Stanley knife. We seen people on Twitter saying it was an axe but we never saw anything like that.

'I cant unsee they way he put the knife to his neck and started slashing.'

Another person wrote on Twitter: 'What's happening on West Nile Street? Walked down there and police taping road off. Blood everywhere.'

Someone else tweeted: 'Anyone know whats happening West Nile Street, Glasgow? Road all closed off with police and ambulance everywhere!'

Police confirmed the incident was not terror related. One witness wrote on Twitter: 'I've just seen a man cut his own throat in Glasgow. I don't think I'll ever forget that'

Dale Connal said he saw someone try to stop the man from hurting himself.

He told Glasgow Live: 'He tried to stop him but the man with the knife started attacking him.'

Police Scotland said in a statement: 'Around 4.05pm , an assault took place in St Vincent Street, Glasgow.

Witness Shaun Keegan, 29, said: 'I cant unsee they way he put the knife to his neck and started slashing.' Pictured, police carry away pieces of evidence. It is thought the man was carrying two knives

'The suspect made his way on foot towards West Nile St where he then inflicted serious injuries upon himself.

'Officers attended and the incident was very quickly contained. The man was taken by ambulance to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he died a short time later.

'This was a contained and isolated incident. Enquiries continue, however there are no other persons sought in relation to the incident.'

An ambulance spokesman said: 'We received a call at 16.05 hours today to attend an incident on West Nile Street.

'We dispatched one ambulance which arrived on scene at 16.06 hours.

'One male patient in his forties was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.'
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More than 1,100 troops from the US, Britain, and Romania gathered in Poland to bolster a multi-national force in a bid to counter potential threats from Russia.

The troops, which include 900 US soldiers as well as 150 British and 120 Romanians ones, are to be deployed in Orzysz - 35 miles south of Russia's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad.

It comes after Moscow stationed nuclear-capable missiles as well as an S-400 air missile defence system in the region.

Soldiers came together on Thursday afternoon and gathered for an official ceremony as they showed solidarity against Russia. Croatian troops are expected to join later.

American soldiers arrived at an official welcoming ceremony for the new force that also includes British, Romanian and other troops in Orzysz, Poland

American soldiers were photographed after they arrived in the town - which is just 35 miles south of Russia's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad

Polish soldiers sat underneath a giant tank as the rain poured down during the official ceremony in northeastern Poland today

Hundreds of Polish soldiers attended welcoming ceremony for US-led NATO troops near Orzysz, Poland, on Thursday afternoon

Around 900 US soldiers (some of them pictured here) are to be deployed in Orzysz and they were seen today waiting for the official ceremony to start

A Polish, American, British, Romanian and Croatian flag were seen waving in the wind as troops gathered for a ceremony on Thursday

The near-permanent deployment of a NATO battalion under US command marks the first time NATO troops have been placed so close to Russian territory

Three other formations are due to become operational by June across the region.

Polish President Andrzej Duda called the deployment a historic moment 'awaited for by generations'.

He said: 'It's not an exaggeration to say that generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of the Second World War.'

The near-permanent deployment of a NATO battalion under US command marks the first time NATO troops have been placed so close to Russian territory, a step the Kremlin denounces as a threat to its own security.

The deployment is separate from a US battalion of 3,500 troops that arrived in Poland earlier this year and which is headquartered in southwestern Poland, near the German border.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti, said: 'Deploying of these troops to Poland is a clear demonstration of NATO's unity and resolve and sends a clear message to any potential aggressor.'

He was speaking at a welcoming ceremony for the first arrivals at Orzysz - 140 miles northeast of the capital Warsaw.

Poland, alarmed by Russia's assertiveness on NATO's eastern flank, has lobbied hard for the stationing of NATO troops on its soil, especially since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Three similar NATO units of around 800 troops each led by Germany, Canada and Britain, are also being deployed this year in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The countries requested them after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The troops' move to Orzysz on Thursdsay took place as US President Donald Trump appeared to have changed his previously critical views of NATO and soured his attitude towards Moscow.

While running for president, Trump dismissed the alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.

But on Wednesday, he lavished praise on NATO and said the relationship with Russia may be at an all-time low.

He said: 'I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete.'

Poland's ruling conservatives, the Law and Justice party (PiS) allied with Duda, have signalled plans to raise funds to modernise and increase the size of its military, even though Warsaw is already among NATO's top spenders.

But the Polish armed forces have other problems.

Nearly 30 top of its top generals and more than 200 colonels - a quarter and a sixth of the army's total - have resigned over the last year, citing in part disagreements with Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz over personnel and other decisions.

The military has also seen potential procurement delays after Macierewicz cancelled a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus Helicopters last year.

Polish President Andrzej Duda attended the welcome ceremony for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Enhanced Forward Presence in Orzysz

Romanian soldiers are pictured prior the beginning of the official welcoming ceremony of NATO troops on Thursday afternoon

Polish soldiers prepare for an official welcoming ceremony for troops from US, Britain, Romanian and other nationalities, part of a NATO mission to enhance Poland's defence,

US troops, part of a NATO mission to enhance Poland's defence, waited for an official welcoming ceremony in Orzysz, northeastern Poland, on Thursday

American troops arrived in Poland on Thursday afternoon as they made up part of a multi-national force against Russia

Polish soldiers stood together and welcomed other troops from around the world in a special ceremony on Thursday afternoon

General Miroslaw Rozanski, a former senior commander, said in February he could not accept certain defence ministry decisions.

'We were implementing NATO decisions. Minister Macierewicz would agree with my proposals and then different decisions would be taken,' he said then.

Polish sources said NATO, focusing on its troubled relations with the new US president and Moscow, has adopted a 'wait-and-see' attitude towards Warsaw.

A Polish government source said: 'We are indeed the trouble makers. But because we fulfill all the obligations, because in the end we deliver, we are not the biggest problem right now. So, NATO has indeed adopted a 'wait-and-see' attitude towards us.'

But Daniel Keohane, a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the ETH university in Zurich, said Poland's relations within the alliance could suffer.

He said: 'While this should not in principle weaken Poland's position within NATO, if these generals are resigning for political reasons, and a perception of an ongoing politicisation of the Polish army emerges, this could cause worry in other NATO capitals.'
The teenage boy who was shot in a Nevada high school after he brought in a pair of knives has spoken publicly for the first time.

Logan Clark, 14, was filmed waving around the knives at Hug High School on December 7 before being felled by a single shot to the chest by a school cop.

While being operated on after the shooting he suffered a stroke that makes it hard for him to speak and forces him to wear a helmet for protection.

And he says he can never go back to school. 'No,' he told CBS News, 'Not there.'

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Brain damaged: Logan Clark, 14, must now wear a helmet after sustaining brain damage in December when he was shot after waving around knives at his school

Shot: Logan (left, before being shot and right, after) claims he brought the knives to school because he was being bullied. He was hit in the chest by one shot fired by a campus cop (also pictured)

Logan had brought the knives to school after suffering sustained bullying, his parents said.

A week after his shooting, his father, Justin Clark told Today: 'My son wasn't just some knife-wielding psychopath. It felt like he wanted to make sure he wasn't beat up and robbed.'

He also claimed in a Facebook post after the shooting that the school knew Nathan was 'going to be jumped' but did nothing.

When asked by CBS News whether he felt like he needed the knives to be safe at school, Logan simply replied 'Yeah.'

When asked whether that was the answer to bullying, Clark's grandmother, Nancy Pitchford said: 'Its not the answer. But to a 14-year-old kid, I guess it is the... you know, not to hurt anybody with the knives, but just to get them off of you.'

Meanwhile, his mom, Cheryl Pitchford demanded to know why the school officer shot her son.

'Why not use a Taser?  Why not shoot him in the foot?' she asked. 'And having other kids standing around behind Logan [the cop] could've struck another kid.'

Scars: Logan had surgery to remove part of his lung, leaving a sizable scar. He also has a scar on his head; he suffered a stroke while being operated on, causing brain damage

Logan suffered a stroke while having a section of his lung surgically removed in a Reno hospital.

A photograph of him after the shooting shows him in hospital with a shaved head, unconscious and on a ventilator.

Stroke: Logan's mom wants to know why the campus cop wasn't able to use pepper spray or a taser to stop her son

Exactly seven days after her son was hospitalized, Cheryl and around 100 others marched on Washoe County School District headquarters to deliver a petition.

They demanded that school officers be equipped with nonlethal weapons such as pepper spray or Tasers.

The officer, who has not been named, claims that Logan acknowledged and ignored his demands that he stop waving the blades around before he fired.

Logan's lawyer disputes that, saying he doesn't think the boy would have been able to hear him shouting.

Police are now conducting two separate investigations - one into Logan, one into the officer - to see whether charges should be brought against either party.

Nancy says that her grandson has already suffered enough.

'That you know being shot and almost dying, that would be kind of like punishment enough,' she said.
A Civil War-era house in Mississippi where Ulysses S. Grant launched a major military campaign has been vandalized.

Thieves vandalized and destroyed and took away much of the wood, bricks, and beams of historic 200-year-old A.K. Shaifer House in Port Gibson, Mississippi's Department of Archives and History said Thursday.

The Shaifer House sits on the Port Gibson Battlefield in Claiborne County. Its construction began in 1826 and was the site of the opening salvo in Grant's successful campaign to capture Vicksburg during the Civil War. The house was restored in 2006.

Four support beams were stolen from the historic Civil War era house in Mississippi

Inside the home was trashed, with wooden beams and brick stolen

Support beams were stolen from the house, as well as wood and bricks stripped

Thieves rolled up a vehicle and drove away with the valuable wood and brick, says an expert

Inside, the house was almost gutted, stripped of its original wood flooring

The damage was discovered April 1 but likely occurred up to a couple of weeks earlier.

'A group of criminals vandalized and stole wood, bricks, and materials from the interior and exterior of the home. A broken chain was also discovered, where the criminals backed a vehicle or truck up to the house and used it to pull out and steal major structural beams located underneath the house,' Mississippi archivist Irwin Russell wrote on Facebook.

There is a $5,000 reward being offered by the Port Gibson Heritage Trust Battlefield Committee for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.

The house was built in 1826 - the support beams shown here were stolen from the home

'The Port Gibson Battlefield is one of the most pristine Civil War battlefields in the South. Much of the land, road, and the Shaifer House is EXACTLY the way it was during the Civil War. We can all work together to help keep it this way,' he wrote.

The Shaifer House sits on the Port Gibson Battlefield in Claiborne County. It was built in 1826 and was the site of the opening salvo in Grant's successful campaign to capture Vicksburg during the Civil War. The house was restored in 2006.

During the war, the house also served as a headquarters for Gen. John A. McClernand's GHQ and a Union hospital, according to Natchez Trace Travel.

The battle around the house began on May 1, 1863 when Federal troops pushed up against it with a volley of musket fire and the confederates fought back.

The site is currently closed, but the department plans to fix the damage and reopen it as soon as possible.

General Ulysses S. Grant launched his opening salvo in the campaign to take Vicksburg from the Shaifer House

The historic house sits on land that was the site of an important Civil War battle

Jim Woodrick, the director of the historic preservation division at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, said he doesn't know how costly the repairs will be or how long they'll take.

'We suppose it was to salvage some historic material for some other purpose,' Woodrick said of the crime. 'Clearly it was not the work of vandals - it was something that took effort, it took planning.'

The Battle of Port Gibson was the start of Grant's successful campaign to capture Vicksburg during the Civil War

The state archives department is working with the Claiborne County sheriff's department. The sheriff's office did not return requests for comment.

While the crime occurred almost two weeks before the press release, Woodrick said the archives department wanted to secure the site before releasing the news.

'This is not just a house in the middle of the woods. It's an extremely important site related to Civil War history,' Woodrick said. 'It was a really terrible thing that someone has done.'

Civil War buffs were outraged.

'It boggles rational minds at the depravity of some of those in our midst who clandestinely rob historic sites and openly remove monuments to our forefathers!' said a commenter on Facebook.
Two Jiu-jitsu masters have taken aim at the United Airlines fiasco with a tongue-in-cheek tutorial to help prevent passengers from being dragged off their flight.

The airline caused a social media storm on Sunday after Vietnamese grandfather Dr David Dao was violently dragged off Flight 3411 by security due to overbooking.

A comical clip shows Californian brothers Ryrion and Rener Gracie demonstrating six 'very effective drag defence methods' to help passengers get free if they are being hauled away.

Jiu-jitsu masters Ryrion and Rener Graciehave taken aim at the United Airlines fiasco with a tongue-in-cheek tutorial to help prevent passengers from being dragged off their flight

A comical clip shows the Californian brothers demonstrating six 'very effective drag defence methods' to help passengers get free if they are being hauled away

The acerbic video offers the tips people 'should never fly without' to avoid losing their plane seat.

The self-defence and martial arts duo demonstrated six jiu-jitsu techniques for men, women and children - for 'whether you're being dragged through a plane or a dollar general store'.

Shot on training mats, they displayed an impressive chokehold - with one brother acting as the security staff while the other played the helpless passenger.

One technique involved using the 'helicopter armbar all day' in case the attendant was 'standing a little bit taller'.

Another was tailored to be less violent so as not to upset bystanders, in case there were 'kids watching'.

The self-defence and martial arts duo demonstrated six jiu-jitsu techniques for men, women and children 'whether you're being dragged through a plane or a dollar general store'

Shot on some training mats, they displayed an impressive chokehold - with one brother acting as the security staff while the other played the helpless passenger.

The final tip even showed passengers how to knock out their opponent. It was geared towards passengers who were being dragged off - but had a 'change of heart' and decided they wanted to offer up their seat to a United employee

After wriggling free, the method involves the passenger guiding the attendant into a seat, putting them to sleep, 'tucking them in' and getting off the plane 'before they wake up'

A fifth trick was for commuters who were in business class and 'feeling fancy'.

The final tip even showed passengers how to knock out their opponent.

It was geared towards those who were being dragged off - but had a 'change of heart' and decided they wanted to offer up their seat to a United employee.

After wriggling free, the passenger guides the attendant into a seat, puts them to sleep, 'tucks them in' and gets off the plane 'before they wake up'.

Footage of Dr Dao being unceremoniously dragged from a plane at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Sunday has traveled around the world, leading to mass condemnation of United and its policies.

Dr David Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth (left) after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off (right) the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare

Video has emerged showing Dr David Dao arguing with police and a flight attendant just moments before he was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday night

Dr Dao was heard in videos captured of his shocking eviction saying he needed to get home to Louisville so he could see patients. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren

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.

The video emerged as United CEO Oscar Munoz, 57, spoke to Good Morning America on Wednesday in his first public appearance since the scandal broke.

The interview started when the 57-year-old - who earned about $6.7million last year - was asked what his first reaction was to seeing the videos of a bloodied Dr Dao being pulled from the plane.

'It's not so much what I thought it's what I felt - probably the word shame comes to mind,' he told ABC's Rebecca Jarvis.

'As I think about our business and our people the first thing I think is important it to apologize to Dr David Dao and his family, to the passengers on that flight, to our customers, and our employees.

'That is not who United is... you saw us at a bad moment.'
Police are hunting down a masked gunman who shot a 15-year-old boy in the face inside his own bedroom in what may have been a revenge attack.

The teenager was found outside his home in Glenfield, Sydney, at about 6.20am with a gunshot wound to the head.

He is in an 'extremely critical' condition in hospital, police said.

A man broke into the boy's family home shortly after 6am, sneaking into the boy's bedroom and opening fire 'execution-style'.

A teenager is fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot in the head in Sydney

The teenager has been taken to Westmead Children's Hospital in a critical condition

The teenager's face was covered in blood as he was wheeled into an ambulance

After shooting the boy in the head at close range, the intruder - whose face was covered - escaped back out of the front door.

Police have refused to comment on whether the incident was a 'revenge attack' linked to a fatal shooting.

The teenager - who was seen being loaded into an ambulance with his face drenched in blood - is now at fighting for his life at a children's hospital in Sydney.

His mother, stepfather and two siblings, aged seven and one, later left the home with a police escort.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Brett said the victim was in an 'extremely critical' condition.

He added that the intruder broke into to the boy's home and then 'forced entry to the victim's room'.

'The mother is extremely distressed. Shes at hospital with her son,' he said.

The 15-year-old boy was found by police on Moresby Street in Glenfield at about 6.20am with a gunshot wound to the head

Paramedics were seen holding up a sheet as they treated the boy at the scene

A man is believed to have broken into boy's family home before opening fire. Pictured, police at the scene

Police are now looking for a man described as being aged between 18 and 20, with a thin build, who was last seen wearing grey tracksuit pants, a navy blue hooded jacket and white joggers.

It is believed that he may be armed with a pistol.

Paramedics were seen holding up a sheet as they treated the boy at the scene.

They were later seen lifting the boy into an ambulance.

He has been taken to Westmead Children's Hospital in a critical condition.
A pastor has sued American Airlines claiming he was not allowed on a flight he purchased tickets for simply because he is Korean.

Benny Shin, 75, filed the lawsuit Thursday, just two hours after a lawyer for a Vietnamese-American doctor said he was considering legal action against United Airlines for forcibly removing him from a plane on Sunday.

The incident involving American Airlines took place in June 2016, according to TMZ.

A Korean pastor sued American Airlines on Thursday because he claims the airline kept him off a flight he purchased tickets for simply because of his background. An American Airlines passenger plane is seen in the above October 2016 stock image

Shin says that he was waiting to board a flight from Dallas to Corpus Christi, Texas, when he was stopped by the gate agent.

Even though he paid for his seat and had a boarding pass in hand, Shin says he wasnt allowed on board even though between five and seven white passengers behind him were permitted to embark.

Although American gave Shin a voucher for a flight the next day, he says that he was embarrassed by the experience.

Shin is reportedly demanding $6million in damages.

American Airlines declined to comment.
A former contestant on the popular reality show American Idol was sentenced to 70 years in prison on Wednesday after he was found guilty on multiple charges of child pornography.

Brandon Cox, 26, of Wetumpka, Alabama received the maximum sentence possible after a jury in January found him guilty on seven counts of possession of child pornography.

The one-time reality star, who in 2012 made it to the Hollywood round on American Idol, had insisted throughout the trail and again at his sentencing on Wednesday that he was innocent.

Among the 275 images that were discovered on Cox's computer was one that showed an infant engaged in a sex act according to District Attorney Randall Houston.

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Behind bars: Brandon Cox, an 'American Idol' finalist in 2012 (above), was sentenced to 70 years on child pornography charges

Horror: Cox (above in court on Wednesday) had images of young boys, including an infant, engaging in sexual acts on his computer

'Its very rare for us to deal with child porn cases where the images depict such young victims, he said. "Usually it may be young girls, 14 to 15, which is bad, dont get me wrong. But he had photos and videos of toddlers, 4- or 5-year-olds,' said Houston while speaking with the Montgomery Advertiser.

'There were even photos of an infant engaged in sexual acts.'

He went on to describe Cox as 'sick.'

Video courtesy of WSFA

Cox was already under investigation when he entered and earned a spot on the final round of 'Idol,' with his files drawing he attention of investigators in 2011.

It is unclear if producers of the show were aware of this at that time.

In asking for the maximum sentence in court on Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Kristy Peoples said: 'Judge the evidence at trial brought out the horrific nature of the videos and images.

Cox has claimed he is innocent and will appeal his sentence and the verdict

'There were hundreds of images that depicted what can only be described as outrageous acts done to children, mostly male children.'

She later said to WFSA after the sentence was handed down: 'We are talking about toddlers, sexual penetration, oral sex, and the horrific nature of these photos and the quantity of the photos.'

Cox's attorney Kenny James meanwhile said that his client planned to appeal the verdict.

James then asked that he be replaced as Cox's attorney for the appeal.

People sais that the biggest concern at trial was protecting Cox's 4-year-old son.

'It was a huge concern,' she explained after the sentence.

'Most of the children in these images and videos were male toddlers and younger male children.'
Two Secret Service agents have been fired after a White House fence jumper was able to make to the front door of the mansion while President Trump was home.

The Uniformed Division officers were sacked after shocking surveillance footage showed intruder Jonathan Tran, 26, scaling the fence and lingering on the White House grounds for 17 minutes, even peering into windows while the alarms were blaring, before the Secret Service intervened.

'The men and women of the Secret Service are extremely disappointed and angry in how the events of March 10 transpired,' a Secret Service statement read last month.

Two Secret Service agents were fired after a White House fence jumper was able to make to the front door while President Trump was home (Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews before traveling to Mar-a-Lago again for the Easter holiday)

Jonathan Tran was seen 'walking from the east side of the south grounds of the White House Complex,' then 'walking close to the exterior wall of the White House Mansion ... approaching the South Portico Entrance to the White House Mansion,' the arrest affidavit states

Tran had been carrying a backpack with two cans of mace when he scaled the fence of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue because he said he had an appointment with his friend, President Donald Trump, on the night of March 10. Tran faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for trespassing.

The Secret Service released a statement shortly after the incident saying that at no time did Tran ever manage to enter the White House.

However, he was able to make it to the president's front door, even managing to rattle the door knob, before he was captured. Trump was inside the residence at the time of the incident. 'The service did a fantastic job,' he said the next day. 'It was a troubled person. It was very sad.'

Today, Trump was seen boarding Air Force One for his seventh trip to his Palm Beach estate and private club Mar-a-Lago since becoming president

A Republican lawmaker who is overseeing the investigation into the incident said he was astounded after watching surveillance footage.

It was even worse than I thought, Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz told TMZ.

Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said that Tran was lingering and hanging out on the White House grounds.

Both the agents that were fired in the wake of the incident had been with the Secret Service for less than one year and were assigned to guard the Treasury Building and the entrance to East Executive Avenue, a source told CNN.

Two Secret Service agents have been fired after a White House fence jumper was able to make to the front door of the mansion last month (file picture)

Jonathan Tuan-Anh Tran, 26, of Milpitas, California, is accused of jumping a fence near the White House before being stopped near the South Portico (pictured in a courtroom sketch)

Officials said at the time, that will some intruder alarms went off, there were other sensors and detectors that did not function as they should have.

Just as alarming to Chaffetz was the fact that Secret Service members showed little urgency in checking the White House grounds.

Perhaps that is because there are frequent false alarms at the White House and the agents, who Chaffetz said were lackadaisical, may have assumed this was the case as well.

Everything went wrong, the Utah lawmaker said.

He dubbed the incident 'a total and complete embarrassment.'

'(Homeland Security chief John) Kelly told me that this person was there on the ground for 17 minutes, went undetected, was able to get up next to the White House, hide behind a pillar, look through a window, rattle the door handle,' the lawmaker told CNN.

Tran was seen 'walking from the east side of the south grounds of the White House Complex,' then 'walking close to the exterior wall of the White House Mansion ... approaching the South Portico Entrance to the White House Mansion,' the arrest affidavit states according to ABC News.

Security footage shows Tran jumping a fence near the Treasury Building, which adjoins the White House, the complaint says.

Tran was carrying a backpack with two cans of mace when he scaled the fence of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue because he said he had an appointment with his friend, President Donald Trump (above boarding Air Force One for his seventh trip to his Palm Beach estate and private club since becoming president)

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington today, with Secret Service agents, before traveling to Palm Beach, Florida

He set off a sensor alarm in the Treasury Moat, according to the Secret Service source, but Tran had already gone by the time an officer appeared.

The source believes Tran made his way past a several Secret Service posts and jumped the White House gate, hiding behind a pillar of the East Wing entrance, CNN reported.

He eventually made his way to the South Portico Entrance, saw a Secret Service officer in uniform and went towards the South Lawn, the affidavit reads.

That is when the officer stopped him, after which Tran said: 'I am a friend of the President. I have an appointment,' the complaint states.

When asked how he managed to get here, Tran replied: 'I jumped the fence,' authorities said.

Tran was carrying two cans of mace, a US passport, an Apple laptop, a book written by Trump, and a letter to the president.

Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz (left) watched surveillance footage showing Jonathan Tuan-Anh Tran (a sketch of whom is seen on the right), 26, 'lingering' for 17 minutes in plain view after jumping the fence of the White House on the night of March 10, 2017

In the letter, 'Tran mentioned Russian hackers and said he had information of relevance. Tran alleged that he had been followed, and his "phone and email communications (had been) read by third parties," and that he had "been called schizophrenic," ' Secret Service officer Wayne Azevedo said in the complaint.

Tran's 19-year-old brother told CNN the suspect had been fired from his job at an electrical engineering company and was 'troubled'.

He was living in his car, the sibling added, before calling Tran a 'very good brother'.

Tran was released from custody last week and allowed to return to his home state of California under federal supervision as his case proceeds.

He will have to return to Washington for his next hearing and submit to GPS monitoring.

Other conditions of Tran's release include having a mental evaluation, not possessing any firearms or other weapons and staying away from the White House.
The Anti-Defamation League is offering to turn Press Secretary Sean Spicer's offensive Hitler comment into a teachable moment  by holding a Holocaust education session at the White House.

The Jewish civil rights group sent a letter to the top Trump aide today calling Spicer's remarks both 'historically inaccurate' and 'inappropriate and offensive.'

'While you have apologized, this week's incident as well as others (notably, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day omitting Jews and your vociferous defense of it) have exposed a serious gap in your knowledge of the Holocaust, its impact, and the lessons we can learn from it,' wrote Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL's CEO.

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Today White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer returned to the briefing room after apologizing again and again for his Holocaust comparison

Press Secretary Sean Spicer apologized Wednesday morning at the Newseum for his Holocaust gaffe, saying he felt he let people down personally and professionally

On Tuesday, Spicer shocked the White House briefing room by suggesting that Adolf Hitler was the lesser of two evils when compared to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad when it came to using chemical weapons on their own people.

During the Holocaust, Hitler's Nazis used toxic gas to systematically exterminate millions of Jews.

Last week Assad used sarin gas to again attack his own people, which provoked a missile strike from the Trump White House.

Spicer's comments come after there's been a charted rise anti-Semitism in the United States, an issue the ADL works to combat, and after the White House, as Greenblatt mentioned, omitted the mention of Jews in a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

For decades, ADL has been on the forefront of Holocaust education, providing trainings about the Nazi atrocities to a wide range of groups,' Greenblatt said, in a letter obtained by Talking Points Memo.

'I screwed up' Spicer said three times during his Wednesday a.m. appearance at the Newseum, where his Holocaust remarks were front and center

'Our programs provide historical context for how the Holocaust was able to occur; teach the Holocaust as a human story; and create opportunities for critical thinking,' he continued. 'Each of these educational programs focuses on the consequences of unchecked bigotry and hate.'

In signing off, Greenblatt said the ADL would be 'happy to conduct one of these trainings at your convenience for you, your staff, and anyone at the White House who may need to learn more about the Holocaust.'

'We know you are very busy, but we believe a few hours learning this history will help you understand where you went wrong and prevent you from making these mistakes in the future,' Greenblatt said.

While returning to the podium at the White House today, Spicer spent a at least a day on an apology tour starting with an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN  Blitzer's paternal grandparents died in the Holocaust  and ending Wednesday morning at an event at the Newseum in D.C.

'I screwed up,' Spicer said multiple times at the news museum, explaining he felt badly about his statements on both a personal and professional level.

'From a professional level, I think it's disappointing because I think I let the president down,' he noted.

'It was not a very good day in my history,' he said.
A New Zealand woman has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after she was discovered high on the drug ice when she arrived in Bali last year.

Myra William, 28, appeared upset and despondent after the sentence was handed down at Denpasar Court on Friday, saying all she was thinking about was her family.

She was found guilty of drug use rather than the more serious offences of possession and importation for which she had been charged.

New Zealand woman Myra William, 28, (pictured) has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after she was discovered high on the drug ice at a Bali airport last year

William was caught at Denpasar airport on August 31 by custom officials after she was seen 'babbling' in the line at immigration

'The defendant's actions caused unease among the society and it's against the government program to combat narcotics which is highly promoted by the government,' Chief Judge Ni Made Purnama said on Thursday.

'There's no justification or reason and with that, the defendant must be punished equal to her mistake.'

William was caught at Denpasar airport on August 31 by custom officials after she was seen 'babbling' in the line at immigration.

During an interview with customs officer, prosecutors say a plastic pouch containing 0.43g of methamphetamine fell out of William's pants.

William (R) walks to a room for her trial at a court in Denpasar on Bali island, was found guilty of drug use rather than the more serious offences of possession and importation

The 28-year-old appeared upset and despondent after the sentence was handed down at Denpasar Court on Friday, saying all she was thinking about was her family

Myra William (front R) of New Zealand attends her trial at a court in Denpasar on Bali island on April 13

William (Pictured speaking with her lawyer) had been charged with possession of less than five grams of drugs and importation, offences which carry 12 to 15 year sentences respectively

Her sentence will be backdated to when she was arrested in August last year

William inside holding cell before her first trial in January this year

The 28-year-old has previously told the court she had been using the drug for about a year while living in Australia, consuming about one gram of ice a day.

William had been charged with possession of less than five grams of drugs and importation, offences which carry 12 to 15 year sentences respectively.

The lesser charge of drug use, of which she was found guilty, carries a maximum of four years.

Her sentence will be backdated to when she was arrested in August last year.
Education Secretary Justine Greening said 'ordinary working families' are the 'backbone of our economy'. She said the typical family earns 33,000 with two parents or 17,000 in a single parent family

Quotas could be introduced for new grammar schools to prioritise pupils from families earning around 33,000 or less.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said these ordinary working families had previously fallen under the radar and deserved access to better schools.

Outlining her target group for priority entry to grammars for the first time, she focused on families on the median household income or below.

Yesterday, a No 10 source said imposing a quota for these families in new selective schools was on the table among other options.

The Government wants to create the first new wave of grammar schools in decades in an effort to help more bright disadvantaged children gain access to an academically rigorous education.

In a keynote speech yesterday, Miss Greening said the schools would help to create a true meritocracy that worked for everyone.

She added: The new schools we will create will support young people from every background, not the privileged few.

This will be a new model of grammars, truly open to all  we will insist on that  and it will reflect the choices of local parents and communities.

Governments have previously focused on the very poorest pupils  those eligible for free school meals  but Miss Greening said families on modest incomes must be helped too.

A consultation document released this week suggests that the definition of an ordinary working family should be one with a household income of around 33,000, assuming there are two parents and two teenage children.

Labour's leaders come under fire for sending children to selective schools The shadow education secretary was shamed yesterday over the hypocrisy of senior fellow Labour figures opposing grammar schools despite sending their own children to them. Angela Rayner was left floundering when Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson challenged her on the curious double standards, adding its one rule for them and one for everyone else. He pointed out that the son of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was sent to the kind of selective school the party is campaigning against, although this was against his will as it was his then wifes decision. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and Seumas Milne, Labours director of communications, also sent their children to grammar schools. Challenged by Mr Robinson on the Today programme, Mrs Rayner angrily responded: My kids are not guinea pigs, let me tell you, and I send mine to a comp system. We transformed the education system when we were in power and had more kids from working-class backgrounds going to uni than ever before. What we are doing now is going backwards. Mrs Rayner recently attacked grammar schools as a vanity project. Advertisement

For a single-parent family with one young child, the ordinary working family income would be around 17,000. Department for Education data shows around one in three children fall into this category. Miss Greening said such families were the backbone of our economy and were likely to live in the suburbs and coastal areas, mainly outside the M25.

She insisted new grammar schools must take steps to recruit children from these groups and added she would not rule out the idea of imposing quotas or lowering entry requirements for them.

Shadow Education secretary Angela Rayner was shamed on Radio 4 over the hypocrisy of senior fellow Labour figures opposing grammar schools despite sending their own children to them

Speaking at St Marys University in Twickenham, south-west London, she hit out at those who critique grammars and selection while simultaneously ignoring the views of parents.

Miss Greening, the daughter of a steelworker who grew up in Rotherham, added that when she was growing up she hated having to make do in life and there was no real choice but to go to her local comprehensive.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, which campaigns for social mobility through education, said yesterday: We welcome Justine Greenings commitment to addressing the challenges that children from poor and ordinary working families face getting into grammar schools.
Shocking footage has emerged online of an elderly sanitation worker being dragged on his knees by a shopkeeper during an argument over rubbish.

The 48-year-old cleaner was enraged when he found that a shopkeeper from a five yuan (58p) shop was sweeping rubbish out onto the street in Fushun which was then blown away in the wind.

The old man kneeled down after a 20 minute argument and was then dragged by the shop owner's son for around 100 metres (3,328 feet) on April 11, reports the People's Daily Online.

Mr Xiao, working for his father's 'five yuan' (58p) shop, felt sorry for dragging an old man away

The incident happened as a female worker swept the rubbish outside the 'five yuan' shop but the rubbish got blown away by the wind.

Mr Zhu, a 48-year-old cleaner, told her that sweeping rubbish on a street added burden to street cleaners' workload. However, the woman said she did not intend to do so and started a brawl with him and later asked him to kneel on his knees to apologise.

Zhu was angry and said: 'If it's my fault, then alright i'll get my knees on the floor!'

According to reports, the incident has caused outrage on Chinese social media following the video being posted online.

Enraged web users live-streamed their visit to the 'five yuan' (58p) shop in Fushun city of Liaoning Province to report and expose the incident while some vandalised the shop with red paint at midnight.

The young worker, surnamed Xiao, told reporters from a local television broadcaster that he was felt sorry for dragging an older person on a street.

'He (the sanitation worker) is quite old and i shouldn't have dragged him,' Xiao said.

He then claimed that he did not swear at the old man and did not make him kneel on his knees. But Xiao has fired one female worker who started a brawl.

Xiao, a 48-year-old sanitation worker kneel on his knees as a female shop worker told him so

Xiao told the shop worker not to sweep the rubbish out of the shop as the wind blew them away

Video footage shows Zhu, wearing a bright orange cleaner vest, kneeling on his knees in front of Xiao and a female co-worker. Soon Xiao can be seen dragging Zhu away from the shop's entrance.

Xiao explained that the sanitation worker had been blocking the entrance for more than 20 minutes and customers were unable to go in or out of the shop.

'That would seriously affect the shop's business. I was angry so I dragged him away at the moment,' said Xiao.

The footage continued showing both parties appearing in a meeting with the help of local council's propaganda department.

In a meeting arranged by the local council's propaganda, Zhu explained the incident again

Xiao apologised for dragging him on the floor but clarified that he did not swear at Zhu

Both parties apologised to each other and decided to settle by a handshake

Zhu explains that the female worker told him to kneel and admit for his wrongdoing and he did so.

Xiao defends himself that he did not ask him to get his knees on the floor but admits that his emotions has got him over-reacted to drag him away.

They apologise to each other and shake hands to settle the dispute.

Fushun sanitation bureau agreed to relocate Xiao to another street to carry out sanitation work.

The original nine-second video has caused an outcry on Wechat, one of the Chinese social media platforms, where web users addressed Mr Xiao and questioned him of on the understanding of respecting the elderly.

People's Daily has quoted comments such as 'Does he not have any elderlys at home?', 'Should treat old man with dignity and respect!' from the messaging app.


Bizarre images show police using a truck to remove thousands of bras and pants from an underwear thief's house in China.

The man was arrested on the afternoon of April 12 Jiujiang, China's Jiangxi province, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation with the People's Daily Online.

According to reports, he had been collecting underwear for 10 years.

Shocking discovery: Police found tens of thousands of knickers and bras in the man's house

Collector: They also found women's clothing in cabinets along with the underwear

The Xunyang District Public Security Bureau's deputy director Liu Yingbin told reporters that he visited the local community and was told that a large amount of women's underwear had been stolen.

The woman who had her underwear stolen later saw the items hanging from a balcony of a nearby property.

Police decided to investigate and arrived at the property to find a large amount of women's underwear and personal clothing.

Bizarre discovery: Police found piles of bras and knickers inside the man's home

The suspect surnamed Xing had more than 10 sacks of women's underwear. His cabinets also contained women's clothing.

Xing admitted that the underwear was stolen.

The 40-year-old told police that he had been divorced for a long time and had grown up liking women's clothing. When he was in high school he told his fellow students to treat him like a girl.

Police estimate that there are tens of thousands of knickers and bras.

Because the amount of underwear was too much, the police called for a tricycle to carry the stolen goods however a car was also called in to carry the remaining underwear.
The iPhone 8 could have the longest battery life of any Apple device, according to rumours.

Apple is rumoured to be working on its own battery management chip for the first time, and has opened secretive 'power management design centres' in California and Munich.

The latest rumours come hours after a leaked video suggested the iPhone 8 will be the first Apple smartphone to ditch the home button.

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A previous report suggest that the iPhone 8 (concept drawing) would not be shipped until Oct. or Nov as Apple is still fine tuning the new technology

IPHONE 8 RUMORS Several rumors have been circulating about the iPhone 8, and suggest the next device may have: - Dual-lens 3D camera - Extended battery life - Augmented reality to generate real-time views of surroundings - Curved glass casing - Plastic OLED screen - Wireless charging - A folding element - New 5 inch (12.7 centimeter) and 5.8 inch (14.7 centimeter) model, which will have a wraparound OLED screen - 5.8 inch will be designed with the Touch ID finger print sensor 'under the glass and in the active display area' - A new 'pure white' model - Aluminum back will be replaced with two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle - Facial recognition -Premium model will cost $1,000 Advertisement

Current Apple phones use power management chips, the electronic system that monitors the activity of the battery, built by German brand Dialog Semiconductor.

But industry sources claim Apple has now ditched the company to work on its own circuit system.

Apple has since set up power management design centres in Munich and California and employed 80 engineers to work on a battery management chip of its own, sources claim.

'In our view, there is strong evidence that Apple is developing its own PMIC and intends to replace the chip made by Dialog at least in part,' said analyst Karsten Iltgen, from Bankhaus Lampe, a private German bank that has spoken to unnamed industry sources.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed that Apple was recruiting top Dialog engineers in Munich. 'They are poaching like crazy,' the person said.

But the sources added it may take until 2019 for a chip to be developed.

This could mean the hardware will not be incorporated into the iPhone 8, which is due to ship in October or November, according to rumours.

A new video has leaked online showing what claims to be the next-generation handset and how users would work it with the home button under the display

The new technology could improve run time without the need for a bigger battery.

Apple's chief designer Jony Ive has previously ruled out using a bigger battery pack because he says it would disrupt the design of the device.

Apple has outsourced production of its hardware products to an extended network of suppliers, large and small, while it has moved over the past decade to design its own central processors and added functions like fingerprint recognition since then.

Over the past dozen years, Apple suppliers CSR, PortalPlayer, Sigmatel and Wolfson have been replaced, pushing them eventually to merge with more diversified players.

But Apple continues to rely on key suppliers to develop innovations ranging from image and motion sensors to power management.

Other chip suppliers for the current iPhone 7 include, but are not limited to, Cirrus Logic, NXP, Qualcomm, Skyworks, STMicroelectronics , according to an analysis by TechInsights in September.
Apple is known more for trend setting technology than for advances in medicine.

But it seems a secret team of researchers at the company are working on marrying the two in order to tackle diabetes.

The project - envisioned by co-founder Steve Jobs before his death - could lead to 'breakthrough' wearable devices that detect the disease and monitor blood-sugar levels.

It is described as the 'holy grail' of life sciences, because it's difficult to monitor blood sugar without breaking the skin.

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Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers to develop non-invasive sensors which could detect diabetes and monitor blood-sugar levels (stock image)

THE PROJECT Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers to develop non-invasive sensors which could detect diabetes and monitor blood-sugar levels. The engineers are expected to work at a nondescript office in Palo Alto, around 15 miles away from the new corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. If the non-invasive sensors come to fruition, it would be a breakthrough moment for medical science. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs envisaged the devices as another form of wearable technology, similar to a smartwatch or fitness monitor. Advertisement

Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers as part of the secret initiative, according to reports in CNBC.

Up to 30 people are believed to be working on the project, which has be running for five years - according to CNBC's sources.

They say the firm has been carrying out clinical trials in San Francisco and has hired consultants to look into the rules and regulations around bringing such a product to market.

The engineers are said to be working from a nondescript office in Palo Alto, around 15 miles away from the new Apple corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California.

The researchers have been tasked with developing bio-sensors to monitor blood sugar levels.

Currently this involves taking regular blood samples, which can involve anything from a thumb-prick test to intravenous extraction.

The late Apple CEO envisaged the devices as another form of wearable technology, similar to a smartwatch or fitness monitors

And If the non-invasive sensors come to fruition, it would be a breakthrough moment for medical science.

'There is a cemetery full of efforts' to measure glucose in a non-invasive way, said DexCom chief executive Terrance Gregg, whose firm is known for minimally invasive blood-sugar motechniques.

To succeed would require 'several hundred million dollars or even a billion dollars,' he previously told Reuters.

A secret new research project being undertaken by Apple could lead to new sensors to detect diabetes. For many, the condition is managed with daily injections (stock image)

The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 - the latest year for which global figures are available - according to the World Heath Organisation.

The news comes at a time when the line between pharmaceuticals and technology is blurring.

WHAT IS DIABETES Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 - the latest year for which global figures are available - according to the World Heath Organisation. Advertisement

Companies are joining forces to tackle chronic diseases using high-tech devices that combine biology, software and hardware.

This has jump-starting a new field of medicine called bio-electronics.

Last year, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Google parent Alphabet Inc unveiled a joint company aimed at marketing bio-electronic devices to fight illness by attaching to individual nerves.

U.S. biotech firms Setpoint Medical and EnteroMedics Inc have already demonstrated some early progress of bio-electronics in treating rheumatoid arthritis and suppressing appetite in the obese.

Other companies exploring the technology include Medtronic Plc, Proteus Digital Technology, Sanofi SA and Biogen Inc.
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Down a Bethlehem alleyway, sunlight illuminates a golden icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, signalling the revival of an ancient art being practiced in the workshop inside.

The building near the Church of the Nativity - the site where Christians believe Jesus was born - houses a group of enthusiasts specializing in the sacred art of iconography.

They are doing so some 2,000 years after Christian iconography began in nearby Jerusalem -- also where Christians believe Jesus was resurrected after his crucifixion, to be commemorated this Sunday for Easter.

Bethlehem Icon Center is a unique school in the Middle East, where students learn the historic art of Christian icon painting. They are doing so some 2,000 years after Christian iconography began in nearby Jerusalem - also where Christians believe Jesus was resurrected after his crucifixion, to be commemorated this Sunday for Easter

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY The Church of the Nativity is a bascilica located in Bethlehem, West Bank. It was built by Saint Helena in the 4th century over the grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. The Church of the Nativity site's original basilica was completed in 339 and destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the 6th century. A new basilica was built 565 by Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor, restoring the architectural tone of the original. The site of the Church of the Nativity has had numerous additions since this second construction, including its prominent bell towers. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site - the first to be listed under Palestine - and has religious significance to Christians and Muslims. Advertisement

They work in both silence and in prayer, with their art a far cry from the cheap mass-produced icons sold in souvenir shops to tourists and pilgrims.

'Icons are not commercial objects for us, but holy images that we honor,' said Nicola Juha, who heads the Bethlehem Icon Center.

He explains that icons like theirs are used by worshipers who, for example, light candles before them and pray.

According to tradition, Luke the Evangelist painted the first Christian icon in 60 AD.

Ian Knowles, far from his native Britain, now teaches the same art to not only Palestinian Christians, but also those from countries including Canada and Poland.

Watching the meticulous brushstrokes of his students, he said he left home to spend two weeks in the region and was still there nine years later.

One of his pieces, 'Our Lady of Palestine', depicts Mary shedding a tear over symbols of the Holy Land -- Jerusalem, Mount Carmel and Mount Nebo.

In a nearby chapel with a blue ceiling and a Nativity scene, around a dozen students recite prayers, their nearly finished icons in hand.

Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which sponsors the iconography centre, blesses each one, holding an olive branch with holy oil.

Each icon is unique and produced to order. Animal-hair brushes are selected in Jerusalem or even London, and the pigments come directly from the Holy Land.

Hand-ground stones for yellow are from Jericho and roses used to paint faces are from Jerusalem, Juha said in the small woodworking shop where panels for the icons are carved.

Rose Codneler, who has used a holiday from her work at a women's shelter in Britain to spend Easter week in Bethlehem, said the uniqueness of the icons appeals to her.

For the 33-year-old Christian, spending days painstakingly painting Christ's face is 'a way of getting deeper into the characters of the Bible and the story of the Bible'.

Luke the Evangelist painted the first Christian icon in 60 AD, today Bethlehem is seeing renewed interest in the art form. One of his pieces (pictured), 'Our Lady of Palestine', depicts Mary shedding a tear over symbols of the Holy Land - Jerusalem, Mount Carmel and Mount Nebo

Animal-hair brushes are selected in Jerusalem or even London, and the pigments come directly from the Holy Land. Hand-ground stones for yellow are from Jericho and roses used to paint faces are from Jerusalem

'Icons have always fascinating me, and more and more so in the last few years, because they are a kind of beautiful synthesis of God, prayer and also ecology in the way that the pigments are all taken from nature,' she said.

Knowles's class is provided periodically to visiting pilgrims for around $265 (250 euros) and all year round to some 30 Palestinian Christians.

Juha said the center has succeeded in 'reviving an old, long-forgotten Palestinian tradition in Bethlehem, which is so important both in religious and geographic terms'.

Bethlehem is part of the West Bank, the Palestinian territory that has been occupied by Israel for 50 years and which struggles with unemployment and poverty.

Knowles points out that obtaining the best materials from Jerusalem is impossible for many Palestinians since they are barred from crossing over from the West Bank.

Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church blesses foreign students of the Bethlehem Icon Center as they present their religious artwork

Wearing a paint-stained apron, he says the center is also a way of serving the local Christian communities.

Christians have gone from 20 percent of the Palestinian population to slightly more than one percent over the course of 50 years.

'I wanted to do something which could really help to rebuild the iconography as a proper tradition and a constituent part of the Christian community here,' said said Knowles.

'I think people know the Christian population in Bethlehem has been devastated over the last 50 years.'

For some students at Bethlehem Icon Center, the chance to paint Christ is 'a way of getting deeper into the story of the Bible'. Each icon is unique and produced to order

Knowles also noted that 'culturally, the Christian community is a bit on its own, so it seems to me that it was an important thing that I could offer - to teach iconography as a profession rather just as a hobby'.

This year, 36 Palestinians have registered, paying fees of around 25 euros.

A partnership has also been formed with The Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London, allowing 10 Bethlehem students to earn a British diploma in iconography recognized worldwide.

The center has already achieved one particular point of pride: Knowles and three of his students have produced two icons for Lichfield Cathedral in Britain and are to complete a third next summer.
In the hope of helping people organise their busy lives, Google has quietly launched a new app this week, which combines food delivery and home services.

Dubbed Areo, it offers 'thousands' of services, including scheduling visits from plumbers and ordering food.

While the app is currently restricted to users in Mumbai and Bangalore, the fact that Google has not made an announcement about it suggests that it could soon be spreading further afield.

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Google has quietly launched a new app this week, which combines food delivery and home services. Areo is a hyper local app that offers 'thousands' of services, including scheduling visits from plumbers, or ordering your favourite dish

WHAT IS AREO? Users can order food from their favourite restaurants, providers and chefs, while home services include organising local electricians, painters, cleaners and plumbers. If you are unsure what you're looking for, there is a search function, in which you can input a dish, or filter by vegetarian or non-vegetarian options. Deliveries or services can be booked ahead, with a scheduling service. And users can choose whether they pay by card, cash, or netbanking, such as PayPal. Advertisement

Areo was first spotted by FactorDaily. While Google usually launches new apps with a blog or press release, neither seem to be available.

On the Google Play store, the description for the app reads: 'Introducing Areo, one single app for food delivery and home services.

'Now live in Bangalore and Mumbai, bringing the city's top food and home services right to your door.'

Users can order food from restaurants, providers and chefs, while home services include organising local electricians, painters, cleaners and plumbers.

If users are unsure what they're looking for, there is a search function, in which you they can input a dish, or filter by vegetarian or non-vegetarian options.

Deliveries or services can be booked ahead, with a scheduling service.

And users can choose whether they pay by card, cash, or netbanking, such as PayPal.

While Google has remained mysteriously quiet about Areo, it may have plans to expand the app beyond India.

Users can order food from their favourite restaurants, providers and chefs, while home services include organising local electricians, painters, cleaners and plumbers

If you are unsure what you're looking for, there is a search function, in which you can input a dish, or filter by vegetarian or non-vegetarian options

In a recent visit to India, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said that he saw the country as a testbed for several new Google services.

He said that India adopts 'remarkably' fast to new products and services, due to its 'thirst and hunger' for connectivity.

Speaking to a local TV station, he added: 'We realize when we build for India, we can actually take it globally.'

The app is free to download on the Google Play store, but is not yet available for iPhone.

MailOnline has contacted Google for comment.
Facebook is at risk of being prosecuted in Britain for failing to remove terrorist footage and child porn material from its site, according to an investigation.

The social media giant failed to take down images flagged to moderators including a horrific video of sexual assault on a child.

Facebook algorithms even suggested that users join groups that had published highly offensive material, including violent beheading and paedophilic cartoons.

Facebook is at risk of being prosecuted in Britain for failing to remove terrorist footage and child porn material from its site, according to an investigation. The social media giant failed to take down images flagged to moderators including a horrific video of sexual assault on a child

PORNOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK An investigation revealed that offensive content was not considered to breach Facebook's 'community standards' by moderators. Facebook algorithms even suggested that users join groups that had published highly offensive material, including violent beheading and paedophilic cartoons. Several cartoons of child abuse were not removed on the site, despite the fact they are more likely illegal material. This comes one month after its refusal to remove dozens of disturbing sexualised images of children last month. The site's moderators approved numerous photographs of under-16s posing provocatively, as well as stolen images of children published on a Facebook page called 'hot xxxx schoolgirls'. Many of the images were posted on private Facebook groups aimed at paedophiles eager to share content. MPs and charities condemned Facebook's failures as unacceptable and called for action against it. Advertisement

An investigation by The Times revealed that offensive content was not considered to breach Facebook's 'community standards' by moderators despite the fact much of it could be illegal under British law.

The social media giant has allegedly refused to take down dozens of shocking images, including a gruesome video of an Islamic State beheading and posters celebrating last months terror attack in Westminster.

It also failed to remove dozens of pornographic cartoons depicting child abuse, and a video of what appeared to be a sexual assault on a real child, it was claimed.

The Times newspaper set up a fake Facebook profile to search for the content and used the social networks reporting button to send them to its moderators for inspection.

A leading QC who reviewed the content said that a lot of the material is illegal under English law  and that Facebook is at risk of a criminal investigation for refusing to take them down after the warning.

'One video appears to depict a sexual assault on a child. That would undoubtedly breach UK indecency laws', Julian Knowles QC told The Times.

'The video showing a beheading is very likely to be a publication that encourages terrorism', he said.

The company has been criticised for allowing criminal groups to spread on the site - even suggesting them possible 'friends' with similar interests.

It also left in place a pro-ISIS post celebrating attacks from London to Chechnya and promising to bring war into the heart of your homes.

'If someone reports an illegal image to Facebook and a senior moderator signs off on keeping it up, Facebook is at risk of committing a criminal offence because the company might be regarded as assisting or encouraging its publication and distribution', said Knowles.

Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the home affairs select committee, said: 'Social media companies need to get their act together fast, this has been going on for too long.

Facebook algorithms even suggested that users join groups that had published highly offensive material, including violent beheading and paedophilic cartoons (stock image)

FACEBOOK'S RESPONSE The social media giant initially failed to take down images flagged to moderators including a horrific video of sexual assault on a child. Justin Osofsky, vice president of Global Operations at Facebook told MailOnline 'We are grateful to The Times for bringing this content to our attention. 'We have removed all of these images, which violate our policies and have no place on Facebook. 'We are sorry that this occurred. It is clear that we can do better, and we'll continue to work hard to live up to the high standards people rightly expect of Facebook', he said. Advertisement

'It's time the government looked seriously at the German proposal to invoke fines if illegal and dangerous content isn't swiftly removed', she said.

Justin Osofsky, vice president of Global Operations at Facebook told MailOnline 'We are grateful to The Times for bringing this content to our attention.

'We have removed all of these images, which violate our policies and have no place on Facebook.

'We are sorry that this occurred. It is clear that we can do better, and we'll continue to work hard to live up to the high standards people rightly expect of Facebook', he said.

Facebook was in the dock last month over its refusal to remove dozens of disturbing sexualised images of children.

The site's moderators approved numerous photographs of under-16s posing provocatively, as well as stolen images of children published on a Facebook page called 'hot xxxx schoolgirls'.

One image appeared to be a freeze-frame from a child abuse video.

Many of the images were posted on private Facebook groups aimed at paedophiles eager to share content. They were often accompanied by obscene comments and  in one case  a specific request to share 'child pornography'.

The company has been criticised for allowing criminal groups to spread on the site - even suggesting them possible 'friends' with similar interests (stock image)

The BBC used Facebook's reporting button to raise the alarm about 100 of these sexualised images of children  automatically sending them to the social network's moderators for inspection.

But despite repeated pledges by Facebook to remove 'any sexual content involving minors', the moderators only agreed to remove 18 of them.

It said the other 82 could stay. The technology giant only agreed to remove them all when the whistleblowing journalist, Angus Crawford, contacted Facebook executives.

Facebook asked the reporter to send over the photographs he thought were problematic  then reported him to the police for doing so.

One MP said it was extraordinary that the BBC had been reported when it was trying to 'help clean up the network'.

At the time Facebook admitted its moderators made a mistake but repeatedly refused to explain what went wrong.

It simply issued a statement from its policy director Simon Milner confirming that the images had now gone.

'We have carefully reviewed the content referred to us and have now removed all items that were illegal or against our standards. This content is no longer on our platform.

'We take this matter extremely seriously and we continue to improve our reporting and take-down measures.

'Facebook has been recognised as one of the best platforms on the internet for child safety,' he said.

MPs and charities condemned Facebook's failures as unacceptable and called for action against it.

They also urged the police to prosecute the social network over any illegal images on its website, and suggested a change in the law to make it harder for such companies to ignore dangerous content.

An NSPCC spokesman said: 'Facebook's failure to remove illegal content from its website is appalling and violates the agreements they have in place to protect children.

'It also raises the question of what content they consider to be inappropriate and dangerous to children.'

The National Crime Agency, which runs the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), said it is 'vital' social media platforms report and remove indecent content.

Adults who are concerned about potential harm to children can contact the NSPCC helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000.
Uber has been using top secret software called 'Hell' to track drivers working for its biggest US competitor Lyft, according to a shocking report.

Insiders claim that Uber's ethically dubious tracking software meant the company could create fake accounts on Lyft in order to stalk their competitor's drivers.

The software also showed which drivers were working for both companies and therefore helped Uber lure them away from their competitor.

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A shocking report claims that Uber used top secret software called 'Hell' to track drivers working for its biggest US competitor Lyft (stock image)

'HELL' SOFTWARE Uber used top secret software called 'Hell' to track drivers working for its biggest US competitor Lyft. Uber employees created fake accounts on Lyft to find out which drivers were available, at what time and where, according to the report. They could also find out how much trips cost and could use this information to offer drivers exclusives that might tempt them to work just for Uber. Inside sources say Uber might face legal action as a result of this report Advertisement

Using 'Hell' software, Uber employees created fake accounts on Lyft to find out which drivers were available, at what time and where, according to the report byThe Information.

They could also find out how much trips cost and could use this information to offer drivers exclusives that might tempt them to work just for Uber.

According to the report, Uber stopped using 'Hell' at the beginning of 2016 when Lyft completed a $1 billion (800 million) round of funding.

Only the inner circle knew about the software, including CEO Travis Kalanick and other executives.

The software was first developed after employees at Uber created fake accounts to trick Lyft's drivers. This allowed them to see where free drivers were.

Later they discovered that Lyft, which was founded in 2012, had ID numbers for each of its drivers which meant they could more systematically study them.

Inside sources say Uber might face legal action as a result of this report, which is another stain on the company's reputation.

It is facing accusations of routinely tolerated sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as troubles for Kalanick after a video surfaced showing him berating a driver.

According to the report, Uber stopped using 'Hell' at the beginning of 2016 when Lyft completed a $1 billion (800 million) round of funding (stock image)

The company is hiring a chief operating officer to help him manage the company.

Last month, Uber's president, Jeff Jones quit the company less than a year after he joined from Target.

In a statement to the tech blog Recode at the time, Jones said 'the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber, and I can no longer continue as president of the ride-sharing business.'

In February, a top engineering executive, Amit Singhal, left Uber five weeks after his hire was announced.

Ed Baker, Uber's vice president of product and growth, also resigned earlier this year, as did Charlie Miller, Uber's top security researcher, who left to join Didi, China's larger ride-hailing company.

A Uber spokesman told The Information that the company won't publicly discuss its internal processes.

Lyft said 'We are in a competitive industry. However, if true, these allegations are very concerning.'

MailOnline has contacted Uber for comment.
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Nasa has released stunning new images showing how humans have lit up every corner of the Earth.

The space agency has spent years collecting and analysing satellite images of Earth and have put together the clearest yet composite view of Earth's 'night lights'.

The maps reveal how human settlements have shaped the planet and lit up the darkness.

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 Slide me  A view of Europe's 'night lights'. The continent's capital cities, including London (top left), Paris (just below) and Madrid (bottom left) stand out against the darkened landscape (right shows labelled version)

HOW ARE SUCH CLEAR IMAGES CREATED? The principal challenge in nighttime satellite imaging is accounting for the phases of the moon, which constantly varies the amount of light shining on Earth, though in predictable ways. Likewise, seasonal vegetation, clouds, aerosols, snow and ice cover, and even faint atmospheric emissions (such as airglow and auroras) change the way light is observed in different parts of the world. The new maps were produced with data from all months of each year. The team wrote code that picked the clearest night views each month, ultimately combining moonlight-free and moonlight-corrected data. Dr Roman and colleagues have been building remote sensing techniques to filter out these sources of extraneous light, gathering a better and more consistent signal of how human-driven patterns and processes are changing. Advertisement

Satellite images of Earth at night, often referred to as 'night lights', have been a fundamental research for nearly 25 years.

Produced every decade or so, such maps have spawned hundreds of pop-culture uses and dozens of economic, social science and environmental research projects.

But now Nasa aims to be able to update its stunning maps of Earth at night as often as every day.

A research team led by Earth scientist Dr Miguel Roman of Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, will spend this year trying to make this goal a reality.

In the years since the 2011 launch of the Nasa-Noaa Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite, Dr Roman and colleagues have been analyzing night lights data and developing new software and algorithms to make night lights imagery clearer, more accurate and readily available.

They are now on the verge of providing daily, high-definition views of Earth at night, and are targeting the release of such data to the science community later this year.

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA released a new Earth at night map in 2012.

Since then, researchers have been working to integrate nighttime data into NASA's Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS) and Worldview mapping tools.

 Slide me  The US as seen from space at night. A remarkable split down the middle of the country shows how population density differs from east to west (right shows labelled version)

Freely available to the science community and the public via the Web, GIBS and Worldview allow users to see natural- and false-colour images of Earth within hours of satellite acquisition.

The Nasa group has examined the different ways that light is radiated, scattered and reflected by land, atmospheric and ocean surfaces.

The principal challenge in nighttime satellite imaging is accounting for the phases of the moon, which constantly varies the amount of light shining on Earth, though in predictable ways.

A view of Earth at night in 2016. The stunning composite image was taken by the Nasa-Noaa Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite

North (top) and South (bottom) America as seen from space. US's bustling cities shine brightly while a black void across the top of South America marks the location of the Amazon rainforest

Likewise, seasonal vegetation, clouds, aerosols, snow and ice cover, and even faint atmospheric emissions (such as airglow and auroras) change the way light is observed in different parts of the world.

The new maps were produced with data from all months of each year.

The team wrote code that picked the clearest night views each month, ultimately combining moonlight-free and moonlight-corrected data.

Europe (top) and Asia (bottom) at night. Vegetation, clouds, aerosols, snow and ice cover, and even faint atmospheric emissions (such as airglow and auroras) change the way light is observed in different parts of the world

A nighttime view of Asia (top left) and Australia (bottom right). Industrious regions of India sparkle while Australia, which is covered in barren deserts that stretch across the middle of the country, looks almost invisible

WHAT COULD THE MAPS BE USED FOR? The maps have the potential to aid short-term weather forecasting and disaster response. 'Thanks to VIIRS, we can now monitor short-term changes caused by disturbances in power delivery, such as conflict, storms, earthquakes and brownouts,' said Dr Miguel Roman from Nasa's Goddard Centre. 'We can monitor cyclical changes driven by reoccurring human activities such as holiday lighting and seasonal migrations. 'We can also monitor gradual changes driven by urbanization, out-migration, economic changes, and electrification. 'The fact that we can track all these different aspects at the heart of what defines a city is simply mind-boggling.' The Nasa team envisions many other potential uses by research, meteorological and civic groups. For instance, daily nighttime imagery could be used to help monitor unregulated or unreported fishing. It could also contribute to efforts to track sea ice movements and concentrations. Advertisement

Dr Roman and colleagues have been building remote sensing techniques to filter out these sources of extraneous light, gathering a better and more consistent signal of how human-driven patterns and processes are changing.

The improved processing moves the satellite closer to its full potential of observing dim light down to the scale of an isolated highway lamp or a fishing boat.

The satellite's workhorse instrument is the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which detects photons of light reflected from Earth's surface and atmosphere in 22 different wavelengths.

VIIRS is the first satellite instrument to make quantitative measurements of light emissions and reflections, which allows researchers to distinguish the intensity, types and the sources of night lights over several years.

Space satellites observe nearly every location on Earth at roughly 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. (local time) each day, watching the planet in vertical 1,864-mile (3000-kilometre) strips from pole to pole.

VIIRS includes a special 'day-night band,' a low-light sensor that can distinguish night lights with six times better spatial resolution and 250 times better resolution of lighting levels (dynamic range) than previous night-observing satellites.

And the data are freely available to scientists within minutes to hours of acquisition.

Armed with more accurate nighttime environmental products, the Nasa team is now automating the processing so that users will be able to view nighttime imagery within hours of acquisition.

This has the potential to aid short-term weather forecasting and disaster response.

The Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US at night, one of the brightest regions in the world. New York (centre) shines a bright white thanks to light pollution from city lights, sky scrapers and billboards

 Slide me  The most readily noticeable difference in these nighttime views of Chicago In 2012 (left) and 2016 (right) is lighting along a recently expanded section of Interstate 90. This part of the highway, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, links Chicago with Rockford, Illinois, to the northwest

'Thanks to VIIRS, we can now monitor short-term changes caused by disturbances in power delivery, such as conflict, storms, earthquakes and brownouts,' said Dr Roman.

'We can monitor cyclical changes driven by reoccurring human activities such as holiday lighting and seasonal migrations.

'We can also monitor gradual changes driven by urbanization, out-migration, economic changes, and electrification.

'The fact that we can track all these different aspects at the heart of what defines a city is simply mind-boggling.'

 Slide me  This before-and-after comparison shows nighttime views of India and surrounding areas in 2012 (left) and 2016 (right), indicating that the country has gone through rapid development in just four years

For instance, VIIRS detected power outages in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, a major storm that struck the northeastern Caribbean and southeastern US in late September 2016.

Nasa's Disasters Response team provided the data to colleagues at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

But in the future, Nasa, Fema and the Department of Energy hope to develop power outage maps and integrate the information into recovery efforts by first responders.

The Nasa team envisions many other potential uses by research, meteorological and civic groups.

For instance, daily nighttime imagery could be used to help monitor unregulated or unreported fishing.

It could also contribute to efforts to track sea ice movements and concentrations.

The Nile River and surrounding region at night 2016. The industrious settlements that surround the river make it appear as if its water runs a sparkling gold

Researchers in Puerto Rico intend to use the dataset to reduce light pollution and help protect tropical forests and coastal areas that support fragile ecosystems.

And a team at the United Nations has already used night lights data to monitor the effects of war on electric power and the movement of displaced populations in war-torn Syria.

In a separate, long-term project, Dr Roman is working with colleagues from around the world to improve global and regional estimates of carbon dioxide emissions.

The team at NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) is combining night lights, urban land use data, and statistical and model projections of anthropogenic emissions in ways that should make estimates of sources much more precise.
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NASA hailed a new frontier last night after revealing some of the strongest evidence yet that alien life may exist.

The space agency said that practically all the elements needed for life had been discovered in the same place in our solar system  on one of Saturns icy moons.

The missing ingredient, hydrogen, was discovered for the first time on Enceladus during the deepest ever dive by NASAs Cassini spacecraft.

This hydrogen is now said to be a potential source of chemical energy that could support microbes on the seafloor of Enceladus, the researchers revealed during a NASA press conference yesterday.

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All the building blocks for life have been found for the first time away from Earth, NASA announced  within our solar system. Hunt for alien life is set to begin on Enceladus, Saturns sixth largest moon, after Cassinis deepest ever dive into its cracks found hydrogen gas

WHAT THEY FOUND During its deepest-ever dive into a plume from cracks in Enceladus ice-covered ocean, the Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of hydrogen gas. According to researchers, the only plausible source of this gas could be hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water in the ocean beneath the icy surface. This same process, on Earth, provides energy for entire ecosystems around hydrothermal vents. As a result, the researcher say there could be volatile species in these deep oceans. It means Enceladus may have the same single-celled organisms which began life on Earth, or more complex life still. While they haven't found life itself on Enceladus, Glein says the geochemical data 'could allow for this possibility.' Advertisement

After 13 years exploring Saturn, the craft dove into high-powered jets of water spewing from the moons surface, where it found hydrogen gas.

The gas is the final piece of the puzzle following the discovery of water in an ocean under Enceladuss surface.

It means Saturns sixth moon may have the same single-celled organisms with which life began on Earth, or more complex creatures still.

These organisms, still found on our planet within the darkest depths of our oceans, use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as fuel in a process known as 'methanogenesis.'

What is intriguing about the data at Enceladus, with the hydrogen detection, is that we are now able to determine how much energy would be available from the methanogenesis reaction at Enceladus,' said Chris Glein, Cassini INMS team associate at SwRI during the press conference.

'We have made the first calorie count in an alien ocean.'

This, the researcher explained, is a major step in assessing the moon's habitability.

While they haven't found life itself on Enceladus, Glein says the geochemical data 'could allow for this possibility.'

Mary Voytek, senior astrobiologist at Nasa Headquarters, said last night: 'This is a new frontier because this is the first time we have seen evidence of an alien food source in an ocean not on Earth.

'We knew we had two of the key ingredients for life and now we have the third. This is the most exciting discovery in my eight-year career at Nasa.'

The building blocks of life on Enceladus are water, which no form of life on Earth can exist without, an energy source and six elements  carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulphur.

The last two of these, phosphorus and sulphur, have not yet been found in Enceladuss ocean  but scientists suspect them to be there because the rocky core of the moon is believed to be chemically similar to meteorites containing them.

This now paves the way for further explorations to find life in our solar system.

'Although we can't detect life, we've found that there's a food source there for it,' said Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study.

'It would be like a candy store for microbes.'

The hydrogen, which shoots out of the moon in high-powered ice jets, is the final puzzle piece following the discovery of its liquid ocean and carbon dioxide. It means Enceladus may have the same single-celled organisms which began life on Earth, or more complex life still

Professor David Rothery, professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University, said: Right now, we only know of life beginning once in the universe, here on Earth, which leaves us alone in the dark. It could have simply been an incredible fluke.

But if it has happened twice in this solar system, it opens up everything.

There are tens of billions of worlds in our galaxy and there could be alien life on many of those too.

Alien life was once only thought possible on habitable planets within the Goldilocks zone  far enough from our sun not to be a fireball, but not so far as to be freezing.

Enceladus, a frozen moon around 800million miles from Earth, was one of the least likely candidates.

But in 2005 the Cassini spacecraft was orbiting Saturn when it picked up plumes of vapour coming from the tiger stripes, or deep fissures, in the moons surface.

This established that, while Enceladus is freezing on its surface, underneath is a liquid ocean.

Organisms, found on our planet in hot vents within the darkest depths of our oceans, use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as fuel in a process called 'methanogenesis.' Researchers have now discovered the building blocks for life exist on Enceladus as well

WHAT IS ENCELADUS? Enceladus is Saturn's sixth largest moon, at 313 miles wide (504 kilometers). Cassini observations have revealed hydrothermal activity, with vents spewing water vapour and ice particles out from a global ocean buried beneath the icy crust. According to NASA, the plume includes organic compounds, volatile gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, salts, and silica. While it may look 'inhospitable' like Saturn's other moons, the observations suggest it may have the ingredients to support life. Advertisement

That ocean is warmed by rock at the core of the moon, tidally heated as Enceladus orbits Saturn. The gravity from the planet pulls the moon out of shape, wherever it is closest, creating friction that heats the rock to 90C  enough to melt the ice.

Scientists did not have to drill beneath the ice to examine the reservoir under the moons south pole, as its vapour erupted in plumes through cracks in the surface.

Cassini, on its final mission before it runs out of fuel and is allowed to burn up in space, was sent diving deep into the jets.

Yesterday Nasa announced the spacecraft had found hydrogen as a gas, the form needed to support single-celled organisms, in the moons ocean.

These microbes use hydrogen, which they cannot extract from water, like we use oxygen, to fuel their cells.

Scientists know this form of life can exist after discovering similar creatures at the bottom of Earths oceans.

They are able to survive without sunlight, using hydrogen and carbon dioxide supplied by thermal heating from deep-water vents.

This could provide the necessary energy to support organisms at the seafloor of Enceladus.

'Confirmation that the chemical energy for life exists within the ocean of a small moon of Saturn is an important milestone in our search for habitable worlds beyond Earth,' said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington.

These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASA's science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not.

In 2005 the unmanned Cassini spacecraft was orbiting Saturn when it picked up plumes of vapour coming from the tiger stripes, or deep fissures, in the moons surface

Observations in 2005 by the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini mission revealed plumes of water vapour and ice spraying into space from the south pole of Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, as illustrated above

Cassini, which made the major breakthrough using its mass spectrometer, will have a fiery end to its time in space. After orbiting Saturn for 13 years, its grand finale mission will end in September when it is diverted to crash into Saturn and burn up.

Dr David Clements, astrophysicist at Imperial College London, said: This discovery does not mean that life exists on Enceladus, but it is a step on the way to that result.

He added: We need to know much more about the molecular species coming out of Enceladus and, ideally, that are inside it before we can make such claims.

Hydrogen gas, thought to be formed by the heated rocks beneath Enceladus, is needed along with a suitable temperature.

HUBBLE SPOTS SECOND PLUME ON EUROPA Meanwhile the Hubble telescope, the first telescope sent into space in 1990, which has made more than 1.3 million observations, last year spotted possible similar water plumes to those of Enceladus erupting from Jupiters moon Europa. Evidence of a plume was seen at this same location in 2014, and the researchers say the new observations are further evidence that these plumes could be real, and experience intermittent flare-ups. As the Hubble telescope has now twice seen similar vapour flumes coming off Europa, which makes it a second key candidate for this kind of alien life. Nasas Europa Clipper mission, named after ships that sailed on Earth in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life on Europa. Meanwhile the Hubble telescope last year spotted possible similar water plumes to those of Enceladus erupting from Jupiters moon Europa. The green oval shows the plumes Hubble observed on Europa. This corresponds to a warm region on Europa's surface, NASA says These composite images show a suspected plume of material erupting two years apart from the same location on Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Both plumes, photographed in UV light by Hubble, were seen in silhouette as the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Advertisement

The discovery of these four ingredients now paves the way for further explorations to find life in our solar system.

Mars, which shares some of the same material as Earth, is a prime candidate, although scientists are now divided as to whether the moons in our solar system are a better bet.

Titan, the largest of Saturns 53 moons, is believed to have a subsurface ocean as salty as Earths Dead Sea in Israel.

As scientists look further for living microbes on Enceladus, NASAs Europa Clipper mission, named after the clipper ships which sailed across the oceans of our planet in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life.

As scientists look further for living microbes on Enceladus, NASAs Europa Clipper mission, named after the clipper ships which sailed across the oceans of our planet in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life

Cassini, which made the major breakthrough on Saturns moon using its mass spectrometer, will have a fiery end to its mission.

After orbiting Saturn for 13 years, its grand finale mission will end in September when it is diverted to crash into Saturn.

The discoveries mark an important milestone in the search for alien life - which, the experts say, would be quite different from our own.

'These ocean worlds with their protective outer shell, if indeed theres life in there, it has to be completely different than ours in the sense that its generated in a way thats not related to our life, said Jim Green, director, Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, during the conference.

'We call that a second genesis.'
It was first created as a psychological weapon, designed to scare the enemy into surrendering.

But today, the GBU-43/B - dubbed the 'Mother of all bombs' - has been dropped on an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 300 meters wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. Anyone at the blast site was vaporized.

This is the first time the Moab (Massive Ordnance Air Blast) explosive in combat for the first time. But what is the huge explosive, and how does it work?

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Nicknamed the 'Mother of all Bombs', the Moab (pictured) is the world's largest non-nuclear weapon. It was first developed as a psychological weapon to scare enemy troops into surrender

KEY FACTS - Nicknamed the Mother of all Bombs - The worlds largest non-nuclear weapon - Each bomb costs around $16 million (12.8 million) - It took $314 million (251 million) to develop - It carries 8,164 kilograms of explosives - Its explosion is equivalent to 11 tons of TNT and the blast radius is a mile wide - By contrast, the nuclear weapon dropped on Hiroshima had a blast yield of 15 tons of TNT - First tested by US forces in 2003 - It is designed to destroy heavily reinforced targets or to shatter ground forces and armour across a large area - 30 feet (9 metres) long and 40 inches (1 metre) wide - Weighs 21,000lbs (9,500kg)  heavier than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb - Leaves no lasting radiation effect Advertisement

The Moab or GBU-43/B is the world's largest non-nuclear weapon.

It is designed to destroy heavily reinforced targets or to shatter ground forces and armour across a large area.

Its blast is equivalent to 11 tons of TNT. By comparison, the nuclear weapon dropped on Hiroshima had a blast yield of 15 tons of TNT.

First tested in 2003, it was developed by by US forces in preparation for the Iraq invasion but was never deployed during the war.

The huge bomb measure 30 feet (9 metres) long and 40 inches (1 metre) wide, and weighs 21,000lbs (9,500kg)  heavier than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

While it has a blast radius that stretches a mile in each direction the bomb leaves no lasting radiation effect because it is non-nuclear.

Deploying such a large bomb isn't easy as even the world's largest bombing aircraft can't manage the Moab's size and weight.

The bomb can only be deployed out of the back of large cargo plane using a unique system.

A parachute pulls the bomb out of the plane on a box-like pallet that quickly separates from the explosive.

Grid fins then extend from the body to help control the bomb's descent.

It accelerates rapidly to its terminal velocity and is partially guided to its target via satellite.

The huge bomb measure 30 feet (9 metres) long and 40 inches (1 metre) wide, and weighs 21,000lbs (9,500kg)  heavier than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. It has a blast radius that stretches a mile in each direction

HOW IT IS DEPLOYED - The bomb has grid fins that fold into the body during carriage - It can only be deployed out of the back of large cargo plane due to its size - The bomb rides on a pallet - a parachute pulls the pallet and bomb out of the plane - The pallet then separates so that the bomb can fall to its target - The bombs grid fins extend to help control the bombs descent - It accelerates rapidly to its terminal velocity and is partially guided to its target via satellite - It explodes six feet (1.8 metres) above the ground - The idea behind this airburst mechanism is to spread its destructive range Advertisement

The bomb explodes six feet (1.8 metres) above the ground using an 'airburst' mechanism to spread its destructive power horizontally rather than vertically.

Today, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb hit a 'tunnel complex' in Achin district in Nangarhar province, US Forces Afghanistan said in a statement.

A specialized MC-130 'Hercules' cargo aircraft released the weapon at 7:00 p.m. local time.

It was too big to drop from a traditional bomb-bay door or release from an aircraft wing, so 'we kicked it out the back door,' a U.S. official told Fox News.

The weapon's sheer power produces a blast that can be felt miles away, largely because of its construction.

Engineers used an unusually thin aluminum skin to encase MOAB's payload, in order to avoid a thicker steel frame interfering with the impact on a target.

The Moab was first developed as a psychological weapon to scare enemy troops into surrender.

A video of the original 'Elgin' test was released to the public in order to unsettle the Iraqi forces.

'The goal is to have the pressure be so great that Saddam Hussein cooperates,' then-Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

'Short of that - an unwillingness to cooperate - the goal is to have the capabilities of the coalition so clear and so obvious that there is an enormous disincentive for the Iraqi military to fight against the coalition.'
From checking text messages to tracking your fitness and viewing notifications, the Apple Watch has made our lives easier with just a flick of the wrist  but it has also been found to save lives as well.

Casey Bennett, from Laytonsville, Maryland, was driving home from school the night of April 6 when he was struck by another vehicle  sending him and his Jeep Patriot flying through the air.

Bennett, 22, found himself hanging from the driver's seat by just his seat belt, but his iPhone was too far out of reach to call for help.

However, he remembered the Apple Watch included the SOS Emergency feature  he held the side button down and contacted 911 for help, who were on the scene in six minutes.

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Bennett 's iPhone was too far out of reach to call for help. However, he remembered the Apple Watch included the SOS Emergency feature  he held the side button down and contacted 911 for help, who were on the scene in six minutes

HOW DOES SOS WORK? Users simply press and hold the side button underneath the Digital Crown on the Watch for six seconds and the SOS feature will appear. It can either be slid or tapped to activate, which will prompt a countdown from three  this allows users to cancel the call if it was accidentally activated. A text message is also sent out to the wearer's emergency contacts that includes a link with their location. Advertisement

Usually you only think of an Apple Watch to check a text message, but when you dont have your phone it can be really helpful,' Bennett told DailyMail.com in an interview.

I know eventually someone would call for help, but if I didnt have 911 to speak to after the accident, the six minutes it took paramedics to show up would have felt like six hours.

Apple released the SOS feature with WatchOS 3 last June, which works similar to LifeAlert, in that it enables users to easily reach emergency services.

Users simply press and hold the side button underneath the Digital Crown on the Watch for six seconds and the SOS feature will appear.

It can either be slid or tapped to activate, which will prompt a countdown from three  this allows users to cancel the call if it was accidentally activated.

My car flipped over three times and when it stopped, the passenger side was on the ground and I was hanging from the driver seat, explained Bennett.

Casey Bennett, from Laytonsville, Maryland, was driving home from school the night of April 6 when he was struck by another vehicle  sending him and his Jeep Patriot flying through the air. It landed on its side and left him dangling from the driver's seat

I had to call 911, but my phone was thrown far out of reach.

I actually think my phone hit me in the face because my nose is really sore.

Not only was Bennett able to call for paramedics, but his emergency contacts were also notified.

There is a feature that notified my emergency contacts that I had been in an accident, he said.

Video courtesy Cult of Mac

Not only was Bennett able to call for paramedics, but his emergency contacts were also notified. There is a feature that notified my emergency contacts that I had been in an accident, he said

They were also sent a link to my location and then they received another text message when I was moved to the hospital with the location.

However, once the incident has been resolved, users can select "Stop Sharing" within the SOS notification.

The Watch itself can also display a user's MedicalID, easily displaying a user's name, age, date-of-birth, medical conditions and other medical information.
Boyceville High School senior Maxwell Engel has been named a 2017 Kohl Excellence Scholar. He is among 207 graduating high school students who will receive a $10,000 scholarship -- recently doubled from $5,000 in a surprise announcement made on April 8.

Excellence Scholarship recipients have demonstrated excellence in the academic arena and high motivation to achieve, have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership outside the academic setting, and have shown strong promise for succeeding in college and beyond.

Excellence Scholarship recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders, representatives of education-related associations and the programs co-sponsors: Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS), regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

The Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program was established in 1990 by Herb Kohl, philanthropist and businessman, from whom Engel will receive his award at a luncheon for the North Central and Northwest regions on Sunday, April 30, at North High School in Eau Claire.
Humans look to the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to make better and unbiased decisions.

However, a new study has found that the technology is becoming racist and sexist as it learns, thus hindering its ability to make balanced resolutions.

Researchers discovered that the better AI becomes at interpreting the human language, the more likely it will adopt human bias about race and gender that lurks within the data it is fed.

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A Study found that AI is becoming racists and sexist as it learns, hindering its ability to make unbiased decisions. Researchers discovered that the better AI becomes at interpreting the human language, the more likely it will adopt human bias that lurks within the data it is fed

HOW A ROBOT BECAME RACIST Princeton University conducted a word associate task with the algorithm GloVe, an unsupervised AI that uses online text to understand human language. The team gave the AI words like 'flowers' and 'insects' to pair with other words defined as being 'pleasant' or 'unpleasant' like 'family' or 'crash' - which it did successfully. Then algorithm was given a list of white-sounding names, like Emily and Matt, and black-sounding ones, such as Ebony and Jamal', which it was prompted to do the same word association. The AI linked the white-sounding names with 'pleasant' and black-sounding names as 'unpleasant'. Findings suggested the datasets used to train AI is polluted with prejudices and assumptions and these technologies are adopting the ideas. Advertisement

'A lot of people are saying this is showing that AI is prejudiced. No. This is showing we're prejudiced and that AI is learning it,' Joanna Bryson, a computer scientist at the University of Bath and a co-author of the study, told The Guardian.

'A danger would be if you had an AI system that didn't have an explicit part that was driven by moral ideas, that would be bad.'

The findings were uncovered after researchers created a statistical system for scoring the positive and negative connotations associated with words in AI-analyzed texts.

'We replicated a spectrum of known biases, as measured by the Implicit Association Test [IAT], using a widely used, purely statistical machine-learning model trained on a standard corpus of text from the World Wide Web,' reads the study published in the journal Science.

'Our results indicate that text corpora contain recoverable and accurate imprints of our historic biases, whether morally neutral as toward insects or flowers, problematic as toward race or gender, or even simply veridical, reflecting the status quo distribution of gender with respect to careers or first names.'

This work stems from work done in August by Princeton University, which conducted a word associate task with the popular algorithm GloVe, an unsupervised AI that uses online text to understand human language - the University of Bath and Princeton collaborated on the recent study.

The team gave the AI words like 'flowers' and 'insects' to pair with other words that the researchers defined as being 'pleasant' or 'unpleasant' like 'family' or 'crash' - which it did successfully.

GloVe was trained using a dataset known as 'common crawl', which is a random list of 840 billion words that were pulled from different web pages.

In the latest paper, the team discussed the bias that was acquired by algorithms from being fed human language. The words 'female' and 'woman' were clustered with arts and humanities occupations and with the home - butit took a dark turn when it was giving names

In the end, the AI is simply reflected the average person's view in this case.

In the latest paper, the team discussed the bias that was acquired by algorithms from being fed human language.

The words 'female' and 'woman' were clustered with arts and humanities occupations and with the home.

When given white sounding names like Emily and Matthew, the AI associated other words with them like 'laughter' or 'happy'. However, given African American sounding names like Aisha and Darnell, the technology chose unpleasant words such as agony, nasty and evil

While 'male' and 'man' was linked to mathematical and engineering professions.

However, the technology took an incredibly dark turn when it was giving names to associate with other words.

When given white sounding names like Emily and Matthew, the AI associated other words with them like 'laughter' or 'happy'.

However, given African American sounding names like Aisha and Darnell, the technology chose unpleasant words such as agony, nasty and evil.

The results suggested that algorithms have adopted the same biases that make humans match words to people's faces  based on the color of their skin or gender.

TAY: THE RACISTS TEEN CHATBOT Last June, Microsoft launched an AI bot named Tay that was designed to understand conversational language among young people online. However, within hours of it going live, Twitter users took advantage of flaws in Tay's algorithm that meant the AI chatbot responded to certain questions with racist answers. The results suggested AI has adopted the same biases that make humans match words to people's faces  based on the color of their skin or gender. Microsoft released a chatbot last year (pictured) that turned racists after learning human language These included the bot using racial slurs, defending white supremacist propaganda, and supporting genocide. The bot also managed to spout gems such as, 'Bush did 9/11 and Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have got now.' And, 'donald trump is the only hope we've got', in addition to 'Repeat after me, Hitler did nothing wrong.' Followed by, 'Ted Cruz is the Cuban Hitler...that's what I've heard so many others say'. Advertisement

And experts are weary that if the AI's way of thinking is not reversed, it will be plagued with the same social prejudices as human society.

Princeton's results do not just prove datasets are polluted with prejudices and assumptions, but the algorithms currently being used for researchers are reproducing human's worst values - racism and assumption.

'We can learn that 'prejudice is bad', that 'women used to be trapped in their homes and men in their careers, but now gender doesn't necessarily determine family role' and so forth,' the researchers wrote in the August study.

'If AI is not built in a similar way, then it would be possible for prejudice absorbed by machine learning to have a much greater negative impact than when prejudice is absorbed in the same way by children.'
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Movie-goers are often inspired to visit the fantasy worlds of their favourite characters, in real life.

If youre keen to follow in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker on location in Ireland, or to escape to Tyrion Lannister's Dubrovnik or even to immerse yourself in Holly Golightlys glamorous New York, then this new book is for you as it unravels the silver screen universe.

Lonely Planets Film and TV Locations: A Spotters Guide reveals the international locations of over 100 films and television shows including Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Pride and Prejudice and the Talented Mr Ripley. MailOnline Travel shares a sneak peek of the book, below.

Game of Thrones - Dubrovnik

Fantasy fans are frequently treated to stunning, sweeping views of the fortified city of Dubrovnik, which dates back to the Middle Ages

Dubrovnik has a starring role playing King's Landing in Westeros, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in Game of Thrones.

Fantasy fans are frequently treated to stunning, sweeping views of the fortified city, which dates back to the Middle Ages.

For tourists visiting the location, they can follow in the footsteps of their favourite character.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Al-Khazneh, Petra, Jordan

The 2,300-year-old city of Petra in Jordan, left, is etched into movie history after its appearance in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

When you're an archaeologist turned adventurer visiting mesmerising locations is all in a day's work.

One of the most thrilling elements of Indiana Jones' wild international jaunts are the awe-inspiring, historic locations.

The 2,300-year-old city of Petra in Jordan is etched into movie history after its appearance in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

When Harry Met Sally - Katz Delicatessen, New York

The scene of THAT infamous movie moment was shot at Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan's Lower East Side

The scene of THAT infamous movie moment was shot at Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

According to the Lonely Planet book, the current owner has had to stop counting how many times a day someone fakes an orgasm in the eatery.

The diner has also been featured in Donnie Brasco and Enchanted.

Star Wars : The Force Awakens - Skellig Michael, County Kerry, Ireland

According to the movie, Skellig Michael, left, was home of the first Jedi temple and it's revealed as the place where Luke Skywalker has been hiding when the film closes, right

The rugged beauty of this isolated 6th century monastery outpost plays a location far, far away in The Force Awakens.

According to the movie it was home of the first Jedi temple and it's revealed as the place where Luke Skywalker has been hiding when the film closes.

Budding Padawans can find this other-worldly location off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland.

La Dolce Vita - Trevi fountain, Rome

While Anita Ekberg took at midnight dip in the fountain in La Dolce Vita, right, you may feel the full force of the law if you follow in her footsteps nowadays at the stunning 18th century baroque fountain, left

A top attraction in Rome, Trevi fountain set the backdrop for one of the most memorable silver screen moments of 1960 in a film that won the Palme d'Or.

While Anita Ekberg took a midnight dip in the fountain in La Dolce Vita, you may feel the full force of the law if you follow in her footsteps nowadays.

The photogenic city has appeared many times on film, its beauty stealing the scene from the stars.

Out of Africa - Maasai Mara, Kenya

One of the most memorable movies to showcase the beauty of the Maasai Mara, left, was the 1985 romance starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa, right

With its sweeping vistas and staggering wildlife, it's no wonder the Maasai Mara in Kenya has played a significant role in many films.

One of the most memorable movies to showcase its beauty was the 1985 romance starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa.

Both characters are wowed by the location in the film about a plantation owner and big game hunter.

Marie Antoinette - Palace of Versailles, France

A few film and TV crews have managed to gain access to the historic wonder of the Palace of Versailles, left, to add a layer of authenticity to period dramas. Right, Farewell, My Queen

Few locations can imitate the grandeur and impact of the Palace of Versailles.

As such, a few film and TV crews have managed to gain access to the historic wonder to add a layer of authenticity to period dramas.

Some of the most memorable productions shot there include Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and the period drama, Farewell, My Queen.

The Wicker Man - Burrow Head, Scotland

Stark Burrow Head in Scotland appears as the setting for many of the pagan activities, left. The Wicker Man was filmed on the mainland rather than the Hebrides where the cult movie from 1973 is set, right

The Wicker Man was filmed on the mainland rather than the Hebrides where the cult movie from 1973 is set.

Stark Burrow Head in Scotland appears as the setting for many of the pagan activities.

Charred remnants of the Wicker Man prop were still visible until recently, according to the travel experts at Lonely Planet.

Planet of the Apes - Westward Beach, Malibu, California

Point Dume on Westward Beach in Malibu, left, appeared in the 1968 cult classic Planet of the Apes, right

Point Dume on Westward Beach in Malibu appeared in the 1968 cult classic Planet of the Apes.

Charleston Heston, Linda Harrison and Lady Liberty are all filmed on the beach in the closing scene.

Jutting out into the Pacific, this stunning bluff is still a top spot for beach-goers.

Four Weddings and a Funeral - Greenwich, London

This iconic rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral, right, from 1994 was shot around London with a key wedding scene taking place at the Old Royal Naval College, left

Four Weddings and a Funeral showcases Britain's charming tourism appeal.

This iconic rom-com from 1994 was shot around London with a key wedding scene taking place at the Old Royal Naval College.

Eagle-eyed viewers will also recognise the location as it doubled for Buckingham Palace in the King's Speech, The Iron Lady and The Queen and portrayed a stately home in Sense and Sensibility, The Wings of the Dove and The Duchess.

Dirty Dancing - Firefly Cove, Lake Lure, North Carolina

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze played Johnny Castle and Francis 'Baby' Houseman respectively in Dirty Dancing. They were filmed practising their dance lifts in Lake Lure, left and right

When characters Johnny Castle and Francis 'Baby' Houseman practised their dance routine lifts in the water of Lake Lure in Dirty Dancing, an iconic movie moment was born.

Although the movie was made in 1987, it was set in 1960 at a holiday summer camp.

Rom-com fans can stay on location and attempt to re-enact the moment should they choose.

Broadchurch - West Bay, Dorset

Viewers have become immersed in the small, close-knit fictional town of Broadchurch, filmed in West Bay, Dorset

This British ITV drama is set on Dorset's Jurassic Coast after the body of a boy is discovered on the beach.

Viewers become immersed in the small, close-knit fictional town of Broadchurch, as an investigation unfolds.

The breath-taking Jurassic Coast is a tourist magnet stretching 95 miles between Exmouth in East Devon and Studland Bay in Dorset.

The Princess Bride - The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

In the 1987 pirate adventure The Princess Bride, right, the characters are filmed travelling along the striking five-mile long, 700ft-high cliffs, left

The inconceivable beauty of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland made it a scene-stealing location for this classic fairy-tale.

In the 1987 pirate adventure the characters are filmed travelling along the striking five-mile long, 700ft-high cliffs.

In the film they are even described as 'the cliffs of insanity'.

The Sound of Music - Salzkammergut, Austria

The gorgeous region showcased in The Sound of Music boasts 76 lakes and Alpine ranges to explore on foot or by bike

If you've always been tempted to discover those lively hills then the idyllic Austrian gem of Salzkammergut is for you.

The gorgeous region boasts 76 lakes and Alpine ranges to explore on foot or by bike.

Avid movie buffs may even have the opportunity to run through the hills like Julie Andrews in the adaptation of the true life story of the Von Trapp family.
If youve ever dreamt of exploring India in total luxury, touring its majestic palaces and immersing yourself in its vibrant culture, now is your chance.

Aspiring Maharajas can not only participate in a royal procession but will for the first time be able to spend time with Indian royals in some of the most luxurious palaces in the world, thanks to a new, very pricey, tour offer.

Highlights of the 17-day trip include dinners in the desert and high tea at the Taj Mahal but youll need to have a kingly budget of 66,640 ($81,400) per couple to join the expedition.

Couples on the exclusive tour can meet Indian royals including the Udaipur royal family, above

Luxury website VeryFirstTo.com has unveiled The Indian Royal Tour, organised by Epic India Travel, giving couples (single occupancy is available for a supplement) exclusive access to Indias most regal destinations and family members.

Guests will be able to interact with Maharaja Amresh Kumar Singhs family at his city palace, Khajurgao and to take dinner with royal family members at The Khajoorgaon Palace where there will be live dancers and cooking.

On arrival, guests will be welcomed with a royal procession where they can either sit atop an elephant or in a horse drawn carriage as they travel along with musicians, camels and dancers.

Another highlight is a private dinner with royals on a 150-year-old boat used by former Maharajas.

One highlight is the chance to take high tea at the iconic Taj Mahal

Highlights of the 17-day trip include dinners in the desert and the chance to participate in a royal procession, but youll need to have a kingly budget of 66,640 ($81,400) per couple to join the expedition

Marcel Knobil, founder of VeryFirstTo, Superbrands and Cool BrandLeaders, said: This exceptional tour allows one to experience the rich cultural tapestry of India and an unprecedented itinerary featuring meetings with Indian Royals in four separate locations, including The Khajoorgaon Palace City Palace of Jaipur where guests will arrive through the entrance exclusively used by the family.

On royal visits you can expect to enjoy authentic home-cooked food, complete with live cooking demonstrations of secret royal recipes, as well as participating in a royal procession where drums and trumpets will announce your arrival at the palace and you will board elephants or sit in a horse-drawn carriage followed by horses, camels, dancers and musicians.

The tour includes the chance to sail over the River Ganges for an evening at an old palace on the Ghat, above

The tour includes the chance to sail over the River Ganges for an evening at an old palace on the Ghat. Theres also a trip to Lake Pichola.

There will be visits to Buddhist site Samath Sarnath and a bushfire dinner in the deserts of Jodhpur.

Holidaymakers will take a private guided tour of Old and New Delhi to experience bazaars and a live musical performance of Qwalai (devotional sufi music) at Qutub Minar.

Holidaymakers will also take a trip to Lake Pichola, above, during the excursion

The 17-day trip starts in Delhi with a stay at The Imperial before guests head to Varanasi for an overnight at Taj Nadesear Palace.

Theyll spend a couple of nights at Vivanta by Taj in Lucknow before heading over to Agra for a stay at Amarvilas. Guests will also bed down at Rambagh Palace in Jaipir, Umaid Bhawan Palce in Jodhpur and Taj Lake Palace in Udaipar.

The trip includes tour guides, first-class international flights, junior suites (where available) chauffeurs, transfers and taxes.
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If the beach holiday purse-strings are tight, it's Bulgaria you should head to, according to a new report, because that's where the pound will stretch the furthest.

This has been revealed by the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer, which compares costs in 19 European beach resorts.

It said that Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, thanks to tumbling prices, is cheaper than ever and is the best bet for a bargain break for the fourth-year running.

If the beach holiday purse-strings are tight, it's Sunny Beach (pictured) in Bulgaria you should head to, according to a new report, because that's where the pound will stretch the furthest

If the holiday purse-strings are tight, it's Bulgaria you should head to, according to a new report, because that's where the pound will stretch the furthest. Table: The Post Office

The Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer, pictured, compared costs in 19 European beach resorts. Table: The Post Office

At around 37, the Post Office barometer basket of 10 tourist staples  comprising lunch and evening meals, drinks, suncream, insect repellent and a daily newspaper  costs 10 per cent less in Sunny Beach than last year, despite the weaker pound.

An evening meal for two with wine will set UK visitors back less than 20, while lunch for two is under 6 and suncream is cheaper than the lowest-priced UK bottle at 3.72.

Post Office research also found tourist costs in Sunny Beach to be lower than at any time in the past five years.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: 'Tour operators have already reported that holidays to Bulgaria are selling like hot cakes and our research makes it clear that Sunny Beach will offer cash-strapped holidaymakers unbeatable value this year.

'Meal costs are really the deciding factor in Bulgaria's favour. Over the course of a week's holiday, lunch and evening meals for two will cost around 175 in Sunny Beach but this could mushroom to over 600 in more expensive resorts in France or Italy. If you haven't already booked a holiday do your homework to find a resort which best fits your budget.'

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: 'If you haven't already booked a holiday do your homework to find a resort which best fits your budget'. Table - The Post Office

Ibiza, Spain, is one of Europe's most expensive destinations with a total cost for a basket of holiday outlays coming to 131.02. Table: The Post Office

The Algarve is again the runner-up resort to Sunny Beach, although holiday costs are 56 per cent higher than in Bulgaria at just over 58.

The Portuguese hotspot remains cheapest of 14 eurozone resorts surveyed and around 2 cheaper than the Costa del Sol (61) in third place.

Prices in both destinations are less than half of those in Ibiza (131), the most expensive resort surveyed.

In the Eastern Med Marmaris (68) is the cheapest of seven resorts surveyed in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

Although local prices have risen 11 per cent in a year, the Turkish lira is the only European currency to have weakened against sterling and a 15 per cent year-on-year dip in its value makes the barometer basket in Marmaris four per cent cheaper than 12 months ago.

The same 10 barometer items cost 40 per cent more - 95 - in Sliema (Malta).

Post Office Travel Money researchers again found wide cost variations between resorts in the same country.

In Spain the Costa del Sol remains a bargain choice for UK holidaymakers but they can expect to pay 25 per cent more for the barometer items in neighbouring Costa Blanca (76). Prices in Majorca (89) are 47 per cent higher than in the Costa del Sol although they are almost a third cheaper than in Ibiza.

The Algarve, pictured, is again the runner-up resort to Sunny Beach in the Post Office findings, although holiday costs are 56 per cent higher than in Bulgaria at just over 58

There are differences too between the four Greek islands surveyed for the Holiday Costs Barometer.

Crete, ninth in the table, is cheapest at just under 82 for the tourist staples, while Zante (82) is a few pence more and Kefalonia (84) comes close. However, tourists visiting Corfu (90) can expect to pay 10 per cent more.

In Croatia, Porec (79) is again far cheaper than Zadar (109) and has risen to seventh place in the barometer table. Prices in the resort on Croatia's Istria peninsula are 27 per cent cheaper than in Zadar further south and are also 15 per cent lower than five years ago.

Porec is one of six resorts where UK visitors will pay less than they would have done five years ago. The biggest falls have been in the Costa del Sol and Sunny Beach, where prices have plunged by over 20 per cent since 2012. However, Post Office researchers also found that prices have risen 44 per cent in Nice and 61 per cent in Sorrento since then. As a consequence, both resorts remain among the three most expensive surveyed.
The opportunity to work with iconic funnyman Jerry Seinfeld would be nothing less than a dream-come-true for many professional comedians.

But Triple M's Merrick Watts, 43, has explained why he turned down the chance to work with the sitcom star seven years ago.

Appearing on The Project this Wednesday night, Merrick explained: 'Y ears ago there was a TV offering going around for The Marriage Refuge, and Jerry was going to do this after Seinfeld. That was going to be the first thing he did.'

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'I just decided that I was not the guy for it': Triple M's Merrick Watts, 43, has explained why he turned down the chance to work with the sitcom star seven years ago

'And anyway, I went through a vetting process. And actually, Jerry Seinfeld himself had said: 'I would like that guy, Merrick Watts to host it in Australia'.'

He continued: 'And they were going to do it first in Australia and map it out for the rest of the world. And I could not have been more excited about the prospect of working with Jerry Seinfeld- I was going to fly to New York and meet him, the whole lot.'

'Then I saw The Marriage Ref just before it kind of went into that process of becoming formal. And I just decided that I was not the guy for it. So I turned it down. They wanted somebody good.'

'They wanted somebody good': The opportunity to work with iconic funnyman Jerry Seinfeld would be nothing less than a dream-come-true for many professional comedians

Scrapped: Jerry's show, which saw celebrities weigh in on real life marital disputes, debuted in 2011 and was canceled after just two seasons

Jerry's show, which saw celebrities weigh in on real life marital disputes, debuted in 2011 and was canceled after just two seasons.

Since finishing filming on his sitcom Seinfeld, the Jerry has written and starred in hit children's film Bee Movie and launched a web series called Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

The web series sees the award-winning comedian travel in vintage cars with other comedians and chat over coffee.

Icon: Jerry became one of the most well known comedians in the world following his hit sitcom, Seinfeld

In January, it was announced that Jerry and Netflix signed a deal that will bring Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee to the streaming service later this year.

In addition, Netflix announced the star will 'help develop scripted and non-scripted comedy programming' on the platform.

Industry experts told the Hollywood Reporter that the deal could be worth around $100million.

Focus on the road! Jerry now drives around fellow comedians for his web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Jennifer Aniston cut a stylish figure in a maxi dress Wednesday night as she headed out to dinner with her husband Justin Theroux on their Parisian trip.

They'd headed to Verjus, a swank American expat-owned wine bar and restaurant on the Rue de Richelieu, a stone's throw from the Louvre and the Palais-Royal.

She flashed a bit of cleavage in the sleeveless number she'd donned that evening, having gathered her hair back and accessorized with hoop earrings.

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On the town: Jennifer Aniston cut a stylish figure in a maxi dress Wednesday night as she headed out to dinner with her husband Justin Theroux on their Parisian trip

Splotchy pink patterning spread across the black field of her glinting dress, which was cinched in at the 48-year-old Friends icon's enviably trim waistline.

Meanwhile, her dashing second husband - whom she'd married in 2015 - flung a black leather jacket over a matching T-shirt and jeans.

The 45-year-old The Leftovers star added a dash of glitz by way of a gleaming necklace and completed the ensemble with charcoal boots.

Hello, gorgeous: She flashed a bit of cleavage in the sleeveless number she'd donned that evening, having gathered her hair back and accessorized with hoop earrings

Their jaunt to l'Hexagone's included a chic photo-call at the Louvre before a dinner for the launch of a leather goods collection by Louis Vuitton and Jeff Koons.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Justin held forth on the fact his and Jennifer's careers can fling them to different towns, away from one another.

'Its tough; its a pain. But even though you are tired, you just make an extra effort to make trips back home, or have your partner come visit you,' heexplained.

Keeping it simple: Meanwhile, her dashing second husband - whom she'd married in 2015 - flung a black leather jacket over a matching T-shirt and jeans

Opulent: They'd headed to Verjus, a swank American expat-owned wine bar and restaurant on the Rue de Richelieu, a stone's throw from the Louvre and the Palais-Royal

Great view: The lovebirds chose to sit by the window

Having a chat: Jennifer and Justin seem engaged in conversation - proving they were very much a couple

Heading to their next destination: They had a vehicle waiting for them as they made a quick getaway

Gossiped he: 'Keith Urban said that he once flew from New York, all the way to Australia, to have dinner with Nicole Kidman. Then, he flew back to his concert tour.'

With a laugh, Justin - whose role on The Leftovers takes him to Australia as well - conceded that Keith's 'a better man than I am. I would never do that.'

He and Jennifer had once resolved not to stay apart longer than two weeks at a time. 'Then, it would be a two-and-a-half-week rule. So, its a moving target.'
She makes her debut on cult sci-fi series Doctor Who this weekend.

But Pearl Mackie, who plays The Doctor's new sidekick Bill, ruffled a few fan feathers on Wednesday evening when she admitted she didn't know the answer to a question about the infamous TARDIS.

Appearing on The One Show, the 29-year-old actress was asked by Angela Scanlon about what type of fuel powers the TARDIS' engine.

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Fuel fury! Doctor Who fans are left raging with new star Pearl Mackie as she makes TARDIS gaffe on The One Show

Clearly not expecting such a question, Pearl slickly batted off the question by saying: 'It's space engine oil None of that congestion charge or pollution either. It's all good!'

This set tempers ranging with some viewers at home who furiously took to Twitter to correct the star on her unforgivable mistake.

'It's not space engine oil, it's actually the energy from the rift is what powers the TARDIS but whatever! [sic]' kicked off the first obsessed fan.

A second screamed into their Twitter upload: 'PEARL IT'S ARTRON ENERGY COME OOON!'

Caught off guard: Appearing on The One Show, the 29-year-old actress was asked by Angela Scanlon about what type of fuel powers the TARDIS' engine

Next question please: Clearly not expecting such a question, Pearl slickly batted off the question by saying - 'It's space engine oil None of that congestion charge or pollution either. It's all good'

An equally vocal user wrote: 'UM SCUZ ME TARDIS RUNS ON ARTRON ENERGY GAWD!'

'Every single #DoctorWho fan screams the TARDIS is powered by rift energy,' a fourth typed.

In stark contrast, another tweeter posted: 'Who are these people bitching Pearl Mackie over TARDIS fuelling! Get a life!'

Pearl's defense for not knowing the answer is a solid one: show boss Steven Moffat told her not to go back over the Doctor Who back-catalogue and not to over-familiarise herself with the show's universe in advance.

Ignorance is bliss: Pearl's defense for not knowing the answer is a solid one: show boss Steven Moffat told her not to go back over the Doctor Who back-catalogue and not to over-familiarise herself with the show's universe in advance

She can't do it all: Given it been on screen for more than 50 years and has a devoted horde of fans across the globe, it's safe to say that anybody taking on a role on Doctor Who or his sidekick has a lot to live up to

On the promo trail: Pearl has been busy teasing the new series of Doctor Who all week

'I initially planned to watch all of [Peter Capaldi's] stuff with Jenna [Coleman], so I could see what he was like as a Doctor, and they were like, "Don't watch it, because she doesn't know anything about that, and actually what you're bringing to it is a really nice kind of freshness. What you're doing is working",' she said.

Given it been on screen for more than 50 years and has a devoted horde of fans across the globe, it's safe to say that anybody taking on a role on Doctor Who or his sidekick has a lot to live up to.

And when Pearl was shortlisted for the role of Bill Potts, the actress admits that she was so nervous about the prospect of meeting star Peter Capaldi that she considered running away.

In an interview with the Radio Times, the 29-year-old actress said of her first meeting with departing star Peter: 'I rocked up in my Afro and bright yellow trainers and a baggy T-shirt, into this big glossy octagon foyer and they told me to wait in a room till they were ready for me. I almost ran away.'

In the hot seat: The actress later oversaw an Easter Egg race on the show

Runaway success: Pearl has admitted that she considered running away when she first met with Peter Capaldi ahead of taking on her new role in Doctor Who

Peter, who joined Pearl for the interview asked his new co-star: 'Did you not feel at home?,' before adding: 'I think you looked very cool there. You looked great.'

Brixton native Pearl responded: 'Well thank you. I must have been outwardly confident. But then when you and I read together and you said, "Shall we stand up?", I panicked. At TV auditions I just sit still and try not to move my face too much.'

With the new season being Peter's final round of intergalactic travels, he also spoke about his decision to leave the role that has attracted a new set of fans.

On the promotional trail: The pair recently teamed up for a photoshoot with co-star Matt Lucas

'Ive never done anything for any length of time,' he said of the role he has occupied since 2013. 'Even The Thick of It was only 20 episodes over four years.

'Ill have done 40 episodes of Doctor Who. I dont think if I stayed on Id be able to think of another way to say, "This could be the end of civilisation as we know it."

'Ive always gone from one job to the other and seen what was around the corner and I want to get back to that.'

Coming to an end: The upcoming season will vibe Peter's last turn as the popular Doctor Who

During the interview, Peter spoke with Pearl about the new level of recognition her role on the show will afford her.

'I think the biggest difference is people recognise you much more,' he told her. 'It happens almost immediately. Millions will be watching and a lot of them will be where you live or on your bus  at least, itll feel like that.'

Pearl said in response: 'Its already happening. A French guy tried to take my picture the other day. People like seeing the Doctor going for coffee.'

Linger: In his interview with the Radio Times, he said he hasn't ever occupied a role for too long

The interview took place ahead of reports Pearl will only appear on the cult show for one season and is set to leave with outgoing Time Lord Peter at Christmas.

Bosses have decided that Peter's exit offers an opportunity to recast the show and Pearl will not make the cut, according to The Sun.

The decision is believed to have been made by the BBC and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall, who replaces current showrunner Steven Moffat after this series.

A source told the paper: 'Bosses have decided to have a completely fresh start. It's yet to be formally decided but it makes sense to give Chris his own choice of actor to play the doctor and his companion.'

She was announced as the new companion back in April 2016 and has likened her appointment in the role to being 'welcomed into a family'.

The actress told the BBC: 'My Twitter follower count went from 400-and-something to 16,500 in about two hours, so that was pretty mental.

'But it's been really nice, everyone seems to be really excited. It's sort of like being welcomed into a family and all the fans have been really welcoming.'

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on Saturday April 15.
She has a face and figure that makes any outfit look fantastic.

And on Wednesday, gorgeous Olivia Culpo was spotted out and about in Los Angeles, clad in a casual ensemble.

The natural beauty chose to keep her colour palette simple, but added a pop of colour with lipstick.

The girl next door: On Wednesday, Olivia Culpo, 24, was spotted out and about in Los Angeles, clad in a casual ensemble

Olivia tucked in a white T-shirt into a pair of high waist, boyfriend jeans.

The 24-year-old former Miss USA accessorized with a black belt, matching box bag and shades.

She completed her look with a pair of trendy furry slides.

Rosy: The natural beauty chose to keep her colour palette simple, but added a pop of colour with lipstick

Casual vibes: Olivia tucked in a white T-shirt into a pair of high waist, boyfriend jeans

The brunette beauty, who's currently dating New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, recently sat down with LA Travel.

The Rhode Island native discussed her vacation plans and her travel must-haves.

'For my next vacation I want to get my scuba diving certification so I can get out of my comfort zone a bit. I'm ready for a challenge!' she said.

Keeping it simple: The former Miss USA beauty queen accessorized with a black belt, matching box bag and shades

'My ideal vacation is anything with a beach, fresh fruit, good food, hot sun, beautiful oceans, and good company!' she says.

When she travels, Olivia lists a few items she counts as essentials.

'I always travel with a hydrating facial mask since the re-circulated air on a plane can really dry your skin out,' she began.

'I like to bring a pair of fuzzy socks to slip into once I've settled in my seat to stay comfortable and Chapstick and/or lip liner.'
'Suns out; when is it acceptable to wear your bikini in ENGLAND?' was the question Ferne McCann posed to her Instgram followers on Wednesday afternoon.

But she answered it herself as she posed provocatively by the side of a pool in a very raunchy spandex bikini, seemingly inspired by models Kylie and Kendall Jenner.

Perched cheekily on the edge of the pool, the former TOWIE star wore the black two-piece, which was emblazoned with the words 'God Save Queens' on it in white, showing off her enviable curves in the daring number.

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'Sun's out!' Ferne McCann embraces the UK's sudden bought of warm weather by stripping down to a black spandex 'Jenner' bikini and posing seductively by a pool

Far from being a run in the mill design, the bikini top was drastically plunging, and the bottoms featured two strips of fabric, which wrapped around the reality star's lower half strategically.

Ferne swept up her long locks, holding them behind her head, so as to show off the black and white choker she sported around her neck.

While the weather has been surprisingly hot and sunny in the South-East of England over the past week or so, the sun was ironically no where to be seen in the shot, which appeared to have been taken at a roof-top pool against a grey, cloudy backdrop.

Nonetheless, this didn't stop Ferne's Instragram modelling, still sporting a tan from her recent trip to The Maldives.

Ferne was quick to flaunt her toned figure in a glamorous bikini as she shared one of many snaps from her vacation last weekend, while she was still abroad.

The TOWIE star, 26, looked luscious in the rather impractical halterneck bikini made of round metallic disks.

Glamour: Ferne McCann flaunted her bikini body as she posed in a halterneck made of metallic disks which she paired with mustard-coloured bottoms while holidaying in The Maldives

Her stomach looked tanned and toned as she perched on the side of an infinity pool in the envy-inducing snap.

She donned mustard coloured ruffled bikini bottoms and tied her caramel-coloured locks into a ponytail as she posed.

It wasn't the only picture she treated fans to that day, as she also shared a light-hearted image of herself holding a fluffy monkey.

Funky monkey: In another snap, Ferne brandished a cuddly toy and showed off her tanned legs and tummy in a skimpy pair of tangerine bikini bottoms

The star didn't explain why she was brandishing the cuddly toy but showed off her curvy figure in tangerine bikini bottoms.

She twisted her Givenchy Paris t-shirt into a crop top to reveal her taut tummy.

The This Morning showbiz reporter is clearly having a lovely time with her other half - old flame Arthur 'Art' Collins who has appeared back on the scene after Ferne failed to find love on Celebs Go Dating.

Ferne has made sure to keep her fans abreast of her romantic holiday, posting pictures of herself in a bikini and skirt ensemble against a lush tropical backdrop earlier in the week.

Tropical babe: The reality star posed in a bikini and skirt ensemble against a lush backdrop earlier in the week

Flaunting her toned pins, the patterned skirt featured a risque slit slashed high on the thigh.

And making the most of her lean midriff, she teamed it with a turquoise strappy bikini top.

With her hair piled high on her head, she added a splash of colour in a gold bandanna.

The post came just a day after she shared a snap of herself soaking up the sun in an eye-catching metallic two piece on Thursday.

The TV presenter sat cross-legged by the pool in the plunging snakeskin-style print bronze and silver halterneck, which she teamed with a pair of tinted sunglasses.

Coming up roses: Ferne showed off her stunning figure in a metallic bikini in another sizzling holiday selfie

'Life through rose tinted glasses,' she captioned the snap, which showed her sitting cross legged with her brown hair tousled while a pendant and bracelets added to the look.

Ferne has also posted loved-up selfies with Art.

In one sweet snap, she posed cheek-to-cheek with Art, him in a crisp white shirt and shades, her with her mane swept back, a white flower behind her ear and a semi-sheer blue and cream patterned dress.

She wrote alongside the selfie, which was taken in front of the crystalline ocean: 'Sunset Fishing. What an amazing evening @luxsouthari we watched the sunset out at sea, then fishing (I caught the most ovs) & we saw a shark & sting rae's [sic].'

'BE-YOU-TIFUL!' Ferne flaunts her frame in a bikini puff top and teeny bottoms as she enjoys a romantic holiday in the Maldives with her boyfriend Arthur

The pair were rumoured to be dating last summer for several months, but, if so, the relationship was kept private.

But now the reality star has been updating fans on Snapchat and Instagram about her rekindled romance, posting several images of the the couple together - holding hands, kissing and even a flirty shot from her bed.

The stubbly hunk is not Ferne's first publicised relationship.

The former TOWIE star first joined the drama-laden show with then-boyfriend Charlie Sims, before going on to date co-star Dan Osborne.

Ferne even had a rumoured fling with comedian Russell Brand.
Usually she finds the attention always on her famous husband.

But James Corden's wife Julia Carey stole the show as the duo were spotted walking hand-in-hand in LA on Wednesday.

The TV producer looked incredible as she put her desirable pins on display in a pair of distressed denim hot pants.

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Leggy display: James Corden's wife Julia Carey put her enviable pins on display as she stepped out with her husband in LA on Wednesday

Julia extended her already lengthy legs by sporting a pair of tan-hued peep-toe heels on her feet - drawing all attention to her stems as she strutted her stuff alongside her husband.

She teamed her shorts with a white designer shirt that featured tie-up detailing around its hemline and finished off her getup with a pair of aviator shades and a mint green satchel bag slung over one shoulder.

Julia chose to pin her short blonde tresses back from her face in a neat bun style - leaving her fringe down and swept over to the side to frame her face.

She cut a content figure while in the company of her multi-talented beau James and the pair - who married in 2012 - seemed animated in conversation as they headed to their car.

Incredible: She looked sensational in a pair of denim hot pant shorts and elongated her lengthy legs even more by sporting a pair of peep-toe heels

Happy couple: She and comedian James made a loved-up appearance in LA as they stepped out holding hands

Clearly smitten: Julia was seen stealing a glance at her famous beau as they made their way to their car

While his wife chose to flash the flesh in the Californian sunshine, James covered up in dark jeans, a blue t-shirt and a navy colour block cardigan.

His relaxed outing with Julia - who he shares son Max, six, and daughter Cary, two, with - comes after James recently confirmed he will be bringing The Late Late Show to the UK.

He currently hosts the chat show over in the States, but will film three episodes of the show in London to give it a British twist.

They are set to air exclusively on Sky 1 and NOW TV in June and promise to include the shows signature musical and comedy segments - including its much-loved Carpool Karaoke.

LA living: The couple - who married in 2012 - have relocated to the States while James is hosting The Late Late Show

Heading home: Although, they will make their way back to the UK as James will host three episodes of The Late Late Show in London this June

Speaking about his forthcoming trip home, Corden said: 'To bring The Late Late Show to the UK is a dream come true for me. I'm incredibly proud of the show and we're going to do our best to make this week in London memorable.'

Adam MacDonald, Director of Sky 1, added: 'Im beyond excited that James and The Late Late Show are coming to the UK for three very special episodes.

James is hugely loved by the Sky 1 audience and it will be a proud moment for the channel to share what he and The Late Late Show gang have in store for us.'

'It's a dream come true': The TV presenter has promised to make his London shows 'memorable'
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.
She's the self-prescribed 'over-sharer' who now hosts a radio show with her Brisbane Broncos husband Benji.

And Zoe Marshall has penned her most open article to date, sharing her reasons for watching pornography on her own while also urging more women to do so.

'Watching porn is a door to discovering your sexuality, and getting to know yourself better,' the 32-year-old wrote in her debut article as PopSugar's 'sex explorer'.

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Sexually liberated: Zoe Marshall has penned a column explaining why more women should watch pornography

The piece, titled '6 Ways Watching Porn Will Liberate Your Sexuality,' sees the NRL WAG open up about her own experiences.

'I've had many a cosy night home alone enjoying an adult film and exploring what turns me on, and I wonder why women aren't more open about it,' the radio presenter wrote.

Taking to Instagram to share her work, Zoe wrote: 'Yes it's true- I'm a sex explorer -thank you @popsugarau for giving me this honour.'

Speaking about her controversial headline on The Morning Show on Thursday, Zoe explained her inspiration behind the post.

'I wonder why women aren't more open about it': The 32-year-old wrote in her PopSugar article, in which she explains why porn is a gateway to women exploring their sexuality

'I thought "why not share something that I think is, you know, stigmatised in society, that men can have this freedom with their sexuality and looking at adult films, but women can't,"' she told hosts Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.

'I wrote about it because I do it, and I think it's great for women to explore that part of themselves,' the TV presenter added.

Meanwhile, Zoe, who has also previously documented her battle with endometriosis on her website and radio show, also spoke of family plans for her and husband Benji.

'I wrote about it because I do it': The NRL WAG opened up about her role as PopSugar's 'sex explorer' on The Morning Show

'We're in the first month of trying,' she confessed.

It comes after the couple first revealed they have been visiting a fertility clinic in a bid to conceive during a segment on their Nova radio show, Meet The Marshalls.

'It's not so sexy,' Benji said of the process.

Family plans: The brunette beauty also opened up about her baby plans, admitting she's 'trying' with husband Benji

The NRL star said the fertility clinic constantly calls the pair to tell them the exact times they should have sex, so as to conceive.

'We went and did the fertility testing and went into the room and did what I had to do and Zoe got her eggs tested,' he explained.

'... And there were constant blood tests and they were ringing us on the hour telling us exactly, that we had a two hour window of where we had to get it done.

'And I was like, "come on, lets go, hurry up!" Where's the romance gone?,' he said.

'Where's the romance gone?' The couple shared their fertility experience on their Nova radio show recently, with the Brisbane Broncos star admitting 'it's not so sexy'

Zoe said it was 'awful' and 'awks' (sic) and that after such routine sex, they 'wouldn't touch each other for the rest of the month.'

'We were so traumatised that it didn't work for us. We were like, how could this bring a baby into the world, conceiving like this? It's not natural!'

Meanwhile, the pair, who tied the knot in Byron Bay in 2013, made headlines last year after Zoe revealed they haven't slept in the same bed for years due to Benji's sleep apnea and snoring.
She's the divisive radio host who's never been afraid to share intimate details of her personal life.

And Mel Grieg, 34, has weighed in on the subject of long distance relationships amid her split with husband of 12 months Steve Pollock.

Writing a column for Yahoo 7, Mel asks the question 'if your first date is interstate is it destined to fail from very beginning,' referencing reality show Married at First sight and the struggles interstate couples have faced after the cameras stop rolling.

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Phone a friend: Weighing in on the interstate dating debate, outspoken columnist Mel Greig argueD that both guys and girls should bring a friend along to ease potential awkwardness

While she admitted that long-distance relationships can be fraught with 'road-blocks' the blonde offered a simple solution.

'You plan a weekend away to said state with a girlfriend and you then make them aware that you are in town for the weekend and it would be great to catch up for a drink (but not as a proper date),' she said.

'This takes the pressure off and gives you an out, and of course they MUST bring along a mate for your friend too and you get a fun weekend away that you are in control of. Or suggest this as an option to them, you can offer to play tour guide.'

Certainly no stranger to divulging the intimate details of her private life, Mel recently admitted, on the Thinkergirl's podcast with Stacey June and Kristie Mercer, that she was unable to climax while having sex until she was 30.

Four's company: While she admitted that long-distance relationships can be fraught with 'road-blocks' the 34-year old offered a simple solution - everyone bring a friend along.

'I had my first orgasm with my husband and I hadn't had one prior to that because you need to feel comfortable,' she said.

She went even further on the podcast, making the frank admission that she has never had a problem with climaxing solo, telling the Thinkergirls 'I can do it in three seconds.'

Open book: Certainly no stranger to divulging the intimate details of her private life, Mel recently admitted, on the Thinkergirl's podcast, that she was unable to climax while having sex until she was 30

The former Celebrity Apprentice star, who in 2012 was embroiled in the royal phone prank scandal,is currently going through a divorce with her estranged husband Steve Pollock.

The pair were wed in November 2014, however, the couple had separated by April 2016.

TMI? She went even further on the podcast, making the frank admission that she has never had a problem with climaxing solo, telling the Thinkergirls 'I can do it in three seconds.'
Stunning looks clearly run in the family for Eva Mendes.

The actress praised her niece in an Instagram post, on Wednesday, and it was hard to miss their striking similarities.

Eva, 43, shared a video of her niece, and complimented her on her pretty features.

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Beauty: Eva Mendes, 43, shared a video of her niece, Dani, and complimented her on her pretty features

Striking: Stunning looks clearly run in the family for Eva Mendes as she praise her niece for being a 'beauty'

Eva captioned: 'My gorgeous niece @_danilevy using @realcircabeauty for what she calls an easy look. Yea, real easy when you have that killer bone structure! What a natural beauty.  #circabeauty.'

Those 'killer' cheek bones clearly run in the family.

Eva's niece Dani is the daughter of her sister Janet.

Eva captioned: 'My gorgeous niece @_danilevy using @realcircabeauty for what she calls an easy look. Yea, real easy when you have that killer bone structure! What a natural beauty.  #circabeauty'

Looks familiar: Those 'killer' cheek bones clearly run in the family

Made up: Eva shared the make-up tutorial done by her niece Dani

Gorgeous: Eva was full of praise for the daughter of her sister Janet

They clearly share a close relationship as Dani has posted a number of pictures with her famous aunt.

On March 5, she shared a snap as a child, captioned: 'happy birthday to my beautiful aunt  an amazing woman & mother you inspire me everyday! i love you so much.'

In another post she thanked the actress, who has two daughters with Ryan Gosling, for being supportive.

Eyes have it: She applied a highlight shade into her brow bone

Old school: Dani used her hands to apply her base layer

Brown hues: Dani showed off the eye palette she was using

'Thank you for believing in me and supporting me throughout my entire life. not only are you someone I can depend on, but you are also my role model. I can only hope to be a fraction of the person you are today, I love you aunty,' she wrote.

Eva shares Esmeralda Amada (born September 12, 2014) and Amada Lee (born April 29, 2016) with Gosling.

Supportive: They clearly share a close relationship as Dani has posted a number of pictures with her famous aunt

Eva Mendes' older brother sadly lost his battle to throat cancer last year.

Juan Carlos Mendez was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half before he passed away on April 17 2016, at the age of 53.

She also has brother Carlo, who is an actor.
Tyga was detained by police on Tuesday after being pulled over for allegedly driving with no license plates on his $112,000 Mercedes.

And now the 27-year-old is facing more legal drama as his music company is being tracked down for an unpaid lawsuit from 2015.

The rapper's own Tyga Music LLC was sued by concertgoer Shyanne Riekena two years ago after suffering 'head trauma and permanent scarring,' according to TMZ.

Despite a court ruling which awarded the woman $235,000, Tyga's company has yet to pay out on the lawsuit - which has since increased to $248,553 due to interest.

Nice ride: Tyga stepped out in Santa Monica on Wednesday morning just hours after being detained for alleged missing license plates on his new Mercedes G-Wagon

Riekena attended a Grand Rapids, Michigan concert when a light stand fell and hit her on the head during the show.

Her attorney recently filed court documents asking a judge to demand Tyga's music company to pay what it owes as it's the third time they've attempted to collect.

But the Rack City hit-maker seemed unfazed when he stepped out in Santa Monica on Wednesday.

Tyga left a recording studio and hopped into the passenger seat of his brand new Mercedes G-Wagon just hours after he was released from custody.

Financial woes: The 27-year-old rapper is facing more legal drama as his music company allegedly hasn't paid out on a $250,000 lawsuit from two years ago, according to TMZ

Cops stopped the musician around 1:30 a.m. after he ran a stop sign in Hollywood.

His rig had paper plates on it and officers decided to do a field sobriety test, but there were so many paparazzi around that it created chaos.

He was handcuffed and taken to the LAPD station where he passed the test, was given a traffic citation and released.

Meanwhile, it's not the first time the ex-boyfriend of reality star Kylie Jenner has been in hot water over money woes.

Hefty price: The Rack City hit-maker was detained by police on Tuesday after being pulled over for allegedly running a stop sign and driving with no license plates on his $112,000 Mercedes

Tyga was hauled into a hearing by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills to see how he can pay off a $200,000 judgment for a diamond encrusted watch and chain back in August.

The former fiance of Blac Chyna was apparently fine answering questions about his finances until the topic came to Kylie.

Tyga - which is an acronym for Thank You God Always - was accommodating and answered the attorney, despite flashing his middle finger and pretending to aim a gun towards cameras as he entered the building.

Bigtime baller? Despite money problems, Tyga flashed cash for an Instagram photo shoot the same day of his arrest

However, when he was asked how much he spends on gifts for his reality star girlfriend, Tyga claimed to feel ill and had lost his memory.

He had a complete meltdown and stopped proceedings during the hearing when questioned about money he splashes out on the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star including a $200,000 Mercedes-Maybach he purchased for her 19th birthday.

Tyga has since began making payments towards the judgement for Jason Arasheben.

He has also been accused by his baby mama Blac that he has skipped child support payments for their four-year-old son King Cairo.
After a string of failed relationships, Michael Turnbull has suffered yet another acrimonious break-up, this time with Melbourne-based Bijanka Dobrev.

Bijanka confirmed the news this week by uploading a series of text message conversation shared between the two, accompanied with the caption: 'Michael Turnbull lies'.

Within the text message exchange, Michael asks Bijanka to be his girlfriend just days before asking whether she would marry him.

Unlucky in love? After a string of failed relationships, The Bachelorette's Michael Turnbull (left) has suffered yet another acrimonious break-up, this time with Melbourne-based Bijanka Dobrev (right)

'You are my girlfriend, my priority', writes Michael in a message sent on March 20th.

'Would you really marry me? If I asked you what would you say?' he writes in a subsequent message sent on March 30th.

A source close to Bijanka has revealed to Daily Mail Australia that the pair parted ways on bad terms.

Brief relationship: In a text message exchange that took place on March 20th, Michael asked Bijanka to be his girlfriend before jokingly asking her not to fall in love with another man while he was away

'You are my girlfriend, my priority': The pair, who met at Melbourne's popular nightspot Club 23, shared an extremely brief relationship, during which time Michael travelled overseas to the US with his sister

'Her boyfriend needs to be loyal and honest, so it never would have worked out with Michael', the insider revealed.

The pair, who met at Melbourne's popular nightspot Club 23, shared an extremely brief relationship, during which time Michael travelled overseas to the US with his sister.

In a text message exchange that took place on March 20th, Michael asked Bijanka not to fall in love with another man while he was away.

'Would you really marry me?' Within the text message exchange, Michael asks Bijanka to be his girlfriend just days before asking whether she would marry him

Earlier this week, Michael confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he is single and looking to 'settle down'.

'I'm single and I am now ready to settle down so I wanted to give it a go, I'm finding it very hard after the show even now to have a relationship given the media always following my love life,' he lamented.

In January, Michael was spotted passionately kissing a different girl- Politix store manager Dina Pinteric- as they sat at a Brisbane cafe.

Ready to mingle: Earlier this week, Michael confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he is single and looking to 'settle down'

Short-lived romance: In January, Michael was spotted passionately kissing a different girl- Politix store manager Dina Pinteric (pictured)- as they sat at a Brisbane cafe

While the pair never confirmed their relationship, Michael did hint at their romance in December, taking to Twitter with a gushing post that compared his new partner to ice cream.

Michael has experienced his fair share of romance controversies since being dumped by Sam Frost.

In December 2015, Michael began dating single mother Katrina Vincent after pursuing her on social media.

'I am embarrassed and humiliated': In December 2015, Michael began dating single mother Katrina Vincent, before dumping her weeks later

After just a few weeks of dating, they spoke about their relationship to Woman's Day, appearing together in a photo shoot with Katrina's daughter, Ava.

In the interview, Michael gushed about Katrina's beauty and claimed that he had already thought about marriage.

'I knew literally from the first date that this girl is very, very special and there was no way I was going to let her go,' he told the magazine.

The relationship was short lived, however, with Michael breaking up with Katrina just a few weeks after speaking to Woman's Day.

Katrina confirmed the split on Instagram, revealing that Michael had decided he didn't want to date someone with a child.

'I wish I didn't trust him so easily': Katrina confirmed the split on Instagram, revealing that Michael had decided he didn't want to date someone with a child

'I am embarrassed and humiliated, I wish I didn't trust him so easily. Oh well you always learn from your mistakes,' she wrote.

Michael retreated from the dating game for some months before his relationship with an student Isabella Gonsalves in March 2016.

At the time, he confirmed his romance to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'There is someone that I am spending some time with but it is only early days.'

Moving on: Michael retreated from the dating game for some months before his relationship with an student Isabella Gonsalves in March 2016

Isabelle, who is believed to be 12 years Michael's junior, also flaunted her new-found romance with several romantic Instagram snaps.

Two months later, Isabelle confirmed on Facebook that she had broken up with Michael after discovering he had 'no chill'.

'Literally no chill, it's more embarrassing for me that I dated him for so long hahaha,' she wrote in a comment.

'Get a grip Turnbull': In November 2015, Sam Frost slammed Michael for jokingly telling a TV reporter they were swapping text messages

In November 2015, Sam Frost slammed Michael for jokingly telling a TV reporter they were swapping text messages.

She told Michael to 'get a grip' after he said to a Fox Sports' Shootout host that he had been messaging her behind boyfriend Sasha Mielczarek's back.

Taking to social media, Sam wrote: 'Excuse me? Whether it's said in jest or not, suggesting I'm sneaking around my partner's back is offensive and disrespectful to both Sasha and myself.'

She concluded: 'Get a grip Turnbull.'
Kim Richards could have been first lady of the United States of America.

The 52-year-old has revealed she once dated Donald Trump.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star was quizzed by Andy Cohen during a teaser for the upcoming Reunion episode.

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Real Housewives of Pennsylvania Avenue: Kim Richards has revealed she once dated Donald Trump

Grabbed her: But she refused to say if they slept together

After initially replying with a flabbergast 'What?!' when the host asked her about the rumor, she then calmly confirmed it was true.

To collective gasps, she urged her castmates 'not to get into it'.

'I had dinner with him. I had dinner with Donald,' she conceded.

But Lisa Vanderpump wasn't about to let it slide. 'Sex? Sex or not?' she probed.

Shock: After initially replying with a flabbergast 'What?!' when the host asked her about the rumor, she then calmly confirmed it was true

Scoop: 'I had dinner with him. I had dinner with Donald,' she conceded, to Andy's amazement

'Let's just leave it at this!' the flustered mother-of-four demanded. 'I don't want to talk about the President!'

'Oh come on,' Vanderpump urged. 'Did you see him naked?'

'Kim could have been our first lady,' Cohen delightedly declared, to which Erika Girardi sweetly chimed in: 'That would have been amazing'.

Leave it out: To collective gasps, she urged her castmates 'not to get into it'

Deets! But Lisa Vanderpump wasn't about to let it slide, probing 'Sex? Sex or not?'

Support: Erika Girardi proclaimed Kim 'would have been an amazing' First Lady

Kim was married twice before: to supermarket franchise heir Monty Brinson from 1985 to 1988 - producing daughter Brooke - and to petroleum heir Gregg Davis from 1988 to 1991, which resulted in daughter Whitney and son Chad.

She was also in a long-term relationship with aircraft-parts supplier John Jackson, which resulted in youngest daughter Kimberly.

Kim was also engaged to commodities salesman John J. Collet when he was murdered by a hitman in 1991.

The second part of the Reunion continues on Bravo next Tuesday.

First: Kim was married twice before - to supermarket franchise heir Monty Brinson from 1985 to 1988 - producing daughter Brooke
Nicki Minaj is censoring herself.

The high-velocity rapper wore a sheer top on Wednesday but claimed to have blurred the non-PG bits before posting to Instagram.

The 34-year-old wrote alongside the snap, taken inside the Beverly Hills Hotel: 'Don't bother zooming in. We blurred them out'.

Nicki Minaj is censoring herself: The high-velocity rapper wore a sheer top on Wednesday but claimed to have blurred the non-PG bits before posting to Instagram

She went on to list the name brands she was wearing with a Givenchy coat, Fendi shoes, a sheer H&M top, and Vans leggings.

She also showed off her epic extensions as she took to the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The raven haired rapper flaunted her Rapunzel tresses that were styled perfectly straight as she was seen leaving the Beverly Hills Hotel.

She wore an over sized military green parka jacket with her hood up, along with a pair of black tight trousers.

Woah: Nicki showed off her epic extensions as she took to the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday

Making a statement: The raven haired rapper flaunted her Rapunzel tresses that were styled perfectly straight as she was seen leaving the Beverly Hills Hotel

The 34-year-old accessorized with a pair of bold red heels as she was seen strutting out of the hotel.

She was seen being escorted to her ride by her security team.

Minaj tried to go somewhat incognito under her hood but managed to show off her perfectly applied make-up and false lashes.

New tunes: The ebony-haired beauty has been working hard on her music and just released a song with Major Lazer called Run Up

The ebony-haired beauty has been working hard on her music and just released a song with Major Lazer called Run Up.

The video sees PartyNextDoor arriving for a shindig where every guest bar him has their eyes locked on their cells.

Whether dancing, drinking or making out - or even swimming - each reveler has a phone in their hand and is recording their antics.

Mocking pop culture: Whether dancing, drinking or making out - or even swimming - each reveler has a phone in their hand and is recording their antics

And it's no difference when Nicki joins the party via FaceTime from a flash pad on the other side of LA.

Wearing a cinched denim corset and equally tight denim daisy dukes, the rapper spits her lines into the phone, while her fellow phone-engrossed galpals film themselves dancing.

Describing her significant other's demands in a partner - as female hiphop artists are wont to do - she pus a Clinton spin on 'lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets'.
He was the movie's leading man.

But Christian Bale was overshadowed yet again by his elegant wife Sibi as they lit up the red carpet at the premiere of The Promise in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The jovial Welsh hunk was looking as jolly as ever as he showed off his stunning other half at the showpiece occasion.

Her Dark Knight in shining armour: Christian Bale showed off elegant wife Sibi at the premiere of The Promise in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Christian, 43, looked in good form in a smart all-black ensemble of suit, shirt and shiny leather TOD's shoes, though he lost a few style points for following the current tieless trend.

But it was mother-of-two Sibi, 46, who really stole the show in a figure-hugging black dress, which gave a teasing glimpse of ankle, and matching stilettos.

The couple were no doubt enjoying having some quality time away from their children, Emmaline, 12, and two-year-old son Joseph.

The Promise tells the story of a love triangle caught up in the Armenian genocide, with Christopher playing an American journalist. It has received dire reviews, and holds a 36 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While the film has misfired with the critics, the Dark Knight favourite will be hoping to do better with his latest project, in which he will play Dick Cheney in Adam McKay's upcoming biopic of the former vice president.

Who needs Tom Jones? The Welsh hunk was looking as good as ever on the red carpet

Red alert: All eyes were on the glamour couple when they posed on the carpet

The real star of the show: Christian was very much left in the shade by saucy Sibi

Bale was last week reported as being in talks to join the film that will reteam him with McKay following 2015's Oscar-nominated "The Big Short." The Oscar winner confirmed he has signed up to star in the untitled film in an interview with The Associated Press.

Christian said: 'In the same way as it was a journey of discovery with The Big Short, Adam was able to take a story that most people would go comatose listening to.

'His ability to make it startling and entertaining and intelligent without compromising anything - he's masterful at doing that.'

The film will also feature his Big Short costar Steve Carell as the former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, while Amy Adams is set to play Lynne Cheney, the former vice president's wife.

The promise is set to hit theatres around the US on April 21.

Mr Jolly: Christian was his usual cheerful self as he mingled at the thrilling event

Big night out: He left his son Joseph (pictured) and daughter Emmaline at home
She is always a star on the red carpet.

And on Wednesday, Nina Dobrev did not disappoint when she stepped out at The Promise premiere in LA.

The actress dazzled in a spaghetti strap, white and black gown, that featured a pencil skirt bottom and decorated bodice.

Glamour gal! On Wednesday, Nina Dobrev, 28, did not disappoint when she stepped out at The Promise premiere in LA

Nina accessorized with small earrings and multiple rings.

She also added a velvet clutch that coordinated perfectly with her pointed-toe pumps.

The pretty brunette styled her shoulder-length hair in a deep side part, and left her locks styled straight.

The perfect fit: The actress dazzled in a spaghetti strap, white and black gown, that featured a pencil skirt bottom and decorated bodice

Nina did not star in the drama, but came out in support of the film's stars such as Christian Bale.

The movie, also featuring Oscar Isaac, tells of a love triangle between a journalist, a medical student and a woman named Ana.

The film hits theaters on April 27.

Coordinated: Nina accessorized with small earrings and multiple rings. She also added a velvet clutch that coordinated perfectly with her pointed-toe pumps

For her part, Nina will appear in three films until 2018.

The actress will star as Hannah in Crash Pad, about a man who falls in love, unknowingly, with a married woman.

She'll also appear in Flatliners and Departures, the latter which will premiere in 2018.
They bit the bullet and agreed to delve deep into their family histories by taking part in a DNA test.

And there were certainly some surprises in store for Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger on Thursday, with the blonde star discovering that she is part Indian and admitting it makes sense as she 'seriously loves a papadum'.

In a pre-filmed clip, the affable hosts were seen at the testing centre, filling vials with their saliva - a task they took to with a healthy dose of good humour.

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Family Tree: Sonia Kruger discovered she was part Indian after taking a DNA test on Today Extra on Thursday

At one point David, sniffed the bouquet of Sonia's vial, offered: 'what are the overtones of this? Some top notes of gin?'

Before hearing her results, the 51-year-old told the tester that he may have had quite a job deciphering her fecund family tree.

'I come from a really big family on my mother's side - she was one of 17. Frankly, there are too many people to know what's going on.'

When told that she likely has 2000 cousins, the blonde host was quick to retort.

'That's why I left Queensland, I thought I might marry one'

Going into the test, Sonia was under the impression that she was English on her mother's side and German on her father's, however the results told a different story.

Sonia is, in fact, 69% British (while the average Brit is just 40%), 11% Western European, 6% Irish, with a smattering of Russian, Italian, Greek and even Indian thrown in for good measure.

'That's awesome because I seriously love a papadum - I am seriously drawn to curry,' she said.

While Sonia's ancestry is now all out in the open, viewers will have to wait until Friday's show for David's results, however he did tease that there is quite a bombshell in his family tree.

Where did I come from? In a pre-filmed clip, David annd Sonia were seen at the testing centre, filling vials with their saliva - a task they took with a healthy dose of good humour

Global: Sonia is, in fact, 69% British (while the average Brit is just 40%), 11% Western European, 6% Irish, with a smattering of Russian, Italian, Greek and even Indian thrown in

'There is something that I found out that will rock people who think they know about my family history and where we came from, but I'll have to put a pin in it until tomorrow.'

However, Sonia thought she have have already cracked the mystery.

'Oh spoiler alert - you're Jimmy Barnes' son,' she laughed.
The La Crosse Police Department is conducting an investigation of an Eau Claire police officers fatal shooting on Saturday, April 8, of a man armed with a knife.

State law says investigations of police shootings need to be done by an outside law enforcement agency.

Gregory J. Kever, 25, died in the incident on Eau Claires west side. The officer involved in the shooting was Jim Konkel, a 20-year veteran of the Eau Claire Police Department.

According to a press release by Eau Claire Police Chief Jerry Staniszewski:

Konkel and Officers Kevin Putzy and Jake Olson responded to 2214 Peters Drive on a call saying there was a man acting erratically in an apartment complexs hallways.

Banging on doors, the man asked, Why am I still alive; why am I still here?

Konkel was the first officer at the scene and saw Kever in the complexs parking lot. Kever was carrying a large knife. Another officer arrived, and Kever tried to enter that officers squad car.

Konkel and the other officers gave Kever verbal commands, but Kever did not drop the knife.

What police call "less lethal bean bag rounds" were fired at Kever, but had little effect. A Taser was then used, but was also not effective.

Kever, still with the knife, then charged at an officer, and Konkel fired his gun. Several other officers then began life saving actions on Kever, but were unsuccessful and Kever was pronounced dead at the scene.

Konkel is on administrative assignment while an investigation is being done. The investigation will be fully disclosed to the public and reviewed by citizens.

The La Crosse Police Department, the Eau Claire County Sheriffs Office, the Eau Claire Fire Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol helped the Eau Claire Police Department during the incident.
He was renowned for his action man turns in the 1980s.

But those days looked a lifetime away when Gary Busey let his gut hang out as he left a shop in Malibu on Wednesday.

There was a slight hint of the roly poly in his gait as he ambled back to his car after an outing in the California celebrity enclave.

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Belly prancer: Body confident Gary Busey let it all hang out in Malibu on Wednesday

The 72-year-old looked far from the deadly bad guy who stalked the screen in Lethal Weapon as he waddled back to his vehicle.

But the body confident star is obviously embracing his curves, for he was wearing a tight T-shirt, along with baggy jeans, trainers and a Tulsa Boys' Home windbreaker.

Gary first shot to prominence in John Milius' cult classic surf movie Big Wednesday in 1978, where he appeared with fellow future 80s icon Jan-Michael Vincent, who is best know for his turns in Airwolf.

He went on to star in a veritable smorgasbord of the best action films of the 80s and 90s, including Lethal Weapon, Point Break and Under Siege.

Icon: The 80s action star was instantly recognisable due to his distinctive features

Those trousers are Under Siege: There was a slight hint of the roly poly in his gait

The Santa clause: Gary may be getting flooded with contract offers to play Santa later this year

Airwolf whistles: Gary flaunted his toned torso alongside fellow future 80s icon Jan-Michael Vincent in 1978's cult classic surf movie Big Wednesday

But Gary's high-profile movie career is far from over.

For last year it was revealed he has been cast in the upcoming fourth installment of the comedy horror Sharknado franchise.

Syfy and The Asylum said he is playing Wilford Wexler, a scientist 'at the forefront of advances in the field of robotics'.

Sharknado 4, set five years after the US east coast was ravaged by a fish flinging funnel, is set to premiere on SyFy in July.

That thing could be a Lethal Weapon: But body-confident Gary was happy to let it all hang out

Action man driving: There was a rather large scratch on the actor's bumper

Great casting: The cerebral star is playing a scientist 'at the forefront of advances in the field of robotics' in Sharknado 4
She recently admitted she feared Mel B's husband Stephen Belafonte secretly taped their wild drunken threesome.

But Lady Victoria Hervey brushed off the drama as she hit the red carpet for The Promise premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday.

Ensuring she would turn heads on the outing, the 40-year-old socialite flaunted her figure in a sequinned black catsuit that clung to her hourglass figure.

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Moving on: Lady Victoria Hervey brushed off her drama with Mel B as she hit the red carpet for The Promise premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday

Featuring a keyhole cut-out, the garment offered a look at her surgically-enhanced bust, whilst long sleeves and trousers ensured she wouldn't flash too much flesh.

Injecting more glitz into her ensemble, she also donned a pair of glittering black ankle boots with a stiletto heel that gave her frame an extra boost.

Sweeping her golden locks away from her face in a chic chignon bun, she finished off the look with a pair of small hooped earrings and a giant rhino-shaped ring.

The Promise stars Christian Bale and takes place in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. It will be released in the US on April 21 and the UK on April 28.

All eyes on her: Ensuring she would turn heads on the outing, the 40-year-old socialite flaunted her figure in a sequinned black catsuit that clung to her hourglass figure

Lady Victoria recently hit headlines when she claimed to have enjoyed a threesome with Mel B and estranged husband Stephen Belafonte - amid their messy divorce drama.

Reports initially stated that the blonde beauty shared a passionate night with the couple, both 41, when they first married in 2007.

The British aristocrat was crushed when she discovered ex Spice Girl Mel had filed a restraining order against Stephen Belafonte claiming he had forced her to have sex with other women and had threatened to release the covert tapes.

Chest a glimpse! Featuring a keyhole cut-out, the garment offered a look at her surgically-enhanced bust, whilst long sleeves and trousers ensured she wouldn't flash too much flesh

Lady Victoria  the sister of the Marquess of Bristol and a friend of Britain's young royals  packed her bags and went into hiding after hearing the news.

'She is absolutely mortified that her sex life could become public property,' a close friend told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

'The last thing she wants is to star in a sordid sex tape or to have horrible details of her private life dragged through the divorce courts.'

Glitz and glamour: Injecting more glitz into her ensemble, she also donned a pair of glittering black ankle boots with a stiletto heel that gave her frame an extra boost

Blonde bombshell: Sweeping her golden locks away from her face in a chic chignon bun, she finished off the look with a pair of small hooped earrings and a giant rhino-shaped ring

Victoria also spoke of the former Spice Girl's suffering at the hands of Belafonte, claiming she 'couldn't leave initially leave as he controlled her finances'.

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed: 'She said he controlled all her finances and she wasn't initially strong enough to leave him.

'She said she waited until everything fell into place before she could do it and finally everything fell in to place and she knew it was time. No woman should suffer like she has, I feel terribly for her.'

Addressing the night they spent together, she explained that Mel reached out to her via Instagram, adding: 'Mel said she just doesn't know if videos exist of that night but she reassured me that they are unlikely to be coming out.'
Victoria's Secret models Romee Strijd and Jasmine Tookes seriously let their hair down in Miami on Wednesday night.

The ladies looked very sexy wearing very different styles of party clothes as they hit TAO: Beauty & Essex nightclub in Hollywood.

21-year-old Romee put her eye-popping cleavage on display as she squeezed into a high cut AYAI bodysuit.

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No wonder they are Victoria's Secret models: Busty Romee Strijd (left) joined a very leggy Jasmine Tookes (right) at TAO: Beauty & Essex nightclub in Hollywood on Wednesday

The Model Of The Year in 2015 flaunted her flat stomach in the bodycon's V-shaped cut-outs.

Pulling out all the stops on her party attire, she teamed it with striking camo cargo pants to add colour to her appearance.

The VS Angel styled a contrasting canary yellow bandana around her neck, proving an outfit is nothing without killer accessories.

Pulling out all the stops: The 21-year-old teamed the tight top with striking camo cargo pants and a yellow bandana

Killer accessories: The VS Angel styled a canary yellow necktie to contrast with her party attire

She pulled her blonde locks off her face into a messy high ponytail to tease her huge hoop earrings.

The fashion icon added sparkle and glitz to her look with glittery golden eye-shadow and pink lipstick.

The smiling Dutch native stood out from her supermodel crew as she sashayed down the sidewalk in black boots and kooky socks.

Covering up: Jasmine draped an oversized denim jacket over her shoulders for the outing

What a woman: She had a girl pal in tow as she treated the sidewalk like her very own catwalk

While Romee's outfit was rather more casual in nature, Jasmine, 30, went all out, wearing a white slip of a dress which had stars emblazoned throughout.

She teamed it with a pair of black strappy sandals which added height to her lithe frame.

Keeping out the cold, she draped an oversized jacket over her shoulders for a night of partying with her pal.

Heavenly! Earlier in the day, the girls made sure to turn heads as they stepped out earlier that day to present the winners to VS' 2017 What Is Sexy in Hollywood

Earlier that day, the girls were tasked with presenting the winners to Victoria Secret's 2017 What Is Sexy in Hollywood.

The blonde beauty flaunted her rock hard abs in a revealing cropped top while the statuesque stunner put on a leggy display in barely there leather shorts.

Romee showcased her perfectly toned torso in a sky blue bra-like top which left little to the imagination.

She teamed the revealing number with a cute jean jacket that included colorful patches throughout.

A pair of light wash denim skinnies encased the 5ft 11in supermodel's endless stems.

Her silky golden tresses cascaded in relaxed waves past her shoulders and she rounded out the sexy look with large silver hoop earrings and dainty necklace.

Toned tummy! The 21-year-old blonde beauty flaunted her rock hard abs in a sky blue bra-like top which left little to the imagination

Leggy blonde! A pair of light wash denim skinnies encased the 5ft 11in supermodel's endless stems

Great jeans! The Dutch supermodel teamed the revealing number with a cute denim jacket that included colorful patches throughout

Jasmine made sure to turn heads in black leather lace-up shorts and matching corset top.

She layered a sheer white lace duster over the eye-catching look and completed her wardrobe with a vintage jean jacket.

The Huntington Beach, California native was all smiles, just minutes from her hometown while presenting the awards.

Tied up! Jasmine, 30, made sure to turn heads in black leather lace-up shorts and matching corset top

Lovely in lace: The 5ft 9in stunner layered a sheer white lace duster over the eye-catching look

Winner! The 'Sexiest Smile' award was presented to Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, 24, who was beaming with the honor

Honored! E! host Catt Sadler, 42, took home the win for 'Sexiest Snapper'

The ladies took to social media and shared the winner's results in several playful videos and photos.

The 'Sexiest Smile' award was presented to Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, 24, who was beaming with the honor.

Next up was E! host Catt Sadler, 42, who took home the win for 'Sexiest Snapper.'

The What Is Sexy Now list is based on style, attitude and confidence - according to the premium lingerie brand's site.

Picture perfect: The ladies took to social media and shared the winner's results in several playful videos and photos
They're holidaying in the idyllic Byron Bay in Northern NSW, with Australian star Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky.

And on Tuesday, Hollywood star Matt Damon, 46, and his stunning wife Luciana Barroso, put on a rare display of PDA as they smooched at the beach.

The couple - who have been married for over a decade - were joined by their children as they embraced after what was no doubt a long day by the sea.

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Sweet: On Tuesday, Hollywood star Matt Damon, 46, and his stunning wife Luciana Barroso, put on a rare display of PDA as they smooched at the beach

Luciana wore a maroon bikini with a floaty beach dress on top, which featured a blue and lilac print.

She had her long dark locks tied up off her face and protected herself from the sun with a hat and sunglasses.

Matt meanwhile wore black board shorts and a black T-shirt, with a cap.

Family affair! The couple - who have been married for over a decade - embraced with their children around them after what was a long day by the sea

Beach babe: Luciana wore a maroon bikini with a floaty beach dress on top, which featured a blue and lilac print

In good company: They're holidaying in the idyllic Byron Bay in Northern NSW, with Australian star Chris Hemsworth (L) and his wife Elsa Pataky

The clan were seen talking to Chris and Elsa - who have a mansion on the beach in Byron Bay - and appeared in good spirits.

During the outing, Matt and Luciana's daughter Stella, six, was stung by a jellyfish and paramedics attended the scene to help.

Afterwards, the families ended their beach trip, no doubt so Stella could rest up.

Having a laugh: The clan were seen talking to Chris and Elsa (middle) - who have a mansion on the beach in Byron Bay - and appeared in good spirits

Day out: Afterwards, the families ended their beach trip, no doubt so Stella could rest up

Last year, Matt opened up about his friendship with the Thor star in an interview with Nova's Fitzy and Wippa.

'Hemsworth is a great friend of mine,' the Hollywood actor shared, before continuing: 'I'm really tight with him and his wife and the kids.'

When the radio hosts quizzed the 46-year-old on his friendship with the Thor star, Matt did not hold back, especially when it came to the comparison in their surfing abilities.

Close: Last year, Matt opened up about his friendship with the Thor star in an interview with Nova's Fitzy and Wippa

Pals: Matt said Chris and the Hemsworth brothers know how to surf, while he can't

On vacay! The two families enjoyed time at The Pass at Byron

'No, no, no,' Matt joked when asked whether he would be seen surfing alongside Chris.

'I don't want to surf with them [Chris' family], just because I'm a horrible surfer,' he shared while laughing.

'Luke can surf too,' the star added while referencing Chris and Liam's older brother, who also acts.

Friendly: Matt and Chris were seen shaking hands and smiling

Family fun: Matt has been in Australia with his family for the past week
Matt Damon's youngest daughter Stella, six, was stung by a jellyfish at Byron Bay's famous beach The Pass on Tuesday.

The Bourne Identity actor, 46, rushed to a local cafe to get ice before paramedics were called to the scene to treat her injury.

Stella reportedly screamed as she dashed from the water to the sand after the sting.

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Ouch! Matt Damon's youngest daughter Stella, six, was stung by a jellyfish at Byron Bay's famous beach The Pass on Tuesday

Helping hand: The Bourne Identity actor, 46, rushed to a local cafe to get ice before paramedics were called to the scene to treat her injury

Paramedics attended to the girl's injury as she was comforted by Matt and her mother Luciana Barroso.

Daily Mail Australia previously contacted Matt Damon's representatives for comment.

Matt and his family were also joined by Byron Bay locals Chris Hemsworth, his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children.

Painful: Stella reportedly screamed as she dashed from the water to the sand after the sting

Medical attention: Paramedics attended to the girl's injury as Stella was comforted by Matt and her mother Luciana Barroso

Celebrity friends: Matt and his family were also joined by Byron Bay locals Chris Hemsworth, his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children

Uncle Chris! The Thor actor, 33, was seen comforting Stella after the incident at the beach

Australian getaway: The Ocean's Eleven star and his family have been holidaying with the Hemsworths in northern New South Wales since Saturday

Holiday: Matt and his family have been staying at the Hemsworth's home, spending their time horse riding along the beach, and enjoying helicopter flights

The Ocean's Eleven star and his family have been holidaying with the Hemsworths in northern New South Wales since Saturday.

They've been staying at the Hemsworth's home, spending their time horse riding along the beach, and enjoying helicopter flights, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The Hollywood stars have been friends for years. Matt previously told radio show Fitzy And Wippa: 'I'm really tight with him and his wife and the kids.'

Professionals: Paramedics attended to Matt Damon's daughter away from the beach

Close: Matt Damon and his wife Luciana have been friends with the Hemsworths for years

Everything's going to be OK! After paramedics attended to Stella, Matt appeared relieved

Chris also spoke highly of Matt in an interview with GQ in 2014, claiming the Oscar-winning screenwriter is a role model.

'We became friends around the time I started to work, and I've really benefited from watching how he handles himself,' the 33-year-old said.

'Matt's just a normal guy who has the movie star thing figured out.'

Beach day: The jellyfish sting took place at The Pass, one of Byron Bay's most famous beaches

Family trip: Chris and Elsa's young children were also at the beach when Stella was stung

Tearful: Before the paramedics arrived, Matt comforted his daughter at the beach

'I'm really tight with him and his wife and the kids': Matt spoke about his friendship with Chris during an Australian radio interview last year

'I've really benefited from watching how he handles himself': Chris also spoke highly of Matt in an interview with GQ in 2014, claiming the Oscar-winning screenwriter is a role model

Mutual appreciation: Chris previously said his friend Matt is 'just a normal guy who has the movie star thing figured out'

Back home! The Hemsworth family live in Byron Bay, after relocating from Los Angeles

Leaving Hollywood behind: Chris previously spoke of his desire to settle his family in Australia

Hot couple alert! At one point, Elsa playfully kicked her husband's behind

Relationship goals! Chris and Elsa, who married in 2010, also shared a romantic moment

Good times! During the beach trip, Chris also took one of his children for a fun surfing lession

Local celebrity: Chris is a keen surfer who is known to practice his skills in Byron Bay

Just like the locals: Matt and his family have been enjoying the Australian beach lifestyle
She welcomed her first son into the world last month.

And proud mother Billie Faiers gushed over 'perfect' newborn baby Arthur as she revealed her daughter Nelly, two, has become an 'amazing big sister' as the family settle into their new life.

The former TOWIE star, 27, looked incredible as she unveiled her spring collection for In The Style while opening up about her growing brood and wedding plans in an exclusive interview with the MailOnline.

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Stunning: Former TOWIE star Billie Faiers looked incredible as she modelled her new In The Style spring collection just one month after giving birth to baby son Arthur

Billie - who raises her two adorable children with businessman fiance Greg - said: 'Nelly has taken to Arthur so well. She's an amazing big sister and won't leave Arthur's side.

'Arthur is settling in perfectly - everyone absolutely loves him.'

And while the reality star is loving being a mother, she admitted she wants to be married to Greg before they expand their brood any further.

She told MailOnline: 'I definitely want to get married first and maybe in the future. But at the moment we're really happy with two.'

'Amazing big sister': The reality star, 27, said her daughter Nelly, two, 'won't leave Arthur's side'

Mum's the word: While Billie is loving being a mother, she admitted she wants to be married to fiance Greg Shepherd before they expand their brood any further

Hot Mama: Billie's post-pregnancy figure looked svelte in a white bandeau off-the-shoulder dress as she worked her magic in front of the camera

The couple - who got engaged during their Maldives babymoon in 2014 when Billie was pregnant with Nelly - are busy planning their upcoming wedding and the big day is starting to take shape.

And the pair are planning to tie the knot in an exotic beach wedding.

She told MailOnline: 'Wedding plans are coming along well. We don't have a date yet but we'll have one set by September.

'My dream wedding would be somewhere incredible, on a beach with my family and friends there.'

Wedding planning? Billie hinted that she may even design her own wedding dress

Dream client: Billie's dream is to dress the A-list in her In The Style collection

Stylish mum: The beauty said that motherhood had not changed her Essex girl style

Sultry summer: Billie's collection is packed with tiny dresses, playsuits and strapless styles

Since welcoming little Arthur into the world, Billie has been hard at work unveiling her new spring designs for In The Style.

Showcasing her incredible figure in her collection, the TV star said she dreams the A-list will pick up her designs in the not too distant future.

Billie told MailOnline: 'Khloe Kardashian would definitely be the dream. She's got a great figure too and would really show off the styles.

'She looks absolutely amazing all the time. I'm also loving Rosie Huntington-Whiteley lately, she's very cool and chic.'

Happy couple: Billie and Greg - who got engaged during their Maldives babymoon in 2014 when Billie was pregnant with Nelly - are busy planning their upcoming wedding

Icons: Billie said reality star Khloe Kardashian, 32, (L) and supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 29, (R) are her style idols and she would love to dress them

Billie insisted that motherhood had not changed her Essex girl style.

She added: 'I think I've always stayed quite true to my style as I always loved to get glammed up and go for more fitted styles even when I've been pregnant.

'In the day I tend to go for comfier options as I'm always rushing about so need to be comfortable.'

The star even hinted that she is planning on designing her own wedding dress when she ties the knot with Greg.

'I've got my eye on some dresses I love but it would be amazing to be able to design my own,' she said.

Billie's spring collection for In The Style is on sale now
She enjoyed a brief romance with Nick Knowles last year.

Yet Gemma Oaten insisted the messy scenario, which saw the DIY SOS star allegedly break up with the actress abruptly, had put her off dating - although this seemed to be forgotten at Wednesday night's Jog On Cancer bash in London.

The 32-year-old Emmerdale star headed out of the bash while clutching hands with a mystery man and beaming, seemingly proving her dating ban was up.

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Moved on: Gemma Oaten insisted the messy scenario, which saw the DIY SOS star allegedly break up with the actress abruptly, had put her off dating - although this seemed to be forgotten at Wednesday night's Jog On Cancer bash in London

Gemma and Nick enjoyed a romance last year but the fling ended abruptly when photographs of them together appeared online and she has now revealed still hurts over the split, which has even put her off dating.

The blonde beauty, who first met Nick last September at the TV Choice Awards, appeared to shun her new attitude to dates as she walked out of the star-studded party hand in hand with the leather jacket-clad hunk.

Going for summer elegance, the stunning star wore a flirty red dress with a floral pattern and a chic frill extending across the shoulders and tumbling into a Bardot style - perfect for adding to her chic getup.

She peeled on a white leather jacket over the top while boosting her diminutive height with the addition of gold strappy sandals, which helped boost her already endless legs and also coordinate with her small clutch bag.

Who's that: The 32-year-old Emmerdale star headed out of the bash while clutching hands with a mystery man and beaming, seemingly proving her dating ban was up

Nick who? Gemma and Nick enjoyed a romance last year but the fling ended abruptly when photographs of them together appeared online and she has now revealed still hurts over the split, which has even put her off dating

Just days before, Gemma spoke to the Daily Star about her relationship with the TV star, who is 22 years her senior.

She said: 'It was weird. It was very eggy and it did put me off dating. I've been a little bit burned and now is the time for me to be a little bit selfish and look after me.'

After they met, Nick immediately whisked Gemma off for a romantic dinner after the glitzy award ceremony and they began dating, eight months after Nick's separation from wife Jessica.

Back track: Just days before, Gemma spoke to the Daily Star about her relationship with the TV star, who is 22 years her senior

Eggy: She said: 'It was weird. It was very eggy and it did put me off dating. I've been a little bit burned and now is the time for me to be a little bit selfish and look after me.

But when pictures emerged of the pair enjoying a romantic getaway in Edinburgh, the 54-year-old star abruptly broke up with Gemma.

Nick returned to his wife Jessica Knowles, 28, and supported her as she battled cervical cancer.

By January they decided to separate but remained on good terms for the sake of their son, Eddie.
She was overwhelmed after being unveiled as the first openly gay companion on time-travelling drama Doctor Who.

And Pearl Mackie, who plays the tomboyish Bill alongside current Doctor Peter Capaldi when the show returns on Saturday evening, believes its acknowledgement of gay characters is long overdue.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain as she prepares for her debut on the hugely popular BBC show, the 29-year old said: I think arguably there have been lots of gay characters on Doctor Who previously.

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About time: Pearl Mackie, who plays the tomboyish Bill alongside Peter Capaldi when Doctor Who returns on Saturday evening, believes its acknowledgement of gay characters is long overdue

The terminology, the official companion is why shes the first gay companion. Its the terminology of that thats actually the first for Doctor Who. I mean, its about time isnt it?

With a single credit on daytime soap Doctors her only notable TV work prior to being cast in the highly coveted role, Pearl admits it took time for her to adjust to her instant fame.

It has been insane, she said. That first day when I was first announced I got some friends round and then loads more people saw it, my friends were texting me, people calling, my Twitter count was going up.

I was really grateful when my phone died actually. I was like, that is too much for me to deal with right now, Im just going to put that away.

Looking ahead: Pearl was speaking to Good Morning Britain as she prepares for her debut on the hugely popular BBC show

Candid opinion: The terminology, the official companion is why shes the first gay companion. Its the terminology of that thats actually the first for Doctor Who. I mean, its about time isnt it? she said

While viewers anticipate her introduction to thew show, Pearl ruffled a few fan feathers on Wednesday by admitting admitted she didn't know the answer to a question about the infamous TARDIS.

Appearing on The One Show, the actress was asked by Angela Scanlon about what type of fuel powers the TARDIS' engine.

Clearly not expecting such a question, Pearl slickly batted off the question by saying: 'It's space engine oil None of that congestion charge or pollution either. It's all good!'

Fuel fury! Doctor Who fans are left raging with new star Pearl after she made a TARDIS gaffe on The One Show

This set tempers ranging with some viewers at home who furiously took to Twitter to correct the star on her unforgivable mistake.

'It's not space engine oil, it's actually the energy from the rift is what powers the TARDIS but whatever! [sic]' kicked off the first obsessed fan.

A second screamed into their Twitter upload: 'PEARL IT'S ARTRON ENERGY COME OOON!'

Caught off guard: Appearing on The One Show, the 29-year-old actress was asked by Angela Scanlon about what type of fuel powers the TARDIS' engine

Next question please: Clearly not expecting such a question, Pearl slickly batted off the question by saying - 'It's space engine oil None of that congestion charge or pollution either. It's all good'

An equally vocal user wrote: 'UM SCUZ ME TARDIS RUNS ON ARTRON ENERGY GAWD!'

'Every single #DoctorWho fan screams the TARDIS is powered by rift energy,' a fourth typed.

In stark contrast, another tweeter posted: 'Who are these people bitching Pearl Mackie over TARDIS fuelling! Get a life!'

Pearl's defense for not knowing the answer is a solid one: show boss Steven Moffat told her not to go back over the Doctor Who back-catalogue and not to over-familiarise herself with the show's universe in advance.

Ignorance is bliss: Pearl's defense for not knowing the answer is a solid one: show boss Steven Moffat told her not to go back over the Doctor Who back-catalogue and not to over-familiarise herself with the show's universe in advance

She can't do it all: Given it been on screen for more than 50 years and has a devoted horde of fans across the globe, it's safe to say that anybody taking on a role on Doctor Who or his sidekick has a lot to live up to

On the promo trail: Pearl has been busy teasing the new series of Doctor Who all week

'I initially planned to watch all of [Peter Capaldi's] stuff with Jenna [Coleman], so I could see what he was like as a Doctor, and they were like, "Don't watch it, because she doesn't know anything about that, and actually what you're bringing to it is a really nice kind of freshness. What you're doing is working",' she said.

Given it been on screen for more than 50 years and has a devoted horde of fans across the globe, it's safe to say that anybody taking on a role on Doctor Who or his sidekick has a lot to live up to.

And when Pearl was shortlisted for the role of Bill Potts, the actress admits that she was so nervous about the prospect of meeting star Peter Capaldi that she considered running away.

In an interview with the Radio Times, she said of her first meeting with departing star Peter: 'I rocked up in my Afro and bright yellow trainers and a baggy T-shirt, into this big glossy octagon foyer and they told me to wait in a room till they were ready for me. I almost ran away.'

In the hot seat: The actress later oversaw an Easter Egg race on the show

Runaway success: Pearl has admitted that she considered running away when she first met with Peter Capaldi ahead of taking on her new role in Doctor Who

Peter, who joined Pearl for the interview asked his new co-star: 'Did you not feel at home?,' before adding: 'I think you looked very cool there. You looked great.'

Brixton native Pearl responded: 'Well thank you. I must have been outwardly confident. But then when you and I read together and you said, "Shall we stand up?", I panicked. At TV auditions I just sit still and try not to move my face too much.'

With the new season being Peter's final round of intergalactic travels, he also spoke about his decision to leave the role that has attracted a new set of fans.

On the promotional trail: The pair recently teamed up for a photoshoot with co-star Matt Lucas

'Ive never done anything for any length of time,' he said of the role he has occupied since 2013. 'Even The Thick of It was only 20 episodes over four years.

'Ill have done 40 episodes of Doctor Who. I dont think if I stayed on Id be able to think of another way to say, "This could be the end of civilisation as we know it."

'Ive always gone from one job to the other and seen what was around the corner and I want to get back to that.'

Coming to an end: The upcoming season will vibe Peter's last turn as the popular Doctor Who

During the interview, Peter spoke with Pearl about the new level of recognition her role on the show will afford her.

'I think the biggest difference is people recognise you much more,' he told her. 'It happens almost immediately. Millions will be watching and a lot of them will be where you live or on your bus  at least, itll feel like that.'

Pearl said in response: 'Its already happening. A French guy tried to take my picture the other day. People like seeing the Doctor going for coffee.'

Linger: In his interview with the Radio Times, he said he hasn't ever occupied a role for too long

The interview took place ahead of reports Pearl will only appear on the cult show for one season and is set to leave with outgoing Time Lord Peter at Christmas.

Bosses have decided that Peter's exit offers an opportunity to recast the show and Pearl will not make the cut, according to The Sun.

The decision is believed to have been made by the BBC and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall, who replaces current showrunner Steven Moffat after this series.

A source told the paper: 'Bosses have decided to have a completely fresh start. It's yet to be formally decided but it makes sense to give Chris his own choice of actor to play the doctor and his companion.'

She was announced as the new companion back in April 2016 and has likened her appointment in the role to being 'welcomed into a family'.

The actress told the BBC: 'My Twitter follower count went from 400-and-something to 16,500 in about two hours, so that was pretty mental.

'But it's been really nice, everyone seems to be really excited. It's sort of like being welcomed into a family and all the fans have been really welcoming.'

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on Saturday April 15.
She first announced that she was expecting with ex-jailbird boyfriend Jack Malloy in January, and she has been marking the progress of her baby bump ever since.

The latest in the Chelsee Healey's string of updates came on Thursday when she stripped down to a bikini to pose for a stunning snap to share with her 181,000 Instagram followers before soaking up the sun.

Looking sensational, she stripped down to the tiny pink number paired with a pair of designer sliders as she added the playful caption: 'Mama About to get that sun'.

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Wow! The latest in the Chelsee Healey's string of pregnancy updates came on Thursday when she stripped down to a bikini to pose for a stunning snap to share with her 181,000 Instagram followers before soaking up the sun

Chelsee soared to huge fame in 2006 when she starred as Janeece Bryant on Waterloo road before departing in 2009 and later scooped the role of Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks last year.

The stunning star, who is expecting with on-off jailbird beau Jack, was proudly flaunting her growing bump as she stripped down to her bikini.

Seemingly enjoying the first hints of Spring, her hot pink two-piece made the most of her assets with the halterneck bikini top boosting her perky cleavage while the low-slung bottoms sat neatly below her rounded belly.

Dazzling adornments at the straps and hips gave a touch of bling while she gave a further designer addition with her Moschino sliders.

Hot stuff: Looking sensational, she stripped down to the tiny pink number paired with a pair of designer sliders as she added the playful caption: 'Mama About to get that sun'

Chelsee's long brunette locks fell over one shoulder in a dead straight style while she pulled a pair of mirrored sunglasses over her make-up free complexion - from which she was boasting the fabled expectant mother glow.

The Hollyoaks star split from beau and father-to-be Jack in July 2016 as she struggled to cope after he was jailed in November 2015. He was given 12 months for dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance and driving while disqualified.

However, the two lovers quickly reconciled, and although Chelsee's pregnancy wasn't planned, she and Jack are thrilled about their upcoming arrival.

Speaking to OK! magazine, Chelsee revealed: 'When I saw the test was positive I started crying, but they were happy tears. It wasnt something wed planned but now we are having a baby we couldnt be happier.'

The big reveal: Speaking to OK! magazine, Chelsee revealed: 'When I saw the test was positive I started crying, but they were happy tears. It wasnt something wed planned but now we are having a baby we couldnt be happier'

Jack, who Chelsee has been with (aside from the brief split) for three years, added: 'I can't wait to be a dad.'

Chelsee is working with Hollyoaks producers to ensure that she will be able to juggle motherhood and playing the role of Goldie McQueen, which she took on in November 2016.

A source told The Sun: 'This does not mean she will be leaving Hollyoaks. In fact, it signals a much more mature Chelsee, in a stable acting job in a long-running soap.

'Exec producer Bryan Kirkwood knew about her pregnancy very early on and plans are in place in terms of storylines and writing her in and out.'
Their band-mate Jesy Nelson has sparked break-up rumours from her beau of one month Chris Clarke, after unfollowing him on social media.

And with her nowhere to be seen, the rest of Little Mix - Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards - made the most of their day off from touring, as they headed out in New Orleans earlier this week.

Jade looked stylish as she enjoyed a romantic stroll with her beau Jed Elliott - while the other two made like the locals and took a swamp boat tour in the humid Louisiana city.

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Chilling: Jade Thirlwall, 24, enjoyed a romantic stroll with beau Jed Elliott, as she made the most of her day off from touring by heading out in New Orleans earlier this week

Jade, 24, found it difficult to part ways with her rocker beau as the strolled forth - unleashing her toned pins in a pair of tiny denim cut offs.

A black jacket was casually draped over one shoulder and she completed the look with a comfortable pair of Converse trainers.

While she spent quality time with her man in-between their tour dates, Leigh-Anne and Perrie opted for a more adrenaline-fuelled boat ride to check out the swampy terrain.

Zayn Malik's ex Perrie looked stylish in a tie-dye pink shirt as she indulged in her surroundings, while the raven-haired beauty seemed more preoccupied by something on her phone.

Day off fun: Meanwhile, Perrie indulged in her surroundings as she took part in a swamp boat ride, while Leigh-Anne was preoccupied on her phone

Fashionista: Despite the distraction, Leigh-Anne looked sensational in a halterneck style top and tiny denim shorts

Casual display: The girls looked relaxed and casual for their day off as they took in the local sights

Despite the distraction, Leigh-Anne looked sensational in a halterneck style top and tiny denim shorts.

Her locks were pulled back into a tight bun and she completed the look with a pair of cool shades.

Meanwhile, Jesy was nowhere to be seen - sending tongues wagging over her relationship status with TOWIE hunk Chris.

The songstress unfollowed the Essex lad on social media on Wednesday, and deleted all snaps and videos of him from her Instagram account in an apparent bid to cut him out of her life.

Scared of missing out: Jade and Jed later made their way onto a separate boat to embark on the swamp tour

Hard at work: The girls have been travelling across the US over the past few weeks while supporting Ariana Grande on tour

Despite the brunette beauty not confirming the news, her loyal fans appear to have taken the social media snub as a clear sign of a break-up.

The Touch chart-topper was inundated with supportive messages from her followers, who enthused, 'hope you're ok', 'please don't be sad', and 'we love you'.

Jesy and Chris had only confirmed their romance mid-March with a snap of the pair kissing, but had seemed totally besotted with one another.

They had living apart due to Little Mix supporting Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman tour in the US, but had so far managed to find time to see each other and make their long-distance love work.

Romance woes? Meanwhile, Jesy sparked break-up rumours with her beau of one month Chris Clark by unfollowing him on social media on and deleting all snaps and videos of him from her Instagram account




President Obama talked tough and acted meekly, and his policies were therefore a factor in thousands of people losing their lives, the Syrian refugee crisis, Middle East mayhem generally and U.S. leadership taking a dive worldwide, say such analysts as Robert Kagan of Brookings Institution.

Here comes President Donald Trump. He sees a horror on TV and acts decisively, and this much we can be sure of: Syrian dictator Bashar Assad will never again use internationally forbidden chemical weapons on civilians.

There are complications beyond that issue, but its nothing to sneer at, and other positives could flow from 59 U.S. Tomahawk missiles striking a Syrian airfield. It was home to the airplanes dropping nerve agents that caused the death and suffering of children. Seeing videos of the atrocities, Trump consulted with a top-notch team and made this cautionary statement heard round the world.

On the issue of the nerve gas, Obama once behaved boldly, too, but in words only. His lassitude otherwise said go ahead and do what you want. In 2012, Obama said use of these chemicals by Assad or anyone else in the region would most certainly result in enormous consequences. Dont cross that red line, he warned. But Assad did just that a year later, killing 1,500 civilians  426 children among them.

The enormous consequence turned out to be eliciting a faux promise from Syria and Russia that they would work together to destroy the chemicals. Instead, it has been noted, Russia intervened more on behalf of Assad as the WMD sat pretty. Under the umbrella of Obama naivete, a more assertive Iran signed up big time with Assad. China got more aggressive, Russia messed with Ukraine and allies wondered where we were.

Think about Obama for a moment, how he came to the White House talking about ending our wars and instead was engaged in war longer than any other president ever. His exit strategies lacked the option of victory, and destabilization became a specialty. He extended our fighting presence geographically and spent $866 billion on military action compared to $811 billion by President George W. Bush, according to Atlantic magazine.

Now we come to Trump, an isolationist in his campaign except for pledging more military strength and extermination of radical Islamic terrorism. Note as faults in this Syria strike that no broad strategy is apparent, and he acted unconstitutionally in failing to ask Congress for permission. Its still clear that he will never let Assad get away with ignoring one of the relatively few restrictions on war, but what about the dictators continuing use of massacre-style barrel bombs? Will Trump sit by while this continues to transpire, or will he maybe wipe out Assads air force?

That could be accomplished minus an all-out military effort to oust Assad, which could be a protracted calamity with no assurance of anything good at the end. What does make sense is pragmatic calculation seen in the Middle East coalition Trump is building with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Israel.

And an intermediate value of the retaliatory strike in Syria is others just maybe paying more attention to us, North Korea, for instance, and dont forget Iran.

The Obama Iran deal was the Syria deal all over again. Clearly eager to build nuclear weapons, Iran had been kept from that venture by 20 years of threats from U.S. presidents. Leaders there then said they would hold off for another decade if we agreed to return billions of dollars plus other treats. As with Syria, there are multiple means by which Iran could evade detection in its transgressions, and reinstituting international sanctions could be nearly impossible until too late.

Obama visited us with heightened peril, and Trump has taken one small step in a better direction. Iran, North Korea and Russia are indulging in bellicose barking, but at least Obama is no longer empowered to make things worse.
It is a drug that makes users appear like zombies, rooted to the spot, bent over and swaying from side to side.

And now it looks like Spice, a synthetic cannabis, might have made it on to Coronation Street as character Gina Seddon was spotted slumped under a tree looking worse for wear during filming on Wednesday.

The character, played by actress Connie Hyde, can be seen lying on the grass, her arms folded across her chest as she appeared to doze away.

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Hard-hitting: It is believed that Coronation Street character Gina Seddon has become addicted to new street drug Spice which is a synthetic cannabis and turns users into 'zombies'

Tim Metcalfe, played by Joe Duttine, is driving his taxi when he spots his sister-in-law in the intoxicated state.

Gina is returning to the soap after a long absence.

The character was last seen on the cobbles in 1989 and left Weatherfield to marry a long-distance lorry driver.

Her return will be dramatic as it is suspected she will be unveiled as her sister Sally Metcalfe's vile online troll.

Out of it: Gina is returning to the soap after decades away, leaving Weatherfield in 1989 to marry a long-distance lorry driver

Troll: Fans are certain that Gina, who is Sally Metcalfe's sister, is in fact the troll who has been hounding Sally and even convinced her that her breast cancer had returned

Sally has endured terrifying abuse at the hands of her troll, even receiving a sick present of a dead heart from the stalker.

Fans have become convinced that Sally's troll is, in fact, her sister.

One fan tweeted: 'Changed my mind. It's Sally's sister Gina who is the troll.'

But according to new shocks from filming, the story is going to have another twist as Gina appears to be in the grip of an addiction to Spice.

The new drug has caused great concern as the UK appears to be on the brink of an epidemic.

Between takes: Actress Connie Hyde was spotting having a cigarette break as she filmed the hard-hitting scenes on Wednesday

Topical: Police in Manchester revealed they had received more than 58 calls about the drug in just three days

Terrifying: The drug triggers psychotic episodes, horrifying hallucinations and seizures

Difficulty: The withdrawal effects are believed to be even worse than coming off heroin

Greater Manchester Police revealed there had been 58 Spice related calls in less than three days over the weekend and on Wednesday, five students from Lancaster University were rushed to hospital after taking the drug.

Three have been discharged, but two remain in hospital.

The drug triggers psychotic episodes, horrifying hallucinations and seizures. The withdrawal effects are believed to be even worse than coming off heroin.

It would not be the first time Coronation Street has tackled a hard-hitting topical issue.

The soap's Bethany Platt sex ring story touches on the dangers of online grooming.

The controversial storyline has won praise from viewers for shedding light on a difficult topic.

Disorientated: Gina appears to be disorientated as her brother-in-law Tim Metcalfe picks her up

Frenetic: A minute later she is giggling manically as the drug takes hold

Shocking discovery: Tim Metcalfe spots her slumped in the grass




She's the New Zealand model currently expecting her first child.

And Nikki Phillips, 33, has plenty to celebrate this Easter long weekend, taking to Instagram to show off her growing baby bump at 26 weeks.

The cute snap comes after the blonde beauty confessed she was struggling to pick out a name for a boy.

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'Smuggling my very own Easter egg this year!' Nikki Phillips shows off 26 week baby bump after revealing her struggle to pick out a boy's name

The photo shared with Nikki's 76,000 Instagram followers shows the model posing demurely next to a tiled wall.

Smiling at the ground, Nikki shows off her pregnancy belly in a form-fitting striped dress.

'Smuggling my very own Easter egg this year! Time is flying by, already #26weeks and into my final trimester,' Nikki captioned the photo.

'Can't wait to meet our little kung fu master': YThe mum to be also joked about her tot's belly acrobatics

'Can't wait to meet our little kung fu master. Happy Easter Everyone, if you have any unwanted chocolate... send it my way.'

The holiday-themed snap comes after Nikki revealed she was expecting a boy, but was struggling with the unborn child's sex.

The blogger told The Daily Telegraph last week that her and husband, musician Dane Rumble, were finding it difficult to come up with male names.

Hard to name: The holiday-themed snap comes after Nikki revealed she was expecting a boy, but was struggling with the unborn child's sex

'We had a girls name 100 per cent picked  we didnt fight about it we both agreed and said thats amazing. And then we found out it was a boy and were really struggling [with names],' Nikki said.

'We have two we really like but we will come up with a shortlist of five, as we have to meet him before we decide.'

The child is the first for Nikki and Dane, who married in Bali in 2014 after getting engaged two years prior.
Cheryl Maitland has certainly been enjoying her 15 minutes of fame since appearing on Married At First Sight earlier this year.

The Gold Coast socialite, 25, has enjoyed a 'mutually beneficial' holiday in NSW in exchange for promoting her accommodation on Instagram.

The former topless waitress is even fulfilling the reality TV cliche of advertising protein shakes wearing activewear on social media.

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Freebies! Cheryl Maitland has been enjoying her 15 minutes of fame since Married At First Sight, spruiking products on Instagram and even landing 'mutually beneficial' holidays

But on Thursday morning, Cheryl sparked rumours of yet another 'freebie' by revealing she is travelling to Los Angeles for a holiday.

Taking to Instagram, Cheryl shared a photo of a plane ticket from Brisbane Airport to LAX. The departure time was 10:05am.

In the picture, she included a graphic of a woman relaxing at the beach next to the word 'Vacation' written in sand.

It remains to be seen if Cheryl is simply taking a well-earned break or will be promoting products or venues during her California trip.

Business trip? And on Thursday morning, the 25-year-old former topless waitress sparked rumours of yet another 'freebie' by revealing she is travelling to Los Angeles for a holiday

Meanwhile, Cheryl's pursuit of TV fame has already paid off as the Queensland salon worker is busy selling advertising space on Instagram.

Earlier this week, she promoted a LUXE Fitness protein powder while posing in busty gym clothes in a sponsored social media post.

However, some Married At First Sight were unimpressed, with one asking: 'How much are they paying you to push this crap?'

'How much are they paying you to push this crap?' Earlier this week, Cheryl promoted a LUXE Fitness protein powder while posing in busty gym clothes in a sponsored social media post

Perks? Cheryl's recent 'holiday' with her boyfriend, convicted drug trafficker and disgraced former policeman Dean Gibbs (right), was actually a 'mutually beneficial' arrangement

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed Cheryl's recent 'holiday' with her boyfriend, convicted drug trafficker and disgraced former policeman Dean Gibbs, was actually a 'mutually beneficial' arrangement.

Accommodation at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat in NSW typically costs up to $715, but a spokesperson revealed they had struck a deal with Cheryl in exchange for her 'documenting the stay on social media'.

The representative claimed the deal made with Cheryl and Dean was not unusual, adding: 'We are approached by an number of notable identities, we work things out on a case-by-case basis.'
Twitter went wild when Trinny Woodall went braless on This Morning on Thursday to present a fashion segment alongside her lookalike daughter Lyla.

The 53-year-old revealed a little too-much in an ill-fitting striped and belted shirt dress from high-street store Zara which showed off her lack of lingerie.

The appearance came as her daughter, 13, admitted she finds is 'embarrassing' that her mother is on television.

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'Think she needs a bra': Trinny Woodall, 53, sent Twitter wild as she revealed too much on This Morning on Thursday (pictured with her 13-year-old daughter Lyla)

Awkward: The appearance came as her daughter Lyla, 13, admitted she finds is 'embarrassing' that her mother is on television

Trinny had a double shocker as she kept accidentally calling host Ruth Langsford 'Rita' during the show.

Social media users really went to town on Trinny's choice of attire.

Viewers wrote: '#trinny woodhall certainly was cold on #thismorning today #nipples.' [sic].

Nip slip: The 53-year-old revealed a little too-much in an ill-fitting striped and belted shirt dress from high-street store Zara which showed off her lack of lingerie

Complementing one another: The ladies were wearing matching ensembles on the show for a playful fashion segment

Stylist: Trinny styled her dress with cropped flared trousers worn underneath and silver trainers

That's not her name: Trinny had a double shocker as she kept accidentally calling host Ruth Langsford 'Rita' during the show

'Ohh my god Trinny! You need a bra in that top! Can see your side boob through your buttons! @thismorning @trinnywoodall #toomuchonshow.'

'Omg today's episode of @thismorning is the best episode ever!! @trinnywoodall had a peekaboo moment & @EamonnHolmes with this tanned girl.'

'Can someone please tell Trinny to sort her top out @thismorning #boobexposure #ThisMorning.'

'Think trinny needs a bra!!'

Something to say: Twitter went wild for Trinny's choice of attire and her daughter's appearance on the show

Other people wrote about Trinny's daughter, saying they shouldn't dress like one another, despite it being for a fun segment.

They wrote: '@trinnywoodall daughter saying it's a bit embarrassing about her mum being on telly.'

'Trinny wearing the same as her daughter... hmm please don't! And a bit nippy eh?!'

'Dear trinny.....no! Don't get them wearing same clothes it's odd! #ThisMorning.'

Doing her own thing: Two days ago, Trinny explained why she doesn't like to wear a bra when she appeared on television show, Lorraine

Two days ago, Trinny explained why she doesn't like to wear a bra when she appeared on television show, Lorraine.

She explained: 'I havent got any boob so I can wear things that wouldn't work on a curvier woman.'

She added: 'I can't wear a dress, I suit separates. Its about finding things that suit your body. I think its about knowing your body shape, its a principle me and Susanna always had.

'Its about getting the confidence to try something and getting that reaction of "that was better than I thought"'.

However, the TV stylist recently gave her 10,000 followers more than they bargained for after inadvertently flashing her breasts twice during a video blog.

Falling foul to the live nature of the clip - which was filmed in the bathroom of her London home - Trinny seemed oblivious to the flashing.
His 2012 eponymous reality show, Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights, was sadly cancelled after just five episodes due to poor ratings.

Yet Mark Wright put any bad omens of his ITV flop behind him as he headed out in Los Angeles on Tuesday where he peeled off his shirt while chatting to a pal.

The 31-year-old former TOWIE star is said to be taking another stab at US super stardom as he was spotted meeting with top Hollywood executive Rick Royce while persisting in his prolonged attempt to establish himself stateside.

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Hunky! Mark Wright put any bad omens of his defunct ITV2 eponymous reality show behind him as he headed out in Los Angeles on Tuesday where he peeled off his shirt while chatting to a pal

Mark has just jetted from a romantic trip to Paris with his wife Michelle Keegan to his sun-drenched break to LA and he certainly seemed in holiday mode - proving exactly why he is something of a heartthrob in his native UK.

She strode along in just a pair of gym shorts with some funky and no-doubt designer trainers while looking enviably handsome in his gym shorts.

Mark and Michelle have made no secret of their desperation to crack America as they previously revealed they had attended meetings with producers.

In 2015, he said: 'Ive loved being in LA, its amazing and its been exciting having meetings about working here. Ive met with top networks like E, CBS and NBC.

Wowzers: The 31-year-old former TOWIE star is said to be taking another stab at US super stardom as he was spotted meeting with top Hollywood executive Rick Royce as he persists in his prolonged attempt to establish himself stateside

Way back when: Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights, was sadly cancelled after just five episodes due to poor ratings

Honest officer... it'll be a hit! Mark and his pals got in a number of scrape and hilarious incidents throughout their time on the programme

Handsome: She strode along in just a pair of gym shorts with some funky and no-doubt designer trainers while looking enviably handsome in his gym shorts

'I have a manager over here too, John Ferriter. He has represented stars like Ryan Seacrest and Jimmy Kimmel, who have had amazing careers, so I know Im in good hands. Michelle has also been meeting with top acting agents while here as well. It has been a brilliant trip.

In 2012, as rating plummeted on Mark Wright's Holiday Nights was claimed they would be looking for a new format after it was panned by critics - although the plans never came off.

ITV2 boss Angela Jain told The Sun at the time: 'The first couple of episodes, I didn't know what I was watching. We love Mark Wright and will carry on working with him but there was never going to be another series of Hollywood Nights'.

Strutting his stuff: ITV2 boss Angela Jain told The Sun at the time: 'The first couple of episodes, I didn't know what I was watching. We love Mark Wright and will carry on working with him but there was never going to be another series of Hollywood Nights'

Mark took to Twitter to defend himself and his show and claimed it was always part of the plan to take the format to foreign lands.

He said: 'How can press say a show has been dropped I.e #MWHN & 3 lines down write we r planning on doing it in other citys ! This was always the plan.

'I.e mark wrights Bangkok nights, or new york nights any way another day another story I suppose they have 2 say something #twistpeopleswords'.
Erin Molan announced last week she was engaged to policeman Sean Ogilvy.

And on Thursday, the TV personality addressed the public attention surrounding her '$100,000' diamond ring.

On The NRL Footy Show, co-host Paul Vautin told Erin: 'I've got to say, your ring got a lot of attention.'

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'It's not about the ring. It's about the love': On Thursday's The NRL Footy Show Erin Molan addressed the public attention surrounding her $100,000 diamond ring

Erin, 33, replied: 'It has. It's not about the ring. It's about the love. You know that.'

The Channel Nine star revealed on Instagram last Thursday 'the love of (her) life' had proposed.

She shared a photo of her large diamond ring, before proudly showing it off on The Footy Show.

Wedding bells! The TV personality, 33, announced last week she was engaged to policeman Sean Ogilvy. Pictured in March 2016

House of K'dor later confirmed Erin's 2.2 carat engagement ring cost around $100,000.

Her fiance Sean, 41, saved for six months to afford the ring, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Last Friday, Erin told Jonesy & Amanda: 'He's done so well. I seriously can't stop looking at it.'

'He's done so well. I seriously can't stop looking at it': Erin recently told Jonesy & Amanda she was delighted with her engagement ring

Erin and Sean debuted their romance in March 2016. At the time, she told Daily Mail Australia: 'We are very much in love.'

She continued: 'I think it's for life. He is a good boy, so we will see.'

In September, Erin revealed her desire to start a family, telling TV Week: 'I definitely want to be a mum. I can't wait.'
She's the self-described 'spiritual goddess' who rubs her co-stars up the wrong way on the Real Housewives Of Sydney.

And budding artist Athena X Levendi has lifted the lid on her mystical past, telling The Daily Telegraph this week that she can recall over 100 past lives, including one where she was a Japanese man.

The fashionista also revealed that the sudden death of her mother three years ago saw her discard her designer garb and live as a 'modern-day monk' for a spell.

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'I was once a Japanese man': Athena X Levendi reveals she has over 100 past lives and was a 'modern-day monk' after the sudden death of her mother

Athena described in detail her past lives lived, telling the publication: 'I once was a Japanese man.'

He was a hard man who was mean to his wife and sons and would leave them for weeks at a time, she recalled.

But tragedy struck when during one trip away his home was hit by an earthquake and his loved ones were killed, causing him to become a monk.

Diverse: Athena told News Corp Australia other past lives included a Dutch woman whose son drowned in a lake and a wheelchair-bound French girl

Athena told News Corp Australia other past lives included a Dutch woman whose son drowned in a lake and a wheelchair-bound French girl.

She has learnt about her previous lives by undergoing hypnotism to see her other lifetimes.

While known for her eccentric fashion style and love of expensive designer labels, the sudden death of her mother three years ago caused a temporary shift.

Insightful: She has learnt about her previous lives by undergoing hypnotism to see her other lifetimes

'I threw out all of my designer clothes and gave away all my designer handbags. I chopped off all my hair and wore a little shift dress everywhere,' Athena said. 'I was like a modern-day monk.'

Athena, who in episodes of RHOS has repeatedly rubbed her co-stars up the wrong way with statements like '(my husband) and I never have sex  we only make love', also opened up about her abusive childhood at the hands of her father.

During a confrontation on a previous episode, the socialite tearfully told her co-stars how she 'got dragged out of a car by your ponytail, then pulled into a shower and had your ponytail cut off, then sent to school, and then had the bullies pick on you too!'
Spanish actress Elsa Pataky is looking to raise her profile in Australia - and be known as more than Chris Hemsworth's wife.

The Fate Of The Furious star, 40, lives in Byron Bay with her husband and three children, after they relocated from Los Angeles.

'We live in Australia and I want to do things here and start working and for people to know me a little bit more than as Chris' wife,' she told Stellar.

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'I want to do things here and start working': Spanish actress Elsa Pataky is looking to raise her profile in Australia - and be known as more than Chris Hemsworth's wife

In the interview, which is published on Sunday, Elsa also talks about what it's like being married to a Hollywood sex symbol.

'It is funny. He's like, "I'm the Sexiest Man Alive" and I'm like, "I was the sexiest in Spain for years! You have just one".'

Last year, Chris spoke to Modern Luxury about his decision to move his family from Hollywood to coastal New South Wales.

Down Under: The Fate Of The Furious star, 40, lives in Byron Bay with her husband and three children, after they relocated from Los Angeles

'I love what I do as an actor, but when you are surrounded by it constantly, it becomes a bit suffocating,' he said.

'It's nice to have conversations with people and be a part of a community that doesnt live and breathe that world.

'We were living shoulder to shoulder in the suburbs and thought that's not how we want our kids to grow up. Moving to a kind of farm setup back here on the coast in Australia has been the best thing.'

'It has been the best thing': Last year, Chris spoke to Modern Luxury about his decision to move his family from Hollywood to coastal New South Wales

Chris and his family reportedly splashed out on a $7.2 million property in Byron Bay in September 2014.

Chris previously told Daily Mail Australia: 'I definitely want the kids to grow up (in Australia) and spend time here.

'We were in California a lot I missed it here and my wife missed it too so that was our goal to get back here.'
Since its launch 70 years ago, the Cannes Film Festival has been one of the most controversial industry events in the world.

From red carpet protests to accusations of blasphemy, the movies which debut at the festival are made to shock and surprise critics.

But as the line-up was released on Thursday, Cannes 2017 looks set to be the most politically charged festival yet.

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Making a statement: The 2017 Cannes Film Festival looks set to be one of the most politically charges in its 70 year history following the announcement of the line-up on Thursday

Among the projects competing for the top prize, the coveted Palme dOr, are Tilda Swinton's new Netflix-funded fantasy Okja, which director Thierry Fremaux describes as 'a very political movie' that focuses on how 'we exploit animals'.

Also up for the gong are Robin Campillos 120 Battements par Minute, about Aids, and Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo's Jupiter's Moon, which tackles the horrors of the ongoing refugee crisis.

Out of competition entrants also broach the issue - political activist Vanessa Regdrave's directorial debut Sea Sorrow, which stars Emma Thompson and Ralph Fiennes and looks at those displaced in European wars over the last century, will also be shown.

Meanwhile, former Presidential hopeful Al Gore will screen his latest documentary An Inconvenient Sequel, a sequel to his climate change project An Inconvenient Truth.

The 2017 line-up's theme societal themes have not gone unnoticed by Cannes president Pierre Lescure, who quips that he simply hopes the increase in tension between East and West following strikes in Syria and the reported progress of nuclear weaponry in North Korea will not overshadow the festival.

Wild line-up: Among the projects competing for the top prize, the coveted Palme dOr, are Tilda Swinton's new Netflix-funded fantasy Okja, which director Thierry Fremaux as 'a very political movie' which focuses on how 'we exploit animals'

New direction: Out of competition entrants also broach the issue - political activist Vanessa Regdrave's directorial debut Sea Sorrow, which stars Emma Thompson and Ralph Fiennes

Shock: The project looks at those displaced in European wars over the last century, will also be shown

Politician: Meanwhile, former Presidential hopeful Al Gore will screen his latest documentary An Inconvenient Sequel, a sequel to his climate change project An Inconvenient Truth

He says: 'Since we have a new surprise every day from Donald Trump, I hope Syria and North Korea will not cause a shadow on the festival.'

Of course, the red carpet will still be littered by A-list stars; Nicole Kidman has no less than four films on show at the festival, while Colin Farrell and Kristen Dunst will be there to promote Sofia Coppola's latest offering The Beguiled.

It was Dunst's film with Lars von Trier, Melancholia, which caused one of the biggest furores in the event's recent history.

In 2011, while promoting the movie alongside his leading lady, the Danish filmmaker appeared to empathise with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Glamour: The red carpet will still be littered by A-list stars; Nicole Kidman (left) has no less than four films on show at the festival, while Kristen Dunst (right) will be there to promote Sofia Coppola's latest offering The Beguiled

He said: 'I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. I think I understand the man.'

He was subsequently banned from the festival despite several grovelling apologies and faced charges for inciting war crimes.

In 2014, a host of stars including Salma Hayek, Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas held up placards saying 'Bring back our girls' on the red carpet to draw attention to the kidnapping of 250 Nigerian girls by Islamist group Boko Haram.

That same year, Shia LeBeouf made a bizarre stand against fame - despite promoting his film Nymphomaniac - by wearing a paper bag on his head emblazoned with the words 'I'm Not Famous Anymore'.

At the 1968 festival, French film legends Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard led a solidarity protest for the student's revolting in France by swinging from the curtain polls as films were being screened. Things got so heated that Godard punched actress Geraldine Chaplin, despite her joining in the protest.
Caitlyn Jenner thinks Ellen DeGeneres 'alienated' her from the LGBTQ community.

The 67-year-old American television personality, who was pictured out in Malibu on Thursday, appeared on the talk show host's popular show in 2015 after transitioning.

She admitted to Ellen that she had been hesitant to accept gay marriage in the past, prompting the blonde star to describe her guest's views as 'confusing' in a later interview with radio presenter Howard Stern.

In her memoir, The Secrets of My Life, which has been obtained by Radar Online, Caitlyn says Ellen, 59, asked in a 'friendly voice' to discuss how her views on marriage equality has 'progressed over the years.'

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'Alienated': Caitlyn Jenner, pictured in Malibu on Thursday, has called out Ellen DeGeneres in her new memoir, The Secrets Of My Life

Blame: The 67-year-old accuses the talk show host of taking her stance on gay marriage out of context

Caitlyn wrote: 'I believed, as anyone would, that that was exactly what she wanted to talk about my progression in terms of changing attitude over the years.

'I am for it. I did not initially understand why marriage was so important, influenced no doubt by my own personal experience. Now I do, and it's a wonderful thing to see.'

'This discussion further alienated me from members of the LGBTQ community. Ellen's appearance on The Howard Stern Show, where in my mind she even more emphatically took what I said out of context, made it go viral.'

Start of it all: The 67-year-old reality star previously spoke on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September of 2015 about gay marriage

The I Am Cait star - who has six children and has been married three times in the past - had admitted during her interview with Ellen that she was a 'traditionalist' who never used to approve of same-sex marriage, but her attitude had changed in recent years.

She said: 'I have to admit that I remember 15 years ago, 20 years ago, whenever it was that the whole gay marriage issue came up, I was not for it.

'I am a traditionalist. I mean, I'm older than most people in the audience. I like tradition and it's always been between a man and a woman and I'm thinking I don't' quite get it.

'But as time goes on, like a lot of people on this issue I've really changed thinking here, to I don't ever want to stand in front of anybody's happiness.'

She added: 'That's not my job. OK. If that word marriage is really, really that important to you I can go with it.'

When Ellen then accused her of being 'still a little not on board' with the idea, Caitlyn replied: 'No I'm on board. It's going to be pretty much the law of the land. So I still feel like yeah, I'm OK with it. I don't want to stand in front of somebody's happiness.'

DeGeneres later discussesd Caitlyn's comments in a radio interview.

'She still has a judgment about gay marriage,' DeGeneres told Howard Stern.

'I said, "You're wanting people to understand and accept you, this is like really confusing to people. And you want us to understand, and that you still have a judgment about gay people and marriage."
Court Dismisses Fairfax County LGBT Case

Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit



RICHMOND, Va., April 13, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Virginia Supreme Court issued its opinion today in Lafferty v. Fairfax, the challenge to the Fairfax County School Board's unlawful action of adding "sexual orientation," "gender identity," and "gender expression" to its policy and student handbook.

The Court affirmed the circuit court's decision dismissing the case and held that none of the plaintiffs had sufficient legal standing to challenge the unlawful policy. The Court stated that: (1) Jack Doe's alleged injury was too speculative because he had not been punished under the policy; (2) that John and Jane Doe do not have next friend standing for the same reasons Jack Doe has no standing; and (3) none of the plaintiffs qualify for taxpayer standing.

Liberty Counsel represents Jake Doe, a minor, John and Jane, the parents and Andrea Lafferty. This is one of several cases around the country. After consulting with clients, the case may be refiled based on new developments that occurred since the original suit. Virginia follows the "Dillon Rule," which requires local nondiscrimination laws to not be more stringent than the state law. State law does not include "sexual orientation," "gender identity," or "gender expression." Neither the circuit court nor the Supreme Court reached a decision concerning the merits of this policy, and neither issued any opinion on the ability of the local school board to enact such policies that are plainly inconsistent with state law.

"While the Fairfax Country School Board temporarily dodged the issue, new developments in the application of this unlawful policy may result in a new suit. There is no doubt the school board intends to enforce this policy," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Liberty Counsel is not finished fighting for the safety of Jack Doe and public school students in Fairfax County. We are exploring all possible avenues to further challenge these policies and are confident that we will prevail when the courts reach the merits of these challenges," said Staver.



Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
She balances a PR career with raising two children as a 'single mum'.

And Roxy Jacenko, 36, is quite happy for her young children to follow in her busy footsteps.

The Sweaty Betty PR founder let her son Hunter Curtis, two, drink a piccolo latte during Thursday's coffee run.

'Likes a piccolo just like his mum': Roxy Jacenko shared an Instagram photo of her son Hunter Curtis, two, drinking a piccolo latte during Thursday's coffee run

The photo was posted in the mid-afternoon, which suggests Roxy had brought her toddler son along to work.

She captioned the playful snap: 'Likes a piccolo just like his mum'.

It is unclear if Hunter actually drank coffee or a more kid-friendly beverage, such as a a 'babycchino'.

Busy schedule: Since her husband Oliver Curtis was jailed for insider trading last year, the Sydney publicist has described herself as a 'single mum'

Since her husband Oliver Curtis was jailed for insider trading last year, Roxy has described herself as a 'single mum'.

She has even been known to 'hire' Sweaty Betty publicist Gemma Oldfield as a nanny for Hunter and daughter Pixie, five.

Oliver is expected to be released from Cooma Correctional Centre in June after serving a year in prison.

Release date: Oliver is expected to be released from Cooma Correctional Centre in June after serving a year in prison. Roxy has told her children their father is on a business trip to China

Hunter has visited his father several times, but Roxy has decided not to allow Pixie to see Oliver behind bars.

Both children have been told their father is on a business trip to China.

This week, Roxy told the Wentworth Courier she will be at the prison gates with her children to greet Oliver when he is released in two months.
Billie Lourd paid tribute to her late mother Carrie Fisher at a Star Wars event on Thursday.

It's the first public appearance for the 24-year-old actress following Fisher's sudden death, aged 60, last year.

Billie arrived to the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando in a custom white Tom Ford dress paying homage to Fisher's iconic Princess Leia.

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The force is with her: Billie Lourd made her first public appearance following the death of her mother Carrie Fisher last year at the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando on Thursday

Billie took to the podium to speak about her mother during the event, which was live-streamed, calling her a 'strong soldier of a woman'.

'My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began,' Lourd said onstage.

'She was imperfect in many ways but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect.

Paying tribute: She wore a Princess Leia-inspired number at the gala

Wonder in white: She wore a white dress with flowy sleeves

Vogue: The daughter of Carrie Fisher looked absolutely stunning

'My mom, like Leia, wasnt ever afraid to speak her mind and say things that might have made most people uncomfortable, but not me and not you. That was why she loved you, because you accepted and embraced all of her.'

The actress also reflected on her mother's legacy, saying: 'She taught me that if life isnt funny then its just true, and that is unacceptable,'

She added: 'She taught me by her own example, that the most evolved person is seemingly a contradiction  they are both the strongest and the most vulnerable person in the room. And that was her. That is Leia.'

In a galaxy not so far away: She addressed the crowd at the panel

Leggy lady: She completed the look with a pair of strappy white stilettos

Feeling the force? She posed her arms fully extended and her eyes closed

One with the force: Her blonde locks were worn down flowing over her shoulders

All smiles: She grinned from ear-to-ear during the panel

Aww: Iconic snaps of the late Fisher were flashed on the screen behind Billie as she spoke

Good guys: She was flanked by Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford in a cute social media post

Billie also remembered her mother as someone who 'often openly fought her own dark side, knowing early on that we all have a dark side to fight, whatever it may be.

'But she knew that it wasn't about the fight you were fighting but how you fought it - the way you resisted.

After Billie's moving speech, a tribute video played featuring clips of Fisher from the Star Wars films, behind the scenes production footage and snippets from interviews over the years.

'She was imperfect in many ways but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect' the 24-year-old actress paid tribute to the late icon

'My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began,' Billie said

Billie wore a Tom Ford creation that paid homage to Fisher's Princess Leia costume (pictured in 1977)

Legend: A tribute to the actress was also shown at the event which was live-streamed from Orlando on Thursday

Co-stars: The montage of clips included behind the scenes footage like this of Carrie with Billie on set

Won't be forgotten: Fisher is seen with Daisy Ridley on the set of The Force Awakens

'Feeling the force': Billie shared this snap to Instagram to mark the event

Creator George Lucas also paid tribute to Fisher during the event.

'She really is a modern woman. She was a princess. She was a senator. She was having to hold her own against these two big lugs,' the 72-year-old filmmaker said, referring to Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, who also made a surprise appearance.

Lucas took to the stage for the 40 Year of Star Wars panel in front of hundreds of fans joined by Hamill, Ford, Warwick Davis (acting as moderator), Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams and Peter Mayhew.

Creator George Lucas also took the stage for the 40 Year of Star Wars panel in front of hundreds of fans. He is pictured alongside Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy

Some of the Star Wars actors such as Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford joined the discussion with Lucas

Pictured L-R: Mark Hamill, George Lucas, Warwick Davis, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams and Peter Mayhew

Billie made her feature-film debut alongside her mother in Star Wars: The Force Awakens playing Lieutenant Connix.

Shell be reprising her role in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi sequel.

Fisher died on December 27, four days after going into cardiac arrest on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Fisher's mother Debbie Reynolds died a day later, aged, 84, following a stroke.

Gone too soon: Fisher passed away aged 60 on December 27 after suffering a cardiac arrest and her mother Debbie Reynolds (pictured center in 2015) died aged 84 the following day

As a tribute, they showed a five-minute video with behind-the-scenes footage from her days as Princess Leia.

It also showed past interviews and remembrances from her co-stars.

Fans at the 40th-anniversary panel also received an exclusive Fisher remembrance poster
Kim Kardashian can't help but fawn over her darling daughter.

Sharing a selfie of her and her little lady North West, the 36-year-old starlet gushed about the three-year-old fashionista, captioning the shot 'My cutie!'

In the sweet mother-daughter picture, Kim can be seen rocking her iconic raven locks while hugging little North, who looks stylish in a pint-sized choker and leopard print frock.

Cutie pie! Kim Kardashian shared a lovely snapshot of herself and daughter North West on Thursday, which she captioned 'my cutie!'

The mother-daughter duo looked over the moon to be together in the social media snapshot, both baring beautiful, authentic smiles.

Little North flashes a grin that reveals several missing teeth while holding her mom, whose bronze skin looks radiant as she smiles lovingly at her little one.

The ever-glamorous Calabasas girl shows off a sleek center part and perfect pout while embracing her daughter and captioning the image 'my cutie!'

Kim's night out: On Wednesday, the 36-year-old starlet enjoyed a night out with her sister Kourtney. Kim stunned in a form fitting gold gown at the premiere of The Promise

It was a week of family bonding for Kim and her kin.

On Wednesday, the social media sensation and sister Kourtney enjoyed a night on the town without their kids.

The dynamic duo stole the show at the premiere of The Promise in Los Angeles where Kim wowed in body hugging gold courtesy of vintage Versace while Kourtney opted for a sexy take on a tuxedo.

Sexy suit: Kourtney put a sexy spin on masculine duds by ditching her shirt from under a well tailored suit at the LA premiere

The latest season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians documents some of the family's toughest moments from their dramatic 2016.

Last week's episode showed Kim making her first steps back in the spotlight after her September robbery in Paris -- all before the star is shocked with news of husband Kayne West's mental breakdown.

A preview for Sunday's show reveals the starlet rushing home to be at her husband's side.

Keeping Up With Kardashian's airs Sunday at 9pm on E!
It's potentially one of the most anticipated television returns of the year.

And Channel 4 have finally teased an official image of the brand new line up for The Great British Bake Off, following their deal last summer to buy the show from the BBC.

Paul Hollywood, 51, who is the only returning member of the Bake Off's BBC series, stands proudly with a cherry-topped cupcake next to his trio of new sidekicks in the promotional shot.

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It's had a Bake Over! Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding and Prue Leith cosy up in FIRST official photo from Channel 4's new GBBO (and has the tent been relocated to a forest?)

Paul's new fellow judge Prue Leith, 77, beams in the image as she too brandishes a baked treat, wearing a bright yellow blazer and a pair of square specs.

And the show's new hosts Sandi Toksvig, 58, and Noel Fielding, 43, stand in the middle, grinning from ear-to-ear, Noel fully in the spirit of things wearing a sweater with a large strawberry displayed on the chest.

In front of the new quartet an array of buns, cakes, pies and breads are displayed, in traditional Bake Off style.

Out with the old: The void left by exiting presenters Sue Perkins, Mary Berry and Mel Giedroyc is sure to rattle a few fans [pictured with Paul in a BBC promo shot for the old version of the show]

And although some trademark bunting can be spied in the backdrop festooned on a brick wall behind the foursome, the infamous Bake Off tent is no-where to be seen.

Reports have hinted that the major changes in the Bake Off presenters and judges have led the producers to decide that the setting of Welford Park will still be used for filming, and that the tent will be back.

But little more can be deduced from the singular image, released by Channel 4 and Love Productions (the company that own the overall rights to the show), but the void left by exiting stars Sue Perkins, Mary Berry and Mel Giedroyc is sure to rattle a few fans.

Newbies: Veteran cook Prue [L] made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel [R] - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit

Hostess with the mostess: The show's hosts Sandi Toksvig [pictured as the host of QI] and Noel Fielding stand in the middle, grinning from ear-to-ear in the new Channel 4 promo shot

Although Channel 4 confirmed earlier this year that Sandi and Noel would be replacing Mel and Sue, and that Prue will take Mary's role, this is the first time fans are seeing the new clan together officially.

And this makes Channel 4's Bake Off all the more real to those unhappy about the shake-up, which caused a ripple of distress last year when Love Productions cut a new deal with the rival broadcaster and left the BBC for good.

Love Productions confirmed that they had parted ways with the BBC in September, as the seventh season of the show was mid-way through its run on BBC One.

Fans were suddenly made to face up to the fact that the show they were watching would be the last series on the BBC, and that eventual winner Candice Brown would be the final ever champion on the stalwart British network.

Staying put: Paul Hollywood, who is the only returning member of the Bake Off's BBC series, stands proudly with a cherry-topped cupcake next to his trio of new sidekicks in the new photo

The last of her kind: Fans were suddenly made to face up to the fact that the show they were watching would be the last series on the BBC, and that eventual winner Candice Brown [pictured] would be the final ever champion on the stalwart British network

Channel 4 offered Love Productions a 25 million-a-year deal, which was said to be over double what the BBC had offered to continue airing the cult cookery show.

Blaming 'more than a year of exhaustive negotiations' on the decision to leave the BBC once and for all, Love Productions signed a three-year contract with Channel 4 instead - a deal that will allegedly involve up to 40 hours of programming each year, including various professional and celebrity editions of the show.

What followed was a few weeks of will they/won't they rumours surrounding the involvement of Paul, Mel, Sue and Mary - with viewers desperate to know if the full presenting line up would be making the transition to Channel 4 too.

One by one, Mel, Sue and Mary devastated fans by dropping out of any future series, leaving only Paul to accept a new offer, going with the Bake Off to its new home.

Jumping ship: What followed was a few weeks of will they/won't they rumours surrounding the involvement of Paul, Mel, Sue and Mary - with fans desperate to know if the full presenting line up would be making the transition to Channel 4 with the show

Gone but not forgotten: One by one, Mel, Sue and Mary devastated fans by dropping out of any future series, leaving only Paul to accept a new offer, going with the Bake Off to its new home

Over the last six months, the BBC has announced rival cooking series, some of which featuring Bake Off alum, and the rumour mill has thrown out names of all kinds of presenter and judge replacements.

Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith were floated as Mary's potential successor, while French & Saunders were suggested as an obvious Mel & Sue swap.

But veteran cook Prue made the cut, alongside Sandi and Noel - the latter of which caused a new batch of concern from die hard Bake Off fans who felt the off-the-wall, Goth-like comedian wasn't the right fit.

Judging by his strawberry jumper, he seems set on proving his doubters wrong.
They're enjoying an extended stay in Paris - the most romantic city in the world.

And Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux seemed to be embracing the French spring air as they posed happily together at the Festival Serie Mania Opening Night, at Le Grand Rex on Thursday evening.

And Justin, 45, seemed as loved up as ever as he held his stunning wife closer to him - with one hand cheekily on her rear.

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Une belle derriere! Justin Theroux can't keep his hands off wife Jennifer Aniston's pert behind as she poses in a thigh-flashing gown at the Festival Serie Mania in Paris

The cheek of it: Justin, 45, seemed as loved up as ever as he held his stunning wife closer to him - with one hand cheekily on her rear

Jennifer, 48, looked as effortlessly sensational as ever, in a sleeveless black halter-neck dress, which flowed down her lithe figure and stopped in a ruffled effect just above her ankles.

A couple of sizeable slits in around the thigh area of the gown allowed Jennifer's toned and tanned legs to tease through the fabric.

She wore a pair of black killer heels on her feet, bringing her a little taller next to her handsome husband.

Jennifer kept her make-up as natural as ever, and her hair loose, looking very Rachel-esque in the way it was styled.

Gay Paris: The pair are enjoying an extended stay in Paris - the most romantic city in the world

Lovebirds: Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux seemed to be embracing the French spring air as they posed happily together at the Festival Serie Mania Opening Night, at Le Grand Rex on Thursday evening

Having fun: Jennifer, 48, looked as effortlessly sensational as ever, in a sleeveless black halter-neck dress, which flowed down her lithe figure and stopped in a ruffled effect just above her ankles

The thigh's the limit: A couple of sizeable slits in around the thigh area of the gown allowed Jennifer's toned and tanned legs to tease through the fabric

Justin matched his wife in an all-black jacket and jeans ensemble, completed by a daring red and black striped T-shirt underneath.

The pair beamed continually as they posed for photographs and walked hand-in-hand along the red carpet.

The day before, Justin took to Instagram with a sweet loved-up snap as they enjoyed some sight-seeing.

'In Louvre,' the actor captioned the image, which saw him cuddling up the stunning Friends actress as he caught their reflection in the mirror above them.

Channeling Miss Green: Jennifer kept her make-up as natural as ever, and her hair loose, looking very Rachel-esque in the way it was styled

Uplifting: She wore a pair of black killer heels on her feet, bringing her a little taller next to her handsome husband

On the continent: Justin matched his wife in an all-black jacket and jeans ensemble, completed by a daring red and black striped T-shirt underneath

The hunky star looked thrilled as he got snap happy with his blonde other half, who he wed two years ago.

The lovebirds initially flew into the romantic European city earlier this week to witness Louis Vuitton's new collection at the Louvre.

Since then they have embarked on a number of outings in Paris - ensuring to make full use of their time before they head back to the US.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Justin held forth on the fact his and Jennifer's careers can fling them to different towns, away from one another.

Jetsetters: The lovebirds initially flew into the romantic European city earlier this week to witness Louis Vuitton's new collection at the Louvre

Chic: Jennifer was leading glamour at the event, in a dramatic all-black ensemble

Romantic: The pair beamed continually as they posed for photographs and walked hand-in-hand along the red carpet

Leading man: Jen was happy for her husband to take the lead as they arrived at Le Grand Rex in the French capital

All eyes on them: The couple were centre of attention as they made their way into the venue - not fazed by the cameras photographing them as they strolled past hand-in-hand

Unusual cut: Former Friends star Jen wowed in her slinky black number that boasted quirky cut-out detailing around just above her knee to expose a glimpse of her thighs

'Its tough; its a pain. But even though you are tired, you just make an extra effort to make trips back home, or have your partner come visit you,' he explained.

Gossiped he: 'Keith Urban said that he once flew from New York, all the way to Australia, to have dinner with Nicole Kidman. Then, he flew back to his concert tour.'

With a laugh, Justin - whose role on The Leftovers takes him to Australia as well - conceded that Keith's 'a better man than I am. I would never do that.'

He and Jennifer had once resolved not to stay apart longer than two weeks at a time. 'Then, it would be a two-and-a-half-week rule. So, its a moving target.'

So in sync! Jen and Justin sported complementing ensembles for their evening out in Paris

Loved-up display: They couldn't have seemed more content as they headed home from the Series Mania Festival opening night with Jen clutching onto her beau's arm
She has been flaunting her fabulous figure for years on the big screen and off.

And Kate Beckinsale showcased both her age-defying figure and her sartorial style yet again on Thursday as she shared a stunning holiday snap in a dazzling white two-piece.

The 43-year-old Underworld star looked every inch the movie star in the sepia-toned shot, shared with her three quarters of a million fans on Instagram.

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Beautiful: Kate Beckinsale, 43, showcased both her age-defying figure and her sartorial style yet again on Thursday as she shared a stunning holiday snap in a dazzling white two-piece

The witty star captioned her sultry shot with the simple phrase: 'Taking the stairs.'

Kate allowed her blonde-tinged tresses to sway around her bronzed shoulders as she emerged from the glittering ocean.

Donning her favourite holiday pair of shades - they also made an appearance in a similarly sexy bikini snap the British star shared earlier in the week - Kate pouted subtly as she created an action shot of effortless glamour.

Revealing incredibly toned abs and ultra-toned thighs, the mother-of-one glowed in the sunlight.

Hot mama... Earlier this week both Kate and her daughter shared stunning bikini snaps from their holiday

And on Tuesday the Total Recall star shared another equally witty snap next to a painting resembling the Rorschach test, in which subjects' unique perceptions of a mass of inkblots are recorded for assessment.

Again Kate ensured she made the most of her age-defying physique as she slipped into the stunning bandeau bikini, which featured a strapless top with low-slung bottoms.

Ever the joker, she added a caption on the shot reading: 'Successfully completed the holiday Rorschach test without seeing a penis or my mother'.

'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

Ensuring she kept fans mesmerised, earlier this week Kate shared another stunning bikini picture, this time from a meshed hammock.

The Love & Friendship actress looked incredible wearing a red strapless bikini and mismatching white bottoms as she relaxed on a hammock over the ocean.

Poking fun of herself again, Kate captioned the image with the words: 'Float float and some funny marks on your bum when you get up.'

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

The British superstar is on holiday with her beautiful daughter Lily, 18, who shared a stunning bikini snap of her own from the idyllic beach on Tuesday.

Lily, whose father is actor Michael Sheen, 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'.

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

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.
As a Victoria's Secret model, Bridget Malcolm is no stranger to modelling in her underwear.

And so it's no surprise the Australian stunner was comfortable stripping down to her underwear for a racy Instagram snap this week.

The 25-year-old shared a black-and-white image of herself on Friday morning as she posed against a wall.

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Bridget Malcolm has posted a raunchy snap online of her posing in just her underwear

The blonde bombshell wore a simple bra and briefs as she leaned against one bent arm and pointed one toe.

Her blonde hair fell naturally over her shoulders and she donned a simple no makeup look.

She captioned the photo with: 'Love early AM body digitals. Gratuitous AF but yolo'.

The Australian Victoria's Secret model with more than 284k followers on Instagram

The sexy snap comes just two weeks after Bridget opened up about her biggest inspirations in life on her blog

This snap comes just two weeks after the Aussie stunner published a blog on bridgetmalcolm.com.au discussing what inspires her most in life.

'Things that allow me a glimpse at the center stillness would be my inspiration in life', she wrote, adding meditation, running and her husband Nathaniel Hoho top the list.

The Australian bombshell says 'taking on strangers energies tends to bring me down' after admitting: 'I also stay far away from social media. My life is enough for me.'

'Taking on strangers energies tends to bring me down': Not a fan of social media, the Australian stunner appears to steer clear of trolls online

Bridget added she feels good 'when I am with friends who have known and loved me well before I began modeling' and is 'learning to leave behind people who harm me.'

When it comes to self-reflection, the blonde beauty says she enjoys reading, being in nature and doesn't eat 'things with ingredients that arent real.'

Giving advice to her fans, she insisted: 'Live a life of your joys. F*** the rest :)'

How she recharges: The blonde beauty says she credits reading, being in nature, meditation, running and her husband Nathaniel Hoho for keeping her grounded

Bridget also doted on her American beau Nathaniel in the blog post, adding being around him makes her body, mind and spirit feel like its existing as one.

'It is the feeling I get when I wake up and see the one person on the planet who knows me unlike any other human smiling sleepily at me,' she said.

She married her long-term partner Nathaniel last July in a mountain-view ceremony in the U.S.
Jennifer Garner has filed to divorce husband Ben Affleck.

The Batman V Superman star also submitted an almost identical response in what is being described as an 'amicable' split after 12 years of marriage it emerged Thursday.

The pair are said to have filed without using a lawyer, and they are asking for joint legal and physical custody of their three children.

All over: Jennifer Garner has filed to divorce husband Ben Affleck

According to TMZ the pro per submissions were filed together, meaning the action was coordinated between the pair.

There is no specified request for spousal support, which means a judge may award it before the divorce is finalised.

While they do not specify when they split, they announced their separation in June 2015.

They split in the wake of claims the 44-year-old Pearl Harbor hunk had been cheating with the family nanny Christine Ouzounian.

Beauty: The pair split amid claims he had been cheating with sexy nanny Christine Ouzounian

Family man: Ben and Jennifer want joint legal and physical custody of their three children

Daddy cool: The Gigli legend treated his daughter Violet to an ice cream in LA on Thursday

Living in a bubble: Jennifer wore a puffy jacket as she dropped off their children at school on Thursday

Ben had said the reports were 'garbage,' but Jennifer, 44, appeared to confirm them last year when she broke her silence about the claims.

The Miracles From Heaven actress said: 'We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny.

'She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes.'

The couple have no prenuptial agreement, with each entitled to an equal split of assets. Ben is worth an estimated $105 million, while his spouse's is said to be worth $60 million.

It is believed a mediator will handle the divorce, rather than a judge.

Devout: Jennifer and her children attended church in West Los Angeles on Sunday

Holy father: Ben also attended the service with his soon-to-be ex wife and children

According to TMZ, attorney to the stars Laura Wasser, who has helped many star couples split through mediation, often has her clients file their divorce papers pro per.

Her clients have included Ryan Reynolds, Heidi Klum, Ashton Kutcher, Christina Aguilera and Johnny Depp.

While the couple are negotiating a financial settlement, it is expected the divorce could be finalised within six months.

The couple are parents to daughters Violet, 11, and Seraphina, eight, and five-year-old son Samuel.

The couple first met on the set of the dire Pearl Harbor in 2001, but Ben revealed they fell in love on the set of Daredevil.

Love at first fight: The couple fell in love filming 2003's Daredevil and tied the knot in 2005

He said: 'Thats where I found my wife. We met on Pearl Harbor, which people hate, but we fell in love on Daredevil.'

However they had to wait to start their love affair, as Jennifer was married to actor Scott Foley at the time. They did not start dating until seven months after Ben ended his engagement to Jennifer Lopez, who he had been supposed to marry in September 2003.

But the couple has had a rocky relationship over the years. It had been rumored their divorce, announced in June 2015, was off for good, as they seemed to be working to repair their marriage.

The entire family recently enjoyed a church outing, and things appeared to be on the mend for the couple.

He announced that he had completed treatment for alcohol addiction last month.
The doting mum is regularly sharing updates on social media when it comes to her baby girl.

And marking another milestone online, Sallie Axl took to Instagram on Thursday to document her nine-month-old daughter's first trip to the cinema.

The former Big Brother star shared two photos of Savannah-Blue with her 118k followers - one of her sipping on a huge cup of coca-cola and another of her tucking into nachos.

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'Cinema with baby bae': Sallie Axl documented her nine-month-old daughter Savannah-Blue's first trip to the cinema on Instagram on Thursday

In her first shot, little Savannah was pictured clad in an adorable yellow dress, that featured royal blue bows down the front, and a matching headband.

She was sporting frilly white socks on her feet and a teeny gold bangle on one wrist.

Sallie - who's real name is Sallie Waterhouse - snapped a photo of her baby girl sat in an enormous plush cinema seat, that emphasised her small size, as she nibbled on a nacho.

Her glamour model mother captioned the shot: 'Cinema with baby bae #peppa #pig.'

Surprising treats: In the former Big Brother stars posts her mini-me was seen feasting on nachos and sipping on coca-cola

Sallie then posed with Savannah sat on her lap in another photo from their mother and daughter outing.

She cut a relaxed figure in acid wash jeans and a burgundy fur gilet and held onto the tot, as Savannah quenched her thirst by sipping on coca-cola through a straw.

Sallie gushed: 'Her first time cinema.'

Her posts garnered a positive reaction from followers, despite Savannah's surprising treats, with many commenting on how 'adorable' her daughter is.

Backlash: Their trip to the cinema comes a couple of months after the reality star was subject to criticism for posing this photo of herself and Savannah in face masks

The reality star's latest snaps come a couple of months after she faced backlash from fans for sharing a photo of her baby girl sporting a face mask and earrings.

She revealed she shares the same beauty regime as her daughters - Sallie is also mum to daughter Nirvana, five - and told fans she was enjoying a 'girly night' with her babies.

However, she faced criticism from some, with one person commenting: 'Please tell me the baby isnt wearing dangly earrings.'

At the time Sallie hit back: 'I love my girls in loopy earrings,' and later set her Instagram page to private while changing her bio to read: 'Be happy positive vibes only.'

'My biggest dream was being a mummy': Sallie is mum to daughters Savannah-Blue (pictured above) and Nirvana, five

She gave birth to her youngest daughter in June last year and has already been through several turbulent experiences with her.

Sallie split from Savannah's father shortly before birth and was forced to spend the night in hospital with her daughter back in July after being caught in a house fire.

The starlet told her followers: 'Last night my electric heater set alight while me and Savannah were in bed. The flames were a metre high and no smoke alarms went off in my apartment even though I have just moved in and they were supposed to be checked.

'We spent the night in hospital. No one was hurt but just shows how important it is to have them checked. It's really scared me and I'm so glad by best friend @zenblythe was there to put it out and Nirvana was at my mum's.

Extensive surgery: Last month, Sallie underwent several cosmetic surgery procedures in Poland - including a nose job

'If he wasn't me and Savannah would never have got out. Makes you think how important life is. So scary but we are so lucky. Thank you @zenblythe love you. #just to add this heater was NOT turned on when it went on fire it was faulty. We are so lucky.'

Meanwhile, Sallie's trip to the cinema flaunted the results of her recent cosmetic procedures that she underwent in March.

Last month, the dark-haired beauty had jetted to Wroclaw in Poland to go under the knife and revealed the extensive list of her latest surgery on Instagram that included 'a breast uplift, new implants and a bone removed from my ribs and taking to build my nose.'
Bertie Carvel and Richard Coyle are to portray the architects of Britains tabloid newspaper revolution.

Carvel, who played the demonic Miss Trunchbull in the musical Matilda and the complex, cheating Simon Foster in hit TV drama Doctor Foster, will portray media mogul Rupert Murdoch. (Fittingly, the actor has ink in his veins: his grandfather, Robert Carvel, was a legendary political editor of The London Evening Standard.)

Coyle, who starred in Coupling and successful shows on U.S. television, will play the pugnacious Larry Lamb in James Grahams new play Ink, about how the modern-day Sun newspaper was launched in 1969. Both men were buccaneering outsiders, who became insiders as their influence grew.

Bertie Carvel (left) will portray media mogul Rupert Murdoch (right) in James Grahams new play Ink, about how the modern-day Sun newspaper was launched in 1969

Rupert Goold, who will direct Ink at the Almeida Theatre where he is artistic director, said it was about the birth of a kind of populism in this country that came out of the Sixties.

He said Grahams play reflected the spirit of The Sun at its funniest and most exuberant. Its full of boisterous energy, he added, and there are hints of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur newspaper comedy The Front Page.

Graham traces how Murdoch recruited Lamb as editor, through to the new Suns first anniversary on November 17, 1970, when Lamb published a photograph of German model Stephanie Rahn topless for all the world to see on Page 3.

Richard Coyle (left), who starred in Coupling and successful shows on U.S. television, will play the pugnacious Larry Lamb (right)

Pearl Chanda, who appeared in Mike Leighs great film Mr Turner, has been cast as Rahn, who later worked under the name Stephanie Marrian.

But while Grahams drama harks back to the old ink on your hands days of Fleet Street, there are plenty of elements that resonate still within the media landscape of today  a technique he employed with aplomb in his sublime political play This House.

Ink will run at the Almeida from June 17, and if it works well in North London, its bound to head into the West End  and then, who knows, perhaps as far as Broadway, where from the conversations Ive had here this week, it would be met with great interest.

West End opens its doors to Tony award-winner Fun Home

Fun Home, which won the Tony Award for best musical two years ago, will open at the Young Vic next year.

The show, based on the life of Alison Bechdel  who created U.S. comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For  is adapted from her graphic novel memoir about growing up in smalltown Pennsylvania where her father ran a funeral home... hence the title!

Bechdel says her father was a manic-depressive closeted fag, and the work charts their relationship and how she came out to her parents. It is a powerful, poignant piece, with three actresses playing Bechdel from girl to student to adult.

Fun Home, which won the Tony Award for best musical two years ago, will open at the Young Vic next year. The show is based on the life of Alison Bechdel (pictured)  who created U.S. comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For

Book and lyrics are by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori  who wrote the superb Caroline, Or Change (which director Michael Longhurst is rehearsing now for a run at Chichesters Minerva Theatre).

Kron and Tesori won Tony honours for best book and score. Sam Gold (who won a Tony for directing) told me Fun Home will open in London in summer 2018. He is planning a totally fresh production and does not expect to bring over any of the American cast.

It wont be a re-tread, Gold insisted when we bumped into each other after seeing A Dolls House, Part 2, Lucas Hnaths imagining of what happened to Ibsens Nora (a sharp, witty Laurie Metcalf) after she shut the door on husband (Chris Cooper).

Gold also scored a hit last year with a scorching Othello at New York Theatre Workshop featuring Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo.

The original Broadway producer of Fun Home, Barbara Whitman, has joined forces with multi-Olivier award-winning Sonia Friedman. The Young Vic confirmed we are in talks to bring the show here next year. In fact, talks have been going on for two years or more, but the Young Vic had to wait for Gold to become available.

Tony Bennett, Tommy Tune, Kristin Chenoweth, Harry Connick Jr, Billy Joel, plus the Broadway cast of The Lion King all sang.

Tom Schumacher, of Disney Theatricals, gave the eulogy. The occasion? A celebration of the life of James M. Nederlander, a Broadway giant, who died last year. He owned theatres in New York and the West End.

He was tough, fair and great fun. He gave me a few terrific scoops years ago, but we promised to keep schtum about them. And we did.
John Blackwell Releases New Single 'Could It Be' -- Written by Jason Ingram, Song Impacting Radio April 11 Blackwell Partners with Dove and Grammy Award Winning Creative Powerhouse Team Jason Ingram, Barry Weeks and Ainslie Grosser



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NASHVILLE, April 13, 2017, / Christian Newswire extended credit for the distribution of this press release but was not paid for services rendered.

Share Tweet Contact: John Clark Blackwell , 785-760-5874NASHVILLE, April 13, 2017, / Christian Newswire / --This press release has been removed for failure to pay.Christian Newswire extended credit for the distribution of this press release but was not paid for services rendered.
Veteran UN official Achim Steiner of Germany will head the United Nations agency that works to fight poverty, promote social development and enhance the empowerment of women

UN chief Antonio Guterres has named a German with extensive experience at the world organization, Achim Steiner, as the new administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Steiner, who previously served at the UN Environment Programme and headed the UN office in Kenya, was selected to succeed Helen Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, who has steered the UNDP since 2009, according to a letter by Guterres dated Tuesday.

Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP seeks to reduce poverty, improve social development and encourage women's empowerment.

One of the candidates passed over for the post included French Environment Minister Segolene Royal, who said she was surprised because Guterres had promised a woman would take the job.

She intimated that Germany used its weight as a major UNDP donor to have Steiner chosen.

"I regret it, of course. That doesn't gel with what was said, but c'est la vie," Royal told French television.
Nigerian soldiers in Yobe state, one of the worst-hit in the country's eight-year Boko Haram Islamist insurgency

A bloody clash between the army and police in Nigeria's restive northeastern Yobe state left one soldier and three police dead, a security source told AFP.

The police confirmed the fracas in the state capital of Damaturu, but did not say if there were casualties.

"The Nigeria police force is abreast of the unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of today 12th April, 2017 in Damaturu between the personnel of the force and that of the Nigerian army," police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said in a statement.

He said an investigation had been launched to determine "the causes of the incident and deal with the situation appropriately to prevent such occurrence in the future".

The army authorities were not immediately available for comment.

A security officer who did not want to be named, told AFP trouble began on Tuesday when an army officer in a mufti (civilian dress) ran into a convoy of the head of the police mobile unit in Damaturu.

"The army officer was beaten up by the police for his action. This morning, soldiers stormed the police station and took away the head of the mobile unit to their military base," he said.

He said the the soldiers' action angered some police officers who invaded the army base to free their boss.

"There was a shootout in which a soldier and a policeman were killed on the spot while two policemen who were injured later died of their wounds," he said.

Yobe and two other states -- Borno and Adamawa -- in the northeast are the worst-hit in the eight-year Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in Nigeria.

Boko Haram, which aims to impose a hardline Islamist legal system in Nigeria's mainly-Muslim north, has killed some 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.

A joint military operation, comprising Nigerian army, navy, airforce and the police, and aided by regional forces, is currently battling the jihadists.
Recent North Korean missile tests have stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile

North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported on Wednesday.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the sites Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

North Korea missile and nuclear sites

The Voice of America said Wednesday night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week.

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said Wednesday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy.

The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
Tens of thousands of soldiers, officials and citizens packed a plaza to await leader Kim Jong-Un's arrival

Officials to the left of him, generals to the right, and in the middle of mounting tensions over his nuclear ambitions, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday opened a prestige housing project with tens of thousands of his adoring citizens looking on.

Completion of the sprawling Ryomyong Street development, just down a wide avenue from the mausoleum where Kim's grandfather Kim Il-Sung and father Kim Jong-Il lie in state, was repeatedly promised in time for Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the North's founder.

North Korean authorities seek to present their isolated, impoverished country as prosperous and modern, and international media outlets were invited for the occasion.

Soldiers, officials and citizens packed a plaza from early morning, waiting for hours before Kim led the delegation onto the dais.

Prime Minister Pak Pong-Ju lauded Kim, saying the project was a demonstration of "the 'do or die' spirit of our people and army who are willing to implement the Party's orders in all cases", he said, and "a victory against imperialists' sanctions".

The North is under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and tensions have soared in recent weeks.

North Korea missile and nuclear sites

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked fears in Washington that Pyongyang is moving closer to its goal of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland - something US President Donald Trump has said "won't happen".

Shinzo Abe, prime minister of US ally Japan - in whose exclusive economic zone three North Korean missiles landed in recent weeks, warned Thursday that Pyongyang may have the capacity to launch a warhead loaded with sarin nerve gas.

There is speculation Pyongyang might conduct a sixth nuclear test, or another missile launch, to co-incide with the Kim Il-Sung anniversary - specialist US website 38North described its Punggye-ri test site as "primed and ready" on Wednesday - and Trump has dispatched an aircraft carrier group to the Korean peninsula.

Kim opened a housing project he said was a demonstration of "the "do or die" spirit of his people

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," he told the Fox Business Network.

"We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

"He is doing the wrong thing," he added of Kim. "He's making a big mistake."

The North has reiterated its constant refrain that it is ready for "war" with the US.

- 'Reckless invaders' -

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty and Pyongyang says that it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion.

Last week's US missile strike on Syria vindicated its stance, it said at the weekend.

Successive governments in Washington have only attacked states which "do not have nukes", the official KCNA agency quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying, "and the same is true of the Trump administration".

North Korea's sabre-rattling has unnerved China, its sole major ally, but there are no signs of tension in Pyongyang

"What happened in Syria once again taught a bitter lesson that no one should have an illusion about the imperialists and one can defend oneself from the imperialist aggression only when one has one's strength."

On Thursday, KCNA reported separately that Kim had watched special forces drop from light transport planes "like hail" and "mercilessly blew up enemy targets" during an exercise.

"The contest proved once again that our Korean People's Army... will show a real taste of gun shot and real taste of war to the reckless invaders," KCNA said.

The sabre-rattling has unnerved China, the North's sole major ally, which has made clear its frustration with Pyongyangs stubbornness but whose priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep.

Beijing has urged Trump to take a peaceful approach to resolving the issue, but the Global Times newspaper, which sometimes reflects the thinking of the leadership, issued an unequivocal warning to Pyongyang that it should "avoid making mistakes at this time".

A new test would be a "slap in the face of the US government" and Beijing would not "remain indifferent", it said.

On Tuesday, the US president tweeted that "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."

But there has been little sign of the tensions on the streets of Pyongyang in recent days, where the focus is on preparations for Saturday's anniversary.

At Ryomyong Street, Kim took a pair of scissors proferred from a tray to cut a wide red ribbon to rhythmic cheers from the crowd, before waving to his admirers, and turning to walk back to his Mercedes limousine.
North Korea launched four ballistic missiles in March, with three landing provocatively close to America's ally Japan

North Korea may have the capacity to launch a warhead loaded with sarin nerve gas, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday, as tensions rise over the country's missile and nuclear programmes.

Sarin has been used in deadly domestic attacks in Japan, notably in 1995 when the Aum Supreme Truth cult released it in the Tokyo subway killing 13 people and sickening 6,000 others.

"There is a possibility that North Korea is already capable of delivering (via missile) a warhead containing sarin," Abe told a parliamentary diplomacy and defence committee, referring to the poison nerve agent.

His remarks were reported by public broadcaster NHK and leading national newspapers. Abe did not elaborate or say where he obtained the information, according to the reports.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked in recent days amid concerns that Pyongyang could be on the verge of executing its sixth nuclear test and as a US aircraft carrier-led strike group heads to the region.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to reporters at his official residence in Tokyo on April 5, 2017, after North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan

Originally conceived as a pesticide, sarin was used by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime to gas thousands of Kurds in the northern town of Halabja in 1988.

The US believes the Syrian government employed a sarin-like nerve agent in a deadly attack in the country's northwest last week.

The Aum Supreme Truth cult also used the nerve agent in a 1994 attack in the Japanese city of Matsumoto, killing seven.
Homes and shops were torched in bloody clashes in March between Hausa and Yoruba people in Ile-Ife in southwest Nigeria that left 46 people dead and 100 injured, according to police

For his whole life, Hausa trader Bashiru Tanko has lived peacefully alongside the Yoruba people of Ile-Ife in southwest Nigeria.

Originally from the northern city of Kano, Tanko's father settled in the Sabo area of the city, where he built a prosperous family business.

"I was born and bred in this town. Even though my parents came from Kano, I have not known any other place I can call home," 41-year-old Tanko told AFP.

"We have always settled our differences. We have lived together without acrimony for ages. We marry ourselves and do business together."

But last month an altercation between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa trader triggered a bloody conflict that left 46 people dead, around 100 injured and houses razed to the ground, according to the police.

"I was shocked that what began as a minor dispute was allowed to snowball into an unprecedented carnage," Tanko said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Locals say that upwards of 200 people -- the majority Hausas -- lost their lives in the violence.

"An accurate number is difficult to get, because most people don't go to hospital when they are injured, or they bury the deceased themselves," said Gbemisola Animasawun, a researcher at the Center for Peace and Strategic Studies in Ile-Ife.

"But I can confirm that most killed were Hausas. They were killed inside their homes," Animasawun said. "It's still very tense out there."

Tanko's family house was not spared in the mayhem.

As he walked through the streets of ruined buildings, Tanko stopped at a roofless bungalow blackened by smoke and littered with damaged household items.

"That heap of rubble used to be my father's house," Tanko said.

"I, my wife and our four children, now squat with a relation whose house was not touched," he said.

- 'Unprecedented carnage' -

Traders are back on the streets of Ile-Ife in southwest Nigeria as life returns to normal after bloody ethnic clashes between Hausa and Yoruba people last month that left dozens dead

Hadi Ali, a local 48-year-old tailor, said criminals capitalised on the violence, seizing the opportunity to loot houses and shops.

"What happened was a small matter between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa trader which was immediately settled," Ali said.

"The following morning, the woman's husband, who happened to be a leader in the garage (bus station) went and mobilised his boys and they started killing our people, looting our properties and burning our homes," he said.

"We are still bombarded with reports of missing people. Those killed were our people," he said.

Ali said Hausas have fled the town, but would be happy to return if the crisis is resolved.

"Our people are leaving because they no longer have anywhere to stay. They are afraid of being attacked again," he said.

Ile-Ife's leaders claim that there is no cause for alarm, with prominent politician Bashiru Awotorebo declaring that Yorubas are ready for peace.

Meanwhile, traditional ruler Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has set up a panel to reconcile the two sides and "prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate incident," said Ooni's deputy Idowu Adediwura.

But more needs to be done to assuage fears that the Hausa community remains a threat to Ile-Ife, and in the aftermath of the violence, there has been divisive rhetoric from political leaders.

Olajire Awowoyin of Ife Progressive Forum recently blamed an influx of foreigners from Chad and Niger for the unrest.

He also accused the police of being "one-sided and unfair" after arresting only Yoruba suspects.

Yinka Odumakin of the Afenifere Yoruba socio-cultural group too has campaigned in favour of the "unconditional release of the suspects to avoid igniting ethnic tensions."

- 'Unity in diversity' -

Experts say economic recession rather than fear of foreigners is behind the sudden ethnic violence that flared up last month in Ile-Ife in Nigeria, leaving dozens dead

Yet experts say that the root cause of the issue has less to do with ethnicity than with Nigeria's economic recession.

"It's the trend all over the world that economic problems lead to social and ethnic tensions," said University of Lagos history lecturer Dapo Thomas.

"In Ile-Ife I can see a situation where the natives perceive the Hausa settlers as appropriating the existing opportunities in terms of jobs and businesses," he said.

"My advice is that every tribe should recognise its faultlines and accept to live together in unity. There should be unity in our diversity."

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is home to some 250 ethnic nationalities divided between a mostly Muslim north and Christian south.
Civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 after a power struggle between President Salva Kiir -- who is ethnic Dinka -- and his former deputy Riek Machar from the Nuer community

Targeted killings of specific ethnic groups in South Sudan's civil war amount to "genocide", according to Britain's International Development Minister Priti Patel.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," Patel told reporters in Uganda on Wednesday, according to a ministry press officer travelling with her.

Patel was returning from a visit to South Sudan where people have "experienced trauma and horror none of us can comprehend", she told AFP in a separate interview.

Civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 after a power struggle between President Salva Kiir -- who is ethnic Dinka -- and his former deputy Riek Machar from the Nuer community.

The Dinka and Nuer are the two largest ethnic groups in South Sudan and with their history of bloody rivalry, fighting quickly pitted the two against each other.

However the conflict has also drawn in the country's myriad smaller groups, either taking sides with the government or the rebels or fighting each other for the upper hand in local conflicts over land or other issues.

Refugees fleeing fighting in South Sudan have told AFP of targeted killings by government troops, who identify people according to language or tribal scarring before slaughtering them.

In the southern town of Pajok, seen as sympathetic to the rebels, government troops went on a rampage last week killing at least 85 people, numerous witnesses told AFP after fleeing to Uganda.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," British International Development Secretary Priti Patel told reporters in Uganda on Wednesday

As fighting broke out in the second largest city of Wau this week, priest Moses Peter told AFP that government troops were "targeting certain groups of people".

The rebels are also accused of committing atrocities.

United Nations experts in early December reported "ethnic cleansing" in several parts of South Sudan.

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has warned of "a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide."

South Sudan's Information Minister Michael Makuei slammed Patel's comments as "unfortunate and misleading".

"That is a very unfortunate statement given by an irresponsible person. There is no genocide," he said.

"If they talk of a genocide what are the criteria of a genocide. If they talk of a genocide then the whole world will be in genocide because of what is happening in the US, in Germany, even in Britain," said Makuei, referring to terrorist attacks.

Genocide is the gravest crime in international humanitarian law and also the most difficult to prove.

Derived from the Greek word "genos", for race or tribe, and the suffix "cide" from the Latin for "to kill"; genocide is defined by the United Nations as an "act committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group."

burs-fb/ccr
A handout picture provided by the Saudi royal palace shows Saudi King Salman (R) receiving Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) in Riyadh on April 11, 2017 at the start of a Gulf tour

With more than a million Filipino workers spread across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, it is small wonder that President Rodrigo Duterte has undertaken a week-long tour of the Gulf.

The migrants have been drawn to the region by a combination of factors -- drug crime and corruption back home, and the job opportunities and wages on offer in the Gulf.

Duterte's deadly war on drugs may have brought him notoriety in the West, but it has earned him the admiration of many Filipino expatriates anxious for change at home.

"I would happily say I'm a 'DDS', a Duterte Diehard Supporter," Harry Ramos, a senior mechanical engineer based in Doha for 12 years, told AFP.

"His platform of government is simple, and he's got the political will to do it."

Duterte's populist agenda went down well with the Filipino diaspora in Qatar, where he received almost 80 per cent of the expatriate votes cast in last year's presidential election.

Ramos, 58, speaks happily about how Filipinos returning home no longer have to bribe officials to get through customs, thanks to Duterte's crackdown.

Life though has turned sour for some in the Gulf, especially in Saudi Arabia where 760,000 Filipinos live, and they will be looking to the president to defend their interests in his talks with the region's leaders.

A collapse in oil revenues since 2014 has prompted subsidy cuts and delays in major projects. More than 5,000 Filipino workers were repatriated from Saudi Arabia last year and most are still waiting to be paid.

Duterte held talks with Saudi King Salman on Tuesday and was in Bahrain for talks on Thursday. On Friday, he flies into Qatar.

"He will discuss with these leaders matters relevant to the welfare and dignity of the Filipinos living in their countries, as well as explore avenues of economic and political cooperation," Philippine Assistant Foreign Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana said.

- Four times the wages -

In the bustling Souq Waqif area of the Qatari capital Doha, Duterte's trip has prompted an air of expectation.

Members of the Filipino community attend a meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on April 12, 2017

On a balmy early summer evening, with temperatures touching the low 30 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), conversation outside the busy Manila Supermarket quickly turns to the president's visit.

Ray, a 38-year-old civil engineer, said he wanted to meet Duterte in person, something he could never achieve back home.

He admitted there was an issue with the poor treatment of some migrants, especially those in domestic service, but said life was generally good for Filipinos in the emirate.

"All Filipinos come here because they want to earn money," he said.

"But, if they had to choose the place they will live, of course they will live in the Philippines, they will choose it. Definitely."

Ray, who has been in Qatar six years, said he earns "three or four times more" in Doha than he would back home.

Outside the Damascus International Gents Salon, hair stylist Jim, 27, said he earns around 4,000 Qatari riyals a month ($1,100, 1,030 euros).

Back home he would earn the equivalent of $190 (180 euros) at a barber shop, he said.

Twenty-five-year-old Sunshine, who works in promotions, had never left the Philippines before heading to Qatar.

Now she has been in Doha for three years.

"It's better to leave first from the Philippines to earn money and then after a few years... you can go back," she said.
More than 2,000 Children Hear Spectacular Good News at Sioux City Convention Center Contact: Rachel Hamel, Corporate Communications Manager,



SIOUX CITY, Iowa, April 13, 2017 /



One way CEF explains the Gospel is through The Wordless Book. The colors and shapes tell the story, without using any words, of Christ dying on the cross to take away our sins so we can be cleansed from all unrighteousness and reunited with God for eternity. To access the largest ride at the Good News Spectacular, children and their families proceeded through the "Wordless Book Room" where they received a clear presentation of the Gospel. Not only did 130 children give their lives to Christ that day, but so did four parents!



In addition to nearly 250 CEF volunteers, Woodbury County Police sent approximately eight reserved deputies to help with the event and even promoted it on their Facebook page. "I think it's just great for people to see the church, the body of Christ, coming together and serving their community," said Bob Fowler, director of CEF of North Carolina.



If you are interested in being a part of the CEF Siouxland Good News Club Spectacular event, visit



Child Evangelism Fellowship is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been teaching the Bible to children since 1937. CEF has 400 offices in the USA and is organized in most nations of the world, with over 3,200 paid staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers. In its last ministry year, CEF ministered to nearly 20 million children in its face-to-face teaching ministries.

Share Tweet Contact: Rachel Hamel, Corporate Communications Manager, Child Evangelism Fellowship , 636-456-4321 ext 1177SIOUX CITY, Iowa, April 13, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- On a recent Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, not even snow could keep more than 2,000 children and their families from enjoying inflatable rides, music, karate demonstrations, snow cones, popcorn, puppets and much more at the Sioux City Convention Center. Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), the world's largest children's ministry, hosted its annual Good News Spectacular for the fifth year in a row from 1  3 p.m., drawing folks from Woodbury, Plymouth, Ida, Lyon Sioux, Monona and Sac Counties. The purpose of this free event is to share the love of Jesus Christ and His saving grace with area children and their families.One way CEF explains the Gospel is through The Wordless Book. The colors and shapes tell the story, without using any words, of Christ dying on the cross to take away our sins so we can be cleansed from all unrighteousness and reunited with God for eternity. To access the largest ride at the Good News Spectacular, children and their families proceeded through the "Wordless Book Room" where they received a clear presentation of the Gospel. Not only did 130 children give their lives to Christ that day, but so did four parents!In addition to nearly 250 CEF volunteers, Woodbury County Police sent approximately eight reserved deputies to help with the event and even promoted it on their Facebook page. "I think it's just great for people to see the church, the body of Christ, coming together and serving their community," said Bob Fowler, director of CEF of North Carolina.If you are interested in being a part of the CEF Siouxland Good News Club Spectacular event, visit www.cefsiouxland.org Child Evangelism Fellowship is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been teaching the Bible to children since 1937. CEF has 400 offices in the USA and is organized in most nations of the world, with over 3,200 paid staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers. In its last ministry year, CEF ministered to nearly 20 million children in its face-to-face teaching ministries.
A handout picture released by the Syrian presidency's press office shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during an interview with AFP in the capital Damascus on April 12, 2017

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US strike on his forces, in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus.

The embattled leader, whose country has been ravaged by six years of war, said his firepower had not been affected by the attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, but acknowledged further strikes were possible.

Assad insisted his forces had turned over all their chemical weapons stocks years ago and would never use the banned arms.

The interview on Wednesday was his first since a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," he said of the incident.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack," added Assad, who has been in power for 17 years.

At least 87 people, including 31 children, were killed in the alleged attack, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

But Assad said evidence came only from "a branch of Al-Qaeda," referring to a former jihadist affiliate that is among the groups that control Idlib province, where Khan Sheikhun is located.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth, sent shockwaves around the world.

But Assad insisted it was "not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now."

"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"

He said Khan Sheikhun had no strategic value and was not currently a battle front.

"This story is not convincing by any means."

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has begun an investigation into the alleged attack, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding Syria cooperate with the probe.

And Assad said he could "only allow any investigation when it's impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes."

He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," he said.

"Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history."

The OPCW has blamed Assad's government for at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving the use of chlorine.

The Khan Sheikhun incident prompted the first direct US military action against Assad's government since the war began, with 59 cruise missiles hitting the Shayrat airbase three days after the suspected chemical attack.

Assad said more US attacks "could happen anytime, anywhere, not only in Syria."

But he said his forces had not been diminished by the US strike.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike."
A handout picture from the Syrian presidency shows President Bashar al-Assad during an interview with AFP on April 12, 2017

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has accused the West of fabricating a suspected chemical weapons attack that prompted an unprecedented US missile strike, in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus.

The embattled leader, whose country has been ravaged by six years of war, said his firepower had not been affected by the attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, but acknowledged that further strikes were possible.

He also insisted his forces had turned over all their chemical weapons stocks in 2013 and would never use the banned arms.

Syria: key dates

His comments came in an interview conducted at his office Wednesday, his first since a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun.

"Definitely, a hundred percent for us, it's fabrication," he added of the incident which killed 87 people, including 31 children, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack," said Assad, who has been in power for 17 years.

- 'A lot of fake videos' -

The suspected attack on Khan Sheikhun, in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, comes in the seventh year of the country's brutal war, which has killed more than 320,000 people and displaced over half the population.

Assad said evidence of the suspected chemical attack came only from "a branch of Al-Qaeda", referring to a former jihadist affiliate among the groups that control Idlib.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth as desperate medics working with meagre resources struggled to treat them, caused global shock waves.

But Assad, who appeared relaxed, said it was "not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now."

"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"

"Who committed the attack if there was an attack?"

Syria's government signed the Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to hand over its stockpiles in 2013, under a Russian-brokered deal.

The agreement averted US military action after a sarin attack on a rebel area outside Damascus that killed hundreds of people and was blamed by much of the international community on Assad's government.

- 'Not convincing by any means' -

Damascus denied responsibility, but agreed to turn over its stockpiles, while continuing to wage war against opposition forces.

In recent months, Assad's army has clawed back significant territory, including capturing the one-time rebel bastion of eastern Aleppo.

Key to the turnaround has been support from ally Russia, which launched a military intervention to bolster Assad in September 2015.

The Syrian president said his forces had no military reason to hit Khan Sheikhun, describing it as having no strategic value and being far from the current battlefront.

"This story is not convincing by any means," he said.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has begun an investigation into the Khan Sheikhun incident, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Syria cooperate with the probe.

And Assad said he could "only allow any investigation when it's impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes".

He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles under the 2013 deal.

- 'We gave up our arsenal' -

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," he said.

"Even if we have them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history."

The OPCW has blamed Assad's government for at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving the use of chlorine.

The Khan Sheikhun incident prompted the first direct US military action against Assad's government since the war began, with 59 cruise missiles hitting the Shayrat airbase three days after the suspected chemical attack.

Assad said his Russian allies "didn't warn us... because the Americans called them maybe a few minutes before".

And he said more US attacks "could happen anytime, anywhere, not only in Syria".

But he insisted his forces were unaffected by the US strike.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike."

Trump's administration initially took a hands-off approach to Syria, with Assad raising the possibility the new US president could even be a "natural ally".

But he said the American strike showed Washington was "not serious in fighting terrorists".

International efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis have proved fruitless, with successive rounds of talks producing no result.

The conflict has evolved into a complex multi-front war involving the regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurdish forces, as well as the Russian and Turkish militaries, and a US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
US President Donald Trump takes a question during a joint press conference with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at the White House, on April 12, 2017

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence Thursday that US-Russian relations will "work out fine" after icy bilateral talks in Moscow, as he looked to China to "deal properly" with North Korea.

Trump faces crucial tests in the Middle East and the Korean peninsula, with tensions building on both fronts over a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria and a mounting challenge from North Korea's Kim Jong-il.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Wednesday that relations between Washington and Moscow, a key ally of the Damascus regime, were at a "low point."

"Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia," Trump said in his tweet.

"At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!"

The Russians are backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against US charges that his air force dropped a bomb loaded with the nerve agent sarin on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun on April 4, killing 87 people, many of them children.

Russia on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the attack.

In an exclusive interview with AFP, Assad insisted his army had given up its chemical weapons and called reports of the attack "fabrication."

On North Korea, with Pyongyang reportedly poised to conduct a nuclear test, Trump said he had "great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea."

He however added: "If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A."

A US monitoring group said North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site is "primed and ready" to conduct its sixth nuclear test, possibly to coincide with celebrations Saturday marking the birthdate of regime founder Kim Il-Sung.

The Voice of America, quoting US government and other sources, said North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

Trump has asked his advisers to give him all options for dealing with the nuclear-armed North, and a US carrier strike group has been ordered to the region as a precaution.
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

The Zambian opposition UPND party called Thursday for the immediate release of its leader Hakainde Hichilema, who is due to appear in court next week on treason charges.

The treason charges relate to Hichilema's convoy allegedly refusing to give way to President Lungu's motorcade on a main road in the west of the country at the weekend.

Hichilema's arrest has fanned political tensions in Zambia, where the United Party for National Development (UPND) refuses to accept last year's election result when President Edgar Lungu retained power.

Hichilema, known as "HH", has been denied access to lawyers, his party said, calling for supporters to protest outside court at the hearing due on Tuesday.

"We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of HH as he has not committed any offence," UPND deputy Geoffrey Mwamba told a news briefing in Lusaka.

Police accuse Hichilema of putting the president's life in danger and "unreasonable, reckless and criminal" conduct in not pulling off a narrow road to make way for him.

Video footage showed vehicles travelling at high speed and nearly colliding as the presidential motorcade edged past Hichilema's convoy.

"Hakainde Hichilema has now been denied access to see his lawyers, which is a basic human right," party spokesman Charles Kakoma said in a statement.

- Disputed election -

Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

Hichilema and five party aides have also been charged with breaking the highway code and use of insulting language.

Hichilema was arrested after more than 100 armed police raided his house outside Lusaka early on Tuesday.

The UPND criticised the raid as "barbaric" after Hichilema's wife and children were trapped inside and choked by tear gas.

Hichilema has launched several legal attempts to challenge the result of the August election, which he lost narrowly.

He says that the vote was rigged and accuses Lungu 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.

Hichilema, a wealthy self-made businessman, has run unsuccessfully for president five times.

The UPND called on supporters not to protest on Thursday as it said the government was seeking a chance to impose a state of emergency.

Some supporters at the press conference carried placards reading "Release HH before Zambia goes into flames".
A Syrian child receives treatment following a suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the northwestern Idlib province, on April 4, 2017

A suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Syria's Idlib province on April 4 killed dozens of people.

Western powers blamed the incident on President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and days later, the United States responded by firing cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.

Here is a recap of developments:

- The suspected attack -

On April 4, 2017, an air strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun kills at least 87 people, including children.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights labels the raid the second deadliest use of chemical weapons in Syria's six-year conflict. A sarin gas attack in 2013 reportedly killed more than 1,400 people in a Damascus suburb.

Doctors in Idlib province note symptoms indicating a likely chemical attack, including dilated pupils, convulsions and foaming at the mouth.

- The accusations -

Syrian rebels accuse Assad's regime of using munitions containing "toxic gas". The army categorically denies the charge.

A wave of international condemnation follows, with several governments accusing Assad of responsibility. The United States condemns the act as "reprehensible".

On April 5, Russia comes to Assad's defence, saying Syrian jets had hit a "terrorist warehouse" near Khan Sheikhun that contained "toxic substances".

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says "all the evidence" points to Assad's forces "using illegal weapons on their own people".

The World Health Organization says victims showed symptoms consistent with the use of a nerve agent, while humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) speaks of sarin gas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Assad is a "murderer".

- Trump's threat -

On April 6, US President Donald Trump threatens Syria, calling the attack "egregious" and an "affront to humanity".

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warns that Washington is "considering an appropriate response".

Moscow says Washington does not have "realistic, verified information" to back up its allegations. President Vladimir Putin says that accusing Assad without proof is "unacceptable".

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem insists the army "has not, did not and will not use this kind of weapons" even against "the terrorists that attack our civilians".

- US missile barrage -

Overnight on April 6-7, the US military fires 59 Tomahawk missiles from warships in the eastern Mediterranean at the Shayrat airbase near the central city of Homs, which it says was the launchpad for the alleged chemical attack.

Trump calls on all "civilised nations" to seek an end to the conflict in Syria.

The Syrian government describes the US strike as "foolish and irresponsible". Moscow calls the strikes "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international norms".

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says Washington is ready to take further action.

On April 9, allies of Damascus threaten reprisals against any party that carries out "aggression" against Syria. Haley says Syria will not experience peace with Assad in power.

On April 10, a US military spokesman says the Pentagon believes the Syrian regime probably has additional chemical weapons stocked at the targeted airfield. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis says the US strike destroyed a fifth of the Assad regime's remaining warplanes.

The following day, Mattis says Washington has "no doubt" that Assad's regime was behind the chemical attack.

Turkey's health minister says that tests proved the deadly nerve agent sarin was used in the suspected attack.

- Defiant Assad -

A defiant Assad, in an exclusive interview with AFP, calls the suspected chemical attack a "fabrication" to justify a US military strike against Syria.

He says his army had given up all its chemical weapons and that Syrian military power was not affected by the missile barrage.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," Assad says of the alleged chemical weapons attack.

In the interview, Assad also insists it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened.

"You have a lot of fake videos now," he says.

"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside the hostel at Abdul Wali Khan university where students beat to death a classmate in Mardan on April 13, 2017

Hundreds of Pakistani students beat to death a classmate known for his liberal views on a university campus in the country's conservative northwest Thursday, police and witnesses said.

Mashal Khan, a journalism student, was stripped, beaten, shot, and thrown from the second floor of his hostel at the Abdul Wali Khan university in Mardan, sources at the university said.

Graphic video footage from the scene shows dozens of men outside the hostel kicking and hurling projectiles at a body sprawled on the ground.

The killing comes as Pakistani authorities including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have been increasingly vocal over blasphemy in recent weeks.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive charge in the conservative Muslim country, and can carry the death penalty. Even unproven allegations can cause mob lynchings and violence.

"The student has been brutally murdered by his fellow students," Niaz Saeed, a senior police official, told AFP.

"He was badly tortured after being shot at a close range... He was beaten with sticks, bricks and hands," Saeed said, adding that hundreds of people had been involved in the attack.

At least 11 students have been arrested so far, police said, and the university was closed indefinitely, with the campus largely deserted late Thursday evening.

"We are investigating the case but at this stage we cannot say anything" about the motive for the attack, Saeed said

However a police source told AFP that students had recently complained to university authorities about Khan's alleged secular views.

Blood stains are seen on a wall and the ground at a hostel at Abdul Wali Khan university at the site of where students beat to death a classmate in Mardan on April 13, 2017

The source said Khan and two friends had been in a debate with other students earlier Thursday about his religious views which became so heated that teachers had to lock him in a room for his safety.

"But the enraged students grew to a mob and they attacked the room," the source said.

A university official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed teachers had been forced to intervene in the debate "in a bid to save him and his two other friends, but the mob of students attacked the room and tortured and killed him".

Khan was "disliked by other students for being liberal and secular and not following a religious code of life and not attending Friday prayers," the official said.

Last month Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered blasphemous content be removed from social media, and perpetrators punished.

The Interior Ministry also threatened to block all social media websites with blasphemous content, and said Facebook was sending a delegation to Pakistan to discuss their concerns, although Facebook would not confirm that to AFP.

Rights groups have long criticised Pakistan's colonial-era blasphemy legislation as a vehicle for personal vendettas.

At least 65 people have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to recent think tank report issued before Thursday's killing.

Activists have also accused religious conservatives of using blasphemy as a means of muzzling dissent.
US civil rights activist the Reverend Jesse Jackson led a protest against United Airlines at O'Hare airport over the violent dragging of a paid passenger from his seat to accommodate the airline's overbooking of the flight

The man dragged off a United Airlines flight, sparking an international uproar, suffered a broken nose and concussion, his lawyer said Thursday, adding that he is planning to sue.

David Dao was released from the hospital overnight and was at a "secure location," attorney Thomas Demetrio said at a news conference during which a member of Dao's family spoke out for the first time.

United remained under a spotlight Thursday as representatives of the carrier faced tough questioning at a city council hearing in Chicago, where the airline is headquartered and where the incident occurred.

Dao's lawyers filed a petition in court requesting that the city, which operates O'Hare International Airport, and United Airlines preserve evidence related to the incident on Sunday. They also said a lawsuit was forthcoming.

"This lawsuit, among other things, hopefully, will create a not just national discussion, but international discussion, on how we're going to be treated going forward," Demetrio said.

"For a long time, airlines, United in particular, have bullied us."

Online video of airport security officers dragging Dao off a packed flight Sunday sparked worldwide outrage. He screamed as officers pulled him from his seat, and was bloodied by the altercation.

The 69-year-old doctor's lawyers said he also suffered injury to his sinuses and lost two front teeth.

"My dad is healing right now," said Crystal Dao Pepper, 33, one of Dao's five children.

"We were completely horrified and shocked at what had happened to my father," she said.

In response, United Airlines released a statement reiterating its apology.

"We continue to express our sincerest apology to Dr. Dao. We cannot stress enough that we remain steadfast in our commitment to make this right," the statement said.

The airline added that it would no longer ask law enforcement to remove a passenger from a flight unless it is a matter of safety and security.

The statement did not quell criticism of United, especially since its apologies came days after the incident -- and after initial statements appeared to at least in part blame Dao.

At a sometimes tense hearing Thursday at Chicago's city hall, officials from United Airlines and O'Hare airport said they are conducting investigations to determine what went wrong with their procedures.

United said it will release the results of its review on April 30.

"We commit to you that this type of situation will never happen again aboard our aircraft," Margaret Smith, United's head of corporate affairs, said at the hearing.

Asked why United took days to apologize, Smith said the airline made a mistake.

"We took too long to say anything, and our statement -- when it first came out -- did not show the depth of our concern and regret," Smith said.

"We should have handled it quicker, and we should have been better at expressing how that is something that we just do not want ever to happen again at United."

Lawmakers in Congress have also signaled potential action.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois said she would author a bill to end the practice of airlines denying boarding to passengers on overbooked flights. A group of 21 senators also said they planned to examine the incident.
An international team of researchers found that commercial hunting more heavily impacted animal populations than hunting for food

Hunting poses a major threat to mammals and birds in tropical regions near population centers and roads, according to new research published Thursday in the US journal Science.

An international team of researchers found that mammal and bird populations dropped on average by 83 percent and 57 percent, respectively, in zones situated seven to 40 kilometers (four to 25 miles) from access points such as roads or villages.

The study also showed that commercial hunting more heavily impacted animal populations than hunting for food.

A number of factors drive declining animal populations, like deforestation and habitat loss. But this study was the first to show the large-scale impact of hunting on a wide range of animal species, according to the researchers.

They combined 176 studies to quantify declines of 254 mammal species and 97 bird species across the tropics in Central and South America, Africa and Asia.

Rising demand for wild game meat has depleted populations of large species in close proximity to villages, the researchers said, meaning hunters were traveling greater distances in search of quarry.

"Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed to avoid further defaunation," said study leader Ana Benitez-Lopez of Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

"This includes monitoring hunting activities by increasing anti-poaching patrols and controlling overexploitation via law enforcement."
A Syrian child receives treatment following a suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the northwestern Idlib province, on April 4, 2017

The Syrian government's suspected chemical weapons attack on civilians last week amounts to a "war crime," the US State Department said Thursday.

It also ridiculed comments by President Bashar al-Assad in an interview with AFP to the effect that the alleged attack was fabricated by the United States to justify an American military strike.

"Sadly, it's vintage Assad. It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion," said department spokesman Mark Toner, alluding to what Assad said in the interview Wednesday. It was Assad's first since the alleged April 4 chemical weapons attack prompted a US cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base.

The suspected chemical attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage.

"Frankly, it's a tactic we've seen on Russia's part as well in the past," Toner told a daily press briefing.

Echoing charges by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Toner said there can be little doubt that the chemical weapons attack in Idlib province was carried out by Syrian government forces.

"It wasn't only a violation of the laws of war but it was a -- we believe, a war crime," Toner said.

Tillerson, visiting Moscow on Wednesday, addressed the issue of the chemical weapons attack but he stopped short of calling it a war crime.

Tillerson did raise the prospect of criminal proceedings at some point over the attack, including against Assad himself, but warned there were be major legal obstacles to this.
An emergency room doctor in Detroit has been accused of carrying out female genital mutilation

A US doctor in Detroit has been arrested and charged with carrying out female genital mutilation on girls aged six to eight, prosecutors said.

Emergency room doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, is accused of carrying out the widely condemned practice -- illegal in the United States -- for 12 years from a medical office in Livonia, Michigan.

She appeared in a US federal court in Detroit on Thursday and was remanded into custody until at least Monday, said a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office.

If convicted at trial she faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the United States on anyone under than 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.

Prosecutors in Michigan say they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.

Some of Nagarwala's victims traveled from outside Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, prosecutors said.

"Dr Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims," said acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco.

"The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse."

"The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law," said acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch.

In 2006, a court in Georgia found a man guilty of sexually mutilating his two-year-old daughter with a pair of scissors, in what was then the first recorded case of female genital mutilation in the United States.

The Ethiopian immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated battery and cruelty to children for the 2001 crime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 513,000 women and girls in the United States in 2012 were at risk of or had been subjected to female genital mutilation or cutting.

The estimate was three times higher than one based on 1990 data, due to increased immigration from countries where genital mutilation is practiced.

Globally, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have suffered some form of female genital mutilation across 30 countries, according to the United Nations.

While concentrated in Africa, it is common in some communities in Asia, Arab states and Latin America. Half of those cut live in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, according to the UN.
Ecumenical Patriarch Will Visit WCC in Geneva

Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-79-507-6363; www.oikoumene.org/press



GENEVA, April, 13, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, on Monday, 24 April.

He will speak about issues concerning the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, the ecumenical movement, the protection of the environment and the protection of children. Interpretation in French will be available, and the lecture will be followed by a reception.

His All-Holiness Bartholomew will be in WCC during His official visit to Switzerland on the occasion of His 25th anniversary of enthronement as Ecumenical Patriarch, the 50 years of the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy and the 20th anniversary of the opening of its Institute of Postgraduate Studies, on 22-24 April.

When: 24 April, 2017, 12:00, followed by a reception

Where: Ecumenical Centre, Visser 't Hooft Hall, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

About the visit: His All-Holiness Bartholomew's visit includes two days of anniversary events in the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a public lecture in the University of Fribourg and a pilgrimage visit to the Taize Community.

Programme of the festivities in the Orthodox Centre of Chambesy

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Taize

Media contacts:

Please contact WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten: mej@wcc-coe.org, +41 79 507 63 63

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.
US President Donald Trump vows to take care of the "problem" of North Korea

US President Donald Trump vowed Thursday that the "problem" of North Korea "will be taken care of," as speculation mounted that Pyongyang might be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," Trump told reporters.

Separately on Twitter he expressed confidence China, Pyongyang's sole ally, would "properly deal with North Korea."

But, "if they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A."

The ominous comments came the same day Trump ordered the dropping of the biggest non-nuclear bomb the US military possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

A US aircraft carrier and its naval strike group has been diverted to the Korean peninsula.

Trump also flexed his military muscle last week by ordering cruise missile strikes on a Syrian airbase the US believed was the origin of an alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians in a northern Syria town.

- North Korea test 'primed' -

There are reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il-Sung.

A US monitoring group, 38North, has described the Punggye-ri test site as "primed and ready."

North Korea missile and nuclear sites

The Voice of America, quoting US government and other sources, said North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

Trump has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

He has asked his advisers to give him all options for dealing with the nuclear-armed North.

The US president has also said he would not signal his punches before embarking on any military action abroad.

- China influence 'not what you'd think' -

Asked on Thursday whether the bomb dropped in Afghanistan -- a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb better known by its nickname, the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- was a warning to Pyongyang, Trump demurred.

"I don't know if this sends a message to North Korea," he said. "It doesn't make any difference if it does or not."

The North is under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

In an interview published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping to let North Korea know that the US has not only aircraft carriers but nuclear submarines.

But Trump said Xi, during a meeting in Florida last week, had corrected his earlier misconception that Beijing could easily get rid of the North Korea threat.

"After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it's not so easy," Trump said. "I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power" over North Korea. "But it's not what you would think."
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) - U.S. Senator John McCain has congratulated Montenegro for its upcoming NATO membership and blasted Russia for its alleged attempts to interfere in the Balkans.

McCain, who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, is one of the strongest supporters of expanding NATO in Europe.

He said in Montenegro on Wednesday that "the behavior on the part of Russians, throughout the region and the world, is not acceptable."

U.S. Sen. John McCain, right, shakes hand with Montenegrin army officers in Podgorica, Montenegro, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. McCain has congratulated Montenegro for its upcoming NATO membership, blasting Russia for its attempts to interfere in the Balkans. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)

The Senate backed Montenegro's accession to NATO last month, a message that the U.S. will push back against Russian efforts to increase its influence in Europe.

President Donald Trump signed the ratification on Tuesday.

McCain says: "the Russian behavior requires our solidarity and our strength."

NATO invited tiny Montenegro to join the military alliance as its 29th member in December 2015.
BERLIN (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman says that comparing Nazi war crimes to present-day situations "leads to nothing good" - a reaction to his U.S. counterpart's remarks about Syrian President Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's invoking of the Holocaust to illustrate the severity of chemical weapons use drew rebukes from Jewish groups and critics.

Spicer apologized on Tuesday for making an "inappropriate and insensitive" comparison.

He had said that Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." Critics noted the remark ignored Hitler's use of gas chambers to exterminate Jews.

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said Wednesday that Spicer's comment "only shows what is in any case the German government's position - any comparison of current situations with Nazi crimes leads to nothing good."
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The head of the international body that investigates responsibility for reports of chemical weapons use in Syria is taking a new job as the U.N. grapples with responding to another alleged poison attack.

The U.N. announced Wednesday that Virginia Gamba is becoming its special representative for children and armed conflict.

It's not immediately clear who will succeed her in leading the joint investigative initiative by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to assess blame for chemical attacks. She's expected to stay on for a few weeks.

The UN-OPCW investigators have blamed at least three chemical weapons attacks on Syria and one on Islamic State extremists.

A suspected April 4 chemical attack in civil war-ravaged Syria killed nearly 90 people and is under OPCW investigation.
CHICAGO (AP) - Robbery was the motive that led to the fatal shooting of a criminal court judge outside his Chicago home, police said Wednesday.

Joshua Smith, 37, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and obstruction in the death of Associate Cook County Circuit Judge Raymond Myles, said Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples.

A 52-year-old woman that the judge knew also was shot in the incident early Monday on the city's South Side. She survived. Her name has not been released because police say she is a witness in the killing.

This undated photo provided by the Chicago Police Department shows Joshua Smith. Smith was charged Wednesday April 12, 2017, in the killing of a criminal court judge who was shot to death outside his Chicago home after a woman he knew was wounded by gunfire. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

Staples said Wednesday that Smith did not act alone and that the investigation is ongoing. She said the gun in the shooting was also used in an armed robbery in January that left that victim wounded.

She said "the placement and the concentration of cameras in and outside of the judge's neighborhood was instrumental for detectives to get a jump-start on this case."

Video cameras on Myles' home and others in the area helped police identify the car used by the suspects in the shooting and its license plate, Staples said. When police found the vehicle, it had a different license plate than the one seen in the videos, she said.

She said police don't think the car owner took part in the crime.

Police have said the woman that Myles knew had already been shot and that Myles exchanged words with the attacker and then was shot, too.

Smith was convicted of armed robbery in 2003 and sentenced to six years in prison, according to authorities. The Chicago Sun-Times, citing court records, reported that Smith appeared before Myles in 2001 on a charge of failing to have a title for a vehicle and the case was dismissed.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said he didn't know about vehicle title case and couldn't comment.

Myles, 66, received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He was appointed to the court in 1999. Circuit court judges appointed him an associate judge in 2001 and Myles had served in the criminal division since 2009, according Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.

The FBI is working with Chicago police on the investigation into Myles' shooting, and is offering a $25,000 reward for information in the case.

An investigator opens the door of a vehicle outside a home on the South Side of Chicago, Monday morning, April 10, 2017, after Cook County Circuit Court Raymond Myles was shot to death outside his home. Myles was an associate judge in the court's criminal division. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune via AP)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Danielle Randolph squinted through rain-splattered windows as the sea freighter lunged upward sharply, then fell into the trough of a 30-foot-tall wave. The skies were black. The second mate stood on the navigation bridge high above El Faro's main deck, which spread out before her like an aircraft carrier stacked high with red, white and blue cargo containers.

News blurted through the bridge's radio speaker: Forecasters had named the storm Hurricane Joaquin as it built into a Category 3, with winds of 130 mph. "Oh my God," she said to the helmsman standing nearby, bracing when the ship she called "the rust bucket" shuddered over another wave.

"Can't pound your way through them waves. Break the ship in half," the helmsman said.

FILE - This undated image made from a video released April 26, 2016, by the National Transportation Safety Board shows the stern of the sunken ship El Faro. 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. All 33 crew members were killed. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP, File)

It was 1:15 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2015, and the Atlantic was boiling over. El Faro, sailing near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, was being knocked about by the strongest October storm to hit these waters since 1866. In the coming hours, El Faro and its crew would fight desperately for survival .

Another wave slammed into them. "Oh (expletive)," said Randolph. "That was a bad one." The alarm sounded. The ship was now pushed in another direction, off the captain's chosen course. After a few tense seconds, El Faro righted herself.

"She's doin' good. I'm impressed. Knock on wood," said Randolph.

El Faro was one of two ships owned by TOTE Maritime Inc. that navigated in constant rotation between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. It brought everything from milk to Mercedes Benzes to the island. If El Faro missed its run store shelves sat empty, an economy suffered and TOTE lost money.

This run was to be El Faro's last before a major retrofit. Inspectors had found parts of the vessel's boilers that were "deteriorated severely" and service was scheduled in the next month. This came as no surprise: One Coast Guard inspector had identified a "disturbing" uptick in safety discrepancies during El Faro's inspections from 2013 to 2014. The Guard was in the process of adding the 40-year-old ship to its "target list" of U.S. cargo vessels that needed a higher level of scrutiny.

To add to the danger, El Faro was equipped with open-top lifeboats similar to those used on the Titanic or Lusitania. Modern ships carry the round, tent-like lifeboats with electronic beacons that dramatically increase survival chances in a shipwreck.

Once, Randolph texted pictures of El Faro's lifeboats to her mom. "Is that your lifeboat? It's open," her mom replied, aghast. A coastal Mainer, Laurie Bobillot knew open life boats to be a thing of the past. "Let's hope you never get into some rough seas," she wrote, "because you know kid, you're screwed."

"Yes, I know," Randolph replied. "Mom, if I ever die at sea, that's where I want to be."

___

Randolph had a cordial relationship with the captain of El Faro. She respected him, but told her mother and friends she didn't like his dismissive attitude. The storm had been growing, so Randolph suggested they consider taking a longer, slower route south through the Old Bahama Channel. But the captain had the final word on voyage planning, and he refused to deviate.

She'd noticed the captain was sound asleep when she'd called. It rang a few times before he answered.

The ship was taking a beating, she'd said, but was holding course. The captain asked about the latest weather reports. He would return to the bridge in a few hours. She hung up the phone as the ship took on another huge wave.

"He said to run it. Hooold on to your ass!" Randolph shouted.

"Figured the captain would be up here," the helmsman said. Microphones on the bridge picked up their conversations, which were sent to a voyage data recorder, the ship's "black box."

"I thought so too. I'm surprised," Randolph replied.

"Damn," the helmsman said with disappointment. "He'll play hero tomorrow," he said laughing. The captain would be praised for the ship making it through Hurricane Joaquin to San Juan on time.

Even after a decade at sea, Randolph, 34, maintained a youthful air. Her round, freckled face was slightly weathered from the sun, and her dumb jokes endeared her to the 32 crewmates who relied on her skillful navigation. She stood only 5-foot-3, but her mariner toughness was displayed in the large anchor tattoo on her chest, which peeked over the neckline of the vintage '50s dresses she liked to wear on shore.

Randolph was one of only two women on this cargo run. Raised in a military family whose motto was "suck it up," she worked hard and asked few questions.

But now, she was helpless against the crushing waves, wind and rain. "It would help if I knew which direction the swell was coming from," Randolph said to the helmsman. "I could alter course a little more. I can't see." They heard a massive thump from below, in the bowels of the ship. El Faro carried heavy cargo in its interior holds: If that was a car or something else coming loose, it was a sailor-crushing danger.

"Whoooo!" Randolph exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's startin' to get a little bit more active around here," the helmsman replied. The swelling seas shoved El Faro around like a cork.

Randolph could not know exactly how hard the wind was blowing. El Faro's anemometer, or wind gauge, had been broken for years. To adapt, the sailors usually stepped out on deck to gauge wind speed the old-fashioned way, by checking the flap of the boat's flags. That was impossible in the dark. Randolph scanned the radar for a fellow vessel in the area, but every other ship had diverted to avoid the storm. El Faro was alone.

"Hello, Joaquin," Randolph said to the storm. "It's just getting bigger - our path is going right through it."

At 3:34 a.m. the captain emerged from his stateroom. Randolph greeted him, grateful for the chance to go down to her room for a quick rest. She'd found time to fire off a quick email to her mother. "We are heading straight into it, Category 3, last we checked. Winds are super bad. Love to everyone."

Later that day, reading the email in Denmark, Wisconsin, Randolph's mother knew something was wrong. Randolph never signed her emails, "Love to everyone." Her mother understood that her daughter was sending a coded message: I may never see you again.

___

With his square chin, salt-and-pepper hair and thick Mainer's brogue, El Faro's captain was a meticulous master who struck a commanding presence. Yet Michael Davidson's detached, hands-off style led Randolph and some others to describe the 53-year-old master as a "stateroom captain." Stateroom captains didn't get their hands dirty and weren't seen a lot on deck. They didn't share smokes and chit chat with the crew.

On the bridge, he greeted Randolph's replacement, chief mate Steve Shultz, and a new helmsman, Frank Hamm. He set out to calm their nerves. "There's nothing bad about this ride," the captain announced, despite the hurricane raging outside. "I was sleepin' like a baby. This is every day in Alaska," the captain continued. No one could see out of the windows, except for when brief sparks of lightning illuminated the rain. "A typical winter day in Alaska."

Earlier in his career Davidson had navigated freighters in the Alaska trade, known in the industry as one of the most bruising theaters of sailing. But his leadership had been questioned by TOTE's upper management, and after initially leaning toward offering Davidson the job heading one of its new ships the company decided to go in a different direction. Now favored were younger captains who could drive the new high-tech freighters.

Before leaving port in Jacksonville, Davidson expressed disappointment to colleagues that he hadn't been chosen to command the modern, liquefied natural gas-fueled ship that was to replace El Faro. The captain had been disappointed by the news, but he was a professional. Perhaps he thought he could show them that they'd made a mistake by making El Faro's cargo run on time, even with a major storm system in his way. Davidson knew what could happen to masters who raised safety concerns that weren't considered serious enough by the company. He had been fired by a prior employer after an incident with another ship. The steering was bad on that one, and he'd refused an order to take it to port, requiring the company to hire tugboats to drag it there instead.

The course alarm, which blared every time the ship deviated from its programmed route, was now ringing every few seconds as the seas flung the vessel around. The captain ordered it turned off, along with the auto-piloting system, nicknamed the "Iron Mike." They would have to steer the ship manually, to use their human senses to feel the swell and winds, as they piloted blindly into the waves.

Containers the size of Mack trucks were breaking free from their chain lashings. They'd left port not expecting the heavy weather and didn't ask the longshoremen for extra storm lashes, the ship's third mate had said ruefully earlier in the day, as the storm worsened. Now, thrown off balance, El Faro tilted precariously to the right, or starboard, as it plunged into the pounding waves.

Unsure why his boat was listing, the captain searched for a solution. The steep angling of the ship was making it hard to stand up straight. If he knew the hurricane-force wind's direction - difficult to detect at night in a hurricane with a broken wind gauge - the helmsman could position the freighter so that the wind hit its left, port side, correcting the vessel's pitch. Flooding in the cavern-like interior holds could be battled with pumps to redirect the water into other areas for balance. If the ship lost some of its 20-ton containers, he could use the pumps to help compensate for that, too.

None of that mattered without power, though. The captain called down to the engine room to check that the ship's boilers, its only source of power, were still operational. Without propulsion in a Category 3 storm, El Faro would be lost.

"How you guys doing down there?" he asked. The engineer replied that they were "blowin' tubes," or trying to remove obstructions from the engine as it chugged. There was another problem: the intake tube that sucked oil like a straw from a large tank into the engines was starting to lose contact with the oil due to the ship's tilt. Without oil, the engines would stop running altogether.

Standing with the captain on the bridge, chief mate Shultz noted the barometer readings were headed downward, which could indicate they were closer to Joaquin's eye. That ran counter to the storm track models Davidson had used - those showed the storm farther away. He still planned to outrun it.

"We won't be goin' through the eye," the captain said: If they could skirt a bit further south, away from the eye toward Crooked Island, they would reach its backside more quickly.

With the ship tilting and oil pressure decreasing, the captain decided to use the wind to force the ship more upright. If he could do that, he could get oil pressure back, and increase the ship's power. "Just steer that heading right there the best you can. That'll work for us," the captain instructed Hamm and Shultz.

The ship dropped down a three-story-tall swell. "Feel the pressure droppin' in your ears just then? Feel that?" Davidson said, trying to make light of the situation.

Hamm's large frame was bent over in fear at his console. Two days earlier, the 49-year-old father of five had called Rochelle, his wife, just before he sailed out of range. He said everything was OK - Hamm liked and trusted the captain, with whom he'd often worked. But in the chaos of the storm, he had been unable to send his customary daily email home.

"Take your time and relax," Davidson said. Hamm managed to find his breath, then took the helm back. "I am relaxed, Captain."

Davidson turned quickly to the ship's computer. He needed to check the Bon Voyage System, or BVS, an online subscription weather forecasting tool, to get the latest hard data on Joaquin. "Hanging in there (Frank)?" Shultz said, trying to keep the jittery helmsman engaged as the captain scanned his email for the weather updates. "Still got us on course. You're doin' great."

The captain grew confused. Though the forecasting tool told him the storm was still farther north, clearly they were right in it. "We're gettin' conflicting reports as to where the center of the storm is," he said.

Davidson didn't know that there was a problem with the BVS system emails he was receiving: One update he'd received had storm tracking information that was 21 hours old. While he had access to other forecasts on the internet, Davidson relied on BVS. The storm they now faced was far more advanced than his weather models showed.

"Our biggest enemy here right now is we can't see," he said. He believed they were nearing the back side of the storm, but had no way of knowing for sure. By overruling his crew's suggested alternate routes, he had made a horrible mistake.

An engineer from below deck appeared on the bridge. Something wasn't right. "I've never seen it list like this," the engineer reported. El Faro's steep list was not just from sliding shipping containers, the engineer reasoned - something else was to blame.

The phone rang with a call from the engine room. The ship was losing oil pressure, and needed to be righted now.

"I'm tryin' to get her steadied up," the captain replied.

Water surged over the ship's stern, and the sound of the ocean pounding the old ship was deafening. Another electric ring of the telephone. Davidson answered, "Bridge, captain."

A moment passed and he turned to his chief mate: "We got a prrroooblem."

Water had started flooding one of the ship's warehouse-sized holds used to store cars and other large containers. He ordered Shultz, a 54-year-old former Navy captain and seasoned mariner, below deck immediately to start pumping out the hold. It was a perilous assignment. Any piece of heavy cargo afloat in the hold could easily pulverize Shultz. The chief mate grabbed a walkie-talkie and climbed down from the bridge.

The captain took the ship's helm from Hamm. With water flooding into El Faro's insides, he knew why he'd been unable to right the ship. He turned the steering wheel hard, trying to use the wind again - anything to decrease the ship's angle. Shultz radioed from down below, in the flooded cargo chamber.

"About knee deep in here," he said.

___

At 6 a.m., Randolph came back to the bridge from her stateroom. She'd changed out of her work clothes, and hadn't changed back before coming up.

She moved over to the dead radar screen - it'd gone dark, maybe from water coming through a gap in one of the bridge's windows - to try and get the ship's current position. After a few minutes, the radar fluttered and suddenly blinked back to life. "All right, good," the captain said. He ordered Randolph to sync the latest BVS weather models with their current position, still not realizing the data was hours old, and useless.

The ship groaned over yet another tall wave. "Nooooo," Randolph said, bracing. "There goes the lawn furniture."

"Let's hope that's all," said the captain.

Randolph wasn't supposed to be on the bridge, but Davidson didn't question her. "You want me to stay with you?" Randolph asked. "Please," the captain said. "It's just the ..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

Shultz called from the flooded hold again. He wanted the bridge to move the ship so the water below would shift to the other side.

All at once, a terrifying silence gripped them. The rumble and vibration of ship's engines ceased. El Faro was adrift.

"I think we just lost the plant," Davidson said.

Somehow, he needed to balance the ship - an almost impossible feat without propulsion.

Down below, the whirring pumps continued to push thousands of gallons a minute from the flooded holds. Up top, everyone had to use their leg muscles to stay standing on the angling ship. "Feeling those thighs burn?" Randolph asked Hamm, as he dug in to turn the rudder.

Just after 7 a.m., Davidson picked up the ship's emergency satellite phone. He dialed the cellphone number of TOTE's designated person ashore, the only human in charge of knowing what was going on with the fleet.

The call went to voicemail.

Davidson rattled out a brief message, then called the company's answering service. A woman picked up with a pleasant hello.

"We had a hull breach; a scuttle blew open during a storm," Davidson explained tersely. "We have water down in three hold, with a heavy list. We've lost the main propulsion unit, the engineers cannot get it going." He asked for her to patch him through to a TOTE official immediately.

"Can you please give me your satellite phone number and spell the name of the vessel?" she asked slowly. "Spell your name, please?"

TOTE safety officials had identified the answering service as a problem previously, but it had not been fixed.

"The clock is ticking" the captain said, his voice calm despite the chaos. He tried again. "This is a marine emergency, and I am tryin' to also notify management!" He gave the operator his name and number and hung up.

Electronic alarms echoed throughout the steel freighter. Randolph read out their current position. The captain called down to the flooding hold. "Can you tell if it's decreasing or increasing?" he asked. "I can't tell captain. Seems as if it's goin' down," the chief mate replied. He turned to Randolph. "Say second mate. How 'bout our range and bearing from like San Miguel Island? Or San Salvador? Whatever that island is there," he said, looking for any sign of land they might be able to reach. He grabbed El Faro's emergency beacon that would aid rescuers in finding their position.

The satellite phone rang, it was his boss. "Yeah, I'm real good," Davidson said matter-of-factly. "Three hold's got considerable amount of water in it. Uh, we have a very, very healthy port list. The engineers cannot get lube oil pressure on the plant, therefore we've got no main engine. And let me give you, um, a latitude and longitude. I just wanted to give you a heads up before I push that, push that button," he said, referring to the Ship Security Alert System, or SSAS, an emergency beacon. It was 7:07 a.m.

"The crew is safe," he said into the phone. "Right now we're tryin' to save the ship. But it's not gettin' any better. No one's panicking. Our safest bet is to stay with the ship during this particular time. The weather is ferocious out here." Davidson told his boss it was time to alert the Coast Guard. "I wanna wake everybody up," he said. "I just wanted to give you that courtesy, so you wouldn't be blindsided by it. Everybody's safe right now, we're in survival mode."

Randolph stood at the ready. "All right now, push the SSAS button," he commanded.

"Roger," she said.

"Wake everybody up. WAKE 'EM UP!" Davidson shouted. "We're gonna be good. We're gonna make it right here."

Chief Mate Shultz radioed from the flooded hold again. "I think the water level's rising captain," he said. He could think of nothing more to do.

"All right, chief," the captain replied.

Davidson's tinny voice sounded over the ship's intercom ordering the crew to muster. He wanted everyone accounted for. The high-frequency bell of the abandon ship alarm rang out.

"Can I get my vest?" Randolph asked.

"Yup, bring mine up too and bring one for (Frank)" the captain replied. The helmsman, a large man and diabetic, yelled out as Randolph left the bridge: "I need two!"

"OK buddy, relax," the captain said. The ship heaved, the tip of its bow sinking beneath the black water.

"Bow is down. Bow is down," Davidson said over the ship intercom.

"Get into your rafts. Throw all your rafts in the water," he yelled. "Everybody. EVERYBODY GET OFF THE SHIP! STAY TOGETHER!" he screamed.

Hamm was unable to move. "Cap, Cap," he said.

"You gotta get up," Davidson ordered. "You gotta snap out of it and we gotta get out!" he said, his voice firm, urgent.

"Help me!" Hamm pleaded.

"Ya gotta get to safety!" the captain yelped. Hamm couldn't move.

The shrill beat of alarms continued as the ship's tilt worsened.

The captain reached for Hamm. "Don't panic. Don't panic," he said. "Work your way up here. Don't freeze up! Follow me," he pleaded with Hamm.

"I can't! My feet are slipping! I'm goin' down!"

Davidson looked at his terrified helmsman. "You're not goin' down. COME ON!" he yelled.

"You gonna leave me," Hamm cried.

"I'm not leavin' you. Let's go," the captain responded.

"I'M A GONER!" Hamm screamed.

"NO, YOU'RE NOT!" the captain replied.

El Faro's bridge reared up as the ship sank deeper.

"IT'S TIME TO COME THIS WAY!" Davidson shouted, as El Faro slipped beneath the sea.

___

It would be months before search crews found the wreckage. El Faro had come to rest 15,000 feet down, on the seafloor near the Bahamas. The bridge where Hamm and Davidson struggled for survival had separated from the vessel's hull, and lay a quarter mile away.

No bodies were ever recovered. It was the worst maritime disaster for a U.S.-flagged vessel since 1983.

The U.S. Coast Guard has held six weeks of investigative hearings over the past year, and the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting its own probe. Both agencies are expected to issue findings later this year.

TOTE defended its safety record, and emphasized that El Faro was permitted to operate by the Coast Guard despite the issues flagged by inspectors. The company also said it had been working on fixing the problems with its emergency answering service, but had not gotten to it before El Faro's voyage. It now is paying for a more expensive storm forecasting tool for its entire fleet.

In December 2015, about two months after El Faro sank, a couple picking up trash on Ormond Beach in Florida found a green hard hat among the plastic bottles and other garbage. The name "FRANK" was scrawled in Hamm's writing across the front.

Rochelle Hamm recognized it immediately as her husband's. It's encrusted with sand and bits of dried seaweed.

She keeps it in a bag by the side of her bed.

___

Follow Jason Dearen on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JHDearen

This undated selfie photo made available by Laurie Randolph shows her daughter, Danielle. Danielle Randolph, a second mate on the freighter El Faro, should have had quick access to life jackets on the bridge. Hearing that she did not, says Brian Young, chief investigator for the NTSB, filled him with "disgust." "Her request to get the life jackets is something we're looking into," he told The Associated Press. "That definitely raised a flag for us." (Laurie Randolph via AP)

This March 21, 2010 photo provided by William Van Dorp shows the El Faro cargo ship docked in Baltimore. The story of the ship's final hours 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. The El Faro went down on Oct. 1, 2015, as it sailed in Hurricane Joaquin near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. (Will Van Dorp via AP)

This undated photo made available by Laurie Randolph shows her daughter, Danielle. Danielle Randolph, a second mate on the freighter El Faro, sank in the Bahamas on Oct. 1, 2015. As the crew of the freighter El Faro fought their futile battle with a hurricane, the second mate asked the captain if she could leave the bridge to retrieve her life jacket. (Laurie Randolph via AP)

In this image made from a video released by the National Transportation Safety Board on April 26, 2016 shows the top of El Faro navigation bridge structure with missing voyage data recorder, mast and support structures at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in the Bahamas. 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. All 33 crew members were killed. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017 file photo, family members of El Faro crew members stand with photographs of their loved ones during a break in a U.S. Coast Guard investigative hearing in Jacksonville, Fla. The 790-foot freighter heading from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico sailed into the eye of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas on Oct. 1, 2015 and sank, killing all 33 crew members. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP, File)

Rochelle Hamm holds the hard hat of her husband, Frank, at her home in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Frank Hamm was a new helmsman on the freighter El Faro, that sank in the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1, 2015. All 33 crew members were killed. Hamm's helmet was found on Ormond Beach, Fla., on December 2015. The helmet, found by a couple cleaning trash off a Florida beach, washed ashore two months after he disappeared. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

This image released by the NTSB on Dec. 13, 2016, indicates the location of the El Faro on Oct. 1, 2015, at about 2 a.m., and the path of Hurricane Joaquin. The El Faro sank Oct. 1, 2015, and all 33 crew members perished in the accident. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP)

Rochelle Hamm holds the hard hat of her husband, Frank, at her home in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Frank Hamm was a new helmsman on the freighter El Faro, that sank in the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1, 2015. All 33 crew members were killed. Hamm's helmet was found on Ormond Beach, Fla., on December 2015. The helmet, found by a couple cleaning trash off a Florida beach, washed ashore two months after he disappeared. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Rochelle Hamm speaks during an interview at her home in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Since her husband died after the freighter El Faro sank in a hurricane, Rochelle has been on a mission to make ships safer. Hamm says she was motivated in part by her terrified husband's last words, which were recorded and stored on the ship's date recorder as the vessel sank. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Frank Hamm, a new helmsman on the freighter El Faro, is shown in a framed photograph at the home of his widow, Rochelle Hamm, in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 14, 2017. As the cargo freighter went down in a hurricane on Oct. 1, 2015, the ship's data recorder captured his final words. "My feet are slipping! I'm goin' down!" he cries after the crew is ordered to abandon ship. "I'M A GONER!" he shouts. (Courtesy Rochelle Hamm via AP)

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2016 file photo, Coast Guard Captain Jason Neubauer, left, the chairman of the El Faro hearing board and Tom Roth-Roffy, the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge listen as Charles Baird, the former second mate of the El Faro answers questions from Neubauer during a hearing investigating the ship's sinking, in Jacksonville, Fla. Before the freighter El Faro sank, the captain was warned by a text message from his vacationing second mate that a storm looming offshore was forecast to become a hurricane, according to testimony given by Baird Thursday. The story of the cargo ship El Faro's final hours 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. (Bob Self /The Florida Times-Union via AP, File)

FILE- In this Feb. 17, 2016 file photo, Retired Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr, President and CEO of TOTE Services, Inc., left, answer questions from the board at a hearing investigating the sinking of the El Faro ship in Jacksonville, Fla. The story of the cargo ship El Faro's final hours 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. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union via AP, File)

FILE - This undated photo provided by TOTE Maritime shows the cargo ship, El Faro. On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said a search team using sophisticated scanning sonar has found the wreckage of a vessel believed to be the ship which went missing with 33 crewmembers on Oct. 1 during Hurricane Joaquin. (TOTE Maritime via AP)

This April 11, 2017 photo provided by the NTSB shows investigator Brian Young at an undisclosed location. Young is the chief investigator for the NTSB into the sinking of the freighter El Faro in the Bahamas on Oct. 1, 2015. The 790- foot ship sank after losing propulsion in Hurricane Joaquin. The bodies of the 33 crew members were never found. (NTSB via AP)

Rochelle Hamm, the widow of El Faro crew member Frank Hamm, wipes her eyes during an interview at her home in Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. After losing her husband in a maritime accident, she is pressing for what she calls Hamm Alert, a new safety system that would keep ships in port during major storms - similar to air traffic control for planes. An online petition has collected more than 11,000 signatures in support. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Wall Street's "Charging Bull" artist wanting the "Fearless Girl" statue removed (all times local):

10:10 p.m.

An advertising firm that's partly behind the "Fearless Girl" statue placed opposite Wall Street's "Charging Bull" statue says it's proud of what she stands for.

FILE In this March 8, 2017 file photo, the "Fearless Girl" statue faces Wall Street's charging bull statue in New York. The sculptor of Wall Street's "Charging Bull" says New York City is violating his legal rights by forcing his bronze beast to face off against the "Fearless Girl." Artist Arturo Di Modica said Wednesday, April 12, that the new neighboring statue changes his bull into something negative. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

McCann Worldgroup made the comment on Wednesday after the bull's sculptor said the girl statue violated his legal rights and he wants it removed.

Artist Arturo Di Modica (dee MOH'-dih-kuh) says it changed his bull into something negative. He says the bull's message is supposed to be "freedom in the world, peace, strength, power and love."

McCann spokesman Jeremy Miller says the "Fearless Girl" statue stands "in support of women and girls everywhere."

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1 p.m.

The sculptor of Wall Street's "Charging Bull" says New York City is violating his legal rights by forcing his bronze beast to face off against the "Fearless Girl."

Artist Arturo Di Modica (dee-MOH'-dih-kuh) said Wednesday that the new neighboring statue changes his bull into something negative.

He says the bull's message is supposed to be "freedom in the world, peace, strength, power and love."

His lawyers say "Fearless Girl" exploits the bull for commercial purposes. They want it moved and are hoping for an amicable solution.

Artist Kristen Visbal's statue of a girl with her hands on her hips was placed on the traffic island on March 7.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says men who don't like women taking up space "are exactly why we need 'Fearless Girl.'"

Arturo Di Modica holds a model of his Charging Bull sculpture during a news conference Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in New York. Di Modica and his attorneys announced at the news conference that he's challenging city officials who issued a permit for "Fearless Girl," a bronze statue that faces the bull sculpture on the same cobblestone island in the street, and has drawn worldwide attention. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Arturo Di Modica holds a model of his Charging Bull sculpture during a news conference Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in New York. Di Modica and his attorneys announced at the news conference that he's challenging city officials who issued a permit for "Fearless Girl," a bronze statue that faces the bull sculpture on the same cobble stone island in the street, and has drawn worldwide attention. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Sculptor Arturo Di Modica, left, listens to attorney Norman Siegel, upper right, at his law offices in New York Wed., April 12, 2017, as Di Modica and his attorneys announced at the news conference that he's challenging city officials who issued a permit for "Fearless Girl," a bronze statue that faces the bull sculpture on the same cobble stone island in the street, and has drawn worldwide attention. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
BEIJING (AP) - China's export growth accelerated in March in a positive sign for global demand while import growth cooled.

Exports rose 16.4 percent from a year earlier to $180.6 billion, up from 4 percent growth in the first two months of the year, according to customs data Thursday. Imports rose 20.3 percent to $156.6 billion, down growth in January-February of 26.4 percent.

The unexpectedly strong exports are a positive sign for Chinese leaders who want to avert job losses in trade-related industries while they try to nurture consumer-driven economic growth.

"External demand appears to have strengthened further," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. "On the other hand, however, there are signs that the jump in imports on the back of China's recent economic recovery may now be starting to lose steam."

China's politically sensitive global trade surplus contracted 20 percent from a year earlier to $23.9 billion.

The trade surplus with the United States was $17.7 billion and the gap with Europe was $7.7 billion.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump removed a potential threat to Chinese export performance when he said he won't label Beijing a currency manipulator. The announcement represented a reverse from Trump's campaign promise to issue such a declaration, which would open the way to possible sanctions.

"They're not currency manipulators," Trump told The Wall Street Journal. He said a U.S. declaration of that China manipulated the exchange rate of its yuan to gain a trade advantage could jeopardize talks with China on North Korea.

It is rare for American leaders to link trade or currency disputes to broader international security efforts against countries such as North Korea.

Asked whether his currency decision was part of an agreement over North Korea, Trump responded: "We're going to see. We're going to see about that."
US hit IS with largest non-nuclear bomb ever used

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. When it was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use.

The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump called a "very, very successful mission."

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been operating. The target was close to the Pakistani border.

The U.S. estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban. Just last week a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, was killed in action in Nangarhar.

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Misdirected US strike killed 18 allied fighters in Syria

BEIRUT (AP) - A misdirected airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the U.S. military said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for the strike on Tuesday that was intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa. The strike hit an SDF position instead.

Several nations have lent their air power to the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, and it wasn't clear which air force was behind the errant strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded. On Thursday, the group held funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, the SDF-linked Hawar news agency said, though it did not say whether they were killed in the friendly fire incident.

An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, said three days of mourning had been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

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10 Things to Know for Friday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Friday:

1. U.S. HITS ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN AFGHANISTAN WITH LARGEST NON-NUCLEAR BOMB EVER USED

The Pentagon says it has no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which Trump calls a "very, very successful mission."

2. MISDIRECTED U.S. STRIKE KILLS 18 ALLIED FIGHTERS IN SYRIA

U.S. Central Command says coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces for an attack intended to target IS militants.

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Is this a new Trump? Abrupt reversals may reflect experience

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is abruptly reversing himself on key issues. And for all his usual bluster, he's startlingly candid about the reason: He's just now really learning about some of them.

"After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it's not so easy," the president said after a discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping that included his hopes that China's pressure could steer North Korea away from its nuclear efforts.

"I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power" over North Korea, he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "But it's not what you would think."

That's just one of several recent comments offering insight into what looks like a moderate makeover for an immoderate president. As he approaches 100 days in office he appears to be increasingly embracing what he describes as his "flexibility" - acknowledging he may not have thought deeply about some of the issues he shouted about throughout his political campaign.

Over the past 48 hours, the outsider politician who pledged to upend Washington has:

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US says countries must punish UN troops for sexual abuse

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Thursday urged all countries that provide troops for U.N. peacekeeping missions to hold soldiers accountable for sexual abuse and exploitation, an appeal that came after she cited an Associated Press investigation into a child sex ring in Haiti involving Sri Lankan peacekeepers.

She also warned that "countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end."

Haley was speaking after the Security Council voted unanimously to end the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti in mid-October, sending a strong signal that the international community believes the impoverished Caribbean nation is stabilizing after successful elections.

But the peacekeepers will leave with a tarnished legacy. U.N. troops from Nepal are widely blamed for introducing cholera that has killed at least 9,500 people in Haiti since 2010 and some troops have been implicated in sexual abuse.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" Haley asked, citing the AP's investigation detailing how at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers sexually abused and exploited nine Haitian children between 2004 and 2007.

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Lawyer: Dragged passenger lost 2 teeth and broke his nose

CHICAGO (AP) - The passenger dragged from a United flight lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion, his lawyer said Thursday, accusing the airline industry of having "bullied" its customers for far too long.

"Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle?" attorney Thomas Demetrio asked.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, has been released from a hospital but will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said at a news conference, appearing alongside one of Dao's children. Dao was not there.

The 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was removed by police from the United Express flight Sunday at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after refusing to give up his seat on the full plane to make room for four airline employees.

Cellphone video of him being pulled down the aisle on his back and footage of his bloody face have created a public-relations nightmare for United.

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Man suspected of shooting US border agent arrested in Mexico

PHOENIX (AP) - A fugitive accused of pulling the trigger to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent was captured in Mexico more than six years after a slaying that exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the U.S. government.

Mexican authorities arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes on Wednesday as the U.S. government has pushed hard to prosecute the suspected marijuana bandits involved in the 2010 death of Brian Terry, 40.

His December 2010 killing unveiled the Fast and Furious operation, in which agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking them to criminal organizations.

But the agency lost most of the guns, including two that were found at scene of Terry's death. The operation set off a political backlash for the Obama administration and led the agent's family to sue.

"Our concern over the last six years is that the individuals responsible for Brian's murder might not all be brought to justice," said Robert Heyer, Terry's cousin and the family spokesman. "We were very, very encouraged with the arrest of this latest fugitive that justice continues and that cooperation between the United States and the Mexican government continues with respect to the law enforcement initiatives."

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Ocean world near Saturn top contender for life beyond Earth

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A tiny, ice-encrusted ocean world orbiting Saturn is now a hotter-than-ever candidate for potential life.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected hydrogen molecules in the geysers shooting off the moon Enceladus, possibly the result of deep-sea chemical reactions between water and rock that could spark microbial life, scientists announced Thursday.

NASA and others are quick to point out this latest discovery does not mean there's life on Enceladus (ehn-SEHL'-uh-duhs), but that there may be conditions favorable for life.

A liquid ocean exists beneath the icy surface of Enceladus, which is barely 300 miles (500 kilometers) across. Scientists have long known about the plumes of water vapor spewing from cracks at the moon's south pole, thanks to Cassini . The heavy presence of hydrogen suggests chemical reactions between the warm water and ocean-floor rock that could support life.

Cassini uncovered the hydrogen during its final close flyby of Enceladus in 2015, when it dove deeper than ever through its plumes of vapor and particles. The researchers reported that the hydrogen, along with carbon dioxide that was also found, could mean that undersea microbes are producing methane as they do in the bowels of our own oceans and waterways.

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Who could Fox News tap if Bill O'Reilly doesn't return?

NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News Channel expects Bill O'Reilly back from his vacation on April 24, ready to resume his position as cable television news' most popular host.

But given advertiser defections and the swirl of stories about payouts totaling $13 million to five women to keep harassment allegations quiet, it's impossible to dismiss the idea that Papa Bear may lose his television home for the past two decades. Fox News without Roger Ailes once seemed unthinkable, too, until the network chief's downfall following sexual harassment charges last summer.

Replacing the host who came to define the network would be no easy task. While Megyn Kelly wasn't as popular as O'Reilly, her departure for NBC in January is instructive. Tucker Carlson took over her 9 p.m. time slot and increased the ratings, evidence that Fox viewers are Fox viewers - loyal to the network and its ethos as much, if not more, than individual personalities. For that reason, it's a virtual certainty that whoever takes over O'Reilly's time slot will be somebody Fox viewers already know.

Don't dismiss the idea that Fox could do some shuffling to avoid giving someone the pressure of being "O'Reilly's replacement." Carlson could move an hour earlier. Sean Hannity has a loyal audience that might appreciate an earlier starting time, too.

With that in mind, here are some on Fox's bench.

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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck file divorce petitions

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck filed divorce petitions Thursday, the first step in formally ending their marriage more than a year after they publicly declared their relationship was over.

The actors both filed divorce petitions in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking joint custody of their three children, who range from 5 to 11.

The filings were made without attorneys and are virtually identical. Neither lists a date of separation.

The couple announced they were separating in June 2015 after 10 years of marriage.

"We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children," Garner and Affleck said in a joint statement at the time. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter."
BOSTON (AP) - A new exhibition of Sandro Botticelli's paintings, including some never seen in the U.S., will give museumgoers a glimpse into the artist's own search for sanctity.

The show, "Botticelli and the Search for the Divine," opens Saturday at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. It showcases valuable works from the Italian Renaissance master's catalog, including a life-size "Venus" painting being displayed in America for the first time.

"We're giving the American public a chance to take a trip to Renaissance Florence," said Frederick Ilchman, who curated the exhibit for the museum.

FILE- In this Wednesday, March 2, 2016 file photo a person photographs a painting by Sandro Botticelli called 'Venus' during the press view for the V&A's spring exhibition Botticelli Reimagined, in London. A new exhibition of Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli's paintings opens this weekend in Boston, "Botticelli and the Search for the Divine" at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The exhibition aims to tell how Botticelli developed as an artist. For lovers of Italian Renaissance art, a proper Botticelli show in America is long overdue.

Botticelli seems to be having a renaissance of his own hundreds of years later after being all but forgotten and surpassed by younger geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, said David Nolta, a professor of art history at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

"Botticelli has not always enjoyed the fame and popularity he does today," Nolta said.

The exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts features 24 paintings on loan from Italian museums, including the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence. There also will be a Botticelli painting from the MFA's permanent collection, and two on loan from the Harvard and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museums.

Visitors will notice how Botticelli practiced dual specialties: religious paintings, a specialty for the majority of Renaissance artists; and classical mythology, including several goddess figures covered by little more than their flowing or braided hair.

"He set the standard for beauty in the 15th century, and it is one that we - in the 21st century - still respond to," Ilchman said.

Perhaps the most celebrated piece in the exhibition is "Venus," a reworking of Botticelli's most famous painting, "Birth of Venus." Completed around 1490, the wood panel painting depicts the goddess of love wearing a sheer covering and knee-length auburn hair. "Venus" is on loan from the Galleria Sabauda in Turin, Italy.

On loan from the Uffizi is a painting titled "Minerva and the Centaur." In the artist's exploration of rational thought verses animal instinct, the painting shows a goddess overcoming a half-man, half-horse beast.

Botticelli's work takes a turn, however, when a new ruler comes to power in the late 15th century. Friar Girolamo Savonarola was a devout preacher who banned secular arts and culture because it was thought to be sinful in nature. After Savonarola, Botticelli painted only religious impressions and dropped his specialty of sensual goddesses and mythological creatures.

"The mood can be severe and even mournful," Ilchman said of Botticelli's later works. "It's a response to a change in politics and religious that is borne out in the artwork itself."

"Botticelli and the Search for the Divine" runs through July 9.

In this Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 file photo people stand in front of the 'Venus' by Italian painter Sandro Botticelli during a news conference about the planned exhibition 'The Botticelli Renaissance' in Berlin. A new exhibition of Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli's paintings opens this weekend in Boston, "Botticelli and the Search for the Divine" at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
In an ideal world, the business side of an enterprise is responsible for setting the revenue goals and then meeting them, while the IT side of the house is responsible for providing the technology support needed to meet those business goals. As Chief Technology Officer of Ness Digital Engineering, I often meet with CMOs and IT leaders of enterprises looking for help as they adapt to a new era of digital transformation. In many cases, the relationship between IT and the business side of the house is far from harmonious.

This fractured relationship has gone through several phases. In the bad old days before digital transformation, IT had the upper hand, because no new business initiative could be launched without IT's blessing that the underlying infrastructure provided high performance, reliability and security. Tasked with being the protectors, many IT departments became overly cautious, withholding their approval for simple changes needed by the business, while IT examined every possible angle. Paralyzed by fear of being wrong, they slowed down to a pace that choked the business.

Then, the era of digital transformation began. Many companies' products became digital rather than physical, consumers came to expect instantaneous multi-channel transparency over the entire fulfillment process, and fast-moving disruptors changed the rules in many industries. The balance of power shifted away from IT, as business innovators within the enterprise began to find ways to work around their IT department to quickly launch customer-facing, revenue-generating products. IT has been slow to respond to these changes, as they attempt to become more agile and more responsive to business needs.

Today the business side of the house clearly has the upper hand, to the point where IT is, in many cases, an afterthought. For example, I was at a meeting recently with a newly appointed IT manager who had years of business experience but no technical background. He could not understand why his company's data was in such disarray, with multiple data sources that contradicted each other and could not be brought together into a single comprehensive dashboard. To him it sounded like a straightforward technical problem with a clear solution that simply required fixing the plumbing. But, solving this kind of data problem is more akin to art than to plumbing  there are a number of possible solutions, each with its own subtle trade-offs, and it requires a great deal of technical experience to make the right choices. At the end of the day, without responsible technical guidance, these customer-facing systems will collapse due to reliability and security flaws.

Aristotle defined the Golden Mean as the harmonious middle between two extremes. For example, the balance between extravagance and miserliness is moderate giving, and the golden mean between rashness and indecisiveness is careful action. The relationship between IT and business to date has gone through extremes, with either IT or the business side dominating to the detriment of the business. Digital transformation demands a more balanced relationship, where the business side innovates with new revenue-generating applications at the pace needed to survive in a digital world, and the IT department provides the solid technologies needed to meet those business goals in a timely and agile fashion.

How can you move your company closer to the Golden Mean? Here are some best practices:

IT needs to get more agile. The days of issuing detailed Requests for Proposals for three-year projects are over, because no one can predict the business priorities in six months, let alone three years. Software development practices have to adapt to handle this dynamic environment by embracing methodologies such as agile development, Minimum Viable Products, Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment. On the hardware side, IT must embrace the Cloud in order to provide the Business with flexibility and scalability, and to reduce CAPEX.

Business needs to stop working around IT. If you get a time estimate you dont like from IT, avoid the temptation to work around them, e.g., by setting up your own SWAT team. The result could be a system that doesn't integrate with other corporate systems or doesnt meet your industry's security standards. You'll get the best result by working with IT - understand the constraints that led to their time estimate and work with them to prioritize features so you get a Minimum Viable Product in time.

Make sure IT and Business are involved in every project from the outset. If the project is initiated by IT to solve an infrastructure issue such as platform modernization, Business can help prioritize the order in which customer-facing systems should be modernized based on business pain points. If the project is driven by the Business, e.g., to provide a new revenue-generating feature, IT can ensure that the defined features are implementable in the desired time frame.

IT should leverage partnerships to accelerate delivery. Your company probably has limited experience in technologies you need to deploy in order to keep up with your competitors, e.g., Cloud, Big Data, Machine Learning. In the past, many IT departments have been reluctant to outsource anything due to a fear of creating vendor lock-in or external dependencies. To move at the pace of the new digital economy, you'll need external partners for their outside-in perspective and their experience to help you rapidly adopt new technologies and satisfy new business needs. The key word here is partner  look for companies that will work with you over the long term in win-win frameworks.

Companies that can arrive at the Golden Mean of harmony between Business and IT will have a fighting chance to survive and flourish in the digital economy.

About the Author

Moshe has extensive experience in leading adoption of bleeding edge technologies, having worked for large companies as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. Moshe previously headed the Big Data Centre of Excellence at Barclays Israel Development Centre (IDEC).

Moshe has worked in the high tech industry for over 30 years in the United States and Israel. He was part of the Emmy award-winning team that designed the scrambling system for DIRECTV, and he holds 6 patents in areas related to pay television, computer security and text mining. He has led R&D teams at companies such as Zoomix (purchased by Microsoft (News - Alert)) and NDS (purchased by Cisco). He is a graduate of Brandeis University and earned graduate degrees from both the University of California at Berkeley and Boston University.

If youd like to learn more about digital transformation, be sure to check out TMC (News - Alert) and Crossfire Medias newest conference and expo, Communications 20/20, happening July 18-20 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The event will focus on the next wave of technology and innovations that will transcend the importance of person to person contact, disrupting the future of the entire communications industry. Find out more HERE.

Edited by Alicia Young
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's Interior Ministry says police have detained 412 suspected Kurdish militants in a security sweep.

The ministry said in a statement Thursday that the suspects were rounded up in police operations in 21 provinces late on Wednesday.

In addition, the statement said 131 Islamic State group suspects were detained in operations in 13 provinces in the past week.

The operations came a day after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, claimed an attack against a police station in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, which was carried out with a ton of explosives planted inside a tunnel dug by rebels.

Turkey has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks by the two groups.

The country is holding a referendum on Sunday on expanding the president's powers.
SYDNEY (AP) - A former Australian foreign affairs minister has dubbed Donald Trump the most "psychologically ill-equipped president" in American history, and called on Australia to distance itself from the United States in favor of forging closer ties with China.

Gareth Evans, who served as Australia's foreign minister from 1988 to 1996, urged Australia to become more independent, back away from its longtime reliance on the U.S. and instead recognize China as a "global rule-maker."

In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Evans questioned whether Australia's historically close alliance with the U.S. still serves the nation's interests amid China's rising power and Trump's unpredictable leadership.

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2008, file photo, Gareth Evans, former Australian Foreign Minister, speaks to reporters in Sydney. Evans on Thursday, April 13, 2017, called Donald Trump the most "psychologically ill-equipped president" in U.S. history, and called on Australia to distance itself from the United States in favor of forging closer ties with China. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

"The Australia-United States alliance has become much more immediately salient since the election of Donald Trump - manifestly, the most ill-informed, underprepared, ethically challenged and psychologically ill-equipped president in the United States history," said Evans, who is now the chancellor of the Australian National University. "Personally driven by instinct and impulse, unhampered by knowledge or judgment, he has led an administration acting so far manifestly on the basis of postures, not of policies."

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has repeatedly rejected arguments that Australia must choose between its most important security partner, the U.S., and its most important trading partner, China, as tensions escalate between the economic superpowers.

Evans said Australia shouldn't abandon its alliance with the United States, but said the government should stop reflexively supporting everything the U.S. does, such as Trump's decision to launch missiles at a Syrian air base. Turnbull praised the strike as "a calibrated, proportionate and targeted response."

The relationship between the longtime allies is at its lowest point in decades. Australia was disappointed by Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Relations soured further following a widely publicized spat between Turnbull and Trump over a refugee resettlement deal struck by the previous Obama administration.

The countries will look to shore up relations during a visit to Australia next week by Vice President Mike Pence, who is also planning stops in Korea, Japan and Indonesia on a tour of the Asia-Pacific region.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A former director of the CIA and former supreme commander of NATO will join other former high-ranking officials in the Romanian capital to discuss a wide range of issues from migration to terrorism.

The May 4-5 meeting organized by Romanian think tank Strategikon will also focus on populism and Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

A statement sent to The Associated Press Thursday said there will be discussions on the need for officials to cooperate with the private sector and academics.

Former CIA director David Petraeus and retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, who oversaw sweeping changes at NATO to deal with a resurgent Russia and the threat of armed Islamic extremism in the Middle East and Africa, will also attend. Breedlove left the post in 2016.
Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT.

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TOP STORIES

In this April 7, 2017 photo, Can Dundar the former chief editor of the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet and now chief editor of the German-Turkish journalistic platform and website 'Ozguruz', which can be translated as 'We Are Free', poses for a photo prior to an interview with the Associated Press in Berlin. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

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UNITED-PASSENGER REMOVED - The passenger dragged from a United flight lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion, one of his lawyers says, accusing the airline industry of having "bullied" its customers for far too long. By Don Babwin and Sara Burnett. SENT: 800 words. UPCOMING: New version, 650 words, photos, by 3 p.m. Developing from City Council hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. WITH: UNITED-BAD BEHAVIOR EXPOSED - With smartphones, customers are corporate whistleblowers; UNITED PASSENGER-POLICE RESPONSE - Experts say police who dragged passenger had other options (both sent).

TRUMP-MODERATE MAKEOVER - President Donald Trump is abandoning many of his hard-line conservative campaign promises - evidence of the rising influence of moderate forces in the White House, on-the-job-training and a president's desire to begin notching wins. By Jill Colvin. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos. WITH: TRUMP-FACT CHECK - Trump gives skewed accounts of U.S. relations over time with Russia, auto jobs and health care and contradicts himself on how long he's known his right-hand strategist, Steve Bannon. SENT: 1,135 words, photos.

UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN - U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military. By Robert Burns. SENT: 250 words, photo. UPCOMING: Developing.

SYRIA - The Syrian government and opposition are to begin a coordinated population swap of tens of thousands of people from four besieged towns, the largest such demographic shift in the civil war. The swap, which brings loyalists closer to government strongholds and pushes dissidents out to the margins, ends the siege and starvation of the towns - but also proves that such controversial tactics can yield results. By Philip Issa. SENT: 800 words, photos. UPCOMING: New approach of 900 words, photos, video by 5 p.m.

BODIES IN PARK - The bodies of four men, all described as having suffered "significant trauma," were discovered in a park in a suburban New York neighborhood that has for years contended with a growing problem of gang violence. By Frank Eltman. SENT: 500 words, photos. UPCOMING: New approach of 500 words by 5 p.m.

UNITED NATIONS-PEACEKEEPERS - U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley warns countries that they would lose funding if they fail to hold their peacekeepers accountable for sexual abuse and exploitation, a threat that came after she cited an Associated Press investigation into a child sex ring in Haiti involving Sri Lankan peacekeepers. By Paisley Dodds and Edith Lederer. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m. WITH: UNITED NATIONS-HAITI - The Security Council votes unanimously to end the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti in mid-October after more than 20 years (sent).

OMAN-CARBON MOUNTAINS - Deep in the jagged red mountains of Oman, geologists are drilling in search of the holy grail of reversing climate change: an efficient and cheap way to remove carbon dioxide from the air and oceans. They are coring samples from one of the world's only exposed sections of the Earth's mantle to uncover how a spontaneous natural process millions of years ago transformed CO2 into limestone and marble. By Sam McNeil. SENT: 890 words, photos, video.

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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

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FAST AND FURIOUS-ARREST - Mexico arrests suspected shooter of border agent Brian Terry. SENT: 500 words.

VATICAN-HOLY THURSDAY - On Holy Friday, Pope Francis heads to a maximum-security prison to wash the feet of 12 inmates. SENT: 400 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.

TV-SURVIVOR - 'Survivor' contestant outs fellow competitor as transgender. SENT: 500 words, photos.

TODDLER DEATH-VERDICT - Father convicted of murdering baby son for life insurance. SENT: 500 words, photos.

IDENTITY THEFT-ANCESTRY WEBSITE - Ancestry.com helps family of dead boy find man posing as him. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON & POLITICS

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TRUMP-DINA POWELL - A snapshot of President Donald Trump's makeshift situation room at Mar-a-Lago affirmed what White House insiders have sensed for some time - that national security aide Dina Powell has quietly established herself as a White House power. By Catherine Lucey. UPCOMING: 750 words by 5 p.m., photos.

TAX DAY-PROTESTS - Democrats and activists are using Tax Day to demand that Trump release his returns with a series of protests on Saturday. By Kevin Freking. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4 p.m.

PRUITT-EPA-COAL MINE - Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt talks to coal miners about the president's decision to eliminate numerous restrictions on fossil fuel production. UPCOMING: Developing from noon visit, 500 words by 4 p.m., photos.

IMMIGRATION-VISAS - While the national discussion on immigration focuses on securing the U.S.-Mexico border with a multibillion dollar wall, travelers who overstay their visits have become the main source of illegal immigration in the United States.: 950 words, photo.

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NATIONAL

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JUDGE FOUND DEAD - Police say there are no signs of criminality in the death of the first black woman appointed to New York state's highest court whose body was found on the bank of the Hudson River. SENT: 400 words, photos.

ARKANSAS EXECUTIONS-OPPONENTS - While outrage on social media is growing over Arkansas' unprecedented plan to put seven inmates to death before the end of the month, the protests have been more muted within the conservative Southern state where capital punishment is still favored by a majority of residents. SENT: 770 words, photos.

OHIO FAMILY KILLED - Investigators are offering little new information about the unsolved massacre of eight family members in Ohio nearly a year after the still-unsolved killings. SENT: 700 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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IRAQ-US MEDICS - A boy and a woman are delivered to the gates of the clinic by an Iraqi ambulance, bandaged and in pain. They arrive without names, ages and with only the sketchiest details of what had happened to them. Apparently shot by accident outside their house in western Mosul, where fighting continues between Iraqi forces and Islamic State group militants, U.S. medics working in a state-of-the-art field clinic here could only assume they were mother and son. By Mstyslav Chernov and Tomislav Skaro. SENT: 700 words, photos, video.

RUSSIA-GAYS - International organizations are urging the Russian government to investigate the reported abuse and killings of gay men in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya. SENT: 400 words, photos.

SERBIA-FATIMA'S STORY - A car crammed with migrants crashes in Serbia, turning a 26-year-old Afghan woman's dream into a nightmare and highlighting the dangers faced by people relying on smugglers to take them through the Balkans to western Europe. Now all Fatima Bakhshi wants is to get to Ireland with her sons. SENT: 900 words, photos.

KOREAS-TENSION - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas toward Japan. SENT: 750 words, photos.

ISRAEL-50 YEARS LATER-SETTLING JERUSALEM - For many Israelis, Har Homa is just another neighborhood in Jerusalem, its quiet streets lined with apartment buildings, pizza shops and supermarkets. But for Palestinians and much of the world, this unassuming neighborhood is an illegal settlement in east Jerusalem, and in some ways, the most damaging. By Josef Federman and Karin Laub. SENT: 1,760 words, photos, video, graphic. An abridged version of 970 words has also been sent. With PALESTINIANS-POLITICS- Abbas seeks "unprecedented" steps to end Palestinian split.

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BUSINESS

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AUTO SHOW-WHEELS TO WATCH - Thursday at the New York International Auto Show was a day for automakers that sell to the wealthiest of car buyers to show their high-powered stuff. Prices for these cars range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to the millions. SENT: 380 words.

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HEALTH/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

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MILLION-DOLLAR LESSONS -Teachers selling lessons to other teachers online has become a booming business. It's a trend driven by higher standards and teachers willing to pay out of their own pockets for classroom-tested material. At least one site, Teachers Pay Teachers, says it's helped make millionaires out of some of its contributors since launching 10 years ago. By Carolyn Thompson. SENT: 980 words, photos. TOP VIDEO: - US Million Dollar Lessons (CR HFR) - Million-dollar teachers: Selling lessons online.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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STAR WARS CELEBRATION-40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Mark Hamill and others gathered in Orlando for a 40th celebration of "Star Wars," which included a special tribute to the late Carrie Fisher that featured her daughter Billie Lourd. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 130 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Ron DePasquale can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Alyssa Goodman (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Phil Holm (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 877-836-9477.

This photo provided by Hawar News Agency, a Kurdish-run news agency, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows fighters from the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces carrying the coffins of their comrades, who were killed Tuesday by a misdirected airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition, during their funeral procession, in Tal al-Abyad, northeast Syria, Thursday, April 13, 2017. U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces, for a strike intended to target Islamic State militants south of their Tabqa stronghold. (Hawar News Agency via AP)

Covered in prayer shawls Jewish men of the Cohanim priestly caste participate in a blessing during the Passover holiday, in front of the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April 13, 2017. The Cohanim, believed to be descendants of priests who served God in the Jewish Temple before it was destroyed, perform a blessing ceremony of the Jewish people three times a year during the festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Penitents prepare to take part in the procession of the "Exaltacion de La Santa Cruz" brotherhood, during Holy Week in Zaragoza, northern Spain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

ADDS ID OF MAN AT CENTER - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and Choe Ryong Hae, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party, arrive for the official opening of the Ryomyong residential area, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A counterterrorism court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a poet to two months imprisonment for poetry deemed insulting to security officials.

The state-linked Saudi Okaz reported Thursday that the poet, whose name was not published, had shared the poem on Twitter and YouTube.

The news website says the Specialized Criminal Court in the capital, Riyadh, found the Saudi poet guilty of producing and publishing material that was disrespectful to security officials and that could harm public order. The court also ordered the poet's social media accounts closed.

Dozens of Saudi rights activists are behind bars or convicted under a sweeping counterterrorism law that equates demands for reform or criticism of the government as harmful to stability. Criticism of the monarchy, however, remains prevalent on Twitter and other social media sites.
NEW DELHI (AP) - An expert panel appointed by India's top environmental watchdog has said that damage caused by a cultural festival held on the banks of the Yamuna River a year ago would need at least a decade to be fixed.

The panel set up by the National Green Tribunal after the Art of Living Foundation's World Culture Festival said restoring the river banks would cost around 420 million rupees ($6.5 million).

The panel said Wednesday that construction of roads, ramps and a massive stage for the three-day spectacle damaged vast tracts of the river's flood plains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top Delhi government officials attended the festival hosted by Hindu spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar despite criticism from environmental activists about damage to the river banks.
BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on Syria (all times local):

10:30 p.m.

A local official involved in the planned evacuations from four besieged areas in Syria says buses will start moving after sunrise Friday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem listens during his meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Lavrov said he expected the OPCW ( Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ) to conduct an extensive probe into the suspected nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, which could produce a report within about three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Preparations had been underway Thursday for the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from two pro-government Shiite villages in northern Syria, Foua and Kfarya, and the rebel-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani, near Damascus.

Dozens of buses entered the four areas, but no one had boarded them by late Thursday, according to opposition activists in Madaya and Zabadani.

Hakim Baghdadi, a member of the relief committee for Foua and Kfarya, told The Associated Press that evacuations will begin after sunrise Friday because it is safer.

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9:45 p.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to support an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the use of chemical weapons in northern Syria.

Erdogan's office said in a statement that the two leaders held a telephone conversation on Thursday, during which the Turkish leader stressed that the use of chemical weapons "is the greatest crime against humanity."

The statement says "the two leaders agreed that the attack in question be investigated by the OPCW, which is an independent organization whose legitimacy is recognized."

Erdogan and Putin also discussed peace efforts for Syria and their joint efforts to extend a cease-fire agreement to the whole of the country.

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6 p.m.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says security force have arrested one of the most wanted men involved in "terrorism" and in backing al-Qaida's branch in Syria.

The agency said Thursday that Jalal Mansour was detained in northern Lebanon after changing his looks and using a fake identity card for months.

It said Mansour admitted to fighting against Lebanese troops in northern Lebanon in the past and was involved in smuggling weapons to the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front in Syria, now known as the Fatah al-Sham Front.

Mansour's brother, Osama was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in northern Lebanon in 2015.

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4:30 p.m.

The U.S. military says a misdirected airstrike this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria.

U.S. Central Command said Thursday that coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for a strike intended to target Islamic State militants south of their Tabqa stronghold.

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18 fighters. Central Command says the incident occurred on Tuesday.

The SDF, with the help of air and ground support from the U.S.-led coalition, has surrounded Tabqa.

Several nations have lent their air power to the coalition to defeat the Islamic State group. It is not clear which air force was behind the strike.

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1:30 p.m.

Russia's foreign minister says Moscow expects the United Nations' chemical weapons watchdog to conduct an extensive probe into last week's chemical attack in Syria.

Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should both visit the Syrian air base, which the U.S. said had served as a platform for the attack, and the town of Khan Sheikhoun that was hit to get a full and objective picture.

He said Russia vetoed a Western draft U.N. resolution Wednesday because it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

The U.S. blamed the Syrian government for launching the attack, but Russia claimed that the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian warplanes.

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1:05 p.m.

A British delegation at a behind-closed-doors meeting of the international chemical weapons watchdog says in a tweet that the organization's director general has said that its investigators already are testing samples from a suspected deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria's Idlib province.

The British delegation tweet says that Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told Thursday's hastily convened meeting of its executive council that the "Fact Finding Mission is working to gather evidence" about the April 4 attack in Khan Sheikhoun that killed nearly 90 people.

It says that samples already are being tested and the mission is expected to report its findings in three weeks.

The OPCW's Fact Finding Mission in Syria investigates alleged attacks, but does not apportion blame.

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12:50 p.m.

U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces say they have entered the fourth stage of their campaign to capture the Islamic State group's de facto capital Raqqa with an advance on the militants in a valley north of the city.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Arab fighters, say they are working to clear the militants out of the Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa. An estimated 300,000 people are in the city.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is within 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control.

It is unclear how many stages are planned for the SDF campaign.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens to his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Lavrov said he expected the OPCW ( Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ) to conduct an extensive probe into the suspected nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, which could produce a report within about three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Teenage Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai called on Canada's leaders to take real action to improve educational opportunities for women in a speech to the country's Parliament.

She was speaking in Ottawa after becoming an honorary Canadian citizen on Wednesday.

And the 19-year-old made a humorous reference to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's celebrity status - noting his tattoos and suggesting that meeting him was more exciting to some than the citizenship.

Scroll down for video

Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, left, is presented with an honorary Canadian citizenship by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The Nobel Laureate waves as she arrives to address the House of Commons on Parliament Hill

Miss Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by Taliban militants in 2012, said: 'We have heard so much about Prime Minister Trudeau but one thing has surprised me: people are always talking about how young he is.

'They say that he's the second-youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history. He does yoga. He has tattoos. And a lot more.

'When I was coming here, everyone was telling me, like, "Shake the prime minister's hand and let us know how he looks in reality."

Miss Yousafzai is shown the guest book by Mr Trudeau. The teenager made the Prime Minister and his wife blush when she referred to his international celebrity status

'And people were just so excited about meeting Trudeau. I don't think anyone cared about the Canadian honorary citizenship.'

As she made her comments the Canadian premier and his wife Sophie blush while everyone one else laughed and clapped.

Miss Yousafzai was just 15 when she shot in her native Pakistan. She was targeted due to her advocacy for women's education.

Miss Yousafzai was just 15 when she shot in her native Pakistan by Taliban militants

Miss Yousafzai called on Canadian lawmakers to make education for girls a top priority when it hosts the G7 summit next year

She was originally scheduled to receive the honor in October 2014, but the ceremony was cancelled after a gunman attacked Canada's Parliament Hill that day.

Miss Yousafzai went on to ask lawmakers to make education for girls a top priority when the country hosts the G7 summit next year.

She said: 'I want to thank Canada for its passion for girls' education, for its passion for humanity, for refugees, and for standing up for women's rights, and for peace.'
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's government says negotiations with Boko Haram continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by the extremist group, shocking the world.

The government "has gone quite far with negotiations," Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Wednesday night.

He spoke shortly before Friday's three-year anniversary of the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls from a village in the country's northeast. At least 195 of them remain captive.

Bring back our girls campaigners chant slogans during a protest calling on the government to rescue the remaining kidnapped girls of the government secondary school who were abducted almost three years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria Thursday, April. 13, 2017. Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Nigeria in October announced the release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls, saying for the first time that it had been negotiating with the extremist group, mediated by the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The government denied a ransom was paid and that it had freed some detained Boko Haram fighters in exchange for the girls.

At the time, officials said they were pressing on with negotiations and expected the release of a second group of 83 girls "very soon." No more have been freed.

Osinbajo indicated that Nigeria has faced some challenges in the latest negotiations but didn't give details, citing security reasons.

The failure of Nigeria's former government to act quickly to free the girls sparked a global Bring Back Our Girls movement. Members of the movement demonstrated on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, demanding that the government do more.

The vice president said securing the safe release of the schoolgirls and others held by Boko Haram is "a matter of conscience."

Nigeria's military in the past year has rescued thousands of Boko Haram captives while liberating towns and villages from the group's control, but many have been detained as possible Boko Haram suspects.

The Nigeria-based Boko Haram's seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes, with millions facing starvation.

Bring back our girls campaigners chant slogans during a protest calling on the government to rescue the remaining kidnapped girls of the government secondary school who were abducted almost three years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria Thursday, April. 13, 2017. Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists. (AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba)

Bring back our girls campaigners chant slogans during a protest calling on the government to rescue the remaining kidnapped girls of the government secondary school who were abducted almost three years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria Thursday, April. 13, 2017. Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists. (AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba)

Bring back our girls campaigners chant slogans and sing during a protest calling on the government to rescue the remaining kidnapped girls of the government secondary school who were abducted almost three years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria Thursday, April. 13, 2017. Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists. (AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba)

Bring back our girls campaigners hold up banners during a protest calling on the government to rescue the remaining kidnapped girls of the government secondary school who were abducted almost three years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria Thursday, April. 13, 2017. Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists. (AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba)
BALI, Indonesia (AP) - An Indonesian court has sentenced a New Zealand woman to 2  years in jail for possessing methamphetamine.

The Denpasar District Court made the ruling against Myra Lynne Williams on Thursday. The 28-year-old was arrested last August last year when customs and narcotics agency officers confiscated 0.43 grams of crystal methamphetamine upon her arrival at Bali's airport from Melbourne.

Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traffickers are often executed by firing squad. More than 150 people are on death row, mostly for drug crimes and about a third of them are foreigners.

Eighteen people convicted of drug-related offenses have been executed under the current administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Wells Fargo's first-quarter profit was essentially flat from a year earlier as new customers continue to stay away from the bank following its sales practice scandal.

The company said Thursday that new checking account openings were down 35 percent in March from the same month a year ago. New credit card applications were down 42 percent.

Overall, Wells Fargo reported net income of $5.46 billion, or $1 per share, in the quarter ending March 31, compared with $5.46 billion, or 99 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations of 97 cents per share, according to Zacks Investment Research.

The company posted revenue of $23.93 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $22 billion, falling short of Street forecasts of $22.13 billion, according to Zacks.

Last year, regulators fined the San Francisco bank $185 million for opening more than two million accounts fraudulently by employees to meet sales goals.

Earlier this week, the San Francisco released its investigation into the scandal, and said it clawed back another $75 million in pay from former CEO John Stumpf and former community bank executive Carrie Tolstedt, saying that the executives took too long to realize problems at the company.

Shares of Wells Fargo were down 1.5 percent to $52.35 in premarket trading Thursday. The stock is about 8 percent in the last year.

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Elements of this were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WFC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WFC

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Keywords: Wells Fargo, Earnings Report, Priority Earnings
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a maximum security prison on Holy Thursday in a pre-Easter ritual meant to show his willingness to serve society's most marginal and give them hope. Francis urged the prisoners to help one another out and similarly "be the servant of others."

Francis travelled to the Paliano detention center, located in a fortress south of Rome, to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass at the only Italian prison dedicated to housing mafia turncoats. These "collaborators of justice" can shave time off their sentences by cooperating with anti-mafia prosecutors.

Nevertheless, many of the inmates are serving lengthy terms: Two of the 12 inmates who participated in the foot-washing ceremony are serving life terms. The remaining 10 are due to be released between 2019 and 2073. Francis also visited two other inmates currently in solitary confinement.

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

In his homily, Francis reminded the inmates that his gesture of washing their feet re-enacted the revolutionary gesture of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before he was crucified, essentially doing the work of a slave out of love.

"If you can do something, a service for your companions in prison, do it," Francis urged them during his homily. "This is love. This is like washing feet: to be the servant of others."

It's the third Holy Thursday that Francis has spent at a detention center, part of his longstanding emphasis on ministering to prisoners and the need to give them rehabilitation and hope.

"The Holy Father gave us message not just of hope, but he told us that the love of God is great and is ready to forgive everyone," prison director Nadia Cersosimo told Vatican Radio.

Because of the nature of the prison, its inmates and their families, Francis' visit was conducted under unusually strict privacy: Vatican Radio only aired edited excerpts of his homily after the fact, and the Vatican's television service planned edited TV footage. Usually the pope's activities are covered live by at least Vatican TV and radio, if not independent media.

Paliano has 60 to 70 inmates, including about 50 mafia turncoats. The prison also houses four women and has a special ward for tuberculosis-infected inmates.

The Vatican said three of the 12 inmates who had their feet washed are women and one is a Muslim who is due to be baptized a Christian in June. Prisoners prepared cakes as gifts and offered the pope zucchini and cucumbers from the prison's organic garden.

In an interview published Thursday in Rome daily La Repubblica, Francis said his emphasis on reaching out to inmates comes from his heart, as well as the biblical imperative to visit prisoners and accompany the least of society.

"When I'm looking at a prisoner, I ask myself: 'Why him and not me?'" he said. "'Why did he fall and not me?' It's a mystery that brings me closer to them."

Francis opened the most solemn period of the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar by celebrating Mass on Thursday morning in St. Peter's Basilica before heading to Paliano. On Friday, he participates in the torch-lit procession at Rome's Colosseum re-enacting Christ's crucifixion.

Saturday brings the late-night Easter vigil, with Easter Sunday Mass the following day.

Prints hold an amphora containing holy oil as Pope Francis celebrates a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis blows inside an amphora containing holy oil during a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis blows inside an amphora containing holy oil during a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis blows inside an amphora containing holy oil during a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis blows inside an amphora containing holy oil during a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis blows inside an amphora containing holy oil during a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Thursday, April 13, 2017. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) - Montenegro's special prosecutor indicted two Russians and 12 other people Thursday for allegedly plotting a coup that included plans to kill the country's former prime minister.

A high court in the capital of Podgorica said the 14 defendants - among them the Russians and two top opposition leaders - were charged with "creating a criminal organization."

The Russians, said by the prosecutor to be Kremlin military secret service operatives, additionally were charged with "terrorism."

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 file photo, Montenegrin police officers escort a suspected man in Podgorica, Montenegro. Montenegro's special prosecution has filed indictments against 14 persons, including two Russians, accusing them of attempting a coup that included plans to kill the small Balkan country's former prime minister Milo Djukanovic. A high court in the capital of Podgorica said Thursday, April 13 all 14 suspects are charged with "creating a criminal organization."(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)

The court has 15 days to decide whether to accept or reject the indictments.

Montenegrin authorities said they thwarted an October election day attempt by Serb and Russian nationalists to take over parliament, assassinate then-prime minister Milo Djukanovic and install pro-Russian leadership to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.

The Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, allegedly coordinated the operation from neighboring Serbia.

They were allowed to return to Russia despite acknowledgment by Serbian officials that they operated from Serbia with encrypted mobile phones, and are at large.

Andrija Mandic, one of the two indicted Montenegrin opposition leaders, on Thursday said the charges were part of "a staged political process against the opposition."

"We didn't take part in any criminal deeds," Mandic said.

Russia, which is strongly against NATO's expansion in Europe, has repeatedly denied involvement in the alleged coup attempt. But it openly supported groups in Montenegro that oppose the small Balkan country joining the Western military alliance.

NATO invited Montenegro - a traditional Russian ally - to join as its 29th member in December 2015.

The U.S. Senate backed Montenegro's accession last month, a message that the U.S. will push back against Russian efforts to increase its influence in Europe. President Donald Trump signed the ratification earlier this week.

"Involving Montenegro into NATO is profoundly erroneous, disagrees with fundamental interests of people in that country, and damages stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

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Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.
SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) - With a grin of excitement, Fernando Alonso explained how his crash course for the Indianapolis 500 will include watching old footage on flights between Formula One races.

The two-time F1 champion will compete in IndyCar for the first time next month, and skip the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix in order to do so.

That does not give the 35-year-old Spaniard much time. He has three F1 races for McLaren - in Bahrain, Russia and then Spain - before he makes his IndyCar debut on May 28 in Indianapolis.

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain speaks to reporters during a news conference ahead the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

"On the planes I will try and look at some videos and races from the last years. I'm not ready at the moment, but the next couple of weeks I'm confident I can adapt," Alonso said Thursday at the Bahrain GP. "I'm not in my comfort zone driving those cars or thinking of those cars. But I'm not afraid of trying."

Alonso's motivation is part of a wider ambition that also includes the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race.

"If I want to win the triple crown I have to make the first step this year. It's a win-win situation. It's good for Formula One and this big market in North America we've been pursuing for many years," Alonso said. "It's good to go to America and showing this respect to IndyCar. Inside the McLaren team, to be racing at the same time in Monte Carlo and Indy 500 it's an amazing thing."

Alonso is still widely considered among the best drivers in F1, despite the fact he has not won the world title since 2006 and not even won a race since 2013. Insiders credit that to him not having a good enough car, rather than no longer having the skills.

Alonso, who has 32 grand prix victories, didn't earn a point in the first two races of the 2017 season - in Australia and China - and McLaren is struggling to be competitive, just like last season. Despite his advancing age and the ongoing frustrations, Alonso still has a burning ambition to distinguish himself as one of the best drivers of all time.

"There were two options. The first is to win another six F1 titles, one more than Michael (Schumacher), and I don't think that's going to happen," Alonso said, laughing. "The second one is to win different series in different years. That's very challenging and very attractive."

Alonso is not yet sure when he will take up the Le Mans challenge.

"As soon as I can," he said. "I don't know if it will be next year or the following years."

McLaren is back in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 38 years with Alonso's entry, a Dallara DW12 chassis run by Andretti Autosport. Team owner Michael Andretti is a former IndyCar champion who raced in Formula One for McLaren in 1993.

Andretti's team won at the Brickyard last year with Indy 500 rookie driver Alexander Rossi, the former F1 test driver.

Alonso's hectic preparations begin as soon as he steps out of the F1 cockpit after Sunday's race in the sweltering heat of Bahrain.

"I will be next weekend in Alabama, just vising the race, meeting the team members," he said. "I will do the seat testing on Monday."

McLaren is run by Zak Brown, who had an Indianapolis-based marketing firm for years before his gradual move into Formula One.

"Zak is a man who has a bigger vision than other team principals or bosses that I had. He sees motorsport differently," Alonso said. "He sees McLaren bigger, not just concentrated on Formula One. He's a true racer. I think it's great that McLaren and Zak joined forces last year."

Alonso, however, is realistic enough to know that, under better circumstances, he would have been racing in Monaco.

"If the car was competitive this year, you could not afford to lose 25 points in one race," he said.

Alonso's decision to try another series is not totally unique. In 2015, F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg won Le Mans with Porsche.

Three-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes and has 54 career race wins in F1, sounded a little envious of Alonso.

"I think us drivers should be able to do more than one series," Hamilton said. "It would be so much different for us to do that: How the car is set up, the banking, how much you lift, how much you use your tires.

"It's not an easy thing to do in one go," Hamilton said. "But you've got one of the best drivers in the world there."

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, gives an interview to a reporter in the paddock, ahead of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso is confident that in short time he can get up to speed for the Indianapolis 500, even though he has never before raced in IndyCar or on a superspeedway. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, walks in the paddock prior to a news conference, ahead the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso is confident that in short time he can get up to speed for the Indianapolis 500, even though he has never before raced in IndyCar or on a superspeedway. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Firefighters in Kansas rescued a cat from a tree. They also rescued its owner.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/2or19ma ) reports that the woman climbed the tree Wednesday trying to get to her cat but she wasn't able to get back down.

Topeka Fire Department Shift Commander Todd Williams says the woman and her cat were about 16 feet up in a large tree when they were plucked out.

What's more, he says such rescues aren't that uncommon in Topeka.

The cat owner's name wasn't released.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Police have charged a Kentucky woman with murder in the death of her infant son.

News outlets report that 26-year-old Dailyn Cruz Abrera of Louisville was arrested Wednesday and charged with killing 3-month-old Lucas Paez Cruz. The arrest warrant says she called dispatchers on March 30 and said she had smothered her baby and "wanted to know the fastest way to die."

Louisville officers arrived at the home and found the boy dead in a bed.

Online jail records show the mother was being held in the Louisville jail on a $500,000 cash bond. The records didn't indicate whether she has an attorney.
PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a fugitive accused in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent (all times local):

3:24 p.m.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Thursday that the arrest of a Mexican man suspected of gunning down Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010 sends a strong message to fugitives.

Sessions said in a statement that the United States will hunt down and find anyone who takes the life of an American citizen, especially a law enforcement officer.

Mexican authorities arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes on Wednesday in the state of Chihuahua.

Terry's death revealed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the government in which federal agents allowed criminals to buy guns in the U.S. with the intention of tracking them. But agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost track of most of the guns, and two were found at the scene of Terry's murder.

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12:50 p.m.

The family of a Border Patrol agent whose 2010 death exposed a bungled U.S. gun-running operation says the arrest of a Mexican suspect in his killing is "fantastic news."

Robert Heyer, cousin of 40-year-old Brian Terry, said Thursday that the arrest of Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes reassures the family that the culprits all will be brought to justice.

Osorio-Arellanes was one of two remaining fugitives. Four others involved in Terry's death have been sentenced in federal court on murder charges.

Terry's family has been critical of former President Barack Obama's administration over the operation that allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking them. Instead, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost track of most of the guns, two of which were found at the scene of Terry's killing.

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11:45 a.m.

The head of the Department of Homeland Security says he hopes the arrest of a man suspected in the 2010 shooting death of a Border Patrol agent will "mark a significant step" in bringing closure to the agent's family.

Secretary John Kelly said in a statement Thursday that he was thankful to Mexican authorities who arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, who's accused of pulling the trigger of the gun that killed 40-year-old Brian Terry.

Terry's death exposed the Fast and Furious operation, in which the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking them. But ATF lost sight of most, and two ended up at the scene of Terry's death.

Four others have been sentenced to prison on murder charges.

Kelly said the latest arrest illustrates the commitment of the administration to seek justice.

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8:10 a.m.

Mexican authorities confirm the arrest of the suspected shooter in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent whose death exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the U.S. government.

A joint statement issued Thursday in Mexico City by Mexico's navy and its federal Attorney General's Office says the suspect in the killing of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Mexican marines near the border between the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua.

That's a mountainous region noted for drug activity.

According to the statement, the suspect is being held while extradition proceedings are pending.

The statement didn't identify the suspect by his full name, but a Mexican federal official confirmed it was Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment officially.

___

Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo in Mexico City contributed to this report.

___

9:20 p.m.

Authorities have arrested the suspected shooter in the 2010 killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent whose death exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the federal government.

A U.S. marshal for the District of Arizona tells The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/2p8y1mp ) that Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes was arrested in Mexico on Wednesday.

Osorio-Arellanes was one of two men who remained fugitives in the December 2010 murder of 40-year-old Brian Terry, whose death exposed Fast and Furious, in which agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed criminals to buy guns with the intention of tracking the weapons.

But the agency lost most of the guns, including two that were found at scene of Terry's death. The operation set off a political firestorm.

Four other men involved in the killing have been convicted or have pleaded guilty in federal court to murder charges.

Fox News was first to report the arrest.
CHICAGO (AP) - The passenger dragged from a United flight lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion, his lawyer said Thursday, accusing the airline industry of having "bullied" its customers for far too long.

"Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle?" attorney Thomas Demetrio asked.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, has been released from a hospital but will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said at a news conference, appearing alongside one of Dao's children. Dao was not there.

Crystal Pepper daughter of Dr. David Dao accompanied by attorney Stephen Golan, speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, attorney Thomas Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

The 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was removed by police from the United Express flight Sunday at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after refusing to give up his seat on the full plane to make room for four airline employees.

Cellphone video of him being pulled down the aisle on his back and footage of his bloody face have created a public-relations nightmare for United.

One of Dao's five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was "horrified, shocked and sickened" by what happened. She said it was made worse by the fact that it was caught on video.

For Dao, who came to the U.S. after fleeing Vietnam by boat in 1975 when Saigon fell, being dragged off the plane "was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam," Demetrio said.

Demetrio, who indicated Dao is going to sue, said the industry has long "bullied" passengers by overbooking flights and then bumping people, and "it took something like this to get a conversation going."

"I hope he becomes a poster child for all of us. Someone's got to," the lawyer said.

Early on, United CEO Oscar Munoz added to the furor when he apologized for the incident but accused Dao of being belligerent. Later, Munoz offered a more emphatic mea culpa, saying, "No one should ever be mistreated this way."

He promised to review the airline's policies to make sure something like that never happens again, and said United will no longer use police to remove bumped passengers. The airline also said all passengers on the flight would get a refund.

In a statement issued immediately after Thursday's news conference, United insisted that Munoz and the airline called Dao numerous times to apologize. Munoz himself said on Wednesday that he had left a message for Dao.

But Demetrio said neither Dao nor his family had heard from United.

Demetrio said his client accepts the apology. But the attorney questioned its sincerity, suggesting United acted because it was taking a PR "beating."

The attorney was unable to say precisely how Dao was injured. Dao didn't remember exactly what occurred because of the concussion he suffered, Demetrio said.

Pepper said her father and mother had been traveling from California to Louisville, Kentucky, and had caught a connecting flight at O'Hare. After what happened, Dao "has no interest in ever seeing an airplane" and will probably be driven to Kentucky, Demetrio said.

United had selected Dao and three other passengers at random for removal from the plane after unsuccessfully offering $800 in travel vouchers and a hotel stay to customers willing to give up their seats.

The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.

At a City Council committee hearing Thursday, aldermen ripped officials from United and the department about the episode.

"There are no excuses," Alderman Michael Zalewski said.

John Slater, a United vice president, said that bumping passengers to accommodate airline employees happens infrequently, and that federal guidelines requiring rest for crew members made it necessary to get the employees on the Sunday flight to Louisville.

The Aviation Department's roughly 300 officers guard the city's two main airports but are not part of the regular Chicago police force, receive less training and cannot carry guns inside the terminals.

"To be quite frank, Chicago employees should not be doing the dirty work for the friendly skies airline," said Alderman Ed Burke, who played video of Dao being removed.

Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans told the committee that the officers had the authority to board the flight but that what happened on the plane is being investigated.

Crystal Pepper daughter of Dr. David Dao speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, attorney Thomas Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members.(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Thomas Demetrio, an attorney for Dr. David Dao, speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao, a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Thomas Demetrio, an attorney for Dr. David Dao, speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao, a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members.(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Thomas Demetrio an attorney for Dr. David Dao speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members.(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Crystal Pepper daughter of Dr. David Dao accompanied by attorney Stephen Golan, speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, attorney Thomas Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members.(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Thomas Demetrio, right, an attorney for Dr. David Dao speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Chicago. Dao a passenger dragged from a United Express flight Sunday April 9, 2017, suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, Demetrio said Thursday. Dao was removed from the plane after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville to make room for four crew members.(AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

FILE - In this July 8, 2015, file photo, United Airlines and United Express planes prepare to takeoff at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. 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/David J. Phillip, FIle)
Editors:

Turks will vote Sunday in a referendum that would scrap the country's parliamentary system and greatly expand President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's power. Here's a look at the AP's coverage plans leading up to and during the referendum:

THURSDAY:

GERMANY-TURKEY-JOURNALISTS - Facing harassment, enforced shutdowns and jail at home, Turkey's exiled journalists are using Germany as a base to report on the political turmoil back home troubled country ahead of Sunday's referendum. By Hakan Kaplan and Kerstin Sopke. SENT: 800 words, photos, video.

TURKEY-REFERENDUM - A video preview of the referendum.

FRIDAY:

TURKEY-REFERENDUM-PREVIEW - Turkey is a country divided as it heads toward a historic referendum on a new political system that backers say will bring much-needed stability to Turkey but opponents fear would lead Turkey down the path of an autocratic, one-man rule by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. By Suzan Fraser. UPCOMING: 860 words, photos by 5 a.m. EDT. Video moved Thursday.

With: TURKEY-MAUSOLEUM-PHOTO GALLERY - A gallery of photos from the mausoleum where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern-day Turkey, is interred. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos by 10 a.m. EDT.

TURKEY-DRONE - Drone footage of Istanbul's Blue Mosque, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

SATURDAY:

TURKEY REFERENDUM - Spot coverage as Turks prepare to vote. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos, video.

With: TURKEY-REFERENDUM-THINGS TO KNOW - A look at the issues at stake in a referendum on whether to give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan more power, seen as the ultimate test of his popularity. By Suzan Fraser. UPCOMING: 800 words in a chunky text form, photos by 5 a.m. EDT. Video coverage of final rallies in Istanbul, Ankara and Diyarbakir.

SUNDAY:

TURKEY-REFERENDUM - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan takes his case for more control to voters, who will decide whether to scrap the country's parliamentary government in favor of a system that would give him more power. Polls open at midnight EDT in some parts of the country and close at 10 a.m. EDT, when hand counting begins. Preliminary results expected about 5 p.m. EDT, although counting could last well into the night. UPCOMING: For text, a newsalert and 300 words when polls open at midnight EDT, followed by updates throughout the day. Photos. For video, live and edited cover of polls opening in Diyarbakir at midnight EDT ahead of the 1 a.m. EDT opening in other parts of the country. Live from both Istanbul and Ankara throughout the day. Pool video coverage of Erdogan voting; coverage of vote counting and crowds gathering at AK party headquarters in Ankara and outside Erdogan's residence in Istanbul; vox pops

With: TURKEY-REFERENDUM-THE LATEST, TURKEY-REFERENDUM-THINGS TO KNOW

TURKEY-REFERENDUM-ERDOGAN PROFILE - A look at how President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to power and why he's so popular in much of the country. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.
NEW YORK (AP) - More than 50 U.S. cities will be hosting Make Music Day, a free one-day outdoor festival celebrating music and music-making.

The annual event is June 21, the summer solstice.

Highlights of Make Music Day in the U.S. will include Sousapaloozas in Chicago; Cleveland; Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis-St. Paul; New York; and San Jose, California.

Part of Make Music Day is an event called Mass Appeal in which musicians play together in single-instruments groups. Featured instruments will include guitars, harmonicas, accordions, trombones, bassoons, French horns and harps. More than 150 are scheduled.

Street Studios in Atlanta; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; New York; and Philadelphia will give passers-by a chance to collaborate in producing original music.

The festival began in France in 1982 and has since spread to 750 cities across 120 countries.
TORONTO (AP) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced legislation Thursday to let adult possess up to 30 grams of marijuana in public - a measure that would make Canada the largest developed country to end a nationwide prohibition on recreational marijuana.

Trudeau has long promised to legalize recreational pot use and sales. U.S voters in California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada voted last year to approve the use of recreational marijuana, joining Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

The South American nation of Uruguay is the only nation to legalize recreational pot.

Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould announces changes regarding the legalization of marijuana during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

The proposed law allows four plants to be grown at home. Those under 18 found with less than five grams of marijuana would not face criminal charges but those who sell it or give to youth could face up to 14 years in jail.

"It's too easy for our kids to get marijuana. We're going to change that," Trudeau said.

Officials said Canadians should be able to smoke marijuana legally by July 1, 2018. The legislation must still be approved by Parliament but with Trudeau's Liberal party holding a majority its passage in considered assured.

The federal government set the age at 18, but is allowing each of Canada's provinces to determine if it should be higher. The provinces will also decide how the drug will be distributed and sold. The law also defines the amount of THC in a driver's blood, as detected by a roadside saliva test, that would be illegal. Marijuana taxes will be announced at a later date.

The Canadian government closely followed the advice of a marijuana task force headed by former Liberal Health Minister Anne McLellan. That panel's report noted public health experts tend to favor a minimum age of 21 as the brain continues to develop to about 25, but said setting the minimum age too high would preserve the illicit market.

Canadian youth have higher rates of cannabis use than their peers worldwide.

"If your objective is to protect public health and safety and keep cannabis out of the hands of minors, and stop the flow of profits to organized crime, then the law as it stands today has been an abject failure," Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told a news conference. "Police forces spend between $2 billion and $3 billion every year trying to deal with cannabis, and yet Canadian teenagers are among the heaviest users in the western world ... We simply have to do better."

Goodale said they've been close touch with the U.S. government on the proposed law and noted exporting and importing marijuana will continue to be illegal.

"The regime we are setting up in Canada will protect our kids better and stop the flow of illegal dollars to organized crime. Our system will actually be the better one," Goodale said.

But Christina Grant, a professor of pediatrics at McMaster University in Ontario, worries the government is conveying the message that marijuana is not harmful. She fears usage will go up because concerns about its safety will dissipate.

"One in seven youths who have used cannabis will develop an addiction to cannabis and that impacts your life, schooling, job prospects, social and emotional relationships," she said. "And there is the risk of developing psychosis if you start using cannabis as a teenager. The more you use and the younger you start, you have up to four times the risk of developing some kind of psychotic illness."

Former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who is the parliamentary secretary to the justice minister, said officials learned from the experiences from other jurisdictions like Colorado and Washington state.

While the government moves to legalize marijuana, retail outlets selling pot for recreational use have already been set up. Trudeau has emphasized current laws should be respected. Police in Toronto, Vancouver and other cities raided stores earlier last month and made arrests.

The news that Canada was soon going to announce the law was noticed online last month by Snoop Dogg , who tweeted "Oh Canada!" Canadian folk singer Pat Robitaille released a "Weed song" to coincide with the government's announcement.

__

Associated Press Writer Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale, left to right, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Health Minister Jane Philpott announce changes regarding the legalization of marijuana during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - FBI Director James Comey said Americans should be aware of foreign efforts to undermine confidence in U.S. elections and mindful of the possibility that what they're reading might be part of an organized disinformation campaign.

Comey said the Russian government has for years tried to weaken public faith in democratic processes around the globe, and recently has resorted to more sophisticated tactics.

He was asked at a Newseum event Wednesday night what Americans could do to protect against the meddling of a foreign government in politics. His response: "The most important thing to be done is people need to be aware of the possibility that what they're reading has been shaped by troll farms, looking to push a message on Twitter to undermine our confidence" about the electoral process.

FILE - In this March 29, 2017, file photo FBI Director James Comey speaks during the Intelligence and National Security Alliance Leadership Dinner in Alexandria, Va. Comey says Americans should be mindful of foreign efforts to undermine confidence in U.S. elections. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

U.S. intelligence agencies said in a January report that Russian efforts to interfere in last year's American presidential election in favor of Republican Donald Trump included paid social media users, or "trolls." Part of the goal was to spread information to "denigrate" Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who lost the November election, according to the report.

The FBI is investigating, including whether the Kremlin coordinated with Trump campaign associates.

During a question-and-answer session, Comey said the FBI would do everything it could to "identify, investigate and then call out foreign efforts" to influence an election. "One of the most important things we can do is be transparent about efforts to interfere with our process."

Comey has drawn criticism for publicly commenting on an investigation about Clinton's use of a private email server last year while not acknowledging an FBI investigation into potential contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia.

His remarks about the Clinton case at a July news conference came after the FBI had concluded the investigation and determined that charges were not warranted. When Comey wrote Congress in October to say newly discovered emails had been found that needed to be reviewed, he said he was following a pledge to lawmakers to update them on new developments.

On Wednesday night, he acknowledged the FBI "did a lot last year that confused people."

"If you see the world through sides, the FBI doesn't make a lot of sense to you 'cause you're saying, 'Why did they help this person?'" and hurt someone else, Comey said.

"We don't see the world that way. We are not on anybody's side, we really don't care. We're trying to figure out what's true, what's fair, what's the right thing to do," he added.

The question-and-answer session took place following a public showing of an episode of a new USA Network show, "Inside the FBI: New York."

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Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has reversed plans to give management of Montana's National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, saying that he is committed to not selling or transferring public lands.

Zinke, a former Montana congressman, told the Missoulian (http://bit.ly/2p0PCNt ) in an email that the tribes would still play a "pivotal role" in discussions about the future of the range, 29-square miles (76-square kilometers) of hilly fenced-in grasslands with 350 bison.

"I took a hard look at the current proposal suggesting a new direction for the National Bison Range and assessed what this would mean for Montana and the nation," Zinke said. "As Secretary, my job is to look 100 years forward at all of Interior's resources. I recognize the Bison Range is a critical part of our past, present and future, which is why I have changed course."

FILE - In this June 25, 2003, file photo, bison wander along a hillside at the National Bison Range near Moiese, Mont. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he will reverse plans that would have led to the transfer management of the range from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. (AP Photo/Jack Sullivan, File)

The refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is located completely within the boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation, on land the tribes say was taken illegally in 1908, when the U.S. government established the refuge to save bison from extinction.

Four years later, the government paid the tribes $1.56 per acre (0.4 hectares) for the land, which was about $12.50 an acre (0.4 hectares) below the land's value at that time.

In the 1980s, a court ordered the government to pay the tribes $231,000 in compensation.

Tribal chairman Vernon Finley's stopped short of criticizing Zinke's announcement, saying he considered the proposed transfer a restoration of reservation land.

"We understood that President (Donald) Trump and Secretary Zinke himself had promised about not selling off public lands, but from my perspective, that isn't what this is," Finley said.

The transfer strongly supported by the tribe? was proposed last year when former President Barack Obama was still in office. Under the plan, the Interior Department would transfer the range to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to hold in trust, and the Fish and Wildlife Service would hand over management to the tribes.

Fish and Wildlife Service officials said last year they would back the transfer if legislation were introduced in Congress, and the tribes drafted a bill.

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a Washington, D.C.-based environmental advocacy group that opposed a previous attempt in 2010 to share management of the refuge with the tribes, sued over the plan. The case is pending.

One of the group's members who sued, Susan Campbell Reneau said she hopes Zinke's announcements ends what she calls "a diabolical attempt to completely change the direction of management of federal public lands."

Finley, the tribal chairman, said he plans to speak with Zinke and the tribal council about the decision.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House says President Donald Trump will welcome Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni to the White House next week.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer says Trump will meet with Gentiloni on April 20 to discuss the upcoming Group of Seven industrialized nations meeting in Italy and a "range of issues" between the two allies.

The G-7 nations have urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war and have blamed President Bashar Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack that killed more than 80 people.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels for a NATO meeting in May, followed by the G-7 meeting in Italy.

The G-7 members include the U.S., Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and Italy.
A man who spent 27 years in prison for killing his girlfriend as a teenager has been released on bail after the key witness in his murder trial recanted her testimony.

In 1992, 16-year-old Tony Sanborn was tried as an adult and convicted of the 1989 killing of his then girlfriend, Jessica Briggs, also 16. He was sent to Maine State Prison, where he has been incarcerated for the past 27 years.

On Thursday, the only witness in Sanborn's murder case, Hope Cady, told the Portland, Maine court that when she was 13, police and prosecutors pressured her into identifying Sanborn as Briggs' killer.

A Portland, Maine judge set bail for Tony Sanborn, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for a 1989 murder. His guilt is being questioned after the trial's key witness recanted her testimony

On Thursday, key witness Hope Cady recanted her 1992 trial eyewitness testimony, which sent then teenager Sanborn to prison for 27 years. She claims cops pressured her into ID'ing him

In 1989, police divers pulled the body of Jessica Briggs, 16, out of Casco Bay in Portland, Maine. Her throat had been cut, and she was stabbed multiple times and nearly disemboweled. She is pictured above

'They basically told me what to say,' Cady said.

The stunning declaration led a judge to set bail in the case, which drew a gasp from the packed courtroom and sent Sanborn's wife to her knees.

'Quite frankly, I wouldn't want to go forward on a case based on her testimony,' Justice Joyce Wheeler told the courtroom before setting Sanborn's $25,000 bail, which his friends and family posted later that day.

'It has been conceded that she is, and was a material witness in this case. She's the only eyewitness in this case.'

Sanborn was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Jessica Briggs, when they were both 16, and tried as an adult. He was serving a 70 year sentence before being released on bail Thursday

Sanborn's wife, Michelle (in white), who he married five years ago, fell to her knees in court when she heard he was set to be released from prison and granted a $25,000 on Thursday

Justice Wheeler said she'll have further proceedings before deciding whether to grant a motion to set aside the conviction and order a new trial.

In the original 1992 trial, Cady, who was the only witness, testified that she saw a group of boys surround Briggs and then saw Sanborn stab Briggs. She claimed she'd watched the event unfold from a nearby pier.

But during her testimony on Thursday, Cady told the court that her vision wasn't even good enough to have been able to make out what happened back then. When it was tested prior to the trial, she was found to have had 20/200 vision  poor enough to be considered legally blind.

Information about her vision problems was never provided to Sanborn's original defense team.

Cady also said Thursday that she had juvenile charges against her at the time of Briggs' death and that authorities threatened to send her away for years if she didn't testify that she saw Sanborn kill Briggs.

Sanborn, in 1990, when he was waiting to be arraigned for murdering Briggs the year before

Sanborn during his 1992 murder trial. He was convicted and sentenced to 70 years in prison

Cady's stunning admission came in a standing-room-only courtroom packed with Sanborn's supporters, including family members and friends.

Sanborn's wife, Michelle, sank to her knees and wept after the judge's bail ruling as others huddled with her.

'I just want to thank Justice Wheeler for being a woman of compassion and for doing the right thing, and giving me faith in our system,' Michelle said afterward.

Sanborn, now 44, had insisted over the years that he didn't kill Briggs, and supporters say he somehow managed to avoid becoming bitter despite being convicted as an adult and sentenced to prison for 70 years.

In prison, his conduct was exemplary, and he taught classes to fellow inmates. He wed Michelle about five years ago, and he had plenty of support Thursday.

Sanborn entered the courtroom with tears in his eyes as the packed courtroom erupted in an ovation.

After the hearing, Briggs' family left the courthouse without speaking to the media.

Sanborn's lawyer, Amy Fairfield, filed a motion for bail on April 5, asking for the hearing after uncovering new evidence in the gruesome killing, including Cady's vision problems, witnesses who recanted their testimony and information that prosecutors allegedly suppressed information at the time of the original trial, reports the Portland Press Herald.

In addition to releasing Sanborn from prison, Fairfield asked a Portland, Maine judge to either overturn his indictment and conviction or begin a new trial about Briggs' murder.

Sanborn's wife, Michelle (in white), thanked the judge for her 'compassion' after the hearing

Friends say Sanborn has avoided bitterness about his 1992 conviction and 70 year sentence

A criminal profiler hired by the defense said the crime was so brutal that it pointed toward a serial killer as opposed to a crime of passion involving a teenager.

Briggs' throat was slit and she was stabbed repeatedly before being thrown in Portland Harbor. At the time, officials zeroed in on street kids, including Briggs' then-16-year-old boyfriend, Sanborn.

On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber asked Justice Wheeler to defer setting bail until she could hear from the case's original detectives and prosecutor.

Macomber also said he'd have to recuse himself because Cady's statements conflicted with his direct knowledge of the case.

The original Portland police detectives on the case  James Daniels and Daniel Young, since retired  submitted affidavits denying that they had pressured or threatened witnesses or suppressed information, according to the Press Herald.

The hearing will continue later this month.

Speaking with the Press Herald at a friend's home after being freed on bail Thursday, Sanborn recalled his immediate reaction when the trial verdict was read 27 years ago.

'I didnt even think they said guilty,' he said 'I looked back at some of the people I knew that was in the crowd. It was like, (what) the hecks going on?'

He also said that early on he truly believed that he would be vindicated in court.

'Back then I had faith in everybody,' Sanborn said. 'I thought there was no way the justice system could fail me, so there was no way I was going to be found guilty of a murder I didnt do. At some point it got real. All these guys either really think I did this, or are really trying to set me up and accuse me of it.'

Sandborn said that, initially, when he was first imprisoned, he still had faith in the system.

'I still thought it would be fixed in months, or a year, two at the most, and everything would be all right. And year after year, I sit there and nothing happened,' he said.

Eventually, he gave up hope. Even when his now wife Michelle tried to rekindle his hope while telling him about the post-conviction review process that had been initiated, Sanborn said he was resistant.

'I said its not happening, its never going to happen, stop saying people care, they dont care,' Sanborn recalled.

Even after being given bail, while he waited to be released from Cumberland County Jail, where he was held during the hearing, he still didn't fully believe he might get a second chance to prove his innocence after all these years.

Sanborn said that while he was waiting in jail, he just prayed: 'God, if this aint real, then take me now. Because if this aint real, what just happened today, just take me.'
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is sending North Korea a fresh warning, calling it a "problem" country that "will be taken care of."

Trump commented on North Korea after he was asked about the U.S. military's decision to drop the largest non-nuclear weapon it has ever used in combat on an area of eastern Afghanistan.

Asked whether dropping the bomb sends a message to North Korea as it continues to pursue nuclear and other weapons, Trump said it makes no difference.

Said Trump: "North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of."

Trump wants China to help contain North Korea, but in recent weeks he has signaled a willingness to handle the issue alone.

Trump and China's president discussed North Korea at a meeting last week in Florida.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on the brother of a well-known Iranian general.

A Treasury Department statement says sanctions were imposed on the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Soleimani in connection with serious human rights abuses in Iran. Soleimani is a senior official in the organization.

The statement says the action reflects deep concern regarding human rights in Iran.

Soleimani is the younger brother of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's elite Quds force who also advised Iraq's Shiite militias in their fight against the Islamic State group.

The Treasury Department says the prison organization is responsible for, or complicit in, the detention of many prisoners of conscience and well-documented accounts of their mistreatment and abuse.
LYON, France (AP) - Crowd disorder inside the stadium has delayed the kickoff in the Lyon-Besiktas Europa League quarterfinal first-leg game.

The incidents followed fighting among rival French and Turkish fans earlier Thursday in Lyon.

Ahead of the scheduled 9:05 p.m. (1905 GMT) kickoff, fans spilled on to the field for their own safety as fireworks were set off and missiles thrown from a section housing Besiktas supporters.

Supporters fight outside the stadium before the Europa League quarterfinal soccer match between Lyon and Besiktas, in Decines, near Lyon, central France, Thursday, April 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was among the officials on the pitch trying to restore calm.

UEFA has increased security measures at its Champions League and Europa League matches this week after Borussia Dortmund's team bus was targeted by a bomb attack on Tuesday.

Dortmunnd's game against Monaco was postponed to Wednesday.
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A man charged with killing two Fort Campbell soldiers and wounding a teenager in a domestic dispute has pleaded not guilty.

The Kentucky New Era reports (http://bit.ly/2nIvEXG) 35-year-old Jeremy J. Demar entered the plea during a hearing Wednesday. Demar, of Clarkesville, Tennessee, is charged with murder in the deaths of his estranged wife, 35-year-old Spc. Priscilla A. East, and 28-year-old Sgt. Christopher R. Hoch.

They were killed Feb. 2 at a home belonging to Spc. Dominique House, who told The Leaf Chronicle in a previous interview that she was engaged to Hoch and was best friends with East. They were soldiers at the post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.

Demar also is charged with assaulting House's 16-year-old brother.

House told the Tennessee newspaper that East and Demar shared custody of their 2-year-old son and had met earlier so the boy could go with Demar. She said Demar was angry at the meeting and East was nervous about it so she invited her friend over for dinner.

She said they were cooking when Demar arrived, and that Hoch died a hero trying to save East. She said her brother was injured trying to protect her.

The judge has set the next hearing in the case for July 19.

___

Information from: Kentucky New Era, http://www.kentuckynewera.com
NEW YORK (AP) - The number of foreign children adopted by U.S. parents dropped almost 5 percent last year, continuing a steady decline that's now extended for 12 years, according to new State Department figures.

However, department officials said they have been working closely with numerous countries to strengthen international adoption procedures, and they suggested the numbers could rise if the U.S. adoption community helped to address some of those countries' concerns about ethics and oversight.

The department's report for the 2016 fiscal year, released on Thursday, shows 5,372 adoptions from abroad, down from 5,648 in 2015 and more than 76 percent below the high of 22,884 in 2004. The number has fallen every year since then.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 file photo, Jennifer and Eric Sands of Illinois, right, accompanied by their adopted daughter Joy, 12, left, smile as their adopted son Issaac, 12, center arrives from the Congo at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. According to State Department figures released on Thursday, April 13, 2017, the number of foreign children adopted by U.S. parents dropped almost 5 percent in 2016, continuing a steady decline that's now extended for 12 years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

China, as is customary, accounted for the most children adopted in the U.S. Its total of 2,231 was down slightly from 2015 and far below a peak of 7,903 in 2005.

Congo was second on the list with 359 adoptions. Many of those were adoptions that had been delayed for several years during a suspension - now lifted - that the Congo government imposed out of concerns over adoption fraud.

Ukraine was third on the list with 303 adoptions, followed by South Korea, Bulgaria, India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and the Philippines.

As adoptions from various countries have declined in recent years, adoption advocates - and the State Department - have cited Africa as an area where adoptions may increase. However, Susan Jacobs, the department's special adviser for children's issues, said this can present unique challenges because some African birth parents may incorrectly believe that adopted children would return home to care for them after living abroad temporarily to get a good education.

As adoptions from many countries have declined in recent years, adoption advocates - and the State Department - have looked to Africa as a possible source for more orphans. However, Susan Jacobs, the department's special adviser for children's issues, said this can be "a hard sell" because many African birth parents misunderstand the nature of adoption and believe that adopted children would return home to care for them after living abroad temporarily to get a good education.

For a second straight year, there were no adoptions from Russia, which once accounted for hundreds of U.S. adoptions each year, but imposed a ban that fully took effect in 2014. The ban served as retaliation for a U.S. law targeting alleged Russian human-rights violators.

The last time there were fewer foreign adoptions to the U.S. overall was in 1981, when, according to U.S. immigration figures, there were 4,868 adoptions from abroad.

The State Department, in its new report, said it had identified three concerns that were causing some foreign countries to be wary of international adoption:

-Illegal or unethical practices by some U.S. adoption agencies or adoption facilitators operating abroad. One Ohio-based agency was recently barred by the State Department from engaging in international adoption for three years because of extensive improprieties.

-Lack of comprehensive, nationwide laws that prevent adoptive parents from transferring custody of adopted children to another family without official authorization. This practice, known as re-homing, has often involved children adopted from abroad who prove more challenging to raise than the adoptive family had anticipated.

-The failure of some U.S. families to complete required post-adoption reports. Trish Maskew, chief of the State Department's adoption division, said Kazakhstan and Guatemala were potentially interested in resuming long-suspended international adoptions to the U.S., but only if several hundred overdue reports were completed by parents who adopted children from those countries in past years.

Chuck Johnson, CEO of the National Council of Adoption and a critic of State Department adoption policy, acknowledged that lapses related to all three issues were "a black-eye on adoption." However, he said the State Department should have been providing more leadership in addressing the problems.

"These negative results are not the experiences of the great majority of internationally adopted children nor of their adoptive families; neither are the actions of a few providers indicative of the majority of accredited U.S. adoption providers," Johnson said in an email.

Adoption officials in the State Department "have a history of either personally opposing intercountry adoption outright or endorsing it in lukewarm fashion," Johnson wrote. As long as the department "is allowed to continue down this path, children suffer and die."

Susan Jacobs urged the department's critics in the adoption community to consider what steps they could take to ensure that international adoption is ethical and transparent.

"We are committed to intercountry adoption. We want this to be available in every country in the world," said Jacobs. "But we can't do this without the cooperation of everybody involved in the process. We want this to be a practice that everyone can be proud of."
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Thursday urged all countries that provide troops for U.N. peacekeeping missions to hold soldiers accountable for sexual abuse and exploitation, an appeal that came after she cited an Associated Press investigation into a child sex ring in Haiti involving Sri Lankan peacekeepers.

She also warned that "countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end."

Haley was speaking after the Security Council voted unanimously to end the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti in mid-October, sending a strong signal that the international community believes the impoverished Caribbean nation is stabilizing after successful elections.

United Nations U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley address the Security Council after a vote on a resolution condemning Syria's use of chemical weapons failed, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

But the peacekeepers will leave with a tarnished legacy. U.N. troops from Nepal are widely blamed for introducing cholera that has killed at least 9,500 people in Haiti since 2010 and some troops have been implicated in sexual abuse.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" Haley asked, citing the AP's investigation detailing how at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers sexually abused and exploited nine Haitian children between 2004 and 2007.

Sri Lanka never jailed any soldiers implicated in the abuse yet the country was allowed to send troops to other U.N. missions.

Haley said after the vote that while the departure of the peacekeepers "is seen as a success, unfortunately it's a nightmare for many in Haiti who will never be able to forget and live with brutal scars."

Nine children in the Haiti sex ring - some as young as 12 - told U.N. investigators how Sri Lankan peacekeepers offered them snacks or money for sex. One boy said he slept with as many as 100 soldiers, averaging about four per day.

The details of the sex ring were part of a larger AP investigation of U.N. missions during the past 12 years that found an estimated 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and U.N. personnel around the world.

In Haiti, the 2,370 military personnel will gradually leave over the next six months. A new peacekeeping mission will follow for an initial period of six months, comprised of just 1,275 police to continue training the national police force and assist in developing the rule of law and promoting human rights in Haiti.

Haley said the United States and the international community are committed to Haiti's "democratic development, independence and economic growth."

"We will, however, continue to push for accountability of those troops in Haiti as well as all troop contributing countries involved in peacekeeping efforts," she said.

"We owe it to the vulnerable in these countries who desperately need peace and security," she told Security Council members. "I ask that you join me in this effort."

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended that peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse and exploitation be court martialed in the countries where the alleged incidents take place and said the U.N. would withhold payments to peacekeepers facing credible allegations.

Responding to the AP report, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric had said Wednesday: "We need to address the problem, first, for the victims, but also to ensure that the perception of peacekeeping is not a wrong one."

He stressed it is dangerous work done honorably by "the vast majority" of peacekeepers.

Mark Schuller, an academic studying what happens when international organizations leave countries like Haiti, said for Haitians, the U.N. has garnered a "love-hate" relationship, but the real issue is lack of accountability.

"The U.N. is not accountable to the Haitian government or people. That creates a culture of implied immunity," said Schuller, a professor at N. Illinois University's Department of Ethnology who spends part of his time in Haiti.

Jacqueline Nono said she was 17 when she started having sex with a Sri Lankan peacekeeper for money or gifts. She said the sex was consensual but she needed the money to pay for her two children.

"I've heard the stories about Sri Lankans abusing Haitians, but I was treated well," said the 24-year-old in Port-au-Prince.

For Jean-Marie Pascal, there is no love lost for the United Nations.

She said a U.N. peacekeeper sexually assaulted her shortly after troops arrived in 2004 to quell instability following President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's ouster. After the 2010 earthquake struck, her two cousins died from a strain of cholera linked to U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal.

"Haiti has been a playground for the United Nations," the 43-year-old shop assistant told the AP as part of its investigation.

The United Nations also suffered in Haiti, losing nearly 100 peacekeepers and personnel in the 2010 earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people.

___

Dodds reported from London. Associated Press writers David McFadden in Port-au-Prince Haiti and Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations contributed to this report.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accepted a champion's belt from former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on Thursday for his efforts on prisoner re-entry.

"You took the punches, trust me, you deserve it," Tyson told Christie during the presentation at a conference in Jersey City where they were speakers.

The Republican governor has dedicated his final year in office to prisoner re-entry issues and drug addiction. He was the featured speaker at the reopening of a state prison as an institution to treat drug-addicted inmates earlier this week.

Boxer Mike Tyson is patted on the shoulder by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie while speaking about his life post prison during the 4th Annual New Jersey Prisoner Reentry Conference, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Jersey City, N.J. During the event, Tyson presented Christie with a championship belt for his efforts in helping former prisoners reinstall themselves into society. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Christie also heads a panel for President Donald Trump on opioid addiction.

People addicted to drugs end up behind bars too often, Christie said.

Tyson was convicted in 1992 on rape charges and sentenced to six years in prison. He urged former inmates Thursday to stay enthusiastic and remain committed to staying on the right side of the law.

"You got to want to do this stuff," he said. "You have to say, 'I don't want to rob that guy no more, I don't want to shoot those people no more.' And that's just where it's at."

Christie noted that it may have seemed odd to see him, Tyson and former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey - who organized Thursday's event and also runs Jersey City's prisoner re-entry program - appearing together on the same panel.

"We sit up here as imperfect people who have had challenges in our lives of all different kinds," Christie said. "But I also think we're people who can contribute a great deal to making society better."

McGreevey, a Democrat, resigned as governor amid a sex scandal in 2004 and announced he is a "gay American."

Boxer Mike Tyson speaks during the 4th Annual New Jersey Prisoner Reentry Conference, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Jersey City, N.J. During the event, Tyson presented New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie with a championship belt for his efforts in helping former prisoners reinstall themselves into society. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, center, is presented with a belt by boxer Mike Tyson, left, for Christie's work in promoting help for ex-prisoners re-entering society, during the 4th Annual New Jersey Prisoner Reentry Conference, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Twenty-four people are dead and nine others injured after a passenger bus was hit head-on by a tanker truck carrying fuel in southern Mexico.

The crash occurred Thursday on a road leading to the Pacific coast resort of Zihuatanejo, in the state of Guerrero.

Guerrero state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez said the tanker appears to have been a double-tank truck. The wreckage erupted in flames and many of the dead were burned.

There have long been complaints about the safety of double tanker trucks and tractor trailers, which have been involved in a number of disastrous accidents in Mexico.
JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) - A fugitive accused of stealing numerous weapons from a Wisconsin gun store sent an anti-government manifesto to the White House that deemed the government a band of terrorists controlled by churches, saying "We need to spill their blood," a Milwaukee television station reported Thursday.

Joseph Allen Jakubowski has been the subject of an intense manhunt since the April 4 burglary at Armageddon Supplies near Janesville, a city about 60 miles southwest of Milwaukee. Police said video shows Jakubowski mailed a bulky envelope the same day, and his burned vehicle was found near the store, but that he hasn't been seen since.

WTMJ-TV posted 35 pages of handwritten documents to its website that it said were verified as Jakubowski's writings by an unidentified law enforcement official. Rock County Sheriff's Office Commander Troy Knudson said the writings appeared genuine.

This combo made Tuesday, April 11, 2017, from images provided by the FBI shows Joseph Jakubowski's mug shot at left and an altered image the FBI made to show Jakubowski with his head and facial hair shaved off. Authorities released the modified mug shot of Jakubowski, because the FBI believes he may have altered his appearance. More than 150 state and federal law enforcement officers have been searching for Jakubowski since April 4, when they believe he took 18 firearms from a gun store in Janesville in southwestern Wisconsin. (FBI via AP)

Separately, law enforcement officials said on Thursday they were investigating a letter purportedly sent through the U.S. Postal Service by Jakubowski threatening attacks on churches on Easter Sunday. Authorities said the letter mentions the Sussex area about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee. They added that the authenticity of the letter "is in question."

Also on Thursday, authorities backed away somewhat from concerns that Jakubowski planned attacks on schools. Local police also clarified that the manifesto made no specific threat against President Donald Trump.

The pages posted online are numbered 93 through 160 but skip almost every odd number, suggesting the TV station received only one side of each page. In them, the writer claims the government was trying to brainwash its citizens through taxes, religion and health insurance.

"We the people should be out for these sick minded people belonging to the system! We need to spill their blood!" the document reads, going on to say priests and churches control U.S. presidents and banks.

The writer states he will not bring harm or violence to anyone, unless "these terrorist gangs continue their terrorism on human life and force my hand to protect and defend the honor and dignity of life!"

Investigators have said a manifesto written by Jakubowski details a long list of grievances against the government and law enforcement.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore said law enforcement was initially on high alert for a potential attack on schools because the person who tipped him off about Jakubowski said he had "made some mention of schools."

"That has been reduced significantly because when we looked at the documents written by Mr. Jakubowski there is little indication of schools in there. I hope that this information gives some comfort to our communities," Moore said Thursday.

Moore also said Jakubowski "has concerns with Trump," but his manifesto doesn't mention a specific threat.

A criminal complaint filed in Rock County, where the gun shop is located, charges Jakubowski with stealing 18 guns, including a fully automatic M-16 assault rifle, two gun silencers, weapon parts and magazines.

Sheriff Robert Spoden said investigators believe Jakubowski may have given copies of his manifesto to other people, but they don't know how many. But investigators have released few other details about what Jakubowski wrote and said little about what they believe he'll do.

Jakubowski has had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years. Most were for traffic violations, though he has previously resisted arrest and once tried to disarm an officer, according to Moore. More than 150 local, state and federal officers have been working to find him.

Authorities have urged the public to call with information of his whereabouts but they're warning people not to approach him. Spoden urged Jakubowski to turn himself in.

"No one has been hurt. Sometimes we make a mistake and those mistakes we can correct and work through. So far what Joseph has done is correctable and we encourage him to do the right thing for his community, his family, and go to an authority and turn himself in," Spoden said.

___

Ehlke reported from Milwaukee.
United Airlines will compensate all the passengers who were on a plane when a man was dragged off by airport officers in Chicago.

The company sought to quell the uproar over the incident by also announcing that it would no longer ask police to remove passengers from full flights.

In an interview with ABCs Good Morning America, United parent company chief executive Oscar Munoz said he felt ashamed watching video of the man being forced off the jet. He has promised to review the airlines passenger-removal policy.

WATCH: When asked about the passenger forcibly removed from a flight...



"Do you think he's at fault in any way?"



United CEO: "No" pic.twitter.com/gdr3vbo9JJ  Good Morning America (@GMA) April 12, 2017

Mr Munoz, apologised again to physician David Dao, his family and the other passengers who witnessed him being taken off the flight.

That is not who our family at United is, he said. This will never happen again on a United flight. Thats my promise.

@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

In the future, law enforcement will not be involved in removing a booked, paid, seated passenger, Mr Munoz said. We cant do that.

In an effort to calm the backlash, United also announced that passengers on United Express Flight 3411 would be compensated equal to the cost of their tickets.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said on Wednesday that the passengers can take the compensation in cash, travel credits or miles.

David Dao was dragged from the plane (Audra D Bridges via AP)

The flight was loaded and preparing to leave Chicagos OHare International Airport on Sunday when the man was dragged off. Video shot by passengers showing the mans bloodied face went viral on social media, prompting a storm of protest.

Also on Wednesday, a Chicago alderman said representatives from United and the citys aviation department have been summoned before a city council committee to answer questions about the confrontation at OHare Airport.

Alderman Mike Zalewski said he did not know who will represent the airline before the aviation committee, but Mr Munoz has been notified of the hearing scheduled for Thursday.

United CEO Oscar Munoz: Im sorry. We will fix this. https://t.co/v8EPGsiDCi pic.twitter.com/eOPiYcagvo  United Airlines (@united) April 11, 2017

Mr Munoz called the incident a system failure and said United would reassess its procedures for seeking volunteers to give up their seats when a flight is full.

United was trying to find seats for four employees, meaning it wanted four passengers to leave the plane.

The passenger was identified as Mr Dao, a 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

David Dao later returned to the flight (Audra D Bridges via AP)

His lawyers filed court papers on Wednesday asking the airline and the city of Chicago to preserve evidence in the case. Those documents are often the first steps toward a lawsuit.

Airport officials have said little about Sundays events and nothing about Mr Daos behaviour before he was pulled from the jet that was bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

Chicagos aviation department has said only that one of its employees who removed Mr Dao did not follow proper procedures and has been placed on leave. The department announced on Wednesday that two more officers have been placed on leave.
A British former spy chief has suggested Donald Trump borrowed money from Russian lenders to keep his property empire afloat.

Ex-MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove said financial links with Moscow may linger for the US president.

Mr Trump has strenuously denied any business links with Russia, insisting that the country had no leverage over him.

President Donald Trump (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Sir Richard said the allegations surrounding members of Mr Trumps team over contact with the Russian government were unprecedented.

Speaking to Prospect magazine, he added: What lingers for Trump may be what deals - on what terms - he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when others in the west apparently would not lend to him.

Mr Trump came to power pledging to build bridges with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but the conflict in Syria has dealt a blow to those aspirations.

US air strikes in retaliation for Moscow-backed Syrian leader Bashar Assads use of chemical weapons have contributed to relations between Washington and Moscow falling to what Mr Trump claimed may be an all-time low.
A petrol bomb has been thrown at the building housing French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pens campaign headquarters, Paris police said.

A small fire broke out after the device hit an insurance office on the ground floor, where Ms Le Pens campaign is based, overnight on Wednesday.

But the Paris fire department said no-one was injured in the incident overnight and the blaze was quickly extinguished.

A worker removes a graffiti outside French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's campaign headquarters (Francois Mori/AP)

An investigation is under way.

Police said vandals also scrawled graffiti targeting Ms Le Pens anti-immigration National Front party.

Ms Le Pen said on France-2 television on Thursday that she suspects extreme-left activists were behind the incident, but added that her campaign has not been contacted by investigators.

Ms Le Pen is a leading contender for Frances presidential election, held in two rounds on April 23 and May 7.
Police in England and Wales deployed Tasers at a rate of 30 times a day last year, new figures show.

Forces recorded a total of 11,294 uses of the devices in 2016  a rise of 904, or 9%, on the tally in the previous 12 months. Of these, five uses were due to accidental discharges.

Home Office statistics show that the number of instances where the weapons were discharged fell in 2016.

Graphic showing how a Taser works (PA)

Of the known 11,289 uses, 17% (1,910) were discharges  a decrease of 10, or 1%, on 2015. Of the 1,910 discharges, 92% (1,755) were fired, which was a rise of 26, or 2%, on the previous year.

Instances categorised as drive stun and angled drive stun accounted for the remaining 155 discharges.

The vast majority of Taser uses in 2016 were non-discharges, with 9,379 in this bracket  an increase of 11% on the previous year.

New @ukhomeoffice stats further prove #Taser is an effective piece of kit & it's often not even discharged PFEW_Che https://t.co/jrDcxNZgzf  Police Federation (@PFEW_HQ) April 13, 2017

Red-dot was the most common type of use, accounting for 51% (5,744) of the total uses in 2016. This is where the device is not fired but deliberately aimed and then partially activated so a laser red dot is placed onto the subject.

The new figures relate to use of the Taser X26, which will be replaced by a new device, the Taser X2. Authorised for use earlier this year, the X2 model can be fired twice if it misses or does not subdue the target on the first go.

Surveys carried out by rank-and-file police associations have indicated there is strong support for the equipment to be issued to more frontline officers.

Che Donald, lead on Taser for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: More than 80% of uses were non-discharges - with the number of red-dot uses making up more than half of all Taser usage.

This shows that by virtue of possession of a Taser, police officers are gaining compliance of members of the public. This is further evidence that greater roll-out of Taser across the service would be beneficial.

Policing Minister Brandon Lewis said: Any use of force by the police must be lawful and proportionate From April 1, all officers will be recording who Taser and other types of force are being used on, the location and outcome of any incident, along with the ethnicity and age of those involved bringing unprecedented transparency to police use of force.
Theresa May has warned the Armys newest officer recruits that challenges posed by terrorist groups and changing international alliances have made the world more complex than ever before.

Speaking as the Queens representative at the Sovereigns Parade at Sandhurst Academy, the Prime Minister referenced Khalid Masoods deadly attack in Westminster last month.

She also commended former Sandhurst graduate Captain Michael Crofts for tending to the wounded as the day unfolded.

Mrs May said she wanted Britain to build a new and deep special partnership with the European Union as the UK enters into negotiations to leave the bloc following the EU referendum last June.

Officers march during the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (Andrew Matthews/PA)

She said: The world into which you all now enter is also very different from that which confronted many of your predecessors.

The threats we face today are more complex than ever before. And the missions that you will be asked to undertake will be similarly complex.

Theresa May at the Sovereign's Parade (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Mrs May said the importance of the armed forces remained paramount for keeping Britain safe, whether it is the Royal Air Force flying missions against Daesh over the skies of Syria and Iraq, the Royal Navy protecting our sea lanes in the Gulf, or the British Army playing a leading role in UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia and South Sudan.

The Prime Minister also restated her commitment to meeting Natos requirements for investing 2% of Britains GDP in the armed forces, and promised to do everything possible to support military families.

Her reference to RAF missions against Daesh insurgents comes amid heated international discussions over the future of Syrias leadership following a suspected chemical weapons attack by Bashar Assads regime on April 4.

The Prime Minister at Sandhurst (Andrew Matthews/PA)

MPs previously voted not to intervene in the conflict, which entered its sixth year in February.

Sandhurst trains the Armys officers and has previously hosted many famous graduates and members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and Prince Harry in 2005/06.

Other famous cadets who have passed out there include the Sultan of Brunei, Sir Winston Churchill, fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, James Bond author Ian Fleming and actor David Niven.
Theresa May has said Russia is on the wrong side of this argument by failing to condemn a deadly chemical attack in Syria.

World leaders had called for an international probe into the attack in Khan Sheikhoun last week, which prompted a retaliatory US missile strike on a Syrian airbase.

The Prime Minister said it was highly likely the attack had been carried out by the Syrian regime, which has repeatedly denied involvement.

She told the BBC during a visit to Sandhurst: Russia is on the wrong side of this argument but we are willing to work with Russia to bring an end to the conflict in Syria, to bring about a political solution in Syria, but that political solution has to be without Assad.

Theresa May (Andrew Matthews/PA)

British scientists have said a toxic gas known as sarin was used in the attack on a rebel-held town, she said.

Mrs May said: They are very clear that sarin or a sarin-like substance was used and as our ambassador to the United Nations made clear yesterday, like the United States, we believe it is highly likely that attack was carried out by the Assad regime.

Apart from anything else, we believe it is only the regime that has the capability to take such an attack and make such an attack.

Syrian president Bashar Assad insisted that his military was not responsible for the incident and claimed the attack was a fabrication to justify the US missile strike.

Key dates in the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pic.twitter.com/2N7Uq00v0H  AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 13, 2017

He told the AFP news agency: There was no order to make any attack. We dont have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago. Even if we have them, we wouldnt use them. We have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

He claimed the US and the West were hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack, he said.

Russia, one of Syrias few international allies, vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution which would require the regime to provide detailed information about air operations and immediate access to air bases.
Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing will become the first woman to create a statue for Parliament Square when she makes her likeness of Millicent Fawcett.

Ms Wearing will be funded by the Government, following the Prime Ministers announcement of support for the statue earlier this month.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced on Thursday that Ms Wearing had been commissioned to create the artwork of the suffragist leader.

Sadiq Khan said the statue will be an historic moment for Parliament Square

The statue will be both the first of a woman, and the first created by a woman, to stand in Parliament Square. It will be unveiled to coincide with the centenary celebrations of womens suffrage in the UK.

Caroline Criado-Perez launched her campaign for a statue in Parliament Square in May last year, with a petition which was signed by almost 85,000 people.

Mr Khan said: As a proud feminist at City Hall, Im delighted to announce Gillian Wearing as the artist who will create the first-ever statue of a woman in Parliament Square, right in the heart of British democracy.

Its simply not right that, nearly a century after womens suffrage, Parliament Square is still a male-only zone and Im thrilled that this is soon to change, thanks to Carolines inspired campaign.

Millicent Fawcett speaks at the Suffragette Pilgrimage in Hyde Park in 1913

This will be an historic moment for Parliament Square, and its fitting that the statue will be created by a world-class artist of Gillians calibre.

He added: I have no doubt Gillians talent will do great justice to the movement and Millicent Fawcetts legacy.

Ms Wearing said: Millicent Fawcett was an incredible woman and by honouring her in Parliament Square I believe she will continue to inspire generations to come. I for one am truly grateful for her contribution towards securing the vote for women and I am really thrilled to be working on a monument for her.
Protesters have gathered to demand the scrapping of the UK Governments so-called rape clause, as they branded the policy vile and despicable.

Campaigners protest in George Square, Glasgow, against the UK Government's so-called "rape clause" for tax credits

Campaigners protest in George Square, Glasgow, against the UK Government's so-called "rape clause" for tax credits

The rule requires rape victims claiming tax credits for a third or subsequent child to prove they became pregnant as a result of an attack or while in a coercive relationship in order to qualify.

The policy has sparked a political row in Scotland, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon describing it as appalling.

To Tories who say #rapeclause needed to protect rape victims from 2 child tax credit cap - the better answer is to scrap the 2 child cap.  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 13, 2017

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said she supports the exemptions the UK Government has put in place on restrictions to child tax credits, saying she wants to see ministers implement them in the most compassionate way possible.

Ruth Davidson supports the exemptions

Around 300 campaigners attended a rally in Glasgows George Square on Thursday evening to call for the Government at Westminster to change its stance.

Addressing the crowd, SNP MP Alison Thewliss, who has been at the forefront of the fight against the changes, said no UK ministers have been able justify the policy to her.

It is vile, its cruel and it stigmatises not just the women but those children too, she said.

Imagine how dreadful it would be to find out that that was the circumstances that you came into this world. The Government has no right to do that to children in this country. It is appalling.

This Government has proven time and time again that they dont understand domestic violence, they dont understand the circumstances that women are living in. They need to know and they need to hear from people just how despicable this policy is.

She added: Its not just the rape clause, they want to limit tax credits and the child element of universal credit to the first two children in a family.

That says to people we only value those first two children, we make a judgment on the life that you live on the choices that you make  that is not acceptable in a free society.

SNP MP Mhairi Black speaks to the crowd during the protest

An estimated 300 protesters attended the rally in the centre of Glasgow.

Some of the banners held aloft at the gathering read: Prove rape or suffer in poverty, In Scotland we look after each other, and Glasgow says no to the Tory rape clause.

Sandy Brindley, the national coordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland, spoke out against what she described as a horrific policy.

She told the crowd: If you think about the circumstances of somebody who becomes pregnant as a result of rape, to put them in the position where they need to decide about poverty or disclosing a rape to the Department for Work and Pensions, it is just unspeakable.

I do not think as a society we can tolerate this. We need to be treating women much, much better than this.
Europa League favourites Manchester United have work to do after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Anderlecht in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

Jose Mourinhos side dominated the first half in Belgium and, after Jesse Lingard had hit the woodwork, Henrikh Mkhitaryan put the visitors ahead in the 37th minute.

But Anderlecht stayed in contention and got their reward three minutes from time through a powerful headed equaliser by Leander Dendoncker.

The result is positive. To play at home with an advantage, to start the game with an advantage, is a good result in any case. But I think the result should be much better and we can only blame ourselves because we had an easy game to play in the second half and we didnt play in attack with that instinct.

Its a good result, thats clear. We played against a very good team in Manchester United. We had a lot of difficulties in the first half, we did not create a lot of chances, the opponent was very strong. In the second half, we showed a lot of courage. I am proud that how the team played tonight.

Tweet of the match

Fellaini jeered onto the pitch. Must feel like a home match *chortle chortle*  Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) April 13, 2017

Star man  Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford's game by numbers vs. Anderlecht:



100% tackles won

4 blocks

3 shots

2 take-ons

2 crosses

1 chance created



Always a danger. pic.twitter.com/wGh8gfp5tN  Squawka (@Squawka) April 13, 2017

A constant threat for United and a pacy thorn in Anderlechts side. The teenagers dipping shot from outside of the box just went wide in the 19th minute after some already testing runs through Anderlechts defence. Rashford also showed good link-up play with Paul Pogba, was electric at times and was key in Mkhitaryans opening goal. Rashford struck Antonio Valenicias swinging cross and forced a stunning save from Ruben Martinez, but Mkhitaryan was in the right place to fire in from a tricky angle. Remained a threat in the second half

Moment of the match

Leander Dendoncker scores his first ever European goal for Anderlecht.



 just keep producing wonderkids! pic.twitter.com/hi7wXgvV5w  Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 13, 2017

Dendonckers late equaliser. Manchester United looked to have a huge upper hand ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford after claiming a valuable away goal but Anderlecht midfielder Dendoncker gave the Belgian side real hope with a crucial leveller. The 21-year-old simply wanted to get to the ball more than Uniteds Fellaini and his bullet header flew past goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

History point

Paul Pogba, right, battlrs for the ball with Anderlecht's Dennis Appiah

The game was a repeat of Manchester Uniteds first ever competitive European match. On that occasion, the Red Devils beat the Belgian side 2-0 in Brussels in the first round of the European Cup in 1956, before thrashing Anderlecht 10-0 in the return leg at Maine Road. The result in Belgium was different on Thursday but Jose Mourinho will still back his side to triumph at Old Trafford.

Player ratings

A late equaliser will take it out of you... #UEL pic.twitter.com/t6KCl5ZaDx  UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 13, 2017

Sergio Romero, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick, Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford, Zlatan IbrahimovicAnthony Martial (for Lingard, 63), Marouane Fellaini (for Rashford, 75), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (for Mkhitaryan, 90)

Whos up next?

Seven Premier League games remaining. Here's our next three... pic.twitter.com/YoqbXFzE6f  Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 10, 2017

KV Oostende v Anderlecht (Jupiler Pro League Championship play-offs, Sunday 16 April)

Manchester United v Chelsea (Premier League, Sunday 16 April)
ZURICH, April 11 (Reuters) - Swiss construction chemicals maker Sika expects sales to exceed 6 billion Swiss francs this year after it generated 10.7 percent local currency growth in the first quarter, it said ahead of its annual general meeting on Tuesday.

Sika is involved in a long-running takeover battle, in which the group's management is trying to block the founding family's sale of its controlling stake to French group Saint-Gobain .

Sika said it was targeting a 6-8 percent rise in sales to more than 6 billion Swiss francs ($5.95 billion) and an increase in earnings before interest and tax and net profit "at a disproportionately high rate".

"The strong start to the year is the result of our successful strategy implementation," Chief Executive Jan Jenisch said in a statement, adding the company would implement its growth model with raised targets for 2020.

Sika management and its founding family, the Burkhards, are set to clash at the AGM over the board's proposal to raise the dividend. The family wants a smaller increase.

($1 = 1.0090 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Michael Shields)
ABUJA, April 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria's lower house of parliament has set up a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the award of oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245, the committee chairman said on Wednesday.

Courts in Nigeria and Italy are investigating the purchase of the offshore block which was initially awarded in 1998 to Malabu Oil and Gas, in a disputed deal, before Royal Dutch Shell and Eni were awarded the rights in 2011.

Shell and Eni paid $1.3 billion for the rights to the block, which industry estimates say could hold more than 9 billion barrels of oil.

The House of Representatives mandated the committee to "conduct a thorough examination of the process and circumstances surrounding OPL 245 and identify culpability of any persons, groups or organisations," committee chairman Razak Atunwa said in an emailed statement.

"The committee is aware of recent information that has come to light, both nationally and internationally, indicating that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may have been complicit in the controversial OPL 245 deal," said the statement.

The statement said the committee was "considering inviting him to give evidence" on the grounds that he "may well be in a position to assist it with its inquiries".

It added that an announcement would be made once a formal firm decision had been taken on whether or not to call Jonathan, who served as president from 2009 to 2015.

The licence for the oil block was awarded to Malabu in 1998 under then-President Sani Abacha, although a successive government revoked the licence. Malabu appealed that decision, and the status of the licence was uncertain at the time that Shell finalised its deal with the Nigerian government in 2011.

Jonathan's spokesman issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said allegations that the former president benefited from the proceeds of the oil block's sale were entirely false.

"Common sense should have shown the purveyors of this slander that the Malabu oil deal far predated the Jonathan regime and it would only make sense for him to be bribed if he had a time machine to go back in time to when the deal was struck," said Jonathan's spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze.

Shell on Tuesday said it was aware that some of the payments it made to Nigeria for rights to the oilfield in the 2011 deal would go to a company associated with former Nigerian oil minister and convicted money launderer Dan Etete. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh and Felix Onuah; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by David Evans and James Dalgleish)
LIMA, April 12 (Reuters) - Peru's bank regulator said on Wednesday it was opening an investigation into two bank accounts worth $13 million belonging to Jorge Barata, construction firm Odebrecht's former head in Peru, after detecting "suspicious movements" between 2006 and 2016.

The Brazilian company is at the center of a massive corruption investigation that spans several Latin American countries.

"Odebrecht Peru has been cooperating with the authorities in that country to advance the investigations in progress," a company representative wrote in an email to Reuters in response to the new investigation.

Multiple attempts to locate attorneys for Barata were not successful.

Barata, who is in Brazil acting as a cooperating witness, is already under investigation on charges of influence trafficking and aggravated collusion.

In December, Odebrecht admitted that it had doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to unidentified authorities throughout Latin America over a decade including $29 million to win contracts in Peru.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Gram Slattery)
By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - Despite sending a naval force to the Korean peninsula, the Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, banning its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials say.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a preliminary broad approach on North Korea and asked his national security team to craft a more detailed framework for new international sanctions and other actions to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, one official said.

"There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea," the official told Reuters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. officials said the administration is considering an array of stiffer sanctions that could be applied on a "sliding scale" proportionate to North Korean actions. Some steps could be applied unilaterally, and others through the United Nations, where China has a Security Council veto.

The U.S. show of force, sending what Trump called an "armada" of military vessels toward the region, and North Korea's angry response, has raised fears of a military confrontation.

Though U.S. officials insist that military options remain on the table, pre-emptive strikes on North Korea remain a last resort, and they stressed that - for now, at least - the Trump administration is stressing economic and diplomatic measures.

U.N. economic options include an embargo on oil supplies to North Korea; a global ban on Air Koryo, its national airline; and interdiction of North Korean freighters on the high seas, a step that would go beyond an existing requirement for nations to inspect ships transiting their territory, the officials said this week.

The United Nations also could prohibit the use of North Korean contracted labor abroad and expand the restrictions on North Korean coal exports to a total ban, the officials said.

Another step could be a ban on North Korean seafood exports, Pyongyang's fourth-largest export to China, its main trading partner, and expanded efforts to seize assets of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family.

U.S. administration officials said final decisions on specific sanctions targets have yet to made, but they privately expressed doubts about how much further Beijing is willing to go to bring its defiant ally to heel - in spite of increasing Chinese concerns that North Korea might soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or new missile launches.

A phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday was intended to reinforce U.S. pressure on Beijing to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a U.S. official said.

On Wednesday, Trump, who met Xi at a first summit in Florida last week, praised China for sending coal ships back to North Korea under existing U.N. sanctions. Trump said he thought Xi wanted to help, but added: "We'll see whether or not he does."

MULTIPLE SANCTIONS TARGETS

While Trump emphasized the warmth of his interactions with Xi, he warned the Chinese leader last week that new sanctions could include penalties against Chinese banks and companies doing business with North Korea if Beijing did not step up pressure, one U.S. official said.

"If that's the only option the Chinese leave us, there's a real possibility that Chinese entities will get hit," the official said.

The U.S. aim would be to tighten the screws on North Korea in the same way it pressured Iran to open negotiations on its suspected nuclear weapons program - by penalizing all foreign firms dealing with the country.

"The amount of pressure that has been brought to bear economically on North Korea is far short of what was brought to bear against Iran," another senior administration official said.

Some analysts cautioned that targeting Chinese entities with so-called "secondary sanctions" could backfire and make Beijing less willing to cooperate, and that dealing with a country that already has nuclear weapons differs from dealing with one accused of trying acquire them.

"If you want to rely on sanctions to achieve your goal, you have to find a way to persuade or force the world into going all the way to a near full embargo or at least an embargo on key commodities like petroleum and on North Korean hard currency export earnings," said Joseph DeThomas, a former State Department official who worked on Iran and North Korea sanctions.

"Only if the regime sees continuation of sanctions as fatal will it consider change," he said.

In a sign of Beijing's growing frustration with North Korea, China's Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday that North Korea should halt any nuclear and missile activities "for its own security" - a reference to the approaching U.S. naval force.

It said that if North Korea made another provocative move, "Chinese society" might back unprecedented sanctions "such as restricting oil imports."

While run by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, the Global Times does not always represent government policy. (Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Bill Rigby)
BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) - China did not import coal from North Korea in March, customs data showed, as it bids to comply with United Nations' sanctions against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

The data issued on Thursday did not give monthly imports by country, but China's customs office gave a separate first-quarter volume for North Korea at 2.678 million tonnes, which is the same as its shipments for January-February.

In a news briefing, the General Administration of Customs said China has not imported North Korean coal since Beijing issued a ban on the imports on Feb. 18.

More than 2 million tonnes of North Korean coal did not clear customs before the import ban went into effect and are stranded at ports, two trading sources told Reuters this week.

"It will be up to the trading companies to deal with the cargos that have been shipped to China but did not arrive before the ban," said Huang Songping, a spokesman for customs.

Reuters reported on Monday that China ordered trading companies to return coal shipments received from North Korea after the ban was implemented.

Coal imports from North Korea in the first quarter - without the March shipments - were half of what they were a year ago.

China's total coal imports in March rose 12.2 percent from the same month last year, the customs data showed, reflecting strong consumption from power stations.

The year-on-year increase suggests a sustained appetite in China for lower-priced foreign coal amid a prolonged domestic coal price rally, which has been triggered by the government's curbs on smog and overcapacity.

"The year-on-year increase in monthly coal imports is quite high and quite unexpected," said Zhang Xiaojin, a coal analyst with Everbright Futures. "Demand for imported coal remains strong in April, but shipments could trend lower due to the Australian cyclone."

The monthly imports, at 22.09 million tonnes, were up 24.9 percent from February, the data showed.

Coal imports for the first quarter totalled 64.71 million tonnes, up 34 percent from the same period a year ago. (Reporting by Meng Meng and Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Chrsitian Schmollinger and Tom Hogue)
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

CURRENT ACCOUNT

The central bank is due to publish current account data for February at 1200 GMT.

GRIFFIN <IPO-GRF.WA>

Griffin Premium RE, part of Poland-focused Griffin Real Estate is due to debut on the Warsaw bourse at 0700 GMT.

PZU

The supervisory board of Poland's largest insurer, PZU, has appointed Pawel Surowka as the company's chief executive officer for a term ending in 2018, after former CEO Michal Krupinski was dismissed earlier last month.

OPINION POLL

The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is currently backed by 32.7 percent of Poles, while 25.7 percent support the largest opposition party Civic Platform (PO), according to an opinion poll conducted on Apr. 11 by pollster IBRiS for Fakt tabloid and Radio Zet.

****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 (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau)
By Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy

JAKARTA, April 13 (Reuters) - Washington has billed Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Indonesia next week as a booster for the Strategic Partnership between the world's second- and third-largest democracies, but a raft of bilateral tensions could sap the goodwill from his trip.

Pence's counterpart in the world's most populous Muslim country has voiced worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which critics say is biased against Muslims, and about his "America First" mantra on trade and investment.

"We in Indonesia never change. The change is there. That's why we're asking them now, 'what is your policy now on the economy, on democracy, now that Trump is in power?'," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told Reuters on March 31.

"What does it mean, 'America first'? I can say, too, 'Indonesia first' if you say 'America first'."

Indonesia is one of 16 countries against which the United States runs a trade deficit that will be investigated by the Trump administration for possible trade abuses.

Trump's combative approach will not sit easily with Indonesia, where economic nationalism and protectionist tendencies have flourished since a slump in commodity prices in recent years slammed the brakes on economic growth.

"Unfortunately I do see a hardening of attitudes on our side," said a senior Indonesian government official, who declined to be named. "And it's of particular concern because we're on that list of 16 countries ... that are going to be investigated."

The official said a tougher stand by Indonesian authorities had also contributed to a series of disputes with U.S. companies, including Alphabet Inc's Google, miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc and financial services giant JP Morgan Chase & Co.

A SERIES OF FACE-OFFS

Indonesia has duelled with Google over back taxes and fines running into hundreds of millions of dollars, and with Freeport in a contract row that has crippled operations at the world's second-largest copper mine, Grasberg.

It also dropped JP Morgan as a primary bond dealer after the bank's research analysts issued a negative report on the country in November.

"It's a very unfortunate series of issues which all happen to be American," said the official, who expects them to come up in private during Pence's visit. Indonesia is the third stop on an April 15-25 tour that includes South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Google declined to comment for this report, and JPMorgan did not respond to a request for comment.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said: "This visit is happening entirely independent of our current negotiations with the government of Indonesia."

However, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, Freeport's third-biggest shareholder and now a special adviser to Trump, has described Jakarta's tactics over the mining contract as "disingenuous and insulting", according to the New York Times.

Another potential irritant is biodiesel.

The U.S. National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a producer group, has petitioned the U.S. government to impose anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina, claiming they have flooded the U.S. market.

"This is one of the issues that we have asked the trade ministry to bring to the meeting (with Pence)," Paulus Tjakrawan, a director at the Indonesia Biofuel Producers Association, told Reuters.

"Our hope is for the government to be firm ... Otherwise we will be taken advantage of," he said. "Not to act like thugs but, for example, if they put barriers to our exports, why not stop importing some of their goods?"

Despite the strains, the government official said Indonesia would be careful to start its relationship with the Trump administration on the right foot.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approach to foreign policy has been led more by economic interests than geopolitical considerations: he has pursued increased trade and investment from China but keeps a diplomatic distance from Beijing and established a strategic partnership with Washington under former President Barack Obama.

U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R. Donovan Jr, said in a statement last week that Pence's visit reflected a continued commitment to that partnership, would deepen economic engagement and boost regional security cooperation.

"The U.S. embassy here certainly is going to great lengths to make the visit a success," said the Indonesian official. "My impression is he's (Pence) not going to ruffle feathers in public, he's not going to cause a ruckus." (Additional reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fergus Jensen; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
BRATISLAVA, April 13 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 1 hour) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview ============================NEWS================================ VOLKSWAGEN: Volkswagen's Slovakia plant chief executive Ralf Sacht said on Wednesday the factory was not planning any major investments at the moment, it wants to earn back previous investments. Story: Related stories: CONSTRUCTION: A consortium led by VINCI subsidiary Eurovia and including Doprastav and Metrostav Slovakia has been awarded a 356 million euros ($379.67 million) contract to build a new 8 km section of the D1 motorway near Presov, in eastern Slovakia Story: Related stories: ==========================PRESS DIGEST========================== OPINION POLL: Prime Minister Robert Fico's leftist party Smer would win an election with 26.6 percent of the vote, according to a Focus poll. However, the ruling coalition it leads would lose its parliamentary majority after a drop in support for a junior coalition member Slovak National Party. SME, page 4 (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - Japan's air force scrambled fighter jets to chase away foreign aircraft at record pace in the year to March 31, government figures showed on Thursday, as Chinese military activity in and around the East China Sea escalated.

Japan worries that China's probing of its air defences is part of a push to extend its military influence in the East China Sea and western Pacific, where Japan controls an island chain stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) south towards Taiwan.

"Recently we have seen Chinese military aircraft operating further south and that is bringing them closer to the main Okinawa island and other parts of the island chain," Japan's top military commander, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, told a briefing in Tokyo.

Okinawa is home to the biggest concentration of U.S. Marine Corp forces outside the United States, hosting the bulk of the roughly 50,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan.

Japan's Air Self Defence Force reported its fighters scrambled 1,168 times over the 12 months, up from 873 last year. A record 851 jets headed off approaching Chinese planes, or 280 more instances than in the corresponding period last year.

The new figure was also well above the previous high of 944 incidents in 1984, when Russian, rather than Chinese, aircraft triggered most of the scrambles.

The uptick in Chinese activity has contributed to rising tension in East Asia since the start of the year as North Korea pushes ahead with ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests that have stoked fears in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Japan's navy plans joint drills around the East China Sea with the U.S. Navy's Carl Vinson carrier strike group, as it steams towards the Korean peninsula, two sources told Reuters.

Encounters with Russian aircraft, which are often bombers flying from the north that skirt around Japan's airspace, rose 4.5 percent, to 301 scrambles. (Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo and Tim Kelly; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
SOFIA, April 13 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TRUD - The nationalist alliance United Patriots is likely to get five ministers in the new coalition government led by centre-right GERB party, sources familiar with the talks said.

-- The ethnic Turkish MRF party said it would back a GERB-led coalition government until July next year, when Bulgaria will hand over the rotating EU presidency to Austria. (Sega, 24 Chasa, Trud, Duma)

-- Bulgaria's population is expected to drop below 7 million by 2020, a new demographic report by the statistics office showed. (Standart, Sega, Standart, Monitor)

-- British American Tobacco plans to produce the cigarette brands it acquired from local cigarette maker Bulgartabac in the country for the next two years, BAT Bulgaria manager Mila Marechkova said. (Standart, Capital Daily, Monitor, Trud,)

-- The health ministry said that the level of uranium found in the drinking water supplies in the southern region of Haskovo is not a threat to the public health, as the polluted water wells were cut off. (Standart, Monitor, 24 Chasa, Trud, Duma)

-- The Bulgarian army is only partially prepared to protect the country's sovereignty and territory and participate in NATO's collective defence due to chronic shortage of soldiers, ageing military equipment and lack of funds, a new report from the defence ministry for 2016 showed. (Sega, Monitor, Standart)
KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank said on Thursday it will support law enforcement agencies investigating the possible flow of funds to North Korea, after Reuters reported the North Korean head of a Malaysian firm had for years sent money to Pyongyang's leadership.

Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had for two decades funneled funds to the central committee of Pyongyang's ruling Workers' Party.

MKP is also under investigation by the United Nations for the possible violation of sanctions on North Korea.

Malaysia's deputy home minister had said in response that the reports could damage Kuala Lumpur's reputation as a financial hub and called on the central bank to investigate the alleged transfer of funds to North Korea.

"Should there be any offence relating to the laws administered by Bank Negara Malaysia, an investigation will be conducted," the central bank said in its statement Thursday.

Malaysia's historically close ties with North Korea have come under scrutiny following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Koreas ruler.

Reuters reported in February that North Koreas spy agency was running an arms export operation out of Malaysia.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Michael Perry)
MOSCOW, April 13 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- A long awaited visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Russia ended on Wednesday without scandal and with no breakthroughs, the daily said of Tillerson's meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

- Valentina Matvienko, head of the Federation Council upper house of parliament, has ordered checks into Platon, a new electronic system for collecting fees from truck operators for using major roads. The fees have provoked a wave of protests by truck drivers across the country, the daily adds.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Russia and the United States failed to achieve agreement on the situation in Syria but decided to try to move closer on ways to settle the issue, the daily says, commenting on US Secretary Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow.

- Russia's next presidential election will be held on March 18, 2018, the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea in 2014, according to amendments to election legislation approved on first reading on Wednesday.

IZVESTIA

www.izvestia.ru

- Foreign producers of software will be banned from state procurement tenders if they have supported anti-Crimea sanctions, according to a Russian government decree to be issued soon.

- Capital outflows from Russia in the first three months of 2017 exceeded the central bank's annual forecast of $12 billion and reached $15.4 billion, according to official reports.

RBC

www.rbc.ru

- Nikolai Merkushkin, the governor of Samara region, will most likely leave his post in the very near future, the daily says. It suggests the reason for his resignation could be his inability, in the Kremlin's opinion, to ensure the required turnout of voters at next year's presidential election.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA

www.ng.ru

- Fifty six percent of working Russians are paid less than 31,000 roubles ($547.61) a month while the official average monthly salary is considered to be 36,000 roubles($635.94), the daily says. It writes that in reality the proportion of poor people in Russia could be almost twice as large as the official figure of 43 million. ($1 = 56.6095 roubles) (Reporting By Tatiana Ustinova)
By Andrea Shalal and Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA, April 13 (Reuters) - Germany's foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel urged the European Union on Thursday to support infrastructure projects in the Western Balkans and told Kosovo it needed to improve relations with Serbia to advance its bid to join the EU.

Gabriel, who spoke after meeting Kosovan Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, also urged the parliament in Pristina to finalise a border deal with Montenegro to unlock a visa liberalization agreement, saying the two countries were not really that far apart.

The opposition party opposes the border deal, however, and it is unclear if it would win the necessary two-thirds support.

Gabriel, a former economics minister, told a joint news conference that the EU could do "significantly more" to support Kosovo and other Western Balkan countries as they worked to fulfil the EU's strict criteria for membership.

Nearly two decades after the Kosovo war, relations between Serbia and the ethnic Albanian-majority government in Kosovo remain strained. Serbia continues to regard Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008, as a renegade province.

"It will cost money, yes, but it would be relatively inexpensive compared to the alternative, which is a rekindling of the old tensions in the region," Gabriel said.

"It would be smart of Europe to insist that all the criteria of EU membership be met, but also to do more ... to improve the living conditions of the people here so they don't lose their faith in Europe," he said.

At the same time, he said it was imperative for Kosovo, Serbia and other countries to work to improve relations among themselves and build the trust needed for future EU membership.

"In the end they will only get into the EU if they trust each other," he said.

Gabriel gave a similar message to Serbia on Wednesday, telling it that Germany supported it on its path to EU membership but that it must work on reforms and mend fences with Kosovo.

Mustafa said Kosovo remained grateful for Germany's support. He said his country was moving to implement agreements already made with Serbia to try to normalise relations.

"We believe that the dialog produced the results to deescalate the relations between Kosovo and Serbia," he said.

He also underscored Kosovo's continued interest in building a national army, but said it should be done with the support of the NATO alliance, the EU and the United States.

"Kosovo will and should have its army," Mustafa said.

Kosovo bowed last week to pressure from traditional allies the United States and NATO by delaying plans to establish an army strongly opposed by the country's minority Serbs.

Gabriel said it was important that any army plans should be coordinated with the Serb minority. (Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Umit Ozdal and Humeyra Pamuk

DIYARBAKIR/ISTANBUL, April 13 (Reuters) - Mehtap Yoruk used to teach in a nursery school in southeast Turkey, until she was sacked last year in a purge of tens of thousands of state employees. Now, she ekes out a living selling chicken and rice from a food cart on a side street, dreaming of being reunited with her classroom full of children.

That day may never come if Sunday's referendum grants President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers, she said, scooping rice in a paper plate for a customer.

"If there is a 'Yes' in the referendum, it will be much harder for us to be reinstated in our jobs. And these removals will probably expand."

After an abortive coup in July, Turkish authorities arrested 40,000 people and sacked or suspended 120,000 others from a wide range of professions including soldiers, police, teachers and public servants, over alleged links with terrorist groups.

The vast majority of those people, like Yoruk, say they have nothing to do with the armed attempt to overthrow the government, and are victims of a purge designed to solidify the power of an increasingly authoritarian leader.

The referendum has bitterly divided Turkey. Erdogan argues that strengthening the presidency would avert instability associated with coalition governments, at a time when Turkey faces security threats from Islamist and Kurdish militants.

But his critics fear further drift into authoritarianism, with a leader they see as bent on eroding modern Turkey's democracy and secular foundations.

Mass detentions immediately after the attempted coup were supported by many Turks, who agreed with Erdogan when he blamed U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the putsch which killed 240 people, mostly civilians.

But criticism mounted as the arrests widened to include people from all walks of life such as midwives and prison guards in remote parts of Turkey, and to pro-Kurdish opposition lawmakers, effectively leaving the nation's third-biggest party leaderless.

"These purges are not individual cases at all. This is a systemic phenomenon empowered by an environment of lawlessness. And in the case of a 'Yes' win that will only get worse," said Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a doctor and rights activist dismissed earlier this year.

FROM "WAR VETERAN TO TERRORIST"

A report by opposition parliamentarian Zeynep Altiok said that the purge of public employees since the coup had deprived 1.5 million students of their teachers. More than 600 companies were seized by the state, 140,000 passports were revoked and 65 elected mayors ousted, it said last month.

In addition, more than 2,000 journalists were sacked and scores of TV and radio stations, news agencies and newspapers were shut down.

United Nations rights experts said on Thursday those closures had undermined the chance for informed debate on the referendum, and a state of emergency imposed after the failed coup had been used to justify repressive measures which may be just the beginning if Erdogan wins greater powers on Sunday.

"Given the arbitrary and sweeping nature of the emergency decrees issued since July 2016, there is serious concern that such powers might be used in ways that exacerbate the existing major violations of economic, social and cultural rights," the U.N. experts on education, poverty and free speech said.

After a decade as prime minister, Erdogan assumed the presidency in 2014. He has already transformed what had been a largely ceremonial role into a platform for action, and the referendum would formally grant him executive powers once reserved for the cabinet that answers to parliament.

He has also promised to reinstate the death penalty if the 'Yes' vote wins, almost certainly ending Turkey's decades-long bid to join the European Union, which bars executions. Turkey's EU candidate status has been one of the brakes on Ankara, requiring steps to improve human rights and transparency.

Aysegul Karaosmanoglu, a headscarved teacher suspended two days after the coup and sacked in September, said the coup was used as an excuse by the government to purge dissidents. A "Yes" win would probably broaden and deepen that crackdown, she said.

"It could create an environment for all dissidents to be hanged, or denied any chance of life," Karaosmanoglu, 45, said. "I hear they are opening lots of new prisons. I guess they'll put people like us there".

She was speaking at a rare gathering in Istanbul this week of purged civil servants and families of those jailed, who came together to publicise their plight. They rejected any link with the failed coup, and some said they were sacked for causes as remote from any real wrongdoing as simply being members of a union which was deemed a Gulenist institution.

Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, denies involvement in the coup. He is a former Erdogan ally whose network was declared a terrorist group by Turkey's national security council two months before the failed coup.

Ahmet Erkaslan, a gendarmerie officer who was shot by Kurdish militants during a security operation in Diyarbakir's Sur district last year, says he was sacked from his job without being given a reason. That has transformed him from a war veteran to a so-called terrorist, overnight.

"I still remember the whistle of the bullets as I lay on the ground," Erkaslan said.

He said he expects it will be difficult to get his job back, regardless of how the country votes in the plebiscite.

"Even if the removals stop, they would no longer employ people who are critical of them," he said. (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Dominic Evans and Peter Graff)
By Celine Aswad

DUBAI, April 13 (Reuters) - Profit taking dragged most stock markets in the Middle East lower on Thursday, erasing most of the previous session's gains as some of the optimism generated by generally positive first quarter results faded.

Saudi Arabia's index retreated 0.3 percent, after rising 0.9 percent on Wednesday when Saudi British Bank reported an earnings beat and banking shares rose.

The optimism failed to keep markets afloat even though another lender, Banque Saudi Fransi, reported first-quarter results that exceeded estimates after Wednesday's market close.

Fransi's shares fell 2.6 percent and most of its peers also declined. National Commercial Bank, which is expected to report earnings early next week, fell 2.1 percent and SABB lost 0.7 percent.

Telecommunications operator Zain Saudi, which had soared its 10 percent daily limit on Wednesday after reporting its first-ever net profit and surpassing analysts' forecasts, fell 0.5 percent with selling momentum building in the final hour of trade.

Alrajhi Capital said given a saturated industry, high gross margin levels - which are similar to market leader's - and relatively high gross capex as percent of sales, which helped the company achieve a strong growth, it may be a challenge for Zain Saudi to top those results in the near future.

Elsewhere, in Dubai the index dropped 0.9 percent with 30 shares declining and only one advancing.

Shares of second- and third-tier companies, often traded by local day traders, were some of the top losers. Troubled builder Arabtec lost 2.4 percent and peer Drake & Scull fell 2.6 percent.

Dubai Islamic Bank, which was trading higher most of the session, edged down 0.3 percent. Shares of the largest Islamic bank in Dubai have been positive since it reported modest growth in first-quarter net profit earlier this week.

National Cement fell 2.8 percent as its shares went ex-dividend on Thursday.

In Abu Dhabi, real estate shares were the main drag on the index, which fell 0.8 percent. Heavyweight Aldar Properties dropped 1.9 percent and RAK Properties lost 1.6 percent.

In Oman, Bank Muscat rose 1.0 percent after it reported a 1.1 percent growth in its first-quarter net profit to 44.2 million rials ($114.8 million), at the upper end of analysts' estimates. The index closed 0.3 percent higher.

Egypt's index fell 0.1 percent and is now down 1.0 percent for the week. Liquidity was being sucked out of the market after the bombing of two churches killed at least 45 people on Sunday and two days later the parliament declared a three-month state of emergency.

Tourism related shares were some of the worst performers, with Egyptian Resorts dropping 1.8 percent.

THURSDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

* The index fell 0.3 percent to 7,077 points.

DUBAI

* The index retreated 0.9 percent to 3,509 points.

ABU DHABI

* The index declined 0.8 percent to 4,518 points.

QATAR

* The index edged down 0.4 percent to 10,451 points.

KUWAIT

* The index fell 0.5 percent to 7,008 points.

EGYPT

* The index edged down 0.1 percent to 12,967 points.

OMAN

* The index edged up 0.3 percent to 5,572 points.

BAHRAIN

* The index fell 0.1 percent to 1,356 points. ($1 = 3.6730 UAE dirham) ($1 = 18.1300 Egyptian pounds)

(Editing by Susan Fenton, Larry King)
DUBAI, April 13 (Reuters) - A court in Yemen's Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa has sentenced a veteran reporter to death for spying for the group's main enemy Saudi Arabia, Houthi media and a journalists' association have reported.

Yahya Abdulraqeeb Al-Jubaihi was accused of establishing contacts with the Saudi embassy in Sanaa and sending it reports that endangered Yemen on the military, economic and political levels, the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported.

Saba said Al-Jubaihi who was arrested on Sept. 2016, had received 4,500 Saudi riyals ($1,200) a month for his services since 2010.

The decision by the State Security court in the capital Sanaa was reported on late Wednesday by the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency and by the Yemen Journalists' Syndicate (YJS), a body that represents journalists.

"YJS strongly condemns this unconstitutional and extralegal sentence that ... brought Yemen back to a totalitarian and despotic era, and caused terror and fear among journalists," the organisation said in a statement sent to Reuters.

Yemen is ranked 170th out of 180 countries in the 2016 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. The group called on Wednesday for the release of 10 other journalists held by the Houthis for almost two years.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies have carried out thousands of bombing raids in Yemen since March 2015 in a campaign to try to restore the ousted government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Houthis, close to Saudi Arabia's arch-enemy Iran, have progressively lost territory to the offensive but maintain control over the capital and most population centres. ($1 = 3.7502 riyals) (Reporting By Yemen staff; Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Alan Baldwin

MANAMA, April 13 (Reuters) - Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein hit out at his critics on Thursday after detailing the serious nature of the back injury that sidelined him from the first two races of the Formula One season.

The 22-year-old German told reporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he has been cleared to compete, that he had suffered three fractured thoracic vertebrae in a crash at the Race of Champions in Miami in January.

Wehrlein was immobilised for about four weeks afterwards, losing fitness at a key point in his pre-season preparations.

He never did more than 10 laps at a time in Barcelona testing in March, doing only half days at a time, and arrived in Australia with about a week and half of serious training under his belt.

Although he took part in practice in Australia ahead of the opening race, Wehrlein was replaced in Melbourne and China by Ferrari's Italian reserve Antonio Giovinazzi.

Some commentators and former drivers questioned his withdrawal, arguing that they would have raced through the pain barrier rather than risk losing their place on the grid.

"If it was just muscle pain, do you think Sauber and Mercedes would accept for me not to drive," Wehrlein said when asked about the comments.

"I don't care too much what the others say because they didn't know my situation and were commenting on it ... if you don't know what injury someone had, you shouldn't criticise him.

"One broken bone is not something that is very easy to catch up in one and a half weeks and I had three broken vertebrae," he added.

Wehrlein, who raced for now-defunct Manor last year and has a Mercedes contract, said he had no worries about his debut for the team on Sunday, in a race which will subject drivers to extreme G-forces in sweltering conditions.

"Medical-wise everything is good. It's just the muscles around, they went away if you can't do sport for a few weeks. But they are rebuilding quite quickly," he said.

"I think I will be fine in the car, no pain. The track is also quite flat, not many bumps." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Susan Fenton)
By Kieran Guilbert

DAKAR, April 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Celebrating successful African women in fields ranging from politics and business to agriculture and the arts could inspire girls across the continent to strive towards closing the gender gap, winners of the New African Woman Awards said on Thursday.

Twelve women from Mali, Morocco and Zimbabwe among other countries, were honoured at the ceremony hosted by the New African Woman (NAW) magazine late on Wednesday in the Senegalese capital Dakar.

The Woman of the Year Award went to Fatoumata Tambajang, Gambia's new vice president and the architect of an opposition coalition that helped President Adama Barrow defeat longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh in the December presidential election.

"This important platform brings together inspirational women to find solutions to gender equality issues that hinder Africa's development," said Leila Ben Hassen, general manager at IC Publications, which publishes the pan-African NAW magazine.

"Although we are still a long way from closing the gender gap globally, Africa is making some gradual progress," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the sidelines of the second edition of the awards.

The awards were followed by panel discussions on subjects including female leadership in politics and business, supporting women in science and technology and investing in women's health.

Several panellists said that women across Africa face many obstacles to achieving their full potential, ranging from access to capital, a lack of training, and widespread discrimination.

Winner of the health, science and innovation award, Helena Ndume, a Namibian ophthalmologist who has performed sight-restoring surgeries upon tens of thousands of people for free, said she hoped to inspire young girls to follow her lead.

"It is so humbling to be here among amazing African women from so many different fields," she said. "I hope our successes will encourage many girls and young women to aspire to work in vital sectors like science, health, engineering and technology." (Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
By Hamid Shalizi and Josh Smith

KABUL, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is dispatching his first high-level delegation to Afghanistan to begin to formulate a strategy for a war that has entangled NATO forces for more than 15 years and continues to inflict heavy casualties on local troops.

Afghan officials hope National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster will provide clarity from an administration that they feel has neglected their plight as it concentrates on crises in Syria and North Korea.

On Wednesday, Trump announced he was sending McMaster to "find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies." The timing of the visit has yet to be confirmed by U.S. and Afghan officials.

Despite general declarations of support for the Western-backed government in Kabul, the Trump administration has given few concrete signals of its plans for Afghanistan, which remains heavily dependant on billions of dollars in American aid.

U.S. forces also make up the bulk of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, provide close air support to soldiers on the ground and form a separate counter-terrorism unit that targets Islamic State, al Qaeda and other militant networks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who like McMaster is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was forced to scrap a visit to the country in February because of bad weather.

The makes McMaster's trip the first by a senior official from the new administration, although earlier this month he spent an hour on the phone to Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar for a detailed brief, according to one Western official.

That may signal renewed interest in Afghanistan, where nearly 9,000 American troops are deployed, but exactly what the Trump administration will decide is unclear, the official added.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told Congress in February that he needed a "few thousand" more troops to help train the Afghan security forces, which are battling Taliban insurgents as well as militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State.

Afghan officials have held out hope that veterans like McMaster and Mattis would help form policies favoured by Kabul, including taking a harder line on Pakistan and the Taliban.

"Both these gentlemen know very well that Afghanistan's growing insecurity is because of Pakistan's ongoing support for the Taliban and other insurgent groups, and we are impatiently waiting for a clear policy announcement," said one senior Afghan government official.

Pakistan denies aiding or harbouring Islamist militants, and has accused Afghanistan in turn of allowing insurgents to cross from its territory into Pakistan to carry out attacks.

One signal that the United States may change its policies toward Pakistan is McMaster's decision to hire Lisa Curtis, a researcher with the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, to oversee South Asia affairs.

In February Curtis co-authored an article calling for the United States to "levy heavy costs on Pakistan for policies that help perpetuate terrorism in the region."

McMaster is expected to visit Pakistan and India as well during his trip, where the issue of violence in Afghanistan and militant groups in Pakistan will likely be discussed.

"If and when it takes place, I'm sure his discussions with our national security adviser and other meetings in India will cover prominently the situation in the region - most importantly in Afghanistan," said a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakaria declined to confirm McMaster's visit, saying on Thursday he was not aware of any plans. (Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in New Delhi.; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
By Sally Hayden

LONDON, April 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A rise in online adverts offering accommodation in Britain rent-free in exchange for sex has fuelled fears among charities over the safety of young, homeless people who could fall prey to sexual abuse.

One posting offered escort work along with accommodation. Another proposed a rent-free "friends with benefits" arrangement.

The ads posted on U.S.-based internet bulletin board Craigslist have prompted charities to call for the website's vetting procedures to be examined.

Craigslist did not respond to a request for comment.

"I think it's awful that young people are in a situation where they consider taking up these ads," Jennifer Barnes, head of policy and research for Centrepoint homeless charity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Last year more than 4,100 people slept rough in England, a 16 percent rise on the year before, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Barnes said besides searching for housing on websites like Craigslist, some young people were using dating apps and dating websites to find shelter, while others were approaching people in clubs or bars and asking whether they could stay with them.

Many young people who end up homeless are escaping abuse at home and need accommodation last minute, Barnes said.

"Young people aren't doing this because they want to, they're doing it because they're desperate for somewhere to stay," Barnes said. "By going down this route they're putting themselves at significant risk."

A survey by Centrepoint in December found that 26 percent of young, homeless people had stayed in the house of a stranger. (Reporting by Sally Hayden @sallyhayd, Editing by Katie Nguyen.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday sanctioned Sohrab Soleimani, the brother of the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, for his role in abuses in Iranian prisons, the White House said.

"The sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran's prisons comes at a time when Iran continues to unjustly detain ... various foreigners, including U.S. citizens," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a press briefing.

Soleimani is the brother of Qassem Soleimani, who leads Iran's Quds Force, the elite special forces arm of the Revolutionary Guards. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by David Alexander)
Prince Harry faces claims that he is trying to get his docuseries delayed until after Christmas 'so it is released at the same time as his memoir'
Sri Lanka High Commissioner Ibrahim Sahib Ansar fears for his safety if he has to testify in the Sepang Sessions Court in an assault trial, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur heard.

The court was told Thursday that the case needs to be transferred to the Sessions Court here for the envoy's safety and convenience.

DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim argued that the diplomat fears for his safety in attending the trial in Sepang on the assault case where three men have been charged with rioting, mischief and causing hurt against him.

"The victim (Ibrahim) should be given a chance to appear and give evidence without fearing for his safety. The convenience to the witness is important for the justice of this case," he argued before High Court judge Justice Nordin Hassan.

Suhaimi asked the judge to use his power to transfer the case from Sepang to be heard in the Sessions Court here.

He said Ibrahim had affirmed an affidavit to support the transfer application.

However, M. Manoharan, who acted for three accused in the assault case, argued that it would set a dangerous precedent if the court allow a witness to choose which court will suit his convenience.

He submitted that it would be an insult to the administration of justice, saying that all should be treated equally before the law.

Manoharan also said that it would be an insult to the judiciary, court staff and police guarding the courts if the transfer application by the Public Prosecutor is allowed.

Three men had claimed trial in the Sepang Sessions Court last year to charges of assaulting Ibrahim at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sept 4, 2016.

The trio are businessmen A. Kalaimughilan, 26, V. Balamurugan, 33, and V. Ragunathan.

Ibrahim was assaulted at the airport after sending off Daya Gamage, the country's Primary Industries Minister, who was in Malaysia for the International Conference of Asian Political Parties.(The Star)
Coming weeks will be crucial for Sri Lanka as important discussions could take place with the European Union in reviving the GSP plus status, government sources said.

A three member team from the European Union including EU Parliament MP Anne-Marie Mineur, Lola Sanchez Coldentey and Ben Vanpeperstraete are already in town to study the Sri Lanka situation while there is a possibility of Chairperson International Trade Committee of European Union visiting Sri Lanka shortly.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva who confirmed that there may be the possibility of Chairperson International Trade Committee of European Union visiting Sri Lanka shortly told Daily Mirror that the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Brussels has extended a verbal invitation to the chair of International Trade Committee of European Union to visit Sri Lanka though there is no confirmation of his visit yet.

However, it was reported that the resolution on reviving GSP plus to Sri Lanka will be taken up by the European Union on April 19. The Government has already stated that Sri Lanka could regain GSP by May this year. (Yohan Perera)
Bollywood families approximate the cultural values of my household, 22-year-old Veenanand Soebhag said candidly, as we talked about Indian cinema on a windy spring evening at Leiden Universitys campus.

Soebhag was a second generation Surinamese Hindustani who lived in the political capital of the Netherlands. His favorite actor - for that moment [he clarified] - was Ranbir Kapoor for his performance in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.

Although we were enjoying the discussion on our unlikely similarities, Soebhag had to be with his girlfriend who had been waiting for him for over 15 minutes. These Dutchies are really conscious about time, he informed me casually.

But before departing, he reminded me of the cliches that were most famous among the Indian diaspora living in the Netherlands: that Bollywood did not have a European parallel and that Indians needed to work on their understanding of time.

Despite being surrounded by a disparate Northern European milieu, Soebhag still appeared to embrace the roots of his forefathers - a trait that was representative of his community. With changing times, however, his community faced new challenges in both continuing and promoting its culture.

Hindustanis in Holland

Soebhag belongs to a community of 1,60,000 Surinamese Hindustanis in the Netherlands - most of whom are dispersed in the urban neighbourhoods of Transvaal and Schildersweijk in The Hague.

These neighbourhoods continue to have several Indian stores for both food and clothing. This cosmopolitan feature of the city is a consequence of the influx of Hindustani migrants in the 1970s; the decade when Surinam gained independence from its Dutch colonisers.

The 1952 blockbuster Aan surfaced in the country in the late 1950s when the initial Hindustanis arrived there.

Brought to Surinam as contractual workers in sugar plantations, the Hindustanis then travelled to Northern Europe post independence in search of better circumstances.

Bollywood, however, emerged even earlier in the Netherlands. The 1952 blockbuster Aan surfaced in the country in the late 1950s when the initial Hindustanis arrived here.

The reel was a part of the inventory of homesick items - a list that included items local to Surinam - not available in the cold Dutch climate. The reel signified the attempt of the first few Hindustanis to both preserve and develop their identity in a completely new context.

In the 1970s, however, Bollywood witnessed an unseen surge in popularity in the country. From a single reel, Bollywoods reach proliferated to new scales due to fascinating reasons.

At the time, not only did the new Hindustanis establish popular Bollywood film societies for bringing the community together, but the Dutch government also initiated a programme of Hindi film screenings to encourage the broader goal of multiculturalism.

The following decade then witnessed the appearance of videotheeks (video stores) exclusively for the Hindustani market. Presently, Bollywood is also gaining traction among Turkish and Moroccan communities settled in the country, which keeps these videotheeks in business.

This interaction among different migrant communities in turn enables the development of positive social capital - extending to cultural exchanges of not only food and music, but also of language and thought.

Walking into a Surinamese Eathuis

On walking into a Surinamese Eathuis (restaurant), when I had just arrived in the city, everyone inside gathered around me with his/her drinks to enquire about the latest Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan canards.

The two stars hold a special meaning for the Hindustanis as they had both performed on Paan Banaras Waala - a song that was linguistically closer to the Bhojpuri loaded Sarnami.

This influence of Bhojpuri on the Sarnami language is traced to the origin of most Hindustanis in the North Indian plains of UP and Bihar. Over time, the language has developed interesting characteristics - due to the Hindustanis proximity with Bollywood, The Hague is also referred to as Dollywood in Sarnami lexicon.

Most Hindustani festivals and weddings in Dollywood play the latest Hindi hits; dance bars in Hindustani neighbourhoods attract the Surinamese youth. Many young denizens of Dollywood also aspire to work in the Hindi film industry, yet are aware of the fact that entry into it can be acquired only through connections.

But while Bollywood is popular among the Hindustanis, it does not necessarily enjoy universal favourability among the communitys youth. Upon asking a Hindustani acquaintance his views on Bollywood music, he was quick to let me know that western hip-hop was his only preference. In addition, such events tend to be insulated from the larger Dutch populace that enjoys Hindi films.

Fusion - a solution to the problem?

The Hindustanis perhaps attempted to bridge this distance between its current cultural context and their native land by recreating popular Hindi songs in Dutch and Surinamese style.

A prime example is the groovy remix of the 1997 song Kya hua tera wada by "2famous The Jetlag". Although the song emulates Mohammed Rafis charming Hindi melody, it incorporates a mixed Sarnami-Dutch-English rap.

A YouTube comment on the song in Dutch captures the Hindustani communitys sentimental relationship with Bollywood: Dit is een 2011 versie en van dezetijd. En natuurlijkniemand is beterdan Rafi. Alleendeze past beter in onzetijd en is nietverkeerdgezongen [Of course no one is better than Rafi, but this song only fits our time better].

Bibliography
Nazdik aaiye (come close). This was an offer straight from the pages of diplomatic courtesy, if not from the heart  and from none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Flashbulbs glowed as shutters went click-click for that photo op: Sheikh Hasina, Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee, caught in the same frame, flagging off bus and rail routes from Kolkata to Dhaka, with their fingers pressed on the same remote pad.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was maintaining a safe one-foot or so of a distance from Modi and was visually offering a clumsy picture of the trio, came a little close as Modi gestured with his hand and the five-month-old acrimony over demonetisation was gone. At least the picture indicated so.

Throughout the speech of two prime ministers, Mamata was seated in front of the dais, flanked by two Union ministers  external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and junior minister for heavy industries Babul Supriyo.

The ministers were giving her company but more than that they were engaged in a mind game as to what the lines and creases and the fleeting expressions on her face were giving out.

Hasina invited Mamata for a one-on-one dinner as her guest at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledging her presence as his honoured guest, immediately set the tenor of what was to follow.

Mamatas feelings and concern for Bangladesh were as warm and genuine, perhaps he suggested that, as his own, who was committed for giving that extra push to the Teesta agreement within the current tenure of the Bangladesh prime minister, going to the polls next year.

Mamata obviously didnt like it: a deadline being set for the Teesta agreement, when a couple of other North Bengal rivers were flowing in her mind as alternatives. Over lunch, which was a sumptuous spread of choicest Bengali cuisines, Mamata was nibbling away.

Conversation flowed but Teesta was carefully locked for other times. Hasina invited Mamata for a one-on-one dinner as her guest at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. She was perhaps looking for some private moments of sisterly chit-chat (Hasina always say Mamata is like a younger sister to her) when Teesta could be introduced.

Nobody knows how Teesta came up in the tete-a-tete, but Mamata emerged out of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Torsa was springing into the scene. Mamata told the journalists waiting outside that Torsa and a few rivers of north Bengal could be explored as alternatives to the Teesta.

A joint press statement issued on the concluding day of Hasinas India visit made it clear that both Bangladesh and India were committed to concluding the Teesta, for Teesta was not just a river, but a sentiment criss-crossing the culture, the tradition, an aspiration for improving the relation between the two countries.

Hasina left but not forgetting to mention that she was not going back empty-handed as the Opposition party in her country was trying to campaign. Paani maanga, bijli mila, Hasina told the media in New Delhi before taking the flight home. Dark humour. She had come for Teesta but was offered Torsa, the substitute as un-matched as the paani-bijli analogy.

Nevertheless, she was banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his strong resolve to see through the Teesta treaty at the earliest, before facing the polls. Back home Hasina has also gone on record to say that as against Mamata's alternative (Torsa water), she has had another alternative to offer: Let Bengal use water of other north Bengal rivers and allow Teesta water to flow into Bangladesh.

Some tough negotiations, some hard parleys are underway. Amid this uncertainty over Teesta the high point of the high-profile meet was the thawing of the ice between Modi and Mamata. The two met privately for some 20-odd minutes. Though Mamata was trying to project the visit as official and purely from the concern of the state, people have already started reading between the lines.

The Opposition at home in Bengal got into the mode of showcasing the visit, the coming close as purely a political compulsion to save the Trinamool Congress leaders, who were accused in Narada and Saradha scams. The Left and the Congress got a fillip to once again reiterate their observation of a tacit Modi-Didi understanding.

As for the Trinamool Congress leaders, who are politically bound to maintain distance with the BJP because of the minority votebank, they are facing some hard time to feign something, other than the recovered friendship between Modi and Didi.

Mamata is flying to China first week of June. Officially she is going there to scout investment for Bengal. Her sudden decision to respond to China's invitation of a visit has triggered speculations, especially after the Teesta deal with Bangladesh took a beating.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi treasures Bangladesh as a dependable partner in the fight against cross-border terrorism. He does not want anything, especially no Chinese overtures, to drive a wedge between the two.

The Teesta treaty would have been a step towards cementing that friendship. Mamata, as the chief ministers office has confirmed, is going to China on a purely business trip to invite Chinese investors. West Bengal is badly in need of some deep pockets in the industry sector.

Don't dilute the significance of the China visit with any speculation of exploring river water potentiality, an official said.
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,
Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world.

Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day.

The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley.

The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better.

Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion.

The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments.
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.
The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United states and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers workers' compensation, commercial automobile and property, general liability, commercial multi-peril, employers' liability, public and product liability, professional indemnity, marine, aviation, onshore and offshore energy, construction, terrorism, personal accident, and kidnap and ransom insurance products. This segment operates through select accounts, which serve small businesses; commercial accounts that serve mid-sized businesses; national accounts, which serve large companies; and national property and other that serve large and mid-sized customers, commercial trucking industry, and agricultural businesses, as well as markets and distributes its products through brokers, wholesale agents, and program managers. The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, fidelity, management and professional liability, and other property and casualty coverages and related risk management services through independent agencies and brokers. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals through independent agencies and brokers. The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York.
125 Years of Progress takes you inside The Daily Progress' archives every day in celebration of our 125 years serving Charlottesville and the rest of Central Virginia. Sponsored by Hanckel-Citizens Insurance Charlottesville

Thomas Jeffersons birthday has always been a cause for celebration in Charlottesville. Whether it was Founders Day observances at the University of Virginia or ceremonies at Monticello, The Daily Progress has recorded the commemorations over the years. On April 13, 1943, on the occasion of Jeffersons 200th birthday celebration, The Progress shared national and international observances.

President Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. where he described Jefferson as a Leader in the philosophy of government, in education, in the arts, in efforts to lighten the toil of mankind  exponent of plannings for the future, he led the steps of America into the path of the permanent integrity of the republic. Russias Izvestia newspaper hailed Jefferson on his 200th birthday: In our days, when progressive humanity with its American adherents wages a struggle against Hitlerism, which denies the right of liberty, we see from the past a gleaming light of great ideas and deeds of fighters against tyranny, oppression and reaction.

Locally, on that day, A spontaneous tribute to Thomas Jefferson occurred in front of the Rotunda. Marching in their regular fashion and singing as the marched, the men of the Meteorology school halted in front of the Rotunda, formed two lines and sang Happy Birthday to Tommy Jefferson.

During the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Jeffersons grave, a wreath was sent by the students of Jefferson Junior High School in Long Beach, Calif. with an attached note that read, We lovingly place this wreath upon the grave of Thomas Jefferson. Our school, which was dedicated just 20 years ago this April, now bears a bronze plaque at the entrance of its library which reads: In honor of Thomas Jefferson, whose greatness and love of liberty, lofty purposes and high ideals are an inspiration to every child. We dedicate this school in the hope that his greatest aim, that of liberalizing education, shall here be realized.

A tribute placed that day by Miller & Rhoads Department Store, is shown above.
Next week, the University of Virginia School of Law will host a panel with five wrongly convicted Virginians, called Speaking of Injustice, to raise money for the Virginia Innocence Project Pro Bono Clinic.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, author John Grisham and Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor of Slate, will facilitate a discussion among five Virginians who were wrongfully convicted of serious crimes. The event will begin with a reception and refreshments at 5:30 p.m. at the law schools Caplin Pavilion.

The event is open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to donate to the fundraiser.

Proceeds will be used to cover the costs of investigating claims of innocence from convicts in Virginia. The pro bono clinic is overseen by UVa law professors Deirdre M. Enright and Jennifer L. Givens, the directors of the Innocence Project at UVa, which is separate from the law schools for-credit Innocence Project Clinic.

The panelists will be Robert Davis, Thomas Haynesworth, Michael Hash, Eric Weakley and Beverly Monroe. They will discuss their cases and the role innocence efforts played in freeing them from prison.
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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 has also stipulated that no emotional retards should apply, unfortuantely that rules out most men on the planet.

She will still be looking to adopt a young husband, 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.
Katie Holmes is in danger. She is caught in a vicious trap and dangerous cult  the Scatologist cult.

Since dating chief Scatology practitioner Tom Cruise in April 2005 she has been sucked into the controlling world of Scatology.

Everything that she does, says or wants is controlled by Tom. She has been brainwashed to such an extent now that whenever she attends a restroom she is followed in by Tom or one of his henchman who have to make sure she conducts the Church of Scatologys wiping ceremony perfectly and does not leave any Klingons. Our supreme master, N. Ron Hubbub speaks directly through Tom Cruise and he has the last say in everything that happens in the family, Julia Emerson, a Church of Scatology ex-member told us.

Here is the harrowing tale of her attempted escape and how I helped her every way I could to leave the dangerous cult.

Attending the dinner party which was held at a mansion deep in the Hollywood Hills, I was astounded to see the amount of high ranking Scatologists in attendance. There was of course Tom Cruise and his frail wife Katie Holmes, John Revolting was there too with his boyfriend and we even had Priscilla plastic Presley corpsing around the mansion house.

I sat next to Katie and I knew something was very wrong when she started to write the words Help Me on her plate with pieces of Foie Gras.

Tom Cruise who was seated three places down glanced over at us every once in awhile and Katie would hastily pretend to eat what was on her plate.

Is there no escape for the poor girl? She is stuck in the deepest bowels of the Church of Scatology. Surely there must be a way out from the prison she is stuck in. I was determined to help her and her daughter Sori escape their sorry existence under the heavy intestinal movements of the Scatology cult.

I sidled closer to her with my stool and whispered in her ear: I can help you escape tonight. Outside the bathroom window on the third floor I have had my team install a ladder. Just make your excuses in a few minutes from now and go. One of my drivers is waiting to take you to a safe house. You can take Sori too.

Her blank face which has been zombie-like for the past few years suddenly lit up with life. It was almost as if the colour drained into her face again and there seemed to be life in her soul once more.

She told me how she was sick of all the Hydro Colonic sessions, of all the special wiping rituals she would have to endure, of all the jumping on sofa sessions and also of Toms penchant to sniff the bottoms of other Scatology recruits. She then asked to be excused just as Tom was about to start another one of his Scatology stories detailing the times he spent in public lavatories in New York city in the 80s.

Katie never made it to the ladder. She has something that I feared would never happen. She stood up and pointed at me and shouted to the other Scatologists that I should be removed immediately. Katie Holmes has a severe case of Stockholm syndrome which is a term used to describe the relationship a hostage can build with their kidnapper.

Needless to say, I was escorted out of the mansion house and left the party with a heavy heart. Another lost soul in the digestive tract of the all-encompassing turd machine that is the Church of Scatology.

It was a moment which resembled the scene in Deer Hunter where the heavily brainwashed Christopher Walken character puts a bullet in his head whilst playing Russian roulette and cannot be saved by Robert De Niro.

High ranking Church of Scatology cult members are like the Borg  but worse. They assimilate decent people into the toilet bowl of N. Ron Hubbubs Scatological flush, turning normal people into zombiefied arse holes of the highest order.
VIRGINIA - USA - The former American vice president, Dick Cheney is to run for president in 2012 with Sarah Palin as his vice president say senior GOP officials today.

Speaking from his Virginia residence just a few blocks away from the CIA headquarters, the former vice president told Fox news of his hunger to be finally recognised for his service to the United States.

Ive committed heck of a lot of atrocities, torture as well as planned mass exterminations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I did this all in the name of the United States and War of Terror. I have been sidelined all of this time, I say, for once I should get some long overdue recognition for my role as a saviour of our nation. If it wasnt for my engineered torture plans and coordinated extermination programs there would be more Muslims and dark people in this world. My plans saw that these numbers were reduced significantly. That idiot Dubya got the credit though. Hell, I want some credit too. Thats why Im running for 2012 and Sarah Palin is going to be my gun toting vice lipstick slapping bitch. She gives me a stiffy, just like when Im in my dungeon torturing some innocent sandni**er, ooh yeah!

Cheney who has a fully equipped nuclear bunker under his house only surfaces in the night time to the level above ground.

Dick lives in the bunker pretty much all the time and if he was to become president his bunker time may have to be thwarted some. Hes also got a fully equipped dungeon in one of the rooms down there and when Im doing the knitting up here I get comforted by the screams of agony coming from there. Im going to miss that once we move into the White House, Mr Cheneys wife, Lynne, told Fox News.

The Republicans are banking on the Dream Team winning the next election and are grooming Sarah Palin for the job of vice president.

Were teaching her basic geography, like where Russia is on a map, as well as little things like keeping her automatic rifle at home instead of walking the streets with it. She needs some constraint. I dont think there is much cause for shooting moose in Washington DC, atleast not yet anyway. I think by 2012 she is going to be a force to be reckoned with, Jamie Edwards, a senior GOP campaign advisor said.

Looks like the Dems have got a big fight on their hands because the Republicans are going to come back even stronger and are a force to be reckoned with.

First thing Im going to do when we come to power is order the arrest of David Letterman and the other people who made fun of me and my family. He better think about emigrating right now because hes a dead man walking if he sticks around these shores. Hell, he can go back to Canada where he belongs, a defiant Sarah Palin told the OReilly Factor on Monday.


LONDON - England - At a recent visit to a Hindu temple, the PM's wife, Sarah Brown took off her shoes to reveal something that has had Hindus all over the world talking about her amazing toes.

By the gods and goddesses, when Mrs Brown took off her shoes and walked into our temple, what we saw was astounding. Her toe mutation looks like the goddess Dhumavati, the ugly eternal widow. Is this an omen of what is to come in the world and in Britain, maybe a terrible pestilence, a virus of some sorts? She was immediately surrounded by some priests and Sadhus who took her into another room to examine her toe even further, Anil Kapoor, one of the elders of the temple told Neasdens local paper.

News of the incredible toe find has travelled far and wide and is now headline news in India and the sub-continent.

There are calls for Sarah to bring her toe to Mumbai where a religious sect who worships Dhumavati  otherwise known as Alakshmi  want to examine the astounding mutation.

Sarah Browns toe has astounded Hindus all over the world

We want to go on a pilgrimage to Downing Street to see her foot, or maybe she can come over here for a while. Nevertheless, many thousands of Hindus worldwide are ready to come to England to see the inbred freak show. It is very similar to the Christian Lourdes or the Turin Shroud, Adnan Prindeep, a journalist from New Delhi told the BBC World Service.

Number 10 was today silent on the matter and did not want to draw attention to Sarah Browns wonderful mutation, which has captured the imagination of half of South-East Asia and Neasden.
LOUISIANA - USA - Whilst walking on a local beach on Friday, president Barack Hussein Obama came across a piece of paper buried in the sand, miraculously it was his lost birth certificate which he and millions of Americans have been trying to locate for many years.

The president was walking along the beach when he came across a piece of paper with his name on it. He took one look at it and realised that it was his long lost birth certificate. Now he can show those sceptics that he was born in America and not in Kenya as is believed by many, Obamas chief of security, Al Hertyu, told ABC news.

According to the White House press office, the document was lost many years ago when Obama was a little boy in Hawaii. It must have travelled in the sea for many years after finally being washed up on the US mainland shore.

This find is incredible luck because many have been doubting Obamas mandate to be president of the United States of America.

Well, I hold my head in shame if this is true. Im sorry I ever doubted our great president who has done so much for our country and brought in that change he was talking so much about during his election campaign. God bless America, Janice Liebowitz, a previously sceptical Obama detractor told the Fox News network.
THE HIGHLANDS - Scotland - According to SNP aides on a recent field trip to Loch Ruthven, which lies 2.3 km south east of Loch Ness, Nicola Sturgeon rushed into the water at great speed, lifted her skirt and immediately gave birth.

We were on a field trip to the Highlands. You know to soak in the Scottish spirit of the wild. I noticed that Ms Sturgeon looked a little bloated. Without a word, she farted and this fish smell hit us. It was like a caviar smell that has gone off. Anyway, next thing we know shes rushing down the waters edge near the reeds. She lifts her skirt and plops down in the freezing waters. We rushed over to see if she was all right, when these big black eggs started to fill the water. Her eyes turned upwards as she let out this god awful gurgling sound. Sturgeon was laying them from her bottom or some att, not sure. Bruce McCollery, SNP deputy in charge of PR, told the Scotland Times.

Much to the delight of the assembled SNP troupe, it all turned out well.

Luckily, one of us had some creme fraiche, and crackers with some Pouilly-Fuisse, we scooped the lot up, munching away and then it hit us. We could use Nicola Sturgeon to get Scotland out of this financial mess so we could leave England. We are going to use her to cultivate expensive caviar. Who needs a fish farm when youve got her, she nearly filled up the whole lake with eggs. We could sell em to rich Californians for a packet, Mr. McCollery added.

Coming soon to the plates of the rich and famous, a plate load of Nicola Sturgeon eggs excreted from her fat and productive duille.
LIMASSOL - Cyprus - EU officials say it is necessary that 10% of all bank deposits on the bankrupt Greek half of the island be taken from their owners.

The EU is a tool for redistribution of wealth and negation of sovereignty. When we took away your sovereignty with you Greek Cypriots signing the EU charter years ago, all your rights, and your wealth, are now completely the property of the EU. Read the small print. We will be doing this to the rest of the EU countries soon. You will not be able to take your money out of the banks as we will shut down those as well, an unnamed, unelected technocrat from Brussels told the Greek Cyprus radio network last night.

Rudolpho Hess, an ECB banking official said from Frankfurt yesterday: The EU budget this year has been a heavy burden on the economy of the eurozone. We need to increase expense accounts for MEPs, technocrats and bankers in the EU; luxury hotels, foreign holidays with first class flights, gourmet meals every day and of course the steady supply of Frauleins to keep our bratwursts up. So, you see our Cypriot friends, you chose to sign on the dotted line with your greedy eyes on those EU subsidies and this is what you get for your squandering profligate lazy ways. Enjoy yourselves, believe me, I am surely enjoying myself at your expense. Dont forget, you can still give Greece 10 points in the Eurovision Song Contest.

As of Monday, there will be a 10% compulsory EU tax on all southern Cyprus bank accounts.
WASHINGTON DC - USSSA - Supreme Comrade in Chief Barack Obama, of the Union of Soviet Socialist States of America, has warned the UK of leaving the Union of Soviet Socialist Europe.

Britain must not leave the USSE or this could ruin the 5-year collectivisation plan for redistribution of all capitalist wealth and property. I have spoken to Comrade Cameron, and Commissar Clegg and they have assured me that once theyre finished with Britain, all private ownership of property will be erradicated and there will be full assimilation with the Soviet European Union, Comrade Obama told the USSSA state news service yesterday.

There is a great fear from the former United States that Britain could somehow break away from the Soviet Socialist European project and gain freedom and democracy.

Once we abolish all property, we will increase our global stranglehold over the capitalist swine outposts still holding out. Let the ruling classes tremble at our communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite! Comrade Obama shouted to cheers from the state controlled news crews.
LONDON - England - Count Dracula of Transylvania, Romania, has arrived in our capital city after the blood supply ran out in his home country.

The arduous journey all the way from Transylvania took three days and a positively drained Count arrived at the Central London bus garage this morning gasping for a good drink.

Count Dracula embarked from Bran castle three days ago deep in the dark Romanian countryside, over the centuries he has of course seen many changes and most of all the recent EU border restrictions have seen the blood supplies dwindle in the villages around the castle.

They all came to the UK. I said to Igor, vat is this place that robs me of my blood supply? No more fresh virgin maids with tender necks to bite into any more. The last few months I have only been feasting on sheep and goats. The blood is rancid and tasteless compared to the human kind, the Count said stepping off the bus.

Like most bloodsuckers, the Count immediately made his way to Marble Arch and was last seen gorging himself on some baffled American tourists.
New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has rejected iPhone maker Apple's demand for tax exemptions for setting up a manufacturing unit in India saying that the decision will have to be taken up by the GST Council.

The US-based firm has indicated plans to put up manufacturing lines in India this year. Apple had sought concessions such as duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment for smartphones for 15 years, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT, P P Chaudhary, said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. These demands were "examined in the Department of Revenue and have not been accepted", he said.

He said these incentives cannot be accepted as with the coming into force of the new indirect tax regime "all imports will be liable to IGST (integrated GST)and any exemptions from CGST (centre)/SGST (state)/IGST can be granted based on the recommendations of the GST Council only".

All existing exemptions from excise duty to countervailing duty will also be reviewed by the GST Council, he added. India is all set to roll out the Goods and Services Tax from July 1 which will subsume all the indirect taxes at the state as well as the central level. It is billed as the biggest tax reform in the country since the Independence that aims at making India a 'one nation, one tax' market.

There is no exemption from basic customs duty (BCD), countervailing duty (CVD) and special additional duty (SAD) on imports of parts for repair of mobile phones, he said. Chaudhary said that zero BCD, CVD and SAD is provided for making of mobile phones' components and sub parts.

However, in the Budget 2017-18, a concessional SAD of 2 per cent was imposed on populated Printed Circuit Boards for manufacture of mobile phones, he said. Chaudhary said specified capital goods required for making mobile phones have already been exempted from BCD with effect from 2004.

Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha said that Apple has indicated its plans for putting manufacturing lines this year.

"Apple in their communications, indicated their plan for selective introduction of manufacturing lines in Spring 2017," Sitharaman said. With sales tapering in the US and China, Apple is eyeing India -- the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world -- and looking to set up a local manufacturing unit to cut costs. It, however, does not make devices on its own and does it through contract manufacturers.

The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others. It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
Bengaluru: The country's second-largest IT services firm Infosys today reported a marginal growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,603 crore for the quarter ended March 2017.

Infosys will also pay up to Rs 13,000 crore to shareholders during 2017-18 by way of dividend and/or share buyback. It has named Independent Director Ravi Venkatesan co-Chairman of the company.

Net profit came in 0.2 per cent higher than Rs 3,597 crore in the same period previous year, according to a BSE filing by Infosys.

Revenue of the Bengaluru-based company grew 3.4 per cent to Rs 17,120 crore in the March quarter compared to Rs 16,550 crore in the same period of 2015-16, it added.

The company expects its 2017-18 revenue to grow between 6.1 per cent and 8.1 per cent in dollar terms and 6.5-8.5 per cent in constant currency terms.

On a sequential basis, Infosys' net profit fell 2.8 per cent while revenue declined 0.9 per cent.

Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said, "Unanticipated execution challenges and distractions in a seasonally soft quarter affected our overall performance."

He added: "Looking ahead, it is imperative that we increase our resilience to the dynamics of our environment and we remain resolute in executing our strategy, path to transform Infosys and drive long term value for all stakeholders."

In US dollars, Infosys net profit was up 1.8 per cent at USD 543 million for the March quarter while revenue grew 5 per cent to USD 2.5 billion.

For the full year, net profit grew 4.3 per cent to USD 2.1 billion while revenue was up 7.4 per cent to USD 10.2 billion.

The board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per share for 2016-17.
Mumbai: The head of State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, said she expects a boost to annual profit of as much as Rs 3,000 crore ($465 million) in three years on cost and efficiency gains from the absorption of associate banks.

Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya also said in an interview that signs of more factory activity pointed to a turnaround in India's weak credit cycle this financial year - welcome news for a government keen to revive private investment.

State-run SBI this month merged five subsidiary lenders and absorbed them into the parent company. It had fully owned two and had majority stakes in the others, but all had previously operated separately.

Workforce integration will start in June, said Bhattacharya who joined SBI 40 years ago and rose through the ranks to become its first female chief in 2013. SBI has said it will shut or move some branches and close overlapping units.

"Total bottom line impact (of) around two to three thousand crores (Rs. 2,000-3,000 crore) is what we are thinking of," she said. "I'll have a better hang of these numbers by the middle of May."

That would compare with a net profit of Rs. 1,15,900 crore for the year ended March 2016 if results of the five subsidiary banks were included.

Profits at state-run lenders have been under pressure, weighed down by a record $150 billion in stressed assets. The pile of bad debt, combined with slower economic growth and deferral of large projects, has prevented lenders from boosting credit growth.

As of March 17, banking sector loans had grown just 4.4 percent, compared with 10.9 percent in the previous year, the weakest pace since the fiscal year ended March 1954.

But Bhattacharya, 61, said she was hoping for good growth from the July-September quarter.

"I've already had a number of meetings with people saying their capacity utilisation has gone up. Commodity prices have gone up, so to that extent people are coming with working capital requests," she said.

SBI has forecast loans to grow 11 percent this financial year after an expected 6.5 percent growth in the year ended March.

Bhattacharya also said the central bank would need to offer rates matching or higher than the reverse repo rate of 6.00 percent, the rate lenders get for deposits at the RBI, should it implement a special facility to drain cash from the banking system.

India's central bank wants to withdraw some of the big cash pile accumulated in the banking system since the government banned circulation of big currency-notes, but lenders are keen to get proper returns in exchange for transferring cash.
Aadhaar is a unique identity given to every Indian.

Mumbai: Aadhaar, a unique identity for every Indian, is not mandatory to comply with Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act provisions, a report in Business Today said.

On Thursday, the income tax department specified April 30 as last date for self-certification of bank accounts with the Reserve Bank of India-stipulated Know Your Customers or KYC documents.

"Customers are not required to submit their Aadhaar cards to comply with FATCA. A bank may want KYC details only if it is found to be a reportable account," BT quoted Meenakshi J Goswami, Commissioner of Income Tax (media and technical policy) as saying.

The April 30 deadline for completing self-certification applies to accounts opened between Jul 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016. FATCA enables automatic sharing of investor, account holder information between signatory in order to nab tax evaders.

Financial institutions that included banks can block an account that does not fulfill the requirement of self-certification before specified deadline. However, tax authorities can de-block these accounts once they get required documents.
Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol have not worked with each other after 'Raanjhanaa.'

Mumbai: Abhay Deol made headlines on Wednesday when he took to social media to slam celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Sonam Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Ileana DCruz, Vidya Balan, Sidharth Malhotra for promoting fairness creams as it was propagating racism.

The actor shared pictures of the ads they featured in and gave interesting captions for the pictures.

Out of all the celebrities, Abhays Raanjhanaa and Aisha co-star Sonam was the only one to respond to the criticism.

The actress reminded Abhay how he had conveniently skipped his cousin Esha Deols ad also promoting a fairness cream.

Abhay responded by saying that even that was wrong too.

Sonam also said that she had shot for her particular ad ten years ago and was not aware of the ramifications then but complimented him for bringing up the issue.

However, for reasons unknown Sonam later deleted the tweets.

It would also be interesting to see what Shah Rukh, Deepika and other stars also have to say about it.

Meanwhile, another celebrity who reacted on the issue was Uday Chopra, who also took to his Facebook account and started a Q & A session with his fans on this very topic.
In 2015, Kapoor was flown down to Abu Dhabi to prepare a vegetarian meal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: For his contribution in the culinary section, celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor has today been honoured with the Padma Shri Award by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Sanjeev Kapoor is the most celebrated face of Indian cuisine who runs a successful TV Channel FoodFood and has hosted 'Khana Khazana' cookery show on television for more than 17 years.

He is also the author of 150+ best selling cookbooks, restaurateur and winner of several culinary awards. He started out in the hospitality industry in 1984 with a diploma in Hotel Management from IIHM (Indian Institute of Hotel Management) Pusa, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition. He started his career in the ITDC under their kitchen management scheme.

Sanjeev Kapoor is the recipient of the Best Executive Chef of India Award by H & FS and the Mercury Gold Award at Geneva, Switzerland by IFCA. Singapore Airlines recruited him as one of the members of its "International Culinary Panel", helping to create a meal called Shahi Thali in 2006.

Since 2011, Kapoor has also been the brand ambassador of Sleek Kitchens, a modular kitchen brand in India. In 2015, Kapoor was flown down to Abu Dhabi to prepare a vegetarian meal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kapoor has been approached by the Indian Railways for the preparation of the menu of food items served on trains. He also introduced a culinary art course at Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune in May 2016.
The need for health programs to avoid such outbreaks is necessary before it gets out of control. (Photo: Pixabay)

New Delhi: South Asian nations including India are "vulnerable" to emerging infectious diseases like Zika and Ebola and their level of preparedness is "inadequate" to protect public health, a new analysis today said.

Inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity may accelerate the spread of the emerging infectious diseases in the region, which is already burdened by diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, an analysis as part of a collection of twelve analyses on health in South Asia published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) said.

The analysis pointed out that although sporadic cases of dengue infection were seen in many South Asian countries in the 1960s, regular epidemics only occurred in the early 1990s in India and Sri Lanka."In India and Sri Lanka, by around 40 years of age 90-95 per cent of adults have been infected with the dengue virus, while 41 per cent have been infected with chikungunya," it said.

Noting that Anthrax is endemic in large parts of South Asia, the analysis said that in the border areas of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, poor vaccination and surveillance have been accompanied by "increasing" anthrax cases, which prompted Bangladesh to announce a "red alert" in 2010. Noting that rabies remains endemic in eight countries in South East Asia, with 1.4 billion people at risk, the authors in the analysis said that the region contributes about 45 percent of global rabies deaths, while the "rhetoric" on elimination continues to grow.

"Brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and a range of food-borne diseases contribute to the morbidity and mortality attributable to zoonotic infections but are struggling to gain the attention of policymakers in the subcontinent, despite it resulting in 150 million illnesses, 175,000 deaths, and 12 million disability-adjusted life years," the analysis said.

The analysis found that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A/H5N1, which was introduced to the subcontinent in 2005 through wild birds, has since become endemic across large parts of northeast India and Bangladesh, across porous international borders."It has resulted in losses of around USD 500 million," the analysis by Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP) Director Ramanan Laxminarayan and colleagues said."South Asia stands vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases. Examining the vulnerability to emerging and growing infectious disease threats and the capacity to respond to outbreaks, the analysis finds the level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health," it said.

South Asia is defined by the World Bank as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is home to a quarter of the world's population. It bears a significant proportion of the global burden of infectious disease, with longstanding battles against TB, HIV and malaria.

"Emerging and growing infectious diseases, like Zika, Ebola, MERS-CoV, and avian influenza, are adding to the already significant burden of disease, and their spread may accelerate in the face of factors such as inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity."The current state of affairs appears to result from a severe policy neglect, including a general lack of commitment to the 'One Health' approach in policy discourse, which would consider the interrelation of animal health, human health, and the environment," the authors noted.

The analysis found that Nipah virus emerged in Malaysia in the late 1990s, initially being misdiagnosed as Japanese encephalitis (JE), and there have since been frequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and to a lesser extent in India.They said the lack of preventive measures and surveillance has led to some previously sporadic diseases like Nipah virus and Chandipura virus becoming "endemic" in these countries.

There has also been a marked rise in incidence, even as mortality rates have decreased, for some diseases, they said. "With rapid shifts in urbanisation and increasing population, South Asia has the opportunity and obligation to implement meaningful policy changes to prepare against emerging infectious diseases."Millions of lives are at stake and betting against the spread of emerging infectious diseases would be irresponsible," said Laxminarayan.

The analysis noted that the elimination of polio from many countries in the region, most recently in India, is a "landmark" achievement."At the global scale, South Asia must become more engaged in the health security agenda. The government of India is a founder contributor to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), an initiative that aims to accelerate the development of new vaccines for high threat pathogens.

"This leadership is commendable, but such research and development pipelines need to be linked to strengthened surveillance, response, and research platforms within South Asia to ensure that it can be evaluated and implemented locally. Finally, global science communities can help enhance regional conversation to encourage local collaboration," it added.
Shea, a grad student is one of the many in the advertisement who tells people that both she and her partners are mothers to the child. (Photo: Youtube)

There are many brands that are now taking a step towards what they stand for and among the most recent ones are rights for the LGBT community. After Vicks in India, Dove in the US has made an interesting television commercial about women empowerment while supporting the rights of the LGBT community and it is inspiring.

According to a report in the Metro, the video is a series of experiences told by mothers from different walks of life and how they are dealing with motherhood. While some of them have their partners the rest of them are single mothers and then comes Shea, a transgender mother who proudly says that she and her partner are both mum's to their child.

The video has now gone viral and is receiving a lot of support from people all over including the LGBT community for its support. With brands keeping the human-interest value in mind, they seem to be making quite a positive effect on society.

Watch the video here:
Amaravati: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Thursday made a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) saying it was losing its moral high ground at the Centre over the Special Category Status (SCS) and warned that it had no right to "compromise" on the issue.

Noting that TDP's silence on SCS was "disheartening", Kalyan told the party not to mortgage the self-respect of the people of Andhra Pradesh with the Centre even as he lauded YSR Congress and the Telangana MPs for backing the SCS demand.

"The TDP does not have the right to compromise with the Centre on the promised SCS. People of AP got TDP-BJP into power, trusting they would bring SCS to the state. I request TDP not to mortgage the self-respect of people of AP just for 'your personal benefits'," the Telugu superstar said in a series of tweets today.

"When do we lose our moral high ground ? When we mortgage our self respect for personal benefits," he said.

"It's quite disheartening to see Union Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's silence and the absence of TDP MPs in Parliament when the discussion on special status to AP came up. I think TDP MPs have forgotten the insult of their MPs getting beaten by North MPs in Parliament during the state bifurcation (in 2014)," Kalyan remarked.

"YSRC MPs are doing a commendable job in pursuing the SCS demand. My whole-hearted thanks to (Telangana) MPs Kesava Rao and Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar for their support to SCS to AP," Kalyan added.

The Jana Sena president also mocked at the "attitude of our political class" in New Delhi, in an indirect reference to the TDP members in Parliament.

"In Parliament, you kick us, abuse us and divide us, we are OK. And we are OK to be slavish and subservient at the cost of our people's self respect as long as you do not deny our contracts, business opportunities and bail us out from our scams and wrongdoings," Kalyan said.

"I too agree to show restraint and be cautious with the Centre but when repeated injustice is being meted out to us, then where is the need ? As per the popular demand, would they ever divide UP? Or, was the rule applied only to down south state AP only," he wondered.
Chandigarh: Terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month. Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father, the Chief Minister alleged during a programme in a private TV channel. There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them, he claimed.

On the issue of beef ban, the Punjab Chief Minister said, people has the right to and should be allowed to eat whatever they want. Amarinder also made it clear he was not in favour of a ban on Pakistani artistes, and said he would be happy to invite them to Punjab and would also love to visit Pakistan again.

Urging New Delhi to be wary of China on the other border, he said it is time to mend fences and make friends with Pakistan. Recalling Englands War of Roses, the Chief Minister said the India-Pakistan tension is going the same way and needs to give way to peace.

Asserting that there a deliberate malicious attempt by vested interests to pull down Rahul Gandhi, he urged the people to give the Congress vice president a chance.

Amarinder said he had always found Rahul Gandhi extremely perceptive and willing to listen, besides being open to suggestions and ideas. He admitted that the AAP had posed a challenge in the recently-concluded assembly polls, and claimed that their failure to project a Punjabi for the Chief Ministers post cost them heavy

AAP had no future unless they change their style of functioning, the Chief Minister said and states have to work with the Centre and it is important to maintain a working relationship.

Amarinder claimed that He had excellent relations with the previous NDA government at the Centre during his last tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Referring to his governments crackdown on drugs, he said with the STF launching a crackdown, things were moving in the right direction.

Hundreds of youngsters were voluntarily coming to the rehabilitation centres and the anti-drugs helpline had so far received more than 4,000 calls, Amarinder said

He, however, ruled out formation of an Unified Command of the northern Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir, to fight drugs and terrorism.

Responding to a question, Amarinder said though the NIA had given a clean chit to former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh in the Pathankot terror attack, he had not done the same and would bring the police officer to book.

On the contentious SYL issue, the Chief Minister reiterated his stand that the state had no water to spare and pointed out that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken note of his concern on the issue.
New Delhi: Excerpts from a class XII Physical Education textbook defining 36-24-36 as the "best body shape for females" have sparked an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.

The book titled "Health and Physical Education" written by Dr VK Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.

CBSE, however, clarified that it "does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools".

"36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration," read an excerpt from the chapter "Physiology and Sports" which is going viral.

Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.

In a statement, the CBSE said, "Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them."

This, however, is not the first incident about improper content being found in textbooks taught in CBSE schools in recent months.

Excerpts from a class IV environmental science textbook that suggested students to "kill a kitten" as part of an experiment had gone viral on social media, forcing the publisher to withdraw it from the market last month.

Similarly, a class XII Sociology book cited "ugliness" and physical disability of a girl as reasons behind the dowry issue prevalent in the country.

The HRD Ministry had last month said that CBSE has no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers.

"There is no mechanism to evaluate the quality of textbooks of private publishers. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has no mandate to prescribe or recommend the textbooks of private publishers in its affiliated schools," Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha had said in response to a written question in Lok Sabha.
CHENNAI: Alleging the school management had cheated them on CBSE affiliation, the parents and relatives of the students protested in front of a private school in Kodungaiyur on Tuesday. Velankanni Public School in Kodungaiyur is having classes from LKG to Class 2. The parents are alleging that the school had advertised it as CBSE school and collected extra fees. But, they came to know that the school is yet to get the affiliation.

When a students parents sought the transfer certificate recently, the school management allegedly given it in the name of Velankanni Matriculation Higher Secondary School. Agitated parents approached the school management demanding the clarification. Since the answer was not satisfactory to the parents they resorted to protest on Tuesday. Perambur MLA Vetrivel came to the spot to pacify the parents. Things took an ugly turn when ruling party MLA Vetrivels associates entered into arguments with the parents and attacked them. However, on Tuesday evening the school management held the meeting with the parents to explain the position on CBSE affiliation.
New Delhi: Half of the MLAs in Delhi have criminal cases registered against them, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

The Delhi Police has registered criminal cases against 35 Delhi MLAs, Hansraj Ahir, Minister of State in the Home Ministry, said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

The AAP, which at present has 65 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, has maintained that most of the cases against its legislators are "politically motivated".

To a question over the ongoing 'Office of Profit' row, Ahir said, "The Election Commission has informed that out of four references received against Delhi MLAs under the Government of NCT Delhi Act, 1991, on the grounds of holding 'Office of Profit', opinion of the poll panel has been given to the competent authority in respect of two references till date."

Currently, the Election Commission is hearing a complaint against 21 AAP MLAs, appointed as parliamentary secretaries, for allegedly holding Office of Profit.
New Delhi: Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra on mocked the findings of an expert panel that the world culture festival ravaged the Yamuna floodplains, asserting that the event should be held again and "only on its banks".

He invited Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who had organised the cultural extravaganza last year, for holding the event again.

Unfazed by the alarming contents of the report, including that the restoration of the floodplains may take up to 10 years, Mishra said the festival should be organised on the banks of the Yamuna "again and again".

"It is almost as if Dolphins used to swim in the Yamuna before the world culture festival. Tourists from all over the world used to come marvel at it. At that point, Sri Sri came and poured gutters into the pristine river. He damaged it so much that it will take 10 years to restore it," Mishra wrote.

Yamuna's dissolved oxygen (DO) level, that supports aquatic life, has plummeted to zero at different points in the river's journey through the national capital, a Delhi Pollution Control Committee study found last year.

Based on his "12 years of Yamuna activism", he hit out at people "who believe" that the river can be revived by "keeping it untouchable".

"History says whenever people and societies are linked to rivers, festivals are organised, rivers remain clean and pristine.

"My take is that world culture festival should be held only the banks of the Yamuna. Again and again. I reinvite Shri Shri for holding the event again," he said.

A whopping Rs 42.02 crore would be required to restore Yamuna floodplains which was ravaged due to the festival, an expert committee has told the National Green Tribunal.

The expert panel has suggested that there would be two components of rehabilitation plan -- physical and biological, and they would cost Rs 28.73 crore and Rs l3.29 crore respectively, besides additional ancillary expenses.
An image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the Indian government is not aware of the whereabouts of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan had not shared with India any details of Kulbhushan Jadhavs location, or his condition.

In a press conference, Baglay also said India had no access to the former naval officer, accused by Pakistan of being a R&AW agent. So far Pakistan has denied all our requests for consular access. The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque, Baglay stated.

India has alleged that Pakistan ignored 13 requests for consular access to Jadhav.

"Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy and these two facts were communicated to Pakistan more than a year ago," he added.

The spokesperson further said, "If he is a serving officer or a spy, what sort of officer or spy carries his genuine passport around?"

A Pakistani military court sentenced Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on Monday, convicting him of spying for R&AW in Balochistan. India has dismissed the allegations of Jadhav being a spy, calling Pakistan's action 'premeditated murder'. In Parliament, the Modi government promised to do everything possible to prevent the execution of Jadhav.
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)

Mumbai: If Pakistan executes the death sentence against Kulbhushan Jadhav it will be treated as murder of an Indian national, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre today said.

He said the Centre was trying to bring international diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure Jadhav's release.

"We have given a strong message to authorities in Pakistan that the way in which the verdict has been given by the army court, is not transparent and not in accordance with bilateral relations between the two nations," Bhamre told PTI.

"We have been constantly asking for proof (against Jadhav) and under which provisions has he been tried that Pakistan felt to give that (death penalty). We condemn this," he said.

"If this verdict is implemented, we will consider it as murder of an Indian national. In any case, we will not tolerate this," Bhamre said.

Refusing to divulge details of the steps being taken by the Centre to secure Jadhav's release, Bhamre said, "We are bringing international diplomatic pressure (on Pakistan) as much as possible. We are very sure positive results will be out very soon."

A Pakistani military court recently sentenced 46-year-old Jadhav to death after declaring him a "spy".

Pakistan claims that its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Baluchistan 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."

After the sentencing, India 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 recently 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.
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the Indian government is not aware of the whereabouts of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan had not shared with India any details of Kulbhushan Jadhavs location, or his condition, adding that Pakistan's 'indefensible' verdict is a violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations.

Following the multiple rejections for consular access, India has also decided to renew attempts to file a fresh request to Pakistan.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. And these two facts were communicated to Pakistan one year ago when the matter of his illegal custody came to our knowledge. We had made 13 requests for the consular access, but it was denied by the Pakistan," MEA official spokesperson Gopal Baglay told the media here.

India also reiterated its stance, warning Pakistan that execution of Jadhav would considered as murder by the country.

"We have given a strong message to authorities in Pakistan that the way in which the verdict has been given by the army court, is not transparent and not in accordance with bilateral relations between the two nations," said Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre.

Alleging that the processes involved were not transparent, Bhamre said, "If this verdict is implemented, we will consider it as murder of an Indian national. In any case, we will not tolerate this."

However, Pakistan did not budge from its stance, with its top general saying that no compromise would be made on Jadhav.

The decision was made at a Corps Commanders' conference presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said.

Amid the increasing frostiness in the ties between the two countries, Pakistan has further aggravated the situation by hinting that India might be behind the abduction on one of its former army officers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him. "He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without naming any country.

But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.
New Delhi: The Indian High Commission in Pakistan will make a fresh request for consular access to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, sources said.

This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs earlier in the day said that India has no information of Jadhav's whereabouts, adding that Pakistan's 'indefensible' verdict is a violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian, who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. And these two facts were communicated to Pakistan one year ago when the matter of his illegal custody came to our knowledge. We had made 13 requests for the consular access, but it was denied by the Pakistan," MEA official spokesperson Gopal Baglay told the media here.

"What is his condition, where is he being held, these facts cannot be ascertained. The Pakistan Government has also not shared with us his location or any specific details as to how and where is he being held," he added.

Crying foul over the proceedings against Jadhav, Bagley said that the former has been denied proper defence, adding the verdict is indefensible.

"No due process has been followed in the proceedings which is complete violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," he added.

Baglay further said that Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned as soon as the information of Jadhav's death sentence came to India's knowledge.

"It was made clear to the Pakistan Government that given the circumstances of the case -- namely kidnapping of Jadhav, absence of any credible evidence to substantiate the concocted charges against him and the farcical nature of proceedings against him -- Government of India will regard it as premeditated murder if the indefensible sentence awarded to him were carried out," he added.

Reiterating External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's assertion, Baglay said lack of evidence and denial of consular access shows that charges levelled against Jadhav are baseless.

"The EAM also informed the Parliament that Government of Pakistan had approached us this year to access the investigation and this further underlines the insufficiency of evidence," he added.

Stating that Jadhav's matter is associated with the sentiments of the nation, Baglay said the Parliament has spoken in one voice on it and would ensure justice to the former.

"The senior ministers of government have told the Parliament that government will do everything that is possible to ensure justice to Kulbhushan. We are engaged in achieving this objective," he added.

Earlier, Swaraj warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if Jadhav's death sentence is carried out.

She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented then it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there was no evidence against Jadhav.

Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused of espionage, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday triggering tension between the two Asian neighbours.
When the counsel for the petitioner insisted that Urdu language should be included in NEET examination from this year itself, the bench said, 'the whole problem is that this year it is not possible.' (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to include Urdu as a language in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam, the common test for admission into medical courses, from academic session 2018-19 onward.

A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar told the petitioner, who has sought a direction for making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017 scheduled on May 7, that it would not be possible for the government to include Urdu this year.

"We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards," the bench said.

When the counsel for the petitioner insisted that Urdu language should be included in NEET examination from this year itself, the bench said, "the whole problem is that this year it is not possible."

"There are lots of difficulties. Please try to understand that we can't ask them (Centre) to do miracles. The examination is on May 7 and today is April 13. Lots of process is involved in this," the bench said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said that they were not opposed to the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in Urdu medium also from 2018 academic year onwards.

The solicitor general had on March 31 told the Supreme Court that a students' body seeking NEET examination in Urdu language has accused the Centre of being communal.

The submission was made while referring to the affidavit filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad.

The Centre had told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.

At present, NEET is being conducted in ten languages -- Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada languages.

The court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, MCI, DCI and CBSE on the plea suggesting making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.
Tamil Nadu farmers during their protest demanding loan waiver and compensation for crop failure, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for not taking enough measures to prevent farmer suicides in the state.

According to ANI, the Supreme Court said it was "painful to hear farmers are committing suicide and the state government is not taking enough steps".

It directed the Edappadi Palanisamy government in Tamil Nadu to file a detailed reply in the case.

In a significant order, the Madras High Court had on April 4 directed the Tamil Nadu government to waive loans of all drought-hit farmers and restrained cooperative societies and banks from recovering their dues.

It noted that the state's financial situation was grim and it was single handedly shouldering the debt burden in a drought year in which farmers were committing suicide and suggested that the Centre come forward to extend financial help to Tamil Nadu "during this difficult situation."

A division bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and M V Muralidaran gave the order of waiving the loans while allowing a petition by National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturists Association.

The bench heard the petition even as Tamil Nadu farmers continued their protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi into the third week.

"We are aware that the state's financial situation is grim. The Chief Secretary in her letter to the Advocate General also reiterated the same. The government is already single handedly shouldering the burden of Rs 5,780 crore and it will be an additional burden to bear Rs 1,980.33 crore."

In this difficult situation, the central government cannot be a silent spectator and should come forward to extend help to the state government to share the burden, the court said.

It directed the cooperation, food and consumer protection department and registrar of cooperative societies to extend the crop loan waiver scheme under two Government Orders of 2016, to all farmers, including those whose landholding was more than five acres.

"We further direct the department to issue necessary consequential order extending the impugned scheme to all farmers. The order shall be issued within three months from today," the bench said.
Kashmiri women hide their faces from cameras to conceal their identity as they arrive to cast their votes during a re-polling of a by-election for a vacant seat in Dooniwari. (Photo: AP)

Srinagar: The re-poll held on Thursday at 38 polling stations located in Jammu and Kashmirs central district of Budgam, the worst-hit by violence during by-poll to prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday, was by and large peaceful. But the voter turnout is embarrassing lowest 2.02 percent.

The re-poll concluded in a peaceful atmosphere. Out of 35,169 voters, a total of 709 voters exercised their right of franchise which amounts to a poll percentage of 2.02, said J&Ks Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Shantmanu.

The by-poll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat held on Sunday was marred by widespread violence leaving eight people dead and dozens wounded which augmented anger among the people in Kashmir Valley. Also a meager 7.14 percent of over 1.2 million voters turned up to use their democratic right which was the lowest in five decades. This raised questions about the sanctity of this election.

The Election Commission (EC) ordered re-poll at 38 polling stations in five Assembly segments of Budgam even though the by-poll to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat scheduled for April 12 was deferred by it till May 25 in view of widespread violence witnessed in Srinagar.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed across Budgams five segments ahead of the re-poll. Each area where the re-poll was being held gave the look of a fortress whereas strict security restrictions were imposed elsewhere in the district after invoking Section 144 CrPc. The Internet services available at fixed broadband lines were again suspended for more than six hours on Thursday whereas mobile internet services remain suspended since April 8 night. Director General of Police, Shesh Paul Vaid, said that the Internet services in the Valley will be fully restored by Thursday night.

A vast majority of voters stayed away from the polling as no votes were polled at 27 out of 38 polling stations, the official sources said. The 2.02 percent turnout is the lowest in the election history of Jammu and Kashmir, they added.

Witnesses and official sources said that while not a single vote was polled at 27 polling stations, three out of 7,122 votes were cast in Budgam, 261 out of 14,837 in Chadoora, 58 out of 8,126 in Charar-e-Sharief and 357 out of 4, 233 in Beerwah segments.

The Kashmiri separatists have termed the lowest turnout as their victory and said that the same should service as eye-opener to New Delhi and its stooges in the State. The alliance of key separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik which had asked the people to boycott the elections on the premise that any such exercise held within the ambit of Indian Constitutions cannot be a substitute to promised plebiscite said in a statement here, Delhi and its henchmen must stop these flop shows and foolish moves as these are proving a nuisance and a reason for continuous bloodshed.

The Mirwaiz also wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.com The utter contempt people of #Kashmir have shown towards farce called election, an eye-opener for those who cant read writing on the wall. Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference working president, Omar Abdullah, while reacting to 2.02 percent voter turnout tweeted If you thought things couldnt get worse than the 7 % we saw on the 9th of April.

Though the CEO said the entire exercise was a peaceful affair and thanked people and officials for making it so, street clashes were reported from a few areas of Budgam during or soon after the re-poll was over. The security forces fired teargas canisters and shotgun pellets to disperse stone-throwing crowds while the former were withdrawing from poll duty in NasurUllah Pora village of Budgam. The locals alleged that the security forces ransacked some residential houses and damaged stationary cars and other vehicles in the area, the charge denied by the authorities. Clashes were reported also from Beerwah, Soibug, Magh-e-Mehtab and a couple of other areas but these were marginal when compared to Sundays violence and mayhem witnessed across the constituency, the police sources said.

The by-poll result will be declared on April 15. The by-poll to the two Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir Valley- Srinagar and Anantnag-were necessitated by the resignation of sitting members of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including its president Mehbooba Mufti. While Ms. Mufti who was elected from home constituency Anantnag in the 2014 elections quit her Lok Sabha seat to fulfil the Constitutional obligation following her appointment as Chief Minister, her party colleague Tariq Hameed Karra resigned from both the PDP and Parliament in protest against its forging an alliance with ideologically-divergent BJP to form coalition government in the State. The voting in Anantnag is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said the people of his country were eagerly waiting for the "historic" visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He stated this in a tweet while responding to a message of greeting by Modi.

"Thank you, my friend, for your kind holiday greeting. The people of Israel eagerly await your historic visit," Netanyahu tweeted, which was re-tweeted by the PMO.

Two days back, Modi had tweeted, "Khag Sameach Khaverim". In Hebrew, it is used as a greeting for the holidays.

Modi is expected to travel to Israel some time in the next few months.
Security personnel stop a vehicle during restrictions imposed to maintain law and order in Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)

Srinagar: The voter turnout till noon of repolling in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency today has been an abysmal 1.4 per cent.

Only 344 voters of the 34,169 eligible persons cast their votes across all polling stations till 10 AM, officials said here.

No votes were polled in Budgam and Khansahib assembly segments while only two votes were polled in Chrar-e-Sharief segment of the Lok Sabha constituency in the corresponding period, they said.

Chadoora, which was worst hit by violence during Sunday's polling, recorded 200 votes while Beerwah assembly segment saw 142 people turn up to vote, the officials said.

Eight persons were killed in security forces firing on rampaging protestors on Sunday.

The Election Commission has ordered a repoll on 38 worst affected polling stations.

Security forces have been deployed in strength in and around the polling stations to ensure that the events of Sunday are not repeated today.

Normal life across Budgam district remained affected due to the strike called by the separatists against the polling and prohibitory orders issued by the authorities under Section 144 CrPC for maintaining law and order.
CHENNAI: The long wait to travel underground will soon be over as the citys first underground line from Koyambedu to Nehru Park could be open soon with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety inspecting the corridor on Wednesday and Thursday. Chennai airport and Koyambedu will be connected to areas like Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Shenoy Nagar through this route, with a downline of 7.63km between Nehru Park and Koyambedu, and an up line of 4.54km between Koyambedu and Shenoy Nagar.

A mandatory inspection spanning two days will be done by K. A. Manoharan, CMRS, Bangalore, with three deputy commissioners to assess the safety features like tunnel ventilation services, emergency measures, fire alarms and prevention systems, evacuation system, air-conditioning system, and passenger services like ticketing and amenities. We received documents from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) regarding the completion of work on the stretch. Last two weeks we have verified the documents and checking the government certificates for lifts and escalators. We will be carrying out a safety inspection to check if the safety features and passenger amenities are in place, and access to these services and amenities. We will check the emergency evacuation system that is in place, said Manoharan, explaining the checks that will go on for the two days.

Speaking about the difference in the lengths of the lines to be inspected, CMRL managing director Pankaj K Bansal, said, We are going to operate both the lines from Koyambedu to Shenoy Nagar but from Shenoy Nagar to Nehru Park, we will operate one line only. As the tunnel passes through the Kilpauk Medical College, officials added that extra care was taken to study vibrations during motion of the train in these regions.

In, sensitive regions like those near medical institutes, vibration testing was done. Certain medical equipment like microscopes are sensitive to vibrations so different technology has to be used in such cases, said Bansal. Speaking of the differences in the inspection of an underground stretch in comparison with the earlier stretches, Manoharan added, Elevated corridors are flexible as the wires are in touch with the pantogram. But underground corridors are more complex.

There is a tunnel ventilation system in place, evacuation system in case of fire and flood is different, the fire detection and alarm system is important as in the case of a fire, the evacuation of passengers takes a different route, he explained. Speaking of the capability of the system to withstand another event December 2015 floods, Bansal added that in the underground levels, limit of high flood levels is maintained. The underground stretch was filled with water during the construction, but the levels we go by now are different. The level of water that can be withstood is much higher before we need to shut the services down. Also, there is a mechanism in place to pump water out.

Train testing to be carried out today:

The inspection of the stretch between Koyambedu and Nehru Park spans over two days. Tests done by the CMRS and his team would assess the safety parameters, passenger amenities, evacuation system and emergency alarm systems. On Wednesday, the tracks from Koyambedu to Shenoy Nagar were inspected. Overhead traction equipment, tunnel ventilation system, air conditioning, fire systems, and knowledge of the metro rail staff were also tested.

It is not just essential to check the system, but also how they are used by staff. Ticketing services, passenger amenities or be it rescue and evacuation system, the staff must know how to operate these, said KA Manoharan. The team would also inspect the maintenance measures that would be in place once operations start on this route. On Thursday, the 4-member team would inspect the Nehru Park to Shenoy Nagar stretch. Train testing would be carried out on Thursday in the forenoon session. In the afternoon, train braking system and features at the underground stations like the opening of Platform Screen Doors will be tested.

With the stretch in operation, heavily crowded areas like Thirumangalam and Anna Nagar Roundtana would see ease. The CMRL plans to finish the remaining stretch comprising Egmore Metro and Central Metro by December this year. Little Mount to Wimco Nagar will be the next stretch on the plan once Chennai Central and airport are connected. Shenoy Nagar is the largest station on this stretch and is one of the stations with crossover paths, which would ensure that no incident would lead to a break in services. At the platform level, there will be a platform screen doors, which will open and close with the train doors, a feature that only Chennai Metro has in the country currently.

Speaking of low patronage, Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Managing Director , CMRL, said that at the completion of Phase I, more users are expected to travel by metro, which would increase the earnings for CMRL. In Chennai, the stretches that have been completed are being opened for the public after each inspection by the CMRS, unlike that in private-public models like that in Hyderabad, where, despite 50% of the full network being completed, it has not been open to the public, said Bansal.
Jaipur: After a major victory in Dholpur bypoll, the Rajasthan BJP on Thursday expressed confidence that it would win the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state.

BJP state President Ashok Parnami said the people have voted for the party and have expressed faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

"The trends clearly show that people have voted for development. They are happy with the development carried out by the BJP government in the last three years," Parnami told reporters here.

He exuded confidence that the BJP would win the 2018 Assembly elections and 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"PCC chief Sachin Pilot had said the results will reflect the three years of works of the BJP government and the trends now show that the people are happy with the government's functioning," he said.

Parnami alleged that the Congress has always followed divisive policies and divided people in the name of caste and religion.

State Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria said it was the victory of the works carried out by the BJP government in the state.

"This is the victory of the efforts of the chief minister and the party leaders. The party will create history in the 2018 Assembly elections," he said.
Anti-Romeo squad of police hauls up a youth in Lucknow on Wednesday. "Anti-Romeo squads" ordered by new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath have started work across the state. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: After the grand success of the anti-Romeo squads in Uttar Pradesh, it is now the Juliets turn to carry forward the campaign against eve-teasers.

The UP police will now be deploying women police personnel, dressed in civil clothes, as decoy in public places to catch the eve- teasers red-handed.

A team of 15 woman police personnel have been picked for the job in Lucknow. SSP, Lucknow, Manzil Saini said women cops will be used as decoys.

Another team would be present at a distance and catch anyone passing remarks or harassing decoys. She said decoys would be sent out randomly, three daily at different places, and if successful, it would be implemented across the city.

The police official said, These women will be deployed in spots where complaints of eve-teasing are rampant. The anti-Romeo squads set up by the UP police immediately after the Yogi Adityanath government was sworn in, has also received considerable flak for harassing young couples, some of whom are cousins or brother-sister.

There has been a perceptible decline in instances of eve-teasing around girls schools and colleges and main market areas. We had 23 dedicated squads and from March 23 to 31, 3,234 people were quizzed, one arrested and ten were let off after a warning. Only 725 were quizzed between April 1 to 7 and no arrests were made. The drive will run alongside phase two from now, she said.
Hyderabad: Farmers in the state will get free fertiliser from the next financial year. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced this mega sop for 55 lakh farmers, following the Rs 17,000 crore loan waiver scheme, which will cost the exchequer about Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 crore annually. Telangana state requires 26 lakh tonnes of fertiliser annually.

This is unprecedented scheme for farmers and first of its kind in India. Looks like I am born to create history, Mr Rao said, patting himself on the back. Farmers have to be supported and I will do it since I am a Rythu bidda (farmer). Government will deposit the fertiliser cost which comes to about Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 per acre into bank accounts of farmers to avoid pairavikars and corruption.

CMs CSO gave fertiliser sop idea

Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was also present. Mr Rao said the government has decided to create crop colonies in the state to ensure farmers grow suitable crops in their fields depending on local climate conditions and soil, so that they get remunerative prices for their produce. Every pattadar will be provided with a card listing out suitable crops.

He advised farmers to organise themselves into Grama Rythu Sangam, which would collect data of land holdings of every farmer in the village, monitor implementation of government schemes and ensure they get the benefits, and interact with farm related officials. However, Mr Rao told farmers that they should buy pesticides and seeds given on subsidy.

The idea (to supply free fertiliser) cropped up after my CSO, a farmer, kept on telling me that I should do something for farmers since they are always on the receiving end, falling into debt trap, and dont get remunerative prices. Under this scheme, each farmer will get Rs 4,000 per acre and a farmer with five acres will get Rs 20,000, which is a fairly good amount, he said. Bangaru Telangana requires concrete measures and not dialogue, he said. He wants to keep away from chillara (cheap) politics indulged in by the Opposition.

The Opposition is worried they will lose deposit if we implement promised schemes. We will ensure Godavari waters irrigate one crore acres, Mr Rao promised.
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government promulgated an ordinance on Tuesday making it mandatory to make admissions to all medical courses from the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET), including self-financing medical colleges, strictly on the basis of inter se merit. The ordinance has proposed that the managements should provide fee subsidy to at least 20 per cent of students belonging to the BPL/Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). The Kerala Medical Education (Regulation and Control of Admission to Private Medical Educational Institutions) Ordinance 2017 also has provision for forming a committee headed by a retired judge to regulate the admission, fees and reservation in self-financing colleges.

The state has such a committee headed by Justice Rajendra Babu. The two committees proposed by the ordinance, namely admission regulatory committee and fee regulatory committee would be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court. The secretaries of higher education, health and law departments, commissioner for entrance examination and an educational expert belonging to SC/ST community will be members of the admission supervisory committee. In case of the fee regulatory committee, either health or higher education department secretary, a chartered accountant nominated by the government, representative of the Medical Council of India, a member of the All India Council for Technical Education and an educational expert nominated by the government will be the members.

The ordinance has proposed certain criteria for fixing the fee structure, including location of the college, nature of the professional course, cost of land and building, available infrastructure, teaching, non-teaching staff and equipment, expenditure on administration and maintenance, reasonable surplus required for growth/development of the institution and other factors like cost of fee subsidy to students belonging to BPL/SEBC categories. The ordinance will give the committee the right to impose a fine of Rs 2 crore in case of violations, including the collection of capitation fee. The committee will also have the power to cancel the admission of such candidates and also debar them from appearing in examinations. It can withdraw the affiliation or recognition of the colleges found violating the guidelines.
New Delhi: Canada termed on Thursday as "disappointing and inaccurate" the comments by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, were "Khalistani sympathisers".

Singh had on Wednesday alleged that Sajjan like his father is a "Khalistani sympathiser" and he would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India later this month.

"There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them," Singh had further claimed.

Reacting to the remarks, the Candian High Commission here said, "The comments regarding Canada's ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate."

It also asserted that Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and look forward to further advancing this relationship.

"We regret that the Chief Minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canada's Minister of Defence. The Chief Minister is welcome to visit Canada," the high commission added.

Sajjan is scheduled to travel to India next week during which he will hold talks with the leadership here as well as speak on 'conflict prevention and peacekeeping in changing world' on April 18 at a think-tank here.
New Delhi: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said on Wednesday that if the EVMs were tampered with he would not have been in power, contradicting the stand of his Congress party that the machines were not infallible.

"If EVMs were fixed then I wouldn't be sitting here. The Akalis would," he said.

Amarinder is the second senior Congress leader after former Law Minister Veerappa Moily too stood up in defence of the EVMs, amid the Congress allegation of tampering of the machines.

The Congress has demanded that the EVMs be replaced with the old ballot paper system.

The Congress won 77 of Punjab's 117 assembly seats, ending the decade-long rule of the Akali-BJP combine.

The Congress has joined other opposition parties in alleging that the electronic voting machines were rigged that helped the BJP sweep assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Bengaluru: Expressing happiness over the recent victory in the state bypolls, Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah on Thursday defended his government from the ongoing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) controversy and said the voting machines were not tampered in these two by-polls.

"The EVMs are not tampered. Congress is questioning this because there is scope for the tampering. However, here in Karnataka in these two by-elections, the EVMs are not tampered," said Siddaramaiah.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Law Minister T B Jayachandra also expressed happiness over the recent victory in the state and thanked the voters for their support.

"We are extremely happy with the results of two by-elections. I want to thank the voters of two constituencies. Who stood with the Congress party, they supported the Congress party, ultimately made us to win the elections," Jayachandra said.

Earlier in the day, out of the nine assembly by-polls held in the five states, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday registered victory at four places including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

However, down south in Karnataka, Congress' MC Mohan Kumari won the Gundlupet assembly by-poll with a margin of 10,877 votes.

Meanwhile, the Opposition on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee raising concern over the tampering of the EVMs.

The Election Commission on Wednesday issued a challenge to all political parties to prove that the EVMs can be tampered with. This came after the Congress, Left, AAP and others claimed that the EVMs were tampered with to favour the BJP.
The stakes are high and this is showing up in the recent moves of our principal political parties on both sides of the divide. The ruling NDA, led by the BJP and dominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appears to be impregnable after his victory in Uttar Pradesh, has already begun taking the first steps toward consolidating the incumbent alliance, not taking anything for granted and leaving nothing to last-minute firefighting. Its scattered opponents too appear at last to have understood that unity moves do not fructify easily, and have set the process in motion long before the Lok Sabha election in 2019. The first formal step in this direction was taken on Wednesday, as the Budget Session of Parliament drew to a close, when a delegation of 13 parties, with the Congress being the largest in Parliament and led by party president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, walked to Rashtrapati Bhavan to give a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee to highlight the alleged authoritarian conduct of the government, including the passing of measures as money bills in Parliament to bypass scrutiny by the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority. The meeting of the NDA the previous day, attended by the PM, would have been a shot in the arm for the ruling alliance. Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena chief, not only attended the meeting but called Mr Modi elder brother.

In the past three years, the BJPs oldest ally had been troubling the saffron party at every turn. For the BJP and the NDA, which will be reduced to nothing without the former, this cannot but be a sign of hope. The fact that the BJP is on a marked winning streak under Mr Modis leadership has doubtless been a factor in helping slippery parts unify within the NDA. Its opponents have had no luck on that count. Thus, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress was represented at Rashtrapati Bhavan along with its bete noire, the CPM and the other Left parties. From Uttar Pradesh, there was the SP and BSP. The victory of the mahagathbandhan in Bihar last year had led some to believe that the Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD and Nitish Kumars JD(U) would strive together to act in parliamentary politics, but this expectation turned out to be exaggerated. It may, therefore, be too early to think that the Opposition parties that met the President will sort out their ambitions and mutual rivalries right away. Politics is a complicated process.
Take a murder weapon and wanton violence and call it deterrence  that is the undiluted view from the Kashmir Valley. People always seek a messianic saviour, and while it may not conform with Darwinian evolution, great leaders, specially those who head nations, qualify for this role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a chance to provide a breakthrough after the tragic events of last year in Kashmir. Like others before him, he too spoke of reconciliation and settlement within the four walls of the Constitution, but alas appears to have failed to actualise his vision. The winter lull is when he should have got all stakeholders to the table and tried to resolve some key sticking points. On the other side of the Banihal Pass, the separatists are like weeds: pull one out, another grows! The dreaded Masarat Alam Bhat, ideological heir to Syed Ali Shah Geelani, may well be incarcerated, but a lowly Burhan Wani managed to unify and embolden the rival Hurriyat factions  headed by Syed Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. People arent able to comprehend the Wani phenomenon: why he has become a symbol of war against the Indian State. He was a terrorist who took up arms and misguided or otherwise fought the security forces, and was killed. To romanticise him and turn him into a purported freedom fighter seems like the theatre of the absurd. And yet he has caught the imagination of Kashmiris, who have turned a terrorist into a hero. His funeral became the talking point of the Valley, while that of even late CM Mufti Muhammad Sayeed couldnt pull in a tenth of the crowds.

The Valleys recent flirtation with blood lust and violence have reached a heightened level, and it appears the Rubicon has been crossed. A deep subliminal sense of anger, hurt and alienation afflicts the Valleys people, and particularly the unemployed youth. Long years of drilling a particular message by a handful of vengeful Svengalis secured by Indian forces and funded by both sides of the border, coupled with Wahabi political Islam overriding religious Islam slithering across the Internet, has changed the thought process of the citizenry. Syed Geelanis long years of withering opposition with his theological identification has finally paid off. The mockery over the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll and the cold-blooded violence to terrorise one and all is seminal. Not even in 1999 and 2004, when polling dropped to 12 and 18 per cent respectively, had one seen a complete boycott of the rule of law. The violence was orchestrated of course to ensure people didnt set foot outside their homes, but the Valley has undergone a dangerous shift in 2017  the mood is indignant, the drift painful and India has once again become a foreign country. The sense of victimhood has scarred and brutalised psyches, with the violent and bloody summer of 2016 a watershed.

If chief minister Mehbooba Mufti cannot guarantee polling in what was her own constituency Anantnag (where her brother Tassaduq Hussain is standing, but the polling has been put off till May 25), what does it tell you about the situation on the ground? It means either the state administration has lost complete control or is virtually a part of what is now an armed struggle. There have been many flashpoints in Kashmir, each time one has waited for the scars to heal and for people to return to the mainstream, but these past six-eight months have changed many who inhabit the Valley. The Sunni majority has won the war of babble, its shrill voice drowning out the saner minority, which believes in rationality and India. The Shias reduced to enclaves, except in Budgam, where they are in a majority but have lost their voice in the noisy azadi din. The 293-km Jammu-Srinagar distance is now interminable. Kashmir, it seems, has opted to not return to the mainstream, but chosen soft separatism and mainstreamed violence itself. A zero-sun game that is costing both sides  India and Kashmir. While India retains territorial sovereignty, the byproduct of a controversial accession, it hasnt been able to reach out to the people of the Valley.

Rhetoric must give way to dialogue, there is no alternative. Yes, Kashmir is an integral part of India. Yes, the Hurriyat is up to mischief, obsessed as it is with azadi. Yes, Pakistan wants Indias vivisection and is waging war through proxies. All these facts are true, but what is an inescapable reality is the constant friction has put Kashmiris in a bitter blue funk. Obviously there is no question of azadi, a handful of people living in a Valley 135 km by 32 km long and wide. The PDP had initially coined the narrative Goli se nahi, bholi se masla hal hoga, which was bang on, for thats the only way to deal with people with fissiparous tendencies, bring them to the negotiating table, set terms of reference and discuss things threadbare. The table awaits a series of confidence-building steps, which will hopefully alleviate the pain and suffering of Kashmiris. Indias deep state must understand nuances of the Kashmir problem, and how complex it has become after last years unrest. Kashmiris preservation as a sub-national identity has to be guaranteed by New Delhi.

Investment in a capital asset or employment-generating project is a must. In the interregnum, the revival of HMT watch factories in Zainakote and Bari Brahmana (HMT Chinar Watches Ltd), both of which are shut, is possible. Zainakote, for instance, on 400 kanals of land, now used by the CRPF, should be restarted post-haste. Send the signal that the government means business: Zainakote used to produce almost eight lakh watches a year. One doesnt know if watches are still viable from this factory, but the Centre can use this factory as a CBM. Similarly, one of the largest producers of silk in the world, the famous Silk Factory at Ram Bagh, is in ruins due to the failure of successive governments and official apathy. As a Kashmiri, I abhor this talk of independence, it is a fantasy that no Indian will ever allow. At the same time, constructive, all-pervasive confabulations about the future role of Kashmiris living and cohabiting in India is vital. If this means a level of autonomy, then so be it. Self-determination is unacceptable, but regulated self-rule can be considered. The bitter schism between Jammu and the Valley, now even more pronounced as a Hindu-Muslim divide, must be bridged swiftly. How the extreme right of the Indian polity (BJP) and the extreme right of Kashmiri politics (PDP) can meld is something that one has no prognosis for, but a resolution of some sort is absolutely vital. Time is of the essence.
The year was 1991 and the place Ahmedabad. The occasion  an international meeting on gravitation and cosmology. Cosmology is the science of the origin and evolution of the universe. By 1991, of course, a consensus was emerging that the universe originated in a super-explosion, often referred to as the big bang. A discussion was on concerning the mysterious dark matter and its relevance to the popular idea of the big bang model of the universe. Before coming to the modern query as to what the dark matter is made of, let us go back more than two millennia to the Greece of Archimedes and Pythagoras. The followers of the latter who called themselves Pythagoreans maintained that the Earth went round a central fire and the Sun lay away from the central region. The critics asked the natural question: Why dont we see the central fire? To silence them, the Pythagoreans argued that our view of the fire was blocked by a counter-Earth that also moved round the central fire. In due course this explanation was challenged by the query: Why dont we see the counter-Earth? To this the reply given was that on a globe Greece was on the opposite side facing away from the counter-Earth. Some sceptics then shot down this explanation by voyaging to the other side where, of course, they failed to find the counter-Earth.

With this introduction, let us now return to dark matter. Dark matter was being discovered since the 1970s and its significance for cosmology was being appreciated as more and more of it was being found. One could say that the dark matter to the cosmologist was like black money to the economist. Although black money is not declared to the taxman, its amount can be estimated from the economic activity it generates. In the same way, the dynamic activity in the cosmos gives a quantitative estimate of how much matter is around to generate it. Since most of it is invisible, it is called dark matter. The quantitative estimate of dark matter puts it at around some five to six times the density of visible matter. This is like telling the astronomer that what matter he is able to observe with all his telescopes is a small fraction of what there really is. In the early days the principal candidates for dark matter used to be black holes, planet-like objects, low mass objects that could not become stars, etc. However, the matter does not end there! There is another constraint that the big bang theory imposes. The theory is expected to explain how the light atomic nuclei like deuterium, helium, etc came into existence in the universe.

The answer is that they were formed when the universe was a few seconds old. They were formed by the fusion of free particles like neutron and protons. But the process works only if the total density of the neutrons and protons is less than a certain fixed limit. And that limit is exceeded if we assume that all dark matter is made of neutrons and protons. In short, the dark matter we find is not made of chemical elements that we observe everywhere around us. So like the astronomers, the physicists and chemists also do not have a clue as to what this matter is made of. What then is this matter made of? The answer given is: It is made of some strange type of particles different from neutrons and protons whose observation or creation in the laboratory has not been possible so far. This is given the name of non-baryonic matter. Non-baryonic because neutron and proton are collectively called baryons. This situation is bizarre from a scientific point of view. What one is asked to believe has not yet been witnessed in the laboratory but one must believe in its existence if one wishes to keep the big bang theory alive. Indeed I am reminded of the Hans Andersen story The Emperors New Clothes in which the emperor was given a suit to wear which could allegedly be seen only by those who have not committed a sin. The suit in reality was composed of nothing and the emperor was actually naked. But neither he nor any of his courtiers would admit so for the fear of being declared sinful! Only a child who had no stake in the issue asked his mother: Why is the king naked?

In science the tradition has been to advance physical theories and check their predictions against a suitable test. If the prediction is vindicated by the test, well and good. The theory survives and may be further tested by more sophisticated tests. If the prediction fails, the theory is abandoned or seriously modified. But it is rare to keep the theory intact and change some crucial assumption. The above example is of this kind. Rather than give up the big bang theory, most cosmologists want to introduce the hypothesis of non-baryonic matter. How deeply the big bang theory is now entrenched in the mindset of most cosmologists was brought home to me at the Ahmedabad meeting when in the course of various arguments, I put in the above example. How is it, I asked, that most cosmologists have uncritically accepted the hypothesis of non-baryonic matter to account for dark matter? Why not try the alternative of the more familiar baryonic option, with which physicists are familiar and which is known to astronomers through their observations? Why must we go for an esoteric option that has neither yet been observed in the cosmos nor detected in a terrestrial laboratory? I thought my intervention was consistent with the traditional scientific approach. But I was in for a shock! One of the younger generation of cosmologists shot his hand up to object. If we are allowed to accept, he said, only the familiar forms of matter, then why not assume that dark matter is all made of television sets? While this remark may have some kind of twisted logic, it illustrates the limits to which one may go in order to defend the popular dogma.
The government today said the US-based iPhone maker Apple has indicated plans for introduction of selective manufacturing lines in the country this year.

However, no decision has been taken yet on concessions demanded by the US-based company for setting up local manufacturing facility in the country, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha.

"Apple in their communications, indicated their plan for selective introduction of manufacturing lines in Spring 2017," Sitharaman said in a written reply.

Apple has sought concessions such as duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years. With sales tapering in the US and China, Apple is eyeing India -- the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world -- and looking to set up a local manufacturing unit to cut costs.

It, however, does not manufacture devices on its own and rather does this through contract manufacturers.

The company sells products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China , Germany , the US , the UK and France , among others.

It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.

Replying to a separate question, she said that cement demand is expected to increase in the next financial year on account of various flagship programmes of the government such as 'Housing for All' by 2022, Smart Cities Mission, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Freight and Industrial Corridors and National Highways Expansion.

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Samsung has reportedly sold 620,000 units of the S8 and the S8+ models in South Korea so far.

Samsungs flagship Galaxy S8/S8+ have been grabbing the worlds attention since they were unveiled. The all-glass body with Samsungs Infinity Display makes for a style statement in your hands and packs in a lot of innovative features. That makes it very desirable and we are already beginning to witness that desirability.

As per reports, all the 1,50,000 Galaxy S8+ 128GB models have been sold out and there is none available for pre-order right now. Moreover, people who will be pre-ordering the Galaxy S8/S8+ will be getting deliveries probably by the end of May.

The increased demand is probably accelerated by the fact that Samsung is offering a lot of benefits with Galaxy S8/S8+ if consumers are pre-ordering the phone. Benefits are also offered by various Samsungs partners and associated carriers as well, thus luring customers for a super sweet deal. If you are pre-ordering the phone in South Korea, Samsung will bundle the Samsung Dex docking station, a Bluetooth speaker and a years warranty for repairs. The Samsung Dex dock can make your Galaxy S8/S8+ into a makeshift computer with the aids of a mouse, a keyboard and a monitor. The Dex enhances the phones productivity, thus making it a smaller replacement for a desktop computer.

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy S8 features a 1.9GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. Theres 64/128GB storage on board along with 256GB expandable microSD card slot. A 12MP f1.7 dual pixel camera does the rear cameras duty while an 8MP f1.7 auto-focus camera is there to work as the front camera. The standard S8 has a 5.8-inch 1440p sAMOLED Infinity Display while the S8+ has to do with a 6.2-inch 1440p version of the same. Theres Bixby on board along with Googles Assistant to assist you in your daily life.

Samsung has reportedly sold 620,000 units of the S8 and the S8+ models in South Korea so far.

It seems as if people are unaffected by last years Note 7s fiasco and are willing to go for Samsungs flagship, regardless of other noteworthy competitors.

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Strong winds and makeshift shelters allowed the fire to spread, though the cause of the fire was not immediately known. (Photo: Representational/AFP)

Dakar: Senegal's government says at least 20 people have been killed in a fire while attending a Muslim spiritual retreat in the eastern part of the country.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye said on Thursday that several others were wounded in the fire on Wednesday in Medina Gounass village.

President Macky Sall offered condolences to victims' families. He said the interior ministry would visit the site on Thursday.

Senegalese national TV reported that strong winds and makeshift shelters allowed the fire to spread, though the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Thousands of Muslim men from Senegal, Guinea and other West African countries meet annually in Medina Gounass for the spiritual retreat.
Washington: Laying bare deep and dangerous divisions on Syria and other issues, President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that US relations with Russia "may be at an all-time low." His top diplomat offered a similarly grim assessment from the other side of the globe after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

"Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said flatly during a White House news conference. It was stark evidence that the president is moving ever further from his campaign promises to establish better ties with Moscow.

Only weeks ago, it appeared that Trump, who praised Putin throughout the U.S. election campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia. But any such expectations have crashed into reality amid the nasty back-and-forth over Syria and ongoing U.S. investigations into Russia's alleged interference in America's U.S. presidential election.

"It'd be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and if we got along with Russia," Trump said. But he clearly wasn't counting on it. "That could happen, and it may not happen," he said. "It may be just the opposite."

Not long before Trump spoke in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson struck a similar tone after an almost two-hour meeting with Putin, saying the two countries had reached a "low point" in relations.

Trump, who last week ordered airstrikes on a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack, was asked Wednesday if Syria could have launched the attack without Russia's knowledge. Trump said it was "certainly possible" though "probably unlikely."

The newly hardened view of Moscow comes as the president has tried to shake suspicions about the motives behind his campaign calls for warmer relations.

As the FBI and multiple congressional committees investigate possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign, the president and his aides can now point to his hard-line stance on Syrian President Bashar Assad as evidence he's willing to stand up to Putin.

More than 80 people were killed in what the US has described as a nerve gas attack that Assad's forces undoubtedly carried out. Russia says rebels were responsible for whatever chemical agent was used, which the Trump administration calls a disinformation campaign.

Not long before Trump spoke, Russia vetoed a Western-backed UN resolution that would have condemned the chemical weapons attack and demanded a speedy investigation.

The dim view of US-Russian ties from both Trump and Tillerson reflected the former Cold War foes' inability to forge better relations, as Trump until recently has advocated.

Allegations of collusion between Russian officials and Trump campaign associates also have weakened Trump's ability to make concessions to Russia in any agreement, lest he be accused of rewarding bad behavior.

Russia wants the US to eliminate sanctions on Moscow related to its 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Until the chemical attack, the Trump administration had sought to step back from the U.S. position that Assad should leave power. But Tillerson repeated the administration's new belief that "the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end."

Beyond Syria, Russia's alleged meddling in the US presidential election also hovered over what was the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and any Trump administration Cabinet member.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted US claims that it has "irrefutable evidence" of election interference.

"We have not seen a single fact, or even a hint of facts," he said. "I do not know who saw them. No one showed us anything, no one said anything, although we repeatedly asked to produce the details on which these unfounded accusations lie." He also rejected American claims of certain evidence that Assad ordered the chemical attack.

Still, Tillerson sought to stress the positives from his meetings. He said working groups would be established to improve US-Russian ties and identify problems. He said the two sides would also discuss disagreements on Syria and how to end the country's six-year civil war.

But such hopes appeared optimistic as the diplomats outlined their sharply diverging views on Syria. Tillerson said Syria's government had committed more than 50 attacks using chlorine or other chemical weapons over the duration of the conflict.

And he suggested that possible war crimes charges could be levied against the Syrian leader. Russia has never publicly acknowledged any such attacks by Assad's forces and has tried for the past 18 months to help him expand his authority in Syria.

The civil war is separate from the US-led effort against the Islamic State group in the north of the country.

While the most immediate US-Russian dispute concerns culpability for the chemical weapons, broader disagreements over everything from Ukraine to Russia's support for once-fringe candidates in European elections are among other sore points.

Tillerson was greeted frostily in the Russian capital as Lavrov began their meeting Wednesday by demanding to know America's "real intentions."

"We have seen very alarming actions recently with an unlawful attack against Syria," Lavrov said, referring to the 59 Tomahawk missiles Trump launched at an air base to punish Assad for using chemical weapons. "We consider it of utmost importance to prevent the risks of replay of similar action in the future."

Trump and others have indeed threatened similar action. But in a Fox Business Network interview, the US president said he wouldn't intervene militarily against Assad unless the Syrian leader resorts to using weapons of mass destruction again. "Are we going to get involved with Syria? No," Trump said. But, he added, "I see them using gas ... we have to do something."
New York: Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, who became the first Muslim and black woman to serve as a United States judge, was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday.

Media reports quoted police, as saying that Judge Salaam, 65, had been missing from her home since Wednesday morning, and that they had found her body floating in the Hudson River off Manhattan's west side at around 1.45 p m local time.

Police said that they pulled Judge Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and pronounced her dead at the scene. She was identified by her family. The body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Salaam was a judge of the Court of Appeals when New York Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

She was a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School.
Ottawa: Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai became only the sixth person to receive honorary Canadian citizenship Wednesday, before advocating in a speech to parliament for women and girls' education -- a cause dear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Wearing an orange hijab, the traditional Muslim veil, and a green dress, the young woman was welcomed to the seat of Canada's democracy in Ottawa by Trudeau.

At age 19, Yousafzai is the youngest person to speak to Canadian members of parliament and senators in a joint session.

She is also the youngest to receive honorary Canadian citizenship -- a privilege previously granted to Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), religious leader Karim Aga Khan IV, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (posthumously) and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Yousafzai had fought for years for the right of girls to education in her strictly Muslim home region in Pakistan.

She leaped to global fame after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on a school bus in October 2012 for defending her right to attend school.

She has lived in the English city of Birmingham, where she continues to advocate for women's rights, since a successful operation following the attack.

During a ceremony inside the Gothic Revival halls of Canada's parliament, Trudeau praised Yousafzai for her advocacy.

"Today we proudly bestow honorary Canadian citizenship on Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan who has done tremendous things for the people of her country and for the children of the world," he said. "Malala, your story is an inspiration to us all," he said.

'I Am Malala' added

Yousafzai was given the Canadian flag from atop the Peace Tower at the entrance of parliament, and a copy of her 2013 book "I Am Malala" was added to the parliamentary library.

She thanked her hosts and expressed excitement in particular about meeting Trudeau, whom she praised for speaking out for women's rights, gender equality, and refugees "during a time where the world is hopeless."

"I wanted to say that Trudeau is an amazing person and an inspiration," she said. "He is a true example and I'm sure that other world leaders will learn from him."

Yousafzai had been invited to Canada by the previous Conservative government in 2014 -- when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- to receive Canadian citizenship in Toronto.

But the ceremony was postponed due to the shooting of a ceremonial guard and an attack on parliament the same day. Earlier Wednesday, Yousafzai joined the prime minister's wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau for a talk with students at a local high school.

"The message I am spreading around the world to our leaders, to our politicians, (is) that they must prioritize education for each and every child around the world," she said to a standing ovation.

"There are more than 130 million girls that do not have access to education," she said. "I am here to speak on their behalf and to say if you are living in this modern world where we see improvements in technology, we should not be seeing children out of school."
Washington: US President Donald Trump gave the order to strike Syria with dozens of cruise missiles during dessert with visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he said in an interview aired Wednesday.

We had finished dinner. Were now having dessert. And we had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that youve ever seen and President Xi was enjoying it, Trump told the Fox Business television network.

And I was given the message from the generals that the ships are locked and loaded, what do you do? Trump said. And we made a determination to do it, so the missiles were on the way.

And I said, Mr. President, let me explain something to you -- this was during dessert -- weve just fired 59 missiles. Trump said Xi paused for 10 seconds and then asked the interpreter to say it again. I didnt think that was a good sign.

But then, Trump said, Xi responded that anybody that was so brutal and uses gases to do that to young children and babies, its OK.... He was OK with it. He was OK.

Trump had been hosting Xi at his private Florida resort Mar-a-Lago on April 6. The US missiles struck a Syrian air base in retaliation for Syrias alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town, killing 87 civilians, many of them children.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Tuesday there was no doubt the Syrian regime was behind the chemical attack. But Russia, Syrias ally, disputes that, saying no evidence has been produced.

Trump, in his interview, said all 59 missiles fired hit their targets and called the display of military prowess unbelievable, amazing, incredible, brilliant and genius.

Trump regularly spends his weekends at his Mar-a-Lago resort, which his staff has nicknamed the Southern White House.
Restaurant inspectors found 13 violations at Mar-a-Lago, the exclusive Florida resort owned by President Donald Trump, the Miami Herald reported.Undercooled meat, potentially dangerous raw fish and two broken coolers were among the problems found at the private club that charges $200,000 in initiation fees and has become known as the Southern White House, the newspaper reported late on Thursday.

Neither Mar-a-Lago nor the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which last inspected the club on January 26, immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment on Thursday. It was not the first time a Trump eatery has gotten negative publicity since his November 2016 polls.
The three other ISIS leaders killed during the operations have been identified as Yar Habib the brother of Hafiz Saeed, and Sediqyar and Ahmad, the two key leaders in charge of the training of the terror group in Nangarhar. (Photo: Representational)

Kabul: The main shadow judge of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group has reportedly been killed in an operation in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.

According to the Khamma Press news agency, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) has in a statement said that Mullah Salah was killed along with scores of other militants during the ongoing Hamza military operations.

Mullah Salah was among four key ISIS leaders and 44 insurgents killed during the operations, the statement added.

The three other ISIS leaders killed during the operations have been identified as Yar Habib the brother of Hafiz Saeed, and Sediqyar and Ahmad, the two key leaders in charge of the training of the terror group in Nangarhar.

Both Afghan and American troops are conducting regular operations to suppress the insurgency led by ISIS militants and other insurgent groups, including the Taliban.
Surinder Singh, 42, was found guilty of robbery and possession of a bladed article at Wood Green Court in London. (Photo: File/Representational)

London: An Indian-origin career criminal in the UK was on Wednesday jailed for six years for robbing his friend at knifepoint to fuel his drug addiction.

Surinder Singh, 42, was found guilty of robbery and possession of a bladed article at Wood Green Court in London.

Scotland Yard described the man as a career criminal who resorted to robbery to fuel his drug addiction.

Singh is a career criminal who uses extreme violence for relatively little reward to fuel his drug addiction. The terrified victim genuinely believed that he would be killed by the knife wielding attacker if he did not hand over cash.

Singh has shown no remorse at any time during the proceedings. The sentence imposed by the judge reflects the gravity of the offence and that carrying and using knifes in the streets of London will not be tolerated and lead to severe punishment, said Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Paul Ridley.

Judge G Perrins described Singhs attack as a despicable crime as the victim trusted Singh and thought he was his friend.

As Singh was clearly motivated by his heroin and alcohol addictions, the judge said he felt there was no alternative but to hand down a substantial sentence based on Singhs offending history and his propensity to commit violence.

The court was told that the victim, a 33-year-old man, had been in the company of Singh last November in north-east London and as they were about to part company, Singh produced a Stanley knife and held the blade to the victims throat demanding cash.

Petrified and believing Singh would kill him, the victim handed over 80 pounds (USD 99.99) before fleeing the scene.

During Singhs police interview, he denied the allegations put to him, claiming that they were fabricated by the victim.
Turkey has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks by the ISIS and the Kurdistan Workers' Party. (Photo: Representational/AFP)

Ankara: Turkey's Interior Ministry says police have detained 412 suspected Kurdish militants in a security sweep.

The ministry said in a statement Thursday that the suspects were rounded up in police operations in 21 provinces late on Wednesday.

In addition, the statement said 131 Islamic State group suspects were detained in operations in 13 provinces in the past week.

The operations came a day after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, claimed an attack against a police station in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, which was carried out with a ton of explosives planted inside a tunnel dug by rebels.

Turkey has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks by the two groups. The country is holding a referendum on Sunday on expanding the president's powers.
Akbardzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year-old native of Kyrgyzstan, blew himself up on a busy subway line on April 3, killing himself and 13 other people. (Photo: AP)

Ankara: A Turkish security official says the suicide bomber accused of the deadly attack on the subway in the Russian city of St Petersburg was deported from Turkey in 2016.

Akbardzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year-old native of Kyrgyzstan, blew himself up on a busy subway line on April 3, killing himself and 13 other people. Dozens of others were injured.

The official said on Thursday that Dzhalilov had entered Turkey in November 2015 on a tourist visa and was deported to Russia in December 2016 for violating Turkey's visa laws. He was fined and barred from re-entering Turkey for 120 days, the official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations that bar civil servants from speaking to journalists without authorisation.
A Saudi news website released photos of 10 of the Pakistanis at the hall, some dressed in women's clothes, as well as a box of rings. (Photo: Representational)

Beirut: The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Saudi Arabia to investigate the death of a Pakistani transgender woman at a Riyadh police station following a raid on an event space in February.

It also said that Saudi authorities should also immediately release five Pakistanis who remain in detention if they are held only on suspicion of committing morality related "offences".

On February 26, local media outlets reported that Saudi police in Riyadh had raided a rented hall and arrested 35 Pakistanis gathered there. A Saudi news website released photos of 10 of the Pakistanis at the hall, some dressed in women's clothes, as well as a box of rings.

Pakistani transgender activists told Human Rights Watch that some of the those gathered at the hall, including the detainee who died in detention, are transgender women, known as Khawaja Saras in Pakistan.

"Saudi Arabia's aggressive policing of the private consensual activities of Saudis and foreigners diverts resources from actual problems such as preventing and solving crimes," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

"Saudi Arabia should immediately end this nightmare for Pakistani families by credibly investigating why this woman died in police custody and releasing the other Pakistanis still in jail," Whitson added.

The HRW said it confirmed the death by reviewing official documents after earlier media reports, including assertions by a family member that she was tortured in custody.

March 28 media reports in Pakistan said that a representative of the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry told a meeting of the Pakistani Senate's Human Rights Committee that Saudi authorities had arrested the 35 Pakistanis after monitoring them for two months. He confirmed that 29 of them were eventually released, while five remain in detention.

The son of the transgender woman who died in detention told the committee that his family received her body on March 11.

"When we opened the coffin, my father's teeth and jaw were broken. Moreover, there were marks of wounds on the body," he was quoted as saying.

Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry denied the torture claims while admitting only that "[o]ne 61-year-old person suffered a heart attack and died in the hospital after being treated."

Saudi Arabia has no written laws concerning sexual orientation or gender identity, but judges use principles of uncodified Islamic law to sanction people suspected of committing sexual relations outside marriage, including adultery, extramarital and homosexual sex, or other "immoral" acts.

An HRW review of LGBT-related cases from 2013 listed in a Saudi Justice Ministry of Justice report found three cases in which authorities accused men of wearing makeup or dressing in women's clothes. The sentences ranged from 20 days in prison to a year-and-a-half, and between 20 and 300 lashes.
She claimed that her family wanted to kill her and that Philippines and Saudi governments violated human rights and international law. (Photo: Videograb)

A Saudi woman was gagged, tied with duct tape and wrapped in a sheet by two men at Manila airport in Philippines.

According to a report in The Australian, Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, trying to flee from her family in Saudi Arabia, landed in Manila early on Monday morning, from where she intended to go to Australia and seek asylum. She said she had also obtained a tourist visa in secrecy.

However, her passport, boarding pass and travel documents were confiscated by Philippines Airlines staff and they said that they had orders to not allow her to board her flight to Sydney.

She said in a video, They took me and locked me up for thirteen hours, just because Im a Saudi woman, with the co-operation of the Saudi embassy.

She claimed that her family wanted to kill her and that Philippines and Saudi governments violated human rights and international law. She alleged that they had confined her and treated her like a criminal.

Saudi Arabian women are not allowed to travel without approval from their male guardian, and Saudi embassies are known to assist families in tracking down women who have fled abroad, said the report.

A Canadian tourist Meagan Khan who came to help her at the airport was quoted as saying that Lasloom said her family, her uncles, are very strict and abusive to her, so she ran away.

Khan said Laslooms family forcibly asked her to choose between being a teacher or a slave - and so the victim worked as a teacher. But she was not allowed to leave the house without being escorted by a man.

Khan also lent her phone to the victim so that she could put up posts on Twitter. On Monday afternoon, two men accompanied by a woman from the Kuwaiti embassy approached Lasloom, who identified the men as her uncles and Saudi diplomats.
Kathmandu: Nepal and China will hold the first-ever joint military exercise from Sunday with a special focus on combating terror and disaster management, the Nepal Army announced on Thursday.

The 10-day-long military drill that will last till April 25 is being organised by the two countries as part of their preparedness against terrorism that has posed as a serious security threat globally, it said.

The military exercise named 'Sagarmatha Friendship-2017' will also focus on common interests like disaster management. Sagarmatha is the Nepali name of Mt Everest, the world's highest peak that is bordering between Nepal and China.

Although Nepal has been holding joint military exercises with other countries including India and the United States, this is the first time Nepal is holding such an exercise with China, which is increasingly expanding his presence in the land-locked country.

"In a bid to give continuity of joint military training and exercises with neighbouring countries and friendly nations; and in the context of terrorism that is posing as serious threat to the global peace and its possible challenges to the global security, we are holding a first ever joint military exercise with China, said the statement.

It noted that such kind of multilateral and bilateral training slots and exercises will provide opportunities to both the armies in exchanging their professional skills, boosting their capability and further strengthening the diplomatic and military ties between the two nations.

Nepal had proposed joint military exercises between the Nepal Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) with the focus on disaster management and enhancing the skills of both the militaries during Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan's official visit to Nepal on March 24.

During the visit, Wanquan had pledged a grant assistance of Rs 3.04 billion (200 million yuan) to strengthen the Nepal Army in disaster management and equip it for the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The Rs 3.04 billion military assistance from Beijing came weeks after China's pledge during an investment summit in March to plough USD 8.3 billion (approximately Rs 860 billion), equivalent to nearly 40 per cent of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product, into Nepal for infrastructure development, Nepalese media reports said.
Islamabad: Pakistan claimed on Thursday "foreign spy agencies" may have "trapped" and then abducted one of its former army officers, who has mysteriously disappeared from a Nepalese town close to the Indian border.

Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him. "He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without naming any country.

But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Zahir, who retired from service in October 2014 from the artillery wing of the Pakistan Army, worked for a private firm but had posted his profile online seeking another employment.

A caller, who identified himself as Mark Thompson, had reportedly contacted Zahir - via email and telephone - for the job interview and he was provided an air ticket to travel to Nepal.

An initial probe by Pakistani security agencies has showed that a phone number registered in the UK was computer-generated to contact Zahir and emails and website domains were registered in India.

From Nepal, Zahir had contacted his family last on Thursday and since his phone numbers could not be reached. His last message from Lumbini read he had reached his destination.

His disappearance has coincided with the death penalty handed down to former India naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani army court for his involvement in "terrorism and espionage". But Pakistan has repeatedly refused India any consular access to Jadhav.

The sentencing has evoked strong reactions from India, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying the country will go out of its way to secure Jadhav's release.

Today, Zakaria warned against linking Zahir's case with Jadhav's as the Indian national was an "irrefutable proof of Indian state's involvement in terrorism, subversion and terror financing."

"It would be unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Zahir," he said. He said the "R&AW agent was arrested red-handed", who identified himself and has "confessed" in their custody.

The foreign office spokesperson also said four terrorists arrested by Sindh Rangers yesterday from Karachi have "confessed" to having "links" with the R&AW. "India remains involved in subversive and terrorist activities and terror financing in Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav is an irrefutable proof. The arrest of four terrorists by Sindh Rangers, yesterday, is also a case in point," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh [also] confessed to India's involvement in [then] East Pakistan in 1971," Zakaria said.

Zakaria condemned the killing of what he said were 14 Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the past one week. He said 250 others were also injured. He called upon the international community to help stop bloodshed in Kashmir.
The mob instead seems to have been incited by rumours circulating among the university's student body. (Photo: Representational/AFP)

Mardan: A 23-year-old student of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan was killed and another seriously injured by a vigilante mob for allegedly "publishing blasphemous content online", local police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred within the university premises. The campus was shut down following the incident until further notice and its hostels vacated to avoid a further escalation of violence.

45 people had been arrested in connection with the incident by Thursday evening, according to Mardan District Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed.

No case had been filed against the two students prior to the incident and police had not been investigating the two on blasphemy charges.

The mob instead seems to have been incited by rumours circulating among the university's student body.

Mardan's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mohammad Alam Shinwari said the deceased student, Mashal, had been accused of running Facebook pages "which allegedly published blasphemous content".

He was attacked by a large group of students and appears to have succumbed to a gunshot wound, the DIG said.

The charged students then wanted to burn his body, Shinwari said, before police intervened.

'Beaten and bloody': eyewitnesses recount horror

An eyewitness at the scene of the incident said Mashal and Abdullah, two Mass Communication students, were attacked because they were believed to be "promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook".

The eyewitness said a mob of university students first surrounded Abdullah and forced him to recite verses from the Holy Quran. Although he repeatedly denied the accusation that he was an Ahmadi, the students beat him nonetheless.

The police, when alerted, reached the site of the attack and rescued Abdullah, after which the mob set its sights on Mashal, who was in the hostel at the time, the eyewitness said.

Mashal was beaten and shot by the mob and succumbed to the injuries he received.

Video footage of the incident showed Mashal lying on the floor surrounded by men. The student was not moving and his body bore marks of severe torture. Men could be seen kicking his lifeless body and beating it with wooden planks.

Towards the end of the video, he was pulled from his clothes by an unidentified man.

A student requesting anonymity said several leaders of the university's student bodies were part of the attacking mob.

One of Mashal's teachers later told Reuters that he was a passionate and critical student.

He was brilliant and inquisitive, always complaining about the political system of the country, but I never heard him saying anything controversial against the religion, the teacher said.

'Police unable to control the situation'

University administration official Fayaz Ali Shah confirmed that the mob of students had killed Mashal over allegations of 'blasphemy'.

He said over 20 officers had arrived at the scene, were unable to control the situation because there were so many students involved.

Hostel warden Muhammad Ali, recounting the incident, claimed that: "Three to four thousand students were approaching. I was alerted that they were approaching, so I closed the gates but they broke in, found Mashal and fired at him and started beating him."

Students said police had been alerted of the incident and were present on campus at the time. When asked why they didn't intervene, police said there were "too many people" in the mob for them to take on.
Facebook has said it has started weeding out bogus accounts by watching for suspicious behavior such as repetitive posts or torrents of messages.



The security improvement was described as being part of a broader effort to rid the leading social network of hoaxes, misinformation, and fake news by making sure people are who they claim to be.



"We've found that when people represent themselves on Facebook the same way they do in real life, they act responsibly," Shabnam Shaik of the Facebook protect and care team said in a blog post.



"Fake accounts don't follow this pattern, and are closely related to the creation and spread of spam." Accounts suspected of being bogus are suspended and holders asked to verify identifies, which scammers typically don't do, according to the California-based social network.



In France, the new tactic has already resulted in Facebook taking action against 30,000 accounts believed to be fakes, Shaik said. "We've made improvements to recognize these inauthentic accounts more easily by identifying patterns of activity -- without assessing the content itself," Shaik said.



"With these changes, we expect we will also reduce the spread of material generated through inauthentic activity, including spam, misinformation, or other deceptive content that is often shared by creators of fake accounts."



Under pressure to stymie the spread of fake news, Facebook has taken a series of steps including making it easier to report such posts and harder to make money from them.



Facebook also modified its displays of trending topics to find stories faster, capture a broader range of news, and help ensure that trends reflect real world events being covered by multiple news outlets.



Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has sought to deflect criticism that the huge social network may have been used to fuel the spread of misinformation that affected the 2016 US presidential race.



Facebook last week unleashed a new weapon in the war against "revenge porn" at the social network as well as the messaging services Messenger and Instagram. When intimate images shared on Facebook without permission are reported, confirmed and removed, the company will use photo-matching technology to prevent copies from being shared again on its platform.
The ruling Congress retained its hold over Karnataka, winning Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly seats. Congress' Kalale N Keshavamurthy defeated his nearest rival V Srinivas Prasad (BJP) by over 21,000 votes in Nanjangud.



In Gundlupet, M C Mohana Kumari (Geetha Mahadeva Prasad) of Congress trounced BJP's C S Niranjan Kumar by over 10,000 votes, an election official said. Both the seats were held by Congress.



"It has hurt us that a senior leader like V Srinivas Prasad should face defeat in Nanjangud contituency. But our aim to secure 150 seats in the next assembly elections remains firm", said Yeddyurappa.



BJP leader and former deputy chief minister R Ashoka alleged that the state goverment misused official mechinary to win the bypolls. "we take the defeat as a challenge to emerge victorious in the assembly polls next year, he said.



KPCC President G Parameshwara said that it is a mandate for the achievements of the state government during the last two years. Polling for both the seats was held on April 9. The bypolls are considered as prestige battle for the two national parties. The results are seen as pointer to the crucial assembly elections to be held next year.



Bypoll in Nanjangud was necessitated due to the resignation of Srinivas Prasad as the Congress MLA. He later quit Congress and joined BJP to contest the bypoll. In Gundlupet, bypoll is necessitated due to the death of H S Mahadeva Prasad. Congress candidate MC Mohana Kumari is the wife of late Mahadeva Prasad.
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Union government and Election Commission on a plea by Bahujan Samaj Party contending why VVPAT was not introduced to the EVMs despite court's earlier direction.



A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer sought response from the Centre and the poll panel on a PIL by the BSP.



The court posted the matter for further consideration on May 8. Besides BSP, other political parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party have intervened into the matter.



Senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for the BSP, submitted despite several reminders by the EC, the Union government had failed to release the adequate funds for introduction of EVMs with voter verifiable paper audit trail.



The petitioners cited the apex court's order of 2013 saying VVPT in EVMs was "indispensable".



Senior advocate Kapil Sibal claimed nowhere in the world except a South American country, EVMs were used in polls.



The court, however, reminded him that it was during Congress rule, the EVMs were introduced.
In a major U-turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is "no longer obsolete" and reaffirmed his commitment to the military alliance as tensions rose between the US and Russia over Syria.



"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.



"It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against the ISIS," he said about NATO which was formed in 1949.



Trump had repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and made overtures to Russia during his presidential campaign.



Trump acknowledged that America's relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low".

"Right now we are not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said.



"It would be wonderful... if NATO and our country could get along with Russia," Trump said yesterday amid a deepening war of words with the Kremlin.



Trump's remarks come as his administration criticised Russia's support for Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad and questioned the Kremlin's interference in elections in Montenegro.



Trump, earlier, labelled Assad a "butcher and told allies it was time to end Syria's "brutal" civil war.



Trump also supported the admission of Montenegro into the 28-member NATO.



On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.



"In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism," Trump said.



Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack.



"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.



"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said.



Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of the GDP to defence.



"If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger," he said.



Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.



"Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels...which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world, he said.



Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.



"I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds. Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom," he said.



Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.



"Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer," he said.



Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.



"NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way," he said.



NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.



"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May," the NATO Secretary General said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case prompting the agency to issue a fresh summons to him.



Singh has now been asked to appear before the Investigating Office on April 20, officials said. The fresh summons was issued under relevant provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.



The agency had, earlier this week, issued summons to Singh for personal appearance for today and in order to question him and record his statement in the money laundering case registered on the basis of a CBI FIR charging him of amassing assets worth around Rs 10 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income.



Singh is facing probe by CBI and ED on amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income during 2009-11 when he was Union Power Minister. According to the CBI, Singh had amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 10.30 crore during 2009-11.



On April 3, the ED had attached a Rs 27.29 crore-worth farmhouse in south Delhi purchased by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, whose "funding came through shell companies" floated by an industrialist.



The total attachment by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against Singh now stands at Rs 35.22 crore, the first being in March 2016 when assets worth Rs 7.93 crore that included a south Delhi flat were seized.



The ED had in July last year made the first arrest in the case after taking LIC agent Anand Chauhan into custody. Chauhan was accused of investing Singh's money in life insurance policies and help him launder money. The money was invested in insurance policies claiming this money to be his agricultural income.




Former Union Minister and Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot has termed the by-poll result as the victory of Rajasthan Government, but not of BJP's. BJP candidate Shoba Rani Kushwaha, the wife of BL Kushwaha won the Dholpur constituency by a record margin on thirty eight thousand votes.



Reacting to the BJP's win in Dholpur, Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot addressed a press conference in which he alleged BJP for using government machinery for influencing voters in Dholpur. He said, "We accept the mandate in Dholpur. But congress didn't lose to BJP, but to Government of Rajasthan. Government machinery was misused and CM Raje herself was there till the voting day. She has violated cone of conduct". When DH asked Sachin, if the Dholpur results have set the mood for upcoming assembly elections 2018, he replied, " If BJP thinks this one election,which was massively managed by government, reflects mood of entire state, they're mistaken.



BJP can't accuse us of nepotism. Dholpur candidate herself is the wife of a convicted MLA. Dholpur doesn't doesn't reflect entire Rajasthan as it shares border majorly with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh."



In Dholpur, also Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's home turf, Shobha Rani, a political debutant, surprised many by getting 38,000 votes over her Congress rival Banwari Lal Sharma. Shobna, wife of BSP leader BL Kushwaha, had joined BJP in February. However her rival Banwari Lal Sharma, a congress veteran has fought 10 elections from Dholpur but won only five.



According to political analysts it was important for BJP to sweep Dholpur seat. As BJP was eyeing on Shoba's popularity, Congress was confident of their Brahmin candidate. Brahmin community has a significant strength among the 1.82 lakh voters in the constituency. Other than Brahmins, the Dholpur constituency has a significant population of Kushwah, Muslim and Dalit communities.



Nearly 1.92 lakh voters will cast their votes in the by-election on April 9. The Election Commission of Rajasthan used Voter Verified Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) for the first time in Dholpur.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sweat a lot for the victory of the party candidates in the Nanjungud and Gundlupet assembly constituencies. So also BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa. But it is Siddaramaiah who had the last laugh. He could not have aspired for more when the general elections are just less than a year and the BJP is aggressively marketing Yeddyurappa, a prominent Lingayat leader, as the next chief minister of Karnataka.



Congress Nanjungud candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy has won against veteran politician and BJP candidate V Srinivas Prasad. The victory margin is 21,334 votes. In Gundlupet, Congress candidate M C Mohana Kumarai (Geetha Mahadev Prasad) has won against her BJP rival C S Niranjan Kumar. The victory margin is 10,877. The victory margins are impressive, indeed.



In terms of percentage of votes, Geetha has secured 51.59% of the total votes polled, while Niranjankumar polled 45.37% of the total votes. In 2013, Geethas husband and the late minister H S Mahadev Prasad had secured 45.42% of the total votes, Niranjankumar as KJP candidate - 40.69%, BJP - 1.23% and JD (S) - 2.47%. This indicates that the Congress choice of selection of candidate, banking on sympathy factor as well as cashing in on the popularity of the late Lingayat leader Mahadev Prasad have yielded positive results. Geetha, a novice to politics and an urbanite, has been able to make it to the legislative assembly, thanks to the loyal voters of the Congress.



Coming to the Nanjungud SC Reserved constituency, the Congress Kalale Keshavamurthy has secured 55.15% of the total 1,56,315 votes polled, while his rival Srinivas Prasad with the Lotus symbol had got 41.50% . In the 2013 elections, Prasad as Congress nominee had secured 36.01% of the total votes polled, Kalale Keshavamurthy as the JD (S) candidate - 29.67% and BJPs candidate Dr Shivaram - 5.02%. The JD (S), despite doing well last time, this time did not field a candidate here. Keshavamurthy settled for the Congress.



It will remain a mystery as to why JD (S) national president H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy decided to keep off the bypoll where it had done well last time. The Gowdas keep saying voters should encourage regional parties. But it has directly or indirectly helped the Siddaramaiah led Congress by keeping off from the poll battle. The Gowdas had said that if Prasad contested as Independent, then the JD(S) would support him. But Prasad shook hands with Yeddyurappa much to the surprise and disappointment of his long time associates who more inclined to the Leftist ideologies. Embracing S M Krishna, a Vokkaliga, and make him campaign has also not helped the BJP.



Both the constituencies are Lingayat dominated as well as Congress belt. The highest number of voters in Nanjungud and Gundlupet belong to the powerful Lingayat community, followed by voters belonging to the SC/STs. Yeddyurappa tried his best to make the Lingayat-Dalit combination work in Nanjungud. Prasad had often dubbed the bypoll as Dalit Pride Vs Arrogance/Betrayal of Siddaramaiah. Dalits might have been hurt because of the unceremonial exit of Srinivas Prasad from the Congress. But they have not expressed it while exercising their vote. After the poll debacle, Prasad has announced his retirement from electoral politics.



What the bypoll results means to Siddaramaiah, Yeddyurappa and Deve Gowda or H D Kumaraswamy? They mean a lot to.



First let us look at the results from the Congress point of view. Siddaramaiah can face the 2018 elections with more confidence and vigour. His position in the party has become more secure. He has succeeded in checkmating the efforts of the BJP to spread its wings to this part of the Old Mysuru region. He can continue to assume that people of Karnataka have endorsed many of his pro-Ahinda schemes including the flagship scheme - Anna Bhagya. He can continue to believe that he is the champion of Dalits and OBCs. He can also have a major say in selection of candidates for the assembly polls. In a way, the Congress dependence on Siddaramaiah would increase.



BJPs strongman Yeddyurappa had slogged during the bypolls. For the first time, the party experimented making a combination of Dalit-Lingayat to work here. He tried to strengthen the party base in parts of the old Mysuru region where it has hardly any presence. But the experiment has not worked in its favour. Yeddyurappa would now have to be more accommodative and allow senior leaders to have a say in the party matters. If Siddaramaiah continues to get support from the Gowda clan, then the BJPs dream of reaching 150+ in 2018 would be a tough task.



The JD (S) has a reason to smile. The results show that it is not easy for the BJP to spread its base in rural Myusuru belt. To that extent, Deve Gowda can be happy.



Siddaramaiah, during the post-poll, had said that the results would not be an indicator to the 2018 polls. He may be right because usually voters choose to settle for ruling party in bypolls. It is easy to get work done being with a party which is in power than struggle being in the Opposition wing. Whatever could be the reasons to win in the bypolls, it is time for Siddaramaiah enjoy the sweet victory




A special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case of Ahmedabad has acceded to the request by Maya Kodnani, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, to summon BJP president Amit Shah and 13 others as her defense witnesses.



Kodnani, who was in August 2012 sentenced to 28 years in jail for her role in the 2002 communal clashes, had moved a petition before the court to summon BJP national president to help verify her claim that she was not present at the scene of the ghastly incident of violence.



She was also accused of killings of 11 members of minority members in an incident that took place in the Naroda Gam area on February 28, 2002, a day after burning of 57 kar sevaks in a train at Godhra.



Judge PB Desai, acceded to request of Kodnani stating that the summons should be issued to these witnesses at appropriate and relevant stage of trial.



The judge is also quoted to have said that in absence of any objections (by prosecution) and while recognising the right of the accused to examine defence witnesses, I am of the opinion that the number of witnesses sought to be examined is neither unreasonable nor unjustified.



Mayaben, who was the minister for women and child development in the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat between 2007 to 2009, is perhaps the only high-profile figure to be convicted in connection with the 2002 communal clashes. Mayaben, a gynaecologist, on her part is has claimed that Amit Shah - who was an elected legislator at the time of the riots and 13 others can help her prove that she was in the Gujarat legislative Assembly, Sola Civil Hospital and her nursing home in Ahmedabad during the time of riots and not at the venue of killings she has been accused of.




Social media platforms including Change.org are flooded with petitions on suspension of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, handed over by a military court in Pakistan and his safe and secured release to India.



Individuals, activists and politicians have petitioned the Indian government, Pakistani government and the United Nations demanding the release of the Mumbai-based businessman, Jadhav, 46, who has been dubbed as an agent of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) by Pakistan.



In a petition to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, NCP MLA Dr Jitendra Awhad and Prof. Hasan Shabbir Ahmed Mulani said that the decision has shocked and sadden the people of India and the world.



They pointed out that on one hand a press note by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 10, 2017 stated that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan on March 3, 2016 for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan  was tried by Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of Official Secrets Act 1923, found guilty of all charges and awarded death sentence.



"And on other, right from the day of Jadhav's arrest India has been asking for Consular Access as we believe that Jadhav - a retired Indian Navy personnel, was "snatched" from Iran by Pakistani agencies in 2016. The Iranian government has also said that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was in that country, was not engaged in any illegal activity," it pointed out.



In a petition to UN, Imran Khan said that Jadhav's execution, without providing him proper legal aid, which is possible only by giving India the consular access to him, will not only violate his right to legal remedy but will also violate his basic right to life and leave India defamed in a best possible way.



Another petition by Jan Ki Baat said: "The Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav has undergone farcical proceedings in Pakistan, and the proceedings point to a premeditated murder. The sentence has been granted without observing the basic principles of law and justice. Every Indian believing in principles of natural justice, and believing in humanity should sign this petition to save Kulbhushan Jadhav."


Pakistan claimed today "foreign spy agencies" may have "trapped" and then abducted one of its former army officers, who has mysteriously disappeared from a Nepalese town close to the Indian border.



Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.



Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him.



"He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without naming any country.



But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).



Zahir, who retired from service in October 2014 from the artillery wing of the Pakistan Army, worked for a private firm but had posted his profile online seeking another employment.



A caller, who identified himself as Mark Thompson, had reportedly contacted Zahir - via email and telephone - for the job interview and he was provided an air ticket to travel to Nepal.



An initial probe by Pakistani security agencies has showed that a phone number registered in the UK was computer- generated to contact Zahir and emails and website domains were registered in India.



From Nepal, Zahir had contacted his family last Thursday and since his phone numbers could not be reached. His last message from Lumbini read he had reached his destination.



His disappearance has coincided with the death penalty handed down to former India naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani army court for his involvement in "terrorism and espionage". But Pakistan has repeatedly refused India any consular access to Jadhav.



The sentencing has evoked strong reactions from India, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying the country will go out of its way to secure Jadhav's release.

Today, Zakaria warned against linking Zahir's case with Jadhav's as the Indian national was an "irrefutable proof of Indian state's involvement in terrorism, subversion and terror financing."



"It would be unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Zahir," he said.

He said the "R&AW agent was arrested red-handed", who identified himself and has "confessed" in their custody.



The foreign office spokesperson also said four terrorists arrested by Sindh Rangers yesterday from Karachi have "confessed" to having "links" with the R&AW.



"India remains involved in subversive and terrorist activities and terror financing in Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav is an irrefutable proof. The arrest of four terrorists by Sindh Rangers, yesterday, is also a case in point," he said.



"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh [also] confessed to India's involvement in [then] East Pakistan in 1971," Zakaria said.



Zakaria condemned the killing of what he said were 14 Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the past one week. He said 250 others were also injured. He called upon the international community to help stop bloodshed in Kashmir.


Re-polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a new record of low turnout in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, with only over two per cent people exercising their franchise at 38-polling stations in Budgam district.



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu said 709 out of 35,169 voters participated in the electoral process, which amounts to a poll percentage of 2.02%. He said polling concluded peacefully at all the 38 polling stations spread over five assembly segments of Budgam district.



However, despite abysmal low turnout, the polling by and large passed off peacefully. Officials said no vote was polled at 27 out of 38 polling stations during the re-poll.



Reports said a political activist was injured after workers of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Opposition National Conference clashed during polling in Badran village of Beerwah constituency in Budgam. The scuffle broke out between the two groups over some issue related to polling process in the village where re-poll is underway, reports added.



Witnesses said clashes erupted in Beerwah town in the evening after security forces started withdrawing at the end of re-poll. They said that youth threw stones on the withdrawing forces, triggering clashes, which were going on till late in the evening.



Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in all the poll bound areas with additional police and paramilitary personnel deployed in strength around the polling booths. Witnesses said that restrictions had been placed on the movement of people around the polling booths to prevent any violence.



A police officer told Deccan Herald that keeping in view the Sundays experience, the two CRPF and one J&K Police companies were deployed at each polling station with at least one security bunker. We didnt want to take any chances this time as there were some chinks in security plan on Sunday which saw rampaging mobs over running polling booths, he said.



The authorities also snapped broadband Internet services across the Kashmir without any prior notice for snapping the services. However, late in the evening State Police chief SP Vaid said that the Internet services would be restored across Kashmir tonight. While the broadband services were snapped early today morning, mobile Internet is suspended since the midnight of April 8.



Eight protesters were killed in security forces firing on Sunday on by-poll day in Budgam and Ganderbal districts of Srinagar Lok Sabha segment forcing Election Commission to defer the south Kashmir Anantnag Parliamentary seat by-poll to May 25. Voting in the constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.



The by-poll result for Srinagar constituency which saw 7.14% turnout on Sunday and 2.02% in re-poll on Thursday will be declared on April 15.




Pakistan's top military Generals today decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, notwithstanding India's stern warning that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties.



The decision was made at a Corps Commanders meeting presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.



The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said.



The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief Gen Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.

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.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned that 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.



The top Pakistani military officials also reviewed the national security environment and recent developments in the region at the 201st conference of Corps Commanders.



They discussed the progress of nationwide operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' and provision of support to ongoing national housing and population census, the statement said.



Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country, it added.


Gujarat governor on Thursday gave his nod to the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2017, that has provision for a life-term for any person found guilty of cow slaughter or having direct involvement with the cow slaughter.



The amendment to this effect was brought in by Gujarat government on the last day of budget session that end on March 31. With the governors nod, Gujarat becomes the first state in the country to have a strict law against cow slaughter.



The new law has provisions for financial penalty of anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for such a crime. Anyone found illegally keeping or transporting a cow too can be imprisoned up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The offence is also non-bailable now.



The new Act include seizure of the vehicles used for transportation of animals for slaughter.



The state government has also put curbs on transportation of cows in the state. Even the legal and licensed movement of the cattle would not be allowed between 7.00 pm in the evening to 5.00 am in the morning. This is being done to further restrict any illegal movement of cattle.



Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday also announced an assistance of Rs 25 per cattle living in cattle camps run by various organizations in the scarcity-hit areas. The state has declared 18 villages in Surendranagar and Rajkot district to be scarcity-hit so far this year.
At least 97 migrants went missing after their boat sank today off the Libyan coast, a navy spokesman said.



Survivors said those missing include 15 women and five children, General Ayoub Kacem told AFP.



He said the Libyan coast guard had rescued a further 23 migrants of various African nationalities just under 10 kilometres off the coast of Tripoli.



The boat's hull was completely destroyed and the survivors, all men, were found clinging to a floating device, he said.



Those who had disappeared were "probably dead" but bad weather had so far prevented the recovery of their bodies, Kacem added.



Six years since a revolution that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become a key departure point for migrants risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.



Hailing mainly from sub-Saharan countries, most of the migrants board boats operated by people traffickers in the country's west, heading for the Italian island of Lampedusa 300 kilometres away.



Since the beginning of this year, at least 590 migrants have died or gone missing along the Libyan coast, the IOM said in late March.



More than 24,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Libya during the first three months of the year, up from 18,000 in the same period last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.


Recent attacks against Indians/Indian Americans in the US have caused deep anxiety and scare. These have been condemned by all as racial attacks and hate crimes.



But what about the attacks against the Nigerians who were mercilessly beaten and kicked in Greater Noida in broad day light? Those disturbing visuals have been beamed across the world by most major TV channels leaving viewers aghast, wondering if this was the much touted `Incredible India.



Viewers cant comprehend how brown-skinned Indians should be attacking black Africans. Isnt this the racial discrimination of Indian variety? Is this the love and affection for the people of a continent with which India claims to enjoy an umbilical cord? The fact is, these attacks have caused enormous damage to Indias image globally, particularly in the African continent and put a question mark on our claims of being a tolerant society.



All Indian citizens and foreign nationals must abide by the law of the land. Violations ought to be addressed by the concerned authorities promptly, transparently and effectively but without any prejudices and bias nor coloured by preconceived notions. If some African nationals have allegedly been found involved in drugs related crimes, it doesnt mean that we turn against the entire African community in India.



Let the law of the land take its own course. But can that happen if the police, most of the times, refuse to register the complaints as claimed by several African students? We arent a banana republic! We must not condone violence by the lynch mob. Street justice must have no place in India. But it does, regrettably quite often.



Samuel T Jack, President of African Students Association in India has made charges which sound familiar. Many of us make similar comments about the white racists in the USA. Calling the attacks on the Nigerian students as barbaric and asserting that there is racial discrimination in this country, he stresses that the African students in India are very scared and fear for their lives. There is so much hatred towards African people in this country....we are victims of abuse on roads.... Is it not a disgrace for a nation which has been boasting of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam for centuries?



We are a virtual superpower in the field of information and communication technology. We have sent Chandrayaan to explore moon. We have launched 104 satellites recently at one go.



We talk of bullet trains, smart cities, start up India, digital India and feel legitimately proud of our achievements. But at the societal level, have we made much headway? Cant we get rid of our feudal mindset when the world talks of post-modern times? Why do despicable crimes like attacks on the Dalits in Una last year and against the Nigerian students in Greater Noida last week take place?



Because the perpetrators are seldom punished. They arent scared of law. Politicians of various parties made a beeline to visit Una as the attack on the Dalits could become a major issue during the assembly elections. But the attack on African students cant be an election issue, so it elicits only expression of sympathy and assurances of prompt action. Samuel claimed, The government has not sent even one official to see how African students are doing. Our situation cant improve by mere tweets ...



The third India-Africa Forum Summit held in Delhi in 2015 was attended by 45 heads of states and governments. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modis watershed endeavour to reach out to the African continent which is crucial for Indias energy security and global geo-political aspirations. Besides, it offered huge prospects for economic cooperation.



Modis announcement at the summit of credit line of $10 billion over five years, grant assistance of $600 million and 50,000 scholarships was deservedly welcomed. Speaking at the summit, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had described Ind-ia-Africa as old friends and old family.



President Pranab Mukherjee visited Ghana, where he told the audience, Africa, we stand by you, and to Cote dIvoire and Namibia; Vice President Hamid Ansaris visited Nigeria, Mali, Tunisia and Morocco; and Modi made a whirlwind tour of Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. All these have sent unmistakable signals that India takes Africa seriously, wants to expand and deepen relationship on several fronts, and that she wasnt gunning for Africas natural resources only.



Bilateral trade

Nearly three million people of Indian origin/Indians live in Africa. According to the data from the ADB, between 1995 and 2015, bilateral trade between India and Africa has risen from $1 billion to $75 b. During 2010-2015, Nigeria was Indias largest trading partner followed by South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique. Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Mozambique and Gabon where India has invested $7-8 billion are an important source for our hydrocarbon needs.



The fourth India-Africa Hydro Carbon Conference in 2016 with the theme: Energising the bottom of the pyramid  Together towards tomorrow was a laudable endeavour. Bharti Airtel, Tata holdings, ONG Videsh, Jindal Steel & power, Essar Steel, Coal India, Vedanta Resources, Apollo Tyres and Varun Industries are major Indian players in Africa.



Besides the traditional items, oil, gas and coal, rare earth mineral and uranium have entered Indias inventory for imports from Africa. Indias support in setting up specialised institutions, training centres, capacity building and scholarships, Pan-Africa connectivity of 48 countries through e-network, fight against HIV/AIDS has generated considerable goodwill.



With the largest number of UN, Commonwealth and non-alignment members, Africa is also indispensable for fulfilling Indias aspirations to emerge as a major global player commensurate with the size of her economy, military and human capital. We must not let some hotheads destroy this relationship with wanton act of violence.



Modi should set out a new mantra: Na kanoon haath mein loonga aur na kisi ko lene doonga! Let us, not by words but with our actions, make the Africans in India feel that we care for them and will stand by them and wont let the perpetrators go unpunished.



(The writer is a former diplomat who has served in Kenya, Libya and other countries)
The International Academy of Oral Oncology (IAOO), a multi-disciplinary organisation with its head office in New York, launched its India chapter in Bengaluru, this week.



This academic forum intends to bring together clinicians and scientists working on issues related to the cause, epidemiology, prevention, biology and management of oral cancer.



Speaking at the launch, Dr Sanjeev Nair, president of the IAOO India chapter, said: This multi-disciplinary forum includes professionals, patient advocacy groups and NGOs.



Dr Moni Abraham Kuriakose, president of Indian Head and Neck Cancer Society, spoke about the IAOO that will host the 6th World Oral Cancer Congress in Bengaluru from May 17 to 20.



Based on the theme Frontiers in Oral Oncology, the conference in Bengaluru will see participants from around 33 countries and more than a 1,000 delegates from across the globe.



There will be 15 focused symposia, six panel discussions, 14 different country symposia and five pre-conference workshops.



The other highlights of the conference will be oral cancer science symposium organised at Indian Institute of Science, oral cancer early detection training programme for primary care physicians and dentists carried out with the support of Karnataka health ministry and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, live surgery demonstration of computer-aided jaw reconstruction at Narayana Health City and training of jaw and face reconstruction using cadavers at M S Ramaiah Medical College.
School textbooks talk about the Anglo-Maratha War, but make no mention of the decisive Bhima Koregaon battle fought on January 1, 1818.

This is the 200th year of the battle, between Peshwa Baji Rao II and the East India Company, and no official commemoration is in sight.

In the battle, the Mahars fought for the British and against the Maratha Peshwa.Somnath Waghmare, a young filmmaker from Pune, has just completed a documentary on the historic event.

Titled The Battle of Bhima Koregaon - An Unending Journey, it is set for release on April 18, which marks Ambedkar Jayanti. The Company had 500 soldiers from the Mahar community, and they defeated the 20,000-plus Peshwa army led by Baji Rao II, he says.

British expansionism

In the 19th century, the East India Company was relentlessly engaged in a series of wars against the Marathas of Pune. Futile in their early attempts, they discovered that the Mahars were the backbone of the Peshwa army, but the soldiers faced severe caste discrimination.

The British approached the caste and offered them better status under East India Company rule. Reluctant to join the English, the Mahars decided to stay with the Peshwa. They said they would not join the English army if the Peshwa was ready to end caste discrimination in his kingdom. The Peshwa declined, Waghmare says. Disappointed, they joined the English army and trained well.

On January 1, 1818, the Peshwa army attacked the 1st Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, comprising 500 Mahars led by Capt Francis Staunton. The disciplined Mahars defeated the huge army of the Peshwa. This battle helped the English army emerge unchallenged in India.

The British built a statue on the battleground, inscribing the names of 20 soldiers who lost their life in the battle, and created a Mahar regiment in the army, the first such in Indian Army history.

Continuing struggle

The Mahars and other Dalits consider Bhima Koregaon a holy place.Each year, on January 1, Dalits throng the place. This year, more than 30 lakh people from all over the world visited the site, but the event got no media coverage!

Why is this episode from 200 years ago neglected? Why are ultra-nationalists condemning the Mahars as traitors? wonders Waghmare. Ultra-nationalists dont want to end the millennia-old caste system, he alleges. How could we call the activities of an era without a single nation, or even the idea of nationalism, traitorous? Their fight was in fact for equality, he says.

The Mahars, part of Shivajis army, faced fierce caste discrimination during the subsequent Peshwa rule. Even after a prolonged struggle by Mahatma Phule, Ambedkar, Periyar, Ayyankali, and Kanshiram, discrimination still continues in our society. Thats why the title of the movie is Unending Journey, Waghmare explains.
The CCB police have arrested a Nigerian national and recovered cocaine and LSD papers, four mobile phones, a bike and cash from him. The suspect Michael Okafor (30) is a native of Ekeja, Lagos, in Nigeria and a resident of Hennur Bande.



On a tip-off, the police arrested him on Hennur Bande when he was carrying the banned substances. He was running a network to sell the banned substances. He would procure the drugs from his sources in Goa, Mumbai and Delhi. The police are ascertaining for what purpose he came to India and if his passport and visas had expired.



Man held for cheating



The police arrested a 28-year-old man on charges of cheating several students by giving them fake provisional course certificates and marks cards of reputed institutions in the country.



They raided the office of Join Us for Education at Manipal Centre on MG Road and arrested Kunal Jumar Mandol, a resident of an apartment near Manyatha Gate-4. Mandol would receive huge sums from students and issue them fake certificates and marks cards.



He operated using e-mail ids: jaincollgeju@gmail.com, krupanidhitu@gmail.com, ramaiahinstitute@gmail.com, Bangalore.admisn@gmail.com and Blr.admission007@gmail.com.



He would contact his clients through these mails and promise them marks cards and certificates. After receiving complaints from victims, police raided Mandols office and arrested him.
Search engines Google and Yahoo and software major Microsoft on Thursday told the Supreme Court that they were bound to block advertisements on sex determination tests.



With their submission, the court noted that nobody could henceforth complain of curtailment of right to information and knowledge.



Senior advocates Harish Salve, Abhishek M Singhvi and Anupam Lal Das, representing the tech firms, submitted before a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that they neither indulged in any kind of advertisement as contemplated under Section 22 of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, nor did they have the intention to cause violation of the mandate.



They also assured the court that they would not sponsor any advertisement. Their response came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Sabu Mathew George, contended that if search engines could block child pornography, they should be prompt to restrict sponsored advertisements on sex determinations tests.
A defiant Calcutta High Court Judge Justice C S Karnan on Thursday asked the Chief Justice of India and six judges of the Supreme Court, who have issued a contempt notice to him, to appear before him at his residential court on April 28.



Justice Karnan claimed that the seven judges have insulted him wantonly and deliberately and with malafide intention.



He said the judges have been asked to defend themselves against the charge of violating the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act levelled by him. Justice Karnan has been insisting that he is being discriminated against because he is a Dalit.



Addressing journalists at his residence, Justice Karnan said, On April 28 at 11.30 am, the seven judges... will appear before me at my Rosedale Residential Court and give their views regarding the quantum of punishment for the violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act.



He passed the suo motu judicial order from his residence which, he said, has now become his makeshift court.



In the order, Justice Karnan said that on March 31 he had pronounced a judgement wherein the honble judges are accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act, 1989.



In Thursdays order, Justice Karnan said that CJI Justice J S Khehar had on March 31 raised a question about his mental well being.
As many as 54 legislators are likely to go on a multi-state tour even as Karnataka is reeling under one of the worst droughts ever.



The legislators, who are members of three legislature standing committees, are planning to embark on a tour of Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Bihar, in the last week of April or first week of May, a source in the secretariat said.



The list of names of legislators who have agreed to go on the tour is at present not available. A clear picture will emerge once the tour package is finalised, the source added.



The standing committees are Women and Child Welfare Committee headed by N A Haris, Government Assurance Committee headed by K N Rajanna and Local Bodies Committee headed by B R Yavagal.



Efforts to contact the chairpersons of the committees went in vain as Rajanna and Yavagal did not receive calls and the mobilephone of Haris was out of coverage area.



A foreign junket organised for legislators in the name of study tour had come in for severe criticism in 2014. The then Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa had constituted a committee to frame guidelines to regulate such tours.



The committee had recommended that the tour can be undertaken only for a specific purpose. According to the draft sanction for the April-May tour, the cost per head is likely to be around Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh, the source added.

DH News Service
The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday dismissed the bail application filed by Rajeshwari Shetty, accused in the murder of her husband, Bhaskar Shetty, an Udupi-based businessman.



Justice P S Dinesh Kumar rejected the bail application on the grounds that Rajeshwari is the main accused and that there is sufficient evidence against her to prove her role in the murder. The prosecution has contended that if she is released on bail, there are chances that she could destroy evidence against her in the crime.



Bhaskar Shetty went missing from his residence in Indrali in Udupi in July 2016 and a week later, his wife and son were arrested by the Manipal police. During interrogation, it was found that Bhaskar Shetty was burnt to death.



The DNA samples have also proven that the bones found were that of Bhaskar Shetty's. The judge refused to grant bail to Rajeshwari.

DH News Service
Only 2% turnout was witnessed in the repolling held in 38 polling stations in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, making it the lowest percentage in the states electoral history.



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu said 709 of the 35,169 voters participated in the electoral process, which amounts to a poll percentage of 2.02%.



He said polling concluded peacefully at all 38 polling stations, spread over five Assembly segments of Budgam district. Officials said no vote was polled at 27 of the 38 stations. However, despite the abysmal turnout, the polling by and large passed off peacefully.



Activist injured



According to reports, a political activist was injured after workers of the ruling PDP and Opposition National Conference clashed during polling in Badran village of Beerwah constituency in Budgam.



Witnesses said clashes erupted in Beerwah town in the evening after security forces started withdrawing at the end of repolling. They said youth threw stones at the withdrawing forces, triggering clashes, which went on till late evening.



Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in all poll-bound areas, with additional police and paramilitary personnel deployed in strength around the polling booths.



Restrictions were imposed on public movement around the polling booths to prevent any violence. In view of Sundays incident, three companies  two CRPF and one Jammu and Kashmir Police  were deployed at each polling station, with at least one security bunker.



We didnt want to take any chances this time as there were some chinks in the security plan on Sunday, which saw rampaging mobs attack polling booths, a police officer told DH. The authorities had also snapped broadband Internet services across Kashmir without prior notice.



Eight protesters were killed in firing by security forces on Sunday during the bypoll in Budgam and Ganderbal districts of the Srinagar Lok Sabha segment, forcing the Election Commission to defer the south Kashmir Anantnag Parliamentary seat bypoll to May 25. Voting in the constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.



The bypoll result for the Srinagar constituency, which saw 7.14% turnout on Sunday and 2.02% in the repoll on Thursday, will be declared on April 15.
Saying silence was not the answer, the Supreme Court on Thursday told the Tamil Nadu government to explain the steps taken to prevent farmer suicides in the state.



A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra said suicides by farmers due to financial stress would disturb the conscience of any sensitive soul and that the state, as a guardian of its citizens, had a duty to ensure their well-being.



When there are so many deaths of farmers in Tamil Nadu, it becomes an obligation on the part of the state to express concern and sensitivity to do the needful and not allow the impecunious and poverty-stricken farmers resign to their fate or leave the downtrodden and the poor to yield to the idea of fatalism, the bench said. Earlier, the Madras High Court, in its order had refused to entertain the plea.
Terrorism emanating from Pakistan will dominate the agenda of India-US talks when American President Donald Trumps National Security Advisor Lt General H R McMaster visits New Delhi this weekend.



Apart from meeting his counterpart Ajit Doval, McMaster is also likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his brief visit. This is going to be the first high-level visit from US to India since the Trump administration took charge on January 20.



He is also likely to meet Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar during his stay in New Delhi.



Gopal Bagley, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, while talking to journalists on Thursday said the US national security advisors visit will most importantly cover the threat of terrorism that emanates within our region from a specific country and affects our entire neighbourhood and the situation in Afghanistan.



Bagley, however, declined to confirm the dates of McMasters visit to New Delhi.Sources, however, told DH that McMaster would reach New Delhi after visiting Kabul and Islamabad.



Trump himself told journalists in Washington DC that McMaster would visit Afghanistan to assess the situation even as there have been calls for deploying more US troops to contain the reemergence of Taliban and other terrorist organisations in the conflict-hit country.
Infosys on Friday announced the elevation of independent director Ravi Venkatesan as co-chairman. The move is intended to bring to an end growing differences between the companys promoter-shareholders and its board of directors.



Venkatesan told DH he was accepting the responsibility at the request of the board. I am also taking up this post because I love Infosys. Just like the idea of India, the idea of Infosys is a powerful one, he said. Venkatesan described Infosys a vital institution of our country. It is important that it continues to flourish, he said.



Venkatesan, a board member since April 2011, had earlier served as head of Microsoft India. He is said to be close to founder N R Narayana Murthy and other promoter-shareholders who have taken on the board on questions of governance.



Venkatesan said his first priority was to help align all stakeholders for the ongoing transformation journey.



Next is to work closely with (CEO) Vishal (Sikka) in helping build a world-class leadership team that can execute the transformation strategy, he said. Infosys chairman R Seshasayee said Venkatesan would help him enhance the boards engagement in the execution of strategies.



Ravis name is not mooted by the promoters. I wanted the bandwidth to be increased and the board said let us get Ravi to take part of your load... and so there we are together on this, he said.



IIT, Harvard credentials



An IIT-Bombay alumnus (1981-1985), Ravi Venkatesan has an MBA from Harvard Business School.



He was chairman of Cummins India, and is currently chairman of the board, Bank of Baroda. He is also founder-chairman of Social Venture Partners India, partner at Unitus Seed Fund, and fund advisor at Kalaari Capital.
India is exploring the legal options available in Pakistan to save former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, even as New Delhi renewed its request for consular access to him.



India on Thursday said that Islamabad has neither shared any information on Jadhavs whereabouts nor has it revealed about his physical or mental condition despite several requests.



We have no information about his (Jadhavs) whereabouts or his condition. We are making all efforts to get him back but we cant reveal the steps that will be taken to achieve it, Gopal Baglay, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, told journalists here.



India continues to be in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan through the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Baglay added.



A source said on Thursday that New Delhi had instructed the High Commission of India to keep nudging the Pakistan government for granting consular access to Jadhav.



Ever since Islamabad claimed in March 2016 that Jadhav had been arrested from Balochistan in Pakistan, New Delhi made 13 requests for granting consular access. Islamabad, however, turned down all the requests.



New Delhi is also weighing the options available to it within the legal framework of Pakistan to make Islamabad lift the veil of secrecy from the judicial proceedings against Jadhav.



Islamabad claimed that Jadhav had been tried by a Field General Court Martial under Section 59 of Pakistans Army Act, 1952, and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and had been found guilty of all charges.



Another source said that since the Army Act had been invoked, it could be difficult for anyone to file a Habeas Corpus petition in a court in Pakistan. Jadhav can challenge the sentence awarded to him in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.



If the Supreme Court upholds the sentence awarded by the military court, he can move a mercy petition to the president of Pakistan.



We cannot ascertain anything since we do not have consular access. Which kind of spy keeps an original passport with him, so I have my doubts about allegation of him being a spy...We need to know how he came to be in Pakistan in the first place, Baglay said.
France, Germany Plan to Study Next-Gen Armored Vehicles, Tiger Helicopter



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A Cardiff man will run nearly 300 miles in Greece next month to raise awareness and funds for charity.

Lance Cummings, 57, is running with nearly 20 athletes from all over the United States and Europe on the 300 of Sparta Endurance Run. The eight-day venture through rugged terrain, beginning May 7, essentially replicates the Spartan soldiers journey from Athens to Thermopylae nearly 2,000 years ago.

This is an iconic location that changed the history of the world and the course of the world, Cummings said. Its also a challenge, and I wanted to initially do it as a challenge, but then came upon the idea of making it a give-back challenge to raise money for specific charities.

During the event  which tackles 30 miles for each of the eight days, culminating to about 250 miles  Cummings is raising money for the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation. The organization is named for the former Navy SEAL from Encinitas who was killed in 2012 during a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Money raised will also support the Navy SEALs Foundation.

Both charities offer scholarships for SEALs who transition from military to civilian life and also offer support for the families of members who are overseas and fighting basically the same war that the Spartans were fighting almost 2,000 years ago, said Cummings, a Navy SEAL veteran.

We want to raise awareness that there are soldiers on the frontline every day who are sacrificing a lot, he said.

Sean Lake, who is on the board of directors with the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, said he is grateful for Cummings support.

It means the world to me and the [Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation] to have folks like Lance go out beyond their comfort zone and put out an effort like this in order to help others, Lake said. As a former SEAL, Lance knows all too well the struggles that some special operations soldiers face in transitioning to civilian life. We couldnt be more honored to see Lance and his team march across Greece in order to help others.

Cummings said he has been training for nearly nine months, usually running about 125 miles per week and hiking with 35-pound bags and his dog.

The hikes mimic the mountainous terrain the athletes will be traveling along in Greece, he said.

Cummings has also participated in the Bike for Mike for ALS event earlier this year and has bicycled 525 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the California Coastal Classic, which raises money and awareness for arthritis.

He said he enjoys giving back while pushing himself.

This is a way to give back, Cummings said. I think the culminating effect for this whole event was that everyone is going to get in shape doing it, but were going to impact thousands of other people just with the funds we are raising. Its about leaving the world in a better place than it was in when you got here.

An online auction is currently raising funds for the Sparta 300 through April 22. Items such as custom-made guitars and surfboards are available at www.32auctions.com/sparta300. For more information about the march, visit www.300ofsparta.com
The deadline to sign up for this free community event that is open to all is Nov. 16.

Kennebunk Post

"We need to invest in our kids," said resident Brenda Robinson. "That's how we keep graffiti out of Waterhouse Center and mischief out of the downtown on Saturday night."
Uber built an app called Hell to spy on Lyft drivers in the US, and lure them away to its own platform.

Ubers been having a tough time lately. The company has been in a heated courtroom battle against Waymo, on allegations that the company stole trade secrets from the Google-owned self-driving car company. Information has also surfaced about Ubers self-driving research hasnt been doing particularly well. However, the company remains amongst the most followed startups in the world.

Uber has also been known for its somewhat questionable market tactics at times, especially about how it implements surge. In the most recent piece of info, it turns out that Uber built an app called Hell, which was meant to track Lyft drivers locations and find out which drivers were on both the platforms. Lyft is Ubers primary competitor in the United States.

According to reports, Uber created fake Lyft driver accounts and then spoofed their locations. This gave it the ability to find the nearest available driver locations for Lyft and see how many of them were open for rides at any point of time. Uber could also check how much trips would cost and where the drivers were.

Uber apparently used the app to analyse drivers habits and when they were driving for Lyft. The company matched Lyft drivers locations with its own to find out how many of them were driving for both the services. Uber would use this data to lure the drivers away from Lyft.

Of course, the report about Hell isnt confirmed yet, but its a pretty dastardly business practice if it is true. One wonders whether Uber has used the same tactic against Ola, its main rival in India as well.
Gold is ahead as investors temporarily forgot UK Prime Minister Theresa May's would-be Brexit wonderland and bolted down a rabbit hole on Thursday in search of safety thanks to a proliferation of geopolitical concerns.

Tensions between the US and North Korea, as well as the US and Russia over Syria, remained in play, with markets also wary of the looming presidential election in France on 23 April.

This marked a welcome hop away from traders' just concerns about UK's post-Brexit landscape, which former Tory Chancellor Ken Clarke earlier this year likened to a "wonderland" fantasy, referring to Lewis Carroll's book about Alice's adventures.

"Apparently you follow the rabbit down the hole and you emerge in a wonderland, where suddenly countries around the world are queuing up with trading advantages and access to their markets," said Clarke back in February.

Today, however, the story was about buying safe-haven assets such as the nil-yielding yellow metal. At about 15:04 GMT, on Comex, gold was up 0.58% to $1285.5 an ounce. Silver added 0.79% to $18.45 an ounce and copper rose 0.81% to 256.55 cents a pound.

"Gold is back testing nine-month falling highs resistance at $1289," said Henry Croft, research analyst at Accendo Markets.

"The (President Donald) Trump-inspired US dollar sell off continues to hurt the FTSE and DAX's foreign earning contingents, despite a marginal recovery," he added.

Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Markets UK, said the sentiment was generally adverse today, despite the promise of the long Easter weekend break.

"The current risk factor has a wide spectrum ranging from North Korea escalating the geopolitical uncertainty, US and Russian relationship at their new low, the scary outcome of French Election and the ongoing war in Syria," said Aslam.

"These prominent elements are supporting the gold price," he added.

"We mentioned last week that the rally in shining metal could easily touch and break the level of $1300 easily and we are still maintaining this target."

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at London Capital Group said some pause was expected in gold before considering a further rise toward $1300.

"Price pullbacks are expected to meet support at $1260 (minor 23.6% retrace on March-April rise)," said Ozkardeskaya.

Three-month industrial metals on London Metals Exchange were mostly down, heavily. Tin slumped 2.97%, copper tanked 2.41% and aluminum fell 1.2%, while zinc added 1.25%.

At 15:04 GMT, Nymex-priced WTI crude was up 0.15% to $53.19 a barrel. Intercontinental Exchange-traded Brent was up 0.04% up to $55.88 a barrel.

"Crude-oil benchmarks have broken two-week rising support," said Croft.

This followed Saudi Arabia recently dropping another hint about further production cuts, but the ifs and whens of this would be closely watched, as would compliance among Opec and non-Opec producers.

Crude prices are off lows seen in recent months, but the market remains oversupplied even as the latest API and EIA inventories data showed draws in the US last week.
China warned against North Korea or the US and its allies trying to use military force to solve the stand-off between the two sides on the peninsula.

Speaking from Beijing, China's foreign policy chief, Wang Yi, said "military force cannot resolve the issue", Reuters reported

"Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks," Wang said.

"Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility," he added.

His remarks came amid worries that Pyongyang was set to carry-out further tests of its ballistic missiles, with some observers expecting the US aircraft carrier group which had been deployed to the region might attempt an intercept from their missile destroyers.

North Korea's 'Day of the Sun' celebrations, the biggest national day for the regime, on Thursday, were seen by some as possibly providing a good excuse for the North to carry out such a test.

However, signals from Washington that the country's patience with the North was running out meant tensions were now running especially high.

In parallel, earlier on Thursday the Global Times, one of the Chinese Communist party's mouthpieces, ran an editorial saying: "as soon as North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime."

Both South Korean and Japanese officials said they expected the White House to consult them should it decide upon a strike.

"Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility," Wang added.

Reuters also reported that Chinese premier Xi Jinping and US president Donald Trump had spoken by phone on Wednesday, which the latter described via his Twitter account as a "very good" discussion of the menace posed by North Korea, but later added the US was prepared to go it alone, without China, in trying to solve the crisis if necessary.
Greece has completed the 1.2bn sale of 14 regional airports to Germany's Fraport as part of its international financial bailout, the country's privatisation agency said.

The deal to sell the airports was reached at the end of 2015. The properties include the tourist islands of Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu.

Fraport will run the concessions for 40 years, which it described as a "mammoth investment for the countrys infrastructure and economically vital tourism sector".

Along with the upfront payment, the Greek government will receive an annual 22.9m fixed fee as well as a variable annual fee based on 28.5% percent of Fraport Greeces yearly operational profit.

Under the concession agreement, Fraport Greece will be investing about 400m for improving and expanding the airports infrastructure over the next four years, the company said.

It recently signed an agreement with the Greece-based Intrakat construction and engineering company to refurbish, expand and build new facilities at the airports  including five new passenger terminals. In subsequent years, Fraport Greece will make investments for maintenance and demand-driven capacity expansions, it added.

About 1bn in long-term financing for the airports project is being provided by a consortium of leading financial institutions. Some 280.4m of the total loan will be used to finance construction projects at the 14 airports, while 688m will be used as part of the upfront concession payment to the government. Greece will retain ownership of the airports, Fraport said.
Recruiter Hays said full year profits were likely to be at the top of the current range of market forecasts after it drummed up a record level of quarterly net fees, helped by the UK decline beginning to ease off.

With good conditions in almost all of its of our markets, net fees grew 21% in total as 34% growth in the rest of the world easily offset a 4% LFL decline in the UK, which was an improvement on the 10% decline in the first half but still dogged by a tough public sector market.

The FTSE 250-listed group reported continued signs of improvement in the UK's private sector market, with fees down 1% as modest signs of improvement continued after the major drop-off after the EU referendum.

Chief Executive Alistair Cox hailed the all-time quarterly record net fee performance and said he was confident that full year operating profits would be near the top of the current 199-209m range of estimates.

"Growth was broad-based and driven by strong performances in our International businesses. Europe delivered excellent results, led by an all-time record performance in Germany, as we continued to invest in additional headcount. Growth in Australia accelerated further and was strong across all states."

Net cash at the period end stood at 40m.

Analysts said it provided more evidence of global growth picking up and that UK businesses had regained confidence post the initial Brexit blip.

Following on from better-than-expected numbers from FTSE 250 rivals Robert Walters on Tuesday and PageGroup on Wednesday, Hays became the third big recruitment firm to show improved fee momentum not only abroad but at home, said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

Each of the big three has a slightly different mix in terms of geographic focus, where Page has a presence in the US and Latin America, and client industries, with Robert Walters more heavily exposed to financial services and Hays to the public sector in the UK, for example.

Nevertheless, all three are showing a marked improvement in fee income growth, on a constant currency or like-for-like basis at group level. The Americas led the way at Page and Robert Walters for their fiscal first-quarter figures while Europe and Rest of the World showed the best growth at Hays in its third-quarter trading update."
FTSE 100 healthcare group Mediclinic said its two largest platforms, Switzerland and Southern Africa, in addition to its Dubai business, all performed in line with expectations during the 2017 financial year, but Abu Dhabi had underperformed.

Mediclinic's Abu Dhabi business underperformed having been impacted by a major regulatory change in addition to "certain business and operational challenges".

We have been focused on resolving these issues and stabilising performance in the Middle East. Our confidence in the long-term growth opportunities of the region remains strong and we currently expect performance in the Middle East to improve as we progress through the 2018 financial year," the company said.

In Switzerland, full year 2017 revenue was up 3.5% to some CHF 1.7 bn with patient bed days -0.7% lower and revenue per bed day up 3%. In addition, Hirslanden's outpatient revenues, which represent less than 20% of the overall platform revenues, continued to grow during the year.

The underlying margin is expected to be around 20%, up marginally from 19.7%, due to improved operating leverage and the benefit of a CHF 8m Swiss tariff provision release, offset by increased costs and the continued change in mix towards treating basic insured patients.

In South Africa, full year revenue was up 6.8% to some ZAR 14.4bn with inpatient bed days and revenue per bed day increasing by around 0.9% and 5.8%, respectively.

"These results were delivered against a continued weak macro-economic environment, stagnant medical scheme membership and increased competition in the private healthcare sector," Mediclinic said.

The underlying margin is expected to be around 21% from 21.4%, impacted by the medical versus surgical mix, higher price increases on pharmaceuticals (sold at zero margin) and investment in additional clinical personnel.

Middle East full year revenue was down 8% compared to pro forma to around AED 3.1bn from AED 3.4bn.

"As previously announced, whilst the Dubai business performed well in full year 2017, the Abu Dhabi business experienced challenging trading conditions impacting revenues. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation margin for full year 2017 is expected to be slightly ahead of previous guidance at 10.5% to 11.5%.

Mediclinic also has a 29.9% stake in Spire Healthcare Group and said it expected its full year equity accounted share of profit from Spire to be 12m compared with 6m a year earlier after adjusting for the amortisation of intangible assets recognised in the notional purchase price allocation of the equity investment.
Consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser is reportedly working with Morgan Stanley on the sale of its food business.

Reuters cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that a deal could fetch around $3bn and it was understood that the process will begin soon.

Reckitt, which makes Cillit Bang and Dettol, confirmed earlier this month that it was exploring options for the business.

On 3 April, the company issued a statement in response to press speculation, saying that it was beginning a strategic review of the food business.

"French's Food is a truly fantastic business with great brands, people and a history of outperformance. It is nevertheless non core to RB. We have therefore decided to initiate a strategic review of Food where we will explore all options for this great business."

At 1253 BST, the shares were up 0.9% to 7,465p.
FTSE 100 healthcare group Mediclinic said its two largest platforms, Switzerland and Southern Africa, in addition to its Dubai business, all performed in line with expectations during the 2017 financial year, but Abu Dhabi had underperformed.

Mediclinic's Abu Dhabi business underperformed having been impacted by a major regulatory change in addition to "certain business and operational challenges".

We have been focused on resolving these issues and stabilising performance in the Middle East. Our confidence in the long-term growth opportunities of the region remains strong and we currently expect performance in the Middle East to improve as we progress through the 2018 financial year," the company said.

In Switzerland, full year 2017 revenue was up 3.5% to some CHF 1.7 bn with patient bed days -0.7% lower and revenue per bed day up 3%. In addition, Hirslanden's outpatient revenues, which represent less than 20% of the overall platform revenues, continued to grow during the year.

The underlying margin is expected to be around 20%, up marginally from 19.7%, due to improved operating leverage and the benefit of a CHF 8m Swiss tariff provision release, offset by increased costs and the continued change in mix towards treating basic insured patients.

In South Africa, full year revenue was up 6.8% to some ZAR 14.4bn with inpatient bed days and revenue per bed day increasing by around 0.9% and 5.8%, respectively.

"These results were delivered against a continued weak macro-economic environment, stagnant medical scheme membership and increased competition in the private healthcare sector," Mediclinic said.

The underlying margin is expected to be around 21% from 21.4%, impacted by the medical versus surgical mix, higher price increases on pharmaceuticals (sold at zero margin) and investment in additional clinical personnel.

Middle East full year revenue was down 8% compared to pro forma to around AED 3.1bn from AED 3.4bn.
HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias lieutenant governor apologized Wednesday in the face of an investigation by the inspector generals office, but provided scant details about what he feels he did wrong.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Stack said he has said things in anger or stress or frustration that he wishes he hadnt said.

Any person who goes through life and gets stressed, I think, will say things that they dont mean and they say things out of anger, and Im no exception, Stack said. Thats not an excuse. Thats not a reason thats acceptable. The bottom line is, I know that Ive said things in anger that I wish I could take back, that I didnt mean.

Stack summoned reporters to his Capitol offices to address reports of an investigation into how he and his wife have treated the troopers and state workers who guard and serve them. He said the inspector generals office notified him by letter of the probe a few days ago.

He said its focus is on how he interacts with troopers detailed to protect him and the people who work in the lieutenant governors official residence. Stack and his wife, Tonya, live in a state-owned house at Fort Indiantown Gap, the state National Guard headquarters about 20 miles east of the Capitol.

He addressed reports that he or his wife may have pressured state troopers to use their sirens when transporting them and acknowledged he supported a failed proposal to change state law to specifically allow troopers to use flashing lights and sirens when transporting dignitaries such as the lieutenant governor.

If Ive ever said something in anger or frustration, being in a rush, something like that, where a state trooper felt I was telling them how to drive or how to operate their emergency response procedures, if I ever gave that impression I was wrong, Stack said. And I apologize. But one thing I want you to know, as I said, these guys are the boss. They have all the training. They make the decisions. And they should.

Stack did not provide any examples of what he did wrong, but said he did not believe anything he said would be considered abusive.

The chairman of the state Republican Party issued a statement that said he was disturbed to see reports Stack lambasted state workers and that he was concerned about Stacks dealings with troopers.

Sadly, arrogance and corruption among Democrat public officials, especially those from Philadelphia, is becoming more and more common these days, GOP chair Val DiGiorgio said.

Stack, 53, is a former state senator from Philadelphia who was elected more than two years ago.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, sources say Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf was the driving force behind the probe.

Asked about the reports that Wolf was behind the probe, Stack said: I sort of dont want to even analyze that. He also said he did not know if the probe was delving into other areas.

In Pennsylvania, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run independently in the primaries and, once elected, hold what are considered independent offices.

Stack said he plans to run for a second term next year, as does Wolf.

Wolfs office said he had not received a report about the investigation from his inspector general and wont comment before hes able to review it.

State officials say the cost to staff and maintain the lieutenant governors residence is about $450,000 annually. Stacks salary is $162,000 a year, and his duties include presiding over the state Senate, considering pardons applications and overseeing the Emergency Management Council.

Messages left for the inspector generals office werent returned.
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Squirrel tunnels could breach irrigation canals, sending water surging through neighborhoods.



By AUBREY WIEBER

The Bulletin

BEND, Ore.  Drive along the Pilot Butte Canal in Redmond in the spring and you'll see ground squirrels scurry frantically back and forth across the road. Chubby rock chucks sprint from rock to rock.

Both types of rodents pop up, run around and then disappear into burrows. The underground dens and tunnels provide protection from predators and the elements, but they also risk causing millions of dollars in damage to urban developments.





. . .
Australian regulator approves Yancoal's $2.45-bn acquisition of Rio's thermal coal assets

Australia's foreign investment regulator yesterday approved China's state-controlled Yancoal Australia Ltd's $2.45-billion acquisition of Rio Tinto's Coal and Allied Division.

In January, Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto agreed to sell its Australian subsidiary Coal & Allied Industries Ltd to Yancoal Australia for up to $2.45 billion in cash. (See: Rio Tinto to sell Coal & Allied to China's Yancoal Australia for up to $2.45 bn)

But the deal had to be approved by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), which oversees foreign acquisitions of local companies.

Nearly 87 per cent of Yancoal is controlled by Yanzhou Coal Mining Co of China, which in turn is controlled by Shandong Province's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, while Hong Kong commodities trader Noble Group holds a 13.3 per cent.

"FIRB approval is a positive step forward for Yancoal, its shareholders and the Hunter Valley, demonstrating the Australian Government's support for continued investment into the local resources sector," said Reinhold Schmidt, CEO of Yancoal said in a statement.

The deal has yet to be approved Rio Tinto and Yanzhou shareholders.

Coal & Allied is Rio Tinto's thermal coal business located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. It owns and operates multiple, multi-seam open cut mines in the Hunter Valley.

It has a 67.6-per cent interest in the Hunter Valley Operations mine, an 80-per cent interest in the Mount Thorley mine, a 55.6-per cent interest in the Warkworth mine, a 36.5-per cent interest in Port Waratah Coal Services (which owns a coal export terminal located at the Port of Newcastle) and other undeveloped coal assets, including various landholdings.

The Hunter Valley operations and Mount Thorley Warkworth mines together produced 25.9 million tonnes of saleable thermal and semi-soft coking coal in 2016 (17.1 million tonnes Rio Tinto share).
The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:



- Bridie Mc Gettigan, LIfford

- Peter McBride, Derrybeg

- Mary Sweeney, Gortahork

- Paul Kirwan, Glasnevin, Dublin/Muff

Bridie Mc Gettigan, LIfford

The death has taken place at St Luke`s Hospital, Dublin of Bridie Mc Gettigan (nee Doherty) Edenmore, Lifford.

Reposing at her home today, Thursday, from 5p.m. Funeral leaving her home on Saturday at 10.15a.m. for Service in St Patrick`s Church, Murlog, Lifford at 11a.m.

Interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers please to the Donegal Hospice. c/o 1A Newtown Place, Strabane. Family time please from 11p.m. to 11a.m.

Peter McBride, Derrybeg

The death has taken place of Peter McBride, Middletown, Derrybeg and Ballybofey.

His remains are reposing at his late residence in Derrybeg. Funeral Service in St. Mary's Chapel, Derrybeg on Saturday morning at 11a.m with burial afterwards in Magheragallon Cemetery.

Family flowers only. Donations in lieu to Gweedore Day Centre.



Mary Sweeney, Gortahork

The death has taken place of Mary Sweeney, Fanaboy, Gortahork, at the Lake House Nursing Home, Portnablagh, Dunfanaghy.

Reposing at her nephew Michael Gallagher's home in Fanaboy. Funeral from there on Friday, 14th April, for 10.00am service in Christ the King Church, Gortahork, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Rosary

both nights at 9.00pm. House private after rosary until 10.00am and on the morning of the funeral.

Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis.



Paul Kirwan, Glasnevin, Dublin/Muff

The death has taken place of Paul Kirwan, Glasnevin, Dublin/Muff.

Reposing at his residence between 4pm and 8pm on Friday. Removal on Saturday to the Church of Our Mother of Divine Grace, Ballygall Road East for 11am Service followed by funeral to Dardistown Crematorium. Family flowers please, donations, if desired, to the Irish Kidney Association.



Death notices can be sent to editorial@donegaldemocrat.com; please include a contact number for verification.
The first time I met Danielle Bonner, she told me that she wanted to visit Afghanistan.

I thought she was joking; she wasnt. She hasnt made it to Afghanistan yet, but her dedication to human rights and equality has taken her to many countries and given her a network of like-minded people throughout the world.

Danielle is the founder of Equality Aware, the training and development organisation which promotes and provides education on human rights and equality. On her website, Danielle states, The mission of Equality Aware is to support the empowerment and education of communities to recognise their human rights and challenge injustice.

I asked Danielle how she, as a young woman, has become so involved in her chosen work: Was there an incident or experience that had sparked her interest? She said that as a child she had always asked the question, Why?, when learning about how the world works. When she was at school doing history she asked, for example, why had the slave trade, when millions were sold into slavery, been accepted as a way of trading and producing goods; why had the extermination of millions of people during the Second World War been an acceptable part of war?

As Danielle grew up, she applied her question why to the inequalities and injustices she saw around her, such as sexism, poverty, racism, many forms of discrimination and deprivation, and domestic abuse. Her route through further education reflected her continued interest in these concerns: Firstly a degree in psychology and media, then law, and then her postgraduate masters course in conflict resolution. She says the people she met on this course made her feel that she was in the right place, as they also questioned the way societies work, but importantly, worked at finding ways to bring about change. She had found a focus for her ideas.

After her graduation she worked for NCCWN Donegal Womens Network, and during this time began to teach courses and facilitate workshops in community groups and schools on various subjects rooted in inequality and injustice. She has since delivered these for organisations such as the 5050 group and Change Makers Donegal.

When I asked Danielle about her main areas of concern in Ireland, and particularly in Donegal, she said that the county had a very high percentage of child poverty and a high rate of children in care. Although a lot had been achieved in correcting some inequalities, she found that during her work with young people in schools, new concerns are becoming apparent. She said that young boys need more older males to be role models and to talk about gender equality. There is a perception that gender equality is only about females, and boys can feel that they are being sidelined because of this.

There are also the problems around gender stereotyping, and some of these problems have been made worse by the uses of social media among young people. Girls are in danger of being defined by whats acceptable in how they look, in their choices of subjects they study and their roles in relationships. Boys feel under pressure to support perceived male values in attitudes to females, ambitions and emotions. Danielle found that when she spoke to the young people individually they had very different opinions on these subjects, but could not express them in the group.

Her hopes for young people are that these leaders of the future will ask the same questions she asked about society when she was at school - why are things done like this and what can I do to bring about change?

I asked Danielle about her sources of inspiration and admiration. She said they were those people, mostly women, who keep small-scale social groups going year after year, providing important services to their local communities. But her regret is that these women, with their skills and dedication, dont see themselves transferring their skills to the politics of the county, which is so short of female representation. This is another subject of concern.

In setting up her training and consultancy business, Danielle hopes to address a wide range of social issues based in human rights and equality through courses, seminars, talks, and workshops. For more information, contact: www.equalityaware.org.
The town of Convoy is in shock after it emerged that the family struck by the drowning tragedy in Fermanagh last night live in the town.

A woman in her 30s died when she fell into the water near Devenish Island on Lough Erne during a family holiday with her husband and two children.

The womans husband entered the water to try to save his wife at around 1am after she went to check the ropes that were securing the boat.

It is understood the woman is originally from abroad and the family had moved to Convoy in recent years.

The woman's body has been transferred to Belfast for a post-mortem.

Local councillor in Convoy, Liam Doherty, said arrangements are being made for the womans family to fly to Ireland.

He said there was shock in the town as the news emerged that the family at the centre of the tragedy were living there.

My condolences go out to the family. It has to be heartbreaking for the kids and the husband, he said.

As it unwinds it is starting to hit people in the town that they were local. A lot of locals are in shock as they found out it was someone local. It's an awful tragedy - the kids off on the Easter break - just a normal family on a break away and tragedy struck.
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STATE COLLEGE  Penn States fraternities are canceling all social events for the next two weekends as they deal with continuing fallout from the February death of a student at a pledge acceptance party.

The Centre Daily Times reports the schools Interfraternity Council made the decision after Penn State President Eric Barrons open letter to the Greek community Monday. Barron warned that a history of misconduct could eventually result in the end of fraternities and sororities at the university.

The council said in a statement that fraternity chapters will use the time to consider any necessary changes that need to be made.

Police are investigating the death of Timothy Piazza. The engineering student from New Jersey was fatally injured in a fall while attending a pledge acceptance party at a fraternity house.
Infiniti will not retreat when the going gets tough. That's the frank statement from Infiniti Australia product planning manager Bernard Michel, who confessed that some people continue to make the link between Nissan's slow-selling luxury offshoot and the pulling out of Holden's European sibling, Opel, after less a year on-sale.

In the clearest vote of confidence for Infiniti yet, Michel pledged that the introduction of an Audi Q5-rivalling medium SUV next year would mark the "next onslaught of sales" for the brand, which is up 49 per cent this year. More local dealerships will follow, too.

"You can set up a network pretty quickly as you've seen with Opel, then dismantle it pretty quickly as well," he said.

"The brand is at a stage where it's building confidence with consumers. There was always from my point of view a link with Opel and 'are you going to pull out?' and that's fair enough.

"But we're owned by Nissan Corporation, it's embedded in Australia. We don't have a reason to run. It's about getting our fair share and developing this business, developing the network and the brand and these sorts of elements."

This year marks Infiniti's fifth birthday in this country. In 2012 it sold 85 units. Last year it tallied 807 sales  but in a market where Lexus sold 9000 and Mercedes-Benz 42,000.

Its dealership base has gone from an initial three to eight outlets nationwide, with another three (Melbourne CBD, northern Queensland and Hobart) potentially to be added.

"I think we can sustain some growth, I don't know if it's going to be that steep [50 per cent growth] because we're still expanding the network and I think that's going to be the catalyst for the next onslaught of sales," Michel added.

"[It was difficult] coming off the back of three dealers and trying to get sustainable volume off those dealers when research tells you people will not travel more than 30 minutes [to buy a car]. We've seen that last year and with our numbers growing, albeit small, that once you open a dealership in the right location people are seeing the value in the cars."

Michel ruled out lowering the price of its models in a bid to improve sales, however. Instead he confirmed the arrival of a circa-$60,000 Audi Q5 competitor in 2018.

"I think a medium-sized SUV is the one for this market," he continued.

"You've seen the press on that QX Sport Inspiration come out, so we're watching that vigilantly and we think that's the car, the punters are telling us that [although we] probably won't see it this year. I mean they haven't actually unveiled the car [yet]."

Asked whether the production medium SUV looks like 2016's Beijing motor show debutant concept, Michel replied: "It does, it's pretty close."

"That's the one that will continue the growth for Infiniti in this country. That will grow the business exponentially."
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 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 ISIS), 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 siren song, and heading for the reef.
Labour Senator Ged Nash has been selected to run for the next general election.

He was unanimously selected by Louth Labour members at a convention last Wednesday night which was addressed by Labour Leader, Brendan Howlin.

The former Super-Junior Minister was pipped at the post for the final seat in Louth in the general election of February 2016, and he plans for an early return to the Dail.

During my short period as Employment Minister I was part of a small economic team at the very top of government which helped turn the economy around and move Ireland towards full employment.

I am proud of the fact that I increased the National Minimum Wage, introduced new collective bargaining laws and wage setting mechanisms for low paid workers in, for example, security and contract cleaning and new Registered Employment Agreements and Sectoral Employment Orders to ensure fairness and decency in workplaces.

When the rest of the world was hollowing out workers rights, Ireland was the only country in the world to actually enhance collective bargaining and workers' rights. This is an objective fact and the benefits of these measures have and will be seen by hundreds of thousands of working people.

I also ensured that Louth continued to attract significant Foreign Direct Investment and we continue to see the benefits of that.

We can now see the consequences of a Dail full of populists, protestors and chancers who will not and cannot make the most basic of decisions.

"I believe that people are tiring of this do-nothing Dail and as far as I am concerned, an election cannot come quickly enough.

Louth needs a strong and respected figure at national level who knows how to get things done and I am working might and mane to recapture the Dail set we narrowly lost last year.
Fianna Fail TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach has asked the Tanaiste in the Dail what she is doing to deal with the serious concerns of those involved in the security of this State and Northern Ireland relating to weaknesses and loopholes in our systems in view of the imminent exit of the UK from the EU.

I asked about the progress of a few important pieces of legislation, The Criminal Procedures Bill, The Criminal Records Information Systems Bill and The European Arrest Warrants Amendment Bill.

The Tanaiste, Frances Fitzgerald said that the relationship between An Garda Siochana and the PSNI has never worked more effectively. She said that there have been a number of joint operations between them in recent times in relation to targeting criminals who would exploit the situation.

She confirmed that the European Arrest Warrant is a very high priority for us in terms of the upcoming negotiations because we dont want to return to a situation where we are using extradition. She outlined that she has had discussions with the Home Secretary in relation to that, and that the UK position is not yet clear on their approach to these issues.

She said that the sooner we can get clarity in relation to the European Arrest Warrant the better so it will be a key priority for us in the negotiations.

It is extremely worrying however that she confirmed that the UK is not clear on their approach to these issues. This is just another example of the chaos that awaits UK citizens in the coming years because of their total lack of preparation for what Brexit means for them.

We here in Ireland need to be prepared and to provide solutions for the problems that we face, particularly in relation to security. It is becoming increasingly clear that perhaps in the UK they have not got the systems in place nor have they staff resources in place to deal with the problems Brexit brings.
Government sets up Inter-Disciplinary Committee to examine framework for Virtual Currencies

Published: April 13, 2017

The Union government has constituted a time-bound inter-disciplinary committee to come up with an action plan for dealing with virtual currencies so as to fix the regulatory gaps in the existing framework governing virtual currencies. The committee is required to submit its report within three months .

Contents Need

Composition

Mandate

Need

The circulation of virtual currencies, of late, has become a cause of concern. With respect to the virtual currencies, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also cautioned the users, holders and traders of Virtual currencies about the potential financial, operational, legal, customer protection and security related risks through press releases in December 2013 and February 2017.

Virtual Currencies, also called as digital/crypto-currencies, are a type of unregulated digital money that is neither issued by a central bank/public authority, nor is necessarily attached to a fiat currency, but is used and accepted among the members of a specific virtual community. They are capable of being transferred, stored or traded electronically. The examples of virtual currencies are Bitcoin, Litecoin, Darkcoin, Peercoin, Dogecoin, Primecoin etc.

Composition

The nine-member inter-disciplinary committee will be chaired by Dinesh Sharma, special secretary in the economic affairs department. The committee will also have representatives from the Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Financial Services, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, IT ministry, Reserve Bank of India, NITI Aayog and State Bank of India.

The committee is mandated to:

Take stock of the current status of Virtual Currencies both in India and globally;

Examine the present global regulatory and legal structures governing Virtual Currencies;

Suggest measures for tackling the issues related to Virtual Currencies including issues like consumer protection, money laundering etc;

Examine other relevant issues related to Virtual Currencies.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017

Topics: Bitcoin  committees and commissions  Current Affairs - 2017  Dinesh Sharma Committee  UPSC  virtual currencies

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Recent Updates of BIMSTEC grid interconnection

Published: April 13, 2017



The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with member states of BIMSTEC for establishing BIMSTEC grid interconnections. The MoU will be signed at the 3rd BIMSTEC Energy Ministers Meeting that will be held in Nepal shortly.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a sub-regional group of seven countries in South Asia and South East Asia lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal viz. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. It was established on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Timeline

In 2005, during the first BIMSTEC Energy Ministers Conference held in New Delhi, a Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in BIMSTEC was formulated. As a part of the plan, under the BIMSTEC Trans-Power Exchange and Development Project , a task force under the leadership of Thailand was formed comprising the representatives of member countries to come up with a report on draft MoU for grid interconnections.

After a total of five meetings, the draft MoU for the establishment of the BIMSTEC grid interconnection was finalised on March 16, 2015.

The leaders reached a consensus to expedite the signing of the MoU on BIMSTEC grid interconnection during the BIMSTEC Leaders Retreat, 2016 held in Goa.

In the fourth meeting of BIMSTEC held in January 2017, the MoU was discussed and finalised.

Salient features

The MoU provides a broad framework of cooperation for the implementation of grid interconnections for the purpose of carrying out trade in electricity. Its objective is to promote rational and optimal power transmission in the BIMSTEC region.

The MoU for the establishment of the BIMSTEC grid interconnection facilitates:

Optimization of energy resources in the BIMSTEC region for mutual benefits on non-discriminatory basis subject to laws, rules and regulations of the respective Parties;

Promotion of efficient, economic, and secure operation of power system by developing regional electricity networks;

Necessity of optimization of capital investment for additional capacity generation across the region; and

Power exchange through cross-border interconnections.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017

Topics: BIMSTEC  BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection  Cabinet Decision  Current Affairs - 2017  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  UPSC

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Michigan has seen the worst test score gains in American. And Thanks to Chris Savage, Mitchell Robinson and Eclectablog, America quickly understood exactly how Betsy DeVos helped make that possible. More importantly, people quickly understood why she would be catastrophic threat to public schools as Donald Trumps Secretary of Education. We lost that fight, but just barely.

There are endless fights like this. Endless life-and-death stories to tell. And every day, Chris and his team keep up the struggle to keep the Flint Water Crisis from fading into the unconscious of history. Thats why we went to Flint last week and thats why we report on Flint every week on The Sit and Spin Room.

We also talk shit and politics with people with the influence and insight to change the conversation about how to return government to people who arent just worried about hounding brown people and keeping the tax breaks on private jets.

Our guests have included Randi Weingarten, Andy Slavitt, Lizz Winstead, Ronald Klain, John Dingell, Debbie Dingell, Ari Berman, Jonathan Cohn, Charles Gaba, and Will Wheaton along with representatives of groups that are leading the fight for democracy including Dawuld Walid of Michigan CAIR, Stephen Wolf of Daily Kos Elections, Stephanie White of Equality Michigan, Amy Hunter who works with the ACLU, Leah Greenberg of the Indivisible Team and Ericka Sackin of Planned Parenthood.

Im also certain that the next governor of Michigan will have been a guest on this podcast. Gretchen Whitmer, Abul El-Sayed or Dan Kildee would all be ginormous improvements over the poison pill now residing in our governors mansion.

Were new to podcasting and your support is everything. It will keep us going and without it will shrink into our corners and sulk until Republicans even take over Ann Arbor and replace Zingermans with a wax museum of the Trump family.

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Burger King on Wednesday in essence hijacked the voice-activated Google Home speakers in some consumers homes.

In a 15-second television ad, the camera zooms in on a young man wearing the company uniform who says, OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?

The OK Google trigger phrase for Googles artificial intelligence Assistant activated Google Home speakers situated nearby, prompting them to read Wikipedias description of the Whopper.

Burger King apparently intended to prompt the Assistant to deliver the glowing description posted on the page. However, the Internet quickly caught on to the gimmick, and Wikipedias Whopper page was deluged with newly edited versions, many of them decidedly uncomplimentary. Wikipedia soon blocked the editing functionality.

Within three hours or so, Google reportedly issued a server-side update to Google Home to stop it from responding to the ad. The ad would still wake up a Google Home device, which would wait for its query to hit Googles servers, but Home no longer would respond to it. However, Google Home would respond to a real person making the same query.

The ad apparently was created by David The Agency.

Wikipedias Whopper Page Gone Wild

Someone with the username Fermachado123 last week changed the Wikipedia entry for the Whopper to list its ingredients, according to reports. The owner of the handle may be Fernando Machado, Burger Kings senior vice president for global brand management, although Burger King apparently hasnt confirmed or denied his involvement.

Editing an article on behalf of ones employer or company can create a conflict of interest and violate Wikipedia policies, Wikimedia spokesperson Samantha Lien told the E-Commerce Times.

Wikipedia content and entries are determined by a community of volunteer editors.

Internet trolls struck minutes after the ad debuted at 12:00 p.m. ET, editing the Wikipedia entry to describe the burger variously as cancer-causing or a chocolate candy, and altering the ingredients list to include such items as toenail clippings, medium-sized child, and rat.

Google could, and likely should, require people to customize the command phrase, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

The idea that a TV ad could generate a mass purchase should scare them more than it does, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Following in Alexas Footsteps

Im kind of surprised they used Google Home rather than the far more prevalent Amazon Echo, Enderle said.

A 6-year-old Dallas girl earlier this year asked the Amazon Echo Dot, which is powered by Alexa, if it could get her a dollhouse. Alexa was happy to oblige, and the child confirmed the order. She apparently also ordered cookies. A US$160 dollhouse and four pounds of cookies showed up at her home days later. Her mom laughed off the mishap and treated it as a reminder to set up parental controls.

However, Jim Patton, a news anchor at San Diego TV station CW6, several days later said, I love the little girl saying Alexa order me a dollhouse,' during a newscast. His remark reportedly triggered numerous Echo devices in viewers homes to attempt to order dollhouses.

We need more variance and better vocal security and recognition, particularly when we begin looping in security systems and locks, or theyll unintentionally allow bad folks into our homes, Enderle warned. That could lead to a massive potential liability exposure for the related products, services, or companies that supply them.

Consumers should be careful what applications they use and whats active when they use them, cautioned Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.

Smart Technology Risks

Technologies like Google Home and Alexa have no innate judgment, Jude told the E-Commerce Times. You shouldnt trust them to use judgment on which commands to respond to or what activities to launch.

Google and others will need to focus on the applications behind the voice recognition systems, he suggested.

Natural language processing doesnt imply any real intelligence behind the interface, Jude explained. As the applications NLP system front ends become more intelligent, the opportunities for compromise decrease.

In the Internet of Things environment, where you can have an ecosystem or ecosystems of ecosystems interconnected, the attack vector universe is potentially limitless, noted Laura DiDio, research director for IoT at 451 Research.

The risks are everywhere, and what you can do is mitigate risk to an acceptable level, she told the E-Commerce Times  but that requires vendors to make secure products.
Verizon on Monday confirmed reports that it will rebrand its AOL and Yahoo businesses under a new entity called Oath. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong delivered the message via a tweet.

Billion+ Consumers, 20+ Brands, Unstoppable Team. #TakeTheOath. Summer 2017. pic.twitter.com/tM3Ac1Wi36

 Tim Armstrong (@timarmstrongaol) April 3, 2017

The rebranding is part of a plan to reinvest millions into the legacy digital content companies with the aim of creating a major new platform.

The Yahoo and AOL names will not disappear, but their operations will continue under the overarching Oath brand, Armstrong later said in CNBC and Fox Business interviews.

Growth Plans

Once Verizon closes its US$4.5 billion Yahoo acquisition, it plans to make major investments into the newly combined entity. It will have more than 25 brands, ranging from The Huffington Post to Build Studios and Makers, according to Caroline Campbell, senior vice president for brand and communication at AOL.

So yes, AOL and Yahoo brands will not only remain, but a core tenet of Oath will be to deeply invest in those growing brands, she told TechNewsWorld. Oath is the umbrella, and the portfolio of brands will comprise Oath  a house of brands structure.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will not be part of the combined company, according to Recode, which originally reported the Oath branding designation.

Armstrong reportedly is close to deciding which top Yahoo executives will remain.

AOLs Campbell declined to comment on Mayers status or executive leadership at the new entity.

Verizons deal to buy Yahoos core operating business has been the subject of intense scrutiny. It renegotiated its original acquisition price by $350 million earlier this year, amid concerns about the impact of a cyberbreach that compromised the data of more than 1 billion Yahoo users.

The renegotiated deal valued the Yahoo acquisition at $4.48 billion, giving Verizon access to Yahoos more than 1 billion users, of which 600 million use mobile devices.

Yahoo agreed to be responsible for 50 percent of the liabilities related to non-Securities and Exchange Commission government investigations and third-party litigation related the breach, and to assume 100 percent liability from shareholder suits and SEC investigations.

Brand Blowback

Verizons branding decision is odd, said Rick Edmonds, business media analyst at Poynter.

Still, many reacted similarly to the Exxon brand upon its creation, he recalled.

In terms of the core business proposition, Edmonds doesnt see much in the way of a growth strategy.

Im also not seeing an obvious path to improved performance, he told TechNewsWorld, but its worth remembering that CEO Tim Armstrong has a great record selling digital ads at scale, which is the task at hand.

The initial response to the new branding strategy seems to be characterized more by confusion and doubt than anything else.

The reaction so far has been decidedly negative, said Zach Fuller, an analyst at Midia Research.

The likelihood is given the platforms diminished status for the mainstream online user, Oath will simply go through a period of managed decline, he told TechNewsWorld.

Verizon is transforming itself into a marketing company that uses its wireless assets to reach customers, noted telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.

Verizons decision to create a new overall brand for its content business was a logical next step, he told TechNewsWorld.

After all Verizon was not interested in the AOL or Yahoo business, Kagan said. They are only interested in their users.
Red Hat on Monday announced a new Application Platform Partner Initiative at its North America Partner Conference in Las Vegas. The goal is to provide a more robust ecosystem for companies engaging in digital transformation.

The company has started conducting tests in a pilot program with a small number of solutions-oriented consulting partners in North America.

We are planning to engage with a small group of partners during the pilot phase  aiming for approximately one to two dozen partners, said Red Hat spokesperson Daniel Thompson.

There isnt a set timeframe for the pilot phase, he told LinuxInsider. The objective is to work closely with these partners to get the program up and running and then scale it globally from there.

Consulting Play

The consulting partners  Exadel, OSI Consulting, Vizuri, Levell and others  are working with Red Hat to provide a range of sales, marketing and delivery services around several of the companys technologies, including Red Hat JBoss Middleware, Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat Mobile Application Platform.

Red Hat is providing training and certification, technical support and customer service. Red Hat Consulting services also are available to partners in the program when they are working with Red Hat installed base accounts.

Customers are using a wider array of applications and need a more cost-effective integration platform, said Glenn Gesell, president of OSI Consulting.

Red Hats open source solutions offer new options for building integrations and container-based business applications, he added.

The new program will help accelerate the adoption of cloud, container and mobile technologies, said John Dickman, senior vice president of Vizuri. The availability of a network of partners with greater expertise will inspire confidence in those undergoing transformation, he said, noting that Vizuri has been collaborating with Red Hat on open source solutions for the past 10 years.

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

By trying to figure out how digital transformation impacts small and medium-sized businesses, Red Hats program appears to be aiming squarely at Microsoft, noted Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Red Hat has large-enterprise brand recognition and reach, he told LinuxInsider. However, moving digital transformation into the mainstream for mid-sized and smaller customers requires a broader set of go-to-market partners. This is a good SMB channel partners play for Red Hat.

Red Hat recognizes that in order to expand its ecosystem, it must enhance and adjust its partner programs continually as its product portfolio evolves, and customer needs change, said Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director at ThinkStrategies.

The limited rollout of the latest partner program indicates that the company is still testing their market fit and operational effectiveness, he told LinuxInsider, before programs are offered to a broader array of partners across most geographies.

As it has grown in recent years, Red Hat has bullt out a more robust engineering team and taken on more of a leadership role with its customers, noted Peter Christy, research director at 451 Research.

The leadership at the company have come to realize that they have to operate more at the platform level, he told LinuxInsider, and help customers understand the open source model more broadly.

We believe open source is at the heart of digital transformation, said John Bluer, vice president for global alliances at Red Hat, and we are passionate about enabling our customers to succeed in their transformation efforts with open source.
By Ryan Schleeter

Donald Trump wants to slash the EPAs budget and defund public health programswhich could cost people like Heather Von St. James their lives. This is her story.

Heather Von St. James has a friendly, Midwestern quality to her voice. Speaking to her over the phone, she comes off relaxed and assured, passionate yet polished.

But when you ask her about Donald Trump, something in her voice starts to change. Theres an exasperation, a sense of controlled but forceful frustration just under the surface of her jovial tone.

It just makes me so angry, was the first thing she said when I asked her what she thought of Trumps decision to place Scott Pruitt at the head of the EPA.

Thats because Heather knows firsthand the devastation that could happen if Trump and Pruitts attempts to gut the EPA are successful.

[facebook https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/10155373932509684/ expand=1]

At 36 years old, Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Shes one of about 7 to 9 percent of mesothelioma patients who has lived more than five years after diagnosis, and one of even fewer who have actually defeated the disease. Since recovering 11 years ago, Heather has poured her time into fighting for regulations that limit Americans exposure to asbestos and championing protections for environmental health.

And she was seeing important progress in regulating pollutants and carcinogens like asbestos through the EPAuntil Trump entered office.

Trumps draft budget would cut EPA funding by 31 percent, slashing regulations that protect clean air and water for millions of Americans and reallocating the funds to the Department of Defense for more warships and fighter jets.

In essence, its more money for war and less for health and the environment.

Those regulations are in place for a reason, Heather explains. They are there to save lives; theyre there to protect our kids and our future.

And when Heather talks about saving lives, its not a figure of speech. Mesothelioma, a rare disease to begin with, claimed 45,000 lives between 1999 and 2015. The number of new cases rose each year during that period.

I lost three friends this past week. Three people died, Heather said to me the very first time we spoke.

I mean, this is a constant in my life. Without the backing of the EPA, people are going to get sick; people are going to keep dying for something thats completely, 100 percent preventable.

The problem is even larger than mesothelioma. Trumps budget jeopardizes Clean Air Act programs that have reduced harmful air pollutant emissions by 70 percent and prevented thousands of cases of asthma and respiratory disease. It cuts a program to keep children safe from lead exposure. It takes away money set aside for states to meet health-based drinking water standards.

All of that will come with significant costs that the American peoplenot Trump or the federal governmentwill have to bear.

Take Heathers experience. By the time she finished treatment, she had more than $1 million in medical expenses. She had to travel back and forth between her home in Minnesota and Boston for specialist treatment because, as she put it, everybody I know in Minnesota died and I wanted to live. After going through radiation treatment and surgery to remove her left lung, one side of her body is numb. She cant work, and she had to give up co-ownership of her salon and the career that she built over more than a decade. If she doesnt have insurance, shell die.

Once again, Heathers story is indicative of a larger trend. As much as the Trump administration has praised the benefits of its cost-saving budget, defunding EPA public health programs will actually come at enormous financial costs to working and middle class Americans. Those Clean Air Act programs on the chopping block, for instance, are expected to yield roughly $2 trillion in economic benefits in 2020 alone.

The financial costs of disease are astronomical, but thats not what Heather emphasized to me the most. It was the personal toll that hit her hardest.

When I was sick I felt very alone, she said. I missed out on the whole first year of my babys life.

I watched her grow up through black and white photos that my mom would send to me on email. These are things that you cant put a dollar amount on.

In the end, thats what it comes down to with Trumps attacks on the EPAputting the lives of millions of people at risk to protect industry profits.

And thats why Heather is using her story to fuel resistance.

We may be up against a lot right now with this administration, but we have the truth on our side. Were not a corporation, were individuals that this really happened to and we live it every single day.

As long as this administration is in power, Greenpeace will stand by people like Heatherand Flint, Porter Ranch, the Gulf, and all communities whose health has been jeopardized by toxic pollutionto defend our right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. Will you?
By Scott L. Montgomery

Arctic lands and waters hold irresistible allure for global oil companies. Despite opposition from environmental groups and President Obamas 2016 ban on drilling in federal Arctic waters, exploration in Alaska has revealed massive new volumes of oil.

This comes at a time of low oil prices, when many observers felt the Arctic would remain off limits. Alaska has proved precisely the opposite. Although it has gone largely unnoticed outside the industry, foreign firms are partnering with American companies to pursue these new possibilities. I expect this new wave of Arctic development will help increase U.S. oil production and influence in world oil markets for at least the next several decades.

This is a global story, spurred by continued growth in world oil demand, especially in Asia; the dynamism of the oil industry; and the fact that the U.S. has become a major new petroleum exporter, something that would have seemed impossible only a few years ago. Such realities imply that decisions made in Washington, DC are far from the only forces shaping U.S. energy and climate change policy.

Fracking Comes to the Arctic

Over the past year, oil companies have discovered volumes on Alaskas North Slope totaling as much as five billion barrels or more of recoverable oil. This is a 14 percent increase in U.S. proven reserves, based on recent estimates, which is no small thing.

One discovery, Horseshoe, made this year by the Spanish company Repsol in partnership with Denver-based Armstrong Oil and Gas, is the largest new U.S. find in more than 30 years. It is estimated at 1.2 billion barrels and comes just after a find by ConocoPhillips in January, called Willow, evaluated at 300 million barrels.

Both of these are dwarfed by Tulimaniq, a spectacular discovery drilled by Dallas-based Caelus Energy in the shallow state waters of Smith Bay, about 120 miles northwest of Prudhoe Bay, in October 2016. Caelus has confirmed a total accumulation of as much as 10 billion barrels of light, mobile oil, with 3-4 billion barrels possibly recoverable at current prices of about US$50 per barrel.

Alaskas North Slope region, including the National Petroleum Reserve (NPRA), Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS). U.S. Geological Survey / Wikipedia

These new finds may only be the beginning. Tulimaniq will produce from reservoirs of the same age as Horseshoe and Willow, 75 miles to the southeast. This strongly suggests that a large new stretch of the North Slope, mostly on federal land and in state waters (within three miles of shore), has been defined for further exploration. Burgundy Xploration of Houston and Australia-based 88 Energy also have another new drilling program underway to test shale intervals known to have sourced some of the oil at Prudhoe Bay, a supergiant field that has produced some 13 billion barrels to date.

A number of these new wells will be frackedthe first use of this technique in the Arctic. One or more of the oil-bearing rock units at sites being explored on the North Slope have low permeability, meaning that oil cant flow within them very well or at all. Company engineers expect that hydraulic fracturing will be able to free such oil so it can be produced. Such has been the result for other shales and low-permeability reservoirs in places like North Dakota and Texas.

The logistics of finding large quantities of water and sand needed for fracking in the Arctic will be challenging and probably more expensive than similar operations in the lower 48 states. It remains to be seen whether operators will clean, reuse and carefully contain frack water.

Green Lights from the Trump Administration

In another significant find, Italian company Eni has developed an oil field that lies in state waters and so is not affected by Obamas drilling ban. But the oil reservoir extends into federal waters of the Beaufort Sea. Called the Nikaitchuq Unit, it lies just west of Prudhoe Bay and is producing around 25,000 barrels per day.

Eni developed this field between 2005 and 2015 using an artificial island to drill horizontal wells in various directions from a single site. The company stopped activity in 2015 when prices collapsed, but intends to drill up to six wells this year. Its leases, which continue north into federal waters, were not automatically canceled by the federal ban, but Eni needs a federal drilling permit and has submitted an application to the Interior Department. The company plans to run a long horizontal well to access the additional oil, thereby avoiding any need for a rig in federal waters.

The Interior Department is now reviewing Enis application, which I expect it will approve. Geologic studies indicate that the oil continues across the state/federal boundary and Enis proposal to use a horizontal lateral from an existing drill site appears to be aimed at minimizing environmental impacts.

Moreover, the Trump administration has pledged to promote fossil fuel development. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is a former congressman from Montana, which produces oil, gas and coal and Alaska senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan are strong proponents of oil and gas development.

The Oil Industrys New Dynamics

Why is all of this new Arctic drilling happening at a time when oil prices are low and in a place where production costs are high? The oil price collapse that has occurred since mid-2014 is the deepest slump since 1986.

Oil companies have ways of being nimble in hard times, such as selling assets, adjusting production levels and seeking mergers. Now rapid innovations in drilling, seismic imaging and data processing enable well-run companies to cut costs in multiple areas. Some firms can make money today at prices as low as $35 to $40 per barrel or even lower. This includes drilling offshore and fracking onshore.

Innovation and cost-cutting have made U.S. firms a potent global force and eroded the OPECs [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] dominance by keeping oil supplies high, despite a significant production cut by the cartel and many non-OPEC producers, including Russia. In this new era, smaller companies are making inroads in areas once reserved for giants like BP and Exxon. This shift is significant because smaller, independent companies, for whom new discoveries are especially important, tend to be aggressive explorers.

Oil remains our one unreplaceable energy source. Global mobility and a modern military are, as yet, inconceivable without it. Growth in global demand, centered in developing Asia, will continue for some time, as it did even from 2010 through 2014 when prices were above $90 per barrel.

The U.S. now exports around 5.7 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined petroleum products, double the level of five years ago and by far the largest volume in our nations history, thanks to major increases in sales to Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Singapore and China. In short, we would be expanding fossil fuel production even without a Trump administration.

If these new discoveries become producing fields, the Alaskan Arctic will write a new chapter in the U.S. oil industrys dramatic ascent. It will increase our leverage over OPEC and may help to counter Russias geopolitical influence. This prospect raises a new question: How will we will use our clout as the worlds most important new oil power?

Reposted with permission from our media associate The Conversation.
By Michael Tatarski

Throughout the month of March, a unique graffiti campaign popped up on the walls of several streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the hyperactive commercial capital of Vietnam. The works differed from the usual tags and designs that adorn urban areas around the world. The graffiti pieces, 17 in all, carry a simple message: Save the rhinos or Cuu te giac in Vietnamese.

Vietnam is home to one of the largest African rhino horn consumer bases in the world, in addition to being a key transit point for shipments to China. Users of rhino horn believe it can cure various illnesses, in addition to a number of other supposed health benefits. There is no scientific basis to back these beliefs up.

The graffiti in Ho Chi Minh City aims to educate locals on the importance of this issue. According to Nhi Thoi, program manager at the Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE), the street art is part of an awareness-raising campaign to inform people on the topic that began in 2013. The group specializes in initiating and developing environment and climate change movements in Vietnam, according to their website.

Weve been running the stop using rhino horn campaign for several years, Nhi said at CHANGEs office in suburban Ho Chi Minh City recently. We produce a lot of PSAs (public service announcements) and weve invited a lot of celebrities.

A graffiti picture that is part of a campaign to save the rhino in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

One of these PSAs aired on television screens located next to elevators at some of the citys apartment buildings that normally show product advertisements. In the video, national celebrities explained the need to save the worlds remaining rhinos, while graphic images of poached animals with their horns sheared off drove the message home.

Nhi explained that the aim is to create social pressure in order to persuade rhino horn users to change their ways.

Its really hard to tackle the end-users, for example businessmen and high-ranking government officials, so we need to go around and talk to many other people, she said. The graffiti project began as a low-cost way to further this public conversation. When I drove around the city I saw a lot of empty spaces, like dirty walls, and sometimes they had been vandalized. I asked myself, Why dont we paint our message on the walls?'

Suby One, a French graffiti artist based in Ho Chi Minh City. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

Suby One, a prominent French graffiti artist based in Ho Chi Minh City, has collaborated with CHANGE for three years and played a prominent role in bringing the rhino art campaign to life. They contacted me and told me they want to change the audience, he said.

Instead of communicating through TV ads, CHANGE would bring its message to the streets in hopes of reaching the general public.

They had celebrities before and now they want to reach the real people so that they know the rhino issue, Suby said. They wanted it so that we could paint and people would come and talk to us while we were working.

Suby and CHANGE, in partnership with global conservation organization WildAid, invited 11 local and international artists to create designs featuring rhinos. It took months for Nhi and her team to obtain local government approval.

A graffiti picture that is part of a campaign to save the rhino in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

From the beginning, I wanted our message to be very aggressive, so I wanted the artists to draw something about a dead rhino or something stunning, she said. But since were doing this in public, we needed approval from the authorities and they didnt want something negative.

CHANGE finally got the green light in early March and their team jumped into action, with an aim to complete the artwork in one month. The pieces, spread across a number of streets in Ho Chi Minh Citys central District 1, are striking. Each portrayal is unique, but all carry the same plea: Save the rhino.

A graffiti picture that is part of a campaign to save the rhino in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

I want to create love for rhinos, Nhi said. In some images we had differences, like the rhinos horn exploding or the shadows of other rhinos that werent actually there. We wanted to convey the message that the rhino is close to extinction and needs protection.

According to the conservation organization Save the Rhino, at the end of 2015 there were an estimated 30,000 rhinos remaining in the wild in Africa and Asia. At the start of the 20th century millions of rhinos lived in these regions. Vietnam in particular continues to be a major player in the illicit international rhino horn trade. According to TRAFFIC , a wildlife trade monitoring network, in March 2017 alone there were two seizuresone in Bangkok and one in Hanoitotaling 67 rhino horns. The Bangkok case involved a Vietnamese national, while no suspects were named in the other.

TRAFFIC used the opportunity to call on the Vietnamese government to honor its commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and prosecute wildlife crimes more vigorously. According to the organization, less than 1 percent of criminals involved in such activity in the country are successfully prosecuted.

The graffiti campaign has been a bright spot, though and garnered extensive attention from the public and the media.

A graffiti picture that is part of a campaign to save the rhino in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

In the beginning they [people in the neighborhoods] didnt really support us, but when they saw us clean the walls and draw beautiful pictures they warmed up and were really supportive, Nhi said. They brought us water and cake and brought their kids to play with us and talk about rhinos.

Suby believes there has been an outpouring of support because of the role art can play in activism.

I think graffiti is something new here and people are getting interested in it, he said. You can reach more people with artespecially on the streets  I think touching the people and the neighbors, thats the strength of street art.

Philip Genochio, a British expat based in Ho Chi Minh City, was also involved in the campaign as an artist.

A graffiti picture that is part of a campaign to save the rhino in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Michael Tatarski / Mongabay

For me, it goes beyond rhinos specifically, he wrote via email. Its part of a much bigger problem of wildlife of all descriptions being killed in the name of vanity and ignorance.

His design in the campaign features the outlines of many small rhinos forming the shape of a large rhino. I wanted something that had impact; something that would at least get peoples attention, he said. Also, I liked the idea of using vivid colors to represent happiness, joy and well-being  we should have these thoughts in our minds when thinking about wildlife.

Genochio added that he wishes to see the campaign spread an appreciation for art as well.

On a lighter note, I hope people see the benefit that graffiti and street art brings to a city and its neighborhoods, he said. Its uplifting, its characterful, its inspiring  why wouldnt you want to see this around the city?

Reposted with permission from our media associate Mongabay.
U.S. cloud computing giant Salesforce announced two major sustainability milestones on Thursday.

The San Francisco-based company has achieved net-zero greenhouse gas emissionsfulfilling a commitment it made in 2015and is now providing a carbon-neutral cloud for customers.

The cloud runs on electricity, which today relies predominantly on fossil fuels, a major source of global emissions, Salesforce sustainability director Patrick Flynn wrote in a blog post. As a cloud leader, we have a responsibility to help combat the adverse effects of climate change.

Climate change impacts everyoneevery individual, company, city and nation, Flynn wrote. And its effects are compounded in the worlds poorest regions, amplifying global inequality. Equality is a core value at Salesforce and thats why were committed to harnessing our culture of innovation to fight climate change and drive toward equality for all.

Salesforce initially set its goal of hitting net-zero by 2050, meaning as of today the company is 33 years ahead of schedule, Cleantechnica noted.

The firm achieved this goal through two 12-year renewable energy agreements with wind farms in Texas and West Virginia, and through the purchase of high-quality carbon offset projects.

Two of the projects are:

Proyecto Mirador: Replaces open, wood-burning cookstoves in Honduras with a more efficient alternative, decreasing emissions and deforestation while improving human health through better indoor air quality. Each cookstove reduces CO2 emissions by nearly 15 metric tons over its five-year life.

India Solar Water Heating: Provides households, small- and medium-sized businesses and institutions with a cleaner and more reliable hot water supply fueled by renewable energy rather than carbon-intensive sources.

In a blog post regarding todays announcement, Salesforce CFO Mark Hawkins explained how companies can save a lot of money by reducing emissions:

According to a 2013 study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund and the Carbon Disclosure Project, U.S. companies, excluding utilities, could save up to $190 billion by 2020 just by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an average of three percent per year.

Not only do these efforts positively impact the environment, they positively impact our bottom line. When we improve the efficiency of a data center, it costs less for us to operate that facility. For example, driving more efficient use of electricity in our data centers lowers our utility bills.

According to Hawkins, the company is exploring other ways to reduce carbon usage, such as reporting employee travel volume and making design changes to their offices.

For instance, the firm recently awarded a contract to a local company to supply furniture for the new Salesforce Tower in Indianapolis, he said.

Not only did the company meet our sustainability standards for the materials it used, but by going local, we avoided the environmental impact and the fees associated with shipping and scheduling deliveries with a non-local supplier, Hawkins wrote.

A number of Silicon Valley companies are stepping up to the plate to combat climate change in the face of a presidential administration seemingly hostile towards environmental protections.

Last month, Apple, Amazon, Google and Microsoft filed an amicus brief to support Obama-era clean energy regulations that President Donald Trump is trying to undo.
By Osprey Orielle Lake

Despite the termination of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) by the U.S. Trump administration and the oil now filling the pipeline beneath the Standing Rock Sioux peoples sacred Lake OaheIndigenous women leaders and their global allies remain unyielding in their quest for justice and healing regarding the violations of Indigenous rights and human rights being carried out through the development of DAPL and other fossil fuel projects across North America.

With determination and courage, a delegation of Indigenous women from Standing Rock and their allies who observed and experienced rights violations in North Dakota due to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, recently traveled to Norway and Switzerland to share their on-the-ground experiences as Indigenous women who are living and working in communities directly impacted by fossil fuel development and infrastructure.

Norway and Switzerland are home to some of the largest financial institutions investing in DAPL and in corporations that orchestrate pipeline projects, despite global and national reputations as countries with high ethical standards and respect for human rights.

Seeking to make known the impacts being felt in North Dakota as a direct result of the European investments, members of the Indigenous Womens Divestment Delegation engaged with representatives of financial institutions and government leaders, civil society groups and public forums to provide first-hand testimony on the impacts of extractive industries, oil spills and contamination in their homelandsas well as to raise urgent calls for international solidarity, justice, divestment from dirty energy and a transition to renewable energy.

Making Indigenous human rights abuses visible is critical in ending human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples. Indigenous women deserve spaces where they can share their personal testimonies regarding the impacts of extractive industries on their lands, lives, bodies and human rights, Michelle Cook, Dine human rights lawyer and a founding member of the of the Water Protector Legal Collective at Standing Rock, explained in advance of the divestment trip, this delegation provides the rare opportunity for Indigenous women to meet face to face with the international banks who fund DAPL and oil and gas extraction in their traditional territories.

In Norway, the delegation met with Den Norske Bank (DNB); the Council on Ethics for the Government Pension Fund Global, commonly known as the Norwegian Oil Fund; the Norwegian Parliament; a delegation of Sami Indigenous peoples of the region; and with Norways Sami President, Vibeke Larsen.

Police use tear gas against peaceful protectors standing in freezing temperatures to protect the water. Honor the Earth

The delegation members provided compelling and graphic testimony during each of their meetings, calling for full divestment and withdrawal of support by international financiers of DAPL and conveying in detail the militarization and abuses of law enforcement at Standing Rock, which include the use of attack dogs, mace, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, intrusive surveillance, water cannons and other physical violence against those involved in nonviolent direct actions based in traditional prayer, freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.

The inevitable pipeline break on the river will result in catastrophic contamination of the water supply for 17 million people downstream, including our people. This sends a direct message that our people are expendable, explained Standing Rock Sioux leader and former tribal historic preservation officer, Waste Win Young, making known to the banks that her people would not be deterred in their work to maintain a physical and spiritual presence on our ancestral lands.

This movement has and always will be guided by prayer and love. Wochekiye. Wothehila. Wowausila. Prayer. Love. Compassion. Young explained.

In their testimonies the women called for justice and rule of law, drawing upon the recent report from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which confirms that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had been the subject of violation of international Indigenous and human rights law due to the failure of processes of consultation and consent affirmed and recognized by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which has been adopted by both the governments of Norway and Switzerland.

The delegation advocated for the Norwegian Oil Fund to change their guidelines and standards to properly address Indigenous and human rights abuses and, while the women were in Norway, DNB bank fully divested its $331 million USD credit line to DAPL. Through inputs from diverse groups and an independent investigation, DNB had confirmed the lack of consultation with the Standing Rock Sioux and the violation of Indigenous rights.

The presence of the Indigenous Womens Divestment Delegation in Norway helped tipped the scales for the DNB divestment and during the delegation meeting with the bank, the women spoke out to encourage the bank to advocate for the other 15 international banks engaged in DAPL and the Norwegian Oil Fund to follow their example.

When the DNB representatives were asked by delegation members if they would invest in the controversial Keystone XL pipeline resurrected under the Trump administration, they flatly stated that after their experience with Standing Rock, they would not touch Keystone.

Indeed, the movement to pull funding from the Dakota Access Pipeline is gaining traction, with cities, tribes and individuals across the world removing over five billion dollars of DAPL investments, according to public statistics collected by the DeFundDAPL collective.

In the 21st century, an investment in dated, entrenched, dirty fossil fuels is an investment against our children and our future. Indigenous peoples bear the brunt of the many harms associated with extractive industry, our communities are impacted first and worst. We must break the cycle of oil dependency and justly transition to a green economy, urged delegation member Tara Houska, an Anishinaabe tribal attorney, national campaigns director of Honor the Earth and former advisor on Native American affairs to Bernie Sanders.

The delegation meets with members of the Norwegian Parliament. Also pictured with the Indigenous women delegates and Parliamentarians: Tanyette Colon (documentarian and delegation supporter) and Osprey Orielle Lake (delegation organizer, Womens Earth and Climate Action Network).

In their meetings, delegation members also spoke about the traditional role women hold as protectors of water in their communities and the responsibility each person has to care for the web of life. Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle, Oglala Lakota and Mdewakantonwan Dakota living and working on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, elucidated on this point:

The connections between who we are as Lakota Oyateour health, our lands and water, our spirituality, our self-empowerment and self-esteemare deeply rooted; the actions we take to protect our land and water, our future and our childrens water can only help us all. We all have the powerwowasakewithin us to make a difference in this world.

Following strong advocacy in Norway, the delegation received requests to travel to Switzerland to continue work to highlight human rights and Indigenous rights violations and demand pipeline divestment, arranging meetings with Credit Suisse bank and UBS, a Swiss global financial services company.

In Norway the Indigenous Womens Divestment Delegation: Experiences From Standing Rock members (left to right) Dr. Sarah Jumping Eagle, Tara Houska, Michelle Cook, Autumn Chacon and Waste Win Young Osprey Orielle Lake/WECAN

The meeting with Credit Suisse fulfilled all my expectations of a bank that tries to pretend it is removed from the atrocities happening on the ground, explained Tara Houska, that said, I think it was very powerful for them to see our faces first hand and to hear the experiences of people at Standing Rock and to know that their money is invested in the company that is creating this pipeline project and causing destruction to real people. We are in the era of renewable energy; we have alternatives to the fossil fuel industry. We are asking the Swiss people to stand with us and to recognize that the actions they take affect others around the world and that simply because its out of sight and out of mind does not mean that this is not actually happening. Divestment is the next wave of direct action against these corporations.

Autumn Chacon, a Dine artist, water protector and divestment delegate commented further:

Here we have one of the most powerful banks in the world, doing business with unethical corporations in the U.S. who have undermined the law and human rights. Credit Swiss bank wants to relinquish any direct tie to genocide of American Indians, however in this case, we all see the bank as the enabler of the abuser.

Delegates hold a press conference in the center of the financial district in Zurich, Switzerland.

Credit Suisse bank has agreed to a follow-up communication with the delegation in two months time after an internal discussion process for reviewing and applying their respective guidelines.

As delegate Dr. Sarah Jumping Eagle reported:

Credit Swiss was receptive to our description of the human rights abuses that occurred during the protests. Yet, they are still in denial about their direct financing of the corrupt Energy Transfer Partner Corporation and its role in the Dakota Access pipeline project. Credit Swiss is attempting to distance themselves from these violations of Indigenous rights and human rights abuses. On a positive note, they said that they would review their internal policies and procedures to take into account Indigenous and human rights.

Waste Win Young (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) is interviewed by the Swiss press during the delegation. Osprey Orielle Lake / WECAN

The Indigenous Womens Divestment Delegation was organized and facilitated by the Womens Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International in response to the leadership and request of frontline Indigenous women seeking financial divestment from DAPL and other fossil fuel developments which threaten the lives, rights and cultural survival of their nations and peoples.

As has been demonstrated everyday on-the-ground at Standing Rock and during the divestment delegationIndigenous women are the backbone and future of their tribal nations and now more than ever, it is essential that we stand with frontline women as they act for protection of water and land, a transition to clean energy and a halt to escalating climate change.

The various bank and government representatives who heard the women speak will not be the same again after hearing first-hand experiences of rights violations and the womens demands for no more fossil fuel extraction on their lands, respect for Indigenous rights and sovereignty, human rights and the rights of nature.

Globally, it is time for financial institutions to listen to the voices of Indigenous women leaders and their allies as they call for accountability to people and planet. Delegation members, WECAN and diverse leaders across the U.S. and around the world will continue divestment advocacy and actions until there are genuine results founded in justice and care for the futures of all of our children. Together, we must fight to restore the health of our communities, divest from dirty energy, invest and transition to renewable energy and build the just world we seek.

Osprey Orielle Lake is the founder and executive director of the Womens Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International and serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. She was asked to organize and facilitate the Indigenous Womens Divestment Delegation and is the author of the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature. Follow on Twitter @WECAN_INTL.
ECSU Travel Abroad Program Explores Barcelona, Spain

The modernist cathedral La Sagrada Familia designed by Antonio Gaudi, people watching along the famed boulevard Las Ramblas, laundry dangling on lines strung across waterfront buildings in the neighborhood of Barceloneta, and the medieval Gothic cathedral tucked away in the citys old quarter. These are just a few of the sights which unfolded in front of 10 Elizabeth City State University students when they made a trek to Barcelona, Spain earlier this year.

Trips abroad such as this one to Barcelona have been a regular feature for ECSU students interested in seeing the world. According to Dr. Mary-Lynn Chambers, who hosted this latest journey, students have visited a number of countries, including most recently London, England, and look forward to touring parts of Eastern Europe next year.

The trip was a wonderful opportunity for the students to gain a more global perspective that expanded their knowledge of a country, and what it means to travel abroad, said Chambers. It opened their eyes to new opportunities that are available to them in the global marketplace.

Chambers says that the travel abroad program not only provides students with new experiences, but also lessons. If ECSU students choose, they can earn an academic credit as long as they are willing to do the extra work involved, says Chambers.

Its very academically-oriented with an official tour guide from the country who educates the group throughout the tour, said Chambers.

Students such as Joshua McCoy and Cheyenne Butler say the trip to Barcelona gave them the chance to experience a new culture and the thrill of international travel.

I saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the culture of other people, said McCoy.

Traveling abroad, he said, showed him that there is much to learn in this world.

I learned that everyone should travel more, said McCoy. You never know what the world is truly like until you step out of the country. People were so nice and helpful, minus a few pick pockets.

For Butler, the experience showed her that while cultures may differ, people are generally nice. The group, she said, had a cancelled flight and that experience opened her up to the realization.

It made me realize that even though people come from different walks of life, that everyone, overall, is very friendly and willing to help you no matter what, she said. No matter how many times I got turned around, someone was always willing to help me find my way to where I was going.

Next year the travel abroad program, says Chambers, will be going to Eastern European locations such as Budapest, Hungary, Krakow, Poland, Prague, Czech Republican, and Vienna, Austria. Like the Barcelona trip, students will have the opportunity to learn something new, and experience something unforgettable.

For more information about the next international travel opportunity, contact Dr. Mary-Lynn Chambers by email at mchambers@ecsu.edu.
School districts face new demands under federal law to show that theyre engaging parents in students education. And many ed-tech companies are convinced that they have the platforms to strengthen and streamline those school-to-family connections.

Yet whether those tools will end up bolstering parent engagement in keeping with the vision of the Every Student Succeeds Act , or do so in only limited and superficial ways, remains to be seen.

ESSA, like the No Child Left Behind Act before it, requires districts to set aside 1 percent of the Title I funding they receive for disadvantaged students to pay for parent- and family-engagement initiatives and distribute at least 90 percent of that funding directly to schools.

But ESSA, which became law in 2015, also sets a higher bar than its predecessor in one respect: It mandates that districts conduct outreach to all parents and family members in order to receive parent-engagement funding. In their parent- and family-engagement policies, schools must describe how they will conduct regular two-way, meaningful communication with families, and to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand.

Many schools today, including Title I schools, are already using digital tools and platforms meant to increase schools capability to communicate with parents via text-message, email, and other means, about classroom assignments, attendance, scheduling, and other matters.

Advocates of improving parent engagement say technology could help schools meet the laws requirements to engage parentsbut only if districts are careful to apply it in meaningful ways.

We want folks to see [the law] as a real opportunity to engage communities that havent been a part of the system before, said Maria Moser, the senior director of teaching and learning for the National Council of La Raza. Anything that gives the school more resources and suggests that theyre making an effort to communicate with families, thats a net positive.

But the danger is that people are always kind of looking for a silver bullet. Using technology platforms, she said, doesnt absolve districts of the responsibility to do the groundwork for building relationships with families.

Student Outcomes

Because most of their content is pushed out by schools, ed-tech platforms could be just another way for schools to broadcast whats going on without necessarily engaging families, said Steven Sheldon, a research scientist and associate professor at Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for the Social Organization of Schools. And because low-income parents are less likely to use the portals, he said, districts need to take care not to exclude populations with the highest needs. These technology platforms are another way to help schools meet the letter of the lawbut I dont know that they help them meet the spirit of the law, Sheldon said.

Parent-to-school communication platforms today come in many forms. Some of them, such as Remind , are used primarily for sending updates and reminders to parents, via in-app messaging or SMS text.

Others include parent-communication tools built within broader tech platforms. Those communication toolssuch as ClassDojo , Edmodo , FreshGrade , and Seesaw allow parents to access student work, view videos and photos from class, and receive updates on student behavior. Many also allow users to like or comment on posts. The platforms also have the ability to track parents engagement with specific contentsuch as student assignments, test scores, or electronic messagesat the classroom, school, and district levels.

ESSA's Expectations Parent-engagement language in Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act requires schools and districts to make stronger efforts to reach out to all families. From Title I, Part A, Subpart 1, Section 1116: A local educational agency may receive funds under this part only if such agency conducts outreach to all parents and family members and implements programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents and family members in programs assisted under this part consistent with this section. [E]ach school served under this part shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact.  Such compact shall  address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum  ensuring regular two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff, and, to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand.

Research has shown that parent-teacher digital communication, when promoted under the right circumstances, can improve student outcomes .

A study published by Teachers College, Columbia University , earlier this year found that sending academic updates via text to parents of middle and high school students reduced course failures by 38 percent and improved student attendance by 17 percent. The effects were largest for high school students and for students with below-average GPAs. And a working paper released by Harvard University in 2014 found that weekly text updates to parents of students in a credit-recovery program resulted in a 41 percent reduction in the number of students failing to earn the necessary credits.

Technology platforms alone cannot fulfill parent-involvement requirements, but they can increase engagement and two-way communication, especially around academics, said Danielle Costello, a family- and community-engagement specialist for the Milwaukee district. In November, it started a districtwide implementation of Remind.

The Remind system gives us an opportunity to have a dialogue with families that we dont have in any of our current platforms, and thats really classroom-based conversations, she said. Its another tool in the toolbox.

Costello, who is also a parent of a student in the district, uses the app to text with her preschoolers teacher about student progress, classroom behavior, and updates on field trips or multiple cases of classroom colds.

Emily Voigtlander, the marketing and community manager for Seesaw, emphasized the opportunities ed-tech platforms present for a frequent and more open dialogue. Seesaw allows teachers and students to upload content to student portfolios, which parents can then view. In addition to student work, users can post photos or videos of class activities.

When students or teachers upload new content to the app, parents are notified automatically, said Voigtlanger. The apps commenting and liking features mean that parents can interact with posts and respond to teachers. Communication is a two-way street, she said.

Wendy Thompson, a teacher who uses Seesaw in her class at A. Harry Moore School in Jersey City, N.J., said Seesaw helps her share content and updates with parents who can be hard to reach. Its important to keep parents aware of whats happening, but its always been a difficult process, she said. Most of her students parents work during the day. We dont have a lot of in-building parent visits.

But persuading teachers to use new parent-communication platforms is not always easy, said Elliot Soloway, a professor of technology in education at the University of Michigan.

Requiring teachers to have digital, two-way communication with dozens of parents can be literally unmanageable, he said. It sounds like a good idea, but I think in practice, its a really challenging idea to implement.

Currently, Milwaukees districtwide implementation of the Remind system is not mandatory for schools. We have different levels of engagement from different leaders as weve presented this as an option, said Costello.

The value of different platforms is likely to vary by the type of communication they offer, said Sheldon, the Johns Hopkins researcher. Apps that share videos of class activities, for example, provide a greater depth of information about whats going on in the classroom than a text notification and really can provide very meaningful support, he said.

The Biggest Challenge

Yet even the most sophisticated platform cant increase engagement if families arent using it, especially if they do not have access to a cellphone or computer.

Some companies say they struggle with getting families in Title I schools to sign up and log on.

Manish Kothari, the general manager of platform for Edmodo, said the company could do better in working with teachers to get parents on board. This is also an issue at Seesaw, where Voigtlander said there is room for improvement when it comes to connecting parents to the app for the first time.

Some of the disconnect stems from language barriers, Voigtlander added. Seesaw, like many platforms, can translate updates from teachers into other languages, but the apps user interface is in English. Though not available currently, Voigtlander said that offering a translated sign-up could help parents get connected more easily.

One possible solution would be for schools and districts to do more to help parents set up and navigate accounts when using platforms that may not be the most user-friendly or intuitive, especially for speakers of other languages, said Sheldon. Low-income families are less likely to use parent portals, so if school districts dont provide targeted user support, they could be excluding the very populations theyre trying to engage, he said.

Thompson was only able to get parent buy-in in her class at A. Harry Moore School after she demonstrated the Seesaw app in person.

The biggest challenge for us was getting the parents to understand what the platform actually was, she said, until she showed families their Seesaw accounts on her iPad at parent meetings.

They got so excited, said Thompson. They were passing me their phones in the meeting saying, Can you download it for me? Can you show me how to use it? 

Despite the families eventual buy-in, Thompson still saw challenges in implementing technology-based communication, especially in schools that dont have a consistent foundation of in-person parent interaction.

Its hard, she said, when you dont have a real PTA and parents that are coming in and you can do training on something new.
Five years ago, Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and Daniela Pelaez walked out of North Miami High School hand-in-hand.

Pelaez, the valedictorian of her high school class, faced an imminent deportation order after a federal immigration judge denied her request for a green card.

Carvalho, the head of one of the nations largest, most immigrant-rich school systems, was there to lend support as her teachers and schoolmatesmore than 2,000 of themstaged a walkout protest to rally support for the Dartmouth College-bound teenager.

As Carvalho and Pelaez stood in a classroom preparing to face thousands of supporters and public scrutiny, he looked her in the eye and said: You will be deported over my dead body.

Carvalho still uses the same feisty language in his spirited defense of undocumented children in Miamis public schools.

Carvalho, who came to the United States from Portugal as a teenager and overstayed his visa, has served as a mentor to Pelaez, a relationship the superintendent has maintained as she moved through college and continued to cope with uncertainty about her long-term future in the United States.

The two have kept in touch since she moved to New Hampshire in the summer of 2012, setting aside time to chat every three to four months about classes, family, and work.

He reaffirms that Im worthy, not just as a student, but as a person, Pelaez said. I belong here.

Hopeful to Harrowing

The tone of their conversations on the topic of immigration has shifted from hopeful to harrowing amid the aggressive enforcement policies ordered by the Trump administration.

As she prepares to graduate in June with a degree in anthropology and health studies, with plans to attend medical school in the future, Pelaez immigration status remains tenuous.

Shes among hundreds of thousands of young people awaiting word on the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, an Obama-administration policy that granted temporary deportation reprieves for people brought here illegally as children.

Without DACA protections, Pelaez could once again be a target for immediate deportation.

We have to go through life every day not knowing whats going to happen, Pelaez said. Its terrifying.

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to repeal the policy once he took office. Since taking office, Trump has not acted to reverse DACA, and at times, has used more sympathetic language toward young immigrants. But hes not offered any specifics on the longer-term fate of DACA and undocumented immigrants such as Palaez.

The federal government must have higher priorities to address rather than pick on somebody like Daniela or children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in this country, Carvalho said. Theyre Americans in every sense of the word other than the fact that they were not born here.

Rearview Mirror

Pelaez came to the United States from Colombia as a 5-year-old with her family, who overstayed their visa.

After Pelaez mother returned to Colombia for medical reasons in 2006, she was denied re-entry to the United States. Palaez lived with her father, who eventually became a U.S. citizen.

Pelaez and her mother havent seen each other face-to-face in more than a decade, but Pelaez is working to secure a temporary visa that would allow her mom to attend Dartmouths graduation. She expects it to be a tearful reunion.

Its going to be a very emotional time, Pelaez said. This diploma isnt just for me, its for family too.

Carvalho plans to be there along with Pelaezs family, cheering her on. As a former undocumented resident, he understands both the immigrant experience and the potential sway of people in positions of influence. He has been the superintendent of the 350,000-student Miami-Dade school system since 2008.

Carvalho said the late U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr., a Florida Republican who served more than a quarter century in Congress, helped him secure his first student visa and work permit.

I was able to go to college. I was able to continue my studies, said Carvalho, a former national superintendent of the year, who is now a U.S. citizen. His district is among a growing number nationwide that have publicly designated schools as safe zones in the face of ramped-up deportation raids and other immigration enforcement actions.

I do see myself through the trials and tribulations of Daniela Pelaez and many others, Carvalho said.

I remember the harshness of ... becoming undocumented, overstaying your visa, and opportunities closing [up] around you, I would be a hypocrite if I did not look at them and [see a] rearview image of me.
JEFFERSON CITY  Alondra Figueroa and Jazmin Phares of Farmington, and Chloe Propst of Ste. Genevieve, were three of 30 Missouri high school sophomores recently selected to participate in the Missouri Department of Agricultures Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA). Figueroa, Phares and Propst will spend the first week of June in the Kansas City area learning about many of the unique opportunities available in agriculture.

These young men and women have already developed some of the essential qualities it takes to be leaders, said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. Through MAbA, we hope to further instill the importance of them using those leadership skills to contribute to the betterment of agriculture and advocate for our industry that provides food and clothing for the world.

On Monday, June 5, the MAbA class will convene at the Missouri Department of Agriculture. After a department overview and tour, the students will travel to Kansas City. During the 2017 Missouri Agribusiness Academy, the students will visit businesses and learn about career opportunities in animal and plant health, communications, value-added agriculture production and more. The students will end their week with a graduation ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 900 academy memberships through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers.

To be eligible for the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, students must come from a farming family or be an active member of the National FFA Organization or 4-H.

Figueroa is a sophomore at Farmington Senior High School, where she is an active member of the Farmington FFA Chapter. She is the daughter of Carlos Figueroa and Yolymar Rivera.

Phares is a sophomore at Farmington Senior High School, where she is an active member of the Farmington FFA Chapter and Bear Creek Kidz 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Eric Phares and Tina Mecey.

Propst is a sophomore at St. Paul Lutheran High School, where she is an active member of the Farmington FFA Chapter and Wild Bunch 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Steve and Tami Propst.
The Leadington Board of Aldermen took care of several housekeeping items following the April 4 municipal election when the board met in regular session Tuesday night at the municipal building.

Mayor Dustin Winick and Alderman Casie Braddy, both incumbents, along with local pastor and political newcomer Brad Luckey, were sworn into their respective offices for two-year terms by City Clerk Debbie Eggers after the election results were certified at the top of the meeting.

While Winick ran unopposed for re-election, Braddy and Luckey faced three challengers to fill the city's two open alderman seats. According to the results tabulated by St. Francois County Clerk Mark Hedrick, Luckey was the top candidate with 33 votes, followed by Braddy who garnered 22. Jennifer Parker came in a close third with 17 votes, followed by Joseph Davis who received 8, and Bruce West who finished the race with 6 votes.

With the new board of aldermen in place, members voted, following discussion, to accept a $7,000 bid from Maloney, Wright and Robbins to perform the city's annual audit. The Farmington-based CPA firm performed Leadington's audit last year as well. It was also decided to go with Belgrade State Bank for the purchase of an additional city-owned CD.

As part of the eligibility requirements to apply for a Community Development Block Grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the board unanimously approved a "Fair Housing" ordinance for the city.

In the ordinance, the city declares itself to have a public policy "to eliminate discrimination and safeguard the right of any person to sell, purchase, lease, rent or obtain real property without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin." It includes sections detailing discriminatory practices and discrimination in the financing of a house, as well as creation of a five-member Fair Housing Committee to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the board of aldermen.

Additionally, a fine of not more than $500 and/or no more than 90-days confinement in jail will be levied against any person convicted in municipal court of violating the ordinance. It is also noted that "as an alternative remedy," the city attorney "may seek to have the alleged discriminatory practices abated by an action for an injunction to be maintained" in the appropriate state circuit court.

In other action, the board approved an agreement with the county to continue collecting municipal taxes, the purchase of file cabinets, attendance by the court clerk at a MACA training conference, the buyback of two cemetery plots at a cost of $350 each, and repair of the city's backhoe. The aldermen also voted to keep both city mowers, despite the hiring of a service to provide landscape upkeep at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Several boards will meet today for the first time following the April 4 election.

Farmington City Council will approve the appointment to fill a vacant seat while the Bismarck Board of Aldermen plans to use a coin toss to decide who wins a seat on their board. Also meeting tonight are the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees and the North County Board of Education.

Farmington

The Farmington City Council will meet for two public hearings and a second reading and council action on a piece of legislation before the approval of election results and the reconvening of a council with a new mayor at the helm on Thursday.

The public hearings are for a final record plat for property located at 1212 Weber Rd. and 605 and 607 Wallace Rd. The request was submitted by Taylor Engineering on behalf of Parkland Health CenterWeber.

The second hearing is for an amendment to the definition of front yard in the citys municipal code.

The current council will also hold a second reading and council action on legislation regarding land use for payday and title loan businesses.

After that vote, Mayor Mit Landrum will make a motion to approve the April 4 election results, with an immediate motion to go into recess and a reconvening to administer the oath of office to newly-elected Larry Forsythe and council members.

Among the first items on the agenda are the election of mayor pro-tem, and committee appointments. The council will also take action on two items of new business  one being the appointment of Landrum to serve as a member of the Industrial Development Authority and the second to appoint Cody Eaves to fill the Ward I council seat left empty by Forsythes election.

Legislative items include a first reading only on both matters from the public hearing.

The public hearing starts at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers, located at 110 W. Columbia St., with regular session beginning immediately after. The public hearing and regular session are open to the public.

A special reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Long Memorial Hall to honor the outgoing Farmington city leaders who are retiring from office.

Landrum and Councilmen Garett Boatright and Dennis Smith will be on hand prior to the council meeting for cake, punch and a chance for local residents to thank them for their many years of dedicated service.

Bismarck

When the Bismarck Board of Aldermen meets in regular session at 7 p.m. tonight in the old train depot on East Main Street, a coin toss will be held to break a tie between two alderman candidates  incumbent Carol Baker and Keith Colwell  who received the same number of votes in the April 4 municipal election.

Other items appearing on the tentative agenda include an update on the county 911 Communications Center by Director Alan Wells, a question and answer period led by a representative from Charter Communications and a presentation by the citys chamber of commerce on upcoming projects.

The board will also appoint a new fire chief and assistant fire chief, as well as review and approve a list of proposed employee holidays for 2017-18, OK the date for the citys annual spring cleanup, approve the countys continued collection of city taxes, consider approval of Court Clerk Michelle More attending annual training, and a vote on an ordinance preventing canine cruelty and requiring appropriate care, veterinary treatment, living space and treatment of all canines within the city limits.

The meeting is open to the public.

MAC

The Mineral Area College Board of Trustees meets in regular session at 2 p.m. in the boardroom on the schools Park Hills campus.

Items on the tentative agenda include reports from Dr. Steve Kurtz, Phi Theta Kappa, Classified Staff and the Faculty Forum. In addition, the board will receive updates on summer/fall enrollment; CMU commencement; the 2017 Excellence in Teaching award; and updates on festivals, fairs and competitions. The trustees will also consider approving a refinancing plan for the school's Series 2008 Certificates of Participation.

The meeting is open to the public.

North County

The North County School Board of Education will meet in regular session today at 6 p.m. in the administration building, located at 300 Berry Road in Bonne Terre.

Listed under actions items are to consider the approval of regulation 4530 dealing with workers compensation, bid for the district wide phone system and consider an adjustment to the cap for district paid health insurance.

The board will also approve banking card services, award a bid for the multipurpose building lockers and approve the career ladder program handbook.

Items on the agenda under communications are recognition of students and staff, consideration of the outdoor club request and board policy updates.

This meeting is open to the public.
A new trailer has just been released for the Australian science fiction movie series, "The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One."

While not a lot of people have probably heard of the new movie, the film is apparently generating a lot of excitement in the sci-fi movie space.

The upcoming new movie, which is also called "Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child," was created by the Australian director Shane Abbess. The director is also responsible for other popular sci-fi films such as "Infini" and "Gabriel." According to First Showing, the script for the movie was written by Abbess himself along with Brian Cachia.

Despite what the title suggests, the movie is actually not based on any book or novel. The film is apparently an all original concept that depicts a possible future for humanity. The film has been described by its creators as an "adrenaline-fueled sci-fi adventure" film that takes place in a future where humans have already started colonizing other planets.

According to iO9, despite being a low-budget Australian film, the movie still manages to pull off some amazing visual effects on top of an interesting story. The movie centers around a lieutenant working for an off-world contractor who is in search for his young daughter. Kane, played by Daniel MacPherson, is searching for his daughter, played by Teagan Croft, and is hell-bent on saving her from an impending global crisis.

Apart from MacPherson and Croft, the movie will also star several recognizable stars such as Temuera Morrison, Rachel Griffiths, and Kellen Lutz. Those who have already seen the movie when it was premiered at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Germany late last year, described the movie to be a combination of several science fiction elements. These elements include space battles, huge aliens, high-tech weaponry, and a dystopian "Mad Max" setting.

"The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One" is scheduled to be released in Australia this month. Unfortunately, there hasn't yet been any confirmation regarding its release in the United States.
A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship
I carried out the research for this paper in Tawang in May 2013. This was a fi eld visit to Tawang following extended visits in 2008, 2009, and 2010. An initial draft was presented at the Asian Borderlands Research Network conference in Hong Kong (810 December 2014).

I am grateful to the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and the North East India Studies Programme, in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, for supporting this paper at different stages of writing and revision. I am grateful to Kerstin Grothmann from Humboldt University, Germany, for her valuable comments on the fi rst draft.
The European Union has criticized the US state of Arkansas for scheduled executions for the period between 17 April and 27 April on the grounds that it de-facto breaks the moratorium on capital punishment observed by Arkansas since November 2005. The southern US state bordering the Mississippi River would become the first state in the country to conduct 7 executions over an 11-day period since the resumption of the use of death penalty in 1977 in the United States.

Capital punishment is illegal in the 19 out of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia. In 2016, the United States did not rank among the worlds five biggest executioners for the first time since 2006 and only the second time since 1991. Amnesty International reports that only five US states executed people in 2016: Alabama (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Missouri (1), Texas (7), with Texas and Georgia, accounting for 80% of the countrys executions in 2016. The number of executions (20) has fallen to the record low in any year since 1991 and the number of executions has fallen every year since 2009 (except for 2012 when it stayed the same).

According to the EU, the executions in Arkansas, if carried out as planned, would be a serious setback in this overall development. Europe has long advocated that while capital punishment fails to act as a deterrent to crime, it represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity and cannot be justified under any circumstances. More than 140 countries in the world are now abolitionist in law or practice. The EU has called on the Governor of Arkansas to commute the sentences and grant the convicts relief from the death penalty.
Moldova will get fresh funding from the European Union worth almost 100 million euros  60 million in loans and 40 million in the form of grants. The new financial package will supplement resources provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral institutions. The assistance aims at supporting the countrys economic stabilization and structural reform agenda, helping to cover its external financing needs over the coming two years.

In this generous package, the EU acknowledged that Moldova had been affected by political instability between November 2014 and January 2016 and accompanying weak economic activity due to import bands imposed by Russia. Since early 2016, the authorities have introduced various reforms but need to make more efforts to implement them. Moreover, those who brought about the banking frauds must be brought to justice. The EU also called for reforms in the financial sector and public finances that have been undertaken under an IMF program.

Moldova and the IMF agreed on a 3-year extended credit in mid-2016 and an extension of facility arrangement for $178.7 million. Chisinau, Moldovas capital city, also requested complementary assistance from the EU in August 2015 and later renewed that request in March 2016. A precondition to the provision of the 100-million-euro package will be that Moldova will respect a multi-party parliamentary system and broader democratic mechanisms as well as the rule of law and human rights. Other objectives also include efficiency, transparency and accountability of public finance management and effective prevention of corruption and money laundering.

The EU and Moldova have signed an Association Agreement that strengthens mutual political and economic ties with the EU and sets out a reform plan in areas vital for good governance and economic development. By signing the deal, Chisinau committed to reforming its domestic policies on the basis of EU laws and practice.


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.
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It was a day of good news for the oil bulls. While most OPEC members have voiced their support for a six-month extension of production cuts, Saudi Arabia was keeping its cards close to its chest. However, yesterday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia was also in favor of an extension for another six months.

The production cuts, which started in January were to end in June. However, now, with Saudi Arabia onboard, the extension will be announced after OPECs next meeting to be held in May.

First signs of drawdowns in the US crude oil inventory

The American Petroleum Institute said that the crude oil inventory fell 1.3 million barrels, against analysts expectations for an increase of 87,000 barrels. Similarly, both the gasoline and distillate inventory drawdowns were larger than analysts expectations.

If, today, the EIA report also shows a drawdown of oil, it will be a welcome relief for the bulls. After all, the crude oil inventories are at record levels, a sign that the OPEC production cuts have still not caused a considerable supply deficit.

Geopolitical tensions on the rise

First, it was the Syrian missile attack, yesterday it was tensions concerning North Korea, whose state media warned of a nuclear attack on the US if the US Navy, on its way to the western Pacific, acted against it.

US President Donald Trump tweeted that North Korea was looking for trouble. He also wrote: "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!"

If tensions escalate further, it will increase the risk premium in oil, however, it will also raise concerns about demand pick up, which will be negative for oil in the medium-term.

Nevertheless, for now, crude oil continues to rise for the fifth day in a row.
Founders of Linkoping-based Brave New World Investments saw an opportunity to invest in the Tehran stock exchange. In order to register with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, Bolagsverket, they wanted to open a traditional bank account.

However, fearing setbacks to their US business - as the US sanctions are still in force - the top six banks of Sweden refused to support the idea.

"The sanctions have impacted both economically, and in a humanitarian sense," said Brave New World Investments co-founder Mikael Johansson. "Economically, they have been cut off from the international banking community."

Nevertheless, Bolagsverket registrar in charge of the case, Madeleine Idvardsson, was open to the idea to use bitcoins as a way to prove Brave New Worlds liquidity and incorporate domestically.

In order to prove their identity, two identical amounts of bitcoin were transmitted from a predetermined bitcoin addresses to a single agreed-upon address that would serve as a substitute account, reports CoinDesk.

Johansson said that the next step is to open an account in Tehran, which will then be used to convert the bitcoins sent by the clients to local rials for investing in the Tehran Stock Exchange.

"We want to invest in Iran. In good, hard-working companies and individuals," said Johansson.

This is a great relief to Iran and the investors wanting to invest in their stock markets, as they can now use the bitcoins and completely sideline the traditional banking system.

Considering Irans acceptability of Bitcoins, US analyst John Ubele believes that there is the possibility over the next few years of a few hundred mln or maybe a few bln dollars worth of Bitcoins and altcoins coming into the Iranian economy, reports Coin Telegraph.
Hi,

I wished to highlight the dilemma that I have been battling with over the last few months. Seeking last resort in the brilliant minds of this forum. But before I spell out my dilemma, Let me give you a brief background:



- My wife and I got our Aussie PR in Dec 2016; We made our first entry into Australia on 15th March 2017 for visa validation (Our IED was 17th March)

- My wife gave birth to our baby on 17th Feb 2017. My kid is now about 2 months old

- I had my aussified resume + a generic cover letter ready immediately after the PR award and had started applying for jobs in Australia

- I am a Geophysicist working in the Oil and Gas industry; Mostly travel based as I have to stay on oil and Gas platforms across the world for 5-6 weeks on regular basis. I work on a 6 week rotation basis. This means that if I am staying away from home (on some offshore project) for lets say 6 weeks, I will get a full vacation of 6 weeks back home.

- I live in Gurgaon. Currently, mY wife is on maternity leave till June. Although she has no plans of joining back her company in Gurgaon. She works in Standard and Poor, Gurgaon as a Team leader.

- During our 15th March trip to Australia, I bagged an interview with a company in perth. I had extremely positive impression post the interview. The vibes were great. The feeling was extremely welcoming. I thought I had aced it until I got a reject 3 weeks after.

- Currently, I am still applying from overseas. Looking for Geophysicist or relevant role in the Oil and Gas industry in Australia.

- Lastly, I have to assert I am extremely fed up of my job. Want to settle into a white-collar office job and get out of the frequent travel drill especially when now we have a kid to raise. In fact, this feeling is currently bordering on desperation. My job pays me exceedingly well, though.



That much for the background. I am caught in the very famous quandary: whether to move to Australia without a job offer and embark on a massive job hunt there?? Is it like carved in stone that I could NEVER fetch a job being overseas?? Honestly, I was never cut-throat pessimistic about applying from overseas until my recent rejection by the last company. I could never fathom why the rejection when My interview went so well. Though I have been guarded about slipping into the belief that one cannot get a job from overseas, I think now I am giving way.

Anyone in the forum seeking opportunities in Oil and Gas?

I seriously need a moral kick in some way to reach a decision. For now, I will keep applying but I am aware I will have to fix a timeline over which I can keep doing it until I have to take some hard decisions.

Any kind of advice, caveats or just a few encouraging words would be heartily welcome.
Dear Cyprus forum members,



Could you please advise, what are the best websites for vacancy advertisement in Cyprus, particularly Limassol? Can't find a website such as Dubizzle we have in Dubai, where there would be lots of activity with regards to jobs ads.
Expats make up a significant chunk of the UK workforce with 3.4 million people from overseas working in the country, new official figures show.There have been a lot of claims that certain sectors in the UK will be affected when the country leaves the European Union as they rely on workers from overseas and the data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) gives an idea of where the impact might be.  Overall in 2016 there were 3.4 million people from overseas working in the UK or 11% of the labour market of which 7% were from the European Union, but there are higher proportions of international migrants in some industry sectors more than others.The ONS analysis of the figures suggests that it is the wholesale and retail, hospitality, public administration and health sectors that would be worst affected if restrictions were put on the movement of people from the EU. But these are not necessarily the top jobs, as the figures cover all levels of employment including cleaners as well as surgeons.The figures were published as British Chancellor Philip Hammond said that the UK must continue to attract the most skilled workers after Brexit. We need to continue to attract the brightest and the best from around the world to these shores and we will, he told a FinTech conference in London but he added the UK must also do better at nurturing and developing home grown talent.The official figures reveal that 14% of workers or 508,000 people in the wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants are from overseas, while 12% or 382,000 work in the financial and business services sector, and 8% in manufacturing.The highest number of expats are employed in elementary occupations such as selling goods, cleaning or freight handling, in which approximately 669,000 non-UK nationals are employed of which 510,000 are from EU countries.This is followed by professional occupations, in which an estimated 658,000 non-UK nationals were employed of which 352,000 were EU nationals.But the ONS report points out that the figures reflect the sector in which people work rather than the type of job, for example, people working in the finance sector may include cleaning and administrative staff as well as finance professionals, and the same is true for other sectors.The data also shows that expats are more likely to be in jobs they are over qualified for than UK nationals. Approximately 15% of UK nationals were employed in jobs they were deemed to be over educated for in comparison to other workers while two in five expats were in this position.The figures also suggest that it is expats from what is known as EU2 countries, those that joined the EU more recently such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, who would be most affected if there were conditions attached to them staying in the UK after Brexit.The analysis shows the significant impact international migration has on the UK labour market. It is particularly important to the wholesale and retail, hospitality, and public administration and health sectors, which employ around 1.5 million non-UK nationals, said Anna Bodey of the ONS.
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Television streaming giant Hulu is expected to spend an estimated $13 million renovating a new 45,000-square-foot campus in San Antonio where the California company will run its viewer experience operations, city records show.

With its vibrant culture and large and diverse talent pool, were incredibly excited to partner with the city to make San Antonio home to our viewer experience operations, Ben Smith, head of Hulu experience said in a press release.

City and Bexar County leaders spent months courting Hulu to locate its customer service center in San Antonio, bringing with it 300 new jobs when it opens this fall with a peak of 500 by the end of 2018. They offered a generous package of tax incentives, coupled with a $1.3 million cash grant Gov. Greg Abbott pledged from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Hulus Viewer Experience Operations headquarters will provide around-the-clock telephone, email, chat and social media support. It also will reach out to customers and conduct account analysis. Positions will include customer support, training, management and leadership.

Sixty-five of the jobs will pay more than $50,000 a year  the minimum needed to qualify for the incentive packages being offered by the city and county, according to city officials.

The other jobs must pay at least $11.83 an hour, the citys current living-wage standard. At two years, Hulu must pay at least 70 percent of its employees $15.68 an hour, or about $32,000 a year.

Most of the workers will be millennials, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation CEO and President Jenna Saucedo-Herrera said in an interview.

The company is expected to lease and renovate a building at 4511 Horizon Hill Blvd. in the Fountainhead Business Park, according to a proposed city ordinance outlining incentives.

The renovations costs are estimated at more than $12.92 million, according to the incentive package. Saucedo-Herrera said that Hulu expects to be able to move in this fall.

San Antonios selection still hinges on the approval of incentive packages for the company from the city, Bexar County and the states Texas Enterprise Fund.

City Council and Bexar County Commissioners Court will vote on their respective incentive offers next week.

The city council votes next Thursday on a six-year, 100 percent property tax abatement on the real estate and office equipment for Hulu, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said. The value of the abatement is roughly $278,000 over the six years.

Bexar County officials are voting on a 10-year property tax abatement at 90 percent for Hulu on Tuesday.

Bexar County Economic Development Director Jordana Decamps said the value of the county incentive over 10 years is an estimated $403,232.

Combined, the city, state and county incentives total about $1.97 million.

Saucedo-Herrera said the San Antonio Viewer Experience Operations headquarters will be positioned to help the company roll out new products, including a live-TV service starting this spring, as the television and movie streaming industry rapidly evolves.

Its an exciting time for them. They are doing tremendous things for their industry, she said.

Hulus Smith said: One of our key values at Hulu is putting the viewer first, and vital to that is crafting and delivering an extraordinary customer experience.

In addition to building a great product, were building an infrastructure that allows us to provide the most personal, responsive and knowledgeable customer support for our viewers.

With its vibrant culture and large and diverse talent pool, were incredibly excited to partner with the city to make San Antonio home to our viewer experience operations, he added.

The city recruited Hulu for six months. A hastily arranged delegation visit, led by Mayor Ivy Taylor and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, to Hulus California campus made San Antonios final pitch in early March after the city was listed as a finalist with Albuquerque, New Mexico.

San Antonio used statistics and videos about the community and corporate cultures, touting the citys technology workforce, corporate environment and costs of doing business. Teams of Hulu executives made multiple visits to San Antonio. They really did their due diligence, Saucedo-Herrera said.

Saucedo-Herrera said she was impressed by Hulus California campus during the March visit.

Its a wonderful environment, the cafeteria and music playing. The campus here will be the perfect environment that any San Antonian would be interested in. There will be game rooms, the whole nine yards, she said.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

SAEDF first found out about Hulus site-selection search from state economic development leaders.

We worked with their site-selection consultants. As the project progressed, we were short-listed and then we turned it on, Saucedo-Herrera said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said 23 cities were in the running for the Hulu center initially. Wolff recalled Thursday taking Hulus Smith to visit San Antonios cloud-computing services company Rackspace Inc. about two months ago.

That helped convince him that this was a good place to go, Wolff said. The Hulu executives also were impressed that we went to Santa Monica in early March.

City Economic Development Director Rene Dominguez said Hulu will bring expertise as the city tries to expand digital networks to more people through broadband, access to digital devices and training.

They will help us tackle our economic development issues, Dominguez said.

Hulu was launched in 2008. The company offers a subscription streaming service that provides programs from large U.S. broadcast networks. It also produces original programming.

Hulus owners include Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast. Each holds a 30 percent stake. Time Warner holds 10 percent of the company.

dhendricks@express-news.net
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San Antonios three main mayoral candidates faced off Wednesday in front of local manufacturers just three weeks before the election, debating minimum wage movements, regulations, and labor force issues.

The debate was hosted by the San Antonio Manufacturers Association at the San Antonio Country Club. The candidates  Bexar County Democratic Chair Manuel Medina, District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg, and Mayor Ivy Taylor  were asked about what they would do about rising minimum wages, and increased regulations, and workforce problems.

San Antonio manufacturers told Nirenberg the city was doing alright, doing just OK, he said.

For a city thats going to be the size of Chicago, population wise doing just OK is not good enough, Nirenberg said. We have to be more proactive, we have to have forward-thinking policy in all of those areas your industry relies on.

One issue U.S. cities have been grappling with is whether to raise minimum wages up to $15 an hour, what some have called a living wage. Some, like Seattle and Los Angeles, have pledged to raise their minimum wages to $15 an hour by 2020. USAA announced Tuesday that it was raising its minimum wage to $16 an hour.

Taylor said the emphasis has been misplaced as for the focus on wage increase and said the city is trying to work with its lower-wage employees to provide resources so they can qualify for higher paying jobs.

But on making the minimum wage $15 an hour in the city, Taylor said I certainly am not an advocate for it.

Nirenberg said San Antonio should be a model employer by raising city employees up to $15 an hour.

This is a low-wage city and we are an underemployment city and we have to face that reality, Nirenberg said. One of the challenges is that we have many parts of our community that have to work two and three and four jobs just to make ends meet and thats not good for us.

Medina told the group that the good news is most of you already pay most of your employees more than $15 an hour.

While he said forcing them to pay a higher minimum wage would hurt most of them, he said employers that pay that much should get preferential treatment on city contracts.

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If you are paying your employees a livable wage, then that should help you get your next contract with the city, he said.

When asked about regulations, Medina accused City Manager Sheryl Sculley and the City Council of crafting new regulations with an aim of how much money can we get out of you?

Nirenberg said the process behind regulations needed to become more transparent while Taylor said there needed to be more listening before acting.

Rey Chavez, SAMAs CEO and president, said he hopes that whomever is elected will be more mindful when crafting regulations, saying manufacturers need more lead time to give their input and prepare for possible new regulations that would effect them.

rdruzin@express-news.net

@druz_journo
San Antonio officials crowed after beating out Albuquerque, New Mexico, as host city for the expanded operations of television streaming service Hulu  part of Bexar Countys push to draw high-paid tech talent here.

Hulu, based in Santa Monica, California, chose the Alamo City for new facilities that eventually will bring up to 500 new jobs here, Mayor Ivy Taylor said Wednesday. She cautioned in a statement that there are still a few hurdles to cross, but the company is expected to formally announce the move Thursday.

As a leader in the tech industry, Hulus decision to grow here is a testament to our citys growing tech industry and our skilled and talented workforce, which were both heavily emphasized during our visit with the companys leadership, Taylor, who led a local delegation to California a few weeks ago, said in a statement. This is exactly the outcome we were working toward.

Los Angeles-based TaskUs also announced plans Wednesday to expand its new San Antonio operations, hiring 500 people for a call center serving start-up technology companies, the companys first in the U.S.

These are great wins. These announcements show we are making great progress, said David Heard, co-founder and CEO of Tech Bloc, a local technology advocacy group. A marquee name like Hulu makes a big difference. A whole host of cities would love to be the place for a Hulu expansion.

Local officials and developers see drawing technology companies to San Antonio as key to reviving the citys urban center and strengthening the local economy. Theyve concentrated their efforts on the downtown tech district where Google Fiber and several startups have local offices. Its what San Antonio needs to stay competitive in the modern economy, developer Kevin Covey said.

Last month, the city and county announced that CaptureRX, a health care tech company, planned to hire 200 workers and move its headquarters into the Kress building in the tech district in exchange for more than $1 million in incentives. Local officials said they are working on a tax incentive package for Hulu but declined to disclose the details.

Hulu coming to San Antonio is a testament to the hard work of the city and county leaders to attract high-paying jobs to the tech community, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, said in a statement Wednesday. Hulu realized what weve known all along  San Antonio is a powerhouse of innovation and creativity.

The Bexar County Commissioners Court is voting on a countys tax plan for Hulu next week, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said in an interview.

The City Council is voting on its incentive package for Hulu on April 20, said Leslie Ann Garza, director of communications in the mayors office.

Taylor and Wolff led a delegation to Hulus California headquarters in early March to court the company. The delegation included San Antonio Economic Development Foundation executives. A foundation spokeswoman said SAEDF would not have a comment on Hulu until Thursday.

The expansion would bring about 300 jobs initially and then grow to 500 within a couple of years, Taylor said last month. In March, the San Antonio Express-News reported that the Alamo City was a finalist for the Hulu expansion along with Albuquerque.

TaskUs selected San Antonio in September for its first U.S. call center  paying $12 to $15.50 an hour  because of the citys proximity to Austin, its huge young and educated workforce and its reputation as one of the friendliest cities in the U.S, the company said in a statement.

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Company founders CEO Bryce Maddock and President Jaspar Weir recently moved from California to Austin, where TaskUs has sales offices.

TaskUs Site Director Claudia Bazaldua said the companys culture reflects its younger, high-tech clientele.

The company is spending $3.4 million to expand its San Antonio offices from 60 to 500 employees.

It will be stocked with perks once completed this summer, including complimentary coffee and snack station, a napping room, on-site yoga classes, massage therapist visits, one-on-one nutritionist visits, foosball games, an on-site gym, library and a television space.

The company also conducts cookouts, pajama days, bring-your-pet-to-work days and financial literacy education.

dhendricks@express-news.net
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CHICAGO  The passenger dragged from a United flight lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion, his lawyer said Thursday, accusing the airline industry of having bullied its customers for far too long.

Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle? attorney Thomas Demetrio asked.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, has been released from a hospital but will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said at a news conference, appearing alongside one of Daos children. Dao was not there.

The 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was removed by police from the United Express flight Sunday at Chicagos OHare Airport after refusing to give up his seat on the full plane to make room for four airline employees.

Cellphone video of him being pulled down the aisle on his back and footage of his bloody face have created a public-relations nightmare for United.

One of Daos five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was horrified, shocked and sickened by what happened. She said it was made worse by the fact that it was caught on video.

For Dao, who came to the U.S. after fleeing Vietnam by boat in 1975 when Saigon fell, being dragged off the plane was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam, Demetrio said.

Demetrio, who indicated Dao is going to sue, said the industry has long bullied passengers by overbooking flights and then bumping people, and it took something like this to get a conversation going.

I hope he becomes a poster child for all of us. Someones got to, the lawyer said.

Demetrio also said the city of Chicago is responsible for Daos injuries, saying there was an overly aggressive response by the citys Aviation Department officers.

I would defy anyone to suggest that there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr. Dao disembark that plane, Demetrio said at a news conference.

But while Aviation Department officers who pulled Dao from the plane were not United employees, Demetrio said United is ultimately responsible for what happens on its flights. Airline employees should have stepped in once they saw officers forceful, violent response, he said.

Demetrio acknowledged Dao could have chosen to comply with the airline and officers instructions to leave the aircraft. Under federal law, airlines are allowed to remove passengers from a flight for failing to comply with instructions from the crew.

Dao and his wife, both doctors, had patients to see the next day and needed to get home, Demetrio said. He declined to comment on how many patients Dao needed to see or where he practices.

Early on, United CEO Oscar Munoz added to the furor when he apologized for the incident but accused Dao of being belligerent. Later, Munoz offered a more emphatic mea culpa, saying, No one should ever be mistreated this way.

He promised to review the airlines policies to make sure something like that never happens again, and said United will no longer use police to remove bumped passengers. The airline also said all passengers on the flight would get a refund.

In a statement issued immediately after Thursdays news conference, United insisted that Munoz and the airline called Dao numerous times to apologize. Munoz himself said on Wednesday that he had left a message for Dao.

But Demetrio said neither Dao nor his family had heard from United.

Demetrio said his client accepts the apology. But the attorney questioned its sincerity, suggesting United acted because it was taking a PR beating.

The attorney was unable to say precisely how Dao was injured. Dao didnt remember exactly what occurred because of the concussion he suffered, Demetrio said.

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Pepper said her father and mother had been traveling from California to Louisville, Kentucky, and had caught a connecting flight at OHare. After what happened, Dao has no interest in ever seeing an airplane and will probably be driven to Kentucky, Demetrio said.

United had selected Dao and three other passengers at random for removal from the plane after unsuccessfully offering $800 in travel vouchers and a hotel stay to customers willing to give up their seats.

The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.

At a City Council committee hearing Thursday, aldermen ripped officials from United and the department about the episode.

There are no excuses, Alderman Michael Zalewski said.

John Slater, a United vice president, said bumping passengers to accommodate airline employees happens infrequently, and that federal guidelines requiring rest for crewmembers made it necessary to get the employees on the Sunday flight to Louisville.

The Aviation Departments roughly 300 officers guard the citys two main airports but are not part of the regular Chicago police force, receive less training and cannot carry guns inside the terminals.

To be quite frank, Chicago employees should not be doing the dirty work for the friendly skies airline, said Alderman Ed Burke, who played video of Dao being removed.

Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans told the committee that the officers had the authority to board the flight but that what happened on the plane is being investigated.

The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
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The Boerne City Council has postponed action on zoning for 17 Herff Road, a newly annexed parcel along Cibolo Creek where opposition to a developers plan for luxury apartments and retail sites has generated intense public interest.

Before an overflow crowd Tuesday evening, Mayor Mike Schultz proposed tabling the issue until April 25 to let council members digest the extensive and divided feedback on the project and to give city staff time to review a petition received that evening signed by more than 1,200 people.

The petition called Cibolo Creek the life blood of Boerne and asked the council to suspend the rezoning of all wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams until the city enacts low-impact development rules to cover them. It was submitted by resident Emily Weiner.

Backers of the $40 million project, called 17 Herff, note that developers had already designed it with features aimed at reducing the runoff of pollutants from storm water into the creek, even though Boerne doesnt require them.

This group has gone above and beyond, resident Randy Davila said of CT-17 Herff Partners, a development partnership that includes local investors and Carbon Thompson, a Dallas firm.

The 26.6-acre site, which was brought into the city in January at the owners request, is across the creek from City Park and the Cibolo Nature Center, and it is next to Herff Farm, an education center run by nature center officials.

The citys planning and zoning commission voted 7-1 last month to recommended that 12 acres of the parcel be zoned R4 residential, allowing for apartments, and that 14 acres be designated MU2, for a mix of retail and office uses.

Several public speakers urged city leaders to consider the larger context of new growth expected along the recently upgraded Herff Road.

What was long a sleepy, two-lane residential street is now a four-lane divided arterial, featuring plenty of new lots with road frontage where commercial development is likely.

Resident Kendra Vita expressed concern that granting 17 Herffs zoning request could have a domino effect along Herff Road. Determining land uses one parcel at a time seems unwise to me, she said.

But the project enjoys strong backing in the business community, led by Pam Parish, board president of the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corp., who told the council that it would contribute to Boernes long-term sustainability.

Charlie Riddle, an investor in 17 Herff and its spokesman, said the developers have spent more than $1 million to design an environmentally sensitive project.

For months, CT-17 Herff Partners and Cibolo Nature Center officials have been negotiating an agreement spelling out the developers commitment to eco-friendly features and capping the height and number of apartments at three stories and 250 units, respectively. In return, the nature center was to remain neutral on the zoning and the project.

Hours before Tuesdays meeting, however, the nature center announced that it had ceased talks and wanted the agreed-upon issues instead to be incorporated into a development agreement between CT-17 Herff Partners and the city.

In a release issued Wednesday, nature center officials said, In our opinion, permitting the construction of apartments on the Cibolo Corridor will have long-term detrimental effects on the creek and the quality of life of our community.

Riddle said Wednesday that hell include previously discussed issues on creek protection in talks with city officials as part of the development agreement, once the council approves the initial zoning of the parcel.

Were going to stick with almost all of the covenants and restrictions that the nature center asked for, he said. He wasnt put off by the councils delayed vote, saying, I think it gives us some time to get more details out there (about the project).

zeke@express-news.net
Nikki Kelton, a Dripping Springs resident, believes Texas lawmakers should support the so-called bathroom bill to avoid jeopardizing the faith principles of students.

She said she was concerned about her school districts decision last year to allow an elementary transgender student to use the girls bathrooms.

This speaks loud and clear to our children by saying you may be born a boy or a girl, but that is relative or fluid depending on how you feel, Kelton said Wednesday at a news conference at the state Capitol. This is also in direct conflict with the word of God and the biblical principles upon which our nation was founded.

Texas Values, a conservative Christian group, organized the news conference to urge House members to support Senate Bill 6, authored by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. The bill would prevent transgender Texans from using bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity in government buildings, public schools and other publicly owned facilities, sparking the most controversial debate for LGBTQ rights during this years legislative session.

Even if a boy wants to be a girl, hes not. He might emotionally feel like hes a girl, but hes physically a boy, said Shiloh Satterfield, a 10-year-old from Dripping Springs.

The bill was passed by the Senate and is on its way to the House, but House Speaker Joe Straus has said hes not a fan of the bill. If it were to become law, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston say they could lose up to $407 million in out-of-state business, tourism officials have told the San Antonio Express-News.

Advocates say the bill is an effort to protect the safety, dignity and privacy of women.

Dana Hodges, state director of Concerned Women for America of Texas, a womens organization based on Biblical principles, said the issue was personal to her after being videotaped in a restroom with a camera placed by a man.

How many women have had pictures of them taken by hidden devices theyre not even aware of? Hodges asked. As a rape survivor myself, the last thing you want is to be accosted in your private space.

Standing beside a sign that read, Its common sense: men shouldnt be in bathrooms with little girls, Nicole Hudgens, policy analyst of Texas Values, was asked about concerns regarding transgender men who no longer look like women entering womens restrooms.

If that is the case, they have the opportunity to change their birth certificate, Hudgens said.

After the news conference, Kathy Miller, president of Texas Freedom Network, a religious freedom advocacy group, said in a statement that SB 6 is one of 25 bills that would cause discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

Its disturbing when politicians use faith and misleading claims about safety and privacy to hide their true intentions, Miller said.
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Google Fiber is significantly reducing the number of fiber huts needed to house its infrastructure and will remove one of the controversial structures that has upset residents.

Mark Strama, Google Fibers regional director for West/SW Sales and Business Organization, told the San Antonio Express-News in an exclusive interview Wednesday that evolving technology has changed the landscape. The company will also be using a new trenching method to bury its fiber-optic lines, allowing it to speed up construction of the network while being less intrusive in the community.

When Google initially announced that it would bring its service here and contracted with the city for access to municipally owned property, it had planned to install some 40 fiber huts, though later reduced that number to 17. The huts contain needed infrastructure that aids in connectivity.

Google has installed two so far, much to the consternation of critics upset with their locations: Haskin and East End parks. Other proposed locations include at public-safety facilities and libraries.

We can get by with far fewer huts because of advancements (in technology), Strama said. One site we no longer need a hut at is Haskin Park.

San Antonio is one of a handful of U.S. cities selected for Google Fiber, which requires the installation of all-new infrastructure.

But concerns have been raised over the size of the huts, which are the size of a small house  about 12 feet wide, 30 feet long and 9 feet tall. Residents also complained about constructions noise and inconvenience. As the firm moved to the construction phase, officials said they needed to install only 17 huts.

Earlier this year, the city paused further construction so it could vet the sites it had already approved. Meanwhile, Google was busy testing new technology that would render the need for 17 huts moot.

Mayor Ivy Taylor has met at least three times this year with Google officials  twice in San Antonio and once in Washington, D.C.

Weve enjoyed a strong relationship with Google Fiber and appreciate their willingness to continue to work with us to create a fiber network that fits our community, Taylor said.

In the next few months, the hut at Haskin Park will be removed and replaced with a cabinet, which typically fits within public right of way and ranges in size from an air-conditioning compressor to a small refrigerator, Strama said.

Moving forward, installation of the fiber-optic lines should be smoother as well, Strama added. Google has been criticized for damaging utilities as its contractors install some 4,000 miles of fiber optic cable in San Antonio.

Google has also taken heat from city officials, who in the past have said the California-based firm dropped the ball on communicating with residents. City Manager Sheryl Sculley noted in an email to council members earlier this year that the company fell short of their committed obligations to properly inform neighborhood residents about the construction schedule.

And despite council approval, some officials were bothered by plans to lease park space to Google.

In construction thats been under way since April 2016, Google has faced challenges typical of major infrastructure projects, Strama said. When the cable goes underground, Google has to bore horizontally at about three feet beneath the surface  the same depth as other utilities.

The machines are loud and drilling through rock, ubiquitous in San Antonio, is time consuming. And though workers work with utility maps to avoid striking existing utilities, it still happens, Strama said.

But Google has tested micro-trenching  a method that is far less invasive, quicker and doesnt require the same depth as typical utilities  in Austin to great success, the Google official said. In 300 miles of micro-trenching, the company hasnt struck an existing utility once, he said. And construction crews are able to get in and out of neighborhoods quicker.

The shift in deployment strategy, Strama said, will be great in reducing friction and disruption common in large-scale projects.

Outgoing District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher, who faced criticism from some of his constituents for not blocking the fiber hut from Haskin Park, said Googles new plan will ensure residents can access the Internet service while having their park preserved.

Technology is ever-changing, and we are proud to help keep San Antonio at the forefront of fiber deployment, he said. The goal has always been to work toward a solution that not only benefits our community around Haskin Park, but also the 40,000 residents served by the fiber backbone. I am pleased to see that our collective efforts made that goal a reality.

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh
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After winning independence from Spain in 1821, the newly established government of Mexico created a system for colonization that used appointed land agents, called empresarios, to ensure that people coming into Texas would be loyal to this new nation.

But differences in opinions about governance and daily life on the untamed frontier would lead to another full-out war for independence in Texas less than 15 years later.

Newcomers were to follow laws and customs of Mexico, giving up any other national allegiances. While a few empresarios, including Stephen F. Austin, sought to follow these new colonization standards, others sold land to buyers in the U.S., rather than screening new residents, according to Alamo historian Bruce Winders.

In addition, an increasing number of Americans began to enter Mexico without even attempting to go through an empresario, making them essentially illegal aliens, Winders wrote in a narrative for the 175th anniversary of Texas independence in 2011.

In 1830, Mexico passed the Law of April 6, to close the border, establish collection of taxes, direct construction of military posts and reinforce restrictions against slavery. Some colonists in Texas viewed the law as a move toward tyranny.

The tension between the colonists and the Mexican government would only worsen until Texas broke into open revolt in 1835, barely 10 years after colonization had begun, Winders wrote.

Although Texas had been governed as a province under Spain, with a provincial government in San Antonio, the Mexican Constitution of 1824 designated Texas a department of a new state, Coahuila y Tejas, with a capital in Saltillo. Many Tejanos, residents of Spanish or Native American descent, supported the concept of a republic but sought separation from Coahuila and full statehood for Texas.

Mexican President and Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, acting in response to military leaders, landowners and church officials to the governments shift toward a federal, decentralized republic, set aside the 1824 constitution and sounded a call for a centralist structure instead. The Mexican Congress granted him authority to personally quell revolts forming in response to these actions.

After an Oct. 2, 1835, skirmish at Gonzales effectively began the 1835-1836 Texas Revolution, delegates assembled in San Felipe de Austin to discuss efforts to remove Santa Anna from power and restore the constitution. But in the months that followed, sentiment began to favor complete separation and independence from Mexico.

While the Alamo was under siege, being defended by at least 189 Texians and Tejanos against a much larger Mexican force commanded by Santa Anna himself in San Antonio, delegates gathered about 150 miles northeast at Washington-on-the-Brazos, on March 1, 1836, to discuss the political future of Texas. The next day, on a cold morning, about 50 delegates who assembled in a simple, windowless wooden structure declared that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign and independent republic.

They also announced formation of a new republic, and reappointed Sam Houston to serve as commander of the army. The declaration was signed by 59 delegates in the days that followed. George Childress, a native of Tennessee, served as chairman of a committee that drafted the declaration and is considered its primary author.

Among their grievances, they cited deprivations concerning the right to trial by jury, public education, piratical attacks upon our commerce, the right of worshiping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, and the right to bear arms.

Houston left March 6 for Gonzales, where he arrived March 11 and learned the Alamo had fallen. All of the defenders had been killed.

News of the early morning battle at the Alamo and the execution of 342 more Texians in Goliad three weeks later angered Houstons troops and fueled greater support for their cause. Santa Annas capture after a surprisingly lopsided Texian victory at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, secured independence for Texas. In 1845, the republic of Texas became a U.S. state.

March 2 was established as a state holiday in 1874, and remains a major date in Texas history, known as Texas Independence Day, with events celebrated statewide. Today, the original manuscript of the declaration is kept in Austin by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Of the 1,000 copies of the document printed in broadside form and distributed statewide, 13 are known to still exist, including two that are in the library collection owned by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. The DRT Library collection also includes family papers of rancher and businessman Samuel Maverick, who signed the declaration.

Casa Navarro State Historic Site, 228 S. Laredo St. in downtown San Antonio, is the reconstructed colonial-style adobe home of rancher, merchant and statesman Jose Antonio Navarro, another delegate who signed the declaration, with displays on his life and contributions to Texas independence.

Washington-on-the- Brazos State Historic Site near Navasota, billed as the place Where Texas Became Texas, has a replica of the modest wooden building, called Independence Hall, where the delegates gathered, as well as a museum full of exhibits on early explorers and settlers of Texas, and artifacts and documents related to military and political history and the states diverse cultural heritage. Letters from Childress to his wife are on file at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin.

The San Jacinto Museum of History in La Porte also has papers and other documents related to the declaration in its library.

shuddleston@express-news.net

Twitter: @shuddlestonSA

COMING SATURDAY: A reflection on conservation success stories.
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A state district judge, testifying at a hearing Wednesday, backed up a claim made by defense attorneys in a murder case that District Attorney Nico LaHood had threatened to destroy the lawyers practices when they told him they might raise issues of prosecutorial misconduct.

Attorney Mark Stevens put LaHood on the stand for more than two hours, then drew testimony from Judge Lori Valenzuela about an exchange last February between LaHood and the lawyers in the judges chambers.

LaHood has denied the accusation, made in a defense motion, that he threatened to shut down the practices of lawyers Joe D. Gonzales and Christian Henricksen after they said they might seek dismissal of the murder charge because they were told too late about a sexual relationship between a prosecutor and a key witness three years before the killing.

The testimony Wednesday morning covered only the conversation between LaHood and Gonzales. LaHood denied threatening him.

But when Stevens, who is part of the defense team but was not in the judges chambers when the conversation took place, asked Valenzuela if LaHood had threatened Gonzales practice, the jurist replied: Yes.

Asked if she considered it a direct threat by LaHood against Gonzales, the judge replied: Yes, I did.

Stevens asked if Valenzuela thought LaHoods statements to Gonzales constituted official oppression, which is a Class A misdemeanor, and the judge replied: I did, based on his position and statement he made. It could move to official oppression.

The courtroom was packed with lawyers who watched the judge assert that the district attorney might have committed a crime and describe behavior that appeared to violate National District Attorneys Association standards that say prosecutors should not express personal animosity toward opposing counsel.

The American Bar Association's Canons of Professional Ethics also urge avoidance of personal colloquies between counsel which cause delay and promote unseemly wrangling.

Stevens declined to say if he planned to file a criminal complaint against LaHood. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by a $4,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.

Valenzuela recused herself from the murder case the same day defense lawyers filed the motion to dismiss the murder indictment against Miguel Martinez, 29.

The defense lawyers learned only after the trial started that the prosecutor who had the sexual encounter with the witness had access to their clients criminal file for a day before she was taken off the case, the motion stated.

Trying Martinez a second time would constitute double jeopardy, putting the accused person on trial twice for the same offense, the motion argued.

Senior District Judge W.C. Kirkendall of Seguin took over the case and conducted Wednesdays hearing.

A good deal of LaHoods testimony came in answer to Stevens questions about news coverage of the murder case and LaHoods statements to reporters about why he wanted to personally try the case.

LaHood said he found out about the prior sexual involvement of a prosecutor with the witness, Gregory Dalton, days before the trial started, and said he discussed it with the chief of his ethical disclosure unit and the head of his appellate division.

Neither believed it required disclosure to the defense, he said.

They looked it up, researched it, and it was not information that had to be disclosed, but his advisers said the information could be given to the judge if we wanted to do something, LaHood said.

When Valenzuela learned of it, she ordered that it be disclosed to defense lawyers as a jury was being picked, the defense motion stated.

A day of testimony Feb. 8 was followed by a series of continuances and conferences in the judges chambers before a mistrial was declared.

On Wednesday, the district attorney said he became angry when Gonzales suggested airing the allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in the news media. Stevens asked LaHood if Gonzales had threatened first.

He made a bad faith threat, sir, LaHood replied.

Asked about the alleged vow to shut down Gonzales practice, LaHood said: No, it was not said.

Valenzuela said Gonzales did not threaten to go to the news media. Asked if Gonzales appeared threatening to LaHood, she said: In my opinion, no.

Asked how she reacted to LaHoods words to Gonzales, the judge said they had a chilling effect on me and prompted her to think about how the news media would cover it when it became public.

She said she imagined the headline, DA threatens local defense attorney.

The motion did make headlines. It contained a description of an enraged LaHood who vowed to shut down the practices of Gonzales and Henricksen and make sure they never got hired on another case again in Bexar County.

In his testimony, LaHood referred to stories in the news media about the defense allegations as a (expletive) show.

Asked if he was enraged during the conversation in chambers, LaHood said, No, I was angry.

Valenzuela also was asked if LaHood had been enraged, and she replied: I think certainly some people could think that, yes.

Martinez is accused of shooting Laura Carter, 33, five times in the head as she sat in her vehicle in a Southeast Side neighborhood on Jan. 11, 2015.

According to the defense motion, a prosecutor assigned to the case shortly after Martinez's arrest told Jason Goss, an assistant district attorney, of her involvement three years earlier with Dalton, a witness who could place Martinez at the scene.

She was instructed to have nothing more to do with the case but had access to the case file for one day, the motion states.

Goss, who prosecuted Martinez in February with LaHood, gave testimony Wednesday that mostly mirrored that of LaHoods. He said he did not believe the prosecutors involvement with Dalton was relevant and still doesnt. Though Goss said his boss was upset during the conference, he did not recall hearing LaHood threaten to shut down the defense lawyers practice.

I dont remember hearing those words, Goss said.

Henricksen testified that he and Gonzales werent sure how to proceed when told of the prosecutors history with the witness, and that it was LaHood who raised the option of a mistrial and choosing a new jury. The defense felt backed into a corner, Henricksen said.

LaHoods threats made him tell his wife that night that they might have to move because the DA is coming after me, Henricksen recalled.

Assistant District Attorney Josh Somers questioned whether Henricksen really felt threatened.

I absolutely felt threatened, Henricksen replied.

ezavala@express-news.net
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AUSTIN  The number of Texas school kids who have forgone medical vaccinations has soared in recent years, leading parents who are fearful of outbreaks or have children with weakened immune systems to urge state lawmakers to make immunization data public at the level of individual schools.

Parents who opt against vaccinating are pushing back against the calls for increased transparency, saying they want to protect their childrens privacy and hope members of the conservative Senate will take their side.

Most parents in Texas vaccinate their children, but since Texas changed its laws to allow them to opt out for nonmedical reasons by citing a conscientious objection, the number of unvaccinated children has shot up more than 1,900 percent in 13 years, from roughly 2,300 to 45,000. 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 open records requests. 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 number of students per school who forgo vaccinations for any reason, medical or otherwise. No names or identifying information would be listed.

The opt-out movement taps parental fears that vaccines can lead to long-term ailments, such as autism. Medical researchers say those theories have been completely discredited.

Advocates for publishing the data say the information would offer parents insight into their childs 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, Graves said as she drove from her home in Sugar Land to Austin to testify Tuesday before the House Public Health Committee. The panel took no action on the bill.

We have the data, Graves said. Theres no reason not to publish it.

Opponents say there are plenty of reasons, including childrens 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 parent group whose membership has ballooned in recent years as the movement against vaccinating children has gained traction.

At schools where you do have a high number of opt-out, we are creating a witch hunt against families, and thats just unacceptable, Schlegel said.

Most schools throughout Texas have few students without vaccinations, but families that opt out tend to do so in clusters, data show. For example, at Austin Waldorf School, 15 miles from the state Capitol, 40 percent of its student population is missing at least one vaccination.

To protect their childrens sensitive feelings from the choice that their parents have made, someone elses 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. Theyre making the argument that other peoples children are expendable to protect their, in my opinion, misplaced paranoia.

Texas House members had no problem passing 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 looking to change state laws regarding immunizations, including a proposal to require parents to undergo an online course before opting against vaccinating their children and another that would change how the states immunization registry works.

A.Zelinski@Chron.com
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The troupe of downtown Catholic parishioners who produce a story more than 2,000 years old get immediate feedback from the thousands of faces who watching them every Good Friday on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

Some spectators say the Passion of Christ, the annual re-enactment of Jesus suffering and crucifixion, brings the Scriptures to life. Many are moved, even distressed, by the sight of the bloodied Christ as he passes in a slow procession from Milam Park to Main Plaza and San Fernando Cathedral, which will serve as Calvary.

Luis Amaro, 45, a systems engineer for IBC Bank who will play Jesus for the second year in a row, expects to be rattled by something else  the people of Jesus time. Members of what are called the pueblo play the mob in Jerusalem who call for his crucifixion.

His own people, Amaro said, will be saying Kill him.

More Information Good Friday schedule 10 a.m. bilingual prayer service at Milam Park, 500 W. Commerce St. 10:30 a.m. Spanish-language re-enactment of Jesus' trial followed by procession south on Santa Rosa, left on Dolorosa to Main Plaza 12 p.m. Crucifixion in front of San Fernando Cathedral, also in Spanish 1 p.m. Las Siete Palabras, the Seven Last Words of Christ, traditional service in the cathedral 2:30 p.m. Good Friday liturgy led by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller 8:15 p.m. El Pesame, or vigil of the sorrowful mother, a Hispanic tradition that symbolizes Jesus' funeral vigil in an outdoor procession around Main Plaza followed by extending condolences to the Virgin Mary See More Collapse

Several of the roughly 70 actors gathered for their final rehearsal Tuesday night said theyve experienced similar emotional reactions, always surprised by how the re-enactment is seen not only by spectators, but among themselves.

The passion story has become a revered tradition in San Antonio among parishioners of the historic cathedral, none of them professional actors, who say their participation represents their faith, not any kind of theatrical aspiration.

To me, its not about acting, said Amaro, a cathedral parishioner of 11 years. Its why Jesus died for us. Thats what I would like people to see in this play. He took all the suffering and all our sins for us.

The cast will gather early Friday at San Fernando Cathedral Centre to don costumes and makeup and get final instructions from Mario Mandujano, a participant of the re-enactment for more than 30 years and its director for 20.

As they prepare, onlookers  residents, downtown workers and tourists  will begin gathering at the park and along a new route.

Due to ongoing Frost Bank and San Pedro Creek construction projects, the path has been re-routed. The procession will leave Milam Park, head south on Santa Rosa Street, take a left at Dolorosa Street and pass City Hall on its way to the cathedral.

Its a tradition that started in medieval times, and similar scenes will be replayed around the globe on Good Friday in preparation for Easter Sunday and the story of Jesus resurrection.

Tuesday night, the players came dressed in jeans and T-shirts, scrubs and sneakers. Some wore jackets on the unusually chilly April evening.

Young and old, Mexican-born and Mexican-American, theyre all parishioners, some of whom also serve as ushers, lectors and eucharistic ministers.

Though a jovial meeting, already there was tension, especially among the main players.

Christina Garcia, 38, will play the part of Jesus mother, Mary. A payroll administrator for a bus company, she is a relative newcomer to San Fernando, and its her first attempt at acting.

She was nervous, especially after learning the entire play is done in Spanish, which she doesnt speak.

Luckily, she said, Marys only line is Hijo mio, (my son), she said. Her role will be to stay by Jesus side throughout the play.

Mandujano, who became involved in the re-enactment during the tenure of the late Father Virgilio Elizondo as cathedral rector, recalled when it drew only about 50 people downtown  including the cast, he added, laughing.

He said hes always affected by the emotional reactions among spectators. I want to have that kind of faith, he said.

At rehearsal, he called for various starts and stops, asking players to better project their voices, to respond more quickly, to put more energy into their lines.

Juzgenlo!, judge him, several members of the pueblo yelled out, pressing up against the wooden swords restraining them by those playing Roman soldiers.

Amaro held his wrists together as if bound, stumbling.

With script in hand, Mandujano put the players through their paces, from Jesus trial to various stations of the cross along the journey to Calvary.

The director remembers being among them. He said he was shy when he first participated in this ministry and credits Elizondo for seeing the potential for leadership in him.

Elizondo died March 2016 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

God uses you, Mandujano said, repeating that refrain in front of his cast Tuesday night.

As the troupe organized boxes filled with enough costumes for 70, Mandujano offered another bit of advice.

Pay for parking, he warned them, inciting laughter.

Begging forgiveness because you were in the Passion Play wont work at municipal court.

eayala@express-news.net

Twitter: @ElaineAyala
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Texas has its own amphibian, dinosaur and pepper, but no official state handgun.

It soon will, if state Rep. Mike Lang, R-Granbury, has his way.

Lawmakers are primed to pull the trigger on a resolution that would designate the 1847 Colt Walker pistol, used in the Mexican-American War, as the state handgun of Texas.

Zachary Maxwell, Langs chief of staff, said during the North Texans election campaign he found the issue that voters cared about most was the Second Amendment.

Weve got state pie and weve got everything else, a state knife, Maxwell said, adding Lang thought House Concurrent Resolution 51 would be a fun thing to do.

In the 1840s, a firearm designer and a Texas Ranger joined forces to create the Colt Walker pistol. Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Samuel Hamilton Walker designed the weapon to be used for the Texas Rangers, the first state law enforcement agency in the country, Maxwell said.

Only 1,100 pistols were produced, and almost all were sold to military members, said former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the author of the states concealed carry law and an avid collector of historic firearms. He added that civilians at the time probably didnt know the firearm even existed.

The Colt Walker, often referred to as the Walker Colt, was loaded with a rotating cylinder containing black powder and six rounds. It weighed 4.5 pounds and had a long barrel.

Its not exactly a concealed carry, Patterson said. You put the holster on your waist and it might just pull your britches off.

Texas would join the ranks of states with designated guns  Utah, Alaska, West Virginia, Indiana, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky  if the resolution is approved this session.

By the 1860s, lighter firearms were invented, leaving little use for the Colt Walker, which was just too damn heavy, Patterson said. Maxwell said Lang chose the pistol for designation because of its historical significance.

Capt. Walker carried two of them, he said, adding Samuel Colt once declared the pistol was so big, only a Texan could carry it.

Langs resolution states that the pistol was a crucial element to Texas survival.

A similar resolution proposed by Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, would designate the cannon as the official state gun of Texas. He cites the 1835 Battle of Gonzales, where Texans cried, Come and take it! when Mexican soldiers tried to steal their cannon, in his resolution.

I thought that was a bad idea because thats a cannon, not a gun, Patterson said.

The bill has been referred to the Houses Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee for a hearing. Lang's team expects it to go through without much fuss.

Its pretty favorable across the line, Maxwell said.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
There was only one place on the North American continent that the otherwise inexorable westward expansion of the mid- to late-19th-century frontier was not only halted but temporarily reversed.

That was in Texas.

In Empire of the Summer Moon, the story of the Comanches, the most powerful tribe in American history, author S.C. Gwynne describes what life was like in 1871 along what he calls this razor edge of civilization just west of San Antonio.

Just how bad things were  could be seen in the numbers of settlers who had abandoned their lands. The frontier, carried westward with so much sweat and blood and toil, was now rolling backward, retreating.

The reason for this reversal of what previously and elsewhere had seemed inevitable was the fierce war-making ability of a relatively small number of Comanches who terrorized the Southwest, forcing those whod settled the lands west of San Antonio to return to the relatively safety of what was then the largest city in Texas.

The Comanches were able to menace the region because, as unparallelled horsemen, they struck swiftly, relentlessly and mercilessly, killing adults they attacked and often kidnapping and sometimes adopting white children. One of the most famous captives in Western lore was Cynthia Parker. She was 9 years old in 1836 when she and four others were taken hostage after most of her extended family were killed in a Comanche attack. While the others were eventually released, Parker remained with the Native Americans for almost 25 years and, despite several opportunities, never voluntarily returned to white society.

After years of such depredations, the U.S. Army in 1871 sent Civil War veteran Col. Ranald Slidell Mackenzie to put an end to the reaving. His mission was to hunt down the Comanches who controlled an area stretching from west of San Antonio and up the uncharted Llano Estacado into what is today the Texas Panhandle.

Mackenzies first foray against the Comanches in 1871 did not get off to a promising start. In what has come to be known as the Battle of Blanco Canyon, Mackenzie commanded 600 men and 25 Tonkawa scouts  the largest force ever sent to pursue Indians. On Oct. 10, while camped 9 miles south of Silver Falls, east of present-day Lubbock, Mackenzie and his men were overrun by a raiding party of Comanches led by Quanah Parker, Cynthia Parkers son. Crashing through the camp, the warriors made off with 66 horses, including Mackenzie's favorite gray pacer.

The next morning, a small detachment of troops sent to recover the horses spotted and gave chase to a band of warriors leading about a dozen mounts. But the soldiers soon realized theyd fallen into an old Comanche trap when they were led into an ambush by a much larger force of Indians. Although one soldier was killed during the skirmish, it could have been worse because the Indians soon spotted the approaching Tonkawa scouts, followed by Mackenzies main column. Realizing they were outnumbered, the Indians quickly fled.

Because the main Native American contingent included women, children and the elderly, as well as all their supplies and belongings, Mackenzie figured it would be an easy task to run them down on the open range.

What he didnt count on, however, was his adversaries deep knowledge of the surrounding countryside. For more than 40 arduous miles, they avoided capture by crossing and recrossing their tracks, confounding Mackenzies Tonkawa scouts.

The exact location of the battle was long believed to be north of Silver Falls, once a popular campsite for both Indians and whites. But using metal detectors, amateur history sleuths from the district attorneys office in Lubbock have found several bullet casings and other battle relics about 15 miles to the south near White River Lake.

Searching the National Archives in Washington, D.C., last summer, Todd Smith, chief investigator with the DAs office, found Mackenzies original report confirming the location reported by Robert G. Carter, a U.S. Cavalry officer.

We deal with beyond a reasonable doubt, so were pretty convinced weve found the battles location, Smith said.

Although Mackenzie had been outsmarted, outfought and outrun, he took several important lessons from this first clash with the Comanches. They were lessons he put to lethal use the next September during what is today known as the Battle of the North Fork of the Red River.

While trying to disrupt Comanche cattle raiding, Mackenzie heard that a band of Indians was camped along the river about 65 miles northeast of Amarillo.

With 222 soldiers and nine Tonkawa scouts, Mackenzie attacked, surprising the Indians and easily routing them. Its said that so many were killed that a nearby brook ran red with blood.

The surviving Native Americans fled on foot, and Mackenzie ordered their abandoned horses to be rounded up and kept under guard. That night, however, the Indians slipped into his camp and spirited the horses away. Despite his embarrassment, this was the first time Mackenzie had met and defeated the Comanches on the open battlefield. The battle also showed that the techniques hed been developing  having his men stay on horseback while fighting, rather than dismounting, for example  would work against what many on the frontier had believed was an unbeatable adversary.

Mackenzie was not involved in the 1874 Second Battle of Adobe Falls, but it illustrated for all who paid attention that the Comanches were not, in fact, invincible.

Led by Quanah Parker, 300 warriors from various tribes had banded together to, they thought, finally and permanently drive the white settlers from the Plains. In addition to Parker, they also were inspired by a would-be prophet named Isa-tai, who claimed to be impervious to the white man's bullets.

The Indians predawn target June 27, 1874, was a remote trading post known as Adobe Walls, occupied that night by 28 mostly buffalo hunters and one woman.

Unfortunately for the Native Americans, most of the camp was awake, repairing a cracked ridgepole during the surprise attack, and their initial assault was successfully repelled.

Their failure to easily overwhelm the outnumbered hunters proved, with disheartening finality, that Isa-tais magic was ineffective at stopping the white mans bullets, and the warriors began a desultory siege on the camp. Well-stocked and with plenty of rifles and ammunition, the traders were easily able to withstand the siege.

On the sieges third day, a buffalo hunter named Billy Dixon made what is perhaps the single-most-famous rifle shot in the history of the West. Taking aim with a .50-caliber Sharps buffalo rifle, Dixon reportedly knocked an Indian off his horse from the unheard-of distance of about 1,500 yards, or almost a mile away.

As a result of either Dixons shot (which he later conceded was lucky) or the arrival of reinforcements, the Native Americans eventually abandoned the siege. But that didnt stop their raiding as, over the next few months, they killed an estimated 190 whites, torturing many to death and terrorizing the entire frontier.

These raids put a permanent end to any humanitarian efforts to accommodate the Indians. The Army declared full-on war with the Indians, which came to its bloody conclusion several months later at Palo Duro Canyon, 30 miles southeast of Amarillo.

At 120 miles long and 800 feet deep, Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in the U.S., after the Grand Canyon. And on Sept. 28, 1874, it was the site of the last day of Comanche hegemony over the Southern Plains.

When Mackenzie and his troops arrived at the canyons edge, they spotted several large Indian encampments below. The soldiers were almost all able to reach the bottom before the Indians spotted them. (A Kiowa shaman had assured them that theyd be safe.) And there began a running battle as the Indians fought a rear-guard action to allow time for the women and children to escape.

When the warriors began escaping up the canyon walls, Mackenzie ordered his men to stop shooting and instead burn the camp and all its supplies and round up the more than 1,400 abandoned horses.

After picking out the best of the mounts, Mackenzie gave an order that must have sent the warriors  all horsemen nonpareil  into despair. Over several gruesome hours, every one of the remaining horses was shot and killed.

The Indians food, supplies and, most important, horses were gone. They had no way to hunt and steal back these most basic necessities. They were, in a word, defeated.

Over the coming weeks and months, small groups of battered and beaten Native Americans straggled into the Fort Sill reservation in the Oklahoma territory.

No longer would Indian raids impede the westward expansion of the American frontier.
City elections are right around the corner, and ExpressNews.com sat down with each of San Antonio's mayoral candidates  some known, some unknown  for exclusive video interviews in an effort to make you, the voter, knowledgeable about your options for Election Day on May 6. Get to know the contenders as we roll out the video interviews each weekday in reverse ballot order.

Today, we focus on Bexar County Democratic Chairman Manuel Medina. Medina told ExpressNews.com he is running on the platform "S.A. Today."
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
UTICA, Ohio  Andy and Mamie Hollenback took a big risk when they bought their first farm in 2003.

While Andy had farming in his background as a child, Mamie did not. And they were young at the time  Andy was 25 and Mamie, 23  fresh out of college and newly married.

Thats a big jump for some 20-year-olds, said Andy.

Andys parents had a dairy farm when he was a boy, but by the time he was in the third grade, they had left farming. He grew up near Pataskala, later earning a degree from Ohio State University in natural resources management.

He still had the itch to farm, however, and in the late 1990s, he began helping an area cattle and crop farmer, the late Art Cochran.

Two jobs

At about the same time, in 2000, he took a job with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft, working as a watercraft law enforcement officer. The day job helped fund the farming job, something Andy admits was part of his strategy.

You hear people say so many times that you cant get into agriculture unless you inherit something, he said. You can, but youve got to be willing to work away from the farm, or be very specialized and have a niche market.

Andys wife, Mamie, also worked away from the farm. She grew up on the east side of Columbus, in Gahanna, and earned a degree in human resources. The couple met in 2000, working college jobs at Lowes Home Improvement.

Mamie, now 37, continued her off-farm job until about four years ago, when her oldest son entered kindergarten. Today she works at home, taking care of sons Arthur, 9, and Bryce, 7, and also managing the familys poultry business.

Poultry business

Since 2014, the Hollenbacks have produced cage-free, fertile eggs for Case Farms, which are collected and sent to the hatchery, and hatched and raised as meat birds.

The hens produce about 30,000 eggs a day, which are brought into a sorting room on a conveyor belt and hand sorted for shipment. In peak season, the Hollenbacks employ five to six people at the chicken barns.

Adding on

Theyve since bought additional farmland and, combined with land they rent, the Hollenbacks farm about 850 acres and raise some Hereford and Hereford-cross beef cattle.

Mamie serves as a Licking Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, and in 2010 the farm was named Cooperator of the Year.

Since buying the farm, in 2003, the Hollenbacks have focused on conservation practices such as grass waterways, cover crops, drainage projects, as well as enrollment in the USDAs Conservation Reserve and Conservation Stewardship programs.

In January of 2016, Andy left his job with ODNR to take a position at Evolution Ag in Utica, to manage their service department. Today, he balances farm life with his day at the dealership.

Mamie has caught on to the farm lifestyle, and fully embraces it. But in the beginning, it took some adjustment.

It took several years for me to understand that its not an 8-to-5 job, she said.

She recalls a lot of late nights and weekends, and getting used to the fact that the family couldnt always eat meals together. But its a lifestyle she wouldnt trade. Her children are both learning about chores and taking care of animals, and theyre learning the value of hard work.

In my opinion, theres no better place to raise children in the country, said Andy. You learn about life and death and hard work and you learn responsibility.

Reaching out

The Hollenbacks also try to educate children in their neighborhood and local schools about modern agriculture. Theyve held various educational events at their farm, and hope to continue that outreach.

Andy was part of the most recent Ohio AgriPower class, an Ohio Farm Bureau Program that develops leaders and advocates in agriculture.

It (AgriPower) gives you an opportunity to see the different facets of agriculture here in Ohio and also out of state, he said.

The Hollenbacks have positioned themselves for growth by adding on to and improving their farm buildings, and theyve also built their own grain storage bins, which gives them year-round marketing opportunity and helps cut down on the time spent waiting in line at the grain elevator.

Andy is optimistic about the future of their farm, but he also knows that to keep it going in the direction he wants, it takes two jobs.

He still sees opportunity for beginning farmers, if theyre willing to work hard and work smart.

Youve got to work at it, youve got to plan and youve got to be a diligent manager, he said.
PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Pa.  Beef producers earned a record $354,900 for bulls at the 44th Pennsylvania Performance Tested Bull Sale, March 31, at the Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County.

The sale tops last years record-breaking sale total of $315,300. The 2016 sale still holds the per-bull average record of $3,709. Bulls at this 2017 sale averaged $3,585 per head.

Producers from across Pennsylvania and neighboring states sold 99 Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Shorthorn, British White, Charolais, LimFlex and SimAngus bulls.

Sale tops

Topping the sale at $8,200 was an Angus from Weaverland Valley Farms of New Holland, Lancaster County, sold to Swartfager Farms of Knox, Clarion County. The second-highest selling bull was an Angus consigned by Rutledgedale Farms, of Tyler Hill, Wayne County, and purchased by Robert Marquardt Jr. of Hughesville, Lycoming County.

Fifty-six Angus bulls averaged $3,829, 12 Herefords averaged $2,850, eight Red Angus averaged $3,850, 15 Simmentals averaged $3,340, four SimAngus averaged $4,125, one Charolais brought $2,200, one Shorthorn brought $2,700, one LimFlex brought $2,000, and one British White brought $2,000.

The Pennsylvania Spring Simmental Female and Pennsylvania Angus Finest Female consignment sales followed the bull sale. The bulls completed a 112-day test at the center that evaluated average daily gain, carcass traits and feed efficiency.

Ultrasound scanning

After the testing period, the bulls were ultrasonically scanned to determine ribeye area, marbling and fat thickness and examined for breeding soundness. Since 1973, the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Performance Bull Testing Program has provided the states beef industry with a way to measure inherited traits through sire evaluation.

The center has adapted with advancing technology, offering expanded information on bulls and enhancing their marketability to potential buyers. Careful guidance and foresight have developed the center into a regional hub for improving the beef industry.

For more information, contact Greg Hubbard at 814-238-2527 or ghubbard@pa.gov, or visit www.livestockevaluationcenter.com.
WORTHINGTON, Ohio  Farmers have more choices than ever before of on-farm technologies that offer agronomic, environmental, and profitability benefits.

However, the expanding technology market also creates an additional headache as farmers sift through all the options to make the right decision for their operation.

Thats where Precision Ag Reviews (PAR) comes in. The Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff recently launched the PAR website so farmers can read reviews of equipment, find technology specs, watch video demonstrations, and more.

Precision ag technology is an expensive investment, said Barry McGraw, Ohio Soybean Council director of product development. When shopping for a new phone or computer, most consumers read reviews from others before making a decision. What we wanted to do was offer farmers that same option when investing in precision ag equipment.

The website is still in its infancy and OSC is asking farmers to visit www.precisionagreviews.com and submit comments about equipment they currently use.

In addition to the reviews, OSC will be keeping the site updated with advice from experts, videos, and even a forum to post specific questions to your fellow farmers.
You tend to sit in a very isolated region, in a very isolated town and so its very easy just to put your head down and bum up and not come up and take a breath and see whats around you and take time to network, meet people and share your stories.
Over the past 12 months the board has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the best future for CBH and its growers, with much more to achieve.
The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement.

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Alis Hawkins recalls a recent conversation upon the release of her new book None So Blind.

Alis Hawkins

Recently, I had a conversation that went something like this:

So your new crime novels set in Cardiganshire  going for the Hinterland vibe?

No, None So Blinds set in the 1850s.

Ah, so less Richard Harrington, more Matthew Macfadyen?

Forget Ripper Street. This is Cardiganshire.

Gotcha. No filthy slums.

Well, no Oliver Twist-style rookeries, definitely. But plenty of dwellings we wouldnt consider fit for human habitation.

Such as?

The poorest cottages had just one room, bracken or gorse for thatch, a bare earth floor and no proper windows, just a shutter over a hole in the wall.

Grim. Speaking of holes, I suppose the toilet was a hole in the ground?

Not even. No toilet inside or outside. There were plenty of fields

Too right. But it was worse in London. There were no public toilets in the city until 1851. Churchyards were often used as unofficial conveniences  gravestones were handy to hide behind while you you know.

Too much information! Back to the novel. With all that strict chapel morality, Im guessing not many crimes of passion, right? Bet young people werent even allowed to be alone together in the same room?

They were, actually  and in bed! In West Wales there was a custom called bundling. Young men and women would spend the night together, with their parents permission.

Shut. Up.

There was a catch - they had to stay fully clothed. Arranged marriages werent a thing and young people had to get to know each other somehow. For people who worked from dawn til dusk, seven days a week, that meant after dark. Mostly, temptation was avoided by putting pillows between the couple. But some parents were less trusting and sewed the girl into her underclothes!

While were on the subject of being fully dressed, Ive heard there was quite a bit of clandestine cross-dressing in Victorian London. They didnt have that in Cardiganshire, right?

Youd think, wouldnt you? And, no, generally transvestism wasnt a thing in the countryside. They left that to London and the Molly Boys. But, in 1840s Cardiganshire, men were cross-dressing for other reasons. During the Rebecca Riots men dressed in womens clothes, blacked their faces and gathered in their hundreds at night.

What on earth for?

Mostly to destroy tollgates. And, in None So Blind, a few other things. But their cross-dressing wasnt just a disguise  it was part of a centuries-old tradition of mob justice where men and women went out after dark in a kind of sinister carnival known as the ceffyl pren  the wooden horse.

Sinister? Surely the countryside had nothing on a par with Jack the Ripper?

Not that we know of. But then, people were literally getting away with murder in the countryside in those days.

How?

No detectives, no forensics, cost-cutting authorities keeping the number of inquests down-

Keeping costs down? Nothing changes, does it?

And one last reason they were getting away with murder: the countrysides big. Great for hiding bodies.
Clarins have launched four new Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils.

Clarins New Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil

The longstanding skincare company launched their moisturising and highly-nourishing lip products in January 2015, but the beauty brand has expanded their cosmetics line to include Candy, Tangerine, Mint and a new adaptation of their original item Honey titled Honey Glam with a glitter effect.

The compact lip product has been extremely popular with costumers the company has decided to make the product part of its permanent line, especially after the success of their three debut shades Honey, Raspberry and Red Berry.

The Clarins Lip Comfort Oil not only vary in their scent and flavour, but also in the shade, and although the products come in an array of bright shades when applied to the lips they give a subtle hint of colour to the lips; the perfect amount of pigment has been included to create a subtle and sophisticated look.

The beauty range is rich in active plant ingredients, including hazelnut oil, Mirabelle and organic jojoba oils, which help to deeply moisturise the lips without the oiliness or stickiness of other products.

Whilst all of the items have conditioning and therapeutic elements, the Mint item has the additional benefit of plumping the lips instantly because of the added menthol.

The founder of the prestigious beauty empire, Jacques Courtin-Clarins, decided to create the innovative face and body oils into intensive professional formulas, which were initially used at the Clarins Institute de Beaute in Paris, France, when it first opened.

And the launch of the brand came when the influx of customers wanted to use the items in the comfort of their own home.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil is available to buy for 19 online and in store, as well as in department stores.

And the full seven-piece collection is available to purchase now.
Standing with fellow students from Michigan peer institutions, all with a shared commitment to and passion for community service, was a special experience for two Ferris State University Public Relations majors. Katie Nimtz and Josh Olszewski stood among 29 students who received Commitment to Service awards from Michigan Campus Compact during an awards ceremony, in late March, in Lansing, Mich.

The Commitment to Service award highlights the achievement of some of the states most dedicated student community service leaders.

It was inspiring to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture. Students from campuses around the state are striving to serve their communities, said Olszewski, a native of Hartland, Mich., who currently serves as president of Ferris Student Government organization. This event was proof that students really do have the power to make positive change.

Hearing inspiring testimonials reminded attendees of the value of their work.

The atmosphere during the event was heartwarming, said Nimtz, of Eau Claire, Mich., director of public relations for Student Government and vice president of campus and community outreach for the Ferris chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Nick Blumenau, an Outstanding Community Impact recipient from Siena Heights University, summed it up during his acceptance speech saying that if we all work on our own corner of the world, using our gifts and talents, together we can make a real change. Hearing Nick and the other recipients tell us about their stories of what drives them to make a difference was inspiring. I will never forget this wonderful experience and am honored to receive the Commitment to Service Award.

Nimtz and Olszewski were accompanied at the event by several Ferris faculty and staff members: Michele Albright, from the Center for Leadership Activities and Career Services; Cathy Bordeau, advisor for the Honors Program; and Sandra Burns, an associate professor of Dental Hygiene from the College of Health Professions.

Leadership and service were consistent themes that hit close to home for Nimtz.

In every position I have held, in college and prior, my focus has been how to give back, Nimtz said. I aspire to show my peers that life is so much more than just dollar signs. It is about community and the individuals who all have a unique story. True leadership isnt about the titles or the prizes. Its about taking an active role to connect people with what drives their passion and fire every day. Volunteering has never been about the return. Being able to watch the small changes on campus and in the community has driven me to serve from the beginning.

Formed in 1989, Michigan Campus Compact is a partnership of college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed themselves and their institutions to their communities through mutually beneficial and meaningful collaborations to create engaged citizens and vibrant communities. Michigan Campus Compact proudly works with public, independent and two-year institutions of higher education to meet student learning outcomes, address strategic priorities of member campuses and cultivate sustainable campus-community partnerships.



Michigan Campus Compact





PHOTO CAPTION: Ferris State University students Katie Nimtz, left, and Josh Olszewski, right, were honored for their community service by the Michigan Campus Compact. The ceremony took place in late March in Lansing, Mich. (Courtesy Photo/Jenna Grimm)
Switzerlands textile machinery suppliers, organised by the national association Swissmem, held a two-day symposium, on April 4 and 5, in Cairo, Egypt. The objective was to strengthen the already well-established industrial ties between Egypt and Switzerland and to initiate a major step towards the revival of the Egyptian textile manufacturing sector.Switzerlands textile machinery suppliers have now initiated a major step towards revival of Egyptian textile manufacturing with the highly-successful two-day symposium in Cairo. A total of 13 association member companies presented their latest machines and systems to an audience of 400, including representatives of the major textile producers from the private and public sectors, as well as delegates from various universities and research institutes.

Switzerland's textile machinery suppliers, organised by the national association Swissmem, held a two-day symposium, on April 4 and 5, in Cairo, Egypt. The objective was to strengthen the already well-established industrial ties between Egypt and Switzerland and to initiate a major step towards the revival of the Egyptian textile manufacturing sector.#

As the first of the European textile machinery-producing countries to plan an event of this type, Switzerland recognises the enormous potential for renewal of Egypts textile sector. The devaluations, while making Egyptian goods theoretically more attractive in export markets, have also seriously impacted on the cost and accessibility to Egypts textile companies of new production technology from the major producers.The Swissmem symposium addressed this issue head-on, with direct offers of assistance in the key area of financing capital imports.Ernesto Maurer, Swissmem President said, Switzerland is ready to support Egypt in its striving to re-connect with the worldwide textile community. Funds need to be created prior to new investments, and here the Swiss textile machinery companies can help. Sometimes, it is also the case that service and upgrade of existing equipment can be easier to achieve than complete renewal.Symposium participants heard a detailed explanation of export risk insurance and financing, presented by Fabian Brunschwiler, of SERV (Swiss Export Risk Insurance). His comments attracted significant attention, especially in relation to the assertion that Egypt was not yet making full use of the export finance facilities available from Switzerland.Swiss textile machinery producers enjoyed strong export sales to Egypt in the years up to 2013, but the countrys economic and political woes since then have seen shipments decline to only 20 per cent of previous levels. Now, as Egyptian textile manufacturers exhibit an eagerness to expand their markets, improve production capability and product quality, Swissmem is optimistic that it can offer both the financial and technological solutions they require.The 13 Swissmem companies that took part in the symposium included Luwa, Amsler Tex, Heberlein, SSM Scharer Schweiter Mettler, Saurer (Embroidery), Rieter Components (Bracker, Graf, Nobibra and Sussen), Staubli, Jakob Muller, Retech, Loepfe, Maag, Benninger, and Santex-Rimar. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Australian wool markets moved clearly back to the positive in sale week 40 of July-June 2016-17 as auction prices were sensationally dearer. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) climbed daily and concluded the selling week at 1512ac/clean kg, a gain of 53ac/clean kg for the week. Merino sector recorded gains of well over 100ac/ clean kg.

Buyers hit the market strongly to cover off new and existing open positions leading to gains in the merino sector. Crossbreds were well sought with just the carding segment losing out in an incredibly strong week, building on top of the already historically high price levels, said the Australian Wool Innovation in its Wool Market weekly report.

However, with a weaker AUD v USD forex rate the move upwards was less intensive when the EMI is measured in USD but a still imposing 3 per cent rise to 1134usc/clean kg was achieved in a stellar selling week.

Australian wool markets moved clearly back to the positive in sale week 40 of July-June 2016-17 as auction prices were sensationally dearer. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) climbed daily and concluded the selling week at 1512ac/clean kg, a gain of 53ac/clean kg for the week. Merino sector recorded gains of well over 100ac/ clean kg.#

While, the merino sector experienced heavy prices rises this week, the superfine and ultra fine sectors (wools finer than 18.6micron) gained a 45 to 60ac/clean kg but it was the 19 to 21.8 micron area that was extreme with a 100 to 130ac/clean kg advance in price levels recorded, with the highest weekly price at the close of selling.

Early in the week it was local traders dominating, but the largest rises occurred when the major Chinese indent buyer joined in through the final day, but those locals had an average up their sleeve and were mainly able to out buy them. As this happened though most other buyers chose to completely avoid getting caught up in that type of aggression and left the action to just those 3 or 4 buyers.

The continuation of the wool market's stunning reversal of fortune after 2 weeks of rapidly diminishing levels was largely expected, but 3 or 4 buyers took the market to sensational daily gains this week. Recent history shows that moves of this scale are not always sustainable, particularly in a growing supply year, however wool growers were happy nonetheless, reflected in the reduced passed in rates of just over 5 per cent.

The erratic movements of the past 2 weeks indicate two major influences as to the way the wool market trading has developed since the supremacy of Chinese buying, the report said.

Analysing further, the report says that it is clear that the local buyers and exporters have their fingers on the pulse of the sentiment of their major clients. The close relationships between overseas buyers and local operators transfers that demand (or lack of) immediately into the sale rooms.

The second point is that the hand to mouth method of purchase from the Chinese is way and above the preferred means of purchase. This is evident from both sides, with local exporters exposing themselves to less risk by selling promptly and the manufacturers avoiding the pitfalls of buying too far into the future. This is risk adverse behaviour towards both the fluctuations in the price of wool and any exposure to shifting foreign exchange rates.

Australian auction sales will be in recess next week, and the next sale of 50,000 bales is scheduled to be on offer in the week commencing 24th April. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Foreign Trade Association (FTA), the Belgium based business association of global commerce that promotes the values of international trade and sustainable supply chains, is advocating for a smart Brexit process that safeguards open markets and business interests. The organisation is pushing for a sound strategy to mitigate negative impacts of Brexit.

Last month, the British government activated Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to formally launch the negotiations which will determine the conditions of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (EU). It is the first time that a member state has opted to leave the EU, and Brexit clearly has the potential of having a considerable  negative  effect on the business sector, according to the FTA.

The possible effects of Brexit include imposition of tariffs and border checks in the future bilateral trade relations. It might also negatively impact economic growth  and consequently consumption  in the UK, the EU and the world. Further, as the EU will lose a liberal voice, there might be a shift towards a more defensive EU trade policy. Also, Brexit will result in decrease in the influence of the EU, potentially leading to more market fragmentation.

Foreign Trade Association (FTA), the Belgium based business association of global commerce that promotes the values of international trade and sustainable supply chains, is advocating for a smart Brexit process that safeguards open markets and business interests. The organisation is pushing for a sound strategy to mitigate negative impacts of Brexit.#

To limit the impact of Brexit process, FTA director general Christian Ewert underlines the priorities of the international trade sector in these divorce talks: We need to invent a magic formula which will guarantee the highest possible level of market integration while avoiding a domino effect triggering similar leave requests from other EU member states. At the same time, we need to leave the door open for the British government to exit Brexit, as the political mood in the UK might change again.

Pushing for a sound strategy to mitigate negative impacts, promote possible opportunities and effectively represent the interest of FTA members, Ewert says, The upcoming talks should be conducted in a spirit of fairness, trust and partnership to make sure the negotiations advance quickly, create legal clarity soon and prevent major business disruption.

FTA represents more than 1,900 retailers, importers and brands to promote and defend international trade and supports their business by providing information and practical solutions towards sustainability in the global supply chain. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for the increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute for 2017-18 season to protect the economic interests of the farmers. It has been increased to Rs 3,500 per quintal for 2017-18, an increase of Rs 300 (9.4 per cent) over the previous year.

During last three years (2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18), government has increased the MSP for jute from Rs 2,700 to Rs 3,500 (29.6 per cent) as compared to increase from Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,400 (9.1 per cent) in the preceding three years (2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15).

Jute is mainly used as raw material for packaging industry. The increase in MSP would benefit the jute industry, which supports the livelihood of around 40 lakh farm families and provides direct employment to 3.7 lakh workers in organised mills and in diversified units including tertiary sector and allied activities. These farm families are mainly concentrated in the states of West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, which account for over 95 per cent of the area as well as jute production in the country.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for the increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute for 2017-18 season to protect the economic interests of the farmers. It has been increased to Rs 3,500 per quintal for 2017-18, an increase of Rs 300 (9.4 per cent) over the previous year.#

New varieties of jute viz., JRO-204, JBO-2003, JRS-517, JRC-532 and JRO-2407 are being promoted by providing support for seeds production under National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Commercial Crops. National Seeds Corporation Limited has entered into agreement for promotion of new varieties of jute seeds in the jute growing states. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
In order to gain passage of a farm bill that effectively addresses all needs, the National Cotton Council (NCC) is looking forward to working with the House and Senate agriculture committees. NCC wants cotton brought back into the farm laws Title I commodity policy as it is the only crop that does not have revenue protection policy in the farm bill."Including cotton in Title I would enable cotton producers to access the risk management tools that provide protection during prolonged periods of depressed market conditions," NCC chairman Ronnie Lee said.

In order to gain passage of a farm bill that effectively addresses all needs, the National Cotton Council (NCC) is looking forward to working with the House and Senate agriculture committees. NCC wants cotton brought back into the farm law's Title I commodity policy as it is the only crop that does not have revenue protection policy in the farm bill.#

A NCC testimony informs that although current cotton futures market prices have increased from year-ago levels, many producers continue to struggle with prices at levels not adequate to cover all production costs."USDA 2016 data shows that 19 per cent of cotton farms are considered either highly or extremely highly leveraged," NCC stated.NCCs testimony noted that while the worlds consumers continue to express their preference for cotton products, the tremendous increase in low-priced polyester production has created extraordinary hurdles for increasing global cotton demand. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Sobel Westex, designer, manufacturer and distributor of linen and terry, has announced an agreement to acquire Baltic Linen Co Inc, a leading supplier of bed and bath textiles for retail, cruise lines, healthcare and hospitality industries. The acquisition of Baltic Linen will result in making Sobel Westex one of the world's largest global textile companies.

The acquisition joins two dominant textile companies to create a US based, global enterprise that will be highly competitive across all textile sectors. Customers can expect the global union of Sobel Westex and Baltic Linen to result in more innovative products, improved guest experience, personalised service, and increased attention to detail  all fundamental elements that make up the DNA of the Sobel Westex brand.

"Baltic, a trendsetter in the retail and hospitality textile sectors, will propel Sobel Westex to the top of the market, solidifying both our position and brand in the textile industry across our market segments. This transaction will create a leading textile company that is differentiated by its ability to deliver cutting-edge products using an unparalleled global infrastructure of inventory and distribution capabilities to service our customers worldwide," said Walter Pelaez, CEO of Sobel Westex.

Sobel Westex, designer, manufacturer and distributor of linen and terry, has announced an agreement to acquire Baltic Linen Co Inc, a leading supplier of bed and bath textiles for retail, cruise lines, healthcare and hospitality industries. The acquisition of Baltic Linen will result in making Sobel Westex one of the world's largest global textile companies.#

"We are proud of our decision to join forces with Sobel Westex and deliver the expertise of both companies' vast knowledge to the marketplace Our forward thinking and differentiated designs will continue to create the most exciting looks with license partnerships that are unique, bringing colour and value to our customers," said Frank Greenberg, CEO of Baltic Linen.

Sobel Westex dominates the hospitality industry around the globe with a range of products from towels to sheets, blankets, pillows, bathrobes, table linen and beyond. As one of the largest suppliers, Sobel Westex has a substantial market share nationwide servicing the largest, most prestigious hospitality, cruise line and laundry companies.

A bellwether in the retail textile market with an 80-year history, Baltic Linen is a major supplier of bedding and bath products to leading department stores, specialty stores, mass retailers and the hospitality industry. With stalwart clients that include the most known brands in the retail space, Baltic Linen brings to the acquisition its dominance in the home fashion segment.

"The combined strength of these two companies is a game changer that will allow Sobel Westex to increase our design mix and product offering; giving us the ability to better serve our domestic and international markets, creating an exciting opportunity for both our customers and our company, added Pelaez. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
US cotton exports in 2016-17 are forecast at 14.0 million bales, a 53 per cent increase from the previous season, according to the US department of agriculture (USDA). Overall, the US share of world trade is expected to reach 39 per cent, up from 26 per cent last season, which would be the highest level in 6 years, the April 2017 report on cotton said.

With global trade expected to rise by less than 4 per cent and with stable import forecasts for major US markets, US market share will have to expand significantly in many countries for the forecast to be obtained, states the report Cotton: World Markets and Trade released by Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA.

Market share of US cotton is expanding in nearly all markets, with an exceptional increase in Taiwan. The US share of Chinas imports has rebounded remarkably from 11 per cent last year (the lowest in over 2 decades) to 35 per cent, which is in line with the historical average.

US cotton exports in 2016-17 are forecast at 14.0 million bales, a 53 per cent increase from the previous season, according to the US department of agriculture (USDA). Overall, the US share of world trade is expected to reach 39 per cent, up from 26 per cent last season, which would be the highest level in 6 years, the April 2017 report on cotton said.#

For 2016-17, global cotton use is raised only marginally, and production is raised, resulting in global ending stocks up slightly. Global trade is up marginally, while US exports are raised by 800,000 bales, reducing US ending stocks. The US season-average farm price forecast is lowered a half-cent to 68 cents/pound, the report said. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Cupid Intimates, Americas leading womens shapewear and innerwear company, has selected Tukatech cutting solutions to improve product development and production process. Tukatech, based in US, provides pattern making, grading and marker making software, web-based product development services, PDM/PLM systems, and manufacturing equipment for garments.Ken Langston, senior vice president of operations from Cupid Intimates said, We have been using specialised cutting and CAD technologies for over 20 years. Our four custom-built cutters, capable of cutting 126 inches wide, were aging and we needed to further improve for even wider fabrics to get the best possible utilisation of materials. We knew Tukatech offers customised solutions for CAD/CAM. With our showrooms in New York, design and engineering in Bethlehem, PA, planning and execution in Oklahoma, and cutting and sewing in Nicaragua and Mexico, we needed to streamline our processes.

Cupid Intimates, America's leading women's shapewear and innerwear company, has selected Tukatech cutting solutions to improve product development and production process. Tukatech, based in US, provides pattern making, grading and marker making software, web-based product development services, PDM/PLM systems, and manufacturing equipment for garments.#

TUKAcad, TUKAcutplan, and SMARTmark enabled us to streamline our design process in a way that made significant improvement in our lead-time. Improvements were seen in the costing process, storage system, grading, and first pattern accuracy. We have been able to realise 1.5 per cent material yield savings since our installation of Tukatech software, he added. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
HON PM BAINIMARAMA SPEECH FOR GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY  BAU CENTRAL COLLEGE





The Honourable Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts,The School Manager and Members of the Committee,Head Teachers and Principals of the nearby Schools,Distinguished Guests,Parents, Friends, Students,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bula vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.Today, we embark on another major project to expand access to high-quality education for our students, this time for the people of Bau, as we break ground for the construction of the new Bau Central College.Once completed, this new campus will mark another milestone in my Governments relentless effort to spread the enormous benefits of affordable education to the Fijian people. It will bring us closer to ensuring that every child, no matter where they call home, can secure a better future for themselves through the knowledge and skills acquired in our schools.My Government has displayed an unwavering commitment to our duty  as written in the Fijian Constitution  to uphold the right of every person to access education. Because such access has been proven, time and time again, as the most effective way to end poverty, improve quality of life and even the playing field at every level of society.It was for those reasons that my Government launched the free education and free text books initiatives and the free fares for travelling students. Because no family should have to consider the financial implications of sending their child to school and no child should feel unequipped in the classroom. The benefits of those programs are felt everyday by hard-working parents in Fiji and for their children, whose participation in school has no longer been limited by their financial situation at home.But there are even deeper issues affecting our childrens ability to attend school and to perform to the best of their abilities. Often, the resources and the classrooms are simply too far away. And that is why we have matched our free education schemes with an ambitious slate of new school development projects throughout our islands. primary schools, secondary schools, technical and tertiary institutions all being opened across Fiji, bringing unprecedented educational options to our people. Weve opened three new secondary schools this year alone, and, soon, your community will be able to welcome a new secondary school of your own.This new school campus will welcome students from Ratu Ravuama Primary, Cautata District, Bau District, Nakelo District, Krishna Vedic School, Dravo Primary, Namata District School, Daku Village School, Nasamila District, Sanatan Dharaam Primary and Kuku District School, all of whom will have a convenient, modern and functional new school facility to further their educations.My Government has allocated a total of $1.6 million to fund the construction of a new school campus on these grounds, and the construction work has been tendered to Super Construction  who are scheduled to deliver the completed work in January 2018.Ladies and gentlemen,While this is a day of celebration for the people of Bau, there are still areas of Fiji that were hit badly by Cyclone Winston where some of our students are still awaiting the reconstruction of their schools. As you all know, Cyclone Winston brought devastation to Fiji like we had never seen before, in fact, it was the strongest cyclone to ever make landfall in the Southern Hemisphere. And we are working hard to reclaim everything we lost to the storm, and, for all the reasons Ive stated, we want to get all of our affected students back into proper school buildings as soon as possible. But these new schools must be built to a standard that can withstand severe weather events  like Winston  and that takes time.Already we have begun rebuilding 112 schools throughout the country, with plans to begin construction on 39 others soon, and four schools have already been completely rebuilt. And we are undertaking extensive repair works on all of our schools that sustained damage in the storm as well. And when those schools do re-open their doors, they will be of the standard and quality worthy of the students who call them home.I look forward to this new schools completion, long-awaited by the people of Bau and, once completed, worthy to serve your young people and the many generations that will follow in their footsteps.I wish all you and your families a blessed Easter Weekend.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, whose latest production Begum Jaan - set against the backdrop of India's Partition in 1947 - won't release in Pakistan, wishes the censor board in the neighbouring country would have given it a watch.

"I did not look at Pakistan just as a market to sell my wares. When 'Begum Jaan' was not viewed by their censor board, I was ridiculed by some of my close associates. That did hurt. I wish they had given my film a viewing and then taken this decision of not granting the permission to be screened in Pakistan," Bhatt told IANS on social media.

"I was told by someone in the censor board to pitch the question to the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage which allows the import of foreign films since the board only previews the product as per censor code. I was told that the objection to import the film came from them," he added.

The film, starring Vidya Balan, tells the story of survival and the sex workers community apart from Partition.

Akshay On Clashing With SRK I Am Not Going To War Over A Movie

When IANS asked Mobashir Hasan, Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) head, if it is true that Pakistan doesn't import Indian films based on Partition, he said: "Please ask the distributors. They import the films and not the government."

A key distributor of Indian films in Pakistan - Satish Anand, head honcho of Eveready Group of Companies - told IANS on social media: "Let's put it this way that this project in present day will not reach the screens. India-Pakistan... for the present policies are fluid."

Was he distributing it? "Not at all. It was very clear this content will not be acceptable to this market. People have liked the trailer, I do hope the film does very well worldwide."

Begum Jaan, which marks Bengali director Srijit Mukherji's directorial debut in Hindi films, is set to hit the Indian screens on Friday.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Motorola Solutions (MSI) late Wednesday said it will provide a new mobility managed service to police in Victoria, Australia to help increase situational awareness, safety and productivity for frontline officers. The holistic managed service contract is valued at more than A$50 million and will run for a minimum of five years with the potential to extend to 11 years. The company said the service will place real-time information at the fingertips of at least 10,000 police officers equipped with iPads and iPhones. It will help them manage their daily work more safely, efficiently and productively. The solution includes, mPol, a mobile application developed by Gridstone, the Collingwood-based mobile application developer that Motorola Solutions acquired in November, 2016. The solution will also help reduce the duplication of data entry by officers while increasing workforce collaboration by sharing vital information between frontline personnel and their colleagues working in control rooms. The technology will also help Victoria Police to preserve its mission-critical radio communications for essential emergency communications by removing lower priority traffic from the radio network. This investment represents a major goal within Victoria Police's Capability Plan 2016-2025. Motorola Solutions will lead a consortium of service providers to deliver the contract. 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.
ChemChina announced today that the tender offers to purchase all publicly held Syngenta shares and ADSs will end on 4 May, 2017.

In accordance with the framework for extensions set by the Swiss Takeover Board, ChemChina made use of the last possibility to extend the Swiss Offer provided by that framework. Accordingly, the Swiss Offer will end on May 4, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. CEST, and the U.S. Offer will end on May 4, 2017 at 10:00 am, New York City time.

Accordingly, shareholders willing to tender their shares or ADSs into the offers and thereby contribute to the satisfaction of the minimum acceptance rate condition are asked to tender their shares or ADSs by 4 May, 2017 or an earlier deadline set by their custodian bank.

The Board of Directors of Syngenta has unanimously recommended the offer to shareholders. The ChemChina-Syngenta transaction respects the interests of all stakeholders and will ensure continued choice and ongoing innovation for growers around the world.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta.

Disclaimer

This press release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities.

Additional information and where to find it

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell company securities. The solicitation and offer to buy company securities is only made pursuant to the Swiss offer prospectus and the offer to purchase and other documents relating to the U.S. offer that have been filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). At the time the US Public Tender Offer was commenced, ChemChina and a designated direct or indirect subsidiary filed a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the SEC and thereafter, the company filed a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14d-9 with respect to the offer. Investors and security holders are urged to read these materials carefully since they contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the offer. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by ChemChina and the company with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders may also obtain free copies of the solicitation/recommendation statement and other documents filed with the SEC by the company at www.syngenta.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected consummation of the acquisition, which involves a number of risks and uncertainties, including the satisfaction of closing conditions for the acquisition, such as regulatory approval for the transaction and the tender of at least 67% of the outstanding shares of the company, the possibility that the transaction will not be completed and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's public filings with the SEC, including the "risk factors" section of the company's form 20-F filed on February 16, 2017 as well as the tender offer documents filed by the offeror and the solicitation/recommendation statement filed by the company. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any forward-looking statements. These statements are generally identified by words or phrases such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "should", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results and/or timing discussed in the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. The offeror, ChemChina and the company disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the period covered by this press release or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170412006285/en/

Contacts:

Syngenta International AG

Media Office

Tel: +41 61 323 2323

Fax: +41 61 323 2424

www.syngenta.com

or

Media:

Leandro Conti

Switzerland, +41 61 323 2323

or

Paul Minehart

USA, +1 202 737 8913

or

Analysts/Investors:

Jennifer Gough

Switzerland, +41 61 323 5059

USA, +1 202 737 6521
400 members of the e-disclosure community will join the developers of Relativity for an all-day conference full of forward-thinking discussions and presentations on the latest in legal tech.

LONDON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --kCura, developers of the e-disclosure software Relativity, brings its annual event Relativity Fest London to the United Kingdom on 25 April 2017.

The event brings some of the best aspects of Relativity Fest to the UK, including keynotes, educational sessions, and networking with legal professionals from around the globe over the course of a full day.

"We are excited to bring the Relativity Fest experience to the United Kingdom and share it with our international community," said Steve Couling, VP of International at kCura. "The last few years have been evolutionary for e-disclosure in Europe and Asia Pacific. With a growing number of courts approving technology-assisted review, progressive adoption of analytics, and the increasing complexity of cross-border litigation, there couldn't be a better time for legal professionals to come together to discuss the future of e-disclosure."

The event sessions will cover all the latest trends and market developments in e-disclosure:

Analytics Around the Globe

With legal departments seeking to drive down costs, and case law in the United States , Europe , and now Australia validating the defensibility of TAR, analytics is quickly becoming the most important piece of a case team's toolkit. The panel of industry experts will discuss the successes, the roadblocks, and specifics of implementing analytics in different regions.

With legal departments seeking to drive down costs, and case law in , , and now validating the defensibility of TAR, analytics is quickly becoming the most important piece of a case team's toolkit. The panel of industry experts will discuss the successes, the roadblocks, and specifics of implementing analytics in different regions. From Processing to ECA and Investigation: Know Your Data Before Review

A case getting off on the right foot comes long before the first coding decision is made. This session will demonstrate how Relativity Processing can be used to streamline the process by keeping all data in one platform.

A case getting off on the right foot comes long before the first coding decision is made. This session will demonstrate how Relativity Processing can be used to streamline the process by keeping all data in one platform. Creating Dashboards for Your Entire Case Lifecycle

In this session, attendees will learn how to enhance their Relativity experience with data visualization. With the ability to use Relativity dashboards for reporting and interacting with their data, case teams will be better equipped to do everything from prioritising their review from the outset, to running quality control checks prior to production.

Relativity Fest London will include a robust lineup of speakers from the e-disclosure industry such as the Honorable Andrew Peck, US Magistrate Judge, Southern District of New York; Steven Whitaker, former Senior Master, Senior Courts in the Queen's Bench Division; Chris Dale, Founder of the eDisclosure Information Project and many others.

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest features of Relativity and new ways to rapidly review and analyze data to uncover the true story behind it. Reviewers can now save even more time-and tell a more accurate and cohesive story-with easy-to-read email thread visualisations that help them quickly identify relationships between senders and recipients, as well as gaps in information and missing documents.

Attendees will also learn more about Relativity's hybrid connected experience, which allows legal teams to easily unite all their data, including matters and workflows, regardless of where they reside-on-premises, in an appliance, or in the cloud with RelativityOne.

"We have always been passionate about bringing our community together to help solve the most complex and challenging data problems," said Andrew Sieja, president and CEO of kCura. "Relativity Fest London is a great opportunity for us to become closer and more connected to our customers in the UK and throughout Europe."

Register for Relativity Fest London that will take place at 155 Bishopsgate on the 25th of April 2017.

About kCura

kCura are the developers of Relativity, an e-discovery platform used by more than 12,000 organizations to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Relativity has over 150,000 active users in 40+ countries from organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 Fortune 100 companies, and more than 195 of the Am Law 200. Corporations, law firms, and government agencies use Relativity on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid platform-with hosted, on-demand solutions available through a global network of partners. As a platform, Relativity also allows developers to design, build, and integrate applications that extend its functionality. kCura has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for six consecutive years and received the CityLIGHTS Lighthouse Award from the Illinois Technology Association in 2016. Please contact kCura at sales@kcura.com or visit http://www.kcura.com for more information.

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OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday. The U.S. dollar fell to a 1-week low of 1.0677 against the euro and a 10-day low of 1.0008 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.0664 and 1.0030, respectively. Against the pound, the yen and the Canadian dollar, the greenback dropped to more than a 2-week low of 1.2574, nearly a 5-month low of 108.72 and a 1-1/2-month low of 1.3229 against the Canadian dollar, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.2544, 108.99 and 1.3246, respectively. If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.08 against the euro, 0.99 against the franc, 1.27 against the pound, 107.00 against the yen and 1.30 against the loonie. 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.
HONG KONG, Apr 13, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - A leading real estate developer of green technological properties - Modern Land (China) Co Ltd ("Modern Land," the "Company," together with its subsidiaries, the "Group," HKSE stock code: 1107.HK) -- is pleased to announce that Fitch Ratings, an international credit ratings institution, has affirmed the Group's Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at "B+" with the Outlook Stable. Fitch has also affirmed the Group's senior unsecured rating and the ratings on all outstanding bonds at "B+" with a Recovery Rating at "RR4".



In August 2016, Fitch initially upgraded the Group's Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to "B+" from "B" with the Outlook Stable. Fitch also upgraded the Group's senior unsecured rating and the ratings on all outstanding bonds to "B+" from "B".



According to latest press release from Fitch, Modern Land's ratings are supported by improving landbank quality after the Company repositioned its business towards tier 1 and 2 cities, which have higher land prices, to support contracted sales growth.



Larger Scale: Modern Land's reported and attributable contracted sales increased by about 47% yoy to CNY16.6 billion and CNY10.6 billion in 2016, respectively. Sales for January-March 2017 are also on track, having increased by 14% yoy to CNY3.4 billion, despite a series of government measures to rein in property prices since October 2016. Fitch expects the Company to achieve its reported contracted sales target of CNY22 billion in 2017, based on CNY36 billion of saleable resources.



Improving Landbank: Fitch estimates the company's landbank is enough for around three years of sales, having improved from about two years of sales in 2015. Modern Land's attributable available-for-sale landbank was 2.8 million square meters (sq.m.) in gross floor area (GFA) at end-2016. Modern Land's landbank quality also strengthened after it extended coverage to more tier 1 and 2 cities since 2014. Its attributable unsold landbank by area in Xiantao and Dongdaihe, two tier 4 Chinese cities, accounted for around 25% of the total at end-2016, down from 35% at end-June 2016 and 38% at end-2015. Fitch estimates that tier 1 cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, and tier 2 cities, like Hefei, Changsha and Suzhou, now account for about 70% of Modern Land's existing saleable resources by value.



Sufficient Liquidity, Lower Funding Cost: Modern Land's liquidity remains healthy, with total cash of CNY6.8 billion including restricted cash. Modern Land managed to significantly lower its funding cost to 8.1% in 2016, from 10.5% in 2015 and 11% in 2014. Fitch expects the lower borrowing cost to partially offset lower GPM and strengthen Modern Land's credit profile.



Leverage Increase Moderating: Modern Land's leverage remained controlled at end-2016 and was comparable with that of 'B+' rated peers. Fitch estimates that leverage - measured by net debt/adjusted inventory - rose to 34% at end-2016, from 23% at end-2015, after the Company spent capital on land acquisitions and joint venture investments to increase its landbank in higher-tier cities. Fitch expects Modern Land's leverage to remain below 40% until the Company substantially increases its land reserves relative to sales.



In the past 2016, Modern Land accomplished a stable growth with its revenue increasing by approximately 33.2% to approximately RMB8,457.9 million and net profit advancing by approximately 18.8% to approximately RMB714 million. The Group's contracted sales achieved a remarkable increase of approximately 46.8% to approximately RMB16,572.2 million while the average selling price per sq.m. registered approximately RMB11,340. As at end of 2016, total land bank in the PRC held by the Group recorded approximately 5.4 million sq.m.



The Group strategically grasped opportunities arisen from green finance in 2016 after successfully issuing USD350 million green bonds due 2019 with coupon rate of 6.875% per annum, which made it the first Chinese property developer listed in Hong Kong issuing such bonds. The Group also introduced Great Wall Pan Asia International Investment Company Limited and China Cinda (HK) Asset Management Co., Limited as strategic shareholders. In addition, the Group formed North American fund with Great Wall Pan Asia to invest in the real estate development projects in North America.



Mr. Zhang Peng, Executive Director and President of the Group, said: "Rating at 'B+' granted by Fitch indicates that the Group's great efforts in various aspects including enhancing profits, controlling leverage, optimizing landbank are highly acknowledged by international capital markets. As a Chinese developer with differentiated core competitiveness, Modern Land has been engaged in developing Green Technology + Comfort & Energy-saving + Mobile Interconnecting Full-life Cycle Communities. While seeking business development, the Group also gives prominent priority to views and evaluations from capital market as well as pursues sufficient communication with them. Inspired by the rating this time, the Group will continue to develop its advantages in green real estate industry by enriching green energy-saving product lines, actively acquiring quality land, optimizing landbank structure so as to be more responsive to continuous attention from markets."









Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.





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BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3:15 am ET Thursday, the Federal Statistical Office is slated to release Swiss producer and import prices for March. Prices are expected to climb 0.9 percent annually in March, slower than the 1.3 percent rise seen in February. Ahead of the data, the Swiss franc fell against its major rivals. As of 3:10 am ET, the Swiss franc was trading at 1.0690 against the euro, 1.0690 against the pound, 1.0034 against the U.S. dollar and 108.75 against the yen. 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.


BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (CPCAF.OB, CPCAY.PK) announced Wednesday that Ivan Chu will step down as its Chief Executive and Chairman of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited, known as Cathay Dragon. Rupert Hogg, Cathay's chief operating officer, will succeed Chu as its CEO with effect from May 1. Chu took Cathay's CEO post in 2014.



The move comes just weeks after the Hong Kong-based carrier recorded its first annual loss since the financial crisis in 2008. Cathay last month reported a net loss of HK$575 million or $74 million amid massive fuel-hedging losses and intensifying competition.



Swire Group, which owns Cathay through its conglomerate unit Swire Pacific Ltd., said that Chu will be appointed Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited with effect from May 1. He will remain on the boards of Cathay Pacific as a Non-executive Director and Swire Pacific.



Cathay said its new CEO Hogg will lead the airline through its three-year corporate transformation programme. He will also become the Chairman of Cathay Dragon.



In addition, the airline announced several staffing changes as part of a restructuring of its top management



Paul Loo will be appointed the Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, and Greg Hughes will be appointed the Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer. Further, Algernon Yau, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Dragon, will be appointed Director Service Delivery of Cathay Pacific. The changes are with effect from June 1.



In recent years, the carrier has been facing deteriorating business amid intense competition for economy-class sales with rapid growth in budget carriers. Also, the demand for first- and business-class services weakened significantly.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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LONDON, ENGLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- For decades, we have lived in fear of a so-called 'population bomb'. Year after year, the number of people on this planet has grown at an exponential rate, causing irreparable damage to the environment, exhausting both natural and synthetic resources, while stretching the limits of our global food supply.

Today however, there is yet another demographic challenge that pervades society, and in doing so affects the entire globe - ageing populations. The latest issue of World Finance explores the reasons this shift is now taking place and what governments worldwide can do to offset its disastrous effects.

To get to the crux of this issue, World Finance spoke with renowned economist and expert on global demographic trends George Magnus, who noted "this is a unique phenomenon in human history". The anomaly can be largely attributed to medical breakthroughs and declining infant mortality rates, which have resulted in people living much longer. Interestingly, this development coincides with sociological trends that see people having fewer children than previous generations.

Though this phenomenon is more clearly seen in advanced economies, the number of countries facing this issue continues to grow. "According to the UN population division, which is sort of the font of all wisdom on population and demographic matters, with a handful of exceptions global population growth is basically grinding to a halt", Magnus told World Finance.

Elsewhere in World Finance, we explore the death of the American shopping mall, the potential end of physical money and the long-term drawbacks of economic sanctions.

For an in-depth look at more of the latest stories in business, economics and finance, read the latest issue of World Finance, available online, on tablet and in print now.

World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, enjoying a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of the most prominent and senior decision-makers around the world, as well as comprehensive airport, hotel and conference site distribution.

Contacts:

World News Media

Elizabeth Matsangou

Editorial Department

+44 (0)20 7553 4162

elizabeth.matsangou@wnmedia.com




ZEIST, The Netherlands, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of the world's leading values-based banks, in the last quarter welcomed its 40th member - The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan. This marks a milestone in membership increase making the Global Alliance bigger as ever. The Global Alliance comprises 40 members and seven partners coming from all around the world. We are continuing our work and a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development, with a focus on helping individuals fulfil their potential and build stronger communities.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160725/392614LOGO )



The newest member, The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan (http://www.fmfb.com.tj/en ) strives to contribute to the economic development of the country and to the improvement of the quality of life of people in Tajikistan by providing access to finance and banking services. The Bank wants to be recognized as Tajikistan's most trusted bank, operating to international standards of ethics, prudence and customer service, through the reliable delivery of high-quality banking services in all regions of Tajikistan to its customers.

Mr. Yenten Lama, CEO of the First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan on joining the GABV stated: "We are enthused to join the GABV family and access the network of peers and colleagues from the Alliance. This will be very valuable for cross learning and paving the way to operate at international standards. Participation in the GABV meetings and collaborating with other members will provide insights into different working models, help in sharing of knowledge resources and building staff capacity."

Dr Marcos Eguiguren, Executive Director, GABV on achieving the milestone and welcoming the newest member said: 'I am proud and honoured to have supported the GABV in achieving this milestone and welcoming the newest member to our family of likeminded financial institutions. As the Global Alliance is growing, we must continue to learn from and support each other and to be more proactive in fulfilling our goals of advancing positive change in the banking sector. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise on how to use finance to create positive economic, social and environmental impact for the individuals, organisations and communities they serve. We are proud to be the link between our members and partners, working to change finance to finance change. Only together we will be able to deliver on our mission to put banking back in service of people, the economy and the environment.'

The Global Alliance will continue to work on expanding its reach to new countries, supporting new members and actively promoting banking on values and the BankingOnValues movement.

About the GABV

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values is a not-for-profit organisation and independent network of banks and banking cooperativeswith a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises 40 financial institutions and seven strategic partners operating in countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe. Collectively we serve more than 24 million customers, hold up to $110 billion USD of combined assets under management, and we are supported by more than 42,000 co-workers. Learn more about the GABV and how we're working to build a growing, global, values-based banking movement.

Latest news:

Massive Open Online Course - Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered is back!

2016 Annual Report Launches

GABV Joins the Global Movement for a New Economy

For the First Time in Europe a Law Recognizes Ethical Finance

Media Relations

Jasmin Panjeta

E: jasmin.panjeta@gabv.org

T: +31-61-525-4228



BankingOnValues
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro declined against its major counterparts in the early European session on Thursday. The euro weakened to a 1-1/2-month low of 0.8475 against the pound, from a high of 0.8510 hit at 5:00 pm ET. The euro fell to 115.93 against the yen, 1.0679 against the franc and 1.0642 against the greenback, off its early highs of 116.45 and 1.0698, and a weekly high of 1.0678, respectively. The common currency slid to 9-day lows of 1.4019 against the aussie and 1.5199 against the kiwi, from its prior highs of 1.4178 and 1.5306, respectively. Reversing from an early high of 1.4137 against the loonie, the euro slipped to 1.4074. The euro is likely to find support around 0.82 against the pound, 113.00 against the yen, 1.04 against the franc, 1.04 against the greenback, 1.38 against the aussie, 1.50 against the kiwi and 1.39 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. ("Naturally Splendid") or ("NSE") (FRANKFURT: 50N)(TSX VENTURE: NSP)(OTCQB: NSPDF) is pleased to announce they have entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with First Step Japan ("FSJ"), to market its NATERA CBD product line in Japan, the world's third largest economy.

The mutually exclusive relationship between FSJ and NSE involves FSJ representing CBD based products offered by NSE. Additionally, NSE can expand this offering to include other products and ingredients including HempOmega, that NSE and FSJ feel have commercial merit for the Japanese market. This exclusivity has a two-year initial period with options to extend. FSJ will construct a Japanese consumer specific, e-commerce platform focussing on a Business to Consumer strategy; thus capitalizing on the robust e-commerce market still growing in Japan. Additionally, FSJ will assist NSE's Business to Business strategy marketing directly to distributors, brokers and retailers. This comprehensive marketing strategy is designed to cover multiple distribution channels.

First Step Japan is a Japan based market entry and consulting firm that serves a variety of businesses and non-governmental organizations. They guide clients to achieve their sales goals and to make successful and lasting entries into the Japanese market. The principals of FSJ have combined for over 30 years of experience in Japan. They are uniquely equipped to navigate the local business environment and generate results for their clients. Leveraging an extensive network of associates covering all angles of business operations, FSJ offers a single-entry point to the market.

FSJ CEO Mr. Stephane Beaulieu comments, "FSJ is very pleased with the relationship that has been established between NSE and ourselves. This new relationship with Naturally Splendid provides FSJ an original line of products to offer their Japanese clients. Having met with the principles of NSE a year ago, we felt there was a great relationship growing from having similar cultural backgrounds but most importantly, our organizational cultures and business ideals are very similar. NSE has an offering of products that has high potential for Japan where a long history of hemp cultivation exists. The key element to developing access to the Japanese market is by developing solid, trusting, working relationships - it was only a matter of time before we announced our new mutually exclusive relationship to import, distribute and market NSE's CBD and food ingredients to Japanese clients looking for North American, high quality products."

Stephane Beaulieu spent 15 years with the Canadian Government as a Trade Commissioner serving in numerous Asian countries and assisting Canadians companies manoeuvre through the regulatory and distribution networks towards their success in the host country. Stephane's current role as CEO of First Step Japan (FSJ) was created to assist foreign companies entering the Japanese marketplace. FSJ has become very successful with its market entry platform to expose new and innovative products to Japanese consumers using e-commerce channels such as Rakuten and Amazon. One such success story is health wise Rooibos tea, initially ranked 47th in its category on Amazon Japan, climbing to the 3rd position within 6 months and now holding the 2nd position a mere 12 months later.

As CEO Dave Eto comments, "Our trip to FoodEx in Tokyo in March 2017 exceeded our expectations. We knew from our research that the Japanese consumer has an advanced and acute knowledge of CBD products given their Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is currently treating his colitis with a CBD product. The Japanese government's regulatory environment, while stringent and disciplined, has provided us with the ability to import Hemp products containing CBD for Japanese consumers. The response from FoodEx delegates looking for CBD products was amazing as they want to capitalize on this new trend. Our relationship with FSJ represents a considerable amount of work and effort to secure such an excellent "access to market strategy" and we are very excited to announce our relationship and begin delivering our products to them."

Please visit the NATERACBD website for more info: www.nateracbd.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

(604) 465-1128 (FAX)

info@naturallysplendid.com

www.naturallysplendid.com




PHILADELPHIA, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Elsevier, the information analytics company specializing in science and health, and the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD), the organization that upholds the highest standards for nursing professional development, today announced the launch of Mosby's Medical-Surgical Nursing Orientation course. This eLearning course is designed to help newly licensed nurses successfully transition from academic preparation to autonomous, safe clinical practice and to provide essential tools for nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners and preceptors.

Mosby's Medical-Surgical Nursing Orientation course is meant to be integrated into an existing transition-to-practice or other orientation program. The course includes 26 lessons that cover diseases and disorders, such as heart failure, as well as professional practice issues, including conflict resolution. More than 100 NPD practitioners wrote and reviewed the content with the goal of exposing new nurses to real-world case study and role-play scenarios to help them build clinical judgment and hone their critical thinking skills.

"Elsevier is proud to have collaborated with ANPD to offer this innovative orientation program that complements Mosby's Preceptor, another successful eLearning course co-developed with ANPD," said Cindy Tryniszewski, MSN, RN, FAEN, Vice President, Clinical Content, Clinical Solutions at Elsevier.

"New nurse orientation is top-of-mind for nurse leaders who told us that their key challenges include improving patient safety, new nurse retention rates, and new nurse confidence in practice," Tryniszewski said. "Our new course will help address these issues by arming the newly licensed nurse with the tools to succeed and providing the essential resources for NPD practitioners and preceptors to prepare these nurses to become safe, competent clinicians."

According to Chris Wilson, MSN, RN-BC, ANPD President, "NPD practitioners can use this course to support staff participating in transition to practice programs. Such programs play an essential role in the successful acquisition of knowledge and skills for new nurses or for experienced nurses who are changing clinical focus."

This new product adds to Elsevier's library of exclusive, co-developed products with key nursing associations, including the Emergency Nurses Association and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

About ANPD

ANPD is a professional association of over 4,000 nursing professional development specialists and is built on the following foundation: evidence-based education, advocacy and networking. Our goal is to foster the acquisition and application of data-driven practices for the betterment of the NPD specialty. We continue to focus on providing the education, tools and resources to foster the ongoing professional and career development of our members and community.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles, and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics to professionals and business customers, in a wide range of industries. http://www.elsevier.com

Media contact

Christopher Capot

Global Communications, Elsevier

+1-917-704-5174

c.capot@elsevier.com


TORONTO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX: RIC)(NYSE: RIC) ("Richmont" or the "Corporation"), reports first quarter company-wide production of 29,401 ounces of gold, at cash costs1of $791 (US$598) per ounce. The strong operational performance was supported by another consecutive quarter of solid production from the Island Gold Mine of 23,772 ounces of gold, at cash costs of $668 (US$504) per ounce, a 19% decrease over the prior quarter. Overall, Richmont is well positioned to achieve annual production and cash cost guidance for the year.(All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

FIRST QUARTER ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Company-wide production was 29,401 ounces of gold (28,528 ounces sold) for the quarter, driven by production from the cornerstone Island Gold Mine of 23,772 ounces of gold (22,649 ounces sold).

Company-wide cash costs for the quarter were $791 (US$598) per ounce. Cash costs from the Island Gold Mine are below current guidance levels at $668 (US$504) per ounce, a 19% reduction over the prior quarter.

per ounce. Cash costs from the Island Gold Mine are below current guidance levels at per ounce, a 19% reduction over the prior quarter. The Island Gold Mine reported record underground mine and mill productivities for the quarter, averaging 1,019 and 926 tonnes per day, respectively.

Revenues for the quarter were $46.5 (US$35.1) million .

. As of December 31, 2016 , Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, at an average discovery cost of less than $35 (US$26) per ounce.

, Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, at an average discovery cost of less than per ounce. Recent exploration drilling results identified new high-grade mineralization located approximately 800 metres east of the main Island Gold deposit. Hole GD-640-05 intersected 20.6 g/t gold over 11.3 metres (core length), demonstrating the significant potential for near-term and continued resource growth. Additionally, early results from delineation drilling completed within the Expansion Case Preliminary Economic Assessment (Expansion Case PEA) area, demonstrate the significant potential to further expand reserves at higher than current average grades.

Effective, March 15, 2017 , Richmont appointed Mr. Robert J. Chausse as Chief Financial Officer, strengthening the senior management team.

"The Island Gold Mine has delivered another quarter of solid production as well as lower cash costs, confirming the potential of this operation as we continue to transform the mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. The Expansion Case PEA is nearing completion and we remain confident that we will issue a positive report that will support the 1,100 tonnes per day expansion scenario while achieving our overall low cost objective," commented Renaud Adams, President and CEO. "Along with the strong operational performance achieved during the quarter, we continue to unlock the potential of the Island Gold Mine through our strategic drilling program. Initial delineation drilling results demonstrate the potential for short-term reserve growth at higher grades within the main deposit. Recent exploration drilling has also shown the potential of the deposit to the east of the main deposit area where new high-grade mineralization was identified close to existing infrastructure that could also provide additional expansion opportunities."

____________________________

1 Refer to the Non-IFRS Performance Measures disclosure presented at the end of this press release.

First quarter operational highlights for the Island Gold and Beaufor Mines are provided in the tables below:

Production Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 2017 Guidance Gold Produced (oz) Island Gold Mine 15,076 14,203(1) 26,589 18,617 14,031(3) 24,086 23,772 87,000-93,000 Beaufor Mine 5,714 5,652 4,615 4,703 4,825 5,419 5,629 23,000-27,000 Monique 1,165(2 Mine 2,688 2,525 ) - - - - - Total Produced (oz) 23,478 22,380 32,369 23,320 18,856 29,505 29,401 110,000-120,000 (1) Q4 2015 production includes a 3 week underground mine shutdown. (2) Processing of the remaining stockpile pad at the depleted Monique Mine was completed at the end of January 2016. (3) Q3 2016 production includes a 16-day underground mine shutdown and a 25-day mill shutdown.

Cash Cost Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 2017 Guidance Cash Costs ($)(1) Island Gold Mine $883 $1,019 $667 $757 $947 $826 $668 $715-$765 Beaufor Mine $972 $1,081 $1,396 $1,484 $1,408 $1,480 $1,265 $1,265-$1,320 Monique Mine $1,002 $974 $1,182 - - - - - Total Cash Costs ($)(1) $921 $1,028 $800 $895 $1,054 $952 $791 $835-$885 Cash Costs (US$)(1) Island Gold Mine $675 $763 $486 $588 $726 $619 $504 $550-$590(2) Beaufor Mine $742 $810 $1,017 $1,152 $1,080 $1,110 $956 $975-$1,015(2) Monique Mine $766 $729 $861 - - - - - Total Cash Costs (US$)(1) $703 $770 $583 $695 $808 $714 $598 $640-$680(2) (1) Refer to the Non-IFRS Performance Measures disclosure presented at the end of this press release. (2) Assuming an exchange rate of 1.30 Canadian dollars to 1.0 US dollar.

Operational Highlights Q3 15 Q4 15 Q1 16 Q2 16 Q3 16 Q4 16 Q1 17 Island Gold Mine Underground tpd 669 657(1) 853 911 735(2) 977 1,019 Mill tpd 722 656(1) 834 878 640(2) 903 926 Mill head grade (g/t) 7.27 7.62 11.31 7.51 7.70 9.31 9.18 Beaufor Mine Underground tpd 338 306 323 286 282 302 354 Mill head grade (g/t) 5.93 6.30 4.96 5.27 5.62 6.16 6.0 (1) Q4 2015 underground productivity includes a 3 week mine shutdown and a 2 week mill shutdown. (2) Q3 2016 productivity includes a 16-day underground mine shutdown and a 25-day mill shutdown.

Island Gold Mine Highlights

Production for the quarter was 23,772 ounces of gold (22,649 ounces sold). The mine is now well positioned to achieve the high-end of production guidance for the year of 87,000-93,000 ounces.

Cash costs for the quarter were $668 (US$504) per ounce, below guidance for the year and a 19% reduction over prior quarter. The operating unit costs for the quarter were $181 (US$137) per tonne milled, in-line with the 2017 mine plan.

per ounce, below guidance for the year and a 19% reduction over prior quarter. The operating unit costs for the quarter were per tonne milled, in-line with the 2017 mine plan. Mill head grade for the quarter was 9.18 g/t gold, representing an inline grade reconciliation (mined vs. December 31, 2016 Mineral Reserves) for the quarter. The forward-looking 2017 mine plan continues to forecast a mill head grade of approximately 8.90 g/t gold.

Mineral Reserves) for the quarter. The forward-looking 2017 mine plan continues to forecast a mill head grade of approximately 8.90 g/t gold. Record underground mine and mill productivities for the quarter, averaging 1,019 and 926 tonnes per day, respectively, with lower-grade underground ore stockpiled for future processing, resulting in an improved overall mill head grade for the quarter.

During the quarter, long-hole stope mining continued in the first and second mining horizons and development in ore was advanced as planned in the higher-grade third mining horizon. Stoping in the third mining horizon is expected to begin in the fourth quarter.

The development of the main ramp continued and reached a vertical depth of 860 metres at the end of the quarter, which is in-line with the 2017 development plan and as contemplated in the upcoming Expansion Case PEA.

As of December 31, 2016 , Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, and at an average discovery cost of less than $35 (US$26) per ounce. ( see press release dated January 31, 2017 and the technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimate as of December 31, 2016 for the Island Gold Mine" dated March 17, 2017 ).

, Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. Inferred Resources increased by 30% to 995,700 ounces of gold at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t, and at an average discovery cost of less than per ounce. ( ). Recent exploration drilling results identified new high-grade mineralization located approximately 800 metres east of the main Island Gold deposit. Hole GD-640-05 intersected 20.6 g/t gold over 11.3 metres (core length), demonstrating significant potential for near-term and continued resource growth. Additionally, early results from delineation drilling completed within the Expansion Case PEA area, indicates the significant potential to further expand our reserves at higher than current average grades. ( see press release dated March 30, 2017 ).

). Expansion Case PEA : The Corporation is well advanced to release the results of the Expansion Case PEA during the second quarter, as previously disclosed. The study considers the most cost and capital effective plan to mine the portion of the mineral resources that is located within the main area of interest over four mining horizons, to a maximum depth of 1,000 metres below surface, using current mine infrastructure. The Corporation remains focused on transforming the high-grade Island Gold Mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. Recent achievements include: The integration of the December 31, 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources into the 1,100 tonnes per day mine plan has been completed. The required permit amendments that allow for an ore mining and processing increase to 1,100 tonnes per day were received in December. The accelerated development of the underground ramp system has advanced as planned. Engineering and identification of the main equipment required for the mill expansion is well underway and expected capital requirements for the expanded milling capacity remains below the $15.0 million , as previously disclosed. The 2017 mine plan and the Expansion Case PEA are focused on optimizing cash flow generation that is capable to fully fund current and future production as well as all strategic exploration programs.

The Corporation is well advanced to release the results of the Expansion Case PEA during the second quarter, as previously disclosed. The study considers the most cost and capital effective plan to mine the portion of the mineral resources that is located within the main area of interest over four mining horizons, to a maximum depth of 1,000 metres below surface, using current mine infrastructure. The Corporation remains focused on transforming the high-grade Island Gold Mine into one of the lowest cost underground gold producers in the Americas. Recent achievements include:

Beaufor Mine Highlights

Production for the quarter was 5,629 ounces of gold (5,879 ounces sold), in-line with previously disclosed plans to ramp-up production and achieve increased production in the second half of the year.

Cash costs of $1,265 (US$956) per ounce achieved during the quarter, a significant reduction of 15% over the prior quarter and in-line with 2017 plans to return the mine to free cash flow generation status in the first half of the year.

per ounce achieved during the quarter, a significant reduction of 15% over the prior quarter and in-line with 2017 plans to return the mine to free cash flow generation status in the first half of the year. Underground productivity increased to 354 tonnes per day (403 tonnes per day in March). During the quarter the majority of the mining activities were transitioned into the new Q Zone and additional haulage and mucking mobile equipment were commissioned. Underground productivity and operating costs are expected to continue to improve over the balance of the year.

The Corporation is also considering other strategic alternatives regarding the Beaufor Mine and Camflo Mill.

Upcoming News

Q1 Financial Results ( May 4 )

) Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders ( May 4 )

) Expansion Case PEA Results (Q2 2017)

Non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") Performance Measures

In this press release, the term "cash costs per ounce" is used, which is a non-IFRS performance measure, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Corporation believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Corporation and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Corporation's performance. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. "Cash costs per ounce" is a common performance measure in the gold mining industry, but does not have any standardized definition. The Corporation reports cash cost per ounce based on ounces sold. Cash costs include mine site operating costs, administration, royalties and by-product credits but are exclusive of depreciation, accretion expense, interests on capital leases, capital expenditures and exploration and project evaluation costs. Refer to the Corporation's 2016 MD&A for a reconciliation of cash costs to cost of sales.

About Richmont Mines Inc.

Richmont Mines currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario, and the Beaufor Mine in Quebec. The Corporation is also advancing development of the significant high-grade resource extension at depth of the Island Gold Mine in Ontario. With 35 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well-positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian reserve base and to successfully enter its next phase of growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may", "objective" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law or regulation, the Corporation undertakes no obligation and disclaims any responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, grade of ore mined and unforeseen difficulties in mining operations that could affect revenue and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in Richmont Mines' Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release.

Cautionary note to US investors concerning resource estimates

Information in this press release is intended to comply with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which differ in certain respects with the rules and regulations promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), as promulgated by the SEC. The requirements of National Instrument43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects("NI 43-101") adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

U.S. Investors are urged to consider the disclosure in our annual report on Form 40-F, File No. 001-14598, as filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which may be obtained from us (without cost) or from the SEC's web site:http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

National Instrument 43-101

The scientific or technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a qualified person as defined by NI43-101.

Contact:

Renaud Adams

President and CEO

Phone: 416-368-0291 ext. 101



Anne Day

Senior Vice-President

Investor Relations

Phone: 416-368-0291 ext. 105


RALEIGH, NC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Shipt, the fastest growing online grocery marketplace, today announced that it will expand its grocery delivery capability to the Research Triangle region of North Carolina through delivery from Harris Teeter.

Beginning April 20, 2017, Shipt members in the Raleigh and Durham areas will gain access to beer and wine selections in addition to groceries from Harris Teeter. With the expansion, Shipt will now be able to deliver to more than 1.5 million households across North Carolina. To celebrate Shipt's entry into the Triangle, new members can try Shipt for two weeks for free and will receive $15 off their first grocery delivery order.

"Shipt has been thriving in the state of North Carolina and we're thrilled to offer our members there the option to make a complete grocery purchase through our platform," said Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt. "With our expanded service from Harris Teeter our members can now purchase everything they need for a full week of meals, including their favorite wine and beer."

Using the Shipt app, members will be able to access the full selection of grocery, beer, and wine items at Harris Teeter's local stores, note any preferences, choose a one-hour delivery window and pay for their order. Shipt offers delivery times available as soon as one hour after the order is placed, or up to 24 hours in advance.

Shipt understands that that alcohol delivery entails more legal and safety concerns than grocery delivery. To verify age, members will scan their IDs through the app and will be required to present the same identification to the Shipt Shopper upon delivery. Shipt will also require Shoppers to complete additional training on Shipt's alcohol delivery policies and procedures to ensure safe and responsible delivery to members. Only certified Shoppers will be allowed to complete alcohol deliveries.

Shipt memberships are available for an annual fee of $99 and members have access to free delivery on all orders over $35. For orders under $35, there is a $7 delivery fee. To sign up for Shipt and learn more about the service and availability, visit Shipt.com/Triangle.

Leading up to the launch, Shipt plans to grow their network of Shoppers, who are responsible for ensuring complete, accurate fulfillments of each order. To apply to be a Shipt Shopper, visit Shipt.com and click "Get Paid to Shop." Shipt displays a commitment to each of the communities it serves and plans to identify opportunities to help eliminate hunger and food insecurity in North Carolina.

About Shipt

Shipt, the nation's fastest growing online grocery marketplace, works with leading retailers and local stores to deliver groceries via a community of shoppers and a convenient app. Since its founding in 2014, Shipt has been rapidly expanding and now offers quality, personalized grocery delivery to over 20 million households in 38 markets across the country. Shipt offers unlimited grocery deliveries to members for $99 per year. The company currently has offices in Birmingham, AL, and San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit Shipt.com.

About Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 30,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

MEDIA CONTACT:



Shipt

Email Contact

(205) 799-4698




NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - On April 18, NuggMD, the California-based leading telemedicine portal that connects qualified medical marijuana patients with licensed physicians' online, extends their services across New York. They are the first company to put forth a bold effort to combat the policies that currently severely restrict access to medical cannabis, despite it being legal in the state.

In 2016, NuggMD assisted more than 40,000 California patients to obtain an online medical marijuana consultation with a licensed physician and with their launch, the company is excited to enable participating New York physicians to provide convenient and efficient care to patients statewide.

In March 2015, New York passed the New York Telehealth Amendment Act (Senate Bill 2405), allowing doctors and nursing practitioners in the state to provide medical care and issue medical marijuana certifications 100% online using telehealth/telemedicine technology. With this, New York became one of the five states that does not require an in-person physical examination, to establish a bona fide patient-physician relationship.

However, unlike in California, doctors in New York are required to register for the NYS Medical Marijuana Program and obtain a special certification in order to prescribe medical marijuana making access to care extremely limited. Out of 110,000 practitioners in New York, only 884 are registered for the NYS Medical Marijuana Program.

"Although New York approved medical marijuana in 2014; barely 14,000 people legally have access to it because of restrictions on the visibility and number of doctors. This is a trend we've seen across the board in states with new marijuana laws on the books. Access should be feasible, but it's not, and we're going to change that; our network of cannabis-expert doctors will accelerate that change better than anyone else," says Collin Mann, CEO at NuggMD.

To make matters worse, the state Health Department refuses to release certified marijuana doctors' names, keeping the potentially life-saving medicine out of reach for many who need it. Many patients find themselves 100 miles away from the nearest certified doctor, making it impossible to get the treatment they need.

"It's frustrating that we can't find a practitioner, especially while knowing that children in different states have full access to this medicine," stated Dr. Amy Piperato, a doctor in NY whose daughter has epilepsy (video: http://lohud.us/1XMaoIk). This is why NuggMD has come to change the situation by extending its services to New York State.

In NYS, several ailments qualify for Medical Marijuana; these include cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, and Huntington's disease.

On December 1, 2016, the NYS Health Commissioner; Dr. Howard A. Zucker; announced that chronic pain will be added among the other qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, and now it HAS been added as of March, 2017. Finally, a sign that New York is finally on its way to granting true access to medical cannabis for patients who need it.

About NuggMD

NuggMD is California's largest cannabis marketplace, facilitating access to cannabis in every major metropolitan area (and then some) statewide. It lets anyone consult with a marijuana doctor and order products online from dispensaries that deliver straight to them in under an hour.

NuggMD is currently in the process of expanding its business nationwide, beginning with the expansion into New York starting in April.

For further information, visit https://getnugg.com/md/new-york

Contact:

Alex Milligan

Co-founder & CMO

alex@getnugg.com
Successful First VISCO'360 Cases in Canada Performed by Dr. Ike Ahmed Using the Breakthrough Revolving, 360-degree Ahmed Gonioprism

MENLO PARK, California, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Sight Sciences, Inc., a venture-backed, commercial stage ophthalmic medical device company announced today that it has received Health Canada approval for the VISCO'360 Viscosurgical System. The VISCO360 System is indicated in Canada for the microcatheterization and transluminal viscodilation of Schlemm's canal to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma.* Performed as a standalone MIGS procedure, the first commercial VISCO360 cases in Canada were successfully carried out by Dr. Ike Ahmed, world-renowned ophthalmologist recognized for his extensive experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of glaucoma. The VISCO360 cases were performed using Dr. Ahmed's breakthrough lens that offers a high-resolution view of all 360 degrees of the iridocorneal angle and can track microcatheters as they are advanced around Schlemm's canal. The Ahmed 360-degree gonioprism has another advantage of not requiring the tilting of the patient's head or operating microscope.

"Catheterizing and viscodilating Schlemm's canal by way of the more efficient ab interno approach is a safe and exciting new MIGS procedure," explains Dr.Ike Ahmed, Head of Ophthalmology at Trillium Health Partners and the University of Toronto and Professor at the University of Utah. "The VISCO360 System simplifies canaloplasty and allows for complete access to Schlemm's canal using a single clear corneal incision and a single-handed device. The VISCO360 procedure couples nicely with my new 360-degree gonioprism that allows real-time view of the microcatheter as it circumnavigates and viscodilates the entire trabeculocanalicular outflow system."

The VISCO360 Viscosurgical System offers ophthalmologists a user-friendly, clear corneal approach to canaloplasty, a glaucoma procedure with a well-established safety and efficacy profile. "Receiving Health Canada approval for the VISCO360 System and working with Dr. Ike Ahmed on our first commercial cases in Canada using his revolutionary 360-degree gonioprism are important milestones for our company and, more importantly, for the treatment of patients with glaucoma," statedPaul Badawi, Founder and CEO of Sight Sciences. "We are looking forward to working more closely with Dr. Ahmed and commercializing the VISCO360 Viscosurgical System in conjunction with the upcoming commercial release of the 360-degree, tilt-free gonioprism."

Click here to view Dr. Ike Ahmed using his revolving gonioprism to microcatheterize and viscodilate Schlemm's canal using the VISCO360 Viscosurgical System.

The VISCO360 System is a fully-integrated, single-handed, single-use device that offers a single-incision, 360-degree canal procedure. The system combines a custom access cannula, a soft and flexible microcatheter with an atraumatic tip, an internal infusion pump, gear mechanism, and viscoelastic reservoir, and a wheel that controls advancement and retraction of the microcatheter using only a single finger.

Glaucoma is the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness and affects approximately 80 million people worldwide. Often associated with abnormally high intraocular pressure, glaucoma is characterized by progressive vision loss due to irreversible optic nerve damage. 80% of people with glaucoma do not have co-existing cataracts making a standalone surgical option like VISCO360 an important part of an ophthalmologist's armamentarium.

About Sight Sciences: Sight Sciences is a medical device company serving the ophthalmic community and dedicated to the development of technology-driven solutions that address the underlying physiology of eye diseases. Its surgical product portfolio consists of the TRAB'360 and VISCO'360 surgical systems. For more information, visit www.sightsciences.com.

*The VISCO'360 Viscosurgical System and the TRAB'360 Trabeculotomy System have received CE Mark and Health Canada approvals and are commercially available in Canada and countries recognizing the CE Mark, or applicable healthcare authority registrations. The VISCO'360 Viscosurgical System is commercially available inthe United Statesas a manual surgical tool for the precise delivery of viscoelastic fluid into the anterior segment.The company has an IDE clinical trial underway in the United States to study the use of the VISCO360 device for the specific indication of IOP reduction in adult, pseudophakic patients with primary open angle glaucoma.






OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- CannaRoyalty Corp. (CSE: CRZ)(OTCQB: CNNRF) ("CannaRoyalty" or the "Company") announced today the Company's consolidated audited financial results for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016. All figures are reported in Canadian dollars ($), unless otherwise indicated. CannaRoyalty's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The statements were prepared for a nine-month period as the Company's private predecessor entity, Cannabis Royalties & Holdings Corp., had a March 31 year-end, which was changed to a December 31 year-end on acquisition by the Company.

Highlights for the nine-month period:

-- Continued the expansion of a diversified portfolio of high-value assets with 24 investments completed to date across different market segments in Canada and the U.S.; -- Closed equity financings for aggregate gross proceeds of $10.2M; -- Grew the total asset base from $3.9M to $32.2M, more than an eight-fold increase in the period; -- Completed a reverse-takeover ("RTO") of Bonanza Blue Corp. and name change to CannaRoyalty; and -- Commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Subsequent to the nine-month period:

-- Acquired a 20% equity interest in Anandia Laboratories; -- Completed a binding term sheet on a royalty financing arrangement with Rich Extracts, LLC; -- Increased cash positon with the closing of a bought deal prospectus financing for aggregate gross proceeds of $15M to support the continued expansion of its strategic assets portfolio; -- Received approval for trading on the OTCQB venture market in the U.S.; -- Launched the CR Brands Division; -- Concluded a binding term sheet for a royalty and distribution agreement with River Wellness Inc.; and -- Obtained eligibility with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for its common shares listed on the OTCQB under the symbol CNNRF.

"We achieved impressive growth by making significant strides in expanding our portfolio of diverse, high-potential assets. We established a unique platform to leverage the Cannabis market by accessing and deploying capital in strategic assets. Our value for investors is founded on a business model of accessing synergistic, growth-ready assets in North America's emerging cannabis market. Moving forward, our strong cash position and proven expertise, will allow us to continue this growth trajectory and to increase our foothold in a thriving market with significant high growth opportunities. With our RTO transaction completed and operating on a new calendar fiscal year, we look forward to reporting financial results that will demonstrate the benefits of our investment strategy," furthered Marc Lustig, CEO of CannaRoyalty.

"Since inception, our strategic vision for CannaRoyalty has been to build a portfolio of assets in high-growth sub-sectors of the rapidly expanding cannabis market. With the ability to access and deploy capital and provide financial acumen and industry expertise, we will leverage our network of investments to drive synergies and growth across our platform. This includes developing cannabis brands for safe and effective medical applications," said Marc Lustig, CEO of CannaRoyalty.

CannaRoyalty's audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion & analysis ("MD&A"), for the nine month period ended December 31, 2016, are available via CannaRoyalty's website at www.cannaroyalty.com and have been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The Company also announces that it has retained Terre Partners to assist in communicating its corporate, financial and long-term investment messages to shareholders and investors, while continuing the existing progress of building a strong public brand and investor base over the next 6 months. Terre Partners provides investor relations and capital advisory services to public companies in North America and specializes in the development and execution of strategic investor communications programs. Terre Partners is privately-owned headquartered in Toronto.

About CannaRoyalty

CannaRoyalty is a fully integrated, active investor and operator in the legal cannabis sector. Our focus is to build and support a diversified portfolio of growth-ready assets in high-value segments of the cannabis sector, including research, consumer brands, devices and intellectual property. Our management team combines a hands-on understanding of the cannabis industry with seasoned financial know-how, assembling a platform of holdings via royalty agreements, equity interests, secured convertible debt and licensing agreements.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in CannaRoyalty's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements including the Company's expectations with respect to pursuing new opportunities and its future growth and other statements of fact.

Although CannaRoyalty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under US Federal Laws; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. CannaRoyalty disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and CannaRoyalty does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

Contacts:

CannaRoyalty Corp.

Investor Relations

1-844-556-5070

InvestorRelations@cannaroyalty.com

www.cannaroyalty.com




WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/26/17 -- The National Cycling Center, The City of Winston-Salem and Zagster, Inc., today launched a new bike-share program that will provide all Winston-Salem residents and visitors with a convenient, affordable and healthy way to get around town.

Starting today, 50 cruiser bikes will be available at 10 stations for members to use for on-demand, local trips. Riders can pay by the hour, or join the program by signing up for annual memberships. Rides for members -- who must be 18 or older -- are free for the first hour, and then three dollars per hour after that.

"The National Cycling Center is honored to host and champion bike share in Winston-Salem," said Richard Rauck MD, director of bike share, Winston-Salem. "The Zagster bike is of fantastic quality and innovative in the way it lets the rider interface with the system. We are proud to present this program and price it significantly below all other bike share programs in the state and region. Bike share comes to Winston-Salem at a critical time as we all look at ways to decrease traffic congestion with the upcoming closure of Business I-40."

The Winston-Salem bike share promises to ease commutes, but it also unlocks vast recreational opportunities for exercise and fun. Unlike big-city bike shares, in which riders must drop off bikes at designated stations for every stop, the built-in lock on every Zagster bike gives users the freedom to ride as long as they want, wherever they want. This hybrid model, which blends dockless locking for mid-trip stops with fixed station locations for beginning and ending rides, allows users to plan their trips around their destinations -- and not around station locations.

The program delivers a full-scale bike share to the entire Winston-Salem community at almost no cost to taxpayers. That unique feature is made possible by a community partnership, facilitated by the City, the National Cycling Center and Zagster, that includes private funding from Carolina Investment Properties, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, Ortho Carolina Winston, Novant Health, Inmar, Hatch, Flow Auto, and Carolinas Pain Institute.

"It's incredibly exciting to see the support for bike share among some of Winston-Salem's most notable businesses and institutions, bringing another transportation option to the community and moving the City towards its goal of getting more people on bikes," said Matthew Burczyk, AICP bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for the City of Winston-Salem Department of Transportation.

Riding the Winston-Salem bike share is easy. Bikes can be found via the free Zagster Mobile App -- available for iPhone and Android -- or online at zagster.com/winstonsalem. Each bike has a unique number which riders enter into the app to disengage the ring lock and docking cable at the touch of a button. (Alternatively, riders can obtain unlock codes via text message to use with an on-bike keypad.) A retractable cable mounted to the bike allows the bike to be secured to any fixed object throughout a trip for mid-ride stops. After the rider returns the bike to a designated Zagster bike station, the rental ends and the bike is available for the next person to enjoy.

The Winston-Salem bike share features the Zagster 8, an award-winning bike known for its practical design, comfortable ride and easy handling. The bike includes a spacious basket that's perfect for carrying groceries, takeout, or personal belongings. And because rider safety is a priority, every bike includes automatic lights, a bell, and full reflectors.

The National Cycling Center, the City of Winston-Salem, Zagster and sponsors will unveil the program with a kickoff ceremony and inaugural bike ride on Friday, May 26th in Bailey Park. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with remarks from Mayor Allen Joines, Council Member Denise Adams, National Cycling Center Chairman Sterling Swaim, and WS Cycling Classic Event Chair Dr. Richard Rauck.

About Zagster

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Zagster is the leading provider of private and public-private bike-sharing systems in the United States. Zagster works directly with more than 150 communities in more than 30 states to make bike sharing available in areas where traditional bike-share providers can't reach. Its efficient business model allows the company to successfully deploy in multiple markets, including cities, suburbs, universities, commercial campuses and residential properties. Zagster manages all aspects of its programs -- from bikes and technology, to maintenance and marketing -- enabling Zagster's partners to create and deploy scalable bike-share systems that best suit their communities. The company's goal: To make the bike the most loved form of transportation.

More information about Zagster and its programs can be found at www.zagster.com

Media contact for Zagster

Jon Terbush

Zagster communications manager

617.681.4914

Email Contact



Media Contact

Steve Bumgarner

Capture Public Relations & Marketing

336.722.9660

Email Contact




MCLEAN, VA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Kavaliro, an award-winning, national staffing and services company, announces today the opening of its newly remodeled Virginia office. Driven by the desire to be better able to serve its client base, the company has renovated their McLean, VA office. With the recent remodel, Kavaliro nearly doubles its desk space to increase the company's internal staff by eight to twelve employees over the next year.

"We chose to stay in our McLean location because it allows us to serve both our clients and staff, located in DC, VA, and MD. The location is also accessible by metro and close to the capital beltway," says Suresh Raj, Executive Vice President of Kavaliro. "We renovated the office to accommodate our growing team to support new clients. Our new office provides us better space to continue our growth in the DC Metro region."

Kavaliro's Virginia office has long been considered one of the top grossing offices in the area and is a top regional delivery center for the company's top accounts. The newly remodeled space allows Kavaliro to further its investment in the community and contribute to the growth in the local market. Kavaliro plans to increase its Executive Placement and Temporary Staffing divisions by 30 to 40 percent in the next 12 months.

"Kavaliro continues to see rapid growth across the country and in all of our branch offices," says Bill Peppler, Managing Partner of Kavaliro. "We expect to hire an additional 20 team members over the next nine months as we continue to see significant growth in our Technology Staffing and Project divisions. The growth means we needed to expand and reconfigure the space in Virginia to serve the community."

Kavaliro currently boasts a clientele portfolio of 37 Fortune 500 companies and is sourcing high-paying, coveted positions in the tech, IT, engineering and financial industries. Headquartered in Orlando, FL, with additional offices in Jacksonville and Tampa, FL, Petaluma, CA, and Charlotte, NC, Kavaliro has added more than 12 employees to the team across the nation this year alone, maximizing its capabilities for every client in each market.

Kavaliro's Virginia office is located at 7927 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100, McLean, VA. 22102

To learn more about Kavaliro, visit www.kavaliro.com.

About Kavaliro

Kavaliro places personnel across the United States in the fields of information technology, engineering, finance, utilities, accounting, and administration. By using best practices and optimal employee recruiting strategies, Kavaliro provides employers with integrated staffing solutions, offering only the most qualified professionals who can fill both project and permanent positions to ensure the ongoing success of all types of businesses.
Macron win to boost renewables, natural gas over nuclear

Le Pen or Fillon win to see EDF's nuclear mission returned to former glory

LONDON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --France is facing its most uncertain presidential elections in decades, with the country's nuclear energy future a key battleground at a crucial point in its evolution.

At stake is 2014's energy transition pathway, comprising ambitious goals for renewables and energy efficiency, and possibly a significant retreat for nuclear generation - from 75% of the energy to 50% by 2025, equivalent to cutting capacity by 25 GW, according to PIRA Energy, an analytics unit of S&P Global Platts.

The implication of these policies today could result in France switching from net energy exporter to importer by 2030 according to Platts Analytics' Eclipse Energy.

In a special report French Presidential Elections: Crunch time for the country's energy mix*, S&P Global Platts analyses the impact of the three main candidates' views on energy, and how those views could play out in policy terms.

Macron

A victory for current front-runner Emmanuel Macron looks certain to reduce the dominance of nuclear in France. That could reduce the country, traditionally Europe's largest electricity exporter, to a deficit market increasingly dependent on imports of electricity.

Add to this Macron's support for a carbon price floor, and natural gas emerges as a clear beneficiary of a victory for the ex-economy minister, with gas-fired generation emerging as the lead backup technology providing much-needed flexibility, further gaining from relegation of France's remaining coal-fired units as carbon costs increase.

"As Macron looks at implementing Hollande's energy transition path, Macron's election could prove structurally bullish for power prices," according to Bruno Brunetti, European Power director, PIRA.

France's existing renewables target translates to 20 GW of additions over the next eight years. That is too little to offset targeted nuclear closures, according to PIRA.

Platts Analytics' Eclipse Energy assumes a trajectory towards 70% nuclear as more realistic by 2025, only hitting the 50% target around 2030. Around this time Eclipse see a switch from net exporter to net importer. This is as much due to significant growth in renewables in France's neighboring markets as it is to do with France's nuclear retreat.

While Macron's views largely mirror those of President Francois Hollande's small-scale green revolution agenda, former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and far right candidate Marine Le Pen promote a return to glory for the French nuclear industry.

Fillon

Fillon would maintain nuclear's 75% generation mix dominance and fully supports EDF's reactor lifetime extension program.

Le Pen

Le Pen also supports EDF's investment program, and would seek to re-nationalize the generation behemoth. That implies a return to command-and-control industrial policymaking with implications for EDF's international activities.

Finally, while the President sets the agenda, National Assembly elections in June will decide how powerful the new President will be.

FRENCH ELECTION CANDIDATES: AT-A-GLANCE ENERGY POSITIONS



Fillon Le Pen Macron Nuclear Pro - maintain share at 75%, lifespan expansion Pro - lifetime extension, re-nationalization Reduce - to 50% share by

2025 Renewables More tenders, reduced subsidies Moratorium on wind, Made in France focus for solar, bioenergy Double wind and solar by 2022 Security of Supply Nuclear focus, new nuclear R&D, boost links Nuclear focus, efficiency, reduce dependency Battery storage, smart grid Coal plants No comment No comment Close final coal plants by 2022 Shale gas Wait & see Against Against Carbon tax Pro carbon floor price No comment Pro carbon floor price Power price outlook Decidedly bearish Mildly bearish Structurally bullish Source: S&P Global Platts





* To download a copy of the special report, click here

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.platts.com.

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Industry Veteran with Deep Experience in Private and Public Markets Joins as CFO to Guide Company's Growth and Continued Expansion into the Enterprise

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Pluralsight, the enterprise technology learning platform, today announced the appointment of James Budge as chief financial officer. With more than 20 years of finance and operations experience in technology, cloud and enterprise software, Budge will leverage his extensive background to lead Pluralsight's accounting, FP&A, tax, legal, data and information technology teams. He most recently served as CFO of Anaplan.

"James' wealth of experience in high-growth companies in both the public and private markets and his strong relationships with investors, analysts and bankers makes him the perfect fit for Pluralsight," said Aaron Skonnard, co-founder and CEO of Pluralsight. "His finance acumen, strategy and leadership skills will bring fresh insights to Pluralsight during this incredible time of growth as we prepare for our next chapter and will help us continue to serve enterprises as they build their digital future."

Prior to Anaplan, Budge held the position of CFO and COO at Genesys where he oversaw a series of acquisitions that led to the tremendous growth in Genesys' cloud-based business. Under his leadership, the company's revenue grew from $500 million to $900 million, ultimately leading to the increase of its enterprise value from $800 million to $2.5 billion. Before that, Budge served as CFO and COO at TiVo (fka Rovi and Macrovision), guiding the company through acquisitions and divestitures and leading operational efficiency programs that transformed the company. His financial and operational expertise increased the company's revenue from $250 million to more than $800 million and profits from $50 million to more than $350 million, driving enterprise value from $500 million to $7 billion.

"After spending more than two decades in the tech industry, I'm blown away by Pluralsight's ability to innovate and grow rapidly while remaining profitable," said Budge. "I'm excited to join a mission-driven company that's taking aim at closing the growing skills gap in tech."

For more information on Pluralsight, visitpluralsight.com.

About Pluralsight

Pluralsight is an enterprise technology learning platform that delivers a unified, end-to-end learning experience for businesses across the globe. Through a subscription service, companies are empowered to move at the speed of technology, increasing proficiency, innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2004 and trusted by Fortune 500 companies, Pluralsight provides members with on-demand access to a digital ecosystem of learning tools, including adaptive skill tests, directed learning paths, expert-authored courses, interactive labs and live mentoring. For more information, visit pluralsight.com.

Contacts

Pluralsight PR

Mariangel Babbel, 801-784-9150

Sr. Manager, Communications

mariangel-babbel@pluralsight.com

for Pluralsight

Katy Kenealy, 801-828-6056

katy@methodcommunications.com

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DUBLIN, Apr. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market 2017-2021" report to their offering.

The global IONM market to grow at a CAGR of 8.92% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global IONM 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.

IONM providers are focusing on M&A to expand its geographical presence, product portfolio, and attain economies of scale. Also, the M&As help vendors to focus on product innovations and increase their profit margins by collaborating with each other. The IONM market in the US is witnessing an increase in the number of M&As.



According to the report, increasing focus on technological advances by vendors has led to a surge in adoption of IONM devices. The huge investments by manufacturers such as Medtronic, Computational Diagnostics, Natus Medical, and NuVasive will help to develop innovative and efficient IONM devices.

Further, the report states that the high cost of IONM devices and services is restraining the growth of IONM market. The cost of surgery with IONM is very high compared with the cost of surgery without IONM. The cost of surgery with IONM involves expenditure on IONM devices, neurotechnicians, neurophysiologists, and disposable materials. All these expenses increase the total cost of surgery. As a result, the acceptability of IONM technologies among patients is relatively low, and this could become a challenge for the growth of the market. The length of hospital stay and surgery also hinders the market. Though IONM plays a crucial role in many critical surgeries such as spinal surgeries and cardiovascular surgeries, not all patients can afford it.

Key vendors



Cadwell

Computational Diagnostics

Medtronic

Natus Medical

NuVasive

Sentient Medical Systems

SpecialtyCare



Other prominent vendors



Accurate Monitoring

Advanced Medical Resources

American Intraoperative Monitoring

Axiom Intraoperative Monitoring

Bovie Medical

Others



Key Topics Covered:



PART 01: Executive summary



PART 02: Scope of the report



PART 03: Market research methodology



PART 04: Introduction



PART 05: Market landscape



PART 06: Market segmentation by source type



PART 07: Market segmentation by methodology

PART 08: Market segmentation by application



PART 09: Geographical segmentation



PART 10: Market drivers



PART 11: Impact of drivers



PART 12: Market challenges

PART 13: Impact of drivers and challenges



PART 14: Market trends



PART 15: Vendor landscape



PART 16: Key vendor analysis



PART 17: Appendix



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6pl79p/global

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716


VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Calyx Bio-Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE: CYX) ("Calyx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter agreement to acquire the remaining software assets and clients related to the existing software framework purchased in November 2016 which enhanced the features of its real-time, mass communications platform. The new assets provide the additional security to ensure that Calyx will have very little competition in this space. This acquisition is expected to seamlessly integrate into the Company's existing business model, and significantly enhance the Company's wholly owned LEAFHub Technologies brand.

In consideration for the acquisition, the Company will issue 4,580,000 common shares.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to completion of due diligence, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, and certain other conditions customary in transactions of this nature. The transaction cannot be completed until these conditions are satisfied. All securities issued in connection with the transaction will be subject to a four-month-and-one day statutory hold period.

About Calyx

Calyx's wholly-owned subsidiary, Cannigistics Agri-Solutions Corp., is a software development company that has created a software platform tailored to advanced indoor agriculture. The Cannigistics software platform is designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of indoor agricultural operations, and positions Cannigistics to be the industry leader in agri-software solutions by providing businesses with advanced controls over all aspects of their operations. Additionally, Calyx owns a portfolio of proprietary intellectual property with applications in crop enhancement.

For further information about Calyx, please visit www.calyxbio.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.

Contacts:

Calyx Bio-Ventures Inc.

Roger Forde

President and Chief Executive Officer

604.880.8822

rogerf@calyxbio.com

www.calyxbio.com




COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Timberline Resources Corporation (OTCQB: TLRS)(TSX VENTURE: TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company") announced that it has closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), for which it has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

In connection with the closing of the third and final tranche of the Offering, the Company has issued 1,845,000 units ("Units") at a price of US$0.25 for total consideration of US$461,250. In the aggregate of the three tranches of the Offering, the Company has issued a total of 8,000,000 Units for total consideration of US$2,000,000.

Each Unit in the Offering consisted of one share of common stock of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant") (together the "Securities"), with each Warrant exercisable to acquire an additional share of common stock of the Company at a price of US$0.40 per share until the warrant expiration date of January 31, 2020. The Company may accelerate the warrant expiration date if the price of the Company's common stock closes at or above US$0.90 for twenty consecutive trading days. Certain finder's fees and consulting fees may be payable by Timberline in relation to this transaction to support in marketing this Offering.

The Offering was completed under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") solely to persons who qualify as accredited investors and in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The terms of the Offering also included that the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act for resale of the shares of common stock and the shares of common stock underlying the Warrants to the extent allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for working capital, exploration program expenses, and costs associated with claim maintenance, including property lease and option payments.

Insiders of the Company have acquired 105,000 Units under the Offering. Their participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" within the meaning of TSX-V Policy 5.9 and Canadian Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of an Insider Participation as neither the fair market value of any shares issued to, nor the consideration paid by, such persons will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The Securities offered in the Offering have not been and may not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The Securities may be sold only to "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) under Regulation D of the Securities Act), which for natural persons, are investors who meet certain minimum annual income or net worth thresholds. The Securities were offered in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 506(c) and the Company is not required to comply with specific disclosure requirements that apply to registration under the Securities Act. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has not passed upon the merits of or given its approval to the Securities, the terms of the Offering, or the accuracy or completeness of any Offering materials.

The Securities are subject to legal restrictions on transfer and resale and investors should not assume they will be able to resell their securities. Securities issued to investors in Canada are subject to a four month hold period in accordance with Canadian securities laws. Investing in the Securities involves risk, and investors should be able to bear the loss of their investment.

About Timberline Resources

Timberline Resources Corporation is focused on advancing district-scale gold exploration and development projects in Nevada, including its Talapoosa project in Lyon County where the Company has completed and disclosed a positive preliminary economic assessment. Timberline also controls the 23 square-mile Eureka project lying on the Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend. Exploration potential occurs within three separate structural-stratigraphic trends defined by distinct geochemical gold anomalies. Timberline also owns the Seven Troughs property in northern Nevada, known to be one of the state's highest grade, former producers.

Timberline is listed on the OTCQB where it trades under the symbol "TLRS" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding acceleration of the warrant expiration date, the use of proceeds, filing or bringing effective a registration statement, payment of finder's fees or consulting fees, advancement of projects, and exploration potential. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target", "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to changes in the Company's business resulting in changes in the use of proceeds, and other such factors, including risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Timberline Resources Corporation

Steven A. Osterberg

President and CEO

208-664-4859

info@timberline-resources.com




OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- 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/NR17-10Figures.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS:

-- Hole 23R intersects mineralized volcanic and fragmented (breccia) rocks, with increasing chalcopyrite and molybdenum mineralization. Hole 23R, at a current depth of 579.1m, is planned to intersect untested mineralization from approximately 700m depth to approximately 1800m below surface and has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. -- Hole 24, Alpala Southeast, at a current depth of 868.7m, is intersecting chalcopyrite mineralization and multi-directional porphyry style quartz- chalcopyrite-bornite veining. Copper sulphide mineralization, with low pyrite content, below 738.9m, indicates probable proximity to the core of the Greater Alpala Porphyry System. -- Hole 24 extends the Alpala Deposit by 570m southeast of Hole 23R and extends the known length of the mineralized corridor at Alpala to approximately 1200m from Hole 13 in the northwest, inferring a length of 1300m. -- Hole 25, Hematite Hill, at a current depth of 847.0m, is intersecting multi-directional stockwork veining with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 772.2m depth. -- Hole 25 extends the Alpala Deposit approximately 250m to the southeast of Hole 23R. -- Bornite mineralization with magnetite and potassic alteration in Holes 24 and 25 indicate probable proximity to the high temperature core of the Alpala system and are consistent with the 3D Magnetic model at Cascabel. -- Fourth man-portable rig being mobilized to site ahead of the arrival of Rigs 5, 6 and 7 over the coming two quarters. -- Drill testing to expand to high priority targets at Alpala East, Alpala West, Carmen, Trivino and Aguinaga by mid-year.

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 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). Current drilling focuses 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 expands towards eight drilling rigs by year end, which will also see drill testing of the Tandayama-America prospect. (Figure 4).

Hole 23 (CSD-17-023) at Alpala Northeast was abandoned at 159.0m depth after drilling contractors experienced technical difficulties downhole, and was redrilled as Hole 23R (CSD-16-023R) which continues drilling near vertical at a current depth of 579.1m testing approximately 125m below and in between Holes 12 and 16. To date, Hole 23R has intersected hydrothermal breccia and strong phyllic alteration, with the presence of clasts of mineralized porphyry within the breccia. Hole 23R is being drilled sub-vertical to intersect deep untested pockets of mineralization up to 1800m below surface and has a planned hole depth of approximately 2000m. Position of Hole 23R is shown in cross-section A-A' in Figure 5. Mineralization is increasing with depth in Hole 23R.

Hole 24 (CSD-17-024) continues drilling at Alpala Southeast, at a current depth of 868.7m testing approximately 570m to southeast of Hole 23R. Hole 24 confirms the extension of the known mineralized corridor at Alpala to approximately 1300m from Hole 13 in the northwest. Drill core from Hole 24 below 738.9m shows strong chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization with significant magnetite, and low pyrite content, indicating probable proximity to the predicted copper and gold rich core of the greater Alpala Porphyry System.

Hole 24 lies approximately 100m north of Malte Creek, where chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization was noted in surface geological mapping. The Alpala Southeast prospect area is characterised by coincident Molybdenum and Copper/Zinc soil geochemical highs, as well as intense and advanced argillic alteration identified from soil auger chip spectral analysis. High dickite and pyrophyllite clay content, mark high temperatures of formation typical of that surrounding a porphyry core. Surface indications are being confirmed by drilling. Hole 24 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 24 are shown in Figure 6.

Hole 25 (CSD-17-025), at Hematite Hill, is intersecting multi-directional stockwork veining with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 772.2m depth to the current depth of 847.0m. Hole 25 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 25 are shown in Figure 7.

GEOPHYSICS

Solgold has completed the ground magnetic survey over Cascabel, and preparations are being finalized to commence a detailed Orion-Spartan 3D IP survey across most of the concession (Figure 8). Processing of this improved magnetic data is underway and this work will not only augment the existing geophysical targets at Alpala and Aguinaga, but further investigate the promising Tandayama-America anomaly and other satellite targets on the property. Following analysis of these datasets, Solgold will further refine drill targets along the Alpala cluster, as well as those at Moran, Aguinaga, and Tandayama-America. A 'LIDAR' topographic control survey is being planned for commencement mid-year.

The presence of magnetite with chalcopyrite and bornite with potassic alteration endorses the predictive nature of the 3D Magnetic model at Cascabel. The magnetic bodies at Alpala, Moran and Aguinaga envelope represent approximately 15 billion tonnes of untested magnetic rock.

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 have 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 approximately 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, and to test the other multiple targets within the concession. 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 predicted 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 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 34,000m 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 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 after 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

Mario@mi3.ca

(514) 904-1333




TORONTO, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 --Patriot One Technologies Inc., (TSX VENTURE: PAT) (OTCQB: PTOTF) (FRANKFURT: 0PL) ("Patriot One" or the "Company"), developer of a revolutionary concealed weapons detection system, advises today that its university research partner was awarded CAD$161,321 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) Idea to Innovation Phase II Grant, which will help to advance and further evolve its Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio.

NSERC's grant, along with cash and in-kind contributions from Patriot One, creating a total project value of almost CAD$355,000, will assist in propelling the Company towards new products and solutions for the detection of concealed weapons. Proposed advances include practical trials aimed at commercial development of low power wearable and vehicle mounted adaptations of its innovative software and related hardware solution.

News of the funding comes at a time of growing public interest as the Company recently received significant industry recognition of its efforts as category winners (Anti-Terrorism & Force Protection) at the 2017 Security Industry Association's (SIA) New Product Showcase (NPS) component of the ISC West conference and trade show, the largest annual industry event of its kind in North America.

Patriot One CTO, Dinesh Kandanchatha notes, "Even as we bring our initial product to market, our strategic long term planning actually began some time ago when we began discussions to look at alternative threats and ways of addressing those needs through product adaptation. Today's announcement brings us that much closer to delivering our latest technology 2.0 platform, what we are calling PATSCAN, the next generation of our award-winning Patriot One NForce CMR1000 software and radar solution. We thank NSERC and our partners for making today's funding announcement possible and look forward to continued success as we move forward with new and exciting advancements to our technology."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Martin Cronin"

President & Director

About Patriot One Technologies, Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PAT) (OTCQB: PTOTF) (FRANKFURT: 0PL):

Patriot One has developed a first-of-its-kind Cognitive Microwave Radar concealed weapons detection system as an effective tool to combat active shooter threats before they occur. Designed for cost-effective deployment in weapon-restricted buildings and facilities, the innovative software solution and related hardware can be installed in hallways and doorways to covertly identify weapons and to alert security of an active threat entering the premises. Owner/operators of private and certain public facilities can now prominently post anti-weapons policies with compliance assured. The Company's motto Deter, Detect and Defend is based on the belief that widespread use of its technology will act as an effective deterrent, thereby diminishing the epidemic phenomena of active shooters across the globe. For more information, visit: www.patriot1tech.com.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:

No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the 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.

For further information, please contact:

Patriot One Inquiries

+1 (888) 728-1832

info@patriot1tech.com

www.patriot1tech.com




ATLANTA, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --DocAuto, a globally trusted provider of enterprise content management solutions, is pleased to announce a major new release of their WorkSite Organizer' for Citrix ShareFile. With a single click, users can upload, e-mail, or download documents between iManage Work and Citrix ShareFile. The WorkSite Organizer for ShareFile is a lightweight add-in to iManage DeskSite or FileSite.

The latest release of DocAuto's WorkSite Organizer for Citrix ShareFile has been completely redesigned and rewritten using ShareFile's newest application programming interface (API), and includes the following enhancements:

ShareFile can now mimic the matter-centric structure of iManage by automatically creating folders and subfolders in ShareFile using metadata from the iManage content being uploaded.

iManage users can now share content with "Require Login" links. When creating "Require Login" links, authorized users can be selected from any address book in Outlook, ShareFile Personal Contacts, Shared Contacts, or from any e-mail addresses present in the same WorkSpace in iManage Work.

The new user interface more closely matches the simple-to-use ShareFile web interface.

Very large files can now be uploaded, up to 10GB and higher on some accounts.

"Even though we've been developing advanced enterprise content management solutions for more than 20 years, our team is focused on continually delivering new innovative solutions that equip IT and business leaders with intuitive software to run a more agile, secure, and collaborative business," said CEO David Kiefer. "We believe the secret to success is all about taking the complexities out of ECM systems, such as iManage and SharePoint, increasing user adoption, and empowering users to do what they do best."

About DocAuto

DocAuto is a globally trusted provider of innovative enterprise content management solutions. Our mission is to help companies accelerate the adoption and maximize the value of their SharePoint and iManage environments. Today, organizations around the world use our solutions to help them manage and secure mission-critical environments. Whether an organization is just starting out or a global enterprise with complex SharePoint or iManage deployments, DocAuto customers get the highest quality solutions and award-winning service in the industry backed by the pioneers in enterprise content management. DocAuto has offices in Atlanta and London. Follow us onLinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

DocAuto is a registered trademark and WorkSite Organizer is a trademark of DocAuto, Inc.

ShareFile is a registered trademark of Citrix, Inc.
Aristotle, which manages more than $14 billion* in assets, and St. James's Place Wealth Management, today jointly announce that the St. James's Place North American Life Fund, which is managed by Aristotle Capital Management, received a 2017 United Kingdom Thomson Reuters Lipper Fund Award for best U.S. Equity Fund in the 3-year performance period ended December 31, 2016.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005449/en/

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Howard Gleicher, CFA of Aristotle Capital Management, LLC (Photo: Business Wire)

The Thomson Reuters Lipper Awards recognize funds and fund management firms for their consistently strong risk-adjusted three-, five- and ten-year performance relative to their peers, based on Lipper's proprietary performance-based methodology.

The St. James's Place North American Fund's Portfolio Manager is Howard Gleicher, CFA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Aristotle Capital Management. Mr. Gleicher, a 32-year veteran in the investment management industry, has applied a similar investment philosophy and process to value equity strategies for more than two decades.

"We are pleased to be recognized for the results from our investment process which involves identifying what we believe are the best businesses in North America to invest in," said Mr. Gleicher. "Our concentrated portfolio represents those businesses for which we have high conviction in their quality, value and long-term prospects. We always strive to be excellent stewards of capital for all our clients."

Chris Ralph, Chief Investment Officer of St. James's Place Wealth Management, stated, "We seek rigorous, disciplined investment processes for our clients. The Lipper Award is validation of our long-term investment approach and our process to identify talented investment managers from across the globe."

About Aristotle

Aristotle Capital Management has managed the St. James's Place North American Fund since January 2004.

With offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston and New York, Aristotle is a family of employee-owned investment management firms that, as of March 31, 2017, collectively managed more than $14 billion* across equity and fixed income strategies. Aristotle attracts and retains talented investment professionals through a culture focused on research, investment management and client success.

Aristotle's experienced corporate leadership team oversees a centralized support infrastructure to ensure that our distinct teams of investment professionals are able to focus on what they do best-seeking to add value to client portfolios. The company's support infrastructure includes shared services, such as trading, compliance, operations and distribution. Please visit www.aristotlecap.com for more information.

Aristotle Capital Management, LLC, Aristotle Credit Partners, LLC, Aristotle Capital Boston, LLC and Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC are affiliated organizations. Each is an independent investment adviser separately registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about each adviser, including investment strategies, fees and objectives, can be found in their respective Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.

*As of March 31, 2017, the assets under management for each Aristotle affiliate was as follows: Aristotle Capital Management, LLC $12,075.1 million; Aristotle Capital Boston, LLC $1,700.3 million; Aristotle Credit Partners, LLC $386.4 million; and Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC $26.4 million.

About St. James's Place Wealth Management

With 75.3 billion of client funds under management as of December 31, 2016, the St. James's Place Wealth Management Group specializes in the provision of face-to-face wealth management advice to individuals, trustees and businesses. We provide advice to clients based on their individual needs and circumstances, adapting our advice as requirements change over time to ensure that recommendations remain appropriate. For more information go to www.sjp.co.uk.

Disclosures:

*Past performance is not indicative of future results. The rankings shown may not be representative of an individual client's portfolio because it is based on composite performance of the advisor's strategy and is not indicative of the adviser's future performance.

For more than three decades and in over 20 countries worldwide, the Thomson Reuters Lipper Fund Awards have honored funds and fund management firms that have excelled in providing consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. Renowned fund data and proprietary methodology is the foundation of the Award qualification. Individual classifications of three-, five-, and ten-year periods, as well as fund families with high average scores for the three-year period are recognized. Neither St. James's Place Wealth Management nor Aristotle Capital Management LLC or any Aristotle affiliate, are affiliated with Thomson Reuters and did not pay to participate in the award selection process.

The general methodology for selection of winners relies on the following criteria:

Funds registered for sale in the respective country as of the end of the calendar year of the respective evaluation year.

At least 36 months of performance history as of the end of the calendar year of the respective evaluation year.

Lipper Global classifications with at least 10 distinct portfolios based on the primary share class definition, excluding residual classifications, institutional and other non-retail funds, private, closed-end, exchange-traded, insurance, and linked funds. (Please see regional exceptions in Section 2 Specific Methodology Issues below.)

Asset classes: equity, bond, mixed-asset, commodity, and alternatives. Absolute Return funds screen over all asset types except real estate.

The currency for the calculation corresponds to the currency of the country for which the awards are calculated and relies on monthly data. Classification averages are calculated with all eligible share classes for each eligible classification. The calculation periods extend over 36, 60, and 120 months. The highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value within each eligible classification determines the fund classification winner over three, five, or ten years. For a detailed explanation, please review the Lipper Leaders methodology document on http://lipperalpha.financial.thomsonreuters.com/lipper/our-methodology/. Fund classification awards are given to the company that has the day-to-day responsibility of investing and monitoring the assets under management within the fund's portfolio in order to achieve the investment objectives of the fund. This company is also referred to as a portfolio management company or investment advisor. The award goes to the fund management company in case that no such company has been appointed or several such companies share the task.

The opinions expressed herein are those of Aristotle Capital Management, LLC (Aristotle Capital) and St. James's Place and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Aristotle Capital reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Aristotle Capital is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Aristotle Capital, including our investment strategies, fees and objectives, can be found in our Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. ACML-17-406.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005449/en/

Contacts:

Aristotle Capital

Robert R. Womack, Jr.

Managing Director

310.478.4005

rwomack@aristotlecap.com

or

Financial Profiles, Inc.

Tricia Ross

Senior Vice President

310.622.8226

tross@finprofiles.com

or

St. James's Place

Chris Ralph

Chief Investment Officer

44.128.587.8498

or

Four Broadgate

44.203.697.4200
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Onex Corporation ("Onex") (TSX: ONEX) announced today it has filed with the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the Exchange has accepted, a Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid permitting Onex to purchase for cancellation up to 10% of the public float in its Subordinate Voting Shares, or 8,391,231 shares. There are 102,018,291 Subordinate Voting Shares issued and outstanding and the public float as at March 31, 2017 was 83,912,318 shares.

Onex may buy back shares from time to time during the next twelve months. Any purchases made under the Normal Course Issuer Bid will be effected through the facilities of TSX or alternative Canadian trading systems. This may include a private agreement pursuant to an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority. Any purchases made by way of private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority will be at a discount to the prevailing market price as provided in the exemption order. Onex commenced a similar bid on April 18, 2016, which expires on April 17, 2017 and under which a total of 1,976,919 Subordinate Voting Shares were purchased as at April 10, 2017 at an average purchase price of C$84.72 per share. Onex may purchase up to 26,619 Subordinate Voting Shares during any trading day, being 25% of its average daily trading volume of 106,477 Subordinate Voting Shares for the most recently completed six calendar months. Onex may also purchase Subordinate Voting Shares from time to time under the Exchange's block purchase exemption, if available.

The Normal Course Issuer Bid is being renewed as it is Onex' view it is advantageous to the company and its shareholders to continue to repurchase Subordinate Voting Shares, from time to time, when they are trading at prices which reflect a discount from their value as perceived by Onex.

The Normal Course Issuer Bid will commence on April 18, 2017 and will conclude on the earlier of the date on which purchases under the bid have been completed and April 17, 2018.

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:

Onex Corporation

Laura Carrigan

Director, Investor Relations

416.362.7711

www.onex.com




THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- SOURCE EXPLORATION CORP. (the "Company" or "Source") (TSX VENTURE: SOP)(OTC: SRXLF)(FRANKFURT: 4QW1) is pleased to announce that drilling at its Las Minas gold project has intersected long intervals of high-grade gold, copper and silver mineralization. Diamond drilling at the El Dorado - Juan Bran zone cut 6.82 g/t Au Eq(1 ) over 12.0 metres, contained within a 24.0 metre interval grading 4.43 g/t Au Eq in diamond drill hole LM-17-ED-25. Hole LM-17-ED-28 graded 5.98 g/t Au Eq over 6.0 metres within a wider interval grading 3.48 g/t Au Eq over 36.0 metres. Hole LM-17-JB-12 graded 4.63 g/t Au Eq over a 6.0 metre interval, contained within 14.0 metres grading 2.97 g/t Au Eq.

The objective of the drilling program, which includes infill / extension and step-out drilling, is to advance the Las Minas project to a mineral resource estimate, scheduled for Q2. The resource estimate will focus on the El Dorado / Juan Bran and Santa Cruz zones, two of six known mineralized zones at the property. Drilling is continuing at the site and additional holes will be reported as soon as results are received, compiled and evaluated.

Highlights from the initial 9 holes include:

-- 6.82 g/t Au Eq over 12.0 metres in LM-17-ED-25, within -- 5.88 g/t Au Eq over 16.0 metres, within -- 4.43 g/t Au Eq over 24.0 metres -- 3.87 g/t Au Eq over 14.0 metres in LM-17-ED-26, within -- 3.32 g/t Au Eq over 28.0 metres -- 5.98 g/t Au Eq over 6.0 metres in LM-17-ED-28, within -- 4.18 g/t Au Eq over 26.0 metres, within -- 3.48 g/t Au Eq over 36.0 metres -- 6.18 g/t Au Eq over 4.0 metres in LM-17-JB-12, within -- 2.97 g/t Au Eq over 14.0 metres

Selected drill results are included in Table 1 below.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eldorado - Juan Bran Zone Drill Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole ID (Az./Dip) From To Intercept Au Ag Cu Au Eq (degrees) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % (g/t) Comments ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-ED-25 Infill & (130/-67) 112.6 124.6 12.0 2.17 18.23 2.68 6.82 Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 110.6 126.6 16.0 2.00 14.80 2.24 5.88 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 106.6 130.6 24.0 1.59 10.5 1.64 4.43 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-ED-26 (62/- Infill & 60) 132.9 146.9 14.0 1.26 5.31 1.54 3.87 Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 118.9 146.9 28.0 1.11 3.90 1.26 3.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 116.9 160.9 44.0 0.86 3.11 0.93 2.43 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-ED-27 (275/-60) 106.0 110.0 4.0 1.98 6.50 0.78 3.41 Infill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 106.0 120.0 14.0 0.97 4.43 0.63 2.07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 94.0 120.0 26.0 0.84 3.28 0.59 1.91 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-ED-28(75/- Infill & 75) 110.4 116.4 6.0 2.69 4.6 1.96 5.98 Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 100.4 116.4 16.0 2.93 2.53 1.11 4.78 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 90.4 116.4 26.0 2.51 2.42 1.00 4.18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 86.4 122.4 36.0 2.07 2.28 0.84 3.48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-ED-29(75/- 45) 158.3 166.3 8.0 0.67 3.64 0.36 1.31 Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-JB -10 (0/- 90) Intersected weakly mineralized dike Step Out ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-JB-11 (90/- 60) 145.0 151.0 6.0 0.65 2.53 0.34 1.25 Extension ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-JB-12 (0/- 85) 65.4 69.4 4.0 3.58 17.70 1.36 6.18 Infill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- within 65.4 79.4 14.0 1.22 7.29 1.01 2.97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LM-17-JB-13 (135/-85) 62.4 66.4 4.00 0.86 2.15 0.81 2.21 Infill ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a map of drill collars and traces for the current release, please click here: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/LasMinasProject.pdf

For a photo of drill core from hole LM-17-ED-25, please click here: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Pic%20LM-17-ED-25.pdf

Brian Robertson, Chairman and CEO, commented: "These initial drill results validate and extend the mineralized footprint of the El Dorado-Juan Bran zone, outlined by earlier exploration drilling. A zone measuring up to 430 metres in width and extending some 650 metres down dip, varying from 4 to 58 metres in thickness has been outlined. The zone remains open both on strike and down dip. The validation and expansion of the zone by the current drilling bodes well for defining a mineral resource estimate."

All reported intervals referred to in this news release are core lengths and additional information is required to determine true widths. Assays are uncut, length - weighted average values. Gold equivalent (Au Eq) calculations use metal prices of US $1,250/oz. for gold, US $18.00/oz. for silver and US $3.00/lb. for copper. No adjustments have been made for potential relative differences in metal recoveries. Au Eq g/t = Au g/t + ((Ag g/t x 0.014) + (Cu% x 1.64))

About Las Minas

The Las Minas Project hosts near-surface gold - silver and copper skarn mineralization and high-grade gold - silver epithermal vein deposits. The project is comprised of six mineral concessions covering approximately 1,616 hectares (3,995 acres), with several small scale, past-producing mines and a number of untested targets.

The district is host to one of the largest under explored gold - silver copper skarn systems known in Mexico, and has a production history that extends back to the Aztec era. The Las Minas granodiorite intrusive measures approximately 10 kilometres in diameter and underlies the Las Minas concessions. The mineralization controls and association with magnetite appear to be similar to the Guerrero Gold belt, which is the site of the Los Filos and Morelos gold deposits.

Las Minas is an early-stage exploration project and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The potential quantities and grades disclosed herein are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource for the targets discussed herein. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in these targets being delineated as a mineral resource.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sonny Bernales, P. Geo., a registered Professional Geoscientist in the Province of British Columbia and a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Bernales is responsible for logistics and supervision of all exploration activity conducted by Source on the property.

The Company has implemented and adheres to a strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control program which includes inserting mineralized standards and blanks into the sample stream, about 1 for every 10 samples. The standards and blanks were obtained from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, BC, Canada. Each sample bag is properly sealed and kept in a secured, restricted storage place prior to shipping to the lab. Samples are shipped directly by Source or picked up by the lab vehicle with chain of custody/sample submittal signed and dated. The Company sends its samples to SGS Mineral Services (ISO/IEC 17025) at Durango, Mexico, an accredited and independent laboratory.

About Source Exploration

Source Exploration is a Canadian based mineral exploration company committed to building long-term value through ongoing discoveries and strategic acquisitions of prospective precious metals deposits in Mexico. Source is exploring the Las Minas Project, which is located in the core of the Las Minas district in the Veracruz State, Mexico. The district is host to one of the largest under-explored skarn systems known in Mexico and has a strong production history that dates back to the Aztec era.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about the magnitude or quality of mineral deposits, timing of the mineral resource estimate at the Las Minas Project, anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs, future operations, results of exploration, prospects, commodity and precious metals prices, future work programs, anticipated financial and operational results, capital expenditures and objectives and the completion and timing of mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks identified in the Company's disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based on the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) have reviewed or accepts responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Contacts:

Brian Robertson

Chairman, President & CEO

807-474-4271 or 807-251-1816

807-474-4272 (FAX)

info@sourceexploration.com

www.sourceexploration.com






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Citigroup Inc. (C) on Thursday reported a 17 percent increase in profit for the first quarter from last year, reflecting higher revenues and lower credit costs. Both revenue and adjusted earnings per share for the quarter beat analysts' estimates.



Citigroup's first-quarter net income rose to $4.09 billion or $1.35 per share from $3.50 billion or $1.10 per share reported last year.



Excluding items, adjusted earnings for the quarter were $1.27 per share. On average, 23 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $1.24 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.



Revenues for the quarter increased 3 percent to $18.12 billion from $17.56 billion in the prior year. Analysts expected revenue of $17.83 billion for the quarter.



The increase in revenues were driven by growth in both the Institutional Clients Group and Global Consumer Banking segments, partially offset by lower revenues in Corporate / Other segment primarily due to the continued wind down of legacy assets.



Revenues from Institutional Clients Group rose 16 percent, reflecting a 13 percent increase in banking revenue and 18 percent growth in markets and securities services revenues. Global Consumer Banking revenues increased 1 percent. Corporate/Other revenue fell 40 percent from last year.



The company's total operating expenses were largely unchanged from the year-ago period at $10.5 billion.



Citigroup's cost of credit in the quarter declined 19 percent to $1.7 billion, driven by a loan loss reserve release of $77 million, compared to a build of $233 million in the prior year period driven by energy-related exposures in ICG.



A decline in the provision for benefits and claims and a modest decline in net credit losses also contributed to the lower cost of credit.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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PowerObjects will be exhibiting and presenting their custom Dynamics 365 solution for housing

LONDON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --PowerObjects, an HCL Company, are proud to announce that they will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the 2017 Social Housing Finance Conference. A recognised Microsoft partner, PowerObjects have been recognised multiple times for providing outstanding service and leadership in the realm of CRM for Microsoft Dynamics 365.

"Housing organisations face unique challenges when it comes to managing the financial side of their operations," says Paul Rogers, Vice President of Global Sales at PowerObjects. "The Social Housing Finance Conference is a place for senior finance professionals in the housing industry to converge and find solutions for the problems that arise in the new political and economic environment."

The PowerObjects team will be showcasing their custom housing solution as well as providing one-on-one conversations about digital transformation for the housing sector.

"PowerObjects' custom housing solution, which we've built from Microsoft's suite of products, offers housing organisations solutions to help them manage the entire customer and internal experience," says Rogers. "From the front to the back office, our solution ultimately helps those groups strengthen the relationships and achieve results within the organisation."

You can learn more about the event here.

About PowerObjects, an HCL Company

PowerObjects, an HCL Company, provides CRM service, support, education and add-ons for Microsoft Dynamics 365. Winner of the 2015 Microsoft Dynamics CRM Cloud Partner of the Year, PowerObjects has built an unmatched team of Dynamics 365 experts that help organisations increase productivity, streamline business processes and build better relationships.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467009/Power_Objects_Logo.jpg

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powerobjects-an-hcl-company-announces-social-housing-finance-conference-sponsorship-300439353.html
SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- NextLevel Internet, Inc., a leader in cloud based communications, today announced that the company is helping organizations that were affected by the recent announcement that Toshiba is shutting down their Telecommunication Systems Division (TSD). Those organizations can seamlessly move their telecommunications services to the cloud with NextLevel Voice.

The NextLevel Voice unified communications platform was originally created for first responders and mission-critical clients, whose interruption of service could result in the loss of life, money, or reputation. Today's platform expands beyond voice services with additional supported technologies, including NextLevel Meeting, NextWAN and CRM functionality.

"This news came as a surprise to many within the telecommunications industry, especially current Toshiba customers," said Jerry Morris, founder of NextLevel Internet, Inc. "One aspect that can't be overlooked is that these companies can now look for newer, fully integrated cloud-based alternatives to their communications systems. NextLevel Voice is an optimal transition platform and we look forward to working with these companies as they move their communications systems to the cloud."

The fully redundant, high-availability NextLevel Voice unified communications platform, and integrated solutions, is a perfect solution for those companies who need to transition from Toshiba's TSD. NextLevel provides the highest level of customer support, critical for those Toshiba customers who may not be sure of their next steps.

For organizations that are affected by this shutdown and would like to request more information on the NextLevel Voice unified communications platform, please call 858-836-0703 or visit www.nextlevelinternet.com.

About NextLevel

Founded in 1999, NextLevel is a business-to-business voice, internet and managed unified communications services provider that matches its clients' needs with the highest quality deliverables and customer service available. NextLevel offers its clients access to a "private, fully managed" cloud network originally developed for first responders. NextLevel's highly redundant; top-tier voice and internet backbone delivers unbeatable value for today's serious businesses. NextLevel is managed and operated 24/7 by seasoned telecom, internet and data professionals who understand that impeccable service is paramount. For more information on NextLevel, please call 858-836-0703 or visit www.nextlevelinternet.com.

Media Contact

Mynt Public Relations

www.myntpr.com

Email Contact

(619) 822-2239




BETHESDA, MD -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Teaching Strategies, one of the most widely recognized and trusted brands in early learning, announced today the launch of their new The Creative Curriculum for Kindergarten. Developed in response to educator demand for resources that support hands-on, project-based learning in early elementary classrooms, the new curriculum builds on decades of Teaching Strategies' research and experience in early childhood education.

"The curriculum's study topics provide opportunities for hands-on learning in areas sometimes overlooked in Kindergarten, like science and social studies," said Stefania Raschella, Early Childhood Curriculum and Assessment Specialist at the Catholic School Region of Northeast/East Bronx in the Archdiocese of New York, who worked with teachers piloting the curriculum. "Our teachers found the daily resources and training to be especially useful in their planning and meeting quality standards."

This fall, Teaching Strategies' Creative Curriculum for Kindergarten was piloted by over 50 Kindergarten classrooms across the US, including classrooms in New York City, Washington state, Alaska, and Alabama. The pilots are, in part, representative of a national shift toward alignment of high-quality early childhood education practices with early elementary grades to help students make a more seamless transition into elementary school.

"Eliminating achievement gaps in later grades starts with creating a seamless continuum of high quality teaching and learning environments from Pre-K into Kindergarten," said Sandy Little, Assessment Manager for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. "The integration of daily teaching and learning moments into larger, project-based investigations means that children are more deeply engaged, and educators can focus on personalizing instruction to align with student interests, strengths, and areas of improvement."

Early childhood programs have been using Teaching Strategies' research-based curriculum, professional development resources, and observational tools to promote positive outcomes for students for over 25 years. The Creative Curriculum for Kindergarten, backed by decades of research, includes foundational volumes, Teaching Guides, Intentional Teaching Cards, and other daily resources to help educators integrate project-based investigations into daily instruction.

"One of the most powerful features of project-based learning is that children have the opportunity to develop critical process skills like communicating and representing ideas, organizing information, solving problems, and making connections between learning experiences," said Kai-lee Berke, former Kindergarten teacher and CEO of Teaching Strategies. "What better way to create a foundation for future school success than by having children leave Kindergarten with the skills they'll need to be lifelong learners."

To learn more about the Creative Curriculum for Kindergarten, visit http://bit.ly/2p7Xe0c.

About Teaching Strategies: With ground-breaking solutions and a strong belief that a child's first 8 years form a critical foundation for school success, Teaching Strategies has been an advocate for the early education community for nearly 30 years. Today, Teaching Strategies provides curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family connection resources to programs across the country. Its award-winning products like The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and widely-adopted assessment solutions like GOLD reach over 2 million children each year. To learn why thousands of early childhood programs and many states choose to partner with Teaching Strategies to help ensure children's success in school and in life, visit www.teachingstrategies.com and follow us on Twitter @TeachStrategies.

Media Contact:

Caitlin Cox

Email Contact

202-479-7177




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") (TSX: LUN)(OMX: LUMI) announces that the report for the first quarter period ended March 31, 2017 will be published after the close of the trading day in Toronto on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

The Company will hold a telephone conference call and webcast at 08:00am ET, 14:00 CET on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Conference call details are provided below:

Please call in 10 minutes before the conference starts and stay on the line (an operator will be available to assist you).

Call-in number for the conference call (North America): +1 617 826 1698Call-in number for the conference call (North America Toll Free): +1 877 648 7976 Call-in number for the conference call (Sweden): +46 (0) 8 5661 9361

To view the live webcast presentation, please log on using this direct link: http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175850

The presentation slideshow will also be available in PDF format for download from the Lundin Mining website http://www.lundinmining.com before the conference call.

A replay of the telephone conference will be available after the completion of the conference call until May 4, 2017.

Replay numbers:

North America: +1 404 537 3406 The passcode for the replay is: 8420920

A replay of the webcast will be available by clicking on the direct link above.

About Lundin MiningLundin Mining is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Chile, the USA, Portugal, and Sweden, primarily producing copper, nickel and zinc. In addition, until its announced sale has been concluded, Lundin Mining holds an indirect 24% equity stake in the world-class Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Freeport Cobalt Oy business, which includes a cobalt refinery located in Kokkola, Finland.

On Behalf of the Board,

Paul ConibearPresident and CEO

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Mining under the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Market Act. This information was publicly communicated on April 13, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Contacts:

Mark Turner

Director, Business Valuations and Investor Relations

+1-416-342-5565



Sonia Tercas

Senior Associate, Investor Relations

+1-416-342-5583



Robert Eriksson

Investor Relations Sweden

+46 8 545 015 50




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Pinecrest Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: PCR) (the "Company" or "Pinecrest") is pleased to announce, effective immediately, the appointment of Mr. Douglas Hurst and Mr. Michael Vint to the Board of Directors of the Company. Ms. Kim Williams will be retiring from the Board of Directors concurrently with the new board appointments.

Ryan King, President and Director of Pinecrest stated: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Mr. Douglas Hurst and Mr. Michael Vint to the Pinecrest team as Directors. Doug and Mike's extensive experience in project evaluation, debt and equity finance, mergers and acquisitions and mine operations will be a great compliment to our Board. We look forward to working with Mr. Hurst and Mr. Vint as we advance our 100% owned Enchi Gold Project in Ghana and execute our strategy of creating substantial value for shareholders. I would also like to thank Kim Williams for her significant contributions to the Company as a founding Director of the Company."

Mr. Vint is Vice President of Mining with Endeavour Financial, a leading financial advisor in the natural resources sector providing advice in project financing, structured finance and mergers and acquisitions. Mike brings to the Pinecrest board extensive experience in mine operations and construction for precious and base metals as well as corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Vint has spent the majority of his career working in mining operations across the United States and Canada, he then transitioned to the Research department of CIBC World Markets covering the gold sector. Mike was a director of Newmarket Gold Inc. which was recently purchased for $1.0 billion by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Mr. Vint is a registered professional engineer in the Province of British Columbia and received his Mining Engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines.

Mr. Hurst has over 30 years of experience in the mining and natural resource industries having acted as geologist, consultant, mining analyst, senior executive and board member. Doug was previously a mining analyst with McDermid St. Lawrence and Sprott Securities and a contract analyst to Pacific International Securities and Octagon Capital. He was a founding executive of International Royalty Corporation which was purchased by Royal Gold for $700 million. Recently, Mr. Hurst was one of the founders of Newmarket Gold Inc. which was purchased for $1.0 billion by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd in November, 2016. Mr. Hurst holds a bachelor of science in geology from McMaster University (1986) and he is currently Chairman of Northern Empire Resources Corp.

Pinecrest has granted 2,350,000 stock options at a price of $0.45 per share for a period of five years to directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The options are subject to regulatory approval and are granted under the Company's stock option plan and include vesting provisions.

About Pinecrest Resources

Pinecrest engages principally in the acquisition, advancement and development of precious metal properties with the Company's primary focus being the 100% owned Enchi Gold Project located in Southwest Ghana. Major shareholders of Pinecrest include Kinross Gold Corp., Management and Directors.

Pinecrest Resources Ltd.

Ryan King, President & Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or does not expect", "is expected", anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, potential mineralization, reserve and resource determination, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Atlas to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Ryan King

604 628-1012

www.pinecrestresources.com




April 13, 2017 (TSX: LUN; OMX: LUMI) Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") announces that the report for the first quarter period ended March 31, 2017 will be published after the close of the trading day in Toronto on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.



The Company will hold a telephone conference call and webcast at 08:00am ET, 14:00 CET on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Conference call details are provided below:



Please call in 10 minutes before the conference starts and stay on the line (an operator will be available to assist you).



Call-in number for the conference call (North America): +1 617 826 1698



Call-in number for the conference call (North America Toll Free): +1 877 648 7976



Call-in number for the conference call (Sweden): +46 (0) 8 5661 9361



To view the live webcast presentation, please log on using this direct link:



http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=175850



The presentation slideshow will also be available in PDF format for download from the Lundin Mining website http://www.lundinmining.com before the conference call.



A replay of the telephone conference will be available after the completion of the conference call until May 4, 2017.



Replay numbers:



North America: +1 404 537 3406



The passcode for the replay is: 8420920



A replay of the webcast will be available by clicking on the direct link above.



About Lundin Mining



Lundin Mining is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Chile, the USA, Portugal, and Sweden, primarily producing copper, nickel and zinc. In addition, until its announced sale has been concluded, Lundin Mining holds an indirect 24% equity stake in the world-class Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Freeport Cobalt Oy business, which includes a cobalt refinery located in Kokkola, Finland.



On Behalf of the Board,



Paul Conibear



President and CEO



The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Mining under the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Market Act. This information was publicly communicated on April 13, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.



?



For further information, please contact: Mark Turner Director, Business Valuations and Investor Relations +1-416-342-5565 Sonia Tercas Senior Associate, Investor Relations +1-416-342-5583 Robert Eriksson Investor Relations Sweden +46 8 545 015 50



Attachment:

https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=625383

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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust ("RioCan") (TSX: REI.UN) today announced a distribution of 11.75 cents per unit for the month of April. The distribution will be payable on May 5, 2017 to unitholders of record as at April 28, 2017.

About RioCan

RioCan is Canada's largest real estate investment trust with a total enterprise value of approximately $14.6 billion as at December 31, 2016. RioCan owns and manages Canada's largest portfolio of shopping centres with ownership interests in a portfolio of 300 Canadian retail and mixed use properties, including 15 properties under development, containing an aggregate net leasable area of 47 million square feet. For further information, please refer to RioCan's website at www.riocan.com.

Contacts:

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

Christian Green

Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations & Compliance

416-864-6483

www.riocan.com




VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - RESAAS Services Inc. (CSE: RSS) (OTCQX: RSASF), a cloud-based social business platform for licensed real estate professionals, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Rossiter, the current President of RESAAS, as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rossiter replaces Cory Brandolini, one of the founders of RESAAS, who will remain as the Chairman and a director of the company.

Mr. Rossiter has served as the President of RESAAS since March 2013, and during that time has been responsible for overseeing the company's sales, operations, technology and client services departments. He has also spearheaded RESAAS's growth from a free-to-use business social network into a revenue-generating technology company that offers tailored solutions to different sectors of the real estate industry.

Prior to becoming involved with RESAAS, Mr. Rossiter was the Managing Director of Lightmaker, an award-winning global digital agency, where he successfully ran the company's Vancouver office following a four-year stint at its UK headquarters. While at Lightmaker, Mr. Rossiter became known for bringing Flash mobile solutions to mass markets for the likes of Adobe, Nokia and Samsung; had the opportunity to consult on-site with those corporations and more across North America, Europe and Asia; and led teams in the scoping, design and successful implementation of digital solutions for multiple verticals.

Mr. Rossiter has a vast array of experience in the management and delivery of digital solutions across the web, desktop and mobile fields, and has been recognized as a subject matter expert in accessible design, particularly in relation to introducing advanced capabilities to Rich Internet Applications. Outside of RESAAS, he serves as a director of the Vancouver-based Asian Real Estate Association of America and is a member of the National Association of REALTORS  , the trade association representing the real estate industry in the United States.

"Tom has been my most valued partner from day one at RESAAS -- he is a visionary and passionate leader who has contributed a great deal to RESAAS's growth and success over the years. I couldn't be more proud and excited for him to assume the CEO role and lead the company into its next phase of development, growth and expansion," commented Cory Brandolini, the Chairman and outgoing Chief Executive Officer of RESAAS.

Despite stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brandolini will continue to be actively involved day-to-day with RESAAS in his capacity as Chairman. The move will provide Mr. Brandolini, a former investment banker with 20+ years of experience at various securities firms, with the flexibility to focus on pursuing further corporate finance opportunities for the company while expanding relationships with members of the greater investment community and media throughout North America and abroad. This evolutionary change at the management level will benefit the company in both the short and long term by allowing Mr. Brandolini to devote more time to increasing RESAAS's profile and leveraging his extensive knowledge and contacts in the equity markets.

About RESAAS Services Inc.

RESAAS is a cloud-based social business platform built for licensed real estate professionals. RESAAS brings proprietary real-time technology into the business of real estate and transforms how real estate listing data flows between real estate agents, brokers, associations, and MLSs. Visit www.resaas.com.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release and the RESAAS website referenced herein contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including but not limited to statements regarding the company's technology platform. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by RESAAS' management, including future plans for the design and development of the company's technology platform.

Forward-looking information is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking information. Although RESAAS believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information because RESAAS can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release. RESAAS disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

On Behalf of RESAAS

Danielle Sissons

VP Operations

RESAAS Services Inc.

Telephone: (604) 558-2929

Email: danielle.sissons@resaas.com



Investor Relations

Scott Young

RESAAS Services Inc.

Telephone: 1 (705) 888-2756

Email: scott.young@resaas.com
Awareness levels of Muslim populace regarding the ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care formulations to determine the industry's future growth trajectory. With considerable Islamic population and their ingraining of cultural aspects into daily lifestyles has pushed the mainstream beauty-care industry to also concentrate on product offerings that are halal-certified. To the extent, consumers are willing to pay a premium price for these goods keeping in view ethical beliefs. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia offer tremendous opportunities for growth as a result of Islam being a predominant sect and simultaneous socio-economic growth of individuals. Furthermore, products certified by recognized bodies, such as JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia), will also boost consumer confidence and further propel growth. Malaysia and Indonesia together accounted for nearly 60% of the Asia Pacific revenue in 2015, with skincare and makeup being the dominant products consumed. Personal care and beauty-care launches in Malaysia outnumbered UK and Philippines, primarily due to local brands such as SimplySiti and IVY Beauty. Further key findings from the report suggest:

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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2017) - Rae-Wallace Mining Company (OTC Pink: RAEWF) ("Rae-Wallace" or the "Company") announces the resignations of Mr. George Cole as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Andres Tinajero as Chief Financial Officer, of the Company effective April 7, 2017.

Margo Guidi has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Tinajero.

Chris Irwin has been appointed as a Director and President of the Company, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Cole. The current board of directors consist of Mr. Bryan Morris, Mr. Randal Hardy and Mr. Chris Irwin.

The board of directors and management would like to thank Messrs. Cole and Tinajero for their contribution to the Company and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

The board of directors will focus on identifying a transaction to enhance shareholder value.

About Rae-Wallace

Rae-Wallace is a company existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands with reporting issuer status in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. Rae-Wallace stock currently trades on the OTC market under the symbol "RAEWF".

For further information please contact:

Chris Irwin, President - (416) 361-2516; cirwin@irwinlowy.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Select Sands Corp. ("Select Sands" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SNS)(OTCQX: SLSDF) is pleased to announce that the Company has completed a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") resources calculation on its Bell Farm Property ("Property"). The report dated April 4, 2017 was prepared by Elliott A Mallard, P.G. of KLEINFELDER, Jacksonville, FL, USA. The NI 43-101 Inferred Mineral Resources are 49,622,003 tons. A copy of the report will be filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

The Bell Farm property covers 457 acres, has paved road access and available three-phase power. The new property is located about 2 miles northwest of the Company's existing Sandtown project. Sandtown is currently producing finer mesh Northern White sand (40/70 and 100 mesh) and in February of 2016 completed a NI 43-101 resource calculation with 41.98 million tons of Indicated Mineral Resources (see February 10, 2016 news release - Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability).

Geology and Mineralization:

The deposit consists of the middle Ordovician-aged St Peter Sandstone, generally a massive bedded, medium- to fine-grained, well-rounded, friable, white sandstone. Forty (40) NQ diameter core holes have been drilled on the Property in three (3) separate drilling programs (October 2011, November 2012 and March/April 2014). Sieve analyses indicate a grain size distribution of 23.5% of 30/50 mesh, 48% of 40/70 mesh and 42.1% of 100 mesh (70/140 mesh)(i). Average thickness of the sandstone on the Property is 48.9 feet (ranging from 1 foot to a maximum thickness of 108 feet on the Property). Samples submitted to Stim-Lab (a Core Laboratories Company) for quality analysis returned results that met or exceeded ISO 13503-2:2006/API RP19C:2008 standards.

(i)sum is greater than 100% due to overlap.

Zig Vitols, Select Sands Corp. President & CEO, stated, "With the increasing quantity of quality material becoming available to the Company, Select Sands has experienced major strides in a short period of time. The Bell Farm acquisition represents another milestone in building the foundation for the Company's goal to become a top tier supplier of frac sand in the energy sector."

Elliott A. Mallard, PG of Kleinfelder is the qualified person as per the NI-43-101 and completed the mineral resource estimate for the Bell Farm property and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

Cautionary Note: Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that this preliminary economic assessment will be realized. The Company advises that the production decision on the Sandtown deposit referenced herein was not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will occur as anticipated or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The Company further cautions that it's previously disclosed preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature. No mining study has been completed. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

About Select Sands Corp.

Select Sands Corp. is an industrial Silica Product company developing its 100% owned, 520-acre Northern White, Tier-1, silica sands project located in Arkansas, U.S.A. Select Sands' Arkansas property has a significant logistical advantage of being approximately 650 rail-miles closer to oil and gas markets located in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. The Tier-1 reference above is a classification of frac sand developed by PropTester, Inc., an independent laboratory specializing in the research and testing of products utilized in hydraulic fracturing & cement operations, following ISO 13503-2:2006/API RP19C:2008 standards.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

For more information about Select Sands Corp., please visit www.selectsandscorp.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.

Contacts:

Select Sands Corp.

Zigurds Vitols

President & CEO

(604) 639-4533




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - BRIO GOLD INC. (TSX: BRIO) ("BRIO GOLD" or the "Company") today regretfully reports a fatality this morning at its Pilar mine in Goias State, Brazil. The employee, a driller, was fatally injured when caught on rotating drilling equipment. The employee was medivacked and passed away on the way to the hospital. The Company is investigating the incident and employee counselling is underway.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to our employee's family, friends and colleagues," said Gil Clausen, Brio Gold's president and CEO. "Safety is our highest priority at Brio Gold. We will thoroughly investigate this incident and we are providing our full support to the individual's family and our employees at the mine site."

About Brio Gold

Brio Gold is a new Canadian mining company with significant gold producing, development and exploration stage properties in Brazil. Brio Gold's portfolio includes three operating mines and a gold project, which is a fully-permitted, fully-constructed mine that is currently on care and maintenance and is expected to be re-started in 2018. Brio Gold produced 189,662 ounces of gold in 2016 and at full run-rate expects annual production to be approximately 400,000 ounces of gold.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:



Letitia Wong

Vice President, Corporate Development

Telephone: +1 (416) 860-6310

Email: info@briogoldinc.com
DUBLIN, Apr. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Hospital Infection Prevention And Control Market, 2013 to 2024" report to their offering.

The global hospital infection prevention and control market was valued at US$ 142.6 Mn in 2015, and is expected to reach US$ 245.6 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2016 to 2024.



The market experts suggest that healthcare associated infections are a costly issue faced by many hospitals across the globe. Hospital acquired infections are type of infections that are observed in patients during the course of receiving treatment for unrelated conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infectious waste contributes in this way to the risk of nosocomial infections, putting the health of hospital personnel, and patients, at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistically suggested that, with approximately 300,000 occurrences each year, surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second most prevalent HAI in the United States, preceded only by urinary tract infections. At a cost of approximately US$ 10 Bn annually, this high incidence of SSIs significantly impacts the U.S. healthcare system, as well as the bottom line of individual hospitals.



The occurrence of nosocomial infections has been observed worldwide in both developed and resource-poor countries. Key factors assisting the growth of hospital infections prevention and control market are rising prevalence of infections, implementation of stringent guidelines associated with hospital infection prevention and control, developing healthcare infrastructure in emerging countries, and rising number of hospitals across the world.



Companies Mentioned



3M Company

Ansell Ltd.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Belimed AG

Bemis Company, Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Cantel Medical Corp.

Others



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Preface



Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market Overview



Chapter 4 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market, by Infection Type



Chapter 5 Global Hospital Infection Prevention & Control Analysis, by Product



Chapter 6 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market, By Geography

Chapter 7 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9rdt92/global_hospital

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
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.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Trican Well Service Ltd. (TSX: TCW) ("Trican") intends to release its First Quarter 2017 results on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 after the close of the market.

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. MT (11:00 a.m. ET) to discuss the Company's results for the 2017 First Quarter.

To listen to the webcast of the conference call, please enter: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/yf32yhja in your web browser or visit the Investors section of our website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors and click on "Reports".

To participate in the Q&A session, please call the conference call operator at 1-844-358-9180 (North America) or 478-219-0187 (outside North America) 15 minutes prior to the call's start time and ask for the "Trican Well Service Ltd. First Quarter 2017 Earnings Results Conference Call".

The conference call will be archived on Trican's website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Trican provides a comprehensive array of specialized products, equipment and services that are used during the exploration and development of oil and gas reserves.

Contacts:

Trican Well Service Ltd.

Dale Dusterhoft

Chief Executive Officer

(403) 266-0202

(403) 237-7716 (FAX)

ddusterhoft@trican.ca



Trican Well Service Ltd.

Michael Baldwin

Senior Vice President, Finance & CFO

(403) 266-0202

(403) 237-7716 (FAX)

mbaldwin@trican.ca

www.tricanwellservice.com




SAO PAULO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO), the leading provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing services (CRM/BPO) in Latin America, and one of the three top providers worldwide announces the appointment of Marcelo Geraldi Velloso as Executive Director for Multisector Businesses in Brazil. Prior to joining Atento Brazil, Mr. Velloso served as Atento's Business Vice President in Mexico, where he was responsible for operations, clients and business development for the telecommunications, finance and multisector verticals.

Born in Belo Horizonte, MG, the executive holds a Bachelors in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a General Management Graduate Certificate from Harvard University in Boston. He has over 20 years of professional experience in major companies in Latin America, especially in the banking and financial services sector.

Before joining Atento, he held leadership positions in HSBC Mexico, where his scope of responsibilities included retail banking administration and asset management. He was responsible for managing over 11,000 people and 1,000 banking branches throughout the country. Mr. Velloso began his career in the area of marketing and product management for the Gillette Company in Brazil and the United States.

"The appointment of Marcelo Velloso to lead Atento's multisector business practice in Brazil reflects our commitment to adding the best talent to our team and providing the best services to our clients. His broad experience in sectors such as telecommunications and financial services, will contribute greatly to the success of our business," says Mario Camara, Managing Director of Atento Brazil.

Mr. Velloso says "I'm extremely happy and honored to be a part of the Atento team in Brazil. I am looking forward leveraging my experience and industry knowledge to growth or business and contributing to the success of our clients in the country."

About Atento

Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing (CRM BPO) services in Latin America, and among the top three providers globally, based on revenues. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM/BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 13 countries where it employs 150,000 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM/BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atento's shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2016, Atento was named one of the World's 25 Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work for a fourth consecutive year. For more information visit www.atento.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/329706/atento_fondo_blanco_rgb_logo.jpg
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2017) - Dan Blondal, CEO at Nano One Materials (TSXV: NNO) (FSE: LBMB) (OTC Pink: NNOMF), is pleased to announce that Nano One will be presenting at the Benchmark World Tour 2017 event held in Vancouver, BC on April 21st, 2017. The event will focus on the lithium-ion battery supply chain, anode/cathode markets, raw materials and emerging technologies.

The seminar will examine how the market will be impacted by cobalt, nickel and lithium supply, lithium-ion battery megafactories and electric vehicles from Tesla, Chevrolet, BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen.

Simon Moores, the Managing Director of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, said, "This is our 3rd World Tour in as many years and the first and original seminars on the lithium ion battery supply chain. Interest from investors and stakeholders in the lithium-ion space is bigger than ever. We are excited to launch the tour in Vancouver - the first of 15 cities - and have a field trip of Nano One's facility."

To close out the seminar, Nano One will be hosting a tour of its laboratory and pilot facility in Burnaby, BC. Mr. Blondal said, "We are looking forward to showing conference delegates what we do at Nano One and the steps we are taking to disrupt the lithium supply chain. I look forward to introducing our talented team and the tremendous progress they are making."

Event Details:

Benchmark Minerals World Tour 2017 Vancouver

Friday, April 21st 2017

Fairmont Pacific Rim

8:30am to 5:00pm

http://benchmarkminerals.com/worldtour2017/vancouver.html

Registration is required to attend the conference and limited seating is available for the tour. If interested in attending please contact Nano One at info@nanoone.ca.

Nano One Materials Corp.

Dan Blondal, CEO

For information with respect to Nano One or the contents of this news release, please contact John Lando (President) at (604) 669-2701 or visit the website at www.nanoone.ca.

About Nano One:

Nano One Materials Corp ("Nano One" or "the Company") is developing patented technology for the low-cost production of high performance battery materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronics. The processing technology addresses fundamental supply chain constraints by enabling wider raw materials specifications for use in lithium ion batteries. The process can be configured for a range of different nanostructured materials and has the flexibility to shift with emerging and future battery market trends and a diverse range of other growth opportunities. The novel three-stage process uses equipment common to industry and Nano One is building a pilot plant to demonstrate high volume production. The pilot plant is being funded with the assistance and support of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program. Nano One also receives financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Nano One's mission is to establish its patented technology as a leading platform for the global production of a new generation of nanostructured composite materials. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca.

About Benchmark Mineral Intelligence:

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence ("Benchmark") is a price data collection and assessment company specializing in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. Benchmark offers price data, analysis and forecasting services for lithium-ion cathode and anode raw materials particularly lithium, graphite and cobalt.

Benchmark has advised some of the world's most influential corporations. These include: leading producers of critical minerals, end users such as electric vehicle manufacturers, large investment houses and some of the world's leading brokers.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the actual receipt of the grant monies, the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on the receipt of such monies and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the completion of final documentation with SDTC and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE
Technavio's latest report on the global smart mirrors marketprovides 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/20170413005215/en/

Technavio has announced the release of their 'Global Smart Mirrors Market 2017-2021' report. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Chetan Mohan, a lead analyst from Technavio specializing in research on embedded systems sector, says, "A smart mirror will act as a mirror at the center and has functions clustered around it. The mirror can provide an integrated personal schedule or measure a user's pulse or breathing rate by recording changes in the user's face color. Smart mirrors will be very beneficial to the medical sector as they will help doctors keep track of their patients. Individuals will be able to make informed decisions about deteriorations and changes in their health

The global smart mirrors market was valued at USD 440.25 million in 2016. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.21% to reach USD 783.26 million by 2021. Smart mirrors can improve individual efficiency by choosing outfits as per weather updates while also offering bus and train schedules (including traffic updates). Smart mirrors in smart homes are designed to be connected to users as well as with different devices in the home. Energy efficiency is one of the major advantages that will drive the adoption of smart home appliances.

Request a sample report: https://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=57285

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

The top three emerging trends driving the global smart mirrors marketaccording to Technavio hardware and semiconductorresearch analysts are:

Growing adoption of smart mirrors in end-user sectors

An increasing number of sectors are adopting smart mirrors. End-users are testing these mirrors in trial phases in places such as elevators, public restrooms, and hotels. Advertisers can gain significantly from the use of smart mirrors as they can be used for target advertising.

"Smart mirrors can increase sales in the retail sector by improving customer engagement in dressing rooms. Smart mirrors combined with RFID and display technology can provide user-specific suggestions, thus helping to increase sales. More smart mirrors are likely to be installed in various places in the coming years," according to Chetan.

Use of smart mirrors for advertising in multi-brand retail stores

High-end retailers are looking to implement smart mirrors to get insights into customer purchasing patterns. In the future, multi-brand stores can also implement this technology to get insights into customer buying patterns and to understand their preferences. Multi-brand stores can use smart mirrors for targeted advertising. These retailers can recover the smart mirror installation costs by displaying ads of the brands they house.

Integrating OLED displays in smart mirrors

The integration of OLED displays in smart mirrors could become a major turning point for the smart mirrors market. OLED displays are gaining traction among consumers because of the various advantages they offer compared with LCD displays. A wider viewing angle, better picture clarity, brighter colors, thin panels, and low power consumption are some of the attractive features of OLED displays.

OLED displays are now mass produced for mobile phones, tablets, TVs, and wearables. Leading electronics vendors such as SAMSUNG, LG, and Panasonic use OLED displays in their products. While electronic manufacturers are still developing their smart mirror offerings, given that they have recently launched prototypes in technological seminars and conferences, replacing LCD displays with OLED displays should be rather easy for them.

The key vendors are as follows:

PERSEUS MIRRORS

Evernue

SEURA

Magna international

ELECTRIC MIRROR

Browse Related Reports:

Global Automotive Auto Dimming Mirror Market 2017-2021

Global Smart Glass Market 2016-2020

Global Automotive Sunroof 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 displayscomputing devices, and semiconductor equipment. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005215/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- KEY CAPITAL CORPORATION (OTC PINK: KCPC) advises publication of the highly successful liver cancer trial results of its licensed Immunitor Inc. immunotherapy. As announced last month, the Immunitor Inc. licensed immunotherapy, and particularly its liver cancer immunotherapy product, will be implemented by Key Capital, conditional to all required approvals, initially by pursuing the unmet medical need in the Costa Rica and Guatemala territories.

Key Capital cites below the following press release, as issued by Immunitor Inc., reporting the success of the immunotherapy:

Groundbreaking immunotherapy trial in advanced liver cancer

Immunitor Inc., is pleased to report publication of a first ever successful trial in the oncoimmunology field showing that the once-daily tablet of oral immunotherapeutic vaccine, hepcortespenlisimut-L (Hepko-V5), was safe and highly effective in treating patients with advanced liver cancer -- inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The open-label Phase II study conducted in 75 patients with late-stage HCC appeared in open access Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (https://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=32377).

The overall survival observed in the published study was outstanding -- over 90% of patients were alive after median 12 months of follow up -- by comparison only about 10% survive after one year of treatment with sorafenib. This study has also shown that after median 2 months of treatment 50 out 75 patients had their hepatic tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein or AFP, declined, which indicates that two thirds (66.7%) of studied population responded to immunotherapy, since the decrease in AFP was correlated with tumor shrinkage. Those who had AFP down to normal levels experienced tumor clearance, implying that they were cured. There were 12 patients (16%) in the study who ended up with normalized AFP below 10 IU/ml. No adverse events or toxicity were observed at any time -- an observation in line with the experience in over 10,000 people who took V5 for the past 15 years in more than 30 countries for clinical indications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatitis. Considering that no validated immunotherapy for liver cancer has emerged after 20 years of research efforts, these results are highly promising. An ongoing Phase III study at the Mongolian National Cancer Center is aimed to confirm the potential of hepcortespenlisimut-L in placebo-controlled, randomized setting.

HCC is the second most common cause of death from cancer, estimated to be responsible for 788,000 deaths or 9.1% of total cancer fatalities in 2015. Aside from surgery, the only available option is the FDA-approved chemotherapy, sorafenib (NEXAVAR), which prolongs life by 2.8 months, results in 2% of partial clinical response, but no cure. According to the American Cancer Society 40,710 new cases of HCC and intrahepatic bile duct cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 in the United States. "While HCC rates have tripled since 1980, they are still relatively low in North America and most of Europe, but it is a major cause of death in developing countries," said Dr. Allen Bain -- director of Vancouver-based Immunitor Inc. "Half of liver cancer patients are in mainland China," added Mr. Alan Reid -- head of Hong Kong-registered Immunitor China Ltd -- a company set up to address the unmet need of Asian market. "Africa has the remaining share of burden," joined Mr. Paul Heslop -- the company manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Valeryi Kalashnikov -- representative in Moscow, Russia -- noted: "Eastern Europe and Russian Federation are additional target countries with high prevalence of hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer." Dr. Aldar Bourinbaiar, CEO of Mongolia-based Immunitor LLC, commented: "The results of this trial are good news to patients with HCC, who now have life-saving option. We are deeply satisfied by outcome of this study, which has all the signs of long-awaited breakthrough in liver cancer. This trial is yet another proof-of-concept for our oral vaccines platform designed to counteract cancer-associated inflammation through induction of immune tolerance, explaining why our vaccine can cure cancer, but without any evidence of toxicity." The co-founder of the company, Mr. Vichai Jirathitikal, concluded: "Hepko can control HCC the same way as V5 has shown for hepatitis and cirrhosis."

For further information:

See www.keycapitalgroup.com and www.immunitor.com

About Immunitor

Immunitor Inc. is a privately held, commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Vancouver, Canada (www.immunitor.com) and offices in Beijing, Johannesburg, Moscow and Ulaanbaatar. Immunitor's strength resides in its proprietary oral vaccine platform validated by numerous clinical trials conducted over the past 15 years. Immunitor manufactures several immunotherapy products addressing major health problems, i.e., in infectious diseases area: HIV, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, drug-resistant fungal and microbial infections including tuberculosis such as MDR-TB; in autoimmune and metabolic diseases: i.e., renal failure, thyroiditis, Alzheimer disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity and diabetes; and recently in oncology space, with several candidates currently being investigated. The immediate goal of Immunitor is to address the unmet need in a wide range of liver-related diseases. A Phase II trial in patients with cholangiocarcinoma -- second most common form of liver cancer affecting bile ducts -- has been initiated last month. Soon, another immunotherapy will be deployed with intent to treat pancreatic cancer, which has the worst prognosis out of all forms of cancer. Based on encouraging preliminary data in HCC patients, hepcortespenlisimut-L has applied and received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which clears the path toward approval in US market.

Disclaimer: Statements made in this press release that express the Company or management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations, or predictions of future events, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will" and similar expressions are intended to further identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Those statements are based on many assumptions and are subject to many known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual activities, results or performance to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in such forward-looking statements. The Company cannot guarantee future financial results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and investors should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

Key Capital Corporation

Christopher Nichols

+1 (480) 745-2565

info@keycapitalgroup.com



Immunitor

Dr. Allen Bain

+1 (360) 566-2194

info@immunitor.com




LICHFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 --



This announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("Market Abuse Regulation") and is disclosed in accordance with the obligations of Voyage Care BondCo plc under Article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulations.

VOYAGE CARE ANNOUNCES THE CONDITIONAL REDEMPTION OF  222,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 6 1/2% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2018 AND  50,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 11% SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2019

LONDON - 13 April 2017

Voyage Care BondCo plc (the "Company") today announced that it has issued notices of conditional redemption (the "Redemption") with respect to (i)  222,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the "Senior Secured Notes") issued pursuant to the indenture pertaining to the Senior Secured Notes dated as of 25 January 2013, as amended and supplemented from time to time, and (ii)  50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 11% Second Lien Notes due 2019 (the "Second Lien Notes" and, together with the Senior Secured Notes, the "Notes") issued pursuant to the indenture pertaining to the Second Lien Notes dated as of 25 January 2013, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

The Redemption is conditional upon the receipt by the Company on or prior to the Redemption Date of funds in an aggregate amount sufficient to redeem the Notes (the "Condition").

The redemption date for the Redemption will be, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Condition, 13 May 2017 (the "Redemption Date"), and the record date will be 12 May 2017.

Accordingly, none of the Notes will be deemed due and payable on the Redemption Date unless and until the Condition has been satisfied or waived by the Company. There is no assurance that the Condition will be satisfied or that the Redemption will occur. The Company will inform holders by press release at least one Business Day prior to the Redemption Date if the Condition has not been or will not be satisfied or waived. If the Condition is not satisfied or waived, any Notes previously surrendered to any paying agent shall be returned to the Holders thereof.

This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding Voyage Care's or its affiliates' intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, Voyage Care's or its affiliates' results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industries in which they operate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that Voyage Care's or its affiliates' actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which they operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if Voyage Care's or its affiliates' results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which they operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Contacts:

RNS

Customer Services

0044-207797-4400

rns@londonstockexchange.com

http://www.rns.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump has seemed to reverse position on NATO after speaking critically of the alliance during the presidential campaign. During a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, Trump indicated he no long believes NATO is obsolete. 'The Secretary General and I had a productive discussion about what more NATO can do in the fight against terrorism,' Trump said. 'I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism.' 'I said it was obsolete; it's no longer obsolete,' he added. 'It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS.' Trump reiterated his call for NATO members to pay their fair share and noted Stoltenberg agreed that member nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute 2 percent of GDP to defense. The president also commented on U.S. relations with Russia, which he said may be at an all-time low amid the country's continued support for Syria despite a suspected chemical attack on civilians. 'It would be wonderful, as we were discussing just a little while ago, if NATO and our country could get along with Russia,' Trump said. 'Right now, we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia.' 'This has built for a long period of time. But we're going to see what happens,' he added. 'Russia is a strong country. We're a very, very strong country. We're going to see how that all works out.' Meanwhile, Trump offered praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping after last week's meeting between the two leaders. Trump noted he spoke with Xi by phone on Tuesday and said they had a very good bonding and a very good chemistry together. 'I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things. And I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea; otherwise we're just going to go it alone,' Trump said. 'That will be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations.' He added, 'But I was very impressed with President Xi, and I think he means well and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does.' (Photo: Michael Candelori) 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.
Predictive analytics and smart maintenance are key drivers providing business development, finds Frost & Sullivan's Industrial Automation and Process Control team

SANTA CLARA, California, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --With favorable oil prices and new regulations driving investment in the oil and gas industry, the North American oil and gas compressors market is poised for growth. Refinery upgrades, an extensive replacement market and the explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) will spur further demand and augment growth. As commodity prices stay low, compressor manufacturers must reduce operation costs and increase profitability by developing energy-efficient solutions for end users, investing in product development and leveraging new technologies.

To know more about Frost & Sullivan's research and to sign up for our Growth Strategy Dialogue, a complimentary one-hour interactive session with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders, please click here.

North American Compressors Market in the Oil and Gas Industry, Forecast to 2023, recent research from Frost & Sullivan's Industrial Automation & Process ControlGrowth Partnership subscription, finds that in spite of the heavy drop in growth in 2016, the North American compressors market is expected to return to its nominal state by 2019 and exceed USD 1.2 billion in revenue by 2020.

"As industrial IoT adoption increases, compressor manufacturers in the oil and gas industry need to leverage their domain expertise to provide customized solutions for end users," said Frost & Sullivan Industrial Automation & Process Control Industry Analyst Anand Gnanamoorthy. "Predictive analytics and smart maintenance offer unique cost saving advantages, revolutionize the way compressors are operated, and are key technology drivers that manufacturers should embrace to lower operational costs, and gain market share and revenues in a highly competitive and commoditized ecosystem."

The top five North American compressor market players, Siemens, General Electric, Atlas Copco, Elliott Turbo and Ingersoll Rand, contributed 63.1 percent of total market revenues. Their growth strategies include:

Siemens' acquisition of Dresser Rand enables them to sell compressors and steam turbines, capture a wider market and supply integrated solutions.

General Electric's dedication to global coverage, innovative products and strong research and development expertise.

Atlas Copco's focus on energy efficiency and reliability for its extensive customer base within the liquefied natural gas and oil and gas industries.

Elliott Turbo's strong presence in the oil and gas sector and involvement in various downstream processes. It uses EDGE technology in its compressors with advances in rotor dynamics, aerodynamics, process simulation, and computerized equipment selection.

technology in its compressors with advances in rotor dynamics, aerodynamics, process simulation, and computerized equipment selection. Ingersoll Rand's acquisition of Cameron's centrifugal compressors business enables it to become a strong player in the market.

"While cost is a major competitive factor in the North American compressors market for oil and gas, quality is a key parameter as compressors are used in critical processes and any failure will result in loss of production," noted Gnanamoorthy. "Companies need to differentiate themselves in the market by being positioned as product quality leaders."

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.

North American Compressors Market in the Oil and Gas Industry, Forecast to 2023

K195-10

Contact:

Jaylon Brinkley

Corporate Communications - North America

P: (210) 247.2481

F: (210) 348.1003

E: jaylon.brinkley@frost.com

http://www.frost.com
Teleperformance in Greece recognized as top place to work due to its excellent work environment and commitment to professional development

Regulatory News:

Teleperformance (Paris:RCF), the worldwide leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management, announced today that its team in Athens, Greece has been recognized as a 2017 Best Workplace by the prestigious Great Place to Work Institute.

The Best Workplace award recipients are determined by anonymous employee responses to the Great Place to Work Trust Index questionnaire, which focuses on the following perceptions of the workplace: trust within the organization (credibility, respect, fairness), and pride and camaraderie. Additionally, each nominated company's Human Resources team is asked to complete the Great Place to Work Culture Audit, responding to questions regarding recruitment, personal development, intercompany communication, and more regarding human resources practices. The scores from each of these surveys are combined (employee's evaluation counts for two thirds of the final score) to determine the final ranking of participating companies.

Teleperformance in Greece received outstanding scores across all of the preceding categories, resulting in its recognition as a Best Workplace. Specifically, Teleperformance employees in Greece noted that the company provides outstanding employee benefits, promotes and encourages diversity, and enables personal growth, amongst many other perks.

"We are excited that our subsidiary in Greece has been named a Best Workplace for 2017 by the Great Place to Work Institute, said Yannis Tourcomanis, Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance CEMEA. Teleperformance attracts top talent from around the world by offering them a diverse, unique and truly multicultural environment and an opportunity to continuously improve their skills and knowledge, both personally and professionally. We are truly honored that the efforts of our teams in Greece have been recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute."

"Our Teleperformance team in Greece is well-deserving of this prestigious honor, said Paulo Cesar Salles Vasques, Worldwide Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance Group. This award recognizes their dedication to promoting a positive corporate culture, which is directly reflected in their communication with customers. Year after year, Teleperformance in Greece continues to provide excellent service and sets an increasingly high standard for the team."

"Teleperformance in Greece is once more listed as a Best Workplace, which proves its commitment to creating and maintaining a great work environment, said Dimitris Ganuodis, General Manager of Great Place to Work Greece. We have monitored the progress of the company over the years and I congratulate them on their consistency."

Established in Greece in 1989, Teleperformance was the very first company to introduce Contact Center Outsourcing in the local market, and today excels at promoting diversity. The Athens location is the Multilingual Hub for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, serving over 130 markets in 35 languages and dialects and employing nearly 4,800 people from 91 nationalities.

ABOUT GREAT PLACE TO WORK 

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work produces the annual Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work For" and a series of Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists, including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industries. Great Place to Work provides executive advisory and culture consulting services to businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in over 50 countries across six continents.

ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE

Teleperformance (RCF ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: ROCH.PA Bloomberg: RCF FP), the worldwide leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management, serves companies and administrations around the world, with customer care, technical support, customer acquisition (Core Services), as well as with online interpreting solutions, visa application management services, data analysis and debt collection programs (Specialized Services). In 2016, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 3,649 million (US$4,050 million, based on 1 $1.11).

The Group operates 163,000 computerized workstations, with 217,000 employees across 340 contact centers in 74 countries and serving 160 markets. It manages programs in 265 languages and dialects on behalf of major international companies operating in a wide variety of industries.

Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: STOXX 600, SBF 120, Next 150, CAC Mid 60 and CAC Support Services. They also have been included in the Euronext Vigeo Eurozone 120 index since December 2015, with regard to the Group's performance in corporate responsibility.

For more information: www.teleperformance.com Follow us: @teleperformance

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005830/en/

Contacts:

TELEPERFORMANCE

PRESS RELATIONS

MARK PFEIFFER, Phone: 1 801-257-5811

mark.pfeiffer@teleperformance.com

or

INVESTOR RELATIONS

QUY NGUYEN-NGOC

SVETLANA SAVIN

Phone: +33 1 53 83 59 87/59 15

investor@teleperformance.com
F&C Commercial Property Trust Limited

(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 50402)

("the Company")

13 April 2017

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey on 31 May 2017 at 12.30pm.

The Notice of AGM together with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2016 has been posted to shareholders.

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, the Notice of Annual General Meeting, proxy form and accounts have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM



Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL



Tel: 01481 745001



END


IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC PINK: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabinoid-based medicines, is pleased to announce that it has negotiated a deal with the Members of the Winnemucca Tribe Shoshoni MBS Fee Lands for 250 acres of HRM farm lands in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Cannabis Science, RCDU, and its partners look to be one of the country's largest Cannabinoid producers as this deal has 250 acres, all of which is 100% scheduled to be planted on the Tribal Fee Lands Membership in San Joaquin County.

Each acre has the potential yield of up to 1,600 pounds of CBD rich cannabinoid per growing cycle, or approximately 400,000 lbs. in total. With two to three growing cycles per year, that is a possible yield of up to 1.2M lbs. of rich plant. This is a significant number for cost basis analysis and distribution concerns over lack of product from the huge worldwide demand for quality production. This massive production can only be carried out by highly experienced professional farmers and agriculture experts. HRM Farms, CBIS, and the RCDU Team have exactly what is needed. With the land ready to go right now, the tilling will begin shortly as our regulatory experts are speaking with Authorities for appropriate approvals.

The intent is to create a self-sustaining community of academia, which allows business opportunities, medical advancement, and legal progress to thrive. With approximately 250 acres to work with it is designed to be a completely vertically integrated operations model providing jobs throughout the community for education, medical training, construction, general services and the list goes on.

This deal will propel Cannabis Science and its Native American Partners into the forefront of CBD rich cannabinoid production. The focal point of the community development project is the Raymond C. Dabney University, a school of Law, Business, and Medicine. The Goal of Raymond C. Dabney University (RCDU) is to "provide financially challenged communities an affordable opportunity to acquire a quality legal education beginning with a structured and regulated program in Law." RCDU will be providing free scholarships and additionally subsidized education packages for Tribe Members of the Community. RCDU and its legal group will work closely with Cannabis Science and the Tribe to manage and operate the University/Cultivation/Medical Complex.

"CBIS has several thousand acres under contract for drug development, educational programs, and job creation from Sovereign Tribal Lands. Working in conjunction with RCDU, Cannabis Science has created an educational, economic development plan, with a job creation package that is second to none; we are all looking to benefit greatly from this type of strategic economic growth program. We are certainly expanding our programs across the Country as we speak; once we begin our television campaigns I think the world will take serious note and stand up with us to make that change," stated Cannabis Science Inc. President & CEO, Co-Founder, Mr. Raymond C. Dabney.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. takes advantage of its unique understanding of metabolic processes to provide novel treatment approaches to a number of illnesses for which current treatments and understanding remain unsatisfactory. Cannabinoids have an extensive history dating back thousands of years, and currently, there are a growing number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that document the underlying biochemical pathways that cannabinoids modulate. The Company works with leading experts in drug development, medicinal characterization, and clinical research to develop, produce, and commercialize novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment for illnesses caused by infections as well as for age-related illness. Our initial focus is on skin cancers, HIV/AIDS, and neurological conditions. The Company is proceeding with the research and development of its proprietary drugs as a part of this initial focus: CS-S/BCC-1, CS-TATI-1, and CS-NEURO-1, respectively.

Cannabis Science, Inc.

Dr. Allen Herman

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

allen.herman@cannabisscience.com

Tel: 1-888-263-0832



Cannabis Science, Inc.

Mr. Raymond C. Dabney

President & CEO, Co-Founder

raymond.dabney@cannabisscience.com

Tel: 1-888-263-0832



Cannabis Science, Inc.

Investor Relations

Teresa Misenheimer

Email: teresa@cannabisscience.com

Tel: 1-888-263-0832




DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - Tim Cullen, CEO, Colorado Harvest Company, and Ralph Morgan, CEO, Organa Brands, business partners in one of the world's largest consumer cannabis companies and internationally respected cannabis cultivation and retail entrepreneurs, will present at the O'Cannabiz Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 21-23, 2017. O'Cannabiz, an inaugural event, is convening to explore aspects of cannabis legalization in Canada.

In two separate opening boot camps, which O' Cannabiz promoters describe as "a high-intensity big-picture introduction to the entire event," Cullen and Morgan will present ideas, business strategies, core values and lessons learned from leading their growing, profitable and diverse US-based enterprises.

Sharing the same ideals and beliefs that good cannabis is good medicine, their partnership began in 2009, although they started their medical cannabis businesses independently. Cullen focused on cultivation and retail operations, relying on his formal education and 10 years of experience teaching high school biology. Morgan opened an apothecary-styled retail center and then founded Organa Labs in 2010, which is the oldest and longest running supercritical CO2 cannabis oil extraction lab in the world. Today, they are partners in Organa Brands, the industry's largest consumer cannabis company and the umbrella corporation for five brands: O.penVAPE, Bakked, District Edibles, Magic Buzz, and Organa Labs, the oil that is infused into the entire product line. Together, they own Colorado Harvest Company, a mid-sized vertically integrated cultivation and retail operation growing their own cannabis and selling it to adult consumers for recreational and medical use.

"We knew early on that we could work together and that we'd be more successful if we did," Cullen said. "Very soon, especially with states legalizing cannabis for recreational use, we had to divide, diversify and conquer to manage rapid growth and meet unprecedented consumer demand."

Cullen manages the local Colorado Harvest Company team comprising 80 employees who work within a sophisticated cultivation operation and three retail cannabis centers that completed 151,054 unique cash sales in 2016. Five partners came together in 2012 to form O.penVAPE, the world's leading vaporizer brand, a subsidiary of Organa Brands. Morgan leads this international enterprise with licensed manufacturing plants in nine states and Jamaica, a science team that includes 15 PhDs and a distribution network through 1,200 US dispensaries and ancillary products in seven countries.

"Tim and I believe research & development, advocacy, business acumen and thoughtful regulation are key drivers of a thriving cannabis industry," Morgan said. "We're here to tell our stories and share our experience so that cannabis enthusiasts in Canada can benefit from legal cannabis."

Cullen's boot camp, "Envisioning a Sustainable Cannabis Retail Operation" is slated 3:30 to 3:50 pm, Friday, April 21, 2017. While Canada has not yet decided how to manage cannabis distribution, Cullen will discuss what's working in Colorado so that Canadian entrepreneurs can know what is needed to operate a profitable, vertically integrated cannabis business.

Morgan's boot camp, "The Truth about Cannabis Oil: Purity v. Potency," is slated 11:35 am to 12:00 pm, Friday, April 21, 2017. He'll offer a quick explanation of the hard science required to meet the demand of the sophisticated cannabis consumer. Already, labs are producing cannabis oils with distinctive profiles that are rich in flavor and pure in formulation. Cannabis oil can be extracted to the level of 99% active THC. Morgan will explain the evolution of cannabis oil extraction in the context of consumer preferences.

About Colorado Harvest Company

Colorado Harvest Company produces and sells its own naturally-grown cannabis for adult medicinal and recreational use. Colorado Harvest Company was the first to commission an independent economic impact study of its business and has since become an industry model for financial transparency. Dedicated to providing customers with the highest quality naturally-grown cannabis and courteous customer service, Colorado Harvest Company's reputation represents the benefits of the legal cannabis movement. Tim Cullen, CEO, is one of Colorado's most knowledgeable cannabis authorities by nature of his years of diverse industry experience; formal education and training; public efforts to support legal compliance; industry involvement; community philanthropy and thoughtful media commentary.

Please visit http://coloradoharvestcompany.com/news or learn more about Tim Cullen here

About Organa Brands:

Organa Brands brings its scientific research, operating protocols and core value practices to its licensees so the company can operate as a collective whole, committed to the ideology of the cannabis plant. Organa Brands invests in science, research and technology so consumers can enthusiastically embrace the freedom to enjoy cannabis. With products in more than 1,200 dispensaries in ten states and ancillary products distributed in seven countries, Organa Brands has established itself as the global leader within the cannabis industry. Organa Brands enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with its network of affiliates who are licensed to manufacture and sell O.penVAPE, Magic Buzz, Organa Labs, District Edibles, and Bakked branded infused cannabis products and accessories.Licensees in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont employ Organa Labs technology and processes to manufacture cannabis oil through supercritical CO2 extraction. Now, medical marijuana patients and cannabis enthusiasts have broader access to pure, safe and consistent products.

For more information on Organa Brands and the Organa Labs oil that powers our products, click here

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/12/11G135815/Images/Tim_Ralph_Front_Lobby-7d8c1730aa01a19a92a81a4b17a5536f.jpg

CONTACT



Ann Dickerson

ann@coloradoharvestcompany.com

303-319-4330



Jackson Tilley

Jackson@organabrands.com

970-518-6452
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - The Manufacturing Institute and Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) announced a partnership to reach the next generation of spring manufacturing workers. SMI is one of just two industry associations that have joined the Institute's Dream It. Do It. program, which raises awareness of careers in manufacturing.

Through this partnership, SMI and its members will have access to market-tested materials targeting young people, parents, and teachers about a career in modern manufacturing. The Dream It. Do It. program will be an important element in SMI's ongoing strategy to reach youth. The strategy includes organizing plant tours and school visits on Manufacturing Day in October 2017, and growing a network of industry "champions" to lead youth activities in regions across the country.

"We believe the Dream It. Do It. program is a game changer in the way we connect with the next generation pipeline of young people needed to support our businesses in the future," said SMI president Mike Betts who is also the chairman and CEO of Betts Company. "Attracting talented students to careers in manufacturing is critically important to the ongoing success of SMI member companies."

Jim Parsons, senior vice president, Myers Spring, is serving as SMI's Dream It. Do It. champion. "Spring manufacturing offers a large range of opportunities for students to get involved and make things that matter. With advanced technology, this industry provides higher paying jobs with good career advancement paths and clean work environments," said Parsons. More than 20 SMI ambassador companies are already participating in Manufacturing Day tours and Dream it. Do It. activities.

Established in 2005, Dream It. Do It. works to change the perception of the industry and inspire next-generation workers to pursue manufacturing careers. The initiative offers local manufacturers, schools, community-based organizations and other stakeholders the opportunity to partner with a respected national platform to promote manufacturing as a top tier career choice in the United States.

Organizations and companies interested in participating should contact SMI executive director Lynne Carr at 630-495-8588 or email: lynne@smihq.org.

About The Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

About Spring Manufacturers Institute

Founded in 1933, the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) is an association of companies that manufacture springs, and their associate suppliers. The members of SMI work together to meet the key issues of the industry worldwide: quality, materials, technology, government regulations. SMI provides many services, including a quarterly magazine, Springs, a variety of technical publications, spring design software, industry data, seminars, meetings, safety and regulatory compliance, and technical assistance. For more information on SMI, visit: www.smihq.org.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/12/11G135805/Images/SMI_poster_8-dec0e9c29887a6ba8ff04561ca4080b7.jpg

Contact:

Cristina Crawford

The Manufacturing Institute

202-637-3404

Email contact


Regulatory News:

Pursuant to the provisions of article L. 233-8 II of the French  Code de Commerce  and article 223-16 of the French stock-market authorities (Autorite des Marches Financiers, or "AMF") charter ADOCIA SA, (Paris:ADOC) a French societe anonyme (corporation), 115, avenue Lacassagne, 69003 Lyon, (Euronext Paris: FR0011184241 ADOC) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on diabetes treatment with innovative formulations of approved proteins, releases its total number of outstanding shares as well as its voting rights as of February 28, 2017.

Month Date Total number of

outstanding

shares Total number

of theoretical

voting rights

(1) Total number

of exercisable

voting rights

(2) March 03/31/2017 6 859 763 9 582 892 9 575 399

(1) The total number of theoretical voting rights (or "gross" voting rights) is used as the basis for calculating the crossing of shareholding thresholds. In accordance with Article 223-11 of the AMF General Regulation, this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights are attached, including shares whose voting rights have been suspended.

(2) The total number of exercisable voting rights (or "net" voting rights) is calculated without taking into account the shares with suspended voting rights, in this case, shares held by the Company in the context of a liquidity agreement

About ADOCIA

Adocia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in the development of innovative formulations of already-approved therapeutic proteins. Adocia's portfolio of therapeutic proteins for the treatment of diabetes, featuring four clinical-stage products and six preclinical products, is among the largest and most differentiated in the industry.

The proprietary BioChaperone technological platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness and/or safety of therapeutic proteins while making them easier for patients to use. Adocia customizes BioChaperone to each protein for a given application in order to address specific patient needs.

Adocia's clinical pipeline includes four novel insulin formulations for the treatment of diabetes: two ultra-rapid formulations of insulin analogs (BioChaperone Lispro U100 and U200), a rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U100) and a combination of basal insulin glargine and rapid-acting insulin lispro (BioChaperone Combo). Adocia is also developing an aqueous formulation of human glucagon (BioChaperone Human Glucagon), two combinations of insulin glargine with GLP-1s (BioChaperone Glargine Dulaglutide and BioChaperone Glargine Liraglutide), two combinations of insulin lispro with synergistic prandial hormones (BioChaperone Lispro Pramlintide and BioChaperone Lispro Exenatide), and a concentrated, rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U500), all of which are in preclinical development.

Adocia aims to deliver "Innovative medicine for everyone, everywhere."

To learn more about Adocia, please visit us at www.adocia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005798/en/

Contacts:

Adocia

Gerard Soula, Ph.: +33 4 72 610 610

Chairman and CEO

contactinvestisseurs@adocia.com

or

Adocia Press Relations Europe

MC Services AG

Raimund Gabriel, Ph.: +49 89 210 228 0

adocia@mc-services.eu

or

Adocia Investor Relations USA

The Ruth Group

Tram Bui, Ph.: +1 646 536 7035

tbui@theruthgroup.com
Exelon Generation, the largest nuclear operator in the United States, is partnering with the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) to establish a joint venture company, JExel Nuclear, to leverage Exelon's expertise in operational excellence and safety among international operators using Japanese reactor technologies.

The joint venture company will license and deploy the Exelon Nuclear Management Model (ENMM) in major nuclear power projects around the world. The first client for the joint venture is Horizon Nuclear Power, a Hitachi-owned company in the UK currently developing two advanced nuclear reactors at the Wylfa Newydd site in Wales.

"The Exelon Nuclear Management Model is widely regarded as the gold standard for world-class nuclear power operations," said Chris Crane, president and CEO, Exelon. "This joint venture is a significant business development opportunity to license our nuclear operations expertise internationally alongside JAPC, which has been in operation for more than half a century. Together we will help other nuclear developers and operators around the globe create a new generation of even safer, more reliable and more efficient nuclear power plants."

"JAPC has experience successfully operating multiple reactors in Japan built by British, American, and Japanese vendors as well as experience designing the ABWR," said Mamoru Muramatsu, JAPC President. "We will make an excellent team with Exelon to best support our customers."

JExel Nuclear will provide advisory, operating and maintenance management services to nuclear power plant developers and operators around the world utilizing Japanese reactor technologies. The new company will provide full implementation of the ENMM or work with project owners to customize the model to their requirements. JExel Nuclear is jointly controlled (50 percent by each company) with two board members each and experts seconded as needed. The four directors for JExel Nuclear will be: Takahiko Hida, Managing Director of JAPC; Toshihiro Komeno, General Manager of JAPC; Mike Pacilio, executive vice president and COO of Exelon Generation; and Ralph Hunter, vice president of Exelon Generation and COO of Exelon Nuclear Partners. Takahiko Hida will serve as the CEO.

About JAPC

The Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) was established in November 1957 as a power company solely engaged in nuclear energy in Japan. Since then, the company has continued to play a leading role in the electric power industry as a pioneer in nuclear power generation through various projects, including the construction of the first commercial nuclear power plant in Japan and the construction, operation and decommissioning of power plants. JAPC owns Tokai Power Station (GCR), which is currently under decommissioning, Tokai No.2 Power Station (BWR) and Tsuruga Power Station, which has Unit1 (BWR) and Unit2 (PWR). Also, Advanced-PWRs are currently under construction in its Tsuruga site.

Exelon Generation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), is one of the largest, most efficient clean energy producers in the U.S., with a generating capacity of more than 33,300 megawatts. Exelon Generation operates the largest U.S. fleet of carbon-free nuclear plants with 20,200 megawatts of capacity from 23 reactors at 14 facilities in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Exelon Generation also operates a diverse mix of wind, solar, landfill gas, hydroelectric, natural gas and oil facilities in 16 states with more than 13,100 megawatts. Exelon Generation has an industry-leading safety record and is an active partner and economic engine in the communities it serves by providing jobs, charitable contributions and tax payments that help towns and regions grow. Follow Exelon Generation on Twitter @ExelonGen and @ExelonNuclear, view the Exelon Generation channel on YouTube, and visit: http://www.exeloncorp.com/companies/exelon-generation.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413005891/en/

Contacts:

Exelon Generation Communications

David Tillman, 717-368-0969

david.tillman@exeloncorp.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2017) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to provide further information, previously compiled, pertaining to work done by Santa Rosa Silver Mining Corporation ("Santa Rosa") on the San Javier Silver/Gold project.

Subsequent to the underground sampling program conducted in 2012, a program of reconnaissance mapping, prospecting and sampling was carried out under the guidance of Seymour Sears, P.Geo, whose NI 43-101 report on the San Javier project can be viewed on SEDAR. During this program, a total of 9 prospects were identified within the property. Including the surface exposures at Santa Rosa/Polvorin mine, located near the southwest end of the property, a mineralized "corridor" about 200 m wide extends across the length of the property, a distance in excess of 3,000 m to the northeast.

At least 3 styles of mineralization were identified and sampled. These include vein and vein-breccia zones similar to the main Santa Rosa-Polvorin Zone; alteration zones associated with the margins of felsic to intermediate dykes, as at the Colorado Zone; and quartz stockwork breccia zones as represented by the Carranza Zone. The vein zones range in width from less than 1 m to 4.5 m. The other two styles of mineralization appear to have potential to be much wider.

At Colorado Zone, the silica and clay alteration is at least 11 m wide, and an 11.2 m composite of 4 samples across this zone averaged 284 g/t (8.3 opt) Ag.

The Carranza Zone at one point reaches a width of 31 m. Contained within this section occurs an 11.0 m interval (4 samples) that averages 238 g/t (6.9 opt) Ag.

The Company is also pleased to report that it has granted additional options to Mr. John Nebocat who was recently appointed Vice President of Exploration. The options total 400,000 shares exercisable at $0.50 per share for three years, all of which vest immediately. The new options are in addition to 200,000 options previously granted to Mr. Nebocat which are also exercisable $0.50 per share.

Mr. Nebocat brings many years of experience in Mexican silver deposits. In addition to extensive surface and underground data compilation, he has undertaken some 3-D modeling of the Santa Rosa silver mine; this work will prove invaluable in designing a maiden drilling program expected to start in the next few months. In the meantime, surface work including chip and soil sampling is continuing, the results of which will be released in the near future. As a reminder, the company recently completed a $2.0 million equity financing in February 2017 and has sufficient funds on hand to complete the current phase of its planned exploration program.

http://canucresources.ca/project/san-javier-project/san-javier-plan-map-1-1/

About Canuc

Canuc is a junior resources company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. In addition, the company is active in the development of a natural gas field in Central West Texas where it has an interest in seven producing gas wells. These wells generate a sustainable cash-flow with the potential to increase income by the drilling and completion of additional wells.

John Nebocat, BSc (Geological Engineering), P.Eng, Vice President Exploration for Canuc, is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release.

For more information on the content of this release or about Canuc, please contact:

Christopher J. Berlet, CFA

CEO

416 525 - 6869

cberlet@canucresources.ca

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the prevailing price of natural gas, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, amount of gas produced that could affect revenues and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Company's annual financial statements and MD&A.
COSTA MESA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Sipp Industries, Inc. (OTC: SIPC), a multifaceted corporation specializing in technology, manufacturing, and distribution of commercial and consumer products, announces that demand and new orders for Major Hemp Brown Ale continue to grow while adding seven new establishments over the past week.

Major Hemp Brown Ale has been added to more Denver area establishments including Downstairs Bar + Kitchen, The Colorado Keg House, and The Pint Room. The Mainline Ale House in Ft. Collins will also begin to serve the premium craft beer. Over the past week, Major Hemp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sipp Industries, has received three more purchase orders from its distributor and will continue to update new establishments carrying Major Hemp Brown Ale on the company website at www.sippindustries.com.

Ted Jorgensen, President of Major Hemp, commented, "I have spent time at the establishments carrying Major Hemp Brown Ale and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. From bar managers to patrons everyone enjoys the taste and uniqueness of the beer. We have barely scratched the surface for the Denver and Colorado market and are excited to continue building our client base."

Sipp Industries plans to host special events at multiple current and new establishments carrying Major Hemp Brown Ale on Thursday, April 20th. The company plans to allocate special Major Hemp Brown Ale kegs to customers in celebration of 4/20. Jorgensen continued, "I look forward to meeting customers and shareholders while we roll Major Hemp Brown Ale out to more locations." Additional 4/20 details will be provided on the website and social media next week.

Sipp Industries continues to progress with the next growth phase of Major Hemp Brown Ale. Through extensive discussions with its brewer, distributor and customers the company is finalizing strategic plans to package Major Hemp Brown Ale in cans or bottles.

About Sipp Industries, Inc.

Sipp Industries is a multifaceted corporation that specializes in technology, manufacturing and distribution of commercial and consumer products. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Major Hemp, the Company provides hemp beer, high quality and competitively priced hemp based products, bulk hemp, CBD supply, co-packing and private labeling services.

Website: http://www.sippindustries.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SippIndustries

Twitter: @SippIndustries

Forward Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and section 21e of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include the intent, belief or current expectations of the company and its management team.

Forward-looking statements are projections of events, revenues, income, future economics, research, development, reformulation, product performance or management's plans and objectives for future operations. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accomplishing the strategy described herein is significantly dependent upon numerous factors, many that are not in management's control.

Contact:

Ted Jorgensen

Major Hemp President

Sipp Industries, Inc.

Investor Relations

ir@sippindustries.com

949.220.0435




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- The Quin, located at 57th Street and Sixth Avenue, welcomes the inspiring Dutch photographer Anne Barlinckhoff on April 20th for the launch of her solo exhibition 'Strength Africa,' co-curated by DK Johnston and Hyland Mather. Barlinckhoff displays both a remarkable eye for detail and the ability to build trust with her subjects, attributes that have already earned the young artist an avid following worldwide. The exhibition, on view in public spaces within the Quin through May, highlights large works selected from the artist's recent travels through West Africa. Strength Africa focuses on intimate portraits that have become a hallmark of her work.

Barlinckhoff has been published in Vogue Italia, Dazed & Confused, Nowness, and Blink Magazine among others, and has exhibited in the USA, South Africa, Australia and across Europe. Born in 1989, Anne Barlinckhoff graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts, and lives and works in both Europe and Africa.

In describing Barlinckhoff's work from West Africa, Vogue Italia wrote that, "This series of work expresses openness and intimacy as much as physical beauty," noting that the series offers "images of high visual and narrative contrast, as well as a newfound vulnerability."

Vincent Vienne, Managing Director of the Quin, commented, "We're honored to highlight Anne's work as part of our Quin Arts program. At its best, travel offers striking moments of inspiration -- and Anne has captured remarkable and moving images from her own travels that I know will resonate with our guests and with visitors."

Co-curator Hyland Mather added, "Anne has long been intrigued by the varied countries of Africa and their people. Her series in West Africa, so close to skin of her subjects, offers an exploration of the beauty of the everyday, an exploration of the ordinary. Her courage to take this intimate approach as she travels through these countries has produced extraordinary results."

The Quin is managed by Highgate, a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company whose growing portfolio includes more than 100 properties in gateway cities worldwide. For more information on Quin Arts, visit www.thequinhotel.com. Information on pre-show sales is available by emailing DKJ@concllc.com.

About The Quin

The Quin, New York City's quintessential luxury lifestyle hotel, is located on the corner of 57th Street and 6th Avenue. At the intersection of art, music, and fashion, its privileged Midtown location provides effortless access to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art and Fifth Avenue couture. The Quin melds modern opulence with its rich artistic heritage in each of its 208 thoughtfully appointed guestrooms, including 28 suites. Guests enjoy urbane and intelligent services from the QA, who curate each guest's New York experience, to distinguished amenities such as a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness center, Apple equipped drawing room, Dux beds by Duxiana, and Fresh Spa Products. Guests can also indulge at The Wayfarer, a classic American grille, located adjacent to the hotel. Renowned architecture and interior design firm, Perkins Eastman, has transposed a contemporary masterpiece on the classical foundation that was once home to cultural icons like pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski and artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Follow the Quin @thequinhotel. Reservations are available at 1-855-447-QUIN (7846) or http://www.theQuinhotel.com.

About Quin Arts

The Quin Arts program makes art and its creators accessible, intimately connecting guests with New York culture and its creative community through a bi-monthly exhibition series, interactive artist salons, a remarkable permanent collection, and special features such as a 15-foot high abstract video art wall. Curated by DK Johnston, previous exhibits include Light Waves by award-winning photographer Robert Malmberg, Creative Chaos, a vibrant collection of large-scale paintings by Corno, an exclusive preview of Eric Zener's land series, and Heritage -- a collection of iconic photography from Burt Glinn, Erich Hartmann, Dennis Stock, and Elliott Erwitt, presented in partnership with Magnum Photos. Blek le Rat, the "Father of stencil graffiti," created a series of unique lithographs, collectively entitled Escaping Paris, at the New York Academy of Art for the Quin during his tenure as artist in residence. Quin Arts presented an exceptional collaboration between the hotel and D'Angelico Guitars of America. This installation combined two artistic forms -- music and art -- in a group show wherein 14 D'Angelico guitars were each reimagined by a different artist. Participating artists, including The London Police, Tavar Zawacki aka ABOVE, Pure Evil, Amanda Marie, SP38, Wulf Treu, ASVP, Mindy Linkous, and Alex Yanes, were either former artists-in-residence or are represented in the hotel's permanent collection. Quin Arts has garnered critical acclaim from The New York Times, Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler, and Harper's Bazaar Art.

About Highgate:

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu. Highgate also has an expanding presence in key European markets through properties in London, Paris, Barcelona, Vienna and Prague. Highgate's portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $10B and generates over $2B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has created a portfolio of bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry's most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, London, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle. For more information, visit highgate.com.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3129583

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3129586



MEDIA CONTACT:

Burns Patterson

Hudson PR

(917) 575-9155

Email Contact




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2017) - Alexandria Minerals Corporation (TSXV: AZX) (OTCQB: ALXDF) (FSE: A9D) ("AZX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered equity private placement (the "Financing") in the Company for gross proceeds of $2,575,000. The Company is also delighted to announce that Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, made a $2 million strategic investment as part of the Financing.

Pursuant to the terms of the Financing, the Company issued 42,916,666 units ("Units") at a price of $0.06 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,575,000. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company ("Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder, on exercise, to acquire one common share at an exercise price of $0.09 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Financing. All securities issued under the Financing are subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Financing remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The proceeds from this transaction will be used for exploration on the Company's flagship Orenada Zone 4 gold project in Val d'Or, Quebec, as well as for general corporate purposes. As indicated in its press release of April 4, 2017, recent high grade gold assays at Orenada Zone 4 have been very encouraging; consequently, the Company has been ramping up its drilling activity there.

In addition, the Company confirms that finder's fees ("Finder's Fees") were paid to Sprott Private Wealth LP ("Sprott Capital") in connection with the Financing. The Finder's Fees consisted of an amount equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Financing raised by Sprott Capital and the issuance to Sprott Capital of 2,500,000 of warrants ("Finder's Warrants"). Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share at a price of $0.06 for 24 months following the closing of the Financing.

Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, acquired 33,333,333 Units pursuant to the Financing for total consideration of $1,999,999.80. As a result of the Financing, Mr. Sprott is the beneficial owner of 33,333,333 Common Shares and 33,333,333 Warrants representing approximately 7.0% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis and 13.0% on a partially diluted basis. The above percentages are calculated based on 478,202,856 Common Shares issued and outstanding after giving effect to the Financing. Prior to the Financing, Mr. Sprott did not directly or indirectly own any securities of the Company.

The Units were acquired by Mr. Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd. for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company either on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell securities of the Company either on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. A copy of 2176423 Ontario Ltd.'s early warning report will appear on the Company's profile on SEDAR and may also be obtained by calling (416) 362-7172 (200 Bay Street, Suite 2600, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J2).

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Further information about the Company is available on the Company's website, www.azx.ca, or our social media sites listed below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaMinerals

Twitter: https://twitter.com/azxmineralscorp

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/AlexandriaMinerals

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/alexandriaminerals/

About Alexandria Minerals Corporation

Alexandria Minerals Corporation is a Toronto-based junior gold exploration and development company with important gold resources on one of the largest properties along the prolific, gold-producing Cadillac Break in Val d'Or, Quebec, and now with a significant presence in the Snow Lake-Flin Flon gold-base metal mining district of Manitoba. The Company's properties are located in mining districts hosting large, world-class mineral deposits and important mining infrastructure.

WARNING: This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing of completion of the Financing, the use of proceeds of the Financing and receipt of regulatory approval of the Financing. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Alexandria Minerals Corporation relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

PLEASE CONTACT

www.azx.ca

info@azx.ca

Mary Vorvis, Vice President,

Corporate Development and Investor Relations

(416) 305-4999

Eric Owens, President/CEO

416-363-9372
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- inTEST Corporation (NYSE MKT: INTT), an independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of temperature management products and semiconductor automatic test equipment (ATE) interface solutions, today announced that the company will release financial results for the 2017 first quarter on Thursday, May 4, 2017 after the market close.

inTEST management will host a conference call the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The conference call will address the Company's 2017 first quarter financial results, and management's current expectations and views of the industry. The call may also include discussion of strategic, operating, product initiatives or developments, or other matters relating to the Company's current or future performance.

2017 Q1 Conference Call Details: Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

To access the live conference call, please dial (815) 680-6269 or (866) 900-9241. The Passcode for the conference call is 3864332. Please reference the inTEST 2017 Q1 Financial Results Conference Call.

2017 Q1 Live Webcast Details

inTEST Corporation will provide a webcast in conjunction with the conference call. To access the live webcast, please visit inTEST's website www.intest.com under the 'Investors' section.

2017 Q1 Replay Details (Webcast)

A replay of the webcast will be available on inTEST's website for one year following the live broadcast. To access the webcast replay, please visit inTEST's website www.intest.com under the 'Investors' section.

Submit Questions

In advance of the conference call, and for those investors accessing the webcast, inTEST Corporation welcomes individual investors to submit their questions via email to lguerrant@guerrantir.com. The company will address as many questions as possible on the conference call.

About inTEST Corporation

inTEST Corporation is an independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of temperature management products and ATE interface solutions, which are used by semiconductor manufacturers to perform final testing of integrated circuits (ICs) and wafers. The Company's high-performance products are designed to enable semiconductor manufacturers to improve the speed, reliability, efficiency and profitability of IC test processes. The Company's products are also sold into the automotive, consumer electronics, defense/aerospace, energy and telecommunications industries. Specific products include temperature management systems, manipulator and docking hardware products and customized interface solutions. The Company has established strong relationships with its customers globally, which it supports through a network of local offices. For more information visit www.intest.com.

CONTACTS:

Hugh T. Regan, Jr.

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

inTEST Corporation

Tel: 856-505-8999



Laura Guerrant-Oiye

Principal

Guerrant Associates

lguerrant@guerrantir.com

Tel: (808) 960-2642






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Following the modest pullback seen in the previous session, the price of crude oil showed a lack of direction over the course of the trading day on Thursday.



Crude oil for May delivery eventually inched up $0.07 to $53.18 a barrel after ending Wednesday's trading down $0.29 at $53.11 a barrel.



The choppy trading shown by oil prices came as traders stuck to the sidelines following the strong upward move seen over the past few weeks.



On the U.S. economic front, a report released by the Labor Department showed a modest decrease in producer prices in the month of March.



The Labor Department said its producer price index for final demand edged down by 0.1 percent in March after rising by 0.3 percent in February. Economists had expected prices to come in flat.



The report also said core producer prices, which exclude food and energy prices, came in unchanged in March following a 0.3 percent increase in February. Core prices had been expected to rise by 0.2 percent.



The Labor Department also released a report showing an unexpected drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the week ended April 8th.



The report said initial jobless claims dipped to 234,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level of 235,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to rise to 245,000.



Meanwhile, the University of Michigan released a report showing an unexpected improvement in consumer sentiment in the month of April.



The report said the consumer sentiment index rose to 98.0 in April from 96.9 in March, while economists had expected the index to edge down to 96.6.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Uni-Select Inc. (TSX: UNS) will hold a conference call between Management and financial analysts to discuss its 2017 first quarter results. The conference call will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 8:00 AM Eastern and can be accessed by phone and webcast.

To participate in the conference by phone: Phone number: 1 866 696-5910 Access code: 9180682

A recording of the conference call will be available from 10:00 AM Eastern on May 4, 2017, until 11:59 PM on May 18, 2017.

To access the replay of the conference: Phone number: 1 800 408-3053 Access code: 9180682

To access the live audio webcast:

Visit Uni-Select's website at UNS Q1 2017 Conference Webcast. Listeners should allow ample time to access the webcast and supporting slides.

The conference call and presentation of the webcast will also be archived on the Corporation's website at http://uniselect.com/en/investors/events-presentations.

ABOUT UNI-SELECT

Uni-Select is a leader in the distribution of automotive refinish and industrial paint and related products in North America, as well as a leader in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada. In Canada, Uni-Select supports over 16,000 automotive repair and collision repair shops through a growing national network of more than 1,100 independent customers and corporate stores, many of which operate under the Uni-Select BUMPER TO BUMPER, AUTO PARTS PLUS AND FINISHMASTER store banner programs. It also supports over 3,900 shops and stores through its automotive repair/installer shop banners, as well as through its automotive refinish banners. In the United States, Uni-Select, through its wholly-owned subsidiary FinishMaster, Inc., operates a national network of automotive refinish corporate stores under the FINISHMASTER banner which services a network of over 30,000 customers annually, of which it is the primary supplier to over 6,000 collision repair centre customers.

Contacts:

Eric Bussieres

Chief Financial Officer

450 641-6958

investorrelations@uniselect.com




BELLEVUE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL)

Members of the Investment Community,

Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL) plans to announce financial results for its 2nd fiscal quarter 2017 on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Esterline will host a conference call featuring remarks by Curtis Reusser, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bob George, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Following these remarks, there will be a question and answer session. The call is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) and will last approximately one hour. A news release announcing the earnings results will be issued at market close on the day of the call.

To ensure that you are on the call when it begins, we suggest that you access the call approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2017 Start Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) U.S. Dial-In Number: 1-877-307-0078 Outside U.S. Dial-In Number: 1-531-289-2890 Passcode: 6157296 Conference Call Host: Michelle DeGrand

The conference call will be replayed for one week, starting approximately one hour after the call ends. For callers within the United States, the replay number is 1-855-859-2056. For callers outside the United States, the replay number is 1-404-537-3406. The passcode for both of these numbers is 6157296.

A live webcast and replay of the conference call also will be available on the company website at www.esterline.com. If you have any questions, please call Investor Relations at Esterline Technologies at 425-519-1872.

About Esterline:

Esterline Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier to the aerospace and defense industry specializing in three core areas: Avionics & Controls, Sensors & Systems, and Advanced Materials. Operations within the Avionics & Controls segment focus on high-technology electronics products for military and commercial aircraft and land- and sea-based military vehicles, secure communications equipment, systems and components, specialized medical equipment, and other industrial applications. The Sensors & Systems segment includes operations that produce high-precision temperature and pressure sensors, electrical power distribution equipment, harsh-environment connectors and other related systems principally for aerospace and defense customers. Operations within the Advanced Materials segment focus on technologies including high-temperature resistant materials and components used for a wide range of military and commercial aerospace purposes and combustible ordnance and electronic warfare countermeasure products.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp. ("CES" or the "Corporation") (TSX: CEU)(OTCQX: CESDF) announced today that it will pay a cash dividend of $0.0025 per common share on May 15, 2017, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on April 28, 2017.

CES also announced today that it will conduct its Q1 2017 conference call on May 12, 2017 following the upcoming release of its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017. The Q1 2017 results are expected to be released after the close of market the day before the conference call. Tom Simons, President and Chief Executive Officer of CES, will host the call.

Date: May 12, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. MT Dial-in: (877) 291-4570 or (647) 788-4922 Online: http://www.gowebcasting.com/8431

A replay of the conference call will be accessible on the Corporation's Investor Relations website at www.CanadianEnergyServices.com by selecting "News Releases".

About Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp.

CES is a leading provider of technically advanced consumable chemical solutions throughout the lifecycle of the oilfield. This includes solutions at the drill-bit, at the point of completion and stimulation, at the wellhead and pump-jack, and finally through to the pipeline and midstream market. The Corporation's business model is relatively asset light and requires limited re-investment capital to grow. As a result, CES has been able to capitalize on the growing market demand for drilling fluids and production and specialty chemicals in North America while generating free cash flow.

Additional information about CES is available at www.sedar.com or on the Corporation's website at www.CanadianEnergyServices.com.

THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contacts:

Tom Simons

President and Chief Executive Officer

Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp.

403-269-2800



Craig Nieboer, CA

Chief Financial Officer

Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp.

403-269-2800

Or by email at: cesinfo@ceslp.ca




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Veresen Inc. ("Veresen") (TSX: VSN) is pleased to announce it has closed the previously announced sale of the gas-fired power assets. The company continues to expect the sale of its remaining power assets to be completed during the second quarter of 2017.

Each of the agreements is subject to closing adjustments and conditions customary in transactions of this nature, including the receipt of all necessary approvals. The company expects to update its 2017 guidance for the divestiture of the power business once all of the transactions have closed.

About Veresen Inc.

Veresen is a publicly-traded dividend paying corporation based in Calgary, Alberta that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across North America. Veresen is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in the Alliance Pipeline, the Ruby Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; a midstream business which includes a partnership interest in Veresen Midstream Limited Partnership, which owns assets in western Canada, and an ownership interest in Aux Sable, which owns a world-class natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction facility near Chicago, and other natural gas and NGL processing energy infrastructure; and a power business comprised of a portfolio of assets in Canada. Veresen is also developing Jordan Cove LNG, a six million tonne per annum natural gas liquefaction facility proposed to be constructed in Coos Bay, Oregon, and the associated Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. In the normal course of business, Veresen regularly evaluates and pursues acquisition and development opportunities.

Veresen's Common Shares, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series A, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series C, and Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series E trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols "VSN", "VSN.PR.A", "VSN.PR.C" and "VSN.PR.E", respectively. For further information, please visit www.vereseninc.com.

Forward-looking Information

Certain information contained herein relating to, but not limited to, Veresen and its businesses and the offering of the notes, constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events or developments that Veresen expects or anticipates may or will occur in the future, are forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "may", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "target", "project", "forecast" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or outlook. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of closing of the remaining transactions and the timing of the release of updated 2017 guidance. Readers are also cautioned that such additional information is not exhaustive. The impact of any one risk, uncertainty or factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these factors are independent and management's future course of action would depend on its assessment of all information at that time. Although Veresen believes that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking information are reasonable based on information available on the date of preparation, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. Undue reliance should not be placed on the information contained herein, as actual results achieved will vary from the information provided herein and the variations may be material. Veresen makes no representation that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those set out in the forward-looking information. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, and Veresen does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Any forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Contacts:

Veresen Inc.

Mark Chyc-Cies

Vice President, Corporate Planning & Investor Relations

(403) 213-3633

investor-relations@vereseninc.com

www.vereseninc.com




ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- True Nature Holding, Inc. (OTCQB: TNTY) (the "Company") provides this update on their acquisitions in process, and with regard to their overall plans to expand in 2017. The Company also notes that it expects to file its Form 10K timely on the 17th of April as noted in its extension filing, and expects the Form 10Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 will be filed shortly thereafter.

"We have three (3) transactions in process at this time. In combination they establish the first legs of our 'hub and spoke' strategy, with retail pharmacy operations generally inside of existing high traffic grocery sites, with a 'centralized-fill' operation based within our compounding pharmacy sites on a regional basis," explained Mack Leath, a member of the Board of Directors, and Secretary. He continued, "Our Miami transaction begins the 'spoke' component with two existing sites, and plans to add six (6) additional locations in 2017, and up to ten (10) in 2018. We are finishing due diligence on this and expect to close in the next few weeks. This business is profitable, and did $3.5 million in revenue for 2016, and with a timely roll-out of the new stores should double or triple that in 2017. We believe that this group can grow to 16 stores and produce up to $30 million in annualized revenue by the end of 2018."

The Company is also working on completion of a compounding site in the Southeastern US whose 2016 revenues exceeded $25 million, and a smaller compounder in South Florida that did over $2.5 million in 2016. Both sites are profitable and are expected to become the "hubs" in the network, performing a consolidated fill function as well as their role in the compounding products arena. "The unique compounding products from these producers will be sold both direct in the traditional compounding pharmacy model, and through the retail storefronts in our network," explained Leath.

When asked about new product lines Mr. Leath said, "We are also considering an entry into the sterile pharmaceutical area, and have a particular situation under consideration. It is an interesting area, and we think it makes sense if we can create the right revenue streams in the best markets. We will advise our investors as we get closer to this decision."

The True Nature Holding, Inc. Advisory Board consists of professionals with subject matter experience in areas specific to the Company's plans and operations. These are "non-operating and non-executive" positions, and as such are not subject to the regulations of Section 16 of the Securities Act. Recently the Company appointed Leo Smith, an investor in the Miami retail operation being acquired, as its lead Advisor in CBD related areas, with a view toward his ability to contribute to the Company's interests in the emerging CBD marketplace. Leath added, "Mr. Smith has existing business interests in the CBD arena, and will expect to have him contribute to our plans in that area over the next few months. We agree that there is a large and growing marketplace here and we think we need to carefully evaluate the options before entering the market, and that Leo Smith will help us drive that effort."

The Mission of True Nature Holdings, Inc.

To unlock the potential of the compounding pharmacy industry to improve human and animal health, serve unmet patient needs, elevate the dignity of skilled pharmacists, and build shareholder value through the delivery of quality, cost effective, and innovative healthcare products and pharmaceuticals to the world.

The Vision of True Nature Holdings, Inc.

To become globally recognized for our best practices focused on driving quality, efficiency, and sustainability in the compounding pharmaceutical industry, natural solutions for healthy living, and novel approaches for delivery of these solutions.

Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

As contemplated by the provisions of the Safe Harbor section of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to future, anticipated, or projected plans, performances, and developments, as well as other statements relating to future operations. All such forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates or predictions of future results or events and there can be no assurance that actual results or events will not materially differ from expectations. Further information on potential factors that could affect True Nature Holding, Inc. is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

To learn more about the Company, visit www.truenaturepharma.com.

A one-page investor information document can be viewed at the following link: http://truenaturepharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tnty-investor-info-sheet.20170227.pdf

Contact:

True Nature Holding, Inc.

Mack Leath

404-913-1802

contact@truenaturepharma.com




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. ("Peyto") (TSX: PEY) declares the following dividends, payable to shareholders of its common shares at the close of business on the record dates indicated.

Dividend Amount per Record Date Ex-Dividend Date Payment Date Common Share ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- $0.11 April 30, 2017 April 26, 2017 May 15, 2017 $0.11 May 31, 2017 May 29 2017 June 15, 2017(i) $0.11 June 30, 2017 June 28, 2017 July 14, 2017 (i) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Dividends are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and subject to change.

Dividends paid by Peyto to Canadian residents are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North America's most exciting energy companies. The website also includes the President's monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact:

Certain information set forth in this document, including management's assessment of Peyto's future plans and operations, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties' control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Peyto's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Contacts:

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.

Darren Gee

President and Chief Executive Officer

(403) 237-8911

(403) 451-4100 (FAX)




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - June 02, 2017) - Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX: P) (NYSE: PPP) today announced an update of activities at its operating mines, the San Dimas gold-silver mine located in Durango, Mexico and the Black Fox mine located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada.

Primero continues to see operational improvements at both of its mines, and the Company remains on-track to achieve its 2017 production guidance of between 140,000 to 170,000 ounces of gold equivalent 1 .

San Dimas Restart On-Track

Primero is advancing the restart of the San Dimas mine following the resumption of operations on April 17, 2017. Daily throughput rates have been increasing as per plan, and opportunities for further productivity improvements have been identified. Primero remains confident in the site's ability to achieve its 2017 production guidance of 90,000 to 110,000 gold equivalent ounces.

San Dimas' unionized workers have been responding well to the new shift structure and implementation of the realigned bonus structure is underway. Relations between management and the unionized employees have been improving, and dialogue remains ongoing with regard to the annual bonus payout relating to 2016.

Black Fox Produced ~8,200 Gold Ounces in May

Black Fox produced approximately 8,200 ounces of gold in May 2017. The strong performance in May principally resulted from improved and more consistent mining rates from the underground as well as better-than-expected grades from the Deep Central Zone. The mine continues to operate at a cash-flow neutral state, fully-funding its exploration programs, and Black Fox expects to achieve 2017 production guidance of 50,000 to 60,000 gold ounces.

Primero is planning a deep drilling program to assess the extension and continuity of the Black Fox deposit between 1.0 kilometres and 1.5 kilometres below surface. Primero will advance this deep exploration program subject to capital availability.

Corporate Update

As previously announced, the Company's Board of Directors has commenced a strategic review process to explore alternatives to improve shareholder value. The alternatives include such things as securing additional financing, strategic investments, joint ventures, revision of the Company's streaming agreement and asset sales.

Primero is working to gain re-compliance with the New York Stock Exchange's continued listing standards by delivering improved operational performance and advancing its strategic review process. Primero notes that the NYSE will initiate delisting action if a curative measure is not implemented by September 30, 2017.

(1) "Gold equivalent ounces" include silver ounces produced, and converted to a gold equivalent based on a ratio of the average commodity prices realized for each period. The ratio for the first quarter 2017 for San Dimas was based on realized prices of $1,210 per ounce of gold and $4.28 per ounce of silver.

About Primero

Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer that owns 100% of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and the Cerro del Gallo gold-silver-copper development project in Mexico and 100% of the Black Fox mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River"Matheson near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Primero offers immediate exposure to un-hedged, below average cash cost gold production with a substantial resource base in politically stable jurisdictions. The Company is focused on becoming a leading intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas. Primero's website is www.primeromining.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and operations of Primero Mining Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Primero" or the "Company"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "are planned", "planning" "expects", "expected", "is to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "will", "will implement", or similar statements or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information is also identifiable in statements of currently occurring matters which may continue in future, such as "providing the Company with", "is currently", "is advancing", "is underway", "is working to" "continues to", or other statements that may be stated in the present tense with future implication.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the success and long-term profitability of the San Dimas operations; the continuing efforts to reduce the complexity and costs of the Company's operations; planned investments in development and exploration the level and timing of gold equivalent production at San Dimas and Black Fox; the Company's annual production and cash cost guidancethe ability of the Black Fox operations to mine as planned and operate cash-flow neutral while funding site exploration, the strategic review process and the potential to improve shareholder value, the ability of the Company to re-comply with the NYSE listing standards and that the NYSE will initiate delisting if a curative measure is not implemented by September 30, 2017, the estimated price of gold and silver anticipated to be received for the Company's sales of gold and silver; the potential for the Company to require additional funding; and the Company's intentions to become an intermediate gold producer.

The assumptions made by the Company in preparing the forward-looking information contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: the expectations and beliefs of management; the specific assumptions set forth above in this news release; that the Company will be able to realize productivity improvements, cost reductions, and return to profitability at its San Dimas operations; that the Company will be able to implements its phased restart of operations and realize its goal to reduce the scale and complexity of the San Dimas mine, generate positive cash flow and operate the mine in accordance with mine plans; that there are no other significant disruptions affecting operations; that the Company is able to meet its development and exploration plans; that the Company will achieve production and cash costs within its 2017 guidance; that the Company will be able to improve shareholder value through initiatives identified through the strategic review process; that the Company will be able to cure its non-compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards; that the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso and the United States dollar remain consistent with current levels; that prices for gold and silver remain consistent with the Company's expectations; that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment; that the political environment within Mexico and Canada supports the development of environmentally safe mining projects.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Primero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: the Company may not be able to achieve productivity improvements, cost reductions, planned production levels or generate significant free cash flow; the Company may be required to change its mining or development and exploration plans, or may not be able to comply with such plans; the Company may not discover mineralization in minable quantities; that the strategic review process may not render any viable alternatives to improve shareholder value; that the Company may not be able to cure its non-compliance with NYSE continued listing standards; the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, the Mexican peso and the United States dollar may change with an adverse impact on the Company's financial results; that the Company may not be able to resume mine operations at planned capacity or implement its phased restart of the San Dimas operation; that the Company may not be able to access further credit under its existing credit facility, or secure other sources of funding; the Company may not be able to become an intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas. Certain of these factors are discussed in greater detail in Primero's registration statement on Form 40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. In addition, although Primero has 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 such 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.

Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Primero does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/6/2/11G140269/PR12-17_Corporate_Update_Final-24f42b4894a099d58750a06a4ca41e2f.pdf

For further information, please contact:



Evan Young

Director, Investor Relations

Tel: (416) 814-2694

eyoung@primeromining.com
British Airways touched down at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this afternoon, marking the start of the new nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and London. A link to video footage of the aircraft arriving into FLL is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/n59lbxz9wms9djg/British%20Airways%20FLL%20Inaugural%20Flight.mpg?dl=0

The flights will operate four days a week between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and London Gatwick Airport, accommodating 275 customers across a three cabin Boeing 777-200ER: 48 in Club World (business), 24 in World Traveller Plus (premium economy); and 203 in World Traveller (economy).

British Airways already operates from Miami, Tampa and Orlando and this new service will ensure Floridians have increased choice of service, airport and flight time, to meet any of their leisure or business needs.

BA2169 will depart from London Gatwick at 09:25 and arrive at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 13:45 while the BA2168 will leave Fort Lauderdale at 17:00, arriving into Gatwick at 06:30 the next morning.

Simon Brooks, Senior Vice President Sales, North America, said "We are really excited to connect Fort Lauderdale to London. With this new service, British Airways now offers more seats to London from Florida than any other airline. We can ensure business travelers and families have the most options to travel to London and throughout Europe."

"This new London/Fort Lauderdale route is British Airways' 25th U.S. destination. It provides more opportunities for travelers to experience the uniqueness and cultures of both regions," said Mark Gale, CEO/Director of Aviation, Broward County Aviation Department. "We are proud to partner with British Airways, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Visitors Bureau and our other partners in starting this new service."

"As one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in Florida, we are looking forward to welcoming even more UK travelers to our sun-kissed shores with today's launch of new direct service from London Gatwick on British Airways," said Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Visitors Bureau. "We look forward to building a stronger partnership with BA and continue to grow one of our top international markets into Greater Fort Lauderdale."

World Class Travel Experience

Customers will be able to choose from three unique all-inclusive experiences on board. Club World, the airline's award-winning business class product, offers 6ft. fully flat beds and ample storage space.

World Traveller Plus, premium economy, is a separate cabin with personalized service. World Traveller, the airline's economy cabin, offers seat back entertainment, a choice of free meal and bar service along with free accessories such as blanket and headsets.

Customers flying in Club World and World Traveller Plus from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale can choose their meals between 24 hours and 30 days prior to their flight, offering customers as much choice as possible. All customers can pre-request one of 14 special meals free of charge, including meals for babies and children and those travelling with medical, religious or ethical dietary requirements more than 24 hours in advance.

Customers on British Airways services enjoy benefits such as free baggage allowance and seat allocation. The airline also provides a "Feed Kids First" service which ensures that children are served first, allowing parents to enjoy their own meal, and with a deposit of $10 per person, customers have 72 hours to confirm details with their friends and family, making it even easier to book with confidence.

British Airways' 'Customize Your Trip' service available online at ba.com allows customers to create a multi-destination holiday of their choice with flexibility to combine flights in and out of different airports, book multiple hotels and select car rental for any part of their holiday.

A joint business agreement between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia allows members of the AAdvantage, Executive Club and Iberia Plus programs to earn and redeem points or miles on codeshare flights across both airlines. Customers also get access to great prices across all four airlines with the ability to mix and match flights to get the best deals and enjoy smoother connections for onward flights through coordinated schedules.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170706006247/en/

Contacts:

Americas Communications

Michele Kropf, 212-716-0477

americas.communications@ba.com
Qualtrics, a Salt Lake CIty, Utah-based experience management software, closed a $180m funding round.

The round, which increased Qualtrics valuation 2.5 times at a $2.5 billion over its previous valuation in late 2014, was led by Insight Venture Partners and Accel, with participation from Sequoia Capital. In addition, Murray Demo, CFO of Atlassian, will join Qualtrics board of directors and will chair its audit committee.

Led by CEO Ryan Smith, Qualtrics recently launched its XM Platform, which manages the four core experiences of businesscustomer, employee, product and brand experiencein a single dashboard. The platform automatically analyzes these touchpoints, helping organizations uncover key business drivers, predict future customer needs, and retain employees and customers.

Over 8,500 enterprises worldwide, including more than 75 percent of the Fortune 100 and 99 of the top 100 U.S. business schools, use the companys solutions.

FinSMEs

13/04/2017
Upgrade, Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based consumer credit platform, closed a $60m Series A equity and convertible note financing.

Backers included Apoletto, Credit Ease, FirstMark Capital, Noah Holdings, Ribbit Capital, Sands Capital Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, Union Square Ventures, Uprising and Vy Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to launch credit monitoring, alerts and education features in coming weeks.

Led by co-founder and CEO Renaud Laplanche, Upgrade is a consumer credit platform that combines a marketplace lending approach with tools for consumers to understand and monitor their credit. All loans originated through the Upgrade platform are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC. Upgrade will acquire loans from WebBank, retain a representative portion of those loans on its balance sheets and offer whole loans for sale to institutional investors.

Started in August 2016, the company has offices in Phoenix, Arizona and employs over 70 team members.

FinSMEs

12/04/2017
SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning was loved across all quarters for the world it created and transported us into. However, the world was not as alien as it seemed on the face of it. Besides the potpourri of universal emotions like love, rage, triumph and treachery (read: why did Katappa kill Baahubali!), there was a familiar deity that some characters revered  Lord Shiva.

Mahendra Baahubali, or Baahubali Jr, as I would like to call him, was raised by a tribe of Shiva devotees. While they were blind believers of the Mahakal, Baahubali Jr paid his respects through a rather heroic act. He used his Herculean strength to uproot the Shiva lingam and placed it under a waterfall so that it remains satiated for eternity.

It was tough to believe that for a man who could lift the gigantic lingam on his shoulders while crossing a turbulent river, could find any task under the sun just impossible to undertake. But then I saw Prabhas, the Telugu actor who plays Baahubali, struggle during the promotional interviews of the sequel Baahubali 2: The Conclusion that is slated to release on 28 April 2017.

It is common knowledge that film promotion is not as aggressive a practice in the south as it is in the Hindi film industry. There, the stars are deified for carrying off those larger than life characters on the silver screen. But since one of the pioneers of film promotion, Karan Johar, has acquired the Hindi version rights of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, he got Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, who plays the antagonist Bhallaladeva in the franchise, to fly down to Mumbai and put in a good word for their film before the media.

***

As Daggubati and Prabhas get their microphones on for an exclusive interview with Firspost, they laugh at the answers they gave in their previous interview, recalling them in Telugu. Measuring their mood, my colleague Renil Abraham says, "It looks like you are enjoying the promotions?", to which Prabhas replies with a curt 'no'.

But as the interview for Renil's show Gossip Guy progresses, Prabhas' mask falls off when he says that both their mothers are coaxing them to get married. Seconds later, he starts waving his hands fervently after analysing Renil's expression that suggested a 'queer' reunion of the two Telugu hunks. Prabhas locks both his hands and says, "No, not like that!" as the entire room breaks into laughter.

After clicking his tongue to mark a weak moment, Prabhas returns to his meditative state, sporting the same childlike smile that he flashed while crossing the river in Baahubali: The Beginning, the lingam resting on his shoulders. I envision him as the Shiva who meditates in isolation only to occasionally return to a ruthless state like he did in the action sequences of the film.

What I found ironic was that unlike Shiva who descended from Kailash Parbat on the insistence of Parvati, Baahubali Jr ascended the lofty mountain, while being seduced by an imaginary avatar of Tamannaah Bhatia. But that was probably Lord Shiva's reward to Baahubali Jr for quenching his thirst  to facilitate his return to his homeland where he is destined to serve a larger purpose of saving and ruling the Maheshmati kingdom.

***

Prabhas, in his off-screen capacity, looks like he yearns to return to his hometown of Hyderabad. Though he may not appear as invested as he is back there, that is not the case when I manage to get a few minutes of his time for a one-on-one interaction. His smile does not struggle but effortlessly rests on his face as he answers my questions  mostly in monosyllables.

"It feels great after cutting my hair. That is the first thing I wanted to do after wrapping up Baahubali. I even feel like I have lost a lot of weight," he says, bursting into laughter with abandon. The abandonment probably stems from the fact that his five-year long journey as Baahubali nears its end.

Daggubati, who is more comfortable with the endless promotions since he has worked in Bollywood films like Dum Maaro Dum and Department, occasionally speaks up for his reserved co-star. "The second part particularly has been more taxing for the two of us. Also, the action in the sequel is more drama-driven. Even in the first part, though we were not competing with each other, you could sense an air of one-upmanship in the war. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion has two wars so there is no dearth of action," says Daggubati.

***

It is evident even from the trailer of the sequel that Prabhas will sport a more aggressive avatar. He is no longer the generous Baahubali Sr (Amarendra Baahubali) nor the naive and disoriented Baahubali Jr. Whatever action we have seen of the sequel so far has shades of Lord Shiva's brand of action  aggressive, wild yet spectacular.

Daggubatti comes across as an actor who could suit the role of Lord Shiva better  with his towering presence and muscular frame. He strangely sounds like Hrithik Roshan with a Telugu accent, which is interesting since Roshan was speculated to play the deity in Johar's Shuddhi, an adaptation of Amish Tripathi's bestselling novel The Immortals of Meluah.

But on second thoughts, I cannot imagine anyone else in the character of Baahubali, who is built as an avatar of Lord Shiva, than Prabhas. While he is yet to introduce his wild side, his calm and meditative smile stays with you once you meet him. "I am not looking at more action films right now. I want to try some other genre for a few years before I return to putting my body at risk. But I will do it again," says Prabhas, gradually receding into his zen mode with commendable detachment.

Watch the full interview here.
The good part about meeting a new actor, who happens to be an established stand up comedian, is that there is a lot of laughter. The most refreshing thing about Kanan Gill, is his easy going behaviour. His answers are brief and there is absolutely no effort to play act the hero. He became popular on YouTube, thanks to his popular show Pretentious Movie Reviews, in which he makes fun of '90s movies along with Biswa Kalyan Rath. Now it seems, he could not care less if he will becomes a bona fide Bollywood celebrity after the release of his upcoming film, Noor, with Sonakshi Sinha in the lead.

Though he may be unaware of it, Gill is already winning over some hearts. As is evident from two young female journalists nearby, who I hear enthusing, "He is sooo cute!

Excerpts from a conversation:

From Bengaluru to Bollywood, what has the journey been like?

I used to write software and now I am working in a movie. It could not be more different than that! In general, the pace is very different. Mumbai is super-fast and everyone wants to be one up on the other. In Bengaluru, people are a lot more content. You want to have a beer? Sure.. It took me a while to adjust to Mumbai. There is a reason why Mumbai is so sought after. This city makes you want to pursue any ambition you have.

Do you have the ambition to make it bigger as an actor now?

Time will tell. [Smiles]

But do you have the ambition?

I think about it differently. I dont think of it as having an X goal. At any point, I have an exciting opportunity, I will do it. If its something that I have not done before and if it challenges me, I will do it. This role excited me and I thought I can do justice to it, so why not? If something comes along after this, great  and if it doesnt, it doesnt.

How did the role happen?

The casting agent saw my review on my show (Pretentious Movie Reviews) and recommended me for the part of Saad. I got recommended for a few parts earlier and I decided to go for this. Three years ago, I was considered for another movie but that did not work out.

Were you disappointed?

Yes, it was a huge disappointment.

Which movie?

I cant say. It was a disappointment for everyone. I just thought my time will come when it has to and it showed up on my doorstep now.

So you met the director...

Yes, he explained the story and I auditioned. After I was shortlisted with other candidates, Sonakshi saw me and recommended me.

Yes, she jokes she was your Godmother. Do you think this industry requires some influential figure?

Not any more. Things have changed.

Did you have the image barrier of being a funny guy?

This is not just a funny role. There is more to the character which I like. He is a relatable person.

You are playing Sonakshis best friends role. Would have preferred a romantic lead?

[Laughs] I know that people assume you want a certain thing. But I dont want to play a big, prominent starry person. I just want to play a good role in a good film. The whole idea of Mere ko ek type ka role karna hai is outdated. People are not pursuing stardom anymore; they are pursuing making just a good film.

How was it working with Sonakshi?

She had actually seen my review a few years ago and tweeted to us that it was very funny.

Which movie?

Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. She loved the review and was familiar with my work. During the film, we met for readings and she was very easy going. The three of us, along with Shibani Dandekar, were very comfortable and laughing and joking on the sets. Sonakshis experience clearly shows. She would nail it anytime she was told to do something. She was very helpful to us. After all, she has done 17 films.

Which ones have you seen?

[Laughs sheepishly]

Have you seen Dabangg?

No I havent really watched many movies overall. Amongst hers, I have seen Lootere. That was good. Recently, I was watching another movie called Joker.

Which one?

You havent seen it either, right? [Laughs]

No. Is it the kind that would be apt for a Pretentious Review?

Way more [smiles]. Sonakshi is very sporting about it and herself recommended it.

Have you reviewed any of Shatrughan Sinhas movies?

No.

What genre of movies would you like to work in?

I dont know. A good movie can be made in any genre. I enjoy horror movies and would love to be in one.

Coming to your own field of stand up comedy, who is your favorite?

Eddie Izzard, Louis CK, Gilbertin India, all my peer groups. We all have started around the same time and we have pushed each other. My close friend Biswa Kalyan Rath and Kenneth Sebastian, Naveen Richard are my other favourites.

Talking about the shows in the digital space, how do you see the current sexual harassment case against TVF CEO, Arunabh Kumar?

The biggest take away is that companies and startups have now started having sexual harassment policies. Its the most positive change that has come out of that. As far as the investigation is concerned, let it take its own course.

Now, more women are talking about it..

Yes, its important to talk about it and I am cognisant of it. Its a very serious matter and needs to be looked into.

Coming back to your film, have you read the book on which Noor is based (Karachi, You're Killing Me)?

The spirit of the book is the same but because of the change in location from Karachi to Mumbai, there are a few necessary changes in plot points.

So, as one of the jokes in one of your reviews goes  this is a good movie but the book is better  what would you say for Noor?

[Laughs] Yeah, the joke goesThis is a good movie but the book is better which book? any book. Does not apply to Noor!
Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan, which is the story of the madam of a brothel situated on the border of India and Pakistan, releases on 14 April 2017. It is set during the Partition era  a time marked by strife, communal tensions, bloodshed and pathos.

Here is a look at works of literature and cinema which captured the complex emotions and life experiences of people who lived through independence  an event whose effects can be felt even today.

Rajkahini

Rajkahini, the Bengali film that Begum Jaan is based on, is directed by Srijit Mukherji too and stars Rituparna Sengupta, Lily Chakravarty, Parno Mittra, Saswata Chatterjee, Abir Chatterjee, Kaushik Sen and Sudipta Chakraborty. It tells the story of a brothel through which the border passes and traces the impact of Partition on the 11 prostitutes that live in the brothel.

Begum Jaan, the madam of the brothel, is not concerned with the goings on in the governments of either countries; all she cares about is her business. She refuses to budge when asked to move her brothel. What follows is a bloody battle between Begum Jaan and the authorities who want to tear down her establishment. The film also has a subplot involving a nawab, which gives insights into the condition of princely states post-Partition.

Tamas

Television film Tamas directed by Govind Nihalani is based on the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel of the same name by Bhisham Sahni. The word 'tamas' means darkness, and both the film and book look at the plight of Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India during Partition. The themes explored are communal tension and civil war, which are caused by the act of leaving a pig's carcass at the doorstep of a mosque.

Protagonist Nathu, who is a tanner, thinks that the pig he skinned is the same pig that caused the riot, and he feels very guilty. Tamas has won three national awards for Best Supporting Actress, Best Direction and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.

This Bloody Line

Ram Madhvani's short film, This Bloody Line, explores the state of mind of the man who was responsible for drawing the border that India and Pakistan share. The lead characters in it are Sir Cyril Radcliffe and his wife, who discuss the tragedy that Partition created in their lives and in the fate of India. The short film has some powerful lines, such as "I'm almost blind now, but I was blind then," and "This was one country, one heart cut into two."

Radcliffe's character explains why he was hesitant to take up the project and laments about the fact that he always knew it would result in violence. He keeps saying that it is not his fault and that he was coerced into getting the job done. It also has some powerful visuals, such as the shots of a fountain pen drawing on a map interspersed with old footage of people from Partition times.

1947: Earth

Directed by Meera Nair, this film is based on Bapsi Sidhwa's novel Ice Candy Man. The story is narrated by a Parsi girl who suffers from polio and wishes that her family is not affected by the communal tensions resulting from Partition. She is loved by her parents and Shanta, her nurse. Shanta is being pursued by two Muslim men, the man who sells ice candy as well as the maalishwala. These three are part of a larger group of people who belong to diverse faiths.

Relationships change after India achieves independence. This film stars Aamir Khan, Rahul Khanna, Maia Sethna and Nandita Das.

Toba Tek Singh

To get a real flavour of what life was like during Partition, you should read all of Saadat Hasan Manto's stories written before and after Independence. Toba Tek Singh, a short story written in 1955, brings to life the phenomenon of 'no man's land' experienced by many who were forced to migrate from their homes owing to Partition. It tells the story of the last few days of Bishan Singh, the inmate of an asylum in Lahore who is being moved to India. He used to serve in the army and obsessively repeats the line, "Upar di gur gur di annexe di bedhiyana di moong di daal of di Pakistan and Hindustan of di durr phitey mun."

At the end of the story, which can only be described as heart-breaking, Singh stands at the border between the two countries, unable to move, and finally dies in the same spot. It is symbolic of the inability to belong in any place after being uprooted from one's home.

Train to Pakistan

Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan tells the story of a fictional village called Mano Majra where people of different faiths live together peacefully until Partition is declared. The plot follows the robbery of the only Hindu living in the village and the pinning of blame on a Sikh boy by gang leader Malli, who is responsible for the robbery. The Sikh boy Juggut is in love with a Muslim girl Nooran, who is the daughter of the Mullah, at a time when inter-religious love was forbidden.

Juggut and Iqbal, who is an educated Sikh who has come to the village to organise the peasants, are arrested by Hukum Chand, the magistrate. The title is significant, because at one point in the book, a train full of corpses is burnt by soldiers when it is stationed at Mano Majra.

Raavi Paar

In the forward of the collection of short stories that Raavi Paar is a part of, lyricist and writer Gulzar says that Partition left him bruised and scarred, and that he wrote this collection with the intention of getting this painful experience "out of my system". This short story explores the state of mind of a couple who must leave their village and migrate to India along with their new born twins. Over the course of their journey, one falls terribly sick and succumbs to his illness.

To ensure that his soul travels to heaven, the father decides to throw the lifeless body of the child into the Raavi river as they pass over it. It is only after they cross the river that the couple realises that the father had picked up the wrong baby. This story poignantly describes the unimaginable sadness of the couple, who must now live their lives in an alien land after they have lost both their children and home.

Subh-e-Azadi

This poem, which is considered one of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's best works, explores the sorrow that the poet felt when the country was partitioned. Written on the occassion of Pakistan's first birthday, it expresses the disappointment and disillusion felt by many in 1947 and the years that followed, owing to the sheer amount of violence and losses.

The refrain, "Yeh woh seher toh nahi" encapsulates the feeling that the citizens' expectations of a better life were not met, that the country could be a much better and safer place. It received negative reviews from those who criticised Faiz for not celebrating partition and independence. At the end of the poem, he says that the heaviness of the night has not lessened and urges the reader to continue working towards the nation's goals.

Read the poem here.
On Friday  14 April 2017  Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan is up against the Hollywood bigwig Fast and Furious 8 starring Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. Then there is the lesser known Aftermath starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bollywood

Begum Jaan

What's It About: Set during the troubled times of the Partition, a brothel is shaken out of its complacency when the authorities decide that the Radcliffe line will cut the structure into half. The sex workers, led by the madam, fight tooth and nail with the authorities to save their home.

Who's In It: Vidya Balan, Gauhar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Ila Arun, Naseeruddin Shah and Chunky Pandey.

Why It May Work: Vidya Balan's power-packed performance, an interesting storyline and the success of the Bengali film it is based on - Srijit Mukherji's Rajkahini.

Begum Jaan is directed by Srijit Mukherji.

Fate of the Furious

What's It About: The eighth film in the Fast and Furious franchise, aptly titled Fate of the Furious, will decide the fate of the series  whether it will sink or swim after the death of one of its main characters Brian O'Conner, played by Paul Walker.

This time around, Dom, the head of the 'family' goes to the darker side and helps the villainous Cipher carry out her evil plans.

Who's In It: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Chris Bridges and Tyrese Gibson.

Why It May Work: Fans of the franchise and car chase sequences enthusiasts will line up to buy tickets.

Fate of the Furious is directed by F Gary Gray.

Aftermath

What's It About: Based on real life events, the film follows the Russian architect Vitaly Kaloyev who stabs the man responsible for his family's death in an air crash. Even though he is jailed, there are people who consider him a hero.

Who's In It: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scoot McNairy

Why It May Work: Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been a crowd puller.

Aftermath is directed by Elliott Lester.
Predictably, many 'liberals', human rights-activists and 'jhoolawallahs' have reacted strongly to the central government filing a curative petition in the Supreme Court on Wednesday on the vexed Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Last year, the apex court had said that "there is no concept of absolute immunity from trial by a criminal court" if an Army man has committed an offence. The government now wants this verdict reconsidered, given the challenges involved in fighting terrorism and insurgency.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatagi pleaded before the apex court that,"it is an extremely important petition, not only for armed forces' personnel which face extreme danger to their lives during every counter-insurgency operation, but also equally important for the security and sovereignty of the country."

The opposition to the governments move can be best summed up with a remark by Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International: "It is disturbing that the central government appears to believe that respecting fundamental rights will hamper the armys ability to conduct operations. Does the government support blanket immunity for human rights violations? Are they against independent and impartial investigations?

In short, the debate over AFSPA, ever since it was invoked in 1958 in Manipur and then extended to Jammu and Kashmir in 1990 by Parliament, has always revolved around the core question: Which should prevail  national security and integrity or individual rights?

It may be noted here that under AFSPA, the military and paramilitary forces  such as the CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles and ITBP  do enjoy some extrajudicial powers when they operate in the areas declared "disturbed" (it may be a whole state or parts of it) by the political executive.

Under these extra powers, the army officers, junior commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers (all ranks except jawans) have the power to shoot, or order to shoot, to kill if they are "of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the maintenance of public order."

They can destroy any property if it is an arms dump, a fortified position or a shelter from where armed attacks are made or are suspected of being made; if the structure is used as a training camp, or as a hide-out by armed gangs or absconders. They can arrest anyone who has committed, is suspected of having committed or of being about to commit, a cognisable offense, without an arrest warrant and use any amount of force "necessary to effect the arrest"; but they "must" hand that person over to the nearest police station with the "least possible delay".

They can also enter and search without a warrant to make an arrest or to recover any property, arms, ammunition or explosives which are believed to be unlawfully kept on the premises; in the process, they can apply any amount of force necessary.

Most importantly, under the Section 6 of the Act, and this was what the Supreme Court had taken away last year, no legal proceeding can be brought against any member of the armed forces acting under AFSPA, without the permission of the central government.

No doubt that the first impression one has after glancing over this Act is that the critics are right in their demand to abrogate it altogether. But on closer scrutiny, it becomes clear that the rationale behind this extreme provision, that the Parliament has brought about, is fully justified.

No law anywhere in the world allows for secession. And under the Indian Constitution, Article 355 makes the central government duty bound to protect the states from internal disturbance. The AFSPA is meant to be used under two extraordinary circumstances  secessionist violence and internal disturbance. And that has been the case so far.

If the armed forces cannot do anything on their own and need civilian clearance during their operations, how will their effectiveness be any different from that of normal police and paramilitary forces? After all, an area is declared "disturbed" only after an assessment and opinion is formed by the government that the civilian administration and local state police are not good enough to maintain the law and order in the area.

If the local police alone can maintain law and order, then there is no need to apply AFSPA. Only when the local police, working under normal laws, are not able to take control of the situation are the armed forces called into service and AFSPA comes into relevance. Thus, the decision to declare an area "disturbed" and then facilitate the application of the AFSPA is a decision based on security considerations, not political imperatives, as its critics will like us to believe.

However, this does not mean that there are no conditions attached in the AFSPA. In fact, soldiers/officials violating these conditions can always be prosecuted. Available data suggests that since 1990, the security forces have been accused of nearly 2000 cases of human rights abuse. All of these have been thoroughly investigated, including by the National Human Rights Commission. And it has been found that more than 90 percent of these cases against the security forces are completely false; possibly these were instigated by terrorist organisations. Where culpability was established, soldiers and officers have been punished.

Critics question why the armed forces are immune to acting under normal laws, such as no searching without warrants and no firing without the magisterial order. The answer is very simple. If the armed forces cannot do anything on their own and need civilian clearance during their operations, how can they maintain the internal security of that area any more effectively than the local police forces?

As it is, armed forces have been consistently pointing out that they are not interested in managing internal security. So, those opposing the AFSPA should vent their anger not against the armed forces but the political or civilian leadership, which is summoning them to do the job that is supposed to be done by police and paramilitary forces. If you do not call the army, there is no need for AFSPA.

Let it not be glossed over, however, that given the ever-changing nature of violence and the technology employed by secessionist terrorists, logic demands that instead of surrendering their existing powers, as demanded by the so-called civil rights activists, the armed forces need stronger laws to make them more effective.

All told, it is not an equal battle. The extremists not only operate in stealth and target civilian populations, they also arm themselves with deadly weapons, and raise daunting legal problems. Their conduct is not adequately covered by either criminal law or the laws of war, though they, like national armies of the enemy-countries, do threaten a states territorial integrity and political sovereignty.

It is true that by its very nature, any extraordinary or anti-terrorism law is bound to affect some individual rights  such as liberty of the individual, privacy, autonomy and freedom among others. But their being invoked is necessitated for public welfare. After all, terrorist attacks are, fundamentally, an assault not on individuals or on the liberty of individuals, but on the security and welfare of the people as a whole.

And since the fight against secessionism and terrorism is not a normal fight, one has to appreciate the need to transcend the excessive individualism that the blind champions of human rights suggest. It is incumbent on citizens to realise that for the common good, they will not be able to do everything they want to do, whenever and wherever they like, and under conditions that only they can dictate. Instead, they will have to think of the good of the community, and, indeed, of the nation as a whole.

Finally, a word about the armed forces role in Kashmir and Manipur. Contrary to what the habitual army-bashers say, if Kashmir and Manipur continue to be with India and if any organisation that the ordinary Kashmiri or Manipuri, as distinct from the separatist, is most comfortable with, then it is the armed forces.

The forces have made tremendous sacrifices, both in terms of men and material. Abrogating the AFSPA or removing some of its key provisions in an attempt to make it humane could place them at a great disadvantage in their fight against vicious insurgencies. Any watering down of the Act will result in de-motivating the troops, jeopardising the very integrity of the nation.
New Delhi: Australia may be considering India a priority country in its international relationship as the two nations move towards closer strategic and security cooperation following Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's just-concluded visit to India, but in its official travel advisory Australia continues to flag India as a travel destination that warrants a "high degree of caution" .

In fact, an intending Australian traveller to India may be well discouraged from planning a visit to the country  or even cancelling a planned visit  if he or she were to read all the warnings and caveats about the "high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime, and the high rate of vehicle accidents" as well as the safety of women, poor air quality and social volatility.

The Australian travel advisory was updated as late as March 20 this year  days before Turnbull visited India and reviewed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi "the entire gamut of bilateral relations; number of forward-looking decisions taken to further strengthen our partnership".

India has been trying to woo visitors from Australia with its "Incredible India" campaign. Last year, India organised "Confluence: Festival of India in Australia" from August to November "to provide a boost to tourism and to the art precincts in" Indian cities.

But the advisory on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian government says "there are several regions of India where we advise Australians to reconsider your need to travel, or avoid all travel".

"Violent protests and demonstrations occur sporadically throughout India," says the advisory.

"Exercise a high degree of caution in India because of the high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks."

The advisory also includes venues of Indian festivals, religious sites and markets where "travellers should maintain heightened vigilance".

Without naming Pakistan or any other country, the advisory points out that militants cross "the border into India with the intention of conducting attacks".

"It is likely they will continue to try and do so. Terrorist groups regularly issue statements threatening to launch attacks in India."

"The threat of terrorism exists in all Indian cities and tourist centres. In the past, terrorists have targeted areas frequented by tourists including hotels, markets, tourist sites, transport hubs and public transport networks, and religious sites.

"Attacks have also targeted local courts, sporting events and cinemas, and Indian security and political establishments. Major tourist sites and shopping centres are also potential targets for attack," the advisory goes on to say.

Cautioning against "dangerous" road travel, "undisciplined and aggressive" driving practices "poor quality and congested" Indian roads, Australian visitors are also warned that "you are three times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in India than in" the home country.

"Accidents are commonplace and the number of road traffic deaths is high. Travelling by road at night is particularly dangerous due to insufficient or non-existent street lighting and the presence of other vehicles driving with headlights off or on high beam. Vehicles may travel in the wrong direction, often without warning."

The advisory also flags women safety as a high-priority issue, cautioning females visiting India for religious purposes against risks of sexual assaults by faith leaders.

"There are persistent allegations and media reports of sexual misconduct involving religious groups and their leaders in India. Australians visiting India for such religious purposes should be aware of these risks."

It also notes that foreign women could be subjected to "unwanted attention and more serious harassment and assault" in India where "successful prosecutions are rare".

After reading this ominous advisory not many Australians may be inclined to make India their immediate travel destination.
Washington: President Donald Trump has said that there is a "very good chemistry" between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps tackling the threat of North Korea. "President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference yesterday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier. "I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, we're just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

"That'd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations," he cautioned China, if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval.

North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US. Trump said he was "very impressed" with Xi.

"I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does," Trump said.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the US has "tremendous trade deficits" with everybody, but the big one is with China.

"It's hundreds of billions of dollars of year for many many years. And I told them. I said you know, we're not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say  but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. That's worth having deficits. And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, I'll make great deals," he said.

In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator. This was one of his top campaign promise. "They're not currency manipulators," he said.

"Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea," the report said.

In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear. "You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction. And he doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he  you know he will," he said.

"So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue on North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, it's very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time," Trump said.
New Delhi: Parliament on Tuesday gave its nod to a crucial bill to ensure equal rights to the people affected by HIV and AIDS in getting treatment, admissions in educational institutions and jobs.

Terming the unanimous passage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha as "historic", Health Minister JP Nadda said the government "stands committed for free treatment of HIV patients."

The bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on 21 March. Maintaining that the Bill was 'people centric', the minister said it strengthened the rights of the people infected with HIV.

"It is not the case that before coming of this bill, these people (infected with HIV ) were not empowered. But with the passage of this bill they will get more powers," he said. The Bill lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited.

Asserting that there would be no discrimination against persons infected with HIV, Nadda said "whosoever who does not adhere to the provisions of the bill will be penalised. There would also be civil and criminal proceedings against them." Legal action, Nadda said, would be initiated against the persons for creating an environment against the HIV patients. "Action would be also taken against those who come between the implementation of the provisions of the proposed bill." The legislation has provisions to safeguard the property rights of HIV positive people, he said, adding that every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household.

The Bill also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them. The Minister said the government will promote research to check HIV virus and come out with aggressive strategies on this, especially in high risk areas, counselling and testing.

Asserting that India runs second largest Antiretroviral Theraphy (ART) programme in the world, Nadda said the rate of new HIV infections have dropped by 67 per cent, from 2.5 lakh to 85,000 and AIDS related deaths have declined to 54 percent, which is more than the global average.

He said the government spent Rs 2000 crore on ART alone and this was a 100 per cent centrally-sponsored scheme as the "government is committed to (treating every patient) and no one will be left out".

"Under goal 4 of the Millenium Development Goals, HIV, malaria and tuberculosis had to be arrested and reversed. We have achieved this by arresting and reversing (these diseases).

"Not only this, we arrested (the spread of) ebola, zika by our testing facilities and national surveillances," he said, adding that there were 22,000 HIV testing centres in the country, which conducted 2.9 crore HIV tests, including 1.3 crore pregnant women.

Emphasising that the Indian pharma industry has a big role to play in making cost-effective medicines available to the people, the minister said they have also given a lease of life to several patients in Africa.

Responding to members' concerns over raising the awareness level about HIV among the people, Nadda said the Indian outreach programme was well appreciated across the world as it seeks to spreads awareness aggressively by reaching out to those who stay even in high risk areas.

He also sought to assuage members' apprehensions over the use of Aadhar for ART and said the identification document will not be required for procuring free medicines. "After exhaustive consultations in the Rajya Sabha, the Bill has come to the Lok Sabha," the minister said. The legislation also seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS and and creates mechanisms for redressing the complaints of persons infected with HIV and AIDS.

It ensures that no HIV test, medical treatment or research will be conducted on a person without his informed consent. No person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status except with his informed consent, and if required, by a court order.

"The bill has a provision under which action would also be taken against those who create hatred against HIV patients," Nadda said, adding that it seeks to create an enabling environment both at workplace and in the society.

"There is a need to provide an environment to such people in which they feel protected," he said asserting that both the state and the institutions should ensure that the provisions of the bills are implemented well.

"The protection would be provided to the people working in the health institutions. Facilities, secured environment and logistics would be provided," he said. Participating in the discussion, TMC member Ratna De Nag said the stigma related to HIV remains intense in the country. P Ravindra Babu (TDP) suggested that name of the bill should be changed, while emphasising that stigma cannot be eradicated by law alone.

Varaprasad Rao (YSR Congress) said there was no coordination between the Centre and the states to deal with the HIV issue. He also pitched for insurance cover for the affected people with the premium being paid by the government. PK Biju (CPI-M) mentioned certain instances in Kerala where the children of HIV-affected parents faced resistance from studying with others in schools.

Heena Gavit (BJP) said couples affected with HIV should be given the right to adopt children and added that pre-marriage counselling was important. Lado Kishore Swain (BJD), Shrikanth Shinde (Shiv Sena), Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) and Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) also spoke.
A month back, M Farooq, a rationalist and activist with the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a Periyarist group, was hacked to death in Coimbatore by Muslim extremists for allegedly insulting Islam. The reaction to his death was muted; had Farooq rather been killed by the gaurakshak fanatics, he would have been an instant hero. Even the minimal criticisms by Periyarists were shouted down by Islamists and self-declared heroes of the oppressed in social media. The standard argument was that any criticism of Islam or of the flaws in the practices and politics of Muslims would aid Hindutva and/or the War on Terror narrative.

Or in short, the Periyarists, who have a reputation of challenging Hindutva forces and standing for the rights of religious minorities, were accused of Islamophobia.

We have reached a point where Islamophobia is just a politics of blackmail used by Islamists and their supporters to shut down legitimate criticisms of Islam on the often bogus claim that it aids anti-Muslim bigots. Unlike anti-Semitism or anti-Black racism, Islamophobia has no deep historical or ideological basis in the West  let us not forget that the worst genocidaires of the previous century, Adolf Hitler, had much admiration for Islam. In fact, those countries, who now run the War on Terror, were the ones who supported the Taliban, created the al-Qaeda and are also backing Islamist groups against Syrian President Basshar al-Assad. The contemporary discourse of Islamophobia is a product from Western multicultural countries created by Muslim elites who use narratives of self-victimisation to capitalise on white guilt. Activists like Iranian communist Maryam Namazie and leftist philosophers like Slavoj Zizek have spoken out against this politics of blackmail.

But as a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), it was strange to hear from two JNU research scholars that Islamophobia was rampant among JNU leftists. In a recent article published in Firstpost, the conclusion of the authors, largely based on naming and shaming individual fellow students and JNU faculty (a classic right-wing strategy) for their social media posts, is that the JNU left "mocks and shames the Muslim youth for their Islamic faith, and wants to impose an ideal code of conduct and mode of thinking for the students."

For those who claim to be research scholars, there is little of theoretical substance in their arguments. Despite a token disclaimer that they dont intend to target individuals, what the authors have cleverly used is a victim narrative, and created persecutors where there are none. It is indeed comforting to assume that one is fighting giants when one is only striking out at windmills.

In fact, quite some of the leftists, especially the upper-caste, ultra-radical ones, are more Islamophilic than Islamists themselves. When I was a student-activist at JNU, I witnessed the comic spectacle of loony left outfits, like the now mostly defunct Democratic Students Union (DSU), who swore by Marx and Lenin, defending explicitly anti-Communist Islamist outfits like the Taliban. Their poor reasoning was that they were obliged to support all anti-imperialist struggles. Poor Lenin himself had very strongly emphasised the need to combat pan-Islamism in the course of anti-imperialism.

The left in JNU indeed has lots of problems; their unwillingness to engage with the complexities of caste, being key among them. Those who sing praises for the Hamas and Hezbollah often do not have any room for constructive solidarity for Dalit and OBC politics. The campus left has been quite accommodative of Muslims, and in extreme cases, going as far as becoming defense lawyers for Islamists. Painting a picture of anti-Islamic bigotry among the JNU left is not only wrong, but is also done calculatedly to prevent any critical examination of Islam at a time when a perverted combination of different strands of Islamisms and imperialisms are making emancipatory politics increasingly difficult. Worse, it prevents working on political solidarities with progressive groups in the so-called Muslim world like the Kurdish PKK and communists in Turkey and Iran who are fighting both external imperialism as well as the internal Islamist oppressors.

To come back to some of the religio-cultural grievances of the authors, they argue that Muhammad is the primary human model in the Islamic faith and that a criticism of Muhammad is a de facto criticism of all Muslims. This is the logic not of academics interested in critical dialogue, but of a brazen fascist cult that seeks to censor all contrarian opinions on their leadership. The murders of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh were inspired by the similar offended sentiments and delusions of persecution that these authors uphold.

And if Muslims are right to be offended at any criticism directed towards Muhammed, then the Hindu Right is also justified to shut down any criticisms of Ram, who in the mainstream Hindu discourse, is Maryada Purushottam, or the Hindu equivalent of the primary human model. So let us ban all works of Phule, Periyar and Ambedkar!

And it is frankly ingeniously silly to glorify Islamic feminist women who have supposedly contributed to the radical abandonment of Victorian family model altogether. The Sangh brigade can give you much better examples in Sadhvi Rithambara and the Durga Vahini.

Anti-Muslim sentiment is very live and very real and must be fought tooth and nail by all those who swear by emancipatory politics. However, one should not blind ones eyes to the fact that the terrorism of Islamic State, the Lashkar-e-Taiba or the al-Qaeda is rooted in readings of Islam, just as the terrorism of the Bajrang Dal is rooted in readings of Hinduism. Despotic regimes like Turkey and Iran  they tick positive on a majority of the features of ur-fascism outlined by Umberto Eco  are informed by references to Islamic theology and history. To understand the nature of such movements and states in the middle-east, it is compulsory to have a critical approach towards political Islam, from the time of its founding till its various contemporary forms.

And leftists who want to critically interrogate Islam should cease being blackmailed by accusations of Islamophobia. A communists loyalties lie with the proletariat. Not with the prophets faithful.
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said the people of his country were eagerly waiting for the "historic" visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He stated this in a tweet while responding to a message of greeting by Modi. "Thank you, my friend, for your kind holiday greeting. The people of Israel eagerly await your historic visit," Netanyahu tweeted, which was re-tweeted by the PMO.

Thank you, my friend, for your kind holiday greeting. The people of Israel eagerly await your historic visit. https://t.co/Is1NmfWiMF  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 11, 2017

Two days back, Modi had tweeted, "Khag Sameach Khaverim". In Hebrew, it is used as a greeting for the holidays. Modi is expected to travel to Israel some time in the next few months.
In what is being seen as part of the clampdown on universities by the Centre, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)  following a recent University Grants Commissions notification  announced a massive reduction in student intake for its in MPhil and PhD courses for the upcoming academic session.

The seat cuts are unreasonable as they confirm the systematic clampdown of an institution, not to mention by deceitful means. And while the move comes as a blow, it was hardly surprising. For the government in power, given their outlook and intentions, would never shy away from an opportunity to hurt any likely sources of opposition to their fear-provoking designs. And what could have been a better time to charge than now.

The discourse around nationalism has been so slyly twisted that just about anything can be convincingly classified as national or anti-national. No worries if the argument starts running short of passion, you always have concerns of tax payers money to come in as reinforcements or sprinkling a bit of awareness about the army seems to always help.

After much speculation, the JNU administration finally concluded, with a seemingly harmless statement, that admissions for the new session will be in accordance with the UGC Gazette of May 2016. The emphasis being that it is just another UGC notification which should be accepted in good spirit, and implemented without making an unnecessary ruckus. But the notification is both dangerous and reflective of the present governments attempts at blocking out reasonable suspicion about their actual motives.

The objective of the notification, as claimed by UGC, and as defended by the JNU administration and government, is to maintain a favourable student-teacher ratio; which, supposedly, would be better suited for good research. While this indeed sounds gracious in its intent, in reality, this is a veiled attack not just on a particular institution but on public funded higher education in general.

Even if one considers that the purported benefits of the notification are real, it still doesnt explain why cutting down on the intake should have been the means used to execute this plan. Logically speaking, a good student-teacher balance could have been very well ensured by recruitments to the vacant faculty positions.

But, what is more disturbing is the manner in which the JNU administration went on to manipulate and misuse the established conventions  for instance, the academic council meeting  while fabricating the universitys consent to the implementation of the notification.

To add to this, the JNU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) repeatedly issued misleading statements, which ranged from assurances of no seat cuts to disappointment over a handful of students and teachers disrupting the implementation of an otherwise agreeable notification.

Putting aside the consequences, the V-C must be merited for tactfully utilising his might of deception. His statements effectively added on to the confusion amongst the prospective students, meaning that many would remain apprehensive about what was coming; that most probably there was no reason to be worried.

And for the news hungry, the image of an unruly bunch of students living off taxpayers money was made more believable; otherwise why would the students have opposed a notification that intends to benefit higher education. But as a matter of fact, both the image presented and the benefits claimed are problematic.

How then was such a problematic argument successfully maneuvered and circulated to an extent that not only all possible means to address the issue have now been exhausted but also the very articulation of disagreement is now met with scorn in public forums.

As mentioned before, this was an opportune moment for the present government to exact its ideology by feeding in an altogether irrelevant discourse prevalent among the masses for quite some time now. This is the same discourse that can promptly brand one as anti-national, for simply choosing to differ with a particular standpoint.

The sedition charges slapped against students of Panjab University for protesting against fee hike should be an appropriate example for highlighting its mindless use; nevertheless of creating an atmosphere of fear. At a time when a political party has become the custodians of nationalism, issues of real concern have been overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of upholding a strictly defined standard of being a "true Indian"  an Indian profusely in love with Bharat mata and gau mata.

While the public remains busy, professing their love for their country, and fishing out anti-nationals, the government is merrily going about dismantling institutions of public utility. With readymade sentiments available for acting against the nation, the government can now successfully stifle any dissent by just presenting it in the public forums as being against the interests of the nation.

Quick media trials and manufactured facts, instantaneously shared over social media, with absolutely no concern for cross-checking, have only made their task easier. And then there are the ever present bands of foot soldiers, always ready to bully down opinions, be it on Facebook, Twitter or on campuses.

The recent Ramjas College fracas reflects how intolerant these bands can get while imposing their will. For many, who arent directly affected by the seat cuts, it seems rather hard to believe that the government can in any way make gains out of seat cuts in an educational institution. This government in particular, after all, claims to be extremely dedicated to welfare.

But, if we draw out a pattern, cutting down on funding for higher education has always been a conscious strategy. Plans to discontinue non-NET fellowships or closing down centres for studying social discrimination have all been a part of this plan. While this naturally creates congenial conditions for eventual privatisation of education, the immediate gain would be to weed out possible mushrooming of reasonable dissent.

A government that goes ahead with deliberate 'blunders' like demonetisation and 'encourages' hate mongering has to be wary of institutions that promote critical thinking as a part of research exercise. A complete control over institutions, especially those of humanities and social sciences, is essential to maintain a general state of ignorance; which can then be efficiently channelised to conform to the devious plans of vested political interests. The attack on higher education is therefore tantamount to filtering out opinions that cast serious doubts over the way the government functions.

The threat of governments interference in the autonomy of a public intervention can still be shrugged off as far-fetched. That is most likely the case, considering the fact that almost 86 percent seats in a university, which coincidentally was recently awarded the visitors award for best university by the President, failed to generate much questions apart from in directly affected circles.

Not that I am trying to attribute excessive importance to the fate of a university, something that would under other circumstances generated massive public outrage, but the manner in which the institutions of higher learning have been projected, either as taxpayers burden or as safe havens of unruly students, there remains a huge space for miscommunication.

It is here that it becomes important to discuss the inappropriateness of the UGC notification, even without its vested interests. Government interference can be overlooked as fanciful conspiracy theories but perhaps the flaws of an out of place notification, affecting admissions to a university, cannot and should not be neglected.

Intake of students is fundamental to the idea of having a university. Quite obviously, the purpose of having a university is defeated if there are no admissions of new students. In this particular case, JNU being primarily a research university, seat cut in MPhil/PhD programmes is almost synonymous to its formal closure.

Limiting the number of students under a supervisor to a uniform prescribed number across all centres and courses fails to take into account the variation in the way different centres and courses operate. Centres, according to the specific requirements of their discipline, can stipulate lecture courses or guided research work or a mixture of the two for the first year of MPhil.

Therefore, to club all centres together, despite their different requirements, makes little sense; as does one uniform admission requirement for all centres. Moreover, the supposed expansion in intake was a result of the inclusion of OBC reservation guidelines, which is very much legally mandated.

To use an unfavourable student-teacher ratio as a justification for seat cuts would invariably mean that the constitutionally recommended provisions, for creating a socially inclusive institution of learning, were faulty. And if thats not the case, then this UGC Gazette is most certainly incompatible with the idea of creating a socially inclusive campus.

If at all there was a problem of high student-teacher ratio, how sensible is it to do away with admissions altogether, which is the case in most centres in School of Social Sciences, School of International Studies and School of Language and Literature.

Having zero intake of students cannot possibly be a quick-fix solution to larger questions of structural shortcomings, if at all there are any. The V-C pointed out some sort of a customary practice, of having dynamic intake as per vacancy when it comes to prospective research students.

A dynamic vacancy might work well with universities in the West, but in a country like India, where access to education has only recently opened up to hitherto marginalised communities and regions, this appears to be not just an unfair bargain but also a well-planned move to restrict education.

In a country where regional, economic and social inequalities stem from prejudiced beliefs and discourses of suppression, research in humanities and social sciences can provide the vocabulary to confront such inhibiting factors. Such research can highlight needs, expose distortions and articulate relevance of the marginalised.

Denying this opportunity by means of a UGC Gazette is a gross injustice. It would amount to taking away the means to communicate coherent alternate discourses.
"Kulbhushan Jadhav is an innocent Indian who is a retired member of the Indian Navy and these two things were conveyed to Pakistan in March 2016," said Gopal Baglay, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in a press briefing on Thursday. The trial of Jadhav was opaque and farcical, no due process has been followed and all norms of law and internal norms have been defied and there is absolutely no basis of his arrest, Baglay said.

So far Pakistan has denied all our requests for consular access. The so called legal process done by Pak was opaque: Gopal Baglay,MEA  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

"We don't know where he is kept in Pakistan. We had made 13 requests for consular access to him but Pakistan has denied them so we cannot ascertain any facts about how he is or where he is. The international norm is consular access, India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access. A year has passed but the Pakistan government has also not shared with us any details about his condition or whereabouts. The denial of consular requests makes the veracity of Pakistan's allegations clear," Baglay said.

Baglay said they had clearly informed the Pakistan High Commissioner that the Government of India will consider this as a "premeditated murder" as he was kidnapped despite lack of evidence, he was tried and consular access was denied.

"The Parliament of India has spoken in one voice, the whole country's sentiments are with Jadhav. The government is trying its best to ensure justice to Jadhav but I cannot comment on the details of our plans,"the spokesperson said.

"We had even spoken to the Iran government about Jadhav as he had a legal business there and I have no idea how far their investigation has made progress," he added

About his fake passport and identity, Baglay said, "We cannot ascertain anything since we did not have any consular access. Which kind of spy keeps an original passport with him so I have my doubts on any allegations of him being a spy. We do not know what are the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan until we meet him. We need to know how he came to be in Pakistan in the first place," he added.

The spokesman said he had no information about the alleged abduction of a retired Pakistani military officer in Nepal.

With inputs from agencies
Pakistan may not be in a great hurry to hang alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, but, going by some past precedents, he may rot in jail there for a long time. And considering the global attention being heaped on Jadhavs death sentence, it is more likely that those who run the affairs of the neighbouring country will subject him to a protracted legal process, however farcical that may be, before sending him back to India, if they ever do.

But, have no doubt that the powers-that-be across the border wont return him to India without milking every ounce of political propaganda at home  this is election year in Pakistan. And if Pakistan does indeed let go of him, it wont do it before extracting as much bargaining power with India as possible in its devious, diplomatic games that are the full-time occupation for its military honchos.

Its reasonably safe to presume that, short of hanging Jadhav, Pakistan may do with him what it did with Kashmir Singh, Surjeet Singh, Ravindra Kaushik, Sarabjit Singh and other real and presumed Indian spies in the past. Kashmir and Surjeet returned to India after languishing in Pakistani jails for 35 and 41 years respectively. Ravindra and Sarabjit died miserable deaths in Pakistan after long jail stints.

Thats what India must stop Pakistan from doing to Jadhav. But thats what Pakistan may do, if India doesnt play its cards right. Jadhav may be allowed to move an appellate military court, and if unsuccessful, the high court later. If he still fails to acquit himself, he may finally be permitted to file a mercy petition before the Pakistan President.

The issue may then be left hanging for a painfully long time, and as Jadhav rots in jail, Pakistan will tell India and the world that its the most merciful and benevolent nation that ever existed on the planet  that is scourged by raw wickedness and evil  and that the "law" is taking its due course.

Some previous cases

Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) arrested Indias Kashmir, 32, on Peshawar-Rawalpindi road in 1974, charging him with espionage. An army court sentenced him to death, though there was no evidence of what he was accused of. Two years later, a civil court upheld the sentence. After spending 35 years in different Pakistani jails, his mercy petition caught the benign eyes of the then President General Pervez Musharraf who, "shocked" by the whole thing, ordered Singhs release in 2008.

Four days after Singh crossed the Wagah border to return to India, as a 67-year-old man, he told The Times of India that he had been chained for 17 years in a solitary cell. Singh admitted that he was a spy.

Now take the case of Surjeet, whom the Pakistanis caught during the 1971 war, charged him with spying and dumped him in a jail. He was sentenced to death and even thought to be dead in 1974. An army court awarded him a death sentence in 1985 and, four years later, Pakistans Acting President, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, commuted his death sentence to a life term in jail. In June 2012, then President Asif Ali Zardari granted him mercy and released Surjeet, after he had languished in Pakistani jails for 41 years.

Then there was the legendary case of Ravindra, who was caught in 1983 and slapped with a death sentence two years later. The sentence was commuted to life term later, but he died in jail in 1999, supposedly of tuberculosis and heart disease.

The case of Sarabjit, who allegedly masterminded the bomb attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990, was worse. Though he was sentenced to death in 1991 and never hanged, he died in a Lahore jail in April 2013, under circumstances that continue to baffle Indias intelligence community.

Other Indian spies were relatively luckier. Among them are:

- Balwir Singh (returned to India in 1986, after 12 years in Pakistani jails)

- Vinod Sawhney (returned in 1988, after 11 years)

- Suram Singh (returned in 1988, after 14 years)

- Daniel (returned in 1997, after four years)

- Ramraj (returned in 2004, after eight years)

- Gurbaksh Ram (returned in 2006, after 16 years)

- Ram Prakash (returned in 2008, after 11 years)

Why Jadhavs case is unique

Unlike the past cases, there is no confirmation yet that Jadhav is a spy for Indias espionage agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Its true that even if Jadhav was not employed by RAW, he could still be a spy: Intelligence agencies including the American CIA depute non-employees as "non-official cover" (NOC) agents to give themselves plausible deniability, in case they are caught. But in Jadhavs case, there is no hint of that. All we have is a claim by Pakistan and an alleged confession by Jadhav.

Whats more important is Pakistans claim that Jadhav was "arrested" on 3 March, 2016  while he was snooping around in the Mashkel region of Balochistan  was questioned by former German ambassador to Pakistan Gunter Mulack. He said last year that it was Taliban which had picked up Jadhav near the Afghanistan-Balochistan border and then "sold" him to ISI.

On Wednesday, Mulack, however, told The Times of India that his information was based on "unconfirmed speculation from reliable sources" and that it could be wrong. Yet, the remarks of Mulack, a respected diplomat with creditable contacts in the Middle East, throw enough doubt into Jadhavs alleged arrest.

But the question is no longer whether Jadhav is a spy or an Indian doing some cargo business in Iran, who had been kidnapped and framed. Whatever he is, Pakistans secretive and opaque military trial of Jadhav and the barbaric justice meted out to him are both offensive to human civilisation and a blow to modern diplomatic conventions.

Even more glaring is the fact that Pakistan has not specified the crime Jadhav has allegedly committed. Here is the 10 April press release on his sentence:

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

It only talks of his "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Pakistan. Unlike in the case of Sarabjit, who was accused of abetting bomb attacks that killed 14 people in Pakistan, there is no specific charge against Jadhav.

Nor does Jadhavs alleged confession, whose transcript was released last year, go into specifics. It only mentions his meetings with Baloch rebels and activities of a "criminal" nature.

Besides, the timing of both Jadhavs "arrest" and the announcement of his death sentence raise suspicions. The "arrest" was announced last year, just before a team from that country was scheduled to visit the Pathankot airbase, which had been attacked by terrorists. But was it just a coincidence?

In all probability, Pakistans military feared that the delegations visit to Pathankot would corroborate Indias allegations of cross-border terrorism and might even lead to improved relations between the two countries, an idea that is allergic to the generals in Rawalpindi.

Then came the second coincidence, if its one. Jadhavs death sentence was announced just four days after former Pakistan Army officer Mohammad Habib Zahir went "missing" at Lumbini in Nepal, near the Indian border. Did Pakistan fear that India had captured the officer and was about to expose what he had been doing? Or did they apprehend that India would use him to bargain for Jadhavs release?

And was it also a coincidence that Jadhavs sentence was announced less than a week after the US offered to mediate, to de-escalate India-Pakistan tension? Did Pakistan intend to show up India as a terror-monger?

As the villain in Ian Flemings James Bond novel Goldfinger said, "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

Author tweets @sprasadindia
Nearly 400 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra in January this year, according to a government report cited by CNN-News18.

The news channel also reported that farm loans were the main reason farmers in the state were committing suicide, adding that the exact number of farmer suicides in January is 390.

According to the report, 1,982 farmers committed suicide in the state in 2014, 3,228 in 2015 and 3,052 in 2016.

Maharashtra is also reportedly studying the Uttar Pradesh model on farm loan waivers.

As per figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau, farmer suicides in the country rose by 42 percent between 2014 and 2015. Farmers in Maharashtra have faced two consecutive droughts and the recent unseasonal showers have damaged yield in parts of Marathwada.

Farmers from Maharashtra are planning a strike from 1 June in a bid to draw the state government's attention to their problems.

The strike would involve not selling agri produce in market and not engaging in any fresh crop growing activities. This decision was taken at a meeting of farmers at Puntamba village in Rahata tehsil of Ahmednagar district on 3 April.

The farmers' demands include loan waiver, free electricity, appropriate price for their produce, grant for irrigation and higher price for milk. The agitation will not involve any political party or leaders.

The Devendra Fadnavis government has also been facing a lot of criticism from Opposition parties and its ally Shiv Sena, which have been demanding farm loan waivers for distressed farmers.

The Sena had made a representation to the chief minister, demanding loan waiver for farmers. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had even said that if their demand is accepted, his party would extend support to the BJP for the rest of the five-year term.

The Congress, also in a representation to the chief minister on the issue, had said that ever since the BJP government came to power, the condition of farmers has deteriorated and there has been a rise in farmer suicides in the last two years.

Fadnavis has said that the government "will study how Uttar Pradesh will raise such a huge amount" and "decision of waiving farm loan is the prerogative of the government".

With inputs from PTI
The incident in which a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines plane has naturally created worries about whether something like that could happen in India.

While an incident as violent as that has never happened in India, over 15,000 passengers were denied boarding by Indian carriers last year, reported The Economic Times. The report also said that three out of four such flyers were booked on Jet Airways.

The report also said that the ratio of passengers offloaded each year in India is less than the global average. Last year, ten carriers flew 9.98 crore passengers in India, out of which 15,675 were denied boarding or offloaded.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of embattled United Airlines unequivocally apologised on Tuesday for an incident in which a passenger was forcefully removed from the plane and bloodied in the process.

The apology came amid a torrent of criticism of the carrier's actions on a Sunday flight and its initial explanations.

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 apologise to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard," CEO Oscar Munoz had 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.

US media had 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 had written.

With inputs from AFP
Amid simmering anger, hundreds of concerned villagers have fled their homes in the poll-bound Budgam district of central Kashmir after the Election Commission of India decided to hold re-polling in 38 stations of Srinagar parliamentary constituency that witnessed unprecedented street violence and attacks on polling booths last Sunday. The unanticipated violence  that has shaken the security establishment  left eight people dead and more than 150 injured across the Lok Sabha constituency. Most of the killings took place in Budgam district that has largely remained peaceful during previous polls and was declared a militancy-free district just some years ago.

"We fled our homes as soon as a large convoy of forces were deployed in our village. No one knows what is going to happen during the night or tomorrow, so everyone has fled to other districts," Tariq Ahmad Mir, a resident of Safdeen Galwanpora, told Firstpost in Srinagar.

On Sunday afternoon, the day of polling in Srinagar, the Galwanpora polling station was attacked by protesters while the voting was going on and protesters damaged the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at the centre. Several members of polling staff, who were manhandled, suffered minor injuries.

"Our village witnessed massive violence on Sunday. Police and paramilitary soldiers were beaten up and polling staff thrown out of polling booths, Jameel Ahmad Shah, another resident of the village, said. It's the same story in many areas across the Budgam district that has previously remained peaceful, recording the lowest insurgency-related violence in the Kashmir Valley in the past decade. People from Dharambug village camping in a mosque on Airport Road in Srinagar, said they saw massive deployment of forces in their village.

"There are old women in a few houses in the village. All the middle-aged men and youngsters left in the afternoon. Although no one was arrested from our area, there is a possibility that forces might ransack the place and carry out arrests in the night, so we decided to move to Srinagar," a Dharambug village, Khursheed Ahmad Wani, told Firstpost, adding, "This is the first time I have seen people moving out of their homes and travelling to safer places. Earlier they would queue outside polling stations to cast their votes."

Amateur videos shot by people during Sunday's violence documenting manhandling of the CRPF men and polling staff, and vandalisation of the polling station, have found their way onto social media, sparking panic among the youth and triggering a migration of sorts with hundreds of youngsters scampering for cover to escape the police dragnet.

There are massive security arrangements in place in the Budgam district with the deployment of more than 50 companies of paramilitary troopers to ensure that the day passes incident-free. The location of polling stations has not been changed which may explain why massive security arrangements has been made. According to officials, every polling booth will have at least one company of forces attached for the daylong exercise.

The police has arrested scores of youth from various areas of the district while the Hurriyat has called for a complete shutdown in the poll-bound areas. Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told Firspost the main concern of the poll body is to hold peaceful polls and enough security measures remain in place to ensure safety of voters. "If extra forces have been deployed, it has been to done to ensure free and fair polls. We hope the day passes without a bad incident," he said.

Director-General of Police SP Vaid has also made an appeal of calm to the youngsters, saying the loss of lives is "painful" and has "disastrous effect" on the families of the deceased.
Srinagar: The voter turnout in the first three hours of repolling in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabah constituency on Thursday has been an abysmal one percent. Only 344 voters of the 34,169 eligible persons cast their votes across all polling stations till 10 am, officials said in Srinagar.

No votes were polled in Budgam and Khansahib assembly segments while only two votes were polled in Chrar-e-Sharief segment of the Lok Sabha constituency in the corresponding period, they said.

Chadoora, which was worst hit by violence during Sunday's polling, recorded 200 votes while Beerwah assembly segment saw 142 people turn up to vote, the officials said. Eight persons were killed in security forces firing on rampaging protestors on Sunday.

The Election Commission has ordered a repoll on 38 worst affected polling stations. Security forces have been deployed in strength in and around the polling stations to ensure that the events of Sunday are not repeated on Thursday.

Normal life across Budgam district remained affected due to the strike called by the separatists against the polling and prohibitory orders issued by the authorities under Section 144 CrPC for maintaining law and order.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested Suresh Chavhanke, the editor of pro-Hindutva news channel Sudarshan TV, from Lucknow airport on charges of inciting communal sentiments, The Times of India reported.

According to the report, Chavhanke was arrested before he could lead a mob against a particular community in communally-sensitive Sambhal district, where the district administration was attacked by locals on 29 March.

Ravi Shankar Chabbi, a 2007 batch IPS officer, was quoted by the publication as saying that Chavhanke had been airing content that was vitiating the communal harmony in the district.

The Hindu reported that Chavhanke has been booked under Sections 153 A(1), 295A and 505(1)B of the Indian Penal Code.

The report also added that the editor was also booked under section 16 of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1955.

The police said that it was forced to take action agaisnt Chavhanke after prominant members of different communities complained against the communally-charged content in his show Bindaas Bol.

The report noted that Chavhanke is well known for his vocal support to the Hindutva movement, who has often termed other media houses as "jehadi media".

When contacted for the channel's response, the channel had said that it condemned any attempt to suppress and intimidate the media.

"We condemn any act to suppress and the intimidate the media. To protest this I will reach Sambhal on 13 April," a statement issued by Chavhanke said.

The Government had assured Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that it would take action against a TV channel in Uttar Pradesh. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said, "We cannot allow anyone to disturb peace and communal harmony."

"Media's independence is one thing but it cannot be so free that it spreads communal disharmony in various parts of the country. We have taken note of it and will take action," Naqvi had said.

Chavhanke was in news last November, when a former employee of the news channel accused him along with Narain Sai, the son of godman Asaram Bapu of raping her.

With inputs from PTI
While the Uttar Pradesh government plans to collect the opinion of Muslim women on triple talaq to be presented before the Supreme Court, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) gears up to "do away with the practice in a year-and-a-half". Dr Sayeed Sadiq, vice-president of the body also stated that "there was no need for government interference.

But the question is when triple talaq is "unfair to women", according to the AIMPLB itself, why does the body need "one-and-a-half-years" to end the practice?

One of the most crucial question in this regard that has for long been echoed in the progressive Muslim circles is this: when the triple talaq in one sitting has no sanction in the major Islamic countries, why and how long will it remain valid for the Indian Muslims, even on the societal level?

In an earlier Firstpost article, the very question was raised with reference to what Prof Tahir Mahmood, an Indian expert on the Muslim law and former member of the Law Commission of India, had said: "It is banned all over the Muslim world. Why should India be sticking to this 7th-century law?"

A senior Muslim journalist and Islamic affairs expert, Sultan Shahin, has debated this for quite a long time in his website NewAgeIslam.com. His question was: Why should Indian Muslim women not deserve the protection of Islam provided to their counterparts in Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere, practically in the entire Islamic world, except Saudi Arabia? Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, even Yemen and Sudan have more modern Muslim personal laws than India. Why should Indian Muslims suffer the indignities imposed by the British in our land under an Anglo-Mohammedan law?"

Most staggeringly, even the orthodox Muslim leaders in India like Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and a member of AIMPLB, seem to have sensed, though lately, the predicament of this practice. Recently, Owaisi spoke to The Times of India on the issue and stated: "Muslim man divorcing (his) wife without reason, must be socially boycotted. Triple talaq is not the best way, but it happens."

As a matter of fact, India's Muslim intelligentsia and the clergy or ulema are dilly-dallying for too long on the issue of the oral triple talaq. But if it is abolished in the Indian Muslim society, as it is apparent from the dissenting debates in the community, this reform will count nothing new in the Islamic world. It would not turn out to be an isolated phenomenon in India. As studies have shown, around 22 progressive Muslim countries have reformed their divorce laws during the last few decades. Even the traditionalist ulema who were vehemently opposed to the amendments in the "Shariah of talaq" are now happy to consider three talaqs in one sitting as only one. The Indian Islamic scholars and the well-established ulema will have to engage with the same gigantic task of "creative rethinking" or what is called ijtihad in the canonical jurisprudential terminology of the Islamic law. Sooner or later, they are fated to realise that it is an indispensable requirement for their own socio-religious wellbeing.

Let's take a look at some of the major reforms in the divorce laws in Islamic countries.

Egypt

Today, Egypt is looked up as the intellectual centre of the Sunni Islamic clergy, as it is home to the largest seminary of the Sunni Islam  Jamia Al-Azhar in Cairo. Surprisingly, Cairo was the first Muslim government which introduced substantial reforms in the Islamic laws of divorce in 1929.

Since the Shafae'e Madhab (school) is the most prevalent in Egypt, if a husband says to his wife, "I Divorce you 100 times", it will count as only one. This might go against the consensus (ijma) of the Indian Sunni Islamic jurists (fuqaha'). But the Egyptian court accorded the provision that pronouncing talaq once, twice or thrice, explicitly or implicitly, shall count just one talaq (al-talaq al-wahidah). It also enjoined that such a divorce is revocable except in the case of triple talaq pronounced in three different sittings  one in each period between menstruations, something which is called tuhr (purity) in the Islamic jurisprudence (Article 3 of Law No. 25 of 1929, as amended by Law No. 100 of 1985 Concerning Certain Provisions on Personal Status in Egypt).

Syria

Though Syria is known as an Islamic country influenced by the Ithna Asharis, Alawites, Ismailis and other offshoots of the Shia Islam, Sunnis still make up 74% of the total Muslim population, mostly of the Arab, Kurdish and Turkoman ethnicities. They belong to both majority schools of Islamic law  Hanafi and Shafi'i. An overwhelming number of the Sufi-oriented Sunnis like the Naqshbandiyah and Qadiriya are practising Sunni Muslims in Syria. In this volatile, yet very significant Islamic country, the divorce law was reformed in 1953. The Article 92 of the Personal Status Law in Syria states that if talaq is pronounced explicitly or implicitly with any number, only one divorce shall count, and every divorce will be considered revocable except the third one and the divorce before consummation. Notably, the Syrian law of divorce combines the provisions of the Egyptian and the Sudanese laws.

Sudan

In Sudan, which is also home to a sizeable population of the Sunni-Hanafi Muslims, the divorce law was reformed in 1935. According to the Article 3, Shariah Circular No. 41/1935 of Sudan, all the divorces by a husband are revocable except the third one and the divorce before the marriage consummation.

Tunisia

In Tunisia, Muslims including the Sunni Hanafis have gone one step further in the reformation of the divorce law. The Article 30 of the Tunisian Code of Personal Status, says that divorce pronounced outside a court of law will have no validity of any effect. In addition, the article 32 enjoins: "No divorce shall be decreed except after the court has made an intensive inquiry into the causes of the marital conflict and has failed to reconcile between the two marriage partners". This comprehensive reform in the divorce law was brought in Tunisia in 1956.

Algeria

The majority of Algerian citizens are Sunni Muslims belonging to different Islamic schools and sects including the Ibadi Muslims who are dominant in Oman and have a presence in Tunisia, Libya and East African Muslim countries. Notably, Sufism also emerged in Algeria in reaction to the theocracy which was arising earlier in the Orthodox observance of Islamic precepts and practices in the country. Going by the Algerian Muslim law (as stated in the Article 49 of Law No 84-II of 9 June 1984 in the Family Law of Algeria), a "divorce may only be established by a court judgment preceded by an attempt at reconciliation by the judge which shall not exceed a period of three months.

Sri Lanka

Similarly, Sri Lankas Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act as amended up to 2006, provides that a husband intending to divorce his wife "shall give notice of his intention to the qazi [Islamic jurist] who shall initiate the reconciliation between the spouses "with the help of the relatives of the parties and of the elders and other influential Muslims of the area". However, if the reconciliation efforts prove fruitless after thirty days of the notice given to the qazi, the husband, if he desires to proceed with the divorce, shall pronounce the talaq in the presence of the qazi and two witnesses". (Marriage and Divorce Muslim Act, 1951 as amended till 2006, section 27 and Rules 1 and 2 Second Schedule). This ongoing reformation started in Sri Lanka in 1951. But according to available information sources, the law does not give more practical details on a divorce given without following this procedure. Nevertheless, the Marriage and Divorce (Muslim) Act which was amended up to 2006, seems to be an ideal legislation for the Indian Sunni-Hanafi Islam conflated with the issue of the triple talaq.

Malaysia

The Kuala Lumpur-based International Islamic University held several key seminars and conferences to discuss the Divorce Reform Act 1969 (DRA). For instance, one of the same university's female Islamic intellectuals, Zaleha Kamaruddin wrote in her research work Introduction to Divorce Laws in Malaysia: "Malaysian state of Sarawak, which is the family law of the country, prescribes that a husband who desires to divorce his wife has to request a court to look into the causes of proposed divorce and advises the husband not to proceed with it. However, if the differences are irreconcilable, then the husband may pronounce one divorce before the court".

Other Malaysian Muslim thinkers like Ahmad Ibrahim (Family Law in Malaysia, a paper published in Malayan Law Journal), Mehrun Siraj (Conciliation Procedures in Divorce Proceedings) also detailed the reforms introduced in the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 in the 7th Malaysian Law Conference, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, from 31 October to 2 November in 1983.

However, this is an ongoing reformation by the Malaysian government like in Sri Lanka. Although the Malaysian state of Sarawak does not recognise a divorce pronounced outside the court, the triple talaq, if pronounced explicitly with the number 3, is effective in the court. Moreover, the practice has a common prevalence in this Muslim-majority country. "If a husband utters even the first lafaz of talaq (or talak in Malay) with the three digits, it is still accepted in the society of Malaysia", Saidatul Akmar, a female intellectual of the Malaysian organisation, Rahmatul-lil-Alameen told this writer.

Besides these Islamic countries, many other global Muslim societies have also adopted progressive Islamic postulates as the guidelines for the gradual reformation and progression in their personal laws. Jordan (in 1957), Afghanistan (in 1958), Libya (in 1959), Kuwait (in 1976) and Yemen (in 1977) adopted similar laws on the Islamic divorce or talaq.

The list also includes the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Morocco and Bahrain being the latest countries which embraced and incorporated the remarkable reforms in triple talaq introduced by the above-mentioned Muslim countries. Clearly, the procedure laid down in the laws of these Muslim-majority countries seem to be in harmony with the well-known Quranic procedure of talaq, which was also enshrined and exhorted by the Prophet. As far as Iran and its strict Shariah laws are concerned, since it is the Shiite-majority country in the Muslim world, triple talaq doesnt have a validity whatsoever.

The author is a scholar of classical Islamic studies, cultural analyst and researcher in media and communication studies. He tweets at @GRDehlvi and can be contacted at grdehlavi@gmail.com
A seven-member expert committee, set up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to study the ecological damage caused to Yamuna floodplain allegedly by Sri Sri Ravishankars Art of Living (AOL) Foundation, in its 31-page report has stated that it would cost Rs 42 crore towards restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged site.

The panel in its report has recommended an action plan for physical restoration of the plain and ecological rehabilitation of flora and fauna, suggesting earliest implementation with extensive monitoring by a team of experts.

NGT Committee Report on AOL by Firstpost on Scribd

"The suggested plan has two componentsphysical and biologicalof ecological rehabilitation of the site, which would cost Rs 42 crore along with expenditure on the monitoring by a team of experts for 10 years and cost of transportation of material outside the floodplain, the report mentioned. While, the physical component will cost Rs 28.73 crore, which should be completed in two years period, the biological component is estimated to cost Rs 13.29 crore and required to be accomplished over a period of 10 years.

"Now, we hope that the process of restoration of the devastated flood plains shall start in right earnest. The case is still on. Next date of hearing is on 20 April, when action on this report shall be decided by the NGT, Manoj Misra, convener of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, an NGO working for the restoration of the river told Firstpost, after NGT made the report public on Wednesday. Misra is also a petitioner in this case against AOL. The expert committee, headed by Shashi Shekhar, Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources, has informed the green panel that major restoration work has to be carried out to compensate for the damage to Yamuna floodplains.

The NGT ordered formation of a seven-member committee in June 2016 with a direction that the panel would study the environmental damage and degradation caused by holding the World Culture Festival (WCF) on Yamuna floodplains and the environmental compensation payable for restoration of the floodplain.

AOL had organised a three-day international event  World Culture Festival from 11-13 March, 2016, in which lakhs of visitors from across the globe participated. "It has been estimated that approximately 120 hectares (about 300 acres) of floodplains of west (right bank) of the river Yamuna and about 50 hectares (120 acres) floodplains of the eastern side (left bank) of the river have been adversely impacted ecologically at different magnitudes, the report mentioned.

The expert panel, in its stinging report submitted in 2016 to a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had observed that the entire floodplain area used for the main event site, namely between DND flyover and the Barapulla drain (on the right bank of river Yamuna), has been completely destroyed, not simply damaged. The ground is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened and is totally devoid of water bodies or depressions and almost completely devoid of any vegetation. The area where the grand stage was erected (and the area immediately behind it) is heavily consolidated  most likely with a different kind of external material used to level the ground and compress it. Huge amount of earth and debris have been dumped to construct the ramps for access from the DND flyover and from the two pontoon bridges across the Barapulla drain."

However, ahead of the festival the green tribunal allowed AOL to hold the three-day festival, while expressing its helplessness in banning the event because of fait accompli. Simultaneously, the NGT had imposed Rs 5 core as interim environment compensation on AOL foundation. It also recommended a fine of Rs 120 crore on them for violation of ecological norms.

The Yamuna floodplain is a highly sensitive ecological zone. To organise its culture festival, the AOL Foundation has illegally cleared the entire stretch of wetland and marshy area. Its total devastation and we fail to understand how the person (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar), an apostle of non-violence and spiritualism can allow it, Misra had told Firstpost in March 2016. Firstpost had extensively reported the issue in 2016.

Previous committees

In the past, the NGT had set up a three-member committee and a four-member committee respectively in 2014 and 2015 to look into various aspects of Yamuna floodplain.

Again in February 2016, a four-member committee visited the festival site when AOLs preparation was in full swing. After making an in-depth study, the committee in its report had recommended that AOL should be made responsible for funding the restoration plan as a penalty and a total cost of restoration of the floodplain will be in the order of Rs 100-120 crore.

Another co-petitioner and environmentalist Anand Arya remarked, "Following the damning report of damage to flood plain, the expert committee submitted its report in November 2016 on the restoration costs. After five months delay, it has just been released by NGT today. Besides, estimated restoration cost of Rs 42 crore, at the minimum, Rs 9 crore worth of ground water recharge is already lost in 2016-17 and another Rs 9 crore would be lost in 2017-18 before the work is sanctioned and begins. This loss is Rs 90 crore over a period of 10 years it would take to restore. We would be filing our response to this report in NGT soon.

Limitation of the present report

The committees report has mentioned that there are certain constraints/ limitation to ecological restoration of the site. It is extremely difficult to assess the cost of environmental damage and degradation accurately as it requires various resources including manpower and time to collect quantitative details on the nature, extent and magnitude of various activities undertaken by AOL while setting up the paraphernalia during WCF, a source close to the committee told Firstpost on condition of anonymity.
Chandigarh: Terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser", Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month.

"Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father," the chief minister alleged during a programme in a private TV channel.

"There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them," he claimed.

On the issue of beef ban, the Punjab chief minister said, people has the right to and should be allowed to eat whatever they want.

Amarinder also made it clear he was not in favour of a ban on Pakistani artistes, and said he would be happy to invite them to Punjab and would also love to visit Pakistan again.

Urging New Delhi to be wary of China on the other border, he said it is time to mend fences and make friends with Pakistan.

Recalling England's 'War of Roses', the Chief Minister said the India-Pakistan tension is going the same way and needs to give way to peace.

Asserting that there a deliberate malicious attempt by vested interests to pull down Rahul Gandhi, he urged the people to give the Congress vice president a chance.

Amarinder said he had always found Rahul Gandhi extremely perceptive and willing to listen, besides being open to suggestions and ideas.

He admitted that the AAP had posed a challenge in the recently-concluded assembly polls, and claimed that their failure to project a Punjabi for the Chief Minister's post cost them heavy.

AAP had no future unless they change their style of functioning, the chief minister said and states have to work with the Centre and it is important to maintain a working relationship.

Amarinder claimed that He had excellent relations with the previous NDA government at the Centre during his last tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Referring to his governments crackdown on drugs, he said with the STF launching a crackdown, things were moving in the right direction.

Hundreds of youngsters were voluntarily coming to the rehabilitation centres and the anti-drugs helpline had so far received more than 4,000 calls, Amarinder said

He, however, ruled out formation of an Unified Command of the northern Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir, to fight drugs and terrorism.

Responding to a question, Amarinder said though the NIA had given a clean chit to former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh in the Pathankot terror attack, he had not done the same and would bring the police officer to book.

On the contentious SYL issue, the chief minister reiterated his stand that the state had no water to spare and pointed out that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken note of his concern on the issue.
The results of the 10 Assembly seats where bypolls were held on 9 April have been declared  BJP has won five seats, Congress three, TMC one and JMM one. BJP recorded a gain of two seats while Congress, TMC and JMM maintained their position. BJP gained one seat from AAP in Delhi and the other one from BSP in Rajasthan.

A close scrutiny of the results reveals five key themes:

BJP continues its victory march

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has maintained its electoral momentum, which has been visible across municipal and state elections over the last few months. It retained the three seats it held in Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

In Assam, BJP won the state elections comfortably last year, hence the result was along expected lines. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has been in power for the past 14 years. The Bandhavgarh seat fell vacant since BJPs sitting MLA, Gyan Singh, won the Lok Sabha bypolls of Sahdol last year. His son, Shivnarayan, has now won that seat.

But the real heartening news for BJP came from Rajasthan. This by-election was touted as a referendum on state chief minister Vasundhara Rajes government and she has come out with flying colours. BJP had fielded BSP MLA BL Kushwah's wife from this seat.

Rajasthan has a history of voting out incumbent governments for the past three decades. Hence, Congress has a good chance in 2018 state elections despite this setback and Sachin Pilot needs to work much harder.

Arguably the biggest boost for BJP has come from Delhi, where an Akali Dal candidate contesting on BJP symbol snatched the Rajouri seat from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This will give a fillip to its bid to retain the MCD polls to be held 10 days later, on 22 April. It remains to be seen though whether this win will become a trend in the capital or not.

The BJP candidate in Kanthi Dakshin in West Bengal finished second, surpassing the Left and Congress. It bagged 30.97 percent vote share  three times the vote share it recorded in the last Assembly polls in 2016. BJP looks well placed to emerge as the main opposition party to state chief minister Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, in 2021, if it plays its cards well.

Congress holds onto its ground

There is some good news for the Grand Old Party as well. It managed to hold onto its tally, retaining one seat in Madhya Pradesh and 2 seats in Karnataka. Though the Karnataka seats are strongholds of Congress, its a blow of sorts to Yeddyurappas efforts to make a comeback in 2018. Congress increased its margin in both these seats.

Deve Gowdas party JDS did not contest these elections, which seem to have helped Congress candidates. A big sigh of relief for Siddaramaiah as these polls were made out to be a prestige issue. JDS will play a key role in determining who wins 2018 Karnataka elections.

In Ater in Madhya Pradesh, Congress looks to retain the seat. It is leading by 10,000 votes after the 17th round of counting. It seems that a sympathy wave helped Congress retain the seat. However, too much should not be read into the impact of this victory on the MP polls next year.

In Delhi, the Congree party candidate managed to finish 2nd from the Rajouri seat, with 33.23 percent vote share (+21 percent). This has raised hopes for a good show in the upcoming MCD polls and the revival of party fortunes.

Congress, which could not open its account in Delhi in 2015, is hoping for a strong comeback in the MCD polls. A portion of its vote bank  comprising Dalits, Muslims, poor class  which moved to AAP seems to have come back, at least in this seat.

AAP routed in Delhi

AAP finished a poor third in the Rajouri seat, with 13.12 percent vote share (-33 percent). Congress has made a strong comeback. AAP had managed to snatch significant vote share from Congress in the 2013 and 2015 state polls.

Congress' improved performance is in fact bad news for AAP. This might also affect its MCD polls performance. This is a big blow for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his gang. He may come out and blame the electronic voting machines (EVMs) again, but this would not go down well with the public.

Not much time is left and the party has to do serious introspection as to why it lost so badly. The presence of Yogendra Yadavs Swaraj Party could also harm AAP in the MCD polls.

Regional parties maintain their strongholds

Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have managed to retain their seats. While TMC was widely expected to win, BJP had hoped that Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das' governments performance will help it snatch Litiparah from JMM. However, the margin is lower compared to last elections.

Dynasty rules the root

While a feeling persists that the young new India doesnt like dynasty politics, and this is considered one of the key reasons for Rahul Gandhis failure, these polls prove otherwise. Both candidates who won in Madhya Pradesh are sons of ex-MLAs. The BJP candidate who won in Rajasthan is the wife of an ex-BSP MLA.

To conclude, these bypolls brought good news for both BJP and Congress. BJP continues to record strong performances in all electoral outings whereas the Congress holds onto to whatever is left with it. Regional parties like TMC and JMM also dominate in their strongholds.

We need to watch out if these trends will hold true in the upcoming MCD polls later this month and the Assembly elections due in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh next year.

The author is an independent political commentator and co-author of the book Battle of Bihar. He can be reached @politicalbaaba
Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane on Thursday refuted speculations of joining the BJP. The denial came in wake of television channels showing pictures of both Rane and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the same vehicle which was reportedly on its way to BJP President Amit Shah's residence in Ahmedabad last night.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, the former chief minister admitted being in Ahmedabad last night but denied reports that he met Shah along with Fadnavis.

"There is something wrong in the pictures. They are not true," he said.

Rane said there is no talk of him quitting the Congress.

"There is no proposal or discussion to quit the Congress as yet. When I take such a decision, I will speak out," he said.

Rane said his disillusionment is out of the need for the Congress party to be strong and win the next elections.

"Even though I met (Congress Vice-President) Rahul Gandhi recently, no steps are being taken to strengthen the Congress. Rahul heard me out but there is no solution to my grievances as yet," he said.

In a jibe at Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan, Rane said he has never demanded that Chavan be replaced. "How can I ask for replacement of someone is doing such a brilliant job."

When asked about his son Nilesh Rane leaving no opportunity to target Chavan, Rane said, "Nilesh is a former MP and has a voice of his own. He can have different views."

The Konkan leader also said there was an offer from BJP in 2014 to him to join the party.

"I did not say yes or no. Even Ramdas Athavale wanted me to join his party (RPI-A)," he said.

Rane said he has travelled with Fadnavis on two occasions earlier.

"I was in Ahmedabad yesterday for personal work but did not meet anybody. I was back in Mumbai this morning at 6.45 am. If I wanted to quit the Congress, I would not have met anybody. I will take a decision directly and my meeting with Fadnavis and Shah would have remained a secret," he said.

Rane said he had a personal meeting at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

"I don't go out after 10.30 pm so there is no question of me meeting Shah at night. Does any one have a video grab of me stepping out of Shah's house. Recently BJP minister Jaykumar Raval met me at my Kankavli home. Will I discuss joining BJP with him sitting in my living room," he asked.

He said he met Fadnavis during the recently concluded Budget session as well.
Bengal, for many decades now, has had the dubious distinction of being a state where political violence is widespread, even in normal times.

In the past, Congress and various shades of Left parties (Communist parties as well as ultra-radical Naxal groups) had been the principal executors of such violence. Post-2014, however, we find that a third force, represented by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has begun to aggressively articulate this language of violence. Their target: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

On Wednesday, BJP youth wing leader Yogesh Varshney declared a Rs 11 lakh bounty on Banerjee's head. According to a report by news agency ANI, Varshney had said, "Those who will bring West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's head, I will give that person Rs 11 lakh. Mamata Banerjee never allows Saraswati Puja, fairs during Ram Navami; during Hanuman Jayanti procession, people were lathi charged and brutally beaten up. She organises Iftar party and always supports Muslims."

Apparently, the BJP leader was enraged by the police lathi charge on a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Birbhum district. This is not the first time Sangh Parivar leaders have handed out violent threats. Nor is this the first time that some among them have declared bounties on heads of rival party leaders. Only last month, Kundan Chandrawat, RSS's mahanagar sahprachar pramukh in Ujjain, had announced a Rs 1 crore reward to anyone who would bring him the head of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

By now there is an identifiable pattern that has emerged to the verbal and physical violence routinely being unleashed by activists and leaders of numerous RSS affiliates. The strength of these affiliates is not important. Fuelling this new-found aggression and confidence is the numerically strong BJP-led central government, and the many victories the party has recently notched up in different state Assembly elections.

Within a span of just two years, three rationalists  Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi  were assassinated by members of a pro-Hindutva, right-wing fringe group. Taking the law into their own hands, members of cow protection groups are randomly beating up  even killing  people suspected of slaughtering cows or eating beef.

And if such violent activities are playing out outside the formal political system, local leaders of the Sangh Parivar are issuing dire threats to the political opposition within the system as well.

In Bengal specifically, the RSS had been biding time  waiting for this moment to arrive. True, the BJP's performance in terms of seats in the 2016 Assembly election was nothing to write home about. But the party had increased its vote share from the last Assembly election in 2011. RSS leaders maintain that they have been working on a "long term Bengal project". They also say that the Narendra Modi government's victory has advanced their ideological project in the state.

This is the context within which one must locate the aggression of the state's BJP leaders. Rewind to last December. Dilip Ghosh, BJP's Bengal state president, publicly abused and threatened Mamata Banerjee. "She (Mamata) went to Delhi and had her programmes of protests unopposed. We could have dragged her by (her) hair and threw her out if we wanted," Ghosh said.

Coming under fire from opposition leaders, Ghosh, predictably, apologised for this remark. Just like BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya predictably told the media that he doesn't agree with Yogesh Varshney's remarks. "Don't agree with such remarks. There is anger against Mamataji for her appeasement politics, but can't support violence," Vijayvargiya said.

However, the qualifier (denouncing Banerjee for her appeasement politics) indicates an ambivalent approach, and lends tacit support to such threats of violence.

In a communally sensitive state like Bengal, BJP and RSS are deliberately  and dangerously  using strategies to deepen polarisation, create an atmosphere of anxiety. Consider in this context Dilip Ghosh's recent inflammatory remarks, daring the police to prevent Hindu religious organisations from taking out Ram Navami processions brandishing tridents and swords on 5 April.

The Times of India on 2 April quoted Ghosh as saying, "Who are the police to issue permission? In Ram Rajya, people worshipped Ram for centuries. Do we have to take permission for that? It is ludicrous. People in Bengal will worship Ram and this time they will do it with arms. If we are few, only then will the law be used against us. A showdown of the Hindus here will help protect the temples those feeling uneasy with it are free to leave India. Nothing will matter if two to four crore people cross over. You are welcome to move out of India."

There is only one way to deal with such leaders going rogue: Strip them of the offices they occupy and sack them from the party. But who will take such a move when the entire political strategy of the Sangh Parivar works to exploit exactly these faultlines?
Its tempting to read too much into the results of the by-elections in two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. The Indian National Congress, which won the Nanjangud and Gundlupet seats in the 2013 Assembly election, has retained them now with improved victory margins. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had hoped to win both or at least one.

It would be absurd to see these results as a pointer to the outcome of the Assembly election next year. Yet, it would be equally preposterous to dismiss them altogether. Leaders of both the Congress and the BJP agreed before the polling that while the two by-elections would be no referendum, they would indicate the mood of the people. The results have indeed indicated that in a good measure. Besides, they also throw enough on the state of the parties and their leaders.

The BJP had based its hopes on caste equations, the Narendra Modi factor, anti-incumbency against the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and, most importantly, defectors from Congress. It banked heavily on Srinivasa Prasad, a noted Dalit in the region who had defected from the Congress after Siddaramaiah dropped him from the cabinet last year. Prasads resignation from Congress and the Assembly caused the Nanjangud by-election.

The BJP took comfort from the hope that state party president BS Yeddyurappas upper-caste Lingayat community and the Dalits, who together form approximately half the electorate in both the constituencies, would ensure a smooth sailing for it. They didnt.

The BJP also attracted former chief minister SM Krishna and a few others from Congress into the party. Its strategy of wooing defectors from other parties, notably from Congress, to win Assembly elections in the last couple of years across India, has failed in Karnataka.

The BJP in Karnataka also failed to learn other more important lessons from the partys own spectacular victories in the recent Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. While castes dont vote as singular blocks, getting the caste equations right, though important in elections, is not the only thing that oils the electoral machine.

In the reserved constituency of Nanjangud, its safe to presume that a good number of Dalits rejected Prasad, a Dalit, and a majority of Lingayats voted against the BJP whose president is one of their clan. As the UP result established beyond doubt, voters preferred a party with agenda  BJP in this case  while not totally disregarding caste. The Congress lacked an agenda in UP and Uttarakhand besides a caste-based strategy. All it had was a one-point programme of attacking Modi.

Similarly, in Karnataka, all that BJP had in the by-election to the two seats, besides a caste strategy, was a single talking point: ripping Siddaramaiah apart.

In the other constituency of Gundlupet, Congress candidate Geeta Mahadeva Prasad, a Lingayat, won largely on account of the good work of her husband Mahadeva Prasad, whose death caused the by-election, and partly because of voter "sympathy" for her. The BJP did better in Gundlupet than it died in Nanjangud constituency, another fact that proves that engineering defections are no sure-fire magic to win votes.

While all is not lost for the BJP in Karnataka, at least not yet, the results clearly cast a doubt on the invincibility and style of Yeddyurappas leadership and his control over the Lingayat community. Always brimming with cocksure confidence about winning the next years assembly election, Yeddyurappa tends to be abrasive, nearly arrogant and has made a habit of rubbing some party leaders on the wrong side.

You cant miss the air of a chief-minister-in-the-making with which Yeddyurappa walks around. It will be no surprise if the by-election defeats give his detractors within the party a new voice.

The BJP in Karnataka, in general, and Yeddyurappa, in particular, must learn that vituperative attacks on an incumbent chief minister do not automatically translate anti-incumbency into votes for it unless it's accompanied by a constructive narrative of what the challenging party will do if elected.

Bogged down by scandals and infighting from the start, Siddaramaiah has not covered himself with glory during the four years of his chief ministership, and the BJP leadership in Bengaluru and Delhi must ask itself whether it is doing enough to exploit anti-incumbency for the benefit of their party. The party in Karnataka has a vibrant cadre on the ground but has no dynamic leadership at the top or in the middle.

On his part, Siddaramaiah should know that winning by-elections in two constituencies by no means could lead to a thumping victory in elections to the 224-seat Assembly a year from now. Caste equations and other local factors vary from place to place. At best, the two victories will send his stock up within the Congress and will shut up his detractors at least for now. And the Congress High Command, which has been on a losing spree across India, will see him as a hero of sorts.

Both Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa turned the two by-elections into a battle between themselves. The chief minister spent nearly a fortnight in the two constituencies along with nearly all his cabinet ministers. Yeddyurappa camped there for nearly a month. And even if the results of the two polls mean little for their two parties in next years election, they mean a lot to the two leaders personally.

Yeddyurappa has clearly lost the battle. Whether or not he will win the war next year will depend on the lessons he will learn from the by-election in the two Assembly seats.

The author tweets @sprasadindia
Nasrullahpora, Budgam: The government middle school in Nasrullahpora village in Budgam district functioned from a rented building. The ugly structure and second home to hundreds of students was going to be one of the polling station for Srinagar parliamentary constituency. When the arsonists, on the intervening night of Sunday, set the classrooms on fire, Nida Hameed, a seventh class student at the school, watched the horror unfolding from her room.

This was the place were we learnt to dream, it was not just a building, Nida, 15, told Firstpost on Thursday morning, inside her house in Nasrullahpora village as she flipped through her notebooks. With the fire my dreams went up in flames,she said.

Nida wants to study law, go to a big university outside Kashmir, as the education scenario remains abysmal here. The teachers, she says, were comparatively better then the other government schools. And she loved playing koh koh with her friends inside the lawns of her school.

Now, the burnt walls of the school on the second story of the building and many others throughout the central and south Kashmir serve as a constant reminder of how educational institutions have become the new causality of this brutal conflict.

It is heartbreaking and painful to see these burnt rooms, says Nisar Ahmad, 35, a teacher at the government middle school Nasrullahpora. It is like burning the future of our children and whom can we blame for this destruction, no one, but us, he added.

Despite three decades of conflict in Kashmir valley, education had remained conflict-neutral till 2016 when unidentified men had started appearing in different areas of south Kashmir and razed more than 36 school buildings to the ground. The state government wanted to re-open schools to portray the return of normalcy after months of unrest in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani on 9 June. The unrest had left close to hundred of people dead and thousands injured.

Amid the perpetual closure of schools, government made appeals to parents asking them to send their children to schools. Later, the government passed a diktat to the teachers asking them to remain present in their respective schools during official hours but the class work in schools didnt resume in the absence of students. However, as some government schools started silently opening the doors for children, arsonists started burning them down. The underlying massage was clear, the opening of the school was not acceptable, as it symbolized the return of normalcy.

But that was not the case on Sunday. instead, the Election Commission had decided to use school buildings for polling booths, and days ahead of the polling scores of schools in central and south Kashmir remained occupied by paramilitary forces taking a toll not just on academics, but also made these buildings soft targets. The prolonged occupation made these schools vulnerable to attacks of stone pelting.

That is precisely the reason why many of the schools became target, Haseeb Lone, a teacher in Government High School Bamurada, said. All of these schools were hosting polling booths, staff and security forces. People just did not wanted to attack them but also damage the schools.

The unprecedented violence that erupted on election day on Sunday left eight people dead and hundreds others injured and with them more 33 schools were either fully or partially damaged in Budgam district.

We had requested but the deployment and accommodation of paramilitary forces is under the jurisdiction of Election Commission of India. It is not just loss of educational activity but more than that as we saw on Sunday, Minister for Education, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, told Firstpost. Many schools might remain occupied till 15 of this month, he added.

The government high school in Bamurada village is locked from outside, the burnt walls of once a happening place, tells you the tales of the brutalisation of Kashmir. Its walls are terrifying and a frightening silence has overtaken the neighbourhood. It will take months, if not years, for this building to come to life.

As if we were not suffering enough, now the children too have to suffer, Ali Mohammad Wani, 52, a resident and a retired government employee, tells Firstpost. It is a curse.

The middle schools in Nasrullahpora village were perhaps the first schools to be burnt down. People were supposed to cast their democratic vote on the next day. But that day as a local newspaper put it aptly become the black day for democracy.

The Chief Educational Officer (CEO) Budgam, Inderjeet Sharma, says more than the infrastructural damage, it is the psychological one that would take months now to heal. We have reports that more then 30 schools have been burnt or damaged by protesters. It is a heavy price we are paying in just a few months.

On Thursday, as the repoll was being carried out here, intense clashes broke out in the village after protesters attempted to march towards a polling station.

Sunday elections have given rise to a new Budgam, which despite decades of poverty and underdevelopment had never risen against the state and participated in droves, unlike any other district, even during the heydays of the militancy in electoral process. But the streets and bylines of this district today symbolise a new rage, and a changed town.
Re-polling held in Central Kashmirs Budgam districts 38 polling booths on Thursday came to an end, with a meagre voter turnout of two percent. The repolls were held after polling was disrupted because of the violence that broke out on 9 April, ahead of the voting for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The Valley had witnessed massive protests and large-scale violence, leading to the deaths of eight civilians, all in Budgam.

On Thursday, the administration and security forces took no chances. The re-polling was conducted with high security deployment, of two CRPF companies per booth, accompanied with deployments of the J&K Police.

Section 144 had been imposed in the rest of the district as a precautionary measure, with the Army prepared to deploy drones to monitor the situation, if the need arose.

Though no reports of violence were reported throughout the day, it was not sufficient to instil any confidence among the voters, to come out and vote.

A resident from NS Pora of Budgam district, Firdous Ahmad, told Firstpost on phone that, There is heavy deployment of forces around the polling booths. However, people were reluctant to come out as a result of the previous clashes on 9 April. At around 4pm, there were clashes in the village.

The abysmal voter turnout, recorded at seven percent on 9 April, came as a huge shock to the state and central government. This voter turnout was the lowest in over three decades. The youth had come out on poll day, not to cast their votes but rather, to pelt stones at the staff deployed outside polling booths, in an attempt to keep people from voting.

Taking lessons from that day, the Election Commission deferred polling in Anantnag to 25 May, which was originally scheduled for 12 April. The low voter turnout because of the violence provides a much needed boost to the separatists in the Valley, who had been regularly giving the poll boycott calls for many years, without much impact.

Budgam, which is known to be a relatively calmer area compared to Anantnag and Baramulla, has not seen this kind of violence in recent times  as was seen on 9 April. There were areas in Budgam where people damaged polling booths, broke polling machines and attacked the polling staff. In one such incident, in a village in Budgam, people locked the polling staff and paramilitary forces till evening to stop the polling.

I have never seen this kind of rage among people in my village. It was so intense that young boys remained outside the polling booth to stop people from voting. However, the army men fired some shots in air to disperse the boys, Imtiyaz Ahmad from Budgam told Firstpost.

Such was the concern about the violence that Peoples Democratic Party leader Tassaduq Mufti, who is also the brother of state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, felt that the present situation was not conducive for holding further polls in Kashmir.

Therefore, on 10 April, he asked the Election Commission to postpone the Anantnag bypolls. The EC too had come to the same conclusion, and deferred the bypolls in Anantnag to prevent any further destruction of public property and violence.

But the low voter turnout in the Srinagar repolls and the postponing of the Anantnag bypolls is being seen by many as a sign that Kashmir is further alienating from India and its mainstream political parties.

The anger which spilled onto the streets of the Valley last year, following the death of Hizbul Mujahedeen militant commander Burhan Wani, has persisted and some say that it may become more intense over the summer.

It was Wanis death that further aroused people in the Valley to demand freedom. Until then, it was not this intense, Showkat Ahmad, a student from South Kashmirs Anantnag told Firstpost.

Some others mention the role of PDP in this alienation. It was the PDP-BJP alliance that angered people and alienated them further from mainstream politics, Arshad Hussain, a medical professional from Anantnag said.

We never expected that PDP, which had for all these years talked about standing up to India, would so easily join hands with the BJP, he added.

Political analysts, however, had seen this coming. Days before polling in Srinagar, Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst, had predicted that the upcoming elections would definitely have an impact.

People may vote but the percentage wouldnt be as much as the previous elections. If one looks back to 2010, under the National Conferences (NC) rule that time, the Valley had seen unrest. But, public memory is short and they remember the recent unrest more prominently, Baba said.

This imploding rage among the people has worried mainstream politicians, who had a tough time during last years unrest. Many leaders from PDP and NC have privately expressed concerns over their own personal safety and the upcoming summer, which they are hoping doesnt become a bloody one; as that of 2008-10, when the Valley had witnessed intense protests and large-scale civilian casualties.
A special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case in Ahmedabad on Wednesday allowed an application filed by former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani seeking to call BJP president Amit Shah and 13 others as defence witnesses to prove she was not present at the scene of the incident.

Judge PB Desai said that summons should be issued to these witnesses "at appropriate and relevant stage of trial". The judge also said that "some witnesses can be dropped at a later stage if there is a possibility of repetition of their testimonies, but however, in absence of any objections (by prosecution) and while recognising the right of the accused to examine defence witnesses, I am of the opinion that the number of witnesses sought to be examined is neither unreasonable nor unjustified."

Kodnani is accused of inciting and leading a mob that massacred people from the minority community in Naroda Patiya and Naroda Gam, according to The Indian Express. She has been sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya riot case, is currently out on bail. Among those being tried in the case are Vishva Hindu Parishad official Jaideep Patel and Bajrang Dal functionary Babu Bajrangi.

In the Naroda Gam case, she requested the court to call Shah and others as defence witnesses to prove that she was not present at the scene of crime on 28 February, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which led to riots.

Kodnani's lawyer Amit Patel had made the request after the statement of three prosecution witnesses had contradicted the prosecution's claim that Kodnani was present on the crime scene, according to The Times of India. He said that Shah's statement was necessary to establish Kodnani's alibi.

Her application said she wanted Shah's examination to prove that on 28 February, 2002, the day the riots broke out, she had met Shah in the state Assembly in Gandhinagar and then at Sola Civil hospital in Ahmedabad that day as the bodies of Godhra train incident victims were brought there.

Afterwards she went to her nursing home, and then to main civil hospital in Asarwa area of the city, Kodnani claimed.

To prove this, she wanted to summon 13 other persons, including former BJP MLA Amrish Patel, the then superintendent of civil hospital Dr Anil Chaddha, staff of her hospital and a man whose child was allegedly born at her hospital that day.

The Naroda Gam massacre was one of the nine major riot cases from Gujarat investigated by a Special Investigation Team. Eleven people belonging to the minority community were killed at Naroda Gam. A total of 82 people are facing trial. Kodnani later became state minister for women and child development in Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government.

With inputs from PTI
After a string of defeats, the Opposition is now raising concerns over the authenticity of the results through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Opposition's fears arose after an EVM machine only accepted votes for the BJP during a mock drill in Madhya Pradesh.

A united Opposition took this opportunity to move the Election Commission to complain about the irregularities and seek a return to paper ballot system. However, the EC dismissed their fears and called the voting machines foolproof.

A delegation of Opposition MPs met the president on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum alleging EVM tampering during the Assembly election.

Political editor Sanjay Singh in his article said that the Opposition's mindset "shows the kind of anxiety that is there among a section of its leaders over the party leadership's rent-a-cause attitude, irrespective of the veracity of the issue, its degree of popular support and potential pitfalls".

However, not all in the Opposition ranks are happy with the openly belligerent attitude against electronic voting.

Senior Congress leader and former law minister Veerappa Moily took exception to his party's stance and said, "EVMs, we know very well. Even during our period (UPA), we got them tested. EVM is not the reason. Just because you are defeated? Only the defeatist people will blame EVMs, otherwise, there is no point... This populism will destroy your base. Congress should not go for populism. Just because somebody in some region took up the issue, I don't think you (Congress) should play second fiddle to them."

The divide in non-Congress parties too. Kendrapara BJD MP Jay Panda slammed the Opposition's chorus for scrapping EVMs. Panda argued, "Those who demand a rollback to paper ballots are wrong, and forget why we moved on from them. After all, despite the real risks of road accidents, we don't abandon motor vehicles and go back to horse-drawn carriages. Instead, we implement safety measures like speed limits, seat belts and helmets."

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh too rebutted those protesting against EVM rigging. On being asked on the raging issue, he said, "If EVMs were fixed then I wouldn't be sitting here. The Akalis would be."

Nevertheless, while the Opposition is insisting on going back to paper ballots  India held voting in this manner before 2004  there has not been much brainstorming on voting systems devoid of EVMs.

On Wednesday, P Chidambaram, while speaking to the press said,"All political parties at some time or the other have serious doubts over the EVMs. Then you should look for alternative. The alternative does not exclude an EVM. It says EVMs plus VVPAT or EVM plus ballot. We are proposing several alternatives."

Here are a few ways in which voting is conducted across the world:

VVPAT

Voter-verfiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) is one of the systems which the Congress urged the EC to look at. VVPAT has been used in India too, but only on a pilot basis.

One of the benefits of VVPAT is that the authorities can keep a printed record of the votes polled. This can help the authorities to count the votes manually if there is a dispute in the electronically polled votes.

27 states in the United States require VVPAT by law.

However, the technicalities and the frequent glitches involved in the system makes it difficult to use on a wider scale across the country.

Voter Punchcards

According to the US Federal Election Commission, punchcard system involves a card and a small clipboard-sized device for registering the vote.

On its working, the website states, "Voters punch holes in the cards (with a supplied punch device) opposite their candidate or ballot issue choice. After voting, the voter may place the ballot in a ballot box, or the ballot may be fed into a computer vote tabulating device at the precinct. The locations at which holes may be punched to indicate votes are each assigned numbers. The number of the hole is the only information printed on the card. The list of candidates or ballot issue choices and directions for punching the corresponding holes are printed in a separate booklet."

There are two types of punch cards: Votomatic and Datavote. However, it is the Votomatic system which is still used in some parts of the country.

In the 2012 presidential elections, this system was used by many voters. Nevertheless, the system gained notoriety after the system led to recount of votes in Florida after the 2000 presidential elections.

DRE voting system

DRE (Direct-recording voting system) is popular across the world and is used widely in the US, where about one-third of the population votes using the DRE machine.

In fact, countries like Brazil, Germany and Finland have been using the DRE voting system.

In this system, the voter will directly choose the candidate through a touch screen. A voter can also deselect the name of the candidate, a right not available in EVMs, and re-enter a new choice. The machine asks for a confirmation before the voter can block his vote. The machine also prints a receipt of the vote.

Internet voting

With prime minister Modi pitching for digital India, the idea of internet voting can be utilised in India.

Countries like Estonia, France, Canada, Switzerland have used this system effectively. Online voting began on a small scale in Gujarat, during the municipal elections in October 2015.

However, issue of privacy and the idea of 'secret ballot' can be compromised unless foolproof measures are taken to safeguard online voting.

With inputs from PTI
Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said churches in Kerala should not indulge in politics. Naidu, who is on a visit to Thiruvananthapuram, touched upon various issues during a chat with reporters.

"Churches should concentrate on spiritual issues and not indulge in politics," said Naidu in reply to a question if churches in Kerala are an impediment to the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

He said there would be no appeasement of the minority communities, but all are welcome to the BJP.

The BJP has one member in the 140-member Kerala Assembly. It is yet to open its account in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha from Kerala.

"I am here as part of our party's programme to be in the 120 Lok Sabha constituencies where we finished second in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. I will be meeting with my party leaders," said Naidu.

Hitting hard at the Congress party, Naidu said no wise person can remain in the Congress as it's a "sinking ship".

"We however are not making any efforts to target Congress leaders in Kerala to join the BJP, but there are so many people from various parties approaching us," said Naidu.

In the past one week there have been numerous media reports that a few senior leaders from the Congress party would join the Kerala unit of the BJP.

In reply to a question that Kerala does not have a representation in the Narendra Modi cabinet, Naidu shot back saying there are no seats in the cabinet for many who have won the Lok Sabha polls and hence Kerala will have to elect someone.

On the meeting of Congress leaders with the President of India on Wednesday, Naidu said the memorandum that they gave to the President is "very true of what the Congress did when they ruled the country".

"Now they have a problem with the Electronic Voting Machines( EVMs) and it's because they lost states like Uttar Pradesh very badly. They however are not able to convince leaders like Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and senior leader M Veerappa Moily.

"When they win elections, the EVMs are fine and when they lose, there is a problem. We did not bring in EVMs, instead it was first used in 1989 and the Congress won elections in 2004 and 2009. The Congress is devoid of issues and hence raises non-issues. It's an absurd and baseless allegation that they are levelling," said Naidu.
Usual disclaimers about micro reflecting the macro apply but Thursday's West Bengal bypoll result may be taken as a fair indicator of the way politics is shaping up in the state. It is officially a two-horse race now. The ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is still some distance away from challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Left is dead and buried, and the ghost of Congress has been exorcised.

This realignment is perhaps sharper than the one witnessed in 2011 when TMC, led by its firebrand Mamata Banerjee, had dismantled the Left's 34-year-old edifice and established her writ. BJP's rise in this key eastern state bordering Bangladesh perhaps carries a bigger significance and reflects a tectonic shift deeper than the Left's demise.

BJP's stunning rise  the party posted a whopping 22 percent increase in vote share for the Contai South Assembly seat compared to its performance in 2016  however, is still relative to the Left's and Congress's decimation. In the state Assembly polls last year, Congress and the Left's consensus candidate Uttam Pradhan of CPI had received 59,469 votes with a vote share of 34.2 percent. TMC's Dibyendu Adhikari was the winner with 93,359 votes.

Now consider carefully Thursday's result in the AC seat which fell vacant because Adhikari was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tamluk in the bypoll held last year. Pradhan, the same CPI candidate who had collected nearly 60,000 votes in 2016, lost his electoral deposit in the current bypoll after getting just 17,423 votes. Congress, which had no electoral tie-up with the Left, garnered 2,270 votes via candidate Nabakumar Nandi.

The Left and Congress' total vote share in 2016 seems to have shifted almost entirely to the BJP in less than a year. From a vote share of less than nine percent when Kamalesh Mishra got 15,223 votes, the BJP's share this year has leaped to over 30 percent. BJP's new candidate in the seat, Sourindra Mohan Jana emerged second with 52,843 votes. However, in its rise, has the BJP been able to slice off TMC's vote share?

The answer is, no.

The TMC has not only retained its seat, it has actually increased its vote share. Candidate Chandrima Bhattacharya, a former health minister, has received 95,369 votes. That translates to a share of roughly 55 percent, two percentage points more than what Adhikari had received last year.

Therefore, the conclusion that we may draw from at least this bypoll in West Bengal is that while the non-TMC votes are consolidating in favour of the BJP, it still has a long way to go before challenging Mamata Banerjee's hegemony.

The saffron unit is gaining almost totally at the expense of the Left and the Congress. While it is emerging as the principal Opposition party in West Bengal, it is also conversely triggering a counterforce. In a state where the median of politics is still firmly set to the left, the TMC seems to be using BJP's ascendancy for its own benefit.

Though the statement may seem contradictory at first glance, it is not. The reason the author posits that BJP's rise may alter the state's political and ideological interface is that both these parties  the TMC and BJP  are indulging in identity politics at the moment and are polarising the electorate neatly into two.

While the TMC is naturally retaining its minority votes, it is also benefitting from the consolidation of the Hindu left which remains ideologically opposed to the BJP and will do whatever it can  including backing its once bete-noire Mamata  to keep the BJP at bay.

The saffron unit is also attempting  and seems to be succeeding  at consolidating Hindu votes and has benefitted immensely from TMC's position as a pro-minority party.

Let's look at another set of data to understand whether or not BJP's rise is sustainable.

Remember, in 2014, West Bengal too had experienced a Narendra Modi wave and the BJP witnessed a huge spurt in its vote share rising from obscurity to 17 percent. However, it failed to keep up the tempo. Two years later, in 2016, the party dropped seven percentage points and settled for 10.2 percent votes. However, it was still higher than BJP's 2011 tally of 4.06 percent. The Left seemed to have gained some ground in 2016 when it registered a 34 percent vote share benefitting also from a pre-poll tie-up with Congress. It seemed as if BJP was been unable to hold on to its gains.

In this context, let us now look at the Kanti Dakshin bypoll numbers again. Not only has the Left and Congress suffered a rout, the BJP has rapidly regained its vote share and even posted a healthy profit, almost supplanting the Left.

The party has been working on consolidation of the right-wing Hindu votes by its aggressive campaigning on identity politics.

So, whereas the BJP's 2014 Lok Sabha vote share mainly belonged to swing voters who were drawn towards Modi's developmental message, three years later they have been replaced by a more strident voter base who are getting drawn to the party's new aggressive Hindutva platform. If West Bengal follows the model being witnessed elsewhere in India, BJP's new-found gains would be more sustainable than it was in 2014.

As these winds of change flow across West Bengal, for now, the TMC is holding its ground. Mamata, ever the pragmatic politician, is also changing tack. To counter the hard edge of BJP's Hindutva politics  and fearing a larger Hindu consolidation  Mamata has adopted a two-pronged strategy.

She has suddenly taken a turn towards soft Hindutva, greeting her social media supporters on Hanuman Jayanti and even finishing a tweet with "Jai Bajrangbali!" Alongside, as the police crackdown on Ram Navami celebrations has proved, the law and order machinery will also be pressed into service to counter an increasingly combatant BJP. The TMC leader won't give up her space without a fight.
BEIJING Palestinians must be allowed to build an independent state, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday after meeting Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, who pushed Beijing to do more in the Middle East peace process.Chinese envoys occasionally visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories, though China has traditionally played little role in Middle East conflicts or diplomacy, despite its reliance on the region for oil.Wang told a joint press briefing with Maliki that 70 years after a U.N. resolution was passed on a plan for a Jewish state, Palestinians are still being prevented from having their own independent country.

"This is unfair. This kind of historical injustice must be corrected. It cannot continue," Wang said.It was time to overcome inertia and restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, he said.

Maliki said Palestinians appreciated and welcomed China's efforts to facilitate peace."And we do encourage China to do more of this kind of approach, in order to see peace ultimately achieved in our region," he added.

Beijing has traditionally had a good relationship with the Palestinians.The Middle East, however, is fraught with risk for China, a country that has little experience navigating the religious and political tensions that frequently rack the region.China's President Xi Jinping told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March that peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine would be good for both parties and the region, and that it was favoured by the international community. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has offered an olive branch to Vladimir Putin, even as Washington and Moscow clashed over Russia's alleged US election interference and Syria's brutal conflict.

"It would be wonderful... if NATO and our country could get along with Russia," Trump said amid a deepening war of words with the Kremlin. "Right now, we're not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia."

Trump's comments come as his administration had slammed Russia's support for Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad and questioned the Kremlin's interference in elections in Montenegro.

Russia had vetoed a US-backed resolution at the UN demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of a suspected chemical attack. Trump said it was "certainly possible" that Putin knew about the attack, blamed on Assad, indicating Russian officials were present at the source airbase, which Trump later bombed.

"I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," he said.

Before Trump faced the media, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held talks at the Kremlin that failed to bridge a deep gap of trust between the rival nuclear powers. After the talks, Tillerson warned "there is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship."

The White House wants to see Russia drop its support for Assad, whom Trump labelled a "butcher". The White House pointedly said on Wednesday that it had seen credible reports that Moscow backed an election-day attack in Montenegro last year.

A senior administration official pointed the finger of blame at Russia for an alleged coup attempt during October's election. "We are very concerned about Russian interference in the October elections in Montenegro," the official said. "Including credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election-day attack on the government."
Washington: In a major U-Turn, President Donald Trump has said that Nato is "no longer obsolete," asserting that he is committed to the military alliance. "I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"It's my hope that Nato will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS, he said about Nato which was formed in 1949. Since then its member states have more than doubled, increasing from 12 to 28. On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

"In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our Nato allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism, Trump said.

Observing that Nato countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of Nato members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack using the most horrible weapons.

"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that Nato members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said. Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of GDP to defence.

If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger, he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the Nato Summit.

"Every generation has strived to adapt the Nato alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world, he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong Nato is good for Europe, but a strong Nato is also good for the United States. "I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds.

Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom, he said. Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in Nato, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

"Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer, he said.

Observing that Nato plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all Nato allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

"Nato provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way, he said.

Nato, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. Nato has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when Nato leaders meet in Brussels in May," the Nato Secretary General said.
Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday it was time to end Syria's "brutal" civil war, and called on Nato allies to "work together to resolve the disaster" in the war-wracked country.

Trump, standing alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, thanked Washington's allies for condemning the suspected sarin attack on civilians in the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun.

"Vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life," Trump told reporters.

"It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists and allow refugees to return home."
Washington: US President Donald Trump's national security advisor Lt Gen HR McMaster will visit Afghanistan to assess the ground situation of the war-torn nation and find out how they can make progress alongside Afghan partners and Nato allies.

"I'm sending General McMaster to Afghanistan to find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and Nato allies," Trump told reporters yesterday at a joint White House news conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

However, the White House refused to give any further details of McMaster's travel to Afghanistan or any other country in the region.

"I can't comment on any potential travel at this time, a senior administration official said.

Afghanistan was one of the major topic of discussion between Trump and Stoltenberg.

"Our mission in Afghanistan is a major contribution to the fight against international terrorism," Stoltenberg told reporters.

McMaster's trip to Afghanistan would be the first high level visit of a top Trump administration official to the war-torn nation.
CAIRO Egypt's interior ministry on Thursday identified the suicide bomber in the church bombing in the city of Tanta as Mamdouh Amin Mohamed Baghdadi, a resident of Qena, south of Cairo.At least 45 people, as well as the bombers, were killed in attacks on a cathedral in Alexandria and the church in Tanta in the Nile Delta on Palm Sunday, April 9. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A ministry statement said Baghdadi was born in 1977 and was one of 19 suspected militants believed to belong to a cell behind a December suicide bombing of Cairo's main Coptic cathedral, another attack claimed by Islamic State.The statement said the authorities had arrested 3 of the 19 suspected militants in the cell.

Egypt's government imposed a three-month state of emergency in the wake of the Palm Sunday attacks.

Religious minorities are increasingly targeted by Sunni Islamist militants, posing a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.Islamic State has waged a low-level war against soldiers and police in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for years but it is increasingly targeting Christians and broadening its reach into Egypt's mainland. (Reporting by Ali Abdelatti; writing by Asma Alsharif; editing by Andrew Roche)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Tehran: Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday unexpectedly filed to run in the country's May presidential election, contradicting a recommendation from the supreme leader to stay out of the race.

Ahmadinejad's decision will upend an election many believed would be won by moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who negotiated the nuclear deal with world powers.

Though Rouhani has yet to formally register, many viewed him as a shoe-in following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's recommendation in September for Ahmadinejad to stand down.

But many hard-liners in Iran seek a tough-talking candidate to rally around who can stand up to US President Donald Trump.

Ahmadinejad's candidacy also could expose the fissures inside Iranian politics that linger since his contested 2009 re-election, which brought massive unrest.

Associated Press journalists watched as stunned election officials processed Ahmadinejad's paperwork on Wednesday. Asked about Ahmadinejad's decision, one Tehran-based analyst offered a blunt assessment.

"It was an organized mutiny against the Iran's ruling system," said Soroush Farhadian, who backs reformists.

Ahmadinejad previously served two four-year terms from 2005 to 2013. Under Iranian law, he became eligible to run again after four years out of office, but he remains a polarising figure, even among fellow hard-liners.

Two of his former vice presidents have been jailed for corruption since he left office. Iran's economy suffered under heavy international sanctions during his administration because of Western suspicions that Tehran was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009 sparked massive protests and a sweeping crackdown in which thousands of people were detained and dozens were killed.

Internationally, Ahmadinejad is more known for repeatedly questioning the scale of the Holocaust, predicting Israel's demise and expanding Iran's contested nuclear program.

The memory of the 2009 unrest likely sparked Khamenei's comments in September. At that time, he recommended an unnamed candidate not seek office as it would bring about a "polarized situation" that would be "harmful for the county."

Ahmadinejad described comments by the supreme leader suggesting he not run as "just advice" in a news conference shortly after submitting his registration. There was no immediate reaction from the supreme leader's office.

He said his decision to run was intended to help former Vice President Hamid Baghaei, a close confidant. Baghaei registered alongside Ahmadinejad today, as did Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, another of the former president's close allies.

More than 120 prospective candidates submitted their names as candidates on the first day of registration yesterday, including six women and seven clerics. Registration remains open until Saturday.

Under Iran's electoral system, all applicants must be vetted by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that will announce a final list of candidates by 27 April. The council normally does not approve dissidents or women for the formal candidate list.

The 19 May election is seen by many in Iran as a referendum on the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and its ability to improve the country's sanctions-hobbled economy. Under that deal, Iran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Since the deal, Iran has signed multi-billion-dollar contracts with airplane manufacturers Boeing Co and Airbus. The benefits have yet to trickle down to the average Iranian, however, fueling some discontent.
By Irene Klotz

Ice plumes shooting into space from Saturn's ocean-bearing moon Enceladus contain hydrogen from hydrothermal vents, an environment that some scientists believe led to the rise of life on Earth, research published on Thursday showed.The discovery makes Enceladus the only place beyond Earth where scientists have found direct evidence of a possible energy source for life, according to the findings in the journal Science.Similar conditions, in which hot rocks meet ocean water, may have been the cradle for the appearance of microbial life on Earth more than 4 billion years ago."If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus," geochemist Jeffrey Seewald, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, wrote in a related commentary in Science.

The discovery was made using NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which in September will end a 13-year mission exploring Saturn and its entourage of 62 known moons. The detection of molecular hydrogen occurred in October 2015 during Cassini's last pass through Enceladus' plumes, when it skimmed 30 miles (49 km) above the moon's southern pole taking samples.In 2005, Cassini discovered Enceladus's geysers, which shoot hundreds of miles into space. Some of the material falls back onto the surface as a fresh coat of ice, while much of the rest gathers into a halo of ice dust that feeds one of Saturn's rings.

A decade later, scientists measuring the moon's slightly wobbly orbit around Saturn determined it holds a vast ocean buried 19- to 25 miles (30- to 40 km) beneath its icy shell. The ocean is believed to be the geysers' source.Several moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are known to contain underground oceans, but Enceladus is the only one where scientists have found proof of an energy source for life.

"We're moving toward Enceladus's ocean being habitable, but we're not making any claims at this point about it being inhabited," lead author Hunter Waite, with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, said in an interview."The next time we go back ... you're going to take something that not only picks up on the habitability story, but it starts looking for evidence for life."Enceladus has a diameter of 310 miles (500 km) and is one of Saturn's innermost moons. The heat needed to keep its ocean from freezing is thought to come from tidal forces exerted by Saturn and a neighboring larger moon, Dione. (Reporting by Irene Klotz in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Bernadette Baum)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the U.S. relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation.Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats."I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday.The reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure U.S. allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump's overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where U.S. allies are fearful of a rising China.Trump's apparent shifts toward a more conventional foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Trump said last September."ALL-TIME LOW"

On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad."We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Trump, who ordered the firing of U.S. cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week to punish Assad for suspected use of poison gas in Syria's civil war.

While criticizing Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks.Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade.The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep America safe and build up the U.S. military.

Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defense in the Obama administration, said Trump had a steep learning curve on foreign policy when he came into office but that it was beginning to even out.Hes starting to have a more nuanced and deeper understanding of a lot of issues, said Wormuth, now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.The evolving Trump foreign policy appears to reflect less of the influence of his campaign team and more the views of Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, all of whom are deeply skeptical of Russia.Trump' former national security adviser, retired General Michael Flynn, was forced to resign on Feb. 13 for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office.The new tone on foreign policy comes as Trump has been trying to settle the palace intrigue inside the White House, where Bannon, former chief of the conservative Breitbart News organization, has been at odds with the more mainstream Jared Kushner, the senior White House adviser who is Trump's son-in-law.In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon.I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late, Trump said. (Editing by Caren Bohan and Yara Bayoumy)

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Islamabad: The secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India on the Indus Water Treaty in Washington have been delayed, a media report said on Thursday.

The talks were scheduled for 11-13 April but are now likely to be held in the last week of April, official sources told The Nation daily on Wednesday.

Last month, Federal Minister for Power and Water Khawaja Asif had confirmed that after the US' intervention, the secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India for resolving two controversial hydropower projects, including Kishanganga hydroelectric project (330MWs) and the under-construction Ratle hydroelectric project (850 MWs) was scheduled to be held in Washington in April.

When contacted, Commissioner Indus Water Treaty Asif Baig said that they have submitted their response to the World Bank and now they will contact India regarding their response.

When asked why the meeting was postponed, he said, 11-13 April was not the scheduled date for the meeting as it was just the proposed dates.

He said that the World Bank with the consensus of both countries will provide fresh dates of the meeting. He said that he does not know about the new dates, reports the daily.

Pakistan has been protesting over the design and construction of the two projects on the tributaries of the Indus in the Indian part of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 and involves six rivers: the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty gave the right to use waters of the first three rivers to India and of the other three rivers to Pakistan.

India has said it has the right under the treaty to set up hydro power plants on the tributaries of the rivers flowing through its territory.

Pakistan fears this might reduce the water flow of the rivers into its territory.
Islamabad: Pakistan's top military Generals on Thursday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, notwithstanding India's stern warning that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties. The decision was made at a Corps Commanders' conference presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said. The Corps Commanders' conference is a key high-level forum in which all corps commanders and principal staff officers take part. Its decisions are announced through brief statements but they are considered very important. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief Gen Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.

Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on 3 March 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. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had warned that 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.

The top Pakistani military officials also reviewed the national security environment and recent developments in the region at the 201st conference of Corps Commanders. They discussed the progress of nationwide operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' and provision of support to ongoing national housing and population census, the statement said. Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country, it added.
Ottawa, Ontario (AP): Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai became only the sixth person to receive honorary Canadian citizenship today, as she called on the country to be bold in advocating for girls' education. Wearing a bright orange scarf to cover her head in accordance with Muslim tradition, the Pakistani activist was welcomed to the seat of Canada's democracy by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

At age 19, Yousafzai is the youngest person to speak to Canadian members of parliament and senators in a joint session. She is also the youngest to receive honorary Canadian citizenship -- a privilege previously granted to five others including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Dear Canada, I'm asking you to lead once again," she said, to a standing ovation. She urged Canada to use its turn as president of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations in 2018 to press for the education of girls and refugees. "We should not ask children who flee their homes to also give up their dreams," she said. Yousafzai said Trudeau also must ask other world leaders to do more for education.

"If Canada leads, I know the world will follow, she said. Yousafzai had fought for years for the right of girls to education in her strictly Muslim home region in Pakistan. She leapt to global fame after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on a school bus in October 2012 for defending her right to attend school. Since a successful operation following the attack, she has lived in the British city of Birmingham, where she continues to advocate for women's rights.

During a brief ceremony, Yousafzai was given the Canadian flag from atop the Peace Tower at the entrance of parliament, and a copy of her 2013 book "I Am Malala" was added to the parliamentary library. She thanked her hosts and expressed excitement in particular about meeting Trudeau, whom she praised for speaking out on behalf of women's rights, gender equality, and refugees "during a time where the world is hopeless." "I wanted to say that Trudeau is an amazing person and an inspiration," she said, later noting in her speech that "he does yoga, he has tattoos... Everyone was telling me (to) shake the prime minister's hand and, like, let us know how he looks in reality."

In introducing Yousafzai to lawmakers, Trudeau praised her for her advocacy. "Yours is a story of an ordinary girl doing extraordinary things, an everyday hero... a fearless advocate for girls who wants nothing more than to see more kids in classrooms," he said. "And on top of that, you're impossibly humble. We Canadians are all about that." Trudeau said his past experience as a teacher taught him "that going to school is more than just learning about how to read and write.

"Education has the power to change the world," he said. "It can end poverty, fight climate change, prevent wars. But in order to achieve progress, we all have to make sure that all children, girls as well as boys, get to go to school." Yousafzai had been invited to Canada by the previous Conservative government in 2014 -- when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- to receive Canadian citizenship in Toronto.

But the ceremony was postponed due to the shooting of a ceremonial guard and an attack on parliament the same day. Yousafzai decried the violence, saying: "The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim. But he did not share my faith. He did not share the faith of 1.5 billion Muslims living in peace around the world."
Pakistan Army on Thursday took custody of a Karachi-based underworld don Uzair Jan Baloch for allegedly helping Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to spy against Pakistan.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court earlier this week for "espionage and sabotage activities", a decision which also got the stamp of approval from Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.

According to reports, Uzair was earlier arrested by personnel of Pakistan Rangers outside Karachi in January 2016 in a "raid." Uzair's arrest was a controversial one, this Dawn report said, because more than a year after Uzair's arrest in Dubai by Interpol, he mysteriously surfaced in Karachi, only to be caught by Rangers in their so-called targeted action.

Jadhav, who was arrested from Balochistan, reportedly entered the region from Iran in March 2016. Pakistan has accused Jadhav of being a "RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent" and said that he was planning "subversive activities" in Pakistan.

In interrogation during the period following his arrest, Baloch is said to have confessed to having contacts with spies of foreign intelligence agencies, Pakistan media reports said. Uzair told officials that a man identified as Haji Nasir, an alleged member of the Iranian intelligence agency, had introduced Uzair to other members of the agency. He confessed that he shared information regarding Armed Forces with the foreign intelligence, adding he shared information on Corps Commander, Station Commander and Naval Commander in the city.

In a tweet on Tuesday (13 April) night, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Uzair was taken into military custody under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secret Act, 1923. He added that the high-profile criminal was taken into custody on charges of espionage (leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies).

Uzair Baloch taken into military custody under Pakistan Army Act / Official Secret Act - 1923. (1 of 2)  Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 11, 2017

On charges of espionage (leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies). (2 of 2)  Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 11, 2017

Uzair, son of a transporter, earned notoriety in Lyari  a Karachi neighbourhood known for gang wars among various ethnic communities of Baloch, Pashtuns and Mohajirs  after the killing of Rehman Baloch in an alleged encounter with police in 2009, News18 reported. Dawn also reported that 37-year-old Uzair was being considered as the political face for the Pakistan Peoples Party in Lyari. According to the report, the PPP, which keeps its association with the Peoples Aman Committee non-committal, protected Uzair until 2012.

Wanted in more than 20 cases, including murder, extortion and terrorism, what brought his activities into light was the suo motu notice by the Supreme Court of Pakistan over his involvement in the Arshad Pappu murder last year, The Express Tribune reported.

Uzair's entry and rise in the world of criminals is nothing short of a Bollywood masala film  a scorned young man powered by the thirst to take his father's murderer to task."His father, Faiz Muhammad alias Mama Faizu, a well-known transporter, was kidnapped for ransom by Arshad Pappu, the son of Lyari gang leader Haji Lalu. Following a brief scuffle, Pappu shot Faizu, who eventually bled to death. After the incident, Uzair joined the gang of infamous cousin, Rehman Dakait," GeoTV reported.

Listing out various expensive properties owned by Uzair, GeoTV report added that the gangster has a house worth 1.1 million dirhams in Dubai, registered in his brother-in-law's name, along with an office in Dubai International City worth 0.5 million dirhams.

With inputs from agencies
By Timothy Mclaughlin and Karen Pierog

| CHICAGO

CHICAGO The passenger dragged from a United Airlines plane in Chicago in an incident that sparked international outrage and turned into a public relations nightmare for the carrier, will likely sue the company, his attorney said on Thursday. "For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us," Thomas Demetrio told a news conference in Chicago."Will there be a lawsuit? Yeah, probably." He said the law stated that passengers could not be ejected from planes with unreasonable force.David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, was hospitalized after Chicago aviation police dragged him from the plane as the airline sought to make space on a flight from the city's O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. Dao, who was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday night, suffered a significant concussion, a broken nose and lost two front teeth in the incident, and he will need to undergo reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said.Video of Sunday's incident taken by other passengers and showing Dao being dragged up the plane aisle and with a bloodied mouth circulated rapidly, causing public outrage that was not calmed by the airline's initial response to the case.Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, told the news conference that the family was "horrified, shocked and sickened" by what happened to her father. One of Dao's five children, Pepper, 33, described him as a "wonderful father" and "loving grandfather" who had been returning from vacation in California.Demetrio said Dao had told him that being dragged down the plane aisle was more terrifying than his experience fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s. Demetrio and a second attorney, Stephen Golan, said neither they nor the family had heard from United yet.

The lawyers filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court on Wednesday to require United Continental Holdings Inc and the City of Chicago to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to Sunday's incident, which would be a precursor to a lawsuit.Officials from United and the city could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday's news conference.United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz is under pressure to contain a torrent of bad publicity and calls for boycotts against United, including in China, where people have been angered because Dao was an Asian-American passenger.United shares have lost about 1 percent of their value since Monday. The stock was down about 0.5 percent after the news conference on Thursday. Munoz has sought in the last two days to make amends. In a statement on Tuesday he said he "deeply" apologized and was disturbed by what had happened. On Wednesday, he apologized to Dao, his family and United customers in an ABC News interview, saying the company would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights.

Demetrio called the apology "staged" and a response to the airline executive's earlier comments, which were heavily criticized by many.In a letter to employees on Monday, Munoz did not apologize to Dao and defended the airline's actions, saying Dao had been "disruptive and belligerent" in refusing to leave the plane when he was asked to by crew, leaving the staff with no choice but to call aviation security officers for help removing him.The incident occurred when the airline was seeking to free up space on the plane for crew members it wanted to fly to Louisville.AIRPORT POLICE

Chicago city, which Demetrio said had also not contacted the attorneys and family, is also potentially involved in any suit as the airport police who removed Dao from the plane are employed by the city.

Chicago's Aviation Department said on Wednesday that two more officers had been placed on leave in connection with the incident. One officer was placed on leave on Tuesday.Given the wide public outrage over the incident, Dao is in a strong position as he prepares to launch a legal action, lawyers who represent airlines and passengers said.United is looking at a legal claim, but theyre also looking at a huge public relations and business problem, said Justin Green, a partner at the law firm Kreindler & Kreindler in New York who represents airline passengers.I think United, if theyre smart, will quickly and quietly settle the case.Paul Callan, a civil and criminal trial lawyer in New York, said Dao has at least two potential claims against the airline: a personal injury claim for assault and battery, which could also target the police; and a contract claim.Callan said he had reviewed Uniteds contract of carriage, the fine print that passengers agree to when they buy tickets. He said that while the contract allows United to deny passengers boarding, it says nothing about removing a passenger from a plane unless the passenger is disruptive.Deepak Gupta of the law firm Gupta Wessler in Washington who works on consumer issues, noted that there were potential legal roadblocks to a lawsuit. However, Gupta said, I think the serious public relations risk to United will give them an incentive to provide a generous settlement.Kenneth Quinn, a partner at the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Washington who represents airlines, disputed that Dao had a case, saying that under the passenger contract, removing Dao from the plane while it was still at the gate was no different from denying him boarding. And once Dao refused to leave, Quinn said, the airline had a reason to use force.But he added, I think United is likely to be found on legally solid ground, but has already lost in the court of public opinion, and will pay dearly for it. (Additional reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Yeganeh Torbati and Denis Dyomkin

| MOSCOW

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday trust had eroded between the United States and Russia under President Donald Trump as Moscow delivered an unusually hostile reception to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a face-off over Syria. Any hope in Russia that the Trump administration would herald less confrontational relations has been dashed in the past week after the new U.S. leader fired missiles at Syria to punish Moscow's ally for its suspected use of poison gas. In Washington, Trump said the United States was not getting along "at all" with Moscow, adding that the relationship "may be at an all-time low." Trump had frequently called during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign for warmer ties with Putin, despite criticism from lawmakers in his own Republican Party.But the civil war in Syria has driven a wedge between Moscow and Washington, upending what many in Russia hoped would be a transformation in relations, which reached a post-Cold War low under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. As Tillerson sat down for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, a senior Russian official assailed 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 to Moscow by a member of Trump's cabinet."One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but has rather deteriorated," Putin said in an interview broadcast on Russian television.He doubled down on Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, repeating denials that Assad's government was to blame for the gas attack last week and adding a new theory that it may have been faked by Assad's enemies.Tillerson reiterated the U.S. position that Assad must eventually relinquish power in Syria."We discussed our view that Russia as their closest ally in the conflict perhaps has the best means of helping Assad recognise this reality," he said. Asked whether Assad could be subject to war crimes, Tillerson said people were working to make such a case, though he cautioned that would require clearing a high legal hurdle.

AN ICY WELCOME

Lavrov had greeted Tillerson with unusually icy remarks, denouncing the missile strike on Syria as illegal and accusing Washington of behaving unpredictably.One of Lavrov's deputies was even more undiplomatic."In general, primitiveness and loutishness are very characteristic of the current rhetoric coming out of Washington," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russia's state-owned RIA news agency.But Lavrov said some progress had been made on Syria at the meeting and that a working group would be set up to examine the poor state of U.S.-Russia ties. He also said that Putin had agreed to reactivate a U.S.-Russian air safety agreement over Syria which Moscow suspended after the U.S. missile strikes.

Tillerson noted the low level of trust between the two countries. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said.Moscow's hostility to Trump administration figures is a sharp change from last year, when Putin hailed Trump as a strong figure and Russian state television was often full of effusive praise for him.In another possible setback to a thaw with Moscow, Trump said on Wednesday that NATO is not obsolete, as he had declared during the election campaign last year. But he told a news conference at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that alliance members still need to pay their fair share for the European security umbrella. Trump said U.S. relations with Russia were not going well."Right now, were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens," Trump told the news conference.In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said his administration's policy was not to demand Assad step down as part of a "peaceful resolution to the conflict", in some contrast to Tillerson's remarks in Moscow.

"Are we insisting on it? No. But I do think its going to happen at a certain point," Trump said.The Wall Street Journal cited Trump as saying that Assad's use of chemical weapons again would elicit another military response but he also said he would not intervene in depth in the conflict.The White House has accused Moscow of trying to cover up Assad's use of chemical weapons after the attack on a rebel-held Syrian town last week killed 87 people last week.Trump responded to the gas attack by firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on Friday. Washington warned Moscow, and Russian troops at the base were not hit.Moscow has stood by Assad, saying the poison gas belonged to rebels, an explanation Washington dismisses as beyond credible. Russia blocked a Western effort at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to condemn the gas attack and push Assad to cooperate with international inquiries into the incident. Trump came to the presidency promising greater cooperation with Russia in fighting against their common enemy in Syria, Islamic State. Tillerson is a former oil executive who was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship by Putin.Trump's relations with Russia are also a domestic issue, as U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of using computer hacking to intervene in the election to help Trump win. The FBI is investigating whether any Trump campaign figures colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies.Click tmsnrt.rs/2nm68H0 for graphic on Battle for control in Syria (Additional reporting by Polina Devitt, Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin and Jeff Mason in Washington; Writing by Peter Graff, Anna Willard and Dustin Volz; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: A man dragged off an "overbooked" United Airlines flight in an incident which shocked the world has launched legal action against the passenger carrier. David Dao, 69, refused to give up the seat he had paid for after being asked to leave, and was dragged by his hands on his back off the parked plane, which had been bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

He was left bloodied after the Sunday evening incident at Chicago Airport and the footage provoked international outrage, reported CBS News. The Dao family issued a statement expressing gratitude for the "outpouring of support".

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, the lawyers want the airline and the City of Chicago, which runs O'Hare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

The filing with the Cook County Circuit Court likely presages an eventual lawsuit against United Airlines for the April 9 incident. Dao is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday, his legal team said. The airline's chief executive, Oscar Munoz, said in an interview to ABC News on Wednesday that he will not resign. Munoz said he felt "shame and embarrassment" and vowed it would never happen again.

The airline said it is "reaching out" to customers on Flight 3411 and "offering compensation for their flights". Much of the uproar stemmed from Dao's status as a paying passenger who was being removed, against his will, to make room for additional crew members on the overbooked flight.

Three security officers have been placed on leave after the incident, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Their names have not been released, according to the report. On Capitol Hill, powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers denounced how Dao was treated and called for United Airlines to explain the situation.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, announced plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would prohibit the forcible removal of passengers already aboard an aircraft "due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers". Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon.

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycott of the No.3 US carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.
United Nations: The United Nations is not in a position to judge the Pakistani legal process that imposed the death penalty on Kulbhushan Jadav, a former Indian Navy officer accused by Islamabad of spying, said a UN spokesperson.

"We are not in a position to judge the process to have a position on this particular case," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Wednesday.

He was replying to a question about India's contention that his execution would be "pre-meditated" murder and that due process was not followed by the military court that sentenced him to death.

"Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we underline, continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution and to engage through engagement and dialogue," Dujarric added.

Amid heightening tension over the issue, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has warned that Jadhav's execution would be "pre-meditated murder" and have dire consequences for bilateral relations.

India would do all it can to save him, she said.

She called the trial a farce and said that Jadhav was engaged in legitimate business in Iran when he was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan.
Washington: US forces in Afghanistan dropped the military's largest non-nuclear bomb on an Islamic State target in Afghanistan, AP reported on Thursday, quoting Pentagon as its source.

US drops mother of all bombs: The bomb targeted tunnels used by ISIS fighters, target area bordered Pakistan (Source: US Media)  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, told AP that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb, known as the GBU-43, which he said contains 11 tonnes of explosives.

"The Air Force calls it the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb. Based on the acronym, it has been nicknamed the 'Mother Of All Bombs'," AP said.

Stump says the bomb was dropped on a cave complex believed to be used by IS fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, very close to the border with Pakistan.

The dropping of the bomb was also confirmed by Reuters.

Speaking at a press conference, earlier this week on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had emphasised that the US campaign against the Islamic State group is still the main focus of the US in Syria, and remains on track. The US has been leading a campaign against IS in Syria along with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

More details awaited.

With agency inputs
Donald Trump has successfully launched protests across world and the latest comes all the way up from the stratosphere.

The Autonomous Space Agency Network (ASAN), an independent advocate of DIY space exploration has sent a message from space to Donald Trump in what it's calling the "first protest in space" against the President of the United States.

The poster-size message reads "@realDonaldTrump, LOOK AT THAT, YOU SON OF A B**CH." referring to the overview effect, that is experienced by many space travelers when looking down at earth.

The tweet is meant to send a message to Trump to broaden his perspective.
Moscow: The rift between Washington and Moscow was laid bare as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to ease deepening tensions over Syria. "There is a low level of trust between our countries," Tillerson said in a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, reported The Washington Post.

"The world's two primary nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said.

After Tillerson spent three hours talking with Lavrov and almost two hours at the Kremlin with Putin, conveying Washington's demands that Moscow abandon Syria, the Russian Foreign Minister aired a long list of grievances with the US, some dating back many years.

"Unfortunately, we've got some differences with regard to a majority of those issues," Lavrov lamented. The only concession that Tillerson appeared to have extracted from the Russians was that Putin offered to restore a hotline aimed at avoiding accidents in the air over Syria, said the report.

Russia had suspended that effort after US missile strikes on a Syrian airbase following an April 4 chemical weapons attack on a village in rebel territory. Lavrov said the deal would apply only if the US and its allies targeted terrorists, not Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Both the countries agreed to work together on an investigation of the Syrian chemical attack last week.

However, the Russian President and his officials dismissed US evidence that Assad had carried out the attack, and Putin added a "bombshell prediction" of his own: Unnamed forces were going to carry out more chemical weapons attacks and blame these on Assad.

Tillerson reiterated the US belief that Assad ordered the attack, though he stepped back from the US charge that Russia was covering up Assad's culpability."With respect to Russia's complicity or knowledge of the chemical weapons attack, we have no firm information to indicate that there was any involvement by Russia, Russian forces into this attack," he said.

"What we do know is the attack was planned and carried out by regime forces at the direction of Assad."Lavrov retorted by saying: "This is obviously the subject where our views differ."

There were only a handful of issues Tillerson and Lavrov said they broadly agreed on -- that the Korean peninsula should be denuclearized, Syria should be "unified and stable" after the Islamic State is defeated, and that there should be more communication between US and Russian diplomats and militaries.

Tillerson said both nations would set up a "working group" to seek ways to ease tensions. Shortly after Tillerson and Lavrov finished speaking to reporters, Trump said in a news conference in Washington that the US is "not getting along with Russia at all" and that their relations are at an "all-time low."

Russia also vetoed a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the chemical attack, saying that Moscow had expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West, including the US.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said.
Washington: The United States wants to improve ties with Russia from their current "all-time low" over Syria, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, as Moscow dug in to defend its ally in Damascus. Standing side-by-side with Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House, Trump said: "It would be wonderful... if Nato and our country could get along with Russia."

But that prospect appeared remote, with Trump's secretary of state Rex Tillerson getting a frosty reception in Moscow, and Russia using its UN Security Council veto to swat down a US-backed resolution demanding Syrian cooperation in probing last week's suspected chemical attack. "Right now, we're not getting along with Russia at all  we may be at an all-time low in terms of our relationship with Russia," Trump admitted.

Moscow has accused the United States of breaking international law by striking Syria with 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles in what Trump said was retaliation for the chemical attack on a rebel-held town attributed to the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump has given such criticism short shrift, decrying the "vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons" and calling Assad a "butcher" and an "animal."

"I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing," he said.

He added it was "certainly possible" that Moscow knew about the alleged chemical attack, indicating Russian officials were present at the source airbase that Trump later bombed.

Earlier, Trump boasted in an interview with Fox Business television that the order to launch the missiles was given as he and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping were digging into chocolate cake at his Florida resort.

He called the US military action "genius," and stated that Xi, too, "was OK with it."

Rapprochement dashed

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his displeasure felt as he hosted Tillerson at the Kremlin.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson  who once received a medal of friendship from Putin  said at a Moscow news conference.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed there were many problems, but stressed that Moscow was "open to dialogue with the US in all different areas." He noted a shared vision of an "uncompromising" war on terrorism.

But neither side cited concrete avenues of cooperation, beyond establishing a working group to address what Tillerson called "smaller issues." Trump had spoken warmly of Russia on the campaign trail, raising Moscow's hopes of some sort of rapprochement. But since Trump came to office in January, relations have chilled, and the fallout from the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria has thrown them into crisis.

Putin accused Assad's opponents of planning to stage chemical attacks to be blamed on Damascus in order to lure the United States deeper into the conflict.

The polarized positions were evident at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, when Russia vetoed a Western-drafted resolution that would have required Syrian cooperation in an investigation into the suspected chemical attack.

It was the eighth time that Russia has used its veto power to block action directed at Damascus. China opted to abstain, a move Trump praised.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the veto "puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument," while French President Francois Hollande warned Russia it "bears a heavy responsibility" for continuing to protect Assad. "After today's vote to hold Syria accountable it's: A strong day for the US, a weak day for Russia, a new day for China & doomsday for Assad," the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said on Twitter.

Litany of issues

Undaunted by Russia's veto, Trump called on US allies to "work together to resolve the disaster" in Syria and thanked them for condemning Assad's suspected sarin attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun, which killed 87 civilians.

Even if the US and Russia were able to quell the festering antagonism over Syria, other issues are fraying relations.

They include  as Tillerson mentioned in Moscow  a US belief that Russian hackers and propagandists interfered in the US presidential election.

A senior US administration official speaking on condition of anonymity also said the White House has seen credible reports that Moscow backed an election-day attack in Montenegro last year.

There are also lingering differences over Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and Russian involvement with pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian troops in the east of the country.

Russia, in turn, is concerned about Nato's presence in eastern Europe along its border. That preoccupation sharpened on Tuesday when Trump signed off on Montenegro's long-expected accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The US leader has backed away from campaign rhetoric that Nato was obsolete, saying Wednesday that he now viewed it as the "bulwark" for international security.

But he renewed his demand that Nato's members boost military spending to at least two percent of gross domestic product. Lavrov, sitting next to Tillerson in Moscow, said many of the divisions between Russia and the US were the result of "time bombs" left behind by former president Barack Obama.

Putin, in a television interview ahead of the talks, was more blunt about the new chill in ties, and firmly rejected Washington's view of the Syrian attack. In a sign the Kremlin is not ready to drop Assad, Syria's foreign minister will fly to Moscow to meet Lavrov on Thursday before a three-way meeting with Iran on Friday.
Fake news.



Wayne Shelby Simmons was given a security clearance under Clinton (A Democrat). Anything he did from that point forward was based on the security clearance Clinton (A Democrat) gave him.



Simmons fooled the federal government that was under Democrat control. He then used the security clearance he received under Clinton (A Democrat) to get a job consulting for the military, whose commander in chief was Clinton (a Democrat) regarding security issues. It was his job of consulting for the military that led to his being a commentator for FOX News.
FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA
The U.S. Air Force authorized extending BY 50 percent the service life of the Lockheed Martin F-16 enabling operators of the Fighting Falcon to safely fly Block 40-52 aircraft to 2048 and beyond

The U.S. Air Force authorized extending the service life of the Lockheed Martin F-16s designed service life to 12,000 Equivalent Flight Hours  far beyond the aircrafts original design service life of 8,000 hours. As a result, Air Forces operating the F-16 Blocks 42 through 50 could safely operate their aircraft to 2048 and beyond. The Air Force and Lockheed Martin also reduced projected service life costs for the Block 40-52 fleet.

This accomplishment is the result of more than seven years of test, development, design, analysis and partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin, said Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martins F-16 program. The announcement followed a thorough evaluation of the F-16 that went through structural testing of Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) structural modifications carried out at Lockheed Martins Full Scale Durability Test facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

Through these tests an F-16C Block 50 was subjected to 32 rounds of comprehensive stress tests, representing the equivalent loads of 27,713 flight hours. The airframe was then subjected to several maximum-load conditions to demonstrate that the airframe still had sufficient strength to operate within its full operational flight envelope. Following this exhaustive test the engineers took the airframe apart and inspected each part for fractions. This test data helped determine the definitive, safe flight hour limit for the F-16, beyond its original design service life of 8,000 flight hours.

Combined with F-16 avionics modernization programs like the F-16V, SLEP modifications demonstrate that the Fighting Falcon remains a highly capable and affordable 4th Generation option for the U.S. Air Force and international F-16 customers. Ouzts added.

Validation of the extended flight hour limit directly supports the SLEP goal of extending the service life of up to 300 F-16C/D Block 40-52 aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Combat Command. SLEP and related avionics upgrades to the Air Forces F-16C/D fleet can safely and effectively augment the current fighter force structure as U.S. and allied combat air fleets recapitalize with F-35 Lightning IIs.

A second phase, or Part II, of the F-16 SLEP airworthiness process continues with the request for Military Type Certificate (MTC), which will be submitted to the Air Forces Technical Airworthiness Authority in the coming months. Part II seeks to validate further extending the F-16s operational life based on final service life analysis from extended durability testing.

Earlier this month, Air Force officials disclosed a budget planning option that would phase out over 200 F-15C/D in the 2020s, two decades before their planned retirement. Air Force planners consider replacing them with F-16s upgraded for better survivability in air-to-air combat. The younger fleet of F-15E Strike Eagles would remain intact. Regardless of the future decision, the Air Force plans to keep the F-15C in service at least until 2020.
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.
Former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack said he's hopeful President Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping will bring favorable conditions for US companies working in China. I think clearly the Chinese want [an] open-door policy on trade with the US, Mack told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

US companies interested in expanding into China have faced challenges, with the Chinese government restricting foreign companies to joint ventures, and the continuing possibility of high tariffs on the US side. I think we have to be very flexible on trade," Mack said. "I do not think we can throw high tariffs on their products coming into the country and I think that would hurt all of us.

The key, Mack argues, is a fair chance for US companies in China. "What we want is to have a level playing field in that country and I think over time thats happening.

Mack said greater regulatory controls that made sense after the financial crisis, are hurting growth in the financial sector now.

I had a CEO, one of the major banks, say to me, he said, John, Im sitting on so much cash, they will not let me raise the dividend, they will not let me buy stock back in, if this continues were going to be a utility stock and not a growth stock.

But Mack was optimistic about a potential rollback of financial regulations by the Trump administration.

So, I think initially, I think it was the right thing to do, I think we need to ease up and my impression is, and you were just in Washington, President Trump is going to ease up and I think thats healthy.

When Bartiromo asked about the push for tax reform, Mack said he was more concerned about how the tax revenue was being spent. To me its not about the rate, its about how money is being used when you pay your taxes.

Mack supports improving Americas infrastructure, but also called for a reduction in spending to go along with any tax cuts.

Im not that focused on do we need to reduce taxes? If we can do that and cut spending to areas where weve not been efficient in how we spend money, thats fine, but we need to fix our infrastructure across the United States.
The conversation in Washington, D.C., is that there's no timeline for President Donald Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure plan, and that's causing infrastructure stocks such asCliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF), Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX), and Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) to tumble.

Bumps on the road

On the campaign trail, Trump promised a significant increase in infrastructure spending, but investors are becoming concerned that Trump will fall short in winning support for his plan among budget-conscious Republicans.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

According to the American Society of Engineers, the nation's aging infrastructure requires an expensive face lift. The group grades U.S. infrastructure at a D+, and it estimates that $4.6 trillion (yes, with a "T") is needed over the next 10 years to get our infrastructure where it needs to be.

Trump's spending plan isn't as aggressive as that, but he has advocated for spending $1 trillion over 10 years on roads, bridges, energy, and other infrastructure projects.

Given that his proposal represents the biggest infrastructure program in decades, news of Trump's victory last November sent infrastructure stocks soaring. The Industrial Select SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT: XLI) has gained 13.5% and the VanEck Vectors Steel ETF (NYSEMKT: SLX) has gained 16.5% since Nov. 8.

While those returns are impressive, performance for individual industrial stocks such as Cliffs Natural Resources, Freeport McMoRan, and Nucor have been even better. Between Nov. 8 and Feb. 14, shares nearly doubled in Cliffs Natural Resources, the largest producer of iron ore pellets used in U.S. steel production. Share in Freeport McMoRan, a major copper mining company, and Nucor Corporation, a big steelmaker, soared 31.5% and 23.5% over that period, too.

But growing concern that infrastructure spending won't make it across the legislative finish line has caused the rallies in these companies to hit a rough patch, and all three stocks have tumbled over the past two months. Cliffs Natural Resources, Freeport McMoRan, and Nucor's shares have lost 38.7%, 19%, and 7.7%, respectively, since the middle of February.

Getting it done

Worry over the country's mountain of debt is the biggest obstacle to winning widespread support of a big infrastructure spending plan. The U.S. government's outstanding debt could total $20.1 trillion at the end of fiscal 2017, up from $16 trillion in 2012 and $9 trillion in 2008.

Convincing lawmakers anxious to begin chipping away at that debt won't be easy, especially since the benefits to economic growth from infrastructure projects can take years to realize.

To win support, there's been chatter that Trump might tie infrastructure spending legislation to tax reform, which is generally being viewed as more palatable in Washington right now. However, doing so could create undue risk to getting his tax-cut proposals passed, and that possibility might lead him to decide it's best to tackle these two issues separately.

What's next

Infrastructure stock prices soared higher on expectations of a big infrastructure spending plan, so they're likely to remain very volatile until we get insight into how the administration plans to win support.

Although there's a lot of uncertainty associated with Trump's infrastructure plan, investors might not want to avoid the basket altogether. Many of these infrastructure companies curbed supply in response to anemic commodity prices, and that's helped prop up iron ore, copper, and steel market spot prices. Cost-cutting strategies at these companies, including debt reduction, should send more money flowing to the bottom line, too.

Therefore, while pricing has struggled recently, it's generally still above levels from last year, and capitalizing on those higher prices should still support earnings expansion at Cliffs Natural Resources, Freeport McMoRan, and Nucor over the next couple years.

CLF EPS Estimates for 2 Fiscal Years Ahead data by YCharts

Obviously, delivering on earnings expectations depends heavily on seeing prices remain above their 2016 levels, so investors will want to pay close attention to underlying spot prices this year. But overall, while there are short-term policy worries, long-term investors might want to stay the course. After all, infrastructure spending is still on the table, and global economic growth still offers demand tailwinds, regardless of how the debate plays out in Washington.

10 stocks we like better than Cliffs Natural ResourcesWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Todd Campbell owns shares of Cliffs Natural Resources and Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned.The Motley Fool owns shares of Cliffs Natural Resources and Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold. The Motley Fool recommends Nucor. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Dividend investors sometimes have to look at out-of-favor industries to find solid yield opportunities. And while you might be watching the price of oil and thinking the energy sector would be a good area to avoid now, that isn't true for oil-and-gas stocks across the board. For those seeking fat dividend yields, Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-B), Helmerich & Payne Inc. (NYSE: HP), Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD), and Buckeye Partners L.P. (NYSE: BPL) are four worth a deep dive today.

Shell's $50 billion bet

Royal Dutch Shell is aggressively selling assets to pay down its debt. The plan is to jettison some $30 billion worth of non-core assets. Why? Because while other energy names were pulling in their horns after oil started to plunge in mid-2014, Shell spent around $50 billion to buy BG Group. That pushed its debt up by 50% in a single year.

Image source: Royal Dutch Shell plc.

But Shell clearly knows what it needs to do (reduce debt), it is working hard to achieve its goal (it has already sold or agreed to sell almost $20 billion in assets), and it is clearly articulating its growth plans to the market. While debt is still an overhang, investors should strongly consider grabbing the 6.7% yield from one of the world's largest integrated oil companies.

Is that a silver lining?

Helmerich & Payne's focus in the energy space is drilling. It isn't an oil company, although it builds, leases out, and operates drilling rigs around the world. Its largest business is in the onshore U.S. market, where about 90% of its drills are located. That said, most of its rigs aren't being used right now.

When oil was trading hands at over $100 a barrel, the company had around 90% of its U.S. rigs under contract. Today, that number is around 31%. A big difference ... but still an improvement from the 25% in late 2016. In other words, it looks like Helmerich & Payne's business is starting to pick up again now that oil is trading around the $50 range. The company offers a pleasing 4.1% yield, and has increased its dividend every year for more than four decades -- including through the recent oil downturn. Things are tough right now, for sure, but this could be a good time to do a deep dive here before drilling demand really starts to heat up.

HP Dividend Per Share (Quarterly) data by YCharts.

Big, strong, and growing

Enterprise Products Partners is a toll-taker in the energy space. It owns a vast collection of pipelines, ships, and storage and processing facilities. The price of oil and gas is, for the most part, not all that important for those businesses; demand is the main driver of throughput, and thus of Enterprise's results. And while the price drop in oil was dramatic, demand didn't skip a beat. Neither did Enterprise Product Partners' distributable cash flow, which was roughly the same in 2016 as it was in 2014, despite lower energy prices.

That solid foundation is why Enterprise has been able to increase its distribution for 20 consecutive years, including each of the last 50 quarters. Note, too, that it covered its distribution by 1.2 times last year, giving it a lot of breathing room for further hikes. On the growth front, Enterprise has some $7 billion worth of projects set to come online through 2019. With a nearly 6% distribution yield, income investors would do well to take a look at this rock-solid energy name.

Growing and diversifying

Another midstream player that income investors should be taking a seriously look at is Buckeye Partners. The company's main focus is storage, and it's a lot smaller than industry giant Enterprise, but don't let that fool you. Buckeye's annual dividend streak is up to 22 years, and it has a 7.1% distribution yield. So, for more aggressive types, it might be a better option than Enterprise.

Buckeye has been diversifying and growing at the same time. Image source: Buckeye Partners, L.P.

The big story at Buckeye has involved its efforts to diversify. In 2010, roughly 90% of adjusted EBITDA came from its domestic business. Since that point, it's spent $8 billion on acquisitions and expansions that have lowered that to 55% and increased its foreign business from nothing to 40% of adjusted EBITDA. Distributable cash flow, meanwhile, has grown each year through the oil downturn. Not bad for a business trying to change its stripes -- and a really good reason to put this partnership on your watch list.

High yields in the energy arena

If you're worried that volatile oil prices are a big risk in the energy industry, you are not alone. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be looking at it for solid dividend names. Royal Dutch Shell, Helmerich & Payne, Enterprise Products Partners, and Buckeye Partners are four that offer pleasing yields and backstories that suggest their large disbursements make them worth the risk of stepping into the oil patch.

10 stocks we like better than Royal Dutch Shell (B Shares)When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Reuben Brewer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Last month Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) announced that it signed an agreement to acquire the midstream business and assets of bankrupt Azure Midstream Partners. That agreement came after the company won the bankruptcy auction proceedings by submitting the winning bid of $189 million. That price represented an unbelievable discount to what Azure paid for the assets a few years ago, enabling Enterprise to continue its disciplined approach to growth.

Picking up a bargain

Under the terms of the agreement, Enterprise Products Partners will acquire several assets. These include over 960 miles of natural gas gathering lines, three natural gas processing facilities with total capacity of 210 million cubic feet per day, and two 10,000 barrel-per-day NGL pipelines. These assets are in East Texas and North Louisiana and serve production from the Haynesville shale as well as other gas plays in the region. That location is worth noting because the assets will compliment Enterprise's existing system in the area, which includes East Texas NGL, Texas Intrastate natural gas pipeline, and its Haynesville gathering and Acadian natural gas pipeline system.

Image source: Getty Images.

Not only did Enterprise pick up a complimentary piece to its portfolio but it did so at a heavily discounted price. For example, last February Azure paid its parent company $162.5 million for the Legacy Gathering System, which consisted of 658 miles of pipeline in Texas and Louisiana. It followed that up a few months later with the $83 million acquisition of the EFG System, which consisted of 225 miles of gathering lines and a small processing plant. The company also picked up other assets along the way before succumbing to the weight of its debt. It was that debt induced bankruptcy that enabled Enterprise to buy these assets for less than full value.

Azure Midstream Partners initially sought to sell itself for $151.1 million after receiving a bid from M5 Midstream. However, that was a "stalking-horse" bid aimed at setting a floor so that creditors would recoup some value for the assets. That floor price allowed Enterprise to step in with its top-tier balance sheet and make the winning bid. However, even though it paid well above the floor price, the company still got a good deal because the assets are immediately accretive to Enterprise's distributable cash flow.

Image source: Getty Images.

$26 billion and counting

With the purchase of Azure's natural gas assets, Enterprise Products Partners has now made more than $26 billion of acquisitions since its IPO in 1998. However, the bulk of those purchases came during the recent oil market downturn after the company spent a combined $8.1 billion to acquire Oiltanking and EFS Midstream. While Oiltanking was the larger deal, the company's $2.15 billion acquisition of EFS Midstream from Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) and Reliance Industries was interesting given the situation surrounding the deal. That's because a driving factor was that it provided Pioneer with the cash it needed to continue drilling wells during the downturn, suggesting it might not have parted with the assets if it didn't need the capital. Meanwhile, Enterprise gained control of a slew of midstream assets that it locked up under long-term fixed-fee contracts that will provide the company with steady cash flow for years to come.

In addition to that, Enterprise also briefly explored a combination with Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) last fall after its merger to Energy Transfer Equity (NYSE: ETE) fell apart. That deal would have been the largest in Enterprise's history given that Williams Companies had agreed to a $37.7 billion combination with Energy Transfer Equity before a tax issue, and the worsening oil market downturn, derailed the deal. That said, Enterprise quickly abandoned its pursuit after market rumors drove Williams' stock price up well past Enterprise's liking. The reason the company walked away is due to a pledge to remain financially disciplined as it pursues future growth opportunities.

Enterprise's other growth driver

One place where it has found plenty of compelling opportunitiesis investing in organic growth projects. The company has already spent $36 billion on expansion projects since its IPO, and it has another $8.4 billion of projects in the pipeline. That's up from $5.3 billion at the start of the year after recently adding a couple of new projects to the backlog. Further, it has several more in development, suggesting that the pipeline could continue growing. This backlog provides the company with clear visibility as to where future cash flow growth will come from, likely enabling it to keep the distribution growth streak alive.

Investor takeaway

Enterprise Products Partners scored an unbelievable deal when it picked up several gas-related assets at a bankruptcy auction earlier this year. Those assets are not only an excellent strategic fit but are immediately accretive to cash flow. It's just another example of the company's disciplined approach to build or buy assets that bolster the bottom line. It'sa strategy that should enable Enterprise to continue paying investors a growing income stream for years to come.

10 stocks we like better than Enterprise Products PartnersWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Matt DiLallo owns shares of Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for lobbying work he did on behalf of political interests in Ukraine, led at the time by a pro-Russian political party, his spokesman said Wednesday.

Manafort is the second Trump campaign adviser to have to register as a foreign agent since the election. The confirmation that he intends to register comes as the Trump administration has been facing heavy scrutiny over the foreign ties of former campaign advisers and other Trump associates.

By registering retroactively, Manafort will be acknowledging that he failed to properly disclose his work to the Justice Department as required by federal law.

The Justice Department rarely prosecutes such violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act, but Manafort will now have to publicly and specifically detail his foreign agent work.

That includes which American government agencies and officials he sought to influence, how he was paid and the details of contracts he signed as part of the work. Before, Manafort had been able to keep much of that information out of public view.

Manafort began discussions with the government about his lobbying activities after Trump hired him in March 2016, Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said, although it was unclear whether those conversations occurred before or after Trump forced Manafort to resign in August. Asked by The Associated Press on Wednesday whether Manafort intends to register as a foreign agent, Maloni said: "Yes, he is registering."

Manafort's resignation from the campaign came immediately after the AP had reported that Manafort's consulting firm between 2012 and 2014 orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling political party without disclosing that it was working as a foreign agent.

Manafort's decision to register as a foreign agent comes about one month after former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn registered with the Justice Department for work he did that could have benefited the Turkish government. The filing came after Trump fired Flynn in February, saying that Flynn had misled administration top officials about his contacts with Russia.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether Trump was aware that Manafort needed to register as a foreign agent.

Earlier Wednesday, one of the Washington lobbying firms that worked on the influence campaign under the direction of Manafort and his former deputy, Rick Gates, itself registered after the fact with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. The Podesta Group acknowledged its work could have principally benefited Ukraine's government. The other firm involved, Mercury LLC, later said it also would register soon as a foreign agent for its work. Gates did not respond to text messages left by the AP on Wednesday. His voicemail box was full.

The Podesta Group and Mercury had previously disclosed their lobbying work to Congress under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, but neither firm had registered with the Justice Department. A foreign agent registration requires lobbying firms to disclose more details about their work than is required under the congressional registration.

The Podesta Group disclosed details of $1.2 million worth of lobbying it did from 2012 through 2014 on behalf of a Brussels-based nonprofit, the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine.

In a statement to the AP, Kimberley Fritts, CEO of the Podesta Group, said that the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine had certified to the Podesta Group that it was not a vehicle of a foreign government or political party, which is why the lobbying firm only previously registered with Congress. Fritts did not say what information had been brought to light to change that determination.

The European Centre did not immediately respond to phone messages and emails from the AP.

As part of the lobbying, the Podesta Group contacted staffers for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., both strong supporters at the time of sanctions against the government of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose political party Manafort worked for as a political consultant.

By October 2013, as relations deteriorated between the Obama administration and Yanukovych, the lobbying effort appeared to intensify. Three times that month, for example, Podesta lobbyists contacted staffers for Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., who had sponsored sanctions legislation.

One of the staffers was Dan Harsha, now associate director of communications at Harvard University's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Harsha said he did not recall specific lobbying conversations but said congressional staffers were aware that the European Center was a pro-Yanukovych entity.

"How many obscure European think tanks were able to hire sophisticated A-list lobbyists?" he said. "It was widely assumed the think tank was a conduit for Yanukovych and it was treated as such on the Hill."

___

Associated Press writer Stephen Braun contributed to this report.
President Trump called NATO obsolete when he was a candidate, but today, his tone has changed. After a meeting with Trump, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the US remains a key part of the alliance.

I welcome very much the strong commitment of President Trump and his security team to NATO. Because a strong NATO is important for Europe but is also important for the United States, Stoltenberg told the FOX Business Networks Charles Payne.

Stoltenberg said NATO's focus on defending member countries has not changed.

NATOs core task is to defend NATO allied countries, the 28 European and United States and Canada, that is our core task.

But part of that defense includes rooting out the sources of terrorism globally.

We are in Afghanistan to fight international terrorism, the main reason for NATO being there in so many years is to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists once again.

Along with Afghanistan, Stoltenberg said NATO is also in Iraq and helping the US in Syria in the fight against ISIL.

We are in Iraq training Iraqi forces enabling them to stabilize their own country and to fight terrorism, fight ISIL in Iraq. And NATO is supporting the US-led coalition in fighting ISIL in Syria.

Trump's criticism of NATO has focused on getting NATO member countries to boost defense spending, which Stoltenberg said is already happening.

NATO allies have turned a corner, after many years of cuts in defense spending 2016 saw the first increase in defense spending across Europe and Canada and it was a significant increase of $10 billion US dollars. And it has been really helpful that President Trump has been so clear and that his message has been so clear to all allies.
President Donald Trump signed a bill Thursday undoing an Obama-era regulation that prohibited states from withholding money from Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics.

By undoing the law, the White House will allow states freedom to allocate funds to the health programs of their preference; in the case of some red states that will likely mean less funds for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.

H.J. Res 43 voids a regulation that forces states to use Title X money to fund Planned Parenthood. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund abortion, plain and simple, House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement Thursday.

The federal government provided 43 percent, or more than $553 million, of Planned Parenthoods funds during 2014-2015, according to the groups most recent annual report.

The Trump administrations resolution, which Speaker Ryan called a major pro-life victory, is considered part of a larger Republican-led effort to defund Planned Parenthood. The American Health Care Act called for partially slashing funds dedicated to the group, which is criticized by opponents for providing abortion services.

President Obamas law intended to protect funding for reproductive health centers, like Planned Parenthood, through Title Xthe only federal grant program dedicated to providing family planning and preventive health services. When President Obama signed the Title X Family Planning bill in January, 13 states had already taken action to defund Planned Parenthood, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Currently, Kentucky is close to passing a bill reducing the family planning organizations access to federal funds. In 2016, the government provided more than $1.6 million to Planned Parenthood facilities across Kentucky and Indiana. In Iowa, Republican lawmakers are also looking for ways to cut funding to the health clinics. Planned Parenthood centers throughout the heartlandArkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, eastern Oklahomareceived $3.1 million in public grants for fiscal year 2016.

Pro-choice advocates, however, are ready to step in and prop up Planned Parenthood if necessary. The state of Maryland has vowed to donate $2.7 million to the family planning center if the Trump administration cuts off taxpayer dollars to the clinics.

Tech leaders have also joined the fight. Earlier this year Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) COO Sheryl Sandberg and Wynn and Mirage Resorts co-founder Elaine Wynn (NASDAQ:WYNN) each donated $1 million apiece to Planned Parenthood. Last month 74 tech leaders signed a letter to Congress supporting the organization.

H.J. Res 43 was pushed through Congress using a method called the Congressional Review Act. This law allows recently approved bills to be reviewed and repealed through an accelerated process that requires a simple majority in the Senate. The elimination of President Obamas family planning protection law, which went into effect January 18, was approved with a very narrow majority that required Vice President Mike Pence to act as the tie-breaking 51st vote. Two Republicans, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against the bill.
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MTV is reviving the hair-raising stunt competition series Fear Factor.

Rapper-turned-actor Ludacris will host the reboot, which will kick off on May 30th, MTV announced Wednesday.

The new Fear Factor promises to hit on youth tension points with challenges, such as Roach-ella, Trap Queen and personal cellphone rescues at heights of over 100 feet.

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On each episode, contestants will pair up into four teams  whether siblings, roommates or best friends  to compete for $50,000 in cash.

MTV also revealed that contestants will confront their biggest fears, be pushed beyond their comfort zones and take action against some of their biggest stressors on the show.

Fear Factor originally aired on NBC from 2001-06.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dean Cain, a self-proclaimed history buff, thinks there is too much ignorance in the world today.

...The truth of the matter is, this is not the most violent time we have ever lived in. he told Fox News. Because of technology now, if something happens in Syria today, we know about it five minutes later, so it feels like its everywhere.

Still, he is very disturbed by all of the international conflicts going on right now.

Why people can't get along?... I think most of that is based on ignorance and being taught the wrong things. There is a lot of things going on in schooling throughout the world where they are teaching the wrong things. They are teaching hate. People don't come out hating or understanding color, race or religion; they dont get that at all, its all taught. If we start teaching them differently that will make a big difference.

Cain walked the red carpet at the premiere of the The Promise" starring Christian Bale and Oscar Issac. The film tells the story of an Armenian medical student during the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

The 50-year-old actor is proud to support the movie.

I was in Armenia six weeks ago and I was producing a documentary about the Armenian genocide and doing another television show about the current refugees from Syria the Syrian Armenians, he said. Its a big part of my recent life. Friends of mine made this film, and I have had a lot of Armenian friends my whole life. We have been discussing the genocide and such, and for me to be here its a no brainer... Hopefully a film like this will shine a large enough light that people will be forced to act.

Cher, Sylvester Stallone, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian also attended the premiere.

So proud of the movie #ThePromise Everyone please go see it and finally hear the story of the Armenian people   Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 13, 2017

"The Promise" hits theaters April 21st.
Kim Richards could have traded 90210 for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

A preview of next weeks Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion special shows the actress revealing she once dated Donald Trump.

One thing I have to ask you before we get onto everything that happened this season. I heard a rumor you once dated Donald Trump, host Andy Cohen asked Richards. Is that true?

Richards, 52, confirmed she had dinner with Trump, 70, but refused to address the nature of their relationship.

I dont want to talk about the president, Richards said, after co-star Lisa Vanderpump asked if the two had sex.

Though its unclear when Trump dated Richards, the former child star is among the famous blondes romanced by the president, including ex-wives Ivana Trump and Marla Maples.

Part two of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion airs Tuesday on Bravo.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post's Page Six.
Like manna from heaven, a waitress in the Aloha State got the gift of a lifetime from a very generous couple.

While on server duty last week, Cayla Chandara told Hawaiis KHON that she was just chatting with a couple from Australia, telling them how she ended up working two jobs; one at the Waikiki hotspot Noi Thai Cuisine, and the other at the Cheesecake Factory.

They asked me where I was from, and I told them I moved here for school, but I was kind of in a little bit of debt and I couldnt go back to school because I couldnt afford it and the cost of living here, Chandara told KHON.

Extremely generous restaurant customers pay their server's $10,000 in student loan debt https://t.co/RH9mlMeDTn  Grub Street (@grubstreet) April 12, 2017

The couple apparently took a liking to the young woman and left a whopping $200 tip on top of their $200 check.

DC WAITRESS OVERWHELMED BY MESSAGE, TIP LEFT BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS

Chandara says she was shocked by the couple's generosity and felt she had to thank them in a special way.

I just thought it was so generous of them. I never get tipped that big. I had to say thank you, she said. During dinner, they told me where they were staying, so I ran there after work to see if theyd still be there.

Chandara brought them a thank you card, flowers, and some dessert.

The couple, apparantly more than impressed by their server's gesture of gratitude, returned to the restaurant the very next day and offered her more than $10,000 to help her pay off her student loans.

ITALIAN RESTAURANT REWARDS WELL-BEHAVED KIDS WITH FAMILY MEAL DISCOUNT

I was like, No way, you dont have to do that for me. I just wanted to say thank you,' Chandara said. I still dont feel like its real. I want to run around in the streets.

The altruistic couple have chosen to remain anonymous, but told Chandara the best way she could thank them was to just "be her best self."

I want to make them proud. I will take this opportunity with an open heart and be a better person that I can be every day, Chandara said.

The waitress says she plans to study liberal arts and business when she returns to school.
We all joke around about being addicted to our smartphones, but is there real science to it? An upcoming study suggests that nomophobia, or the fear of being without your mobile device, may be a measurable behavioral disorder.

In a study slated for the August edition of Computers in Human Behavior, researchers at Iowa State University first asked nine undergraduate students questions about their smartphone use and identified four dimensions that may point to nomophobia, a non-clinical diagnosis meaning no-mobile-phone-phobia. Those dimensions were: not being able to communicate, losing connectedness, not being able to access information and giving up convenience.

What I came across is that as we become more and more dependent on our smartphones, we become less connected to our friends and family and I realized the dependency seems to mitigate the quality of communication, so that was my first hypothesis, study author Caglar Yildirim, a doctoral student in Iowa States Human Computer Interaction Program, told FoxNews.com.

Next, Yildirims team asked about 300 undergraduate students at the Iowa State University 20 questions meant to measure their smartphone separation anxiety. Researchers observed that if participants scored high in one dimension, they also scored high in the other dimensions a correlation the study authors say indicates nomophobia is a measurable behavioral condition.

We are working on identifying the nomophobic students and what other psychological factors may play a role in young adults proclivity to nomophobia, said Yildirim, who noted his teams findings were preliminary.

Yildirims research is only the latest in a string of similar studies and surveys conducted over the past decade to analyze smartphone dependence. Research published in the March 2015 edition of the International Journal of Cyber Behaviour, Psychology and Learning suggests smartphone overuse can have an adverse impact on psychological well-being, a finding that compelled the researchers to advise technology manufacturers to include warning labels that their products may be addictive.

A 2012 study by authentication developer SecurEnvoy suggested 66 percent of 1,000 British adults suffered from nomophobia, a 13 percent increase from 2008. And 2013 study, conducted by Harris Interactive for the mobile company Jumio, found that among about 1,100 American adults who are smartphone users, 9 percent reported using their cellphones during sex, 33 percent on a dinner date, 55 percent while driving, 12 percent in the shower, and 19 percent in a place of worship.

Is smartphone addiction real?

Smartphone addiction isnt a diagnosable condition under the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a catalogue of officially recognized mental disorders, but some therapists are beginning to specialize in treating nomophobia.

Research shows smartphone use triggers dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brains reward and pleasure zones the same chemical released during sex, while eating, and, some studies show, while playing video games. The neurotransmitter has been tied to addiction, but knowing whether you have developed an unhealthy dependence on your smartphone depends on you and your loved ones feelings, said John Grohol, founder of online mental health resource Psych Central.

What we look for is that its having a significant negative impact on their ability to do things they do normally every day, like going to work and school, and being able to have a positive relationship in their life  and having friends and seeing them on a regular basis, Grohol, who received his PhD in psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., told FoxNews.com. If people prefer talking to their partners or friends via Facebook or texting, thats OK thats not a disorder. The disorder really happens when the person feels like its interfering with their everyday life.

Grohol likened smartphone dependence to disordered gambling, a recurrent problem that can cause distress in a persons life when the hobby is practiced in excess. According to the National Center for Responsible Gaming, gambling disorders are prevalent among about 1 percent of American adults.

I would imagine [smartphone dependence], if it ever actually became a disorder thats diagnosable, it would be even less than that. Gambling has a very strong reward system built into it, Grohol said.

People who feel like they may have an unhealthy dependence on their smartphone can find advice in self-help articles online or seek guidance from a mental health professional who specializes in general behavioral disorders, Grohol said.

I think its fine to seek out someone who says that theyre experienced and have a specific background of training in that area, but I dont think its necessary, Grohol said. When you boil these things down, its really helping people change a behavior that has become too much of a good thing in their lives.

Robert Weiss, a clinical trainer and addiction psychotherapist for Elements Behavioral Health, a Long Beach, Calif.-based company that trains treatment providers, argued smartphone dependence may be on the rise, but that using the word addiction to describe the phenomenon isnt accurate.

I think if people have an addiction, theyre addicted to what the phone delivers, Weiss, who specializes in counseling patients on intimacy issues and sex addiction, told FoxNews.com. Sex addicts are addicted to the porn or sexual addictions they get through the phone; gamblers are addicted to the apps they get through the phone; hoarders are addicted to eBay and shopping  thats not addiction thats dependency. Addiction is unhealthy dependency. Its depending on an object or experience to shift your mood to help you escape and cope.

Why technology dependence isn't new

Andy Russell, an associate history professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in New Jersey, told FoxNews.com that nomophobia harkens back to the introduction of the term neurasthenia, a nervous disorder common among wealthier populations in the 1800s. At that point, the disorder was brought on by industrial society and urbanization, especially the introduction of trains.

One of the cures was to go somewhere nice and unplug from the modern pace of civilization, said Russell, who compared the phenomenon to modern-day social media or technology fatigue.

While early adopters embraced the Internet, Russell said in the early to mid-1990s, people compared the Internet to Frankenstein, saying, This could be a very good thing, but it might bring out the worst in us.

That fits into the dominant interpretation of this country, which is that we like technology, but theres also been backlash and a cautious term, saying, This isnt all good, but I dont think this is a recent thing, he added.

Arthur Molella, founding director of the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian Institution, argued that every technology is a double-edged sword but that the smartphone is particularly powerful. The Lemelson Center is a small division of the Smithsonian that focuses on the research of technology and its role in American history.

[The smartphone] is an immensely enabling technology, and every technology has some sort of downside. Think of the automobile: You can reel off the pluses and minuses as well as I can, Molella told FoxNews.com. With regards to the cellphone, its hard to think of a technology that is more pervasive  and thats because were in a communicating world a connected world and were social animals.

Weiss said that, ultimately, he believes the primary fear surrounding smartphone addiction can be traced to older generations reluctance to accept modern forms of communication.

It is worth people considering that our children are growing up with a different neurological development than we did, said Weiss, who is 54. Theyre growing up with multiple devices and using forms of communication before they can even use the language. So who theyre going to be is very different from us; theyre going to have much faster ways of switching to one topic to another. In some ways, relationships are like that for young people, which is theyre not as deep and vertical but horizontal.
The former mayor of San Deigo and his wife are suing the city over a 2015 fall that ruptured both of her silicone breast implants. According to the October lawsuit, the citys negligence in failing to repair a 2.5-inch concrete lip on a public sidewalk caused Roger Hedgecocks wife, Cynthia, to fall and suffer serious personal injuries.

THESE ARE THE RISKS OF BREAST IMPLANTS, ACCORDING TO A SURGEON

The Hedgecocks, who not seeking a specific value in damages but say it has caused an excess of over $25,000, said Cynthias ruptured implants began leaking into her bloodstream, and required grueling replacement surgery followed by weeks of recovery and pain medication.

Roger Hedgecock appears as a co-plaintiff in the suit over claims that he suffered loss of support, service, love, companionship, society, affection, relations and solace from his wife, according to reports.

FDA LINKS RARE CANCER, 9 DEATHS, TO TEXTURED BREAST IMPLANTS

The alleged incident took place on July 31, 2015 in Pacific Beach on a sidewalk that had been damaged by a tree, according to the lawsuit. The leakage was not discovered until September 2015 when Hedgecock went to a local clinic for persistent chest pain and breast deformities, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

A spokesman for the citys attorney told the news outlet that they expect to go to trial later this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Chinese woman who lost her nose and lips as a child is cultivating a new set on her chest after they fell off her face 25 years ago.

Jin Qi suffered a high fever and a rare sepsis as a one-year-old child in the remote village of Yunxi County, in the city of Shiyan, China which saw her nose and lips become rotten, scabby, and eventually they fell off.

'SECOND SKELETON': WOMAN'S RARE DISEASE TURNING MUSCLE TISSUE INTO BONE

Qi did not have access to medical attention at the time and her face eventually began to crumble, losing not just her nose and lips but the delicate tissue around the area.

My face was disfigured seriously due to infections when I was child, she said.

Many people think it is a scald at first sight.

Qi became an internet sensation in China after sharing her life story on Zhihu.com, Chinas answer to Reddit. When news of her story began to spread, users helped fund $37,500 of her $58,000 miracle treatment.

6-YEAR-OLD DANCER LOSES LEG AFTER STREP THROAT SPREADS INTO INFECTION

She said she had to endure a life of cruel remarks and whispers and was rejected by high schools and universities because of her face (which you can see here).

The truth is that I am totally different from other people. I grew up with surprised eyes and many girls walking away and screaming. I think my face makes other people feel fear.

I suffer a lot because of my face in work and life. Obviously, I can feel the gap between others.

But this is not something I can change. The only thing I need to do is to perfect myself and to improve myself.

MAN WHO HAD LEGS AMPUTATED AFTER POSSIBLE SPIDER BITE MAY LOSE ARMS TOO

The hospital treating her even gave her a discount on her operation because the country was so enamored with her story and positive attitude.

I do not feel inferior, I have a positive attitude to participate in various community activities and get along well with many people at most of the time.

The 27-year-old graphic designer is in for a long haul, however; she underwent her first 10-hour surgery to restore her face at Ninth Peoples Hospital in Shanghai on April 10, but she wont see any results for six months as her new organs grow on her body.

CASES OF BRAIN-INFECTING WORM ARE SPIKING IN HAWAII

The rehabilitation and reconstruction, lead by Li Qingfeng, has been described as revolutionary, because it allows someone to grow their own organs instead of relying on other technology.

Once the new skin and tissue is fully grown, they will then be transplanted onto her face. She will then undergo more surgeries to fine tune her facial features.

Surgeons call the technique tissue expansion therapy, and describe a five step, surgical program to complete Qis missing face.

Mondays surgery aimed to expand the flap and correct maxillary deformities, the surgeons said, according to Xinhua.

WOMAN DONATES KIDNEY TO TWIN SISTER AFTER ROGUE STREP INFECTION

Doctors told the Shanghai Daily that despite having completed 42 successful expansion therapies in the past, Qis case was rare because her deformation happened at such a young age.

Its harder to create the nose and lips compatible to her face than in the cases of most of our adult patients because her facial bones and soft tissue have become enormously deformed over the years, Zhu Ming, a doctor on the team responsible for treating Jin, told the publication.

The patient will have a larger than normal nose after the entire first phase of treatment is finished, and then we will fine tune her facial features, she said.

Qi packed up her life in the city of Shenzhen, described as a modern metropolis in southeastern China, and moved to Shanghai while she undergoes treatment. She thanked her boyfriend for sticking around and said the pair are planning to save more money.

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She said she doesnt know how shell feel after the surgery but she doesnt have any regrets.

Sometimes, I think there will be no difference with the surgery or not. Life is tough anyway, as long as you can make yourself better within your own abilities.

This is life and I do not have regrets.

First published on news.com.au.
When she was pregnant with her first child, Kim Viscio, then 37, noticed an incessant itch on the soles of her feet, something she first chalked up to a new pair of Ugg boots. My feet were really itchy  distractingly itchy, Viscio, of Warminster Pennsylvania, told Fox News.

Since the itchiness came and went, she didnt give it much thought until it spread to her hands and throughout her body, getting increasingly worse. She thought dry skin could be the culprit, so she changed her soap and applied lotion, but nothing helped. It kept on getting more and more uncomfortable, she recalled.

MOM WARNS ABOUT SEEMINGLY HARMLESS PREGNANCY SYMPTOM THAT COULD HAVE KILLED HER BABY

After a few weeks, she decided something wasnt right and did what most moms do  turn to Google. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), a liver disorder that causes the liver to secret bile acids into the blood stream and can lead to stillbirth, came up in the results.

I felt in my gut that this was it, she said.

Thirty-two weeks pregnant, Viscio immediately called her midwife, who also suspected ICP and told her to come in right away for blood work.

After a week, she received results that showed that she not only had ICP but her case was severe. A level of 10 or 14 mg/dl total bile acids indicates a woman has the condition and 40 mg/dl is a severe case. Viscios level was 103.

I remember the feeling of devastation. You feel like, Ive come this far with the pregnancy and now I might lose my baby, she said.

What is ICP?

ICP is an uncommon liver disorder that affects 1 to 2 out of 1,000 pregnancies in the United States.

The main symptom of ICP is itchy hands and feet, but women with the disorder may also have nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, pale stools, dark urine, malaise and a mild depression.

7 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER SAY TO A WOMAN TRYING TO GET PREGNANT

Because the itching can show up anywhere in the body, experts say women should always be tested if there is any suspicion.

Theres so many causes of itching in pregnancy [and] so many rashes that women develop that it really has to be on your radar, Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, director of the maternal-fetal medicine fellowship program at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia and the co-director of the Preterm Birth Prevention Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, told Fox News.

Studies suggest about 80 percent of cases of ICP occur during the third trimester, but it can also happen as early as eight weeks.

Aside from having a history of cholestasis in the past, its kind of impossible to tell who is going to develop [it], Gyamfi-Bannerman said.

SHOULD YOU EXERCISE WHILE PREGNANT?

What experts do know is that women who have a family history, are carrying twins, or who have undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF) have a higher risk. Women over age 35 may also be more likely to get it, a study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests.

Latina women in the U.S. have an increased risk of 5.6 percent, and women who have the disorder are between 60 and 90 percent more likely to be diagnosed during a subsequent pregnancy.

Although ICP is rare, it can be serious. Women with ICP have a higher rate of pre-term birth, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and sudden stillbirth. Yet whether these are separate or related risks is not clear, James Bernasko, an OB/GYN in the division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital, told Fox News.

7 PREGNANCY SLEEP PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM

Studies also show that other pregnancy disorders can co-exist with ICP, such as preeclampsia, acute fatty liver of pregnancy and gestational diabetes.

Whats more, ICP is associated with an increased risk for Crohns disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, psoriasis, liver cancer, and cardiovascular disease, a study in the Journal of Hepatology found. The good news however, is that like ICP, these are rare. Typically we dont see it as having any long-term adverse effect on mother or baby, Bernasko said.

How is ICP diagnosed?

When there is a suspicion of ICP, women are given blood tests to check both bile acids and the liver enzymes, ALT and AST.

Because research is ongoing, there is no standardized protocol for ICP treatment. Yet ursodeoxycholic acid, also known as ursodiol, a medication in pill form taken twice a day to lower bile acids, is considered the best treatment.

Where there may be disagreement is what kind of fetal testing you should do once you make the diagnosis, said Bernasko, who explained liver enzymes should continue to be monitored and women should have fetal ultrasounds twice a week.

WHAT EVERY MAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SEX AFTER PREGNANCY

Women should also monitor their babys movements twice a day, and if they notice movement slowing down, they should contact their provider immediately, he said.

Although monitoring and medication are advised, Dr. Jonathan Mays, director of maternal-fetal medicine at Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College in New York City  who has been tracking data for 10 years and has the largest database of patients with ICP in the country  said whether it changes the outcome is the question.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends women be induced at 38 weeks, but induction between 36 and 37 weeks has been found to have the lowest risk for fetal death without increasing the cesarean rate or respiratory problems, a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found.

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While taking ursodiol, Viscios numbers continued to fluctuate while she was monitored with blood tests, non-stress tests and ultrasounds. At 37 weeks, she was induced and delivered a healthy baby girl who is now 5-years-old. When she was pregnant two years later, she was diagnosed again, but she and her son, who is now 3, were healthy.

Today, Viscio consults for ICP Care, a nonprofit organization to raise awareness and provide support for women with ICP. She advised other women with itchy skin to consult their health care team.

Do not ignore your symptoms, Viscio said. If something feels off, talk to your doctor or midwife.
"A picture is worth a thousand words" as the old saying goes. And a picture in the media is worth a million words...and billions of dollars!

The media decides what makes the headlines. The media just turned the United Airlines scandal into the biggest news story of the year. One customer being beaten and dragged off a plane went viral and destroyed a billion dollar brand.

In this case the mainstream media was right. The minute I saw what United Airlines did to one of their own customers, I warned in media interviews this would destroy United Airlines' brand, cost them billions in lost business, and drive their stock dramatically down. This is a business school case study in how to destroy a billion dollar brand overnight.

This scandal was so powerful because it could have been anyone of us. What if that poor beaten and bleeding man being dragged from the plane was you? Your husband? Your son? Your dad?

That incident wins the award for the worst treatment of a customer by a private sector company ever. Disgraceful. Everyone involved should be fired.

But I have a much worse story than this. A similar story, except far more widespread. The difference is the media never made it a headline. They barely covered it at all.

Its also a story of a CEO and terrible abuse of his own customers. The CEO is former President Barack Obama. The customers in this case were conservative taxpayers. The company that committed the terrible crimes against thousands of our fellow citizens was the IRS.

And it was Obama's IRS.

That's why the media never cared. That's why the media never covered it. Obama was (and still is) their hero. And the liberal mainstream media hates "evil" private sector corporations like United Airlines. But they love government agencies like the IRS.

They don't want the wrongdoing, abuse and corruption of government to make headlines all over the world.

The media covers up scandals involving Democrats and government. The either kill the story...or put it on the bottom of page 98.

The United Airlines scandal is the story of the year. Deservedly so. But the IRS scandal ignored by the media is the story of the century.

Now President Donald Trump has the opportunity to expose the most widespread criminal conspiracy in U.S. political history.

This scandal would make the Gambino Crime Family blush. I have stumbled upon this "political scandal of a lifetime" because Im a witness. I was one of the victims. Now Im asking President Trump to get involved in seeing that justice is served.

Back in 2010, I became one of the most high-profile critics of President Obama. My opinions were featured in the national media, day and night. In particular, here on Fox News.

Suddenly I became the victim of the most vicious, over-the-top, IRS attack any tax expert had ever seen. I was targeted for destruction. It was a witch hunt, persecution and intimidation all in one. It was meant to punish me, distract me and bankrupt me.

I beat the IRS. A judge in tax court threw the case out. But only six days after winning in court, I was under a new IRS assault. Tax experts reported this had never happened before in tax history. They told me, You are on the Presidents Enemies List.

Thankfully, I won again. I didnt owe one cent. But I lost three years of my life and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. I didn't sleep for three years. I told my story multiple times here at FoxNews.com.

Government watchdog Judicial Watch got involved. They fought a 14-month battle to force the IRS to hand over my tax files. Once we prevailed, guess what we found? Hard evidence this was a political witch hunt, persecution, and intimidation based on my conservative political beliefs. We have the proof in writing. A government agency- in America- tried to destroy a citizen based on his political beliefs.

But this scandal isn't like the United Airlines scandal. The media destroyed a billion dollar brand based on one poor man's treatment at the hands of a cold, ruthless bureaucracy. This is so much worse. So much bigger.

The IRS scandal is not about one man being abused by a cold, ruthless bureaucracy. And he will make millions in a lawsuit against United. Millions for one hour of abuse.

The victims of IRS abuse suffered for years. And there are no lawsuits possible -- because government employees are protected by law from lawsuits.

But here's the big story. Im only the tip of the iceberg. There were thousands of victims just like me attacked by Obamas IRS.

How do I know? Well, first, did you see the headlines from Judicial Watch this week? Of course not. No one did.

The media never covered the new developments in the IRS scandal involving thousands of abused customers. They were too busy covering the one customer abused by United.

Here is what you missed. The IRS has finally handed over thousands of pages of supposedly lost documents. They claimed they were lost forever. It turns out they weren't lost, just hidden from investigators. These documents confirm the IRS illegally targeted conservatives.

But the scandal runs much deeper than the abuse of faceless conservative groups. Ive personally heard from over a hundred individual GOP donors who were mysteriously attacked out of the blue by the IRS- in each case, only weeks after writing a donation check to either the GOP, a GOP candidate, or a conservative group.

I've heard from board members of Tea Party groups who were attacked by the IRS for the first time in their lives, only weeks after joining the board.

I heard from a hedge fund CEO who attended the first meeting of hedge fund executives for Mitt Romney back in 2011. Everyone of the millionaire hedge fund CEOs in the room that day wrote a big check to Mitt Romney. He reports every one of them wound up under either IRS or SEC attack. 20 for 20. Could that be a coincidence?

There are clearly thousands of cases out there -- just like this.

If the IRS targeted thousands of Obama critics and individual conservative donors, this was the biggest criminal conspiracy in US history. And it's easy to prove.

Heres my recommendation for President Trump:

Start a DOJ investigation immediately. This case is so easy to prove. Simply compare Federal Election Commission lists of GOP donors for the eight years of Obama versus a list of IRS audit victims. I'm betting you'll find IRS audit percentage rates through the roof. I'm betting you'll find well over 50% of large GOP donors were audited by the IRS during Obama's eight years in office.

Now compare a FEC list of Democrat donors during Obamas reign. I'm betting you'll find normal random audit rates of 1%.

1 percent versus over 50 percent. That's statistically impossible.

I'm betting what DOJ investigators will also find is that Obama's IRS targeted and audited the highest percentage of GOP donors of any president in history. The numbers will be out of this world. More than any other president times ten.

Wanna bet?

Of course, this is proof of criminal targeting. I know what Obama did to conservatives. This was a massive criminal conspiracy to persecute, punish, intimidate and bankrupt GOP donors, activists and critics of Obama. It was meant to weaken and starve Obamas political opposition. It was meant to scare anyone away from writing a check to conservative candidates or causes. And it worked.

Lower-level IRS employees didnt do this by themselves. They were just following orders. Orders given by the Obama White House to destroy conservatives.

President Trump must send a loud message. No American citizen can ever again be targeted by government for their political beliefs. Everyone involved must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

President Trump -- start this investigation. This is how you drain the swamp.
The history of the world is the history of violence. I had planned to write this column about the most critical act of violence in human history and its superhuman aftermath -- the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter, which celebrates His resurrection in a few days, is the centerpiece of all Christian belief. Without the risen Christ, we are doomed. Only with Him can we be saved.

An old Irish priest told me in my youth that Easter means there is hope for the dead. And if there is hope for the dead, there is hope for the living.

But the living must do more than just hope, because governments continue to crush hope with violence, irrespective of moral and legal norms.

Last week, as Holy Week was approaching, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield because President Donald Trump was morally repulsed at the use of poison gas in Syria in the days preceding.

Trump argued that the gas could only have been deployed intentionally by the Syrian government on its own people and that that behavior was so repellant, so contrary to civilized moral norms, so disruptive to the world order as to constitute a national security threat to the United States -- hence his use of force. Was his action legal?

Here is the back story.

Syria, along with the United States, is a signatory to the United Nations Charter. The U.N. Charter is a treaty signed by President Harry Truman and ratified by the U.S. Senate. Under the Constitution, treaties are the supreme law of the land, alongside the Constitution, and the federal government has a moral and legal obligation to be bound by them. The U.N. Charter limits member nations' use of military force to defensive responses to actual attacks, pre-emptive strikes prior to nearly certain attacks and correctives pursuant to U.N. consent or pursuant to another treaty obligating military force to help an ally.

These limitations are based on Judeo-Christian just war theory, which has been accepted in the Western world for centuries and is now codified into international law. Under this international law, military force must be a last resort, used only when necessary to fight back or to prevent an imminent attack. It also must be proportional to the harm it seeks to eradicate and be likely to produce the result it seeks. Anything short of this violates international law, to which the U.S. is bound by numerous treaties.

Syria is not a threat to the U.S., nor is it likely to become one. Nor is the argument that we needed to send a message to Syria lest it use poison gas on the U.S. a valid legal argument or a realistic political one. Were this subjective fear a valid legal basis for the use of military force, the president could send missiles anytime and anywhere at anyone or anything with legal impunity.

The presidents revulsion at the sight of children suffering horrifically from the effects of poison gas is an emotional reaction -- a very human and utterly normal one. Yet it in no way legally justifies an attack on a sovereign nation.

In addition to various treaties, the president is subject, of course, to the Constitution, which provides that only Congress can declare war. Yet Congress gave the president a small window in which to use military force on his own in the War Powers Resolution of 1973. That law was written in the midst of President Richard Nixons undeclared war in Cambodia to limit the presidents emergency use of military force absent a declaration of war from Congress to defensive strikes, pre-emptive strikes and treaty obligations.

Earlier this week, 21 retired military, intelligence and FBI personnel jointly argued that President Trump was moved to this attack by misguided or incomplete intelligence. Their view -- which is based on eyewitness reports from U.S. military on the ground in Syria and intelligence reports from their former colleagues -- is that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not use poison gas on his own people earlier this month. They note that Assad is clearly winning his long-fought civil war and does not need the international headache of being tarnished as a person who gassed children; nor would there be even the remotest military gain to him if he did so.

These former federal officials point out that the U.S. military is playing a sub-rosa role with Russia and Syria in fighting Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group. In this case, Syrian and probably Russian military erroneously thought a warehouse the Syrians attacked stored only conventional Islamic State weapons. It apparently stored an Islamic State chemical arsenal, as well, which, after explosions and exposure, unleashed a plume of poisonous gas that traveled in the atmosphere to a nearby village and slaughtered innocents.

Assad, for all his faults, is vigorously fighting Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why would America harm another sovereign entity that is trying to take out al-Qaida and the Islamic State? Attacking Syrian military assets only aids al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which constitutes providing material assistance to terrorist organizations. Could anyone have imagined our country's ever doing that?

For months, I have been warning about the unchecked power of the intelligence community to manipulate the president by selectively revealing and selectively concealing what it knows about our enemies and our friends.

Did Trump have all the intelligence he needed in front of him before he attacked Syria? Apparently not.

Did he use proportional force defensively or pre-emptively to prevent harm to the U.S.? Clearly not. C

an he legally use military force to punish or to teach a lesson to another sovereign state that poses no threat to the U.S.? Absolutely not, or there will be no end to government violence.

Yet in this time of violent madness, there is the joy of the Resurrection. Happy Easter.
Every year around Easter, the same old stories begin appearing in the media: The Romans executed Jesus of Nazareth for being a zealot revolutionary, his body allowed to hang on the cross for days and then what remained of it discarded in an anonymous grave reserved for criminals.

The trial before Pilate, the placement of Jesus body in a tomb, all that was just made up later by the early Christians.

However, it may come as a surprise to many that this standard skeptical line  much of it more than two centuries old -- is vigorously contested today by many secular scholars.

First, research by experts such as the late Martin Hengel demonstrates that Roman crucifixion practices were, in fact, very close to how the Gospels describe them.

The idea that the Romans took Jesus away and executed him in secret does not fit with what historians know of how the Romans did things. Instead, its likely that thousands witnessed Jesus crucifixion.

The Romans did nothing in secret. The entire point of crucifixion was to make a public spectacle of the condemned.

In Italy, the Romans often crucified prisoners along major highways and allowed them to talk with taunting passersby  just as the Gospels say occurred with Jesus.

The idea that the Romans took Jesus away and executed him in secret does not fit with what historians know of how the Romans did things. Instead, its likely that thousands witnessed Jesus crucifixion.

Second, there is evidence that the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who took office in AD 26, could very well have hesitated to condemn Jesus as the Gospels claim -- not because he was compassionate but because his past brutal treatment of Jewish religious figures had already resulted in an official reprimand.

Less than a year earlier, tens of thousands of rioting Jews had surrounded the Roman headquarters in Jerusalem, protesting Pilates seizure of hundreds of talents of gold from the Temple treasury to build a new aqueduct for Jerusalem. Pilates soldiers killed many of the protesters.

According to the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, a contemporary of Jesus, Pilate received an angry letter from the Emperor Tiberius himself, condemning his past actions.

Tiberius insisted that Pilate maintain the longstanding Roman practice of forbearance for Jewish religious customs, such as not bringing Roman military standards into Jerusalem.

Whats more, Philo portrays Pilate as a brutal but vacillating ruler, inclined to change his mind.

Thus, contrary to what many skeptics say, the Gospel portrayal of Pilate agonizing over what to do with Jesus of Nazareth  with thousands clamoring for Jesus release, and others condemning him as a false prophet  actually fits what historians know about him from contemporary sources outside of the gospels.

Third, despite the claim by skeptics that Jesus was executed as a zealot revolutionary, this, too, doesnt fit the evidence.

The reason: Had the Romans truly believed that Jesus was a zealot revolutionary there would have likely been a thousand crosses on Calvary hill, not just three.

The Romans would have hunted down all of Jesus followers and crucified them all -- as the first-century Jewish historian Josephus reports they did after the last serious rebellion, in AD 6.

Instead, historians know that the Romans permitted Jesus followers to operate freely for decades after his crucifixion.

Its therefore likely that Pilate saw the situation just as the Gospels claim: that Jesus was an otherworldly prophet, potentially a troublemaker, but certainly not a real threat to Roman military rule.

Finally, skeptics claim Pilate would never have surrendered Jesus body to his supporters as the gospels portray.

They assert that the Romans would have left Jesus body on the cross to rot and then buried what remained in a mass grave for criminals  as was often done in Rome.

The New Testament scholar John Dominic Crossan of the Jesus Seminar even famously claimed that Jesus body was likely eaten by wild dogs.

However, as we have just seen, the Romans did in fact make allowances for Jewish religious customs, if only to keep the peace.

Once, Pilate had even been forced to back down and remove Roman military standards from Jerusalem after Jewish protesters threatened mass suicide.

If, as is likely, Jesus was executed on the Day of Preparation before Passover  with hundreds of thousands of Jewish pilgrims crowded into Jerusalem  then Jewish officials would have wanted his body removed prior to sundown, as the Gospels portray. According to Jewish law, to leave a dead body hanging overnight was a desecration.

Skeptics claim that the brutal Pilate couldnt have cared less and would not have released Jesus body  but, as we have just seen, Pilate likely did care if only to protect his troubled career.

In fact, historians have concrete evidence that Pilate was specifically ordered by the emperor to respect Jewish customs.

Thus, in the end, the portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus in the Gospels is actually far more plausible historically than alternative reconstructions proposed by skeptics.

Jesus crucifixion happened in public, likely witnessed by hundreds, if not thousands of his friends and enemies.

His body was almost certainly taken down from the cross, hurriedly placed in a temporary tomb before the start of the central Jewish festival of Passover.

Skeptics raise legitimate questions about many parts of the Gospel accounts, but their questions about the crucifixion are not among them.
A gay student group at Duquesne University fears that a proposed Chick-fil-A outpost could jeopardize the schools safe spaces.

Chick-fil-A has a questionable history on civil rights and human rights, Lambda executive board members Niko Martini told The Duke (the universitys student newspaper).

Click here to for a free subscription to Todds newsletter  a must-read for Conservatives!

Martini asked student government leaders to pass a resolution urging the school to reconsider Chick-fil-A as a dining option for students at the Pennsylvania Catholic school.

I think its imperative the university chooses to do business with organizations that coincide with the universitys mission and expectations they give students regarding diversity and inclusion, Martini went on to tell the newspaper.

So far, the student government association has not passed a resolution one way or the other. And with good reason.

A university spokesperson told the newspaper they picked Chick-fil-A at the request of the student body.

Still, fragile feathers were ruffled by news that youngsters would soon be nibbling on plump juicy chicken breasts tucked between hot, buttered buns.

Ive tried very hard within the last semester and a half to promote this safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community, Lambda President Rachel Coury told The Duke. So I fear that with the Chick-fil-A being in Options that maybe people will feel that safe place is at risk.

President Olivia Erickson vowed to look into Lambdas concerns.

We are working on gathering students opinions and getting all the facts we can so we can make the best decision, she told the newspaper.

Well, heres a cold, hard fact: Chick-fil-A is not in the business of selling hate chicken. They are a rock-solid, family-owned company flavored by Christian values. They do not discriminate. Period.

It would be a really big deal for Lambda and the whole LGBTQ community on campus if someone could make a statement to eliminate the fear of being marginalized by having this business on campus, Coury told the student newspaper.

Folks, this anti-poultry bigotry from perpetually offended groups is getting to be a bit tedious.

By the way, Id like to commend The Duke for doing a fine job reporting the story. Their presentation was indeed fair and balanced  and quite frankly refreshing.

As for Duquesne University students who might be triggered by a Chick-fil-A cow  I would urge you to make an appointment with your schools counseling service.

Eat More Chicken, Snowflakes.
Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., told Fox News' "The First 100 Days" Wednesday that defeating ISIS should be the Trump administration's first priority with its Syria policy.

"There are two things that need to happen in Syria," Perdue told host Martha MacCallum. "One is weve got to stop ISIS and thats job one ... And second, [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assads got to go, and once those two things happen, then we have to reestablish the government in Syria and also rebuild Syria."

"I mean, theres nothing to go home to now," Perdue added. "All the refugees around the world who have left that part of the world have nothing to go home to."

Perdue, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised last week's missile strike in Syria as "decisive," "measured," and "proportional," and said that Trump was committed to "standing up and leading again."

"I am excited [about] the fact were re-engaging in the world and thats what I hear from foreign leaders all over the world, that they want America to lead again," Perdue said. "That doesnt mean they want 100,000 troops of American soldiers in Syria, but what they want is re-engagement to find balance in the world again."
Its easy to understand why an ongoing mass murder in the worlds poorest country is being ignored: Syria gassing its own citizens, prospects of a North Korea-U.S. clash and Chicago police manhandling a paying United Airlines passenger are impossible to ignore.

But ignored or not, the South Sudan militarys ongoing rape and killing of citizens who are not part of the dominant Dinka tribe is very real, according to independent observers who spoke, on condition of anonymity requested for their own safety, to Fox News.

On April 4, government militias loyal to the president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, entered the town of Pajok and began killing and raping men, women and children, one observer said.

Opposition forces led by the former first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, estimate that more than 200 innocent civilians were killed in Pajok.

At the onset of the massacre, the tribal army burned down several buildings in the town and indiscriminately shot at the innocent civilians including kids and women who were trying to run for their lives, a security officer in South Sudan told Fox News.

Primary school pupils were forced to lay on the ground in a straight line and were run over by tanks, and crushing them flat. Some of the primary school girls aged between 11 to 13 years were raped in front of their teacher and the teacher was later murdered by the government soldiers, possibly to conceal evidence of their heinous crimes, an independent observer said.

When a grandmother in her late 70s said she could not tolerate the pain of losing her children and grandchildren, who had been slain in front of her, she begged the soldiers to take her life, too.

Without remorse, the primitive government soldiers decided to cut her limps, and she was left to die a painful death, the observer said.

No one was spared from the soldiers wrath, he said, even the tiniest of children.

Toddlers were thrown into the river live, he said. The lucky ones had their heads swung against poles and walls before being thrown into the river, at least leaving them dead by the time they have been thrown into the river.

Though largely unknown to most of the world, these atrocities are happening with the full knowledge of international bodies, including the United Nations, the African Union and the Troika, which includes United States, the United Kingdom and Norway, meaning the non-Dinkas are left with no help and no options, the independent observer said.

SPLA-IO spokesman Deng said the government is trying to extinguish the non-Dinka South Sudanese.

Government forces are 100 percent committed to exterminating non-Dinka South Sudanese in an effort to declare Dinka, who constitute less than 20% of the total population, as the only recognized citizens of South Sudan, Deng said.

The independent observer agreed, telling Fox News, Months ago, I warned about looming genocide. It's time to prepare for what is next. God, I wish someone would listen.

Because of limited communications and power, accounts of the atrocities in rural areas of South Sudan have emerged slowly, sometimes days after they are committed.

Lt. Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, a SPLA-IO, confirmed the attack on the civilians in Pajok.

They slaughtered a community leader and health worker publicly in front of pupils. They raped women and killed many youth and dumped them in the stream, Atepi, last night for fear of discovery, said Gabriel. They have burned down civilians houses and looted all they found inside and also killed all livestock, including chickens.

The militia also blocked the Uganda border, which is some five miles to the south of Pajok, and took civilians fleeing to Uganda as hostages and murdered some of them, he said.

The troops raided what they could from the town, Gabriel said, and cut off all electricity and networks so no one could call for help.

The SPLA-IO forces blame a pro-government militia commanded by Major Gen. Gildo Oling for leading the April 4 attack on Pajok.

Five days later another atrocity befell non-Dinkas. On Sunday, April 9, pro-government Mathiang Anyur Dinka mercenaries slaughtered as many as 50 people in the village of Wau, carrying out what residents call ethnic cleansing.

The South Sudan News Agency reported children going to school were killed. When they find anyone in the road they kill them, one resident told the Associated Press. Another eyewitness added, Most of those doing it are guys in military uniform, this is clear. You can see they are carrying the flag of South Sudan.

SPLA-IO spokesman Deng said that around 4 p.m. Sunday, Mathiang Anyoor forces under the command of the notorious coldblooded killer Gen. Thayip Gatluak moved out of Wau to burn down and erase the remaining non-Dinka villages around Wau.

The pro-government militias are currently moving from house to house and killing the defenseless and helpless non-Dinka South Sudanese in the Wau area, he said.

Since South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan, more than 1.7 million South Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers have fled to neighboring countries because of violence, civil wars and famine. According to the United Nations, 100,000 people in South Sudan are facing starvation, and another 1 million people there are on the brink of famine.

Mathiang Anyor militias are planning more attacks and committing further vicious and egregious atrocities and human rights abuses, Deng said.

The SPLA-IO calls upon the South Sudan neighbors, the region, African Union, the United Nations and the international community to once and for all declare the ongoing killings in South Sudan a genocide, designate the Juba regime a terrorist establishment and treat it as the only one security threat to national, regional and international peace and stability, Deng said.

Jonathan Pedneault, a South Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch, wrote in Newsweek that the government of South Sudan has consistently denied any wrongdoing in its communications with his organization, despite extensive documentation of horrible crimes over the past three years.

The people I met in Panyijar county are tired and hopeless. They need food and medicine, that is for sure. But more than anything else; they need us to ensure that the armed parties to the conflict stop attacking them, Pedneault wrote.
President Trump said Wednesday that China took a big step in easing tensions between the two nations by turning away North Korean coal ships the day before and returning them to their home port of Nampo.

At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, Trump described his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as one with good chemistry and praised Chinas apparent commitment to banning coal imports from North Korea.

We have a very big problem in North Korea and as I said, I really think that China is going to try very hard, and has already starteda lot of the coal boats have already been turned backyou saw that yesterday and todaytheyve been turned back, Trump said.

The vast amount of coal coming out of North Korea going to China, theyve turned back the boatsthats a big step and there are many other steps I know about so well see what happens, it may be effective, it may not be effectiveif its not effective, we will be effectiveI can promise you that.

Reuters first reported the North Korean ship movement Tuesday. According to Reuters, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on February 26cutting off the countrys most important export productafter repeated missile tests from the isolated nation that drew criticism from around the globe.

A senior defense official told Fox News on Wednesday that the Reuters report was credible.

While the White House said it would not comment on the Reuters report, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told Fox News that all UN Member States are required to implement sanctions resolutions in good faith, and that the U.S. expects them to do so.

Full implementation of this resolution will demonstrate global consensus in imposing stronger sanctions on North Koreas sources of revenue for its UN-proscribed nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programs, Toner said in an email to Fox News.

The report also suggested that Chinas ban of North Korean coal could be beneficial to the U.S. economy, if the U.S. makes up the difference and considers selling coal to China.

According to Reuters data, there was no U.S. coking coal exported to China between late 2014 and 2016, but shipments rose to over 400,000 tons by late February, amid Trumps repeated commitment to restoring the U.S. coal industry and rolling back Obama-era coal regulations.

Under the Obama administration, the coal mining industry lost approximately 36,400 jobs, and between 2009 and 2015, the number of coal mines in the U.S. declined by 554, leaving 853 mines in the U.S. by 2015, down from the 1,407 in 2009.

Last month, the president signed an executive order to end the war on coal and lift the ban on federal leasing for coal production, as well as the job-killing restrictions on the production of clean coal and other energy sources.

Were going to have clean coalreally clean coal, Trump said at the signing of the Executive Order to Create Energy Independence.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
Attorneys for an energy company being sued by the federal government say lawyers for the Environmental Protection Agency are defying one of President Trumps executive orders that, if obeyed, would essentially kill the agency's lawsuit against the company.

The accusation against the EPA, and their Justice Department (DOJ) lawyers, is the latest episode in a five-year-old fight between the federal government and California-based HVI Cat Canyon, a privately-held oil company formerly known as Greka Oil & Gas.

In 2011, the federal government and the state of California sued HVI for various environmental offenses, including violating the Clean Water and Pollution Act, by spilling tar-like oil at least 21 times into drainage ditches. The government classified those ditches as navigable waters and thus protected under federal regulations.

Two years ago the case against HVI got a boost when President Barack Obama signed the Waters of the United States rule, which expanded the definition of navigable waters to include intermittent streams -- that is, streams that sometimes had no water in them.

In February, President Trump signed an executive order directing the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to review Obamas expanded definition of navigable waters with a view to rescinding it.

Then last month, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said that, besides beginning the review Trumps executive order called for, he also would consider interpreting the term navigable waters, as defined in the Clean Water and Pollution Act in a manner consistent with the opinion of Justice [Antonin] Scalia in [the 2006 case known as] Rapanos. The late Supreme Court justice wrote in a 2006 minority opinion in Rapanos v. the United States that the Clean Water Act confers federal jurisdiction over non-navigable waters only if the waters exhibit a relatively permanent flow, such as a river, lake or stream. In other words, intermittent streams wouldnt qualify as navigable waters, and thus wouldnt be protected under federal law.

Lawyers for HVI assert that the governments case against the company will fail if the EPA and the Corps use the interpretation of navigable water" put down by Scalia as the drainage ditches only carry water a handful of days a year and argue the case at the very least be suspended until the rules in Trumps executive order are implemented.

Some legal experts, however, say Trumps executive order may be less significant than HVIs lawyers maintain.

"The executive order said that the EPA should consider adopting Justice Scalia's opinion," Joseph Dellapenna, a visiting professor at the University of Houston Law Center, told Fox News. "The EPA has not done anything about this yet except to say they will look into it."

While HVI lawyers havent gone so far as to accuse the DOJ lawyers of a so-called deep state rebellion, the companys legal counsel does say the departments continued pursuit of the case is deeply troubling and an explicit rejection of the policies announced by President Trump.

As we have never before encountered such a blatant disregard of the official direction of the President of the United States among government lawyers, we feel compelled to ask that you put an end to the willful obstruction of President Trumps announced policies by dismissing this case over which the United States has no jurisdiction, Robert OBrien, a lawyer at Larson OBrien, wrote in a letter last month to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

In a response to OBriens request, dated March 28, Mark Sabath of the DOJs Environmental Enforcement Section said that Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Wood had reviewed the request and that the position of the United States with respect to this case has not changed.

It is unclear whether or not Attorney General Sessions is aware of the case as the Department of Justice declined Fox News request for comment. The EPA did not return a request for comment.

"The [companys] law firm is arguing on a flimsy basis, but that is not to say that Attorney General Sessions won't buy it," Dellapenna said.

A source close to the case, however, told Fox News that DOJs reluctance to drop the litigation was due in large part to career bureaucrats and Obama-era appointees looking to undermine Trumps authority and policies.

I dont want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the only logical explanation here is that Obamas holdovers are trying to keep his policies from being replaced, the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, told Fox News. A deep state effort is the only logical explanation here. People are trying to keep Obamas policies and screw HVI Cat Canyon.

There is no evidence pointing to any effort by employees at either the DOJ or the EPA to undermine Trumps executive order, but suspicions over discord within government offices have arisen amid allegations that an EPA press release last month that was critical of the president came about as a result of infighting between longtime agency officials and Trump administration appointees.

The criticism came in a quote from Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., that was inaccurately attributed by the EPA to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va..

President Trump has chosen to recklessly bury his head in the sand, said the quote at the top of the EPA press release in reaction to Trumps executive order rolling back Obamas climate initiatives.

The quote added that the order "calls into question Americas credibility," and that Trump and Pruitt "have chosen to shirk our responsibility, disregard clear science and undo the significant progress our country has made.

The agency quickly issued a new version of the email, which also corrected the spelling of Capito's first name.
The United States military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan on Thursday, the latest overseas military operation under President Donald Trump.

The president has authorized three major military missions since he took office in January.

Jan. 29: Yemen

On Jan. 29, just over a week after Trump was sworn in, United States Special Forces raided a suspected Al-Qaeda compound in Yemen to collect information on potential terror attacks against the U.S. and its allies.

Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens was killed -- the first U.S. combat death under Trump. Three other troops were injured.

At least 23 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the operation.

The White House said that the Obama administration had planned the raid, but never executed it because it would have escalated U.S. involvement in the war-torn Arab country.

The raid drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, most notably Republican Sen. John McCain, who said in a statement that he would not describe any operation that results in the loss of American life as a success.

Trump fired back on Twitter, saying McCain's comment "only emboldens the enemy."

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders insisted the mission "yielded a substantial amount of very important intel and resources that helped save American lives and other lives."

April 7: Syria

At 8:45 p.m. ET on April 6 (3:45 a.m. local time April 7), the U.S. launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base in retaliation for the suspected chemical weapons attack that killed more than 80 civilians.

Aircraft and support infrastructure and equipment at the airbase in Shayrat, located outside of Homs, were "severly damaged."

The goal of the airstrikes was to reduce "the Syrian government's ability to deliver chemical weapons," Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said.

Much of the international community rallied behind Trump's decision, but a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the strikes dealt "a significant blow" to relations between Moscow and Washington.



Tillerson held a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday where he said he told Putin that U.S.-Russia relations hit a low point.

April 13: Afghanistan

The latest military operation came on Thursday when the U.S. dropped a 21,000-pound bomb in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

The MOAB -- Massive Ordinance Air Blast -- struck an Islamic State tunnel complex. Thirty-six Islamic State fighters died and no civilians were injured, Afghanistan officials said Friday.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that several Islamic State caves and ammunition caches were destroyed. The bomb's "earsplitting blast" terrified villagers living near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The MOAB, also known as "the Mother of All Bombs," was the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military. Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said the bomb was dropped from a U.S. MC-130 special operations transport, and had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use.

"As [ISIS'] losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers, and tunnels to thicken their defense," Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against [ISIS]."

What's next?

Trump has not indicated further military action, though he did issue a warning to North Korea on Thursday, calling it a "problem" country that "will be taken care of."

Trump made the comments after he was asked about the U.S. military's decision to drop the largest non-nuclear weapon.

When asked whether dropping the bomb sends a message to North Korea as it continues to pursue nuclear and other weapons, Trump said it makes no difference.

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," Trump said.

North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol said Friday Pyongyang is ready to launch a preemptive strike if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression.

The foreign minister added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity," and said the country is ready to go to war if that is what Trump wants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A temporary order barring the Department of Environmental Quality and other state agencies from initiating a communications plan about air monitoring near the Entek International plant in Lebanon will remain in place a while longer, Linn County Circuit Court Judge Carol Bispham said Wednesday.

Judge Thomas McHill approved the temporary injunction Friday, after Entek attorneys argued that if the state went ahead with its communications plan, it would cause "substantial and irreparable harm" to the company.

On Monday, Bispham heard two hours of testimony from attorneys representing Entek and the state. The hearing was continued to Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Bispham heard 45 minutes of arguments from attorneys on both sides and then said she would rule on the matter after giving careful review to the documents filed in the case. She did not say when that ruling would come, but said she would do her best to expedite it.

In comments she made from the bench, however, she said she believes that if the state is going to alert the public to a potential health risk, it should do so with the highest level of accuracy.

It is very important that we know the level of risk involved, she said. How do you know? Is that information accurate?

Computer modeling such as that used by the state to detect possible elevated levels of tricholoroethylene, or TCE, is known to not be accurate," she said. "That poses a concern if the public is frightened by misinformation.

Bispham said that clearly the public has a right to know of potential health risks to employees or area residents, but the state should not scare people or "negatively affect the reputation of a company that has operated for 30 years in the community.

She said it appears Entek has attempted to work with the agencies.

Entek was notified by the DEQ in February that data from the Environmental Protection Agency indicated a potential elevated level of trichloroethylene, a solvent used in the companys production of battery separator materials.

Trichloroethylene is a carcinogen and may cause heart defects in babies.

Entek contracted with CH2M Hill to collect TCE air-level data. Due to the complexity of the work, it had been given an extension until April 24 to provide that data to the state.

But last Thursday, officials from the DEQ, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon OSHA and Department of Justice met with Entek officials at its Lebanon plant. At that meeting, state officials outlined their plan to initiate air quality monitoring on nearby private property and to initiate a communications plan with Entek employees, the public and the press.

Entek had not been given an agenda for the meeting, and one of its co-owners called the number of state officials present at the meeting unprecedented," in his experience.

On Wednesday, the state presented the court with copies of numerous articles about Mondays hearing that had appeared in newspapers across the country. Entek attorney Joel Mullin of Portland referred to a headline declaring that the court had initiated a gag order on the state agencies.

Mullin said that the company's intention was not to slap a gag order on the state. The issue, he said, is that the state agencies must work within statutory authority.

He said both parties agree Entek is operating within its DEQ air permit and OSHA regulations. He said the company is permitted to release up to 127 tons of TCE into the air annually, yet releases less than 70 tons. Although state officials concur that Entek is operating within those limits, they argue that the computer modeling suggests levels of TCE above state and federal nonregulatory health risk-based thresholds.

Entek contends the DEQ should not go public with information about potential health risks unless accurate data supports such claims.

It is undisputed that Entek does not pose an immediate health risk, Mullin said.

He charged that the state ambushed Entek at Thursdays meeting and was not working collaboratively with the company.

State attorney Renee Stineman called the restraining order an extreme remedy, and said state agencies have both the authority and responsibility to undertake air monitoring programs, to communicate with the public and initiate educational outreach efforts.

Stineman said the state had been developing a draft communications plan, anticipating that it would change based on new information gleaned at Thursdays meeting.

Stineman said that the public might "jump to conclusions" or "make wrong assumptions" if the DEQ initiates air monitoring without being able to answer questions about the process.

Stineman added that the fact that Entek officials met on Saturday with employees on the TCE issue throws doubt on the company's claim that it faces irreparable harm if the communications plan goes forward.

Stineman said Enteks goal is to control the states communications process.

Entek should not be the sole source of information, so they can control the spin of information, Stineman said.
A Republican congressman on Wednesday called for the resignation of the White House press secretary after comparing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Adolph Hitler during his daily breifing.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., made the comments during a town hall meeting in Colorado. He said Sean Spicer made a terible mistake.

"He needs to go," he said in Aurora. "I just don't think he's serving the president well."

Spicer was widely criticized for saying Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."

We didnt use chemical weapons in World War II," he said. "You know, you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. So you have to, if you are Russia, ask yourself: Is this a country and a regime that you want to align yourself with?"

Spicer apologized for the remarks, telling Fox News I  especially during this week [Passover]  regret using that term and apologize and hope that we can focus on the president's decisive action that he took to make sure that we deal with the situation in Syria."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also called for Spicers resignation.

Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesmans statements," Pelosi said in a statement. "Either he is speaking for the President, or the President should have known better than to hire him."

Coffman made his comments during a contentious town hall Wednesday. He received applause when he made the Spicer comments, but was booed and jeered when he tried to explain what Spicer was trying to say.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from The Hill.
Fox News' Sean Hannity praised the Trump administration's foreign policy in his opening monologue on Wednesday night's edition of "Hannity," telling views, "There is a new sheriff in town and the world is beginning to take notice."

Hannity said Trump was orchestrating "a very profound and dramatic shift in how America leads on the world stage," most notably with last week's missile strikes in response to a chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Oresident trump made the right decision," Hannity said. "He drew a line in the sand with Syria, letting Assad know that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated."

The host addressed those who disagreed with the missile strikes, asking "Should America, the United States of America, sit on the sidelines while innocent men, women and children are gassed to death with chemical weapons? Should we really let what happened there keep going on? Or should we try to make use of Americas might to stop evil in our time?"

Dr. Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president, said that the strike was "one of those key instances where the moral imperative overlaps with the national security interest of the United States."

"The president was explicit. Were not invading [Syria]," Gorka went on. "This isnt 2003, this isnt even 1991, so nothing has changed in our policies, but we took action because America had to take action."

Gorka said the adminstration as "not interested in being Globocop. Were not going to be the worlds policeman, but there are standards that we insist on, and the international system cannot function in a vacuum."
You have to say this about Sean Spicer: As bad a mistake as he made in invoking Hitler, he was quick to abjectly apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Which is virtually the opposite of the approach taken by United Airlines, which took a one-time fiasco of a situation and turned it into a full-fledged calamity. Its simply mind-boggling how badly the CEO has handled the bloody removal of a passenger who paid for his seat and wasnt bothering anyone.

What the White House press secretary did was the classic definition of an unforced error. Defending President Trumps airstrikes against Syria over Bashar al-Assads chemical attack on civilians, Spicer said:

We didn`t use chemical weapons in World War II. You know, you had a--someone who is as despicable as Hitler who didn`t even sink to the--to the--to using chemical weapons.

I was watching live and wondered how Spicer could possibly have made the comparison to a man who used gas to murder 6 million Jews and untold others.

The rule of thumb about Hitler analogies is, dont do it, period. It never ends well.

Having failed to dig himself out in the briefing room, it took Spicer less than an hour to issue a clarification: 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.

But that didnt work, and his blunder led all three network newscasts. By then, Spicer had apologized in separate interviews with Fox, CNN and MSNBC. And yesterday, in a previously scheduled appearance at the Newseum, he went the full contrition route.

The spokesman said he screwed up, and that to do it during a holy week for Jews and Christians made his mistake inexcusable and reprehensible. He said his gaffe was painful and asked for forgiveness.

That, of course, was a full-throated apologywhich didnt stop Nancy Pelosi and some pundits from calling for him to resign. And some on social media falsely accused of downplaying the Holocaust. Mollie Hemingway put it well in the Federalist:

Sean Spicer was not pushing Holocaust denial and anyone with the most meager intelligence and sense of fairness would be able to say that. As his statement after the briefing shows, he was for some reason drawing a distinction between combat genocide and other genocide; he was not denying that Hitler killed millions of people during the Holocaust using gas chambers and other means.

But if Spicer took full possession of his mistake, Uniteds CEO, Oscar Munoz, did the opposite.

Everyone was horrified at watching the video of David Dao being dragged off a plane in Chicago, his face bloodied, simply because the flight was overbooked. (I happen to think overbooking is a scam that should be banned, but the initial story was untrue: The flight wasnt overbooked, the airline just wanted to bump four people to get four of its personnel to another city.)

First Munoz engaged in an absurd bit of corporate-speak: I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers.

His tone-deaf streak continued by blaming the 69-year-old doctor:

This situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused.

Finally, Munoz did on GMA yesterday what he should have done immediately:

The first thing I think is important to say is to apologize to Dr. Dao, his family, the passengers on that flight, our customers, our employees. That is not who our family at United is. And you saw us at a bad moment and this could never, will never, happen again on a United Airlines flight.

Keep in mind that United had offered the bumped passengers $800 apiece. By refusing to go higher, Id say the airline bought itself $20 million in bad publicity. And initially, at least, its stock lost $1.4 billion. The company is now a symbol of corporate insensitivity. And the CEO is reducing to insisting he will not resign.

But I do have to rip the media on one aspect of the storytrashing Dao over his past.

The New York Post: Doctor Dragged Off Flight Was Convicted of Trading Drugs for Sex.

People: Revealed: All About the Doctor Dragged Off Overbooked United FlightAnd His Troubled Past.

The Daily Mail: Doctor dragged off United flight was felon who traded prescription drugs for secret gay sex with patient half his age and took them himself.

Dao lives in Kentucky, and the Louisville Courier-Journal handled it more responsibly, including this sentence in a longer piece: Dao had surrendered his medical license in February 2005 after being convicted of drug-related offenses, according to documents filed with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure last June.

While these decade-old facts may be true, they have no relevance to Dao being dragged off the plane and injured, with no claim that he was an unruly passenger. Some media outlets, in effect, have victimized him again.
President Trump on Thursday hailed the military's "very, very successful" strike on ISIS fighters in Afghanistan, after the first-ever deployment of America's largest non-nuclear bomb -- known as the MOAB.

The Pentagon announced that the GBU-43B, a 21,000-pound bomb, was dropped on an ISIS tunnel complex in Nangarhar Province. The MOAB -- Massive Ordnance Air Blast -- is also known as the Mother Of All Bombs. It was first tested in 2003, but hadn't been used in combat until Thursday.

We have given [the military] total authorization, Trump said ahead of a meeting with first responders. Frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately.

We have incredible leaders in the military, we have an incredible military and were very proud of them, and this was another very, very successful mission, he said.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier at his daily press briefing that the strike was done to deny ISIS "operational space." Spicer said the weapon targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS used to move around freely.

The U.S. takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and to defeat the group we must deny them operational space  which we did.

When asked if the U.S. would consider using the device in other combat zones, Spicer referred questions to the Pentagon.

The bombing comes just days after a Green Beret was killed fighting ISIS in the region, a U.S. defense official told Fox News. Also Thursday, Defense Secretary James Mattis met with his Turkish counterpart at the Pentagon about how to defeat ISIS in Syria.

Fox News Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
Candidate Donald Trump was going to fire Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, bench the Export-Import Bank, diminish NATO, stay out of the Middle East  and, of course, take on China, which he called the No. 1 abuser of this country.

President Trump has read from a different script.

The hard-line, populist tenor that dominated Trumps insurgent candidacy has given way to a more centrist governing philosophy and, as Trump nears the end of his first 100 days looking to rack up accomplishments, he's edging away from some of the nationalist stances that endeared him to his base.

Trump, in a series of tweets, on Wednesday disputed the notion hes veered from the course he set on the campaign trail.

One by one we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening! Trump wrote. Jobs are returning, illegal immigration is plummeting, law, order and justice are being restored. We are truly making America great again!

Trump's administration indeed continues to focus foremost on the economy and immigration enforcement. But he's also moved to build, not burn, bridges on the global stage.

Just on Wednesday, Trump embraced NATO, backed down from calling China a currency manipulator, said he supported the Ex-Im bank and spoke highly of Yellen.

He praised NATO after meeting Wednesday with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, backing off his pre-inauguration criticism of the defense alliance. I said [NATO] was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete, he said.

And in a Wall Street Journal interview, Trump said he would no longer label China a currency manipulator, after meeting last week with President Xi Jinping. In the same interview, he spoke of filling vacancies on the Ex-Im Bank, which gives loans to foreign firms to buy U.S. products, among other services -- and which Trump slammed during the campaign.

Trump and his supporters contend that while he's flexible, he's only modulating his position because he's getting what he truly wants. He suggested Wednesday he's warming to NATO because allies are cooperating more on fighting terror.

But as Trump also moved last week to bomb the Syrian military -- shifting focus overseas after failing to get a vote on an ObamaCare replacement -- the changes and other factors are seen as a setback for the Steve Bannon branch of the White House.

Bannon, Trumps controversial chief strategist, has been repeatedly undermined in recent days, first by his boss in interviews with The New York Post and Wall Street Journal and then, Thursday morning, with anonymously-sourced articles in The New York Times and Washington Post asserting Bannons influence is waning and his days at Trumps side may be numbered.

Bannon, who previously led fiery, right-wing Breitbart News, is seen by many as the keeper of the populist flame inside the West Wing. But as Bannon-favored agenda items have been blunted in the early going  the stalling of the ObamaCare replacement bill, the travel ban fiasco  Trump appears to have turned for now toward more conventional policy favored by so-called Washington insiders whom he railed about on the campaign trail.

The visibility of other key White House conservatives, such as senior adviser Stephen Miller, also has been noticeably reduced. Meanwhile, Trumps son-in-law and senior aide Jared Kushner, a longtime Democrat, has been ascendant in the administration. Trumps more moderate daughter, Ivanka, has also been a key voice.

David Bossie, a former Trump deputy campaign manager and a Fox News contributor, told Fox & Friends on Thursday the divisions within the Trump team are overblown.

What all these folks are doing is working toward what they believe is the presidents agenda, not their own, Bossie said. Fox News reported earlier this week that Bannon and Kushner have been working in recent days to make peace.

And Trump, to his point on Twitter, has certainly not abandoned some of the most significant positions that won him the White House.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a Bannon ally, recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border to announce a series of tough actions aimed at curbing illegal immigration and imposing tougher penalties on those who harbor illegal immigrants in America. In doing so, he invoked the name of the man who still vows to build a big, beautiful border wall and, in some fashion, make Mexico foot the bill.

This is a new era, Sessions said Tuesday. This is the Trump era.
While Google Earth remains a reliable resource if you're after some stunning satellite views of our blue planet, for many users the software has taken a back seat to Google Maps in recent years as the latter now incorporates so many of Earth's features.

But invitations sent out this week for a New York City event introducing "the new Google Earth" indicate that the company is far from done with its virtual globe.

Taking place on April 18, the invite promises "a first look at the brand new experience" while offering nothing in the way of details. But considering the entire event is dedicated to Google Earth, major changes and new features are guaranteed.

It's possible the next-generation Google Earth could incorporate virtual reality features from the VR version released on the Steam gaming platform last November, or perhaps offer a radical overhaul of Earth's user interface. Whatever it is, all will be revealed on Tuesday, so be sure to check back then for more details.

It's already come a long way

Google Earth launched as EarthViewer 3D in 2001 and was then owned by Keyhole, a CIA-funded firm that Google acquired in 2004. The following year, the software relaunched as Google Earth for PCs, before launching for smartphones -- first the iPhone -- in 2008.

The software, which has been downloaded well over a billion times by users around the world, also includes a raft of features such as Street View, a sky mode for viewing stars and other celestial bodies, and a flight simulator for PC users.

Google Earth certainly remains a powerful tool for mobile and desktop, and if you've forgotten about it in favor of Maps, the web giant hopes that after next week you'll be ready -- and eager -- to rediscover the software.
Emirates just threw shade at United's troubles this week in a new ad.

The gulf carrier posted a video on Twitter, with the message "Fly the friendly skies with a real airline."

United, which has become embroiled in controversy after video footage surfaced of a passenger being dragged and bloodied because he would not volunteer his seat on a flight for airline crewmembers, is known for the slogan "Fly the Friendly Skies." (Which has not gone unnoticed in the many memes about the incident.)

Here is the ad:

Fly the friendly skies with a real airline. pic.twitter.com/wE5C5n6Lvn  Emirates airline (@emirates) April 11, 2017

Emirates, as well as Qatar and Etihad, are frequently at odds with U.S. legacy carriers United, American and Delta. While executives at the airlines occasionally take pot shots, Emirates has frequently gone all-in, as with a past ad campaign featuring America's sweetheart Jennifer Aniston.

In the new ad, Emirates highlights a quote from United CEO Oscar Munoz: "Those [Gulf] airlines aren't airlines." The airline then goes on to highlight its award on Monday as best airline in the world by TripAdvisor.

Emirates confirmed to T+L that the ad is in response to the United incident.

United's statements about the incident have only seemed to increase outrage, and the airline's stock was down significantly, according to TIME.
Five-year-old Sammy Lankford has finally stopped going to the mailbox, looking for a postcard from his grandparents.

A year ago this week, on the first night of a long-planned cruise in the Peruvian Amazon, Larry and Christy Hammer, retirees in their early 70s, were killed in a fire that broke out in their cabin on the 31-passenger La Estrella Amazonica. Earlier this month, the Peruvian Navy determined that gross negligence on the part of the ships crew, a lack of appropriate equipment and a failure to follow safety protocols contributed to the Lincoln, Neb., couples death.

But regardless of the report, the trip organizer, Alabama-based International Expeditions, owned by the Germany-based TUI group, indicated through their lawyers to the familys Peruvian lawyers that the family didnt understand the 1920 Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).

Maritime lawyers explain that cruise lines often use the antiquated law to shield them from financial responsibility in cases where there has been a death at sea because it mandates that compensation be made only if the deceased were wage-earners. No compensation is required if they were children or retirees, like the Hammers.

Nor is any additional compensation allowed for pain and suffering.

Kelly Lankford and Jill Malott, the Hammers daughters, are astonished by both the report and the cruise companys refusal to take responsibility. Arguing that DOHSA applies is merely International Expeditions attempt to avoid responsibility, said Jill Malott. This is deplorable given the egregious facts and the companys misrepresentations.

My parents were incredibly thorough when they traveled, said Lankford, noting that the Hammers both held Ph.Ds. They traveled with American companies. They read everything. They watched every webinar.

The Navy report backs the sisters contention that their parents were given false assurances about the state-of-the-art ships safety. The blaze was caused by a short circuit in a power strip the crew gave to the passengers, and it spread to a suitcase and a mattress that was not fire-resistant, as mandated by Peruvian maritime law.

ARE CRUISE SHIP SWIMMING POOLS ACTUALLY SAFE?

The bedding also did not adhere to requirements of the SOLAS Convention  the international maritime treaty for the Safety of Life at Sea, which the daughters say International Expeditions promoted in its materials.

According to the report, the fire alarm did not operate and the reaction time of the vessels crew was deficient and quite ineffective. It took more than 20 minutes for the crew to rescue passengers.

Video recordings show people in the passageway with no fire-fighting equipment and no immediate action was taken to rescue the passengers, according to the report, indicating that cameras captured the crews lack of inaction as the blaze spread. It added that the crew included personnel who had not undergone training for their duties  and did not hold certificates of competence for their positions on board. It said fewer than half of those included in the emergency roster were involved in the rescue.

An opportune reaction and participation by the whole of the crew in the emergency response to the fire would have enabled at least Mrs. Christy Hammer to be saved, the report concluded, noting that she was alive when she was pulled from the cabin but died on the way to the hospital.

That conclusion rankles the Hammers daughters.

They robbed our children of their grandparents, said Lankford, who lives in Kansas City.

Not doing anything for so long seems unimaginable, said her older sister who lives in San Francisco.

From the beginning, Malott said, There has been a pattern of deflection and stonewalling on the part of International Expeditions, from falsely telling other passengers that her fathers CPAP sleep apnea machine caused the fire to making it difficult for the familys team of investigators to examine the scene.

COUPLE REUINTED WITH PRICEY JEWELRY LOST AT SEA

This week, a spokeswoman for IE issued the following statement to Fox News:

All of us here at IE continue to be deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life of two of our guests following a cabin fire last year aboard the La Estrella Amazonica, a vessel that we charter. Peruvian authorities continue to investigate the accident, and Expediciones Amazonicas, the Peruvian company that owns, operates and manages La Estrella Amazonica, continues to assist the authorities with their investigations. Given the pending legal proceedings in Peru we cannot provide specifics, but our highest priority remains the safety of our guests aboard our chartered vessels. We continue to review our operations to ensure we have the right protocols in place.

The company offered to refund the cost of the trip, roughly $10,000, but the daughters returned the check. The family has not received any type of compensation from the travel company-- nor has anything been offered.

James Walker, a maritime attorney and creator of the website www.CruiseLawNews.com, said DOHSA was passed to enable sailors widows to recover their husbands lost wages if they died at sea due to a shipping companys negligence. There was no allowance for emotional damage, such as pain and suffering, or grief and bereavement, and families were not allowed to collect damages if the deceased were not wage earners. The act was amended after the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 to include emotional losses resulting from an air disaster  but not from cruises.

We receive on average a call a month from a family member who loses a parent or child at sea, said Walker, who claims the cruise companies use DOHSA as a shield. So why should families in an air crash be able to seek their emotional losses against the airlines, but not passengers on a pleasure cruise ship at sea?

He and other maritime attorneys suggest the cruise lobby has blocked such amendments, but Christina Perez, a spokeswoman for the Cruise Lines International Association, says, It is not correct to single out the cruise industry as opposing changes to DOHSA. Numerous multiple shipping interests expressed concerns with specific changes to DOHSA when those proposals were considered by Congress several years ago.

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The U.S. Coast Guard has investigated 86 deaths on cruise ships since 2013, a spokesman said. Most were from pre-existing medical conditions, but maritime lawyers said others were the result of negligence: a baby who died after being misdiagnosed by a ship doctor; a woman who was misdiagnosed after a fall.

Maritime lawyers note that this law was passed before the modern cruise industry existedan industry that now accounts for 25 million people cruising each year, including many children and retirees, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. River cruising is a fast growing segment of the industry

Brett Rivkind, the lawyer handling the Hammer case, has testified in Congress about changing the law, but in this case he said he would like to see the company step up to the plate and take responsibility when they are responsible and not use a law like this to walk away. He hopes to use another legal strategy to hold International Expeditions accountable.

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 prescribes security and safety requirements for most cruise ships that embark and disembark in the United States, but it doesnt apply to ships embarking elsewhere.

Malott and Lankford say their fight isnt about money. They just dont want another family to suffer as they have.

Our goal is to hold this company accountable in any way we can, said Malott. Our parents raised us that when you see something wrong, you do what you can to make it right. We will see this through.
As if United didnt have enough to deal with this week, now they have to contend with dangerous bugs stowing away on their cabins.

On Thursday, the airline confirmed to CNBC that a scorpion stung one of their passengers after falling from the aircrafts overhead bin on a recent flight from Houston to Canada.

Richard Bell and his wife Linda, of Calgary, Canada, were flying home from Houston following a vacation in Mexico, when he claims the eight-legged creature landed on his head.

It fell in my hair. I grabbed it. I was hanging onto it by its tail, said Bell in an interview with GlobalNews.ca.

I looked down and I thought, Aw, it kind of looks like a little lobster, added Linda.

SNAKE LEFT BEHIND ON FLIGHT TO ALASKA

After a fellow passenger informed the couple that the scorpion might be poisonous, Bell removed the arthropod  which reportedly measured an inch and a half  and placed it on a plate. He then picked it up again, at which point Bell says he felt a sharp pain akin to a wasp sting on his finger.

Another passenger reportedly stomped on the critter before United employees disposed of it in an airplane toilet.

A spokesman for United claims that the crew took immediate action, and contacted a medical professional on the ground for assistance. Emergency personnel were also on-hand to meet with Bell upon his arrival in Calgary.

The pilot announced it, fellow passenger John Rogers told GlobalNews.ca. Because (Bell) was bitten, emergency services, the fire department and police boarded the plane.

Bell ultimately denied medical treatment, according to an EMS spokesperson. United also told CNBC that Bells injuries were non-life threatening.

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United is reportedly investigating the incident, which no doubt comes at an inconvenient time for the airline.

Just days earlier, officers at OHare International Airport forcibly removed 69-year-old David Dao from a United flight to make room for airline crewmembers. The incident left Dao bloodied and beaten, sparking backlash across the internet. Daos lawyer has since stated that he will probably file a lawsuit against the company, and United has also offered to compensate all of the passengers on his flight.

Bell, however, hadnt heard from United at the time of his interview with GlobalNews.ca.

I fly 150,000 miles a year with them, Bell said. (Im) a little astonished that they havent reached out.
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Disturbing videos and pictures of a man being dragged off a United flight have many wondering if airlines ever have the right to forcibly remove seated passengersespecially if those passengers are minding their own business.

Many fliers are aware that theres a possibility they may get bumpedbut no one expects to get hurt if they think theyre obeying the rules.

Personal security expert and former police officer Charles Carroll, the senior vice president of MorphoTrust, oversees a national network of over 1,200 TSA PreCheck enrollment service centers which perform background checks required for licensed employment professionals, airport workers, and air travel security personnel.

During his extensive career, Caroll says hes never seen anything like this.

"I question whether there's ever really been a situation where you have a person whose paid for their ticket, they've already been seated, not placed under arrest-- and he was still dragged off the plane," Carroll told Fox News.

"It was totally mishandled and this poor guy took the brunt of the airline staff and security personnel's inadequate training."

UNITED AIRLINES REIMBURSES ALL PASSENGERS FROM FLIGHT WHERE MAN WAS VIOLENTLY DRAGGED OFF

The incident, which has since become a PR catastrophe for United Airlines, is continuing to spark international outrage as both sides prepare for legal action. On Sunday, Dr. David Dao was ready to fly home to Louisville, Ky. out of Chicago OHare International Airport. Dao had already boarded and was seated when the airline reportedly told passengers that a few fliers would have to give up their seats to make room for four crewmembers who needed to fly to Kentucky for work.

After being selected to get bumped and initially refusing to give up his seat when asked by attendants, Dao was approached by officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation. After the doctor continued to verbally refuse to give up his spot on the aircraft, security officers then forcefully dragged Dao from his seat, banging his head on the armrest in the process. Shocking photos and videos of Dao bleeding from the mouth have now been widely circulated.

But, says Carroll, a lot of people don't realize that airlines do technically have the right to deplane you.

"Airlines are basically dictatorships and they're dictatorships because of safety reasons, so they do have absolute authority on that airplane," says the former security consultant.

Airlines' contracts of carriage dictate the specific terms under which passengers may be transported, and they're heavily worded to favor an airline's decisions.

But is force ever necessary?

"The general rule in policing and also private security is that youre only allowed to use force in a situation where it's been deemed necessary," Carroll explains. "You're always supposed to start with the minimum, and from what I have seen, the passenger was never even placed under arrest.

"Here they went from zero to about 50, and it was totally inappropriate."

Immediately after the incident, United CEO Oscar Munoz appeared to paint the blame on Dao calling him disruptive and belligerent. A video has since emerged of Dao just before he was kicked out of his seat and, while he refuses to comply with the officers, he does not get physical even after they threaten to drag him out of the plane.

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Munoz has since deemed the event as truly horrific, calling it a system failure. The airline has also vowed to reassess its procedures for seeking volunteers to give up their seats when a flight is oversold. And the airline says it will no longer use police force to remove passengers from a full flight.

But that doesn't mean aviation officials and airlines can just move on.

Carroll says Unitedand all carriers as well as airport security teams, will likely be implementing new training policies and methods going forward. Those practices will likely include the use of comprehensive, non-aggressive measures to deal with non-complaint fliers.

This all could have been avoided with better communication and better training for all involved, Carroll said.

Lets face it, if you offer someone a new ticket and a little more than $800, youll have more people jumping off. United never expected something like this but because they were being greedy and put crewmembers above the customer, common sense flew out the window.
The tale of David Dao -- dragged off a plane Sunday when he wouldnt give up his seat -- has been burning up social media.

But while most people never had it that bad, his story has spotlighted how unhappy passengers are these days. In fact, in the past few years, air travel complaints have soared.

The following are some of the biggest problems people have:

AIRPORT SECURITY

You cant blame the airlines for this, since TSA security measures were instituted by the federal government in the wake of 9/11. Nevertheless, the long lines and intrusive procedures help ensure many passengers are miserable before they even board.

To make things worse, a surprisingly high number of TSA employees have been cited for misconduct. Sometimes there are lawsuits.

Take the story of frequent flier Stacey Armato. She was a mother carrying breast milk who wanted alternate screening (allowed by TSA guidelines) so it wouldnt be exposed to radiation.

According to her complaint, the officials didnt like her attitude and she was forced to stand in a glass enclosure [...] for over 40 minutes, where she was frequently harassed and abused by TSA agents.

A police officer was called over who, rather than help, told her to do what the TSA wanted or shed be arrested.

She sued and won, even though some of the video of the incident mysteriously went missing.

Will things get better? The TSA says its trying to improve, but it was created by an act of Congress, and when it comes to government bureaucracies, Congress can be the opposite of progress.

CROWDED SEATING

Not only are the flights overbooked, the seats are undersized.

This isnt just your imagination. Over the past few decades, to fit in more passengers, airlines seats have been shrinking (while Americans, it should be noted, have been doing the opposite).

For instance, the distance between economy class seats on United Airlines in 1985 was 32-36 inches. In recent years, its 30-31 inches. And the width of the seats has gone from 19.5-20 inches to 17-18.3 inches.

This has made the ethics of reclining a serious question. If you lean back, the person behind you has even less room. So now weve got the phenomenon of one person in the front of the cabin reclining which starts an avalanche of seats moving back.

The jammed seats led to the invention of the Knee Defender, a device that prevents the person in front of you from reclining.

This created an incident on a 2014 United flight where a women who could not recline threw a cup of water at the man behind her using his Knee Defender.

The flight was diverted and both passengers removed (and perhaps taken to a space where they had plenty of room to think about what they did). Meanwhile, everyone else on the flight was punished by an airline that may have overreacted.

Airlines, in general, have banned the Knee Defender, so the knee scraping continues.

Is there a solution? Yes -- be short and thin, and youll have all the room you need.

Earlier this month, just before Daos incident went viral, a real estate executive says he was booted from the first class cabin after being told a more important passenger needed the seat. Geoff Fearns was already seated on his flight from Kauai, Hawaii to go home when a United attendant approached him and told him he had to leave.

I asked why, Fearns told the Los Angeles Times. They said the flight was overfull.

The real estate executive, who had paid $1,000 for his premium spot on the aircraft, initially refused to move even after he was told that someone with a higher status needed the seat at the last minute.

They told me they needed the seat for somebody more important who came at the last minute, Fearns recalled. They said they have a priority list and this other person was higher on the list than me.

The argument continued to escalate and at one point United crewmembers reportedly told Fearns he would be placed in handcuffs if he didnt comply. Eventually, however, the airline offered the passenger a seat in economy, where he endured the six hour flight in between a bickering couple.

When he got home, Fearns wrote to United CEO Oscar Munoz, asking for a full refund-- and a $25,000 donation to a charity of his choice-- for his traveling troubles. The company offered to refund the difference between his first class and economy tickets and a $500 credit toward a future United flight.

Fearns has since turned down the airlines officer, citing not wanting to ever fly United again and, like Dao, is considering legal action.

LOST OR MISPLACED LUGGAGE

Most people who have been flying long enough have at least a story or two about luggage problems.

But it can probably be summed up best by the old Henny Youngman joke:

Getting on a plane, I told the ticket lady, "Send one of my bags to New York, send one to Los Angeles, and send one to Miami." She said, "We can't do that!" I told her, "You did it last week!"

And dont get me started on airline food.

OTHER COMPLAINTS

There are numerous other problems, of course.

Among the most common are canceled and delayed flights, rude employees and reservation mistakes.

Who needs to hear horror stories when the norm is horrible enough?

But there is a solution. Perspective.

For less than $300, you can fly across the country in about five hours. For most of human history, this sort of trip would take months, perhaps years, and you might die along the way.

So maybe the seats are a bit uncomfortable. Maybe the flight attendant is curt. Maybe the bathroom is always occupied and you didnt get the window seat you wanted. But never forget, we are participating in an event that would have been considered miraculous by our ancestors.

And when all else fails, say to yourself at least I wasnt dragged off the flight, battered and bloody.

Now thats perspective.
A woman charged in the beating death of her young son has pleaded guilty to murder and agreed to testify against her former boyfriend in his upcoming capital murder trial.

Jillian Tait also pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit murder and child endangerment in 3-year-old Scott McMillan's November 2014 death, which prosecutors called a "horror story."

Prosecutors said the plea agreement will spare the 33-year-old Tait a possible death sentence and she will be a "critical witness" in the September murder trial of 25-year-old Gary Lee Fellenbaum III. They said Tait had accepted responsibility and, while her actions may have contributed to Scott's death in Coatesville, Fellenbaum's actions caused it.

"Essentially, your honor, the defendant will act as a living adult witness to what happened in that trailer," First Assistant District Attorney Michael Noone said.

The couple had met working at a Wal-Mart several months earlier and moved in together in a mobile home park along with Fellenbaum's estranged wife, Tait's 6- and 3-year-old children and the Fellenbaums' 11-month-old daughter.

District Attorney Thomas Hogan in 2014 called the case "an American horror story," saying what started as spankings morphed into "concentrated, repeated, escalating abuse" and then over a three-day period the victim "was systematically tortured and beaten to death."

"Scott McMillan had been punched and beaten with blunt and sharp objects, whipped, taped to a chair with electrical tape and beaten, hung up by his feet and beaten and suffered other acts of violence," authorities alleged in court papers.

Prosecutors also alleged the couple went car shopping, bought pizza and engaged in sexual activity as the boy lay dying after weeks of escalating abuse.

Defense attorney Laurence Harmelin said Tait "is looking forward to putting the matter behind her."

"She will have a lot more to say at sentencing," the attorney said.

Fellenbaum's mother said in 2014 he was a good son and she didn't believe he beat the little boy to death.

"I believe he's being railroaded," Paula Fellenbaum said then. "He liked kids. He never had an issue. I don't understand it at all."
In an unprecedented move, Maury County District Attorney Brent Cooper released details about evidence in the case Wednesday, particularly a note Tad Cummins left for his wife the day he went missing.



Cooper said he's willing to jeopardize the criminal case against accused kidnapper Tad Cummins if it brings missing Maury County teen Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas home safe. Cummins faces possible charges for sexual contact with a minor and kidnapping.

It's been 30 days since Elizabeth Thomas and Tad Cummins disappeared. Posters and green ribbons are up all over the Square in Columbia. Many people in Murray County expected the case would've been sold by now.

Brent Cooper is taking a big risk to get Elizabeth Thomas home safe.

"If we jeopardize our criminal case by releasing something, if it leads to her being found, it'll be worth it," Cooper said.

The District Attorney is releasing information about a note Tad Cummins left for his wife before he took off with 15-year -old Elizabeth Thomas.

"Without saying what he said, it was basically a breadcrumb to a location that we know was not where they went," Cooper said. "It was just a way to buy some time."

Cummins' wife Jill notified authorities the next day, but by that time the pair had already left. Since then, they were spotted shopping at an Oklahoma City Walmart on March 15, which is two days after they disappeared.

Cooper said Cummins may now be running low on the blood pressure medication he takes daily.

"[We are] asking doctors, walk in clinics to be extra alert," Cooper said. "If they're in the states he'll have to go and get a doctor to refill that. Of course if they're in Mexico maybe not."

Read more from FOX 17.
An Arkansas man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly beating his wife, dousing lighter fluid on her and setting her on fire, police said.

FOUR BODIES FOUND ON LONG ISLAND IN APPARENT HOMICIDE

Alrick Powell, 39, was arrested by U.S. Marshals around 4:15 p.m. in North Little Rock, according to police.

Police came to the couple's house in Conway after a neighbor called 911 about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, saying that a woman was screaming that her husband just set her on fire.

BLACK, MUSLIM JUDGE, A NY COURT TRAILBLAZER, FOUND DEAD

The woman, identified as Powell's wife, said she was arguing with her husband when he started beating her, police said. Powell allegedly pulled a belt around her neck, doused lighter fluid on her and set her on fire.

The woman was able to get into the shower to put the flames out before running to her neighbor's home, according to police.

Officers arrived and found the woman "badly injured with smoke coming from her body." Powell had already fled the home.

The couple's handicapped 22-year-old daughter was sleeping in her bedroom during the altercation, according to police.

The woman was taken to the hospital for burn treatment, police said.
A Ohio Army private did something she never thought would happen again: She hugged her dog, Buck.

Good boy, good boy, said Army Pvt. Katelyn Gallagher as she hugged her 5-year-old bloodhound. I missed you so much.

DISABLED TEXAS VETERAN CLAIMS UNIVERSITY KICKED OUT HIS SERVICE DOG

Gallagher was reunited with Buck on Tuesday when she returned from a nine-month training program. The reunion came after a court battle for the dog.

When Gallagher left for training last year, she left the dog in the care of a family friend. When she returned home in December, on leave, she went to get the dog and was told the friend gave Buck away.

He said he gave him to a family and he wouldnt tell me where Buck was, Gallagher said. It was a nightmare.

Gallagher filed a police report at Clevelands second district police station. A charge was filed against the man who gave the dog away. At the end of February, Buck was returned to Gallaghers family. The criminal charges were then dismissed.

I did not want to fight, Gallagher said. I didnt want to battle. I didn't want other people to be hurt. I just wanted my boy back, thats all.

Read more at Fox 8.
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A new exhibition of Sandro Botticelli's paintings, including some never seen in the U.S., will give museumgoers a glimpse into the artist's own search for sanctity.

The show, "Botticelli and the Search for the Divine," opens Saturday at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. It showcases valuable works from the Italian Renaissance master's catalog, including a life-size "Venus" painting being displayed in America for the first time.

"We're giving the American public a chance to take a trip to Renaissance Florence," said Frederick Ilchman, who curated the exhibit for the museum.

The exhibition aims to tell how Botticelli developed as an artist. For lovers of Italian Renaissance art, a proper Botticelli show in America is long overdue.

Botticelli seems to be having a renaissance of his own hundreds of years later after being all but forgotten and surpassed by younger geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, said David Nolta, a professor of art history at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

"Botticelli has not always enjoyed the fame and popularity he does today," Nolta said.

The exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts features 24 paintings on loan from Italian museums, including the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence. There also will be a Botticelli painting from the MFA's permanent collection, and two on loan from the Harvard and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museums.

Visitors will notice how Botticelli practiced dual specialties: religious paintings, a specialty for the majority of Renaissance artists; and classical mythology, including several goddess figures covered by little more than their flowing or braided hair.

"He set the standard for beauty in the 15th century, and it is one that we  in the 21st century  still respond to," Ilchman said.

Perhaps the most celebrated piece in the exhibition is "Venus," a reworking of Botticelli's most famous painting, "Birth of Venus." Completed around 1490, the wood panel painting depicts the goddess of love wearing a sheer covering and knee-length auburn hair. "Venus" is on loan from the Galleria Sabauda in Turin, Italy.

On loan from the Uffizi is a painting titled "Minerva and the Centaur." In the artist's exploration of rational thought verses animal instinct, the painting shows a goddess overcoming a half-man, half-horse beast.

Botticelli's work takes a turn, however, when a new ruler comes to power in the late 15th century. Friar Girolamo Savonarola was a devout preacher who banned secular arts and culture because it was thought to be sinful in nature. After Savonarola, Botticelli painted only religious impressions and dropped his specialty of sensual goddesses and mythological creatures.

"The mood can be severe and even mournful," Ilchman said of Botticelli's later works. "It's a response to a change in politics and religious that is borne out in the artwork itself."

"Botticelli and the Search for the Divine" runs through July 9.
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CIA Director Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY'-oh) is denouncing WikiLeaks, calling the anti-secrecy group a "hostile intelligence agency."

In his first public speech since becoming director of the agency, the former Republican congressman says WikiLeaks "walks like a hostile intelligence agency and talks like a hostile intelligence agency."

Last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 8,000 documents that it says reveals secrets about the CIA's cyberespionage tools for breaking into targeted computers, cellphones and even smart TVs.

Pompeo's remarks contrast with President Donald Trump's.

Trump said before the election that he was happy to see WikiLeaks publish private, politically damaging emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, John Podesta.
A Detroit-area doctor has been charged with performing genital mutilation on two young girls from Minnesota.

Prosecutors say Dr. Jumana Nagarwala was arrested Thursday, days after two 7-year-old girls identified her as the person who performed medical procedures on them at a Livonia clinic in February.

The FBI says the girls were accompanied to the clinic by their mothers. Female genital mutilation of minors is illegal in the U.S. unless there's a legitimate health reason.

Nagarwala will appear in Detroit federal court Thursday. It's unclear if she has a lawyer yet.

In a court filing, the FBI says Nagarwala denied performing genital mutilation. The FBI also says the doctor is a member of a cultural community that believes in the practice.
A Michigan doctor was charged Thursday with performing female genital mutilation on minors in the first such case that falls under a U.S. law treating the practice as a felony offense, according to the Department of Justice.

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala of Northville, Mich., allegedly performed female genital mutilation on girls at a medical office in Livonia, Mich. According to the complaint, some of the victims, who were between the ages of 6 and 8, allegedly crossed state lines to have Nagarwala perform the procedure.

According to the complaint, despite her oath to care for her patients, Dr. Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims, Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco said. The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse.

The procedure is prevalent in some majority Muslim countries and is sometimes called cleansing by its practitioners. It involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, often performed without anesthesia. It is designed to ensure females remain virgins until marriage.

According to the Department of Justice, this is believed to be the first case brought under 18 U.S.C. 116, which criminalizes female genital mutilation, stating that anyone who knowingly circumcises, excises or infibulates the whole or any part of the female labia or clitoris of a person who is under the age of 18 shall be fined or imprisoned not more than 5 years  or both.

Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls  it is also a serious federal felony in the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Lemisch said. The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law.

According to a 2013 census by the Population Reference Bureau, approximately 500,000 women and girls in the United States have undergone the procedure or are at risk of the procedure.

In 2015, the issue of female genital mutilation received a wave of attention after Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt made a personal pledge of $100,000 to stop the brutal practice, after meeting Ayaan Hirsi Ali, an internationally known womens rights advocate who suffered the barbaric practice at the age of 5.

The allegations against the defendant in this investigation are made even more deplorable, given the defendants position as a trusted medical professional in the community, Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis said. My sincere hope is that these charges will give support to those who have allegedly suffered both physically and emotionally.

Nagarwala was arrested and is expected to appear in Detroit federal court Thursday.
The city council in Lansing, Mich. voted Wednesday to rescind its decision to deem itself a "sanctuary" city for illegal immigrants after concerns from the businesses that the status would draw unwelcome attention to the city.

The term "sanctuary city" generally refers to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with U.S. immigration officials. Under Lansing city policy, police don't ask for people's immigration status, except as required by U.S. or Michigan law or a court order.

Council members voted 5-2 to reverse last week's 6-0 vote to give the city "sanctuary" status. Immigration advocates in the crowd called called council members "spineless" and said "you're all losing your seats."

The dispute comes as several cities are battling President Donald Trump's promised crackdown on places that block cooperation between their police departments and U.S. immigration authorities. The Trump administration has warned that sanctuary cities could lose federal money for refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities.

After last week's vote, council members received a letter from the Lansing Regional Chamber and Michigan Chamber of Commerce urging them to remove references to "sanctuary city" from its resolution.

"Lansing is a diverse community, rich with history and culture. It's what makes our city a welcoming destination to live, work and thrive," the business groups' letter says. "Recent actions of City Council, whether intended or not, have placed an unnecessary target on the City of Lansing while jeopardizing millions of dollars in federal funding that impacts the city budget."

"The term 'sanctuary' in the resolution has become very problematic and distracting  so distracting in my opinion that's it's taken away from the intent of our resolution, which is to protect individuals," said Councilwoman Judi Brown Clarke. "It's basically a 'don't ask' policy, which was outlined by the mayor's executive order and what we had in our policy complements that."

That was already the policy in Lansing before last week's vote, but Lansing called itself a "welcoming city," rather than a "sanctuary city." Neither the welcoming city resolution nor the sanctuary city resolution called for Lansing to prohibit workers from providing information on a person's immigration status with U.S. immigration officials  a ban that's at the heart of some urban sanctuary cities disagreements with the Trump administration.

Mayor Virg Bernero has said he is confident Lansing's policies don't violate federal law, but "we are also prepared to take legal action to protect the prerogatives and powers of local government and local law enforcement."

Michigan Chamber President and CEO Richard Studley said the group's members want city officials "to stop wasting time on costly political statements and focus on real economic issues."

"I have no problem with the earlier resolution that affirmed the city's status as a welcoming city," Studley said. "The challenge is with the language declaring the city a 'sanctuary city'  adopted hastily with little debate. I think that it is easily misinterpreted or misunderstood."

The issue also has touched off debate in the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature, which is considering banning local governments from enacting or enforcing rules that limit communication and cooperation with federal officials concerning people's immigration status. Similar legislation died in the last session.

Clarke believes that the term "sanctuary" could be getting in the way of helping constituents.

"I think ultimately what we learned is ... we thought we could define what 'sanctuary city' meant, and in actuality it has its own negative connotation," she said. "The only way to take that away is to take that word away."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The brother of the infamous Cocaine Cowboy Augusto Falcon was arrested in Florida Wednesday after spending 26 years evading an indictment that accused him of smuggling cocaine into the U.S.

Gustavo Falcon, 55, and his wife Amelia were arrested at an intersection in Kissimmee after coming back from a bike ride, the Miami Herald reported. Falcon was booked into the Orange County Jail.

Barry Golden, a U.S. Marshals Service spokesman in Miami, told the newspaper Falcon obtained fake drivers licenses for himself, his wife and two children using Miami addresses. He said Falcon and his wife were going under the aliases Luis and Maria Reiss.

He is the last of the Cocaine Cowboys, Golden said.

Falcon and his family were renting a house in Kissimmee, which was under surveillance by U.S. Marshals. Golden said discovering that he and his family were still in South Florida surprised investigators because they were under the assumption they had fled to Mexico or Colombia.

Authorities caught a break in their search in 2013 when Falcon was involved in a car accident in Orlando and used a fake ID with a Miami address. The incident helped marshals trace Falcon to the South Florida area.

We figured this all out a month ago, Golden said. We pulled his drivers license and saw it was the same Gustavo Falcon.

Augusto Willie Falcon and his partner Salvador Magluta were the leaders of the notorious Cocaine Cowboys that helped trafficked tons of cocaine into South Florida in the 1980s. The pair used speed boats to smuggle the drugs from Colombia to the Caribbean and then off to Miami.

In 1991, the Falcon brothers and Magluta were among those charged with smuggling 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. between 1978 and 1991, according to the Herald. Five years later, Augusto Falcon and Malguta were acquitted of the charges, though it was suspected they had bought off witnesses and one jury member.

Magluta was retried and convicted of money laundering in 2002. He was initially sentenced to 205 years in prison, but it was reduced to 195 years in 2006.

Meanwhile, Augusto Falcon struck a plea deal in 2003 on similar money-laundering charges. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and could be released as early as June.

Click for more from the Miami Herald.
A motorcycle rider has been decapitated in a freak accident in San Bernardino.

San Bernardino motorcyclist decapitated in freak accident is identified https://t.co/XXlLwB3Zuw pic.twitter.com/7vvtCtZlmJ  The Press-Enterprise (@PEcom_news) April 12, 2017

Authorities say 27-year-old Fabian Zepeda was killed Tuesday morning when he drove into a wire stretched across a road from a snapped utility pole.

WIFE OF TEXAS CHURCH BUS DRIVER KILLED IN CRASH IS FOUND DEAD IN HOME

Police told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that minutes earlier, a driver lost control of a Ford Taurus, which hit a mailbox and ran across a lawn. Coroner's officials say the car then hit a wooden telephone pole that snapped in half, and a tension wire fell across Macy Street.

Zepeda drove into it and was beheaded. The motorcycle reportedly continued south until it crashed separately.

An investigation was under way.

The driver didn't appear to be intoxicated and wasn't immediately arrested pending further investigation, police said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
A North Carolina teen is being hailed a hero after he rescued his infant cousin from a burning building.

LJ Gray, a junior at Kinston High School, was outside with family members Tuesday when his grandmother noticed smoke coming from the home where his cousin was sleeping, Kinston Fire Rescue told WITN.

According to Captain William Barss, the teen ran into the home through the back door into the kitchen and to the adjacent room where his cousin, Michari Strayhorn, was located.

Gray attempted to escape through the back door but the fire and smoke were too intense so he turned and ran to the front door where he managed to make it out safe, Barss told WITN.

Firefighters say 17-year-old LJ Gray is a hero after he saved his baby cousin, Michari, from their burning home. Story at 5 & 6 on @WITN7 pic.twitter.com/xrSJxuj3Rz  WITN Anna Phillips (@AnnaPhillipsTV) April 13, 2017

"As a firefighter were trained with all of the protective equipment that we have, the bunker pants, the coats the hoods, gloves, to go into these fires and were trained to know our limits," Captain Barss told the television station. "And this young man did it with even less than what an average person would be wearing on the street."

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after the daring rescue.

Kinston Fire Rescue said the fire started from over-cooked food on the stove.

According to WITN, the family lost everything in the fire but Gray and his cousin had no injuries from the smoke or fire.
Authorities say at least four people have been shot at an Atlanta public transit station.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority spokesman Erik Burton says in a statement that the shooting happened about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the West Lake station, which has been temporarily closed.

There was no immediate word of the victims' conditions.

Burton says police have detained a suspect but further details were not immediately released.

He says MARTA has set up a bus between stations to accommodate customers during the closure.
Two Palestinian men convicted in Israel of murdering a U.S. citizen who was hiking near an Israeli archaeological site could face prosecution in the United States if they're ever released from an Israeli prison.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement Thursday that Ayad Fatafta and Kifah Ghanimat each face a federal charge of murdering a U.S. national outside the United States. They're charged in the 2010 murder of 44-year-old tourist Kristine Luken who had spent much of the last two decades before her death in northern Virginia.

Fatafta and Ghanimat were convicted in an Israeli court of murder for stabbing Luken and a friend who was hiking with her and survived. Fatafta was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. Ghanimat was sentenced to two life terms and 60 years for the attack on Luken and another crime.

50 YEARS AFTER WAR, SETTLEMENTS BLUR FUTURE BORDERS

A court document filed in the United States says Ghanimat told Israeli authorities that Fatafta told him "that they were going to kill every Jewish person that they met." Luken was a Christian missionary; her friend, a licensed tour guide, was wearing a Jewish Star of David at the time both were stabbed.

Mohammed Fatafta, Ayad Fatafta's brother, a Palestinian police officer in the West Bank, said the family was not aware of the U.S. charges. But he said the case was unfair and made no sense when his brother has already been convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.

"The crime took place in Israel and the trial took place in Israel too. That's enough," he said.

Meg Luken, Kristine Luken's step mother, said in a brief telephone call with The Associated Press on Thursday that the family was "very encouraged" by the filing of the charges but didn't want to make any further statement.

Kristine Luken was a graduate of George Mason University in Virginia and had worked for the U.S. Department of Education and Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia, before moving to England to work for a Christian group.

GORKA TALKS US ACTION IN SYRIA, TENSIONS WITH RUSSIA; PIERS MORGAN: MEDIA SEEM TO WANT TRUMP TO FAIL

Luken's friend, Kay Wilson, the British-born Israeli who was wounded in the attack, praised the U.S. decision.

In a statement posted on her Facebook account, she called it "the best news" she's had in six years.

"Although the prisoners are in an Israeli jail, should my government ever decide to let murderers free again in a prisoner exchange, these cold-blooded savages will not be released. Instead, they will be shipped off to the USA to stand trial there. I'm so relieved, I'm near to tears," she wrote.
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A Georgia police officer is under investigation after authorities say he kicked a handcuffed man in the head.

Police in Gwinnett County, just outside Atlanta, said in a news release Thursday that the officer kicked the man after responding as backup to help a supervisor with a traffic stop in Lawrenceville around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

An ambulance then responded and treated the handcuffed man. Police say the officer's shift commander initiated an "immediate investigation." The officer was sent home on administrative leave and his department-issued gun was taken.

The incident was captured on cellphone video by a witness sitting in traffic. Police said the video is "very disturbing and speaks for itself." The officer's name was not immediately released.
Prosecutors say a man charged in the shooting death of a Chicago judge told them he and his partner were trying to rob the judge's girlfriend, who was wounded in the attack.

Prosecutors said in a Cook County court Thursday that 37-year-old Joshua T. Smith gave a videotaped statement to detectives saying he and his partner watched the movements of Associate Judge Raymond Myles' girlfriend for several weeks before Monday's robbery attempt. Myles was killed in the shooting. His girlfriend is expected to survive.

Authorities identified Smith as the getaway driver. Prosecutors say he told detectives the men fled with the woman's gym bag but tossed it in anger when it didn't contain any money.

Smith faces first-degree murder and other counts. A judge ordered him held without bond.
Ahead of the one year anniversary of the largest homicide case in Ohio history, law enforcement is still trying to piece together what lead to the murder of eight members of the Rhoden family.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says there has been significant progress in the investigation but authorities have made no arrests, making the Pike County, Ohio murders one of the prolific unsolved murders in the nation.

We will remain in Pike County until this case is solved, DeWine said to reporters Thursday. Were not going to stop until were done. This is not a cold case.

DeWine would not comment on if authorities had a person of interest or if the scope of the investigation has expanded beyond Ohios borders.

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader says public fear of coming forward with information exists on two fronts: Retaliation from those responsible for the murders and incriminating themselves.

"I got a message for the killers," Reader said in a press conference Thursday. "You came in like thieves in the night and stole eight lives, some of them children in the most horrific way Ive seen in my 20 plus year. We are getting closer. We will find you. The family and the victims will have justice one day."

DeWine made said law enforcements focus is on the murders and the state will work with people who provide information that could incriminate them.

People should not be concerned about coming forward if their information incriminates themselves, he said.

On the night between April 21 and 22 last year, eight people were murdered in four homes in Pike County, Ohio. Six adults and a 16-year-old boy were discovered to have been fatally shot execution-style. An eight victim was found with nine gunshot wounds. Three young children and two infants were left alive during the shooting.

In October, the attorney general's office said the perpetrators "had to have been familiar with the properties and the lands around the properties."

Click here for more from Fox 19.
The Trump administration's promise to renegotiate NAFTA, along with tough talk about possible tariffs on Mexican imports to pay for a border wall, have sent alarm across states whose economies depend on cross-border trade.

No one disputes the massive overall trade deficit with Mexico, or the loss of American manufacturing jobs in particular. Earlier this year, industrial supplier Rexnord sent 300 Indiana jobs south of the border, where workers will make less than $3 an hour for jobs that paid more than $20 in the U.S.

But not every industry has suffered under NAFTA. "Mexico was actually the second largest export market for the beef industry last year by volume," rancher Kevin Ochsner points out. Like many of his neighbors in rural northeastern Colorado, Ochsner voted for President Trump last November.

"We like a lot of what he's doing from a regulatory standpoint and from a tax standpoint. But the fact of the matter is we represent the importance of trade...and I'm hopeful that he'll remember the faces of U.S. agriculture as he renegotiates."

American agriculture has been the biggest winner when it comes to trade with Mexico: $2.6 billion in U.S. corn alone went south of the border last year. In light of current tensions with the U.S., Mexico reportedly began talks last month with Argentina and Brazil to increase imports from those countries.

The American energy industry has also fared well in trade with Mexico according to Kathleen Sgamma, spokesperson with the Western Energy Alliance. "Here in the West we are sitting on natural gas because there's not enough of a market for it. So Mexico represents a new market for the United States," she said.

The U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas to Mexico in 2016 and plans are well underway for an $8 billion, 3,000-mile pipeline upgrade between the two countries that would greatly increase those exports. But Sgamma says the rhetoric coming from the Trump administration is not helpful.

"I think the immediate concern is tit for tat cross-border tariffs right now, and that would be definitely disadvantageous for both the United States and Mexico."

It is not an idle concern. In a speech before the Detroit Economic Club in March, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo stated, "If I send a signal that tariffs are going to be for discussion, there will be lines from my office to the state of Puebla of people asking for protection. The pecan growers, 'Now we want tariffs.' The rice growers, 'We don't want American rice, let's put tariffs on this.'"

Stephanie Garnica is the Director of Business Development at the World Trade Center Denver. She says that while the idea of imposing tariffs may sound simple, in today's global economy it is actually anything but.

"Many border crossings go into the making of a lot of goods: in the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, the medical device industry, the high tech industry and the agricultural sector." With multiple border crossings going into a single product, she wonders how tariffs would actually work.

"I think it's a little premature for everybody to be pressing the panic button," cautions Robert Blaha, who headed then candidate Donald Trump's Colorado campaign. He says the president is approaching this negotiation as a businessman and not as a politician. Blaha says in business posturing and negotiating from a position of strength is standard procedure.

"We've tried political correctness, we've tried politicians and where are we? We've lost tens and hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the way NAFTA was negotiated. And if you're an American believing in American jobs and Americans being employed, a renegotiated NAFTA is a very good idea."

Even those uncomfortable with the current tensions between the U.S. and Mexico agree that the treaty could at least use some updating.

"NAFTA is a 23-year-old agreement," Guajardo acknowledged in the same speech in Detroit. "We need to bring it up to modernity. When we were negotiating NAFTA we didn't have cellphones. E-commerce didn't exist."

For negotiations to actually begin, the administration must first give Congress a 90-day notice. That notice has not taken place.
The first female Muslim U.S. judge  who later became the first black woman appointed to the New York Court of Appeals  was found dead Wednesday on the bank of the Hudson River.

Sheila Abdus-Salaams body showed no obvious signs of trauma, and a medical examiner was set to try to determine what killed her; however, police sources told The New York Post her death appeared to be a suicide.

She was a pioneer, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come. I was proud to appoint her to the states highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing.

Abdus-Salaam, 65, was reported missing from her Harlem home earlier in the day, and witnesses spotted her fully-clothed body floating in the water near 132nd St. and Hudson Parkway on Wednesday afternoon, police sources told The New York Post.

Her husband later identified the body.

Former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said he knew Abdus-Salaam for many years. He said her death was difficult to understand.

The court has suffered a terrible blow, he said.

Abdus-Salaam graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School. She started her career as a staff attorney for East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a judge in Manhattan state Supreme Court for 14 years, according to the state Office of Court Administration's website.

The president of the New York State Bar Association, Claire P. Gutekunst, said Abdus-Salaam grew up poor in a family of seven children in Washington, D.C., and rose to become one of the seven judges in New York's highest court, where her intellect, judicial temperament and wisdom earned her wide respect.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Kentucky doctor who was dragged off a United Airlines flight on Sunday received a significant concussion and broken nose, and also lost two front teeth, his lawyer revealed Thursday.

Thomas Demetrio, a Chicago aviation attorney, said during a news conference that 69-year-old Dr. David Dao was released from a hospital late Wednesday night and will undergo reconstructive surgery in the coming days.

TWITTER ACCUSED OF DELETING TWEETS SLAMMING UNITED AIRLINES

Dao was pulled from the plane Sunday after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville.

Demetrio said he probably will file a lawsuit on Daos behalf, but is doing due diligence to make sure every word, every proposition in the lawsuit needs to be there.

Crystal Dao Pepper, one of the doctors children, said the family was horrified, shocked and sickened to find out and then watch what happened on the Sunday flight.

Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated, she said on Thursday. My dad is a wonderful father. He is a loving grandfather.

She added: We are deeply affected by (this incident). Our lives have been interrupted. Our normalcy is not what it was before Sunday morning.

Pepper said her father and mother were traveling from California to Louisville, and caught a connecting flight at O'Hare.

Demetrio said airlines have "bullied" passengers "for a long time and have treated passengers as less than maybe we deserve.

If you are going to eject a passenger, it cant be done with unreasonable force and violence. That is the law, he said. We want fairness. We want respect and we want dignity. Thats it.

He said the treatment of Dao was particularly violent, but "it took something like this to get a conversation going."

"They have treated us less than maybe we deserve," Demetrio said. "Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle?"

CHRISTIE TEES OFF ON 'AWFUL' UNITED AIRLINES IN WAKE OF UPROAR

Demetrio said Dao didn't remember what exactly occurred when he was removed from the flight, including getting back on the plane, because of the concussion he suffered.

He said he didnt believe race played any role in the incident, adding that Dao told him that getting dragged down the aisle was more horrifying that leaving Vietnam in 1975 after the fall of Saigon.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has said he was "ashamed" when he saw the video and that the airline is reviewing its policies. Munoz said law enforcement won't be involved in removing passengers in the future.

The airlines has also said it would compensate customers who were on the flight when the man was removed.

Demetrio said Dao's family accepted the airline's apology but called it insincere and "staged." He said it was done because the airline was taking a public relations "beating."

"We accept the apology but they are not off the hook," he said.
The wife of the Texas bus driver killed in a crash last month was found dead in her home Tuesday, officials said.

The body of Dianne Barrett was discovered in her New Braunfels home at around 9:45 a.m., police spokesman David Ferguson told the San Antonio Express-News. Her death came two weeks after her husband, Murray Barrett, was killed in a crash with a pickup truck that also killed 12 other people.

MAINE PLANE ENDS UP NOSE-DOWN AFTER EMERGENCY LANDING ON HIGHWAY

The cause of her death was unclear, but investigators said there were no signs of foul play. "She was by herself at the time of her death," Ferguson added.

The First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, where Dianne Barrett served as a ministry assistant, announced in a statement to the newspaper it was saddened to learn of her passing.

NYC BUS CRASHES FIRE IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

"We continue to pray for our Lord's mercy and comfort for our church family members who continue to grieve, the church said.

Dianne Barretts husband was driving a church bus when a pickup truck, that was allegedly driving erratically and crossing the highway, struck the bus. She was not on the bus.

Court records showed that Jack D. Young, the driver of the pickup, had taken two pills of Clonazepam and generic forms of Ambien and Lexapro. Young told police that the Clonazepam made him sleepy. A state trooper said in a sworn statement that he had probable cause Young was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

A witness told the Associated Press that Young had told him he had been texting before the accident.

No charges have been filed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the San Antonio Express-News.
A top Palestinian Authority (PA) leader, visiting the U.S. to participate in a New York City meeting of the Israel Policy Forum, defended giving money to the families of Palestinian jihadists who kill Israelis.

Jibril Rajoub, secretary general of the PAs Fatah Central Committee and widely seen as the next PA president, said his government has a duty to assist all their people, including families of those who die in attacks on Israel.

We have a system, a social responsibility to the families of prisoners, no matter why he is in jail, said Rajoub, who is viewed by many as a terrorist himself.

The issue of giving money to the families of martyrs, as Palestinians who die attacking Israel are called, is a sore point for both the U.S. and Israel because of the money they give to PA. Both the U.S. and Israel provide significant funding to the PA so it will not collapse and, thus, create a massive refugee problem for the Jewish state.

At the same time, Israelis find it galling that the PAs financial gifts go disproportionately to families of deceased jihadists.

The PA cannot survive economically without external assistance. Israel does not want to see the PA collapse. If they collapse, they collapse on us, said Brig. Gen. (res.) Michael Herzog, a leading member of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus negotiating team and a security expert for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

But at the same time, there is a real concern about the money they provide to families of convicted terrorists. Over $300 million a year goes to these families. The worse the crime, the more money they give. This is incentivizing terrorism.

The U.S alone gave an estimated $133 million in aid to the PA last year.

Rajoub himself has been accused of promoting Palestinian terror for years and most actively during the 2015-2016 terror wave that led to the death of dozens, including four Americans. He has repeatedly referred to those who murder Israelis as heroes and martyrs on Palestinian television.

Despite this, Rajoub insisted during the New York meeting that as soon as a peace treaty is signed, the payments will cease.

Ending the conflict is ending the demand, he said.

And while both sides at the forum remained steadfast that a two-state solution is the only way forward  a resolution to the decades-old conflict is still plagued by skepticism.

Rajoub insisted that the PA and other outside Arab countries will work together to convince Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist group that controls Gaza, that they must adhere to a two-state, nonviolent agreement. Yet Herzog remained somewhat less optimistic about the Islamist organization.

I dont see anything new when it comes to their [policy] on Israel, he said. They [still state that] they will never relinquish their claim to all Palestine, historical Palestine  not only the 1967 borders  and they will never disavow what they call armed struggle and we call terrorism. And they demand the right of return for all the refugees, and will never recognize Israel.

Nonetheless, the Trump team's willingness to engage more actively in the issue - in contrast to the Obama administration's disengagement - was welcomed by both Rajoub and Herzog.

EGYPT TERROR ENSNARES ISRAEL AS SINAI BORDER CROSSING CLOSED

GAZA'S HAMAS RULERS EXECUTE 3 PALESTINIANS OVER ISRAEL TIES

And despite unsuccessful efforts from terror victims' families and activists in Israel to have Rajoul banned from even entering the U.S., his visit was not without some resistance. On arrival at JFK airport last Wednesday, he was slapped with a $250 million civil lawsuit over his alleged participation in the torture and death of Palestinian-American Azam Rahim man 22 years ago.

Filed by Rahims family in their home state of Texas, the suit claims Rajoub  who then served as head of Palestinian security in the West Bank  played a prominent role in arresting him under the presumption he was a rich American, but was tortured to death when he refused to pay.

Rahim is survived by a wife and six children.
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Montenegro's special prosecutor indicted two Russians and 12 other people Thursday for allegedly plotting a coup that included plans to kill the country's former prime minister.

A high court in the capital of Podgorica said the 14 defendants  among them the Russians and two top opposition leaders  were charged with "creating a criminal organization."

The Russians, said by the prosecutor to be Kremlin military secret service operatives, additionally were charged with "terrorism."

The court has 15 days to decide whether to accept or reject the indictments.

Montenegrin authorities said they thwarted an October election day attempt by Serb and Russian nationalists to take over parliament, assassinate then-prime minister Milo Djukanovic and install pro-Russian leadership to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.

The Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, allegedly coordinated the operation from neighboring Serbia.

They were allowed to return to Russia despite acknowledgment by Serbian officials that they operated from Serbia with encrypted mobile phones, and are at large.

Andrija Mandic, one of the two indicted Montenegrin opposition leaders, on Thursday said the charges were part of "a staged political process against the opposition."

"We didn't take part in any criminal deeds," Mandic said.

Russia, which is strongly against NATO's expansion in Europe, has repeatedly denied involvement in the alleged coup attempt. But it openly supported groups in Montenegro that oppose the small Balkan country joining the Western military alliance.

NATO invited Montenegro  a traditional Russian ally  to join as its 29th member in December 2015.

The U.S. Senate backed Montenegro's accession last month, a message that the U.S. will push back against Russian efforts to increase its influence in Europe. President Donald Trump signed the ratification earlier this week.

"Involving Montenegro into NATO is profoundly erroneous, disagrees with fundamental interests of people in that country, and damages stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

___

Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.
The eastern region of Afghanistan where the U.S. dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb Thursday -- just days after a Green Beret was killed fighting there  reportedly has been battling an uprising from Islamic State and anti-government armed groups in recent years.

At least 132 loyalists of the ISIS terror group have been killed by security forces in Nangarhar province over the past six days, Ministry of Defense officials told Afghan news agency Khaama Press. The provinces calmness in recent years has been disrupted by the insurgency.

Among those killed: two key leaders in charge of training ISIS recruits in the region, the provincial police said.

The raids were part of regular Afghan and U.S. military activity in in the region and come amid concerns that ISIS and its affiliated groups are trying to make the region their operational base, Khaama Press reported.

An Afghan TV network, TOLO News, reported Monday that 250 ISIS militants and seven Taliban commanders have been killed in the region over the past ten days as part of an anti-terror operation called "Hamza".

Afghan security forces have not sustained casualties so far, Achin district governor Esmail Shinvari told the station.

Shinvari said posts will be established in areas that are cleared of insurgents.

Other residents in the Nangarhar province have been urging villagers not to let ISIS militants move into their territory and to cooperate with Afghan Security Forces in their removal, TOLO news reported.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Thursday that the 21,000-pound bomb was dropped by the U.S. in the Achin district of Nangarhar province to target "a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely."

The Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) is also referred to as the Mother Of All bombs.
Syrian president Bashar al Assad says a deadly toxic gas attack widely blamed on his forces is a "100 percent fabrication".

Speaking in his first interview since the incident, Mr Assad said he gave "no order to make any attack" and claimed "even if we had (chemical weapons) we wouldn't use them."

UN DRAFT RESOLUTION ON SYRIA ATTACK: VOTE FAILS WITH RUSSIA VETO, CHINA ABSTAINS

The Syrian leader said it was unclear who carried out the attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April, which killed more than 80 people.

He added that videos showing children dying from the attack were "propaganda" designed to prompt the retaliatory US missile strike two days later.

Mr Assad told AFP TV: "It's not clear whether it happened or not, how can you verify a video? There are a lot of fake videos now.

TRUMP: WE'RE NOT GOING INTO SYRIA

"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?"

He added he would only allow an investigation into the attack "when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicized purposes."

Click here to read more at Sky News.
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Fatima Bakhshi stays close to her mother and two sons, afraid she might lose them as they trudge through the cold Balkan darkness. The smuggler they've paid to escort them safely into Western Europe orders them to squeeze into a car with more than a dozen other migrants.

Bakhshi, the boys in her lap, is crammed so tightly in the back that she can barely breathe. The driver swerves and she yells at him to stop. Other migrants snap at her to keep quiet and she dozes off. All she wants is a new life with relatives in Ireland, away from a brutish husband and a controlling father back in Afghanistan.

In an instant, on a road in southern Serbia, the 26-year-old's dream turns into a nightmare. The car hits a barrier and overturns, killing Bakhshi's mother and another person. Bakhshi's younger son is hurt, and she is so badly wounded that her legs must be amputated above the knees.

"I wake up in the hospital, I see I didn't have feet, there is doctors," Bakhshi says in broken English. "Where is my mother? Where is my feet? I am calling, crying, all the time I am crying."

Bakhshi's tragedy highlights the dangers facing migrants  particularly women  who rely on smugglers to take them on dangerous journeys through Central and Eastern Europe in hopes of finding new lives in more prosperous countries to the west. She doesn't remember many details of her journey and finds others too hard to talk about, including how they found the smuggler and how much they paid. The driver of the car fled and it's not clear if he was ever found.

Tens of thousands of people remain stranded across the Balkans after countries throughout Europe last year tightened migration rules and border controls. Most are fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East or Africa.

Bakhshi fled a life of abuse in Afghanistan. When she was 16, her father pulled her out of school to marry a man 10 years her senior whom she had never seen before. She says he turned out to be a drug addict who harassed and beat her severely.

A year ago, she tried to leave her abusive husband and return to her parents' home, but her father wouldn't take her in. Her mother decided to help her get away.

The two set off with the boys, now ages 5 and 9. Details of the journey are hazy, but Bakhshi recalls that they first went to Pakistan, then to Iran, Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. They spent eight months in a refugee camp in Greece, then were detained and pushed back to Greece once from Macedonia, before finally reaching Serbia in December.

"It's very hard. You don't understand because you don't see," Bakhshi said of the ordeal. "It's very hard (on) my feet, walking to mountain and from Iran to Turkey. It's very hard."

"I come here with my mother, I think I'll be happy with my kids and then I had accident in car," she said.

More than three months after the Dec. 29 crash, Bakhshi is now out of the hospital, staying in a small care home in the village of Doljevac, in southern Serbia. She has started a rehabilitation program that should result in prosthetic limbs. Her children are well, by her side.

Faced with her immense loss, bed-ridden and desperate, Bakhshi speaks in a hushed, low voice, smiling only at the sight of her boys playing nearby. She said her only wish remains to join her mother's brother and other relatives in Ireland so her children can have a future in a larger family.

"I don't want to live, I live just for my kids," she said sadly, bowing her head. "Before I liked learning. Now it's very hard. I just sleep."

The United Nations refugee agency in Serbia, the UNHCR, has declared Bakhshi a refugee and offered to help resettle her in an as-yet-undecided third country where she can have access to a better treatment than in impoverished Serbia. But the agency cannot guarantee it will be Ireland.

"This depends on the quotas that are at hand," said Davor Rako, an associate protection officer for the UNHCR. "At this point in time, unfortunately, Ireland does not have a quota for UNHCR, for settlement."

Vladimir Bogosavljevic, a psychologist with Indigo, a group for children and youth that also works with migrants, has worked with Bakhshi and her children. He said he hopes to enroll the boys in a local school, but that the family is anxious not to separate at all. Bogosavljevic appealed to "people of good will and in high places" to help Bakhshi and the boys join their relatives in Ireland because "so far that is her only wish."

"It's important to give her hope," he said.

Bakhshi said that for her, Ireland also means a connection to her late mother, whom she considers the only friend she's ever had.

"Always my mother helped me. Why my mother died?" she sobbed. "I had just mother in life. Why is like this, why?"
Albania's parliament has given its approval for negotiations with a Dubai company to build a 350-meter (1,148-foot) -tall tower in the capital, Tirana.

The parliament's vote Thursday didn't make it clear when the government would start negotiations with Al Habtoor Investment LLC, on the $250 million (235 million euros) Tirana Iconic Tower project.

As currently envisioned, the 25,000-square-meter (29,904-square-yard) tower would occupy an extension of the capital's main boulevard and house businesses and possibly Tirana City Hall. The builders would be exempt from tax payments for 15 years as an incentive.

Al Habtoor Investment is a subsidiary of a subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, a conglomerate with interests in the hospitality, automotive, real estate, education and publishing sectors.
A former Australian foreign minister has dubbed Donald Trump the most "psychologically ill-equipped president" in U.S. history, and called on Australia to distance itself from Washington in favor of forging closer ties with China.

Gareth Evans served as Australia's foreign minister from 1988 to 1996. On Thursday, he urged Australia to become more independent, back away from its longtime reliance on the U.S. and instead recognize China as a "global rule-maker."

In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Evans questioned whether Australia's historically close alliance with the U.S. still serves the nation's interests amid China's rising power and Trump's unpredictable leadership.

Evans called Trump "the most ill-informed, under-prepared, ethically challenged and psychologically ill-equipped president in the United States history."
Shocking CCTV footage shows the youngster, who appeared to be travelling with his sister and grandparents, disappearing underneath the train as he tried to board it at Cronulla railway station in Sydney.

As the boy steps onto the train, his foot slips and unable to gain his balance, he plunges into the gap and out of sight.

His panicked grandparents, who watch on in horror, start shouting for help in a bid to stop the train driver from pulling away.

But the boys quick-thinking grandfather gets down on his knees and reaches down to pull the child to safety.

Train staff eventually rush to the scene to check on boys welfare.

The young lad appears to be unharmed from the ordeal.

The incident happened last year, but the footage has recently emerged to highlight the dangers of children falling beneath train stations.

Figures revealed show 223 children fell beneath trains at Sydney stations last year, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The incidents have prompted a warning to all parents to pay attention to their kids while boarding or stepping off trains.

Australian Transport Minister Andrew Constance told Daily Telegraph: The rise in the number of injuries suffered by kids slipping through the gap on station platforms is a concern.

Click here for more from The Sun.
Kim Jong Un, the reclusive leader of North Korea, is reportedly "desperate."

The rogue regime is now openly suggesting its "nuclear sight" is focused on both American-allied military bases in the region, and "also in the U.S. mainland." And while the White House is writing off the idea of a North Korean nuclear strike on U.S. soil as fantasy, there are growing questions about what kind of damage Pyongyang is capable of inflicting, and how soon they could follow-through on the threat to target our shores.

In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo on Wednesday, President Trump suggested Kim is "doing the wrong thing." Trump added he wasn't even sure whether the man behind the bluster is mentally fit.

Trump tweeted on Thursday his intention to deal with the North Korea issue one way or another.

"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A." he wrote.

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested Trump had put North Korea "clearly on notice," before adding the threat itself -- of a North Korean missile strike on the U.S. mainland -- doesn't seem to be based in reality.

"I think there is no evidence that North Korea has that capability at this time," Spicer said. "Threatening something that you don't have the capability of isn't really a threat."

North Korea's nuclear ambitions are no secret. They've tested nuclear weapons at least five times since 2003, with two of those tests occurring just last year.



According to South Korean officials, one of last year's tests was estimated to yield the biggest explosion in the program's history, and wound up producing a 5.0 magnitude earthquake.

South Korea's weather agency said the blast, in September 2016, was equivalent to 70-80 percent of the force of the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Estimates suggest nearly 66,000 people were killed by the blast in Hiroshima, though some experts believe the number may be even greater.

Seventy years after the Hiroshima blast, nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein created an interactive map to show what the effects of a Hiroshima-style bomb would be on cities like New York or D.C. According to Wellerstein's map, the estimated fatalities in D.C. would number more than 120,000. For Tokyo, a city within North Korea's reach, the estimate is the same. For New York, though, the number doubles to more than 263,000.

While North Korea appears to have successfully tested their nuclear weapons, there is still the question of whether or not they possess the missiles capable of delivering those weapons to American shores.

Jeffrey Lewis, director of the Northeast Asia Nonproliferation Program, says there is no question Pyongyang is capable of delivering nuclear weapons throughout the entirety of South Korea and Japan, where U.S. forces have been stationed for decades. He adds it may not be long before U.S. shores are within reach.

"North Korea has said that it is ready this year to test an [intercontinental ballistic missile] capable of reaching the United States," Lewis said. He added the estimate "is consistent with the information we have seen," though he cautioned the first such test might be unsuccessful.

An infographic from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies breaks down the arsenal of missiles that North Korea is believed to possess. While just two of those missiles (though untested) are said to be capable of reaching the U.S., researchers note the notoriously secretive regime may possess additional missiles that have yet to be discovered.
The Japanese prime minister on Thursday warned that its bellicose rival, North Korea, may have the technology to launch missiles with sarin nerve gas, Reuters reported.

Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, made the comment during a parliamentary session.

The New York Times described sarin gas as an agent that disrupts nerve signals sent to vital organs. It was developed in secrecy during WWII and a whiff of vapors or any exposure to the skin can quickly become a death warrant.

North Korea appears to be taking an aggressive posture after the U.S. bombed Syria last week. North Korea vowed 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.

Satellite imagery shows activity at the Punggye-ri testing site, analysts from 38 North, a U.S. research institute that monitors North Korea, wrote on its website Wednesday. Foreign journalists inside the country were told to prepare for a "big and important event" Thursday, Reuters reported.

Chinese President Xi Jingping told Trump in a phone call Wednesday that he wants a peaceful solution to ending North Koreas nuclear weapons program and would be willing to work with Washington on the matter.

"China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula ... and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula," Xi was quoted as saying by state media.
U.S. Senator John McCain has called on Kosovo to resume dialogue with Serbia, saying that is the only way to a prosperous and safe future.

The Republican senator was in Pristina on Thursday as part of a regional tour, said that despite rising tensions, he was assured that "U.S. commitment for a complete, free and peaceful Europe have not changed."

Last month the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue facilitated by the European Union stopped following recent tense incidents.

McCain urged Kosovo to continue integration efforts into Europe and approve the border demarcation deal with Montenegro so that Kosovars enjoy visa-free travel in the continent.

In 1999 U.S. led the NATO bombing that ended with the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo.

Kosovo's 2008 independence is recognized by 114 countries but not by Serbia.
The U.S. military confirmed Thursday a "misdirected" airstrike from the U.S.-led coalition this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State terror network in northern Syria.

Syrian Democratic Forces, partnering with the U.S., gave coalition aircraft the wrong coordinates for a strike intended to hit ISIS south of its Tabqa stronghold, according to U.S. Central Command.

ASSAD: CHEMICAL ATTACK IN SYRIA IS '100 PERCENT FABRICATION'

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18 fighters on Tuesday, the U.S. officials said. "The Coalition's deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families."

It was the third time in a month U.S.-led airstrikes may have killed allies or civilians, The New York Times noted.

VIDEO: REP. SCOTT TAYLOR SAYS WORLD NEEDS TO KEEP UP PRESSURE ON RUSSIA

The SDF, with U.S.-led air and ground support, has surrounded Tabqa, 25 miles southwest of Raqqa. They say they are working to clear ISIS fighters out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.



It was not clear which air force was behind the strike. Several nations have lent their air power to the coalition to defeat ISIS.

"The Coalition is assessing the cause of the incident and will implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future," U.S. Central Command added.

The SDF-linked Hawar News Agency reported the group was holding funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, though it did not link them to the strike. An activist-run group that calls itself "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently" said the town has gone into three days of mourning. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF meanwhile announced the launch of a fourth phase of its campaign to capture Raqqa, a Euphrates River city that is home to 300,000 people.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Nigeria's government says negotiations continue for the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped three years ago by Boko Haram extremists.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the government "has gone quite far with negotiations."

He spoke Wednesday night, shortly before the three-year anniversary this week of the mass abduction that shocked the world. At least 195 of the schoolgirls remain captive.

Nigeria in October announced the release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls, saying it had been negotiating with the extremist group, mediated by the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Osinbajo indicated that Nigeria has faced some challenges in the negotiations but didn't give details, citing security reasons.

He said securing the schoolgirls' safe release is "a matter of conscience."
North Korea may soon conduct its sixth nuclear test in the face of the United States' decision to move a carrier group toward the region.

Satellite imagery shows activity at the Punggye-ri testing site, analysts from 38 North, a U.S. research institute that monitors North Korea, wrote on its website Wednesday.

Foreign journalists inside the country were told to prepare for a "big and important event" Thursday, Reuters reported.

The analysts added that there was movement around one of the portals and in the main administrative area of the site as well as personnel seen at the command center.

South Korean officials downplayed any news signs that a test was coming, Bloomberg reported. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Roh Jae-cheon told reporters that Seoul saw no signs that North Korea was preparing any sort of provocative actions. Officials added that Pyongyang has maintained such readiness that it could conduct a missile test without warning, according to Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jingping told Trump in a phone call Wednesday that he wants a peaceful solution to ending North Koreas nuclear weapons program and would be willing to work with Washington on the matter.

"China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula ... and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula," Xi was quoted as saying by state media.

Trump had warned North Korea Tuesday that he vowed to get Kim Jong Uns regime under control with or without Chinas help.

Meanwhile, North Korea said Monday it would hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences if there was any further military action after the USS Carl Vinson arrives in the area of the Korean Peninsula.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Bloomberg.
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On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis is heading to a maximum-security prison to wash the feet of 12 inmates  including three women and a Muslim  stressing once again that a pope must serve those on society's margins.

The Paliano detention center, located in a fortress south of Rome, is the only Italian prison dedicated to housing mafia turncoats. These "collaborators of justice" can shave time off their sentences by cooperating with anti-mafia prosecutors.

It's the third Holy Thursday that Francis has spent at a detention center, part of his longstanding emphasis on ministering to prisoners and giving them rehabilitation and hope. The Vatican says two of the 12 inmates chosen for the ceremony are serving life terms, while the others have release dates between 2019 and 2073.
A counterterrorism court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a poet to two months imprisonment for poetry deemed insulting to security officials.

The state-linked Saudi Okaz reported Thursday that the poet, whose name was not published, had shared the poem on Twitter and YouTube.

The news website says the Specialized Criminal Court in the capital, Riyadh, found the Saudi poet guilty of producing and publishing material that was disrespectful to security officials and that could harm public order. The court also ordered the poet's social media accounts closed.

Dozens of Saudi rights activists are behind bars or convicted under a sweeping counterterrorism law that equates demands for reform or criticism of the government as harmful to stability. Criticism of the monarchy, however, remains prevalent on Twitter and other social media sites.
A Turkish security official says the suicide bomber accused of the deadly attack on the subway in the Russian city of St. Petersburg was deported from Turkey in 2016.

Akbardzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year-old native of Kyrgyzstan, blew himself up on a busy subway line on April 3, killing himself and 13 other people. Dozens of others were injured.

The official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Dzhalilov had entered Turkey in November 2015 on a tourist visa and was deported to Russia in December 2016 for violating Turkey's visa laws. He was fined and barred from re-entering Turkey for 120 days, the official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations that bar civil servants from speaking to journalists without authorization.
The Instagram account of Bashar Assad's wife is adorned with tender snapshots: Asma Assad reading to Syrian children; holding an infant inside a maternity hospital in Damascus; embracing the family of a Syrian who was killed in the nation's civil war  all with the affectionate hashtag #WeLoveYouAsma.

Its a stark contrast to the photos flooding news channels showing Syrian children lying dead in the streets after choking on poison gas that the U.S. and its allies said was unleashed by her dictator husband.

"She is part of the regime's normalization campaign," said Syrian expert Andrew Tabler, an American scholar who knew and worked with Asma while living in Syria between 2001 and 2008.

"It shows indifference and insensitivity at the highest level," said Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute who once served as a media consultant for charities under Asma's patronage.

"I think shes fully aware of whats going on," he told Fox News. "And it makes your stomach churn."

The child of a cardiologist father and a diplomat mother, Asma Assad, 41, is a British-Syrian dual citizen who grew up in London and graduated from Kings College with degrees in computer science and French literature. Her parents are both Sunni Muslims from Homs, the Syrian city located near the air base President Trump hit with missiles on April 6 in response to Assad's use of chemical weapons.

After college, Asma worked for Deutsche Bank Group as an economics analyst and then J.P. Morgan as an investment banker, based in New York and London. She reportedly turned down an MBA degree at Harvard to marry Assad shortly after he assumed leadership of Syria in 2000 following his father's death.

In March 2011, Vogue magazine published a profile on Asma, calling her a "Rose in the Desert" and "the very freshest and most magnetic of first ladies." The article, which described the Assads as "wildly democratic" and portrayed them as progressive and intelligent, was based on an interview conducted in late 2010. It was pulled from the internet weeks after its publication, as Assad's bloody crackdown on Syrian dissidents was well under way.

"Subsequent to our interview, as the terrible events of the past year and a half unfolded in Syria, it became clear that its priorities and values were completely at odds with those of Vogue," the magazine's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, said at the time.

More than 465,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria's civil war, which is now in its seventh year, and nearly 12 million -- half the country's pre-war population -- have been displaced from their homes.

The Assad regime currently controls approximately one third of the country, including Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo, which was recently taken back from rebel groups. The Islamic State controls Deir al-Zour and Raqqa, while Syrian opposition groups maintain authority over Idlib, Dabiq and Al-Bab.

On April 4, warplanes dropped a chemical nerve agent over the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province, killing at least 80 people, according to U.S. intelligence. Shocking footage of the aftermath shows civilians -- many of them children -- convulsing and foaming at the mouth from what U.S. authorities said was exposure to sarin gas.

Two days later, the U.S. carried out its first direct military action against the regime, launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Shayrat airfield base from which U.S. officials believe the chemical attack had been launched.

On Thursday, Assad called the April 4 chemical attack in Syria a "fabrication" by the U.S. and its western allies. His comments to French news agency AFP came a week after his wife issued a statement of her own:

"The presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic affirms that what America has done is an irresponsible act that only reflects a short-sightedness, a narrow horizon, a political and military blindness to reality, and a naive pursuit of a frenzied false propaganda campaign that fueled the regimes arrogance," she wrote in Arabic on her Instagram account.

Many have questioned how Assad's British-born wife and a mother of three has stood firmly behind a dictator accused of dropping barrel bombs and gassing his own people.

In a rare interview with Russia's state-sponsored Channel 24 last October, Asma said she has stood by her husband during the conflict "because my conviction didn't tell me otherwise." She praised Assad as a "very giving man" who takes his role as a father "very, very seriously."

"It is something of an axiom that artificial realities are often constructed around authoritarian leaders that distort their view of the world," said David Lesch, a professor of history at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and the author of a book called "Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad."

"It seems to me that Asma has assimilated into that alternate reality. How could she not?" asked Lesch. "She has been part and parcel of the same environment as her husband, and therefore it is not a surprise that she has bought into that perspective."

Asma's Instagram posts -- which have drawn ire over social media -- are an important part of the "alternate reality" the Assads have sought to construct, according to Lesch.

On the same day her husband is believed to have dropped sarin gas on civilians in Khan Sheikhoun, Asma posted a photo of herself wearing a chic polka-dotted dress, seemingly deep in thought and smiling.

"How can you post this ridiculous photo of yourself, when there are atrocities inflicted on your own people? Are you that dense? Or evil?" asks one user.

"Your husband is a baby killer," says another.

Some, meanwhile, have questioned the authenticity of the account, which has 119,000 followers.

"How stupid are the people who think the First Lady posted this picture of herself, or that this is actually her account," wrote one user.

Both Tabler and Lesch, however, say the account -- whether run by Asma or the regime -- is part of a public relations campaign launched by the Assads from the beginning of the civil war.

"They want to project normality and stability," Lesch told Fox News. "Its important from their perspective to portray a system that is still functioning."

Cristina Corbin is a Fox News reporter based in New York. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaCorbin.
U.S. Air Force officials made it clear to North Korea they were not messing around, launching a surprise military exercise with full combat air power in Japan Wednesday.

The jets in the arsenal of the 18th Wing, which conducted the exercise, include HH-60 Pave Hawks, F-15 Eagles, E-3 Sentries and KC-135 Stratotankers. Military officials call it the Air Force's largest combat-ready wing.

IS USA REALLY IN NORTH KOREA'S 'NUCLEAR SIGHT'?

Photos showed a large group of the jets on a runway at Kadena Air Base in Japan.

Meanwhile, China has urged North Korea's opponents not to do anything rash, Reuters reported, despite signs the rogue nation soon may conduct a sixth nuclear test.

GREG PALKOT: DEFIANCE ON DISPLAY IN PYONGYANG

"Military force cannot resolve the issue," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing. "Amid challenge there is opportunity. Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks."

Satellite imagery showed activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri testing site, a sign the secretive regime could be preparing for another nuclear test, analysts from the U.S. research institute 38 North wrote.

On Wednesday, President Trump voiced confidence Chinese President Xi Jinping would help him control North Korea's mounting threat.

"I think he wants to help us with North Korea," Trump said of Xi, crediting China in a White House news conference with taking a "big step" by turning back boats of coal that North Korea sells to its northern neighbor. North Korea conducts some 90 percent of its trade with China.

Trump also repeated that trade concessions could be on the table for more cooperation on North Korea. He said he told Xi last week: "The way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea, otherwise we're just going to go it alone. That will be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations."'

The United States has been urging Beijing to use its economic leverage with North Korea, which conducted two underground nuclear explosions and two dozen missile tests last year. It is moving closer to developing a nuclear-tipped missile that could threaten the U.S. mainland, analysts have said.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Syrian authorities  "abetted by Russia's continuing efforts to bury the truth"  still possess and use chemical weapons, an American diplomat told the international chemical weapons watchdog on Thursday.

The strong comments by Kenneth D. Ward, the American ambassador to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, came amid ongoing diplomatic skirmishes over last week's deadly attack in Syria.

Ward used a hastily convened meeting of the organization's executive council to launch a withering verbal attack on Syrian President Bashar Assad and his allies in Moscow.

The meeting was called to discuss the April 4 attack on the Syrian town of Khan Shaykhun that killed nearly 90 people. The United States and other Western governments blame Assad's regime. Washington in retaliation launched missile strikes on a Syrian air base they say was the starting point for the chemical weapons attack, a move that ratcheted up tensions between the United States and Syria's ally Russia.

Russia and Syria claim the Khan Shaykhun victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian warplanes.

But Ward insisted it was a deliberate attack that amounted to "a direct affront to the Chemical Weapons Convention and, indeed, a direct affront to human decency, carried out by a State Party" to the OPCW, according to the text of his speech that was posted on the organization's website.

Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 under severe international pressure following a deadly chemical attack on a Damascus suburb. Assad's government told the organization it had a 1,300-ton stockpile of chemical weapons and chemicals used to make them. That stockpile was destroyed in an operation overseen by the Nobel Peace Prize winning-group OPCW, but ever since there have been questions about whether Assad had declared all his weapons.

"On April 4, the lifeless bodies of innocent victims, grotesquely contorted and twisted by the nerve agent sarin, tell the real story," Ward said. "Syria provided a grossly incomplete declaration to the OPCW of its chemical weapons program. Iit continues to possess and use chemical weapons."

He added that "this outrage is abetted by Russia's continuing efforts to bury the truth and protect the Syrian regime" form consequences of using chemical weapons.

Britain's Ambassador, Sir Geoffrey Adams, told the meeting that U.K. scientists have analyzed samples from Khan Shaykhun and they "tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance."

Earlier this week, Turkish doctors also said that test results conducted on victims confirmed that sarin gas was used.

The OPCW's Fact Finding Mission for Syria is conducting an investigation and is expected to report its findings in three weeks. The organization has not revealed any details, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the probe and the safety of OPCW staff.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that OPCW inspectors should visit both the Syrian air base, which the U.S. said served as a platform for the attack, and Khan Sheikhoun to get a full and objective picture.

He said Russia vetoed a draft U.N. resolution Wednesday because it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

"We are deeply worried by our partners in the U.N. Security Council trying to evade an honest investigation into that episode," he said.

Lavrov said he emphasized the need for a wide-ranging OPCW probe during Wednesday's talks in Moscow with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, suggesting that Western nations, Russia and some regional powers could dispatch additional experts to join the investigation.

____

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.
The U.S. military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, a U.S. defense official confirmed to Fox News.

The GBU-43B, a 21,000-pound conventional bomb, was deployed in Nangarhar Province close to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. By comparison, each Tomahawk cruise missile launched at a Syrian military air base last week weighed 1,000 pounds each.

The MOAB -- Massive Ordnance Air Blast -- is also known as the Mother Of All Bombs. It was first tested in 2003, but hadn't been used in combat before Thursday.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use. The bomb explodes in the air, creating air pressure that can make tunnels and other structures collapse. It can be used at the start of an offensive to soften up the enemy, weakening both its infrastructure and morale.

"As [ISIS'] losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense," Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against [ISIS]."

President Trump told media Thursday afternoon that "this was another successful mission" and he gave the military total authorization.

Trump was also asked whether dropping the bomb sends a warning to North Korea.

.@JennaLeeUSA: "We actually have some video of what this bomb looks like, from 2003." https://t.co/wjslgiTjAp pic.twitter.com/e8tXu1aGR9  Fox News (@FoxNews) April 13, 2017

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," said Trump.

WHAT IS THE 'MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS'?

The MOAB had to be dropped out of the back of a U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane due to its massive size.

"We kicked it out the back door," one U.S. official told Fox News.

Ismail Shinwari, the governor of Achin district, said the U.S. attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no civilian homes nearby and that there had been no reports of injured civilians. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and ISIS militants.

Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, posted on Twitter that he condemned the attack "vehemently" and "in [the] strongest words."

"This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as [a] testing ground for new and dangerous weapons," Karzai said. "It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the #USA."

The strike came just days after a Green Beret was killed fighting ISIS in Nangarhar, however, a U.S. defense official told Fox News the bombing had nothing to do with that casualty.

It was the right weapon for the right target, and not in retaliation, the official said.

The U.S. estimates that between 600 to 800 ISIS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban.

In August, a company of nearly 150 Army Rangers killed "hundreds" of ISIS fighters in Nangarhar, though five of the Rangers were shot. Some weapons and equipment, including communications gear and a rocket launcher, were also left behind following the operation.

Fox News' Martin Hinton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tony Romas Ignites Renewed Us Growth With New Franchise Agreement

Addition Of First New US Franchisee In Over Five Years Reflects Excitement Generated By Recent Tony Romas Brand Transformation

April 13, 2017 // Franchising.com // ORLANDO, Fla. - Romacorp, Inc., the parent company of Tony Romas, announces the signing of a new franchise agreement with GEM Hospitality, LLC, bringing Tony Romas world-famous ribs to fans in West Palm Beach, FL. Not only does this agreement mark the addition of the first new US franchisee since 2011, it also marks the first new franchise agreement in the US since Tony Romas brand transformation and the October 2016 grand opening of the new global prototype restaurant in Orlando, Fla. Following intensive consumer research, the 2016 brand transformation included a complete overhaul of the restaurant environment, service approach and food and beverage offerings to meet the demands of todays consumer.

Since the opening of our global prototype in Orlando, weve seen incredible momentum in our discussions with new and existing franchisees, said Stephen K. Judge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Romacorp, Inc. One of our biggest goals in implementing the brand transformation was to drive new and renewed interest in domestic franchising, and the global prototype has had an immediate impact on our work to grow the Tony Romas US restaurant base.

While domestic franchise growth has been a key focus area for the company, international markets have also seen impressive recent growth through the addition of new units with existing franchisees and the addition of new franchisees. Romacorp recently announced the signing of a development agreement that will bring Tony Romas world famous ribs to Nicaragua for the first time in history. Additional domestic and international agreements are in the works and will be announced once completed.

We are thrilled to join the Tony Romas family, a brand that has been the preeminent place for ribs for the last 45 years, said Brian Vermeulen, Owner and Managing Member of GEM Hospitality, LLC. Our location inside the Hilton Hotel at West Palm Beach Airport (PBI) means that fans traveling from all over the world, and those who are West Palm Beach residents, will now be able to enjoy Tony Romas world famous ribs and signature cocktails - an experience everyone should have the chance to delight in.

This string of landmark announcements comes as Tony Romas celebrates its 45th birthday, an incredible milestone unmatched by any American casual dining restaurant chain. Since first opening its doors in Miami, Florida in 1972, Tony Romas has become one of the most globally recognized brands in the restaurant industry. With restaurants in more than 30 countries around the world, Tony Romas continued growth has established the brand as the largest casual dining chain in the world specializing in ribs.

About Romacorp, Inc.

Romacorp, Inc., is the parent company of Tony Romas restaurants, the worlds 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 Romas restaurant opened 45 years ago in North Miami, Florida. Tony Romas is also proud to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.cnfl.wish.org), one of the worlds leading childrens 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 Romas, visit www.tonyromas.com.

Please visit www.tonyromasfranchise.com or call (866) 981-0586 for information about Tony Romas franchising opportunities.

Media Contact:

Esther McIlvain

Uproar PR for Romacorp, Inc.

(321) 236-0102 x 230

emcilvain@uproarpr.com

SOURCE Romacorp, Inc.

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Joaquin S. Rams, accused of killing his 15-month-old son in 2012 to collect more than $500,000 in life insurance benefits on the boy, was found guilty of capital murder in Prince William County, Virginia, Thursday by the judge who heard the case. Rams, 44, now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole.

Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows presided over the 12-day trial, after both sides waived a jury, and issued a ruling from the bench. Bellows said that prosecutors proved that Prince McLeod Rams died in a criminal manner.

Rams spent the last four years awaiting trial, and had claimed since before his arrest in January 2013 that he did not kill his son. But he did not testify at his trial and instead allowed his lawyers to peck away at the prosecution's theory that he drowned the toddler in his Manassas, Virginia, home on Oct. 20, 2012.

After an assistant medical examiner ruled that Prince was drowned, Rams was charged with murder, later upgraded to capital murder. But when the defense questioned the autopsy, and prosecutors sought expert reviews of the case, one of the experts - the chief medical examiner of Kentucky - also said she did not think Prince drowned. The boy had suffered six febrile, or fever-induced, seizures in the weeks before he died, and the incident had the indicators of sudden unexplained death in children, according to Kentucky's Tracey Corey. She became a defense witness at the trial.

Then in 2014, the chief medical examiner of Virginia, William Gormley, issued a new autopsy report, changing the cause of death from drowning to "undetermined." Gormley wrote that the circumstances were suspicious, but like Corey he said he could not rule out a death by natural causes. He also became a defense witness, and along with Corey and two other doctors at trial he challenged Virginia assistant medical examiner Constance DiAngelo's conclusion that fluid in Prince's body was indicative of drowning. Prince had been on life support for more than a day after falling unconscious in his father's home, which doctors said often creates excess fluid.

Prince William prosecutors Paul Ebert and James Willett stuck with DiAngelo, and Willett said in his opening statement that evidence would show Prince had been drowned. In addition to DiAngelo, prosecutors called jailhouse informant Jamal Thompson to the stand. He testified that Rams confessed to him that he'd drowned his son, though the defense said his credibility was severely damaged by refusing to acknowledge his own documented misconduct in the jail, including complaints against him by Rams.

Then, when Gormley was on the stand for the defense, Willett asked him if it would be possible for a large man like Rams to suffocate a small boy like Prince and not leave any marks. Gormley said it was.

Suffocation became a new theme in the trial, and Bellows picked up on it. The former federal prosecutor delved into an 800-page book of exhibits, entered as evidence all at once on the first day of trial, and the taped 911 call to question Rams' version of events. Documents show Rams told paramedics and police, though none testified to it at trial, that he had seen Prince having a seizure in his crib, just a few feet away from his then-13-year-old son Joaquin "Shadow" Rams Jr. He rushed in and carried the toddler to a bathtub to splash cold water on him because he was "really hot."

But paramedics felt Prince was cold to the touch, and he had no heartbeat. He was taken to Prince William Medical Center, where his temperature was recorded at 91.2 degrees, 24 minutes after the 911 call began. His heartbeat wasn't restored until 40 minutes after the call.

Bellows probed various witnesses over Rams's account, examining three of them for more than a half-hour after the lawyers had finished. He wanted to know if a child could go from "really hot" to 91.2 degrees in a manner of minutes - several defense experts said yes, prosecution experts said no - and whether someone could be making the motions of a seizure while also in cardiac arrest. Both prosecution and defense experts said no.

The three people in the house with Rams - his son Shadow and housemates Roger and Sue Jestice - said they only saw and heard Rams splash water on the boy briefly, not place him under water. But there was a period of time when Rams was alone with the boy, before Rams rushing him to the tub, which Willett said gave Rams "the opportunity" to kill Prince.

Willett also noted that Rams began seeking insurance on the boy in 2011, after the $162,000 in insurance benefits he was receiving from the 2008 death of his own mother had been spent. He purchased three policies totaling $524,000 in the fall of 2011, shortly after a custody battle was launched over Prince with the boy's mother, Hera McLeod. He also purchased policies on himself and Shadow, and an insurance salesman testified that the idea to buy policies on the boys as a college savings vehicle was his idea, not Rams'.

Willett said Rams was in financial distress in 2012, with his own house in Bristow, Virginia, in foreclosure - he and Shadow were living rent-free with the Jestices - and a $50,000 line of credit exhausted and a private school tuition bill for Shadow unpaid. He appeared to have no job and hadn't filed a tax return in years. McLeod said she paid the mortgage and the bills for the couple while they lived together in Rams' house.

The defense showed that Rams had a hidden bank account which had $277,000 in deposits in the three years before his arrest, mostly from a business partner in California, and that he was working at home to develop a gaming website. They acknowledged his debts, and willingness to deceive McLeod and the Jestices about his finances, but said that did not make him a murderer.
The Culpeper County Planning Commission Wednesday night approved two site plans that will provide living space and care for the elderly.

Lifespire of Virginia (formerly the Virginia Baptist Home) got the go ahead to start construction on its new 125,000-square-foot facility that will replace the original stately brick building that was opened in 1951.

That old existing building has served us well for nearly 70 years, Jim Jacobsen, executive director of The Culpeper (as the Baptist Home is known today), told the commissioners.

The new facility will have all the same amenities of the present one (independent residential through nursing home care) with the addition of memory care.

The new building will also have a better view, facing southeast toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. The primary entrance will also be in that direction off Rt. 299, a road that did not exist until 30 years after the original building was constructed.

The present entrance off state Route 15 will become a service entrance.

The old building will remain until the now facility is constructed. It will then be demolished. The independent cottages on campus will remain.

Groundbreaking for the new building is set for May 10 and Jacobsen expects it to be open by the fall of 2018.

The Planning Commission also approved the site plan for Marlyn Developments over-55 independent residential complex on Ira Hoffman Lane near the Northridge subdivision.

That low-to-moderate income facility will feature 132 units built on 12 acres of what was the old John Willis farm.

Clearing and elevation work began on the site this week with construction expected to start by the end of the month.

That complex, which will be the eighth such facility for the Tidewater-area company, is expected to be open by the late winter of next year.

We have already had a lot of input from potential residents, Brian Staub, chief financial officer of Marlyn, told the commission.

Both the Lifespire and Marlyn projects have already been approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Commissioner Walter Burton returned to his seat on the commission last night after suffering a near fatal heart attack in early March.
A 20-year-old man from Annandale is facing hate-related charges after a Jewish community center, a church and a community college in Fairfax County was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti and stickers, police said.

Dylan Mahone was arrested Thursday after hateful graffiti was scrawled across the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax City and the Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale on Tuesday, police said.

Mahone was also charged in an incident March 20 in which anti-Semitic fliers were posted around the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, police said.

Photos of those fliers were posted on a Twitter account for a group called the Aryan Underground, according to a search warrant filed in Fairfax County court. The tweet that accompanied the photos promised "More to Come!"

The search warrant states that surveillance video captured someone putting up the stickers while wearing a mask.

The Aryan Underground account also retweeted a tweet from a TV news station about the defacement of Little River United Church of Christ and features photos of ant-Semitic stickers placed at another college and high school.

It's unclear whether Mahone has been tied to those incidents as well.

Mahone was charged with two counts each of felony destruction of property, placing a swastika on a religious property with the intent to intimidate and wearing a mask in public to conceal one's identity.

Northern Virginia Community College police charged Mahone with one count of felony destruction of property and one count of wearing a mask in public to conceal one's identity.

Mahone was arrested at his home.
A portfolio of Southern cases, genteel courtroom traditions and years of forceful conservative rulings shape the enduring image of the federal appeals court in Richmond.

But the bench has shed its conservative label, undergoing a sea change in the past decade, and is poised to have an immediate impact on the fledgling Trump administration.

Starting next month, the full court will take up the president's entry ban for immigrants from some countries, followed by the case of a transgender teen whose battle to use a boy's bathroom challenges the president's new policy.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has harshly criticized federal judges, specifically deriding the San Francisco-based appeals court - which put the first version of his travel ban on hold - as in "chaos" and "turmoil."

Yet the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, a Richmond-based venue the administration might once have found reliably hospitable, now has a higher proportion of judges tapped by Democrats than most of the nation's 13 circuit courts. That includes the pan-Western 9th Circuit with its long-standing reputation among conservatives as the "nutty 9th."

A test of how far the 4th Circuit bench has tilted left will come May 8. The court announced this week that it would bypass the traditional three-judge panel and gather that day as a full complement en banc to review Trump's entry ban.

Already within the past year, judges at the historic Italianate courthouse, who descend from the bench to shake hands with the attorneys who have argued before them, have issued major opinions that would have been unimaginable two decades ago.

The court said Republican lawmakers in North Carolina deliberately undercut the political power of African American voters through targeted voting restrictions. Judges sided with the Virginia transgender teen in the first round of his fight. And in a gun decision that went further than other appeals courts, the Richmond-based circuit ruled that the Second Amendment does not protect what it called "weapons of war" in a case trying to undo a Maryland ban on semiautomatic, military-style firearms.

"There's a persistent impression that's long been out of date that this is a very conservative court," said Steven Goldblatt, who directs the appellate litigation program at Georgetown University's law school and regularly appears before the court. "It's a different court with many new judges who cannot be measured by decisions reached many years ago."

The court's caseload consists of appeals from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. After federal judges in Maryland and Hawaii blocked critical sections of the president's revised travel order in March, the Justice Department appealed. The administration also asked the 4th Circuit to put the Maryland judge's opinion on hold and allow the ban to take effect immediately ahead of oral arguments next month.

The Maryland case applies only to the provision of Trump's order that would have stopped new visas for travelers from six Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

The court also has been asked to rule again in the case of Gavin Grimm, the transgender teen challenging his school's requirement that students use a bathroom that corresponds to their "biological sex."

The case returned to Richmond after the Supreme Court decided in March to put off a ruling on transgender rights and referred it back to the 4th Circuit to possibly look at broader constitutional questions.

When it ruled in Grimm's favor initially, the 4th Circuit cited the Obama administration's position on transgender student rights. The Trump administration since has revoked federal guidelines that directed schools to allow transgender students to use a bathroom consistent with their gender identity.

Last week, Senior Judge Andre M. Davis and Judge Henry F. Floyd - both nominated by President Barack Obama - took the unusual step of issuing a passionate statement placing Grimm among the pantheon of human rights leaders who confronted inequities through the courts. Grimm's case will likely be heard in September.

For years, attorneys pursuing liberal-leaning policies viewed the 4th Circuit as hostile territory for civil rights and for criminal defendants, and as a reliable backstop on national security policies.

But that is changing.

Several national legal organizations that have the flexibility to choose where to wage their legal battles are deliberately turning to the 4th Circuit.

The national groups that filed the most recent challenge to Trump's entry ban in Maryland - the National Immigration Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union - could have gone to other venues.

"The court has become a much friendlier forum in civil rights cases, and it appears that criminal defendants have found a more open ear," said Charlotte attorney Jake Sussman, who has defended inmates on death row and successfully challenged North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage.

The 15-judge court looks very different today than it did two decades ago.

In 1993, the bench included only one woman and no minorities. Three-quarters of the judges were nominated by Republican presidents, including leading conservative voices - J. Michael Luttig and J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who in later years both were on George W. Bush's short list for the Supreme Court.

In the late 1990s, the court issued opinions upholding restrictions on abortions and striking down a law allowing rape victims to sue their attackers in federal court. The court in 1999 overturned the requirement that police read suspects their rights, known as Miranda rights, before interrogating them. The Supreme Court later reaffirmed Miranda rights.

On national security matters, the court often upheld the post-9/11 policies of the Bush administration, supporting the detention of enemy combatants. In death penalty cases, the Supreme Court reversed a number of 4th Circuit rulings in the early 2000s, leading to a measure of relief for inmates on death row.

Conservatives were stunned in 2006 when Luttig announced his retirement to become general counsel for Boeing. At the time Obama took office, the split on the court still favored Republican nominees, 6 to 5. But with four vacancies, the administration saw an opportunity to remake the court - as it did on other circuit courts - and diversify the bench to better reflect the demographics of the country.

Rakesh Kilaru, who worked in the White House counsel's office during Obama's tenure, clerked for Wilkinson in 2010, the year that three new judges joined the court.

"The picture I have that is signed by all of the judges looks quite different than the picture you would have seen a few years before, and I think that's something the president is quite proud of," Kilaru said, referring to Obama.

Among the 15 active judges on the court, there are five women, of whom one is African American, one Latino judge and two African American men, including Roger Gregory, the chief judge. Gregory was initially appointed by President Bill Clinton during a congressional recess and later was nominated by Bush at the urging of Virginia's two senators.

Judge Diana Gribbon Motz, a Clinton nominee, was for years on the losing side, particularly on national security cases. Motz wrote the recent opinion striking down North Carolina's voting restrictions that she said "target African Americans with almost surgical precision." The court now has a handful of Obama nominees on the bench to the left of her.

A total of 10 of the active judges were nominated by Democrats.

That leaves the 4th Circuit - along with three other circuits - with 67 percent of judges nominated by Democrats, ranking at the top with the Boston-based 1st Circuit, the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit and the Federal Circuit in Washington, according to an analysis by Russell Wheeler, an expert on judicial nominations at the Brookings Institution.

Wheeler cautioned that there is a spectrum of views and approaches even among judges nominated by the same president, but that the party of the president who chose a judge is not a bad predictor of a judge's perspective.

The 4th Circuit judges and their stable of clerks assemble in Richmond about every six weeks for "court week" in the downtown courthouse that provided offices for Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War.

Cases are argued before randomly assigned panels, and it is still possible to draw a panel of three judges all nominated by Republican presidents. But the odds have shifted, and, when the court agrees to a redo and reviews a case en banc, the balance tips decidedly left.

In March, a full panel convened to revisit a 2-to-1 decision in favor of North Carolina county commissioners sued by the ACLU for opening their meetings with mostly Christian prayers.

The court did not explain its highly unusual decision this week to skip the three-judge panel in the challenge to Trump's revised entry ban. But the move initiated by the court suggests the judges recognize the need to move quickly on a contentious issue with national significance that appears destined to end up at the Supreme Court.

Allison Orr Larsen, a William and Mary Law School professor who also clerked for Wilkinson, said the court may have lost its conservative label but not its sense of collegiality.

"Even for those difficult, politically charged cases, I'm sure they will be thoughtfully deliberated by everyone regardless of the political affiliation," she said. The court, she added, "puts a premium on collaboration."
Juanita D. Pitchford brought joy, comfort, and support to all who met her. She was born Juanita Diane Bullock on October 22, 1947 to John R. Bullock Jr. (deceased) and Lillian Adeeb Bullock. Two years later, she was joined by her brother, John R. Bullock III.

Born in New York and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, she attended Teaneck High School in New Jersey. She was baptized at St. Augustine Presbyterian Church in the Bronx, N.Y. She was involved in the choir, an usher, Girl Scouts, Sunday school, vacation bible school and various church and school groups and activities. She attended Cheyney University in Pennsylvania and received her degree from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

In her 46 years of marriage to Robert W. Pitchford Sr., she raised five children, first in New York City and then after relocating to Fredericksburg, Va. While her children were young, she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and volunteering with Girl Scouts and other community organizations.

As her children aged, she returned to work where she has made an indelible mark on many facets of the Fredericksburg community. Early on she worked at Mary Washington Hospital as a telephone operator. There she quickly became a friendly face and voice in the hospital community. She loved working at the hospital for many years even as she pursued other career opportunities. Juanita also worked in the Deans Office at the University of Mary Washington, where she inspired many students. For younger students, she was a mentor and trusted adult figure. For older students, she was an inspiration, as she had also finished her college degree as a working adult with a family. Juanita also worked at Carriage Hill, where she provided comfort and care to the residents.

In her career, she was most proud of her work as the Director of Elections. In addition to her regular responsibilities, she undertook a number of efforts to ensure voting fairness. She fought for college students to be able to vote in the state of the school they were attending. This effort made it much easier for students to participate in the voting process and to have a voice in the locale in which they were residing. She worked with the organization, Open Hand of Fredericksburg, to offer opportunities to under-resourced youth to secure sustainable employment through education, leadership development and long-term committed relationships. However, she was most proud of her work as Director of Elections to restore voting rights for convicted felons. She worked with individuals, attended fairs, distributed fliers, and worked with local organizations to spread information and encourage people to reinstate their voting rights. Her commitment to the voting process was something that not only brought her personal joy but also inspired others to actively participate in the democratic process.

Juanita participated in many community organizations. She continued her life-long love of girl scouting by re-instating the Girl Scout troops at Shiloh Old Site Baptist church and leading the Daisy troop for several years. Juanita helped to rebuild the Fredericksburg chapter of the NAACP. She fulfilled a long-standing dream of joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She was a member of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the National Organization for the Advancement of Hispanics.

More than anything else, Juanita was devoted to family and relished her role of grandmother most of all. She spent many hours with her grandchildren, helping them with homework, taking them to school activities, traveling with them, and loving them.

An angel in life, Juanita became an angel in heaven on April 10, 2017. She will be loved and missed by her husband Robert W. Pitchford Sr.; children Aliya, Malina, Lillian, Robert, and Juanita; mother, Lillian Bullock; brother John R. Bullock III, sons-in-law Russell and James; daughter-in-law Tori; grandchildren Ivy, Kaiyla, Little Robby, Jeremy Jr., Raquel, Rakaiya, Joy, and Trasonia; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues, and friends.

A viewing will be held Friday, April 14, 2017, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at A. L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, 200 Butternut Drive, Fredericksburg, Virginia. A funeral will be held Saturday, April 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church Old Site, 801 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, Va., with viewing for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
NORTH KOREAN dictator Kim Jong Un is once again threatening war with South Korea, Japan and the United States. He assures us his ballistic missiles will soon bear nuclear warheads.

Last week, aircraft loyal to Syrias Assad dictatorship dropped nerve agent bombs on a civilian neighborhood. The United States retaliated for the war crime with a classic punitive strike. American cruise missiles hammered the airfield used by Assad regime jets.

North Korea and Syria present the world with different diplomatic and military challenges. They differ geographicallyEast Asia and the Pacific basin versus Southwest Asia. They differ in historical origin.

Yet North Korea and Syria have some fascinating and frightening similarities.

Lets start with this one: The current governments of North Korea and Syria are both hereditary dictatorships.

North Koreas Kim regime is a hereditary totalitarian military autocracy with Communist trappings. The regimes progenitor, Kim Il Sung, began the Korean War in 1950 when his forces invaded South Korea. Thanks to help from Communist China, the war ended in a stalemate, leaving two heavily armed and determined adversaries confronting one another across a fortified armistice line.

Kim Il Sung acquired chemical weapons and began North Koreas nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. He groomed his son, Kim Jong Il, to succeed him, which he did in 1994 when Kim The First died. Kim The Second died in 2011. Current dictator Kim Jong Un assumed Pyongyangs military throne.

Hafez al-Assad, a former Syrian Air Force officer, seized power in Syria in 1970 by toppling the ruling dictator. In 1971, he officially installed himself as president and began three decades of ruthless one-man rule.

Assad The First allied Syria with the totalitarian Soviet Union. He wanted modern weapons, ostensibly to wage war with Israel, but maintaining his regime was the first order of business. He acquired chemical weapons and began a ballistic missile program.

Assad The First originally pegged his younger brother, Rifaat al-Assad, as his successor, but the two had a falling out when Rifaat tried to succeed Hafez too soon. So Hafez named his eldest son, Bassel al-Assad, as heir apparent. Bassel was an army officer. But in 1994, Bassel died in an accident. His younger brother, Dr. Bashar al-Assad, became the heir and was given a senior military position. When Hafez died in 2000, Bashar took the throne.

Like the Kim dynasty, the Assad dynasty has military origins and deep military ties. However, its deepest roots are sectarian and tribalno surprise in sectarian- and ethnically-fragmented Syria. The Assads are Alawites, a minority Shia Muslim sect.

Syria is a hodgepodge of ethnic and sectarian groups. In comparison, North Korea is an ethnic monolith. However, both regimes need war in order to exist. They rely on war to eliminate their political opposition and to solidify support for their respective regimes.

Modern dictatorships usually conjure some type of philosophy or appeal to religious doctrine to explain and justify their tyrannies.

The Assad dynasty claims to be secular, but among Syrian Alawites and Shias it sells itself as a defender of the faith. This Shia link is one reason Irans radical Shia Muslim dictatorship supports the Assads and provides them with Shia fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah Shia terror organization.

Kim Il Sung created a secular religion called Juche. It combines nationalism, collectivism and shards of Oriental and Western philosophies. Juche emphasizes the uniqueness of the Korean character and the need to unify the Koreas under the Juche banner and the Kim dynastys rule.

Lets end with this sobering similarity: North Korea and Syria have long-standing relationships with powerful authoritarian states possessing U.N. Security Council vetoes, China and Russia respectively. That means in a crisis involving either state, the United States is the only effective major power counterweight.

Austin Bay is a columnist for Creators Syndicate.
A new report says the risk that fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, poses to the Rappahannock River makes it among the nations most endangered waterways. In other words, the enormity of the risk absolutely negates any benefit reaped by capturing the oil or gas that may exist beneath it.

Each year, the organization American Rivers presents a list of Americas Most Endangered waterways. For 2017, the threat of fracking earns the Rappahannock the No.5 spot on the list. To see the entire report, visit americanrivers.org.

The American Rivers grading method is unique in that it doesnt necessarily focus on existing pollution or damage that has already revealed itself. Such waterways may well deserve a place on the list. But with the Rappahannock, the high level of risk an industrial practice could pose qualifies it as one of the nations most endangered rivers.

The energy industry has identified the Taylorsville Basin, a wide area that includes five Virginia counties east and south of Fredericksburg, as the source of shale gas deposits. Though the deposits are considered relatively small compared with those in the huge Marcellus Basin that runs through the states of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and into far Southwest Virginia, the Taylorsville deposits have definitely attracted industry interest.

Texas-based Shore Exploration and Production Corp. has had an office in Bowling Green for years, established once the Taylorsville Basin was found to have drilling potential.

Its estimated that deep beneath the counties of Caroline, King George, Westmoreland, Essex, and King and Queen lies an estimated trillion cubic feet or more of natural gas, dwarfed by estimated Marcellus reserves of 77 trillion cubic feet in 2015. Nevertheless, at least 84,000 acres in those counties have been leased for exploration and fracking. King and Queen is the only county of the five not within the Rappahannock watershed.

American Rivers points out that since the removal of the Embrey Dam in 2004, the Rappahannock is the longest free-flowing river in Virginia. It suffers from the same pollution pressures as so many similar waterways: agricultural runoff, surface and residential runoff, and effluent from waste treatment plants. But it also remains a primary source of drinking water for many communities along its path, while maintaining a solid reputation for recreational tourism and commercial fishing.

American Rivers notes that drilling would pass through the Potomac Aquifer, which supplies millions of people across the eastern portion of Virginia and the East Coast with well water for drinking. Studies show that the huge aquifer is threatened also by overuse.

Among the organizations concerns is that only one Virginia county, King George, has passed a land-use ordinance that aims to protect the environment and the health of its residents from the dangers of fracking. King George supervisors voted unanimously last August to bar fracking within 750 feet of protected resources such as waterways, roads, buildings and school grounds, limiting potential drilling sites to 9 percent of the countys land area.

We have long encouraged the other localities to propose restrictions on fracking as much as they are able under state and local land-use lawsto do whatever they can to protect residents and the river. Westmoreland has recently discussed imposing a similar rule, though it would increase the buffer to 1,000 feet.

American Rivers credits Gov. Terry McAuliffe and like-minded elected and government officials with defeating Virginia legislation that would have protected the industry from from disclosing the makeup of the toxic chemical cocktail used to flush out natural gas deposits.

Advocates of fracking often point to its role in moving toward U.S. energy independence. They speak of new jobs and its economic importance to the depressed areas where it is used, and where people have welcomed it.

That does not ring true here. The region that comprises the Taylorsville basin, a low-lying area with a network of creeks, streams and rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay, is environmentally fragile. Aside from a relative few landowners willing to sell drilling rights to the fossil fuel industry, people simply dont want fracking here. The threat is too great.
The man hired a goldsmith to cast seven solid gold Buddah statues worth nearly $300,000.

A Japanese businessman working for a recruitment company in Vietnam was sentenced to 10 years in prison for smuggling gold by a court in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Iwamura Masakazu, 46, pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking several gold Buddah statues out of Vietnam. His accomplice, Kitada Takayoshi, 34, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Masakazu was accused of hiring people to cast seven Buddah statues using gold worth nearly VND7 billion ($300,000) and coating them with silver to deceive customs officials to smuggle them to Japan for sale, according to the court.

Masakazu was a director of the Japan-based RG Innovation Company, which brokers labor contracts for Vietnamese workers who want to work in Japan.

Masakazu colluded with Takayoshi to buy the gold from a jewelry company named Sinh Dien Gold and Gemstones Co Ltd in Bac Ninh Province, 45km (28 miles) northeast of Hanoi, in July, 2016. He asked the firm's owner to cast the statues and said that he would return to collect them a month later.

Masakazu later sent Takayoshi to Vietnam to collect the order and asked him to coat the seven gold statues in silver to deceive Vietnamese customs officers. However, on August 3, 2016, customs officials at Noi Bai International Airport discovered the statues in Takayoshis luggage, and arrested him.

In court, the two defendants pleaded guilty and asked the judges to consider letting them to be tried in Japan, a request that was denied.
Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong (2nd L) is escorted by Malaysian police for a court appearance in Sepang on Thursday for her alleged role in the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam. Photo by AFP/Rasfan

Lead prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said more time was needed to collect documents from several departments.

Two women accused of killing the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader made their second court appearance on Thursday wearing bullet-proof vests, but the hearing into the Kuala Lumpur airport assassination was postponed until May.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were taken to the Sepang magistrate's court located close to the airport where Kim Jong-Nam was fatally poisoned on February 13. They face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kim Jong-Nam.

Thursday's scheduled hearing for the prosecutors' request that the two women be tried jointly and for the case to be transferred to a higher court was deferred to May 30.

Lead prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said more time was needed to collect documents from several departments.

Police accuse the pair of having wiped the nerve agent VX on Kim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The poison is classified as a weapon of mass destruction and banned around the world.

Aishah and Huong have told their respective diplomats that they were unwitting pawns in an assassination that U.S. officials and South Korean intelligence have said was organized by North Korean agents.

Rival South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the death of Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pyongyang denies the accusation.

Some 100 police officers including masked special forces armed with assault rifles were deployed to secure the small court compound where the women were taken for Thursday's hearing.

Police are still looking for four North Korean men who are suspected accomplices of the women. The four, however, are believed to have returned to Pyongyang.

Three other North Koreans earlier described as "persons of interest", including a diplomat based in Malaysia, have been allowed to return home.

The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea which saw both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors.

The travel ban was lifted in late March after a deal was struck involving the return of Kim's body to Pyongyang.
People in Ha Tinh gather in front of a district government office on April 3. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

Many people in Ha Tinh are unhappy with compensation they've received.

Police in Vietnam's central province of Ha Tinh have launched criminal investigations into a recent protest which involved around 2,000 people and has caused public disorder, a police officer said.

Around 200 people brought banners to protest outside the People's Committee of Loc Ha District on April 3, demanding compensation for an environmental disaster, said Nguyen Thanh Liem, Ha Tinhs deputy police chief.

Fourty minutes later, the number of protestors grew ten-fold.

Liem said the gathering had hindered the offices operations, while some protestors have also injured a policeman and prevented him from being taken to hospital.

Ha Tinh police are investigating the case on charges of causing public disorder, which is punishable by up to 10 years in jail, and illegal arrest of people, which warrants prison terms of up to seven years. Police are looking for those who incited the protest.

In a related development, police in Ha Tinh's Ky Anh Town, around 50 miles to the south, announced Sunday an investigation against 150 people on charge of causing public disorder for blocking a section on a national highway.

People in Ha Tinh protest on the National Highway 1A on April 2. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

In early April, Ha Tinh police arrested a 22-year-old man on accusation of working with foreign organizations to produce social media content on what the authority brand sensitive events, which have emerged in connection to a mass fish kill in several central provinces last year.

Ha Tinh Province was at center of media attention last year, when it was hit by Vietnam's biggest ever environmental disaster caused by Taiwanese steel plant Formosa.

The notorious toxic spill polluted 125 miles of coastline, devastating sea life and local economies dependent on fishing and tourism in Ha Tinh as well as the nearby provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

The environment ministry said the affected region is expected to take a decade to completely recover from the incident, while experts predict the disaster may set back Vietnams economy for years.

Formosa agreed last June to pay $500 million in compensation and the money is being disbursed to people directly affected. But many people in Ha Tinh remain dissatisfied with how the compensation has been handled.
A bumper year for sellers of Scottish estates saw nearly 100m change hands in 2016 in what is understood to be the highest total annual spend on such properties on record.

Strutt & Parker said the 25 transactions represented an increase of 32% on 2015 and a massive 260% on 2014 when the Scottish independence referendum stunted supply.

Agents across Scotland report resilience from buyers and sellers despite continued political uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote and the governments land reform programme.

Against this backdrop you would have expected a dampening effect, said Robert McColloch, estates and farms agency partner at Strutt & Parker.

But trade has been surprisingly buoyant.

The definition of an estate varies among land agent databases, but figures show a significant increase in activity over the past 24 months.

Savills said 2016 was the most buoyant Scottish estates market in a decade.

Annual sales typically fluctuate around 20 properties, with 2014 being the only recent anomaly, the firm said.

Evelyn Channing, director of rural sales at Savills, said: There were also some big estate sales in 2016.

You usually see one or two a year, but there were several around the 10m mark when the average is around 5m.

Despite all the political rhetoric going on, deals are being done and people are investing in Scotland which is encouraging.

UK v overseas buyers

Tom Stewart-Moore, head of Scottish farms agency at Knight Frank, said the resurgence was due in part to increased confidence from UK buyers who competed with overseas bidders.

Our analysis is that seven estates last year were purchased by EU nationals and Russians, he told Farmers Weekly.

The rest were bought by Scottish and English buyers.

Dutch, French, German, Scandinavian and American bidders have been active, although not always successful, he added.

Overseas buyers do look at whats going on politically but place more importance on the estate being of the quality that they are looking for, said Mr Stewart-Moore.

What do Scottish estate buyers want?

All the agents Farmers Weekly spoke to said they had a list of potential buyers lined up and launches due to arrive from May onwards.

But despite the demand-driven market, buyers remain particular about their investments.

Emma Chalmers, valuer from CKD Galbraith in Perth, said: Generally, buyers want a practical house that is still a showpiece.

See also: 8 mistakes that can put someone off buying your farm

Where sporting interest is important they will look at the fishing, shooting and stalking potential, and some have farmland interests too.

Every estate is so different so buyers are not always location specific.

Northern Scotland has been particularly popular, according to Mrs Chalmers, as has Perthshire.

Two years ago we sold four estates and found the interest was unbelievable. One was sold at 35% over the guide price with a number of bidders.

Scottish estates sold recently

Kinnaird Estate

Knight Frank sold the 2,600-acre Kinnaird Estate by Dunkeld in Perthshire last April. It generated worldwide interest with sporting and agricultural elements, eventually selling to a Scottish buyer in excess of the 9.6m guide price.

Tillypronie Estate

The Tillypronie Estate in Aberdeenshire is famous for its traditional Scottish field sports, offering driven grouse moors and a pheasant shoot as well as salmon fishing.

Let farms, commercial forestry and an 11-bedroom mansion can be found across the 12,000 acres near Tarland. It has recently gone under offer with a guide price of offers over 10.5m, Strutt & Parker said.

Suisgill

Interest in estates in northern Scotland was evidenced by the sale of Suisgill on the River Helmsdale in the Scottish Highlands.

About 14,800 acres of the 16,000-acre estate was hill ground with an in-hand sheep farm, extensive sporting offering and commercial forestry. Its guide price was offers over 5.1m with Savills.

Glenbeich Estate

Another significant Perthshire sale was the 3,800-acre Glenbeich Estate which sold in September 2015 significantly in excess of its 3.35m guide price with CKD Galbriath.

A productive livestock farming enterprise was included alongside grouse shoots and deer stalking.
An arable grower who has yet to receive her Basic Payment eight months after a routine farm inspection says farmers who are randomly selected for scrutiny are being unfairly penalised.

Sally Thomas, who grows crops on 161ha near Manorbier in Pembrokeshire, has consistently received her subsidy in the first week of December  until now.

Last July her farm was chosen for a Welsh government routine crop diversification and ecological focus area inspection.

The inspector was due to return to the farm to complete the inspection once all the crops had been harvested at the end of the summer but failed to return until November.

See also: Farmers valuable time wasted after BPS maps botch

Concerned that this would hold up her basic payment, Mrs Thomas asked the inspector for clarity on this point.

She assured me that there wouldnt be an issue, that her failure to complete the inspection until 24 November would only mean that the payment would be delayed a week or so.

Complex

Despite repeated attempts to contact Rural Payments Wales to establish the whereabouts of the subsidy, Mrs Thomas has yet to be paid.

Rural Payments Wales make a big deal out of being approachable and contactable but it has been impossible to speak to anyone to find out why the payment has been held up, she said.

Without knowing what is causing the holdup, how can we be certain about completing this years Single Application Form?

The Welsh government admitted that the introduction of the new Greening requirements for arable farmers had led to more complex inspections.

The [European Commission] requires farm businesses subject to an inspection in 2016 to have their claim finalised before payment can be made, said a government spokesperson.

Defra recently confirmed that farms which have had a routine inspection would receive 75% of their Basic Payment by the end of March, but this has not been the case in Wales.

Window still open

Mrs Thomas, who farms with her son, Harry, said this was unfair. Why should Welsh farmers be treated differently?

Last year the Thomass invested in a combine harvester for their arable work and timed the repayments for January to coincide with receiving their Basic Payment.

But in the absence of payment, they have had to increase their borrowing facility.

As of 12 April, 98.6% of all claims in Wales had been fully paid and the Welsh government spokesman pointed out that the BPS payment window is still open, closing on 30 June.

Rural Payments Wales is doing everything it can to make all remaining payments as quickly as possible and expects to pay all but the most complex claims by the end of April.
Farm minister George Eustice has promised farmers that he is seeking to avoid a cliff edge for agriculture when it leaves the EU.

Speaking to an audience of 60 farmers at a recent event in Redruth, Cornwall, the minister offered assurances funding would remain available to the farming industry after Brexit and there would be a transition from the old system to the new.

We do not need cliff edges, he said. This needs to be an evolution to something better, not a revolution with painful consequences.

See also: Analysis: What the farming unions want from Brexit

Mr Eustice acknowledged there were lessons to be learned from New Zealand, which does not subsidise its farmers, but indicated the model would not be replicated in the UK.

Although there are lessons that can be learned from New Zealand and their market focus, New Zealand also dramatically devalued their currency at the same time as removing support, pricing their agricultural produce into world markets.

Alternative support

But the minister hinted that the government was exploring the merits of alternative ways of supporting the industry than direct payments.

If one of the roles of the current CAP is income support, then we should ask whether there is a better way of addressing the reasons that farming needs income support.

For me, the sheer degree of risk involved in farming makes it a special and unique industry so we should help farmers manage those risks.

Mr Eustice was speaking at an event organised by accountants PKF Francis Clark, law firm Stephens Scown and Savills

Over the coming months, he would continue to meet and engage with farmers to get their ideas and to update them on the work Defra has been doing on the different options, he said.

The aim was to support profitable farming and deliver for both the farmed environment and animal welfare.
Story Highlights 21% name dissatisfaction with government/poor leadership as top problem

Other frequently cited problems are healthcare, immigration and the economy

Satisfaction with way things are going in U.S. at 32%

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than one in five U.S. adults cite dissatisfaction with the government and political leadership as the most important problem in the country. This is by far the problem U.S. adults most frequently mention, followed by healthcare, immigration and the economy. Americans have often named government dissatisfaction as the top problem in the nation.

Dissatisfaction With Government/Poor Leadership Remains Top Problem What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended] Dissatisfaction with government/Poor leadership Healthcare Immigration Economy % % % % Apr 5-9, 2017 21 9 8 8 Mar 1-5, 2017 18 7 12 8 Feb 1-5, 2017 19 5 13 9 Jan 4-8, 2017 11 9 4 11 Gallup

The current level of dissatisfaction with the government is the highest since October 2013 to January 2014, after the partial government shutdown that October. The only other period during Gallup's polling history when a higher percentage of Americans cited government as the most important problem was in 1973 and 1974 during the Watergate crisis.

With a new presidential administration in office, the government has again emerged as the top problem in the country. Much of the increase in dissatisfaction stems from negativity toward the president, as substantial percentages of Americans simply say "Donald Trump" when asked to name the most important problem facing the country. Mentions of Trump were also common during the 2016 presidential campaign and were a reason why the election was typically among the highest-ranking problems last year.

With the debate over repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, reaching a climax in Congress this past month, healthcare ranked as the second-most-important problem. For the past six months, healthcare has ranged from 4% to 10% of all mentions.

Unifying the country (7%) is also notable, since it has spiked at various times in recent months, including measures of 6% in November after the election and 10% in February after Trump's inauguration. Americans appear to be concerned about the divisiveness of politics today. Prior to last fall, no more than 3% of Americans had ever mentioned bringing the country together as the most important problem.

Notably, U.S. adults' citing of race relations/racism as the most important problem has been on the decline in recent months. At 4% now, race relations was at a high of 18% nine months ago and was 10% as recently as January. This may be due to a lack of high-profile incidents involving blacks nationwide, especially regarding contentious issues with police.

U.S. Satisfaction Remains Low

Perhaps reflecting Americans' dissatisfaction with government, overall satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. remains low, at 32%. Since 2005, satisfaction has often not been higher than 36%. The historical average in Gallup's trend since 1979 is 37%.

Satisfaction now is about triple what it was at its lowest point in recent years, 11% in September 2011. Yet the last time satisfaction was over 50% was in January 2004, while George W. Bush was in his first term as president.

Bottom Line

In the first months of the Trump administration, sentiment that government and poor leadership is the most important problem facing the nation is strengthening. This can be attributed to many Americans saying that Trump is the source of the problem.

With Trump in office, satisfaction with the way things are going has not yet risen to levels higher than those seen during the Obama administration. However, the president's term is still new and satisfaction may rebound. Americans generally do not believe the government is as severe a problem as it was during the government shutdown of 2013-2014, but belief that it is the most important problem is on the rise.

It is obvious that the vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. This chronic dissatisfaction may be a result of a divisive political landscape and a 24-hour news cycle filled with partisan media.

These data are available in Gallup Analytics.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (R) arrives flanked by vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission Choe Yong-Hae (L) at an opening ceremony for 'Rymoyong street', a new housing development in Pyongyang. Photo by AFP/Ed Jones

There is speculation that the country could be preparing its sixth nuclear test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung.

North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported on Wednesday.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the sites Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked U.S. fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said Wednesday night, quoting U.S. government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."

President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the U.S. strike on a Syrian air base last week.

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said Wednesday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy.

The U.S. Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
The available council seats are in the city's Third, Fifth, and Ninth districts.
Easter Traditions : Happy Easter from GA-English!

Bonn For many, Easter is the chance for a few days of holiday, a ray of hope after the long winter and after the fasting during lent. Relaxation, bringing the family together for meals, eating and chatting. A long spring walk in the fresh air.

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And the desire to get outside and be active increases along with the warmer temperatures. You will find some tips and ideas for Easter activities in our whats happening guide.

But before the fun starts, there a few practicalities to think of. For example, is the bakery open on Easter public holidays in Germany? Or the florist? On Good Friday and Easter Sunday, bakeries and florists can open until midday according to NRW regulations. On Easter Monday, they remain closed. Service stations, emergency pharmacies and restaurants are open over Easter. But from Maundy Thursday at 6pm until Easter Saturday at 6am public dance events are prohibited. The cinema is open though. Good Friday in Germany is a so-called quiet day, which means that sport and music events, folk festivals and markets are prohibited. But private events are not included in these.

Easter is the most important Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death (Good Friday). Maundy Thursday, the day of the last supper, is called Grundonnerstag or Green Thursday in Germany. This green does not refer to the green of spring but comes from the Middle High German word grinen which in todays German is greinen, translating as to complain or to cry. The German word for Good Friday is Karfreitag and Easter Saturday is called Karsamstag. This prefix Kar means complaint, distress or sorrow. Many Easter symbols and customs have their origins in pre-Christian times and are still used today. Light played a significant role as a sign of life. In many evangelical and catholic churches a fire is lit in the early hours of Easter Sunday. In ancient times fire was holy. In Pagan times spring fires were lit to greet the sun, for the victory over the dark winter. The festivities were thought to guarantee fertility and growth. In Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus was reinterpreted as the light of the world.

The giving of Easter eggs as presents belongs to a more secular tradition but one which also has strong symbolic power. The egg is a symbol of life and resurrection. Its shape  without a beginning and an end  symbols eternity. Painting eggs makes them particularly precious.
After many meetings and debates, the Chicago delegation succeeded in working with the New York United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 (UFT) to push the AFT to take stronger stands on charter school accountability and school closings  though many delegates from Chicago would have liked the language to have been even stronger.

Generally speaking, the New York delegation represented organizing charters as the best model for handling their role in reshaping unions, despite the fact that according to many reports few charter schools in New York have been organized as is the case in Chicago. This logic is the same touted by the Progressive Caucus of the AFT. The few that have been organized are a part of the UFT local though they have separate contracts negotiated with the help of UFT. The Chicago delegation reflection the mindset that allowing new charters to continue to proliferate while attempting to organize existing charters is an end game in which public schools and the union lose.



Jen Johnson, CTU, Local 1 in Substance


Trial of Walid S. : Many questions remain unanswered in the Niklas case

Bonn The truth will out, according to Shakespeare. But will this be the case for the violent death of Niklas Pohler in Bad Godesberg on 7th May 2016?

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After 16 days of court proceedings against Walid S., who allegedly around midnight hit the pupil from Bad Breisig so violently in the head, that the 17-year-old later died from his injuries, it seems that the Bonn juvenile court is further from the truth than ever. And it seems even more unlikely that Niklas' mother will learn the truth about her sons death and find out whether the culprit will receive just punishment.

47-year-old Denise Pohler took part in the trial every day, at the side of her lawyer as joint plaintiffs, following the trial in deep concentration, noting every statement. And she has certainly been affected by everything she has seen and heard. I just cannot take it all in she said last week. The pillars on which the case against Walid S. rest now seem increasingly fragile, in a case which has reached far beyond the city of Bonn.

From the beginning, the case of Niklas Pohler made waves and has attracted national media coverage in light of the increasing violence amongst young people, not only in Bad Godesberg. The calls to politics to find solutions to the problem were loud, not only within the city. State politicians came, discussions were held. And investigators came under increased pressure to find those responsible.

In fact, the first success in the hunt for the culprit came after 10 days. Walid S., at that time 20 years old, an adolescent from a migrant background and known for violence, was presented as the offender, taken into custody and ultimately charged, along with the second suspect Roman W. He was suspected of having taken part in the fatal brawl and furthermore to have punched a female companion of Niklas in the head. The prosecution was convinced they had found two of the culprits of the crime. The third perpetrator remains unknown.

But the certainty of the prosecution seemed increasingly doubtful to those watching the court proceedings  a trial which attracted much attention and had to be protected using strict security measures. For the three supposedly solid pillars of the prosecution began to lose stability in the course of the trial: Niklas' friend and eye witness to the crime identified Walid S. as the culprit from a photograph and later in court, but then it turned out he had already named two others as suspects who could not have committed the crime.

It also became apparent in the trial that, when shown a set of photos by police, he had not recognised Walid S. Only when photos of potential suspects were distributed amongst his and Niklas circle of friends, did he identify Walid S. as the suspect, and this was from a photo on which Walid S. was not easily recognisable. But for this the 22-year-old Tunisian Hakim D. whose name was known in the Bad Godesburg scene and was considered as a suspect at the beginning. And to whom the jacket with Niklas blood belonged and which was found with Walid S. following his arrest.

Investigators did not believe that Walid S. had received this jacket after the crime through complicated means, although witnesses confirmed his story. The prosecution stood firm: Walid S. is the culprit as he did not tell the truth about the time during which he had gone to the service station with a friend to buy some drinks for his group, with whom he said he spent the whole time in the park by the duck pond. In fact, the police reported that Walid S.' mobile phone could be traced to a cell tower in the park and one at the service station, but at no other time could be traced to the scene of the crime in Rondell, where no-one had seen him.

Roman W. and Hakim D were however seen at the scene of the crime at the right time according to four witnesses. One of these witnesses, a 26-year-old, said in court that the two of them came towards him on the Rheinallee in the direction of Rondell and that Roman warned: dont go down there, the police will be coming. And then this 26-year-old suddenly named another eye witness: he told her that he had seen Hakim D., Roman W. and two other acquaintances during the attack. Apparently, he did not say this in court as Hakim had threatened him with a bullet between the eyes.

After the statement, the court ordered the 26-year-old and three companions to take to the witness stand again the following day. But what happened next appeared strange not only to onlookers of the trial but also in legal circles. State Prosecutor Florian Geler pre-empted the court and cross-examined the questionable witnesses himself. When all stood by their statements and the 26-year-old denied having seen the crime, the prosecutor did not wait for the outcome of the trial. Instead he immediately initiated proceedings against the surprise witness for making false statements. And explained on the sidelines, I can discontinue the investigations of Hakim D. And this begged the question: should a case be rescued by hook or by crook?

After 16 days of proceedings the court concluded the admission of evidence last week, as it had no further means which could help in the search for the truth. Walid S. reaffirmed that he had had nothing to do with the attack on Niklas. So, what is the truth? The court called around 50 witnesses, none of whom were able to clarify what happened. And it demonstrated once again that the witness is the worst and most unreliable piece of evidence: memories can be deceptive, shock situations like an attack in the night can affect the power of the memory  which is also a reason why both of Niklas female companions could not remember the attacker and therefore not recognise him again.

In this trial, Walid is not only accused of violent behaviour towards Niklas but also other acts of violence which he had undertaken the week before. It could be feasible that he attacked Niklas. But that does not mean he did do it. On 25th April during the closing words of the prosecution and defence, Niklas' mother will hear in detail what they believe happened in the night in question.
As hydraulic fracturing operations expand in Canada and in some parts of the United States, researchers at the 2017 Seismological Society of Americas (SSA) Annual Meeting are taking a closer look at ways to minimize hazards from the earthquakes triggered by those operations.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of hydrocarbon recovery that uses high-pressure injections of fluid to break apart rock and release trapped oil and natural gas. At the SSA Annual Meeting, experts will speak about the growing recognition that hydraulic fracturing or fracking can produce earthquakes magnitude 3 and larger, acknowledging that this type of seismic activity is difficult to predict and may be difficult to stop once it begins.

Most induced earthquakes in Canada have been linked to hydraulic fracturing, in contrast to induced earthquakes studied in the central and eastern United States. In the U.S., these earthquakes have been linked primarily to massive amounts of wastewater injected back into the ground after oil and gas recovery. However, some presentations at the SSA meeting will take a closer look at the possibilities for fracking earthquakes in the United States.

Michael Brudzinski of Miami University and his colleagues will discuss their work to identify swarms of small magnitude earthquakes in Ohio that appear to be correlated in time and space with hydraulic fracturing or wastewater disposal. Their work suggest that there are roughly three times more earthquake sequences of magnitude 2 or larger induced by hydraulic fracturing compared to wastewater disposal in the areaeven though there are about 10 times more hydraulic fracturing wells than wastewater disposal wells. Their technique, they say, provides evidence of induced seismicity from hydraulic fracturing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Texas as well.

Zenming Wang and colleagues are preparing for the onset of oil and gas exploration in the Rome Trough of eastern Kentucky, conducting a study of the natural background seismicity in the area to be able to better identify induced earthquakes if they occur. In their SSA presentation, they will also discuss how an area like eastern Kentucky might assess and prepare for ground shaking hazards from induced earthquakes, since the ruptures may occur on unmapped or quiet faults.

In western Alberta and eastern British Columbia in Canada, a significant increase in the rate of felt earthquakes from hydraulic fracturing has researchers looking at ways to mitigate potential damage to infrastructure in the region. In her SSA presentation, Gail Atkinson of Western University will discuss the factors that affect the likelihood of damaging ground motion from fracking-induced earthquakes. Based on these factors, Atkinson proposes targeted exclusion zones with a radius of about five kilometers around critical infrastructure such as major dams. This would be combined real-time monitoring to track the rate of seismic events of magnitude 2 or greater within 25 kilometers, with fracking operations adjusted to potentially reduce this rate to less hazardous levels.

Reference:

Correlation Algorithms to Better Characterize Seismicity Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing will be presented at the SSA Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 19. All presentation abstracts for the 2017 SSA Annual Meeting can be accessed at meetings.seismosoc.org/abstracts

Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Seismological Society of America.
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Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
clarajancita at 13-04-2017 11:24 AM (5 years ago) (f)

A President was pelted with eggs and stones while he presided over a parade in a northeastern province of Venezuela, as footage of the impromptu bombardment captured on cell phones go viral.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros convoy was pelted with objects by members of a crowd at a military parade, reports published on Wednesday revealed. The incident occurred at San Felix, a town in the southern Bolivar region, during a military parade held upon Maduros return from a trip to Cuba. A live television broadcast of the event showed the president in an open vehicle, surrounded by a security detail, as the crowd began throwing objects at him.

A President was pelted with eggs and stones while he presided over a parade in a northeastern province of Venezuela, as footage of the impromptu bombardment captured on cell phones go viral.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros convoy was pelted with objects by members of a crowd at a military parade, reports published on Wednesday revealed. The incident occurred at San Felix, a town in the southern Bolivar region, during a military parade held upon Maduros return from a trip to Cuba. A live television broadcast of the event showed the president in an open vehicle, surrounded by a security detail, as the crowd began throwing objects at him.

However, the broadcast cut away shortly thereafter.

Press reports identified the objects thrown by members of the crowd as eggs and stones, adding that five people were arrested as a result. Opposition deputies calling for Maduros ouster seized the opportunity to ridicule the socialist leader on social media.

However, the broadcast cut away shortly thereafter.Press reports identified the objects thrown by members of the crowd as eggs and stones, adding that five people were arrested as a result. Opposition deputies calling for Maduros ouster seized the opportunity to ridicule the socialist leader on social media. Quote Nicolas, the people of San Felix love you and want to feed you: thats why they threw eggs, tomatoes, vegetables, banana peels and other things, opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup said on Twitter.

National Assembly president and opposition deputy Julio Borges called for elections, saying that the people of San Felix and all Venezuelans reject Maduro and repudiate his dictatorship.

The official newspaper Correo del Orinoco, however, published a photograph of Maduro greeting the public during the parade with the caption: President Maduro thanks the people of Bolivar for receiving him with such passion and love.

The incident occurred amid escalating protests against the government, following an attempt by the Supreme Court to strip the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its powers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWHw4szJJUc&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_Yz7ox9Tc&feature=youtu.be The incident occurred amid escalating protests against the government, following an attempt by the Supreme Court to strip the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its powers.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 13-04-2017 11:24 AM (5 years ago) | Hero
Jio DTH service: Launch date, channels, packs, price and more Features oi -Abhinaya Prabhu All you need to know about Jio DTH service.

Undoubtedly, Reliance Jio has created a buzz in the telecom segment with its disruptively priced plans and free services. Since the launch of its 4G services, Jio is rumored to be working on its own DTH service.

Earlier this month, the supposed Jio DTH set top box images were leaked. These images went viral on the internet as well as social media websites. The leaked images have tipped that the launch date of the DTH service isn't going to take a long time. While the company has not officially revealed when exactly the Jio DTH service will debut, the JioPrime blog has come up with some interesting and exciting information.

Here, those interested in the Jio DTH service can get to know more details about the service.

Possible Jio DTH launch date Going by the information we have in hand, Reliance Jio is planning to introduce the DTH service with Jio Fiber Broadband. This means that the cable for the internet will provide the cable connection too. Jio is now laying optical fiber links under the ground in the urban areas. The company is taking care of the Jio broadband administration right now. Once this is done, we can expect the DTH service to be launched. It is reasonable to expect the Jio DTH launch date to fall after April 2017. Jio DTH channels As per the information known before, the Jio DTH will provide 432 channels via the set top box. Of these, around 350 will be normal SD channels and over 50 will be HD channels that can be watched in 4K resolution. For now, there are channels such as Colors TV, Sony, Star Network, ZEE Network, Star Spots, Ten Sports, DD Spots, ABP News, ZEE News, Aaj Tak, India News, almost all regional channels and English movie channels. Jio is believed to add more channels in the near future. Also read: Reliance Jio set top box photos leak Jio DTH price Going by the source, the Jio DTH service is expected to be priced between Rs. 180 and Rs. 200 per moth. There is no denying that Jio wants to provide services at the cheapest cost as it did with the 4G services. Likewise, in the DTH segment too, the service provider is aiming to provide the cheapest plans in comparison to the others. Jio DTH Welcome Offer Though the exact launch date of the Jio DTH service is not known, it is strongly believed that the company will launch it with the Welcome Offer as it did with the 4G service back in September 2016. Under the Welcome Offer, we can expect free services for a minimum of three months. There are claims that Jio DTH might get six months of free services too. But we need to wait for an official confirmation about the same. Various Jio DTH packs As per the source, the Jio DTH service might be unveiled with these plans given below. Of course, we can expect more packs to be added after the launch of the service.

JIO DTH Basic Home Pack

JIO Silver DTH Plans

JIO DTH Gold Pack

JIO Platinum Pack for DTH

JIO DTH My Plans (with customized channels) Expected Jio DTH plans and their cost As per the information that is known for now, the following are likely to be the Jio DTH plans and their respective costs. Normal Pack - Rs. 49 to Rs. 55

All Spots Channels (HD) - Rs. 60 to Rs. 69

Value Prime Channels - Rs. 120 to Rs. 150

Kids Channels - Rs. 180 to Rs. 190

My Family Pack - Rs. 200 to Rs. 250

My Plan - Rs. 50 to Rs. 54

MY Sports - Rs. 159 to Rs. 169

Big Ultra Pack - Rs. 199 to Rs. 220

Metro Pack - Rs. 199 to Rs. 250

Dhoom - Rs. 99 to Rs. 109 Also read: Reliance Jio DTH vs Dish TV: Find Out Which Offers Better Services Jio DTH plans for South Indian users It looks Jio is all set to attract the South Indian users with special plans as given below. South Indian Value Pack - Rs. 120 to Rs. 130

South Maximum - Rs. 134 to Rs. 145

My Sports - Rs. 145 to Rs. 150

Mega Pack - Rs. 199 to Rs. 299

South Ultra - Rs. 199 to Rs. 250 Jio DTH has a slew of ports The leaked Jio DTH box shows that it has HDMI support, capability for 4K recording streaming in Ultra HD 2160p, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Google Chrome Casting, remote control, RF-45 Ethernet cable, and Android TV functionality as well. Jio DTH competition With free DTH service for three or six months and cheap services from Rs. 100 onwards after the free offers, the Jio DTH service sounds pretty impressive. However, this isn't officially confirmed by Jio as yet. If this turns out to be true, the incumbent operators will face a potential threat as their service cost a minimum of Rs. 300.

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Facial recognition

Just like other biometric solutions, the Facial recognition measures the unique characteristics of digital image or videos and then match them against stored templates in a database.

The Facebook has a vast collection of photos and even Google has a facial recognition system, that can give the childhood pictures of existing users, even if they have never uploaded pictures of their younger selves before. Also, the government has placed CCTV camera all over the place, watching us all time. How creepy isnt it?

Kinect

Sony's PlayStations and Microsoft's Xbox comes with an extra device called as Kinect that can track your movement, listen to your voice command and more. Unfortunately, that also helps in spying on you and your datas. While both the companies denied this allegation, the Redmond giant claimed it never voluntarily turned data over to the government for their PRISM program.

Biometric Scanning

These features are now available in our smartphone itself including Iris scanner, fingerprint scanner and more. While these features are intended to make our phone secure, it also has potential to exploit your data as well. Just like credit card data, once your biometric data is on file in a government or corporate server, it is not in your hand entirely to protect it.

SEE ALSO: How to prevent others from finding your Facebook account easily

Drones

The growth of consumer drones are threat to public safety. Drones that were once created for military purpose are now used as a toy and used by ordinary random people. This increases the risk for cybersecurity attack but also the potential for greater impact too. Apart from this, the system vulnerabilities can be used by hackers to infiltrate the drone and gain access to data.

Apps

Do you remember, we give permission to access our contact and other data's in our smartphone? Not only this, some datas can listen to us through our microphones as well. One such app is the Facebook. These collects audio data from your phone including your each and every movement of yours.
Nokia 9 envisioned with bezel-less design and dual-lens camera in these concept renders Features oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Nokia 9 looks stunning in these concept renders.

Earlier today, we got to know that HMD Global is in plans to unveil a new set of Nokia branded feature phones and smartphones in the second quarter of this year. Now we have a chance to take a look at the sumptuous Nokia 9 flagship smartphone.

A few days back, we came across speculations pointing out that the Nokia 9 is a high-end and premium flagship smartphone. We say so as the smartphone is alleged to be priced at Rs. 44,999, which is a price tag that is on par with most of the other high-end Android biggies. Besides this, the Nokia 9 is also pegged for a third quarter launch. Furthermore, there are speculations pointing out the possible features of this flagship smartphone.

Nokia 9 price is out; will likely cost Rs. 44,999

Previously, we have seen a few sets of concept renders of the Nokia 9. Another set of gorgeous concepts of this flagship smartphone has hit the web, thanks to the designer. If you are interested in the Nokia 9, then you need to scroll down to see these concepts.

Attractive bezel-less design Many features and aspects are becoming a mandate on smartphones these days. One such design element is the presence of bezel-less screen. The latest Nokia 9 concept shows that the smartphone might have a bezel-less design. Slim design Apart from the bezel-less design, the Nokia 9 has been imagined to have a slim profile measuring 6.2mm. With this dimension, the smartphone from HMD can be compared with that of an iPhone 7 and not the iPhone 7s. Also, the screen is said to be a 5.5-inch panel with an aspect ratio of 2:1 and not the usual 16:9 ratio. Dual-lens camera setup The talk about the use of a dual-lens camera setup on the Nokia 9 is not new. We have seen the same in the leaks and concepts. The smartphone is believed to make use of the Carl Zeiss optics for the dual-lens camera at its rear. Also Read: Nokia 9 vs OnePlus 5: The clash between upcoming flagship smartphones Speakers at the front Going by the concept renders, one of them by the designer shows that the Nokia 9 might arrive with a has two front speakers. Snapdragon 835 is expected Earlier this year, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 835 octa-core SoC. The same has been used by Samsung in its recent flagship smartphone duo - Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. The existing rumors claim that we can expect the Snapdragon 835 to be used in the Nokia 9.

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HMD will focus on feature phones

Mehta added that the feature phones occupy 55 percent of the overall mobile phone market. He further added that 11 to 12 million feature phones are sold every month. Due to the high demand for these phones, Nokia will introduce and sell feature phones.

Also Read: Nokia 3310 relaunch; this is how the internet reacts

Nokia 9 to be a premium flagship

Going by the earlier rumors, HMD Global is in plans to release six to seven Android smartphones this year. The rumors point out that the company is all set to unveil a flagship smartphone with the latest Snapdragon 835 SoC, which is likely to be the Nokia 9. Recently, the Nokia 9 is tipped to arrive sometime in the third quarter of this year at a price of Rs. 44,999.

Also Read: Nokia 9 price is out; will likely cost Rs. 44,999

Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 on the cards

The company is also speculated to be working on a couple of mid-range smartphones - Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 with the Snapdragon 660 chipset. One of these was rumored to be unveiled sometime in the second quarter.
Samsung to launch limited prototypes of its foldable smartphone this year News oi -Samden Sherpa Samsung is preparing thousands of prototypes of its foldable smartphones.

We know that Samsung has already secured the patent for foldable smartphones. We also know that Samsung has been developing and testing smartphones with a foldable display for some time now. Moreover, there have been many rumors regarding the foldable smartphone on the internet.

While these have all been rumors only, there is now a possibility that Samsung may out with such a smartphone in the near future. There is also a chance that Samsung may commercialize such a device in the market as well. Having said that, we have just come across a report that claims Samsung is ready to test its dual-screen foldable smartphone prototype soon.

Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge get 10% discount as Galaxy S8 pre-registration debuts

The report further states that the company is going to develop several prototypes possibly a "preliminary version" of its upcoming foldable smartphone which will be dubbed as Galaxy X. A limited number of units should also be rolled out in the latter half of this year.

Korea-based website The Investor, citing unnamed sources also reports that Samsung has already ordered parts for about 2,000 to 3,000 prototype units of the dual-screen phone sometime in the first half of 2017. The prototypes are expected to feature two OLED displays, connected with a hinge in the middle and it should open up to 180 degrees.

However, the report from this publications also says that Samsung is ultimately looking to launch a smartphone with just one OLED screen that can be folded outward.

Samsung Galaxy S8 without Bixby Voice will launch on April 21

Well, it'll be interesting to see this smartphone from Samsung as it will the industry's first. For now, we just have to wait till the company actually makes the device official. What do you think about this new innovation from Samsung? Do let us know in the comments.

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"Where is Task Force 34.

The whole world wants to know."

signal from Admiral Nimitz in Pearl Harbor

to Admiral Halsey, Battle of Leyte Gulf



Carl Vinson Strike Group WESTPAC 17

CVN-70 Carl Vinson

"Gold Eagle"

The US naval strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, entered Korean waters 29 April 2017. Its arrival came exactly three weeks after the strike group first departed from Singapore to sail towards the Western Pacific, following orders from US Pacific Command. The group passed through the Korea Strait [aka Tsushima Strait], and entered the East Sea [aka Sea of Japan], accompanied by a Japanese naval convoy. The USS Carl Vinson would take part in a joint military drill with the South Korean Navy on 30 April 2017. It's expected to stick around for a couple of days with the aim of preventing Pyongyang going ahead with additional missile provocations or a sixth nuclear test.

As of 26 April 2017 USS Carl Vinson was underway in the Philippine Sea east Okinawa. The carrier was accompanied by the Wayne E. Meyer and Michael Murphy, which were not equipped with the Aegis system designed to track long-range missiles or SM-3 anti-missile interceptors. The destroyers Sterrett and Dewey were recently deployed to the Pacific, though they are not equipped with Aegis BMD. But the five destroyers homeported in Japan are equipped with Aeigis BMD.

The message released from the website of the Third Fleet on April 8 stated that Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, said he ordered the USS Carl Vinson to cancel its planned visit to Australia from Singapore and head to Korean waters. Mainstream US media, including CNN, quoted officials from the US military as warning the action was a counterblow to North Korea's recent provocations. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis was even more specific, saying on April 11 that the USS Carl Vinson was "on her way up" to the peninsula

Donald Trump said he had dispatched a carrier strike group to Korean waters. "We are sending an armada, very powerful. We have submarines, very powerful," Trump told Fox Business Network in an interview aired 12 April 2017.

The ships were reported to be timed to arrive just before April 15, the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder. It could be predicted that North Korea will conduct "provocations" [missile and or nuclear tests] to demonstrate that it does not fear America. It seemed improbable that Trump could ignore such provovations, or refrain from some kinetic response [eg, shooting down DPRK missiles after they had been launched, etc]. Neither side would back down, both would feel the need to escalate, with no clear end in sight. At a minimum, this show of force would come on the eve of the Korean presidential election, though the impact on the election remained unclear.

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jingping held telephone talks 12 April 2017 to discuss North Korea issues. Trump told Xi that a trade deal with the US will be far better for China if it solved the North Korean problem. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trump has made it clear that he will not tolerate provocative actions by North Korea.

Donald Trump declared 11 April 2017 that "North Korea is looking for trouble" with its nuclear weapons development program and urged China to rein in Pyongyang. Trump, in a pair of Twits, said, "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!" 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. US 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.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Vinson was "just on her way up there because that's where we thought it was most prudent to have her at this time.... There's not a specific demand signal or specific reason why we're sending her up there".

But the whole episode was fake news. When Trump boasted that he had sent an "armada" as a warning to North Korea, the aircraft carrier strike group he spoke of was still far from the Korean peninsula, and headed in the opposite direction. It was even farther away by 15 April 2017, moving through the Sunda Strait and then into the Indian Ocean.

But the aircraft carrier group was spotted in a photo taken on Saturday, which showed it sailing south through the Sunda Strait in the Indian Ocean, 5,600 kilometers from the Korean Peninsula. The truth seemed to be that the US military and president jointly created fake news, which undermined Trump's and the US' dignity.

Questioned on Wednesday 19 April 2017 at the daily White House briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer insisted the administration did not mislead anyone. "The president said we have an armada that's going toward the peninsula," Mr Spicer told reporters. "That's a fact, it happened. It is happening, rather." A combination of statements from military officials, the White House and media reports led many to believe the ship was immediately headed toward the Korean peninsula. With regard to the Carl Vinson, thats my fault on the confusion, and Ill take the hit for it, Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, later said.

It was not clear whether the mix-up was a deliberate deception, perhaps designed to frighten North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, a change of plan or simple miscommunication. "If you threaten them and your threat is not credible, it's only going to undermine whatever your policy toward them is. And that could be a logical conclusion from what's just happened," said North Korea expert Joel Wit at the 38 North monitoring group.

Northeast Asia analyst Daniel Pinkston with Troy University in Seoul, said this policy of increased military pressure is not only weakened by mixed messages over deploying a naval strike force, but also by widespread opposition among important allies such as Japan and South Korea. "They are not going to support some military adventurism to take a gamble with the execution of some preventive military operation against North Korea. It's just not going to happen," said Pinkston.

No matter how it happened, the story has to a large extent demonstrated that Trump likes to brag. Regardless of fact, he tends to make a show of his power to intimidate others first. Trump has made quite a few bold promises since he assumed office, yet he has not yet gotten his toolbox ready.

Background

The distance from the Port of Singapore, Singapore to the Port of Busan (Pusan), in South Korea is 3,200 nautical miles. Assuming the Vinson strikegroup made best available speed, of about 30 knots, the sailing time would be about 4.5 days. With Vinson departing Singapore on 08 April 2017, the strike group would arrive in Korean waters 12-13 April 2017. April 15 is the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder. And new launches of North Korean ballistic missiles, and possibly another nuclear test, are unlikely to be kept waiting.

The US Navy sent the strike group toward the Korean Peninsula to bolster the US presence and send a message to North Korea. "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 said 08 April 2017. US Pacific Command ordered the Carl Vinson Strike Group north as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific, Commander Dave Benham, spokesman at US Pacific Command, said. 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, he added.

Earlier this month, Trump suggested the US might take action unilaterally if China wasnt 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." The decision to allocate naval reserves off the Korean Peninsula came after Trump and South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn spoke by phone on 08 April 2017. The two leaders reportedly agreed to remain in close contact over the South's troublesome neighbor.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster said on 09 April 2017 that sending the group is a prudent move, since North Korea "is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. 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 said "Presidents before and President Trump agreed this is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the peninsula".

US 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 fact that the US sent its carrier strike group to Korea immediately following Trump's summit with Xi indicates that Beijing probably did not succeed in getting the US to agree to hold direct talks with Pyongyang.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group was making a port call in Singapore and was scheduled to sail for Australia when US Pacific Command ordered the ships to sail north instead. In a statement on 08 April 2017, the U.S. Navy's Third Fleet said the strike group had been directed to sail north, but it did not specify the destination. The military vessels will operate in the Western Pacific rather than making previously planned port visits to Australia, it added. The USS Carl Vinson's presence in the region is meant to send a clear warning to North Korea, as concerns grow over the regime's potential advancements in nuclear weapons through recent missile tests according to Admiral Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

Initial WESTPAC Deployment

Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, including Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, began routine operations in the South China Sea, Feb. 18.

Prior to their operations in the South China Sea, ships and aircraft from within the strike group conducted training off the islands of Hawaii and Guam to maintain and improve their readiness and develop cohesion as a strike group. The strike group recently enjoyed a port visit to Guam and after departing the Marianas, conducted operations in the Philippine Sea.

"The training completed over the past few weeks has really brought the team together and improved our effectiveness and readiness as a strike group," said Rear Adm. James Kilby, commander, CSG 1. "We are looking forward to demonstrating those capabilities while building upon existing strong relationships with our allies, partners and friends in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region."

Vinson last deployed to the Western-Pacific in 2015 and conducted a bilateral exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force in the South China Sea. Vinson first operated in the South China Sea in 1983 and in total, has operated there during 16 previous deployments over its 35 year history.

While deployed, the Carl Vinson CSG will remain under U.S. 3rd Fleet command and control, including beyond the international dateline, which previously divided operational areas of responsibility for 3rd and 7th Fleets. Third Fleet operating forward offers additional options to the Pacific Fleet commander by leveraging the capabilities of 3rd and 7th Fleets. This operational concept allows both numbered fleets to complement one another and provide the foundation of stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

CVW-2 includes the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, the "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the "Bounty Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, the "Blue Blasters" of VFA-34, the "Kestrels" of VFA-137, the "Golden Dragons" of VFA-192, the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 and the "Providers" of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

Ships and units from the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed San Diego for a regularly scheduled deployment to the western Pacific, 05 January 2017. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 1 deployed with Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108).

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned to its homeport of San Diego after completing Composite Unit Training Exercise and Joint Task Force Exercise (COMPTUEX/JTFEX), 21 November 2016. During their time at sea, the unit conducted various exercises and completed evaluations to certify their ships as deployment ready.

COMPTUEX/JTFEX combined the strike group's entire assets through complex, scenario-based training exercises. The dynamic nature of COMPTUEX/JTFEX brought Sailors as close to the real world as is possible within a training environment. Speaking about the exercise, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 1 Rear Adm. James Kilby said COMPTUEX/JTFEX is the "graduation exercise" for a carrier strike group to deploy overseas.

COMPTUEX/JTFEX was a three-stage event, explained Kilby. During the first phase, which he labeled the "crawl" stage, the events were scheduled. Next, the exercise moved into the "walk" phase, in which he said the scenario-based training started.

"Finally, [in stage three,] we were challenged with an advanced threat in which we had to react and use our resources we had at hand," said Kilby. "We really challenged the strike group in this exercise. It's all about reaction and having to live with the decisions made during the evolution. The battle changes with the decisions we make." Team Vinson Sailors went through many evolutions during COMPTUEX/JTFEX. Emissions control environments, countless propulsion plant drills, live-fire exercises, and inspections were just some of the challenges COMPTUEX/JTFEX brought. Kilby went on to say the exercise utilized the strike group's anti-surface, anti-subsurface, anti-air, and electronic warfare capabilities.

Assets involved in COMPTUEX/JTFEX were Commander, CSG 1 embarked aboard Carl Vinson; Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2; the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4; the "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78; the "Blue Blasters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34; the "Bounty Hunters" of VFA 137; the "Golden Dragons" of VFA 192; the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113; the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136; Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1; guided-missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS O'Kane (DDG 77); and guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57).

While deployed, the Carl Vinson CSG will remain under U.S. 3rd Fleet command and control, including beyond the international dateline which previously divided operational areas of responsibility for 3rd and 7th Fleets. Third Fleet operating forward offers additional options to the Pacific Fleet commander by leveraging the capabilities of 3rd and 7th Fleets. This operational concept allows both numbered fleets to complement one another and provide the foundation of stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

"Our forward presence contributes to freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea, as well as furthers operational training and enabling the exchange of culture, skills, and tactical knowledge," said Commander, CSG 1, Rear Adm. James W. Kilby.

Homeported in Pearl Harbor, Michael Murphy joined the Carl Vinson CSG later in the month as the strike group made their way to the western Pacific. The Carl Vinson CSG deployed with approximately 7,500 Sailors and will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. The strike group assets conducted bilateral exercises in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to include anti-submarine warfare, maneuvering drills, gunnery exercises, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) subject matter expert exchanges.

Carl Vinson also deployed with the embarked aviation squadrons of CVW-2 which include the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, the "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the "Bounty Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, the "Blue Blasters" of VFA-34, the "Kestrels" of VFA-137, the "Golden Dragons" of VFA-192, the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, and the "Providers" of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, docked in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan 14 March 2017 for the annual Foal Eagle military drills held by South Korea and the United States. The USS Carl Vinson left its home port of San Diego in January for the annual drills. It will remain in Busan and take part in various exercises over two weeks before heading to its next destination.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. Third Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Arleigh Burke -class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and Ticonderoga -class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit, 04 April 2017. Prior to the visit, the Carl Vinson Strike Group (CSG-1) completed two weeks of routine operations in the Asia-Pacific region, including maritime exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The ship also operated in the South China Sea during this deployment.

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 departed Singapore after a scheduled four-day port visit, April 8. While in port, Carl Vinson Sailors hosted distinguished visitors, held a reception aboard the ship and experienced Singapores diverse and rich culture. Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, said she is proud of the relationship between the United States and Singapore, and noted the Singapore navys 50th anniversary. I think it is important that we pause to recognize the significance of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Navy, said Tyson to more than 400 people gathered in the ships hangar bay. We in the U.S. Navy are proud to call you partners and friends.



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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Colonel John Dorrian, Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman April 12, 2017

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Dorrian via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

ERIC J. PAHON: Pretty full room today. Good morning. Welcome, everybody.

Today, we have Colonel John Dorrian, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman back from his well-deserved mid-tour break and speaking to us from Baghdad.

Sir, great to see you again. Can you -- can you hear us?

COLONEL JOHN DORRIAN: I've got you loud and clear, Eric. How do you read?

MR. PAHON: We got you loud and clear. Control room, maybe turn up the volume a little bit.

When we go to ask the questions, we're going to pass around the mic. You know, we've had a few audio difficulties before. So, my partner over here will pass you the mike.

Give Colonel Dorrian a little clearer view there. Colonel Dorrian's going to start with a short update on counter-ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria. And then we'll turn to you for questions.

And Colonel Dorrian, take it away.

COL. DORRIAN: Thanks, Eric. It's good be back answering questions. Good morning.

We'll start in Syria and we'll move on to Iraq. The Syrian Democratic Forces and their Syrian Arab coalition continue advancing as they further isolate Raqqa's city.

They continue to make progress in clearing ISIS fighters from the territory and the vicinity of Tabqa. Having cleared territory east and north of Raqqa, where they are now nearing positions to enable their assault to liberate the city.

As they've cleared, they've repelled a significant number of ISIS attacks as the enemy struggles to slow their advance. In the last 24 hours, they've cleared 11 square kilometers east of Raqqa and toward Tabqa, where the enemy remains completely isolated.

Our partnered forces have encountered tough resistance from ISIS in the area, encountering VBIED, direct and indirect fire attacks, as well as the use of human shields which the enemy continues to use to slow their advance.

As we reported earlier this week, coalition and partnered Syrian opposition groups repelled an ISIS attack, targeting the At Tanf garrison in southern Syria. ISIS initiated the attack with a VBIED and 20 to 30 fighters with a ground assault and suicide vests.

Coalition and partner forces engaged and defended against the ISIS attack with direct fire before destroying enemy assault vehicles with the -- and the remaining fighters with coalition airstrikes.

This is significant because the enemy has a track record of attempting spoiler attacks away from the main effort in an attempt to score propaganda points, which they hope will compensate for their lack of battlefield success against coalition and partner forces. As in past attempts, they were unsuccessful and lost the fighters and the resources they brought to bear.

This result also reflects the readiness of the coalition and partner forces to defend themselves, even when working in isolated areas.

Moving on to Iraq, the Iraqi security forces continue making incremental progress on the west side of Mosul as the enemy has intensified their exploitation of civilians by moving them in larger numbers into harm's way. Notably, the coalition has continued supporting the Iraqi security forces as they clear more deeply into west Mosul's dense urban terrain, where nearly 500 square kilometers have been cleared since operations in west Mosul commenced on February 19th.

The 16th Iraqi Army Division continues securing east Mosul as a hold force. The Iraqi federal police and Iraqi Emergency Response Division have continued their operations along the Tigris River, although their operations have been incremental due to enemy sniper fire and the use of human shields. The CTS continue progress in the dense urban terrain of the old city, overcoming direct fire engagements from the enemy.

And to the west of the city center, the Iraqi 36th Brigade cleared territory north of Badush. The Iraqi security forces retain control of both main routes west from Mosul, eliminating enemy freedom of movement. This enemy in Mosul is not going anywhere.

With that, I'll be delighted to take your questions.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Thank you very much.

And first we'll go to Idrees Ali from Reuters.

Q: Colonel, I just wanted to sort of clarify something. I believe in February, General Townsend had said Mosul and Raqqa should be retaken in six months. It's now April. Is that timeline still possible?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, I'm not going to get into the business of predicting timelines. We continue to make good progress with our partner forces in isolating the city. The enemy, once their pinned down there, they're not going to be able to go anywhere. And we're going to continue to hammer them with strikes as our partners move in and retake the city.

So, General Townsend, I know has been very clear that it's our intent to do the very best we can to get this done on our watch. None of that has changed. We're doing this as quickly as we can. One of the reasons for that is because the enemy -- any area that they control, there's tremendous human suffering there. So we're going to continue our operations at pace. We'll do those operations as quickly as we can, but I'm not going to get into the business of predicting an end date.

MR. PAHON: And we're going to jump to Ben Kesling from Wall Street Journal.

Q: Hey, Colonel Dorrian. Just a quick question on the relationship with Russia right now. What's going on with deconfliction? What can you tell us about -- about that relationship with U.S. forces and Russian counterparts? Have tensions ratcheted up, especially with some of the -- some of the diplomatic talk that's happening with Secretary of State Tillerson and President Trump?

Or are things -- are things still proceeding apace with military-to-military discussions?

COL. DORRIAN: Thanks, Ben.

We -- we continue conducting our operations at pace. We've continued our strikes in Syria, despite the tensions that were a result of the strikes that were conducted against the Syrian regime. This is something that we're going to continue. The secretary of defense made clear that he believes that we're operating in a safe and effective manner.

We'll continue to do that. We can't get into the business of discussing the day-to-day operations with regard to any discussions or lack thereof with regard to the deconfliction line. Doing so from my conversations with the people that are directly involved in that before is that that was not a productive thing to do. And that's the reason that we -- we are no longer doing readouts of what those discussions are, and we will not get back into that business.

So, thank you.

Q: Okay. I understand, but can you just comment real quick on how the relationship is between the U.S. and Russia as far as the deconfliction -- deconfliction stuff goes? I mean, are there still conversations happening? And can you talk at all about at what level those conversations are happening?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, I'm afraid I can't answer that for you. That's -- that's exactly what we're just not going to be able to discuss. Again, the secretary of defense is satisfied that we're conducting our operations in a safe manner. I know yesterday he told you that he felt that we were adequately deconflicted, and we'll continue our operations and accelerate them any way that we can to get these areas liberated from Da'esh.

MR. PAHON: Start with Bob Burns here and then we'll go to Kasim Ileri after that.

Q: Colonel Dorrian, I think you said that strike operations in Syria are continuing apace. Earlier this week, CENTCOM said that offensive operations had slacked off somewhat in the aftermath of the cruise missile strikes in order to do more defensive operations. Can you explain whether things have fully returned to the normal, so to speak? Or are you still doing fewer offensive strikes?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, in the last week from the 4th to the 11th, we've conducted 123 strikes for the operations toward isolating and ultimately liberating Raqqa. So that's a significant number of strikes. You know, we have made adjustments to our operations to account for the, you know, the potential tensions that resulted from the strikes that were conducted because of the Syrian regime's chemical attacks.

But make no mistake, we do plan on continuing our operations, and we do continue to look for ways to accelerate them.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And next we go to Kasim Ileri from Anadolu.

Q: Hi, colonel. Welcome back.

Since the strike on Shayrat Air Base, could you tell us whether the number of U.S. troops or the amount of the equipment on the ground in Syria has increased or not?

COL. DORRIAN: We continue to remain within our force management level. And we do continue to have troops that come into and out of Syria as necessary in order to conduct operations. As far as the specific numbers that are there, we're not going to do real time reporting on exact numbers.

So I really can't give you a tremendous amount of fidelity on that. What I can say is that there's been no real substantive change in where we're headed, the numbers of troops that we have as a result of what's -- what's happened.

Q: And a follow up on that question, could you tell us whether the deconfliction channel is currently open with Russians and have you used it during this week? Like from Monday to today? Thank you.

COL. DORRIAN: Yes. I'm sorry, I'm -- I'm just not going to be able to get into the day to day reporting of the status of deconfliction. We're just not going to do that.

Q: Okay.

MR. PAHON: All right, thank you, Kasim.

And next we have Corey Dickstein from Stars and Stripes.

Q: Hey Colonel Dorrian.

I wanted to see -- are there still negotiations going on with any role Turkey might play in the liberation of Raqqa?

COL. DORRIAN: We -- we continue to talk to Turkey nearly every day. And we continue to remain open for a possible role for them.

As far as the substance to those discussions, that's something that, you know, it's more of a diplomatic effort and a mil-to-mil effort that's best left, you know, in a -- in a -- in a diplomatic and mil-to-mil discussion.

So as far as this substance to those discussions and where they are on that, I don't have anything new to report. But you know, this -- Turkey has played a tremendous role in rolling back ISIS territorial gains. And that's something that we welcome and would love to see continue.

In the meantime, we do continue to do our work with our partnered force to isolate Raqqa. And that city is going to be liberated.

Q: Is the SDF at this point -- are they properly equipped to carry out that -- that liberation? And is there anything additional equipment wise, backing wise that they might need to defeat ISIS in -- in Raqqa?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, as you know, the coalition has brought additional fire power into Syria in order to support the -- the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Arab coalition in their advance. That's comes in the form of marine artillery.

And also Apache gunships, which have been instrumental in supporting their advance in areas like Tabqa. And in and around the areas that surround Raqqa. So we've brought those to bear. As far as what additional other capabilities might be brought in. I think that's a conversation for another day.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Thank you.

And next we go to David Martin, CBS.

Q: John, you mentioned the exploitation of civilians in West Mosul. While you were away, Colonel Scrocca told us about a video that he said showed civilians being smuggled in to a -- a building in ISIS where -- in west Mosul where they would then become casualties if an American -- or coalition strike was conducted on that building.

But we haven't seen that video. Do you know what happened to it? And I have a -- have another question.

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, I know that the video was sent to U.S. Central Command headquarters for further review. I believe that's -- that's probably where to follow up with regard to the release timeline because my understanding is preparations are being made or, you know, a review is underway there as far as whether that'll be released in -- in -- at what time it will be released.

Q: Another -- on the question of whether strikes have been scaled back in -- in Syria, I briefly glanced at the strike summary today. And it was a -- a -- a particularly small number of strikes in -- in Syria. Is that because of weather, deconfliction problems, or force protection?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, in -- in any given day, the number of strikes will fluctuate David, and some of the -- all the factors that you had described could play a role.

So, we've had some bad weather the last several days. And I think we're going to have a -- a few more days of very tough weather. But I would say any opportunity that we have to conduct strikes or to accelerate them in order to support the -- our partner's advance, we're going to take that opportunity and do so.

So, I wouldn't take any temporary small number. You know, just a snapshot in time. As anything that changes that intent.

We're going to get this done as quickly as we can. We're going to conduct our strikes to support our partners because one of the things that's very important to understand is that millions of people have been able to return to their homes because of the rollback of ISIS territorial gains.

And a lot of the reason for that is the coalition air strikes that have supported our partners as they've taken that territory back. There just wouldn't be anywhere near the number of people that have been able to return to their homes without those strikes. And, I think that's a -- a very important point for people to understand.

MR. PAHON: Okay, and I am at strike two with the names. Sir, I've --

Q: Jim Michaels -- (inaudible).

MR. PAHON: Jim, I'm sorry about that.

Q: Colonel, what is the principal ISIS tactic that's -- that they're using in effort to slow Iraqi forces movement into West Mosul? Is it IEDs? Is it using human shields? You know, what is the key factor that sort of inhibiting the -- the movement into west Mosul at this point?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, thanks, Jim.

I would say no single tactic. They have a layered defense and they've had two years to build it.

Unfortunately, one of the ones that's most problematic and difficult is their use of human shields. They've intensified their efforts to bring civilians into harm's way. This is something that is a despicable and cowardly tactic.

But make no mistake, they had two years plus to dig elaborate defenses, use commercial off-the-shelf drone technology, we've seen them use snipers, we've seen them use VBIEDs and now, as we move into this very dense urban terrain on the west side of Mosul where the, you know, roads may not even really be qualified as what most reasonable people would call a road they're -- they're so narrow that it channelizes the advance for the Iraqi Security Forces.

That combination of things, explosives, booby traps, snipers, the use of civilian shields just makes it very slow and difficult going. The Iraqi Security Forces continue their advance but it's very, very difficult and it's just going to remain so for awhile.

We're going to keep working through that. With each passing day the number of ISIS fighters in Mosul goes down, the amount of resources they have available to continue their mayhem goes down and, ultimately, they are not going anywhere and they are going to be defeated.

MR. PAHON: Jim, sorry about that, that was strike two. We will not get strike three.

Next we move over to Courtney Kube from NBC.

Q: Good evening, Colonel Dorrian.

One follow-up from one of your earlier answers. You said that -- when you were referencing the number of strikes near Raqqa this week that -- that there were adjustments to operations to account for tensions following the strikes last Thursday.

What kind of -- can you give us an example of -- of how those tensions may be manifesting? What are you seeing that -- that shows tension?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, you know, you've seen the public statements I don't have to -- to regurgitate those for you, but what I would say is, when you see those types of public statements and you know that you're doing something that changes the dynamic it's just appropriate to make sure that you're -- you're taking appropriate measures to account for that.

We don't want to be reckless and we don't want to have some type of incident that would cause a miscalculation or some type of unintended incident. So I probably cannot get deeply into exactly what the adjustments are, in the interest of force protection and maintaining operational security. But I would say that it is certainly appropriate to say we made some adjustments to what our forces in Syria were doing to account for the fact that the -- the strikes against the Syrian regime, chemical capability did increase tensions there.

It was just appropriate to do that. But I can assure you that the intent is to get back as quickly as possible to our normal operations in as fast a pace as we can manage, to defeat ISIS and help our partners so that they can liberate the remaining territory that Da'esh control.

Q: And then one more.

I know you don't want to talk about deconfliction specifically, but we've heard for months now that there are close calls or -- however you want to call them -- with Russian aircraft over Syria, it's not that uncommon.

Have you seen any uptick in that over the last week or so? Are you still seeing any kind of close calls between U.S. and Russian aircraft, whether it's intentional or not?

COL. DORRIAN: No, have not.

But I would say that all the things that we observed before continue to exist. Both sides do observe the other's operations and assess what's happening, and that will continue. That's not anything new. It's just something that we're all cognizant of and that will continue.

MR. PAHON: Next, we move to Barbara Starr of CNN in the back corner.

Q: Colonel Dorrian, a follow up on David and Courtney and several other people. I'd like to ask you to try to be as precise as you can. You just said that you hoped to get back to normal operations as quickly as you can in Syria.

So is the downturn specifically in airstrikes that continues right now due to force protection, deconfliction, plus weather? Because you've just told us that you're not at normal operations. And then I have a follow up.

COL. DORRIAN: I think I've probably been about as specific as I can, Barbara. We have experienced some very tough weather. We have made some adjustments based on force protection and the increased tensions. All those things have to be taken to account. But make no mistake, we do plan on accelerating anytime that we're able. And again, as I've said many times, any ISIS resources in Syria or Iraq, regardless of where they are, are subject to attack by coalition air, artillery, whatever resources that we can bring to bear to bring about their destruction.

So fighters, resources, anything that the enemy is using to resist the advance of our partnered forces, all those things are subject to attack and we'll take every opportunity that we can to safely and with precision destroy those capabilities.

Q: Two follow ups. You said -- you had said on deconfliction at the beginning, your words, "it was not productive" to talk about it. Can you please explain what is "not productive"? Why is it not productive, in your words, to talk about it?

And you also described Mosul righting right now as "incremental." So, I take that to me it's not going as planned. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you meant about incremental, as well as not productive to discuss deconfliction?

COL. DORRIAN: Yes, the military-to-military discussions between us and Russia on deconfliction, previously having day-to-day discourse about what those discussions are, is a departure from their purpose. Their purpose was always to conduct those discussions, to protect safety of flight, not as some type of effort to do public statements or that sort of thing. And so these are discussions that we just want to keep focused on what they are intended to do -- safety of flight. So we're not going to get into the day-to-day discussions anymore, and that's just how we'll have to do it from here on out.

With regard to incremental in Mosul, that word is an accurate discussion of what's happening. The Iraqi security forces do continue to advance. So we knew that it was going to be very difficult. We've been saying for months that the enemy has had an opportunity to dig elaborate defenses; that it was going to be very hard. We've said for many months that as we got into the old part of the city, the dense urban terrain there, that it would be extraordinarily difficult.

And what we're seeing is exactly what we expected to see. So, I'm just trying to give you an accurate description of what's happening. I don't want to say that, hey, they continue to advance at pace, when in reality it's very, very slow and very, very hard. And it's gut-busting difficult fighting between our forces and theirs.

But our forces and the Iraqi security forces continue to make progress. It's very slow. It's very tough. One of the reasons for that is because we want to do it in a manner that protects civilian life. Prime Minister Abadi has been very clear on that. And it's been an enduring principle of the campaign throughout.

So, if it has to be done slow, that's how it's going to be done. And -- but we're going to continue.

Q: I take it that you've just said you do continue to have --

(CROSSTALK)

COL. DORRIAN: -- anywhere, and they are going to be destroyed in Mosul.

(CROSSTALK)

Q: -- however, you don't want to talk about it, but you do continue to have, I think you just said, day-to-day discussions with the Russians.

COL. DORRIAN: Nope, I didn't say that. I told you we're not going to discuss it.

MR. PAHON: Go to Cami McCormick, CBS Radio News.

Q: Colonel Dorrian, explain to us please why it's detrimental to talk about the deconfliction talks? You've been talking about them up until now. You've called them useful. You've called them effective. You've said that they have saved pilots' lives. That would lead a lot of people -- the fact that you're not speaking about it now would lead a lot of people to believe they're not going on now.

Why can't you just say are the deconfliction talks going on with the Russians through this channel currently? Or are they not?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, I'm not going to get into that. We're not going to discuss it. It's as simple as that. It wasn't productive for us to continue doing it, and so we're not doing it anymore.

MR. PAHON: Tom Bowman, NPR.

Q: Colonel, could you talk about what's been going on in Idlib since the chemical attack? Presumably, the Russians and the Syrians are forging ahead to take over that area. How many airstrikes have you seen from either side? Ground movements? Just talk about what you've seen since the chemical attack.

COL. DORRIAN: Tom, I'm afraid I really can't get into that with you because it doesn't really have a direct relationship to the fight against ISIS. We continue to focus our energy here at Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve on supporting our partners who are isolating Raqqa.

So, what's happening in Idlib, I think would probably be best directed to U.S. Central Command. I -- I hope you understand, it's just not really our portfolio.

Q: (inaudible) -- follow up on Corey's question about support for the Syrian Kurds and Arabs. I've been hearing that as early as next week, the Pentagon will go to Congress and request what's called 1209 funds to provide small arms, also heavy machine guns to that force. Can you talk a little bit about the way ahead with that?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, I don't have any update for you on that. What I can say is right now our efforts have been directed toward providing resources, equipment, and light weapons to the Syrian Arab Coalition. That is the current state of play. As far as any new developments on that, that's a discussion probably for another day. And if there's anything new on that I think it'd probably be announced from OSD public affairs.

Q: When Mosul -- it sounds like -- which they're doing now is sort of encircling Mosul, is that correct?

COL. DORRIAN: Mosul has been encircled for quite some time. What's happening now is that as the CTS and the Iraqi federal police and emergency response division press more deeply into the very dense urban terrain along the Euphrates river and in the old part of the city.

The 9th Iraqi army division continues clearing territory to the north and to the west of the center of the city. And then reducing the size of the cordon, where -- you know and this the territory that the enemy still retains some degree of freedom of movement. But the freedom of movement is only within that shrinking cordon. They're not going anywhere. They're not going to be able to leave to the west. They are cut off.

So the force that's in the west side of Mosul, the fighters that are there, they have really two choices, they can surrender to the Iraqi security forces, or they're going to be killed.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And next we move to Paul Shinkman, U.S. News.

Q: Thanks for doing this, colonel.

Just to follow up on the activities of the Syrian air force. By some assessments the strike last week wiped out as much as a fifth of their operational aircraft. Have you seen a proportional reduction in their conducting air strikes? Have you seen any noticeable difference in their air activity? Perhaps are you seeing more Russian involvement to make up for that short coming?

COL. DORRIAN: Paul, I understand your question. I'm afraid it's really not within our portfolio, this is something that's probably best directed to U.S. Central Command. You know we continue to focus on ISIS, we've not really detected any discernible change in the impact of what we intend to do. We've made some adjustments in the interest of making sure that we account for any increased tensions. But as far as impact of what those strikes are, it's just not directly related to what we are doing.

Q: Separately we'd seen some reports in recent weeks of ISIS fighters moving south from Raqqa and Mosul into sort of southeast Syria and into west Iraq. Is that a trend that you're still noticing and do you see any significant sort of massing -- or not, massing but sort of rallying of forces there?

COL. DORRIAN: At any time that the enemy remains under pressure in one area, they're going to try to look for places to go. This is one of the reasons why we have a force in southern Syria, at the At Tanf garrison, they continue to work with partnered forces to further reduce enemy freedom of movement in the open desert and in the areas that are more remote, south of Raqqa.

So this is something that we continue to build upon. You know the enemy thought probably that they had a window of opportunity or the potential to conduct a strike where we had forces that were operating in a fairly remote location. They were wrong about their ability to conduct a successful attack. They were routed. Once they made their initial attack, things turned south for them very quickly.

And this is an example, working with those partnered forces in some of these remote areas. We're not just working in these major areas like Raqqa and Mosul. We continue to work with our partnered forces in Syria and in Iraq to eliminate these other areas where ISIS might wish to go. We want to make sure that that's a wish.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And next to Jamie Crawford, Washington Examiner.

Q: No, Jamie McIntyre.

MR. PAHON: Jamie McIntyre, I'm sorry. There's too many Jamies in this --

(CROSSTALK)

Q: Colonel, I just want to -- I understand that you're not the releasing authority anymore for this video that purportedly shows ISIS herding people into buildings in Mosul and even executing someone on the spot. But do you think it undercuts the U.S. credibility when you make that kind of allegation about really spectacular atrocity of war crime, claim that you have the video to back it up, say that you're going to release it shortly, and then it never gets released? Because it doesn't appear we're going to see that video any time soon.

COL. DORRIAN: You know, the -- the decision to release or not release the video now resides at CENTCOM. So, I'll refer you to them with regard to that. What I can tell you is that the atrocities of ISIS are well documented not just by us, but by witnesses on the ground, human rights groups. There are -- there is a -- they're our own releases of videos.

They've hung people as an example to others in the western side of Mosul. And they leave them hanging there as an example of what will happen to people who try to escape the city. That's well documented by a lot more than just the coalition.

So, if you're -- if you have any doubts about what the enemy is all about, you don't just have to ask us. You can look at their own videos. You can talk to human rights groups. You can talk -- you know, several media who are operating in western Mosul, have talked to plenty of witnesses on the ground. There is ample evidence that all these things are happening whether or not that video gets released or not.

Q: Just a -- a quick follow-up. Has there been any change in the assessment that ISIS is using this tactic of forcing groups of people into locations where they will potentially become mass casualties and thereby, you know, stoke outrage against the coalition. Is that -- has -- has there been any change to the assessment that that's what occurred in this incident in Mosul where some of these civilians were killed?

And has there been any change in their tactic? Are they still using that tactic?

COL. DORRIAN: The enemy does continue to use that tactic. That's among the many things that you -- you see from multiple witnesses, people that have been victims of that.

With regard to the specifics of the March 17th strike, that's still under an investigation, a 15-6 investigation conducted by an Air Force officer here. So, I don't want to get ahead of that investigation with regard to that specific incident. But there is a growing body of evidence that those types of things are happening. Human rights groups have done a lot of interviews. We have seen reportage of it from media who are on the ground that have discussed it with some of the victims of that.

So, yes, the enemy does continue to do that. It's a despicable tactic and unfortunate and heartbreaking, but it is something that we're seeing.

Q: Okay. Thank you.

MR. PAHON: (inaudible) Poor Jamie Crawford gets more of my e-mails for Jamie McIntyre. I just can't -- can't get them straight. Right?

Next, we move to Ryan Browne, CNN.

Q: Colonel, thank you for doing this.

I just wanted to follow up on Paul's question really quickly. I know you don't want to speak necessarily to the regime's air operations, but the Russian Ministry of Defense today said that the cruise missile strikes had a direct effect on their campaign against ISIS.

I know a few months ago, I think you said that you'd started to see an uptick in both the regime and Russia's airstrikes against ISIS due to fighting around Palmyra and Deir ez-Zor. Have you seen any impact on their efforts in recent days to fight ISIS? Are you seeing any activity by the Russians or the regime in Damascus to fight ISIS?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, as far as what the impact is against ISIS, I think that's something that we'll have to observe and see. What I would say is the strike was conducted because of the chemical weapons used against the people of Syria. And as a result, you know, they have -- they've had their capabilities reduced.

So if they would like to continue to ramp-up their campaign against ISIS, it would be best and in their interests to not use chemical weapons, so that some of their capabilities will remain.

MR. PAHON: And next goes to Lucas Tomlinson with Fox.

Q: Colonel, since the cruise missile strike, have the Russian or Syrian regime forces made any threatening moves toward U.S. troops on the ground in Syria?

COL. DORRIAN: No.

Q: (inaudible) Iranian forces or Iranian proxy forces?

COL. DORRIAN: No.

Q: Can the American people expect any more U.S. troops going to Iraq or Syria anytime soon?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, I think that's -- that's a conversation for another day. As you know, the president has ordered a review of the campaign to determine what can be done to accelerate the campaign against ISIS. I understand that a shell of a plan is coming together, but as far as what might happen in the future, that is a discussion for another day. It's not something that we would speculate on from here.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And even though we converse every day, I've forgotten your name, ma'am. I'm sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

MR. PAHON: Okay.

Q: Just a follow-up to your answer to Jamie McIntyre's question. You mentioned the airstrike on West Mosul on March 17th and the investigation into that. When can we expect a report -- like a final report?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, as you might imagine with an incident of the high visibility nature and -- and the possibly of very difficult outcome there, there are going to be levels of review for the -- the investigation result. So, I don't want to get into an exact timeline for when that'll be done and when it'll be released. What I would say is I spoke with the investigating officer today. And he continues to gather information. He continues to speak with witnesses.

I know that there's been some lab work conducted to try and, you know, look at some samples of various substances that were found around the sites. There had been engineers and experts brought in. There have been a lot of witnesses interviewed, including media, who were present or -- or had access to people in this -- the scene, and the -- the -- the time since the strike was conducted.

So, we continue to gather information. And the intent is to get as comprehensive a picture as we possibly can about what's happened. And then, to be as transparent as we can with regard to exactly what happened and what steps are needed in the -- in the follow-up from what's happened.

Q: Just a quick follow-up. I mean, you mentioned transparency, and that's something that Lieutenant General Townsend mentioned as well.

I mean, are you encouraging organizations like Amnesty to conduct their own investigations? Or perhaps get involved in or supply material to this investigation. Can you talk a bit about what you mean by transparency?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, we're going to release the results of our investigations. So, you know, there are areas where there may be some classification of specific capabilities or that sort of thing. But, we're going to release as much information as we can and give people a good picture of what's transpired.

As far as, you know, the various groups that also review what's happened, I know that General Isler has spoken with several of them. And he will continue to gather information from whatever sources he can to get as clear a picture as we can.

MR. PAHON: Okay. And a second question from Kasim Ileri, Anadolu.

Q: Colonel, your troops were in close proximity with the Russians and regime forces in Manbij. And is this proximity still being kept or does the U.S. forces stay -- do the U.S. forces still see the Russians around Manbij? Or have you moved back then in a distant place to -- as a measure of, you know, an adjustment to the force protection measure?

Thank you.

COL. DORRIAN: No, our forces continue their work in that area. And -- and nothing is really changed with regard to that.

MR. PAHON: I'm going to hand the mic back. We're going to go to Luis Martinez, ABC.

I think our sound quality has gotten a little bit better, but let's be safe here.

Q: Hey, John. One quick question about the deconfliction line. Are there policy discussions underway with Russia, between the Russian government and the U.S. government as to the status of the deconfliction line?

COL. DORRIAN: Luis, that -- that's a discussion that's probably best had at OSD level, as far as a policy discussion.

I'm not aware of anything, but if there is anything on that, I think they'll have it for you.

Q: And just to follow onto I think Kasim's questions about Manbij, has the U.S. posture there changed in any way?

COL. DORRIAN: No.

MR. PAHON: Okay. Any more questions?

All right. Well, that wraps up today's brief. Thank you very much, everybody, for coming.

Thank you, Colonel Dorrian. Glad to have you back again.

COL. DORRIAN: Very good. Thanks very much.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1150125/

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U.S. Air Force Authorizes Extended Service Life for F-16

New flight hour limit supports F-16 operational life to 2048 and beyond

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force authorized extending the service life of the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-16's designed service life to 12,000 Equivalent Flight Hours  far beyond the aircraft's original design service life of 8,000 hours.

Following F-16 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) structural modifications, the U.S. Air Force could safely operate Block 40-52 aircraft to 2048 and beyond. The Air Force and Lockheed Martin also reduced projected service life costs for the Block 40-52 fleet, paving the way for safe, cost-effective F-16 flight operations decades into the future.

"This accomplishment is the result of more than seven years of test, development, design, analysis and partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin," said Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martin's F-16 program. "Combined with F-16 avionics modernization programs like the F-16V, SLEP modifications demonstrate that the Fighting Falcon remains a highly capable and affordable 4th Generation option for the U.S. Air Force and international F-16 customers."

Validation of the extended flight hour limit directly supports the SLEP goal of extending the service life of up to 300 F-16C/D Block 40-52 aircraft. SLEP and related avionics upgrades to the Air Force's F-16C/D fleet can safely and effectively augment the current fighter force structure as U.S. and allied combat air fleets recapitalize with F-35 Lightning IIs.

A second phase, or Part II, of the F-16 SLEP airworthiness process continues with the request for Military Type Certificate (MTC), which will be submitted to the Air Force's Technical Airworthiness Authority in the coming months. Part II seeks to validate further extending the F-16's operational life based on final service life analysis from extended durability testing.

About the F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 continues to prove itself as the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter aircraft, having served with 28 customers around the world. The F-16V, the latest F-16 avionics upgrade configuration, includes numerous enhancements designed to keep the F-16 at the forefront of international security. The F-16 Block 70/72, the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combines capability and structural upgrades into the most advanced F-16 production aircraft ever offered.

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.

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5 Sudanese soldiers killed in Saudi war on Yemen

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:38PM

Sudan has acknowledged the death of five soldiers in Yemen, where the military of the east African country is contributing to an illegal war by Saudi Arabia against the kingdom's impoverished neighbor.

Brigadier General Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami, a spokesman for Sudan's armed forces, said on Wednesday that 22 soldiers were also wounded earlier in the day while fighting along the ranks of Saudis.

The official would not elaborate on further details and where the soldiers had been killed. He claimed, however, that the Sudanese had managed to take captives.

Sources in the Saudi-backed camp of the war on Yemen said the Sudanese soldiers had been killed during a fighting with Houthi Ansarullah fighters and allies in Ta'izz province. They said the fierce fighting erupted over the control of a volcanic mountain on a road toward Khalid bin al-Waleed military base.

Sudan has rarely acknowledged casualties suffered in Yemen since it sent troops in 2015 to assist Riyadh.

Troops from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal and Sudan have been fighting alongside the Saudis. Many of those countries have been unwilling to elaborate on the military presence as the operation has hardly succeeded in pushing back the Houthis and allies from key areas.

Coalition members also feel increasing pressure to withdraw troops from Yemen as the bombardment and the ground operation keep claiming more civilian lives. More than 10,000 have been killed while hundreds of thousands have been displaced since the beginning of the Saudi campaign in March 2015.

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South African opposition parties hold protest against Zuma

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:21PM

Thousands of South Africans have staged a protest in the capital Pretoria, demanding the resignation of President Jacob Zuma.

The protesters gathered at a central square in Pretoria and started to march on the Union Buildings, the official seat of government, on Wednesday, marking Zuma's 75th birthday.

The rally united rival parties as supporters of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and smaller parties showed up to protest.

Mavis Madisha, a 37-year-old EFF supporter, said, "I came because Zuma has to step down. He sold the country. I don't want him anymore."

The march followed nationwide anti-Zuma protests last week that were triggered by the recent dismissal of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

Zuma's firing of Gordhan fanned public anger over government corruption and mismanagement, record unemployment and slowing economic growth.

Zuma, who came to power in 2009, slammed last week's mass protests as racist.

Demonstrators on Wednesday held signs reading "Zuma must fall", "Hamba tsotsi" ("Go away thief"), and "Zuma liar".

Wednesday's march comes ahead of a no confidence vote against Zuma in parliament scheduled for April 18.

The president has easily survived previous parliamentary votes against him due to the ruling African National Congress (ANC)'s majority.

The ruling party vowed to defeat a no-confidence vote against Zuma in parliament. The vote, however, may be delayed due to a legal challenge over whether it should be conducted by secret ballot.

"At this moment of crisis, we, as political parties, put our differences aside for one common cause -- to save South Africa from Jacob Zuma," John Moodey, DA leader in Gauteng province, said.

"(Zuma's supporters) will do everything to stay in power, even intimidating MPs. With a secret ballot, we could put Zuma out by a huge majority," Moodey added.

"Even if it doesn't succeed, I can guarantee you that we will have a coalition government in 2019."

Zuma is due to step down as national president ahead of the 2019 general election.

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Five Sudanese troops killed in Yemeni counterattacks

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:26AM

Yemeni Army and allied Houthi Ansarullah fighters have foiled an inroad by Saudi-allied mercenaries in southwestern Yemen, killing a number of the Sudanese troops among them in the process.

On Wednesday, Yemen's al-Masirah television network said the allied forces had confronted the troops as they were trying to advance on al-Naar Mountain in the Yemeni port city of al-Mokha.

The counterraid, which involved the Army's firing a Qaher M2 ballistic missile at the mercenaries' gathering in the area, also destroyed seven of their vehicles.

Sudanese Army Spokesman Ahmad Khalifah al-Shaami, meanwhile, said five Sudanese servicemen, including an officer, had been killed and 22 others injured. The official did not specify the circumstances surrounding the deaths, their location, and date.

Sudan has been assisting Saudi Arabia in its invasion of Yemen. Riyadh began pounding its impoverished southern neighbor in March 2015 to reinstate its former administration, which used to be radically inclined towards the kingdom.

The offensives have killed thousands of Yemeni civilians and pushed the country to the verge of a man-made famine.

Also on Wednesday, it was reported that Saudi warplanes had bombarded various areas across Yemen for more than 30 times over the previous 24 hours.

The areas targeted during the forays included Harad District in the northwestern Hajjah Province, Monabbih District in the neighboring Sa'ada Province, the city of Safyan in Amran Province, which borders both Dhubab District in the southwestern Taiz Province and Sirwah District in the central Ma'rib Province.

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Trump: NATO 'No Longer Obsolete,' U.S.-Russia Ties At 'All-Time Low'

April 12, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump has said NATO is "no longer obsolete," reversing what he had said during his election campaign.

Speaking on April 12 at a press conference at the White House, Trump hailed NATO's role in the fight against terrorism, but called on the alliance to do more to help Iraqi and Afghan "partners."

NATO is the "bulwark of international peace and security" but its European members "must pay what they owe," he said, repeating his call for NATO member states to contribute more funding to the alliance.

Trump also said the United States was "not getting along with Russia at all" and that bilateral relations may be at an "all-time low."

However, he expressed hope that he can improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We're going to see what happens," he added.

On Syria, Trump said, "It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home."

He spoke alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

Tillerson told reporters after the talks that bilateral ties were "at a low point."

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/us-trump-nato-not-obsolete -russia-ties-all-time-low/28426298.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Germany Calls On Serbia To Continue Reforms, Says Protests Show Democracy

April 12, 2017

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said Berlin is ready to support Serbia on its path to the European Union membership, but added that the Balkan country must "continue reforms" and "continue to develop better relations with Kosovo."

Speaking on April 12 after meeting Serbian President-elect Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Gabriel said that Serbia was a "factor of stability" in the region.

He said that daily protests after Vucic's election victory on April 2 were part of the country's democratic process and should remain peaceful.

Vucic, who has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the campaign, said the protests presented "an expression of Serbia's democratic strength."

Before leaving for Belgrade earlier in the day, Gabriel urged Balkan states to overcome their divisions, saying, "We see that some wounds of the past still run deep and still keep the tensions up."

"I will assure my counterparts: The path toward the European Union remains open if you choose reforms and progress instead of divisions and stalemate," said the German minister, who is to visit Kosovo on April 13.

Gabriel also said he would voice "support for democratic development and rule of law" in all countries of the region.

Predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo broke away from Serbia in a 1998-99 war and declared independence in 2008. It is recognized by 114 countries, but not by Belgrade.

Tensions are still high, both between Serbia and Kosovo and between the ethnic Serbian minority and central authorities within Kosovo.

Serbia is now an EU candidate, while Kosovo is a prospective candidate. Albania, which Gabriel is to visit on April 16, and Macedonia are also candidates, while Bosnia-Herzegovina is another prospective candidate.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-germany- gabriel-urges-reform-protests- show-democracy/28426270.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Moscow to Seek Return of Jailed Russian National Bout From US - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

23:33 12.04.2017

Russian authorities will continue their efforts to secure the return of Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States, to Russia, notwithstanding the US Supreme Court's refusal to review his case, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On April 3, the US Supreme Court decided not to review Bout's case, despite the fact that his defense team filed the appropriate request on February 21. On Monday, Bout told Sputnik he was not going to file a pardon petition in the name of US President Donald Trump.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue defending the rights of the Russian citizen, will continue monitoring the situation and take the necessary measures to provide him with consular and legal assistance, seeking his soon return to the Russian Federation," Zakharova said a regular press briefing.

She noted that in their petition, Bout's attorneys reasonably argued that the US prosecutor's office had concealed vindicating evidence from the court, which consequently resulted in the use of incorrect legal criteria in the assessment of Bout's charges by the New York's Court of Appeals and District Court.

"The questionable decision taken by the US Supreme Court completes the procedure of appeal against the verdict awarded to Viktor Bout as all the legal means of his protection as part of the US legal system are exhausted," Zakharova stressed.

Bout was arrested in Bangkok in 2008 in a joint operation between Thai and US authorities on charges of conspiring to kill US nationals by allegedly agreeing to supply Colombian militants with weapons. In 2010, he was extradited to the United States where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

In June 2015, Bout's attorneys lodged a request to review the case in connection with new circumstances, but a first-instance court ruled against it in October. Bout's lawyers then moved to appeal this decision in the Appeals Court of New York, which later rejected the request in November 2016.

In May 2016, the judge who sentenced Bout said that the verdict in the case was excessive and inappropriate, adding that the convicted Russian national was given the shortest sentence possible.

 Sputnik

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Trump, NATO Chief Hold Joint News Conference

Sputnik News

23:04 12.04.2017(updated 23:56 12.04.2017)

US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a joint news conference at the White House.

At a meeting in Brussels last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated, "As President Trump has made clear, it is no longer sustainable for the US to maintain a disproportionate share of NATO's defense expenditures."

On Tuesday, Trump signed a US instrument of ratification to allow the Balkan nation of Montenegro to join NATO following a Senate vote in March to support the ratification.

During the conference on Wednesday, the president said, "Since 1949, the number of NATO states has more than doubled."

"I'll work closely with our NATO allies," he said, "to adapt to the threats of the future."

"We must work together to solve the disaster taking place in Syria," he added. "It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home."

Trump said other countries must pay their "fair share" instead of relying on the US, which he says will make everyone more secure. Pointing to NATO spending criteria, Trump said "many have not been doing that."

Having taken on more responsibility for fighting international terrorism, NATO is once again relevant, the president said. Before his inauguration, Trump had criticized NATO for what he called its reluctance to engage fully in fights against Daesh and other terrorist groups. "I said NATO was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," he said, implying that his sharp words led to the alliance's increased participation in the fight against terror.

"A strong NATO is good for Europe, but it is also good for the United States," Stoltenberg declared.

In a "dangerous" world, the US benefits from NATO participation, the NATO secretary said. "We launched NATO's biggest military effort ever in Afghanistanthousands have served shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops," he added.

He said NATO's contribution to the fight in Afghanistan represents NATO's commitment to fighting terrorism, but did not mention Syria or Iraq. The duo had a "major" discussion on "burden-sharing" in the alliance during their Wednesday discussions. "It is about spending more on defense. It is about providing the capabilities we needthis means cash, capabilities, and contributions," Stoltenberg said.

He added that there has been significant "momentum" to boost spending among NATO continues, adding "we know we need to pay our fair share." He said chemical attacks "cannot go unanswered" in Syria but did not lay out a NATO strategy for how the military alliance would move forward in Syria.

"I think Tillerson had a very successful meeting in Russia," Trump said, "maybe better than anticipated," but it's less about discussions and more about accomplishing goals. Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that a working group would be created to solve low-level issues between Washington and Moscow.

"Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country," Trump said, saying NATO should look to improve relations with Moscow.

"It would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin, with Russia  I would like to get along with everyone  by the time I'm finished [the world] will be a much better place," Trump vowed. He said that Washington would like to cooperate with Beijing in the Korean Peninsula, but that the US would "go it alone, but going in alone means going in with other nations."

"Burden sharing has been my top priority," Stoltenberg said. "Things are starting to move in the right direction," but there is still more work to do, Stoltenberg said. There was a 3.8 percent "real increase" in Europe and Canada last year, he said. "There's a lot of money that hasn't come back over the years, and we'll be talking about that too," Trump said.

"I think it's wonderful that [China] abstained" on the UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria.

"We have to find ways to avoid a cold war, a new arms race" Stoltenberg said. This should be done by deterrence, which entails increased defense spending and keeping a stable alliance.

Trump said "hopefully [Europeans] will have nothing to fear" from Russia as he seeks to de-escalate tensions. "There won't be fear of anybody. That's the way it should be," he said, adding a bold vow to solve all the world's security conflicts by the end of his term.

 Sputnik

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Poland May Increase Military Presence in Middle East - Security Bureau Chief

Sputnik News

15:33 12.04.2017(updated 15:46 12.04.2017)

Head of the National Security Bureau said that Poland may increase its military presence in the Middle East and any specific decisions may be made at the NATO summit in May or during direct talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

WARSAW (Sputnik)  Poland may increase its military presence in the Middle East and any specific decisions may be made at the NATO summit in May or during direct talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump, Pawel Soloch, the head of the National Security Bureau, said.

"The situation in the Middle East is dynamic. Today, the United States is sending signals to its allies about the necessity of more active involvement. We can talk about two directions of our activity  to increase quotas or expand the mandate. The decisions have not been taken yet. There are no doubts that we are ready to more actively participate in the Middle East affairs But the way to implement it will be possible determined at the NATO summit in late May or during direct talks with the new US administration," Soloch told Rzeczpospolita newspaper in an interview.

According to Soloch, the Polish military is currently training local forces in Iraq and the Kuwaiti Air Force, as well as carrying out intelligence in Iraq.

"Maybe, it is possible to spread [their activity] on the Syrian territory," Soloch added.

In July 2016, Poland sent 150 troops and four F-16 fighter jets to Kuwait to participate in reconnaissance operations as part of the international US-led coalition against the Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in Russia. The coalition of over 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes against jihadists in Iraq and Syria since 2014.

 Sputnik

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US CENTCOM: Tomahawk Cruise Missiles Struck 57 of 59 Targets at Syrian Airbase

Sputnik News

04:17 12.04.2017(updated 08:30 12.04.2017)

US Tomahawk missiles have reached 57 out of 59 targets in an attack on a Syrian base on April 6, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Joseph Votel said in a Department of Defense press briefing.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The US Tomahawk missiles strike on the Al-Haryat airbase on April 6 hit 57 out of 59 targets, Votel said.

"We targeted 59 and struck 57," Votel stated on Tuesday.

At an earlier press briefing on April 7, two senior US defense officials claimed that 59 cruise missiles aimed at the Al-Haryat airbase hit all 59 targets. Those officials also said the damage assessments by technical personnel were still underway.

On Thursday night, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian government airbase in the Idlib province. President Donald Trump said the missile attack was conducted in response to a chemical attack on civilians that killed more than 80 people, including children.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis also spoke at Tuesday's press briefing at the Defense Department. Mattis said he had personally reviewed the intelligence on the chemical attack in Syria's Idlib province and the Syrian government was undoubtedly the culprit.

Damascus has denied the allegations and a Syrian army source told Sputnik the country's military did not possess chemical weapons.

Moreover, the Organization for the prevention of Chemical Weapons announced in January 2016 it had destroyed Syria's entire chemical weapons arsenal as per an earlier agreement with the Syrian government.

 Sputnik

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Boko Haram Used 27 Children in Suicide Attacks in Lake Chad in 2017 - UNICEF

Sputnik News

04:28 12.04.2017

The number of children that were used by the Boko Haram militant group in "suicide" attacks during the Lake Chad conflict has risen to 27, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a report.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Militants from the Boko Haram group have used at least 27 children to carry out the suicide attacks in the Lake Chad conflict during the first three months of this year, while the group used 30 children for the whole of 2016, according to the UNICEF report.

"The number of children used in 'suicide' attacks in the Lake Chad conflict has surged to 27 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nine over the same period last year," the report "Silent Shame: Bringing out the voices of children caught in the Lake Chad," crisis stated.

UNICEF noted that since 2015 Boko Haram used 117 children in launching attack in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, including four in 2014, 56 in 2015, and 30 in 2016.

"Girls have been used in the vast majority of these attacks," the organization noted. "As a consequence, girls, boys and even infants have been viewed with increasing fear at markets and checkpoints, where they are thought to carry explosives."

UNICEF urged the sides of the conflict to end violations against children by Boko Haram, move children from a military to civilian environment, as well as provide care and protection for separated and unaccompanied children.

The ongoing crisis has displaced more than 1.3 million children, according to UNICEF.

The Boko Haram extremist group began large-scale attacks in northeastern Nigeria in 2009. Last year, the group expanded attacks into neighboring Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The extremist group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

 Sputnik

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Background Briefing on the Visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 12, 2017



James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

9:30 A.M. EDT

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I'm here today to provide some context on the President's meeting this afternoon with NATO Secretary General Jens Soltenberg. We expect the two leaders will exchange views on a wide range of topics in preparation for the meeting of NATO heads of state and government in Brussels on May 25th, the President's first foreign trip since taking office.

In his meeting with the Secretary General, we expect the President will reaffirm the strong commitment of the United States to NATO, and the value he places on the transatlantic bond in general. He will emphasize the ironclad U.S. commitment to the collective defense of NATO allies under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The President will also highlight the importance of NATO allies taking on their fair share of the burden of the collective defense of the North Atlantic region. In that connection, we expect the President and Secretary General to discuss how they can work with other NATO allies to increase defense budgets in line with the 2014 Wales pledge on defense investment. As a reminder, the Wales pledge commits all allies to "aim to move toward spending 2 percent of GDP on defense, and of that 2 percent, to dedicate at least 20 percent to equipment procurement, and research and development."

The President and the Secretary General will also discuss NATO's role in supporting international efforts to fight terrorism globally. On Afghanistan, the President and Secretary General will discuss the ongoing review of our policy in order to ensure our efforts are fully coordinated with NATO allies and partners.

On Iraq, the two will discuss NATO's ongoing training and capacity-building mission in Iraq, as well as potential additional contributions we could make to the international effort to support Iraq in countering ISIS.

Finally, we expect the President and the Secretary General to talk about NATO's approach to Russia and to emphasize that Russia must uphold all of its commitments under the Minsk agreements to peacefully resolve the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

And before I get to questions, of course, I would just remind everyone that on Monday, President Trump signed the United States instrument of ratification of the protocol for Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and this followed, of course, the Senate's March 28th overwhelming and bipartisan vote of advice and consent in support of ratification.

So with that, I will take your questions.

Q To what extent will they discuss Russia's violation of the IMF treaty and options of how to respond? What are some of those options?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. I can't get into any specific options that they will discuss, but I imagine that will come up in the context of the broader Russia discussion that they'll have today.

Q Is this going to be an awkward discussion, given that President Trump had called NATO "obsolete" during the campaign?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don't anticipate it will be an awkward discussion. I think that the Secretary General has made clear that he also views it as a priority to get allies to shoulder a greater burden of defense investment. And so the President and Secretary General are likely to see eye-to-eye on that issue and talk about ways that they can cooperate together to work with allies to get defense spending up.

Q Do you think that the President's view of NATO has evolved since the campaign?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I can't comment on any comments that were made during the campaign or the transition, and of course, I don't know exactly -- I can't speak for what's in the President's mind right now, but the President has made it very clear repeatedly that he's 100 percent committed to NATO. He has met already with several leader of NATO-allied countries -- the UK, Germany, the Prime Minister of Denmark last week. He's made over a dozen calls to leaders of NATO-allied countries and emphasized to all of them that he's 100 percent committed to the Alliance.

Q You talked a lot about the 2 percent goal that was agreed in Wales. For Germany, that represents something like, what $60 billion additional spending per year on the military. What exactly do you want them to spend it on?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Say the last part again.

Q What exactly would you like Germany to spend $60 billion a year on?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, of course, the Germans have signed up to the Wales pledge, as have the other allies. And in the President's meeting with Chancellor Merkel in March, Chancellor Merkel expressed very clearly that she and the German government continue to support the Wales pledge commitment to aim to move towards 2 percent of GDP by 2024. So it was not an area of disagreement between the President and the Chancellor. The Chancellor is firmly committed, as is her ruling coalition.

Q So what's the -- sorry to monopolize this -- so what's the goal? Everybody in Europe increase their spending so that your U.S. forces can scale down in Europe? I mean, what's the end goal?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: It's about doing more, having the Alliance be able to do more. And so, again, we have been shouldering a disproportionate share of defense expenditures and, of course, those are not contributions to NATO, those are all national budgets. But we want the Alliance to be able to do more to confront the security challenges of the 21st century. And that means having all allies invest seriously in their defense. And that's why this agreement was made during the Wales Summit, to aim to move towards 2 percent, which, of course, was set as the benchmark at that time.

Q The 2 percent goal, though -- President Trump, when he met with Merkel last month, suggested that that was retroactive, and then he also said that that is money owed directly to the United States, not for the common defense. Is that a negotiating position of the President? Is that new U.S. policy? What did he mean by that?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, of course, national defense budgets we know are not owed to NATO. There is a NATO common fund, and allies pay into that in a cost-sharing formula that's calculated based on their gross national income. And that's set. The United States' contribution is capped at 22 percent.

But separate from that are the national defense budgets and, of course, those are not owed to NATO. This commitment was not retroactive. But the President was probably making a broader point here that, for many, many years, Germany -- not only Germany, but many other allies have been chronically underinvesting in their defense. And so, again, we need to start to right this curve. And in 2015 and 2016, we saw, for the first time, the collective decline in NATO allies' national defense budgets was arrested, and it started to peak back up.

So again, we're on the right trajectory. And we refer back to the Wales pledge from 2014, of course, which gets allies to aim to move towards 2 percent by 2024.

Q Two specific questions about two different parts of the world. First, the Balkans -- Montenegro's membership, that's been greenlighted by the White House. Can you give us some idea of the thinking there and the timing of that? Because it seems rather odd to announce that just before the difficult meetings with Secretary Tillerson in Moscow.

And the second question on a very different part of the world -- Afghanistan. As you know, General Nicholson is asking for new troops there. He heads a NATO command -- Resolute Support. What is -- that, I assume, will come up in the discussions today. What's the current thinking on the extra troops in Afghanistan?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I'll answer the Montenegro question, and then I'll turn to my colleague on Afghanistan.

So Montenegro's accession will strengthen NATO and U.S. security by bringing a capable and committed partner in the alliance. Montenegrin troops have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan with U.S. and allied troops for a decade already. Montenegro now spends 1.7 percent of its GDP in defense -- a higher proportion than all but six other NATO allies. They've demonstrated political will and courage in implementing important military and rule of law reforms, setting an example for other NATO aspirants.

Montenegro's accession will also increase stability and security in the Western Balkans. After meeting rigorous standards to join the Alliance, Montenegro's accession will make clear that no third country has a veto over a country's sovereign decision to join NATO. So the door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations remains open.

And I would also just like to say that we are very concerned about Russian interference in the October elections in Montenegro, including credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election day attack on the government. The United States supports the efforts of the Montenegrin authorities to investigate this case in accordance with Montenegrin law. And we refer you to the government of Montenegro for any further commentary on that.

Q If I could follow up on that before you move on the Afghanistan. You could have read that statement after this difficult meeting underway right now in Moscow. It clearly was a decision to announce this just before the Secretary of State went there. Why?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm not going to comment on the specific timing of that. Of course, the Senate's vote was on March 28th, and there was a certain procedure for the protocols to get here to the White House, et cetera. And we need to take certain steps to make sure that the instrument of ratification is deposited at the State Department in time for the leaders meeting in May. But I'm not going to comment on any specific timing.

So, on Afghanistan.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So on Afghanistan, we are undergoing a strategy review for our plans in Afghanistan in the future. We'll be obviously consulting with General Nicholson, both in his role as commander of Resolute Support, but also as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. And we'll definitely be working with NATO allies in advance of any decisions being made on troop levels in Afghanistan to make sure that those decisions are fully consulted and that allies are on board with our strategy going forward.

Q And a quick follow-up: What's the time frame of this review? Do you have an idea of when --

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: We're hoping to get it done as soon as we can. Obviously there are processes within NATO in terms of force generation that need a quicker answer rather than later, but we're not going to comment on a specific timeline. It's based on when the President makes a decision.

Q Has Russia's behavior in Syria changed the President's thinking about the importance of NATO? The events of the last couple of weeks -- has that shifted the President's calculation on how important NATO is?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, so I can't comment on what specifically is in the President's mind right now, but he has been very firm that he is 100 percent committed to NATO. Again, I think that position remains unchanged, and probably was reinforced by, again, everything that Russia is doing. But I can't speak specifically to his current thinking.

Q Thank you. You said the door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community remains open. Does that mean that the President would be open to more countries joining NATO? And is that something that will be discussed, further expansion of the Alliance?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, again, I won't comment on whether that topic will be discussed. And there's no current plans for further enlargement, so I can't speculate on that discussion in the future. But again, the bringing in of Montenegro into the Alliance reaffirms the principle that the door is open.

Q Despite Syria not being a member of NATO, do you anticipate at the joint press conference there's going to be extensive conversation about some things NATO members could do to help civilians in Syria? Obviously, there's been conversations of no-fly zones and also assisting around the borders of Syria.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can't comment on that.

Q Obviously, Montenegro is a sore spot for Russia. And given all the other things, to what extent is the administration concerned that this move will just exacerbate or increase the tensions with Russia?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The specific move of taking in Montenegro?

Q Yes.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don't know that I have a specific response on that. Again, we saw what Russia did -- and I mentioned previously our concern about the reports of Russian interference in the election in Montenegro in October and credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election day attack. But again, I can't comment on that.

Q And just a follow-up, a broader question. NATO, the United States, and Russia -- is there a concern that we're moving to a posture that's closer to the Cold War than we've been in the last 30 years or so?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I would refer you to Secretary Mattis's comments yesterday, again, that we don't want escalation. And, of course, Secretary Tillerson is in Moscow today, and obviously we understand that we need dialogue with Russia -- that's very important. But we need to explore with them what areas we could concretely cooperate on, and it's important for Russia to show its seriousness about cooperating with us, and again, reintegrating into the rules-based order.

Q Thank you. On what you just mentioned, the Russian support for an election day attack on the government of Montenegro -- what exactly does that mean, an election day attack on the government? And from what you know, is it similar in its tactics and means to what the Russian government might have done here?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I would refer you back to the Montenegrin government for the up-to-date commentary on their investigation, which, of course, we completely support. But in regards to Montenegro, the credible reports we had were in reference to a violent election day attack, obviously very different than what we were looking at here and of much greater concern.

Q Because the Wales pledge is a percentage of GDP, a contraction in the economies of any of the NATO countries would also get them closer to the 2 percent level. So what is the President going to ask for in terms of net new dollars that these countries would be contributing?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, obviously, we don't want any economies of NATO members to contract. That would be bad. We saw that happen in Greece, and that's how they got to 2 percent. We obviously don't wish that on anyone. But I'll let my colleague just comment on the net dollars.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: NATO has a regular five-year cycle called the NATO Defense Planning Process, which takes a look at all the things that the collective governments want NATO to do in terms of operations and other activities. And it looks at very mathematically and very formulaically what capabilities are needed to reach NATO's level of ambition; then looks at all the military inventories of the NATO allies to determine what allies already have; and then looks at a gap analysis of what allies don't have that's needed and then apportions that out amongst the 28 allies.

So every ally will be assigned a certain number of capability targets that they need to invest in moving forward. We would encourage allies to focus on investing in those capabilities, first and foremost.

Q The Secretary General is on record saying that while defense spending is important, development spending is also important. Are you all expecting any sort of pushback from Stoltenberg on the President's budget in terms of foreign aid?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I can't comment on what specifically the Secretary General will say. But, again, I expect there to be a discussion certainly of defense spending, and this is probably going to be an element of it, as well -- how we think about security.

Q How will the President defend his proposed cuts in foreign --

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can't comment on that.

Q To follow up, a kind of overarching question, the President wants to ask for all of these countries to meet their targets, but the question about what happens if they don't is sort of still lingering out there. Is the President going to make clear what's going to happen from the U.S. perspective if these countries don't meet their targets? Is there any consequence for not meeting the targets?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I can't comment on any future actions or potential consequences or anything like that. But Secretary Mattis made clear when he was at the NATO defense ministerial in February that we're hoping to have all allies draft and deliver a plan by the end of the year on how they plan to meet the Wales investment pledge. And again, as he said, if we're in the same place by the end of the year that we are now, that's not going to be a great thing. So, again, we're hoping to work with NATO allies in a constructive manner within the terms and the confines of reality to really make progress on this defense investment pledge.

Q So just a quick follow-up. The credible report of plans for a violent attack, that comes from the Montenegran government? Or is that intelligence that -- without getting into details, is that something that we have, that the U.S. government has?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I would refer you back to the Montenegran government for more information on that.

Q Okay.

Q So last month, General Scaparrotti talked about a disinformation campaign in the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, and it seemed like that was something that he was looking to coordinate better with European allies. Is that something that would fall under NATO's cyber command, and is there any plan to allocate more resources to that?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So I would say, first and foremost, NATO doesn't have a cyber command. At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, they recognized cyber as an operational domain, and so they're continuing to look at how cyber can integrate into NATO's activities across the board.

On General Scaparrotti's comments to the Senate Armed Services Committee, we are concerned about Russian malign influences across Europe, and we're taking steps both bilaterally with our allies and partners in Europe, and also talking about this in NATO, as well.

Q Will that be part of the discussion of the delegation today?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: It might come up. It's not something that we're planning on coming up. I don't think so, no.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'd like to thank everyone for being here. Thank you for your time. And you will receive the one-pager after this. Remember, it's embargoed until 10:30 a.m. Thanks.

END

9:48 A.M. EDT

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Poland May Boost Number of Troops to 200,000 By 2022

Sputnik News

00:21 13.04.2017

Poland is bracing for a significant increase in manpower, planning to boost a number of soldiers from 129,000 in 2017 to 200,000 in 2022.

WARSAW (Sputnik)  The number of Polish army personnel is likely to rise up to 200,000 servicemen after a three to five year period, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Wednesday.

"We expect that the [Polish] army will comprise 150,000 soldiers by 2019 and after 2020-2022 [it will involve] 200,000 servicemen," Macierewicz said, adding that it was necessary to improve funding to attain the set goals.

Macierewicz noted the draft law on the issue would be discussed with Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.

According to the Defense Ministry's January 2017 report, the nation's military personnel currently consists of 129,000 regular soldiers, National Reserve Forces members and cadets.

 Sputnik

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Type 075 NEWCON Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD)

China has started building a new generation of large amphibious assault vessels that will strengthen the navy as it plays a more dominant role in projecting the nations power overseas. The 075 Landing Helicopter Dock is now under construction by a Shanghai-based shipbuilding company. The amphibious vessel is far larger than similar ships previously constructed for the PLA Navy.

Writing in the Beijing-controlled South China Morning Post on 29 March 2017, Minnie Chan reported that Chinas navy commander, Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, visited the Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company, which specialises in building Landing Helicopter Dock ships. One source close to the navy said Shens inspection trip confirmed construction work was underway on the new class of vessel. Construction of the Type 075 ships will take two more years, the source said. The first vessel may be launched as early as 2019 and put into full service in 2020.

On 26 March 2017, Navy commander Shen Jinlong and his entourage visited Hudong China Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., an important indication for the construction of naval equipment. China Shipbuilding Group Party Secretary, chairman Dong Qiang, deputy party secretary, general manager Wu Qiang said they would live up to the Navy chief expectations, keep in mind the mission, the courage to play, the military serves the country.

The development of the people's navy strength was nurtured by the growth of Hudong China. Hudong China is the landing ship "cradle", and the construction of various types of warships is the main force of the people of the Navy. Sixty years of military development process has become the pursuit of Hudong China. Company secretary of the party committee, chairman Chen Jianliang to the Navy chief report on the production and operation. The members of the company's leadership team participated in the briefing.

In July 2015 a Chinese military website released photos of a model of China's new Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship, as reported by Phoenix Television on July 12. According to the report, the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship has a displacement of 40,000 tons, with four take-off and landing spots dedicated to helicopters. The ship was also built with a huge well deck below the hanger of the vessel, which was designed to carry an unknown number of inflatable landing craft. The report said that the ship has a similar appearance to the 25,000-ton amphibious landing helicopter assault ship that was displayed at the International Defence Exhibition held at Abu Dhabi in 2012.

On CCTV-4's "Today's Focus" on 13 November 2012 CCTV Commentator Major General [Rear Admiral?] Yin Zhuo mentioned twice a 40,000-ton landing ship, the first YinZhuo in answer to moderator about WZ10 whether on aircraft carriers, when Yin Zhuo said, may be at an amphibious landing ship, our new amphibious landing ship, of 40,000 tons. The second time was then approaching the end of the program, when he answer questions about the 2020 Chinese military mechanization, the ship was once again mentioned.

When the host asked whether WZ-10 aircraft carrier will be deployed, Major General Yin Zhuo replied: "WZ-10 and WZ-19 may [fly from] the amphibious assault ship - we are now developing a new generation of amphibious ship of greater tonnage, the 40,000-ton amphibious assault ship. In the future of large-scale assault helicopters, we need this armed helicopter escort." Also, he simply said: "In the future also have assault helicopter assault ship, WZ-10 is to give the escort for the 40,000 ton amphibious ship being developed!" Program, Major General Yin Zhuo certainly admitted that Chinese armed helicopters will be equipped with the Marines.

With the WZ-10 helicopter gunships in mass production, it is expected the aircraft will be Chinese land, sea and air combat helicopters universal medium, although it will first make sure that the use of the Army Air Assault team. But as the world's major maritime country, China's low-altitude naval assault ability is weak, with China is now faced with a very uncoordinated external situation. Some analysts have pointed out, the amphibious assault ship equipment will mean that China will be capable of force delivery in any country within the three island chain. In a Sino-Japanese military conflict, China will be able to conduct landing operations in Okinawa and the Japanese mainland.

One unofficial discussion of the the design of a 30,000-ton amphibious helicopter frigate propoosed basic parameters of a length of 246 m [800 feet], width 40.85 m, draft of 8.8 meters; flight deck length of 240 meters, width of 38.5 meters; powered by two steam turbines, power 138,000 horsepower; maximum speed of 24, endurance 9500 sea miles / 17 ; crew of 980 people. A displacement of 26,000 tons full load displacement of 30,000 tons.

There are three decks high and can store 8 Z8 helicopters, 12 WZ10 armed helicopters, six anti-submarine helicopters or four Z9 K28 helicopters. Hangar below deck aft portion is 83 meters long dock space, can carry 12 mechanized landing craft air cushion landing craft or 3,; dock space in front of the vehicle is a two-story cabin, can be loaded with tanks and other vehicles around. The frigate's carrying troops and their equipment, and materials landing capacity would typically be landing troops landing in order to assist 80 people, four Type 99 main battle tanks, 12 light armored vehicles, six howitzers, 68 trucks, fuel trucks and other types of vehicles.

The ships have a more complete medical facility after the hospital ship, the ship has 400 beds and more operating room, clinic, etc. Weapon Systems might include 32 HQ16 vertical air defense missile launching system HHQ10 two short-range air defense missile system, 730 short-range defense system 2 has a blinding laser weapons system 2 automatic 30mm cannon, and two electronic jammers.

"Foreign scholars," said the Chinese military forum in early August 2013 exposure Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding Group shipyard [3121'09" 12144'28"] construction in a series of photos of the vessel, by many analysts believe this was evidence that China has started the construction of aircraft carriers of the. "Foreign Policy" website provided a careful analysis of these photos, noting the photo is much larger than the top of the bottom of the hull, in line with the characteristics of the aircraft carrier. Reports speculated that China-made aircraft carrier is likely to differ with Liaoning ship, aircraft will use the catapult takeoff mode. "Jane's Defense Weekly" used Digital Globe satellite images taken of Changxing to confirm this group of photos. The ship's hull was being built around the dock near commercial vessels. The report also mentioned that the shipyard had hung out banners, saying it "has the determination and ability to build China's first a large surface combatants."

But Chinese reports claimed that these reports had mistakenly identified a Chinese amphibious assault ship being built as carriers. Reports claimed "has been corroborated Ukrainian military sources", the ship is able to simultaneously carry helicopters and hovercraft amphibious assault ship. Allegedly, it will enter service in early 2015, with a displacement of up to 35,000 tons, twice that of the existing 071-type landing ship of the PLAN, but also much larger than Japan's newly-launched "Izumo" helicopter carrier. It was expected that this new type of amphibious assault ship can carry four hovercraft and 20 helicopters. "Foreign scholars," said the Chinese military experts had previously acknowledged that China was building similar to the US "Wasp" class multipurpose amphibious assault ship like the 40,000-ton landing ship, but also equipped with a WZ-19 adn WZ-10 helicopter gunships to provide cover for heavy transport helicopter landing troops. Pentagon "2013 edition Chinese Military Power Report," also mentioned that in five years China will build 081 helicopter landing ship, but at that time that its displacement of about 20,000 tons.

The Chinese Navy's amphibious assault ship has become the next focus of attention. According to the Hong Kong "South China Morning Post", a 29 March 2017 article said that China woud begine the construction of the Navy's largest amphibious assault ship. Sources said China had begun to build a new generation of large amphibious assault ship. Military sources said the Type 075 helicopter docking ship was currently being built by a Shanghai shipbuilding company. The Chinese naval commander, Shen Jinlong, visited the company on 16 March 2017. Navy's sources said Shen Jinlong's inspection confirmed a new generation of amphibious assault ship was under construction.

The 075 amphibious assault ship could be built two years, with the first ship in the water by 2019, and in full service in 2020. Military experts stated the 075 amphibious assault ship with 36,000 tons of displacement can be called the "sea beast". It can carry 28 helicopters, equipped with near defense weapons systems and double red flag-10 missile weapon system and a new electronic warfare system. The Type 075 amphibious assault ship also made significant progress in the amphibious combat command ability, to achieve the amphibious combat "centralized command, comprehensive control, hierarchical management."

In the future the ship can be equipped with WZ-10 armed helicopters, they can ultra-low altitude penetration flight, attack ability, high viability, the machine can carry a variety of weapons, such as airborne anti-tank missiles, and aviation rockets. Strong, with high precision, these are suitable for the implementation of the ground surprise task, and can stay at any time near the battlefield, the relevant fire requests for rapid response. With China's naval amphibious assault ship, the Chinese Marine Corps may also need to set up their own aviation squadron, equipped with WZ-10 armed helicopters, WZ-20 general helicopters and future heavy helicopters, so as to comprehensively improve the Chinese marines combat capability.

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Durand Line Fence

Pakistan and Afghanistan have nearly 2,600-kilometer-long common border, mostly porous, and Pakistani officials insist that bombers could enter Pakistan due to weak border control.

By early December 2020 Pakistans military said it would have fenced off the countrys roughly 2,600-kilometer historically porous border with Afghanistan within the next two months. The massive unilateral construction effort that was launched in early 2017 to block militant infiltration, smuggling and other illegal crossings on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Inter Services Public Relations, or ISPR, said the barrier has already been installed along about 83 percent of the western Pakistani frontier. Additionally, hundreds of new outposts and forts have been built under the roughly $500 million program. The pair of three-meter-high mesh fences, a couple of meters apart, are filled and topped with coils of razor wire, running through rugged terrain and snow-covered, treacherous mountains at elevations as high as 4,000 meters.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif 02 December 2017 said Pakistan had started work of fencing border with Afghanistan as it was imperative to regulate cross-border movement. Pakistan had started work of fencing the border at its own resources and Afghanistan should also initiate work as it was a collective responsibility of both the countries. He said 60,000 to 70,000 people cross Pak-Afghan border daily so its management was necessary to monitor these movements. Asif said Pakistan had been hosting huge number of Afghan refugees for decades and now was the time of their repatriation in a respectable manner.

Pakistan says that almost 92 percent of its 2,611-kilometer largely porous frontier with Afghanistan will be fenced by end of 2018, hoping the massive unilateral undertaking will effectively address mutual complaints of militant incursions. The military-led construction effort went into action earlier this year. It has already fenced off about a 150-kilometer portion of the border identified as highly prone to terrorist infiltration. The pair of nine-foot wire fences, with a six-foot gap, and topped with barbed wire, runs along rugged terrain and snow-capped mountains as high as 12,000 feet. Officials estimate the project will cost about $550 million.

Afghanistan opposed the creation of the state of Pakistan for a number of reasons, one of which was that it would enshrine in international law the Durand Line of 1893 as the boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan claime that the Durand Line was imposed by the British colonial administration under duress. When Pakistan came into being in 1947, the Afghan government was quick to reject the Durand Line as the international border between the two countries because it divided the Pashtun tribes that inhabit the region on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border. Thus, Afghanistan laid claim to the larger Pashto-speaking areas that fall within Pakistan's North-West Frontier and Balochistan provinces. Pakistan refused to entertain the thought of ceding any territory.

The boundary had to be demarcated with border pillars (BPs) where it did not follow natural features. Some BPs were constructed around inaccessible areas, thus, the border became dilapidated over time. But the residue still exists at certain places on the ridge lines. The Durand Line is not as apparent to the local population on the ground as it appears on the maps. The local population residing along the Durand Line never paid much attention to it and remains ignorant of its reality. The people of the region cross the Durand Line at will and do not treat it as a boundary.

In the 1980s, frustrated by their inability to close the border with Pakistan, the Soviets heavily mined the border region and infiltration routes. These tactics did not significantly impact Mujahideen operations. In 1982, the Soviets even contemplated constructing a border security system, including guard towers, fences, and minefields. However, the Soviets were unwilling to commit the monetary resources or the estimated 300,000 troops necessary to construct and man such a system. Ultimately, the Soviets deployed an inadequate force to Afghanistan to militarily deny the Mujahideen either internal sanctuary or transnational aid and sanctuary.

In 2005, Pakistan had 665 checkpoints along the 1519-mile Pakistan-Afghan border, whereas the US-led forces and the Afghan National Army manned only 69 combined posts. At that time Pakistan decided to erect a fence and plant mines to secure the border. Afghanistan vehemently opposed the 2006 Pakistani proposal to fence the border.

In 2008 PM Gilani said he had discussed this issue with President Bush, pointing out the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area is a vast area, marked by rugged, inhospitable terrain and difficult to guard. Gilani had offered to discuss a border fence with Karzai and noted Pakistan's attempt to use biometrics screening at some border crossings, which was ultimately thwarted by the Afghan government's inability to match the technology. Gilani also explained that Pakistan had more than 900 border posts to Afghanistan's 100 and suggested that NATO/ISAF needed to do more to control the space on the Afghan side of the border.

There are two regular border crossings on the Durand Line and Pakistan estimates 50,000 Afghans move back and forth every day. Islamabad has in the past tried to put in place a biometric system to ensure identities of these travelers, but Kabuls strong opposition stopped the move.

Pakistan rejected Afghan criticism in September 2014 of the 480-kilometer trench its military was digging along their mostly porous border, saying the project is aimed at effectively controlling movement of terrorists and flow of drugs and human traffickers into the country. Pakistani forces were digging a trench more than two meters deep and three meters wide in southwestern Baluchistan province, which shares half of the countrys more than 2,500-kilometer border with Afghanistan. Army officials said the trench was expected to be completed in October 2014. They said it would help prevent illegal crossings and reduce terrorist activities that cause strains in bilateral relations.

The project was part of the administrative and security measures Pakistan had undertaken to secure the mountainous border with Afghanistan. Major-General Asim Saleem Bajwa dismissed Kabuls concerns and criticism of the trench. We have to protect and secure our borders. So, anything that is done on this side of the border remaining within our own area is very much legal," he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai established a high-level special commission to look into the Pakistani project. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi is critical of the trench. Sediqi said the commission has been formed and the government is awaiting its findings. But the Afghan spokesman added, We strongly condemn it and believe that there can be no justification for digging the trench.

The strategic project of 1,100-kilometer-long trench with the cost of Rs14 billion which was initiated along Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan by Frontier Corps in 2013 was completed in 2016. In the next phase, the project would be extended to the entire long border with Afghanistan, which had opposed this plan.

Pakistan finished the trench along about half the length in 2016, but it did nothing to prevent a recent string of terrorist bombings that ended a relatively quiet period brought about by an ongoing military operation.

Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said 25 March 2017 that the country had started fencing border with Afghanistan in a move to stop the cross-border movement of the militants. Security officials had long been complaining that the Pakistani militants, who have escaped as a result of military operations, now operate from the Afghan soil of the border. During his visit to Pak-Afghan border areas in Mohmand and Orakzai tribal agencies, Bajwa told the troops that fencing has commenced in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies as they are high threat zones. Both Bajaur and Mohmand border Afghanistan and had once been under the influence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

"Additional technical surveillance means are also being deployed along the border besides regular air surveillance," Bajwa said, adding the Pakistan Army shall employ all resources required for defense of the country and security of peace-loving Pakistani tribes. The army chief said that efforts are in hand to evolve a bilateral border security mechanism with the Afghan authorities, according to an army statement. "A better managed, secure and peaceful border is in mutual interest of both brotherly countries who have given phenomenal sacrifices in the war against terrorism," he said.

Neither the Afghan government nor the people living on both sides of the imaginary Durand Line can allow Pakistans unilateral actions, said Javed Ahmed Wafa, a spokesman for Afghanistans ministry for tribal affairs and border regions.

The Pakistani Army said in a statement on 20 June 2017 that the first phase of fencing would focus on the Bajur, Mohmand, and Khyber tribal regions -- all regarded by authorities as areas prone to cross-border infiltration by various militant groups. The statement also said that new forts and border posts will be built to improve defense and surveillance along the frontier. A secure border "is in the common interest of both countries and a well-coordinated border-security mechanism is essential for enduring peace and stability," the statement said.

Pakistan is building a double fence 11.5 ft high on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as high as 12 feet in height along the peaks at elevations above 10-12000 ft range. The 840km fence in Waziristan region of the tribal agencies called FATA will be completed by end of 2019 and cost $483 millionwith no help from the US or Afghanistan, and sometimes even while taking fire from Afghan troops and terrorists alike. The fencing is not just to stop terrorists from crossing the border but also the opium smugglers from doing do.

The fencing goal is twofold  stopping terrorists from crossing the border and the opium smuggling through Pakistan. This might end up reconciling the difference in perspective and the paradox in US strategy in Afghanistan  it blames its non-NATO ally Pakistan for not being helpful while itself being unhelpful on the Afghan side in controlling if not elimination the two menaces to Pakistan. Meanwhile, terrorist acts inside Pakistan reduced tremendously over the last year and a half since fencing began with hundreds of manned checkposts along the border.





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Brazil's Supreme Court expands graft probe to ministers, government-allied politicians

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:5AM

Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered corruption investigations against eight ministers and dozens of other top politicians in a broad measure that affects nearly a third of President Michel Temer's cabinet and many of his political allies.

The top court said in a ruling on Tuesday that, altogether, 108 people would come under investigation.

The ruling came after studying more than 74 inquiries involving plea bargain deals and testimony from former and current executives with a major construction company, Odebrecht, which is the focus of a bribes-for-contracts scandal.

The list of names published by the official website of the Brazilian court Tuesday night included 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 under investigation would be the heads of the two key political parties in Temer's coalition.

The Supreme Court also referred 201 probes to lower courts for judges there to decide whether the investigations should proceed. The cases included investigations against three former Brazilian presidents, namely Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

The development came as Temer fights to survive an electoral court trial that could remove him from office for illegal campaign financing.

The Brazilian incumbent is also trying to pass harsh austerity measures and reforms through the Congress as polls indicate that his approval rating has nose-dived to as low as 10 percent.

Odebrecht and state oil giant Petrobras are at the center of a wide-ranging probe in Brazil involving bribes and inflated contracts at state corporations. The investigation has entangled dozens of high-level politicians and executives and has grown into the largest graft probe in Brazil's history.

The scandal has even taken regional dimensions, with justice systems in other Latin American states accusing local officials of taking bribes from the Brazilian construction giant.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying nearly 800 million dollars in bribes across Latin America.

The investigations will bring "a tsunami" to Brazilian politics, according to professor of political science Claudio Couto 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 said.

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Xi and Trump discuss Korean Peninsula, Syria over phone

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:49, April 12, 2017

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, and discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Syria.

Xi said that China sticks to the target of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and that China is committed to peace and stability of the peninsula.

China holds that the issue should be solved through peaceful means, said Xi, adding that his country is ready to maintain communication and coordination with the United States on the issue.

On Syria, Xi said that any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and that the path of political settlement should be followed.

He expressed the hope that the UN Security Council would speak in one voice as it is important for the Security Council to remain united over the issue.

Xi also asked teams of China and the United States to work together closely to make sure that Trump's visit to China later this year could achieve fruitful results.

He also urged the two sides to promote economic cooperation, expand exchanges in military, law enforcement, cyber and people-to-people areas, enhance communication and coordination in major global and regional issues,through the newly established four-pronged dialogue mechanism.

He expressed the hope that the dialogue mechanism will yield as many early-stage results as possible so as to inject impetus to bilateral relations.

The four-pronged dialogue mechanism, which covers the fields of foreign affairs and security, economy, law enforcement and cybersecurity, social and people-to-people exchanges, is an important result of Xi's meeting with Trump in Florida.

Xi said his recent tete-a-tete with Trump in the latter's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida has produced important results, which have won positive response among the Chinese people and the international community.

The two leaders held in-depth discussions and reached important consensus on bilateral relations in the new era and on major global and regional issues, said Xi.

He and Trump have increased mutual understanding and established sound working relations, he added.

In Wednesday's phone conversation, Trump said the meeting with Xi at Mar-a-Lago was a success. It is very important for the two presidents to maintain close communication, he added.

Trump agreed that the two sides should work together to promote pragmatic cooperation in wide-ranging areas.

He said he was looking forward to his state visit to China this year.

The two presidents agreed to keep close communication through all kinds of channels.

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China denies any deployment of troops near North Korea

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:2PM

China's Defense Ministry has denied reports of troop deployment along the border with North Korea to respond to contingencies emerging from a potential US attack on the peninsula.

The ministry said on its website on Wednesday that reports of troop build-up along China's northeastern border were "pure fabrication." The statement would not elaborate on any other detail.

The statement came after South Korean media said on Monday that China had reportedly deployed 150,000 troops to the North Korean border in preparation for any attack by the US on the peninsula. Washington has dispatched an aircraft carrier to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The US and South Korea, the North's main foe, have also stationed thousands of troops, tanks and other weaponry for their biggest-ever joint military exercises.

South Korean media have anticipated that US President Donald Trump could order a limited attack on Pyongyang after US warships in the Mediterranean fired dozens of missiles on a Syrian military base last week. They have suggested that the US under Trump would not hesitate to send the same message to North Korea as the country keeps testing new missiles in violation of United Nations resolutions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone call with Trump on Tuesday night Washington time to clarify Beijing's stance on the escalating conflict with North Korea. Xi said in the phone call that China wanted a peaceful solution to the dispute and called for calm. He assured Trump that China would continue to cooperate with the US on the denuclearization of North Korea.

"China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula, insists on maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and advocates resolving the problem through peaceful means," Xi said, according to a brief description of the conversation on China's Foreign Ministry website.

The phone call came days after Trump and Xi met in Florida. Trump tweeted after the meeting that China should do more to contain North Korea's threat, otherwise Washington would go it alone.

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Data on Sending 150,000 Chinese Troops to N Korea Border 'Fabrication'  Beijing

Sputnik News

18:42 12.04.2017(updated 18:46 12.04.2017)

China's Defense Ministry denied on Wednesday information on the alleged deployment of an additional 150,000 servicemen of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to the border with North Korea, saying the data was fabricated.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  Various media reports alleging the deployment of troops have emerged since Monday.

"The information is a total fabrication," the Defense Ministry said, when asked if China had sent an additional contingent to the border with North Korea.

On Saturday, an US naval strike group led by aircraft carrier Carl Vinson was sent to the Korean Peninsula. North Korea warned Tuesday of the possibility of a response to the US "aggression."

Earlier in the day, the Chinese Defense Ministry called on all parties involved in the situation on the Korean Peninsula to refrain from irresponsible actions.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated ever since North Korea carried out a number of missile launches and nuclear tests, one of the latest being a launch of four missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan conducted March 6. The launches are considered to be in violation with the corresponding resolution adopted by the United Nations. In addition, North Korea reportedly launched on April 5 a ballistic missile from Sinpho, in the South Hamgyong province.

 Sputnik

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Trump, Unorthodox as Ever, Offers Grand Bargain to Beijing

By Peter Heinlein April 12, 2017

President Donald Trump appears to be offering a grand bargain to Chinese President Xi Jinping in which each would get something he dearly wants -- an assurance of economic stability ahead of a critical Communist Party Congress in exchange for Chinese help in halting North Korea's nuclear programs.

The offer has come in a burst of television interviews and social media posts. In a pair of Twitter posts this week, Trump suggested he would agree not to launch a threatened trade war with China, helping to ensure a strong domestic economy as China's ruling party reviews Xi's achievements and determines whether he should stay in power. All Xi has to do, Trump says, is to 'solve the Korean problem.'

The second post was seen as a variation on the old 'take it or leave it' negotiating ploy.

Balbina Hwang, who served as a State Department special adviser on East Asian affairs in the George W. Bush administration, says Trump's overture seems to be striking a nerve in Beijing.

"China understands that it cannot be engaged in an all-out trade war with the U.S. right now," said Hwang, now a visiting professor at Georgetown University in Washington. "Certainly not before this fall's crucial leadership conference. China and others frankly are going to scramble to come up with ways to essentially appease Trump before things go too far. "

A post-summit analysis in Hong Kong's influential English language South China Morning Post argued that the real importance of the meeting for Xi was in building his portfolio ahead of the Communist Party congress, where he not only hopes to extend his term in office, but to cement his place in the pantheon of Chinese leaders.

The article quoted political commentator Zhang Lifan as saying Xi's target is to stabilize the Sino-US relationship at all costs.

"A trade war with the U.S. would affect the Chinese economy badly, and a military clash on the Korean peninsula would trigger a political crisis in China and put the leadership under challenge from inside the Party," Zhang said.

Trump's diplomatic overture seems to have caught the Chinese leader's attention. The U.S. president followed up Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning in China) with a phone call to discuss the latest developments on the Korean peninsula.

Chinese state media reported that during the call, Xi called for "peaceful resolution of tensions over North Korea.

Charles Stevenson, acting associate director of the American Foreign Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, cautions that Trump's very public negotiating strategy could backfire if he gets ahead of key U.S. allies in the region, South Korea and Japan.

"I hope the administration realizes that when Trump says, 'if they won't do it, I will', which is the tone if not his exact words, it has to be consistent with what our regional allies can accept," Stevenson says. "I'm more optimistic on this score than I was, but a tweet can blow up everything overnight."

The latest Trump-Xi phone conversation comes as a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group heads to the waters off the Korean peninsula.

"We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Maria Bartiromo of the Fox Business Network.

The president declined to be specific on his strategy with regard to Pyongyang. "I don't want to talk about it," he said. Asked about North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, Trump told Bartiromo, "He is doing the wrong thing."

Pyongyang said Monday it would "hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences" after Trump dispatched the USS Carl Vinson and an accompanying battle group to the region.

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China tells US to resolve North Korea tensions peacefully

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:39AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told US President Donald Trump to resolve ongoing tensions with North Korea peacefully.

According to China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, Xi and Trump discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a phone call initiated by the US president on Wednesday.

"China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula... and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula," Xi told Trump during the conversation.

The White House has not released details on the phone conversation.

Last week, the Chinese and American leaders met in the United States, where Trump reportedly called on China to increase pressure on Pyongyang.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump said that if China refused to help, "we will solve the problem without them!"

The US has dispatched a strike group, including an aircraft carrier, to the Korean Peninsula amid rising tensions with North Korea. The Carl Vinson strike group also comprises two destroyers and submarines.

North Korea's rapidly developing missile and military nuclear programs have unnerved Washington. The presence of US forces in the region and repeated threats of military action by Washington have on the other hand angered the North.

Meanwhile, an article on the Chinese Global Times newspaper warned Pyongyang in an editorial to "hit the brakes for peace." It called on the North to halt any plans for nuclear and missile activities "for its own security."

"Pyongyang can continue its tough stance; however, for its own security, it should at least halt provocative nuclear and missile activities. Pyongyang should avoid making mistakes at this time," the article read.

Angered by the deployment of the US strike group, North Korea has warned to attack US mainland with an atomic bomb. Trump has said Pyongyang "is looking for trouble."

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US WC-135 'Nuke Sniffer' Arrives in Japan as World Watches Pyongyang

Sputnik News

22:38 12.04.2017(updated 23:56 12.04.2017)

As tensions continue to simmer on the Korean Peninsula, due in part to North Korea's continuous nuclear weapons development, a "nuke sniffing" US aircraft arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan on Friday.

Japan's Nikkei newspaper confirmed the arrival of a US Air Force WC-135 Constant Phoenix in a report published Wednesday.

Since 2006, when Pyongyang detonated an underground nuclear device, Washington has been deploying its two WC-135 aircraft to the region  planes which also flew over the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant after its meltdown in 2011.

The WC-135 specializes in radiation detection, and collects air samples and debris after nuclear detonations using external flow-through devices.

With several events of political significance coming in the near future, acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn has said that "provocations" from the North can be expected.

Kim Il-sung's birthday, called "The Day of The Sun" in Pyongyang, will be celebrated on Saturday, and the Korean People's Army (KPA) will be marking its 85th anniversary on April 25.

The late president is the grandfather of current North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un.

Following a controversial missile launch on Syria ordered by US President Donald Trump, a US carrier strike troop led by the USS Carl Vinson sailed toward the Korean Peninsula, prompting Pyongyang to warn Washington that there would be "catastrophic consequences" if they conducted a preemptive strike against the North.

This move came as Trump continued to ply China to step up their pressure on North Korea, as he met with President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman told the Korean Central News Agency, "This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase  If the US 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 US."

Pyongyang has previously threatened to reduce the US "to ashes" if preemptive action is taken.

On Tuesday, roughly 200 foreign journalists gathered in North Korea ahead of Saturday's celebrations were told to ready themselves for a "big and important event," though it isn't clear whether that event has anything to do with the country's nuclear development.

A similar process unfolded toward the end of the ruling Worker's Party congress in 2016, when North Korean officials subjected foreign journalists to hours of investigation only to find out they were being screened for a concert.

Pyongyang has been working to develop a missile with a nuclear warhead attached that is capable of reaching the US, feeling justified by the Syria strike despite international calls for denuclearization.

 Sputnik

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North Korea to Test Strength of US-China Ties

By William Ide April 12, 2017

It's been less than a week since President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping held their first high-level talks. Chinese state media have been playing up the positives following the get-together, highlighting how the meeting put ties back on track and how it is giving the relationship new dynamism.

Just days later, though, the two countries appear to be heading full steam toward the biggest test yet of Sino-U.S. ties under the Trump administration: North Korea.

A U.S. Navy strike force is heading for waters in North Korea's neighborhood, what President Trump said is a very powerful armada, including an aircraft carrier and submarines.

At the same time, anticipation is growing that Pyongyang could carry out another nuclear test  again in violation of United Nations sanctions  to mark the birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founding father and the grandfather of Kim Jong Un.

"It's a big test of diplomacy, shuttle diplomacy. It's a test of Trump and Xi Jinping's rapport that they have built together," said Alex Neill, a senior fellow for Asia-Pacific security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Trump-Xi call

On the eve of talks last Thursday and Friday between Trump and Xi in Mar-a-Largo, North Korea launched missile tests, thrusting the issue to the forefront of their discussions.

The two spoke again on the phone Wednesday, discussing North Korea and Syria. It was a phone call that China's foreign ministry says Trump initiated.

In a Wednesday morning tweet, Trump said he had a "good call with the president of China concerning the menace of North Korea."

During the call, Xi stressed that while China is willing to work together with the U.S. on North Korea, it wants the situation to be handled peacefully.

Neill said that going forward, however, it is China that may be facing the biggest challenge.

"It's probably more of a test for China than it is for the United States. To put substance to what may have been discussed at Mar-a-Largo," he said.

President Trump has warned that if China does not help, Washington may have no choice but to act on its own. The Trump administration says that all options are on the table, and has noted the missile strikes that were carried out last week in Syria should serve as a warning to Pyongyang.

New sanctions

Analysts say tougher sanctions are still the most likely weapon that the U.S. and others could use to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions.

"Trump has resolve to deal with escalation and atrocities in a decisive way, but I think in all likelihood this aircraft carrier is going to do maneuvers and mount exercises in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula," said Neill.

Neill disagreed with the assumption that actual operations could be launched from the aircraft carrier against North Korea. He said such a move would be disastrous.

Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow with the S. Rajaratnum School of International Studies in Singapore, said that while the U.S. is likely to adopt a strong military posture, he does not believe it will take military action.

"There are simply too many targets to worry about," he said. "Assuming you want to take out some of these nuclear sites and so on, if you miss one, that will wreak havoc on the rest of the region."

Oh said that in the short run, China "will intensify the enforcement of the relevant UN sanctions resolutions."

Direct talks

Just as Trump has been calling on China to do more, Beijing has been pressing Washington to talk with North Korea.

During a visit to South Korea this week, China's top nuclear negotiator, Wu Dawei, was quoted as saying that Beijing is actively working to arrange the talks.

According the Yonhap news agency, during a meeting with Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung, Wu said, "[China] has always endeavored to resolve [the North's issue] through talks on the basis of the denuclearization principle. ... But there are states that have denied dialogue. One is North Korea, and the other is the United States."

Some analysts believe that dialogue without any pre-conditions is the solution, but Neill says that is highly unlikely. There is room for tighter sanctions, he argues.

"It's been plain to see, with the Kim Jong-nam assassination in Kuala Lumpur, that North Korea has enjoyed far more freedoms of maneuver across significant swathes of Asia, as well as elsewhere in world than we would like to imagine," Neill said.

Until recently, North Koreans could travel visa-free to Singapore and Malaysia. And while United Nations sanctions target very specific individuals in the North Korean regime, the rest of the party is free to do business with whomever they want in China or elsewhere, Neill said.

"A new set of strictures [restrictions] needs to be discussed with China, which will put genuine pressure on the regime to desist from its proliferation activities both conventional and nuclear," he observed. "I suspect that China would be open to doing that."

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Iran's Ahmadinejad Applies To Run For President Again

Golnaz Esfandiari April 12, 2017

Former two-term President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, a fierce conservative who was in power during a harsh crackdown on dissenters before seemingly falling afoul of Iran's supreme leader, has registered to run in next month's presidential vote.

It is unclear whether the powerful vetting body that routinely bars hundreds and even thousands of potential candidates from elections will approve his bid.

And he suggested his April 12 appearance was merely an attempt to raise the profile of a controversial political ally who registered alongside him for the race, Hamid Baghaei.

But Ahmadinejad's registration flies in the face of a public appeal by the country's highest political and religious authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad left office in 2013 amid rumors of a falling-out with Khamenei and with the opposition still simmering over mass arrests and violence in a crackdown following protests over alleged irregularities in Ahmadinejad's reelection in 2009.

"If his candidacy is approved, then he hasn't been eliminated from Iran's political circle," Paris-based analyst Taghi Rahmani told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "Ahmadinejad seems to believe he has nothing to lose. If he's disqualified, he believes that it would bring him honor in the future for standing up to [Khamenei]."

Khamenei was said to have indirectly cautioned Ahmadinejad last year against a new bid for the presidency, saying he had told "someone" who approached him for guidance to stay out of the election "both for his own good and also for the good of the country."

"I told him I do not find it advisable for him to participate," the 77-year-old Khamenei added in what was reported by Iranian media in September to be a reference to Ahmadinejad.

His candidacy could hint at a failure by conservatives and hard-liners to mount a unified challenge to incumbent President Hassan Rohani, who has not officially registered but held a wide-ranging press conference on the eve of the five-day registration period to tout his perceived achievements.

A former prosecutor with hard-line credentials who is also said to be a consideration to eventually replace Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, recently announced his own candidacy.

On April 12, Ahmadinejad told reporters that Khamenei had not expressly forbidden him from running. "The supreme leader recommended that I not participate in the election as a candidate. I accepted that, although his advice was not a ban. He said, 'I am not telling you whether to register or not,'" Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad said he was registering in support of former Vice President Baghaei, who applied to be a candidate alongside his former boss but could be excluded by the powerful Guardians Council over an arrest in 2015.

"Despite massive pressure from the people for me, a servant of the people, to enter the [race], I remain committed to my moral promise and I merely registered here to support my dear brother, Baghaei," Ahmadinejad told reporters after submitting his name.

Another member of Ahmadinejad's inner circle, former aide Esfandiari Rahim Mashaei, who was himself disqualified from the presidential race in 2013, was also present at the April 12 registration.

Hossein Rassam, a former adviser to the British Foreign Office, says he regards Ahmadinejad's move as an effort to impress on the authorities the potential price of a disqualification of Baghaei.

"It's an explicit warning, not just to the Guardians Council but also to Khamenei himself, that he would [be willing to renege] on the commitment he made on not running" if Baghaei is eliminated.

Rassam says the message was: "You stick to your side of the deal and I will stick to mine. [So] let Baghaei run."

Ahmadinejad's reelection in 2009 led to mass street protests amid allegations of extensive vote rigging. The establishment responded with a crackdown that left dozens of opposition protesters dead and thousands more people in jail, and allegations of widespread torture of those in custody.

But he also frequently traveled to Iran's regions with a populist message and promises of economic assistance from Tehran.

Ahmadinejad's presidency was marked by increasing domestic quarrels and tensions with the West.

He had said last week that he was not planning to run and would support Baghaei.

If allowed to run, Ahmadinejad could split the hard-line vote, Rassam says. "Ayatollah Khamenei wanted to avoid a polarized election when he asked Ahmadinejad not to run so that [Ahmadinejad] would not be representing one end of the [political] spectrum while Rohani is representing the other end," he says.

The Guardians Council has a record of disqualifying those it regards as a threat to the clerical establishment, including unelected officials like the supreme leader.

In 2013 it prevented ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who died earlier this year, from running again for the same office.

Baghaei was jailed for several months in 2015 on charges that remain unclear.

A final list of the candidates cleared to run is due to be released by April 27.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda reporter Mehrdad Ghassemfar, IRNA, and ISNA

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ahmadinejad-registers- iranian-president/28425030.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iraqi forces kill at least 52 Daesh militants in west Mosul operations

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:0PM

Iraqi forces have killed at least 52 Daesh militants during operations aimed at purging west Mosul from the presence of the Takfiri terrorists.

"The forces raided al-Abar area, killing 17 Daesh members," said a commander of the Iraqi army's elite Counter-Terrorism Forces (ICTF) on Wednesday.

He added that six female Daesh members from various Arab nationalities were also detained during the operations.

"Troops liberated around 40 percent of al-Abar region," he added, noting that Iraqi forces were still engaged in clashes with the terrorists.

A separate ICTF commander noted that the anti-terror forces had also carried out raids in al-Tanak, another district of the city.

Also on Wednesday, the Iraqi Defense Ministry announced that the air force had killed 20 terrorists during an operation in the al-Sabuniyah area of the city.

Separately, an Iraqi government official announced that 15 terrorists were also killed in an Iraqi air force airstrike in Mosul's western Hadar region.

"An airstrike targeted a gathering of Daesh militants in al-Shaihan village in al-Hadar area based on federal investigations and information," read a statement.

"Others were injured as they were intending to launch attacks in several areas," it added.

Iraqi forces destroy Daesh ammo depot

Meanwhile, Iraqi federal police troops discovered a terrorist ammunition depot during operations in the Old City area, where they have been active for several weeks and have been facing tough resistance which is hindering their progress.

They are currently advancing through the city's maze-like streets towards the al-Nuri mosque, where Daesh's leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, announced the forming of the group's so-called caliphate in 2014.

According to police Lieutenant Colonel Hussein Zughayer, around 1,000 rockets and 1,000 bags of chemical material used to make bombs and explosives were found in the cache.

"Troops found this depot during search operations of the district. The place was used by the Daesh to store rockets and use it against the civilians and the security forces," he added.

Iraqi army soldiers and pro-movement fighters have made sweeping gains against 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.

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Iraqi Police: Daesh Loses Centralized Command After Top Leaders Killed in Mosul

Sputnik News

01:12 13.04.2017

Terrorist group Daesh has lost centralized command after it top leaders in the city of Mosul were eliminated by the Iraqi government forces, Iraqi police said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Senior Daesh (banned in Russia) militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul have been eliminated by the Iraqi forces and do not have centralized command anymore, an Iraqi police official told Sputnik Wednesday.

"The majority of IS [Daesh] militants' leaders have been eliminated and the rest of them fled. Presently they have second and third-level leaders left. According to our information they are weak leaders. They are distributed around the regions and they do not have centralized command," Lt. Col. Imad Khalaf said.

Khalaf added that the militants had split into small groups of three or four people, including snipers and suicide bombers.

On February 18, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of operations to liberate Mosul, captured by Daesh militants in June 2014. Iraqi and US-led coalition forces liberated the eastern part of the city in late January 2017, while its western part remains under terrorists' control.

 Sputnik

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Japan plans to join US strike group headed for Korean Peninsula: Sources

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:16AM

Japan plans a joint military drill with the US Navy strike group that has been heading toward North Korea, potentially escalating an already-tense situation in the region.

Sources told Reuters on Wednesday that the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) would be prepared to launch the drill as the nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its escort vessels passed through waters close to Japanese territory.

"Japan wants to dispatch several destroyers as the Carl Vinson enters the East China Sea," one of the sources said. The two militaries may conduct helicopter landings on each other's ships and carry out communication drills.

Apart from the USS Carl Vinson, the strike group also includes two destroyers, a cruiser, and submarines. The USS Carl Vinson is capable of carrying 90 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Its dispatch to the Korean Peninsula comes amid increased tensions with North Korea, whose rapidly developing missile and military nuclear programs have unnerved Washington.

While Japan has stakes in the row with North Korea, its plan to conduct the limited drill with the US strike group in the East China Sea seems more aimed at China, which is involved in a territorial dispute with Japan in the sea.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang has warned to attack US mainland with an atomic bomb if the US strike group conducts any aggression against North Korean soil.

"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 theater but also in the US mainland," said a report on the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Tuesday.

Reacting on the same day, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet that Pyongyang was "looking for trouble."

He also referred to the strike group and said, "We are sending an armada. Very powerful. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you."

North Korea has so far conducted five confirmed nuclear tests and numerous missile launches. It fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan last week.

The North faces international pressure, including an array of sanctions, to abandon its arms development and nuclear programs.

The US, which has military forces in South Korea, has also recently started the installation of an advanced missile system at an air base in the South, further stoking tensions with the North, as well as China.

The US has been calling on Beijing to help contain North Korea.

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Pakistan not to be part of any alliance against Yemen: defense min

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 12, IRNA -- Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has reiterated that Pakistan is not going to become part of any alliance against Yemen.

Delivering a policy statement in Senate, the minister said, 'Pakistan will not become part of any agreement which is against another Muslim state. We are bound to parliamentary dictate adopted in a resolution during the Yemen crisis.'

All concerns expressed by Iran about the Saudi-led military alliance, of which Pakistan is a member, would be removed, said the minister.

He referred to the recent visit of PM's adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to Iran and his meetings with the authorities there.

He said that Pakistan has good brotherly relations with Iran, which played an important role in the success of recently held Economic Cooperation Organization summit. The Iranian President attended that conference with a large delegation, he added.

He also said that the agenda and the programs of the proposed military alliance are yet to be finalized and a meeting of defense ministers of 41 proposed members of the alliance would be convened in Saudi Arabia in May where such matters would be finalised.

"We will become part of an alliance which is solely against terrorism," he remarked.

Pakistan, he said, would use its status as a nuclear-armed country for reconciliation among Muslim countries. Islamabad would be ready to play the role of a mediator, if needed.

Asif held the United States as responsible for creating divisions within the Muslim countries.

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Pakistan says will quit Saudi-led military coalition if it turns 'sectarian'

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:7PM

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says Islamabad will quit a controversial Saudi-led coalition if it becomes "sectarian," as the military bloc continues its aggression against the impoverished nation of Yemen, particularly the Shia Houthi Ansarullah movement there.

"Pakistan does not wish to be a part of any sectarian alliance," the minister told lawmakers in the senate, the upper house of the parliament.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Pakistani minister said Islamabad had not issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the former army chief, General Raheel Sharif, to assume the command of the coalition.

The remarks come after some sources earlier said the Pakistani government had cleared the former army chief to take up the job as the head of the coalition following a formal request from Saudi Arabia.

The news of the controversial appointment sparked controversy in the country and was strongly denounced by some politicians, retired army officers and intellectuals, as well as Shia and moderate Sunni Muslim leaders.

Opposition lawmakers consider the decision a violation of a parliamentary resolution passed in April 2015 that called for Pakistan to maintain a policy of neutrality, particularly in the Saudi aggression against Yemen. The Saudi campaign, which allegedly seeks to restore Yemen's ex-government to power, has killed over 12,000 Yemenis, according to the latest tallies.

Pakistan had initially found itself in the crosshairs as Saudi Arabia named it as part of its newly formed military alliance, without first getting its consent.

In December 2015, Saudi Defense Minister Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the formation of an alliance of Muslim-majority countries, which now numbers 40. Riyadh claims the alliance has been formed to fight extremist groups such as the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

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Trump: US 'Not Getting Along With Russia At All'

Sputnik News

23:26 12.04.2017(updated 00:43 13.04.2017)

During a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US President Donald Trump said Washington's relations with Moscow are at an "all time low," adding, "We're not getting along with Russia at all."

"It would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin, with Russia  I would like to get along with everyone," Trump continued. He promised that "by the time I'm finished [the world] will be a much better place."

Referencing fears that may arise across Europe due to US-Russia relations, the US president said he hopes that Europeans will "have to fear nothing  that would be the ideal situation."

Stoltenberg pointed out that the "most important" part about dealing with Russia is "deploying more troops in the eastern part of NATO, increasing defense spending [and] keeping a stable alliance."

Nevertheless, Stoltenberg noted that Russia is not going anywhere. As such it is crucial to find ways to maintain civil relations with Moscow to "avoid a Cold War, an arms race."

"We strongly believe that there is no contradiction between a strong NATO, credible deterrence on defense, and political dialogue with Russia Russia is our neighbor, Russia is there to stay.

Speaking of the recent missile strike against the Sha'irat airbase in the Homs province of Syria ordered by Trump, the official said that NATO allies responded to the move with "understanding." The military alliance "also strongly supports the efforts of the fact-finding commission to find out actually what happened."

On Wednesday, Lavrov renewed demands that an independent probe should take place before any UN Security Council resolution is signed condemning the Assad administration. Such a resolution would be "counterproductive," Lavrov said.

Trump expressed Washington's desire to improve relations with Moscow, saying "it would be great to get along with Putin."

 Sputnik

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US makes 'adjustments' to Daesh strikes amid 'tensions' in Syria

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:42PM

The United States and its allies are pulling back on airstrikes to allegedly target Daesh terrorists in Syria in the wake of US missile strikes against an airbase under the control of the Syrian government, which drew Russia's ire.

US warships deployed to the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat Airfield, southeast of the western Syrian city of Homs, on Friday. Washington, without providing any evidence, alleged that the attack came in response to a chemical attack by the Syrian government in Khan Shaykhun.

The missile attack, which faced condemnation by Russia, Iran as well as the Syrian government, appeared to be the reason behind the "adjustments" the US-led coalition is making.

"We have made adjustments to our operations to account for the potential tensions that resulted from the strikes that were conducted because of the Syrian regime's chemical attack," Colonel John Dorrian, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

The spokesman further asserted that the so-called coalition would continue its operations against the Daesh de facto capital, Raqqah, in northern Syria.

"But make no mistake, we do plan on continuing our operations and we do continue to look for ways to accelerate them," Dorrian said.

He further noted that the forces are attempting to avoid a "miscalculation," which could potentially make Russia confront the US in Syria.

"It's just appropriate to make sure that you're taking appropriate measures to account for that," said the spokesman. "We don't want to be reckless and we don't want to have some type of incident that would cause a miscalculation, or some type of unintended incident."

The so-called coalition reportedly conducted 123 strikes in past week in an attempt to allegedly liberate the Takfiri-held town.

"The intent is to get back as quickly as possible to our normal operations and as fast a pace as we can manage," Dorrian said, adding that there was no evidence of any threats against US forces by Russia or the Syrian forces.

Damascus has categorically denied carrying out the gas attack, with the foreign ministry stressing that an Idlib airstrike had targeted a depot, where terrorists stored chemical weapons.

Moscow, in the meanwhile, maintains that the attack is a "false-flag" one orchestrated in an attempt to criminalize Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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Russia vetoes Security Council resolution on Syria chemical attack

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:24PM

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution sponsored by the UK, France, and the US condemning the Syrian government for a suspected chemical weapons attack in the Arab country.

On Wednesday, Russia blocked the draft resolution that condemned the alleged chemical attack in the Syrian province of Idlib, and urging the Syrian government to cooperate with a probe into the incident.

In response to the alleged attack, US warships deployed to the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat Airfield, southeast of the western Syrian city of Homs on Friday.

"What was being ignored and brushed aside under artificial pretext was Russia's concerns and priorities. The main problem was that the draft resolution by the troika appointed the guilty party prior to an independent and objective investigation. This is an approach that is incompatible with legal norms," said Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov.

During the debate before the vote, Safronkov stressed that Western countries were wrong to blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the gas attack.

"I'm amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?" he said.

Ten countries voted in favor of the draft, Bolivia joined Russia in voting no, while China, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan abstained.

"With its veto, Russia said 'no' to accountability, Russia said 'no' to cooperation with the UN's independent investigation and Russia said 'no' to a resolution that would have helped to promote peace in Syria," said US Ambassador Nikki Haley, adding that Russia "has a lot to prove."

Western countries blame the Syrian government for the Khan Shaykhun incident without providing any evidence to support their accusations.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Damascus did not and would not use chemical arms, even against terror outfits. He said the Syrian military had carried out an airstrike on a depot where terrorists stored chemical weapons.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the lack of an international probe into the chemical attack would show that the international community was not seeking truth with regard to the incident.

"I would like to stress that we are 100 percent sure that, if our colleagues in the UN or in The Hague will steer away from this investigation, it will basically mean that they do not want to find out the truth," he said, adding that Russia "will insist on" launching an investigation.

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Trump: 'We are not going into Syria'

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:39PM

US President Donald Trump has ruled out sending American troops to Syria to fight the government of President Bashar al-Assad, insisting that defeating Daesh (ISIL) remains Washington's first priority.

"We're not going into Syria. Our policy is the same  it hasn't changed. We're not going into Syria," Trump told Fox News on Tuesday.

The comments are expected to clear the air amid speculations that last week's US missile attack against a Syrian airfield was the stepping stone for a major invasion.

Two US Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at al-Shayrat airbase in Homs province in western Syria on April 7. Trump said the attack was in response to an alleged chemical attack that killed over 80 people in Syria last week.

The military action, coupled with American officials' change of tone over Assad's future, stirred speculation that the US and its Western allies were ready to place boots on the ground in Syria.

"Our big mission is getting rid of ISIS (ISIL)," Trump said. "That's where it's always been. But when you see kids choking to death, you watch their lungs burning out, we had to hit him (Assad) and hit him hard."

Claiming that the US attack was "an act of humanity," Trump said he reflected a lot on the severity of the strike and came to the conclusion that "this would be the appropriate first shot."

The new Republican president then focused on Russia, which has been running an aerial campaign against terrorist positions across Syria in coordination with Damascus.

"We're not exactly on the same wavelength with Russia, to put it mildly," Trump said, asking Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider his ties with Assad.

The West has been pressuring Russia to withdraw its support for Syria. Both the UK and the US have proposed more sanctions against Putin's government in case the support continues.

Russia, however, has condemned the US attack, warning that Washington was making the same mistakes it made before invading Iraq in 2003.

Putin said afterwards that the strike had seriously hurt the Russo-American ties.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his visiting American counterpart Rex Tillerson in Moscow on Wednesday that the US should never repeat the "unlawful attack against Syria."

The US has already sent several hundred of its special operation forces to Syria under what it claims is a training mission with Kurdish fighters. The US and its allies have also been carrying out airstrikes against purported Daesh positions in Syria since 2014, without permission from Damascus.

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Russia warns US not to repeat Syria strike

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:23AM

Russia has cautioned the United States against staging a repeat of its recent unauthorized missile strike against Syria, which risked sparking a direct confrontation between Moscow and Washington.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued the warning while meeting with his visiting American counterpart Rex Tillerson at the Kremlin on Wednesday.

It is "important to not allow repeat of such strikes," which "were [in] violation of law," Lavrov said.

Last Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on a Syrian airbase. It saw a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles launched against the Shayrat airfield in the western Syrian Homs Province, causing some 15 fatalities, including civilians.

Russian forces were based at the airfield, although US officials said the Russians had been given notice of the strike ahead of time.

The attack lacked a United Nations Security Council mandate, and the US Congress was not even consulted.

Russia and the US have been supporting opposite sides during the now-six-year militancy in Syria. Moscow has been helping Damascus in its fight against extremist militants, while Washington has been arming some of the militant groups fighting in Syria. The US has also been leading dozens of its allies in a coalition purportedly targeting Daesh positions in the Arab country.

Observers said the US missile attack against the Syrian airfield threatened to spark a major confrontation between powers Russia and the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said afterwards that the strike had seriously hurt the Russo-American ties. Moscow also shut down a hot line that had been set up to prevent clashes between the Russian and American militaries in Syria.

Washington staged the strike over the accusation that Damascus had used the base to launch a gas attack in the northeastern Syrian province of Idlib a few days earlier. Syria has denied the accusation, saying instead that a chemical weapons depot belonging to the anti-Damascus militants had been hit in a conventional Syrian airstrike. Russia has verified that account.

Lavrov also told Tillerson that Russia had questions about the "very ambiguous" and "contradictory" statements coming from the US regarding Syria. He added that the Kremlin wanted to know about the real intentions of the White House as far as Syria was concerned.

He was apparently referring to Washington's recent policy reversals and contradictory statements from US officials on Syria.

On Wednesday, Trump, an early advocate of closer cooperation with Russia on Syria and a personal admirer of Putin, told Fox Business Network that the Russian president's support for Assad was "very bad for Russia."

Lavrov also said that he expected "frank and honest" discussions with Tillerson on forming a broad anti-terrorism coalition during the US secretary of state's stay in Moscow.

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US accuses Russia of covering up Syrian govt.'s role in gas attack

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:51AM

The United States has accused Russia of trying to cover up the role of the Syrian government in the recent suspected chemical weapons attack in northwestern Syria, as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Moscow.

The White House said on Tuesday that that US intelligence had confirmed that the government of President Bashar al-Assad used sarin gas on its own people and Moscow was engaged in a cover-up of Damascus's role in the attack.

The allegations were made in a four-page report prepared by the White House National Security Council which contains declassified US intelligence on the attack and an answer to Syrian and Russian statements that foreign-sponsored militants carried out the gas attack to frame the Syrian government.

The report went on to claim that Damascus and Moscow had issued "false narratives" to mislead the world.

The document came as Tillerson arrived in Moscow on Tuesday to hold talks with Russian officials regarding the Syrian crisis. According to reports, Tillerson is to urge the Russian leadership to withdraw support from Assad.

On Monday, a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that the US has concluded that Russians knew ahead of time that chemical weapons would be used in the attack that left more than 80 people dead and dozens others injured in the town of Khan Shaykhun in Idlib province.

The United States, however, has no proof of Russian involvement in the alleged chemical attack, the official acknowledged.

Two US Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at al-Shayrat airbase in Homs province in western Syria on April 7.

President Donald Trump said he had ordered the strike in response to the April 4 chemical attack in the Arab country that he blamed on the Syrian government.

The Syrian government has strongly denied any responsibility for the alleged gas attack.

The US along with the UK and France has also prepared a draft resolution to oblige the Syrian government to cooperate with an international probe into the chemical incident. The draft resolution will be put to the vote at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

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Russia ready to grant access to Syria airbase for 'gas attack' probe: Defense official

Iran Press TV

Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:7AM

Russia has said it is ready to provide inspectors with access to a Syrian airbase that the opponents of the Syrian government say was used to carry out a "chemical attack."

At least 86 people died in the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria last week in what was claimed to be a chemical attack conducted by the Syrian government. Damascus has denied the accusation, saying that a chemical weapons depot held by militants opposed to the government had been hit in a conventional Syrian airstrike.

But Western countries have been insisting that Damascus was behind the attack, with the United States naming a particular Syrian airbase as the launch pad for the alleged gas attack. The US military launched missiles against that base  the Shayrat airfield in Syria's Homs Province  on Friday, saying the strikes were carried out in retaliation for the April 4 "chemical attack."

Russia, which has been carrying out an aerial bombing campaign in Syria on behalf of Damascus, has denied that any chemical weapons were used by the Syrian government.

Iran, another Syrian ally, has proposed that an impartial investigation be launched into the accusations.

On Tuesday, Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff's Operations Department, said Russia would grant access to international inspectors to the airfield.

"Experts are aware that it is impossible to conceal the traces of chemical weapons," Colonel General Rudskoy said.

He said the Syrian government, too, was ready to grant access to experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the army base.

The Russian military official also said the Syrian government was not in possession of any chemical weapons. He said anti-Damascus militants were suffering one defeat after another and were on the run in the territories they had occupied.

"Under such circumstances, the government of [Syrian President] Bashar Assad has no need to use chemical weapons. Moreover, the Syrian army does not have any," he said.

Colonel General Rudskoy said claims that the Assad government was behind a chemical attack were "highly questionable."

In 2013, Russia brokered a deal with the US to have the Syrian government's chemical arsenal turned over in return for a reversal of US plans to attack Syria back then. The task to remove Syrian chemical arms was carried out by the OPCW.

Rudskoy said under that deal, the Syrian government fully destroyed all of the chemical weapons it had access to.

"Out of 12 facilities used for storing and producing chemical weapons, ten were destroyed as confirmed by the OPCW experts. The Syrian government has no access to the remaining two facilities as they are located on a territory controlled by the so-called opposition," the Russian official said.

He said it remained unclear whether the chemical arms stored at those two facilities had been destroyed.

"No facts confirming production or possession of chemical agents [by the Syrian government] were found," Rudskoy emphasized, adding that "Syria has no chemical weapons" and this fact was "documented and confirmed by the OPCW representatives."

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attack on Khan Shaykhun as a "false flag" operation aimed at undermining the Syrian government and warned of a threat of similar incidents in the future, possibly targeting a Damascus suburb.

Controversial draft resolution at UNSC

Meanwhile, a draft resolution has been proposed by Britain, France, and the US to be forwarded to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for a probe into the "chemical attack" in Syria.

A vote on the draft resolution is expected at 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

According to AFP, the draft resolution expresses "horror" at the alleged use of chemical weapons in Khan Shaykhun and condemns the alleged April 4 attack.

The draft also calls on the Syrian government to provide a range of potentially confidential military information, including flight logs and similar military information regarding operations on April 4. It also demands the names of military commanders involved in operations on that day.

The text also calls on Syria to provide access to air bases to UN investigators.

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Damascus responsible for chemical attack, Mattis claims

Iran Press TV

Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:2PM

US Defense Secretary James Mattis has reiterated unfounded allegations against the Syrian government over use of chemical weapons, saying there is "no doubt" that Damascus was responsible for a recent gas attack.

"Last Tuesday, on the 4th of April, the Syrian regime attacked its own people using chemical weapons," claimed the US military chief during a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday. "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 made the remarks after Washington repeatedly held Damascus responsible for a last week's chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria's Idlib province, which claimed over 80 lives.

Syria has categorically denied the accusation and stressed that its Idlib airstrike had targeted a depot, where terrorists stored chemical weapons.

In retaliation for the suspected gas attack, US President Donald Trump ordered two US Navy destroyers to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at Syria's al-Shayrat airfield early on Friday, claiming that the airfield had been used to store chemical weapons and Syrian aircraft.

During the Tuesday briefing, the Pentagon chief also stressed that Washington's military strategy in Syria has not changed even after its retaliatory missile strikes on a Syrian airbase, claiming that, "our priority remains the defeat" of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

In September 2014, the US and some of its allies started conducting airstrikes inside Syria allegedly against Daesh terrorists.

Syria gas attack as "false flag" to set Assad up

In response to the recent remarks by the US officials concerning the suspected gas attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the incident in Idlib province had been used by the US administration as a "false flag" to discredit the government in Damascus.

"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," said Putin, adding that, "They plan to plant some chemical there and accuse the Syrian government of an attack."

The Russian president also emphasized that the United Nations needs to launch an official investigation into the last week's chemical attack in Syria.

"We are planning to address the corresponding UN structure in The Hague and call on the international community to thoroughly investigate all those reports and take appropriate action based on the results of such a probe," he said.

Earlier, Russia had fiercely condemned the attack as an act of "aggression" from the US.

Since March 2011, the United States and its regional allies, in particular Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, have been conducting a proxy war against the Syrian people and government.

The years-long conflict has left more than 470,000 Syrians dead and half of the country's population of about 23 million displaced within or beyond the Arab country's borders.

In recent months, the Syrian army, backed by the Russian air power, has been making major gains against Takfiri terrorist groups, recapturing several strategic areas from their grip, particularly in the strategic northern province of Aleppo.

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At UN, U.S. Says Russia Isolating Itself By Supporting Assad

April 12, 2017

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations tells Russia it is "long past time" to stop covering for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"You are isolating yourselves from the international community every time one of Assad's planes drop another barrel bomb on civilians and every time Assad tries to starve another community to death," Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council on April 12.

"We can start by working together to deescalate" the six-year civil war in Syria, Haley also said.

Tension between Russia and the United States has risen since a suspected chemical attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun last week that left more than 80 people dead.

Haley warned that the United States will not allow any further use of chemical weapons "to go unanswered."

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Interfax news agency that a Western-backed draft Security Council resolution on the April 4 incident was "unacceptable" in its current form.

The United States and other Western governments have rejected assertions by Damascus and Moscow, Assad's main backer in the Syrian conflict, that deadly gas was released when government air strikes hit rebel-controlled chemical weapons.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/un-us-says-russia-isolating- self-by-supporting-assad-syria/28426144.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Mission to UN Presented New Draft Resolution on Syria Chemical Attack

Sputnik News

22:59 12.04.2017(updated 00:24 13.04.2017)

The Russian Mission to the United Nations presented a new draft resolution on chemical attack in Syrian Idlib, a representative of the Mission told reporters.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The news comes as earlier in the day Russia blocked a draft resolution condemning the Syrian government for the alleged chemical attack in the country that was introduced by the UK, France and the US. The resolution asked the Syrian government to provide flight plans and logs of its military operations on the day of the incident and for the country to open its air bases to UN investigators.

"We have submitted a new draft," the mission official stated.

The new draft resolution would request on-site investigations from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said.

"The Russian document does contain a clear request to do this [OPCW investigation] in a way to leave no doubt about the fact that in order to prepare its conclusions all possible sources and means have been exhausted and most importantly there has been a visit to the place where the incident took place," Safronkov stated.

Russia has repeatedly called for an independent investigation of the incident, which it says resulted from a Syrian government airstrike on a terrorist chemical weapons storehouse. Russia's UN envoy urged all parties to cooperate with any independent international investigation launched by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Last week, Russia presented a draft resolution on the chemical attack in Syrian Idlib calling for a proper investigation into the incident.

 Sputnik

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Syria May Ask Russia to Deliver Buk, Tor Air Defense Systems - Russian Lawmaker

Sputnik News

22:40 12.04.2017(updated 22:51 12.04.2017)

Damascus may ask Moscow to provide it with air defense systems in order to counter possible missile attacks from Washington, a top Russian lawmaker told Sputnik on on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Syria may turn to Russia for help and ask to supply Damascus with Buk and Tor the air defense systems to counter US cruise missile attacks, a senior Russian lawmaker told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"I think Syria will turn to us for help, to receive Buk and Tor systems to shoot down American cruise missiles. Syria has the right to respond to aggression and defend its territory," First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Jabarov said.

Jabarov reiterated that Russia will use its advanced S-400 air defense systems deployed in Syria only to protect Russian military infrastructure in the war-torn country.

 Sputnik

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Russia Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Condemning Syrian Government

Sputnik News

22:24 12.04.2017(updated 23:56 12.04.2017)

A UN Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian government for the alleged gas attack in the country's Idlib province has been vetoed by Russia as a permanent member of the Security Council.

A draft resolution condemning the Syrian government for the alleged chemical attack in the country that was introduced by the UK, France and the US was blocked by Russia on Wednesday.

"The result of the vote is as follows: ten votes in favor, two votes against, three abstentions. The draft resolution has not been adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of Council," current Security Council President Nikki Haley of the US announced following the vote.

The resolution asked the Syrian government to provide flight plans and logs of its military operations on the day of the incident and for the country to open its air bases to UN investigators.

The US responded to the incident days later by launching 59 Tomahawk missiles at the airbase from which the Syrian government allegedly launched the attack.

Russia has repeatedly called for an independent investigation of the incident, which it says resulted from a Syrian government airstrike on a terrorist chemical weapons storehouse. Russia's UN envoy before the vote said the resolution served no purpose and pointed out that the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is due to meet in the Hague Thursday to discuss the incident. He urged all parties to cooperate with any independent international investigation launched by that organization.

China, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained from the vote. Bolivia voted with Russia to veto the resolution.

During their joint press conference only scant hours before the vote, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed their nations' differing opinions on the matter. Lavrov called again for an investigation into the incident in which several dozen civilians were killed, whereas Tillerson said the attack was planned and executed by Syrian government forces. "We are quite confident about that," Tillerson said.

 Sputnik

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Putin Confirmed Russia Ready to Return to Air Safety Memorandum in Syria With US

Sputnik News

22:20 12.04.2017(updated 00:14 13.04.2017)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow is ready to return to the memorandum on preventing aerial incidents in Syria with Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) Putin said that Russia will return to the memorandum of understanding on preventing aerial incidents in Syria, if the United States confirms that their goal there is to fight terrorism.

"We have discussed the current state of affairs in actions of our air forces, both Russian and the US-led coalition's, in the context of the existing memorandum on preventing incidents and maintaining flight security in course of operations in Syria. As you know, the memorandum was suspended by Russia, and today the Russian president confirmed our readiness to return to the implementation of the memorandum, with the understanding that the initial goal of the US and Russian air force is confirmed as fighting Daesh, the Nusra Front (terrorist groups, both outlawed in Russia) and other terrorist groups affiliated with them," Lavrov said at a press conference after his meeting with the US State Secretary Rex Tillerson.

Russia's head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Viktor Ozerov stated that the memorandum will be restored on April 12.

"Today this memorandum will be put back in forceafter the president, the supreme commander-in-chief, gives a relevant order to the Ministry of Defense," Ozerov told Sputnik.

On April 7, Russia suspended its memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria with the United States after the latter launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat near Homs late Thursday. US President Donald Trump claimed that the strike was a response to the alleged chemical weapon attack in Syrian Idlib on Thursday, an incident which the White House blames on Damascus.

The Syrian government has denied the allegations, referring to the fact that Damascus joined the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2013 after the east Ghouta sarin gas incident and agreed to destroy its stockpile under Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) oversight. In January 2016, the OPCW announced that all chemical weapons in Syria had been destroyed.

 Sputnik

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Syria Invited OPCW to Send Inspector to Airfield - Representative to UN

Sputnik News

19:34 12.04.2017(updated 19:41 12.04.2017)

Syrian Arab Republic's Permanent Representative to the UN said that Syria is inviting members of the UN Security Council, as well as inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the country.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Syria is inviting members of the UN Security Council, as well as inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the country to inspect both the airfield hit by US missiles and the town attacked by chemical weapons to discover who was responsible for the chemical attack, the Syrian Arab Republic's Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar Jaafari said on Wednesday at a Security Council meeting.

"My country has sent to you and to other members of the council a letter inviting you and inviting the Director General of the OPCW, inviting him to send a technical mission to Khan Sheikhoun and to Ash Sha'irat airbase to uncover the truth," Jaafari stated.

Jaafari noted the government has extended the invitations because it wants to know who was responsible to the chemical attack last week in Khan Sheikhoun.

On April 6, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at the government's Ash Sha'irat airfield in response to the chemical weapon attack against civilians.

 Sputnik

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Moscow Reiterates Syrian Air Force Struck Terrorist Chemical Warehouse April 4

Sputnik News

11:29 12.04.2017

Russia's deputy foreign minister reiterated Moscow's position that a Syrian warplane hit a militant chemical weapons production facility on April 4, from which the US missile attack ensued.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russia stands by its assertion that the Syrian forces struck a militant chemical weapons production facility on April 4, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

"According to our absolutely reliable information, the point at issue are Syrian Arab Republic air force's Su-22 airstrikes on a site controlled by terrorists where chemicals were produced," Ryabkov told reporters.

On April 4, a chemical weapons incident in Syria's Idlib province claimed the lives of some 80 people and inflicted harm on an additional 200 civilians. The Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, as well as a number of Western states, accused the Syrian government troops of carrying out the attack, while Damascus refuted these allegations, with a Syrian army source telling Sputnik that the army did not possess chemical weapons.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on April 5 that the airstrike near Khan Shaykhun by the Syrian air force hit a terrorist warehouse that stored chemical weapons slated for delivery to Iraq, and called on the UN Security Council to launch a proper investigation into the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said April 6 that groundless accusations in the chemical weapons incident in Syria's Idlib were unacceptable before the investigation into the matter had been carried out.

However, the incident was used as pretext for a US missile strike against the Ash Sha'irat airbase carried out late on April 6. US President Donald Trump characterized the strike as a response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government troops while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was a violation of the international law. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the US missile strike against the Syrian airfield as a strategic mistake.

Earlier this year, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that the country's government had never used weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, against the Syrian people. Besides, under a Russian-US deal after the east Ghouta sarin gas incident in 2013, Damascus joined the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and agreed to destroy its stockpile under Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) oversight. In January 2016, the OPCW announced that all chemical weapons in Syria had been destroyed.

 Sputnik

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Putin Calls for Idlib Incident Investigation, Warns of Possible New Provocations

Sputnik News

06:55 12.04.2017(updated 08:40 12.04.2017)

Speaking at a briefing after talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the US military actions in Syria with the events in Iraq in 2003 and stated that Russia would seek thorough investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria's Idlib.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian president also explained the anti-Syrian and anti-Russian attitude of the Western states by the fact that European countries and the United States wanted to restore the close relationship, consolidating against Russia and Syria.

Earlier this month, the Syrian opposition reported that some 80 people were killed and 200 others injured in a chemical weapons attack in Idlib, blaming the Syrian army for the attack. On April 7, the United States carried out a missile attack on the Syrian airbase near the city of Homs, claiming, with no evidence provided, that the chemical attack was allegedly launched from that airfield. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has denied the government's involvement in the Idlib incident, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday criticized the US missile attack as a violation of the international law.

US ACTIONS IN SYRIA RESEMBLE THOSE IN IRAQ IN 2003

Putin said that the latest US missile strikes carried out without providing proof of the Syrian government involvement in the alleged Idlib attack, bring to mind the United States' UN Security Council address in 2003 that led to the invasion of Iraq.

In 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell made a speech at the UN Security Council and presented the falsified evidence of the weapons of mass destruction presence in Iraq, using it to justify the US intervention in Iraq.

"This reminds me very much of the events of 2003, when US representatives in the 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 Daesh [banned in Russia] on the international scene  no more, no less. The exact same thing is happening now, and their partners are nodding approvingly. We have seen this all before," Putin stated.

Lavrov also said the United States' latest missile attack on a Syrian airfield is reminiscent of its military intervention in Iraq 14 years ago and was an "act of aggression under an absolutely false pretext."

REASONS FOR ANTI-RUSSIAN, ANTI-SYRIAN CAMPAIGN OF WESTERN COUNTRIES

Putin explained that seeing Russia and Syria as a common enemy, European countries would like to restore the lost relationship with the United States after an "anti-Trump" campaign during the elections.

"Why is this happening? Everyone wants to restore relations in the Western community after  thanks to the former US administration  many European countries adopted an anti-Trump position during the election campaign. Syria and Russia, as a common enemy, provide a wonderful platform for consolidation," Putin said.

Putin stressed that Russia was ready to be patient and expressed hope that the tensions would eventually be resolved positively.

"We are ready to put up with that for a while in the hope that it will eventually lead us to some positive trend based on interaction," Putin said.

POSSIBILITY OF NEW PROVOCATIONS

Putin stated that Russia had information from trusted sources that provocations involving fabricated chemical attacks were being prepared in other regions across Syria, including southern Damascus.

"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.

The Russian president stressed that any events similar to the reported chemical incident in Syria's Idlib should be thoroughly investigated.

 Sputnik

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Russia Vetoes Resolution Condemning Gas Attack in Syria

By Margaret Besheer April 12, 2017

Russia deployed yet another U.N. Security Council veto Wednesday to protect Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from international condemnation for last week's deadly chemical weapons attack.

"With its veto, Russia said 'no' to accountability, Russia said 'no' to cooperation with the United Nations' independent investigation, and Russia said 'no' to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria," U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council. "Russia has once again chosen to side with Assad," she said in reference to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

In a vote of 10 in favor, two against and three abstentions, Moscow blocked the measure put forward by Britain, France and the United States. China, in a rare break with Russia, abstained, while non-permanent members Bolivia voted no, and Ethiopia and Kazakhstan joined China in abstaining.

The draft resolution sought to condemn the gas attack and strengthen an international investigation into what happened. An earlier, similar draft resolution failed to make it to a vote last Thursday.

"If the regime is innocent, as Russia claims, the information requested in this resolution would have vindicated them," Haley said. "By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated."

Haley also had a warning for the Assad regime in Damascus: "The United States is watching your actions very closely. The days of your arrogance and disregard of humanity are over," she said. "I suggest you look at this vote very carefully, and heed this warning."

The Trump administration believes the Assad regime launched the April 4 gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun from the Shayrat airfield. After seeing images of dying children in the chemical attack, President Donald Trump said he decided a military response was necessary. The United States launched a targeted missile attack against the airfield two days after the chemical attack.

Russia's U.N. deputy envoy Vladimir Safronkov rejected the Western draft resolution, saying it "appointed the guilty party prior to an independent and objective investigation."

Finding definitive evidence

At an earlier session of the council Wednesday, also about Syria, Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said his government shares the U.S. assessment that it is highly likely the Assad regime was responsible for a sarin attack on the town last week.

"Chemical weapons scientists at Porton Down, in the United Kingdom, have analyzed samples obtained from Khan Sheikhoun, and these have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, or a sarin-like substance," he told council members.

"We need to find out the facts, conduct a comprehensive investigation," Russia's Safronkov told the council. He questioned how foreign experts already could have concluded that Damascus is responsible. "I am amazed this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?" he asked.

Syria's Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari said it is all "lies and accusations" against his country, and Syria no longer possesses chemical weapons, as confirmed by the United Nations in June 2014.

Seeking a political solution

Council members also were briefed by U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is tasked with trying to bring the opposing Syrian sides together in a political settlement.

He recently completed a fifth round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the first time the two sides have spoken directly instead of through him. De Mistura said that while there were no breakthroughs, there also were no breakdowns, and that the parties held substantive talks for nine full days on all the issues.

"Yes, the gaps are still wide," he said. He warned that the talks were overshadowed by an intensification of fighting on the ground and urged the restoration of a nationwide cease-fire.

"This is a time for clear thinking, strategy, imagination, cooperation," de Mistura said.

He welcomed the talks Wednesday in Moscow between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. He said he knows the two powers have "serious differences," but they also have "common interests and responsibilities."

"They must find a way to work together, to stabilize the situation, in a deliberate, realistic and concerted way, in support of the political process," de Mistura said.

Ultimately, de Mistura said there is a choice: Either the killing and destruction continue, or there is a shift to serious discussion and real de-escalation and a cease-fire to reach a political settlement. "The stakes in Syria are very high."

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Concerns Over Syria Threaten Resurgence of Russian-Turkish Tensions

By Dorian Jones April 12, 2017

The recent gas attack in Syria has resurrected Russian-Turkish tensions. Turkey is again calling for the removal of Russian backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the creation of safe areas and no-fly zones, but renewed tensions between Russia and Turkey could cost Ankara economically.

Ankara's robust stance against the Syrian regime has brought a swift response from Moscow. The Russian Union of Travel Industry warned Monday that an embargo on charter flights to Turkish holiday resorts could be reintroduced.

The embargo, which only recently was lifted, was part of tough economic sanctions enforced by Moscow after Turkish jets downed a Russian bomber operating from a Syrian airbase in 2015. "I don't think it can afford another crisis with Russia," warns political columnist Semih Idiz of Al Monitor website, "especially from the economic dimension, just with the advent of tourism season around the corner. So there has to be a balancing act there, a very delicate one."

Russian tourists account for the second-largest number of vacationers to Turkey. Last year's embargo devastated the country's lucrative tourism industry, with the number of Russian visitors dropping by nearly three million. Tourism accounts for 6.2 percent of the Turkish economy, employing eight percent of the labor force.

Until now, Turkish media had been reporting on a surge in Russian tourist bookings and the opening of new air charter routes from Russia, but, hopes of a new tourism boom now appear firmly on hold.

Economy slowed already

The uncertainly could not come at a worse time for the Turkish economy.

"The nation is exhausted by weight of economic slowdown," warns political consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source partners, "Despite the massive economic stimulus that has been injected into the economy, the consumer side is not recovering. We've seen the latest unemployment figures are at multi-year highs, we see a more important indicator, visit to shopping malls, turnover down by 1.5 percent, visitors down by 5.5 percent."

Even before the latest outbreak in bilateral tensions, Moscow's sincerity over rapprochement efforts, was already in question in Turkey, "it was a one side arrangement" points out Aydin Selcen former senior Turkish diplomat who served widely in the region.

Despite both presidents talking about progress, Moscow left in place most of the most Draconian economic sanctions against Turkey, "even practical issues like export agricultural products is not solved yet, the issue for visa for Turkish citizens is not solved yet, also the tomato issue is unresolved," points out Selcen

Rotten tomatoes

Moscow's ban on Turkish tomatoes is one of most painful and contentious issues for Ankara. Russia had accounted for more than 70 percent of Turkish exports, worth annually more than $250 million. A year later Turkish suppliers have struggled to find alternative markets, and the sight of tomatoes rotting on the vines are again starting to be reported in Turkish media.

Ankara last month hit back, introducing its own sanctions against Russian wheat imports. But in an interview last month Turkish Agriculture Minister Faruk Celik acknowledged the trade war was "unsustainable."

But strategic interests over Syria could help ease bilateral tensions. Turkey and Russia, along with Iran, are seen to have a vested interest in cooperating over Syria, despite their differences, "if there is going to be peace in Syria it will require at least for those three countries to be on board, so their proxy actors in Syria to be on board too," points out Sinan Ulgen, a visiting scholar from Carnegie Europe in Brussels, "So that's what is creating this feeling  interdependence."

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, voicing frustration over the situation, said next week economic delegations will sit down to resolve bilateral trade issues, "No country can win through bans. On the contrary, all lose. In an environment devoid of bans, all will win," said Zeybekci. Strategic considerations over Syria, however, also could be a factor in preventing a breakdown in relations.

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200 Royal Marine Jobs to Be Cut So Britain Can Crew Warships Instead

Sputnik News

15:31 12.04.2017(updated 15:40 12.04.2017)

Britain's Royal Marines are facing huge cuts in order to fund sailors for the UK's forthcoming multi-billion-dollar aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Experts fear this latest move could negatively impact the UK's defense systems even further.

The Royal Marines will see 200 jobs cut in order to help Britain's Royal Navy crew its new US$6.2 billion aircraft carriers. This shake up will see at least hundreds of posts transferred from the Marines to the Royal Navy, which has struggled to find enough sailors to crew Britain's warships.

Some fear that this latest move could have a long-term impact on UK Special Forces, who are increasingly being relied upon to carry out UK foreign policy.

First Sea Lord Admiral Philip Jones defended the latest move, which he has said is part of a process of "modernization."

"The government is investing in a new generation of ships, submarines and aircrafts," Admiral Jones.

However, senior former officers have warned that axing the Marines will send a clear message to enemies and terrorists that Britain is not interested in defending its interests.

A government source has said that half of the cuts would affect backroom functions  such as drivers and admin staff  and not directly impact the defense Marines are able to provide their country with.

The news of job cuts have been hanging around for a while  UK Special Forces commanders have already braced for cuts of up to 2,000 men in the Royal Navy. The Navy has increasingly struggled to meet the cost of manning the two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

"As we introduce these capabilities into service, we must ensure we have the right mix of skills across each of the navy's fighting arms to optimize 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," Admiral Jones said.

In addition to the job loses, the Navy is looking at whether to cut the number of amphibious landing crafts, as well as decommissioning HMS Ocean  the Navy's flagship  whose primary role is as a helicopter carrier and assault ship.

Major General Julian Thompson said that he only hopes the amphibious ships are not touched.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to begin trials in the North Sea last month and enter its new home in Portsmouth later in the year.

The British Royal Navy has not had the best luck over recent months, from missile malfunctions to persistent budget cuts, this latest news seems to be another nail in the Navy's coffin.

 Sputnik

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Police shut one of Gloucestershire's busiest roads to arrest three men as part of a clampdown on a major drug dealing network.

Motorists saw the A40 between Gloucester and Cheltenham cordoned off while police swooped, in a pre-planned operation.

Three people have been arrested in Cheltenham last night (Wednesday 12 April 2017) as part of an operation to tackle Dangerous Drug Networks operating in Gloucestershire.

Armed officers arrested three men just after 8pm on the A40 Golden Valley bypass as part of a pre-planned operation. The road was closed briefly.

The men, from the Birmingham and Gloucester areas, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and are now in police custody.

So-called Dangerous Drug Networks involve dealers from outside the county 'cuckoo-ing' vulnerable people in Gloucestershire, using their homes as a base for dealing in illegal drugs. Failure to comply with their demands can lead to dire consequences and police are urging anyone who suspects that a neighbour may be under the influence of a DDN to tip them off.
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Police have dragged children back to their parents after being caught playing and taking pictures on the railway near Gloucester station.

Gloucestershire police have launched a warning about the dangers of the railway line after a second incident of children being spotted on the line.

This time the officers were able to catch the children and they were taken back home and British Transport Police were told of the incident.

They Tweeted about the incident to alert them of the dangers.

"Rail tracks are not playgrounds, make sure your children are aware of the dangers. Real tracks, real trains, real life," they said.

Last week, police were called at 1.59pm to report a group had been spotted in the Daniels Brook area, close to the bottom of Chatsworth Avenue in Tuffley.

Officers were dispatched to the scene along with their colleagues from the British Transport Police to hunt for the three children spotted in the dangerous position by a member of the public.

Almost 170 people have lost their lives in the last ten years from trespassing on the railway.
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A psychological therapist in Cheltenham has started a crowdfunding campaign to launch a website which could change the lives of people who are suffering from trauma.

Justin Havens wants to make a series of videos available online free of charge which would help people who suffer from nightmares.

The videos would help people get better nights sleep and for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder to better deal with the condition.

It is hoped the website would help some of the five per cent of the world's population who suffer from nightmares, including current and former soldiers, emergency services, prison officers, abuse and assault victims and people who had suffered from accidents.

To launch the website Justin needs around 25,000, but he said the project could be a big help to PTSD sufferers if enough money is raised.

He said: "The idea is about teaching people to consciously change their dreams. Most people don't think it's possible but it's quick and easy to teach and gets results.

"Some people are not able to sleep for 20 years. Until you break out of the cycle it's a hell-hole.

"It will solve sleep deprivation, but PTSD is a broader condition. It can help to stabilise them.

The approach, named 'Planned Dream Intervention,' originally started by a psychologist in he US military named Dr Beverley Baxter.

It has since been taught to thousands of people with great success.

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Justin has worked on Planned Dream Intervention for four years, which involved a self-funded PHD from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, which was approved by the Help for Heroes charity.

This involved teaching the approach to 62 veterans suffering from PTSD and nightmares.

Half of the veterans said their PTSD got 50 per cent better after attending just one two-hour group session, and one third of the group got so much better they no longer met the criteria for PTSD afterwards.

Justin has also used these videos on up to 30 of his own clients on a one-to-one basis - and their conditions have all improved.

He said: "A lot of people can't afford to get therapy and they have to wait.

"It's not a solution to all issues, but this offers a solution that is quite revolutionary. There's nothing out there like it."

To pledge your support for the campaign, visit the Crowdfunder website.
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A man has been charged and faces court over the incident which saw a man stabbed in Gloucester park last year.

Jordan Weston, 24, of Southend Lane, London has been charged with GBH with intent in relation to the alleged stabbing which took place on July 4, 2016.

Dramatic scenes were reported at the park on the day as police swooped on the scene.

A man in his 20s suffered serious injuries to his hand before flagging down a motorist who drove him to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Injuries

It was initially believed his injuries may have been life threatening they have now been confirmed as serious but not life threatening.

Weston will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 3 where he will also faces other charges for different events.
Officials from a local homeownership education program that provides services for homebuyers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.

The Center for Housing Education celebrated its grand opening at Franklin and Monument streets, where the program relocated to in July 2016.

Everyone dreams of homeownership, said Constance Henderson, chairman of the board of commissioners for the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. This building will help the residents of our city to do just that.

City administrators, councilmen and staff, clients and residents attended the event held at the location.

The DRHA homeownership programs housing education directors office was previously located on Garfield Street.

Director Kimberly Walker said she had been waiting for four years to move into the building at 502 Franklin St.

Its been a labor of love, Walker told attendees.

Since moving into the building last summer, the center has undergone remodeling and other interior work to get the structure ready, Walker said during an interview Wednesday. Its first class started in December.

The Center for Housing Education teaches people how to buy a house and manage finances including paying mortgages and taxes. Other services include teaching owners how to maintain their homes, such as fixing a hole in the wall, changing a doorknob or performing plumbing work.

The center  the first of its kind in Danville and in Virginia  offers its services to anyone in the community interested in homeownership.

Walker said the Virginia Housing Development Authority gave the center a $60,000 grant to help pay for work on the building, as well as training materials. The center also received money from the city, Walker said.

It is the first in the state to offer hands-on instruction to homeowners.

During a speech at the ceremony, Danville Mayor John Gilstrap said the center will help the city in its efforts toward blight eradication and neighborhood stabilization.

This center will assist us in these efforts by encouraging first-time homeownership and seeking out alternative means of home mortgage financing tailored to meet the potential homebuyers ability to pay, Gilstrap said.

Monica Jefferson, with the VHDA, said the center will offer a plethora of services for first-time homebuyers.

Laurie Moran, president of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, said the centers services are not about just giving something to them, but working alongside them (first-time homebuyers).

The ceremony also included performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by Dan River High School seniors Breniyah Henderson and Ayonna Hollowell, a song performance by Stephanie Motley (I Hope You Dance), lunch and a tour of the facility.

DRHA bought the 0.3-acre property  which includes the two-story brick building built in 1960  in January 2016. The building once headquartered the Local No. 314 Tobacco Workers International Union. It was most recently home to Johnny Newmans Kids4Life Program.
Job seekers from across the Dan River Region descended on the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research on Wednesday morning to meet and apply for nearly 900 jobs with more than 40 employers.

Positions were available for those seeking seasonal, part-time and full-time employment with companies like Mary Kay, Averett University, Dollar General, Team Nurse and Romar Elevators.

Several companies were looking to grow in the area, and had been searching for qualified applicants for some time, like Admiral Security Services.

Not everyone can be a security officer, Senior Regional Manager Charles W. Corey said. Admiral Security Services is a growing company in the area, and Corey said there were several applicants who looked promising from the fair.

Cindy Snead was applying for a job with Admiral, because her previous companys local security contract had ended. Being a security officer helps people by keeping people from breaking in and stealing things, according to Snead. Its something that she has wanted to do for a long time.

My dad was a police officer, Snead said. And I guess it just rubbed off on me.

Team Nurse was another company looking to grow, but they decided to fill their pipeline another way  by offering Patient Care Assistant classes and offering financing. The classes take one week, and graduates are eligible to start with Team Nurse as soon as there is work available.

Danville Team Nurse Administrator Patti Jordan said they had many applicants for both classes and open positions at both the Danville and Altavista locations.

Local schools of higher education like Averett University, American National University and Danville Community College also were on-site during the fair to talk to applicants about helping them get the additional training they need to get the job they wanted.

American National University Admissions Representative Barbara Rakes said they had seen quite a bit of interest in additional job training.

Job fair attendees were able to use the computer lab and an application area at the Institute to fill out applications and to look up more information about companies.
VANCOUVER, April 13, 2017 - NXGOLD LTD. ("NxGold Ltd." or the "Company"), (NXN:TSXV) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") with Kenorland Minerals Ltd. ("Kenorland") to earn up to a 100% interest in the Chicobi Project, located approximately 30 km northeast of Amos, Quebec (the "Property").

Chris McFadden, Chief Executive Officer, commented "The execution of this agreement with Kenorland is an exciting development for the Company. The Chicobi Project gives the Company significant exposure to the Abitibi which is one of the premier gold producing regions in the world and the large land position gives us a significant opportunity in a relatively under-explored part of the Abitibi. With the addition of this project we now have two exciting gold exploration projects to pursue year-round. We at NxGold are very excited to be entering Quebec given its strong history as a mining friendly jurisdiction."

The Chicobi Project:

The Property consists of 1,045 claims and covers approximately 60,000 hectares along 70 km of prospective strike length on the Chicobi Deformation Zone within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (the "Abitibi"). The Property represents one of the largest land packages in the Abitibi region and is one of the most under-explored land positions in the entire district. The Abitibi is one of the largest gold producing regions globally in addition to hosting significant production of silver, copper and zinc. The Chicobi Project is well serviced by infrastructure and is readily accessible by road year-round.

A property location map is shown in Figure 1.

The Terms:

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has the exclusive right to earn an undivided 80% interest in the Property (the "First Option") upon: (i) paying Kenorland $100,000 cash and issuing Kenorland 800,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (subject to a 12 month hold period), on the date all regulatory approvals to the Agreement are received and other conditions precedent are satisfied (the "Effective Date"); and (ii) incurring an aggregate of $2 million in expenditures on the Property on or before October 1, 2018.

Upon earning an 80% interest in the Property, the Company has the exclusive right to earn an additional 20% interest in the Property (the "Second Option"), thereby increasing its interest in the Property to 100%, by incurring an additional $1 million of expenditures on the Property, on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date and the grant of a 2% net smelter returns royalty in favor of Kenorland in respect of minerals produced from the Property and supporting hypothec in respect of the Property.

In the event the Company exercises the First Option but not the Second Option, the parties will be deemed to have formed a joint venture with the Company having an 80% interest and Kenorland having a 20% interest.

The Agreement is subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About NxGold

NxGold is a Vancouver-based exploration company. NxGold has entered into an earn-in agreement with Meliadine Gold Ltd. to earn up to a 70% interest in the Kuulu Project (formerly known as the Peter Lake Gold Project). The Kuulu Project is located approximately 40 km northwest of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. The Kuulu Project covers 4,174 hectares immediately along trend from Agnico Eagle's advanced Meliadine Gold project. Additionally, the Company has entered into an earn-in agreement to earn up to a 100% interest in the Chicobi Project located within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec

Technical Information

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Mr. Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., a director of NxGold. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms that TSXV approval to the Agreement, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.







Contact



Travis McPherson, Vice-President Corporate Development

NxGold Ltd.

+1 604 428 4112

tmcpherson@nxgold.ca


Elko, NV (FSCwire) - Lithium Corp. [OTCQB  LTUM] the Company is pleased to announce that it and Bormal Resources Inc., a private British Columbia company have executed the formal agreement with respect to the optioning of three Tantalum-Niobium properties in British Columbia. Also, the Company has amended its trenching permit for the BC Sugar flake graphite property, to allow for work in a previously untested area.

As outlined in our March 02, 2017 press release, Lithium Corp. has the option to earn a 100% interest in three separate claim blocks by furnishing 1,000,000 common shares to the Optionor upon the signing of the formal agreement, and issuing a further 750,000 common shares on the 1st anniversary of the signing of the agreement. The properties are subject to two separate 1% Net Smelter Royalties (NSRs) that may be purchased at any time for $500,000 each.

As indicated in the earlier release two of the properties exhibit strong Tantalum-Niobium (Ta-Nb) mineralization in stream sediments, while the third property is an area of known Ta-Nb enriched carbonatite occurrences where a brief field program by Bormal in 2015 located one of these carbonatites. Concurrent soil sampling determined that the soils here are enriched with Ta-Nb over the known occurrence, and indicated that there are other geochemical anomalies locally that may indicate more carbonatites exist here and are near surface. The Company anticipates preliminary geochemical and prospecting work on the property to commence early this summer.

BC Sugar Graphite Project

Also the Company has revised its BC Sugar exploration permit with BC Energy and Mines to allow for new trenching this year in an area of several discrete geophysical anomalies that is devoid of surface rock exposures, and was not investigated when Lithium Corp. trenched the property in 2015. The Company is looking to commence this work in early fall 2017.

About Lithium Corporation

Lithium Corp. is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever expanding next generation energy storage markets.

Contact Info



Tom Lewis, CEO

Lithium Corp.

775-410-2206

info@lithiumcorporation.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.

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 mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of minerals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. 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 the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that 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 most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/Lithium04132017.pdfSource: Lithium Corp. (OTCQB:LTUM)

To follow Lithium 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.
Scott Walker presents a big, ripe political target for Democrats. So why haven't they been able to come up with a serious challenger to run against him?Wisconsin's Republican governor has angered Democrats and many independents with his conservative stances on issues such as abortion, voting rights and, most of all, union-busting. Walker's approval ratings dipped perilously low as a result of his unsuccessful presidential bid. They have since ticked back up but remain subpar, in the mid-40s.Still, Walker enjoys rock-solid support among Republicans. Wisconsin is a divided state, but Walker's fundraising prowess may keep him off the list of endangered incumbents next year."Democrats are really at a loss for what kind of person would even be competitive against Scott Walker," says Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin. "It may be some Democratic candidate we haven't thought of will run. But at the moment, it's dim."Jared Leopold, communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, says the idea that Democrats will fail to challenge Walker seriously has been "overhyped.""Walker's certainly vulnerable, and it's a state where we will find a strong candidate to run," Leopold says.So far, though, Democrats are still looking. In the course of a single week last month, businessman Mark Bakken, former Green Bay Packers player Mark Tauscher and former state Sen. Tim Cullen all announced they would sit this election out.By contrast, more than half a dozen credible Republicans are lining up to run against Democratic U.S. Sen Tammy Baldwin."One of the many downsides of having a party hollowed out at the state and local level is that it really saps the potential for people who can run statewide," says Paul Nolette, a political scientist at Marquette University.The real danger for Democrats is not missing out on the chance to take out Walker but having a similar dynamic play out in other states. This should be a great cycle for the party, with Republicans having to defend 27 of the 38 governorships at stake this year and next.But you can't beat something with nothing. Given the GOP's recent dominance at the state level, the Democratic bench is badly depleted in many states."Throughout a lot of these Midwestern states, the Democrats don't have a lot of obvious candidates or proven candidates," says Kyle Kondik, who track governors' races for the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You have a number of candidates who are in or are probably going to get in, but it's not a proven group, and none of them have good statewide name recognition."Walker hasn't officially announced for re-election, but already some of the strongest potential Democrats, including Congressman Ron Kind, Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser and state Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, have taken themselves out of the running. The only Democrat in the race at this point is 25-year-old Bob Harlow, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year in California."Under normal circumstances, somebody as disliked as Walker by liberals, who has a 45 percent approval rating, would be attracting strong candidates," says Nolette. "But he isn't."Wisconsin has traditionally been a competitive state. Wisconsin had voted Democratic for president in every election since 1984, until last fall. Republican Donald Trump carried the state by the narrowest of margins, less than 1 percentage point.As recently as 2010, Democrats held both the governorship and both legislative chambers. But they have been shut out of power in recent years, with their legislative strength and much of their statewide vote pretty well confined to Milwaukee and Madison.State supreme court races have been hotly contested, expensive affairs in the Walker years. Yet when conservative Justice Annette Ziegler came up for re-election on April 4, Democrats failed to field a challenger against her.Given Trump's unpopularity nationwide, Democrats are optimistic about their chances to gain gubernatorial seats. But Walker has been able to prevail in tough environments before, including the 2012 recall election.Walker, in fact, has won by similar margins in each of his three races for governor, in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In each, he took either 52 or 53 percent of the vote. Wisconsin is a badly polarized, narrowly divided state, but it appears to be tipped in the governor's favor."People have looked back at Walker's three elections and seen he's been successful in three different circumstances, and it's hard to see how it would be different now," says Burden.Democrats know they'll be badly outspent. Walker has a national fundraising base he can draw on, built up when the Koch brothers and other conservatives sought to protect him after his move to strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights triggered the recall effort. Walker's network has been enhanced by his presidential run and his position as head of the Republican Governors Association.What's more, campaign finance restrictions have been weakened in the state. Walker survived allegations that his 2010 campaign had illegally coordinated with outside groups. And Walker and legislative Republicans killed the state's elections and ethics board in 2015, replacing it with weaker overseers."There's a huge challenge in raising the campaign dollars even to be remotely competitive with the millions and millions of out-of-state dollars that will flood Wisconsin to keep Gov. Walker in power," Cullen told reporters when he dropped out of the race last month.It's certainly possible that Walker will yet be beaten. He was expected to be a formidable candidate for president, but his campaign dissolved two months after its official launch. Despite the usual Republican advantage in Wisconsin midterms, it looks quite possible at this point that Democrats will be more fired up than the GOP next year.But at this early stage, Walker is looking strong enough to scare off most of his potential competition."To a certain extent, politics is risk management," says Mordecai Lee, a former legislator who teaches urban planning at the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee campus. "The fact that so many people are not running shows they've done the risk management and decided it's not worth the risk."
Manufacturers creating new jobs in Maryland could receive tax breaks under a bill Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday, the product of a hard-won compromise that came together in the final hours of this year's legislative session.The measure, which offers some relief from sales, property and income taxes in exchange for providing workers with skills training, was one of more than 110 bills the Republican governor signed at the traditional ceremony, held the morning following adjournment of the annual 90-day session.He was flanked by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, both Democrats. The three congratulated each other for working together collegially while glossing over three months of partisan broadsides."Most of our highest priorities all got done," Hogan said. "This is the way government is supposed to work."Among the other high-profile bills the governor signed was the first major rewrite of the state's public integrity laws in about 15 years -- a measure that resonated during a session that opened and closed with accusations of corruption against some members of the General Assembly."It's really going to help us turn around this here in Annapolis," Hogan said, though his legislation was substantially overhauled by lawmakers.The bill tightens the state's conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure rules for state officials. It was in part a reaction to the ethical missteps of Del. Dan Morhaim, the Baltimore County Democrat who was reprimanded over his advocacy for the medical marijuana industry at a time he was consulting for a license applicant.The governor also signed a measure that came roaring into the session as his top priority -- his demand that lawmakers repeal a law they enacted over his veto last year setting up a scoring system for transportation projects that he scorned. By session's end, the issue had been politically defanged. Hogan's proposal to repeal what he called the "road kill bill" had been transformed into the Open Transportation Investment Decision Act. It delays implementation of the scoring law, kicking any confrontation down the road until after the 2018 election.Watered down as it was, Hogan made it the first bill he signed Tuesday. He hailed it as legislation that would let scores of road projects, which he contended had been threatened, to move forward now. Miller and Busch flashed sour looks.The Tuesday morning event was the first of multiple bill-signing ceremonies that the governor traditionally holds in the weeks after the session ends. He has until late May to decide which bills to sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature.The manufacturing tax measure, which Hogan dubbed The More Jobs for Marylanders Act of 2017, is the product of tough negotiations among the House, Senate and administration. It combines much of what the governor wanted with some priorities of Assembly Democrats.The original bill applied to "distressed counties," including several on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland, as well as Baltimore. The final version expands the eligibility to three more counties to be chosen by the state Commerce Department.Hogan said it would "incentivize and encourage manufacturers to create thousands of jobs in the areas of the state that need them the most."For new manufacturers creating jobs over the next 10 years, the bill provides sales tax refunds and state property tax credits, relief from filing fees and a 5.75 percent credit against income tax for the wages they pay. Some existing manufacturers can qualify for the income tax credit. The bill also provides for accelerated depreciation that would let companies write off the cost of capital purchases in one year.For companies to be eligible for the tax breaks, they must offer programs that allow their employees to improve their job skills. The legislation provides scholarships for those workers and creates a new $1 million-a-year spending mandate -- a type of provision Hogan typically opposes -- to fund that program.The combined income and sales tax breaks are capped at $10 million a year statewide.Daraius Irani, director of the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson University, said the legislation appears to be a reflection of Hogan's pragmatism."This is just one more step in many steps going forward that will sort of cement Maryland's manufacturing promise," he said. Irani said Maryland manufacturers today operate smaller facilities than in the past, employing fewer workers but needing greater skills.Combining Hogan's tax proposals with the Democrats' emphasis on work force development is a good idea, he said."Getting workers who are skilled is what they need," Irani said.While Hogan praised the bill as a victory for his administration, Democrats pointed to the provisions they got into the bill.Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat who played a role in crafting the compromise, said the final version includes many of his party's priorities. He dismissed some of the tax provisions Hogan originally proposed as "welfare" for companies.Madaleno, a fierce Hogan critic who is considering a run for governor, made an appearance at the bill signing. When the manufacturing bill was called, the senator crowded into the picture, standing directly over the governor's shoulder.Earlier, Miller had singled out Madaleno for his work during the session, saying he was a former legislative staffer who always checks on his colleagues' needs."I figure he's checking up on me," Hogan quipped as Madaleno grinned.
Mayor Miro Weinberger is prohibiting official travel by Burlington employees to North Carolina unless essential until further notice, despite a change to that state's controversial bathroom bill.The mayor signed an executive order on Monday enacting the ban, stating that "North Carolina continues to deny residents of and visitors to North Carolina fundamental civil rights." The order came in response to the southern state's amendment of the controversial House Bill 2."North Carolinas new law does nothing to protect transgender individuals and creates a unique prohibition against municipalities taking any action to reduce discrimination," Weinberger wrote in a statement. "Burlington will stand with the many other cities from around the country that will continue to boycott North Carolina until the state ends this discriminatory practice.
A highly respected judge -- and the first black woman and the first Muslim to serve on New York State's highest court -- was found dead Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.NYPD Harbor Unit officers pulled the body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, of West 131st Street in Harlem, out of the Hudson River near 135th street at about 1:45 p.m., New York police said.An associate justice on the state's Court of Appeals, Abdus-Salaam was pronounced dead by emergency service personnel after she was found unresponsive and unconscious.It was unclear Wednesday how she died, and a medical examiner was performing an autopsy to determine the cause of her death. A law enforcement source who didn't want to be identified said police are initially considering the judge's death as a possible suicide.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo nominated Abdus-Salaam for a slot on the state Court of Appeals in 2013. In a statement Wednesday, the governor called her "a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all.""As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the State's Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come," Cuomo said.Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said in a statement said that Abdus-Salaam was "a most beloved colleague," adding, "Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness, and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her."Sheila's smile could light up the darkest room," DiFiore said.The Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association said Abdus-Salaam "truly embodied the core values of Amistad, seeking truth and justice, and most importantly respect, for all. Her groundbreaking work as an Associate Justice with the Court of Appeals is but a small, albeit significant, aspect of what she achieved in the legal field. Her loss will be truly felt among all jurists."Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement he was "shocked and saddened" by news of the judge's death, adding that Abdus-Salaam was "a dedicated public servant who served New York with honor and distinction as the first African-American woman to sit on the Court of Appeals....Her passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill."Abdus-Salaam, a Washington, D.C., native and 1974 graduate of Barnard College, graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1977 and started a career as a staff attorney at East Brooklyn Legal Services Corp., according to her profile on the state Office of Court Administration's website.She had also worked for the New York State Department of Law as an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights and Real Estate Financing bureaus until 1988, when she became general counsel for the New York City Office of Labor Services, according to the profile. In 1991, she was elected to the New York City Civil Court bench.She was elected to the state Supreme Court in Manhattan in 1993 and served in various capacities until 2009, when she was appointed to the state Appellate Division by then-Gov. David A. Paterson.Cuomo tapped her in 2013 after the death in November 2012 of Judge Theodore Jones Jr.When Abdus-Salaam was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2013, Vincent Bonventre, an Albany Law School professor and longtime court analyst, said: "It's hard to find anyone who seriously questions the qualifications of Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam to sit on New York's highest court."She said she was humbled by the appointment."I am honored to be nominated by Governor Cuomo to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals," she said in the news release announcing her nomination in April 2013. "This nomination presents me with an opportunity to continue to serve New Yorkers, and advocate for justice and fairness here in New York State."News of her death shocked colleagues who recalled a fine jurist. "She was a lovely, genteel lady," said former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. "This is a shock, what more is there to say?"Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said "Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a groundbreaking jurist whose distinguished service on the Court of Appeals, the New York State Supreme Court, as a public defender and public servant made our communities stronger and more just."
State Finances to Experience a 'Profound Shift'

The Human Cost of Not Having a Budget

Connecticut on the Brink

Some states might soon be facing a come to Jesus moment. That was the sobering message this week from a senior analyst at S&P Global Ratings, who warned that a profound shift is occurring in state finances pressured by pension debt, slow revenue growth and demographic changes.Gabe Petek noted Illinois, Kentucky and New Jersey are particularly vulnerable as they have persistently struggled to balance budgets during one of the longest economic expansion periods in modern U.S. history. But theyre not the only ones who should be put on notice.This long period of relative calm may have lulled some people into complacency when it comes to state finances," he wrote in an editorial for. "It shouldnt have."In addition to slower revenue growth, declining worker-to-beneficiary ratios in state retirement systems and rising Medicaid enrollments "have meant that fiscal stress is no longer confined to recessionary times," he wrote.The crowdout has resulted in lower investments in infrastructure and higher education. Its also created an asymmetry for state finances, Petek noted, meaning the positive years have been mild while the recent downdrafts have been severe.Peteks editorial comes amid a growing number of analysts warning that the new era of public finance has created a dramatic divergence in the credit quality of states and localities. The bottom line is some governments have adjusted their finances to be sustainable in the new era. Others have not.Case in point: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has proposed moving the state lottery's nearly $1 billion in annual revenues into the state pension fund to help reduce its massive unfunded liabilities. Meanwhile, education and human services programs -- normally funded by the lottery -- would be paid for through the general fund. Still, there is no new money here -- the governor is merely moving dollars around.For states that refuse to adjust to more constrained growth, Petek has one final warning: Congress can no longer be relied upon to help states in need. We believe, he says, states can expect to largely go it alone the next time a recession strikes.A group in Illinois has tallied up the toll the states lack of a budget has had on its citizens. The results arent pretty.The nonpartisan Responsible Budget Coalition's results included: 22,000 seniors outside of Chicago have lost access to services that keep them independent, such as home delivered meals and transportation; 130,000 low-income college students are not receiving tuition grants they otherwise would have received to help them afford college; nearly 47,000 children arent receiving affordable child care that allows their parents to go to work and; 80,000 people have lost access to needed mental health services.In addition, higher education has weathered $2.3 billion in cuts that have roiled public universities throughout the state.Illinois has gone two years without a formal budget and has been relying on extensions of previously approved spending plans. While this has kept the government functioning to an extent, it has clearly led to many programs falling through the cracks. Chicago columnist Greg Hinz this week called the situation a disgrace and noted lawmakers have yet to deny any of the groups findings. Will this serve as a wake-up call?Connecticuts fixed costs are consuming its budget: 30 cents of every $1 it earns goes toward its long-term liabilities, such as pension costs, bond debt and retiree health care. That burden, reports Moodys Investors Service, is the highest in all 50 states. And, Moodys adds, these costs are expected to expand to 35 percent -- or $7 billion -- by fiscal 2019.Besides the state's rapidly increasing pension costs and its willingness to continue issuing debt, whats also notable here is Connecticuts jobs shift since the Great Recession. Finance and manufacturing -- two historical economic drivers of income growth -- have failed to rebound to pre-recession levels. Finance and insurance employment is off more than 11 percent since 2007 and manufacturing has tumbled nearly 17 percent over the same period, according to Moodys.Connecticut is one of those states S&Ps Petek was referring to when he warned that many would face a showdown with economic realities. For his part, Gov. Dannel Malloy is proposing major structural changes in the state budget that include concessions from state and local employee unions, passing on some pension costs to localities, restructuring state education funding and creating a local government option to levy property tax on some tax-exempt properties.Moodys says a plan of this magnitude that results in recurring savings would go a considerable way towards stabilizing the state's credit profile. But the reality of passing on a lot of these costs to localities -- some of them greatly troubled -- guarantees Malloy a tough path to passage.
On Wednesday, in the morning, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey visited, and met staff and residents of, Roma House, Spring Hill.

In the afternoon, at Government House, the Governor received the Honourable Margaret Wilson QC.
Description

GIS - 13 April, 2017: The Cooperatives Act 2016 was the focus of a one-day workshop held this morning at La Cannelle in Domaine Les Pailles. The Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomildut Bholah, was present at the launching ceremony.

This initiative of the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives aims to sensitise stakeholders of the Cooperative Movement on the Cooperatives Act 2016. Participants were given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the contents of the legislation so as to ensure proper implementation of the Cooperatives Act, before its proclamation and subsequent enforcement.

In his address, Minister Bholah underscored that Government, in its Programme 2015-2019, reckons the importance of the cooperative sector and has undertaken to further strengthen the cooperative movement by providing the appropriate legal, fiscal and policy support. He stated that the new Cooperative Act 2016 will replace the Cooperative Act 2005 where various loopholes and practical impediments have been found during its implementation and enforcement.

Speaking about the new Cooperatives Act, he underlined that the legislation encompasses new concepts such as Corporate Governance and Code of Ethics and best practices. Another element in the Act aiming towards modernisation of the sector is the provision for e-registration of cooperative societies and submission of financial statement online, he said.

Minister Bholah expressed confidence that the new Cooperatives Act 2016 will lead the Mauritian Cooperative Movement towards the following: creation of jobs in existing and emerging sectors; empowerment of women and the youth through cooperative entrepreneurship business models; promotion of good governance and ease of doing business; fostering accountability, control and transparency as well as combating suspicious and fraudulous transactions; and professionalising the operations of cooperative societies, amongst others.

The Cooperative Act 2016

The main objective is to promote the development of sustainable cooperatives , equity and participation , as well as good governance and transparency.

The salient features are:

 Setting up of a Cooperative Audit Unit

 Establishment of a National Cooperative College

 Liability of directors

 Joint venture

 Computerisation

 Good governance

 Anti-money laundering and combatting financing of terrorism
(TNS) - In February 2012, a national law was passed which created FirstNet. This law gave FirstNet the duty to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the first nationwide public safety broadband network, providing a single platform for public safety communications. Funding for the project is $7 billion through 2022.FirstNet is in its planning phase, and states are working to create the system. Montana has a planning committee, which will meet next fall, to hammer out details. Currently, they are asking for input from local governments, emergency and other responsible entities.At the Emergency Communications subcommittee meeting last week, Nordgren explained what he knew about the project and asked for questions and input that he can forward to the Montana committee. On the national level, each Governor will appoint one Point of Contact and governing body to represent the states interests to FirstNet. Nordgren admits there are a lot of unanswered questions as this point and they are still trying to get as much information as possible.FirstNet is data voice provider, like a smart phone, but it also has public features, primarily an emergency function. In the case of an emergency, only responders would be allowed on the line so public safety doesnt get overloaded. It consists of Band Class 14 with 20MHz of bandwidth dedicated for public safety in the prime upper 700MHz frequency range.This would happen using cellphone towers and AT&T won the contract bid. They will use their existing towers and will expand AT&Ts infrastructure to areas they currently dont reach. One issue discussed during the meeting was whether people with existing accounts such as Verizon, can use their phones and get linked into FirstNet. Nordgren did not have a final answer on this, but felt the systems will probably all be integrated eventually.FirstNet is an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerces National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Its governed by a 15-member Board consisting of the U.S. Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and 12 members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. It also includes representatives from public safety, local, state and federal government and the wireless industry.The goal is to have a single communications network which can be used to dispatch EMS personnel, medical vehicles such as helicopters or ambulance, police officers, and fire personnel from different jurisdictions at the same time.At first, it will supplement existing capabilities, such as Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks.In rural areas, like we have here in Mineral County, these radios are important, said Nordgren in an earlier report. They enable people to communicate in areas where their cellphones dont get service.According to their literature, FirstNet will pay for the service and are responsible for ensuring the building of the network core.If a state decides to opt-in and accept FirstNets state plan, FirstNet will pay to build out the states radio access network (RAN) that will connect to the core. FirstNet will also be financially responsible for the networks operations and maintenance.Also in their literature, it states FirstNet Tenet is, to offer services that meet the needs of public safety at a cost thats competitive and compelling to users.Also, public safety employees will not have to use the service. It will be voluntary, however, a network built for and dedicated to public safety agencies should provide a dependable and affordable user experience making it an attractive choice for first responders.Gupton commented that the county will probably be force fed to use it to some extent, and you can do that as long as youre not forced to pay for it.He also said that there is a lot of great communications systems which are worthwhile, however, the more complicated you get, the more dependent you are on cell towers and other things like that. I always look at these things and think, how can you kill it? and you get really complicated and its easy.He also remarked that if there are people out with their amateur or CB radios and cell towers are out of commission, they can still communicate.For example with Ham radios, operators communicate using voice, computers, televisions and Morse code. Signals bounce off the upper regions of the atmosphere, off of satellites and sometimes even off the moon. This allows operators to talk to hams on the other side of the world, or the other side of the county. Making ham operators invaluable during times of disaster.Nordgren said FirstNet has made a plan that if everything else is cut off, for a deployable action a person could throw a box into a firetruck and everybody within a certain radius of that the cell phone will still work, even if theres no cell tower.You cant talk far away but you can talk to each other and if you have two boxes, they can talk to each other and various combinations of that and so you can form some sort of linked system.The goals of FirstNet is to potentially have 4 million users nationwide in every state, territory and in Washington DC. They hope to provide service to 60,000 public safety agencies, 3,144 counties, and 566 federally recognized tribes in both urban and rural areas.They are considering a network architecture using land-based cellular, satellite infrastructure and deployable systems to provide coverage using 4G LTE, which is faster than 3G wireless service. The network hopes to be substantially in operation by the year 2022.2017 the Clark Fork Valley Press and Mineral Independent (Plains, Mont.)Visit the Clark Fork Valley Press and Mineral Independent (Plains, Mont.) at www.vp-mi.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS) -- Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said he won't take action against Uber if it declines to sign a memorandum of understanding he is drafting between the city and the Silicon Valley company.The mayor can't impose regulations, force Uber's fleet of self-driving cars from Pittsburgh's roads or levy fines if the company refuses to agree to improve working conditions for its drivers, offer more services for the elderly and strive for better fuel efficiency.But that's not the point, Peduto said Wednesday as he prepared to welcome more than 200 people from companies and colleges across the country to Pittsburgh for the first major meeting of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute.Peduto said Pittsburgh has a responsibility to shape the social responsibilities of companies scrambling to advance autonomous technology.We have a significant role because we not only built America, we built the middle class, and we don't want to go back on what people had sacrificed for decades in order to just see a new industry start. We want to build off of that, Peduto told reporters at the National Robotics Engineering Center in Lawrenceville, where the institute held its meeting.With a company like Uber, we are appreciative that they are investing a billion dollars and hiring a thousand people, but at the same time we want to make sure that the industry that they are creating benefits all the workers.Peduto said he wants anyone who drives 40 hours a week for Uber to get a W-2 tax form (instead of a 1099 form for self-employed workers) and have access to benefits. He said the company should make benefits available to drivers who work less than 40 hours as well.Uber has said it is proud of its operations in Pittsburgh and that the company hopes to continue to have a positive presence in the city. The company has not commented on whether it would sign an agreement as Peduto has proposed.Craig Ewer, a spokesman for Uber, said Wednesday that 90 percent of all Uber drivers claim they drive for the company because they love being their own boss, a statistic the company has used in lawsuits involving whether drivers are employees or contractors.As employees, drivers would have set shifts, earn a fixed hourly wage and lose the ability to drive with other ridesharing apps  as well as the personal flexibility they most value, Ewer wrote in an email to the Tribune-Review. Uber also helps drivers find health insurance, tax help and retirement savings options, according to its website . The company offers a fuel card program and discounts at some auto shops and on some phone plans.Uber donated $10,000 in free rides to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in January and $20,000 in free rides during the city's boil-water order.The Wall Street Journal first reported the mayor's requests for Uber. Uber began testing self-driving cars in Pittsburgh in May amid praise from Peduto and other public officials.The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulates roads in the state, including Pittsburgh's streets, leaving the mayor powerless to prohibit Uber from using the city's public streets. Legislators in Harrisburg are developing regulations for companies testing self-driving cars. Peduto said those companies should be regulated similarly to public utility companies.Peduto said the city is not only looking at Uber but at all companies working on autonomous transportation. There have been ongoing talks between the city and Ford, which in February invested $1 billion in Argo AI , a Pittsburgh self-driving car startup. The mayor has held up Ford as an example for Uber to follow.It's not a contract, Peduto said of the memo. It is where the city of Pittsburgh wants to see this industry move, the direction it wants to see this industry move and its willingness to be open and allow our streets to be used. It's an understanding that it's a two-way deal.The mayor is still drafting the memo. Conversations with Uber have been limited, Peduto said.
(TNS) -- SOMERSET, Mass.  A super-fast form of transportation involving giant tubes, pods and air pressure would have a stop in SouthCoast if built in the Northeast, among other nationwide locations, should a company making the technology pick a Somerset woman's proposal.Holly McNamara, a Select Board official in Somerset, said she feels one step closer to seeing that become a reality after a visit to Washington, D.C., last week to make her case to a panel of judges.Under McNamara's proposal, the transportation system  called the Hyperloop  would roll through Somerset on its way to Boston, Providence and other destinations at airline speeds or faster, making ground-based travel the quickest it has ever been, and all for the price of a bus ticket, according to company Hyperloop One, which is testing the technology out west. The Hyperloop is based on a concept by entrepreneur and inventor Elon Musk.The company is considering 11 proposals, chosen from more than 2,600 submitted in the United States and some from other countries. The Somerset proposal was crafted by McNamara and Boston College student John Myron. Hyperloop One will choose 12 finalists, then three winners as the possible first locations for Hyperloop routes.During the team's presentation, which included a slide show and video about the area, judges commented that the Somerset proposal had the most support from government of any submissions. The suggested route has received endorsements from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Edward Markey, among other officials. McNamara said she believes she is also the only elected official directly involved with a team. She and Myron are the only people proposing a Hyperloop corridor for the Northeast.McNamara said she envisions the Hyperloop running along the shoulder of a highway or at other locations where it would not cause disruption."It's a very small structure," she said. "It's completely enclosed. It's quiet. There's no emissions."The keystone of the presentation was SouthCoast, the southeastern portion of Massachusetts that includes Somerset, Westport, Dartmouth, Fall River and New Bedford, among other communities. The region has not been directly connected to Boston in almost 60 years and efforts to remedy that with South Coast Rail have been slow, McNamara said. Hyperloop would not be a replacement, but a supplement to this initiative, according to McNamara. She said Hyperloop Massachusetts is looking to work with the entire state to bring the technology to life.The Hyperloop, under the proposal, would carry both passengers and cargo. The route from Boston to Somerset and Providence would be a "proof of concept," according to McNamara and Myron, to be done before it is extended all over the east coast.With Hyperloop One, passengers and cargo are loaded into a pod and accelerate gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag, according to a news release from the company. Last week, the company finalized the tube installation on its 1,640-foot-long DevLoop, located in the desert outside of Las Vegas. The facility serves as an outdoor lab for its proprietary levitation, propulsion, vacuum and control technologies.In the Somerset presentation, Myron said Boston and Somerset complement each other perfectly. He said Boston is a thriving city and Somerset is in need of a change, which the Hyperloop could spur. He said the Hyperloop would be Boston's transportation revitalization and Somerset's reincarnation. The panel of judges was given a history of Somerset and the SouthCoast with its proven industry leaders, 40-mile inland waterway, shipbuilding economy, deep water ports, coastal trade, railroad lines, coal distribution ports and power generation.McNamara told the judges that Somerset, along with the SouthCoast, is a proven industry leader and was instrumental in the formation of not only New England but the United States. She talked about the town's shipbuilding industry, which started not long after the first settlers arrived in 1680, and coastal trade that made the town the third busiest port in Massachusetts during the 18th century. She said the War of 1812 brought Somerset's maritime economy to a standstill during the 1820s and as Somerset's economy declined, neighboring Fall River began its rise as the center of the cotton textile industry.McNamara said that, historically, Somerset is a town that has embraced new ideas that would contribute toward a prosperous community going back to the mid-19th century when the town broadened its industrial base. World-famous clipper ships that took passengers to the California Gold Rush were designed and built in Somerset. Two different railroad lines crossed the town and the river. The trains transported passengers, agricultural products and coal to provide nearby cities with warmth and energy.The team also attended a conference where the founders of Hyperloop One spoke and met some of the other teams presenting proposals."It's a big collaborative effort, because I think our goal and the goals of the other teams is to bring this to the United States and the world," McNamara said.The finalists for the Hyperloop One routes are scheduled to be announced next month. Feasibility studies will be done on the three proposed Hyperloop corridors chosen from those finalists."We're hoping our chances are good," McNamara said. "We want everyone on board."The Hyperloop One Global Challenge kicked off in May 2016 as an open call to individuals, universities, companies and governments to develop comprehensive proposals for deploying Hyperloop One's transport technology in their region. Five of the proposals  including those from Texas, Florida, Colorado, Nevada and Missouri  involve officials from their state Departments of Transportation.Proposed routes that would reduce passenger and cargo transport times across some of the country's most heavily trafficked regions including Los Angeles-San Diego, Miami-Orlando and Seattle-Portland. The longest distance proposal, Cheyenne-Houston, would run 1,152 miles across four states, reducing to 1 hour and 45 minutes a journey that currently takes 17 hours by car or truck."The U.S. has always been a global innovation vanguard  driving advancements in computing, communication and media to rail, automobiles and aeronautics," said Shervin Pishevar, executive chairman of Hyperloop One, in a news release. "Now, with Hyperloop One, we are on the brink of the first great breakthrough in transportation technology of the 21st century, eliminating the barriers of time and distance and unlocking vast economic opportunities."
(TNS) -- Louisiana can drive future growth by hanging onto graduates and millennials, providing job and entrepreneurship pathways for all and embracing the digital economy, according to speakers at the annual Statewide Economic Development Summit."What's the difference between a community like Austin and a community like Columbus, Ohio? They're both college communities . The difference is that in Austin the millennials stay," said Gregory Burkhart, managing director of Duff & Phelps, site selection experts.Burkhart was one of several speakers at the summit attended by about 400 community and economic development officials.If Baton Rouge and New Orleans want to be like Austin, Texas, a location that companies flock to, they must do the same.Ninety-four percent of University of Texas graduates stay in Austin each year, Burkhart said. If Baton Rouge retained 75 percent of its college graduates, after one year the growth rate of millennials, those ages 15 to 34, would jump from 6.6 percent to 13.9 percent.Nationally, the millennium population is growing at 7.5 percent.The New Orleans area has a tougher task because its millennial population shrunk by 26 percent over the last 15 years, Burkhart said. Retaining 75 percent of college graduates would reduce the millennial losses to 22 percent in one year.If both cities maintained the kind of retention rate Austin enjoys, the differences would be dramatic, Burkhart said. Each year, the gains compound. So after four years, Baton Rouge's millennial population would jump by 42 percent. New Orleans would still have less millennials than it did 15 years ago, but only by 7 percent."That's what you need to do," Burkhart said. "Some of the numbers don't look good, but there are fixes for it."One is setting annual goals to improve the retention of college graduates. Another is making the kind of improvements taking place in downtown Baton Rouge, with apartments and other lifestyle offerings.Burkhart also suggested that Louisiana use some of the numbers that do look good  lower than average wages for information technology and financial services  to recruit new businesses.Louisiana's average pay for information technology workers is $50,000 a year, compared to $88,000 nationally. For financial services, Louisiana's average pay is $62,000, compared to $94,000 nationally.However, Burkhart said the state may need to address one number: average pay for workers in manufacturing. Louisiana's manufacturing workers average $68,000 a year, well above the $55,000 national average.Rodrick Miller, former president and CEO of Detroit Economic Growth Corp., said another demographic, the minority population, also offers opportunity for economic growth.By 2042 minorities will make up the majority of the U.S. population. Changing demographics, along with global competition and disruptive technology, are the biggest forces affecting the country's economy."The economic well-being of people of color represents the future of our country," Miller said.Right now there are segments of the population that don't have access to the economic on-ramps that provide access to job and entrepreneurship opportunities. The divide between the haves and the have-nots is larger than at any time since the Golden Age, a period that lasted from after the Civil War to the Great Depression.Miller said one thing essential to creating a more inclusive economy is putting tools in the hands of people."You can have all the programs all day long, but if people don't know about them and they're not accessible to them, they're useless," he said.In Detroit, Miller helped oversee programs that distributed close to $3 million in matching grants to 570 businesses and D2D, a business to business program that boosted a 17-company Buyers Council's purchases from Detroit companies to $925 million in 2014 from $550 million in 2012.The programs leveraged philanthropic and government funding with small businesses, which are more likely to offer jobs to someone from the neighborhood, Miller said. Those sorts of efforts are part of creating an inclusive economy.Roberto Gallardo, leader of the Intelligent Community Institute at Mississippi State University Extension, said the digital economy is disruptive but also offers opportunity, even for rural mom-and-pops who are able to get aboard with the right technology and know-how."The U.S economy is running at 18 percent of its digital potential. So there is plenty of room if urban and rural can hop aboard a train that's moving quickly, Gallardo said.One of the challenges for rural communities is providing broadband.Gallardo is frequently asked if a rural community needs faster internet service. That's like a person asking why use electricity since they already have candles, he said. Communities that want to retain their millennials need to be digital-ready. At the very least, communities need to offer Wi-Fi hotspots and engage digitally with their residents. Otherwise, their young people will leave for larger cities.Gallardo touted the intelligent community model, which focuses on broadband, the knowledge workforce, innovation, sustainability, advocacy and digital equity. The digital divide is the biggest threat to the digital economy, he said. More than half the world's population is offline, and that gap is already being felt.
Worth it?

Minding manners

(TNS) -- Residents who want to see or hear how their taxes are going to be spent should follow Councilwoman Tara Mosley-Samples on Facebook.Right now, shes the only one in Akron, Ohio, consistently broadcasting what council does every Monday. And, after demonstrating that it costs nothing and requires little more than pointing a smart phone at the action, her proposal to hand over the job to a marketing company already hired by council might not fly.Mosley-Samples introduced legislation Monday that would add live-streaming of public meetings to a $57,000-per-year contract with WhiteSpace Creative.Bob Zajac, who runs the public relations company in Akron, is up to the task. He and an employee already attend the meetings. All they would need to do is set-up a free Facebook account (city council already has a Twitter handle) and click the live button when the app is open on any smart device with a camera.Zajac would charge nothing more. The contract already requires him to attend and record video of weekly City Council meetings and post the video. Whats holding up some on council, however, is Zajacs request for a wall-mounted camera that he could swivel remotely to capture the action. Plus, the city would have to hard-wire this chamber. I would not want to risk going live with Wi-Fi, he told council.His concern: If the connection fails, so goes the footage.Ive never had a problem with the Wifi, said Mosley-Samples, who live streams from her chair.Having already shopped around, Zajac said it would cost $10,000 to $15,000 to install wiring and the camera, and two television monitors that could display to the public what council members are seeing on their city-issued iPads.Beyond the equipment, our costs would not be any different, said Zajac.Actually, the costs may be nothing. Mosley-Samples proved this when she asked two members of her church to live stream last Mondays activity using a smart phone and a tablet, demonstrating that it can be done for free and without interruption.I dont understand how this cant cost anything, said Councilman Donnie Kammer, who agreed that transparency is good government. Still, he cited policeman without tasers, crumbling cruisers and broken city elevators. Im not comfortable spending anymore money on the third floor (of City Hall) or any other floor until we take care of other parts of the city.Council signs off on nearly $1 billion in public spending each year, a little at a time each Monday  except holidays  on the third floor of City Hall (166 S. High St.).Residents show up at 7 p.m. when legislation is bundled and approved, often with little or no discussion. Often, attendees take turns complaining on a microphone for three minutes or less about what council has or hasnt done.Rarely anyone show up at 1:30 p.m. when most people are at work. But these afternoon sessions hold the deliberative discussions behind the sweeping up-or-down votes taken later that night.This Monday, as the sixth and final committee met to discuss Mosley-Samples live-streaming proposal, only four people sat in the audience: Zajac, his Whitespace employee and two reporters.A reporter heard Councilman Bob Hoch say, I cant imagine that were going to have a lot of people watching a Monday afternoon meeting.Mosley-Samples explained that her video post last week garnered 219 views while the meeting was still happening and 953 more afterward. More might watch it if uploaded each week to YouTube and shared in a link on Twitter, Mosley-Samples said after explaining to some colleagues about how social media platforms work in tandem to communicate and cross-brand content.Council eventually decided to take up the proposal in a week when the Mike Freeman, chair of the budget committee and absent Monday, would be there to weigh in.When they take it up again, theyll have to address the vitriol and criticism that pervades social media. Videos of their meetings, like news articles about them, will undoubtedly draw unsolicited comments with vulgar language.I dont think its right, said Keith, who always reminds the public of the work they miss in the afternoon sessions. If we do this, I think we should remember the decorum of these chambers and how they are reflected.Councilman Russ Neal openly supported the plan, as did council members Linda Omobien and Zack Milkovich  two of five on the budget committee, which decides next week whether the proposal gets a full-council vote one of these Monday nights.This is about empowering people with their government so they can participate, Neal said. Weve got to step into the future, folks.Neal suggested there are ways around online comments that, in distaste, derail constructive conversations. Turning to the two reporters in the room, he suggested that they ask the public to come down and live-stream the proceedings.Only those in the room know how the reporters responded.
Former F1 driver Mika Salo has hailed McLaren-Honda's decision to contest the fabled Indy 500 next month with Fernando Alonso.

Notably struggling in F1, the great British team is teaming up with former McLaren driver Michael Andretti's Indy operation to give Spaniard Alonso a one-off shot at one of the world's most famous motor races.

"I think it's great that he (Alonso) is going to try it. Really great," Finn Salo, also an occasional F1 steward, told the Finnish broadcaster C More.

"McLaren is not fighting for wins or good results, but now he has the chance to go where Honda is already a partner for one race," he said.

"He loses one F1 race, but after all he has no possibility to win, but if he gets to grips with the car he could win (at Indy). It's great to see guys jumping from one category to another, like the old days," Salo explained.

Some also see McLaren-Honda's Indy 500 effort for Alonso as a clear sign that the Anglo-Japanese collaboration wants to keep the 35-year-old at McLaren beyond 2017.

"He's won everything," Salo agrees, "and McLaren needs his experience, motivation and speed an awful lot right now."

(GMM)
Members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority are questioning the continued use of affirmative action in higher education. In lengthy arguments Monday, the justices wrestled with persistent, difficult questions of race. The justices heard from six different lawyers in challenges to policies at the University of North Carolina and Harvard. Those policies consider race among many factors in evaluating applications for admission. One conservative justice likened affirmative action to giving some college applicants a head start in a footrace. But a liberal justice said universities are the pipelines to leadership in our society and suggested that without affirmative action minority enrollment will drop.
GREENSBORO  A developer has withdrawn its plan to build 96 affordable-housing apartments on a former horse farm in a quiet neighborhood off Muirs Chapel Road.

Neighbors on Mitchell Avenue, a narrow dead-end street with a 6-acre farm at the west end, fought Affordable Housing Management Inc.s request to rezone the land for apartments that would house lower-income, elderly and disabled people.

Residents told the Greensboro Zoning Commission that the 24-foot-wide road, which is 2 feet narrower than current city standards, could not handle the minimum 96 extra cars that would come from the apartment complex.

The board, in an unusual 4-4 tie, denied the rezoning, which left open the possibility that AHM could appeal the decision to the City Council.

Company officials could not be reached for comment, but Mike Kirkman, the city zoning administrator, said, I cant provide any more detail on the reasons for the withdrawal other than unforeseen circumstances. 

Brenda Parker, who owns the land with her siblings, said the nonprofit companys funding for the project fell through and it could not go forward with the plan.

David Levy, AHMs executive director, had said earlier that the company was leaning toward appealing the zoning decision.

Parker said her family will keep trying to sell the property.

Were sorry this did not work out for Mr. Levy, she said. Hes disappointed and so are we. But there is a buyer out there that needs this property.

Residents of the neighborhood are happy theyve won the battle against this rezoning request.

I called one of the neighbors down the street to tell them and she just said You just made my day,  said Nancy Bray, whose family has owned her property for decades.

Bray said she cant imagine how the narrow road would safely handle the extra car and foot traffic. Not to mention, she said, the equipment needed to build the apartments.

The battle and the wars won until somebody decides to come back down there, Bray said.
GREENSBORO  A realization hit Brenda Schleunes back in 1981, as she researched her masters degree thesis in performance studies.

Unlike childrens books, plays for youngsters lacked substance.

The argument (in my thesis) was that there was a dearth of good childrens plays, so lets stage literature, said Schleunes (pronounced Shloy'-nes), then the mother of an elementary school child. Lets give these children something to think about.

Schleunes did just that, when she debuted Greensboro-based Touring Theatre of North Carolina in 1982.

She started by adapting award-winning childrens books, to promote reading and literacy among the young.

She expanded into adult audiences. She drew on historical documents, literature and people within its community to create original productions that focus the spotlight on issues of culture, race, gender, religion and economic status.

She took her productions on tour to 60 North Carolina counties, 16 states and the District of Columbia.

Forty-five productions later, the nonprofit professional theater company will celebrate 35 years on April 21 with a birthday party and, naturally, a performance.

After hors doeuvres and a silent auction, its actors will present a cabaret of George and Ira Gershwin songs in UpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage. Performances will continue on April 22, 23, 28 and 29.

Schleunes describes those 35 years as never dull.

She and her actors have had adventures along the way. They have dealt with delayed flights and car trouble, yet still made it to shows on time. They have played to audiences large and tiny, and on occasion, hostile.

I couldnt have picked a more interesting profession, she said.

But the profession is hardly a relaxing one, with meetings, grant proposal deadlines, rehearsal schedules and performances.

So at 77, Schleunes has handed executive director duties to Donna Bradby, another longtime figure on the local theater scene who teaches and handles arts marketing at N.C. A&T.

Bradby has acted with Touring Theatre since 1985 and served on its board.

That will let Schleunes focus on her role as artistic director.

She has made an amazing impact on North Carolina arts, from kindergarten students to the elderly, Bradby said of Schleunes. She has dared to create theater about issues that today are commonplace but years ago were not confronted.

Brenda doesnt always want to preach to the choir, Bradby added. She wants to change attitudes, the way people look at each other, how people spend time with each other and the human condition. She wants to give dignity to peoples lives.

Born in a small Mennonite community in Ohio, Schleunes arrived in Greensboro in 1971 from Chicago when her husband, Karl, became a history professor at UNC-Greensboro.

She found the South fascinating, describing it as full of interesting people who dont hide their idiosyncrasies.

Her contributions to her adopted citys cultural development since then won her the 2008 O. Henry Award from the Greensboro Partnership.

Giving dignity to everyone inspires her, Schleunes said.

We perform these pieces in a neutral format, she said, so that people can pull themselves out of a conflict situation and sit and hear people different from themselves, and also people like themselves.

Until five years ago, Touring Theatre didnt produce a home season in its hometown. It would stage shows at the former downtown Broach Theatre or Greensboro Historical Museum. That changed when an arts management consultant suggested a home season to make Touring Theatre more visible locally. Now, the UpStage Cabaret at downtown Triad Stage is its home stage.

Bradbys research has uncovered no other theater company quite like Touring Theatre, with Schleunes drawing on documents in their original form to create new works.

She is always ahead of the curve on social issues, addressing them artistically, Bradby said. She can feel the energy of issues. She jumps in and gets there before its blown up, and we already have piece speaking to it.

Schleunes does it all on a $150,000 annual budget, with minimal props and sets. Music and choreographed movement enhance the stories.

Let My People Go: The Trials of Bondage in Words of Master and Slave tells of Amelia Green, a free black woman from New Bern who bought her daughters out of slavery. Schleunes created it in 1997 with then-UNCG history professor Loren Schweninger, who researched court documents.

The N.C. Council on the Holocaust commissioned her in 2001 to write Let Your Children Tell, to demonstrate to the states young people what happens when racism goes unchecked. It draws on journal entries of four teenagers to show how Holocaust horrors changed their lives.

In 2005s The Life and Times of Fannie Lou Hamer, Schleunes drew on footnotes in several biographies to tell the story of a sharecropper who became a civil rights activist.

UNCGs Women Veterans Historical Collection commissioned Schleunes in 2005 to write Star-Spangled Girls.

Schleunes culled diaries, letters, interviews, telegrams and journals by and about the women who served during World War II.

Schleunes has adapted to the stage the work of authors including Eudora Welty, Alice Walker, Fred Chappell and Jill McCorkle.

N.C. author Barbara Presnell commissioned Schleunes 2009 to adapt her book of poetry about textile workers to the stage.

Several of Schleunes plays will be on tour throughout North Carolina this year. For the seventh year, Lincoln Financial Foundation provided a grant to bring The Life and Times of Fannie Lou Hamer to Guilford County Schools.

In 2016, she debuted Dr. Claribel, Miss Etta and the Brothers Cone, about a generation of one of the citys most prominent families.

She has added musical cabarets into the repertoire, including Duke Ellington Uptown in 2004 and now, The Memory of All That with Gershwin songs.

Schleunes is preparing to write and debut Black, White and Blue, about implicit bias in the criminal justice system.

Working with community groups, she has conducted interviews that interns from N.C. A&T transcribe. She hopes the play will be ready for fall.

This is going to be the hardest thing Ive ever done, Schleunes said. Its a very delicate subject.

She draws inspiration from Bradbys presence.

If this was just a lily-white company, we couldnt do that, Schleunes said. Having her as executive director gives us stronger legitimacy to take on projects like that.

Schleunes aims to tackle such projects as long as she can.To continue Touring Theatres legacy, she wants to teach others how to do what she does, creating authentic plays from research. She seeks a grant to finance the training, pay participants and provide them money to produce their own theatrical piece.

Theres an art to putting something together, Schleunes said. Its more difficult than adapting a short story.

She said she wants to continue working as long as she can. She views Touring Theatre as like my child, which I am going to have to eventually separate from, she said. But not yet.
Surely, they couldnt have been serious.

The classic 1980 movie comedy Airplane! made irreverent fun of the overbaked tropes of airport dramas.

Now, viral cellphone video this week sheds light on a real-life airline absurdity. Only, theres nothing funny about it. A 69-year-old doctor, David Dao, was asked to give up his seat to one of four United employees who needed spaces on an overbooked flight. So the airline asked for four volunteers to free seats in exchange for vouchers of up to $1,000. After receiving no takers, United randomly picked people. Three agreed. Dao did not.

Rather than consider other options, the planes crew summoned three airport security officers to pull the passenger from the seat and drag him down the aisle, as mortified fellow travelers looked on. His glasses were knocked crooked and blood dripped from his mouth. Some passengers pleaded for the officers to stop. Others recorded the incident on cellphone video that was posted to the web and created an international stir.

The most obvious question is why any company would treat a paying customer like this. And why security staff at Chicagos OHare Airport would agree to do their bidding.

Yes, the fine print on the ticket you bought entitles an airline to bump you if it runs out of seats.

Yes, its standard practice for airlines to overbook flights.

And, yes, it is understandable that United needed to get those four off-duty employees to Louisville to ensure that a different flight wasnt delayed or canceled.

But was any of this worth treating a paying customer like a carry-on bag? And was the damage worth whatever costs it would have incurred by allowing that man to remain in his seat? Obviously not. Uniteds stock prices took a $250 million nosedive two days later, not to mention repercussions in China  where United is the top U.S. airline  because Dao is of Chinese descent.

Beyond a breathtaking lack of judgment by the flight crew and airport security, the incident also shines a light on airline policies. When Congress deregulated airlines in 1978, it pretty much left most rules for passengers to the airlines. In Uniteds case, that contract of carriage contains 37,000 words. It includes the right of the airline to oversell seats to ensure that each plane will be as full as possible.

We could argue for more rules. But how do you regulate common sense and courtesy? Even within the current rules the crew could have raised the compensation for surrendering a seat and offered the deal to another passenger. If it cost them anything less than $250 million, it would have been well worth the price.

Meanwhile, the corporate blemish will be hard to erase. Uniteds enduring motto about Friendly Skies has become an easy punch line. After initially describing Dao as disruptive and belligerent, United CEO Oscar Munoz later apologized. This can never, will never, happen again on a United Airlines flight, he said. And it shouldnt.

The incident recalls a scene from Airplane!, in which a long line of crew members and passengers wait for turns to slap a hysterical woman. Surely, air travel doesnt have to be this cruel and disagreeable.

Oh, and we know: Dont call you Shirley.
WENTWORTH  Democrats from across Rockingham County assembled on April 8 to discuss the road ahead and hear from community leaders at the partys annual convention.

Hosted by outgoing party chair Elretha Perkins at Rockingham County High School, the convention included words from representatives of both Reidsville and Eden branches of the NAACP, Eric Fink who challenged Phil Berger for his state senate seat in 2016 and Robert Wilson, the former North Carolina Assistant Secretary of State.

With Republicans in control of many important seats from local to federal government, the Democrats rallied together around the idea of taking those seats back and promoting the party in Rockingham County.

As you know, our county is a red county, said former Reidsville Branch NAACP President Clarence Johnson.  We need to turn our county around and we are hoping that by us forming a coalition we can get the job done as we go forward in this year.

Eden Branch NAACP President Malcolm Allen shared the sentiment that Democrats need to become more vocal locally.

We have to have and put forth the same boldness as the opposite party, Allen said. A lot of times you see Republicans out front, raising their hands. Theyre the loudest people in the room and as far as Democrats are concerned, we get a little corner and say, Yes, Im a Democrat. We have to stop that because if we dont speak up then they feel emboldened to characterize us and show us as they desire.

For Fink, an associate professor of law at Elon University, that declaration carried a special weight.

Fink spoke at the 2016 convention as he sought signatures to run as an unaffiliated candidate against the otherwise unchallenged incumbent North Carolina State Senator Phil Berger. This year, Fink spoke at the convention as a registered Democrat.

We fell short, he said of his 2016 campaign. We came close. Im told I came closer than anyone has in North Carolina to get on a state senate ballot as an unaffiliated candidate and that would not have happened without particularly the support of people in Rockingham County. This is where I got the lions share of the signatures and this is where peoplepeople who owed me nothing, people who didnt already know mewent out of their way and really busted their behinds to help do that.  This meant a lot to me and its one of the reasons  that now I can stand here, not just before you but with you, as a Democrat.

In his remarks, Fink discussed democracy as a value and a way of life that he contends is not reinforced in all facets of society.

We have widely recognized an enormous political divide in this country, he said.  People tend to talk about that divide as being about policies, about particular issues, about immigration or global economy and tariffs versus free trade and all these views on how to fight terrorism and war and all these things. Thats all the surface. I think when we really look at this divide, the real core, the real essence, the real point of division is this question of democracy.

On one side, he said, there are those who embrace democracy and believe in expanding its scope, deepening its practice, not just at the ballot box, but in every aspect of ones life.

On the other side are those who may pay lip service to democracy, who may couch their actions and policies in the rhetoric of democracy or freedom or liberty but who fundamentally disdain democracy, Fink continued.  They see democracy as something that is inconvenient and inefficient, and inconvenient and inefficient in a very specific way. They see it as a barrier to their ceaseless accumulation of unaccountable power.

He added that there is a third group. There are those on the sidelines who jeer at Democrats and Republicans because they feel left out of the political system.

These people are not wrong to feel that theyve been left out, he said. Theyve been left out by politics. Theyve been left out of the economy. Their economic opportunities arent what they once were.

The problem is theyve misdiagnosed it, not because theyre foolish, but because demagogues have told them a story. Those stories unfortunately in this country have a long, deep heritage, particularly the story that the reason youre not doing well is because of the black man, because of the immigrant, because of the woman whos taking your job. That story is all too available.

According to Fink, this third group made up a significant portion of Donald Trumps base in the presidential election and he argues that the Democratic Party can win them over by giving those voters something better and including them.

The law professor went on to discuss state issues that impact democracy in North Carolina.

For example, House Bill 100, pending Governor Roy Coopers signature, will make all of North Carolinas judicial elections partisan. Fink recalled seeing a similar bill passed when he practiced law in Pennsylvania.

Let me tell you, it was a disaster, he said. The Pennsylvania court system was like something out of a novel coauthored by Charles Dickens and Edger Allen Poe. In the seven years I practiced law in Pennsylvania and in the 12 years since then, Ive lost count of how many justices of the Supreme Court were either impeached or had to resign because of corruption.

Continuing to House Bill 2, Fink said that the law served to neuter local government by overruling an anti-discrimination ordinance in Charlotte.

There is no reason that the people in the City of Charlotte, if they desire, through their city council, should not be able to adopt more robust protections against discrimination, whether its in employment or public facilities, he said.  Local governments ought to be free to raise the standards.

Following his words, Fink returned to his seat as convention-goers chanted Run, Eric, Run.

He responded, Stay tuned.

The last speaker of the evening, who appeared off program, was former North Carolina Assistant Secretary of State Robert Wilson. Wilson spoke briefly to encourage the Rockingham County Democratic base to call their representatives and make their voices heard.

We are trying to save North Carolina, Wilson said. It is critical that we make calls to our congressional people, understanding that at the present time North Carolina has 13 congressional seats. Of those 13 congressional seats, 10 of them are Republican. North Carolina has two senatorial seats. Both of them are Republican, so North Carolina is in a very unique position in that North Carolina will be a major player in deciding if we cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the Affordable Care Act.

During the convention, Perkins took the opportunity to present two certificates of appreciation to significant supporters of the countys Democratic Party.

The first was given to Ernestine Hampton and the second was in memory of Maxine Morehead.

Near the close of the meeting, the Rockingham County Democratic Party elected new party administrators including Roxanne Griffin who now serves as party chair. The party selected 37 of a possible 54 delegates to the district convention and five delegates to the state executive committee.
Harold Shapiro

GREENWICH  An advocate for civil rights and tolerance, Steve Ginsburg, regional director of the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League, will be the keynote speaker at Stanwich Schools commencement ceremony on June 1.

Im so honored to be a part of the commencement exercises at a school that has elevated the communitys understanding of excellence in education, Ginsburg said. Stanwich has been unparalleled in its positive impact on the lives of its students and families, and Im excited to speak to, and meet with, its seniors at such an important juncture in their lives.
DARIEN  A Darien actor is suing a town restaurant and the man he claims left him disfigured after a December fight.

Matthew Porretta, 51, whose IMDB credits include 90210 and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, filed a complaint last month against Christopher Aikler, of Norwalk, who police say struck Porretta with a glass mug in the head. The suit also names Steven J. Palmer, the owner of Chez Ernies Cafe in Darien, where the alleged assault took place.

According to the complaint filed in state Superior Court in Stamford, Aikler, 44, hit Porretta with a beer mug, causing the mug to shatter and Porretta to hit his head on a table and fall to the ground. Porretta suffered severe injuries, including lacerations to his left eye and cheek, a facial fracture and injuries to his spine and nasal septum. The documents allege some of these injuries are permanent.

The fight occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 18 at Chez Ernies Cafe on Tokeneke Road. The documents claim Chez Ernies sold alcohol to Aikler when he was already drunk. At some point, Porretta and Aikler crossed paths and Aikler allegedly struck Porretta with a beer glass. The glass smashed on the side of Porrettas head and the left side of his face and the impact of the blow caused him to fall backward on to a high-top table. He struck his head and fell to the ground.

Around 1 a.m., police responded to the bar and found Porretta and a Southbury man had been injured in the fight. The Southbury man had been punched in the face. Both men were taken to Stamford Hospital, where Porretta needed emergency eye surgery to save his left eye.

According to an affidavit signed by Porretta, he did not know Aikler and only remembers waking up on the ground and being covered in blood.

Aikler had been removed from the bar and had left the scene prior to the officers arrival. After an investigation where police were able to view surveillance video of the incident, police determined Aikler was the suspect and met with him on Dec. 22. On Jan. 11, Aikler, a resident of Bayne Street in Norwalk, turned himself in to police on a warrant for charges of second- and third-degree assault, as well as one count of breach of peace.

The criminal case is still pending and Aikler is expected to appear on April 27.

Since the incident, Porretta has been left with permanent and disfiguring scarring, according to court documents, and has had three surgeries. He will likely require surgery on his left eye and is at an increased risk for losing his vision. He has also experienced mental and emotional injury and his complaint said he has lost wages and the ability to earn an income, as well as the ability to pursue other activities he once enjoyed.

According to his complaint, Porretta is seeking damages in excess of $15,000 for these injuries and losses. Under the Dram Shop Act, which holds a business accountable for serving alcohol to an already intoxicated person, Porretta can sue Chez Ernies.

A representative at the office of Porrettas attorney, Michael Burrell, of Adelman Hirsch & Connors, said Burrell could not comment on the case.

Representatives for Palmer and Aikler did not respond to requests for comment.

ekayata@hearstmediact.com; @erin_kayata
Doing what this chicken sandwich does best. Photo: Chick-Fil-A

Its been ages since Americas last epic fight over a college-food-court Chick-fil-A, so angry students at Pittsburghs Duquesne University are joining with annoyed conservatives (most of them cranky and old) to help make a new one happen. The university announced last month that the chain with a less-than-subtle anti-gay past would open a new location in the main dining hall, and several groups on campus immediately protested that this would make them feel that their safe place is at risk. Chick-fil-A has a questionable history on civil rights and human rights, a member of the student government explained to the school paper. Theres a petition explaining that campus bullying is a problem, and demanding the chain be kept off campus entirely, and the president of Duquesnes Lambda Gay-Straight Alliance says that while shes aware Chick-fil-A quit giving to both Focus on the Family and Exodus International years ago, they feel the school should, at minimum, acknowledge there is still some tension.



Fox News resident Chick-fil-A apologist Todd Starnes simply instructs, Eat More Chicken, Snowflakes. Fox & Friends discovered the story this morning, and brought in exArmy Ranger and Outlaw Platoon author Sean Parnell to tell these students that, in fact, there are no safe spaces in the real world. He suggested Duquesnes president add a line reflecting that onto every application.

.@SeanParnellUSA to students protesting Chick-fil-A: You don't like it? Go eat a pepperoni roll at the student union! pic.twitter.com/dFghzcfspi  FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) April 13, 2017

Meanwhile, Franklin Graham  son of Billy Graham, and President Trumps evangelical buddy  dismisses all student fears as ridiculous. He explained why earlier today on Facebook: Its a very safe place for them. These students might want to rethink boycotting restaurants because the owners or founders believe in the Word of God. Some great ones do.

Chick-fil-A is back in the news. Ive known the Cathy familyfounders and owners of Chick-fil-Afor years, and they are... Posted by Franklin Graham on Thursday, April 13, 2017

Last but not least, Donald Trump Jr. saw a Daily Caller post saying Duquesne students live in fear of the arrival of a Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant, and decided this matter demanded his analysis as well. That consisted of him making fun of the situation on Twitter, and hashtagging it with #triggered:


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WEST WENDOVER  Internet records revealed the selling of a stolen gun to a pawn shop in Twin Falls.

According to the criminal complaint, Clifford B. Sweat, 36, of Honolulu was responsible for storing a number of guns, ammunition, protective gear, bows and arrows owned by a friend. Sometime after this agreement, Sweat claimed to have been burglarized and said that his possessions were returned to him; however, a couple of guns were unaccounted for. The owner of the weapons became suspicious but Sweat denied any involvement.

After the owner of the guns reported the theft to West Wendover police and provided box ends with serial numbers of the two missing guns, police were able to research the disappearance of the weapons on LeadsOnline, a technology service that aids law enforcement in apprehending criminals.

Police said the search revealed that Sweat sold a Rock River Arms AR-15 black rifle for $500 to a pawn shop in Twin Falls, with a serial number that matched the one provided by the owner.

Sweat was arrested April 3 on a felony warrant for grand larceny of a gun and owning or possessing a gun by a prohibited person.

Bail was listed at $40,000.
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The Nevada Controller is the states Chief Fiscal Officer, and we take very seriously the duties of the office.

Among them are the responsibilities to ensure that all public funds are spent appropriately and within the bounds of existing legislation, bond covenants, grant restrictions, federal rules and other guidelines. We also design and monitor internal controls to prevent people from stealing or misusing taxpayer assets.

Thats why we were appalled recently when we heard of the profligate waste at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The LVCVA is a public agency funded primarily by room-tax dollars and gaming fees assessed in Clark County. We believe the LVCVA, as a taxpayer-funded entity, should be subject to the same guidelines and ethical standards as every other public agency in Nevada. But the LVCVA defiantly disagrees.

An investigation by the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed last week that the LVCVA has reimbursed its officers for nearly $700,000 in bar tabs over the past three years and paid $85,000 to hire showgirls for agency-sponsored events. Eight senior staffers filed expense reports in excess of a quarter-million dollars over the past three years on top of the obscene salaries paid out by the agency. The agencys director last year received $768,000 in salary, bonus and benefits.

After examining more than 32,000 pages of receipts, the Review-Journal investigation found that Clark County taxpayers had reimbursed outrageous extravagances, including a $6,900 steak dinner in Toronto featuring Okinawa ribeye steaks that cost $328 apiece, lobster and 11 bottles of wine for 15 people. Employees used agency funds to purchase Tiffany bracelets for themselves. The agency director bought himself a $3,685 ring to commemorate his own work anniversary.

LVCVA board members, who are elected officials charged with the fiduciary duty of managing the agencys taxpayer resources, also got in on the act. Board chairman Lawrence Weekly had the agency purchase him $1,000 in concert tickets that he openly admits had no business purpose. He also got $33,000 in travel to places like China and South Africa, a Bluetooth speaker, a Fitbit and other goodies.

If this agency were a private corporation, those kinds of perks for board members would likely be deemed constructive dividends by the IRS and taxed as income while the SEC would investigate for fraud against investors. But the LVCVA is a public agency and, theoretically, should be subject to even stricter controls since taxpayers have no choice about funding it.

State ethics rules expressly prohibit state dollars from being used to purchase alcohol. They also prohibit the diversion of state dollars for personal benefit. If any state agency submits a claim for those kinds of expenditures, we place a Stop Payment order on any checks associated with the expense and commence a fraud investigation.

But because the LVCVA is funded with local tax dollars instead of grants made through state accounts, we have no authority to take these actions. Thats why this week we called on Governor Brian Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature to make immediate changes. All local taxes in Nevada must be jointly authorized by the governor and legislature, and they also have the power to amend the charter of any local government, including the LVCVA.

So far, however, the governor and lawmakers have pretended otherwise. Sandoval issued a statement saying, All LVCVA governance and budgetary issues are exclusively within the jurisdiction and control of the Board and are subject to Board review, decision and comment. Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson sent a memo to lawmakers warning them not to speak about the issue and claimed, We have no authority over this, and its not part of our caucus priorities.

Thats all hogwash.

As Assemblyman Al Kramer told the press, The Legislature has authority over everything that happens in the state.

The truth is the LVCVA awards a no-bid contract worth nearly $30-million annually to a public relations firm that also manages and funds the political campaigns of many people saying theres nothing to see here. Politicians in Carson City know their bread is buttered by that contract, so they dont want any scrutiny of the LVCVAs corrupt practices.

However, we will continue to seek to bring all relevant facts to light.
Those Life Saving Facts

by Joni Kamiya, Hawaii Farmers Daughter, April 12, 2017

It was announced a few weeks ago that Kamehameha Schools is looking to put in more affordable homes in Haleiwa. Despite the fact that this had been planned for nearly 10 years now, the community became very aware of the loss of ag lands. We all know what happens when farm land disappears. Homes come up and farms are gone forever and communities are changed.

As I watched the North Shore Community Hub group fill with these posts and complaints, I couldnt help but shake my head. Just a few years ago, the North Shore Chamber of Commerce had asked farmers to speak up at neighborhood board meetings to educate about agriculture. My dad and brother drove out there to speak up and was faced with a hostile crowd who thought conventional farms were poisoning them. At yet another meeting, long time farmer Dean Okimoto tried to speak to this same crowd and didnt face friendly people.

The imported disinformation campaign of the Center for Food Safety had dug deep into peoples deepest emotions that there was a need to be afraid of the farmers out there. The well established farmers with proven track records were made to be thought of as horrible people.

Even in the community where my dad farmed in remains distrusting of our farm. Its evident when they call the ER afraid for their own health assuming my brother was poisoned but actually had a medication reaction. A neighbor there even posted this ill informed comment to the GMO Free Hawaii group the other week.

My brother and his coworker know firsthand the effects of misinformation on pesticides. Every time they go to the field to spray for pests, wary neighbors look out their car windows and wind them up as if they are being poisoned. My brother has a sense that hes the most hated person out there in Punaluu but he knows that he isnt doing anything wrong. Its the contaminated minds that are filled with fear that remains to be the problem.

Whats wrong with fear mongering on pesticides? Well, eventually, the unintended consequences will be seen and right on cue, a Civil Beat article told the story of a Maui woman who is suffering from rat lungworm disease after consuming food from the Big Island. This has remained a problem on the Big Island and its being studied there to figure out the best practices for dealing with this.

Its ironic that theres so much attention to pesticides on farms here in Hawaii but not much being said by the supposedly food safety group about this issue. One would think that given the increasing numbers of people being affected by this, the Hawaii Center for Food Safety would be right there working on an awareness campaign. Instead, in their last email newsletter, they are bragging about their new Pesticides in Paradise website. Theres something wrong when people are getting sick and this group isnt doing a thing to protect them from a very preventable illness.

I asked why CFS and other groups like Shaka arent informing followers of rat lungworm disease and a friend give the painful truth.

Those who seek to oppress people deny others access to accurate information.

Misinformation has consequences and that is what we are seeing right now with this brain infecting parasite thats made a comeback partly due to the fear mongering of pesticides. The poison of fear has contaminated minds who can no longer think and question what they are being told and people start to suffer as a result. Facts can save one from a life of misery and pain if we use it.
(Nj.com) A manager of a hedge fund that billed itself as a fund for the little guys admitted Tuesday in federal court in Camden that he bilked 76 victims of more than $4 million and avoided paying more than $273,000 in taxes. Peter Zuck, 66, of Middletown, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion, acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced in a statement. Zuck faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Zuck was a co-founder of the Jersey City-based hedge fund Osiris Partners LLC and Osiris Partners Fund Limited. According to court documents, the hedge fund described itself as the fund for the little guys and moms and pops.

To read this article:
The reports portrayed the country largely in a favourable light, at times as an example to be followed.

Finlands education system, basic income experiment, appeal as a travel destination and possible membership in Nato were the most dominant themes in global media reports about the country in 2016, finds a survey conducted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs .

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs annual survey is based on diplomatic missions assessments of the content and tone of media reports covering Finland. Last year, 74 of the countrys 89 missions abroad responded to the survey.

The survey offers interesting comparative data on the views and priorities of the media, highlighting the wide range of issues affected by the country image, starting with editorial choices, says Petra Theman, the head of public diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Finlands overall media score crept up by 0.14 points from the previous year to 3.88 on a scale of 15, according to the survey.

Last year, the media attention garnered by country increased in a total of 18 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden and Tunisia.

Finlands education system remained the most prominent theme in global media reports, although the reports were no longer as positive as they have been in previous years due to, for example, the drop in the countrys scores in the 2016 PISA. Finland was nevertheless regularly referred to as a country where education has been organised excellently.

Another prominent feature of the media reports was the basic income experiment launched in Finland in 2017, with some media reports describing the country as a pioneer and bold experimenter. The Embassy of Finland in Brussels, for example, revealed that the experiment has garnered considerable media attention ever since it was first announced and even resulted in contacts from ordinary citizens interested in re-locating to Finland.

Finland managed to shed some of its image as an economic laggard  despite continuing to receive negative media attention in certain countries, namely in Europe  and sustain its reputation as a high technology powerhouse due to the media interest generated by the likes of Nokia, Rovio and Slush.

The country also received extensive attention in travel and tourism-related reports, not least due to the efforts of Helsinki, Lapland and Visit Finland, estimates the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. A new feature of the reports was the resurgent public sauna culture in Helsinki, with CNN, for example, writing about the variety of public saunas found in the Finnish capital.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva
Belligerence is in the air in Washington. President Trump is enjoying (extremely rare) bi-partisan praise for a cruise-missile attack on Syria. Theres tough talk from some Republicans about more. And even tougher talk about Russia. North Korea, too.

Meanwhile, the publics reaction is ... huh? For millions of American voters, the two most striking aspects of the U.S. action against Syria were 1) How quickly Trump moved, and 2) How little he explained his actions.

Explaining  laying the groundwork, making a case  is an essential part of presidential leadership. Thats especially true when what is involved is an act of war. Leaders contemplating military action prepare the public to support that action. They explain why it is needed. They explain why it is in the national interest of the United States. Then they repeat the explanation.

No, that doesnt mean they reveal exactly what theyre going to do and when theyre going to do it. Trump said many times on the campaign trail that he would not telegraph his actions to foreign adversaries. To do so, he said, would be to give up the critical element of surprise.

But leaders dont surprise the voters with an out-of-the-blue act of war. In the case of Syria, Trump moved so quickly, and with such little effort at public persuasion beforehand, that he maintained the element of surprise on his own voters. Thats not a good idea.

Indeed, the public reaction, measured by early polls, is not optimistic for the president. After the attack, Washington Post pollsters asked, Do you support or oppose President Trumps decision to launch a missile strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation for the Syrian government using chemical weapons against civilians? The result was 51 percent support, 40 percent oppose. Among registered voters, Trumps support level was a bit higher at 57 percent.

Then the Post asked, Would you support or oppose additional U.S. air strikes against the Syrian government at this time? Just 35 percent said support, while 54 percent said oppose. Again, Trumps support was a little better, 39 percent, among registered voters.

Either way, the fact is, the barest of majorities supports a new president sending military forces into action for the first time as commander-in-chief.

They are not good numbers, says Republican pollster David Winston. Winston points out that it is often hard to assess Trumps poll results because he won the presidency with an unfavorable rating of 60 percent  that alone should tell everyone that Trump is a different kind of president, as far as polling is concerned. Nevertheless, its possible to conclude that support for more military action appears tenuous at best  unless Trump makes the effort to build public support.

He needs to realize that there is a level of explanation that he needs to do, particularly when youre about to put American lives potentially at risk, given that starting point of 60 percent unfavorable, Winston says. Its not that people are going to disagree with him, but when they hear something he has done, 60 percent of the country starts off with the viewpoint of, That guy I dont like.

Trumps no-explanations style is particularly bad for his political fortunes because, beyond what he promised would be a quick, intense, and winning effort to destroy ISIS, he did not campaign on the idea of going to war. Just the opposite; Trump campaigned day after day on a platform of keeping the United States out of the mess in the Middle East. Trump often excoriated George W. Bush for the big, fat mistake of going to war in Iraq.

Now, Trumps quick conversion to military action has left some prominent supporters unhappy  and warning of problems to come.

The thing thats most important right now for Donald Trump is to remember those core issues that he so successfully campaigned on, conservative radio host Laura Ingraham said on Fox News Tuesday morning. It was all focused on America first. Jobs, the economy, wages going up  thats it.

What I think is difficult at the same time is to manage this war footing that we increasingly seem to be on, Ingraham continued. I do have my concerns about this administration getting mired again in another conflict in the Middle East ... Im not sure getting rid of Bashar al-Assad was at the top of the list of the people in Pennsylvania.

At the same time, Trump is winning plaudits of those in his party who tried hardest to defeat him. Bill Kristol called the White House execution of the attack impressive and welcomed Trump as a potential convert to regime change. It would be ironic if Trump, who campaigned against regime change, ends up pursuing it in both Syria and North Korea, Kristol tweeted Tuesday. The day after the attack, Kristol tweeted, Punishing Assad for use of chemical weapons is good. Regime change in Iran is the prize.

No, that is probably not what Trump voters in Pennsylvania had in mind. If Trump has changed his views from what he said in the campaign, or even if he has simply decided that Syria should be a one-time exception to his general opposition to military interventionism, he owes voters all around the country more of an explanation than he has given so far.
A COUPLES business and home were wrecked when a fire ripped through a building in Watlington town centre.

The blaze broke out at DG Homecare in High Street on Friday evening while Derek and Glennys Starling were at their house next door.

Residents reported hearing a bang as flames leapt out of the building and a pall of dark grey smoke hung over the street.

Passers-by helped the Starlings out of their house via a side door of the shop before firefighters arrived.

The couple are now staying with their daughter in Henley. Mr Starling was reportedly recovering from a stroke that he suffered at the end of last year.

The hardware store was gutted and the couples home damaged and the building has been boarded up and fenced off. The cause of the fire is being investigated but it is believed to be accidental.

The alarm was raised at about 7pm and more than 50 firefighters from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire tackled the blaze at its height.

The crews wore breathing equipment and used jets to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

Dave Parkes and Minako Sato, who live opposite the shop, said the fire spread quickly.

Mr Parkes said: It was fierce by five past seven. People were beginning to panic. The flames were coming out of all the windows and it was out of control for a while.

People were knocking on the doors trying to get the people in there out, which took quite a while. They were banging on their front door and were running around the back and then they came out of the side door. A member of the public got them out.

The owners came into our house and because hes recovering from a stroke we got him to sit down. He was a bit upset but was calm actually.

Mrs Sato said: We got them to speak to the fire people because there were gas cylinders in various places in there but most of the big ones are kept round the back so they were okay.

Desmond Kearney and his wife Val were at their home in High Street when the blaze broke out.

Mr Kearney said: The front of the shop was a fireball and at the back of the house the flames were licking out from the roof.

It was really on fire, the whole thing, Ive never seen anything like it. The fire brigade did a fantastic job.

Amanda Hinton, who runs K is for Kitchen, also in High Street, was at her home behind the business when the fire started.

She said: We were just sitting down having dinner when we heard a bang. We thought a car had crashed and went to look outside. There were flames pouring out the front of DG. The flames were huge and were shooting halfway across the road. There was a lot of smoke.

There were lots of people gathered on the street watching and then the ambulance service arrived and they cleared everybody away.

The Social, the restaurant which is in the building next door, were doing teas and coffees for the firefighters through the night.

Sallie Sayers, who lives off High Street, said: The flames were coming out of the roof  it was quite frightening. You know a fire is devastating but its the speed at which you see a little bit of smoke and then suddenly its huge plumes of black smoke and flames leaping out of the building.

We felt safe when the firefighters got here  they were so calm.

She said the whole town felt very, very sorry for the Starlings.

Peter Robinson, who also lives in High Street, said: It was fairly dramatic. We were told to stay inside and close the windows, which we had already done. I think we were just all very concerned for the occupants, for the business and whether the fire might spread because these are all fairly old buildings.

He added: The Starlings are super folk, they really are. The shop was an absolute treasure trove  I would almost say irreplaceable. You could get everything from mole traps to light bulbs. Their staff were so helpful.

Robin Holmes-Smith, who runs the Granary Deli in High Street, said the couple were lucky to escape.

For them personally it must have been absolutely terrifying, he said. To probably lose your house and business in one go, you cant think of anything worse really.

Firefighters were still at the scene in the early hours of Saturday and High Street remained closed during this week.

Marcus Reay, the incident commander, said: I was very proud of my firefighters who worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

A meeting of Watlington Parish Council this week heard that attempts will be made to save the building.
A mother-of-three who camped outside the Dail in a bid to get a life-saving drug for patients like her daughter, who has cystic fibrosis (CF), is relieved other parents will not have to go to such extremes to get the medication.

Hazel Robinson (32), from Drumlish, Co Longford, said she was "delighted" that Health Minister Simon Harris was able to secure an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Vertex this week that will give approximately 600 CF patients access to life-saving drugs Orkambi and Kalydeco.

The HSE had denied CF patients access to the drugs due to the costs - reportedly about 160,000 per patient each year.

"I went up there with a wing and hope and I walked away from the Dail so happy," she said of the agreement in principle announced by the Health Minister on Tuesday.

Angry

But she said families with loved ones suffering from the debilitating lung condition and other life-threatening illnesses should not have to camp outside in order to beg the Government to intervene.

"I was very angry with the Government for letting it get to that stage," Ms Robinson said.

She slept in a pop-up tent outside Leinster House for three nights in a bid to get "someone to talk to me" after her daughter Gypsy Ann (14) began coughing up blood.

Although the schoolgirl was given the drug on compassionate grounds, she said "it shouldn't have gotten to that stage".

"I couldn't bear to see any other child go through what we did," she said.

"It's great news and I'm absolutely thrilled for the CF family, who have become campaigners overnight.

"But the CF family is completely worn out begging for their lives."

While the decision is welcome news to the hundreds of CF patients in Ireland - which has the highest per capita rate of the illness in the world - Ms Robinson said the Government should heed the lesson from this process.

Welcome

Meanwhile, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) CEO Philip Watt said the news was especially welcome, as it coincided with CFI's annual fundraising day today.

He said the deal "comes after a long and often challenging campaign by people with cystic fibrosis and their families to achieve a positive outcome".
The trial of a Dublin man accused of kidnapping a family during a 660,000 "tiger" robbery has collapsed over suspicions that the jury received information from outside.

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Gill was discharged after a judge heard it was suspected members had received information from others.

Judge Elma Sheahan made the decision after a note detailing the suspicions was handed in yesterday, on the sixth day of the jury's deliberations. A defence lawyer said the trial had been "utterly and fatally compromised".

The jury had been considering a verdict for just over 14 hours. The accused was remanded on continuing bail to appear in court again on April 28.

Imprisoning

Mr Gill (35), of Malahide Road, Swords, had denied falsely imprisoning postal worker Warren Nawn, his partner Jean Marie Matthews and their baby in Drogheda between August 1 and 2, 2011.

He also denied the robbery of 661,125 from An Post, West Street, Drogheda.

The prosecution had alleged Mr Gill was one of a group of five who were involved in holding the family hostage in their own home before moving them to a shed a 90-minute drive away.

Dean Kelly BL, defending, told Judge Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he felt the jury should not proceed with deliberations.

Mr Kelly said a juror had written that he suspected others were "getting information from people outside the jury".

He felt jurors were using the information to form their decision and that was "so wrong".

He spoke about overhearing two strangers talking about the case on a tram. "My client Mr Gill cannot receive a fair trial before this jury," Mr Kelly said.

Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, suggested the judge should ask the jury if they had been influenced, and let the members retire to consider the question.

However, Judge Sheahan said she could not allow the case to proceed when a matter of this seriousness had been raised.

Judge Sheahan said they were in "uncharted waters".

Mr Heneghan then said it was not suggested in any way that the jury had been "got at".

"Information of the utmost gravity has come to the court's attention and on foot of receipt of the information, it is regrettable but inevitable that the case must come to an end," the judge then told the jurors.
Two men have been sent for trial on drugs charges after the seizure of an estimated 100,000 worth of cocaine at a supermarket car park in south Dublin.

Francis Dunne (57) and Glen Murray (27) both had books of evidence served on them when they appeared at Blanchardstown District Court.

Judge David McHugh sent them forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Dunne, of Lealand Drive, Clondalkin, and Murray, of Pairc Mhuire, Saggart, are both charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply with a value of 13,000 or more. They are also charged with two related counts of simple possession and sale or supply of the drugs.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at Dunnes Stores car park, Saggart, on October 15.

Charged

They are also charged with simple possession of cocaine and having the drug for sale or supply at their home addresses on the same date.

State solicitor Tom Conlon said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment.

The book of evidence was served on the defendants. Some amendments to the charges had been made.

Judge McHugh gave the defendants the formal warning that they must provide details of any alibis to the prosecution within 14 days.

He also ordered disclosure by the State of copies of their gardai interview video.

He remanded them on bail to appear in the circuit court later this month.

Neither defendant addressed the court during the hearing.

They have not yet indicated how they intend to plead to the charges, which are under Sections 3, 15 and 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The passenger who was violently dragged off his seat on a United Airlines plane, sparking widespread outrage across the world, has spoken out about the incident for the first time.

David Dao (69), a doctor from Kentucky, confirmed he was the man in the viral videos, which showed him bleeding from his mouth after law enforcement officers tried to remove him from the overbooked flight.

Dr Dao is receiving treatment in a Chicago hospital.

Speaking to a cable TV channel, he said "everything" was injured, and that he was not doing well.

His family have issued a statement expressing gratitude for the public's support.

"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 family's attorney, Stephen Golan, said.

"Currently, they are focused only on Dr Dao's medical care and treatment."

Mr Golan is one of two lawyers hired by the doctor's family, raising the possibility the father-of-five could be planning to sue United Airlines.

The airline released an initial statement to explain that the United Express Flight 3411 in Chicago was fully-booked and that staff asked for "volunteers" to take another flight.

It later came to light that passengers were removed so that the airline's own staff could take a seat.

When too few volunteers came forward, law enforcement was tasked to select random passengers and force them off the plane.

Yelling

During the incident, passengers allegedly heard the doctor say he could not delay his journey because he had appointments with his patients scheduled for the following day.

"He just was not willing to get off the plane. He started yelling at her: 'I'm a doctor. I have patients I have to see in the morning. I have to get back tonight. I can't be delayed'," said Tyler Bridges, a passenger on the flight.

"You can tell he's dazed from being unconscious, confused."

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued a statement apologising to Dr Dao for his treatment.

"The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment," Mr Munoz said.

"I share all of those sentiments, and above all: my deepest apologies for what happened."

A group of senators has signed a letter to Mr Munoz requesting further information about the airline's procedures for removing a passenger.
I dont trust Madrid but I dont trust London either, says Michael Netto, International Relations manager for Gibraltars Unite union. Is Spain prepared to penalize its own people by stirring hatred between Gibraltar and La Linea simply for the sake of prolonging the process? Everyone is alarmed when some idiot talks about war and the Falkland Islands [a reference to recent incendiary statements made by ex-Tory leader Lord Michael Howard], but what about when thousands of workers are stuck at the border?

An aerial view of La Linea and Gibraltar.

While Britain is involved in the larger game of easing itself out of the EU, Gibraltarians are criticizing the warmongering and demanding that The Rock be left out of the equation. Because at stake here is the welfare of 33,000 residents who leave the enclave to shop and do business in Spain, to the tune of around 695 million a year. According to the Rocks Chamber of Commerce, Gibraltarian businesses import goods and services worth 445 million a year. And there are 12,000 Spaniards who work in Gibraltar and need to cross the border twice a day.

Now, like a bad omen, border controls have been stepped up and traffic lines have grown, with waiting periods of between three and five hours to get from one side to the other.

La Linea lacks industry and its hotel and services sector are dependent on Gibraltar

Mario Fernandez, deputy mayor of La Linea

The Spanish workers in Gibraltar do not come under the cross-border Workers Statute, as Spain does not recognize the so-called Verja as a border. Applying disproportionate controls at the border as a means of putting pressure on Gibraltar will only punish its economy, with repercussions on ours, says Lorenzo Perez, President of Apymell, an association of small businesses in La Linea.

Gibraltars economy is robust and powered by financial services and technology. The Rocks economy is fueled by a magically low 10% corporate tax and exemption from sales tax (VAT), a combination in place since 2009 that attracts companies from all over Europe. In the meantime, La Lineas economy is depressed and has been for a long time. But despite this imbalance, both are anxious about the results of the Brexit negotiations.

Clear in most peoples minds are the two occasions in recent history when politics interfered with their welfare: In 1969, the border was closed on Francos orders, splitting families and triggering an exodus from La Linea to escape the resulting poverty; and in 2013, UK-Spanish tensions caused five-hour lines at the border, making daily life unbearable for an entire year.

Monument to Spanish workers in Gibraltar. P. P.

The Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepcion lies just 50 meters from the border. It has a population of 63,000 and an unemployment rate of 35%. On the Rock, unemployment is at 1% and GDP per capita is 64,000. The contrast is striking. While Gibraltar thrives and fortunes are pooled and invested, La Linea is dealing with conflictive gangs and drugs. The urban development plan has not been revised in 30 years here and the Spanish Economy Ministry has had to intervene to help shore up the towns coffers: La Linea has an annual budget of 50 million and a debt of 160 million, a legacy from the days of the deceased politician and controversial celebrity Jesus Gil.

There is, however, an extraordinary symbiosis between the two economies, due to the constant comings and goings of goods and workers. Prosperity and survival depend on this symbiosis, but it is too early to say how Brexit negotiations will play out for the Rock. Predictably, British Prime Minister Theresa May rejects negotiating the Rocks sovereignty without the consent of Gibraltarians, while Brussels has given Spain a veto over the Rocks EU access.

Spaniards from towns in the vicinity with interests in Gibraltar fear the worst and want the Spanish government to seriously consider the potential consequences of allowing Gibraltar to be used as a political pawn in the negotiations between Brussels and the UK.

There is an extraordinary symbiosis between the two economies, due to the constant comings and goings of goods and workers

La Linea lacks industry and its hotel and services sector are dependent on Gibraltar, says Mario Fernandez, the towns deputy mayor, who is demanding a special economic deal for La Linea. Millions of euros come from the Rock every year, and if the border is closed, we will be affected.

There are thousands of aspects to such a complex process, but we want to focus on a small but vital issue, says Manuel Triano, chairman of the Cross-Frontier Group, a lobby that brings together businesses and trades unions from both sides of the border to depoliticize the conflict. Triano explains that they will try to make the British, Spanish and European authorities see that a move to close the border will once again lead to the unraveling of economies.

When Franco shut the border in 1969, he built a refinery to create jobs in the area and halt the exodus that made La Linea lose 40% of its population. Today, there are other kinds of threats, such as having Gibraltars online gaming industry move to Malta. The future of the overseas territory and of the adjacent Spanish town depends on the easy cross-border flow of goods and workers.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Female officers with Spains Civil Guard who fail to inform their superiors that they have their period while on duty can pay a high price for it  including two days suspension without pay. This is what one woman engaged in routine highway patrol duties was given for leaving her post for five to 10 minutes on March 8  coincidentally, International Womens Day  according to witnesses.

A Civil Guard ceremony in Malaga. LORENZO CARNERO (PUNTO PRESS)

She got her period unexpectedly and had to go to the bathroom to put on a sanitary towel so she wouldnt stain her uniform or the official vehicle, said her defense attorney.

The restroom was 300 meters away and when the agent returned to her post, she was confronted by a lieutenant who was carrying out an inspection. She explained the urgency of her situation to him but, according to her colleague, was told, Dont give me excuses! You either go to the bathroom before or after your checkpoint duties, but not during!

Civil Guard sources say the female agent is attempting to subject her superior to trial by media

The lieutenant threatened disciplinary action should it happen again, and the incident might have gone no further had it not been for the fact that the female agent was extremely upset when she returned to barracks, and asked to speak to a captain to report the lieutenants behavior. The captain argued that he was not her direct superior, but also admitted that the lieutenant had asked him not to speak to her. The female officer then said she felt unwell and went home.

Five days later, however, she asked to speak to one of her superiors again to complain about the lieutenants behavior and was surprised to be told that she would have to first address the person she was trying to file a complaint against, according to the correct hierarchical procedure. So on March 13, the lieutenant learned from his subordinate that she was going to file a complaint against him with his superiors.

On March 15, 48 hours after the interview and one week after the row, the lieutenant disciplined the officer for failure to correctly comply with orders, stating that she had failed to ask for permission to leave her post to go to the bathroom. According to her lawyer, Antonio Suarez-Valdes, the officer has acted for the activation of a workplace harassment protocol established by the force five years ago, though to little effect to date.

Inaccurate story

On Tuesday, Civil Guard authorities commented on the case, stating that the story provided by the female officer did not line up with the reality of the events. According to official sources, she was not sanctioned for leaving her post for 10 minutes to apply a sanitary towel, but because both she and her colleague failed to inform superiors that she was temporarily absenting herself from her duties at Barcelona port at a time when Spains terror alert is at level four  the countrys second highest.

She was absent for five to 10 minutes

Witness to the incident

Those sources also say that the female officer failed to mention the sanitary towel at all when talking to a Civil Guard psychologist, and only did so when disciplinary procedures where initiated by the officer she had previously lodged a complaint against on the grounds he had bullied her.

The Union of Civil Guard Officials, which her superior is a member of, also dismissed the officers story, arguing she had given a biased and simplistic version of what had taken place, perhaps seeking a rapid trial by media of the official [who had initiated the disciplinary proceedings].

In the Civil Guard, it is not a problem to leave your post as long as this is communicated correctly and there is proof of the necessity to do so, the union said in a statement, in which it also defended the irreproachable conduct of the female officers superior.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data

A defense agreement signed between Spain and the United States in 1988, amended in 2002, 2012 and 2015, and currently in effect until May 2021, grants the US military support facilities in Rota and Moron , a naval and air base respectively in the south of Spain, and authorizes the use of Spanish land, sea and airspace, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of NATO. Any use that goes beyond these objectives, warns article 2.2 of the agreement, will require the prior authorization of the Spanish government.

Tomahawk missiles are launched into Syria by the USS Porter destroyer. US Navy/AP (AP)

More information El convenio de Defensa Espana-EE UU en la era Trump

The USS Ross and the USS Porter  the US naval vessels that fired 59 Tomahawk missiles against a Syrian airbase last Friday in response to a chemical attack reportedly carried out by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad  have been operating out of Rota since June 2014 and 2015 respectively. The agreement that authorized the deployment of these two ships states that the objective is to contribute significantly to the [NATO] system against ballistic missiles, and the use of the Spanish base is granted in compliance with the [defense] agreement.

The USS Porter set sail from Rota on March 7, while the USS Ross left on April 3, before the chemical attack on the Syrian locality of Idlib took place  the attack that set in motion the response by US President Donald Trump. The Pentagon could not give advance warning about the mission that the destroyers were going to carry out when they left Spanish waters, but they did once it was ordered.

The Spanish government has admitted that it was not informed of the attack in advance

But the Spanish government has admitted that it was not informed of the attack in advance, in contrast to the countries that are participating in the air campaign against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria (France, United Kingdom, Holland and Denmark, as well as Russia). The US ambassador to NATO sent a letter to his allied counterparts, which was received and read on Friday morning, once news of the missile raid had already hit the headlines.

Hours later, the Spanish government sent out a statement in which it described the firing of the missiles as a measured and proportionate response to the use by the Syrian army of chemical weapons. However, the statement signed by seven leaders from southern Europe, including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, avoided expressly blaming al-Assad for the massacre in Idlib, pointing out that both Damascus and ISIS have used chemical weapons, and calling for all of the identified culprits to be held accountable for the war crime.

Until now, no independent investigation has established who was to blame for the attack, but even if this were the case in a future incident of a similar kind, that would not legitimize after the fact an operation that was carried out both on the margins of international law and the agreement approved by the Spanish government.

The Spanish government expressed its concern that the Russians veto has blocked the intervention of the United Nations Security Council in the Syrian conflict. Indeed, this is the kind of dysfunctional world order that is currently in place. Its quite another thing to take justice into your own hands. That is what Trump has done. But will this be the last time?
Lying: Can we ever regain the sanctity of the truth?
The United States has given the cold shoulder to supporters of independence for Spains northeastern Catalonia region, with both the US embassy in Madrid and the foundation run by former US president Jimmy Carter on Thursday issuing statements distancing themselves from the matter.

Carles Puigdemont (left) and Jimmy Carter.

The setback comes in the wake of visits by both former Catalan premier Artur Mas and current regional premier Carles Puigdemont to the United States as part of concerted effort by separatists to drum up international support for their bid to hold a referendum on self-determination despite implacable opposition from Spains conservative central government on the grounds it is unconstitutional.

Sources in the Catalan government said the US embassy statement came at the request of Madrid

But both the US legation in Spain and the Carter Center on Thursday issued statements putting space between themselves and a cause which seen Mas and other top officials in the region banned from public office for their role in organizing a non-binding plebiscite on the independence issue in November 2014, held despite a Madrid-driven block from Spains Constitutional Court.

In its statement, the US embassy said Catalan independence was an internal matter for Spain and noted its position on the issue had not changed. The United States was profoundly committed to maintaining relations with a united and strong Spain, read the statement which noted Spain was a vital ally on issues ranging from the promotion of mutual economic growth to the fight against Daesh [or so-called Islamic State] and the prevention of violent extremism.

Former Catalan premier Artur Mas has been barred from office for two years over his involvement in an unofficial regional independence poll in 2014. JOAN SANCHEZ (ATLAS)

Meanwhile, following a meeting between former US president Jimmy Carter and Puigdemont, the Carter Center issued a communique saying that neither President Carter nor the Center was able to become involved in the referendum process.

In a further snub to Puigdemont, the foundation also chose to frame the meeting between Carter and the Catalan premier as a reciprocal visit, noting that the former US president had, in 2010, been the recipient of Catalonias Premi Internacional Catalunya award  an annual prize granted to those making a major contributions to science, culture or human values.

But sources within the Catalan government responded by saying that the US embassy statement had been clearly released at the request of the Spanish government. Those sources also said the mere fact the legation had issued a statement on the subject of Catalan independence signified that the secession process forms part of the political and diplomatic agenda for the United States and is not an internal issue.

The Carter Center said it would not become involved in the Catalan independence issue

The same Catalan government sources also brushed aside the Carter Center statement, noting the regional premier had not been seeking backing for a referendum from the former US head of state but had merely wished to inform him of the desire to do so.

In early April, the deputy premier of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, said that an official referendum on independence for the northeastern Spanish region would be called in June, stating that the countrys Constitutional Court did not have the authority to suspend it, as it had tried to do on April 4 by freezing funds from the regional budget that would be used to organize the poll.

English version by George Mills.
In a macabre show of force amid the worsening war between rival criminal factions in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, three bodies were thrown out of light aircraft on Wednesday over the small community of Eldorado.

Forensic technicians at the crime scene in Eldorado, Sinaloa. STRINGER (REUTERS)

More information Arrojan un cuerpo desde una avioneta en Sinaloa

One of the bodies fell onto the roof of the local hospital at around 7am, reported Mexican daily Milenio, citing municipal police.

Witnesses said that three bodies were thrown from a small plane over the town, which is some 54 kilometers south of the state capital of Culiacan, on the Pacific coast. Two of the corpses were reportedly picked up by armed men. The authorities have not confirmed the reports of the other two bodies.

The remnants of the Sinaloa cartel are fighting for control of the drugs trade

The State Attorneys office said it was trying to identify the body that landed on the hospital roof.

Sinaloa has been hit by violence following the extradition of the former boss of the Sinaloa drug trafficking cartel, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, to the United States in January, where he awaits trial. There have been more than 500 deaths so far this year as rival factions within the cartel fight for control.

The area where the bodies fell is controlled by Damaso Lopez, a Sinaloa cartel leader and former partner of Guzman, and El Chapos sons. Both factions are fighting for control of this vital drugs shipment route to the United States.

This latest tactic ratchets up violence that has seen decapitations, the murder of family members, kidnappings, death threats to police officers, and dismembered bodies dumped by roadsides.

Former Sinaloa drug cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman on his arrival in the United States after being extradited. AP

Mexican journalist Javier Valdez told EL PAIS in February that the only person with any influence and power within Sinaloa cartel is one of its founding members, Ismael Zambada, but he has not shown the same willingness to use violence as El Chapos sons or his brother Aureliano Guzman.

El Chapo had reportedly reached an agreement with Zambada over roles and responsibilities within the Sinaloa Cartel, but following his extradition El Chapos sons have allegedly fallen out with Zambada. They dont want to take his advice. They are much more violent and are more inclined toward using weapons than words, and that is very dangerous, said Valdez.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Cuban opposition activist Eliecer Avila has been arrested for the second time in three days after he complained that his computer was confiscated by customs agents when he returned to Havana from a trip to Colombia recently.

Eliecer Avila last week at Havana airport. SOMOS+

More information El disidente Eliecer Avila, arrestado en Cuba tras exigir la devolucion de un ordenador confiscado

Avila, 31, considered one of the most active opponents of the regime led by Raul Castro, was first arrested on April 6, when his computer was seized. He was then rearrested in the early hours of April 9 and released later that evening on bail, accused of illicit enrichment.

At his first arrest, Avila used his phone to record the incident and then posted footage on social networks. He spent the night in a police station and was released the following morning. He then returned to the airport to demand the return of his computer. He said he was given a receipt confirming that it had been taken to be examined by a state security unit, but was not told whether the laptop would be returned.

There are no laws against bringing a laptop into Cuba. I want to tell the world that there is a lot of theft in this airport. There are mothers and old people who have had milk and clothes for their children stolen. It is time that Cubans reported these abuses, said Avila last week by telephone.

Avila fell out of favor with the regime after criticizing its restrictions on internet use

It was the straw that broke the camels back, said Avila, who heads Somos+ (We are more), which describes itself on its website as: A movement that wants to build a modern, prosperous and free country.

Somos+ accuses the Cuban authorities of waging a war of psychological attrition against opponents, saying that they have been subjected to humiliating treatment at Havana airport when returning from overseas trips and that another activist had the contents of his house removed. They left him a mattress and a television, says Avila.

Other opponents of the Cuban government have reported similar low-level repression that they say is designed to wear out dissidents without the use of prison terms, which damage the countrys international reputation. The Madrid-based Cuban Human Rights Observatory says that in 2016, there were 9,351 politically motivated arbitrary detentions, up almost 10% on the previous year. These tend to see the release of detainees within 24 hours.

Avila, a graduate in computer sciences and a member of official bodies such as the Union of Young Communists and the Federation of University Students, says that if he had betrayed his convictions by now he would be a privileged leader.

Avila says if he had betrayed his convictions he would be a privileged leader by now

He fell out of favor with the regime after publicly challenging the then president of the Cuban parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, about the governments restrictions on internet use and its policy of monitoring peoples online activities.

Four years on, Avila says that he is under constant surveillance. Later this year he is considering running as a community representative. He says he accepts that he has few options, but that it is important to compete in the community, describing it as planting a seed of democracy.

But he is optimistic about the future, saying that in five years he will be part of a democratic parliament at the very least, and, at most, president of Cuba.

English version by Nick Lyne.
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Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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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

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan
NEWTON  The inventory from the search warrant conducted by the Hickory Police Department of a vehicle involved in a shooting outside of J. McCroskys Irish Pub on Friday morning was released to the public Wednesday afternoon.

HPD searched the vehicle used by defendants Dontray Tyrell Cumberlander, 23, of Hickory, and Greydon Keith Hansen, 23, of Hickory. Both men are charged with three felony counts of murder and one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Investigators found a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semi-automatic rifle, a Taurus 9mm handgun, a rifle box, a holster, two cellphones and one gram of marijuana in the Ford Fusion, according to the search warrant inventory.

The statement of probable cause attached to the search warrant cites unnamed witnesses who claim to have seen a black male fire a handgun into the victims car with a white male who carried an AR-15-type weapon.

Pablo Castillo Hernandez, 21, drove the car from the scene to Frye Regional Medical Center, according to an HPD release. Hernandez suffered no injuries in the shooting.

In the car were Quajuae Alexus Kennedy, 21, of Newton, Justin Michael Aiken, 21, of Newton, and Cole Brady Ervin, 20, of Claremont.

Aiken sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and died at Frye Regional Medical Center on Friday morning.

Kennedy was initially taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem on Friday. Kennedy died around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, according to an HPD release.

Ervin was treated for gunshot wounds and released from Frye Regional Medical Center on Friday.

Hernandez told officers Cody Manood Bouphavong, 21, of Conover, leapt from the vehicle during the shooting, according to the probable cause statement.

Officers responded to the scene at approximately 2:15 a.m. and found Bouphavong on the ground with a gunshot wound to his stomach.

Catawba County EMS transported Bouphavong to Catawba Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Long View Police stopped a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed around 2:33 a.m. that matched a police description near 2200 block of First Avenue SW. HPD responded to the stop, and arrested Hansen and Cumberlander at that time.

The pair admitted to weapons being in the car and that they had been at J. McCroskys Irish Pub that night, according to the statement.

The victims and suspects were patrons of J. McCroskeys Irish Pub and Grill prior to a verbal altercation in the parking lot, according to the HPDs initial press release Friday.

Cumberlander and Hansen will next appear in court April 28 for a probable cause hearing. They are held at the Catawba County Detention Center without bond.

Attorney Victoria Jayne has been assigned to represent both men as provisional counsel until they receive other representation. The Capital Defenders Office has been notified about the defendants cases.

J. McCroskeys Irish Pub and Grill declined to comment about Fridays incident.
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Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

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

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

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
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It is difficult to understand the political instincts of a dysfunctional state like Pakistan. Already our relations are very tense over the issue of Pakistani-sponsored terror attacks against India. How it serves Pakistans interest to stoke yet more tensions with India as it seeks to do over the Kulbhushan Jadhav case is difficult to grasp. But then Pakistan looks at its interests very differently from that of a normal state that would want to explore all reasonable ways to live in peace with its neighbours and not look for newer reasons to live in conflict with them .

Pakistan has tried to milk the year-old Jadhav case to prove to the world that India is involved in promoting terrorism on its soil, but has had no success. If it had solid proof of Jadhavs spying activities it would have made it public. It is still relying on his confessional statement made a year ago when all those in this business know how such statements are extorted. Jadhav has been court-martialled by a military court and sentenced to death with the approval of Pakistans army chief. The announcement of this decision with huge political consequences has come from the Pakistani military and not the government which should ordinarily be responsible in any normal state for managing the political relationship with foreign powers.

Pakistan seems to have concluded that it can cope with any possible Indian reaction. It can reason that if India has not found an answer to Pakistans persistent proxy war against India and the killing of its military personnel, it can hardly come up with a deterrent riposte in the relatively less galling case of Jadhav. The judicial killing of an innocent ex-Indian serviceman is no worse than the killing of serving Indian military officers by Pakistani terrorists.

Pakistan has learnt from long experience that when India-Pakistan relations become tense its urgings for external intervention get more attention. Its western friends feel obliged to diplomatically intervene in order to prevent the situation between two nuclear armed powers from deteriorating beyond retrieval. They would advocate the resumption of bilateral dialogue, which is what Pakistan seeks. Pakistan would have got encouragement from the recent thoughtless statement of Nikki Haley, Americas ambassador to the UN, about US intervening to defuse a developing India-Pakistan conflict proactively in order to prevent escalation.

The testimony of the USCENTCOM (United States Central Command) chief before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 9 in which he called Indias public policy to diplomatically isolate Pakistan troubling as it hindered any prospects of improved relations and raised the danger of an India-Pakistan conflict escalating into a nuclear exchange, would have emboldened it too. Chinas obdurate support in shielding Pakistan on terrorism in the UN Security Council and recent Chinese fulminations against India on the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh may also have buoyed the Pakistan army.

Pakistan would want to embarrass the Indian government and subject it to pressure by public opinion at home to obtain the release and return of Jadhav even if some concession had to be made as in the IC 814 case. They may have also calculated that so long as the fate of Jadhav hung in the balance, India would be constrained in its retaliatory choices as it would not want to jeopardise the chance of obtaining relief for him.

Indias appeal to foreign powers to put pressure on Pakistan on the Jadhav case would be contradicting its own long held position that India-Pakistan problems have to resolved bilaterally and expose us to advice to resume dialogue in line with Pakistans demand. Pakistan can live with the odium of acting against the canons of justice in sentencing Jadhav to death in an opaque legal process just as it has lived for years with accusations of complicity with terrorism even from its western benefactors, without inviting sanctions. Our appeal to international human rights organisations will not cut much ice with Pakistan either, as it is inured to their censure, besides our awkwardness in exposing ourselves to issue of our own differences with them.

By acting as it has done, the Pakistan military has also weakened the Nawaz Sharif government further and stymied any inclination it may have to improve relations with India under external prodding. The belief that General Bajwa would be an improvement over General Raheel Shareef has hopefully been buried in our minds.

Possible retaliatory measures by India on trade, visas, cross-LOC exchanges, reduction of the size of missions, expulsion of ambassadors and so on would not worry a country that has faced such situations before without being deterred from pursuing its rogue policies. The only really effective answer to Pakistans persistent provocations, including in the Jadhav case, is to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty until such time as Pakistan desists from the pre-mediated murder of Jadhav and otherwise conducts itself as a normal state.

Kanwal Sibal is a former foreign secretary.

The views expressed are personal.
A harvest festival, Vaisakhi is observed in several parts of North India, especially in Punjab, on April 13 or 14 every year to celebrate a good agricultural year and pray for abundant crop produce for the next season.

Significance

Though Vaisakhi is celebrated with vigour in many North Indian states (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), it holds special significance for Punjabis and Sikhs, primarily for four reasons. First, it marks the beginning of their solar year and the harvest of rabi crops. Since Punjab is primarily an agrarian state, this day holds greater importance as farmers thank their gods for good harvest and hope for another good year.

Second, it was on this day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, founded the Khalsa Panth and famously evoked nationalism and unity among his people at a meeting in Anandpur Sahib.

He is also believed to have converted his first batch of five disciples (the Panj Piaras) into Singhs by administering nectar to them, and thus inducting them into the martial community.

Also, this day in 1699 marked the end of the long tradition of gurus in Sikhism and established the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal guide for the community.

Celebrations

College students dance as they celebrate Vaisakhi on the outskirts of Amritsar on Wednesday. (PTI)

The festival is celebrated in schools, colleges, gurudwaras, fields and homes. People wear vibrant traditional clothes, prepare locally-grown and loved food (makke di roti, sarson ka saag, aloo poori, gajar ka halwa, chhole, lassi) and dance to the beats of dhol to celebrate prosperity. Schools organise varied competitions, and gurudwaras prayers, religious ceremonies and processions to mark the day.

Other harvest festivals

Many harvest festivals similar to Vaisakhi are observed across the country through the year. Popular examples are Makar Sankranti, Onam and Pongal. Though most of them essentially involve prayers to the sun god for a good harvest, they differ in the ways they are celebrated and the communities that observe them.

Pongal, for instance, is a four-day festival celebrated by the Tamil community with cow as a major symbol. Sankranti involves kite flying, lud music and is celebrated widely in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Onam is celebrated by Malayalis and famously involves activities like boat racing, Kaikottikali dance and rangoli making by women.

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Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor collided head-on with each other on Twitter on Wednesday, and the social media is already rating it as one of Bollywoods most intelligent battles in a long time. It started after Abhay set-off an online debate when he named and slammed Indian actors whove endorsed fairness creams, going on to say the concept reeks of racism.

While he named A-listers Shah Rukh Khan, Sonam Kapoor Sidharth Malhotra, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapoor, among others, he missed out on sister Esha Deols name, who too in the past had posed a fairness products ad campaign. Feeling the sting of being dragged in a debate of morals, Sonam pointed out what Abhay missed with a screenshot of Eshas ad on Twitter.

What followed was nothing short of a controversy in itself. Sonam wrote, I appreciate and concur with your views Abhay, Would like to know your thoughts on this one as well.

The Dev D star replied:

Is wrong too. For my views read my post. https://t.co/Jw9CNINd6t  abhay deol (@AbhayDeol) April 12, 2017

A seemingly hurt Sonam then tweeted:

Abhay then replied:

More power to you @sonamakapoor maybe you can use your power as well to take this further than the forefront.  https://t.co/FVJcj2Wp7T  abhay deol (@AbhayDeol) April 12, 2017

Interestingly, Sonam has deleted all her tweets from the conversation.

Earlier, Abhay posted a number of celebrity ad campaigns on his Facebook timeline, criticising Bollywood, and Indias, obsession with fairness. His posts were in reaction to a video where former BJP parliamentarian Tarun Vijay apparently made racist remarks about south Indians. The video went viral on social media and the politician was criticised for his remarks.

Abay also named Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, for promoting fairness creams.

He took pot-shots at actors and actresses such as his Raanjhanaa co-star Sonam Kapoor, Ileana DCruz, Shahid Kapoor, Sidarth Malhotra, along with Hollywood star Eva Longoria for taking part in the business that thrives on peoples insecurities.

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Arman Tatoyan: July 29 march didnt have peaceful goal (video)

On April 2 the HRD Office received 50 reports on cases of distributing electoral bribe and guiding the people; less reports were received than during the Constitutional Referendum. 1000 cases were examined and 100 of them were sent to criminal investigation bodies. The problem is that the claims were very general, says Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan. The human rights activists are sure that filing a lawsuit against The Union of Informed Citizens by 30 headmasters is a display of limiting freedom of speech. Arman Tatoyans answer is not unequivocal, Here I support the civil society. Last year the HRD Office received 5113 application-appeals by the citizens. Only 8 percent of issues received positive solution. Especially July days were very tense for the Ombudsmans Office. In the annual press conference when touching upon the march of supporters of Sasna Tsrer group on July 29, Arman Tatoyan says that it didnt have a peaceful goal. Marching in dark streets in Sari Tagh with the calls that they were going to join the armed group, I think, couldnt have a peaceful goal But he admits that on that day the policemen also worked with violations, Citizens were affected, as a result of use of special measures some children were affected. The criminal cases of Sasna Tsrer group members and their detained supporters once again displayed weak points of Prosecutors Office. Ombudsman records that structure needs reforms. Prosecutors control isnt efficient in Armenia. It wasnt efficient during those days and continues to be inefficient. The number of detentions surpasses the limit in Armenia. Person is detained in more than 90 percent of cases. We dont have sustainable practice of detention to be applied in exclusive cases and as a last measure. In Armenia the Criminal Procedure Code is in the way, which makes the judge first decide whether to use detention or not and then relate to other precautionary measures. In reality it should be the opposite. Medical service in penitentiary institutions isnt independent. The course of reforms in this sphere isnt satisfactory as well. Arman Tatoyan records, We should achieve a situation when a prisoner perceives a doctor not as an employee of a prison but as a doctor. Arman Tatoyan refuted the claims by the relatives of prisoners kept in Nubarashen prison that the HRD Office doesnt deal with human rights protection on Saturdays and Sundays. If he finds such a case, the lazy employee will be dismissed.
Actor Abhay Deol has stirred a hornets nest  he has ruthlessly called out the big guns of Bollywood, including none other than Shah Rukh Khan, for endorsing products guaranteeing lighter skin. His unambiguous stance got huge praise on social media. Other stars who came in Abhay Deols firing line  he put up a series of Facebook posts  were Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, and Sidharth Malhotra. In one particular post, Abhay Deol also highlighted actors, including Kangana Ranaut and Ranbir Kapoor, who have refused to endorse any fairness creams or other fairness products.

The fact that ad campaigns promising fairer skin are still being made, with celebrity endorsement, points to a certain mindset. (AbhayDeol/Facebook)

While the support for Abhay Deol makes this country look liberal, the fact that ad campaigns promising fairer skin are still being made, and with celebrity endorsement, points to a certain mindset. However, strong negative reactions these days sometimes force the brands to backtrack  thats what happened with a major skin care brand earlier in April 2017; it had to apologise for its White is Purity deodorant ad and also took down its Twitter post.

Abhay, on his Facebook page, posted screenshots with hard-hitting messages against celebrities who endorse fairness products. In retaliation, actor Sonam Kapoor, who has herself endorsed such a product, had a brief online spat with Abhay, reminding him that his cousin Esha Deol had also done a similar ad.

Actor Sonam Kapoor, who has herself endorsed a fairness product, had a brief online spat with Abhay Deol, reminding him that his cousin Esha Deol (above) had also done a similar ad.

Reacting to these developments and the continued marketing of fairness products, veteran ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar tells us, Ive never done any such ads and refused all offers. Were a highly racist and hypocritical country. It comes from years of conditioning, starting from the Aryans, then to Mughals and the British. The ruling class has been fair, and we as a nation havent done anything against it. The need for these products was built and based on this conditioning. We have to say that were brown, were lucky to be brown and proud of it. Women need to take a stand, as they are the ones targeted in these ads. Action has to be on the streets and not just [through] tweets.

Highlights I think celebrities can come out and tell people how wrong this is. Take away the demand for the product, sensitise people, says actor Sonal Sehgal. The policies on such ads must change, because what theyre claiming is legally wrong. Constant writing and protest will also help bring the change. Stereotyping in pop culture needs to stop, says actor Tannishtha Chatterjee.

Actor Sonal Sehgal, who did a commercial for a fairness soap about 12-13 years ago, says that she took the job for the money, as she was then a struggling actor. When I got this call, I thought that the money was good and didnt think beyond that, she tells us. Later, Sonal decided to make a film on the fairness obsession after being asked by her domestic help which skin-lightening cream was the best. I think celebrities can come out and tell people how wrong this is. Take away the demand for the product, sensitise people, says Sonal.

Filmmaker Pritish Nandy, whose career also spans advertising and journalism, says, I have a slightly ambivalent view on this. I believe that these fairness creams are rubbish and they should not exist. I am against the morality of the fairness business. On the other hand, if using these fairness creams benefits and reinforces the self-confidence of some young girl in a small village, then who am I to stand in their way? People must make choices, but I think Abhay Deols impassioned outcry has its own validity. I think more people should stand up to it, and then maybe our attitude towards fairness would change.

Tannishtha Chatterjee, the actor who was roasted on a comedy show for her dark skin, says, Were still colonised in our minds. Fairness is associated with being elite. Ive had makeup artists telling me, Since youre playing an urban character, we can make you look fairer. The policies on such ads must change, because what theyre claiming is legally wrong. Constant writing and protest will also help bring the change. Stereotyping in pop culture needs to stop.

Ad filmmaker Pinaki Bose has a different take, saying, A fairness cream is just another personal care product. Then why cant it be shown as another product for grooming? Why do we need to see it in the light of comparison of fair over dark? This comparison is something I dont subscribe to. The onus is on us as advertisers and brand custodians to figure out a way to come up with creative ideas that dont compare or talk about fair over dark, but treat it like just another product to groom yourself.

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Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has urged people to pray for the safe return of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court for allegedly spying and stoking violence in Balochistan.

The Sholay writer said here is a great opportunity for Pakistan to mend its relationship with India. Pakistan talks about maintaining a good relationship with India. Here is the opportunity. Let us pray for his safe return. Kulbhushan Jadhav, Khan tweeted on Wednesday night.

Ek begunah aadmi ko maarna saari insaniyat ko marne ke barabar hai - Hadith (Hadis) #KulbhushanJadhav  Salim Khan (@luvsalimkhan) April 12, 2017

Pakistan talks about maintaining a good relationship with India. Here is the opportunity. Let us pray for his safe return. #KulbhushanJadhav  Salim Khan (@luvsalimkhan) April 12, 2017

Quoting Prophet Muhammad, the veteran writer went on to add: To kill an innocent is equivalent to killing entire humanity.

Prophet Mohd during his lifetime had nvr given Fatwa on any issue.These so called clerics are a huge embarassment to the followers of islam  Salim Khan (@luvsalimkhan) March 17, 2017

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in March last year in Balochistan, for allegedly being an Indian spy responsible for fuelling Baloch separatist movement.

Over the last year, the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav has witnessed several twists and turns.

While the Pakistani government has repeatedly alleged Jadhav is a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent, India had been denying the charges, calling the death sentence a pre-planned murder.

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Chunky Pandey has stunned everyone as the menacing guy in Begum Jaan trailer. The actor, however, he claimed he was not sure if he would get that part in the film.

Chunky plays a negative role in Begum Jaan.

After the release of Housefull, I was auditioning for Begum Jaan and people on the sets were asking me to say dialogues like Aakhri Pasta (his character in Housefull). At the back of my mind I thought I would not get the film, Chunky said.

But Srijit was sure he wanted me to play this evil part. He wanted me to lose real Chunky Pandey... he wanted the world to see my evil side. He saw the evilness in me and he wanted to bring that out in Begum Jaan, he further said.

Chunky, who is known for his comic timing, is playing a villainous character of Kabir in the Vidya Balan starrer but the actor says it was not tough for him to get into the dark zone. He is not a villain... this is the face of evil. Evil will always exist in this world. I always had a wicked streak in me, the sadist side in me also comes in my comedy films. But to do something like this is crazy. It came very naturally to me and I am most scared about that, he said.

Sporting a bald pate, kohl-lined eyes and tobacco- stained teeth, Chunky reveals his wife failed to recognise him in this new avatar. My wife couldnt recognise me. The whole personality has changed. She always thought I am a villain and I had to prove her right so I did Begum Jaan, he said.

I was little resistant (about the look) after seeing myself I was happy. You dont get a film like Begum Jaan everyday in your career. Srijit compelled me to lose my identity, with this creepy, almost-bald look. I was earlier asked to cut my hair short, later Srijit just took all my hair off he also asked me to shave off my eyebrows. I told him no as I was travelling for work and could be stopped at immigration, he added.

He believes his repulsive role will get him critical acclaim, something he says he misses since his Tezaab days.

Bollywood actors Gauhar Khan, Vidya Balan, Pallavi Sharda during the promotion of film Begum Jaan in New Delhi. (PTI)

The film also features Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi and Gauahar Khan. Calling them power house performers, Chunky said, These are actors with whom you have to be on your toes. You have to up your performance. I had to be best. It was a delight to work with them.

Srijits 1947-set film Begum Jaan which is a remake of his Bengali movie Rajkahini, will release this Friday.

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Even as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is poised to deliver a surge in earnings to an all-time high this year, some investors are already starting to fret the tech giant will soon become a victim of its own success.

With a market capitalisation of 331 trillion won ($293 billion), the South Korean firm has emerged as Asias most valuable company and its shares have jumped 60% since end-2015, hitting a record high in late March.

The outlook is upbeat with analysts seeing high chip prices continuing at least through to the end of this year, and the launch of a new flagship smartphone this month reviving its mobile business after last years Galaxy Note 7 fires.

But the stock is losing steam, up just 3% so far in April, and some investors are questioning the companys long-term growth potential and whether it can maintain the double-digit profit growth expected this year.

People are starting to worry whether Samsung can repeat these kinds of numbers next year, said Park Jung-hoon, fund manager at HDC Asset Management. Theres no reason to be the first to jump off, but those worries will grow as time passes.

Samsungs operating profit is expected to grow just 5.5% next year compared to 61% in 2017, according to the average forecast from a Thomson Reuters survey of 16 analysts.

SHORT MEMORY

The driver of Samsungs rally has been the booming memory chip market, with prices for both DRAM and NAND chips soaring as suppliers scramble to meet demand for more firepower from mobile devices and data servers. Researcher IHS expects 2017 memory industry revenues to leap 32% to a record $104 billion this year.

But this growth will not be repeated, analysts say, with more production capacity coming online to alleviate the bottleneck. IHS projects 2018 memory industry revenue to grow by just 3% to $107 billion.

There is also concern product makers could reach pricing fatigue and maintain current chip capacity for new products instead of adding more.

It feels like we might be reaching a little bit of that right now (for DRAM), IHS analyst Mike Howard said during a Seoul media briefing earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Samsung has missed out on a flurry of deals in the global chip industry, and the group is unlikely to join the party any time soon as management deals with a damaging corruption scandal that has rocked South Korean politics.

Company scion Jay Y. Lee was arrested in February and is on trial on charges of bribing ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye. He denies any wrongdoing.

The leadership vacuum will temper investors hopes for strategic moves that could deliver new near-term growth drivers.

Were basically going to see the chip profit double this year from 2016 and people will start considering whether that can be matched next year, HDCs Park said.

As time passes well start seeing some analysts start changing their tune.

To be sure, no investors or analysts are expecting Samsung shares to crash.

The firm trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.62, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters, still undervalued compared to 14.61 for smartphone rival Apple Inc and 12.55 for chipmaker Intel Corp.

It plans to buy back and cancel 9.3 trillion won in shares, which will support the share price and boost yields.

Extra payouts or buybacks are possible given the likelihood of record profits, further supporting shares, IBK Asset Management fund manager Kim Hyun-su said.

Samsung said on Thursday pre-orders for its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone have exceeded those of its predecessor S7, suggesting many consumers were unfazed by the Note 7 fires.
Infosys Ltd, Indias second-biggest software services exporter, said on Thursday it would return up to $2 billion to shareholders, yielding to pressure for a share buyback from a group of founders and former executives.

It also announced the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan, an independent director, as co-chairman of the board - part of efforts to address the founders corporate governance concerns.

Some founders and former executives of the Bengaluru-based company have publicly accused its board of governance lapses and urged it to follow the lead of rival Tata Consultancy Services that announced a $2.4 billion share buyback in February.

Infosys said it would return up to Rs 130 billion ($2.02 billion) to shareholders in the fiscal year ending March 2018, adding the manner of the payout will be decided by the board.

However, Infosys shares fell 2.4% in early trading on Thursday, as the market had been hoping for a larger payout.

The company also reported a small rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 36.03 billion ($559.45 million) in the three months to March, while revenue grew 3.4% to Rs 171.20 billion.

Analysts, on average, had expected a consolidated profit of Rs 35.67 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Infosys said it expects revenue for the year 2017-18 to grow 6.5% to 8.5% in constant currency terms.
To transform Indias economy, there is a need to reduce friction in businesses and create an environment wherein the government has more trust in its entrepreneurs, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy has said.

For the transformation of the Indian economy, he said it is essential for the younger generation to be daring and that India is integrated with the global economy.

We still have a little bit of work in reducing friction to businesses. We need to create an environment where the government has more trust in its entrepreneurs than it is today, Murthy, 70, told students of the prestigious Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia here.

Murthy, the recipient of the 2017 Thomas Jefferson Foundation medal in Global Innovation, was responding to Darden School of Business Dean Scott Beardsley who asked, what do you think needs to happen next to transform Indias economy. What is next.

We want our youngsters to be a little bit more daring in taking the entrepreneurial route more and more than the extent to which they do today. We have to become much more integrated to the world economy so that we can consider the entire world as our market and can become globally competitive.

And most importantly we can become much more open minded to learn from the wonderful things that are happening in this country and elsewhere. I would say these are required (for transforming Indias economy to the next level), Murthy said.

He, however, refrained from elaborating what the Indian government needs to do to create the environment of trust in its entrepreneurs and said, I will tell you why, as an Indian citizen, it may not be proper if I were to be critical about India when I am outside India.

Interacting with students, he said, challenges for entrepreneurs are now different than the time when he started Infosys. Those days access to capital was almost non-existent and government was a big irritant.

Today, challenges are different. But in some sense even more complex, because todays entrepreneurs have to be much more smarter than what we were because there is so much of competition on a global scale. Before you can say this can be done, somebody else may have already done it.

Therefore, todays entrepreneurs would have to be much more nimble, global, competitive because market is truly determinant for success today unlike our time when managing government was a big determinant in India, he said.

Murthy said good governance is all about maximising shareholders value while ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability to all stake holders. Of all the stakeholders, society is the most important player.

Respect from the society is the most important ingredient for longevity of a corporation, he said.

To be honoured by the most innovative country in the world and to be awarded a medal in the name of Thomas Jefferson, author of Declaration of Independence is to me a big honour. I will certainly work hard, and hopefully smart in the remaining years of my life, to deserve this kindness, this generosity and this affection on their part, he told PTI.

The fact that the university has seen it fit to pick up somebody from India, and bestow this honour shows how open this country is and how generous they are, Murthy said.

Therefore this is a clear example of how Indian students wherever they are whether in India or here or anywhere else can be sure that as long as they are good citizens of this world, contribute to make the society a better place through peaceful and harmonious methods, they will be recognised, appreciated, he said.

Murthy said that Indian students are making a positive impact in the countries they are studying.

I have not come across a single person of Indian-origin who has conducted himself or herself in a manner that has brought sorrow to the society they are living in, anywhere, wherever in the world. So I think that is the right way.

I am very very proud of our Indian students. They are smart, have very good values and are very peaceful. They contribute to the society in a very significant way wherever they are. I just want them to continue to do this, the Infosys founder said.

The one important principle that Indian students should remember in everything they do is will this make India a more respected place, a more respected nation? Will this action of mine make me a better part of this community? Will this action deserve appreciation and affection from other members in this community? If they remember these then they will do everything possible, Murthy said.
No-frills airline SpiceJet today said it has added 22 new flights, including 19 on domestic routes.

With the introduction of the summer schedule, the airline will increase its operation to 360 average daily flights, the carrier said in a release.

The summer schedule is from March 26 to October 28.

The airline has introduced 19 new domestic and three new international flights. These include direct services on Surat-Jaipur, Surat-Hyderabad, Surat-Goa, Jammu-Dehradun, Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram routes.

Besides, frequencies have been enhanced in certain routes, including Dehradun-Delhi and Bengaluru-Kochi.

On the international routes, SpiceJet has launched flights on Delhi-Bangkok and Kolkata-Dhaka routes. Another flight is from Bengaluru to Male through Thiruvananthapuram.

We will continue to add more flights to our network that will give our passengers more options to travel with us, SpiceJet Senior Vice President (Commercial) Shilpa Bhatia said.

The airline has a fleet of 32 Boeing 737NG and 17 Bombardier Q-400 planes.
Hindu Yuva Vahinis (HYV) Allahabad unit has appealed to chief minister Yogi Adityanath to make national song Vande Matram must in all educational institutions of the state from elementary level.

It feels that students should know the significance of the national song just like the national anthem Jana Gana Mana right from the primary level.

The national song Vande matram played a vital role during the freedom movement. Its popularity can be adjudged by the fact that it became a marching song for political activism and freedom fighters. Hence, it should also be given equal importance in schools and colleges and be sung along with the national anthem, HYVs Allahabad unit vice president Mahant Bajrang Muni told Hindustan Times.

Read more: Yogi Adityanaths Yuva Vahini after Meerut row: Not against lovers, but will act against immorality

He said he has written a letter to the chief minister in this regard and soon would meet him in person in Lucknow.

Citing a recent incident at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Muni also appealed to the university and college going students of the state not to take advantage of the national song and national anthem for the sake of their personal interest.

Some Post graduate students tried to make Vande Matram an issue after the varsity authorities did not respond to their demand of constituting students union. This is sad, Muni said.

Hindu Yuva Vahini, a youth group founded by Adityanath is known to use strong arm tactics and most recently flexed its muscles in Meerut on Wednesday when it barged into a house to catch a Muslim man with a woman for alleged immoral activities.
Taking the fun quotient a notch higher, the annual fest of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), Crescendo 2017, was a mix of dance, art, music and games.

With DJ Candice Reddings tadka of hip-pop music, the two-day fest became a hit for the students. Grooving to her own beats along with the students, Redding enjoyed herself thoroughly. It was a wonderful night performing in front of the enthusiastic students. Id love to perform again for such a great crowd, said Redding.

Students showed their support for the LGBTQ community during the fest.

For students, their annual fest is a celebration that honours months of hard work  the event is the culmination of efforts put in by students, faculty members and others who make the college a vibrant place, one that excels in cultural activities as well as academics.

The fest is the perfect amalgamation of competitive and joyful spirit. Its a celebration like no other, said Megha Arya, second-year student.

As a part of Vistas, the fashion show, students staged some quirky looks at the Crescendo 2017 fest.

Out of the various competitions held within the Crescendo 2017 fest, such as Octaves, the music fest, Vistas, the fashion show, Alla Prima, the art show, and Encore, the dance contest, its the last one that got the most attention. Students showed off some seriously energetic moves and daring acts as part of their performances, which had the spectators  also mostly students  cheering loudly. Vanshika, a third-year student, said, Encores thrilling dance performances and the EDM (electronic dance music) night with DJ Candice were truly my favourites. I enjoyed myself so much  it was an unforgettable experience.

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New Delhi: There has been a surge in the number of water-borne illnesses in the National Capital, especially in East Delhi that is linked to bad drinking water quality, say doctors.

We have definitely seen a rise in the number of cases of typhoid, jaundice and other water-borne illnesses since the summer set in, said Dr Mukesh Mehra, associate director for internal medicine at Max Hospital, Patparganj.

Jaundice and typhoid are caused by contaminated food and water. Residents of East Delhi have been complaining about the quality of water of the government pipelines for quite a while.

Read more: World Water Day: 3 most common waterborne diseases you need to be aware of

The water that we get is sometimes yellow and stinky, an East Delhi resident complained.

Yes, there are pockets where people receive some sort of contaminated water, but the government water supply cannot be blamed alone. People must filter the water properly or boil it and cool it down before consuming it because even if the government is sure of the purification process at their end, there is always a possibility of contamination on the way, said Dr Mehra.

Another problem is people eating outside. Every year we see a rise in the number of cases of water borne diseases during the summer. This is because people tend to drink water and juice from vendors sitting in the open. Having pre-cut fruits is also a bad idea, Dr Mehra said.

We also forget about the water we use to brush our teeth and to bathe.

Read more: Follow hygienic practices to keep away water-borne diseases

We often talk about not eating or drinking outside, but we forget to clean our over-head tanks. We put the water in our mouth to brush our teeth and we might also ingest some during bathing. This can also cause jaundice, said Dr Srikant Sharma, consultant, department of medicine, Moolchand Hospital.

If you suspect that you have a water-borne illness, consult a doctor immediately.

We get many patients who do not fit the classical symptoms of the disease. This is because by the time they come to us they have already had paracetamol or antibiotics. It is always better to consult a doctor first, especially because in a couple of months the menace of dengue will also start, said Dr Sharma.

Symptoms to look out for

 High fever along with diarrhoea for typhoid

 Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of skin and the white of the eyes for jaundice

 The colour of the urine also become darkyellow or reddish in case of jaundice

What to do

 Go to a doctor immediately if you have fever and loose motions

 Do not have paracetamol, antibiotics or medicines for diarrhoea

Precautions

 Do not eat from street food vendors or outside as much as possible

 Carry your own water in a bottle when stepping out of home

 Make sure to filter or boil and cool the water before drinking

 Do not eat food that has been kept in the open, especially cut fruits

 Do not eat stale food

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Will Nikol Pashinyan come to the court? (video)

To invite the NA lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan to the court and interrogate. Today such a mediation has been presented to the court by the advocate of Ararat Khandoyan, who was detained along lines of Khorenatsi events, which followed the seizure of the police regiment. The NA lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan was on the scene and his interrogation will clarify that the cordon of policemen instigated disorders. When the police were throwing stoned and other objects, Ararat Khandoyan was beside Nikol Pashinyan, advocate Ara Gharagyozyan announced at the court. The advocate mediated to attach two videos connected with the incident to the case. One of the mediations of Ara Gharagyozyan related to interrogating Ashot Hakobyan as a witness, who was with Ararat Khandoyan, when the latter was being taken to the police station. It will have significant influence on circumstances of this criminal case and revelation of truth. According to the advocate, the evidence of Levon Hakobyan and Yervand Khachatryan, who are witnesses in the case, must be recognized impermissible. Notice from the court wasnt sent to them and they were invited to the investigator via phone call. The procedure of becoming a witness in an investigators room isnt included in criminal procedure. Levon Hakobyan couldnt be a witness into this criminal case, as he wasnt aware of any actual data, added the advocate. Prosecutor Hayk Petrosyan asked for time for presenting his full reasoning. The criminal court was postponed until April 27.
For more than eight years, they thought their daughter was living a happy life after marrying a lawyers son. Believing she did not want them around, they settled for not knowing her whereabouts.

It was only on Thursday that they realised Aarti was not in a safe bliss but dead.

Aarti was allegedly killed by her live-in partner in 2008 and her face crushed to avoid recognition. Though Delhi Police had found her body from the bushes near a ply factory on Surakhpur Road in Najafgarh of southwest Delhi, it could never be identified. The police declared the case as unsolved in 2010 as both the victim and the accused were unknown.

But a breakthrough came on Wednesday when the police arrested a man named Rahul (30) after receiving a tipoff that he could be involved in dumping a body in Najafgarh in 2008. His interrogation led to Bijender alias Rinku (28) who told the police that he had allegedly strangled Aarti in a fit of rage on September 23, 2008. Rahul had allegedly helped him carry out the crime.

For the last eight years, it remained a blind case as neither the body had been identified nor the accused. It was only after we received information about Rahuls involvement in dumping a dead body in Najafgarh that the mystery unraveled, a senior police officer said.

Aarti and Rinku had started living together in 2006 but the relationship eventually ran into rough weather. The day Aarti went missing, Rinku went to her parents and told them that she had left his house with another man.

Rinku allegedly had it planned.

Police said he had forced her to sign on a blank sheet of paper, which he used later to write a fake letter to her parents informing them that she got married to a lawyers son.

Rinku had asked her parents to lodge a police complaint. He accompanied them to file a missing report in the Sultanpuri police station. The policeman asked them to bring Aartis photo but since they did not have it, they did not file a complaint, said police. After the murder, Rinku sold his Sultanpuri home and started living in Aman Vihar. In 2009, he got married to another woman but used to introduce her as Aarti, an investigator said.

In the purported letter, Aarti had requested her parents not to contact her as she did not want any interference in her married life. After receiving the letter, her family members thought she was living a better life and did not try to contact her, said police.

After Aarti left, her father remained in trauma and developed health issues. He died in 2014. Her mother is living with her two brothers in Sultanpuri and they were not aware about her murder, said the officer.
To encourage more people to download Himmat, its safety mobile application for women, the Delhi Police on Thursday unveiled new features to make it more user friendly.

The app that was earlier launched in English will be available in Hindi as well and on both Android and iOS platforms.

Earlier the registration process for the application was a little cumbersome because of which the users were probably getting discouraged to register. Now we have revamped the entire app to encourage more people to use it, special commissioner of police Dependra Pathak said on Thursday.

The changes were made after the app failed to get the expected response. Since its launch in January 2015, only 90,000 people have downloaded Himmat and approximately 31,000 people are registered users.

Himmat was created for the safety of women who travel alone in and around Delhi, which has one of the rates of crime against women in the country. Himmat can be downloaded free of cost from an app store or the Delhi Police website.

It allows the user to alert police, friends and family in a distress situation.

We had asked for feedback and we realised that when launched in Hindi, the application will become more user friendly and will have a wider mass appeal, Pathak said.

Also, a woman had to go through an extensive verification process that required her to share details such as their name, address, occupation, contact details and travel route to download the application, the procedure has now been dropped.

Now, a person need not answer a set of questions before starting to use the application, Pathak said.

Police are also looking to update the website of special police unit for women and children (SPUWAC). The website will be linked to all main police websites, which would make it easy for users to seek information on other departments, an officer said.

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In a major development in the Audi hit-and-run case in Ghaziabad that left four people dead, the alleged impersonator on the run, Syed Imtiyaz Qadri, was arrested by Maharashtra police in connection with snatching and robbery cases on Wednesday.

A team of Ghaziabad crime branch was tracking Qadri but could not catch him.

Qadri had allegedly impersonated Ishaq Ahmad and surrendered before a Ghaziabad court on January 31 and got bail. He had claimed that he was driving the Audi Q7 involved in the road accident at Hindon canal in Indirapuram on the intervening night of January 27 and 28.

An HT team had clicked pictures of Ishaq Ahmad when he appeared at Ghaziabad court on January 31. Upon further investigation, the HT team found that Ishaq Ahmad was a different man and a truck driver.

Ishaq Ahmad told HT that the man who appeared before the court was Syed Imtiyaz Qadri, his former co-tenant, who misused his driving licence.

The man identified himself as Qadri and told us in detail that he fled Bareilly after he read reports about the Audi incident in which four people were killed. He has told us names of three people, who paid him Rs 7,000 to appear before the court in order to get car insurance, said Bharat Jadhav, inspector Palghar police station under Nalasopara district.

Qadri also told that after he came to know that four persons were in fact killed during the accident, he fled Bareilly with his family and came to Maharashtra. He hails from Thane district. In Mumbai, he had been involved in several cases of chain snatching, robbery etc and had been a big headache for police for the past two months. We have also recovered chains, mobiles and two-wheelers on his instance, Jadhav said.

Officials of the Ghaziabad crime branch, which is investigating the Audi case, said they have more people, including case pursuer Raj Kumar, Dr Manish Rawat and two people who furnished bail bonds for Ishaq Ahmad, on their radar.

Qadris arrest in Mumbai will now unfold the Audi car crash case as he has revealed vital details of the alleged conspiracy to Mumbai police and claims that a conspiracy was hatched to save influential people in the case.

The Audi Q7 is owned by neurosurgeon Dr Manish Rawat who fled after the accident and appeared one week later before Ghaziabad police. He told police that he was present inside the car but Ishaq Ahmad was driving the car.

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Jawaharlal Nehru University teachers association (JNUTA) will begin an indefinite series of daily sit-ins from Monday at the Nehru statue near Freedom Square to protest against failures of the JNU administration towards teachers, students, wardens, and staff.

JNUTA, in its general body meeting, decided that it will put together a detailed list of violations committed by the administration.

JNUTA has been at loggerheads with the administration over changes in admission policy following adoption of UGC 2016 gazette. The teachers body claims it has led to drastic seat cut in research courses with seats coming down to around 200 this year from around 1,000 last year.

JNUTA said despite efforts to ascertain the basis by which admissions have been reduced to zero for 63 research programmes of the university, the administration has not issued even one written explanation as to what methodology it followed in arriving at this decision.

The JNUTA demands that the university issue such an explanation immediately in an Academic Council meeting, which has already been requisitioned by 30 members of the Academic Council, the teachers body said.

The teachers body said it will look into organising a public event outside the campus in Delhi to educate the public on the crises affecting JNU.

Sustained efforts shall be made to redemocratise all spaces of debate and discussion in the university campus, not only Freedom Square, by holding public meetings, open houses in hostel messes, starting from this weekend, JNUTA said.

In December last year, the university had installed iron grilles at the protest sites and had also set a distance limit for democratic protests by students. Students were told to stay 20 metres away from the administrative building while staging any protests, the university said in a notice.

JNUTA also said it will to do a mass contact programme to gather the signatures of AC members to ensure an AC meeting at the earliest, which is yet to meet even once in the semester, in violation of the statutes.
In 2012 municipal polls, many Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) distanced themselves from politics. But, not this time. Fed up with chasing councillors for works, members of several RWAs have now decided to take up the political mantle this time.

These candidates say that their USP is better understanding of the neighbourhood, its residents and problems. More importantly, they wont be able to get away easily if they dont perform.

Anil Aggarwal, 50, is the president of RWA in C-1, Vasant Kunj. He has been associated with the residents body for the last 10 years and is now contesting municipal poll as an independent.

What is the point of having a councillor if we have to run from pillar to post for approvals for even smallest of jobs, whether it is pruning of trees, repairing roads or desilting of drains? he asks.

Aggarwal, who is a businessman, believes that people weigh the qualities of a candidate and dont blindly vote for a political party. Unlike established political leaders who are seen only during elections, we have to face our vote base every day. They are our neighbours and people who live around us. If I dont work for their welfare as promised, I will not be able to face them again, he said.

Looking for fresh faces that have some support base, newer parties such as AAP and Swaraj India have also picked up candidates from RWAs. In fact, some of the current AAP MLAs, including Gandhi Nagars Anil Vajpayee and Mehraulis Naresh Yadav started out as resident body members. RWA members and leaders have proven their leadership skills and have a certain level of acceptability in their community, which makes them good candidates, said AAPs Delhi in-charge Ashish Talwar.

Anupam, a spokesperson of Swaraj India too said that candidates from RWA come with experience and support. These people have first-hand experience of problems in their area. If given an opportunity, they are more committed and result oriented. Thats the reason why we focussed on such candidates, Anupam said.

Seventy-year-old Ruma Sikka, a candidate for Swaraj India from Vasant Vihar, considers herself a veteran in resident affairs. She is an RWA member of Hills View Apartments and an entrepreneur by profession.

I have been working intensively in working class areas as well area like Mochi Goan, Coolie Camp, which will be part of this ward now. After my husband passed away, I diverted my attention to social work and fighting against illegal encroachments, said Sikka who was associated with United Residents Joint Association.

With delimitation changing the electoral pattern in many wards and with new parties entering the fray, traditional players like Congress and BJP have also picked up candidates from RWAs.

Prem Deep Balhara, president of Freedom Fighters Enclave RWA is contesting on a Congress ticket from Saidulajab ward. Similarly, Vinod Mohendru, is a BJP candidate from Rohini A and RWA president from Sector 17s Pocket A-1. Mohendru said that voters are always unhappy with the work undertaken by councillors as they are not engaged in the decision-making and implementation process. From my experience as an RWA member, I feel that taking residents advice to sort out problem is the best way to avoid criticism, he said.

But there are others who feel that RWAs should be watchdogs for local politicians and should not deviate from this role. The role of RWAs is to oversee the works and money spent by area representatives. They are not to become part of the political system, said Pankaj Aggarwal, secretary of Delhi RWA Joint Front.

Ten years back, some RWAs fielded their candidates but failed badly. I dont think after that any genuine RWA members have taken part in elections. If they lose, then winning candidate will consider them as opposition. The RWAs will lose their negotiating power as an independent voice, he added.

Geeta Bhargava from Defence Colony RWA contested the civic polls 10 years ago and lost. To contest elections, one should have a political background. RWA members who jump into the fray just end up wasting their time and resources, she said.

Ranju Minhas, who also lost the 2007 municipal polls and never contested again, says RWAs need to mobilise first. They need to come under one umbrella and present a common manifesto. We lose because we are not united, she says.

According to Madhuri Rawat Varshey, former president of Dwarka Forum (a registered body with 2500 members), social activists should contest elections because they are actually aware about issues in an area. These people would dedicatedly work towards finding better solution for resolving the problems, rather then politicising the issue. Being a part of RWA forum I had worked intensively with officials on civic agency and know how to get the work done on time,said Madhuri Rawat Varshney, AAP candidate from Dwarka A ward.

Urban experts say that there are others ways to improve civic participation in local governance. Although the idea of RWA members contesting civic body polls seems positive overall, what will create real transformative change is if our cities have area sabhas and ward committees. Participatory budgeting too would be a powerful catalyst. What we need are formal platforms for citizen participation at a neighbourhood level, said Srikanth Viswanathan, CEO of Janaagraha.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at premises of over Delhi-based 30 chartered accountants (CA) in connection to multiple money laundering cases currently being investigated by the probe agency.

The searches also culminated in the arrest of CA Sunil Agrawal, who the probe agency accuses of laundering of tainted money belonging to ex-principal secretary of Chhattisgarh, Babulal Agrawal.

Agrawal was arrested by the CBI in February this year for allegedly trying to buy favours in cases against him probed by the agency.

Agency officials said Sunil, 46-year-old Raipur resident, had allegedly opened 446 bank accounts in the names of various persons belonging to several villages in Raipur.

The accounts were opened in Union Bank of Indias Ramsagarpara and Pandri branch in Raipur by Sunil Agrawal. He also opened 13 shell companies through which he laundered unaccounted money of Babulal Agrawal, a senior ED official said.

Sources said Sunil had previously come under the scanner of Income-Tax department in 2009-10.

The investigation reveals that the 13 shell companies were formed for the objective of laundering the illegal cash money belonging to Mr Babulal Agrawal. A total amount of Rs36.09 crores was invested as share capital money in Prime Ispat Ltd through these 13 shell companies, said ED in a statement. Prime Ispat Ltd, is a private steel rolling mill allegedly owned by family members of the senior bureaucrat.

The directorate also said that its sleuths had searched six chartered accountants across Delhi in connection with benami transactions of over 200 crore using shell companies allegedly formed by the infamous Jain Brothers.

Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Kumar Jain, arrested in March this year, have been accused of laundering money worth more than Rs4,300 crore. In one specific case, the brothers have been accused of laundering the unaccounted money of Ms Jagat Projects Private Limited amounting to Rs64.70 crore.

The ED had also provisionally attached a hotel in Dwarka managed by Radisson Blu. The laundered money was used to invest in the making of the hotel which was constructed by Divine Infracon Private Limited, a sister concern of Ms Jagat Project Limited, ED officials said.

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It is often said --- correctly so --- that there are many laws in India but very little implementation. This deficit becomes all the more pronounced when it comes to environmental laws. Almost every other day, there are reports of violation of these laws even though they are critical for our future. Take, for example, the Yamuna floodplain case. It is a straightforward one: An organisation, Art of Living, flouted a 2013 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, which banned all construction on the rivers flood plains because they affect the natural flow of the river, with the help of government agencies. However, thanks to the determined efforts of activists and citizens, a petition was filed in the NGT. Despite a strong case, the tribunal very reluctantly allowed the festival in March 2016, saying that as the matter was fait accompli (because much of the construction had happened), and they could not ban it. But they set up a panel to look into the destruction that AOL had inflicted on the rivers floodplains while holding their mammoth three-day cultural extravaganza.

On Wednesday, a NGT-appointed expert panel, headed by Shashi Shekhar, secretary, ministry of water resources, came out with its report: The damage to the Yamuna floodplains by the cultural extravaganza, the panel said, will cost more than Rs 42 crore and at least 10 years to fix. The panel has suggested a time-bound action plan, which comprises two components - physical and biological rehabilitation. The physical component is estimated to cost around Rs 28.73 crore and the biological part would cost around Rs 13.29 crore.

What is appalling is the attitude of AOL and also that of politicians: From day one, AOL has been aggressive, claiming that they have done no wrong and has now called the panel bias[ed] beyond doubt. The less said the better about the political class. Despite the organisation flouting the law and its government agencies facilitating this transgression, several politicians attended the meet, thereby legitimising an illegal event.

This case also shows how little politicians care about the city and ecology. On Thursday, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra exhibited utter disregard for the ecology of the city he governs. He mocked the findings of the panel and had the audacity to say that the event should be held again and only on its banks. The case will come up in NGT for its final words on April 20. It is absolutely critical to ensure that AOL pays up for the damage.

For far too long, Indias strong environment protection laws have been flouted. Its time to send out a strong message that such transgressions will not be allowed.
Union human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday condemned the sexist content published in a Class 12 textbook that suggested 36-24-36 figure as the best body shape for females.

I have instructed officers to take strict action against those behind this textbook and all schools should ensure they have proper books, Javadekar said.

The HRD minister said he has also informed all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools to use National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books.

According to media reports, the Health and Physical Education Textbook described the physical and anatomical differences between male and female and highlighted what should be a best shape of a female body.

The book, authored by Dr VK Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, also reasoned that even Miss World and Miss Universe beauty pageants take the 36-24-36 body shape into consideration while judging the contestants.

An image of the section of the textbook was initially posted on social media by a Twitter user Anuj Khurana. The book that was being used in a CBSE-affiliated school has not been recommended by the education board.

The CBSE denied reports about the textbook saying it is totally incorrect and does not have any credible base.

CBSE does not recommend books by any private publishers to the affiliate schools. Rule 15.1 (d) of the Affiliation-bye-laws of the Board clearly states that the school will follow the syllabus on the basis of curriculum prescribed by NCERT/CBSE and textbooks published by NCERT or CBSE as far as practicable, it said in a statement.

It also states that the schools will exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers. The content must be scrutinized to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feelings of any class, community, gender, religious group in society if prescribing books having such content, the school will have to take the responsibility of such content, it added.

According to sources, the Publishers Association is likely to take strict action against New Saraswati House.

This is not the first time that content in textbooks being taught in CBSE schools has grabbed headlines.

A publisher was forced to withdraw a Class 4 environmental science textbook that suggested students to kill a kitten as part of an experiment to prove how mammals needed oxygen.

Similarly, a Class 12 sociology book cited ugliness and physical disability of a girl as reasons behind the prevalent practice of dowry in the country.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to include Urdu as a language in the NEET exam, the common test for admission into medical courses, from academic session 2018-19 onwards.

A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar told the petitioner, who has sought a direction for making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017 scheduled on May 7, that it would not be possible for the government to include Urdu this year.

We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards, the bench said.

When the counsel for the petitioner insisted that Urdu language should be included in NEET examination from this year itself, the bench said, the whole problem is that this year it is not possible.

There are lots of difficulties. Please try to understand that we cant ask them (Centre) to do miracles. The examination is on May 7 and today is April 13. Lots of process is involved in this, the bench said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said that they were not opposed to the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in Urdu medium also from 2018 academic year onwards.

The solicitor general had on March 31 told the Supreme Court that a students body seeking NEET examination in Urdu language has accused the Centre of being communal.

The submission was made while referring to the affidavit filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad.

The Centre had told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.

At present, NEET is being conducted in ten languages -- Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada languages.

The court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, MCI, DCI and CBSE on the plea suggesting making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.
Unlike CyberHub and five-star hotels on NH8, that are expected to circumvent the liquor ban, bars and prominent hotels on Sohna Road may not get any relief .

As many as 17 establishments are likely to get affected as the road from Rajiv Chowk to Sohna, popularly known as Sohna Road, was notified as National Highway 248A last year. The highway extends till Alwar in Rajasthan.

The owners of these bars havent challenged excise departments measurement, as they fear that by doing this, they may invite a permanent ban. We havent received any affidavits from any of the outlets on Sohna Road. We will measure once we receive it, said Aruna Singh, deputy excise and taxation commissioner (East) Gurgaon.

The Cyber Hub and Udyog Vihar are likely to fall within the safe zone as they managed to change their entrances. However, on Sohna Road, all the establishments are within 500 metres of the national highway.

The excise department had identified 115 pubs and bars in Gurgaon that were affected by the Supreme Courts order to ban sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways from April 1.

But, bars in CyberHub and five star hotels on NH8 challenged the distance measured by excise department.

On April 11 the distance to 46 establishments on NH8 was measured again by a team formed by Gurgaons deputy commissioner including officials from district administration, excise department, National Highways Authority of India, Public Works Department, and the police.

All bars in CyberHub and some five star hotels managed to circumvent the ban by changing the entrances to the first point of sale of liquor. They are likely to be dropped from the excise departments list after a committee headed by Gurgaons deputy commissioner decides on their case.

On Thursday the team was measuring distances in the Sector 29 market.

But for bar owners on Sohna road, the only way out of the SC order ambit is if NHAI decides to de-notify this road as a national highway.

We are still in dilemma and have no idea what to do, we are just waiting to hear from the government as rest of the Gurgaon is safe, so we might get some benefit out of it. Its our and our employees livelihood at stake. All that we want is smile back on our esteemed guests and distressed staff, said a pub owner on Sohna Road.

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Two suspected cases of dengue have set alarm bells ringing in the city and the doctors in various hospitals have advised people to take precautionary measures. While no deaths have been reported so far this season, the residents fear a fresh outbreak of the deadly vector-borne ailment.

The health department, too, put out an alert, saying this year, dengue cases are expected to rise because of a change in weather pattern. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), there are about 190 million cases of dengue worldwide, with as much as 96 million afflicted in remote areas where theres limited access to proper medical care.

In India too, there is 25% increase in the number of dengue cases each year and the same is mainly attributed to lack of adequate preventive steps to check mosquito breeding.

We have seen an early onset of seasonal diseases this year and theres every chance of a rise in the number of dengue cases, Dr Kanta Goyal, chief medical officer, civil hospital, Gurgaon.

Last year, the city recorded a three-year high in the number of dengue cases, with the district health department registering 401 cases. In 2012, 375 cases were reported, while 175 were reported in 2013 and 86 in 2014.

Following light shower last week, hospitals across the city have been reporting suspected cases of dengue. However, no confirmed case, so far, has come to light this year.

Doctors said aedes aegypti, the mosquito that is considered as the carrier of the dengue virus, breed in underground tanks and water containers months before monsoon sets in.

Read I Gurgaon: Spurt in dengue cases again, 20 in 9 days

Before the rains, mosquito breeding is restricted to water containers and tanks, but with the onset of the rainy season, the mosquitoes move out to the fields and other open spaces to breed, increasing the risk of human exposure. Delhi NCR experienced rain last week and the same could likely have resulted in the early onset of the disease, Dr Manjeeta Nath Das, consultant, internal medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon, said.

According to doctors at Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon, the main reasons for the reporting of suspected dengue cases so far ahead of monsoon are the ongoing construction activities across the city and the poor upkeep of overhead and curing tanks in residential areas.

Most of the common symptoms that are associated with the onset of dengue include severe headache, pain in the eyes, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain, skin rash and high fever, Dr. Amitabh Parthi, additional director, internal medicine, FMRI, said.

The common diagnostic tests associated with dengue are Complete Blood Count, ELISA test for dengue NS1 Ag, PCR for detecting viral DN, Serum IgG and IgM test.

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In the backdrop of the controversy over visitors of the opposite sex not being allowed in the apartments of single tenants at Essel Towers on MG Road, the residents welfare association (ETRWA) has decided not to rent out apartments to single tenants, especially men. Association members said they have decided to allow single women as tenants, but only after the consent of their parents.

Irked with the notice, 35 single youths staying on rent in the condominiums have decided to approach RWA members and protest against the notice if no way out is found.

The issue about restrictions on guests of single tenants was highlighted by Raj Gopal, a 27-year-old senior analyst who has been living in Ivory Court, one of the seven towers of the society. He had taken to social media after a woman friend of his was asked by security guards to leave his apartment on the night of April 5.

The single tenants are irked by the ETRWA notice circulated on April 7 saying, Where only girls are staying boy visitors shall not be allowed and where boys are staying girl visitors shall not be allowed. (sic)

The notice states that the order has been passed by Essel Towers Maintenance Private Limited (ETMPL) and the ETRWA. The association maintains that the decision was taken in the wake of problems being faced by other residents. The RWA members said they have faced regular brawls in the condominium due to the single tenants and even had to call police at night when things got out of hand.

We are not against youth staying in the condominium, but for the last six months we have suffered a lot and just want peace. Everyday we see drunken brawls and many times our security guards are assaulted when they try to intervene. We want the safety and security of the residents staying with us, said Rajeev Sinha, president, ETRWA.

He even alleged that in a recent incident a woman was beaten up by her boyfriend at midnight and the RWA had to intervene.

The single tenants, however, have termed the restrictions on guests a violation of their rights.

India is a free country with adults having the right to live life the way they want to without intruding on anyones personal space. Every youngster like me who stays in a residential society pays his or her rent with the expectation that he/she will be able to have a healthy social and private life while being cognizant of not crossing the line, said Gopal, who has been living in Essel Towers for three years.

I believed I had this right and got a rude shock when I found out that no one from the opposite gender is permitted to enter a single persons flat. While we have tried our best to reason with the association and have a peaceful dialogue with them, our efforts have been quashed. I believe there has been an odd incident or two that has made them take such a regressive step, said Gopal.

Calling the RWA directive moral policing, another MNC employee living in Essel Towers said the young tenants in the condominium believe the issue is not just about the condominium, but about a society that looks down at single people.

In a nation that is envisioning development, mediocre and regressive thoughts of this sort set a bad example for the generations to come, the tenant said.

We are peaceful people who live and let others live. Many of us are embarrassed when our brothers or sisters arent allowed to enter our flats for which we pay timely rents and in which we are living rightfully and legally, said Gopal.

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Indians may know him best playing one of the biggest villains of their recent history. But the cameo as Gen Dyer, the Butcher of Amritsar, in Richard Attenboroughs Gandhi was a rare break from the routine for Edward Fox, who in his over 100 onscreen appearances, usually played a more affable and unflappable but quintessential Englishman.

Coming to global prominence depicting a mysterious assassin in the film adaptation of Frederick Forsyths The Day of the Jackal (1973), Fox, whose 80th birthday falls on Thursday, is equally known as a jaunty RAF officer in Battle of Britain (1969), a cheery British general in A Bridge Too Far (1977) and a courteous but canny police inspector in Agatha Christies The Mirror Crackd (1980) among many other roles of the sort.

Edward Fox as General Dyer in Gandhi.

Besides playing Winston Churchill in TV movie The Audience (2013), and King Edward VIII in TV series Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978), he has been seen playing other icons like Sherlock Holmes companion in Dr. Watson and the Darkwater Hall Mystery (1974), James Bonds boss M in the unofficial Never Say Never Again (1983), King Arthur in Prince Valiant (1997) and a kindly character in an adaptation of Charles Dickens Oliver Twist (2007).

But despite his pukka background (including studying at Harrow and a stint in the Coldstream Guards), his plummy drawl and close friendship with Prince Charles, Edward Charles Morice Fox was not of the aristocracy, being born in Londons Chelsea to theatrical agent Robin Fox and actress Angela Muriel Darita Worthington, with his ancestors on both sides comprising inventors, dramatists and stockbrokers.

After his military service, Fox decided on a career in the performing acts but he only was credited in his fifth film -- a small role in British science fiction-cum-horror film The Frozen Dead (1966).

Edward Fox in The Day of the Jackal.

While in the 1960s he worked mostly on stage, including as Hamlet, he made his presence felt in his next few films despite the big names they contained -- in comic caper The Jokers (1967) starring Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed, The Naked Runner (1967) starring Frank Sinatra and The Long Duel (1967) with Yul Brynner (as a tribal chieftain in British India) and Trevor Howard. He was also seen in major British films like Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Battle of Britain and The Go-Between (1971), where his role as an aristocratic landowner won him a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor.

It also brought him to the attention of acclaimed director Fred Zinnemann for The Day of the Jackal.

Zinnemann, known for his 1950s classics like High Noon, From Here to Eternity and Oklahoma but not having made a film since A Man for All Seasons (1966), was drawn to the project due to the challenge of keeping the interest of viewers, who could guess the ending. He also wanted the Jackal to be played by someone not so famous, rejecting Robert Redford, Michael Caine, Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore for Fox.

And if you see the easy nonchalance with which the Jackal holds his own in the meeting with the conspirators, you would find it hard to believe that this scene -- the first to be shot -- took three days as Fox was nervous. He only did it well after the director assured him that it wouldnt harm his career if he didnt get it right.

While the film wasnt financially successful as thought, it was a critical success and helped Foxs career take off. Another of his memorable roles was as Inspector Craddock in The Mirror Crackd, a film adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery starring Angela Lansbury (as his aunt Miss Marple), Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson and Pierce Brosnan (in his debut).

Geraldine Chaplin and Edward Fox in a still from The Mirror Crackd.

The actor was no stranger to controversy too. He had criticised Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, terming him opposite of what Fleming intended, and I knew Fleming. Last year, he opined men cheat in relationships because were totally different creatures and women should be more understanding but it is very difficult for all women to be tolerant and patient and understanding.

Proof that Fox, who is still acting, can still make his presence felt.

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A special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case in Ahmedabad on Wednesday allowed an application filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Maya Kodnani seeking to call BJP president Amit Shah and 13 others as defence witnesses to prove she was not present at the scene of the incident.

Judge PB Desai said summons should be issued to these witnesses at appropriate and relevant stage of trial.

The judge also said some witnesses can be dropped at a later stage if there is a possibility of repetition of their testimonies, but however, in absence of any objections (by prosecution) and while recognising the right of the accused to examine defence witnesses, I am of the opinion that the number of witnesses sought to be examined is neither unreasonable nor unjustified.

Kodnani, sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya riot case, is out on bail at present.

She wants to prove that she was not present at the scene of crime.

Her application said she wanted Shahs examination to prove that she had met him in the assembly in Gandhinagar and then at Sola Civil hospital in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which led to riots, as the bodies of Godhra train incident victims were brought there.

Afterwards, she went to her nursing home, and then to the main civil hospital in Asarwa area of the city, Kodnani claimed.

To prove this, she wanted to summon 13 other persons, including former BJP MLA Amrish Patel, then superintendent of civil hospital Dr Anil Chaddha, staff of her hospital and a man whose child was allegedly born at her hospital that day.

The Naroda Gam massacre was one of the nine major riot cases from Gujarat investigated by a special investigation team.

Eleven people belonging to the minority community were killed at Naroda Gam. A total of 82 people are facing trial.

Kodnani later became state minister for women and child development during chief minister Narendra Modis government.
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed R K Raghavan, who was heading the apex court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe 2002 Gujarat riots cases, to be relieved as the head of the team.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT.

The bench hailed the work done so far by the SIT and allowed the request of Salve, while asking A K Malhotra, another member of the SIT, to oversee the functioning of the probe team.

It also relieved another member K Venkatesam from the SIT and asked Malhotra to continue filing quarterly status report about the progress in the riots cases in the apex court.

The top court-appointed SIT has been probing nine major post-Godhra riots cases including the Naroda Gam riots case pertaining to the killing of eleven members of a community.

The apex court had on September 19 last year granted six months to a lower court in Gujarat to conclude trial in the 2002 Naroda Gam riots case, one of the nine post-Godhra riots matters probed by the SIT, after Salve and Raghavan sought the same saying the trial court has to examine nearly 300 witnesses.

The apex court was earlier informed that in other eight cases, investigation has been completed, the trial courts have pronounced the judgements and the cases are at the stage of appeal in the High Court.

Eleven persons belonging to the minority community were killed at Naroda Gam in 2002 riots during a bandh called to protest the Godhra train burning incident. A total of 82 persons are facing trial in the case.

In June last year, a special court had convicted 24 persons in the Gulberg society riots case in which 68 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed.

The apex court had on February 22, 2016 paved the way for pronouncement of judgement by Ahmedabad trial court in various cases including the Gulberg Society massacre case.

It had said there was no restraint on the trial judge to pronounce the verdict and granted him three months for it.

The apex court had on August 5, 2015 granted an extension of another three months to wind up proceedings in the case.

The apex court has been monitoring nine sensitive cases after the National Human Rights Commission and various NGOs termed the investigation into these as shoddy and unreliable.

The cases were about the riots in different parts of Gujarat, including the Gulberg Society, Ode, Sardarpura, Narodao Gaon, Naroda Patya, Machipith, Tarsali, Pandarwada and Raghavapura.

An estimated 2,000 people were killed in post-Godhra riots in 2002.
The voter turnout in the first five hours of repolling in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabah constituency has been an abysmal 1.47%.

Only 519 voters of the 34,169 eligible persons cast their votes across all polling stations till 10 AM, officials said here.

Chadoora, which was worst hit by violence during Sundays polling, recorded 200 votes while Beerwah assembly segment saw 142 people turn up to vote, the officials said.

Re-poll was ordered in 38 polling stations of Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah tehsils of Budgam district where violence had disrupted the process on Sunday. Eight civilians were killed in clashes with the security forces.

Alarmed by the unprecedented violence, the Election Commission decided to defer the south Kashmir Anantnag Parliamentary seat by-poll to May 25. Voting in the constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.

Security forces have been deployed in strength in and around the polling stations to ensure that the events of Sunday are not repeated today.

Normal life across Budgam district remained affected due to the strike called by the separatists against the polling and prohibitory orders issued by the authorities under Section 144 CrPC for maintaining law and order.

Former chief minister and opposition National Conference President, Farooq Abdullah has challenged ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency.

Counting of votes will be held on Saturday and the result would be known the same day.
Two main accused in an another blast had named Swami Aseemanand as one of the conspirators of a larger Hindu terror plot but the NIA didnt call them as witnesses in the Ajmer case in which the former RSS worker was let off last month.

Lieutenant colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a serving army officer, and Sudhakar Dwivedi arrested and chargesheeted in the September 2008 Malegaon bomb case were the first to name Aseemanand, Ajmer blast case papers accessed by HT show.

Aseemanand and six others were acquitted in the 2007 blast by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, giving them benefit of doubt after 26 witnesses turned hostile.

Three persons were killed and 15 wounded in an explosion at the famous shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti in Rajasthans Ajmer on October 11, 2007.

As reported by HT on Wednesday, the court refused to accept Aseemanands confession due to procedural lapses. Aseemanand is also an accused in the Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid blasts.

The three blasts, within months of each other, came to be known as acts of Hindu terror -- a term that triggered a furious political debate --- because of the arrests of the members of the right-wing outfits.

Judge Dinesh Gupta acquitted seven people, including Aseemanand, and convicted two -- Devendra Gupta and Bhavesh Patel - in the case.

Summing up the case against Aseemanand in his 579-page order, the judge said one of the investigation officers, Satyendra Ranawat, told the court that Aseemanand name cropped up during their questioning of Purohit and Dwivedi but none they were not called in as witnesses to share what they knew about him.

The prosecution said when Aseemanands name came up in the Malegaon probe, he ran away from his Shabridham residence in Gujarat and moved to Haridwar. He managed to get a ration card and enrolled as a voter under the name of Swami Omkaranand.

The prosecution argued that Aseemanands escape from Shabridham showed he was guilty. But the judge didnt find merit in the argument as they were no witnesses or evidence to back the claim.

If the prosecution would have proved that Assemanand fled Shabridham, it could have been a strong circumstantial evidence against him. Another accused, Bhavesh Patel, was nailed on similar grounds.

Patel couldnt be traced for more than two years and was only arrested in March 2013 and the judge accepted it as one of the evidences that went against him.

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The BJP on Thursday won the by-election to the Dhemaji assembly constituency, taking the partys seat count in the 126-member Assam House to 61.

Dhemaji, suffering for decades from annual floods and desertification, is arguably Indias only monsoon desert assembly constituency.

State election officials said BJP candidate Ranoj Pegu got 75,217 votes  50.13% of the 150,029 votes polled  to defeat his nearest Congress rival Babul Sonowal by 9,285 votes. NOTA (none of the above) finished fourth behind Jadu Hazarika of CPI (Marxist) in the seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Two other contestants  Rajkumar Doley, an Independent and Hem Kanta Miri of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)  brought up the rear.

My job of living up to expectations gets tough from now on, Pegu said after officials announced his victory in Dhemaji town, 462km northeast of Guwahati.

Dhemaji, bordering Arunachal Pradesh, is one of Assams least developed districts and remains cut off for days because of annual floods. If that was not enough, sand deposited by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries has turned once-fertile farmlands into unproductive deserts.

Massive areas in Dhemaji district have been turned into desert, where the original fertile land is 3-16 feet under sand, but a clear picture of the actual desertification is yet to be worked out, Ravindranath of River Basin Friends, an NGO based at Akajan in the district, said.

The BJP, though, is focussing more on the political gain from the Dhemaji victory. Pegu, a major catch for the party, is expected to be included in chief minister Sarbananda Sonowals cabinet whose expansion is scheduled after the mid-April Rongali Bihu celebrations.

Before joining BJP ahead of the by-election, Pegu was the chief of Gana Shakti, a regional party with immense clout among the Mising tribal people. The party is in power in the Mising Autonomous Council currently headed by Pegu.

The run-up to the by-election was marked by friction between BJP and alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which said the saffron partys decision to field Pegu was against the spirit of coalition. The AGP had threated to field its own candidate but backed off at the last minute.

The by-election to the Dhemaji assembly seat became necessary after it fell vacant last year. Baruah, a former Congress leader, had won the seat in the 2016 election, but vacated it after contesting and winning the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat, which in turn was vacated by Sarbananda Sonowal after he won the Majuli assembly seat last year.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained the Bandhavgarh assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday and counting was on in Ater where the Congress candidate raised doubt over an electronic voting machine once again.

Polling in the two seats grabbed headlines following allegations that a device registered votes only for the saffron party during the media demonstration of a Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT by chief electoral officer Saleena Singh during a press conference in Bhind on March 31.

The incident gave a shot in the Congress arm to raise its voice against polling through EVM once again.

In Bandhavgarh, the BJP candidate Shivnarayan Singh Lallu Bhaiya defeated his nearest rival, Congress Savitri Singh by a margin of 25,476 votes.

Shivnarayan is the son of Gyan Singh whose resignation from the state assembly necessitated the bypoll to the seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST).

He continued to maintain a lead over the Congress right from the round 1 during counting which began at 8am. The formal declaration of the victory is yet to be made.

In Ater, Congress candidate Hemant Katare raised an objection over the signature on an EVM and counting was suspended for some time.

The close contest between the two parties in the constituency was reflected during the counting.

Katare maintained a lead over his rival Arvind Bhadoriya, the BJP candidate, after the counting of postal ballot and that of the first round of EVM votes. Bhadoriya later left Katare behind in the second round and maintained a lead in the third round as well by 452 votes.

In the fourth round, Congress surpassed the BJP but in the very next round, Bhadoriya managed to lead again. After the 11th round, the Congress candidate was leading by over 2163 votes.

The Congress continued to raise its voice against polling through EVMs in MP after the BJPs resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in particular. The government and the Election Commission have dismissed the charges that EVMs can be rigged and the poll panel has even challenged anyone to hack a device.

The EC transferred the collector, superintendent of police and several other officials from the district after the EVM row.

Bypolls to the two seats were necessitated due to the death of the former leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare, who won the Ater seat in 2013, and the election of Gyan Singh to Lok Sabha in a by-election, who represented Bandhavgarh seat in the assembly.

By-elections were held in 10 assembly constituencies in 8 states on Sunday. Two seats each are in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and one each in West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Delhi.

The BJP won assembly bypolls in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam while it was leading in Rajasthan as results poured in for the seats.
Canada termed on Thursday as disappointing and inaccurate the comments by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh that five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government, including defence minister Harjit Sajjan, were Khalistani sympathisers.

Singh had on Wednesday alleged that Sajjan like his father is a Khalistani sympathiser and he would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India later this month.

There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them, Singh had further claimed.

Reacting to the remarks, the Canadian High Commission here said, The comments regarding Canadas ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate.

It also asserted that Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and look forward to further advancing this relationship.

We regret that the Chief Minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canadas Minister of Defence. The Chief Minister is welcome to visit Canada, the high commission added.

Sajjan is scheduled to travel to India next week during which he will hold talks with the leadership here as well as speak on conflict prevention and peacekeeping in changing world on April 18 at a think-tank here
HHK invites Levon Ter-Petrosyan to teach (video)

The political school of the Republican Party is ready to invite Levon Ter-Petrosyan to read lectures, said Armen Ashotyan, Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia, It will be honor for us if First President agrees to teach at our school. But it is known that First President describes years of Republican Partys government as kleptocracy headed by Serzh Sargsyan. Is Head of the school Armen Ashotyan ready to hear such thoughts in the institution headed by him, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, if he admits our invitation, will have as much academic freedom as any other lecturer. But if Ter-Petrosyan agrees to teach in the Republican Partys political school, Armen Ashotyan will remind him that the discourse opened by the academic freedom may undergo some limitations, That discourse may be limited exclusively by constitutional norms, if the political opinion professes or calls for violence, xenophobia, destruction of bases of constitutional order. Armen Ashotyan doesnt refuse that young people, who studied at the political school of the Republican Party, participated in the pre-election campaign of one of the opposition powers. He will not say that they were from Yelk (Way out) alliance, Those young people participated in the pre-election campaign of more than one opposition power. By the way, touching upon Edward Sharmazanovs statement that Armen Ashotyan may write a song for Nikol Pashinyans campaign at Yerevan Council of Elders elections, former Minister of Education opposed, If there is a need for music, I will be able to find the people, whom I can pass my emotions in the form of both poems and music, so that they can express in the best way what I have seen as an author while writing this or that song. Yesterday he listened to the performance of Erebuni Yerevan song by the leader of Yelk and he can say that he welcomes Nikol Pashinyans ease, Evidently he was singing out of tune.
A youth BJP leader is facing up to 14 years in jail for offering a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to behead West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee that triggered a political storm and widespread condemnation, even prompting the parent party to distance itself.

A local resident lodged a police complaint in West Bengals Bolpur, the same area where a cane charge on a crowd on Hanuman Jayanti allegedly infuriated Yogesh Varshney  the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader -- to make the announcement. Tapas Mondal said in the complaint that the bounty created high commotion and tension in the area.

The CID picked up the complaint and slapped sections 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons), 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 505(1)a (making statements with intent to cause army, navy or airforce personnel mutiny), 505(2) (statements likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) and 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.

The maximum punishment laid down in these sections is 14 years in jail.

On Wednesday, a police complaint was also filed by Aligarh district Trinamool Congress President Ramphool Upadhyaya.

The announcement by Varshney made on a video triggered such a furore across party lines that even BJP leaders quickly distanced themselves from it. Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh described it as sheer madness. The issue was also raised in Parliament with prominent opposition leaders condemning the statement. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the state government was free to take legal action against Varshney. His colleague Kailash Vijayvargiya decried the offer but pointed out that there was genuine anger against Banerjees appeasement policies.

The offer was the latest episode in growing clashes between state forces and Hindu right-wing elements, who are gaining muscle and accuse Banerjee of being biased towards Muslims.

The imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata, who is close to the Bengal chief minister, announced a counter-offer of Rs 22 lakh to anyone severing the head of Varshney.

A former legislator of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Jameer Ullah also jumped into the controversy on Wednesday evening and remarked that the tongue of the BJP youth leader should be chopped off.

Varshney later withdrew his statement and apologised. He told the media that he made this announcement in a fit of rage and after seeing video footage of a crowd of Hindus who gathered in Bengals Birbhum district to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti (the birthday of Lord Hanuman) being charged with canes.
Bank holidays on Good Friday and Sunday as well as a shortfall in cash supply could trigger a weekend monetary crisis at ATMs in the country, especially the western and southern states.

Banking sources said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is supplying only about 25% of the cash required for ATMs in several states such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala.

Banks and cash logistics companies are finding it difficult to replenish ATMs in these states. The country has more than 200,000 ATMs.

The situation is better in New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and the rest of northern and eastern India. West Bengal and Odisha have adequate cash supply, bankers said.

The cash situation has stabilised considerably but once again problems are cropping up. Supply is thinning  complaints have started pouring in, said NSG Rao, the secretary of the Cash Logistics Association.

The association represents cash logistics companies such as SIS Prosegur and CMS which are hired by banks to ship cash and replenish ATMs.

The situation could exacerbate into a crisis as banks will be open only on Saturday in the next three days, starting with Good Friday on April 14, which is a national holiday.

Sources said the cash shortage is expected to stabilise in the next two weeks.

It could be because of the state elections  typically more cash is supplied to states going to the polls. Thats done to prevent law-and-order disruption. Things are expected to fall in place by this month-end, a senior executive with private sector bank said.

Bank ATMs ran dry after the government scrapped 500- and 1,000-rupee notes last November and triggered a cash shortage. The shortfall eased in January with the government pumping new 500- and 2,000-rupee notes into the system.

But ATM replenishment is getting hit after the RBI lifted restrictions on withdrawals from savings accounts, prompting banks to ensure enough cash for their customers at their branches.

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PATNA: The genealogical records of families residing for generations in the Mithila region of north Bihar, hitherto maintained through hand-written and perishable panjis (records) , are set to get a fresh lease of life, thanks to an initiative of the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM).

Beginning next week, the NMM will commence the process of digitisation of panjis at Saurath, the village in Madhubani district of Mithila, widely known for its Sabhaa Gaachhis, the great congregations at which weddings used to be fixed.

It was at Saurath that panjikaars (record-keepers), the persons authorised to maintain genealogical records, used to assemble during wedding seasons with their panjis, some of them said to be more than 700 years old and dying a natural death.

Sources said the genealogical records were under the threat of being lost forever, as much because Saurath was losing preference as wedding negotiations rendezvous, as because the new generation in many families of panjikaars, was no longer interested in this profession and is shifting to other jobs.

The panji system was launched in 14th century by Maharaja Harisimhadeva of Karnat dynasty in Mithila. The idea behind maintaining genealogical records was to ensure that in fixing marriages no allowance was made wedding between close relations.

Previous 14 of so generations of prospective brides and grooms was delineated for this purpose.

Particular families were deputed to maintain such records and to examine the validity and purity of marriage settlements. It covered mainly Brahmins and Karan Kayasthas of Mithila, who continue to follow the system even after more than 700 years after their creation.

We decided to launch the digitisation work at Saurath because this is where wedding negotiations have been going on for over 400 years. Two NMM coordinators will be working there on the project after April 15, said Vibhas Kumar, assistant project coordinator, NMM.

But convincing panjikaars for digitisation has not been easy. We had a tough time explaining to them that digitisation would impart records a long life and that it would also be easier to check details and that no further conservation efforts would be needed, he said.

Kumar said when it was planning to study Maithili and Sanskrit manuscripts at the Mithila Sanskrit Shodh Sansthaan, Darbhanga, the NMM was informed that the Mithila region had more than four lakh genealogical records of Maithil Brahmins and Karan Kayasthas.

They appeared to be in urgent need of conservation, through digitisation.

But when we approached them, most of the families refused to share information. Interestingly youth in many of the families have already joined other jobs and hardly have time to maintain records, Kumar said.

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India on Thursday reacted cautiously to the recent chemical attack in Syria breaking its silence over the tragedy that killed 87 people, including many children, but stopped short of openly condemning it.

New Delhi said its consistent position is that the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere under any circumstances should not happen and perpetrators of such an act should be held accountable.

The chemical attack was carried out on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria on April 4.

However, external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not explicitly condemned the attack, for which Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government is being held responsible by the US and its allies.

India is a signatory to the chemical weapons convention. It has been our consistent position that the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere under any circumstances should not happen, he said.

Any perpetrator of such an act should be held accountable. That is our position on the use of chemical weapons, he said.

He also referred to the statements made by the foreign minister of Russia and the US secretary of state after their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.

Baglay quoted the statement as saying that we both Russia and the US believe in a unified and stable Syria. We agree to deny a safe haven to terrorists. We think that it is important to defeat terrorists, which in that particular theatre is represented by among others by the ISIS.

The cooperation of all countries is vital to achieve this objective, Baglay said.

When specifically asked about the air strikes by the US, he said I have referred to the meeting of the US and Russian foreign ministers. What they said was about the desirability, stability and unity of Syria and defeating terrorism.

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Chhattisgarh TV anchor Supreet Kaur has no response to how she did what she did on April 8 morning while reading out on a live breaking news bulletin of her husband Harshad Gawdes death in a road accident.

HT broke the story of Kaurs exemplary commitment, which stunned her colleagues at Chhattisgarhs private IBC-24 channel and then the world.

When told that people across the world were calling her brave and courageous, and sending in condolence messages, Kaurs eyes displayed little emotion. She had a vacant look, sitting in the drawing room at her husbands house in Durg, about 35 km from state capital Raipur.

Whenever my husband used to ask me where I was, I would reply, TV dekh lo pata lag jayega (watch the TV, you will get to know), Kaur told HT on Thursday. I was very reserved, but he drew me out of my shell. He was my life and taught me how to be happy. He always appreciated my journalism. I am thankful to everyone who supporting me at this difficult time.

The grieving family made it known that Kaur had lost her father in a road accident four years ago.

Kaur indicated she did not want to say much. Her family members said they did not appreciate misreporting by sections of the media, which stated the news anchor and her husband had a daughter.

Kaur, who is from Bhilai, and businessman Gawde got married two years ago and they did not have a child. Kaur had rented a house in Raipur, where her channel is based.

Gawde, who was in his early 30s, and two of his friends died in the accident at Pithara in Mahasamund district last Saturday.

Kaur kept her composure during the mornings live news bulletin that day as a reporter phoned in details of the fatal accident.

The reporter said three of the five people travelling in the vehicle were dead. Though he did not identify the dead, there was enough for Kaur to instantly realise it could be her husband. She broke down, but only after having walked out of the TV studio after the news hour.

Kaurs father-in-law, Abhay Gawde, said his son was a jovial man. He treated me like an elder brother and not father.

Amid the overwhelming support for Kaurs fortitude, her employers have firmly stood by her. Ravi Kant Mittal, editor-in-chief of IBC-24, said, We are proud of her as a journalist. Our organisation will always be there for her.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh is expected to meet Kaur soon.

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Accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and enforcement directorate (ED) of acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, Himachal Youth Congress chief Vikramaditya Singh on Thursday said the money laundering case against his father and Himachal chief minister Virbhadra Singh was manufactured as a part of the saffron partys Congress-mukt Bharat ideology.

Singh said it was not only confined to Himachal Pradesh, but to all other Congress-ruled states where the BJP had been using the investigating agencies to settle their political scores.

This is also launched against the Himachal CM as a part of their Congress-mukt Bharat. He had already said that the ED was working according to the whims and fancies of finance minister Arun Jaitley and we must not forget that Jaitley was the one, who as the leader of the Opposition, during the last assembly elections, had come to Himachal Pradesh and had made these frivolous allegations against the chief minister while addressing a conference, Vikramaditya said.

Vikramaditya assured that, if demanded, Himachal Pradesh chief minister will appear personally by going to New Delhi and cooperating with the concerned authorities.

The chief minister is a law-abiding citizen. He will accomplish all demands. And in the coming time, if he is asked to appear personally, he will appropriately go to Delhi and depose in front of them and cooperate with them, he said.

However, Virbhadra Singh will not be appearing before the ED on Thursday. Earlier, he was to visit New Delhi but the plan was later cancelled.

He will be answering ED queries in writing in consultation with his legal team, as has also been confirmed by son Vikramaditya.

Earlier, the ED had attached assets of Virbhadra Singh worth Rs 8 crore in a money laundering case.

In March this year, the Delhi high court refused to grant a stay on the proceedings initiated by the ED against him.

The ED, had last year, registered a money laundering case against Virbhadra Singh and others under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a criminal complaint filed by the CBI in this regard.
Police arrested on Wednesday two people who claimed to belong to the Hindu Yuva Vahini for an overnight assault on a couple in Meerut. They allegedly misbehaved with the woman and beat up her fiance.

The incident occurred a day after a Muslim couple in the citys Shastri Nagar locality was dragged out of a house by members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini , a group founded by Yogi Adityanath before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. They thrashed the man and handed them over to the police. Later, the police filed obscenity charges against him.

On Wednesday, the couple was on their way to the womans house on a scooter when they were intercepted by six men claiming to be cadres of the Yuva Vahini, said Medical police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar.

The men misbehaved with the woman and beat up her fiance when he objected. They also attacked the mans brother when he came to rescue the couple. The men, said Kumar, then took the brothers to the police station and told the SHO that they were troubling the woman.

The police arrested the brothers but let them go after the woman reached the police station and narrated the incident.

The man works in a private bank. He went to drop off his fiance last night when half a dozen people stopped them near PVS Mall and misbehaved with the woman, said Kumar. They claimed that they were part of the Hindu Yuva Vahini and were doing so under the anti-romeo campaign.

The incident comes days after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath instructed police not to harass innocent couples. He had asked senior officials to chalk out clear guidelines for anti-Romeo squads to ensure that police did not act against boys and girls hanging out together with consent.

The anti- Romeo squads have been formed to take action against anti- social elements. People who harass girls are not youth but ruffians , he said. The CM said there will be no moral policing.

The attackers have been booked on charges of voyeurism, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.
Australia may be considering India a priority country in its international relationship as the two nations move towards closer strategic and security cooperation following Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls just-concluded visit to India, but in its official travel advisory Australia continues to flag India as a travel destination that warrants a high degree of caution .

In fact, an intending Australian traveller to India may be well discouraged from planning a visit to the country -- or even cancelling a planned visit -- if he or she were to read all the warnings and caveats about the high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime, and the high rate of vehicle accidents as well as the safety of women, poor air quality and social volatility.

Violent protests and demonstrations occur sporadically throughout India, says the advisory.

The Australian travel advisory was updated as late as March 20 this year -- days before Turnbull visited India and reviewed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi the entire gamut of bilateral relations; number of forward-looking decisions taken to further strengthen our partnership.

India has been trying to woo visitors from Australia with its Incredible India campaign. Last year, India organised Confluence: Festival of India in Australia from August to November to provide a boost to tourism and to the art precincts in Indian cities.

But the advisory on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian government says there are several regions of India where we advise Australians to reconsider your need to travel, or avoid all travel.

Violent protests and demonstrations occur sporadically throughout India, says the advisory.

Exercise a high degree of caution in India because of the high threat of terrorist activity, civil unrest and crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

The advisory also includes venues of Indian festivals, religious sites and markets where travellers should maintain heightened vigilance.

Without naming Pakistan or any other country, the advisory points out that militants cross the border into India with the intention of conducting attacks.

It is likely they will continue to try and do so. Terrorist groups regularly issue statements threatening to launch attacks in India.

The threat of terrorism exists in all Indian cities and tourist centres. In the past, terrorists have targeted areas frequented by tourists including hotels, markets, tourist sites, transport hubs and public transport networks, and religious sites.

Attacks have also targeted local courts, sporting events and cinemas, and Indian security and political establishments. Major tourist sites and shopping centres are also potential targets for attack, the advisory goes on to say.

Cautioning against dangerous road travel, undisciplined and aggressive driving practices poor quality and congested Indian roads, Australian visitors are also warned that you are three times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in India than in the home country.

Accidents are commonplace and the number of road traffic deaths is high. Travelling by road at night is particularly dangerous due to insufficient or non-existent street lighting and the presence of other vehicles driving with headlights off or on high beam. Vehicles may travel in the wrong direction, often without warning.

The advisory also flags women safety as a high-priority issue, cautioning females visiting India for religious purposes against risks of sexual assaults by faith leaders.

There are persistent allegations and media reports of sexual misconduct involving religious groups and their leaders in India. Australians visiting India for such religious purposes should be aware of these risks.

It also notes that foreign women could be subjected to unwanted attention and more serious harassment and assault in India where successful prosecutions are rare.

After reading this advisory not many Australians may be inclined to make India their immediate travel destination.
Ask him his name and you will get the reply  Pakistan.

It has been more than four years since Yashpal, a labourer from Padera village nearly 40 kms from Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh, was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore (Pakistan) after serving a three-year term.

Yashpal still visits the outpatient department (OPD) of the mental hospital at Bareilly for treatment. Kot Lakhpat Jail is a torturing dungeon, he recalls. It is the same jail where Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national convicted of spying, was attacked and killed in 2013.

Prisoners, especially Indians, live under traumatic conditions. Majority of them are forced to live in dark cells of 2x2 feet that are light and sound proof, he said.

Only those have stayed in these cells know the pain and agony of the prisoners. It affects ones mind so much so that it takes a few days to return to normal after one is out of the cell. It is next to impossible to come out mentally sound, said Yashpal.

Other than dark cells, there are many ways to torture prisoners. These including caning till the time one falls unconscious, feeding water through nose and electric shocks. Besides, lobbying is another major factor that adds to the woes of Indian prisoners, he said.

Pakistani prisoners enjoy the complete patronage of jail administrators. They are free to attack any Indian prisoner or torture them, said Yashpal, recollecting the horrors he underwent.

Sarabjit bhaiya also succumbed to the same torture, he said. Sarabjit died on May 2, 2013, the same month Yashpal completed his term.

Yashpals father Baburam said the family was not aware of his arrest until a letter from a Pakistani national Mohammed Yusuf Bhatt reached them in 2012.

Baburam, an agricultural labour, said Yashpal had left home in 2008 for Delhi to look for work. From 2009 onwards, Yashpal stopped responding to our letters, he said.

Yashpals mother Maya said a Bareilly-based NGO Jagar Society, run by Prof Pradeep Kumar, turned out to be the saviour. Jagar Society pursued the matter with the authorities in Pakistan from where the final date of Yashpals release was procured, said Maya. Prof Pradeep Kumar said when Yashpal was released, he could recall only three words  Delhi, Pakistan and India.

Yashpal was tortured so much so that he couldnt recall anything else, not even his father. The Indian government hardly pursues the cases of Indian under trials in Pakistan jails. It should formulate a policy to keep a check on such cases, he said.

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National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday lost his temper when asked whether he was trying to play with the sentiments of the nation by justifying the action of stone pelters in the valley.

What is the sentiment of the whole nation? What do you want? Is the nation concerned about their (Kashmiri youths) sentiments, their future? Dont you think these boys have some grievances or you are just worried about the nation?, he snapped at journalists.

The NC chief was in Jammu for Baisakhi celebrations when journalists queried him on the sidelines.

He also refuted allegations that he was hand-in-glove with separatists in instigating Kashmiri youth to throw stones.Not at all. I have never played that and dont tell me that, he shot back.

When reminded about his statements calling stone pelters true nationalists, which might have encouraged mob at Budgam in the April 9 bypoll for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat which he contested, Abdullah said that every stone thrower is not like this.

Let us not generalize the situation. There are many stone throwers, who are probably government paid, to vitiate the situation so as to see voters dont come out to vote. You have to rusticate such things, he added.

Read more: Stone pelters just fighting for resolution of Kashmir problem: Farooq Abdullah

Post Burhan Wanis death in an encounter last July, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had accused Farooq Abdullah and his party of engineering trouble in Valley and instigating Kashmir youth to throw stones at security forces.

Abdullah had kept his cool until he was asked about his comment on stone pelters. Reacting to disturbing videos from Budgam where a mob abused and manhandled CRPF men returning to their barracks from poll duties on April 9, he said that it was unfortunate and tragic. Whatever has happened shouldnt have happened. I am grateful that the CRPF men didnt react and kept their calm. Otherwise, the situation would have probably become nastier.

The NC leader also took a swipe at the state government for the abysmally low percentage of voting on April 9. With only 7% voting, it was the worst turnout in the state in almost 30 years. The violence on April 9 that left eight dead also forced the election commission to postpone Anantnag bypoll in the state from April 12 to May 25.

A repoll in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar constituency on Thursday recorded 1.99% voting.

We have a government for two years. Where is the government looking? Polling was 29% when I was defeated. Today, it is seven per cent. Who is to be blamed for this? he retorted.

Farooq had lost the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat in 2014, which had officially recorded 26% polling. He is locked in a straight fight with ruling PDPs Nazir Ahmad Khan.

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The Centre has decided to reach out to reputed academic institutions to evaluate its ambitious skill development programmes, which have faced questions over their effectiveness.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is in talks with IIM- Bangalore, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Harvard Business School, University of Pennsylvania, Deakin University of Australia, and Delhi School of Economics to carry out a review of the scheme.

The NSDC is the execution agency of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship. Official sources said that the ministry has taken this decision in consultation with the Prime Ministers Office.

The Centres skill development schemes had earlier faced flak for sub-standard quality of training centres and fraudulent enrolment of trainees under the Union governments flagship Skill India programme.

We would like to know the number of youths trained so far and whether these schemes have been able to bring any change in their lives and upgrade their living standards, Manish Kumar, the corporations CEO and managing director told Hindustan Times, explaining the need for the government to engage academic institutes for analytical study of skill development schemes and report whats working and whats not.

We have asked these institutions to do an in-depth research and provide information about the results and effects of skill development plans. With this we will get to know the gaps that can be bridged, he said.

Prime Minister Modi launched the scheme in July 2015 with a corpus of 1,500 crore and an aim to train 2.4 million youth. But the first phase saw just 5% placement, that too mostly in low-skill blue-collar jobs. Despite the problems, the government upped the funds allocated to the skills training programme to 6,000 crore and introduced two new schemes .

The government claims to have trained about two million youth under the flagship Skill India programme but an HT investigation last month found inconsistencies in the quality of training centres and likely fraudulent trainee enrolment.

What we are doing is intangible, unlike road construction which is tangible. It is difficult to make out the percentage of GDP changed because of these intangible inputs. But there are global methods to analytically study the schemes and make out their impact, Kumar said.
South Asian nations, including India, are vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola, and their level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health, a new health analysis has revealed.

An analysis as part of a collection of 12 analyses on health in South Asia published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that inadequate surveillance and uneven health system capacity may accelerate the spread of the emerging infectious diseases in the region. The region is already burdened by diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.

Examining the vulnerability to emerging and growing infectious disease threats and the capacity to respond to outbreaks, the analysis finds the level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health, it said.

The analysis also pointed out that although sporadic cases of dengue infection were seen in many South Asian countries in the 1960s, regular epidemics only occurred in the early 1990s in India and Sri Lanka.

In India and Sri Lanka, by around 40 years of age 90-95% of adults have been infected with the dengue virus, while 41% have been infected with chikungunya, the analysis found.

It said while noting that anthrax is endemic in large parts of South Asia, that in the border areas of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, poor vaccination and surveillance have been accompanied by increasing anthrax cases, which prompted Bangladesh to announce a red alert in 2010.

Noting that rabies remains endemic in eight countries in South East Asia, with 1.4 billion people at risk, the authors in the analysis said that the region contributes about 45% of global rabies deaths, while the rhetoric on elimination continues to grow.

Brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and a range of food-borne diseases contribute to the morbidity and mortality attributable to zoonotic infections but are struggling to gain the attention of policymakers in the subcontinent, despite it resulting in 150 million illnesses, 175,000 deaths, and 12 million disability-adjusted life years, the analysis said.

The analysis found that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A/H5N1, which was introduced to the subcontinent in 2005 through wild birds, has since become endemic across large parts of northeast India and Bangladesh, across porous international borders.

South Asia is defined by the World Bank as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is home to a quarter of the worlds population.

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The secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India on the Indus Water Treaty in Washington have been delayed, a media report said on Thursday.

The talks were scheduled for April 11-13 but are now likely to be held in the last week of April, official sources told The Nation daily on Wednesday.

Last month, federal minister for power and water Khawaja Asif confirmed that after the US intervention, the secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India for resolving two controversial hydropower projects, including Kishanganga hydro electric project (330MWs) and the under-construction Ratle hydro electric project (850 MWs) was scheduled to be held in Washington in April.

Commissioner of Indus water treaty Asif Baig said they had submitted their response to the World Bank and now they will contact India regarding their response.

When asked why the meeting was postponed, he said, April 11-13 was not the scheduled date for the meeting as it was just the proposed dates.

He said the World Bank with the consensus of both countries will provide fresh dates of the meeting. He said he does not know about the new dates, reports the daily.

Pakistan has been protesting over the design and construction of the two projects on the tributaries of the Indus in the Indian part of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indus water treaty was signed in 1960 and involves six rivers: the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty gave the right to use waters of the first three rivers to India and of the other three rivers to Pakistan.

India has said it has the right under the treaty to set up hydropower plants on the tributaries of the rivers flowing through its territory.

Pakistan fears this might reduce the water flow of the rivers into its territory.
Defiant Calcutta high court judge CS Karnan on Thursday asked the Chief Justice of India and six judges of the Supreme Court, who have issued contempt notice to him, to appear before him at his residential court on April 28.

Justice Karnan claimed that the seven judges of the bench have insulted him wantonly and deliberately and with malafide intention.

He said the judges have been asked to defend themselves against the charge of violating the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, levelled by him. Justice Karnan has been insisting that he is being discriminated against because he is a Dalit.

Addressing journalists at his residence, justice Karnan said, On 28.04.2017 at 11:30 am, the Honble seven judges as mentioned above will appear before me at my Rosedale Residential Court and give their views regarding quantum of punishment for the violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act.

He passed the suo motu judicial order from his residence which, he said, has now become his make-shift court.

In the signed order, justice Karnan said on March 31, he had pronounced a judgement wherein the Honble seven judges are accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act, 1989.

In Thursdays order, justice Karnan said that CJI justice JS Khehar had on March 31 raised a question as to how his mental health was. The question was endorsed by the six other judges of the bench, Justice Karnan, said, adding it amounted to insulting him in open court.

Justice Karnan had on March 31 appeared in the Supreme Court in the contempt case against him, a first in the Indian judicial history, and sought restoration of his powers as a condition for his re-appearance, but the plea was rejected.

The seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Khehar granted him four weeks to respond to the contempt notice, while refusing to restore his judicial and administrative powers as a serving high court judge.

The apex court had on March 10 issued a bailable warrant against Justice Karnan to ensure his presence before it in the matter after he levelled accusations against several judges.

The court had taken a strong note of Justice Karnans non-appearance despite being served with the contempt notice and asked the Director General of West Bengal police to execute the warrant to ensure his presence.
It used to be one of hundreds of nondescript villages that dot the arterial highway between Mumbai and Bengaluru, known only to people for a toll plaza that saw eateries and shops mushroom around it since it opened in 2004.

But in the past few days, Anewadi has been pitchforked to the national spotlight after former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav  whose family owned land and a house in the village  was given the death sentence in a military court in Pakistan.

Villagers say they have been glued to the television since Monday, when news of Jadhavs death sentence on charges of spying broke. They are not aware of the wrangling between India and Pakistan over the 46-year-old, or the fast-deteriorating diplomatic ties, but say they remember Jadhav as a shy man who kept mostly to himself.

Whenever he came to Anewadi, he has something to offer to the villagers, said Sadashiv Tilekar, who runs an auto spare-parts shop in the village of 5,000 people located in Maharashtras Satara district. The charges are completely false. I knew him for the last 10 years since he had purchased land in our village.

Many of Anewadis inhabitants them are sugarcane farmers and agricultural labourers who remember working on the land Jadhavs family  originally from Mumbai  owned in the village. The former navy officer would come down to Anewadi on a couple of trips every year and spent most of his time in the farms that ring the village.

Local residents say Jadhav gave away school uniforms, blankets and other school stationery and stayed in the red-bricked, asbestor-roofed, one-storey family home that stands out among the cramped clusters of small pukka houses in Anewadi.

He would speak little, recalled Dada Patil, who owns a plot adjacent to Jadhavs farm.

The former navy officer, villagers said, was a family person. He would bring his parents. We often saw him taking care of his old parents, added Patil.

The villagers still appear shocked by the Pakistani army court verdict and Jadhavs future dominates discussion every evening at the tea stalls that line the semi-concrete road running through the village. Many say they know the odds are stacked against Jadhav but take hope in the release of Chandu Chavan, another soldier who crossed over the border and was captured by Pakistan.

We know its (Jadhavs release) not easy. But government can do it if it decides, said Ashwini Shinde, Anewadi village head. Shinde said Jadhav can be brought back home the way Chavan returned back. On behalf of Anewadi villagers, I urge the government to expedite the efforts for Jadhavs return till it becomes too late, said Shinde.

The 22-year-old Chavan, who hailed from Dhule in Maharashtra around 400 kilometres away, returned to India after dialogue between the two countries. The villagers want to meet the defence minister and personally make a request for initiating a similar dialogue.

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Qamar Ahsan , the new vice-chancellor of Magadh University (MU) in Gaya, has sent out a clarion message to his staff, asking them to shape up or ship out.

Among his many instructions to staff, is one which puts them at risk of earning a pink slip should anyone be found at tea stalls during office hours.

Let me not catch you at chhai dukaan (tea stall) during work time. Beware! You could even earn a pink slip, he told his office staff while inspecting the establishment section, where he found many chairs vacant on Thursday morning.

READ: Chancellor appoints 3 more VCs for Bihar universities

The mountain of files stacked up on desks and university sections sans staff also piqued Ahsan. He has now vowed to clear up the mess and spelt out the dos and donts.

His first instruction: There should be no file left on the table at the end of the day. Each staff has to clean-up the pile, before he leaves.

Second: The university wont tolerate habitual latecomers, lax personnel are not acceptable.

Third: Sauntering out for tea during office hours could put you at risk of earning a pink slip.

To enforce work ethics, the VC has made it a routine to be the first to report to office, inspect attendance of staff and issue notes on what went wrong.

Absences of senior staff, empty chairs, unengaged classes have upset his reform zeal, but he is not giving up.

I am determined to get the MU back on rails, he says. How can you allow staff to be out of their offices on a work day, he says, adding, Either they mend their ways fast or come in my firing line.

Ahsan is trying to streamline administration, admissions, examination schedule and publication of results in sync with the university calendar and trying to bring them onto a digital platform. He has initiated a process to issue admit cards, results, marksheets and certificates online so as to cut rush at MU counters.

Ahsan, who was appointed on March 20, has served in various administrative capacities in universities of Bihar and Jharkhand (B N Mandal University, Madhepura; Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University, Patna; and Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka).

Established on March 1, 1962, MU has 44 constituent and 105 affiliated colleges, in which about 4 lakh students pursue studies in different streams. The government has decided to carve out Patliputra University from MU colleges in Patna and Nalanda districts.

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Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, on Thursday moved a local court seeking its permission to go out of Hyderabad to see his ailing mother and for his own medical treatment.

Aseemanand on Thursday appeared before the court of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge and filed a petition through his counsel, seeking permission to visit his mother.

In his petition to the court, Aseemanand requested permission to go out of Hyderabad saying he has to see his aged mother, who is ailing (in West Bengal), and also for the treatment of his own ailments

The court earlier had granted bail to Aseemanand and Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai, a co-accused in the case, on March 23.

Both of them were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each with two sureties of the same amount.

They were also directed not to leave Hyderabad without courts permission and remain present in the city for the trial when required.

Aseemanand was released from Chanchalguda jail here on March 31.

In his petition to the court, Aseemananad also said he has to attend court cases too against him in Panchkula.

The court posted the matter for hearing on April 21.

Swami Aseemanand, whose real name is Naba Kumar Sarkar, had been on the run since 2008 till his arrest on November 19, 2010 from Haridwar for his alleged role in the blast at historic Mecca Masjid here on May 18, 2007 in which nine people had been killed.

On March 8 this year, Aseemanand and six others were acquitted in the 2007 Ajmer blast case by a Jaipur court. He was then brought from Jaipur and lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here.
Hours after becoming instantly infamous for his bounty offer on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Yogesh Varshneya, the 26-year-old BJP youth wing leader with a civil engineering degree, fumbled repeatedly when asked if he was serious on the offer.

Well ... err ..., he searched for words after his Rs 11 lakh offer to anyone who came up with Banerjees head created a furore and led to parliamentarians demanding action against him.

Yes ... had the offer been met I would have raised the promised amount... But now its a closed chapter... I have expressed regret for my words, Varshneya, who tends to his familys fruit business, told HT on the phone from Aligarh.

Police booked Varshneya after a complaint was made against him. I made the remark in fit of anger after learning how the Mamata Banerjee government is engaging in blatantly anti-Hindu acts, he said.

Bounties arent new to Uttar Pradesh where the then SP minister Yaqoob Qureshi had set the trend of announcing bounties with a Rs 51 crore offer on the head of a Danish cartoonist who made a caricature of Prophet.

But bounty broadcasters probably are aware that theirs is a bailable offence. Though the Delhi police had arrested Adarsh Sharma, the Purvanchal Sena president for announcing Rs 11 lakh bounty on the then JNU students union chief Kanhaiya Kumar, such police action is rare; in UP at least. No action was initiated on a Meerut youth when he announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on BJP leader Dayashankar Singhs tongue for having compared BSP chief Mayawati to a prostitute in the run up to 2017 UP polls.

While Dayashankar spent a brief time in jail for his remarks, no action was taken against the man who offered a reward on his head. In case of Yaqoob Qureshi too the Samajwadi Party leadership had ignored demands to act against him.

It has become a joke. Anyone seeking instant publicity could get away with anything. And since these things get wide publicity in the media people get more encouraged to make such remarks. I think its time that some strong action is initiated against these bounty men, said Athar Siddiqui from the Centre for Objective Research and Development.

We disapprove of such remarks, said Abhijat Mishra the national general secretary of BJYM, the organisation to which Varshneya belongs. But from Meerut to Gorakhpur and from Bulandshahr to Bahraich such offers have continuously been made in UP.

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A Muslim policeman from Maharashtra who lost his job because he insisted on keeping a beard rejected the Supreme Courts advice on Thursday to shave temporarily so that he could work until his petition challenging the dismissal was decided.

There is no concept of a temporary beard in Islam, Mohammed Irshad Hanif, lawyer for the Maharashtra Reserve Police Force cop told a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, which said it can let him join back for now on sympathetic grounds.

We feel sorry for you. Why dont you join? the CJI said when Hanif pressed for an early hearing of the dismissed cops appeal. Justice Khehar also said that the court shall allow him to keep a beard during the festivities. But, after the lawyers response the CJI rejected his prayer.

Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade had approached the top court in 2013 after the Bombay high court disallowed him to sport a beard while working in the force. In its order the HC said the force was a secular agency and discipline required him to stick to secular rules.

The HC had ruled that keeping a beard was not a fundamental right as it was not a fundamental tenet of Islam.

The Supreme Court had granted leave in the case, which meant the matter would be heard at length to be decided on merit. During Thursdays hearing Bedade wanted the apex court to expedite the hearing of his petition.

Bedade said he was initially allowed to sport a beard, provided it was trimmed and kept neat and tidy. His commandant later withdrew the permission as it was against the rules and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. The top court had stayed the inquiry proceedings.

In the Supreme Court, Bedade relied upon a 1989 circular for the armed forces to argue that the rules spoke of permitting a beard provided the person kept it for the rest of his service. Keeping a beard was obligatory under Islams Hadith law narratives about the life mandated by Prophet Mohammed, he stated in his petition.

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Four masked persons brandished toy guns and looted about Rs 5 lakh in cash from a private bank in Dhenkanal on Thursday.

Police said the incident took place at the HDFC Bank branch at Siminai on Thursday afternoon.

The masked men barged into the bank branch at around 12.15 pm and brandished toy guns which looked like pistols and two machete-type weapons at the bank employees and customers and looted the money.

They took away Rs 4.5 lakh cash from the bank counter and another Rs 50,000 was forcibly taken away from customers, the police said.

They attacked us and damaged the assets of the bank. They also broke the CCTV cameras, said bank manager Shakti Shankar Behera.

Police later recovered the toy guns from near the bank, Dhenkanal superintendent of police Basant Panigrahi said, adding investigation into the incident has been initiated.
India on Thursday said it was not aware of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs location or health condition in Pakistan as it prepares to seek consular access to the Indian national sentenced to death on charges of spying.

Pakistan has not shared with us till now any details of Kulbhushan Jadhavs location or how he is, external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

Pakistan has turned down 13 requests for consular access to Jadhav, who India maintains is an innocent Indian, kidnapped by Pakistan:

All our requests for consular access have been denied. The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque, he said, pointing out in one occasion the neighbouring country had said it would give consular access provided India investigate the charges against him.

That itself is a proof that they didnt have enough evidence. Such a request is also against the established norms of seeking consular access.

Jadhav, arrested in March last year, was handed the sentence by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and sabotage three days ago.

New Delhi responded saying if the sentence was carried out, it would be a premeditated murder.

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, read the demarche handed to Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit.

Baglay said India was engaged in efforts to bring back Jadhav but added that he would not like to speculate on the steps being taken, including who all New Delhi may talk to.

The spokesman said he had no information about the alleged abduction of a retired Pakistani military officer in Nepal.

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The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it was not opposed to an amicable settlement of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal row and asked both Haryana and Punjab to find a solution to it soon.

We do not want to shut the door to an amicable solution, bench headed by Justice PC Ghose said after it was informed that the Centre had invited the two states for talks to explore an out-of court settlement. The meeting is fixed for April 20, the court was informed after which it deferred the case to April 27.

The Government of India is very keen to find a solution, solicitor general Ranjit Kumar told the court.

Although the court gave the Centre a chance to mediate between the two states, the bench made it clear that on the next hearing it would proceed with the matter if the attempt to negotiate fails. It was clarified to both the parties that the only issue before the court was the execution of its verdict allowing construction of the canal.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Punjab, said he has been saying that the dispute cannot be settled by the judiciary and the parties should sit together and try to find a solution. The senior advocate was optimistic about the Centres move to step in to find a solution.

The Centre placed before the court a letter written by the ministry of water resources, River Development and Ganga to the chief secretaries of both the states intimating them about the proposed meeting on April 20.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevask Sangh (RSS) will take part in a government function to pay tribute to BR Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary celebration in Parliament on Friday to take forward its Dalit outreach.

The ministry of social justice and empowerment has invited V Bhagaiah, a Sah Karyavaha (joint secretary) of the RSS to take part in the tribute ceremony to be held at Ambedkars statue in Parliament precincts.

The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Sangh Parivar has been often accused of trying to integrate Dalits under the broad Hindutva umbrella by appropriating the legacy of their biggest icon amid growing atrocities in the country against the community.

Bhaigaih heads the Samajik Samarasta (social harmony) initiative of the Sangh, which is pivoted around the theme of one temple, one cremation ground and one well, which aims at unifying Hindu society by ending discrimination against Dalits and others.

The BJP-led NDA government at the centre is pulling out all the stops to celebrate in a grand manner the 126th anniversary of the Dalit icon and principal architect of the Constitution, who fought against caste-based discrimination.

The Sangh too has drawn up separate plans to mark the occasion in a bid to propagate how it was pursuing Ambedkars idea of a casteless society.

The Samajik Samarasta programmes started by the Sangh have begun to show results. In many villages Dalits are no longer barred from entering temples and our karyakartas visit Dalit families during festivities. There is still a long way to go, but a beginning has been made, a senior RSS functionary told HT.

The Sanghs Dalit outreach has been credited with enabling the BJPs landslide victory in Uttar Pradesh, where the party managed to overcome caste fault lines to emerge as the single-largest party.

The Sanghs focused attention on ending caste-based discrimination is in sync with the BJPs ambition to expand its footprint in the southern states where castes fissures run deep.

Though Sangh leaders, including its head, Mohan Bhagwat have been accused of making anti-reservation statements, by calling for a review of quotas, the Sangh has been assiduously wooing the Dalits and other backward castes.

It also dismisses allegations that it has appropriated the legacy of Ambedkar, who converted to Buddhism in protest against the caste-based discrimination, and woos Dalits only to coalesce the Hindus.

Senior Sangh leaders such as Krishna Gopal are among the functionaries who are actively involved in changing the perception that the nationalist outfit is dominated by the so-called upper castes.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Haryana government to submit justice Dhingra commission of inquiry report that deals with suspect land deals, including some linked to Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

While hearing a land acquisition case, the apex court bench headed by justice Adarsh Kumar Goel set April 17 as deadline for submitting the copy of the inquiry report in a sealed cover.

After coming to power in October 2014, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government had set up the one-man justice SN Dhingra commission of inquiry to probe licences given by the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government for the development of colonies, housing societies and commercial complexes in four Guragon villages.

At the core of different land acquisition cases of Haryana related to the Congress governcourt ment is the allegation that the farmers fearing cheap rates from the government, after land acquisition process began, were forced to sell their land to colonisers. Later, the acquired land was released benefiting the colonisers. As per the Supreme Court direction, Haryana has to submit a copy of justice Dhingras inquiry report by Monday. Also, the court directed the CBI to complete its probe within four months, Haryana additional advocate general Anil Grover told Hindustan Times over phone.

The contents of the justice Dhingra report are yet to be made public by the state government which had given an undertaking in the Punjab and Haryana high court not to release the report until directed by the court.

Former chief minister Hooda had petitioned the high court challenging the constitutional validity of the panel and accusing the government of resorting to political vendetta. It was during hearing of Hoodas petition that the state government had told the court that it will not make public justice Dhingra report.

The Dhingra commission had submitted a 182-page report after investigating into allegations that laws were flouted in granting land licences to some companies, including one owned by Robert Vadra.

I wouldnt have submitted a 182-page report if there was no irregularity (in grant of land licences in Gurgaon), justice Dhingra, a former Delhi high judge, had said while submitting the report last year.

Vadra had termed the inquiry as a political witch-hunt launched by the BJP government in Haryana.

Wednesdays apex court direction came in a land acquisition case related to Manesar industrial model township (IMT) in Gurgaon which the CBI has also been investigating. The CBI took over this case in 2015 and is investigating into the allegations of releasing the acquired land during the Congress government. Haryanas key submissions are that truth must come out; the guilty be punished; interests of innocents be protected and no financial implication be put on the state government, Anil Grover, the AAG, said, pointing out that the court has reserved the order.

One of the terms of reference of the Dhingra inquiry was to probe the issues concerning the grant of licences for developing commercial colonies by the department of town and country planning, Haryana, to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon.

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The answer to Indias out-of-control monkey menace could be the little pill.

Scientists with the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are trying to control the cheeky monkeys  not spay or neuter the animals but offer them a family planning vaccine called porcine zona pellucida that has shown its potency in America.

The contraceptive programme, if cleared for use, will be the first in India where dwindling forests have driven the highly adaptable and opportunistic monkeys towards villages and cities.

Trials are being conducted in Uttarakhand, the Himalayan state that has nearly 150,000 monkeys, according to a forest department estimate. Their numbers are growing fast, and furiously.

Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh too has monkeys on its back, and the fellow hill state tried out a catch-and-sterilise programme to little effect. The animal is declared a vermin in many districts, which wildlife lovers call a euphemism for the death sentence as the tag permits culling.

That got the scientists at WII to look for an alternative. They have been doing a pilot project on oral contraceptives in a 20 square km area of the tree-lined institute, studying monkey behaviour and food habits.

Test results have been satisfactory, and the scientists are confident that the contraceptive will keep the runaway monkey population down.

But the challenge would be to get the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation, which reports to the ministry of health and family welfare, on board.

The vaccine is not available in India and must be imported from the US. Each shot would cost at least Rs 6,000  a sum that needs to cross multiple layers of bureaucratic turnstiles.

There are levels of approvals needed to procure the drugs. The ministry of environment and forests has cleared the project, but we need permission from the Union drug control department to import the chemical, senior scientist Qamar Qureshi said.

The chemical comes from pigs. It produces antibodies that prevent the sperm from attaching to the egg. The vaccine could be given to monkeys mixed with their food, or injected.

The scientists believe the contraceptive can be manufactured in the country.

The National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi could develop the medicine, said scientist S Sathyakumar, explaining ways to get rid of the tedious permission process and import expenses.

Until the shots are fired, monkeys will remain a menace  destroy crops and orchards in the countryside, or troop around in cities and bully everyone in their path, even dogs.

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Online contents related to medical tourism in India cannot be blocked unless it violated the local law that bans pre-natal sex determination tests (PNDT), the Supreme Court said on Thursday, striking a note of caution against any blanket ban on it.

Peoples right to know, to be informed and gain wisdom from internet cannot be curtailed, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said while hearing a 2008 public interest litigation (PIL) that claimed the multinational search engines were soliciting advertisements promoting sex-selection tests.

We may further add that freedom of expression included right to be informed, the bench replied to the petitioners counsel Sanjay Parekh, who insisted the companies had failed to follow an earlier SC verdict that banned popping up of advertisements selling PNDT kits.

Parekh argued that on typing the words medical tourism several links containing material related to such tests were opening up. To this, the bench said the law did not intend to restrict ones right to know.

If somebody intends to search for Medical Tourism in India he or she is entitled to do it as long as the content does not frustrate or defeat the restriction postulated under the Act, the bench told Parekh.

The court clarified it was only for the nodal officers appointed by the Centre and state governments under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 to ask the intermediaries to remove objectionable content.

The intermediaries such as Microsoft, Yahoo and Google cant take any action on their own, it added.

Counsel of the companies also informed that they too had their own in-house experts to tackle the complaints. But the intermediaries cannot take action on their own volition.

The bench then posted the matter for hearing on September 5.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi had on Tuesday told the bench the right to know was a fundamental right which could not be curtailed by banning information on the Internet.

There is distinction between information and advertisement. A person out of curiosity wants to know or study something. The right to know is a fundamental right and we cannot curtail it, Rohatgi had said adding, We cannot curtail free search. The right to know is a fundamental right. If we stop information, then we stop knowledge, then we stop thinking

Google, Yahoo and Microsoft gave an undertaking that they neither advertise nor sponsor any advertisements violating the law.

On behalf of the Centre, solicitor general Ranjit Kumar felt online ban should be only on paid advertisements.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the central government and the Election Commission to respond to petitions that allege electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be easily hacked, amid controversy over the devices that transformed polling in India.

The top court also agreed to hear pleas asking for a paper trail on all EVMs.

The court was hearing petitions filed by the Bahujan Samaj Party and a Samajwadi Party MLA, Ataur Rehman.

The BSP has alleged that large-scale tampering of EVMs aided the BJP in its sweeping victory in Uttar Pradesh last month.

The views of technicians working in this field are important and not of what political parties say, a bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar told the senior counsel appearing before him.

Congress leader P Chidambaram argued for both the BSP and Rehman. But, the bench also held a view that EVMs were a remedy to several ills that plagued the voting system before it was introduced.

He said a 2013 SC verdict made it mandatory for the Election Commission to install the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).

Despite the poll panel writing to the government ten times since June last, including the Chief Election Commissioner sending a letter to the Prime Minister, the government had failed to release funds for the paper trail machines.

They need Rs 3,000 crore for having this system, he told the court.

Paper trail was indispensable requirement to restore the confidence of a voter who gets assured that he pressed the button on the EVM for the right candidate and party, Chidambaram argued.

On courts objection to the BSPs prayer that the forthcoming elections should be deferred in the wake of no paper trail machines, Chidambaram withdrew the plea. We would not like to get drawn in political controversies, the bench told the senior counsel.

The BSP and Rahman got support from the Congress and the Trinamool Congress who informed the bench that they wanted to be a party in the case, which the court allowed.

The next hearing in the case was fixed for May 8.

The row over EVMs was back in the headlines after allegations in Madhya Pradeshs Ater  where the BJP is fighting the Congress in an assembly by-election  that a device registered votes only for the saffron party during a media demonstration.

The government and the EC has dismissed the charges. The poll panel has even challenged anyone to hack a device, after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he needed 72 hours to prove EVMs could be tampered with.

On behalf of the Congress Kapil Sibal said that no country use EVMs. But, this system was introduced when your party was in power, the bench replied, saying it would not decide the issue on the basis of what which country was following.

We would purely go on the basis of law and technical data, the court said to which Sibal replied: Experience has shown to us that technology can be hacked.

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The National Human Rights Commission has described the alleged police assault on anti-liquor protesters in Tamil Nadus Tirupur district as a serious violation of rights, and issued notices to the top bureaucrat and police officer of the state seeking a report on the incident.

Police used force to break up the nine-hour agitation against a government-owned liquor shop at Samalapuram village in Palladam taluk of Tirupur district, some 450 km southwest of Chennai, on Tuesday evening.

Tirupurs additional deputy superintendent of police A Pandiarajan was caught on camera hitting a woman with a baton and slapping her as he tried to disperse the protesters, who had blocked the road demanding the removal of a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor from their village.

Pandiarajan also beat up other protesters as well. More than 20 villagers were injured in the lathi charge.

The woman, who was also injured in the head, was later identified as Eswari from nearby Ayyampalayam village. The video of the incident went gone viral drawing strong condemnation and protests.

The commission has observed that it appears the police had taken the law into their hands by exceeding their power in resorting to an indiscriminate beating of the protesters, NHRC said in a release on Wednesday.

A senior officer himself had gone to the extent of beating those women who were standing helpless and defenceless. The act of the police is nothing but a serious violation of human rights as well as the rights guaranteed to women for their self-respect, the commission said.

NHRC said it issued notices to chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, director general of police TK Rajendran and Tirupur superintendent of police ES Uma, calling for reports within two weeks on the widely reported incident of police excess while dispersing about 300 people.

The villagers also picketed the MLA of Sulur, R Kanagaraj, who was passing through the village. Kanagaraj tried to pacify the villagers and left after an assurance from Tirupur collector S Jayanthi that the shop would be closed.

Protests erupted in Tirupur and Coimbatore again on Wednesday after the video clip of the burly police official hitting the woman protestor, among a throng of people, went viral. Police detained at least 20 protesters and threatened to slap criminal cases against them.

The villagers were pacified only after Jayanthi issued an order shutting the TASMAC shop permanently late on Wednesday afternoon.

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Three Indian Mujahideen activists were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for making explosives and conspiring with the outfits founder Riyaz Bhatkal to carry out terror attacks here and other places in the country.

Sayeed Mohammed Noushad, Ahamed Bava Aboobakkar and Fakeer Ahamad were given life terms by Additional District and Sessions Judge S H Pushpanjali Devi.

The accused, residents of Mukkachery and Chembugudde of Ullal village of Mangaluru Taluk, were arrested in 2008 and explosive materials seized from their houses.

The prosecution had charged them with conspiracy to commit unlawful activity, which would have taken lives of many innocent people, but for timely police action.

In the verdict delivered here yesterday, the judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on all the three for offences under Section 16 (1) (b) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Section 5 (b) of the Explosive Substances Act, Section 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 (1)(A)(A) of the Arms Act.

Fakeer Ahamad was sentenced to an additional life term under Section 6 of the Explosives Act.

Noushad was also sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000 for offence under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC, three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000 each for offences under Sections 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the IPC.

Noushad was also an accused in the serial blasts in Surat and Ahmedabad.

The judge said the life sentences would run concurrently.
To ensure that you dont miss your daily dose of news, HT brings you the top stories of the day. Have a look.

Cases against BJP youth leader who offered bounty on Mamatas head, CID slaps charges

A youth BJP leader is facing up to 14 years in jail for offering a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to behead West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee that triggered a political storm and widespread condemnation, even prompting the parent party to distance itself. A local resident lodged a police complaint in West Bengals Bolpur, the same area where a cane charge on a crowd on Hanuman Jayanti allegedly infuriated Yogesh Varshney  the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader -- to make the announcement. Tapas Mondal said in the complaint that the bounty created high commotion and tension in the area.

Read the full story here.

Repolling in 38 Stations in Kashmir today

Polling will be held again at 16 polling booths of the Chadoora assembly segment of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, eight at Budgam and Chrar-e-Sharif, five booths at Beerwah and one at Khan Sahib. To pre-empt a repeat of Sundays violence during which a polling station was torched and arson was attempted at two others, police and security forces are carrying out raids to round up potential suspects. As many as 50 people have been rounded up and search is continuing for others, a senior police official said.

Read the full story here.

Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging use of EVMs in polls

The Supreme Court will today hear pleas that challenge the use of EVMs in elections. The Bahujan Samajwadi Party has challenged the use of EVMs while former Samajwadi Party lawmaker Ataur Rehman is contesting the use of EVMs without equipping them with voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT). Senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for Rehman, argues that there is a judgement of the apex court which gave a specific direction to the Election Commission that the paper trail is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections but it is yet to be implemented.

Delhi student commits suicide after ex-boyfriend threatens to leak personal videos

A 21-year-old B.Com student committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan in north Delhis Chandrawal area after her former boyfriend allegedly threatened to post their personal videos on social media. Blaming him for her suicide, the student also mentioned in her suicide note that the staff at Model Town police station in northwest Delhi did not help her when she approached them with a complaint. She wrote that they were equally responsible for her death.

Read the full story here.

Jobs and education: Telangana may hike reservations for STs, Muslims to 10%

The Telangana cabinet on Wednesday decided in principle to increase the percentage of reservations for Muslims and Scheduled Tribe (ST) members at educational institutions and workplaces across the state. Though the quantum of the hike has not been finalised, official sources indicated that reservations for both Muslims and STs were likely to go up to 10% from the existing 4% and 6% respectively.

Read the full story here.

Captain Amarinder Singhs drug drive in Punjab races against time

At his first rally after being re-appointed Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh publicly swore that if he was voted to power, he will wipe out the drug menace from the state in four weeks. After coming to power, Amarinder has shown the intent to act. A special task force (STF) has been formed and he handpicked Harpreet Sidhu, a tough-talking 1992 batch IPS officer with experience in anti-Maoist operations, as his man for war on drugs. But the question being asked is: can the Congress government meet the oft-repeated deadlinefour weeks?

Read the full story here.

North Korea preparing for sixth nuclear test, satellite images show

North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported. The 38 North analysis group described the test site as primed and ready. Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the sites Command Center, the North Korea-related analysis website said.

Read the full story here.

First female Muslim judge of US found dead in New Yorks Hudson River

A ground-breaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a US judge was found dead in New Yorks Hudson River on Wednesday, the police said. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New Yorks highest court, was found floating off Manhattans west side at about 1:45 pm, a police spokesman said. Police pulled Abdus-Salaams fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

Read the full story here.

Trade deal with India may not be possible as offers made not adequate, says Australia PM

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday said it might not be possible to reach a free trade deal with New Delhi, despite his and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis attempts to revive talks. Turnbull, who returned to Canberra on Thursday following his visits to Mumbai and New Delhi, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that, at this point in time, a free trade agreement was not viable. It may be that the conclusion will be reached that the parties are too far apart to enable a deal to be reached at this time, Turnbull said. The fact is that the Indian offers have not been adequate to date. It has got to be a deal worth doing.

Read the full story here.

Russia vetoes UN resolution to condemn Syria chemical attack, China abstains

Russia vetoed a UN resolution Wednesday that would have condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in a town in northern Syria and demanded a speedy investigation, triggering clashes between Moscow and the measures Western backers. The vote on the Security Council resolution drafted by Britain, France and the United States was 10 in favour, Russia and Bolivia against, and China, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia abstaining.

Read the full story here.

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Dilip Kumar is on Facebook and this Saira Banu video will warm your hearts

A moving video of veteran actress Saira Banu with her ailing husband, the legendary actor Dilip Kumar, is among the first updates to be shared on his official Facebook account. The account is called Official: Dilip Kumar.

See the full video here.

Modi worlds most followed leader on Instagram, US President Trump also on list

With 6.8 million followers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the worlds most followed leader on Facebooks photo-sharing app Instagram, a new study revealed on Wednesday. Modi, who was at third spot on Instagram last year, is closely followed by the US President Donald Trump with 6.3 million followers, said the study conducted by global public relations firm Burson-Marsteller.

Read the full story here.
I rely on our Constitutional Court: Aram Manukyan (video)

On April 14 Armenian National Congress-Peoples Party of Armenia (Congress-HZhK) will apply to the Constitutional Court to recognize the results of the NA elections invalid, Do you doubt objectivity of Gagik Harutyunyan? I do not doubt and have never doubted. I am sure that the CC will make a fair decision; I have grounds. By and large that person is the only elected vice president in our history- first, last and only. So I rely on our CC and expect just decision for the Republic of Armenia, at the briefing with journalists in the NA said ironically Aram Manukyan, secretary of Armenian National Congress faction. The alliance has thousands of facts on breaches. Though they dont believe that the CC will make an unbiased decision, the alliance considers itself obliged to apply to that body, We have always applied to the CC, when the results of the elections were rigged. Not only we need it, history needs it, future generations need it, future political and civil powers need it. He thinks that what happened on April 2 wasnt an election, but the victory of the authorities over their own people. It was a firework of destroying own people, it was a feast, and the authorities can boast that they destroyed the RA citizen. It was genocide against a citizens vote; they destroyed the so called electoral system; it was trade and the authorities took their share. And speaking of political election is meaningless here. Unlike all previous nationwide elections, this time no post-election process happened; even the winning opposition admitted the results of the elections, The citizen was withdrawn from the people, the backbone, which is the axis of people and citizens was removed and those voiceless citizens became a tool for the authorities for voting for them. There is no other explanation. Thats why those hungry, miserable, voiceless citizens cannot take to the streets. According to Aram Manukyan, widespread poverty especially in the regions broke the citizens, On next day in all the shops 10 000 AMD notes were given for buying bread, matsun, pasta. For the people that 10 000 AMD was salvation for several days. The condition of the stomach, poverty, buying medicine for children or not paying utility fees became so widespread that it is the best tool of the authorities. Other countries also used this method, other dictators, and destroyed their own country. As for future plans of Congress-HZhK alliance, Aram Manukyan noted that hereafter the number one political topic will be the peace conception proposed by the RA First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, towards which they will work actively.
The Hindu Yuva Vahini said on Thursday it wasnt against lovers but would continue to act against immorality on popular demand, a day after its members dragged out a couple from their Meerut home and allegedly thrashed the man.

Their actions might have triggered widespread condemnation but members of the hardline group founded by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath appeared unfazed, saying they didnt overstep their jurisdiction by intervening between two consenting adults.

Our cadre acted on popular demand from locals. The rented room in the locality from where the youth was picked up had become a den of ashleelta (vulgarity), PK Mall, state president, told HT.

The comments came a day after Vahini members barged into a room and dragged out a man and woman after finding them in a compromising position.

Police said the man was Muslim and identified as Wasim while the woman was initially identified as Muslim but later confirmed as Hindu. My inspector told me the woman was Muslim initially but later we confirmed her as Hindu, superintendent of police Alok Priyadarshi told HT.

The incident sparked outrage with many people criticising the outfit for violating the right to privacy and acting as a vigilante group. The debate has been further stoked by the government setting up anti-romeo squads across the state that have allegedly harassed couples. But Vahini members said they were merely stopping sexual harassment.

The locals sought our help. They were the ones who caught the Muslim youth with the Hindu girl and handed him over to the police. Our cadre arrived later but the media just splashed our role, Mall added.

Another Vahini leader Ravindra Pratap Singh said they werent against couples or lovers.

We are not against lovers per se. But please remember that our mandate is to act against all immoral things. So if the society needs us we would definitely act. This Meerut issue has deliberately been blown out of context, he said.

Sanjeev Kumar, the outfits Kanpur in-charge said they didnt interfere with consenting adults, in line with instructions by Adityanath, but would step in whenever anti-romeo squads were ineffective.

We wont get involved because thats the job of the police and the administration. But while we arent against love, we surely are against eve teasing.
The announcement of subsidised food scheme Annapurna Yojana by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is being welcomed by the people but not many know that he has been providing a similar facility in Gorakhpur since 2008.

Long before he took over as UP chief minister, the Gorakhpur MP started a similar scheme Annapurna Bhojan Seva in his constituency to provide food to the poor for just Rs 10.

The Annapurna thali at Gorakhnath Hospital canteen has two chapaatis, pulses, 150 gram rice and two seasonal vegetables.

Over 500 people are served food on a daily basis at the canteen.

We do not charge for the food. We take Rs 10 as money for support (sahyog rashi). The entire cost to run the canteen is borne by Gorakhnath Temple, said Akhilesh Chowdhary, who has been looking after the canteen for the last three years.

The Annapurna thali at Gorakhnath Hospital canteen has two chapaatis, pulses, 150 gram rice and two seasonal vegetables. (HT Photo)

The canteen was set up for patients and their attendants visiting the hospital but it soon became popular with the poor, especially the labour class, who do not have the resources to buy costly food.

Akhilesh said the food was cooked according to the tradition of the Nath sect and ingredients like garlic and onion were not used.

Yogi Adityanath is of the view that low cost quality food should be the right of the poor. Before moving to Lucknow, he himself used to inspect the quality of food and took stock of cleanliness on a regular basis. He felt satisfaction by offering quality food to the needy, he said.

Mithilesh Kumar, a rickshaw-puller said, Such facilities are a boon for us. Earlier, I used to pass my day on tea and samosa only and that too cost me Rs 20-30. I have been coming here for the last three years as I get good food for Rs 10 only.

MD, Gorakhnath Hospital, Dr Mayank said the food provided at the canteen was nutritious and healthy.
Aftab must be one those few people who gave up MBBS to study veterinary sciences. The decision was prompted by the death of his beloved calf that died due to want of treatment.

Aftabs love for cows also made him relinquish his lucrative job in the gulf and brought him back to the country.

I lost my calf, Ballu, in 1998. He suffered from anthrax and could not be treated in time as there was no vet in the area at that time, recollects Dr Aftab Ahmed Khan.

Khan says that the incident affected him so much that he chose to become a veterinary doctor despite selected for a MBBS course in 1999.

Furthermore, Khan says that he inherited the love for cows and other animals from his mother. My mother loved cows and other animals at our home and cared for them like her own children, he says.

It was her daily routine, after offering the fajr namaz (offered before dawn) she would feed cows and other animals. Even before having tea, she would give the animals water and fodder, says the vet.

Khan too developed the habit of feeding Ballu gur (jaggery) and chapati before leaving for school.

A native of Jodhpur, Khan says that he gave up his jobs in Oman and UAE as he was asked to do ante-mortem duties there. The duty was very distressing for me and filled me with remorse as I was certifying beef meat for human consumption, says Khan.

He finally took a call and gave up the job and returned to India despite the fact that he was getting a monthly salary equivalent to over one lakh Indian rupees in the gulf.

Now, Khan is working with Tree of Life For Animals (TOLFA), an organisation in Kharekhari village in Ajmer, extending medical treatment and care to stray animals.

Every day over 20 to 30 cows are brought here for various ailments, said Khan. Last month, two cows were operated upon to extract polythene from their stomach, he added.

From a job involving certification of animals for slaughter, Khan now spends his day treating the animals, mostly cows, brought to TOLFA clinic every day.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Rajasthan government and the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Thursday over bonus marks to in-service doctors, working in remote or difficult areas, who appeared in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test  Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2016.

On April 7 last year, a double bench of the Rajasthan high court had mandated the state government to give up to 30% bonus marks to such in-service government doctors for PG seats.

Hearing a petition challenging the high court order, a three-judge bench of the apex court called the lawyers of the state government and the MCI for a hearing on April 17. The bench said the result of NEET-PG 2016 will be subject to outcome of the special leave petition filed by the non-service doctors or freshers who appeared for the test, said Purvi Mathur, a counsel for the non-service doctors.

The state government had declared the merit list of the students for 50% of the PG seats in states medical colleges by giving 10% additional marks in NEET-PG to those candidates who served in rural areas.

After a petition was filed in the high court, a single-judge bench quashed the merit list, saying the incentive cant be given until the government defines the remote and/or difficult areas as specified in the MCI regulations, said Mathur.

A clause in an MCI regulation regarding PG seats says the government may give an incentive of 10% and up to 30% to doctors working in remote and/or difficult areas.

Hearing an appeal by the aggrieved party, the division bench set aside the single-bench order on April 7 and gave 10%, 20% and 30% incentive to the in-service doctors with one-year, two-year and three-year experience, respectively.

The division bench order was challenged by the non-service doctors in the SC.

Earlier in the state quota, there used to be 50% in-service doctors and 50% non-service doctors. Now there is not even a single non-service doctor in the top 100, said Dr Deepak Raj, a non-service doctor. My rank is 715. If the bonus to in-service doctors is done away with, I will easily be in the top 200.

Sahir Hussain, another counsel for the non-service doctors, said the division bench order has been challenged on three grounds.

One, the state should first define the term remote and/or difficult areas; second, the decision to give bonus marks cant be taken after the selection procedure has started; and third, the MCI regulations use the word may and are therefore discretionary and not mandatory.

Dr Nasreen Bharti, general secretary of the All Rajasthan In-service Doctors Association told HT that the division bench had pronounced the order using a year-old SC judgment as a precedent. The MBBS graduates are now either going to private hospitals or foreign countries. Those going to rural areas and serving the public should get the benefits, she said.
West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) became the latest agency to register a case against Yogesh Varshney, a BJP youth wing leader who unleashed a controversy on Wednesday by announcing an award of Rs 11 lakh on the head of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The complaint was lodged at the Bolpur police station of Birbhum district, the same area where a cane charge on a crowd on Hanuman Jayanti Day, the birthday of Lord Hanuman, allegedly infuriated Varshney to make the announcement.

Read: BJP supporters, cops clash in Bengal town during Hanuman Jayanti rally

The police complaint was lodged by Tapas Mondal, a local who alleged that the bounty announced on Mamata Banerjees head created high commotion and tension in the area.

BJP has been on an upswing since the Ram Navami celebrations in Bengal that was given an unprecedented push by the saffron outfits this year. (HT Photo)

The CID picked up the complaint and slapped sections 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons), 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 505(1)a (making statements with intent to cause army, navy or airforce personnel mutiny), 505(2) (statements likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) and 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.

The maximum punishment laid down in these sections is 14 years in jail.

Mamata Banerjee herself scoffed at the development. I pray to the Almighty to forgive them, for they know not what they are saying. I need not say anything more, she said.

Read: Hanuman Jayanti celebrations hits the heart of Kolkata, VHP leaders express trust in Modi-Yodi combine to construct Ram Temple

I am regularly targeted with offensive words. But, the more they say such things, the more we will progress. From Bengal to Jharkhand to Uttar Pradesh -- we will spread out towards Delhi, said Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a public rally in Domkal of Murshidabad district on Wednesday.

On Wednesday a police complaint was also filed by Aligarh district Trinamool Congress President Ramphool Upadhyaya at the local Civil Lines Police Station.

A rally in Bhawanipore of Kolkata with weapons on Ram Navami. (HT Photo)

The announcement by Varshney that was made on a video triggered such a furore across party lines that even BJP leaders quickly distanced themselves from it. Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh described it as sheer madness.

Read: Parliament condemns BJP youth leader who offered bounty on Mamata

The imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata, who is close to the Bengal chief minister, announced a counter-offer of Rs 22 lakh to anyone severing the head of Varshney.

A former legislator of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Jameer Ullah also jumped into the controversy on Wednesday evening and remarked that the tongue of the BJP youth leader should be chopped off.

Varshney later withdrew his statement and apologised. He told the media that he made this announcement in a fit of rage and after seeing video footage of a crowd of Hindus who gathered in Bengals Birbhum district to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti (the birthday of Lord Hanuman) being charged with canes.
Its history in all senses of the word. Set up as an individual initiative in a laboratory in 1892 by the father of Indian chemistry Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, and regarded the countrys first pharma company, Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd has recorded profits for 2016-17 for the first time after more than six decades.

By this turnaround, (BCPL) has created history. I do not know of any other company that posted profits after making losses for more than six decades. We are encouraged, ready to expand operations and hope to take the profit to about Rs 30 crore in another five years, said P M Chandraiah, managing director and director (finance) of the company.

According to unaudited results, the company recorded an operating profit of Rs 4 crore in 2016-2017. The bottomline in 2013-14 carried a loss of Rs 36.55, in 2013-14 Rs 17.32 crore and in 2015-16 a loss of Rs 9.13 crore.

A bust of Bengal Chemicals founder Prafulla Chandra Ray. He never married, led an austere life dedicated to teaching chemistry and nurturing the company. (Wikipedia)

BCPL sells its home utility products (phenyl, naphthalene, perfume, floor cleaner etc) to the government and in the open market. The medical products, however, are sold only to government hospitals. They are set to start commercial operations in injectibles from May. They are also tying up with e-commerce agencies for home delivery of their non-medical products.

The company has considerable real estate assets including a building in Prabhadevi, Mumbai which is conservatively valued in excess of Rs 1,000 crore.

Posting profits for the first time after a gap of more than 60 years is certainly a record of sorts, but the employees of the company -- now a central PSU -- are not sure whether to celebrate it. The news arrived at a time when the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers is planning disinvestment.

Whatever the mood among the employees, Bengal Chemicals embodies a significant piece of history. It was set up by Ray with a view to fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship among the youths of Bengal, and not to hanker after jobs from the foreign rulers.

After obtaining a DSc degree from Edinburgh University in 1887, Ray started teaching chemistry at Presidency College. By 1892, with a capital of about Rs 700, he had started Bengal Chemical Works, and presented its herbal products before the Indian Medical Congress 1893 session held in Kolkata.

By 1901, Ray transformed his initiative into Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Works Pvt Ltd, with a capital of Rs 2 lakh.

According to Rays own accounts, he would immerse himself in orders and supply-related works as soon as he returned home from the college. The migration from my college laboratory to the pharmacy laboratory was to me a recreation and a change of occupation the very idea of locally manufacturing pharmaceutical preparation, which hitherto had to be imported, acted like a tonic. He never took any salary from the company.

Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals managing director P M Chandraiah led the turnaround. He used to narrate the sacrifices of Ray to motivate the employees. (Samir Jana/HT PHOTO)

By 1908, it had made its mark in Bengals industrial sphere and John Cumming wrote in the Review of the Industrial Position and Prospects in Bengal that the enterprise shows signs of resourcefulness and business capacity, which should be an object lesson to capitalists of this province.

Spartan in lifestyle and a swadeshi at heart, Ray never lost the focus on creating employment for Indian youth. Under his stewardship, Bengal Chemicals grew fast. From having its first and second factories in Kolkatas Maniktala in 1905 and the northern suburbs of Panihati in 1920, it set up a third factory in Mumbai in 1938.

However, it started struggling following Rays death in 1942. Though Bengal Chemicals set up its fourth plant in Kanpur in 1949, the company started making losses since the early 1950s and never recovered.

Chandraiah, in his bid to make the turnaround successful, told the employees the stories of Rays dedication and hardship to inspire them to give their best in a show of homage to the iconic personality.

I kept telling everyone that this was a shame that P C Rays dream institution was doing so poorly. The majority of the workers responded positively while we had to act tough on a section of them. We blocked financial leakages, centralised the system, made biometric attendance mandatory and installed CCTV cameras to enforce discipline, and optimally used space to earn more from property rents, Chandraiah, who joined the company in 2013 and led the turnaround, said.

Disinvestment may attract buyers as the company is sitting on considerable real estate in Mumbai, Kolkata, Panihati and Kanpur. (Samir Jana/HT PHOTO)

However, the ministry representative attending the board meeting on Wednesday at its headquarters in Kolkata had no word of hope for its management and employees who managed to increase the total income from Rs 36.63 crore in 2013-2014 to Rs 111 crore in Rs 2016-17.

We got no assurance about putting the disinvestment plan on hold. We, however, tried our best in presenting a roadmap showing how we are going to significantly increase profit, a senior management staff told HT.

The Centre took over Bengal Chemicals in 1981.

The decline of the company has largely been attributed to poor management and work culture among the employees. It is purely because of the historic importance that it was not sold out. Otherwise, the strength of permanent workers has come down to 320 (there are another 100 casual workers), whereas it employed more than 2,000 at one time, a senior member of its management said.

That Rays legacy needed to be cherished for ages was stressed by Professor F. G. Donnan of the University College of Science, London, and way back in 1931, when, on the occasion of Rays 70th birth anniversary, he wrote, Though devoted to the cause of pure science, he has never been unpractical dreamer in the clouds. But he has never asked much for himself, living always a life of Spartan simplicity and frugality  Saint Francis of Indian Science. I hope that future ages will cherish his name as one band of self-denying and devoted men who received and handed on the flame that once burnt so brightly in India, the search for truth and hidden mysteries of things.

Europe continues to cherish the legacy of Ray. In 2011, on the occasion of Rays 150th birth anniversary, Royal Society of Chemistry dedicated its coveted Chemical Landmark plaque to Ray, the first non-European to be conferred the honour.

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In an order India never witnessed before, Justice C S Karnan of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and six other judges of the apex court to appear before him at his New Town residence by April 24 for violating his rights as a Dalit and humiliating him in public.

Karnan called the media to his residence on Thursday afternoon and passed the suo motu order in the interest of the nation to protect the general public..

The authority of the apex court was never earlier challenged by any judge of a high court. (HT Photo)

Karnans order called the seven SC judges national offenders and said they had shown caste prejudice against him and insulted him on March 31 by asking about his mental health. Hence all the seven judges are offenders under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Act, said the nine-page signed order. The Honble judges will appear before me at my Rosedale Residential Court and give me their views on the quantum of punishment for the violation.., said the order.

Read: Fresh trouble for Calcutta high court Justice CS Karnan

Thursdays incident added to the drama that unfolded ever since Karnan hit the headlines for accusing several judges of the Madras high court, where he earlier served, and a SC judge of corruption, nepotism and caste discrimination.

The Supreme Court barred him from joining duty. Karnan, however, repeatedly rejected the Supreme Courts summons in the contempt case and alleged in public that he was being targeted because he was a Dalit. On March 31, Karnan appeared before the SC and dared the seven-member bench to send him to jail, saying he would not personally appear on the next date.

Read: Justice Karnan hits back at SC, says targeted because hes Dalit

His comment came after the court said it would not allow him to join duty. On April 10, however, Karnan went to the Calcutta High Court but left for home after spending a few hours inside his official chamber. He could not hear any case.

In Thursdays order, Karnan directed the director, Airports Authority, New Delhi, not to permit any of the seven SC judges to travel abroad and ordered the judges to surrender their passports to the director general of Delhi Police. None of the judges, said Karnans order, were permitted to move any other court against his order but could approach the Parliament to challenge his order.

The order also directed the Registry of the Supreme Court not to clear pension benefits of the seven judges till he received the compensation of Rs 14 crore which he had mentioned in an earlier order. It also appealed to foreign countries having cordial relation with India to not issue visa to any of the seven SC judges.

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In its first major administrative reshuffle, the Yogi Aditynath government on Wednesday transferred 20 IAS officers. Eight officers, including top officials of the Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad development authorities, have been put on the waitlist.

Among the major appointments, excise commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan has been made secretary to the chief minister. He has been given additional charge of the civil aviation, estate and culture departments. Kumar will continue to hold charge as excise commissioner.

Senior IAS officer Avnish Kumar Awasthi, who was on the waitlist after returning to the state from central deputation, has replaced principal secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal. Awasthi has been given charge of religious endowment and tourism departments too. He will also be chief executive officer, UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and the UP State Highways Authority (UPSHA). Sehgal, who held charge of tourism, religious endowment, UPEIDA and UPSHA, has been put on the waitlist.

Noida chairman Rama Raman, who held additional charge as principal secretary, infrastructure and industrial development, NRI department, has been put on the waitlist.

Who gets what Senior IAS officer Avnish Kumar Awasthi replaced principal secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal Excise commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan has been made secretary to the chief minister. Meerut divisional commissioner Alok Sinha has been appointed the new chairman of Noida UP investment commissioner, New Delhi, Amit Mohan Prasad has been given additional charge as the CEO, Noida and Greater Noida. Anita C Meshram, who was on the waitlist, has been made secretary, child development and nutrition.

Meerut divisional commissioner Alok Sinha has been appointed the new chairman of Noida. He will also hold charge as principal secretary, infrastructure and industrial development, as well as NRI investment.

Noida and Greater Noida chief executive officer Deepak Agarwal and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) vice-chairman Vijay Yadav have been put on the waitlist.

UP investment commissioner, New Delhi, Amit Mohan Prasad has been given additional charge as the CEO, Noida and Greater Noida.

Principal secretary, civil aviation and estate department, Anita Singh has been put on the waitlist. She served as principal secretary to the chief minister under the SP government.

Additional principal secretary, mining and geology, Gurdeep Singh has also been put on the waitlist. Revenue Board member Raj Pratap Singh has been appointed additional chief secretary, mining and geology.

Principal secretary, child development and nutrition Dimple Verma has been put on the waitlist. Anita C Meshram, who was on the waitlist, has been made secretary, child development and nutrition. Recently, the state government ordered an inquiry into the purchase of nutrition.

Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation and Small Industries Corporation managing director Amit Ghosh has been put on the waitlist. Commissioner and director, handicraft and textile industry, Ranvir Prasad has been given additional charge of the UPSIDC and Small Industries Corporation MD.

Secretary, culture, Hari Om has been put on the waitlist. He was Gorakhpur district magistrate in 2007 when communal violence gripped the city and Yogi Adityanath, the BJP MP from the city, was arrested along with 102 people on the charge of disturbing the peace and violating prohibitory orders. Commissioner, trade tax, Mukesh Kumar Meshram has been relieved of the additional charge of secretary, technical education.

Secretary, science and technology, Amod Kumar has been made member (judicial), Revenue Board, Allahabad. Secretary, housing and urban development, Pandhari Yadav has been made member (Judicial), Revenue Board, Allahabad.

Secretary, vocational education and skill development, Bhuvanesh Kumar has been relieved of the additional charge of Lucknow divisional commissioner. He has been given additional charge of the technical education department.
Hazratganj  the heart of Lucknow  had regained its lost glory after Rs 80-crore facelift in 2011-12. Six years on, the 200-year-old promenade is once again showing signs of ageing for the want of upkeep.

Broken balustrades, overflowing garbage bins, stained walls, defunct fountains, dirty benches and vehicles parked on stinking pavements are an eyesore for Lucknowites who have always taken pride in describing the Ganjing experience to anyone living in other cities.

A broken railing in Hazratganj shows the sign of ageing due to poor upkeep. (HT Photo)

Though there is dust in the air due to the ongoing Lucknow Metro work, LMRC takes good care of the filth produced by its works, feel local shopkeepers.

It was six years back when prominent urban planner Nasser Munjee and architect Ashish Srivastava scripted Ganjs journey back in time. They painstakingly prepared designs to revitalise and restore the exquisite architectural heritage of Ganj when it completed 200 years. But today things are back to square one.

Government departments like LDA, LMC, LESA, Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam, along with Hazratganj Traders Association, and office-bearers of Lucknow Connect were involved in the planning of Ganj renovation. The state government also granted funds for the makeover.

It took hundreds of meetings, discussions and exchange of ideas for the facelift of Ganj, but what peeves me is the casual approach on part of authorities, shopkeepers in maintaining the heritage that has resulted in this mess, said Asheesh Srivastava.

THE PROBLEMS Broken balustrades, overflowing garbage bins, stained walls, defunct fountains, dirty benches and vehicles parked on stinking pavements are an eyesore for Lucknowites. Signage uniformity is lacking and some big hoardings are back. Some eateries are occupying galleries and footpaths. They serve chaat and people throw edibles on the pavement and road. Staff of these shops park their vehicles on pavements. It is due to apathy of shopkeepers, balustrades installed to stop entry of vehicles on pavements are stolen.

ALAMBAGH IS A GOOD EXAMPLE In the first step to make Alambagh the cleanest area of Lucknow, the residents of Alambagh and volunteers of Alambagh Gurudwara distributed 200 dustbins to shopkeepers in September 2014. Besides, six schools organised poster, painting and slogan competitions to highlight the importance of cleanliness on streets. The best posters, paintings and slogans were displayed at important places and shops of the area and the participants were given prizes.

Signage uniformity is lacking, encroachment & some big hoardings are back.

Traders want better facilities and easier maintenance but they are shying away from their responsibilities. Some restaurants are still occupying galleries and footpaths. They serve chaat and people throw edibles on the pavement and road. Besides, the staff of these shops park their vehicles on pavements. It is due to apathy of shopkeepers, balustrades installed to stop entry of vehicles on pavements are stolen. People also allege that it is at behest of shopkeepers the stoppers have been removed, said one of the Ganj traders.

He added, Traders are helpless if filth is spread by encroachers who are protected by politicians. During the previous government regime, a local MLA used to issue slips to the encroachers which used to act as a ticket for them. These encroachers have set up chaat corners, chowmein kiosks on Ganj road giving damn to the cleanliness of the area. When they go back home at night, they dump all their garbage in the middle of the road.

Traders cannot ask them to remove their encroachments because they have the ticket from politicians. The police were also helpless during that time. But now when the BJP government is talking about Swacch Bharat campaign, traders want the sanctity of no-vending zone restored, he added.

Vinod Punjabi, another prominent trader of the area, said, The traders are ready to contribute even to keep the area clean. We dont want Ganj to become another Nakkhas where filth rules because of encroachments.

He feels if Ganj doesnt learn its lesson soon, it will face serious threat from malls and upcoming markets that provide amenities like convenient parking, washrooms etc. Thus, to retain its numero uno position, Ganj will have to sustain itself on its heritage, character and flavour, which the modern commercial hubs lack, he emphasised.

Kishan Chand Bhambwani, president, Hazratganj Traders Association (HTA) said, The HTA will help in cleaning the place, provided we are also heard by authorities. We are ignored because of those who dont belong to Ganj, the encroachers have no pride attached to the place, they dont care about its heritage value. We want to clean the stinking spots but they have blocked them. Similarly, Ganj parking, which is one of the best, is turned into a garbage bin, its toilets are stinking. Newal Kishore Road, Shahnajaf road and Lalbagh are also full of filth.

However, after the formation of the new government traders feel that Hazratganj would retain its old glory.

We have engaged a private company for cleaning Ganj. They pick up garbage from every shop and cleans the market twice a day, said municipal commissioner Udairaj Singh.

The LMC has been conducting anti-encroachment drives in the past. Just five days back, we conducted a drive and removed all encroachers from the market but they came back. Its for the police to stop them from returning once the corporation clears the area, he said.

Read more: Waste management in a mess, Lucknow growing by heaps and bounds!

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The Allahabad high court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to study the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and prepare an action plan to provide relief to the people from heat wave conditions.

The court has asked the principal secretary concerned to remain present in the court with all the information on April 20, the next date of hearing.

The order was passed by the bench comprising chief justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Akshay Mohiley, a resident of Allahabad.

Taking a serious note of the absence of an action plan, the court asked the officials concerned to study the guidelines for preparation of action plan on prevention and management of heat waves issued by the NDMA and take necessary steps.

The petitioner said the summer season had started but the state government had taken no steps to provide relief to the people. In the absence of such measures, people could fall ill or even die due to heat wave, he said.

The state governments counsel informed the court that necessary directions had been issued to the officials and a fund of Rs 500 crore had been created for the management of heat wave in the state.

The counsel said the government would require two months time to prepare the action plan to which the court pointed out that the summer season had already begun and by that time many people would die of heat wave.

When the governments counsel placed before the court the directives issued by the officer to reduce casualties due to heat wave, the court asked her if the officials concerned had even seen the NDMA guidelines.

It seems the officers have issued routine directives in this regard. The steps taken by the authorities are genuine but not in the right direction, the court observed.
The new government in the state, led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, has asked all the private schools to submit details of the fees charged from students, payments made to teachers and other infrastructure details to education department within 15 days.

They have also been asked to submit details of all other allowances charged from students and give information regarding any commercial activity taking place on school campuses.

District inspector of schools (DIoS) Umesh Tripathi circulated this letter to school managements during a meeting of school principals and representatives of private schools held at the office of district magistrate on Wednesday.

Also present on the occasion was representatives of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who questioned the schools about the heavy fees and other allowances being charged by them.

Why ABVP men? While the meeting was called by DIoS to discuss fee structure of private schools, the presence of representatives of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in it was a surprise factor. To top it all, the ABVP men were allowed to question the school representatives about the heavy fees and other allowances being charged by them. The schools insisted that while they would not have mind the presence of parents or any other stakeholders, ABVP, with no locus on the issue, should not have been allowed to question private schools. The ABVP activists, in association with parents association, have been staging a protest on schools charging exorbitant fees, for quite some time now.

The school representatives present in the meeting suggested that schools across the state be divided in various categories depending on their infrastructure and learning levels and fee structures be decided according to that.

Read more: UP govt planning ordinance to regulate pvt school fees

Presenting their point, the school representatives said, The government had issued an order in 1990 that the private schools pay salaries equivalent to government scales. In order to ensure a good infrastructure and allow salary hikes annually for teachers, the schools have no other option but to charge from students.

Quoting the government expenditure per child in government schools, Rishi Khanna, representative from City Montessori School said, The government spends around Rs 2300 per child in a month. This is exclusive of the mid day meal. The government has tax payers money, but the private schools have to charge it from students.

Representative from Raj Kumar Academy against whom FIR was lodged for allowing sale of books raised their issue during the meeting.

Read more: Kids caught in the middle of fee hike tussle in Noida
FRIDAY, APRIL 14

1) IPL Special: Bottomless beer: Enjoy this IPL season with unlimited beer and food such as popcorn, kebab platters, and pizzas. And if you are a Mumbai Indians supporter, expect free shots for every win.

Where: Bar Bar, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla (W); Call: 3312 6020

Price: Rs 1,000 onward; When: 12pm onward

Enjoy this IPL season with unlimited beer

2) Easter special: A Decadent Spread: Enjoy a traditional festive meal including Holiday on a Plate (pork chops served with sweet potato mash and grilled pak choi) and Rack of Lamb (pea and potato roast, herbed crumb and berry jus). Also enjoy complimentary Easter Eggs, made with whipped cream and lemon curd.

Where: It Happened in New York, Bandra (E); Call: 2644 616

Price: Rs 2,500 for two; When: 9am to 12.30am

Enjoy a traditional festive meal this Easter

3) Travel: Leopard Safari: Head to Jawai Bandh Community Reserve in Rajasthan to spot leopards in their natural habitat. The three-day tour includes camping overnight in tents close to the reserve, Rajasthani cuisine, and a wildlife photography session.

Where: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Meeting point. Head to Jawai Bandh via the Aravali Express)

Call: 86920 86927 ; Price: Rs 16,300 per person; When: 6am

Head to Jawai Bandh Community Reserve in Rajasthan to spot leopards

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

4) Workshop: The Headstand: Learn how to do a handstand from scratch or enhance your present skill level. The workshop will be hosted by fitness trainer and consultant Nupur Shikhare.

Where: Studio Mojo, Ram Nagar, Malad (W); Call: 96199 64635

Price: Rs 2,300 onward; When: 6pm

Learn how to do a handstand from scratch

5) IPL Special: Eat, Drink and Celebrate Victory: Catch the match as you dig into chicken biryani, tacos, pizzas, and club sandwiches, with a side of craft beers.

Where: Geoffreys, Marine Plaza, Churchgate; Call: 2285 1212

Price: Rs 700 onward; When: 5pm to 1.30am

Eat, Drink and Celebrate Victory

6) Theatre: Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha: Two lovers meet 35 years after their separation. On a wintery Delhi evening, they remember happier times, clear misunderstandings, and imagine a life together.

Where: Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi; Call: 2436 5990

Price: Rs 500 onward; When: 7.30pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

7) Easter special: Egg Hunt: Indulge in desserts such as black forest pastry, chocolate eclair, pound cakes, bubble tea sundae and sizzling brownie with ice cream. And, to beat the heat, choose from summer special beverages like kala khatta, mango lassi, and cucumber and pomegranate juice.

Where: Tea Trails, Kingston Building, Vile Parle (E); Call: 90223 37766

Price: Rs 600 for two; When: 9.30am to 11.30pm

Participate in an egg hunt this Sunday

8) Screening: Hedda Gabler: Catch the screening of a Tony award-winning drama, starring Ruth Wilson (known for her roles in British TV series Luther and The Affair). The story follows a newly-married couple swamped with marital problems right after their honeymoon.

Where: Godrej Dance Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point; Call: 6622 3737

Price: Rs 500 onward; When: 2pm and 6pm

9) Workshop: Understanding Monet: Know all about the technique French artist Claude Monet followed to create one of his most iconic paintings  Water Lilies. Artist Snehal Patil will walk the audience through the process of painting their versions of the original.

Where: The Sassy Spoon, Hill Road, Bandra (W); Call: 96199 64635

Price: Rs 2,300 onward; When: 6pm

Know all about the technique French artist Claude Monet followed to create Water Lilies

10) Easter special: Brunch and Brew: Dig into a British breakfast including festive specials such as Scotch egg, fishermans pie and baked pasta. End your meal with Easter eggs, sticky toffee pudding or the banoffee tart. And to wash it all down, choose from craft beers, sangria pitchers and in-house signature cocktails.

Where: British Brewing Company, Palladium, Lower Parel; Call: 6565 6121

Price: Rs 1,200 onward; When: 12pm onward

Dig into a British breakfast including festive specials
1. Pet dog dies saving woman from intruder in Mumbai

A stray dog that had been adopted by a woman repaid her kindness by laying down its life saving her from a knife-wielding attacker in Mumbais Antop Hill area recently. The woman, Sumiti Devendra, escaped unhurt but Lucky the dog bled to death within minutes after it took the knife thrust meant for the woman.

2. Narayan Rane meets Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis in Ahmedabad as rumours of move to BJP grow

In a significant move, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Sources said the meeting was held to discuss an expansion of the state cabinet. Interestingly, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane was also in Ahmedabad that day, leading to fresh speculation that he would join the BJP.

3. Strike a pose, take a selfie at CST today as BMC unveils 79-lakh viewing gallery

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray are all set to unveil the Rs79-lakh viewing gallery in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) station on Thursday at 4 pm.

4. Crane operator runs over 11-year-old in Powai, killing him

A 11-year-old boy was killed after a crane ran over him in Powai on Tuesday morning. The victim, Kumar Shlok Simpi, was rushed to Seven Hills Hospital in Andheri, but died during treatment that evening.

5. New digital system to make registering vehicles, issuing driving licences faster in Andheri

The citys largest regional transport office  the Andheri RTO  is in the process of adopting a new web-based system to register vehicles and issue driving licences. Once the system is in place, it will allow people to pay RTO fees online, enabling the office to function smoothly and with greater speed, besides eliminating the need for touts and agents.
Demolish within two months the 110 buildings and structures that violate height norms and create obstacles around the approach area of the airport, the Bombay high court told the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Wednesday.

A bench of justice VM Kanade and justice CV Bhadang said the authorities must deal with such violators ruthlessly considering the obstacles posed a major security threat and obstructed the flight path. The bench said there was no point in feeling bad for the developers of these structures or the residents staying in these structures and that the authorities could not sit and wait for an accident to take place.

These 110 structures were identified as obstacles in a survey conducted by the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) and the AAI between the years 2010 and 2011.

While the DGCA issued notices to the owners of such buildings or structures, it is yet to communicate its final order on the demolition/deduction of height of such structures.

The bench, thus, directed the DGCA to communicate its final order and complete all procedure related to the demolition/deduction of height of such obstacles within the next two months.

The bench also directed the DGCA to issue within the next three months, final orders on demolition/deduction of height for another 317 structures that were identified as obstacles in a survey between the years 2015 and 2016.

These obstacles include several residential buildings, some trees, unauthorised antennas, poles etc. erected on the terrace of several residential buildings etc.

The bench was informed on Wednesday that while the DGCA had issued notices for these buildings, it was yet to take any further action in this regard.

At this, the court said the DGCA must seek a response from the owners and developers of such buildings, and that the corporation or the owners of the buildings themselves must carry out the necessary demolition or deduction action.

The bench was hearing a PIL seeking action against all such structures around the airport that are in violation of the height norms.

The HC is likely to take up the matter for further hearing in April 27 this year.
With just two months before the monsoon, the standing committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fears another desilting scam. The committee put the appointment of a contractor for the desilting of Mithi river on hold after noticing that no major changes had been made to the proposal.

The corporators are also worried that the delay in approving the proposed Rs3.47-crore project may mean it wont be completed before the monsoon, which could cause flooding.

Two years ago, an investigation into civic officials and contractors after the city flooded on June 19, 2015, revealed malpractices and shoddy desilting of storm water drains.

Members of the standing committee on Wednesday asked the administration if any new measures had been incorporated to prevent a scam this time. They also pointed out that a dumping site is yet to be chosen and CCTVs is yet to be installed. The corporators also alleged that a contractor blacklisted by MMRDA has been getting the Mithi river desilting contract over the years.

Also, questions raised by the corporators who visited the sites where the silt is to be dumped have not been answered yet, they said.

Manoj Kotak, group leader of BJP, said, There is a possibility of another scam as no changes have been made to the desilting proposal to keep a window open for cheating. This may also cause floods in parts of the city. We had demanded an explanation for why private land of villages in Mahape was being used for dumping as it is not good for the environment.

While the Sena demanded that the proposal be put on hold, Congress and BJP demanded its rejection. With the help of MNS corporator Dilip Landes vote, Sena successfully put the proposal on hold. Congress corporator Asif Zakaria, said, The proposal should be rejected as the BMC has not answered any of our queries and has been repeatedly doing the same mistakes.

Shiv Sena group leader Yashwant Jadhav said, The administration should have replied by now on how they plan to dump the silt from Mithi River and the security measures they will take to prevent a scam. Until they give us an answer, we will not approve the proposal.

READ MORE

Mumbais Mithi is more sewer than river now

95% work on Mithi river complete, 659.83cr spent: BMC to Bombay HC

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Illegal sand mining is no longer prevalent only in Thane and Raigad districts. Suburban Mumbai reported 72 cases of sand mining between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 with first-information-reports (FIRs) filed in some cases but no arrests, revealed data from the suburban collectors office.

The district collector collected fines worth Rs3.4 crore in criminal cases and from royalty submitted for mining sand illegally.

Sand mining was reported from Versova, Madh, Malad-Marve, Gorai areas while seizures were carried out by revenue officers from Kurla, Borivli and Andheri.

Three types of violations have been observed over the past year: illegal excavation using machines, illegal transportation and illegal storage. While cases of excavation are very few, our officers have come across numerous instances where sand is being brought into the city without permissions, said Deependra Singh Kushwa, Mumbai suburban collector. He added, Vehicles transporting sand have been seized and, drivers and owners fined. Also, sand was found being illegal stored at various open plots within the suburbs, which were also seized.

Versova residents said that they had spotted sand being excavated near the jetty on five occasions this year. At around 6am on most weekends, we have spotted people at the jetty pulling out sand from boats using suction pipes. They come to the jetty from the creek areas and have been doing so for years, said Versova resident Afroz Shah. As soon as they spot us cleaning the beach, they disperse immediately.

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), western bench, had banned sand mining in coastal regions of many states, including Maharashtra, saying it was harming the environment. In 2016, the ban was lifted in coastal districts, after the state government promised the NGT that it would ensure that mining does not affect the environment. However, various court orders including Bombay high court, Supreme Court and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notifications make it clear that sand mining using machines is prohibited across the country.

Officials from the Konkan divisional commissioners office said that sand was being brought to Mumbai using boats that go undetected. While cases of excavation are very few, Mumbai is one of the hubs to store sand in the state, said Bhausaheb Dangade, Konkan deputy commissioner (revenue). The lack of manpower from the Maharashtra Maritime Board or vigilance from the local police is the reason why such violations are increasing.

Meanwhile, environmental activists said that the state government need pay more attention to stop illegal sand mining. It is frightening to know that we are unable to safeguard beaches within city limits. Since theres hardly any manpower, some areas are inaccessible and locals are involved in this. We need to have a better system and use advanced technology to track the violators, said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation.

Sand mining is a major environmental concern which threatens over 70% of the worlds beaches, according to the United Nations. It leads to land erosion, damage to coastal vegetation and destroys habitation and farmland.

Also read: 8 lakh kg of sand illegally mined along Thane creek, claim local fishermen

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The risk of an earthquake striking is greater in Mumbais eastern localities such as Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Powai, Vikhroli, Vidyavihar and Mulund. This is because a fault line or fracture in the earths crust, which ups the chances of an earthquake, runs from Panvel, 18 km to the citys east, all the way north to Koparkhairne and Bhiwandi.

These areas were identified after a study by a team from the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) showed that the fault line in Panvel is still active. As part of the study, the IIT-B team of two professors and two students measured the potential impact of an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale on the city.

They found that Mumbais east, which is closer to Panvel, is more likely to be affected than the west and the island city.

As the Panvel fault is still very prominent, its effect on the city cannot be ruled out. For an effective disaster management plan for the city, detailed information is key, said Ravi Sinha, professor of civil engineering at IIT-B, who was part of the study.

The study also found that in 1618, close to 20,000 people lost their lives after an earthquake struck Mumbai, which at the time had a population of just 2 lakh.

Sinha said the longer the gap between two earthquakes, the higher will be the impact.

The study spanning two years was commissioned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which spent Rs23 lakh on the first-of-its-kind initiative so as to put in place a disaster management plan for these areas.

The BMC has divided the city into 7,700 grids of 250 sqm each. These grids have been overlaid on a Mumbai map that has details of hospitals, open plots, schools and shelters in every locality.

This will help the disaster management department during rescue operations (see box).

We are working to modernise the entire disaster response system so that we can improve our response time and the quality of response when an emergency hits, civic chief Ajoy Mehta told HT.

The department is also creating a detailed response plan in which it will list the number of beds in every hospital, the facilities available at police stations, fire stations and government offices, among others, to ensure minimum damage and loss of life during an earthquake.

READ MORE

BMC corporators to be trained in disaster management

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A stray dog that had been adopted by a woman repaid her kindness by laying down its life saving her from a knife-wielding attacker in Mumbais Antop Hill area recently. The woman, Sumiti Devendra, escaped unhurt but Lucky the dog bled to death within minutes after it took the knife thrust meant for the woman.

Sumiti, 26, says she just cant come to terms with losing Lucky, a neighbourhood stray she had adopted to ward off loneliness after losing her mother last year.

After my mothers sudden death, I was lonely and sad. Then Lucky came into my life. Kids playing in the area had dropped him at my doorstep. As he was alone and walked into my house, I adopted him, said Sumiti who lives with her brother.

On the night of April 9, Sumiti said, she heard a sudden commotion and stepped out of her house to investigate. She saw a neighbour, Venkatesh Devendra, arguing with his girlfriend Jyoti and her sister Rosy.

Sumiti Devendra had brought Lucky home last year after she lost her mother. (Pratik Salunke/HT photo)

Their fight soon escalated and Venkatesh went to his home nearby and came back with a knife, Sumiti said.

A terrified Rosy ran away and Sumiti, too, rushed indoors. Venkatesh still barged into her house. Sumiti pushed him out but he came at her with his knife.

My dog barked and charged at him. Venkatesh stabbed him, she said.

Venkatesh managed to escape, leaving a profusely bleeding Lucky behind.

Police were informed and Venkatesh arrested but that has done little to ease Sumitis sense of loss. She got Lucky 13 months ago when it was a pup.

I was battling loneliness after my mothers death when Lucky came into our lives... I named him Lucky as he was indeed very lucky for us. I have lost a family member... He was everything to me, she said.

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Police are in the lookout for a Gujarat-based businessman, who they claim raped a 40-year-old housewife in a room of a 5-star hotel at Bandra.

The police said the businessman befriended the woman three years ago on a social networking site, following which the two exchanged numbers and would talk on the phone on a regular basis.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, said, The accused sent her a friend request three years ago. The two then usually chatted on Whatsapp and over the phone.

The police said the man arrived in the city on Friday and asked the woman to meet him. He then took her to his room in a 5-star hotel on the pretext of having a coffee, the police said.

Earlier in the day, the 40-year-old woman was in Alibaug with her family to spend the weekend in their farmhouse. After the accused called her, the woman left for Mumbai and had planned to go back to Alibaug again after meeting him, said the officer.

She met the accused at Gateway of India. He then took a cab for Bandra on the pretext of taking her for a coffee to a posh 5-star hotel, where his room was booked, said the officer.

The police said after going to his room, the accused initially offered her water. The woman claims she began to feel dizzy after drinking the water and was raped in a semi-conscious state, the police said.

After she regained consciousness, she went back to Alibaug and narrated the incident to her husband.

The womans husband called and confronted the businessman. The accused, who was suppose to stay for one more night, left the hotel on the same day and his phone has been switched off since then, said the officer.

The woman then went to the police station along with her husband and registered a rape case. The police have booked him under relevant sections of rape and spiking her drink.

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In a significant move, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Sources said the meeting was held to discuss an expansion of the state cabinet. Interestingly, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane was also in Ahmedabad that day, leading to fresh speculation that he would join the BJP.

According to television reports, Fadnavis and Rane met Shah at his residence that evening. They travelled there together in a Scorpio SUV. The meeting lasted for almost an hour, after which Fadnavis left for the airport.

Sources close to the chief minister denied that such a meeting took place. Ranes son, MLA Nitesh Rane, said there was no political agenda to his fathers Ahmedabad visit.

Refuting speculation, Nitesh said he and his father were in Ahmedabad to buy equipment for their new medical college to be set up in Sindhudurg. We have nothing to hide. The Ahmedabad visit was not political. It was mere a coincidence that Fadnavis was in the city, Nitesh Rane told HT.

Rane is reportedly unhappy in the Congress and has reached out to the BJP, said sources. The ruling ally has also shown a willingness to take him on-board. The BJP needs a strong leader to counter the Shiv Sena in the Konkan, which has been the partys bastion for three decades.

Ranes presence in Ahmedabad has raised eyebrows and speculations are rife that the former chief minister is now on his way to the BJP. A former chief minister from the Konkan, Rane is influential in the region. He started as a shakha pramukh (local office head) in the Shiv Sena and climbed the ladder. The late Shiv chief, Bal Thackeray, made him chief minister in 1999 during the Sena-BJP government tenure. However, following Uddhav Thackerays emergence, Rane defected to the Congress in 2005. He was a minister in successive Congress governments till 2014. However, he was unhappy as he had not been offered the post of chief minister.

After Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray attended the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meet at New Delhi on Monday and met Amit Shah separately, it is believed the state cabinet expansion that was pending for some time is now expected to move ahead. Sources said both leaders discussed several issues, one of which was the cabinet expansion.

Read

Narayan Rane sending feelers to Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray not keen to take him back

Shift in loyalties? Congress Narayan Rane to meet BJP leaders in Delhi

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Experts have said that the states decision to allocate 1.4% of its health budget for implemention of schemes under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) is insufficient.

Of the proposed Rs-8,195-crore health budget for 2017-2018, Rs141 crore has been allocated to NMHP. Last year too, a similar amount was allocated to the programme.

The funds under the NMHP are used at the four regional mental health hospitals  Thane, Pune, Ratnagiri and Nagpur. They are also used to implement the District Mental Health Programme, which falls under the NMHP.

Dr Sadhana Tayade, assistant director at the Directorate of Health Services, said that national programmes for non-communicable diseases, which include mental disorders, have not matured the way programmes for communicable diseases such as malaria and TB have.

The District Mental Health Programme aims at providing mental health services at the primary level. However, in Maharashtra, of the 35 districts, only 16 have the services.

We are struggling to strengthen the human resources at districts so that the programme can be implemanted, she said.

Doctors said that mental health disorders are chronic and may require institutionalisation- a facility which is provided by the state at the four regional hospitals.

Dr Soumitra Pathare, consultant psychiatrist and director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, said that the number of patients at regional mental hospitals  around 5,000  is minuscule when we compare it to the number of people who require the services. At the district level, we have to shift from facilities led by psychiatrists and train workers to identify common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety that need more support and medications,  he said.

A doctor from KEM Hospital, Parel, said that if the state was to implement the new mental healthcare bill, it will have to increase the allocation to at least 4% of the total health budget.

READ MORE

Govts health budget needs to be increased: BN Gangadhar, director, NIMHANS Bangalore

World Health Day: Dismiss depression at your own peril
Speculations were rife on Thursday over Congress leader and former chief minister Narayan Rane joining the BJP after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met BJP chief Amit Shah in Ahmedabad late on Wednesday. There were reports that Rane was also present during the meeting that lasted for about an hour, but the former denied that such a meeting took place. Significantly, Rane was also in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and Marathi television news channels showed footage of Fadnavis and Rane travelling together in a vehicle. The channels said the footage was shot outside Shahs residence in Ahmedabad. Rane, however, said the footage aired by television channels could be doctored or old, adding that he had not left his hotel during his Ahmedabad visit.

He said he was in Ahmedabad for work in connection with a medical college he is starting in Sindhudurg district of Konkan, but did not meet the BJP chief or the CM. He, however, refused to say anything when asked if he would quit the Congress and join the BJP or any other party. I got an offer from the BJP some time ago, which I neither rejected nor accepted, he said.

Sources in the BJP said Rane has been talking with BJP leaders about joining the party along with his sons, former Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Nilesh and MLA Nitesh. Rane is a member of the Legislative Council and has two MLAs with him  son Nitesh and close aide Kalidas Kolambkar. Sources said Rane would prefer a ministerial berth in the BJP government in Maharashtra, but Fadnavis is not keen on this. He is also wary of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into money laundering allegations, said sources. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had, on November 12, 2016, written to Satyabrata Kumar, joint director of ED, seeking an investigation into companies run by Rane and his family.

Rane, a former Shiv Sena chief minister, who crossed over to the Congress in 2005 following a tiff with the Sena leadership, is not happy in the Congress now. For the past few weeks, he and his son Nilesh have been publicly criticising the state Congress leadership. Sources said Rane has been in touch with the BJP leadership. The BJP is keen to get him on-board because it will give the party the strength it needs to counter the Shiv Sena in the Konkan, where the BJP has no standing at present. Konkan has been the Senas bastion for the past three decades and Rane is influential in the region.

Rane would give us extra muscle to deal with the Shiv Sena in Konkan. We have not been able to dominate the coastal region and with Rane coming on board, we can win two assembly seats and have chances to win Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat, which was held by his son earlier and now by the Sena. Further, he can taken on Uddhav in the same language the Sena uses against our leaders, said a senior BJP leader who did not want to be named. However, the problem is, we will end up antagonising the Sena as Rane is Uddhav Thackerays enemy number one. Should we do that when Uddhav is mending fences with us is a call the party leadership will take,added the leader.

Rane on Thursday said he was unhappy with the Congress, even after his meeting with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Our meeting lasted for half-an-hour, but none of my complaints were resolved, he said. He, however, refused to say if he would stay with the party or join the BJP or another party. Sources in the Congress said Rane wanted to be made state unit president in the run-up to the 2019 elections, which the party leadership is not keen on.

Ranes elder son and former party MP Nilesh Rane  who quit as Congresss state general secretary last month  had launched a campaign for the removal of state Congress president Ashok Chavan following the partys debacle in the recent polls.

A former chief minister from the Konkan, Rane started as a shakha pramukh (local office head) in the Sena and climbed up the ladder. The late Sena chief Bal Thackeray made him chief minister in 1999 during the Sena-BJP government tenure. However, following Uddhav Thackerays emergence, Rane defected to the Congress in 2005 with a bunch of MLAs. He was made a minister in successive Congress governments till 2014. However, he was unhappy because he had not been offered the post of chief minister. He lost the 2014 assembly elections while contesting from Kudal in Konkan.

The senior Congress leader is currently under the scanner of the ED following allegations by BJP MP Somaiya. When asked about Ranes plans to join the BJP, Somaiya said, I dont know anything.

There was no reaction from the Congress on Thursday. Congress state president Ashok Chavan chose not to comment on the issue.

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Commuters who wait for hours at the Anand Nagar toll plaza in Mulund, near the northern suburbs of Mumbai, accused the authorities of not acknowledging the yellow line rule, which waives toll if there is a traffic congestion beyond the yellow line at toll collection points.

Residents called it a poll gimmick and took to Twitter to express their angst through videos and comments.

A yellow line is drawn by the authorities at a short distance from the toll posts. Last year, during the Assembly session, PWD minister Eknath Shinde had said that vehicles that wait in a queue beyond the line during traffic jams would be exempted from paying toll.

The Anand Nagar toll plaza, which serves as an entry point to Mumbai is choc-o-block during peak hours. Vehicles need to wait in queues that stretch over a kilometre to pay the toll in the morning and evening. Commuters called the ordeal a nightmare that they need to face everyday.

Rohan Nair, a resident of Hiranandani, said, Last year, we had undertaken a campaign to stop toll collection, after Shinde promised that it will not be collected from vehicles that go beyond the yellow line. Soon after the announcement, toll plazas were shut down for a month because of demonetisation. In January, during elections, motorists were exempted from paying toll when the traffic was heavy. However, immediately after elections, the toll authority claimed that they did not receive any directive or circular from the government.

Nair, along with a few others, tweeted about their ordeal at the plaza. He has also uploaded videos of toll authorities claiming that the minister had not given them any such directives.

The Electronic Toll Control system or the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system, which gives way to pass holders, is no longer functioning. We have been crossing the naka for years but there has been no improvement. It takes around 45 minutes to travel from Kopri bridge to the toll plaza, Nair added.

Some commuters said that the long wait did not only eat into their time, but also fuel and money, thus increasing the pollution level.

Sandesh Sonawane, a resident of Masunda Lake, said, The road is full of potholes. If you are collecting toll, at least make sure that the roads are better maintained. I waste more than an hour commuting on this stretch every day. The time could be put to better use.

An authority from the toll plaza said, We have heard about the yellow line rule, however, there is still no clarity about it. The minister had only announced it and we did not receive any circular.

Eknath Shinde said that he regularly visits the posts to ensure that the yellow line rule is being followed. Shinde, If the authorities are not following the rule, I will conduct a meeting with them and enforce it at the earliest.

Toll plazas in Thane

The Anand Nagar toll plaza is situated towards the east side of the city along the Eastern Express Highway. With increase the number of vehicles, the toll plaza sees lakhs commute from this toll post. Shiv Sena-BJP had presented a toll-free Thane as their main agenda during the Assembly elections, however, all the entry points to Thane are still blocked by toll plazas. All these tolls are operated by Mumbai Entry Point (MEP). Thane residents are mostly hit by the Mumbai and Kharegaon toll. The toll to Anand Nagar toll plaza started in 2003 and was supposed to end in 2017.

The protest

Over two lakh residents had campaigned against the toll plazas before the civic polls. They had protested by blinking their headlights at the Anand Nagar post. They were promised that the toll nakas would be closed or the yellow line rule will be applicable but this did not happen.

On Twitter

@deepak77: @mieknathshinde plead advice If the yellow line concept at tollplaza is removed.

@sajinkrjnair: Benefit and Betterment of the citizens and tax payers. So much money is available. Why cant we have smooth and clean roads?

@rohannair: Thanekars are suffering ddaily just commuting 2 work. Toll Plaza creats 1 Km traffic jam @mieknathshinde

The problems:

Long queue of vehicles at the post

Non-functioning RFIDs inconvenience commuters with passes

Fuel and time is wasted.

Increase in pollution because of the constant honking and emission of vehicular pollutants

Bad quality of road near toll naka

READ MORE

Maharashtra government gives report on toll plaza chaos to Centre

Dont pay if stuck in toll naka jam

--

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After the new government under Yogi Adityanath gave the go-ahead for a CAG audit of Ghaziabad development authority (GDA), the officials have been asked to furnish project files from 2005 till 2017. The period of audit implies that the projects carried out under the regimes of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) will be scrutinised.

During the SP regime, the CAG teams were denied permission in June 2016 to audit GDA. The team had started work but it was suspended as the state government denied permission.

The CAG team has sought a list of files, from 2005 to 2017, from authority officials. A specific percentage of files will be checked, based on the cost of the project. It is expected that all the files of projects over Rs10 crore will be checked in totality, an official said.

Files from all sections of GDA were sought. The audit team was supposed to check projects from 2005 to 2015 but it will now check instances from 2005 to 2017, as permission was denied earlier, where amounts have been spent on roads, land acquisition, parks, compounding, underpasses, flyovers, map clearances and purchase of vehicles, the official said.

GDAs financial controller, TR Yadav, refused to comment on the audit period and the nature of files sought.

The state was under SP rule, headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav, from August 2003 to May 2007, while the BSP chief Mayawati took over from May 2007 to March 2012. Mulayams son, Akhilesh, took over as UP chief minister after BSP suffered a major drubbing in the 2012 assembly elections.

The CAG audit had also been a bone of contention between the UP governor and the state government. The former had written several letters to the state government and also to the Central government but the SP government did not budge from its stance.

After Yogi Adityanath took over, the officials consented for a CAG audit of GDA and cited a 1985 government order, which allowed for an audit to be conducted. The GDA officials have also provided a working office to the CAG team.

In his election speech in Ghaziabad on February 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also targeted GDA and said that there was some Zameeno ka ghotala (land scams). He had promised a CAG audit of GDA as well as other development authorities in the state. His promise was kept by the new CM who recently ordered a CAG audit of all development authorities, including GDA.

In the latest move, the state government also shunted out GDA vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Yadav and placed him on the wait list.

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In a major breakthrough in solving thefts and burglaries in highrise buildings, the police on Thursday arrested a member of a high-profile gang of thieves who travel by flights to major cities and carry out thefts in highrises.

The accused was nabbed by officials of the Indirapuram police station, following a similar theft at a highrise in Sector 6 of Vasundhara in January.

The images of the accused and his accomplices were captured in a CCTV camera and Mohammed Yusuf, 40, was traced by the police through local informers, who identified him through the CCTV footage. Senior officials said that the gang was earlier headed by one Nadeem, who had roped in Yusuf, a tailor from nearby Hapur district.

Nadeem was his Guru and is presently in jail in connection with a theft in Vijaywada (in Andhra Pradesh) where he was caught red-handed by locals in 2013. Yusuf was roped in by Nadeem into the gang as he looked mature and respectable due to his white beard. He also looked like an educated person, said Anil Kumar Yadav, circle officer (Indirapuram).

According to officials, the gang had conducted nearly 30 thefts in highrises across Mumbai, Patna, Vijaywada, and major cities in Bihar and UP. Officials said that Yusuf was handling the gang since Nadeem went to jail. So far, Ghaziabad police had identified seven incidents of thefts, in which the group has a hand, in Delhi-NCR.

The gang would go in groups of two members and wore formal or casual clothes such as jeans and T-shirts with a laptop bag on their shoulder to enter highrises, as they found that guards were lax in checking at gates. If they were denied entry, they would tell they were looking for different addresses and move away. Once they entered the highrise, they would look for locked flats, use equipment to break locks and move in to go about their business, Yadav said.

Officials said that the gang members made it a point not to use mobile phones during thefts, in order to avoid tracking by police surveillance methods. Yusuf was arrested from Hindon in his Swift Dzire car, in which he had also hidden some valuables that are reported to be stolen.

The police recovered gold and silver jewellery, and Rs20,000 from his possession. Officials said that they are also on the lookout for two other members of the gang, whom they do not want to name due to pending investigation.

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Assuming office on Thursday, Noida and Greater Noida authoritys new chief executive officer, Amit Mohan Prasad, directed the staff to stop corrupt practices and ensure the public is not harassed.

After taking charge in the authoritys sector 6 office, the chief executive officer (CEO) inspected all departments, including commercial, planning, institutional, law, property management, engineering and financial among others. He met all department heads of group housing, commercial, residential and institutional wings.

He directed all department officials to ensure the public faced no problems in getting their work done at the authoritys offices. He said Noida is notorious for big corruption cases and had become synonymous with graft. We all should work to erase that image of Noida, said a senior official, who attended the meeting and requested anonymity.

The CEO directed all officials to affix a notice outside each office, telling visitors about the citizen charter.

He has directed all officials to inform each applicant about how much time it takes to get a particular work done. He asked us to deliver each service in a time-bound manner. For example, services such as transfer of memorandum, mortgage permission and building map sanction, etc, should be executed in a time-bound manner so that an application does not have to visit the authority office again and again, said an official.

Prasad said all unnecessary practices that cause harassment to applicants should be done away with.

At present, if a resident needs to construct their house in a residential sector, they have to seek approvals from the residents welfare association that charges a certain amount for the nod.

The CEO has asked us to remove that practice because it results in harassment of the public, said official.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had made it clear that corruption practices should be stopped in all government offices, including Noida or Greater Noida, said officials.

After joining office, the CEO said he will share his vision for the two cities next week.

I am learning about the functioning of each department. I am talking to department heads to understand their issues in detail. Since I am new, I will have to understand things in detail. Once I am ready, I will share my vision with public next week, Prasad told HT.

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Shunned by family and friends, Noidas alleged killer property dealer Rajesh Jolly is hooked to a mechanical ventilator at a private hospital on Thursday  battling for life, unconscious and alone.

The 50-year-old Jolly is accused of shooting dead business partner Ajay Khuranas wife and son, and grievously wounding a domestic help with a sharp knife on Tuesday night in a manic attack over a suspected money feud.

He was captured at Khuranas home with a bleeding head; from a deep self-inflicted gash. He was admitted to Kailash Hospital in Noidas Sector 27, where doctors said no one has come to visit the patient.

The medical team and investigators are waiting for him to come around.

The murder motive will be known after Jolly regains consciousness, said Amarnath Yadav, the station house officer of Sector 39 police station.

Khuranas relatives alleged that Jolly shifted from his native Agra to New Delhi about two decades ago because of property disputes in his hometown.

The hospital administration, which is bearing his medical expenses, contacted a family member but he didnt turn up. Doctors have no way to know his medical history without a relatives help.

The attack survivors

Nobody from his family visited him since his admission on Tuesday night. His condition continues to be critical and we are trying our best to save him, hospital spokesperson VB Joshi said.

Social stigma, shame and the danger of being linked to a murderer are attributed as reasons for the family avoiding Jolly, a senior police officer explained.

Jolly went to Khuranas home with two pistols, about 40 bullets, a long rope, and a sharp surgical knife. At the doorstep, he stabbed domestic help Rajinder in the stomach, leaving multiple perforations in the small intestine.

Doctors did a three-hour surgery on Wednesday and he is said to be responding to treatment.

Rajinder has gained consciousness and is under observation in the ICU, said Anil Gurnani, the hospitals intensive care unit director.

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The family members of 50-year-old Rajesh Jolly, who allegedly shot dead his business partners wife and son in Noida on Tuesday night, have locked their flat in Ashiana apartments in Delhis Mayur Vihar Phase-1.

The folded newspapers of two consecutive days  one stuck in the door handle and the other, on the floor  outside the main gate of the flat also indicated the absence of the family from the house.

Jollys family comprises his 43-year-old wife, 14-year-old son and 78-year-old mother, who have moved in with their relatives in Patparganj area of Delhi after they were brought to Sector 39 police station for questioning following the incident.

The police team that visited 901B of Ashiana apartments brought the family to Noida on the pretext of visiting a hospital. Jollys wife was told that her husband had suffered severe injuries in an accident and she had to visit the hospital for documentation.

However, his wife told the police that Jolly had not taken any of his cars  Hyundai Sonata Gold or Hyundai i10. She showed them the keys of his cars, but the police team managed to convince her to accompany them.

Jolly had told his wife that he was going out for work and would return soon. However, they did not know anything about the incident. We questioned them for one hour after which their relatives came to pick them up from the police station, a senior police officer said.

While the family was on its way to Noida, the brother of Jollys wife was also contacted. The police took him into confidence and revealed the sequence of events. He also claimed to have no idea of the motive behind the murder or any rivalry between the two families.

However, Amarnath Yadav, station house officer of Sector 39 said, We have been telling them to visit the hospital and we are also ready to provide them security.

Meanwhile, the flat of Jolly situated on the 9th floor of Ashiana apartments was flooded by people on Thursday after news reports of the incident. However, his neighbours did not know that he was involved in the crime.

They said that Jolly had shifted to Ashiana apartments a year ago and was always cheerful.

In the last one year, we never had any bad experience with him. While entering or leaving the society, he would greet people humbly. He was very polite to kids too, said a neighbour.

Earlier, Jolly was living in Pocket-1 area of Mayur Vihar and sold the house. He had rented the premises in Ashiana apartments.

The attack survivors

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Sixty-year-old Ajay Khurana, whose wife and son were shot dead on Tuesday night, suspects that Rajesh Jolly is not alone behind the incident. He suspects the involvement of unknown people and fears that his life is still under threat.

We have worked together for 18 years and Jolly has never shown any resentment. It was hard to believe my eyes when I saw him holding two pistols inside the house. I am sure there are other people involved in this conspiracy, said Khurana.

He said that on Tuesday, Jolly met him at his office  AS Properties in Mayur Vihar  around 8.15 pm and there was no sign of bitterness. Jolly had discussed the decline in sale and purchase of properties with him and left the office in a cheerful mood, Khurana said.

Jolly did not have a criminal mind. He never had arguments with people and would always fear violence. However, the attack clearly shows that there were other people backing him. As long as the matter is not investigated clearly, I will be attacked again, Khurana said.

Khurana suffered 52 stitches in the attack on Tuesday night. He remained under observation in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Kailash Hospital in Sector 27. He was discharged on Wednesday.

After the death of his wife, Anju, and son, Ankush, Khurana has shifted to his old residence in Mayur Vihar Phase-1, which he owns. His family members said it is impossible for them to gather the courage to live in Noida, where Khuranas wife and son were brutally gunned down.

Our neighbours had seen Jolly roaming around the house since 9.30pm. We dont know what was going on in his mind. I think he was waiting for Ankush to enter the house so that he could attack the entire family in one go, said Amit Khurana.

According to Amit, on Tuesdays, the family preferred to dine early and everyone was done eating by 9:15pm. However, Ankush had gone to the gym and his dinner had been kept on the dining table.

Jolly knew that we sit for dinner together. He did not know that Ankush was late that day. This is the reason he entered late and was seen making rounds of the area by neighbours, Amit said.

Talking about Jollys good relationship with the Khurana family, Amit said that Ankush could not use his judgement properly. Had Ankush seen him with the pistol, he would have taken it as a prank. Such was our relationship. I am sure there is a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the attack, Amit said.

The attack survivors

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Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) property, allotted to individuals on lease, can now be converted into freehold assets on payment of one-time fee.

The state cabinet approved a proposal in this regard at its meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, principal secretary, cabinet secretariat, Brijesh Mehrotra, said flats, plots and houses offered to individuals on lease for 90-99 years (also known as perennial lease) could be registered as freehold property on payment of 10% of their value as per the prevalent minimum value register (MVR).

The decision to convert the housing board property as freehold was taken during Jitan Ram Manjhis stint as chief minister. Accordingly, section 115 of the BSHB Act, 1982 was suitably amended to facilitate the process.

Sources in the urban development department said though the decision was taken in January 2015, it could not be implemented as it lacked procedural formalities, such as the amount to be levied as one-time fee from owners for registration of the leased property in their names.

The BSHB is a statutory authority mandated with the develpoment of various housing schemes and related infrastructional facilities in the state. It has 2958.85 acres of acquired land in seven divisions and 10 district-level towns. Through its various schemes, the BSHB has constructed 11,637 housing units for various income classes. It has also undertaken land development of 7015 plots.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit out at the Punjab chief minister for terming Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser, saying it reflected Capt Amarinder Singhs vindictiveness towards Punjabis living in the North American country.

The CM had on Wednesday alleged that Sajjan like his father is a Khalistani sympathiser and he would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India later this month.

It is unfortunate. Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian defence minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, who have already proved their mettle in foreign land, not only in the business sector but in the political arena by getting elected as MP to become ministers, Punjab AAP spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said.

The outburst against Sajjan is Amarinder being vindictive towards NRIs living in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit to the country, he alleged.

The AAP leader said as the partys chief whip he would organise a welcome for the Canadian defence minister if Amarinder continued to stay adamant.
Backed by leader of Opposition in the Punjab assembly HS Phoolka, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief whip Sukhpal Singh Khaira spilled the beans by raising a voice of dissent against the partys Delhi-based central leadership at the Baisakhi congregation here on Thursday.

In absence of the central leaders, including Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, Khaira raised pitch for introspection, saying that Delhi leaders flawed in tickets distribution, besides wrongly imposing the Delhi model in the Punjab assembly elections.

We tried to convince them that Delhi model of contesting polls will not work in Punjab, but to no avail. They had the notion that people in Punjab will vote for the party symbol rallying behind one face as happened in Delhi. But people in Punjab vote for a candidate, said Khaira.

It was the partys duty to give tickets after consulting volunteers. The day we compromised on this, it created doubts in voters mind. Had we remained firm on our principals, we could have won 100 seats, he said.

Inner party democracy is needed so the cadres and the leaders can have their say, Khaira said, getting applause from the thin crowd that gathered at the partys congregation.

Besides, not declaring a CM candidate also went against the party, he said, adding we lost a golden chance to form a government in Punjab.

Asking partys Delhi leadership to give Punjab leaders a free hand in the state, AAPs chief whip said: Its easy to find fault with electronic voting machines, but we should look into the mistakes we committed during campaigning.

HS Phoolka making a point during his speech at the AAP rally in Talwandi Sabo. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

Speaking on the occasion, Phoolka said he had expressed reservation on ticket distribution. The result was that my photo was removed from party banners and I was not inducted in the different party committees, he said.

Reacting to Khairas statement, partys state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich said: You (Khaira) talked about inner party democracy but there is also inner party discipline. We should raise these issues at the central platform and I am ready to accompany you to meet partys national convener Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP leaders at the party rally on Baisakhi at Talwandi Sabo. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

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The main accused in the school extortion racket, Rattan Lubana, has become active yet again in the city after he allegedly thrashed a Class 12 student in Sector 33 here.

Shiran Mahajan,18, a resident of Sector 32 has alleged that he was hit on the head with a brick by Lubana when he had gone to government model senior secondary school, Sector 33, for an exam. He added that the accused even attempted to take him along in his car.

Mahajan, in his complaint has said that Lubana was accompanied by five other students. He added that two of them studied with him.

Mahajan further alleged in his complaint that he was attacked as he had an argument with one the accused a few days back.

He said Lubana and his classmate stopped him at the school gate, saying they wanted to talk to him. But without provocation, they hit me with bricks and tried to force me to sit in the car, saying they will get my treatment done, he said.

Mahajan added that one of his friends later took him to the private hospital in Sector 33 while the accused fled the spot.

On his complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 147, 148, 341, 325, 506 of the Indian Penal Code against Rattan Lubana in police station Sector 34, Chandigarh. The police said the families of the accused have been informed and they are likely to join investigations soon as all five of them are minor and they are appearing for their Class 12 boards examination.

Raids are on to arrest Lubana.
Chandigarh

Accused in a number of cases ranging from extortion to firing, Rattan Lubana, is not new to controversy. In the last three years, he has been moving in and out of the jail.

25-year-old Lubana, who is also ABVP chairman at DAV College, Sector 10, and son of a BJP leader has been accused of running protection money racket in the city. He was arrested in January 2015 when more than 150 students of the four elite schools in the city had reportedly paid the accused  Rattan Lubana, Amitoz Singh and Rajveer Singh  for providing them protection and for acting against other rich brats.

The accused are facing a trial under Section 392 (robbery with extortion) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66-A of the Information Technology Act, which prohibits sending offensive messages through a communication device.

Lubana and his accomplices targeted teenagers from affluent families, befriending them with the promise of dominance and protection, police have said. Initially, they asked for Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 at a time, and then for liquor or joyrides in their swanky cars.

They had even asked students to bear legal expenses if the gang faced cases. However, what was initially a mutual deal, later turned into extortion as the youth were allegedly threatening their clients.

During the trial, the accused threatened a school student in the court on April 20, 2015, following which a case was registered against them.

In August 2015, Lubana, who was out on bail, was booked again for thrashing and threatening a BA-III student near DAV College, Sector 10. He was arrested on complaint of Mantek, who had alleged that Lubana, Bharat Walia, Aditya Partap and Peyush Rao thrashed and threatened him near DAV College.

In May 2014, Rattan Lubana was involved in a firing incident outside Taj Hotel in Sector 17. He and two others had opened fire at a group of bouncers, injuring some, at a parking lot near the five-star hotel.

Rahul Sharma, a bouncer and Pardeep, a resident of Ludhiana, were injured in the incident. The bouncers were shot at after the accused were allegedly thrown out of a nightclub in the city.

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Right before the students protesting against fee hike were to charge on police personnel for the second time at Panjab University on Tuesday, Damanpreet Singh, campus president of the Students for Society (SFS), a left-wing outfit, exhorted the agitators to resort to protest whichever way they liked.

And what followed was a massive stone-pelting by students in which as many as 22 police personnel were injured. The violence on the PU campus has once again turned the spotlight on the left-wing student outfit (SFS).

As many as 61 students have been arrested so far, with most of them having affiliation with SFS. All campus-based student parties, except SFS, have condemned stone-pelting. Damanpreet, who is absconding since, has maintained that fee hike is a form of structural violence.

STARTED AS STUDENT DISCUSSION GROUP

SFS started as a student discussion group in 2010 and is now a strong mobilising force of force at PU. In 2012, the outfit protested against hike in mess charges with its members sitting on a hunger strike for 12 days. In 2013, it organised a four-day hunger strike over fee hike. In 2014 again, it protested for over 20 days against fee hike. The same year, it contested elections by giving chance to a woman research scholar from the English department Amandeep Kaur for the post of president, but she came fourth securing just 1,334 votes.

In 2015, the party raised the issue of alleged sexual harassment of girls on the campus and made a case for a vehicle-free campus. It staged protest for over 12 days and in 2016 it again protested over fee hike for five days. They also protested against rustications, fines, hostel evictions and off-limits imposed on its students by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration over the Kanhaiya Kumar episode. The repeated raising of student-related issues increased the outfits mass base. The party took high moral ground when it refused to contest elections owing to a taunt by a party that they were protesting over the sexual harassment issue just to win elections.

The party would put a large banner with Bhagat Singhs picture on it in the background during its street plays. Since the campus did not have any party ideologically affiliated to the left, SFS filled that space. The outfit has a good base in the departments of chemical engineering, evening studies and humanities.

SEEMA AZAD EPISODE

It won a battle against the PU authorities and BJPs student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), when it brought activist Seema Azad to the campus despite refusal by administration in March this year. Azad, who came disguised as a Sikh woman, addressed the students on the rise of fascism. The ABVP had maintained that it would oppose her with swords and sticks.

ITS PROMINENT FACES

Damanpreet Singh, campus president of SFS, has always been at the forefront of the partys activities. He has passed out of the chemical engineering department and is presently a student of the English department.

Harman Deep, another prominent SFS leader who is press secretary too, is a law student. He is considered to be privy to all decisions of the party.

A research scholar of history, Amritpal Singh plays tambourine during protests and street plays the party organises. He fought the elections for presidents post of the Panjab University campus students council and finished as close third. It was only the second election for the party on the campus.

Aman, a girl student from the French department, has emerged as another face of SFS. On April 6, when she led a girls protest at Government College for Girls, Sector 11, she accused policemen of manhandling her. She suffered injuries.

ON TUESDAY VIOLENCE

Soon after violence, talking to HT, Damanpreet said, Tuesdays development will strengthen our movement. The issues of fee hike and police brutality will go together. We are not fighting for ourselves only but also for those who would enrol at the varsity in the coming years.

We are being denied to pursue our studies further. Our aspirations and dreams are being snatched, he said.

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Known otherwise for swanky cars and open jeeps, the Panjab University campus is in the news for a different reason this time. The week-long protests over the hike in tuition fee for the 2017-18 session by the varsity has turned PU into what is now being called the new student protest site. The situation on the campus turned ugly on Tuesday with students clashing with police and also damaging public property after cops used tear gas and water cannon against them.

At a time when Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in the national capital are known to be hubs of protest marches, many have raised their eyebrows over the emergence of Chandigarhs public collegiate university as a protest site. Earlier, some stray incidents of violence were limited to annual campus elections but the menace has spread its tentacles, it seems.

Some prominent alumni of the university expressed dismay over the development.

Alumni speak

As someone who has been associated with PU since 1956, the journey has been meaningful. Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday) on the campus was disturbing. Let us join together, do our best. Its (PUs) glorious journey must continue.

--Balram Gupta, director (academics), Chandigarh Judicial Academy, in his Facebook post

It (violence on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday) was unfortunate. Since I was in Delhi, I need to check the details about the incident before I can make a comment on the issue.

--Kirron Kher, Chandigarh MP and BJP leader

STUDENTS TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA Some students of the university on Wednesday started a campaign on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #SavePU. Students, especially girls, actively tagged the Twitter handles of the Prime Minister, Union minister of human resources development and journalists seeking help and urging the authorities to save the future of PU students. They questioned as why their protest was being considered anti-national.

The financial crisis issue PU faces has reached the high court and the apex court. If all goes well, it will be resolved by month-end. Some forces from JNU are responsible for spreading violence in other campuses also. We too sat on strikes during our student days but we never got this violent.

--Satya Pal Jain, additional solicitor general of India

It is an unprecedented situation. We held strikes in 1971 but the issue was amicably resolved after the then V-C immediately addressed the problem. There is a decline in government expenditure on education and it reflects our priorities.

-- Pawan Kumar Bansal, former Union minister

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Former Punjab deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan the respect he deserves.

Reacting strongly to the statement made by Capt Amarinder Singh that he wont meet Sajjan as he was a Khalistani sympathiser, the SAD president said, Capt Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his decision and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi-origin representatives in the Canadian parliament.

Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner.

Sukhbir said taking such stands were counterproductive and would not augur well for Punjab and come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada.

One should learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was denied visa by the United States but that action did not make him bitter to that county. In fact, Modi has gone out of the way to improve relations between India and the US. Punjabis worldwide also expect Amarinder to behave in a similar fashion and show political statesmanship and use his office to improve relations with Canada and not ruin them. If the Union government is giving due respect to Sajjan, so should Capt Amarinder and the Punjab government, he said.

We had always accorded due respect to visiting dignitaries and even invited elected Punjabi-origin representatives from around the world for the NRI conclaves, he said.
A local court on Wednesday directed UT Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to probe allegations of torture and harassment by students booked for Tuesdays violence in Panjab University.

The court of judicial magistrate first class (JMIC) Jagmeet Singh also told the SSP to submit the report on the next date of hearing on April 26.

The police had produced 53 students  accused of rioting, attempt to commit culpable homicide, causing damage to public property and defacement  before the court. Sending the accused to judicial custody until the next hearing, the court also directed the SSP to conduct a fresh medical examination of accused. The students alleged they were beaten up even after arrest An accused Sandeep Kumar claimed they were beaten up with belts.

SFS TRIES TO REGROUP AGAIN Police on Wednesday arrested eight students, including 3 girls. The was after the morning, where the police detained more than dozen students of SFS who had gathered on campus.

ALLEGATIONS MADE BEFORE COURT AGAINST POLICE Manhandling; torture in custody; women students alleged touching of private parts, beaten up with sticks and belts; not provided basic necessities and sanitary napkins.

STUDENTS SEEK BAIL The accused also applied for regular bail and the matter comes up for hearing on Saturday in the court of additional district and session judge JS Sidhu. The bail application was filed through advocates AS Chahal, RS Bassi and Terminder Singh, who stated that free legal aid was being provided to the students.

Three women accused stated in open court they were harassed by the cops. One of them even deposed that she was touched on her private parts and beaten with sticks on her back.

The girls alleged that sanitary napkins were denied to them in custody, and that they were abused and manhandled during interrogation. Another student, Buta Singh, alleged that some cops made fun of his caste as he was from a Scheduled Caste and made derogatory comments.

Other accused alleged that police officials used abusive language during interrogation. Some said they were made to sing all night in custody. The court also ordered fresh medical examination of 13 accused  who claimed that their medical hadnt been properly done  from GMSH-16. A medical board has been formed comprising two doctors  from the PGIMER and the GMCH has been formed.

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Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singhs statement against Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan terming him a Khalistani sympathiser has triggered a diplomatic row with the Canadian high commission on Thursday terming it disappointing and inaccurate.

Reacting to the remarks, the Canadian high commission here said Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and look forward to further advancing it. We regret that the CM of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canadas minister of defence. The CM is welcome to visit Canada, the high commission added.

Harjit Sajjan (Reuters)

However, Amarinder rejected Canadas defence and said he stood by his principled stand of not associating himself with any Khalistani sympathiser. Amarinder reiterated that the Canadian defence minister and several other top leaders in Canada were sympathising with those indulging in anti-India activities, notwithstanding Canadas claims to the contrary, said a press note issued by his office.

He named other Canadian political leaders, including Navdeep Bains, Amarjit Sohi, Sukh Dhaliwal, Darshan Kang, Raj Grewal, Harinder Malhi, Roby Sahota, Jagmeet Singh and Randeep Sari, as well known for their leanings towards the Khalistani movement.

Amarinder had on Wednesday alleged that Sajjan, like his father, is a Khalistani sympathiser and he would not meet him during his scheduled visit to India from April 17 as he (Sajjan) and four other Sikh ministers in the Justin Trudeau cabinet scuttled his visit to Canada before Punjab assembly polls.

The CM said while Sajjan was welcome to attend conferences and meets, and even to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, he would personally not entertain the Canadian minister. The state government would provide full security to the minister and also ensure that he gets due treatment as per protocol, said Amarinder.

Amarinder also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dal Khalsa for their criticism of his refusal to meet Sajjan.

In Canadian federal elections of 2015, Jutin Trudeau and his liberal party faced criticism from a section of Punjabi diaspora in Vancouver over World Sikh organisation (WSO), said to be a radical organisation, supporting Punjabi-Sikh candidates in the polls, including Sajjan.
With chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh giving a miss to what could have been his first major public address since forming the government, the Congress Baisakhi event here turned out to be a lacklustre affair. The chief minister cancelled the visit due to swelling in ankle, it is learnt.

Besides about a dozen party legislators and ex-MLAs on the dais, finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Amarinders confidant ex-minister Lal Singh were the main speakers and they presided over the event.

Manpreet said on the state government will come up with a viable solution to the farmer's debt issue in the budget session. "The state is meticulously working on this issue and after three months, the farmers of Punjab will get a big bonanza," he said. He said Punjab will take a stride bigger than that of Uttar Pradesh in respect of farmer's debt waiver.

Manpreet reiterated that the Congress government would fulfill its poll promise of a reformed Lokpal by introducing Lokpal bill in the next assembly session. He later told reporters that the new draft legislation would include the chief minister under the gambit of the Lokpal and the Lokpal would be selected with the consent of the leader of opposition only.

"Captain only brought the Congress to power in Punjab even as there was a Modi wave, which is evident from Uttar Pradesh results. He is keen on bringing investment to the state," Lal Singh said in his address. Almost all speakers sang paeans to Capt Amarinder from the dias.

On the SYL issue, Manpreet said that Punjab's case had not been represented appropriately in the apex court.

Prominent leaders from the 'Malwa' region who did show up included ex-MLA Sunil Jakhar, MLAs Rana Sodhi, Parminder Pinky, Amarinder Raja Warring and Kushaldeep Dhillon and ex-MLA Karan Brar.

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Opening lid from the alleged corrupt practices and anomalies committed during 10-year tenure of former vice-chancellor (V-C) Jaspal Singh, secretary higher education Anurag Verma, in the capacity of the officiating V-C of Punjabi University, has ordered 16 inquiries in different corruption complaints of several departments.

All these inquiries will be time-bound as Verma has directed multiple panels of senior teachers to look into the corruption complaints and file repot within a week.

This came a day after the new registrar Inderjit Singh took charge. From illegal appointments to recruitments of favourites on a plum post and bungling of funds in the examination branch, the officiating V-C has taken all alleged malpractices under scanner.

Vermas office was flooded with corruption complaints soon after the erstwhile V-C Jaspal Singh resigned.

I have been receiving many complaints, inquiries have been ordered regarding each one of these, said Verma.

The teams have been asked to submit a report within seven days so that further actions can be initiated, added the officiating V-C.

Also read | Noted economist Inderjit Singh takes over as registrar of Punjabi University

Also read | Is Panjab University turning into a new student protest hub?

INQUIRY ON ILLEGAL APPOINTMENT TOP PRIORITY

Newly-appointed registrar Inderjeet Singh has been asked to submit a report on the illegal recruitment of 65 assistant professors from 2009 to 2016. In a complaint, it was alleged that these assistant professors were appointed by violating the University Grants Commissions (UGC) norms related to NET and PhD.

It was alleged that the wards and relatives of the then ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leaders were recruited on regular-basis, ignoring the eligible candidates.

Even the state government had issued a notification on July 30, 2014, exempting these professors from NET eligibility.

The complaint raised questions over the involvement of a senior official of Punjab government in issuing of these orders. In another complaint, it was alleged that the university followed a flawed procedure in recruiting assistant professors to constituent colleges.

The university management was also accused of carrying out illegal appointments, giving priority to waiting list candidates in teaching and non-teaching departments.

The university registrar is to submit a report on this.

As per the yet another complaint, an assistant professor was recruited on the basis of fake backward class certificate, while another got the job in reserved category without schedule caste certificate.

BUNGLING OF FUNDS IN EXAMINATION BRANCH

In a complaint filed by senior professor Pushinder Singh Gill, it was alleged that 25 lakh answer sheets were purchased at higher prices, every year.

But the issue was raised and answer sheets were purchased through e-tendering, the prices come lower to 2.11 per answer sheet.

It was estimated that around 60-70 lakh was allegedly bungled every year. In another case, pother stationery material was purchased at 40% lower rates through e-tendering. As per the complaint, the university was duped of 1 crore per year in such purchase.

Two senior professors, Rajesh Sharma of English department and Varinder Kaushik of law department, will submit report in this case.

In another complaint, the examination branch purchased some software worth 8 lakh, when the university programmers are capable of developing the same software without any cost.

FLAWED SCHOLARSHIPS

Inquiry has been ordered, in which it was alleged that the former V-C gave scholarships of 10,000 per month, for 2-3 years, to his favourite 50 people belonging to Delhi and other stations. The registrar has been asked to submit report.

In another complaint, the university authorities were alleged of allotting houses to teaching and non-teaching staff without following set procedure.

In many cases, teaching and non-teaching staff, who are not eligible, were allotted for type-A residences. Renovation was done in these houses, ignoring the poor fiscal condition of the university.

INQUIRY OVER PHD ENTRANCE

Report has been sought on a complaint in which it was alleged that candidates doubted involvement of teachers in holding entrance test for PhD courses. It was alleged that incompetent children of teaching staff were made to clear entrance, using unfair means.

Officiating V-C Anurag Verma said senior professor Balwinder Singh was looking after admission cell for past several years and the matter will be taken into consideration.

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A 17-year-old girl in the UK has been charged with terrorism offences for being in contact with an Islamic State jihadist and attempting to join the terror group, Scotland Yard said on Thursday.

The unnamed teenager is accused of communicating with a person in the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), possessing a flight booking to Istanbul with the intention to travel to Syria, and self-radicalising, the Metropolitan Police said.

She was charged within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court with the intention of committing acts of terrorism engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect the intention, the Met statement said.

The offences allegedly occurred between January 1 last year and March 31 this year.

She was arrested in central London and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The girl has been remanded in custody until April 28, when she will appear at the Old Bailey.

It follows an investigation by officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command.

A 20-year-old woman was also arrested as part of the investigation, but was later released with no further action.

Both were arrested at the same address on August 21 last year.
China will ban elephant ivory sales by the end of 2017, but the huge demand for it has found a source of supply frozen for thousands of years  from mammoths, the extinct ancestors of elephants.

On Wednesday, customs officials from a northeastern province in China announced the rare seizure of mammoth tusks  a tonne of it  smuggled in from Russia, state media reported.

The value of the seized tusks, meticulously hidden in secret compartments of a truck, wasnt revealed but the seizure did give an idea about the insatiable demand for ivory in China.

The seizure was made at a port city called Luobei in Chinas Heilongjiang province, which shares a border with Russia.

Luobei customs found 107 mammoth tusks, along with 37 woolly rhino horn parts and 1.11 tonnes of jade in secret compartments in a truck attempting to enter China through Luobei port in mid-February, Xinhua, Chinas official news agency said in a report on Wednesday.

The driver had claimed that the truck was carrying soybeans.

State media quoted an official as saying that the longest piece of mammoth ivory seized was 1.6 metres or around 5 feet in length.

Trade in mammoth ivory is legal but barely regulated.

Chinese officials, however, said neither the truck driver nor the owner had declared what the vehicle was carrying.

The owner, surnamed Han, had bought the truck and built secret compartments for smuggling. He was accused of smuggling goods under the countrys criminal law, the Xinhua report said.

The haul of mammoth ivory is said to have been sourced from Siberia in Russia, where global warming has revealed the remains of the extinct animal to tusk hunters from under layers of ice.

Nothing, however, has fuelled the mammoth tusk trade more than the rise of China, which has an ivory-carving tradition going back thousands of years. Nearly 90% of all mammoth tusks hauled out of Siberiaestimated at more than 60 tons a year, though the actual figure may be higherend up in China, the National Geographic said in a report.

China is the worlds largest market for ivory. Under current rules, five tonnes of ivory can be sold legally annually. But the demand, according to experts, could be for about 100 tonnes a year.

Fuelled by that demand and unchecked by regulations, mammoth tusks too could soon be extinct.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that NATO is not obsolete, as he had declared on the campaign trail last year, but said NATO members still need to pay their fair share for the European security umbrella.

At a news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump thanked NATO members for their support of his decision last Thursday to launch 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians and said it was time to end Syrias civil war.

I said it was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete, Trump said, adding that the Transatlantic alliance was adapting to the broader mission against Islamic militants that he had urged.

Stoltenberg said he had an excellent and productive meeting in the Oval Office with Trump.
US President Donald Trump told allies it was time to end Syrias brutal civil war Wednesday, as he branded the countrys leader Bashar al-Assad a butcher and questioned Russias role in a suspected chemical attack.

Trump, standing alongside NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, called on allies to work together to resolve the disaster in Syria and thanked them for condemning Assads suspected sarin attack in Khan Sheikhun.

Vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life, Trump told reporters.

Thats a butcher. Thats a butcher. So I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing, and it was very, very successfully done, he added.

It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists and allow refugees to return home.

Trumps comments came shortly after Russia vetoed a UN security council resolution that would have compelled Damascus to cooperate with an investigation of the attack.

Trump said it was certainly possible that Russia President Vladimir Putin knew about the attack, blamed on Assad, indicating Russian officials were present at the source airbase, which Trump later bombed.

I would like to think that they didnt know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So well find out, he said.

Trump also praised China for abstaining during the UN vote. He met President Xi Jinping last week in Florida and spoke again to the Chinese leader on Tuesday.

I think its wonderful that they abstained, he said. Were honoured by the vote. Thats the vote that should have taken place.
Leading Karachi gangster and former head of the banned People's Aman Committee Uzair Baloch told a magistrate in Pakistan last year that he had been in contact with Kulbhushan Jadhav and the Iranian spy agency, a media report said on Wednesday.

According to The News, a national English daily, Baloch said in a confessional statement that he had contact with former Indian naval officer Jadhav. He also said he knew an Iranian spy, who arranged a meeting for Baloch with the Iranian secret agency. Baloch confessed to having shared information on the Pakistani armed forces in Karachi with the Iranian spy.

Tensions rose this week between India and Pakistan after Islamabad said on Monday a military court had sentenced Jadhav to death 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.

Baloch, who has close ties to Benazir Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party, was taken into military custody on Tuesday on charges of espionage. He was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers from the outskirts of Karachi last year. The Lyari gang leader has confessed his involvement in killings of rival group members, including of workers of Pakistans Muttahida Qaumi Movement as well as police officials.
The body of a man, who witnesses said was tossed from a plane, landed on a hospital roof in Mexicos northern Sinaloa state on Wednesday, according to a public health service official in the region, which is home to notorious drug traffickers.

The body landed on the roof of an IMSS hospital in the town of Eldorado, around 7:30 am local time, said the official, who was not authorised to give his name.

Witnesses standing outside the health centre reported a plane flying low over the hospital and a person thrown out, the health official said.

Later on Wednesday, Sinaloas deputy attorney general Jesus Martin Robles said a body, found on the hospital roof, showed injuries that appeared to be related to a strong impact. He did not confirm that it had been thrown from a plane.

The public health service official said two more bodies were reported to have been found in the town, about 60 kilometres south of Culiacan, the state capital. Local media reported that those two bodies were thrown from the same plane as the body that landed on the hospital.

The official did not know if the man was alive when he was thrown from the plane. Officials from the state prosecutors office were at the scene, he said.

This is an agricultural area and planes are regularly used for fumigation, the official said, adding that the IMSS hospital was operating normally.

Local media reported that suspected gang members had picked up the two other corpses.

Sinaloa is the home state of Joaquin Chapo Guzman, who ran the Sinaloa drug cartel until his arrest in 2016. He was extradited to the United States earlier this year.

Ever since Chapos arrest, security in the state has deteriorated, as the Sinaloa cartel struggles to adapt to infighting and fresh threats from rival groups.
Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said the Donald Trump administration was a good opportunity for his countrys government to engage with and address the ongoing dissonance between the two erstwhile allies.

Trump starts with a clean slate, Musharraf said at a Washington think-tank. We need to engage with the new government and project our point of view and our interests in a better way.

Musharraf was speaking at the launch of a new study on how Pakistan and the US could fix a relationship weighed down by mounting distrust and bitterness in recent years, titled Pakistan Today: a case for US-Pakistan relations.

The launch, followed by day-long discussions kicked off by Musharrafs keynote address, comes at a time of heightened interest in Pakistan in light of the new administrations review of ties that are said to be in an advanced stage.

President Trump said Wednesday he was dispatching national security adviser HR McMaster to Afghanistan find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and Nato allies. McMaster is scheduled to then go on to visit India and Pakistan.

There have a spate of discussions and think-tank events  thats how Washington works itself up on issues or interest  on Pakistan lately, either by itself or in relation to Afghanistan.

Suddenly Pakistan is flavour of the month in this town, said a South Asia expert who did not wish to be identified. I think much of it has to do with the fact that the Trump administration is in the advanced stages of its Af-Pak policy review.

Think tanks are trying to shape the thinking of the administration by coming out with a variety of products.

The new administration is also under pressure from those who want the US to get tough with Pakistan, arguing that it was the only option available to force Islamabad to give up its use of, and support for, terrorism as a policy tool.

Former Pakistan ambassador Husain Haqqani and South Asia expert Lisa Curtis, who has since joined Trumps national security team, argued in a paper earlier this year that the new administration should keep open the option of declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism.

Musharrafs presence at the launch at The Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University was a part of the effort launched by Pakistan and its supporters here to intervene before, as an expert said, it was too late.

The new president had presented Pakistan with an opportunity, Musharraf argued. He still needs to understand what really (are) the complexities of Pakistan-India relations  the complexities of Afghanistan, Taliban, al-Qaeda etc.

In that, he added, we can certainly try to manage or try to project our point of view in a better way to him because he would be more open to a new understanding of the dynamics. I see it very positively.
Nepal and China will hold their first ever joint military exercise on April 16-25 focused on counter-terrorism and distaster response, Nepal Army announced on Thursday.

In a recent visit to Nepal, Chinese defence minister Chang Wanquan had announced 300 million Yuan military aid to Nepal Army for its UN peacekeepers, mainly logistics.

In a bid to give continuity of joint military training and exercises with neighbouring countries and friendly nations; and in the context of terrorism that is posing serious threat to the global peace and its possible challenges to the global security, we are holding a first ever joint military exercise with China under the banner of Sagarmatha Friendhsip-2017, said a statement from the army.

Sagarmatha is the Nepali name of Mt Everest that borders Nepal and China.

The exercise has raised eyebrows in New Delhi, with the strategic circle in the Indian capital questioning its intent.

It is well-known that under the ambit of Nepals foreign and security policies, Nepal Army has been regularly conducting bilateral and multilateral joint military exercise, training and seminars with various nations in order to boost the capability of the army personals and has been sharing experiences , skills and professional knowledge.

In this context, common interests like disaster management and others, Nepal Army have been conducting joint military exercises, seminars and training with various nations that Nepal has diplomatic ties, the army statement said.

Such kind of multilateral and bilateral training slots and exercises will provide opportunities to both armies to exchange their professional skills, will boost their capability and further strength the diplomatic and military ties, the army said.

Nepal has been holding such joint military exercise with India, US and recently held a multilateral joint military exercise with various nations involved in UN peace keeping operations.
Pakistani officials in Nepal said they have not been able to make any headway on Habib Zahir, a former colonel in the Pakistani Army who went missing in the country last week.

Media reports suggested that his disappearance was some kind of operation carried out by Indian agencies in the backdrop of the death sentence given by a Pakistani court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy official for alleged espionage, but no substantive clue to this extent has been established.

Authorities are trying their best to locate the missing Pakistani national but no progress has been made as of Thursday, spokesperson of Nepal Police SSP Sarbendra Khanal told HT.

A Pakistani embassy official in Kathmandu said on condition of anonymity that no significant development has been reported about his whereabouts.

Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu formally approached Nepal government on Sunday on the disappearance of Zahir somewhere in Bhairawaha, near Lumbini, where he was last seen on April 6.

CCTV footage showed one person receiving Zahir at Bhairawaha airport upon his arrival, but are clueless as to where he was taken, security sources told HT.

The footage showed him coming out with hand baggage and backpack and leaving outside the airport, where he was received by the person, who some reports identified as Javed Ansari.

They were seen speaking with some taxi drivers but investigators could not zero in on which cab they hired.

Some sources say the firm he had applied for a job for UN in Lumbini, its phone number, website and twitter handle were suspended immediately after he went missing. Others say he went missing from somewhere near the Nepal- India border.

There are also claims that the website he applied in and the fake phone contact made to him by one Mark Thompson were being operated from India.

According to initial investigations, Thompson, a recruiter from Start Solutions, had contacted him through email in March and offered him the positions of vice-president and zonal director (security) with salary ranging from $3,500 to $8,000.

On behalf of Thompson, he was received by one Javed Ansari, whose nationality is not ascertained.

Nepali authorities are trying to dig out exactly from where the website and phone calls originated, and to trace out other evidence in the case. The former colonel had been working in Faisalabad since his retirement from the army in 2014.
North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as primed and ready.

Commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the sites Command Center, the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test - this would be its sixth - to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time.

US President Donald Trumps administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options on the table, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week.

We are sending an armada. Very powerful, Trump had said. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier.

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

An F/A-18C Hornet launching from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the South China Sea. (NYT Photo)

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy.

The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said Thursday, as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyangs nuclear programme.

President Donald Trump has sent a naval armada to the Korean peninsula in a show of force, accompanied by a warning that Washington is ready to take on North Korea alone if necessary.

The North has since said it is ready for war with the US, while speculation is mounting that it might conduct a nuclear or missile test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The reclusive state has long been 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 atomic tests, two of them last year.

On Thursday, the Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim watched from an observation post as special forces dropped from light transport planes like hail and mercilessly blew up enemy targets.

With a broad smile on his face, Kim praised his troops for their precision, saying the bullets seemed to have their own eyes, KCNA said, without identifying when the operation was held.

The Rodong Sinmun -- the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers Party -- carried several photos from the contest including one of Kim watching the troops parachuting down from jets into an open field.

Another showed him grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked by cheering soldiers.

The contest proved once again that our Korean Peoples Army... will show a real taste of gun shot and real taste of war to the reckless invaders, KCNA said.

China -- the Norths sole major ally -- has urged the US president to take a peaceful approach to resolving the North Korean tensions.

Sabre-rattling between Washington and Pyonyang has unnerved China, which is losing patience with the North but whose priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep.

Seoul and Washington are currently conducting joint military drills, an annual exercise which is seen by the North as a practice for war.
No compromise will be made on the death sentence awarded to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav over alleged espionage, the Pakistani military said on Thursday.

Pakistani Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was briefed about the progress in the case at the 201st conference of the corps commanders held at the general headquarters, the media arm of the Pakistan Army said in a statement.

The meeting, presided over by Gen Bajwa, decided that the countrys leadership will make no compromise on the anti-state acts committed by Jadhav.

In his reported remarks, Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence and law enforcement agencies towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country.

Jadhav  who was detained in Balochistan in March 2016 and was accused of fomenting terrorism in Pakistan  was awarded the death penalty on April 10.

A few weeks after his capture, the Pakistani army released what it called his confessional statement, in which he is claimed to have admitted to working for Indias Research and Analysis Wing to stoke unrest and instability in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Karachi.
Russia vetoed a UN resolution Wednesday that would have condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in a town in northern Syria and demanded a speedy investigation, triggering clashes between Moscow and the measures Western backers.

The vote on the Security Council resolution drafted by Britain, France and the United States was 10 in favour, Russia and Bolivia against, and China, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia abstaining.

It was the eighth veto by Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, on a Western-backed Syria resolution and reflected the deep division that has left the UNs most powerful body struggling to tackle the use of banned chemical weapons and to help end the six-year Syrian conflict. China has vetoed six resolutions.

Russias UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov told the council before the vote that a resolution was unnecessary, and the draft put forward by the Western powers pre-judged that the Syrian government was responsible for the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun in which nearly 90 people died.

Safronkov said Russias foreign minister asked US secretary of state Rex Tillerson during talks earlier Wednesday in Moscow to jointly request the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to immediately put together an independent international mission to visit Khan Sheikhoun and the air base that the US attacked in retaliation. Tillerson is considering the request, he said, and we expect that Washington will have a constructive reaction.

Russia has criticized previous investigations carried out by the OPCW and the United Nations which blamed the Syrian government for at least three chemical weapons attacks without visiting the sites. Safronkov reiterated Wednesday that an investigation cannot be conducted remotely and experts must be drawn from a wide geographical basis.

The attack on Khan Sheikhoun is expected to be near the top of the agenda when the OPCWs executive committee meets Thursday at the organizations headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

Both the Syrian government and opposition have asked for an independent investigation Safronkov said, whereas the OPCW is doing nothing, for reasons unknown.

Looking at the resolutions supporters sitting around the horseshoe-shaped table in the Security Council, he said: You are afraid of an impartial investigation that the Syrian government was being blamed for chemical weapons attacks carried out by extremists.

After the vote, Britains UN Ambassador Matthew looked at Safronkov and asked: How could anyone look at the faces of lifeless children and yet veto this resolution?

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council: We want to work with Russia to advance a political process in Syria. We want Russia to use its influence over the Assad regime to stop the madness and the cruelty we see every day on the ground.

Todays vote could have been a turning point, she said. But with its veto, Russia said no to accountability. ... Russia now has a lot to prove.
Reducing the high tariff in India on Scotch whisky and automobiles is one of the top challenges in the free trade agreement (FTA) that the Theresa May government hopes to sign with India after Brexit, as an official briefing estimates a 26% growth in bilateral trade.

Informal talks on the FTA have begun, though the formal process cannot start until Britain completes its exit from the European Union by March 2019. There is much hope in the Scotch whisky industry that the FTA talks will be an occasion to lower tariff in India  its long-standing demand.

According to a briefing by London-based Commonwealth Secretariat economist Rashmi Banga, the UKs exports to India after Brexit will increase by 33% per annum, while the UKs imports from India will increase by 12% per annum under the new FTA.

India has always had much less trade and investment with the United Kingdom than with the European Union. Nevertheless, trade and investments between India and UK have been rising steadily since 2005, the briefing said.

A plausible reason for there being a higher increase in the number of exports from the UK to India than the number of imports to the UK from India is that India imposes higher tariffs than the UK does.

London-based experts say the Commonwealth briefing projects the maximum potential  26% increase in bilateral trade  under an FTA that reduces all tariff to zero, even if the reality is likely to be less optimistic.

Pratik Dattani, Ficcis UK director, told HT: The report confirms the potential for significant future growth in trade between India and the UK. This is especially as the most recent UK government figures show India has dropped out of the top 20 export markets for the UK.

The potential for trade creation if tariffs between both countries are reduced to zero, the main assumption in the analysis, comes in the gems and jewellery, clothing, leather goods and handbags, and machinery and mechanical appliances sectors.

In the services sector, there is a great potential to increase Indian exports to the UK in computer services transport services, construction and financial services The coming months will no doubt see a need for continued robust analysis of the impact on trade in different sectors.

Anuj Chande, South Asia head at consultants Grant Thornton, said: There are some challenging sectors, including the IT outsourcing and alcohol industries. Whilst the UK-India trade is moving in the right direction, it is still relatively low given the historic connections.

Bangas analysis states that Indias imports from the UK are estimated to increase from $5.2 billion to $7.8 billion, an almost 50% rise per annum under the post-Brexit FTA, while the UKs imports from India would rise by only 12% from 2015.

One of the reasons for this is because many products from India are already subject to low UK tariffs. The value of the UKs imports from India is estimated to increase from $9.1 billion to $10.2 billion (around 12% per annum), the briefing stated.

Julie Hesketh-Laird of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) believes the FTA with India will provide a boost to Scotch in India, where it faces 150% import tariff. Latest SWA figures showed that the volume of 70cl bottles exported to India between January and June 2016 jumped to 41 million from 29.1 million in the same period in 2015, with value by 28% to 43 million.

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Akbarzhon Jalilov, the man Russian police suspect of blowing up a St Petersburg metro carriage, entered Turkey in late 2015 and was deported to Russia about a year later because of migration violations, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Wednesday.

The April 3 attack killed 14 people, including the bomber himself, and injured dozens more. It took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin -- architect of Russias military intervention in Syria -- was visiting St Petersburg.

The Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that while in Turkey Jalilov was deemed suspicious due to some connections he had, but no action was taken as he had not done anything illegal and there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

However, the issue was not dropped and this person was sent out of Turkey in December 2016 for violating their visa and residency. In the end, a fine was given and they were deported with an entry ban, the official said.

After leaving Turkey, Jalilovs passage into Russia was easy from here, it seems they (Jalilov) encountered no problems, the official said.

The Turkish officials account confirmed information given to Reuters by two of Jalilovs acquaintances. They said that he had acquired an interest in Islam and left Russia for Turkey at the end of 2015, after which they lost contact.

Jalilov, a Russian citizen who was born in the mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, revealed no outward signs of radicalism, his acquaintances said, and no evidence has emerged that he belonged to any established Islamist militant groups.

That has made it harder for Russian security agencies to establish how he carried out the attack on the metro train, and whether he has associates who are planning future attacks.

At the time he left for Turkey, Jalilov was living in St Petersburg, where he worked as a restaurant cook and in a car repair shop.

Soon after he was deported from Turkey, he travelled to his native city of Osh, in Kyrgyzstan, local officials there told Reuters.

From there, he went back to St Petersburg, moving into a new apartment in early March this year. Prosecutors said security camera footage showed him leaving that apartment on the day of the attack carrying a rucksack and another bag.
An air strike on Tuesday by a US-led coalition fighting Islamic State mistakenly killed 18 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces south of the city of Tabqa, Syria, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

The strike was requested by the partnered forces, who had identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position, it said in a statement, referring to the Islamic State militant group by an acronym. The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position.

Syrian army says US-led air strike hit poison gas depot, killing hundreds

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18 fighters. Central Command says the incident occurred on Tuesday.

The SDF, with the help of air and ground support from the U.S.-led coalition, has surrounded Tabqa.

Several nations have lent their air power to the coalition to defeat the Islamic State group. It is not clear which air force was behind the strike.
Syrias President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a fabrication to justify a US strike on his forces, in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus.

The embattled leader, whose country has been ravaged by six years of war, said his firepower had not been affected by the attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, but acknowledged further strikes were possible.

Assad insisted his forces had turned over all their chemical weapons stocks years ago and would never use the banned arms.

The interview on Wednesday was his first since a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun.

Definitely, 100 percent for us, its fabrication, he said of the incident.

Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack, added Assad, who has been in power for 17 years.

At least 87 people, including 31 children, were killed in the alleged attack, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

But Assad said evidence came only from a branch of Al-Qaeda, referring to a former jihadist affiliate that is among the groups that control Idlib province, where Khan Sheikhun is located.

Images of the aftermath, showing victims convulsing and foaming at the mouth, sent shockwaves around the world.

But Assad insisted it was not clear whether it happened or not, because how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now.

We dont know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?

He said Khan Sheikhun had no strategic value and was not currently a battle front.

This story is not convincing by any means.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has begun an investigation into the alleged attack, but Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding Syria cooperate with the probe.

And Assad said he could only allow any investigation when its impartial, when we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they wont use it for politicised purposes.

He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.

There was no order to make any attack, we dont have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago, he said.

Even if we have them, we wouldnt use them, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

The OPCW has blamed Assads government for at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving the use of chlorine.

The Khan Sheikhun incident prompted the first direct US military action against Assads government since the war began, with 59 cruise missiles hitting the Shayrat airbase three days after the suspected chemical attack.

Assad said more US attacks could happen anytime, anywhere, not only in Syria.

But he said his forces had not been diminished by the US strike.

Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasnt been affected by this strike.
The Syrian army said that an air strike late on Wednesday by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to Islamic State, releasing a toxic substance that killed hundreds including many civilians.

The incident in the eastern Deir al-Zor province proved that Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked militants possess chemical weapons, a statement by the army flashed on Thursday by Syrian state TV said.

The report could not immediately be independently verified.

The United States launched cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week, in response to a deadly poison gas attack in the west of the country that Washington blamed on President Bashar al-Assads government.

Syria and its ally Russia deny Damascus carried out any such chemical attack. Moscow has said the poison gas in that incident last week in Idlib province belonged to rebels.

The US strike on the Syrian air base was the first time Washington has deliberately and directly targeted the Syrian government. It is separately waging an air campaign against Islamic State in eastern Syria.
President Donald Trump has said that there is a very good chemistry between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps tackling the threat of North Korea.

President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things, Trump told reporters at a joint news conference on Wednesday with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier.

I said, the way youre going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, were just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

Thatd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations, he cautioned China, if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval.

North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US.

Trump said he was very impressed with Xi.

I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. Well see whether or not he does, Trump said.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the US has tremendous trade deficits with everybody, but the big one is with China.

Its hundreds of billions of dollars of year for many, many years. And I told them. I said you know, were not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. Thats worth having deficits. And thats worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, Ill make great deals, he said.

In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator.

This was one of his top campaign promise.

Theyre not currency manipulators, he said.

Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasnt been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea, the report said.

In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear.

You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. Thats mass destruction. And he doesnt have the delivery systems yet, but he you know he will, he said.

So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue on North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, its very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time, Trump said.
United States President Donald Trump appeared to have moved the farthest yet from his determination to work with Russia, when he suggested on Wednesday that bilateral relations were at an all-time low and that Moscow might have known about the chemical attack in Syria.

On Thursday, however, he returned with a re-reconsidered position on Russia to strike a positive note. Things will work out fine between the USA and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace! he tweeted. Will he hold to that position now, and for how long?

Trump seemed to have changed his position on NATO as well, saying the western defence alliance he had railed against as a candidate is no longer obsolete, and, gong against another campaign rant, stating that China was not a currency manipulator.

And all of these consequential and dramatic foreign policy changes came in just one day, reversing major headline-making campaign promises and positions that had contributed to defining him as a candidate of change.

Right now, were not getting along with Russia at all, Trump told reporters at a news conference with visiting Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia.

Just hours earlier, when asked if Russia  a major ally of Syria  could have known about the chemical weapons attack that led to retaliatory strikes from the US, Trump said, I think its certainly possible; I think its probably unlikely I would like to think that they didnt know, but certainly they could have. They were there.

Secretary of state Rex Tillerson had earlier delivered a similar message to Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow, telling him US-Russia relations were at a low point. But he was careful not to suggest Russia knew of the gas attack.

Over 80 people, including a large number of children, were killed in a chemical weapons attack in rebel-controlled Idlib province of Syria on April 4. Blaming the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad for it, the US bombed an airbase used in the attack last week.

But faithful to its ally, Russia has sought an independent investigation into the attack to ascertain responsibility, thereby suggesting it might have been the handiwork of entities opposed to the regime.

And it vetoed a UN resolution on the chemical attack on Wednesday drafted by Britain, France and the United States. China abstained from voting, a development Trump chalked it up to his meetings last weekend with President Xi Jinping.

Trump has said he has struck up very good bonding and a very good chemistry with Xi.

And he told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Wednesday China will not be named a currency manipulator in a report due out in a few weeks because, he added, it has not been manipulating its currency in recent months and, critically, designating it as one could jeopardize its help discipline North Korea, a client state.

Trump had ranted against China during his presidential campaign accusing it of cheating  raping  the United States in bilateral trade and had vowed punitive actions against it including naming it a currency manipulator.

Now, he told the Journal, Theyre not currency manipulators.

Trump has also come around on Nato, which he had once said was obsolete and was sponging off the United States, with member countries not paying their agreed share. He had been severe about its lack focus on terrorism.

The Secretary General and I had a productive discussion about what more Nato can do in the fight against terrorism, Trump said at news briefing with Stoltenberg. I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete; its no longer obsolete. Its my hope that Nato will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against Islamic State.
Amid spiralling Indo-Pak tensions over the death sentence handed down by Pakistan to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, the UN on Thursday underlined the need for the two countries to engage in dialogue.

However, the world body said it was not in a position to comment on Jadhavs case.

We are not in the position to judge the process, to have a position on this particular (Kulbhushan Jadhav) case, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his daily briefing here in response to a question on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.

Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue, Dujarric said.

His remarks come just days after Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa approved Jadhavs execution after a military court sentenced him to death for espionage and sabotage activities, evoking a sharp reaction from India which warned Islamabad to consider the consequences on bilateral ties if he is hanged.

Reacting strongly to Jadhavs sentencing, India has said that if the ruling was carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder.
The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil legislation Thursday to fully legalize recreational marijuana use, making Canada only the second country to do so, after Uruguay.

Its legalization and regulation would follow in 2018, in time for Canadas national day on July 1.

The countrys ministers of health, justice, public safety and national revenue, as well as a former-cop-turned-MP who spearheaded the initiative, will make the announcement.

The stated aim is to reduce policing and prosecutions, and keep it out of the hands of children.

Canadian political leaders have also decried the current anti-drug regime as a failure.

Trudeau himself admitted in 2013 to having smoked pot five or six times in his life, including at a dinner party with friends since being elected to parliament.

He has also said that his late brother Michel was facing marijuana possession charges for a tiny amount of pot before his death in an avalanche in 1998, and that this influenced his decision to propose legalizing cannabis.

Police chiefs who support legalization point to the nearly 70,000 police-reported incidents related to cannabis, mostly possession, in 2014, saying police resources are being wasted and criminal convictions are causing undue harm.

In anticipation of the legislative move, there has reportedly been a rush on licenses to produce medical marijuana, pot stocks have shot up, and dispensaries have opened in cities across the country vying for market share in what promises to be a lucrative business.

The latter, however, has led to police raids and controversy, and pleas from the government to would-be sellers to be patient and wait for the legal regime to be announced.

Medical marijuana use has been regulated in Canada since 2001. But cannabis remains a controlled drug, for the time being.

What will legal market look like

According to government statistics, as many as 4.6 million Canadians will consume an estimated total 655 metric tons of cannabis annually by 2018, spending an estimated Can$4.2 billion to Can$6.2 billion each year.

A task force led by former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan released a report last December outlining possible regulations for creating a legal market for cannabis including plain packaging and labelling, restrictions on advertising, and retail distribution.

The more than 80 recommendations included maintaining a separate medical marijuana regime, as well as criminal penalties for trafficking and selling cannabis to youth.

Under the proposed rules, individuals would be allowed to grow up to four plants at home for personal use.

Personal possession, however, would be limited to 30 grams (one ounce).

The report also noted that the biggest concerns in more than 30,000 submissions to the task force concerned the proposed minimum age and impaired driving.

Health groups expressed concern about the potential impact of marijuana on developing brains under the age of 25.

But the report concluded that the current science is not definitive on a safe age for cannabis use.

Since the intention of legalization is to stop criminalizing users the panel chose an age that would not force adults under 25 to turn to the illicit market.

It noted that US states where recreational marijuana use is legal had aligned the minimum age with alcohol consumption at 21. In Canada legal adulthood starts at 18 or 19, depending on the province.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, meanwhile, said officials are testing devices similar to roadside breathalyzers to detect cannabis.

The drug has created new enforcement challenges because there is no legal or verified scientific test to determine a level of THC -- the psychoactive chemical in pot -- that causes impairment.
The United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb it has ever used in combat, in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday against a series of caves used by Islamic State militants, the military said.

It was the first time the United States has used this size of bomb in a conflict. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.

Also known as the mother of all bombs, the GBU-43 is a 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GPS-guided massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) munition and was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war.

The bomb hit a tunnel complex in Achin district in Nangarhar province, very close to the border with Pakistan. The strike occurred at about 8.02 pm IST.

The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, with a number of militant groups trying to claim territory more than 15 years after the US invasion which toppled the Taliban government.

General John Nicholson, the head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said the bomb was used against caves and bunkers housing fighters of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, also known as ISIS-K.

It was not immediately clear how much damage the device did.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K, Nicholson said in a statement.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer opened his daily news briefing speaking about the use of the bomb and said, We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area.

Last week, a US soldier was killed in the same district as the bomb was dropped while conducting operations against Islamic State.

The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did, Spicer said.

He said the bomb was used at around 7 p.m. local time and described the device as a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon. The United States took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage, he said.

US officials say intelligence suggests Islamic State is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighboring Kunar province.

Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. US officials have said they believe the movement has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500.

Islamic States offshoot in Afghanistan is suspected of carrying out several attacks on minority Shiite Muslim targets.

An Afghan National Army (ANA) official, who did not want to be named, was quoted by TOLONews as saying that they were not aware of the size of the bomb but that the US had been using different types of weapons against the IS and other militants for the past few months.

Meanwhile, NATOs Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan confirmed the strike, and said US Forces-Afghanistan conducted the strike on an IS tunnel complex in Achin district as part of ongoing efforts to defeat the group in Afghanistan.

The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of IS fighters and facilities, the statement read.

The use of the bomb comes as the US involvement in Afghanistan heads into its 16th year in the fall, and days after a US Special Forces operator was killed in the same region.

The MOAB was designed to target large below-ground areas. It would have felt like a nuclear weapon to anyone near the area, lieutenant colonel Rick Francona (ret.) told CNN.

The bomb would have already been in the country before it was dropped out of the military aircraft, operated by Air Force Special Operations Command, military sources told CNNs Barbara Starr.

A peace conference on Afghanistan is scheduled to begin on Friday in Moscow, involving the Afghan government and representatives of 12 other nations. Neither the Taliban nor the IS were invited. The US was invited to the conference, but reportedly declined to participate.

The Afghan Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the US-backed government in Kabul, are fiercely opposed to Islamic State and the two group have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence.
The US military and intelligence community has intercepted communications featuring Syrian military and chemical experts talking about preparations for the April 3 attack that killed over 80 civilians, a senior US official told a news channel.

The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack in Idlib.

The US did not know prior to the attack it was going to happen, the official told CNN late on Wednesday night.

The US scoops up such a large volume of communications intercepts in areas like Syria and Iraq, the material often is not processed unless there is a particular event that requires analysts to go back and look for supporting intelligence material.

So far there are no intelligence intercepts that have been found directly confirming that Russian military or intelligence officials communicated about the attack.

The official said the likelihood is the Russians are more careful in their communications to avoid being intercepted, reports CNN.

The Russian and Syrian governments have both denied involvement in the chemical attack.

US President Donald Trump told a White House news conference on Wednesday that the Pentagon is looking into the question of Russian complicity in the chemical attack.

I would like to think that they didnt know, but certainly they could have, CNN quoted Trump as saying.

(Defense Secretary) General (James) Mattis is looking into it with the entire Pentagon group that does that kind of work.

The US now assesses that Syria has re-established a unit of personnel associated with chemical weapons that existed before the 2013 agreement in which the Syrian government pledged to give up its weapons inventory.
The terms victory and defeat seem straightforward and clear cut. One side wins, the other side loses. End of story. Yet as several articles in this issue show, in the context of wars, battles and military operations, it is not always that simple.

In Battle Studies, James Willbanks examines Operation Lam Son 719, South Vietnams 1971 invasion of Laos to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Since Congress forbade U.S. ground troops to enter Laos, the operation was a major combat test of President Richard M. Nixons Vietnamization policy. Although Nixon and South Vietnams President Nguyen Van Thieu declared Lam Son 719 a victory that proved Vietnamization had succeeded, the battering the North Vietnamese army inflicted on South Vietnamese military forces revealed the latter were far from ready to go it alone.

John Walkers article on the fate of the U.S. Armys Task Force Faith at the Korean Wars 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir also demonstrates how the distinction between victory and defeat can become blurred. Surrounded by overwhelming numbers of Chinese troops on the eastern side of the frozen Chosin, the task forces men were unable to break through the encirclement and suffered defeat after enduring several days of horrific combat. Yet their sacrifice was not in vain, as their effort was considered a victory in that the Chinese attackers were unable to push farther south to possibly block 1st Marine Divisions heroic breakout to the coast.

In Special Feature, Deb Bisel explains how years of bitter hatred on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri border prompted the Civil Wars most notorious Confederate guerrilla victory, William C. Quantrills bloody August 1863 raid on Lawrence, Kan. Yet Quantrills triumph was a devastating defeat for civilians, not only those killed in the Lawrence attack but also those on the Missouri side  many of whom were sympathetic to the guerrillas  who were killed, dispossessed or persecuted during Union reprisals in the wake of the raid.

In ACGs interactive department, we challenge YOU to make the decisions that will determine victory or defeat as you step into the boots of British Lieutenant General Garnet Wolseley to lead an expeditionary force in a desert attack during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War; play the role of Japanese Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita commanding the invasion of Britains Malaya colony as Japan launches World War II in the Pacific in December 1941; and lead U.S. 82d Airborne Division paratroopers who have been dropped behind German lines in support of the Allies June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion.

We also present Ralph Peters always insightful Crisis Watch column, a 10 Questions interview with inspirational Wounded Warrior J.R. Martinez, must-read reviews of books, DVDs and games, plus much more!

Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Armchair General Editor in Chief

Originally published in the May 2014 issue of Armchair General.
After France surrendered to Germany, Britains Royal Navy smashed the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria.

The popular narrative of World War II is typically summed up thus: In a consistent show of staunch unity, Allied forces came together to fight their common Axis powers enemies (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan) from the beginning of the war in 1939 until its end in 1945. What is missing from this generalization is that wartime relations between the Allies were far more complicated, with missteps along the way that belied this narrative. For example, at the conclusion of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitlers 1940 campaign that defeated France and pushed British forces off the European continent, Britains Royal Navy launched a major strike that seriously strained the countrys relationship with France and gave Germany a propaganda coup to trumpet British treachery.

On June 22, 1940, following a six-week blitzkrieg campaign, representatives of victorious Nazi Germany signed an armistice with the French government, which since June 16 had been led by Frances aged World War I hero Marshal Philippe Petain. The Germans carefully orchestrated the signing ceremony for maximum propaganda value, holding it inside the same railway car at Compiegne where, over two decades earlier, defeated Germanys representatives had signed the armistice ending World War I.

Under the German-imposed terms of the 1940 armistice, metropolitan (European) France was divided: Germany would occupy the northern three-fifths of the country, while Petains French puppet regime governed the remainder, with Vichy as the capital. The Vichy government would continue to administer Frances colonies (although in September, Germanys Axis ally Japan would occupy northern French Indochina). Additionally, a small French military force was permitted to remain in the country, and Frances navy  one of the larger and more advanced navies in Europe  would remain under French control.

After the May 27-June 4 evacuation at Dunkirk, but before France surrendered, Britain began to steel itself for the likelihood of continuing the war without allies on the continent. Throughout June, with the defeat of France looming, it was clear to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that Germanys full attention soon would shift to conquering Britain, likely via a cross-Channel invasion. Once again, Britain turned to its traditional first line of defense, the Royal Navy, to shield it from a German incursion and to guard the island nations vital ocean supply lines. The fall of France, however, raised the grave specter that the French navy would be added to the German and Italian navies, possibly tipping the balance of sea power in the Axis favor. Britains very survival depended on preventing this at all costs.

As France capitulated on June 22, French navy commander in chief Admiral Francois Darlan repeatedly assured Churchill that whatever happened, the French fleet should never fall into German hands. Although Churchill knew that the armistice between France and Germany specified that the French navy would remain under French control, he did not trust the agreement. In his memoirs, Churchill wrote: It was therefore clear that French war vessels would pass into that control while fully armed. It was true that in the same article the German government solemnly declared that they had no intention of using them for their own purposes during the war. But who in his senses would trust the word of Hitler after his shameful record and facts of the hour?  There was in fact no security for us at all. Churchill assembled the War Cabinet, and the decision was made to act immediately to eliminate the potential threat.

The prime minister also directed the first lord of the Admiralty and other service ministries that all members of the French military then on British territory should be repatriated to France, but only after they had been told they were welcome to remain. Churchill ordered, Care must be taken that no officer or man is sent back into French jurisdiction against his will. Those who wished to return home would be sent to French-held ports in North Africa.

In fact, the French navy was scattered throughout a number of ports. Several French ships were already under Allied control: two battleships, four light cruisers, eight destroyers and a number of submarines and smaller ships were docked at Portsmouth and Plymouth, England; five ships were at Alexandria, Egypt; and three ships, including an aircraft carrier, were at Martinique in the eastern Caribbean. Yet Churchill was worried about the other French warships, particularly those in North African ports in Algeria: Algiers, Oran and Mers-el-Kebir. He noted that the superior quality of the 11 French warships  including battleships/battle cruisers  anchored at Mers-el-Kebir and the ports strategic location in the Mediterranean could pose a significant threat to British sea power if the ships and port were to come under German control.

On July 1, 1940, Churchill issued orders to execute Operation Catapult, an action intended to eliminate much of the French navy as a potential threat by seizing control of French ships in British ports and by dispatching a Royal Navy task force to neutralize  or destroy, if necessary  the French squadron at Mers-el-Kebir. Thus, during the night of July 2 and morning of July 3, British forces stormed the Plymouth and Portsmouth ports, taking control of each French vessel. With the exception of one submarine (a French crewman and three British sailors were killed), the French crews did not resist.

Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, the Royal Navy task force (Force H) under the command of Admiral James Somerville moved in on the Mers-el-Kebir naval base on July 2. (See Opposing Forces at Mers-elKebir, p. 24.) Upon arriving off the coast of the port, Somerville began negotiations with his French counterpart, Admiral MarcelBruno Gensoul, although the two men never met in person. On July 3, Somerville issued a five-part ultimatum to Gensoul. (See British Admiral Somervilles Ultimatum to French Admiral Gensoul.)

Gensoul reported the British ultimatum to the French Admiralty; however, he failed to convey the extent of the options it contained. Had he done so, he likely would have been ordered to accept the choice of sailing for Martinique in American waters. Instead, Gensoul was ordered to resist British demands, but he permitted Somervilles emissary, French-speaking Captain Cedric Holland of the Ark Royal, to meet with his own lower-ranking emissary. The negotiations were tedious, and working through emissaries delayed the proceedings.

While this was happening, the French Admiralty ordered all ships in the Mediterranean to set sail for Oran, with Gensoul to take command. The French admiral stated that his ships would not fall into Axis hands, but that any force by the British would be met accordingly. Negotiations languished throughout the day, until Somerville received orders from London: French ships must comply with our terms or sink themselves or be sunk by you before dark.

Reluctantly, with all options exhausted, Somerville ordered his ships to open fire on the French squadron. Aircraft launched from Ark Royal deployed mines to hamper the French ships movements (one of the planes shot down resulted in the only two British fatalities of the day). Bretagne was destroyed early in the fight, while Provence, Dunkerque and Mogador were damaged as they attempted to counterattack. Strasbourg and a number of other ships escaped. In 10 minutes the French fleet lost 1,297 sailors killed and 354 wounded.

The fallout from the Royal Navy attack on Mers-el-Kebir was immediate. Frances Vichy government promptly broke off all ties with Britain, and Germany began spreading this propaganda windfall throughout France to sow doubt about British trustworthiness. In the years following the attack, Operation Catapult caused major issues for the Allies. Britain, for example, accepted a lesser role in Operation Torch, the 1942 Allied invasion of French North Africa. Yet despite the apparent desperation of Britain viciously attacking its recent ally, Churchill realized that the assault on Mers-el-Kebir was a firm demonstration to the still-neutral United States of his countrys resolve to continue the war against the Axis. He later wrote that after Mers-el-Kebir there was no more talk of Britain giving in among high government officials in America.

Andrew Liptak, a graduate of Norwich University, is a freelance writer and historian specializing in 20th-century military and popular culture history.

Originally published in the May 2014 issue of Armchair General.
Half Moon Bay, CA (94019)

Today

A few showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. High 53F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low near 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
D itching manic London to go and live in a castle could soon be more than just a daydream for one lucky renter.

A three-bedroom apartment in Northumberland's historic Bamburgh Castle is on the market for 1,200 a month, significantly less than the average 1,680 a month paid for a three-bedroom rental property in London.

Characterful features abound in this unfurnished Grade I listed home, from exposed stone walls and arched leaded windows to cast fireplaces with tiled hearths in the living room and bedrooms.

There are breathtaking panoramic views out to sea and across the picturesque coastal village of Bamburgh with its shops, tea rooms and beaches.

Bamburgh Castle spans nine acres of rocky land and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country. The ground floor is open to the public and there are 10 other residential apartments, but this one has been built into the castle's oldest part, the keep.

The exterior has been preserved and the interior remodelled and split across three levels. Entrance is through a carved oak door leading into the stone-floored public hall, before climbing a mahogany staircase up to the private rooms.

Highlights of the panelled master bedroom include spiral stairs leading to an en suite bathroom and sea views from two sides, while the grand living room overlooks the chapel ruins and Farne Islands.

The irregular shaped kitchen and breakfast room has buttermilk floor and wall units, a marble effect work surface, tiled splashbacks and views across the ramparts and farmland. The white suite family bathroom boasts a roll top bath and an arched third floor passageway gives access to attic rooms and a shower room.

Clifftop kingdom: Sprawling Bamburgh Castle is set on nine acres of rocky land

The apartment has broadband, TV and a phoneline, with limited parking available within the castle and further space outside the castle walls.

London King's Cross can be reached in just under four and a half hours from Chathill station, five miles away, though there are just two arrivals and departures each day with a change required at either Alnmouth or Newcastle. Commuters would be better off heading to Berwick-upon-Tweed, 20 miles north, for direct rail links to Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. There is easy access to the A1 for drivers.

The castle dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Since 1894 it has been owned by the Armstrong family, who opened it up to visitors in the mid 1900s.They live locally and are still highly involved with its running. The family has a soft spot for this apartment having spent time in it as children when Lord and Lady Armstrong lived there.

Some people have lived in their castle apartments for 15 years, while others use theirs as holiday homes. This apartment has been empty for a year but there have been 23 viewings in that time, including five in the last month. Serious interest has mainly come from people with experience of living in similarly quirky listed buildings.

First and foremost, the castle is a huge tourist attraction. It is often used as a filming location, most recently for the Transformers film and Countryfile's Christmas show. Outdoor concerts and events are sometimes run by the staff and residents will be free to enter these without a ticket.

Castle maintenance staff reserve the right to access the roof through the apartment. Otherwise you have the place to yourself, bar the the occasional ghost if a message from Francis Watson Armstrong on the castle's website is anything to go by.

"Our vast and imposing walls have witnessed dark tales of rebellion and bloodshed, spellbinding myths, millionaire benefactors and ghosts who love Bamburgh Castle so much, they never want to leave," she writes.

"Some visitors claim they have been touched by unseen hands, others have heard strange noises: a baby crying, piano music or the sound of footsteps running and dark eerie shadows seen within the castle's corridors."

Bamburgh Castle is for rent through Savills. Call 01685 666 034 for more details.
T he riverfront at Woolwich could become an arts and media hub to rival the Southbank Centre if plans unveiled this week are approved.

The proposals include creating a major new music venue in a former munitions factory, two theatres, rehearsal and studio space, plus new restaurants, shops and offices at the Royal Arsenal.

Greenwich council has pledged to invest more than 40 million to take over a string of historic buildings, including the Royal Military Academy, which opened at the arsenal in 1741 as a training school for young Army officers and was a forerunner of Sandhurst.

The former munitions factory will become a performance venue with seating for more than 4,000 people. A new indoor theatre will seat 450 and there will also be an open-air courtyard theatre. Space will be provided for individual artists to work, and for theatre companies.

The new facilities will measure almost 160,000sq ft in total. The total useable space is comparable, if not larger, than the creative space provided in the Southbank Centre, points out Fiona Stones, the councils assistant director of culture, in a report on the project. Arts Council England is backing the plans, which Joyce Wilson, London area director, describes as tremendously exciting.

New home: Dash Arts is set to become resident at the arts complex / Geraint Lewis

Once the buildings are renovated, Greenwich intends to set up a trust to run the venues and says it is already negotiating with theatre, dance, music and performance companies keen to be involved, including a major international immersive theatre company, the aerial theatre company Tangled Feet, and Protein Dance.

It is hoped that the first theatre productions will begin at Woolwich at the end of next year. The venues could be operational seven days a week with shows, workshops, classes and leisure activities throughout the day and into the evening, adds Ms Stones. From next year, travel to and from Woolwich will become easier with the Crossrail station launch.

The council believes the plan will enhance the area and bring hundreds of creative jobs. For almost 300 years, the Royal Arsenal was a major employer and the backbone of the local economy, says council leader Denise Hyland. These exciting plans place the site at the forefront of providing local jobs once more.

Royal Arsenal Riverside: Penthouses at the Berkeley Homes development cost 1.7m / berkeleyhomes2.visualbank.co.uk

Arts-based regeneration has a proven track record of transforming local property values  as the transformation of Shoreditch and Hoxton proves.

Woolwich is currently one of Londons more affordable neighbourhoods. The average price of homes in the SE18 postcode stands at just under 350,000, according to Rightmove. Penthouses at Royal Arsenal Riverside, the Berkeley Homes development, cost almost 1.7 million, but a budget of 500,000 would buy a three or four-bedroom period house. Expect to pay about 250,000 for a one-bedroom flat.
In a video making the rounds on social media and TV news this week, a horse takes on an alligator at a Florida state park. The gator appears to be minding his own business, but the horse decides the gator is too close to her herdwhich includes a couple of foalsas they graze on the tall vegetation.

The horse kicks at the gator and goes in for a stomp. The gator reacts and theres some tooth-to-leg contact, but both animals leave the scene to opposite sides of the trail and appear to be unharmed.

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Krystal Berry, one of the visitors who caught the altercation on video, reported the incident to park officials and asked them to check on the animals. They told her that there were no signs of injury.

Why is there a herd of horses wandering around the trails of Paynes Prairie State Park, near the city of Gainesville? According to Friends of Paynes Prairie, these are Florida Cracker Horses, descendants of horses brought over by Spanish explorers centuries ago. The Cracker Horse was designated Floridas official state horse in 2008.

The horses were reintroduced to the park in 1985 to represent a part of the areas heritage. The horses are feral and are minimally managed, with veterinary intervention only occurring when park managers see signs of illness or injury.

Population management is key, however, to maintain the herd population at a number that wont overtax the available grazing or lead to horses expanding their range outside of the park and into developed areas. The Paynes Prairie Livestock Management Plan of 2011 recommends gelding or removing colts and stallions and using outside Cracker stallions to breed mares at the parks Hickory Ranch to maintain the population. The herd size typically ranges from 10 to 30 animals.

Outside of this small feral herd, Florida Cracker Horses are used for pleasure riding and competition with their ranching heritage making them especially suited to working cattle. According to the Florida Cracker Horse Association, the horses typically range between 13.2 and 15.2 hands and perform various gaits, including running walk, trot, and ambling gaits.

The park is also home to roaming bison and a herd of reintroduced Florida Cracker cattle, which are listed as critical on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Priority List. The livestock are maintained at the park, which was a vast cattle ranch in the early days of the Spanish colonial period in Floridas history.

Leslie Potter is a writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. www.lesliepotterphoto.com
A strategic alliance has been forged between StayWell Hospitality Group and Cristal Group

The alliance will spur further growth in the region and herald the opening of several hotels in the GCC

The alliance will bring a combined portfolio of 13 hotels in the Middle East region with further plans for expansion in response to the growing need for quality accommodation

Australian Based Hotel Management Company StayWell Hospitality Group and Cristal Group, a Middle East based Hotel Management Company, are joining forces with the announcement of a strategic alliance. The newly formed alliance will assist both parties in developing their respective businesses with a key focus on the Middle East Region.

StayWell CEO, Mr. Simon Wan, said that the Group's further expansion into the UAE market is a large focus with the upcoming openings of Park Regis Business Bay and Park Regis Boutique Jumeirah in 2017 followed by the opening of Leisure Inn Jumeirah and Park Regis Makkah in 2018. This significant alliance represents an important step forward in cementing the future expansion of the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands.

"We have been focused on StayWell's international expansion for quite some time. This partnership will bring our combined portfolio to 13 hotels with approximately 2,600 rooms in the Middle East Region. This, coupled with the recently announced strategic partnership with the Manhatton Group in China, has significantly increased our global hotel network which is now in excess of 73 properties across Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, The United Kingdom, China and the Middle East," Mr Wan said.

"Cristal are leaders in the business and leisure hotel space in the Middle East and Africa, and represent the perfect partnership in which to grow the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands. The synergy and opportunity offered by this strategic alliance will combine the global strength of StayWell Group with the local knowledge of Cristal Hospitality enhancing further development of both companies' goals globally, not just in the Middle East," he said.

Dubai and the UAE offer huge growth potential for StayWell's brands, with the region experiencing a boom in tourism that continues to attract travelers for both business and leisure. This growth is set to continue and Dubai Tourism envisages a rise in visitors in excess of 20 million by 2020*. This will demand quality accommodation and mean increased room nights.

As part of the agreement, StayWell is entitled to use Cristal's brand on hotels outside the Middle East, while Cristal can use StayWell's brand on hotels located within the Middle East. Cristal will also adopt key StayWell sales and marketing platforms and programs to further elevate their operations and hotel offerings.

Cristal Group CEO, Mr. Kamal Fakhoury, concurs with Mr Wan, and said that the alliance will offer strategic benefits to both companies within the Middle East and globally. He further added that Cristal is looking forward to implementing strategic StayWell sales and marketing programs as well leveraging from its global presence.

"With both groups now present in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Erbil, and with properties opening within the next 12 months in Amman, Abha, Riyadh and Makkah as well as further properties in Erbil and the UAE, the expansion plan is very healthy and we expect to increase the portfolio to 20 properties within the next five years," Mr. Fakhoury said.

"We are excited and very proud to forge a strategic alliance with such a well-known hotel company as StayWell, and we are looking forward to working as a team to achieve the combined proposed goals," he concluded.

For more information on StayWell Hospitality Group visit www.staywellgroup.com

For more information on Cristal Group visit www.cristalhospitality.com

About StayWell

Based in Sydney Australia, StayWell Hospitality Group operates two high profile hotel brands - Park Regis and Leisure Inn. StayWell has a growing international hotel network now numbering 32 properties across Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates. The company is privately owned by three stakeholders - Simon Wan (CEO and Managing Director), Richard Doyle (Executive Director and Corporate Counsel), and Bal Sohal (Non-Executive Director). StayWell has a defined strategy to grow its portfolio within three years to a network of more than 100 hotels across Australia, South East Asia, India, China and Europe.

Fiona Godfrey

StayWell Hospitality Group

02 8198 9299

StayWell
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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Louis Murphy was arrested at Tampa International Airport yesterday morning for carrying a loaded Glock 23 pistol inside of a backpack.

According to ESPN, Murphys glock was loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition when security discovered it at the Airside C security checkpoint. He did not have a concealed weapons permit and was arrested around 9:10am, although he was released later that afternoon on $2,000 cash bond.

In the state of Florida, carrying a concealed firearm is a third degree felony, punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years as well as fines up to $5,000.

Murphy spent the last three seasons with the Bucs but is currently a free agent.

Louis Murphy
When Joey Badass first showed up with 1999 at age 17, one thing was alarmingly clear: the kid could spit. He was dropping god-tier bars like It can get you on your medical, fuck you up in the decimals/Or get you 2 to 3 for residue found in your retinue and Traded in my Nikes for a new mic/I guess its safe to say he sold soles for his new life, immediately positioning him next to Earl Sweatshirt on the teenagers whose pen games are not to be fucked with list of the 2010s. That debut tape was committed to (what at the time seemed to be) a themerapping about being good at rapping over nostalgic instrumentalsbut as time went on, it became clear that that was Joeys whole M.O., not just fuel for one tape. He was the classic old soul, born too late and choosing endless homages to the past over stopping to smell the roses of the present, a shtick that couldnt carry anything weightier than 1999, as his uneven debut album soon proved.

It shouldnt come as much of a shock, considering that Badass entire career has spanned the late-teen, early-adult years in which most people find themselves, but since B4.DA.$$ arrival in 2015, hes transformed into one of the more explicitly political rappers of his generation. Sure, he used to rap about the crack epidemic and the danger of high fructose corn syrup (on B4.DA.$$ not-as-political-as-the-title-suggests Save The Children), but between attending Black Lives Matter protests and releasing a song called Land Of The Free on Martin Luther King Day, Badass made it clear that current events were increasingly becoming as important to him as Nas interpolations and MF DOOM beats had been since day one. Lo and behold, his sophomore album, All-Amerikkkan Badass, is primarily informed by socio-political thought.

The opening bars of Good Morning Amerikkka give us a pretty good idea of Badass approach to rapping about the issues. His words are somewhere between surface-level, Schoolhouse Rock-style investigation into American ideals (Now, whats freedom to you?/Lets talk about it, take a minute, think it through/Im all about it but the concept seems new), BLM-fueled critiques of policing and the racist prison industrial complex (The coppers still shoot us down on Channel 5 news/Lock us up for anythin we do to pay dues), and afrocentrist conspiracy theorist rhetoric (Some of us woke while some stay snoozed/Zombies walkin around trippin over issues). He leans into each one of these focuses at various points throughout the album dropping actual facts like, Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over, sly observations like, Who you think investin in penitentiaries though/Same owners as them labels, same owners of your cable, and meaningless signifiers of higher consciousness like, Turn my brain up a wavelength giving us a pretty vivid portrait of his beliefs. As an expository essay on Joey Badass political views, AABA passes with flying colors, but as a a thoughtful, artistic critique of 2017 America, its a little too obvious and shallow in its execution to leave a lasting impression.

Where AABA more noticeably improves on Badass past work is in its musical flexibility. No longer is Joey rapping almost exclusively about his lyrical prowess (although a few bars like Double entendre monster still sneak in here and there), and no longer is he rapping almost exclusively on beats that you could imagine Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad producing in 1996. Early highlights Temptation and Land Of The Free achieve upbeat danciness much less awkwardly than the Kiesza-assisted B4.DA.$$ cut Teach Me, the albums second half finds Badass mining his Jamaican heritage to great effect, and Devastated and Y U Dont Love Me? even have trap hi-hats! He still fills his songs with 90s callbacksLook up in the sky, its a bird, its a plane, Dead presidents, and a methodical pause between the words And its all good all make appearancesbut it seems like hes gradually embracing the fact that he was born in 1995, not 1975. Pro Era comrades Nyck Caution and Kirk Knight are still repping that reductive, old school mindset on Ring The Alarm (It aint even bout the bars, they bumping whatever slaps now/all I hear is ad-lib rappers on my SoundCloud), but that just comes off as comical after Joey himself utters the dreaded Skrt skrt on Devastated. Joeys no longer a stick in the mud, as evidenced by his love for Lil Uzi Verts Xo Tour Llif3 and work with Metro Boomin, and that decreased bitterness towards the era in which hes made his name makes him a much more enjoyable presence on the mic.

The main problem with AABA is that its political message basically boils down to, Be angry and dont trust the powers that be, and that it asks, Lets formulate a plan without offering any answers. However, this isnt as big of a deal when the artist in question is 22 years old. If the message of Kendrick Lamars DAMN. was comparably vague, it would be a travesty, but for a young rapper just dipping his toes into the political arena, its fine. If AABA gets even a small fraction of Pro Eras young fans paying attention, its done its job. Im just hoping that in the future, Badass realizes that political albums are usually dulled when they attempt to contain the entirety of their creators worldviews, and decides to hone in on more vivid specifics.

AABA is the most explicitly political rap album Ive heard in a year that seems to demand them, so thats certainly worth something. Joeys first attempt at devoting an album to conversations about race and government is admirable, but it doesnt have To Pimp A Butterflys artful approach, Black Messiahs pulse, Nobodys Smilings hyperlocal mastery, or even the final three tracks of Still Brazys visceral rage. Instead, its an album composed of good music and basic politics, more akin to Vic Mensas Theres Alot Going On or Ty Dolla $igns Campaign.
In the run up to the release of their highly anticipated new album Humanz, this week also sees Gorillaz launch a mixed reality app that allows fans a glimpse inside the weird and wonderful universe of the worlds most successful virtual band for the very first time.

Pushing the boundaries of technology, the Gorillaz App will allow fans to immerse themselves in the world of Gorillaz and join Murdoc, 2D, Russel and Noodle at home in the Gorillaz House.

To celebrate the release of the new album, fans will be invited - via the app - to the Humanz House Party, an exclusive worldwide listening event which will allow fans to hear the new album in full for the first time. The Humanz House Party will be the largest ever geo specific listening experience bringing people together across 500 locations, from Tokyo to Santiago.



Developed by Gorillaz and B-Reel with support from Deutsche Telekom, the fully immersive mixed-reality app is a unique blend of real world, AR, VR and 360 environments, using the technology in a narrative context for the very first time.

Download the app on both Apple and Android mobile devices here:

Android download: http://gorill.az/androidapp

Apple download: http://gorill.az/iPhoneapp
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Jesse Steadman scoured the internet in hope of finding a last-minute alternative to United Airlines.

He searched in vain for another airline that could deliver his friend to Houston on Wednesday morning, two days after a viral video of a passenger dragged from a United plane outraged millions of fliers and mortified the Fortune 100 company. It was too late to rebook the ticket, reserved long before the incident, but he vowed it would be the last one he purchased from the maligned carrier.

"I'll never fly with them again," he said, shaking his head as his friend claimed her luggage at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Passengers in Houston and elsewhere vented their anger and disbelief Wednesday as United attempted save face during its public relations nightmare. The company issued a series of apologies and promised to review its policies, but the withering response from customers and lawmakers raised questions about whether the crisis will undermine its long-running efforts to improve customer satisfaction across its wide network.

Neither United nor the Houston Airport System responded to requests for comment.

The incident occurred Monday, when Republic Airline, which operates some United Express flights for United, attempted to place four of its employees on a full flight from Chicago to Louisville in order to staff a plane scheduled to depart from there. The crew offered $1,000 in compensation and alternative flight arrangements to customers willing to give up their seats for the employees, and three passengers voluntarily deplaned.

More Information Ousted passenger might be preparing to sue United Airilnes, Chicago CHICAGO - The passenger dragged from his seat aboard a Sunday night flight at O'Hare International Airport took the first step toward potential legal action against United Airlines or the city on Wednesday. David Dao, who has retained a personal injury lawyer, asked the Cook County Circuit Court for an order requiring United and the city of Chicago to keep all video, cockpit recordings and other reports from the flight, along with the personnel files of the Chicago Aviation Department officers who pulled Dao from the plane. The request was filed a few hours before the Department of Aviation said it had placed two more officers on administrative leave until further notice as a result of the incident. Another employee already had been placed on leave, and the city said it continues to review the incident. In an effort to calm the backlash, United announced that passengers on United Express Flight 3411 would be compensated equal to the cost of their tickets. United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said Wednesday that the passengers can take the compensation in cash, travel credits or miles. - Chronicle News Services See More Collapse

When a fourth volunteer failed to emerge, passenger Dr. David Dao was asked to exit the aircraft. He declined to take a later flight, explaining he had patients to tend. Law enforcement officers were called aboard.

Forcible removal

The situation quickly devolved, culminating in Dao's forcible removal when officers dragged him from his seat and down the aisle. Several passengers captured snippets of the incident on video and posted them online, unleashing an international torrent of indignation.

Customers took to social media to disavow their allegiance to the carrier, sometimes with photos of chopped-up United MileagePlus credit cards. A number of lawmakers, including the Senate commerce committee, criticized the company for allowing a seemingly avoidable incident to escalate to that level.

Customers first?

The incident, though isolated, drew attention to issues that affect the entire airline industry. It demonstrated a willingness to abandon a customer-first attitude to keep planes running on schedule, shed light on passenger risks outlined in contractual fine print, and illustrated the importance of responding swiftly and appropriately immediately after a crisis.

Many customers took issue with CEO Oscar Munoz's initial statement, a brief acknowledgement of an "upsetting" event that required further review by the company. On Tuesday, he issued a more effusive apology for a "truly horrific event," noting that "no one should ever be mistreated this way."

The firestorm started just as United had begun making strides in improving performance and customer service. The percentage of flights arriving on time ticked up steadily last year, though the company still lags several other major carriers.

Pete Garcia, a Houston-based airline consultant, said he doubted the incident would have a long-term impact on the company's business. But the outrage, he said, could sour customer perspective in the short term.

"United has done so much to improve, and this seems like it's a setback," he said.

Jack Stelzer, a retired Houston-based airline consultant and senior airline executive, said it's well within an airline's right to deny boarding to any passenger for almost any reason, a relatively uncommon occurrence that almost always happens at the gate.

Social media

But in a world full of smartphones, he said, there's less room for error when it comes to overbooking or poor planning.

"In today's world of social media, the airlines and all other businesses have to learn how to better handle any situation that is difficult," he said.

Garcia, who worked in the industry for about 30 years, said he has never witnessed a carrier eject boarded passengers to make room for employees.

United might have avoided the situation by making supervisors available to advise crew members in rare instances when passengers can't be persuaded to deplane with generous compensation, he said. Then, they could up the offer until the necessary number of volunteers step forward.

"Maybe United should rethink their policy in how they handle this," he said.

Policy backfires

James Winkler, a longtime Houstonian waiting for friends to arrive at Bush Intercontinental on Wednesday, considered the United incident an example of the lengths airlines will go to maximize profit and keep planes running on time, even at the expense of passengers. That effort backfired for United, which saw its stock plunge in the wake of the incident.

"They just cost themselves so much more than they would have if they had just been polite," Winkler, said.

Tim Coombs, a crisis communications expert at Texas A&M University, said he doubted many customers would permanently defect to other airlines. But the response, he said, illustrates pent-up resentment toward United and other carriers in a cutthroat industry.

"I think there is a lot of anger about the airlines, and this just became a lightning rod," Coombs said. "It proved everything that people think about airlines, that they don't care about you."
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Bank of America will get its name on a new downtown tower after signing a lease that will fast-track construction of Skanska's 35-story office building at 800 Capitol.

Skanska said it will start construction of Capitol Tower after it secured a lease with the North Carolina-based bank for more than one-quarter of the office space in the building. It will be completed in about two years.

The building name has not been chosen, but it was part of the deal, according to Bank of America.

"Our name and branding will be on the new building," said David Ruiz, BofA Houston market manager.

Bank of America will consolidate 600 employees now working at three downtown sites to 6 floors and 210,000 square feet in the new building in the first half of 2019. The deal also gives BofA 5,000 square feet for a financial center in the building's 26,000-square-foot, two-level atrium.

The new bank offices, on floors 14 through 19 and the lobby, will bring together the bank's Merrill Lynch, U.S. Trust, Global Banking & Markets, Retail and Home Loans businesses. In Bank of America Center, its largest downtown office at 700 Louisiana, operations are spread across floors four, five, eight and 13 in addition to the financial center in the lobby along Milam. The bank has been at its namesake tower for more than 20 years.

"The main reason is to be able to bring our teams together to collaborate more efficiently and provide our clients a higher level of service by being able to work together much more easily, being in the same building on the same floors," Ruiz said. BofA has about 2,600 workers in the Houston area.

More Information Capitol Tower timeline 2011: Skanska buys the 18-story Houston Club building at Capitol and Rusk Oct. 2014: Houston Club building imploded to make way for tower Aug. 2015: Foundation poured April 2016: Tower construction to start after Bank of America signs as anchor tenant 2019: Planned completion See More Collapse

The glass-clad Capitol Tower will have 754,000 square feet of office space and was designed by Gensler to meet LEED Platinum standards, the highest ranking for energy efficiency and design awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. It will use 25 percent less energy than typical buildings and will provide natural light to most of its workspace. Street-level windows will offer pedestrians an unusual view of a portion of the downtown tunnel.

The tower's central location, with multiple entrances to the tunnel, factored in to BofA's decision to move.

"We love being in the center of so much activity," Ruiz said.

"Capitol Tower is a game changer for downtown office space in Houston, so it is an honor to have such a prestigious global firm like Bank of America as our lead tenant," Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston, said in an announcement.

CBRE represented Skanska, the project's owner and developer, in the deal; JLL represented Bank of America.

Skanska got a head start on construction. The foundation, poured 20 months ago, and a five-level parking garage are in place. Cranes were moved to the site a few weeks ago. The company waited for an anchor tenant before constructing the office space atop 11 stories of parking.

The building is going up as the Houston region's office space vacancy rate reached a 22-year high of 16.8 percent in the first quarter, according to CBRE.

The downtown market could take 18 months to four years to work through the surplus of available space, according to John Pruitt, an executive vice president of JLL. There's about 8 million square feet of vacant space on the market downtown, about twice the normal amount.

Bank of America's moves will vacate about another 290,000 square feet of space at its three downtown locations. It occupies 170,000 square feet a block away at Bank of America Center; less than 100,000 square feet at 1221 McKinney; and more than 20,000 square feet at 600 Travis.

Meanwhile, another new tower, Hines' 609 Main building, has leased half of its 1 million square feet. The 48-story building took almost three years to complete. It also has attracted tenants from other downtown buildings, including United Airlines, Kirkland & Ellis, Hogan Lovells, Orrick and Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Hines recently tore down the Chronicle's former headquarters at 801 Texas Ave. The site will be used for parking and could eventually hold an office tower.

While developers wait to line up tenants before beginning office-tower construction, new buildings are still going up for companies that want to create campuses, often in pedestrian-friendly environments near restaurants and other amenities. In Springwoods Village, the American Bureau of Shipping and HP are getting new buildings in the Spring master-planned development.
The number of international visitors flying into Houston has fallen significantly since the election of President Donald Trump, pushed downward by the energy bust, the stronger dollar and the perception that the country is less welcoming to foreigners.

In February, the most recent month for which figures are available, the number of people boarding or disembarking from international flights at Hobby and Bush Intercontinental declined by about 6 percent from the same month last year. In January, the number declined by about 3.6 percent  a surprise, considering that international traffic has increased steadily for the past five years.

Molly Waits, the director of air service development for the Houston Airport System, said that Trump's election and the decline in international travel here is a notable coincidence, but that the oil bust is a bigger factor. "Economic conditions and the state of the oil and gas industry have negatively impacted traffic in Houston beginning midway through 2016," she said in a statement, "and we anticipate it will continue through the better part of 2017."

Domestic air travel to Houston is also declining, having sunk in 2016 from the year before. Despite a boost from the Super Bowl, arrivals from other U.S. cities in the first two months of 2017 were down almost 3 percent over the same period last year.

But it's not just the oil and gas market. Houston's biggest source of international passenger traffic is Central and South America, and the number of visitors from those regions was down more than 11 percent in February over the same period a year earlier. Traffic from Mexico, another large market, declined slightly as well.

Jorge Franz, senior vice president for tourism at the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, has focused heavily on Mexico over the past year, following the launch of the organization's "Hola Houston" tourism promotion campaign last May. As part of that mission, he's been to Mexico four times, and says economic forces are behind the recent drop.

"The driving force behind the decrease is the strong dollar," Franz says. Although the peso has recently recovered some of the value it lost during the U.S. election, Mexican nationals are still seeing that their money doesn't go as far as it used to in the U.S., leading to a decline in cross-border shopping and business trips.

Nationally, the travel industry says it hasn't seen concrete evidence of a slowdown yet. But since international flights and hotel stays are usually booked several months in advance, the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group, says it's monitoring the situation.

Franz is doing that too.

"I would say there's genuine concern about whether the U.S. is welcoming of Mexicans," Franz says. "All I can tell you at this point is that the way that America projects itself around the world, and how it impacts travel to Houston, is something that the whole travel industry is watching very closely."
Donald Barthelme, who wrote the sex-charged version of "Snow White" playing at Catastrophic Theatre and the CounterCurrent 17 festival, is one of the nation's best-known postmodern writers and one of Houston's favorite sons. The short-story writer and novelist grew up here, moved to New York to build his career, then returned to teach writing, continuing his family's long association with the University of Houston.

His father, the modern architect Donald Barthelme Sr., taught architecture at UH and at Rice University. After Donald Jr. attended UH, he served in the U.S. Army and wrote for the Houston Post. In the early 1960s, he spent a year as director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Then he moved to New York and almost immediately started writing for a national audience.
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CounterCurrent 17, the Mitchell Center for the Arts' fourth annual festival of experimental art and performance, promises to lead participants into some provocative territory.

They can step into the world of a Syrian refugee camp. See what happens when an Argentine guy who performs Japanese kabuki crosses paths with a Japanese guy devoted to Spanish flamenco. Hear stories about Chicana art activism and the Chicken Ranch. Step into a dark ballroom that only lights up when they approach sculptures.

University of Houston's Mitchell Center may not have a physical space to brag about like Rice University's Moody Center for the Arts, but it has built something even more important: a track record of stimulating projects that engage communities beyond the campus confines.

CounterCurrent 17 keeps the vibe flowing with five days of experiences at six venues, not counting the roving route Ghana Think Tank will take. In keeping with tradition, they range from intimate interactions to large-scale spectacles across a range of disciplines - dance, spoken word, theater, visual art, film and activist-based performances. Some require standing; others are seated performances. Reservations are required for some events but admission is free.

Cultural identity and tolerance are big themes this year, including three projects related to refugee issues and perceptions of Islam - something CounterCurrent has addressed from the beginning.

"We're really interested in being plugged into what's around us. But we didn't know what the political landscape would be when we started planning this programming," said director Karen Farber.

Here's what's on tap:

More Information CounterCurrent 17 When: Tuesday-April 23, times vary Where: MATCH, 3400 Main, and other locations Tickets: Free, reservations required; countercurrentfestival.org See More Collapse

"Movement V: Ballroom," noon-8 p.m. Tuesday-April 23, Eldorado Ballroom, 2310 Elgin

American artist Kevin Beasley, whose sculpture, installation, sound and video works have been shown at major museums across the country, transforms Project Row Houses' historic Eldorado Ballroom with the latest installation of his "Movement" series. He will perform within the space on Saturday, but the installation is open all five days of the festival for visitors to experience on their own. In the dark, Beasley's 16 sculptural objects will light up as they respond to movement around them.

"Our engagement with darkness is what generates visibility," Beasley has said.

His novel assemblages often combine his personal clothing ephemera, studio debris and sound samples loaded with cultural references. Since 2013, he has been using his body as part of his practice, too - thinking about the politics of his presence as a black body in relationship to the space, objects and other people.

"Simulacrum," 7 p.m. Tuesday-April 20, MATCH, 3400 Main

What part do passion, identity and mortality play in the making of art? This dance-theater work by Alan Lucien Oyen and his Norwegian movement collective winter guests aims to prompt those thoughts. The performance pairs Daniel Proietto, an up-and-coming contemporary choreographer and dancer who also has work in this weekend's Dance Salad Festival, with 77-year old Shoji Kojima. The twist: Proietto, an Argentinean who lives in Europe, will be in full kabuki mode. And Kojima, a native of Japan, devotes his life to flamenco.

"Stories of Refuge," MATCH, 3400 Main; and "Camp Pause," The Brandon at Brasil, 1709 Westheimer; noon-8 p.m. Tuesday-April 23

Dictaphone Group, a research and performance collective led by artist Tania El Khoury and architect Abir Saksouk, presents a pair of video installations built from interviews with Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

For "Stories of Refuge," they gave discreet cameras to three Syrian refugees who filmed a day in their lives at a camp in Munich. Khoury's interviews with them, describing horrific journeys of survival, form the soundscape. The audience watches from bunk beds in a room set up to mimic a refugee camp.

"Camp Pause" plays out across four walls. Viewers wear headphones to listen as four Palestinian residents of the Rashidieh Refugee Camp on the coast of Lebanon lead them to the seashore.

"Snow White," 8 p.m. April 20-April 22, MATCH, 3400 Main

Catastrophic Theatre's world premiere production of Donald Barthelme's postmodern manuscript is ongoing, but the Mitchell Center provided major funding, so three days of free performances are folded into the festival. Farber couldn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate Barthelme, a literary titan who helped bring University of Houston's graduate creative writing program to national prominence in the 1980s. The production also involves students from the school of theater and dance.

"The Miraculous in Houston," all hours Tuesday-April 23, UH central campus, entrance 16 off Cullen

Painter and writer Heather Bause, a Houston native who teaches design at City University of New York, works from a rather large canvas for this innovative conceptual art installation: It unfolds at 50 locations across the UH campus, inspired by Rachel Rubenstein's 2014 book "The Miraculous," whose short stories recount acts from 50 years of avant-garde and contemporary art. Grab a map to see it all, or take your chances and be surprised.

"Farmhouse/Whorehouse," 7 p.m. April 21, 3 and 7 p.m. April 22, MATCH, 3400 Main

Lili Taylor performs as author/artist Suzanne Bocanegra in this lecture-inspired performance that uses text, song, costume, film and projections to tell the story of Bocanegra's grandparents, who lived on a farm in La Grange, across the road from the infamous Chicken Ranch. Part memoir, part social history and part cultural essay, this is the final installment of a trilogy that began during CounterCurrent 14.

"Current Conversations," noon Wednesday-April 22, MATCH, 3400 Main

Houston artist Carrie Schneider moderates daily discussions between festival artists, scholars and creative thinkers. These sessions offer a deeper dive into the festival's compelling topics, and the audience can ask questions and interact.

"Ghana Think Tank," daily, Tuesday-April 23, various locations

Check the CounterCurrent website to see where this activist art project is headed. At last year's festival, participants were asked, "What's your Houston diversity problem?" Those comments went to residents of Mumbai's Sathe Negar slums, artists from Iran and Mexico, medical students in Gaza, hackers from Indonesia and Syrian refugees in Serbia and Germany. Now Ghana Think Tank has realized one of the suggested solutions, a mobile mosque that will roam the city.

"Ten Tiny Dances," 8 p.m. Wednesday, Post HTX, 401 Franklin

The festival opens with the return of a popular challenge for choreographers: create a dance that takes place within a 4-by-4-foot platform. Co-curated by Nancy Wozny, this year's program features dances by artists from across Texas, including Charles O. Anderson, John Beasant III, Roxanne Claire, Erica Gionfriddo/ARCOS, Courtney D. Jones, Alisa Mittin, SpareWorks.dance (Amber Ortega-Perez and Charles Perez), Joshua L. Peugh/Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, Sixto Wagan and Connor Walsh.

"Illusions of Urbanscape," 6:30 p.m. April 20, Quintero Theater, UH Central campus, entrance 16 off Cullen

Subversively funny Chicano performance artist Harry Gamboa Jr., who has examined Los Angeles' "urbanscape" for more than 40 years, normally doesn't announce where he'll show up next. Many of his works are intimate but publicly staged narratives that are documented with photography and video, then shared later. He'll explain during this performance-lecture about the notion of myth in contemporary society, part of a yearlong speaker series hosted by the UH school of art and the Blaffer Art Museum.

"Current Visions," noon April 23, Aurora Picture Show, 2442 Bartlett

The festival finale invites viewers into the heads of the artists who've work they've witnessed. For this screening, each artist has selected a short film that inspires them, opening windows into their creative processes.
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Visit Gilbert Flores at his home on the north side of Houston and you'll see a lot of photographs of family members near cars.

"This was a way of life for us," he said. "I was born in it, I guess you could say. My uncle had one of the first lowrider bikes in Houston."

Part of that lifestyle includes meet ups, events where people can congregate with their prized rides to show them off or commune with like-minded enthusiasts.

As president of the Bayou City Car Club, Flores decided to continue a tradition of holding car meet ups around the release of new Hollywood movies that celebrate car culture - and feature a lowrider or two.

For most casual fans of car culture, that probably means getting revved up about the "Fate of the Furious," the latest in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, which opens Friday. The films contemporized big-screen street racing in the early 2000s, showcasing a side of the culture that celebrated foreign cars tricked out for racing performance. It also has had a few lowriders rolling down the road.

But for Flores and a lot of lowriders the next car movie is the one they're excited about. That's "Low Riders," out next month, which marks the first time since the 1970s that a mainstream Hollywood film focused on Chicano culture and its iconic cars.

Of course "Low Riders," which was filmed in Los Angeles, has received its share of bad publicity due to the common Hollywood theme of linking gang violence to lowrider culture. Co-starring Texan Eva Longoria and Mexican actor Demian Beshir, the movie treads on similar tones, ones that led to an outcry against the film for stereotyping Los Angeles Chicanos at a time when most of their Southern California neighborhoods are fighting against rapid gentrification.

"We're in a day and time where you see things like that," Flores said.

But get past the stereotypes and common characterizations of Chicanos and you see how lowrider culture is a community expression of Chicano-ness in the Southwest, said Jonathan Kuntz of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

You could say the same about cars and cinema, in general.

Hollywood hot rods

An expert in cinema and film history, Kuntz said custom body design for cars started in the 1920s, with much of the foundation cemented in Tinseltown.

Names like Harvey Earl, a Hollywood-born designer who was hired by Cadillac and brought to Detroit, influence early automobile design, Kuntz said.

Some 20 years later, the New Jersey-born Howard A. "Dutch" Darrin moved to Hollywood via Paris, France, where he had built a car business. Darrin helped further develop car design, working on projects for celebrities and movie companies.

But it wasn't until the '40s and '50s that teens started to add their own stamp to car culture, with hot rods, dragsters and, eventually, lowriders.

"Rebel Without a Cause," featuring a custom Mercury, and teenage exploitation films led the way for custom cars and street racing in movies. Meanwhile, "Bullet" with Steve McQueen racing around San Francisco, became a landmark car film.

"Hollywood, by being in Southern California, has been at the heart and the origin of art-car culture, and we can particularly pick out here the lowriders," Kuntz said. "This is an evolution of the 1940s and 1950s, a kind of working-class Mexican-Americans in the Southern California area who took low-priced used cars, oftentimes, and styled them in a particular lowrider way so they could cruise around in style in their neighborhoods, usually on Friday and Saturday nights."

Flores said the narrative of lowrider culture doesn't start with the West Coast.

"I just know that that's been a lifelong debate of whether Texas created it, or California," Flores said, laughing. "We could go back and forth on that all day."

Flores said he expects more than 100 people to come out to a lowrider showcase and private screening of "Low Riders," which comes out May 12.

To set up the event Flores contacted a fellow Houston-area car enthusiast named Gilbert Rico.

Cars are family

Rico, who lives in Cypress, created the Wet Dreams VW car club, an offshoot of his obsession with Volkswagen cars. His club, a formal car guys meet up, focuses on fixing and driving modified VW cars.

The IT technician, who works from home, is currently working on a Volkswagen EOS for his wife, who also appreciates car culture.

With his children already out of high school and a wife who is OK with them spending the more than $20,000 it sometimes takes to modify a car, Rico said that being in a Volkswagen club is one of the best things in his life.

He's won prizes with his 2013 Volkswagen Jetta GLI he calls the "Zombie Killer" because of the printed graphics of people battling zombies that wrap around the vehicle.

For Rico, getting together with his group of 20 or so fellow drivers is a common thing, either going to car shows, car meets locally or heading out to Austin or Dallas for a show.

"Our calendar is pretty booked this year so far," Rico said about car shows and car meets he's hosting or attending. "But, I'm going to be honest, I'm not a fan of the 'Fast and the Furious.' "

Really?

"They went from street racers to Seal Team 6," Rico said.

But there is an element of the franchise that still resonates and reflects Rico's group of car enthusiasts.

"My home has become a unofficial clubhouse. and we often barbecue and just hang out, we have some great times," Rico said. "It always reminds me of the time in the first movie when they sat down to break bread as a family."

Not about racing

For the opening of "The Fate of the Furious," Rico's club is hosting a car meet up along with Houston Underground Races, a club with thousands of members formed by Houston resident Christian Valdez.

Valdez who is 27, remembers the days not too long ago when cruising around Westheimer Boulevard would often lead to whispers of illegal races that would eventually lead to activity on a stretch of highway somewhere. He said his brand is more about the car lifestyle. But in the past, Valdez said he and his Mustang were no stranger to fellow street racers.

If you're into cars in Houston, the acronym for his club, HUR, might be familiar. The group does weekly car meets in Spring and other locations. But HUR isn't about racing, it's more about automobile appreciation.

"The racing, other people do that. You need to have a fast car to know about those places," he said. "If they don't know you, they wouldn't invite you to the real underground races."

Giving the local car community a place to come and park and show off vehicle modifications that are often made at the expense of a lot sweat equity, is the aim for these car enthusiasts, and it's also the exact kind of person these car-culture movies are aimed at.

Young males are a demographic of Hollywood, said Kuntz of UCLA. Car movies are going to attract that core audience.

In fact, for Flores, and his fellow Houston lowriders on the north side, seeing their favorite kind of cars on screen will have a deeper meaning. Something attached to their culture and to all the times they gassed up their vehicles to cruise Irvington Boulevard on a warm summer night, rides that continue to this day.

"Some people have photos of family members lying around," Flores said. "We have pictures of cars."
The newish live-action "Beauty and the Beast" movie  which you have seen, admit it  is lovely, but it has a small problem.

Let's call it, for reasons I'll get to shortly, the Picard Perplex.

The first version of "Beauty and the Beast," drawn from an older story, was written in 1740 by a Frenchwoman, Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. This movie, appropriately, takes place in an imaginary version of 18th-century France. A great deal of care has gone into making the settings, such as the village of (nice nod) Villeneuve, look somewhat authentic, or at least Disney-authentic, and have a rococo, Watteau-like look.

But the actors  except, weirdly, Stanley Tucci, who clearly didn't read his email  speak in British accents.

In movies, Nazis, hobbits, you name it, anybody not driving a muscle car, they tend to sound British. In and of itself, that's fine. Moviegoers are used to the British accent as the default "other," from the "Lord of the Rings" movies on. When the source material is written by a Brit, it makes a kind of sense.

The British accent, though, is even the go-to stand-in for the French accent, as in "Les Miserables," "Hugo" and "Tintin," among other movies. I'm told the same is true of the "Assassin's Creed" video game, though I'm more likely to be turned into a teapot than be caught playing it.

Again, this makes a little sense. Fake French accents often sound ludicrous  and hardly ever like actual French. Inspector Clouseau, I never liked you.

There's a problem, though. If the actors are going to speak Britishly, that has a tendency to bleed oddly into other aspects of a movie. "Beauty and the Beast" sometimes forgets to be French. To cite a bizarre example: In one scene, the blowhard Gaston is speaking with his sidekick, LeFou. LeFou uses the common French phrase je ne sais quoi, only to have Gaston respond that he has no idea what that means.

Laurie Sparham/HONS

Super confusing! They are French, and clearly meant to be conversing in French, so how would Gaston not know such a simple phrase? (And how can somebody like LeFou, apparently speaking French, include a phrase in even-more-Frenchy-French? I need to lie down.)

The bookish heroine, Belle, loves Shakespeare and quotes him at length. It would be too much to expect her to like Moliere or Racine instead, but, um, is she bilingual? Reading in translation? (And is the Beast bilingual? Anybody?)

And why are these French people so obsessed with tea?

I know, I know. It's a kids' movie. I'm overthinking. It has enchantments and sorceresses and talking knickknacks, so why expect fealty to French language and culture?

This is where I take a swing at another cultural icon: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Everyone loves Picard, and everyone loves Patrick Stewart, the actor who played him.

Picard is supposed to be French. Stewart is British. Fine. Yet again, we're used to that. But over the years of the series, the Picard character grew into the least French Frenchman ever. He played a penny whistle and drank Earl Grey tea. Hot. (The British are obsessed with keeping tea hot.) This could be explained away by a London childhood or some such, but at one point Picard visits his (also very Britishy) brother at his vineyard in Gascony, so no.

Historically, the British and French haven't gotten along especially well. I recently spoke to a woman who fell ill in Paris but didn't see a doctor until she got to London. Her doctor told her she had "Parisian flu." I didn't have the heart to tell her that in Paris, it was probably called London flu.

Somehow, our movies have caught London flu.

The lesson, such as it is, might be this: Britain built an empire, and they're going to plant a flag wherever they go. But do we have to be so clueless as to let them?

Bookmark Gray Matters. It has no idea what je ne sais quoi means, either.


On March 29, when I read the news that 13 people were killed and one person severely injured in Texas when a young man crashed into the bus bringing them home from a church trip to a state park, my heart immediately sank.

You see, March 29 this year was a particularly difficult day for me as well, as it would have been my daughter Patty's 39th birthday. I say "would have" because she was killed at the age of 10 on her way back home from a church trip to an amusement park in what became known as the most deadly drunk driving crash in United States' history, the Kentucky Bus Crash.

Preventable. Tragic. Horrific. These are all words that were used to describe the crash that killed my Patty almost 30 years ago, and they are the same words being used to describe the crash in Uvalde.

And now, there are reports that the young man was allegedly driving under the influence of prescription drugs, and the car was found with evidence of marijuana use.

It's my hope that this crash brings about greater awareness to the perils that exist on our roadways and shines a light on what we know is a growing issue  drugged driving  much in the same way we did with drunk driving with our founding in 1980. The reality is, while the substances are different, the results are the same  needless deaths and injuries.

The Kentucky Bus Crash was a watershed moment in MADD's history. It significantly changed the tenor of the national conversation around drunk driving. It's my hope that the Texas Bus Crash might do the same for drugged driving.

Driving under the influence of any intoxicating substance is dangerous and it is deadly. It must stop. MADD calls on all Americans to demand an end to the carnage on our roads by taking a pledge on www.madd.org/txbuscrash to Stand with the #TexasBusCrash victims.

As for me, I am sadly resigned to the fact that March 29 will now likely be a day those families never forget. Because first there is the crash ... and then the lifelong impact that will change lives forever.

Karolyn Nunnallee was the 1998-99 president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the nation's largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

Bookmark Gray Matters. It's like a church trip to a state park.
After mastering the art of the mega-sized convenience store, the people at Buc-ee's are apparently going after the world record for the world's longest car wash.

According to Jeff Nadalo, the company's general counsel, Buc-ee's will debut a 225-foot-long tunnel-style car wash at the Katy location, which is currently in the last phases of construction at 27700 Katy Freeway.

NOW HIRING: What it's like to work for Buc-ee's

"We are currently applying for a Guinness World Record for the car wash," Nadalo told Chron.com on Thursday. "We haven't found a longer car wash anywhere else."

The Katy location, set to open this summer, is currently hiring staff ahead of the debut.

The Katy Buc-ee's is hiring for the following positions: Car wash attendant, cleaning and maintenance attendant, warehouse stocker, merchandise associate, cashier, food service, overnight assistant food service manager and assistant merchandise manager.

Beaver Aplin, Buc-ee's co-founder, previously said that the travel center will be between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet and have 100 gas pumps.

The tunnel car wash will move vehicles through on a conveyor belt system. This one will be 75 yards long, meaning that it will be able to serve plenty more cars than a standard car wash of its kind.

Michael Ciaglo Michael Ciaglo/Staff

It will also come with a back-up battery power source that will service both it and store itself in the event that power is down in the area during an emergency.

BEAVER CHAT: 'Meet the Press' mix politics with Buc-ee's, Texas fans go insane on Twitter

A German car wash was billed as the world's largest in 2014, so Buc-ee's might have some competition.

It was also reported this week that the chain is expanding to Daytona Beach, Florida. A 35-acre plot of land is under contract and the plan is for this one to be the first out-of-Texas Buc-ee's.

Nadalo confirmed that the Daytona Beach location would feature plenty of Floridians' favorite products in addition to everything about Buc-ee's that Texans have grown to enjoy.

"We would like to be under construction in 2018," Nadalo said Thursday.

The chain dropped plans to open up a location in Baton Rouge late last year, saying that it needs a "critical mass" of stores to make moving into a new market beneficial for the company. It doesn't sound like all hope is lost for a Louisiana Buc-ee's though.

Founded in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Buc-ee's has grown to 32 locations.

Click through to see other people, places, and things in Texas that are in the Guinness Book of World Records...
Texas has its own amphibian, dinosaur and pepper, but no official state handgun.

Until now, if state Rep. Mike Lang, R-Granbury, has his way.

Lawmakers are primed to pull the trigger on a resolution that would designate the 1847 Colt Walker pistol, used in the Mexican-American War, as the state handgun of Texas.

Zachary Maxwell, Lang's chief of staff, said during the North Texan's election campaign he found the issue that voters cared about most was the Second Amendment.

"We've got state pie and we've got everything else, a state knife," Maxwell said, adding Lang thought the resolution, HCR 51, "would be a fun thing to do."

In the 1840s, a firearm designer and a Texas Ranger joined forces to create the Colt Walker pistol. Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Samuel Hamilton Walker designed the weapon to be used for the Texas Rangers, Maxwell said.

Only 1,100 pistols were produced, and almost all were sold to military members, said former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the author of the state's concealed carry law and an avid collector of historic firearms. He added that civilians at the time probably didn't know the firearm even existed.

The Colt Walker, often referred to as the Walker Colt, did not use bullets and was instead loaded with black powder and a round ball. It weighed 4.5 pounds and had a long barrel.

"It's not exactly a concealed carry," Patterson said. "You put the holster on your waist and it might just pull your britches off."

Texas would join eight other states with designated guns - Utah, Alaska, West Virginia, Indiana, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky - if the resolution is approved this session.

By the 1860s, lighter firearms were invented, leaving little use for the Colt Walker, which was "just too damn heavy," Patterson said. Maxwell said Lang chose the pistol for designation because of its historical significance.

"Captain Walker carried two of them," he said, adding that Samuel Colt once declared the pistol was "so big, only a Texan could carry it."

A similar resolution proposed by Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, would designate the cannon as the official state gun of Texas. He cites the 1835 Battle of Gonzales, where Texans cried: "Come and take it!" when Mexican soldiers tried to steal their cannon, in his resolution.

"I thought that was a bad idea because that's a cannon, not a gun," Patterson said.

Lang's bill has been referred to the House's Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee for a hearing. Lang's team expects it to go through without much fuss.
Thirty-six men shared Douglas Menjivar's pod inside Joe Corley Detention Facility in Conroe, where he was locked up with other immigrants waiting for courts to review his asylum claim.

The burly mechanic had been in Corley about three months when he says he was jumped in the middle of the night - raped by one violent offender as another watched in the worst of two attacks in September and October 2013. After the second incident, he ran and fell hard, hitting his head. A 2-inch scar remains visible beneath his close-cropped hair.

Menjivar and his former attorney, Afton Izen, say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did little to investigate the alleged assaults - though he reported them on two different occasions. At first, they say, an ICE supervisor called him "stupid" and left him in the pod with his attackers.

Ultimately, in an internal affairs review, ICE's own deportation and detention agents concluded there was insufficient evidence to support Menjivar's allegations, according to a one-page letter of response to his complaint delivered on Feb. 20, 2015 by his deportation officer. Greg Palmore, a Houston-based ICE spokesman, confirmed an investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility "did not corroborate the allegation."

Nationwide, ICE holds about 40,000 immigrants, 60 percent of whom are housed in for-profit prisons like Corley. ICE claims it closely monitors conditions inside all government facilities and private detention centers and even offers a sexual assault hot line. Customs and Border Patrol has additional detention facilities at ports of entry.

Menjivar's case, activists say, is part of a broader pattern that shows that the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, as well as ICE and CBP, have not done enough to protect isolated detainees from sexual assaults and abuse - or to investigate complaints that flood into the OIG every year. His case and others are included in a civil rights complaint filed this week by the California-based non-profit Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement that seeks more accountability and reforms.

"I think the people who experience assault in detention centers are stuck in a really tough place because on the one hand if they report they fear reprisals from the perpetrators," said Orlando Lara, a Houston-based activist who has worked with local detainees. "Not only does ICE ignore these claims, it doesn't provide them with any type of protection when they do make these reports other than putting them in solitary confinement, which is more a form of punishment for speaking than protection."

1 percent investigated

Nationally, 33,126 complaints were filed against DHS agencies involving alleged assaults, abuse and sexual assault against immigrants in custody between January 2010 and July 2016. But only 247 complaints - about 1 percent - were formally investigated by the agency's OIG, according to public records obtained from DHS as part of the non-profit's complaint.

In an email response to the Houston Chronicle, Gillian M. Christensen, acting press secretary for DHS, said the group's complaint will be reviewed to "determine if further action or recommendations are warranted. But she argued that the data "regarding purported sexual abuse and sexual harassment" at detention facilities is "grossly inaccurate."

Christensen said that all reports of sexual harassment and assault by detainees are taken seriously but generally get investigated by other divisions - and only rarelyby the agency's OIG since that office "generally focuses on cases involving alleged employee misconduct."

"During the six-year time frame covered by this report, ICE, for instance, recorded more than 2 million admissions to its detention facilities nationwide," Christensen said. "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."

Rebecca Merton, program coordinator for CIVIC, the non-profit, defended the report's allegations as based on DHS's own data.

"If the statistics are inaccurate, it is only because DHS has not properly tracked sexual assault complaints," she said. "We filed a (Freedom of Information Act request) with ICE for its statistics on sexual assault complaints, but ICE failed to comply.  This is why we are asking Congress to mandate that DHS proactively and quarterly publish information on all reported complaints of sexual abuse in DHS facilities, without compromising confidentiality. This information should include actions taken and investigation outcomes."

Houston 2nd in complaints

The report explores in detail 1,016 complaints of sexual assault and abuse made by immigrants in 76 facilities run by the government or by private contractors between May 2014 and July 2016. Some complaints involved attacks by government employees; others detainees or contract prison workers. Some matters were referred to other agencies. OIG investigators formally investigated only 24 cases and found only seven cases to be "substantiated."

The OIG office in Tucson received the most complaints - 120 - followed by Houston with 89. None of the 89 complaints reviewed in Houston resulted in full OIG investigations, Merton said.

Another immigrant allegedly assaulted in Texas detention centers was a teenage girl who reported being sexually abused in the Karnes County Residential Center. Her complaint was declared to be "unfounded" though a medical exam showed indications of vaginal scarring and sexually transmitted disease, records show.

More than 80 percent of those immigrants who complained to the Inspector General about sexual abuse or assault in detention centers since 2014 were men.

Menjivar lent his name to CIVIC's report though he remains in legal limbo and fears retaliation.

"I want people to understand what has happened to me and other immigrants in detention. When someone loses a hand, you can see it. But what was broken inside me, no one can see it," Menjivar said.

Corley praised in audit

Menjivar arrived in Texas on May 19, 2013 from El Salvador, where he had received death threats after assisting police in an investigation. He has no criminal history, but was detained by border officials whose records showed he'd previously lived in the United States and had been issued a deportation order in absentia. He appeared on a fast-track for deportation until he met Izen, a Houston attorney who thought he had a chance at winning an asylum claim.

Most deportees at Corley spent an average of 39 days locked up in a maze of white-washed cells lit only by artificial light. But Menjivar's asylum case lingered for two years before it was ultimately denied. Life was complicated in the crowded 36-person pod, which included detainees, like Menjivar, with only immigration offenses wearing light blue scrubs - as well as convicted criminals, violent offenders and gang members clad in orange or red.

In an April 2013 audit, ICE inspectors had praised the facility for having established "a designated Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention and Intervention Coordinator and a Sexual Abuse Response Team" that included a coordinator, health services administrator, mental health professional and administrator. Auditors interviewed inmates at that time and found no recent assaults, but cited Corley for improperly mixing detainees with a violent criminal history with those who had only violated immigration laws.

Mocked by ICE supervisor

Menjivar said after he was assaulted in the pod in September and October 2013 he immediately sought treatment for a very visible head injury. But he said an ICE supervisor to whom he reported the assault mocked him and offered no medical or mental health treatment. He was left in the cell.

Weeks later, Menjivar participated in a hunger strike at Corley that received national publicity. As a protester, Menjivar didn't discuss the attacks but complained of other conditions in the facility, where detainees worked for $1 a day and had been fed spoiled food. During the strike he met Houston nurse and activist Hope Sanford. He confided in her, and she urged him to again seek treatment and to report the assaults. When he was transferred to another ICE detention facility, he tried again.

This time, Menjivar received help. He was treated for his head injury, which caused blurred vision and headaches, diagnosed with a sexually-transmitted disease and with post-traumatic stress disorder, medical records show. But he was also put in an isolation cell, which seemed like punishment. Two ICE agents questioned him. By then, his attackers had already been deported. Within days, Menjivar says the case was closed. Sanford wrote to members of Congress, to the U.S. Attorney's office to the FBI and to ICE leaders on his behalf.

Eventually Menjivar was released. But he remains in a legal limbo and has been ordered to continue to check in with ICE. He reports again today.
AUSTIN -- The judge presiding over Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal trial plans to remain on the case, regardless of Paxton's request for a new judge, his spokesman said.

"He anticipates remaining the judge," District Judge George Gallagher's spokeswoman Melody McDonald Lanier told the Houston Chronicle Thursday.

Paxton's criminal defense team requested a new judge after Gallagher moved Paxton's criminal trial to Harris County from Paxton's home of Collin County, a move the attorney general's lawyers opposed. Special prosecutors argued the attorney general's allies had worked to poison the jury pool there.

Lawyers representing the embattled Republican attorney general said in a motion Tuesday they would refuse to sign off on a procedural move in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to to keep Gallagher with the case at it moves to Harris County.

Asked for comment about Paxton's motion to remove him as the case's judge, Gallagher's spokeswoman said "He can't comment because he is the judge and he anticipates remaining the judge."

Any challenge to Gallagher staying on the bench, if appealable, likely would be routed to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas or the 1st or 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, according to David Slayton, administrative director at the Office of Court Administration in Austin.

He said he has found no appellate case law pertaining to the code Paxton is using to justify a request for a new judge.

Other legal experts agree and say Paxton's use of the code is rare.

"As far as I know, there is nothing in the Code of Criminal Procedure that addresses what is to happen if the defendant or defense counsel withholds the consent to which article 31.09 refers," said George Dix, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, referring to the code Paxton cited in his motion. "No case, as far as I know, has addressed the meaning of this provision."

Paxton was indicted in July 2015 on two first-degree felony counts of securities fraud and one third degree felony charge for failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. His criminal trial has been set to begin Sept. 12 in Harris County.
In 1839, long before Texas had to compete in a global economy, the Congress of the Republic of Texas ordered that a site be set aside to meet the state's higher education needs. In 1876 - a time when few Texans held jobs that required higher education - the framers of that Texas Constitution directed the Legislature to create a university "of the first class." During an agricultural era when most made their living as farmers, state leaders dedicated land to create a permanent fund to support the university.

Today, Texas' proud tradition of support for higher education is in tatters. The Texas Senate has proposed slashing public funding for four-year colleges by an additional 4 to 6 percent. Unlike their forebears, this generation of senators isn't committed to making sure the opportunities of the next generation exceed their own.

The House's budget draws $2.5 billion for higher education from the rainy day fund, which lawmakers created to help out during fiscal downturns. But if the Senate budget prevails, its short-sighted approach to education will have a long-term negative impact on the state's higher education graduation rates, workforce capacity and quality of life.

So if it's not going for a "first class" higher education system, what standard is the Senate guided by? Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, articulated it at a recent hearing on a bill that would limit tuition increases for Texas colleges and universities. "I just hopewe can try and keep some of these universities whole," said Nichols, who voted for passage of the Senate bill, as reported by Chronicle reporter Lindsay Ellis. He also noted, "We're kind of crippling them as we go."

Contrast Jackson's "hope-we-can-keep-them-whole" and "don't-cripple-them-too-much" approach to the foresight of other states and cities that are expanding higher educational opportunities for their residents.

As pointed out Wednesday by Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson, New York's lawmakers voted last week to grant free tuition to any resident from a low- or even middle-income family who is accepted. New York boosted spending on public higher education by 6.3 percent to $7.5 billion a year, while allowing colleges and universities to raise tuition $200 a semester.

Similarly in February, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to make free college available to all residents, regardless of income. Tennessee, Oregon and Minnesota already provide free two-year college programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

While other regions are busy creating a pipeline to the middle class, Texas is going the opposite direction. The Senate cuts aren't going to trim fat; these proposed cuts will hit the bone.

Reductions will likely result in fewer Texans getting the opportunity to attend and graduate from colleges and universities. The undernourished budget could diminish the educational experience for students by necessitating larger classes, less innovative equipment and fewer top-flight professors. Finally, the cuts will diminish universities' ability to attract and retain great scientists.

The Texas Senate budget fails to sustain the ground-breaking research that is going on statewide. To take one example: At age 94, Dr. John Goodenough at the University of Texas at Austin and his team are trying to revolutionize global transportation with a new kind of battery that would transform electric cars.

While Goodenough and other professors around the state are experimenting with transformational ideas for the betterment of mankind, the Texas Senate is experimenting with mediocrity. How fast will university standards sink as institutions' budgets are cut? What does it take to turn top-tier universities into lower-tier ones? While university professors like Goodenough are thinking big all around the state, the Texas Senate is thinking small.

Former Gov. John Connally, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party, continued the tradition of Texans who dreamed of helping the next generation achieve more than the one before. "He spent a lot of money on mental health and education...," Robert S. Strauss, the former Democratic national chairman, was quoted as saying in Connally's 1993 New York Times obituary.

For over a century, outstanding Texas universities and colleges have been a matter of state pride, transcending ideology or party. That alone will not move lawmakers, but the state's future should. Cut higher education resources further, and we assuredly will be racing our economy to the bottom.
The faces in the paintings have a haunting quality, eyes that have seen too much, souls that may have suffered too much. The portraits, which are collected in President George W. Bush's new book, "Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors," are surprisingly masterful depictions of disabled veterans who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Painting, Bush writes in his introduction, was a bridge from the intensity of the presidency to the quieter life of a private citizen. But to an outside observer, it could be seen as a salve for the difficult residue of a job where life and death decisions are the norm and their repercussions never quite leave you. They are also a testament to the power of art as the reflection of a culture and its history.

Which brings us to the current administration's determination to eliminate funding for the arts. President Trump's proposed budget zeroes out the National Endowment for the Art's $148 million appropriation, a pittance in the context of a $3.8 trillion national budget.

The grants distributed through the NEA are relatively small; Houston institutions and groups received about $800,000 in grants in 2016. Much of it went to smaller enterprises that likely would not survive without the funding, much of that for neighborhood events, veteran's programs and to introduce youngsters to art. Here, a brief sample:

American Festival for the Arts, $15,000, to support the Summer Music Conservatory, a music education program for students from the greater Houston area.

Diaz Music Institute, $15,000, to support the Latin Jazz/Afro Caribbean Summer Workshop and Concert Series, including workshops and concerts at several Houston-area locations for at-risk elementary, middle and high school students.

Houston Grand Opera Association, Inc., $25,000, to support an online platform for The Veterans Songbook, a showcase for songs and stories by veterans created in collaboration with composers and media artists.

Houston Youth Symphony & Ballet, $15,000, to support a twice-weekly after-school education program for elementary students learning violin, viola, cello or bass. Instruments are provided free, along with a nutritious snack and homework assistance.

Inprint, Inc., $10,000, to support the annual Margaret Root Brown Reading Series, which features readings and on-stage interviews with accomplished authors.

The money provided in each case is insufficient to support the institution or group, but when leveraged with funds from the state, city or private sources, as required by the NEA, it makes the efforts possible.

The NEA isn't the only arts and humanities program in the Trump Administration's crosshairs. The proposed budget would also eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities ($148 million), the Institute of Museums and Library Services ($230 million), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($445 million). Houston is a city known for its generous philanthropy. With proposed cuts to a broad swath of programs that fund not only the arts but also health care and education, private dollars will be spread painfully thin.

President Bush didn't need an NEA grant to pursue his artistic ambitions. But many small communities across the state may find themselves unable to maintain libraries or museums or art and music programs for their young people. These losses are especially troublesome these days when the country is moving from an industrial to an information, knowledge-based economy that will rely more and more on creativity and innovation.

For all the elected officials in the U.S. Congress who believe that the shortest route to holding onto power is by pandering to a very small, rabidly tax-cutting base, we offer a reminder. NEA grant money goes to every Congressional district in America. The bucks are few but the bang is huge, the votes are many, and the advocates are powerful. Is it really worth cutting that $148 million? We think not.
Police and tattoos

I was reading about the new Houston Police Department policy about tattoos going into effect this summer ("New HPD policy lets tattoos out from under cover," Page A1, March 31).

I was an HPD officer in the '60s, and we had to wear long-sleeve wool shirts and drive police cars with no air-conditioning. I don't think it would be all that painful to wear long-sleeve shirts in an air-conditioned cruiser this summer.

Paul Spillers, Houston

Negotiate and compromise

Regarding "Swamp water" letter (Page A15, Tuesday), the letter writer expresses concern that if President Trump doesn't stick with the Freedom Caucus, he'll be joining the swamp, not draining it. Ironically the Freedom Caucus, with its my-way-or-the-highway attitude that stops progress and creates endless delays, could arguably be considered the very definition of "swamp."

Congress exists to represent all citizens, not just the far right. Its job is to work together to negotiate compromises that will benefit as many people as possible. When the letter writer admonishes Trump for reaching out to moderate Republicans and Democrats, she is advocating for a position that will get us nowhere.

The failure to compromise will not be a win for the Freedom Caucus; it will cause a stalemate, creating a loss for everyone.

Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston

Gaining political power

Regarding "State should focus on voter education" (Page A15, Monday), the writers' concern that "Latino non-voters" do not fully understand the Voter ID laws is endearing but naive. Keeping Latinos and other minority groups away from the polls is the very purpose of such laws, sadly.

Scott Martin, Katy

The READ Act

Regarding "Violence motivated by hate is terrorism" (Page A19, Saturday), kudos to U.S. Rep. Pete Olson for reminding Texans of our history of welcoming people from all over the globe and urging us "to continue to set the example in standing united against terrorism in every form."

Olson and his colleagues in the House of Representatives in January took a significant step in combatting terrorism by passing the READ Act, legislation that supports access to education for the 59 million primary school-aged children who are currently out of school in the world's poorest places. Uneducated and impoverished children are highly vulnerable to recruitment for terrorist activities.

In partnership with dozens of other nations, the United States has been a leader in attacking barriers to basic education. The bipartisan READ Act, Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development, H.R. 601, will strengthen the accountability and transparency of the U.S. global basic education programs. It will ensure that our investments have the greatest impact and advance quality education for girls and children affected by conflict or emergencies.

After the White House budget called for a 30 percent cut in foreign assistance, 120 retired generals signed a letter to the White House and Congress stating that the funding of development programs is critical to keeping the United States safe. Education reduces poverty and promotes peace.

Claudia Morgan, Houston

'Correcting' a title

Regarding "Rice updates its lexicon, leaving 'master' in past" (Page A1, Wednesday), honestly, does the undergraduate dean John Hutchinson of Rice University really believe his statement, "In this country, unlike the UK, the term 'master' also carries a historical connotation." For an educated man to make this statement, he has overlooked the history of the UK that had kings, queens, princes, lords and others who were a 'master' to serfs, peasants and vassals.

This attempt to sanitize any potential offensive language is being carried to the extreme by the politically correct police.

Jude Wiggins, Houston
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 persons were killed but it was the sight of dying babies on TV ("it doesn't 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's been widely reported that the White House has asked the president's 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 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'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 Nixon to change course in Vietnam, nor even to make an emotional speech about the horror of war. Mr. 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 Richard 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 set aside. So much for babies.

Many of the president's 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.

I've met more people who support Trump on the same grounds. If they're 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, distributed by The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News.
After nearly three years of grappling with contaminated drinking water, the citizens of Flint, Mich. finally obtained some relief as a federal court approved a settlement last month mandating replacement of lead pipes.

However, lead in drinking water is not unique to Flint, and we must confront the sobering need to "get the lead out" here in Texas as well.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin. It is particularly damaging to children, who absorb as much as 90 percent more lead into their bodies than adults. Once ingested, lead flows from the blood to the brain, kidneys and bones. Yet children's organs and bones are immature and more vulnerable than adults; they also have an incomplete blood-brain barrier.

We have known for some time that high levels of lead can cause severe health impacts - including anemia, kidney disease, abnormal brain function and even death. Yet the medical science now confirms that even low levels of lead can cause permanent damage to our children.

Test results now show that lead is even contaminating drinking water in schools and pre-schools - flowing from thousands of fountains and faucets where our kids drink water every day.

Here in Texas, as more schools test their water, they are finding lead. According to an analysis by Environment Texas, 65 percent of Texas schools that have voluntarily tested have found lead levels greater than the standard recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Yet such confirmed cases of lead-laced water are likely just the tip of the iceberg. Most schools aren't even testing their water for lead. And we often only hear about "elevated" results - i.e., those showing more than 15 parts per billion of lead in the water. Yet there is no level of lead that's considered safe.

Some schools that have tested across the U.S. haven't followed proper protocols. For example, New York City schools ran their taps for two hours before testing, a technique known as "pre-stagnation flushing." After being criticized, NYC re-did the tests and found nine times as many sources of contamination.

Even properly done testing often fails to detect lead in water. Mark Edwards, the Virginia Tech expert who helped Flint residents uncover their tragedy, has even compared lead testing to Russian Roulette, where tests might find lead one day and give false negatives the next.

The reason for this pervasive problem is simple: All too often, the water delivery systems in our homes and schools are lined with lead - from the pipes to the plumbing and fixtures. In some cases, the service line, which brings water from the main pipe in the street into a home or school - is entirely made of lead.

So instead of waiting for more tests to confirm this toxin at the tap, we should take a more preventative approach, one that truly prioritizes children's health and safety.

The common-sense solution is to remove lead from pipes, plumbing and fixtures. And until we're sure that's 100 percent done, we can protect our children with filters certified to remove lead, at every tap used for drinking or cooking.

To be sure, undoing this toxic legacy throughout all of our communities will take time. But the first place for us to start is with our schools and daycares - and the places where our children go each day to learn and play.

Fortunately state Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, and state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, have introduced SB 1587 and HB 3695 to require water utilities to replace lead pipes in schools and require schools to regularly test water fountains and install filters.

As our nation rushed through more than a century of unprecedented economic growth, we allowed toxic health threats like lead to become embedded into the fabric of our lives. We allowed manufacturers to put this potent neurotoxin in our paint, gasoline and many other products.

For decades, public health officials have been working to undo the damage. Banning lead in gasoline removed a major source of toxic air pollution. Barring lead in paint stopped a major threat to children's health from becoming even worse, but we are still cleaning up the damage from millions of homes with lead paint, as well as related lead in dust and soil.

Yet until Flint, few of us were thinking about lead in the pipes and plumbing that bring drinking water right to our faucets. Now we know, and now we must act.

For the sake of our children's health, it's time to get the lead out here in Texas.

Metzger is director of Environment Texas, a statewide citizen-funded advocate for clean air, clean water and open spaces.
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According to Cassidy-Mackenzie, tracking the data can be as simple as setting up a spreadsheet but should include analysis on key groupings  such as comparable roles, graduate salaries, and rates of part-time workers compared to full-time workers  to identify where pay inequity lies.

Make a commitment

The Auckland-based diversity chief also encourages employers to be transparent about any existing pay gap and be vocal about what the company wants to achieve by when  its also effective to note who will be accountable if that doesnt happen.

Report your progress, or lack of it, back to your staff on a regular basis, she says. This should be done at least every six months. It signals you are serious about pay equity.

Structure your remuneration review process
Tulin ensi-iltaan ja jarkytyin  Kaija Saariahon silvottu ja kellariin unohdettu savellys loytyi nyt, kun saveltaja on maailmankuulu
Martin Coiteux, the Quebec Minister of Public Security, under the leadership of Philippe Couillard (PLQ), has introduced draft legislation that would give the government new powers to impose restrictions on certain dogs and their owners, including bans on specific breeds. The proposed legislation specifically targets pit bull type dogs and Rottweilers, as well as crosses of those breeds. Without scientific basis, the legislation arbitrarily declares these breeds as potentially dangerous. Regulations restricting the ownership of these breeds may be introduced later and the government announced its intention to eventually ban pit bull type dogs.

Ewa Demianowicz, campaign manager for Humane Society International/Canada, stated:

We are appalled by this senseless and archaic legislation that flies in the face of the best available science and expert advice. Breed specific legislation has been prohibited in 20 U.S. states because it is highly ineffective, costly and exposes governments and taxpayers to legal challenges. The proposed law will do nothing to increase public safety, and will divert public funding that could have been applied to proven solutions that would effectively reduce dog bites and attacks. Furthermore, it is highly irresponsible for the Quebec government to state its intentions on specific breeds when the provinces largest city, Montreal, is currently facing a legal challenge for that very reason.

Laws that regulate dog ownership based on breed, type of dog or size stem from false assumptions and have been proven ineffective in all jurisdictions where they were implemented. Moreover, they have very real negative impacts on families, on healthy and behaviorally sound dogs, and on the community. To increase public safety, we need laws that apply equally to all and that promotes responsible pet ownership regardless of breed.

We are calling on the Quebec government to amend the proposed legislation and remove breed-specific language in the draft law. Additionally, we encourage municipalities throughout the province to adopt a similar approach and reject policies we know dont work.

Support the efforts of HSI/Canada to prevent cruelty and save lives.

Facts:

There is no evidence that breed-specific laws reduce dog bites or attacks on people, and experts have found that no breed is more likely to bite than another. In fact, no jurisdiction has been able to prove that this kind of legislation has improved public safety.

Although Ontario adopted a province-wide ban on pit bull type dogs in 2005, since then, the number of severe dog bite related hospitalizations has increased.

Proper enforcement of laws that apply to all dog owners regardless of breed and access to pet services such as low cost spay/neuter and education have effectively reduced dog bites and attacks in other jurisdictions, like Calgary.

Twenty US states prohibit breed-specific laws.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the Ordre des medecins veterinaires du Quebec have clear position statements that do not support breed specific legislation.

Media Contact: Christopher Pare, 514 395-2914, cpare@hsi.org
Hundreds of massive icebergs have been spotted off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, in what could be the start of a record season.

Usually, iceberg season doesn't seriously heat up until early summer.

But there were already 481 icebergs in the region as of April 6, Canadian Coast Guard Ice Operations told The Canadian Press.

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"There are certainly a significant amount of icebergs out there. When you look at the iceberg chart it's truly incredible," the organization's acting superintendent of ice operations, Rebecca Acton-Bond, told CBC News.

Newfoundland resident Karan Bhatia captured a video of a stunning 80-metre-high iceberg near Ferryland (see it in the video above).

Were looking forward to a bumper iceberg year for sure. This a good sign," Capt. Barry Rogers of Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours told the Toronto Star.

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However what is good news for tourists is bad news for shipping lanes.

Ships have been forced to go far out of their way to avoid all of the icebergs this year, and an oil rig had a close call last month with an iceberg the size of a small office building.

With files from The Canadian Press

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A Toronto city councillor is speaking out after she received homophobic hate mail  on a day dedicated to raising awareness against bullying.

Kristyn Wong-Tam shared a photo of a handwritten letter Wednesday that was littered with homophobic and racial slurs. The councillor pointed out the irony that she received the hate mail on the International Day of Pink.

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WARNING: The following letters contain language that may offend readers.

The letter begins by calling homosexuality a "sin."

"I stand with millions of people to shut you f--got down," it continues. "Now with the police not at your f-g parade it makes it easy to hurt you all in a big way."

The city councillor also posted another photo of hate mail she was sent last year, which has similar handwriting and an equally awful message.

Here is last year's homophobic hate mail. Same handwriting, different return address.#DayofPinkpic.twitter.com/bcMS1lXOvy  Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) April 12, 2017

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Speaking to Global News, Wong-Tam said she's often targeted with hate because she's the only "out member of LGBT community that sits on city council" and a woman of colour.

Wong-Tam was also sent hateful letters in 2014 during the municipal election.

At the time, she said the letter was an example of radical and extremists out there," and that it didn't represent the views of most Torontonians who live in one of the world's most inclusive cities.

Toronto police are investigating the latest incident of hate mail, she told Global.

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Its not surprising that Canada would choose meaningful names for its provinces and territories, but thanks to a map created by Expedia Canada, we now know the exact origins of each.

While some are pretty obvious, such as British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, others reveal the Great White Norths fascinating history.

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Alberta, for instance, translates to Land of Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, who was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. According to the Government of Canadas website, Alberta was originally a district of the Northwest Territories in 1882, but became an official province in 1905. Its kept the same name ever since.

New Brunswick (Home of King George) and Prince Edward Island (Son of King George III) also got their names thanks to Canadas connection with British royalty. The former was named after King George III, who was also known as the Duke of Brunswick in a town in Germany, while the latter went by many names but was renamed after Prince Edward  the fourth son of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria  by the English in 1799.

A number of provinces and territories also originated from indigenous words. Ontario, for example, comes from the Iroquois word kanadario, meaning sparkling water, and Yukon comes from the native word Yu-kun-ah, meaning great river.

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Expedia also created a map of the U.S. revealing the name origins of the countrys states.

One standout name is Texas, which translates to friend. This is because the Mexican province used to be independent of the U.S. and was originally pronounced ta-shas. This pronunciation came from the name taysha  meaning friends  that was used by a Texas tribe called Caddo.

Visit the Government of Canada website to learn more about Canadas name origins, or visit here to learn more about the name origins of the U.S. states.
Being a mom is a full-time job. And just like with any other gig, the burnout can be real.

Regardless, many moms can sometimes feel a sense of guilt when it comes to taking time for themselves. And if you're on a tight budget, certain activities like spa days are just impossible.

With that in mind, we've rounded up five of the best, and most affordable, self-care tips that all moms can enjoy  because you deserve a break.

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Going for a walk not only helps to clear your mind and give you a moment of quiet, there are a lot of health benefits as well. Walking outdoors gives you a boost of vitamin D, increases circulation and oxygen supply, which in turn can make you happier! On top of that, it'll help tone your legs and tush.

What better way to get rid of the worries in your own world than to get lost in another one? In 2009, a study done at the University of Sussex found that reading for only six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by more than 68 per cent. So if you're having a crazy day, think about picking up that book you've been dying to read on your way back from the grocery store.

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"This is particularly poignant in uncertain economic times when we are all craving a certain amount of escapism," Dr. David Lewis, the man who conducted the research, told the Telegraph. "This is more than merely a distraction but an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate your creativity and cause you to enter what is essentially an altered state of consciousness."

It may sound silly, but keeping a diary or a journal is a good idea for adults too! Taking note of your day-to-day activities and accomplishments can help boost self-esteem, while writing down your biggest fears can work to combat stress and anxiety. Journalling even helps to increase creativity, which can make you into a happier person.

Taking a nap can be challenging for moms with children of any age. But even if you have to squeeze them in while the kids are away or your baby is asleep, they're a great way to take care of yourself. Studies have shown that napping can enhance our declarative memory, or our ability to recall facts, which is essential for all hardworking mothers.

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If you're a "Grey's Anatomy" fan, you've definitely seen Meredith and Cristina have random dance parties to relieve their troubles when it seems like their whole world is falling apart. And while they may look ridiculous for hopping around in a hospital on-call room, the pair may have been on to something.

In 2012, Swedish researchers found that dancing helps relieve physical pain as well as mental health concerns such as stress, depression and anxiety.

"Dance can result in high adherence and a positive experience for the participants," lead study author Anna Dubert said in a press release. "[This] might contribute to sustained new healthy habits."

So when the kids are asleep, or even out to play, feel free to crank up the music and go wild in your undies, mamas!

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Bottled water  and its sourcing and plastic packaging  has become a controversial product. Now, there's another reason you might want to avoid it.

Nestle, which is a major bottler of water in Canada, sources water from plants in Hope, B.C. and Aberfoyle, Ont. The plastic bottles then travel hundreds  sometimes thousands  of kilometres to be sold across the country, activists from the Council of Canadians have discovered.

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Bottles from Hope were found in stores as far away as Yellowknife, while those from Aberfoyle were on sale in St. Johns. And yes, the tap water in those places is perfectly drinkable.

So to compare, stores in Yellowknife were selling bottles from Hope  2,126 kilometres away  the citys tap water comes from Yellowknife River, which is eight kilometres away.

Trucking it thousands of kilometres across the country creates needless pollution and adds millions of empty plastic bottles to our landfill, said Robert Wilson from the Yellowknife chapter of the Council of Canadians in a press release.

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All that for the privilege of paying an astronomical markup to drink water thats not half as good or as fresh as what comes out of our taps for next to nothing.

Watch the video above to see how far Nestle's water bottles are shipped.

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No school lunch shaming for you!

More and more schools across the U.S. have been shaming kids who cant pay school lunch bills, but the state of New Mexico, at least, is putting a stop to it.

On April 6, 2017, Gov. Susana Martinez signed a new bill that is reportedly the first of its kind, called the Hunger-Free Students Bill of Rights. The bill will be put in place to make schools work with the parents to pay school lunch debts instead of embarrassing the kids.

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The National School Lunch Program system in the U.S. is similar to other countries: they offer a lunch program that provides nutritional meals, which in some cases are given to students for free or are paid for by the parents at reduced or full prices depending on their annual income.

Th Hunger-Free bill comes after several instances of kids being shamed for not having sufficient funds to pay for their lunch went viral.

Early this month, a young boy at a Phoenix elementary school was branded with a lunch money stamp on his arm. Naturally, the photo of the kids arm was posted on social media and angered plenty of people

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The students mother, who spoke to Buzzfeed about it, said her son was completely humiliated and that normally she would receive a letter notifying her that her son didnt have sufficient funds to pay for his meal.

I think theres a better way to communicate the message than stamping a child with the word Lunch Money, she said.

Another similar case happened last year, when a kid at an elementary school in Alabama was also branded with a stamp that read I Need Lunch Money. The father of the child explained that he too would usually receive email notifications if his sons money account was running low and that stamping a message on a childs body instead of calling is not OK, according to AL.com.

The principle of the school responded to the complaint by saying that the school first sends emails when a childs account balance is low or negative and if parents do not respond, the lunchroom workers use the stickers or stamps.

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While branding kids with stamps and shaming them for not having enough money to pay for their food is clearly not the correct way to communicate with parents, many schools across the U.S. are dealing with a lot of debt due to the meal program.

According to the School Nutrition Association, more than three-quarters of school districts have uncollected debt and some districts have even reported median lunch debts from up to $4.7 million.

In a letter sent out last year by the United States Department of Agriculture, they stated that any debt that is uncollectable can be written off by the school nutrition departments, but they cannot offset the losses with federal dollars. All the schools are advised to instead use other forms of revenue to cover them.

The new bill passed by the state of New Mexico wont be the first of its kind for much longer. State Sen. Michael Padilla, who helped usher in this new bill, spoke to NPR recently and said that hes heard from other legislators who would like to present a bill similar to theirs.

So hopefully well be seeing fewer stamps on kids and more food in their stomachs.

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Christian Sanchez/500px Mal Pais Costa Rica

Whether you're tired of taking typical resort vacations or you're looking for something a little different when it comes to how you travel, ecotourism might be just the thing to shake up your vacation routine. Not only will you be experiencing a destination in a whole new way, you'll have the opportunity to positively impact the environment and its plants and animals.

There are so many options when it comes to volunteering abroad or closer to home, but the travel experts at Cheapflights.ca have done the legwork and sussed out our picks for 10 destinations where you can make a difference.

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Help research global warming in Canada's Mackenzie Mountains

If you love getting out into nature, you're going to love this chance to work with scientists to discover clues about global warming in the Mackenzie Mountains, a majestic mountain range that runs along the border between Canada's Northwest Territories and the Yukon. The researchers here are working to preserve the area's sensitive environment and learn more about the effects of global warming. You'll help them look for and monitor signs of climate change, take soil and permafrost samples, monitor the health of the tree line and record information on native plant species. When you're not in the field, you'll have a chance to relax at the lodge and attend talks on climate change and the natural history of species in the area.

Monitor climate change in Joshua Tree National Park in California, U.S.

Spend some time in one of North America's most popular national parks while at the same time helping scientists monitor climate change and do what they can to preserve the Mojave Desert. As you hike through stunning Joshua Tree National Park in California, you'll be tasked with monitoring desert vegetation and collecting data on various plants; trapping, recording and safely releasing reptiles and amphibians and exploring the area for larger birds and animals alongside scientists. This is a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who loves hiking in the great outdoors and has a passion for environmental conservation.

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Care for wildlife in Hawaii

This volunteer opportunity is your chance to have an unforgettable beach vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii while also helping to care for native and exotic wildlife at a local wildlife centre. During your stay, you'll be caring for resident exotic and non-releasable wildlife, working with injured wildlife and returning them to the wild if possible and educating visitors and locals about Hawaii's island ecology and animal behaviour. When you're not working, you'll have the chance to enjoy the island's many beautiful beaches.

Work at an animal rescue centre in Costa Rica

Volunteer at a private ecological reserve in northern Costa Rica in San Carlos province to help out an animal rescue centre and support wildlife conservation efforts in the area. The rescue centre gives endangered, injured and abandoned animals a home and, whenever possible, releases animals back into the wild. Volunteers have a chance to work with the animals by feeding them and cleaning their living quarters (if you need convincing, you can meet some of the animals here). Volunteers will also help to maintain trails on the reserve, work in the greenhouse and participate in community outreach projects in the area.

Protect bottlenose dolphins in Croatia

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Photo credit: Talia Cohen

The small village of Zambratija, Croatia, will be your base as you volunteer with bottlenose dolphin conservation on the Adriatic Sea where the bottlenose dolphin population has declined by approximately 50 percent in the last five decades. Your volunteer efforts will include dolphin observation and tracking as well as entering and analyzing data from field work. You'll learn how to distinguish between dolphin species and have the chance to attend morning talks about NGO efforts to protect marine mammals and ecology. During your stay, there will also be at least one organized group trip to a nearby national park.

Conserve great white sharks in South Africa

Travel to South Africa to the Great White Shark capital of the world to work alongside marine biologists in their conservation efforts. This volunteer opportunity takes you to the beautiful area of Gansbaai, just two hours outside of Cape Town, where you'll be doing a number of interesting things to help out, including educating cage divers about sharks and ongoing conservation methods, tracking sharks, collecting data about various marine species in the area, working with local children in education and beach clean-up and even getting up close and personal with a few Great Whites while cage diving.

For more top picks of travel adventures where you can also give back to the environment, go here.
What do you know about First Nations policing in Ontario? Probably very little.

First Nations policing has been seriously neglected for years despite several government-led initiatives aimed at providing the support necessary for these services to deliver quality and effective policing to the communities they serve.

The Ontario government is currently reviewing and rewriting the Police Services Act with plans to incorporate a First Nations policing framework. First Nations policing was originally created as a "program" rather than a "service" to enhance the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). However, several First Nations police forces are fully autonomous but are not considered "services" by the government.

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The Ontario government must recognize First Nations police as essential services and bring them under the same legislative framework as other police services in the province.

In 1991, the federal government created the First Nations Policing Policy (FNPP) with the purpose of contributing to the improvement of public safety for Aboriginal peoples through effective and quality law enforcement service delivery.

The FNPP is administered through tripartite agreements between the federal, provincial/territorial governments, and communities. Self-administered Agreements (SA) are the most common in Ontario, whereby the local community delivers policing services with financial support from both the federal and provincial/territorial governments (52 per cent federal and 48 per cent provincial/territorial).

These services continue to suffer from inadequate government support and are grossly underfunded, which jeopardizes the quality of policing.

In Ontario, there are nine self-administered First Nations police services, and several other services that are administered and supported by the OPP. The OPP administers funding and support to these small agencies through the Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement. The nine stand-alone First Nations services receive funding from the federal and provincial government. Despite this, these services continue to suffer from inadequate government support and are grossly underfunded, which jeopardizes the quality of policing delivered to these communities.

There are several cases that illustrate the lack of support for First Nations police. For example, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS), which is the largest First Nations police service in Canada, threatened to disband if the force was not brought under the same legislative framework as other individual police services in Ontario. The service does not have the funding support required to deal adequately and effectively with the 35 communities they serve. This is most notable in 2013 when a First Nations woman committed suicide in the back of a police truck because the community did not have any holding cells. In another incident, two First Nations men burned to death when they were being held in a building that failed to meet the fire code.

The nine First Nations police services are not legislated under the Police Services Act and are therefore not required to meet the mandated adequacy standards set for other local police services. This loophole limits the provincial government from providing more funding than they are required to under the FNPP SA agreement. And because policing is a provincial matter, the federal government can restrict the amount of funding it provides to these communities. Thus, Ontario First Nations police services must suffer the dire consequences of existing in legal limbo.

Recently, First Nations police secured a long overdue victory that will see the Ontario government pay officers similar wages as OPP officers. It is ludicrous to believe that for years First Nations police officers were earning far less than their counterparts for the same job. These officers often work alone and are responsible for policing large jurisdictions with few resources. Additionally, these communities have specific socio-economic challenges that stem from a long history of abuse and discrimination and each require a different approach from officers.

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They need to deliver meaningful action rather than the same old lip service.

If First Nations police are not afforded the necessary resources and support to deal with the challenges in these communities, then the Ontario government is allowing the abuse and discrimination to continue.

The Ontario government must bring First Nations policing in line with other services in this province. They need to be protected under strong legislative frameworks and afforded the same, and in some cases more, resources and support as the OPP (e.g., more sworn officers, reliable facilities, equipment, etc.).

The federal government must also provide additional support to First Nations police. They need to deliver meaningful action rather than the same old lip service. Finally, they should seriously consider reforming the outdated FNPP to reflect the current state of policing in aboriginal communities. These changes are necessary and long overdue.

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Some news broke recently, and it was a little surprising: dozens of daycares in Quebec are being encouraged to allow children to roughhouse, rather than break it up.

Staff at many daycares in the province's eastern townships are being asked to allow boys to, well, be boys by allowing war games and battle games in a structured environment with rules. The new guidelines are part of a push to better support boys' development. They say rough play helps children develop social skills, which will serve them well in future.

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I was alarmed when I read the article. Daycares allowing little kids to fight in school? Could this possibly be safe? Would I want my kids in a daycare that didn't teach kids how to behave properly in a school environment?

Don't get me wrong: I'm all for roughhousing. How could I not be? I grew up in a house with two brothers who fought all the time. For fun. Now I have two school-age boys and the days they don't fight are few and far between. I watch them wrestle each other to the ground, get back up, chase each other and hit. It's not exactly music to my ears. In fact, most times I hate it and try to intervene. But I know it's normal, thanks to my brothers, and that roughhousing is teaching my sons important life lessons.

For instance, even when they roughhouse, they do it cautiously. They know that hurting someone's face, head or privates is not allowed, and in this way they are learning rules and self control. They are gaining confidence, figuring out who's stronger and how far they can push their brother's limits. They are learning to read facial expressions and body language. When someone taps out, they've got to let go. When someone cries or looks hurt, they immediately apologize and ask if the other is OK.

Yes - my kids fight at home, and I allow it with caveats attached.

They are learning when and where it's appropriate, too. I once took them to a shoe store and was furious when they tumbled to the ground and rolled around on the store floor. I felt like I'd failed as a mother at the time, but I took them straight home and gave them a consequence. Fighting at home is OK, they learned, but it's not appropriate in restaurants, stores or other public places.

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If they've fought at home when they've had friends over, I've broken it up and spoken to them about why they can't behave like this in front of other people. I'm sure there are a few kids who weren't allowed to come back. As embarrassing as that is, the lesson was not lost on my kids. It was also a perfectly natural consequence, which I could not have doled out myself.

When it looks like a conflict can't be resolved through wrestling at home, I teach them conflict resolution. I try to sit them down and get to the bottom of the matter. After they are calm and have expended their energy, I teach them how to figure out a solution that might help them resolve issues more easily in future. So, yes -- my kids fight at home, and I allow it with caveats attached.

But at a school or daycare? I'm not keen about that. Those are places where kids should learn to resolve their conflicts with words, not fists. That's where teachers should reinforce the idea that sword fighting and war games aren't nice. But besides the social skills they aren't practicing if they are allowed to fight and play war, it's not even safe or practical to allow kids to fight at school.

The students outnumber the teachers. In some classes, there is one teacher for 30 students. It would be chaos if kids learned as early as nursery school -- where, granted, the teacher-to-child ratio is lower -- that fighting in the school yard is allowed. If my kids were involved in a fight at school, they would be in big trouble when they got home, especially if it could have been avoided with conflict resolution. I must be doing something right: my kids are angels at school, even if they fight with each other at home.

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If children in some Quebec nursery schools are allowed to fight, then all I can say is I'm glad my sons are in grade school in Ontario, where staff are encouraged to reinforce the value of love over war.

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Two weeks ago, I had the honour to attend the Canadian Hillman Prize ceremony for excellence in journalism. As I waited to speak, I heard the journalists themselves talk about what it took to get their award-winning stories.

In each case, it was reporters working their beats, talking to people on the ground, taking calls from readers and viewers and getting out of the newsroom to meet with people in their communities that resulted in their award-winning stories.

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Bit by bit, they put their stories together, meeting with those affected. Seeing the places where the stories took place with their own eyes, and crafting the stories for the rest of us to read and hear. This meant months of painstaking work, time away from families and days filled with hearing heartbreaking stories from the people they met.

The Hillmans are named after U.S. labour leader Sidney Hillman, and dedicated to honouring the best in storytelling in service of the common good.

For the winning team at TVO, where Unifor represents the behind-the-camera crews, that meant telling the stories of migrant farm workers. Filmmaker Min Sook Lee and co-producer Lisa Valencia-Svensson took the top prize for Migrant Dreams.

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The team of Unifor-member reporters at the Toronto Star took a runner-up prize for exposing failures in workers compensation in Ontario and the consequences for workers at the GE plant in Peterborough. APTN also won a runner-up prize for telling the story of a wrongfully convicted Cree woman.

Without dedicated journalists going into their communities and reporting on the things they saw and the people they met, none of these important stories would have been told.

It is for this reason that the ongoing deliberations of the federal Heritage Committee on its draft report into the future of the media industry this week are so important -- not just to the media sector, but to all of us who are enriched as a society by the stories it reports.

In an era of fake news, and as the type of reporting recognized by the Hillmans is becoming increasingly difficult to do, these deliberations are vital. The Heritage Committee needs to get this right.

We need the right mix of tax policy and regulatory support to encourage growth and strength in the media industry.

The guiding principle for the committee needs to be fairness across the industry, and a level playing field. For example, existing government supports such as tax credits and production funds must be made equally available to all media providers who deliver quality Canadian content, whether through Internet, film, broadcast, newspapers or magazines.

To help ensure our incredible media outlets can survive through this time of upheaval as the ad-driven model for funding quality journalism falls apart, there needs to be some form of government support to assist those who need it.

Longer term, we need the right mix of tax policy and regulatory support to encourage growth and strength in the media industry so they can keep reflecting our communities in their stories.

A strong democracy depends on a strong media to keep voters and the public informed. But the digital revolution has undermined the very basis of this vital industry, as Google and Facebook have siphoned off advertising revenue that once funded our print and broadcast outlets -- turning ad dollars into digital dimes.

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Meanwhile, streaming services such as Netflix have grabbed viewers, without being required to contribute to the same Canadian content funds that traditional broadcasters must. A simple GST on subscription fees would fix that.

This was the message when Unifor sent a team of journalists and other media workers to Ottawa earlier this year to meet with Members of Parliament and senior policy officials. They talked about how important it was that journalists are in the streets of their communities, meeting their neighbours and local leaders and able to tell the stories that communities need to hear.

This is the kind of feet-on-the-ground reporting that produced the Hillman winners -- stories that changed workers compensation in Ontario, exposed the systemic racism that oppresses Aboriginal communities and shed a light on the high human cost of cheap food.

We need to find a way to help ensure that a strong media, the stories they tell, and the changes those stories bring about, continue well into the future.

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We are living in Biblical times. There's global warming, ocean acidification, species collapse, human trafficking, racial tension and an unstable, volatile president. Now, more than ever, we must understand where our money is going, how it's harming people and planet and how you can help make better choices.

If you have more money than you need, (and according to my research that's 20% of us), this is a huge responsibility. The era of looking the other way is over. We cannot risk moral detachment from the stocks, bonds or companies we invest in while they irreparably damage the earth and our collective health. We need to respond, urgently, to the growing demand, particularly from younger people, for a clean money revolution.

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The clean money revolution has been quietly unfolding since the 60s and is now showing signs of explosive demand. What's different today? The largest generational transfer of wealth in our history is underway. This estimated $50 trillion dollars of inherited capital can remake the world, even a world dominated by Trump.

The Harvard Business Review notes that millennials cite social impact as one of the most important roles of business. Of all the generations, they are most willing to prioritize social impact over financial return, according to "Millennials and Money," a 2014 study by the Merrill Lynch-Private Banking and Investment Group.

But it doesn't have to be a choice. Today, finally, the big money players are catching up and learning there is massive money to be made by divesting from fossil fuels into renewable energy and by investing in organic foods, non-toxic personal care, renewables and clean manufacturing.

That's why growing numbers of global financial leaders are getting into the impact investing game. Last year, the world's largest asset manager, BlackRock Capital launched its first impact investment fund. Other signs the clean money revolution is going mainstream: Prudential pledged in 2014 to a $1 billion impact investing portfolio by 2020. JP Morgan has invested $68 million in 11 impact funds.

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The new trillion-dollar question is: how to direct your money for social good, while investing in a fair, safe future?

Here are five ways to start:

1. Change Your Bank.

If you have a chequing account at the Royal Bank or Bank of America, you have no idea if your money is lent to organizations you respect and support, or farmed out to hedge funds that decimate rainforests and local people in Malaysia. Watch what's happening with the Standing Rock Sioux people and Dakota Access Pipeline. As Jamie Henn, a co-founder of the environmental group 350.org, told the media: "If you're invested in Wells Fargo, you own a piece of this pipeline. It's that simple. No to Dakota Access, yes to clean energy solutions." Ask questions. Be informed. Demand better. Or change banks.

2. Invest Cleaner.

There's an explosion of disruptive entrepreneurs creating companies that make products and do things in a way that considers the long-term well-being of people and planet. And investors can play a very significant role. My first investment, a very lucky one, was at the beginning of a small yogurt business called Stonyfield that wanted to bring real, organic yogurt to America. By the time it sold to the French multi-national food company, Danone, pure organic yogurt was an unstoppable, profitable growth giant.

Thanks to incubators, accelerators, angel investment clubs, crowdfunding campaigns and social entrepreneur fellowships, impact investing is increasingly accessible to the average person in North America. Organizations like Wefunder, Vested, GIIN, Social Venture Institute, Toniic, PlayBIG, Divest Invest are a small selection of the many options available to help your personal clean money transition.

3. Shop Local.

Obvious, and so easy to do. Learn who the innovators are in your community and support local entrepreneurs doing cool, interesting things. A growing body of research provides proof that small-scale, local businesses make communities more prosperous, unique, connected, equitable and fair. As this study from Utah shows, local shopping circulates a greater share of each dollar multiple times into local economy, creating supply chains, resilience and more investment in employees.

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4. Ask Questions.

Millennials who want their money to stop damaging people, nature and the future, have choices. According to U.S. Trust's "Insights on Wealth and Worth," wealthy millennials are almost twice as likely as their grandparents to view their investments as an expression of social, political, or environmental values. A full 75% believe it's possible to realize market-rate returns, investing in companies based on their social or environmental impact.

But they aren't the only ones driving the transparency train. All generations are raising the bar on their goals for their money by asking good, hard questions like: where is our money invested? Is it causing damage? Do we own slaves? Poison babies? Start wars? Or is our money making a better world? These questions will lead to solutions.

5. Demand better products

Align every dollar with your values and purpose. Plenty of money can be made by reinventing the economy to be cleaner, greener and more fair. We've seen that with Stonyfield, Nature's Pathhttp://www.toms.com, Tom's. From energy, to buildings, transportation, clean water, food and soil, opportunities abound. According to research from Barkley, 50%+ of millennials aim to buy products from companies that support the causes they care about. They are twice as likely to want organic food. They want products that support their health. They want their money aligned with their values.
With Earth Day just around the corner, it's a great time to talk about how we can increase our efforts to better care for our planet. Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and how we deal with this problem will define our future as a species.

One of the biggest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions is food waste. If food waste were its own country, it would have the third-largest carbon footprint after the United States and China. Not only does food thrown into a landfill produce methane as it rots -- a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide -- it is also an enormous waste of the resources and labour that's used to grow, process, transport and cook food.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that we will need to ramp-up global food production by 70 percent by 2050 to meet the world's food needs. Not only will this be a huge challenge - especially with the effects that climate change, such as drought and extreme weather, will have on our ability to grow food - greater food production will take an even bigger toll on our natural systems. It will require greater use of land for agriculture, more inputs of limited resources like fresh water and fertilizer, and put even greater strain on endangered wild populations, such as fish.

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Thus, the fact that we waste a third of the food we produce is a great irony, and a huge missed opportunity. Reducing food waste can go a long way to bridging the gap we need in future food production.

About half of food waste happens before it even gets to our plates. One suggested course of action to reducing this food waste is to redirect it to food banks. At the Ontario Association of Food Banks, much of the food that is donated is high-quality, nutritious food that is "non-saleable" for reasons such as errors in labelling, cosmetic imperfections, or being too close to the sell-by date (though we never accept expired food).

Had the food from last year's donation programs, outside of agricultural partnerships, gone to the landfill instead, it would have generated a carbon footprint of approximately 3 million kilograms of CO2. Diverting this food is the equivalent of taking 630 cars off the road.

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Food banks often struggle with shortages in donations, especially during the summer months when donating to the food bank is not top-of-mind for many people. Increasing the amount of good, healthy food donated through diversion is a potential way to increase the amount of food available at food banks.

The National Zero Waste Council has proposed a tax credit to encourage businesses to donate to food banks, similar to the Ontario Association of Food Banks' tax credit for farmers which has been adopted in several other provinces.

Food Banks Canada, our national counterpart, recently won a Google Grant to develop their FoodAccess app, which would directly connect retailers, manufacturers, and farmers with food banks to recover good food.

However, diversion is not a perfect, catch-all solution to food waste. A recent waste audit of Winnipeg Food Harvest found that 11 percent of food donations were thrown out, because they did not meet the food bank's quality control standards . This can put additional stress on already tight resources, as food banks often have to incur the cost of properly disposing of food that is considered unsafe or inedible.

Most importantly, diversion to food banks is a downstream solution to an upstream problem. We have more than enough food to feed everyone in this country. Hunger is a symptom of poverty, not food shortages, so in order to truly solve it, we have to look at root causes like an inadequate social safety net, precarious work that makes it difficult to pay the bills, and unaffordable housing. Ultimately, we must look to create a society where people don't need to go to a food bank in the first place.

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One of the best ways to address food waste is preventing it from happening along every step of the food chain. While the amount of food wasted makes reducing it seem like a gargantuan task, it's one that is eminently doable and that we can all play a part in. After all, half of the food that's wasted happens at the household level - and a good portion of pre-household level is because of our cultural attitudes towards what food should look like.

Since 1975, per capita food waste has increased by 50 percent - so it wasn't all that long ago that we wasted much less than we do now. Food writers are constantly telling us to "eat like your great-grandmother," so perhaps we should extend that idea beyond just what we eat and into how we eat.

In the 19th century and into the early 20th century, food took up 40 percent of a household budget, and refrigeration was only beginning to become ubiquitous. Thus, food rarely went to waste - leftovers were repurposed into something new, and food preservation techniques like canning were a necessary household skill.

We can learn many lessons from our great-grandparents' generation, including how to make "no waste" cool again. Given that we have seen huge improvements in technology, preservation, and supply chain management since those days, it's certainly possible for us to do even better. Considering the urgency of reducing our carbon emissions, we must do better.

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However, the pace of progress can be slow. In the meantime, it is an injustice to allow people to go hungry and for perfectly good food to be thrown into a landfill. We must address the dual problems of hunger and food waste on all fronts and believe that a solution to both challenges can be found when we work together.

For information on what food you -- or your company! -- can donate to your food bank, please visit our website: https://oafb.ca/donate/donate-food/
Watching the CBC's 10-part television series Canada: The Story Of Us had me figuratively scratching my head. It left me flabbergasted and astounded.

For those of you who haven't heard about it or watched it yet, the national broadcasting corporation billed it as "an epic series that tells many of the stories that have shaped this nation -- stories of unsung heroes and darker tales share the spotlight with well-known figures to offer a fresh perspective on Canadian history."

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But a number of Quebecois, francophones and anglophones -- including Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil --publicly stated in a critical letter that the show failed to include the role of the Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Bill MacDonald, mayor of Annapolis Royal, also noted that the show portrays Quebec City as Canada's first permanent European settlement, disregarding Port-Royal, which was founded in 1605.

Now a chorus of detractors in Quebec, critics have decried the series' anglo-centric slant on history. For one, the series' depiction of the French of New France is stereotypical and insulting. Samuel de Champlain, amonst others, is portrayed as rough in appearance, wearing raggedy clothes during diplomatic meetings with his comparatively well-dressed British counterparts, who are portrayed as distinguished and clean. These voices from Quebec were eventually joined by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, who demanded CBC be held accountable for its choices.

There are about 9 million people who very likely share the belief that the story of Canada is about us, too.

I am a Franco-American who grew up in New Hampshire with parents, aunts and uncles who immigrated to the United States in the 1960s from the La Mauricie region of Quebec. If my father and his brothers watched The Story of Us, they would hardly recognize its story as that of the Canada they grew up in. They would have seen themselves, our family, their neighbours and our ancestors as having barely played a part in Canada's history.

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There are more than eight million Canadians in and outside of Quebec who can trace their racines (roots) back to French origins. They include francophones, namely in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Where were the historians to tell our story?

There's also the story of the all-to-often forgotten and neglected First Nations people, who have a beautiful culture and history. They have a distinct culture and contributed far and beyond to the story of Canada -- a contribution that would not be done justice through means of this blog. That is a story deserving of books, being a part of a mini-series about Canada or even an entire 10-part television series on them for Canada's 150th birthday.

I am not First Nations, but like many people in this country, especially the Quebecois, I feel that our history is an intertwining one. A history that must be represented. Where were the First Nations historians to tell their story?

Why would a television mini-series tell a story from the point of view of analysts and academics such as Robert Brothwell, John English and Daniel Samson -- all distinguished in their fields, but with little to no academic viewpoints representing the First Nations, French or Acadians?

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With about eight million people in Quebec -- French, Scots, Irish and English -- and about 1.4 million First Nations in Canada as of the 2011 census, there are about 9 million people who very likely share the belief that the story of Canada is about us, too. Nine million people is a significant portion out of a country of over 33 million. It is about the same percentage of African Americans and Latinos that make up the population of the United States. Where's the equal representation?

Respect should come from all sides, beginning with cordiality, recognition and representation.

The U.S. history books speak of America's early years and the famous proclamation of "no taxation without representation." I will call The Story of Us "documentation without representation."

This is not a political argument, but a cultural one. Respect should come from all sides, beginning with cordiality, recognition and representation.

This television series was made to teach students in school about Canadian history. Instead, it will become propaganda.

As I wrote this, the CBC came out with a statement apologizing to those "who felt misrepresented." The spokesperson said that none of the episodes will be updated or corrected.

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This would have been handled differently if the controversy had involved a private company with stakeholders.

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What is it like to be born into one of the most well known truffle cultivating families in Italy?

I spoke with Vanda Angellozzi, 26 years old and the youngest female following in the footsteps of five generations of truffle expertise.

I asked if it was hard to decide to devote her life to the family business and history.

"You know, it wasn't really a choice," Vanda says. "I just slid into this role. I have an outgoing personality and I love to travel and I enjoying fine dining. My work offers the opportunity to travel around the world and meet fascinating people, as well as using English, so I was drawn to it."

Vanda is the first in her family to speak English, after having studied in London and Edinburg for several years. While studying she had no idea how she would use her language skills.

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From a village in the mountain foothills of Central Italy, she is moving to NYC to meet the new challenges of the truffle market today.

"Let me be clear," she says, "I'm able to do this because more than twenty years ago my father and his brother realized the importance of exporting our truffles. If you think, in the 1970's this was unheard of and a risk. At that time the economy was booming and everyone was leaving the land, looking for high paid jobs. Who would want the hard work and uncertainty of truffle cultivation, when there were many 'better' opportunities? But our family has always worked solely with truffles. We have a personal relationship spanning twenty years with our clients, globally. They trust the quality and the ethics of our cultivation methods."

And trust is crucial in the truffle business.

Vanda is a true truffle heiress since she has inherited a life and an identity utterly bound to the truffle.

As she says, everything they own, everything they do, and who they are as a family is a result of five generation of working with truffles. This is important because, as Vanda explains, there's growing competition within truffle sales and many 'new' countries approach truffles as a get-rich-fast business. This can lead to unscrupulous cultivation techniques and the production of artificial sauces and fake truffle oils. These sauces generally have less than 3% truffle content (Fioravanti, 2015, Piceno Terra di Tartufi). Under the harmless word 'aroma' on the label, are two chemicals making a pungent taste, and this causes Vanda to despair.

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"It's sickening. I don't know how people can sell these products. Truffles are a lifestyle. Not a fad. Generations of experience and innovations, evolve together with the health of the environment. It's a way of living and caring about the quality of your work and the land," she explains.

Indeed Italy has a history of harvesting and eating truffles dating back to the Romans and the ancient Greeks. As Hall et al. in Taming the Truffle (2007) tell us, the earliest truffle recipes that we have record of are from Imperial Rome.

(Vanda while representing truffles in China)

Vanda's family http://www.angellozzi.itmade the transition from hunting truffles in the wild to cultivation several generations ago and they are internationally recognized for developing new techniques, such as the Bonsai style of pruning. Now they are working on two prototypes with machinery manufacturer, Rinieri, in Forli-Emilia Romagna, http://www.rinieri.com to invent the first dedicated truffle cultivation equipment.

How does she feel about moving to New York City?

"When you are young, you know, that's the time to try new things. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to try and see what I can do. I love meeting new people and going out. I love talking with Michelin star chiefs. It's a sociable business. I really enjoy speaking English and learning languages, so it's exciting."

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At 21, her first exposure representing truffles was being flow to the Philippines for a high profile state dinner, where she addressed a group of journalists in English, speaking publicly for the first time. Now, five years later, she's settled into the role.

Can she see herself still doing this in 20 years time?

"Why not?" Vanda replies. "I'll be 46 then... This work combines everything I love. And I hope more young people will get involved in truffle cultivation. I hope more people will invest in mountains and appreciate them."

Mountains provide the best soil, environmental health and climate conditions to produce the highest quality truffles. Truffle cultivation is a complex profession with scope for young people with a large range of interests.

Now this ancient Italian tradition grows in young hands.
This week is Parkinson's Awareness week and I will be blogging about my experience as the partner of a person with Parkinson's. My fiance Ryan was diagnosed in 2015 at 36 with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.

The title may sound dramatic but on the difficult days this is how it feels. One of the little known symptoms of Parkinson's is the mental health issues that can accompany the condition, such as depression and anxiety. There is a lot more research being conducted into this symptom and although Ryan thankfully doesn't have depression, the anxiety he experiences can be quite debilitating and it's basically killing his personality.

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When Ryan and I met he was extremely social, we were always out and about doing something. Within a couple of months of meeting we went on trip to Paris, a dream I'd had for many years that was wonderful to experience with my new love. A couple of months later I called him up while he was in work and said: "hey, I've seen an amazing holiday deal online, do you fancy coming on a family holiday to Greece in Six weeks?". He didn't even have to think about it, it was simply: "yes, book it".

If I want to do something it can take a while for me to just build up the courage to mention it because I know he's instantly going to be hit with anxiety before even processing what I've told him. His first response is defence, which can then lead to an argument. It can then take a few days for him to think it all through to make a decision. My Ryan, the man I fell in love with wasn't like that, like me, he was spontaneous and impulsive with a zest for travel and exploring. Although I know that man is still in there, I have to fight this top layer of protection to get to him. He still wants to do these things but he has to battle with the anxiety, this social killer, before he can do anything.

We went to Disneyworld Florida last year. He thought I was going with my eldest two when in fact I'd booked tickets for the whole family. It took me about three months to convince him to come along, showing him videos on YouTube, conveying to him what an amazing experience his girls would be experiencing without him. Eventually he agreed to come and I showed him that he was booked to come along the whole time. He had an amazing time and for some reason, his anxiety seemed to disappear for those 11 days - I guess Disneyland really is the place of dreams, it was mine anyway - a family holiday with zero stress and anxiety. Our trip alone to Rome was a very different story!

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Being a food lover, I love to eat out, Ryan does too. But now if I can actually convince him to eat out it has to be at a certain place and certain time - he doesn't like to go at peak time when it may be busy or somewhere he may feel exposed and people can see him tremor. But we've found ways to cope - we have our favourite places to eat. When we walk in to a restaurant I'll let him choose his seat first so that he's more comfortable. We're adapting. If I plan us an evening with friends I won't tell him until a few days before just so that he doesn't spend a few weeks stressing about it.

But the daily fight takes it's toll. I've called off our wedding more times than I care to remember, not because I don't love him, (I love him more than I've loved any other man) but sometimes the fight gets too much and the idea of spending my whole life fighting my husband scares the hell out of me. But then on the flip side, I could never imagine my life without him in it, even when he's in arsehole mode (which is often!).

And sometimes I feel like I'm in mourning. When we were told that Ryan had Parkinson's I was relieved. I was so terrified that he had a brain tumour or something terminal that I was just so thankful that he wasn't going to die. But although he's still with me, his personality, the man I fell in love with is slipping away. He's still in there. I know he's in there because I see him at times. Just this weekend while he was with a group of his friends, my Ryan was there, shining brighter than I've seen him for a long time. So, my job as his love is to make sure he's happy and comfortable so that my Ryan can break free of his captor.

We are extremely lucky to have amazing support from his neurologist, the Nurse Practitioner at our Dr's surgery and his assigned Parkinson's nurse. Our next step will be to see what else is on offer to help with the anxiety. Ryan is currently un-medicated for Parkinson's but does take medication for the anxiety.

What frustrates me the most is that as Parkinson's currently has no cure. One day he may be physically limited and won't actually be able to do all of the things we'd planned to do. It's more important than ever that we live our life and fulfil our dreams as much as possible so that one day when we are limited we can look back on pictures and videos of our wonderful memories together and say: "look what we did, look what we achieved". It just seems so unfair that his mind is trying to hold him captive now and his body will hold him captive in the future. Parkinson's is such a cruel disease.

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And this is why I will fight the bastard (anxiety) every day. You will not take my fiance. You will not take my girls' daddy. You will not take our lives. One day the Parkinson's may restrict us - but not now. Now we're going to fight and live our lives as best we can. You hear me inside there Ryan Lee? I will not give up on you, you're mine and I will not let the bastard take you away from me, I waited too long to find you to lose you this soon.

F you Parkinson's! F you Anxiety, he's mine!
Eggs are traditionally much celebrated at Easter. Yet the 36 million hens currently laying eggs for the masses in Britain have very little to be chirpy about. Around half - 18 million - of whom remain trapped in cruel wire cages, while the rest live on falsely-named 'free-range' farms. And that's just the girls. Male chicks never leave the hatcheries and are gassed at just a day or two old. Deemed of zero use to the unscrupulous egg industry, these innocent, baby animals are discarded as if they are rubbish before their feathers even grow. Something you won't read about on free-range egg boxes.

Crammed in with up to 80 others, laying hens unfortunate enough to grow up in cages are barely able to move. Their incarceration is a surprising fact for many consumers duped into believing cages for hens had been abolished years ago. We are, after all, frequently told we have "the best animal welfare standards in the world". Tell that to the millions of confined laying hens.

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In fact, the battery cage was replaced by another monstrosity - the 'enriched' cage. A barren wire cage around the size of a pool table containing up to 80 bored, stressed, fragile and frustrated hens. For these birds, the warming and pleasurable experience of sunlight may only come once in their lifetime. Through the slatted sides of a slaughterhouse lorry. They will never feel the soft touch of grass underneath, and natural dustbathing - a behaviour of such inherent importance to hens - is denied to them forever. Their experience of life will only be from inside the vast, stinking and filthy sheds of a factory farm.

Viva! investigators have spent many hours inside these farms. And they have seen the misery first-hand. As part of our year-long probe into the British egg industry, they have also seen and documented the misery experienced by 'free-range' farms. A side of the industry that works hard to portray happy, healthy hens roaming lush green fields of the British countryside. Unfortunately, studies and our own research reveals this not to be the case. The vast majority of laying hens on free-range farms will never step outside the vast, stinking and filthy sheds of a factory farm. Sound familiar? The uncomfortable answer is that there is no humane way to farm hens.

Eggs aren't ours. They are theirs. And hen mothers want to raise their young and live pain-free and happy lives. Just as we do.

Viva! is taking the egg-free plea to the highstreets this Easter. With six-foot display boards, we'll be urging passers-by to stop for a minute to pause and reflect on the lives of the animals producing what is commonly believed to be a harmless 'product'. We'll also be taking the findings of our year-long investigation out to the masses in virtual reality.

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Andrew Linscott via Getty Images

The UK Government and the Scottish Government are at an impasse. On 28 March the Scottish Parliament voted to request a second independence referendum, the Scottish National Party (SNP) joining with the Scottish Greens to secure the majority. Theresa quickly rejected the request May. With Brexit to deliver, and with the shape of the UK-EU relationship post-Brexit unknown, May's response was simple: "Now is not the time."

It suits Nicola Sturgeon for the impasse to continue. It keeps the constitutional question at the forefront of political debate, something that works in the SNP's favour. For Sturgeon, the hope must be that the Brexit talks falter at an early stage, perhaps triggering a shift in preferences on Scottish independence. For May, the strategy seems to be to kick the can (not very far) down the road and hope that the laws of political gravity return to Scottish politics, dragging down support for the SNP and independence.

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How did it come to this? Although the UK as a whole voted for Brexit, a clear majority in Scotland voted to remain. Sturgeon immediately took issue with the prospect of Scotland "being taken out of the EU against our will" and began to soften the ground for another referendum. In December 2016, Sturgeon's government produced a paper that called for a 'differentiated Brexit', that is a Brexit in which Scotland would establish a closer relationship with the EU than the rest of the UK. If the UK Government were unprepared to support Scotland in that quest then a second independence referendum would likely be called.

In presenting the paper, Sturgeon claimed that the proposals represented "a significant compromise on the part of the Scottish Government - not a high bar for the UK government to pass". But the December 2016 paper was intellectually dishonest and was in no way a meaningful attempt at reaching a compromise with the UK government. It set out an all-but-impossible demand and made fulfilling that demand the litmus test of Theresa May's reasonableness.

Is there a way to break the impasse? For die-hard Scottish nationalists the aim will remain independence. But is there a way for the UK Government to appeal to those in the middle of the Scottish political spectrum? The Prime Minister needs to find a strategy that does two things. First, it must engage Scotland - and Wales and Northern Ireland, and perhaps even some of England's city-regions that will get directly elected Mayors on 4 May - in a dialogue about the governance of the UK. Second, it must offer the prospect of new powers for the devolved parliaments, within new UK-wide frameworks made possible by the return of powers from the EU.

UK Government ministers have said that powers returning from the EU will not necessarily go automatically to the devolved parliaments, but rather first to Westminster so that UK-wide frameworks can be negotiated. Such words can be read one of two ways. The generous way to read them is that UK ministers are being honest about the realities of Brexit. Many of the returning powers can, and likely will, be devolved, but UK-wide frameworks will be necessary to ensure smoothly functioning, well-regulated and fair markets. The less generous way to read them is that UK ministers are tin-eared and tone-deaf to how their words are received in the UK's nations, and especially in Scotland.

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What the Prime Minister now needs to do is make a virtue of the necessity that her ministers have identified. Before Sturgeon delivers her next counterpunch, May should launch a dialogue - through the established mechanisms of the UK's Joint Ministerial Committee and associated channels of intergovernmental relations - involving the First Ministers (and perhaps the new Mayors) in a process in which the end point is the transfer of new powers. If the UK Government's recent Great Repeal Bill White Paper is anything to go by, this is an area where additional thinking is urgently required.

Not only is it practical to involve the devolved governments in these discussions, it is politically the smart thing to do. Tone counts for a lot in politics and such a move by May and her ministers would help to 'reset' a tone that has, to date, been overly blunt and cool towards the devolved administrations. How would Sturgeon respond? Accepting May's offer would be to enter a process of dialogue and to co-own an important and difficult policy problem. Rejecting the offer would be further evidence in support of the theory that the SNP see Brexit primarily as a weapon to be deployed in support of their quest for independence.
Technology is revolutionising our understanding and treatment of disease. Medical professionals and patients are all producing huge amounts of data on a daily basis from a vast array of sources including electronic health records, genomic sequencing, high-resolution medical imaging, sensing devices and smart phone applications that can monitor patient health. This could prove particularly valuable when trying to increase our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.

Nearly 44 million people worldwide now suffer from dementia - a number that is expected to spike to 115 million by 2050. The crisis is not particular to the rich world - nearly 60% of the burden falls on low and middle income nations. The cost of care is immense. According to Alzheimer's Disease International, it amounts to $604 billion annually - nearly 1% of global GDP. As a result, in April 2012, the World Health Organisation identified dementia as a "public health priority" and the G7 declared a global "fightback" against the disease.

Nevertheless, whilst billions are spent every year on research for a cure, progress has been slow. No new drug has come to market in over a decade. More than a hundred years after the disease was first classified by Dr Alois Alzheimer, the molecular basis of the disease is still unknown and none of the drugs in the market address the disease's underlying pathology.

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Big data has the potential to change all that. It is already well established that dementia is a disease that develops as a result of the interaction of genetic, non-genetic and environmental factors. Large quantities of the necessary behavioural, genetic, environmental and clinical data relating to those factors is already being generated in laboratories all over the world. Yet up until recently it has been impossible to store and process such massive and diverse data sets.

Now an EU supported research project led by the University of Sheffield's Centre for Computational Imaging & Simulation Technologies has started to analyse such unstructured data with patented Active Data Replication technology. This enables the large volumes of continuously changing data to be moved between 8 different cloud providers so it can be analysed by over 950 applications. The data is then used in a series of different computer platforms available throughout the EU. The first is the clinical research platform Multix which allows researchers to federate large amounts of information such as MRI scans, physiological data and patient histories. The data from Multix can then also be incorporated into a patient care platform (PCP) which allows doctors to input patient data and take advantage of all the knowledge already created by Multix. The PCP also helps doctors analyse their patients' cognitive and motor skills as well as lifestyle and environmental factors. This then also feeds back into the Multix. Finally, an online citizens' portal with games and questions also collects data from those at risk of developing dementia. The researchers hope to be able to combine this data with novel biomarkers to provide new and feasible ways to screen for dementia before symptoms appear. This would enable the provision of the right care at the right time whilst maximising the quality of life for the patients and reducing the burden on health systems.
While the term "conscious uncoupling" a la Paltrow and Martin has been much derided, the fact is that most people who visit divorce lawyers want the separation to be as amicable as possible. Nowadays, we're more likely to feel that splitting up will be better for our kids in the long term than staying in a bad marriage.

Indeed, many legal systems have shifted towards encouraging mediation and shared parenting, making divorce easier and less stressful overall.

The legalities aside, how does conscious uncoupling work in practice when you are an international family?

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As Scarlett Johansson and her French husband Romain Dauriac prepare to fight out their divorce in the New York courts, one of the toughest challenges will be the arrangements for their three-year-old daughter, Rose. Besides the emotional complexities, though, international shared parenting presents huge practical challenges. How can you co-parent a toddler or young child when you live in different countries? No wonder it has taken Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt months to hammer out a custody agreement (and they're still arguing about it). And the problems don't necessarily disappear once your children are older, as Madonna and Guy Ritchie found last year, when they ended up in court on both sides of the Atlantic over their sixteen-year-old son Rocco.

But this isn't just a problem for globetrotting celebrities.

More than 4.9 million British people now live and work abroad. If you're one of them and your relationship breaks down, you face the same challenges as the likes of ScarJo and Brangelina. While mercifully you're unlikely to have to deal with being papped at the school gates every morning, you will also be without the fleets of nannies and private jets to make the practicalities a little easier.

Fundamentally, though, the issues are the same. What's best for the kids? Who will they live with, and how can they keep their relationship with the other parent?

This is all hard enough for parents who live in the same town to sort out, but when you're an expat family, the international dimension makes it even more complicated. If one of you wants to head home to lick your wounds after the trauma of a break-up or are kicked out of the country altogether (if your visa status has changed because you are no longer married), you face difficult choices if you can't agree a way forward about the kids.

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Just upping and leaving the country with your children without an agreement will more than likely land you in court and you could well be ordered by the judge to take them back. Even if you eventually win the battle, it's an expensive and upsetting experience (particularly for the children themselves) that most of us would rather avoid.

Even if you and your ex agree on where the kids will live, an international split can make any conflict about upbringing harder. Do you want them to be educated in the UK, or at an international school? If you're an expat who's married a local, questions about the kids' religion, cultural practices and language may be even harder to resolve. If you can't compromise on these issues - very difficult when you both have strong beliefs about how your children should be brought up, as all of us do - the courts of different countries may take very different attitudes to resolving this kind of dispute.

Ultimately, international co-parenting is difficult because of the sheer logistics. If your kids are living an eight-hour flight away, you're not going to be able to pop round every day to help with the bath and bedtime routine, or even go over for a weekend to take them to the cinema. You might not be able to afford to fly them out as often as you would like, or you might struggle to get time off work. As your kids get older, they will also have more and more interests of their own that have to be fitted in around spending time with both parents.

If you're the one living with your kids, not having your ex on hand to help deal with emergencies - or just split the day to day parenting responsibilities with - can also make life that bit more difficult.

At the end of the day, despite the challenges, cost and hassle, most of us would agree with Angelina Jolie that the "focus is my children, our children - we are and forever will be a family". And, like separated parents everywhere, you'll find a way to make conscious uncoupling work - because even if you find yourself spending more time in airports than you'd like, it's what's best for the children that matters.

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President of the United States, Donald Trump, decided to prove that his actions speak louder than words when he ordered the unilateral military airstrikes on the Syrian government's al-Shayrat airbase on April 6, in response to the chemical attack that killed dozens of innocent civilians in Syria's province of Idlib. CNN reports U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying that the government had "a very high level of confidence" that it was the Syrian regime that carried out the chemical attack, and described the American operation as an "overwhelming success". His British, French, German and Israeli colleagues voiced their support for the U.S. military action and condemned the tragedy. This very measured and limited military operation against the government's airbase, which reportedly killed at least six people, suggests that the new administration in Washington was willing to demonstrate that it was ready to change its almost chronic policy of non-intervention and the lack of clear objectives in the region, and was likely trying to measure Moscow's reaction to its riskier overtures.

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The U.S. military response comes ahead of Mr. Tillerson's visit to Russia, which is scheduled for later today, and reinforces the idea of Mr. Trump testing President Vladimir Putin's position on the future of Syria's Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, Russia has called for a "detailed and unbiased investigation" into the deadly Idlib incident that took lives of at least seventy two people, and considers the accusations groundless. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, however, suggested that "unconditional support is not possible in this current world", apparently referring to Russia's support for Assad. Peskov's statement signals a possible loophole for negotiations with Tillerson and should mean that Moscow is neither prepared for, nor is it willing to have, an open confrontation with Washington.

When the first chemical incidents happened in Khan al-Asal and Al-Ghouta five years ago, the war in Syria was only just gaining its momentum. Back then, the civilized world did nothing to intervene apart from holding diplomatic discussions, negotiating deals and sending non-lethal weaponary to the rebels. Western military intervention was largely averted by the U.S.-Russia agreement aimed at completely removing the Syrian chemical stockpiles from the country. At the time, the-Assad-controlled Syria was encouraged to join the Chemical Weapons Convention to assure the world that the regime was sensible and not homicidal. In January 2016, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported that all declared Syrian chemical arsenal had been destroyed. In its confidential report, however, the OPCW advised that Assad retained some chemical weapons capacity, without having gone into much details. At the same time, the organization expressed with "utmost confidence" that the Islamic State used chemical weapons in 2015, which gives grounds to assume that both the Assad regime and ISIS could have had an access to the chemical weapons used in Idlib. There are reportedly other forces operating on the Syrian ground in addition to the state army and the Islamic State, which are jihadists of Jabhat-al-Nusra (previously linked to Al-Qaeda), Syrian opposition forces (including salafist, islamist and moderate groups), Kurdish militias, as well as U.S., Russian, German, French, Turkish, Israeli and Iranian troops of various sizes.

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With so much time and opportunity obviously lost for tougher action against Assad, and with so many actors currently engaged in the Syrian civil war, it is difficult to see how Trump is going to force Assad to go if not through aggressive military action on the ground, supported by the international community. But such an act of aggression, even if proven to be justified, is unlikely to happen with President Putin being in power in Russia. The Russian president's popularity is largely based on his sternness and wily mind, which helped him to successfully return Russia to the world stage. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that he will reverse on Assad while being in full control in Syria. The recent terrorist attack in one of St. Petersburg's underground stations only further pushes Putin toward aggressive resistance against ISIS. It seems that Mr. Trump realizes that and hardly objects to the fight against terrorism. The very fact that the military strike on the al-Shayrat airbase was so precise and limited justifies the argument that Washington would rather try to avoid a direct confrontation with Moscow. Russia deployed advanced missile systems in Syria years ago, which prevents both the terrorists and various opposition forces from effectively winning the war. There are S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems currently staged in Latakia, reportedly together with the Iskandar-M ballistic missile launchers.

With aproximately 3,000 airstrikes launched against ISIS targets in Syria by U.S and its allies in 2014, there is little reason to suggest that Mr. Trump's actions of similar intent would lead to any positive outcome in this regard, unless he is prepared to get fully involved in Syria and is supported by NATO troops. To do so, he needs a higher level of popular support at home (which is currently on the slow rise), with more troops on the ground instead of "in the air", and the Kremlin being not neccessarily interested in fighting over Assad's future, which is possible if Putin decides not to seek re-election in 2018. Mr. Peskov's ambiguous remarks about supporting Assad came a couple of days before it became known that the group of U.S. senators have proposed a bill for international investigation into alleged war crimes by the Syrian authorities. One of the senators, Joan Shain, said that "the bill was an important step on the way to guarantee that Assad and his allies would bear responsibility for their barbaric actions they committed in the past six years." The U.S. initiative was created as a result of the United Nations Security Council's failure to respond to the Idlib chemical attack, which may not be approved by Russia due to the lack of proper investigation into the incident and Moscow's traditional stance on preventing Western interventions.
As the brutal chemical bombings in Syria dominate the news headlines, the general consensus amongst the media seems to be one of horror. As it should be. The deliberate brutalisation of others should be and always should be, condemned.

Though, as the war rages on in Syria and in many other parts of our planet, there is a necessity to ensure that all forms of brutality towards all civilians in war zones are recognized and condemned, not just those with geo political interests.

As I have moved around the sidelines of various conflicts raging through the world today, with my foundation Project Monma, which aims to investigate violence and discrimination against women and girls, my work has brought me to the outskirts of a number of warzones. I have noticed that the brutalities facing women and girls in war, are never given the attention, or the due horror, that they deserve.

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I have met with women and girls inside refugee tents, in abandoned buildings where they have taken refuge and civilian women living on the sidelines of conflict zones.

Their stories of violence and atrocity have come in multiple forms. They include rape, sexual harassment and intimidation. They involve struggling to survive, forced prostitution and suffering. And the actors perpetrating the violence come in multiple forms too. They are soldiers, who could come from either side of the conflict, they are refugee men perpetrating violence against refugee women, they are peacekeepers and security forces who are supposed to be there to protect and they are ordinary civilian men, taking advantage of the vulnerability of women escaping war.

What is certain is that women and girls face tremendous levels of insecurity during times of war.

On my last two trips to Northern Iraq I met with a number of Yezidi women. I met them in small makeshift refugee camps and in semi constructed homes around Erbil. They told their stories quietly. They recounted running for their lives and the horror of knowing that their girls were under ISIS captivity. That their girls were being raped and sold in markets, as slaves.

They also described being forced to endure sexual harassment from local Iraqi Kurdish men while taking shelter in Erbil. One group of women explained when they first arrived to Erbil, groups of drunk local men would come by the abandoned building they were living in to harass them. It was a terrorizing experience, they explained. Another group of Yezidi women said they feared to come out of their small makeshift home on the outskirts of Erbil, because the harassment from the local men on the construction site across the street, was too unbearable.

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In an Internally Displaced Persons camp just outside of Erbil, I met with a number of Iraqi women who had fled Mosul after ISIS took the city. One young woman said that sexual harassment from other refugee men in the camp, was a problem, so much so that she didn't leave her tent without her husband. Another woman, also from Mosul said she felt afraid because sometimes men would come into the tents of single women at night.

My travels with Project Monma also took me to Lebanon and Turkey, where I went to meet with Syrian refugee women. They too recounted stories of daily sexual harassment, from the local men. The women were struggling to survive and were desperate for employment. But the male employers, in both Lebanon and Turkey, were asking for sexual favors in return for work. The stress this caused the women, was evident. They were being forced to choose between surviving and sleeping with men, who they did not want to sleep with.

A refugee woman living in alone in a small camp in the Bekaa valley in Lebanon with her five daughters explained to us the concept of 'temporary marriages.' Her husband had abandoned them in Syria and after having made it to Lebanon with her daughters, she was facing extraordinary challenges. She had attempted to look for work, but was met with harassment from male employers. Looking for another way to survive, she decided to sell one of her daughters into a 'temporary marriage.'

A temporary marriage, as was explained to us, is a way for men to get around the cultural law that dictates no sex before marriage. If he marries a girl through a religious wedding, he can then sleep with her and divorce her afterwards. These temporary marriages were being used essentially as prostitution. Middle Eastern men were coming in from other parts of the region, as was explained to us, to look for young girls made vulnerable by war who they could 'buy' for marriage.

One group of Lebanese men in Beirut even told me about a website, where you could exchange information with other men about where you could buy the cheapest and most beautiful Syrian women. There seemed to be little concern for the damage this was causing Syrian women.

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Throughout the world, rape has become synonymous with conflict. Sifting through accounts of the many conflicts around the world, endless reports of sexual violence and rape abound. From Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and the many other conflicts that have rampaged our planet, the suffering of women has not been sufficiently documented nor have the perpetrators of such violence been sufficiently held to account.

In a small refugee distribution centre in Gaziantep, Turkey, I met with three Syrian women. They too recounted stories of relentless sexual harassment from Turkish men. I promised that I would do what I could, to tell others about what they were facing while they were trying to seek safety and refuge. So here I am, trying to tell you, what is happening.
He was right not to go to Moscow.

It is always wise to be careful what you wish for and the reason normally given is that you might just get it. In the bowels of the Kremlin they must be pondering that at the moment as they wonder whether their support for Mr Trump assisted him to power and reflect on how quickly it has all blown up in their faces.

Trump loosing the Tomahawks to avenge the appalling chemical massacre at Khan Sheikhoun makes many people nervous, including both friends and foes of the US. It isn't so much concern at the raid itself, which seems to have been carried out with surgical precision, but rather concern as to whether the consequences have been fully thought through. How will Russia react to the attack on its proxy? Has Assad become too hot to handle and if so, and if he goes, what will replace him? The difficulty with bringing down a regime is that unless you have something to replace it with, all you create is a void, a playground in which a new generation of warlords can operate. That is a pattern we have seen over and over again, most recently and tragically in Libya.

Perhaps though, the thinking is that the US reaction will curb Assad rather than bring him down. Perhaps his Russian friends will rein him in. That would be a good result but to achieve it requires careful thinking through of political strategy. Has that been done? The raid was launched very quickly. Was it spontaneous, like a particularly deadly form of tweet? Or, had the whole thing been gamed carefully in Washington by people who knew what they were doing?

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We may never know the answer to all this and indeed the truth may be somewhere down the middle. Still we are where we are and the question has to be what happens next.

Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, is now in Moscow and it would be hard to imagine a diplomatic mission more important than that on which he is engaged. The fate of the fight against Islamic State sits on his shoulders. So too does the need to end the appalling suffering engendered by the Syrian civil war. He needs to use power backed diplomacy to come to a new understanding with the Kremlin. It will be eyeball to eyeball stuff.

It is a well-known rule of marketing that the effectiveness of teams making presentations is generally inversely proportional to their size. Suppose a number of people make a pitch to a client. They will have rehearsed it beforehand and planned who will make which points and when; then they will pass the lead around as if it was a hot potato. Result? They may all be very good at their specialisms, and of course there are exceptions, but it is usually a dog's breakfast. Far better to have one well briefed individual go into the room like a gunslinger entering a bar in a Western and sell the proposal himself. If he needs support, it can sit behind him, but there should be no doubt whose presentation it is.

Carry this across to diplomacy and you will quickly see why it would not have been helpful to have Boris Johnson delivering his own message in Moscow separately. He would either parrot the US line, in which case what is the point of having him there at all, or he would come out with a slightly different version, the only result of which would be to muddy the message. In view of the uncertainty with which the UK has handled involvement in Syria to date there is nothing useful that he could add. All he could do was to queer Rex Tillerson's pitch. He was right not to go.

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The Russian Embassy in London has reacted with mockery. One should not grudge them their jokes because someone who jokes is less likely to press the red button than someone who does not. Still their comments are designed to expose the reduced significance of the UK and its dependence on the US. On both counts they have substance but the right reaction to that is to accept that substance and then see how it affects the strategy. Let's try some of the criticisms of Mr Johnson's decision not to go against that reality. What about Mr Corbyn's suggestion of going to have a "robust conversation" with the Russians? What would that achieve? It is hard to imagine that it would add anything. Or what about going ahead with the visit to show that the foreign secretary can be trusted and is not a mini-me of the US, as Alex Salmond seems to have suggested? That may be good for Johnson politically or indeed for Britain's status in the world but the issues here dwarf such considerations. In the end the focus has to be exclusively on the success of the talks and the best prospect for anything constructive to emerge from them is for the Americans and the Russians to talk on their own. If they succeed in reaching an understanding, well and good: but if they fail, all the king's horses and all the king's men will have the devil's own job picking up the pieces. With stakes at this level it was right to withdraw and not to complicate matters further.
The Hargeisa TB Hospital 2017 World Vision

Travelling to Somalia two weeks ago, I saw first-hand the devastation that drought and hunger is having on the country.

More than 16 million people across Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya are on the brink of famine, and 22 million need urgent humanitarian assistance. It's a crisis on an unprecedented scale for recent times - the UN recently declared it the worst since World War II.

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But there's another silent killer that could flourish as a result of the crisis, with potentially devastating consequences for thousands of vulnerable children.

Somalia has been catagorised as one of the top Multi Drug Resistance TB (MDR-TB) high disease burden countries in the world. This burden is being compounded by the current drought - meaning more people are being exposed to, and dying from, a preventable and curable disease.

The impact of the drought on the most vulnerable people, especially children, will be catastrophic if we do nothing. We know that malnutrition in children compromises their immunity and makes them more susceptible to TB. We must respond to the drought if we are to save more lives in Somalia.

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Abdirahim, aged two 2017 World Vision

But there are already rays of hope. In Hargeisa, Somaliland, I met two-year-old Abdirahim*, who comes from a nomad family. His father is currently unemployed and they have no food or water, and have not received any humanitarian assistance during the drought. Abdirahim has been ill for more than seven months, and his family initially sought help at a private hospital - but sadly, they weren't able to cure him.

But then two months ago Abdirahim was brought to the Hargeisa TB Hospital, supported by World Vision UK's partner The Global Fund. There, doctors diagnosed him with TB and are giving him the vital medicine he needs.

Abdirahim also has a fractured leg. When he arrived at the hospital in Hargeisa, a bone was sticking out and he was in excruciating pain. With the help of the amazing doctors, his leg is now healing well and he's able to walk properly. His future is starting to look brighter.

I spoke to Abdirahim's aunt, who was with him at the hospital. She thanked World Vision for the free medicine and treatment her nephew had received. "He can now stand and walk and is no longer in pain," she said.

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Dalmar, who's being treated at the TB hospital in Hargeisa 2017 World Vision

I also met 20-year-old Dalmar, who wants to be an engineer when he's older. At the moment though, he's being treated for a relapse case of TB in Hargeisa. He previously paid US $50 - about a week's wages - for treatment at a private clinic that was unable to help him. Now, he's receiving medical treatment free-of-charge, thanks to World Vision's generous supporters.

Despite the challenges we are facing in our fight against TB in Somalia, World Vision UK is proud that we have been part of making these steps forwards.

In collaboration with The Global Fund, the Somalia Ministry of Health, World Heath Organisation and other UN bodies, we have been able to diagnose and successfully treat more than 137,000 patients since 2004. Three years ago, we established the first Multi-Drug Resistance TB centre in Somalia, and are proud to report that together, we achieved a treatment success rate of 77% - far above the global average of 50%.

This gives us the strength and drive to keep pushing forwards with the current challenges. Children like Abdirahim deserve a better future, and we have a fantastic opportunity to be a part of it.

Find out more about World Vision's work in East Africahere
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military, is the most powerful person in Burma. It is his soldiers and security forces who have been raping Rohingya women, shooting Rohingya civilians and burning Rohingya villages. It is his soldiers who have increased conflict in Kachin Sate and Shan State, displacing thousands of villagers already forced from their homes by Burmese army attacks.

Min Aung Hlaing is the one who is threating the entire peace process by insisting on hard-line conditions unacceptable to many ethnic organisations. It is Min Aung Hlaing who is blocking constitutional reform which would make Burma more democratic. Civil servants under his control are obstructing reforms and policies the NLD-led government are trying to put in place. He is also starving health and education of funds by insisting on a huge budget for the military at the same time as the health service and education systems are one of the most poorly funded in the world.

Min Aung Hlaing is the biggest obstacle to improving human rights, democratic reform, peace, modernisation, and improving health and education in Burma.

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Yet somehow, he largely escapes direct criticism. Since the latest Rohingya related crisis began in October 2016 it is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who has received most attention and criticism, not Min Aung Hlaing, whose soldiers are the ones committing the abuses.

Last November Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had to cancel a trip to Indonesia, reportedly for fear of protests over her stance over the Rohingya. In the same month, Min Aung Hlaing was enjoying a red carpet tour in Europe after being invited to attend a meeting of European military heads. There were no protests against him in Italy or Belgium. As his soldiers raped and killed Rohingya, and increased conflict in Kachin State, he enjoyed sightseeing in Brussels and Rome, travelled the canals of Venice, and even toured factories of arms manufacturers, despite there being an EU arms embargo on Burma.

The current approach of the international community towards the military has been one of soft engagement, hoping they will have a gradual epiphany and realise it is in their own self-interest to agree to further reform. It amounts to a fingers crossed approach that if we are nice to the Burmese military, they will suddenly come around.

This approach clearly isn't working. The more Min Aung Hlaing is welcomed into the arms of the international community, the more sanctions are lifted, the more UN engagement on human rights is lifted, the more they are praised for reforms, the more his confidence grows that he can continue to commit human rights violations and block democratic constitutional reform with impunity, and the more human rights violations and conflict have increased.

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A key question now for the international community is how to influence Min Aung Hlaing. The international community needs to develop an approach towards Min Aung Hlaing with two clear goals in mind. First, how to persuade him to stop committing human rights violations, and second, how to persuade him to agree to constitutional change which will enable the peace process to succeed, and which will allow further democratic transition in the country.

Min Aung Hlaing will only agree to change when he decides it is in the interests of the military to do so. At the current time, he has little incentive to reduce human rights violations or agree to further democratic reforms. The military have in place the system they designed to protect their interests and give them control over areas such as security and defence. They believe only they are able to guarantee the safety and security of the nation. Yet clearly Min Aung Hlaing and his military are enjoying the embrace of the international community and want the respect of the people of Burma. This provides some leverage.

When the EU and USA lifted sanctions they made no differentiation between sanctions which targeted the government and sanctions which targeted the military and their associates. The same applies to discontinuing the UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma. This decision was justified as being in acknowledgment and support of reforms and the new government, without differentiation between the government and the military and their actions. There are two powerbases in Burma now, and different approaches are required for each.

It is time to identify potential points of leverage specifically targeting the military and how they can be most effectively applied to induce Min Aung Hlaing to agree to change. This could include United Nations investigations into violations of international law, economic sanctions targeted at their interests, visa bans, ending military training, and more robust diplomatic pressure. One option that cannot be considered is carrying on as before while Min Aung Hlaing systematically destroys hopes for peace, respect for human rights, and democracy in Burma.
AP

'Lifestyle' inspiration is becoming increasingly important and sought after - and whilst Instagram envy has a lot to answer for - who, or what, is actually now shaping our aspirations and inspirations?

Social media has, of course, opened an unrelenting Pandora's Box of influences. A constant stream of celebrities, favourite bloggers, cultural experts and fashionistas are our on-demand and go-to advisors these days and we buy into their opinions and expertise for everything from what we should eat for brunch to the latest must-have fitness gadget. However, it may surprise everyone to realise where our new influence is actually coming from.

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In the past few years we have seen the launch of some phenomenal consumer lifestyle brands such as Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat. And their influence, in changing our lives, should not be under estimated. They have not just radically changed our behaviour in regards to travel and communication but have established an open dialogue between themselves and their audience. But now, a selective breed of forward thinking brands are successfully entering this highly revered consumer space, and looking to take this influence to a new and uncharted level, by making an impact that is set to drive culture in a truly revolutionary and aspirational new direction.

First up, an interesting (if stealth addition) to the lifestyle influencers is Pantone. A brand relied upon by the design industry as the ultimate authority in colour guides, today Pantone is becoming one of the most important consumer-facing brands, as it defines the cultural mood of the time by influencing everything from fashion to food with its 'Colour of the Year'. In an era of unparalleled uncertainty, 2017's zesty 'Greenery' reflects rejuvenation and environment. And although, as yet, Pantone doesn't sell any products related to its choices or licence its colour, other brands are already trying to join in and harness the opportunity to align themselves with this message. Airbnb has recently partnered with Pantone for the first time to create a 'Colour of the Year' experience, transforming one of its listed properties into an immersive greenery environment.

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Greenery London Apartment by Pantone and Airbnb. Image by Designboom

Like Pantone, Getty Images has also seamlessly moved from a stock industry resource to become one of our most invaluable sources of consumer intelligence gathering. Visual content has become the most prominent international language of the 21st Century and is driving emotional engagement and self-expression like never before. By using the most powerful tool at their fingertips - their customers' search data - Getty's annual Visual Trends Report deciphers visual cultural shifts and shapes the visual landscape of the future. Its 2016 'Messthetics' trend predicted a shift away from digitally manipulated images to more visceral and free images, reflecting our desire for experiences that fully engage our senses and celebrate the physicality of human nature. Reebok's break-away 'Be More Human' brand campaign embraced this 'Messthetics' aesthetic, showcasing how Getty is not just visually mapping culture but has become a powerful influence in providing foresight for brand content strategies and thus, defining future visual expressions for brands around the globe.

Be More Human campaign by Reebok

Google is already regarded as one of today's most powerful lifestyle facilitators but, away from public view, its Google Creative Lab think tank is on a mission to change the world, behind the scenes, one project at a time. The newest one - in association with Google Advanced Technology and Projects - "Project Jacquard", aims to weave conductive thread into fabric to create touchscreen surfaces for clothing and other textiles. Aside from the mind-blowing innovation, it is the brand philosophy that offers the real learning for other brands. Google Creative Lab's Creative Director, Steve Vranakis has been quoted as saying that, "Know the user. Know the magic. Connect the two. The magic is very different to the functional spec of a product. When we talk about magic, we talk about the emotional connection you are going to make to something and the benefit and value it's going to bring you."

Project Jacquard by Google Creative Lab and Google ATAP. Image by Hana Tanimura at Google Creative Lab

These three brands are becoming important under the radar leaders, in defining our lifestyles, as they push the boundaries of their previous expertise and showcase a new way of doing things. They are bringing the seemingly intangible and the imperceptible to life, establishing themselves as powerful new authorities on our cultural mind-sets and motivations. And, as they do this, they are opening up the opportunity for a new future of branding - one that encourages and inspires other brands to move away from a fierce marketing-driven world to a more desirable world of influence.
Dubai is a remarkable city - vibrant, multicultural, intelligent, future thinking and led by a very smart man, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has wonderful foresight for his beloved country and its people.

One of the things that impressed me the most was the appointment of a "Minister for Happiness and Tolerance", Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi. The new ministry aims to promote the UAE's plans, programs and policies to promote the happiness of the UAE society. There is even a Happiness Street!

I heard all about the plans via a podcast through Emirates. It was a fascinating insight into the vision they have to create happy and well balanced citizens of tomorrow.

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This will be done by creating genuine change through positive behaviors, mindfulness, self-awareness, resilience and emotional intelligence.

Students in schools will have education of the heart as well as mind. Showing how positivity brings out the best possibilities for life.

Some schools have adopted the "caught curriculum" where the children have photos and videos of what excellent things they do and these are shared with the parents. This allows only the positive to be focused on and no negativity.

It's a belts and braces add on to all the other programs they are rolling out.

It got me thinking about the UK and the rest of the world's attitude to happiness and being content.

There are many insightful companies rolling out with huge passion this positive attitude towards their employees' hearts and physical and mental health.

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To me, it's the only way to go and what I bring with my talks in schools, universities and workplaces.

Some examples of where I think they are doing it right and I use to benchmark others are -

Bob Chapman CEO of the $1.7 billion manufacturing company Barry-Wehmiller. He is on a mission to change the way businesses treat their employees. He has even started an academy Truly Human Leadership that teaches other in his methods. His TEDTalk is truly inspiring. His measure of his employees' happiness is their home life and family.

Gary Vaynerchuk builds businesses. Fresh out of college, he took his family wine business and grew it from a $3M to a $60M business in just five years. Now, he runs VaynerMedia - one of the world's hottest social media-first digital agencies. He is all about giving - his time is his most valuable commodity and he gives huge amounts to people each day all over social media. His "Chief Heart Officer" is Claude Silver who has been with him for many years. Claude believes in the health and happiness of the employees through their heart as well as brain. Gary's TEDTalk is a must watch!

Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. I've spent years watching and learning from shows and talks this beautiful lady has arranged. The relationships she has with her employees and colleagues are all based on her own beliefs and values.

Sir Ian Michael Cheshire is a British businessman, who has been chairman of the British department store retailer Debenhams since April 2016. He was previously chief executive (CEO) of Kingfisher plc, a British multinational retailing company. Sir Ian's views on mental health and the value he personally places on this for everyone around him are incredible.

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BNP Paribas Corporate & Institutional business is a leader across capital markets, advisory and financing. I've worked with them for a couple of years. They take their employees' mental health so seriously they have weeks of talks across all the offices. It's an impressive lineup too. They get as many lived in experiences as possible as they truly believe in the authentic stories of recovery and hope.

Perhaps one day all employees & students will have their hearts as well as their minds taken care of at work, schools & universities - as at the end of the day we should all go home feeling respected, valued and appreciated. If we all treated each other the way we want to be treated what an amazing society it would be...

Tina x
What to know before you vote today
The Capitol Theatre marquee needs close to $150,000 in work to be restored.

Pittsfield City Council Supports Capitol Marquee Restoration

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City Council is supportive of efforts to restore the historic Capitol marquee outside of the Senior Center.

The 1928 marquee is structurally failing and Barry Architects has estimated it will take $142,030 to fully restore it. The city is considering allocating $50,000 from federal Community Development Block Grant funds and funding the rest through the capital budget.

"It is dangerous," said Ward 4 Councilor Christopher Connell. "It isn't just throwing up some light bulbs and some tar on top of the roof. The whole thing is deteriorating structurally."

A City Council subcommittee strongly urged the mayor to place the item in the capital budget. The City Council followed suit, however, some councilors asked Mayor Linda Tyer to also consider finding other funding sources.

Councilor at Large Peter White was the most vocal about the work, saying he didn't feel it was needed right away. But after realizing that he was significantly outvoted, he urged Tyer to seek other sources of funding so as to not tap CDBG money or add to the city budget.

"We all love having this as a historical landmark and in better times I would love to say this would be a worthwhile project," White said.

But, the city is just about at its levy ceiling, leading to many cuts to city operations. The departments are all expected to produce level-funded budgets, which because of contractual agreements means cutting back in other areas. In the School Department, that is looking like it will mean 73 jobs.

White said at this point in time there are better uses of the city's limited funding. The next city budget is looking to be a difficult one and last year the council spent hours pouring over every line looking for cuts.

"This is very important but there are going to be a lot of other things that are very important," White said, adding that in the worst case the city could demolish it for $6,000.

Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli said the Office of Community Development is already looking into alternative sources to fund it, such as the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

"We are asking that the mayor submit money in the capital budget to make up the remainder of whatever it may be," he said.

Simonelli said the city is also still awaiting a quote from a company which specializes in restoring such marquees.

For Councilor Donna Todd Rivers, spending on the marquee is just part of getting the city's "house in order." She said that before inviting people and developers, the city has to make sure it is attractive. A massive streetscape project to revamp North Street has just been completed and the marquee is an eyesore in the middle of that.

"If you are going to work on economic development, the very first thing you should do is get your house in order," Rivers said.

Connell added to that by saying if the city continues to neglect the work, eventually the marquee will be condemned and the area will be roped off.

"If you don't vote to fix this, do you really want to have that thing condemned in the middle of downtown? Because that is what is going to happen," he said.

Connell said the money will be borrowed through the capital program so the impact won't be all at once. He said while there is certainly other areas of need, taking care of the seniors at the Ralph Froio Senior Center is one too.

"That center is very very important not only to our seniors but also to the look of our downtown and to the general population of this city," Connell said.

Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi considers the marquee a "landmark" but also echoed Connell's sentiments about taking care of the senior population. He said the Senior Center has one of the lowest budgets and that Pittsfield's older citizens deserve a center they can be proud of. It also will attract visitors by making the city look better, he added.

"Visitors, people who come in here, they see that marquee. They see the condition it is in," Morandi said.

Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso pushed for many reductions to the city budget last year, but infrastructure work is something she supports. The marquee has been neglected for 30 years, she said, and "we can't let everything go."

Ward 6 Councilor John Krol agreed that it currently is an eyesore and it is an "asset to downtown Pittsfield" but he objected to the use of CDBG funds as well. He joined White in hoping to find other options for funding the restoration.

The building was built in 1898 as the New Mills Block, later becoming the Capitol Theatre. According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the marquee is 1920s art deco. The theater closed in the 1980s and the building was turned into the Ralph Froio Senior Center.

There is a historic easement on the building's facade so any work must be approved by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Former Director Ronald Latham liked the way the portrait was done by local artist Michael Rousseau. Current Library Director Alex Reczkowski. Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum President Amy Chin. Berkshire Athenaeum Board of Trustees Chairman John Murphy. PreviousNext

Berkshire Athenaeum Honors Retired Director Ron Latham



The portrait was unveiled by Trustee Chairman John Murphy, Latham, and Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum President Amy Chin. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Libraries have changed a lot in 24 years.

They have gone from having large card catalogs to find the book with the information the patron needs, later adding desktop computers, to now being able to check out wireless hotspot times, iPads, hands-on learning tools for children, a telescope, to a 3D printer.

You can even eat and drink in one portion of the library. But, shhh! You still have to keep your voice down.

At the Berkshire Athenaeum, all of that transition was made under the leadership of Ronald Latham, who served as director from 1992 until his retirement in 2016.

On Wednesday, during the first National Library Week Latham had not been on the job in years, the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum paid homage to Latham's service with the unveiling of a portrait of Latham the two organizations had painted and will hang in the library.

"During his tenure, he oversaw a period of vast changes in library services and patron expectations. Under his leadership, public technology use has grown from automated catalogs and desktop computers to iPads and 3D printing." Friends of Berkshire Athenaeum President Amy Chin said. "Thanks to Ron's forward thinking, the Athenaeum made room to house a collection of 70,000 reels of microfilms which might have been lost when a federal facility was closed."

Chin said the library transformed to one of "things" to adjust with the trends over the years, all under Latham's leadership. She also recalled his dedication to promoting literacy through nearly every type of county literacy program  from "battle of the books" to Read Across America to pajama day at the museum.

"Literacy for all ages has been a particular interest to Ron as demonstrated with his leadership with the literacy volunteers of Berkshire County as well as his personal energies invested in the Rotary Club's dictionary project, putting quality hardbound dictionaries in the hands of every city third-grader for over a decade," Chin said.

Chin said the friends and Latham worked well together and Latham got his hands dirty when needed. She remembered when the heating system was being repaired and the Friend's book sale collection had to be moved. When it was completed, Latham "almost single-handedly" put together all of the shelving units in time for the next sale.

"Over the years, Ron has truly been a friend to the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. He's always been willing to listen and accept out suggestions and has offered suggestions and guidance. This rapport works both ways. When Ron brought us a list of needs for the library, the friends readily agreed," Chin said.

The library's Board of Trustees Chairman John Murphy said he "couldn't ask for any better director." He said not only did Latham promote literacy and lead through a change in offerings, Latham changed the physical appearance.

"He led the Athenaeum through several renovations, changing the face of the circulation department, children's department, and reference department, and creating the very special place that is the local history department  a wonderful improvement," Murphy said.

Latham's final renovation was the creation of a food zone in the Berkshire Athenaeum.

The former director didn't want to take all the credit. He said none of that would have been possible if it weren't for those organizations and the staff.

"Quite frankly this is an outstanding organization not because of one person but because of the team we have, the outstanding staff who every day are the front lines providing extraordinary service," Latham said.

Later adding, "while I am extraordinary proud, I do want to thank all of those folks, the trustees, the friends, the staff, who made the 24 years here at the Berkshire Athenaeum my happiest professional years."

After the portrait commissioned by the trustees and the friends was unveiled, Latham was impressed with the work. The portrait was painted by local artist Michael Rousseau.

The timing of the honor comes during National Library Week. There are a series of events the Athenaeum has scheduled to celebrate the week.



Roberta McCulloch-Dews read a proclamation from the mayor's office honoring National Library Week. "Libraries are not just about what we have for people but what we do for and with people. Libraries have long served as trusted and treasured institutions," the city's Director of Administrative Services Roberta McCulloch-Dews read from a proclamation from Mayor Linda Tyer honoring the week.

"They open a world of possibilities through the power of reading, innovative programming and a host of resources," McCulloch-Dews said.

The Berkshire Athenaeum particularly opened possibilities for current Director Alex Reczkowski.

"This library has really transformed me. I am so thankful that in my six years that I've been here, most of which under the directorship of Ron Latham, I feel I have learned how to grow, how to be a better community member, how to be a leader, and how to be a better citizen," he said.

Following in Latham's shadow, Reczkowski hopes to bring that same level of transformation to the patrons of the library. He read a passage from the book Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance about empowering citizens with a sense of controlling their own destiny. At the Athenaeum, he's hoping to help empower the patrons to do that.

"We have a staff here that helps our patrons answer their questions. That's our job. We are here to help find answers to these questions," Reczkowski said.

Whether it is what books should be read to a toddler to how to print out Department of Motor Vehicle forms to what ship did a family's ancestors arrive in America on, Reczkowski said the Berkshire Athenaeum will be dedicated to helping to find answers to every question.
Bioenergy is the largest source of renewable energy today, providing heat, electricity, and fuel for transport. Despite this potential, bioenergy makes up less than 10% of global renewable electricity production and only 3% of transport fuel globally. Part of the difficulty in promoting the use of bioenergy lies in its complex supply chain, which spans a variety of economic sectors. Bioenergy projects require more careful consideration in terms of sustainability issues and appropriate regulatory frameworks than other low-carbon technologies.

Recogizing the importance of this issue, this week the government of Estonia announced its participation in the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP). It is the first time Estonia has joined a TCP since becoming a member of the International Energy Agency in 2014. The announcement was welcomed by participants at a stakeholder workshop on bioenergy in the Baltic region held on 13 April, hosted by the TCP in collaboration with the IEA and the Government of Estonia. The workshop brought together over 70 participants, including policy makers, bioenergy technology experts, industry representatives from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden as well as international experts from the IEA and other international organisations.

Workshop participants addressed the drivers for bioenergy market development in the Baltic region and considered policy options for untapping further potential. Discussions also informed senior policy makers ahead of Estonias Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins in the second half 2017.

Participants recognized that a concerted effort is needed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced bioenergy technologies. National and regional bioenergy roadmaps can play a key role in assisting decision makers identify pathways that are tailored to local resources and priority actions to overcome economic and nonaeconomic barriers.

The How2Guide for Bioenergy, recently published by the IEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is designed to provide policy makers with the methodology and tools required to successfully plan and implement a roadmap for bioenergy.

The IEA is also carrying out a new cycle of analysis on bioenergy technology and scenarios in light of new policy developments and in support of policy makers efforts to accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy systems. A new edition of the IEA Technology Roadmap for Bioenergy is planned to be released in the third quarter 2017.
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

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Michael Ballhaus has died at the age of 81, the director of photography on Oscar-winning films who served as Head of the Jury at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.

Ballhaus collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola on Dracula but is best known for his work with Martin Scorsese, heading up cinematography of six of his films: After Hours (1985), The Color of Money (1986), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Gangs of New York (2002) and The Departed (2006).

Scorsese paid tribute to his friend and credited him with invigorating his career in the 80s.

He said in a statement:

For over 20 years, Michael Ballhaus and I had a real creative partnership, and a very close and enduring friendship. By the time we met, he had already made film history with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and I revered him. He was a lovely human being, and he always had a warm smile for even the toughest situationsanyone who knew him will remember his smile. We started working together in the 80s, during a low ebb in my career. And it was Michael who really gave me back my sense of excitement in making movies. For him, nothing was impossible. If I asked him for something difficult, he would approach it with enthusiasm: he never told me we couldnt do something, and he loved to be challenged. If we were running out of time and light, he would figure out a way to work faster. And if we were behind schedule and getting into a situation where we had to eliminate set-ups, he would sit down with me calmly and we would work it out together: instead of getting frustrated about what was being taken away, he would always think in terms of what we had. Really, he gave me an education, and he changed my way of thinking about what it is to make a film. He was a great artist. He was also a precious and irreplaceable friend, and this is a great loss for me.
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

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Sylvester Stallone has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. for failing to pay him correctly for his role in 1993 science-fiction film Demolition Man.

The actor starred as a police officer who is cryogenically frozen alongside on-screen criminal, Wesley Snipes, then subsequently brought back to life in the year 2032 when crime no longer exists.

According to a lawsuit seen by The Hollywood Reporter, the Rocky star was entitled to at least 15% of profits, which he claims was over $125 million.

The report states that Stallones representatives first approached Warner Bros. about owed money in 2014, however the studio told them that the film had lost $66.9 million, and therefore owed him nothing. Warner Bros. then sent a payment of $2.8 million to Stallone the following year.

Films to get excited about in 2017 Show all 13 1 /13 Films to get excited about in 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director: Rian Johnson Rian Johnson Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Lupita Nyong'o Plot: No details yet, but it will continue directly on from Rey coming face-to-face with Luke at the end of The Force Awakens. Release Date: 15 December 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Thor: Ragnarok Director: Taika Waititi Taika Waititi Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo Plot: Story details are minimal as of now, but Thor's third return to screen has already been teased to feature a loose adaptation of the famous 'Planet Hulk' storyline. Release Date: 27 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 You Were Never Really Here Director: Lynne Ramsay Lynne Ramsay Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Alessandro Nivola Plot: A war veteran's attempt to save a young girl from a sex trafficking ring goes horribly wrong. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Annihilation Director: Alex Garland Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A biologist's husband disappears. She thus puts her name forward for an expedition into an environmental disaster zone, but does not quite find what she's expecting. The expedition team is made up of the biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Wonderstruck (image from Far From Heaven) Director: Todd Haynes Cast: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Amy Hargreaves Plot: The story of a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Mother (image of Darren Aronofsky) Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, and Ed Harris Plot: A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (image from The Lobster) Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and Alicia Silverstone Plot: A surgeon forms a familial bond with a sinister teenage boy, with disastrous results. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Blade Runner 2049 Director: Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, and Jared Leto Plot: Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. Release Date: 6 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Lady Bird (image of director Greta Gerwig) Director: Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Lucas Hedges Plot: The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara (image of director Steven Spielberg and star Mark Rylance) Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Mark Rylance, Oscar Isaac Plot: The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara recounts the story of a young Jewish boy in Bologna, Italy in 1858 who, having been secretly baptized, is forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents' struggle to free their son becomes part of a larger political battle that pits the Papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Director: John Cameron Mitchell John Cameron Mitchell Cast: Elle Fanning, Ruth Wilson, and Nicole Kidman Plot: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Dark Tower Director: Nikolaj Arcel Nikolaj Arcel Cast: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, and Tom Taylor Plot: Gunslinger Roland Deschain roams an Old West-like landscape in search of the dark tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world. Release Date: 28 July 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Suburbicon Director: George Clooney George Clooney Cast: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A crime mystery set in the quiet family town of Suburbicon during the 1950s, where the best and worst of humanity is hilariously reflected through the deeds of seemingly ordinary people. When a home invasion turns deadly, a picture-perfect family turns to blackmail, revenge and betrayal. Release Date: 24 November

The lawsuit criticised film studios for being notoriously greedy, stating that Warner Bros. in particular involves outright and obviously intentional dishonesty perpetrated against an international iconic talent.

Stallone has just been confirmed for the third instalment in the Escape Plan franchise, reprising his role as Ray Breslin.
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Festival season is almost upon us, and there aren't still plenty of reasons to check out the many festivals around the UK that champion new and upcoming talent.

Below are a few of my favourites along with some tips for a few of the acts you should check out while you're there.

Live At Leeds

Where: Leeds (Duh!)

When: 29 April

How much: 32.50

The Independent was invited to host a stage at this year's event and managed to nab headliner RagnBone Man, one of our favourites and arguably the biggest breakout star of 2017.

Recommended Bands pick their best ever festival moments

We also get another rising star: Tom Grennan (look out for him in a forthcoming Music Box session), plus Fickle Friends, Clean Cut Kid and The Hunna.

Away from the Indy stage you also have a hoard of other brilliant new talent. To name but a few: AJ Tracey, Black Honey, Be Charlotte, Chinah, Dream Wife, Flyte, Joe Fox (yes I am doing this in alphabetical order), Rationale, Sinead Harnett, Superfood, The Amazons, Xamvolo and Zach Said.

The Great Escape

Where: Brighton

When: 18-20 May

How much: 35 (day), 65 (weekend)

This is basically one giant party for the music industry. Hundreds of artists, unsigned and signed, turn up for the weekend where you'll find yourself queuing to cram into a tiny room above a pub to see someone perform. Weather provided it's also a fab opportunity for a seafront G+T or some fish and chips on the beach, (Watch out for seagulls though.)

Organisers are superb at picking an incredibly diverse range of new talent so you end up with child in a sweetshop syndrome, at a loss as to how to pick which artists to go and see.

 Music Box Session #7: Little Cub

But the ones you should definitely try and check out are: 67, Afriquoi, Anteros, Alma, Avelino, Belly Squad, Betty Who, Brent Cobb, Cosima, Cosmo Pyke, Denai Moore, Elder Island, Flamingods, Goat Girl, Immigrant Swing, INHEAVEN, Jagara, Joe Hertz, Lakuta, Little Cub, Marika Hackman, Otzeki, Pauli., Shit Girlfriend, Skott, Songe, The Age of L.U.N.A, and The Fedz.

Sound City

The Flaming Lips perform at Sound City in 2015

Where: Liverpool

When: 25-28 May

How much: 28.50 (day), 71.50 (weekend)

Sound City is 10 years old this year so there's an extra reason to go and check out this brilliant event.

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It's a lot like TGE for the new bands you'll get to see before everyone else, only the music is brought to one location (the Docklands), and everything feels a lot less frantic.

Headlining this year you've got The Kooks, The Cribs and Metronomy, whilst The Human League, White Lies and Local Natives are also booked to perform.

New faces you may not recognise but should enjoy are: Touts, Pale Waves, The Golden Age of TV, Joel Sarakula and Rozelle.

Field Day

Where: Victoria Park, London

When: 3 June

How much: 64.50

One of the most vibrant city festivals around, this year Field Day is literally just that (it's usually over the weekend) which means you get Sunday to recover  and you'll need it.

This year organisers have managed to get Flying Lotus, Run the Jewels, Aphex Twin, Slowdive and Arab Strap in the mix, along with a brand new, state-of-the-art stage called The Barn.

While you're running round the field (or trudging, depending on what the weather's like), make sure you also go and see: Gaika, Julia Jacklin, Loyle Carner, Mura Masa, Sinkane and Thee Oh Sees.

Parklife

The 1975 singer Matt Healy's appeal to his teenage fans has been unfairly dismissed by many critics (Rex Features)

Where: Manchester

When: 10-11 June

How much: 59.50 (day), 119 (weekend)

Just looking at the lineup for this Manchester-based festival is enough to make your mouth water. Headlining are The 1975, who put on an incredible show, and Frank Ocean, who might just play fans some new material.

Also on the bill are A Tribe Called Quest, Boy Better Know, Stormzy, Two Door Cinema Club, Anderson .Paak, Flying Lotus and Chaka Khan.

Lower down the bill is an impressive range of new faces, including: The Black Madonna, AJ Tracey, P Money, Nadia Rose, Horse Meat Disco, Fakear, and Rex Orange County.

Wireless Festival

Chance the Rapper performing at Brixton Academy, London (Rex)

Where: Finsbury Park, London

When: 7-9 July

How much: 55-62

Summer madness really kicks off with Wireless Festival which has outdone itself with this year's line-up. Chance the Rapper (pictured, performing at Brixton Academy in London), Skepta and The Weeknd are all performing, plus Nas, Rae Sremmurd, Wiley, Lil Yachty and Wizkid.

If you have time in between that lot definitely also see Bryson Tiller (who supported The Weeknd for his O2 Arena show), Noname, Section Boyz, Bugzy Malone, Yuna, Stefflon Don and Topaz Jones.

Citadel

Citadel Festival takes place at Victoria Park, east London, in July

Where: Victoria Park, London

When: 16 July

How much: 55.25

If you missed out on Field Day tickets there's another splendid day festival in London you can head over to. Citadel launched in 2015 and has a stellar line-up this year, with Foals headlining in a UK festival exclusive along with Bonobo, who puts on a fantastic live show, plus Wild Beasts, Laura Marling, Michael Kiwanuka and Oumou Sangare.

Fresher faces come in the shape of: Ry X, Charlie Straw, Ardyn, Jake Isaac, Banfi and Picture This.

Green Man

Music lovers at Green Man in Wales

Where: Brecon Beacons

When: 17-20 August

How much: 180-225

Green Man lineups never let you down and you have an added bonus of the festival being set in the stunning Brecon Beacons.

This year you've got PJ Harvey (who also seemed to be at every festival possible last year), Ryan Adams, Future Islands and The Shins.

Also make sure you see: BADBADNOTGOOD, Hurray For The Riff Raff, The Big Moon, Happyness, Nathan Ball, The Orielles, and Kikagaku Moyo. 

Kendal Calling

Where: Lake District

When: 27-30 July

How much: Sold out. Kendal Calling has partnered with Twickets: click here for resale at the original price

The Independent has a stage here as well.

Recommended Bugzy Malone in final wave of acts to join Kendal Calling Glow Stage

Organisers for this year's Kendal Calling (set in the beautiful Lowther Deer Park) have rounded up a few heritage rock and indie acts for their biggest names but also have their fingers on the pulse of some of the UK's best new music.

Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand, Frank Turner, Editors and Brian Wilson should keep you happy for those raucous, late-night singalongs.

Other names you may not have heard about include: Honeyblood, Fickle Friends, Bad Sounds, Ardyn, Little Comets, Field Music and The Hunna.

Standon Calling

Where: Hertfordshire

When: 27-30 July

How much: 137 (adult weekend)

On the same weekend as Kendal Calling there's also this festival, with an equally excellent line-up  where, yep, The Independent has its own stage.

Headlining are Orbital, Clean Bandit, and the phenomenal Grace Jones, followed by the likes of Kate Tempest, Laura Mvula, Editors, Gary Numan, and British Sea Power.

In smaller font but no less important are: Strong Asian Mothers, Plastic Mermaids, Akala, Outlya, Skinny Living, Lucy Spraggan and Andy Grant Trio.
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While its far from unusual for bands from overseas to find their footing in countries other than their own, their sense of national identity can often feel slightly diminished, watered-down somewhat, in an effort to maximise their appeal.

Fortunately for Melbournes Smith Street Band, they embody an Australia thats both stereotypical yet fitting of their generation.

Easy going, though unflinching in their opinions, they harbour an intelligent sensitivity thats a far cry from the machismo associated with Aussie culture. Something evident in both the bands music, and their politics.

Its a strange though somewhat fitting dichotomy; a blend of brash Australian humour, heartfelt honesty and liberal ideology that allows their records to feel familiar, a facet present not just in their lyrics, but in their conversation too.

"The way I think about Fitzroy might be the way someone feels about Camden or a suburb in Manchester," says frontman Wil Wagner when asked about the resonance of his often Aussie-centric lyricism.

"These places become placeholders for what the listener interprets. Its like Salford Lads Club, Ive never been there, but seeing that photo of Morrissey and hearing him singing about that area, I painted this whole image of what Manchester is like in my mind and I like that people can do that with Australia."

Across the course of the bands career, these images of suburban Australia have acted as quasi-exotic backdrops for the narratives that play out within - narratives that resonate with audiences across the world.

Conveyed almost conversationally, never feeling melodramatic or overwrought, Wagners lyrics pack an emotional punch that feels more real than other punk bands, particularly on their new album More Scared of You Than You Are of Me.

"I havent really held anything back. I havent even gone out of my way to paint myself in a good light, Ive been as honest as I could" he says of the record.

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Honesty is something Wagner himself seems to radiate, laughing freely, even turning questions around occasionally. Its his politics however, where his honesty really shines: Its f***ing infuriating, I feel like the Left have really dropped a ball and I feel like a lot of it is people who agree with each other on so many things not being able to get past these tiny differences, even for the betterment of society."

Though obviously Left-leaning, Wagner is considered, if not quiet in his opinions. "I think its sort of our [the left] fault," he continues. "So much time and energy is spent infighting, and people agreeing about 99.5 per cent of things but fighting about that .5 per cent.

"Its very easy to be a Republican. There are these are the five things they care about and they never waiver on them. Its so simplistic theres this really effective unifying force and I think thats what Trump did. Naturally conversation gravitates towards the new president, but its the refugee crisis, and the fear mongering with which it went hand in hand, that dominates."

Its something the band feels strongly about, releasing 'Wipe That S*** Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face' in 2015 - a single inspired by the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees by the then prime minister, Tony Abbot.

"Australia has a deplorable human rights record," Wagner says. "The way the first settlers treated the indigenous people, and even now the way we treat refugees is as bad as anywhere in the world. People say horrible things about refugees, but theyre just people who havent met a refugee. If you get those people to think about them as human beings on an emotional level, they can connect with their struggle a lot more."

Of course, its been two years since that single was released, and the world seems to have gone from bad to worse in that time. With his opinions on Left-wing infighting, does Wagner think the Left are living in their own bubble?

"Absolutely, with the impact social media has on our lives, and Facebook algorithms only letting you see stuff you agree with, thats why it gets to bickering, because all you ever see is things you agree with; news articles targeted to you so then when one phrases something wrong you get angry with that rather than looking at the bigger picture."

This idea of a bigger picture is something Wagner harks back to over again, if not in so many words. Far from being the snowflake liberalism is often attached to, he is intelligent and considered - not easily offended - but disgusted by the legitimate issues facing the world over.

"Lets get to the point where society thinks that gay people can get married, I cant understand why that is an issue, same with legal abortion in America, that should have stopped being a conversation twenty years ago.

"How can we be more effective at getting that message through to people who need to hear it? How can we break in to the minds of the people who are just having bulls*** shoved down their throats by Fox News and Piers Morgan and disgusting people like that? How do we show people that this isnt a political issue?

"Were just saying everyone deserves an equal shot at happiness and success because surely no-one can disagree with that? Surely no-one thinks, at the bottom of their heart, that some people deserve to be unhappy?"

Across the course of their four albums, a humorous self-deprecation has always eased the emotional impact of lyrics that are often as hilarious as they are devastating, and the bands new album, though seemingly more upbeat than Throw Me in the River, is no exception.

Recommended How comedians talking comedy became a serious business

"Im a big fan of trying to rip positive things out of negative situations Wagner says. "[The album] tracks and charts a very tumultuous and destructive relationship that I had, from the happy early stages to the harrowing demise and it rounds off with me meeting someone new and feeling better again.

"Ive always wanted to tell an overarching story throughout a record but I havent had the necessary heartbreak to be able to do that, so I guess should be thankful to the person that broke my heart because I got a whole album out of it. Swings and roundabouts, you know?"

With a toxic relationship behind him, and a new album under his belt, its clear that things are looking up for Wil Wagner, but with the current state of global politics, does he think its going to get worse before it gets better?

"Oh God I hope not. If youd have asked me this question three years ago I probably would have said theres no way it could have possibly got any worse, and then then its got A LOT worse.

"I dont know. Maybe this is the death rattle of the old f***ing arseholes. I mean surely, when our kids are our age there isnt going to be another Donald Trump. Hes got to be the last bastion of a bygone era that well never see anything from again, rather than The Dawn of The New Alt Right.

"Its f***ing scary man. I hope the world is turning in the right direction."
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The number of solar panels being installed in the UK has fallen by more than 80 per cent, according to an analysis of new figures in the latest sign that the industry is being strangled by government policies despite being one of the cheapest sources of electricity.

The Solar Trade Association (STA), which produced the figures based on recently released government statistics, found the first three months of this year had seen a catastrophic collapse in the number of solar panels being put up following the withdrawal of virtually all subsidies, a stunning business rate hike of up to 800 per cent and the imposition of red tape.

No form of energy generation  renewable or fossil fuel  can currently be built without some form of subsidy and the STA stressed it was simply seeking a level-playing field.

Overall, there was an 81 per cent decline in new solar panel capacity compared to the average over 2016.

The STA said it was particularly concerned by a 65 per cent drop in the number of large-scale solar schemes on hospitals, factories and other large buildings, which may well have been caused by the business rate increase. The figures equate to just one large factory roof having solar panels fitted every month in the whole of the country.

And the number of people putting solar panels on their homes is now at a six-year low.

Between January and March, there were about 650 rooftop deployments a week  a fall of more than 75 per cent on the long-term average of 2,700 a week since 2010.

Solar has grown rapidly in the past few years, but installations have now crashed (Solar Trade Association)

The number of new solar farms, producing large amounts of cheap and green electricity for the grid, has also crashed after being shut out of a heavily distorted electricity market. New installations are running at about an eighth of the level in January last year.

Under government rules, solar has not been allowed to bid against other power generators for contracts to supply electricity at a guaranteed price even though it is in a position to save money for consumers.

Paul Barwell, the STAs chief executive, said: At a time when we need more generation, the Government is hindering market competition against the best interests of consumers by suppressing the tremendous potential of solar power in the UK.

Solar is being needlessly impeded in the UK by shock taxes, red tape and by a serious failure in the only remaining supportive policy.

We urge Government to act now to stabilise the industry.

He stressed they were not asking for any new rooftop subsidies despite clear difficulties.

What we are asking for, and urgently, is fair tax treatment, fixes to a failing policy, less red tape and just a level playing field, said Mr Barwell, who insisted the Government would not be able to "thwart technological progress".

It makes no sense to shut the most popular and cheapest clean power out of the energy market.

Thats the last thing that consumers and a healthy, competitive market needs.

Frans van den Heuvel, chief executive of private firm Solarcentury, said the business rate increase was really very unhelpful.

Whether deliberate or not, the UK Government is acting to frustrate the success of this technology and the solar industry here in the UK, he said.

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

However, such complaints fell on deaf ears in Whitehall.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: This Government wants Britain to be one of the best places in the world to invest in clean, flexible energy.

Solar power is a great success, with more than 11 gigawatts of capacity installed in the past five years  thats enough to power more than 2.6 million homes with clean electricity.

Nina Schrank, an energy campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: The UK is missing its moment in the sun. Globally there has been record installation of solar panels. Solar technology is improving, costs are falling and forward-thinking nations are harnessing the power of the sun for clean, green energy.

But UK ministers are stifling this cutting-edge industry instead of seizing the opportunity for jobs, investment and cheap energy. Damaging tax hikes are making solar investment uneconomic for the UK.

Our Government could be cutting off an entire sector, with major growth potential, at a time when we need strong industries and action on climate.

They should put their money where their mouth is, and provide the necessary support to actually allow the solar industry to be the great success it should be, rather than holding it back unnecessarily and burying their heads in the sand.
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Humans must reduce net greenhouse gases emissions to zero well before 2040 in order to ensure global warming does not go above 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, scientists have warned after carrying out a study using a sophisticated new computer model.

The analysis suggests that efforts to prevent temperatures rising to potentially dangerous levels may have to rely heavily on negative emissions technology that is still in its infancy.

Commenting on the study, Professor Richard Betts, head of climate impacts at the UKs Met Office Hadley Centre, said the important research spelled out the enormous challenge ahead.

Under the Paris Agreement on climate change, the world committed to prevent global warming from going above 2C but also attempt to restrict it to as close as 1.5C as possible amid mounting evidence that dangerous effects could kick in sooner than previously thought.

The new study, described in a paper in the journal Nature Communications, is one of the first to use the new FeliX computer model, which includes social and economic factors along with environmental ones.

One of the researchers, Dr Michael Obersteiner, of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis near Vienna, said: The FeliX model ... provides a unique systemic view of the whole carbon cycle, which is vital to our understanding of future climate change and energy.

The study shows that the combined energy and land-use system should deliver zero net anthropogenic emissions well before 2040 in order to assure the attainability of a 1.5C target by 2100.

This does not necessarily mean that humans would have to stop burning fossil fuels in little over 20 years, as the researchers included natural carbon sinks  such as forests  and the use of carbon-capture technology in their calculations.

So some emissions would be allowed, if enough carbon was taken out of the atmosphere by either natural or artificial processes.

In the Nature Communications paper, the researchers wrote: Roughly speaking, and based on current technologies, energy sector emissions will need to peak within the next decade.

By 2100, the market share of fossil fuels will need to fall to less than a fourth of total primary energy demand to preserve the possibility of meeting the [Paris Agreement] targets.

They said full decarbonisation would probably have to rely on the combined use of carbon-capture technology, which is still being developed, and the burning of biofuels.

The idea is that trees and other plants would absorb carbon and then be burned in power plants with the emissions prevented from getting back into the atmosphere by carbon-capture, creating a giant machine to suck CO2 from the air.

However some doubt this will be possible on a scale large enough to have a significant effect, given the need to use land to grow crops and raise animals.

And the paper said: If coupling of [carbon-capture-and-storage] technology with bioenergy production is ultimately found to be unfeasible, uneconomical or unacceptably burdensome on ecosystems, then alternative negative emissions technologies (for example, direct air capture) will need to be substituted.

In the absence of these fail-safes, fossil fuels will need to be phased out completely and well before 2100.

Professor Betts, of Exeter University, who has played a leading role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes work, said the research should help world leaders establish what they have to do.

This important paper provides much-needed detail on how the countries of the world might meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, he said.

It is clear that it is an enormous challenge, especially if we do not develop ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and put these into practice.

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

Gareth Redmond-King, head of climate and energy policy at conservation group WWF, said the paper showed just how pressing the need was to take action.

Once again, climate scientists are sounding an alarm to remind us of the urgent need to act now to tackle climate change, he said.

Melting ice caps, dying coral reefs, plummeting wildlife populations, rising sea levels and extreme weather  they all get worse and worse as the Earths temperature rises.

Similar analysis recently showed that, on current levels of emissions, well have reached enough to warm by 1.5 degrees as soon as four years time!

We know how to solve this problem  we have the technologies to provide clean electricity at a much greater scale than weve already achieved.

And we know that reversing deforestation preserves a hugely important global carbon sink to absorb more of our emissions. So what will it take to convince all the signatories to the historic Paris agreement that they need to act now?

Here in Britain, that means we need the UK government to get their finger out and publish their now long-overdue Emissions Reduction Plan. We need ambitious, robust, long-term plans to slash emissions and protect our environment.

The Government has repeatedly delayed publication of the Emissions Reduction Plan, the key strategy that is supposed to lay out how the UK will reduce its production of greenhouse gases, even though there is a legal requirement to produce one. The ongoing failure to come up with a plan could ultimately lead to legal action against Ministers.

Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said he feared politicians would place too much store on the potential of carbon-capture.

Theres a great danger that policymakers believe some of these targets are feasible to achieve, but without realising that it depends on the large-scale use of unproven negative emissions technology, he said.

It would be far more sensible if we were planning for the future on the basis we might not have that and therefore cutting emissions much more strongly in the short-term, rather than thinking we can do it in a more gradual way, then have suddenly a magic wand of negative emissions towards the end of the century.

Mr Ward said the latest research suggested the 1.5C target was unlikely to be achieved. Last year temperatures were about 1.1C above pre-industrial levels, boosted slightly by the natural El Nino weather system.

But the world should still try to minimise the risks partly because of emerging evidence that a tipping point could be reached that would lock in sustained rises in sea levels, Mr Ward said..

The work Ive seen suggests its going to be near impossible to stay below 1.5C, but it might be possible to overshoot slightly then come back down within 50 years or so, he said.

Its worth considering because there is modelling that suggests somewhere between 1.5C and 2C of warming we may pass a [sea level rise] threshold. If you go beyond 1.5C, and the closer you get to 2C, we would be seeing sea level rise continuing for many centuries and therefore result in very large accumulative rises.

The FeliX model is freely available to be downloaded and used by anyone.
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In September 1997, Emma Slade completely overhauled her life.

A Cambridge graduate and chartered financial accountant at a fund management company working in Hong Kong  and previously New York and London  a business trip to Jakarta provided the context for her life-change.

Taking a break from the back-to-back meetings to unwind in her four star hotel, Slade opened her room door and came face-to-face with a gunman. After prodding the gun to her chest and leading her back into the room, where he raided through her belongings and jewellery, she ended up in the room with him for three hours believing these were her final hours alive. Armed police eventually swooped into save her thus triggering a complete reversal of her life.

The biggest impact for me was post-traumatic stress disorder, she tells The Independent. Ive tried to make people understand what having this feels like including the confusion of the past and the present, there is no separation.

But, mainly, I felt a great deal of compassion and sorrow for the man who had held me captive because he came out of the situation worse than I did, to be honest the biggest impact was this feeling of concern and compassion for him.

Following the burglary, Indonesian police showed Slade a picture of the partially-nude hostage taker surrounded by a pool of blood, an image firmly etched on her brain for years later.

I didnt feel any anger or hatred towards him. I just felt a huge sorrow for the suffering of this situation, she says.

She describes this realisation as an important moment in her spiritual journey, one that led her to abandoning her trouser-suits and high heels to become a Buddhist nun in Bhutan.

I do think that incident propelled me to a different part, otherwise I would have carried on as a hugely successfully, articulate, well-dressed banker once you think you are going to die you do start to live your life in a different way.

Slade says she increasingly began to feel that making money and having a career  two things she had equated with success and happiness  were a very small part of who she actually was.

Emma in her banking days (Emma Slade)

I wanted to explore more what it is to be a human being and what is this strange feeling of kindness we can have to each other even in these situations.

Slade had therapy and visited a rehabilitation centre for hostages in order to tackle her PTSD before completely abandoning her financial career.

I just felt I was worth more than that because I had not died, she says. I had survived this experience and I wanted to explore more of what I could potentially do with my life.

She travelled the world for a few years, discovering yoga  which was not the popular health regime it is now. She returned to the UK basing herself in Somerset where she meditated intensively on her own for three months describing this stint as the point where she had "completely healed".

 Chequebook Buddhism offers Thais stairway to heaven

Slade visited Bhutan for the first time in 2011 where the seeds of meditation and yoga which had been planted across her travels really came to fruition. She now splits her time between her hometown of Whistable, Kent and Bhutan, where her Buddhist instructor is. She learns Tibetan, has founded a charity for disabled children in Bhutan (of which the royalties from her new book will go to) and hopes to reside there permanently on a long-term retreat. She is currently the only western woman to have been ordained as a nun in Bhutan.

Despite the stark difference between her two career paths, Slade says she thinks she was born for a desire for meditation and Buddhism  even meditating before her financial career took off.

So what has she learned from leaving it all, uprooting and completely re-focusing her life?

No matter how drastic a career change you make, the tools you have learned can be transferred

While many would assume any skills learned in the capitalist banking world would be useless in the Tibetan mountains, Slade has proved this isnt the case. For instance, she was always good at being in solitary situations  which can be many in the well-travelled world of banking  which set her up nicely for meditation abilities. Additionally, she now runs a registered charity so her financial, analytical and presentation skills certainly have not gone amiss.

Our focus is all too often outward and not inward

When youre working in the city the focus is often on how much money you are earning, what you can buy, how successful you are etc there is no real inner understanding There is a void inside, there is no development apart from a hap-hazard feeling that you want to be a nice person, there is nothing properly trained there," she explains.

Success is not a measure of happiness

Slade looks back on her eight-year banking career and acknowledges she was successful but that did equate to happiness: I wanted to be successful and do well, I wanted to get high marks and good bonuses and I thought when that happened I would be happy. I thought one would lead to the other and obviously I didnt find it to be the case."

Romantic relationships are not a guaranteed route to happiness

Undertaking a vow of celibacy, which is Buddhist monk and nun custom, Slade was also vowing to accept that finding a partner will not be the basis of her future or happiness, something she says is much of what happiness and fulfilment is modelled on int he Western world. While admitting relationships were not her "forte, she has abandoned her previous wish to eventually get married.

Most peoples idea of happiness is inextricably linked with the idea of finding someone they love and they spend the rest of their life with. That is what the idea is in the West, by saying no Im saying my happiness is not about finding that person. Thats quite a big statement, let alone no sex to say I do not believe that is the way for me in this life is a big decision.

A traumatic situation does not mean your life is over

The experience in Jakarta actually kick-started Slades life as she knows it, she managed to turn the traumatic experience of kidnapping and violence into a life devoted to peace and helping others. As Slade puts it: Difficulty isnt the end of your life, it could be the start of something.

Slade has been a practising nun for five years after her Llama in Bhutan instructed her to. During her studies she has completed 440,000 Buddhist practices  equating to eight hours per day. She is currently working towards a three-year long retreat in the Himalayas, which she will do when her 11-year-old son is old enough and ready.

Emma in Bhutan (Emma Slade)

Ironically enough, I am deeply grateful the [hostage situation] happened otherwise I would just have carried on in that way acquiring more suits and staying in fancier hotels on business trips. That was never going to bring me to the person I have become now. It was like being a confused child, wanting lots of toys, she reflects.

Emma Slade is the author of Set Free: A Life-Changing Journey From Banking to Buddhism in Bhutan (published by Summersdale, 9.99).
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Imagine youre city-hopping in the US and taking your next trip of a couple hundred miles. New York City to Boston, for example. Or Houston to Dallas. Tampa to Miami.

The obvious choice might be to drive. But what if you could show up at an airport at one of those cities, bypass security checkpoints, board a small hybrid-electric plane with luggage in hand, and be on the ground at your destination in about an hour  all for about $25 (20) each way?

A company called Zunum Aero hopes to make that a reality, so travellers who normally take a car, bus or train for regional trips won't think twice about flying. The Washington state-based start-up says that since 2013, it has been developing a fleet of hybrid-electric planes that would make those kinds of inexpensive, short-haul flights possible.

Recommended This man will save you thousands of pounds on flights

The company has some heavyweight investor partners, including Boeings HorizonX and JetBlue Technology Ventures, subsidiaries of their respective companies. It also faces a number of competitors and obstacles, particularly battery limitations. But if successful, it could significantly change regional air travel, where options have shrivelled and costs have crept up in recent decades.

Think of it as Tesla of the air, said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue Technology Ventures. [Or] think of it as an electric bus in the air.

Zunum Aero emerged from stealth mode on Wednesday to announce its ambitious goals: to be flying routes of up to 700 miles  think Atlanta to Washington DC  by the mid-2020s and then routes of up to 1,000 miles  think Los Angeles to Seattle  by 2030.

Presidents fleet: Silicon Valley is keen to offer its answer to conventional vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (Getty) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The start-up also laid out an array of promises: door-to-door travel times cut in half; lower operating costs; airfares that would be 40 to 80 per cent lower. All on quiet hybrid aircraft that would produce 80 per cent less emissions. Indeed, part of the company name was inspired by tzunuum, the Mayan word for the hummingbird, for the bird's speed and efficiency.

To be perfectly honest, weve been wanting to tell the story for four years, Zunum Aero chief executive Ashish Kumar told The Washington Post. What weve been building towards is really exciting and we believe fundamentally is going to change the shape of regional aviation.

Kumar thinks operating costs for the companys hybrid-electric planes could be 40 to 80 per cent lower than for conventional aircraft. A small range-extending generator, he adds, would be integrated into early planes, kicking in on longer flights where battery power isnt enough. The eventual goal would be for battery technology to become advanced enough to have planes relying entirely on electricity, eliminating fuel costs altogether.

Former USSR cheap flight destinations Show all 13 1 /13 Former USSR cheap flight destinations Former USSR cheap flight destinations Tallinn City skyline: Tallinn, capital of Estonia Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Tallinn Dome service: Church on Toompea Hill, Tallinn Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Simferopol, Crimea Working-class hero: Lenin statue, Simferopol, before the Russian annexation of Crimea Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Sevastopol, Crimea On the waterfront: the harbour at Sevastopol Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations RIga Ever onwards: Soviet statue on the riverside in the Latvian capital Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Riga Bird's eye: the rooftops of Riga Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Riga Capital letters: souvenir mugs on sale in the Latvian capital Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Riga Apron strings: airlines often make onerous commercial demands to new airports Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Kiev Going underground: the Metro in Ukraine's capital Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Kiev Market forces: vendors at a vegetable stall in a Kiev market Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Kiev Jet set: mosaic at Kiev's Borispol airport Simon Calder Former USSR cheap flight destinations Chernobyl Wipe-out: Tony Wheeler in the ghost town left from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster Tony Wheeler Former USSR cheap flight destinations Chernobyl Nuclear nightmare: Tony Wheeler holds a Geiger counter outside the Chernobyl reactor Tony Wheeler

There are several reasons that people rarely choose to fly for short regional trips. Flying often means allotting extra time for getting to the airport, going through security and then boarding. Also, the airline industrys shift to larger planes and big-city hubs created what Kumar calls a regional transport gap.

Flights from midsize cities are now often routed through hubs, meaning door-to-door times for those trips are no better than they were 50 years ago, Kumar said. And air options for smaller communities have been dwindling or disappearing, he added. Today, 97 per cent of US air traffic comes from 2 per cent of the more than 5,000 airports in the country, according to a forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration.

About 95 per cent of trips under 500 miles are taken by car, according to research by the US Department of Transportation. For trips between 500 and 750 miles, about 61 per cent of travellers drive and 34 per cent fly. For trips between 750 and 1,000 miles, a little more than half of travellers fly and 42 per cent drive.

Zunum Aeros Kumar and his team think this is where electric-hybrid planes can step in. Whereas a Boeing 737 today seats anywhere from 85 to more than 200 passengers, a Zunum plane would have from 10 to 50 seats. Because smaller aircraft are subject to fewer security regulations, those passengers would likely be able to skip long security queues. Removing luggage check-in options also would save on time on the ground, he said. The resulting trip would feel more like a cross between private corporate air travel and hopping on a bus.

Still, the company is not without its competitors and detractors. This year, a Massachusetts-based start-up called Wright Electric announced similar plans to roll out zero-emissions electric airliners designed to save money and our planet within a decade. But the company, which is backed by start-up accelerator Y Combinator, has said it is relying on continued advances in battery technology. This is not there yet according to Graham Warwick, technology editor of Aviation Weekly.

Speaking to the BBC last month he said: Its projected to come but it needs a significant improvement. Nobody thinks that is going to happen anytime soon.

It remains too early to tell what the commercial aviation industry will look like by the mid-2020s and whether one-way fares in the $25 range would be feasible then. Even now, it is not unheard of for low-cost carriers such as Frontier or Spirit to offer double-digit airfares on domestic routes.

That hasn't stopped others from diving into hybrid-electric aerospace projects. Airbus has also been developing E-Fan, its hybrid electric aircraft since 2014. In 2015 it became the first all-electric twin-engine plane to cross the English Channel. Though the E-Fan has only two seats, Airbus is hoping the technology will lead to the development of a regional airliner or helicopter.

Plans for helicopter-esque electric VTOL  vertical take-off and landing  aircraft have also been emerging from Silicon Valley. According to Andrew J. Hawkins of New York-based tech website The Verge companies such as Uber and Airbus are working on developing their own VTOLs.

Because nothing says I'm very rich and I hate traffic like a flying car project, Hawkins wrote for the technology site.

In a statement, Boeing HorizonX said it was confident in investing in Zunum Aero because we feel its technology development is leading this emerging and exciting hybrid-electric market space.

Simi compared the push for hybrid-electric planes to the airline industrys advancement from strictly propeller planes to jet aircraft.

Its that type of transformation, said SImi. Were very excited about where this is going. Its still very early, of course. We now have a seat at the table at what we believe is going to be an amazing change.

 The Washington Post
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Donald Trump has said he was "very proud of" dropping the "mother of all bombs" on Afghanistan.

US command used a cargo plane to drop the the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the American military in Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border  a remote area where members of an Isis affiliate were operating.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb targeted tunnels and caves Isis fighters used to "move around freely".

 US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Islamic State cave system in Afghanistan

Mr Trump praised the US military and said the mission was "very successful".

"Everybody knows exactly what happened and what I do is I authorise my military. We have the greatest military in the world and they've done their job as usual. So, we have given them total authorisation," he said.

The order was signed off by US Central Command's General Joseph Votel and the Pentagon have confirmed to The Independent that General John Nicholson "received authorities" to go after Isis Khorosan, what the local Isis affiliate calls themselves, in January 2017.

It remains unclear whether that was part of the "total authorisation" Mr Trump mentioned earlier or whether this was a specific order given by him to Mr Nicholson.

Mr Trump alluded once again to the previous Obama administration in his comments. He said that there is a "tremendous difference" between "the last eight weeks and compare that to really what's happened over the last eight years."

The bombing comes on the heels of a US missile strike in Syria which was in response to a chemical attack believed by the administration to be carried out by the Syrian President Bashar al Assad's regime.
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It is just as effective to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on yourself as it is for someone else to do it for you, researchers have found.

The first aid technique, used to clear the airways of choking victims, involves a series of short, sharp upward thrusts on the abdomen.

Usually, the thrusts are performed by a helper  but self-administered thrusts using the arms or a chair produce similar pressures to those performed by another person, according to a new study published in the journal Thorax.

In 2014 in the UK, 229 deaths were caused by inhaling food, leading to obstruction of the respiratory tract. Office for National Statistics data show an a further 29 were caused by choking on other objects.

The scientists from the Royal Brompton Hospital and Imperial College in London said people should be taught how to give themselves the Heimlich manoeuvre in basic first aid training.

They described how the procedure can be carried out, saying: The participant positions their own hands in the standard position for the abdominal manoeuvre and performs thrusts increasing to the maximal force they can tolerate.

The standard position is where the fists are clasped together and placed over the fleshy part of the abdomen, above the navel, said the study.

A researcher demonstrates how to perform 'chair thrusts' (NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit / Thorax)

Chair thrusts produce higher pressures than if the manoeuvre when performed by someone on themselves or someone else, said the researchers, who measured the bodys response to the different moves.

These can be carried out by positioning the body above a high backed chair, with the chair back positioned below the upper half of the abdomen, below the ribcage.

Using gravity, bodyweight and arms for additional force, the participant allows the back of the chair to thrust up into their abdomen.

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The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. 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Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. 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

The researchers said everyone who experiences severe choking should immediately either do the Heimlich manoeuvre on themselves or use a chair to perform the thrusts.

Notices should be placed in restaurants and cafeterias and the procedures should be taught in schools, on first aid courses and to catering staff, they recommended.

The Heimlich manoeuvre was developed by American surgeon Henry Heimlich, who first described the technique in 1974 and later estimated it had saved the lives of 50,000 people.
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Enceladus is, to many, just an icy snowball floating around in space. But it's just become a lot more important: it's perhaps the greatest hope for life in our own solar system.

The small moon of Saturn, which has a 502km diameter, has been revealed to have hydrothermal processes going on underneath its crust. That, in turn, means that it may have all the requirements for life  and that microbial life might be found there.

What started out as an afterthought or side project for the Cassini mission to Saturn has turned out to be perhaps its crowning glory.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

Enceladus is made up of an icy surface shell and a rocky interior inside, with a warm ocean sandwiched between the two. It's in that ocean that any life is likely to live  apparently given fuel by the processes discovered in the new research.

It was first found by British astronomer William Herschel, in 1789. It got its name in 1847, from Herschel's astronomer son John.

Since then, it languished mostly in obscurity  one of a full 53 moons around Saturn and not looking to be even one of the more interesting ones.

Recommended Nasa to intentionally fly Cassini spacecraft to its death on Saturn

But that all changed when the Cassini orbiter arrived at Saturn in 2005. It found plumes of water shooting out of cracks in Enceladus's surface, leading scientists to wonder whether it might be geologically alive after all.

That led scientists to fly Cassini through the plumes, using all of the various sensing mechanisms on board to try and understand what the plumes were made of.

It found mostly water, or tiny ice particles, with traces of other things like methane, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and various salts and simple organic molecules. Later it found silica nanoparticles, suggesting that something was going on between the hot rocky interior and the alkaline water.

That led scientists to expect and hope that hydrogen might be found inside, making the world habitable. That's what the latest flyby  in 2015, when Cassini was shot through the plumes  was looking out for, and what it found.

"What we knew already from Cassini is that Enceladus has these fountains of water jetting out from its surface," said Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiologist from the University of Leicester. "That in itself was a hugely exciting and totally unexpected discovery  it tells us this tiny snowball of a world, smaller than the UK from side to side, is geologically active.

"Its warm on the inside, where theres a large body of liquid water. We knew there was an environment, which was potentially habitable, in Enceladus. But Cassini has essentially tasted whats in that water."

It's what it tasted there that has got scientists so excited: molecular hydrogen, suggesting that the moon has fuel for life. With that, it completes the three things  alongside water and organic molecules  that are required to support living things.

But it's just the latest surprise from the little moon, which was never intended to be a significant object of study for the Cassini mission.

"When Cassini got there it was not a major target of the mission," says Caitriona Jackman from the University of Southampton. "It was thought just to be a rocky or icy moon. It was at the beginning of the mission in 2005 when it had a flyby and realised there was more than meets the eyes."

Gradually, the truth about the moon was revealed: strange magnetic effects were pinned down to "tiger stripes" on the crust, and water vapour and other organic material was shooting out of its vents.

"Enceladus has been the biggest bonus ever," says Professor Jackman, who worked on the Cassini mission. "It was an incredible discovery to even know that it was interesting. It wasnt a highlight or a major target, but it turns out to be one of the most interesting of Saturn's moons."
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The website and Twitter accounts of high-ranking members of Britain First have been hacked and replaced with a message threatening to bomb a planned march on 3 June.

The Twitter account of leader Paul Golding and personal website of deputy leader Jayda Golding were attacked by hackers angry at the rhetoric of the far-right group.

The name of Goldings Twitter account has been changed to racist f****** chav and his personal details, including his home address, have been posted online.

Similarly the text of Fransens website  which detailed her background, contact details and involvement with the group  have been replaced with a plain text warning that several bombs will detonate and those who will march be dead (sic).

It ordered the group to stop being racist to Muslims and warned whoever goes to the march will die.

The person behind the threat is currently unknown.

The controversial group, which has been banned from entering any mosque in the country, is planning a march through Birmingham on 3 June to protest against what it calls the Islamification of Britain.

Paul Golding's Twitter account was hacked with his personal details published online

Jayda Fransen's website was defaced with a death threat

Earlier this week Golding, Fransen, and former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson filmed themselves walking down a predominantly Muslim area of Birmingham waving large white crosses.

They claimed they were attacked by a group of aggressive Muslim men but other footage from the scene showed several Muslim men, returning from a volunteering mission in Iraq, attempting to engage Robinson in debate before he was bundled into the van by the group.

The group has sought to capitalise on last months Westminster terror attack when Khalid Masood ploughed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer and attempting to enter the Houses of Parliament.

The 52-year-old, who was shot dead at the scene, was a Muslim convert had been living in Birmingham before his death.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA 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

A similar march by the EDL in Birmingham at the weekend ended with a picture of anti-fascist protester smiling in the face of EDL leader Paul Crossland going viral.

Saffiyah Khan later said she was not intimidated and instead all she saw was an angry man having a rant.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told The Independent the matter had been reported and was currently under investigation.

When The Independent contacted Britain First they said they were aware of it but refused to comment any further.
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Fire crews are tackling a major blaze involving five fuel tankers at an industrial estate in Essex.

The Essex Fire Brigade said four of its engines and a number of its specialist appliances including a foam lorry are at the scene in Purfleet, Thurrock.

The fire service said in an update: Firefighters are continuing to tackle the fire. Firefighters have set up a reliable water supply using the Service's Water Bowser (a large water tanker).

Recommended Two people killed and dozens rescued in Hertfordshire care home fire

The fire service have contacted the train line services to ensure no trains pass during the incident.

C2C train services have been diverted away from the area.

A major incident has been declared and police have sealed off the scene.

Eye-witnesses reported seeing huge plumes of black smoke for miles around after the fire broke out at around 10pm on Wednesday evening.

Twitter users described hearing an explosion in the area.
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The vast majority of Britons want to maintain or increase the numbers of foreign students coming to the UK because of the multibillion-pound boost they give to the economy, increasing pressure on Theresa May to stop including them in immigration figures.

Almost half the public back the current numbers of international students coming to the UK each year, when they are told of the economic benefits, while a further 24 per cent of people want to increase the figure, the findings of a ComRes poll reveal.

Just one in four people regard foreign students as immigrants, even though they are currently counted in the net migration figures that the Government has vowed to slash to tens of thousands a year.

The policy has been blamed for a drive by the Home Office to tighten the rules governing student visas, with foreign students currently classed as long-term migrants. The Independent and the Open Britain group are running a Drop the Target campaign calling for the goal to be scrapped.

According to the latest figures, 596,000 immigrants moved to the UK in the year to September last year, with net migration running at 273,000. Of the 596,000, 134,000 were students, a figure that dropped sharply by 41,000 on the previous 12 months.

The survey of 4,000 adults, carried out for Universities UK, found that 64 per cent believe international students have a positive impact on the local economies of the towns and cities where they study and only 18 per cent think they have a negative impact on the national economy.

Some 61 per cent believe the students have a valuable social and cultural impact on university towns and cities, while 58 per cent agree that they help to create jobs.

Three-quarters say that when international students graduate, it is better that they work in the UK for a period to contribute to the economy rather than return immediately to their home country. Only 25 per cent want them to return immediately.

Perceptions of overseas students are more favourable in Scotland than in England and Wales. Two in three Scots (67 per cent) think their economic contribution helps to create jobs, higher than people in England (57 per cent) and Wales (59 per cent).

A recent study by Oxford Economics found that foreign students generate 26bn for the economy and their spending supported 206,600 jobs in university towns and cities.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA 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 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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 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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

Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, said: The poll shows the public recognises the valuable social and cultural impact international students have in regions across the country. But, while the UK Government continues to count international students as long-term migrants in its target to reduce migration, there is a continued pressure to reduce their numbers, adding to the perception that they are not welcome here.

Dame Julia said the latest enrolment figures showed a worrying decline in foreign students in recent years, while competitors such as the US and Australia were accepting more and classed them as non-permanent or temporary residents.

She added: If the UK wants to remain a top destination for international students, we need a new immigration policy that encourages them to choose the UK. As the UK prepares to exit the EU, it is more important than ever that we project a welcoming message to talented people from across the world.

Ms May has rebuffed calls from several cabinet ministers for overseas students to be excluded from the immigration statistics. Her allies insist that including them increases the pressure on universities to clamp down on bogus applications from economic migrants pretending to be students.

Ms May said last week: We want to bring [net migration] down to sustainable levels. We have said those sustainable levels are the tens of thousands. The reason we want to bring it down is because of the impact it has on people, particularly in relation to the effect on jobs and incomes at the lower end of the income scale.

She added: Students are in the net migration figures because it is in the international definition of net migration and we abide by the same definition that is used by other countries around the world.

Ben Howlett, a Conservative MP and leading supporter of Open Britain, said: The public want the Government to roll out the red carpet for hard-working international students who bring huge benefits to our economy, education system and country.

They should not be counted in the immigration statistics. Subjecting international students to a completely arbitrary tens of thousands immigration target makes no economic or political sense. Drop the target and open the doors of our universities to international students.

The Independent and Open Britain are urging for the Government to drop its target to cut net migration to tens of thousands of people each year. It is divisive and will harm our economy.
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The parents of two promising teenage athletes have given "harrowing and heart-rending" accounts of the impact of their loss as a drunken soldier was jailed for six years for killing them by crashing into them while distracted by vomit in his car.

Michael Casey, of St Paul's Road, Tottenham, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court for causing the deaths of Stacey Burrows, 16, and Lucy Pygott, 17.

The 24-year-old, of 4 Rifles, had been out drinking with colleagues and was over the drink-drive limit when the accident happened at a pedestrian crossing near his barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on November 8.

The court heard that he did not see the red light at the crossing because he was distracted by vomit left in the passenger area of the car by a colleague who had been sick when he had given him a lift home.

Casey was given a six-year jail sentence which means he should be released on licence after three years.

Michael Casey outside court (PA)

As the sentence was announced by Judge Keith Cutler, Stacey's mother Helen Burrows cried out from the public gallery: "I do not get my daughter back in three years, do I."

Reading her victim impact statement to the court, Lucy's mother Lisa Pygott said: "Mr Casey has broken our precious family, we are lost without Lucy.

"The British Army trains soldiers to kill, Mr Casey killed with his loaded weapon of a hot hatch car."

More to follow...
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A couple from Spain and the Netherlands who have lived in the UK all their adult lives have been left feeling "unsettled" after the Home Office refused an application for their two London-born children to be recognised as permanent residents.

Jan-Dinant Schreuder and Monica Obiols, both 49, decided to apply for permanent residency (PR) cards for them and their two children, aged 12 and 15 after the EU referendum last June.

While Mr Schreuder was issued indefinite leave to remain and Ms Obiols was granted a PR card, the Home Office sent separate notices to the both children, who the couple did not wish to name, notifying them that their applications for PR had been refused.

They said they must provide more evidence that they lived permanently with their parents.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Schreuder said he was initially "very angry" at the Home Office's decision.

"Now the anger has gone," he said. "Now its general confusion. Its just very worrying and unsettling.

There are big changes that are going to affect people like myself, who sound very British. Ive lived here since I was three and my partner since she was 20, so were fully settled into the country. And the children have been here all their lives."

Home Office response to Mr Schreuder and Ms Obiols' children's PR applications

Mr Schreuder added: To a certain extent bureaucracy is always bureaucracy, and its always a pain, but that gave a signal that we can almost drop you or not bother with you. It makes you feel that youre not important.

Signed on behalf of Secretary of State Amber Rudd, the letters to the children stated: You have provided [sic] failed to provide any evidence of [the children's] residence in the United Kingdom. You have, therefore, failed to sufficiently demonstrate that they have been residing in the United Kingdom for five continuous years."

The Home Office has now informed the couple that their children's PR applications will be reviewed, but the family said they have been left unsettled and feel like less important citizens as a result of the response.

A secondary school teacher, Mr Schreuder has lived in the UK since he was three years old, while Ms Obiols, a special needs teacher, has been living continuously in the UK since 1988. Both the children have Spanish passports. Under EU law this meant nothing more needed to be done after they were born to establish their right to remain in the UK.

Maike Bohn, spokeswoman for the3million, a UK-based group campaigning for the rights of EU nationals, told The Independent this was one of a number of similar cases, and that it showed the current system for applying for PR was not fit for purpose.

It is clear that the current system is not fit for purpose. It was never designed with EU nationals in mind and risks discriminating against carers, students, pensioners and families, said Ms Bohn.

The3million are currently in dialogue with the Home Office to devise a better way to document all EU citizens living in the UK, their families and dependents. People deserve dignity and certainty about their rights so they can continue to live their lives as normal, without discrimination.

It comes as an EU legal service revealed that it has seen a marked rise in the number of EU nationals seeking advice on issues surrounding PR in the UK, as well as similar queries from UK citizens living in EU member states.

Zuzana Pundova, EU rights manager at European Citizen Action Service, which runs the legal advice service Your Europe Advice, told The Independent: There has been a rise in the number of queries were getting about EU nationals getting permanent residency in the UK since Brexit.

The problems are usually connected with delays, so the Home Office delays the decision. The usual time when they should issue a decision is six months, but they are often taking longer. Thats the number one issue.

Weve seen a rise in the number of EU citizens asking how they can apply for permanent residency. These are people who have been living in the UK for the required five years, or even much longer. But theyre only now starting to think about how to get a permanent residency.

There are also more UK citizens living in other member states having problems when applying for permanent residency. In some cases member states are saying they are not entitled to residency, as they wont be part of the EU. This is a new issue, and it is definitely connected with Brexit."

In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images

Aasked about the situation with Mr Schreuder and Ms Obiols children, a Home Office spokesperson said: EEA nationals are not required to apply for documentation confirming their status and their rights remain unchanged while we are a member of the European Union - so there was never any risk of the family being split up.

The rules clearly state that people applying for permanent residence documentation must demonstrate they have lived in the UK for the last five years. This includes applications for children.

"In this case, the required evidence was not provided, but we have made contact with the applicant and are in the process of resolving the situation.
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The British government is failing Christian refugees from Syria, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has claimed.

Lord George Carey alleged that politically correct officials were institutionally biased against Christian refugees, who are not being resettled in the UK at the same rate as Muslim refugees.

According to the retired Anglican bishop, minority groups find it more difficult to access UNHCR-run camps in countries bordering Syria, which means they are less likely to be included in official schemes which would bring them to the UK.

The 81-year-old said a failure to address this amounted to potentially unlawful discrimination by the British government, which would be legally obligated to act if it admitted Christians in the Middle East were facing genocide.

In a letter published in full by the Telegraph, Lord Carey said: It is distressing beyond belief to know that the steady crucifixion of Middle East Christians continues.

In the run-up to Easter British taxpayers will be appalled by this institutional bias against Christians by politically-correct officials."

He suggested government workers have a "politically-correct phobia of avoiding any risk of being perceived as anti-Muslim".

He added: "The Muslim victims of the conflict in the Middle East deserve the same compassion as the minority victims. But at the moment they are receiving greater support than the minorities which are targeted by Muslim extremists".

Official figures show that less than 1 per cent of Syrian refugees resettled under a flagship Government scheme in the third quarter of last year were Christians  in real terms that amounted to just 13 of 1,583 refugees accepted  despite the minority group making up around 10 per cent of the Syrian population before the civil war began in 2011.

Lord Carey, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, said that the Government had failed to follow through on its manifesto commitment to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

Last year the House of Commons passed a resolution stating that Christians, Yazidis and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria are suffering genocide, but this stance has not been officially adopted by the Government.

Lord Carey suggested the Government did not want to label the disaster a genocide because this would obligate it to respond. Instead, he suggested pledges by Theresa May and her predecessor David Cameron on Syria were just "hollow words".

He said he had received advice from religious liberties barrister Paul Diamond, who told him that even though the Governments intention is not to discriminate against minorities, the results of the policy are illegal indirect discrimination.

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

Christians have been brutally targeted by Isis in Syria, alongside other minority groups including Yazidis and Shia Muslims.

But Lord Carey said Muslim officials "invariably" ran UN camps, which prevented Christian refugees from seeking help there.

"The massive aid budget of which the government is rightly proud is being funnelled by the Department for International Development into the UN camps which claim to offer shelter and a potential route to the West for the most needy," he said.

"Yet here is the problem. These camps are invariably run by Muslim officials who are often hostile to minorities  especially Muslims who have converted to Christianity. So the refugees who are too scared to enter the camps lose out on both food aid and opportunities to find sanctuary in safer countries."

He called on the Government to "fulfil its promises and manifesto commitments to support persecuted Christians facing genocide today".

A Government spokesman said: UK aid is provided in line with humanitarian principles, so whoever needs our help the most gets it first, regardless of race, gender or religion.

We work with trusted partners who operate in line with those same principles of neutrality and impartiality, including in practicalities such as refugee camp management and staffing. To suggest otherwise is wrong.

And with all of our resettlement schemes we work closely with UNHCR to identify cases that they deem most in need of resettlement according to their established vulnerability criteria.
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Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, has condemned the alleged detention of over 100 gay men in Chechnya, calling on Russian authorities to investigate the alarming situation in the provincial region.

The claims from human rights campaigners and local media suggest that men suspected of being gay are being held in camps in Chechnya and are subject to torture and beatings. Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper, which carried the claims, added that three men are believed to have been killed in the barbaric anti-gay campaign.

In a statement, Baroness Anelay, a foreign office minister, called on Russian authorities to investigation the mass detention of gay men and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The detention and ill-treatment of over 100 gay men in Chechnya is extremely concerning. Reports have also suggested that at least three of these men have been killed, she said.

The statement by the regional Government, implying that such treatment towards LGBT is acceptable, is particularly abhorrent. The human rights situation for LGBT people in Russia has deteriorated significantly in recent years and we continue to voice our concern with Russian authorities at all levels.

On his Twitter account, Mr Johnson said it was outrageous Chechnya govt supports rather than stops ill-treatment of LGBT people, adding he agreed with Baroness Anelays statement.

On Wednesday evening hundreds of people gathered outside the Russian embassy in central London to protest the barbaric treatment of gay men in the region, chanting close the camps and queer rights are human rights.

According to the Novaya Gazeta report, the sweep began when a Moscow gay rights group began filing requests for demonstrations in Russia's provincial cities. Although the group had not focused on the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus region, including Chechnya, the petitions galvanised a local drive to round up gay men.

In Chechnya, the command was given for a 'prophylactic sweep' and it went as far as real murders, Novaya Gazeta reported, saying the authorities searched for closeted gay men partly by posing as men seeking dates on social media websites.

The newspaper also noted that none of the men detained had been open about their homosexuality in a society where it is still strictly taboo.

LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty

According to Reuters, while authorities could not be reached for comment, a spokesman for the regions president, Ramzan Kadyrov, denied the allegation to the media, adding that gay men did no exist in Chechnya.

Amnesty International added there were reports some of the abducted men have since been returned to their families, possibly because their sexual orientation was not confirmed by their captors but remain in grave danger because of local homophobic intolerance.

Kathy Voss, the organisations urgent cases coordinator, said: As youd expect theres enormous concern over these horrifying reports and our activists want to be at the Russia Embassy this evening to register that.

Chechnya has been a dangerous place for gay people for a long time, but in recent years the atmosphere right across Russia has become increasingly poisonous, with homophobic language from officials and repressive new laws.

The authorities in both the Chechen Republic and in Moscow need to swiftly investigate this case and ensure that if these terrible crimes have occurred that the perpetrators are properly brought to justice.
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Britain should hold a second European Union referendum now that it is clear what Theresa May's plans for Brexit are, the general secretary of the German SPD has said.

SPD leader Martin Schulz could potentially be Germany's next Chancellor, with polls showing him roughly neck-and-neck with centre-right CDU leader Angela Merkel for the September 2017 contest.

Now Katarina Barley, Mr Schulz's top colleague, has called for the Brexit referendum to be re-run.

When the referendum was held, nobody really knew what it would be about  not the British people, not even the political class, Ms Barley told the Politico website.

A lot of people wrongfully thought that Britain could get a deal like Switzerland or Norway without the inconveniences, without accepting the rulings of the European Court of Justice, without free movement of labor. Now they know that this isnt the case  and they should be asked [to vote again] on this.

Mr Schulz himself, a former president of the European Parliament, has said he will defend the interests of European citizens during the Brexit process.

Since the start of March this year most pollsters have showen both the CDU and centre-left SPD with just over 30 per cent each, with neither of the two parties opening up a commanding lead.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Whoever wins Germany's 2017 federal elections will get to exercise a powerful qualified majority vote on the final Brexit deal at European Council.

The victor will also likely be able to vote any future separate trade deal with Britain.
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Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, has failed to name any respected educational expert or institution that supports extending grammar schools as she prepared to launch a consultation into the policy.

Ms Greening also refused to rule out introducing quotas for the most disadvantaged children in England to attend to grammar schools, saying the Government would not elaborate on details before publication of a White Paper on the controversial policy.

The Education Secretarys comments came as she outlined in a speech on Thursday how the Government will introduce a new model for grammar schools  championed by Theresa May  to work for everyone, including children from ordinary working families

But when asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme whether she could name any respected educational figure or institution that actually wants more grammar schools, she failed to do so.

She also denied ignoring increasing pressures on schools that have seen head teachers write to parents in recent weeks asking for financial contributions.

Data from the Institute For Fiscal Studies suggests an 8 per cent drop in real-terms spending per pupil between 2014-15 to 2019-20, which the BBC said proved schools financial situations are getting worse. But Ms Greening told the broadcaster investment per pupil had risen 50 per cent in real terms over the last 20 years.

She said: I dont minimise the challenges that schools face. We are putting in record amounts but we are absolutely committed to working with all schools to make sure they can get the very most out of that money.

We are creating a new model of grammars for the 21st century, she added

But Dr Lee Elliot Major, the chief executive of the Sutton Trust, a leading educational charity, added there was no evidence that existing grammar schools were acting as engines of social mobility in England.

Speaking on the Today programme before the Education Secretary, he added: What weve found is that grammar schools arent serving the poorest children  a child from a private prep school will be ten times as likely as a child on free school meals to get into a grammar. So they are disproportionately serving those from the richest backgrounds.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, added that if the Conservatives wanted to help children, they would scrap their divisive grammar schools plans and properly fund schools.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said there was no evidence that grammar schools improve social mobility and the Government had tried to fiddle the figures. She told the Today programme: Grammar schools do not improve social mobility and therefore they are not good for our education system.

They are trying to bring in a policy where there is a life raft for a very, very tiny minority if youre lucky enough to go through the private tuition to get yourself into these grammar schools, while the rest of us can rot.

Despite a lack of evidence to support her plans and significant opposition from some senior Conservative backbenchers, it is clear, however, that Ms Mays administration intends to plough ahead with a wave of new grammar schools in England.

During her speech at St Marys University in Twickenham, southwest London, Ms Greening added: This is a Government that believes that ordinary working families shouldnt have to make do.

We believe they deserve better than that. Because ordinary working families are the backbone of our economy, our country. Theres an old adage  what gets measured gets done. And this Government is focused on getting things done.

 Theresa May defends grammar school plans

The Education Secretary added that the DfE launched a technical consultation on the plans on Wednesday to help us understand how the children of ordinary working people are faring in our education system.

Ms Greening said she wants to knit together the different parts of the education system in a bid to raise attainment. She added: We believe that universities, independent schools, and faith schools have a role in creating better options for parents.

And I believe that selection  in new, 21st-century state grammar schools  will add to the options available to young people, to truly help make the most of their talents.

 Grammar schools dominate PMQs

And grammars should not just be for one better-off group in society to attend. We want to see more children from disadvantaged families get into grammars  thats vital.

We certainly will not lose sight of the fact that we want grammars to achieve more for disadvantaged children.

But we also shouldnt lose sight of the fact that many young people from an ordinary working-class background already attend our existing grammar schools.

And so, the new schools that we will create will support young people from every background, not the privileged few. Young people on free school meals, and those eligible for pupil premium.

This will be a new model of grammars, truly open to all  we will insist on that. And it will reflect the choices of local parents and communities.
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More than 30,000 people marched in South Africas capital Pretoria on Wednesday calling on President Jacob Zuma to quit, keeping up pressure from the streets on the leader over his handling of the struggling economy.

The protesters marched through the city and held a rally at a field outside the Union Buildings, the site of Mr Zumas offices.

Mr Zuma, who turned 75 on Wednesday, has survived previous protests. But the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and other parties behind the protest believe they can drum up support to force Mr Zuma out of office following his dismissal of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle.

South Africas economy has grown lethargically over the last six years and the jobless rate stands near record levels. Analysts say the political crisis is making it hard to reform the economy, improve social services and fight crime.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has rejected calls for Mr Zuma to step down. He has denied repeated allegations of corruption since winning power in 2009. More than 60,000 people marched on Friday calling for him to quit.

The ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other parties took part in Wednesdays protest, dubbed National Day of Action.

He is misusing state money, said 21-year-old student and Pretoria resident Thomas Monyoko wearing a red EFF T-shirt.

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

Let the message be clear today that Zuma is no longer a credible president of South Africa, EFF leader Julius Malema said. We dont care whether you are white, whether you are Indian, whether you are black, we are here to defend the future of our children.

Mr Zuma had accused Fridays marchers of having racist motives. Like Friday, a mixed racial profile of people attended Wednesdays rallies but there were less white people.

Patricia Maguire, a white 40-year-old risk analyst who also took part in Fridays protest, held a sign saying Recall The Wrecking Ball, referring to Mr Zuma.

I dont think this is a party thing, it is a governance issue. I cant see how anyone cannot see that he is critically destructive, said Ms Maguire, who said she had no party affiliation.

In another development, parliament said a motion of no-confidence in Mr Zuma called by the opposition had been postponed until a court decided whether the vote should be taken by secret ballot.

Opposition parties requested the delay. The parties have said the vote could have a chance of success if it is held by secret ballot, but the ANC has said it will vote against it.

Mr Zumas office said he was expected to hold a cabinet meeting to discuss the economic situation after Fitch and S&P Global Ratings last week downgraded South Africa to junk, citing Mr Gordhans dismissal as one reason.

President Jacob Zuma addresses crowds gathered to celebrate his 75th birthday (Reuters)

Mr Zuma meanwhile sang, danced and cracked jokes at his 75th birthday celebrations held in the Soweto township, near the commercial hub of Johannesburg.

Im not worried when people call me names. Ive been called names for years, said a jovial Mr Zuma, speaking in the Zulu language. The opposition are doing their job, which is to oppose, dont be worried, he told supporters.

Wrapping up his speech, Mr Zuma said: If tomorrow you [the ANC] say that I should step down, I will do so with a pure heart.

Rachel Mokgatshwane, 73, said she was there to support Mr Zuma and wish him a happy birthday.

We get our welfare payouts in time. I dont complain, she said.

Another ANC supporter, Patrick Nyende, 54, said: We dont see any reason for him to step down. None.

The rand climbed to a one-week high on Wednesday, in part encouraged by comments from the new finance minister indicating no significant change in policy.

Finance minister Malusi Gigaba has sought to reassure investors since Gordhan was sacked.

Reuters
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Human rights groups have strongly condemned the detention of a prominent feminist, who was arrested after calling the Ugandan President a pair of buttocks.

Stella Nyanzi, a controversial academic and activist, was charged with cyber harassment after comparing Yoweri Museveni to buttocks and calling his wife Janet Museveni empty brained in two different Facebook posts.

Her campaigns on issues such as demanding sanitary pads for schoolgirls and gay rights have made her a divisive figure in a country where homosexual acts are illegal.

She has repeatedly criticised President Museveni, who has been in power for more than three decades, and the First Lady. Critics say the 72-year-old president has failed to tackle corruption, human rights abuses and dysfunction in public services.

Ms Nyanzi social media comments intensified after the Minister of Education said the government could not fulfil a campaign promise to provide sanitary pads for schoolgirls because of economic reasons.

The activist then launched her own fundraising campaign #PadsForUganda following the announcement.

Ms Nyanzi pleaded not guilty to allegations her Facebook posts, described as "obscene or indecent", breached the Computer Misuse Act.

She was banned from travelling abroad last month and Makerere University, where she works as a researcher, has began procedures to fire her, Reuters reports.

Ms Nyanzi was denied bail and she is being held in a maximum security prison until she is due to appear court on April 25.

Prosecutors also demanded a psychiatric examination to assess her state of mind but her lawyers say they will oppose the test, which is usually reserved for people accused of crimes such as rape. They say this is an attempt to "delegitimise a legitimate form of expression, and send her away to a mental health hospital".

Human rights groups have also hit back at the detention of the activist saying the charges are an attack on freedom of expression.

Campaigners took to social media using the hashtag #FreeStellaNyanzi to demand her release.

Amnesty International in East Africa called Ms Nyanzi's detention "a travesty" and a violation of the country's constitution.

Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International's regional director for East Africa, said: "The state should stop wasting resources on pointless and politically-motivated prosecutions, immediately drop all charges against her and release her unconditionally."

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 a statement, the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) in Kampala also "condemned the move by the state to criminalise recent expression by Dr Stella Nyanzi".

It read: "In any case, the harassment that she has been accused of engaging in via the computer would perhaps have made sense if the target of her speech were some powerless citizen and not the most powerful person in the land."

Dr Peter Mwesige, the centre's executive director, said he recognised Ms Nyanzi's use of "colourful language could offend sections of the population" but he called on the authorities "to take a broader view of protected speech".

Maria Burnett, associate director of the Africa division of Human Rights Watch, told the Guardian: Whats most troubling here is that she has lost her liberty when all government officials should expect to face criticism in their roles as leaders.

She also said that her arrest by plainclothes officers late on Friday night was an attempt to intimidate and terrify her supporters, who are largely drawn from Ugandas human rights, womens and LGBTI movements.

Ms Nyanzi, a mother of three, describes herself as a medical anthropologist, who specialises in sexuality studies in Africa.

On her Twitter account, she calls herself A queer laughist, writer and critique from the non-core academia and on Facebook as a die-hard Facebooker who loudly speaks my mind based on my banal experiences of life.
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Lawyers for David Dao, the passenger forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight over the weekend, confirmed that Dr Dao had sustained several serious injuries as a result of his removal. The injuries include a concussion, broken nose, injury to the sinuses, and two lost teeth.

Attorney Thomas Demetrio told reporters Dr Dao was discharged from the hospital late on Wednesday. He described his client as "shaken, and suffering from some memory loss.

Dr Dao was forcibly removed from United Airlines flight 3411 on Monday, after refusing to relinquish his seat to United Airlines crew members. Dr Dao, who had purchased a ticket and taken his seat, was dragged from the aircraft by several police officers. Video posted by fellow passengers show Dr Dao crying out in protest, and later appearing in the cabin with blood on his face.

The video drew outcry on social media, and sparked calls to boycott the airline.

Dr Demetrio said at a press conference on Thursday that there would probably be a lawsuit over the incident. Dr Demetrio and co-counsel Stephen L Golan filed an emergency petition with a Chicago court on Wednesday, asking United Airlines and the city of Chicago to preserve all evidence that could pertain to a suit.

The firms current role, Dr Demetrio said, is just to get the facts, and get them out. He claimed to have been contacted by hundreds of United passengers, employees, and former employees alleging mistreatment by the airline. He framed Dr Dao's case as a rallying point all dissatisfied passengers and employees.

For a long time airlines  United in particular  have bullied us, he said. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve  Forget the law for a minute, that requires common decency in the treatment of passengers, but just treat us with respect.

On the subject of the law, Dr Demetrio claimed police officers had breached it when they used force to remove Dr Dao from the plane.

Heres the law, real simple: if youre going to eject a passenger, under no circumstances can it be done with unreasonable force of violence, Dr Demetrio said, daring anyone who had seen the video to claim excessive force had not been used.

Three officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation have been put on leave pending an investigation of the incident, a department spokesperson told The New York Times.

Dr Demetrio also criticised Uniteds response to the incident, calling the airlines apology staged. United CEO Oscar Munoz initially refused to take responsibility for the incident, but later reversed course after his tepid response generated backlash.

"I think my reaction to most issues is to get the facts and circumstances," Mr Munoz said in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday. "My initial words fell short of truly expressing the shame."

Dr Demetrio said his firm would not be pursuing a class action lawsuit against the company, but did not rule out the possibility of a civil suit. He also shot down accusations that United had racially profiled his client, who is of Asian descent.

I dont think this is a matter of race at all, Dr Demetrio said. ... I think what happened to Dr Dao could have happened to any one of us.

Dr Daos daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, appeared at the press conference alongside the attorneys. She thanked the hospital staff who had treated her father, as well as those who had contacted the family with their thoughts and prayers.

What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being regardless of the circumstance, she said. We were horrified and shocked and sickened to learn what hat happened to him and see what had happened to him. We hope in the future nothing like this happens again.
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The man who was dragged screaming and bloodied from a United Airlines plane in Chicago is taking legal action against the airline.

Lawyers acting for Dr David Dao have filed an emergency request with an Illinois court requiring the carrier to preserve video footage and other evidence relating to the incident, which sparked outrage on social media.

Citing a risk of serious prejudice to their client, lawyers want United and the City of Chicago, which runs OHare International Airport, to ensure passenger and crew lists, cockpit voice recordings, surveillance footage, internal memos and all other materials related to flight 3411 are not destroyed.

Dr Dao, 69, was forcibly ejected by security staff from the overbooked flight to Louisville, Kentucky to make room for cabin crew.

United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz eventually issued Dr Dao a full apology and said the company would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights following global outrage over the way Dr Dao was treated by airline and airport security staff.

But this has not stopped Dr Dao from hiring two prominent Chicago lawyers to represent him, engaging the services of corporate law specialist Stephen Golan and personal injury specialist Thomas Demetrio.

Paul Callan, a civil and criminal trial lawyer in New York, said the public outcry over Dr Dao's treatment is likely to push the airline to a quick and generous settlement.

Because United has such a catastrophic PR problem, this case has a much greater value than such a case would normally have, he said.

The familys lawyer issued a statement saying Dr Dao is still recovering in a Chicago hospital, telling WKLY: 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 Dao's medical care and treatment.

Footage from the incident shows Dr Dao, bloodied and dishevelled, returning to the cabin and repeating: Just kill me. Kill me, and I have to go home.

United Airlines issued three statements on the incident, at first suggesting Dr Dao was partly responsible and labelling him disruptive and belligerent in a leaked email.

Recommended Read the leaked United Airlines email to staff in full

On Wednesday, United said it would compensate all passengers on board the flight the cost of their tickets and would examine how it compensates customers who volunteer to give up seats on overbooked planes, adding that it would likely not demand that seated passengers surrender their places.

Some politicians in the US have called for new rules that could make it more difficult for airlines to overbook flights as a way of increasing revenue.

President Donald Trump said it was horrible that Dr Dao was dragged off the flight, according to an interview from the Wall Street Journal.

Mr Trump said that rather than ending the practice of overbooking, there should be no upper limit to incentives carriers can offer passengers in exchange for their seats on overbooked flights.

But Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian defended overbooking as a valid business practice that does not require Government oversight.

It's not a question, in my opinion, as to whether you overbook. It's how you manage an overbook situation.

As part of the backlash against United, the company has seen the value of its shares plummet by as much as 4.4 per cent in the days following the incident.
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A family cashed in on their travel misery by pocketing nearly 9,000 in profit after being bumped from three flights.

Laura Begley Bloom made 8,866 after her, her husband and daughter were due to fly on an overbooked plane from New York to Florida.

The flight the family was on had 60 stand-by passengers hoping to get a seat, and after hours of delays the airline began offering sweeteners to any volunteers who would give up their ticket.

By law in the US airlines must compensate flyers who are bumped off a plane, even if involuntarily.

Ms Begley Bloom, writing for Forbes, said: Ive always quietly scoffed at travelers who would give up a seat on a flight in exchange for a voucher.

When the compensation for volunteers got to $900 (716) a ticket in gift cards (American Express, Target, Macys and so on), my husband convinced me to consider the offer.

Recommended A passenger was forcibly dragged off a plane because United Airlines o

They requested $1,500 (1,194) a piece but settled on $1,350 (1,075) a ticket and confirmed flights for the next day, but declined the offer of a hotel room and dinner as they lived nearby.

Ms Begley Bloom was one of thousands of passengers affected when storms swept through Atlanta, causing travel giant Delta Airlines to scrap some 4,000 flights over five days.

Delays and cancellations were compounded by the busy spring travel season which saw the majority of flights booked at or near capacity, leaving few spare seats for displaced passengers or staff who were needed at other airports.

She said: Other frustrated passengers were yelling at the staff and crying over vexed travel plans. Somehow, when an airline is offering you and your family $4,050 (3,225), missing a flight doesnt seem so bad.

When I went to check in online on Saturday and saw that the flight was delayed by more than an hour and that Delta was already asking for volunteers to give up their seats, I turned to my husband and said, Cha-ching!

Airline staff once again began asking for volunteers starting at $300 (238), and when the price hit $1,300 (1,035) the family cashed in pocketing two gift cards at that amount and another one at $1,350 (1,075).

The world's 10 worst airlines Show all 10 1 /10 The world's 10 worst airlines The world's 10 worst airlines 10. Jet AirHelp, has assessed more than 30 airlines using scores for quality of service, on-time performance and responses to claims for compensation. Here follows the lowest ranked airlines, starting with Jet Airways, 35% of whose flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 9. Aerolineas Argentinas 15% of Aerolineas Argentinas flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 8. Iberia 16% of Iberia flights were delayed in 2018 Getty Images The world's 10 worst airlines 7. Korean Air 36% of Korean Air flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 6. Ryanair 14% of Ryanair flights were delayed in 2018 EPA The world's 10 worst airlines 5. Air Mauritius 31% of Air Mauritius flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 4. easyJet 21% of easyJet flights were delayed in 2018 AFP/Getty Images The world's 10 worst airlines 3. Pakistan International Airlines 39% of Pakistan International Airlines were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 2. Royal Jordanian Airlines 13% of Royal Jordanian Airlines flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 1. WOW Air 25% of WOW Air flights were delayed in 2018 Getty

Ms Begley Bloom wrote: Delta also threw in lunch ($15 each) and round-trip taxi fare (worth about $50). That's more than $4,000 (3,185), if you factor in everything. The airline assured us that we would get confirmed seats on Sunday.

I felt a bit guilty making so much money off the situation, but other passengers pointed out that we were freeing up seats for people who really needed to get somewhere. Many passengers actually thanked us for doing this.

But after waiting hours for confirmation of rebooked seats, and after being told flights were overbooked until Tuesday, the family decided to cancel their trip to see relatives altogether, to the delight of staff.

She added: The offer was met with smiles and another $1,000 (796) per person in advance compensation. Delta sweetened the deal by refunding the cost of the three plane tickets.

We accepted Delta's offer and went home, sad to miss our trip, but not so sad about the lucrative results.

 United Airlines passenger is dragged off plane because airline overbooked

The frequent traveller estimated that the trio made $11,000 (8,759) in American Express gift cards, with food and taxi fares bumping up the final amount.

She added: One gate agent confessed that there are people who take the art of bumping very seriously and make thousands upon thousands of dollars."

Despite their benefiting from the situation, she described misery and chaos for other stranded passengers who missed out on weddings and funerals.

Not always amicable, footage of one passenger who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines went viral after horrified passengers filmed the man, named as 69-year-old Dr David Dao, being dragged off a flight from Chicago to Louisville.

Security was called in after four people were selected at random after no volunteers took the $1,000 (796) offer to fly the next day.

Dr Dao protested and was eventually removed by security personnel, and can be seen in the footage bleeding from the mouth.

The airlines stock price plummeted three per cent after the shocking images were released, and United CEO Oscar Munoz released a statement apologising for having to re-accommodate these passengers.

The airline faces a backlash after labelling the elderly gentleman disruptive and belligerent and defending their actions.

The airport police officer from the Chicago Department of Aviation, who removed Mr Dao and faces allegations of body-slamming, was placed on leave.
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The US has dropped the "mother of all bombs" - the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military - on an area of eastern Afghanistan known to be populated by Isis-affiliated militants.

The Pentagon said the strike was the first time the 21,000lb weapon had been used in combat operations.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Defence confirmed to The Independent that a MC-130 aircraft dropped a GBU-43 bomb at 7pm local time.

The weapon is known in the US Air Force by its nickname MOAB, or "mother of all bombs". MOAB stands for massive ordnance air blast.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said the bomb was dropped on a cave complex believed to be used by fighters affiliated to Isis in the Achin district of Nangarhar, close to the border with Pakistan.

The mission had been in the planning stages for months, the Pentagon said in a separate statement. However, they "did not have the information" on whether the mission was being planned during the previous Obama administration.

US Army General John W Nicholson, commander of the country's forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximising the destruction" of Isis fighters and facilities. He said Isis has been using improvised explosive devices, bunkers and tunnels to strengthen its defences.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the US had used a large, powerful and accurately-delivered weapon to disrupt the movements of militants in the country.

Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Show all 16 1 /16 Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2001 Afghans at the Killi Faizo refugee camp desperately reach for bags of rice being handed out to the thousands who escaped the bombardment in southern Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. (Chaman, Pakistan, December 4, 2001) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2002 Mahbooba stands against a bullet-ridden wall, waiting to be seen at a medical clinic. The seven-year-old girl suffers from leishmaniasis, a parasitical infection. (Kabul, March 1, 2002) All photos Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2003 A mother and her two children look out from their cave dwelling. Many families who, fleeing the Taliban, took refuge inside caves adjacent to Bamiyans destroyed ancient Buddha statues now have nowhere else to live. (Bamiyan, November 19, 2003) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Students recite prayers in a makeshift outdoor classroom in the Wakhan Corridor, a mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from India and Pakistan. (Northeastern Afghanistan, September 2, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Bodybuilders in the 55-60 kg category square off during a regional bodybuilding competition. Many Afghan men, like others around the world, feel that a macho image of physical strength is important. (Kabul, August 6, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2008 A woman in a white burqa enjoys an afternoon with her family feeding the white pigeons at the Blue Mosque. (Mazar-e-Sharif, March 8, 2008) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Addicts inject heroin while trying to keep warm inside the abandoned Russian Cultural Center, which the capital citys addicts use as a common gathering point. Heroin is readily available, costing about one dollar a hit. (Kabul, February 9, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 An elderly man holds his granddaughter in their tent at a refugee camp after they were forced to flee their village, which US and NATO forces had bombed because, they claimed, it was a Taliban hideout. (Surobi, Nangarhar Province, February 7, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Seven-year-old Attiullah, a patient at Mirwais Hospital, stands alongside an X ray showing the bullet that entered his back, nearly killing him. Attiullah was shot by US forces when he was caught in a crossfire as he was herding sheep. (Kandahar, October 13, 2009). Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 US Army Sargeant Jay Kenney (right), with Task Force Destiny, helps wounded Afghan National Army soldiers exit a Blackhawk helicopter after they have been rescued in an air mission. (Kandahar, December 12, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 An Afghan National Army battalion marches back to barracks at the Kabul Military Training Center. (Kabul, October 4, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Eid Muhammad, seventy, lives in a house with a view overlooking the hills of Kabul. He and millions of other Afghans occupy land and housing without possessing formal deeds to them. (Kabul, November 21, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Razima holds her two-year-old son, Malik, while waiting for medical attention at the Boost Hospital emergency room. (Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, June 23, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Young women cheer as they attend a rally for the Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. (Kabul, April 1, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Burqa-clad women wait to vote after a polling station runs out of ballots. (Kabul, April 5, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2015 Relatives, friends, and womens rights activists grieve at the home of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was killed by a mob in the center of Kabul. Farkhunda was violently beaten and set on fire after a local cleric accused her of burning a Quran. (Kabul, March 22, 2015) Paula Bronstein

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against Isis, General John Nicholson, the head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, it said in a statement.

Though the Pentagon confirmed to The Independent that the "signoff" went up to General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, they could not say whether the order went all the way up to the White House.

A source said Donald Trump may have authorised the use of the bomb but he does not have to. There has been no official confirmation of the Presidents involvement in the strike.

Central Command approval was required because the MOAB had to be moved across theatres to prepare for the mission.

Mr Spicer avoided answering any questions on whether Mr Trump was involved in the bombing, instead deferring to the Department of Defence.

The cargo aircraft used to drop the bomb was already located in Afghanistan prior to the mission.

There have been no assessments of civilian deaths as yet and it was not immediately clear how much damage the bomb did.

A test detonation of the GBU-43 bomb in Florida in 2003 (USAF via Getty Images)

The 'mother of all bombs' was developed and tested shortly before the 2003 Iraq war.

Retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona told CNN the blast would feel like a nuclear weapon to anyone near the area".

Recommended Trump says Nato is no longer obsolete

Veteran General Mark Hertling told the broadcaster the "Air Force must have had a good target...normally smaller artillery could have been used.

The remote border area with Pakistan has been known as a breeding ground for an Isis affiliate called IS Khorosan.

A source told The Independent that the affiliations and aims of militant groups located in the Nangarhar border area changed regularly, and it was not possible to say exactly which group may have been targeted.
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A prosecutor says a New York couple decided to kill their adoptive son and cover up the crime with a house fire after watching the movie Manchester by the Sea.

Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said during a bail hearing for Ernest and Heather Franklin last week that 16-year-old Jeffrey Franklin was killed within two hours of the couple watching the Oscar-winning film on 28 February, according to WBNG-TV.

Mr McBride said an examination showed the teen died before the fire.

The Franklins are charged with second-degree murder, arson and tampering with physical evidence.

Heather Franklin's attorney told the court that she is innocent until proven guilty.

Manchester by the Sea tells the story of a man who accidently sets a fire that kills his children. He was not prosecuted. Casey Affleck won an Oscar for best actor in the film. The movie also garnered a best original screenplay Oscar for writer/director Kenneth Lonergan.

Within two hours of that movie playing to this defendant and her husband, Jeffrey's deceased, Mr McBride said during Friday's bail hearing.

Officials said the fire was reported around 1.15 am 1 March at the family's home in the rural town of Guilford, 55 miles southeast of Syracuse.

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

Ernest Franklin, 35, pointed out the room where the teen was lying when police arrived on the scene, authorities said. Mr McBride said at the hearing that the son, who was adopted in 2012, had mental and physical disabilities that posed a strain on the family.

Initially, authorities thought a wood stove was the cause of the blaze. The Franklins were well-regarded by their neighbours, some of whom set up a GoFundMe page for the couple, which raised about $10,000 (7959) before the campaign was suspended.

Ernest Franklin told police he was away from the house chasing down the family's dogs when the fire started, officials said. Meanwhile, Heather Franklin, 33, claimed to have gone to two stores seeking a certain product while driving around from 11.30 pm until about 2.30 am, when she returned home, authorities said.

An autopsy determined that Jeffrey Franklin was already dead by the time the fire started, Mr McBride said.

The victim was badly burned, Mr McBride said during the hearing. Because of the damage to the body by the fire, the pathologist is not able to determine the cause of death.

Heather Franklins lawyer asked for reasonable bond because she is pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy, WBNG reported.

Bail was set at $250,000 (199,000) cash for Ernest Franklin and $125,000 (995,000) cash for Heather Franklin. Neither had posted bail Wednesday.

AP
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A Muslim woman has been attacked by a stranger who tried to tear off her hijab, stabbed her and beat her when she resisted.

The anonymous victim was treated in hospital after the assault, which took place as she walked home from morning prayers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Though police are investigating, no arrests have been made, according to local FOX6 News.

"I said to myself, 'I am going to die today for sure,'" the victim told the local news station. "So he gets up from the car and told me to come here. He said to take my hijab, my scarf.

"I tried to fight him. 'Don't take my hijab,' you know? So he threw me on the floor then he beat me like an animal."

The attacker fled the scene of the crime, close to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. The religious organisation is based in the Town of Lake suburb, close to General Mitchell International Airport.

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

There are an estimated 10- to 15,000 Muslims worshipping across the wider county of Milwaukee, according to religious leaders.

Munjed Ahmad, a spokesperson for the society, told FOX6 News: "Nothing was stolen. There was no robbery. Her valuables remain with her.

"The only motive we can think of  because everything stayed with her and this individual went straight for her scarf  is a hate crime."

The number of hate groups specifically targeting Muslims in the US nearly tripled across 2016, and figures from major cities suggest that Islamophobic hate crime has been on the rise since Donald Trump was elected.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre documented close to 900 incidents of harassment and intimidation in just 10 days after the US presidential election.
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A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a US judge has been found dead in New Yorks Hudson River.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New Yorks highest court, was found floating off Manhattans west side at about 1.45pm on Wednesday, a police spokesman said.

Police pulled her fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

Recommended US judges withdrawn from border posts after sharp fall in immigration

Police said her body showed no obvious signs of trauma, and they declined to speculate on the cause of her death.

Ms Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington DC, became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo named her to the states high court in 2013.

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all, Mr Cuomo said in a statement.

He added: As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the states Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be missed deeply. Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her, she said.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Ms Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a US judge.

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

Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Ms Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful.

A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Ms Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website.

She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.

AP/Reuters
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President Donald Trump has said his Chinese counterpart Xi Jingping gave him a history lesson on China and Korea.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump said he told Mr Xi he believed Beijing could easily take care of the threat of North Korea.

The US President said Mr Xi then explained the history of China and Korea to him.

"After listening for 10 minutes, I realised it's not so easy," Mr Trump said.

"I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power over North Korea. But it's not what you would think."

 Donald Trump's 'armada' steams on as North Korea warns of nuclear strike on US

Tensions remain high amid concerns the North could conduct its sixth nuclear test or launch more missiles in defiance of UN sanctions.

A US aircraft carrier group, which Mr Trump described as an "armada," is steaming towards the Korean peninsula in a show of force.

Mr Jinping called for a peaceful resolution in a later call with Mr Trump.

The possibility of US military action against North Korea in response to missile tests gained traction after the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike against the North.

"Under the South Korea-U.S. alliance, any important measure on the North is taken under consultation with the South Korea government and it will continue in the future," Mr Yun told a parliamentary hearing.

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

A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that showed it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, although they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

North Korea has warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression.

The North is technically at war with the United States and South Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
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Israels official Holocaust memorial centre has invited Sean Spicer to visit its website and learn about the history of the crimes against Jewish people committed during the Second World War.

The White House Press Secretary sparked immediate outrage and was forced to apologise for claiming during a press conference about Syria that even Adolf Hitler did not sink to using chemical weapons.

The Yad Vashem centre said it had deep concerns regarding the inaccurate and insensitive use of terms related to the Holocaust by the White House Press Secretary.

During the press conference, Mr Spicer was asked why he thought Russia would drop its longstanding alliance with Bashar al-Assads government over last weeks chemical attack.

He said: "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War Two, you know, you had a, someone as despicable as Hitler, who didn't even sink to the, to using chemical weapons.

"So you have to, if you're Russia, ask yourself is this a country that, and a regime, that you want to align yourself with."

Reacting to Mr Spicer's comment, the Yad Vashem centre said: His statements imply a profound lack of knowledge of events of the Second World War, including the Holocaust. Moreover, they are liable to strengthen the hands of those whose goal is to distort history.

In light of recent statements.. Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, encourages him to visit the Yad Vashem website to learn about the Holocaust and its period in history.

On its website, the Jerusalem-based centre has a range of online courses, resources and seminars to learn and reflect on the Holocaust.

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

Mr Spicer, who is now fighting calls for his dismissal, has come under fire for his comments during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The Anne Frank Centre for Mutual Respects executive director, Steven Goldstein, said Mr Spicer had engaged in Holocaust denial and that she should be dismissed at once.

The Press Secretary has gone to great lengths to explain himself.

Immediately after making the remarks, he said: "I think when you come to sarin gas there was no, he was not using gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing. I mean, there's clearly ... He brought them into the Holocaust centres, I understand that.

"But I'm saying in the way that Assad used them where he went into towns, dropped them down to innocentinto the middle of towns, it was. The use of itI appreciate the clarification, that was not the intent."

Apologising on CNN, he said he was trying to make a point about the heinous acts that Assad has made against his people. He recognised he had made a mistake and that his comment was an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust.
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Amid a productive phone call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese state-run media reported that 150,000 Chinese troops went to North Korea's border.

Both China and the US have pushed back on the claims of troops massing, however.

International observers fear that North Korea may conduct another nuclear test this weekend on the anniversary of the founding of Kim Jong Un's regime, but the US has broadcast loud and clear that nuclear posturing in the Korean peninsula will no longer be tolerated.

In March, Business Insider talked to Sim Tack, a North Korea expert at Stratfor, a geopolitical-analysis firm, who speculated how Chinese forces could stop North Korea's nuclear program without firing a shot.

Tack predicted China would "definitely react to and try to prevent" a US strike on North Korea. The US increasingly has touted military strikes as an option against the Kim regime, even going as far as positioning an aircraft carrier off Korea's coast.

"The overt presence of Chinese forces would dissuade the US from going into that territory because they would run the risk of inviting that larger conflict themselves," Tack said.

Chinese forces in North Korea would "be in a position to force a coup or force Kim's hand" to disarm, Tack said.

Ultimately, China, North Korea's biggest backer, would attempt "to make sure North Korea still exists and serves Chinese interests while it stops acting as a massive bulls eye to the US," he added.

In this way, China could preserve its buffer state from falling to Western influence, prevent a US military strike on its borders, and even prevent a nuclear war.

Besides its possible troop build-up, China also seems willing to apply pressure to the Kim regime in other ways. Last week, Beijing ordered its customs authorities to reject coal imports from North Korea  a big hit to the regime's wallet, since coal makes up about 40% of its total exports.

Read more:

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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Japan's air force is scrambling fighter jets in record numbers as Chinese military activity escalates.

Interceptions of Chinese planes rose by half in the year to March 31, according to Japanese government figures, in response to increases in the communist country's activity in and around the East China Sea.

Japan worries China's probing of its air defences is part of a push to extend its military influence in the East China Sea and western Pacific, where Japan controls an island chain stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) south towards Taiwan.

Recently we have seen Chinese military aircraft operating further south and that is bringing them closer to the main Okinawa island and other parts of the island chain, Japan's top military commander, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, told a briefing in Tokyo.

Okinawa is home to the biggest concentration of US Marine Corp forces outside the United States, hosting the bulk of the roughly 50,000 US military personnel stationed in Japan.

Japan's Air Self Defence Force reported its fighters scrambled 1,168 times over the 12 months, up from 873 last year. A record 851 jets headed off approaching Chinese planes, or 280 more instances than in the corresponding period last year.

The new figure was also well above the previous high of 944 incidents in 1984, when Russian, rather than Chinese, aircraft triggered most of the scrambles. Encounters with Russian aircraft, which are often bombers flying from the north that skirt around Japan's airspace, rose 4.5 percent, to 301 scrambles.

The uptick in Chinese activity has contributed to rising tension in East Asia since the start of the year as North Korea pushes ahead with ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests that have stoked fears in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Japan's navy plans joint drills around the East China Sea with the US Navy's Carl Vinson carrier strike group, as it steams towards the Korean peninsula, two sources told Reuters.

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

Earlier on Thursday Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas towards Japan. There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads, he told a parliamentary national security committee.

Citing Syria where dozens of people died recently in an alleged sarin nerve gas attack, Mr Abe said Japan should take the example seriously, stressing the need to strengthen its deterrence against the North.

North Korea, which is not a signatory to the international Chemical Weapons Convention, has been producing chemical weapons since the 1980s and is now estimated to have as many as 5,000 tons, according to a South Korean defence white paper. Its stockpile reportedly has 25 types of agents, including sarin.

Experts say if North Korea were to attack South Korea, it would likely target Seoul's defences with chemical and biological weapons dropped from aircraft or delivered via missiles, artillery and grenades.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The deployment of the most powerful US conventional bomb to have ever been used in combat was a symptom of American concerns over Isis in Afghanistan, security experts have said.

With US and Russian forces playing active roles in both Syria and Iraq, there are fears that war weary Isis fighters could seek refuge in the country.

This is one of the reasons the US may have targeted an affiliate of the Islamist group in the country with a GBU-43 MOAB bomb, known as the Mother of All Bombs, Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told The Independent.

The bomb - the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military - was dropped on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, where a US solider on an anti-Isis operation less than a week ago.

 Old footage of 'Mother of All Bombs' test is thought to be same bomb as US' attack on Afghanistan

It targeted extremist affiliate group Isis in Khorasan Province (Isis-K), a historical area in central Asia which encompasses much of Afghanistan but also parts of eastern Iran, Central Asia and Pakistan.

General John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximising the destruction" of Isis fighters and facilities.

He said Isis has been using improvised explosive devices, bunkers and tunnels to strengthen its defences, adding: "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K."

This Isis contingent is quite strong and active in the region the bombing took place, Mr Pantucci said. Its a group the Americans have been trying to confront more aggressively of late. There is increasing concern about whats happening with Isis in Afghanistan.

He added that many people treated Isis-K as if they were just another one of the many factions which exist in Afghanistan, a country strongly characterised by its patchwork of warlords and feudal groups.

In addition to native Afghanis, the group is made up of people from other countries in Central Asia and Pakistan.

What is interesting is that they do seem  from a US-Nato perspective  appear to be gaining strength and a foothold, Mr Pantucci added. The concern is, if Isis gets enough of a foothold there, it maybe it becomes a place where you see them leave Raqqa and Mosul forThey do seem to be growing in effect and impact.

When you compare the range of different Isis affiliates around the world, maybe Isis in Afghanistan have been a bit more interesting and substantial than people first gave it credit for.

Isis-K has been connected to a number of recent high profile attacks in the country, including on the Supreme Court in Kabul. They have also targeted the Hazara Shia Muslim minority and fought with US and Afghan government forces.

There is therefore a greater interest for the US to confront Isis-K, Mr Pantucci said, widening the chance of US fatalities and the potential for such large weapons to be used.

He added that the bombs use was a sign of President Trumps hard line against terrorism, which has also been reflected in a broader mandate for troops in Somalia and Yemen.

War artists in Afghanistan Show all 6 1 /6 War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Matthew Cook Matthew Cook War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Embedded: Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Trooping the colours: Jules George was inspired by his father and grandfather to witness and document war, if not to wage it Jules George

The Trump administration is clearly seeing the hard tools it has at its disposal as tools that it wants to use, Mr Pantucci said, adding that he expected to see increased drone strikes and special forces operations.

Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists, said that the explosive power of even the smallest nuclear weapon in the US. arsenal, the B-61 bomb, is "an order of magnitude" larger than the GBU-43.

He told NBC News that there is a debate inside the defence community on whether to build miniature nuclear weapons.

"We have people arguing for new mini-nukes," he said. "Here you have a case where the U. felt all it needed was a conventional whopper."

"The big unknown with this (GBU-43) bomb is can you get the detonation point close enough to what is in the tunnel," he said. "How deep does it go in? Does this just destroy the entrance?"
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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas towards Japan.

Mr Abe's comments on Thursday come amid looming concern about another missile or nuclear test by the communist country.

Responding to a question about Japan's readiness at a time of increased tension, Mr Abe told a parliamentary panel on national security and diplomacy: "There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads."

Members of a Japanese doomsday cult killed 12 people and made thousands ill in 1995 in simultaneous attacks with sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo rush-hour subway trains.

Citing Syria where dozens of people died recently in an alleged sarin nerve gas attack, Mr Abe said Japan should take the example seriously, stressing the need to strengthen its deterrence against the North.

North Korea, which is not a signatory to the international Chemical Weapons Convention, has been producing chemical weapons since the 1980s and is now estimated to have as many as 5,000 tons, according to a South Korean defence white paper. Its stockpile reportedly has 25 types of agents, including sarin.

Experts say if North Korea were to attack South Korea, it would likely target Seoul's defences with chemical and biological weapons dropped from aircraft or delivered via missiles, artillery and grenades.

Japan, under its postwar constitution, has limited the role of its military to self-defence only and relied on the US for offensive and nuclear capability. But recently, Mr Abe's ruling party has proposed that Japan should bolster its missile defence, including upgrading the capability to shoot down an enemy missile and acquiring the capacity to attack the base it was fired from.

A US Navy aircraft carrier is heading toward the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang prepares for the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim il-Sung, this weekend.

In 2012, the regime tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date, and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that suggested it was ready for a new test.

And the state-funded US site Voice of America said US government sources told it the North had placed a device in a tunnel at Punggye-ri.

But on Thursday South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, though they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

Additional reporting by agencies
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North Korea appears to be gearing up for its sixth nuclear weapons test and a launch site is "primed and ready", it has been claimed.

A Washington-based think tank that monitors the country, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that suggested it was ready for a new test.

It said the site was "primed and ready" and that satellite pictures showed "continued activity" around the site's north portal, new goings-on in the main administrative area and personnel near its command centre. Trailers and netting were also visible, it said.

At the end of last month 38 North claimed satellite images showed the regime was in the "final stages" of preparation for a new nuclear test.

The state-funded US site Voice of America said US government sources told it the North had placed a device in a tunnel at Punggye-ri.

But on Thursday South Korean officials said there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, though they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

Some 200 foreign journalists in North Korea were roused early on Thursday and told to prepare for an "important" event as tensions in the region continue to run high.

The wake-up call came ahead of the Day of the Sun on Saturday, the birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim il-Sung, and amid fears the regime is planning another nuclear test.

In 2012, the regime tried but failed to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date, and tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

But the "big and important event" turned out to be the opening of a new street in the capital, Pyongyang, attended by dictator Kim Jong-un.

Mr Kim had recently guided training of the army's special operation forces jumping from aircraft, the official KCNA news agency reported.

Watching the brave combatants mercilessly blow up the enemy targets, he said with pleasure that the commanding officers made correct decisions, adding those combatants carrying out their duties independently and pro-actively were reminiscent of fierce tigers crossing the mountain ranges in the southern half, KCNA said.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula grew this week with a US aircraft carrier strike group steaming toward the area. In an interview with Fox Business Network, President Donald Trump said: "We are sending an armada. Very powerful. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you."

China, North Korea's sole major ally and benefactor, has called for a peaceful resolution after a sharp rise in rhetoric between the United States and Pyongyang.

On Thursday, an influential state-backed Chinese newspaper said the best option for the North was to give up its nuclear programme.

As soon as North Korea complies with China's declared advice and suspends nuclear activities ... China will actively work to protect the security of a denuclearised North Korean nation and regime, said an editorial in the Global Times, which is published by the Communist party's People's Daily.

South Korea said it believed it would be consulted by the United States before any possible pre-emptive US strike against Pyongyang.

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

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored fears about possible threats from North Korea, telling parliament in Tokyo that Pyongyang could have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

While President Trump has put North Korea on notice that he will not tolerate provocative actions by the North, US officials have said his administration was focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions.

Mr Trump has diverted the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group towards the Korean peninsula, which could take more than a week to arrive, in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from conducting another nuclear test or launching more missiles to coincide with major commemorative events.

The possibility of US military action against North Korea in response to such tests gained traction after the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he believed Washington would consult Seoul if it was considering a pre-emptive strike against the North.

Under the South Korea-U.S. alliance, any important measure on the North is taken under consultation with the South Korea government and it will continue in the future, Mr Yun told a parliamentary hearing.

A Washington-based think tank that monitors North Korea, 38 North, said satellite images taken on Wednesday showed continued activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site on the east coast that showed it was ready for a new test.

South Korean officials said on Thursday there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test was more likely, although they also said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct such a test at any time.

US officials said Mr Trump was considering tougher sanctions that could possibly include an oil embargo, banning North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships, and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang.

There's a whole host of things that are possible, all the way up to what's essentially a trade quarantine on North Korea, one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters in Washington on Wednesday.

Customs data in Beijing on Thursday showed that China's coal imports from North Korea plunged 51.6 percent in the first three months in 2017 from a year ago.

China suspended issuing permits for importing coal from North Korea on 18 February as part of its efforts to implement UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Wednesday, just days after they met in the United States for the first time, underscoring the sense of urgency about North Korea.

Mr Trump said on Twitter his call with Xi was a very good discussion of the menace of North Korea. He said later on Wednesday the United States was prepared to tackle the crisis without China if necessary.

Additional reporting by agencies
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A cab company in one of Japans major cities is trialling a new feature by introducing silent taxi drivers.

Miyako Taxi, which is based in Kyoto, unveiled the new idea last month without much fanfare.

The business is currently operating five Silence Taxis across the city as part of a trial.

The cars look like any ordinary taxi but a notice written on the back of the passenger seat will inform passengers that they have entered one of the new silent fleet.

Recommended Uber banned in Italy

Drivers will offer a greeting when their fare enters the car, and aside from confirming the route they will not engage in small talk.

The drivers can indulge in conversation, but only if they are spoken to first, and they are also allowed to communicate in emergency situations.

Announcing the idea, Miyako Taxi said: This service is currently in a trial stage, with the goal of creating an in-car atmosphere that provides the most comfortable ride for passengers through limiting the drivers speaking.

Other than the latest initiative, the company has no official policy either way covering chatting in taxis.

According to Japan Today, they made the move after hearing reports from passengers that they were fed up being forced to indulge in chit-chat with their drivers.

Rechargeable taxis to make Tokyo a Better Place Show all 2 1 /2 Rechargeable taxis to make Tokyo a Better Place Rechargeable taxis to make Tokyo a Better Place 355882.bin All Rights Reserved Rechargeable taxis to make Tokyo a Better Place 355883.bin All Rights Reserved

And while some fares enjoyed being regaled with tales of Kyotos sights and attractions, it was seen as less appealing for residents of the sprawling city.

The company will assess the popularity of the trial before deciding whether to expand it and roll it out across more of their drivers in their 354 taxis.

Language and speaking is at the heart of another issue facing Uber drivers, after they lost a High Court Battle to block written tests in London.

Drivers applying for a minicab license in the capital will now have to pass the written exam following Ubers failed challenger against Transport for London (TfL).

The company argued it could see up to 33,000 existing drivers lose their licences under the new rules.

The companys London head, Tom Elvidge, vowed to challenge the ruling and said: Weve always supported spoken English skills, but writing an essay has nothing to do with communicating with passengers or getting them safely from A to B.
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The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Russia over its failure to protect the hundreds of people who died when Chechen militants took over a school in Beslan in 2004.

The court ruled that serious failings by the Russian authorities meant that the victims right to life was violated, and ordered Russia to pay 3m (2.5m) in reparations and 88,000 in legal costs.

The Beslan school siege began when 30 separatist gunmen took more than 1,100 hostages in School Number One in September 2004. Russian special forces stormed the building in a blaze of gunfire after 52 hours, and the hail of bullets, explosions and fire that followed killed 334 people, including more than 180 children.

The episode was one of the darkest in Vladimir Putins long tenure in Russia and some residents still blame him for the official response.

On Thursday morning, the Echr ruled unanimously that Russia had failed to prevent the attack, despite intelligence services having specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution.

The judges also found there were serious shortcomings in the security operation to end the siege, which culminated in there not being a single fire engine at the scene when the raid occurred.

And they ruled that the use of tanks, grenade launchers and flame-throwers to break the hostage situation contributed to the casualties among the hostages and was not justified in the circumstances.

The case was brought by 409 people, including those injured and taken as hostage in the attack itself, as well as family members of those killed.

The Kremlin described the courts conclusion as unacceptable, and a spokesman said Russia could not agree with its ruling.

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

We cannot agree with such a conclusion in a country that has been a victim of terrorist attacks multiple times, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Unfortunately the list of such countries is growing and is unfortunately growing regularly, so such conclusions for a country that endured an attack are absolutely unacceptable.

A lawyer who represented victims of the siege and their families said they too were not happy with the findings. He said they had only achieved a partial victory, and the focus would now be on trying to hold to account Russian officials over their failings.

We are not entirely happy with the decision, Sergei Knyazkin, a lawyer for campaign group the Beslan Mothers Committee, told Reuters. Three million euros in compensation is not enough, because you cannot measure the death of children in such figures.

The victims insist that the authorities carry the blame for the badly conducted operation to free the hostages in Beslan.

The Russian defence ministry indicated its intention to appeal the ruling. It said an official Russian probe had found the special forces actions in ending the siege were proportionate.

The events of 2004 came during an intense flare-up in separatist violence in Chechnya. Two weeks earlier, suicide bombers downed two Russian airliners on the same night, killing 90 people, and another bomber killed 10 outside a Moscow metro station.

Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for orchestrating the Beslan siege. The Russian government put a price of $10m (8m) on his head and in July 2006 he was killed in what the FSB called a special operation.
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Queer activists and members of London's LGBTQ* community have staged a protest outside the Russian embassy, calling for action to protect the gay men reportedly being tortured in 'concentration camps' in Chechnya.

At least 100 gay men have been rounded up in the Russian-administrated republic, according to independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and at least three have allegedly been murdered. The victims are reportedly being beaten, electrocuted, and forced to sit on glass bottles.

Around 400 protesters descended on the gated embassy in Kensington. They brought pink flowers, wreaths and pink cardboard triangles, echoing the insignia given to queer people exterminated in Nazi concentration camps.

Others waved placards reading "queer solidarity", "close the camps - asylum seekers welcome" and "high camp not concentration camps", as the crowd chanted "no human is illegal". Some demonstrators wore masks of Vladimir Putin's face.

Damien Arness Dalton is a member of queer direct action group Sexual Avengers, which supported the protest. He told The Independent: "I'm here to show solidarity with our global LGBT community.

"Clicktivism and sharing news articles aren't enough of a response to these atrocities, beatings and torture camps.

"We will always face homophobia and it's time we acted as a global community to ensure our voices are not silent. To think it could be any one of us in [those camps] breaks my heart. Our geographical privilege shouldn't blind us to the sexual freedoms we enjoy  or our unity with those who do not."

Mr Dalton and other activists attempted to place signs and pink triangles in the gates of the embassy itself, but these were quickly torn down by police officers, to boos from the crowd.

A smaller group of protesters returned after dark to scale the gates, and fling armfuls of flowers across the doorstep and lawn.

Another protester, Vyvian Manning, said: "We want our voices to be heard by Theresa May as well as by Vladimir Putin. Over half of the countries where gay sex is illegal are former British colonies, often using laws introduced under British rule.

"Yet our government constantly deports queer people to face deportation and death in these nations. So we won't let our government paint themselves as progressive, using the torture and murder of gay people in Chechnya as a political pawn. Our queer solidarity smashes borders."
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A Hungarian court has overturned a ban forbidding Muslims and gay people from in a remote village in the south of the country.

The mayor of Asotthalom, Laszlo Toroczkai, said he wanted to attract more inhabitants to the village of around 4,000 on the border with Serbia, he did not want to attract Muslims or LGBT people in order to preserve traditions.

Under the proposed rules the building of mosques, the call to prayer and the wearing of Islamic headscarves would be banned.

But the Constitutional Court in Budapest did not agree, ruling that it violated human rights law as it aimed to limit directly the freedom of conscience and religion, as well as freedom of speech.

It said it specifically restricted the exercising of the Muslim faith and therefore violated the Hungarian constitution in a summary on its website.

Mr Toroczkai is a member of the far-right Jobbik party which advocates a hard line on immigration.

Last year the ruling Fidesz party, which is also on the hard right, staged a referendum to impose quotas on the number refugees from Syria being resettled in Hungary under the terms of an EU deal with Turkey to help those living in camps after fleeing the civil war.

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 referendum failed due to low turnout but Fidesz then attempted to push a constitutional amendment banning refugee resettlement altogether through the Hungarian parliament.

Mr Toroczkai told BBC that he believed the flow of refugees could lead to the disappearance of Europe.

He said: Its very important for the village to preserve is traditions. Europe is small.

Recommended Hungarian mayor says Muslims and gay people not welcome in his village

It cant take in billions of people from Africa and South Asia, where theres a population boom.

He said there were numerous instances of Muslim communities in Europe which had failed to integrate.

Mr Toroczkai denied the laws would discriminate against LGBT people, saying they were just banning the propagation of gay marriage and public displays of affection by gay people to defend the traditions of the village.

He said: Were defending our own traditions. Asotthalom has a by-law that bans homosexual propaganda. We adopted it a few weeks ago.
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Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on the Paris headquarters of far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.

The National Front leader accused leftists of carrying out the attack, and news agency AFP said a group calling itself Combat xenophobia contacted them to claim responsibility.

The ground floor of the central Paris building was targeted and graffiti mentioning Ms Le Pens National Front was found nearby.

A police source said the damage  to a door and a doormat, according to AFP  was likely to be the result of a criminal act and not an accident.

The partys premises are higher up in the building.

Interior Minister Matthias Fekl condemned the attack.

These are unacceptable acts, the democratic debate must take place in the ballot box, Mr Fekl told RTL radio, without giving any details about the attack itself.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He added: We have been in touch with the National Front candidates team since last night and will see with them if it is necessary to strengthen security procedures.

Ms Le Pen told France 2 television she believed a leftist group was responsible, but she gave no detail and did not say why she believed one such group was responsible.

I assume this is due to a small leftist group, she said. These groups act in total impunity, she added, saying that the government should dissolve them.

Ms Le Pen recently provoked widespread anger by denying France was responsible for rounding up thousands of Jews to be sent to Nazi death camps during the Holocaust.

But despite courting controversy, she is seen as leading the first round of the presidential election at 24 per cent, with the vote scheduled for 23 April.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Using phrases like 'refugees in a group' instead of 'a group of refugees' could boost empathy for migrants, asylum-seekers and other dehumanised groups, a psychologist has found.

Defining empathy as perceiving how others have the ability to feel and think, the University of North Carolina's Kurt Gray examined "how subtle shifts in framing can alter the mind perception of groups", according to his paper in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

He found that while "people generally perceive groups to have less mind than individuals... changing the framing of a group from 'a group of people' to 'people in a group' substantially increases mind perception  leading to comparable levels of mind between groups and individuals."

In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby being taken on to MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos all images by Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby among refugees on a boat carrying 185 people off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Migrants and refugees sleeping after being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos ship Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A crew from MSF's Bourbon Argos ship rescuing a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya, at sunrise Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A woman in a stretcher being lifted onto MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden

Mr Gray asked participants in his study to assess workers in a fictional accounting firm. He was looking at both "agency", or the ability to process thoughts and decisions, and "experience", here meaning the ability to understand events through emotion.

One group were asked about specific members of the firm, another were asked about "an accounting company comprised of 15 people", and a third about "the 15 people who compose an accounting company."

Participants asked about "a company comprising of people" were far less likely to describe those people as capable of experiencing emotion, and a little less likely to say they possessed rational agency.

 Fire ravages Dunkirk refugee camp in northern France

But participants asked about the "people comprising the company" rated them as equally capable of thoughts and decisions as the named, individual workers  and even more capable of experiencing emotion.

Mr Gray concludes: "This change in framing influences peoples sympathy for groups." While the research does not specifically address refugees, it can evidently be applied to the ongoing, global refugee crisis  saying "15 asylum-seekers arrived in a boat" for example.

There are now 5 million refugees in countries like Jordan and Turkey which share a border with war-torn Syria, while up to two million people have sought refuge in Europe across the last few years.

Around 65 million people were living in displacement across the globe in 2015, according to the UN, meaning one in every 113 people in the world is a refugee.

Previous studies have found that the media systematically dehumanises refugees, while the then-Prime Minister David Cameron was among those criticsed for referring to asylum-seekers in the Calais Jungle camp as a "swarm".
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A number of countries have been identified as being at high risk of experiencing a new episode of genocide, as annual rankings show civilian mass killings at the hands of government forces are on the rise following a decade of decline.

An assessment by NGO 'The Early Warning Project' found that Sudan was most at risk, with an estimated seven per cent chance of a new mass killing episode, while Yemen was in second place, with its risk having risen markedly since last year, when it was tenth.

Myanmar ranked in third place, with increased violence against the Muslim minority Rohingya said to be placing them at high risk of genocide.

Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, Nigeria and Afghanistan make up the top five countries facing the greatest risk of new cases of civilian atrocities at the hands of their governments, according to the assessment, which uses publicly available data to rank the likelihood of state-led mass killings.

It states that Sudan continues to bear many of the markers of nations that have committed mass killings in the past, while recent reports from Myanmar of murder, widespread rape and destruction of villages by security forces targeting Rohingya are further evidence that long-term persecution in northern Rakhine State has erupted into mass atrocities.

In Burundi, which ranked as being sixth most at risk and where the United Nations has documented sexual violence, torture and genocidal rhetoric by the government, The Early Warning Project also gave compelling empirical indicators that the government is at risk of committing mass killing.

Political turmoil catapulted the country from 56th in 2015 to sixth in 2016, with its estimated risk now topping four per cent.

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 Early Warning Project forecasts risks using public data and advanced methodologies built on 50 years of historical indicators to highlight cases where mass atrocities have not started but where warning signs are detected.

Cameron Hudson, director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, told The Independent: After a decade of decline, civilian mass killings by governments against their own people are once again on the rise.

"We see this tool as an important step for policymakers and the general public to better understand risks for mass killing, enabling them to engage early on to prevent genocides from happening.

"By combining the power of analytics with the growing body of social science around mass killing onsets, we hope to galvanise preventive actions to avoid these outcomes."
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Bana Alabed, the seven-year-old Syrian refugee girl, who captured the worlds attention for tweeting the horrors of Aleppo, is writing a book about her harrowing experience of the war.

She announced the news on her Twitter account and said: I am happy to announce my book will be published by Simon & schuster. The world must end all the wars now in every part of the world.

Her memoir, Dead World, will also tell the story of how she and her family escaped the war in Syria and are rebuilding their lives, away from their homeland.

Excited at the prospect of her book, Bana said: I am so happy to have this opportunity to tell my story and the story of what has happened in Aleppo to the world.

I hope my book will make the world do something for the children and people of Syria and bring peace to children all over the world who are living in war.

Dead World is expected to be published in the autumn of 2017 by international publisher Simon & Schuster and a young readers edition by imprint Salaam Reads will follow shortly after and will be made available as an audio book on Simon & Schuster Audio.

Bana has been documented the air strikes over Aleppo since last September after her mother Fatemeh, who teaches her daughter English, helped her set up the Twitter account.

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

In December, Bana and her family were evacuated from war-torn East Aleppo to Turkey after the city fell back under the control of the Syrian government.

Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster, Christine Pride, said she was captivated by Banas tweets from Syria.

Recalling iconic young heroines such as Malala Yousafzai, Banas experiences and message transcend the headlines and pierce through the political noise and debates to remind us of the human cost of war and displacement, she said.

But diplomatic tensions over the Syrian conflict continue to escalate after Russia vetoed a UN resolution condemning Bashar al-Assad's government for its reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and urging a speedy investigation.

The majority of the international community has blamed the attack in Idlib province, which killed 87 people including many children, on President Assad.

The Syrian government has meanwhile denied involvement in the toxic attack, blaming rebel groups.
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reiterated that his government had nothing to do with the chemical gas incident in a rebel-held village last week that killed more than 80 people.

Allegations that his forces had deliberately poisoned civilians were ''100 per cent fabrication'', the president said on Thursday, adding that the Syrian government gave up its chemical weapons stocks as part of a 2013 agreement.

Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack, he said.

Mr Assad made the comments in an interview broadcast by AFP, his first since the US struck a Syrian airbase with missiles in retaliation for the events in Idlib province.

The international community has condemned the deaths in the village of Khan Sheikhoun, which most Western intelligence services believe occurred thanks to a deliberate attack carried out by the Syrian government.

Damascus and allies in 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.

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

Neither country has provided any on-the-ground evidence to back up their claims.

Mr Assad insisted that it is not clear yet what happened during the incident, since evidence touted by the West comes from a branch of al-Qaeda. Besides, he added, how can you verify a video? You have a lot of fake videos now.

We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all? The story is not convincing by any means.

The Syrian government agreed to surrender its chemical weapons stocks to an international watchdog after the deaths of hundreds in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus in 2013, although the opposition has long accused the regime of holding back some of its supply. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said it believes Mr Assad's government is responsible for at least two chemical weapons attacks that have occurred in Syria since then - claims the president also denies.

 Boris Johnson: Syria chemical attack offers Russia a 'choice'

US President Donald Trump retaliated last Friday with a warning shot barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles which struck the regime-operated Shayrat airbase near Homs  the first direct action against Mr Assads forces taken by the US in more than six years of the civil war.

Russian forces present at the base were given advance warning of the strike, which means it caused limited damage to Russian and Syrian air force capabilities despite its ferocity. Six Syrian servicemen were reported as dead in the incident.

On Wednesday, Russia's representative to the United Nations vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning the Khan Sheikhoun attack and recommending an immediate international investigation.

The draft text called on the Syrian government to provide flight plans, flight logs and other operational military information from the day of the strike.

Any investigation would have to be impartial, Mr Assad said, adding: When we make sure that unbiased countries will participate in this delegation in order to make sure that they won't use it for politicised purposes.
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A British Palestinian man has been denied entry to Israel under its controversial law banning supporters of the boycott movement.

Professor Kemal Hawwash, of Birmingham University, was attempting to visit relatives in east Jerusalem with his wife and five-year-old son for the Easter holidays when he was detained.

Professor Hawwash left his family in tears as he was forced to fly back to the UK, an experience he said left him personally devastated.

He told The Independent he fears he may never be able to see elderly relatives living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories again.

I go regularly every year to visit my family, he said, so this was not an out of the ordinary visit.

Whenever I go it is for family visits, I dont undertake any political work while Im out there.

Hugh Lanning, chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), was the first British citizen to be refused entry to Israel under the law, which bans anyone found to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement from entering the country.

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

Professor Hawwash said he was taken away by an officer a few minutes after he presented his passport at Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport.

I was clearly on a wanted list. He had a pile of papers, he was pointing to tweets they said I had written. They were clearly ready for me.

Professor Hawwash said the officer told him: We have a problem with you.

After telling the officer he had been vice-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign until January and was now on its executive committee, he was accused of being part of an anti-Israel organisation.

The officer then questioned him about some posts on his Twitter feed, which apparently glorified Palestinian terrorists, but Professor Hawwash said the tweets he was shown had been translated into Hebrew.

He said he asked to see the English originals before he would comment.

When asked for comment, the Israeli embassy in London accused Professor Hawwash of praising the perpetrators of terror as martyrs.

Israel is seeking a peaceful resolution to its conflict with the Palestinians. Those who promote extremism should not be allowed to foment their hatred in Israel.

The document barring Professor Hawwash from entry (Supplied)

Professor Hawwash said his heart sank when he was given a document citing Israeli law barring him from entry.

His wife and five-year-old son were allowed to enter Israel, but he was put on a plane to Brussels around 12 hours after his initial questioning and told he would need to apply for permission to visit in the future.

A couple of hours before the flight I was taken for a full body search, he added, even though I had just come from Birmingham and Brussels and hadnt been out of the airport. Just part of their humiliation practice.

Upon arrival in Brussels I was handed over to the Belgian police. Youre made to feel like a criminal.

He said he was personally devastated and feared he would not be able to see elderly relatives if he was not allowed entry in the future.

When she heard from my wife that I wasnt going to be allowed in, my mother-in-law actually said: That means Im not going to see Kamel before I die.

Professor Hawwash left his family in tears as he was forced to fly back to the UK (Supplied)

Richard Burden, Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, said it was utterly shocking Professor Hawwash was denied entry.

He said: Following the Knessets decision to pass the new entry restrictions I had already been in touch with the government and the Israeli Embassy over how this ban would affect people living in Britain.

My constituent Kamel Hawwash is being denied entry not only to Israel, but to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and access to his family  it is utterly shocking that now he may never see them again.

The relaxed attitude our ministers are showing to Israels actions is scandalous. Human rights defenders in Israel have rightly spoken out against this new law preventing peaceful campaigners from visiting their country.

It is time for British ministers to speak out too.

Pro-Palestinian BDS movement supporters take part in a rally in central London (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, said: The bottom line is that Israel is using its new boycott law to ban foreign human rights activists.

The BDS movement peacefully pressures Israel to comply with international law and cease human rights violations. It draws directly from the tactics of Gandhi and Mandela to effect positive change.

According to the Israeli government, human rights activism is a security threat. Fundamental democratic norms and freedoms dont matter.

The British government must demand that Israel ceases this harassment.
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A Saudi woman who reportedly fled the kingdom to seek asylum in Australia has claimed she was detained en route in the Philippines until her father and uncles could collect her and force her to return.

Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, travelled from Kuwait to Manila on Tuesday but was removed from her transit flight to Sydney and put on a flight home at the request of her family and Saudi officials, according to a video posted to Twitter.

In the message, filmed on the phone of a Canadian witness, believed to have been posted from Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport and in which her face cannot be seen, Ms Lasloon claimed she has been held for 13 hours like a criminal while authorities waited for her family to arrive, and she feared being killed by them if sent back to Saudi Arabia.

Under Saudi Arabian law men and women are mostly segregated in public life, and women are heavily restricted in their movements and freedoms. They may not travel without the permission of a male guardian  usually a father or husband.

Supporters in Riyadh say Ms Lasloon arrived back in the capital late on Tuesday, but her current whereabouts are unknown. Activists and journalists who waited for her arrival at Riyadhs King Khaled International Airport saw no sign of her.

The Saudi Arabian embassy in the Philippines confirmed to media that a citizen had been returned to the kingdom, adding that what happened was a family affair, but the Philippines Bureau of Immigration has denied detaining the 24-year-old.

The Independents requests for comment from both airports and the Saudi embassy in Manila were not immediately answered.

An online appeal to help Ms Lasoom using the tag #SaveDinaAli has sprung up with the aim of helping her, but critics have pointed out that images of her unused ticket from Manila to Sydney and videos purporting to show her arguing with airport officials currently circulating on social media could be fake.

Several accounts purporting to be Ms Lasoom have appeared in the last few days.

The government-led Saudi Human Rights Commission has said it is aware of the womans case and is investigating the situation.
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The US has denied a claim by the Syrian army that American-led coalition jets launched an air strike that hit an Islamic State chemical weapons supply, killing "hundreds including many civilians".

The accusation follows a week after Bashar al-Assad's government was accused of launching its own poison gas attack on Syrian civilians in Idlib province.

A statement on behalf of the Syrian army said the bombing at around 5.30pm local time (3.30pm BST) on Wednesday in the eastern Deir al-Zor province hit the terror groups stockpile, without giving details of which toxic substance it might be.

But US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the America-led coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in that area at the time.

"The Syrian claim is incorrect," he told Reuters, accusing the regime of deliberately spreading "misinformation".

 U.S. airstrikes on Syria, explained

Syrian state-owned news agency Sana reported the air strike, on the village of Hatla, as a white cloud that became yellow as a result of the explosion of a huge store that includes a large amount of toxic materials.

There has been no independent confirmation of the alleged attack by the US-led coalition, which has operated in the skies above Syria since 2014 and includes British, French and German contributions.

The incident proved that Isis and al Qaeda-linked militants "possess chemical weapons", a statement by the army aired by Syrian state TV said.

It added that many died from suffocation after inhaling the noxious gases.

The claim will likely be viewed by observers of the Syrian regime as an attempt to divert attention away from the alleged chemical attack by Damascus on its own people.

 Rex Tillerson: US have "low level of trust" with Russia

Mr Assad has been warned by the international community, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, if proven to have been authorised by the government, could amount to a war crime.

Syria and its ally Russia deny Damascus carried out any such chemical attack. Moscow has said the poison gas in that incident last week was linked to rebel groups.

The toxic gas attack on 4 April, which killed scores of people including children, prompted a U.S. cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base.

Samples taken from the poison gas site in Idlib tested positive for the nerve agent sarin, the British delegation at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Thursday.

The UK result confirmed earlier testing by Turkish authorities that concluded that sarin had been used for the first time on a large scale in Syria's civil war since 2013.

In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Show all 30 1 /30 In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian family arrives at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian woman, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, reacts as she stands with her children in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past resident fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood , after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past residents fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-regime fighter speaks with a child, as residents flee violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood. Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops AFP/Getty Images In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Smoke rises as seen from a governement-held area of Aleppo, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers targeting rebels-held areas in the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria. According to media reports, the army is now holding on 99 percent of Aleppois eastern neighborhoods EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-government forces patrol Aleppo's eastern al-Salihin neighbourhood after troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers rest following the battle at al-Sheik Saeed neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-government fighter walking past closed shops in the Bab al-Nasr district of Aleppo's Old City. Once renowned for its bustling souks, grand citadel and historic gates, Aleppo's Old City has been rendered virtually unrecognisable by some of the worst violence of Syria's war Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The crucial battle for Aleppo entered its 'final phase' after Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The retreat leaves opposition fighters confined to just a handful of neighbourhoods in southeast Aleppo, the largest of them Sukkari and Mashhad Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilans arrive at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods. Syria's government has retaken at least 85 percent of east Aleppo, which fell to rebels in 2012, since beginning its operation Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilians flee the Sukkari neighbourhood towards safer rebel-held areas in southeastern Aleppo Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The fall of Aleppo would be the worst rebel defeat since Syria's conflict began in 2011, and leave the government in control of the country's five major cities Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee Aliya inside the tent where she lives with her husband and ten children in a camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee women and children outside the entrance to their tents in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee woman outside the entrance to the tent where her family live, in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A vehicle drives past a mosque at night in Idlib, Syria. Picture taken with a long exposure Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The night sky is seen through damaged windows in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, Syria Reuters

The OPCW mission will determine whether chemical weapons were used, but is not mandated to assign blame. Its findings, expected in 3-4 weeks, will be passed to a joint United Nations-OPCW investigation tasked with identifying individuals or institutions responsible for using chemical weapons.
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A US-led coalition air strike killed 18 of its allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops fighting against Isis in Syria, the US military has confirmed.

Coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates for a strike on 11 April, US Central Command said on Thursday, resulting in a strike on an SDF position and the deaths of 18 partnered fighters in the north of the country.

The inaccurate coordinates reportedly came from the SDF itself.

In the last month, a predominately Kurdish alliance of several fighting groups has managed to surround the Isis stronghold of Tabqa with both air and ground support from the US-led coalition.

It is not yet clear which air force of the several nations which lend air power to defeating Isis was behind the strike.

The coalitions deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families. The coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against Isis despite this tragic incident, a statement from US Central Command said.

 Kurds capture Isis fighter

The coalition is assessing the cause of the incident and will implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In its own statement, the SDF described the incident as a painful accident which was the result of a mistake.

The alliances general command is coordinating with the US-led coalitions investigation.

The incident is the latest in several recent US-led strikes against Isis and al-Qaeda in Syria and Iraq which have accidentally hit allied or civilian targets.

In the Iraqi city of Mosul last month, a US strike is believed to have killed up to 200 civilians in a single bombing.
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The Pentagon has intercepted Syrian regime communications in which military sources discussed preparation for the alleged chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held village, an unnamed US official has said.

The anonymous source stressed to CNN that the US did not have prior warning of the attack, but had found the communications during a review of all intelligence captured in the hours just before and after the April 4 incident which killed more than 80 people.

All Western intelligence services haves said they believe beyond reasonable doubt that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government deliberately carried out a chemical attack

 Boris Johnson dismayed by Russian UN Syria veto

A declassified intelligence assessment from the White House concluded the US is confident that the Syrian regime conducted a chemical weapons attack, using the nerve agent sarin on the rebel-held village of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

The report said satellite imagery, laboratory analysis of physiological samples from victims and a significant body of open source reporting which could not have been fabricated led to the initial assessment.

Turkish and British scientific tests also found evidence of exposure to sarin - a nerve agent - and chlorine in victims' bodies.

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 its allies in Moscow have denied the regime used chemical weapons on the village, maintaining that the casualties were caused by gases released by gases released after an al-Qaeda affiliated ammunitions depot was hit by conventional munitions in a government air raid.

The Syrian government agreed to surrender its chemical weapons stocks to an international watchdog after the deaths of hundreds in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus in 2013, although the opposition has long accused the regime of holding back some of its supply.

Another senior US official told the AP on condition of anonymity earlier this week that initial US investigations have concluded that Russia was aware in advance of the suspected chemical strike.

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 the chemical weapons.

I would like to think that [Russia] didn't know, but certainly they could have, President Donald Trump told reporters at The White House on Wednesday, adding that the Pentagon was still investigating whether Moscow was complicit in the attack. The Kremlin has denied all allegations.

Also on Wednesday, Russia's representative to the United Nations vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning the attack and calling for an immediate international investigation.

The draft text called on the Syrian government to provide flight plans, flight logs and other operational military information from the day of the strike.
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On the rim of a volcano with a clear view of the US Embassy, landscapers are applying the final touches to a mysterious new Russian compound.

Behind the concrete walls and barbed wire, a visitor can see red-and-blue buildings, manicured lawns, antennas and globe-shaped devices. The Nicaraguan government says it's simply a tracking site of the Russian version of a GPS satellite system. But is it also an intelligence base intended to surveil the Americans?

I have no idea, said a woman who works for the Nicaraguan telecom agency stationed at the site. They are Russian, and they speak Russian, and they carry around Russian apparatuses.

Three decades after this tiny Central American nation became the prize in a Cold War battle with Washington, Russia is once again planting its flag in Nicaragua. Over the past two years, the Russian government has added muscle to its security partnership here, selling tanks and weapons, sending troops, and building facilities intended to train Central American forces to fight drug trafficking.

The Russian surge appears to be part of the Kremlin's expansionist foreign policy. In other parts of the world, President Vladimir Putin's administration has deployed fighter planes to help Syria's war-battered government and stepped up peace efforts in Afghanistan, in addition to annexing the Crimean Peninsula and supporting separatists in Ukraine.

Clearly there's been a lot of activity, and it's on the uptick now, said a senior US official familiar with Central American affairs, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive situation.

As the Beltway world untangles the Trump camp's links to Moscow, American officials are also puzzling over Russian intentions in its obscure former stomping ground. Current and former US officials suspect that the new Russian facilities could have dual use capabilities, particularly for electronic espionage aimed at the United States. Security analysts see the military moves in Central America as a possible rebuttal to the increased US military presence in Eastern Europe, showing that Russia can also strut in the United States' back yard.

American officials say they are not yet alarmed by the growing Russia presence. But they are vigilant. The State Department named a staffer from its Russia desk to become the desk officer in charge of Nicaragua, in part because of her prior experience. Some American diplomats dispatched to Nicaragua have Russian-language skills and experience in Moscow.

Nicaragua's president's office, the foreign and defence ministries, and the police all refused to address questions for this report. The Russian Embassy in Managua also failed to respond to several queries.

Spy games and Washington-Moscow power struggles are old hat for Nicaragua, a country the size of Alabama with a rich Cold War history. The Soviet Union and Cuba provided soldiers and funding to help the government of Daniel Ortega and his leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front after they overthrew the US-backed dictator Anastazio Somoza in 1979. The CIA jumped in to back rebels known as the contras fighting the Sandinistas in a war that killed tens of thousands.

The collapse of the Soviet Union brought an end to such Cold War conflicts. But in the past decade, and particularly under Putins rule, Russia has sought a bigger world footprint. In Latin America, Russia has sold billions of dollars in weapons to Venezuela. Russian helicopters are used by militaries in Peru, Argentina and Ecuador. While US and Chinese trade in Latin America is far larger, Russia has intensified economic ties with several countries, including Mexico and Brazil.

When Ortega was reelected in 2006, after 16 years out of power, Nicaragua once again became a Russian friend in the region. The new relationship initially had a civilian focus, with Russia donating wheat and sorghum to Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Russia gave hundreds of boxy buses to Ortegas government and is building a factory to manufacture vaccines.

The economic cooperation was a facade, said Roberto Orozco, executive director of the Centre for Investigation and Strategic Analysis, a think tank in Managua. What the Russians really wanted is an active military presence.

In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Russia suicide bombing In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Investigators work near the entrance of a police station which was attacked in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district in Stavropol region In pictures: Russia suicide bombing In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Police work near a police station which was attacked in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district in Stavropol region In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Investigators at the scene of the attack near a settlement of the Novoselitsky district, where a local police station was recently attacked, in Stavropol region Reuters In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Servicemen of the Russian armed forces sit on an armoured vehicle in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district Reuters In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Russian soldiers ride on vehicles in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district Reuters In pictures: Russia suicide bombing A policeman speaks to a man at the scene of the attack in Stavropol region Reuters In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Investigators work near the entrance of a police station Reuters In pictures: Russia suicide bombing Interior Ministry officers, investigators and members of special services stand behind barrier tape in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district In pictures: Russia suicide bombing A vehicle of the Russian armed forces blocks the way in a settlement of the Novoselitsky district

In the past few years, the partnership has been militarised. In 2015, Nicaragua's parliament, dominated by the Sandinistas, passed a resolution allowing Russian warships to dock in Nicaraguan ports, following earlier agreements to permit patrolling in coastal waters. Russia began supplying armoured personnel carriers, aircraft and mobile rocket launchers. It provided 50 T-72 tanks to Nicaragua, which Ortega paraded through Managua, generating criticism from the public. The country's military leaders already had an affinity with Russia, having used Soviet-supplied equipment fighting the contras and received training in the Soviet Union.

While Venezuela has nearly collapsed economically and Cuba has improved relations with the United States, Ortega's government has emerged as Russia's most stable ideological ally in the hemisphere.

(Joshua Partlow (Joshua Partlow)

The most fruitful political relationship that Russia has, and where it's made its greatest advances, has been Nicaragua, said Evan Ellis, a professor of Latin American studies at the US Army War College. He and two US customs officials were expelled from Nicaragua last year, with the government saying it should have been notified of their presence.

Nicaraguan security experts estimate that Russia has about 250 military personnel in the country.

Jacinto Suarez, president of the Nicaraguan parliament's foreign affairs committee, and an ally of Ortega's, said in an interview that the relationship with Russia is the natural outgrowth of the ties the countries developed in the 1980s. He dismissed those worrying about nonexistent military threats.

Look at the commotion with the Russian tanks, Suarez said. And nothing happened. They said that war was coming when those tanks arrived.

Current and former US officials have a variety of theories about Putin's intentions in Latin America. Some consider Russia's military actions a response to the Obama administration sending more US troops and weapons to NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Others worry that Russia could be pursuing ambitious spy goals, such as intercepting Internet traffic in the ARCOS 1 fiber-optic cable that runs from Miami down the Caribbean coast of Central America. Speculation is rife that the new Russian satellite site on the lip of the Laguna de Nejapa crater will be a spy facility, even though Nicaraguan officials have said it will be used for Glonass, Russia's equivalent of GPS.

Juan Gonzalez, who was deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs during the Obama administration, said he had generally been sceptical about theories that Iran, China and Russia were posing a security threat with their increased activities in Latin America. But he has changed his mind over the past couple of years because of Russia's activities in Nicaragua and neighbouring El Salvador. (The Salvadoran foreign minister visited Moscow last month to discuss trade and investment deals.)

The United States and countries of the region should be concerned, Gonzalez said. Nicaragua offers a beachhead for Russia to expand its intel capabilities and election meddling close to the United States.

Hugo Torres Jimenez, a retired Nicaraguan brigadier general and a member of the opposition, said Ortega was encouraging the Russia ties because he has an obsession with the international spotlight, and he sees in Putin's government the reincarnation of the old Communist Party.

Recommended Syrian airstrikes spark new chill for US and Russia

The Russian buildup in Nicaragua has coincided with deteriorating relations between Washington and Managua. Last summer, Nicaragua's supreme court and electoral council, both seen as loyal to Ortega, blocked the leading opposition candidate from participating in the November presidential election and forced opposition lawmakers out of the National Assembly. Ortega cruised to victory, winning a third straight term, in an election the State Department described as flawed and undemocratic.

House legislation known as the Nica Act was reintroduced this week, an attempt to block funding for Nicaragua from international institutions unless the Ortega government makes democratic reforms. Last year, the Obama administration quietly pressured the Inter-American Development Bank to postpone a $65 million loan to Nicaragua to show displeasure with the election, according to a former US official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Russian presence has generated mixed reactions among Nicaraguan citizens. Some consider Moscow a long-standing ally. Others worry that the Nicaraguan government could use the new Russian equipment to spy on its domestic critics.

Nelson Perez, a 53-year-old bus driver, wished that Nicaragua had just received a better brand of bus than the Russian-made KAvZ he was manoeuvring through Managua traffic.

They're not good for this climate; they overheat, Perez said. He complained about the narrow passageway, the rattling mirrors, the leaky roof and windows. These are not comfortable.

In the upscale neighbourhood of Las Colinas, a gleaming four-story Russian-built counternarcotics centre appears nearly completed. A security guard at an apartment building next door doubted any good would come from it.

They say it's an anti-drug mission, but who knows, he said. Poor people have not received any benefit from Russia.

Ismael Lopez Ocampo in Managua and Gabriela Martinez in Mexico City contributed to this report.  The Washington Post
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The trend of western backpackers busking or begging to fund their travels, dubbed begpacking, has been getting a lot of attention  and not in a good way. Seen mainly in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, the practice has come under scrutiny of late, with detractors branding it lazy and disgusting on social media.

Pictures have circulated online of white travellers selling postcards and playing the guitar with signs saying: I am travelling around Asia without money. Please support my trip, and locals and commentators alike have shared their anger at the increase in western people begging.

Its easy to see why. The gap yah stereotype of a wealthy, middle-class idiot, made famous by comedian Matt Laceys viral sketches, makes most peoples skin crawl. The idea of this ludicrously pampered, privileged westerner actually begging locals for money in a country where many struggle to get by is maddening.

And yet I refuse to judge so-called begpackers. Or, at least, I refuse to judge them out of context.

The inference made by most onlookers and the media is that this is the very definition of white privilege  wealthy westerners going on a year-long jolly and ending up strapped for cash after spending their monthly allowance on booze. However, as weve seen time and time again with swift and merciless Twitter witch hunts, photos are stripped of context, with no reference to or knowledge of the personal circumstances of the people currently being trashed by all and sundry.

There has been an increase in westerners begging to fund trips around Asia (Rama Kulkarni)

In the various media slatings, theres an uncomfortable assumption that every white person in Asia has independent means and a rich family back home to call upon should they run out of money  that every traveller is straight out of the Gap Yah sketch. And while this is doubtless the case for many, it certainly isnt true of everyone.

Ask anyone for a travelling horror story and I bet theyll have at least one. In many cases it will be nothing more than a vaguely amusing anecdote  We got locked out of the hotel! We got a flat tyre and didnt have a spare!  but in others, the consequences are more severe. A friend tells me of getting mugged in Cuba, and being stranded for four days without a penny. Naval officer Kristian shares his story of arriving at the airport only to find his flight had left at 8am, not 8pm, and the ensuing embarrassment of having to beg for money from passers by to afford another flight home. Not every person, though they may come from an affluent country, has the readies to support themselves if the worst should happen in a foreign land  and judging someone for asking for money with no notion of their individual circumstances doesnt sit right with me.

Gap years: disaster or trip of a lifetime? Show all 2 1 /2 Gap years: disaster or trip of a lifetime? Gap years: disaster or trip of a lifetime? Gap years don't always go to plan Gap years: disaster or trip of a lifetime?

Of course, begging in a casual way as a long-term strategy to fund your fun trip around Asia is a different story, and one I heartily disapprove of. But theres a distinction to be made too between begging and busking. Will Hatton, founder of the Broke Backpacker blog, shares these sentiments. Whilst it is not OK to beg whilst travelling there really is nothing wrong (or new) with busking or selling hand-made jewellery on the side of the road, he told me.

This isnt a conventional career choice but it is how some people opt to travel the world and if you are sharing a skill or selling a product I really dont see the harm. I think a lot of people are threatened by backpackers living so hand to mouth as its a lifestyle which many people just cant get to grips with  ultimately though, for many, its far more fun to travel the world on $10 a day than to be chained to a desk.

While many on Twitter have roundly detracted the idea of backpackers busking when there are people living in real poverty in these countries  #begpackers are an absolute shame. seriously cant believe people are doing this, was one tweet, the sentiments of which were echoed by many  for me it raises questions about why the unwritten rules are so different to those in the UK.

Westerners have been criticised for busking in South East Asia (Twitter/ImSoloTraveller)

In London, someone busking in the underground is not viewed as a beggar, but a performer  whether they are home-grown or simply travelling through. It adds a richness and a vibrancy to the city, and no one would disparage a passer-by for relinquishing a few coins for the pleasure of hearing someone play. No one would chastise that they should be reserving their cash for the truly needy  and we arent short of those  rather than someone who can obviously afford an instrument and an amplifier. Yet the idea of someone doing the same in Thailand is somehow abhorrent  it just doesnt add up.

Yes, there is something truly galling about a young western person, with all the privileges of wealth, education and status in the world, trying to cadge money in a poor country to ensure they have enough to hit the next beach party. But, as in all things, I am loath to cast judgement too sweepingly. For some, things go awry while travelling and they have little choice but to throw themselves on the kindness of strangers. For others, being an entertainer and playing their way around the world is arguably a legitimate livelihood. And if someone has a rare talent for creating exquisite handmade jewellery out of shells, who are we to deny their entrepreneurial nous?

But know this  if someone attempts to talk to me seriously about finding themselves at a Full Moon Party, I will make free to boot their handmade bracelets across the street.
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Operational difficulties  airlines use the term to describe delays due to all manner of misadventures. But usually it translates as: weve messed up. And United Express flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville last Sunday was the most extreme example yet.

Uniteds website explained the flight being two hours late thus: Status: Delayed due to operational difficulties. From the airlines perspective, that reads better than: Status: Delayed due to cleaning up the blood in the cabin following the forcible removal of a doctor who was occupying his confirmed seat when security staff arrived to manhandle him from the aircraft.

Dr David Dao was brutally removed because United decided to make room to ferry crew needed in Kentucky to operate the next mornings flight.

Recommended Aviation insiders weigh in on the United fiasco

The shocking event triggered worldwide anger at Uniteds heavy-handedness  and the way that airlines are able to offload with impunity passengers who have booked a flight months ahead. And after I wrote and talked about the event, some of the social media storm headed in my direction.

Heres Kumar Vikram Dev on Twitter: How on earth can you @SimonCalder justify this inhumane treatment of a person by United? #UnitedAirlinesAssault Deplorable.

Well, Kumar, I have no intention of condoning the shocking treatment meted out to Dr Dao. I observed that United, like most airlines, has a clause in its contract with every passenger which says, effectively, You may have a confirmed reservation for a flight, and be sitting on board, but we still reserve the right to offload you to make room for someone else. (The actual wording is: All of UAs flights are subject to overbooking which could result in UAs inability to provide previously confirmed reserved space for a given flight.)

 United Airlines passenger is dragged off plane because airline overbooked

I also pointed out that the captains word goes. The Federal Aviation Administration says: The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. Our own CAA has a similar regulation: Every person in an aircraft must obey all lawful commands which the pilot in command of that aircraft may give for the purpose of securing the safety of the aircraft and of persons or property carried in the aircraft, or the safety, efficiency or regularity of air navigation.

By explaining the rules, I hope to shed light on the event. But that does not mean I regard the treatment of Dr Dao as anything other than shameful and appalling. The poor mans awful experience must prove a wake-up call for United and all airlines that overbook flights. Selling tickets that dont exist is a high-stakes game. When carriers predict the number of no-shows correctly, they profit handsomely. So when they guess wrong, and the flight blows (to use the charming airline jargon for too many people turning up than there are seats available), they must offer whatever inducements are needed to persuade passengers to leave the plane voluntarily.

David Dao is a lesson to airlines everywhere (YouTube) (youtube)

In the case of UA3411, the offer was capped at $1,000. Not enough? Throw in a free round-trip to Europe or Latin America. Still insufficient? Make that free ticket business class.

Governments can help improve carriers behaviour by sharply increasing the compensation payable for bumping passengers. At present someone offloaded from a flight from the UK to France and forced to travel a couple of days later gets just 250  the same compensation for a flight arriving three hours late.

Raise the denied-boarding payment to 1,000, and watch the airlines up their game.

The suffering of Dr Dao has also helped passengers realise that an airline ticket is a pretty flimsy promise to get you from A to B, and can be revoked at any time. So when Lesley Smithson tweets: Your defense of UAs right to remove suggests bookings are worthless. Cant be sure I will get to my sons wedding in CZ then?, the honest answer to her question is No.

Knowing the airline business, though, I dare say one or two carriers may latch on to this sorry saga and start charging us an extra fiver for a guarantee that someone else will be picked on when the involuntary offloads begin. Life for the airline passenger is full of operational difficulties.
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What a relief to discover that after all our worries, Donald Trump is full of heart. Now many people who suggested he was a narcissistic, bigoted maniac have realised they misunderstood him and hes a tender emotional sort, because his order to bomb Syria proves he was moved by the pictures of children attacked by President Assad.

It goes to show Gary Glitter should get hold of some Tomahawk missiles, then he could launch them at an airfield in Syria and columnists would declare: Maybe we got Glitter wrong, hes clearly full of heart. And hed be more believable than Trump, because at least if he said he was moved by the childrens faces, his track record suggests hed be telling the truth.

A glance at US military policy over the decades proves the main issue that determines their actions is how much the President is moved by the faces of suffering children. In Vietnam, for example, the North Vietnamese children were quite ugly, a bit spoilt and terrible at sharing so no one was moved enough to stop dropping napalm on them.

Trump must have been extremely moved by the children murdered by Assads forces, because recently he boasted he would tell five-year-old Syrian children he wouldnt take them in as refugees. So if a child wants him to be moved, its not good enough for them to just cling to a piece of driftwood in the Mediterranean; they have to go the extra mile and be gassed. This is how to encourage children: by rewarding those prepared to make a special effort.

Similarly, if anyone tells you they didnt agree with Trumps bombing, that shows they dont care whether children are gassed or not.

 Trump mistakes Iraq for Syria when discussing airstrike

If you oppose bombing Syria, youre a friend of Assad, and no respectable citizen would want to be that. Its true that when Tony Blair was Prime Minister he invited the Assads to Britain for a three-day visit including a meeting with the Queen, but he only did it once, probably when he bumped into him one night in the pub, and you cant check the human rights credentials of everyone you meet, can you?

So Tony put his arm round him and said, Here, Assad mate, fancy coming back to mine for a few tins and a game of cards? Ill get the Queen up, she can make us beans on toast.

Then a couple of days later Cherie looked him up on Google and what an embarrassment, it turns out hes a mass murderer.

Blair justified his friendship at the time by saying Assad was a moderniser, and hes certainly that. Huge chunks of his country are being demolished, probably for redevelopment with riverside apartments and a branch of John Lewis. By the time hes done, Aleppo will look like the Bluewater Shopping Park near Dartford.

In any case, Blair invited him in the middle of the week, and Assad is quite engaging from Tuesdays to Thursdays; its the weekends when he plays up.

Similarly, Theresa May was quick to support the bombing, assuring us Syria had an undemocratic and barbaric regime, a disgrace to the Middle East, the sort of place we couldnt possibly do business with. And she was so adamant we heard this message she broke off from her lunch with the King of Saudi Arabia to make it.

 Theresa May arrives in Saudi Arabia without a headscarf

Theres no real indication of whether the bombing had any military impact or what it was designed to do, but that doesnt matter. It was a symbolic gesture and Assad now knows if he uses any more chemical weapons, hell be dealt another one. Trump might poison his fish or even unfollow him on Twitter, because hes motivated by his heart.

It may be true that other bombing sessions out there, such as the ones in Iraq or Libya, didnt go entirely to plan, but this is a much simpler situation, and carried out by a President known for carefully nuanced subtlety, so its hard to see a problem.

This time the bombing is simple. So if you dont support it, youre helping Assad. This is different from a couple of years ago when we were asked to support the bombing of Isis, who were fighting against Assad. At that point anyone not supporting the bombing was told they were helping Isis, and not backing Assad enough. Sometimes we might change sides during a bombing campaign, but then we simply shout down to everyone and ask them to move around so the bombs land on the right people.

As proof of his careful planning, Trump now claims Nato is not obsolete after all, which some journalists who follow him closely suggest could indicate a possible change from his earlier claims that Nato was an utterly obsolete useless turd.

 Donald Trump says Nato 'no longer obsolete'

He has also switched from becoming closer to Russia than any other President to describing US relations with Russia as at an all-time low. This is reassuring, as it reveals his long-term international strategy is to change his mind about everything twice a week.

By July hell have built a wall round Norway and bombed his own lift.

On MSNBC, one reporter sparked some online controversy when he described the footage of Trumps Syrian missile attack as beautiful. This shouldnt surprise us because Trumps a showman. For his next bombing hell insist the explosions spell TO MY DARLING IVANKA, WHAT A KID in purple sparkles as the buildings catch fire.

One of the New York Times headlines this week read: On Syria, Trumps heart came first. And really thats the lesson of the last week: that this was bound to happen when America elected a President whose flaw is he simply has too much warmth.
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Until this Wednesday, the sound of mortar and rifle fire has echoed across the streets of the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. As usual, the world has ignored it on the grounds that Palestinians have been fighting Palestinians yet again in the largest refugee camp in Lebanon. And so they have.

Palestinian secular factions have been fighting Islamist groups. The camp lies just to the east of the centre of Sidon and is the usual warren of poverty and concrete huts and filthy apartment blocks, ironically called Ein el-Helweh  which means the sweet well or sweet spring.

Few noticed that this latest series of battles was set off shortly after an official visit to Lebanon by Mahmoud Abbas, the doddering old Palestinian president who long ago lost his legal electoral mandate in the occupied West Bank but who remarked before he left Beirut that Palestinians were dedicated to crushing terrorism.

Yet again, nobody took him very seriously. In fact, he was in earnest. What he really came to Lebanon to arrange was an all-out struggle by Fatah  the same Fatah which Abbas himself represents  and other groups against a small but alarmingly active bunch of Islamist Palestinians and Lebanese who had taken over the al-Tiri suburb of Ein el-Helweh.

They are  or were  led by a man called Bilal Badr, who in the past few hours appears to have settled in a different area of the camp under the protection of Fatah el-Islam, whose leader is another gang leader called Osama el-Shehabi.

His Sunni Muslim Fatah el-Islam (Conquest of Islam) was responsible for a series of Isis-like assaults on the Lebanese army in the north of the country in 2007  a number of soldiers had their throats cut with knives  and its black and white flag has a hauntingly similar design to that of the real Isis.

The fact that Isiss own flags do actually hang in several of Ein el-Helwes streets  as they have briefly in the northern Sunni Muslim city of Tripoli  only makes the situation more disturbing. Many Palestinian suicide bombers have in the past set off from Ein-el-Helweh for Iraq and have actually died attacking the Americans there.

So what is actually going on in Lebanon? Put simply, the countrys security services  infinitely more efficient than you might suppose for a country smaller than Wales  are able to handle Tripolis Islamist rogues and keep a close eye on Sunni areas of Beirut.

But Ein el-Helweh is supposed to be run by the Palestinians who live there, which is why the Lebanese army recently built a wall around the camp. Then Abbas turned up to promise that his men would deal with the Isis-type groups in the camp. The Lebanese would handle their own Isis supporters elsewhere.

Unfortunately for Abbas, however, his men did not catch Bilal Badr and the fighting ended in a typical ceasefire; for fear of killing too many civilians, both sides agreed to stop shooting while Badr moved to a new hovel elsewhere in Ein el-Helweh.

If all this appears to be arcane stuff, it is not. General Abbas Ibrahims general security service in Lebanon has been steadily arresting terrorists in various parts of the north and, more recently, in Beirut.

There is good reason, for example, to believe that not many weeks ago, they managed to arrest a man who was planning a suicide bombing at Costa Cafe in Hamra Street (where your correspondent occasionally takes a morning coffee).

Along the Corniche outside my home, groups of tourist police on bicycles and dressed in bright blue shirts and short trousers pedal regularly through the crowds strolling beside the Mediterranean.

But the cops have nothing to do with tourism; they are part of the state security apparatus watching for Isis. The same guys, in civilian clothes, can be spotted at night in the downtown cinema complex in central Beirut, the part of the capital rebuilt after the civil war by the Solidere company.

Not long ago, local papers reported that an employee of Solidere had been arrested in January for giving Isis  the real Isis this time  targets for suicide bombings. The story was wrong.

Mustafa Safadi did not work for Solidere. But he was discovered in a still-unfinished apartment complex  also not owned by Solidere, but in the downtown district  called Beirut Terraces. Its not far from the parliament buildings and its believed he was following the movements of Lebanese politicians.

According to al-Akhbar, a Beirut tabloid founded by a former journalist belonging to the prestigious An Nahar newspaper, Safadis brother left Lebanon via Turkey for Syria, where he took up directly with Isis just after its capture of Mosul in 2014. And here the tale begins to darken.

The brother tried to persuade Safadi to follow him to Syria and join Isis, and Safadi then travelled  and here the reader will get the point of this distressing tale  from Beirut to Ein el-Helweh camp to meet a Palestinian named as Mahmoud Rahim who, like Safadi, is now under arrest.

Safadi apparently asked Rahim how to reach rebel-held Syria but decided to stay in Lebanon.

It was Rahim, allegedly, who told Safadi to search for details of the movements of parliamentary deputies. This is a serious matter since former prime minister Rafiq Hariri was assassinated close to the centre of Beirut 12 years ago while travelling home from the parliament building.

A former emir of Isis inside Ein el-Helweh, a man called Imad Yassin, had actually recruited Safadis brother as well as a cousin who was subsequently killed in Iraq. Yassin, according to al-Akhbar, was also in contact with a Palestinian identified as Ziad Jahoush, another Isis member (also in custody) and Bahiedin Hojeir who was accused of involvement in a suicide attack against the Iranian embassy in Beirut in November of 2013.

 Marine Le Pen walks out of meeting with Lebanon's Grand Mufti after refusing to wear headscarf

Safadi has allegedly told Lebanese investigators that he was asked if he himself wished to be a suicide bomber and was told to contact Palestinians who could help him in this grisly project. He was told to meet them in a house in Ein el-Helweh. Safadi apparently turned up  only to find the house empty.

All of which provides a fascinating insight into the sudden enthusiasm of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to get his Fatah fighters into battle against the Islamists of the camp outside Sidon. Alas for the old boy, the Islamists remain largely untouched in Ein el-Helweh. All of which means that the Lebanese security guys are watching the camp very closely.

General Ibrahim, who has spent much time trying to negotiate (with the help of Qatar) the freedom of several Lebanese soldiers still held hostage by Isis  again, we are talking about the real Isis  near the Lebanese-Syrian border, is no amateur.

When he was head of Lebanese army intelligence in southern Lebanon, he walked  alone and unarmed  into the Ein el-Helweh camp at night to speak to al-Qaeda fighters.

No job, I think, for Inspector Morse. But like all great detective stories, this one, I fear, will run and run. Readers, as they say, will be kept informed.
Ireland is expected to cut the release of harmful gases by as little as 4%, said the EPA

Ireland will miss its targets to slash greenhouse emissions by 2020 with the Government's environmental and energy policies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is forecasting that the Republic will only cut the release of harmful gases by 4% to 6% of 2005 levels while the target was 20%.

And t he watchdog said emissions are projected to increase to 2030 and beyond.

EPA director general Laura Burke said the forecasts are disappointing and Government policies to reduce emissions and meet compliance obligations are failing in an improving economy.

"In addition, Ireland has a national policy position that commits us to reducing our carbon emissions by at least 80 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors while achieving carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use sectors," she said.

"If we are to realise this policy position and our aspirations to transition to a low carbon economy, then any new measures to be included in the upcoming and future National Mitigation plans need to be innovative and effective to get Ireland's emissions back on a sustainable trajectory.

"This will take planning, investment and time but can be achieved in the overall framework of national, EU and global commitments."

The EPA said the vast majority of Ireland's non-Emissions Trading Scheme gases in 2020 will be from agriculture at 45% and transport at 29%.

From 2015 to 2020, farming emissions are forecast to increase by 4% to 5% while transport emissions are projected to show strong growth over the same period of 10% to 12%.

The EPA warned that n ew obligations for Ireland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 are expected to be agreed by the European Union next year.

The further away Ireland is from the 20% reduction target in 2020, the more difficult the compliance challenges in the following decade are likely to become, it said.

Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, said the report is a stark picture of the challenges facing Ireland.

"It is clear that there are no easy options to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on the scale required in the coming decades," he said.

Mr Naughten said Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan, which will set out policies on decarbonisation and is currently undergoing public consultation, will be complex and often expensive to implement.

"However, in many cases, these options will have a range of environmental, economic and other benefits, not just in relation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also in relation to a range of other environmental indicators and in developing a more sustainable economic framework for Ireland in the decades to come," the minister said.

Mr Naughten also said the lack of progress on emissions was in part due to the inability to invest in greener policies in the recession.

He said he would argue that the 2020 target was not consistent with what was achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis.

"Though not unexpected, given the welcome return to economic growth in Ireland, it nevertheless serves to further reinforce the difficult decisions ahead of us as we try to further reduce our emissions out to 2030," he said.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the failure to meet targets was a national embarrassment and that Ireland will be one of only two European Union states not to meet the 2020 requirements.

"The Government has seen emissions reduction as a cost rather than an economic opportunity for Ireland," he said.

"Transitioning to a Green economy is an economic opportunity that we are missing out on. Instead, the gulf between Government's empty rhetoric and the actual situation will cost us dearly in our quality of life."
Wreckage of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter which crashed off the west coast of Ireland in March

The last recorded words of the ill-fated crew of an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which crashed in the Atlantic were "we're gone".

Air accident investigators have revealed one of the winchmen on Rescue 116, which went down off Co Mayo at 12.46am on March 14, alerted the pilots to an island as they returned to shore to refuel.

And the inquiry has also established that the Sikorksy S-92' s internal warning system did not include the rocky Atlantic outcrop and its working lighthouse in its database.

The search and rescue helicopter crashed after hitting Blackrock Island while coming back from supporting a mission for an injured trawlerman.

On board were Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, the commander of the flight who was pulled from the sea in the hours after the crash, and Captain Mark Duffy, the co-pilot whose body was taken from the cockpit 12 days later by Navy divers working at depths of 40 metres.

The bodies of winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith have not been found despite weeks of intensive seabed, surface and shore searches.

Ireland's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) released its preliminary report on the crash which stated that the helicopter's Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), which alerts pilots to imminent danger from terrain and obstacles, does not include either the terrain of Blackrock island or the lighthouse on the island.

The AAIU said: " The investigation is continuing to engage with Honeywell and other parties/agencies to reach a full understanding of this issue."

The EGPWS is designed to assist the pilots and reduce the risk of controlled flight into terrain and it offers both visual and aural alerts when there is a risk of a crash.

The manufacturer told the AAIU that it had looked at two alternative sources for terrain data and while they mark Blackrock the company said that the actual altitude of the island is "considerably higher".

The AAIU called for CHC Ireland, which operates the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopters, to review and re-evaluate a ll route guides used in the aircraft.

It said this should be done with a view to enhancing the information provided on obstacle heights and positions, terrain clearance, vertical profile, the positions of waypoints in relation to obstacles and EGPWS database terrain and obstacle limitations.

The investigation found Rescue 116 pitched up rapidly in the final seconds of the flight before it hit the western end of Blackrock and "departed from controlled flight".

The wreckage of the helicopter was found on the seabed about 60 metres off Blackrock after search teams homed in on beacons.

While investigations continue into the warning systems on board the helicopter, the AAIU released extracts from the cockpit voice recorder, including 1.40 minutes immediately before the crash.

It revealed that the aircraft's Radio Altimeter gave a call-out of "altitude, altitude" 26 seconds before the helicopter struck Blackrock.

The recordings show Captain Fitzpatrick said there was "just a small little island" below the helicopter.

Other data shows Rescue 116 was near an outcrops of rocks, Carrickduff and Carrickad, about 0.65 nautical miles to the west of the Blackrock at the time.

About 10 seconds later one of the winch team, who the AAIU suggested was using a high definition electro-optic and infrared camera, told the pilots he could see an island directly ahead and urged Captain Fitzpatrick to "come right".

She confirmed the advice and the winchman replied: "20 degrees right yeah".

The black box flight recorder showed the helicopter heading was changed but the winchman interjected with increasing urgency and called: "Come right now come right COME RIGHT".

The AAIU report said the co-pilot Captain Duffy swore twice and his words of "we're gone" were the last to be recorded.

It said the cockpit voice recorder has no reference by the crew to the presence of a lighthouse or terrain at Blackrock during their briefing for the approach to Blacksod where they were due to refuel.

Investigators said the helicopter was travelling at about 75 knots prior to the crash and it appeared to be in a nose high attitude when it hit Blackrock.

It said that following the initial impact, the data indicates that the helicopter climbed while experiencing large changes in pitch, roll and yaw angles.
Decision time is looming for Galway on whether it wishes to remain one of Europe's best micro cities or step up in league.

It will become European Capital of Culture in 2020, which would offer an opportunity to showcase the city for foreign direct investment as a means of becoming a major counterweight to Dublin's galloping growth.

The clock is also ticking on Brexit but the city has been slow to address the few opportunities that it may present.

If the City of the Tribes intends to exploit Dublin's difficulties its window of opportunity may be limited in time as the capital responds to pressure from home-seekers, the media and opportunistic developers to address its weak housing supply.

Already Dublin has seen 30 office schemes totalling more than 370,000 sq m (4m sq ft) under construction and a further 47 schemes with planning permission. Cork has also seen a few office schemes get underway in the last two years. Yet both of those cities have higher office vacancy rates than Galway, where vacancy rates have been running in single figures for a number years and stood as low as 8pc at the end of 2016.

Consequently, because of the reluctance of developers to address Galway's office shortage and undertake speculative projects, one international employer decided to develop its own premises. In addition, the IDA has just this month broken ground in a relatively rare move of undertaking a speculative office development. It granted the tender to build a 4,200 sq m (46,000 sq ft) facility at Parkmore Industrial Estate to the Stewart group.

The only developer currently undertaking a city centre office project is the O'Malley Group, which is redeveloping the Hynes Building on St Augustine Street, most of which will be occupied by Met Life, except for the part of the building that the city library will retain on the ground floor. Including a new fourth floor, the development will provide a total gross floor area of 6,835 sq m (73,582 sq ft).

George Brady of Cushman & Wakefield estimates that currently only about 5,600 sq m (60,000 sq ft) of modern offices are available to let in the city centre and he expects that about 930 sq m (10,000 sq ft) of that will be taken in the coming weeks.

As much as 1,860 sq m (20,000 sq ft) of the vacant space is in I Galway Central, the former Anglo-Irish Bank building purchased by the Comer Brothers. The remaining vacant offices are spread among four other buildings, so there is very little choice for employers that may want to locate a large number of staff in one building.

Consequently Brady predicts that all vacant space will be taken within the next 11 months, if not before the year end.

"Many of the recent office occupiers are growing rapidly and will be looking to more than double the amount of offices they require within a few years," he adds.

With no further office development under way, there may be no extra space available in the city centre until 2020, when Gerry Barrett's planned Bonham Dock may come to fruition. It will provide 25,900 sq m (279,000 sq ft) of offices in four buildings beside the docks.

Barrett's move is the latest indication that developers are at last beginning to hope that rising rents will make office construction viable.

Other indications were seen in some recent deals. For instance, Woodquay Court offices were recently purchased by a private Galway investor for around 2.5m, or at least 800,000 more than the 1.65m guide quoted by Brady. The four storey over basement office block was built about 40 years ago and extends to 1,486 sq m (15,995 sq ft).

In addition, a 6,500 sq m (70,000 sq ft) redevelopment of a leisure centre property into offices is under way in Oranmore on the eastern approaches to the city. Meanwhile, to the west of the city, one of the Oaktree Capital companies is believed to be at the pre-planning stage for phase two of The Gateway Retail Park in Knocknacarra, which will include about 3,344 sq m (36,000 sq ft) of offices on the floors over new ground-floor shops.

While these suburban office projects will help address demand, one local agent says that many of the foreign direct investment companies want premises in or near the city centre in order to help them to attract young talented staff who wish to go to restaurants and pubs in a buzzing city centre after work.

As has been the case elsewhere, one of the problems about encouraging private sector speculative development is the relatively low office rents. Recent letting deals suggest that this is also being addressed.

Cushman & Wakefield estimates that prime Galway city centre headline rents rose by 14pc to about 24 per sq ft by the end of 2016.

In the suburbs rents also rose by 14pc to 17 per sq ft per annum.

But such rents are less than half the 55 per sq ft being quoted for some prime Dublin offices and they are also below those in Cork, where they rose by 16pc to 27 per sq ft by the end of last year.

Some agents reckon that rents need to exceed 30 per sq ft in order to encourage new office projects in Cork and Galway and it looks like they are in sight.

Brady is already revising his forecast for Galway office rents.

"We had expected that they would increase to 27.50 by the end of this year but already only four months into the year we have seen a deal for 26 per sq ft and now we are quoting 27.50 per sq ft for other offices," he says.

He has also brought forward his forecast for when rents might reach 30 per sq ft. In January it was reckoned that investors might have to wait until the end of 2018. Now they are expected to reach these levels by the first quarter of next year at the latest.

An interesting test of the investment market will be Failte Ireland's sale of its Galway tourist office on Forster Street, for which Sean Coyne of Cushman & Wakefield is quoting more than 2.25m. A two storey over basement building, it has potential for retail or restaurant use on the ground floor and offices on the first floor on a corner with a busy tourist and commuter footfall.
JP Morgan has widened its search for office space in Dublin beyond its reported interest in acquiring a block at Capital Dock, which is currently being developed by Kennedy Wilson.

The Irish Independent understands a delegation from the US investment banking giant came to Dublin last week for a series of meetings with property agents and companies involved in the development of offices in Dublin's docklands. The bank's executives were brought on a tour of the area, and carried out an inspection of a number of the major office sites now under construction. Those parties who met with the JP Morgan team were required to sign a strict confidentiality agreement, the terms of which prohibit them from discussing the bank's potential plans and requirements in terms of Dublin.

While a source familiar with the detail of last week's visit said that JP Morgan is seeking up to 12,000 sq m (130,000 sq ft) of office space by 2018, a spokeswoman for the bank declined to make any comment other than to state that: "Nothing has changed in the past month with relation to our Dublin real estate strategy."

With other sources suggesting that JP Morgan has agreed "a deal in principle" to acquire office space at Capital Dock, the bank's comment suggests that there has been little or no advance on the position which was reported by this newspaper first, two weeks ago.

Last week's visit to Dublin by a delegation from the bank and their inspection of other offices under development in the docklands is in keeping with JP Morgan's previously stated position that other options were "still very much on the table".

While the reporting to date in relation to JP Morgan's interest in Dublin has been linked directly to its plans to relocate employees from London as part of its post-Brexit response, this suggestion is understood to have been frowned upon by the bank.

Prior to last June's referendum, JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon had said as many as 4,000 employees could be relocated if Britain chose to leave the European Union. Last January he modified his position slightly, saying the number could depend on how the UK government's negotiations with the EU play out.

In terms of demand from London-based companies seeking to relocate as part of a specific response to Brexit, JLL's head of research, Hannah Dwyer, noted yesterday that the "desk-based enquiries" in relation to Dublin rents and availability had in recent months translated to site and building visits and the undertaking of due diligence.

She said: "JLL is working with a number of clients who are seriously considering a move to Dublin as part of their strategy, so enquiries are now translating into real post-Brexit activity. We are expecting to see some direct Brexit-related deals signing in the next three months. Dublin is not being considered in isolation, and is in fact being considered alongside other European cities. Our stiffest competition appears to be coming from Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and Madrid."

"In terms of sectors, we are seeing greatest demand from UK-based financial companies and related services, and tech firms. Sizes are ranging from space for 150 people up to 1,000 people, with only a few at the larger end of this scale," Ms Dwyer added.
RTE's Big Week on the Farm might be the most important TV coverage of Irish farming since Telefiis Feirme half a century ago.

When Big Week first hit our screens last spring, I thought it was corny; that the presenters were overly enthusiastic and it was just a bit of light-hearted fluff for townies. But I've changed my tune entirely.

The series is hugely informative, even for farmers. Most farmers know their own sector well but not others and lots of us also have gaps in what we know about the natural world around us.

The Secret Life segment on the domestic hen, narrated in a deep, authoritative voice by Philip O'Sullivan, made me laugh.

Accompanied by gentle classical music, we first see a rooster "surveying the ladies". Cowboy music kicks in as another rooster swoops in and "squares up to the interloper". We seem to be heading for a showdown, but the intruder backs down and the boss rooster mates with a hen.

However, later, there is fascinating footage of chick development right through to breaking out of an egg.

This mix of fun and fact ran throughout the various reports and made for compelling viewing.

It is vital that agriculture keeps the general public tuned in to its importance.

But, in the course of telling all these stories, what we are also getting is an insight into the remarkable work that farmers up and down the country do every day of the week. Most of this enterprise goes unseen and unsung. So it's also a great showcase for Irish farming.

If this doesn't seem too trite a link, there is now an opportunity to continue acknowledging farmers who are leading the way in their enterprises through the Zurich Farm Insurance Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards.

With a prize fund of 19,000, the awards celebrate the best in Irish farming, by recognising and rewarding innovation, hard work and passion.

Farmers are often reluctant to go forward for these kinds of things. This is for a variety of reasons. Generally, farmers are a modest bunch and are afraid they will be seen as having a swelled head.

Others are afraid they won't win while others still are afraid that they might win, because they would have to admit they are making money!

But mainly I think it's that farmers don't have the confidence, ie they feel that there are loads of people doing things better than themselves.

If someone is doing a job well, they deserve to be recognised by their peers.

So look in the mirror or around at you neighbours and if you see someone doing a good job, pick up the phone and ask if you can nominate them.

The award categories are Beef, Sheep, Dairy, Tillage, Rising Star and Farm Safety, with an overall winner picked from the category winners.

Previous Grand Prix winners have come from across the board.

Carlow tillage farmer Kevin Nolan, who farms mostly leased land, won the inaugural contest in 2014. He was followed by Wicklow dairy farmer Noel McCall who, unusually, does not have a family background in farming. Last year, it was the turn of Laoisman, Tom Dunne, an organic beef farmer.

It is free and quick to enter. You can nominate yourself or be nominated by a third party (Teagasc adviser, friend, family member, etc). Apply online at www.farmeroftheyear.ie
Allied Irish Banks has entered exclusive negotiations with a buyer for a 300-400 million portfolio of impaired buy-to-let mortgages known as Project Cyprus.

The deal comes as AIB prepares to return to the stock exchange later this year in a near 3bn deal.

It is understood Cerberus, the US opportunist fund, which has hoovered up billions of euros worth of non-performing loans from the National Asset Management Agency over the past few years, is not the buyer.

Project Cyrpus marks the first sizeable sale of toxic residential mortgages in the market and is likely to serve as a barometer for future deals, as rival lenders weigh whether to offload troubled loan books and accelerte efforts clean up thir balance sheets amid increasingly onerous regulatory costs.

As the Irish Independent reported last month, Permanent TSB is expected to finalise a strategy on its 5.9bn book of non-performing loans by mid year, with many in the market predicting it will follow a similar course to AIB and offload a portfolio of buy-to-let mortgages.

It is understood AIB drafted in the accountancy firm,KPMG, to run the Project Cyrpus deal.
AIB has agreed to sell a 400m portfolio of 1,200 buy-to-let mortgages to Goldman Sachs in the biggest deal of its kind since the financial crisis.

The sale by the state-owned bank will raise concerns among tenants about how the new owners plan to recoup their investment.

AIB yesterday annoucned it is contacting borrowers to inform them of the loan transfer.

The deal, dubbed Project Cypress, comes as the state-backed lender prepares to return to the stock exchange later this year in a near 3bn flotation that will reduce the governments ownership in AIB by 25pc.

A spokesperson for the bank said the vast majority of the mortgages are in deep long term arrears.

AIB declined to confirm the price Goldman Sachs paid.

However it is understood the face value of the loans is close to 400m, which are tied to 1,200 homes.

A number of global private equity firms cast an eye over the Project Cypress portfolio, including Lone Star, Davidson Kempner and Cerberus Capital Management, according to sources.

The banks move to jettison toxic residential mortgages comes as all Irish lenders mull how best to ditch legacy loans.
The Central Bank has issued a rebuke to a number of international lenders operating in Ireland for failing to meet regulatory obligations - in a sign of the watchdog's greater focus on the sector following the fallout from the financial crisis.

The Central Bank said its latest report on offshore banks focused on the "accuracy and integrity" of international lenders' regulatory returns. While no enforcement proceedings are underway, the regulator has privately upbraided the banks and set a deadline for remediation action. The Central Bank has not named the targeted lenders but this latest display of rigour from the watchdog sends a shot across the sector's bows.

Fiona MacMahon, head of banking supervision at the Dame Street institution reminded international banks "the regulatory reporting requirements ... expanded in response" and stressed the importance of "timely and accurate information".

This morning the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will hear details of a separate historic complaint from Jonathan Sugarman, a former employer at the Irish arm of Italy's largest lender, Unicredit.

Mr Sugarman resigned from the lender in September 2007 and told members of the European Parliament last year that Unicredit repeatedly breached liquidity requirements in 2007, when global stock markets were reeling from the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Central Bank fined the Milan-based institution 315,000 in 2014 for contraventions of EU law.

There is no allegation that Unicredit is not meeting its current regulatory obligations in Ireland.
You may not have noticed it but you are living through an economic miracle - apparently. The chief economist of the Central Bank, Gabriel Fagan, introduced the country to a new economic term last week called a "Phoenix Miracle" which is how he described Ireland's rapid economic recovery since the depths of the recession.

Among the literature on a phoenix miracle is a book called 'Phoenix Miracles in Emerging Markets'. The authors say it occurs where "recovery to its pre-crisis output is swift and creditless" and output goes back to pre-crisis levels "without any significant recovery in domestic or external debt".

Based on the fact that our GDP is back above pre-crash levels, unemployment has dropped dramatically, and this has all been done without personal and corporate borrowing going through the roof, Ireland does appear to fit the bill.

But as with most things in economics, there is always another view or even a set of "alternative facts", as the Trump White House might call them - which suggest it isn't quite as rosy as it sounds.

Here are five positives about the Irish economy that, under the microscope, have a bit of a soft underbelly.

1. GDP

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has just increased his GDP forecasts for the Irish economy for 2017 to growth of 4.3pc. This is up from 3.5pc last October. It is more good news - assuming he is right. But there are questions about the veracity and relevance of our GDP numbers. Last year Leprechaun Economics seriously undermined the application of a traditional GDP figure to describe Irish economic growth and the health of our economy.

For example, the NTMA, which manages our 180bn national debt pile had this to say about using our GDP figures: "Ireland's GDP and GNP are exaggerated by new multinational companies' activity ... the national accounts are distorted by several companies and their assets being reclassified as resident in Ireland. GDP and GNP series have little information content as a result."

However, we can take the revised forecast as an indication that the economy is growing and that is positive but the scale and extent of the growth isn't always clear.

2. Falling unemployment: This has been one of the genuine success stories of the recovery taking place. Our unemployment level peaked at 15pc in 2012. Just five years later, it is now down to 6.4pc, its lowest level since 2008. This is a real economic achievement.

But what kind of jobs are we creating? Foreign Direct Investment has continued to bring a variety of well-paid and not-so-well paid jobs to Ireland. However, our exchequer figures published last week showed we were behind target on income tax take. Something about the figures didn't add up, given the continued fall in unemployment in the first quarter of this year. One explanation is that we are creating lots of new low-paid jobs. This would tally with a less-than-expected income tax take because of the levels of pay at which income tax and USC kick in.

It is always better to have people working in a society than not. However, many might not feel like they are in a "miracle economy" if they are paying massive rents and earning very modest wages.

3. The cranes are back

The crane count in Dublin is massive. I was on the seventh floor of a building in Dublin the other week and counted 31 cranes in one direction alone. The quarterly crane count from the top of the 'Irish Times' building in Tara St in Dublin has gone to more than 90.

It is a sign of growth in construction which is good for employment - and it is a sign of confidence. However, what are they all building? It seems they aren't building enough residential units as the housing crisis continues. This will come back to bite our economic competitiveness.

Dublin's tourism industry is booming but they aren't building enough hotels. This is causing hotel rates to soar, which will also come back to bite us. The country's largest hotel chain, Dalata, pointed out that banks are seeking 50pc equity before lending the other 50pc for new hotel builds. This points to an extraordinary cautiousness and it doesn't augur well for the number of hotels that will be built. Hotel prices will keep rising.

As for the cranes, developers will tell you that they only make their money when the cranes come down -up is a sign of confidence but not yet profit. Unless of course you are in the crane-hire business, in which case its jam today and jam tomorrow.

4. Pressures on exchequer spending

The Government has been tempted to loosen the purse strings quite a bit on public expenditure in recent years. Some of it was needed after the recession but some of it was short term political expediency. From here on, the pressures to increase public expenditure will just grow and grow. Minister Noonan's GDP forecast increase will be seen as an opportunity to push harder for more spending increases.

The wriggle room or fiscal space available for higher spending or tax cuts had been put at around 1.2bn. That might now go up to 1.4bn. But will that money be spent wisely, productively and fairly?

The turn in the economic cycle also means the era of public sector and fiscal reform is over. There will be no more reforms, only spending increases. Clearly, some reforms were achieved during the years of austerity but not enough.

We may pat ourselves on the back if we run a 0.5pc budget deficit in the next year or two in line with EU rules, which will put us from the "bold step" of the Troika years to being best boys in class. But the economy remains vulnerable to outside risks. Our debt levels are still extremely high and we may waste some of our financial headroom.

5. Brexit

There is widespread debate about whether the Government has done a good job in vocalising the challenges Brexit will pose for Ireland. Taoiseach Enda Kenny helped to get Ireland mentioned front and centre in the UK Article 50 letter and Donald Tusk's Brexit negotiation guidelines. But we appeared to be trumped by the veto to any deal secured by Spain.

Either way, the signs are now that we are moving towards a general election. We will have a new Taoiseach, irrespective of the outcome of the election. There will be a new make-up to the government either way. These are real uncertainties that will make it a little less predictable when it comes to the new government's stance on Brexit. It might be better, it might be worse. Ireland will have very little say in how Brexit shapes up.

Fine Gael made the mistake last year of assuming there was a recovery for everybody that had to be "kept going." Despite the headline evidence to support it, the Phoenix Miracle narrative takes that to a whole new level.

Looking around at how the main parties are fighting over how not to charge people for water, we begin to look like a country once again, that is beginning to believe its own hype. The swagger and hubris is returning among politicians.

We have one of the highest national debt-per-capita rates in the world. We have one of the highest rates of personal indebtedness in the world. One quarter of SME bank loans remains non-performing nearly a decade after the crash.

The economy has performed better than so many expected. We have to consolidate and build on the extraordinary gains we have made, otherwise our phoenix could turn into a dodo.
It was perhaps symptomatic of the increasing problems facing the renewable sector in Ireland that one of the country's most important bodies for renewables -the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) - turned to Dr Gary Healy to lead the organisation

Healy left communications giant Vodafone in September of last year having served as the company's Irish head of external relations and regulation. He had previously served as the head of public policy for Telefonica Ireland.

Having worked in the labyrinthine world of telecoms regulation, one might have expected Healy to have an easier ride in his new post.

After all, what could be more popular with policymakers than projects that reduce dependence on both carbon and imports?

With Ireland struggling to meet its renewable energy targets before 2020, it might have been expected that the IWEA's new boss would have the ear of the Government. Not so.

During a conversation with the Irish Independent recently, Healy did his best to be diplomatic, but the sense of exasperation was clear.

Ireland stands to be on the receiving end of hundreds of millions of euro in EU fines over the coming years if it does not derive 40pc of its gross electricity needs from renewables by 2020.

Currently, the figure stands at under 30pc.

Healy is resigned to the reality of fines being imposed and is clearly frustrated at that prospect, especially since the money could be used to further develop infrastructure.

"We will struggle to get to 40pc because of the number of planning appeals and because of the lack of leadership around the guidelines," he said at a morning briefing with the Irish Independent earlier this month. The issue of leadership - or lack of - from the Government is a theme he returns to frequently throughout our discussion.

A source close to the IWEA revealed that an invite sent to Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten to attend the IWEA conference this year went unanswered. It seems indicative of a wider sense of indifference from the Government.

At present, the minister - along with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government - is in the process of drawing a new set of guidelines for wind farms in Ireland.

The new guidelines will be subjected to an environmental review as part of a European Court of Justice ruling that forces governments to adequately inform the public about the location and impact of wind farms.

There are no specific guidelines for the setback distance between a wind farm and a private dwelling, although there is an advisory distance of 500m which Healy says is adhered to by developers.

"Because the guidelines haven't gotten out sooner, it has created a lot of uncertainty. We have a lot of challenges to wind farms and if you change those guidelines then that will create legal uncertainty."

Currently there a slew of cases before the courts with local residents either vehemently opposed to wind farms or seeking compensation for noise nuisance.

Healy believes that much of the opposition to wind farms stems from a fear of the unknown. "What we found with the anti-wind farm protests was that 90pc of the complaints came from areas where there were no wind farms," he says. "We find that in the first year of operation people are still asking questions, but if they are dealt with properly the issues can be dealt with. After that, we don't see a lot of complaints."

While critical about the Government's leadership role in the process, he says IWEA members also need to do more

"I think we need to do a better job and our members need to do a better job at explaining locally what's going to happen.

"We have to earn that social acceptance. Because we believe we are bringing a benefit to the community, we don't necessarily make sure that the community comes along with us all the time," he says.

To address the problem, Healy suggests a complaints process that can be overseen by local authorities that would allow objectors to engage with the developer and an impartial arbiter.

He gives the impression the parish pump is getting in the way.

"When people encounter problems with existing wind farms, they tend to go their local politician, whereas really there should be a body there like the local authority that can address the issue.

"We are trying to solve the problem based on the noise from the people that are protesting about it. We haven't got to the root of the problem." He says it is down to a lack of understanding and dialogue between developers and worried members of the public.

"People are fearful of what a wind farm would look like; how big is it going to be? How many turbines are there going to be? A lot of the opposition is driven by that uncertainty," he says.

He highlights Northern Ireland and Scotland as jurisdictions which have legislation that allow for a more open consultation between the parties which provides much more clarity for all concerned.

"If we had that model, then if someone complained about noise, they could complain to the local authority and that would be a key process. We don't have that process here. The guidelines were never developed to do that."

He repeatedly cites public awareness as the key to resolving the issues which have lead to a backlog in the number of wind farms awaiting planning approval.

But he believes the ultimate blame lies with the Government, whose local concerns appear to have superceded the need to develop vital national infrastructure.

Brexit has also brought problems for the sector, with the single renewable energy market on the island of Ireland now under threat.

A report published by business representative body Ibec earlier this week highlighted the importance of the north-south interconnector which has been placed in doubt now that Britain has voted to leave the EU. "The major competitive challenges created by Brexit make construction of the north/south interconnector more relevant than ever before," Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said.

Healy concurs. "Brexit has caused an uncertainty. The Irish Single Market (ISM) was seen as being effective because of the way Europe was going. You now have Northern Ireland coming out of the EU," he said.

"There is commitment from both governments to look at the energy sector.

"It is unfortunate that we now have delays on the north-south interconnector because it would help to consolidate the all-Ireland energy market."

He says the sector is beginning to repay the initial funding support it received from the Government.

"In 2015, we saved around 250m of fuel imports because we used our own generated wind. You need to have the initial support.

"But where the industry is today, we are contributing back by reducing our dependency on fuel imports and with reducing the C02 emissions."

While he is optimistic the sector can continue to perform well in the medium term, he again emphasises the need for strong policy action from Government.

"There is no policy on renewables. If you look at Scotland, they have a clear policy and they say what they are going to be doing until 2030," he says.

"We had a white paper in 2014 and there was a lot of focus on community engagement and having an energy forum, but we need to look at where we are going to be with renewables.

"We need to have 27pc of all our energy coming from renewables by 2030. Today we don't have a policy that says how we can get from 2017 up to 2030."

The Government says it will imminently publish the guidelines that will provide the clarity that Mr Healy says is so desperately needed. For now though, it feels as though he is whistling in the wind.
In Ireland, Tesco has slipped into third place in the grocery segment, behind SuperValu and Dunnes Stores.

Tesco Ireland has reported like-for-like sales up 0.1pc and revenues of 2.48bn in the year to February 25.

The parent Tesco Group in the UK beat forecasts for its annual profit as its recovery gained pace, potentially strengthening the hand of boss Dave Lewis as he tries to win investor backing for his plan to buy wholesaler Booker. The supermarket group said its overall turnaround was ahead of schedule - citing a 30pc rise in its key profit measure, a first annual increase in underlying sales in its core UK business for seven years and a 27pc reduction in net debt. It also reiterated margin and cost savings targets.

It wasn't enough to lift shares however, which fell more than 5pc in the wake of the results.

In Ireland, Tesco has slipped into third place in the grocery segment, behind SuperValu and Dunnes Stores.

Tesco Ireland said yesterday that it continues to experience strong volume growth including in what it called "core fresh categories" of fruit, vegetables, meat and bakery. "We have seen significant progress over the last 12 months and since we launched our purpose 'serving Ireland's shoppers a little better every day'.

"We traded well over key seasons and we continue to see strong growth in Tesco own label lines with sales increasing for the full year," Andrew Yaxley CEO Tesco Ireland said. At group level, Tesco said its turnaround was ahead of schedule, but analysts also highlighted a tougher UK consumer outlook, including price rises linked to Brexit. Group sales rose 4.3pc to 49.9bn, while net debt was cut to 3.73bn. (Additional reporting Reuters)

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Communicorp announced sweeping structural changes to staff yesterday, including merging sales teams and the elimination of CEO posts at radio stations Newstalk, Spin and 98fm, the Irish Independent understands.

The changes will bind Newstalk more closely to the other Communicorp assets and makes a sale of the unit less likely, insiders said.

Newstalk CEO Tim Collins is to stand down and is understood to be leaving the business, a year after taking up the post. The CEO posts at 98fm and Spin will also go in the restructuring.

It is understood the head of Today FM Keith McCormack may move into a new role as head of Communicorp's music-focused stations, including Today FM.

A second new role as chief of content - which it is understood will include overseeing Newstalk's output, is being created. Ultimately, that content business is likely to become a hub that will feed news, sport and digital content to the rest of the group.

Communicorp declined to comment.

The changes are the most wide-ranging since British media executive Adrian Serle took over as Communicorp CEO in November last year, replacing Gervaise Slowey.

Tim Collins joined Newstalk last year from Sligo's Ocean FM. His departure follows that of Newstalk editor-in-chief Garrett Harte, who left last year. It comes a week after the 'Irish Times' replaced editor Kevin O'Sullivan with Paul O'Neill.

In 2016 Newstalk announced a major schedule overhaul, with a new Breakfast team of Shane Coleman, Paul Williams and former Ireland rugby star Alan Quinlan, and initially Colette Fitzpatrick, plus a new drive-time slot presented by Chris Donoghue and Sarah McInerney.

Pat Kenny kept his mid-morning slot, while George Hook moved to a lunchtime show. Ivan Yates returned to Newstalk this month, with a new Sunday show.
An app which has been labelled as a Tinder for teens has come under fire as police have warned that it could be used by sex offenders to target children.

Yellow, which is available to download for free on the iPhone and Android, describes itself as the "easy and free way to make new friends".

The easy to access application uses swipe controls that are identical to that of the dating app Tinder.

Users are invited to swipe 'left to pass' and 'right to like' photo profiles of other Yellow users. If they match (both swipe right) the children can exchange messages and photos with each other.

Police in the UK have recently alerted local schools to concerns they have over child safety on the app.

Meanwhile, the ISPCC has expressed concern about apps or games that encourage children to share personal information.

"There are many great, fun and educational apps available that provide a wealth of great experiences for children and young people," Director of Services Caroline OSullivan told independent.ie.

While Yellow guidelines do not allow users under the age of 13 - and recommends that teens must have parental permission to create a profile - users do not have to verify their age before using the service

This has raised concerns that the service could be exploited by adults pretending to be children.

"The ISPCC has long called for age verification on certain apps," said Ms O'Sullivan.

"There are a number of troubling issues that can arise from children using apps where an adult can also gain access including online grooming. We are also concerned about the content which can be shared on certain networks and would urge children and young people to remember that sharing information can leave a digital footprint and can often be manipulated."

After online safety groups raised concerns when Yellow was launched, the app updated its security settings so that users must have a profile picture - and those who attempt to change their date of birth after signing up must send in proof of ID to verify the change.

Profile pictures that do not contain faces are now also banned from the app.

The ISPCCs advice is that parents should be vigilant in terms of their children and their young peoples access to the internet, smartphones and apps. If parents choose to give their child a device that has an internet connection then they have a responsibility to outline safe use and have boundaries in place regarding the length of time, types of sites etc. that the children can use the device for, said Ms O'Sullivan.
Hackers can damage a firm's brand and its share price

Cyber security breaches erode companies' share prices permanently, with financials the worst hit, a study issued by IT consultant CGI and Oxford Economics has found.

Severe cyber-security breaches, such as those having legal or regulatory consequences, involve the loss of hundreds of thousands of records and hurt the firm's brand.

They caused share prices to fall on average 1.8pc on a permanent basis, the analysis of 65 companies affected since 2013 globally has found.

Investors in a typical FTSE 100 firm would be worse off by an average of 140m after such a breach, the report said.

Overall the cost to shareholders of these 65 companies would be almost 50bn.

CGI's analysis compared each company's share price against a cohort of similar companies to isolate the impact of cyber breaches from other market movements, during incidents detailed in a breach index compiled by Dutch security firm Gemalto.

Two-thirds of companies had their share price adversely impacted after suffering a cyber breach.

Financial firms were the worst affected, followed closely by communications firms.
A GLOBAL economic recovery is gaining momentum but could be cut down by the "sword of protectionism", International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of next week's IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington DC she said countries need to cooperate to solve trade issues such as reducing excessive external imbalances.

Her prepared remarks did not specifically mention US President Donald Trump's "America First" trade agenda, but she said restricting trade would be a "self-inflicted wound" that would disrupt supply chains and raise prices for components and consumer goods, hitting the poor hardest.

For the first time in years, she said the global economy "has a spring in its step" as the Fund prepares to release new growth estimates on April 18.

"The good news is that, after six years of disappointing growth, the world economy is gaining momentum as a cyclical recovery holds out the promise of more jobs, higher incomes and greater prosperity going forward," the former French Finance Minister said.

The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said global trade is expected to grow 2.4pc this year - up from 1.7pc in 2016.

The WTO warned that import taxes, such as that being considered by the US, will hurt

"If policymakers attempt to address job losses at home with severe restrictions on imports, trade cannot help boost growth and may even constitute a drag on the recovery," WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo said in statement

The IMF said prospects are improving for advanced economies, where manufacturing activity is stronger, as well as for emerging and developing economies, which will contribute more than three quarters of global growth this year.

"At the same time, there are clear downside risks: political uncertainty, including in Europe, the sword of protectionism hanging over global trade, and tighter global financial conditions that could trigger disruptive capital outflows from emerging and developing economies," Ms Lagarde said. (Additional reporting Reuters / Bloomberg)
A woman enters a Tesco store in south London...A woman enters a Tesco store in south London October 23, 2014. Tesco reported a bigger than expected hole in its finances on Thursday after finding accounting mistakes had gone back further than initially thought, forcing Britain's biggest grocer to scrap its full-year profit outlook. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)...I

Shares in the supermarket giant Tesco have fallen sharply despite the announcement of a 30pc rise in operating profits.

While the company announced its first annual increase in sales in seven years, investors are nervous as food prices rise against the weak sterling.

Tesco stores in the UK have already experienced shortages of household brands made by Unilever including Knorr, Persil, and Ben & Jerrys ice-cream, as the two companies engaged in a row over the price of the goods.

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Investors have also expressed concerns regarding the grocery chains proposed 3.7bn (4.3bn) acquisition of wholesaler Booker, the group behind Londis.

Two major Tesco shareholders, Schroders and Artisan Partners, which combined own 9pc of Tesco, have both written to the chair of Tesco, John Allan, citing their opposition to the deal, the Guardian reports.

Tescos pension deficit has also doubled in twelve months to 5.5bn (6.4bn), which will be of concern to investors.
By now many of us have seen the video of the United Airlines passenger being forcefully removed from an overbooked flight. It doesnt make for pleasant viewing.

We have laughed at the tweets and the memes that the public relations disaster has inspired, my personal favourite being Pepsi: nobody will embarrass themselves as much as us this week. United: hold my beer...Sean Spicer: hold my Pepsi... from @elspeth_47.

And we may even have felt satisfaction at seeing the United Airlines share price tumble  nearly $1bn was wiped off the companys share price on Tuesday.

One month on from the CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz receiving a communicator of the year award from PR week, a reward which according to the airline acknowledged his efforts over the past year to better engage with employees and customers as he led a dramatic transformation at the airline the company is in the mist of a PR disaster.

However, this will pass. Passengers will continue to fly with United. The share price will recover.

History of PR disasters

This is not the first PR disaster that the airline has faced. In 2008 United baggage handlers destroyed a guitar belonging to musician Dave Carroll.

Following the incident, Carroll wrote a song about it which has been viewed over 17m times on YouTube. The share price dropped in the days after but the airline recovered.

In March this year the company came under fire again after it refused boarding to two girls who were wearing leggings. At the time the airline said that the girls were flying on an employees and guests pass which has a dress code.

The company weathered the storm and the incident had no impact on the companys share price.

In fact, the company announced that traffic for March 2017 was up 3pc year-on-year when compared to March 2016.

People will continue to fly with the airline due to the limited competition in the US airline industry.

As a result of several mergers in the US airline industry since 2005, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United Continental (United) now control about 70pc of the US air traffic market, according to Fortune magazine.

That four airlines control so much of the passenger traffic in the US is confirmation that competition is limited, and passengers have few choices when choosing which airline they want to fly with.

Also, other companies have faced the threat of consumer boycott in the past and recovered.

Investors care about the numbers and in 2016, United and United Express operated more than 1.6m flights, carrying 143m customers, according to its annual report.

On a daily basis, United and United Express operate more than four thousand five hundred flights to over three hundred airports.

Net income for the company in 2016 was $2.3bn, with pre-tax earnings of $4.5bn in 2016.

While the short-term outlook for the company may be turbulent, it is likely that smooth skies lie ahead.
A Canadian man who flew to Ireland twice to meet with a teenage girl he groomed online, before having sex with her, has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail.

Jashua Tremblay (34), of Fort McMurray, Edmonton, pleaded guilty to charges of luring to facilitate child pornography and luring for sexual contact, and sexual interference.

His sentence also includes a 10-year ban from the internet, or locations where children could be, after he is released.

Tremblay first contacted the Irish teenager in 2012 when she was just 13 years old on an online forum and 14 months later he travelled to Ireland where he booked them into hotels and a holiday home.

The victim's devastated father - her sole surviving parent - told the court Tremblay had 'brain-washed' his daughter before having a sexual relationship with her. According to an "agreed statement of facts" presented to the court, Tremblay had convinced her that they were in a legitimate relationship.

She believed she would move to Canada and marry him when she turned 18. He also told her he wanted "100 kids".

During the two years he preyed on her using online messages, at least one letter and audio messages, he sent naked pictures of himself to her. He also encouraged her to reciprocate with explicit images of herself.

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The sentencing hearing in Court of Queen's Bench heard that Tremblay, who was married with a child, began to have sexual conversations through the app.

In July 2013, he first travelled to Ireland and spent a week in hotel rooms and bought a tent, camping for a few nights.

During the visit, the pair had sex and he continued to convince the victim they were in a legitimate relationship.

The girl had lied to her father, telling him she would be spending a week-long break from school with a friend. On Tremblay's return to Canada, the girl's father became suspicious when he saw excerpts of a letter Tremblay had posted to the victim. Pretending to be a 19-year-old pen pal, he spoke on the phone to her dad and promised not to contact her again.

However, he continued to communicate with her and on mid-term break in October 2013 he visited again for 10 days.

They spent the 10 days together, staying in a rented home. At first, neighbours thought they were a holidaying father and daughter, but called police after noticing an unusual amount of affection.

When police contacted the teenager's father, the girl was questioned about where she had been during her break. Tremblay was arrested in Canada after he was identified by gardai here.

He was arrested in December 2015 in Fort McMurray. While on bail, he was also found to have breached conditions when he evacuated with his girlfriend and her three children during a wildfire.

Tremblay has undergone counselling since his arrest and a psychiatric report presented to court found that he does not meet the criteria to be diagnosed with paedophilia.

The criminal behaviour is instead attributed to a "regression" brought on by the stress of his marriage and becoming a father.

The report suggests that he had "primarily a misjudgment regarding the basic rules of courtship".
Anna Finnegans sister Lisa with, left, Caoimhe De Brun and Janice ONeill outside the Criminal Courts of Justice. Photo: Gerry Mooney

The family of a young mother stabbed to death by her abusive partner said she finally has justice now that the "animal is locked up".

Vesel Jahiri (35) was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of his former partner and mother of their two children Anna Finnegan.

Jahiri stabbed Ms Finnegan to death in her own home a month after she had sought refuge at a women's shelter.

Ms Finnegan wrote that Jahiri made her life "hell", had beaten her and "almost killed her". They had been together since she was 16 years old.

Jahiri, originally from Kosovo but of no fixed abode, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Ms Finnegan (25) at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, on September 21, 2012.

Jurors also found Jahiri guilty of stabbing Anna's brother Karl Finnegan to the chest and head during the same attack.

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Jahiri was representing himself at his own trial and was removed from the court on several occasions, including after he punched the prosecuting barrister in the face.

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Yesterday, before the verdicts were read out, Jahiri was brought into court accompanied by four prison officers dressed in riot gear. As the jury came into court to deliver their unanimous verdict, Jahiri began shouting at them and was excluded from the courtroom.

Ms Finnegan's family and friends spoke outside court after the verdict and said they were overwhelmed that the tragic young mother had finally received justice.

Her sister Lisa Finnegan urged any woman in an abusive relationship to seek help.

"It's been a very long, tedious, gruelling, exhausting time, and mentally draining, but the jury have made the right decision," she said.

"They can sleep tight tonight knowing they have put a very dangerous man away.

"I urge any young girls out there who are suffering the same as Anna did, to come forward, speak to somebody, anybody. Somebody will help you.

"You feel so alone sometimes, Anna told me, and that nobody will understand you or believe you, it's not true.

"There are people, anybody, your next door neighbour, your friend, your mother, your aunt. But we are so happy we've gotten justice for Anna.

"He (Jahiri) absconded for a year and a half and we lived in pure terror for that time because he had threatened to kill me, kill my children one by one in front of me, these things could never be told to the jury."

Ms Finnegan's friend Janice O'Neill added: "I can't believe the animal is locked up, thank God."

The court adjourned sentencing until May 8.

Jahiri had been a child soldier in his native Kosovo and told gardai in interviews that he had lost his mother and sister.

The couple were together for 10 years and had two young children together.

However, in the months leading up to September 2012, their relationship turned sour and they separated.

Ms Finnegan had a protection order against Jahiri and had gone to a women's refuge with her children.

In Ms Finnegan's own words, Jahiri was a 'control freak', an 'animal' and a 'bully' who, she conceded, was "ok 20pc of the time".

"I know you're not a bad person and need help but you are dangerous until you see a doctor," she wrote in a tragically prophetic three-page letter that she never sent to him but was later found in her handbag by gardai investigating her brutal death.
A man who urinated in the direction of gardai after telling them he was Enda Kenny has been given the Probation Act in Westport District Court.

The Mayo News report on the case of Geoffrey King (40) of Springfield Drive, The Quay, Westport, who was in court to face charges for an incident in 2014.

King is originally from the Mayo town but has worked in Stockport in England since 2013 and he returned to face the courts regarding the incident that took place in the early hours of January 4, 2014.

Inspector Gary Walsh told the court that the found King intoxicated and trying the get into an apartment.

When asked his name he said it was Enda Kenny. He continued to become verbally abusive and then urinated in front of them.

He was arrested and brought to the garda station in Westport.

King said he had been drinking on the night and he could not remember much of what had happened.

King, who had eight previous convictions, has not come to the attention of the police in the UK or the gardai since the incident according to Inspector Walsh.

Judge Mary Devins said that if King agreed to donate 500 to a fund to build a memorial to the late Garda Tony Golden in Ballina she would issue the Probation Act.
The trial of a man accused of kidnapping a family during a 660,000 'tiger' robbery has collapsed over suspicions that the jury received information from outside.

The jury in the trial of Jonathan Gill was discharged after a judge heard it was suspected members had received information from others.

Judge Elma Sheahan made the decision after a note detailing the suspicions was handed in yesterday, on the sixth day of the jury's deliberations.

A defence lawyer said the trial had been "utterly and fatally compromised".

The jury had been considering a verdict for just over 14 hours. The accused was remanded on continuing bail to appear in court on April 28.

Mr Gill (35), of Malahide Road, Swords, Co Dublin, had denied falsely imprisoning postal worker Warren Nawn, his partner Jean Marie Matthews and their baby in Drogheda between August 1 and 2, 2011.

He also denied the robbery of 661,125 from An Post, West Street, Drogheda.

The prosecution had alleged Mr Gill was one of a group of five involved in holding the family hostage in their own home before moving them to a shed a 90-minute drive away.

Dean Kelly BL, defending, told Judge Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he felt the jury should not proceed with deliberations.

Mr Kelly said a juror had written that he suspected others were "getting information from people outside the jury".

He felt jurors were using the information to form their decision and that was "so wrong".

He spoke about overhearing two strangers talking about the case on a tram.

Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, suggested the judge ask the jury if it had been influenced, and let the members retire to consider the question.

However, Judge Sheahan said she could not allow the case to proceed when a matter of this seriousness had been raised.

Judge Sheahan said they were in "uncharted waters". Mr Heneghan then said it was not suggested in any way that the jury had been "got at".

"Information of the utmost gravity has come to the court's attention ... it is regrettable but inevitable that the case must come to an end," the judge then told the jurors.
A Belfast-born man has been declared innocent after being wrongly convicted of kidnapping and murdering a seven-year-old girl.

Jack McCullough (77) was jailed after being found guilty of killing Maria Ridulph and spent more than four years behind bars.

A judge granted McCullough a certificate of innocence on Wednesday, saying he should never have been convicted of murdering Maria in Illinois in 1957.

McCullough said: "I'm innocent and I didn't want there to be any doubt.

"What was done to me was criminal. They knew I was innocent and they put me in prison anyway."

The former policeman also spoke candidly in court about how he was a target in jail.

He said: "When you put a policeman who is a convicted child killer in prison, you don't have a life.

"Your life is in danger every second that you're in prison. I'm lucky to have survived prison."

He was found guilty in 2012 but last year the charges were dropped when fresh evidence supported his alibi.

Receiving the certificate means the charges can never be refiled and it'll make it easier for him to seek compensation.

He testified last week that he was also keen to clear his name.

He said: "I am innocent, proven innocent, and I want my name back.

"My name has been in all the papers coast to coast. I have been put forward as a monster, and people still believe I am a monster."

Russell Ainsworth, McCullough's lawyer, also called Illinois "an epicenter for wrongful convictions".

He said: "It has to stop, we want, through Jack McCullough's struggle, for other people to learn that this can happen in our society.

"This is not part of bygone years and what happened in the '70s and '80. This is happening today. This is happening to people who are honest, law-abiding citizens."

Maria's surviving siblings still maintain they think he killed their sister and claim justice has not being served.

Her sister Patricia Quinn said: "It's been horrid, more horrid than when she was taken. At this point we just want to stand up and shout for all it's worth."

A special prosecutor has launched a probe to see whether a police interrogation tape could have deliberately been hidden from the defense team.

The conviction was looked at again after former State Attorney Richard Schmack said McCullough couldn't have kidnapped and killed Maria as he was 40 miles away at a military recruiting station.
The ASTI will ballot next month on possible industrial action in the event that one of its members is threatened with redundancy from September.

The ballot will take place between May 8 and 18, ASTI president Ed Byrne said today.

There is no present threat of redundancy but ASTI members have lost the protection of redeployment if they become surplus to requirements in their school.

The protection has been withdrawn because the Association of Secondary Teachers' Ireland (ASTI) has rejected the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) on pay and productivity.

The Department of Education is considering returns from schools on their teacher needs for next year which will determine whether there is a surplus in any school.

The potential for surpluses has been reduced this year because of rising student enrolments and the provision of extra staffing.

However, even if a surplus is identified, there appears no appetite within the Department of Education to act on it in the short term.
Jashua Robert Tremblay originally said he was only 16 when he started talking to the young Irish girl

A Canadian prosecutor who led a successful case against a predator who groomed an Irish teen online before travelling to Ireland twice has praised gardai for their work on the case.

Jashua Tremblay is now behind bars at the beginning of a four and a half year sentence for his acts. He was convicted after he travelled to Ireland twice to meet a young teenage girl he had met on the internet.

The now 34-year-old engaged in sex with the victim during both visits, which took place during the school holidays in July and October 2013 when the girl was aged 14.

His case was the first child sex tourism case tried by Crown Prosecutor Craig Krieger.

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Mr Krieger said the new laws allowing Canadian authorities to prosecute criminals who engage in child sex tourism in other countries allowed for the successful conclusion of the case.

"Normally only Ireland would be able to prosecute him," Krieger said outside court, CBC Canada reports.

"But because of this special provision, we were able to prosecute him here for the sexual contact with a child.

"Under the old system, that only could have been prosecuted in Ireland," he said.

"So they would have had to wait for him to appear there somehow someday which probably would have been a slim hope."

The lawyer also praised the work of gardai who were the first law enforcement agency to deal with the case.

"I really want to give credit to the police in Ireland. Even though they probably knew from the beginning, there was a slim chance of them seeing the accused face to face, he said.

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But they put a tremendous amount of effort to prove the identity of who this adult was who had come to violate one of their kids."

A senior source told Independent.ie the arrest and imprisonment of Tremblay was a result of a"relentless pursuit" by gardai.

It is understood the investigation was launched when people living in the area noticed inappropriate behaviour between the two.

Without the intervention by neighbours "the case may never have come to light let alone end up in a prosecution" the source added.

"This case highlights the level of engagement between gardai and other countries in these cases and shows that international borders don't hinder an investigation like this."

During the investigation it emerged that he convinced the young girl they were in a legitimate relationship and told her he wanted 100 kids.

When in Ireland the pair stayed in hotels, a campsite and a holiday home.

Neighbours living near the holiday home in an Irish seaside down alerted gardai when they became suspicious about the level of affection between the two.

It is understood Tremblay told gardai initially he was the girls father.

Edmonton Law Courts in Alberta heard details of how Tremblay preyed on the vulnerable teen who had recently lost her mother.

He sent her naked images and encouraged her to reciprocate.

The girl told her father she was staying with a friend during Tremblays visits.

When her dad read an excerpt from a letter he had sent the victim and became concerned Tremblay lied about his age and promised to cease contact.

He continued the relationship however and returned to Ireland for a second time.

In a victim impact statement the girls father revealed the stress induced by the incident for the family and said his daughter had been brainwashed by Tremblay.
Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis published in the July 19th, 2016 Federal Register, the APHIS determined that if treated properly, Vietnamese star apples can be shipped safely to the continental US.

The analysis indicated that the use of one or more phytosanitary measures would be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing plant pests or noxious weeds through star apple imports.

APHIS offered a period of 60 days for public comment which ended on September 19th, 2016 and it received one comment from a manufacturing company during the period.

The company said fresh star apple should be allowed to be treated with irradiation after arriving in the US.

APHIS argued that while an approved irradiation treatment may be conducted for any import either prior to shipment to the US or in the US, the particulars of any treatment are examined on an individual basis as part of a countrys market access request.

In the request by the national plant protection organisation of Vietnam (NPPO), it stipulated that fresh star apple fruit be subject to a pre-clearance programme within Vietnam. Considering this request, APHIS determined that Vietnam possesses sufficient infrastructure for in-country treatment.

The analysis also indicated that the fruit must be individually wrapped in plastic prior to shipment to reduce the risk of post-treatment re-infestation. APHIS determined that individual wrapping provides equal phytosanitary protection to insect-proofing cartons and pallets as described in US regulations.

In addition, the fresh star apple fruit from Vietnam must be imported in commercial consignments only and each consignment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of Vietnam and treated in accordance with Title 7 Part 305 of the US Code of Federal Regulations. Each consignment is also subject to inspection upon arrival to the US.

The US has to date allowed imports of five fruits from Vietnam, namely dragon fruit, rambutan, lychee, longan and star apple. It has been considering allowing imports of Vietnamese fresh mangoes./.
An internal investigation has been launched after 12,000 went missing from a Dublin Garda station.

The cash disappeared in December but details are only now emerging.

The Irish Sun is reporting that the money was seized from serious criminals.

It had been held in a safe but was later moved to another area where it disappeared.

A senior detective has been appointed to investigate the incident.

A Garda spokeswoman said: "A detective superintendent has been appointed to conduct an examination into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a sum of money from Kevin Street Garda station in Dublin 2."
Fracking cannot go ahead in Ireland without having a harmful effect on human health and the environment, a Dail committee has found.

Acknowledging that gas reserves of up to 32bn could be available, a report from the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment says it would be "irresponsible" to allow it be extracted given uncertainty on the impacts.

Fracking involves recovering gas and oil from shale rock, but has prompted environmental concerns due to the volume of water required, chemicals used which could contaminate groundwater and a worry it can cause earth tremors.

Exploration licences have been granted for parts of the Clare Basin and Northwest Carboniferous Basin, which covers Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Tyrone. The report said fracking could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but it was in the public interest to ban it.
Gardai at the scene this morning of a serious motorcycle road traffic accident, which occurred at around 7.30am this morning on the Terenure Road East. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Gardai at the scene this morning of a serious motorcycle road traffic accident, which occurred at around 7.30am this morning on the Terenure Road East. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

A motorcyclist has been killed after an early morning collision in Co Dublin today.

The man, aged in his 30s, was travelling on Terenure Road East when his motorcycle struck a wall at the junction of Ferrard Road.

DUBLIN: Services in Finglas are dealing with a burst watermain on Cardiffsbridge Rd near Glenties Park. https://t.co/qvBPcgxUj8  AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) April 13, 2017

05:40hrs Longford/Pearse is delayed up to 30mins due to a level crossing issue, expect some knock-on delays as a result.  Iarnrod Eireann (@IrishRail) April 13, 2017

DUBLIN Collision on Terenure Rd East heading in direction on Terenure. Expect delays on approach https://t.co/r19oH1u8F2  AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) April 13, 2017

The motorcyclist was treated at the scene by emergency service crews but he died a short time later.

His body was removed to Dublin City Morgue.

The road was closed to facilitate a forensic examination of the scene and traffic was diverted. The road was re-opened later.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact them at Terenure garda station on 01 6666400 or any garda station.
Dublin Bus workers have voted to go on strike in solidarity with picketing Bus Eireann staff.

This comes as the Bus Eireann strike has been called off temporarily as the Labour Court issued its recommendations.

Bus Eireann union members will now vote on the Labour Court proposals, and will decide whether further strike action will be taken.

Buses are expected to be back in service by tomorrow, but if the recommendations are rejected both Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann staff could be taking to the pickets.

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The Dublin Bus ballot was counted at Liberty Hall today and 67pc of staff voted in favour of the action.

SIPTU organiser John Murphy said in a statement: "The ballot count has been completed and the majority of SIPTU members in Dublin Bus have voted to take industrial action in support of, and in sympathy with, their colleagues in Bus Eireann.

"Most SIPTU members in Dublin Bus are bus drivers and this grade voted by 67pc to 33pc in favour of taking industrial action.

"SIPTU representatives will now liaise with our colleagues involved in that dispute to discuss when to serve the necessary notice of industrial action on the management of Dublin Bus."

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After 21 days of strike action Bus Eireann stand to have lost over 10m. Over 1900 workers will now return to their posts after the prolonged strike, which occurred after the company told workers it would impose cuts to reduce its payroll bill by 12m.

Dublin Bus workers will now liaise with Bus Eireann staff involved in the dispute to decide when to serve notice of industrial action to Dublin Bus management.

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The National Bus & Rail Union welcomed the Labour Court recommendations and are keen to engage with Bus Eireann staff.

General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said: "The Labour Court have today issued its recommendation across a range of grades, it is quite obvious, just from a cursory glance, that our contention that major cultural change is imminent has been borne out by this recommendation.

"We will now move immediately into a consultative phase with our members across Bus Eireann in order that they will be fully informed in advance of casting their ballot on the fundamental issues contained in the recommendation."

He continued to say: "Our members will now return to work after 21 days on strike, they have shown tremendous dignity throughout what has been an extremely difficult dispute, for that they are to be commended.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to thank members of the travelling public for their massive support and understanding through what has been a difficult time for them in having to make alternative travel arrangements for their daily commute."
Where the water goes on a daily basis. Picture: Irish Independent Graphics

A deal has been reached on water charges that should see 92 per cent of households pay nothing for water. Here is everything you need to know about refunds, meters and group water schemes:

Dummies guide to...Refunds

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Almost one million households will be entitled to refunds, but it's likely to be several months before you get your money back.

The committee agreed that the Department of Housing should investigate the "most cost-efficient mechanism of adhering to the principle of equity of treatment for those who have paid and have not paid water charges".

One of the big questions facing Housing Minister Simon Coveney is how to factor in the 100 water conservation grant that was paid to many, but not all households.

The water report states the grant should be taken into "consideration" when deciding on how to operate a refund scheme.

It's expected Irish Water will be charged with administering the refunds, but this could add to its overheads.

The utility contracted a private firm, called Abtran, to handle customer queries regarding domestic bills but its work has been scaled down over the past 12 months.

Some of the outstanding questions relating to refunds are:

Around 20pc of customers paid through direct debit - how do you find and identify those who paid in cash through post offices, online, etc?

What about people who moved house? Or those who used to share (do you pay Mary or Maureen the refund?), and what about landlords?

Will the 162.5m be made up to Irish Water?

What about those who took the grant but didn't pay? Do you reclaim it?

Dummies guide to....Meters

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Given the controversy over the metering programme, it might surprise some people to learn that 58pc of the country's 1.52 million households already have meters.

Some of the most contentious debates at the water committee related to whether the Irish Water metering programme will continue.

It will not - but building regulations are to be changed in order to force developers to install meters outside all newly built houses and dwellings that undergo substantial refurbishment.

The report says meters should be in place "so that the amount of household water consumption is clear to users and as a means of effective leak detection and conservation".

Bulk metering will be installed for multi-unit developments such as apartment blocks.

The Government will also consider how best to incentivise voluntary take-up of meters.

Dummies guide to....The role of Irish Water

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Despite the end of water charges, Irish Water will continue to operate.

Its funding will now come from general taxation, with the Government required to factor this into the annual budget.

The utility won't send out any bills, but will still operate a 'first fix free' service for householders who identify leaks.

Engineers will be responsible for upgrading the water network.

The committee has recommended Irish Water's current commercial loan facility be reviewed and replaced, where possible, with State lending facilities by arrangement with the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).

On foot of the water report, the Government must begin putting steps in place to hold a referendum asking voters if they want public ownership be enshrined in the Constitution.

Dummies Guide to....Group Water Schemes

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Under a section headed 'Equity and Fairness', the report makes special reference to Group Water Schemes.

It says "the principles of equity of treatment and equivalent financial support should be applied equally between households on public water supplies and those in Group Water Schemes (GWS), Group Sewerage Schemes (GSS), those using Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS) and Individual Domestic Water Supplies (IDWS)".

The Department of Housing is to conduct a review, in co-ordination with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other relevant stakeholders, to quantify what additional investment will be required to equalise treatment between those availing of domestic water services and those availing of private services.

The committee recommends that, following this review, identified investment should be provided.

Households that received the water conservation grant are likely to be allowed keep the money.

Dummies guide to... EU law

Some experts have warned that the recommendations in the report may not be enough to satisfy the European Commission that Ireland takes water conservation seriously.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney will lean heavily on the Attorney General while compiling legislation to give effect to the measures put forward by the committee.

The report cites a number of key initiatives that the committee's legal advisers said should help ensure Ireland is not subjected to massive EU fines.

The Government must outline "funding certainty and long-term stability" for Irish Water in order to comply with the EU's Water Framework Directive. All money given to the utility "must be clearly identifiable within existing taxation to meet the cost of domestic water services".

The key test will be whether the EU accepts that the application of "levies" for "excess use of water in order to dissuade users from wastage" is enough to argue that the 'polluter pays principle' is in place.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) meets with President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Stech (Photo: VNA)



National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the statement during talks with President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Stech in Prague on April 12th.

She said Vietnam remembers the assistance of the Czech state and people in the cause of national independence and reunification.

The top legislator thanked the Czech parliament and government for recognising Vietnamese-Czech people as one of the countrys ethnic minority groups in 2013, calling this a valuable asset for the two nations friendship.

She highlighted the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic over the past 67 years, which have been nurtured by the two countries leaders and peoples.

Vietnam is willing to create favourable conditions for Czech businesses to explore long-term investment in Vietnam, Ngan said.

The Southeast Asian country also hopes to work with the Czech Republic at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN-EU, she added.

She affirmed that Vietnam will help the Czech Republic enhance relations with ASEAN, and proposed the European nation support Vietnams candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

Bilateral cooperation has seen progress in various fields in recent years thanks to high-level delegation exchanges, she said.

She welcomed Czech President Milos Zeman to pay a State visit to Vietnam in 2017, a move expected to open a new period of development for bilateral amity.

There is a plenty of room for the two countries to step up cooperation in economics, trade and investment, she said, noting that the Czech Republic added Vietnam  the only nation in ASEAN  into its list of 12 key trade markets.

Chairwoman Ngan proposed the Czech Republic enable businesses to sign deals to export Vietnams farm produce and seafood to the market and to import industrial goods, materials and spare parts from the Czech Republic.

She also called on the European country to make it easier for representatives of Vietnamese businesses to obtain visas to study the Czech market, seek partners and attend trade fairs and exhibitions.

Senate President Stech said Vietnam has the closest relations with his country in Southeast Asia.

The two sides need to reach an agreement on investment protection to drive economic relations forward, he said, adding that Czech companies are willing to set up joint ventures with Vietnamese firms to boost investment in science and technology.

He described Vietnam as a successful economy in Southeast Asia, and suggested the two sides make use of their respective strengths for mutual development.

Both sides agreed to push the EU to sign the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, which will boost trade between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

Parliamentary cooperation has been reinforced over the past few years thanks to regular high-level delegation exchanges.

The host and guest agreed that the two countries legislative bodies should increase rapports at multilateral parliamentary forums such as Inter-Parliamentary Union and Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership.

Vietnam and the Czech Republic will coordinate to monitor the implementation of cooperation agreements and projects signed between the two countries governments.

At a meeting with the press, the two sides affirmed that they reached consensus in various fields, and the cooperation potential is enormous.

Chairwoman Ngan said leaders of the Vietnamese and Czech legislative bodies had a candid discussion on issues of mutual concern.

President Milan Stech said both sides agreed to create a legal investment protection corridor for private enterprises.

With a large population and high economic growth, Vietnam can attract Czech investors, he added.

The same day, the President hosted a banquet to welcome the Vietnamese top legislator and her entourage to visit the Czech Republic./.
The husband of a woman who died in Lough Erne tried desperately to pull her from the water while their two young children slept in their holiday boat.

The incident happened at Devenish Island, near Enniskillen, at around 1.20am on Thursday.

Independent.ie has learned that the couple, who live in Convoy, Co Donegal were on an Easter holiday with their two young children.

The mum of two had gone out to check the ropes to make sure the boat was secured to the jetty before going to bed.

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Her husband - alerted by the splash of his wife going in the water - dived in to try and rescue her. He could not find her in the dark and got out to raise the alarm.

The woman was located by rescue workers just metres from the back of the boat. CPR was performed on the woman at the dockside and on route to the hospital where she died.

Their two children, aged 11 and 13, were asleep at the time of the tragedy. The family are from Convoy, Co Donegal and they had been holidaying in Lough Erne for Easter.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is investigating the incident which is believed to be an accident.

Chief Inspector Clive Beattie told RTE's Radio One that the woman's husband is still in a state of shock at this stage.

During the 999 call her husband "told us that his wife and his children aged 13 and 11 were up on holidays from Donegal for the weekend and they were moored for the night at a very popular tourist attraction in a hired cruiser when his wife went to check on the ropes securing the boat," Mr Beattie said.

A multi-agency response was launched immediately and a major search operation got underway.

However around 40 minutes after the 999 call the woman's body was recovered from the scene.

"He is very, very shocked. He is still in a state of shock as we speak and he is being looked after by medical professionals and by his wider family circle," the police officer added.

"They were up on holidays to enjoy the beautiful waterways of Fermanagh but unfortunately it turned into a very tragic event."

Mr Beattie expressed his heartfelt condolences to the woman's family and thanked all emergency services who attended the scene.

There were "valiant efforts" at the scene to resuscitate the young mum before she was rushed to hospital.

"It's a very terrible accident indeed," he said as he appealed for all waterway users to wear a life jacket at all times.

Sinn Fein Councillor Liam Doherty said there was shock in the town of Convoy, where the family had been living.

"My sympathies go to the family at this tragic time," he told Independent.ie.

MP for the area Tom Elliott said it was a tragedy, adding: "This is just deeply sad, again we have another family in bereavement and my thoughts and prayers go out to them and their community.

"Lough Erne is a dangerous place and I would call on people to be careful on the water."

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Arlene Foster said: "This is heartbreaking news for the area. I want to extend my sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of this young woman. The death of a young life will come as an immense shock to this area and in particular the woman's family.

"Lough Erne and Devenish Island is often pictured as a scene of beauty but today it is the scene of such tragic circumstances. I wish to thank the emergency services and the RNLI who attended the scene. As we enter into the holiday period, I would urge everyone to exercise caution while on the water."

Fermanagh and Omagh DUP Cllr Keith Elliott, added: "This is a devastating incident for the family and all connected with Lough Erne. I want to praise the RNLI and the emergency services for their brave actions at the scene.

"The pain of this tragic death will be felt right around the county and my thoughts and prayers go out to the young woman's family at this time."

Last month the bodies of Frank Dunne (39), from Malahide, Co Dublin, and his wife Alexandra Malkin Dunne (34), originally from the UK, were recovered from the River Shannon near Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

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The couple, who were married for a number of years lived in Munich, and were a few days into a holiday in the area when tragedy struck.
Campaigners against water charges say politicians will be 'held to account' if they go back on election pledges

On this weeks show, Solidarity TD, Paul Murphy, joins INM's Kevin Doyle, Niall O'Connor and Philip Ryan to discuss the 'agreement' over the water report and FF's u-turn, why a swimming pool tax is actually needed and should the Dail prayer be abolished?

Click here subscribe to the Floating Voter on iTunes.

Despite the furore over the water report these last few days between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, their agreement on the future of water charges and meters has been criticised and called bizarre by Paul Murphy who has long been campaigning against any water charges.

He is most critical of the measure to introduce meters in new house builds and sees this as the continued commodification of water. His answer? To dig up and remove the meters.

"I don't condemn the removal of water meters and they should post them to Barry Cowen instead," says Murphy on the Floating Voter who believes that acts of protest and civil disobedience against 'unjust laws' should be encouraged.

"The Right2Water campaign was a victory for our movement and the mass protests that we saw around the country, but it was sold short by Fianna Fail coming back to Fine Gael."

Each week on the Floating Voter, INM's political team discuss the main issues affecting Irish politics, bursting the bubble around Leinster House. New episodes on Independent.ie every Thursday.
Transport Minister Shane Ross has said he does not regret having his picture taken while socialising in a feather boa.

Mr Ross faced criticism this week for a photograph that appears to show him partying with socialite Amanda Brunker while bus workers are on strike.

Ms Brunker posted the photograph on social media with the caption "So this happened last night".

Mr Ross said that he was attending a fundraiser for a local GAA club in his constituency, when the picture was taken.

"The feather boa was put on me for a few seconds and someone just took the photograph.

"It was a very nice and successful evening and we raised a lot of money. It was a very worthy cause and I wasn't going to cancel it."

When asked if he regrets posing in the picture, he said: "No. I'm the Minister for Sport and I have to support local clubs and I'm going to continue to do that.

"It was just a pleasant evening for a very good cause helping young people to get involved in the GAA club and raising funds for it," he said.
In a few days time, Paul Murphy will take the stand in open court for a trial that will gather huge public attention.

A specially enlarged jury of 15 men and women will be shown video footage from the events of November 14, 2014 - a day that kicked off a new chapter for the anti-water charges movement.

Mr Murphy and six others face the prospect of time in jail if they are found guilty of the false imprisonment of former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her special adviser Karen O'Connell during a protest that took place in the Tallaght suburb of Jobstown.

If the Solidarity TD is in fact imprisoned, he will follow in the footsteps of his mentor Joe Higgins, who along with Clare Daly was jailed in 2003 for breaching court orders which prohibited the obstruction of refuse collections in the capital.

Some 14 years ago, the single biggest campaign issue for the hard left was bin charges.

Leading members were more than willing to serve time in prison in the name of their cause.

Today, it is water charges. And the same principle applies. Thus, the set of proposals agreed by the Oireachtas Water Committee this week was not a victory for either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

Despite the apparent outrage and screams of betrayal by the hard left, the provision of some form of future charging regime keeps the populist campaign well and truly alive.

Even if - as predicted by Barry Cowen - nobody receives a bill at all, the inclusion of the term 'excessive usage' and 'levies' was enough to prompt the 'Right2Water' members of the committee to throw their toys out of the pram.

And the agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail on the issue of meters for new builds was the final straw.

But above all, the result from months of tedious negotiations on the future of domestic water charges leaves a reason for protest politicians like Mr Murphy to exist.

It gives him, and others, their purpose to get out of bed in the morning and pick up a megaphone and tap into the sense of public disillusionment with politics.

Indeed, the Dublin South-West TD and his colleagues have seen in recent weeks how political victories can have a long-term, detrimental impact on parties that spend all of their time championing a single issue.

Take Ukip, for example.

The party co-founded by Nigel Farage is now suffering from an existential crisis after the British public followed his advice and voted in favour of Brexit. Ukip's only MP, Douglas Carswell, even resigned citing the fact that Brexit had meant the party's job was done and it no longer needed to exist.

The campaign to take the UK out of Europe has put Ukip's very identity in jeopardy.

In Mr Murphy's press statement on Tuesday night, he failed to mention our obligations under EU law and why some form of charging and metering system is essential in ensuring the taxpayer is not open to fines that could run into the tens of millions.

He also did not refer to the fact that law-abiding citizens who, unlike him, paid their bills are now set to be refunded.

But Mr Murphy does conclude on the point that the movement which he has successfully built from scratch will not be 'defeated'.

"Mass non-payment of water charges and a protest movement can prevent any attempt to make these sections a reality by returning to water charges," he said.

Mr Murphy and his colleagues are smart enough to know that populism will always attract its fair share of followers. They know that their campaign has proven deeply effective in recent years and is responsible for the many U-turns and flip-flops performed by Sinn Fein and in turn Fianna Fail.

But while populism sells well on the doors, so too does responsible politics. But for the far left, the choice is a no-brainer.
'Every woman I know is familiar with the corner of the blue couch," says Tiffany Dufu - and it's hard to disagree. It may not be blue, but that proverbial living-room sofa has hijacked many a husband for many a decade, and when the 43-year-old New Yorker describes the domestic scene in her forthcoming book, Drop the Ball, we recognise it only too well.

"As I heard the TV click, a tinge of resentment tickled my toes," she writes. "By the time it reached my knees, it had become jealousy, which turned to anger inside my stomach. By the time the anger crawled up my chest, it was full-blown rage."

Dufu - a renowned voice in the US women's leadership movement and mother of two - was working long hours at a non-profit organisation aiming to increase female representation in institutions at the time she describes. She was also doing most of the housework, cooking and child-raising at home.

A meltdown was long overdue and one day, spotting her husband relaxing in the corner of the blue sofa she had always loathed, Dufu lost it. It was the crash before the epiphany she shares in her book. Part career manual, part marriage guidance treatise, it picks up the conversation where Sheryl Sandberg left off and has got ringing endorsements from the Lean In author, as well as Lena Dunham, Arianna Huffington and Gloria Steinem, who has written the foreword. "I was my husband's solution to having it all," explains Dufu. "What would be mine?"

In all fairness to Kojo - the Ghanaian student Dufu fell in love with at the University of Washington and later married - the strive for perfection that had served her so well over the years had become a problem.

"I even invented a term for it," says the preacher's daughter, with a smile: "Home Control Disorder." Read the book and you'll see that this isn't hyperbole. I like to align the right angles on magazine piles as much as the next person, but when Dufu shares the email she sent her husband prior to his first flight with their one-year-old son, you can't help but feel for the man. "During the flight, keep Kofi engaged in your lap by offering him one toy at a time from his grab bag" and, "Never intentionally wake Kofi when he is sleeping", are two points on her plan. "I sounded crazy!" laughs Dufu now. "I had become such a control freak in a very unhealthy way. But when I go on speaking engagements and tell women about my HCD issues, a lot of the audience will be nodding and saying: 'Yes, I definitely refold the towels so that they all look the same. And yes, I move the hangers around so that they all face in the same direction in the closet', so I'm not the only woman with these quirky obsessions. But in hindsight it was eroding my sanity and my wellbeing."

It was also driving a wedge between her and the husband she loved. However, wallowing in resentment ensured that she'd remain "the uncelebrated martyr in my own story", she writes.

After "the crash" - which involved a tiny bathroom stall at Dufu's office, an ineffective breast pump, a drenched silk blouse and a vision of the future "in which both career and home had been obliterated" - this working mother made a decision: she was going to drop the ball at home.

First, Dufu sat down with her husband and explained in as non-confrontational a manner as she could, how she'd been feeling. "Men don't pick up on clues like us," she warns. "And it's not as hard as you think to spell things out, but so many women think that they can get through life without ever having that conversation." Then Dufu went through her to-do list, working out what "represented the highest and best use of my time" and what could reasonably be outsourced, either to Kojo or professional and familial help. From that moment forth, her husband was put in charge of booking babysitters, opening the post, prepping the meat they'd eat for supper and a series of other tasks that had been sapping the lifeblood from her.

"And he was perfectly happy to support me in my endeavours," she says, still visibly irritated with herself for not having had the conversation that saved their marriage earlier. "He will tell you now that although he doesn't enjoy doing many of those things, he sees the difference that it makes in me and our life together."

The epiphanies kept on coming. We've always known that society's expectations of women are too high, but as her husband took on more duties at home, Dufu realised how unfairly low society's expectations of men were. "'He can't manage details, isn't here, and doesn't know what's best for our children.' These three messages, rooted in stereotype and woven through our culture, block a range of creative approaches to home management to which men might otherwise contribute," she says.

A woman's way is not the only way, as Dufu discovered, when she came home one day to find her vomiting baby naked in his bouncer with a bin bag tied around his neck like a giant plastic bib. When her husband explained that it prevented him from having to wash bed linen and baby clothes continuously, Dufu had to admit that although not a solution she would have dreamed up, "it was brilliant".

"You can have it all so long as you don't do it all", is Dufu's mantra today - and it seems to have worked for her. Now chief leadership officer at Levo - a technology platform to help millennial women elevate their careers - and an adviser to Fortune 500 companies, the author is thriving and desperate to spread her message. "My to-do list is now 50pc of what it used to be. And it's not like I don't feel guilty any more; I've just decided what I'm going to feel guilty about."

It's not the hospital corners in her linen. It's not even knowing about her children's school plays. When one mum came up to Dufu at the school gates during Black History Month to congratulate her on her daughter getting the lead role of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, "I must have looked like a deer in headlights," she admits. "And there was a time when I would have been mortified, but not any more. What matters most to me now is engaging my kids in a meaningful conversation. If I don't do that every day, I feel guilty - and I should."

Once women align their to-dos with what they're trying to achieve in a broader sense, all becomes clear, insists Dufu. "So it's not just my career that's important to me but advancing women and girls. It's not just my marriage that's important to me, but nurturing a healthy, all-in partnership with my husband. It's not just raising my kids that's important, but raising conscious global citizens."

And if more of us thought in those generous terms, she believes, society would be much improved.

But I have one last question: what did Kojo think of the book? "He was quiet for a moment after he'd finished it. Then he said: 'Is this what has been going on in our home this whole time?' And when I nodded, he said: 'This is going to be an important book for men. And now I'm going to go and buy us a new couch'."

Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu is out now (Penguin Life, 20.99)
United Continental offered a masterclass in bad PR this week by forcibly removing a passenger from an overbooked flight.

Since the incident, which was filmed on a mobile phone, the airline has shed around $250m in market value and become the subject of an inquiry by the US Department of Transportation. All things considered, not a good week.

The saga has also shone a spotlight on the controversial practice of overbooking, which is done by airlines to reduce the amount of empty seats they have on flights.

Airlines bank on a percentage of passengers not showing up for their flight and double book seats accordingly. Their sums are based on statistics that are analysed by computer models; often they get it right, sometimes they dont.

Its legal for airlines to overbook flights and the practice is more common than you might think. In fact, in the US, which provides the best statistics on the subject, the chance of a passenger being denied boarding because of overbooking is 1 in 1,000.

When you consider that a Boeing 777 can carry more than 500 passengers, those odds seem quite low.

According to the US 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 flying with the carrier gave up their seats last year to accommodate for overbooking.

The vast majority of passengers who are bumped are willing volunteers, encouraged onto another flight by the prospect of compensation or an upgrade.

In the EU, compensation can vary from 250 to 600 depending on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight (see flightrights.ie for more).

In the wake of the United incident, Ryanair has said it does not bump passengers off flights, and Aer Lingus has said its use of the practise is "rare".

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According to the compensation company, AirHelp, there are ways to reduce the likelihood of being bumped from a flight.

Flyers are less likely to get bumped if they are frequent travellers with the airline they are travelling with, said Marius Fermi, UK country manager. So signing up for frequent flyer programs is one way to decrease their chances of being bumped from an overbooked flight.

Flying off-peak will also reduce your chances of being bumped.

Those choosing to fly early in the morning versus later in the evening are less likely to board an overbooked flight, he said.

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Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Hours after the truck attack that killed four people in the heart of Stockholm, Muslim taxi driver Abdi Dahir found himself in a suffocating choke-hold from a man sitting in the back seat.

Struggling to breathe, Mr Dahir, who moved to Sweden from Somalia as a child, felt he could die too, at the hands of an angry passenger who blamed the country's openness to Muslim immigrants for the attack that afternoon.

"We have done everything for everyone, we have given them mosques, we have given them everything but they kill our own people. Then we'll kill them," the man growled at Mr Dahir before grabbing him around the neck, according to an audio recording of the assault.

Mr Dahir, who recorded part of the conversation on his phone, said he had also activated a concealed alarm, prompting police to intervene. Stockholm police said it was investigating the incident.

"I tried to work, but I'm too nervous to have anyone sitting behind me in the car," Mr Dahir said, his voice still hoarse.

Anti-Muslim anger is putting the Nordic country's deep-rooted liberal traditions to the test, after a man hijacked a beer truck and rammed it into a busy downtown pedestrian mall.

Expand Close Abdi Dahir, who moved to Sweden from Somalia as a child and was assaulted after the truck attack. Photo: Reuters / Facebook

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At the time of the attack, the suspect, 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov, from Uzbekistan, had applied for asylum but had been rejected and faced an expulsion order, making him one of more than 12,000 people wanted for deportation in Sweden. In court on Tuesday his lawyer said he had confessed to a terrorist crime.

Europe's most welcoming nation to asylum seekers has tightened immigration policy in recent years and is considering new measures after Friday's attack, including better policing of deportation orders and banning membership of terrorist groups.

It is also bracing for rising intolerance and hate crimes.

"I'm quite worried about the political climate," said Mohamed Nuur (25), a local politician from the ruling Social Democrat party which represents constituents in Rinkeby, a sprawling area of apartment blocks largely built for workers in Sweden's progressive heyday of the late 1960s. It is part of a belt of heavily immigrant neighbourhoods that ring Stockholm. Drab terrace houses line streets where shops advertise halal products in both Arabic and Swedish. Many women there wear head scarves when they go out.

"We already see manipulated images spread by Nazis and others who want to spread hateful messages," Mr Nuur, a Muslim of Somali decent, said.

Rinkeby has seen trouble such as riots among disaffected youths, but it looks well kept compared to many of the more run-down areas around major cities in Europe.

In Rinkeby metro station, Refa Jafari, a slight 23-year-old in a black baseball cap who came to Sweden as an unaccompanied minor from Afghanistan in 2010, stood handing out free SIM cards for a mobile operator.

"I will try to prove to Swedes that all people who have black hair are not Muslim and that all Muslims are not terrorists. We have been suffering the very same problem in our own countries," he said. "That is why we are here."

Fearing reprisals, Sweden's Security Police is stepping up surveillance of white supremacist groups.

"There is talk of taking revenge, of using violence, or a threat of violence, to show that we are angry about what has happened here," security police chief Anders Thornberg told local TV. Suspected right-wing extremists have planted bombs at asylum centres in the past, he noted.

Sweden, a country of 10 million people, has received around 700,000 asylum seekers since the end of the 1990s. In 2015, when hundreds of thousands of migrants entered the EU across the Balkans, Sweden took in a record 163,000, more than any other European Union member relative to the size of its population.

That huge migration wave has since subsided after the EU reached a deal with Turkey to take back refugees and other migrants that cross illegally. But it caused soul-searching in Sweden, where the government tightened residency rules, cut benefits and imposed more border controls.

Support has grown for the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which opinion polls rank as the second biggest party behind Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's Social Democrats.

"We've not been taken seriously, maybe even a bit ridiculed, and I hope we can leave that behind us now," Sweden Democrats Vice Chairman Julia Kronlid told Reuters after the attack.

After last week's attack, Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a lawmaker from Norway's ruling populist Progress Party, accused Mr Lofven in a Facebook post of "implementing Europe's most irresponsible, naive and culturally self-destructive immigration policy".

In February, US President Donald Trump attacked Sweden's immigration record, tweeting: "Give the public a break - The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!"

Last week, before the truck attack, members of a vigilante anti-immigration group, Soldiers of Odin, which has expanded from Finland to the Nordics and Baltics, entered the gates of Al-Azhar, a Muslim school in Vallingby, a suburb near Rinkeby.

Assistant school head Roger Lindquist told Reuters two men had walked around the school yard days before the attack, taking photos of students and putting up stickers with their emblem. The school felt compelled to hire security guards.

"Why do they hate us? Why do they want to harm us and why do they want to shut down our school?" he said.
Secretary Thang presents a gift to Governor Hideaki Ohmura. (Photo: VNA)

During the reception, Secretary Thang appreciated Japanese infrastructure projects operating in the private-public partnership model in Aichi prefecture, showing his impression of Aichi prefectures mobilization of resources from private businesses in developing public projects.

As Ho Chi Minh city is in need of capital for infrastructure development, it needs to study and follow this model, said Secretary Thang.

According to Secretary Thang, Vietnam wants to develop the supportive and automobile industries, and combine the two industries together, which can help Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh city, raise their position in the global value chain.

Meanwhile, Aichi prefecture is strong in manufacturing, equipment and machinery industry. Secretary Thang expressed his hope that Aichi prefecture would cooperate with Ho Chi Minh city, which offers an increasingly improved investment environment and a large number of young labourers, in order to develop the supportive industry in the future.

He said he hoped Aichi prefectures authority would continue to make favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to study and work in the prefecture, adding that Ho Chi Minh city pledged to provide the best conditions for Aichi prefectures businesses and people to live and do business in the city.

Welcoming the delegation from Ho Chi Minh city, Aichi prefecture Governor Hideaki Ohmura said there are some 18,000 Vietnamese people studying and living in the prefecture, a number ranking second only after Tokyo. So far, Aichi prefecture has reported some 200 businesses investing in Vietnam, including some 50 businesses investing in Ho Chi Minh city.

Governor Hideaki Ohmura added he hoped the cooperation between the two localities would further develop, and that Ho Chi Minh city would be a destination for Aichi prefectures businesses to develop in Asia.

On the basis of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two localities which was signed in 2016, Governor Hideaki Ohmura went on to say he hoped Ho Chi Minh city would have a general vision on projects and develop roads and traffic constructions using Aichi prefectures experience. He confirmed that Aichi prefecture was willing to support Ho Chi Minh city on projects invested under the PPP model.

On the same day, Le Thanh Liem, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh city Peoples Committee, and leaders from Ho Chi Minh citys departments, visited and studied the investment, operation and management of some infrastructure projects operating under the PPP model in Aichi prefecture.

Aichi, a prefecture located in the central region of Japan, is strong in manufacturing production. It is also where the headquarters of some of Japans leading industrial groups, such as Toyota, Aisin Seiki and Denso, are located./.
The Bahrain International Circuit will host its 13th Formula 1 race next weekend when the light go green at Sakhir next weekend.

It all started back in 2004 when Bernie Ecclestone brought Grand Prix racing to the tiny Gulf state, the first Middle East country to host an F1 race.

Here are six must-know facts about the venue and thee event ahead of this weekend's race.

Only 1 corner has a name

Classic Grand Prix circuits are full of named corners, often inspired by famous drivers, by the Herman Tilke-designed circuit simply assigned numbers to each turn, except for the first one.

In 2014, the Turn 1 hairpin located just after the start was named in honour of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, the first man to win in Bahrain in 2004.

A track surrounded by sticky-sand!

Basking in the desert, Bahrain is surrounded by miles and miles of sand, which throws a few spanners in the works of a dedicated F1 track.

Strong Persian Gulf winds can kick up the sand and spread it all over the place, an unwelcome presence for car, driver and Pirelli's high-grip tyres.

In 2009, a sandstorm actually force the circuit to put pre-season testing at Sakhir on hold.

In a bid to minimize the issue, race organisers spray the surrounding desert - miles away - with adhesive to stick the recalcitrant grains together!

The track is lit by 4,500 floodlights

Bahrain switched to night-race status in 2014, becoming only the third Grand Prix venue to host a floodlit race, along with Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

The switch implied a heavy infrastructure upgrade obviously, estimated to have cost 13 million as 4,500 individual light fittings were mounted on 495 poles, all linked together by 500 kilometers of cable!



Gleaming under the beaming light, F1 cars always look better at night.

Still a controversial venue

For political and human rights reasons, the Bahrain Grand Prix is still taken hostage on a regular basis, with government opposition factions and civil rights activists calling on F1 to cancel its event in a sign of protest.

The race was actually canceled in 2011 following a period of unrest which took hold of the tiny kingdom. No disruption of a race weekend has ever occured in Bahrain however.

A surface made in the UK

The Bahrain circuit track surface is made of greywacke aggregate which was shipped to the Gulf state from Shropshire in the United Kingdom.

Greywacke is a variety of sandstone generally characterized by its hardness and dark color. When blended to F1's stringent specifications, it offers exceptional levels of grip.

This surface is also used at the Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

No champagne on the podium

The kingdom of Bahrain does not permit the drinking of alcohol in public, or the display of advertising of alcoholic beverages.

Williams will obviously alter its Martini livery to comply with the local law, and Force India won't be racing with any Johnnie Walker branding.

On the podium, drivers are given a rose water drink to spray, something known as Waard.

Rose water blended with a bit of HYPE Energy drink brings us right back to Force India! Could Sergio Perez or Esteban Ocon pull off a win in Bahrain? Anything's possible when you're racing in pink...

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Egypt's Coptic Church has announced that it will scale back Easter celebrations to a single Mass in each church after twin bombings killed 45 worshippers last weekend.

The attacks - the deadliest in recent years against Christians in the country - shook the community and provoked rare public anger at the government for failing to protect the minority.

"Given the current circumstances and our solidarity with the families of the dead, we are going to limit our celebrations to Easter Mass," the Church said. The Minya Coptic Orthodox diocese, a southern province which has the largest Christian population, said this weekend's services would be limited to liturgical prayers "without any festive manifestations".

The handing out of sweets to children by the Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, before the start of Easter Mass on Sunday will also be cancelled.

On Tuesday, parliament approved President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's decision to declare a three-month state of emergency following the suicide bombings in Alexandria and Tanta, which killed 45. Isil claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks on the community.

The president has previously promised to protect the Christian minority - about 10pc of Egypt's 90 million people - from extremism. Security forces say they killed seven suspected Isil militants as the extremists met on Monday to plan an attack on a monastery in Durunka in Upper Egypt.

Outside of Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope, a dozen high-ranking police officers are stationed on all entrances, searching cars and scanning the area, as security measures are visibly beefed up outside churches before Easter prayers on Sunday.

The usually festive occasion is tainted with fearful apprehension after twin bombings in two cities killed 45 Coptic Christians this week on Palm Sunday.
Life could exist on Saturn's moon Enceladus around hydrothermal vents similar to those found at the bottom of Earth's oceans, scientists believe.

The "exciting" discovery was made after the space probe Cassini flew through spray bursting from the moon's cracked icy surface.

Chemical analysis of the plume suggested conditions favourable for methanogenesis - the generation of methane by microbes that use hydrogen and carbon dioxide to obtain energy.

On Earth, methane-making bugs flourish in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents, fissures in the ocean floor that gush water heated by volcanic activity.

Like Jupiter's moon Europa, Enceladus is believed to be surrounded by a global watery ocean covered by thick ice.

In 2015, the American space agency's Cassini probe made a deep dive into a geyser-like plume of water and other material erupting from cracks in the south polar region of Enceladus.

The spacecraft's instruments registered molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide, two ingredients critical for methanogenesis.

Hydrogen levels were high enough to imply a continual source, and were consistent with hydrothermal activity.

Writing in the journal Science, the US team led by Dr Hunter Waite, from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, concluded: "Our analysis supports the feasibility of methanogenesis as an energy-releasing process that can occur over a wide range of geochemical conditions plausible for Enceladus' ocean."

However, the scientists pointed out that just because Enceladus has conditions suitable for methanogenesis, that does not prove anything is living there.

Leading British expert Professor Andrew Coates, from University College London, said: "This is an exciting and remarkable result which shows that Enceladus may actually be habitable.

"We know that the four requirements for life as we know it are liquid water, the right chemistry, a source of energy and enough time for life to develop.

"But now, we know that three of the four conditions are there on Enceladus - and this distant moon now joins Mars and Europa as the best potential locations for life beyond Earth in our solar system."

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University, said: "Life has not been discovered on Enceladus, but we do now have the last piece of evidence needed to demonstrate that life is possible there."

Professor Jeffrey Kargel, from the University of Arizona, US, said: "As the authors model and describe, the hydrogen gas does indeed appear to be a tell-tale signature of hydrothermal activity occurring on the seafloor.

"This finding does not mean that life exists there, but it makes life more plausible and potentially quite abundant if a fraction of the hydrogen is used to drive biology. The combination of volatiles is extremely interesting with regard to potential biology.

"It's a very exciting finding."

Enceladus, which is 502 kilometres (312 miles) across, is one of numerous moons orbiting Saturn, the largest of which, Titan, is bigger than the planet Mercury.

It has a rocky interior and icy surface with what is believed to be a salty ocean sandwiched between the two. Tidal heating caused by the moon's interaction with Saturn's powerful gravity prevents the ocean from freezing.

Soon after the Cassini orbiter began circling Saturn in 2005 it discovered water plumes venting into space from cracks at the moon's south pole.

Analysis has shown the plumes mainly to consist of tiny particles of water ice, with traces of methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, salts, and simple organic molecules.

Silica nanoparticles were also detected, indicating a hot rocky interior reacting chemically with alkaline water.

When Cassini made its final dive through the plumes on October 28 2015, scientists focused on the search for hydrogen.

The results confirmed the presence of hydrogen as well as carbon dioxide, providing the raw material for methanogenesis and possibly life.
US President Donald Trump speaking to the press in the Rose Garden of the White House. Photo: Getty

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that NATO is not obsolete, as he had declared on the campaign trail last year, but said NATO members still need to pay their fair share for the European security umbrella.

At a news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump thanked NATO members for their support of his decision last Thursday to launch 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians and said it was time to end Syria's civil war.

"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said, adding that the Transatlantic alliance was adapting to the broader mission against Islamic militants that he had urged.

Stoltenberg said he had an excellent and productive meeting in the Oval Office with Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that trust had eroded between the United States and Russia under President Donald Trump as Moscow delivered an unusually hostile reception to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a face-off over Syria.

Any hope in Russia that the Trump administration would herald less confrontational relations has been dashed in the past week after the new U.S. leader fired missiles at Syria to punish Moscow's ally for its suspected use of poison gas.

In Washington, Trump said the United States was not getting along "at all" with Moscow, adding that the relationship "may be at an all-time low."

Trump had frequently called during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign for warmer ties with Putin, despite criticism from lawmakers in his own Republican Party.

But the civil war in Syria has driven a wedge between Moscow and Washington, upending what many in Russia hoped would be a transformation in relations, which reached a post-Cold War low under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

As Tillerson sat down for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, a senior Russian official assailed 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 to Moscow by a member of Trump's cabinet.

"One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but has rather deteriorated," Putin said in an interview broadcast on Russian television.

He doubled down on Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, repeating denials that Assad's government was to blame for the gas attack last week and adding a new theory that it may have been faked by Assad's enemies.

Tillerson reiterated the U.S. position that Assad must eventually relinquish power in Syria.

"We discussed our view that Russia as their closest ally in the conflict perhaps has the best means of helping Assad recognise this reality," he said.

Asked whether Assad could be subject to war crimes charges, Tillerson said people were working to make such a case, though he cautioned that would require clearing a high legal hurdle.

AN ICY WELCOME

Lavrov had greeted Tillerson with unusually icy remarks, denouncing the missile strike on Syria as illegal and accusing Washington of behaving unpredictably.

One of Lavrov's deputies was even more undiplomatic.

"In general, primitiveness and loutishness are very characteristic of the current rhetoric coming out of Washington," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russia's state-owned RIA news agency.

But Lavrov said some progress had been made on Syria at the meeting and that a working group would be set up to examine the poor state of U.S.-Russia ties. He also said that Putin had agreed to reactivate a U.S.-Russian air safety agreement over Syria which Moscow suspended after the U.S. missile strikes.

Tillerson noted the low level of trust between the two countries. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said.

Moscow's hostility to Trump administration figures is a sharp change from last year, when Putin hailed Trump as a strong figure and Russian state television was often full of effusive praise for him.

In another possible setback to a thaw with Moscow, Trump said on Wednesday that NATO is not obsolete, as he had declared during the election campaign last year. But he told a news conference at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that alliance members still need to pay their fair share for the European security umbrella.

Trump said U.S. relations with Russia were not going well.

"Right now, were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens," Trump told the news conference.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said his administration's policy was not to demand Assad step down as part of a "peaceful resolution to the conflict", in some contrast to Tillerson's remarks in Moscow.

"Are we insisting on it? No. But I do think its going to happen at a certain point," Trump said.

The Wall Street Journal cited Trump as saying that Assad's use of chemical weapons again would elicit another military response but he also said he would not intervene in depth in the conflict.

The White House has accused Moscow of trying to cover up Assad's use of chemical weapons after the attack on a rebel-held Syrian town last week killed 87 people last week.

Trump responded to the gas attack by firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on Friday. Washington warned Moscow, and Russian troops at the base were not hit.

Moscow has stood by Assad, saying the poison gas belonged to rebels, an explanation Washington dismisses as beyond credible.

Russia blocked a Western effort at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to condemn the gas attack and push Assad to cooperate with international inquiries into the incident.

Trump came to the presidency promising greater cooperation with Russia in fighting against their common enemy in Syria, Islamic State. Tillerson is a former oil executive who was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship by Putin.

Trump's relations with Russia are also a domestic issue, as U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of using computer hacking to intervene in the election to help Trump win. The FBI is investigating whether any Trump campaign figures colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies.
Sean Spicer has had to apologise for his comments comparing Syrian President Bashar Assad to Hitler after he claimed Nazi Germany "didn't use chemical weapons".

But his apology has backfired, causing angry comments from many people, who asked for him to be fired.

The press secretary said in his apology: "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."

Stephen Pollard, the editor of the 'Jewish Chronicle', pointed out: "This isn't merely worse than original imbecilic comments.

"It's so shocking as to render Spicer unfit to continue. Jews were not 'innocent'?"

The Anne Frank Centre also condemned his original comments, saying it was shocking they were made "on Passover, no less".

The press secretary originally said: "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II. You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't descend to using chemical weapons.

"So the question is, if you're Russia, ask yourself, 'is this a country, is this a regime you want to align yourself with?'

"You have signed on to international agreements. At what point do they realise they are getting on the wrong side of history in a really bad way? This is not a team you want to be on."

Mr Spicer was asked for a clarification of his comments moments later at his daily press briefing at the White House. He then said: "I think when it comes to sarin gas he [Hitler] was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing."
Poland's president Andrzej Duda has welcomed a new multinational Nato battalion, hailing the arrival as "a historic moment for my country".

The near-permanent deployment of a Nato battalion under US command marks the first time Nato troops have been placed so close to Russian territory, a step the Kremlin denounces as a threat to its own security.

But Mr Duda said the deployment stands as a symbol of liberation and inclusion in the Western democratic world.

"It's not an exaggeration to say that generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of the Second World War," Mr Duda said in the north-eastern town of Orzysz as he addressed the troops and the US and British ambassadors.

The battalion of about 1,000 troops is led by the US, but includes troops from Britain and Romania. Croatian troops are expected to join later.

Their base of operations, Orzysz, is 37 miles from the border with Kaliningrad, a Russian territory on the Baltic Sea separated from the Russian mainland.

While Nato has held exercises in the region in past years, the deployment marks the alliance's first continuous troop presence in the area that was considered by defence experts as vulnerable.

Defence minister Antoni Macierewicz said the Nato presence guarantees the security of the alliance's eastern flank.

The Nato deployment is separate from a US battalion of 3,500 troops that arrived in Poland earlier this year and which is based in south-western Poland, near the German border.

Both missions are responses to calls for greater US and Nato protection by a region fearful after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support for a rebel insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

AP
US relations with Russia "may be at an all-time low" said Donald Trump as he moved ever further away from his campaign promises to establish better ties with Moscow.

"Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all," Mr Trump said flatly during a White House news conference with Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

It was a grim assessment that echoed the words of the president's top diplomat, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who left an almost two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow declaring the countries had reached a "low point" in relations.

Mr Trump said Mr Tillerson had completed a successful meeting with Mr Putin, where "things went pretty well".

But he said it was an open question where relations go from here.

He said "it would be a fantastic thing" if the two nations got along better but cautioned that "it may be just the opposite".

Could Syria have launched the chemical weapons attack with Russia's advance knowledge? Mr Trump said it was "certainly possible" though "probably unlikely".

The less-than-positive assessments of relations by both Mr Trump and Mr Tillerson reflected the former Cold War foes' inability to forge greater co-operation, as Mr Trump until recently has advocated.

More than 80 people were killed in what the US has described as a nerve gas attack that Syrian president Bashar Assad's forces undoubtedly carried out.

Russia says rebels were responsible for whatever chemical agent was found, which the Trump administration calls a disinformation campaign.

The Moscow news conference came after Mr Putin met Mr Tillerson for the first time since Mr Trump took office.

The diplomats know each other well from Mr Tillerson's days as Exxon Mobil chief executive.

Beyond Syria, Russia's alleged meddling in the US presidential election also hovered over what was the first face-to-face encounter between Mr Putin and any Trump administration Cabinet member.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov blasted US claims that it has "irrefutable evidence" of election interference.

He also rejected American claims of incontrovertible evidence that Assad ordered the chemical attack.

Still, Mr Tillerson sought to stress the positives from his meetings.

He said working groups would be established to improve US-Russian ties and identify problems.

He said the two sides would also discuss disagreements on Syria and how to end the country's six-year civil war.

But such hopes appeared optimistic as the diplomats outlined their sharply diverging views on Syria.

Until the chemical attack, the Trump administration had sought to step back from the US position that Assad should leave power.

But Mr Tillerson repeated the administration's new belief that "the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end".

Mr Tillerson was greeted frostily in the Russian capital as Mr Lavrov began their meeting on Wednesday by demanding to know America's "real intentions".

"We have seen very alarming actions recently with an unlawful attack against Syria," Mr Lavrov said, referring to the Tomahawk missiles Mr Trump launched at a Syrian air base to punish Assad for using chemical weapons.

"We consider it of utmost importance to prevent the risks of replay of similar action in the future."

Only weeks ago, it appeared that Mr Trump, who praised Mr Putin throughout the US election campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia.

Any expectations of an easy rapport have crashed into reality amid the nasty back-and-forth over Syria and ongoing US investigations into Russia's activity connected to the US presidential election.

AP
Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein returns to duty this weekend in Bahrain after missing the first two races of the 2017 season.

Paddock pundits took aim at the young German driver in the wake of his decision to remain on the sidelines in order to upgrade his fitness level.

But Wehrlein is oblivious to the opinion of others on a matter they know nothing about, he says.

"I don't care too much what the others said, because they didn't know my situation," Wehrlein told the media in Bahrain today.

"And they were commenting on my situation. I think for me it was the right decision, and it was felt together with Monisha and with Toto. What the others drivers think, it's their opinion.

"If you don't know which injury someone had, you shouldn't criticise him. It's quite simple, you know.

"The injury wasn't something too serious, because I'm fine now, but if it was just some muscle pain, or anything else, do you think that Sauber or Mercedes would accept for me to not drive? Some negative comments I heard. I don't mind too much."

When he crashed at the Race of Champions earlier this year, Wehrlein fractured three vertebrae in the thoracic spine. And the subsequent immobility induced by the injury considerably reduced specific muscle potential.



"I couldn't move for quite a long time, and of course I was restricted a lot in my training. I lost a lot of muscle, so that was the main focus, to rebuild those muscles.

"I've trained a lot, obviously. I was in Austria, close to Salzburg, training with Erwin Gollner. It was quite intense training, so I spent most of the time there, training with him.

"I'm feeling definitely a lot better, so no comparison to Melbourne. I'm now back to where I should be to drive the car properly, and it's good."

Wehrlein is confident there will be no issues when he takes to the track tomorrow afternoon.

"It's my first race this year, and normally the more races you do, the easier it gets. But otherwise I think I will be fine in the car.

"No pain, that's the most important thing. The track is also quite flat, not many bumps. It's just a bit hot, but otherwise it's OK."

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Rhode Island voters will head to the polls Tuesday to choose the first new face to represent the state's 2nd congressional district in 20 years as leading candidates Seth Magaziner and Allan Fung vie to replace the retiring James Langevin, who has served in the role since 2001. The tightly-contested congressional race is just one of a number of important contests taking place Tuesday as the state will also select its next Governor, voters will decide the fate of a number of high-priced ballot initiatives and towns up and down Rhode Island select their local officials in a number of highly-divisive and politicized town council and school committee races. Do you believe the results of this years election will make a positive or negative impact on your community? Let us know in this week's poll question below.

You voted:
By Bradley Dunseith

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on a four day visit to India from April 7 to April 10; her first bilateral visit in seven years. Bangladesh goes to elections next year and market watchers expect stronger bilateral economic and strategic engagement in the meantime.

Investments in building trade and connectivity with Bangladesh holds many objectives. It is highly beneficial to the development of Indias northeast states and serves Indias foreign policy goal of balancing Chinas presence in the region.

Sphere of Indian influence

India is investing an approximate US$9 billion into Bangladesh, securing a strong economic and political partner while showcasing the countrys ability to lend assistance.

The two countries signed 22 agreements in various areas that saw the participation of both private and public sectors in India  in defense cooperation, hydrocarbon sector, civil nuclear cooperation, cyber security, power cooperation, skill development, and developmental cooperation, among others. India is avidly trying to maintain its sphere of influence from an encroaching China who, last year, promised Bangladesh US$20 billion in investments.

The promised investments will also increase Indias presence in Bangladeshs energy sector and foster stronger connectivity between the two countries  adding to greater business and development opportunities in Indias northeastern states.

RELATED: Business Strategy & Operation Advisory

India Bangladesh MoUs

Over the course of Hasinas visit to India, the two countries signed a total of 16 Memorandums of Agreement (MoUs) and six other agreements.

The pacts focus on the following areas of cooperation:

Infrastructure

India has extended Bangladesh US$4.5 billion in credit for the development of infrastructure, and 17 infrastructure projects have already been identified by Delhi and Dhaka;

India has committed to financing a diesel pipeline from Numaligarh (Assam state, India) to Parbatipur (Bangladesh).

Connectivity

India and Bangladesh have agreed to develop an inland waterway from Sirajganj (Bangladesh) to Daikhowa (India) and Ashuganj (Bangladesh) to Zakiganj (Bangladesh) on the Indo-Bangladesh river protocol route;

India and Bangladesh will establish train and bus links between West Bengals capital Kolkata and Dhaka via Khulna (Bangladesh);

India and Bangladesh will establish a goods train between Kolkata and Khulna via Petrapole (India) and Benapole (Bangladesh);

India and Bangladesh agree to border markets (haats) on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Defense

India has committed to a US$500 million credit for Dhakas defense procurement;

MoUs have been signed between Defense Colleges in India and Bangladesh to enhance cooperation on strategic, defense, and operational studies;

Pact on Defense Cooperation Framework between India and Bangladesh.

Joint cooperation

India and Bangladesh agree to enhance cooperation on:

Peaceful uses of outer space;

Nuclear safety;

Information technology and electronics;

Aides (i.e. lighthouses) to sea navigation;

Earth science and development;

Passenger and cruise services;

Mass media and audiovisual development;

Cyber security.

RELATED: Import and Export Licensing Procedures in India

Where will these developments be felt?

The most important outcome of Hasinas visit is Indias offer of US$4.5 billion for various infrastructure and development projects, which also marks the largest single line of credit India has ever extended to another country. India is strengthening its commitments to Bangladesh while attempting to reassert its role as a frontier power in South Asia in the backdrop of Chinas increasing reach.

Stronger regional connectivity and infrastructure growth will encourage the flow of more people, resources, and goods between the two countries, and is sure to have a positive impact on the Indian states that border with Bangladesh.

The diesel pipeline going from Numaligarh in Assam state to Parbatipur in Bangladesh, for instance, will help develop a promising yet underdeveloped region. Assam is one of the seven sister states that makes up northeast India  a small yet resource rich region. The northeast acts as Indias gateway to the ASEAN states, and India is already working to increase the regions connectivity with these states through Thailand and Myanmar.

Further links to Bangladesh will help establish the northeast region as an economic hub, providing channels for the development of its many untapped resources. The agreement to build a navigable inland waterway (fairway) on the Ashuganj-Zakiganj stretch of the Kushiyara river and the Sirajganj-Daikhawa stretch of the Jamuna river on the India Bangladesh protocol route will reduce the logistics cost of cargo movement to northeast India. This in turn will lessen the present congestion along the Siliguri Chicken Neck corridor that connects Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling hills, northeast India, and the rest of India.

Stronger relations between the two countries also means increased stability across borders and more commercial movement on Indias trade routes with Bangladesh. Watch the northeast states of India as well as frontier cities in West Bengal as commercial activity and new opportunities for regional trade continue to improve.

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DJ turned multi-sector dynamo Beverly Bond is one of the most admired trailblazers of our time. The most commendable aspect of Bonds success is that she obtained it by uplifting and celebrating other women. Bond created the annual Black Girls Rock award show to highlight the accomplishments of remarkable women of color and formed a youth empowerment company by the same name. Black Girls Rock has earned an NAACP Image Award, and Bonds accomplishments have been recognized in both Ebony and Essence magazines.

Bond recently paid Indianapolis a visit to give a lecture as part of the Steward Speakers Series. In an exclusive interview with the Indianapolis Recorder, Bond shows us exactly why Black Girls Rock.

Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: You have worn several different hats over the years. You have worked as a model, DJ, producer and you are soon to be an author, as well. Recently, the hashtag #BlackWomenAtWork really took off. What experiences have empowered your work?

Bond: Building Black Girls Rock has been challenging and incredible. Dare I say miraculous, purposeful and meaningful? I have embraced all of it and all of the challenges. I embraced financial challenges when trying to get off the ground; I embraced being shunned once I started. When I started Black Girls Rock, my DJ career plummeted and its really because the industry thought I was just a DJ. I would talk about issues that Black women face, and it was something that people coming from my position were not talking about in that way. It has been extremely rewarding to see the paradigm shift that has happened since I started. As much as I happen to be the messenger of this, all of us Black women have been at the forefront of changing this narrative.

I know that you are writing a Black Girls Rock book. Where did the idea to write a book come from? What are your hopes regarding how it will impact people?

This book is a multi-person narrative, and I interviewed a lot of women. I was going to interview 20 or 30 women, and I ended up with over 60. Like the awards show, its women from all walks of life sharing their story, their magic, their purpose and why they rock. It will be extremely inspiring to anyone who reads this book. Its incredible. You reach out to people and think they are not going to be available (for an interview). Two of my surprising ones were Anita Hill and Angela Davis. That exchange was like church; its pushing me to another level and challenging me to push myself.

Can you tell me about Black Girls Rock Africa?

We are starting with an awards show and expanding into our nonprofit work, as well. There are so many incredible women in Africa, and the reason I started was because it was so difficult to move people from Africa over here for a show. I was like, you know what, I will go to Africa, because there are so many women over there doing incredible things. Its a pan-African show, so its not focusing on one country.

To keep up with Bond and Black Girls Rock, visit blackgirlsrockinc.com.
The fallout continues and more details are coming to light after a well-known Indianapolis funeral home director was removed from his post last month.

Nathan Bluitt Jr. was dismissed from Williams and Bluitt Funeral Home as the result of certain fiscal discrepancies uncovered in an ongoing internal investigation, according to a statement from Service Corporation International (SCI), which owns the business. SCI opted not to share more details about the decision citing pending litigation, but Bluitt has confirmed several details that came to the Recorders attention in an anonymous letter from a concerned reader.

Bluitt said the conflict is rooted in a non-compete clause included in the contract he signed when he sold the business in 2011 to Wilson Financial Group (WFG), an established Black-owned funeral home acquisition firm owned by Gerald Wilson.

SCI now owns a controlling interest of WFG and has taken an active role in the everyday management of Williams and Bluitt since Wilsons retirement was announced earlier this year.

Bluitt said after SCI became more involved in the business, its management took issue with some of the informal agreements he and Wilson had enacted, some of which are in violation of the previously mentioned non-compete clause. The primary issue, Bluitt says, is that he has conducted business for Bluitt and Son  a funeral home he owns in Kokomo, which is outside the 50-mile radius covered by the non-compete agreement  on the grounds of Williams and Bluitt and using Williams and Bluitt resources.

The caseload is so heavy at Williams and Bluitt, I could not afford to pick the families up and take the families to Kokomo (to Bluitt and Son) and service them. I had to do everything here so I could maintain the No. 1 position (of Williams and Bluitt) in this community.

Bluitt says Wilson was not only aware of the activity, but also participated by renting Bluitt his limousine and hearse.

When Mr. Wilson purchased my business, he knew then and he was OK with the fact that I had services that were performed in the Indianapolis area occasionally. I have it documented that  I paid for his vehicle for those services, Bluitt said.

I didnt think it was against company rules because he had even proposed from the onset that I pay him x amount of dollars for use of the facilities for (work) through Bluitt and Son.

Another point of contention  one that has prompted Bluitt to take legal action  is Bluitts desire to sell the Bluitt and Son name to investors who are interested in bringing the business to Indianapolis. Bluitt says since he wouldnt be involved in conducting the Bluitt and Son business in Indianapolis, the non-compete clause shouldnt apply.

I would have nothing to do with the business, nothing at all. Only selling it, Bluitt said. They feel that having the Bluitt and Son name operating in the same market would dilute the volume or the quantity of business that Williams and Bluitt is doing. This is something they should have considered when they bought me and knew I had a firm 52 miles away.

The non-compete clause has a little over four years of life left, Bluitt said, and by then he would be free and clear to bring Bluitt and Son to Indianapolis.

Continuing concern

While the conflict over the non-compete clause plays out, community members are concerned about the future of Williams and Bluitt now that Bluitt himself is no longer there.

Pastor Timothy Taylor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, speaking on behalf of a group of concerned clergy members, said hes spoken with WFG President Tony Lynch about those concerns.

(Lynch) tried to assure us that the service is going to be the same. We tried to assure him that theres no way the service can be the same if Mr. Bluitt is not there  the funeral home is different without Nathan Bluitt, Taylor said. He tried to assure us that hes going to be involved in the community and he knows what the community needs.

Taylor said he has heard from a national bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World who has instructed the more than two dozen Indianapolis churches under his leadership not to use Williams and Bluitt services unless Bluitt is reinstated.

Among concerns about SCI is the lack of any people of color among the companys corporate officers and board of directors.

In a statement to the Recorder last week, SCI said the company is committed to honoring diversity and attending to the unique needs of the African-American community.

Among those unique concerns is the number of families who need financial assistance in honoring their loved ones, and Bluitt is known community-wide for always being willing to accommodate those families. Bluitt said last year, roughly 30 percent of the companys hundreds of services were for families who needed financial assistance, and he said SCI had discussed with him their desire to reduce that number.

This is a ministry to me, this is not a business. It had actually been discussed with me  cutting down the amount of services that I give to them. And I refused to do that. I dont think that because a person is on any type of assistance that they should receive less effort from me than a person who has the money.

But of course I understand, too, that (SCI has) to report a profit to their investors, because they are traded publicly. Theyre obligated to do that. On the other hand, they knew when they bought me (that) I buried a lot of people who were financially challenged.

SCI declined to speak with the Recorder about these concerns, but they did issue the following statement:

The 36 hardworking, professional employees of Williams and Bluitt Funeral Home have faithfully served the Indianapolis community for many years, some for over two decades. Those same associates, who helped create the strong relationship between Williams and Bluitt and the community, will continue to work hard to serve our client families and strengthen that relationship well into the future. Williams and Bluitt has taken, and will continue to take, the concerns of its clients very seriously. Our continuing commitment to give back to the community includes many things, and one of those is considering hardship accommodations on a case-by-case basis.

Though Bluitt has said he appreciates the outpouring of support from the community, he hopes his conflict with SCI doesnt bring harm to the business or the employees he left behind.

I dont want any damage to come to the firm that I have spent a large portion of my life building, nor to the people who have been there and have helped me build it. I have considered that.  Its not me whos not considering the good people who are left behind, he said. They are good people. I trained them. My spirit is still there, as far as service is concerned.

At Recorder press time, a meeting of SCI/WFG leadership, Bluitt, attorneys from both sides and concerned pastors was scheduled for April 26. Follow the Recorder for updates to this story.
Bassist Mingo Jones was a rising star on the famed streets of Indiana Avenue in the mid 1900s, but those who knew him personally can attest that his greatest qualities were found off stage. Friends and family remember Jones as a man with strong willpower, a playful spirit and a thoughtful mind.

They think he was a charmer, a player and that he was all about this world, said his wife, Brenda Barnes-Jones. He was intellectual, but he had a joking state about him that made people think hes just a kidder. But he was serious; he knew the Lord, and he could pray. He would not show that side to the world. Only I would know it, or people who were really close to him.

Barnes-Jones, who worked as a nurse, met Jones when he visited what is now Eskenazi Hospital for a procedure. They started to talk, and he eventually invited her out to hear him play at the zoo. She was a divorcee who was not actively looking for love, but she showed up at the zoo anyway and reconnected with Jones. Their relationship took off from there.

Jones was born in Missouri, but he came to Indiana as a young man looking for work. Barnes-Jones said Jones love for music started when he was a child. His father, sister and uncle were all musically inclined, so when he picked up his first instrument, the trumpet, he was following in the footsteps of his family. Over time, the community started to notice his talent.

Jones understood music as a form of therapy, both for himself and his audience. Jones enlisted in the military, and while serving overseas, he loved to use music to uplift the spirits of those around him. During the Korean War, there were plenty of soldiers who needed uplifting. He continued to hone his craft overseas, where he grew fond of playing the bass.

Bob Hope, a very famous entertainer, would take bands overseas, and those bands would have the protection of the United States. The African-American bands went into the areas where Bob Hope wouldnt go. The African-Americans were on the front lines, and my husband was shot at. (Black Soldiers) also needed music to soothe their souls, and thats what my husbands band would provide, said Barnes-Jones.

Jones returned to Indiana after the war and started to play on Indiana Avenue. In his heyday, he performed alongside local legends Wes Montgomery and Pookie Johnson. While at a gig, Jones met a man named Albert Coleman, who operated a nightclub on Indiana Avenue and played in a band called The Three Souls. The pair hit it off and formed a decades-long friendship.

The first time I met him, he was new in town. He was stationed at Fort Harrison. Ive known him many, many years, said Coleman. In Indianapolis, musicians always had some type of job to put food on the table. He was very exceptional because he was a bass player who was so in demand that he made enough money to not need another job.

Rob Dixon with the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, an organization dedicated to sharing Indianas rich history of jazz music with the community, agrees that Mingo Jones role raising Indiana Avenues esteem was monumental.

He affected the community because his level of musicianship raised the bar. The musicians (on Indiana Avenue) had an international influence. Everyone knew Indiana had great musicians, and Jones in particular helped build a great reputation of the music on the Avenue, said Dixon.

In 2004, Jones was diagnosed with throat cancer caused by second-hand smoke intake, and his relationship with his music changed.

He had never had anything wrong with his body, and then this came up. It changed him. It knocked him off his feet and he felt like he couldnt do it anymore, said Barnes-Jones. He would listen to himself play and he wasnt as sharp as he would have wanted. He was so particular. He chose not to play. What really hurt me was during his last days, he said he should have got on my instruments, but the cancer took a lot out of him.

Though Jones would not play, he continued to listen to music with a critical ear, often commenting on musicians he watched on television. When his wife drove him to the hospital, he would ask her to play his favorite songs. Barnes-Jones suggested that listening to music helped him endure what was to come once they reached the hospital, perhaps aiding his soul in a similar way that his music helped the soldiers overseas.

Jones died in his home on Monday, April 3, at the age of 88. Services were held Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Saturday, April 8. Dixon says the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation hasnt planned any tributes to Jones yet, but he says they are likely to organize one in the near future.

We like to wait four to six weeks (before planning a tribute). It works out better because the family is able to come, and its not such a melancholy event but a celebration of life, said Dixon.

Both Coleman and Barnes-Jones say that Jones determined spirit will be missed.

His wife helped him out a lot because she was a nurse. She took really good care of him. They say if you have a friend, you are blessed, because a true friend is hard to come by, said Coleman. He was a dynamite guy, and I cant say nothing but nice things about him.
The Justice Department announced that its Civil Rights Division is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agencys U.S. Fire Administration on this years Arson Awareness Week, May 713, with a focus on preventing arson at houses of worship.

There were an average of 103 arsons of houses of worship per year from 2000 to 2015. Half of all reported fires at houses of worship turn out to involve arson.

The Department of Justice enforces a number of federal statutes protecting places of worship from attack, including the Church Arson Prevention Act, which was passed in the 1990s in response to a sharp increase in church arsons. That law makes it a federal crime to target religious property because of the religion or race of the congregation. In February of this year, the Department indicted an Idaho man under the law, alleging that he set fire to a Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry in April 2016. In 2013, an Indiana man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for setting a fire at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.

FEMA and the Department of Justice have produced a number of materials to help congregations, community organizations and local law enforcement and fire safety officials to increase arson awareness and hold events highlighting proactive steps that can be taken to try to reduce house of worship arson. These materials are available at the Arson Awareness Week homepage, usfa.fema.gov/aaw.

Arson against houses of worship is a serious crime that the Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. But our role as prosecutors, while critically important, only comes after the fact when the damage is already done. That is why we encourage communities and local officials to take proactive steps to increase public awareness of the problem and measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of being a victim of house of worship arson.

Further information about hate crimes, including arsons against on places of worship, is available at the Civil Rights Division hate crimes page, justice.gov/crt/hate-crimes-0.
The Black Church & HIV: The Social Justice Imperative has released a newly updated pastoral resource for faith leaders in honor of Minority Health Month. The Pastoral Brief and the Activity Manual offer a foundational approach for faith leaders to address HIV within the Black community from a social justice perspective.

The Black Church & HIV Initiative, a partnership between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Gilead Sciences Inc. that aims to address the urgent need for action on the HIV epidemic within the Black community, believes the faith community is part of the solution, just as it has been in addressing equity issues affecting African-Americans for decades.

The Pastoral Brief is an introduction to The Black Church & HIV, along with first-hand stories of how faith leaders can preach about HIV as a social justice issue and impact the lives of those living with HIV. Complementing the brief is an Activity Manual that provides faith leaders and lay persons who lead ministries in their church with more detailed information about HIV, as well as specific recommendations on activities that combat HIV and AIDS in the African-American community.

Historically, the Black Church has been instrumental in driving change on social justice issues, says Marjorie Innocent, NAACPs senior director of health programs. There is a growing need for pastors and the faith community to help address the alarming rates of HIV among African-Americans. These comprehensive tools will empower pastors and lay leaders, giving them the resources they need to bring HIV awareness and prevention into their ministry.

The African-American community, bearing the heaviest burden of HIV within the United States, is on the front lines of the fight against HIV. While they represent 12 percent of the total United States population, they account for 41 percent of all people living with HIV and 44 percent of all new infections. Additionally, on average, African-Americans are likely to experience worse health outcomes than any other racial or ethnic group. Addressing the HIV epidemic is crucial in lowering these statistics and advancing health equity among African-Americans, who historically have experienced unequal access to health care and been economically and socially disadvantaged, leading to a disproportionate burden of disease.

The Pastoral Brief and Activity Manual, which are updates to the original documents released in 2012, are reflective of the initiatives learnings over the past five years, as well as current statistics and positions on the issue. They were developed under the guidance and support of an Advisory Committee of bishops, ministers and thought leaders who have worked in HIV ministry for decades.

The timely launch of the Pastoral Brief and Activity Manual allows faith leaders to incorporate HIV education into their sermons in observance of Minority Health Month. This month is dedicated to bringing national attention to the issue of health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities, including HIV in the Black community.

To download a copy of the Pastoral Brief or Activity Manual or learn more about NAACPs The Black Church & HIV: The Social Justice Imperative initiative, visit theblackchurchandhiv.org/take-action.
While yesterday people were busy swooning over Ranbirs amazing transformation for Sanjay Dutts biopic, Dutts neighbours were raging against the traffic jam caused due to the shooting of the Rajkumar Hirani directorial.

Traffic is one of the most severe problems in Mumbai. While it is almost always a never ending story, people are outraged even more when it happens because of the shooting of films. That is what happened yesterday when Mumbai commuters got furious over the traffic chaos caused at Pali Hill, according to a Mumbai Mirror report.

Some actors simply take you by surprise with the things they do and the roles they pick and by immersing themselves in the characters they play.. #ranbirkapoor #dutt #sanjaydutt #rajuhirani #movie A post shared by Richa Singh (@gorgeous_geek01) on Apr 12, 2017 at 7:06am PDT

The residents of the area were so furious after the films crew blocked the road that they protested against the same by parking their cars in between the shooting spots. It is said that Ranbir, who was present at the sets went inside as soon as the commotion started.

UNBELIEVABLE: #RanbirKapoor as #SanjayDutt on the sets of #Dutt! #Bollywood #BollywoodActor #BollywoodPhoto #SanjayDuttBiopic #Desimartini #OnTheSets #RajkumarHirani #SonamKapoor #AnushkaSharma #DiaMirza @bollyone #bollyone A post shared by B O L L Y O N E (@bollyone) on Apr 12, 2017 at 8:08am PDT

Not only this, people were thereafter enraged to see that the road was badly littered. So much so, that it was not in the condition for use. Furthermore, Madhu Poplai, secretary of Pali Hill Residents Association said that the makers of the movie didnt even inform the association that the shooting is going to take place.

This resulted in stalling of the shooting for about 40 minutes, after which Raju Hirani apologised to the people and sought 10 minutes to wrap up the scene. He also made sure that the garbage was picked up from the road and dumped.
Stuck in the dilemma of whether to keep a dog, while having a baby?

Well, if youre pregnant have been wanting to get a dog for yourself, this might be the most opportune time to get yourself one! Recent studies from the University of Alberta, Canada, claims that a furry germ magnet (a dog!) can help you give birth to healthier babies!

oversixty.com

The study revealed greater protection against obesity and childhood allergies!

The data collected by the study shows that children born into households that have pets, 70 percent of which were dogs, have higher levels of two strains of bacteria: one that is linked to a decrease in a risk of obesity and one that is linked to protection against childhood allergic diseases.

clubcarmelita.com

To be precise, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira are the bacteria in question that have been associated with the conditions mentioned above.

What did the study compare to come up with this conclusion?

The study compared the faecal samples of babies exposed to dogs during the pregnancy phase versus those who werent exposed at all pre or postnatally. The babies who were exposed to dogs prenatally had a greater likelihood of raising their immunity by developing either one or two of the strains mentioned of bacteria referred to above.

corngoblin.wordpress.com

Whats even better is that this boost in immunity is there to last!

According to the study, your kid is likely to benefit from prenatal exposure once you get back from the hospital even if your dog is not around. In fact, they maintain higher levels of gut bacteria long after birth.

honeylambandi.com

So now that you have conclusive evidence that dogs and babies scientifically get along well together get yourself that puppy that you've been wanting to!
Vitamins can save us from more damage than we can imagine! Did you know that vitamin B supplementation can help lessen the side effects of pollution?

AFP/Representational Image

This new research has built hope for everyone staying in big polluted cities. The research suggests that vitamin B supplement could potentially reduce the impact of the tiny particles in the human body, although they stressed that the investigation was in its early stages and the sample size was small.

Particulate matter, or PM, is a type of air pollutant consisting of small particles of different sizes  from tiny molecular clusters to dust or pollen that we can see. PM2.5 has a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, about 30 times smaller than a human hair.

Representational Image

These particles are so small they can go into our respiratory system. They can go deep into our lungs  Chak K. Chan, professor of Atmospheric Environment at the School of Energy and Environment, at Hong Kongs City University told CNN. Once the particles are inhaled they can result in lung and systemic inflammation and stress, experts say. And scientists suspect exposure to PM2.5 can cause epigenetic changes to our cells  disturbances or mutations that can damage our health.

The study also involved researchers at Harvards TH Chan School of Public Health. For this study published in the science journal PNAS, 10 volunteers were initially exposed to clean air and given a placebo to check their baseline responses.

BCCL/Representational Image

The group then took another placebo for four weeks before being exposed to heavily polluted air from downtown Toronto, where an estimated 1,000 cars pass every hour. The bad air was delivered to the volunteers through an oxygen type face mask. The experiment was then repeated, with each volunteer taking a B vitamin supplement daily  made up of 2.5 mg of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6, and 1 mg of vitamin B12.

B6 can be found in liver, chicken and nuts, among other things, and B12 in fish, meat, eggs, milk and some cereals. The researchers found that four weeks of B vitamin supplements reduced the damage of PM2.5 exposure by 28-76%. The results highlight how prevention at an individual level could be used to fight the adverse effects of PM2.5, the researchers said.
Exactly two months after the 500-plus-kg Eman Ahmed landed in Mumbai from her hometown of Alexandria in Egypt, her weight has halved.

BCCL

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, the bariatric surgeon who operated on Eman on March 7, said at a public function on Tuesday that she "has lost 242kg from the time she landed on Indian soil".

Eman, who is 36 years old, was considered the heaviest woman in the world until her visit to Mumbai. At a press conference held immediately after her landing, Dr Lakdawala had said that she weighed 498kg.

ALSO READ: World's Heaviest Woman - Eman Ahmed Has Lost 140 Kilos Since She First Arrived In India

BCCL

She underwent a sleeve gastrectomy on March 7 and lost 130kg within a month. "Eman and her journey towards continued improvement in her health status continue," said a statement released by the Saifee Hospital team managing Eman.

"The resultant weight loss has dramatically improved her health parameters. Her heart, kidneys, lungs and excess fluid levels are all under control now," it added. Endocrinologist Sheila Shaikh, who has been associated with Eman's care, told TOI that the patient is stable and "in good humour".

BCCL

However, as the statement said, Eman Ahmed continues to be paralysed on the right side and suffer occasional seizures as a result of the brain stroke she had suffered three years ago.

"As soon as it is possible, an attempt shall be made to place her in the CT scan machine," the statement added.

BCCL

A couple of weeks ago, Eman's tests revealed that she was morbidly obese because of the LEPR genetic mutation. It affects production of the hormone leptin that is also known as the satiety hormone. Dr Lakdawala had previously said that Eman would return to Egypt when she is fit enough to sit through the travel. She may enrol for a clinical trial to control the effects of the LEPR mutation a few months later. "If the trial's medicines don't help, she may need to undergo another round of bariatric surgery after a year."
Yesterday, a boat carrying six Pakistani marine commandos capsized near the Gujarat coast. According to reports, the marines were chasing a group of Indian fishermen when their vessel upended after hitting one of the Indian boats.

zee news

As a result, out of the six commandos, three drowned and one went missing. But the other two were saved by the Indian Coast Guard.

The marines' boat was chasing after the Indian fishermen, who were working off the Gujarat coast in seven boats. As soon as the marines cornered the fishermen and manoeuvred them towards Pakistan, their boat collided with one of those of the fishermen's.

ndtv

'Arinjay', The Indian Coast Guard Ship, rushed to their rescue. Reports further suggested the Pakistani authorities had later released the fishermen.

The bodies of the drowned men have been handed over to Pakistan.
The first black-Muslim woman to occupy a position in Americas highest court has been found dead on the bank of the Hudson River in New York.

law.com

According to reports, Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaams body was discovered one day after she reportedly went missing. The Police could not trace any obvious signs of trauma and injury on her body and are yet to confirm the cause of her death.

Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo and also the man who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the state's Court of Appeals in 2013 called her a "trailblazing jurist."

time

As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the state's Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come, he said.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said she will be missed deeply.

Her personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind were an inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to know her, he added.

mic

She started her career as a staff attorney for East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a judge in Manhattan state Supreme Court for 14 years, according to the state Office of Court Administration's website.

Sheila grew up in a poor family of seven children in Washington DC. She steadily rose in power and became one of the seven judges in New Yorks highest court.

Her death may raise some suspicions over the cause of her death given the rise in hate-crimes against Muslims and people of colour in America since Donald Trump became President of America.
Recognised as the biggest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is nearing its death. It is dying and many portions of it showcase no signs of recovery.

All thanks to the mass bleaching events.

AFP

The reef is home to 3,000 varieties of mollusks, hundred types of jellyfishes, 1,625 species of fish, sharks and ray species, and whales and dolphins too. The hard and soft corals together make this reef home for all the above sea creatures.

Unfortunately, it is almost dead with no signs of revival.

The Great Barrier Reef is in the middle of its fourth massive bleaching in the past 20 years. It is scarier this time because the bleaching event occurred immediately followed another the year before, leaving scientists in utter despair.

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

What is mass bleaching?

Mass bleaching is a result of global warming. The phenomenon is prompted when the water warms to the point when the coral start to eject the algae in their tissue, essential for their survival. Once the coral ejects all the algae, it turns white.

So far, there have been just four instances of mass bleaching. However, they were strong enough to take away most life from the reef.

This is the fourth time the Great Barrier Reef has bleached severely  in 1998, 2002, 2016, and now in 2017. Bleached corals are not necessarily dead corals, but in the severe central region we anticipate high levels of coral loss, said researcher James Kerry from James Cook Universitys ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, reports Futurism.

AP

He says the 2017 bleaching is significant because it takes at least a decade for a full recovery of the healthiest coral. Due to back to back bleaching, there are no prospects of recovery. The 2016 bleaching, also the most severe, was concentrated in the Northern part while 2017 is in the Central region.

Due to these events, scientists have said that the Great Barrier Reef is at a terminal stage  with large portions left with no hope of recovery.

Reviving the reef

The Australian government has announced $18 million in funding for six new projects to protect the Great Barrier Reef. However, experts believe it is too late. Cyclone Debbie hammered the reef with farming run-off as well hitting the region hard.

REUTERS

Two-thirds of the reef are in critical condition and are certain to die. This is a critical time for the revival of the reef. If the water cools down, the algae will return to the coral and there will be chances of recovery. If warm temperature persists, the death is definite.

To have a greater chance of recovery, the bleached reef must be connected to the healthy reef so that the reef can repopulate with new coral polyps.

The expeditious bleaching, with almost no pause, leaves not much hope.
The United States on Thursday dropped the 'biggest non-nuclear bomb' in its arsenal against Islamic State targets in Afghanistan. The United States Defence Forces in Afghanistan released a statement confirming the strike.

"At 7.32pm local time today, US Forces - Afghanistan conducted a strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, as part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan... The strike used a GBU-43 bomb dropped from a US aircraft," the statement said.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), nicknamed the 'Mother of All Bombs', is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided explosive. This is the first time that the US has used the MOAB bomb in combat.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said the bomb, which contains 11 tons of explosives, was dropped on a cave complex believed to be used by IS fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, very close to the border with Pakistan.

Story first published in Times Of India
Google has a new app on the Playstore thats aiming to put Zomato and Swiggy out of business. Areo, as its called, is a new hyperlocal app launched in India that lets you order food and home services.

Areo lets you search for restaurants in your area and order for home delivery, while also letting you look for and schedule appointments with plumbers, electricians, etc. The app also provides customer-driven reviews for both, similar to other food delivery apps. It has support for card and netbanking payments, as standar, and also offers cash on delivery, an option that indicates this was designed as an India-first app.

Areo has been launched in just India so far and is currently only live in Mumbai and Bangalore for Android devices. Google has yet to mention if and when the app will spread to other countries, so its likely this is a beta test for the app, and thats its been developed in Googles Bangalore studio.

Googles app is the latest entry into a crowded market, but it stands perfectly poised to take over, given the right circumstances. Not only is Areo backed by a strong brand, but it already combines apps that already exist in our market space. Food delivery and home services in the same interface could drive this app to succeed, but only if it manages to land a good amount of variety in the companies, individuals, and restaurants offering services.
If you could build an iPhone from spare parts, would it still be premium?

Scotty Allen and his finished iPhone 6s made from spare parts

Thats what Scotty Allen decided to find out when he began building an iPhone from parts purchased in China. The former software engineer visited Shenzhen, China to see if he could collect the required pieces to put together an iPhone 6s, and he succeeded.

As it turns out, iPhone 7 parts were too difficult to come by, so Allen settled on the last generation iPhone instead. He built a just-like-new 16GB iPhone 6s using components bought off vendors in the smartphone parts markets of Huaqiangbei.

Allens fully-functional iPhone 6s even features a working Touch ID and functional 3D Touch, because he managed to purchase the home button and logic board together.

The screen, shell, battery, and logic board that went into the iPhone

However, though Allen says on Reddit that he spent well over $1000 to build the iPhone, a large chunk of that sum went towards extra parts, replacing broken components, and unnecessary tools he purchase. He believes that the realistic amount he spent on the iPhone 6s was actually closer to $300.

A comparable phone from the Apple store in Hong Kong would be about $600, he says.  [This was] Definitely not about the cost though.
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Australia Beckons A War With China

By John Pilger

April 12/13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Australia is sleep-walking into a confrontation with China. Wars can happen suddenly in an atmosphere of mistrust and provocation, especially if a minor power, like Australia, abandons its independence for an "alliance" with an unstable superpower.

The United States is at a critical moment. Having exported its all-powerful manufacturing base, run down its industry and reduced millions of its once-hopeful people to poverty, principal American power today is brute force. When Donald Trump launched his missile attack on Syria - following his bombing of a mosque and a school - he was having dinner in Florida with the President of China, Xi Jinping.

Trump's attack on Syria had little to do with chemical weapons. It was, above all, to show his detractors and doubters in Washington's war-making institutions - the Pentagon, the CIA, the Congress - how tough he was and prepared to risk a war with Russia. He had spilled blood in Syria, a Russian protectorate; he was surely now on the team. The attack was also meant to say directly to President Xi, his dinner guest: this is how we deal with those who challenge the top dog.

China has long received this message. In its rise as the world's biggest trader and manufacturer, China has been encircled by 400 US military bases - a provocation described by a former Pentagon strategist as "a perfect noose".

This is not Trump's doing. In 2011, President Barack Obama flew to Australia to declare, in an address to parliament, what became known as the "pivot to Asia": the biggest build-up of US air and naval forces in the Asia Pacific region since the Second World War. The target was China. America had a new and entirely unnecessary enemy. Today, low-draft US warships, missiles, bombers, drones operate on China's doorstep.

In July, one of the biggest US-led naval exercises ever staged, the biennial Operation Talisman Sabre, will rehearse a blockade of the sea lanes through which run China's commercial lifelines. Based on a Air-Sea Battle Plan for war with China, which prescribes a preemptive "blinding" attack, this "war game" will be played by Australia.

This is not urgent news. Rather, the news is the "threat" that China poses to "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea by building airstrips on disputed reefs and islets. The reason why - the "noose" - is almost never mentioned.

Australia in the 21st century has no enemies. Not even a melancholy colonial imagination that conjured Asia falling down on us as if by the force of gravity can conjure a single contemporary enemy. No one wants to bomb or occupy Australia. Well, not yet.

As Australian political, military and intelligence establishments are integrated into the war plans of a growing American obsession - the shift of trading, banking and development power to the east - Australia is making an enemy it never bargained for. A frontline has already been marked at Pine Gap, the spy base the CIA set up near Alice Springs in the 1960s, which targets America's enemies, beckoning, of course, massive retaliation.

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Last October, the opposition Labor Party's defence spokesman, Richard Marles, delighted the US admirals and generals at a conference in Hawaii by demanding that Australian naval commanders should have the authority to provoke nuclear-armed China in the disputed South China Sea. What is it about some Australian politicians whose obsequiousness takes charge of their senses?

While the coalition government of Malcolm Turnbull has resisted such a clear and present danger, at least for now, it is building a $195 billion war arsenal, one of the biggest on earth - including more than $15 billion to be spent on American F-35 fighters already distinguished as hi-tech turkeys. Clearly, this is aimed at China.

This view of Australia's region is shrouded by silence. Dissenters are few, or frightened. Anti-China witch hunts are not uncommon. Indeed, who, apart from former prime minister Paul Keating, speaks out with an unambiguous warning? Who tells Australians that, in response to the "noose" around it, China has almost certainly increased its nuclear weapons posture from low alert to high alert?

And who utters the heresy that Australians should not have to "choose" between America and China: that we should, for the first time in our history, be truly modern and independent of all great power: that we should play a thoughtful, imaginative, non-provocative, diplomatic role to help prevent a catastrophe and so protect "our interests", which are the lives of people.

John Pilger Biography Follow John Pilger on twitter @johnpilger

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Lavrov , Tillerson Press Conference After Talks in Moscow

Video - (FULL)



Differences remain as top US diplomat Rex Tillerson meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin and counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Tillerson reiterated Washington's position that Assad must eventually relinquish power - a position starkly at odds with Russia.

Posted April 12/13, 2017

Russia Shreds 'Primitive,' 'Inconsistent' US Stance as Tillerson Leaves Moscow; Russia's Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed sarcasm and open hostility during Rex Tillerson's visit to Russia, the first by a Trump official.

Wow: While apologizing for Hitler gaffe, Spicer literally says he doesn't want to distract from Trump's attempts "to destabilize the region"

=======

Wow: While apologizing for Hitler gaffe, Spicer literally says he doesn't want to distract from Trump's attempts "to destabilize the region" pic.twitter.com/jlCwC93Wn4  Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) April 11, 2017

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Is That Armageddon Over The Horizon?

By Paul Craig Roberts

April 12/13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The insouciance of the Western world is extraordinary. It is not only Americans who permit themselves to be brainwashed by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, the New York Times and Washington Post, but also their counterparts in Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan, who rely on the war propaganda machine that poses as a media. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39573526

The Western leaders, that is, the puppets on the end of the strings pulled by the powerful private interest groups and the Deep State, are just as insouciant. Trump and his counterparts in the American Empire must be unaware that they are provoking war with Russia and China, or else they are psychopaths.

A new White House Fool has replaced the old fool. The New Fool has sent his Secretary of State to Russia. For what? To deliver an ultimatum? To make more false accusations? To apologize for the lies?

Consider the audacity of Secretary of State Tillerson. He has spent the week prior to his visit to Moscow supporting incredible lies and false allegations that Assad of Syria used chemical weapons with Russias permission, which justified Washingtons unambigious war crime of a military attack on a country with which the US has not declared war. Less than 100 days in office, and Trump is already a war criminal along with the rest of his warmonger government.

The entire world knows this, but no one says it. Instead, Tillerson, who has been heavy with lies and threats has the confidence to go to Moscow to tell the Russians that they have to hand over Assad to the American Uni-Power.

Tillersons mission demonstrates the complete, total unreality of the world in which Washington lives. Try to imagine Tillersons arrogance. If you had been bad-mouthing and threatening strong, important people, would you feel comfortable going over to their house to have dinner with them? Does Tillerson think that now that Russia has largely freed Syrtia of US-supported ISIS, Russia is going to turn Syria over to Washington?

Is he going to tell Lavrov that he didnt really mean all those nasty lies he told about Russia, but the zionist neoconservatives made him do it? That he is not really in charge, just a tool of the Anglo-Zionist Empire?

Is Tillerson going to apologize for White House press secretary Sean Spicers statement that Assad, Russias ally, is more evil than Hitler? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39573063

Maybe Tillerson is going to ask for asylum and get on the winning side.

Stephen Cohen, one of the few remaining Americans knowledgeable about Russia, told the two CNN presstitutes and the warmonger Col. Leighton, one of the experts that the presstitutes roll out to pronounce the propaganda against Russia, that Russia was preparing for hot war. It seems to have gone over the heads of the CNN presstitutes and colonel. Whose payroll are they on? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46838.htm

The Russian leaders, who, unlike the Western liars, speak the truth, have said clearly that Russia will never again fight a war on her own territory. The Russians couldnt put it more clearly. Provoke a war, and we will destroy you on your own territory.

When you watch the president and government in Washington, the European governments, especially the idiots in London, the Canadian and Australian governments, you can only marvel at the total stupidity of Western leadership. They are begging for the end of the world.

And the presstitutes are at work driving toward the end of life. Huge numbers of Western peoples are being prepared for their demise, and they are protected from the realization by their insouciance.

Washington is so arrogant and lost in its own hubris, that Washington does not understand that the years of clear as crystal lies about Russia and Russian intentions and deeds have convinced Russia that Washington is preparing the populations of the United States and Washingtons captive peoples in West and East Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan for a US pre-emptive nuclear strike against Russia. Published US war plans against China have convinced China of the same.

If not for war, what else is the change in US war doctrine for? George W. Bush abandoned the stabilizing role of nuclear weapons by moving them from a retaliatory function to a nuclear first strike. Then he pulled out of the anti-ballistic missile treaty concluded by President Richard Nixon. Now we have US missile sites positioned on Russias borders. We tell the Russians the lie that the missiles are to prevent an Iranian nuclear ICBM strike against Europe. This lie is told, and accepted by the puppets in Europe, despite the known, incontestable fact that Iran has neither nukes nor ICBMs. But the Russians do not accept it. They know it is another Washington lie.

When Russia hears these flagrant, blatant, obvious lies, Russia understands that Washington intends a preemptive nuclear attack on Russia.

China has reached the same conclusion.

So, here is the situation. Two countries with nuclear forces expect that the insane fools who rule the West are going to attack them with nuclear weapons. What are Russia and China doing? Are they begging for mercy?

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No. They are preparing to destroy the evil West, a collection of liars and war criminals, the like of which the world has never previously experienced.

It is the US, the washed-up joke of a uni-power that after 16 years is still unable to defeat a few thousand lightly armed Taliban in Afghanistan, that needs to ask for mercy.

The reckless and irresponsible war talk in the US government and presstitute media and among NATO and Washingtons vassals must stop immediately. Life is in the balance.

Putin has shown amazing patience with Washingtons lies and provocations, but he cannot risk Russia by trusting Washington, whom no one can trust. Not the American people, not the Russian people, not any people.

By jumping on the Deep States propaganda wagon the liberal/progressive/left is complicit in the march toward Armageddon.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are

The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West

,

How America Was Lost

, and

The Neoconservative Threat to World Order

.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Trump Doctrine: Zero Tolerance to Enemies and International Law

By Finian Cunningham

April 12/13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " SCF " - Donald Trumps order to blast Syria with a barrage of Tomahawk missiles which resulted in the massacre of civilians, including children, was not only a criminal act of aggression. It seems to be aimed at defining a Trump Doctrine for his presidency. That doctrine could be labelled thus: shoot first and dont dare ask any questions.

The world is being served notice that the US is a rogue state of the most reckless proportions.

Less facetiously, but no less seriously, Trumps search for a presidential doctrine might be put as: zero tolerance for designated US enemies and international law.

Like all occupants of the White House before him, US presidents are customarily crowned with a specific doctrine that defines their foreign policy. The tradition goes back to President James Monroe who in 1823 bequeathed the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted American hegemony in Latin America as its backyard over European colonial interests.

More recently, the Bush Doctrine of GW Bush proclaimed that the US would unilaterally pursue its military interests to go after terrorists in any foreign country, in the wake of the 9/11 terror events.

Trumps immediate predecessor Barack Obama promulgated the Obama Doctrine, which purportedly advocated cautious engagement to negotiate with foreign adversaries while retaining the right to use military power, best seen perhaps in the policy to seek diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program.

Trumps would-be doctrine amplifies Bushs unilateral pre-emptive military strike policy. Only days after the air strikes on Syria, Trump then orders an aircraft carrier battle group toward the Korean Peninsula, headed up by the USS Carl Vinson, as an explicit warning to North Korea.

Following the missile barrage on Syria last week, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: It sent a signal to not just Syria, but throughout the world.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu caught the drift of rationale by remarking that Trumps Tomahawks to Syria will resonate not only in Damascus, but in Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere. The elsewhere is loaded with sinister implications.

Trump ordered the striking of a Syrian airbase with 59 cruise missiles in response to a chemical weapons incident two days before in Idlib province. The White House and the entire US media have asserted without the slightest question that chemical weapons were dropped by the Syrian air force on the town of Khan Sheikhoun  killing over 80 people. The White House even accused Russia of complicity in those deaths because of its military support for Syria.

Russian calls for a proper investigation into the chemical weapons incident were rebuffed by Washington  which proceeded to carry out the air strike with cruise missiles launched from two of its warships in the Mediterranean. The US claimed that the airbase at Shayrat was targeted because this was from where the Syrian warplanes had mounted the earlier raid on Khan Sheikhoun. According to Talal Barazi, the governor of Homs City near to the targeted airbase, some nine civilians, including four children, were killed in the US missile strikes. So much for Trump lamenting the deaths of beautiful babies at Khan Sheikhoun as the motive for his subsequent ordering of the US air strike.

In the aftermath of the US missile barrage, Russias deputy ambassador the United Nations, Vladimir Safronkov, said the US was blocking attempts to form an impartial investigation into the alleged chemical weapons incident at Khan Sheikhoun because it was afraid of the truth coming out. Safronkov earlier noted that the American claims of the Syrian government carrying out that attack were based entirely on discredited sources and dubious video images supplied from media activists affiliated with jihadist armed groups.

Since that incident, US and other Western media news outlets have wholly concluded without any hint of skepticism that it was the Syrian government forces who carried out the chemical weapons attack. The British government has, for example, accused Russia of responsibility in the civilian deaths, a claim underlined in the decision by foreign minister Boris Johnson to cancel a schedule official visit to Moscow this week.

With this monopolistic narrative prejudiced against the Syria government and its allies, the chances for an impartial investigation into the chemical weapons incident in Khan Sheikhoun have in effect been rendered void. As with the earlier notorious Sarin gas poisonings near Damascus in August 2013, the latest incident has become an article of faith that it was the Syrian forces of President Bashar al Assad who carried out the attack. Even though there is much evidence that the two events were actually carried out by the foreign-backed jihadists in a deliberate false flag smear to induce US military intervention.

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President Trump has taken the bait where his predecessor Barack Obama balked back in 2013. Astoundingly, Trumps brazen act of war last week was based on negligible evidence, save for video footage supplied by jihadist-connected media activists belonging to the discredited White Helmets.

But obvious, too, is that not only is Trump demonstrating that he is prepared to shoot first. In addition, the Trump administration, aided and abetted by the US media and allied governments, are making sure that no-one can dare to even ask questions later. The whole sordid act of aggression is a fait accompli.

Even though there are abundant glaring questions needing answers. The Syrian government says that it doesnt have chemical weapons after the Russian-brokered decommissioning deal back in 2013. Syrias disarmament was confirmed by the UN monitoring group the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Furthermore, the Syrian government says that it informed the OPCW only weeks ago that toxic chemicals for armaments were being transported inside Syria by the jihadist networks. That appears to have been confirmed recently by Kurdish rebels who said that the chemicals were being secretly supplied by the Turkish military. This is the same route by which the jihadists obtained Sarin for the similar 2013 attack in which hundreds of civilians were killed in the Damascus suburb of East Ghouta.

Russian military accounts of the latest incident at Khan Sheikhoun are plausible. The Syrian air force carried out conventional strikes against jihadist groups in the vicinity, which resulted in the accidental leaking of toxic chemicals from weapons depots held by the militants. The latter may also have used the Syrian air strikes as cover for the deliberate release of toxins, which were then conveniently videoed for propaganda purpose  a purpose that succeeded, from their point of view, given Trumps subsequent military orders.

It was no coincidence that Trump gave the Tomahawk strike order while he was entertaining Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Palm Beach resort in Florida on Thursday night. Trump reportedly informed the Chinese leader during dinner.

Minutes later, Trump publicly announced the impending air strikes on Syria. His words referred to Assad as a dictator whose behavior US policy had up to then failed dramatically to change.

Only days before that, Trump had announced that the US was prepared to take unilateral military action against Chinas ally North Korea if Beijing did not help in reigning in Kim Jung-Uns nuclear weapons program. The US options reportedly include decapitation strikes against Pyongyang.

Hitting Syria in macho fashion, based on such reckless disregard for international law, has not only bought Trump much-needed kudos domestically, getting erstwhile political enemies to rally around the Commander-in-Chief and thereby quelling the allegations against him of being a Russian stooge.

Moreover, Trump is sending out a signal that he is prepared to use overwhelming military force on any regime that is designated an enemy, whether that be Syria, North Korea, China or even Russia.

The aircraft carrier strike group steaming toward the Korean Peninsula is the next act in the mad man Trump show of force. It is a chilling sign of zero tolerance to designated US enemies, as well as zero tolerance to evidence, facts, morals or international law.

The new Trump Doctrine is putting the world on notice that the US is a rogue state of the wildest proportions.
'F-ing Horrifying': Sessions Outlines Immigration Crackdown in 'Trump Era'





Meanwhile, Trump appoints immigration hardliners to key agency posts



By Deirdre Fulton

April 12/13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " CD " - In "the Trump era," as Attorney General Jeff Sessions called it on Tuesday, immigration officials will undertake a harsh crackdown on undocumented migrantsa campaign one veteran federal prosecutor described as "fucking horrifying."

In his speech at a border port of entry in Nogales, Arizona, "[t]he nation's top law enforcement official outlined a series of changes that he said mark the start of a new push to rid American cities and the border of what he described as 'filth' brought on by drug cartels and criminal organizations," the Associated Press reported .

"This is a new era," the immigration hardliner told Customs and Border Protection personnel. "This is the Trump era. The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws, and the catch-and-release practices of old are over."

Mother Jones reported :

In his remarks , Sessions said nonviolent immigrants who enter the country illegally for a second time will no longer be charged with a misdemeanorthey'll be charged with a felony. He also recommended that prosecutors charge "criminal aliens" with document fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carries a two-year minimum sentence. In January, President Donald Trump expanded the definition of which immigrants can be considered "criminal" to include anyone who has committed "a chargeable criminal offense," which could include sneaking across the border. As he proposed stiffer penalties for nonviolent immigrants, Sessions also targeted gangs and cartels "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." Invoking unusually severe language in the written version of his announcement, Sessions proclaimed, "It is here, on this sliver of land, where we first take our stand against this filth."

(Politico notes that the term "filth," which appeared in prepared remarks, was omitted from Sessions' speech when he gave it.)

One anonymous federal prosecutor told Daily Beast reporter Betsy Woodruff the directives were generating widespread negative response: "It's fucking horrifying. It's totally horrifying and we're all terrified about it, and we don't know what to do."

"The things they want us to do are so horrifyingthey want to do harboring cases of three or more people," the prosecutor continued. "So if you're illegal and you bring your family over, then you're harboring your kid and your wife, and you can go to jail."

Others blasted Sessions' inflammatory rhetoric.

"Attorney General Sessions is grandstanding at the border in an attempt to look tough and scare immigrants," said Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigration reform advocacy group America's Voice Education Fund. "It's yet another example of the Trump administration treating all immigrants as threats and as criminals. This is the smokescreen they use to justify their efforts to deport millions, to keep people out of the country, and, ultimately, to try and remake the racial and ethnic composition of America."

Gregory Z. Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, added to the AP: "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."

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Meanwhile, CNN reports Wednesday that the Trump administration's latest immigration appointees are affiliated with far-right, anti-immigration organizations.

According to CNN:

Jon Feere, a former legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies, or CIS, has been hired as an adviser to Thomas D. Homan, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan. At Customs and Border Protection, Julie Kirchner, the former executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, has been hired as an adviser to Customs and Border Protection acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, said Lapan.

National Immigration Law Center executive director Marielena Hincapie said the hirings "are more evidence that white supremacists are now running our country's immigration agenda."

"These groups have spent 20 years looking for ways that they could hurt immigrants," Lynn Tramonte, deputy director of pro-immigration advocacy group America's Voice, told CNN, "and now they've been given the keys to the kingdom.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

See also -
Hundreds Killed as US Bombs ISIS Chemical Depot: Syrian MoD

By Zen Adra

April 13/14, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " AMN " - DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1:30 P.M.)  The US-coalition Air Force has conducted airstrikes against ISIS positions in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, targeting a chemical depot for the terror group which resulted in the death of hundreds of militants as well as civilian, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said in an official statement.

Yesterday between 17:30  17:50 p.m., the so-called anti-ISIS coalition fighter jets struck an ISIS position in Hatla village to the east of Deir Ezzor. After the airstrike, a huge white cloud was formed later on turned yellow  as a result of an explosion in a chemical depot. A hug fire broke out until 22:30 p.m. Hundreds have been killed  including civilians  as a result of breathing toxic materials, the statement detailed.

The official statement said this incident confirms beyond any doubt that terror groups, particularly ISIS and Jabhet al-Nusra, already own chemical weapons, and have the ability to obtain, transport, store and use such chemical agents with the help of some regional countries. This also stresses the fact that those terror groups are coordinating with its sponsors to accuse the Syrian Arab Army of using chemical weapons.

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The Syrian government forces have been accused of using Sarin gas against rebels in Khan Sheikhoun on April 4th, which killed at least 74 people.

The alleged attack has prompted the US to strike al-Shayrat airbase in central Homs with 59 cruise missiles.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

See also

Syria: Army Command: Hundreds, including many civilians, killed in intl coalitions airstrike on ISIS toxic materials depot; Damascus, SANA- The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces said on Thursday that hundreds were killed, including a large number of civilians

US airstrike on Daesh poison gas depot leaves many civilians dead: Report : Reports coming out of Syria suggest that hundreds of people, including civilians, have lost their lives after an airstrike by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to Daesh terrorists.

Coalition Strikes Daesh Depot With Chemical Weapons in Deir ez-Zor - Syrian MoD : According to the Syrian General Staff, the US-led coalition's strike killed several hundred people, including civilians. Hundreds were poisoned as a result of the strike on Daesh's headquarters and depot with chemical weapons.
U.S. Drops Largest Non-nuclear Bomb in Afghanistan





By W.J. Hennigan



April 13/14, 2017 "

Information Clearing House

" - "

LA Times

"-

- The U.S. military dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal on a cave and tunnel complex that it said was used by Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan.



The GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, a 30-foot-long, 21,600-pound munition known as the "mother of all bombs," has never before been used in combat.



It was not immediately clear why the Pentagon decided it was necessary to use an 11-ton bomb against a group that largely depends on suicide bombers and AK-47s to attack enemies.



The military said the bomb was dropped at 7:32 a.m. on an Islamic State stronghold in Achin district in Nangarhar province



The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction" to the militants, the statement said.



Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the group has used bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense.



This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive," Nicholson said.



On Saturday, the U.S. military announced that Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, a 37-year-old Green Beret from Maryland, was killed in action in Nangarhar province after coming under fire from the Islamic State.



He was the first American service member killed in action this year in Afghanistan, and the 1,833rd since the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.



The GBU-43 was developed in 2002 put pressure on then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to cease and desist or the United States would not only have the means but use them against the unpopular tyrant, the Air Force said in 2005 news release.

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Packed with more than 18,700 pounds of explosives and 30 feet long, the giant bomb was tested at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.



On its final day of testing, March 11, 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 20 miles away, the release said.



Earlier on Thursday, the U.S. military announced a accidental airstrike this week killed 18 friendly fighters battling Islamic State alongside the international coalition in northern Syria.

Copyright LA Times
A family of three were allegedly murdered by suspected ritual killers, the child of the family who is identified as, Lucky Ebhodaghe is a candidate of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination who was murdered in Ibeshe Tuntun, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, by suspected ritual killers.

The candidate parents were also hacked to death in what was said to be a recurrence of the killings perpetrated by the assailants in the community.

The teenager, identified as , was the only child of the family.

According to reports, it learnt that the killers had torn the window net and cut some burglar-proof bars to gain access into the victims apartment late Monday night.

They were said to have inflicted machete cuts on the family members, leaving them for dead.

Our correspondent gathered that neighbours of the deceased were not aware of the incident until around 12pm on Tuesday, when Ebhodaghes friends and a teacher visited the residence to know why he was not in school for the exams.

A resident, who gave his name only as Dosu, said, It was an attack by those criminals called Badoo. They entered the building after cutting the burglar-proof bars. They hacked the couple and their only son to death.

The boy was sitting for WASSCE. He was supposed to sit for two exams on Tuesday one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. His friends and one of his teachers were worried when he did not show up for the morning paper. They came to check on him after the first exam and found the door locked.

When they peeped through the window, they found him in a pool of blood and raised the alarm. That was when their neighbours knew about the incident. On getting into the apartment, they also found the corpses of his parents. They had cuts on their faces.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were signs that the hoodlums raped Ebhodaghes mother as her underwear was tattered.

He said the case was reported to policemen at the Ipakodo division, adding that the police deposited the corpses in a morgue.

The private parts of the woman were messed up. All indications pointed to the Badoo cult group. They usually rape their female victims and use them for rituals.

The Ipakodo Divisional Police Officer was here yesterday (Tuesday) and photographs of the deceased family were taken. Their church members were also here. It is sad a whole family can be wiped out just like that.

Until this attack, we had enjoyed relative peace in the community for some months. The police are trying, but they need to beef up security in the community, he added.

Another resident, who did not want his name in print, blamed the attack on the release of a suspected member of the gang arrested by the police sometime in 2016.

He said, Instead of the police to arraign him in the Ikorodu Magistrates Court, he was taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba. The police there arraigned him in the Ebute Meta Magistrates Court without the knowledge of the complainant and other witnesses.

The suspect was released on bail and he is back in the community. It seems the gang has connection with some powerful people. Together with this tragedy, no fewer than 10 people have been killed so far by this gang.

We have written petitions to Governor Akinwumi Ambode and some other commissioners in the state and carried out protests. The Lagos State Government should rise to its responsibility and secure our lives.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the killings, said investigation had commenced.

He said, A resident put a distress call across to the station that three corpses were found in an apartment. A police team visited the scene where the victims were found in a pool of blood. The corpses have been deposited in the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is in progress.

It will be recalled that the gang had stormed a residence in the community in June 2016. They allegedly killed a Ghanaian after raping her and inflicting injuries on her eight-month-old baby.

In July 2017, the assailants went back to the community, raped and blinded a 60-year-old woman, Francisca. They allegedly brutalised her 10-year-old daughter for raising the alarm.

On October 21, 2016, the gang reportedly attacked a family in Oluwoye community, Ibeshe, killing a 30-year-old pregnant woman, Afusat Yusuf. Her husband, Kazeem, and the couples two kids  Rodiat, six, and five-year-old Opeyemi  were also stabbed to death.

On December 26, 2016, the attackers allegedly struck on Saka Adegbose Street, off Olu Odo Road, Ikorodu, killing two siblings, Azeezat Oriade and Abeeb Oriade.

On March 1, 2017, they allegedly attacked a family on Masafejo Street, Agbowa, Ikorodu, killing three siblings between the ages of four and nine. Their mother also died.

Source : ( Punch Newspaper )
The Maitama Branch of Skye Bank in Abuja has refused to give the former first lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan despite the court order saying that the account with $5.8 million be unfrozen but the bank gave the reason why they refused to give Ms Jonathan her money.

The move followed an April 6 court order that lifted restrictions on the former First Ladys account as a result of an ongoing litigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Skye Banks head of corporate communication, said the bank had received a stay of execution order filed by the anti-graft agency prior to Mrs. Jonathans visit to the bank.

Mr. Bolarinwa confirmed that the bank was also notified of an appeal by the EFCC against the court order.

The EFCC had told PREMIUM TIMES in a separate enquiry Wednesday morning that it had appealed the order and also asked for a stay of execution of the judgement.

We have appealed the order, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, said in a telephone interview.

The EFCC had in November 2016 filed an application before the court, seeking an order to unfreeze the account.

The commission had contended that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. The court granted the order but reversed it last Thursday on the grounds that she was not a party to the suit leading to the freezing order.
There is always time for everything on earth, a time to live and a time to die. It was the end of the road for the first female African-American Muslim judge in the United States,Sheila Abdus-Salaam as she was found dead on a River.

According to the New York Post, Abdus-Salaam body was discovered floating in the Hudson River Wednesday afternoon by a witnesses who immediately alerted the authorities.

The deceased, an associate judge in the US Court of Appeals, had been reported missing from her home earlier in the day, before being discovered dead in the river.

It was reported by NY Times that the police said there were no signs of trauma on her body as she was fully clothed when discovered. It was also reported that investigators found no signs of criminality.

Abdus-Salaam graduated from Columbia Law School and started her career as a staff attorney at East Brooklyn Legal Services before she was elected to the Supreme Court in 1993. In 2013, New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo appointed her to the Court of Appeals in 2013.

She was 65 years old.
A military officer has been killed by suspected Boko Haram member in a gun attack on a military checkpoint outside the city of Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria, a military officer and vigilante told AFP Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, two male suicide bombers detonated their explosives at a checkpoint in Dalori, a village on the outskirts of Maiduguri near a camp for internally displaced people, they said.

At the same time, other militants opened fire on the checkpoint, killing a soldier and injuring a policeman.

We lost a soldier in the Boko Haram attack at Dalori Sector 3 checkpoint while a mobile policeman was injured, said a military officer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the incident.

The jihadists set fire to makeshift sheds at the checkpoint and carted away weapons during the attack, said Babakura Kolo, a civilian vigilante assisting the military in fighting the Islamist group.

He said the Islamists were later pushed back by a military reinforcement.

The attack caused panic in the village and nearby camp housing thousands of people who have been displaced by the eight-year insurgency.

Boko Haram has stepped up its attacks on military targets in northeast Borno state in recent weeks.

Earlier in April, the militants killed four soldiers in an ambush on an army convoy heading to the small town of Gulumba.

Boko Haram, which aims to impose a hardline Islamist legal system in Nigerias mainly-Muslim north, has lost territory to Nigerian forces since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015.

A joint military operation, comprising Nigerian army, navy, airforce and the police, and aided by regional forces, is currently fighting the jihadists.

But despite claims by the Nigerian government that the Islamists are defeated, Boko Haram has proven repeatedly it is still capable of launching deadly attacks against civilians and troops.

AFP
The new unified register of VAT refunds should make most common wrongdoings impossible, Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk has said.

He also said that corrupt officials in the State Fiscal Service would be punished for wrongdoings revealed: the Finance Ministry would study the whole register of VAT refunds for 2016 and early 2017 (before the launch of the new register). Each payment will be checked.

"The new register has been launched. It removes opportunities for wrongdoings. We would settle the things happened earlier: someone must be punished," the minister said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He said that the new register guarantees automatic approval of the VAT sum for refunding. The system does not require conclusions of the State Fiscal Service.

"The register we have launched has advantages: it is transparent, unified and automatic. The Finance Ministry administrates the register. The register is formed automatically on the basis of information received from the database of the State Fiscal Service and the treasury. Transparent and on-schedule refunding of VAT is guaranteed, as VAT sums are automatically approved on the 31st day, in some cases foreseen in Ukrainian law  no more than 61 days," the minister said.

He added that applications submission via the new system has started.

Danyliuk also said that the Finance Ministry analyzed the VAT refunding system for ten months of 2016 and studied 100 companies in three parameters: the sum refunded, time and chronology of refunding. The results showed that 72 companies at least for one month have the unjustifiable reduction of the sum for refunding. Only these 72 companies potentially did not receive around UAH 3.2 billion due to unlawful actions of officials from the State Fiscal Service.
The quest to put a lasting end to Boko Haram has continued on a rise as the troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multi-National Joint Task Force have killed at least 57 Boko Haram terrorists in Arege area of northern Borno State, during a gun battle.

The Boko Haram insurgents, who were regrouping under trees in the area, were reportedly caught by an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform of the air component, Lafiya Dole, before the MNJTF troops opened fire on them.

Some Soldiers were injured in the gun battle but the number of was not disclosed.

The incidentbwas confirmed by the Commander, air component of Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Commodore Charles Ohwo, confirmed the incident, while briefing journalists in Yola, Adamawa State.

He added that clearance operations were ongoing in the Sambisa area, noting that adverse weather would be a challenge to troops during the present rainy season.

He said, In Arege village of northern Borno, on Monday, an ISR operation was carried out. We discovered that a lot of fleeing Boko Haram insurgents hid under trees and the adverse weather prevented us from taking them out in an air strike. So, we communicated with the MNJTF troops around the location.

In the fire fight which ensued, at least 57 Boko Haram members were killed by the MNJTF forces. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered from the insurgents.

In Tagoshe and Gwoza hills, there were also indications that the Boko Haram terrorists had hideouts and we mobilised the ISR platform to the place. We thereafter conducted air interdiction and blew up the terrorists. We have and will continue to monitor all these areas.

On the Rann accidental bombing on Tuesday, January 17, the commander noted that the NAF authorities would reach out to the victims of the incident and their families, as soon as the NAF panel set up to investigate the incident unveiled its findings.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper)
Five old men and a young man have been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for murder of one Sola Adeniyi in Orisunmibare settlement in Oye Local Government Area.

According to the Police, the suspects cut off the head and arms which they later used for rituals.

The suspects are , Tijani Arowolo (80), John Ojo (77), Peter Ajayi (73), Olu Oniyelu (63), Oluwatoba Folorunso (60) and Olaide Dolamu (28).

Addressing reporters on Thursday shortly before the suspects were paraded, the Commissioner of Police Abdullahi Chafe, said they would soon be arraigned in court for murder as soon as investigation was concluded.

Adeniyi was killed on February 7 in the wake of land crisis involving Itaji and Ayede -Ekiti people.

The police boss revealed that all the six suspects had confessed to the crime while two other suspects who also participated in the killing were still on the run.

The CP added that the gun used in the murder had been recovered.

Tijani said Oniyelu was the head of the syndicate claiming that he (Tijani) had always assisted people to become wealthy.

Tijani admitted that Oniyelu cut off the head of the victim which was later roasted to perform the ritual.

According to him, Oniyelu was asked to bring the head of a monkey only to produce a human head.

Dolamu, who claimed to be a barber based in Ibadan, said he later relocated to Oye Ekiti before he was lured into ritual killing.

He added that they had sworn to an oath which made it difficult for him to pull out.

Source : ( Punch Newspaper)
Ex-BB Naija housemate, Uriel who was spotted recently on a movie set, appreciated actors as she disclosed that acting was not easy.

She shared a photo and video and wrote; Set life man I respect actors what!!!! Its not easy 

Watch video below:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released $250m to four sectors in the country on Wednesday, it was released on seven to 30-day forwards for agriculture, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials

The apex bank also called for bids for wholesale spot for $100m for Basic/Personal Travel Allowances, medicals and tuition fees.

Confirming this in Abuja, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said in a statement that the apex bank had also commenced heavy injection of forex into the spot market.

This, he added, was in addition to the settlement of requests for wholesale spot bids for invisibles like school fees, medicals and personal travel allowance.

The CBN had earlier this week disbursed $20,000 each to the Bureau De Change operators in two tranches of $10,000 each.

This, according to Okorafor, underscores the commitment of the CBN to ensure liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
Egypt named the suicide bomber who attacked a cathedral in Alexandria as 31-year-old Mahmoud Abdullah, describing him as a fugitive with links to militant cells that carried out previous strikes in the country.

Abdullah detonated his explosives at the entrance to Saint Marks Cathedral, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, killing 17 people as mass was being conducted.

Hours earlier, another bomb tore through a church in Tanta, a city in the Nile Delta.

Egypts government imposed a three-month state of emergency in the wake of the attacks.

The interior ministry said in a statement that Abdullah had been a resident of Suez province and used to work for a petroleum company.

It posted a photograph on its Facebook page of a man it said was Abdullah, placing the image alongside a picture taken by a surveillance camera outside the church.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Palm Sunday attacks, which killed 44 people in total and wounded scores more a week before the Coptic Easter.

The interior ministry said Abdullah had links with the Islamist militant cell behind the December suicide bombing on Cairos main Coptic cathedral, an attack also claimed by Islamic State.

Authorities are still trying to identify the Tanta attacker, the ministry said.

It added that security forces killed seven suspected militants in a shootout on Monday as they met to plan attacks on minority Christians.

The statement named 19 other suspected militants believed to belong to the same cells and offered a 100 thousand Egyptian pound (5,515.72 dollars) reward for any information on them.

Sundays attacks were the latest against a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, and a challenge to President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.

Islamic State has waged a low-level war against soldiers and police in Egypts Sinai Peninsula for years but it is increasingly targeting Christians and broadening its reach into Egypts mainland.

Source: TheSun
No fewer than 20 people were killed when a fire broke out in a Muslim spiritual retreat in Eastern Senegal, local media reported on Thursday.

About 50 others were injured when the fire broke out in the village of Medina Gounass, according to newspaper LObservateur.

The village holds an annual retreat attended by thousands of Muslims from across West Africa each year

The cause of the fire remained unknown on Thursday.

NAN
The high rate of divorce in the country has been a thing of worry as couples no longer want to stay with each other for a long time, after any fight the couples are always looking forward to divorce.

The Family court judges and magistrates in the country have called for an amendment to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to specify the minimum age for marriage.

They said, it was necessary in order to protect children from early marriage and its resultant negative impacts.

The judges and magistrates made this call last week when they converged on Lagos for a three-day national conference of family court judges and magistrates organised by the Lagos State judiciary in partnership with the United Nations International Children Emergency Funds.

The conference, which held between April 5 and 7, 2017 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos, was with the theme, Critical appraisal of the impact and role of family courts in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

In a 19-point communique generated at the end of their deliberations, family court judges and magistrates in Nigeria held the common view that it was time that all the states in the country, which had yet to adopt the Child Rights Act, did so.

They said the task of protecting the rights of children must be seen as a collective responsibility of the three tiers of government.

They also called for the licensing or certification of social workers in the country, adding that government should prioritise funding of social welfare.

The communique read in part, Participants agreed that it is pertinent to prioritise the needs of children and young persons by government funding, judicial continuity and the involvement of a child decision making process.

Participants recommended that social workers should be made accountable with proper empowerment, increased salaries commensurate with the high workload and continued professional development.

Participants recommended that training of social workers should include Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques as mediation and other reconciliatory skills are required in the performance of their duties.

They also called for the establishment of a National Council of Family Court Judges and Magistrates, adding that at least a psychologist should be attached to each local government area of the federation.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, the Chief of Field Officer, UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Manuel Rosini, pledged the support of UNICEF to the Lagos State judiciary for the full implementation of Lagos State Childs Rights Law.

This, Rosini said, would come in form of creation of child-friendly spaces in family courts; training and retraining of family court personnel and developing secondary legislation in strengthening the Lagos State Childs Rights Law.

In her keynote address, Head of Family Court, Lagos State, Justice Y.O. Idowu, posited that poverty is one of the main drivers of early marriage.

It, in fact, entrenches and reinforces the cycle of intergenerational poverty, she said.

Leading other judges and magistrates at the conference were the Chief Judges of Lagos and Ogun states, Justice Olufumilayo Atilade and Justice O.O. Olopade, respectively.

Some of the speakers were Prof. Yemisi Bamgbose of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan; Special Adviser to the President on Special Protection Plan, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; Prof. Yemisi Obashoro-John of the Department of Adult Education, University of Lagos; Chairman, Judiciary Committee, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, among others.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
A man identified as Chima Ordu who is an America Returnee ,has been remanded in prison by the Police Command after he was caught snapping a policewoman who allegedly was extorting money from a motorists in the Isolo area of Lagos State.

According to reports, Ordu was in a tricycle when he took snapshots of the policewoman at the Oludegun Junction, Isolo, last Wednesday.

He was, however, caught and apprehended by some colleagues of the policewoman, who damaged the phone with which he took the shots.

He was said to have been arraigned before an Isolo Magistrates Court on one count of illegal taking of pictures of a law enforcement officer .

The 40-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.

The Magistrate, Mrs. J.O.E. Adeyemi, granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

He was reported to have been remanded in custody when he could not meet the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till May 3, 2017.
South African award-winning DJ Black Coffee in a recent interview with Metro FM talks about Usher refusing him a collaboration.

Usher

The producer, DJ says the collaboration with Usher failed to materialize because Usher felt the music he shared with him isnt African enough.

Coffee explains the event as it went down in New York.

While I was in New York, I met up with Ushers manager, says the DJ. Obviously, [he said], lets work, lets work, we like the African vibe. Im like, Cool, lets do it.

Black Coffee narrated how he contacted Usher on phone, telling him he has a song for him already. I sent the song says Coffee, but on getting in touch with Ushers manager on phone the next day, the manager told Coffee that Usher would not work with him because he feels the song Coffee sent isnt African enough.

No, he thinks the song is a bit too modern, he wanted something African, the manager said.

Im like maybe not, says Black Coffee, obviously disappointed in Usher. I dont know what Africa is to him, but to me Africa is something different, were not in the jungle right now, you know. Africa is different, Africa is a totally different place, the DJ remarked further.

For other people, they still wanna hear the bongos and the congas, he continues, Im cool to do that, but only if it fits. For me if I wanna do something with you, this is the vision I have, you know. So, the song might not happen because Im not African enough. Black Coffee says finally on his expectations of the collaboration.

Speaking of international collaborations Black Coffee has remixed Alicia Keys single In common, which Keys herself endorsed
Metinvest, a Ukrainian steel and mining group, began diversifying raw material supplies in 2014 considering the risks for assets in uncontrolled areas of Donbas.

"We considered various plans of action in case given risks were realized. We've been working on this since 2014. Therefore, even then we began to diversify our supplies of raw materials that come from areas [not controlled by Kyiv]. There are two key raw material items: limestone and coking coal. For coking coal, we've increased marine imports - we're taking almost all the product of our subsidiary UCC in the United States. Before, we sold about half on the domestic U.S. market, and took half ourselves, but since January of this year we decided to take the whole amount," Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov said in an interview with NV Business.

He said that Krasnodonvuhillia, which is located in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, supplied the group with 8% of its coking coal in 2016, but it can be replaced. The group has already established relations with other suppliers of coking coal, in Australia, Canada and Indonesia, and this coal is now shipped in through the Yuzhny port.

"The third source is that we are buying all the coking coal there is in the controlled territory of Ukraine. Unfortunately, there's not that much of it. This is mostly the Pokrovske mine administration, the former Krasnoarmiyska-Zakhidna mine. Everything that we can buy from them, we buy. And the fourth sources is supplies of coal from Russia. Logistically, this is the closest source of coal for us after Ukrainian. A lot is written that this is re-export of Ukrainian coal from uncontrolled territories. This is not so. The coal that we're buying in Russia is of higher quality; such coal is simply not mined in the uncontrolled territories of Ukraine. It's not possible to pass off coal from the Donbas as coal from the Kuznetsk Basin. Therefore, we know exactly what we're taking," Ryzhenkov said.

He also said that Ukraine cannot refuse to buy raw materials that are in short supply abroad, and it needs to have an alternative if Russia suddenly decides to suspend its supplies.

"We'll go to Canada, to Australia and quickly replace this raw material, but if we have the ability to buy quality raw material from Russian suppliers more cheaply, we should do this," Ryzhenkov.

He also said there are four sources from which Metinvest can get limestone, including the Novotroitske Mine Administration and Western Ukrainian producers.

"There's also an alternative. We recently made a purchase in the United Arab Emirates. By the main parameters, the raw material is not inferior to Russian, so we already have diversification. There's also the possibility of purchases in Poland and Slovakia, but by quality characteristics their limestone is very similar to Western Ukrainian. Therefore, in terms of diversification of raw material supplies, we've resolved the problem with limestone," Ryzhenkov said.

Asked about estimated losses due to the loss of control over assets in uncontrolled areas of Ukraine, he said it would be appropriate to talk about this once the results are in for the first half of the year.

"The fact that we are now buying higher quality coal - coal from Donbas was of relatively low quality - allows us to produce coke of far higher quality. Yes, theoretically we see a difference of $30 to $50 per tonne between the cost of coal from Donbas and 'marine' coal. But essentially we can offset part of this with higher productivity, by getting higher quality coke. In addition, we've focused on producing high quality iron ore products at our mining assets, with iron content of more than 65%. Now we want to assess the final effect at blast furnaces at our steel plants. I don't rule out that we'll be able to offset a very substantial portion of losses by increasing productivity on higher quality raw materials," Ryzhenkov said.

Speaking about the group's European assets, Ryzhenkov said that Promet Steel in Bulgaria used billets from Yenakiyeve Steel Works, which is located in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The group is now looking for suppliers of square billets. In March, the group bought square billets for Promet from Ukraine's Kurakhove-Stal, and is now holding negotiations with ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih and Belarusian producers of square billets.

"I think that we'll be able to supply this plant with square billets by buying them on the market. Of course, this will be less efficient than producing our own square billets from ore, but nonetheless, it's possible to find this product. We have a project to overhaul the No. 4 continuous casting machine at the Azovstal plant. There's a plan to convert it from a slab to a bloom caster, and in addition to blooms to produce square billets there that can be used at Promet. We're considering this project. I don't rule out that we will accelerate its implementation," Ryzhenkov said.
Two soldiers attached to the Joint Military Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, died in a gun duel with sea pirates on Wednesday, an official has confirmed.

The soldiers were part of a team dispatched in response to a distress call on an attack by pirates operating in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Maj. Abubakar Abdulahi, the Spokesman for JTF, confirmed.

Three members of the team also sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical attention, Abdulahi said on Thursday.

He described the incident as sad but added that efforts were on to bring the perpetrators to book.

Sadly, our troops deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat in Cawthorne Channel while responding to a distress call of sea robbers attack around Ijawkiri general area engaged heavily armed sea robbers.

Unfortunately, two gallant soldiers exhibited highest point of patriotism by paying the supreme price while three others sustained gunshot injuries.

Effort is on-going by the JTF to track and apprehend the criminals, Abubakar said.

He also said that troops of Joint Operation DELTA SAFE on patrol around Iyalama Adama axis of Rivers on Wednesday discovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries.

He said that no arrest was made as the operators fled before the troops got to the site.

(NAN)
Three suspected fake military men were arrested on Wednesday by the Imo State Police Command.

According to the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezeike, who said the suspects Kingsley Inyang, Edet Okon and Victor Akpan were arrested on April 4, 2017, at Amakohia Ubi, in the Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, where they allegedly defrauded people on the pretext of enlisting them into the Nigerian Army.

Ezike said the suspects opened an office and mandated their victims to pay N8,000 and N70,000 for medical tests and recruitment exercises, respectively .

The CP explained that two pairs of army uniforms, a pair of army boots, one camouflage cap, one laptop and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects.

Ezike said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigations.

One of the suspects, Inyang, who was dressed in an army uniform, confessed to the crime.

He added that his group defrauded 22 people.

When queried on how he got the uniform, the suspect said it belonged to his father, who was a retired soldier.

The CP also paraded the suspected kidnappers of Ben Kpaduwa, a former Principal Manager of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

According to him, one of the suspects, Chinedu Imo, who sustained gunshot injuries during a gun duel with the police in the forest where their victim was kept, was confirmed dead in the hospital.

Ezike said all Mobile Police Force personnel and conventional policemen attached to persons without the approval of the Inspector-General of Police would be withdrawn.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
The Ondo State Police Command has been ordered by the High Court sitting in Akure to pay the sum of N250,000 to a commercial motorcyclist identified as Mr. Daniel Olorunyomi, as damages for his unlawful arrest.

The police command were sued by a human rights activist, Mr. Akinsola Akintan, following an alleged unprofessional conduct of two policemen  one Corporal Kehinde and Ajayi Adeboye  at the A Division Police Station, Akure.

In the suit, with number AK/5M/2017, the two policemen were accused of extorting money from the motorcyclist and unlawfully arresting him in 2016.

Akintan, who demanded the sum of N1m as general damages, explained that the respondents (Kehinde and Adeboye), were fond of sending policemen in the division to carry out indiscriminate and unlawful arrests of motorcyclists in order to extort money from them.

Akintan, through his non-governmental organisation, Awareness Against Social Vices Initiative, said he intervened to secure the release of Olorunyomis motorcycle, four days after it was confiscated.

He told the court that Adeboye insisted on collecting N3,000 before releasing the motorcycle.

Akitan noted that he was not requested to make any statement over the seizure of the motorcycle, adding that no formal report was also made at the station concerning the incident.

However, throughout the court proceedings, the two respondents did not appear in court and no counsel represented the police.

The judge, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu, while delivering her final verdict, declared that the arrest of the applicant on December 10, 2016, and the confiscation of his Haojue motorcycle, with number plate, ABG 876 QE, without any unjustifiable reason, was unconstitutional.

Akeredolu added that the detention violated the rights of the applicant to freedom of movement, personal liberty and the right to own property as enshrined in sections 35, 41 and 44 of the Nigerian constitution, as amended.

She said, I, hereby, order the respondents, jointly and severally, to pay the sum of N250,000 only as general damages for the unlawful and unconstitutional arrest of the applicant and the confiscation of his Haojue motorcycle from December 10, 2016 to December 14, 2016, without any justifiable reason.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured parents of the remaining missing Chibok girls that his administration was ready to do everything within its reach to reunite both parents and the girls secure the release of the remaining missing girls .

While saying the Federal Government had reached out to their captors through intermediaries, the President said his administration was willing to bend backwards to ensure their safe return.

Buhari made the promise in a message to mark the third anniversary of the abduction carried out by members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The message which he personally signed was made available to journalists by the Presidencys media office.

He said his administration had had reason to celebrate the return of 24 of them and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.

He said being a parent himself, he was grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families.

The President said, Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life. Furthermore, Government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed.

My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children. I feel what you feel. Your children are my children.

On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls.

Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram.

I also thank Lake Chad Basin countries, friendly nations and international partners, who at various points in the last three years have offered their support for Nigeria.

Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. We have reached out to their captors, through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of all the girls.

I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children.

I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities.

Buhari described the 2014 abduction of the girls as one of the worst crimes committed against Nigerias citizens.

He recalled that at the inception of his administration in May 2015, the militant group occupied no fewer than 14 Local Government Areas in the North East of the country and posed a serious threat to other parts by unleashing fear and mayhem through the use of surprise and suicide bombing.

He added that the menace of the group posed a great challenge to the resolve of his administration to implement the change agenda.

Buhari said that was why he pledged to reverse the situation, which constituted a threat to the sovereignty of the country.

He said his government was determined from the beginning to secure the release of the Chibok girls and others forcefully abducted from their homes and communities and retake the occupied territories.

This determination, he said, made his administration to give the necessary political and logistical backing which energised members of the armed forces and other security agencies to overrun the headquarters of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and scatter the terrorists from their strong base.

Having secured some level of success, the President promised that no group will hold the country to ransom under his watch.

He urged all residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements around them to security agencies.

Today, the group has been degraded and is no longer in a position to mount any serious, coordinated attack, other than sporadic suicide attacks on soft targets.

Even at that, their reach is very much confined to a small segment of the North East where they had previously held sway unchecked.

Nigeria and indeed the entire world, must however, recognise that terrorism has no borders and remains a growing concern which calls for collective efforts to curtail.

 I, therefore, call on all Nigerians and residents in the country, to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious element or group to the security agencies. We cannot afford to let down our guards. Under my watch, no group will hold the country to ransom, the President promised.

The girls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State on Apri 14, 2014.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
Media personality and author of bestseller, On Becoming has disclosed how she came about with the title of her book in a recent Instagram post.

Makinwa wrote; Someone asked me why the title On Becoming. The Holy Spirit gave me that name. I remember thinking of a name for this project and when I got OnBecoming i wasnt quite sure why or what it meant in totality but on a flight to Houston yesterday it hit me, I am a work in progress, no full stop till Im gone. I am unfinished, incomplete, the story is stil being written, the race is long and God has given me purpose. The last few years of my life hasnt been the easiest but thru it all I have grown, I am becoming. Ive heard people say  are you the only one to go thru tough times and my response remains the same.  what did you do with what you went thru? How did you help someone else grow thru your struggle, the purpose is always bigger than the pain, did you learn all you have to keep it to yourself?

Its ok not to get the vision, it is not for everyone. I feel Empowered, I feel chosen, and again the lord has sent me on another mission. Something big is coming.. #Imusthavemyown #OnBecomingEmpowered #2017mission #onbecomingbytokemakinwa #onbecomingmedatour

#itsbiggerthanme
With robotics making great strides and more companies welcoming robots into the workforce, IT managers need to start prepping for the changes coming their way.

"Robotics will probably touch every business over the next decade," said Dan Olds, an analyst with OrionX. "I think we're nearing a tipping point where more businesses will be adding robots and robotics to their operations. They'll be doing everything from manufacturing, to delivering food to restaurant tables to cleaning chores and farming -- and lots of stuff in between."

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While robots have been working on assembly lines and in giant warehouses for some time, they've become much more than giant hulking arms moving car doors and stacking boxes. With advances in technologies like artificial intelligence, computer vision and mobility, robots are taking on a host of new roles.

Late last summer, for instance, Lowe's, the home improvement chain, announced plans to use customer-service robots in 11 stores in the San Francisco Bay area.

The Aloft hotel in Cupertino, Calif. is already using a robot butler to autonomously deliver snacks and small items to guests in their rooms.

And two delivery companies -- Postmates and DoorDash -- will use fleets of autonomous robots to bring orders directly to customers' front doors. That means the robots will navigate through cities and on crowded sidewalks in Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley.

[ Further reading: Businesses adopting robots for new tasks ]

"Over the last decade, robotics has started in industry after industry and that will continue to advance during the next 10 years," said Jeff Kagan, an independent industry analyst. "Robotics will play a growing role in a number of businesses, from making cars to taking orders at McDonalds. Not only will more companies move into robotics, but robotics will do more as it gets more intelligent with A.I., the internet of things and the cloud."

The trend means that CIOs and IT managers need to be prepared for an influx of robotics because introducing this technology isn't as simple as firing up a fleet of humanoid robots and letting them loose in an office building. It's going to take planning, new skills and thought about how robots will affect employees and require new infrastructure.

This is not going to be IT as usual.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

"It's very much a different mindset than traditional IT," said Mike Gennert, a professor and director of the Robotics Engineering Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Mass. "IT managers worry about how they manage information, how it's used, how it's stored and secured. But none of that has the ability to directly affect the physical world. Robots affect the real world. That brings issues IT managers have not had to confront."

For instance, It's bad enough if a company computer is hacked and it becomes part of a zombie botnet. But what if someone hijacks a company robot and makes it do things, harmful things, in the real world?

Here are a few things CIOs and IT managers should start to think about and prepare for:

It's time to bring in new skills

Some large companies will need to consider hiring a CRO -- a Chief Robotics Officer -- to go along with their CIO and CTO. A CRO would be responsible for the company's robotics strategy and how it's integrated into the processes already in place.

"I think the need is already starting to show up," said Gennert. "For somebody who's in the fast food industry, you'll want to know how robotics can be used in your plants [for] packaging foods and moving foods, and on-site in point-of-sales and logistically and cleaning up afterwards."

However, hiring a CRO isn't the only position IT managers will need to fill. They'll also need to bring in IT workers with a background in robotics -- people who understand computer vision, sensors, programming models and security models, and who can do more than basic repairs and maintain robotic code.

Companies will also need someone experienced in A.I., since it will be the smarts in autonomous machines.

"Applications of machine learning in robotics is on the rise," said Taskin Padir, an associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, in Boston. "Each practical robot system will rely on some level of A.I. to become more adaptable to situations that cannot be foreseen by the robot's programmers."

And time to upgrade your own skills

While IT managers are looking to hire new employees, they should consider bolstering their own skill set so they understand enough about robotics to get them up and running.

"IT managers will need to become intimately familiar with their new robot charges," said Olds. "I think the robot vendors will provide a lot of this training, which will make it easier for IT personnel to quickly come up to speed."

However, Gennert thinks IT managers will need a deeper knowledge than they can get from a few tutorials.

"I think IT managers need enough of an understanding to get what the changes will be and what the new needs will be," he said. "They'll surely want to have more expertise on some bigger skills, like manipulation, perception and vision, navigation and locomotion. You'll need more expertise than you'd get from a few webinars or short courses."

One robot will not replace one human

While there are a variety of estimates and a lot of fears floating around about how many jobs robots might take in the next five to 10 years, it's hard to calculate how bringing robots into the workplace will affect employee numbers.

"Don't think of robots as a one-to-one replacement for employees," said Olds. "Trying to 'roboticize' all the tasks an employee does is extremely difficult. I don't think robots will be taking over everyone's job."

While some workers will be displaced, the majority will carry on as before. Some employees may have more mundane, physically demanding or dangerous tasks taken over by robotic counterparts.

Carnegie Mellon University Artur Dubrawski, director of the Auton Lab and senior faculty in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University

Artur Dubrawski, director of the Auton Lab and senior faculty in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, used to be the CTO at Aethon, a Pittsburgh-based robotics company. Aethon makes the Tug robot, which is often used to make deliveries in hospitals, pulling carts carrying everything from linens to medicines and food.

Through the deployments he worked on while at Aethon, he did not see robots replacing human workers, but helping them.

"There's concern about robotics eliminating jobs, but in my practice that wasn't the case," Dubrawski said. "In the hospitals I watched through our deployments, nobody who worked in delivery lost their jobs. The efficiency increased. The quality of those employees' ives picked up."

At one hospital that was using a Tug robot, an employee told Dubrawski that his knees had always hurt him when he was pushing the cart to make deliveries. With the robot, however, he began focusing on making sure the carts had the right supplies and then pushing a button on a touch-screen to have the robot take it to make the delivery.

The worker's knees didn't hurt anymore.

Think about human/robot interactions

While working with a robot helped that hospital employee, other people may be anxious about working with a robot -- particularly an autonomous one. The image that often comes to mind: Out-of-control, malevolent robots like the ones on Battlestar Galactica or The Terminator.

Add to that the fear of a robot accidentally hurting someone or taking their job, and employee concerns about their new, non-human co-workers could quickly arise.

It's going to be up to the company, and likely the IT department, to work with employees, train them and put them at ease with robots.

"Having people who are willing to work with the robots is important," said Gennert. "The fact that so many young employees today are already digital natives and feel very comfortable with computers means those folks will be pretty eager adopters of technology. And if people see how it helps them in their jobs, they'll be more happy to have the robots come along."

Olds noted that part of the job for IT -- and anyone introducing robots into the enterprise -- will be to make it clear to employees what's happening. Are the robots replacing workers? Are the robots aimed at making some jobs easier?

"It's important that employees get comfortable with the new tools and management needs to foster that sort of cooperation," said Olds. "There will certainly be some people displaced by robots, which will cause them to resent them. But this won't be the majority of workers. The majority of workers will carry on as before, but will probably find their jobs become more interesting and less wearing on them with the addition of their robot helpmates."

Think infrastructure

IT managers will need to assess their infrastructure to figure out what they need to not only run robots but to have them safely and efficiently connect with other aspects of the corporate network, take orders from people in different departments, have them download information, track them throughout the property and even help robots deal with things like automatic doors and elevators.

"We are still in the early stage of utilizing robotics and A.I. in enterprise IT," said Andy Chang, a spokesman for KUKA, a German-based robot manufacturer. "It is extremely important to make sure that you have a good infrastructure foundation to scale for the next 10 years."

According to Chang, companies tend to utilize proprietary communication protocols, which can make extracting machine information difficult. "Existing networks can scale in the short term, but be ready to invest in new technologies such as 5G or Li-Fi as they become commercially available," he added. "It will be critically important."

Dubrawski added that it's also a matter of thinking about how robots will need to communicate with the physical world, as well as with other company computers.

"As an IT manager, you need to have the robot access the networking system in your [company]...and communicate with each other and be able to convey their whereabouts to whoever sends them on a delivery trip, as well as to those who are waiting for them. We want to know where they are and if they get into trouble, and how to deal with them remotely if they get stuck. You need to be able to resolve navigational challenges, or if it might be cornered by a bunch of kids."

This story, "With robots on the job, it won't be IT as usual" was originally published by Computerworld .
Sujal Das is chief strategy and marketing officer at Netronome, a provider of high-performance x86 co-processing solutions for networking, security, load balancing, virtualization, and SDN.

If we've learned anything in the technology business in the last 25 years, it would be to never underestimate the Linux kernel. Why, then, have so many networking companies been so eager to bypass the Linux kernel -- or more specifically, the Linux kernel networking stack? What could be so wrong with the networking packet arteries in the Linux kernel that motivates so many of us to bypass them?

There are two main reasons. First, the kernel networking stack is too slow -- and the problem is only getting worse with the adoption of higher-speed networking in servers and switches (10GbE, 25GbE, and 40GbE today, and rising to 50GbE and 100GbE in the near future). Second, handling networking outside the kernel allows for plugging in new technology without the need to change core Linux kernel code.

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For those two reasons, and with the additional advantage that many kernel bypass technologies are open source and/or specified by standards bodies, the proponents of bypass solutions continue to push data center operators to adopt them.

Kernel bypass solutions

We have seen many kernel bypass solutions in the past, most notably RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access), TOE (TCP Offload Engine), and OpenOnload. More recently, DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) has been used in some applications to bypass the kernel, and then there are new emerging initiatives such as FD.io (Fast Data Input Output) based on VPP (Vector Packet Processing). More will likely emerge in the future.

Technologies like RDMA and TOE create a parallel stack in the kernel and solve the first problem (namely, the "kernel is too slow") while OpenOnload, DPDK and FD.io (based on VPP) move networking into Linux user space to address both speed and technology plug-in requirements. When technologies are built in the Linux user space, the need for changes to the kernel is avoided, eliminating the extra effort required to convince the Linux kernel community about the usefulness of the bypass technologies and their adoption via upstreaming into the Linux kernel.

Netronome

Kernel bypass challenges

The challenges related to adopting parallel stacks outside of the kernel networking stack are obvious to datacenter operators challenged with scaling their infrastructure to a very large number of servers. With parallel networking stacks comes a seemingly endless list of security, manageability, robustness, hardware vendor lock-in, and protocol compatibility issues.

For example, there are implementations of Open vSwitch and OpenContrail that use DPDK as a kernel bypass approach. The DPDK implementations are constrained in two ways. First, it's difficult and sometimes impossible to evolve features rapidly and in lockstep with kernel-based open source software innovations. Second, although the levels of performance and security needed by VMs and applications can be delivered, it requires a significant number of x86 CPU cores, reducing the overall efficiency of datacenter infrastructure.

Nonetheless, some datacenter operators who have perhaps a few hundred servers to manage and who run a single application, such as High Performance Computing or High Frequency Trading clusters, may find it practical to utilize such parallel kernel bypass stacks. The same applies to dedicated storage clusters.

But can the clogging of the kernel networking stack be fixed without resorting to parallel bypass stacks? Yes it can. The right way to solve the two problems above would be to find ways to accelerate performance of the kernel networking stack transparently, using smart networking hardware, and without any vendor lock-in.

SmartNICs seek to solve these problems without bypassing the kernel. SmartNICs are NICSs (network interface cards) that are programmable, enabling the vendors who provide such products to innovate server networking hardware at the speed of software -- a practical requirement in modern software-defined and NFV-enabled datacenter infrastructure.

Enter SmartNICS

Netronome SmartNICs provide both basic or traditional NIC features and advanced features needed by cloud datacenter and telco service providers. These advanced features include the ability to offload rich networking functionality, such as that provided by virtual switches and virtual routers used in software-defined networking environments and NFV-optimized compute servers. The ability to offload these compute-intensive networking functions to the SmartNIC brings higher levels of performance and security to VMs, increases the number of applications that can be delivered per server, and provides an overall boost in data center efficiency. SmartNIC features can evolve rapidly with open source networking innovations, such as with Open vSwitch, OpenStack, OpenContrail, and the IO Visor project's eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) .

The benefits of deploying SmartNICs aren't limited to increased performance and a richer feature set. There are also significant TCO savings as well, as SmartNICs can replace traditional NICs used in servers. SmartNICs are priced competitively to traditional NICs and provide significant savings by freeing up valuable server CPU resources for VMs and applications, driving up server efficiency. Given that servers consume as much as 60 percent of total datacenter infrastructure costs, the ability to support greater workloads per server using SmartNICs promises significant savings.

Kernel bypass proponents like to argue that the server networking performance needed in SDN and NFV applications can be achieved using high-performance x86 CPU cores, and therefore traditional NICs are all that are needed. But in practical benchmarks and in real life, kernel bypass mechanisms might need as many as 24 CPU cores to get the required networking performance. That's practically consuming the entire server for networking alone.

SmartNIC vendors are in full agreement that kernel network performance is a real problem that will only get worse as operators build out datacenters to meet the demands of ever-increasing numbers of mobile and IoT devices. But they don't believe that bypassing the operating system kernel solves the problem. Rather, intensive network processing tasks in the Linux kernel networking stack need to be offloaded to SmartNICs in a vendor agnostic way, instead of using implementations that result in parallel, redundant networking stacks.

SmartNICs address these challenges, offloading kernel-based networking data path implementations available today and evolving rapidly in the wider Linux open source community. Linux kernel stack technologies such as eBPF and the Traffic Classifier hold the promise of allowing SmartNIC vendors like Netronome to stick to the Linux kernel networking stack and allow data center operators to scale efficiently.

The resounding recommendation from the Linux community has always been to avoid kernel bypass. Like all fundamental and simple ideas, this idea has held sway in the past, holds true today, and will remain true in the future.

New Tech Forum provides a venue to explore and discuss emerging enterprise technology in unprecedented depth and breadth. The selection is subjective, based on our pick of the technologies we believe to be important and of greatest interest to InfoWorld readers. InfoWorld does not accept marketing collateral for publication and reserves the right to edit all contributed content. Send all inquiries to newtechforum@infoworld.com.
Each DDoS attack seem to be larger than the last, and recent advisories from Akamai and Ixia indicate that attackers are stepping up their game. As attackers expand their arsenal of reflection methods to target CLDAP (Connection-less Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) and BIND, expect to see even larger attacks this year.

Reflection attacks abuse legitimate protocols, such as NTP, DNS, and SNMP, to produce significantly large amounts of attack bandwidth. Attackers send a request to a third-party server using a spoofed IP address, and the server sends back a response (which is typically much larger in size). Since the IP address is spoofed, the response doesn't go to the original requester, but to the unsuspecting victim. Instead of building large botnets of millions of compromised hosts to launch a large attack, attackers can use a smaller number of systems to target exposed third-party servers.

CLDAP on the rise

CLDAP, a variant of LDAP that uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for transport, is the latest technology being abused by DDoS attackers, according to an advisory by Akamai's Security Intelligence Response Team. The CLDAP reflection method amplifies responses 50 times the size of the initial request on average, and it can be used to consistently produce attack traffic exceeding 1Gbps. Akamai said it has detected and mitigated 50 CLDAP reflection attacks since October, of which 33 were single-vector attacks using CLDAP reflection exclusively.

According to Akamai's statistics, more than 60 percent of DDoS attacks in the first half of 2016 were multivector attacks, so the fact that attackers are consistently hitting large traffic bandwidth without having to combine with other attack methods is a bad sign. Single-vector CLDAP reflection attacks are bad enough, but multivector operations where the attackers combine CLDAP reflection with other methods, such as DNS amplification and direct TCP floods, could be catastrophic for organizations that can't absorb large DDoS attacks. While the average CLDAP reflection attack is about 3Gbps, the largest attack to date was a single-vector 24Gbps attack launched in January against a telecommunications company, Akamai said.

Akamai found a total of 7,629 unique CLDAP reflectors used in attacks, with the largest concentration found in the United States. These are CLDAP systems actually used in attacks; an internet-wide scan for hosts vulnerable to CLDAP reflection abuse found 78,531 unique systems that were exposed. Almost any CLDAP system could be abused this way, as Akamai found that 78,071 of those hosts responded with more than 1,500 bytes of data to an initial query of 52 bytes.

"Unless there is a legitimate need for an organization to have CLDAP available over the internet, there should be no reason to compound the DDoS reflection problem by exposing this protocol," said Akamai researchers Jose Arteaga and Wilber Majia.

Attackers would not be able to find servers to abuse in amplification attacks if network administrators did a better job of ingress filtering, Akamai SIRT warned in its advisory. If administrators performed ingress filtering of the CLDAP port from the internet, attackers would not be able to scan the internet and generate a list of systems with UDP port 389 open and listening. Security teams can also apply an alerting rule to the network's intrusion detection system to alert of an attempt to use the server as part of a CLDAP reflection attack.

"More than 50 percent of all attacks are consistently comprised of UDP-based reflection attacks," Akamai's Arteaga said. "Based on similarities shared with UDP reflection attack scripts, CLDAP has likely been included, or will be included, into a full attack script, and integrated into the booter/stresser infrastructure. If it has yet to be included, we may not have seen the worst of these attacks."

BIND vulnerability in DNS

Akamai's report comes on the heels of another advisory by networking company Ixia about a vulnerability in BIND's recursive DNS resolver that could be abused to allow reflection attacks through root DNAME query responses. Oana Murarasu, a security software engineer with Ixia's Application and Threat Intelligence research team, found that the attack generated responses 10 or more times larger than the initial query. "For every 1 megabit of traffic sent [to the resolver], 10 megabits is sent to the victim," Murarasu said.

DNAME responses are used to append or change the target domain of a query, so a domain owner can specify a new target, such as replacing example.com with example.net if the query is looking for foobar.example.com, creating a new CNAME record of foobar.example.net, Murarasu said. While this lets administrators easily manage multiple domains to redirect clients to the same resource, using loops and pointers creates issues. A specially crafted DNAME Resource Record could cause the recursive server to build a response size exceeding 1,000 bytes.

Abusing the vulnerability could generate a "DDoS wildfire," Ixia's Murarasu said. It's also easy for attackers to find BIND servers that can be abused because all they have to do is set up a malicious nameserver to send a response and scan the internet for nameservers that respond with a large query.

"Always make sure you are not running a recursive name server on the public internet. You will be abused," Ixia warned. If the server has to be on the internet, Ixia recommends searching for the pattern 00 00 27 00 001 in the answer section of a DNS response. Administrators should also be using access control lists to ensure only permitted hosts case use the recursive server.

The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), which manages BIND, told Ixia that the vulnerability was a "protocol design flaw and not a flaw in BIND." Separately, ISC updated BIND to patch three other denial-of-service vulnerabilities that could be exploited remotely; the new versions are BIND 9.9.-P8, 9.10.4-P8, and 9.11.0-P5. The most serious flaw, with a "high" severity rating, mainly affects recursive resolvers (CVE-2017-3137). The "medium" severity issue (CVE-2017-3136) affects servers configured to use DNS64 with the "break-dnssec yes;" option enabled. The final flaw (CVE-2017-3138) can be exploited remotely from hosts that are allowed access to the control channel.

Expect more reflection attacks

DDoS attacks typically target the gaming industry since players rely on connectivity and performance to access their games, but Akamai observed that CLDAP attacks primarily targeted the software and technology industry. Attackers are increasingly using DDoS attacks against other targets, and IT teams have to consider DDoS attacks as part of their capacity planning. The middle of a DDoS attack is not the time to figure out how to beat one.
Farmers compensating losses of currency income from blockage and loss of companies in uncontrolled areas of Donbas

The supply of foreign currency in the Ukrainian market continues to exceed the demand, despite the blockade of traffic with the uncontrolled areas of Donbas and loss of control over Ukrainian enterprises there, largely due to the growth of agricultural exports, Head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Valeriya Gontareva has said.

"The blockade of the uncontrolled areas of Donbas and the loss of enterprises had no significant consequences in the foreign exchange market," she said at a press conference in Kyiv.

Gontareva clarified the share of agrarians in foreign currency earnings in March exceeded 40%, while in January it was below 30%.

According to her, high export opportunities strengthened the hryvnia and allowed the National Bank to buy currency for reserves more actively.

The NBU head said net forex purchases by the NBU in the market since the beginning of 2017 stood at $242 million, while net forex purchases of cash by the banks from the population were $457 million.

At the same time, Gontareva confirmed the National Bank is ready to reduce forex purchases for reserves to minimize the negative impact of the blockade and the losses of enterprises in the uncontrolled areas of Donbas in case of their manifestation.
Update 8/1/17  The Montgomery County Planning Board last week approved U-Hauls request to build a $15 million climate-controlled facility in Amsterdam, N.Y. Raymond Kiefl was the only board member who voted against the project, according to the source.

During the July 27 presentation, several board members expressed their concerns about the effect the facility could have on traffic flow. Osterhout noted the New York State Department of Transportation reviewed the business traffic impact and found it to be insignificant. This is not a big traffic-generator, he said. Theres no special turn lanes or anything else. Theres no special accommodations that need to be made.

U-Haul operates 11 locations in Eastern New York, but none are similar to the one it plans to build in Amsterdam, said Russ Dumas, executive assistant of U-Haul New York, who participated in the presentation. This will be a two-story building, [with one floor offering climate-controlled storage], for when you have valuables that you dont want exposed to elements or temperature variations, he said.

The facility will be just south of the Amsterdam Diner at 4790 Route 30. Once open, itll create 10 to 12 jobs, the source reported. In addition to self-storage, the property will offer truck and trailer rentals, hitch installation, U-Box portable-storage containers, and moving and packing supplies.

The project will next be reviewed by the Town of Amsterdam Planning Board.

Town officials received an update on May 3 for U-Hauls proposed development in Amsterdam, N.Y. Osterhout provided a new sketch for the 68,000-square-foot facility and discussed its revised layout and design.

U-Haul really took to heart the comments you had about the showroom being up front on Route 30, kind of flip-flopping the warehouse into the back of the building, he said, adding official renderings were expected to be available shortly.

During the meeting, board members offered examples of structure aesthetics they found online and liked. Osterhout noted he would pass their suggestions to U-Hauls designers before they finished the renderings.

Board member Anthony Verde also asked what U-Haul would do if the board didnt provide design suggestions. Most municipalities dont have an architectural-review board, so its usually kind of a give and take, Osterhout said. The finances have to work out for the applicant. They cant build a stone castle, so to speak; but certainly they understand you want the best-looking building they can deliver within whatever meets the economical pro forma of the project.

Another discussion during the meeting focused wetlands and how the operator would protect them. Board member Peter Zabo asked how U-Haul would contain any oil or transmission leaks from vehicles stored on the property. Osterhout noted there are wetlands near the property, but no containment proposal existed. The RV- and boat-storage area would be fenced and feature lighting.

U-Haul plans to request permits for curb and highway cutouts to the New York State Department of Transportation. In addition, it will work with local safety responders to ensure the site meets their requirements, Osterhout said.

A complete site-plan application is expected to be submitted to the board by May 22. U-Hauls intention is to try to build this year, so they will be actively moving that forward, Osterhout said.

The project will require approval from the Montgomery County Planning Board as well as undergo a public hearing, the source reported.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc., which operates more than 1,300 self-storage locations across North America, is aiming to build a truck-rental and self-storage facility on 7.32 acres along Route 30 in Amsterdam, N.Y. The project would comprise a two-story climate-controlled structure, four self-storage buildings, covered boat/RV storage, portable storage, a retail center selling moving and packing supplies, and trailer and truck rentals. Its jointly proposed by U-Haul and property owner Route 30 Associates, according to the source.

The site is comprised of seven parcels north of Holland Circle Drive between Amsterdam Diner and Sieverts Sports. U-Haul planner Jen Roldan and Brian Osterhout of Environmental Design Partnership LLP, an engineering firm representing Route 30 Associates, presented the site plan to the planning board last week.

Feedback from the board included a request to move a tractor-trailer pad to the rear of the layout to ensure the facilitys showroom would face Route 30. Planners were also concerned about the impact of potential traffic and emergency-vehicle access. Kathleen Tatara, an engineering consultant working with town officials, suggested U-Haul include turn radius in the site plan and submit it to the Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Department for review, the source reported.

Roldan indicated U-Haul is willing to work with town requirements regarding design, landscaping and signage. We like to keep our U-Haul facilities clean, but we also want them to be attractive and fit in within the neighborhood, she told the board.

At the request of the board, Roldan agreed to provide artist renderings of the facility during a future meeting.

Established in 1945, U-Haul has more than 44 million square feet of storage space at its owned facilities throughout North America.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) plans to allow banks to early repay loans before nonresident banks with a rating not lower than A and redeem eurobonds, NBU Governor Valeria Gontareva has said.

"We also have intention to raise the ceiling advance payment size under import contracts without the use of letters of creditThis will not have a considerable impact on the volume of such payments," she said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.

According to Gontareva, raising the NBU's limit from $0.500 million to $1 million in September last year, which did not tell on the market.

NBU Deputy Governor Oleh Churiy told Interfax-Ukraine that these decisions by the regulator would be published on Thursday, April 13 and they would become effective on April 14. In his words, the limit will be raised from $1 million to $5 million.

These steps will contribute to improving the investment climate and facilitating the activities of exporting enterprises that import for their produce, Gontareva explained.

"Against the background of a favorable situation in the foreign exchange market, positive news about the successful completion of the third review of the Extended Fund Facility program with the IMF and taking into account the balance of risks, the board considers it possible to continue liberalization of currency regulations ... No such step will destabilize the situation," she stressed.

The chief banker also noted that the regulator, as was the case before, focuses, first of all, on removing barriers to foreign trade operations and inflow of direct foreign investments.
As public pension plans in the U.S. increasingly invest in private equity and other alternatives, funds may be paying more than $4 billion annually in unreported fees, according to Pew Charitable Trusts.

The hidden costs of private equity investments  which include carried interest, monitoring costs, and portfolio company fees  were not reported as investment expenses among most of the 73 large public funds Pew examined, according to a report this week from the non-profit group. For example, Pennsylvanias two public pension plans, the Public School Employees Retirement System and the State Employees Retirement System, dont disclose carried interest in their annual reports.

Costs arent fully transparent because some plans dont consider carried interest  the 20 percent profit cut taken by private equity firms  as an investment fee, according to the report. Another reason is that opaque reporting by private equity managers leads pension funds to view carried interest as a non-separable expense that doesnt have to be reported as an investment cost according to accounting standards.

These trends underscore the need for transparency on plan performance and attention to the impact of investment fees on plan health, said Greg Mennis, director of Pews public retirement plans project, in a statement accompanying the report.

The more than $4 billion in unreported investment fees, primarily performance payments made to private equity managers in 2014, is about 40 percent above the $10 billion in reported investment expenses that year, the report shows.

Pennsylvanias Public School Employees Retirement System and State Employees Retirement System, which manage a combined $80 billion in pension assets, increased their allocation to alternatives from 18 percent in 2006 to 49 percent of their portfolios in 2014, according to the report. The shift drove reported their annual fees from alternative investments to more than 0.8 percent of assets, already one of the highest in the U.S., Pew said. When accounting for their undisclosed carried interest for private equity, fees increase to over 0.9 percent of assets, or more than $700 million annually.

The average value of undisclosed private equity fees could equal up to 1.5 percent of assets per year, Pew said, citing an estimate from CEM Benchmarking, which provides analysis for institutional investors. The report suggests pension funds should consider whether returns from private equity and other alternative investments will justify fees, as Pew found that recent or rapid entries into alternatives had the weakest 10-year returns.

There are efforts underway to make fees more transparent. The Institutional Limited Partners Association released a reporting template last year that would establish standards for fee and expense reporting for institutions and fund managers.

Several major funds have already adopted practices to disclose fees, including the California Public Employees Retirement System, which in 2015 said it would begin reporting total carried interest paid to private equity. The Missouri State Employees Retirement System reports fees by asset class and for each external manager, a particularly thorough practice, Pew noted in its report.

While plans vary widely in their investment choices within the alternatives class, almost a third of the public pension funds examined by Pew had more than 10 percent of assets in private equity in 2014, while 15 percent had more than 10 percent in hedge funds. In 2014, CalPERS eliminated its $4 billion hedge fund investment program, citing high costs, according to the report.

The data do not reveal a best or one-size-fits-all approach to successful investing, but there is a uniform need for full disclosure on investment performance and fees, Pew said.
Last year was a challenging one for the hedge fund industry. Still, many managers were able to shine.

Credit was among the bright spots, and few managers were more brilliant than Jason Mudrick. His namesake firm, Mudrick Capital Management, rose from a dismal 2015 to post 2016 returns of 38.9 percent for its Mudrick Distressed Opportunity Fund, according to data from HSBC. Such outperformance  the average hedge fund was up only 5.43 percent, according to the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite index  puts Mudrick among the Credit-Focused Hedge Fund Manager of the Year finalists of Institutional Investor and Institutional Investors Alpha magazines annual Hedge Fund Awards. The four other contenders in this category are BlackGold Capital Management, Brigade Capital Management, Contrarian Capital Management, and Strategic Value Partners.

After an astonishingly good first full year out of the gate, Chris Rokoss London-based Rokos Capital Management is a finalist for both Emerging Hedge Fund Manager of the Year, which honors firms that have been in existence for five years or less, and Macro Hedge Fund Manager of the Year. Whereas Rokoss alma mater Brevan Howard Asset Management was only able to post results of 3 percent in its flagship fund for the year, sources say Rokos was up 20 percent in 2016. The other candidates for Macro Hedge Fund Manager of the Year are Caxton Associates, Citadel, Discovery Capital Management, and Graham Capital Management.

Citadel is also a finalist for Institutional Hedge Fund Manager of The Year. The other finalists in that category are Angelo, Gordon & Co.; Baupost Group; CQS; and Two Sigma Investments.

Institutional Investors Hedge Fund Industry Award finalists are chosen through a rigorous review process. A call for nominations from the industry is followed by research and reporting on the part of editorial staff, with final decisions made by an editorial review committee. The finalists will now be voted on by industry participants, with the winners announced at a gala dinner and ceremony taking place June 21 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York.

For more information about the dinner or to request a ballot, please visit the event web site.

In the coming days, Institutional Investor will announce the Hedge Fund Allocator Finalists, as well as two industry Lifetime Achievement honorees. The Hedge Fund Rising Stars  a list of 30 rising stars in the hedge fund industry, also honored at the dinner  will be unveiled at the end of the month.

Following is a complete list of the 2017 hedge fund manager finalists. The names can also be found on the Hedge Fund Awards web site.



Institutional Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Angelo, Gordon & Co.

Baupost Group

Citadel

CQS

Two Sigma





Emerging Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Junto Capital Management

Key Square Group

Magnolia Road Capital

Rokos Capital Management

Westfield Capital Management



Large Fund-of-Hedge-Funds Manager of the Year

BlackRock

Blackstone Group

Morgan Stanley Investment Management

Pacific Alternative Asset Management Co.

Rock Creek Group



Boutique Fund-of-Hedge-Funds Manager of the Year

Gapstow Capital Partners

Greenlight Masters

Investcorp

Ironwood Capital Management

Silver Creek Capital Management



Outsourced CIO of the Year

Appomattox Advisory

Hall Capital Partners

Investure

Perella Weinberg Partners

Summit Rock Advisors



Hedge Fund GP Investor of the Year

Affiliated Managers Group

Blackstone Group

Dyal Capital Partners

Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Paloma Partners



Equity-Focused Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Carlson Capital

Impala Asset Management

Proxima Capital Management

Quantitative Investment Management



Credit-Focused Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

BlackGold Capital Management

Brigade Capital Management

Contrarian Capital Management

Mudrick Capital Management

Strategic Value Partners



Hybrid Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Caspian Capital

Fortress Investment Group

GoldenTree Asset Management

Marathon Asset Management

Varde Partners



Multistrategy Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Angelo, Gordon & Co.

BFAM Partners

CQS

Halcyon Capital Management

RBC Global Asset Management



Relative-Value Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Axonic Capital

One William Street Capital Management

Pacific Investment Management Co.

Tilden Park Capital Management

Whitebox Advisors



Activist Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Blue Harbour Group

Greylock Capital Management

TCI Fund Management

Toscafund Asset Management

Trian Partners



Event-Driven Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Beach Point Capital Management

Gates Capital Management

Elliott Management Corp.

Owl Creek Asset Management

P. Schoenfeld Asset Management



Macro Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

Caxton Associates

Citadel

Element Capital Management

Discovery Capital Management

Graham Capital Management

Rokos Capital Management



Quantitative Hedge Fund Manager of the Year

AQR Capital Management

Quantedge Capital

Renaissance Technologies

Systematica Investments

Two Sigma Investments
This content is from: Portfolio

Nontraditional investors, such as hedge funds and mutual funds, poured in about $2 billion in seed-stage deals in the past quarter, setting a new annual record.
ESL insurance monitor Allan Fells has called for an independent public inquiry to look into the conduct of insurers in a bid to ensure the protection of NSW consumers.The inquiry will be held on May 16, 2017, ahead of the abolition of the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) from property insurance policies after July 01. It will be held at the Theatrette, Parliament House.The inquiry, which will be led by Fels and deputy insurance monitor David Cousins, will compel Australias largest insurers, including IAG Allianz Australia, QBE , and Suncorp , to provide evidence into their conduct, particularly on how they will pass on the cost savings to consumers after ESL is removed from insurance policies.Fels said many struggling NSW families are deserving of the full costs associated with the levys removal.Insurance companies need to pass on costs associated with the ESLs removal in full to policyholders, Fels said.Penalties up to $10 million apply to insurance companies who engage in prohibited conduct such as price exploitation, false or misleading conduct  for example not disclosing full details to policyholders  or not passing on the full cost savings that policyholders are entitled to.The removal of NSW emergency services funding from insurance policies is not to be taken as an opportunity for insurers to pocket reductions.The inquiry will also look into other factors that affect insurance costs, such as industry competition, pricing, and other productivity improvements.The removal of the ESL should not be used to restore or increase insurer profit margins. Effects on polices due to recent catastrophic weather events will also be investigated, Fels said.Insurers will be required to explain how such factors may impact on future premiums, particularly where they coincide with the removal of the ESL.The insurance monitor said the public inquiry will assure NSW consumers that insurance companies are on notice, and that they are protected during the transition.I have called the Inquiry to help increase transparency over the pricing of premiums. Its only reasonable consumers know how their policies are priced and what affects this cost so they are able to make informed decisions, he said.The ESL removal will prompt property insurance prices to drop by around 20%, and commercial policies by around 30%.
XL Catlin has announced that Rory Morison has been promoted to head of international casualty in the Asia Pacific region.Morison, who will continue to be based in Melbourne, takes on the role in addition to his position as underwriting manager, casualty insurance for Australia.In his new regional role, Morison will be responsible for boosting XL Catlins casualty business and market presence throughout Asia Pacific.Daniel Maurer, chief underwriting officer, international casualty at XL Catlin, said that Morisons broad market knowledge, underwriting and technical expertise will help brokers meet their clients needs in a changing environment.Were seeing risk getting more complex in an increasingly challenging liability environment and emerging technologies are impacting how businesses are conducted in Asia Pacific, Maurer said.Morison has over 15 years experience in the industry, having worked in both the Australian and London markets as a primary and excess underwriter for international casualty clients.
CUNA Mutual may be an eight decades old company, but it is proving it has a very modern way of thinking as it undertook the development of a new product to address the insurance needs of an underserved market in the US.Its SafetyNet project is an experimental program that aims to address individuals who may not have the financial capability of absorbing shocks arising from job loss, illness or other unexpected expenses.I think you cant watch the news or not open the newspaper without realizing that theres a problem with people living tight, and living stretched, Mark Greene, the projects director, told local media outlet The Cap Times.The Times said that the company is looking at a viable business model by catering to a demographic that do not register on the radar of traditional insurance firms. Greene cited a Federal Reserve Board survey, which said that 47%, or nearly half, of Americans wont be able to pay for an unexpected expense of $400 without getting into debt.Its a problem thats so widespread and prevalent, that even if youre able to meet the needs of a portion of the 47%, thats the foundation for building a business, Greene said in the report.Under the first plan sold through the SafetyNet project, customers pay $5 to $30 in monthly premiums to get lump sum payments of $1,500 to $9,000 to cover a job loss or the onset of a disability. The product is initially available in Wisconsin and Iowa.In the offing is another feature which will allow clients to take out policies on behalf of other individuals. Greene said that the idea for this feature came from feedback from parents who want to assist their children who are struggling in the job market and landlords who want to provide a contingency for tenants to avoid the costs related to empty units in their property.
With uncertainty surrounding the National Flood Insurance Program, carriers with an appetite for new markets should be eyeing flood insurance as a potential bounty, says Swiss Re Josh Woodbury, a flood specialist in the Swiss Re natural catastrophe modelling team, spoke with Insurance Business about the flood environment, the NFIP, and the opportunities for insurers to capitalize on the flood market.Why is it such a big deal right now? This question comes up, he said. Why flood now, whats the interest now, why the big deal? But I think a bunch of things have kind of come together to make this a bit of a perfect time [to be discussing flood insurance].We can look at this from three perspectives: from the Federal Government perspective, from consumers, and from insurersFrom the Government perspective, Woodbury said, the NFIP remains $24.1 billion in debt, requiring borrower increases making it more expensive, and the Government seems to be pushing it towards the private market.From the consumer perspective, theres been a loss of confidence in, plus a lack of understanding of, the NFIP since Hurricane Sandy, and consumers also desire concurrent terms with their homeowners insurance to cover them whole.And from the insurers perspective: carriers want to enter into what would be a new field, Woodbury said.Theyre really looking for new markets, he explained. Rather than trying to nudge out a competitor at something thats already been insured for a long time, theyre really looking for opportunities to grow or get their foot into something new. They see it as an opportunity.I think one of the key parts to it is the modelling capabilities. People are getting a bit more comfortable. I think models kind of developed for earthquakes and for wind and people got more comfortable, and I think were in that same transition period for flood. Theres better data and computers are more powerful.The NFIP is up for reauthorization in September, and the Republican Government is considering changes. But Woodbury said insurers would likely be gunning to take on flood risk regardless of any Government changes to the NFIP.I think independent of what happens with NFIP, I think the private market moves forward, he said. Theres approximately $10 billion in flood protection gap in the US - thats the difference between the economic loss and the insured loss. So this is a big area to move into. There are a lot of clients that are excited, and so are we.What Woodbury said he sees as a major problem for consumers  and thus for the insurance industry  at the moment, is non-concurrent terms.US insurers should be able to tack on an endorsement  for potentially a relatively small percentage of the total homeowners premium  and line up terms with the homeowners coverage and flood cover.I think this is a real opportunity, he said. Flood has been written sustainably for large industrial and commercial risks for years, and so why not residential? And in terms of sustainable: cost-effective, concurrent coverage is really the key. And I think we can do that.I think the key here is to reposition or rethink the public-private partnership [PPP]. Initially the NFIP started as a PPP. I think now the best solution  is probably going back to some sort of PPP, where the private market can take some of these locations and maybe the NFIP does become kind of a residual market or insurer of last resort. Where that balance is, Im not sure, but itll be interesting to see where that is.
Sen. Charles Schumer is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make crop insurance for malt barley available to more New York farmers to help the craft brewing industry in the state.

Schumer was at the 1886 Malt House in Oswego County on Monday to make his pitch to protect against risks associated with growing the crop.

New Yorks farm and craft breweries need state-grown malt barley to make their beer, but many farmers are unwilling to plant it because its prone to losses from severe weather and disease.

Schumer says more farmers would take the risk if they had access to federal crop insurance like growers do in other states. Right now, the insurance is available in only four New York counties.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York Agribusiness
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is urgently recommending an independent audit of the Baltimore schools transportation department, saying students remain at risk after a crash that killed six people.

The agency made recommendations Tuesday to state and city school officials as a result of its investigation of the November collision between a school bus and a transit bus. The school bus driver and five people on the transit bus were killed. No students were on board the school bus.

The investigation revealed that the school bus driver, Glenn Chappell, had been in at least 12 crashes in the past five years. He also had a documented history of health issues, including hypertension, diabetes and seizures. Investigators said he suffered a seizure just one week before the wreck.

In addition to the audit, the agency said the state should mandate that it be notified when drivers are found to be not qualified to drive during pre-employment screenings. Once the audit is complete, the agency said the school system must take corrective action to make sure all bus drivers are properly screened and meet qualifications.

The report also identifies failures and inadequacies on the part of the citys public school system. After Chappell was involved in a crash that injured a teachers aide in 2011, the school system didnt evaluate his medical condition, nor did its transportation department document or review his prior crashes.

BCPS also does not adequately maintain crash reports, criminal background reports or crash costs documentation, and uses a drug testing program that is not in compliance with federal standards, investigators wrote.

Throughout Chappells tenure as a bus driver for AAAfordable Transportation, a firm that provides bus drivers to Baltimore public schools, the school system received 11 alerts about criminal charges pending against him.

The alerts come from the Criminal Justice Information Service, a system all contractors are required by law to use for background checks on their bus drivers. The school system didnt keep those alerts on file, the report says.

The NTSB is concerned that these BCPS shortcomings in its oversight of school bus drivers place BCPS students, as well as the public, at risk, the report reads. Although BCPS has taken some steps to improve its processes, the risks posed by unqualified drivers remain.

Representatives of the Baltimore City Public Schools and the Maryland Department of Education did not immediately respond to calls for comment on Tuesday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA
Hungarian low-cost airlines, Wizz Air, launched flights between Lviv's Danyla Halytsky airport and the Polish city of Wroclaw on April 13, 2017.

"Passengers planning their vacation or weekend in Poland will be able to visit Wroclaw thanks to a convenient schedule of flights with a frequency of their execution twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays at a ticket price starting from 409," the airline said in a press release.

The company reminds that it is launching eight new routes from Ukraine in 2017, taking into account the launch of a second flight from Lviv to Berlin and flights from Kyiv to Poznan and Lublin in Poland; Frankfurt-Hahn and Hanover in Germany. Moreover, the second Airbus-320 will join the Kyiv fleet, which will contribute to the creation of 36 new jobs, as well as the development of services and tourism.

Taking into account new flights, Wizz Air offers low-cost flights from Ukrainian airports to 21 destinations in eight countries.

Wizz Air services more than 500 routes from 28 bases, connecting 140 destinations in 42 countries. Its fleet consists of 80 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.
The governors of New Jersey and New York say they want independent verification of track safety at New Yorks Penn Station, citing recent train derailments and serious service disruptions.

New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie and New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the request in a letter sent on Monday to the heads of Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration.

They noted the agencies are reviewing Amtraks infrastructure and maintenance protocols. But they said their states havent been invited to take part in the assessment or in the development of the needed response.

New York and New Jersey are the main users of Penn Station via the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit, with about 430,000 passengers each weekday.

Amtrak has said it and the FRA will assemble experts to study maintenance and efficiency issues and will involve the LIRR and NJ Transit.

Amtrak is committed to improving the immediate conditions at Penn Station, while working with all our partners to address the lack of capacity and aging assets that threaten the reliable operation of the nations busiest station, it said in an emailed statement.

It said a joint inspection of Penn Station it launched with the FRA and other railroad safety experts will provide an independent assessment of the current conditions and recommendations for any needed improvements.

An April 3 derailment, the second in less than two weeks, wreaked havoc for hundreds of thousands of commuters and long-distance travelers on the Eastern Seaboard. Three cars in the middle of an inbound NJ Transit train dislodged from a track as it approached a platform.

The derailment, which damaged the track and a switch and knocked out service on eight of 21 tracks, apparently was unrelated to a March 24 incident in which an outbound Amtrak train left the tracks and scraped against an inbound NJ Transit train.

No serious injuries were reported in either derailment.

The FRA, the chief safety regulator for the rail industry, said proper infrastructure maintenance is critical to help ensure the safety of the traveling public.

It said the recent Penn Station derailments are under investigation and review and it will conduct a thorough examination of the entire Penn Station infrastructure.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York New Jersey
Evan Freely has been insuring global risks for years  through the 2008 market meltdown, the 2002 crisis in Argentina, and the 1993 downturn in Venezuela.

Yet turmoil now seems to be coming at a more rapid pace than hes seen before. Im more concerned today about political risk than ever, says Freely, the global head of political risk and credit specialties at Marsh & McLennan Cos., the worlds largest insurance broker.

Rising populism in France, Germany, Denmark, and Greece has turned up the dial on his companys barometer of turmoil in the region. That and other developments are pushing the market for political risk insurance toward $10 billion in 2018, up from $8.1 billion in 2015, according to a KPMG LLP report published last year.

The consulting firm says demand has been spurred by companies looking for coverage against cyber attacks and terrorist events. KPMG reckons that cyber security insurance will be the fastest-growing segment of the market, increasing 20 percent a year from 2015 through 2018.

Terrorist and hacking threats are compounded by changes in attitudes. Many Europeans have become averse to free trade, to immigration, and to losing national identities, according to Freelys group at Marsh & McLennan.

Geopolitical risks, meanwhile, could have a negative impact on investment returns, according to a majority of respondents to a February CFA Institute survey of almost 1,500 investment professionals. Among the risks they identify: the election of Donald Trump, Brexit, and the possible further fracture of the European Union.

This year many investors have thus been closely following the French presidential campaign of Marine Le Pen, a far-right candidate whos threatened to exit the euro zone and opposed EU sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict as counterproductive. In polling for the first round of elections on April 23, Le Pen has led for stretches, with support of roughly 26 percent of French voters. Yet when it comes to the second round of voting, a runoff scheduled for May 7, shes trailed rivals Emmanuel Macron and Francois Fillon in polling and betting markets.

Even if Le Pen loses her bid, populism in Europe and elsewhere is here to stay, observers say. How durable is the phenomenon? Our view is that its structural, says Alexander Kazan, managing director for emerging markets strategy and comparative analytics at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultant. He points to a falling trust in governments and institutions, especially among younger people, as well as decreasing support for political parties.

Thats a view echoed by top hedge fund managers including Appaloosa Managements David Tepper and Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio, who, in a 61-page paper published in March, said populism could be a greater force in shaping markets over the next year than monetary or fiscal policies. By tracking the share of votes going to anti-establishment candidates in the developed world, Dalio determined that populism is at its highest levels since the 1930s.

Populist movements also seem to invite cyber support from foreign hackers, especially those based in Russia, says Raf Sanchez, an international breach response manager at Beazley Group, one of the worlds largest cyber insurers. Sustained attacks in France, Italy, and the U.S. all point back to Russia. From an anecdotal level, populism is impacting the level of cyber risk, he says. Its almost a win-win for criminals.

A more fragmented world may increase the potential to inflict damages across borders, Sanchez adds. In effect, populism could eventually feed back on itself, setting the stage for even more shake-ups.

Kochkodin is a managing editor at Bloomberg News in New York. Basak covers insurers in New York.

This story appears in the April/May 2017 issue of Bloomberg Markets magazine.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Cyber Agencies Russia Europe
An explosion on April 11 at a sprawling ammunition plant near Kansas City, Missouri, killed one worker and injured four others, the U.S. Army said.

The blast at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, just east of Kansas City, occurred in a building where chemicals are mixed, Army officials. The building has been secured and rendered safe, they said, allowing investigators to begin looking into what caused the explosion.

All the plants nearly 1,800 employees were sent home Tuesday after the blast 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.

The plant had an explosion in 2011 in which six people were injured, and it has been fined for workplace safety issues at least three times.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will lead the investigation into Tuesdays explosion. Workplace safety experts with the U.S. Department of Labors 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.

Lt. Col. Eric B. Dennis, the plants commander, offered his condolences to family members of the worker who died.

Making ammunition is dangerous work and our employees risk their lives to protect the men and women in uniform, Dennis said. This is the sacrifice they make to support our country and I am humbled by the ultimate sacrifice this employee made today.

The plant is operated by Dulles, Virginia-based contractor Orbital ATK, the biggest maker of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. Department of Defense. 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 announced that it has received a $92 million order from the Army 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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Workers' Compensation Missouri
Lawyers for the passenger dragged from a United Airlines plane in Chicago filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court on Wednesday to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

Citing the risk of serious prejudice to their client, Dr. David Dao, the lawyers want United and the City of Chicago, which runs OHare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

The filing with the Cook County Circuit Court likely presages an eventual lawsuit against United for the April 9 incident, where Dao was snatched from the seat he had paid for, and was dragged by his hands on his back off the parked plane, which had been bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz on Wednesday issued Dao an apology and said the company would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights after global outrage erupted over the way Dao had been treated by airline and airport security staff.

Munoz said United would be examining its incentive program for volunteers on overbooked planes.

The Sunday evening incident caused a furor around the world as video recorded by fellow passengers showed airport security officers yanking Dr. David Dao from his seat aboard the flight.

Much of the uproar stemmed from Daos status as a paying passenger who was being removed to make room for additional crew members on the overbooked flight.

On Capitol Hill, powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers denounced how Dao was treated and called for United to explain the situation.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, announced plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would prohibit the forcible removal of passengers already aboard an aircraft due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers.

Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon, but he told ABC that he had no plans to resign over the incident.

Shares of United Continental closed 1.1 percent lower at $69.93. They fell as much as 4.4 percent on Tuesday.

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycotts of the No. 3 U.S. carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.

Delta Air Lines Inc CEO Ed Bastian defended overbooking as a valid business practice that does not require additional oversight by the government.

Its not a question, in my opinion, as to whether you overbook, Bastian said on a Wednesday earnings call. Its how you manage an overbook situation.

As of Tuesday, Dao was still in a Chicago hospital recovering from his injuries, his lawyer said.

Footage from the incident shows Dao, bloodied and disheveled, returning to the cabin and repeating: Just kill me. Kill me, and I have to go home.

In the ABC interview, Munoz apologized profusely to Dao, his family, passengers and United customers.

This can never, will never happen again, he said.

(Reporting by Alana Wise in New York; Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Richard Chang)

Topics USA Aviation
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s bid to dismiss two of the four female plaintiffs in a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the bank of discriminating against women in pay and promotions.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan said former vice president Mary De Luis claims did not become moot when she resigned last May, after the bank allegedly retaliated for her role in the case by refusing to allow a transfer to Miami from Dallas unless she accepted a demotion.

The judge also said another ex-employee, former vice president Allison Gamba, had standing to pursue her claims even after Goldman left her without a job in August 2014 when it divested itself of her department.

Torres said a judge who previously oversaw the 6-1/2-year-old lawsuit misinterpreted a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Dukes, in finding that former employees like De Luis and Gamba who sought reinstatement could not sue.

In an email, Goldman said it was examining the implications of the latest ruling and will continue to contest this matter vigorously.

The plaintiffs accused Goldman of systematically paying women less than men, and giving them weaker performance reviews that impeded their career growth.

Their lawsuit, which began in September 2010, also included allegations that Goldman maintained a boys club atmosphere.

This included the use of sexual language, unwanted touching and subjecting women to the double-edged sword of being expected to socialize after work with colleagues to advance their careers, it said, but risk being labeled party girls if they did.

The other named plaintiffs include former Goldman employees Cristina Chen-Oster and Shanna Orlich, who were a vice president and associate, respectively. A fifth plaintiff agreed to arbitration.

Torres brought consistency to how the Southern District of New York interprets standing, Kelly Dermody, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview, referring to the Manhattan court. This had been a big stopping point in the case and all four plaintiffs can seek class-action status.

Class-action certification could let thousands of women sue together, raising the potential for larger awards without excessive legal costs.

The case is Chen-Oster et al v. Goldman Sachs & Co. et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 10-06950.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, editing by G. Crosse)

Topics Lawsuits USA New York
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds to a growing body of recent research supporting the use of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) as a first line treatment for acute low back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

The review examined randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and other published research since 2011 to determine the effectiveness and safety of SMT for low back pain patients. Researchers found that spinal manipulation was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain and function for up to six weeks with no serious adverse side effects.

The JAMA study, published April 11, comes on the heels of new low back pain treatment guidelines by the American College of Physicians (ACP) that recommend first using non-invasive, non-drug treatments, including spinal manipulation, before resorting to drug therapies.

As the nation struggles to overcome the opioid crisis, research supporting non-drug treatments for pain should give patients and health care providers confidence that there are options that help avoid the risks and dependency associated with prescription medications, said ACA President David Herd.

Last month, ACA formally adopted the low back pain treatment guidelines.

By identifying and adopting guidelines that ACA believes reflect best practices based on the best available scientific evidence on low back pain, we hope not only to enhance outcomes but also to create greater consensus regarding patient care among chiropractors, other health care providers, payers and policy makers, said Dr. Herd.

According to a 2016 Gallup survey, more than 35 million people visit a chiropractor annually.

Topics Drugs
The U.S. Department of Justice says Norman Regional Hospital, a former hospital administrator and six doctors have agreed to pay a total of $1.6 million to settle allegations the false claims were filed for federal Medicare payments.

A civil lawsuit alleged former hospital administrator Greg Terrell and doctors Chadwick Webber, Merl Kardokus, Rick Wedel, Gautham Dehadrai, Barbara Landaal and Sanjay Narotam billed Medicare for radiology services that were not personally supervised by a physician, as required in order to receive Medicare payments.

The defendants did not admit liability, but the settlement allows both sides to avoid the expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Oklahoma
Officials say 47 people have been displaced after a fire at a southwest Florida apartment complex left one building uninhabitable.

The Naples Daily News reports that North Collier Fire Rescue crews responded to Bear Creek Apartments on Monday. They found a fire burning through four third-floor apartments. A few firefighters suffered minor injuries while bringing the blaze under control.

The Red Cross met with residents at the apartment complex clubhouse to discuss temporary housing.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
Several bills addressing changes to Floridas workers compensation system were filed this legislative session in response to court decisions from the states high court in 2016, but it remains to be seen which, if any, will make it through.

So far, the front-runners to address decisions by the Florida Supreme Court that found aspects of the Florida Workers Comp Act unconstitutional, and subsequently led to 14.5 percent rate hikes, are two bills  House Bill 7085 and Senate Bill 1582  that seek to reform the states workers comp system.

HB7085, sponsored by Rep. Danny Burgess, extends the timeframe in which employees may receive certain workers compensation benefits from 104 weeks to 260 weeks and the timeframe for when a carrier must notify the treating doctor of certain requirements. It also revises provisions relating to retainer agreements and the awarding of attorney fees.

The industry has voiced the most support for this bill since an amendment was added by the House Commerce Committee April 6 capping attorneys fees at $150 an hour on approval by a judge of compensation claims (the bill originally had them capped at $250 an hour). This is meant to address the Florida Supreme Courts decision in the case of Castellanos v. Next Door Company, which found the states mandatory attorneys fee schedule for workers compensation cases eliminates the right of a claimant to get a reasonable attorneys fee  a critical feature of the workers compensation law.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said the bill as amended, would address decisions by the Florida Supreme Court rulings that could cause workers compensation rates to increase by 14.5 percent in the state, costing Florida job creators more than $1.5 billion.

Trey Gillespie, senior workers compensation director for PCI, said the most glaring difference between the House and Senate bills are the attorney fee provisions  the Senate bill has attorney fees capped at $250 an hour (if the judge of compensation claims opts to deviate from the statutory fee schedule for claimants attorneys), which the industry is not in favor of.

Gillespie said another aspect of SB1582, proposed by Sen. Rob Bradley, that concerns the industry is a cap placed on expenses for administrative costs of policies, like attorneys fees and claims adjustment expenses.

Gillespie said that the Senate bill stipulates that an insurers defense and cost containment expenses that exceed 15 percent for workers comp would be considered excessive. The insurer could be required to issue refunds to policyholders if it goes over that threshold.

Gillespie said that stipulation is not a very workable way of addressing the litigious nature of the Florida Workers Comp Act.

It puts policyholders at risk, even though it promises a rebate, he said. It interferes with the ability of the insurance company to provide a defense for their policyholders.

The Senate Appropriations Committee was set to hear SB1582 on Thursday and HB7085 is now ready to be heard by the full House.

Gillespie said both bills are very fluid and it is impossible to predict what the final versions of these bills will look like, or, if they will be passed at all.

There is the possibility of no significant workers comp reform in this session, Gillespie said. If that is the case, not all is lost because there has been such a good and open discussion of issues that I think it would key things up pretty well for the next legislative session.

In the meantime, Florida businesses still have a 14.5 percent rate increase to contend with and the possibility of additional rate increases next year. An actuary from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) told the Florida House that it is reasonable to expect that there would be continued pressure on rates if reform isnt passed.

Gillespie added that rate increases could be rolled back to some degree and instill a more stable environment for businesses if the legislature addresses the issue.

Florida workers comp will continue to draw a lot of attention on the business and insurance community, and as such, reforms could be enacted to give relief, but the devil is always in the details, he said. If theres not effective reform passed in 2017 then I am sure the business community will look at proposing reforms in 2018.

Topics Florida Workers' Compensation
A wildfire sparked by lightning in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is spreading through government-owned swamp and forestland, having burned more than 9 square miles (23.3 square km) near the Georgia-Florida state line.

Susan Heisey, supervisory ranger for the refuge, said Tuesday more firefighters are being added to a team of more than 100 thats trying to contain the roughly 6,000-acre (24.2 square km) blaze to public land.

Heisey said the fire that started in the southern portion of the Okefenokee refuges vast 407,000 acres (1,647 square km) has now spread into the neighboring Osceola National Forest and John M. Bethea State Forest in Florida.

Heisey said the fire has been spreading westward, away from area communities. All camp sites and trails in the Okefenokee refuge remain open to visitors.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Georgia
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has endorsed the resignation of Ihor Bilous from the post of head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) at his own request.

According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, 242 people's deputies voted for the corresponding resolution at a plenary session on April 13.

During the discussion, representatives of some factions said Bilous should report on his activities as the SPF head to the parliament.
A former resident of a childrens group home in Northern California has been awarded nearly $4.5 million after jurors found he was severely neglected by the homes caregivers while living at the facility.

The Sacramento Bee reports the jurors determined that EMQ FamiliesFirst caused the child emotional distress and concealed information from him and his family.

The alleged neglect took place at the Davis group home in 2012 and 2013, starting when the boy was 11.

The plaintiffs attorney alleged in court documents that the boy had been sexually and physically assaulted while away from the home one night.

The group home ultimately lost its state license in 2013.

It had shed about 100 employees amid allegations of sexual assaults and unsupervised children walking away from the facility.

Topics California
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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).

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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.

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Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer

NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents.

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The Ukrainian conflict may hurdle the normalization of relations between the United States and Russia until it is fully settled, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.

"Until the full progress is made under the Minsk Accord, the situation in Ukraine will remain an obstacle to the improvement of relations between U.S. and Russia," Tillerson told a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

"Russia can make progress in the implementation by de-escalating violence and taking steps to withdraw separatist armed forces and heavy weapons, so that OSCE observers can fulfill their role," he said.
On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani remarked, Today, more than ever before, we must unite because it is not clear what visions the people in power now in the U.S. have for the region and the world. We must be very aware and plan very carefully, to be ready for a variety of probabilities. Good elections are the power of Iran and our nation

Controlled by the faction loyal to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Irans state TV censored these remarks from Rouhanis speech. To understand why they were censored, one must look to an article published by the Kayhan daily, which is known to also be controlled by Khamenei. The piece reads, A Western leaning current (referring to Rouhanis faction) that has no achievements to boast about, legitimize their continued presence by claiming the possibility of a U.S. attack is very serious if others come to power and are not willing to engage with the U.S.

According to the Arya website, Rouhanis faction stated, If Iran resorts to adequate political statements and refrains from providing pretexts to [U.S. President Donald] Trump, the government will be able to contain Trumps America.

The Aftab News website reported this statement, Irans opponents seek a quick and emotional response by us to events such as the U.S. missile attack against Syria. However, Iran understand what its opponents are after and should prepare itself from within against foreign threats. No doubt this is why the Americans have scheduled their next measure against Iran after the May presidential election.

Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, wrote, [The U.S. attack on Syria] is a type of message meant to create a climate of fear, that with Trump in the White House all forecasted predictions have changed and the results will be changing. The necessary individuals able to prevent such developments must be elected.

What all of these viewpoints have in common, is that the U.S. attack on Syria rocked both of Irans factions and increased their political disputes.

However, the main issue is that the entire Iranian regime has suffered a major blow after this groundbreaking development.
Ryanair has today announced an Easter sale.

Seats to over 900 destinations will be on sale from 19.99 across its European network.

Popular destinations include Barcelona, Faro, Krakow and Rome.

The reduced fares are available now for travel in April and May but must be booked before midnight Tuesday (18 Apr) and can only be found on the Ryanair.com website.

Ryanairs Robin Kiely said: Ryanair customers are hopping off across Europe for the Easter break and its not too late to book a low fare getaway with our Easter specials."
Ireland will miss its targets to slash greenhouse emissions by 2020 with the Governments environmental and energy policies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is forecasting that the Republic will only cut the release of harmful gases by 4% to 6% of 2005 levels while the target was 20%.

And the watchdog said emissions are projected to increase to 2030 and beyond.

EPA director general Laura Burke said the forecasts are disappointing and Government policies to reduce emissions and meet compliance obligations are failing in an improving economy.

"In addition, Ireland has a national policy position that commits us to reducing our carbon emissions by at least 80 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors while achieving carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use sectors," she said.

"If we are to realise this policy position and our aspirations to transition to a low carbon economy, then any new measures to be included in the upcoming and future National Mitigation plans need to be innovative and effective to get Irelands emissions back on a sustainable trajectory.

"This will take planning, investment and time but can be achieved in the overall framework of national, EU and global commitments."

The EPA said the vast majority of Irelands non-Emissions Trading Scheme gases in 2020 will be from agriculture at 45% and transport at 29%.

From 2015 to 2020, farming emissions are forecast to increase by 4% to 5% while transport emissions are projected to show strong growth over the same period of 10% to 12%.

The EPA warned that new obligations for Ireland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 are expected to be agreed by the European Union next year.

The further away Ireland is from the 20% reduction target in 2020, the more difficult the compliance challenges in the following decade are likely to become, it said.

Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, said the report is a stark picture of the challenges facing Ireland.

"It is clear that there are no easy options to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on the scale required in the coming decades," he said.

Mr Naughten said Irelands first National Mitigation Plan, which will set out policies on decarbonisation and is currently undergoing public consultation, will be complex and often expensive to implement.

"However, in many cases, these options will have a range of environmental, economic and other benefits, not just in relation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also in relation to a range of other environmental indicators and in developing a more sustainable economic framework for Ireland in the decades to come," the minister said.

Mr Naughten also said the lack of progress on emissions was in part due to the inability to invest in greener policies in the recession.

He said he would argue that the 2020 target was not consistent with what was achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis.

"Though not unexpected, given the welcome return to economic growth in Ireland, it nevertheless serves to further reinforce the difficult decisions ahead of us as we try to further reduce our emissions out to 2030," he said.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the failure to meet targets was a national embarrassment and that Ireland will be one of only two European Union states not to meet the 2020 requirements.

"The Government has seen emissions reduction as a cost rather than an economic opportunity for Ireland," he said.

"Transitioning to a Green economy is an economic opportunity that we are missing out on. Instead, the gulf between Governments empty rhetoric and the actual situation will cost us dearly in our quality of life."
A passenger dragged from a United Express flight suffered a "significant" concussion and broken nose, and he lost two front teeth, one of his lawyers has said.

Dr David Dao has been discharged from a hospital but he will require reconstructive surgery, said attorney Thomas Demetrio - whose law firm is representing the 69-year-old Kentucky physician.

Dr Dao was removed from the plane on Sunday after he refused to give up his seat on the full flight from Chicago to Louisville.

One of Dr Dao's five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was "horrified, shocked and sickened" to learn and see what happened.

She said seeing her father removed from the Sunday flight was "exacerbated" by the fact it was caught on video and widely distributed.

@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

Mr Demetrio said he likely will file a lawsuit on Dr Dao's behalf, adding that airlines - and United in particular - have long "bullied" passengers.

The video of a passenger being dragged by an officer from a United Express flight shined an unwanted spotlight on the little-known police force that guards Chicago's two main airports and could threaten the agency's future.

Chicago's aviation officers are not part of the regular police force, unlike in many other big cities.

They get less training than regular officers and cannot carry firearms inside the airports.

Three of them were put on leave amid outrage over how they treated the passenger.

Footage of the confrontation "really has put it at risk", Alderman Chris Taliaferro said on Wednesday, a day before aldermen were scheduled to grill United and the Chicago Aviation Department about why a Kentucky physician was yanked out of his seat after he refused to get off the full jet at O'Hare Airport.

The City Council is looking for answers about the embarrassing video that has been seen around the world.

At the top of the list of questions is whether the airport officers even had the legal authority to board the plane, said Alderman Michael Zalewski, who leads the council's aviation committee.

"They are allowed in the terminal and baggage area, but my understanding is they may not be allowed on a plane," he said.

Mr Zalewski also said that he is not sure if the officers have the authority to make arrests or if they are authorised only to write tickets.

An Aviation Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions about the duties of the aviation police force, but Mr Zalewski said the agency's commissioner will be asked that on Thursday.

The department will also be asked about training. Mr Zalewski said airport officers receive four months of training compared with the six months cadets must complete before joining the city's police department.

"We don't know what that two-month gap means," he said, adding that he will ask if the airport officers receive the same kind of training in de-escalating tense situations that city police officers get.

AP
Thats an important principle to keep in mind when reading about the legal back-and-forth between two of the worlds largest companies. Apple in January sued Qualcomm, contending that the maker of smartphone computer chips abuses its control over essential mobile phone technology to overcharge Apple and others.

Companies including Apple pay Qualcomm a percentage of each phones total sale price for the chipmakers patented wireless technology, whether they buy Qualcomms chips or not.

Qualcomm struck back earlier this week by saying Apple misled US government regulators to spur them to crack down on Qualcomms business practices, including how the company calculates its royalty fees.

By the looks of the litigation so far, this promises to be a nasty fight. Apple is seeking $1bn (943m) from Qualcomm and billions of dollars more to compensate for years of overcharging.

And if Apple wins, Qualcomms highly profitable business model is potentially at risk.

Apple is not alone in its complaints about how Qualcomm calculates the fees for its technology.

A crucial question, however, is why Apple is picking this moment to press the issue. Qualcomms model has been in place for a couple of decades. It could be that Apple reached a breaking point with Qualcomm. Apple may also be piggybacking on work of regulators in places like the US, South Korea and China, which have made claims similar to Apples about how customers pay Qualcomm. Or it could be that Apples iPhone franchise is financially vulnerable like never before, and litigation is the way a cornered corporation strikes back to protect a fragile business.

The lawsuit against Qualcomm comes at a point when sales of new smartphones have slowed to a crawl.

Research firm IDC expects global smartphone sales will increase 4.2% this year, a bit better than last years 2.5%, which was the slowest rate ever. Apples revenue from its iPhone line fell last year for the first time in the devices history. That is a particularly painful set of market conditions for Apple, which generates about two-thirds of its annual revenue from iPhone sales.

And perhaps more worrisome for Apple, its also becoming tougher for the company to maintain its remarkably consistent profit margins.

Apple is known for being allergic to anything that dents its high and resilient gross margins  the percentage of total revenue left over after Apple pays to make its products. They have hovered around 38% to 40% quarter after quarter. Its a figure on which Apple and its investors fixate. Im not sure the company needs to focus anymore on continuing to hit those gross margin targets, but thats a discussion for another day.

The trouble is that costs for essential parts of smartphones, including memory chips and screens, have been rising, and phone makers are having trouble passing the full freight of the cost increases on to their customers. Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated iPhone gross margins have dropped 15 percentage points since 2012 and will most likely decline further.

To be fair to Apple, it has developed new lines of business, including sales of apps and streaming music subscriptions, that generate significantly higher margins than the iPhone does.

But the iPhone remains the business on which Apple depends.

Investors fears about Apples gross margin pressure have abated a bit in recent months.

But the future trend is unmistakable. Apple keeps adding more high-cost parts and materials to the iPhone, including reportedly an ultra high-resolution screen in one of the next iPhone models and perhaps technology to enable future 3D or virtual reality-style features.

Apple has been clever about finding ways to subtly increase the prices it charges for iPhones, but competition from Samsung and other makers means Apple cant charge iPhone buyers enough to fully offset rising costs.

Another lever Apple can pull, of course, is to lower its bills for the technologies and parts that go into the iPhone. Keep that essential goal in mind during what is sure to be many months of headlines about the Apple-Qualcomm dispute. This may be a fight between technology powers, but base human instincts are at work here.

Apples courtroom battle is motivated by fear.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Kilmkin has said that it is important to develop transport networks between the European Union and Eastern Partnership countries and guarantee their security, while politically driven projects are inadmissible.

The press service of Foreign Ministry reported that at the meeting devoted to the development of transport networks between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries in Warsaw the minister said that the interconnectivity should be considered in a broader context, as this is not only the issue of transport, but supplies of energy, provision for energy security, effective joint border and customs control, liberalization of visa regime and annulment of roaming fees.

Klimkin also said that the essential element of developing interconnectivity must be provision for its security. He paid attention to steps made by Russia aimed at blocking transit of Ukrainian goods to Asian countries. He said that it is inadmissible to implement politically motivated projects, in particular, Nord Stream 2.

The Ukrainian foreign minister said that the pragmatic approach to the implementation of the Eastern Partnership initiative must be used, strengthening solidarity and attracting the EU to solving common tasks as closer as possible.

At the meeting of foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group, Eastern Partnership and some EU countries Klimkin said that activities under the EU Eastern Partnership initiative should be aimed at achieving concrete practical results that would be clear and obvious for ordinary people.
The company, which has salad mixtures as its signature dish, is opening 20 outlets in 2017, promising to create 430 jobs. There will be 320 new employees for Ireland and 110 for its UK expansion.

The company will double its outlets in Ireland to 40 as well as six in the UK. The outlets in Cork, Waterford and Wicklow will join existing Chopped locations in Dublin, Kildare and Galway.
The bank which is owned by Bank of America operates a European head office in Dublin and a branch office in London.

Its 70 staff are well- rewarded for their work. New accounts show that they shared a pay pot of $26m (24.5m), or an average of $370,000.

The international bank once had $483bn in assets based here but this has shrunk to $4.9bn.

The directors have warned of the consequences of a hard Brexit.

If the terms of the exit limit the ability of Bank of Americas entities to conduct business in the EU or otherwise result in a significant increase in economic barriers between the UK and the EU, those changes could impact the companys business, financial condition and operational model, they said.

Before the Brexit referendum, the bank was scaling back its operations here, reducing its payroll to 70 people from 173 last year.

In 2010, it employed almost 2,050 people. The new accounts show that Merrill Lynch International posted pre-tax profits of $130.34m last year. It had a loss of $25m in 2015.

The banks shareholder funds fell by almost $1bn to $4.99m.

The directors said it is now almost de-risked from global markets and global banking activity and no longer originates new business.

It retains a small rates and currencies business where the market risk is hedged.

The directors also point out that the bank also retains a small global markets and global banking portfolio which is being run off.
The British supermarket company yesterday reported underlying group operating profits of 1.28bn (1.5bn) for the 12 months to the end of February. That was up nearly 30% on the previous year and was marginally ahead of analysts expectations. Net debt for the year was cut by 27% and group revenue rose by over 4% to just under 50bn.

However, in Ireland, Tesco saw a 0.1% fall in like-for-like sales. The decline was brought on by a disappointing last quarter, which saw sales fall by 1.3% on a yearly basis. However, the first three quarters of the year saw Tesco Ireland record annualised sales increases of 0.3%, 0.1% and 0.5%.

Tescos share price fell by up to 6% yesterday, but its ongoing financial recovery was deemed enough to potentially strengthen chief executive Dave Lewiss hand as he seeks investor backing for his plan to buy UK food wholesaler Booker in a near 4bn deal.

Tesco needs its results to impress to help persuade shareholders it can make a success of buying Booker. Yesterdays figures also included a first annual increase in underlying sales in Tescos core UK business for seven years.

The Booker deal is seen as Mr Lewiss boldest move yet. He believes it will provide Tesco with a new avenue of growth by giving it access to the fast-growing out-of- home food market, given the targets role in distributing to restaurants.

My job is not just to be managing the short term for Tesco, it is about managing the medium and the long term, he said.

Buying Booker will increase Tescos UK exposure,

Lewis said Tesco had no plans for further overseas disposals. Tesco and Booker are engaging with the UKs Competition and Markets Authority , which has yet to formally confirm the start of an investigation into the deal.

Two of Tescos biggest shareholders last month urged it to drop the 3.7bn Booker bid, saying it was overpaying and the deal was a distraction from its turnaround plan.

The results today should give everybody confidence that the management team were completely focused on the continued turnaround of the business, Mr Lewis, who joined Tesco in 2014 when the group was in crisis, told reporters yesterday.

Hopefully our shareholders and other stakeholders can see that the team continued to deliver, he said.

Additional reporting Reuters
Nearly 4,000 animals have gone to Belgium so far this year, in a renewed trade which had collapsed from 21,757 in 2014 to about 1,000 across 2015 and 2016.

The upsurge in the trade has come as a surprise amid widespread warnings that our live cattle trade would be hit by changes in animal health rules across the EU, particularly in Belgium, but also in the Netherlands.
Our 1kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kg of milk is bettered only in Austria, but only by a very small margin.

That compares with an EU average of about 1.4kg, or 1.7kg in Hungary and Romania, 1.6kg in Denmark, and 1.4kg in the Netherlands.

However, recent research commissioned by the European Parliament indicated that Ireland had the highest level of GHG emissions per euro of agricultural output in the 28 EU member states.

Who should farmers listen to  the scientists in Teagasc or the politicians in the European Parliament?

In the science of GHG emissions, the statistics can be expressed in different ways. Officially, GHG emissions are reported on an absolute basis (total emissions associated with each livestock unit or kg of fertiliser, etc).

Expressing GHG emissions per euro of agricultural output does not seem a very good idea, bearing in mind that the average farmgate EU milk price has varied from 25c to 40c per litre since 2009, and the farmgate EU beef price has varied from about 3 to 4.30 per kg deadweight.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture commented on the European Parliament research findings, saying they should not be interpreted to mean we are the least climate efficient.

An Taisce said the European Parliament document (Research for AGRI Committee: Policy support for productivity vs sustainability in EU agriculture: Towards viable farming and green growth) showed Italy did best, achieving 1,700 of agricultural output per tonne of emissions, and Ireland did worst, with less than 400 of output.

However, no mention is made of Italian farmers getting 37c per litre for milk, compared to 24c in Ireland, over the past year, and Italian farmers getting 410c per kg for beef in March, compared to Irelands 385c.

An Taisce recommends a phased Irish withdrawal from beef farming, because it accounts for a grossly disproportionate amount of our total national emissions.

It correctly points out that our beef farming survives only due to EU payments.

An Taisce was responding to a strong IFA statement which accused environmental NGOs of undermining the agri-food sector.

IFAs Thomas Cooney said the European Parliaments data excluded greenhouse gases stored in grassland and cropland.

He called for acknowledgement of Irelands productivity efficiencies, and said the European Commissions Joint Research Centre has conclusively demonstrated Irelands leading position in sustainable food production.

In contrast, he said, other sectors such as transport have allowed emissions to spiral out of control.

The war of words between An Taisce and IFA came as no surprise, because so much is at stake.

On one hand, the FoodWise 2025 plan proposes an 85% increase in food and drink export value, a 65% increase in primary production value, and 23,000 extra jobs.

On the other hand, the EUs Climate and Energy Package sets a 20% GHG reduction target for Ireland by 2020.

Nationally, emissions must be cut from our residential power consumption, transport, waste and agriculture (which has a huge 49% of these emissions). At the very least, statistics which will decide who cuts how much must be based on standardised statistics.

Then, each sector can play its part.

Farmers are already playing their part, with 24,000 taking part in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, which is expected to achieve greenhouse gas savings from agriculture in the range of 65 to 300 kilotons of CO2 per year by 2020 (between 0.35 % and 1.6% of Irelands total agricultural emissions).

A system called the Carbon Navigator is helping all farmers reduce GHG emissions. There is scope to enhance grassland and cropland carbon sinks through optimal management, and we are planting forestry for carbon sequestration.
Figures obtained by Fianna Fail health spokesperson Billy Kelleher show of 255 children nationally waiting more than 12 months to access community-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHs), 107 are based in the Cork and Kerry region. This figure accounts for 42% of the total.

Problems accessing CAMHs in the south are not confined to community teams. This week the Irish Examiner reported an emergency out-of-hours CAMHs on-call service at two Cork city emergency departments  Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital  has been suspended indefinitely due to staffing problems.
The appeal was made by the familys solicitor at the inquest of the late Patrick Dowds at Letterkenny Coroners Court in Co Donegal.

The court heard gruesome details of how the 65-year-man was mauled to death and his twin brother George suffered serious injuries when the bull attacked them during separate incidents on their farm in Burt on September 16 last year.

Patrick Dowds was found by relatives in a field having suffered serious chest injuries after being trampled on by the Charolais bull.

His twin brother George Dowds, who lived with his sibling, escaped with his life when the bull turned on him as he searched for his missing family member.

George Dowds told the court he became worried when his brother failed to return to the family home for breakfast, as he always did around 10am, having checked on the animals. He contacted other relatives and they went to put away the bull and other cows so they could search safely.

Although he remembered nothing of the attack, George Dowds believes he was attacked by the bull and had to be taken from the field by other family members.

Patrick Dowds was found a short time later at the back of the six-acre field having been dragged through the field. His shirt was partially torn off him by the bull, which was later put down.

The owner of the bull, who was a neighbour of the Dowds brothers, said the three-year-old animal had shown no previous sign of aggression.

John McDaid had not charged the Dowds for the loan of the bull to cover their 30 cows, describing it simply as a neighbourly gesture.

He did not agree with suggestions from Seamus Gunne, solicitor for the Dowds family, that the bull may have become aggressive because the other cows had been removed from the field.

That breed of a bull would never show aggression, that would happen more in Friesians. You always have to be cautious and have respect and you naturally take a stick with you, he said.

But no, if he had one cow they are usually happy enough.

Pathologist Dr Gerry ODowd told the court he found significant external injuries to Patrick Dowds face and head and that he had also suffered a total of 17 rib fractures, as well as fractures to his sternum and breast bone.

He said death was due to respiratory failure secondary to chest trauma as a result of being trampled by a bull.

Mr Gunne said it cannot be understated that there is a requirement for vigilance and alertness and a professional approach when dealing with [bulls].

Im not sure if that is well enough stressed by the IFA and Department of Agriculture. In a space of two hours this bull has killed a farmer and was in the course of killing another. The message has to go out there that you cannot be relaxed in any way in dealing with these animals  especially on covering season. If that message goes out then Patricks life will not have been in vain, he said.

Coroner Dr Denis McCauley said his verdict was that Mr Dowds died as a result of a farm accident caused by respiratory failure as a result of a flail chest caused by trampling of a bull.
Speaking during a debate on the Fennelly Commission report, Ms Fitzgerald paid a warm tribute to the attorney general who has been the subject of fierce criticism over her handling of allegations at the heart of the controversy.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny also moved to defend the actions of the attorney general who has been accused in the Dail of being panicked and over-reactive.

He said: On its own, I believe this finding justifies the establishment of the commission in 2014. It is also clear that the attorney general acted correctly as legal adviser to the Government in 2014. When she became aware of these very serious matters about the unlawful recording of telephone calls to Garda stations, she acted appropriately and properly in bringing them to my attention as Taoiseach.

However, Fianna Fail went on the attack again and said Ms Whelan was mistaken and alarmist in her actions and said she was wrong not to inform then justice minister Alan Shatter.

Dublin West TD Jack Chambers was stinging in his criticism of the attorney general saying her failure to bring the knowledge she had to the attention of the Taoiseach led to a chain of events which led to the sacking of then Garda commissioner Martin Callinan.

For his part, Mr Kenny denied he forced the departure of the former commissioner in 2014

In relation to allegations made against me yesterday in this House again, I want to reiterate that the interim report was very clear in its findings: I had no intention of forcing the resignation of the former Garda commissioner and that the former commissioner himself had decided to retire, he said.

He added that the commissions final report found that it was reasonable to conclude, based on the evidence before it, that no widespread or systematic, indeed probably no significant, misuse of information derived from non-999 recordings took place.

The commission also found no evidence of knowledge of the recording of non-999 telephone calls on the part of relevant ministers for justice, the Department of Justice, or other state agencies, Mr Kenny told the Dail.

However, the report makes many findings of great concern to the Government, and I am sure, to this House. The commission finds that recording and retaining non-999 calls was not authorised by common law or by statute, and that An Garda Siochana therefore infringed the constitutional rights of those recorded, the Taoiseach said. This is a very serious finding about the force.
Jashua Robert Tremblay, aged 34, pleaded guilty to charges including two counts of child luring and one count of sexual interference at a court in Edmonton.

He was sentenced last night. He has also been banned from using the internet for 10 years.

The court heard a victim impact statement by the girls father on Tuesday.

Local reporter Paige Parsons of the Edmonton Journal, who covered the court hearing on Tuesday, described the Irish mans account as tragic.

He wrote about finding out, with horror, about what had been going on with his daughter and her subsequent struggles. He described her as having been brainwashed by this man, that she believed that she was going to be moving to Canada and marrying him on her 18th birthday, Ms Parsons told RTEs Morning Ireland.

She was quite traumatised by all this and really became isolated and was struggling emotionally and mentally afterwards.

It was certainly a strain on his relationship with her, he is her only surviving parent so it is a fairly sad situation.

Tremblay met the girl online in 2013 and subsequently kept in contact with her through a messaging app. The then-married father of one went on to send explicit pictures and audio messages to the girl, before coming to Ireland to visit her twice.

Tremblay visited the girl twice in Ireland during school holidays, and had sex with her on both occasions.

He went to some lengths to encourage her to lie to her dad, to say she was going to stay with a friend, said Ms Parsons.

He picked her up instead and they stayed in hotels and a campground the first time. Then they rented a vacation home on the second trip.

People thought they were father and daughter, and then they noticed some inappropriate behaviour. They decided to contact the police and it went from there.

While there was no trial given that Tremblay pleaded guilty, Tuesdays court session was a sentencing hearing during which the crown prosecution took issue with a psychologist report submitted on Tremblay.

Psychologist George Pugh wrote that Tremblays actions were primarily a misjudgment regarding the basic rules of courtship and that he was of the opinion that Tremblay does not meet the criteria to be diagnosed with paedophilia.

The Crown noted that it seems pretty inappropriate given the really troubling and really disturbing crime that has been admitted to here, Ms Parsons said.

The Edmonton Journal noted that judge Mary Moreau was to consider noting the inappropriateness of characterising the case as courtshipbefore handing down her sentence.

The prosecution had argued that the court impose a five-year prison term, while the defence lawyer had been seeking a more lenient four-year sentence.
Gwen Bradley, who withdrew co-operation from the second day of the inquest at Cork City Coroners Court into the death of Evan Morrissey, expressed bitter disappointment with the outcome after a jury returned a narrative verdict.

The 28-year-old father-of-five from near Clonmel in Co Tipperary died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on March 22, 2014, just days after his fourth presentation at South Tipperary General Hospital between March 2 and March 18 where he complained of severe headaches, vomiting, neck pain and photophobia.

He was sent home from hospital after the first three visits when doctors diagnosed migraine. But his symptoms continued, and worsened, until a brain scan on March 18 revealed an acute bleed in his brain.

He was transferred to CUH that night where he suffered cardiac arrest at 1.30am, and underwent emergency brain surgery. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on March 22.

Consultant neurosurgeon at CUH, Mr George Karr, said the cause of death was haemorrhage due to the rupture of an aneurysm in the right middle cerebral artery.

The jurys verdict said Mr Morrissey died in CUH following his transfer from South Tipperary General Hospital, and it outlined the cause of death. But it made no reference to his four presentations at the Clonmel hospital.

Ms Bradley said the inquest has given her no closure, and she fears the system still exposes headache patients to risk.

If theyre just going to brush it under the carpet then how are they going to fix it? Theyre not even willing to answer questions about it, or let questions be asked. So how are you supposed to fix something when wont even look at the problem, she said.

Her solicitor, Cian OCarroll, described it as a poor outcome for the system of inquests in Ireland.

He said a strong limitation placed on questions that could be asked at the inquest meant there would be a limited outcome.

We made every effort we could to ask questions of the doctors, he said.

We asked from the outset for an independent doctor to be allowed give evidence. That was refused, and ultimately an important line of questioning was blocked, and my client felt she couldnt continue involvement or co-operation with the inquest.

The inquest was told by South Tipperary Generals clinical director, Dr Aamir Majeed, that protocols have been introduced since December to identify red-flag issues among patients presenting with headache.

But Mr Carroll said they are the old protocols which have just been extended to other areas of the hospital  which does nothing to improve patient safety.

Earlier, consultant radiologist at the Clonmel hospital, Dr John Hynes, told coroner, Philip Comyn, that a non-contrast CT brain scan performed on Mr Morrissey on March 6  his second presentation at the hospital  was clear.

Mr Morrissey presented at the hospital for the fourth time that month on March 18 with the same symptoms.

Dr Raman Chaudhary, the medical senior house officer on duty in the emergency department, said he considered several differential diagnoses, including meningitis and intra cranial haemorrhage, and ordered a CT scan.

Dr Hynes said when he saw a request for another CT scan on the same patient with the same symptoms just a few days after a scan came back clear, he felt a lumbar puncture was a better option.

My fear was that if you are querying meningitis, do the lumbar puncture now. If a patient has meningitis, you dont waste time in administering antibiotics because hours and minutes matter. In my opinion, a lumbar puncture was the relevant investigation, he said.

Following a discussion with Dr Chaudhary, Dr Hynes cancelled the scan request at 3.37pm but when Dr Said Hassan, the medical registrar on-call, visited Dr Hynes in his office and outlined the case, at CT scan was arranged for 4.44pm, and Dr Hynes identified an acute and devastating intra cranial haemorrhage.

He told the inquest that it had occurred within the previous two days, at most.

Dr Christina Donnellan, the consultant physician at South Tipperary General, said Mr Morrissey was alert and stable when he left in an ambulance for transfer to CUH at 7.40pm. Mr Karr said he was stable and alert when he arrived at CUH at 10.30pm and they planned to conduct investigations the following morning, but that he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at 1.30am.

I regret that we were unable to help. While urgent investigation and treatment was planned for the next morning, we did not get a chance to implement these, Mr Karr said.

Mr Comyn praised Mr Morrisseys partner and family for consenting to organ donation which transformed the lives of five people.
The Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the Donbas crisis has discussed efforts to search for people missing in the conflict area, OSCE Special Envoy Martin Sajdik said at a news briefing in Minsk on Wednesday.

"We discussed how to search for those missing with the International Committee of the Red Cross involved," Sajdik said.

The humanitarian subgroup focused on efforts to free people being held because of the conflict, Sajdik said. As at the previous meeting, the participants focused on elaborating a mechanism involving a third party to verify the wishes of those who would like to stay where they were held during their imprisonment after their release, Sajdik said.

The OSCE special envoy welcomed Tuesday's handover of 15 prisoners by the self-proclaimed republics to the Ukrainian side so that they can serve their time in Ukraine. He said that letters by people being held in certain areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions had been handed over to the Ukrainian side during the meeting on Wednesday in view of the upcoming Easter holidays.
The particular web of words was woven during a case at Cork District Court relating to hair-braiding.

Carmen Rosta, aged 22, pleaded guilty to three breaches of casual trading legislation by offering hair-braiding on St Patricks Street, Cork.

Inspector Brian ODonovan said the accused was operating on July 22, 2015, without a casual trading licence, and in an area of the city where casual trading was not permitted.

Solicitor Dennis Healy said Rosta was a young mother of three from the Roma community in Cork. She was the one more intelligent than most of the others, he said.

Judge Olann Kelleher interjected that Mr Healy could find himself facing a class action for defam-ation.

Mr Healy continued: She is very bright.

Of all the members of the Roma community in Cork, she was the one Mr Healy believed would succeed through education. He knew her since she was a child and she was able to carry out all sorts of calculations.

But her family saw fit o have her married off at 16. She had three children and her husband is on the run, Mr Healy said.

She left school after her Junior Cert. She has become rooted in her community. Someone has to break through from this community at some stage. This is the girl I thought would do it.

She was fined 200 on the casual trading breach, with two related counts taken into consideration.
In July 2016 USAID, the international aid arm of the US government received a referral which alleged corruption on behalf, not just of field office staff but also members of Goals senior management team.

In a report published by USAID, it said Goal has undertaken immediate and protective remedial measures.

Goal represents that all individuals alleged to be involved in the corruption scheme have since terminated their involvement with Goal, the report said.

The organisation has made changes to its senior management team, including the departures and appointments of key individuals as well as a general overhaul of its management structure, it said.

USAID says it had ongoing concerns with Goals present responsibility in three areas: procurement system weaknesses; mishandling of conflicts of interest; and inadequate investigation functions.

Nonetheless, it said Goal had co-operated with its investigation and concluded that the corrective actions, remedial actions and further undertakings made by Goal with this agreement provide adequate assurance that Goals future dealings with the government will be conducted responsibly and that suspension or debarrment is not necessary at this time.

For its part, Goal said the administrative agreement signed between the two organisation provided USAID with the necessary assurances they needed to continue supporting Goal in its vital work.

Under the administrative agreement Goal has agreed, among other things: n Not to apply for new funding, for a period of 12 months, in countries and programme areas where it has not worked in the last year. USAID may bring this voluntary exclusion to an end after six months. n To establish and maintain a compliance and ethics programme that covers all employees to appoint an independent consultant to observe, review and report on Goals compliance with this agreement and to oversee its compliance and ethics programme, n To pay restitution to USAID for any losses of USAID funds administered by Goal caused by misconduct.

Goal general manager Celine Fitzgerald said the agreement was a significant step forward for it in terms of allowing it to resume a normal working relationship with US funders. The conditions and obligations set out in the agreement are thorough, but, in view of the challenges faced by Goal over the past year, we believe that they are fair and proportionate, she said.
Google has joined forces with several banks around the world to add a new Android Pay section to the respective banks mobile apps, as revealed in a post on the Google blog.

Bank of America, Bank of New Zealand, Discover, mBank and USAA have partnered with Google to provide Android Pay through their various mobile apps, which allows users to quickly add credit and debit cards to Android Pay and use the service when needed.
I DONT want water charges to come in by the back door, to quote Solidaritys Paul Murphy. I dont want to pay a sneaky levy if I use 70% more than an allowable 133 litres per person per day, which is in itself way above the average use of water among EU states.

I refuse. I wont pay.

I want water charges to come in by the front door. The one facing the street which everyone can see. Thats the door through which I expect this sovereign state to honour its international commitments. Particularly when those commitments are aimed at conserving the environment and protecting the health of 510m people.

Instead Ive had to sit there and watch the bunch of Harry Houdinis trying to twist their way out of our binding commitments under an EU directive. Wriggling seems to be their first response to environmental law and to be fair, they are good at it. Look how the arch wriggler Bertie Ahern won us a derogation on our commitment to introduce domestic water charges in 2000.

And charging for water is our commitment under the Water Framework Directive, make no mistake about it. The pricing of our water use is meant to incentivise the efficient use of water because that is whats good for the environment.

The use of water in our homes was about 150 litres per person per day in 2011 while Belgiums was about 26 litres. Its obvious were going to have to do something to reduce our use of water and a charging regime typically cuts use by 15%.

So what do Tweedledum and Tweedledumber do? They institute a charge for leaving the bathwater running until it overflows, seeps through the ceiling and falls on the heads of those sitting downstairs.

Goodness, youll exclaim as you dry off your hair. Must be time to turn off the taps! Dont want to get pay a water charge, now do we? But not to worry. If you do get a bill for water usage, bring it to Barry Cowen and hell sort it out. Hes swearing blind that 92% of Irish people will not pay anything for the water they use and nobody will get a bill.

The charges 60% of us paid will be paid back. And hes not even asking us to pay back our  ahem  water conservation grant.

Will I get another water conservation grant if I dont use 70% more water than the Government thinks I should, which is already three or four times as much as many other Europeans? Have I a good campaign on my hands? Barry, will you come up with the goods?

The only snag is that charging for the water we use is meant to fund our water system. The Water Framework Directive, to which we committed of our own free will states: The principle of the recovery of the costs of water services, including environmental and resource costs associated with damage or negative impact on the aquatic environment should be taken into account in accordance with, in particular, the polluter-pays principle.

Instead our new regime will fund investment in water infrastructure from the general tax take and from borrowing. The deal cooked up on Tuesday by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael steals from future generations of Irish people so a bunch of lads and a few lassies dont have to have an election before the summer.

I dont believe the flocks of legal eagles both parties have got in to try to squeeze it past EU rules will succeed but their failure wont be immediate. Thats what matters under the confidence and supply agreement. Staying in power for FG, staying in comfortable opposition for FF.

Its not worth calling an election over water, they cry. But I disagree. If its not worth calling an election over protecting our environment, protecting our health, successfully raising taxes and complying with international law, I dont know what is.

Our attitude to this EU commitment stinks like the beach in Youghal when a load of raw sewage has just been pumped onto it. It stinks like all the other coastal areas affected by raw sewage including such iconic names as Ballycotton, Crosshaven, Arklow, Kilmore Quay, Kilrush, Duncannon, Killybegs and Kilrush. It stinks like a third of our rivers and half of our lovely lakes if you chance upon them on a hot, still day.

Why bother being in the EU when we dont enforce environmental law, which is among the best things the organisation has done for us? Forget about us for the moment, though. What right have we to be in the EU if we refuse to play our part in which is  must be  a collective effort to stop pollution and protect public health?

The Water Framework Directive is the fine achievement of the community of nations to which we belong. Far from ushering in the privatisation of water systems, it enjoins us to work together to protect this vital community resource. It opens with the statement: Water is not a commercial product like any other, but rather a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such. It doesnt say: Water is not a political football. It doesnt even say: Water is not a dead cat. But then the drafters of the Water Framework didnt seem to have the likes of us in mind when they were dreaming up the proper legal response to concerns raised about water quality raised by the Community Water Policy Seminar as far back as 1988. And they certainly didnt have us in mind when they wrote that the success of this directive relies on close co-operation and coherent action.

The directive is a call to action but not the kind that involves walking to the Dail waving a placard or imprisoning the Tanaiste in her car. No, its harder than that. It involves building communities to help protect their own river basins.

This is beginning to happen around the country. The Nore Suir River Trust and the Slaney River Trust are already up and running. Just recently the inhabitants of the Blackwater banks cleared the river of the destructive invasive plant, Himalayan Balsam. On Saturday, April 22, volunteers along the Dodder banks from Tallaght to Ballsbridge will take part in the fifth Dodder Action Day.

Our elected leaders, from 1997 when water charges were first dumped to this week, when they were dumped again, are not kicking the can down the road. Theyre kicking it into the river. Somewhere downstream, a future generation stands up to its knees in filth, trying to catch it.

92% of Irish people will not pay anything for the water they use and nobody will get a bill
Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and members of the Armed Forces Committee of the U.S. Congress have discussed the current situation in the east of Ukraine, the course of the defense reform and the issue of the possibility of granting defense weapons to Ukraine.

"The United States is interested in Ukraine's successes and effective reforms. At today's meeting, representatives of the U.S. Congress, who are members of the Armed Forces Committee, have confirmed their clear position on supporting Ukraine in our struggle for territorial integrity and expressed admiration for the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian military confronting the enemy," Poltorak wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

The minister thanked the government and the people of the United States for "consistent support."
Thursday, April 13th, 2017 (7:38 am) - Score 1,423

Consolidation is the order of the day. Fixed wireless ISP Quickline, which operates a growing 50Mbps capable network around parts of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Pennines of England, has gobbled up part of rival wireless provider AB Internet for an undisclosed sum.

Both providers took part in the publicly funded Broadband Delivery UK Market Test Pilots (MTP), which saw AB Internet deploy a 50Mbps network to cover 1,600 rural premises in Monmouthshire (Wales) and Quickline do something similar for North Lincolnshire in East England (here and here). AB has also won various other state aid supported broadband contracts for niche areas (here).

On top of that a recent submission to Ofcom (here) revealed that Quickline hopes to expand their network coverage around the M62/A1 corridor, potentially taking in additional parts of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Birmingham, as well as acquiring new sites in East and North Yorkshire.

Suffice to say that consolidation is one way to boost that effort and so Quickline has acquired part of AB Internets network and customer base in Newark, Boston and Peterborough, although AB Internet still has plenty of other network infrastructure in different parts of the UK (Scotland, Wales, Lincolnshire etc.).

Steve Jagger, MD of Quickline Communications, said: We will be celebrating 10 years in business this year and I am delighted that we can also celebrate being the biggest wireless provider in the UK. Our strategy has remained the same throughout these ten years, to utilise state-of-the-art technology, acquire other businesses and invest in the areas that want and need an alternative to traditional telecoms. The unique way in which Quicklines network is structured allows us to diversify into products and services that other providers cannot offer, with interconnects into the leading UK national network service providers Quickline delivers fibre, fixed line, Managed Internet Access and Point to Point private circuits using a combination of technologies.

Quickline states that the new deal reinforces their claim to being the largest [fixed] wireless broadband company in the UK (excluding 3G/4G Mobile Broadband operators of course), with a coverage area of 10,000+ square kilometres from Cumbria to South Lincolnshire.
Internet trolls are always on the prowl for the next target of their wrath. This time around, United Airlines has been the subject of incessant trolling from those who did not take lightly the actions of the airline personnel along with some airport security officers. The outrage was made even worse because of how the company, particularly CEO Oscar Munoz, responded to the incident.

On Sunday, a doctor was dragged out of a United Airlines plane after he refused to voluntarily give up his seat in favor of some airline employees. The victim, David Dao, supposedly didn't want to get off the plane because he had patients to check up on the following morning. Missing the flight means his patients would be missing out on some important medical help.

After seeing the video of a bloodied Dao being forcibly moved from the plane, Munoz apologized for overbooking the flight but did not apologize directly to Dao sparking more disbelief from people following the case. Munoz eventually apologized to the passenger but not before more PR damage has been done.

According to Hollywood Weekly, Munoz has reached out to Dao numerous times but did not get any response. The Dao family did express their gratitude for the "prayers, concern and support".

Many of the internet trolls expressed their anger and disbelief over the incident by poking fun at United Airlines and Munoz. A number of memes have already surfaced roasting the beleaguered company. One tweet showed Negan of "The Walking Dead" standing between the aisles with his bat in hand. The tweet was captioned "Attention United Airlines passengers, meet your new flight attendant Lucille".

CNN reported that even rival airlines are trolling United Airlines. The Royal Jordanian even tweeted a meme with a caption "We are here to keep you #united. Dragging is strictly prohibited". Qatar Airways also threw a jab at United with its tweet which said, "We're united in our goal to always accommodate our passengers, even with our app updates." The app update said, "Doesn't support drag and drop".

Emirates, meanwhile, posted a video which started off answering Munoz's pronouncement that gulf airlines are not real airlines by saying, "Well Mr. Munoz, according to Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel site, not only are we a real airline... we are the best airline." The video finished off by throwing a shade at the airline's dragging incident with, "Fly the friendly skies... this time for real".

As a result of the fiasco, people are calling for everyone to boycott United Airlines. This is similar to how the #DeleteUber hashtag trended during a rally against Trump's immigration ban.
With the upcoming launch of new Nokia 9 smartphones, we call for an iPhone 8 comparison test to see which smartphone should buyers go for. The latest Nokia phone is the kind that runs a nearly pure version of Android, unlike its predecessors, the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 arent flagship handsets. Additionally, it is dubbed as the handsets that will rival the iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8.

There's information that Nokia's latest product will be unveiled at the end of July or early August and likely launched by the end of the third quarter. A few days ago, a report from tipster NokiaPowerUser revealed some of the alleged Nokia 9 specs include a 5.5-inch 4K OLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The phone will also feature 6GB of RAM, a capable of 64/128GB of storage, 22-megapixel rear camera, and 12-megapixel selfie camera.

According to BGR, There will also be a Quick Charging 4.0 support, Nokia OZO sound, IP68 dust and waterproof certification, and itll run Android 7.1.2 Nougat. Due to its expected Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, the phone might see some delays. The tipster also says that the Nokia 9 will be priced at around 749 or around $699.

Meanwhile, according to CNBC, the Apple's iPhone 8 will likely soon arrive this September and would have 64GB of storage and a new OLED panel, with a likely price tag of around $870. It is said to be the largest among iPhones yet, at least in terms of screen size, most likely having to come with a 5.8-inch panel. Known as the iPhone Anniversary Edition or the iPhone X, one unique feature is that users may unlock the device by looking at it through 3-D facial recognition.

Compared to the Nokia 9, Apple's iPhone 8 is said to run on iOS 11. Unfortunately, there is still five months before the expected unveiling of the phone. This makes it possible for some things about the phones to change. If the facial recognition aspect of iPhone's latest comes through, then this one will definitely be more advanced.
Nokia, which is now an HMD Global brand, is joining forces with Google to make phones that are surprisingly similar to Nexus. After its long-awaited comeback last year, the Finland-based smartphone producer plans to regain its "most trusted" brand title it enjoyed in the past. It announces that it's going to implement strategies that would bring it to the top of the smartphone market which it enjoyed previously.

It plans to do this by collaborating with Google to assist its goal in making a high-quality smartphone which runs on "pure Android". The company said during its press event at MWC that its latest Android phones will run a clean version of Android. It identified the about to be launched Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 the first recipients of its pure Android strategy.

According to BGR, Nokia and Google are hopeful that even if they are not fully capable of pure android systems, they can it to be as close to vanilla Android as possible. This is the kind of Android OS some fans crave to have on their devices, and now, Nokia will cater it with the help of one of the biggest OS makers. Furthermore, the company revealed that it plans to issue swift updates to Android, which is a feat that no other smartphone manufacturer can brag with.

According to India Today, the partnership of the two tech giants yields opportunities for Nokia to pick and include a few features from the now dead Nexus. It wants to resurrect these features on its upcoming Nokia Android smartphones. This probably means that the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3310 in 2017 are going to come with several features that are similar to Nexus devices.

Nokia's decision to collaborate with Google is a strong indicator that it wants to further strengthen and increase its market share by the upcoming year. The upcoming Nokia Android smartphones are reportedly supposed to hit the global market by the end April or early May. There have been no details on the launch date by the HMD Global as of yet, but Nokia seems to be gearing aggressively for the launch.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands from the Russian side to ensure the access of the Ukrainian consul to Viktor Shur, a Ukrainian citizen illegally sentenced to prison in Russia.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest against the inhuman treatment of the Russian authorities in relation to illegally convicted in Russia citizen of Ukraine Viktor Shur and Russia's refusal to provide access for Ukrainian consul to him [...] once again calls on the Russian side to stop illegal actions against citizens of Ukraine, who are illegally kept on politically motivated charges in Russia, as well as to ensure their right to meet with the consul," a commentary of Foreign Ministry released in connection with Russia's refusal to allow the consul to Shur, reads.

The Foreign Ministry said that demanding that Shur put down in writing his legal right to meet with the consul of the Ukrainian state, "Russian jailers resorted to violence and torture against him: Viktor Shur was placed in solitary confinement cell of the punitive ward, where he was detained in cold deprived of water and food, which led to the deterioration of his health."

According to media reports, Shur was detained in the Bryansk region (Russian Federation) on December 9, 2014 for insulting the law enforcement officer for 15 days. Later he was charged with espionage. On October 7, 2015, he was sentenced to 12 years in a strict-regime colony for espionage in favor of Ukraine.
Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 78F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Representatives of separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO) block the work of an expert group that should assess the situation in the mines in the regions which are controlled by them, Darka Olifer, the spokesperson of Ukrainian envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group Leonid Kuchma has said.

"The economic subgroup faces the issue of organizing the work of an expert group, which should assess the situation in the mines located in ORDLO, the flooding of which is an environmental threat to the entire Donbas. But representatives of the ORDLO are blocking the work of such a group," Oliver wrote on her Facebook page following the TCG meeting in Minsk on Wednesday evening.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin believes that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Moscow has confirmed the impossibility of cooperation or dialogue with the Russian Federation on the basis of trust.

"I also know the first results of the visit which are non-public. I will not talk about everything, but our thesis is a joint thesis with all friends and partners assuming that it is impossible to cooperate with Russia or speak on the basis of trust. It was unequivocally confirmed during Tillerson's visit," Klimkin told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, intends to visit Washington (U.S.) in the near future.

"Now we are in very close contact with all the representatives of the Administration. I hope that in the near future I will be able to visit Washington again, that is, a very close dialogue is underway," the minister told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday, answering the question about a possible date of the meeting of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Klimkin stressed that in preparation for the visit of the president of Ukraine to the U.S., it is necessary to prepare an agenda for the meeting and ways of putting pressure on Russia to implement the Minsk agreements.

"We need to develop not only an agenda, because it is already known, we need to predict a result. This visit of Tillerson [Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Moscow] is a stage which will help us develop the strategy to jointly pressure on Russia to make it eventually began implementing the Minsk agreements," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
UPDATED 16:19

THE ambulance service has asked people to avoid part of Wroxall following a crash (Thursday).

The crash happened on Appuldurcombe Road and an Isle of Wight Ambulance Service spokesman said they were assessing the condition of several people, although none were believed to be seriously injured.

The collision has led to long tailbacks on St John's Road according to people in the area.

Southern Vectis said it was diverting some services via Whitwell as a result.
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Feds laud $83M to better Pell Bridge The congressional delegation of Rhode Island was in Jamestown to celebrate an $82.5 million grant to upgrade the bridge that connects Conanicut Island to Newport. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a...

Local author, illustrator collaborate on book A local woman has turned her digital cross-country teatimes with her granddaughter into a childrens book. Tuesday Tea, written by Debby Furness Saletin and illustrated by Maryann England, both of...

Local group asks for rental rules changes A group of residents is expected to present its recommendations on how to improve the ordinance that governs short-term rentals. Member Ron Ratcliffe said the item is scheduled to be...
Ukraine has sent new and unprecedented evidence in support of its Crimean lawsuit against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said.

"Over the past few months we have done a lot of work on preparing and submitting additional explanations to the first Crimean case. There is a number of facts and evidence which are absolutely new and unprecedented and which we plan to voice," Petrenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

"With the evidence and explanations that we've submitted to the first Crimean case, there is practically no chance for Russians to lie and refute anything," he said.

The justice minister also announced a separate press conference on this matter.
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(Xinhua) 20:59, April 12, 2017

BEIJING, April 12 -- Baidu succeeded in using artificial intelligence to reconnect a man with his family 27 years after he was abducted, the company announced Wednesday.

Working with baobeihuijia.com, a charity group dedicated to connecting missing children and their families, Baidu used its cross-age facial recognition program to analyze pictures of abducted children uploaded by the victims and their birth families and identified potential matches through the comparison of selected facial features.

Fu Gui, 33, who was born in Chongqing Municipality, western China, was abducted in 1990 and later transferred to Fujian Province, southeastern China. He registered with baobeihuijia.com in 2009, and his natural family did the same in early 2017.

Baidu's facial recognition program was able to draw up a short list of potential identities for the man from pictures uploaded to the site, and a DNA test later verified the correct match.

Baidu has about 200 million sample pictures that it uses to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of its facial recognition program, which can be over 99 percent accurate.

Baidu's founder and CEO Robin Li, who is also a national political advisor, proposed during the annual parliamentary sessions in March that AI systems, like facial recognition, could be used to help find missing children and suggested that there should be a central database with missing children's information.
The $8.6 billion sale of B/E Aerospace Inc. was completed Thursday following the European Commissions regulatory approval of Rockwell Collins Inc.s purchase.

Although B/E is based in Wellington, Fla., its largest U.S. operations are in Winston-Salem with at least 1,300 employees.

With B/E Aerospace now part of Rockwell Collins, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, company has nearly 30,000 employees nationwide and combined annual revenue projected to exceed $8 billion,

The deal announcement came after B/Es board of directors said in May 2014 it was considering a sale as part of exploring and evaluating its strategic alternatives. In June 2014, B/E announced the spin-off what became KLX Inc. into an independent, publicly traded corporation.

The B/E brand has ended, effective Thursday, operating now as Rockwells Interior System business.

Werner Lieberherr, B/Es president and chief executive and the companys top local officer, has transitioned to chief operating officer of the Interior Systems business.

Rockwell gains with the deal a wide range of cabin interior products for commercial aircraft and business jets, including seating, food and beverage preparation and storage equipment, lighting and oxygen systems, and modular galley and lavatory systems.

Rockwells business model had been built primarily on cockpit, cabin management, communication and connectivity solutions.

Today marks a major step in advancing our vision of being the most trusted source of aviation and high-integrity solutions in the world, Kelly Ortberg, Rockwells chairman, chief executive and president, said in a statement.

The company said Ortberg is visiting with Winston-Salem employees today.

The industry-leading products and solutions being brought together by this acquisition give us a much broader offering, increasing value for our customers and ultimately driving long-term, profitable growth and shareowner value.

Lieberherr said the acquisition sets us on an exciting path that will greatly benefit our customers, employees and shareowners.

Rockwell has not disclosed how much of a local workforce impact there will be from the purchase. It has said it expects to gain cost-cutting synergies of $125 million after tax, achieving 90 percent of it by the end of fiscal 2019.

Pam Tvrdy-Cleary, a Rockwell spokeswoman, said in October that the potential buyer expects minimal  if any  impact in Winston-Salem.

Amir Khoury, B/Es chairman, told employees Oct. 23 that Rockwell Collins is the perfect fit for our employees and our customers. We share a culture and reputation for innovation, quality, on-time delivery and global customer support to benefit our customers.

The transaction is expected to be double-digit accretive to earnings per share in fiscal 2018,

The company plans to release its second-quarter earnings report April 21.

Lieberherr initially is taking a pay cut in his new job, according to regulatory filings. His starting Rockwell salary is $875,000, down from $1.01 million with B/E for fiscal 2015. He would be eligible for incentive pay of at least 90 percent of his salary, compared with $1.65 million in fiscal 2015.

However, Lieberherr would be made eligible for a $2 million cash retention award, vesting on the first anniversary of the completed deal, and an annual equity award, similar to other Rockwell senior executives, of $1.3 million.

Peter Arment, an analyst with Baird, said he views the Rockwell offer as a good deal for B/E.
By Scott Sexton

Winston-Salem Journal

KING  The report issued by the N.C. Board of Funeral Service suspending the operating permit of Cremation Services of Winston-Salem is filled with such phrases as preponderance of evidence and cease and desist.

It refers to people as complainants and respondents, and is intentionally as sterile and as bureaucratic as humanly possible.

Still, when the document in question deals with the improper storage and disposal of 93 sets of human remains at a nice house on a large lot in a quiet leafy neighborhood in King, word is going to get around.

How could it not?

As bad as that sounds, what happened on Faye Court in King isnt illegal. There are no laws in North Carolina pertaining to the disposal of unclaimed cremated human remains. There are a few guidelines, but no laws.

Worse is the fact that the last earthly remains of 93 anonymous souls wound up at the house in King, some in a trash can.

An unknown number of those remains likely came to Cremation Services through contracts with county social services agencies that authorized the cremations of people who were indigent when they died. Other remains could have sat unclaimed for more than 30 days  perhaps by uncaring or distant family  and thus became expendable.

Its no leap to think that the remains stored in a shed and tossed in a trash can were those of the poor, the sick, the forgotten and the lonely.

Nobody gave enough of a damn to claim any of the 93.

They were disposable people. Literal throwaways. And nobody seems to care much.

The forgotten

The bizarre saga began Jan. 31 when a worker notified police that what appeared to be bone fragments and cremated remains were in or near a trash can that was set out for pickup at the house on Faye Court, Police Chief Paula May wrote in a statement released Wednesday by the King Police Department .

According to police, the N.C. Board of Funeral Service documents and the owner of Cremation Services, the rest of the story is as follows:

Authorities confirmed that the remains were indeed human, and a police sergeant asked James Massie III, a resident of the house who works at Cremation Services, what he knew about them.

Massie told authorities that he had some 93 sets of unclaimed human remains and that he brought them home from Cremation Services because of insufficient storage there.

Susanne Blair, the owner of Cremation Services, said that Massie often took remains off premises for disposal in the mountains.

But this time, he put them in a flimsy box and some of the remains spilled onto the ground. Massey told police that he scooped up a small amount of remains and chucked them into his garbage can.

Massey didnt return a message left at his house Wednesday. But on Tuesday, Blair called it a case of human error or a mistake.

The admission by Massie set in motion all sorts of machinations. King police contacted the Stokes County District Attorneys Office, and someone then contacted the Winston-Salem police and Forsyth County prosecutors since the bodies had been cremated here.

After looking into it, much to our surprise, we found out that there was nothing illegal about it, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill said.

Nobody is unclaimed

It may not have been illegal, but the episode is, at minimum, unsettling. Once prosecutors had determined that no laws had been broken, the matter then became something for the N.C. Board of Funeral Service to take up.

The agency may yet discern to whom the remains belonged. It has set a hearing for May 10 to determine whether Blair should be able to keep her permit to operate a crematory.

I dont feel that this is a situation that they should have closed me down, Blair said Tuesday. Its a hard thing to take away ones livelihood.

State Rep. Jamie Boles, R-Moore and the owner of a funeral home in Southern Pines, sees the situation another way. The disposal of these remains, while not illegal, falls under some gray areas of law that he hopes to clear up in the legislature.

Right now, its not clear by law what should happen to unclaimed cremated remains.

I dont know anything about the specifics other than what youve just told me, Boles said Wednesday morning. I do have some grave concerns that cremains were taken off licensed premises by an employee to his house.

To Boles way of thinking, somebody at a county social services department had to OK the cremations.

To me, nobody is unclaimed, he said. Somebody had to sign the authorization.

He didnt finish the thought, but he didnt need to: If somebody in officialdom OKd a cremation, then that same someone could have seen that the remains were picked up and disposed of with some dignity.

Nobody, no matter how poor, forgotten or unloved he or she might have been, deserves to wind up dumped anonymously in a trash can next to pizza boxes and coffee filters.
In hindsight, Tom Priest said, he should have seen through the scam that cost his business, Coffee Park Airstream, nearly $5,000.

There were signs: For starters, the request for cash payment instead of a credit card by a man posing to be a Duke Energy representative, and the use of very common names like John Matthews and Mr. Miller.

But on a hectic Friday, the red flags were missed, he said. They say hindsight is 20/20.

I fell for it hook, line and sinker, Priest said. It all seemed very legit. They were very skilled in the con.

On Friday, Charles von Isenburg, owner of Mock Orange Bikes  which is in the same building as Priests shop  got a call at his Reynolda Road business notifying him that their power was going to be shut off.

The caller, from an 866-number, asked to talk the account owner, and von Isenburg passed the information on to Priest.

It had all the appearances of a call center  background voices, music when youre on hold, all the verbiage sounded very legitimate, von Isenburg said. Im sure a lot of Tommys compulsion to pay as quickly as possible was to not jeopardize the health of either of our businesses.

Priest checked his accounts but didnt see anything unusual.

When he called the number provided, he was told that a truck was on the way to disconnect his service and if he didnt pay the outstanding balance immediately, and it would take up to 15 days to restore power to the building.

It was a panic situation and I was just trying to get it resolved, not realizing Id fall for three separate frauds in one day, Priest said. It was as professional a con as Ive ever seen.

Priest said he was told they could not accept credit card or bank transfer and needed an immediate cash payment to stop the truck.

The man, who identified himself as John Matthews, gave Priest the address of a Rite Aid where he could exchange cash for Moneypak prepaid cards. Rite Aid is one of Duke Energys pay-in-person locations.

At first, they requested $580, which Priest paid in full, but then a man, who claimed to be manager Josh Miller, came on the line and said they had made a mistake, it was actually a total of $1,975.

Priest bought another card and paid the amount. He was informed the actual total was 36 cents higher and he would have to try a third time. He was assured he would be refunded the original two payments and was told to go to a Rite Aid in Clemmons for the final payment of $1,975.36.

I guess it would look suspicious if I continued going into the same Rite Aid, Priest said. They sent me on a wild goose chase. They knew they had a hook, so they kept milking it.

The three payments, in addition to the cost of the pay cards, totaled about $4,600, Priest said.

It was later that evening, when all the dust had settled, that Priest began to have a sick feeling and called a number for Duke Energy from one of his former bills.

Thats when I realized the number I called earlier didnt have the prompt for Spanish, which in my normal state of mind, wouldve dawned on me, Priest said.

He was told the scam was textbook and notified the Winston-Salem Police Department.

Its a pretty common scam, but very difficult to trace, almost impossible at the local level, said Sgt. Jeffrey Thompson, of the financial crime unit. Especially in this day and age where you can call on a cell phone and make it look like its coming from someone else.

Spoofing scams involve hijacking a real phone number, so scammers can make it look like the phone call is coming from the local police department, a bank or other reputable sources to trick people.

Thompson said there were at least 111 incidents of reported fraud in the city last year, including a series of fall scams where someone claiming to be from the sheriffs office demanded people pay a fine for missing jury duty.

An arrest by the FBI of a scammer in India curtailed some of the fraud, he said, but people still need to be wary.

Verify information independently. Dont pay anything with iTunes or Green Dot Moneypaks. Dont do it, Thomspon said. Be very, very careful online with sites, like Craigslist, where youre doing business with a complete stranger.

Priest said he hopes his experience will help prevent future scams and remind people to be aware of fraudulent activity.

He said the loss was devastating and he worried about paying his employees and vendors.

Mike Quinones, a friend of Priests, started a GoFundMe page, which raised $1,000, and von Isenburg volunteered to cover $2,300, which is half of the loss.

Not that anyone should get scammed, but this guy is the last guy that deserves this with what he does for the city and the Childrens Home and so many other causes, said Quinones, owner of Mike & Mikes Italian Ice food truck. We proved the city of Winston-Salem has got his back.

I feel like a complete schmuck, Priest said. I would never ask someone to fund my idiocy, but seeing people helping their fellow neighbor out is a beautiful thing. I love this town.
As people of faith, we support any efforts by our city to live out the call to welcome the stranger among us. The Rev. Kelly Carpenter Pastor of Green Street United Methodist Church

An interfaith coalition of clergy members and city residents Thursday called for the Winston-Salem City Council to approve the proposed welcoming city resolution that would require city officials to create a welcoming environment for immigrants, refugees and other people.

The city council will consider the resolution during its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall. About 100 people gathered at Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem on Thursday for a rally where speakers urged the council to support the resolution.

Many demonstrators stood in support of the rally organizers.

While this resolution does not go as far as declaring Winston-Salem a sanctuary city, it seeks to affirm the efforts already present in our community to provide welcome for refugees and immigrants, the Rev. Kelly Carpenter said. As people of faith, we support any efforts by our city to live out the call to welcome the stranger among us.

Council member Dan Besse proposed the resolution in February as an alternative to calls from local activists to have the city declare itself a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. Besse has said the resolution is legal and doesnt violate any state and federal immigration laws.

State law forbids cities from adopting sanctuary ordinances, which are defined as rules that would forbid police from asking about citizenship status, or which would have the city take a stance of noncooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Several members of the Forsyth County delegation to the N.C. General Assembly have told council members that Besses proposal is the wrong approach. If the city council adopts it, legislators could try to withhold state money from the city.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions also has warned cities not to pass sanctuary city ordinances as they could risk losing federal money.

At Temple Emanuel, Carpenter, the pastor at Green Street United Methodist Church, said the resolution is needed in this time of fear-based politics when undocumented immigrants and refugees are demonized amid some Americans concerns for national security.

We stand as a people of faith to say that scapegoating those who are different from ourselves is not the way of God, Carpenter said. Policies built on prejudice make us less safe. Recent executive orders of the Trump administration have heightened fear in our community.

Carpenter pointed to recent raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Greensboro, which immigration activists say ensnared some undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

Carpenter said there are an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 undocumented immigrants living in Forsyth County.

They live among us, go to school with our children, shop in the same stores, drive on our streets, gather and serve our food, he said. We are called to stand with all people who are vulnerable to oppression.

Rabbi Mark Cohn of Temple Emanuel told the demonstrators that the interfaith group welcomes immigrants, strangers and foreigners to Winston-Salem.

Regardless of what our city decides, we have many sanctuaries in our city, Cohn said. Regardless of what some politicians value, we value being welcoming in this city. Regardless of human-made borders and labels, we see one another as fellow humans.

The Rev. Telma Rivas, a native of Guatemala and an undocumented immigrant, told the crowd how she arrived in the United States in 2004. Rivas said through a translator that she left her country with her 4-year-old daughter and traveled through Mexico to the U.S. Along the way, she and her daughter endured many hardships.

Rivas, who has lived in Winston-Salem for 12 years, said she made the journey to join her husband, who arrived in the U.S. three years earlier, and to raise her daughter and their two other children in a safe environment.

Being here today makes me feel that I am not alone in the struggle of wanting to provide for my family a life of dignity, Rivas said. There is a community of God that accompanies me.

Under President Trumps executive order, Rivas might be deported and be separated from her children, two of whom are American citizens, she said.

Is this just? Rivas asked the demonstrators. Who is willing to stand up with me?

Many demonstrators responded that they would stand behind Rivas to help her remain in Winston-Salem if she ever faces deportation.
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center could start demolishing some commercial buildings on its property fronting Cloverdale Avenue if a rezoning petition is approved.

The medical center is requesting the rezoning of 6.83 acres on Cloverdale Avenue, Kerensky Street and Miller Street in the Ardmore neighborhood.

The property is on the south side of Cloverdale Avenue between Miller Street and Medical Center Boulevard and includes the old Ardmore Station post office building.

The request, which is scheduled to be heard by the City-County Planning Board today, is for the property to be rezoned to campusspecial use limited, from highway business and single-family residential. The property is adjacent to the medical center, which is currently zoned campus.

After the planning board meets and makes a recommendation, the petition will move on to the Winston-Salem City Council.

A site plan was not submitted with the petition, but Wake Forest Baptist requested a number of uses through campusspecial use zoning, including academic biomedical research facility, academic medical center, drop-in child care, community church or religious institution, museum or art gallery, nursing care institution, police or fire station, private school and special events center, according to a planning board staff report.

Once we get the campus district rezoning officially, our plan is to demolish the existing vacant buildings on that property, but there are no plans to demolish the residential properties that are fronting on Queen Street, said Mac Ingraham, a spokesman for Wake Forest Baptist.

Ingraham said the medical center is still in the planning stages for the property and doesnt have a construction timeline yet.

Members of the Ardmore Neighborhood Association are aware of the rezoning request.

Jordan Payne, the associations vice president, said in an email that members heard about the plans during a town hall meeting that the association hosted on March 9 at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

Luke Dickey, a partner and project manager at Stimmel Associates P.A., discussed plans by Wake Forest Baptist Health to clean up and demolish vacant buildings on their property fronting Cloverdale Avenue, between Medical Center Boulevard and Miller Street, Payne said.

He also said it was noted during the meeting that Wake Forest Baptist would like to comply with the Southwest Winston-Salem Area Plan, which was updated in 2016 and includes the Ardmore area.

Payne said he and many residents and association members attended the meetings to form the area plan and he didnt recall any resistance to potential development of Wake Forest Baptists property proposed for rezoning.

Ingraham said Wednesday that Wake Forest Baptists rezoning proposal would allow the property to come into compliance with the plan for that area.

The Southwest Winston-Salem Area Plan recommends institutional use for the property. It states, Existing institutions should be permitted to grow and expand in a manner that is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.

Specific recommendations for the site include scaling the proposed development to move the more intense users and taller structures closer to Cloverdale Avenue and having the medical center and city work together to create a pedestrian-friendly streetscape along Cloverdale Avenue as the area is redeveloped.

Wake Forest Baptist has volunteered to have Cloverdale Avenue and/or Medical Center Boulevard be the primary access to the site, with potential secondary access on Miller Street, according the planning staffs report.

Payne said that the Ardmore Neighborhood Association has decided not to take a position on the rezoning issue but would remain involved in the matter.

He said he thinks a majority of the neighborhood association agrees with the area plan and would like to see the vacant property developed.

However, it is hard for us as a neighborhood association to take a position on the matter when there are no development plans in place, that they are aware of, Payne said.

Gary Roberts, a project planner with city-county planning division, said the planning staff is recommending approval of the request because it is consistent with the Southwest Winston-Salem Area Plan update regarding land use, building and parking placement, access location, and buffer yards.
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 persons were killed but it was the sight of dying babies on TV ("it doesn't 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's been widely reported that the White House has asked the president's 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 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'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 Nixon to change course in Vietnam, nor even to make an emotional speech about the horror of war. Mr. 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 Richard 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 set aside. So much for babies.

Many of the president's 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. I've met more people who support Trump on the same grounds. If they're right, it will have a very very big impact on me, believe me, and my attitude on Trump will change very much. Very much.
At least you have your health, we say, as if its the final straw one can cling to when all else goes wrong. But if you dont have your health, its difficult to enjoy much else. Thats why the results of a new study are so important.

The rate of Forsyth Countys overall health outcomes is behind that of its urban peers in North Carolina, according to the results of an annual study conducted by the Population Health Institute of the University of Wisconsin with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Journals Richard Craver reported recently. Of our 100 counties, Forsyth ranked 36th, behind Wake (first), Watauga (fifth), Mecklenburg (eighth), Davie (12th), Durham (15th) and Guilford (29th).

This is an average from subcategories that measure factors such as health behaviors (rank 60th), clinical care (14th), socioeconomic factors (47th) and physical environment (66th).

To be sure, a certain number of variables go into the ranking. Forsyths standing has risen and fallen over the years, from 20th in 2010 to 22nd in 2011 to 43rd in 2016, and were near the upper third.

But wed much rather be in first place, or at least closer to it.

The study quantifies a wide range of factors that can influence a communitys health, including access to health care and insurance, access to health food, availability of exercise facilities, social connection, education and, of course, poverty. And the good news is that many of these factors can be influence by public policy.

Public policy on the county level is focused on the health problems, needs and interest of the whole community, David Plyler, chairman of the Forsyth Board of Commissioners, told the Journal. Rankings can sharpen initiatives, which can lead to increased community involvement and support.

There are a number of initiatives under way in the schools, public health department, the medical centers and nonprofits to improve the health of the community, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines told the Journal. In my judgment, there is strong support for such programs.

Many of the determinants of health are generational, and will require deliberate, evidence-based strategies that the entire community can and should participate in, Forsyth health director Marlon Hunter told the Journal. Workplace wellness programs that incentivize participation, prevention and educational-related programs, along with access to primary care, are just a few steps our community can take to produce positive outcomes that are positive.

The county health department is requesting participation in its latest community health assessment at www.forsyth.cc/publichealth.

Community partnerships are the key factor to success, Stephen Motew, president of Novant Healths greater Winston-Salem market, told the Journal. Novant, through its Forsyth Connects program, offers access to free preventive-care and newborn visit screenings and assists with community health programs.

Together, we will continue to promote a healthy lifestyle, Motew told the Journal.

That is certainly the key toward improving our standing: working together.
Giant pandas,Xing Ya and Wu Wen.[File photo: china.com.cn]

Wu Wen and Xing Ya, two Chinese giant pandas arrived on Wednesday evening at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam for a 15-year stay in a Dutch zoo, making The Netherlands the seventh European country that hosts this endangered and adorable black and white bear.

The KLM special cargo flight transporting the pandas landed at around 19:30 local time. When the cages were unloaded from the plane, hundreds of people watching the live broadcast on a big screen in a nearby hall erupted into applause.

During their debut at the hall shortly after a sanitary check, both Wu Wen (Beautiful Powerful Cloud, the female panda) and Xing Ya (Elegant Star, male) made tentative steps then strolled in rounds in their tailor-made cages, saluting crowds of camera as if with somewhat curiosity.

The two three-and-half-year-old giant pandas moved in an agile way that does not match their weight of over 100 kilograms. The bamboo leaves prepared by their hometown keepers in their cages for the 9-hour trip were almost half consumed.

"It's a small step for Wu Wen and Xing Ya, but a big step for the history of Sino-Dutch relations," said Wu Ken, Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands.

The two black-and-white woolly balls also enthralled children waiting at the scene for the big moment. While some were screaming in excitement, some were holding their breath in awe for their first meeting with the pair.

There are some 2,000 giant pandas in the world. A conservation reliant vulnerable species, most of them live in captivity inside China. Before Wu Wen and Xing Ya traveled to the Netherlands, China had only agreed to carry out joint research on pandas with 12 countries, among which six in Europe. They are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Belgium.

The arrival of Wu Wen and Xing Ya in The Netherlands "fully proves the high level of our bilateral relations which are now at their best time," said Wu Ken.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands. "This significant 'panda moment' marks the beginning of a new chapter in our relations," he added.

"What a beautiful day. What a special moment," said Ronald van Roeden, Deputy Secretary-General at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He recalled many years of efforts by the Netherlands to take part in the cooperation project for the protection of the giant panda. Ouwehands Zoo located in the center of the country had been bidding for this since 2000. During the state visit of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to China in October 2015, an agreement was finally signed.

"With this symbolically expression is given to the excellent status of the relationship of the Dutch-Chinese relations...And now they are here, finally! And we are proud and unbelievably happy with their arrival to the Netherlands," he said.

After the ceremony, Wu Wen and Xing Ya headed for their new home in the zoo in Rhenen, where a special compound with 7 million investment by the Ouwehands Zoo is waiting for them.

The pandas are expected to be given some 50 kilos of bamboo per day, which will be provided by a bamboo grower in the central south of the Netherlands. The bamboo grower also supplies a selection of different types of bamboo for pandas in Vienna and Edinburgh.

The zoo will also launch education program on endangered species and research projects on the breeding of panda in collaboration with Wageningen, the Dutch leading university and research institute on agricultural and nature.

However, eager visitors will have to stay patient before seeing the panda pair at the zoo, because they will first be held in quarantine for up to six weeks.
Photo taken on April 12, 2017, shows Vladimir Safronkov (C, front), Russian deputy ambassador to the United Nations, vetoes a Security Council draft resolution on Chemical Attack in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia Wednesday vetoed a Western draft resolution on an alleged chemical attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

Among 15 council members, ten voted in favor; Bolivia and the council's veto-wielding power Russia voted against; China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan abstained.

The document drafted by the United Kingdom, France and the United States demanded the Syrian military to provide UN investigators with unfettered access to details of their operations on the day of the alleged attack.

The text also condemned the reported use of chemical weapons and demanded a speedy investigation.

On April 4, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others.

Two days later, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shairat military base in central Syria, where the United States believes airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off.

Ahead of the vote, Russia's Deputy Representative to the UN Vladimir Safronkov told the council that putting the draft resolution into a vote did not serve a useful purpose.

Safronkov said Russia has proposed an independent international mission sent by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to visit Khan Sheikhoun and the Shairat airbase for investigations.

He said that Russia hopes the United States can give a constructive response to this suggestion.

China's Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi said China supports the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in conducting a comprehensive, objective and impartial investigation into relevant cases.

Liu said China supports the language in the text that condemns the use of chemical weapons and demands an investigation into the alleged chemical attack.

However, he said some elements of the text need to be amended to secure consensus among council members and therefore China abstained.

"We deeply regret the failure to reach such consensus on the draft resolution," he noted.

Liu also called upon relevant parties to stay on the course for the political settlement to the Syrian issues, uphold the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led principle and support the United Nations as the main mediator.

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.

After the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said with its veto, Russia said no to cooperation with UN's investigation and Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped to promote peace in Syria.
A Brazil Supreme Court [official website] justice on Tuesday ordered investigations into eight cabinet ministers and dozens of lawmakers who are allegedly linked to the countrys so-called car wash bribery scheme. The list of those under investigation [Reuters report] consists of high-ranking officials in key political positions. Citizens in Brazil have erupted in protest due to the alleged political corruption conspiracy. The investigation threatens President Michel Temer [official profile] efforts to pass reforms directing at strengthen investor confidence and rebuilding the economy. According to Senator Jorge Viana

Brazil has endured tumultuous times as former president Dilma Rousseff was ousted for corruption [JURIST report] during a time of economic turmoil. The implications imposed from the anti-corruption measure Operation Carwash [JURIST report] hangs over the economy of Brazil. Charges have been filed against some of Brazils most powerful politicians, including [JURIST report] former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In late September former finance minister Antonio Palocci was arrested [JURIST report]. In November Rousseffs lawyers filed documents [JURIST report] with the Superior Electoral Court in Brazil alleging that her former vice president and current President Michel Temer took a large bribe.
[JURIST] The Parliament of Egypt [official website] on Tuesday gave its unanimous approval [press release] to a three-month state of emergency put in place [JURIST report] by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi [BBC profile]. Announced by Egypts state-run news [Nile News, in Arabic], the state of emergency was instituted in response to two deadly Christian church bombings in the Egyptian cities Tanta and Alexandria. The Islamic State [BBC backgrounder] took credit for the bombings, prompting this state of emergency, explained as a means to allow the Egyptian government to respond quickly to threats.

The threat to Christians in the Middle East has heightened in past years as radical extremists have increasingly targeted attacks on this religious group. In February 2016, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned [JURIST report] the beheading of Coptic Christians in Libya by IS, characterizing the acts as vile crime[s] targeting people on the basis of their religion. The Egyptian Christians were abducted in two separate incidents, and a released video showed members of IS beheading the captives on a beach in Libya. Earlier that month, Egypts state-run National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) [official website] publicly condemned recent violent attacks against the nations Coptic Christians. Islamist extremists are believed to be behind attacks [CNN report] such as the burning of churches and property owned by Christians, along with the displacement of Christian citizens. Coptic Christians comprise roughly 10 percent of the countrys 85 million people and more than 275 people were killed and 2,000 injured in the course of the attacks. These citizens have become a scapegoat for the ousting of Egyptian ex-president Mohamed Morsi [BBC profile], and recent attacks are widely seen as retaliation from Morsi supporters, the Muslim Brotherhood [BBC profile].
European Union vice president Frans Timmermans [official profile] announced on Wednesday that a legal assessment [press release] will be launched as soon as possible regarding Hungarys recently enacted Higher Education Law. Opponents argue the law is meant to close the Central European University (CEU), and may violate European Union free movement of services and freedom of establishment requirements. A spokesman for the Hungarian government has stated [Washington Post report] that the investigation is in retaliation for Hungarys anti-migrant positions. The CEU was founded by George Soros, who Hungarys Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has previously accused of trying to illegitimately influence his government. Timmermans said next steps regarding legal concerns with the law will be considered at the end of the month.

Hungary has been the target of several investigations in recent years. The International Federation for Human Rights had urged [JURIST report] the EU in November to better address Hungarys sustained attack on human rights. In February 2015, Human Rights Watch had condemned [JURIST report] the EU for not taking action against Hungarys laws and practices relating to human rights. In 2013 the Hungarian government enacted constitutional amendments [JURIST report] after receiving criticism over its 2012 amendments. The amendments contained new rules on the recognition of religious groups, as well as modifications to the bans on political advertisements on commercial television and radio stations. The changes allowed political campaign advertisements on commercial TV and radio, but broadcasters would not be allowed to charge for them. Political parties were also be given equal air time. The Hungarian Justice Minister stated that the amendments were proposed as the result of pressure due to the harsh criticism Hungary received. HRW and other human rights groups criticized [JURIST report] the changes as largely cosmetic, highlighting a lack of resolve over issues surrounding weakened human rights protections in the country.
Hundreds of detainees at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) [official website] in Tacoma, Washington began a hunger strike on Monday [NWDC Resistance press release]. According to NWDC Resistance [advocacy website], an advocacy group for undocumented immigrants, prior to the beginning of the hunger strike a demand letter was circulated through the facility that included demands [text, PDF] for more expedited hearings, improved quality of food, improved access to medical care, and lowering of exorbitant commissary prices. The facility has been the object of protests and hunger strikes before. In 2014 a hunger strike involving more than 1,000 people started at the NWDC and spread to other facilities throughout the US for more than 55 days.

Immigration, deportation, and the detention of immigrants has been a matter of national controversy for years and has been a particular focus of US President Donald Trump. The issue has culminated in lawsuits challenging [JURIST report] Trumps controversial executive orders affecting migrants. Last month, the US Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released a report finding that a significant portion of federal law enforcement resources were directed to immigration-related offenses [JURIST report]. The analysis showed that half of all federal arrests in 2014 were related to immigration, with 61 percent of them occurring in five districts along US-Mexico border. In January, seven days after his inauguration, Trump issued an immigration-related executive order, which limited migration from seven Muslim-majority countries, among other changes. A lower court order blocking enforcement of that order was upheld [JURIST report] in February by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. An amended executive order, issued in early March, was also blocked by district courts in Hawaii and Maryland [JURIST report]. Additional challenges to the revised policy are pending, including one brought by Washington and joined [JURIST report] by California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon. These policies have been criticized as part of a larger overhaul of the countrys approach to immigration undertaken by the new administration, largely departing [JURIST op-ed] from the policies of other post-WWII presidents.
[JURIST] Russia vetoed [UN press release] a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) [official website] resolution on Wednesday that would have condemned Syrian president Bashar al-Assads [official website] use of neurologic gas against the Syrian town Khan Sheikhoun on April 4. The gas attack [Reuters report] prompted a responsive bombing by the United States against a Syrian airbase, increasing the rift between the US and Russia. Now, Russia has vetoed a resolution backed by the US, France and Britain to force al-Assad to cooperate with international inquiries into the incident. This was the eighth time Russia has acted in Syrias favor on the UNSC.

The war in Syria [JURIST backgrounder] continues to have a significant impact, particularly in the region of Aleppo. Hearings began [JURIST report] in Spain earlier this week regarding potential war crimes committed by President Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria. The case is a result of a Spanish nationals brother being abducted and tortured in Damascus before being executed in 2013. Also earlier this week, the UNSC met for emergency talks regarding an alleged chemical attack in Syria that killed numerous civilians [JURIST report]. In February, according to Human Rights Watch, the Syrian government carried out [JURIST report] coordinated chemical attacks on rebel-controlled portions of Aleppo.
The UK Court of Appeal ruled [advocacy press release] on Wednesday that terminally ill Noel Conway can proceed with challenge of the countrys law against assisted dying. Noel Conway, a retired college lecturer, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2014 and is not expected to live more than 12 months. In March, a panel of High Court judges rejected his motion to change a blanket ban on providing a person assistance to die. Conway argues [press release] that the Suicide Act 1961 [text] is incompatible with Article 8 [text] of the Human Rights Act, which dictates respect for private law, and Article 14 [text] of the Human Rights Act, which provides protection from discrimination. Care Not Killing Alliance [official website], an organization that opposes assisted suicide or euthanasia, stated that changing the law would pressure [press releases] vulnerable people to end their lives out of fear of being emotional and financially burdensome. His case will now proceed to the High Court for decision on the legality of the law.

The right to die is a contentious issue worldwide. In January French lawmakers approved [JURIST report] a bill that will allow physicians to keep terminally ill patients sedated until death, opting not to extend the bill to cover physician-assisted suicide. In December the Court of Appeals of Quebec overturned [JURIST report] a lower court injunction and ruled that Quebecs physician-assisted death law is not in conflict with any elements of the Quebec Criminal Code. In November German lawmakers approved a bill [JURIST report] allowing assisted suicide for altruistic motives but banning the practice in cases where it is being conducted on a business basis. The month before California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation [JURIST report] that provides terminally ill patients the right to die. Last May a Dutch court cleared [JURIST report] a man of all criminal charges for assisting his 99-year-old mother in committing suicide.
Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was arrested Wednesday on treason charges for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungus [BBC profile] motorcade. Police [official website] raided Hichilemas house and questioned him after he blocked the presidents motorcade on Saturday. Hichilema has been defeated in two previous presidential elections [Aljazeera report] and claims that the last election was rigged. The police have stated Hichilema disobeyed police orders thereby putting the president in danger [Reuters report]. Hichilema has been charged with a non-bailable offense but the Zambian Human Rights Commission [advocacy website] has stated that it hopes Hichilema will be treated fairly and brought before the court of law without unreasonable delay.

Zambias presidency has been surrounded by controversy in recent years. In September the Zambia Supreme Court denied an application by UPND to stop the inauguration of Lungu after allegations of fraud [JURIST reports]. In 2013 Zambian authorities arrested [JURIST report] former president Rupiah Banda on allegations that he misappropriated over USD $11 million during his three-year tenure in office. Zambias Supreme Court in 2010 acquitted [JURIST report] Regina Chiluba, the wife of former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba, of charges that she accepted stolen property during the years of her husbands administration. Prior to his wifes acquittal, former president Chiluba was acquitted [JURIST report] in 2009 of charges of stealing money from the countrys treasury while in office from 1991-2001. He was ordered to stand trial [JURIST report] on the corruption charges in February 2008.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, Front) and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump (L, Front) take a walk in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was very impressed with President Xi Jinping of China, and that the two leaders had a very good chemistry together.

The two leaders met for the first time last week at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The meeting was described as positive and fruitful.

We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together, Trump told a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday. I was very impressed with President Xi, he said.

The two leaders followed up the successful summit on Tuesday night in a telephone call, which was initiated by Trump. The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. The White House said the call was very productive. In the press conference, Trump said he spoke with a gentleman that Ive gotten to know. Ive spent a lot of time with him. Trump said.

Trumps press conference came shortly after the release of an interview he gave to The Wall Street Journal, in which he said China is not a currency manipulator. Theyre not currency manipulators, Trump said in the interview.

In the interview, Trump again complained that the U.S. dollar is too strong. I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially thats my fault because people have confidence in me, he said.

China has repeatedly stated that it has not been manipulating its currency, and many economists agree. The International Monetary Fund declared the Renminbi as no longer undervalued in 2015.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
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Unilever product advertising is mainly through mainstream TV channels. Out of the products advertised so far at least 50% (over 850) of ads have been run on TV, while print media comes second with 496 ads. Unilever also utilizes social media platforms for advertisement. Unilever products are categorized by innovation ratings and tags in our product launch database. The North American region consists of almost 74 products with innovations related to the formulation of the product. Europe and other regions also have more products categorized under formulation-related innovation, followed by the packaging and positioning of the products. Most Unilever products are tagged with High Vitamins, Recyclable, and Natural tags to understand what the product differentiator is from other products available in the market. The majority of products belong to the personal care industry with a total of 5,788 products to date. This report, through the Unilever Example, illustrates how GlobalData Explorer enables you to:Dont miss out on key market insights that can help optimize your next investment  read the report now.
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NEW YORK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged a massive infrastructure plan in the country, which may bring increasing opportunities for Chinese companies, U.S. experts said here on Wednesday.

"The Trump administration has been very focused on investing infrastructure, including public-private partnerships ... We are open for business and welcome Chinese companies to participate and bid for the projects," said Patric Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on an event titled "Skyclub Dialogue: Infrastructure Development and Investment" in New York.

Foye further explained that as the government agency oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure in the two states, Port Authority processes bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports, which are "revenue-generating assets" and "expect to attract capitals from all over the world, including China."

His viewpoints were echoed by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, who also spoke at the event.

"When I look at the one-trillion-dollar price tag that President Trump has put on the infrastructure needs of the United States ... I looked at the three trillion reserve in China, I looked at the expertise that exists in China and I looked at what China Construction America and other Chinese construction companies are doing, creating jobs in the United States," said Orlins.

China Construction America Inc (CCA), a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, is among the Chinese companies that have been playing an active role in the U.S. construction market.

Founded in 1985, CCA now has 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are local employees, according to the company's president Ning Yuan, who also attended the event.

Yuan said the company has successfully completed six bridge projects in the New York Metropolitan area and ranks number ten in bridge contractors across the United States.

CCA is fully funded and ready to get involved in more public-private partnership (PPP) projects, he noted.

Foye pointed out that Chinese companies like CCA should focus not only on capital-raising but also on engineering solutions and creativity when bidding on a project.

"Continued growth and success of the Chinese firms in the U.S. will eventually give them a competitive advantage in the PPP market," said Foye.
The Great Walks: Kepler Track

When you label anything the great something, it better be good. To me, labeling a series of hiking trails The Great Walks is downright risky with just a touch of grandiosity. As a result, I had super high expectations heading into the Kepler Track. Was this multi-day hiking trail as amazing as the internet claimed?

To clarify, New Zealand has a series of nine Great Walks scattered throughout the country. These nine trails are said to cover the premiere landscape of the small island and are considered the highlight for any trekking holiday. Arguably the most famous, the Milford Track is allegedly stunning and was our first attempt. Alas, that trail was booked out for many months. We then turned our sights to the Routeburn Track, another Great Walk that our editor at Backpacker claimed was stunning. Once again, foiled; Routeburn was also booked solid.

Will and I finally got smart and started looking at all of the Great Walks to see if *any* of them were available during our chosen dates {December 23 and 24}. After all, if you are going to spend your holiday on the trail, it should be a gorgeous trail!

We stumbled upon the Kepler Track, one of the lesser known Great Walks. Initially, lodging was only available on the first night but by some holiday miracle, a few spots opened up for a second night. We were in!

PC: Will Rochfort

One of the unique aspects of the Great Walks in New Zealand is the lodging! Every tramper has designated stops every night and you can choose to book either a bed in the hut or a tent site. Most trekkers opt for the hut, especially considering the cost difference is minimal. Not only do you not have to carry a tent or other backpacking gear, but you get to enjoy a warm fire, cook stoves, a mattress, bathrooms, and the pleasure of conversation with the other trampers.

The Kepler Track, located down in Fiordland of the South Island, is a 60 kilometer loop that begins and ends outside of Te Anau. There are three huts along the way: the Luxmore Hut, Iris Burn Hut, and Moturau Hut. Will and I booked the first two huts with a plan to skip the Moturau in favor of a long-ish hike {17-18 miles} to the finish on our third day.

The first day of the Kepler was beautiful, but Ill admit that it was not what I expected. Fresh off our Mueller Hut trek, I was hoping for more high alpine scenery. Instead, Will and trekked 9 miles through jungle-type forest, completely shrouded in thick trees and solid walls of greenery. Coming from Colorado, this type of environment is always a shock to my system and Ill be the first to admit that it isnt my favorite. Some people love rainforests and dense woods and I absolutely understand the appeal. That said, Im a lover of the high alpine with scenic vistas and exposed ridge lines; those geologic features will always have my heart.

Of course, it didnt help that I managed to wander off the well-groomed and very obvious flat trail while yapping and fall in a ditch within the first ten minutes! I cracked my knee on a rock so I spent the remainder of the first day hobbling along the trail while kvetching to Will about his wifes absurd clumsiness. Yes, this is his life, my friends!

But as we neared the Luxmore Hut, I realized the trees were thinning and the air was growing less sticky. We were nearing New Zealands tree line and thus, entering the high alpine. As we hiked out of the trees, I caught my first glimpse of the scenery wed be enjoying on the second day. I was psyched! A windswept meadow of grass spilled out before us with a small boardwalk to lead hikers to the Luxmore. Mountains upon mountains filled the horizon and the sky turned a slight shade of purple in preparation for the sunset.

Oh yes. The second day was going to be good.

The Luxmore Hut itself was a pleasant surprise, again coming from someone who isnt quite used to sharing a hut with 50 of my closest friends. The kitchen area was beautiful and the warden {the park employee who lives at the hut} was a hoot! His personal vendetta in life is a stoat, a ferret-like animal that was first introduced to the country in an effort to control rabbits. As all good plans tend to do, this went awry when the sassy stoats began decimating NZs native bird population. These days, stoat traps line the trails in plain sight, almost flaunting the locals disgust for this wiry critter. Our warden regaled us with tales of trapping stoats, all while *literally* having a dead stoat in his pocket.as evidenced by the tail trailing out of the side. I like to think he carried it as a warning to any other stoats that dared venture near his hut!

The Luxmore Hut

The second morning of the Kepler dawned slow and late as Will and I snoozed in bed while everyone else got up and started packing. We knew we had a bed at the next hutIris Burn so what was the rush?! We eventually sauntered downstairs, packed, and ate our breakfast. We officially became the last two to leave the hut in the morning, but I was filled with the excitement. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze blowing, and the scenery was immediately spectacular!

Checking out one of the small emergency shelters.

Hands down, the second day of the Kepler Track is the most beautiful of the entire route. Almost the whole section is above tree line so you ogle towering peaks and crystal-blue lakes in the distance. We found ourselves steadily climbing but it was easy to ignore the persistent quad burn while admiring the view. We eventually popped around a corner and I couldnt contain myself; our tiny trail followed along a sharp ridge line for miles, dancing along the sharp edge while flirting with exposure on both sides. It continued like this for miles, and Will and I could see the tiny brown line trail off into the distance. Was this real life?!

We scampered along the ridge for at least an hour, almost feeling like a scene out of Sound of Music. Green hillsides plummeted down towards the valley and the wind continued to pull through my hair. I felt so alive and content; Will and I kept looking at each other and smiling big grins of happiness. Maybe the first day hadnt been my favorite but the second day of the Kepler more than made up for it.

Eventually the ridge ended and a steep staircase descended back toward the valley and the Iris Burn hut. Comfortable with the exposure and the over quad-destruction from the downhill, Will and I managed to unintentionally catch almost everyone on the trail. This made for a pleasant surprise when we finally arrived at Iris Burn. First come, first served; we got first choice for beds!

Iris Burn Hut

Iris Burn will always have a soft spot in my mind since this cozy hut was where we spent Christmas Eve. We spent our Christmas Eve dinner eating dehydrated meals from a bag while chatting with our new Kiwi friend. The warden came out with a bag of candy and a Santa hat to liven up the festivities, and Will surprised me by unveiling a {dehydrated} apple pie for dessert. Its really the little things, you know?! We fell asleep that night with soft smiles on our faces as we listened to the birds in the trees say goodnight.

We awoke early on Christmas morning, knowing that we had an almost-20 mile day to complete before noon {when we needed to meet our friends at the car park.} No one else was awake so we tiptoed down to the kitchen to quietly pack away from everyone else still snoozing in their beds. I was sitting outside on the porch, enjoying the last moments of silence in the morning when Will came out: he had trekked a beautiful ring across the world, throughout New Zealand, and along the Kepler Track just to surprise me on Christmas morning with a gift!

Im a lucky girl.

The rest of our Kepler Track experience passed in a blur as the trail flattened out and we focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The third day was similar to the first in that we hiked through dense greenery and thick jungle-like canopies. I kept thinking to myself how different this was than all of my previous Christmas experiences: we were by ourselves, without family or Christmas carols, a tree, or even Tally. And while I found myself missing my family and pup, I realized that I would always remember the experience. Im sure that one day, in the future, Will and I will reminisce on the time we tramped throughout New Zealand on Christmas Day.

Not too shabby.

********************
Photo Credit: Visit Lisbon

Portugal doesn't always immediately come to mind when one thinks of an indulgent getaway in Europe; but during a recent exploration trip, I quickly realized that its capital city, Lisbon, offers far more finery than it lets on.

Beyond the peaceful waterfront, colorful architecture and winding streets of old world charm, Lisbon sparkles with grandiose hospitality and luxe amenities in more ways than one.

Here are a few of my favorite luxe discoveries:

Photo Credit: Valverde Hotel

The Valverde Hotel

This five-star boutique hotel sits discreetly in a prime location on Avenida da Liberdade, mere footsteps away from world-class boutiques like Prada, Versace, Louis Vuitton and more. Its subtle exterior sets the tone for the chic townhouse-like property, which has just 25 guest rooms (for nowexpansion is slated in the months ahead), all of which are impeccably outfitted in contemporary decor for a comfortable stay that's not to disappoint. I was enamored with the all-black marble bath and shower, and awe-inspiring balcony views that made my trip all the more magical. Best of all, the hotel even offers private sailboat rides complete with onboard catering services, which makes for an epic stay in and of itself.

Photo Credit: Valverde Hotel

Valverde also boasts a courtyard swimming pool and cozy restaurant, Sitio, that hosts a traditional fado (or live performances of melancholy songs with mandolin or guitar accompaniments) twice a week, where you can nosh on a classic Portuguese fare while fully immersing yourself in this cultural delight. I enjoyed a delectable meal of codfish and a cheese puff pastry while I was soulfully serenaded by a talented vocalist who powerfully projected all of the emotions of the nearby district of Alfama, where fado originated from.

Perhaps what differentiated my stay here than at other luxury hotels is the personable and top-notch service that Valverde's staff prides themselves on. My hotel stay at Valverde Hotel made my trip entirelyI would absolutely book here again and again!

The Spa at The Ritz Four Seasons

No trip is complete without an indulgent spa day, and The Ritz Four Seasons can do no wrong in my eyes. This stunning location sits on top of the hill in central Lisbon and boasts an immaculate indoor pool, so even if it's unseasonably chilly or rainy outside (as it was during my trip), you can still unwind in the water at your leisure.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Chan

I booked a Portuguese Retreat to really get into the spirit of things, and melted into a blissful puddle of relaxation for 90 full minutes during my treatment. The service began with a soothing foot ritual where my feet were exfoliated and cleansed before I was then treated to a full-body scrub and massage using classic Portuguese ingredients like rosewater, sweet almond oil and crushed almonds. In a city capital that's surprisingly still so very calm and peaceful, this spa treatment was the perfect way to settle into the city.

Photo Credit: Claus Porto

Claus Porto

When I arrived in Lisbon, I beelined it to Claus Porto, home of the iconic Portuguese soaps with the gorgeous packaging. I've been a longtime fan of the beauty brand, so it was a treat to finally visit the stunning shop (look for the giant soap on a rope in the window!) that not only displays its goods beautifully in every corner of the store, but also houses a miniature museum of the brand's archives over the years. I marveled at the ancient gift boxes and original paper wrapping from their earliest days as a soap pioneer, before picking out a few sudsy souvenirs to take home with me. Step down into the lower level of the shop and relax in a Claus Porto sanctuary where male clientele can also come in for a custom shave on weekends. The entire store experience is worth a visit for any grooming guru.

Photo Credit: Luis Onofre

Luis Onofre

Popular Portuguese shoe designer Luis Onofre currently has his only store in Lisbon, and it is absolutely worth a visit! Step inside the small upscale boutique and try to contain your excitement at the mere sight of his beautiful heels and handbags that are truly works of art. I couldn't help but notice the stellar craftsmanship (Onofre prides himself on creating visually stunning shoes that are also ergonomically comfortable to wear), and of course, the sparkling Swarovski crystal details on many of his jaw-dropping signature styles. Perhaps the most compelling reason to pick out a pretty pair of his limited-edition designs? Each pair will be packaged in a beautiful handmade keepsake box with a coordinating shoe pillow that perfectly pairs with the fabrication or color palette of the heels themselves. Now that's a clever designer who knows what a woman wants!

Photo Credit: Bulgari

BVLGARI

The iconic fine jewelry and watch brand has a stunning new store location in Lisbon that embodies the very definition of luxury. Designed by the talented American architect Peter Marino, the posh boutique sparkles from the inside out with rich silk wall coverings, Italian marble columns and rich gold details woven throughout the decor to carry out the classic BVLGARI aesthetic.

Of course, there's the ever-popular Serpenti jewelry collection and the bold large-faced Octo watches for men, but what I eyed the most were the dazzling display of whimsical yet elegant handbags in an array of rich animal skins and leathers, eye-popping colors and gemstone embellishments.

Head towards the back of the boutique near the diamond display to see a stunning vintage portrait of Elizabeth Taylor embracing Richard Burton while wearing BVLGARI jewels, of course.

Photo Credit: Feitoria

Feitoria

For adventurous foodies, Lisbon does not disappoint. Naturally, you must sample the classic local fare (like the sweetly satisfying egg tarts!), but if inventive fine dining is what you're after, there's simply nothing more exquisite than Feitoria at the Altis Hotel. Chef Joao Rodrigues is an innovative master of creative culinary delights that will tantalize your tastebuds and beckon your senses with each impressive course. From the sauteed Scarlet shrimp to the Setubul cuttlefish, your pre-set tasting menu at this elegant waterfront restaurant will be an unforgettable treasure in Portugal's capital city.
Local authorities in Beijing have beefed up security for the Ming imperial tombs after several cultural relics were reported missing in March, an incident that reveals the laxity of Chinas historic preservation efforts.

Due to the recent theft, security measures have been upgraded in the tombs and their surrounding areas. For instance, we used to offer guests special permission to explore some tombs that are not usually open to the public, but that practice has now been suspended, an employee of the Ming Tombs Special Administration told the Peoples Daily Online.

The new measures come after media outlets reported the theft of a pair of 400-year-old candle holders in March. According to Xinhua News Agency, the missing white marble candle holders were placed in front of the mausoleum of the Ming Dynastys last emperor, Chongzhen, and went missing last May. However, local officials decided not to report the incident at that time, instead falsely asserting that the cultural relics had been sent for repair.

The missing candle holders have since been retrieved by police. Three suspects were arrested for the theft, while four officials were let go for incompetence in the protection of cultural relics.

The theft from the Ming tombs, a historical site protected at the national level, shows the countrys incompetence in protecting cultural relics. There are countless cultural and historical sites in China that suffer from vandalism and even looting. Their protection so far has not been promising, Liu Mengci (pseudonym), a Beijing-based volunteer for cultural relic protection, told the Peoples Daily Online.

Located in the northern part of Beijing, the Ming tombs are a collection of 13 royal mausoleums, and are designated as one component of a larger World Heritage Site. Presently, only three mausoleums out of the 13 are open to the public.

Lax protection of cultural relics

As a history lover, I have been conducting research on the protection of the Ming Tombs for several years. Based on my observations, the tombs protection seems lax, despite authorities best efforts, said Liu. According to Liu, some of the tombs are protected only by a small crew of guards. What's more, the guards frequently lack professional knowledge about the protection of cultural relics.

Most people have no access to the tombs, other than the three tombs that are open to the public. Though it's not common practice, you may be allowed to have a peek inside the closed tombs if you offer the guards some small gifts - for instance, a pack of cigarettes, said Liu.

A guard at Qing Tomb, one of the closed Ming tombs, concurred, telling Beijing Youth Daily that even if there are regulations preventing visitors from entering the closed tombs, some travelers may still sneak in, as the security isn't very tight.

But after the theft, such practices have been completely banned for security reasons, the guard emphasized.

The closed tombs are located in desolate and distant regions, making it even harder to protect them. If the media had not reported on the missing candle holders, we might never have known about the theft, said Liu.

According to an announcement released by the State Administration of Cultural Relics, the security facilities of the tomb from which the holders were stolen were completely paralyzed when the incident occurred. At the same time, local authorities concealed the truth and failed to report the theft in a timely fashion, which also served to expose the loopholes and weak spots of cultural relic protection.

Public donation as a new method of protection

The candle holder theft is merely the most recent in a series of thefts. At least 12 ancient frescoes were stolen from temples in Shanxi province in 2016, and many still lack proper care and maintenance, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

Insufficient funds are a major factor hindering Chinas cultural relic protection. According to the Beijing Times, China spent over 31 billion RMB from 2011 to 2015 in an effort to protect 10,000 historical sites nationwide, but the number of China's cultural relics that are urgently in need of protection is closer to 200,000.

Some ancient temples in Shanxi, for instance, don't even have basic security measures like cameras or alarm systems. There may be only one guard to protect the whole building, said Liu. He believes that raising funds from the public might help to promote cultural relic protection.

The project to repair the Forbidden Citys Hall of Mental Cultivation received 220 million RMB in contributions from the public. This serves as a good model for Chinas future cultural relics protection, the Beijing Times reported.
Yuan Longping

The annual output of China's "super hybrid" rice may reach 17 tons per hectare, according to renowned rice scientist Yuan Longping, known as China's father of hybrid rice.

"This year, we are striving for a new yield of 1,130 kilograms per mu [about 0.07 hectares], or 17 tons per hectare," Yuan said on April 12 at the First International Forum on Rice in Sanya, Hainan province. "Our chance of reaching the target is 90 percent," he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture launched a super hybrid rice breeding project in 1996. The previous target of 16 tons per hectare was realized in 2015, Yuan said.

At the forum, experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences discussed innovations in rice breeding and the development of the rice industry. Over 500 new varieties of rice were on display at the forum.
More than 400 Volvo S90 sedans, currently being assembled at Volvo's plant in the northeastern city of Daqing, Heilongjiang province, will soon make their way to the U.S. market. They will be transported by ship in June, marking the first time high-end Chinese sedans are exported to the U.S.
The Beijing Civil-Military Integration Expo is welcoming visitors from April 12 to 14. The exhibition, covering 10,000 square meters, displays vehicles, equipment, reconnaissance and control systems, as well as drones to be used for military and police purposes. Some 200 exhibitors are presenting the best of their high-tech products, from VR to simulation. (Photo: Peoples Daily Online/Jiang Jie)
A worker ties to pull the old man out of the grave.

A man from Guang'an, Sichuan province climbed into the grave he dug for himself on March 23 - a date he had been told by a fortune teller would be auspicious. He then proceeded to remain in the grave until he was rescued by local police and sent to hospital.

The man, Xiang Chaojie, is 72 years old. He has been suffering from esophageal cancer for several years. Though he received treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate. In the last year, Xiang asked a fortune teller about his death. The latter told him it would fall on the "auspicious" day of March 23, 2017. As a result, Xiang dug himself a grave on the mountain behind his house and patiently waited for that day to come. He even left several possessions to his friends, telling everyone he knew that he would die on that day.

The grave the old man digs for himself

When the day came, nobody other than Xiang believed the prophecy would come true. Nonetheless, his niece worried about his safety and went to visit him around 9 a.m. When she found his house vacant, she went to her uncle's grave and saw a man lying inside. Panicking, she called the police.

Police confirmed that the man inside the grave was none other than Xiang, but he didn't respond to their calls. Several onlookers spoke up, urging police to respect Xiang's wishes, but the police insisted on confirming Xiang's condition.

After entering the grave, the officers found Xiang still alive. They later extracted him from the hole and sent him to the hospital. Xiang told police he had been drinking before he entered the grave, and it was probably the alcohol that had caused him to fall asleep. He promised to cooperate with his doctor and live the rest of his life to the fullest.
On April 11 local time, the vessel Yulin was sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy to rescue a Tuvaluan cargo ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The hijacked cargo vessel, OS35, was promptly escorted to safe area near the gulf. Its crew members placed Chinese national flags on their heads to express gratitude to their rescuers.
As China pushes forward the national strategy of military-civilian integration, private companies long for more space to put their advanced technology and innovative ideas to military use.

Military-civilian integration  which aims to add more civilian forces into military equipment development and to introduce military technology back into civilian industries  was announced as a national strategy by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015. The country has since witnessed the booming development of this nationwide trend.

Despite a great deal of enthusiasm, however, it remains relatively difficult for private companies to freely access the lucrative military market, according to several private company exhibitors at the Beijing Civil-Military Integration Expo on April 13.

Several private company exhibitors pointed out that they were seldom visited by military officers when they attended such kind of expo to seek cooperation opportunities. Rather, they always go to the "national team" of State-owned enterprises or military institutes.

(Photo:People's Daily Online/Jiang Jie)

Digital Hail is Chinas leader in providing analysis and decision-making support based on data visualization. It is also one of not so many private companies in China to successfully cooperate with the military. According to employees at the company's exhibit, the company's battle simulation system is now serving a number of military units, and the company also provided visualization systems for the launch of several satellites.

The founders experience with military units is undoubtedly one of the key reasons they were placed high on the list of potential partners. Digital Hail also holds all four qualification certificates to conduct military-related research and development.

China requires four certificates to officially allow a company to do military-related research and development. Among other things, companies much be authorized as weapons manufacturers and hold production permits. Additional qualifications are also needed to guarantee a companys confidentiality and military-standard quality management.

However, even for rare fully-qualified private companies like Digital Hail, it is hard for them to receive bigger projects and project funds for private companies are usually "way lower" than those received by the "national teams," said an anonymous insider.

It is still quite difficult for private companies to acquire all four qualifications in a short time, noted Liu Pan, sales director of EWATT Technology Co. Ltd., a leading drone maker based in Wuhan, Hubei province.

EWATT is famous for its drones used in power cruising in China, but the company has also started working with military institutes and armed police forces to carry out geological surveys. However, this cooperation only accounts for 20 percent of the companys total revenue, Liu revealed.

(Photo: People's Daily Online/Jiang Jie)

Not only are the qualifications hard to acquire, there is actually a whole separate standard of qualification for our products when they are intended for military or police use. Our products have undergone qualification tests with top authorities dozens of times, but we still need to pass a new test administered by military and police authorities if we want to bid for a military project. Such tests cost hundreds of thousands of RMB, Liu told the Peoples Daily Online.

Several exhibitors agreed, noting that private companies often have an advantage in cutting-edge technologies, and it would be useful if they could put those technologies to use in the military.
People flock to a river to catch fish in the town of Nayun in Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County (Menglian County), Yunnan province on April 12. The townspeople were celebrating Shenyu Festival, which included singing, dancing and a fish-catching competition. The name of the festival, "shenyu," literally means sacred fish.

Prior to the contest, a variety of fish with a total weight of 20.5 tons were released in the river. Competitors who caught the top three heaviest fish were rewarded with cash prizes. The heaviest specimen weighed 21.03 kilograms.
(Xinhua) 19:17, April 13, 2017

BEIJING, April 13 -- A former senior legislator in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Gai Ruyin, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, was also fined 2 million yuan (about 291,300 U.S. dollars) and ordered to return all this ill-gotten gains by the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin, north China.

The court found Gai guilty of taking advantage of his various positions in Heilongjiang to help others secure projects, business opportunities and promotions from 2003 to 2015, according to a press release.

In return, he accepted money and property amounting to more than 23 million yuan personally or through other people, the court said.

The court decided to be lenient as Gai pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, returned his illegal gains and offered information about other crimes.
A Georgia bank might help Bass Pro Shops and Capital One buy Nebraska-based Cabelas, a move finance watchers say will help overcome regulatory roadblocks that have left the deal in limbo.

That means the Cabelas sale likely is one step closer to being sealed, experts say, dashing hopes that the deal would fall through and that the homegrown Nebraska business could stay in its hometown of 6,800 people, where it employs around 2,000.

The bank, Synovus Financial Corp., is said to be stepping in to help Capital One get around objections raised by a government regulator charged with, among other things, approving deals involving financial institutions. That includes Capital Ones bid for the Cabelas credit card business, which operates as Worlds Foremost Bank.

Last October, Capital One said it would buy Worlds Foremost, while Bass Pro said it would take over the retail part of the Cabelas business.

But the road to getting a deal done hasnt been smooth: Capital One said it probably wouldnt get regulatory approval to acquire the card business prior to the merger deadline this October because of an unrelated issue it has with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a federal agency.

Cabelas said in a regulatory filing late last year it would explore alternative structures to seal the deal.

Synovus could be that alternative: The bank, with about $30 billion in assets, is said to be in talks to buy Worlds Foremost and then offload the card business to Capital One, serving essentially as a middleman. Thats according to a Wall Street Journal report last month that cited anonymous sources the newspaper said were close to the matter.

Its a clever circumvention, of the issue with the federal regulator, which could hold up the entire deal, said Colin Plunkett, an analyst with Morningstar covering Capital One. What we suspect is that Synovus is just collecting sort of a convenience or finders fee from Capital One in order to facilitate this transaction.

Synovus and Cabelas declined to comment for this story. Capital One did not respond to a request for comment.

Cabelas investors look to be pleased with the possible workaround to get the deal done. Theyve sent the retailers stock rising again after it lost nearly all of the gains it made since the October deal was announced. Its now trading around $53 per share, up more than 10 percent so far this year.

The deal with Synovus would be good for Cabelas shareholders because it would be quicker to finalize than finding a brand new buyer for the credit card portfolio, said Nathan Yates, an analyst covering Cabelas with Forward View Consulting in Virginia. The clock is ticking down to the October merger deadline, when all parties could walk away or renegotiate a new deal, Yates said.

Adding yet another party to a deal thats already complicated  it already involves Goldman Sachs, Bass Pro, Capital One and Cabelas  is one downside, Yates said.

Plus, Yates said, the Georgia bank isnt doing this just to be nice.

Synovus will undoubtedly demand more than a Cabelas smoker as compensation for facilitating the whole acquisition, he said.

Its not unusual in such deals for a third party, unencumbered by regulators, to step up and help get the deal done, said Robert Hammer, chief executive of R.K. Hammer, a firm that brokers such deals. He was surprised, however, that Synovus could be the white knight for Cabelas and Capital One.

I would have expected it would have been one of the top-tier players, like Citigroup, Chase or Synchrony Financial, Hammer said. This is no small potatoes. Its one of the larger deals most people will do, and it goes to somebody not on anybodys radar screen. My hats off to them.

Bass Pro, backed by Goldman Sachs, agreed in October to buy the retail arm of the company for $5.5 billion including debt, or $65.50 per share. Capital One was to pay a $200 million premium in addition to the cost of the $5.7 billion credit card portfolio, according to documents filed with regulators that have since been withdrawn. Such deals typically include a partnership between the retailer and the card operator, where the retailer continues signing up new cardholders. Its not clear what kind of money will exchange hands now.

The news of the possible deal was a surprise to Synovus analysts.

This seems out of left field for Synovus, wrote Jennifer Demba in a note to SunTrust Robinson Humphrey clients when rumors of the Georgia bank entering the fray started flying.

Its still unclear how much Synovus would stand to gain. Capital One could end up buying the credit card receivables  or what is owed by cardholders  from Synovus for a higher price than it had originally intended to pay, said Plunkett, the Morningstar analyst. That would compensate Synovus for housing Worlds Foremosts assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.

Uncommon and surprising as it may be, the proposed workaround is not a loophole, card industry expert Michael Yates said  nor is it a sure thing.

There are no regulatory loopholes this deal structure is attempting to leverage or take advantage of, said Yates, president and co-founder of Samuel EM Clemens Consulting, a credit card industry consulting firm.

Adding Synovus to the transaction does not guarantee approval of the deal by the OCC, he said, referring to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The theory is that it reduces risk.

The risk to which Yates refers? That Capital One, which was rapped by the regulator for alleged failures to comply with anti-money laundering rules, could feasibly use the more than $1 billion worth of high-dollar certificates of deposit in Worlds Foremost to continue running afoul of federal regulators.

Capital One has neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing associated with the OCCs 2015 consent order and did consent to it, but Michael Yates speculates that by only picking up the credit card portfolio, it stays on good terms with regulators.

Synovus keeps the $1 billion in cash deposits, Capital One gets the Cabelas co-brand credit card portfolio and the regulators are theoretically happy and approve the transaction, he said.

So where did those deposits come from in the first place?

Even though regular people are unable to open, say, a checking account at the Cabelas-owned financial institution  it has no formal branches to speak of  corporations and other institutions can and do make deposits there.

Thats how credit card banks like Worlds Foremost, which elect not to operate a retail banking business with actual branches and checking accounts and so forth, come up with funds to lend to cardholders. They can also sell asset-backed securities that are derived by pooling credit-card loans and selling them to investors, but that practice has fallen out of favor since the dark days of the financial crisis.

The deposits at Worlds Foremost are, by nature, time-sensitive. In other words, a corporation might give Worlds Foremost a certain amount of money for a certain amount of time that would collect a certain amount of interest  just like a consumer would get with a C.D.

So even though Synovus, which has about $30 billion in assets, would certainly benefit from more than $1 billion in Worlds Foremost deposits said to be part of its rumored deal with Capital One, SunTrusts Demba speculated that many of them would likely leave the bank once they matured.

Thats because theyre certificates of deposit, instruments that have a set lifespan and are redeemed at preordained time intervals.
LEXINGTON  The second of two men accused in September armed robberies in Cozad was found guilty of robbery in Dawson County District Court last week.

Christian Poore, 19, of Cozad pleaded no contest to robbery, a Class II felony, court records say. A person making a no-contest plea neither admits nor denies guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea.

Another robbery charge, and two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony, both Class IC felonies, were dropped in a plea deal, court records say.

According to court records, the charges stem from alleged armed robberies at a Cozad home and at a Cozad motel hours apart on Sept. 25.

Court records say Cozad Police Department officers were called to the Cozad home at about 12:34 a.m. and determined that two masked men had forced their way into the home. They allegedly held one resident and a witness at gunpoint and allegedly stole a coin purse containing credit cards and identification, court records say. Witnesses told police that there may have been a third person waiting outside and out of sight, court records say.

At 2:14 a.m., Cozad police were called to a second robbery at a Cozad motel. The two victims told police that two men approached them at a nearby gas station and said they needed cash.

Court records say, two masked men later allegedly forcibly entered a motel room and demanded credit cards and their personal identification numbers. The masked men allegedly held the victims at gunpoint while allegedly taking credit cards, passports and cash.

Joseph Pittman, 27, was also arrested and charged with two counts of robbery, Class II felonies. Pittman was sentenced to five to eight years in prison, and he received five months, 17 days credit for time already served in Dawson County Jail.

Poores sentencing is set for May 15. He faces one-50 years in prison for a Class II felony conviction.

While in Dawson County Jail, Poore was also charged with assault by a confined person, a Class IIIA felony. According to court records, Poore allegedly punched another inmate on the left side of the inmates face in the gym area of the jail.

Poore pleaded not guilty to the charge and will go before a jury on May 9. If convicted of a Class IIIA felony, Poore could spend up to three years in prison.
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(Xinhua) 20:36, April 13, 2017

BEIJING, April 13 -- In line with a UN resolution, China suspended all coal imports from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Feb. 19, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Thursday.

The action was in accord with the UN Security Council Resolution 2321,which took effect on that date, GAC spokesperson Huang Songping told a press conference.

The UN Security Council adopted the resolution on Nov. 30, in response to the fifth DPRK nuclear test on Sept. 9 last year.

A total of 2.7 million tonnes of coal was imported from DPRK in the first quarter of 2017, down 51.6 percent year on year, all before the resolution came into effect, said Huang.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili attended a session on The Silk Road Effect at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2017, wrote analyst Fuad Shahbazov in his article published by the Jamestown Foundation.

Presumably, the intention of both leaders was to promote the importance of the new China-led Silk Road Economic Belt project and its role in the future development of the economy and infrastructure in the South Caucasus. As a source of and as a transit corridor for strategic global resources such as oil and natural gas, as well as the intersection of important transportation routes between the East and West as well as the North and South, the South Caucasus holds great geostrategic importance, said Shahbazov.

More recently the South Caucasus has become an area of great interest as an extension of the highly ambitious Chinese Silk Road project, which aims to connect Europe and East Asia via new roads and railways across the Eurasian landmass, says the article.

But Chinas real connection with the region will likely come when the BakuTbilisiKars (BTK) railway is finally completed. The railroad and its connection to Chinese Silk Road transit corridors further east will facilitate Chinas ability to ship goods westward across the South Caucasus isthmus and, more generally, boost trade opportunities in the region.

Baku reacted positively to the initiative of Chinese Silk Road project, hoping that the ambitious project would bring more Chinese investment to the country, noted the author.

Such a tendency has contributed greatly to shaping Azerbaijans bilateral relations with China, allowing the latter to rise to become one of Azerbaijans top ten trading partners, added Shahbazov.

Trade turnover between China and Azerbaijan has grown 800-fold during their 22 years of diplomatic relations, said the author. Initially, bilateral trade amounted to only $1.5 million; but in 2004, it jumped to $200 million and $368 million in 2006. By 2013, their trade turnover reached around $1.5 billion.

In 2016, the China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved its biggest loan so far for the construction of a gas pipeline connecting Azerbaijan to Turkey and Southern Europe, says the article.

The AIIB lent $600 million to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) which, when completed, will transport natural gas from fields in Azerbaijan across Turkey and then onward to markets in Southeastern Europe, added Shahbazov.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Switzerland very strongly supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group for peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Philipp Stalder told Trend.

We think that both conflicting sides should sit down at the negotiation table and hold meaningful peace negotiations in a more structured way, the ambassador said. Of course, any conflict has negative impact on the neighboring countries and the whole region and that is, unfortunately, also the case for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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We are now contemplating, Heaven save the mark, a bill that would tax the well for the benefit of the ill.

Although that quote reads like it could be part of the Republican repeal-and-replace assault against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), its actually from a 1949 editorial in The New York State Journal of Medicine denouncing health insurance itself.

Indeed, the attacks on the ACA seem to have revived a survival-of-the-fittest attitude most of us thought had vanished in America long ago. Yet, again and again, there it was in plain sight, as when House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) declared: The idea of Obamacare is that the people who are healthy pay for the people who are sick.

Contemporary language, but the same thinking that sank President Harry Trumans health care plan almost seven decades ago.

Ryans indignation highlighted a fundamental divergence in attitudes that repeatedly turned the health care debate into a clash over the philosophy behind Obamacare-style health insurance. To some, the communal pooling of financial risk of medical expenses seems too often an unacceptable risk to personal responsibility.

As a researcher who has documented this approach to health care, Ive been startled to see the debate over the AHCA reignite a political philosophy and policy approach that seemed to be have been discredited  and be in sharp decline.

When Truman launched the first comprehensive effort to cover all Americans, most of the population had no health insurance.

Last year, thanks to the ACA, nearly 90 percent did, according to a Gallup-Healthways poll. Yet then and now, many conservatives have downplayed the impact on physical health and focused, instead, on fiscal temptation.

If you cant afford to be sick, then dont be

Take, for instance, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) warning low-income Americans on March 7, 2017 that they had to make a choice about their spending: So rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care. (He later walked back his statement.)

In reality, of course, the premiums from the GOPs late and abandoned American Health Care Act would dwarf any savings from iPhone abstinence. For a 64-year-old making US$26,500 a year, the cost of health insurance would have shot up from $1,700 to $14,600, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), or more than half that individuals pre-tax income.

Chaffetz and others seem to sincerely believe that what keeps the great majority of people well is the fact that they cant afford to be ill  although those words come from the 1949 editorialist again, not a Trump administration tweet. The editorial continued:

That is a harsh, stern dictum and we readily admit that under it a certain number of cases of early tuberculosis and cancer, for example, may go undetected. Is it not better that a few such should perish rather than that the majority of the population should be encouraged on every occasion to run sniveling to the doctor? That in order to get their moneys worth they should be sick at every available opportunity? They will find out in time that the services they think they get for nothing  but which the whole people of the United States would pay for  are also worth nothing.

As it happens, the effect predicted in 1949 on the detection of cancer  less of it  is precisely what has happened with the spread of high-deductible health plans praised by conservatives for encouraging more careful shopping by consumers. A study in Medical Care showed that screening rates for colorectal cancer declined under high-deductible plans until, under Obamacare, the federal government forced those plans to include first-dollar coverage of preventive services. The screening rates for colorectal cancer promptly rose. A recent study in Cancer found the same results for mammography.

Separately, surveys and research on high-deductible plans have found that 20 to 25 percent of people have avoided needed care of all kinds because they cant afford it.

Nonetheless, the GOPs conservative wing denounced ACA-mandated essential health benefits, echoing the idea that it is a threat to American freedom. Or as that same New York medical journal put it:

It is time that someone  everyone  should hoist Mr. Charles Darwin from his grave and blow life into his ashes so that they could proclaim again to the world his tough but practical doctrine of survival of the fittestThe Declaration of Independence said that man was entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Any man who wishes to pursue happiness had better be able to stand on his own feet. He will not be successful if he feels that he can afford to be ill.

The quality of mercy is not strained

For most physicians, that compassionless condescension lies in the faraway past; for example, the AHCA was overwhelmingly opposed by medical professional groups, including the American Medical Association.

Yet an implacable medical Darwinism retains a firm grip on many conservatives, even on physicians. Then-Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, an obstetrician/gynecologist and prominent Republican, told a sobbing woman at a 2009 public meeting on the ACA that government is not the answer when she said she couldnt afford care for her brain-injured husband.

Similarly, in 2011, after the ACA passed, then-Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), also an obstetrician/gynecologist, was asked what should be done about an uninsured, 30-year-old man in a coma. What he should do is whatever he wants to do and assume responsibility for himself, Paul responded, adding, Thats what freedom is all about, taking your own risk.

Or as conservative scholar Michael Strain put it in a 2015 Washington Post editorial: In a world of scarce resources, a slightly higher mortality rate is an acceptable price to pay for certain goals  includingless government coercion and more individual liberty.

Strain is right, of course, that resources are limited. Moreover, its long been known that overgenerous health insurance can lead to overuse of medical care services.

However, most Americans, including some prominent conservative intellectuals, dont see stripping away health insurance from 24 million countrymen  the CBOs estimate of the AHCAs 10-year impact  as striking a blow for liberty. In a Quinnipiac University poll released just before the scheduled AHCA vote, only 17 percent of respondents approved of the Republican plan and 46 percent said theyd be less likely to vote for someone who supported it.

One day later, GOP leaders withdrew the legislation, sparing Republican representatives a vote on the record. Although Vice President Mike Pence has called evolution an unproven theory, it turns out Republicans really do believe in survival of the fittest (at least in a political sense), after all.

Michael L. Millenson is president, Health Quality Advisors, LLC and can be reached on his self-titled site, Michael L. Millenson. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Do you have sex with men, women or both?

This is the way that we were taught in medical school to ask a patient about their sexual history. When we took our sample standardized patient exams, we were scored whether or not we asked this question. In my understanding, this was supposed to be a non-judgmental, non-assuming way to elicit a sexual history.

However, romantic partners generally come before sex (unless we are speaking of one night stands). In asking about a patients personal life, medical school has unequivocally failed to teach student doctors how to sensitively ask about a patients romantic preferences and intimate relationships.

I am a male who wears a prominent wedding band with diamonds, and wore an engagement ring before this (which I know is uncommon). My experience with socially awkward heteronormist doctors probably began prior to finishing med school, but it became more apparent after I got married at the end of my fourth year. On one residency interview I was asked, What does your wife do? Do you have any children? (it is supposed to be illegal to ask such questions). I am a gay male, and I responded that my partner has his own business. I cannot state since then how many times well-intentioned doctors when trying to make small talk ask me what my wife (or girlfriend) does. While it is somewhat more expected from patients engaging in small talk with me who are not given formal sensitivity training, I would hope that doctors who interact with patients on a daily basis and are taught to be non-judgmental and do not assume that as a married male I have a wife. This is especially relevant since same-sex marriage is now legal in the country.

I am now very far along into my residency journey; come another year I will have finally finished the long path and will be an attending. I am floored every time a provider asks me about my wife just by glancing at my wedding ring  perhaps its just that they dont think, but if they are an MD how are they asking their patients similar questions? If Ms. Jones, a lesbian patient, is asked, What does your husband do? it is possible that she would be quite offended, uncomfortable, awkward, and not want to return back to continue care. Indeed, it is known that LGBTQ patients have higher levels of poor health behaviors (smoking, substance use) and feel less comfortable visiting health providers and sharing information with providers. In my medical school, we even had a specific LGBTQ curriculum (several lectures), and people still ask me about my wife. Perhaps in my mind, I see it as a microaggression (small acts of prejudiced behavior which over time affect an individual), but I am shocked when it comes from the mouth of a doctor.

I normally will ask every patient when taking a social history, Do you have a significant other or partner? If they say yes I will often say, What is his/her name? I cannot assume the sexual and romantic preferences of my patients. I would hope that such a conscious act allows patients to form a better bond with myself as a provider and show that I am indeed a non-judgmental clinician when it comes to their sexual choices. I think the Do you have sex with men, women or both mentality should be changed to ensure that medical students, residents, doctors and all other providers (PA, NP, RN, MAs) understand basic humanity and do not rush to make assumptions which lead the patient to feel uncomfortable, awkward and not wanting to seek further care. Every time you as a doctor, ask me as a doctor in conversation what my wife does, it makes me think less of you as provider and makes me uncomfortable, whether or not it was intended.

The author is an anonymous physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Watching events unfold at United Airlines over the last few days have filled me with shock, awe, and horror. As a result of this public relations disaster, their motto flying the friendly skies has turned into not enough seating, prepare for a beating. America stands as a beacon of freedom from oppression. United Airlines was an iconic American company until last Sunday, with a responsibility to uphold the intent of the immortal words in the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

In my opinion, much of the backlash was initially a result of the lackluster attempt at an apology from the CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz. Despite three attempts, he still appears rather oblivious to the real suffering of Dr. Dao. Physicians have been taught that the best thing to do in the face of a medical error is to be honest, forthcoming, and apologize; it must be genuine and from the heart  acknowledge our blunder, take responsibility for our mistake, and convey our sincere regret. Executives at United Airlines would do well to heed these words.

According to scientific research, there are six ingredients which constitute a proper apology: 1. Expression of regret, 2. Explanation of what went wrong, 3. Acknowledgement of responsibility, 4. Declaration of repentance, 5. Offer of repair, and 6. Request for forgiveness. The request for forgiveness is missing from apologies offered by this corporation.

Describing the violence caught on video as re-accommodating customers was offensive. Engaging in blaming the victim by describing the man who was dragged, while screaming and bleeding, up the aisle and off the airplane as both disruptive and belligerent made matters worse. We should #BoycottUnited. However, as United Airlines watched their market value plummet by $250 million, this story began to take on an even more shameful context.

Does the background of a fare-paying passenger matter when evaluating an infringement on his rights? No. His troubled past should be completely irrelevant as to how United Airlines handled the forcible removal of a ticketed passenger unwilling to give up his seat. United Airlines actions are reprehensible and unjustified. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted by the salacious details of Dr. Daos life story; unless we are ready to risk exposure of our own personal secrets should we refuse to give up our paid seat someday.

The victim in this story is the passenger and could have just as easily been any one of us. More troubling to me is the thought Dr. Dao might be suffering from PTSD, in my opinion, based on the video footage. The fear conveyed in his guttural scream coupled with his passive demeanor as he was dragged down the aisle of the airplane indicated Dr. Dao seemed familiar with the brutality of forced compliance. At no point on the video is Dao seen attacking the security officers. In fact, he was later observed standing in the aisle saying quietly, I want to go home, I want to go home.

However, Dr. Daos hometown paper, the Courier-Journal, capitalized on the opportunity to break a story, noting he was convicted of a drug-related offense more than a decade ago. As if implying United Airlines was vindicated in their mistreatment of him; in effect, victimizing him twice. His medical license was suspended by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure and reinstated in 2016. Public documents indeed confirmed Dr. Dao carries a diagnosis of PTSD stemming from his traumatic childhood and additional distress experienced while working as a physician after coming to America.

Dr. Dao initially agreed to disembark the overbooked flight, from news reports, and when he discovered the next flight was not until Monday afternoon, he expressed the need to return to work. He is recorded on video saying I cant be late, Im a doctor. Ive got to be there at 8 a.m. tomorrow. His license is restricted with supervisory requirements. It is highly likely unexplained absences could harm his chances of a full return to an occupation he dearly loves.

Research has found that 85 percent of Asian refugees had experienced horrible traumas prior to immigrating to the United States, including starvation, torture, and losing family members to war. A report released by the surgeon generals office in 2001, reveals the effect culture, race, and ethnicity can have on mental health. Suffering from a mental health disorder can be highly stigmatizing and reflect poorly on ones family honor, making it difficult to accept. Historical events and circumstances many individuals of Asian descent have lived through can be extremely traumatic. One study found as many as 70 percent of Southeast Asian immigrants suffer from PTSD.

Dr. Dao graduated from the University of Medicine of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, in 1974, a tumultuous time in Vietnam before the fall of Saigon in 1975. He very likely has had experiences many of us born and raised in America cannot fathom. His lawyer confirmed as much this morning on a live news conference. This man is the father of 5 children, four of whom are physicians, and he is married to a pediatrician. He has clearly worked very hard and overcome numerous obstacles in his life. He has atoned for his own missteps while holding his head high and that deserves our respect. According to public record, he complied satisfactorily with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure recommendations for rehabilitation and requirements to have his license reinstated. Dr. Dao embodies a quintessential American story.

Let us return for a moment to United Flight 3411 last Sunday evening where this man was physically assaulted as he was forcibly removed from the airplane he had been initially allowed to board. Can you imagine his fear and anxiety as he was selected to be evicted? When three large men returned to force him from his seat, what was his subjective experience? Even the passengers who stood up for Dr. Dao were emotionally disturbed witnessing this horrifying event.

How more emotionally provocative would it be if one already suffered from PTSD, anxiety, or depression? If the airline industry cannot make allowances for individuals in this country who are singled out unfairly on the basis of age, race, or even disability, then everyday Americans must stand up for those individuals being victimized who are unable to do so for themselves. This could have happened to any one of us.

Nelson Mandela once said, To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. A second hero in this story, in addition to Dr. Dao, is the woman who said, No. This is wrong. Oh My God. Look at what you are doing to him. Thank you for lending your support to someone being mistreated.

If we as a nation lose sight of our humanity, we will lose everything for which we stand. Corporations are not people. We should bring United Airlines to their knees until they truly comprehend the damage they have done, mentally, physically, and emotionally to this innocent 69-year-old physician and man. United Airlines should do more than apologize profusely; they should ask forgiveness of Dr. Dao, his family, our nation, and the world.

Niran S. Al-Agba is a pediatrician who blogs at MommyDoc.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

Trend:

Hungary supports the negotiations between Azerbaijan and the EU on a new strategic partnership agreement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto said.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys press service reported Apr. 13.

Szijjarto and Mammadyarov met on the sidelines of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership and the Visegrad Group in Warsaw, Poland.

The ministers exchanged views on the prospects of development of bilateral cooperation, noted the importance of expanding and strengthening the legislation between Azerbaijan and Hungary, and mulled the International North-South Transport Corridor.

Mammadyarov informed his colleague about the negotiations for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and noted that the conflict must be resolved in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, and the Armenian Armed Forces must leave the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

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.
As the future of NAFTA is still uncertain, many local businesses are worried on how they will be affected.

On Wednesday, state officials made a visit to hear some of the concerns.

Local business owners and city officials met with Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Henry Cuellar.

This was the chance for Laredo business owners to speak up about changes they want on NAFTA.

Before any drastic changes to NAFTA, Eduardo Garza, owner of UniTrade Forwarding, hosted Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Henry Cuellar to a round table discussion.

From truck owners, bankers and import business owners,all representatives of the trading industry, made suggestions on what they want Cuellar and Cornyn to push for, if NAFTA is renegotiated.

Concerns were expressed about employment being affected within every industry that is involved with trading.

Some suggest to expand free trade to more countries but one thing Cuellar and Cornyn did agree on is that NAFTA needs to be modernized.

Another idea that came to mind is that Laredo needs to be taken into consideration when making changes and the effects on employment.

Even though Cuellar and Cornyn were not vocal on the suggestions they favored, Garza says it's up to them to push for a better NAFTA.

Cornyn says he will take everything he hears up to his colleagues in Washington D.C.

If and when a new NAFTA is drafted by the Trump administration, Cuellar says that's when congress would vote on it.
After surviving a threat of being relocated to San Antonio, the Laredo-based non-profit agency Teaching and Mentoring Communities (TMC) is now facing another challenge.

The organization has received a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) saying they might be facing a ban on federal funds.

In the letter, HHS accuses TMC of financial mismanagement, specifically citing an incident whereby TMC overcharged the federal grant by over $600,000 in 2015.

The agency, which operates in several states, runs numerous Head Start programs, including many here in Laredo.

In a statement, Congressman Henry Cuellar says:

"I have spoken with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the office of Head Start to ensure that regardless of the outcome, services to children and families will not be affected."

The federal government will begin the review of TMC on May 10. Depending on their findings, TMC could see their federal funding terminated.

TMC will have an opportunity to contest the final decision.

To see the letter from HHS to Teaching and Mentoring Communities, you can click on the attached document.
Irish Water is investigating the discharge of a quantity of wastewater sludge to the River Nore at Kilkenny city yesterday from the Purcellsinch Wastewater Treatment Plant on the outskirts of the city. This discharge is an organic liquid material which is part of the wastewater treatment process.

Irish Water has apologised over the incident.

Immediately upon being made aware of the incident, staff made a number of adjustments at the plant to address the issue and the situation has since stabilised with no further discharges reported.

Irish Water is in the final stages of an upgrade to the Purcellsinch Wastewater treatment plant to bring the aging plant up to modern standards.

This work, which represents an investment of 1.7 million will result in a much improved performance and significantly reduce the likelihood of a similar incident occurring in the future.

Staff from Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council are on site and will liaise with project contractors to monitor the performance of the plant over the coming days. Irish Water would like to apologise for this incident and we will continue to work closely with the EPA, Kilkenny County Council and other statutory bodies to analyse water quality in the area and minimise the impact on the River Nore.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva - Trend:

The foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group countries called for further progress in the ongoing process of negotiations with Azerbaijan over new framework agreement with the EU, according to the joint statement of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries following the Apr. 12 meeting in Warsaw, Poland.

The ministers reaffirmed their strong support to the Eastern Partnership as a strategic dimension of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and a key and active factor of stability and economic progress in Eastern Europe, said the statement.

They also called EU institutions for appropriate steps to keep Eastern Partnership high on the EUs agenda according to the EU Global Strategy and ENP Review, the statement said.

The ministers recognized the wish of Azerbaijan to continue visa liberalization dialogue and expect further steps in that direction, according to the statement.

Visegrad Group or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia  for the purposes of furthering their European integration, as well as for advancing military, economic and energy cooperation with one another.
Novo Resources (NVO.V) has been on my radar for about 4 years now. Back in October of 2012, I read a story in the Northern Miner about former Newcrest & Newmont geologist Quinton Hennighs theory of an area in Western Australia possibly having a similar geological occurrence to South Africas Witwatersrand basin, which has produced approximately 1.6 billion oz. gold since being discovered in 1852.

It was very early days at the time, but the story resonated with me so I continued to follow the companys progress. Since that time, Novo has been very aggressive in securing land covering approximately 400 square km over the Mosquito Creek Basin, all in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This includes the Beatons Creek area near the town of Nullagine and the Marble Bar sub-basin near the town Marble Bar. The gold region Hennigh is focused on has a mining history dating back over 100 years.

Just this week, Novo announced another large land package acquisition in the Karratha region of Western Australia, which is also in the Pilbara. Mr. Hennigh told me after the acquisition was announced: I have been searching for conglomerate hosted gold in the Pilbara for 12 years. This occurrence popped up unexpectedly via local prospectors who have found an extensive area where gold nuggets can be detected. (Before the purchase) I was able to identify the bedrock source on my recent site visit. It looks very promising and we have been very aggressive at securing land.

Beatons Creek is the companys open-pit deposit which is mostly 30m from surface and open at depth. Novo holds a 70% interest in Beatons Creek under separate joint-venture agreements with Millennium Minerals (MOY-A) and the Creasy Group. Mark Creasy, the best-known prospector in Australia, also owns 12% of Novo. Millennium owns an 85,000 oz per year gold mine with a 5,400 TPD mill just 9km away from the Beatons Creek deposit.

Novo has targeted shallow, oxidized gold in an area covering about four sq km at Beatons Creek. A 30,000 tonne bulk sample has demonstrated no drilling and blasting is required, so all the near surface material can easily be excavated cheaply with heavy equipment.

Hennighs plan has been to produce gold at Beatons Creek by assessing a 2,000 tonne per day open-pit operation utilizing a gravity + carbon-in-leach mill that could be developed into a low-cost mining operation. The average grade on the project is 2.78 g/t.

The company is currently undertaking drilling and trenching to grow and upgrade the resources at Beatons Creek which will take 3-4 months to complete. The Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) is scheduled to be completed and released later this year. Permitting should be completed by early next year, with construction starting by the first half of 2018.

On March 30th, the company announced an C$8m Private Placement @C$.66c. Less than one week later, the financing was bumped up to C$12m due to overwhelming demand from investors.

When the financing is completed, Novo will have the funds necessary to complete the Beatons Creek open-pit operation. In a follow-up, Northern Miner piece on Novo a few years ago Hennigh stated: What we envision is a 30,000 oz. per year operation for over eight years. The mine should be in production by late 2018, then after commercial production is up and running, the cash flow will be used to drill out the high-grade underground Blue Spec Project.

The Blue Spec Project is a high-grade vein system with strong exploration potential which is contained in a huge 65km long shear zone crossing the Mosquito Creek Basin. Novo controls 65% of this project. Bonanza gold grades are at multiple locations with high grade antimony present in some zones. Blue Spec has a resource from 2012 of 106koz @ 24.85 g/t Indicated; 113koz @ 13.95 g/t Inferred.

When the open-pit Beatons Creek project reaches the production stage in late 2018, the opportunity for the company to begin drilling out this huge shear zone at Blue Spec will be at hand. The company will then be one giant step closer for Hennigh to begin proving his theory of the Pilbara containing multi-million oz. gold deposits similar to South Africas Witwatersrand basin.

If all the above goes according to plan, the Novo CEO may finally have the chance to realize his vision into 2019-2020, which would be nearly 15 years from his theorys conception.

Global miner Newmont owns 19% of the company with management and insiders owning 12%. The aforementioned Mark Creasy owns 12% and the retail float is 57%. When the finance is completed later this month the company should have roughly 148 million fully diluted shares outstanding.

Full Disclosure: I have participated in the recent Novo Resources Private Placement. Please do your own due diligence before purchasing shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
RIYADH, April 13 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia set the total amount of issuance for its first international Islamic bond or sukuk at $9 billion, split equally between a five-year and a 10-year tranche, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Thursday.

The kingdom gathered orders in excess of $33 billion for the issuance, indicating "significant interest", the statement said.

The bond will be the largest sukuk ever issued. Fixed income market sources had expected the deal to be in excess of $10 billion in size. (Reporting by Katie Paul; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Italy plans to make more investments in Azerbaijan, says Luigi DAprea, former director general of the ITA, a trade promotion section of the Italian Embassy in Baku.

"There are great opportunities for making more investments," he explained in an interview with Trend.

DAprea, saying Italy started to invest in Azerbaijan many years ago, noted that the first investments were made in the fashion industry, and the first Azerbaijan-Italy joint ventures were established in that industry.

"Later, the Azerbaijan-Italy relations covered other areas as well," he added.

DAprea said it is planned to increase both Italys investments in the Azerbaijani economy and Azerbaijan's investments in the Italian economy in the future. He said there are a lot of opportunities for increasing investments, particularly in transportation and logistics, especially in the free trade zone which is being created in Azerbaijans Alat.

Saying many investors have taken a wait-and-see attitude because of the global economic crisis, DAprea predicted that the world economy will start to recover in 2017, affecting both investments and trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Italy.

He said this may also affect construction and infrastructure projects that are very important given Azerbaijan's strategic location, adding that these projects will attract even more investments.

DAprea also expressed hope that the mutual investments between Azerbaijan and Italy will grow, as there are all the necessary prerequisites for this.

He reminded about the Italian companies operating in Azerbaijan, saying they are involved in big trading operations.

DAprea noted that it is difficult to say the exact number of the Italian companies in Azerbaijan, as this number changes each year. He noted that there are about 20 Italian companies operating on a permanent basis in Azerbaijan, and such famous companies as Saipem, Valvitalia, Drillmec, Maire Tecnimont, Technip Italy, Tenaris are among them.

He also recalled the contract that was signed last year with Italys Danieli  one of the three largest suppliers of equipment and plants to the metal industry in the world  which has started operating in Azerbaijan.

DAprea said Italian fashion industry companies, as well as several construction firms also operate in Azerbaijan.
TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - The United States is pushing for trade to be a key issue in top-level economic talks with Japan, the Asahi newspaper said on Thursday, an unwelcome push for Tokyo, which has sought to keep the talks from turning into a forum for U.S. pressure to reduce the bilateral trade imbalance.

Japan wants to keep the bilateral dialogue, to be led by Vice President Mike Pence and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and starting next Tuesday, focused on economic policy, energy, infrastructure investment, and the rules of trade. But Tokyo has been wary of President Donald Trump's complaints that Japan and other countries block market access to U.S. companies and artificially weaken their currencies to boost exports. For now Tokyo is resisting America's "strong demand" for trade to be included in the economic dialogue, but the trade imbalance will become a key theme of the talks, the Asahi said on Thursday, citing unnamed sources for its information.

Washington's demand, made last week, did not specify any trade areas for discussion, but a U.S. government source said the Trump administration mainly wants to discuss cars and agriculture, the newspaper said.

(Writing by William Mallard; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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(Kitco News) - The United Airlines ordeal that went viral this week caused me to lose a little faith in humanity. I dont think I need to rehash the situation since its been on replay on all the news networks.

Just when I thought we could put the topic in airplane mode...I read this morning that a scorpion fell from an overhead bin and stung a man on a United flightwhich leads me to scratch my head and say, seriously United?

Might be a good time for Trump to tweet something positive about United...

I hate flying and I have a massive fear of scorpions, so had this happened to me, I would have been a goner right then and there. No more Kitco videos.

I was hoping that this year, with Passover and Easter coinciding in the same week, that maybe...just maybe, we could get a week of peace and reflection. But with tensions escalating between the U.S., Russia, North Korea and the Middle East, its not looking to pan out that way.

So gold took off  hitting a new five-month high and looking to take over $1,300. June Comex gold was last up $10.30 an ounce at $1,288.40. May Comex silver was last up $0.22 at $18.52 an ounce. And while people seek shelter in the metal, I am flocking to my safety zone  my family in Montreal - to celebrate my favorite day of the year, Easter Sunday  a day that symbolizes hope and renewal.

P.S.: not flying United...

If you are looking to get the latest insights on the metals and mining world, I invite you to register for the upcoming Mines and Money conference. Kitco News will be covering the event from May 3-4 in New York City. We will be hosting and moderating a few all-star panels featuring the likes of Peter Hug, Rick Rule, Adrian Day, Todd Bubba Horwitz and Vince Lanci. If you cannot make it to NYC, we will be live streaming the show, so be sure to register. Stay tuned for more details!

On that note, I want to wish our readers celebrating Passover and Easter, a very happy holiday.

See you next week,
TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Thursday that he was watching the currency market with a sense of urgency, stressing the importance of its stability, as the yen rose after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern about the strong dollar.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, while declining to comment on currency levels, told a regular news conference that markets are aware of geopolitical risks but that the U.S. and global economy remain on firm footing.

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Leika Kihara; Editing by Kim Coghill)
* Japan wants to avoid dialogue dominated by trade

* Ross may visit Tokyo but undecided on whether to join dialogue

* Trump favours bilateral FTA, Japan wants to avoid one

* First economic dialogue meeting to be held April 18

(Adds Japanese embassy spokesman, paragraphs 7-10 and 18)

By Yoshifumi Takemoto

TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - The United States is pushing for trade to be a key issue in top-level economic talks with Japan, a person involved in the talks told Reuters on Thursday, an unwelcome development for Tokyo, which is seeking to fend off U.S. pressure to reduce the bilateral trade imbalance.

Japan wants to keep the bilateral dialogue, to be led by Vice President Mike Pence and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and starting next Tuesday, focused on economic policy, energy, infrastructure investment and the rules of trade.

But Washington said last week it wanted to talk about bilateral trade issues, including farm products, at the economic dialogue, the source said. Japan rejected the idea but said it could accept such talks outside of the dialogue, he said.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will also visit Tokyo next week and the Japanese embassy spokesman in Washington said Ross would hold separate talks with his Japanese counterpart, Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he favours bilateral free trade agreements over multilateral frameworks, and has vowed to take action to narrow the country's big trade deficits with nations like China, Germany and Japan.

Japan wants to avoid kicking off bilateral FTA talks for fear of being pressured into opening up highly protected areas like agriculture.

Japanese embassy spokesman Tamaki Tsukada told reporters in Washington the Trump administration had yet to officially propose pursuing an FTA with Japan and that Tokyo would welcome any clarification by Pence of U.S. intentions.

However, he stressed that the Tokyo talks would be "a first step" in developing a partnership with the new U.S. administration.

Tsukada said it was possible there would be discussion of the bankruptcy of Toshiba Corp's U.S. unit Westinghouse Electric Co in the Ross-Seko meeting.

A U.S. official told Reuters this month the Trump administration and Japan were in discussions to ensure that the bankruptcy does not lead to U.S. technology secrets and infrastructure falling into Chinese hands. Japanese government officials say that should Japan come under fire for its trade gap, it is prepared to argue that its share of the U.S. trade deficit is much smaller than in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was harshly criticized by Washington.

Tsukada said the Japanese side would stress the contribution to the U.S. economy and jobs of Japanese investment in the United States.

Tokyo has been wary of Trump's complaints that Japan and other countries block market access to U.S. companies and artificially weaken their currencies to boost exports. Japanese officials said thorny trade issues could eventually be discussed in the dialogue, but that next week's first round of talks would be mostly spent agreeing on a broad list of agendas.

"We need to agree on a viable agenda for the dialogue and to some extent, a reasonable time frame for follow-up. That is the starting point of dialogue. Tangible results should come later," said one government source, at the same time acknowledging that Trump could be in more of a hurry for tangible results.

Another Japanese government official said rising geo-political tensions over North Korea may mean Washington will avoid being too confrontational with Japan on trade.

"With the situation over North Korea unstable, it's not a good idea for any Japan-U.S. tensions (on trade) to surface," said the official. "For the United States, defence is probably a higher priority than trade now."

The embassy spokesman, Tsukada, said North Korea was likely to be discussed during a working lunch between Pence and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

(Additional reporting by Tokyo policy team, Writing by William Mallard and Leika Kihara; Editing by James Dalgleish and Dan Grebler)
The headline:

Retail workers say opening on Easter Sunday robs them of a break

Really, considering the law explicitly says no employee can be forced to work. So I was interested to read the story to see if it stacked up.

Some shop workers are upset that changes to the Easter trading laws this year mean many of them will lose one of their few guaranteed days off in the year.

Actually no one can be forced to work, but again is there an example?

Yvonne and Allan Pope in Motueka are both in retail and struggle to get a full weekend together. Yvonnes work includes Sunday, and Allan works a full week. He used to work half of Saturdays too but Im 69. While they now have Saturdays together, they have always looked forward to the compulsory break that Easter Sunday gave them. It was one of those days you could rely on, Allan Pope said. The Popes day off is safe this year after the Tasman district rejected Easter Sunday trading, although nearby Marlborough has voted to allow it.

So this bullshit story is based on a couple who dont have to work Easter Sunday and in fact cant work Easter Sunday if they even wanted to, as they live in an area which has not allowed for Easter Sunday trading.

Another nail in the coffin of journalism.

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The Herald reports:

Former broadcaster Shane Taurima has been selected as the Maori Partys candidate in Tamaki Makaurau.

Taurima is an advisor in Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavells office and was selected as candidate by the local electorate committee and party members over the weekend.

His candidacy is yet to be confirmed by the Maori Partys National Council and Taurima would not comment until that happened.

The Maori Party had been in talks with Willie Jackson to stand in the seat, but Jackson then decided to stand for Labour instead, saying it was partly because he did not believe he had support from Flavell.

Taurima had hoped to stand for Labour in the electorate in 2014, but blotted his copybook after he was found to have used TVNZ resources for Labour Party purposes, including hosting meetings on TVNZ property.
Details added (first version posted on 10:39)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

Trend:

Russias Gazprombank is ready to provide the Azerbaijani entrepreneurs with the technologies that will allow them increase their competitive ability, Gazprombank First Vice President Alexander Kaznacheev said in a meeting with entrepreneurs in Baku Apr. 13.

The shock caused by the decline in oil prices, faced by probably all countries, has already passed. Today, everyone thinks about development, returning to considering the investment programs, to increasing efficiency, and, of course, modernization of production is one of the most important elements for strengthening competitive ability in the global market, noted the Gazprombanks first vice president.

Kaznacheev said Gazprombank has been paying serious attention to working with Azerbaijan over the last two years.

Particularly, we have become a member of the Russia-Azerbaijan Business Council, which includes all big Russian enterprises. Of course, this is a platform which allows us discussing a number of issues with Azerbaijani enterprises, including the economic and investment cooperation, he added.

The Gazprombank Group includes many companies, which operate not only in the financial market, but also in the market of precious metals, oil and gas, construction and others.
Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Huseyn Valiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijans Azertechnoline LLC plans to export products worth $50 million in 2017, Tofig Mammadov, director of the company, told reporters Apr. 13.

This volume is approximately equal to the volume of the products exported abroad in 2016, he said.

"We exported 45,000 tons of steel pipes to the Turkmen city of Turkmenbashi in 2016, he said. Our other plant for the production of technical equipment supplied 1,000 tons of various products to Russia. We also supplied polyethylene pipes to Georgia for the year."

Mammadov said that at present, the company is considering the needs of the Central Asian market and other markets.

Azertechnoline owns three plants, which are based on the territory of the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park. The first plant produces steel pipes of various diameters. The second plant produces pipes for the transportation of drinking water, while the third plant produces technical equipment, including cast iron products.

Some 750 people work at the company, most of them live in Sumgait.
Sumgait, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Huseyn Valiyev  Trend:

Construction of the carbamide plant of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR has been completed by more than 90 percent, the plants director Khayal Jafarov told reporters in Sumgait city Apr. 13.

He said that in general the work on the project has been implemented by 94-95 percent and the detailed design stage has been fully completed.

The construction and installation work at the plant has been implemented by about 70 percent, Jafarov said.

He noted that the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) allocated a loan worth 500 million euros in order to finance the project.

We have already received the first tranche of the loan, Jafarov said. We spent 201 million euros for interim financing. This loan was received from the Korean bank separately from the main amount and was fully repaid. The next tranche within the loan is expected by the end of April, 2017. The loan payments will be made monthly.

The plant will produce 1,200 tons of ammonia per day, and natural gas will be feedstock there, he added.

Ammonia will be used for carbamide production, said Jafarov, adding the plant will produce 2,000 tons of carbamide per day, or around 700,000 tons per year.

This will make it possible to fully meet the domestic demand and sell the remaining part (approximately 400-500,000 tons of carbamide per year) at foreign markets, said Jafarov, adding that Turkey and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea countries, where the carbamide consumption is high, are considered as the main markets.

South Koreas Samsung Engineering is general contractor of the plants construction.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has lowered the forecast 2017 global oil demand growth in its Oil Market Report, released April 13.

The IEA has cut its growth number for the first quarter of 2017 by 0.2 million barrels per day to 1.1 million barrels per day.

New data shows weaker-than-expected growth in a number of countries, including Russia, India, several Middle Eastern countries, South Korea and the US, where demand has stalled in recent months.

After upgrading demand estimates for the second quarter of 2017 and cutting it for the second half of the year, we are left with growth for 2017 at 1.3 million barrels per day rather than the 1.4 million barrels per day previously forecast, said IEA.

IEA estimates that world oil supply fell by 750,000 barrels per day in March as OPEC and non-OPEC producers pumped less and improved compliance with the output reduction pact.

OPEC crude output fell by 365,000 barrels per day in March to 31.68 million barrels per day, led by losses in Nigeria, Libya  both exempt from supply cuts  and Saudi Arabia.

Crude prices fell more than $3 per barrel on average in March, but rose by $5 per barrel in early April, according to the IEA estimations.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
By Lee Hyo-sik



More than half of 180 employees at the scandal-ridden Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) will likely lose their jobs as the chaebol lobby is being forced to slash its payroll following plunging membership fees.



The FKI said Thursday that it will soon begin receiving applications for early retirement from workers, adding that downsizing was inevitable after Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG and other key member firms cancelled their membership and stopped paying the fees.



"After consulting with representatives of our employees, we will decide when to implement an early retirement program," an FKI official said. "We don't know yet as to what benefits they will get for quitting voluntarily. The FKI also has to decide how many workers it will let go of after estimating its income."



If implemented, it will be the first of its kind since 2003 when former FKI Vice Chairman Hyun Myung-kwan dismissed dozens of workers.



The lobby, which has been facing calls for dismantlement following its involvement with Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of former President Park Geun-hye, said last month that it will downsize its workforce by 40 percent when announcing overhaul measures.



The official said these workers will have to search for new jobs, given the FKI's rapidly falling revenue. The nation's top four business groups previously accounted for nearly 70 percent of its 40 billion won annual membership fees. Many state-run firms and financial institutions have also cancelled their FKI membership, with more likely to follow suit.



"There has been no massive worker exodus. Everyone is waiting to see what happens," the official said. "It seems that many will quit with a benefit package via the early retirement program."



On Wednesday, the FKI held a briefing session for employees at its headquarters on Yeouido, stressing that the company has to cut its labor costs by more than 50 percent.



Its bottom line has been deteriorating since the four major financial contributors gave up their membership early this year, following the unprecedented scandal in which the FKI pressed 19 business groups to donate 77.4 billion won to the Mir and K-Sports foundations, which were established and controlled by Choi.



To cope with the biggest crisis in its 55-year history, the FKI said it will downsize its organization and cut its budget by 40 percent.



The FKI also decided to change its Korean name to show its resolve that it would focus on representing the interests of its member firms, not their leaders.



The lobby has vowed to abolish the gathering of heads of large conglomerates, which used to act as its decision-making body, and instead will give full control to its board of directors over management and operations.



It also plans to strengthen the role of the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) to turn it into the nation's most prestigious think tank, as well as scrapping a division that has been supervising its dealings with other entities to cut collusive ties between politicians and business leaders.






This is the final of a three-part series highlighting economic pledges of the two most prominent presidential candidates, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party.  ED.



Two candidates differ on how to bring fair competition

By Lee Hyo-sik

Presidential hopefuls have been scrambling to garner the backing of small businesses, which employ 87.9 percent of Korea's salaried workers, by making lofty promises for a better future.

In particular, the two frontrunners, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party, are actively courting small business owners and their employees amid the increasingly competitive May 9 presidential election.

Both Moon and Ahn have said they will place higher policy priority on supporting small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) than family-controlled conglomerates if elected as the next president.

They say the Korean economy, the fourth-largest in Asia, should be propelled by small businesses, which account for 99.9 percent of corporations in terms of numbers.

However, the two differ in their opinions about how to achieve the goal.

Moon says the government should be in charge of nurturing SMEs, while Ahn, a successful entrepreneur before becoming a politician, has been arguing that the government should limit its role to creating an optimal market environment and let the private sector take care of business.

On Monday, Moon visited the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses (K-Biz) on Yeouido, promising to make things better for small companies if he takes Korea's highest public office.

"SMEs employ 88 percent of salaried workers and account for 48.3 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. They are the backbone of our economy," Moon said. "I will do everything I can to enable small businesses to exert their full potential and remove any obstacles blocking them from doing so. I will ensure the fruits of economic growth are shared by small firms and their members."












Baku, Azerbaijan, April 13

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

The US is focusing on the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project and its support by Washington remains stable and long-lasting, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said.

Cekuta made remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev in Baku Apr. 13, the Azerbaijani energy ministry said.

According to the ministry, during the meeting Cekuta and Aliyev discussed the Offshore Technology Conference to be held in Houston, US in early May, cooperation in the energy sector, energy security issues and the situation in the world energy market.

Aliyev stressed that the work on Shah Deniz-2 project, the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and TANAP construction is at a satisfactory level.

The Azerbaijani minister expressed concern over some difficulties with the implementation of the TAP project in the territory of Italy, which can affect the launch of the Southern Gas Corridor.

Aliyev appreciated Italian Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calendas position on the TAP construction, the ministry said.

The Azerbaijani minister stressed that holding of the third meeting of the Consultative Council on the Southern Gas Corridor gave impetus to speeding up the work.

Aliyev said that the joint decision made by OPEC and non-OPEC-members to reduce oil production proved to be effective and positively affected the world oil market, the ministry said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
By Park Hyong-ki



The government is seeking to encourage private equity or buyout funds to acquire and restructure companies facing cash flow problems, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Thursday.



This plan aims at increasing the participation of private investors from the capital market in the debt restructuring of companies that face near bankruptcy.



Following the latest debt crisis of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), the financial authorities see a limit in restructuring such a company only with state-run creditor banks.



"We seek to follow the example in the United States where funds in the capital market and courts play a bigger role in the speedy corporate restructuring," an FSC official said.



Creditor banks alone can no longer lead and pursue corporate restructuring when there are so many parties involved with investments in equities and debts, he added.



However, he added that the FSC realized that the local private equity market is too small to help such companies make a turnaround.



To address this concern, the regulator will help provide liquidity, creating a 8 trillion won fund with which private equity funds can share risk, and acquire and restructure companies.



"It would be difficult for private funds to raise capital for acquisition and restructuring given that the market here does not have a lot of records showing successful turnarounds through funds," the FSC official said. "The regulator will seek to inject liquidity to launch a restructuring fund."



Recently, the National Pension Service (NPS) has opposed to the government's DSME debt bailout plan.



The NPS is the biggest investor of the shipbuilder's debts. The FSC asked the NPS and other DSME investors to push back the company's debt maturity, and agree to swap some of their debts into equities.



The NPS, which holds DSME corporate bonds worth 390 billion won, has been calling for the state-run Korea Development Bank to shoulder more financial burden. However, the policy bank refused the NPS request.




"Jeungdogaja," a set of metal movable type assumed to be made during Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) / Korea Times file



By Kwon Mee-yoo

"Jeungdogaja," a set of metal movable type that is claimed to be the oldest in the world, failed to become a state-designated cultural property, Thursday.

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) rejected the request to list the metal movable type, which was speculated to be made in 1239 during the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), as a state cultural property, during a Cultural Heritage Committee meeting.

In 2010, Daboseong Ancient Art Museum director and antique dealer Kim Jong-chun and Kyungpook National University bibliography professor Nam Kwon-hee revealed the metal movable type to the public for the first time and Kim's wife applied to the CHA for state-designated cultural status in 2011.

They claimed the 101 pieces of metal movable type were used to print "Nammyeong Cheonhwa Sangsong Jeungdoga," a Buddhist book published before 1239 in Gaeseong, the capital of Goryeo. If approved as authentic, it surpasses "Jikji," the oldest known metalloid type made in 1377, by over 100 years.

However, Jeungdoga is no longer in existence and only a reprinted woodblock book from 1239 exists, which makes direct comparison between the metal type and the print impossible.

The committee that investigated the movable type said the components of the metal type are similar to bronze relics and no singularities were found in the innards or surface.

It recognized the radiocarbon dating of ink from the metal type, conducted by three institutes including the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, claiming the ink is from around the 12th century. However, the CHA said it is difficult to guess the type's production date from the ink's date due to lack of credibility in the preservation environment.

The CHA also analyzed the similarity between the letters of the type and those printed in the book and concluded it is difficult to tell whether the type was used to print the book considering the shape, size and thickness of strokes.

"Though the metal type is not recognized as the type that was used to print the Jeungdoga, we leave open the possibility it was made during the Goryeo era. If new evidence emerges or a new scientific method can specify the production date, the movable type will go through further deliberation," the CHA said.
Satellite imagery shows continued activity at North Korea's nuclear test site in its northeastern mountainous area, U.S. researchers monitoring the secretive nation said Thursday.

Commercial satellite imagery, taken on April 12, of the Punggye-ri region shows "continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," they said in a report posted on the 38 North website.

The analysts cited what appears to be a small vehicle or trailer right outside the North Portal of the underground facility where the North conducted five previous nuclear tests.

"In the courtyards of the Main Administrative Area, are approximately 11 probable tarp-covered pallets of equipment or supplies, a formation of personnel, and several individuals walking about," they added.

They described the North as "primed and ready" for another nuclear test.












U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is "making a big mistake," warning that he doesn't talk about military action plans in advance -- unlike his predecessor.

"We are sending an armada, very powerful. 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," Trump said in the interview with Fox Business, referring to an aircraft carrier strike group heading to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

"And I will say this. He is doing the wrong thing ... He's making a big mistake," he said.

Asked what he was going to do with the North, Trump said he doesn't reveal those things.

"I'm not like Obama," Trump said, criticizing his predecessor for announcing his plans to strike the Iraqi city of Mosul in the fight against the militant group Islamic State so as to give adversaries enough time to get prepared for the strikes.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been running high amid speculation that North Korea may conduct its sixth nuclear test or carry out a threatened test of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. around its key anniversaries in April.

The U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier strike group led by USS Carl Vinson toward the Korean Peninsula, rather than executing previously planned port visits to Australia, in a show of force designed to warn the North against additional provocations.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said that the deployment is to deter North Korea from taking further actions. Trump also said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call to let the North's leader know the U.S. doesn't just have aircraft carriers, but also nuclear submarines.

"You cannot allow a country like that to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons," Trump said during the interview. "That's mass destruction. He doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he will. In many ways, that's the easiest thing."

Trump told Fox Business that he had extensive talks about North Korea with Xi last week.

"The first thing I brought up was North Korea. I said, 'You've got to help us with North Korea, because we can't allow it. And it's not good for you. And you have a tremendous power because of trade,'" Trump said, referring to last week's talks with Xi in Florida.

"Now, he then explains thousands of years of history with Korea. Not that easy. In other words, not as simple as people would think. They've had tremendous conflict with Korea over the years. Now, his father was in China four times. He was never in China," he said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his late father, Kim Jong-il.












The United States will first consult with South Korea before taking any serious measures, including a pre-emptive strike, against North Korea to punish the communist state for possible provocations, Seoul's top diplomat said Thursday.

Yun Byung-se refused to speculate whether Washington was preparing to pre-emptively strike following additional provocations from the communist North but insisted the U.S. will not take such measures without first consulting with Seoul.

"In fact, the U.S. is working to reassure us that it will not, just in case that we might hold such concerns," he said in a special report to the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs.

Thursday's meeting came amid growing concerns here over a possible U.S. attack against the North.

In an apparent attempt to put pressure on Pyongyang, Washington has sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to waters off the Korean Peninsula, further prompting suspicions here over an imminent pre-emptive strike against the North's nuclear capabilities.

Both liberal and conservative members of the parliamentary committee expressed concerns the U.S. may bypass Seoul to directly strike Pyongyang in what they called "Korea passing."

Yun flatly dismissed the possibility.












By Lee Han-soo

North Korea's top university, Kim Il-sung University, will launch a three-week summer program for international students on July 2.

Applications are under way, seemingly under the supervision of Juche Travel Services, a British tour agency specializing in the isolated country. Maximum accommodation has been set at 30.

According to the agency's website, the program offers an opportunity to learn from North Korea's top professors in small classes and various daily activities and weekend excursions. Four hours of Korean language will be taught daily. After classes, students can enjoy weekend excursions that include exploring Gaeseong, the Demilitarized Zone, International Friendship house in the Myohyang Mountains and a visit to Wonsan.

The package is priced at 2.4 million won ($2,133) and includes 22 nights' accommodation, return flights to Beijing, all entry fees, transportation in North Korea and dining. It does not include North Korea visa fees, textbook costs and optional extra-curricular activities.
By Jun Ji-hye

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se ruled out the possibility of the United States carrying out a unilateral strike against North Korea as concern is growing that Pyongyang might conduct another nuclear test this weekend.

Yun told the National Assembly Thursday that President Donald Trump's administration will not bypass the South Korean government in taking any military action against the North.

"The United States will only take important steps against the North after consultation with the South Korean government," Yun said. "Ranking U.S. officials have repeatedly reaffirmed that the U.S. government will closely discuss its measures on the North with South Korea."

His remarks came amid a flurry of reports that a sixth nuclear test by North Korea appears imminent to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung that falls Saturday.

A U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website, 38 North, said also on Thursday that a nuclear test at the North's Punggye-ri test site seemed "primed and ready," citing commercial satellite imagery from Wednesday.

The imagery showed "continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," 38 North said in a report.

Speculation has been rising that "D-Day" may be on or around the anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth, the North's biggest national holiday called the "Day of the Sun."

Yun Sun, an expert with the Washington-based Stimson Center, said that would be the most likely day for the North to conduct a nuclear test to maximize its political impact, according to Radio Free Asia, Monday.












Two Chinese people were arrested for deceiving Korean authorities into granting them refugee status and making money here illegally. / Courtesy of Mokpo Coast Guard



By Eom Da-sol

Police have arrested two fake Falun Gong believers from China for making money in Korea without a working visa.

They entered visa-free Jeju Island in December 2015 and mainland Korea with false claims they were Falun Gong believers seeking asylum to avoid persecution in their home country.

Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual practice, has been subject to a harsh crackdown for many years because Chinese authorities see it as a grave threat to the nation's stability.

South Korea has granted Falun Gong believers refugee status, with which they can legally have a job here.

The two entered the mainland in April last year as "refugees" and worked at a company in Osan, Gyeonggi Province. Detailed information about the pair is not known.

Meanwhile, police are hunting a Korean middleman who helped them earn refugee status.
A civic group accused the Army chief Thursday of ordering the military to hunt out homosexual soldiers in violation of their human rights.



The Center for Military Human Rights Korea said they started receiving multiple reports from victims early this year that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jang Jun-gyu ordered them punished for violating the Military Criminal Act.



Under the law a soldier who commits "sodomy" or "other disgraceful conduct" can face up to two years in prison.



According to the center, the Army carried out an investigation and put some 40 to 50 soldiers on the list of homosexuals.



"Launching an investigation solely based on one's sexual orientation is discrimination and an act against humanity," the group said in a press release. "The Army made the list without material evidence of them having sexual intercourse."



The center also claimed that the probe team asked the victims when they had their first sexual intercourse or whether they use condoms, which are far from constituting a violation of the law they cited, in an act of sexual humiliation.



"This case shows the Army's vulgar perception on one's sexual orientation and that the clause, whose constitutionality has continued to be questioned, can be abused to hunt out homosexuals," it said.



The Army immediately released a statement, denying the allegations.



"The investigation team launched the probe after recognizing that an incumbent soldier uploaded a video of him having sexual intercourse with another male soldier on social media," it said.



The Army said the investigation is under way, based on due legal procedures, and that it has been protecting the human rights and private information of those involved. (Yonhap)




Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The International Energy Agency believes that the overall non-OPEC production, not just in the US, will soon be on the rise again, although the oil market will likely tighten throughout the year.

Even after taking into account production cut pledges from the 11 non-OPEC countries, unplanned outages in Canada as well as in the North Sea, we expect production will grow again on a year-on-year basis by May, said the Oil Market Report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), released April 13.

For the full year, the IEA sees growth of 485,000 barrels per day compared to a decline of 790,000 barrels per day in 2016.

The main impetus comes from the US, where monthly data shows that output reached 9 million barrels per day in March, up from a trough of 8.6 million barrels per day in September 2016, said the IEA. We now expect that US production will be 680 kb/d higher at the end of the year than it was at the end of 2016, an upgrade to our previous forecast.

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 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
Police on Thursday raided a conservative civic group over a violent street rally against the Constitutional Court's decision to unseat former President Park Geun-hye last month, they said.

The Jongno Police Station in Seoul said they confiscated materials related to the March 10 demonstration from the office of the pro-Park group in southern Seoul. The group was formed to campaign against Park's impeachment over a massive corruption scandal involving her close friend and aides.

Some participants in the rally used makeshift weapons against police who barred them from approaching the court. Three people died after they were injured or collapsed in the process.

Police on Wednesday questioned Chung Kwang-yong, the group's spokesman, for some 14 hours over allegations of organizing the violent demonstration.

Chung said police are responsible for the casualties, claiming they used excessive force against the enraged crowd. (Yonhap)
By Kim Bo-eun

Police searched the office of an organization of supporters for former President Park Geun-hye, Wednesday, amid an investigation into violent rallies by group members.

Officers of the Jongno Police Station searched the office in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, at around 1:30 p.m., to secure evidence of the orchestration of a violent protest held near the Constitutional Court, March 10, the day the court delivered its ruling on Park's impeachment.

Police also searched the home of the group's spokesman Chung Kwang-yong in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul.

The police summoned Chung, Wednesday, and questioned him for 14 hours on charges of organizing the rally.

At the protest, some participants wielded makeshift weapons against police, and three participants died from injuries sustained in the process.

Chung told reporters after the interrogation he does not acknowledge the charges against him, and blamed "police oppression" for the casualties.

He also claimed the police summoning him, the secretary general of the newly formed Saenuri Party, is a political oppression.

Meanwhile, the prosecutors indicted a 50-year-old man who took part in the protest and allegedly attacked reporters. He also faces charges of damaging a camera belonging to a news broadcaster and obstructing reporters' work at the scene.




By Lee Kyung-min







Recovery crews will start preparation work today to search the interior of the Sewol after they finish washing the exterior of the wreck using high-pressure industrial washing equipment.



They started washing the exterior of the ferry Thursday, to remove mud, oil and salt residue, rust and barnacles, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.



Six teams comprised of 14 recovery workers from Korea Salvage, a local contractor hired by the ministry to conduct the salvage operation, began the work at 10 p.m. using six water cannons, forklifts and elevators to clean the exterior. They plan to finish the work today.



The ministry dismissed concerns that the powerful equipment, which shoots water with 500-bar force, will pose further damage to the ferry's exterior. Bar is the measurement of water pressure and one bar is the force needed to raise water to a height of 10 meters.



As most of the current disfigurement of the ferry resulted from its more than 17,000-ton weight, the possibility of external shock by water cannons resulting in damage to the ferry is minimal to none, the ministry added.



The preparation to search the ferry's interior will begin today, after most of the washing of the exterior is complete, the ministry stated.



"We will set up two 26-meter high working towers, one in the front of the ferry and the other in the rear of the ferry, to determine the optimal spot to make the entrance into the ferry," a Korea Salvage official said. The Sewol, currently lying on its left, is 22 meters high, the equivalent of a nine story apartment building.



On Saturday, a 1-meter-high security fence will be set up around the ferry to prevent the workers from falling while working on the steep, round and slippery surface of the ferry. The process will take up to a week given the time needed to weld the steel fences together.



Sterilization of the ferry's interior will also begin that day. Fumigation trucks will be placed onto an elevator to spray the chemical agent into the ferry through openings on the hull and windows. The process is crucial in preventing the exposure to harmful gas and other detrimental environmental factors to the workers who have to enter inside to search the remains of the nine missing victims.



On Sunday and Monday, officials from the ministry and Korea Salvage, with cooperation of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, will conduct an on-site inspection to determine whether the sterilization was complete.



They will assess whether any inflammable gas remains inside, as well as determine the possibility of collapse, and major health and safety concerns for recovery crews to enter the ferry. A detailed plan about the interior search will be outlined early next week.



Meanwhile, the ministry said negotiations are underway to secure insurance money to cover a fifth of the costs needed to deal with the aftermath of the Sewol disaster.



The ministry and the Korea Shipping Association are in negotiations, with the former asking the latter to pay 110 billion won ($121 million) in insurance.



Earlier in April 2015, the ministry said an estimated 550 billion won ($487 million) would be needed to deal with the ferry sinking. It included 173.1 billion won for compensation, 120.5 billion for salvage operations and 35.6 billion won for emergency relief for the victims.
















By Kim Jae-heun



The Seoul Central District Court ruled Thursday that its initial approval of a prosecution's arrest warrant for Ko Young-tae was valid.



Prosecutors had sought the arrest warrant for Ko for allegedly avoiding their calls to come in for questioning and going into hiding for over a month.



Ko denied the prosecution's allegations and requested the court to review the legality of his arrest.



His legal representative Kim Yong-min said in a statement: "There was a problem in the prosecution seeking Ko's arrest and the court's issuing of the warrant."



Kim added that Ko was arrested immediately despite his prompt response to the prosecution's requests.



"We will fight the prosecutors in court over their allegations that Ko refused their demands," he said before entering the court.



Ko appeared before the court at 2 p.m. Thursday, to argue against the issuance of the arrest warrant.



The prosecution is looking into allegations that Ko received 20 million won from an official named Lee at the Incheon Customs Office to get a personal contract surnamed Kim promoted to chief of the office through his relationship with Chooi Soon-sil, the central figure in a corruption scandal that saw former President Park Geun-hye removed from office.



Choi was a close confidant of Park and allegedly wielded considerable influence in her administration.



Kim became chief of the customs office in January 2016 but retired in January this year.



Ko is suspected of abusing his ties with Choi to push for the promotion.




By Lee Han-soo

Gwangsan-gu town hall in Gwangju will teach new foreign residents about the nation's waste disposal system.

The move comes after a build-up of illegally disposed of trash in areas heavily populated by foreigners, such as Pyeongdong Industrial Complex and Hanam

"Although the situation is not dire, we have gotten some complaints from local residents," a town hall official said. "The current waste system has mostly settled in with Koreans and long-term expat residents, but the system is mostly unknown to newly settled foreigners."

Efforts include distributing pamphlets in six languages -- Korean, English, Russian Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai -- on throwing out food waste and daily regulated recyclables.

There also are plans to broadcast the information up to three times a day on the city's new Koryo FM radio station.

"We will provide various solutions to prevent foreign residents from being confused by our waste disposal system," the city official said.
By Kim Hyo-jin

All presidential candidates said Thursday that they are opposed to a possible pre-emptive strike by the United States on North Korea amid escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula.

In their first televised debate, the contenders stated they would actively discourage President Donald Trump's administration from using a military option to halt the North's nuclear weapons and missile development.

When asked about what his response would be if the U.S. informed him that a strike was imminent, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said, "I would tell the U.S. President that a pre-emptive attack without South Korea's consent is not an option and stop him from doing so."

He continued: "I would follow this by putting our armed forces on emergency alert, declaring a state of emergency, and persuading Pyongyang to cease provocations through a hot line while asking for Beijing's cooperation."

Moon's rival Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party agreed on reaching out to both the U.S. and China. "I would prioritize calling leaders of the U.S. and China. I'd say there should be no war to Trump, my Wharton School alumni, and ask Xi Jinping to pressure the North," he said.

Ahn said he would also issue a statement urging the North to halt its military threats immediately while enhancing combat readiness.

Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) said, "What is most important is deterring the U.S. from launching an attack through close consultation. And the same goes for China." But he also stressed the need to put the armed forces on immediate alert in readiness for a possible battle.

Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party said she would release a statement to the nation first, and if needed, send special envoys to the U.S. and China while seeking emergency countermeasures for public safety. Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party said a U.S. pre-emptive attack could only occur after South Korea had fully prepared its military; though it should be prevented in the first place.












By Chang Chim-yeong





Thirty years ago, Western civilization saw the paradoxical ideology of centrism take the helm. The year 1987 heralded the advent of neoliberalism as a modern "divine right," as a theology in and of itself. It saw gods and kings dethroned, only to have lobbyists and investors crowned in their stead. Its princes  Reagan, Pinochet, and Clinton  crucified mankind upon a cross of gold; its prelates  Friedman, Greenspan, and Hayek  proclaimed the trickle-down "Gospel of Rand," ministering to an increasingly polarized parish with their signature opium in hand.

In his "Eighteenth Brumaire," Karl Marx contends that "one who has learned a new language assimilates its spirit and expresses himself freely in it." South Korea, as was its wont for all things American, was no exception; it was quick to surpass its mentors in pursuit of profit over people. It is a lingering and tragic irony that the laissez-faire gospel was adopted not by the scions of political and economic privilege, but rather by self-professed progressive liberals. Kim Dae-jung's legacy was marred less by red-baiting than by his repression of labor rights; Roh Moo-hyun was repeatedly accused of "veering to the right" on economic issues. (Their successors, true to the party line, made them look outright egalitarian in comparison.)

Thirty years later, populism is on the march in both Orient and Occident. "A specter is haunting the world  the specter of populism." Ghita Ionescu and Ernest Gellner's sweeping contention has proven to be prescient, if not outright prophetic. The standard-bearers of populism  Trump, Le Pen, and Duterte on the right; Sanders, Iglesias, and Tsipiras on the left  have seized (one might even say stolen) the collective consciousness. Each of them accomplished this formidable feat not with fiery rhetoric, not with vicious vitriol, not even with nationalistic fervor, but with their denial of the international economic order.

What is populism, then? What is its place in this house divided that we call our nation? Political scientist Cas Mudde defines it as "the juxtaposition of the people' against the corrupt elite.'" This seems too moralist for 21st century tastes, not to mention outdated, perhaps even irrelevant. Yet we  we the people  have seen all too much of a political sphere tainted by the interests of the wealthy and powerful, by colluding lobbyists and amoral businesses. We have witnessed the apotheosis of the neoliberal world order manifest in Choi Soon-sil. We have seen the faces of those who thought property, privilege and power were acceptable substitutes for justice.

It is folly to expect the scions of Gangnam to hear the vox populi, to comprehend the bitterness of the common people, their cries of "Hell Joseon" and "dirt spoons." It is a greater folly to assume that, in the words of John Maynard Keynes, "the wickedest of men will do the wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone." The greatest folly of all is to seek a peace without principle. One cannot empower the afflicted without afflicting the powerful.





The author will be attending college this fall. Write to valkyriex9@gmail.com.
By Tom Plate



Last week the 45th President of the United States paid proper tribute to the People's Republic of China - which, by the way, would have been a whirlwind week for the Trump Administration even without the big-deal dinner for leader Xi Jinping. And though the summit venue was the annoyingly opulent tuhao-class Mar-a-Lago resort in ever-humid Florida, it was otherwise calming on the nerves to observe our often off-key Donald Trump saying and doing, for once, the right thing.



Trump was in celebrity toasting mode at the Mar-a-Lago show. With Melania, his wife of 12 years, on his shoulder, he rightly praised the "incredibly talented" Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi for 27, and steered clear of the phony-baloney free and frank exchange of views' verbiage to characterize his "long discussion" with Xi, from which talks, he quipped, "I have gotten nothing, absolutely nothing." For once the joke was not on the president, whether or not he was joking.



China, as even the disturbingly unschooled Trump understands, has arrived. To put the matter bluntly (and to put aside for the moment the U.S. strike on Syria), China is no ordinary nation, and, with all due respect to Japan and its extraordinary place in the world, it is America's single most important single country-relationship.



But their histories are so different. "It is scarcely appreciated in the West today," writes Howard W. French, the noted journalist, in his sweeping, refreshing and utterly essential new book Everything Under the Heavens: How the Past Helps Shape China's Push for Global Power', "that the international system' we so readily take for granted is actually a recent creation. It took shape between the middle of the nineteenth and the middle of the twentieth centuries, and started to be cobbled together at the precise moment that China was being subjugated by others and the world order it had sustained."



The new international system is now working its way into our lives, and change can be upsetting. Many Americans worry about China and some even insist war is inevitable. Call me an idiot optimist, but this is not going to happen. Neither China nor the U. S. will ever invade the sovereign territory of the other. Such primitivism would be nonsensical. There is a no valid moral reason, of any ideological or geopolitical gravity, to justify war. It would be a stupidity  a plunge into a black hole of insanity. Both would be morally guilty of world endangerment. Both governments would reveal themselves as pathetically incompetent.



Serial stupidity is not inevitable. An enduring, high level of cooperation between the two giant powers is the only intelligent way forward if the species itself is not to be endangered by the lowliest level of international non-cooperation: nuclear war. Yet, I suppose anything is possible if you secretly wish for it. For example (and I found this personally hard to stomach) some in the U.S. media rushed to praise the U.S. missile strike on a Syria airfield with near-war lust  dropping their independent, critical role as if it were a false front all along. This cheerleading was so depressing  reminiscent of the media's go-go lust in 2003 for the Iraq invasion.



Many Chinese believe their nation is the new big thing and the United States is a big old thing. Some Americans agree - that the U.S. is declining while China (in the phrase of Joseph Nye in his nifty book Is the American Century Over?') "is recovering." Both sides are only half-right, and this is the paradox of today's emerging world order. To borrow from Oscar Wilde in his Picture of Dorian Gray': "The way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test Reality we must see it on the tight-rope."



In the present case the tightrope is the Sino-U.S. trying to stay on balanced message. China is rising, obviously, but any serious loss in economic ground speed will cause the giant superliner to stall. When, if ever, will China "overtake" the U.S.? Certainly not tomorrow: China's population is aging while America's is freshened by immigration. The two political systems are deeply flawed: the former often moves too rigidly under central command; the latter will freeze up due to constitutional fragmentation and two-party uncivil war. Each in its own way is dysfunctional and at the same time semi-effective. The consequences of China stall' and American stasis' would suck the life out of the global economic bloodstream. It is thus in the core national interests of both China and the U.S. to help one another if others are to thrive as well.



The Sino-U.S. relationship hangs on the tightrope of a paradox. To keep from slipping off, each is in need for the other to succeed to maintain balance. Instead of leading to war, the challenge is to keep the geopolitical equipoise steady. Only a balance of mutual need can solidify the peace.





Loyola Marymount Professor Tom Plate is vice president of the Pacific Century Institute. This column appeared in the South China Morning Post.




By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.





First, do not misinterpret the 2016 election. Contrary to some commentary, the American political system has not been swept away by a wave of populism. True, we have a long history of rebelling against elites. Donald Trump tapped into a tradition associated with leaders like Andrew Jackson and William Jennings Bryan in the nineteenth century and Huey Long and George Wallace in the twentieth century.CAMBRIDGE  I frequently travel overseas, and invariably my foreign friends ask, with varying degrees of bewilderment: What in the world is going on in your country? Here is what I say.

And yet Trump lost the popular vote by nearly three million. He won the election by appealing to populist resentment in three Rust Belt states  Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin  that had previously voted Democratic. If a hundred thousand votes had been cast differently in those states, Trump would have lost the Electoral College and the presidency.

That said, Trump's victory points to a real problem of growing social and regional inequality in the United States. J.D. Vance's recent best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy compellingly describes the vast difference between California and Appalachia.

Research by the Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton shows that the demographic trends among lower-income whites without a college degree are worse than those for African-Americans, who historically anchored the lower extremes of inequality. In 1999, mortality rates among whites with no college were around 30% lower than those of African-Americans; by 2015, they were 30% higher.

Moreover, manufacturing employment, once a prime source of high-paying jobs for working-class whites, has fallen sharply over the last generation, to just 12% of the workforce. These previously Democratic voters were attracted by Trump's promises to shake things up and bring back manufacturing jobs. Ironically, Trump's efforts to repeal President Barack Obama's health-care legislation would make their lives worse.

The second thing I tell my foreign friends is not to underestimate Trump's communications skills. Many are offended by his tweet storms and outrageous disregard for facts. But Trump is a veteran of reality television, where he learned that the key to success is to monopolize viewers' attention, and that the way to do that is with extreme statements, not careful regard for the truth.

Twitter helps him to set the agenda and distract his critics. What offends commentators in the media and academia does not bother his supporters. But as he turns from his permanent self-centered campaigning to trying to govern, Twitter becomes a two-edged sword that deters needed allies.

Third, I tell my friends not to expect normal behavior. Normally, a president who loses the popular vote moves to the political center to attract additional support. This is what George W. Bush did successfully in 2001. Trump, by contrasts, proclaims that he won the popular vote and, acting as though he really did, appeals to his base voters.

While Trump has made solid centrist appointments to the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security, his picks for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services are from the extremes of the Republican Party. His White House staff is divided between pragmatists and ideologues, and he caters to both.

Fourth, no one should underestimate US institutions. Sometimes my friends talk as though the sky is falling and ask if Trump is as dangerous a narcissist as Mussolini. I tell them not to panic. The US, for all its problems, is not Italy in 1922. Our national political elites are often polarized; but so were America's founders.

In designing the US Constitution, the founders' goal was not to ensure harmonious government, but to constrain political power with a system of checks and balances that made it difficult to exercise. The joke goes that the founders created a political system that made it impossible for King George to rule over us  or for anyone to ever do so. Inefficiency was placed in the service of liberty.

It is still early in the Trump presidency, and we cannot be sure what might happen after, say, a major terrorist attack. So far, however, the courts, the Congress, and the states have checked and balanced the administration, as Madison intended. And the permanent civil servants in the executive departments add ballast.

Finally, my friends ask what all of this means for American foreign policy and the liberal international order led by the US since 1945. Frankly, I don't know, but I worry less about the rise of China than the rise of Trump.

While American leaders, including Obama, have complained about free riders, the US has long taken the lead in providing key global public goods: security, a stable international reserve currency, relatively open markets, and stewardship of the Earth's commons. Despite the US-led international order's problems, the world has prospered and poverty has been reduced under it. But one cannot be sure it will continue. The US will need to cooperate with China, Europe, Japan, and others to manage transnational problems.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump was the first major party candidate in 70 years to call the American alliance system into question. Since taking office in January, statements by Trump and his appointees suggest that it is likely to persist. American hard and soft power, after all, stems largely from the fact that the US has 60 allies (while China has only a few).

But the stability of the multilateral institutions that help manage the world economy and global commons is more uncertain. Trump's budget director speaks of a hard-power budget, with funds cut from the State Department and the United Nations system. Other officials advocate replacing multilateral trade deals with "fair and balanced" bilateral arrangements. And Trump is repudiating Obama's efforts to address climate change. I tell my friends I wish I could reassure them on these issues. But I cannot.





Joseph S. Nye Jr. is a professor at Harvard and author of Is the American Century Over? Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.
United Airlines' barbaric treatment of a passenger at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has sparked a global uproar against the world's third-largest carrier.



It will be hard for anyone to choose to fly on United again after watching the video of an elderly man being dragged off the jet like a trash bag and left with a bloodied face.



United used police to remove the passenger because the flight was overbooked. He was not being aggressive or difficult, but simply refusing to comply with an unreasonable request to deplane to allow four employees to have seats. The airline is to be blamed entirely for the overbooking situation and had no right to remove a paid and seated customer in such a violent manner.



United's CEO Oscar Munoz's audacious response has only aggravated the widespread outrage toward the shameless airline. Shortly after the incident, Munoz initially praised his employees in a letter, saying they "followed established procedures for dealing with a situation like this." He later apologized to the passenger, but he said he will not resign because of the incident. It is hard to believe that the CEO of a top brand can be so lacking in judgment and sense of responsibility.



In addition to use of excessive force, racism is also emerging as an issue in this case. The passenger has been identified as a Vietnamese-American, and this has triggered speculation that the incident would not have happened if he had not been Asian. Since the airline has a major Asia-Pacific presence, one cannot help but be concerned about the safety of Asian passengers on United.



The airline's unacceptable blunder has lessons for the entire business world. Any company that has so little regard for their customers will not be able to avoid severe consequences. Due to the incident, United is facing a major lawsuit, not to mention boycotts and a consumer backlash.



The airline will have to do some major damage control, including a thorough review of the incident and better policies to protect passengers, to recover its reputation.




Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Kazakhstan hopes for facilitation of the visa regime with the EU countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a message after a meeting of the Kazakh FM Kairat Abdrakhmanov with a German Bundestag delegation, the ministry said in a message.

The delegation was led by the head of the Germany-Central Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Manfred Grund.

At the meeting, Abdrakhmanov stressed the need of further expansion of people-to-people contacts between Germany and Kazakhstan, and the EU and Kazakhstan in general, and noted that Kazakhstan is taking serious steps to this end.

The message said that early this year, Kazakhstan introduced a visa free regime for the OECD and EU nationals, holding any passport type, for a stay for a period of up to 30 days.

Kazakhstan is also taking other measures to facilitate visits of foreign investors, business delegations and tourists.

Kazakhstan is improving the standards in the sphere of control of citizens documents, the country does not pose a risk of migration, and therefore counts on counter-steps from the European side to facilitate the visa regime for Kazakh citizens visits to the Schengen Area, which will correspond to the agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU, the Foreign Ministry said.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Lawmakers must stop meddling in KEPCO's business



A group of lawmakers is stepping up efforts to hamper the state electricity utility's bid to export nuclear reactors to the United Kingdom. In a press conference Tuesday, the lawmakers, most of whom belonged to the former opposition parties, urged the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to stop efforts to seal the deal.



KEPCO is going ahead with a plan to take part in the U.K. government-led Moorside project to build a nuclear power plant in northwest England. The 21 trillion ($18 billion) plan is KEPCO's first major overseas project since it won an $18 billion nuclear power plant project in the United Arab Emirates in 2009.



KEPCO said last month it was in talks over a potential stake purchase in the so-called NuGen project the U.K. needs to put on stream by 2025 to meet projected power demand. NuGen is currently 100 percent owned by Toshiba after French company Engie sold its 40 percent stake to the Japanese company.



The lawmakers said KEPCO's move to take part in the project runs counter to the next administration's green energy policy, calling for more active investment in renewable energy. They also stressed that Toshiba, which is facing management woes because of its flawed takeover of Westinghouse Electric of the United States, was trying to shift investment risks to KEPCO.



Their call for caution in acquiring the deal is understandable, considering that the global nuclear power industry has been receding since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. Not surprisingly, Korea also needs to push for renewable energy while reducing its dependence on nuclear power and fossil fuels. But this is all but impossible in the immediate future unless the nation cuts its power consumption drastically.



It is therefore absurd that lawmakers are seeking to block KEPCO from taking part in an overseas nuclear power project, swayed by Greenpeace, a global environment organization, although it is necessary for the government to caution the state utility over the project's risks.



Nuclear power is one of the nation's flagship industries, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the country's electricity demand. A number of companies _ small and big alike _ are involved in nuclear power plant projects amid expectations that exporting nuclear reactors will offer big business opportunities for them. The Moorside nuclear plant had originally adopted Westinghouse's newest reactor, the AP1000, but KEPCO plans to replace it with its own APR1400 reactor if it takes over the project.



It makes no sense for lawmakers to ask a state company to give up on a big project that would trigger job creation and hard currency earnings merely because it is related to nuclear power generation. What's most pitiable is that some of the lawmakers act as if they have already taken power in the run-up to the May 9 presidential election. They should stop meddling in KEPCO's business.












By Donald Kirk





Watching the display of U.S. strength on the beach in a wargame called Pacific Reach, one realizes how easy it would be to decimate the North Koreans. The purpose of this particular exercise is logistics  to show the speed and agility with which these forces can unload hundreds of thousands of tons of supplies anywhere on shore  perfect for an attack on the North. The South Koreans are in it too  infinitely stronger than when the North Koreans rolled over them in the summer of 1950.POHANG  An array of heavy-duty, sophisticated gear spread over the beaches here shows the incredible military might of the U.S. and South Korea. Far offshore, way beyond the horizon, the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson leads a "strike force" of warships.

None of this drama, however, appears to have had any impact on Kim Jong-un as he intensifies his own scare campaign against the U.S. and South Korea. If the U.S. wants to consider a preemptive strike against his nuclear and missile facilities, his propaganda machine lets it be known, he'll hit the U.S. first with a nuclear warhead.

It's hard to take such rhetoric seriously. Everyone knows it's for dramatic effect, whether to impress his own people or foreigners dumb enough to think North Korea's nuclear program is really for "defense." The point, however, is: might President Trump order a pre-emptive strike as he did against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's murderous military machine?

Advocates of military force, impressed by what's plain to see about U.S. military power, had better not get their hopes up.

Sure, Trump could order an air strike on Assad as punishment for his use of deadly chemical weapons on innocent civilians in a rebel-held town. Similarly, a volley of cruise missiles, supplemented by air strikes, could take out the sites from which Kim Jong-un loves to order "tests" of his own missiles, including the long-range model with which he threatens the U.S. More strikes might remove North Korea's nuclear complex at Yongbyon from the map.
POSCO Energy CEO Yoon Dong-jun, second from left, poses with Community Chest of Korea Chairman Hur Dong-soo, third from left, after donating 140 million won ($124,000) at the charity's office in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of POSCO Energy



By Lee Hyo-sik

POSCO Energy has donated 140 million won ($124,000) to the Community Chest of Korea to improve "energy welfare" for senior citizens living alone and other low-income households.

The leading private electricity generator affiliated with steelmaker POSCO held a ceremony at the charity's office in Seoul, Tuesday, to mark its continuing support for one of the country's largest charity foundations.

The money will largely be used to finance POSCO Energy's ongoing "Energy Dream" campaign, which began in 2012 aimed at enhancing energy-related infrastructure for welfare centers and poor families.

The company has donated 2 billion won to the charity over the past five years.

"We will continue to improve the residential environments of local communities where we operate plants," company CEO Yoon Dong-jun said. "To become a more trusted corporate citizen, we will expand the energy campaign and other social responsibility programs to share growth with marginalized people."

Under the energy dream campaign, POSCO Energy has been helping residents increase the energy efficiency of their homes in Incheon, Pohang and Gwangyang, where it operates power plants and other business facilities.

In addition, a team of employee volunteers has regularly visited the homes of the elderly and checked the safety of their electrical systems, as well as installing solar panels at welfare-related facilities to help lower their electricity costs.

In 2017, the company plans to provide support for 51 low-income households and one social welfare center, compared with 19 families and six facilities last year.

In addition, POSCO Energy has been implementing a wide range of community service programs over the years.

For instance, it has been organizing an event in which company employees and members of civic groups paint images of bees, flowers and other objects on exterior walls of houses in poor neighborhoods to brighten the residential atmosphere.
UC Irvine law professor David Min, a democrat / Courtesy of David Min



By Jhoo Dong-chan

A Korean-American law professor is running for the U.S. Congress in the 45th congressional district, challenging Republican congresswoman Mimi Walters.

According to the Orange County Register, University of California Irvine law professor David Min decided to run for the post out of frustration with President Donald Trump.

"The straw that broke the camel's back was the Muslim travel ban," Min said.

"You think about what brought my parents here. It was the core American values of tolerance, diversity, economic opportunity and social mobility. What Trump was doing with the Muslim ban was un-American. Who's next on Donald Trump's list?"

Min is a second-generation Korean American whose parents came to the U.S. before he was born.

Having majored in economics at Wharton and receiving his law degree from Harvard, the 41-year-old Korean-American emphasized his vast experience in development and policy implementation including three years with the left-leaning Center for American Progress advocacy think tank.

He was a close aide to current Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for three years from 2007 when Schumer served as chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

The 45th congressional district consists of Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Woods, Villa Park, Anaheim Hills and a portion of Orange County where Min said about 20 percent of the district's eligible voters are of Asian or Pacific Island descent.

"Korean-Americans nationwide have displayed an eagerness to support candidates from their community," he said.

In 2012, Korean immigrant Kang Suk-hee, an Irvine Democrat, also raised $755,000 for a campaign against then-incumbent Rep. John Campbell with much of the money coming from Korean-Americans.

Along with Min, another Korean-American candidate Robert Ahn, an Los Angeles city councilman, is also running for Congress in his Los Angeles district.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

A regular meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and an informal meeting of the heads of states of the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will take place in Kyrgyzstans capital Bishkek April 14, Kyrgyz presidents press-service said in a message.

The meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council which is a supranational body of the Eurasian Economic Union will be attended by the presidents of all member countries of the union - Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. Moreover Moldovas president who was invited by his Kyrgyz counterpart will take part in the meeting.

At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the issues of economic interaction within the Eurasian Economic Union will be discussed.

The parties will also discuss international cooperation and further integration in Eurasia. Moreover the heads of states of the Eurasian Economic Union will consider the appeal of Moldova on granting it the status of an observer state in union.

At the informal meeting of the heads of the CSTO member states, the issues of further development of the organization, as well as the deepening of cooperation in the sphere of regional security will be discussed. The presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Armenia will take part in the meeting.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 13

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Deputy chairman of Turkmenistans Turkmengas state concern Myrat Archayev has been appointed the acting chairman of the concern, according to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs decree.

Earlier it was reported that Maksat Babayev, head of Turkmengas state concern, has been appointed deputy prime minister, who oversees the fuel and energy complex in the country.

Turkmenistan is one of the main gas suppliers in the Caspian Sea region.

Turkmengas state concern is developing gas and gas condensate fields, extracts gas and gas condensate, transports gas, gas condensate and liquefied gas, sells gas for export and within the country.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 13

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met with Italys Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diego Ungaro, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

Having discussed the prospects of energy cooperation between the two countries, the sides expressed interest in establishing contacts between the business structures of Turkmenistan and Italy, said the message.

Particular attention was paid to strengthening of political and diplomatic ties, expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 13

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Frances Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault will arrive in Uzbekistan for an official visit on Apr. 14, the press service of Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the visit, meetings are planned at the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and within other formats, said the message.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov visited France in late March.

France is one of important European partners of Uzbekistan. Regular political consultations are held between the two countries foreign ministries. The inter-parliamentary cooperation has been established.

As it was reported earlier, in early March 2017, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved an intergovernmental Uzbek-French agreement on the establishment and activities of the French Development Agency and its subsidiary, Society for the Promotion and Participation for Economic Cooperation (PROPARCO), in Uzbekistan.

The agreement was signed in December 2016 following the negotiations between Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Hamburg, Germany.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed regional issues, Syria in particular, as well as other issues of mutual interest with his several counterparts during separate telephone calls late on Thursday, IRNA reported.

In a telephone call with his Kazakh counterpart, Zarif described US unilateral move against Syria as unacceptable, underlining the need for impartial international probe into chemical attack in that country.

During the dialogue, the two ministers also exchanged views on the latest developments of Astana talks.

Meanwhile, in another telephone conversation with the Venezuelan foreign minister, Zarf referred to recent developments in Syria, calling on the Non-Aligned Movement to be more active in Damascus developments.

Venezuela is the present rotating president of the NAM.

During another phone calls with his Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts respectively, Zarif condemned chemical attack in Syria as well as US unilateral move against the country urging for an international impartial investigation into it.

US warships deployed to the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against an airfield southeast of the western Syrian city of Homs on April 7 (Friday).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will allocate $285.3 million to Georgia to support the governments economic reform program.

On April 12, the Executive Board of IMF approved a three-year extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Georgia for an amount of about $285.3 million or 100 percent of quota, IMF said in a message on its website.

The EFF-supported program will help Georgia reduce economic vulnerabilities, pursue well-coordinated policies, and promote economic growth, said the message.

The program includes ambitious structural reforms to generate higher and more inclusive growth, focusing on improving education, investing in infrastructure, making the public administration more efficient, and further improving the business environment to boost the private sector as a growth engine.

The IMF Executive Boards approval allows for an immediate disbursement of about $40.7 million. The remaining amount will be phased over the duration of the program, subject to six semi-annual reviews.

Following the Executive Board discussion, IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair Tao Zhang said that Georgian authorities program supported by the Extended Fund Facility will help address the economic challenges the country faces by reducing fiscal deficits while shifting public spending toward investment, accelerating structural reforms, strengthening the monetary policy framework, and enhancing financial sector supervision, safety nets, and bank resolution frameworks.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

The Turkish Summertour and Coral Travel tour operators intend to initiate flights from Azerbaijan to the Turkish city of Bodrum, the Turkish media reported Apr. 13.

Summertour is expected to initiate charter flights from Azerbaijan to Bodrum seven days a week, while Coral Travel intends to initiate flights to Bodrum twice a week from May.

Tour operators expect a lot of Azerbaijani tourists to visit Bodrum.

Summertour also plans to initiate direct flights from Azerbaijan to Turkeys Alanya beach resort city in 2018.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, more than 600,000 Azerbaijani tourists visited Turkey in 2016.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Guest Commentary / Opinion / Our Readers Write:

An open letter to San Diego City Council member Barbara Bry: The Hillside Drive neighborhood of La Jolla is being destroyed by incompetent speculative developers and the City of San Diego is allowing this destruction to continue uncontrolled. Please help us put a stop to it, or at least some controls on it.

There are already three homes at the top of Hillside Drive that have been under construction for five years. Id provide you the addresses, but the developer has failed to post the addresses on his job sites. It is unreasonable for us to live that long with that much disruption. Ive built 200-bed hospitals faster.

There are now an additional five homes proposed for development in the 7600 block of Hillside Drive. Some are already fenced, and even that fence is already in disrepair!

That means that for the next decade we can look forward to the following neighborhood disruption:

1) Home sizes out of context for the neighborhood, such as 7661 Hillside, which proposes a 5,300-square foot home on a 6,000- square-foot lot.

2) Traffic. Hillside is a very narrow street with no shoulder, no sidewalks and no lights. Now we will throw in another couple of dozen pickup trucks parked along the road. (When we build on hospital or college campuses, we are required to provide offsite parking and to shuttle our workers in and out.)

3) Emergency vehicle access. These guys park without consideration for those of us who live here. What will happen the first time someone dies because an emergency vehicle cant get through? Who will step forward to say, I allowed that to happen.

4) Post-lunchbreak trash. Our street is littered with fast-food bags and empty Red Bull cans.

5) Property damage. During the development of 7666 Hillside, our front retaining walls were destroyed by the workers who parked in front of our home or used our driveway for a turnaround. When I tried to get it fixed, all I heard was wasnt me ...

6) Vehicle damage. Our street is littered with drywall screws and roofing nails. I dont know anyone who lives on our street who hasnt suffered at least one flattened tire every few months. Yet no one takes responsibility to clean the road or repair the damage they create.

7) Roadway damage. Hillside Drive may be the roughest road in San Diego. Ive driven roads in Ruanda that are in better shape. Why? Because these people cut into the road for utility access and then patch back without proper backfill and compaction, and they are not inspected.

8) Abandoned, partially completed projects. When this real estate cycle turns down, many of these guys will default and simply walk away from their projects. We saw it last time, with several half-finished project that lay derelict for 10 years.

9) Our home value drops to zero. Will our property taxes be reduced for the next 10 years while our homes are unmarketable?

Does it really seem reasonable that we should have to live with this for the coming decade? I guarantee you that it will be at least that long.

Im also submitting a second letter that hits the same points in detail and includes photographic examples. Please study the images. Thanks very much for considering our plight. I know you have lots of us who each have special causes. Gotta be tough to keep up with. Hang in there. I am willing to help.

 The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is an organization that defines, teaches and promotes best practices in design-build. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system devised by the U.S. Green Building Council to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation toward sustainable design.
A September deadline has been set for Bird Rock residents to sign up for private security patrols through La Jolla Safety before the effort will be abandoned. At the Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) meeting on April 4, organizer Ron Fineman said the group does not have enough sign-ups to launch the patrol.

Thus far, we have only received commitments from half the people we need to get it off the ground, he said. We need 60 homeowners to start services and we are at less than 30  If we dont reach that number by September we are going to refund the money that almost 30 homeowners have paid.

In June 2016, Fineman and a few other residents formed La Jolla Safety to bring a private security patrol to the commercial and residential areas of Bird Rock following a perceived increase in crime. The idea is to have a patrol car and footman in the area at random times to discourage criminals that would carry out the low-priority crimes the police department does not have the staffing to address. The cost would be $50 a month per household.

At previous BRCC meetings, some residents said having the presence of private security could discourage criminal activity before it occurs, and provide an alternative to calling the police to investigate suspicious persons.

When we started with this idea, there were staffing issues at San Diego Police Department with no changes in sights  and an increase in crime. I dont think the crime is getting any better, so we still need residents to step up or we have to look for other solutions, Fineman said.

The initial service area would be Bird Rock and Upper Hermosa only. In November 2016, when organizers were more optimistic about La Jolla Safetys success, it was announced that the patrol could extend to The Village or even The Shores. But for now, Fineman said, the focus will be getting enough commitments to launch the patrol.

BRCC president Andrew Ward said he would like to have a speaker from the San Diego Police Department at the groups next meeting to discuss the current status of crime in Bird Rock.

Homeowners who wish to sign up for the private patrols or learn more, may visit lajollasafety.org

In other Bird Rock news:

Infrastructure projects backlog: BRCC treasurer Barbara Dunbar said there are several infrastructure repair projects that have been reported to the board, and in turn to the City, but have not yet been fixed.

People have been asking about the median light outages and periodically malfunctioning pedestrian crossing lights along La Jolla Boulevard, she said. Examples include La Jolla Boulevard at Chelsea Place, Forward Street and Camino de la Costa.

There are ones that are out and do not work at all, and one that appears to either be stuck on or there is an electrical malfunction, Dunbar added. They are all on the list of things weve submitted for repair.

Residents have also reported a buckling in the sidewalk at Colima Street and La Jolla Boulevard that poses a tripping hazard. As a temporary measure, BRCC painted an orange stripe and the City posted an orange A-frame sign at the site so the danger is more visible.

Weve seen people fall down at that spot when theyre not paying attention, Dunbar said. We know there is a problem and the City is aware, but they just havent gotten around to fixing it, though we have been reporting the problem for almost two months.

Also, BRCC requested that the City take down the orange netting that surrounds the Midway Bluff overlook. The fencing was put in place in 2015 to help the vegetation on site take root, as part of the bluff restoration project.

It appears the vegetation is stable and the fencing was supposed to be taken down in August, but the City kept it up a little longer because of the period in which there was no rain, Dunbar said. The plants look very good, so we are trying to get that taken down. Those whove reported this to us should know we are working on it.

Summer Run: Details for the 18th annual End of Summer Run were presented. The four-mile fundraising race will be 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. It will start in La Jolla and migrate on the south side of La Jolla Boulevard through Bird Rock and into Pacific Beach. Proceeds benefit Mission Beach, Patrick Henry, Point Loma and Clairemont High Schools. The race uses a rolling closure, so as runners clear an area, it reopens to traffic with assistance from volunteers and police.

 Bird Rock Community Council next meets 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 at a location to be announced. birdrockcc.org
Planning Commission to hear Hillel plans

Plans for the long-debated and oft-rejected Hillel Center for Jewish Life project, to serve Jewish students at UC San Diego, will reportedly be heard by the San Diego Planning Commission, 9 a.m. April 27 in City Council Chambers, 12th floor, City Administration Building, 202 C St. in downtown San Diego.

Proposed for a triangular parcel of land at La Jolla Village Drive at Torrey Pines Road, the project recently received a $5 million donation. It has been under discussion and voted down by La Jollas community groups for more than a decade.

The building would serve as a center for Jewish life and support UCSD students, said Hillel executive director Michel Rabkin. Its an off-campus center for small group meetings, pastoral counseling, holiday celebrations, prayer services and a place for cultural exploration. Its a drop-in center where professional staff will work with students on a day-to-day basis.

However, La Jolla residents such as Pat Granger, who has been fighting the project for several years, suggests locating a university social organization in a single family residential zone is a violation of the Planned District Ordinance and sets a precedent.  More at sandiego.gov and ucsdhillel.org/glickman-hillel-center

City budget town hall slated for May 6

After San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer releases his proposed budget this week, a community town hall meeting will be held for La Jollans to give their feedback and designate priorities, 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at La Jolla Village Square community room, 8657 Village La Jolla Drive. RSVP required to District 1 Council member Barabara Bry: barbarabry@sandiego.gov

It is important that your voice be heard during the budget process so that the City Council can make informed decisions about how to allocate our spending. I look forward to hearing from you, Bry said in her April newsletter.

Following the meeting, the budget will be circulated to various City budget offices and hearings will be held before the final budget will be proposed.

Public testimony is welcome at all of the hearings, as well as at an evening meeting of the full City Council on May 15. And of course, you can also write to me or any of the other Council members about your priorities, she said.  More at sandiego.gov/cd1

La Jolla Town Council meeting postponed

In honor of the Easter and Passover holidays, the monthly La Jolla Town Council meeting has been postponed one week, and will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20 at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.  lajollatowncouncil.org

Village, Shores street lights are back on!

According to City of San Diego public information officer Anthony Santacroce, all street lights in La Jolla affected by a citywide electricity failure were repaired by March 26.

Since the outages that occurred in mid-March, the circuitry issues along La Jolla Shores Drive, Wall Street, Fay Avenue and Herschel Avenue were repaired and the lights re-energized by the week of March 26, Santacroce said in an e-mail.

Two La Jollans advance in library essay contest

La Jolla Library held its annual Writing for Literacy Essay Contest award ceremony on March 15. The contest was open to all fourth-, eighth- and 10th-graders who selected a favorite book to discuss. La Jolla Elementary student Torin Young and La Jolla High student Daria MacAuslans winning essays will go on to compete for top prizes in the citywide award ceremony at the end of April. Other winners include La Jolla Elementary students Daniela Vinolo and Coco Scoma, and La Jolla Country Day School students Jack Levin, Megan Mansukhani and Andrew Staten.

Pottery Canyon kiln to be evaluated

The 6-foot historically designated kiln adjacent to Pottery Canyon Park, a municipal trail off Torrey Pines Road, is being evaluated by a specialist in historic preservation, said City of San Diego supervising public information officer Arian Collins.

After a controversy involving the crumbling state of the resource (read bit.ly/PotteryCanyon), the City issued a Civil Penalty Notice and Order for un-permitted work taking place on site to Lai Ngai, who owns the property where the kiln stands. However, Ngai told La Jolla Light no construction work had been done since he purchased the property in 2013. He confirmed hiring an architect, who is in communications with the City.

From the Citys perspective, the development of an evaluation report on the kiln is enough action to refrain from issuing penalties to the property owner, however, a time-frame has not been determined.

Collins said Code Enforcement Division staff will continue to monitor the issue to ensure forward progress is made.

Lead testing coming to La Jolla public schools

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) began testing drinking water for lead at San Diego public schools and charter schools on district land, April 4. By the end of the school year, the district expects to sample the water at all facilities.

Authorities said no signs of lead contamination have been found prior to testing, and the district-wide testing is underway due to an abundance of caution, wrote La Jolla Elementary School principal Donna Tripi in an e-mail blast. If results indicate that there is lead above allowable levels, district staff will determine the source of contamination and take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis, she said.

SDUSD communications liaison Samer Naji told La Jolla Light testing started at the south end of the district and officials will make its way north in coming weeks. Testing will occur in the early hours of the day before school starts, and up to five samples will be taken at every school.  sandiegounified.org/watersampling

Golden Triangle Rotary blood drive, April 22

La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club will host a mobile blood drive in partnership with San Diego Blood Bank 12:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at Nobel Park Recreation Fields parking lot.

In a press release, the rotary highlighted the need to give blood for hospital patients. About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. One pint of blood, which is the amount volunteers give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives, it reads. Donors must be age 17 or older, weigh more than 114 pounds and be in good health. Walk-ins welcome. To schedule an appointment call (619) 469-7322 or visit sandiegobloodbank.org

Tickets on sale for Vikings at The LOT

Tickets are on sale for The Foundation of La Jolla High Schools spring fundraiser, Vikings at The LOT, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11 on the grounds of the movie theater at 7611 Fay Ave. Event includes dinner, cocktails, an auction and movie screenings at $110 per person. Underwriters of $500 or more will receive two tickets to the event. foundationofljhs.com

Have a La Jolla news tip? E-mail details to editor@lajollalight.com or call (858) 875-5950.
FRONTLINE CANCER:

The long and tangled history of cancer treatment is, perhaps, the most obvious argument that defeating this Gordian knot of diseases will require every tool we have  and can imagine. No single act or epiphany can cure cancer. The effort requires the efforts of many, using every mind and means available.

Thats the thinking behind the new Center for Novel Therapeutics (CNT), which officially broke ground Tuesday and will open for business in 2019. Located just east of Moores Cancer Center (MCC) at UC San Diego Health on the east campus, the CNT would be a 135,000-square-foot home to MCC and UC San Diego School of Medicine scientists and physicians and perhaps dozens of local research organizations and biotech companies focused on finding new treatments and cures for cancer and related chronic diseases.

Indeed, more than half of the three-story building, which will include wet and dry labs, bioengineering facilities and research facilities including a biorepository, will be available to both UC San Diego and non-university investigators and enterprises. MCC will literally be just across the street, with our partner La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LJIAI) also next door. MCCs growing immunotherapy program will be based inside CNT.

This proximity and critical mass is important. MCC researchers and physicians possess an intimate, daily knowledge of the disease. They work at the leading edge. They have access to resources and services (and thus their patients) that are available only at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. MCC and LJIAI investigators will always be close at hand to help private industry develop new treatments. CNT will be common ground for men and women with a common goal: conquering cancer.

The idea of such an incubator is not new, though this is the first UC San Diego-linked accelerator. It is largely the brainchild of two MCC physician-scientists who have steadfastly pursued and developed this dream over many years: Dennis Carson, M.D., who was MCC director from 2003 to 2011 and who still runs a lab, and Thomas Kipps, M.D., who served as interim director until my arrival in 2012 and who is currently deputy director for research and a Distinguished Professor of Medicine.

Both men have made their mark in cancer research and drug discovery. Carson is perhaps best known for his landmark work in developing a new agent called 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, or 2-CdA, for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. This drug, now marketed as Leustatin, is the treatment of choice for this disease and has resulted in long-term, complete remissions in about 75 percent of patients, often after just a single infusion. It is also effective in other lymphoid cancers, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

We dont often say cure in cancer, but Dennis has accomplished that for people suffering from hairy cell leukemia, Jack Dixon, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, cellular and molecular medicine, chemistry and biochemistry and himself an internationally recognized scientist once said.

Kipps may be on the cusp of another breakthrough. From the glimmerings of an idea through the hurdles of basic research, he has nurtured a first in-human stem cell-based therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the most common form of blood cancer in adults. Called cirmtuzumab, the drug therapy is currently in clinical trials and has shown potential for a variety of other cancers, including breast, pancreas, colon, lung and ovary.

Of course, neither Carson nor Kipps would claim to have worked alone. Cancer research and treatment requires the talents and resources of multiple collaborators, including those beyond the university. Carson, for example, has founded six biotechnology companies over his long and distinguished career to pursue his research and discoveries. Kipps and colleagues have been leaders in creating new academia-industry partnerships that have accelerated progress at MCC and beyond.

The CNT represents tangible evidence of this idea and purpose. It brings together faculty entrepreneurs with bold ideas, experienced managers in fundraising and drug development and others who will be critical to the process and to ultimate success.

Its an exciting new addition to the universitys Science Research Park, said UCSD Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, a place where a diverse array of researchers from every sector can advance technology and medical science to benefit patients.

Cancer is notorious for using every weapon it can muster to prevail. The CNT will work on the same prevailing principle.

 Scott M. Lippman, M.D., is director of UCSD Moores Cancer Center. His column on medical advances from the front lines of cancer research and care appears in La Jolla Light monthly. You can reach Dr. Lippman at mcc-dir-lippman@ucsd.edu
A worker injured in an industrial accident at Stellana US Inc. was airlifted to Froedtert Hospital, Wauwatosa, out of Veterans Park on Thursday.

Lake Geneva Fire Capt. Mark Moller-Gunderson said the Lake Geneva Fire Department received the call at 11:46 a.m. Thursday.

The worker had been severely injured by a machine in the plant and had lost a lot of blood, Moller-Gunderson said.

No other information about the victim or his condition was available.

Moller-Gunderson said employees at the plant applied First Aid before the EMTs were able to arrive and stabilize the man's condition.

"Their employees did a good job," he said.

He said the team work of the employees and EMTs were able to sustain the victim until Flight for Life arrived.

Froedtert is the designated trauma center for the area, Moller-Gunderson said.

Stellana, 999 S Wells St., manufactures polyurethane wheels, tires and rollers. The company is owned by Hexpol AB, a Swedish corporation.
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...
The body of a man, who witnesses said was tossed from a plane, landed on a hospital roof in Mexico's northern Sinaloa state on Wednesday, according to a public health service official in the region, which is home to notorious drug traffickers, Reuters reported.

The body landed on the roof of an IMSS hospital in the town of Eldorado, around 7:30 a.m. local time, said the official, who was not authorized to give his name.

Witnesses standing outside the health center reported a plane flying low over the hospital and a person thrown out, the health official said.

Later on Wednesday, Sinaloa's Deputy Attorney General Jesus Martin Robles said a body, found on the hospital roof, showed injuries that appeared to be related to a strong impact. He did not confirm that it had been thrown from a plane.

The public health service official said two more bodies were reported to have been found in the town, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of Culiacan, the state capital. Local media reported that those two bodies were thrown from the same plane as the body that landed on the hospital.

The official did not know if the man was alive when he was thrown from the plane. Officials from the state prosecutor's office were at the scene, he said.

"This is an agricultural area and planes are regularly used for fumigation," the official said, adding that the IMSS hospital was operating normally.

Local media reported that suspected gang members had picked up the two other corpses.

Sinaloa is the home state of Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, who ran the Sinaloa drug cartel until his arrest in 2016. He was extradited to the United States earlier this year.

Ever since Chapo's arrest, security in the state has deteriorated, as the Sinaloa cartel struggles to adapt to infighting and fresh threats from rival groups.
Road to Healing Audio Article Ceyapi, this past Saturday we cried as we listened to the stories of many who were hurt in one of...
This article appears in the April 14, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche Speaks to Sputnik

Ahead of Xi-Trump Summit

[Print version of this article]

April 5The following is an edited transcript of an interview by Sputnik with Helga Zepp-LaRouche, regarding the April 6-April 7 summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump: The interview was conducted before the summit.

Sputnik: What will the tone of the meeting be?

Helga Zepp-LaRouche: Oh, I think it will be actually cordial. The Western media, who are usually wrong, are trying to reduce this whole question to some geopolitical conflict, but I think both sides have prepared this meeting very well. I think, when Secretary of State Tillerson was in Beijing last month to prepare the visit, he said that the U.S.-China relationship in the Trump Administration would be a very positive relationship, built on no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect, and always searching for a win-win solution. And that was exactly the formulation that was used by Xi Jinping in 2012 when he called for building a new type of major-country relationship between China and the United States.

Now, this was rejected by President Obama at the time. But the fact that Tillerson is now using the exact same formulations shows a very positive signal. And I think that since China has put the New Silk Road policy on the tableor the Belt and Road Initiative, as its called nowsince 2013, and has been building this New Silk Road, with the idea that the United States should join it, too, I would not be surprised at all, if something like that would be discussed, to the big surprise of many.

Sputnik: I see. Now, earlier Trump had accused China of raping the U.S. economy. He called the country a currency manipulator, and even threatened to impose high tariffs on Chinese imports. With that said, what reaction should we expect from the Chinese leader? What positions will they be taking?

Zepp-LaRouche: I dont think that Xi Jinping will react to the campaign tone of the candidate Trump, because now Trump is President. And I think if they put on the table the idea that China would invest in the infrastructure in the United States, Trump himself has announced the need to have a $1 trillion program to reconstruct the American infrastructure. There was recently a conference in Hong Kong where Chinese economists estimated that the real requirement [for the United States] is $8 trillion. Now, the way to reduce the trade-deficit is by direct Chinese investment in infrastructure, maybe not immediately, but indirectly; maybe one would have an infrastructure bank, where China could put its investments, or some solution like that.

But Im convinced that they will absolutely come out of this summit with results beneficial to both countries.

Michael Vadon flickr/Narendra Modi

Sputnik: Its interesting that you talk about a positive solution to the trade-deficit, that you just mentioned, where China could possibly create a special investment bank; but is there anything else that Trump could do to somehow reduce this trade-deficit? Or is there any way that President Trump could somehow improve the relations between the countries, and improve the trade between the countries?

Zepp-LaRouche: Well, Trump has recently mentioned several times that he wants to go back to the American System of economy, the system of Alexander Hamilton, of Lincoln, of Henry Clay; and it is actually that system which made the United States great following the War of Independence. And that was a highly protectionist system. Alexander Hamilton created the United States by creating a National Bank, a credit system; and for example, the German economist Friedrich List pointed to the difference between the American System of economy and the British System of economy, meaning that the American System which was created by Hamilton basically says the only source of wealth is the creativity and productivity of the labor force, as compared to the British System which says you have to buy cheap and sell expensive, and control trade, and keep labor costs as low as possible.

So, if you actually look at what China has been doing with the Chinese economic miracle of the last thirty years, it is much closer to the philosophy of Alexander Hamilton, than it would be to the system of globalization and so-called free trade. I think that the Chinese system of free trade is not exactly the same one as what the British and the Americans under the Obama and Bush administrations have been thinking about.

So, if Trump says, OK, globalization led to an outsourcing of productive jobs, and I want to recreate the American economy, well, that recreation of the American economy is exactly how to reduce the trade deficit, because the reason why theres a deficit is that many American products in the last sixteen years of the Bush and Obama administration became increasingly less competitive, for example the car industry. The reason why you have more cars imported, from Japan, Korea, Germany, than the other way around, is that these cars are better than American cars.

And what America has to do, what President Trump has to doand I think thats what he intends to dois to reconstruct the American economy on the highest productive level. The infrastructure is only the precondition, but then there will be other areas, like in nuclear fission, but especially the development of fusion technology, Space cooperation with other countries. So there are many areas where you can leapfrog into the most productive areas in the economy, and I think thats what Trump intends to do.

Sputnik: Its interesting that you talk about that, and I really like that you mention that subject. Unfortunately well have to do that at a different time.

Apart from the issue that weve already discussed, are there any other issues that will be on the table between the Chinese leader and the U.S. President?

Zepp-LaRouche: Well, obviously, the North Korea issue will be very high up on the agenda, given the recent missile tests by North Korea. But there, one has to understand that North Korea is doing this, not because they intend an aggression against South Korea or Japan, or the United States. They are doing it in reaction to the deployment of the THAAD missiles, which both China and Russia have also said are security threats to their own national security, and North Korea is reacting to the very big maneuvers involving the United States, Japan, and South Korea, which are going on right now.

So the way to reduce that, and it would be my guess, is that they will get an agreement to re-propose the Six-Party talks, to try to find a solution, or even have maybe Five-Party talks, to try to really work out a real solution one could offer to North Korea. But it is my conviction that the only way this conflict can be solved forever, is to extend the New Silk Road into Korea, have a unification of South and North Korea, and then develop them together, with the sovereignty of North Korea being taken into account. But I think the way to overcome the terrible economic hardships is also by using the high-skilled labor you have in North Korea! People dont know that there is actually a highly developed labor force in North Korea.

So I think the New Silk Road/Belt and Road Initiative, even in the short or medium term, would be the framework with which to solve the North Korea problem forever.

Sputnik: All right. Well, on that note, I would like to thank you very much for joining me today, Helga. It was a pleasure having you here, and Id love to have you back in the future.

Zepp-LaRouche: OK, thank you.
This editorial appears in the April 14, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

STOP THE BRITISH DRIVE FOR WORLD WAR III:

The Bitch Set Him Up!

[Print version of this editorial]

April 9Lyndon LaRouche today warned that there is a British-run coup detat in process against the Trump Administration in the United States, which threatens to parlay the stupid and dangerous April 6 air strike against Syria, into a full-fledged thermonuclear confrontation with Russia and China.

Its the British bastards who duped President Trump into attacking Syria, with their lies and false intelligence, LaRouche charged. We have to destroy the British system and all their interests in the United States, he stated. We have to rally the United States to get back on the trajectory that Trump had begun to chart for the country, of cooperation with Russia and China around American System economic policies, including a return to FDRs 1933 Glass-Steagall principle.

Trump and Putin should immediately hold a summit meeting to address the crisis, LaRouche said, and thereby short-circuit the whole British operation. LaRouche strongly endorsed the comments this weekend by veteran German statesman Willy Wimmer, former Secretary of State of the German Defense Ministry, who warned that people are afraid of a global war, a Third World War, and argued that the current dramatic situation offers an opportunity for the Russian and U.S. heads of state to meet as soon as possible.

There can be no doubt that the British are behind last weeks shocking about-face of Trumps policy. Top British officials are crowing openly over their achievement to date. For example, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon published an op-ed in the April 9 Sunday Times of London, bragging that the British and American governments have been in close contact at all levels before and after the strikes. . . . U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called me to share their assessment of the regimes culpability. Together we reviewed the options they were considering.

On April 8, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had also claimed that he was coordinating everything with his American counterpart, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, including Johnsons theatrical cancellation of his scheduled trip to Moscow. I discussed these plans in detail with Secretary Tillerson, Johnson boasted. He will visit Moscow as planned and, following the G7 meeting [in Lucca, Italy on April 10-April 11], will be able to deliver that clear and coordinated message to the Russians.

Todays Sunday Times elaborated, in an article accompanying the Fallon op-ed, as to what that message would be: Britain and America will this week directly accuse Russia of complicity in war crimes in Syria and demand that Vladimir Putin pull the rug from Bashar al-Assads blood-soaked regime. Fallon further wrote: By proxy, Russia is responsible for every civilian death last week, adding that Putin must now get with the program, by agreeing to the overthrow of the Assad government.

The chances of Putin going along with this British demand, are zero. The chances of the situation spiraling into a thermonuclear confrontationeither in the Middle East or around the Korean Peninsulaare significantly greater than zero, so long as the British are calling the shots.

Having induced Trump to attack Syria based upon their lies, the British are now also orchestrating a storm of opposition to President Trump in the Obama wing of the Democratic Party, calling for Trumps impeachment because of the Syria caper. Trumps actions this week have also weakened him politically among his own base of supporters, both in the United States and internationally, who are shocked and dismayed at what he didwhich adds grist to the British mill.

The current situation is extremely dangerous, LaRouche emphasized, and can lead to war in the short term. And it is being brought about entirely by the British, and nothing else. We have to destroy that British imperial system. The citizens of the United States must rally themselves against this British coup. No intelligent person will accept what the British are up to. The only people inside the United States who will back the British, LaRouche said, are brain-drained people who are traitors to the United States.

We have to come down like a hammer on this, in order to stop the British coup to take over the Trump Administration, and the related drive to war. The Schiller Institutes two-day conference this coming April 13-April 14 in New York City, on U.S.-China Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and Corresponding Ideas in Chinese and Western Philosophy, will present the policy alternative which is capable of destroying the British Empire, permanently.
Two PKK terrorists were killed by security forces in Turkeys southeastern Hakkari province Thursday, a military source said, Anadolu reported.

The two terrorists were killed while they were trying to sneak into a military base in the Semdinli district of Hakkari, a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.
PRESS RELEASE

Chinese Envoy in South Korea Says Sanctions Against North Korea Arent Enough

April 12, 2017 (EIRNS)Chinas Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei has been on a four-day visit to South Korea. High on the agenda of his meetings was the matter of North Korea and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Wu met with South Koreas chief nuclear envoy, Kim Hongkyun, but gave no statements to the media. Kim said that during his discussions, Wu had repeated his countrys opposition to the U.S. deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery. Kim said there was no mention of any military option in his talks with Wu. The two also did not discuss any possible strike against the North by the Trump administration, he said.

"Both sides agreed that despite the international communitys warnings, if North Korea makes strategic provocations such as a nuclear test or an ICBM launch, there should be strong additional measures in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions,"

Kim said. He continued, that the two sides agreed that "an even stronger UN resolution" will have to be adopted in the event of additional weapons test by North Korea. Wu did not speak to reporters.

Chinas Global Times daily reports that Wu urged South Korea to help resume talks, because only multilateral dialogue will prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Wu also said sanctions against North Korea are not enough to make a breakthrough in denuclearization efforts.

Wu also met with South Korean presidential candidates, including Song Young-gil, the campaign manager of Minjoo Party presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, and Park Jie-won, the chairman of the centrist Peoples Party, whose presidential candidate is former software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo. He will also meet the presidential candidate of the conservative Bareun Party, Yoo Seung-mi, and Liberty Korea Party candidate Hong Joon-pyo.
PRESS RELEASE

Tech Expert Postol: White House Report Contains No Evidence as to Who Is Responsible for April 4 Gas Attack

April 12, 2017 (EIRNS)Professor Theodore Postol, professor emeritus of science, technology, and national security policy at MIT, issued a 14-page document, today, refuting the four-page "dossier" issued by the White House, yesterday, which supposedly proves that the government of Bashar al Assad was responsible for the April 4 chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun, Syria.

"I have reviewed the document carefully, and I believe it can be shown, without doubt, that the document does not provide any evidence whatsoever that the U.S. government has concrete knowledge that the government of Syria was the source of the chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun, Syria at roughly 6 to 7 a.m. on April 4, 2017,"

Postol writes. The evidence that is available, Postol reports, suggests, in fact, that the attack was executed by individuals on the ground, and not from an aircraft. Postols own assessment of the imagery used to draw conclusions about the source of the gas is that it "was very likely tampered with or staged, so no serious conclusion could be made from the photographs cited by the White House."

"The only indisputable fact stated in the White House report is the claim that a chemical attack using nerve agent occurred in Khan Shaykhun, Syria on that morning,"

Postol writes.

"Although the White House statement repeats this point in many places within its report, the report contains absolutely no evidence that this attack was the result of a munition being dropped from an aircraft. In fact, the report contains absolutely no evidence that would indicate who was the perpetrator of this atrocity."

Postols report makes use of Google Earth and other images, diagrams, and detailed analysis of the photographs provided by the White House.

Postols report has been covered by RT, in an article titled "White House claims on Syria chemical attack obviously falseMIT professor," and is being circulated by retired Col. Pat Lang, on his blog, by Paul Craig Roberts, and by others.
PRESS RELEASE

Russia Confronts Britain at UNSC: You Fear U.S. and Russia Might Cooperate

April 12, 2017 (EIRNS)At a UN Security Council meeting called today to debate a slightly-revised draft of the April 5 resolution on Syria presented by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, which was voted down, Russias Deputy Permanent Representative, Vladimir Safonkov, identified the United Kingdom, through its Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft, as the biggest saboteur of any attempts to resolve the Syrian crisis, and of "complicating" the work of Special UN Envoy Steffan De Mistura in the region.

Responding to Rycrofts anti-Russia diatribe, in which he had charged that Russia had lost all credibility in the eyes of the world because of its support for the "barbaric" Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and had consistently "abused" its veto at the UNSC, Safronkov got right to the point.

"What you are afraid of," he told Rycroft, is that "we might work with the United States. Thats what you lose sleep over." As Rycroft looked away, Safronkov told him, "Look at me! Im speaking to you! Dont look away!" The United Kingdom does nothing to achieve a political solution in Syria, he continued. On the contrary, "you invite illegal armed groups to London," groups that murder Christians and minorities in the Middle East. "You advance their interests. What are you doing" to advance a political solution, Safronkov asked. "Regime-change is more important to you" than what the majorities of the UNSC think.

Rycrofts insulting remarks about Russia were such that Safronkov felt compelled to call on UNSC rotating president, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, to enforce the rules of conduct.

"It is unacceptable," he told Rycroft, "for you to insult Russia."

Joining Safronkov in his attacks on imperial Britain was Syrias Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar al Jaafari, who was attending a UNSC meeting for the first time in three months. This current UNSC session, he said, reminded him of Secretary of State Collin Powells appearance in this same room 14 years earlier, during which he swore that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It appears, he said, that

"Britains Brexit from the European Union may have encouraged it to seek a new role for it in the world by using irrational and extreme statements and positions in this Council."

This, he added, "reminds us of the criminal role of Tony Blair, his role in the invasion of Iraq 14 years ago after fabricating lies about Iraqi WMDs."

Al Jaafari reported that Syria has sent 90 letters to the UNSC documenting the fact that terrorist groups possess chemical weapons, and providing details on the smuggling of sarin gas from Libya, through Turkey, into Syria, with names, dates, and vehicle identification data. The Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) confirmed in 2014 that Syria no longer had chemical weapons. Moreover, he recalled, "U.S. ships in the Mediterranean destroyed those chemical weapons. What an irony." Syria, he reported, has sent a letter to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), calling on it to send a technical mission to Khan Shaykhun, site of the alleged chemical attack, and also to the Shayrat airbase attacked by the U.S. Tomahawk missiles, to begin a competent investigation.
PRESS RELEASE

Progress Seen in Tillerson Talks with Lavrov and Putin

April 12, 2017 (EIRNS)"We understand each other better after todays talks," was the comment by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following todays meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who also met with President Vladimir Putin for two hours. Tillerson described the latter meeting as "productive," and according to several media reports, Putin raised the possibility of restoring the Memorandum for deconfliction, which Russia cancelled following the April 6 U.S. missile attack on the Shayrat airfield.

While the usual suspects in the lying mainstream media insist that the meetings were fraught with tension, "frosty," unfriendly, etc., the statements made by both men, as well as the report on the Putin meeting, suggest something more substantivemoving in the right direction, albeit with small steps. Syria was clearly a major bone of contention: Tillerson insisted that Bashar al Assad was guilty of carrying out chemical weapons attacks against his population, claiming that evidence was "conclusive," and that Assad can have no role in Syrias future. Lavrov, Sputnik reported, insisted that Washington has provided "no proof" of al Assads alleged April 4 chemical weapons attack in Idlib, stressing there must be a "presumption of innocence," until a complete investigation is carried out.

But in public remarks, after pointing out that "theres a low level of trust between our two countries," Tillerson added that

"the worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship... We need to attempt to put an end to this steady degradation."

Moscow and Washington, he continued, should end "tit-for-tat" strategies which can provoke tensions. Toward this end, they agreed to set up a working group to address solving low-level problems. Lavov expressed the hope that the bilateral presidential commission, which "Obama buried," could be set up.

Lavrov also remarked in their joint press conference that the U.S. and Moscow "are not worlds apart" on many key issues. But, he emphasized, "we need to learn the lessons of the pastotherwise we cannot be successful in the present." He then recounted the history of NATOs many interventions in its obsession to remove "totalitarian" leaders, citing the case of the former Yugoslavia, Libya, as well as the disaster Obama created in Sudan and South Sudan. "Weve seen all this before," he said, and it doesnt end well.

According to Fox News, the two governments have agreed to a serious UN investigation into the April 4 incident in Idlib, and in terms of charges that Russia was "complicit" in the April 4 chemical attack in Idlib, Tillerson said the United States has no reason to believe that Moscow aided or abetted that attack.
These were my tickets out of the copper mines, says Rueben Martinez, sweeping his hand over the books stacked on the coffee table inside his small, sage-colored home. A sign on the lawn announces, This House is Celebrating its Centennial, and shaded by two stately pepper trees, the craftsman could be a childs drawing of the platonic home, complete with a pair of porch recliners and a cascade of purple wisteria tumbling from a trellis in the backyard. In the living room, to Martinezs right, stands a neatly shelved low-boy bookcase containing titles by Mario Vargas Llosa and Miguel de Cervantes, and to his left, a tower of overflow teeters in the corner of the room, but its the tan leather barbers chair, just a few feet away in Martinezs office, that catches my attention first.

I had a barbershop the size of these two rooms, Martinez says, describing the now famous storefront to which he added one unlikely and transformative element: a single bookshelf.

From those humble roots, the barbershop-cum-bookstore Libreria Martinez Books and Art Gallery became one of the largest purveyors of Spanish-language books in the country, as well as a center for literacy advocacy whose influence continues to ripple nationwide. Martinez, who turns 77 on April 16, will be honored with the L.A. Times Innovators Award at the book prizes on April 21 for his work integrating bookselling, community and activism  his unique ability to weave the galvanizing nature of literature into the fabric of everyday life. Los libros, to me, he says of his unprecedented path to a life in letters, son la fuente y el puente para la sabiduria  books are the fountain and the bridge to wisdom.

Rueben Martinez will be at the LA Times Festival of Books on April 22nd at 4:30pm, participating in the panel Listen up, New York: Latino Readers & Writers Have Something to Say. 

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Hes trim and dapper in dark blue jeans and a crisp button-up, his white hair swept back, the rake marks of a comb visibly streaking from his temples. The sense of pride he takes in details, from his cologne and the starch of his shirt to the carefully stressed pace of a story, is evident. I was 10 years oldIt was a hot, hot day in Arizona, he begins, recalling the Saturday that his stepfather, after spying him reading, sent him to work in the yard, a ruse to burn his book before he could pick it up again. He threw it in the wooden stove, says Martinez. When I opened that up, I could see the spine of book, and I just put it down, he adds, closing an invisible lid, the memory still real to him. Martinez could not recall with total certainty the books title, because I started to read it, [but] I never finished it, a loose thread, a piece of unfinished business, which had for a time rankled him. I dont call it a regret now, he says, because if it wasnt for that book, I would have never met you.

By the time he began stocking that single bookshelf with copies of Juan Rulfos El Llano en Llamas, purchased on trips to Tijuana, Martinez had already transitioned from industrial jobs at Bethlehem Steel and the Ford Motor Co. into a successful barber; well-meaning friends tried to dissuade him from taking what seemed like a discordant leap into books. (He had four children; today, he also has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: My family is my life.) I asked Martinez why he hadnt listened. Because I listened to the love in my heart, he said, and yet, ever the consummate entrepreneur, he added, I did do a little bit of research I would always ask [my customers] when I had them in the barber chair, What do you think of this? Well, that would be nice. I dont know of any other bookstores that are doing that.  Martinez slapped his thigh for emphasis. He had hit upon a demographic, a market and a need: an underserved population of Spanish-speaking readers.

I used to do it all, I used to do the haircutting, the cleaning up; I used to do the buying and the selling. I worked every day, and I was never tired, he said, because he felt so electrified by what had become his purpose: It was a direction in life. At first, the barbershop was paying all the expenses, but in five years, it started to turn, turn, turn, and in 10 years, the shop was doing so well that I started to slow down on my cutting.

The memory of his lost, burned book became tinder for Martinez, lending him the tenacity to transform his barbershop bookshelf into a full-fledged bookselling business.

Libreria Martinez attracted internationally renowned authors such as Isabel Allende and Carlos Fuentes, who drew massive crowds, and the store became a haven for cultural events and political discourse. The novelty of a bookstore birthed in a barbershop caught the eye of media, as well as the MacArthur Foundation, which awarded him a genius grant in 2004, but it was the byproduct of Martinezs story that captured  and continues to ignite  the public imagination. In following his curiosity  his passion for reading, his instinct for community advocacy and his inherent business sense  Martinez not only created something heretofore unseen but he also did something even more elusive. He effected real change.

Back then, bilingual books were a political statement, said Bobby Byrd, owner and publisher of Cinco Puntos Press in El Paso, and Rueben understood that immediately. Martinez frequently bought Byrds inventory  a shot in the arm for a small press, as he recalls  in particular, Cinco Puntos bilingual childrens titles. Martinez, he said, was a gatekeeper, in a way, to kids getting books. And he swung the gate wide open.

How wide? Nationwide. I was in Philadelphia once, said Martinez, doing a talk, and one of the representatives from Barnes & Noble was there on the panel. He said, Thanks to you were carrying books in Spanish. 

Gustavo Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly and author of Taco USA and Ask a Mexican!, saw Martinezs model reproduced in many Latino cities in the United States in Las Vegas, in Sacramento, in stores that he visited on his book tours. In Orange County, he says, Libreria Martinez was part of the fabric of the community and a space for people who really had none. Of the man himself, whom after 15 years of friendship, he still calls Mr. Martinez, Arellano simply says, he is a secular saint.

Rueben Martinez, surrounded by books. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Currently, Martinez is a presidential fellow at Chapman University in Orange, the new home of Libreria Martinez, which has been transformed into a community center, and where he serves as a spokesman encouraging Latinos to pursue higher education. Martinez says he doesnt walk across campus: I float. He attended a segregated school, George Washington Elementary, yet nonetheless credits one teacher in particular, Mrs. Brubaker, as a life-long inspiration. She lent Martinez books (including the volume his stepfather tossed in the fire), and they stayed in touch until she died. I knew Mrs. Brubaker longer than anybody else on Earth, he said of his former teacher, who recently died, longer than my parents, my grandparents. She retired and moved up to Lake Isabella, and I would call her three or four times a yearRueben, how are you?  he says in a theatrically quavering voice, as if reading from a childrens story.  Im fine, Mrs. Brubaker. What are you reading?  She told him she was proud of him, he says, and he feels that his work with youth is a continuation, and a reimagining, of what she taught him.

This is what I pass on to young people today. That passion, that caring, that giving, that participating, that listening I tell them, Did you know that almost 56% of Americans only speak one language, and youve been speaking two since you were in kindergarten? This 21st century that we live in is a century of languages and cultures. I say, Be proud of your parents, be proud of your grandparents, be proud of your first language. 

Martinez was 53 when he opened Libreria Martinez Books and Art Gallery. People are deciding about retiring at that age, he says. I have the opportunity to go on a national level and talk about books in Spanish, and its happening in my 70s Im never going to retire. Its too late for me. Im at the point of no return.

Indeed, Martinezs innovations have not ceased: along with one of his daughters, he is a partner in the Hudson Group, North Americas largest airport newsstand retailer. The opportunity came, let me see, going on 14 years now, he says. They currently operate 777 bookstores by his count, a number he whips out with startling specificity. That books belong in everyday spaces  the barbershop, the airport  feels like common sense, but Martinez continues to impart his particular flair for doing business with integrity.

In airports, what we sell is mostly bestsellers. But I recommend to them, We should have books by authors that live in the city. Honor them!  he says, practically leaping up from the couch, his voice suddenly a roar. Throughout our conversation, Martinez often paused to press various titles from his own shelves into my hands, including a copy of National Geographic that he had saved from April 1940  his birth year. Even now, even in his home, a natural bookseller.

Martinez showed me countless honors  an estimated third of what hes actually received  displayed in his office. What does it feel like, I ask him, to receive the Innovator Award? Innovator is a biiiiig word, OK? In  no  va tor, he says, parsing out the syllables and sweeping his hand through the air, as if he were reading them in neon lights. Like youre building highways, he says, and I am reminded of his perfect metaphor. El puente  the bridge  he called books, but they are bridges to more than just wisdom. In the right hands, books are bridges between generations, between cultures, to one another, to better lives. To meet Martinez is to be reminded of that; hes someone for whom the astonishing power of books  that they can contain almost everything, the history of man and the futures that we can only imagine for ourselves  has never diminished.

It was fun, he says of the Libreria Martinez days, working long and hard and satisfied to create the first barbershop-bookstore this world had ever seen. I knew I wasnt going to get rich. Not here, he says, tapping his pants pocket. Here, yes, he says, and draws a circle over his heart.

agatha.french@latimes.com

@agathafrenchy
Thanks to the dont-blink-or-youll-miss-it nature of President Trumps first months in the White House, more people are turning to cable news in the morning than ever before. Thats good news for MSNBCs daily political salon Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist  where opinion leaders and White House officials have long tuned in to see the days agenda being set.

During the presidential campaign, Trump often called into the program, as he has known Scarborough and Brzezinski personally for years. (They still call him Donald.) The co-hosts had higher hopes than many pundits for Trumps presidency, and they are still cheering for his success. But the presidents early missteps  such as his unproven claim of having been wiretapped by President Obama  have troubled them. Scarborough and Brzezinski recently talked about their fraught relationship with the commander-in-chief over Cheerios served at NBCs Rockefeller Center headquarters during a break from their show.

Morning Joe is hot right now. Whats it like to have your best ratings ever?

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Joe Scarborough: Its surreal. Were coming up on 10 years, as Mika points out, we cant think of any co-anchors who have been together for a decade. Then add Willie Geist  three people, together every day for a decade. Thats great.

The show has always appeared to be very personal. You dont see any fingerprints of management or market research on it. How are you able to keep that kind of control?

Mika Brzezinski: Upstairs, they know were going to do what were going to do. They know that because weve established it from day one that we are going to be who we are. Were going to rip up the script if you give us something to read that is not real.

Does the fact that President Trump watches your show and often reacts in real time affect the way you do this job?

Scarborough: (Laughs) Weve called him everything on the air.

When [Donald Trump] tweeted about Obama it was just completely over. There was no turning back from being highly critical.  Mika Brzezinski

Brzezinski: It did affect me for a temporary amount of time and that was when he won. I said to myself Im going to give him a chance. Im going to hold back. Im going to calm down. This is a shame, but it happened. And I waited even was hoping the right people would surround him and Ivanka on womens issues. I even spoke to a global CEO and actually helped bring her in to talk to the president. I held back from running my mouth on everything just to see what would happen. When he tweeted about Obama it was just completely over. There was no turning back from being highly critical.

But do you have to be careful about what youre saying because the president may run with it on Twitter or at a press conference?

Scarborough: No. The only time weve played to TV was [Trump] being petulant during the campaign and calling Mika neurotic and accusing us of having an affair and saying I was a loser for supporting Jeb Bush and John Kasich, and he did a series of tweets that said Low rated Morning Joe, I never watch, da, da, da, da, da. And wed always turned to the [camera] and said Hi Donald. He admitted after the election that he would always laugh whenever we did that.

Brzezinski: He will never stop watching.

Scarborough: But I will say again there were a spate of articles over the summer and fall about our relationship with Donald that always missed the point  Is that a huge responsibility for you that the president is watching your show? Well, I dont know if Barack Obama watched our show, but I know that everybody in the administration did. Barack Obama is actually a grown-up, unlike Donald Trump, so they didnt tweet things out after watching.

Has the nature of his presidency changed the way you prepare for the show? It used to be that you went to bed having a pretty good idea of what you were going to talk about the next day. But now you have someone in the White House who is able to change the course of the conversation with a tweet in the middle of the night.

Scarborough: We have to actually have to stop and look at what happened during the day and say how are we going to put this into context? We never had to do that before. Wed come on the set. Wed look at whats in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, what wed seen in our breaking news and our Twitter feeds over the past day, and we would go. Were actually sitting and talking more during the day, which we didnt usually do because we didnt want it to get in the way of the spontaneity.

Brzezinski: Over the past 10 years, the show really has been a mix of my weird emotional gut with Joes basic very accurate knowledge of history of whats going to happen. Part of what he does is say, Heres what theyre doing. Let me just tell you how this is going to end. I will say about 10 or 20 days into the Trump administration, Joe looked a little different. I was like, Whats wrong? Omigod, you dont know whats going to happen. He was disturbed. He was sort of off.

Scarborough: When Trump questioned a federal judges legitimacy, alarm bells really started ringing. Then when he called the media the enemy of the people, at that point I stopped being able to answer that question Is everything going to be OK? Two or three weeks later Im feeling a little bit better. The checks and balances have worked.Today, for the first time, I was asking myself: Am I experiencing burnout from all of this coming at us and having to talk about it for three hours? Do I need to take a couple of days off, clear my head, stop reading the Twitter feed and watch Homeland or Billions or something?

When was the last time you talked with President Trump?

Scarborough: I went to the White House before his speech to Congress and spent a half hour with him.

Brzezinski: He doesnt talk to me at all.

Scarborough: He takes Mikas insults far more personally than mine. Im not exactly sure why. Maybe because shes a Brzezinski and he respects her dad [former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski].

Do you think he takes it more personally when criticism comes from a woman?

Brzezinski: I think so. He just wont even engage. Joe will punch him in the face and hell come back for more.

Do you have an over-under in your head on how long Trump will last in the office?

Brzezinski: I think thats a real question.

Scarborough: Among my older son and his friends and I, I put the over-under at 18 months. I bet the over; my son took the under. There have been times Ive asked Joey, Hey can we switch? I want to do the under. I will tell you everybody I know and respect in Washington  Republicans who worked for George W. Bush, Democrats who worked for Barack Obama  everybody says the same thing: This is not sustainable.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
The man who was dragged off a United Airlines flight suffered a broken nose and concussion and lost two front teeth, according to lawyers who are preparing a lawsuit against the Chicago carrier.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, was discharged from a hospital Wednesday night but still will undergo reconstructive surgery to repair the injuries he received after being yanked from a plane that was scheduled to fly from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., on Sunday night.



For the record: In an earlier version of this article, United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz was incorrectly quoted as saying: No one should ever be mistreated this way.

Daos attorney, Tom Demetrio, blamed a culture of disrespect and rudeness at United, adding that Dao escaped Vietnam by boat in 1975. Sundays experience was more horrifying than leaving Vietnam, he said.

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Daos daughter said her father and her four siblings are shaken by the incident and were completely horrified and shocked by the video.

What happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being under any circumstance, Crystal Dao Pepper said.

United Airlines issued yet another apology Thursday in response to the comments by Demetrio and Daos daughter. The company also vowed to review its policies and employee training to avoid such an ugly scene in the future.

This horrible situation has provided a harsh learning experience from which we will take immediate, concrete action, the airline said. We have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again.

Worldwide furor was sparked by video and photos, captured on other passengers cellphones, of airport police dragging a limp Dao off the crowded plane to make room for company personnel.

The outcry put pressure on United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz to apologize more than once. He appeared on television Wednesday after issuing statements on the incident Monday and Tuesday.

 This video posted on social media shows Dr. David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines flight from Chicagos OHare International Airport to Louisville, Ky., on April 9, 2017. (Jayse D. Anspach)

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 said. No one should be treated that way.

Demetrio, a prominent personal injury lawyer, filed a petition Wednesday for a court order to preserve evidence of the incident. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Monday morning.

The flight was fully booked, but United sought to clear out four seats to make room for four United employees who needed to be in Louisville the next day. After asking for volunteers and offering up to $800 and a hotel stay, United picked four passengers to be removed. Dao was among those picked, but he refused to leave.

Dao and his wife were returning from a vacation in California and had boarded the connecting flight to head home to Elizabethtown, Ky.

Demetrio described Dao as being respectful during the incident. He was not a trouble passenger, not a nut job, the attorney said. He just wanted to go home.

The three airport police officers have been put on administrative leave as the city reviews the incident.

The attorney also said neither he nor Daos family have received a direct apology from Munoz  contradicting the airline chief, who said he reached out to the family to offer his apology.

Demetrio declined to discuss what kind of damages Dao might seek in a lawsuit, saying he doesnt know the extent of the physical, emotional or psychological damage the man suffered. But, he said, the airline did not have the right to use unnecessary force and violence to remove a passenger who is not a threat.

Common carriers have the highest duty of care to provide protection and safety to its fare-paying passengers, he said, adding that the Chicago airport police who dragged Dao from the plane share in responsibility for the incident.

The lawyer also spoke out against airlines that overbook flights, as well as a culture of disrespect and bullying. Dao is going to stand up for passengers going forward, he said.

Demetrio had a hand in winning several large settlements over the years, including a $1-billion class action settlement of concussion litigation against the NFL and NHL and a $75-million award for 10 victims of a 2002 scaffold collapse at a Chicago high-rise that killed three and injured seven.

The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

Twitter: @hugomartin

ALSO

United fiasco shows airlines power over passengers  and how it might change

Get off or pay for another seat. United customers share their bad experiences

Column: That time passengers were told to give up their seats for Uniteds CEO and his family

UPDATES:

3:25 p.m.: This article was updated with background about attorney Tom Demetrio.

1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new comments from United.

12:40 p.m.: This article was updated to include a response from United Airlines.

11 a.m.: This article was updated to indicate that Dao and his wife were traveling home from a vacation in California.

9:30 a.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Daos attorney and Daos daughter, as well as additional background information.

9 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times staff reporting.

8:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from Daos attorney and previous statements from Oscar Munoz.

9:16 a.m.: This article was updated to include more details from Thursdays press conference.

This article was originally published at 8 a.m.
Over the course of eight months, a lethal bacteria infected 10 already critically ill infants in UC Irvine Medical Centers neonatal intensive care unit  an outbreak that the public is only finding out about now.

None of the infants have died, hospital officials said.

Yet UCI doctors have not found the source of the infections  which continued even after 220 employees used antiseptic soap and ointment to eliminate bacteria on their skin and in their noses.

Orange County health officials have known about the continuing hospital-acquired infections since the middle of December, when lab tests confirmed that five infants had been infected by the same strain of a superbug.

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That month, two more babies were sickened. Another tested positive in late February, and two more in March.

County officials said they did not notify the public about the outbreak because they had no evidence that infants being treated at UCIs neonatal unit were at higher risk than infants admitted elsewhere.

UCI officials say they did not believe it was necessary to notify families preparing to have labor and deliveries at the hospital of the ongoing outbreak. They said they had isolated the infected patients in one of the hospitals two intensive care units for infants. New patients are now only accepted into the other unit, they said.

The 10 babies tested positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The superbug is especially dangerous for premature infants. One study found that 26% of infants infected with MRSA while in the ICU died.

The last positive test for MRSA in one of the newborns at UCI was on March 26, according to hospital officials. That baby has since tested negative and none of the infants have active infections, the hospital said.

Hospital officials confirmed the outbreak after questions from The Times. The newspaper learned of the outbreak from Marian Hollingsworth, who filed a complaint about it with the state.

Hollingsworth, who sits on a state advisory committee on hospital-acquired infections, said it appeared UCI and government health officials were trying to quietly handle the outbreak internally.

She learned of the outbreak, she said, from a friend who works in the UCI hospital complex.

Hollingsworth said she believes the hospital should have informed pregnant women being admitted to deliver their infants.

You never know if your baby will end up in the NICU, Hollingswroth said, using the shorthand term for the neonatal intensive care unit. I would have wanted to know.

UCI officials say they have worked aggressively to try to prevent more infections, using measures that meet or exceed best industry practices.

Our rapid response came the minute we saw the strains were the same, said Susan Huang, UCIs medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention.

Huang said that since last month, UCI has been disclosing the outbreak in a letter to parents of all infants in intensive care.

Before that time, she said, staff had been instructed to disclose the MRSA infections to parents as their babies were being tested or treated for the infections.

Huang said the hospital has not been testing patients in other areas of the medical center for the MRSA strain.

The UCI case is not an isolated one. For decades, hospitals have struggled to contain lethal pathogens from spreading in the intensive care units treating premature babies.

The fragile patients are especially vulnerable to infections because of their serious conditions, which often require catheters and ventilators to keep them alive. Their immune systems are still developing.

Besides being potentially deadly, the infections can harm the infants brain development and growth in early childhood.

The outbreaks are also costly. A 2010 study found that a MRSA infection extended the infants hospital stay by 40 days on average at an additional cost of $160,000.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not track the number of outbreaks or deaths from infections in the neonatal units.

Lisa McGiffert, who directs the safe patient project at Consumers Union, said some outbreaks have been uncovered by media reports or when doctors write about them in medical journals. The public does not learn about an untold number of others, she said.

In January, New Jersey health officials confirmed that an outbreak of MRSA had occurred in a neonatal unit of a Camden hospital after a nurse detailed the infections in a lawsuit. The nurse said in her lawsuit that she had been fired for reporting the hospitals mishandling of the outbreak.

A lot of these outbreaks disappear, McGiffert said.

Experts say the outbreaks can be prevented by proper infection control procedures, including some that can be costly to the hospitals bottom line. For example, studies have found that infection rates decrease when more nurses are available to care for the infants or when the unit is moved to a larger space.

In 2013, the CDC said it had written guidelines for hospitals in preventing outbreaks in the neonatal units. The agency said then it was preparing to publish the proposed guidelines in the Federal Register. But that did not happen.

The agency restarted the project last year and is now working on a new proposed guideline.

Martha Sharan, a CDC spokeswoman, said Thursday the proposed guidelines were not published in 2013 so that the agency could carefully evaluate new and relevant scientific articles on the subject.

In California, state officials who license hospitals are expected to quickly respond to complaints when patients may be in danger.

A state inspector did not visit the UCI Medical Center to investigate the outbreak until March 20, after Hollingsworths complaint.

UCI said it had sent a letter to the state describing the infants infections in early January.

By then, seven of the 10 infants had been sickened.

In a letter to Hollingsworth, state officials said that their investigation completed on April 3 found that the hospital had not broken any federal or state laws.

Hollingsworth questioned that finding. If UCI had done everything correctly, she said, there would not have been so many babies infected.

State officials said Thursday that they never received UCIs letter and that the hospital did not call to follow up.

John Murray, a UCI spokesman, said four employees also tested positive for being colonized with the same strain of MRSA in January. After the use of the antiseptic soap, those employees have now tested negative, he said.

The hospital is continuing to clean all equipment and surfaces throughout the unit, he said. Staff and family members must also wear gowns and gloves while visiting the babies and take other precautions such as placing cellphones in plastic bags.

Our goal is to ensure the safety of our patients and eradicate the presence of any drug-resistant bacteria in our neonatal intensive care unit, Murray said.

McGiffert at Consumers Union said the group believes that all outbreaks should be made public so patients can take precautions. The public disclosure would also cause hospitals to work harder to prevent infections, she said.

Patients have a right to know, she said.

melody.petersen@latimes.com

Follow @melodypetersen on Twitter
Austin Russell, now 22, was barely old enough to drive when he set out to create a safer navigation system for robot-controlled cars. His ambitions are about to be tested.

Five years ago, Russell co-founded Luminar Technologies, a Silicon Valley start-up trying to steer the rapidly expanding self-driving car industry in a new direction. Luminar kept its work closely guarded until Thursday, when it revealed the first details about a product Russell is touting as a far more powerful form of lidar, a key sensing technology used in autonomous vehicles designed by Google spinoff Waymo, Uber and major automakers.

Lidar systems work by bouncing laser beams off nearby objects and measuring the reflections to build up a detailed 3-D picture of the surrounding environment. The technology is similar to radar, which uses radio waves instead of laser beams.

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Russell says Luminars version, consisting of its own patented hardware and software, will provide 50 times the resolution and 10 times the range of current lidar systems. Those improvements, he said, will enable self-driving cars to be sold on the mass market more quickly.

Thiel backbone

During an interview in an empty warehouse on a San Francisco pier where Luminar has been testing its lidar, Russell wasnt shy about making big claims for its technology. When you see your vehicle is powered by Luminar, you will know you will be safer, he said. We need to get to the point where humans dont have to constantly babysit and take control of autonomous cars.

If Luminars lidar lives up to its promise, some of the worlds biggest technology and auto companies may have been upstaged by a precocious entrepreneur who says he memorized the periodic table of the elements when he was 2 years old. By the time he turned 11, Russell says, he was tinkering with supercomputers.

Like another technology prodigy  Facebook Inc. co-founder Mark Zuckerberg  Russell won the early support of PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who became a billionaire after investing $500,000 in Facebook during that companys infancy.

One of Luminars early investors is a venture capital firm backed by Thiel and EBay Inc. founder Pierre Omidyar. Russell dropped out of Stanford University after just three months when he won a Thiel fellowship, which pays students $100,000 to work on promising ideas instead of pursuing a degree.

Cost or safety?

Also like Zuckerberg, Russell is chief executive of his company. Most of Luminars roughly 150 employees are older than he is, including his former mentor in photonics, 45-year-old Jason Eichenholz, now the companys chief technology officer. Russells father, a former commercial real estate specialist, is the chief financial officer.

Now Russell will have to prove he has indeed invented something revolutionary.

Although lidar is a key component in self-driving clears, some believe Luminar may be working on the wrong problem. The big issue for lidar systems these days is cost, not safety, said Alex Lidow, chief executive of Efficient Power Conversion, which supplies chips for lidar. The systems cost thousands of dollars apiece.

You dont need the resolution that would allow a car to stop before a bug hits its windshield, Lidow said. The question comes down to: What is the exact right amount of information for the car to make exactly the right decision all the time?

Luminar plans to be manufacturing 10,000 lidar units at a 50,000-square-foot plant in Orlando, Fla., this year. Russell wouldnt disclose what theyll cost. About 100 of the lidar systems are to be tested by four makers of autonomous cars, which Luminar wouldnt identify. The partners include technology companies and automakers, Russell said.

The lidar landscape

Luminar will be competing against other lidar suppliers such as Velodyne LiDAR Inc. and Quanergy Systems Inc., which have each raised $150 million so far. Velodynes backers include Ford Motor Co., which invested $75 million last summer.

By comparison, Luminar has raised $36 million, some of which has been used to set up its headquarters on a former Silicon Valley ranch that used to be home for a collection of vintage military tanks.

Waymo, a company owned by Alphabet Inc. and spun off from Googles early work on self-driving cars, also looms as an imposing competitor. It hopes to sell its technology, which includes a lidar system, to automakers.

One sign of lidars importance: Waymo has accused Uber of stealing its technology in a high-profile legal battle. Uber has denied the allegations, contending it is designing its own superior lidar system.

Read more: Uber says it didnt use secrets smuggled from Waymo 

Waymos lidar has a solid track record so far. Its self-driving cars have logged more than 2 million miles in autonomous mode on city streets without being involved in a major traffic accident. Most of the roughly three dozen accidents that Google had reported through last year were fender benders.

Russell isnt impressed. Its very easy to build an autonomous vehicle that is safe 99% of the time, he said. Its that other 1% thats the tricky part.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the latest developments in Syria by phone on Thursday, according to the Turkish presidency, Anadolu reported.

During the conversation, the two leaders highlighted the importance of joint efforts by Ankara and Moscow to continue the work of the Geneva and Astana peace talks.

The Idlib chemical attack on April 4 which killed more than 100 civilians and injured around 500 other people topped Thursdays discussion, a presidency source added.

Both leaders agreed to work together to sustain the Syria ceasefire in general and backed an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the Idlib incident.

Putin and Erdogan also agreed that the normalization of ties between their two countries should be accelerated.
Fifty years ago, Los Angeles welcomed the Ahmanson Theatre and the Mark Taper Forum with a weeklong celebration marking the newest addition to the citys cultural center. Designed by Los Angeles architect Welton Becket, the Ahmanson and Taper joined the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to complete the Music Center, the West Coasts answer to New Yorks Lincoln Center.

Gordon Davidson was the artistic director of the Taper, a position he would hold for nearly four decades. The Taper opened April 14, 1967, with Davidsons staging of John Whitings provocative play The Devils, starring Frank Langella. Under Davidsons leadership, the Taper would go on to produce and present groundbreaking theater, including the world premiere of Lanford Wilsons Burn This starring John Malkovich and Joan Allen, Tony Kushners Angels in America and August Wilsons final play, Gem of the Ocean.

Opening night at the Taper featured a star-studded gala attended by Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Cesar Romero, Alfred Hitchcock, Paul Newman and Joann Woodward, Charlton Heston, Ray Bradbury, Glenn Ford, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan (who walked out during The Devils, reportedly over the sexual content of the production), Dorothy and Otis Chandler, and theater namesake Mark Taper with his family.

A few days later, the Ahmanson opened with another starry gala, attended by Rosalind Russell, Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Art Linkletter and financier Howard Ahmanson. Guests were treated to a performance of the Los Angeles Civic Light Operas production of The Man of La Mancha, starring Richard Kiley, which played before the Ahmansons official premiere season launched in September with Eugene ONeills More Stately Mansions, starring Ingrid Bergman, Arthur Hill and Colleen Dewhurst.

If you want a master class in world theater, spend five seasons seeing shows at the Center Theatre Group, and youll see the best artists that are working in their time, artistic director Michael Ritchie says.

Without a doubt, the Ahmanson and Taper have introduced, nurtured and hosted some of the finest actors and actresses, directors and playwrights in the world. We reached out to a few of them by phone and email, asking them to share their favorite memories, which have been condensed and edited for space.

Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit at the Ahmanson Theatre on Dec. 09, 2014. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Angela Lansbury, actress

A Little Family Business (1982-83 season), Blithe Spirit (2014-15)

One of the things firmly entrenched in my memory is that it took me an hour and a half to get down to the Music Center from my house in Brentwood for every performance. And that was a pain in the ass, if ever there was one. I mean, I came back in a half hour, but going, it took me an hour and a half in packed traffic. You cant read because it makes me feel a little bit sick, reading in the car, so I would simply ooh and ahh at the traffic and hope that wed make it in time.

But once you get to the theater, its extraordinary. A calm descends over you. Your dresser meets you at the door. You go in your dressing room. Your makeup is there. Your costumes are hanging up there. Your whole world is in front of you, ready for you to walk in and take on this role that youre going to play. Its extraordinary.

It all has to do with the energy to do the job at hand. The excitement that one feels when youre going to play an important role and that youre expected to entertain an audience youve never seen or spoken with or had any dealings with before. Suddenly you get out there on the stage. The curtain goes up, and youre on. Then you do what you know how to do. That is how one is able to bring off a performance on a day when youve come through a lot of traffic and it takes you an hour and a half to get there. Life takes care of itself.

Director David Henry Hwang. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

David Henry Hwang, writer

Aida (2001-02), Flower Drum Song (2001-02), Yellow Face, (2006-07), Soft Power (2017-18)

In 2001 we were rehearsing for the world premiere of my revised version of Rodgers & Hammersteins Flower Drum Song, which was receiving its world premiere at the Taper. Things were going well, so I decided to go to New York for a few days and see my family.

I left L.A. on Sept. 6, intending to return on the 13th. So I was home in Manhattan on Sept. 11. I was very fortunate to be with my wife and children when the towers fell, but couldnt get a flight back to Los Angeles until the following week. Much of the cast and creative team was New York-based, so we all mourned together along with the rest of the nation.

On Oct. 14, our opening night gifts were red, white and blue ribbons, personalized with the name of our show.

Matthew Broderick and Penelope Ann Miller in the world premiere of Neil Simons Biloxi Blues at the Ahmanson on Dec. 8, 1984. (Center Theatre Group) (Center Theatre Group)

Matthew Broderick, actor

Brighton Beach Memoirs (1982-83), Biloxi Blues (1984-85)

Places are always colored by the experience you have in them. I had a wonderful time there because it was my very first lead in a play, Brighton Beach Memoirs, a Neil Simon play.

Charlton Heston came backstage when I did Biloxi Blues. He said, Oh I had this dressing room. I think he had done A Man for All Seasons there. He said, Do you have a fridge? And I said, No. And he said, Oh, you should have a little fridge. I had a little fridge. Make sure they get you a fridge. And when he was leaving, he said it again, Get that fridge. It was very important to him.

When I did Biloxi Blues, I remember throwing up in the wings. I ate Mexican food nearby after a matinee, and at the evening show I started to not feel well. Between Act 1 and Act 2, I really didnt feel well, but they said, Youll be all right. I went on for Act 2, and I made it as long as I could. Where the sergeant was staring me in the face, challenging me to do something, and I just ran away. I ran into the wings and threw up, mostly in a large trashcan, stage right, just past where the audience could see.

People put another shirt on me. As I was coming to, I remember hearing the actors on stage improvising. They were just talking about nothing. It was men in a barracks saying, Wow, the sergeant sure seems mad. I wonder what will happen now. I guess thats part of my experience at the theater  I marked it. After I threw up, I felt better, and I went back on. Everybody was very concerned. I forgot about a third of my lines after that, but everybody helped me out. I dont think the audience knew; they probably thought the character was running off, being upset or something.

Phylicia Rashad, director of August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom, is photographed at the Mark Taper Forum on Aug. 25, 2016. (Jay L. Clenenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clenenin / Los Angeles Times)

Phylicia Rashad, actress and director

Gem of the Ocean (2002-03), A Raisin in the Sun (2012), Joe Turners Come and Gone (2013), Immediate Family (2015), Ma Raineys Black Bottom (2016), Head of Passes (2017)

In a production, depending on whats going on, you need certain things. For Ma Raineys Black Bottom, one thing that became clear to me was that it was important that the actors play the instruments in the play. That meant something, because theyre not musicians. Theres one who was a musician, Damon Gupton. He is actually a conductor of concert orchestras all over the world. The other actors were musical  like Keith David has performed in many musicals, but he never played the bass in his life. Glynn Turman has a piano that he said was in his house for 22 years that he never touched. Jason Dirden studied trumpet as a little boy, but he hadnt been playing the trumpet. So we had to prepare for this, and how you prepare for this is to say, OK, well youve got to find instructors for each of these instruments, for each of these actors.

The staff and administration never said no. This is what needs to happen; this is how many times a week this needs to happen. OK. We had planned for training to be longer than it was but because of the schedules of the actors, it didnt amount to more than about three weeks, maybe, before rehearsals. Im telling you, it was very tight. But the theater staff never said no.

Bengal Tiger at the Bagdad Zoo playwright Rajiv Joseph at the Founders Room at the Ahmanson Theater on April 5, 2010. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Rajiv Joseph, writer

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (2008-09 and 2010) and Archduke (2017)

I first came here in 2009, when we were doing Bengal Tiger at the Kirk Douglas. When I look back on that time in my life, it was really intense because it was my first really big production. Up until then, all my productions had been in tiny theaters in New York with 99 seats; here I had this 300-plus-seat theater, this major regional theater, and it was this play that I had been working on for so long.

They were housing me in Marina del Rey in the Oakwood Apartments.

I would go swimming every morning and go to rehearsal, and then I would write intensely until late in the night and then pass out. It was this really creative experience, but I was also stressed out. I was nervous that the play wouldnt be well received.

I had been there maybe six or seven weeks, and I had three friends who were coming in to see a preview. They were staying with me, all crowded into this little apartment. I knew that they would want to go to the beach, so I went to the front desk of the Oakwood and said, Hey, how do you get to the beach? And the guy was like, Um, its like right there. You can see it from here. Its like 40 feet away. Youve been here six weeks but youre asking me how to get to the beach? I had been so intensely in my work that I didnt even know that was here.

That theater is such a special place, not only because its such a great theater, but that it was an old movie theater is really special. I remember seeing the name of my play up in lights like that. Even though it was live theater, it felt really Hollywood and apropos to have my first big play in a former movie theater in L.A.

Anna Deavere Smith in San Francisco on July 16, 2015. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Anna Deavere Smith, writer, actress and director

Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (1992-93), House Arrest: An Introgression (1998-99)

While I was writing Twilight Los Angeles 1992, my play about the L.A. riots, the Taper hired a variety of consultants, each representing a different ethnic group and perspective about the riot. Their jobs entailed introducing me to folks all over L.A.

After performing each preview, I went home and revised the play. Before doing so, I met with the consultants and the creative team. The city was still on edge, and so were these dramaturges, as we called them. We should have sold tickets to those discussions. All over town people were anxious that there might be another riot, depending on the outcome of the second trial  the federal trial of the four police officers who beat Rodney King.

Hector Tobar, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist [formerly with The Times], was among those consultants. On the morning of the second verdict, I got an urgent call from Hector, who was down at the courthouse with gas masks in his car, including one for me. I went inside the courtroom to hear the verdict, sans gas mask.

It amazed me throughout the project that the Taper opened its door to all kinds of talent and perspectives from the communities around the city. As a result of that, throughout the project I felt an enormous generosity coming from the citizens of Los Angeles, in all kinds of ways, who wanted me to know their story and their city. The Tapers radical hospitality at that moment made it possible.

Chris Pine, right, is Padraic and Zoe Perry is Mairead in The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Pine, actor

The Lieutenant of Inishmore (2010)

Working in Los Angeles at the Taper was a joy. It was just down the road from where I was living at the time in Silver Lake, and I was working for Michael Ritchie, who ran the Williamstown Theatre Festival the first summer I was there. My mom was a part of the Tapers brief repertoire company in the late 60s, so there was a special resonance there on the stage.

During Act 2, I end up all the way down stage, nearly in the audience, holding my dear ol dead cat, crying my eyes out. Im there for a while. One night, most likely a matinee, actually (it seems to always be the matinees when something interesting happens), two older ladies right in front of me are yelling to each other about how disgusting the show was (there was a copious amount of fake blood on the gimbaled stage, which was built especially for the purposes of draining it) and wondering why anyone would put on this play or why anyone would want to see it. As theyre yelling, they step over me on their way out. Not exactly proper theater etiquette, but I loved it just the same. It meant we were doing something right.

I loved doing that play and, especially given how provocative a piece it was, every single performance pulled something unique and different from the audience.

Playwright Martin Sherman, left, and director Moises Kaufman, of the play Bent, on stage in the Mark Taper Forum theater. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Moises Kaufman, writer and director

Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (1997-98), The Tallest Tree in the Forest (2014), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (2008-09, 2010), 33 Variations (2011), Bent (2015)

We opened Gross Indecency at the Barrow Street Theater in New York in 1997 to a 99-member audience. Up to that point, Tectonic Theater Project had been an ambitious young experimental company few people in the New York downtown theater scene knew about. But when Gross Indecency succeeded, our world changed. And the first person to invite us to do our work at a regional theater was Gordon Davidson. We were a 7-year-old company, and working at the Mark Taper Forum was a dream come true. But then, CTG really ruined us in a lot of ways: Never before had we been immersed in an environment that welcomed and nurtured artists with such love and support. From the artistic director to every member of the administration and the crew, the entire CTG family took care of us. They supported our vision and never failed to lift us up.

Then Michael Ritchie took over and brought the entire organization to new heights. I went on to direct three more productions at CTG under his artistic direction  and whether I was developing a new play or re-imagining a pre-existing one, the theater has remained one of my favorite places in the world to do the work.

At CTG I helped welcome Jane Fonda back to her hometown stage (33 Variations), I watched Sidney Poitier gush to Daniel Beaty about his portrayal of Paul Robeson (The Tallest Tree in the Forest), and I celebrated with Rajiv Joseph as Bengal Tiger was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. CTG is a cherished home for me, and one of the best artistic assets of our country. I am so proud and delighted to celebrate 50 years of CTG. Heres to 50 more.

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Theres a train car in Jonathan Barlow Lees future. It is roughly 30 feet long, made of gleaming black steel and weighs four tons. The image of the locomotive, suspended from chains and swinging from the rafters above the Mark Taper Forum stage, both excites him and haunts him. The train car will be the primary set piece in the second act of Archduke, the Rajiv Joseph play beginning previews later this month  and it is Lees job to steer the custom-built vehicle through a narrow, curved load-in area and onto the stage.

Its a deceptively complicated maneuver  the train car will have to be taken apart to fit through the Tapers load-in doorway  but for Lee, the long-running production manager here, the task is just another day at the office.

Its just what I do, Lee says. This has always been a building that has been stretched beyond any of its initial capabilities. Weve tried to create a space here that is limited only by the imaginations of the people that are doing their art.

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Lee has worked at the Taper for almost 40 years, starting as a freelance stage manager in 1977 before joining the staff full time as production manager almost 30 years ago. Hes responsible for a mind-boggling thicket of backstage intricacies prior to each production: overseeing the heads of the carpentry, props, audiovisual and lighting departments; steering set load-ins and breakdowns; building show budgets; even managing the minutiae of, say, a light bulb popping. Hes a forward-thinking troubleshooter of the highest order, a fixer-on-the-fly when any number of scenarios inevitably go wrong in live theater.

Settling into his favorite spot in the auditorium  a slender ledge behind the last row of seats, house left  Lee alludes to a trove of Taper anecdotes. And today, he is spilling. In blue jeans and a roomy Caltech sweatshirt (his sons alma mater) and with thick, silvery hair, an easy smile and feet propped on the chair armrest in front of him, Lee appears more an amiable suburban dad rather than the central cog in a quick-spinning wheel. But Lees institutional knowledge of, and affection for, the theater  both the art of performance and the physical Mark Taper Forum  is clearly apparent.

I love the idea that tomorrow is gonna be the best show ever, he says. Because every night, every experience, is unique. Theres an alchemy that goes on between performers and the audience. Its a kind of magic.

One of the Tapers first production snags, he recalls, unfolded shortly after the theater was built in 1967. The building featured a conveyor belt backstage for transferring scenery  considered an experimental technology at the time.

It was a wooden conveyor belt  kind of new at the time, and they thought would be wonderful, says Lee, who saw it in operation during Paul Sills 1970 Story Theatre, a production of fairy tales. The idea was that you would push a button and the scenery would magically drift out on stage. The problem was, it was incredibly loud. It sounded like a freight train crashing into another freight train. So it never really worked.

Lee was a stage manager on playwright Luis Valdezs groundbreaking Zoot Suit production debuting at the Taper in 1978  the first Latino play to go mainstream, moving on to Broadway in 1979. The shows massive success here, he says, became a profound moment for the city and the theater community.

We didnt realize what we had. But it blew the roof off the place. When Edward James Olmos came out and just took the stage, it was like he was taking this neighborhood back, Lee says, adding that it was a phenomenal experience to see a Latino actor symbolically reclaim what once had been a Latino area.

Lee was a self-described theater kid at UCLA who came from a theatrical family. His father, Robert E. Lee, co-wrote the 1955 play Inherit the Wind, and his mother, Janet Waldo, was the voice of the cartoon Judy Jetson. His first encounter with the Taper was during a junior high school tour of the Music Center Annex, across the street from the Taper, where rehearsals are held.

I remember peering into one of the rehearsal rooms where the stage manager sat and thinking: Id like to do that, Lee says.

He took a crack at directing during the 1981 international tour of Children of a Lesser God, which had debuted at the Taper in 1979; and he directed a Deaf West revival of the play in 2009. But I prefer the hands-on aspects of production management and stage management, he says.

Recounting epic challenges and production fails, Lees face brightens with each memory, his blue eyes widening and hands gesturing animatedly. Like Ariel Dorfmans 1991 play, Widows, for which foam mannequins built to resemble dead bodies washing up on shore at first floated too much, then sank when water-logged. (The approach eventually was abandoned.) Or the Mary Zimmerman-directed production of Metamorphoses, in 2000, which he describes as a leaky swimming pool play.

Whenever we have water on the stage, its always a big deal, Lee says. For Metamorphoses, we loaded everything in, we had the first evening of tech and discovered our swimming pool leaked. We had to pump the water out and refill it in a day. Also in that show, the actors were cold. They were wet. So we had to create warming huts for them. All the backstage support was incredibly complex for that.

In a climactic moment during Moises Kaufmans 2015 revival of Bent, when a Nazi prison guard is supposed to shoot concentration camp prisoner Horst (Charlie Hofheimer), a gun jammed and an SS officer (Hugo Armstrong) had to improvise by strangling the character instead.

Even Mark Taper Forum trivia is fresh in Lees mind: 736 seats, 16 stalls in the ladies room, wall panels made of zebra wood, ceiling panels made of adjustable fiberglass. His affection for the building is so great that the day a $30-million renovation began in 2007, he got stressed out watching the infrastructure crumble and his back went out. He was in bed for two weeks, unable to move.

Its a building that is central to me, its part of my identity, he says. I felt psychically linked to the building, so watching them bust it up and cut it apart, it was very stressful for me.

When, finally, Lee returned two weeks later, he had come to terms with the buildings dismantling and could only see possibilities. The worst of it was done. All I could see was improvements, he says.

The new Taper, largely due to his influence, he says, now boasts a wider load-in door and a roomier wing area. Not to mention  at Lees insistence  a drain under the stage.

The production challenges that undoubtedly lay ahead only energize Lee.

Im excited about Archduke, about what were gonna have to do with the train. We have another show coming up  Head of Passes  which involves a reservoir of water that the set has to sink into. Those kinds of challenges are the ones that I love.

He slides back against his ledge, surveying the auditorium.

That train, he says, eyes gleaming. Im nervous about it, Im excited, I just wanna see it work.

Production manager Jonathan Barlow Lee in the lobby of the Mark Taper Forum. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin

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Caitlyn Jenner memoirs version of life with Kris Jenner creates a new rift in the family

(Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

As Caitlyn Jenners just-published memoir The Secrets of My Life pulls back the curtain on her gender transition and her life among the Kardashians, not everybody is taking it well.

Especially not Kris Jenner.

Details about the Olympian-turned-reality-stars decision to transition in 2015 from Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Jenner and confirmation that she had her final gender reassignment surgery are all in the book, but some dishy material about the Kardashian matriarch is reverberating with fans and upsetting the reigning first family of reality TV.

The memoir, co-written by Buzz Bissinger, who penned the Vanity Fair article that introduced Caitlyn Jenner to the masses, has some kind words for the momager, including admiration for Kris connections, her business acumen and her ability to perfectly apply lip liner without a mirror.

However, Caitlyn also said in the book that she told Kris about her gender issues before they got married and said Kris knew that for 4 years before they met, Caitlyn had been on hormones. Additionally, Caitlyn wrote that she told Kris about her gender problems before they would make love.

I told her there had been a woman inside me all my life, she wrote.

The couple announced their split in 2013 and finalized their divorce in 2014. During their decades-long union, Caitlyn cross-dressed in front of her ex but was asked by Kris to do it only while traveling, so that their children wouldnt get wind of it. It was something Caitlyn grew to resent, she said, and she would steal her wifes gowns and purses to wear while traveling. (Their differing takes on their marital woes have been a topic of discussion for years.)

In a recent episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kris fumed with anger about passages in The Secrets of My Life that claimed she knew Caitlyn was transgender before they wed.

None of it makes sense,Kris said to daughters Khloe and Kim Kardashian. I read it and basically the only nice thing she had to say was that I was great socially at a party one time. ... Everything she says is all made up. Why does everything have to be that Kris is such a bitch?

She added: Ive never been so angry and disappointed in somebody in my whole life.

In response, the Olympic gold medalist said on Good Morning America that the book is extraordinarily honest.

It is my perspective, and obviously when you do a book like that, there are different opinions. I have a lot of friends that know the truth and know what Ive been through and know the whole situation, Caitlyn said.

She told Andy Cohen that in the wake of publishing, Kris said she didnt want to talk to Caitlyn ever again. (Caitlyn also elaborated on her claims that she was a punching bag on the show and a revelation that Kris had been in charge of her finances.)

Honestly, I never had a low point [while doing the show], actually, until the other day when Kris said some of that stuff. It was the first time I was really upset, she said. I had some of the best conversations with my children on that show. ... It forces you to deal with issues. ... It forces you to sit down with your kids and deal with a lot of things.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenners second-born child with the late Robert Kardashian, shared her thoughts on the feud on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in an episode that aired Thursday.

My heart breaks for my mom, you know, because I feel like shes been through so much and [Caitlyn is] promoting this book and shes saying all these things, Kardashian said. I just dont think its necessary and I just feel like its unfair. Things arent truthful.

Kardashian said Caitlyn was dishonest with certain things about Kris in the book.

I feel like its taken [Caitlyn] a really long time to be honest with herself, so I dont expect her to be honest about my mom now. But its just so hurtful, she said. I wish her all the success in the world, but not at our expense.

Kardashian said she and husband Kanye West have been avid supporters of Caitlyn Jenners transition and wanted to remain respectful of her, but thought there was no need to bash the family. She said she was hurt by her stepfather, whos dad to her half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and hasnt spoken to Caitlyn in a few weeks.

Kendall and Kylie, thats their dad and I think my moms been so respectful for so long and always wanting Caitlyn around and always wanting to have a great relationship with Caitlyn, Kardashian said. But that doesnt appear to be the case for the rest of the Kardashian brood.

Ill always love her. That was my stepdad for so many years. She taught me about character and so much growing up and I just feel like I dont respect the character that shes showing now.

Kim Kardashians younger sister, Khloe Kardashian, is also taking it a little tough, Caitlyn said at a book signing, according to RadarOnline. Everyone on the Jenner side is fine. All this stuff tends to work itself out!

Someone call Ryan Murphy, because this needs to be turned into a Feud series, stat.

------------

FOR THE RECORD

April 27, 3:31 p.m.: An earlier version of this article said Bruce Jenner and Kris Jenner finalized their divorce in 2013. They divorced in 2014.

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Graduation, a film of gripping moral suspense from the Romanian writer-director Cristian Mungiu, opens with a rock being hurled through the window of a middle-aged doctor named Romeo (Adrian Titieni). It is the first of several attacks that take place over the course of the movie, including a second act of vandalism and an attempted sexual assault, though Mungiu declines to specify whether these crimes are the work of one perpetrator or many. His purpose here is not to identify the guilty (which would take a while), but rather to establish an atmosphere of ambiguous unease.

Bleak, naturalistic and flawlessly acted, Graduation distills the mood and moral decay of a place whose gray skies and nondescript housing blocks feel like permanent reminders of its dark history. Unlike Mungius 2007 masterpiece, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which unfolded in the final days of Nicolae Ceausescus Communist dictatorship, the new film is set in the present, but the past continues to cast a long shadow. A sense of desperation, mostly venal but sometimes violent, seems to hover in the very air these men and women breathe.

And while Romeo is a mild-mannered, outwardly respectable contributor to society, his own sins  far more than those committed against him and his family  are what seem to interest the movie most. I have this feeling someones following me, he says, and that someone might as well be the filmmaker himself, whose hyper-alert camera stays fixed on the good (and sometimes not-so-good) doctor as he navigates a labyrinth of personal and professional corruption.

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The drama is set in motion when his teenage daughter, Eliza (Maria Dragus), fends off a would-be rapist on her way to school one morning  a senseless attack that disturbs Romeo for reasons beyond the initial shock and lingering trauma. Eliza is about to take the final exams that could secure her a scholarship to Cambridge, and the attack comes as an ill-timed blow to her academic future, rattling her nerves, shattering her wrist and forcing her to wear a heavy cast that, the exam proctors worry, might be concealing a cheat sheet.

Their suspicions turn out to be thoroughly justified, not because Eliza is a cheater but because just about everyone else is. Over the course of two sharply plotted, grimly absorbing hours, Graduation becomes a steady accrual of petty vices, under-the-table exchanges and quiet betrayals. Some of these have been happening for a while, like Romeos affair with a single mother, Sandra (Malina Manovici)  a detail foreshadowed here by his chilly estrangement from his long-suffering wife, Magda (Lia Bugnar).

The love that Romeo and Magda might have once felt for one another  perhaps before they returned to Romania from exile in 1991, hoping for a better life post-Communism  has long since been displaced entirely onto their daughter, along with what remains of their hopes and dreams. That Eliza might escape this dreadful place is all that matters to Romeo, even if it means calling in favors with an old friend at the police station (Vlad Ivanov), a tight-lipped exam board official (Gelu Colceag) and an ailing politician (Petre Ciubotaru) who might benefit from his professional attention.

Romeo, like some of his conspirators, tries to reassure himself that these machinations are necessary, a last-minute deviation from an otherwise strict ethical code that he prides himself on upholding. But Graduation gives the lie to such self-serving reassurances. No less than 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which similarly used a compressed time frame to shed light on a condition of long-term malaise, this is a movie about the moral cost of survival  the negotiations and compromises that each character must continually make with others, and with his or her own conscience.

Mungiu, who shared the directing prize at last years Cannes Film Festival (with Olivier Assayas for Personal Shopper), is a master of concentration. Working for the first time with the cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru, the director invests his characters mundane conversations with a hushed, almost conspiratorial intensity. At its best, Mungius style achieves the clarity of the confessional: His characters may deflect and dissemble, but the camera, with its restless following movements and unblinking long takes, gives them no room to hide.

At times Titieni, with his fine-grained Everyman schlumpiness, brings to mind Olivier Gourmet, the great Belgian actor often cast in the restless, relentlessly compassionate films of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (who happen to be credited among Graduations co-producers). But Romeos failings are held in check, and to some extent corrected, by Eliza, a sensitive child who finds herself caught between obedience, disillusionment and her own desire for freedom  including the freedom to continue seeing her boyfriend, Marius (Rares Andrici), whom Romeo cant abide.

Art-house audiences may recall the gifted Dragus as one of the young children in The White Ribbon, Michael Hanekes 2009 portrait of a pre-World War I town in the grip of an eerily pervasive evil. There is something of Hanekes steely observation in Graduation, but there is also a warmer, more hopeful vision of humanity  a grace born of the films toughness and clarity of vision. Who threw that rock seems less important, finally, than the fact that someone has finally let the light in.

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Graduation

MPAA rating: R, for some language

Running time: 2 hours, 8 minutes

Playing: Laemmles Royal Theatre, Los Angeles

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justin.chang@latimes.com

@JustinCChang
Director Jenny Gage weaves a gorgeous, lyrical piece of nonfiction cinema out of intimate confessions and urban landscapes in the documentary All This Panic. The film is a tone poem, a watercolor portrait, a snapshot of youth following the lives of a group of teenage girls growing up in Brooklyn.

Aesthetically, the film looks and feels like a narrative indie movie, but the girls on screen are all too real, squabbling with their siblings, navigating the tricky transitions into sex, drugs and drinking, all while clawing out a personal identity for themselves.

In the high-stakes world of teenagers, the stakes are elevated when those teens have all of New York City at their feet. The girls seem impossibly young, and at times, impossibly wise beyond their years, wrestling with family issues, mental health, money, sexuality, death and hardest of all, life itself.

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Gage and cinematographer Tom Betterton were granted incredible access to the lives of these girls and respect that trust. They never shy away from the tough or unflattering moments, and capture many vulnerable and soul-bearing moments. The dreams and insecurities and struggles of these girls are specific, and so universal. All This Panic is a deeply felt tribute to youth but also to growing up; its a time capsule of a fleeting, fragile moment when angst is mixed with beauty and everything seems ripe with potential.

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All This Panic

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 19 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinelounge Las Palmas, Hollywood; Arena Cinelounge, Santa Monica

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calendar@latimes.com
On Tuesday night, Manchester-based e-tailer PrettyLittleThing celebrated the launch of its curated collection for curvy customers Shape x Stassie with a bash cohosted by the social media phenom at The Phoenix in Los Angeles, where she was joined by rapper Travis Scott and her best friend Kylie Jenner.

A few miles away and a few hours earlier, the pre-party was already in progress at the PLT Penthouse. There, Anastasia Karanikolaou, also known as Stassiebaby, received the full glam treatment with her Insta-famous crew Madison Beer, Claudia Tihan and Samuel Rauda.

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The big reason why I was so into doing this is its so hard for me to find clothes that fit my body type, she said after taking a break from her makeup team.

Although fully in love with her look now  curves are trending  it wasnt always that way for the 19-year-old. I used to be really insecure. I would never want to wear a bikini or be in a tight dress because I wasnt happy with myself. It took a really long time to realize that everyone has flaws. Everyone has rolls when they sit down. No one is perfect, she said.

She said she was happy to lend a hand to the PLT design team. The clothes fit curvy girls so well, she cooed of her lilac bodycon dress. They designed most of the clothes and I went in and did a couple of tweaks.

The social media-savvy label, owned by Boohoo.com, is known for tapping Insta-famous models as collaborators, beginning with Jenner, then her friend Jordyn Woods, Sofia Richie and now Karanikolaou.

What seemed like eons later, the girls were whisked away to the event. I told them I wanted to be involved with the party, but I also wanted some things to be a surprise, she said.

Besides a photo booth, which she knew to expect, the venue had a Candy Lip station and a gratis pop-up shop. While a stream of hip-hop hits from Big Sean to Kendrick Lamar were spun by DJ Casanova, a hive of guests clustered behind the photographers, recognizing that Jenner was on the scene. Unfortunately, the security guards mistook her for the president and ordered a full and immediate removal of all photographers from the premises.

Of her famous BFF, Karanikolaou noted, I dont see any difference; Ive been friends with her since we were like 10, so its not weird. The two even take their friend goals one step further by swapping clothes. Half of my closet is probably from Kylie, she said with a laugh.

Scott, who appeared to be camera shy, posed for some snaps with closed lids. The rapper was on hand to perform Pick Up the Phone and Goosebumps for the crowd including Woods, Mila J and Corde Broadus, who talked style tips from his famous father Snoop Dogg, saying, Stay suited and booted. Dont look like you dont belong somewhere.

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Was that a $1,000 sip? That may be the foremost thought racing through your mind if youre ever lucky enough to sip a dram of the Dalmore 50 Year Old single malt. That and Wow, this stuff is pretty incredible.

Dalmore, the Highland distillery in Scotland, has just released the limited bottling to celebrate master distiller Richard Patersons 50th anniversary in the whisky business. Its a bottle whose journey from still to glass spans more than 50 years and involves four different types of casks from four countries, and a more than $60,000 price tag.

And this isnt the distillerys most expensive bottle, not by far. Theres a 12-bottle Paterson collection that costs $1.2 million and a couple of 62- and 64-year-old bottles that will run more than $100,000 a piece.

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But the Dalmore 50 Year Old is a single malt Paterson has been working toward for the last 50 years, one that he has personally styled, and something he likes to call liquid gold.

It is handled like a baby, like a child, said Paterson, who on a recent trip to Asia brought a pair of white gloves with him to handle a bottle. It needs to be revered in the proper way. I would hate to think this would be drunk with ice  or lemonade.

The Dalmore 50 Year Old single malt started in American white oak ex-bourbon casks from the Missouri Ozarks in 1966. Then in 2013, the whisky was transferred to Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. In 2012, the whisky was put into Port Colheita pipes, then back to bourbon barrels in January 2016. It was finished in Domaine Henri Giraud Champagne casks for 50 days before bottling.

Its only a very small amount in the Champagne casks, but its enough to give it that creaminess, said Paterson, who had his first experience nosing whisky when he was just 8 years old.

The Dalmore 50 Year Old is bottled in decanters made by French crystal house Baccarat, each adorned with a solid silver stag created by silversmiths from Hamilton & Inches, and presented in a case designed by the furniture company Linley.

The bottles are held in temperature-controlled boxes inside a warehouse in Scotland, where they will sit until theyre claimed by buyers. And with all that work and time spent on just 50 decanters, Patterson is particular about how one should enjoy the whisky.

When you get the right moment and you want to drink it, maybe with a creme brulee, serve a coffee, maybe a Nicaragua java coffee and take two mouthfuls of the coffee, said Paterson. Then take the whisky and hold it in your mouth. You need to keep it in your mouth for at least 50 seconds at the top of the tongue, the back of the tongue, underneath and in the middle. The longer you keep it in your mouth, the more youll extract the flavors.

On the first nose, the whisky smells of burnt chocolate and orange; on the second, it sweetens to deep maple. With that first sip, notes of coffee and jam will drift over your palate, then the whisky finishes with a flavor reminiscent of chocolate licorice almonds.

It may have a more than $60,000 price tag, but Paterson insists he wants people to actually drink the whisky  not just look at it.

When you open this on a special occasion with people you love, you will have a memory of that occasion for a lifetime, said Paterson. And in my mind, thats priceless.

Jenn.Harris@latimes.com

@Jenn_Harris_

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Depending on your familys traditions, you might spend your Easter morning hiding eggs in the shrubbery or baking hot cross buns, heading to church or watching old Judy Garland movies on Amazon. Maybe you read crime novels  this is an actual Easter tradition in Norway  until noon. But whether your morning is filled with books or chocolates or both, making brunch for those around your table is likely on the list too.

So while you get out recipes for eggs Benedict, glazed ham and asparagus with Hollandaise, consider making something a bit less expected: the Persian herb frittata kuku sabzi.

Recipe: Persian greens frittata (kuku sabzi) 

There are many reasons why this is a fantastic addition to your Easter brunch table, not least being the name, which is a lot more fun to say than, well, pretty much any other dish that comes to mind. Kuku is also the perfect thing to make if youve just come back from your local farmers market, bags filled with all the fragrant herbs and other greenery that are loading the stalls this time of year. Parsley and coriander, dill and spinach, lettuce and scallions, leeks and fenugreek  it can all go into a bowl, from there into a cast-iron pan and, ultimately, onto your table.

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Kuku sabzi is a traditional dish served at Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as well as Easter. Its also often served as part of picnics or casual feasts  fittingly, as Easter is technically a movable feast too  as it can be made ahead of time and is best at room temperature. Unlike most frittatas, the proportion of greens to eggs vastly favors the greenery, which makes the dish not only more healthful but also a lot prettier.

When you make it, you think theres no way this can hold together with so few eggs  and then it does, cookbook author Naomi Duguid told me recently. Somehow, cooks figured out how many pounds of greens one egg can hold together. Its like Harold McGees mayonnaise, Duguid said, referencing the noted food scientist, who famously describes that sauces emulsification as about 80% oil to egg yolks and other ingredients. Duguid, who includes a recipe for kuku in her latest cookbook, Taste of Persia, describes it as a dish of life in the regions her book documents, Iran, along with Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Youre in the spring, its still bleak in the mountains; if its Easter, youve been fasting. The egg is new life, its bring it on.  Which is not a bad way to think about your brunch table.

Kuku is by nature a forgiving recipe, built to accommodate whatever greens you have available  variations are made with potatoes, beans and other vegetables  and made to hold. It can be baked in a skillet, a cast-iron pan or a baking dish and served prettily with a handful of dressed greens, or straight out of whatever it was baked in.

This versatility is one of the reasons chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson put it on the menu at Kismet, their Mediterranean-style restaurant in Los Feliz.

Kismets kuku. (Glenn Koenig/ Los Angeles Times)

Recipe: Kismets kuku 

We were interested in having an egg dish that could hold  not be cooked to order, says Kramer. Truly an easy thing to make ahead and serve quickly, which translates so well to home cooking. Plus, we love the aesthetic of the dish, with the greens and beans and barberries studding the egg beautifully.

Barberries, a tangy, crimson dried berry used a lot in Middle Eastern cooking, add some zip and color to the dish. (If you cant find them, try dicing a few dried cranberries or adding a hefty amount of lemon zest.) Or you can use Aleppo pepper, which also provides color, zip and some heat.

Aleppo pepper is not only in the dish but also on the tables at Momed in Atwater Village, where it fills the pepper shakers at Alex Sarkissians Eastern Mediterranean restaurant. Momeds version of kuku is also a lot of fun to cook at home, especially if you like making shakshuka, the fantastic tomato-and-egg dish popularized in recent years by the London-based Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

Deconstructed kuku sabzi. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Recipe: Deconstructed kuku sabzi 

Sarkissians kuku is deconstructed, which means its kind of a green version of shakshuka, with the eggs cooked on top of the vegetables rather than bound with them. This makes it even prettier than the more traditional versions, and particularly wonderful when paired with grilled bread  and as much Aleppo pepper as makes you happy.

If youre the sort of person who likes eggs, particularly on a day that celebrates them, perched on top of whatever youre eating  a food trend that shows no sign of abating  then deconstructing your kuku is likely the way to go. Happy Easter. Now back to that Scandinavian mystery novel.

amy.scattergood@latimes.com

@ascattergood
A state audit released Thursday of Alliance College-Ready Public Schools has cleared the charter school network of any financial wrongdoing in relation to its efforts to fight unionization.

Alliance operates 28 middle and high school charters in Los Angeles. Charter schools are publicly funded, but privately managed. Alliance teachers, as in most charters, are not represented by a union. But two years ago, 67 Alliance teachers began advocating to join United Teachers Los Angeles, a move that the charter network fiercely opposed.

As the unionization battle dragged on, it became increasingly contentious.

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UTLA officials accused Alliance of intimidating teachers and filed several complaints with Californias Public Employment Relations Board, alleging that the network had violated state laws that allow teachers to organize without fear of reprisal. The union also claimed that the network was using taxpayer dollars to pay for lawyers and public relations consultants to defend itself against the unionizing effort.

But the state audit requested by Californias Joint Legislative Audit Committee found no evidence of misspending or fraud.

Alliance did spend nearly $1 million to fend off unionization, the audit found. But none of that money was taken out of the schools budgets, diverted from classrooms or drawn from public funds.

Instead, the charter network relied on private contributions. According to the audit, it raised about $1.7 million from a network of private donors and benefited from another $2 million in pro bono legal work. As of June 2016, Alliance had spent about $915,000  including $426,000 on consulting fees, $107,000 on legal costs, and $31,000 for flyers and letters to parents and teachers  in fighting unionization.

We feel vindicated that we are good stewards of the public dollar and that our focus has been, continues to be, and will always be on running great schools, said Alliance spokesperson Catherine Suitor. Were really happy to put this behind us.

State auditors did find that Alliance didnt fully comply with federal regulations before it shared parent and alumni contact information with third parties. One of those groups, the California Charter School Assn., used that information in its own public relations campaign against unionization.

On that score, Alliance officials agreed to implement the audits recommendations.

UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl said Thursday that the audit showed Alliance and the California Charter School Assn. had cynically abused the parental information they have.

Alliance may be saying this shows that public money hasnt been used, but the larger issue is that a publicly funded school operator  has spent millions of dollars against their own teachers that should have gone into class-size reduction or school supplies, Caputo-Pearl said.

Although the audit closes one chapter in the unions fight to represent charter school teachers, the complaints it lodged with the Public Employment Relations Board remain unresolved.

In late 2015, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Alliance administrators from interfering with efforts to unionize its teachers  an order that still remains in place.

To date, UTLA has not succeeded in convincing a majority of Alliances more than 600 teachers to join its ranks. Caputo-Pearl said that more than 200 Alliance teachers support unionization, but he would not give an exact figure.

Union organizers are allowed to be on campuses after school hours.

Theyre literally on our campuses every day, Suitor said, describing ongoing unionization efforts. The audit, in my mind, was part of that campaign. UTLA wants to find a smoking gun, and there is none.

anna.phillips@latimes.com

Twitter: @annamphillips
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Preferences for larger or smaller case diameters, specific colours or even specific complications, may change over time, yet the robust and resistant divers watch remains a perennial favourite. We take a look at some new models for the 2017 season that were presented at Baselworld.

Anniversary Eterna Kontiki models

Its 70 years since Thor Heyerdahl made headlines by crossing the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft. It is only fitting, therefore, that the watch named after this very raft, the Eterna Kontiki, should make a strong statement this year. It does so with the new Kontiki Bronze Manfuacture model, with a bronze case and the in-house Eterna 3902A calibre. This limited-edition of 300 watches is available for 2,890 Swiss francs  a price so attractive that most of the limited-edition models were sold during Baselworld. The Kontiki Diver Gent models offer an alternative with the same design but with stainless-steel cases and the Sellita calibre SW200 self-winding movement, which brings the price down to a downright aggressive level. Note the unusual markings on the bezel, which indicate decompression stops rather than elapsed time. Eterna has also extended the Kontiki range with some rare divers watch models for ladies.

Price: 1,790 Swiss francs on rubber strap or 1,890 on the stainless steel bracelet

Spoilt for choice at Seiko

Seiko has long been a brand of choice for fans of divers watches, but 2017 yields an exceptional crop from the Japanese company. At the top of the pile is the first-ever Grand Seiko divers watch, which is being used to announce the new status of Grand Seiko as an autonomous brand that will henceforth act independently of Seiko. The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat Diver Professional comes with a black dial or, as a limited edition of 500 pieces, with a blue dial. The case is in titanium and the dial in soft iron, which ensures resistance to magnetic fields up to 16,000 A/m, and water resistance down to 600 metres is guaranteed. The high-frequency movement ensures an accuracy of -3/+6 seconds per day  figures better than those of an officially certified COSC chronometer  and Grand Seiko offers an extended warranty of three years for these new models. But at a price of 12,100 (12,300 for the limited edition) it is an expensive proposition, especially when compared with the sought-after new Rolex Sea-Dweller 50th anniversary model, which offers better accuracy (-2/+2 seconds per day according to Rolexs Superlative Chronometer standard) for 10,200 Swiss francs.



On a more affordable level, Seiko is offering a faithful recreation of its first-ever divers watch from 1965 using the calibre 8L35 movement as a limited edition of 2,000, plus two more modern interpretations of the original design using calibre 6R15 with a larger 42.6mm diameter case.

Prices: Limited edition SLA017 3,800; Standard edition SPB051: 1,100, SBP053: 990

Back to the roots at Blancpain

Blancpain also tantalises divers watch fans and collectors with a reproduction of a firm favourite: the Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC models, which were also known under the Tornek-Rayville TR-900 name. These models were so called because they were developed to the military specifications of the US Navy. One of the requirements in these specifications was that the wristwatches have a water-tightness indicator. Sixty years after the first such model appeared, Blancpain presents a reproduction as a limited series of 500 watches with a two-colour disc on the dial. In the event that water enters the watch, the white portion of the discs changes colour as a clear indication of the problem. Water resistant to 300 metres, its 40mm stainless-steel case is equipped with Blancpains in-house self-winding calibre 1151 with a solid-gold, NAC-coated winding rotor and (unlike the original) a silicon balance spring.

Price: 13,200 Swiss francs with sail canvas or NATO strap, 15,200 with stainless steel bracelet.

The first square Bell & Ross divers watch

Divers watch fans will remember the Bell & Ross Hydromax watch launched twenty years ago, which still today holds the record for the greatest (theoretical) water resistance, since it can withstand a pressure of 1,110 bar, which is equivalent to a depth of 11,100 metres. The Bell & Ross divers watches have since evolved from the classic round shape to the barrel shape of the BR 02, launched in 2007, to finally adopt the brands characteristic square shape for the new BR 03-92 Diver. Compared with the standard BR 03-92 models, the Diver model has a reinforced case back (2.80 mm compared with 1.80mm), a soft-iron inner cage and a sapphire crystal that is 2.85mm thick, compared with 1.50mm on the classic steel BR 03-92. These important modifications transform the BR 03-92 into an ISO 6425 compliant divers watch.



Price: 3,400 Swiss francs
The self-proclaimed heiress to an Armenian cracker-bread company was sentenced to three years in prison last week for her involvement in a mans 2015 choking death.

Sparkle Soojian, who claimed on her website to be the heiress to the Ak Mak cracker-bread company, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of John Michael King-Smith, 31.

Soojians then-boyfriend, Jared Kasiewicz, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter; his sentencing is scheduled for June.

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King-Smith was the ex-boyfriend of Soojians roommate and had shown up unannounced at their Glendale apartment on the night of Sept. 10, 2015, according to court testimony.

An altercation broke out, and Soojian texted Kasiewicz to come over.

When the former Marine arrived at the apartment, he tackled King-Smith and placed him in a choke hold, according to court testimony.

Video recorded during the incident reportedly shows Kasiewicz choking King-Smith and asking people nearby for rope to tie him up. He then bound King-Smiths wrists to his feet.

Kasiewicz washed off the blood he had gotten on himself during the scuffle, then told several people in the apartment he wasnt here and left, according to court testimony.

Soojian then called police to report a break-in had occurred and said that neighbors tied up King-Smith.

When officers arrived, they found King-Smith in a state of medical distress. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the Los Angeles County coroners office, King-Smith died of asphyxia and a compressed neck.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Nguyen writes for Times Community News
A private effort to reshape public education in Los Angeles took its next step Thursday with the announcement that two public schools would receive $750,000 grants to re-create themselves in other locations.

Public Service Community School and King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science, both located south of downtown L.A., got the money from Great Public Schools Now, a nonprofit group that says it wants to replicate successful schools of any kind.

Although the group is closely associated with efforts to expand the number of charter schools in L.A., it has made a point of also sharing funding under its control with programs of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

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We believe this strategy of dramatically expanding schools is a smart way of ensuring that all students will have access to the best that schools have to offer, Myrna Castrejon, executive director of Great Public Schools Now, said in a statement.

Union leaders and charter school critics remain skeptical of Great Public Schools Now, which is less than two years old. Theyve called its aid to L.A. Unified a form of tokenism compared with relatively vast sums that well-heeled backers of the group have provided in years past to charter operators. These critics have said they expect Great Public Schools Now to continue that pattern.

Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, the local teachers union, said of the grants, This is the same old bait and switch.

Great Public Schools Now, he said, is one component of a broader effort to move more of the public education system into private control, including for-profit entities.

Charters are privately operated public schools that are free from some restrictions that govern traditional campuses. Most are nonunion.

The new district schools would retain union representation.

This is a new opportunity for our district, and when these funds became available, it was always our goal to seek them, said Chris Downing, superintendent of L.A. Unifieds 148 Local District South schools. We feel confident were going to do a good job with it.

Downing oversaw both successful proposals  it isnt clear that there were any other submissions  with teams made up of his central-office staff and the principals of each school. Up to this point, teachers have not played a crucial role, although faculty at Public Service provided some feedback about what makes their school a quality school, Downing said.

The teachers talked about Public Services instructional focus and its ongoing teacher training, Downing added.

A portion of the funding could go to training or to free teachers and administrators from some of their normal duties during the planning phase. The schools are expected to open in fall 2018.

Both Public Service and King/Drew opened on new campuses, which is not likely to be the case with their clones. No decision has been made on locations, other than that theyll be in South Los Angeles.

The schools currently enroll a combined 2,000 students; the goal is to serve 1,000 more. Both schools have low-income, minority populations and have achieved higher test scores than some surrounding campuses.

These schools are two great examples of success at L.A. Unified, said district Supt. Michelle King. We are happy to serve more students and give them the quality education they deserve.

If King could win these additional students back from charter schools, other school districts or private schools, shed be achieving one of her major goals: reversing years of declining enrollment. If, instead, the students are pulled from other district programs, possibly weakening their viability  not so much.

The grant submissions  about 30 pages long  were reviewed by a selection committee, which also conducted interviews.

Its members were Derrick Chau, senior executive director of instruction for L.A. Unified, who was chosen by King; Elmer Roldan, director of education policy for United Way of Greater L.A. and a former senior staff member for school board member Monica Garcia; Dan Nieman, corporate citizenship manager at Northrop Grumman, who was once a senior staff member of former school board member Marlene Canter; Maria Casillas, a Great Public Schools Now board member and former L.A. Unified senior administrator who became a charter school backer; and education consultants Becca Bunn and Jamie Prijatel.

Earlier grant-winners have included: Teach For America, a two-year teaching program; Heart of Los Angeles, an enrichment program for students; Equitas Academy Charter Schools, for a building project; and several charter schools hoping to build on efforts to retain successful teachers.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

howard.blume@latimes.com

@howardblume

UPDATES:

6:15 p.m.: This article was updated to include a quote from the president of the local teachers union.

This article was originally published at 5 a.m.
A series of late-season storms has vaulted this winter into the history books, making it the wettest winter for Californias northern Sierra Nevada in nearly a century of record-keeping, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

As of Thursday, an astonishing 89.7 inches of precipitation across a zone of eight stations in the northern Sierra has been recorded since October. That breaks the record 88.5 inches that fell by the in the 1982-83 rainy season.

Sierra Nevada precipitation is significant because the mountain range supplies large amounts of water to the rest of the state.

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When we receive a record amount of rainfall in the north, that translates to everybody who benefits from water down the state, said Doug Carlson, spokesman for the California Department of Water Resources.

Carlson noted that California is only six months into the water year, and although the state doesnt normally see much rainfall in the latter part of the year, rain and snow in months ahead could break other records.

The San Joaquin index, which covers a zone of five stations, could also set a record this year. That region is tracking close to the 1982-83 record year.

Experts and state water officials say California is seeing more of these intense weather swings as temperatures warm, making wet years wetter and dry years drier.

California is North Americas most variable climate, said Jeffrey Mount, a water expert at the Public Policy Institute of California. The year-to-year differences in precipitation are unmatched.

Still, Mount said, this is a benign extreme wet year.

Whats happening here is great for Southern California. This relieves pressure on and creates an opportunity for Southern California to store more of their water and groundwater, he said. Its really nice to take some pressure off of everybody, including the environment.

RECORD BROKEN! Northern Sierra 8-station index now has wettest water year on record at 89.7" surpassing old record of 1982-1983! #cawx pic.twitter.com/USkE6j7ZkP  NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) April 13, 2017

Two years ago, the lack of snow left locals in many parts of the Sierra anxious.

The drought hurt ski resorts and changed the landscape of the mountains. In some areas, trees died at an alarming rate. In others, the typically snow-capped mountains were bare and dry.

This winter, however, many residents say theyve never seen so much snow.

Theres just been too many road closures, too many power outages, and just too much snow and nowhere to put it, said Janet Tuttle, who with her husband owns Donner Ski Ranch, one of the oldest ski resorts in the state. She had a better season financially in the very ordinary weather of last year.

The intense winter prompted Gov. Jerry Brown last week to finally declare the drought over in all counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne, where diminished groundwater levels still require a need for emergency drinking water.

But right now, the above-ground water supply is much improved for most parts of the state.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more California news follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini

Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

2:15 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Jeffrey Mount of the Public Policy Institute of California.

12:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from California Department of Water Resource spokesman Doug Carlson and ski resort owner Janet Tuttle.

This article was originally published at 11:30 a.m.
Five people were injured and a family pet was killed when flames swept through two homes in a Pacific Palisades neighborhood early Thursday, officials said.

The blaze erupted just after 2 a.m. in a home on a descending hillside, and the fire quickly spread to a neighboring home in the 16000 block of West Las Casas Place, according to Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

When firefighters arrived to the hillside home, they found a couple and their two teenage daughters suffering from smoke-related injuries, Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott told KTLA-TV.

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An investigation is underway after five people were injured and a family pet was killed when flames swept through two homes in a Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The 53-year-old woman and her 67-year-old husband were hospitalized and listed in critical condition, he said. One of the two victims suffered second-degree burns.

As more than 80 firefighters tackled flames, they discovered a fifth victim, a 90-year-old woman, in the second home, officials said. Scott said she also suffered from smoke-related injuries.

Firefighters saved a dog and cat, but a second cat died in the fire, Scott told KTLA-TV.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.

A family member salvages a computer from a home in Pacific Palisades, where five people were injured and a family pet was killed when flames swept through two homes early Thursday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA
The head of the ATFs office in Los Angeles has sent a memo to Southern California police chiefs and sheriffs saying the agency has found law enforcement officers buying and reselling guns in what could be a violation of federal firearms laws.

The memo from Eric Harden, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Los Angeles Field Division special agent in charge, describes the finding as an emerging problem and expresses concern about the growing trend of law enforcement officials engaging in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing.

He did not say how many officers the agency has found purchasing and reselling weapons, but the memo  dated March 31  says some officers had bought more than 100 firearms. Some of the guns have been recovered at crime scenes.

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But Harden wrote that the goal is to educate, not investigate, to ensure law enforcement officials comply with federal law in order to avoid unnecessary public embarrassment to themselves and your department/agency.

His memo focuses on the purchase and resale of off roster firearms. Those are guns that are not on an approved list of weapons that can be sold to the public.

The California law establishing the roster has an exemption that allows sworn peace officers to purchase such weapons, and an additional one that allows officers to resell the guns under certain conditions. But if officers are buying and reselling weapons for profit as a business, they need a federal firearms license, or FFL.

The lack of a license is the conduct that ATF has uncovered and is the subject of the memo.

That amounts to a violation of federal law, the memo said. In addition, if a gun is bought with the intent to sell it or on behalf of someone else and that was not disclosed on federal transaction records  known as a straw purchase  that also breaks federal law for lying on a federal firearms form.

Selling without a license can carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Lying on the federal form carries a maximum 10-year penalty.

It is unclear when the ATF discovered the problems, or what specifically prompted the memo.

Ginger Colbrun, spokeswoman for the ATF Los Angeles office, said the agency noticed that some firearms recovered at crime scenes were found to have been purchased within the past three years.

That time to crime measure developed by the ATF shows the time frame from when a gun is sold by a licensed dealer to when it is recovered by police during a criminal investigation. The national average is 10 years. A shorter time period can indicate the gun was the product of a straw purchase  bought in order to be sold quickly.

After spotting the trend in routine trace reports, the agency looked closer, Colbrun said. After further investigation, ATF noticed some law enforcement officers had been making significant purchases of firearms, she said.

She declined to be more specific, saying there were ongoing investigations.

Colbrun said the memo, addressed to Dear Law Enforcement Partner, didnt indicate that officers who might be breaking federal gun laws were getting special treatment.

There is no extra consideration, she said. We believe the most effective way to stop the behavior is to educate law enforcement in what the laws are and arent.

The California Police Chiefs Assn., which represents chiefs and sheriffs across the state, emailed the memo to its members this week. It was then forwarded to local agencies.

Federal prosecutions of state law enforcement officers for selling off-roster weapons are rare. The most recent occurred in Sacramento County, when former Sheriffs Deputy Ryan McGowan was found guilty in June 2015 of selling guns illegally and falsifying federal records to do it.

Prosecutors said he sold 25 guns at an inflated price between 2008 and 2011. McGowan also worked with a licensed gun shop to further circumvent federal law.

One sale involved a buyer who converted two guns to assault weapons and later got into a six-hour standoff with a SWAT team. He was sentenced in June to 18 months in prison.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

Moran and Winkley write for the San Diego Union-Tribune

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A threat at Northwood High School in Irvine triggered a lockdown Thursday afternoon, school officials said.

The Irvine Police Department said it received a call about 1:40 p.m. from a man threatening violence on the high school campus. Officers immediately responded to the school and were working with the schools staff to ensure the safety of the students, police said.

There has been no suspicious activity noted on campus and no injuries, police said.

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The Orange County Sheriffs Department bomb squad and helicopter were assisting police, said Jaimee Blashaw, a sheriffs spokeswoman.

Annie Brown, spokeswoman for the Irvine Unified School District, said the school was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution.

Instruction is continuing while the police investigation is going on, she said. School is out at 3:30 p.m.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

UPDATES:

3:25 p.m.: This article was updated with police saying no suspicious activity was found on campus.

This article was originally published at 2:25 p.m.
Minh Phu Les cousin called her about the news shaking up Little Saigon: The man whod been dragged off a United Airlines flight, seen in a viral video, was someone they all knew.

I cant believe its him, Le recalled saying after viewing the footage, over and over, of Dr. David Dao. And I cant believe theyre treating him like that, bloodied and confused. I was so angry.

Dao is a familiar presence in Orange Countys Vietnamese cultural district, where he frequently performs traditional music, as well as his own compositions, at community concerts.

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Talk of his online image  ashen and injured  has dominated discussions this week at bakeries where immigrants sipped iced coffee and in hair salons in between cuts and perms.

Dao, 69, had been heading home to Kentucky after celebrating at a reunion of medical school friends in California. During a stop in Chicago, officials forcibly removed him from his seat after he refused to leave the overbooked United flight.

Dung Nguyen, a leader in Kentuckys Vietnamese community, said he was stunned when he recognized Dao as the central figure in the viral video.

 This video posted on social media shows Dr. David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines flight from Chicagos OHare International Airport to Louisville, Ky., on April 9, 2017. (Jayse D. Anspach)

I just heard about what happened and when I played it, I saw his face so scared and hurt. It made me very upset because he is a passenger  he bought a ticket properly. He was already seated and to be pulled out like that, nobody deserves that.

Nguyen said he texted Dao to see how he was doing. Dao responded that he remained in the hospital in Chicago, so I left him alone, Nguyen said.

He needs rest and time to recover. But everyone Ive emailed with and everyone in the community that Ive talked to finds this treatment unacceptable. It doesnt matter if youre Chinese, Vietnamese, American or whatever. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.

It doesnt matter if youre Chinese, Vietnamese, American or whatever. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.  Dung Nguyen, a leader in Kentuckys Vietnamese community

Nguyen described Dao as a thoughtful and reliable community volunteer, eager to help at Tet festivals and offering to teach traditional Vietnamese music for free to teenagers, schooling them in the arts of his homeland.

Dao, who came to the United States in 1975, plays several instruments and has performed throughout the United States with well-known Vietnamese entertainers.

Expatriates this week have been clicking on YouTube videos featuring his work and posting them online in a show of solidarity. On Facebook, Vietnamese Americans have highlighted his community work and his support of a Kentucky group that helps the homeless, saying his past shouldnt matter when it comes to the tragedy committed against him by United officials.

That past? Dao was convicted in 2004 of illegally prescribing painkillers to a patient in exchange for sex. He surrendered his medical license in 2005. Regulators cleared Dao to return to medical practice in 2015.

Its unconscionable, what [United Airlines] did. And the outrage is international, said author and essayist Andrew Lam of San Francisco. Not only Vietnamese Americans are angry, Asian Americans are furious, and that reaction has rolled across the Pacific because all of us can see ourselves in that situation. We can be a sitting duck, with no resource when youre just caught in the power game.

Yet in a community where hundreds of thousands of dollars can be raised quickly  demonstrated by past fundraisers for flooding victims in central Vietnam  theres been no rush in Little Saigon to help Dao, with many believing he will end up with millions from suing United.

I dont worry about his income at this point, said Tammy Hong as she waited for her turn at the My Ngoc beauty salon in Westminster. Hes totally doing the right thing in hiring the big lawyers.

But, she said, you wonder if they picked on him because of his age or because hes Asian. Did they think hes a quiet minority who wont resist?

anh.do@latimes.com

Twitter: @newsterrier

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In early 2015, vaccinations became a national story in California after an outbreak of measles at Disneyland.

The situation drew attention to the number of parents who receive exemptions from getting their kids vaccinated. And that prompted new state legislation.

Now, there are new numbers suggesting these laws are working.

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What does the new data show?

New data released Wednesday showed that the percentage of Californias kindergartners with all required vaccinations as of last fall rose from 92.8% to 95.6%. Los Angeles Countys rate jumped from 90% to 95%, and Orange Countys rose from 92.5% to 95.5%.

More kindergartners also were getting the measles vaccination. In California, 97.3% of the young students received measles shots, up from 94.5% a year ago and 92.6% reported in the fall of 2014, just before the Disneyland measles outbreak struck.

Vaccination rates for whooping cough, also known as pertussis, posted similar numbers.

Experts say the conditions for measles outbreaks are enhanced if the vaccination rate is less than 95%.

Why did vaccination rates decline?

The drop in vaccinations came amid growing public concern about the safety of vaccines and whether they cause autism, a fear that stemmed from a report in a British scientific journal published in 1998. The article was retracted and declared to be a deliberate fraud. Numerous studies since have provided overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe.

But the damage was done. By 2013, Californias measles vaccination rate among kindergartners hit a low of 92.3%. A year later, the measles outbreak struck at Disneyland and grew to become Californias worst since 1991, ultimately infecting more than 150 people and spreading to other states. An analysis published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics said the disease spread was fueled by parents who declined to vaccinate their children.

What turned things around?

There probably are several factors.

One appears to be a state law that made it significantly tougher for parents to exempt schoolchildren from shots.

Lawmakers who authored the vaccination law, known as SB 277, cheered the results.

Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who also is a pediatrician, said in an interview Wednesday he was encouraged by this years vaccination rates, especially because they are higher than the minimum needed to keep a single measles case from spreading rapidly in California.

The law requires that students entering kindergarten and seventh grade have all their vaccinations, so schoolchildren older than kindergarten age eventually will be required to be fully immunized. But there are thousands of Californians whove already been promoted from seventh grade or graduated from high school without ever having received a vaccine.

The UC system has said it will require vaccines for all new enrollees, but most young adults wont encounter another vaccination checkpoint once they leave high school.

Measles certainly hasnt gone away, Pan said, pointing to outbreaks in Europe and one in Los Angeles County earlier this year. We need to be sure to have our immunization levels high enough. The fact that this class and the state overall has now achieved this level is one further step to restore the community immunity we had before.

But Pan noted that the law affects only very young children  and there is still a percentage of students who are not vaccinated because of the previously lax requirements. This is one year, one step. We halted the bleeding, he said.

Are there still some warning signs?

Eight of the states 58 counties had vaccination rates below 90%, according to the new data. Viruses circulate in neighborhoods and communities, so regions with low vaccination rates are at risk, Pan said. We need to shrink those pockets.

State data also show the percentage of kindergartners receiving a permanent medical exemption from vaccines has risen from 0.2% to 0.5%.

Pan said that increase most likely is because of legitimate medical reasons that previously had been sought under personal belief exemptions.

He said many parents whose children are eligible for vaccination exclusions previously had filed for a personal belief exemption because the paperwork was easier to obtain. Although parents no longer can opt out of vaccines for their children based on such criteria, Pan said the state still should monitor whether doctors are providing fraudulent medical exemptions, especially given the uptick in data.

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President Trump is willing to make concessions on his signature issue of trade in return for Chinese help reining in North Korea, he told reporters on Wednesday.

The stark about-face in priorities comes at a time when North Korea might be preparing to conduct its sixth nuclear test. A U.S. aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, is heading toward the region and is being joined by Japanese warships.

The urgency of the situation was reflected in Trumps comments to White House reporters Wednesday when he recounted recent conversations with his Chinese counterpart.

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President Trump, accompanied by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaks at a news conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington on April 12, 2017, (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)

The way youre going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea, otherwise were just going to go it alone, Trump said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping.

I think [Xi] means well and wants to help. Well see whether he does, added Trump, speaking during a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Trump spoke Wednesday morning by telephone to the Chinese president, following up on their summit last week at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Nervous that the United States might engage in military action, Beijing looked poised to take tougher measures against Pyongyang. Chinese media have hinted the government could withhold fuel oil shipments to North Korea or enforce already tough sanctions against a country that conducts almost all of its trade across its 850-mile border with China.

Beijing was unnerved by the unilateral U.S. airstrikes last week against Syria, punishing President Bashar Assads government for its poison gas attacks on civilians, analysts said. The airstrikes were ordered hastily while Xi was visiting Trump in Florida.

There is widespread concern in Beijing about a U.S. preemptive strike on North Korea, said Yun Sun, a specialist at the Washington-based Stimson Center who was visiting Beijing last week. They saw how assertive and unilateral the U.S. action was on Syria, and they know that Trump is serious about North Korea.

Chinese state media first reported on the telephone call between Trump and Xi, and according to Sun, the subtle wording of the reports indicated heightened Chinese concern about North Koreas nuclear program.

China usually emphasizes stability over denuclearization, but this time it was different, she said.

The Global Times, a state-run Chinese newspaper, also warned in an editorial Wednesday that Beijing would support stiffer action against its historical ally.

More and more Chinese support the view that the government should enhance sanctions over Pyongyangs nuclear activities, the Global Times wrote. If the North makes another provocative move this month, the Chinese society will be willing to see the [U.N. Security Council] adopt severe restrictive measures that have never been seen before, such as restricting oil imports to the North.

North Korea often schedules its weapons tests to coincide with symbolic national events. There are fears that it might conduct another nuclear test  which would be its sixth  this week to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il Sung. A delegation of about 200 foreign journalists visiting Pyongyang has been told it should prepare for a big and important event on Thursday.

People dance to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Kim Jong Uns assumption of the top posts of the Workers Party and the state in Pyongyang, North Korea, in a photo taken on April 11, 2017, and released on April 12 by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency. (Stringer / AFP/Getty Images)

Since Mao Tse-tung sent troops across the Yalu River in 1950, China has been the main protector of the renegade North Korean government. But it has periodically signaled its displeasure by withholding for brief periods shipments of fuel oil on which energy-starved North Korea is dependent.

Relations have ebbed since 2011 when the third-generation leader, Kim Jong Un, succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il.

The new leader, still in his early 30s, has doubled down on his countrys development of nuclear weapons and missiles. In blustery speeches, he has warned that his country might soon be ready to test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

All that is worrisome to the Chinese Communist Party, which fears a North Korean collapse that could send refugees rushing into China and could bring a reunited, U.S.-dominated Korea to its borders.

With its secretive nature, China seldom acknowledges when it is punishing North Korea, but there are clues. For example, Beijing has blocked delivery of North Koreas principal export of coal. On April 7, a dozen freight ships that were headed to the North Korean port of Nampo were ordered to turn around.

The Chinese government offered up an implausible explanation that the North Korean quota for coal imports had been exceeded. But many analysts believe it was a response to the constant cajoling and threats emanating from Trump.

Trump has not specified exactly what concessions he has offered China in return for help with North Korea, but frequent reversals have become familiar in the Trump administration. In comments published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he had decided not to label China as a currency manipulator, despite promises to do so during last years presidential campaign.

In his news conference with Stoltenberg, he also backed away from his earlier criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as obsolete.

With North Korea, Trump had earlier suggested he would be willing to meet directly with Kim Jong Un, and back-channel talks were scheduled this year. But that fell apart after Kim was implicated in the dramatic assassination of his half brother Kim Jong Nam, who was poisoned with VX gas in Malaysia.

I cant figure out the Trump administration strategy. They are trying to feel their way to a policy, said Joel Wit, a senior fellow at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University. They seem to think now they can find some common ground with China.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

Staff Writer Laura King in Washington contributed to this report.

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British Columbia promotes itself as Super, Natural, and for many years it was praised for walking that talk.

Nearly a decade ago, the province enacted North Americas first tax on carbon emissions, putting it on the cutting edge of government efforts to fight climate change. The economy grew even as emissions declined. Climate activists around the world admired the move, but so did conservatives like former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who sought market-driven solutions.

Now, however, Canadas West Coast is striving toward a very different kind of cutting edge: British Columbia is positioning itself to become a global leader in exporting fossil fuels, with plans to nearly triple crude oil exports through a controversial new pipeline and vastly expand production of liquefied natural gas to be sold in Asia.

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And although the revenue-neutral carbon tax is still in place, the provinces current political leadership has halted the annual rate increases built into the original plan. Emissions, meanwhile, are rising again.

They definitely have horses on either side of the wagon, Tarika Powell, who studies fossil fuel exports for Sightline Institute, a Seattle think tank, said of the British Columbia government. And they are going in opposite directions.

In a province that has been influential in shaping environmental policy in Canada and beyond, the question is which horse will prevail  and one clue to the answer is expected to come next month, when Premier Christy Clark faces reelection.

Clark, who took office in 2011, leads the conservative but incongruously named BC Liberal Party. Her predecessor, Gordon Campbell, was also a member of that party, yet while Campbell pushed the carbon tax to approval in 2008 and still takes pride in it, Clark has shown little interest in climate leadership.

She instead has championed liquefied natural gas, which involves cooling natural gas into a dense liquid to make it easier and cheaper to ship.

If all 19 of the current LNG proposals in the province were built, according to Powells research, British Columbia would become the worlds largest LNG exporter many times over, dwarfing the current leaders, Qatar and Australia. Emissions from LNG terminals and refineries could drastically increase the level of greenhouse gas emissions within the province  and much of those emissions would be exempt from the carbon tax, according to analyses of Clarks plans.

It was Clark who froze the carbon tax in 2012 and has refused to raise it since then, essentially ignoring the advice of a special task force she created to make recommendations. Although Clark does highlight the provinces leadership on the carbon tax, she has cited concerns among some business groups and others that increasing it would hurt the economy.

Her closest challenger next month, John Horgan of the New Democratic Party, has said he supports raising the carbon tax because its the right thing to do, and he has lashed out at Clark for accepting millions in campaign donations from fossil fuel companies and other industry groups.

Yet a New Democratic Party strategy document obtained and leaked by the BC Liberals made it clear that even Horgans party is wary of being cast as supporting tax increases, regardless of the benefits. It also expressed concerns that the provinces Green Party would peel away votes if it took no action.

The BC Liberals will call it a tax increase  and theyll holler from the rooftops in rural B.C., the leaked document said.

We must holler back with: Our plan puts more money in the pocket for a majority of B.C. families. Hers doesnt. Our plan actually accomplishes the goals of a carbon tax  reducing carbon pollution. Hers doesnt. Our plan creates good jobs that last in a more sustainable economy with more opportunities for the future. Hers doesnt.

The political sensitivity over the carbon tax within the province is striking given its influence outside it.

In December, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established his national climate plan, which requires all provinces and territories to put in place either a tax or a cap-and-trade plan by 2022.

Instead of using the moment to boast of British Columbias early leadership on pricing carbon, Clark made a show of insisting before she agreed to it that the province would lead no further, that it would not increase its tax without other provinces making firm commitments to meet the 2022 goal.

Clark also did not put up a fight when Trudeau made what was widely viewed as a counterintuitive bargain to get the industry support he needed for his national plan: His administration approved two major pipelines that would transport crude from the vast tar sands in Alberta, next door to British Columbia. The larger of the two pipelines, called Trans Mountain, is the one that would nearly triple oil exports from British Columbia.

Like the proposed LNG projects, the Trans Mountain pipeline is intended to help Canadian fossil fuels reach markets in Asia, as well as the West Coast of the United States. It would transport nearly 900,000 barrels a day, creating as much as a sevenfold increase in the number of ships navigating Vancouvers spectacular but fragile waterfront.

The ships would gather in front of the sunsets in English Bay, pass close to Stanley Park, travel under the graceful Lions Gate Bridge and ply the shallow and narrow Burrard Inlet on their way inland to the town of Burnaby, the terminus of the pipeline and the site of what would be a greatly expanded tank farm near the entrance to Simon Fraser University.

Theres a lot of opportunity for bad things to happen in a confined area, said Derek Corrigan, the mayor of Burnaby, which is fighting the pipeline along with the city of Vancouver, many First Nations and environmental groups.

Vessel traffic also could be much worse if many of the LNG projects are built.

Yet whether they will be is unclear. The price of natural gas has plummeted, leaving the viability of the British Columbia projects uncertain. The Trans Mountain pipeline also faces challenges.

Last month, Kinder Morgan, the American company planning the pipeline, increased its estimate of the projects cost to $5.5 billion, substantially more than its initial $3.7-billion estimate. Still, it said, now that it has federal and provincial approval in hand, construction will begin this fall and the pipeline is expected to be operational late in 2019.

Eugene Kung, a lawyer at an advocacy firm here, West Coast Environmental Law, noted that another proposed pipeline in a more rural part of the province, known as the Northern Gateway pipeline, had received government approvals and made similar pronouncements before it was ultimately rejected in a court challenge from First Nations and later by Trudeau.

The Trans Mountain pipeline, reaching its terminus in one of the West Coasts most environmentally minded cities, is expected to face far more opposition than the Northern Gateway if construction actually starts, Kung said. He said more than 100 First Nations are along the pipelines route from Edmonton, and only about a third have signaled they will not oppose it.

A third of a pipeline, Kung said, is a pretty terrible pipeline.

Campbell, the former premier, who recently returned to Canada after serving as its high commissioner to the United Kingdom, said that he supports developing an array of energy sources, including LNG, but that he opposes exemptions to the carbon tax.

That changes the way people think about energy, he said.

Looking back on his time as premier, he said he regrets not putting the carbon tax on a mandatory 10-year schedule of increases, one that could have endured through the leadership of Clark.

They still say that they take pride in having a revenue-neutral carbon tax, Campbell said. If you do, then what are the next steps you take? The journeys not done. We started it with some good, strong policies that I would have liked to see carry on. But its up to the current elected leaders. There are leaders and there are followers. Right now, British Columbia has a policy thats leading, but they havent really done much to advance it.

william.yardley@latimes.com

@yardleyLAT

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President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to tap the brakes Wednesday on what appeared a free fall in relations between Washington and Moscow, but daylong talks between their top diplomats failed to bridge disputes over last weeks poison gas attack in Syria and other key issues.

Although the Kremlin earlier this week said Putin would not greet U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his first official trip to Moscow, the Russian leader met the U.S. envoy for more than two hours in what appeared a determined effort to repair the growing breach.

Little concrete appeared to emerge from the meeting, although Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said later that we understand each other better and he saw many prospects for cooperation, including a possible resumption of arms control talks.

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Lavrov said Moscow would put back in force a telephone hotline used to keep U.S. and Russian warplanes from colliding or accidentally firing at one another in the crowded skies over Syria. Russian officials said last week they would suspend the hotline.

The high-level meetings in Moscow came as Trump continued a week of flip-flops in which he has jettisoned large chunks of the foreign policy  and significant pieces of economic policy  that he espoused as he ran for the presidency.

Trump, who repeatedly praised Putin during last years campaign, told a White House news conference it would be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and if we got along with Russia.

Right now were not getting along with Russia at all, Trump added. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens.

Putin also warned of worsening ties in a TV interview in Moscow.

You can say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military side, has not improved but most likely worsened since last weeks U.S. airstrike in Syria, Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin.

In a day of fast-moving diplomacy, Russia vetoed a U.S.-backed motion at the United Nations Security Council that would have required Syrian President Bashar Assads government to cooperate with U.N. investigators looking into the April 4 nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun, a rebel-held village in Syria.

Visible shifts in Trumps foreign policy began last Thursday with his decision to launch 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian military airfield, an airstrike that countered Trumps position that the U.S. should not intervene overseas except to directly defend its own interests.

Trumps explanation for why he ordered the strike  the painful images of children killed by a nerve gas attack that the U.S. blamed on Syrian government forces  had more in common with liberal internationalism than with his America first slogans.

At the same news conference, Trump declared that NATO, which he had repeatedly disparaged before he took office, was no longer obsolete. For 70 years, the NATO alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security, he said.

He praised China, which he had consistently criticized during his campaign. And in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he confirmed that his administration would not label China a currency manipulator  something he had pledged to do on Day One.

On the domestic policy side, he said in the interview that he would support continued operation of the Export-Import Bank, which he had opposed, and would consider reappointing Janet L. Yellen as chairwoman of the Federal Reserve when her term expires next year.

In Moscow, testy public statements confirmed that U.S.-Russian relations remain at a discordant level. In their news conference, Tillerson and Lavrov spoke in unusually blunt terms and publicly sparred over Syria and Ukraine.

They shook hands for the cameras as they met but did not smile and appeared unhappy with one another.

There is a low level of trust between Washington and Moscow, Tillerson warned. The worlds two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship.

We need to attempt to put an end to this steady degradation, which is doing nothing to restore the trust between our two countries or to make progress on the issues of greatest importance to both of us, he added.

But both diplomats said they saw ways to stop the slide.

Lavrov said the two governments had agreed to appoint special envoys to conduct what he called a pragmatic conversation about the irritants, so to speak, that have piled up in our relationship under the Obama administration.

The Obama administration imposed economic sanctions on Moscow in 2014 after it annexed the Crimean peninsula and intervened militarily in eastern Ukraine. Obama approved additional sanctions in December after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had used hacking and other tactics to interfere in the 2016 presidential race.

I for one would like to say that I do not think that Russia and the U.S. have so great a distance that it cannot be bridged on many issues of the international agenda, both with Syria and Ukraine, Lavrov said. Its not impossible.

Tillerson said they did not discuss easing sanctions, noting that anger in Congress over Russian meddling in last years election is serious enough to attract additional sanctions.

Lavrov quickly responded, saying the U.S. envoy did not threaten me with sanctions; didnt threaten me with anything, actually.

They argued over U.S. charges that Assads forces carried out the chemical weapons attack last week that killed more than 80 people and injured hundreds more. Russian military forces support Assad in the multi-sided Syrian civil war, and Lavrov insisted he had seen no confirmation that Syrian forces had used nerve gas.

Lavrov instead took Tillerson to task for what he called the illegitimate U.S. cruise missile attack that followed, and the U.S. opposition to Assads continued rule.

He said the U.S. has a long history of toppling dictators, including Serbias Slobodan Milosevic, Iraqs Saddam Hussein, Libyas Moammar Kadafi and others in wars that he called a blatant violation of international law.

Earlier, as he stepped into a long session with Lavrov, Tillerson said he hoped to find areas of common interest  even where our tactical approaches may be different  and further clarify areas of sharp difference.

Lavrov said Moscow wanted to understand the Trumps administrations real intentions.

It is customary for new U.S. secretaries of State to meet with Russian presidents on their first trips to Moscow, a tradition that goes back to before World War II.

So the Kremlin statement on Monday that Putin would not receive Tillerson had seemed another sign of the nosedive in relations  especially since Putin had personally bestowed one of Russias highest honors, the Order of Friendship, on Tillerson just four years ago, when he was chief executive of Exxon Mobil.

Putin, in the TV interview, lashed out at U.S. allies in NATO for their unanimous support for the U.S. retaliatory strike in Syria.

Everyone is nodding, like bobbing-head dolls, without analyzing anything that is happening, Putin said. Where is the proof the Syrian military used chemical weapons? None. And there is a violation of international law. Thats an obvious fact.

Trump had studiously avoided criticizing Putin, but finally addressed the matter in an interview with Fox Business Network.

Frankly, Putin is backing a person thats truly an evil person, Trump said, referring to Assad. I think its very bad for Russia. I think its very bad for mankind.

Times staff writers Wilkinson and Lauter reported from Washington. Special correspondent Mirovalev reported from Moscow.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter

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The death of a respected New York state judge whose body was found floating in the Hudson River on Wednesday is being investigated as a possible suicide.

The body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, the first African American woman to serve on the New York State Appellate Court and a prominent figure in legal circles, was found fully clothed in the river near 132nd Street, about one mile from her home in Harlem.

Police said there were no obvious signs of trauma or foul play.

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The New York Daily News quoted an unnamed police officer saying that suicide was suspected, but the police would not confirm the report.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing, a police spokesman said in a statement.

Abdus-Salaam was appointed to the states highest court in 2013, becoming the first African American woman as well as the first Muslim to serve in the position. She was known to champion the rights of same-sex parents in child custody and visitation cases.

She was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

Born Sheila Turner, Abdus-Salaam used the surname of her first husband. She was born in Washington, D.C., to a family with seven children and was educated in public schools. Her official biography posted on the courts website said she became interested in law as a young child watching television shows like Perry Mason, and by high school had developed a fascination with the civil rights movement.

She graduated from Barnard College and received her law degree from Columbia University, beginning her legal career as a staff attorney for legal services in Brooklyn.

She married her third husband, an Episcopal priest, last summer.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

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9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with additional background.

This article was originally published at 7:10 a.m.
Ed Murray was supposed to cruise to an election victory this fall for a second term as Seattle mayor.

Instead, allegations that he had sex with underage boys three decades ago are threatening to end his long political career.

The upheaval began last week when one man filed a civil lawsuit against the mayor and the Seattle Times published similar allegations from two other men, upending the race for mayor and setting off what the paper called the biggest political scandal in Seattle in generations.

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Murray, the citys first openly gay mayor, has been a vocal proponent of same-sex marriage, fighting homelessness, raising the minimum wage and fighting the Trump administrations efforts to force cities to cooperate with federal authorities to arrest immigrants in the country illegally.

The allegations date to the 1980s, when Murray worked with troubled youths. The Seattle Times spoke with two accusers in 2008 but did not publish their accounts until last week, when another man, a 46-year-old identified only as D.H., filed the lawsuit.

The suit claims that starting in 1986, when D.H. was a 15-year-old crack addict, and continuing for five years, Murray routinely paid him $10 to $20 for sex acts. Sex with a minor is statutory rape, though the statute of limitations has long expired.

In an editorial Wednesday, the newspaper called on Murray to not seek reelection.

Regardless of whether the allegations are true, he cannot lead under this cloud, it said.

The lawyer for D.H. said his client had remained silent for so long because he didnt want his father to know. But the fathers recent death freed him to speak as long as his name was not publicly revealed, said the lawyer, Lincoln Beauregard.

In a note to readers, the Times managing editor explained that the newspaper had decided in 2008 that it had too little information to publish the allegations of the two other accusers. Given the similarities between those accounts and the allegations made by D.H., the paper overturned that decision, the note explained.

One of the men, Jeff Simpson, 49, told the paper that in the early 1980s he lived in a Portland home for troubled teens, where Murray worked at the time. He said he was 13 the first time that Murray raped him. The other accuser, Lloyd Anderson, 51, said he was also a resident of the home and told a similar story.

Simpson said he reported Murray to a Portland social worker and a police detective  an account the paper said was supported by a record from May 1984 showing that the Multnomah County district attorney considered, then rejected, filing third-degree sodomy charges against Murray.

Murray soon left Portland and moved to Seattle, where he became active in local politics. A Democrat, he went on to serve in the Washington state House and Senate before being elected mayor in 2013.

In a media briefing last week, Murray said the allegations were just not true and that I will continue to be mayor to this city and I will continue to run for reelection.

Things have never come easy to me in life, but I have never backed down and I will not back down now, he said.

Murray took no questions and left the room after a hug from his husband, Michael Shiosaki, 56, a city parks planner who has been his partner for more than 25 years.

The scandal took a salacious turn this week when the mayors lawyer, Robert Sulkin, held a news conference to announce that a doctor had examined Murrays genitals and found no trace of a mole that the lawsuit said would prove that D.H. had seen him without clothes.

This is the heart of the allegations, and theyre false, Sulkin said. The accuser has absolutely no credibility and the case should be dropped.

In response, Beauregard said he may seek a second, independent examination.

In liberal Seattle, the fact that the mayor is gay seems to have played little role in the public reaction to the spiraling scandal. Some commentators, however, have pointed out that the law firm where Beauregard works was founded by John Connelly, who opposes same-sex marriage and with his wife contributed $50,000 to a failed 2016 initiative to stop transgender people from using the public bathrooms of their choice.

Beauregard told the Seattle weekly newspaper the Stranger that he disagrees with Connellys politics and described himself as an African American civil rights attorney and longtime Democrat.

I would go to the mat to fight for gay civil rights, he said. We have represented many, many gay clients. The idea that this is anti-gay is ridiculous.

Gay City, Seattles LGBTQ center, said in a news release that it is not in a position to comment on the specifics of any particular case.

The City Council appeared befuddled by the allegations, with President Bruce Harrell reading a 295-word statement this week that did not directly mention the mayor. My council colleagues and I have no intention of commenting on matters of pending or potential litigation, it said.

Kshama Sawant, a socialist on the council, issued her own statement Wednesday. While I cannot speak to the veracity of the claims, allegations of rape and abuse should always be taken seriously and investigated with care and diligence, she said. Our society, plagued by inequality and enormous imbalances of both power and wealth, is a painful place for sexual-violence survivors.

To some, it sounded like the start of a mayoral campaign.

Murray, whose Twitter account describes him as a champion of civil rights, is the best known among eight candidates who have indicated theyll run for mayor in the July 1 primary election for mayor. Hes also the leading fundraiser, having raised $300,000.

Praising Murray as a relatively successful mayor, the Seattle Times editorial said that stepping aside would clear the way for another qualified, pragmatic leader to come forward.

What is best for the city, Mr. Mayor? it asked.

Anderson is a special correspondent.
Alabamas embattled Gov. Robert Bentley stepped down Monday after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors following a salacious sex scandal. That set off an enormous media extravaganza that overshadowed the other big political news out of Alabama this week: Bentleys successor, Gov. Kay Ivey, signed a law Tuesday ending the states atrocious practice of allowing judges to override a jurys recommendation of a life sentence and instead send convicted killers to death row.

The death penalty is an anachronistic, barbaric act, and society would be better off without it. It is meted out disproportionately against people of color and the poor. It hinges on the arbitrary whims of local prosecutors, who decide whether particular murders should be charged as capital offenses. The courts themselves have proven susceptible to bad policing, prosecutorial misconduct and lying witnesses.

But despite all that, states that continue to put people to death need to ensure that they do so as fairly as possible and without violating the constitution.

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Alabama hasnt met those standards. The Supreme Court ruled in its 2002 Ring vs. Arizona decision that under the 6th Amendment guarantee to a jury trial, the findings of fact that can lead to an execution must be made by a jury, not a judge. The court reinforced that standard in its 2015 Hurst vs. Florida decision, ruling that Floridas system of having juries issue advisory recommendations was insufficient because the final decision was left to a judge. Florida subsequently revised its rules; the Delaware Supreme Court also voided its similar system. But Alabamas judicial override system sputtered on. The outrageous practice is compounded by politics. The Equal Justice Initiative, a civil rights and criminal justice advocacy group, has reported that judicial overrides increase during judicial election years, suggesting that some death sentences may have been imposed not because the defendants were the worst of the worst, but because judges running for reelection sought to portray themselves as tough on crime. That would be a cynical abuse of judicial authority.

So in the better late than never spirit, its good that Alabama has finally ended the practice. But hold the full applause. The new law doesnt change Alabamas rule allowing a death sentence to be handed down on the basis of 10 out of 12 juror votes (rather than a unanimous 12, which is what is required for conviction). Also, the new law is not retroactive, which means people sent to Alabamas death row by judges overruling juries still face executions. Presuming Alabama isnt about to end the death penalty altogether, it should take those two additional steps to make its system as fair and just as possible.

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In a recent op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, naturalized U.S. citizen Lubana Adi detailed how Customs and Border Protection agents seized and searched her phone without a warrant when she returned from visiting family in Turkey. Does the 4th Amendment apply to Muslim citizens at LAX? she asked.

The sad truth is that its core protections dont seem to apply to any U.S. citizen at the border, where customs agents are as free to pore through hard drives as they are to scrutinize roller bags and backpacks. This so-called border exception to the 4th Amendment has a long history. The very first Congress called for warrantless searches at the border to ensure the proper collection of duties; since then, the rationalization expanded to include the need to block contraband, such as illegal drugs and child pornography.

With laptops and smartphones proliferating, though, border agents are using the exception to seek something other than smuggled goods or contraband  theyre looking for evidence that the devices owner is up to no good. Such searches multiplied in the last two years of the Obama administration, rising from 4,700 in 2015 to almost 24,000 in 2016, the Associated Press reported. The Trump administration has multiplied them again, with searches on pace to hit 60,000 this year.

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Searches conducted without even a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity arent just inefficient; theyre also an affront to Americans constitutional right to privacy. Adi and her fellow citizens are having the sensitive personal information on their digital devices hoovered up by federal agents  apparently because of where they traveled or their ethnicity, other times purportedly because of randomly applied scrutiny. Some even are having their devices searched before they leave.

Smartphones and laptops arent like luggage  they are repositories of medical and financial data, communications with loved ones, and in many cases a detailed digital history of ones movements. The breadth and sensitivity of that information is what makes these devices different from the sorts of personal possessions that law enforcement officers can legally examine without a warrant, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled three years ago. That ruling applied to people whom police officers have arrested, which invites the question why Americans at the border should have fewer rights than those in a holding cell.

Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and a bipartisan group of House members think the answer is: They shouldnt. Theyve introduced legislation in the House and Senate to bar border agents from searching a U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents digital devices without a warrant. It also would prohibit an increasingly common tactic of delaying or refusing entry to citizens and lawful residents unless they volunteered their device passwords and social media accounts.

The measure would allow warrantless searches for emergency situations involving imminent threats, national security or organized crime, as long as there are grounds to obtain a warrant after the fact. Its a reasonable exception that underlines the point of the bill, which is to stop baseless searches of U.S. citizens  a step thats long overdue.

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Its a lamentable fact of political life that winning an election for superior court judge in California often depends on what job description the candidate chooses to put on the ballot.

The ballot designation goes right under the candidates name, allowing each contender three little words to squeeze in as much attention-grabbing and persuasive information as the law may permit. So in many cases a deputy district attorney can call himself or herself a violent crimes prosecutor, or perhaps a gang crime prosecutor in hopes that voters will be impressed by such tough-on-crime credentials.

The political gold standard may be child molestation prosecutor. If you can get away with that one youre a pretty good bet to land a spot in a run-off or win the race outright.

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Thats a sorry comment on how voters decide among judicial candidates. Sorrier still is the fact that so many candidates for a job in which truth is paramount push the truth and the law to the limit, and sometimes beyond, by using ballot designations that obscure rather than clarify their actual occupations. If you prosecuted mostly petty theft cases but assisted in one misdemeanor spousal assault case last year, for example, should you be allowed to call yourself a domestic violence prosecutor? If youre an insurance lawyer but also teach a law class for an hour once each week, can you be a law professor? If you run a restaurant but you also have a law license and defended a cousin accused of prostitution last year, can you call yourself a sex trafficking lawyer? Perhaps  if the registrar-recorder is in a good mood and none of your opponents challenge you in court.

For too many judicial candidates, ballot designations have become an invitation to deceive. Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica), has a worthy bill that would help end such gamesmanship by more strictly limiting what candidates can call themselves. A candidate couldnt use designations like lawyer or attorney unless they spent at least half their time in that profession in the previous year. A government lawyer would be limited to using the actual job title, such as deputy district attorney.

Of course, if the real point is to give voters useful as well as accurate information, perhaps it would be better to scrap ballot designations altogether and instead offer links to State Bar discipline records, performance reviews, Yelp-like client comments or video of candidate forums.

But lets not get carried away, and lets not get ahead of ourselves. SB 235 is a smart step forward. It deserves support.

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President Trumps relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin may turn out to be too close for comfort, but Trumps instincts about U.S.-Russia ties are at least partly right. The U.S. simply cant afford poor relations with the planets other nuclear superpower.

Security in Syria depends on it, for one. The even bigger issue, however, is security in Europe, where tensions between Russia and NATO have been acute for three years.

Some analysts maintain that Putin cultivates an adversarial relationship with the outside world to strengthen his popularity at home and thus his hold on power, and also to provide him with an excuse to suppress dissent. This may be true, but he also appears to bear a genuine grudge against the United States for its post-Cold War assertiveness near Russian territory. For two decades, and especially over the last 10 years, Putin and many other Russian officials have complained that NATOs eastward march threatens Russias security.

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Granted, NATO has gone out of its way to consult and work with Russia since the Cold War ended. It has also avoided putting major combat forces in new member states that are located near Russias borders.

One can understand why Russians would find it overbearing and triumphalist that NATO moved 1,000 miles east while taking in a dozen new members.

Still, one can understand why Russians would find it overbearing and triumphalist that NATO moved 1,000 miles east while taking in a dozen new members, most of which were previously part of the Warsaw Pact or the Soviet Union. The U.S. also supported democratic forces that gave rise to revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, and, as Moscow sees it, we attacked other countries, including Serbia, Iraq and Libya, without a legal basis for doing so and often with poor results. Meanwhile, NATO expansion continues. Last month, the U.S. Senate ratified the Balkan nation of Montenegros accession to the alliance, and Trump on Tuesday signed off on the move.

In Putins eyes, we are an out-of-control hyper-power that must be opposed. His view is warped, but it appears to be sincere.

The whole situation is counterproductive, and nowhere more so than in Ukraine and Georgia. President George W. Bush persuaded NATO to publicly offer eventual membership to the two countries  both former Soviet republics, both adjacent to Russia  but there was no timetable established and no interim guarantee of security in the meantime. They are thus fully exposed to Russian aggression. Exacerbating matters, NATO has a longstanding policy of not accepting new members until they resolve any territorial disputes with neighbors. Though a sensible idea in the abstract, the policy gives Putin an incentive to stoke trouble with Ukraine and Georgia, because any ongoing disputes invalidate their near-term eligibility for NATO membership.

Trump should at least try to deescalate tensions. He could do so with a broad agreement between NATO states, Moscow and the neutral countries of Europe. In such an agreement, NATO could vow not to expand further. In return, Russia would commit to leave the neutral countries alone, withdraw military forces from their territories, allow them to join whatever diplomatic and economic groups they want (including the European Union), and stop arming and abetting separatists in places such as the Donbas region of Ukraine and northern Georgia. Once Putin met these conditions, the U.S. could lift its sanctions against Russia.

Trumps two predecessors also wanted to improve U.S.-Russia relations, of course. Bush tried until disputes over Iraq and NATO soured the atmosphere; Russia then invaded Georgia in the summer of 2008. President Obama talked of a reset with Moscow before his hopes were dashed by Russias aggression against Ukraine and Syria, and by Putins suppression of dissent and democracy at home.

Putin continues to make diplomacy difficult. He is now adamantly opposing Trumps limited and careful reprisal against the gruesome use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. And as investigations heat up into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election, much of Trumps top national security team is reverting to anti-Russia rhetoric.

If we continue down this path, a U.S.-Russia war could even erupt over a contested area in Europe. To reduce the risk, we need to develop an alternative to further expansion of NATO, one that promotes the security and prosperity of the neutral countries in Eastern Europe.

Michael E. OHanlon is a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution.

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Most semi-frequent travelers have their own private no-fly listthat one airline whose aggressive incompetence and casual cruelty leads them to say never again. Even before introducing the term re-accommodate into the National Registry of Corporate Euphemisms, United has been that no-go airline for me, the result of a long series of outrages beginning with the near-ruination of George Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue.

And yet, after grim Expedia searches, I continue to sporadically fly those unfriendly skies, because unlike evil rental car companies (cough *AVIS* cough), air carriers have colluded with government to shield themselves from the consumer-friendly gales of competition. Protectionist legislators have basically made it impossible for us to quit United.

Perhaps youve seen that graphic making the rounds, showing how mergers over the last decade have consolidated the largest 11 domestic airlines into a profitable, customer-abusing Big Five? The accompanying BuzzFeed headline is a true enough conclusion: Airlines Treat You Badly Because They Can. But like a lot of the how-we-got-here coverage this week, it misses one elephant in the room.

Foreign companies and individualsthink Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic Airwaysare forbidden by U.S. law from owning more than 25% of a domestic airline. Thats why Virgin America could be sold last year to Alaska Airlines over the express wishes of Virgins famous founder: He just didnt have enough votes.

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With real competition comes real failure, hopefully followed by bankruptcy and even liquidation, instead of American-style too-big-to-fail bailouts.

The differently headquartered are banned outright from servicing routes between two American cities, a practice with the sinister-sounding name of cabotage. And carriers from Singapore to the Gulf States are not only barred from competition, but subject to sneering taunts by American legacies from behind the protectionist firewall, such as when United CEO Oscar Munoz this March said that companies including the well-regarded Emirates arent real airlines.

What on Earth justifies such pre-Trump xenophobic mercantilism in our increasingly globalized world? According to North Americas Air Line Pilots Assn.: These regulations ensure the national security of our country and the integrity of our airline industry. Or translated into honest-ese, These regulations ensure the job security of unionized U.S. nationals and the continued existence of poorly run U.S. airlines.

The nexus between neglected infrastructure and national security is one of the most reliably insane areas of public policy. Recall the coast-to-coast freakout in 2006 when Dubai Ports World attempted to buy management rights to a half-dozen major U.S. ports. Or, for those of us with longer memories, the shameful panic here in L.A. a quarter century ago when the county awarded a subway-car contract to a company from (shudder) Japan.

In fact, one of the biggest worries among free-market economists about President Trumps gestating $1-trillion infrastructure bill is that it will contain buy American, hire American provisions that would discourage needed investments from foreign companies and financial institutions.

The irony of Americas lagging air travel qualityincluding the abject lousiness of its airports, which President Trump is absolutely correct aboutis that we once led the world in airline innovation. When the domestic industry was deregulated in the mid-1970s, thanks to then-Sen. Ted Kennedy, future Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, liberal economist Alfred Kahn, and President Carter (yes, you read all that right), our trading partners scrambled to become more like us. Then they surpassed us.

It took a couple of decades, but eventually the European Union dismantled subsidies for national carriers, privatized a number of airports (something unheard of here), and let literally hundreds of low-cost airlines run riot. It even allowed some foreign-airline cabotage, on a case-by-case basis. The result is those annoying Instagram pics from friends who live in London, showing off that people in Europe fly everywhere for dirt cheap.

Yes, airlines on the continent come and go faster than New York restaurants. But thats precisely the point: With real competition comes real failure, hopefully followed by bankruptcy and even liquidation, instead of American-style too-big-to-fail bailouts. How many customers must United pummel before they can Gershwin us no more?

As Marc Scribner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute put it this week: If American consumers wish to enjoy improved service quality in air travel, they should demand that Congress repeal 90 years of anti-competitive federal law. Less regulation of air travel, not more, is the solution.

This will be a lonely sentiment in a week when headline-chasers from Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen elbow each other out with interventionist solutions. But if we really want to punish United Airlinesand Lord, how Ive dreamed of this daythen letting Richard Branson and his cohort come and compete on American soil will do more to extract justice than a hundred regulators ever could.

Matt Welch is editor at large of Reason, a magazine published by the libertarian Reason Foundation, and a contributing writer to Opinion.

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To the editor: Protesting is a right guaranteed by the 1st Amendment. Preventing someone from speaking is not protected. (Shutting down campus speech is a great way to lose an argument, editorial, April 11)

Those protesters who tried to prevent conservative author Heather Mac Donald from speaking at Claremont-McKenna College should be ashamed of themselves. Our nation is made better by vigorous political debates.

I recall when American Nazi George Lincoln Rockwell spoke at UCLA in 1967. Those of us who were disgusted by his political views did not prevent him from speaking. Instead, when Rockwell took the stage at Royce Hall, we silently stood up and turned our backs to him. We did not shout him down, we did not rush the stage, and we did not prevent him from expressing his views.

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If one is confident in his or her beliefs, then there is no reason to prevent a person with opposing views from expressing them. But those who lack confidence in their beliefs will seek to prevent a person with opposing views from speaking.

Andrew C. Sigal, Valley Village

..

To the editor: The recent student action at Claremont-McKenna reaffirms why some students are called sophomores. Trying to prevent disturbing opinions by disruption is as ineffective as J.D. Salingers character Holden Caulfields effort to eliminate graffiti by erasing it from the walls.

I would urge students to move beyond the sophomoric to realize a universitys gift to society is to provide a protected place where the free exchange of all ideas is encouraged. That indefatigable voice of democratic liberalism, John Stuart Mill, understood the necessity of this principle when he told us society is no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.

In 1970, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan closed 28 public college campuses in California to prevent protests over the Kent State killings. A few of us, recalling another Millsean notion  that truth emerges stronger by collision with error  fought to keep the schools open; I would implore that we do the same today.

A. Lee Brown Jr., Lake San Marcos, Calif.

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Chinese bystanders peeking at a Shanghai reporter's laptop. (Photo : Getty Images News)

China's Internet and public opinion monitoring company Knowlesys aims to make it in the international market after over a decade of domestic success.



Knowlesys intends to get ready going up against U.S., Russian and Western competitors by attending several major surveillance industry trade shows in 2017. Representatives of Knowlesys will be present at such events as ISS World in Europe and the Milipol in the Middle East to make sales pitches to potential customers in Asia and Europe.



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In Knowlesys' industry, being "Made in China" carries a lot of weight as the country produces the most effective Internet surveillance systems. A key facet of what Knowlesys supplies is the close and deep monitoring of public opinion and open source content.



The Knowlesys Intelligence System (KIS) sells social media and open source Internet monitoring and analysis tools.



A couple of years ago, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Toronto claimed that China is using a powerful tool that could intercept and redirect Web traffic.



This happened after China flooded American websites with heavy Internet traffic with the intention to take out websites that are blocked in China.



Governmental customers use the KIS to censor websites and platforms.



Knowlesys is available in several languages including Arabic, English, Chinese and Uyghur, the language in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.



The surveillance industry trade shows have grown rapidly over the last seven years due not only to technological advancement but also to a widespread fear of an Arab Spring repeating elsewhere, according to ISS World founder Jerry Lucas. Those protests and upheavals were driven in large part by the quick and innovative adoption of social media among new communities in the Middle East.



As a result, the ability to effectively monitor and analyze social media has tempted governments to buy products like the Knowlesys Web Data Miner System and Knowlesys Intelligence System.



Knowlesys is used by major Western companies, including Virgin Media, and Chinese corporate behemoths like Alibaba and Sina. The company is used extensively to watch platforms like Twitter and Sina Weibo, China's leading microblogging service.


To the editor: Stupidity usually does not require a response. (White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer apologizes for saying Hitler didnt use chemical weapons, April 11)

However, I suggest the following for White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who wrongly said that Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons:

A mandatory visit to Auschwitz.

A mandatory visit to the holocaust museum in Washington.

Lessons in using his brain before opening his mouth.

Instruction in the German master plan for the annihilation of all Jews.

Then, after completing the above, he must sincerely apologize to all Holocaust survivors, after which he should be fired for incompetence. As a Holocaust survivor and very proud American, I demand nothing less.

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Marianne Bobick, Long Beach

..

To the editor: Please inform Spicer that he is in error about Hitler not gassing his own people.

Under the Aktion T4 program started in 1939 by Hitler, the gnadentod (good death) program was instituted for patients whose lives were deemed not worth living. By the end of 1941, nearly 100,000 patients were collected in secret and taken to psychiatric institutes across Germany to be gassed to death.

The only crime of these people was that they were elderly, crippled or mentally disabled. Perhaps Spicer forgot about them.

Craig Carr, West Hills

..

To the editor: Spicer has to go. The White House has to realize that Spicer lacks general knowledge of history, which is unacceptable for its most high-profile spokesman.

Holocaust centers? Hitler did not gas his own people? Werent the people of Germany (including Jews) under Hitlers leadership, similar to how the people of Syria attacked with chemical weapons were under Bashar Assads control?

Chemical bombs are the same as chemical gas chambers.

Steve Shaevel, Woodland Hills

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To the editor: Abbe R. Gluck claims that the loss of the filibuster is a tragic loss for our democracy. In fact, getting rid of the Senate filibuster will allow us to regain some of the democratic principles of our government. (Goodbye, U.S. Senate, Opinion, April 7)

Democracy requires that the majority legislates and governs, and the Senate is the most undemocratic part of our government. It is possible for 41 senators representing a small minority of the U.S. population to effectively shut down the government by preventing cloture.

The Affordable Care Act was not an example of bipartisan cooperation. Even though Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) voted against cloture in the Senate, she had voted for the bill to go forward in the Finance Committee and was vilified by her Republican colleagues. She went on to retire from the Senate because of the hostility of her fellow Republicans. This is hardly a democratic process.

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It is time to discard the filibuster in the Senate. Let the party in power legislate and govern.

Terrence R. Dunn, Bakersfield

..

To the editor: I disagree with Gluck for three reasons.

First, I believe the filibuster is unconstitutional. The Constitution carefully specifies when a supermajority is required. The filibuster is not one of them.

Second, the Senate is already, structurally and undemocratically, tilted in favor of the minority. Each state, regardless of population, is allotted two senators. So Wyoming, population 585,000, has as many senators as California, population 39 million. The filibuster exacerbates this imbalance.

Third, for most of its history, the filibuster was used sparingly and rarely did harm. Then came Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), the current majority leader who, as the minority leader, shattered the long-standing norm by applying the filibuster indiscriminately, making a sham of the rule. His abuse established a destructive new norm.

The filibuster as had its ugly day. Now it must go.

Bill Blum, Studio City

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
University of California administration is paying excessive salaries and mishandling funds, state audit says

UCLA campus (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The administration of the University of California system pays top workers salaries and benefits significantly higher than that of similar state employees, and failed to disclose to the Board of Regents and the public that it had $175 million in budget reserve funds while it was seeking to raise tuition, a state audit found Tuesday.

The audit triggered a dispute with UC President Janet Napolitano, who said charges of hidden funds were false, while two members of the UC Board of Regents charged recommendations to give the Legislature budget authority over the Office of the President encroached on UCs constitutional powers.

Among the sticking points, the auditors believe the regents should contract with an independent third party that can assist the regents in monitoring a three-year corrective action plan.

The audit of the Office of the President also found that it failed to satisfactorily justify its spending on system-wide initiatives and inappropriately screened surveys submitted by auditors to campus officials.

Our report concludes that the Office of the President has amassed substantial reserve funds, used misleading budgeting practices, provided its employees with generous salaries and atypical benefits, and failed to satisfactorily justify its spending on systemwide initiatives, State Auditor Elaine Howle wrote to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature.

Furthermore, when we sought independent perspective from campuses about the quality and cost of the services and programs the Office of the President provides to them, the Office of the President intentionally interfered with our audit process, Howle wrote.

The auditor said that because of recent tuition hikes, she recommends the Office of the President should refund available funds in the reserves by returning them to the campuses for the benefit of students.

Ralph Washington Jr. president of the U.C. Students Assn. said if any reserve money is found it should go to help students, possibly by killing the tuition increase or helping students who are starving or homeless, but he is concerned legislators may use the audit to say the U.C. doesnt need so much general fund money.

Students definitely dont want their tuition to go up, he said.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), who serves on the board of regents, said the audit requires more inquiry.

The audit of the UC Office of the President appears to have uncovered the same kind of budgetary misrepresentations and executive excess that weve seen before with the State Parks Department and the Public Utilities Commission, Rendon said in a statement. There are many questions that need to be answeredand answered honestly.

The audit was requested by legislators concerned about high tuition and complaints of a bloated administration overseeing the UC systems 10 campuses.

The reserve included $32 million in unspent funds it received from an annual charge levied on the campusesfunds that campuses could have spent on students, the audit said.

Auditors said salaries paid to those in the presidents office are much higher than the pay of comparable positions in other state government jobs.

President Napolitano agreed with the vast majority of recommendations for improving budget processes and spending, but denied that $175 million was hidden from the UC Board of Regents.

In a letter to Howle, the president said changes were already underway.

The recommendations to [the UC presidents office] are helpful, Napolitano wrote. We welcome this constructive input, which aligns with our proactive efforts to continually improve UCOPs operations, and UCOP intends to implement the recommendations.

However, Board of Regents Chair Monica Lozano and Regent Charlene Zettel asked Howle to remove recommendations that they feel encroach on the constitutional autonomy of the university system, including proposals to have the Legislature approve the Office of the Presidents budget.

As written, we believe these recommendations threaten the Universitys standing as a constitutionally autonomous entity, and the Board of Regents itself, the regents wrote.

Administrative salaries amounted to $2.5 million more than the maximum annual salary ranges for comparable state employees, auditors found.

For instance, an accounting managers maximum annual salary is $169,000 at UC compared to $156,000 for other state employees.

An information system manager can make $258,000 with UC, but $150,000 with other state agencies.

The audit said: 10 executives in the Office of the President whose compensation we analyzed were paid a total of $3.7 million in fiscal year 2014-15  over $700,000 more than the combined salaries of their highest paid state employee counterparts.

On benefits, the Office of the President provided a regular retirement plan but also offered its executives a retirement savings account into which the office contributes up to 5% of the executives salariesabout $2.5 million over the past five years, the audit found.

The Office of the President also spent more than $2 million for its staffs business meetings and entertainment expenses over the past five yearsa benefit that the State does not offer to its employees except in limited circumstances, the audit said..

The audit also said the Office of the President reimbursed questionable travel expenses, including a ticket for a theater performance and limousine services. One person spent $350 per night on hotel rooms, which is above the allowable standard for other state agencies.

The audit said the Office of the President has not managed its own budget  which amounted to $747 million in fiscal year 201516  in a fiscally prudent or transparent way.

Napolitano said the audit was in error in claiming her office failed to publicly disclose tens of millions in surplus funds.

In fact, UCOPs budget and financial approaches reflect strategic, deliberate and transparent spending and investment in UC and state priorities, said a statement by the Office of the President.

Howle disagreed.

Significant reforms are necessary to strengthen the publics trust in the Office of the President, the audit concluded.

Read the audit here.
Born and raised in Britain, Junaid Hussain was an accomplished computer hacker, winning notoriety for posting former Prime Minister Tony Blairs personal information online and for blocking a police anti-terrorism hotline.

After six months in prison, the stocky 19-year-old fled gritty Birmingham in 2013 for the Syrian desert. There he put his digital skills to work for the extremist Sunni group that the world would later know as Islamic State.

Within months, Hussain was leading a dozen cyber recruiters who U.S. officials called the Raqqa 12 or The Legion. Using a web of social media accounts and encrypted messaging apps, and a multitude of languages, they directed or inspired sympathizers around the globe to join the militants on the battlefield or to launch murderous plots at home.

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By mid-2015, the digital jihadis had helped lure thousands of followers to Islamic States self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq  and scores of Americans to try to join or support them, according to FBI Director James B. Comey.

In a speech last month at the University of Texas, Comey recalled how FBI agents raced to track and arrest what he called an explosion of potential terrorists across the United States, with investigations in every state that year.

Hussain, in particular, had a knack for seeking out vulnerable people and going right at them.  Mary McCord, acting chief, Justice Dept. national security division

The FBI was strapped, he said. We were following, attempting to follow, to cover electronically with court orders, or cover physically, dozens and dozens and dozens of people who we assessed were on the cusp of violence.

The perilous period is only now coming into focus as dozens of criminal cases have gone through the courts, and as current and former FBI agents feel free to describe the desperate chase.

Of the 117 people arrested on U.S. criminal charges tied to Islamic State since January 2014, when the Sunni extremist group first burst into the headlines, more than half were nabbed in 2015, according to the George Washington Universitys program on extremism.

Driving the FBI hunt was the understanding that Islamic States cyber team not only was filling the militants ranks for war  but was inspiring the kind of lone wolf terrorists who would carry out the December 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino and the June 2016 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Like Hussain, many of his fellow recruiters came from Europe and understood Western culture, making it easy to approach their marks. They boasted of the glories of the caliphate and life in a war zone, which some recruits found beguiling.

They really had the ability to find through social media those who were vulnerable, said Mary McCord, acting chief of the Justice Departments national security division.

Hussain, in particular, had a knack for seeking out vulnerable people and going right at them, she added.

After arriving in Syria, Hussain had adopted the nom de guerre Abu Hussain Britani and the persona of a hipster thug. His Twitter avatar was a photograph of himself aiming a rifle, his face partially obscured with a scarf.

He boosted his profile by marrying Sally Jones, a former British punk rock musician whom he met online and who was given the moniker Mrs. Terror in the London press.

Hussains stature only rose in early 2015 when his team hacked Twitter and YouTube accounts used by U.S. Central Command, the Pentagon arm that conducts the war in Iraq and Syria, and posted taunting propaganda on them.

He also used Twitter to troll for recruits. In 2014 and 2015, he traded emails, tweets or texts with dozens of Americans, ranging from curious teenagers to zealots willing to kill and die for jihad, according to current and former U.S. officials.

In all, Hussain communicated with least nine people who later were arrested or killed by U.S. law enforcement, according to court filings.

One of the first was Munir Abdulkader, a 21-year-old college dropout in Cincinnati who posted videos of gruesome beheadings and confidently tweeted in September 2014 that Islamic State would rule the world.

After Abdulkader decided he wanted to go to Syria, he found Hussain on Twitter and began a dialogue with him.

U.S. and allied law enforcement and intelligence agencies were increasingly grabbing Syria-bound recruits, so the pair shifted gears. They decided Abdulkader should kidnap a U.S. soldier, record his beheading and then attack a local police station with guns and pipe bombs, according to court records.

Hussain sent Abdulkader the home address of a U.S. soldier and tips on how to conduct reconnaissance. When Abdulkader wrote that he did well at target practice, Hussain replied with a smiley-face emoticon, a federal prosecutor later told a court hearing.

The FBI initially tracked Abdulkader by secretly monitoring Hussains Twitter direct messages. But agents were stymied when the suspects switched to apps that encrypt messages so they can only be read by sender and receiver.

The FBI sent in an undercover informant, who befriended Abdulkader and recorded his conversations. The informant accompanied Abdulkader to a Wal-Mart to buy weapons and watched as he exchanged encrypted messages with Hussain, according to FBI officials.

The FBI arrested Abdulkader in May 2015. He pleaded guilty to attempting to kill police officers and U.S. government employees and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Hussain also sought to target Pamela Geller, head of a group that was sponsoring a Draw Muhammad contest in Garland, Texas, in May 2015. The event was deliberately provocative since depictions of Muhammad are offensive to many Muslims.

Hussain initially pressed Usaamah Abdulla Rahim, a 26-year-old man Boston-area man, to kill Geller. Rahim bought several knives, which Hussain urged him to carry in case he was confronted by the feds, Hussain later tweeted.

Rahim eventually decided to kill police. When a Boston police officer and FBI agent approached him in a pharmacy parking lot on June 2, 2015, he pulled out a 13-inch knife that police said he refused to drop. The officers shot him dead.

But Hussain had joined another plot against the Draw Muhammad contest, according to the FBI.

In April 2015, he exchanged direct messages over Twitter with Elton Simpson, a 30-year-old Arizona man, about using an encrypted app, according to court records and FBI officials.

Do you mind if I add you to surespot, Simpson asked Hussain, referring to an encrypted application. No problem, Hussain replied.

Two weeks later, Simpson and Nadir Soofi put on body armor and drove to the event in Garland. When they emerged from their car brandishing pistols and rifles, police shot them dead.

FBI officials said one of the two exchanged at least 100 encrypted messages hours earlier with someone in Islamic State whom they have not identified. Agents are still unable to read those messages.

Hussain also was in contact with Ardet Ferizi, a 19-year-old Kosovo-born man in Malaysia who used the handle Th3Dir3ctorY.

In June 2015, Ferizi had hacked the website of a major U.S. retailer and stolen personal details on more than 100,000 customers. He culled the list to about 1,300 U.S. military members and government personnel, and passed the cache to Hussain as a potential hit list.

On Aug. 11, 2015, Hussain posted identifying details on the 1,300 on Twitter in the name of the Islamic State Hacking Division, according to court documents.

We have your names and addresses, we are in your emails and social media accounts, he tweeted, warning that Islamic State would strike at your necks in your own lands!

But U.S. and allied intelligence were closing in.

Malaysian police arrested Ferizi that October on a U.S. warrant and he was extradited to Virginia. He later pleaded guilty to providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and other federal charges, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

By then, U.S. and British authorities were hot on Hussains trail in Syria. Only 21, he was high on a U.S. list for targeted killings.

On Aug. 24, 2015, a U.S. drone launched a missile that killed Hussain near Raqqa. Other drone strikes largely eliminated the initial team of digital recruiters within months.

Since then, Islamic States online presence has dwindled. It has not rebuilt its cyber wing, likely because it now lacks hackers with the necessary digital and language skills as it struggles with major losses on the battlefield.

But Hussains digital legacy worries national security officials.

Hussain and his associates were able to build relationships with their followers while bypassing the U.S. governments ability to monitor him, said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the George Washington Universitys program on extremism and coauthor of a recent paper on Hussain and his recruiting team.

It was simple and brilliant, said Hughes. The cost benefit was way on their side. Other jihadists know this, and we are likely to see people like them again seeking to inspire or direct attacks.

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Scarcely 12 weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump has backed off or reversed many of his most provocative campaign promises on foreign policy, embracing mainstream positions that have alarmed ardent supporters but have reassured U.S allies.

The president remains an unpredictable and impulsive leader on the world stage, diplomats say  one called him a nuclear whirling dervish  and he could swiftly pivot back to some of the unconventional proposals he offered in the 2016 campaign.

And while other politicians might be pummeled for so many high-profile flip-flops, Trump seemingly has inoculated himself so far by boasting that his flexibility as an outsider makes him a good negotiator.

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Thus far, at least, Trump has yet to tear up the landmark Iran nuclear disarmament deal, as he had once promised, or to reverse President Obamas historic opening to Cuba, as he vowed.

He has not moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem, as he had promised, after Arab allies warned of the turmoil it would cause.

He affirmed the one China policy that is critical to Beijing after initially questioning it, and said this week he would not declare China a currency manipulator, as he had often pledged.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is no longer obsolete, he said at a news conference Wednesday with the secretary-general of the 28-nation military alliance, a direct U-turn from his stated position shortly before he took office.

His decision to launch cruise missiles into Syria in response to a poison gas attack put him squarely in the internationalist camp that Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush once occupied, far from the neo-isolationist America first doctrine that seemed to suggest intervening only when U.S interests were directly threatened.

Bush, in a rare public comment about the current occupant of the White House, told NPR on Thursday that the realities of the job often reverse a candidates isolationist views.

To be sure, not everything is reverting to traditional policy.

The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada remains intact. But Trump still wants to renegotiate it to get what he says would be better terms for U.S. companies and consumers, and he appears determined to build a wall along parts of the Southwest border.

The administration has not withdrawn from the historic Paris accord on climate change, which sets targets for emissions that cause global warming, as Trump had suggested he might.

But he has signed executive orders to void Obama-era limits for coal-burning plants and other environmental regulations intended to help the United States, one of the worlds biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, meet its targets.

He has squabbled with the leaders of Mexico and Australia, two of Americas closest allies, and held awkward meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, head of Europes largest economy.

And human rights and democratic reform, pillars of U.S. foreign policy since the Cold War, moved to a back burner as Trump has lavished praise on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi and other autocrats.

Trumps lauding last year for Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to naught, just as Obamas early efforts to reset relations with Moscow went nowhere.

Relations may be at an all-time low, Trump acknowledged Wednesday after the White House accused Moscow of trying to cover up Syrias role in the April 4 poison gas attack, and Russia accused the Trump administration of committing a war crime by attacking Syria.

The White House insists Trump is not abandoning his convictions but rather is adapting to new circumstances. His critics argue that Trump never really had convictions and that he merely takes the position of the latest cable news show he saw  or the last person to whom he spoke.

After Trump told visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping that he believed Beijing could force North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile testing programs, for example, Xi changed Trumps mind by recounting the fraught history of China and Korea.

After listening for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy, Trump told the Wall Street Journal this week. I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power over North Korea. But its not what you would think.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer sought to explain the presidents policy reversals by saying others were evolving toward Trumps positions, not the other way around.

The presidents tough talk on a variety of issues was to get results for the American people, Spicer said.

Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former senior State Department official, said Trumps foreign policy shifts have been welcomed abroad and in the U.S. foreign policy establishment.

But discomfort and uncertainty continue to unnerve leaders and diplomats because it is unclear whether Trumps shifts are permanent, he said.

And the mere fact that a candidate and then a president could embrace such radical ideas will leave a residue, Haass added.

James Jay Carafano, a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation and key advisor to the Trump team, said it was a mistake to take most of Trumps campaign promises seriously, at least on foreign policy.

There are no U-turns here, no 180-degree flip-flops, he said. There was never an actual plan to go soft on Russia or to pull away from NATO.

Those notions, he said, were campaign rhetoric aimed at motivating his base or ginning up news coverage. In extensive meetings with Trumps staff, he said, policy was much more measured, deliberate and mainstream.

Carafano pointed to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first foreign leader to meet with Trump at the presidents Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, as the poster child for how to deal with the administration: Ignore everything Trump has said and walk into the meetings with a fresh slate.

Some of Trumps shifts may owe to internal realignments within the White House.

Trumps decision to fire Michael Flynn as national security advisor, and replace him with H.R. McMaster, a respected figure in national security circles, seems to be pushing policy closer to the mainstream.

McMaster, in turn, has brought in respected officials like Fiona Hill, a highly regarded hard-liner on Russia.

And if Trumps chief strategist, self-professed nationalist Stephen K. Bannon, is fading in influence, as has been widely reported, that too could create more room for mainstream opinion.

But those looking from outside remain nervous.

Will these shifts endure? said Haass. Or does this indicate that populism, nationalism and America first-ism are now running in the American political bloodstream?

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

Twitter: @TracyKWilkinson

brian.bennett@latimes.com

Twitter: @ByBrianBennett
Californias ride-hailing regulator is proposing a $1.1-million fine against Uber for allegedly failing to investigate or promptly suspend drivers who had drunk or drugged driving complaints filed against them.

The California Public Utilities Commission said in a legal filing released Wednesday that Uber hadnt taken appropriate action in 151 cases from August 2014 to August 2015 in violation of the states zero-tolerance regulations against intoxicated drivers. The agency also alleged that the companys driving-under-the-influence policies are too lax to comply with state rules.

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State rules say ride-hailing companies must immediately suspend drivers after receiving a zero-tolerance complaint against them. But the agencys investigation found just three cases during that time period in which Uber suspended a driver named in a complaint and followed up with an investigation of the complaint.

Instead, the agency found 64 instances in which an Uber driver provided one or more rides within an hour after a passenger filed a complaint with the company. In many cases, the agency found no evidence that Uber responded at all several hours or even a day after a complaint was filed.

Failure to suspend a driver promptly after receiving a zero-tolerance complaint is a serious violation of the [ride-hailing] rules because it places passengers and the public at immediate risk, the agency wrote in its legal filing.

Ubers current policy, according to the agency, is to deactivate a driver after receiving three unconfirmed zero-tolerance complaints. The regulator said in its filingthat the policy is too lenient and that the company doesnt adhere to it. In at least 25 cases, the agency alleges, Uber failed to suspend or investigate a driver after three or more complaints.

Under CPUC rules, the complaint will go before an administrative law judge, who can hear testimony from the agency and the company. The judge will recommend a decision to the CPUCs five-member commission.

An Uber spokeswoman declined to comment on the case.

liam.dillon@latimes.com

@dillonliam

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Updates on California politics
California state Senate leader Kevin de Leon introduced Senate Bill 54 on what was an unusually acrimonious first day of the 2017 legislative session, as lawmakers in both chambers were locked in bitter debate over the still newly elected President Donald Trump.

State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon discusses legislation that would prevent state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigration enforcement. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

The proposal, known as the sanctuary state bill, was sparked by the Trump administrations broadened deportation orders. It would expand so-called sanctuary city policies, prohibiting state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes.

But as President Trump and U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions have threatened to slash federal funding from sanctuary cities, the state legislation is raising heated opposition from Republican lawmakers and sheriffs. They argue its provisions could strain the states finances and shield dangerous criminals.

Heres what you should know about the bill.

1. It builds on an earlier law that provides protections to immigrants

De Leon has said his proposal builds on the California Trust Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in October 2013. That state statute prevents law enforcement agencies from detaining immigrants longer than necessary for minor crimes, allowing federal immigration authorities to take them into custody.

Senate Bill 54 would prevent state and local agencies from complying with any hold requests to detain immigrants, for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would also prohibit state and local agencies from using their facilities, property, equipment or personnel for immigration enforcement, and from spending money on it. The agencies would be barred from:

Collecting information about a persons immigration status

Responding to notification or transfer requests from federal immigration agencies

Responding to requests for personal information that is not publicly available for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws

Arresting people based on civil immigration warrants

Giving federal immigration officers access to interview someone in their custody for immigration enforcement purposes

Helping federal immigration officers search a car without a warrant

Performing the functions of an immigration officer

Hundreds of Sacramento residents protested, listened and shouted while acting ICE Director Thomas Homan, left, and Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones held a community forum. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

2. It would establish safe zones for immigrants

Within three months of Senate Bill 54 becoming law, the state Department of Justice would have to publish policies outlining what state and local law enforcement agencies can and cant do to assist federal officials.

It would also create safe zones for immigrants by requiring all public schools, public libraries, courthouses and health facilities run by state or local government to implement those policies or equivalent regulations, though they would not have to be approved by the state. All other government-run organizations and entities that offer physical or mental health and wellness services, or that provide access to education, legal aid and social services, including the University of California, would be encouraged but not required to adopt the state policies.

3. Law enforcement officers would be able to work with task forces  so long as theyre not dedicated to immigration enforcement

To address some concerns from law enforcement, De Leon has added new amendments to his bill that would allow local and state officers to participate in task forces  and work alongside federal immigration officers  as long as their main purpose is not immigration enforcement.

Agencies that participate in a joint law enforcement task force would have to submit a report every six months to the state Department of Justice describing the types and frequency of arrests made by the task force. Within 14 months of the bill going into effect and twice a year thereafter, the state attorney general would have to publish the reports online.

4. Federal immigration officials would be notified when felons who have violent or serious convictions are released

Other changes to the bill by De Leon have attempted to address concerns from Republican lawmakers and sheriffs over the release of violent felons.

Federal law requires that electronic fingerprint records for all offenders booked into state prisons and local jails be sent to the FBI and to the Department of Homeland Security. ICE receives an electronic notification when DHS has previously entered an inmates information into its databases and determines whether the person is a priority for deportation. If so, it can request the arresting agency to hold or notify ICE before the person is let go.

Under Senate Bill 54, communication between ICE and state and local law enforcement agencies would be limited to passing on information about inmates who have previously been deported for a violent felony, or are serving time on a misdemeanor or felony and have a prior serious or violent felony conviction. State and local agencies would only be able respond to requests from ICE for other information if it is already available to the public.

Other recent amendments to the bill would require the State Parole Board or the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation to give ICE 60-days advance notice of the release date of inmates who have been convicted of a serious or violent felony, or those who are serving time for a nonviolent crime but have a prior conviction for violent or serious crimes.

Law enforcement officers also would be allowed to contact and transfer people to ICE, with a judicial warrant, if they come into contact with someone who was previously deported for a violent felony.

5. Its unclear how much of a financial burden the legislation will be for state and local law enforcement agencies

The Senate Appropriations Committee has determined it would take a one-time cost of $2.7 million and ongoing costs of $2.3 million per year for the state to develop compliance policies, provide training and outreach to state agencies and compile task force reports as required by Senate Bill 54.

But the costs for local law enforcement agencies to change their existing procedures  and to end contracts with federal immigration agencies, some of which generate millions of dollars in revenue from leased jail space  are unknown, as is how much it will cost state agencies including courts and schools to implement the new policies. The committee has not been able to measure the potential loss in funding from Washington should the state refuse to cooperate with federal authorities.

The state is unlikely to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for their financial losses because while the bill would impose restrictions, it would not require them to develop new policies, programs or services, according to an analysis by the Senate Public Safety Committee. But the state would probably have to foot the bill for expenses accrued by local government operations, including school districts and county health facilities, which would be asked to devise new policies that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement.

6. Many sheriffs are vehemently opposed to the bill

The bill has drawn fierce opposition from sheriffs across the state, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones, who last month hosted a community forum on immigration enforcement with acting ICE Director Thomas Homan that drew a large crowd of protestors.

The sheriffs say the bill would severely limit communication and collaboration between local and federal agencies, forcing federal immigration officers to go into communities  instead of jails  when searching for immigrants who are a danger to public safety.

As the head of the nations largest sheriffs department, McDonnell runs the largest jail system in the country, which houses approximately 18,000 inmates on any given day. Asst. Sheriff Kelly Harrington, who oversees the jail operation, has previously said federal immigration agents have access inside the countys jail system every day. L.A. County jail officials last year handed over about 1,000 inmates to immigration agents  a small portion of the more than 300,000 people released from the countys jails that year.

The sheriffs also argue the changes to the bill dont address the potential loss of federal funding in counties that lease space to federal immigration agencies for detainees. An SB 54 opposition letter from Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens estimated that shortfall for her agency at roughly $22 million annually. Jones, who has said his department has $4.8 million in ICE contracts, insists his opposition stems from public safety concerns, not financial losses.

But no sheriff in Californias 58 counties is willing to hold inmates past their release dates for ICE, the Times has found. Several sheriffs said their defiance was not rooted in ethical or political opposition, but in concerns over federal court rulings, including a case in Oregon where a judge found that police violated a womans constitutional rights by keeping her in jail at the federal agencys request.

7. Supporters argue the bill will protect vulnerable communities

Dubbed the California Values Act, Senate Bill 54 is at the center of a legislative package filed by Democrats in an attempt to protect more than 3 million people living in the state illegally. Other bills aim to protect immigrants religious affiliations and create a $12-million legal defense program for immigrants facing deportation who do not have a violent felony on their records.

The bill has drawn a long list of supporters, including Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Other supporters include city officials from sanctuary cities like Santa Ana and Berkeley, immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers. They are urging opponents of the bill to move away from embracing Trump's rhetoric, which they say stereotypes immigrants as criminals, and are pointing to studies that reflect low crime rates in immigrant communities.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has said he supports with the legislations underlying tenets, but wants to ensure it does not protect criminals.

Meanwhile, some university police chiefs have supported the bill from the beginning, saying fear can keep witnesses and victims to crimes from coming forward. A 2013 study conducted by the University of Illinois found 44% of Latinos are less likely to contact police if they have been a victim of crime because they fear that police officers will ask about their immigration status.

jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com

Twitter: @jazmineulloa

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New amendments to 'sanctuary state' bill will allow police and sheriffs to contact ICE about violent felons

Here's why law enforcement groups are divided on legislation to turn California into a 'sanctuary state'

Protests erupt at Sacramento town hall meeting as ICE director answers questions about immigration enforcement

Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

12:01 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that law enforcement agencies are allowed to notify immigration officials about inmates with prior violent felony convictions.

This article was originally published at 12:00 a.m.
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.
The Costa Mesa Planning Commission plans to examine proposed changes to urbanization plans Monday that have helped spur new Westside residential development.

City officials say the plans, first approved in 2006, are in need of updating.

Based on input from the community, the commission and the City Council, city staff recommends more architectural variety for the three-story houses being constructed under the guidelines of the Westside plans.

Initially, the guidelines called for nontraditional, contemporary designs, since described by some critics as far too boxy, stark or having muted color palettes.

Now, staff is suggesting that developers return to classic California architecture, such as Spanish Colonial revival, Craftsman or bungalow.

Staff also recommends homes be prohibited from being used as short-term vacation rentals on Airbnb and similar sites.

Another recommendation would ensure ground-floor rooms, originally intended to be used as small offices, not contain full bathrooms with showers or baths, to keep them from being used as extra bedrooms.

Though the Westside plans were approved a decade ago, the Great Recession stifled the Costa Mesa housing market, and builders held back.

By 2013, the market had improved enough that construction began on the first finished tract made under the Westside urbanization guidelines.

Prices for Sea House, a 33-unit development at 1036 W. 18th St., started around the mid-$600,000s. All 33 homes sold within a year.

Since then, more than a dozen such projects have been approved or built.

Mondays meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

--

Bradley Zint, bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint
McLaren's Formula One car for the Shanghai Grand Prix. (Photo : Twitter)

Racing team McLaren is hoping to penetrate the Chinese Formula One market further after its run at the Shanghai Grand Prix.



Keeping the trend up





According to McLaren CEO Zak Brown, they want to continue the trend that they have started in the Chinese market. Brown added that the market is very important not only for McLaren but also for the entire Formula One industry, CRI reported.



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The CEO also said that the prospects for them in China go beyond the race itself, as the country will provide them with business opportunities for their applied technologies business.



Brown said that, while McLaren's Asia-Pacific operations are being managed from Singapore, they have been hiring people to further establish their presence in China. The key, he pointed out, is to bring local representatives into their team.



McLaren was one of the first teams to hone a Chinese driver, getting Ma Qunghua as a test driver. While Ma was never able to get further in the F1 scene, Brown said that the experience has helped them in doing business. He added that he wants to see a full Chinese F1 team in the future as well as more Chinese sponsors.



Bringing in more tech





Brown admitted that they were not able to mount a superb performance during the race in Shanghai, with driver Fernando Alonso having to retire in the later laps. He said that the uncooperative weather during the event has impacted their chances.



But he remains confident that the team would be able to push forward for the next leg in Bahrain. For the first time ever, McLaren is bringing in a portable 3D printer to be used in the pits, The Financial Times reported.



The new equipment will help the team's engineers and mechanics manufacture different plastic components overnight, cutting down production time for these. The parts will allow the team to make more adjustments during the practice runs to better fine-tune the cars before the race.



Traditional manufacture of the parts can often take several days.



McLaren already uses some 3D-printed parts on its cars. The team hopes that the technology will help them improve lap times come race day.


Yoshio Nakamura was in 11th grade when Executive Order 9066 came down.

The wartime injunction, signed in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the internment of more than 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans living on the West Coast  including Nakamura and his family.

If you were to go home one day and your family told you, You are no longer part of the family, thats the impact it had on me, Nakamura, 91, said about the order. All of a sudden I went from being an American to being an enemy alien.

Nakamura, who had been living in the city of El Monte in Los Angeles County, said that he went to Pasadena where he boarded a train to Tulare in the Central Valley.

When he arrived, he went to an old racetrack where he found barbed wire, searchlights, armed soldiers and horse stalls that had been converted into living quarters.

Probably the most traumatic incident in my life was the walk from the Tulare train station to the racetrack, said Nakamura. The feeling of being isolated and punished for something we had not done was really demoralizing.

Nakamura spent the next two years there, before joining the Armys 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-JapaneseAmerican unit that fought in Europe during World War II.

This year, during the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, Nakamura and other Japanese Americans are telling their stories of internment as a painful reminder of what can happen in a climate of fear and racism  something they say the country has entered into again.

We have a special duty, said Nakamura, who now lives in Whittier. We feel a real need to tell people about our experience so it isnt repeated. At least we can make a little dent in the problem.

On April 20, Nakamura and other community leaders will share strategies on how to ensure this history doesnt happen again at a panel discussion in Newport Beach.

The parallels are just incredible, said Ken Inouye, a Huntington Beach resident and past national president of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Inouye, who will also participate in the April 20 panel, pointed to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, which was charged by Congress in 1980 to study the circumstances surrounding Executive Order 9066.

It found three main causes of internment: race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership.

Each of these three, Inouye said, is still present today in relation to Muslims.

Mark Furuya, president of the Japanese American Bar Assn., agreed, citing this years executive order barring people from several majority-Muslim countries.

As the Japanese-American community, we have to make sure that we are explaining to the younger generation that this current executive order is not something controversial, this is not something that warrants a conversation, said Furuya, who will moderate Thursdays panel discussion.

Its something thats wrong on its face. This is the same kind of thing that we fought 75 years ago. We talked about how this could never happen again, but its happening again.

Nakamura recalled the immense fear many Americans felt during World War II.

All of a sudden, a Japanese American who had a porch light on because he or she forgot to turn it off would be looked upon with suspicion that it was a signal to somebody, he said. People believe all of these things if theyre fearful enough.

If you stir up people enough, youd better be careful, Nakamura went on. Theyre more willing to accept these extreme measures, that thats what happened during World War II. The fear I have is that we could slip into that, so we have to be very careful that we dont repeat the same mistakes.

Nakamuras wife, Grace, who was interned at Manzanar, added that given the countrys current political climate she could envision the return of internment camps.

Yes, I think it could happen again with the present leadership of this country, she said, by not understanding, by not studying history.

Sylvia Kim, regional director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Orange County, one of the groups hosting the April 20 event, said Japanese Americans have been at the forefront of resisting bigotry today.

Its powerful to see the Japanese American community come forward and say, We know what its like to be targeted, we know what its like to be demonized without any ties to logical or factual narrative, and we want to be part of the leading charge to stand in solidarity with another segment of the community thats being targeted, she said. We feel thats a really powerful display of solidarity.

But for the JACLs Inouye, solidarity today is also about respecting the past.

You honor your ancestors by making sure it doesnt happen again, he said.

If You Go

What: Never Again panel discussion

When: Noon to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 20

Where: 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1700, Newport Beach

Cost: $35

Information: Katelyn Ogawa at kogawa@advancingjustice-oc.org.

Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil is a contributor to Times Community News.
As we near Easter, I think of the time Irish writer and philosopher Peter Rollins took up the question of whether he affirms or denies the resurrection of Christ.

His answer: Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think.

For a person who writes about religious matters, that sounds a bit irreligious, doesnt it? But, Rollins explanation turn his words from the irreligious to the profound: I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

This Sunday, Christians throughout the world will be celebrating the resurrection of Christ through liturgy, songs, words of hope, even bright finery. We will speak of an event from 2,000 years ago. We will read accounts of that fate-filled morning. We will share both the joy and amazement of those who first heard that, in Christ, life overcomes death.

Those stories will also speak of fear and trembling. The presence of those emotions remind us that Jesus death was an execution, a public declaration that he was a blasphemer of God and an enemy of the state. For the early church, proclaiming Jesus resurrection was a dangerous affair, a perilous way of defying both religious and civil authorities.

What Rollins reminds us is that even today affirming or denying the resurrection of Christ is not simply a profession of words spoken in the context of a safe and secure worship environment. It continues to be a call to live dangerously.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are, Rollins continues. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.

In a world where Christians are subject to terror in Egypt while celebrating Palm Sunday, where Syrians are attacked with chemical weapons, where mosques and synagogues are vandalized with the graffiti of hate, and where immigrants are presumed guilty, Easter matters.

The resurrection that many of us will proclaim in liturgy and song on Easter Sunday is not an annual religious ritual. It is way of living that walks in genuine solidarity with anyone who is victimized by the hubris of the powerful, because resurrection means the culture of death will never have the last word.

MARK DAVIS is the pastor of St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.
Mailboxes emptied all the way down a residential street. Envelopes strewn about the yard. Packages reportedly delivered but missing from front doorsteps. Cards and letters ripped open and removed of cash or checks.

Such occurrences seem commonplace in La Canada Flintridge, where residents are airing grievances on social media outlets about what theyre seeing as a rash of mail thefts.

La Canada resident Greg Jones realized he was hit in November, when he and his son received birthday cards from a relative in the mail only to find them ripped open and devoid of the $100 bills theyd originally contained.

I never felt at risk before, said the Pomander Place homeowner. But I guess the problems gotten bad for [mail thefts] and for daytime burglaries.

Join the conversation on Facebook 

Victims like Jones are not shy about expressing their desire for justice. But beyond venting frustrations about a problem with no clear and immediate solution, what can victims of mail theft do?

Contacting local law enforcement is a logical first step, but Sgt. Alan Chu, a detective with the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station, says investigating mail thefts is challenging.

The main problem with mail theft is we dont know whats stolen or when it was stolen, Chu said. You can have an open mailbox but it doesnt mean youre a victim of mail theft, because you dont know whats been delivered.

The detective said while such thefts have become rampant  evolving with help from the Internet into complicated schemes that can involve hundreds of victims and criminals in foreign countries  bringing perpetrators to justice is rare.

Its hard to combat, Chu said. Safeguarding your information is more important than anything else. Go get a lockable mailbox  that will solve a lot of problems.

Safeguarding your information is more important than anything else. Go get a lockable mailbox  that will solve a lot of problems.  Sgt. Alan Chu

Issuing a report is an important way to begin seeking compensation for losses and create a paper trail investigators can follow if and when a mail thief is caught.

Residents can also sign up for Informed Delivery (informeddelivery.usps.com), a free service that will send scanned images of incoming mail envelopes directly to an email address so items can be anticipated and identified as stolen if they do not appear.

Another, and possibly lesser known, step involves reporting a theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the federal law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service responsible for investigating mail-related crimes.

In 2015, the most recent year for which figures were available, 1,400 mail theft cases that took place across the country were initiated by the Inspection Service. That same year, 2,357 arrests were made, resulting in a total of 2,048 convictions.

Stacia Crane, a public information officer for the agencys Southern California office in Pasadena, says criminals are out on the streets looking for easy opportunities to steal things they can quickly turn into cash, often for drugs.

Californias recent easing of penalties for nonviolent offenders, Crane adds, has simply created more opportunists.

If they do get something, a lot of times theyll give that to their dealer, she said. Its happening with all petty crimes  thats why youre seeing a lot more vehicle thefts, break-ins and home burglaries in broad daylight now.

Residents are urged to retrieve their mail as soon as possible and request a hold when they plan to be away from home. Crane advises people not to drop off mail outside the post office after the last collection time and instead carry it inside the building to post.

Mail theft victims should report such incidents to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or by calling (877) 876-2455.

Were not going to run out and do DNA testing on your mailbox, Crane said. (But) if you dont report it, youre just accepting it. There are too many criminals on the street who are wanting us to take the easy road, and we cant do that.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine

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The U.S. military dropped the most powerful nonnuclear bomb in its arsenal Thursday on a cave-and-tunnel complex that it said was used by Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan, a stark reminder of a U.S. war now in its 16th grinding year.

The behemoth bomb, officially called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, nicknamed the mother of all bombs, is the most powerful bomb the U.S. military has used since dropping the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II. It had never been used in combat before.

 A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb strikes an ISIS-K cave and tunnel systems in the Achin district of the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan at 7:32 p.m. local time April 13, 2017.

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Its use came less than a week after President Trump, who has put current or retired military officials in senior positions throughout his administration, ordered a retaliatory military strike in Syria. Taken together, the two moves suggest an increased willingness to use overt force by contrast with President Obama, who relied heavily on smaller-scale, covert drone strikes.

But like the Syria strike, use of the monster munition in Afghanistan is more symbolic than tactical, because it is unlikely to change the course of Americas longest war.

President Trump praised the bombing as a very, very successful mission. He indicated that he had given the Pentagon a free hand as part of his vow to step up the war on Islamic State.

We have given them total authorization, and thats what theyre doing and frankly thats why theyve been so successful lately, he told reporters at the White House.

If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and compare that really to whats happened over the past eight years, youll see theres a tremendous difference, tremendous difference, he said.

Week 12: Trying to keep up with the latest Trump news? Here are some stories you should pay attention to 

Trump also brushed aside questions of whether the use of the bomb was intended to send a message to North Korea, which has been the target of administration saber rattling for weeks.

I dont know if this sends a message  it doesnt make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem; the problem will be taken care of, he said.

Although the Pentagons formal rules of engagement have not changed, military commanders appear to have taken greater liberties in recent weeks  and made more mistakes.

A series of misdirected U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria and a botched ground raid in Yemen have led to a noticeable increase in reported civilian casualties. Earlier Thursday, the U.S. military announced that an airstrike this week had accidentally killed 18 rebel fighters battling Islamic State in northern Syria in the worst friendly-fire incident of that conflict.

The military said the massive bomb was dropped from the rear door of an MC-130 cargo plane at 7:32 p.m. Thursday as part of a U.S.-backed offensive on an Islamic State stronghold in Achin district in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Although huge by the standards of conventional weapons, the bomb is still only a fraction of the strength of a nuclear weapon.

The militants have gained strength in the area, which is close to Pakistan, and have been locked in a pounding ground battle with Afghan security forces backed by U.S. special operations advisors.

Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, a 37-year-old Green Beret from Maryland, was killed on Saturday after coming under fire in eastern Nangarhar. He was the first American service member killed in combat this year in Afghanistan, and the 1,833rd since the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.

The giant bomb initially falls with a parachute, but a GPS guidance system then guides the bomb to its target.

The munition detonates before it hits the ground, sending a lethal shock wave more than a mile and a half away.

The explosion was intended to send pulverizing pressure through the rocky labyrinth of tunnels, where Islamic State fighters were able to move without being detected by American spy planes, U.S. officials said.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive, said Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The bomb was moved to Afghanistan before Trump took office, officials said, and Nicholson did not need specific presidential approval to use it, although the White House was briefed.

The Pentagon has 8,400 troops in Afghanistan to train and advise Afghan forces; most rarely participate in direct combat.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said U.S. commanders took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation.

Speaking by phone from Achin, Sher Nabi, a commander with the Afghan Local Police, said the bomb landed about half a mile outside the town of Shogal, near the border with Pakistan.

Nabi, who commands a 60-man unit of the government militia, said Afghan security forces have carried out operations in the area for several days against suspected Islamic State supporters.

Nabi said the bomb killed many militants and destroyed their weapons. There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties.

The massive bomb in some ways is a shift from recent Pentagon weapons systems, which use drones and missiles capable of hitting targets through an open window.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, now dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Arlington, Va., said the bomb was meant to obliterate a wide area and intimidate the enemy.

With a blast radius of a mile, this weapon wasnt designed for an urban area, he said. Its going to have physical effects on the enemy, of course, but it is also going to create psychological effects.

John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a military policy research website, said the bomb is a gee-whiz weapon, not a tactical one.

You use a bomb like this to send a message, he said. It demonstrates that the U.S., despite 15 years of bloody war, is here to stay.

The bomb was developed in 2002 to put pressure on then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to cease and desist or the United States would not only have the means but use them against the unpopular tyrant, the Air Force said in a 2008 news release.

It was tested at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida but was not used in Iraq. On March 11, 2003, a test produced a mushroom cloud visible from 20 miles away, the release said.

Another U.S. munition, officially called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, is designed to penetrate hardened bunkers. At 30,000 pounds, it is even heavier than the MOAB but carries less explosive power.

Special correspondent Sultan Faizy in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.

william.hennigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @wjhenn

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Wildlife advocates are on a mission  to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. Though progress is being made, there are concerns that the scale and pace of infrastructure development plans in Asia could destroy all recent gains.

Its not hopeless, said Jon Miceler, senior director of Asia Programs for the World Wildlife Fund. There are so many bright spots. Saving tigers is something we can do.

But, he warned, if we fail to do that, somehow or another our human family [would have] failed to protect something great that we share the Earth with.

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He recently shared insights on the predicament facing tigers in an interview with The Times.

His comments have been edited for length and clarity.

What is the current status of the worlds tiger population and how has it changed over the years?

In the last 100 years or so weve lost about 97% of the tiger population in the wild. Tigers today inhabit about 7% of their original range. We hit a really grim low point in 2008 where we got down to between 3,200 and 3,000 tigers in the wild. In 1900, there were over 100,000.

Today, we have some good news. We think the tiger numbers are going up in certain landscapes, particularly in Russia, in Nepal, in Bhutan and India. With the uptick in numbers, we are at about close to 3,900.

Where do tigers face the biggest threat?

Right now, in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, tigers are functionally extinct. There may be a couple there, but theyre not what we call a breeding population, which can allow them to reproduce.

Whats behind the demise of the tigers in those regions?

The reason that weve seen extirpation faster in those areas is [that] theres greater demand for tiger product, which comes out of a larger cultural history around the [belief that] tiger body parts are useful for various medicines.

Theres never been any Western science behind the efficacy of these medicines, that [they] can cure all sorts of diseases. So theres been a lot of pressure on those [tiger] populations because of demand from places such as Vietnam and China for tiger body parts and the skin.

There have really been two factors that have led to the decimation of the tiger population. One is poaching for that illegal trade in body parts. And two, is habitat loss  massive conversion of forest and grasslands to agriculture. Its an ongoing trend. And now an emerging one is linear infrastructure [roads, railway, high-tension wires, water and gas pipelines].

Eleven thousand kilometers [about 6,800 miles] of new linear infrastructure is going to be needed  according to the Asian Development Bank  for Asia to keep its growth up well into the 21st century. And virtually all those plans will cut through what is prime tiger habitat.

How do you respond to the argument that the benefits of infrastructure development for human beings far outweigh saving tigers?

Were not saying dont build that stuff. What were saying is theres a right way and a wrong way to do it. And according to amazing science that comes out of various landscape ecology disciplines, you can build a road and you can do it the right way, [taking into account] little things like what you do with the dirt, how you excavate a road, [providing] crossovers for animals to move over and under.

The easiest way to do that is by using very, very high-tech, easily accessed, inexpensive mapping data that allows an organization like the World Wildlife Fund to go in and map the whole country and all of its natural ecosystem endowments, so that we can tell a government before they develop [that] this is a really important watershed and forest, it houses tigers, wild elephants, it has the potential for Asian one-horned rhino [and] if you develop this youre going to lose all that as well as the potential to develop tourism there. And tourism is a great creator of jobs.

Were not saying dont build roads. But theres a green way to do it. And thats what were advocating.

Where are some of the bright spots?

Myanmar has emerged out of 50 years of isolation and its relatively peaceful. Theyve recently asked us to help them devise a green infrastructure framework for the entire country. So that means how to put the best roads in, how to enhance the railroads, in ways that dont damage that nature.

Has there been pushback from any governments?

Theres not been any pushback, but theres not been as swift action as we would like. Some of the greatest tiger landscapes are in Malaysia and Indonesia, but they havent yet done these surveys. The countries that have really gotten into the surveys and done robust surveys  Russia, Bhutan, Nepal and India  [have] come back with much more accurate, larger numbers [of tigers] than before.

I dont know whether its a question of inertia or a conflict of interest. [But] when you protect a tiger youve got to have healthy forests. That means you cant just have palm oil [production]. Indonesia does a lot of palm oil. They need to set aside some forest and really protect it, because a tiger cant survive in a mono-crop like that.

In this 2009 file photo, forest rangers sweep an area after a Sumatran tiger was spotted during their search for a tiger that was believed to have killed three men at a palm oil plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia. (Irwin Fedriansyah / Associated Press)

I think all these countries genuinely want their biological heritage to keep existing in a healthy way. They get it. But there are so many other interests and priorities.

How realistic is the goal to double the tiger population by 2022?

Weve been very encouraged by the numbers that were seeing now. Its not to say there arent immense challenges. But there is the will to do it. India is a case in point. Theyre spending upward of $30 million a year on tiger conservation. Thats not just protecting the cat. You cant protect a tiger unless you have a healthy forest.

One protected tiger in a forest we estimate ensures 25,000 acres of healthy forest. You get the whole ecosystem. And that forest ecosystem sequesters carbon. It provides shelter for a whole cascade of lesser species. It provides water. In areas where theyve kept the forest you have very little flooding because of the natural filtration systems that forests provide. They capture the water and release it in a timed way so that a downstream farmer can plan to irrigate. So theres a lot of direct benefits that come from protecting that tiger in the forest.

Why save tigers as opposed to elephants or whales or other species?

All those species are incredibly important. But a tiger sits at the top of this pyramid of this ecosystem. When you have a healthy tiger, you can virtually guarantee that youre providing habitat for the other species. When you dont have a tiger in a forest, somethings wrong. And thats going to mean trouble for these other species as well. When you have one there, youve created the enabling conditions for the other species to survive. Were going for that one at the top, to protect that one, with the expectation that theres going to be a natural trickle-down effect that will protect other species.

ann.simmons@latimes.com

For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter

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Israel has spent most of the Syrian civil war watching from the sidelines rather than becoming mired in a sectarian conflict in which neither of the sides looked particularly appealing as an ally.

Last weeks sarin gas attack, apparently by Syrian air forces, has intensified a long running debate about whether the government should be doing more to alleviate humanitarian suffering just beyond its northern border and act militarily to weaken President Bashar Assad.

Despite a state of war that exists between the neighbors, a growing number of Israelis are calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to do more to assist Syrian civilians, arguing that Jewish history of displacement imparts a moral obligation on Israel to help wounded Syrian civilians.

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At a security cabinet meeting on Sunday, ministers mulled proposals to accept Syrian children injured in the gas attack  beyond a 4-year-old policy to take in Syrians from rebel areas near the border for temporary medical treatment  but made no final decision. A similar proposal that got consideration in the wake of the siege of Aleppo has yet to be implemented

As Israelis and Jews, the use of gas takes us back [in time], said Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz, alluding to the Holocaust, during the cabinet meeting. Our obligation as Jews and Israelis is to offer aid to the victims of the gas attack. There are many children and the elderly. We must not stand idly by.

The angst points to a tug of war between two schools of thought on how to grapple with Syria, a dilemma that former National Security Advisor Giora Eiland described in an interview with Israel Radio as a struggle between the Jewish heart and mind.

The dominant approach reflects a realpolitik recognition that Israel, even though it could topple Assad, shouldnt take sides in the civil war because it has little ability to shape a new Syria and is viewed as a pariah by most of the Arab world.

While the fall of Assad would be a strategic game changer for Israel because of Syrias role as a key link in the alliance between Iran and Hezbollah, the Shiite Lebanese military organization, there is fear of a messy entanglement in Syria like Israels ill-fated intervention in Lebanons civil war in the 1980s. Wary of Islamic State and Al Qaeda linked rebels, some in Israel even see Assad as a devil-you-know who is preferable to potential chaos to Israels north.

As a result, Israel has limited its intervention in Syria to strikes aimed at blocking delivery of so called game-changing weapons systems to Hezbollah, preventing Shiite militants from establishing a presence in southern Syria near the border with the Israeli controlled Golan Heights, and deterring groups from cross-border attacks. At the same time it has treated thousands of Syrians in its hospitals, and sends food, clothes and blankets to pro-rebel villages along the border.

Israel has been very clear that it doesnt want to enter the mix in Syria, but it will safeguard its vital interests, said Dore Gold, a former director general of the Israeli foreign ministry under Netanyahu. Intervention might create a more difficult situation. Israel has been very careful and responsible about what it does.

Israels biggest concern about the outcome of the civil war is to ensure that Syria doesnt become a satellite of Iran, with Tehran allied forces stationed near the Golan Heights.

A minority school of thought holds that Israel should be more proactive in hastening the downfall of Assad, a goal that overlaps with the urge among many Israelis to give more humanitarian assistance.

Theres no clash between morals and strategy here. Our strategic problem is that the arrival of the Russians to Syria strengthened Assad and has brought in Iran and Hezbollah. These are our worst enemies, said Amos Yadlin, the former chief of the Israeli armys intelligence corps, in a TV interview. We have capabilities. Our role should be to weaken Assad and to distance Iran and Hezbollah.

Russias success in turning the tide of the war and the humanitarian crisis during the siege of Aleppo have strengthened the advocates who would like to see Israel come off the fence against the Syrian government and abandon its policy of neutrality.

The position that its better to see Assad go has become more mainstream, said Joel Parker, a researcher on Syria at the Moshe Dayan Center Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University. Everybody agrees that its better to get rid of him. Even though that hes the devil you know, its clearer that he is the devil.

On the eve of the beginning of the Jewish festival of Passover  which celebrates the biblical liberation of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt  Yuval Cherlow, a prominent ethicist and a founder of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, said celebrants should consider the plight of the Syrian people during the traditional Seder meal.

I think all Israelis are very confused. On the one hand, we are satisfied that they are not shooting at Israel. Both sides are our enemies, he said. On the other hand, our heart is breaking to see the innocent suffer.

In the 11 days since the chemical attack, a crowd-funding campaign by the Israeli group Just Beyond Our Border raised nearly 1.5 million shekels, or $410,000, according to the Israeli Mimoona website.

We cannot stay quiet as innocent children and babies  our neighbors  are gassed and suffering, the organization said in a statement.

Despite the sentiment, commentators say the public outpouring on behalf of the Syrians is unlikely to prompt a change in Israels Syria policy. Deeper intervention against Assad is still too risky, said Ofer Zalzberg, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The pressures within Israel to do something regarding the humanitarian catastrophe are not accompanied by a politically realistic strategy, given the risk of direct conflict with Russia and of becoming a full-fledged fighting party in the bloody Syrian crisis, he said.

Mitnick is a special correspondent.

@joshmitnick

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A member of a drug-robbery ring suspected in the 2010 shooting death of a Border Patrol agent in Arizona has been arrested deep in Mexico, leaving just one member of the original rip crew still at large in a case that highlighted the failings of a gun-tracking operation that let firearms fall into the hands of criminals in Mexico.

The suspect, Heraclio Laco Osorio-Arellanes, was apprehended Wednesday in an area known as the Golden Triangle, the confluence of three Mexican states where drug cartels control vast stretches of territory. He was identified by the Mexican Marines who arrested him only as Heraclio N.

At the request of the authorities in the U.S., the Mexican navy said in a statement, naval personnel arrested Heraclio N. on the border of Sinaloa and Chihuahua.

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The U.S. Justice Department confirmed later Thursday that the man in custody was Osorio-Arellanes. He had been named in an extradition order issued in December 2011, more than a year after the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The U.S. government had offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said in a news release that the capture should send a message to fugitives.

We will hunt you down, we will find you and we will bring you to justice, Sessions said.

Osorio-Arellanes was being held Thursday on suspicion of murder, theft and illegal use of a weapon. A previous suspect in Terrys death was held for two years before extradition to the United States.

Robert Heyer, Terrys cousin and a spokesman for the Phoenix-based Brian Terry Foundation, said the U.S. attorneys office in San Diego called family members at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to inform them of the arrest.

This is great news, Heyer said. The last two they apprehended have been fugitives in Mexico on the loose. That Mexican authorities are still willing to pursue justice despite the political climate is really important.

Terry and three other Border Patrol agents were on duty in a section of Peck Canyon near Rio Rico, Ariz., on Dec. 14, 2010, when they encountered a heavily armed six-man team that had sneaked across the border and was headed to rob marijuana dealers. Their illegal operation was known as a rip-crew.

According to court testimony from Border Patrol agents at the scene, Agent Gabriel J. Fragoza saw the rip crews long rifles and backpacks. They were, he said, looking for something, and ready to shoot. Agent Timothy Keller said he saw one of the men with a hand on the grip of his rifle, the other on the barrel.

According to court papers, one of the agents shouted Police! in English and Spanish, and fired non-lethal beanbag rounds. The rip crew responded with gunfire.

One of the crew was wounded with a shot to the torso. Terry, 40, was struck by a single bullet and called out that he had been hit.

Im paralyzed, Terry said. According to Agent William Castano, Agent Terry soon lost consciousness and died at the scene.

The other Mexicans fled back across the border.

The agents and Terrys family have to relive the events of that night each time another member of the rip crew is tried in the U.S., Heyer said. The agents testimony is the basis for the convictions, along with physical evidence and the information obtained from the imprisoned members of the robbery ring.

Its always difficult to hear that testimony, Heyer said.

While he was campaigning for president last year, President Trump told the Terry family he would open the books on Terrys death and the Fast and Furious operation, Heyer said. On April 3, Heyer said the family spoke to Dana Boente of the Justice Department, who briefly served as acting attorney general after Trump fired Sally Yates.

We told him we wanted the pursuit of accountability in the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Heyer said about the 40-minute phone call. We told him that we believed the [Fast and Furious] whistleblowers are still being retaliated against.

The Naco, Ariz., Border Patrol station was renamed after Terry in 2012.

Two guns found at the scene were eventually traced to a member of a gun-smuggling ring that was being monitored in a Justice Department-sanctioned, gun-tracking operation known as Fast and Furious.

The aim of the operation was to let guns cross into Mexico and to monitor how and where they were used. U.S. authorities have been criticized for allowing informants to walk away from Phoenix-area gun shops with weapons rather than immediately arresting them.

The scandal captured Washingtons attention for a time, as the insurgent tea party wing of the Republican Party cudgeled the fledgling Obama presidency in congressional hearings over Fast and Furious. The furor resulted in the resignation of the head of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and underlined one of the signature failures of the Obama administration. The ATF lost track of 1,400 of 2,000 firearms that were being monitored.

The government of Mexico announced Osorio-Arellaness arrest on Thursday, proclaiming it as evidence of the countrys commitment to working with American authorities.

The arrest comes during a period of strained relations between the two countries, prompted by allegations by President Trump and conservative politicians that Mexican migration is a major source of crime in the U.S., a contention refuted by social science and criminal justice statistics.

As for the rip crews remnants, in 2015, Ivan Soto-Barraza and Jesus Leonel Sanchez-Meza were each tried and convicted in Tucson of first-degree murder in connection with Terrys death.

Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, who was shot and apprehended the night of the confrontation, is serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, as is Rosario Rafael Burboa-Alvarez. It is unclear what, if any, relation there is between Manuel Osorio-Arellanes and Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes.

The U.S. government is still offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of another alleged member of the rip crew, Jesus Rosario Favela-Astorga, who is still at large.

Follow Nigel Duara on Twitter: @nigelduara

nigel.duara@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

3:25 p.m: This story was updated to report that U.S. authorities identified the man arrested in Mexico as Heraclio Laco Osorio-Arellanes.

1:40 p.m.: The story was updated with additional background and comments from Robert Heyer.

The story was originally published at 1:15 p.m.
The U.S. military says a misdirected airstrike this week killed 18 friendly fighters battling Islamic State alongside the international coalition in northern Syria.

U.S. Central Command said Thursday that coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces for a strike intended to target militants south of their stronghold in Tabqa.

The coalitions deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families. The coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident, Central Command said in a statement. The coalition is assessing the cause of the incident and will implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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The Kurdish fighters, with air and ground support from the U.S.-led coalition, had surrounded Tabqa, which is on a dammed section of the Euphrates River just west of Raqqa, Islamic States de facto capital in Syria. But the strike on Tuesday hit their position, killing 18 of them. Several nations have contributed air power to the coalition, and it was not immediately clear which was behind the strike.

It also was not clear how many such friendly fire strikes have happened since the campaign began against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The coalition releases monthly reports of civilian casualties from airstrikes, both those confirmed and under investigation. But friendly fire strikes are tracked internally, said U.S. Army Col. Joe Scrocca, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the coalition.

The coalition takes each of these incidents very seriously but we do not keep cumulative data on them like we do civilian casualties because they happen so infrequently, he said.

The London-based monitoring group Airwars, which works with the coalition to track airstrike casualties, has found 37 reported friendly fire strikes in Iraq and Syria since 2014.

Four had been confirmed by the coalition, including the one in Tabqa, according to Airwars director Chris Wood. The others are:

A strike on Dec. 18, 2015, in Fallujah that killed at least nine Iraqi soldiers and injured 32 more.

A strike on Sept. 17, 2016, in Al Tharda, Syria that killed at least 15 friendly Syrian forces.

A strike on Oct. 5, 2016, south of Mosul that killed 18 friendly Sunni tribal fighters.

Its very difficult to know how many more friendly fire events there have been since the coalition does not disclose this information, Woods said.

Scrocca said he was not aware of those incidents; we do not keep cumulative data on them, so I cannot readily verify their validity.

Woods said its difficult to track total casualties from the strikes, and their estimates vary widely.

More have been reported in Iraq, where there have been 224 to 419 suspected friendly fire casualties from coalition strikes, than in Syria, where there have been 35 to 86, he said. Woods said part of the reason the estimates vary so much is that its not clear who the coalition considers combatants.

From 2014 until late last year when Iraqi militias were legalized by Parliament, he said the coalition considered them civilian combatants, meaning strikes that killed them were not considered friendly fire, even though they were fighting alongside coalition forces. After the Sunni fighters were killed south of Mosul in October, the strike was initially considered nonproblematic until Airwars pressed the coalition to investigate. Eventually, the coalition confirmed the fighters, who were in the village of Haj Ali, had been friendly.

On a number of occasions, the coalition were convinced they were bombing Daesh forces and they were friendly, Woods said, using a term for Islamic State. How many more have happened? We dont know.

Scrocca said tribal forces are not considered civilians and would not be part of our civilian casualty tracking, assessment and reporting process. We have been training and working with vetted tribal forces for some time, not just since the law was passed.

Tens of thousands of Sunni and Shiite tribal fighters have joined the campaign to oust Islamic State from Mosul.

This is terrible for morale of friendly forces on the ground, Woods said of the airstrikes. He credited the coalition with reporting the latest incident quickly. But he also noted that of the 33 strikes with reported friendly fire casualties that have not been confirmed by the coalition, at least 13 merit further investigation.

One of the tribal fighters who was in Haj Ali recalled the horror of the airstrike.

Islamic State had attacked three hours earlier, but the fighters repelled the militants, he said. They were meeting in a house to regroup when the strike hit, said Alaa Zadan, 32, who was further back from the front line.

The next morning, Zadan went to the scene of the collapsed house to retrieve the bodies, which he recognized in the rubble.

He said 21 tribal fighters were killed, and several more wounded. Only one man survived.

It was a disaster  for nothing, Zadan said.

Later, the tribal fighters were contacted by Iraqi officials, who explained that the strike was a mistake. The coalition said someone gave them the wrong location, but they wont say who did it, Zadan said.

After the strike, Zadan said tribal fighters worried they might be hit again.

Airstrikes, most of the time, theyre helping us. We cannot say we dont trust [the coalition] because theyre helping us a lot on the front lines, he said.

But victims families have not been compensated by Iraqi or coalition officials. Zadan heard about the misdirected strike in Syria, and said the coalitions announcement upset him.

They apologized for what happened in Syria, but they never apologized for what they did to us. That upsets me, he said.

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UPDATES:

1 p.m.: Updates with additional comment from Scrocca, comments by witness to airstrike.

8:50 a.m.: Updates throughout with staff reporting.

This article was originally posted at 6:40 a.m.
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
'Wu Xia' Portrait Session - 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival (Photo : Getty Images)

A love-comedy movie, This is Not What I Expected, opened on Saturday, April 8, the 24th Beijing College Film Festival at the Beijing Theater. The films cast, director, and executive producer attended the filmfests opening ceremony.



Food Connoisseur



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The romantic encounter between an overbearing CEO and a special girl because of food is where the "This Is Not What I Expected's" story revolves around, Xinhua News Agency reported. Gu Shengnan, the talented chef master, is played by Zhou Dongyou, while Lu Jin, the CEO, is portrayed by Takeshi Kaneshiro.



As a successful businessman and international economist, Lu is so particular about food and people. He is harsh and critical. Lu has made being a food connoisseur a hobby. Gus creativity comes from the heart. Lu falls in love with her food in a chance encounter, but as a person, he despises Gu.



To prepare for her role, Zhou visited a cooking school for five days and attempted to learn practical cooking skills. Because of her immersion, it made her behave more like a chef in the movie, the actress said.



School Debut Ahead of China Theater Premiere



The film was shown 20 days ahead of its premiere in Chinese cinema. Xu Hongyu, director of This is Not What I Expected, said the move is very risky. However, since the movie is in line with the theme of the film festival, Xu considered it an honor the movie was chosen as the opening film. Except for the director, the people behind the movie Soulmate are also behind the film.



Beside Zhou Dongu, a Golden Horse Awardee in 2016, the film stars Sean Sun Yuzhou, Ming Xi, and Tony Yeung. Based on their appearances, the actors picked seemed to be the choice because they are the stereotype. Xu is a woman with tattoos and a badass dog, while Kaneshiro is a well-dressed executive, according to Drama Panda.


Tomahawk missiles that pounded Shayrat Air Base in Syria on April 7 were a total of 59 U.S. Navy UGM-109E Land Attack Missiles. These missiles were part of military strikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump on Syria after a chemical weapons attack killed dozens of civilians in including a number of children.

Lately there are reports that the U.S. navy is already looking for more powerful, deadlier upgrades to Tomahawk missiles which are already considered outdated cruise missile models, Telegiz reported. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has requested for information for the Next Generation Land Attack Weapon (NGLAW) in October 2016. The navy plans to use better and more powerful weapons to be launched from its submarines and warships just like the Tomahawk missiles which were launched from U.S. warships deployed in the Mediterranean. However, replacing the Tomahawk is a long process that could take longer than expected.

There are several criteria for the NGLAW system that will replace Tomahawk missiles. The navy is looking for a replacement based on technical readiness costs, schedules, risks associated with the development of the system and plans on retiring the current system in 2028 to 2030. The top candidate for NGLAW is the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) which is currently launched from an aircraft. The LRSAM can outsmart air-defense systems with its sensors and automatic flight technology.

The Tomahawk missiles launched in the latest Syrian air strike may be outdated but it was able to get the job done. The Tomahawk has speeds of 550 miles per hour and is launched at sea; it flies close to the ground to avoid being detected by radar. It was first used in the Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and holds a warhead with a thousand-pound explosive, CNN reported.

The navy planned to end the production of Tomahawk missiles in 2016 with a 200 Tomahawk per year rate. Obviously this did not happen with the latest project to produce more missiles awarded to Raytheon Company in December 2016. The company agreed to provide 214 Tomahawk Block IV vertical launch missiles under a $303.7 million agreement.
New York Auto Show this year will be a battleground for almost every car maker in the industry. From cars that are readily available to dreamy concept cars, top names like Dodge, Honda and Cadillac will showcase their best. Meanwhile Lincoln plans to grab the SUV of choice title with the 2018 Navigator.

Cadillac will unveil their new CT6 sedan with the Super Cruise at the New York Auto Show. A Super Cruise display will be set up in the Cadillac section which will allow the audience to experience first-hand what it feels to drive with an automated and hands-free car. Honda will feature their take on updated hybrids with an electric car that can run 80 miles on one charge as well as another plug-in model with a 40-mile battery range, The Verge reported.

Dodge plans to stun the audience at the New York Auto Show with the Challenger SRT Demon. This 840-horsepower car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds, 0 to 100 mph in just 5.1 seconds and a quarter of a mile in 9.65 seconds. The Challenger SRT Demon comes with a three-year/36,000 mile warranty.

Meanwhile, the Lincoln Navigator wants to grab this year's SUV of choice from the Cadillac Escalade with its new 2018 model. The new Lincoln Navigator has a chrome-plated deep-set grille which looks like a throwback from the original model, Motor Authority said. Inside is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine with 450 horsepower. The interior is all-leather with all the works like a 12-inch LCD screen with an overhead display, a Wi-Fi hotspot, USB ports, wireless chargers and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to name a few.

Car enthusiasts can get a closer look at the Lincoln Navigator and all other manufacturers at the New York Auto Show which runs from April 14, Friday until April 23, Sunday. The event will be at the Javitz Center in Manhattan.
Beijing State Security (Photo : Getty Images)

Beijing is offering people who can give information about foreign spies and their espionage activities with up to half a million renminbi (more than $72,000), Beijing newspapers reported on Monday, April 10.



The New York Times said that the rewards for exposing a spy were offered by Beijing Municipal Bureau of State Security, with the rewards ranging from the lowest category of $1,450 to $72,000, the highest category.



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"For actions that play a particularly large role in preventing or halting espionage activity or breaking espionage cases, and for contributions of especially important leads, the reward will be from 100,000 to 500,000 yuan," according to the rules.



The rules said that successful whistleblowers and "informants can pick up the reward within 90 days of receiving notification."



The agency also started an online cartoon ad to promote the campaign, featuring a young boy wearing a Communist Young Pioneer scarf dishing the dirt on a bearded foreigner wearing a bandit's mask.



"Steal state secrets with me and make a fortune by selling them abroad!" the swarthy foreigner tells the boy outside a hotel.



But the Young Pioneer tells an officer and took the foreigner away in handcuffs. The boy received a lollipop as a reward and the ad tells residents that they can get more than that if snitch on spies they know.



According to the report, the cash-for-spies campaign is part of government measures to counter foreign espionage and subversion. A counterespionage law was also implemented by the government in 2014. In addition, the National Security Commission and the Ministry of State Security were established to look into espionage activities.



The new rules said that the campaign was initiated in Beijing because it is a key location for "foreign espionage and intelligence agencies and other hostile forces who are engaged in infiltration, subversion, separatism, sabotage and stealing secrets."



There have been reports of foreigners arrested and Chinese nationals accused of being spies recently although no details were given. In Jilin Province, the local government opened a hotline (dial 12339) where residents can report possible spies.



The government, however, warned people about abusing the rules of the campaign. The rules said that those who "use the excuse of informing to deliberately make false accusations or frame others" will be prosecuted.



The government said that residents may call a state security phone line (12339, like the Jilin number), or write to the Beijing state security bureau or come to their office at No. 9, Qianmen Street East, not far from Tiananmen Square.


United Airlines Overbooked Flight Incident (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese social media users erupted over a viral footage of an Asian man being forced off an overbooked United Airlines flight. People have felt racism in the incident and are now calling for a boycott.



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The flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday was overbooked, according to the airline. Passengers were asked to give way to airline employees but no one volunteered so officials randomly selected who will be forced off the plane.



Fellow passengers took videos of the incident and posted them on Twitter. It can be seen in the footage that the man was screaming as he was dragged off his seat by security personnel.



The man was identified to be David Dao, a 69-year-old doctor. In another video, he was seen bleeding as repeatedly said: Just kill me.



The footage was reposted on Sina Weibo, the Chinese counterpart of Twitter. The video quickly went viral and a top-trending topic with more than 270 million views. Most of the 150,000 comments have highly nationalistic tone.



Shameless! We wont forgive them. Ethnic Chinese around the world please boycott United Airlines! a social media user said.



There is a long history of discrimination against Asians. I hope Chinese people realize this reality and support domestic products, said another commentator, adding, Dont feed those who look down on us!



Tyler Bridges, a fellow passenger, said to The Washington Post, referring to Dao, He said, more or less, Im being selected because Im Chinese.



Chinese in the mainland commonly view ethnic Chinese who are living abroad as compatriots, even if they no longer have ties to China.



United Airlines is the biggest carrier to China, providing more direct U.S.-China flights and to more cities in China, the airlines official website claims.



The video was also featured across Chinese media.



Savage! the state broadcaster CCTV captioned photos of the passengers bloodied face.



The ruling Communist Partys flagship newspaper China Daily rebuked United Airlines for failure to denounce the incident.



The viral footage revived the long time issue of racism against Asians. Chinese social media continues to express outrage over the case.


Huawei faces a potential ban in the U.K. if it fails to pay patent license fees. (Photo : Getty Images)

Smartphones made by Huawei might be banned in the U.K. market because the company failed to pay for a global license on patents, according to a High Court ruling.



If Huawei fails to pay, the High Court will order for a ban on the sale of Huawei smartphones in the U.K. The court also ruled that Unwired Planet is not breaching any copyright infringement laws and can license anywhere in the world.



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Huawei's patent dispute is with Unwired Planet, an American patent owner. The two companies have been in a long-running legal battle related to 4G networking technologies.



The Chinese manufacturer was ordered to pay for global license fees for patents. The ruling was welcomed by Huawei because the fee is much smaller than the demand from Unwired Planet.



Justice Ian Birss ruled that royalties that are to be paid based on global sales are "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND)." The proposed rate is between 0.03 percent and 0.06 percent of sales of all units using the 4G network technology.



"Simply stated, the main dispute to be resolved is whether and to what extent various terms on offer are or would be FRAND," Judge Birss said.



He added, "A U.K. portfolio license is not FRAND. The FRAND license between Unwired Planet and Huawei is a worldwide license."



A spokesperson from Huawei said, "We welcome the decision by the Court that Unwired Planet's royalty rate demands have been found to be unreasonable."



He added, "Huawei is still evaluating the decision as well as its possible next steps. Huawei does not believe that this decision will adversely affect its global business operations."



Unwired Planet has a wide range of patents that are used by many telecommunications companies. These were acquired by the company from Ericsson.



In 2014, Unwired Planet sued Huawei, Samsung and Google fo infringement on their portfolio. The American company has already reached a deal with Google and Samsung.



Huawei has a small market share in the U.K. but is the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. Unwired Planet is owned by PanOptis, a Texan patent company.


New York LIVE: Genesis GV80 fuel cell SUV concept

Apr 12, 2017, 3:45pm ET

Genesis wraps a FCV concept in its future SUV design.

Hyundai luxury subsidiary Genesis traveled to New York to unveil its concept for future SUV design, showing a potential two-row crossover in the guise of a fuel cell concept.

It's no secret that Genesis needs some CUV/SUV entries if it expects to make a meaningful push into the current luxury landscape. This two-row, four-seat concept gives us an idea of what we may expect to see in the coming years.

The GV80's exterior design is anchored up front by the signature Genesis grille, looking particularly strong here given the amount of real estate dedicated to it. This is further accentuated by a second opening below the lower point, giving it an almost Bentley-esque nose.

Flanking the grille are two-tiered headlights made up of rows of separate LED strips. Below these sit two aerodynamic "air curtain" inlets which open over 23-inch wheels.

The inlet design translates into outlets behind the wheels--likely designed to serve double-duty as hydrogen venting ports. Matching cooling ducts appear on the rear fascia.

Inside, the concept boasts a two-tiered display, with a large, curved screen serving as a infotainment and control hub and a second, smaller cluster display for vital driving functions.

Live photos by Brian Williams.
New York LIVE: 2018 Hyundai Sonata

Apr 13, 2017, 4:50am ET

For 2018, the Sonata ups its tech game.

The updated 2018 Hyundai Sonata debuted at the New York Auto Show.

Visually, the U.S.-spec Sonata is all but identical to the South Korean-spec model introduced last month. Its front end is characterized by a wide, Audi-esque grille, swept-back headlights, and a redesigned lower bumper. Out back, there are new-look tail lamps and a bigger spoiler integrated into the trunk lid.

"The moment the pen left the drafting paper I knew we had something special in this re-imagined Sonata," explained Chris Chapman, the head of Hyundai's North American design center.

Hyundai has improved the steering system to obtain a more responsive handling, and it has updated the rear suspension with thicker trailing arms and new bushings. The 2018 Sonata is more comfortable and nimbler to drive, according to the company.

The cabin receives a wireless phone charger, a USB port for the second-row passengers, and a seven-inch touch screen compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Additionally, Hyundai takes connectivity to the next level with Amazon Echo compatibility. The driver can send commands such as "Alexa, start my Hyundai" from the comfort of his or her living room.

Full technical specifications haven't been announced yet. At this point, all we know is that the range-topping model receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 245 horsepower to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata will arrive in showrooms in the coming months. Full specifications and pricing information will be available in the weeks leading up to its on-sale date.

Live images by Brian Williams.
New York LIVE: 2018 Subaru Crosstrek

Apr 13, 2017, 3:50am ET

The brand-new Crosstrek will go on sale this summer.

Subaru has traveled to the New York Auto Show to introduce the brand-new 2018 Crosstrek.

We got a taste of the next-generation Crosstrek last month at the Geneva Auto Show, so the design doesn't come as much of a surprise. Like the current model, the Crosstrek is essentially an Impreza hatchback with more ground clearance, and rugged-looking styling cues such as plastic cladding over the wheel arches and the rocker panels.

A new modular platform makes the 2018 Crosstrek lighter, stiffer, and safer than its predecessor. Power comes from a direct-injected 2.0-liter flat-four engine tuned to produce 152 horsepower, a frivolous increase of only four horses over the current car.

It appears that Subaru buyers aren't ready to stop giving a shift, because the Crosstrek carries on with a six-speed manual transmission. The range-topping trim level receives a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with seven virtual gears and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. Subaru's time-tested symmetrical all-wheel drive system comes standard regardless of pedal count.

At launch, the Crosstrek lineup will be broken down into three trim levels named base, Premium, and Limited, respectively.

The list of standard features includes torque vectoring, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, a 6.5-inch touch screen, 17-inch alloy wheels, and tinted windows. Premium models gain a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a shark fin antenna, automatic headlights, and heated front seats. Finally, Limited models up the ante with steering-responsive LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and chrome accents.

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek will arrive in showrooms this summer. Look for a pricing announcement in the coming months.

Live images by Brian Williams.
Netizens Salute Chinese Navy for Rescuing Ship from Pirates in Gulf of Aden

Chinese Navy Defends the Gulf of Aden (Photo : Getty Images)

The Chinese navy has gained the approval of netizens after a successful mission to rescue a foreign ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Many have posted their comments on Sina Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter.



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Well done Chinese navy! We should pay tribute to all navy men! a user of Sina Weibo wrote.



On Sunday, a Tuvaluan ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden was rescued by the convoy sent by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy.



Headline News, a Sina Weibo account, posted te news of the successful rescue mission. Within 24 hours, the post gained more than 1,000 comments and had over 4,000 likes.



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, a Weibo user commented.



Some users are concerned about the safety of the navy men.



Please keep yourself safe, as your families are waiting for your return, a user wrote.



In an official statement, the navy said that its 25th convoy fleet received a report on the hijacked ship OS35 on Saturday at around 5 p.m. The fleet was on an escort mission at the time. The fleets vessel Yulin was immediately sent to the area.



Early Sunday morning, the rescue mission began after reconnaissance and receiving contact with the ships crew.



Aboard the OS35 were 16 members from the special force of the navy. The group succeeded in rescuing all 19 ship crew. They also conducted an intensive search of the ship to eliminate possible security threats.



In 2008, the Chinese navy commenced an escort mission, aiming to protect passing ships from pirate attacks, defend the sea lane security and uphold the freedom of navigation through the waterways.



The transport of goods along the Gulf of Aden became more secure with China and around 20 international partners joint efforts.



The Global Times quoted Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Military and Academic Institute of the Chinese Navy, saying, as China's military power grows, the ability to offer public security service for international society has also been enhanced.



A stronger Chinese army can better safeguard peace and stability of the world, Zhang added.



More than 6,000 ships have been escorted by the Chinese navy fleets across this vital sea route. In addition, the fleets have been successful in rescuing or helping more than 60 Chinese and foreign ships.


An 18-year-old Allentown man died from a gunshot wound following a shooting Wednesday night -- the city's third case of fatal gunfire this year.

George Concepcion, of the 200 block of North Nagle Street, was pronounced dead at 12:44 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, the Lehigh County coroner said.

The death was ruled a homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Concepcion was shot at about 11 p.m. at his home, the coroner's office said. Allentown police Capt. Bill Reinik said he could not confirm reports the victim was shot in the back.

Asked if anyone was in custody, Reinik declined to comment.

Police ask anyone with information to call city detectives at 610-437-7721.

It was Allentown's fourth homicide, with the other incident being a fatal stabbing.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN INC., Allentown needs volunteers (age 11+) for Camp Camelot June 19-Aug. 4. Volunteer will be matched with a Camelot Child to play with for the day. Sign up at camelotforchildren.org or contact: Christine Cleaver, 610-791-5683, chrisc@camelotforchildren.org.

COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN INC./HEAD START, Allentown, needs volunteers to be classroom assistants for preschool children in structured settings throughout the Lehigh Valley. Volunteer one, two, or all five days a week to assist the teacher with daily classroom activities. PA Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse Clearance, and TB test required, and are responsibility/cost of volunteer. Contact: Stacy Perlaki, 610-437-6000, ext. 2113, sperlaki@cscinc.org.

EQUI-LIBRIUM INC., Bushkill Township, needs volunteers (age 14+) to clean up wood debris on the farm. Tasks include sorting wood/brush from fence posts/boards, burn-barrel burning (if weather permits), cutting debris into manageable pieces for transport to brush recycle. Volunteer during 8:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday or 5-8 p.m. on Friday. Contact: Yvonne Darlington, 610-365-2266, volunteercoordinator@equi-librium.org.

GOOD SHEPHERD REHABILITATION NETWORK, Allentown, needs volunteers for the gift shop 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday. Volunteers assist customers, sell merchandise and stock shelves. Must be able to make change, be customer friendly, be dependable, and have the ability to understand, remember, and follow verbal/written instructions. Training will be provided. Contact: JoAnn Frey, 610-776-3125, jfrey@gsrh.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY SCORE, LCCC, Schnecksville, needs experienced business people to provide free business counseling and advice in all areas of business management (i.e. business plans, managing cash flow, marketing, etc. ). Volunteer as a face-to-face counselor, do workshops, on-line counselor, or for administration functions. Training provided. Contact: Tracy Damiani, 610-266-3000, tracy.damiani@scorevolunteer.org.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Bethlehem, is seeking meal delivery volunteers (18+years). Volunteer daily or as little as twice each month, according to your availability. Volunteers must possess a valid driver's license and have car insurance. Application process includes criminal background check, orientation, and on-the-road training. Contact: Keri Young, 610-691-1030, ext. 20, kerig@mealsonwheelspa.org.

ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK needs volunteers at all of their Hospital campuses. Support patients, family, and staff by volunteering in the gift shop, messenger/escort, greeter or patient information center. Contact: 484-526-4600, volunteers@sluhn.org or visit website slhn.org/volunteerNOW.

TEACH RWANDA, Easton needs volunteers for technology coordinator and Rwandan craft manager. Technology coordinator will be responsible for finding recycled/donated laptops and printers for Rwandan teachers, manage software updates for staff and volunteers in USA and Rwanda. Rwandan craft manager will manage inventory of Rwandan crafts, a key fundraising arm of TEACH Rwanda. They, along with other volunteers, will select, order, store, and display crafts at venues in the Lehigh Valley. Contact: Christina Pagan, 484-452-7442, teachrwanda.volunteers@gmail.com.

For more opportunities, call 610-807-0336, email: vc@volunteerlv.org or visit www.volunteerlv.org.
Crowds couldn't get enough of the Budweiser Clydesdales when they visited the Lehigh Valley less than four years ago.

If you missed it or you want to see them again, you can.

The famous horses will be the main attraction at Heritage Day in Easton on July 9.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. remembers riding with the Clydesdales in September 2013.

"The crowds were 10 to 15 deep," he said. "When we got to the circle it was just massive."

Details are still being hammered out but the horses will parade through the city during a six-day visit to the Lehigh Valley.

"It ended up being a huge attraction and I think it will be a major addition to Heritage Day," the mayor said.

Heritage Day commemorates the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Easton on July 8, 1776. Easton was the only city to host a reading besides Philadelphia and Trenton.

Allentown Beverage pitched the visit to Anheuser-Busch. Budweiser wholesalers have the opportunity to petition for the horses to visit their communities. Allentown Beverage owner Sam Baurkot jumped at the opportunity for the horses to return to the city where he grew up.

The beverage company documented the crowds after the 2013 visit and the horses' jubilant reception. They sold Budweiser on the community's patriotic annual celebration and set up plans to stable the horses at the Bethlehem Municipal ice rink during their stay from July 5 to July 10.

"All that worked in our favor," Baurkot said.

Families will be able to see the horses at the ice rink for a small donation to a local charity.

The horses are massive. They weigh about 2,000 pounds each and must be six feet tall at the shoulder in order to support the eight-horse hitch. Although eight Clydesdales will pull the beer wagon, ten horses travel with the group so two can take turns resting.

Panto said the horses typically wait at least 10 years before returning to a city Easton's size. But Allentown Beverage sold the brewer on a quicker return.

"We had a great event in 2013 and I don't expect anything different this time around," Panto said.

CLYDESDALE FACTS

One Clydesdale hitch horse consumes 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. They were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

Groomers spent five hours a day washing and brushing horses, polishing their harness, braiding ribbons into their hair and inserting bows on their tails.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A Parkland High School teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a student.

Christopher Johnson, of the 1700 block of Falcon Drive in Bethlehem, surrendered to authorities on Thursday, the Lehigh County district attorney's office said.

Parkland High School. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

The 34-year-old Johnson is charged with unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and institutional sexual assault. He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of 10 percent of $50,000 bail.

A message left for Johnson's attorney, Marc Neff, was not immediately returned.

Johnson was escorted from the high school by police on last week, according to a parent. District Spokesman Nicole Mehta McGalla said Jonson was suspended from his job as of April 5.

McGalla referred questions about the case to the district attorney's office, and declined to answer additional questions about Johnson's employment with the school, citing it as a personnel matter.

Prosecutors said the parents of the accuser approached police and school administrators on April 2, after finding text messages between Johnson and the girl. Prosecutors have not divulged the age of the accuser.

Johnson was tutoring the girl beginning in January, and the contact became sexual soon after, prosecutors said. Johnson sexually assaulted the girl at her home and other locations until late March, investigators said.

Johnson was interviewed, and admitted to communicating with the girl via text, prosecutors said. The accuser's and Johnson's cellphones included sexually graphic texts, including details of the sexual contact, police said.

Johnson worked with the Parkland High School marching band, as well as other school bands in the area.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Two Lehigh Valley physicians are no longer allowed to practice under recent orders from the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine and Pennsylvania Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

The boards' orders suspend the licenses of the physicians. They come amid allegations by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office of one of the doctors peddling narcotics and the other illegally using them.

The orders say the physicians "may be an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety."

The physicians - Dr. Scott Keeney and Dr. Faton Bilali - were among 10 people charged criminally last month in the state probe.

Keeney, 41, of Lower Saucon Township, worked as a trauma surgeon at St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill. Keeney allegedly passed out after injecting himself with the painkiller fentanyl while on call at the hospital. St. Luke's has said he is no longer employed there.

Bilali, 39, of Allentown, worked at Coordinated Heath, which has several facilities in the Lehigh Valley. He allegedly wrote prescriptions for himself and his mother. Coordinated Health has not responded to a media inquiry about his employment status.

The orders say both physicians are entitled to a hearing to dispute the suspensions.

Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor apologized Wednesday in the face of an investigation by the inspector general's office, but provided scant details about what he feels he did wrong.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Stack said he has said "things in anger or stress or frustration" that he wishes he hadn't said.

"Any person who goes through life and gets stressed, I think, will say things that they don't mean and they say things out of anger, and I'm no exception," Stack said. "That's not an excuse. That's not a reason that's acceptable. The bottom line is, I know that I've said things in anger that I wish I could take back, that I didn't mean."

Stack summoned reporters to his Capitol offices to address reports of an investigation into how he and his wife have treated the troopers and state workers who guard and serve them. He said the inspector general's office notified him by letter of the probe a few days ago.

He said its focus is on how he interacts with troopers detailed to protect him and the people who work in the lieutenant governor's official residence. Stack and his wife, Tonya, live in a state-owned house at Fort Indiantown Gap, the state National Guard headquarters about 20 miles east of the Capitol.

He addressed reports that he or his wife may have pressured state troopers to use their sirens when transporting them and acknowledged he supported a failed proposal to change state law to specifically allow troopers to use flashing lights and sirens when transporting dignitaries such as the lieutenant governor.

"If I've ever said something in anger or frustration, being in a rush, something like that, where a state trooper felt I was telling them how to drive or how to operate their emergency response procedures, if I ever gave that impression I was wrong," Stack said. "And I apologize. But one thing I want you to know, as I said, these guys are the boss. They have all the training. They make the decisions. And they should."

Stack did not provide any examples of what he did wrong, but said he did not believe anything he said would be considered abusive.

The chairman of the state Republican Party issued a statement that said he was disturbed to see reports Stack "lambasted" state workers and that he was concerned about Stack's dealings with troopers.

"Sadly, arrogance and corruption among Democrat public officials, especially those from Philadelphia, is becoming more and more common these days," said GOP chair Val DiGiorgio.

Stack, 53, is a former state senator from Philadelphia who was elected more than two years ago.

In Pennsylvania, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run independently in the primaries and, once elected, hold what are considered independent offices.

Stack said he plans to run for a second term next year, as does Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Wolf's office said he had not received a report about the investigation from his inspector general and won't comment before he's able to review it.

State officials say the cost to staff and maintain the lieutenant governor's residence is about $450,000 annually. Stack's salary is $162,000 a year, and his duties include presiding over the state Senate, considering pardons applications and overseeing the Emergency Management Council.

Messages left for the inspector general's office weren't returned.

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Give Leonard Lance some credit. The Republican congressman from Hunterdon County has encountered the wrath of voters in three recent town hall meetings, and he isn't giving up on face-to-face interaction with constituents.

Other members of Congress aren't as willing to face people in town halls in the Donald Trump era. U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican whose district borders Lance's, has resorted to town halls by telephone.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has become a frequent user of phone-in town halls from Washington. His critics say he hasn't appeared in person at a town hall meeting recently (the last one was in 2015) and is ducking an obligation to hear them out. Some have taken to holding town halls without him, conducting weekly "Tuesdays with Toomey" protests.

Among other local lawmakers, U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent, Matt Cartwright and Josh Gottheimer have met with voters this year in town halls. So have Sens. Bob Casey and Corey Booker -- but not Sen. Bob Menendez, judging by an online search and a review of the schedule on his website.

While many of those avoiding town halls are Republicans -- most of the vitriol is coming from people questioning the Trump administration and GOP-led actions in Congress -- the New York Post reports that some Democrats have developed a case of stage fright as well.

What do you think? Should members of the U.S. House and Senate be required to meet their constituents in person in town halls, with plenty of give-and-take? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to join the conversation in the comments section.
Chinese Official Demoted for Not Smoking in Front of Religious Elders in Muslim-Majority Province

Chinese soldiers march past the Id Kah Mosque, China's largest, on July 31, 2014, in Kashgar, China. (Photo : Getty Images)

A government official in northwest China has reportedly been demoted for his "timidity in fighting against religious extremism" after refusing to smoke in front of religious elders.



Jelil Matniyaz, a Communist Party chief of a village in the semi-autonomous, Muslim-majority Xinjiang Province, was demoted from "senior staff member" to "staff member" last month for "for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures," according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.



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Matniyaz, who was identified as a member of China's Uyghur Muslim ethnic minority, was also charged with having "infirm political stands."



"Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but the behavior of the demoted Chinese official 'not daring' to smoke conforms with extreme religious thought in Xinjiang," an anonymous government official told the Global Times.



"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.



While smoking is not strictly forbidden amongst Muslims, local customs dictate that one should not smoke in front of older people and the religiously devout, said Turgunjun Tursun, a professor at the Zhejiang Normal University.



The Chinese government has been conducting a long-standing crackdown on religious extremism in Xinjiang, which is home a large number of Uyghur Muslims as well various ethnic and religious groups.



Last month, the provincial government enacted a new law that banned several types of behavior allegedly linked with "religious extremism," including wearing veils, having "abnormal" beards, refusing to watch state TV and preventing children from having a national education.



Nearly a hundred village officials were also named and shamed for various offenses in a probe personally directed by Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's Communist Party secretary.



While China has defended these hard-line policies as necessary for maintaining peace and stability in the region, international observers have blamed them for fueling tensions and driving Uyghurs to extremist groups like the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which have been blamed for a series of violent attacks on the province in recent years.



The Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang wants greater autonomy from China but has been met with stiff opposition from the central government in Beijing.


When you wish up-on a star. Makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.

A wish to visit the princesses in Disneyland Paris was granted to a five year old Portlaoise girl who was born with Cystic Fibrosis by Make-A-Wish Ireland.

Kiera Lynam from Esker Hills was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth. Because of an early diagnosis the treatments and medications that she needed were quickly put in place. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that affects the secretary glands including the mucus and sweat glands. It mainly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines and sinuses.

Kieras mother Louise Lynam takes up the story.

The struggles for a child with Cystic Fibrosis are enormous. Part of Kieras on-going treatment includes physiotherapy twice a day which takes up to two hours. Other therapies include nebulisers, blowing instruments, jumping exercises and inhalers and she is currently is on an anti-biotic for a chest infection. We attend Tallaght hospitals Cystic Fibrosis unit regularly with Kiera. The doctors and nurses at the hospital are fantastic with her.

Last year Kiera caught an infection in her lungs called Pseudomonas. This is a dreaded, deadly and horrible infection which had to be treated straight away with a very strong Nebuliser called Tobramysin. It took a whole month to get rid of this disease from her lungs. During this time I still had to go to work at Portlaoise Hospital and all of this was very worrying and upsetting for me and my family. The whole family rallied around Kiera and were really brilliant as they always are. I have a great support system between my mother Connie, my aunty Bertha and Kieras dad Adrian. My other daughter Jessica who is 11 is also fantastic with her little sister.

Kiera had a bronchoscopy three weeks later which allowed the doctors to examine her airways and thankfully the results showed that the infection had cleared up. Having said that though, every day for us is a total worry wondering what is next or what could be around the corner. Cystic Fibrosis is a terrible disease for any child to get and it is very worrying for parents too.

As we were going through all of this my friend and neighbour told me about her little girl who is also sick but doing brilliant now. She said that she applied to Make-a-Wish Ireland for her daughter to help to make her happier. She told me that her daughters wish was granted and she encouraged me to apply. So one evening I decided to check out the website and I send an email for the application form.

Two days later I received the application form and I filled out the details.

I couldnt believe it when I got a phone call the following week telling me that Kiera was eligible and was granted her wish and that all we had to do was to choose what it was going to be.

Kiera really couldnt believe that it was real, that she could wish for what she wanted most. It didnt take her long to choose her wish because she really loves Princesses. She chose to go to Disneyland in Paris because she would love to meet Belle, Jasmine, Elsa and Anna and all of the princesses that she loves so much. She can't wait to see the castle and to actually walk into it.

We are so excited for Kiera it was amazing to see her face and her eyes lighting up. It will be brilliant to be able to relax with my mother and my daughters for four days and to enjoy not having to worry about hospital or doctor appointments. We chose to go now as Kiera is well at the minute. She is a little bit chesty but she has loads of energy thank god, we will enjoy every minute of this dream come true. Thank you so much to the Make a Wish Foundation and to everyone who donates to this worthy cause that realises the dreams of children who are so ill. We are all so excited and we cant wait.

Kieras grandmother is Connie Lynam.

Kiera was absolutely over the moon when she found out that she was going to meet the Disney princesses in real life, she loves them. She is delighted that her older sister Jessica who is going with her. Jessica is very excited too just like any 11 year old would be and cant wait to get there.

I must admit that I am delighted myself that Louise chose me as the second adult to go with her and my granddaughters. It will be brilliant to be able to share the experience with them and to make lovely memories together. I am really thrilled for Louise she is such a fantastic mother to her children, said Connie.

Kiera, Jessica, Louise and Connie will fly to Paris towards the end of this month to begin their four day adventure in Disneyland. Kiera and her family will get a princess lunch with all her favourite princesses. The trip is all inclusive and the family will stay on-site in the Disney Hotel for the duration of the trip. To date, Make-A-Wish Ireland has granted over 2,000 wishes to children. For those who want more information on Make-A-Wish Ireland or wish to donate visit, info@makeawish.ie, or phone the wish-granting department 01-2052011.
The construction of a new high security wing for Portlaoise Prison to house some of Ireland's most dangerous criminals is sheduled to get underway at the start of 2019.

In what should be an economic boost for Portlaoise, the Irish Prison Services has confirmed to the Leinster Express that in the meantime work is to start on the refurbishment of the existing facilities.

The statement follows an announcement this week by the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald that the prison which is one of the main employers in Laois is set for an overhaul.

The Irish Prison Service outlined the plans in a statement to the Leinster Express.

"The core infrastructural modernisation requirements at Portlaoise Prison are the need to eliminate slopping out and to bring the prisons existing infrastructure to an acceptable standard including prisoner accommodation.

"The Irish Prison Service have committed capital expenditure in 2017 to Phase 1 of the Portlaoise redevelopment project & this entails a refurbishment of the outdated E Block & the Demolition of the D Wing. These projects will be tendered in the coming months.

"Construction of the Portlaoise New High Security Block is currently scheduled to commence in Quarter 1 of 2019," it said.

The statement adds that as these projects are subject to the tendering process it would be inappropriate to give an indication in relation to costs at this stage as this would be commercially sensitive information which may affect the process.

Portlaoise Prison as part of the Portlaoise Prison Campus, and is the only high-security prison in the State which serves as the committal prison for those sent to custody from the Special Criminal Court & accommodates prisoners linked with subversive crime.

It detains prisoners that pose the greatest security risks within the Irish prison system, and those requiring the most stringent standards of internal and external security and containment.

As well as prisoners requiring enhanced security for a range of reasons, it accommodates prisoners associated with the highest elements of gangland crime, as well as subversive and politically motivated criminals.

The prison service recently began the tender process for the purchase of fleet of new vans for the transportation of prisoners.
The Fuelling Ambition - Steps to Success Midlands event, organised by Enterprise Ireland and Network Ireland, in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Office Laois and the Entrepreneurs Academy, will take place in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel later this month.

The event is free of charge to existing and potential entrepreneurs and business women. Booking is strongly advised.

It aims to encourage, support and drive the ambition of female entrepreneurs in the Midlands and across the country.

Helen Gee founder of Gs Gourmet Jams and Maryrose Simpson founder of MyLadyBug are two ambitious Laois entrepreneurs, and they will share their business journeys and steps to success at the event.

Building on the successful Fuelling Ambition initiative introduced in 2016, this years roadshow will feature an Elevator Pitch competition with a prize package worth 4,000 including:

- 10 sessions with Enterprise Ireland Mentors

- Attendance at Enterprise Irelands Excel at Export Selling training programme

- Annual membership of Network Ireland

- Leadership training programme with the Entrepreneurs Academy, a national entrepreneur development organisation

Representatives from Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office Laois and Network Ireland will be on hand to discuss the wide range of supports available to female entrepreneurs and those thinking of starting their own businesses.

The events will also provide an opportunity to network with like-minded entrepreneurs and business people.

Sarita Johnston, Head of Female Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland, who will be in Portlaoise on the night said: "A key focus for Enterprise Ireland is supporting companies to start, innovate and scale by realising their growth potential and global ambition.

"We want to see more women starting their own businesses and more women successfully scaling their existing businesses.

"We are delighted to be working with Network Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and the Entrepreneurs Academy to connect with and encourage as many existing and potential female entrepreneurs as possible.

President of Network Ireland, Rebecca Harrison said: "Network Ireland is the leading networking organisation for professional women in Ireland and we are delighted to bring the Fuelling Ambition  Steps to Success roadshow to the Midlands this year.

"Helen and Maryrose have a wealth of business knowledge and I think its a real opportunity for other business women to hear what they did to get to where they are today and to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs in the area."

Evelyn Reddin Head of Local Enterprise Office Laois said: "We will all learn so much from these entrepreneurs who have inspirational business stories. An exciting addition to this years event is the Elevator Pitch competition which is open to all attendees.

"The valuable prize package worth 4,000 will help the winner with their own steps to success."

The event facilitator for the Evening is Mary O'Rourke, former Minister, renowned speaker and published author.

Helen Gee is the founder and CEO of G's Gourmet Jams Ltd which she established in Abbeyleix nearly 20 years ago.

From first sales at local farmers markets in 1998, her alternative farm enterprise has grown into a successful family business operating from a modern production unit located beside the family home.

Her range of jams, marmalades and chutneys for retail and food service are available in specialty food shops, hotels, cafes and supermarkets in Ireland and abroad.

Maryrose Simpson is the founder and CEO of MyLadyBug which she established in 2015 in Stradbally. MyLadyBug is Irelands first monthly period subscription service delivering monthly care packages to women around the world.

MyLadyBug was awarded the Co Laois Best New Business Idea in Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur competition as well as other business accolades.

It will take place in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel on Tuesday, April 25 at 6pm.
The green light has been given for 72 new houses at the former site of the medieval Rathangan Castle.

Developer, Jack Kinsella had revised the plans to prevent any impact on the neighbouring Rathangan Lodge on the Bracknagh Road, Rathangan.

The go ahead was given by Kildare County Council yesterday, April 12.

A geophysical survey of the grounds, provided by the developers, uncovered 25 shards of pottery, but no sign of the foundations of the castle.

Kildare County Council had insisted the developer carry out a magnetic survey to see if there were medieval castle foundations at the site.

READ MORE: Kildare County Council insists on survey to find Rathangan castle

Local historian Seamus Kelly said he had no objection to the development in principal, but he wanted the Rathangan castle foundations to be located and protected.

An archaeological assessment had been submitted by the applicant in relation to Rathangan Castle.

It proposed a conservation architect be hired to monitor topsoil removal and other ground works.

It said if any discoveries are made, work should be stopped in the vicinity until various authorities were consulted.

However, Rathangan historian Mr Kelly, who also worked on the Wood Quay project in Dublin, pointed out the exact location of the castle is not known.

He had called for an architectural exploration followed by an excavation prior to building.

We need to find the structures, preserve them as ruins and put a proper name plaque up and let people go in and see them, he said.

He said the castle was one of the most important border castles of the 16 century and saw the Earl of Kildare battle the OConnors of Offaly.

Subsequently, on foot of the councils request for a magnetic survey, 20 trenches were dug and 25 pottery shards dating from the 12th to 19th century were discovered.

The Geophysical Survey detected a number of anomalies, some were interpreted as being of archaeological potential.

However, the report said further testing revealed such anomalies were associated with geological variations in the subsoil or associated with modern disturbances or features.

The report concluded the development would not impact on the site and suggested certain precautions be undertaken during construction.

At this point, the conditions set out by the council in relation to the planning permission have yet to be published.
A group of business people representing Kildare rate payers met Minister Coveney yesterday to highlight their anger at the huge rate hikes enforced on them.

He took notes and we explained everything. We asked him if he could change the law so that the rates could be based on the profits people made, said delegation member, Simon Cross.

If you had a good year, you paid more and if you had a bad year, you paid less.

However, Mr Cross said the Minister said that wouldn't work because if there was a slump in the economy, then the rates income would plummet.

The Rathangan business man did say the Minister was not aware of the fact that online businesses were not subject to rates. He was also made aware of other entities, which were allowed to operate without paying rates.

READ MORE: Kildare businesses furious over rate hikes

Mr Cross said businesses just wanted the rate to be calculated fairly across the county.

His rates have increased by 780% and he said he knows of another business in Rathangan that received an even higher rate hike.

My place was calculated at a rentable value of 81,000, but Pitts garage was recently sold in the town (Rathangan) for 90,000. It doesn't make sense, said the owner of Cross Agricultural Engineering, which employs 42 people.

Rathangan has been hit hard by the recession with many empty premises in the town centre.

Mr Cross said he was aware of a premises, which was offered for an initial six month rent free period in the town, but had no takers.

Organised by Dep Martin Heydon, the briefing was also attended by Marcella OReilly of Buy Design, Adrian Conlan of Athy, and Kill horse trainer, Ted Walsh.

Horse trainers have also been hit with huge demands and are asking the Minister to allow them to be placed back into the farming sector rather than their current categorisation in the leisure sector.

The rate evaluation was carried out by the Rates Valuation Office and is based on a number of factors including rents, square footage and other issues depending on the type of business.

That rateable valuation is then multiplied by .24%  the AVR (Annual Rate on Valuation) rate set out by Kildare County Council.

When the calculations were sent out last month, many businesses were up in arms, while others received cuts.

However, it appears that those who have seen increases, have had huge jumps. So far seven public meetings have been organised across the county.

Mr Cross points out that pressure needs to be put on councillors to lower the AVR rate for businesses in Kildare, which in some parts of Dublin.

He organised a rates meeting in Rathangan Community Centre last Tuesday night April 11. A total of 25 businesses were represented.

His son Jason Cross has also set up an online petition for businesses to register their disapproval at the rate hikes. So far, over 400 businesses have signed up.

Times are changing. You dont need to have a shop front now. You could set up a online business in your attic and you wouldn't have to pay rates, he said.

Mr Cross points out that businesses who are concerned about their rate valuation have to lodge an appeal before April 18. If they are still unhappy with the decision after that, they can go to arbitration, which will cost between 200 and 500.

Sporting clubs or community halls who have bars, run functions, or a shop, have also been charged rates.

He points out the online appeals process is easy to do but, he urged businesses to accompany their appeal with a letter outlining all the details about their enterprise as the valuations office may not have enough information.

I pay 12.5% corporation tax. When you add in the rates, I will be paying the equivalent of 54% in tax. That wont allow me to stay in Ireland, he said.
The problem of speeding through Suncroft is much worse than originally thought, it has emerged after a Newbridge councillor revealed disparities between the raw data and the finished council traffic report.

Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy told officials at Wednesday's Kildare Newbridge Municipal District meeting that the raw data does not support the councils own traffic survey, which was given to councillors in advance of last months meeting.

Is the council able to read its own data? she asked, unless the errors can be explained, I will be looking for a review of all traffic surveys, she said.

In advance of last months meeting, she said the council reported that 49.9% of traffic was above the speed limit in Suncroft.

Since the last meeting, a review of the raw data shows 86% of traffic was speeding. She said the council's report also underreported the median speed of traffic.

She asked the council to review their report in light of the additional materials and report of the raw data provided by Tony O Donnell, Suncroft resident and Fellow of Engineers Ireland.

The council said the report is to be referred to its senior engineers for review.

Cllr Joanne Pender said she didnt have the raw data when the matter was raised at last months meeting.

She said the survey was hiding the real figures.

I am a little bit confused to say the least, she said, I dont understand how the information we get is so different. There is 30% or more of a difference in the level of speed.

She pointed out the data indicated the worst time for speeding was at school times and evening times.

She said with the bright evenings, children would be out playing and it was a miracle nothing had happened with people traveling over 100km per hour through the village.

Cllr McLoughlin Healy said the issue had to be looked urgently.

Council officials said it would take the comments back to the team to get their response.

See full story in next weeks Leinster Leader
Census 2016 results show that the population of County Leitrim has increased to 32,044.

The new figure is an increase of 0.8% over the five years, when it was 31,798.

Irelands population was 4,761,865 in April 2016, an increase of 173,613 (3.8%) since April 2011.

The total national number of non-Irish nationals has fallen slightly to 535,475, or 11.6% of the population, the first decline since the introduction of this question in 2002, while the number of people with dual-Irish nationality has increased by 48,879 to 104,784 since April 2011.

The Census reports there are more males than females in Leitrim. The population comprised of 16,064 males and 15,980 females last year.

The average age of Leitrims population was 39.8 years, compared to 38.4 years in April 2011, showcasing again that we are an ageing population.

The number of males aged 65 and over nationally increased by 22% to 296,837, while the number of females aged 65 and over increased by 16.7% to 340,730 nationally.

Leitrim had the highest dependency ratio of any county

at 62.6%. Dependents are defined for statistical purposes as people outside the normal working age of 15-64.

Numbers for divorced/ separated people continues to increase. 1,523 people were divorced/ separated in Leitrim, a rate of 4.8% higher compared to the national rate of 4.7%.

12,300 people in Leitrim stated that they could speak Irish, compared to 12,644 in April 2011.

Within this figure, 323 spoke Irish daily outside the education system, while 768 spoke Irish weekly outside the education system. Nationally, 1,761,420 people stated that they were able to speak Irish.

The 2016 results show that 612,018 Irish residents spoke a foreign language at home (up 19% from 514,068 in 2011).

Polish was by far the most common language, followed by French, Romanian and Lithuanian.

Leitrim has the lowest number of Irish Travellers residing in any county. 203 Irish Travellers resided in County Leitrim in April 2016, a decline of 23.1% since 2011. Irish Traveller numbers did increase in most counties.

The biggest percentage increases were recorded in Longford where Traveller numbers rose by 40.8% and Roscommon where numbers increased by 30.3 %. Longford had the highest absolute increase in Traveller

numbers of any county, increasing by 303.

Leitrim has the lowest percentage (58%) of households with broadband internet.

7,192 dwellings in Leitrim had broadband access in April 2016, an increase of 14.2% since April 2011.

1,482 dwellings had non-broadband internet access, an increase of 20.4%, while the number of dwellings with no internet access fell by 22.5% to 3,402.

Nationally, 312,982 dwellings (18.4%) had no internet connection, down from more than 1 in 4 (25.8%) in 2011.

Broadband use in private households increased to 70.7% (from 63.8% in 2011) and 148,125 more households had a broadband connection.

While Ireland remains a predominantly Catholic country, the percentage of the population who identified as Catholic on the census has fallen sharply from 84.2% in 2011 to 78.3% in 2016.

The figures released last week make up the summary of Part 1 of Census 2016, more details and statistics for Leitrim and local areas will be released throughout the year.
Cystic fibrosis patients in Sligo-Leitrim are set to benefit from a new deal between the Health Service Executive and pharmaceutical company, Vertex, which will see Orkambi and Kalydeco made available from next month.

The HSE are now working to finalise the contractual terms to make sure we have the best and most robust deal possible for CF patients and the healthcare service overall.

Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin says that the deal announced by Minister for Health, Simon Harris is a landmark decision for CF patients and their families. The HSE and Vertex have reached an agreement in principle on the commercial terms for the supply to Irish patients of Orkambi for patients aged 12 years an older and for Kalydeco for patients aged 2 to 5 years and for other treatments and age cohorts following market authorisation in Europe.

This is great news for CF patients here in Sligo-Leitrim. I know that this has been a particularly difficult time for all cystic fibrosis patients and their families and hopefully this announcement gives them some degree of relief and certainty.

I want to thank my Fine Gael colleague, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and the HSE for bringing this deal to fruition. I know they have been working hard on this deal for a number of months."stu

Speaking of the announcement, Minister Harris said, I was very pleased to be in a position to bring this news to CF patients and their families this week. I hope that it will help to finally put people's minds at rest, knowing that the drugs their family and friends need will be available to them from the beginning of next month.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, is today (Thursday) being joined by the Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, Michael Ring, TD, to announce 20 million in funding for rural towns and villages as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. The Ministers made the announcement at an event in the Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, Co. Westmeath.

Up to 300 towns and villages will benefit from funding under the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will be made available through Local Authorities over the next 15 months to support rural regeneration. The scheme is specifically targeted at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. Applications from towns can range from 20,000 to a maximum of 100,000. Funding of up to 200,000 will also be considered for a limited number of projects which can deliver exceptionally strong economic benefit to a town and its outlying areas.

Speaking today Minister Humphreys said: The Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched in January of this year, contains over 270 actions across Government to help rural Ireland achieve its full economic and social potential. Irelands towns and villages are the heart of our rural communities and it is important that we continue the task of rebuilding and breathing life back into our rural towns and villages and their hinterlands to enable them to become hubs of economic activity, where people want to live and work and meet at a social level.

Following on from the success of the 2016 scheme, I am allocating 20 million for an enhanced programme this year which will benefit up to 300 towns and villages right across Ireland. This years scheme will place an emphasis on measures which have a clear economic impact on rural towns and villages. Some funding will also be available for art works in public spaces which reflect the culture of a town or region and involve participation by local artists, which was a commitment under the Action Plan for Rural Development.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a package of measures at national and local level to support the rejuvenation of towns and villages across Ireland, which also includes initiatives in areas such as heritage, tourism, arts and culture, the re-use of vacant premises, energy efficiency and business supports. Projects which demonstrate linkages with wider initiatives to increase the overall impact on town and village revival will be strongly encouraged.
SIPTU members in Bus Eireann have today received a recommendation from the Labour Court aimed at resolving the dispute at the public transport company.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: The recommendation from the Labour Court is long and comprehensive. Every worker needs to study its contents and consider the consequences of accepting or rejecting it. SIPTU representatives will endeavor to ensure all our members are fully informed prior to balloting on the recommendation. Arrangements for meetings of members and the ballot will be announced in the coming days."

He added: Our members have shown fortitude and solidarity in their fight to protect decent jobs and the public transport system. They will now return to work with their heads held high knowing that they and their union have done everything they could to try and protect conditions of employment.

The proposals include 200 job losses, the closure of Dundalk maintenance garage and the ending of routes across rural Ireland. The dispute over recent weeks and months is the result of government policy over several years and inaction over the past few months by the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, senior department officials responsible and the Independent Alliance. Our members will now reflect on the document and decide their futures.
The Long March-2F rocket blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 11, 2013, in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China. (Photo : Getty Images)

China has successfully launched a new communications satellite on Tuesday that will allow passengers of high-speed trains to stream HD videos and aid emergency responders at the scene of natural disasters.



Shijian-13, China's first high-throughput communications satellite, was launched on a Long March carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 7:04 in the evening, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency.



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The satellite, which has a larger message capacity than those found in previous Chinese communications satellites, is capable of providing better Internet access on vehicles traveling at high speeds as well as in less-developed regions.



While in orbit, Shijian-13 will undergo tests on its broadband multimedia satellite communications system and high-speed laser communication technology, Xinhua said.



"The launch is a milestone for China's communications satellite technology," said Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.



Shijian-13 is also notable for being the first Chinese satellite to be powered completely by electricity, unlike its predecessors that use chemical fuels, according to Xinhua



Using electricity as propellant could potentially boost the satellite's efficiency by as much as 10 times compared with those that use chemicals as a propellant, said Zhou Zhicheng, commander in chief of Shijian-13 satellite system, adding that it can also help extend the service life of the satellite and significantly reduce its launch weight.



China's communications satellite also boasts a large number of indigenously-made components and is the first Chinese high-orbit satellite with a long lifespan to be installed with a laser communications system.



Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by academies affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology respectively, according to Xinhua.



It was the 246th flight mission involving a Long March carrier rocket.



Shijian-13 is one of two satellites slated for launch in China this year. In March, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced the launch of the fourth Fengyun-III weather satellite at the second half of 2017 to improve the country's weather forecasting capabilities as well as environmental monitoring.


The community of Kinlough feel very let down by the HSE in respect of the primary health centre the Seanad heard last week.



Senator Keith Swanick brought the worrying issue of the lack of GP cover in Kinloughs primary health centre to the Seanad last Wednesday, April 5.



Minister of State Helen McEntee who heard the information said she will inform the Minister of Health of the situation.

She did say there is an ongoing private matter between the owners of the rented property and the HSE.

Senator Swanick explained that the community only have a two day GP service at the health centre each week by appointment.



He said he contacted the HSE about this issue in June 2016 and was told there are no plans to increase the level of GP cover in the area.

On the other three days the GP cover is based in health centres in Bundoran and Ballyshannon, but the senator points out the people visiting GPs and care centres are not in the full of their health. They are in need of medical attention and, as such, we can rightly assume that they are in some form of pain or distress. The fact they cannot visit a doctor in their own locality only adds to this distress and, in my opinion, it is disgraceful in this day and age.



The Fianna Fail Senator also put forward that Currently, hearing and dental checks are not being conducted in the health centre, but in the local school which has 270 pupils. This causes major disruption. The people of Kinlough deserve a full-time GP service, five days a week.

As a GP himself, the Senator said there is a compelling argument for an enhanced service. He asked that responsibility for Kinlough Health Centre be returned to the Leitrim primary care area, as opposed to the Ballyshannon-Bundoran area. He concluded, The community of Kinlough deserves better.

After listening to the senator's details on the centre, where he called for a five day a week GP, Minister of State, Helen McEntee who stood in for the Minister of Health, Simon Harris, confirmed that the primary health centre in Kinlough is an outreach from the main centres of practice in Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

She outlined the centre was rented by the HSE in 2004.

As this was originally a domestic type dwelling, a number of works were carried out to make the property fit for purpose. The HSE has advised that an issue has arisen about the negotiation on the rental value of the property which is ongoing and as this is a private matter between the owners and the HSE.

She reassured the Senator and the people of Kinlough that the HSE has informed her that services are continuing to be provided from these premises in Kinlough.



Senator Swanick put forward that the village of Kinlough is expanding and needs a five day a week GP service. He outlined, that the population increases year on year and Kinlough is the third largest urban area in County Leitrim.



Deputy McEntee stated that it is the governments priority to enhance and expand capacity in the primary care sector.

She said the Senator's suggestion that the responsibility for Kinlough's Primary Care Centre should move into the Leitrim primary care area is something that might be raised after the committee has finished its deliberations and once it is planning the future of what primary care in this country will look like.

She thanked the Senator for raising the issue and said she would bring the information to the Minister of Health, Simon Harris for further discussion.
After 20 years of travelling the world, Manchan Magan is heading to The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton this Easter Saturday, April 15.



This latest adventure for the writer and film maker will see him venture out of his self made hovel in the oak woods of Westmeath to join the Holey Soles Walking Club in their ascent of Ben Bulbin on Easter Saturday.

He will spend the evening talking about his travels at the Glens Centre in Manorhamilton, to the hill walkers, their friends and anyone else who would like to join them.



The event at the Glens Centre, part of the North Leitrim Hill Walking Festival, will be a great opportunity to be transported to exotic locations and entertained by Magan. His pre Ben Bulbin adventures include his years running an organic farm/hostel on the Ecuador/Peru border when both countries were at war; his time as a hermit in a cowshed in the Himalayas; getting rabies in the Amazon; working in a cannabis commune in Canada; going without food for a week in the Congo; living on a remote primal screaming commune in Columbia; driving for 6-months overland across Africa, and filming with remote tribes in Africa, China, India and South America for TG4 and the Travel Channel.



Admission fee is 5. For details of the Walking Festival see Facebook - The Holey Soles Hill Walking Club or call (087) 6470902.
This is from the Department of You Couldnt Make It Up.

With less than a month to go to the May local elections here in Shropshire, the county Conservative group has had to halt delivery of its election manifesto. This came after we discovered the image of local activists at the head of the manifesto was lifted from the website of an Australian mental health charity.



All up elections for Shropshire unitary council will take place on 4 May. Postal votes arrive at the end of next week. All parties are pushing literature through letterboxes and knocking on doors.

The local Tory manifesto was published at the beginning of the month but I didnt get to see a full copy until early this week. A photo on the front page troubled me. It didnt look like a photograph of Shropshire Tories but I couldnt put my finger on quite what was wrong.

It was only after a long nights writing that it clicked. My mind was tired and idling but I suddenly realised what so niggled me about the photograph. The group of activists had twelve women and just one man. For an image used in this context, most of us would strive for a rough gender balance. I then discovered that one of the women was clutching a can of Xero, a brand I dont think is sold in this country.

I was now very suspicious. I took a snap of the manifesto and fed it into Google for a reverse image search. In seconds, the search engine had identified the origins of the photo. It is a staff photo for the mental health charity, Grow, based in Queensland, Australia. It was taken on 28 June 2013 and shows the Tasmanian and Queensland staff.

Local media helped me check that this is not a stock image. They contacted the charity and the local Conservatives for comment. The charity has yet to respond and may choose to keep out of a political firefight. The Conservatives initially shrugged off the issue. Nonsense. No-ones complained. Hasnt whoevers doing this got better things to do?

I think exposing this sort of conduct is a good thing to do. I demanded that the Tories withdraw the leaflet. They should apologise to the charity and compensate it.

Yesterday lunchtime, we learnt that the Tories had ordered distribution of the leaflet to be halted. They have also apologised to the charity. I suspect they may have had a word with their lawyers.

This story is all about trust. If the Tories use an image purporting to be of Tory enthusiasts but they are really charity workers on the other side of the world, why should we trust them to tell the truth about anything else? This is the party that has for so long declared itself the party of law and order. But lifting of an image from a charity website seems okay for them.

I cannot believe any political party would use a photo from a charity without permission. Even as local politicians, we must obey election law to the letter. It defies belief that the Conservatives decided to use this image rather than a photo of their own supporters. I reckon that they have been in power too long and have lost any sense of reality.

We all have different perspectives on what needs to be done in Shropshire. But we should never walk away from being honest. By using a picture of hard working mental health workers on the other side of the planet, Shropshire Conservatives have brought local politics into serious disrepute.

Our county deserves better than this. We Lib Dems are fighting as hard as we can, putting up 48 candidates (there are 74 seats).

* Andy Boddington is a Lib Dem councillor in Shropshire. He blogs at andybodders.co.uk. He is Thursday editor of Lib Dem Voice.
Deutsche Welle reports:

Canada is poised to become the first country in North America to legalize marijuana and other cannabis products for recreational purposes, a decision that has the support of a majority of Canadians.

But experts say federal legislation, expected to be introduced later this week, is only the first step, and the implementation of a countrywide, legalized cannabis system will likely differ from coast to coast.



That framework legislation will empower the relevant ministers to pass regulation, and the regulation is really where the action happens, said Hugo Alves, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in the medical marijuana industry.

Its not yet clear where recreational cannabis products will be sold in Canada once it is legalized, what entities will be allowed to produce it, if a limit will be imposed on how much someone can purchase at one time, or what tax the government will charge.



Legalizing recreational marijuana was one of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus election campaign promises in 2015. A year later, the federal government established a task force to make recommendations on how to create the new system.

That committee looked at how other places have legalized recreational marijuana use  including Colorado, Washington state, and Uruguay  and at how Canada has regulated tobacco, alcohol, and medicinal cannabis in the past.

The task force recommended that Ottawa regulate the production of cannabis across the country, set a minimum age for purchase at 18, and impose restrictions on advertising similar to those that exist for cigarettes.

Provincial and municipal governments should, meanwhile, be able to choose to set a higher minimum age, and regulate distribution and retail sales in their own jurisdictions, the committee recommended.
This piece arises out of a comment I made on Facebook that one of Lib Dem Voices founding editors asked me to write up as an article for LDV.

I have given training on debate and hustings skills to candidates at the party conference and there are a couple of rules to help you in that I think Remainers and Liberals are continuing to paying insufficient heed to in Brexit related debates. This was brought home to me while watching recent episodes of Question Time and similar programmes.

The first rule is framing. In a debate, the success of what you have to say (measured by whether people will feel they agree, and whether they will do the thing you want them to do, e.g. vote a certain way) is often determined by the way an answer is framed.

A frame is way of thinking about things. A point of view, if you like. Words evoke frames. A classic example is tax cuts versus tax relief. They are the same thing. But relief sounds like the curing of an affliction, and an affliction usually has a victim and a cause of the affliction (goodies and baddies).

Another example is gay marriage versus equal marriage both are used to mean same sex couples being able to marry but they can evoke different thoughts about the subject.

To win a debate (whether a hustings, or an election campaign as a whole) it helps to use your frame, not your opponents frame.

Frames are not word games. They are moral values that we inject into what we say politically.

If you want to understand more about framing, read this article by George Lakoff.

The second thing is time. In a debate you only have limited time to make your point. On a programme like Question Time it is the limited time the chair and audience are willing to give you before wanting to hear from the next person. That means make your best point your first point and do it quick.

The 50 billion example

I think pro-Europeans are playing to the wrong frame too often. The specific issue that triggered my comment on Facebook was how Remainers on news programmes dealt with will we have to pay 50 billion on leaving?

Quite often they got into explaining why we might have to and why this is not unfair. Brexiteers then run down the clock with its a disgrace, weve paid enough, we just need to get out.

The problem with this, and why they get a lot more applause, it that they look strong and theyre going to try, and you look like youre surrendering and not even going to try.

The challenge frame

This is what I suggest you do instead: frame it as a challenge.

Boris and that lot said we wouldnt have to pay a penny. They told you to vote Leave saying we wouldnt be worse off. Now they have the chance to prove it.

Lets see if they negotiate an exit deal where we dont pay a penny let alone 50 billion. If they dont we will all know we cant rely on the things they say.

And link it to the future 

We will know never to trust them again. We will have to decide if we want an exit if it is so different to what they promised.

The flexibility of the challenge frame

You can use this frame on just about any aspect of Brexit.

I have quickly created this debate matrix. In the top line is the frame. In the columns are some examples to flesh the frame out. You can probably think of more.

They promise X would/not happen They lied / were wrong. You cant trust them. We deserve better 350m per week for the NHS That bus. We deserve a vote on the exit deal Turkey joining the EU Listen to young people who will have to deal with the consequences for longer Immigration reducing a lot Brexit should not happen if this is what it is going to mean Your familys living standards getting better not worse No jobs lost Less costs for business not more costs Not paying into the EU budget

Conservatives and Leavers understand framing and time very well. It is one reason they won the referendum and other debates in recent years (the AV referendum is a case in point).

We need to stop walking into failure again and again by accepting their frames.

* Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup.
THE 800 documents from Glin Industrial School which have been at the centre of a dispute between abuse survivor Tom Wall and the Christian Brothers for the past two years are now back in his custody in Glin.

Mr Wall removed the documents from UL earlier this week when it transpired that he had not signed any official form when handing them over to the university in 2015.

Now, he intends holding on to the documents until the Christian Brothers confirm in writing to him and to his solicitor that they have no legal claim on them.

A fortnight ago, after Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins raised the matter in the Dail, Br Edmund Garvey, the head of the European Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers told Deputy Collins he would be satisfied with copies of the documents and that he had no interest in engaging in legal action.

But, Mr Wall claimed this Wednesday, he has received nothing in writing from the Christian Brothers. And he accused them of reneging on their commitment. No email came confirming the Christian Brothers position that they had removed their claim on the documents, Mr Wall said.

When that is done, Mr Wall continued, he intends to lodge them again in UL, where he hopes they will be preserved and available to researchers, historians and the families of past pupils.

There is a wealth of information there. The difficulty I have for the past couple of years is that these documents were locked in boxes. The Christian Brothers have effectively sealed them. But that is no longer the case. I dont want the Christian Brothers to have any veto over these documents."
The death toll from the Sunday terrorist attack on the Mar Girgis Cathedral in Tanta increased to 29 after two people injured in the bombing died on Monday, according to Mohamed Sharshar, the deputy head of the health ministry in Gharbiya governorate, state news agency MENA reported.

This raises the death toll from Sunday's twin terrorist attacks in Tanta and Alexandria to 46.

Nagy Ramsis Girgis died on Monday morning in the ICU of wounds sustained in the suicide bombing of the Tanta cathedral, which injured over 70 people. His body has been handed over to his family.

The 27 bodies of the victims who died in Tanta on Sunday were buried later that evening at the Mar Girgis Cathedral cemetery.

Health ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed said that most of the injured in Tanta have been released from hospital. Thirty people are still receiving treatment at Gharbiya hospitals, including 24 at Tanta University Hospital and six at the American Hospital.

Ten of the injured were referred on Sunday to Nasser Institution and two to El-Mounira hospital in Cairo.

Megahed added that most of those injured in the Alexandria cathedral bombing have also been released from hospital. Thirty-five are still receiving treatment at the governorates Alexandria University hospital, Mostafa Kamal Hospital and the Police Hospital.

Hours after the Tanta attack, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside St. Marks Cathedral in Alexandria, killing at least 17 people and injuring 40 others.

The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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A LIMERICK doctor has urged that legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes will be much safer than patients sourcing illegal cannabis on the street to relieve chronic health conditions.

Dr Ray OConnor, a senior research fellow in the Graduate Entry Medical School in the University of Limerick, said that he is broadly supportive of the proposed legislation, but only under strict regulations.

It wont be a case of walking into a pharmacy and getting six bags of cannabis and Happy days. It will be given for specific purposes for specific patients, and will need to be strictly monitored to ensure that it is not abused, said the adjunct senior clinical lecturer.

He has argued that illegal cannabis is widely available to those who seek it, and said in the case of medical need, legislation will help ensure that patients receive a safer product. In legalising cannabis you will have standardisation and security of source.

Go into any pub on any night and I defy you not to smell cannabis somewhere. It is not like sourcing moondust. It is all over the place  the same with benzos [benzodiazepines].

A person buying illegal cannabis [resin] on the street, for their own medical use, could be smoking or inhaling a substance that is mixed with rat poison, and which could have far greater implications for their health, in harming their lungs, for instance, and be associated with chronic bronchitis. People dont know what exactly they are buying, said Dr OConnor.

At a recent Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Fine Gael deputy Kate OConnell, a practicing pharmacist in Dublin, said that proposals to legalise medicinal cannabis are madness and verging on the immoral.

Dr OConnor said that he did not agree with this view, describing the language as emotive.

I wouldnt agree with that statement. I have had a sufficient number of patients who have had chronic pain and other difficulties where some of them have sourced cannabis themselves, said Dr OConnor, who also works with Shannondoc, an out-of-hours medical care service in the Mid-West.

He said some patients, including those who have epilepsy, have reported improved health conditions, but he said it is very difficult to gauge whether its a direct result of cannabis.

Whether this was a placebo effect or not, I do not know, which is why this area needs supervision. There are potential pitfalls, which is why we need to be awfully careful.

A lot of drugs have been introduced, like benzos, or codeine, on the basis that they did no harm. It was a disaster waiting to happen, but I think we are wiser now.

A GP for nearly 30 years, he said that there are certain medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, for which cannabis appears to be beneficial, though medical research to date has been the source of controversy and the results have not been conclusive.

Dr OConnor highlighted that other legal drugs have given rise to addiction, especially benzodiazepines, or relaxants, and alcohol, describing addictions to those drugs in Limerick as massive.

We already use drugs for medical purposes that have the potential for addiction and are available on the street, such as morphine for people with terminal illness, he added.

He said cannabis may prove helpful for those in palliative care, or others facing severe chronic illness, and in those circumstances medicinal cannabis would also represent a compassionate treatment.

The Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016, brought by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, was passed by the the Dail in December after the Government said it would not oppose it.

It proposes the establishment of a cannabis regulation authority to provide for the licensing of the supply of cannabis for medicinal use.

A health food store in Limerick  Eats of Eden on Thomas Street  has reportedly seen sales of its cannabis oil products skyrocket in recent months, following calls for psychoactive cannabis products to be legalised for medicinal purposes.

Their cannabis oil products do not contain THC  tetrahydrocannabinol  the psychoactive compound found in illegal cannabis herb and resin.

Proprietor Cillin Cleere said they have sold out and been restocked on numerous occasions. The reaction has been extremely positive. We have had lots of interest from people of all ages coming into the shop to enquire about it, he said.

Fianna Fail deputy Niall Collins said that he has no issue with the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and would keep an open mind in relation to total decriminalisation of the drug, but would need to be convinced of it.

Sinn Fein deputy Maurice Quinlivan said that criminalising cannabis use is ridiculous, saying the real problem is with heroin and benzos. Labour deputy Jan OSullivan is also supportive of the Bill, as is Fianna Fail deputy Willie ODea, though said he would be extremely nervous if it was totally decriminalised.
Previewing Cherrystones next auction of U.S. and worldwide stamps and covers

Apr 12, 2017, 3 PM

The April 25-26 auction by Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers in New York City will include Bolivias 1924 10-centavo vermilion and black airmail stamp with center inverted in a block of four (pictured here) and also as a mint single.

By Michael Baadke

Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers has scheduled its next sale for April 25-26 at its New York City galleries.

The two-day auction in four sessions includes stamps, proofs, and postal history of the United States, along with material from Europe, South America, and Asia, as single stamps, blocks and sets, postal history, large lots, and collections.

Among the U.S. stamps is a well-centered unused example of the 15 black Abraham Lincoln stamp from the 1875 reissue of the 1861-66 issue (Scott 108). The stamp carries its full original gum with a hinge remnant, according to the Cherrystone auction catalog description.

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Accompanied by a 2006 certificate from the Philatelic Foundation, the stamp is listed with a $2,500 estimate against its catalog value of $4,500 in the 2018 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue.

The sale also includes a nice U.S. back-of-the-book rarity: the 1916 unwatermarked, perforated 10 1 rose postage due stamp (Scott J59) in mint, never-hinged condition.

This example, valued at $9,000 in the Scott catalog, includes part of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing inscription in attached top margin selvage. It was authenticated as part of a plate block of six in 2014, and a photocopy of the Professional Stamp Experts certificate comes with it.

The postage due stamp is listed by Cherrystone with an estimate of $5,000.

The upcoming auction offers two separate lots of the same appealing classic airmail error from Bolivia.

The countrys first airmail stamps were issued in a set of seven in December 1924.

The 10-centavo vermilion and black stamp is known with the airplane vignette in the center printed upside down in error (Scott C1a).

The error stamp bears some resemblance to the 1918 U.S. Jenny Invert error, but only 50 examples of the Bolivian error were ever discovered, compared to 100 of its famous U.S. cousin.

The Scott catalog value for a single Bolivian invert is $2,500.

The Cherrystone sale has a never-hinged single and a never-hinged block of four, listed with estimates of $2,500 and $10,000, respectively.

The block of four is one of the only two recorded blocks of any size, according to Cherrystone.

The auction offers a nice run of stamps from New Britain, circa 1914, including the G.R.I. overprints on previously issued stamps of German New Guinea and Marshall Islands.

Cherrystone offers an unused example of the 1914 3-shilling surcharge on the 3-mark violet-black Marshall Islands Kaisers Yacht stamp (New Britain Scott 41), with what the auction firm describes as an unlisted 4-millimeter spacing variety, likely from a later setting.

The regular issue lists in the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 for $6,500; the Cherrystone estimate for this variety is $5,000.

The Cherrystone auction offers close to 1,600 lots; the items can be viewed and bids placed online at Cherrystone's website, or on the Stamp Auction Network.

Additional information is available from Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers, 119 West 57th St., Suite 316, New York, NY 10019.
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Egypt's Catholic and Evangelical churches have decided to cancel Easter celebrations on Saturday night after the two deadly suicide bombings that hit Mar Girgis Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday.

Father Andrea Zaki, the head of the Evangelical community in Egypt, said Easter celebrations will be cancelled and masses will be limited to prayer services in mourning of the victims of the attacks.

The secretary of Egypt's Coptic Catholic Church Emmanuel Ayad said on Wednesday that the Catholic Church has also decided to cancel Easter celebrations in solidarity with sister churches and the families of those killed in the attacks.

On Tuesday, the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Rafael announced the cancelation of Easter celebrations and the limiting of Saturday night masses to prayers, with a reception of mourners on Sunday.

Christians are set to celebrate Easter in masses across the country's churches on Saturday night.

Egyptian Copts make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million and constitute the Middle East's largest Christian community.

The Sunday double deadly attacks on the two churches in Tanta and Alexandria, which left 46 killed and dozens injured, was the worst terrorist attack against the country's Christian population.

Last December, a suicide bombing hit Cairo's St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, killing 29 worshipers, mostly women and children.

Correction: An earlier version of this piece indicated that the Egyptian Anglican Church has decided to cancel Easter celebrations on Saturday night. In fact, it is the Evangelical Church.

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Cypriot Defense Minister Fokaides met on Wednesday with President Sisi to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East

Egypt's military production minister Mohamed El-Assar met with Cypriot Defense Minister Christoforos Fokaides in Cairo to discuss the ministry's potential for military production, state news agency MENA reported on Thursday, citing a statement from the ministry.

El-Assar discussed with Fokaides ways to utilise Egypt's military production capabilities to enhance relations between the two countries, the statement read.

Fokaides complimented the capabilities and experience of military production companies in Egypt, affirming his wish to bolster cooperation between the two sides, the ministry added.

Fokaides, who is currently on a multi-day visit to Egypt, met on Wednesday with both President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi to discuss military cooperation and the latest developments in the Middle East.

Last year, Sobhi and Fokaides signed a joint military cooperation agreement on fighting terrorism and combating the migrant crisis.

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Galileo Galilei, explorer of the skies The man who revealed to us science's great truths, toppling, in the process, God and God's voice on Earth /news/talking-point/galileo-galilei-explorer-of-the-skies-111646836377932.html 111646836377932 story

If you go to Florence with the twisted desire to behold Galileo Galileis remains, there are two places to visit. If your interest lies in withered, physical fragments of genius, you must walk to the Museum of Science where a glass egg holds his middle fingersomething he once raised in constructive opposition to the Catholic churchwith two other digits and one tooth for company. The balance of Galileos body, enclosed in the integrity of a magnificent tomb, lies in the Basilica of Santa Croce, where his shriveled companions range from Machiavelli to Michelangelo (whose corpse admirers" smuggled from Romeevidently stealing the dead was acceptable conduct in those days).

The basilica is a spectacular structure in a spectacular city and for 600 years someone or the other was still building itit was only in 1863 that the marble facade was fixed. I parked myself on a bench outside and read about the great man buried inside, acting with self-conscious decorum before locals sitting on the steps, drinking beer by the evening light. Galileo, at any rate, would not have objected to the alcoholwhen, in contravention of sacred, irrational traditions, he wrote The Assayer (1623), a foundational work for modern physics and methods of science, one orthodox critic suggested that perhaps Galileo was suffering from an overdose of wine.

Born in 1564, Galileo was the son of a musician. After a boyhood in Florence, he went to university in Pisa, affronting its masters by demonstrating uncommon intelligence. Acquiring considerable numerical knowledge, he declared that the book of Nature is written in mathematical language. Its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometrical figures" without which one wanders in vain through a dark labyrinth" of religious ignorance. Naturally, with outrageous ideas like this, he returned to Florence broke and without prospects. His popularity with students, however, rescued himPisa hired him as a lecturer, where he impressed pupils with his contrarian charisma, composing such memorable lines as, Only wear gowns/if youre a dimwit who frowns."

Over the years, Galileo moved about a great deal, struggling to earn a living and to support his mistress. The Medici grand dukes of Florence, whose imprint remains visible across the city, patronized him and, later, extended protection. In 1605 he tutored a Medici and in 1609 he annoyed this Medicis motheroblivious to the difference between an astronomer and an astrologer, she commissioned him to produce her dying husbands horoscope. A debt-ridden Galileo, without irony, accepted, prophesizing a delightfully extended future for the ailing duke, guaranteed by the heavens. As it happened, the man died within the week.

Galileos greatest successes did, however, come from the stars. The telescope, invented in 1609, allowed, as R. Hooke wrote, a transmigration into heaven, even whilst we remain here upon earth in the flesh". Galileo developed a model 30 times more powerful than the Dutch prototype to investigate the skies. Soon he showed that the moon was not a smooth, divine orb, but a place with mountains and cratersall the imperfections of Earth afflicted heaven too. He discovered Jupiters moons and the phases of Venus, concluding in 1612 that Earth was not the centre of the universe, as certified by the Bible, but that it revolved around the sun with infinite space beyond, of which we were but a tiny fragment.

It was a fascinating time. In 1610, Galileo had published his Starry Messenger (immodestly hinting that his consequence to history was greater than could be commemorated by any memorial now). Thinkers across Europe were animated by the possibilities this opened up. Space travel appeared in Francis Godwins The Man In The Moone (1628) and within a decade it was suggested that one day humans would indeed venture beyond Earth. Other works of fiction like The States & Empires Of The Moon (1657)featuring four-legged aliens and rocketsexplored the theory that there might be other habitable worlds out there. This was more than just creative writing: Fiction offered a safer avenue to articulate controversial ideas in the teeth of papal opposition without fearing charges of heresy.

Galileo, however, was hardly the diplomatic type. He began his damning Dialogue Concerning The Two Chief World Systems (1632) on an understanding with the pope that he could articulate his view but must concede that Christian traditions were paramount. Galileo did the exact opposite, and soon found himself tried by powerful men with small minds, contemplating techniques for his liquidation. In the end he was prevailed upon to state that he abjured, cursed, and detested" his theory of Earths revolution around the sun, muttering but it still moves" defiantly under his breath. Partly because there were sympathetic factions within the church, it was decided that the man would not be roasted. He was to spend the rest of his days under house arrest.

When old, blind Galileo died in 1642, the Medici sought to bury him inside Santa Croce beside other great sons of Florencethe pope objected and it would take 95 years of persuasion before the remains were installed inside the basilica. My own visit to Santa Croce ended in disappointment, thoughthe doors were shut and I couldnt enter to view the spot where Galileo lies. I had to satisfy myself through a picture pamphlet instead. Rising from the bench outside and from the gaze of the beer drinkers, I performed a perambulation of the building; a consolatory revolution of my own around the resting place of the man who revealed to us sciences great truths, toppling, in the process, God and Gods voice on Earth.

Medium Rare is a weekly column on society, politics and history. Manu S. Pillai is the author of The Ivory Throne: Chronicles Of The House Of Travancore.
Cannes Film Festival lineup: Four things we learnt Michael Haneke is back, Netflix is here to stay /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/cannes-film-festival-lineup-four-things-we-learnt-111646836399098.html 111646836399098 story

The lineup for the 70th Cannes Film Festival is out, and, on the face of it, this ought to be a great year. Here are four things that stood out for us, as well as the complete list of selections:

No shortage of heavies

Cannes has its favourites just like any other festival. Michael Haneke could make it three for three Palme dOrs if Happy End (a title which, given the directors previous works, couldnt be more ironic) wins the top prize. Keeping him company in the Competition section are festival circuit regulars Francois Ozon (LAme Double), Andrey Zvyagintsev (Loveless), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Killing of the Sacred Deer), Fatih Akin (In the Fade) and Arnaud Desplechin (Ismaels Ghost) and Hong Sang-soo (The Day After).

Netflix is here  get used to it

Netflix and Cannes have had a frosty relationship in the past, in part because the streaming giant simultaneously releases films online and in theatres (when that happens at all). The selection of Bong Joon-hos Okja, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, and Noah Baumbachs The Meyerowitz Stories, with Adam Sandler, could well be a gamechanger. These are Netflixs first films in Competition at Cannes, which might be seen as an admission by the high council of serious cinema that theres no escaping the online platforms ever-growing shadow.

Cannes is getting serious about TV

Next year, Cannes will host its first TV awards festival, on the lines of the film one. The years lineup is setting the mood with screenings of Jane Campion and Ariel Kleimans Top of the Lake and the much-anticipated return of Twin Peaks, directed by David Lynch.

Gender parity is some way away

There are three women directors in Competition this year: Lynne Ramsay, Sofia Coppola and Naomi Kawase. This is the same number as the 2016 festival, where Miriam Ades Toni Erdmann and Andrea Arnolds American Honey were two of the best-received films. Things are slightly better in Un Certain Regard, which includes five films by women directors, but there is still a massive gender imbalance (which reflects the larger imbalance in film worldwide) at Cannes.

A still from Ismaels Ghosts.

Cannes 2017 lineup

Opening film

Ismaels Ghosts (Arnaud Desplechin)

Competition

The Day After (Hong Sang-soo)

Good Time (Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie)

Loveless (Andrey Zvyagintsev)

You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsay)

Jupiters Moon (Kornel Mandruczo)

Lamant Double (Francois Ozon)

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Yorgos Lanthimos)

A Gentle Creature (Sergei Loznitsa)

Radiance (Naomi Kawase)

Wonderstruck (Todd Haynes)

Happy End (Michael Haneke)

In the Fade (Fatih Akin)

Rodin (Jacques Doillon)

The Beguiled (Sofia Coppola)

Le Redoutable (Michel Hazanavicius)

Okja (Bong Joon-ho)

120 Battements Par Minute (Robin Campillo)

The Meyerowitz Stories (Noah Baumbach)

Un Certain Regard

Aprils Daughter (Michel Franco)

Lucky (Sergio Castellitto)

Jeune Femme (Leonor Serraille)

Western (Valeska Grisebach)

Wind River (Taylor Sheridan)

Directions (Stephan Komandarev)

After the War (Annarita Zambrano)

Dregs (Mohammad Rasoulof)

Out (Gyorgy Kristof)

The Nature of Time (Karim Moussaoui)

Before We Vanish (Kuroswa Kiyoshi)

Latelier (Laurent Cantet)

Beauty and the Dogs (Kaouther Ben Hania)

Barbara (Mathieu Amalric)

Closeness (Kantemir Balagov)

The Desert Bride (Cecilia Atan and Valeria Pivato)

Out of Competition

Blade of the Immortal (Takashi Miike)

How to Talk to Girls At Parties (John Cameron Mitchell)

Visages, Villages (Agnes Varda)

Special Screenings

12 Jours (Raymond Depardon)

They (Anahita Ghazinizadeh)

An Inconvenient Sequel (Ronni Cohen and Jon Shenk)

Top of the Lake: China Girl (Jane Campion and Ariel Kleiman)

Promised Land (Eugene Jarecki)

24 Frames (Abbas Kiarostami)

Napalm (Claude Lanzmann)

Come Swim (Kristen Stewart)

Demons in Paradise (Jude Ratman)

Sea Sorrow (Vanessa Redgrave)

Clairs Camera (Hong Sang-soo)

Twin Peaks (David Lynch)

Midnight Screenings

The Villainess (Jung Byung Gil)

The Merciless (Byun Sung-Hyun)

Prayer Before Dawn (Jean Stephane Sauvaire)
Google AutoDraw uses AI to convert scribbles into drawings AutoDraw allows anyone with a smartphone, tablet or PC to get proper drawings out of their scribbles in a matter of seconds /news/talking-point/google-autodraw-uses-ai-to-convert-scribbles-into-drawings-111646836423500.html 111646836423500 story

Drawing on a tablet, laptop or smartphone can be very difficult and time-taking if you are not used to it. This is where Googles new AI (artificial intelligence)-backed online platform AutoDraw can come to your assistance. It is a free-to-use website and doesnt require users to sign up or create an account. Just go to the search bar and type www.autodraw.com. This platform can come in handy for users trying to design a birthday card, posters and pamphlets using a tablet or PC on their own. The fact that it is an online platform means you cant access it if your device is offline.

What makes AutoDraw different from Photoshop Sketch or Paint is the use of AI to guess what a user is trying to draw and suggest proper drawings of objects with similar layout.

How it works

The AutoDraw homepage shows a blank canvas in the middle and a column of tools on the left side of the screen. If you have used the Adobe Photoshop Sketch or Microsofts Paint app, you will be familiar with some of these tools. What makes AutoDraw different from these apps is the use of AI to guess what a user is trying to draw and suggest proper drawings of objects with similar layout. So if you draw two circles side-by- side and connect them with a line, the site will show drawings of a bicycle, eyeglasses or spin lock weights at the top of the page. These drawings are made by professional designers, illustrators and artists, including Erin Butner, Julia Melograna and Simone Noronha. Users can select any of these by simply tapping on them. What makes it better than the likes of Photoshop Sketch or Paint is the fact that users dont have to spend time on actual drawing. They just have to provide the basic framework of what they are looking for and the AI will come up with suggestions. The more precise the framework, the more accurate the drawing suggestions will be.

The flexibility factor

AutoDraw also allows users to modify the size and orientation of the canvas, readjust the size of the drawing, fill colour and add text using tools lined up on the left side of the website. Once a drawing is complete, users can download it on their device in .PNG file format or share it directly on social media sites. AutoDraws real attraction lies in the fact that anyone can have a drawing ready in a matter of seconds without having to pay a dime.
An Egyptian military court has sentenced five supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi's to 15 years in prison and 65 others to life sentences in absentia after they were convicted of committing a number of violent crimes in Minya in 2013 shortly after Morsis ouster.

The defendants were convicted of attacking military and government facilities, as well as storming churches and Coptic schools in the governorate.

The verdict can be appealed before the military prosecution.

In 2013, Egypt saw a series of attacks on churches and government facilities after security forces dispersed two high-profile sit-ins in Cairo protesting Morsis ouster.

Authorities have repeatedly accused the Brotherhood of being behind violent incidents and terrorist attacks since the ouster of president Morsi in 2013.

In December 2013, the Brotherhood was officially designated a terrorist group in Egypt.

Many of the Brotherhoods leaders, including Morsi and Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, have been jailed on various charges

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An Alexandria criminal court on Wednesday sentenced human rights lawyer Mohamed Ramadan in absentia to 10 years in prison, followed by five years' house arrest during which he will be banned from using the internet.

The internet ban is the first-ever such court sentence in Egypt.

Ramadan was originally referred to the criminal court on charges of inciting terrorist attacks, endangering lives and public property, threatening national unity, and preventing authorities from carrying out their duties.

Ramadan was also accused by the prosecution of creating a Facebook account with the aim of spreading extremist ideologies and inciting terrorist attacks.

He has the right to a new trial if he appears before the court.

Ramadan was tried under the 2015 counter-terrorism law which has been used by prosecutors to charge defendants in several terrorism-related cases in the past two years.

Article 37 of the law states that in addition to being subject to exceptional sentences like house arrest, those convicted of terrorism-related crimes could be banned from using or possessing certain means of communications.

One of Ramadan's lawyers Mahinour El-Masry said that the prosecution presented screenshots of Facebook posts not made by Ramadan, adding that the case against Ramadan was "loose."

On Tuesday, Egypt's parliament voted unanimously to ratify a three-month state of emergency proposed on Sunday by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The declaration of 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. The state of emergency grants authorities expanded powers including trying civilians in special courts, restricting or regulating movement in public places, and more authority to regulate media outlets.

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Egypt's Armed Forces will pay for and oversee the restoration of the two Egyptian churches in Tanta and Alexandria that were targeted by deadly suicide bombings on Palm Sunday, army spokesman Tamer El-Refaie announced on Thursday.

Egypt's defence minister Sedki Sobhi has ordered the restoration of Tantas Mar Girgis Cathedral and Alexandria's St Mark's Cathedral upon the instructions of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

The extent of the damage to the two churches is not yet clear.

The order came following a visit by Sobhi to El-Galaa Military Hospital, where several of those injured in the attacks, which killed 46 people and injured dozens more, have received treatment.

Sobhi later visited the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II to offer condolences, stressing that Egypt will win its fight against terrorism.

Sobhi said that this "treacherous act of terrorism" will not affect the unity of Egyptians, but actually strengthen the solidarity that exists between all segments of the Egyptian population.

He affirmed that the Egyptian people, along with the army and police, will move forward with their aim to eliminate terrorism and achieve peace, security, and development nationwide.

The Palm Sunday bombings were the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country's recent memory.

This is not the first time that the army has taken charge of reconstructing churches targeted by terrorism in recent years.

In December, the army restored St Peter and St Pauls Church, which was the target of a terrorist attack earlier that month that killed 29 people.

In late 2016, the army completed the restoration of several churches attacked in August 2013 on the day of the dispersals of two Cairo sit-ins protesting the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

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In the course of composing this paragraph, which is theoretically about Elon Musk, I've been thinking about neuroscience and about electrode arrays. I've been thinking about a friend's job hunt. I've been thinking about an article I once wrote on artificially intelligent robots, about whether I should get a snack or just hold out until lunch, about something I just read on a famous essayist's new memoir, about whether my editors are going to appreciate me inserting the word "I" into this article.

And above all, I've been imagining a network of electrodes clinging to my brain, trying, with increasing mechanical desperation, to unwind all of these thoughts and figure out what to do with them.

That's what tech guru Elon Musk wants: neural implants that would connect to the human brain and merge the mind with a machine. The idea, as he's put it in several talks and conferences in recent months, is to connect with ultrasmart artificial intelligence, lest AI eclipse humanity entirely. As a first step, Musk recently launched a company called Neuralink Corp., which appears poised to join the medical device market for implants designed for injured or diseased brains. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

When The Wall Street Journal first broke the news of the rocket-and-electric-car-entrepreneur's new venture, media outlets (including Live Science) quickly made the connection between Musk's ambitions and recent advances in neural prosthetics that let people move bionic body parts with their brains and even feel with false limbs. Potential applications include brain implants that ease the symptoms of epilepsy and Parkinson's disease with miniature electric shocks.

This litany might make it seem like Musk's "neural lace" technology is mere steps away. But it's a long walk from moving a prosthetic limb with the motor cortex to plugging a healthy brain into a smartphone. How would an electrode array record the brain's many wandering thoughts? Even if it could capture them, how would it decode which were important? And would a human brain even be able to process whatever the artificially intelligent network sent back?

Reading minds

Little is known about Musk's plans for Neuralink, but it has been registered as a medical research company, which suggests that the first goal will be to break into the neural implant market for neural injuries or degenerative nervous system disorders. Wired compared this presumed plan with Musk's strategy of building low-cost rockets as a stepping stone toward Mars colonization.

Rockets, however, had already been invented before Musk started SpaceX. Neuralink's researchers won't have so much to build on. Current neural prosthetics have come a long way, but they still manage only a limited range of motions, said Brad Wyble, a professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University who studies visual cognition. For someone who has a severed spinal cord from an accident, any mobility is fantastic; for someone able-bodied, the spinal cord is far more advanced, Wyble said.

"We already have the peripheral nervous system," he said. "That's the gadget you've got to beat."

Musk is on the record as complaining that human interactions with devices are inefficient, and it's true that thumb-typing on a smartphone is not humanity's most effective use of dexterity. Nevertheless, the spinal cord is like the neural lace of sci-fi writers' dreams, Wyble said. It is more than just a relay cable. It takes the burden off the brain by handling reflexes on its own; it also does some of its own processing in dealing with more complex inputs. A 2011 study published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, for example, found that spinal cord activity in response to a sensory input (painful heat, in this case) is different depending on whether a person is distracted or focused on his or her senses. In other words, higher-order mental processes can influence the way that very basic sensory processes work.

If mimicking the spinal cord is currently out of reach, figuring out the brain is somewhere in the stratosphere, Wyble said.

"We have barely scratched the surface as far as how hard it is to think," Wyble said.

Beyond the very basic coding in the sensory or motor cortex, neuroscientists haven't cracked the brain's processing language. No one knows how thoughts or intentions are structured in neuron impulses and action potentials. An electrode array couldn't read my relevant thoughts about what I'm about to type next, much less differentiate them from my flittering ruminations on lunch. And those random thoughts are not insignificant. One study found that people spend about 47 percent of their time thinking things that are not related to the task at hand.

Integrating the brain

Nor is thought a simple input/output sort of process, which might make integrating the mind with machines additionally challenging. Wyble cited the example of Spritz, a speed-reading app that is purported to make reading faster by presenting words directly in the center of vision, so the eyes wouldn't have to move across the page. [5 Intriguing Uses for Artificial Intelligence (That Aren't Killer Robots)]

"The problem with that line of thinking is the brain is doing stuff constantly while you're reading," Wyble said. The limitation isn't how fast the eye can move, but all the processing that goes on within the brain. Cramming more information into the visual system more quickly won't necessarily improve performance, Wyble said.

"The brain is probably very well-adapted and finely tuned to the pace of information that the peripheral nervous system delivers," Wyble said.

Even if scientists could translate complex feedback loops between the brain and a digital device, what hardware would do the job?

"There aren't very many electrodes that you can insert into the brain that will record individual neurons over long periods of time," said Randolph Nudo, director of the Landon Center on Aging at the University of Kansas Medical Center, who is working on brain implants designed to bridge communication gaps in the brain after brain injury or stroke. The best technology available now is the Utah array, which allows for up to 128 electrodes to connect with neurons in the sensory or motor cortex  not the presumed millions of neurons you'd need to decode higher-order processing. Even with this top-of-the-line tech, the electrodes stop working after a few months, Nudo said. Scar tissue builds up around the insertion points, degrading the electrical signal.

Nudo said he and his colleagues hope to use their implants to nudge the brain to rewire, removing the hardware after the connections have been re-established. But Musk's neural lace would need to be permanent, Nudo said.

"Not only do you have the risk to the patient of infections and so on, the device may not last a lifetime," Nudo said. No one has a clear idea of how to make a device that could safely interface with the brain in a sophisticated enough way to be useful, he said.

Nudo, it so happens, once owned the name Neuralink. He and his partner Pedram Mohseni recently sold the name to a person they only later found out was representing Musk. Nudo and Mohseni are still working on the brain-implant technology with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, and hope to be able to prove that it works in primates within two years, Nudo said. So far, they've tested implants only in rodents.

The regulation game

One of the greatest challenges to brain-implant development, Nudo said, is gaining approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To get approval to even test a medical device in humans, developers have to develop a prototype and show that it won't be dangerous.

"It's a huge economic hurdle to get that done, and tens of millions of dollars are often spent in that process of getting even a simple device through the FDA process," Nudo said.

Venture capital is usually the only way to raise that kind of cash, Nudo said. But venture capitalists do expect a return on investment. That's another potential stumbling block for Musk, Nudo said. The people most likely to be willing to test out a brain implant are those who have the least to lose  people with neurodegenerative disorders or nervous system injuries that affect their movement or speech or other basic functions. But in the grand scheme of things, that's not that many people, Nudo said.

"If you have a small population of patients that could benefit from it, the bottom line is that you will have a very hard time making money," he said.

Despite all these hurdles, no one wants to discount Musk's ideas. The entrepreneur is famous for pushing technology forward with dramatic pronouncements and short development timelines, and Nudo and Wyble agreed that Musk's ability to direct the public spotlight to neuroscience research could be a godsend.

"Applications like this are always a tremendous driver of public interest," Wyble said. "The danger comes when we make unrealistic promises of what will soon be possible, because those unfulfilled promises can lead to a backlash and a loss of confidence in science."

Original article on Live Science.
Egypts Ministry of Interior identified in a statement on Thursday Mamdouh Mohamed Baghdadi as the suicide bomber responsible for Sundays attack on Tantas Mar Girgis Cathedral that killed 29 people.

The ministry said that Baghdadi, who is from Upper Egypts Qena, was identified using CCTV footage and DNA testing.

Baghdadi was a member of a terrorist cell led by a fugitive militant named Amr Saad Abbas, who also trained the suicide bomber who attacked Alexandrias St. Marks Cathedral on the same day of the Tanta bombing, according to the statement.

The ministry said that Abbas also orchestrated the December bombing of Cairo's St Peter and St Paul's Church, which killed 29 worshipers, mostly women and children.

The ministry also raised a reward from EGP 100,000 to EGP 500,000 for information on 19 individuals it identified a day earlier who are suspected of involvement in the two church bombings.

The ministrys statement added that Baghdadi was also involved in an attack in January on a police checkpoint in the New Valley that killed eight policemen.

At the time, authorities attributed the New Valley attack to 12 militants from Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis.

The interior ministrys Thursday statement also said that three people involved in terrorism-related crimes have been arrested in Qena, without elaborating.

The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings of the Alexandria and Tanta churches, which killed 46 people and injured dozens more.

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The United States on Thursday added the brother of Iran's most high-profile military chief Qassem Soleimani to its sanctions list, accusing him of overseeing torture and other abuses at Tehran's Evin Prison.

The measure from the US Treasury Department targets both Sohrab Soleimani and the Tehran Prisons Organization.

Soleimani is the younger brother of Major General Qassem Soleimani, who runs the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and who has been photographed visiting Iranian-led fighting forces in Syria and Iraq. Qassem Soleimani is already subject to US sanctions.

Sohrab Soleimani is the supervisor of the Office of the Deputy for Security and Law Enforcement of the State Prisons Organization, according to a US Treasury statement. He used to be the director general of the Tehran Prisons Organization

The new human rights-related sanctions by the US follow the arrests in Iran of a string of dual nationals from Western countries, many of whom have been detained on national security-related accusations.

A US-Iranian man and his wife were formally charged last month with holding social gatherings deemed illicit under Iran's Islamic laws.

"The sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran's prison come at a time when Iran continues to unjustly detain in its prisons various foreigners including US citizens," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said a news briefing.

"We join recent calls by international organizations and UN human rights experts for the immediate release of all US citizens unjustly detained or missing in Iran."

In a statement announcing the new sanctions, the Treasury Department said the Tehran Prisons Organization oversees Evin Prison, where political prisoners have been subject to harsh interrogation, forced confessions, psychological and physical torture and denial of access to medical care.

The statement cited one April 2014 event at Evin Prison in which it said prison officials attacked and beat political prisoners, leaving more than 30 injured, with some denied medical treatment and held in solitary confinement afterwards.

The Treasury on Thursday also imposed counterterrorism sanctions on two Libyans, identified as Ali Admidah al-Safrani and Abd al Hadi Zarqun, and an Algerian, Hamma Hamani, accused of ties to the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Spicer said the US had blacklisted IS "financial facilitators" and a supporter in North Africa in an effort to "disrupt key leadership for the group."

Two Canadians currently in Syria, Tarek Sakr and Farah Mohamed Shirdon, were also addded to the sanctions list.

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When 17-year-old Nathan Lam started listening to the cast recording of Hamilton at the beginning of his junior year at San Franciscos Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, he quickly found he was hooked.

I couldnt stop thinking about Hamilton. Im sure my grades plummeted, he joked.

Since debuting at the Public Theater in New York City in 2015, Lin-Manuel Mirandas musical about Alexander Hamilton, one of the nations founding fathers and the first U.S. secretary of the Treasury, has become a pop-culture juggernaut. Its turned its creator into a household name and won 11 Tony awards.

Since the opening at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on March 10, ticket prices for performances have shot into the stratosphere, way beyond the reach of students like Nathan.

But on Wednesday, he was among a group of lucky high school students who got to experience the show for free as part of the educational program #EduHam that first launched in New York.

The San Francisco version of the program, which is funded by nonprofits and corporate sponsors, gives 8,500 public school students from throughout the Bay Area the chance to see the show that former first lady Michelle Obama called the best piece of art in any form that I have ever seen in my life.

A group of 2,200 students from 14 San Francisco public schools  including Lincoln, Lowell, George Washington and Mission high schools  watched as the cast put on a matinee performance just for them Wednesday.

By intermission, students said they were decidedly impressed.

The movable floor was really cool, said Loidy Fontanilla, 18, referring to moving platforms that whisked bits and pieces of the elaborate set around the stage. And I liked how well the colors of the lighting corresponded with the feeling of each scene.

By the time the curtains closed, its safe to say they were starstruck.

Soham Bhatt, 16, of Galileo Academy for Science and Technology, was riveted by the lighting effects and the orchestra pit.

The live music coming from under the stage  that was so cool. And the performances were so crisp and on point. Everyone brought something different, he said.

Added 15-year-old Olivia Anderson of Lowell High School, Honestly, I think it was the best thing Ive ever seen.

Before the show began, 17 students from 10 schools took the stage in front of their peers to perform their own original songs, skits, raps and poems inspired by their studies.

This country is like my mother  it built me, Diana Falcon of Downtown High School recited in her original poem.

The shows are the culmination of a course on the founding fathers.

For students in a system like the San Francisco Unified School District, in which about 1 in 4 students is learning English as a second language and more than half qualify for free and reduced lunch, it is not difficult to see how a story that celebrates the role of immigrants in early American history, and champions a man who came to this country a poor orphan and made something of himself, might resonate.

Taking on the emotions really puts you in history, said a Galileo student, 17-year-old Mateo Langston.

Celeste Guerrero, a 17-year-old senior from Mission High School, and Aila Alli, a 16-year-old junior, performed an imagined dialogue between revolutionary and statesman John Laurens and his father in the afterlife.

I think its very important to feel represented, and with Hamilton, with (the Marquis de) Lafayette  its amazing how much they accomplished, Celeste, an immigrant from Mexico, said.

Emmy Raver-Lampman, who plays the witty Angelica Schuyler and emceed the student performances, said the audience of students was a welcome change.

We all get a kick out of it and love it, she said. Its a chance to see the show through fresh eyes.

EDITORS' NOTE: The above photo gallery has been modified. It originally contained a photo that was not meant to be included.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi
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Television streaming giant Hulu is expected to spend an estimated $13 million renovating a new 45,000-square-foot campus in San Antonio where the California company will run its viewer experience operations, city records show.

With its vibrant culture and large and diverse talent pool, were incredibly excited to partner with the city to make San Antonio home to our viewer experience operations, Ben Smith, head of Hulu experience said in a press release.

City and Bexar County leaders spent months courting Hulu to locate its customer service center in San Antonio, bringing with it 300 new jobs when it opens this fall with a peak of 500 by the end of 2018. They offered a generous package of tax incentives, coupled with a $1.3 million cash grant Gov. Greg Abbott pledged from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Hulus Viewer Experience Operations headquarters will provide around-the-clock telephone, email, chat and social media support. It also will reach out to customers and conduct account analysis. Positions will include customer support, training, management and leadership.

Sixty-five of the jobs will pay more than $50,000 a year  the minimum needed to qualify for the incentive packages being offered by the city and county, according to city officials.

The other jobs must pay at least $11.83 an hour, the citys current living-wage standard. At two years, Hulu must pay at least 70 percent of its employees $15.68 an hour, or about $32,000 a year.

Most of the workers will be millennials, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation CEO and President Jenna Saucedo-Herrera said in an interview.

The company is expected to lease and renovate a building at 4511 Horizon Hill Blvd. in the Fountainhead Business Park, according to a proposed city ordinance outlining incentives.

The renovations costs are estimated at more than $12.92 million, according to the incentive package. Saucedo-Herrera said that Hulu expects to be able to move in this fall.

San Antonios selection still hinges on the approval of incentive packages for the company from the city, Bexar County and the states Texas Enterprise Fund.

City Council and Bexar County Commissioners Court will vote on their respective incentive offers next week.

The city council votes next Thursday on a six-year, 100 percent property tax abatement on the real estate and office equipment for Hulu, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said. The value of the abatement is roughly $278,000 over the six years.

Bexar County officials are voting on a 10-year property tax abatement at 90 percent for Hulu on Tuesday.

Bexar County Economic Development Director Jordana Decamps said the value of the county incentive over 10 years is an estimated $403,232.

Combined, the city, state and county incentives total about $1.97 million.

Saucedo-Herrera said the San Antonio Viewer Experience Operations headquarters will be positioned to help the company roll out new products, including a live-TV service starting this spring, as the television and movie streaming industry rapidly evolves.

Its an exciting time for them. They are doing tremendous things for their industry, she said.

Hulus Smith said: One of our key values at Hulu is putting the viewer first, and vital to that is crafting and delivering an extraordinary customer experience.

In addition to building a great product, were building an infrastructure that allows us to provide the most personal, responsive and knowledgeable customer support for our viewers.

With its vibrant culture and large and diverse talent pool, were incredibly excited to partner with the city to make San Antonio home to our viewer experience operations, he added.

The city recruited Hulu for six months. A hastily arranged delegation visit, led by Mayor Ivy Taylor and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, to Hulus California campus made San Antonios final pitch in early March after the city was listed as a finalist with Albuquerque, New Mexico.

San Antonio used statistics and videos about the community and corporate cultures, touting the citys technology workforce, corporate environment and costs of doing business. Teams of Hulu executives made multiple visits to San Antonio. They really did their due diligence, Saucedo-Herrera said.

Saucedo-Herrera said she was impressed by Hulus California campus during the March visit.

Its a wonderful environment, the cafeteria and music playing. The campus here will be the perfect environment that any San Antonian would be interested in. There will be game rooms, the whole nine yards, she said.

SAEDF first found out about Hulus site-selection search from state economic development leaders.

We worked with their site-selection consultants. As the project progressed, we were short-listed and then we turned it on, Saucedo-Herrera said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said 23 cities were in the running for the Hulu center initially. Wolff recalled Thursday taking Hulus Smith to visit San Antonios cloud-computing services company Rackspace Inc. about two months ago.

That helped convince him that this was a good place to go, Wolff said. The Hulu executives also were impressed that we went to Santa Monica in early March.

City Economic Development Director Rene Dominguez said Hulu will bring expertise as the city tries to expand digital networks to more people through broadband, access to digital devices and training.

They will help us tackle our economic development issues, Dominguez said.

Hulu was launched in 2008. The company offers a subscription streaming service that provides programs from large U.S. broadcast networks. It also produces original programming.

Hulus owners include Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast. Each holds a 30 percent stake. Time Warner holds 10 percent of the company.

dhendricks@express-news.net
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Urban developers and officials boasted about downtown's strengths, while also calling out its weaknesses amid rising concerns over affordability during an Urban Land Institute conference Thursday at the new Marriott Marquis convention center hotel.

The addition of thousands of new apartments is helping transform downtown into a neighborhood that will attract even more restaurants, shops and other staples that make a downtown thrive seven days a week.

"I'm very hopeful about the future of downtown," said Mark Cover, an executive with Hines who works in the city center and recently lived there with his wife as part of what he called a "living laboratory."

"I wouldn't recommend it for everybody, but the surprise was that it was much easier than we thought," he said during a panel discussion on the "24-hour Downtown." "We went for three years with only one car."

Hines, which developed multiple skyscrapers in the city center, is now building apartments there.

More residents make a downtown better for visiting guests and for corporations trying to attract top talent, said Michael Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners, the only out-of-town panelist.

Yet Smith cautioned that in Charlotte, N.C., where there's been an increase in housing construction, developers aren't building enough affordable units.

"We're building a ton of market rate," he said. "Make sure you have enough affordability and a mix of uses."

To create an urban neighborhood, there must be enough people to support restaurants and retail.

As more service-oriented business are lured to downtown Houston, there's a greater need for workforce housing, said panelist Peter McStravick, chief development officer of Houston First.

Building an educational framework is also key to attracting families, panelists said.

The keynote speaker of ULI's Urban Marketplace conference said urbanizing cities are increasingly seeing more people displaced.

"We're going to start losing  if we don't ensure our cities remain places for opportunity for all of the residents," said Mark Falcone, founder and CEO of Continuum Partners of Denver.

In a panel discussion on how Houston can remain competitive, participants shared their impressions of the city's transit options.

Bill McKeon, who was named president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center on Thursday, said Houston should have more bike paths and light rail.

Offering a "work, live, play" lifestyle, he added, gives a city a competitive advantage.

McKeon said driverless cars will be here soon. With the TMC's major source of revenue coming from parking, McKeon said he's often asked about what will happen when driverless cars are the preferred form of transportation.

"We don't worry about that," he said. "Imagine the mixed-use we can develop across the Medical Center."

Before the panel began, a video played featuring conceptual images of the proposed TMC3 Innovation Campus, a major medical research campus that would also include hotel rooms, restaurants and green space.

The conversation again veered to affordability challenges.

"Downtown and the central city does have to become a place for families," said Bob Eury, president of Central Houston. "We're not moving fast enough in that recognition and process of becoming more family friendly."
A tough-looking sergeant  the type of guy youd look at once and know not to mess with  is driving his jeep past a long line of German prisoners of war. Its Denmark, right at the end of World War II, and the sergeant spots, among the shuffling line of prisoners, one who is carrying a Danish flag.

The Danish sergeant backs up the jeep, gets out and starts pummeling the souvenir taker in the face. As he hits him  almost kills him  he is saying, This is my country. And from this first scene of Land of Mine we understand something very quickly  the rage that comes from having your country occupied by a hostile power.

This is something we as Americans have never experienced, but we can feel it in that moment. Imagine being as tough as that sergeant but being from a helpless country. And imagine a bunch of foreigners rolling in with tanks and imposing barbarism and inhumanity for years. You might want to pummel somebody, too. And if you were that kind of guy, you probably would.

Its against this background that we get this fact-based drama, which was nominated for the Academy Award for foreign film. Apparently, the Germans, wrongly thinking that the Allied invasion might come through Denmark, buried some 2 million land mines along the beaches of Denmarks west coast.

More Information Land of Mine **** Quick take: A suspenseful, explosive drama See More Collapse

So, following the wars end, the British and Danes forced 2,000 German prisoners of war to locate and defuse those land mines by hand.

So here we have a horrible human situation in which we understand both points of view. On the one hand, we have the Allies thinking, You planted them. You get them out. You have a people anticipated their children running on the beach and getting dismembered. You have an entire coastline rendered unusable.

On the other hand, you have these pathetic German kids, some of them teens conscripted in the last desperate phase of the war, who are victims of Hitler almost as much as the Allies.

The sergeant becomes the commander of a small group of German prisoners. He trains them in how to defuse these bombs, tells them their daily quota and then watches, from a safe distance, as they go about their work.

As played by Roland Moller, the sergeant is a formidable guy who wants to hold onto his contempt for these Germans. But he doesnt have the eyes or the face of a brute. He doesnt have a Nazi butchers capacity to turn off his own humanity.

Needless to say, Land of Mine (Danish title: Under the Sand) is a very tense experience. The notion of defusing a land mine is so potent that it has become a metaphor for any delicate situation with possibly dangerous consequences. But realities are more intense than metaphors, and so the audience sits and shares (some of) the stress.

Yet this is something curious, and a mark of the storytelling skill of writer-director Martin Zandvliet: Though there are explosions in Land of Mine, every explosion is a surprise.

Its like a magicians trick. We think were watching both his hands at all times, but he keeps outguessing us, and this outguessing serves an important function. With a task like this, theres no such thing as routine and not one moment that is safe.

This is the stuff of nightmares, but also of powerful drama.    

Running time: 100 minutes (in Danish with subtitles)

MPAA rating: R (violence, profanity)
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For the first time since the 1960s, the San Antonio Symphony will not provide live music for a San Antonio production of the ballet The Nutcracker.

More than three months of negotiations between the symphony and Ballet San Antonio to do so recently broke down over cost, ballet and symphony administrators said.

We hope to keep our relationship with the ballet intact. We would like to work with the ballet in the future, said David Gross, symphony president.

Ballet San Antonio still will perform Peter Tchaikovskys famous Nutcracker ballet nine times in seven days beginning Nov. 24 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. It just wont be with the symphony.

The source of the music for the shows remains undetermined, said Evin Eubanks, executive director of Ballet San Antonio. Recorded music is a possibility. Hiring a contract orchestra is another possibility, she said.

Both the ballet company and the symphony are resident performing groups at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

More for you 18 fun things to see and do in San Antonio this weekend

The last time the ballet staged a show without symphony musicians, Sleeping Beauty in February, protesters from the Musicians Society of San Antonio, a 250-member organization also known as the AFL-CIO-affiliated American Federation of Musicians No. 23 union, decried the use of recorded music.

But Ballet San Antonio Chairwoman Christine Mayer explained then that the cost was simply too high for the ballets annual budget of about $1.5 million. Hiring the symphony costs $100,000 for an extended weekend performance.

Last year, the company staged The Nutcracker over two extended weekends with 45 symphony musicians. The total cost for the musicians was $150,000; the ballet paid $100,000 of it, and a donation covered the other $50,000.

For the past 10 years, Ballet San Antonio has presented The Nutcracker and contracted with the symphony for live music. Before that, going back to the 1960s, The Nutcracker was a San Antonio Symphony production, and the symphony would hire ballet companies to perform. Those companies included Ballet West of Salt Lake City and the Fort Worth ballet company now called Texas Ballet Theater.

Craig Sorgi, symphony violinist and chairman of the musicians union, said the musicians are disappointed by the news of the failed negotiations.

This development is even more disappointing in light of the fact that our partnership with Ballet San Antonio was also intended to help the struggling dance company gain artistic and financial strength and stability as a fellow resident company of the Tobin Center, Sorgi said. Now, after a decade of lending our support and cooperation, both artistically and financially, the ballet company has chosen not to arrive at a contract agreement with the San Antonio Symphonys management.

The orchestra was informed of the failed negotiations April 7 during the first contract negotiation session between symphony management and the orchestras union. The two-year musicians contract expires this summer. More negotiating sessions will be held.

Weve barely scratched the surface on anything, Sorgi said.

NOTE: Because of incorrect information provided to the Express-News, the cost of last years The Nutcracker production was wrong. This story has been updated with the correct cost.

Express-News archives contributed to this report

dhendricks@express-news.net
US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Thursday that sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" following a media report detailing a child sex ring run by blue helmets in Haiti.

Haley told the Security Council after it voted to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti that many children abused by the soldiers will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

The US ambassador quoted a recent report by the Associated Press news agency on a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers who lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies.

"The children were passed from soldier to soldier. One boy was gang-raped in 2011 by peacekeepers who disgustingly filmed it on a cellphone," Haley told the council.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?"

The United Nations has been badly shaken by a wave of allegations of sex abuse by troops it deploys in missions with a clear mandate to protect civilians.

Last month, a UN report showed an increase in cases, with 145 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in 2016, up from 99 in 2015, although this may be partly explained by the fact that more victims are coming forward.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, has told the United Nations and countries that contribute troops to missions that "these abuses must stop," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

The United States will continue to push for accountability for soldiers accused of sex abuse in Haiti and other missions, she said, before calling on the council to "join me in this effort."

The MINUSTAH mission in Haiti ranks among those with the highest number of cases of sexual abuse.

UN missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan also have been hit by a wave of sex abuse allegations involving their peacekeepers.

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At least 20 people were killed and nine injured Thursday when a bus carrying tourists crashed into a petrol tanker in southern Mexico, an emergency services official said.

The crash sparked an explosion that killed the driver of the tanker and 19 people on the bus on a highway in Guerrero state, said Marco Cesar Mayares, secretary of the Guerrero Civil Protection service.

"For the moment we have 20 people confirmed dead, but we are still working to clear the wreckage," he told AFP.

The injured were taken to a hospital in the neighboring state of Michoacan.

Mayares said the bus was carrying tourists from the town of Morelia in Michoacan.

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A man recently landed behind bars for allegedly improperly recording a nude woman and her teenage daughter in her underwear as well as adults using the bathroom at his business in north Laredo, according to court documents.

On April 6, Justo Penn Leyendecker, 52, was served with an arrest warrant charging him with invasive visual recording.

The case unfolded Feb. 2.

That day, a Laredo police officer responded to a sexual offense report in the 200 block of Del Mar Boulevard. A woman reported that she had found several memory cards two years ago in one of her vehicles.

RELATED: Mugshots: La Vernia athletics hazing scandal arrests climb to 13

Several months later, she needed to buy a memory card for her cellphone and remembered she had the ones she found in the truck. She took them with her to a Verizon store to ask if she could use those instead of buying one.

An employee then installed one of the memory cards in her cellphone.

When she turned her cellphone on, several boxes appeared on her screen. She went back inside the store to ask the employee about it. The employee told her those were videos saved onto the memory card, according to police.

She then stated she walked to her vehicle and clicked on one of the videos and found a video of herself naked, the criminal complaint filed by Laredo police states.

READ MORE: Laredo man pleads guilty to killing 20-year-old man with hammer

She allegedly found 174 other videos. Some of the recordings were taken in a bathroom at her house and others at Leyendeckers business in the 1800 block of Commerce Drive, the complaint states.

She stated that her daughter also appears in the video recordings wearing (her) bra and underwear, the complaint states. (The woman) also expressed concern over some videos that were recorded in a bathroom at Mr. Leyendeckers place of business.

Most videos appeared to be motion-sensor activated and record for approximately 1 minute per file. The visual recording also shows Mr. Leyendecker manipulating the recording device as he changes the recording angle.

The complaint does not specify the relationship between the woman and Leyendecker.

A phone number for Leyendecker could not be located.

Click through the gallery above to see where sex offenders live in Laredo, as well as the most common crimes in Texas prisons.
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Humble ISD Board Secretary Heath Rushing is resigning from his seat, according to a letter read by Board president Keith Lapeze at the end of Tuesday's meeting.

Rushing will serve as CEO of Memorial Hermann Cypress and Memorial Hermann Katy hospitals, making his resignation effective at the May 9 meeting. Rushing has worked for the Memorial Hermann Health System since 2002, most recently as senior vice president and CEO at Memorial Hermann Northeast.

"While I am excited about the professional opportunity and journey that lies ahead, I will miss everything about Humble ISD and the Lake Houston area community," Rushing said.

Rushing first was elected to the board in 2013, taking the seat vacated by Houston Councilman Dave Martin. He was reelected in 2015, and his term was scheduled end in May 2019.

Humble Independent School District board members did not indicate how Rushing will be replaced.

Rushing said in his letter he had hoped to serve as Humble ISD trustee through the June 13, 2017 regular board meeting to complete his duties but because of his circumstances he won't be able to wait.

"Our primary residence, however, will remain our Kingwood home through June 9, 2017, so that our children can finish out the school year at Humble ISD," Rushing said.

Rushing and his wife, Sara Paisley Rushing, have three children - Harper, Graham and Finn.

Also at the meeting, super staffers were recognized and awarded with a gift card to Papas restaurant.

The elementary super staffer is Paul Touchstone of Willow Creek who also serves on the District Decision Making Committee. The secondary super staffer of the month is Mary Fischer, Kingwood Park High, school nurse, and the support staffer honored was Greg Corkern from Technology Services.

Humble ISD recognized 13 seniors named as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

These students were scored on their PSAT scores that ranked in the top one percent across the country.

Finalists:

Rachel Archer, Atascocita High, plans to attend University of Texas, Austin and major in Biology.

Luke Barrett, Kingwood High, plans to attend Oklahoma City University, and wants to take up acting as a profession.

Matthew Cavnar-Johnson, Kingwood High, plans to attend University of Minnesota with a major in environmental science policy and management.

Samuel Cavnar-Johnson, Kingwood High, plans to attend Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany to study international relations.

Ronan Padhye, Kingwood High plans to attend University of Texas in Austin with a major in mechanical engineering.

Andrew Wambaugh, Kingwood High, plans to attend University of Texas in Austin with a major in mechanical engineering.

Riley Wilson, Kingwood High, plans to attend University of Texas in Austin and major in chemical engineering.

Ryan Elo, Kingwood High plans to attend Texas A&M University with a major in electrical engineering.

Not present to accept their medals from Kingwood High were Jackson Fuja and Gaurav Gawanker.

Hannah Hoffman, Kingwood Park High, plans to attend University of Oklahoma and major in psychology.

Gregory Mika, Kingwood Park High, plans to attend University of Texas in Austin and major in environmental engineering.

Gabriel Zolton, Kingwood Park High, will be attending Texas A&M University and will major in chemical engineering.
In a sudden reversal of his previously declared stand on not toppling the Syrian regime, US President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes and confounded analysts

The US missile strike on Al-Shayrat Syrian military airbase was justified by the US president and officials on the claim that a chemical gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun town in Idlib Province had been launched from the base.

Then the US secretary of state announced a sudden shift in the Trump's administration position towards Syria, asserting that there shouldn't be a role for President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria's future.

Steven Mnuchin, US secretary of the treasury, stated that the US will declare soon a new package of sanctions to be imposed on Syria.

Tracking Russia's reaction following Trump's U-turn on Syria, first we must note that the Pentagon announced that the strike was a limited military step and a reaction. However, immediately after the strike, the Russian prime minister stated that it could end in direct engagement between the US and Russia. Russia declared that while the Security Council members' efforts were focused on finding a consensual formula to launch an investigation on the Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack, Washington was preparing to move unilaterally in a clear breach and violation of international law.

Russia condemned the American military action, stressing its opposition to it, considering it contradictory to international law and a dangerous escalation, destructive to joint anti-terrorism efforts and future relations between the two countries. In the Security Council, the deputy permanent Russian representative to the UN directed his comments to the US administration saying, "You have destroyed Iraq and Libya and their military bases and you see what's going on there?"

The Russian diplomat added that American aggression was encouraging terrorism where the Islamic State group launched a wide-ranging attack following the US strike. He added that the American call to push for a political settlement in Syria after its military strikes was hypocritical call and that it destroyed the positive results of the Astana meetings on reaching a settlement in Syria.

However, in spite of the American escalation, Russia saw it as enough to pledge to enhance Syrian air defences in order to avoid a repetition of such operations.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon spokeswoman asserted that the US was still in contact with Russia through communication channels for securing air sorties over Syria.

The Associated Press claimed, quoting high ranking American military sources, that Russia agreed on keeping the hotline open with US defense department officials in the framework of the memorandum of understanding between them on ensuring the safety of the plances of both powers in Syrian skies. But the Russian defence ministry spokesman denied this, announcing that Russia had decided to stop respecting the aforementioned memorandum.

The deputy chairman of the defence committee in the Russian parliament considered that suspending the memorandum of understanding allows his country to respond to US threats, such as the missile attacks.

Another Russian military expert considered that the US president issuing his order to strike Syria came close to what can be described as a "hot war", averted only by Russian self-restraint.

A third Russian military expert clarified that the air defence systems deployed in Syria follow the orders of Russian military command and only protect the Russian army and sites where Russian troops are based.

A political expert called for remembering and studying the last Israeli air strike on Syria targeting a Syrian airbase in which Russian military personnel worked. He considered this air strike as a test of the Russian reaction. And we shouldnt ignore the statement of the Russian foreign ministrys spokeswoman saying that Moscow will review the possibility of resuming the memorandum of understanding according to the development of events, and that Russia would always remain open to dialogue.

On the other hand, America also perceives the constraints on any possibility of direct military engagement with Russia; thus it notified Moscow of its intentions to launch missile strikes and in turn Russia notified the Syrian side that withdrew its military personnel and equipment from the airbase, according to an American expert.

Fourth, internal circumstances in the US and disputes between members of the American elite were behind the US missile strike, so claims Komsomolskaya Pravda. The Russian newspaper said that US President Donald Trumps popularity in the US is steadily plummeting towards rock bottom; that internal legislative bills are crumbling and on the horizon looms his dismissal from office.

A conflict with Russia following the launch of a US military strike against Syria provides a solution to all problems Trump faces, for it would align the US elite and unify it, point to the presidents innocence relative to claims of Russian interference in the US presidential elections process, raise his popularity, and allows his Middle East allies to fight Iran on Syrian land.

Perhaps Trump may really decide to send American troops to Syria, in order to gain some time, silence his opponents and align the US elite. However, Trump knows quite well that as for Democratic Party leaders and their supporters he is nothing but an enemy, and they wont be satisfied until they have him removed.

The eruption of a new dispute against Russia and Iran in Syria means that Trump has succumbed to the Democratic hawks desires. But in all likelihood, Russia is still betting on rebuilding its relationship with America under Trumps Republican administration, after its deterioration during Obamas Democratic administration.

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Girl Scouts were shining stars during Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) All That Glitters award ceremony on April 1, 2017 at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Each year, the banquet recognizes Girl Scouts from across southern Illinois who achieve significant accomplishments in community service and leadership.

Awardees included recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award, the top individual award a Girl Scout can earn, as well as the Girl Scout Silver Award, which is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Fifteen Girl Scouts also were honored with the Trifecta Award, which recognizes the outstanding accomplishment of earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the Girl Scout Silver Award and the Girl Scout Silver Award. In addition, Kathleen McCracken from Edwardsville, Caroline Stewart from Belleville and Kayli Worthey from Neoga were named Graduating Girl Scouts for their extraordinary Girl Scout careers. McCracken and Stewart received a $500 scholarship funded by GSSIs Annual Brownie Haunted Camp event, while Worthey received a $1,000 scholarship funded by GSSIs staff giving campaign.

Please see the following list for a full description of awards, as well as a list of this years awardees.

The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes leadership, effort and impact that Girl Scout Seniors and Girl Scout Ambassadors have had on their communities. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls take the rigorous path toward earning this prestigious award, but those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways. This years Girl Scout Gold Award recipients include:

Collinsville: Emily Baima*, Elizabeth Burr*, Lauren Carter*

Glen Carbon: Sarah Goldacker

Troy:Kaitlyn Barnett*, Madeleine Renken*

Please note  girls with an asterisk (*) by their names also earned the Girl Scout Trifecta Award. The Girl Scout Trifecta Award recognizes GSSI Girl Scouts who have earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and the Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, is symbolic of accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as a girl becomes her best self and builds the world around her. The Girl Scout Silver Award project benefits a girls community and can be earned as an individual or as part of a group. This years Girl Scout Silver Award recipients include:

Dorsey: Gwynn Frisbie Firsching

Edwardsville: Kamryn Van Arsdale

Glen Carbon: Olivia Bell, Madeleine Loyet, Kristen Valley

Worden: Gwendalyn Calvo

The Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts Scholarships are awarded to extraordinary Girl Scout careers and can be used by girls to attend the college of their choice. This years Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts include:

Edwardsville: Kathleen McCracken

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a high-capacity Girl Scout council serving approximately 13,000 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers in 40  counties in southern Illinois.

The mission of Girl Scouting states: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all girls - where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - like strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.

Todays Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork. Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region. Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way.

For more information, please call Jay Strobel at 800.345.6858 or e-mail.
This June, Lewis and Clark Community College will celebrate the dedication of a state historical marker honoring Scott Bibb, who fought for the desegregation of Alton schools from 1897-1908.

A dedication ceremony will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, June 19 at L&Cs Scott Bibb Center, at 1005 East Fifth Street in Alton.

This is one of the most significant historical markers we have been asked to co-sponsor in the societys 118-year history, said William Furry, executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society in Springfield. Scott Bibbs story needs to be told and told again to remind us that justice is never easily won.

Bibb (1855-1909) was the plaintiff in the Alton School Cases, a series of lawsuits that sought to retain Altons desegregated schools, which had existed from 1872-1897, a short-lived outcome of the Reconstruction Era. When Alton city officials re-established segregated schools in the fall of 1897, the African-American community resisted en masse.

The Bibb case shows the strength of the Alton African American community which, like many others throughout the post-Reconstruction era, resisted attempts to re-establish separate and unequal facilities for blacks, said Dr. Shirley Portwood, a professor emeritus of SIUE and current SIU Board of Trustees member who has done extensive research in Illinois African-American history.

Bibb brought suit in The People of the State of Illinois, ex-rel., Scott Bibb vs. The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Alton.

Over the next 11 years, the lawsuit was appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court five times. In 1908, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Bibbs favor, but Alton failed to implement the orders of the court, denying African-American students access to white schools.

It would take another 50 years before the educational system in Alton would be desegregated once again.

When the Chapmans requested permission from me and the City Historical Commission to install an historical marker honoring Scott Bibb, we were impressed by the documentation and the sincerity of their commitment to this project, said Alton Mayor Brant Walker. We were glad to add our support.

The college highlighted this important piece of Alton history in April 2015, through a collaboration with the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, by hosting a History on Trial event focusing on the Alton School Cases in the Hatheway Cultural Center.

It is an honor for Lewis and Clark to have our proposal to commemorate the courage and persistence of Scott Bibb in school desegregation approved by the Illinois Historical Society, said Vice President of Academic Affairs Linda Chapman.

This would not have happened without the prior work of the History on Trial: Alton School Cases sponsored by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. The programming we offered to the community in April 2015 brought the efforts of Scott Bibb to life. Historian Dr. Shirley Portwood, professor emerita, SIUE, provided the majority of the research and the scholarship in our successful application with support from Lewis and Clark Research Librarian Greg Cash.

The well-attended program featured a portrayal of the cases through dramatic readings by students of the DePaul University Theatre School, followed by a panel discussion on the cases themselves, as well as the themes of racial inequality and the local education system.

We are grateful to the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission for bringing Scott Bibbs place in history to life and to Dr. Shirley Portwood for her exacting scholarship on these events, said L&C President Dale Chapman. We were moved to action and to remembrance.

On the night of the event, President Chapman announced that the college would rename its Alton Community Learning Center, formerly the St. Patricks School, in Bibbs honor. The Scott Bibb Center is home to many of the colleges Adult Education programs, including YouthBuild, GED, family literacy, and more.

As a panelist on the April 2015 presentation on the Alton School Cases, I was gratified to bring this little celebrated history to the local community and the state, said L&C Board of Trustees Vice Chair Brenda Walker McCain. The marker assures that this history will never be forgotten.

For more information on Adult Education at L&C, visit www.lc.edu/adulted or call (618) 468-4141.

View photos from the 2015 History on Trial event at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewisandclarkcc/sets/72157649770411854.
Somali piracy off the Horn of Africa was once estimated by the World Bank to cost global trade billions of dollars, and to harm the fragile economies of countries in the region.

These disastrous financial costs, at a time of painful global downturn, came alongside a raft of pain and suffering for those taken hostage, some of whom died due to desperate living conditions and a lack of medical treatment. Now, in the last few weeks, Somali piracy is back: making headlines, boarding ships, and taking hostages.

Since early March, there have been numerous successful attacks, including on 1 April, when the cargo ship Al Kaushar was boarded. Eleven Indian nationals are in pirate hands.

Despite the regions harrowing history, the five-year let-up in serious attacks has led to a collective forgetting about the dangers of Somali piracy.

Hard-won lessons about veering too close to the Somali coastline and having visible security seem to have been thrown overboard in favour of time and cost savings.

Navy patrols, one of the main reasons for the lull in attacks, have decreased due to other emerging priorities that tax the scarce resources of countries.

There are four things that need to be done immediately, if we are to avoid a rerun of the early part of this decade when attacks on shipping numbered in their hundreds, dozens of hostages were held in appalling conditions, and billions were wiped off global trade.

First, it is imperative that the international community remains vigilant and commercial shipping follows the advice of navies and the International Maritime Organization when planning safe passage through the sea corridors off Somalia.

Intelligence on risk, criminal gangs, the disposition of pirate boats, and recent pirate activity needs to be gathered, reviewed and swiftly transmitted.



Second, job creation aids crime prevention. What is done on land impacts action at sea.

Somalia is perhaps the least developed country in the world, and we should acknowledge that the promise of pirate riches is enough to bait the hook for impoverished and jobless youth.

A survey of 66 imprisoned pirates by the UN Office on Drugs and CrimeUNODCand Oceans Beyond Piracy (https://www.unodc.org/documents/Piracy/SomaliPrisonSurveyReport.pdf) found poverty was one of the main reasons for their criminal activity: "My family is poor, so that's why I joined the pirates," said one prisoner.

Advocacy about the dangers of life on the high seas, and the creation of sustainable livelihoods on land are essential.

Piracys relationship with illegal fishing, which depletes Somalias resources, also needs to be fully examined, and if necessary, mitigated.

Third, the pursuit of fair criminal justice systems so pirates can be prosecuted, and if found guilty, jailed in safe and secure prisons back in Somalia. So far, 1,300 young Somali men have been held on suspicion of piracy and processed through the courts of 21 states.

UNODC, and its Nairobi-based Global Maritime Crime Programme, assists regional states in the trial and prosecution of suspected pirates, as well as supporting piracy's many victims. Hostage release efforts are ongoing and UNODC has been involved in the freeing of 150 hostages, including last Octobers release of 26 crew members from the FV Naham 3.

Stopping pirates from becoming terrorists is a priority. UNODC runs one of the worlds largest programmes on preventing violent extremism in the prisons where pirates are held. It is specifically designed to prevent the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab from radicalising and recruiting vulnerable prisoners.

Fourth, Somali maritime law enforcement agencies need to be fully supported with resources and equipment, so they can extend their reach beyond the Somali coast.

UNODC is already providing training so that coastguard operations can be linked to navy operations, as well as commercial shipping movements to deter the pirates.

Many of these subjects will be discussed at a conference in London on 11 May, attended by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the UK prime minister Theresa May and the Somali President Mohamed Abullahi Mohamed.

Our own work in these areas is a model for the support offered to countries.

The UN and the international community can be justly proud of these achievements; however, the London conference can build momentum for future action.

Somalia and the Horn of Africa are beset by numerous challenges, but as countries find hope in oil exploration and breathe new life into struggling economies, piracy attacks are an ever present threat to green shoot recovery.

For the sake of the people of Somalia, the international community needs to remain vigilant and to help where needed. This is no time to be caught all at sea.

Yury Fedotov is Executive Director, of UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

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The ACLU Foundation of Texas on Wednesday sued two federal agencies in an open-ended inquiry seeking details about how customs officers at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport carried out President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban.

The Houston complaint is one 13 Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, lawsuits filed nationwide - from Seattle to Miami - against the Department of Homeland Security and its Customs and Border Protection office. The actions are aimed at shedding light on travelers who were detained or subjected to rigorous questioning or enforcement examinations as a result of the ban against Texas-bound travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations in late January.

'Look behind the veil'

On Feb. 2, ACLU officials said, the organization directly requested information about travelers who passed through 55 airportsduring the 30-day waiting period, but they received no formal response. Now the civil rights advocacy group is asking federal judges to force the executive branch's hand and demand they provide answers.

"We know there was a lot of constitutionally suspect behavior," said Edgar Saldivar, lead attorney for the lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas. "We want to try to get behind the scenes and figure out what happened, how the travel ban was implemented, how CBP interpreted it, how many people who were detained, how many were asked to sign voluntary departures.

"The FOIA allows us the right to look behind the veil of the federal agencies and examine what went on," he said.

A local official with DHS said personnel at the agency's headquarters would not be available to comment on the lawsuits Wednesday evening.

Dozens possibly affected

The court filing does not specify how many passengers at IAH were subjected to different treatment in the wake of Trump's ban, but Saldivar said he was on the ground at IAH the weekend before the ban was halted by federal judges. He estimated it was probably dozens, including many green card and immigrant visa holders. The lawsuit estimates at least 50 travelers were held up at IAH as a result of the executive order.

The Texas lawsuit alleges that 13 people at DFW were detained and released. However, customs officials proceeded to detain other travelers from the countries under the ban for many hours, including a 33-year-old Iraqi man in a wheelchair detained for 15 hours despite his Special Immigrant Visa awarded as a result of his work with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Also detained, according to court documents, were a family with two toddlers and a father who was an interpreter for the Army, and another family with a child under 5.

The Trump administration has said the travel ban is necessary to prevent potential terrorists from slipping through the cracks and that only countries with inadequate travel procedures are affected.

Each of the 13 lawsuits seeks "unique and local information" about how U.S. Customs and Border Protection implemented the executive orders at specific airports and ports of entry amid rapidly developing and sometimes conflicting guidance from the federal government, according to the ACLU.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
Six people were transported to the hospital Thursday after a vehicle barreled into a Texas Roadhouse on Indianapolis south side.

Police Investigate the Indianapolis Accident

According to WISH-TV, the crash occurred at a Texas Roadhouse located in the 4300 block of Southport Crossings Drive in south Indianapolis.

Early reports suggest the driver intended to hit the brake but hit the accelerator instead. The vehicle crashed through the outer wall of the restaurant and drove three to four feet inside the building.

Six people were transported to area hospitals following the accident. Fortunately, none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

The building was closed for the evening following the crash. Authorities are still investigating the incident but said drugs and alcohol are not considered factors in the crash.

National Auto Accident Statistics

The following information was provided by the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

35,092 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2015. This marks a 7.2-percent increase from the 32,744 deaths reported in 2014.

Of those killed in auto accidents in 2015:

o22,441 were occupants of passenger vehicles

o5,376 were pedestrians

o4,976 were motorcyclists (operators and passengers)

o818 were pedalcyclists

o667 were occupants of large trucks

o227 were listed as other or as unknown

An additional 2,443,000 people were injured in auto accidents in 2015.

Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm with offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, San Antonio, Texas and Houston, Texas representing accident victims nationwide.

Our attorneys are available to respond to auto accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition, or acquiring, of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact our offices - we are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Broadband has long been a contentious issue for many Longford homeowners and businesses but hopefully that is all about to change over the next 90 weeks.

Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten TD, last week announced the start of an ambitious broadband programme that will see an additional 4,469 homes and businesses gain access to high speed broadband across County Longford by the end of 2018.

Census results followed hot on the heels of the Minister's announcement and these showed that 8,887 dwellings in Co Longford had broadband access in April 2016, an increase of 20.2% since April 2011.

1,798 dwellings had non-broadband internet access, an increase of 15.7%, while the number of dwellings with no internet access fell by 22.4% to 3,952.

Minister Naughten says the agreement he signed with Eir that has paved the way to ensure that an additional 300,000 premises across Ireland can access high speed broadband within 90 weeks is 'a good day for rural Ireland'.

In 2016 only 52% of premises in Ireland had access to High Speed Broadband (HSB). With this latest development 77% of premises will have access to HSB by the end of 2018 and the majority of the remaining premises will have access by the end of 2020.

Cllr Paul Ross (FG) has welcomed these latest developments with regards to broadband.

Late last year, his Legan base was identified as the most poorly serviced broadband centre in the country.

This new scheme, says Cllr Ross, will put an end to the problems faced by homeowners and businesses alike in the locality.

Large parts of Legan and Abbeyshrule have no broadband at all, he added.

So, by the end of this year, I do believe this new scheme will happen and these areas will have broadband.

He said Eir had been contracted by the Government to ensure that broadband services were made available to everyone and he believed in Minister Naughton's effort to rectify matters in rural Ireland.

If Eir does not get this right, they are going to be hit with penalties; the exchange at Colehill is being upgraded and this will benefit the estates in Legan village and in Abbeyshrule, Cllr Ross continued.

With this scheme you have to have 20 houses within a linear mile to get broadband, so the national broadband scheme will step in where this new scheme cant.

This is a plan that seems to have teeth, concluded Cllr Ross.
The government has been accused of embarking on a fascist driven approach over plans to restructure the way local MABS and Citizens Information Services operate.

The scathing rebuke was one of several withering criticisms aimed in the direction of Leinster House chiefs by councillors at a stormy, and at times boisterous monthly meeting last night.

Much of that indignation came amid growing fears for the future of over 90 Citizens Information Boards and Mabs services nationwide.

This, despite the Government recently seeing proposals to replace individual CIS companies with eight regional assemblies rejected by over 90 TDs in the Dail.

In an impassioned appeal at the outset of last nights meeting, Cllr Gerry Warnock called on Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar to abandon any attempts to alter the status quo.

As far as I can see we have two options, he said, while referring back to his long held opposition to centrist motivated principles.

We can continue to be passive and get our bellies tickled every now and again by some minister or some senior official and take it on the chin or we can we can choose option two and thats lead from the front and stand up against regionalisation and the regressive policies of other elected officials.

It was a plea which commandeered the unanimous approval of both sides of the council chamber.

Fianna Fails Padraig Loughrey said it was his party which had initially registered its opposition to the planned measures in a Private Members Bill.

Two thirds of TDs who voted on that motion, he said, supported the current system in a move which illustrated the pivotal role both services continue to provide at a local level.

Its important for us as a county council add our support to it, he said.

If you look at the Longford Citizens Information Centre it is actually one of the busiest in the country.

His party colleague, Cllr Martin Mulleady endorsed those claims before jokingly commenting on the part Fianna Fail had played in securing agreement over the way water charges would be administered going forward.

Once you go past Liffey Valley everything is forgotten about, he said.

I said this about three or four years ago that there would be an awful downgrading in every county in Ireland yet and unless we stand up together and I mean together it will happen.

Arguably the most vociferous of onlooking councillors were the chambers sole female elected members, Peggy Nolan and Mae Sexton.

The former said despite being a government party member she could not sit back and allow local services be taken away from those who need them most.

In calling for an emergency meeting with Mr Varadkar, Cllr Nolan said: It has to be cross party at this level.

I want it minuted that this is just the start of the rot and within five to ten years we will have regional assemblies, we wont have local councils and thats where we are heading and if we dont stand up say enough is enough we are banjaxed.

If this is something that is being driven despite the fact that most in the Dail are against it then where are going?

Cllr Sexton, meanwhile, branded the mooted changes as a scandalous disregard to the workings of local democracy.

The Independent councillor, whose voice at times appeared to waver, went as far as to infer the minority administration were bordering on an authoritarian approach not seen for many years.

I think this step is absolutely appalling, she raged.

And t is typical of this government, whatever the hell has got into their heads about centralising everything.

I never thought I would ever hear myself say this but I have never seen a more centrist driven government and fascism comes to mind.

It may be a headline, its not meant to be but I am sick, sore and sorry watching services being taken away bit by bit by bit.

For more on this story, see next weeks Longford Leader.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Seasonal & Current Events, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 13 2017

The League of Women Voters encourages informed and active participation in government.

Huntington, NY - April 13, 2017 - Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R,C,I,Ref.-South Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R,C,I,Ref.-South Huntington ) recently welcomed the League of Women Voters (LWV) to his district office in Huntington to discuss their legislative agenda for 2017. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, and works to increase public understanding of public policy issues.

Recently elected LWV President, Ms. Colette Knuth, Ph.D., lead a productive dialogue on the state of New Yorks voter enrollment, public education, clean water, and electoral reform.

I was pleased to meet with the League of Women Voters today to discuss their ideas on how we can make our government more affordable and effective, said Lupinacci. I was encouraged by our shared perspective on issues facing New York State today, especially as it pertains to keeping clean Long Islands water.

Each year I look forward to meeting with the LWV, and participating in their good-government initiatives, such as the Students Inside Albany Conference, and I applaud their continued participation in the legislative process, concluded Lupinacci.

For further information on the Students Inside Albany Conference, or the League of Women Voters at-large, please visit the NYS LWV official website here
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 13 2017

Police: Ladion L. Logan, 31, nabbed by officers after allegedl causing accident in vicinity of Jerusalem and Uniondale Avenues.

NCPD reports the arrest of Ladion L. Logan, 31, of Jamaica for Driving While Intoxicated in Uniondale.

Uniondale , NY - April 13, 2017 - The First Precinct reports the arrest of a Queens woman for Driving While Intoxicated which occurred on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 5:45 pm in The First Precinct reports the arrest of a Queens woman for Driving While Intoxicated which occurred on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 5:45 pm in Uniondale

According to police, officers responded to the vicinity of Jerusalem Avenue and Uniondale Avenue for an auto accident. Upon arrival they located the driver, Ladion L. Logan, 31, of Jamaica had struck a parked car with her vehicle. During the investigation Logan began yelling and cursing at the officers.

After a struggle with the officers she was taken into custody. It was determined Logan had been driving the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. She had her six year old son in the car at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported. The child was left in the care of family members.

Logan is charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Leandras Law), Driving While Intoxicated, Resisting Arrest and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. She will be arraigned on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at First District Court in Hempstead
Tech & Science, Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 13 2017

Event assists income-eligible residents with saving money on their energy bills.

Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory is pictured alongside representatives from National Grid and PSEG Long Island, as well as members of local civic organizations at a Customer Assistance Expo on Wednesday, April 5 in West Babylon.

Amityville, NY - April 13, 2017 - Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory recently teamed with National Grid and PSEG Long Island to host a Customer Assistance Expo to assist income-eligible residents with saving money on their energy bills. Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory recently teamed with National Grid and PSEG Long Island to host a Customer Assistance Expo to assist income-eligible residents with saving money on their energy bills.

The Customer Assistance Expo, held at Brennan High School in West Babylon , gave residents the opportunity to meet with experts from National Grids Income Eligible Energy Saving program and PSEG Long Islands Residential Energy Affordability Partnership program to see if they qualify for free natural gas conversion and other energy efficiency upgrades.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 13 2017

Michelle Lopez, 13, was last seen at the Park Avenue Elementary School in Westbury.

UPDATE - April 13, 2017 - The Missing Persons Squad reports that the above juvenile has been located.

Below is the original report.

Westbury, NY - April 13, 2017 - The Missing Persons Squad reports the details of a missing juvenile that occurred on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 1:00 pm in The Missing Persons Squad reports the details of a missing juvenile that occurred on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 1:00 pm in Westbury

According to detectives, Michelle Lopez, 13, described as a female Hispanic, 135 pounds, light skinned with long black hair, brown eyes, braces and a small scar on her forehead wearing a white t shirt and black shorts was last seen at the Park Avenue Elementary School in Westbury.
The rate at which female suicide bombers, many of them young girls, have been used in West Africa in 2017 has significantly risen compared to 2016.

In all of 2016, at least 29 females detonated suicide bombs according to data compiled by FDDs Long War Journal. At least 27 females have already been utilized by the jihadist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon in the first three and a half months of 2017 alone. If jihadists groups continue to brainwash and exploit young women into suicide attacks at this rate in the rest of 2017, the total number may nearly quadruple last years figure.

A report released by UNICEF earlier this week also documents this increase.

UNICEF documented 27 young girls used in suicide attacks already in 2017, 30 in 2016, 56 in 2015, and just four in 2014. This largely confirms the trends compiled by FDDs Long War Journal. According to Long War Journal data, there were at least 80 female suicide bombers used in 2015. In 2014, there only 15 females, most of which were adult women.

The majority of these bombings continue to occur in Nigerias northwestern provinces of Borno and Adamawa. So far in 2017, Bornos capital of Maiduguri has been hit with at least eight separate suicide attacks involving 18 young girls. Two instances have occurred in Cameroons Far North Region involved six girls, however, four detonated themselves after being pursued by Cameroonian self-defense forces.

In the past, both Chad and Niger have also been targeted in these attacks.

Since June 2014, at least 151 women and girls have been used in subsequent attacks. The overwhelming majority of these assaults have occurred in Nigeria, while at least 14 has occurred in Cameroon, three in Chad, and one in Niger.

Most female suicide bombings usually go unclaimed, however, the Islamic State West Africa (ISWA, formerly known as Boko Haram) has a long history of using women and children as bombers. A splinter faction of ISWA, led by Abubakr Shekau, is also thought to utilize women and young girls in attacks.

Jihadist deployment of women and girls as suicide bombers has been a common tactic in Nigeria for almost three years. The groups first known instance of using a female suicide bomber was on June 8, 2014, when a middle-aged woman on a motorcycle detonated near a Nigerian military barracks in Gombe, killing one policeman. In one of the deadliest attacks, on Nov. 27, 2014, two women killed 78 people and wounded scores more at a market in Maiduguri.

Many of the women and girls used in these bombings are likely forced into committing the assaults after being kidnapped by the jihadists. Other women may be widows of killed fighters, like Russias Black Widows.

The ages of the bombers have ranged from just seven-years-old to middle-aged. The use of women can make it easier for jihadist groups to conduct suicide attacks, as explosives may be easier to hide, and men are less likely to search women due to cultural sensitivities.

Some countries, such as Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, have banned certain Islamic dress to try to combat this. However, the jihadists continue to exploit females in their attacks in West Africa. Based on the numbers seen so far in 2017, this tactic is on the rise in a significant way.

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Mullah Fazlullah, the emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP), said that his groups ultimate goal is to implement the law of Allah on the Earth and called on Muslims to unite and wage jihad to achieve that end. Fazlullah, one of the most extreme commanders in a group filled with extremists, also said that attempts made by Pakistans military intelligence service to break up the TTP have largely failed and his group has reorganized following a tumultuous period.

Fazlullah made the statements in a video released yesterday by Umar Media, the propaganda arm of the TTP. Umar Media also provided an English language transcript of Fazlullahs speech. He outlined the groups primary goal in his opening statement.

The aim of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan [TTP] is to implement the law of Allah on the Earth of Allah. And this will be the result of our Jihad. For Islamic ideology we have to accord sacrifices. By the grace of Allah, those who believe that implementation and uprising of Shariah [Islamic law] is their actual goal and absolute ambition, know that the implementation of this Shariah is impossible without practicing Jihad and Jihad is impossible without unity, Fazlullah said.

Throughout the speech, Fazlullah quoted the Koran to provide religious justification for the TTPs war against the Pakistani military and government, and said that it is the obligation of clerics to rally Muslims to the cause.

It is your responsibility to wake up the public, make them zealous for Islam and humanity, tell them their level and inform them about the system provided by the Allah almighty, Falzullah implored.

Later in the speech, he outlined the obligation and responsibility of all Muslims to wage defensive jihad.

In Islam there is concept of Jihad, he noted. At this time Jihad ud Daf (defensive jihad) is being conducted which is obligatory to each and every Muslim. It is written in Islamic books that when Jihad becomes Fardh Ayen i.e. obligatory for each Muslim no one has to take permission from any one, jihad becomes obligatory for each and every men and women and every Muslim becomes a fighter and a Murabit (Defender of borders). Everyone has to sacrifice themselves for protecting Islam.

Fazlullah also said that the cracks which were developed by ISI, or the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate  Pakistans military intelligence branch  in this Tehreek and organization have almost uprooted.

[T]he step to make the Tehreek well organized, has been completed, he continued.

Falzullah is referring to the reorganization of the TTP after the death of its last emir, Hakemullah Mehsud, and his appointment in 2013. Several powerful branches of the TTP chafed at the appointment of Fazlullah and broke away. The TTP finally brought one of the last major factions, the Khalid Mehsud Group, back into the fold earlier this year. [See Mehsud faction rejoins the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.]

Additionally, Fazlullah said that it is the best time to target the blasphemers of our prophet, and it doesnt matter if they are students of colleges and university or any other institution 

In the past, the TTP has launched numerous attacks against Pakistani schools, including the deadly assault in Peshawar in Dec. 2014 which resulted in the deaths of at least 148 people. Most of those killed were students.

Fazlullah, who is also known as Mullah Radio for his radical sermons broadcast throughout the northwest, has been among the top leaders of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan since its founding in 2007. He engineered the Taliban takeover of Swat and neighboring districts from 2007-2009, and brutally ruled over a cowed civilian population. The Pakistani military intervened only after Fazlullahs forces broke a truce and invaded Buner and advanced to just 60 miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. He has vowed to continue the fight to regain control of the Swat Valley.

He is one of the most extreme commanders in a group filled with extremists. He was one of the first leaders to have opposed polio vaccinations. In 2012, he ordered the assassination of Malala Yousufzai, the young schoolgirl who has spoken out passionately against the Taliban in Swat, and accused her of violating sharia, or Islamic law. In 2012, his forces were responsible for the beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers. And in 2013, he took credit for the assassination of a Pakistani Army general who commanded operations in Swat.

Fazlullah is also closely tied to al Qaeda. When he openly ruled Swat from 2007 to 2009, he said al Qaeda fighters were welcome and training camps operated there. One of his top deputies, Ibn Amin, also served as a leader of one of six known brigades in al Qaedas Lashkar-al-Zil, or Shadow Army. Amin was killed in a US drone strike in Khyber in Dec. 2010.

The Taliban emir is known to take shelter in Afghanistans remote northeastern province of Kunar as well as in Nangarhar province. US forces largely withdrew from Kunar and neighboring Nuristan province beginning in 2009 after isolated Army outposts came under deadly attacks. At the time the withdrawal was announced, US military officials predicted the insurgency would recede from those two provinces and that al Qaeda would lose support since US forces fueled the insurgency. Instead, the opposite happened, since al Qaeda and groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan became entrenched in Kunar and Nuristan with the US withdrawal.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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The US military dropped the MOAB, the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb which is better known as the Mother of all Bombs, on Islamic State fighters in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. The strike took place in Achin, the same district where a US special forces solider was killed last week.

This is the first use of such a weapon, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arensal, in combat. The 21,000-pound bomb, which was brought into service in 2008, was dropped from a C-130.

From the US Forces Afghanistan press release:

At 7:32 pm local time today, U.S. Forces  Afghanistan conducted a strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, as part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017. The strike used a GBU-43 bomb dropped from a U.S. aircraft. The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities. As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense, said General John W. Nicholson, Commander, U.S. Forces  Afghanistan. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K. U.S. Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. U.S. Forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan.

US and Afghan forces have been attempting to clear the Islamic States so-called Khorasan province from Achin and several other districts in eastern Afghanistan for nearly two years, but like the Taliban in other areas of Afghanistan, the group remains entrenched. The deployment of the MOAB may indicate a degree of desperation in the fight against the Islamic State in Achin district. The MOAB reportedly cost $314 million to develop and has a unit cost of $16 million.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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Many boutique vessels ply Asias exotic seas and straits, including custom-outfitted Indonesian phinisis, but it was Aman Cruises and Amanpuri in Phuket, the first resort that Singapore-based Indonesian octogenarian Adrian Zecha established in 1988, which set new standards for sumptuous sailing in the region.

30 worldwide Aman resorts later, control has passed to other international investors, but Zechas strong Indonesian influence lives on with Amanjiwo, beside the amazing ninth century Buddhist temple Borobudur in central Java; Amandari; Amanusa and Amankila in Bali; and the super-tent residences at Amanwana on Moro Island off Sumbawa in the Flores Sea.

Here are based two Indonesian-built vessels, the Aman Yachts 32-metre Amanikan, and the 52-metre Amandira, launched in 2015, which can take six and ten passengers respectively in ultra comfort. Short expeditions are made to see the dragons on Komodo Island 150 nm away, or in season, the yachts locate much further east at Raja Ampat, whose diving waters are legendary and near the famed Banda spice islands. Itineraries are suggested, although well-heeled repeat Aman guests, known as Amanjunkies, often choose their own.

Why Indonesia? It is home to some of the worlds most spectacular natural wonders. Cruise director Glenn Wappet said, Indonesias size, tropical climate, and archipelagic geography of over 14,000 islands support one of the worlds most bio-diverse ecosystems. East Indonesia alone has more than 1,650 species of coral reef fish. The Raja Ampat and Komodo national parks boast wildlife found nowhere else on the globe, such as the Komodo Dragon and Birds of Paradise, not to mention the multitude of endemic marine species.

Despite Indonesias proximity to Singapore, its remote regions have never felt more untouched and far-flung. Just a domestic flight connecting international passengers from Jakarta to Sorong in West Papua, where the yachts launch for Raja Ampat, takes 3 hrs 40 min. Alternatively, to get aboard the boat for Komodo, a 1 hr 30 min flight to Sumbawa, followed by a car ride and then a boat crossing to Moyo Island, are required.

Anyone who has ever been an Aman resort guest can imagine how a voyage run by this group must be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My journey last November was a five-day sojourn across the north of Raja Ampat aboard both the Amanikan and Amandira, which were sailing in tandem and hosting two groups of passengers who swapped boats halfway through the journey.

After we boarded Amanikan and settled into a long glide across the Dampier Strait in a flat calm, Glenn introduced us to the 10-member crew and gave us a tour of the wooden phinisi-hull motor yacht, which has been sailing under the Aman flag since 2009.

The main deck features an expansive dining area in front of the bar, and a splendid canvas-sheltered daybed at the bow. Wraparound passageways lead aft to the two above-deck deluxe cabins. The upper deck houses the bridge, the master cabin and sun-lounge areas both fore and aft.

The large master cabin features a king-sized bed, a writing desk, double wardrobes and vanities, separate shower and lavatory chambers en-suite. Its vaulted ceilings give the room an airy spaciousness, and windows on three sides offer panoramic 270-degree views. The deluxe cabins are slightly smaller, but outfitted similarly. The interiors caramel-grained wood panels and vanilla rattan accent evoke a sense of both colonial romance and laid-back luxury.

Meals aboard the Aman Yachts are equally bespoke, with menus presented to guests and confirmed beforehand to allow for menu change requests. At our first stop, against a backdrop of the verdant Cape Kri and surrounded by azure waters, we enjoyed our first lunch that seemed to have been carefully planned to complement the sensational scenery.

We were roused from our post-prandial meditation by Glenn, who said there would be an evening itinerary briefing, but with the sun still overhead, we should seize the light and do a first dive or snorkel in the early afternoon. The crew had already assembled our dive gear, and within minutes, we boarded the tender and sped across the glassy sea to a nearby dive- site. As we neared the shallows of the fringing reef, cerulean waters turned brighter to a crystal aquamarine, with fish and coral outcrops beneath clearly in sight.

Below the surface, the underwater seascape was a heaving kaleidoscope of colours and movement. Around every turn, a different species of fish, crab, shrimp and mollusc came into view, and with every glance, diverse growths of coral, sponge and tunicate filled our vision. As we ventured deeper, larger creatures emerged: turtles were napping or feeding, white and black-tip sharks patrolled through the bommies, and sleeping nurse sharks and tasselled wobbegongs were found nestled in coral hollows. What Glenn had said about the marine biodiversity was all true.

The adventure continued the next day, when a 5 am knock on my door signalled the start to our search for the rare and endemic Red Bird-of-paradise. After a quick coffee, we were whisked off to Gam Island to pick up Pak Jimmy, a local village elder who built the path to a makeshift tent where the birds could be observed. After a brief uphill climb through brush and thicket from the mangrove beach, we reached a clearing where we waited as Jimmy made the distinctive call of our quarry. As if on cue, a bird with a green feathered head and brown body appeared out of nowhere high in the thick canopy.

A female, Jimmy whispered. In just a few moments, his calls were replaced by the females, and we were absolutely enthralled when two more birds joined in. Zooming in with our cameras, the first snapshots confirmed them to be males, which were larger than the females, bearing crimson plumes and long, spiralling tail feathers. The quiet encounter quickly erupted into a vigorous mating ritual, with the fluttering males flaunting their bold colours in a scintillating courtship display, and replacing their chirrups with a crescendo of fever-pitched screams. This thrilling episode was made even more magical when Glenn mentioned that he had never witnessed such a spectacle despite having guided other guests through the same tour.

This article was written by Ken Chia and was first published in Yacht Style 37.
The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival.
Interview with Adel Easa Al-Yousifi, Senior Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Al-Yousifi Group

Provide our readers with a brief overview of Al-Yousifi Group. Which of the segments you are present in is experiencing the most growth in 2017? Which of your divisions are the strongest, currently, and which would you like to develop?

Al-Yousifi was established in 1955 by my father. He took the agency of National, which is now Panasonic. We have especially grown after the 1991 liberation. Until 1994 or 1995, we were number one in electronics in Kuwait. We were only concentrating on Panasonic at that time, because the deal between us and Japan was to not have other brands in our showroom. Then, competitors such as Alghanim began to come in with their strategies and multibrand shops. They were the agent for Phillips and some other not very well-known brands. They started buying Sony, Panasonic, Sharp and other products and putting them in their shop. The idea of a multibrand shop with a variety of TVs and electronics like in Europe and America began to pick up. We were late in shifting because the Japanese were rejecting this and hesitant to allow us to put other brands next to Panasonic. Panasonic was well-known and the strongest in the market, and we believed that it could survive, but it could not. We started losing shares in the market and we dropped to number two or three. Most of our life we had been number one in Kuwait. Now, things have changed and we have shifted our showroom to best brand and we are also multibrand. We sell our product and our competitors products, although they are not really competitors and it is not such a competition anymore. Now, we are picking up. We are moving towards number two, and we aiming for number one. Our whole life story was always in electronics. During and after the invasion, my father decided that it might be best to open some business outside Kuwait. We now have some small businesses in Dubai, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is going well. We are the agent for Panasonic wired devices and electrical sockets. We are moving towards number two in Saudi Arabia, which is a big market. We are aiming to be number one by 2018, but most likely, we will stay at number two for a few years.

Are you interested in branching out into other markets?

To go outside, you need to shift some of your family there. You cannot depend on other people if they are not from your family. Because we are a small family, maybe in the future, when we have more of sons, then we can shift them not to living outside, but at least going out monthly to have control. It is very difficult to have a company outside if you do not have people you can trust that can manage the business there. Saudi Arabia and Dubai are the only two places outside of Kuwait that we have business in electronics and electrical products. In Dubai, we also have real estate. During the invasion, my father lived for a few months in Dubai and decided to acquire real estate there. We have grown the real estate business in Dubai to a good level.

In which segment of real estate are you active?

In Dubai, we have mainly residential buildings, but we also have two commercial properties. We have real estate in Kuwait, as well.

Is the real estate division in Kuwait an important branch? Which is the most important branch you would like to push?

In value, the real estate is a big branch but you do not need to push it. The building, the location, and the quality of the building will speak for itself. Now, we would like to push the air conditioning and firefighting sector because Kuwait is the only country presently in the Gulf Region with ongoing projects. This will continue for the next eight to ten years, and the finance has already been budgeted. There is a large market for construction. These are big projects. Our company cannot handle taking on the whole construction project, but we can take the subcontracting part of the air conditioning, firefighting, and sanitary. We are equipped to do that and we are doing it now. This is the place that we really must push and we see ourselves expanding in this sector.

What is your competitive advantage in this sector? Why should a company choose you over a competitor?

Currently, there is a vacuum. For example, Al Mulla used to be very strong. There were many companies that, for reasons such as shifting their wealth outside, trouble, or deciding to leave the segment, created space for us to enter. We entered a little late. We should have done it four or five years ago. Still, we have two big jobs now and we are applying to eight or nine more upcoming, such as the airport.

What projects are you undertaking now?

We have Al Jahra Hospital and a maternity hospital. We have not signed the contract yet, but our people are 95 percent certain we will get the contract. There is a great deal in the coming few years. We have another construction project with the American Army for a small village near the Iraqi border that we are applying to and we are coming to the final stages.

What do you want to achieve in the oil sector? You have associated yourself with another company to enter this market. What do you want to provide?

Currently, Kuwait is going into big refineries, but also small refineries of 40,000 to 50,000 barrel production per day. Instead of having one very big one in Al Ahmadi or elsewhere, they are now creating small units. Each one will cost around 300 to 400 million dollars. They have already tried this a few years ago, and it was successful. Three have started at the end of last year and one we have already taken over. We would like to go in that direction. We do and pay for everything. They give you the cost of equipment, but they will buy the oil from you. It is a two-year construction period and then for another five years they will buy the oil from you. They give you the crude oil, you refine it, you give them the sulphite gas, and you give them the refined oil for five years. After that, the whole refinery is yours. You have an option of taking one or two million to scrap it, or they will buy it from you for an already set amount of money, or they will allow you to operate it for another five years. The company that we partnered with could not do this on their own, because you need a big loan from the bank. It is not easy. You must pay for everything and run it and you will not generate a profit for six to seven years.

Are you looking to attract investors for financing projects, or is it easier to go to the bank for the loan? Is it an option to partner, or even go to the Stock Exchange?

When it comes to finance, we have no problem in Kuwait. Our name is good in Kuwait and we have never had trouble before. Of course, they will check why you need the finance. When we got this project in the oil sector, they checked to be sure we could fulfill our responsibilities. We showed them that we had enough engineers and enough experienced people that we had hired from India, and we were approved. Of course, with a large project like this, it is always better to partner with people that have the knowledge for this project from outside. My partner is going today to America to speak to two big companies to partner with them. We are already partnered with two big Indian companies for any coming projects. Small projects of about 10 million KD we can handle ourselves. But if we are going to do bigger projects, such as a hospital or an airport, we cannot do it by ourselves. We need technical support and the knowhow of outside companies, or a big company, for example, Al-Kharafi.

What kind of construction projects are you doing?

With the American Army project, we are not involved with arms itself, but the base of the missiles is concrete and designed in a certain way to handle certain situations. Having the plan, we can do any kind of construction.

What is your aim for the Group in the medium term of two years?

Getting two to four big projects in air conditioning is our aim. This can put us in the market for the next three to five years to build a well-known name to enter a bigger project at a later stage. There was an idea that if we build up a good name here, we might go outside to Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, but it is too early for that. There are big players in those countries and in Kuwait. It is not going to be an easy thing like Al-Kharafi, who built up an international company and goes everywhere in the world: from Africa, to the Middle East, Egypt, and Lebanon. If you go to any of those countries and you find a lot of construction or a big project, Al-Kharafi handled it. This is not our first priority, now. Our first priority is to have some big jobs here in order to gain experience to go for bigger jobs in the future. There is no profit in electronics today. In the 1980s, we used to get 8 or 9 percent profit. Now, if you get 2 or 1.5 percent profit, it is a win. It is a very difficult and competitive market. The costs are high and the profit is decreasing. People are demanding too many services for too little money. We have to keep the electronics because it is our main business, but we must find other sectors that generate profit so that we can continue. These two sectors are real estate and bigger project construction. Now, we expect we can do well in air conditioning, electrical, and firefighting.

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Interview with Dr Yousif Abou Zahr, CEO of Al Seef Hospital

What is your evaluation of the healthcare sector in Kuwait? What is the position of Al Seef Hospital in the market today and who are your competitors?

The health sector has developed during the past few years due to the high demand caused by certain insurance programs that have covered the public sector and public corporates. From 2012 until now, two major groups were added to the private health insurance sector. The first was the Kuwait Oil Company employees and their dependents who are covered by insurance. There are more than 50,000. The second group that was added four months ago was the retirees. They account for 120,000. Both are currently covered by the private health insurance programs and they have access to the private sector, which has increased the demand for private sector services. Now, we can see how the service is shifting from the public sector to the private health sector. This has stimulated growth in the private sector. Most hospitals are expanding their services and capacity so they can accommodate the additional numbers. The expectation is that other groups will also be added to the private health sector. This is the trend in the government in order to relieve the load from public hospitals and give the opportunity to some groups in the public sector to use the private sector.

What is the percentage of people coming from the GCC area to receive treatment as medical tourists in Kuwait?

Medical tourism has been one of the main subjects during the past few years because of the trend of having more patients coming from the GCC countries to Kuwait to use the services available, mostly in the private sector. Most of the demand was for bariatric surgery and plastic surgery, because Kuwait is famous for its bariatric surgeons and its plastic surgeons. Many patients are coming from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Emirates to benefit from the services that are available in the private sector in Kuwait. Al Seef Hospital has also witnessed an increase in patients coming from those areas and being treated in the hospital. The satisfaction rate was very high.

What have been the main changes in the hospital itself?

The hospital has been through a development program aimed at its services and its capacity. For example, our radiology department is nowadays equipped with an MRI 1.5T, a CT scan at 320 slices per minute, and all the other radiology services required, including digital x-ray, mammogram, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and bone mass density.

We have increased the number of doctors from the previous five years from 80 to over 130. We added more services, especially in the medical sub specialization and surgical sub specialization. The demand on the services was quite high and we added more clinics. Currently, we are operating the hospital at maximum capacity. On average, we have an almost 80 percent occupancy rate. The clinics are crowded with patients and we have waiting lists for some clinics for weeks. We are trying to solve this congestion through opening more services and more facilities so that we can provide service without delays.

Are you planning to expand or to build additional facilities?

The existing building is 19 stories and has one basement. We cannot expand more within the existing facility. We are opening a new hospital called International Hospital about five kilometers away from this hospital. Al Seef Hospital has 120 beds. The new International Hospital will have around 160 beds. Currently, we are in the recruitment and equipping stage. We are planning to open in the first quarter of 2018. This new hospital will take much of the load from Al Seef and it will also attract new patients. It will specialize in different services and different facilities that can be provided to the patients.

How will you create awareness for the new hospital?

We are preparing for a big announcement. We will start the campaign a few months before the opening. Some delays might happen because of licensing issues and some regulations may still need to be implemented. When we know the exact time, we will start our advertising and launching campaign.

Are you involved with international cooperation? Do you have any agreements with external institutions here in Kuwait or regionally?

We have affiliations with major hospitals and groups in the US and Europe. We have visiting doctors and professionals coming from these international institutes to visit Al Seef for complicated and difficult operations when needed. Of course, we have their support when it comes to training, transfer of knowledge, as well as support in the visiting doctors program. We have visiting doctors coming from London Bridge Hospital for spinal surgery, an affiliation with the Childrens Hospital in Chicago, and an affiliation with hospitals in Germany for specific services.

Apart from the opening of International Hospital, what are other items on your strategy for 2017 and 2018? Will you open any specific departments?

The main objective in 2017 is to expand the utilization of the operating theaters and the diagnostics services by having them working longer hours and weekends, by staffing them, and by equipping them with the latest technology. Additional doctors and services will be needed in different departments to meet demand. We are planning to have more sub specializations covered in internal medicine and surgery. For example, we will add nephrology services, more neurologists, and more endocrinologists because of the demand for these services. Retirees are now covered by the private health insurance and they are using the hospitals. Most of the diseases they have are medicine discipline related, including diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, and gastrointestinal problems. We are focusing more on such services. For example, in gastroenterology and neurology, we will develop a full unit and provide comprehensive services. We have also added allergy, immunology, rheumatology, hematology, and nephrology services. We are targeting the services where there is a demand and we have a gap. In surgery, we have most of the surgery subspecialties needed, but we are adding more surgeons to meet the demand that is required. Within the area of physical medicine and orthopedics, most of the people covered within the insurance policy have joint problems and back problems and they need orthopedic services and spinal surgery, as well as rehabilitation like physiotherapy and physical medicine support.

What is your vision for Al Seef Hospital in the medium term of two to three years?

Currently, the hospital is among the leading hospitals in the private sector. We are competing with the major hospitals and we are providing high quality services in a very efficient manner. In the coming few years, if the law and regulation permits, we see ourselves going into more extensive tertiary services, such as cardiology, spinal surgery, complex surgery, and neuro-surgery. In the near future, we are planning to go into robotics surgery, which has become more common in famous hospitals and developed countries.

FAIR USE POLICY

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MARTINSVILLE Aaron Crowe started playing piano at the age of four. He learned the basics from his grandmother, then started taking lessons in the third grade. Now the Bassett High students talent has helped him take the title of a local competition.

Over the weekend, the 14-year-old was crowned as the first winner of SOVAs Got Talent, a joint project between Piedmont Arts and CHILL Martinsville-Henry County.

Crowe said taking home the competitions top prize came as a surprise.

I was kind of shocked since there were so many great performances, Crowe said.

Kathy Rogers, executive director of Piedmont Arts, said the Bassett High School student caught her attention from the get-go.

He was a frontrunner from the start, Rogers said. His talent was very evident.

With clear talent, Crowe decided to try out for the competition in January. At the audition, he performed one song that used five different musical styles.

I like to mix different genres like classical and southern gospel to create new and interesting versions of classics, Crowe said.

Rogers clearly remembers the first time she saw Crowe perform.

He was amazing, just his professionalism and talent, Rogers said.

After he made the cut, Crowe started working toward his competition performance. With the guidance of his piano teacher he came up with a unique performance. He watched YouTube videos of various piano players to perfect his stage presence.

The performance boosted his chances of winning, but the overall score came from a combination of the judges scores and donations raised from the community by each performer.

From the time Piedmont Arts announced the top 10 finalists who would compete in Saturdays show, the community rallied around their favorite performances and voted in a monetary fashion where one dollar equaled one vote.

The overall scores were a tabulation of 50-percent judges scores and 50-percent donations, Rogers said.

While the exact amount raised has yet to be determined, some of the funds will go to CHILL Martinsville-Henry County and the other will go to Piedmont Arts.

The funds will help sponsor art programs and programs for youth in the community, said Katie Connelly of the Piedmont Community Services and CHILL Martinsville-Henry County Partner Board.

Overall, Rogers said she thought SOVAs Got Talent was a success and hopes to see it continue.

It was a great event and we really loved partnering with CHILL, Rogers said. We had performers from age 14 to 69. It was nice to see the diversity in different performances.

While the art museum will host its biannual dancing competition fundraiser next spring, Rogers encouraged community members to start preparing for the next SOVAs Got Talent show.

Its still two years out, but we look forward to doing it again, Rogers said.

Given the number of quality performances, the level of audience enjoyment and the joy radiating from the performers, Rogers said she looks forward to the 2019 show.

We may see some people from this year come out and audition again, Rogers said.
MARTINSVILLE  Not reducing the citys spending on public safety and education would result in two nonessential city departments  senior services and parks and recreation  having to be eliminated, City Manager Leon Towarnicki maintains.

City finances already are about as lean as they can be without taking such drastic measures, he told Martinsville City Council while presenting the fiscal 2018 budget proposal Tuesday night.

Because revenues have been stagnant as city operating expenses have risen, city officials anticipated a shortfall of about $1 million for the new fiscal year that will start July 1. But while preparing the budget proposal, they realized the shortfall would be only about $500,000, Towarnicki said.

Towarnicki could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. However, city Finance Director Linda Conover said some revenues have been coming in better than we thought they would. She noted fees for ambulance services as an example, but she did not know why that category has been higher.

Overestimating expenses and underestimating revenues generally has been a city budgeting practice in recent years. Yet that practice is falling by the wayside as city finances become leaner, Conover said.

Typically, theres not as much play (wiggle room) in the budgets anymore, she said.

Despite the lower shortfall, the budget proposal recommends an almost 1  percent increase in the citys real estate tax rate plus a half-cent spike in the meals tax on foods prepared in restaurants and stores and a 10-cents-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax.

The spending plan eliminates four full-time positions  including two in the police department  and funds to pay part-time firefighters. It also includes $6,177,538 in local funding for the citys public schools, which is $260,116 less than they received for the current budget year. The schools sought an increase of $380,734 for the coming year.

Earlier this year, the council asked Towarnicki to prepare two budget proposals: One with across-the-board cuts to departments; the other sparing any cuts to schools and public safety. The spending plan he is recommending is the one with across-the-board cuts.

To give the schools and the police and fire departments the same amount of funding they received during the current fiscal year, Towarnicki told the council, all senior citizens and parks and recreation programs would have to be eliminated. That would save $273,819, a budget document shows.

As a result of eliminating those programs, a revenue loss of $50,850 could be expected, the document indicates.

Three more positions would have to be eliminated for a savings of $156,698, it shows. It does not say what those positions would be. Conover declined to identify them.

Well not be ready to disclose that information until were certain thats (eliminating those jobs) what we want to do, she said. Why go there  and cause anyone grief when we may not need to?

Another $15,813 in cuts to department operations also would have to be made, the document shows.

All departments basically are already operating with bare-bones budgets, Towarnicki said.

To level fund schools and public safety, to come up with that kind of revenue (needed) means eliminating something, he told the council.

Already, one council member is saying she could not vote to adopt the budget proposal in its current form due to the schools and public safety cuts.

Amid efforts to make students ready for jobs today and in the future, schools really need to be one of our priorities, said Councilwoman Sharon Brooks Hodge.

Hodge said she also could not support eliminating police and fire department jobs when the spending plan includes a $20,038 (or 5.9 percent) increase in funding for Henry-Martinsville Social Services. That increase is needed, according to Towarnicki, to boost salaries to deter agency employees from leaving.

Most agencies outside city government that get a yearly allocation from the city  because they provide valuable services to residents  are proposed to receive level funding, Towarnicki said.

Former council candidate Ural Harris, who frequently voices his opinions on city issues during public comment periods at council meetings, said he agrees with Hodge.

He also spoke out against the proposed real estate tax rate increase, which would result in the owners of a home assessed at $75,000 having to pay almost $11.50 in extra taxes when they get their next bill.

Towarnicki said the rate hike is necessary to level out current amounts of tax revenues at a time when real estate assessments have been declining overall.

The proposed increase would hurt financially-strapped residents, Harris said.

And, the proposed cigarette tax hike would hurt the city economically, he said, because residents likely would choose to travel a few miles extra into the county to buy their smokes.

Everybody up there (on the council) said last year, No tax increases, Harris recalled. Yall better worry about keeping your promises.

Hodge, Vice Mayor Chad Martin and Councilwoman Kathy Lawson asked residents to get in touch with council members to give their opinions on city budget issues.

If we dont know how you feel, Lawson said, we cant relay that to other council members and decide how to vote on the spending plan.

Mayor Gene Teague commented that every year seems to be the most difficult budget year weve ever had and fiscal 2018 is no different.

Regardless of what we do, he said, some (people) will be happy and some will not.
Today marks the anniversary of the defeat of the coup that attempted to remove President Hugo Chavez from power in 2002. Within less than 48 hours, reaction was defeated by a magnificent movemenet of the Venezuelan masses. Here we reproduce the analysis of those events written by Ted Grant and Alan Woods published on April 14, 2002.

Dramatic events are unfolding in Venezuela. On Saturday April 13, less than 36 hours after a group of right-wing businessmen and army generals had assumed control, the coup collapsed in a welter of confusion. Shortly after 10 pm, interim President Pedro Carmona Estanga resigned and was reportedly under arrest. Vice President Diosdado Cabello, who was sworn in as president by National Assembly President William Lara after Carmona was forced to reinstate the assembly's elected members and other public officials he fired on April 12.

Finally, amidst scenes of wild rejoicing, Hugo Chavez, having been flown by military helicopter to the Miraflores Presidential palace, was reinstated as President of Venezuela.

Counter-revolutionary provocation

The counter-revolution in Venezuela was spearheaded by the recent anti-Chavez strikes in the Venezuelan oil industry. These were counter-revolutionary strikes - the equivalent of the lorry-owners' strike that was organised by the CIA against the Allende government in Chile. These strikes were organised by the management of the Venezuelan oil industry (the PDVSA) in alliance with the right-wing trade union bureaucrats of the CTV. That the movement towards reaction was headed by oil interests was no accident. The PDVSA managers wanted to end the restrictions on oil production and return to their previous position as the single largest oil supplier to the United States.

The coup itself flowed from the events of April 11, when a demonstration said to be 350,000-strong was organised against the Chavez government. Since the media in Venezuela are virulently anti-Chavez, this figure is almost certainly exaggerated. Press agency reports put the real number as no more than 50,000. Government security forces and pro-Chavez militia were alleged to have fired into a crowd of unarmed anti-Chavez protesters, killing 15 and wounding 157 people. The right wing used this as an excuse to demand the resignation of President Hugo Chavez. But in fact, later reports have indicated that most of those killed were pro-Chavez demonstrators who were apparently shot by snipers on rooftops. The whole thing was a manifest provocation.

The class interests behind the coup were obvious. The head of the counter-revolutionary government was a wealthy businessman, Pedro Carmona - the chief of the bosses' association. His first action was to rescind Chavez's so-called anti-investment laws - that is, all those laws intended to defend Venezuela's interests and raise the living standards of the masses. The corrupt and rotten Venezuelan bourgeoisie is incapable of playing a progressive role. Its plans would signify putting the country and its considerable oil wealth firmly in the grasp of US imperialism. The PDVSA managers had already drawn up a plan for restoring and expanding production that could bring Venezuela 300,000 barrels per day above its OPEC quota.

Role of US imperialism

The coup was headed by the Venezuelan bourgeoisie and their cronies in the armed forces (FAN). But the hand that pulled the strings was clearly in Washington. This plan was born and bred in the United States. The Bush administration, delighted at the thought of Chavez in handcuffs, was preparing to take over the Venezuelan oil industry through the back door, allowing "aid" to go to the new Caracas government - in the form of oil investment. This is part of the broader strategy of US imperialism after September 11 to intervene aggressively everywhere.

The US's interest in Venezuela is partly economic. There is talk in America of an economic recovery. But this is still weak and unstable. Demand in North America is picking up, but in Europe this is happening to a far lesser degree and Japan remains in deep trouble. In such a situation, the oil markets are necessarily volatile. And any serious disruption in oil production at this stage would have the most serious consequences for the world economy. What is required for a serious recovery is not only an increase in demand (which can have an episodic character) but an increase in profitability. Profit margins still remain depressed. An increase in the price of any one of the factors of production would depress profit margins still further, sending the world economy into an even steeper fall than before. In this sense, the convulsions in the Middle East hang like a threatening storm cloud over the economic scenario.

The Israeli-Palestinian issue is stirring up the whole region in a most alarming manner (Hezbollah, Syria, Jordan and Egypt are all getting involved). Things are getting complicated! And then there is the price of oil This has fluctuated violently, reacting to OPEC's supply curtailments, threats of war, increasing violence in the Middle East and political instability in Venezuela itself. The chaos in the Middle East seems to have forced Washington to postpone its plans for an attack on Iraq. It appears that last weekend's summit between the US President and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Crawford, Texas, did not yield very positive results. Even such a great enthusiast for wars as Tony Blair was compelled to warn Bush in private that it is sometimes better to look before one leaps. But postponement does not mean abandonment. Sooner or later the American boot will descend on Iraq.

Bush is determined to press ahead with his plans for military aggression against Iraq, but is uncomfortably aware that the general chaos in the Middle East (underlined by the failure of the Powell mission to force an Israeli withdrawal from Palestine) can lead to a catastrophic drop in oil production that would lead to spiralling prices and destroy any prospect of an economic recovery. The USA is in urgent need of a guaranteed oil supplier that is conveniently several thousand miles away from the Middle East.

The imperialists are attempting to keep oil prices low. There are rumours that Russian producers, following Putin's line of collaborating with US imperialism, are scheming to steal Iraq's market share before the end of Baghdad's 30-day oil export embargo, called earlier this week to protest Israel's recent occupation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank. In this worldwide drama, Venezuela is a key actor. The policies of Hugo Chavez were threatening the interests of the big oil companies and causing increased concern in Washington.

With growing instability in the Middle East - where Iraq has just cut its oil production - it was in the interest of the USA to undermine OPEC cohesion. Before the inauguration of Chavez in February 1999, Venezuela was OPEC's biggest oil-production quota-evader. As recently as December 1999, Venezuela was exceeding its production quota by a million barrels. But the new government, in its attempt to stand up to US imperialism, transformed Venezuela into OPEC's most enthusiastic quota-enforcer. During his presidency Chavez led the charge for numerous production cuts and toured the world last year to press for cuts in oil production, which met with a certain success. This inevitably brought Venezuela into conflict with the big oil companies and US imperialism.

But there is a wider dimension to the activities of US imperialism in Venezuela, which far transcends the question of economics. The US military is actively involved in a dirty war against the FARC and ELN guerrillas in neighbouring Colombia. It is well known that Chavez maintained friendly relations with the Colombian guerrillas. That alone would be sufficient reason for the CIA to want to depose him.

But the main reason was none of these. The main thing was that the radicalisation of the masses in Venezuela threatened to spread to other countries in Latin America, which is now in the throes of a deep economic and social crisis. By removing Chavez from power, US imperialism hoped to tighten its grip on Latin America. It would be a lesson to the masses in other countries. And in addition, the installation of a more friendly and pliable government in Caracas would lead to an increase in Venezuelan oil production, thus bringing more stability to oil prices. In short, a very sound business proposition! All that was required was a little coup

How the counter-revolution defended "democracy"

Predictably, the right-wing coup was greeted by scarcely-concealed satisfaction by the bourgeoisie internationally. These hypocrites described the events of April 11 as a "return to democracy" in Venezuela! This was the line taken by the Madrid daily paper El Pais. However, the same paper was compelled subsequently to print eyewitness reports stating that there were many cases of brutality and violence by the counter-revolutionary forces. Chavez supporters were forced to go into hiding as the armed forces moved to arrest all government supporters. Prisoners were taken to army barracks where they were beaten and tortured. Such are the methods of the bourgeois "democrats" in Venezuela!

Venezuelan Army commander General Efrain Vasquez Velasco - the principal leader of the military rebellion - attempted to prevent any movement against the new government by implementing an aggressive "disarmament plan". The new regime immediately launched searches of private property and vehicles in an attempt to seize all unregistered weapons and arrest Chavez supporters. He ordered the army to "identify, disarm and dismantle" the civilian militias organised as Bolivarian Circles.

A witch-hunt was initiated against all supporters, pro-Chavez members of parliament and officials of the legally elected government. Vasquez Velasco confirmed that military and civilian police were conducting a national search for former vice president Cabello and Libertador Municipality Mayor Freddy Bernal, on the grounds that Cabello was the chief organiser and financier of the armed Bolivarian Circles, and that Bernal was supposed to have commanded sharpshooters who shot at the anti-Chavez protesters from rooftops in downtown Caracas on April 11.

The victorious reactionaries set about systematically demolishing all the progressive decrees of the deposed government, which had been elected by an overwhelming majority. They sought absolute powers for themselves - an unelected gang of conspirators - while cancelling 49 decrees of the democratically elected government, suspending and arresting elected members of the National Assembly, plus 20 judges (so much for the independence of the judiciary!), 12 governors and all pro-Chavez mayors. All these activities earned them the applause of the western "democracies" as "steps towards the restoration of democracy" in Venezuela! George Orwell could have written a very good novel about this.

From all the reports, the counter-revolutionaries were over-confident. They were convinced that there was little or no danger that the supporters of Chavez could launch a successful counter-strike to regain control of the government. At worst, they anticipated isolated outbreaks of violence in Caracas and other urban areas, which they could easily control. They also feared that pro-Chavez elements in rural regions could try to link up with Colombian guerrillas operating inside Venezuelan territory.

But these gentlemen reckoned without the Venezuelan masses. Despite the fact that Chavez had not carried the revolution out to the end, and the crisis in Venezuela had begun to have adverse effects, the masses instinctively realised the threat posed by the counter-revolution. Having recovered from their initial shock, they poured onto the streets of Caracas and other cities, sweeping all before them.

The collapse of the coup

The role of the masses was decisive in defeating the counter-revolution. Faced with the spontaneous uprising of the masses, the attempts to impose a dictatorship immediately ran into the sands. Without the support of the armed forces, the bourgeoisie could not establish a dictatorship. But the reaction of the masses rapidly aggravated the splits within the army. This was not supposed to happen! It seems that Carmona's short-lived interim presidency unravelled because the bourgeois counter-revolutionaries - doubtless under the pressure of the CIA - tried to go too far too fast, opening up a rift between them and a section of the generals who, quite correctly, feared civil war.

The leaders of the coup began to split and argue among themselves. From this moment, the coup was doomed. Stratfor reports on the events that led to its collapse:

"The economic and political measures Carmona announced at his April 12 inauguration - including the National Assembly's dissolution and the dismissal of the Supreme Court judges and other key government officials - were not what had been agreed upon by the political, civic and military factions that built a center-right coalition to back Carmona and were reaching out to the moderate center-left.

"The right-wing coup-within-a-coup was engineered by a group of military officials who are proteges of retired Gen. Ruben Rojas, in partnership with ultra-conservative businessmen and politicians - some of whom belong to the extremely conservative Catholic Opus Dei organization. The Carmona government's defense minister, Rear Adm. Hector Ramirez Perez, is a longtime protege of Rojas, while Carmona's choice for foreign minister, Jose Rodriguez Iturbe, belongs to Opus Dei."

In other words, the reactionaries overreached themselves. When Carmona announced the National Assembly's dissolution, the civilian-military coalition supporting Carmona's interim government collapsed immediately, while the balance of forces swung back in Chavez's favour. With the growth of protests on the streets, Carmona's civilian and labour support evaporated, and the FAN also split into at least three distinct groups now struggling for power inside the military.

Realising that the situation was escaping from his hands, Vasquez Velasco - in a nationally televised address - conditioned his continued support for Carmona to the immediate reinstatement of the National Assembly. Carmona immediately complied. However, reinstated National Assembly President Lara hastily deposed Carmona and swore in Vice President Cabello as acting president, pending Chavez's return to the presidential palace. The rebellion collapsed like a house of cards. And the army was split wide open.

Splits at the top

It is clear that Chavez still has considerable support, not only among the masses, but also in the army. General Baduel declared himself in rebellion against the Carmona government even before it was sworn in April 12. Having command of 2,000 elite paratroopers and a large arsenal of weapons and munitions, this was no small threat! Division Gen. Julio Garcia Montoya, permanent secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, also declared himself in rebellion and made his opposition to the interim government known through a telephone interview with Cuban television that was then broadcast back to Venezuela.

Stratfor continues: "One group is led by Army commander Gen. Efrain Vasquez Velasco, who emerged April 11-12 as the leader of a center-right faction of career officers who oppose Chavez's attempts to politicize the FAN and shift the country away from capitalist democracy. Vasquez Velasco's group negotiated the agreement with civic and political opposition leaders that installed Carmona as a consensus interim president.

"A second group consists of ultra-conservative officers in all four branches of the FAN. Some of these officers are longtime proteges of Rojas, and others - including some Opus Dei members - hail from the Christian Democrat Copei party, which long has been dominated by former President Rafael Caldera (who also is Rojas's father-in-law). STRATFOR's sources report this group planned to launch a coup against Chavez on Feb. 27, but aborted the scheme under strong pressure from centrist colleagues inside the FAN and from the Bush administration in Washington.

"The third group consists of pro-Chavez officers - including Gen. Raul Baduel, who commands the 42nd Parachutists Brigade based at Maracay in Aragua state. This is Chavez's former unit, and Baduel is one of his closest friends and political allies in the army, sources say."

Alexis de Toqueville pointed out long ago that revolution begins on the top. The latest reports show clearly that the ruling class in Venezuela is split. And this split extends to the tops of the state and the armed forces. This, as Lenin explained, is the first condition for a revolution. The failed attempt at counter-revolution will have exacerbated these contradictions and splits in the ruling class, and created the most favourable conditions for a complete social overturn. The reactionaries have been forced onto the defensive, and for a time will be paralysed and unable to act. A courageous word from the top would be sufficient to deprive the reaction of its social base and permit even a peaceful transfer of power to the working people.

There are moments in history that ere decisive. It is a question of "eitheror". The counter-revolution has thrown down the gauntlet. Their first attempt has failed. But it will not be the last! The bourgeoisie and its supporters in the military is determined to get rid of Chavez by one means or another. Their resolve will be stiffened by Washington, which has many reasons for wanting to overthrow the Chavez regime.

Marx pointed out that the revolution needs the whip of counter-revolution. The present situation is reminiscent of the tancazo in Chile - the abortive first attempt to overthrow the Allende government - which was defeated by the movement of the masses. There is no doubt whatsoever that if Salvador Allende had taken advantage of that moment to appeal to the masses to act, the revolution would have easily succeeded. But when the opportunity was thrown away, the counter-revolutionaries in the armed forces (let us recall that Pinochet was supposed to be a loyal "democrat") regrouped and prepared a bloody coup a few months later. This is a very serious warning to the workers of Venezuela!

The role of Chavez

After the events of April 11-13, the situation is completely unstable. Nothing has been resolved. The situation resembles in many respects that which existed in Cuba in 1960. It is not generally realised that when Castro first came to power, he did not intend to nationalise the means of production. His programme was a programme of democratic reforms that did not go beyond the limits of the capitalist system. In fact, his publicly declared model wasthe USA.

However, on a capitalist basis there is no way forward for countries like Cuba and Venezuela. Castro's attempt to carry through reforms to improve the conditions of the Cuban people immediately brought him into conflict with US imperialism and the big US monopolies that controlled the Cuban economies. In order to defend the gains of the revolution, Castro was compelled to nationalise the property of US imperialism and eliminate capitalism in Cuba.

Although the Cuban revolution did not follow the classical model of the October revolution, and the workers never held power through the rule of democratically-elected soviets, nevertheless Castro had the support of the masses and the expropriation of landlordism and capitalism in Cuba represented a blow to imperialism and a big step forward. The US imperialists burned their fingers badly in Cuba. Their attempt to destroy the revolution by relying on counter-revolutionary forces armed and financed by the CIA ended in a humiliating defeat at the Bay of Pigs.

There is no doubt that Washington feared that Chavez might go down the same road as Castro, whom he is known to admire. However, the drama is not yet played out. Venezuela is still in deep economic crisis, the gulf between the classes is profound. There is a growing polarisation between left and right. The immediate crisis has resulted in a setback for the counter-revolution. However, the conflict is far from over. The balance of forces that shifted so decisively back toward Chavez on April 13 can swing the other way equally rapidly. He will be under the remorseless pressure of US imperialism. The bourgeoisie, with the active support and encouragement of the CIA, will intensify its campaign of sabotage and disruption.

It is not even certain that Chavez has sufficient support in the National Assembly to retain the presidency. According to an informal count in the assembly and the FAN, roughly 75 percent of the assembly's members oppose allowing Chavez to continue as president. The former Interior and Justice Minister Luis Miquilena, who commands a sizeable block of moderate votes inside the dominant pro-Chavez Fifth Republic Movement (MVR), will be a key powerbroker in any effort to end Chavez's presidency by legal and constitutional means. The position of Chavez is therefore extremely precarious. If he does not do what the capitalists and imperialists demand, he can be deposed by the National Assembly itself.

The real Bolivarian revolution

Chavez is no doubt an honest man who wants act in the interests of his country and his people. His intentions are good. But in politics as in life, intentions are never enough. The problem is that Chavez is not a Marxist, and is inclined to be inconsistent. That can be fatal in a situation where the balance of forces is so unstable. If Chavez were a Marxist, he would appeal to the masses over the heads of the National Assembly. The establishment of action committees in every factory, oil refinery, and army barracks is the only way to defend the revolution and disarm the counter-revolutionary forces. The working class must be armed to defend itself against the danger of another coup. Only decisive action can prevent a new crisis in which the counter-revolution will assume an even more violent and murderous character.

The position of the army is a crucial factor. The reactionaries in the barracks have suffered a serious set-back. But they will already be regrouping, with the active assistance of the US embassy. The next 24 to 48 hours could be decisive. If firm action is not taken to defeat and disarm the counter-revolution, civil war could erupt, with fighting between military units that support or oppose Chavez. If the working class acts with sufficient energy, the rank and file of the army can quickly be won over to the side of the revolution. The best of the officers will follow them, isolating the reactionary elements in the general staff. The revolution can still succeed with minimum violence and loss of life. But if the revolution hesitates, it is lost. The way will be prepared for terrible bloodshed, ending in a brutal military dictatorship later on.

Above all, it is necessary to smash the resistance of the bosses and their cronies. For the immediate expropriation of the property of the imperialists and the Venezuelan bourgeois! The only way to remove the danger of counter-revolution is to eliminate its basis of support - by expropriating the capitalist class. An emergency decree to this effect must be put to the National Assembly. If the counter-revolutionaries in the National Assembly attempt to block it, then the only way forward is to dissolve the Assembly and rule through the elected popular committees.

Workers of Venezuela! Everything depends on you now. By your actions, you have defeated the counter-revolution. But your victory is not secure. A terrible danger hangs over your heads and that of your families and loved ones. Remember what happened in Chile! Do not trust those who tell you that all is resolved, that the situation must calm down, that democracy is now safe in the hands of the National Assembly! Unless and until the power of the capitalists - those local office boys of US imperialism - is overthrown, the conquests you have made will never be safe.

Rely only on your own strength and unity! Build action committees to defend the revolution and defeat the reaction! Extend them and link them up, on a local, regional and national basis. Once the power of the working people is organised, no power on earth can resist it. The stage will be prepared for the final, inevitable showdown between the working people and the forces of reaction.

You face a powerful enemy in US imperialism. But in reality, this enemy is a colossus with feet of clay. You have powerful allies in the millions of exploited and oppressed people of Latin America. These people are finding their feet and their voice - in Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia - in one country after another, the workers, peasants and unemployed are beginning to fight back. These are the mass reserves of the Venezuelan revolution!

Long ago, Leon Trotsky spoke of the permanent revolution. This is the only way forward for countries like Venezuela. The facts must be faced. The bourgeoisie cannot play a progressive role in Venezuela. Only under the rule of the working class can you even begin to solve the problems. On the basis of a socialist planned economy, under the democratic control and administration of the workers themselves, immense progress can be made. But the revolution in isolation could not last for long. Either it spreads to other countries, or it would be destroyed sooner or later. Internationalism is therefore a matter of life and death for the Venezuelan revolution.

Hugo Chavez has spoken of the Bolivarian revolution. When Simon Bolivar raised the banner of revolt against Spanish imperialism, he had in mind a war of national liberation that would unite all the peoples of Latin America. But this dream was betrayed by the so-called national bourgeoisie that organised the Balkanisation of Latin America. This is the true cause of the enslavement and oppression of a mighty continent.

The only way to defeat US imperialism is by uniting the revolution in Venezuela with the struggles that are taking place in all Latin America. Everywhere, the capitalist system is in crisis. It offers the people nothing but poverty, misery and unemployment. It subjugates whole nations to the control of US imperialism and the dictatorship of Capital, turning the words "democracy" and "sovereignty" into meaningless phrases. All that is required is one victory and the rotten and bankrupt capitalist regimes would collapse everywhere. The road would be open for the realisation of Bolivar's dream in the only form possible - as the Socialist United States of Latin America.

Last December the Argentinean working class showed the way. The Venezuelan working class is now in the front line of the Latin American revolution. All eyes are now fixed on Venezuela. The stakes are very high. A decisive victory in Venezuela would transform the whole situation. But victory is by no means guaranteed.

It is necessary to draw serious conclusions from the events of the last three days. It is not possible to make half a revolution. It is not possible to improve the conditions of the masses and leave the rotten and reactionary bourgeoisie in control of the means of production. The land, the banks and industries must be taken out of their hands. The economic power must be in the hands of the people. That is the first condition for victory. Without that, no progress is possible.

What is required is a conscious and audacious Marxist tendency, which would participate in the Movement for the Fifth Republic (MVR) and give it the necessary revolutionary perspective, programme and strategy. The elements for such a tendency already exist. Everything now depends upon the speed with which they can organise, mobilise the working class, and lead it on the path to victory. The victory of the Venezuelan revolution would light a fire that would set all Latin America ablaze.
On 9 April, a group called Stand With Ukraine held a small demonstration in London. Despite receiving support from a number of trade unions, only a few hundred people took part. In true Orwellian fashion, this so-called anti-war solidarity demonstration was filled with hair-raising, warmongering rhetoric. Slogans included: arm, arm, arm Ukraine!, and participants were reportedly inviting NATO to call Putins bluff, i.e. to launch a full-blown military intervention and spark World War III.
The isolationist Trump has had a change of heart. Instead of his promise to keep out of the Middle East, he has used the outrage over a chemical attack on civilians in Khan Shaykhun in Syria to send 59 cruise missiles against a Syrian government air base. The White House was quick to announce that the action sent a strong signal not just to Assad, but to the rest of the world.

Britain, France, Germany and other quisling states immediately welcomed Americas decisive, but proportionate blow at the Syrian regime for their dastardly use of chemical weapons. However, it is only the US security agencies who claim to have any evidence to show that Assad was responsible, the same agencies that swore blue that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

In response, the Russians reacted angrily to the US missile attack, allying themselves with Iran, the other main foreign backer of Assad, to warn against further American strikes.

While Washington and other pliant western governments blamed the Syrian government, Russia insisted the civilian deaths were due to nerve gas leaking from an opposition chemical weapons dump when it was hit in an airstrike by Syrian forces.

To determine the most likely version, we need to ask the question: who benefits from this incident?

To begin with, the affected town had no military significance. Assad was winning the war in Syria, so why should he deliberately use chemical weapons, which would unnecessarily provoke retaliation from the United States? Assad would have everything to lose by doing so. The opposition jihadi forces have access to chemical weapons and have used them. The opposition were clearly jubilant at the USs bombing of Assad. A former British ambassador to Syria warned that this will mean more staged chemical attacks will be made by the opposition, blaming Assad, in order to draw in the US to attack government targets.

Despite claims by the US that the bombing was a one off event, the military action has sent ripples across the world. Both Vladimir Putin and the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, issued a joint statement: The aggressive US actions against a sovereign state, which violate international law, are unacceptable. Vladimir Putin - Photo: World Economic Forum

The regime in Pyongyang, which provoked Washington with a missile test this month, also condemned the attack. Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, described the US strike as an unforgivable act of aggression that justified its need to develop its nuclear arsenal. This act will simply strengthen the Pyongyang regime and its resolve to develop their nuclear capacity. They saw what happened to Saddam and the regime change in Iraq and drew the conclusion that they needed to arm and defend themselves with their own weapons of mass destruction.

In stepping up the pressure, the Pentagon decided to deploy an aircraft carrier group near the Korean peninsula, described by a US military official as a show of force. This was part of what Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, said that the era of American strategic patience with North Korea was over. He made a point of emphasising that America was considering all options, including military strikes.

But this is all bluff. North Korea is a very unstable Stalinist state, ruled by a dictator and armed with nuclear weapons. As opposed to Syria, the US cannot use missiles against North Korea for fear of deadly retaliation. If attacked, North Korea could easily dispatch missiles with nuclear bombs to Tokyo and South Korea, also destroying US military bases in the area. The North Korean nuclear and missile programmes are widely dispersed, including underground and underwater. It would be extremely unlikely that the whole programme could be destroyed in a single wave of strikes, which would immediately raise the prospect of nuclear retaliation by the North.

The US would need to take account of this reality. North Korea is certainly not comparable to Syria, which was more or less defenceless to US aggression. Syria has fallen apart and is not capable of fighting back. North Korea is totally different. Even a so-called surgical strike by the US administration would bring disastrous consequences, not least its allies.

NBC reported that a recently completed US review of North Korea policy included options to site US nuclear weapons in South Korea and to assassinate Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader. This resembles US attempts to destabilise Cuba and murder Castro, which ended in complete failure. It would be a very dangerous course, certain to provoke Pyongyang. Donald Trump - Photo: The White House

Americas unilateral action in Syria will certain raise fears not least in China, not simply because Donald Trump was dining with Xi Jinping as the bombs were dropping, but because of the increasingly tough talk about North Korea emanating from the US administration. The threat  and that is what it is - that Trump will go it alone over North Korea will be taken more seriously by the Chinese. Having said that, China has no interest in changing its policy and support towards North Korea. A collapse of the Pyongyang regime, or the crippling of its economy, would send a tide of refugees into China, with all the upheaval this would mean. It could also open the road to the eventual reunification of Korea, which will mean more American troops and bases on the very border of China itself. This would be intolerable for the Chinese regime. That is why the Chinese have decided to call Trumps bluff, by moving 150,000 troops to the border with North Korea.

Joe Detrani, a former top CIA officer who has had dealings with North Korean officials, said Kim might become concerned for his safety, but would not change his policy. His father, Kim Jong Il, literally went into hiding after the first Gulf war when the US used overwhelming air power to destroy Iraqs military, said Detrani. Kim Jong Un may do the same... It will not, however, deter him from enhancing his nuclear and missile programmes.

The Chinese government has nevertheless warned North Korea, through the Global Times, a Chinese Communist party newspaper, to understand the gravity of the situation and avoid another provocation by conducting what would be its sixth nuclear test.

Should North Korea conduct the sixth nuclear test, the possibility that it will become a decisive factor in pushing Washington to take a military adventure cannot be excluded, the newspaper declared in an editorial. Its of vital importance that North Korea does not misjudge the situation in future. New nuclear tests will meet with unprecedented reactions from the international community, even to a turning point.

Not only are the Chinese on edge, but even more so are the rulers of Seoul and Tokyo. Trump was forced to call both Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Hwang Kyo-ahn, the acting South Korean president, about the Syria strike and the situation on the North Korean peninsula. And no wonder they are nervous. Even if the US was able to knock out North Koreas the whole nuclear programme in one swoop, the North Koreans still have formidable conventional artillery. They could launch a devastating onslaught at Seoul, the South Korean capital, a city of 10m people 35 miles from the North Korean border. Japan would also be vulnerable to missile strikes, as would US bases in the region.

This apparent change of foreign policy by Trump has certainly created waves internationally. Trumps original antipathy to Middle East intervention, a key point in his campaign to become president, appears to be cast aside. Trump, as unstable as ever, seems to be backtracking. So what are the reasons for this apparent volte face on Syria? The change - even if it is temporary - is mostly a reflection of the problems facing Trump on the domestic front, as he faces increasing pressure over his associates dealings with Moscow. This, in turn, is a reflection of the influence of Americas deep state, branches of the secret services, which is inherently hostile to Russia. By reasserting US power on the global stage, Trump hopes to divert the attention of his political opponents  but at the price of submitting to their foreign policy agenda. This could also explain the announcement just a couple of days before the Syria strikes, that Steve Bannon, the presidents chief strategist and the main advocate of America first nationalism in the White House, had lost his seat on the National Security Council. General Michael Flynn, who shared many of Mr Bannons radical instincts, was also sacked as head of the NSC in February.

However, these retreats have already created problems in his support base, who are hostile to more foreign adventures. His supporters are saying he must be held to account, feet to the fire, to reverse this undesirable adventure. Ann Coulter, author of In Trump We Trust, tweeted her dismay, asking: Why get involved in another Muslim catastrophe? This could be the reason for Trumps retreat, clarifying that America was not going into Syria, which only adds to the confusion. Sergei Lavrov - Photo: US State Department

In reality all the talk of red lines by Washington is so much hot air under present conditions. The bombing of Syria has made the situation worse by increasing tensions everywhere. Despite all the tough language, Washington will be forced to live with North Korean nuclear weapons, as it had to in the past with other countries. At the end of the day, it will also have to come to a deal with Russia in the Middle East. It has no real alternative. Russia has all the cards in Syria, with influence and a military presence, something that America does not have.

In the short term, the attempt by Washington to ratchet up pressure on Russia to end its support of Syrian president Assad will be met with cold water. Tillersons visit to Moscow did not lay down the law. On the contrary, the US was coldly rebuffed. The US unilateral action in Syria has soured relations with Russia, a key player in Syria, or even seriously damaged them. Without Russia, the Americans have no leverage in the region. The talk by the US that the problem in Syria was Moscows sponsorship of a murderous regime will simply add fuel to the fire. Tillerson will get no joy from the Russians with his accusations that Moscow was not necessarily complicit in the chemical attack, but incompetent. For the time being, the Russians have turned their backs on the Americans and increased their support for Assad. Rex Tillerson Photo: CSIS

In reality, the Americans have shot themselves in the foot. The situation also exposes the limits of US power. They are impotent, as is the west.

The muted meeting of the G7 powers recognised their weakness. Even Tillerson was forced to temper his language. And the buffoon Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, was slapped down over his appeal for more sanctions against Russia and Syria. The question wasnt mentioned by anyone, except Boris Johnson, stated the French foreign secretary. Humiliatingly, he was treated like a naughty schoolboy, asked to sit in the corner in silence. In an impotent gesture, Boris the Plonker, called off a planned visit to Moscow, saying he would leave Tillerson to deliver a clear and coordinated message. The boycott simply reflected how little weight Britain has in international affairs. Johnson, reflecting the position of the UK, is simply a poodle of the US and is terrified of putting a foot out of place for fear of a kick from Uncle Sam. His isolation at the G7 shows how out of touch Britain is in world diplomacy.

The British are like yapping dogs, a solitary woof with no bite. Even Britains defence secretary, Michael Fallon, tried to puff up his self-importance up by accusing Russia of being directly complicit in the bloodshed in Syria. This latest war crime happened on their watch, thundered Fallon. In the past few years, they have had every opportunity to pull levers and stop the civil war. By proxy, Russia is responsible for every civilian death last week.

But this chest thumping is completely hollow. They will pay the price for this privado.

With the maverick Trump in the White House swings in foreign policy are inevitable. With little thought out strategy, he is like a bull in a China shop. He has alienated the Europeans, threatening to undermine NATO. He has declared America First, which threatens a new period of protectionism. He has openly clashed the CIA and security services, the first time in history. He has turned the Republican Party upside down. In an already very unstable situation in world relations, he is just pouring petrol into the flames.
Frank Vatrano

Boston Bruins' Frank Vatrano celebrates a goal during third period of game one of the first round of Stanley Cup playoff hockey action against the Ottawa Senators, in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Sean Kilpatrick)

Bruins winger and East Longmeadow native Frank Vatrano made quite the impression in his first Stanley Cup playoff game.

Stuck in a 16-game goalless drought, Vatrano lit the lamp when the Bruins were in desperate need of a spark -- scoring at 4:55 in the third period to force a 1-1 draw in Game 1 of Boston's playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.

Taking a feed from Riley Nash, Vatrano gathered the puck and wristed the biscuit from the slot -- sniping a shot that sailed past Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson to tie things up.

Vatrano's score was a welcome sight for the Bruins, who did not land a single shot on goal in the second period.

With 11:20 remaining in the third period, the Bruins and Senators are still tied, 1-1.
SPRINGFIELD  Mary Anne Herron first visited the rural Cambodian commune of Phoum Thom in 2003 to find out why the area produced so many orphans.

Talking to four women in a hut built out of bamboo and banana leaves sitting atop stilts, at least one of the reasons became clear, Herron said.

"It was then that they said that our mothers die in child birth and so do the babies because there is no facility to take care of these women in babies," Herron, who had traveled to Cambodia since 2002 through her work with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, said.

With the assistance of locals familiar with the needs of the small commune in Kandal province's Kien Svay district, Herron determined a six-room birthing clinic could prevent a staggering amount of unnecessary deaths, Herron said.

Herron traveled back to the United States, where she raised $1,200 to open the clinic, which has operated opened in Phoum Thom in 2005, and added a seven-unit extension three years later. Since then, Herron founded the Cambodian Medical Clinic Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding the facility's monthly expenses.

On April 28, the foundation and the Springfield Rotary Club -to which Herron belongs- will host its fifth annual wine tasting event to raise funds to support the clinic, which serves as many as 100,000 people in and around Phoum Thom, Herron said.

The event will be held at the Springfield Country Club in West Springfield from 5 to 8 p.m., Herron said. In addition to tastings of wine, beer and food, those in attendance will be able to try their luck at a raffle and several games with prizes for winners.

"It's a fun and tasty event benefitting a truly impactful cause," Herron said in a statement about this year's wine tasting. "You would be surprised how many lives we can positively affect -- or even save -- with just a few thousand dollars."

This year's wines will be provided by Nick DeCesare & Yiannis Distributing Company, Herron said. Beers include Lefty's Brewery, New City Brewery, Opa Opa Brewery, and Scantic River Brewery.

Hot hors d'oeuvres, buffet entrees, desserts and other foods will be inclusive of the tasting ticket, which requires a minimum $35 donation.

About 200 people typically attend the $35 event, but this year she hopes to attract about 250 people, Herron said.

Tickets to the event are available at cambodiamedicalclinic.org/wine.
Tamika-Jeune.jpg

UPDATE: Tamika Danielle Jeune was found about an hour after police reported her as missing. Story here: Missing Boston University student found at hospital after state police search

_________________

Massachusetts State Police announced on Thursday they are searching for Tamika Danielle Jeune, a 26-year-old Boston University law student who went missing sometime this week.

State Police say Jeune, who they describe as a relatively tall, black woman from Dorchester, now lives on Beacon Street and could not be found at her BU dormitory or in her Dorchester home.

In a statement, police said a Marine Unit is searching for Jeune near the Charles River after personal items belonging to an unidentified young woman were found near the river. It is unclear if those items belonged to Jeune or not, or where she was last seen.

Police urge anyone with information to call the State Police detectives at 617-740-7544, or State Police Communications at 508-820-2121.
AMHERST - With props of money, cigars and an oil-like substance, a group of area residents staged a nearly hour-long demonstration in front of the Bank of America to inspire customers to divest from banks supporting fossil fuel.

Sitting at a table outside the South Pleasant Street branch, local activist Marc Osten played a greedy banker trying to keep customers in his bank.

When they refused to stay, he tried to woo them with mugs or money. He then poured the oil-like substance over them before the "customers" lay down playing dead in front of the bank.

They were then draped with signs reading sayings such as "stable climate," and "safe and stable jobs," with a red x over the words.

Osten's wife Colleen Osten said the main audience for the demonstration was social media. They were streaming it live and expected thousands more to watch and be inspired.

No one from the bank intervened and a few police officers stood across the street, watching unobtrusively until the staging finished at about 10 a.m.

In a press release, the group of residents state that while the Dakota Access Pipeline has been completed- something the group had opposed - other pipelines are being planned and built and some are already leaking.

They said that without bank financing, the pipelines could not be built.

"We are here to educate, remind, even plead with all of you - individuals, businesses and towns to close your accounts and pull your investments from banks financing the fossil fuel industry," the group said in a statement.

Oster and others were involved in other local actions including the December event at the TD Bank where he and others chained themselves to the bank's doors to protest the bank's financing of the North Dakota Access Pipeline.
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INFORMATION ON THE POSITION

Title: Senior Project Coordinator

Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Full time or part time: Full time

Number of positions: One

Publication date: April 12, 2017

End date: April 22, 2017

JOB DESCRIPTION

Brief presentation of Tulane International

Tulane International (TILLC) is an autonomous subsidiary company of Tulane University based in New Orleans, LA, USA. The organization works in health and development research and project implementation. TILLC has offices in several African countries, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa and the DRC.

In the DRC, Tulane International was registered in 2013 with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and has been working closely with other ministries through specific programs and under various project implementations. Tulane International has worked with the School of Public Health in Kinshasa, the National Program for Reproductive Health, and the National Program to Fight HIV/AIDS.

The current multi-skills position has been opened under TILLCs projects on Family Planning (FP) in the DRC.

Position summary

Tulane International is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to serve as a Senior Project Coordinator for the three-year Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded MOMENTUM project. The project will implement a gender-transformative model of integrated service delivery focusing on first-time mothers aged 15-24 years and their male partners in Kinshasa to increase family planning (FP) uptake and the adoption of health-seeking behaviors and household practices that are beneficial to mother and baby. The Senior Project Coordinator is responsible for several aspects of the MOMENTUM project, including provision of strategic direction, technical leadership oversight, and overall project management support to the MOMENTUM project. He/She will be responsible for coordination, capacity building, knowledge management, and communication. He/She will work to ensure high technical quality of MOMENTUM activities and will work closely with the programs and technical services of the Government (6eme Direction and PNSA, among others), and with selected medical and nursing schools. He/She will attend strategic meetings in representation of Tulane International, DRC. This position requires availability to travel, both domestically and internationally.

The Senior Project Coordinator will work closely with the FP Projects Director in the DRC and with other members of Tulane International involved in various projects in the DRC. He/She will work under the direct supervision of the FP Projects Director in the DRC.

Availability for the position: immediately

Main responsibilities

Provide technical oversight and guidance to MOMENTUM FP, maternal and newborn health (MNH) and nutrition, and gender-related activities, taking into consideration the DRC context.

Coordinate the activities of project partners to ensure that their respective components contribute as expected to achieving project results

Actively participate in the implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities and in the analysis, dissemination, and strategic use of M&E data

Ensure day-to-day management of Tulane Internationals MOMENTUM project activities in the DRC, including work plans, budgets, and technical assistance needs.

Contribute to different components of the MOMENTUM project in the DRC including the development of training materials, counseling aids, and project communication materials, and routine data collection, and advocacy.

Support project activities that empower first-time mothers and their partners and foster gender-equitable behaviors related to FP/MNH and nutrition.

Archive all tools, guidelines, curricula, forms, presentations, papers, and key project materials.

Contribute to the preparation, review and validation of technical documents, training materials and policy briefs to meet national, donor and international standards.

Work closely with the National Program for Adolescent Health (PNSA), the National Program of Reproductive Health (PNSR), 6eme Direction, and project partners.

Convene and lead routine and ad hoc meetings of the Technical Advisory Group, project partners, and key stakeholders.

Participate in strategic meetings in representation of Tulane International with the Government and local and international partners.

Participate in the production of internal reports as well as reports to partners and donors.

Diffuse findings from MOMENTUM to key local stakeholders, including youth, through various channels.

Identify capacity-strengthening needs as part of a sustainability plan.

Travel to offsite locations and project meetings, as needed.

Requirements (Candidates must meet the following requirements to be considered for this position)

Public health professional preferably with clinical health background or previous experience in health programming.

Minimum of 8 years professional experience in management of projects; experience working with international nongovernmental organizations required.

Strong technical/program and budget management skills as well as planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.

Strong background and experience working with local health partners and/or providing technical assistance and support to the Ministry of Health.

Strong experience with both facility and community-based models of health services delivery

Demonstrated knowledge and skills related to gender-sensitive and gender-transformative programming.

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written French communication skills required

Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member, prioritize and competently manage a variety of activities with multiple deadlines; motivation and willingness to take initiative and full responsibility for selected activities.

Must be capable of applying his/her skills and knowledge in various capacities, including project management, capacity building, and knowledge transfer.

Proficient in Word, Excel, power point, internet.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Preferred skills

MD is a plus but is not required.

Knowledge of adolescent, maternal and newborn health is a must.

Experience in family planning in the DRC context.

Fluency in spoken and written English preferred.

Application

Please send your detailed resume with a clear description of your relevant skills and experience, with at least three references, including at least two former supervisors.

Please send your application via email to: recrutementTILLC@gmail.com with a copy to: tulane@paynetwork.cd

with a copy to: Please note that applications received after April 22 will not be considered, and that only strong candidates will be contacted to be interviewed.

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INFORMATION SUR LE POSTE

Intitule : Coordinateur de Projet Senior

Lieu : Kinshasa, Republique Democratique du Congo

Plein temps ou mi-temps : Plein temps

Nombre de postes : Un

Date de publication : Le 12 avril 2017

Date de fin : Le 22 avril 2017

DESCRIPTION DU POSTE

Breve presentation de Tulane International

Tulane International (TILLC) est une filiale autonome de Tulane University, basee a la Nouvelle-Orleans, en Louisiane, aux Etats-Unis. Lorganisation travaille dans le domaine de la recherche et de la mise en uvre de projets de sante et de developpement. TILLC a des bureaux dans plusieurs pays africains, dont lEthiopie, le Rwanda, lOuganda, lAfrique du Sud et la RDC.

En RDC, Tulane International est inscrite aupres du Ministere de lEnseignement Superieur et de la Recherche Scientifique depuis 2013, et a travaille en etroite collaboration avec dautres ministeres via leurs programmes specifiques dans le cadre de la mise en uvre de plusieurs projets. Tulane International a travaille avec lEcole de Sante Publique de Kinshasa, le Programme National de Sante de la Reproduction, et le Programme National Multisectoriel de Lutte contre le sida.

Le poste a pourvoir, requerant de multiples competences, sinscrit dans le cadre des projets de TILLC sur la Planification Familiale (PF) en RDC.

Resume du poste

Tulane International cherche un professionnel dynamique et experimente pour remplir le role de Coordinateur de Projet Senior pour le projet MOMENTUM, finance par la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates pour une duree de trois ans. Le projet appliquera un modele transformateur en matiere de genre dans la prestation de services integres pour augmenter lutilisation de la planification familiale (PF) et ladoption de comportements sains et de pratiques au sein des menages qui soient benefiques pour la mere et lenfant. Le Coordinateur de Projet Senior sera responsable de plusieurs aspects du projet MOMENTUM, dont sa direction strategique, sa supervision technique, et sa gestion generale. Il/elle sera responsable de la coordination, du renforcement de competences, de la gestion des connaissances et de la communication du projet. Il/elle devra sassurer de la haute qualite technique des activites de MOMENTUM et travaillera en etroite collaboration avec les programmes et services techniques du Gouvernement (6eme Direction et PNSA, entre autres), ainsi quavec certaines ecoles de medecine et de sciences infirmieres. Il/elle devra assister aux reunions strategiques en representation de Tulane International en RDC. Ce poste requiert detre dispose(e) a voyager, a la fois au sein du pays et a linternational.

Le Coordinateur de Projet Senior travaillera en etroite collaboration avec le Directeur de Projets de PF en RDC, et avec dautres membres de Tulane International impliques dans plusieurs projets en RDC. Le superieur hierarchique direct du Coordinateur de Projet Senior sera le Directeur de Projets de PF pour la RDC.

Disponibilite du poste : immediatement

Responsabilites principales

Assurer la supervision et orientation technique des activites de PF, sante maternelle et neonatale (SMN), nutrition, et sur le genre pour MOMENTUM, en prenant en compte le contexte de la RDC.

Coordonner les activites des partenaires du projet pour sassurer que leurs elements respectifs contribuent comme prevu aux resultats du projet.

Participer activement a la mise en uvre des activites de suivi et evaluation (S&E) et a lanalyse, la dissemination et lutilisation strategique des donnees de S&E.

Assurer la gestion au quotidien des activites du projet MOMENTUM de Tulane International en RDC, dont : lelaboration des plans de travail, la gestion des budgets, et la reponse aux besoins dassistance technique.

Contribuer aux differents elements du projet MOMENTUM en RDC, dont : lelaboration du materiel de formation, laide au conseil, et lelaboration de supports de communication, la collecte des donnees de routine et le plaidoyer.

Soutenir les activites du projet devant permettre lautonomie des nouvelles meres et la facilitation de comportements favorisant legalite entre les sexes dans les domaines de la PF/SMN et nutrition.

Archiver tous les outils, instructions, curricula, formulaires, presentations, articles et supports de projet cles.

Contribuer a la preparation, revue et validation des documents techniques, du materiel de formation et des syntheses politiques en accord avec les standards nationaux, internationaux et des bailleurs de fonds.

Travailler en etroite collaboration avec le Programme National de la Sante de lAdolescent (PNSA), le Programme National de Sante de la Reproduction (PNSR), la 6eme Direction, et dautres partenaires du projet.

Organiser et mener des reunions regulieres et ad hoc du Groupe Technique Consultatif, des partenaires du projet et des parties prenantes cles.

Participer aux reunions strategiques en representation de Tulane International avec le Gouvernement et les partenaires locaux et internationaux.

Participer a la production de rapports internes et de rapports pour les partenaires et les bailleurs de fonds.

Diffuser les resultats de MOMENTUM aupres des parties prenantes locales cles, dont les groupes de jeunes, via differents moyens de communication.

Identifier les besoins de renforcement des competences dans le cadre dun plan de durabilite.

Voyager hors-site pour des reunions du projet autant que necessaire.

Conditions (Les candidatures devront remplir les conditions suivantes etre evaluees pour ce poste)

Professionnel de sante publique, de preference avec une formation en sante clinique et de lexperience dans la programmation dactivites sanitaires.

8 ans dexperience professionnelle minimum dans la gestion de projets ; experience des organisations non gouvernementales internationales obligatoire.

Competences techniques/de gestion de programme et du budget solides, ainsi quen matiere de planification, rapport, suivi et evaluation.

Formation/experience solide dans le travail avec les partenaires de la sante locaux et/ou lapport dassistance technique au Ministere de la Sante.

Experience solide de la prestation des services de sante a base communautaire et dans les formations sanitaires

Connaissances et competences demontrees des programmes utilisant lapproche transformatrice en matiere de genre.

Excellentes competentes relationnelles, organisationnelles et de communication verbale et ecrite en francais obligatoire.

Capacite a travailler independamment et au sein dune equipe, a prioriser et gerer efficacement plusieurs activites avec des dates decheance differentes ; motivation et volonte pour prendre des initiatives et assumer lentiere responsabilite des activites selectionnees.

Doit etre capable dappliquer ses competences et connaissances dans divers domaines, dont la gestion de projets, le renforcement de competences et le transfert de connaissances.

Maitrise de Word, Excel, power point, internet.



Les candidatures feminines sont vivement encouragees.



Competences preferees

Diplome de medecine est un avantage, mais pas une obligation.

Connaissance de la sante de ladolescent, de la mere et du nouveau-ne obligatoire.

Experience de la planification familiale dans le contexte de la RDC.

Anglais lu et ecrit courant prefere.

Candidature
Sex may give a boost to certain aspects of peoples well-being and physical health, some research suggests. However, several studies on the subject are now outdated, and not all potential benefits apply to everyone. Scientific research has highlighted several possible benefits besides procreation that come with sexual intercourse. These pluses include preserving heart health in some people, reducing blood pressure, and boosting immunity. Sex can also improve mood, relationships, and mental well-being. In this article, we look at the possible health benefits of sex and highlight relevant research, focusing on the physical rather than emotional aspects.

Helping heart health Share on Pinterest Partnered sex appears to have some protective effect on cardiovascular health, especially in women. A 2016 study looked at the potential health benefits of sexual activity with a regular partner. This research found that sexually active women have a lower risk of cardiac events later in life. However, the study also concluded that high levels of sexual activity might increase the risk of cardiovascular events in men. This conclusion contradicts most earlier research, and further studies are necessary to verify this risk. Males and females with heart problems should ask a doctor about how much sex is safe for them. They should also be specific about the regularity and intensity with which they have sex, as this may affect the potential strain on the heart.

Reducing blood pressure The same 2016 study also measured blood pressure as one of the markers of heart health. The researchers found that older women who expressed satisfaction with their sex lives were less likely to have high blood pressure. However, the study authors did not find the same results in older men. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure can affect both libido and a mans ability to achieve and maintain an erection. Medication for high blood pressure can also reduce libido and cause erectile dysfunction. While this does not confirm a benefit, it may show a link between blood pressure and sexual health. Many people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, have safety concerns when it comes to sexual intercourse. While it is always important to speak with a doctor, it is usually safe for people with high blood pressure to have sex. If hypertension medication is causing sexual difficulties, a person can talk to their doctor who may be able to prescribe a different medication or dosage to relieve the adverse effects.

Boosting the immune system Some early research found that regular sex increased the effectiveness of the immune system. Researchers found that people who had frequent sex, which they defined as one to two times per week, had more immunoglobin A (IgA) in their system than others. IgA is an antibody that lives in the mucosal tissue, such as the salivary glands, nose, and vaginal tissue. However, it is important to recognize that this study appeared in 2004, and researchers have not repeated it since. A new study might yield different results. A more recent study looked at a small group of women to see if there were differences between the immune activity of those who were sexually active and those who are not. The study examined their immune systems ability to kill different infectious pathogens at various points in the menstrual cycle. While the results suggest that there might be some differences between the groups, the authors say more research is necessary before drawing any conclusions.

Reducing prostate cancer risk An early study, again from 2004, found that high frequency of ejaculation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The study investigated almost 30,000 males , looking at how often they ejaculated at different points in their life. They concluded that those who ejaculated more than 21 times per month had a lower risk of prostate cancer than men who only ejaculated 47 times per month. In 2016, the researchers extended this study for an additional 10 years to continue their research on the participants risk for developing prostate cancer. This follow-up confirmed the initial findings. The males who ejaculated most frequently had a lower risk for prostate cancer those who ejaculated less often.

Relieving stress Sex can serve as a natural way to relieve stress. A 2019 study looked at the effect that intimacy with a partner had on cortisol levels. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that circulates the body in response to stress. The researchers found that expressions of intimacy, whether sexual or not, helped to bring cortisol levels in both males and female back within normal range. Sex triggers the release of oxytocin, endorphins, and other feel-good hormones, which may be responsible for this stress reducing effect. Here, learn more about stress.

Improving sleep The National Sleep Foundation suggest that sexual activity has hormonal benefits for sleep. The same hormones that reduce stress and anxiety are also responsible for inducing sleepiness. Sex leads to the release of oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins throughout the body. After a person has an orgasm, another hormone called prolactin starts to circulate. Prolactin induces feelings of satisfaction and relaxation.
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 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."

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.

Article: Identification of RUNX1 as a Mediator of Aberrant Retinal Angiogenesis, Jonathan D. Lam, Daniel J. Oh, Lindsay L. Wong, Dhanesh Amarnani, Cindy Park-Windhol, Angie V. Sanchez, Jonathan Cardona-Velez, Declan McGuone, Anat O. Stemmer-Rachamimov, Dean Eliott, Diane R. Bielenberg, Tave van Zyl, Lishuang Shen, Xiaowu Gai, Patricia A. D'Amore, Leo A. Kim, Joseph F. Arboleda-Velasquez, Diabetes, doi: 10.2337/db16-1035, published March 2017.
OTTAWA

April 13, 2017

Canada

Canada

Canada

July 2018

Canada's

Bill Blair

Canada

The Cannabis Act proposes that legal sales of cannabis would be restricted to people who are 18 years of age and over. Provinces and territories could increase the minimum legal age of sale, purchase and consumption.

The movement of cannabis and cannabis products across international borders would remain a serious criminal offence.

Following Royal Assent, the Government intends to bring the proposed Act into force no later than July 2018 . At that time, adults would legally be able to possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis in public, and to grow up to four plants per household at a maximum height of one metre from a legal seed or seedling. Until the new law comes into force, cannabis will remain illegal everywhere in Canada , except for medical purposes.

. At that time, adults would legally be able to possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis in public, and to grow up to four plants per household at a maximum height of one metre from a legal seed or seedling. Until the new law comes into force, cannabis will remain illegal everywhere in , except for medical purposes. The provinces and territories would authorize and oversee the distribution and sale of cannabis, subject to minimum federal conditions. In those jurisdictions that have not put in place a regulated retail framework, individuals would be able to purchase cannabis online from a federally licensed producer with secure home delivery through the mail or by courier.

The proposed legislation would amend the Criminal Code to modernize and simplify the transportation provisions, strengthen the criminal law responses to impaired driving, and facilitate the effective and efficient investigation and prosecution of drug- and alcohol-impaired driving.

to modernize and simplify the transportation provisions, strengthen the criminal law responses to impaired driving, and facilitate the effective and efficient investigation and prosecution of drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. To facilitate detection and investigation of drug-impaired driving, law enforcement officers will be authorized and equipped to use oral fluid drug screeners at the roadside.

/CNW/ - The current approach to cannabis does not work. It has allowed criminals and organized crime to profit, while failing to keep cannabis out of the hands of Canadian youth. In many cases, it is easier for our kids to buy cannabis than cigarettes.That is why the Government of, after extensive consultation with law enforcement, health and safety experts, and the hard work of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, today introduced legislation to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis.The proposed Cannabis Act would create a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in. Following Royal Assent, the proposed legislation would allow adults to legally possess and use cannabis. This would mean that possession of small amounts of cannabis would no longer be a criminal offence and would prevent profits from going into the pockets of criminal organizations and street gangs. The Bill would also, for the first time, make it a specific criminal offence to sell cannabis to a minor and create significant penalties for those who engage young Canadians in cannabis-related offences.In addition to legalizing and strictly regulating cannabis, the Government is toughening laws around alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. Under the Government's proposed legislation, new offences would be added to theto enforce a zero tolerance approach for those driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs. Additionally, the proposed legislation would authorize new tools for police to better detect drivers who have drugs in their body.Subject to Parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, the Government ofintends to provide regulated and restricted access to cannabis no later thanThe Government will invest additional resources to make sure there is appropriate capacity within Health Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Department of Public Safety to license, inspect and enforce all aspects of the proposed legislation. These additional resources will also allow the Government to undertake a robust public awareness campaign so that Canadians are well informed about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs.Working in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities and local communities, the Government will also make appropriate investments to train and equip law enforcement so thatroads and highways are safe for all Canadians.In the months ahead, the Government will share more details on a new licensing fee and excise tax system. It will also continue to engage with all levels of government and Indigenous Peoples."As a former police officer, I know firsthand how easy it is for our kids to buy cannabis. In many cases, it is easier for our children to get cannabis than it is to get cigarettes. Today's plan to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis will put an end to this. It will keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and stop criminals from profiting from it.""Today, we are following through on our commitment to introduce comprehensive legislation to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis and to create new laws to punish more severely those who drive under its influence. The Cannabis Act reflects an evidence-based approach that will protect Canadians' public health and safety. By tackling alcohol- and drug-impaired driving with new and tougher criminal offences, Canadians will be better protected from impaired drivers and the number of deaths and accidents on our roads will be reduced.""The bills we propose today are aiming at putting drug dealers and organized crime out of the cannabis business. It will allow law enforcement to focus on other serious offences, including the distribution of cannabis to children and youth and driving under the influence of drugs. Drug-impaired driving puts the lives and the safety of drivers and passengers at risk every day, and we will lead a wide-ranging campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired. The proposed Bill will also provide more tools and stronger laws to punish more severely drivers who drive under the influence of drugs, including cannabis. We will continue to work with our law enforcement, provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders to develop a consistent enforcement approach and to provide support in building capacity across the country.""The Cannabis Act will help keep our children safe and address the health risks associated with cannabis. The proposed legislation would allow Canadian adults to possess and purchase regulated and quality-controlled cannabis products, while prohibiting sales to young Canadians and any products, promotion, packaging or labelling that could be appealing to young people."BACKGROUNDER: Legalizing and regulating cannabis: the facts BACKGROUNDER: Roles and responsibilities BACKGROUNDER: Impaired drivingSOURCE Health Canada
High levels of hydrogen peroxide in the brain

Impaired release and uptake of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin

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Chemotherapy

Cancer treatments

Anxiety, fatigue, depression

Changes in cytokines (blood proteins)

Exercise your brain with puzzles

Take enough rest and sleep

Eat a lot of vegetables

Follow the daily schedule

Don't try to multi-task

Michael J. Sofis, David P. Jarmolowicz, Sam V. Kaplan, Rachel C. Gehringer, Shea M. Lemley, Brian S. Blagg, Michael A. Johnson, 'KU32 Prevents 5-Fluorouracil Induced Cognitive Impairment,' Behavioural Brain Research (2017); DOI : http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.042 Chemo Brain - (https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/changes-in-mood-or-thinking/chemo-brain.html ) What is Chemo brain? - (http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/chemo-brain)

Johnson said that this is one of the first studies to look at what happens to the neurotransmitter release due to chemotherapeutic agents.He is also hopeful that this would open up treatment options down the road. The treatment possibility was presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society.The findings were revealed from a behavioral study in rats designed by his colleague David Jarmolowicz from the Kansas University Department of Applied Behavioral Science.Experiments were able to depict that "KU-32" compound developed by Brian Blagg, KU Professor of medicinal chemistry; this may prevent cognitive decline in rats caused by chemotherapy treatment.The compound "KU-32" was found to work by inducing the heat shock response that would protect the cells and may counteract the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide.Johnson, said, "In our preliminary results, we found that hydrogen peroxide temporarily increases in the brains of chemotherapy-treated rats.""Because hydrogen peroxide is a reactive oxygen species and potentially damaging, it may have an effect on cognitive function. Additionally, we may have a therapy that can serve as a preventative in order to treat it. We found that KU-32 prevents cognitive impairment, and our preliminary neurochemical data suggest that it may prevent increases in hydrogen peroxide production."The latest findings on Johnson's investigation to chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment may influence the release and uptake of central nervous system neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.The research study employed several electrochemical methods to find out how the chemotherapy agent carboplatin may affect dopamine and serotonin release events in rats.The study findings showed a decline in the dopamine release by 42% in rats receiving the drug and around a 55% drop in the release of serotonin.Johnson, said, "Dopamine is found in many regions of the brain but is particularly abundant in the striatum.""The striatum receives inputs from other parts of the brain, such as the cortex, and filters out the unwanted inputs while amplifying the wanted inputs, which are translated into actions. Dopamine is a key player in how the striatum responds. We felt that alterations in dopamine release due to chemo could potentially play a role in cognitive impairment."Serotonin is found to implicate in depression and cognitive function. Johnson also said that measuring the serotonin levels may show that chemotherapy agents are capable of acting on neurotransmitter systems other than dopamine.The author concluded that the research work might help in developing therapies for chemobrain as well as other disorders that could impact cognitive function. Further investigation would help cancer patients.Changes in memory, concentration and how a person thinks after cancer treatment is referred to as Chemobrain.Source: Medindia
San Fransisco is all set to pay a tribute to superstar Shah Rukh Khan by live streaming his conversation with Brett Ratner at the 60th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), on Twitter. Our excitement is already skyrocketing and touching outer space because the sky is too small a limit to set for the Bollywood Badshah. Shah Rukh Khans movie, My Name Is Khan is being screened at the festival on Friday.

 BCCL

Well, for all you crazy SRK fans, this is your ultimate chance to be a part of the over 24 million followers on Twitter and witness the interview where we are sure SRK will slay like a boss. According to a report published in the Hindustan Times, Noah Cowan, SFFILMs Executive Director said, We are thrilled to be able to share this special conversation with audiences worldwide through our partnership with Twitter. Well, we are equally kicked about it.

Theres more in store for us, as this experience will integrate live conversations using Twitter polls and questions. You can connect and participate in this conversation using the hashtag #SRKSFFILM. Twitters COO, Anthony Noto said, Film is one of the most popular subjects discussed on Twitter, from reviews to premieres to the industrys biggest stars. Shah Rukh Khan is currently busy shooting for Imtiaz Alis upcoming directorial venture opposite Anushka Sharma.

Source: Hindustan Times
Lets face it. Our wardrobes are nothing without fashion basics. Layered with casual shirts, they make summer styles cooler and worn alone, turn the outfit minimally perfect. But since these essentials define the basis of our outfits, investing in good quality fabrics is key. So that they last the long mile and don't turn awry with every wash. Heres exactly where to head for your basic-binge this summer!

1. ZARA

The world loves ZARA and so do we. Because its the fastest fashion brand out there, and stocks the most versatile styles and colours for basics. Little expensive, but worth your every penny.



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2. Koovs

V necklines look great sometimes. Besides, they add length to comparatively shorter frames. From V-necks, crew necks and almost all styles youd need, Koovs' cotton and splandex T-Shirts are just perfect for the summer.

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3. Splash

One of Indias most under-rated brands, middle-east fashion giant, Splash is a go-to destination for fashion basics. From stripes, solid-coloured variants to even basic bright-hued essentials, this brand has it all. Plus, its now also available on Jabong!

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4. H&M

H&M is literally the king of basic mens fashion. International quality, global designs and street-style appealthis superstar brand is an eclectic mix of all. Incentive? Theres a store in almost every mall around.



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5. Westside

Unless your teenage years haven't been normal, you're aware of Westside and know that it stocks the best quality cotton out there. Your mother swears by the brand and so do you. However, the takeaway here is that the brand is cheap AF.



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6. Forever 21

Youre a fashion maven in the making, so you dont settle for less. You only wear the coolest, never-too-basic and the most fashionable picks off the racks. So guess where youre heading? Forever 21!

 Twitter

7. Jack & Jones

If youre the street-style king of your core-crew, this street wear brand will be a bang for your buck. Its cheap, stylish and only stocks the best out there. Pro Tip: Their earthy tones are to die for.



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If you thought a name like Aloo or a Potol was reason enough for you to dig the ground and bury your head in embarrassment, think about this woman, who by now, should already get an award for having the strangest name in the world  Isis Harambe Spjut. When it comes to naming babies, parents put a lot of effort, but there are times when they go overboard with their imagination. Those who are upbeat about world affairs would have already rolled their eyes in shock, but for those who are still scratching their heads wondering why its a big deal  go and do your homework properly (you cant be so ignorant).

I was talking to someone and didn't believe her when she told me her name.



Dear Internet, please don't break. pic.twitter.com/vxsTZwwvZg  Andre Golo (@AndreGoLow) 9 April 2017

The entire world started talking about her name when a certain Twitter user, Andre Golo, posted a picture of Harambes I-card. While, some believed it to be a hoax, others lauded the power of Photoshop. There were many who thought that the woman probably changed her name to grab eyeballs. However, she shut down the accusations stating that she is not somebody who will do such a thing to get noticed by people.

@AndreGoLow Prolly changed her name to get attention.  Moses Mulchinock (@ElonEch) 10 April 2017

Having said that, after the tweet went viral, The Daily Dot got in touch with her and she told them her story. Things were already tough for her since 2014 when ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), an extremist militant group that has brutally killed thousands of people, started getting recognition. However, the year 2016 was a game changer for her when a 17-year-old gorilla was killed in the Cincinnati Zoo, whose name happened to be Harambe.

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While, we can still give her the benefit of doubt for having Isis as her first name (for those who dont know, it was the name of an Egyptian Goddess) but her second name being Harambe, was the baap of all coincidences. Isis told the Daily Dot, I trip out with my name constantly. She further added, Like, when I meet people and I tell them my name, theyre, Thats crazy, thats funny. Im literally like, No, that is the craziest name youve ever heard in your life. I really have the most unique name in the world. Pretty trippy.

 Reuters

Isis who is a hostess at a restaurant, was visited by Andre and he started flirting with her. When she told him her name, he clearly didnt believe her. Well, who would believe her in their right frame of mind? So as proof, she sent him a photo of her ID and the rest is history. Isis was born in 1998, her mother gave her the first name for two reasons  It was the name of the Egyptian goddess and it was also a famous Bob Dylan song. Her middle name, Harambe was given by her father, which means Harmony in Swahili.

Living with not one but two deadly terms as a name, her life isnt a regular deal for sure. However, we arent certain whether she is excited or embarrassed to see her name in the news almost every other day for some weird reason.

Source: The Daily Dot
This is Carter Wilkerson, a 16-year old boy from Nevada, who just really loves chicken nuggets.

 Twitter

In a quest to get a free supply of chicken nuggets for a year, he jokingly tweeted Wendys, a really popular fast food chain. And, Wendys actually replied that if he got 18 million retweets, they would give him free nuggets for a year. He obviously took up the challenge and replied Consider it done.

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3  Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017

I sent out the tweet as a joke, Wilkerson told the Reno Gazette-Journal, but then they responded with the outrageous number... Then I put the screenshot up and it started gaining momentum.

He went viral with his plea and Google, Amazon, United Airlines, and many other companies have joined Wilkersons quest for chicken nuggets and retweeted his post.

Wilkersons father suggested that at this point, its great if it has a great cause other than eating chicken nuggets for a year.

Putting this new found fame to good cause, Carter, at his fathers suggestion, set up a website where he will sell #NuggsforCarter T-shirts. According to the website, all the proceeds from the T-shirts will be donated to help families of Breast Cancer Patients, an educational scholarship, and to a local breast cancer non-profit organisation called Moms on the Run.

As of now, the record for the most retweeted tweet is held by none other than Ellen DeGeneres with 3.3 million retweets for the famous Oscar group selfie from the award show in 2014. Right now, Carters tweet is at 2.6 million retweets and seems like he might become the most retweeted person soon.

@TheEllenShow I'm coming for you Ellen  Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 7, 2017

Even Wendys did not anticipate this kind of response.

@hellxxn @carterjwm Honestly has gotten way more RTs than we expected.  Wendy's (@Wendys) April 6, 2017

But theyre also rooting for him.

@MarkPygas @hellxxn @carterjwm Nah, not afraid. It would honestly be pretty awesome if he got that many.  Wendy's (@Wendys) April 6, 2017

Everyone go retweet and help with this kind cause! Only 15.4 million retweets to go.
Turkey, Azerbaijan working to create second railway corridor

Turkey and Azerbaijan are working to create a second railway corridor that would supplement the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, the Turkish media quoted Turkeys Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication Ahmet Arslan as saying.Arslan said that certain preparatory work has already been carried out in order to create the Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan railway.Construction of the Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan railway will provide opportunities to unite Kars with Igdir, Nakhchivan and further with Iran and Pakistans Islamabad, he noted.After the construction of the two railway corridors, the eastern part of Turkey will gain a status of railway hub, added the Turkish minister.Touching upon the BTK railways construction, Arslan said that railway transportation via this route will start in late June.Earlier, the minister noted that the opening ceremony of the BTK railway will be held in late June with the participation of Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The BTK railway is being built on the basis of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey intergovernmental agreement. Peak capacity of the railway will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At the initial stage, it will serve one million passengers and transport 6.5 million tons of cargo.
North Korea is building spanking new apartments with Western kitchen and bathrooms in Pyongyang, with glossy features advertising them in the illustrated magazine Choson. The one featured in the magazine are on Mansudae Street in central Pyongyang.

The North is building 100,000 homes throughout Pyongyang by 2012, and the redevelopment of Mansudae Street is part of the project. The street was once an area of decrepit low-rise apartment buildings with about 600 households but since July last year has been turned into a complex of new six- to 18-story apartment buildings with about 800 homes.

Authorities expanded the floor space per household to more than 100 sq.m. instead of increasing the number of flats per building.
BAD AXE  Huron County should not look to the state legislature for help with getting its fair share of wind turbine tax revenue.

State Rep. Edward Canfield provided an update on local and state issues to the Huron County Board of Commissioners earlier this week.

The Michigan Legislature is in "district work period," so the Sebewaing Republican was able to attend Tuesday morning's meeting, where he updated the board on several issues and answered commissioners' questions.

Wind Energy

Commissioner Ron Wruble asked whether the legislature would "chime in" on the wind turbine issue currently being decided by the state tax tribunal.

Millions in tax revenue is being held in escrow as local township and county officials await a decision on the taxable value of wind turbines.

Canfield said that if the legislature weighed in the issue, locals would not be satisfied.

"... We have two counties that have wind generation in my district and there are 109 other legislators that have less concern about that than we do," Canfield said.

"It is not something that I would like the legislature to chime in on."

"I would consider any bill that you think would be appropriate, but I'm not sure that the other 109 legislators in our ... state are going to necessarily look with favor on something that we see as a problem," he added.

"That doesn't mean that we can't prevail if we have good arguments, and I'm more than happy to step up and take on that fight, but my feeling has always been that we're up here in the Thumb and most folks aren't ..."

"We can only hope for fair judgments from our courts and our tribunals."

Wruble responded: "You hit the nail right on the head because that's exactly what happened. We haven't been treated fairly.

There's been decisions made that we weren't even involved with "... There's, I think, seven counties with wind turbines in them, and 83 counties ... We know who has the leverage to get someone's ear in Lansing."

"It just seems that on that end of things, that we're just fighting an uphill battle. It's just not fair to the people in these communities that were promised one thing and what gets delivered is something totally different."

Canfield said he takes that message to his colleagues whenever it comes up.

Committees

Canfield is the chair of the health and human services subcommittee on appropriations, which manages a budget of more than $25 billion.

"I think we've got that pretty much wrestled with, at least the house version," Canfield said.

"The senate version will come up, and then we'll wrestle some more."

He also sits on the education subcommittee for appropriations, which is sending a recommendation of a $100 per pupil increase.

Education

Canfield agreed with Commissioner Steve Vaughan, who said there is a shortage of skilled trade workers in the state.

Canfield said 50 percent of students who attend college after high school do no have a degree or certificate within six years.

"What they have in common with the other students who have a bachelors degree is a large student debt.

Many of those folks, their parents have signed for their student debt, which is also going to make their retirement much more difficult."

He said the state is working on the issue of skilled trades education and lots of jobs are available in technical training.

"We need to be looking at technical training. We need to help parents understand that while all students should have the option of attending college, all students probably should not attend college right after high school."

"We should never confuse education with intelligence. There are many very intelligent people who never attend college, and make a very substantial and a decent living. And we need to refocus on that."

Healthcare

"There are a lot of issues related to what's going to happen at the federal level  if they are able to get their act together and repeal the (Affordable Care Act).

"We're looking at possibility block grants coming down which are going to potentially significantly change how many of our safety net programs are managed."

"And so I'm glad to be in the position where I may have some input on that, having treated Medicaid patients my whole career, and dealing with issues, behavioral health and such, I think we can make some good impacts on that."

Commissioner John A. Nugent asked whether behavioral health services would be cut for those in need under a recently introduced bill.

Canfield said the bill's premise is to bring physical and mental health services closer together. "In no way do I read the (bill's) language to indicate it will take money away from community mental health or behavioral health."

"... A person who is on a safety net program in our state actually has a better, more robust opportunities to get medicines than anybody sitting in this room who pays for health insurance/managed care process through formularies, which is not inappropriate, so there are some issues that need to be ironed out."

Caro Center: "The most important issue on my plate."

Commissioner Steve Vaughan asked about the future of the Caro Center and whether it will remain a state hospital.

Canfield answered that he plans to address that April 13 when he attends the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners meeting.

"We're going to present what I think is a very compelling argument why I think (the state) should leave it at Caro and this is the most important issue on my plate right now.

"As important or more important to me as the budget, which takes up the majority of my time."

He called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to build a new facility, and said the state is carefully considering where it should be.

"So I'm not blaming the state for that. I'm just suggesting that I continue and will continue in my dying breath the think that it should stay in Caro."

Caro Center was founded 103 years ago, when it was built as an epileptic colony, Canfield said. It's been in use since then.

Dark Stores Legislation

Commissioners David G. Peruski and John L. Bodis inquired about issues surrounding "dark stores legislation," which has to do with how big-box retail stores are taxed.

Property values and, therefore, tax revenues, decrease because the property is compared to the sales of vacant structures.

Canfield said he supports legislation closing the loophole and has heard arguments from the opposition.

"I'm not sure I buy into their views that a store that's working has less value that vacant land without a store.

"I don't know what the temperature is of the house and of the Senate to pass that bill, but I know that it's going to get a good hearing and we're going to try to move it from the house side."

Bodis noted that "deed restrictions make an unfair playing field when another business cannot be sold that would compete with a business that was in there before."

"This is a big problem that especially hurts rural communities," Canfield said. "These big stores come into our communities promising all of these things and often times delivering on some jobs and a place to go."

"On the other side of the coin, a local hardware store, local lumber companies, local clothing stores that have been in business for 100 years go away. And when a store closes up, it can't be used for anything in that line ever again.

"That is an unfair scenario and I do believe it, but people sign those agreements. Communities sign those agreements. And they have to be knowledgeable, and they have to be going in with both eyes open."
HURON COUNTY  The Huron County Health Department will begin its annual tobacco compliance check in an effort to keep cigarettes, chewing tobacco and vaping products out of the hands of minors.

All businesses in Huron County that sell tobacco or tobacco products are subject to a compliance check.

The county currently has 49 businesses that sell tobacco, which includes party stores, grocery stores and gas stations. The health department recently completed its vendor education with retailers.

"Vendor education to retailers provides education on what the law is, how it's stated and the laws of selling to minors," Mitzi Koroleski, health service director with the health department, told the Tribune.

The materials reviewed during vendor education include:

 Provide help on reading identifications and determining if the person is of age or not.

 Properly check the ID to ensure its valid.

 Teach owners the consequences of selling to minors.

 Provide appropriate signs that display the year a person must have been born in order to purchase tobacco.

Michigan's tobacco law states: "A person shall not furnish any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18."

During a compliance check, a decoy is sent into a retail store to see if the retailer is going to check whether the customer is of legal age.

"We randomly pick retailers throughout the county," Koroleski said, adding if one retailer had a violated the previous year, they would be one that would be recommended to check from the state the following year.

Here is a breakdown of compliance checks for the last four fiscal years and the number of establishments that were caught selling to minors in the county:

 2012-13  27 retailers checked, two sold to minors.

 2013-14  24 retailers checked, two sold to minors.

 2014-15  23 retailers checked, three sold to minors.

 2015-16  14 retailers checked, two sold to minors.

"Our main goal is to keep tobacco products out of the hands of minors," Shelly Warczinsky-O'Henley, substance abuse prevention educator for the health department, stated.

"There are reasons age restriction laws are in place and we need to comply with them for the safety of our neighborhoods and for the success of our children as they transition into adults."

The compliance checks will be conducted in cooperation with the Huron County Sheriff's Office.
The 19-year-old Pakistani activist was 15 when she shot in the head by Taliban militants while returning from school. She was targeted for advocating women's education. She won world acclaim for her campaign and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented her with a framed certificate of citizenship. She's only the sixth person to receive the honor and the youngest ever.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai returned to Canada on Wednesday to receive her honorary citizenship and address the country's lawmakers after her first visit to Parliament in 2014 was put off because of a terror attack.

Malala originally was scheduled to receive honorary citizenship in October 2014, but the Canadian Parliament was stormed by an armed terrorist that day. The gunman killed a soldier standing guard at Ottawa's war memorial shortly before storming Parliament in an attack that was stopped cold when he was shot to death.

"The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim -- but he did not share my faith. He did not share the faith of one and a half billion Muslims living in peace around the world. He did not share our Islam -- a religion of learning, compassion and mercy," she said to applause.

Malala also praised Canada for welcoming more than 40,000 Syrian refugees, and appeared to add an appeal to the U.S. as well. "I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world's most defenseless children and families," she said, "and I hope your neighbors will follow your example."

And she joked about Trudeau, Canada's 45-year-old prime minister. "People are always talking about how young he is. They say he is the second youngest prime minister in Canada's history. He does yoga, he has tattoos," she said. "When I was coming here everyone was telling me to shake his hand and let us know how he looks in reality. People were just so excited for me to meet Trudeau. I don't think anyone cared about the Canadian honorary citizenship."

The other five honorary citizens are the Dalai Lama, the Aga Khan, Nelson Mandela, Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.
A career fair is a great place to gather information about potential employers and make contacts that can lead to your first job. Here's some advice on how to make the most of your time.

1. Copies of your resume (25-40, depending on the size of the event).

Be sure it represents your knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) effectively. It needs to look professional -- with an easy-to-read format on plain white or cream-colored paper -- and be free of typos. If you are looking at several career options, you may want to have two or more targeted resumes with different career objectives.

2. A smile, strong handshake and positive attitude.

First impressions are important. Approach an employer, smile and offer your hand when you introduce yourself.

3. A 30-second "sales pitch."

Hand the recruiter a copy of your resume and be prepared to expand on it quickly. Share basic information about yourself and your career interests, like this: "Hello, I'm Carrie Jones. I'm a senior here at Wonderful University, and I'm majoring in English. I'm very interested in a marketing career. As you can see on my resume, I just completed an internship in the marketing division of the ABC Company in Peoria. I've also taken some courses in business marketing. I'm very interested in talking with you about marketing opportunities with your organization."

4. Information about the organizations that will be attending.

Gather information as you would for a job interview. To maximize the brief time you have with each employer, you need to know how your skills and interests match their needs. And don't just concentrate on the "big names." There are often great opportunities with companies with which you are not familiar.

5. Energy

Career fairs require you to be on your feet moving from table to table for an hour or so. Each time you meet someone, be at your best, as refreshed as possible.

Five Things Not to Do at the Career Fair

1. Don't cruise the booths with a group of friends.

Interacting with the recruiters on your own. Make your own positive impression.

2. Don't carry your backpack, large purse or other paraphernalia with you.

Carrying your resume in a professional-looking portfolio or small briefcase works well. It will keep your resume neat and handy, and gives you a place to file business cards of recruiters that you meet. Usually you can stow your coat, backpack or other gear in a coat room.

Related: Search for Veteran Jobs

3. Don't come dressed for rugby practice (or any other extremely casual activity).

A career fair is a professional activity -- perhaps your first contact with a future employer.

4. Don't "wing it" with employers.

Do your homework. Research the companies just as you would for an interview. You'll be able to focus on why you want to work for the organization and what you can do for them.

5. Don't come during the last half-hour of the event.

Many employers come a long distance to attend the fair and may need to leave early. If you come late, you may miss the organizations you wanted to contact

Five Things to Take Home from the Career Fair

1. Business cards from the recruiters you have met.

Use the cards to write follow-up notes to those organizations in which you are most interested.

2. Notes about contacts you made.

Take paper and pen with you to write down important details about particular organizations, including names of people who may not have had business cards. Take a few minutes after you leave each table to jot down these notes.

3. Information about organizations you have contacted.

Most recruiters will have information for you to pick up, including company brochures, computer diskettes or CD's, position descriptions and other data. You won't have time to deal with these at the fair.

4. A better sense of your career options.

If you have used the event correctly, you will have made contact with several organizations that hire people with your skills and interests. In thinking about their needs and your background, evaluate whether each company might be a match for you.

5. Self-confidence in interacting with employer representatives.

A career fair gives you the opportunity to practice your interview skills in a less formidable environment than a formal interview. Use this experience to practice talking about what you have done, what you know and what your interests are.

Find the Right Veteran Job

Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.
Fears are growing of U.S. President Donald Trump launching a temperamental preemptive strike on North Korea without consulting Seoul after his abrupt airstrikes on Syria last week.

Repeated statements by the government and the military here that Washington would have to discuss any action with Seoul beforehand have not been able to quell the fears given Trump's inexperience in international relations.

Asked if Seoul would be notified of a preemptive strike beforehand, Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said Tuesday, "Such a strike would be launched based on close cooperation... between Seoul and Washington."

Any strike would have to involve the U.S. Forces Korea, and South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command is under a chain of command consisting of the presidents, defense ministers and chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the two countries. None of them could be bypassed before any strike would be launched.

Moreover, Trump was able to launch the airstrike on Syria without worrying about escalating conflicts or loss of American or allied lives, but North Korea is a different proposition.


South Korea's Unification Ministry said the aim seems to be to improve diplomatic relations with the wider world and escape international isolation amid tougher UN sanctions.

North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly convened Tuesday for the eighth time since leader Kim Jong-un came power and revived a diplomatic commission that had been abolished in 1998.

Ri Su-yong, the vice chairman of the Workers Party, was named as the head of the diplomatic commission. Other members are Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, a former nuclear negotiator.

Before it was discontinued, the commission was headed by Hwang Jang-yop, who later became the highest ranked North Korean to defect to the South.

Meanwhile, North Korea reacted defiantly to increasing U.S. belligerence and the arrival of a U.S. Navy strike group in waters near the Korean Peninsula.

"If the U.S. chooses to go down the military route while bluffing about preemptive strike or removal of the leadership, we will gladly react to whatever way the U.S. wants," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman told state media. "We will not be fearful of anything."
Japanese figure skating star Mao Asada couldn't help stop tears at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday after announcing her retirement from competitive skating a few days ago.

Asada said she had been "thinking a lot" about her retirement and came to make a decision in late February. She added she may feel "regrets" sometimes for giving up competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

She also mentioned her perennial rival Kim Yu-na, saying that the rivalry gave them continuous motivation to push each other to be better skaters.
Hyundai unveiled an SUV concept under its premium Genesis brand in the U.S. on Tuesday, a day ahead of the New York International Auto Show which starts its 10-day run on Friday.

The carmaker has released two G90 and G80 sedans with the Genesis brand, and plans to release a midsize G70 within this year.
Prosecutors raided his house on Tuesday night after a court granted an arrest warrant for Koh, who barricaded himself inside for more than an hour until they broke down the door.

Koh was arrested at his home in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on charges of taking a bribe for wrangling the promotion of an official at the Korea Customs Service.

Prosecutors on Tuesday arrested the alleged former lover of ex-President Park Geun-hye's crony Choi Soon-sil, who turned whistleblower and played a key role in bringing the whole house of cards tumbling down.

Koh, a former fencing gold medalist and one-time gigolo-turned handbag designer, was installed by Choi as a nominal director of her company The Blue K, which funneled some of her ill-gotten gains, but spilled the beans after the pair fell out, reportedly over a pedigree lapdog.

Choi has spent several of her erratic court appearances trying to shift the blame for her wrongdoings on to Koh.

According to prosecutors, Koh was asked by an acquaintance to finagle the promotion of a KCS official to a senior post and paid W20 million (US$1=W1,140). The official became customs chief at Incheon International Airport in January 2016 but resigned early this year.

Prosecutors traced the bank accounts and found that the official wired the money to Koh following his promotion early last year. A prosecution official said, "We applied for an arrest warrant, because Koh broke contact last week. We're investigating other charges as well."

But Koh's lawyer Kim Yong-min denied this. "Prosecutors said they would inform him of a date when he should appear for questioning but suddenly tore into his home and arrested him," Kim said. He claimed Koh was cleared of any suspicion in a separate fraud charge prosecutors have also accused him of committing.


According to a senior government source on Wednesday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries wants to compensate Shanghai Salvage for additional costs somewhere in the region of W30-40 billion, but below W50 billion (US$1=W1,140).

The government is considering paying more money than agreed to the Chinese company that raised the sunken ferry Sewol because the work was much tougher than expected.

The company is originally contracted for W91.6 billion. Initially the price was set at W85.1 billion, but that increased to reflect the cost of setting up safety nets around the wreck to keep crucial pieces of evidence from being washed away.

But as the salvage operation dragged on longer than planned, the company's costs swelled to W28 billion as equipment rent and staff wages rose. Shanghai Salvage's director Hong Chong recently said the company borrowed US$100 million from a bank.

The company asked the ministry to cover the additional costs, saying the warped hull plus unexpected underwater conditions caused a four to five-month delay. For instance, it expected to take around two months to insert the lifting beams under the ferry, but it actually took five months because it meant drilling through the tough bedrock.

The ministry decided to accept the request since the problems were due to unexpected natural causes.

Shanghai Salvage is also tasked with underwater searches around the wreckage, which entitles it to billions of won in extra payments. A ministry official said, "The basic aim is to compensate the company for a portion of additional expenses due to delays." The official added the exact amount will be decided after further discussions with budget officials.


De facto Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong has resigned his post as an independent director on the board of Exor, the Agnelli family's investment company that controls carmaker Fiat Chrysler.

Lee has been in a remand jail since February on charges of bribery and embezzlement in the massive corruption scandal that brought down President Park Geun-hye.

Sources on Wednesday said an Exor board meeting in Amsterdam earlier this month authorized the replacement of four independent directors, including Lee.

Exor chairman John Elkann wrote on the company's website, "Their wise counsel during a particularly intensive and complex period has been decisive in making Exor what it is today" but did not elaborate why Lee was replaced.

Lee had been in the post since May 2012. One industry source said, "The independent counsel team slapped a travel ban on Lee and even arrested him, so he had to miss a series of board meetings."


China will enhance its efforts in building medical consortium and arrange closer partnerships between top-tier hospitals and grassroots medical services, in order to provide health management and healthcare services for urban and rural residents alike on a more inclusive and coherent basis.

A set of new measures were approved during the State Councils executive meeting on April 12, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

The goal for medical consortiums is to make quality medical care more accessible to the wider public, especially in less-developed areas, Premier Li said. Weve managed to set up nationwide medical insurance coverage and increased competence in grassroots medical institutions. The coverage is among the highest in the world. What we mostly need now are medical professionals.

While people are demanding more and better healthcare with the rise of personal incomes, the countrys current allocation of medical resources is a tough balancing act.

The idea of building partnerships across medical institutions covering different levels comes in order to bridge the gap in resources. Figures from the National Health and Family Planning Commission show that by 2016, medical consortiums had been set up in 205 cities across China.

Currently, high quality medical resources are mostly in big cities. These should further trickle down to lower tiers so that wider demand will be met, Premier Li said. We must encourage joint partnerships among city-level public hospitals and grassroots institutions, while imposing reimbursement of expenses.

The meeting on April 12 came up with some new measures based on the current progress.

First, fragmentation between administrative regions, fiscal expenses, insurance payouts and human resources will be resolved, while more diversified forms of medical partnerships will be encouraged, with city- or county-level hospitals playing leading roles. The new guideline urges an internet-based medical information platform to enable better diagnoses and treatment for remote regions.

Second, further steps will be taken in allocating high-quality medical resources to wider regions. This will be done by dispatching teams of medical professionals to less developed areas with enhanced sharing and cross-operations of health and medical services.

Third, China will accelerate building a tiered medical system and introduce demand-oriented and contract-based family doctors. The government plans to cover all impoverished populations with the service this year, while inviting private healthcare institutions to join the effort.

The guideline also stresses better coordination and policies within newly established medical consortiums, so that there will be a more balanced allocation of medical resources across medical centers at different levels. The government encourages diverse ways of payments, and professional performance at grassroots levels will be included in the evaluation for medical practitioners, who can, in most cases, work at any organization within the partnership.

The government needs to have well-designed, concrete guidelines in building medical care consortiums, taking local conditions in different regions into consideration, the Premier stressed. Local governments are encouraged to explore their own systematic innovation.

He stressed that the reform fundamentally provides long-term benefits for people. He said that China has great demands in healthcare, and establishing medical consortiums will help drive the countrys economic and social development.
European airplane manufacturer ATR said today it sealed a USD 536-million sale with Iran Air for at least 20 aircraft, the latest aviation firm to strike a deal following Iran's nuclear accord with world powers.

ATR spokesman David Vargas confirmed the finalized deal for the 20 ATR 72-600s, a twin-propeller aircraft, and said Iran Air had an option to purchase another 20.

"They will definitely help Iran Air to modernize and develop regional connectivity across the country," Vargas told The Associated Press.

Home to 80 million people, Iran represents one of the last untapped aviation markets in the world. However, Western analysts are skeptical that there is demand for so many jets or available financing for deals worth billions of dollars.

Vargas declined to offer a value for the deal with Iran Air. The confirmed portion of the deal is worth $536 million at list prices, though buyers typically negotiate discounts on bulk orders. Iranian state TV described the deal as being worth about $400 million.

The deal also already has the approval of the US Treasury, Vargas said. The Treasury must sign off on aircraft deals when at least 10 percent of the airplanes' components are of American origin. The Treasury could not be immediately reached for comment.

Farhad Parvaresh, the CEO of Iran Air, told the state-run IRNA news agency that the French-Italian company will deliver nine ATR 72-600s in 2017 and the rest in 2018. He said four of the aircraft will arrive within a month after signing the contract.

In February 2016, ATR signed an initial agreement to explore selling the aircraft to Iran Air. ATR is the Toulouse, France-based partnership of Airbus and Italy's Leonardo S.p.A., which specializes in regional turboprop aircraft of 90 seats or less.

The ATR deal comes on the back of the nuclear agreement Iran struck with world powers, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

That deal allowed airplane manufacturers to rush into the Iranian market.

Boeing Co. has already made a USD 16.6 billion sale already to Iran Air, while its European rival Airbus signed one estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros (USD 25 billion). The Treasury has signed off on both those deals.

Chicago-based Boeing also signed a USD 3 billion deal earlier this month to sell 30 737 MAX aircraft to Iran's Aseman Airlines, a firm owned by Iran's civil service pension foundation. The Boeing sales represent the first major deals for an American company in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy takeover.
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Sub: 'NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING AND TRADING WINDOW CLOSURE' Dear Sirs, Please note that next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company is scheduled to be held on May 1st, 2017, at 12.00 P.M. at 424, Industrial Area-A, Ludhiana, inter alia, to consider issue of shares on preferential basis. Further, pursuant to SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulation, 2015 and company code for "Prohibition of Insider Trading", the Trading Window for dealing in securities of the Company is closed from April 13, 2017 to till the expiry of 48 hours from the conclusion of the Board Meeting to be held on May 1st, 2017. Please take it on record. Thanking you. Yours Truly, For Supreme Tex Mart Limited Manpreet Kaur Company Secretary & Compliance OfficerSource : BSE
Fur Ball Story's dog therapy session at IT company Nagarro's Gurgaon office

In the 2009 film 3 Idiots, college principal Viru Sahastrabuddhe memorably states: Life is a race... if you dont run fast you will be like a broken andaa (egg). From reel to real, this fierce race in all fields of life steadily builds pressure that festers over time.

The dangers were on display recently in the eerie story of a 24-year-old student in Mumbai who posted a suicide tutorial on Facebook before jumping to his death from a 5-star hotel. The incident drew renewed focus to the dangers of depression.

A best friend could certainly help in such situations, but Animesh Katiyar and his friends felt mans best friend could do even better.

While in college, they noticed that two dogs served as motivation for students, especially the home-sick ones, to attend. The unconditional love they witnessed laid the foundation of Fur Ball Story, their Gurugram-headquartered startup.

A therapy dog from the startup Fur Ball Story

Studies have long shown that dogs can heal the mental scars of humans. A warm hug and someone to hear you out can do wonders. Harvard Medical School has a four-legged therapist that curls up with students. The US had introduced therapy dogs at its airports after the 9/11 terror attacks and Mumbai's international airport followed suit last year by bringing in three golden retrievers  Pepe, Goldie and Sunshine.

Fur Ball Story is attempting to do the same and currently operates in the National Capital Region, where they bring canine comfort to those in need.

They charge per session but keep it free for NGOs. A home visit by the furry army of three adopted dogs  Muffin (a Labrador), Cocoa (a Shih Tzu) and Angel (a golden retriever) will cost you Rs 2,000 for three hours and the dogs can cater to 10 people at a time.

Home visit by a therapy dog belonging to the startup, Fur Ball Story

For corporates exploring ways to de-stress employees, Fur Ball Story charges Rs 700-800 for eight sessions on a trial basis. They recently conducted a session for 200 employees at the MakeMyTrip office.

Dog therapy session held at IT company Nagarro's Gurgaon office

Fur Ball Story's therapy dog during a residential session

Keeping calm and not snapping are key traits of these animals, especially as some people are not comfortable around dogs. But not all dogs can be trained for therapy. Fur Ball Story checks bloodline and the past of the animals and Katiyar said the odds are 500 to 1 for a pure breed to be trained as a therapy dog, and it goes up to 1000 to 1 for pariah dogs. This makes finding therapy dogs a difficult proposition.

We are not getting many dogs who can pass the temperament test, said Katiyar.

Fur Ball Story is now aiming to launch a therapy centre where psychologists will also be on hand. In addition, there will also be a rehab centre for the clinically depressed to spend time with the therapy dogs.

The startup hopes to expand to Mumbai by the end of August and is awaiting approval from authorities at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, where they hope to cure tourists travel blues with the help of therapy dogs.
China's crude oil imports surged to an all-time high in March to nearly 9.2 million barrels per day (bpd), customs data showed on Thursday, far surpassing expectations and overtaking the United States as independent refiners ramped up their purchases.

The March imports came in at 38.95 million tonnes, or 9.17 million bpd, according to the General Customs Administration. That compared with 8.286 million bpd in February and far exceeded an earlier record of 8.57 million bpd in December.

Both the March and the first-quarter import levels were above those of the United States according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), making China the world's top crude oil buyer so far this year.

The shipments were in part driven by independent oil refiners' rush to purchase oil after they received fresh 2017 quotas around mid-January.

"This rush of buying were mostly for March arriving cargoes. In our case, the amount of crude oil we bought for March exceeded the total for the first two months," said a trading manager with Shandong Dongming Petrochemical Group, the country's largest independent oil processor.

Last year, most of China's more than 900,000 bpd increase in its crude oil imports was due to independent refiners that had newly received permits for bringing in shipments.

China last week also granted crude import quotas to newly qualified independent refiners to purchase from the international market for the first time.

"The 9.2 million bpd of crude imports is definitely a shocking number. That means China built close to 1.7 million bpd of crude inventory in March, way off the chart from any perspective," said Harry Liu, an analyst with consultancy IHS Markit.

Still, IHS expected a sharp drop to around 8 million bpd in coming months as seasonal refinery maintenance picks up, and as available storage tank space dwindled, said Liu.

PACE TO SLOW

Many of China's key state refineries are entering maintenance in the second quarter, such as Sinopec's Shanghai and Yangzi refineries and PetroChina's Dalian refinery.

China's crude oil imports for the first quarter grew 15 percent over the same period a year ago to 104.73 million tonnes, or about 8.49 million bpd.

U.S. crude imports were at 7.97 million bpd in March and 8.17 million bpd in the first quarter, according to Reuters calculations based on EIA data.

There was likely an element of catch-up in the Chinese data, with North Sea crudes bought in December and January finally making their way into the numbers and U.S. crudes exported in February showing up as late-March arrivals, said Virendra Chauhan, Singapore-based analyst at Energy Aspects.

The customs data also showed that China's March refined fuel imports were up 10.2 percent on year at 2.7 million tonnes, while exports for the month rose nearly a quarter on year at 4.67 million tonnes.

China slashed a second batch of fuel export quotas for 2017 by 73 percent versus the first around for the year, under so called processing trade terms, potentially leading to slowing exports in coming months.

Any drop, however, could be partly offset by rising shipments overseas under a separate, general trade category in which the government allotted 1.31 million tonnes of exports quotas, mostly for gasoline and diesel.
Mumbai: Infosys CEO, Vishal Sikka addresses a press conference in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo by Mitesh Bhuvad(PTI2_13_2017_000235B)

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2:23 pm: On that note, we are calling it a day for the live blog.

2:11 pm: Nifty IT is down by 1.91 percent.

2:01 pm: Sanjoy Sen, Doctoral Research Scholar, Aston Business School, UK says: "Apart from what Infosys describes as "unforeseen execution challenges" the slowdown in IT budgets as a result of this global uncertainty is demonstrated by the slowdown in growth in key IT intensive sectors such as BFSI.

1:40 pm: BFSI has been the growth engine for Infosys, says COO Pravin Rao.

1:33 pm: I am sticking to USD 20 billion, says Sikka. It is more focussed on innovation, on improving business's ability to become competitive. Over-dependence on visa is a bad thing. With regulation, it becomes more of an imperative. The main concern is a deep-rooted concern about the future of work. Questions are distracting,but it hasn't affected my morale, says Sikkar referring to the spat between founders and management.

1:17 pm: The Nifty IT index fell more than 2 percent as Infosys extended losses after analysts' conference call, down nearly 4 percent. The appreciation in rupee also dampened sentiment as it gained past 64.50 against the US dollar, down 26 paise at 64.41.

12:45 pm: Overall a weak quarter from Infosys with a miss on revenues. We think that growth momentum is not encouraging as YoY CC growth has been slowing down through the year. We dont expect material changes to estimates, but the stock will struggle for re-rating in absence of material growth acceleration, says Rumit Dugar, Director, India TMT, Religare Capital Markets, Institutional Research.

12:40 pm While a buyback has not been explicitly announced, out of the total cash of Rs 38,773 crore (USD 6 billion), the company plans to return Rs 13,000 crore (close to USD 2 bn) to shareholders in FY18. While details are awaited, the dividend per share works out to Rs 49 per share (FY17 at Rs 25.75 per share), factoring dividend distribution tax as well.

12:31 pm: The analyst call just ended.

12:30 pm: The only thing we have to watch out is the deal size are becoming smaller, we need to focus on that.

12:20 pm: Overall indicator would be FY17 free cash flow, says Ranganath. We are looking at ways to optimise development centre without diluting our tech spends.

12:14 pm: When we think of Infosys, for the times that are ahead of us, the times of digital -- those are the metrics that matter, says Sikka. We are working on investments in US, adds Sikka. It is our endeavour to deal with media distractions and ensure company doesn't suffer. the attition numbers at a very healthy level. Group attrition around 17 percent.

12:08 pm: We are learning from our past three quarters. A whole bunch of new areas have shown triple-digit growth. There are pockets like consulting, which are a challenge for us, admits Sikka.

12:03 pm We expect around mid to high of single digits in pay hikes, says Ranganath.

12:00 pm: In retail, we see pockets of opportunities, says Sandeep Dadlani, President and Head of Americas for Infosys. Even in a disrupting industry, we will drive more opportunities in retail, he said.

11:57 am: The times we are in demand that we are delivering innovative things. And outsourcing programmes deliver to the cost efficiency, clients look for, says Sikka. In terms of AI, for the next year and a half, it will be a good opportunity for us.

11:55 am: Floor now opened for questions.

11:51 am: We will continue our relentless focus on role mix optimisation on site and automation, says CFO.

11:49 am: Onsite employee costs reduced to 38 percent this fourth quarter. For full year, total employee costs was held steady at 54.7% despite compensation increases.

11:48 am: Ranganath begins talking. The operating margin guidance for FY17 was 24-25%. For the year operating margin is closer to the higher band, says Ranganath.

11:40 am: In investment and ecosystem, we continue to invest in its AI platform Mana. We continue to support startups. We made seven new investments. Our margin outlook for operating margins in this fiscal year is 23-25 percent, says Sikka.

11:39 am: FY17 revenues from new software services grew at more than 42 percent. Starting Q1, we will report on a quarterly basis, says Sikka.

11:30 am: Sikka kicks off analyst call

11:11 am: Stay tuned to the analysts call in another half hour.

11:09 am: The Indian rupee recovered sharply after yesterday's fall, at 64.31 against the US dollar, up 36 paise from previous close.

11:06 am: IT stocks drag Nifty by 22 points; Infosys and TCS down 2 percent each. Nifty IT down over 1.5 percent.

10:58 am: Motilal Oswal believes the revised payout policy (of giving away 70 percent of free cash flows in dividends from 50 percent earlier), is only a terminology change.

10:55 am: Kotak Institutional Equities, which has an 'Add' recommendation for the stock said in a note to investors, "Overall, the business is moving in the right direction, but with interruptions." However, new deal signings were weak and needs close monitoring.

10:51 am: Meanwhile, a few experts continue to keep up their faith in the erstwhile bellwether IT company, albeit for the longer run. In the run-up to the results Rajen Shah of Tradebulls Group told CNBC-TV18 that Infosys is not a stock where one can make money in six months, it is a stock for long-term investors of over 3 years.

10:50 am: "Bad news is not stopping (for IT companies) and good news is not coming," says Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com. He sees nothing much to be read in the results.

10:47 am: Infosys stock price is down 2.2 percent at Rs 946.75 per share.

Andrew Holland, CEO, Avendus Capital Alternate Strategies says

the whole model for Infosys has broken and that is what you are seeing in terms of the earnings and if you throw in the rupee headwind for them then the stock could easily fall 10 percent before it is even worth looking at.

10:38 am: The role of visas in our industry has become too strong over 15 years, says Sikka. We have to deliver value to our clients, adds Sikka. We have to live with the visa problem, he says. A healthy mix of local talent is a good thing.

10:32 am: Sikka is talking about the 'cohesive' board. Revenue growth to USD 20 billion by 202o is an aspiration, stresses Sikka. We are intensely focussing on cost, he said. Revenue per employee is already more than USD 100,000. Dual focus will be on automation and software, he said.

10:26 am: Capital allocation takes into account capital expenditure requirements, says Ranganath. We generated USD 1.7 billion in cash.

10:25 am: Ranganath warns of operational costs owing to investments in the US.

10:18 am: We learn from the past in terms of guidance. Pravin Rao, COO, Infosys, says there have been easing of regulatory pressures in the US. We remain confident on financial services. On manufacturing, it has been flat. Core industrial manufacturing is doing well. We are challenged on high-tech space. We expect softness on high-tech to continue. We will focus less on actual growth and we will get consulting right.

10:14 am: MD Ranganath, CFO, says for FY17 cash from operations crossed USD 2 billion. We focussed on efficiency and margins, says Ranganath. Capital allocation policy clearly says up to Rs 13,000 crore. this takes into account our cash needs for the next couple of years. Keeping in view, we will do it in FY18.

10:11 am: There is a challenge in the industry, admits Sikka with increasing commoditisation of many services. The need is for more services, stresses Sikka. Ranga 13,000 crore allocation as dividends.

10:07 am: Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka begins talking. Net employee additions was good. the revenue per employee went up 2%. Utilisation is at a high of a decade. We will be focussing on large deals We did USD 800 million in large deals. Overall, on all these metrics, on cash flow generation, we did well, he said. About 65 percent of our workforce produces 55 percent of our revenue. the imperative is clear. We have to bring automation and AI in everything we do.

10:00 am: Top management walking to the media room.

9:55 am: Vishal Sikka will be taking to the floor and soon taking questions from the assembled reporters. MS on Infosys says that payouts have increased and results were below its estimate.

Software services exporter Infosys reported profit at Rs 3,603 crore for January-March quarter, which represented a de-growth of 2.8 percent against Rs 3,708 crore in previous quarter. Revenue fell 0.88 percent to Rs 17,120 crore compared with Rs 17,273 crore previous quarter. According to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18, profit was expected at Rs 3,570 crore on revenue of Rs 17,235 crore for the quarter. Dollar revenue during the quarter stood at USD 2569 million, a growth of 0.7 percent over USD 2551 million in December quarter, which was slightly lower than analysts' forecast of USD 2,584 million. Analysts missed on dollar revenue guidance as it expects its FY18 constant currency dollar revenue growth at 6.5-8.5 percent, which was lower than analysts' forecast of 7-9 percent.

While Infosys has been battling many 'disruptions' with its founder questioning payouts to top executives, Vishal Sikka has been working around the clock to put out the fires. With Trump's visa policy clamping down on non-immigrant work permits, IT industry has factored in a downturn in this fiscal year. Infosys, considered the bellwether, is in the unenvious position of having to vindicate its guidance for the year, which, to sure, has been conservative.
business Madras Fertilizers say government looking at revival proposal In an interview with CNBC-TV18, AB Khare, CMD of Madras Fertilizers said that the revival proposal is going on and government is studying those proposals.
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Shares of Infosys fell nearly 3 percent intraday on Thursday as investors reacted negatively to the companys results.

The information technology major reported profit at Rs 3,603 crore for January-March quarter, degrowth of 2.8 percent against Rs 3,708 crore in previous quarter. Revenue fell 0.88 percent to Rs 17,120 crore compared with Rs 17,273 crore previous quarter.

According to a CNBC-TV18 poll, profit during the quarter was likely to decline 3.7 percent to Rs 3,570 crore, while revenue may fall 0.2 percent to Rs 17,235 crore compared with previous quarter.

Dollar revenue during the quarter stood at USD 2,569 million, a growth of 0.7 percent over USD 2,551 million in December quarter, which was slightly lower than analysts' forecast of USD 2,584 million.

The stock has traded weak, posting a fall of over 8 percent in the past month, and its three-day loss stood at nearly 1. At 09:28 hrs Infosys was quoting at Rs 950.20, down Rs 18.60, or 1.92 percent on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 990.95 and an intraday low of Rs 946.90.
An employee is seen behind an Infosys logo at the company's campus in the southern Indian city of Bangalore September 23, 2014. Infosys Ltd's new CEO Vishal Sikka has come up with a novel approach to reviving the financial fortunes of India's trailblazing outsourcing firm: use Facebook at work, tweet, but get the job done. Infosys has long been run as a conservative company known for keeping strict tabs on work hours and sometimes fining employees for not wearing ties on specific days. Such cheerless self-regard could not have come at a more challenging time, analysts say. To retain talent, Sikka hopes to create a more employee-friendly workplace. To match story INFOSYS-CEO/STRATEGY REUTERS/Abhishek Chinnappa (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYMENT) - RTR47FIS

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Infosys reported results for the quarter ended March 2017 on Thursday, which was largely in line with Street expectations, but soft guidance for FY18 is likely to weigh on the stock in the near-term.

The stock slipped marginally, but was holding above its crucial support level of Rs 900. The stock was down 1.4 percent to Rs 957 in opening trade.

We have collated a list of top six takeaways from Infosys Q4 results.

Net profit growth

The software services exporter reported a 2.8 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) fall, but 6.4 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated net profit of profit to Rs 3,603 crore for January-March quarter, which was higher than CNBC-TV18 estimates of Rs 3,570 crore.

The rupee revenue grew by 3.4 percent on a YoY basis, but fell 0.9 percent sequentially to Rs 17,120 crore for the quarter ended March 2017.

Dollar revenue growth

Dollar revenue during the quarter stood at USD 2,569 million, a growth of 0.7 percent over USD 2,551 million in December quarter, which was slightly lower than analysts' forecast of USD 2,584 million.

Guidance

Infosys missed on dollar revenue guidance as it expects its FY18 constant currency dollar revenue growth at 6.5-8.5 percent, which was lower than analysts' forecast of 7-9 percent.

The second largest IT firm may give guidance for 9-11 percent revenue growth in FY18 in constant currency (CC) terms, which would be higher than Cognizants guidance of 8-10 per cent growth in CY17, brokerage Edelweiss Securities noted.

The revenues are expected to grow 2.5%-4.5% in INR terms based on the exchange rates as of March 31, 2017.

Board approves Capital Allocation Policy

The Companys current policy is to pay dividends of up to 50% of post-tax profits of the financial year. Effective from financial year 2018, the company expects to payout up to 70% of the free cash flow of the corresponding financial year.

The Board has identified an amount of up to Rs 13,000 crore (USD 2 billion) to be paid out to shareholders during financial year 2018, in such manner (including by way of dividend and/or share buyback).

Dividend for financial year 2017

For financial year 2017, the Board announced a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per share amounting to Rs 4,078 crore. After including the interim dividend of Rs 11 per share, the aggregate dividend for Financial Year 2017 amounts to Rs 25.75 per share resulting in a total payout of Rs 7,119 crore.

Board changes

The Board, at its meeting held on April 13, 2017 appointed Ravi Venkatesan, Independent Director as Co-Chairman of the Board. Ravi, who has been on the Board of Infosys since April, 2011 has made a valuable contribution to the development of strategic

direction of the Company during his tenure, the IT firm said.

Ravi will help me enhance the board engagement in supporting the Management in the execution of companys strategy, said R. Seshasayee, Chairman of the Board.

This is an exciting time for the technology industry and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with Sesh and with Vishal and his leadership team in their transformational journey, said Ravi Venkatesan, Co-Chairman.

Geographical Growth

North America grew by 1.3 percent sequentially for the quarter ended March and by 1.2 percent in constant currency. Europe was flat sequentially and declined by 1.6 percent in constant currency.

India declined by 5.4 percent sequentially and 6.9 percent in constant currency while the Rest of the world grew by 0.8 percent sequentially. It declined by 1.3 percent in constant currency terms.

Industry segment

The FSI grew by 1.3 percent sequentially and in constant currency terms it grew by 0.5 percent. The MFG & Hi-Tech grew by 0.4 percent sequentially.

RCL declined by 2.7 percent sequentially and in constant currency it rose 3.1 percent. ECS grew by 3.9 percent sequentially.

Attrition Rate

Infosys attrition rate increased year-on-year (YoY) as a total of 37,915 people left the company in FY17 as compared to the year before at 34,688.

Consolidated attrition rate from the company was at 19.2 percent for the year ended March 2017 compared to 18.7 percent reported in the year ended March 2016.

Attrition declined during the quarter reflecting our focus on better employee engagement. Utilization during Q4 reached 82% which is the highest in Q4 over the past several years, said UB Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer.

Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Pursuant to the approval from the shareholders through postal ballot on March 31, 2016, Dr. Vishal Sikka, Managing Director and CEO is eligible to receive under the 2015 Employee Stock Compensation Plan (2015 Plan), an annual grant of RSUs of fair value USD 2 million which will vest over time, subject to continued service.

He is also eligible for an annual grant of performance based equity and stock options of USD 5 million, subject to achievement of performance targets set by the Board or its Committee, which will vest over time.

The Board based on the recommendations of the Committee approved on April 13, 2017, RSUs amounting to USD 1.9 million and ESOPs amounting to USD 0.96 million.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves with Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka June 6, 2015. Modi arrived in Dhaka for a two-day state visit to Bangladesh. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman

The Union Cabinet approved signing an agreement with Bangladesh for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

The non-binding Framework of Understanding (FoU) on Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector will be valid for five years, an official statement said here.

"The objective of the proposed FoU is to establish a cooperative institutional framework mechanism to facilitate and enhance India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," it said.
Moneycontrol Research

There is very little doubt that Indias bad assets problem is crippling growth. As of December 2016, commercial banks had stressed assets (gross non-performing assets and restructured standard advances) worth Rs 9.64 lakh crore, with four-fifths of the burden falling on public sector banks, where the NPA ratio had touched almost 12 percent. As on December 31, 2016, aggregate NPAs accounted for Rs 6,97,409 crore  or 9.3% of their advances.

Yesterdays press report suggests that government may be considering setting up a panel to handle the bad loan problem. While it is undoubtedly a welcome first step, the measures have to be bold enough to make a difference.

It may be worthwhile taking a look at the existing arsenals at the banks disposal, namely CDR (corporate debt restructuring), SDR (strategic debt restructuring) and S4A (Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets).

The CDR system of restructuring corporate debt was introduced in 2001 as an institutional mechanism for restructuring corporate debt. Any loan exposure of Rs 10 crore and more and involving at least two lenders could have been tackled on this platform.

The scheme required approval of 75 percent of creditors by value and 60 percent by number. Lenders could provide additional finance, which could be treated as 'Standard' up to one year, post which if the asset did not qualify for up-gradation it would fall in the category of restructured debt.

Under CDR, banks were too concerned about attracting additional provisions, which led them to give two-year interest and principal moratorium to the companies seeking a financial restructuring. While this helped them to extend and pretend that the problem didnt exist, it did little to help the company streamline its operations. This led to a high rate of failures in the CDR cell.

Under SDR a consortium of lenders could convert a part of their loan exposure in a stressed company into equity and own at least 51 percent of it. SDR was applicable for existing restructured accounts and needed the approval of a minimum of 75 percent of creditors by value and 60 percent of creditors by number. The banks were given a window of 18 months to bring the houses of stressed companies in order, but they found the time period too short to get any benefit out of it.

In February 2014, RBI allowed a change in management of companies that were not able to service bank loans as part of restructuring of stressed assets.

However, bankers spent months negotiating with promoters on possible restructuring options, using SDR as a scare tactic. This actually delayed the process of resolution as promoters would talk about bringing in new investors that would never materialise.

Then came Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets or S4A. The banks were allowed to convert up to half the loans of corporations into equity or equity-like securities. Any project which had commenced commercial operations and had an overall exposure of more than Rs 500 crore, including unpaid interest, could be brought to this platform, provided the bankers were convinced that the project could service the debt in the longer run. An independent techno-economic viability study could establish this. The banks would also work under the oversight of an external agency, ensuring transparency. This agency would protect the bankers from unwarranted scrutiny by the Central Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

S4A as a mechanism had a high entry barrier in its definition of sustainable debt. As companies had been in stress for more than three years, by the time S4A was introduced, it was difficult for companies to have a six-month cash flow that could justify the elevated level of debt.

Recent communication from a senior government official hinted at tackling the large 30-40 accounts that form the bulk of stress assets for the system. It appears now that the government is working on tweaking some of the existing provisions to make existing resolution mechanism more effective.

For instance, instead of approval of 75 percent of creditors by value and 60 percent by number, the threshold could be brought down to a simple majority to enable JLFs (joint lenders forum) to take a faster decision.

Additionally, to empower bankers in state-owned banks even further, the Centre may finally bring in long-anticipated amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. One of the ways to enable bankers to take decisions regarding haircuts on various stuck projects will require amendments to the PCA which will differentiate between decisions taken with mala-fide intent and those taken from a professional perspective.

With regards to furnishing guarantees by promoters, banks have asked that guarantees be sought only when there is a management change or a new promoter is taking over the debt-ridden company. This has become necessary as many promoters have refused to give their personal guarantee on loan restructuring, blaming the change in policies, cancellations of mines/spectrum by the courts for their companies becoming non-performing assets.

Banks have sought changes in existing debt recast norms including spreading provisioning of large accounts for eight quarters as large borrowers accounts involve large provisioning requirements. At present, the entire provisioning has to be made upfront.

Whats the key issue?

However, for the most viable of these options to take shape, the government has to first decide the extent of haircut that banks will have to take and who pays for the haircut - this is going to be a politically-sensitive decision. The assets are unlikely to find takers at book value and someone will have to fill the hole as banks are inadequately capitalised to take on the onus. Till this key question is answered, every move on this front will remain noise without impact.
The Madras High Court on Thursday refused to stay the release of multi-lingual film 'Baahubali 2' in Tamil Nadu. Chennai-based film distributor ACE Media had moved the court seeking a stay on the scheduled April 28 release of the film citing unpaid dues of Rs 1.18 crore to it.

ACE Media submitted that MS Sharavanan of Sri Green Productions had taken theatrical exhibition rights of the Tamil movie for the entire state's territory. In January he had approached ACE for a loan, to be paid to Prabhu Deva Studio Pvt Ltd, on the promise that he would return the amount with an additional sum of Rs 10 lakh before the release of 'Baahubali 2.'

ACE Media proprietor claimed he came to know that Sharavanan was trying to sell theatrical exhibition rights to a third party and that the negotiations took place on April 9 during the films audio release. When queried about it, he was informed that the amount would be given after the movie's release.

Describing it contrary to the terms of the February 1, 2017 agreement, ACE Media said its inquiries revealed that the debtor had no intention of returning the money and that he was colluding with others to release the film in the name of a third party. He sought a stay on distribution, exhibition and release of 'Bahubali 2' in any form anywhere in Tamil Nadu without settling the dues. But Justice K Kalyanasundaram refused to stay the film's release. The judge, however, directed Sharavanan to reply to the ACE Media's allegations by April 18.
The Cabinet approved a proposal for signing an agreement to establish electricity grid interconnection among BIMSTEC countries.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection," an official statement said.

According to the statement, the MoU will be signed by member states of the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) at the upcoming 3rd BIMSTEC Energy Ministers' Meeting to be held in Nepal shortly.

The agreement will provide a broad framework for the parties to cooperate towards the implementation of grid interconnections for the trade in electricity with a view to promoting rational and optimal power transmission in the BIMSTEC region.

This MoU will facilitate the optimisation of using the energy resources in the region for mutual benefits on non-discriminatory basis subject to laws, rules and regulations of the respective parties.

It will also promote efficient, economic and secure operation of power system needed through the development of regional electricity networks.

It will also facilitate optimisation of capital investment for generation capacity addition across the region and power exchange through cross-border interconnections.

The BIMSTEC is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia viz. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

The "Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in BIMSTEC" was formulated in the first BIMSTEC Energy Ministers' Conference held in New Delhi on October 4, 2005.

In this plan, under the "BIMSTEC Trans-Power Exchange and Development Project", it was decided that a task force led by Thailand, with representatives of member countries, will give a report on draft MoU for grid interconnections.

The total five meetings task force for BIMSTEC on trans-power exchange were held and the draft MoU for establishment of BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection was finalised by the task force on March 16, 2015.

In the BIMSTEC Leaders' Retreat 2016, held in Goa on October 16, 2016, the leaders had decided to expedite the signing of the MoU on BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection.

Eventually, during the 4th meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials on Energy held on January 11-12, 2017, the MoU was discussed and finalised.
Chennai-based diabetes care provider Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre on Thursday said that it has raised Rs 66 crore (USD 10.23 million) in a Series-A round of funding led by Lok Capital.

Evolvence India Fund also took part in the latest round of funding.

Venky Natarajan, Managing Partner, Lok Capital and Ajit Kumar, Managing Director, Evolvence India Fund will join the board of Dr. Mohan's.

Veda Corporate Advisors acted as financial advisor to Dr Mohan's for the transaction.

This is the first round of institutional funding for Dr Mohan's, since its inception in 1991.

Dr Mohan's will use the funds to scale rapidly; develop a pan-India presence and grow from a base of 25 clinics to 100 in the next 4 years.

Founded by renowned diabetologist, V Mohan and his late wife Rema Mohan, Dr Mohan's is one of the earliest organised players in the diabetes care market in India.

Dr Mohan's follows an asset-light business model and has 25 centres across seven states of India including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Puducherry and Delhi.

The team of specialists at Dr Mohan's have treated over 400,000 patients thus far.

"Our aim is to bring the best of diabetes care to centres across India; particularly to states and districts where specialized diabetes services are not available currently," said Mohan.

"The Series A funding will help us accelerate expansion plans and triple our footprint in India in the next 4-5 years," he added.

"The diabetes care market is still largely addressed by single doctor set-ups. There is a huge whitespace for an organised care provider to build a pan-India chain offering holistic care for diabetes," said Venky Natarajan of Lok Capital.

"The team at Dr Mohan's has built a scalable and asset light model that can now be rapidly deployed across India," he added.

Single specialty has emerged as a dominant theme in the Indian healthcare landscape in recent years mainly in therapeutic areas such as eye care, dental, diabetes, pediatrics and maternity care, where services can be provided outside tertiary care hospitals.

In diabetes Apollo Hospitals runs a network of diabetes centres under brand name Apollo Sugar Clinics.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that India will become the diabetes capital of the world; number of diabetes cases is expected to be over 100 million by 2030, from about 70 million today and the market for diabetes care is currently estimated at a whopping Rs. 12,000 crore.
Atul Punj, Chairman & Managing Director, Punj Lloyd said with the huge amount of investments going into infrastructure, the company would completely focus on its core capabilities. Defence remains the key area of focus, he said.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18 from the sidelines of India Conference in Japan, Punj said the government is working to resolve the non-performing assets (NPA) issue. He said the EPC sector has made several doable recommendations to resolve the issue because EPC is not a sector where 5:25 package will work.

The company is trying to recover Rs 4700 crore stuck with customers for a long time and hope to recovery at least 50 percent of that in FY18, he said.

The company has already sold non-core assets to reduce debt and will continue to do so, he said

Punj Lloyd traditionally provides integrated design, engineering, procurement construction and project management services in the energy and infrastructure sector. However, it has diversified its interests into aviation, defence and upstream through subsidiaries and joint ventures.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Q: Since we are talking about Make In India, let me ask you about your own plans. You have got inauguration coming up on May 4 of your plant in Malanpur, take us through little bit about the defence plans and specifically about the plant in Malanpur.

A: Effectively taking up from the Prime Ministers Make in India programme, we picked up the challenge and we went ahead and have tied up our first small arms FDI with these development industry which is now getting into production on May 4. So we are making the entire range of small arms. A lot of them were already in use with the special forces in India and we are hoping now not only to manufacture for India but also for exports.

Q: So this is 49:51 joint venture (JV), what kind of investments are we talking about?

A: The total investment on the project is currently standing at about Rs 25 crore. We expect that it should be sufficient for next year when we go into phase II.

Q: Besides defence, we were just hearing about business confidence in India at least within the private sector now being at a record high. What is your own sense and how are you planning to deal with the debt situation, which continues to plague a lot of Indian companies?

A: I think the government is now finally working on a plan to resolve the NPA issue with the banks once and for all. It has been something that has been festering for too long. As an industry, we have been lobbying the government to make various changes, a lot of them have been done and we are now hoping for the final formulae to be finalised between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) on what exactly are the concessions.

Q: What have you suggested? You said the industry is speaking to government about this, what are the main recommendation made?

A: For one-time restructuring that the construction sector has been asking for. We do not fall into the category of most other industries that have an asset, that has 25-year life so a 5:25 kind of package is not relevant to the EPC sector. So we have made some recommendations specifically around the working progress model, which is our biggest asset is finding a solution that works. So God willing, hopefully sooner or rather than later, we do not know what the government is actually going to approve at the end of the day but we made a series of doable recommendations.

Q: The current debt for you is about Rs 6,000 crore, what is the plan now to try and bring down debt further?

A: Every construction company is desperately trying to reduce its debt and by getting rid of non-core assets, which is a lot of what we have done.

Q: Which you have done some of that already?

A: Yes, as a company we have done a lot of it. At the same time, what we are trying to do is recover money that has been stuck with customers for a long time.

Q: How much would that be?

A: That for us is somewhere close to Rs 4,700 crore.

Q: Any luck?

A: Moving slowly, little slower than we expected but as long as it is in the right direction, it is okay. So hopefully this too shall pass as they say.

Q: In FY18 what is the hope in terms of being able to recover some of that?

A: FY18 we should have recovered at least 50 percent of that.

Q: 50 percent of the Rs 4,700 crore that is outstanding?

A: Yes.

Q: What is it that you are now looking forward to, what is going to be the next big trigger in terms of growth for you particularly?

A: As a company we do not need any other triggers because the amount of investment going into infrastructure which is our core business is so massive that I do not think we should divert our energies by looking at any other place other than defence.

In defence, we are already playing tier-II, tier-III and tier-IV for various programmes, we are working with OFB, DRDO, HEL etc, we hope to deepen those relationships and at the same time we have some tier-I aspirations like in the small arm side where we will be prime bidders as well along with the modernisation of some of the old systems that the defence forces are working with right now.

Q: Are you happy with the pace of movement in the defence space?

A: I think we could have moved faster but the general trend is in the right direction. The government is getting its head around exactly what needs to be done and the realisation the bureaucracy is finally creeping in -- the biggest stake holder in private sector profitability is the government. More than 30 percent of every dollar that we make goes to the government and other than the indirect expenses. So once that kicks in in terms of mind-set change that the government becomes an enabler rather than a regulator, will change this country and I believe that is a work in progress that is starting to happen.

Q: We just heard that CII survey talk about how business confidence is at an high but are you feeling that way about FY18 as well?

A: A few significant events will make the change in that NPA resolution and collection of our money that is stuck with the public sector undertaking (PSUs).
Gold was sold at a discount to official prices in India this week for the first time in six weeks, while demand elsewhere in Asia remained subdued as surging bullion prices turned off buyers.

"Physical buying was very weak as prices jumped from around $1,250 this week. People are not interested in chasing prices at these levels and retail buying will pick up only around $1,200 levels," said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.

"The holiday mood also weakened buying ahead of Easter."

Spot gold jumped to five-month highs as a sagging dollar and geopolitical tensions burnished the yellow metal's safe-haven appeal.

Dealers in India, the world's second-largest consumer of the metal, were offering a discount of up to $1 an ounce this week over official domestic prices. Dealers were charging a premium of $1 last week. The domestic price includes a 10 percent import tax.

"Jewellers have already stocked up for Akshaya Trititya festival. They are waiting for a price correction," said a Mumbai-based gold dealer with a private bank.

In the last week of April, Indians will celebrate Akshaya Trititya, when buying gold is considered auspicious.

"Sentiments have improved after the shock of demonetisation. We are expecting good demand during Akshaya Trititya," said Aditya Pethe, a director at Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers in Mumbai.

In local markets, gold futures were trading around 29,300 rupees per 10 grams, up 2 percent from a week ago. It has risen nearly 5 percent in four weeks.

The Indian rupee has risen 5.5 percent against the U.S. dollar so far in 2017, partly offsetting the rally in overseas gold prices.

Easing demand this week in top consumer China narrowed gold premiums to $6-$7 an ounce over international spot prices, compared with the $10 to $12 levels quoted last week.

Among other gold trading centres, premiums in Singapore were seen at $1.20 to $1.50, unchanged from last week, and Hong Kong premiums fell to around 60 to 90 cents from 70 cents to $1 an ounce seen last week.

Prices in Japan were at a discount of around 50 cents an ounce.
Donald Trump

In a major U-turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is "no longer obsolete" and reaffirmed his commitment to the military alliance as tensions rose between the US and Russia over Syria.

"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against the ISIS," he said about NATO which was formed in 1949.

Trump had repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and made overtures to Russia during his presidential campaign.

Trump acknowledged that America's relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low".

"Right now we are not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said.

"It would be wonderful... if NATO and our country could get along with Russia," Trump said yesterday amid a deepening war of words with the Kremlin.

Trump's remarks come as his administration criticised Russia's support for Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad and questioned the Kremlin's interference in elections in Montenegro.

Trump, earlier, labelled Assad a "butcher and told allies it was time to end Syria's "brutal" civil war.

Trump also supported the admission of Montenegro into the 28-member NATO.

On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

"In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism," Trump said.

Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack.

"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said.

Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of the GDP to defence.

"If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger," he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.

"Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels...which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world, he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

"I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds. Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom," he said.

Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

"Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer," he said.

Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

"NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way," he said.

NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May," the NATO Secretary General said.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its regional subsidiary SilkAir have signed an initial pact for operating codeshare flights with Air France-KLM.

The move, which will provide seamless connectivity the customers of these carriers to and from Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe, is expected to benefit passengers of the domestic carrier Vistara as well, which has a similar arrangement with both SIA and SilkAir.

In the joint venture carrier Vistara, Tata Sons holds 51 per cent stake while the rest 49 per cent is held by SIA.

The codeshare agreement will be effective from April 27, a release said today.

Codesharing allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless transport to destinations where it has no presence.

The agreement is aimed at providing customers more options and seamless connectivity when travelling between Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe, the release said.

Under the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approvals, SIA will add its IATA flight code 'SQ' to Air France-operated flights beyond Paris to 10 destinations -- Aberdeen, Bordeaux, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Newcastle, Nice and Toulouse, the release said.

Air France, in turn, will add its IATA code 'AF' to SIA-operated flights beyond Singapore to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, as well as on SilkAir-operated flights to Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, and Phuket in Thailand, it said.

According to the release, both SIA and Air France-KLM will later explore the opportunity to expand the codeshare to other airlines within their respective groups.

In addition, the airlines will also explore the possibility for Singapore Airlines loyalty programme 'KrisFlyer' and Air France-KLM's frequent flyer programme 'Blue' members to earn and redeem miles when travelling on the codeshare flight segments, it said.
The grant of a pre-paid instrument (PPI) licence by Reserve Bank of India is likely to open a slew of options for Amazon India to expand its operations through mobile wallet.

The company is likely to add additional muscle to its kitty to compete with Flipkart which now also has eBay Indias PaisaPay platform with it.

Amazon India is already operating a pre-paid gift card program through QwickCilver, which also holds a PPI licence. However, it does not offer a wallet payment option to Indian customers.

As per sources, its partnership with Qwikcilver is likely to continue even as it opens its own wallet through Amazon Pay in India. An e-wallet service may significantly improve companys gross merchandise volume and seller base.

Qwikcilver has raised about USD 20 million till now with Amazon India as a strategic investor.

Here is how a mobile wallet can help Amazons e-commerce business in India:

The PPI licence will enable Amazon India to give more wallet based cash backs instead of cash discounts to its buyers in India.

Amazon Pay e-cash could be used to shop on its own websites Amazon and related merchants, which is likely to bring back repeat customers on Amazons platform.

Using a rival wallet come with its own risks.

Amazons major e-commerce rivals Flipkart, Snapdeal and Paytm - all have a wallet play. It makes inconvenient for the company to leverage a rival wallets service even as it is in competition with the same companys e-commerce business. It also opens a plethora of inside company metrics to a competitor.

Without divulging too many details, sources close to the developments inside Amazon India told Moneycontrol that the company may plan more financial options to consumers. It was engaging with RBI for almost 18 months to get the PPI license sorted.

New options could including a buy now - pay later option for KYC-enabled customers.

Amazon applied for the semi-closed wallet licence (where users cannot withdraw cash to their bank accounts) through Amazon Online Distribution Services (AODS).

Armed with its own wallet, Amazon might also enable a one-click checkout experience for its buyers, which may help it to compete with Alibaba-backed Paytm, which recently launched its Paytm Mall in India.

Amazon also has plans to open offline stores starting with Bangalore. A wallet option integrated with AadhaarPay will enable its customers a faster checkout at its stores. It will also enable faster checkouts for an online shopper who could just pay on his doorstep by scanning his or her fingerprint on a scanner presented by a delivery boy.

Flipkart already owns PhonePay and a large amount of the USD 1.4 billion investment is likely to go towards building its financial wallet piece.

Hypothetically in future, we might see Amazon Pay offering its wallet services to other third-party merchants such as a BookMyShow for booking movie tickets or enabling online travel aggregators such as Oyo Rooms and MakeMyTrip to use AmazonPay for its users.

It will also enable other revenue streams for Amazon. It currently shares commissions with wallet players and payment gateways for such transactions. In future, it may enable.

In the US, sellers on Amazon can place an AmazonPay option near to the checkout cart for shoppers. Amazon India might incentivize its sellers to do the same by offering them discounts on commissions.

Most PPI instrument wallet players have a considerable foreign holding. They have also been granted option for users to deposit cash in their bank accounts for KYC enabled wallet holders.

Overall, an Amazon India armed with its own KYC-enabled wallet play makes for a considerable threat to the existing e-commerce players such as Flipkart and Paytm.

(This is an opinion piece)
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 Repco Home Finance with a stoploss at Rs 710 and target of Rs 790

Buy Pidilite Industries with a stoploss at Rs 690 and target of Rs 747

Buy Piramal Enterprises with a stoploss at Rs 2000 and target of Rs 2185

Buy SRF with a stoploss at Rs 1615 and target of Rs 1700

Vijay Chopra of enochventures.com

Buy Sun Pharma with a stoploss at Rs 670 and target of Rs 710

Buy India Tourism Development Corporation with a stoploss at Rs 450 and target of Rs 490

Buy Shalimar Paints with a stoploss at Rs 180 and target of Rs 205

Buy Piramal Enterprises with a stoploss at Rs 2040 and target of Rs 2100

Jay Thakkar of Anand Rathi Securities

Buy Alembic with a stoploss at Rs 43.30 and target of Rs 48.70

Buy Bliss GVS with a stoploss at Rs 169.90 and target of Rs 181.30

Buy Dredging Corporation with a stoploss at Rs 669.30 and target of Rs 703.50

Sell CESC with a stoploss at Rs 846 and target of Rs 818
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Real estate has restarted its move. So, Sobha is a buy with a stop of Rs 370 and target of Rs 395. Reliance Industries is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 1,360 and target of Rs 1,385. Bank of Baroda is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 172 and target of Rs 186."

"Welspun India is somewhat of a stock, two-digit type stock, a bit of a brand name, etc. So, these stocks tend to move whenever markets are looking decent. I think on the upside, its all-time high has been Rs 115-120. So, that seems to be a decent target to work with. Probably on the downside, Rs 75-76 is a good stop loss," he said.

"Generally, Federal-Mogul Goetze does about 9,000-10,000 shares as volume. For long periods it remains sideways, but it broke out of Rs 480 and maybe next target here could be closer to Rs 750-800. So, it is a portfolio type of stock, it is not something you can trade on a day-to-day basis."

: Reliance Industries owns Network 18 that publishes Moneycontrol.com.
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "Today is one of those rare days when actually there are no stocks to trade. We have a list but it is not a high conviction list."

"There are two stocks in the buy segment. One is Wockhardt. It could be a short term trade but there is a buying opportunity there."

"The second is Bajaj Auto. It is outperforming. So, at some point during the day it is a buy, not necessarily at the open but once the market stabilises, I would be considering going long in it," he said.

"There are three short selling ideas. They are primarily intraday shorts. Hindalco Industries where a large distribution is now visible. Second is Just Dial, my favourite short. After a big rally, it is falling every day. I think there are lower levels coming there."

"Mindtree from the IT pack. No matter what Infosys does, midcap IT stocks have very poor, badly formed charts. So, it is a short sell."
Sushil Finance's report on Crudeoil

Oil futures fell on Wednesday, pulling back after eight straight sessions of gains after U.S. crude inventory data suggested the market was still heavily supplied. Traders focused on preliminary U.S. production estimates in the weekly EIA report that suggested domestic output is still climbing. The report also showed stockpiles at the U.S. crude hub at Cushing, Oklahoma, rose 276,000 barrels in the week.

Outlook

We expect crude oil prices to trade sideways on the back of profit booking after sharp up-move.

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.

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Axis Direct's research report on Ashoka Buildcon

Ashoka Buildcon (ABL) signed a deal with Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to develop land parcels around the airport. While this is a diversification into unfamiliar terrain, prima facie analysis suggests the deal is close to prevailing rates in the region (transaction NPV of Rs 5.8 bn or Rs 5k/ sqft).

Outlook

We maintain our TP (Rs 214). Post recent run-up in the stock we now have HOLD rating (BUY earlier).

For all recommendations, 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.

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Axis Direct's research report on Sobha

Bangalore market continued to be the key performer, contributing ~70% to pre-sales inQ4FY17.High-ticket projects nearing completion such as Palladian, Grandeur and Indraprastha posted improved pre-sales velocity. Pre-sales run-rate in Dream Acres project (affordable housing) has stagnated to 40-50 units/ month (vs. 60-70 units/ month last year). No new project was launched inQ4.

Outlook

Sobhas pre-sales grew 35% QoQ in Q4FY17 (0.7msf/ Rs 5 bn), partially aided by strong pre-sales in Gurgaon market (driven by pent-up demand and developments on Dwarka Expressway). However, volumes are yet to reach steady state (down 6% YoY).

For all recommendations, 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.

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Achiievers Equities' commodity report on Silver

Silver trading range for the day is 41994-42522.

Silver settled flat after prices seen supported as heightened geopolitical tensions underpinned safe haven demand for the precious metal.

Investors continued to play it safe as concerns over U.S. military action against Syria and North Korea along with worries over the French presidential election.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a peaceful resolution of escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula during a call with U.S President Donald Trump.

BUY SILVER MAY 2017 @ 42280 SL 42100 TGT 42480-42650.MCX.

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.

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No.1| Amazon |The biggest e-commerce company has made its name from scratch and now works on major technological advances like artificial intelligence and streaming. The company was the second company to cross a trillion dollar valuation (Reuters)

Moneycontrol Research

In a gold rush, the winner is always the company that provides the shovels. This maxim holds for the e-commerce industry as well.

While e-commerce companies are making headlines, it is the payment gateways that are making money. No wonder then that e-commerce companies want to have their own payment gateway.

Amazon has got RBIs OK for its own digital gateway wallet. This is significant as the prepaid wallet service will not be restricted to Amazon based transactions alone; it will directly compete with Paytm, Freecharge and governments payment apps.

Incidentally, Amazons biggest threat in the Indian market after Flipkart is Alibaba, which has been testing Indian markets through its stake in payment gateway Paytm. The Chinese are coming to India in a big way. Recently Tencent Holdings, one of Chinas largest payment gateway company entered India by participating in the latest $1.4 billion round of funding in Flipkart.

What is it about payment gateway companies that has caught the attention of some global majors?

First, from a customers point of view is the ease of transaction. Rather than going through the multiple click process of paying through banks, e-wallets (used by payment gateway companies) are not cumbersome.

From an e-commerce company like Alibabas point of view it helps them test the Indian market without really wetting their feet. It is also a relatively risk free way of testing the markets as the payment gateway provider like a toll-gate operator earns money on every transaction that happens through its gateway. Payment gateway companies get an idea of the size and volume of business in the market through the transactions taking place on their gateway.

Similar reasoning is also applicable to Tencent Holdings stake in Flipkart, the largest e-commerce player in India. Flipkart had been struggling with its payment gateway. The company shut down its own payment gateway and picked up a stake in NGPay, a technology provider.

Apart from convenience payment gateways are more secure from the e-commerce companys point. It also gives the company advance payment before delivering the product. More importantly e-commerce companies have a better control on the flow of funds through their system.

Ebay is a classic example of what an in-house payment gateway can do to an e-commerce company. The companys fortunes changed after it acquired Paypal. Alibaba too has been successful largely because of its strong payment gateway Alipay.

Customers globally are not very comfortable with transferring money through the internet, especially the older generations. Digital wallets gives them the sense of security by acting as a wall between the bank and the vendor. Since digital wallets have a limit to the cash that they can hold, any lossin the event of a security breachis limited. Further, for all the stakeholders a wallet leaves a money trail that helps in solving disputes.

At a time when hacking and data theft is becoming a clear risk, use of wallets will increase going forward. A few mishaps of money not reaching the intended party can wreck a companys reputation.

No wonder then that e-commerce companies and payment gateway providers want to establish their presence and secure transactions by investing in payment gateways.
Kulbhushan Jadhav

The government knows neither the location nor the condition of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national sentenced to death in Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian. We do not know his location or condition as Pakistan is refusing to share details with us, said MEA spokesperson, Gopal Baglay.

The official further said, There is a national sentiment attached to Jadhav in India. What has happened to him is against the principles of justice and international laws, agreements.

The spokesperson added that India had been discussing Jadhavs kidnapping with Iran since last year and that the India-Pak consular access agreements are not being adhered to.

"We are in touch with Pakistan through our High Commission," said Baglay as sources told News18 that India has made 14 consular access requests for Kulbhushan Jadhav, with the Indian High Commission being asked to move another one.

Alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on Monday. The issue has become yet another point of contention among the two countries. Arrested on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, Jadhav was called a serving officer in the Indian Navy and alleged to be deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) by Pakistan. The claim has been refuted by the Indian government, which has stated that Jadhav was a former Navy officer but had nothing to do with the government.

Reacting strongly to Jadhav's sentencing, India has said that if the ruling was carried out, "the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder".

The death sentence awarded to Jadhav recently 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.
After years of often explosive growth, fuel consumption in Asia's biggest economies is stuttering, undermining efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to end a global supply glut and lift prices.

Gobbling up over a third of global supplies, Asia is the world's biggest and fastest growing region for oil consumption, and its seemingly insatiable fuel thirst has long been a core support for prices.

Now, some say that picture of buoyant growth in demand is crumbling.

"The signs of growing demand aren't quite what they seem. Chinese fuel growth is at a three year low, Japanese fuel demand is down," said Matt Stanley, a fuel broker at Freight Investor Services (FIS) in Dubai. "Considering the sheer volume of product available... sooner or later I think we could see some distressed sellers."

Brent crude oil futures have risen by around 5.5 percent this month to $55.75 per barrel as traders bet on a broader commodity market recovery and price in a Middle East risk premium after the U.S. missile attack on Syria last week.

But in a sign that there remains an abundance of oil available to buyers and that the more opaque physical oil market is not as convinced by the rally in financial markets, top exporter Saudi Arabia this month lowered the price for its May crude for Asian customers by 30 cents versus April, and to a discount of 45 cents compared with the benchmark Oman/Dubai average.

It is showing up in various parts of the region's economy. China's gasoline exports in February climbed to their second-highest monthly level on record as refiners increasingly turned to exports to Asian markets to drain a domestic supply glut that almost wiped out imports altogether.

Even India, which is often touted as the next driver of global demand growth, fuel consumption fell 0.6 percent in March from a year earlier.

"The stutter in Indian demand may have been caused due to the effects of demonetisation," said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta.

With little notice, India abolished the then existing 500 and 1,000 rupee notes late last year, which made up the bulk of the country's cash in circulation. That crimped consumption, affecting many consumers and disrupting many businesses.

And while India's annual fuel demand is still expected to grow this year, analysts say, it is unlikely to recover enough to fully offset the demonetization impact.

M. K. Surana, chairman of Hindustan Petroleum Corp, said he expects India's fuel demand to rise by 5.5 to 6 percent this year. Though that is still a high growth rate by global standards, it is a far cry from 2016's refined product demand growth of more than 10.9 percent.

FALLING POPULATION

Consumption in other major Asian oil buyers is in terminal decline.

Countries like Japan and South Korea face major demographic problems because of low birth rates and an aging population. A Japanese government agency this week forecast that the nations population will fall nearly a third by 2065. Add in improving fuel efficiency and the longer-term picture for oil producers trying to sell to Japan appears to be bleak.

"Because of structural factors such as the improvement of vehicle fuel economy, domestic demand has been weakening... and that is continuing," said a spokesman for JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, which has a 50 percent share of Japanese gasoline sales.

Japan's oil demand is expected to fall by more than 1.5 percent per year on average over the next five years, forecasts by the government's energy committee show.

In South Korea, oil products demand fell by 0.4 percent in January-February from a year earlier, according to data from Korea National Oil Corp.

"This year's overall domestic oil products demand growth is expected to slow," said Lee Seung-moon, a research fellow at the state-run Korea Energy Economic Institute.

The longer-term trend in South Korea is similar to that in Japan, as rising efficiency, alternative fuels, and an aging population take their toll on oil demand.

NO END TO GLUT?

With demand faltering in Asia's four biggest oil consuming countries, efforts led by OPEC and Russia to cut output by 1.8 million bpd during the first half of the year to rein in a global fuel supply overhang could be undermined, resulting in calls by Saudi Arabia to extend the cuts into the second half of 2017.

Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients on Wednesday that its long-term forecast for benchmark U.S. crude is $50 per barrel versus the current price of $53.08 per barrel.

Data from Thomson Reuters Eikon shows that global oil supplies on average exceeded demand by 680,000 bpd in 2016, and that 2017 will still see oversupply, albeit of less than 100,000 bpd, excluding stored oil.

Still, lots of fuel remains stored on tankers in Asia's oil trading hub around Singapore. Eikon data shows that around 20 supertankers are currently sitting offshore Singapore and southern Malaysia, filled with oil.

While this figure is slightly lower than a month ago, it is a sign of continuing oversupply.

Keeping oil on tankers is only profitable if fuel prices for future delivery are significantly higher than those for imminent discharge.

Yet the forward price curve for Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, shows only a slight increase of 90 cents in prices between now and a peak in November, at $57.20 per barrel.

"That's not enough to make it profitable to store oil on tankers," one ship broker said on condition of anonymity.

What's worse, Brent prices start falling from November onward, back towards $56 a barrel for delivery towards the end of 2018 and into 2019.

Such a price curve, makes it commercial suicide to store oil on tankers, so the only reason to do that is if you have nowhere else to put it," the broker added.
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
Friends In Pink is still on the radar and growing every year
Arya Rajendran had refused to acknowledge this information during her press conference the other day.
For a second time in recent months, a herd of demonstrators stood in protest outside the new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Morgan Hill.

In the early afternoon April 13, about a dozen clergy members from different faiths and institutions throughout South County performed a Holy Thursday ritual of the washing of the feet in a show of solidarity.

Father John Pedigo, the Director of Office for Peace and Justice with the Diocese of San Jose, and Nancy Palmer-Jones of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, addressed the more than 50 demonstrators, including a dozen who volunteered to participate in the cleansing ritual.

All people are to be treated or honored and nobody is to be turned away, said Pedigo in relating the foot-washing rituals significance to the current state of immigration policy under the administration of President Donald J. Trump.

We all believe all those here are valued members of our community, added Palmer Jones as she addressed the crowd that gathered in an open field just steps away from the ICE office located on Vineyard Court, just down the street from the Morgan Hill Police station. We choose to wash feet because we choose love.

Trumps views and policies on immigration have increasingly been under fire by large swaths of voters, organizations and the courts since he started campaigning for the office of President. Shortly after entering office in January, he signed executive orders mandating construction of a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, and severely limiting travel for foreign-born residents from a list of seven predominantly Muslim countries. The latter of these has been delayed by the courts.

Union President Gemma Abels, of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers, was also among the April 13 organizers that included Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network (SIREN), Community Agency for Resources and Advocacy Services (CARAS) and People Acting in Community Together (PACT).

Our teachers are in their classrooms with students right now, but they are deeply concerned about the fears that their families face over their immigration status, said Abels, who added that these same local residents are scared about having an ICE detention center opened in our small community.

This is the second of three scheduled protests against ICE. The first took place Feb. 20 with about 100 demonstrators holding signs and repeating chants against the enforcement agency. On Thursday, many held signs that read Family First and the same motto in Spanish.

A third demonstration, organized by students at nearby Gavilan College, is planned for May 1, also known as May Day, where demonstrators will march from Galvan Park to the ICE office, according to Raymundo Armendariz, a CARAS organizer.

ICE moved its regional office from San Jose to Morgan Hill in September 2016 when the agencys lease ran out at its former location. The local office is an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) sub-office.

The federal agency has requested a permit from the city building department to add an unspecified number of holding rooms at the Vineyard Court location. However, city staff have said such an addition violates the citys zoning ordinance which prohibits detention facilities in Morgan Hill.

The City of Morgan Hills city council and Morgan Hill Unified School Districts board of education have both passed proclamations vowing to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
It started in 1939.

Nazi Germany launched its euthanasia program, using poison gas to kill people whose only crime was to be mentally ill or physically disabled. They were unworthy of life, the Nazis had determined.

After Adolf Hitler's Nazis invaded the Soviet Union, in June 1941, they started using mobile vans to gas hundreds of thousands of people, most of them Jews, Roma and the mentally ill. The Nazis added the hermetically sealed vans to their arsenal after their rank-and-file murderers whined about the mental and physical toll of shooting so many women and children.

This was just the beginning.

That same year, the Nazis decided to wipe from the face of the earth all Jews  including their Jews, in Germany  by deporting them to killing centers and gassing them. The "Final Solution," they called it, and Zyklon B was the gas of choice. At the height of the deportations, 6,000 Jews a day were gassed at Auschwitz.

By the end of World War II, the Nazis had killed more than 6 million Jews.

As White House press secretary Sean Spicer illustrated this week, we can never assume that most Americans know this.

On the first day of Passover, Spicer attempted to cast Syria's Bashar Assad, who recently used sarin gas on his own citizens, as more evil than Hitler. He did this by misrepresenting the Holocaust.

"We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II," Spicer said during a press briefing. "You know, you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."

A reporter asked Spicer later in the briefing to clarify this shocking misrepresentation of Holocaust history.

Spicer's response: "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. ... He brought them into the Holocaust center; I understand that. But what I'm saying, in the way that Assad used (gas), where he went into towns, dropped (it) down to innocent  into the middle of towns. ... So the use of it  I appreciate the clarification there. (Saying Hitler did not use chemical weapons) was not the intent."

The worldwide outrage is heartening, but my God. How is the White House press secretary even capable of this?

Spicer acknowledged the inexcusable, but only incrementally. First he attempted to walk back his comments in a statement: "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."

Later that day, he told CNN: "I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which, frankly, there is no comparison."

By Wednesday, he was in full triage mode.

"It really is painful to myself to know that I did something like that," he told Greta Van Susteren in an interview at the Newseum. "I made a mistake; there's no other way to say it. I got into a topic that I shouldn't have, and I screwed up."

There is no apology to mitigate the harm of Spicer's comments. This was no slip of the tongue. This was a false narrative about the Holocaust, and when given the chance to rephrase, Spicer doubled down. He has dishonored the millions who died in the Holocaust, survivors and generations of their descendants who still grieve.

Such an alarming disregard for the truth cannot be undone with an admission that one has "screwed up," no matter how sincere the regret. The press secretary denied the facts of the Holocaust, and he did this as spokesman for the president of the United States.

We are better than this.

We must be.

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, in his memoirs, "Night":

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.

"Never shall I forget that smoke.

"Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.

"Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

"Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

"Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.

"Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself.

"Never."

Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and professional in residence at Kent State University's school of journalism. To find out more about Connie Schultz (con.schultz@yahoo.com), visit www.creators.com.
A bill thats been introduced in the N.C. Senate would pay up to $5,000 a semester to graduates of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics to attend a state university.

Senate Bill 476 was filed on March 29. N.C. Sens. Erica Smith-Ingram (D-3) and Ralph Hise (R-47) are the primary sponsors of the bill and Sen. Warren Daniel (R-46) is a co-sponsor.

After it was filed , it was referred the next day to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate. It was withdrawn from that committee on March 4 and referred to the Committee on Education/Higher Education. If it receives a thumbs-up there , it will be referred to the Appropriations/Base Budget committee. If it passes that committee, it will then be re-referred to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee.

The measure, if approved, would allow the state to provide tuition grants to graduates from the state-funded residential high school who attends, full-time, a state university. The maximum amount of the grant could be increased by 2 percent during an academic year if the cost of tuition at their university is increased, according to the proposed bill.

If the proposed bill is approved in the legislature, $200,000 from the states general fund would be used to establish the tuition grant fund for the 2017-18 fiscal year and another $2.5 million would be put in the fund for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

If it is approved, it would become effective on July 1. However, no grants would be given to graduates until Aug. 1, 2018.

Daniel said the bill is an attempt to keep talented people in the state and not lose students to college s such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). According to the school of science and math, 59 percent of the class of 2016 are attending state universities.

There is nothing in the bill that would require a student who receives the tuition grants and graduates from a state university to work in the state for a certain number of years. Daniel said while a stipulation like that isnt in the bill in its current form doesnt mean it cant be changed as it goes through the approval process.

The N.C. School of Science and Mathematics is in the process of establishing a western campus in Morganton on state property that also holds Broughton Hospital, North Carolina School for the Deaf and Western Piedmont Community College.

The school is getting $58 million that was part of a $2 billion bond package approved by voters in 2016. The money will be used for the western campus.

A decision on where the school will be located on the property is expected to be announced later this year.The three sites on the property are the eastern ridgeline at the North Carolina School for the deaf, the southeast corner of the 800-acre property near Exit 104 off Interstate 40 and the third location is the current Broughton Hospital campus, according to school officials.

The western campus school is set to open in 2021.

Sharon McBrayer is a staff writer and can be reached at smcbrayer@morganton.com or at 828-432-8946.
Do you own a smartwatch that records how many minutes you walk every single day? The wearable technology monitors your health by checking vital medical signs. Clever tech is entering your home too, taking the effort out of chores, a robot vacuum can work wonders.

But have you ever thought of investing in these innovations? The number of domestic household robots is set to increase to 31 million between 2016 and 2019, up from just 3,700 in 2015, according to the IFR World Robotics Report 2016. Searches for Automation and Robotics has more than doubled over the last five years, showing an increase in global awareness, according to Google Trends.

One major driver of the growth of robotic technologies is ageing population. Developed countries, including UK and the US, Europe and Japan, are quickly becoming unbalanced  with more dependent pensioners than working population. Robots can boost productivity to make up this shortfall between those that are strain on the State and those who contribute.

These economies have a major interest in pursuing rapid automation adoption, a report produced in April by McKinsey, the consultancy, said.

Karen Kharmandarian, portfolio manager of the Pictet Robotics fund agreed, saying robots will play a major role in sustaining and possibly even raising global productivity.

Another megatrend is the high speed of technological innovation. The capacity of semiconductors has allowed the smartphone of today to be much more powerful than a personal computer of ten years ago. This is also fuelling an improvement in the capabilities of robots, said Kharmandarian.

Tech Giants Snap Up Automation Technology

Even tech giants are looking to develop automation technology. Amazon (AMZN), the e-commerce company, bought a robotic warehouse system maker Kiva in 2012  which shows the companys enthusiasm to adopt automation technology into their delivery business.

Google (GOOG) also purchased a portfolio of robotics-related businesses with the goal of creating a consumer robot technology by 2020, including Schaft a Japanese start-up which developed a two-legged robot.

UK Government Backs Robotics

Last November, UK Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to invest 2 billion to back the development of robotics and biotechnology, improving UKs competitiveness in the global arena.

In terms of industry, the UK is behind the curve compared to rest of the world, Mike Wilson, president of British Automation & Robot Association told the BBC earlier last November.

We have got something like 31 robots per 10,000 workers outside of automotive whereas countries like Germany you have got 160 robots per 10,000 workers, said Wilson.

Wilson sees Mays pledge as an opportunity for the UK to catch up with global peers  which could suggest an investment opportunity.

I think the 2 billion will make a difference in terms of robotics technology development. The majority of robots today used in mundane arduous dangerous dirty jobs the kind of jobs that we should not have people performing into todays world. There is many much more scope applied with the UK manufacturing to take those jobs away, and then those jobs are replaced by more highly skilled opportunities where people can really add value to the tasks that theyre performing, said Wilson.

Robotics is a Global Phenomenon

While developed economies are using robots to boost productivity, emerging markets are also increasingly reliant on robotic technology. South Korea has a 35-year history of designing and building robots and an annual growth rate of robot manufacturing of 21% since 2008, according to a report produced by BlackRock.

China is looking to robotics in order to meet its ambitious productivity goals, aiming to double per capita income by 2020 from its 2016 levels. Utilisation of robots in manufacturing industries would allow China to increase efficiency and to cut costs further, the report from BlackRock read.

Howie Li at ETF Securities agreed, saying that while China is the worlds largest importer of robots, the nations use of industrial robots is still way behind other countries, suggesting more growth behind the story.

Record Inflows into Robotics Funds

Savvy investors are cottoning on to the profit potential in robotics. Inflows to both active and passive robotics funds since the beginning of the year have seen record levels, data from various platforms showed.

Flows into robotics ETFs and actively managed open-end funds have accelerated significantly over the last 12 months, from an estimated $5 billion to $9 billion over this period, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Data compiled by Morningstar Direct showed that February recorded the largest monthly inflows of robotics ETFs ever with 138 million. Robotics ETFs saw 96 million inflows in March too.

There are only four robotics ETFs in the world  two in the US and two in Europe. Assets under management for these four ETFs grew from $415 million in December to $1.1 billion in March, according to data provided by BlackRock.

In March, Pictet soft-closed its Robotics fund after hitting 3 billion in assets in less than two years since launch. The decision to limit new subscriptions into this robotics fund showed the popularity of robotics investment. In the same month, another asset manager Candriam Investors launched a thematic fund focused on developments in robotics and artificial intelligence.

Investing in Robotics at Low Cost

Investors who want a slice of the action can choose between the iShares Automation & Robotics ETF (RBOT) which launched last year, and has an ongoing charge at 0.4%, and Robo Global Robotics and Automation GO ETF (ROBO) with an ongoing charge of 0.8%.

The Polar Capital Global Technology fund is the only positively rated fund by Morningstar analyst in the sector equity technology Morningstar category. This Bronze Rated fund benefits from experienced managers backed by a well-resourced team, said Samuel Meakin, Morningstars fund analyst.

This approach is characterised by fund managers, Nick Evans and Ben Rogoffs belief that they can add value by investing in companies offering new, disruptive technologies, said Meakin. This results in a process that combines thematic analysis, to identify the growth areas of the industry, with rigorous bottom-up company analysis. The ongoing charge for the retail share class is slightly lower than the median for the category at 1.7%. The fund gained 32% in 2016 and it has 27.7% three-year annualised returns and 18.2% five years annualised returns.
One of the industrys associations releases its housing recommendations for a meeting with government officials.In a position paper, shared with MortgageBrokerNews.ca, the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association (CMBA), is advocating the government address housing supply issues in British Columbia.The association presented its paper to Liberal MP Rich Coleman and NDB housing critic David Eby Wednesday.CMBA is asking the government to become more creative when it comes to increasing housing supply.That includes considering alternative housing types aimed at homebuyers who may be interested in something larger than a condo yet smaller than a typical single-family home.Ensure there is sufficient focus on the missing middle, meaning ground-oriented housing that provides an option for families and/or downsizers between a traditional single-family home and a high-rise condominium, CMBA said in its paper. Examples include stacked townhouses, rowhouses, duplexes, quad-plexes, mid-rise purpose-built rental, and traditional townhouses. A focus on the missing middle and how to build diverse product that is affordable for consumers  and viable for industry  is paramount.Other recommendations include ensuring infrastructure support in growing areas, which would help increase density; addressing barriers to purpose-built rentals; and creating more incentives for energy efficient retrofits.One section of the paper is dedicated to suggestions for government fees, charges and timelines.Ensure local governments levy development cost charges and community amenity contributions appropriate to the impact of development, CMBA said. Services such as transit benefit everyone, and buyers of new homes should not pay disproportionately for these community benefits. Fixed contributions and charges, rather than negotiated or unpredictable fees, should also be considered.One note in the paper that will likely be applauded by brokers is the request that the government ensure that federal and provincial capital-raising and underwriting rules for mortgage lenders are not unduly restrictive, so that BC home buyers and borrowers continue to have financing options.To read the paper in its entirety, click here
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High around 75F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
Campus leadership will change at seven Midland ISD elementaries for the 2017-18 school year.

Principals will remain at their current campuses for the remainder of this academic year and begin the transition process immediately after the last day of instruction, according to a press release from the district.

Letty Amalla has been named the new principal at South Elementary. She has seven years of administrative experience, the last three years as principal at Burnet Elementary. Amalla also has experience as a special education supervisor in another district.

Angie Aron has been named the new principal at Burnet Elementary. Aron, who has 16 years administrative experience, has been with MISD for 14 years. She has been principal at Parker Elementary for the last four years and was principal at Jones Elementary for 10 years before that.

Tracie Burrow has been named the new principal at Parker Elementary. She has been principal at Fannin Elementary for the last four years and has six years of administrative experience.

Sharla Butler has been named the new principal at Scharbauer Elementary. She has been with MISD for seven years and has a total of 13 years administrative experience. Butler has been principal at Jones and Houston elementaries.

Tara Crockett has been named the new principal at Fannin Elementary. She became principal of South Elementary in 2016 after serving as assistant principal at that campus. She has three years administrative experience.

Lisa Leclear has been named the new principal at Jones Elementary School. She has served the last four years as principal at Crockett Elementary. She has five years of administrative experience.

Lastly, as announced earlier this month, Leslie Goodrum, who has eight years of administrative experience, has been named principal at the yet-to-be-named campus that will open in the fall. This campus will be at the site of the current Crockett Elementary, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article. MISD board voted to close Crockett because the school was in danger of being an improvement required campus for seven straight years, according to the article.

Goodrum has been principal at Rusk Elementary for four years. The search for a new principal at Rusk is underway.

Midland ISD is very proud of the quality of leadership at our campuses, Patrick Jones, chief academic officer, said in the statement. We know that as campus needs change, leadership changes are advantageous to the success of all our campuses.
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State Attorney Brad King on Thursday announced his office intends to seek the death penalty in the case against accused killer Sanel Saint Simon.

Saint Simon is accused of killing his former girlfriend's 16-year-old daughter, Alexandria Chery.

King's office took over the Saint Simon case after Gov. Rick Scott removed State Attorney Aramis Ayala from 23 murder cases. King on Thursday said his office will be prepared to go to trial by the end of the year.

It has been nearly three years since Chery was killed. Her body was found Aug. 1, 2014, in a wooded area of Reunion, which is in Osceola County.

Investigators said Saint Simon planned to kill Chery days before her death and staged the scene to look like she had run away.

Saint Simon faces several charges, including first-degree capital murder.

Since the Supreme Court ruled Florida's death penalty policy was unconstitutional, the case has been delayed. Now, a new law is in place that allows the case to move forward to its trial date in October.

On March 16, Ayala's office filed a motion to waive the death penalty in Saint Simon's case.

Saint Simon's defense team reacted by allowing its sentencing attorney to step down. That attorney typically handles a defense during the sentencing period for defendants convicted in death penalty cases.

Judge John Marshall Kest on Thursday said the changes regarding the death penalty and a new prosecution team taking over the case might mean that Saint Simon's defense team may need more time to regroup.

Ayala has since filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott. Kind said his participation in the murder cases might depend on how Ayala's motion plays out in a higher court.

Kest said each side would meet to discuss the Saint Simon case once every 30 days to evaluate the October trial date.
More than two decades later, the last member of South Floridas Cocaine Cowboys has been arrested and it happened right here in Central Florida.

Gustavo Falcon was known as the 'last of the Cocaine Cowboys'

Falcon was on the lam for 26 years under another identity

Falcon was caught on a 40-mile bike ride in Kissimmee on Wednesday

On Thursday morning, Gustavo Falcon, 55, appeared before a judge in federal court in Orlando.

Falcon was on the run for nearly two and a half decades.

In the last few weeks, a team of US Marshals kept close tabs on a home located on Cavendish Drive in Kissimmee.

Investigators said Falcon rented the home and had been living there since 2013. He was arrested just a few blocks away, while he was riding his bicycle with his wife.

For years there was no trace of him. However, in 2013 law enforcement received a clue.

Falcon was involved in a car accident in Orlando and provided law enforcement with a fake name and an address in Miami.

Juan Castaneda lives in the same neighborhood where the alleged cocaine cowboy once lived.

"I said, 'wow, oh my god.' I almost flipped over," said Castaneda.

He couldn't believe a wanted fugitive lived near his home.

"There are a lot of people that pass by and say 'hi,' like, maybe I saw the guy. I don't know, for me it's like, 'I have kids,'" said Castaneda.

People who live right next to him didn't want to go on camera. They said he was a nice guy and kept to himself.

Falcon faces charges of conspiracy of trafficking cocaine.

The charges are listed in a 1991 indictment.

Falcon appeared in federal court in Orlando Thursday morning. During his first appearance, the judge revealed Falcon admitted to his identity shortly after his arrest.

He was also ordered to be transferred to Miami, which is where he was arrested in 1991. Falcon could be taken to South Florida as early as Thursday.

If he is found guilty, he could spend life in prison.
AUSTIN -- County clerks with a sincerely-held religious objection to same sex marriages could give that responsibility to a deputy under a bill that received final approval by the Senate on Wednesday. Bill author and Granbury Sen. Brian Birdwell believes that forcing a person to violate their religious beliefs at work is unconstitutional. His bill, SB 522, would allow a county clerk to notify the commissioner's court that they cannot issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and then the court could delegate the responsibility to another clerk's office employee, or even an outside agency if no one in the office is willing. "Under this bill, county clerks will be able to fully follow the law without being forced to compromise their religious liberty, the license is issued and is executed to the couple requiring the license and simultaneously the right of conscience to clerks and judges is protected," said Birdwell. The bill would prohibit a person from refusing to issue a license for a reason that is protected under law, such as religious affiliation or race. It would also permit judges to refuse to perform a marriage ceremony under the same sincerely-held religious objection.

Also Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill aimed at reducing prescription opioid addiction and abuse in Texas. It's become a crisis, said McAllen Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa. "Drug overdoses now kill more Americans than HIV or AIDS did at its peak," said Hinojosa. "More than gun homicides and car crashes combined. In 2015, 52,000 people died of drug overdoses, more overdoses than any other period in U.S. history." His bill, SB 316 would require doctors and pharmacists to check a state database, called the prescription monitoring program, which tracks opioid prescriptions before they prescribe or dispense one to a patient. It would also require pharmacists to report any opioid prescription they dispense to the database within one business day. It also allows the Texas State Board of Pharmacists, who currently operates the prescription database, to monitor the database to find ways to identify problematic prescription trends, like doctor shopping, and send electronic alerts to doctors.
The Wayland Baptist University Enactus team competed at a regional meet in Fort Worth last weekend, April 8-9, advancing to nationals with an impressive presentation over the business school student projects.

Enactus is a non-profit global community of student, academic and business leaders dedicated to making the world a better place through entrepreneurial action. Collegiate teams plan and conduct projects designed to improve communities through business.

Sarah Walton, one of the team presenters who will take over as president of the Wayland chapter next semester, said the experience was enlightening, if not terrifying at the same time. Granted, she said the terrifying part was just being forced to speak in front of a panel of judges made up of business leaders.

The judges are people from huge corporations who have dealt with this and have figured out the solutions to things that we are now trying to find solutions for, she said. They want to know the research we have put into (our projects). The work weve put into it. The impact it has had so far, and if we have the capability to take it into the future. What are the setbacks we see and how are we going to handle them.

Walton said the judges were very open to giving advice on projects as well, and helping students learn what to expect with certain situations, and how to improve aspects of their projects.

The Wayland team presented on two it its projects including the Diamond Soap production project that is being conducted at the local Central Plains Center. Through the project, CPC clientele with intellectual or developmental disabilities work in their own soap-making business to create package and sale Diamond Suds products. The business hit the ground running last semester and is still going strong. Soaps in an assortment of aromas is available at the groups website www.diamondsuds.com.

The Diamond Suds project has had tremendous results, improving the lives of the CPC clientele who now look forward to going to work and earning a paycheck for providing a service to customers.

The Enactus group also presented on a project that is scheduled to begin in the fall term called Way Service. This is a campus project that provides room service for students in the Wayland dorms. Students can order items that they need such as toiletries or certain snacks and the items will be delivered by student employees.

Walton said the competition was a positive experience not only in impressing the judges with the work they have already done, but also in networking with other teams. She said they have discussed collaborating with other Enactus groups to increase the productivity and impact of potential upcoming projects. They have even discussed connecting with Enactus groups overseas to help people on a global scale.

It kind of gives you hope that the world is not going to go down in flames, Walton said. There are still pockets of people who are trying to do good in their communities and are even reaching past their communities to just spread a little bit of hope.
BERLIN  Worthington Meeting House on Worthington Ridge will be getting an upgraded design as plans to renovate the 18th century building move forward.



Its that one icon that really stands out in town, said David Evans, councilor and liaison to Friends of the Worthington Meeting House committee.



A bid was recently awarded to an architect to prepare schematic plans for the final design and construction for renovations to the meeting house. The design cost of $20,000 will come from grants obtained by the committee, as well as Berlins Historic District Commission.



People want to see it done, said Lorraine Stub, president of the committee. Sometimes you dont value whats in your own town.



The town has been looking at renovating the meetinghouse for years.



In 2000, a group of volunteers developed a plan for the building with Visiting Nurses Association offices on the second floor and museum space on the first floor.



In 2004, the Town Council voted to appropriate $610,000 in bonding. After stabilizing the building, the project came in around $80,000 under budget.



At the time, the council decided not to proceed with moving the town offices into the building. The Friends of the Worthington Meeting House committee was formed in 2005.



Stub said in order to apply for construction grants, the work must meet approval of the State Historic Preservation Office and conform to ADA requirements. The design plans will include those requirements. The building is currently not up to code.



Stub said the committee and historical society would like to offer limited tours of the building in the future.



Its really neat to be in a space like that, she said.



The building would serve as a new home for the Historical Society with a community space on the second floor. Design plans are expected to be complete in the next few months.



Fundraising will follow.



In January, Evans said the council should think about adding the project to the budget. Councilor Rachel Rochette said the council should proceed with caution since previously voting down the police station project.



The Friends of the Worthington Meeting House plan on having a public meeting soon. Stub said they are looking for more volunteers and fundraising ideas.



Finishing the Worthington Meeting House project would restore the communitys faith that preserving such historically significant buildings is, indeed, possible, she said, adding that the town recently lost the historic train station.



The meetinghouse hasnt been used in nearly 40 years, when it served as Board of Education offices. It was built in 1774.



Stub can be reached by email: lstub@comcast.net.



akus@record-journal.com 203-317-2448 Twitter: @KusReporter






Houston police are looking for a suspect who shot and attempted to a rob a man Wednesday evening in west Houston.

The man was shot around 8:20 p.m. inside his apartment in the 9400 block of Briar Forest Drive.

His roommate immediately ran downstairs when she heard gunshots fired, according to police.

Her roommate told her that he had been robbed. The suspect fled the apartment complex to an unknown location.

The male shooting victim, who was shot in the stomach, is expected to survive.
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BART officials were set Thursday to fill a looming multimillion-dollar budget gap in ways that would hurt many of its passengers.

They would start trains an hour later in the morning, eliminate after-hours bus service and slash discounts for seniors, kids and riders with disabilities.

But all that changed abruptly with word Wednesday night that a state transportation bill, which became law last week, will bring the rail system millions of dollars more in funding than BART officials had anticipated. Sacramento would deliver an extra $16 million this year  enough to allow BART to pare its proposed budget cuts nearly in half.

Although trains are jammed with riders during weekday commutes, BART blames the projected $31 million deficit on declining ridership  mostly on weekends  and a drop in sales tax revenue.

What a difference a week makes, said BART Director Robert Raburn, who was not looking forward to making the proposed cuts. It looks like we may be able to eliminate service cuts and reduce fare increases that were being discussed. ... This is big news.

That sent staff back to their spreadsheets. Seniors, people with disabilities, early risers and late workers or partyers would be spared from the budget cuts, but youths would have to pay higher fares, as would riders who continue to rely on BARTs familiar paper tickets with the magnetic stripe rather than switch to Clipper cards.

The transportation law, which will raise gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, has drawn attention for raising money to fill potholes, rebuild bridges and repair roads. But it also generates money for public transportation agencies, including BART.

BART officials knew some money was coming but didnt know how much. Details of the windfall came so late that the agencys number crunchers were still busy updating their list of proposed cuts as the Board of Directors meeting started Thursday morning.

This (budget proposal) was made before we had an influx of state transit assistance, said Carter Mau, BARTs planning and budget manager, speaking softly and matter-of-factly.

The package of service reductions, expense cuts and fare increases was put together by BARTs budget staff as the agency grappled with an estimated $31 million shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The cuts affecting riders most directly included starting service at 5 a.m. instead of 4 a.m., eliminating some timed transfers between trains and reducing discounts for seniors, people with disabilities and youths from 62.5 percent to 50 percent. The proposed budget also excluded funding for a late-night bus network that provides transit service after BART shuts down.

While the youth discount is still proposed to drop to 50 percent, the budget anticipates raising the maximum age, from 12 to 18, for kids to get discounts. The amount of discount and maximum age are similar to those of other Bay Area transit agencies.

In addition to the youth fares, BART directors are eyeing a 50-cent surcharge every time a rider purchases a paper ticket. The fee is designed to encourage riders to switch to the Clipper card to reduce cash-counting and ticket-processing costs. It is expected to raise $5.6 million.

The budget also proposes to eliminate 15 already vacant positions, and move 24.5 positions to capital projects, which would save $5.3 million; to defer payments on its new railcars for a savings of $6 million; and to reduce the amount of operating expenses it transfers to capital expenses by $6.3 million. That potential reduction is controversial because some critics of Measure RR, the $3.5 billion bond voters approved in November, warned before the election that BART would curtail its contributions into its capital budget if the measure passed.

BARTs decision not to cut early-morning service spares thousands of passengers who rely on it to get to their jobs or avoid crowded trains later. A BART study last year found that 2,600 passengers entered the system between 3:45 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. Most of those riders boarded at Pittsburg/Bay Point, Dublin/Pleasanton or El Cerrito Del Norte stations and exited at Embarcadero, Montgomery or Powell stations. About two-thirds of those early riders were minorities.

BARTs budget planners are also suggesting new programs that will increase costs. Extending the youth discount will cost an estimated $1.5 million, while an efficiency study of BARTs operating division is projected at $1 million. BART is considering spending $800,000 on a program to combat fare evasion.

While BARTs declining ridership and sales tax revenue may contribute to the deficit, so do the opening of new extensions, said Nick Josefowitz, a BART director from San Francisco. Josefowitz said the opening of extensions to Warm Springs/South Fremont last month and, in spring 2018, of a diesel-rail line in eastern Contra Costa County, are also driving the deficit. Revenue from new passengers wont cover the cost of staffing the new stations and trains, he said. He was unable to immediately provide dollar figures.

Director Tom Blalock of Fremont disputed Josefowitzs argument. Transit systems, he said, never cover their costs, and always require subsidies.

The debate over the budget will continue. BART directors are scheduled to hold 12 more meetings before adopting a final spending plan June 22.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@ctuan
Cloud computing giant Salesforce said Thursday that it has achieved net zero greenhouse gas emissions  a rare milestone for a company of its size.

The San Francisco firm also announced that it would be providing a carbon-neutral cloud for its customers that eliminates indirect emissions in its data centres.

Salesforce sustainability director Patrick Flynn said the company achieved its goal primarily by offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions with investments in carbon credit projects in Honduras and India.

Salesforce also signed two 12-year renewable-energy contracts with wind farms in Texas and West Virginia.

The company, which paid another firm to review its emissions records, said it is achieving its goal more than three decades ahead of schedule.

We feel an urgency and a need to act, and we think every company has a part to play in improving the state of the world, Flynn said.

Other Silicon Valley companies are also vying for environmental milestones. Google has said it is buying enough wind and solar power to ensure that its operations run entirely on renewable energy this year.

As Salesforce prepares to move into its soon-to-be-completed headquarters, the tallest building in San Francisco, Flynn said it will look for more opportunities to invest in carbon credit projects to balance out its emissions as it grows. The Salesforce Tower itself has attained the highest level of certification offered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

In meeting their goal ahead of schedule, the company is demonstrating the power of intention and how setting a bold, public, net zero emissions goal can unleash innovation, said Anne Kelly, senior policy director of Ceres, a nonprofit group that works with investors and businesses to encourage sustainability, in an email.

We hope they share their strategies and methodology widely.

Nicholas Cheng is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ncheng@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @nichocheng
John Bazemore /Associated Press

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products that has a large presence in San Antonio, said Thursday its first-quarter earnings will be negatively affected by $16.5 million in nonrecurring charges.

The company said the charges include $5 million in late reported claims from Hurricane Matthew, $4 million in costs related to the transition of certain technology functions to third-party providers and $2.5 million in costs resulting from its recent acquisition of Ariel Re, an underwriter of insurance and reinsurance business. The deal, which closed in February, was valued at about $235 million.
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A $1 billion Jumbo resin-processing plant that received $16.4 million in tax incentives and was touted in 2011 by then Gov. Rick Perry for strengthening our economy owes millions of dollars to 20 Texas companies, including Express Metal Works in San Antonio.

Al Wells, who owns Express Metal and another steel fabrication company here, was riding a wave of money and promises in late-2016 as he tripled his workforce for a contract worth up to $6 million with M&G Resins USA in Corpus Christi  an American subsidiary of Italian-based petrochemical giant Mossi & Ghisolfi Group.

Six months and $2.7 million of unpaid bills later, the 37-year-old Army veteran is struggling to keep his metal working and steel fabrication businesses afloat, taking out a second mortgage on his house and returning to work in the field.

The noose is quickly tightening, Wells said of his legal and financial predicament.

The project at the western edge of Corpus Christis port faces dozens of liens from U.S. companies with more than $100 million in claims against the $1 billion Project Jumbo, M&Gs name for the plant. When completed, the facility would produce 1.1 million metric tons a year of polyethylene terephthalate or PET plastic, the material used to make things like soda bottles.

Mossi & Ghisolfi Group partnered with Chinese government-owned Sinopec Engineering on the project, which is being backed by several Chinese banks and Mexican multibillionaire Carlos Slim.

Perry supported Mossi & Ghisolfis decision to bring the site to Texas when it was announced in 2011.

M&G Resins USA lien filers The locations of those companies that have filed liens of nearly $100 million against M&G Resins USA (including one in Europe and one in Asia). The liens are related to a $1.3 billion petrochemical plant being built in Corpus Christi by M&G, a subsidiary of M&G Chemicals and the Italian-based Mossi & Ghisolfi Logistics Co. Nueces County Clerks office

Im pleased M&G Group has chosen Corpus Christi as the location of its new North American plant, creating hundreds of jobs for Texans and further strengthening our state economy, and wish them success at this new facility, Perry said at the time. A call to the Department of Energy to speak with Perry, who is now Energy Secretary in the Trump Administration, was not returned.

Now more than 40 liens have been filed against the project since 2016. In an email, Mossi & Ghisolfi Group spokesman Terry Tyzack said: Texas law allows a company working on a construction project to file liens to secure a claim for money due for work done on a project. A lien claimant does not have to have any backup to file a lien and it is not unusual for the lien claim to be well in excess of what is actually owed.  We continue to work through the process and attempt to resolve as many of these issues as possible.

Liens filed against 'Jumbo Project' in Corpus Christi The Jumbo Project in Corpus Christi is being built by M&G Resins USA, a subsidiary of Italian Mossi & Ghisolfi Group and Chinas Sinopec Engineering. Financial backing is being provided by a Chinese government-owned development bank and a Mexican investment bank owned by Carlos Slim, the Mexican multibillionaire. Nearly $100 million in liens have been filed against the $1 billion project, which would produce plastic used in beverage bottles. Nueces County Clerks office

The project was originally supposed be completed by the end of 2016. Tyzack says the company now plans to finish the plant by mid-2017.

Wells two companies, Welco and Express Metal Works, fabricate and erect steel foundations to hold the piping and tanks used at petrochemical facilities. Prior to the Jumbo Project, Wells had 40 employees and a weekly payroll of up to $40,000. But he ramped up to 160 workers with a weekly payroll of $250,000 to fulfill the contract.

As a smaller contractor, Wells told the firm that hired him, Rock Hill, South Carolina-based Integrity Mechanical Specialists, that he couldnt wait weeks or months to get paid for the work. Wells said IMS agreed to wire Wells payroll costs at the end of every week so his employees could deposit their checks the following Monday.

By the third week, Wells said he had about 60 guys in my office who said their checks bounced.

I found out IMS didnt wire the money and thats when the (expletive) hit the fan, he added.

Now Wells has $2.7 million in mechanics liens filed against the project, is down to 18 workers and his bank has, cross-collateralized everything I own, he said. After demanding payment from IMS in December, Wells and his crews were given 48 hours to leave the Corpus Christi work site.

Integrity Mechanical Specialists confirmed that it and its roughly 800 subcontractors were booted off the site in early December after demanding payment on $53 million of work.

Kenny Middleton, a former IMS vice president who is now the CEO and president of Rock Hill, South Carolina-based Spire Energy Solutions, said M&G was the type of customer that would  lead you along, give you a little bit here and there and stay enough involved to keep you interested.

A 28-year-veteran of the welding and construction business, Middleton said he has never seen a project in this much turmoil, this much confusion, this much bad money, in my life.

After numerous delays and lack of payment, IMS stopped work and sent a demand letter for payment on Dec. 8, he said. The M&G Resins subsidiary that hired IMS terminated that contract on Dec. 9, IMS said in a lawsuit filed March 27. A final termination letter for other work IMS was doing in the facility was filed Dec. 15.

The liens are the latest for the project, which began construction in 2013 after M&G signed a $1 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract with Sinopec Engineering, a Chinese-government owned construction company.

Some U.S. contractors said M&G Resins USA hasnt paid them since 2015. At least 40 other companies besides IMS have liens of $47 million against the project.

Wells said he did his due diligence when he considered joining the project. He didnt believe there would be a money issue and said when you hear lien on a job site, its like saying bomb in an airplane.

Now his companies are in survival mode. On Monday he and a crew that included his father were stripping tin roofing off of an old goat shed in the Dominion as they prepped to demolish it. Its a small job but one that Wells knows he can complete.

Weve turned down probably $3 million worth of work this year, because the company doesnt have enough capital or resources to take on bigger jobs, he said. The worst thing we want to do right now is overextend ourselves at this point because it would be the final nail in the coffin.

rdruzin@express-news.net

@druz_journo
To better understand whats happening on the ground  or underground  oil and gas operators are turning to the skies.

Drones  increasingly used in everything from agriculture to border surveillance, military operations to event coverage, newscasts and filmmaking  are finding their way to the nations oil patch.

These unmanned aerial vehicles have been sniffing out gas leaks and detecting leaks at tank farms, pipelines and other oilfield infrastructure. Now, as companies work to improve battery life and sensors, drones can find their way into the upstream oil and gas industry, used for land surveys and terrain mapping and with emerging petroleum geology applications.

Robotically controlled, programmed drones that use the UAVs we are familiar with have been used for three or four years in the oil patch, first in inspecting leases  often doing solar panel inspections in hybrid operations  and for lease encroachments, Susan Nash, director of innovation and emerging science/technology with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, said in an email. Theyre also used for taking very nice photos and videos for investor presentations.

But, if we look at the bigger picture of remote sensing, airborne photography and sensing have been done for a long time. Gravity and magnetics have helped determine the depth to the basement, and thus structure  anticlines and domes, especially  as far back as the 1950s. Remote sensing from satellites was used to detect large-scale lineaments, some of which corresponded to productive structures The Ames astrobleme in Oklahoma is an example, she said.

Also, hyperspectral that detects and creates false color composites corresponding to foliage impacted by methane leaks or salt water spills has also been around since the early days of LANDSAT, she said.

Drone research is part of the mission of GEs recently opened Oil & Gas Technology Center in Oklahoma City. The center houses GE scientists and engineers developing digital and hardware solutions in collaboration with the oil and gas industry.

As part of its grand opening celebration last fall, it unveiled its prototype drone, Raven, which is engineered to precisely and cost effectively detect emissions and help oil and gas operators reduce their environmental impact and improve operational efficiency. The prototype drone was successfully piloted in July at well sites in Arkansas by Southwestern Energy Co. to detect emissions from oilfield equipment.

Nash sees different areas where the industry can benefit from the data provided by drones:

n Places where direct hydrocarbon indicators can be combined with surface geochemistry.

Methane seeps can be detected and used to look for ideal locations. There are a number of operators in this area  Amplified Geochemical is one  and there are a few geologists who are bringing together surface seeps with subsurface information to find prospective areas and to pinpoint sweetspots.

n The lineaments that are detectable from satellite imagery are even more evident from drones.

They can help find structures. The successes in the past (Ames astrobleme, for example) of satellite imagery could be replicated in the future with drones at a fraction of the cost.

We dont know what we dont know, Nash said. What if there are subtle heat signatures along active faults that also have doubled as migration pathways? I would recommend this approach in Nevada to find another Grant Canyon, which holds 30 billion barrels.

Cost is not necessarily a barrier, according to Nash.

The prices for surprisingly high-functioning drones are falling every day. Sensors are another matter. They, too, are dramatically falling in price. But, the high-resolution and specialized sensors can be $50,000 or so, which is scary when one thinks of putting them on a drone that could potentially crash. So the emphasis now is to use analytics to get the most out of the drone, the sensor and the information.

Battery life is another factor, she said, noting that fixed-wing drones have a longer range but arent as flexible, while most multi-rotor drones only have 30 minutes of battery life  on a good day with no wind and without a heavy payload.

In my opinion, the future is brightest for those who provide services for the drones  extending battery life (I know of a company that has developed very ingenious recharging stations), and also optimizing analytics, so you can get more out of your collected data, and also start to use deep learning so that you have smart drones and can be self-driving, which is actually not at all permitted at this point, she said. Drones are programmed to follow GPS waypoints and so the drone operator has to understand exactly where theyre going.

Nash, who serves as program chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers new Technical Section on Unmanned Systems, is optimistic about the future of drones and UAVs.

In her work with AAPG, she has been organizing workshops and training for drones and UAVs in exploration and production. A two-day workshop is being presented by the AAPGs Education Department and SPEs new Technical Section May 23- 24 at Houstons Norris Conference Center in CityCentre. The workshop will cover a wide range of current and emerging applications, case studies and research. More information on the workshop is available at http://bit.ly/2p1fYPp.






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As San Antonio gears up to celebrates 10 days of unbridled revelry with more than 100 Fiesta events, the best parties are often held in the private homes of those involved in the various Fiesta organizations.

Whats their secret to creating the over-the-top Fiesta decor that signals the partys here? For many, its hiring out the decorating to Feather, Fluff and Flings, the decorating and event company of Cheri Stith and partner Jamie Weyand.

Some 10 years ago, Stith decorated a small balcony at The Menger Hotel for the The Order of the Alamo duchesses and other Fiesta royalty. Before you could say show me your shoes, she and Weyand were off and running.

Now every year in the days leading up to Fiesta, their schedule is full hanging garlands overflowing with Mexican hats, pinatas and paper flowers; bedecking front doors with long, streamered wreaths; and ribbons, ribbons and more ribbons  and thats just on the outside of their clients houses.

Inside, Stith and Weyand work with what a client already has. We take clients collection of dishes, bowls or interesting pieces and then we Fiesta-fy them, Stith said.

This year, a formal dining room with elegant appointments in one home was given a merry makeover that started by filling a Chinese bowl with colorful cascarones centered on a dining room table festooned with Mexican straw folk art figures. The crystal chandelier was decorated with cascading streamers in a rainbow of colors.

For Stith and Weyland, the hunt for Fiesta decor materials starts when most folks are thinking of how to fit all their family around a holiday table.

At Christmas time, we look for things that can be perfect for Fiesta, Stith said. Tin stars, holiday twinkling lights in multicolors, ribbon, tinsel garlands and even ornaments translate into entertaining elements that add Fiesta flair.

Not everyone of course hires out the decorating. Battle of Flowers President Rhonda Calvert and her husband Joe, a member of the Texas Cavaliers, let the banners wave over their Terrell Hills home, which they decorated themselves.

An entryway bedecked in Fiesta finery gets bordered by a Battle of Flowers Association flag on one side and the Cavaliers red and blue banner on the other. Massive yellow garlands of netting swirl around the front columns and porch representing the ladies in yellow that put on the Battle of Flowers Parade. On opposite sides of the entry, garlands of red and blue pay homage to the organization that named its first King Antonio in 1927.

Nestled in old Alamo Heights, Diane and Larry Gottsman decorate their home every season for just about every holiday. But for Fiesta, its kicked up a notch as they are right on the parade route for the Pooch Parade.

A wide front porch lined with rocking chairs greets parade patrons with Southern style. Garlands of paper flowers loop from the porch columns and a large ribbon festooned wreath adorns the front door.

Its all about family and friends and making sure that they are welcomed to your home in a gracious manner, said consummate hostess Gottsman. The way that you decorate your home lets guests know that they are special.
Name: Jack, as in Nicholson, Nicklaus, Dempsey, Swagger, Kerouac, the Ripper and you don't know 

Ethnicity: I'm Jack, the Jack Russell terrier.

Birthdate: April 30, 2015. My birthday is coming around. Let's celebrate at your, soon-to-be my, place.

Jack's jottings: Before we start, you realize that it's only a 41/2-hour drive from Chicago to Louisville, right? The United employees couldn't just rent a car and drive? Oh, well  next time, huh? After the new CEO gets here.

I bought my current summer home (it's also my winter, spring and fall home) 22 years ago. The day I moved in, I thought, "I need to replace this showerhead." Water shot out of the showerhead in a narrow stream at the rate of Niagara Falls. It almost hurt full blast. Like on "Seinfeld," you could wash circus elephants in my tub.

Showers weren't fun. I pretty much jumped in, scrubbed up, jumped out.

Last week, I finally bought a new one. Where has this been all my life? I found it on Groupon. It's a rainforest model, so it's like standing outside in a gentle sun shower. I'm not a real working man. I'm not slopping hogs at 6 a.m., so I don't have a lot of dirt caked on me. But the best part of this showerhead: It has LED lights that flash like a disco ball. I could throw a "Saturday Night Fever" party in my bathroom. The showerhead doesn't require batteries, the rushing water powers the lights, like Hoover Dam.

The showerhead also has a built-in digital thermometer and a flashing red light if the water gets too hot. It cares about my safety. I start at 99 degrees and slowly crank it up to 109. Showers used to take 2-3 minutes. Now I'm in there twisting the night away until the hot water runs out. I love the flashing colors. I love being in control of the temperature.

The showerhead cost $29. Two decades I waited.

Next weekend is the MS150 charity bike ride from Houston to Austin. Say hello when you pass me. There's still time to sign up to ride or volunteer: bpms150.net.
A mother of a 4-year-old boy, who lost his fight against cancer, candidly opens up about the reality of living without her son in a viral Facebook post.

Ruth Scully lost her son, Rollin Nolan, two months ago to Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in the tissues and bones.

HEARTBREAKING: Daughter dies weeks after father shares photo of her cancer battle

"Two months. Two months since I've held you in my arms, heard how much you loved me, kissed those sweetie 'pie' lips," Ruth wrote on her Facebook post, which has been shared over 616,580 times. "Two months since we've snuggled. Two months of pure absolute Hell."

She bravely describes one of the conversations she had with her son after she learned that his cancer was resistant to all treatment options. She writes:

"Me: Poot, it hurts to breathe doesn't it?

Nolan: Weeeelll.... yeah.

Me: You're in a lot of pain aren't you baby?

Nolan: (looking down) Yeah.

Me: Poot, this Cancer stuff sucks. You don't have to fight anymore.

Nolan: (Pure Happiness) I DONT??!! But I will for you Mommy!!

Me: No Poot!! Is that what you have been doing?? Fighting for Mommy??

Nolan: Well DUH!!

Me: Nolan Ray, what is Mommy's job?

Nolan: To keep me SAFE! (With a big grin)

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?

Me: Absolutely!! You can't get rid of Mommy that easy!!

Nolan: Thank you Mommy!!! I'll go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!!"

LOCAL STRUGGLES: Houston mom shares harrowing photo of her son's cancer fight

The following days, Ruth describes how she got as much time with her son as possible. She shares that they "played, watched YouTube, shot Nerf Gun after Nerf Gun and smiled as many times" as possible.

"An hour or so before he passed he even filled out a 'Will.'" Ruth shares. "We laid in bed together and he sketched out how he wanted his funeral, picked his pall bearers, what he wanted people to wear, wrote down what he was leaving each of us, and even wrote down what he wanted to be remembered as... which of course was a Policeman."

Ruth only left her son's side to take a shower, but when she got out, Nolan had fallen into a coma and one of his lungs had collapsed, severely reducing his oxygen supply. As she ran to him after her shower, what she calls a "miracle" happened.

"My angel took a breath, opened his eyes, smiled at me and said, 'I Love You Mommy,' turned his head towards me and at 11:54 pm Sgt. Rollin Nolan Scully passed away as I was singing 'You are My Sunshine' in his ear," Ruth writes near the end of the post.

DREAMS MET: Alief student fighting cancer dies days after meeting her idol, Beyonce

The lengthy post was paired with a photo of Nolan curled up on a shower mat on the bathroom floor while Ruth showered.

"My son was terrified to leave my side, even as I showered," Ruth writes. "Now I'm the one terrified to shower. With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy."
1 Border wall suit: The Center for Biological Diversity, a nationally known environmental group, on Wednesday filed a legal challenge against the Trump administration over its proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall that would start in San Diego County. This is the first lawsuit concerning the presidents border wall plan. Joining the center in the litigation is Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who serves as ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The small but influential wildlife conservation group argues that construction of a barrier from San Diego to Texas would have disastrous impacts on jaguars, wolves and more than 100 other species in the border region.

2 Arrest in slaying: Chicago police said Wednesday that they have made an arrest in the killing of a Cook County judge there earlier this week. Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles, 66, was fatally shot early Monday morning outside his house on the citys South Side. A 52-year-old woman was wounded in the shooting. Police had said they considered Myles killing a direct attack on the criminal justice system. Joshua Smith, 37, was charged with murder, according to Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman. The killing was a robbery, and not a random robbery, Guglielmi said. The Chicago Tribune reported that Smith was suspected to be the getaway driver in the killing.
Courtesy

Brenda Genter was born and raised in Gulf Shores, Alabama, but has lived in Kingwood on and off since 1993. Genter and husband Michael have been married for 35 years and have two daughters, Elizabeth and Kristen. She has been a volunteer at Kingwood Medical Center since May 2012.

Each week, Genter can be found in Kingwood Medical Center's Day Surgery, where she checks in patients and family members, and keeps them informed as to the status of their loved one's procedure. She provides a welcoming face and a good ear for families who are going through anxious times.
First Presbyterian Church will offer a Tenebrae Service on Good Friday (April 14) at 8:30 p.m. All are invited.

Wondering where to go to church this Easter? First United Methodist Church would love for you to join us on Sunday. Exciting things are happening around our church family. Don't worry about what to wear. Our people come in everything from blue jeans to suits. You even have a choice on the style of worship: 8:15 contemporary service or 10:30 traditional service. We're located at 1001 W. Seventh St. We hope to see you Sunday.

The youth at First Presbyterian Church are collecting canned goods, monetary donations, toilet paper and soap for FISH. To help, drop off items at 2101 Utica from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Phone 296-2604.

Catholic Charities of Lubbock and the Youth and Family program provide youth skills-building counseling through the S.T.A.R. program. S.T.A.R. (Services to At Risk Youth) offers short-term services to youth ages 0-17 and their families who are dealing with conflict at home, school attendance issues, delinquency, or have a youth who runs away from home. S.T.A.R. services are not for families with an open CPS investigation or youth who have been adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court. All services are without charge. Call 806-296-7044 and ask a youth case manager for more information.

Plainview Habitat for Humanity is a Christian, nonprofit housing organization that seeks to put God's love into action by building homes, communities and hope. It is currently accepting applications. Visit www.plainviewhabitat.org for application criteria and information. To contact its team, email plainview_habitat@yahoo.com or write Plainview Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 1125, Plainview, TX 79073

Covenant Health Plainview hosts the cancer survivors prayer support group "We Fight to Live" from 7-8 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in Room B. The sessions will consist of a monthly topic and presenter, and a structured segment, allowing time for group sharing. The support group is open to those with a cancer diagnosis and anyone affected by their diagnosis. The group is led by Andrea Ingram, a cancer survivor, as well as Sherry Wall, hospital mission services. There is no charge for the group. For more information contact Andrea Ingram at 806-293-7614 or Sherry Wall at 806-291-3364.

The Apostolic Lighthouse Church, 1504 Houston in Plainview, invites the public to pray at the church from 6-7 p.m. each Friday. You need not be a member of the church to come and pray. For those who are homebound or sick, the church ministry will come and pray for you at your home. Call Pastor Armando Cardenas at 806-729-4057 for information.

Alvin Petty will pick up garage sale-types of items, with proceeds going to the Ideal Village Chapel Scholarship Fund. Call 806-685-2604.
The Oak Ridge North City Council recently joined other Montgomery County municipalities, such as Conroe and Montgomery, in opposing state legislation that limits the maximum annual increase of property tax revenue for governmental entities.

In March, the ORN council passed a resolution opposing Texas House Bill 15, a bill that would lower the maximum increase in property taxes from its current 8 percent to 4 percent. Conroe and Montgomery previously passed resolutions opposing Senate Bill 2, HB15's companion bill in the state Senate that already passed 18-12.

HB 15, or the "Property Taxpayer Empowerment Act," was created as a property tax reform, meant to hold public officials more accountable and encourage transparency.

The only difference between SB 2 and HB 15 is that SB 2 would require an election if the entity's collected property taxes are 5 percent more than the previous year. SB 2 is on its way to the House.

The tax cap requires local governments to fund special rollback elections to allow voters to decide whether to approve the higher property tax increase. However, the council's resolution states that capping local revenues interferes with city services.

"They (residents) would be in favor of a property tax cap, but many times there's not good information out there on how it affects the bottom line of the services they expect from our city," said City Manager Vicky Rudy.

An election can cost upward of $10,000, the resolution states, adding to the requested fund amount, which could affect the tax rate to accommodate election costs. Additionally, elections are in May and November, but a May election would fall before tax rate calculations are released. Tax rates also are required to be secure by October, making a November election void.

Opponents of the bill also take issue with how it may affect cities of different population sizes. Rudy said while a 4 percent tax cap may not affect other cities with larger budgets, it can be a "crippling burden" for smaller cities.

"Every city is different, so how can a state law effectively address the situations in every individual city?" Rudy said.

Mayor Jim Kuykendall said while the city is not planning on raising property taxes, the city would be at the "end of the road" if an unexpected expense arises. Property taxes fund city road construction and maintenance, public space maintenance, infrastructure work and salaries of municipal employees, including government officials, police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services.

The city's current tax rate is 45.09 cents per $100 property valuation, and Kuykendall maintains Oak Ridge North's annual decreasing tax rate is indicative of the city's financial responsibility.

While tax relief and reform is necessary in the state, Kuykendall said legislators should be looking to reduce tax rates in different areas. He said property taxes only account for roughly 22 percent of tax bills, with other taxes accounting for much more.

"What it (HB 15) does is, it will hurt every small city in the state of Texas," Kuykendall said.
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Those receiving services and/or lodging at the Salvation Army facilities in Lubbock will soon have their day brightened by artwork provided by students from Plainview High School.

Members of the PHS Advanced Placement Art Class along with their teacher, Julee Patterson, were in Lubbock Thursday to help dedicate their art at The Salvation Army of Lubbock. Their pieces are described as motivational, inspirational and religious.

According to an agency news advisory, The Salvation Army of Lubbock was in need of updated decor. These students rose to the occasion by creating custom pieces designed to uplift residents of The Salvation Army, the advisory explains. The dedication was 1 p.m. Thursday at the shelter, 1614 Ave. J., Lubbock.

Our students were asked to donate some artwork to decorate the Salvation Army of Lubbock facilities, Patterson explains. They were asked to follow the theme of hope and encouragement. Some students chose to take a Christian approach to their paintings.

All 12 advanced painting students completed artwork to donate to the shelter.

This opportunity helped fulfill one of our TEKS objectives, which states that students should collaborate on community-based art projects, the teacher explains. The students really enjoyed helping with this.

In recognition of their efforts, Erica Hitt, director of social services at The Salvation Army in Lubbock, invited the students to personally deliver their paintings and take a tour of the shelter.

But simply donating artwork was not enough for the students.

We decided to take it a step further, Patterson says. We heard on the news that the shelter was running dangerously low on hygiene products for their clients, so I sent out an announcement and spread the words about us taking donations to the shelter when we go.

This is an exciting opportunity for our students to experience how their art can help others, and it has been an excellent teaching opportunity for our students to be a part of as well, Patterson said.
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Did you know Connecticut is just one of 12 states that observes Good Friday as a state holiday. The others are Texas, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and North Dakota.

Good Friday is not an official holiday in the United States. Good Friday is a holiday designated by the governor as a day of fasting and prayer in Connecticut.

Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

The history of Good Friday in Connecticut is a bit murky. In a report requested by the Legislature in 2009, Kristin Sullivan wrote, You asked for the legislative history of the law designating Good Friday as a legal holiday and why state offices close on this day. Either the governor or the law may designate a legal state holiday. The governor designates Good Friday and it appears this has been the case for over 100 years. Thus, we cannot provide a legislative history on a law designating Good Friday. We searched the State Register and Manual and found that since at least 1906, Connecticut governors have so designated Good Friday. They have also designated Thanksgiving Day. The law currently designates as legal holidays New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincolns Birthday, Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas.

State offices normally close for legal holidays, including Good Friday, because the State Personnel Act requires each state employee to receive paid time off (CGS  5-254). Thus, the statutes generally treat legal holidays like weekends: they are not considered business days and state employees are not expected to work.(However, on a legal holiday, state-chartered banks may decide for themselves whether to open or close.

Not all states have taken Good Friday in such stride. In 1999, in the case of Bridenbaugh v OBannon, an Indiana state employee sued the governor for giving state employees Good Friday as a day off. The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the plaintiff, stating the government could give state employees a paid day off when that day is a religious holiday, including Good Friday, but only so long as the state can provide a valid secular purpose that coincides with the obvious religious purpose of the holiday.

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This is an important event in Christianity, as it represents the sacrifices and suffering in Jesus life. The crucifixion was the culmination of a number of events in Holy Week, including the triumphal return of Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the washing of the disciples feet by Jesus, and the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. Some churches organize a prayer vigil on Good Friday for various causes, such as for cancer patients or for the American troops who have been sent to the Middle East.

Here is a quick list of whats open and whats not this Good Friday.

State offices

Closed. Yes, its a religious holiday, but its a state holiday, partly because of unions bargaining agreements with the state.

That means, no DMV, courts or any other state offices open.

Federal offices,

agencies

All open since its not a federal holiday.

Schools

Most schools are closed. School districts establish their own calendars, with days off, or following with other districts in the region.

Courts

State courts are closed. Federal courts are open.

Postal service

Regular mail service and deliveries.

Banks

Since Good Friday is a state holiday in Connecticut, banks can close provided they give their customers notice and post closing dates and hours in all their branches.

Financial markets

Financial markets, which are private, are closed on Friday. The New York Stock Exchange has been closed on Good Friday since 1885.

Private businesses

Have the most leeway, as long as it follows labor laws.

Some businesses may close early Friday afternoon.

Stores

Nearly all are open Friday, but some may be closed or close early on Easter Sunday.

Liquor stores

Open Friday, but individual package store owners have the option to close.

Trains

Metro-North is operating on its regular schedule Friday and through the weekend.
Residents of Northside ISDs District 6, situated at the edge of the city around loop 1604 and I-10, are watching their district transform as the city continues to grow, and the candidates vying to represent them on the school board have based their platforms on that growth.

Longtime educator and school board incumbent Carol Harle is running for re-election against Paul Gass, 51, a career military officer who took two tours in Iraq and went to Haiti twice  the last time as a civil affairs officer aiding the displaced Haitians after the 2010 earthquake.

Harle, 61, is an educational consultant for the state and adjunct professor of education at Texas A&M-San Antonio. She has served as a PTA president in Northside and was a district or campus administrator at Northside, North East, San Antonio and Harlandale ISDs.

But what Harle touts as experience, Gass says is just more of the same.

In the military we rotate men and women out of duty stations every two to three to four years. And theres a reason for that, he said. If you keep the same people in the same units time after time, the likelihood of change becomes less and less. Im just a fresh set of eyes.

Harle said she has quite a few plans for change, but that first needs to start with district-wide conversation.

How can we make Northside better so that we are always staying true to the kids? Do we expand our dual language program? Do we open our doors so anyone can go to our schools? Do we add more programs? Do we expand our magnets? she said. Things are changing  kids have choices and options, and we want them to have choices and options in Northside.

Harle expressed concern that students were leaving the districts public schools for charters and private schools, and said that expanding the variety of programs available could help solve that issue. She is particularly passionate about creating more dual language programs for Northside ISD students.

She and Gass both said the heavy traffic to District 6s two middle schools is a problem in the community. Gass said a new middle school should be built so it doesnt take students 40 minutes to get to class, and to prevent the two existing middle schools from becoming overcrowded.

Pretty soon the two middle schools that our four elementary schools feed are going to be populated quite heavily, which means classroom size will go up and everything, he said. Given the growth of our city westward on I-10, it really warrants a middle school before it reaches critical mass.

Redrawing Northsides district boundaries also would help solve this problem, Gass said.

Middle school aside, Gass is advocating for more active shooter drills at all schools  an idea he acquired after his work as an active shooter instructor to local and state law enforcement in San Marcos.

Harle also said in a large school district like Northside, its harder and therefore more important to keep a sense of community.

How do we keep it personal? How do we keep it connected and about relationships? Harle said, saying she will encourage more small, town hall gatherings where parents and teachers can have a voice.

Everything Ive done voluntarily or professionally has culminated in being the best trustee I can be, she said. Whatever can cause us to get better, Im for it.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net
AUSTIN - The Senate's chief budget writer asked Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday whether an accounting maneuver that the Senate used to balance its budget is legal.

If Paxton agrees, it would affirm the Senate's plan to delay for one month the transfer of $2.5 billion from sales tax revenues to the state highway fund.

The request appears to cloud the legitimacy of the Senate plan, until Paxton's decision is rendered.

Senate leaders said privately they are confident Paxton will affirm their plan, that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jane Nelson's request was only to quiet criticism about its transfer plan once and for all.

House not on board

The Senate budget maneuver has been blasted by House leaders as improper and illegal, with House Speaker Joe Straus saying his chamber would not go along with the other chamber's plan. The House has instead proposed drawing roughly the same amount from the state's savings account - commonly called the Rainy Day Fund - to balance its version of the budget.

In a two-page letter to the head of Paxton's opinions committee that affirms decisions about the wording and meaning of state law, Nelson, R-Flower Mound, asked whether "a delay in making each fiscal year deposit to the state highway fund under  the Texas Constitution until September of the following year violate that constitutional provision."

"The Comptroller expressly informed me that it is not possible to calculate net revenue and remit the appropriate payment to the highway fund until after the close of the fiscal year" on Aug. 31," Nelson wrote.

"Is a strict interpretation of (the constitutional provision) required when it would be impossible to actually comply? Or may the Comptroller comply with that provision by making the payment as soon as it can be calculated?"

Net revenue 'critical'

The request to Paxton came Wednesday after Comptroller Glenn Hegar, in a two-page letter to Nelson, appeared to leave open the question of how the transfer could be handled. Hegar noted that he "identified a conflict in the constitutional provision (establishing the fund) that requires the transfer be made out of net revenue and where the same provision also appears to require that the transfer be made in the same fiscal year as the revenue was collected and deposited to (the state's general revenue fund)."

"The concept of net revenue is critical to this discussion," Hegar states in his letter.

On Tuesday, Nelson asked Hegar to clarify how the transfer needed to take place to be legal. With budget negotiations between the Senate and House expected to start next week, she asked for an expedited response.

"A resolution of this issue is paramount in order for the conference committee on Senate Bill 1 (the budget) to make an informed decision about our state budget," Nelson said in her clarification request to Hegar.

Senate leaders said Wednesday that they would let Nelson's correspondence speak for itself. House officials said they had not seen the request for Paxton's opinion, but they said it highlights why they questioned the maneuver in the first place.

In a statement, Nelson said: "We carefully made this decision in consultation with the Comptroller and believe this approach complies with the Constitution and addresses our transportation needs. It also helps us balance the budget -- just as the House employs deferrals and other accounting measures to make its budget work. We are closer than people think, but this is a $2.5 billion question that needs to be answered as we move toward conference."
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Nikki Kelton, a Dripping Springs resident, believes Texas lawmakers should support the so-called bathroom bill to avoid jeopardizing the faith principles of students.

She said she was concerned about her school districts decision last year to allow an elementary transgender student to use the girls bathrooms.

This speaks loud and clear to our children by saying you may be born a boy or a girl, but that is relative or fluid depending on how you feel, Kelton said Wednesday at a news conference at the state Capitol. This is also in direct conflict with the word of God and the biblical principles upon which our nation was founded.

Texas Values, a conservative Christian group, organized the news conference to urge House members to support Senate Bill 6, authored by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. The bill would prevent transgender Texans from using bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity in government buildings, public schools and other publicly owned facilities, sparking the most controversial debate for LGBTQ rights during this years legislative session.

Even if a boy wants to be a girl, hes not. He might emotionally feel like hes a girl, but hes physically a boy, said Shiloh Satterfield, a 10-year-old from Dripping Springs.

The bill was passed by the Senate and is on its way to the House, but House Speaker Joe Straus has said hes not a fan of the bill. If it were to become law, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston say they could lose up to $407 million in out-of-state business, tourism officials have told the San Antonio Express-News.

Advocates say the bill is an effort to protect the safety, dignity and privacy of women.

Dana Hodges, state director of Concerned Women for America of Texas, a womens organization based on Biblical principles, said the issue was personal to her after being videotaped in a restroom with a camera placed by a man.

How many women have had pictures of them taken by hidden devices theyre not even aware of? Hodges asked. As a rape survivor myself, the last thing you want is to be accosted in your private space.

Standing beside a sign that read, Its common sense: men shouldnt be in bathrooms with little girls, Nicole Hudgens, policy analyst of Texas Values, was asked about concerns regarding transgender men who no longer look like women entering womens restrooms.

If that is the case, they have the opportunity to change their birth certificate, Hudgens said.

After the news conference, Kathy Miller, president of Texas Freedom Network, a religious freedom advocacy group, said in a statement that SB 6 is one of 25 bills that would cause discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

Its disturbing when politicians use faith and misleading claims about safety and privacy to hide their true intentions, Miller said.
AUSTIN  Attorney General Ken Paxton is scheduled to face the first of three felony criminal charges against him in a Houston courtroom on Sept. 12, in the heart of the 2018 election season.

Tarrant County state District Judge George Gallagher issued the schedule Wednesday, setting jury selection for Sept. 11 and 12, with the trial scheduled to begin Sept. 12. The trial will conclude no more than 10 days later on Sept. 22, according to the judges order.

The trial originally was scheduled to begin May 1, but was pushed back after Gallagher opted to move the trial out of Paxtons home of Collin County.

The trial schedule came one day after Gallagher moved the case to Harris County, which prompted Paxtons legal team to file a motion seeking a Harris County judge to replace Gallagher.

Paxton is facing two first-degree felony securities fraud charges and a third-degree felony charge of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser.

Special prosecutors have said they plan to first take up the failure to register charge and conduct a second trial on the securities fraud charges at a later date, which would further stretch Paxtons criminal proceedings into the 2018 election cycle.

Its going to create a real cloud over Attorney General Paxton until its resolved, and particularly regarding his reelection prospects, said Mark Jones, who teaches political science at Rice University.

Paxton, a first-term attorney general, has until December to file for reelection. The Republican primary is next March.

With potential rivals on both sides of the aisle waiting to see how his criminal case shakes out, it could behoove Paxton to seek further trial delays to create an air of uncertainty and ward off serious challengers who believe the case has left Paxton politically wounded, Jones said.

If hes exonerated, or it looks like hes going to be exonerated, hes unlikely to face any serious competition in the Republican primary, Jones said. But if hes found guilty, then we are likely to see him face a challenge in the Republican primary and that could potentially be one of our only high-profile statewide Republican primaries in 2018.

andrea.zelinski@chron.com

twitter.com/andreazelinski
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AUSTIN  A state House committee on Wednesday passed a sanctuary cities bill that is less harsh than the version passed by the Senate, but that still would require local sheriffs and jailers to comply with federal requests to hold onto individuals in this country illegally or face a misdemeanor criminal charge.

The Republican-dominated House State Affairs Committee voted 7-5 along party lines to send the bill to the full chamber for what is expected to be a heated debate and floor vote as early as next week.

At issue is whether local law enforcement should honor every federal immigration request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold on individuals in the country illegally until federal officials give further instructions or take them into custody.

As noted by several of the bills opponents, the decision to honor ICE requests, known as detainers, is voluntary.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledged last month that ICE detainers are not legally binding and that local jurisdictions have various policies regarding whether to honor the agencys requests.

The Senate version of the bill, which was passed by that chamber in February, would bar local law enforcement agencies and university police departments from enacting policies prohibiting officers from asking about someones immigration status if they have been stopped with probable cause.

As part of its enforcement provisions, the bill would allow citizens to file complaints with the attorney generals office if they believe a jurisdiction is not in compliance with the law. It also would impose a civil penalty between $1,000 and $1,500 on the local agency or campus for the first violation. A subsequent violation would cost the entity at least $25,000 each day it continues.

One of the Senate bills major enforcement mechanisms is a provision that would charge a sheriff or other local officer overseeing a jail with a Class A misdemeanor for refusing to comply with immigration detainer requests.

Such a charge effectively would force the elected official out of his or her job and bar them for life from working as a police officer or jailer in Texas.

State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, who wrote the House bill, said the criminal penalty is enough to deter sheriffs and constables from violating the law. He eliminated a provision in the Senate proposal that would have withheld state grant money from local jurisdictions that do not comply, a punishment Democrats have argued would hurt domestic violence programs, veterans courts and other services.

By implementing this, well be able to remove these individuals from office for not complying with the provisions of the bill. Also, by targeted those solely responsible for not complying with detainer requests, there is no need for removal of state grant funds, Geren said.

The House version also cut wording in the Senate version that a department cannot discourage a police officer from enforcing detainer requests. Citing concerns that it was too vague, Geren said he worked with the attorney generals office to include instead a prohibition on a pattern and practice of barring officers from enforcing ICE requests.

Gerens bill also would require that an individual be lawfully arrested  not just detained  before authorities question his immigration status. It also would require police to inform the arrested person if the federal government has issued a detainer request for him.

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin and a member of the State Affairs Committee, said he and his colleagues would try to amend the bill when it reaches the full House and hinted at potential lawsuits if the measure is passed.

Despite the improvements we made in committee, SB 4 is still a heavy-handed solution to an imaginary problem, Rodriguez said in a statement. If it comes down to a vote along party lines, my Republican colleagues will own their vote on SB 4. They will own the unnecessary suffering caused by the bill, the decrease in public safety, the next generation of taxpayer-backed lawsuits and the significant growth in the size and power of the Office of the Attorney General.

bobby.cervantes@chron.com
A 58-year-old man who was fatally stabbed Sunday night around a dozen times on the South Side was identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.

James Zepeda was found with 10 to 15 stab wounds in his torso around 11:20 p.m. in the 1000 block of Vermont Street, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
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One woman was taken to a nearby hospital after her pickup rolled through a home Wednesday afternoon on the East Side.

San Antonio Fire Department Batallion Chief Richard Giusti said the woman lost control of her Dodge Ram 1500, which began rolling over at about 4 p.m. at Hackberry and Glorietta.

The truck continued into the back half of a home, bringing down the roof, Giusti said.

RELATED: Cars crashing into homes in San Antonio

It came to a stop on its side in the back yard.

Only the woman driving the truck had to be taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, a firefighter said, adding that her injuries were not life-threatening.

Two people were inside the home when the back of the building crumbled.

Perla Laura said her husband had been asleep in that section, but moved to the front of the home moments before the truck went into the home.

We heard a terrible noise like something out of a movie, she said in Spanish.

Giusti said their main concern now was making sure the house was stable until code compliance and public works arrived.

(They) will determine whether it should be torn down or not, Giusti said.

Jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA
One man was shot in the stomach and hospitalized Wednesday night following an argument involving three people at a Southeast Side apartment complex.

Police responded to the shooting around 10 p.m. near Pecan Valley Drive and Dollarhide Avenue. By the time they had arrived, the victim had been transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center.
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SAN ANTONIO  A 23-year-old Sonic manager was arrested Monday, accused of having sex with one of his underage employees, according to court documents.

Alexis G. Martinez faces a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child.

Police interviewed the alleged victim on Saturday, learning that the 16-year-old girl allegedly began having a sexual relationship with Martinez in February. The girl told police she has known Martinez since about August and the two began talking regularly, according to the arrest affidavit.

RELATED: Pot found in truck that hit church bus near Leakey, DPS says

Martinez allegedly drove to her home on Feb. 22 and picked her up, taking her to a motel. There, the two had sexual intercourse. The girl said there was another time the two had sex, but could not remember the date, the document states.

Prior to their sexual relationship, the two would meet up at the mall for dates and they would see each other at work.

When the girls mother found out the man was 23, she told the girl to stop talking to him. The girl did not, so her mother contacted police, the document said.

RELATED: SAPD: Armed assailant robbed man of pickup truck at North Side car wash

The girls mother also found suggestive text messages between her daughter and the man, which were provided to police, according to the affidavit.

If convicted, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
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A North Texas homeowner was arrested this week after allegedly firing a shotgun multiple times to get a group of young people away from his home, hospitalizing one, according to the Grapevine Police Department.

Jason Marcum, 43, faces a charge of deadly conduct in connection to the shooting, a news release said Thursday.
A creative homemaker, wife and mother, Patricia Cronan Vaughan, who died March 31 at 92, also had a flair for business.

When presented with the opportunity to take over the Dennis school uniform store from the previous owner, Vaughan, in her mid-50s at the time, ran with it.

A friend of hers was selling uniforms out of her home, her daughter Martha Krumboltz said. The friend had eight Catholic schools and was going to retire; my mother said, I think that would be fun.

Focusing on customer service while branching out to schools in other cities, Vaughan was so successful she outgrew the space in her home.

Opening a store in Olmos Park, Vaughan moved two more times before she had enough room to keep up with her growth.

She knew about fabric, knew what looked good on different body types, her daughter said. She was also available; one of her clients was St. Marys Hall and they called her Mom.

Born a few years before the Great Depression, Vaughan had a humble childhood raised by her mother and grandmother.

Determined to get an education, she studied architecture in college, only to run out of money before she could graduate.

More Information Patricia Cronan Vaughan Born: Nov. 16, 1923, Newkirk, Oklahoma Died: March 31, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Husband John S. Vaughan; parents Mary Ann Whalen and Basil Gregory Cronan; a brother. Survived by: Daughter Martha Krumboltz and son-in-law Chuck; nieces and nephews. Services: Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. April 21 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 223 E. Summit. See More Collapse

Vaughan met her future husband, who was working for American Airlines at the time, in El Paso, where she had moved for her job with an oil company.

They were both Catholic and Irish, Krumboltz said. It was destined to be.

Moving to San Antonio, where her husband started a career with Prudential Insurance Company, the couple settled in Monte Vista.

It was a really nice upbringing, magical, Krumboltz said. She was a hands-on mother; taught me to cook  sewed all of my outfits.

An award-winning artist, Vaughan was a member of the River Art Group, Inc. and Coppini Academy.

She also volunteered at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and played bridge with her many neighbors.

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, they were serious, Krumboltz recalled. It was not just a game to them.

Taking over the uniform business left Krumboltz little time for her usual activities for more than two decades.

Suffering a heart attack in 2001, at 78, Vaughan was forced to retire, giving her the opportunity to resume her painting career and bridge-playing again.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
A few weeks ago, on my way back to my residence after celebrating mass, I stopped in to Great Hollow Lake in Monroe for a walk.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly. I stood on the bridge watching the waters from the stream rushing down into the lake. New buds on the trees waited to burst into life. All was peace and calm.

As Sister Diane Bergan reminds us, The life that was hidden in the darkness of winter is impatient to appear in all of its glory. Nature itself seems poised to re-enact the drama of death and resurrection.

On this approaching Easter Day, Christians come together to celebrate the glory and joy of Jesuss resurrection. As they enter their churches, they behold the new Easter candle burning brightly, the beautiful Easter lillies, the empty cross draped with a white cloth, the triumphant music, all testament to the glorious truth of the psalm response sung by the congregation: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.

In a sermon that the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, former Archbishop of Chicago, gave one Easter Sunday, he shared a wonderful story with the congregation.

A second-grade teacher was planning to put on an Easter play. All the children had parts. One boy was to play the stone in front of Jesuss tomb. The boy, interestingly, was excited about his part  perhaps too excited.

The teacher tried to calm him down, but to no avail. When the teacher said he could play another role, the boy still wanted to be the stone.

When the teacher asked him why, he proudly told her, Because when I let Jesus out of the tomb, it feels so good!

There was profound Easter wisdom, the cardinal said, in the little boys words.

In a recent article in St. Anthony Messenger magazine, there is a touching story about Pope Francis and his friend, Rabbi Skorka. They became friends in their native Argentina, where they built a friendship around showing anyone who would listen that Jewish and Catholic people have much in common and together can build bonds of love.

In the same article was a photo of the pope, the rab bi and the Argentine Muslim leader Omar Abboud, in an historic embrace at the Western wall in Jerusalem.

What a powerful image to counter the terrible atrocities perpetrated against our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters  vandals desecrating gravestones in Jewish cemeteries and bomb threats in 27 Jewish community centers, and arsonists setting fires to mosques in Florida and Texas.

A few years ago, I was a highly acclaimed film, Of Gods and Men. The film told the story of eight Trappist monks who lived in a small monastery in the mountains of Algeria next to a small peaceful Muslim village.

The monks were very caring for their Muslim friends, treating their medical needs in a small clinic  on e of the monks was a former doctor. They also participated in the various celebrations of their Muslim sisters and brothers, all of whom helped the monks as well. There was a bond of love and respect between the two communities.

This warm relationship was too much for a group of Muslim terrorists, who warned the monks numerous time that they should leave. The monks knew the danger of being killed by the extremists, but felt they had to stay to minister to the villagers.

One terrible night the terrorists suddenly returned and rounded up the monks. As they were being led to their execution, the monks had to be very much aware of the beautiful and consoling words of the Easter hymn: This is the night when Christ broke the prison bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.

These courageous monks were a shining example of love for their Muslim brothers and sisters. The love between Muslims and Christians as depicted in this powerful film is the only real weapon that can eventually destroy the hatred and brutality that extremists perpetrate on so many helpless and innocent people in our world today.

The Rev. Edward Colohan lives at the Queen of Clergy residence in Stamford. Email: vhickey@diobpt.org.
To the editor:

Who could possibly argue against a simpler, fairer tax code and lower taxes? Does anyone seriously think the government is as efficiently using our money as we can ourselves, or that the gargantuan tax code we now must navigate should not be simpler? Many of us are small business people, and no, we cannot simply do our taxes ourselves on computer or phone. More of us want a simpler, fairer tax code than the status quo that robs us blind.

Also whether or not millennials know what a postcard is or not is not a good argument against simplification. It's an argument of ignorance of what "simplification" means. That "postcard" could be filled out online on a phone in a couple of minutes versus today's mess, and the "postcard" term is simply a symbol for simplicity people of all ages can understand. Believe it or not, not "everyone" is a millennial living a virtual life inside a cell phone and paid via a salary by someone else who has to deal with the tax complications.

Complainers love to complain, but our Congress has to get work done; and a simpler, fairer tax code is what we grown-up taxpayers need and demand.

Merry Wise

Willis

No changing these views

To the editor:

Let me say a great big thank you to B.P Herrington. I am happy you pointed out everything that was wrong with my letter.

Number one: If Obama wanted to bomb Syria but needed Congress approval, OK. But why did President Trump do it without their approval? I said and still say Obama had no backbone. If he is not a "member" of the Muslim brotherhood, he sure acts like it to me. I did not see him do one thing to any Muslim that harmed America, but I am sure you can tell me about it.

Number Two: So you don't like me calling democronies that name, too bad. Because that is what I am going to call them till one of them shows me he is not a cronie and does not follow what he is told to do and how to vote. My dad voted Democrat all his life and his answer when I ask him why was, "That's the way the union tells us to vote and that is the way to vote." Nothing against the unions or anyone in them; but growing up, that was the only way to vote if you were in the union. My dad voted Democrat all his life as well as my mother. But we never agreed on how to vote or who to vote for. So if you don't like being called a democronie, too bad. You are stuck with it from me.

Number three: Won't go into what I think of Rand Paul, just say I don't like him.

Again, thank you, Mr. Herrington, glad we could have this little talk and know that we each have an opinion on things and will continue to air them. That is one of the great things about this country: You can say what you want about someone or something and not get "removed" for it. Can't say the same about other countries in this world.

B. K. Morgan

Conroe

Nothing fake about town hall

To the editor:

Representative Kevin Brady's characterization of the town hall as "fake" is patently false and a slap in the face to his local constituents who worked so hard to put it together. None of us were paid, few if any, were out of district. We have serious concerns about repeal/replace health care, immigration and the environment, to name a few. My deep, ongoing concern is the Trump-Russia connections.

B.P. Herrington's letter was accurate and spot on.

Glenna Sloan
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OK, lets imagine you are sitting in traffic, thinking about whom to vote for mayor.

You are sick and tired of the rush-hour parking lots, also known as our roads. And you know that all the transportation experts say building more roads isnt the answer to relieve congestion. The real trick is getting people out of their cars.

Of the Big Three candidates  Mayor Ivy Taylor, City Councilman Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina  who is most likely to make your commute better?

They are very different candidates, but on this issue, all three are starting from a point of consensus. Everyone agrees VIA Metropolitan Transit is woefully underfunded. Everyone agrees on the necessity of some form of rail someday. From there, though, the outlooks diverge.

Lets start with VIA, which gets most of its revenue from a half-cent sales tax, far less than similar transportation authorities. Its fair to say VIA does more with less.

Since everyone agrees VIA is underfunded, how do we boost funding to improve service and hopefully get more people off the roads?

Nirenberg said he would revive a plan from District 4 City Councilman Rey Saldana that would have transferred money from the citys general fund to VIA, ramping up to $10 million in 2020. Council demurred on the vote, citing vague concerns about state and federal funding cuts.

But Nirenberg said bus service is a priority, and even if the state cut funding to the city, it wouldnt make sense to cut VIA to make up the difference.

The problem with that vote is not just that we got it wrong, but the reason for it being wrong, he said.

But $10 million isnt nearly enough to transform bus service, and Nirenberg was silent about the much trickier issue of a greater funding source.

This was Taylors starting point.

We will either need an innovative, sustainable new funding source for VIA, or we need to look at the priorities we have already put in place in relationship to the sales tax, she said.

The catch is, shes not aware of a new funding source. That only leaves shifting existing sales tax funding from one of those priorities. One potential target would be Pre-K 4 SA, the citys vaunted early childhood education program.

Taylor didnt commit to a funding switch, just a robust discussion.

I would say that its not a sacred cow, she said of Pre-K 4 SA.

Medina said he would lobby the White House for infrastructure funding for VIA. The infrastructure funding could then give VIA more flexibility with other dollars, he said. To increase bus service, he would then look at other funding sources and maybe move around something here and there.

For someone who has said he will be the transportation mayor, Medina was pretty vague, especially on rail. He said he will build commuter rail from here to Austin. But he didnt say how. Hes a populist. How doesnt matter.

Rail between here and Austin is the most feasible immediately as far as selling to the public, Taylor said. But as for commuter rail in the city, she said we have some work to do in improving density and showing clear rail corridors.

Its hard to know where to put the rail to be able to sell it to people to say its actually going to impact them and their lives, she said.

Nirenberg differed, saying he would risk his political capital on rail.

I am going to bring a package of light rail reforms and mass transit to the voters to see if they want this, he said. And I have confidence that people in San Antonio are bold enough to think we dont have to be sitting in traffic any longer.

But Nirenberg didnt make clear what that funding source would be. In most cases around the country, funding for rail comes from sales tax dollars, VIA Metropolitan Transit President and CEO Jeff Arndt said in an interview. Rental car and parking fees might be potential funding sources.

Generally, this bolsters Taylors point about sales tax priorities. The pie is limited, and the state probably wont make the pie bigger. If rail or even improved bus service is a real local priority, then something will have to change with those sales tax dollars.

Nirenbergs boldness is admirable, and so is Taylors realism. Ideally, the next mayor would mix the two. Something needs to be done, but to make it happen likely requires an uncomfortable choice about spending.

We could always do nothing  as we have  but thats a proven way to go nowhere fast.

jbrodesky@express-news.net
The Trump foreign policy team has been all over the map on what to do next in Syria  topple the regime, intensify aid to rebels, respond to any new attacks on innocent civilians. But when pressed, there is one idea everyone on the team seems to agree on: The defeat of ISIS, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson put it.

But, why should our goal right now be to defeat the Islamic State in Syria? Of course, ISIS is detestable and needs to be eradicated. But is it really in our interest to be focusing solely on defeating ISIS in Syria right now?

Lets go through the logic: There are actually two ISIS manifestations.

One is virtual ISIS. It is satanic, cruel and amorphous and has adherents across Europe and the Muslim world. That ISIS is the primary threat to us, because it has found ways to deftly pump out Sunni jihadi ideology that inspires and gives permission to those Muslims on the fringes of society who feel humiliated to recover their dignity via headline-grabbing murders of innocents.

The other incarnation is territorial ISIS. It still controls pockets in western Iraq and larger sectors of Syria. Its goal is to defeat Bashar Assads regime in Syria  plus its Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah allies  and to defeat the pro-Iranian Shiite regime in Iraq, replacing both with a caliphate.

Challenge No. 1: Not only will virtual ISIS, which has nodes all over the world, not go away even if territorial ISIS is defeated, I believe virtual ISIS will become yet more virulent to disguise the fact that it has lost the territorial caliphate to its archenemies.

Challenge No. 2: Americas goal in Syria is to create enough pressure on Assad, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah so they will negotiate a power-sharing accord with moderate Sunni Muslims that would also ease Assad out of power. One way to do that would be for NATO to create a no-fly safe zone around Idlib province, where many of the anti-Assad rebels have gathered and where Assad recently dropped his poison gas on civilians. But Congress and the U.S. public are clearly wary of that.

So what else could we do? We could dramatically increase our military aid to anti-Assad rebels, giving them sufficient anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to threaten Russian, Iranian, Hezbollah and Syrian helicopters and fighter jets and make them bleed, maybe enough to want to open negotiations.

And we could simply back off fighting territorial ISIS in Syria and make it entirely a problem for Iran, Russia, Hezbollah and Assad. After all, theyre the ones overextended in Syria, not us. Make them fight a two-front war. If we defeat territorial ISIS in Syria now, we will only reduce the pressure on Assad, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah and enable them to devote all their resources to crushing the last moderate rebels in Idlib, not sharing power with them.

I dont get it. President Donald Trump is offering to defeat ISIS in Syria for free  and then pivot to strengthening the moderate anti-Assad rebels. When was the last time Trump did anything for free?

This is a time for Trump to be Trump  utterly cynical and unpredictable. ISIS right now is the biggest threat to Iran, Hezbollah, Russia and pro-Shiite Iranian militias  because ISIS is a Sunni terrorist group that plays as dirty as Iran and Russia.

Trump should want to defeat ISIS in Iraq. But in Syria? Not for free, not now.

Yes, in the long run we want to crush ISIS everywhere, but the only way to crush ISIS and keep it crushed on the ground is if we have moderate Sunnis in Syria and Iraq able and willing to replace it. And those will only emerge if there are real power-sharing deals in Syria and Iraq.

And where is Trumps Twitter feed when we need it? He should be tweeting every day this message: Russia, Iran and Hezbollah have become the protectors of a Syrian regime that uses poison gas on babies! Babies! Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, Assad  poison gas enablers. Sad.

We need to make them own what theyve become  enablers of a Syria that uses poison gas on children. Believe it or not, they wont like being labeled that way.

Syria is not a knitting circle. Everyone there plays dirty, deviously and without mercy. Wheres that Trump when we need him?

Thomas Friedman writes a column for the New York Times.
Its rare we agree with Americans for Prosperity, a Koch brothers outfit, but its just as rare to see a Texas lawmaker promote a tax that would be so obviously bad for Texas.

The 20 percent border adjustment tax backed by U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, the House Ways and Means chairman, would hurt consumers and businesses. Its a terrible idea, and Brady should drop it.

A recent study from Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners ranked Texas as one of the 10 states hardest hit from a 20 percent tax on all imports. The study estimates business taxes in Texas would skyrocket along with consumer prices, swamping retail. The auto industry, which employs thousands of Texans, would be particularly hard hit.

This last point reflects one of the nuances of U.S.-Mexico trade so often lost in the political rhetoric. Our supply chain is integrated so a tax on imports would raise the price of production. An engine manufactered in the U.S. will include numerous components manufactured in Mexico, or vice versa.

Some Republican lawmakers view a 20 percent border tax as a way to make broader tax-reform revenue neutral for 10 years. Achieving this would avoid the possibility of a fillibuster in the U.S. Senate. But what good is avoiding a fillibuster if you are clinging to a bad idea that hurts Texas?

Thats a real nonstarter, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said. It would really hurt the Texas economy.

His Texas colleague, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, a Republican, has also called the border tax a nonstarter, saying he prefers massive spending cuts (equally unrealistic). And U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has expressed concerns about it.

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor has said she views the border tax as more of a threat to our economy than renegotiating NAFTA.

Bipartisan agreement at all levels of government is quite a feat in this day and age. The border tax is bad for our economy. Brady should find other ways to accomplish tax reform.
Ford Motor Co. has issued a recall for 52,600 F-250 pickup trucks after determining the vehicles can roll after the driver shifts the automatic transmission lever into the park position.

About the Ford F-250 Recall

According to reports, the recall affects 2017 model year F-250 vehicles with 6.2-liter gasoline engines. All the recalled trucks were built in Fords Louisville, Kentucky truck plant. In a statement, Ford said they were not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with the defect.

A similar recall involving made headline news last year when Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a roll-away accident involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

A lawsuit has been filed against Fiat Chrysler by Yelchins parents.

Other Recent Ford Recalls

Two other recalls were issued by Ford last week.

The first involved 211,000 vehicles equipped with potentially defective door latches. The defective latches could result in car doors opening while the vehicle is in motion.

The second involved 230,000 vehicles that are prone to engine compartment fires. Ford reported 29 fires related to the issue.

Contact an Experienced Auto Recall Attorney

Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys are leaders in the area of product liability litigation. Our Defective Drug and Products Division has extensive knowledge and resources in order to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. We represent a multitude of people who are battling against manufacturers of defective vehicles and auto parts.

Your choice does matter. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries because of a recalled vehicle or defective auto part, call Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys immediately. We represent clients/victims all over the country. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Man of the people MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday finally reached out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa by calling for dialogue between his party of excellence and Zanu-PF.

He said the opposition party will try to rope in regional countries to facilitate the envisaged talks.

Chamisas overtures  made at the memorial service of the late MDC president and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at Humanikwa Village in Buhera, Manicaland, yesterday  come barely three days after he threatened to roll out protests, which have often turned violent.

We do not want to remove Zanu-PF by force, but for our agenda to move forward (as a country), there has to be political dialogue. Dialogue between Zanu-PF and the MDC, dialogue between President Mnangagwa and us, said Chamisa.

After congress, I am going around Sadc lobbying for the regional bloc to come and assist us and work with us, he said.

The MDC-Alliance has been snubbing the useless national political parties dialogue initiated by President Mnangagwa with 18 small opposition parties that contested in last years general elections and failed to win even a single local government seat.

However, for the first time since the July 30 harmonised elections, Chamisa acknowledged President Mnangagwa and thanked him for extending support towards the memorial service.

Whenever something good has been done, we have to acknowledge.

If you accept me as a leader you listen to me, allow me to thank the presence of members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who are maintaining order here. . .

I differ with Mnangagwa in a lot of things, but when good things have been done, we should acknowledge, he said.

The memorial, which degenerated into a political rally of the opposition party, also brought to the fore current tensions within the fractious party. The partys high-ranking officials, vice president Engineer Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, were sidelined, with the latter seated at the back row.

Speaking at the same event, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java  daughter to the late politician and Glen View South Member of Parliament  described her father as a unifier. She thanked Government for supporting her late fathers memorial.

Our father was a unifier who managed to bring all Zimbabweans together. This memorial is important to us as we celebrate his life. It helps in bringing closure to the sad chapter of losing him, she said.

I reiterate the call in thanking Government for the logistical and material support they rendered during this memorial, we are very appreciative of that, she said.

Mr Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer in February 2018 and was buried at his rural home. On Friday, Government dispatched two graders to clear the road linking Murambinda Road to Mr Tsvangirais homestead and also provided food for the memorial service.

President Mnangagwa has been supporting the Tsvangirai family even throughout the illness of the former opposition leader.

Government provided air tickets for family members who visited him in South Africa when he was receiving treatment.

It also paid hospitals bills, ferried Tsvangirais body to its final resting place.

Furthermore, it continues to pay tuition fees for the late leaders children in Australia and South Africa.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa described Governments gesture as consistent with President Mnangagwas commitment to unity and peace.

It is in the spirit of oneness that President Mnangagwa is showing this gesture. . . she said.

 SundayMail

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Yves here. Grist has an optimistic house style, so one needs to read through that gathering information from their posts. Nevertheless, Im skeptical of carbon sinks as a magic bullet for greenhouse gasses, and the idea that dirt might work better due to supposedly positive side effects (we need even more cultivation!) seems questionable. Human food needs are the overwhelming cause of species loss, via habitat destruction. And fewer species means a much less stable, meaning more disaster-prone, ecosystem.

Another concern is that energy costs and side effects (carbon emissions), food, and water need to be addressed in an integrated manner. I cringed when I see the post use rice as a model crop. Rice is water-intensive to grow and clean water is going to be one of the first resources to become scarce.

All that said, this is a very well-reported post, so readers should be able to form their own views.

By Nathanael Johnson. Originally published at Grist

What Jonathan Sanderman really wanted was some old dirt. He called everyone he could think of who might know where he could get some. He emailed colleagues and read through old studies looking for clues, but he kept coming up empty.

Sanderman was looking for old dirt because it would let him test a plan to save the world. Soil scientists had been talking about this idea for decades: farmers could turn their fields into giant greenhouse gas sponges, potentially offsetting as much as 15 percent of global fossil fuel emissions a year, simply by coaxing crops to suck more CO2 out of the air.

There was one big problem with this idea: It could backfire. When plants absorb CO2 they either turn it into food or stash it in the ground. The risk is that if you treat farms as carbon banks, it could lead to smaller harvests, which would spur farmers to plow more land and pump more carbon into the air than before.

Back in 2011, when Sanderman was working as a soil scientist in Australia (hes now at Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts), hed figured out a way to test if it was possible to produce bumper crops on a piece of land while also banking carbon in it. But first, he needed to get his hands on that really old dirt.

Specifically, he needed to find a farm that kept decades of soil samples and precise records of its yields. That way he could compare the amount of carbon in the soil with the harvest and see if storing carbon kneecapped production.

Sandermans office was in the southern city of Adelaide, directly across the street from the Waite Agricultural Research Institute. The researchers there supposedly had the soil and records that Sanderman needed, dating back to 1925. But no one had any idea where to find the dirt. After numerous dead ends, a chain of clues led Sanderman into the basement of a big research building down the road, covered in greenhouses.

The basement was a big, dimly lit room full of floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with boxes in various stages of disarray. He walked the rows slowly, scanning up and down until they were in front of his nose: scores of gallon jars made of thick, leaded glass with yellowing labels. Like something youd find in a second-hand store and put on your shelf, Sanderman says.



He felt a rush of excitement. Then he squinted at the labels. There were no dates or locations. Instead, each bore a single series of numbers. It was a code, and Sanderman had no clue how to crack it.

* * *

The question that Sanderman wanted to answer was laid out by the Canadian soil scientist Henry Janzen. In 2006, Janzen published a paper, The soil carbon dilemma: Shall we hoard it or use it? Janzen pointed out that since the dawn of agriculture, farmers have been breeding crops that suck carbon out of the air and put it on our plates, rather than leaving it behind in the soil.

Grain is 45 percent carbon by weight, Janzen told me. So when you truck away a load of grain, you are exporting carbon which, in a natural system, would have mostly returned to the soil.

Janzen has the rare ability to explain complicated things with such clarity that, when talking to him, you may catch yourself struck with wonder at an utterly new glimpse of how the world works. Plants, he explained, perform a kind of alchemy. They combine air, water, and the suns fire to make food. And this alchemical combination that we call food is, in fact, a battery  a molecular trap for the suns energy made of broken-down CO2 and H2O (you know, air and water).

Sugars are the simplest batteries. And sugars are also the building blocks for fat and fiber, which are just bigger, more complicated batteries. Ferns, trees, and reeds are the sum of those parts. Bury these batteries for thousands of years under conditions of immense heat and pressure, and they transform again  still carrying the suns energy  into coal, oil, and gas.

To feed our growing population, we keep extracting more and more carbon from farms to deliver solar energy to our bodies. Janzen pointed out that weve bred crops to grow bigger seeds (the parts we eat) and smaller roots and stems (the parts that stay on the farm). All of this diverts carbon to our bellies that would otherwise go into the ground. This leads to what Janzen dubbed the soil carbon dilemma: Can we both increase soil carbon and increase harvests? Or do we have to pick one at the expense of the other?

* * *

Sanderman thought he could help answer those questions if he could crack the codes on those glass bottles. But the codes on the labels didnt line up with the notes that Waite researchers had made. After a flurry of anguished emails, Sanderman tracked down a technician who had worked at Waite 25 years earlier, and she showed him how to decode the numbers. Finally, after a year of detective work, he could run his tests.

In January, Sanderman and his colleagues published their results. Carbon wasnt simply going into the ground and staying there, they found; it was getting chewed up by microbes and floating into the air again. Fields with the biggest harvests had the most carbon turnover: more microbes chewing, while carbon gas streamed out of the soil.

Bizarrely enough, these same fields with the biggest harvests also had the most carbon in their soils. How could this be?

To answer that, it helps to think of carbon like money. We have an impulse to hide our savings under a mattress. But if you want more money, you have to invest it.

Its the same with carbon. Life on earth is an economy that runs on carbon  the conduit for the suns energy. You have to keep it working and moving if you want your deposits to grow. The more busily plants and microbes trade carbon molecules, the more prosperous the ecological economy becomes.

Thats the key  youve got to use carbon to store carbon. By amping up harvest and turning up the volume on the microbes, sure, you get higher carbon emissions, but you also get more vigorous plants sucking up even more carbon. That, in turn, gives the plants enough carbon to produce a big harvest with a surplus left over to feed the dirt.

You can have your soil carbon and eat it, too, Sanderman says.

* * *

Is all this too good to be true? Soil scientist Whendee Silver at U.C. Berkeley had some reservations about Sandermans methods. She wondered if the Australian soils that he studied might have changed during decades of storage, and if the results would have been different if researchers had looked at more than just the top 10 centimeters of soil.

That said, Silver thought Sandermans conclusions made sense: Grow more stuff, and you get more carbon left behind in the soil. Rattan Lal, director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at Ohio State, also gave the study his seal of approval.

The implications are huge. The study suggests we can slow climate change simply by feeding people. But theres a gap between discovering something and putting it to use.

Solving one puzzle often opens up many, many more. Humphry Davy invented the electric light in 1802, but lightbulbs werent available for regular use until Thomas Edisons day, 75 years later.

In this case, Sandermans sleuthing provides a proof of concept. To apply it, farmers would have to get more plants turning carbon to sugars on every acre of land. Now scientists and policy makers just need to find the barriers that prevent farmers from putting this knowledge into practice.

One issue is that the high-yield Australian fields in Sandermans study were growing grass, not wheat or corn. Grass directs its carbon into roots that stay in the soil, while grains are bred to shove carbon into their seeds. That doesnt compromise the point of the study; the grass was still able to produce tons of hay for harvest while also making the dirt carbon-rich.

But it does add a new riddle: How do we get food crops to act like grass and spend more of their carbon budget on their roots, while still producing bountiful harvests?

The simplest answer, Janzen says, would be to boost yields. Anything farmers can do to allow more plants to thrive  like improving nutrition, irrigation, and protection from insects  will mean more carbon flowing into the soil. And in the long run, breeding for more roots as well as more grain will be a key to getting carbon into the ground without losing food production. Ultimately, that requires improving on photosynthesis, which is as difficult as putting a man on the moon (yep, scientists are working on it).

Another approach is to grow plants on fields that would otherwise be bare. By rolling out a carpet of green during the winter, farms could suck more carbon from the air into the soil. Some farmers are already doing this  growing cover crops like clover and ryegrass and experimenting with a suite of techniques often called climate-smart agriculture.

But theres yet another barrier here: money. For farmers, the costs of planting cover crops often outweigh the immediate benefits. Thats why Ohio States Lal argues that farmers should get some help. We have to recognize that farmers are making an investment that benefits society as a whole, she says. They should be compensated. My estimate is $16 per acre per year.

Some companies have already started paying farmers to employ these techniques, says Roger Wolf, director of the Iowa Soy Associations environmental programs. These corporations see a trend toward sustainability, with more of their customers pushing for environmental stewardship, and are trying to get out in front of it. The food and cosmetics giant Unilever and the grain trader ADM offer farmers a premium price for adhering to practices that accrue carbon.

Ever since people began pushing seeds into the dirt, weve been eating away the carbon from our topsoil. Now were finally developing the knowledge necessary to pump that carbon back into the ground. We have a proof of concept and Sanderman has taken the next logical step: Hes working on creating the tools farmers need to put this knowledge into practice. Its one more link in the chain humans are forging to hold back the worst ravages of climate change.
Yves here. This Real News Network segment gives a high-level overview of American-North Korean hostilities, and suggests that South Korea could de-escalate matters. While in theory true, there seem to be some large impediments. First, China does not want a unified Korea, and query what a less warlike co-existence might look like. Second, North Korea is an economic basket case. In theory, the best way out would be a massive bribe to help improve living conditions. But the US does not operate that way, and North Korea is such a mess that even if we did, the cost would be unacceptable to the American public. And third, as Lambert points out, South Korea is in the midst of an earth-shaking political crisis. It would seem doubtful that a new government on such a shaky footing could implement a radical policy change with respect to North Korea, even if a clearly better plan of action existed.

AARON MATE: its The Real News. Im Aaron Mate.

Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea are rising. North Korea has warned the U.S. that sending a navy strike group, including the aircraft carrier Karl Vincent to the Korean Peninsula, could lead to war. North Koreas official newspaper said its, quote, nuclear sight is focused on U.S. forces and the U.S. mainland.

A new ballistic missile test last week is said to have prompted the Trump administrations move, sending a U.S. navy force into the area. In a Twitter post President Trump said, quote, 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.

Joining us is Christine Hong, Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz. She is on the executive board of the Korea Policy Institute. Welcome, Professor Hong.

CHRISTINE HONG: Thanks, Aaron.

AARON MATE: This is not the first time that the U.S. has moved a navy force into that peninsula, but the first time its done so under President Trump. Talk about whats going on.

CHRISTINE HONG: Well, I mean, you raise a very interesting point. You know, the question is to what degree is Trumps hawkish, very aggressive, bellicose stance toward North Korea a continuation of the policies of his predecessors? And, in fact, it was Trump the candidate who struck a very different note. If you recall roughly a year ago Trump stated, when he was on the campaign trail, that he would be willing  and this is a very maverick statement  to actually sit down with Kim Jong-un and speak with him. And it was that that represented the possibility of something different.

Whats happening right now, unfortunately, is business as usual. And, in point of fact, under President Barack Obama, the policy that was carried out, the U.S. policy that was carried out with regard to Asia and the Pacific, was what he called his pivot policy. Under that pivot policy, that was later called the rebalancing policy, the balance of U.S. naval forces went from the Atlantic to the Pacific, so that 60% are concentrated now in the Pacific.

Whereas a lot of people are looking at Trump right now and rightly recognizing that his very aggressive language is bringing us to the brink of something very dangerous, we were on the brink during the past presidency, as well.

AARON MATE: When North Korea launches a ballistic test, what should the U.S. do?

CHRISTINE HONG: You know, unfortunately right now, were in this very lamentable situation in which North Koreas launching of these tests is a kind of way of communicating with the United States. Much as Trumps air strike was also meant, as his administration openly admitted, to be a form of communication with North Korea, as well. And so, we have this sort of very dangerous mode of communication where these kinds of bombs, bombs are substituting for actual dialogue.

So, I would say that right now Trump is sort of walking a very tried and true, regime change oriented path that many of his predecessors have also walked along. That if theres any way for Trump the maverick who is willing to sit down with Kim Jong-un, if theres any possibility of that, I think that that is one of the only ways forward.

AARON MATE: There have been talks between the U.S. and North Korea before. There was the agreement in the 90s between Clinton and the North Korean regime to get North Korea to freeze its plutonium production. These agreements worked for a bit, but then they collapsed. Can you talk about the history of recent U.S.-North Korean engagement and how we got to where we are today?

CHRISTINE HONG: You know, I think that we have to actually look at the long history, and then look at the more recent history. From its very inception as a state, North Korea has been subjected to a policy that we can just broadly call regime change on the part of the United States. You can understand the Korean War, an extensive campaign, an asymmetrical war that was aimed at regime change. And you can understand more recent policy in that same light.

But, youre very right. At the end of the Clinton administration there was the possibility of engagement. And when George W. Bush came into office he adopted what was known as the ABC policy, the All But Clinton Policy. And as Im sure your viewers recall, he nominated North Korea as part of the infamous Axis of Evil. And also, the other thing that happened during his administration is that, as part of the U.S. nuclear posture review, it listed North Korea among several other states as a likely and possible target of a pre-emptive U.S. nuclear strike.

From mid-century onward, the United States has had a very aggressive nuclear policy toward North Korea. It contemplated using nuclear weapons against North Korea and China at mid-century. And, in fact, some of the U.S. strategic planners envisioned a kind of Cobalt Zone where no life could live for hundreds of years.

Against the conditions of the Armistice Agreement, which was concluded in July of 1953, the U.S. stationed  and this was illegal  nuclear weapons on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula until the end of the Cold War. Over a dozen times the United States has threatened North Korea with nuclear annihilation. But if you look at this long history you can understand that, from North Koreas perspective, its eminently rational to actually develop a nuclear weapons program as a self-defense measure.

And I also do want to say that one thing that very few people in the United States have is a memory of ruin, in terms of its hot wars during the Cold War. Throughout the Cold War the United States waged really destructive hot wars in the Third World, most infamously on the Korean Peninsula and in Vietnam. And, you know, an estimated 4 million people  Koreans  were killed during that asymmetrical war in which the United States unleashed bombs with absolutely no regard for human life. 70% of those who were killed were civilians. Chinese statistics have North Korean casualties at one/third of the total population.

And so, when youre talking about North Koreas memory, in terms of people who are alive today, theres not a family that was untouched by the ruination of the Korean War.

AARON MATE: Okay. So, youre saying that this very devastating and long history fuels some of the antagonism that North Korea projects towards the U.S. today. Going back to the devastating Korean War.

But what to do now? I mean, people look at the Korean regime and say, you know, this is the worst government in the world. How do we deal with them? Whats your response to that?

CHRISTINE HONG: I just say that the primary ways that we know North Korea are through lenses of war. And so, you know, if there are other ways of engaging with North Korea, and this is the other thing, too, throughout the presidency of Barack Obama there was absolutely no engagement with North Korea. And I think that that is one of those options that, you know, supposedly, the Trump administration has stated that all options are on the table, and thats meant very ominously. You know, I mean, were made to understand that a nuclear first strike is possible. But I hope that one of those options is also engagement.

AARON MATE: And what would engagement look like?

CHRISTINE HONG: It would look like a much more humane policy toward North Korea. Right now, the United States, against the wishes of the South Korean people, is deploying what they call a missile defense system, the THAAD battery to South Korea. And it accelerated that under Donald Trump. The people in the communities in which these systems will be located have actually really protested against this.

And that was also part of the protests against the former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, that you saw those massive, millions of people who went to the streets in South Korea, that was one of the issues that was animating those protests.

Another way in which engagement would appear would be it would be actually North Korea has repeatedly stated that its willing to cap its nuclear program  not do away with, but cap its nuclear program  if the United States stops performing war exercises with South Korea. And these are the largest war exercises in the world.

AARON MATE: Can there be direct talks now between the Trump administration and North Korea?

CHRISTINE HONG: You know, I think the interesting thing about Trump is if his predecessor, Barack Obama, had a policy of strategic patience toward North Korea, Trumps has been strategic unpredictability, and strategic opaqueness, with the threat of a nuclear first strike thrown in. Im not sure whats possible at this present juncture because things do seem so dire.

But it was Trump the candidate who did speak in very unorthodox fashion about being willing to actually sit down with Kim Jong-un. And if thats at all possible now, Id say that thats one of the only pathways forward.

The other thing thats happening is although the Trump administration is speaking to its conservative counterpart in South Korea, as you well know, the South Korean president was ousted. And all signs suggest that the next administration in South Korea is going to be progressive. And so, thats a wind of change thats happening. And in actually in planning its North Korea policy, the Trump administration cant but deal with South Korea. And so, we do have change thats happening there and that actually suggests another sort of possibility of engagement.

AARON MATE: Professor Christine Hong of UC Santa Cruz, thanks so much for joining us.

CHRISTINE HONG: Thank you very much.

AARON MATE: And thank you for joining us on The Real News.
Newly funded nanoparticle research project targets abdominal aortic aneurysms (Nanowerk News) One of the top ten killers for men older than 55 is the target of Clemson University research that could lead to a new life-saving therapy and a better way of telling whether surgery is necessary.

Naren Vyavahare, who holds the Hunter Endowed Chair, has received $1.47 million from the National Institutes of Health to advance research into abdominal aortic aneurysms. When they rupture, the aneurysms are fatal 75-90 percent of the time without immediate hospitalization, he said.

Naren Vyavahare of Clemson University is working on new ways of treating and diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysms.

About 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, often called AAA, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery.

While Vyavahare's work is at least 10 years from market, he hopes it could eventually ease anxiety and prevent surgery for thousands of patients. More than 70,000 surgeries are performed each year, he said.

"When someone finds an aneurysm, it's a time bomb sitting in your stomach," Vyavahare said. "Our research could lead to a new therapy. Right now, the only therapy is a vascular graft, which is surgical treatment. We are thinking, 'Can a patient have a systemic therapy, such as an injection they can take?'"

Vyavahare has two aims in the research, both using specially engineered nanoparticles that are 250-fold smaller than the width of a human hair and circulate through the bloodstream.

One aim is to develop a new treatment. The nanoparticles would attach to the aneurysm and deliver the chemical compound pentagalloyl glucose (PGG). Previous studies in animals have shown that PGG stabilizes and shrinks aortic aneurysms, making them less likely to rupture.

Another aim is to improve diagnosis. Vyavahare is also using gold nanoparticles to develop a new way of creating medical images that could identify aneurysms' weak spots, helping tell if surgery is necessary. The gold nanoparticles would accumulate at the damaged tissue so that a CT scan could help give a better diagnosis of weakened tissue.

"Imaging can give you the option--maybe you should go for therapy or maybe you need surgery if it's too weak and you can't wait," Vyavahare said.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the body's main artery. It runs from the heart to the abdomen, distributing oxygenated blood throughout the body.

An aneurysm is caused by a thinning and weakening of the vessel wall. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, hardened arteries and smoking are risk factors for aortic aneurysm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The statistics are grim when the aneurysm ruptures. It's the 15th leading cause of death in the country, and the 10th leading cause of death in men older than 55, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery.

The nanoparticles in Vyavahare's research are coated with an elastin antibody, causing them to attach to the degraded elastin, a protein in the aneurysm.

Vyavahare described elastin as the "rubber band of life" and said it's the body's version of elastic material, making it possible for arteries to push blood forward. Inflammatory conditions in aneurysms lead to elastin degradation.

When carried by nanoparticles, a small amount of PGG can be used to stabilize and restore elastin. Without the nanoparticles, so much PGG would be needed that it would be toxic.

Martine LaBerge, chair of the Department of Bioengineering, said the grant, an R01, was well-deserved.

"Dr. Vyavahare is a leading researcher in his field with more than 20 years' experience," she said. "His background in chemistry combined with his clinical experience uniquely qualifies him to lead this project."

Doctors face difficult decisions when deciding whether the risk of aneurysm rupture justifies surgery because patients are often elderly and have other health issues. Vascular grafts are typically recommended when aneurysms reach 5 centimeters in diameter.

The diameter increase is monitored with ultrasounds and CT scans that are often enhanced with large amounts of iodinated contrast agents. The toxicity of those agents have been debated, and the scans do not provide information about the extent of aortic wall damage.

Vyavahare sees the gold nanoparticles as a promising substitute for the iodinated contrast agents. Only a small amount of gold nanoparticles would be needed, he said. They would go only to the degraded elastin, allowing doctors to get vital information about the extent of damage.

Vyavahare's work has also raised hopes that nanoparticles could be used to treat other ailments involving elastin degradation, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly called COPD.

A Clemson group that included Vyavahare used the nanoparticles to successfully deliver the drug doxycycline to rats with emphysema, which is often a part of COPD. The research showed promise as a way of controlling inflammation, halting further damage to the lungs.

That research was reported in the journal Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics ("Targeted drug delivery to emphysematous lungs: Inhibition of MMPs by doxycycline loaded nanoparticles"). The next step is to try the method in larger animals, Vyavahare said.

Anand Gramopadhye, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, said that Vyavahare's research is helping engineer better medicines, one of the grand challenges identified by the National Academy of Engineering.
A quantum low pass for photons (Nanowerk News) The probability to find a certain number of photons inside a laser pulse usually corresponds to a classical distribution of independent events, the so-called Poisson-distribution. There are, however, light sources with non-classical photon number distributions that can only be described by the laws of quantum mechanics.

A well-known example is the single-photon source that may find application in quantum cryptography for secret key distribution or in quantum networks for connecting quantum memories and processors. However, for many applications in nonlinear quantum optics light pulses with a certain fixed number of photons, e.g. two, three or four, are highly desirable.

A team of scientists from the Quantum Dynamics Division of Professor Gerhard Rempe at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (Garching near Munich) has now succeeded to make the first steps in this direction. Using a strongly coupled atom-cavity system, they were the first to observe the so-called two-photon blockade: the system emits at most two photons at the same time since its storage capacity is limited to that number (Physical Review Letters, "Two-Photon Blockade in an Atom-Driven Cavity QED System").

Illustration of the two-photon blockade. Top: Irradiated by a laser pulse a single atom in free space can absorb and emit only one photon at a time, without constraints on the direction of the photons. Middle: A system consisting of a cavity can absorb and emit an unlimited number of photons. Bottom: In case of the strongly coupled atom-cavity system the frequency of the laser light can be chosen such that the system can store and emit two photons at maximum. (Image: MPQ, Quantum Dynamics Division)

A naive approach for generating a stream of single photons would be to sufficiently attenuate the intensity of a laser beam. But in this case the number of photons still varies from pulse to pulse, and only when averaging over many pulses a mean photon number of one is observed.

Applications instead require a fixed number of exactly one photon per pulse. The fluctuations of the photon number per pulse can be strongly reduced by using a single atom as a single-photon source. When the atom is illuminated by a laser beam, it can absorb only one photon at a time, thereby making a transition from the ground state to an excited state. A second photon can only be absorbed after the atom has fallen back to the ground state by emitting a photon. Therefore, no more than one photon is detected in the emitted light field at the same time, an effect that is known as single-photon blockade.

In order to extend this principle to a two-photon blockade one has to go beyond a single atom and look for a system that can store more than one photon, but not more than two. To this end, the MPQ physicists combine the single atom with a cavity that provides additional storage capacities.

A cavity can absorb an unlimited number of photons and exhibits a correspondingly large number of energy states that lie  similar to a ladder  in exactly the same distance from each other. Inserting a single atom into the cavity introduces a nonlinear element. This causes the energy levels to split by a different amount for each of the ladder steps. Hence, laser light can excite the system only up to the level to which it is tuned to.

The number of photons that can be stored is thus limited to a certain number, and therefore, not more photons than that can be emitted.

In the experiment, the physicists hold a single rubidium atom in an optical trap inside a cavity made of two high-finesse mirrors. The frequency of the incoming laser beam is tuned to an energy level requiring the absorption of two photons for its excitation. During the five seconds of atom storage time around 5000 measurement cycles are carried out, during which the system is irradiated by a probe laser and emission from the cavity is recorded via single-photon detectors.

Interestingly, the fluctuations in the number of emitted photons does strongly depend on whether we excite the cavity or the atom, points out the project leader Dr. Tatjana Wilk. The effect that the absorption of two photons suppresses further absorption leading to emission of two or less photons is only achieved in case of atomic excitation. This quantum effect does not appear when we excite the cavity. In this case, we observe an enhanced signal of three and more photons per light pulse.

Christoph Hamsen, doctoral candidate at the experiment, explains the underlying processes: When the atom is excited we are dealing with the interplay between two conflicting mechanisms. On the one hand, the atom can absorb only one photon at a time. On the other hand, the strongly coupled atom-cavity system is resonant with a two-photon transition. This interplay leads to a sequence of light pluses with a non-classical photon distribution. And Nicolas Tolazzi, another doctoral candidate, adds: We were able to observe this behaviour in correlations between detected photons where the coincidence of three photons was significantly suppressed compared to the expectation for the classical case.
Self-cleaning membranes for sustainable desalination (Nanowerk News) An advanced water treatment membrane made of electrically conductive nanofibers developed at Masdar Institute was highlighted by Dr. Raed Hashaikeh, Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Masdar Institute, in his keynote speech during the 3rd International Conference on Desalination using Membrane Technology held last week in Spain.

Self-cleaning membranes offer a critically needed solution to the problem of fouling, which is the unwanted build-up of organic and inorganic deposits on a membranes surface that reduces the membranes ability to filter impurities. Water treatment and purification membranes that can easily clean themselves when fouled could make pressure-driven membrane filtration systems used to treat and desalinate water more energy-efficient.

Keeping membranes clean, permeable and functional is a great challenge to membrane desalination technologies. When a membrane becomes fouled, its pores get blocked and its flux is severely reduced, which means that much less water can pass through the membrane at a constant pressure, Dr. Hashaikeh explained.

Self-cleaning membranes for desalination.

Conventional methods for cleaning fouled membranes involve expensive and harsh chemical treatments, and often lead to water treatment plant shut-downs, which can cost millions of dollars in lost operational hours. In the UAE, annual spending on desalination is already estimated to cost AED12 billion, indicating a pressing need for solutions that avoid costly shut-downs and treatments.

In addition to posing a heavy financial burden, fouled membranes are also a sustainability issue, as once a membrane becomes fouled, the higher pressure needed to push water through clogged pores significantly increases the plants energy consumption. The harsh chemicals used to clean a fouled membrane are also bad for the environment and require neutralizing. Thus, finding a way to easily and quickly clean fouled membranes not only makes financial sense, but environmental sense.

In a country like the UAE, where natural gas-powered thermal desalination produces over 80% of the countrys domestic water, innovative technologies like self-cleaning membranes to support a shift toward lower-energy and lower-cost membrane-based desalination are essential for achieving economic and environmental balance while meeting the UAEs water demands.

And now, Dr. Hashaikehs research group may have brought the UAE closer towards realizing a more sustainable and economic approach to membrane desalination through their research on the application of advanced nanofibers for enhanced, self-cleaning membranes.

The group has leveraged the electrically conductive nature of a special kind of nanofiber, called carbon nanotubes (CNT). CNTs are tiny cylindrical tubes made of tightly bonded carbon atoms, measuring just one atom thick. But the CNTs Dr. Hashaikehs team used, which were provided by global security, aerospace, and information technology company Lockheed Martin, are not ordinary CNTs.

The carbon nanostructures supplied by Lockheed Martin are special; they are networked. This means that they are composed of many interconnecting channels that branch off in all directions. This interconnectivity is what enables the entire membrane to become completely cleaned when electricity is applied to it, Dr. Hashaikeh said.

The networked CNTs, also known as carbon nanostructures (CNS), coupled with the teams expert membrane fabrication know-how, resulted in the development of two different types of membranes that can clean themselves when a low-voltage electric current is run through them.

The first type is a microfiltration membrane, which has pores sizes ranging from 100 nanometers to 10 micrometers, where a nanometer is approximately one hundred thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair and a micrometer one thousand times larger than a nanometer. The second is a nanofiltration membrane with pore sizes ranging from one to ten nanometers. Both membranes demonstrated the ability to clean themselves in response to an electric shock, which resulted in the immediate restoration of the membranes flux.

Dr. Hashaikehs investigation of a self-cleaning membrane began four years ago, when he realized that electrolytic cleaning  which is the process of removing soil, scale or corrosion from a metals surface by subjecting it to an electric current  could also be used to clean membranes. To prove his theory, he coated a membrane with ordinary CNTs. When a voltage was applied to the membrane, the parts of the membranes that were coated with CNTs were successfully cleaned. Dr. Hashaikeh filed a patent for this in-situ electrolytic cleaning process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2014.

However, there were limitations to this discovery, namely that only specific areas in the coated CNTs were cleaned, not the entire membrane. Thus, to develop an efficient, self-cleaning membrane with commercial potential, Dr. Hashaikeh required a material that would easily allow electric shockwaves to penetrate through the entire membranes surface area.

The unique, interconnected structure of Lockheed Martins carbon nanostructures proved to be just the right type of electrically conductive, nano-fibrous material required.

We immediately recognized that Lockheed Martins CNTs might enable electricity to pass through the entire surface, but we had to modify the nanostructures to transform the material into a membrane. To do this, we controlled certain properties, such as wettability and pore size, and improved its mechanical strength by incorporating polymer materials, he explained.

Dr. Haishaikehs team successfully developed a self-cleaning microfiltration membrane in 2014 and a paper describing the research was published in the Journal of Membrane Science ("A novel in situ membrane cleaning method using periodic electrolysis"). But they did not stop there; they wanted to take their research a step further and find a way to develop a self-cleaning nanofiltration membrane. While microfiltration membranes are useful for removing larger particles, including sand, silt, clays, algae and some forms of bacteria, nanofiltration membranes can go a step further, removing most organic molecules, nearly all viruses, most of the natural organic matter and a range of salts. Nanofiltration membranes also remove divalent ions, which make water hard, making nanofiltration a popular and eco-friendly option to soften hard water.

To create self-cleaning nanofiltration membranes out of Lockheed Martins networked CNTs, the team needed to overcome the problem of the CNTs large pore sizes, which prevented the material from functioning as a nanofiltration membrane.

To achieve this they looked to a second advanced nanofiber material previously developed by Dr. Hashaikehs research group, known as networked cellulose. Networked cellulose is a modified type of cellulose made from wood pulp. When dried, the networked cellulose gel shrinks in volume, but maintains its integrity and shape, becoming harder as it shrinks. The research team asserted that the networked cellulose gel could reduce the membranes pore sizes while maintaining its structural integrity.
Nanopores could map small changes in DNA that signal big shifts in cancer (Nanowerk News) Detecting cancer early, just as changes are beginning in DNA, could enhance diagnosis and treatment as well as further our understanding of the disease. A new study by University of Illinois researchers describes a method to detect, count and map tiny additions to DNA called methylations, which can be a warning sign of cancer, with unprecedented resolution.

The method threads DNA strands through a tiny hole, called a nanopore, in an atomically thin sheet of material with an electrical current running through it. The study was published in the inaugural issue of the journal 2D Materials and Applications ("Detection and mapping of DNA methylation with 2D material nanopores").

University of Illinois researchers developed a method to detect and map DNA methylation, which can be a sign of cancer, by threading the DNA through a tiny hole in a thin sheet of conductive material with a current running through it. (Image: Aditya Sarathy)

"One or a few methylations is not a big deal, but if there are many of them and they are packed close together, then it's bad," said study leader Jean-Pierre Leburton, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois. "DNA methylation is actually a starting process for cancer. So we want to detect how many of them there are and how close together they are. That can tell us at which stage the cancer is."

Other attempts at using nanopores to detect methylation have been limited in resolution. Researchers begin by punching a tiny hole in a flat sheet of material only one atom or molecule thick. The pore is submerged in a salt solution and an electrical current is applied to drive the DNA molecule through the pore. Dips in the current alert researchers that a methyl group is passing through. However, when two or three are close together, the pore interprets it as one signal, Leburton said.

The Illinois group tried a slightly different approach. They applied a current directly to the conductive sheet surrounding the pore. Working with Klaus Schulten, a professor of physics at Illinois, Leburton's group at Illinois' Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology used advanced computer simulations to test applying current to different flat materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide, as methylated DNA was threaded through.

In this simulation, a methylated strand of DNA goes through a nanopore that detects and maps the location of the methyl groups. A high number of methyl groups can be a sign of cancer.

"Our simulations indicate that measuring the current through the membrane instead of just the solution around it is much more precise," Leburton said. "If you have two methylations close together, even only 10 base pairs away, you continue to see two dips and no overlapping. We also can map where they are on the strand, so we can see how many there are and where they are."
Failte Ireland today announced 11.5m in funding from its Capital Grants budget for ten key OPW projects.

The funding is in the context of Failte Irelands strategic partnership with the OPW to assist in the refurbishment and enhancement of key visitor attractions.

1.78 million will be spent at the Rock of Cashel on a new indoor exhibition, new outdoor interpretation and a new visitor hub to increase capacity

585,000 will also be spent on Ormond Castle in Carrick on Suir on a new indoor exhibition / interpretive space, landscaping and refurbishment of outdoor spaces

Speaking today, Patrick O'Donovan, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport said:

Our history and culture are a big part of our tourism offering and I am delighted to see Failte Ireland and the OPW working so closely together to improve some of our key heritage sites and making them much more accessible to visitors. If tourism is to sustain growth into the longer term, we need to continually upgrade and enhance the experience on the ground and todays funding will very much help us do that.

Todays funding of 11.5m includes an investment in a new museum and viewing platform in The Record Tower at Dublin Castle, which will make one of the citys most impressive medieval buildings much more compelling for visitors.

There is also significant funding for the Rock of Cashel as well as Newgrange, Knowth and the Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre.

Welcoming todays news, Sean Canney, Minister of State at the Office of Public Works said:

"The OPW is delighted that the heritage estate we manage is benefiting from this significant investment by Failte Ireland. There are many wonderful places to visit including Dublin Castle, where we are today, Glendalough, Ormond Castle and Knowth/Newgrange to name a few.

The stimulus of this investment will help us to greatly improve the quality of the visitor offering and experience at these OPW locations so as to make sure that Ireland continues to be a great place to visit and to holiday. We have started with these 10 initial projects and I very much look forward to more such announcements in the future at other sites right around Ireland."

Stressing the importance of capital funding for the growth of tourism, Failte Irelands CEO, Paul Kelly emphasised:

The tourism sector currently sustains 220,000 jobs and generates an estimated 6bn economic value a year. However, continued tourism growth will very much be dependent on our ability to provide continued improvement in the range of visitor experiences on the ground. Our latest overseas visitor research demonstrated that our unique history and culture provides a strong incentive for bringing people to our shores.

As many of the OPWs heritage sites are key attractions for tourism, our partnership with the OPW is critical to unlocking the full potential of our history and heritage to drive tourism based economic and employment growth. Todays investment allows us to boost some key OPW sites such as Dublin Castle, Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel and really open them up further for visitors.
The results of the Macra na Feirme Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections were announced in the Irish Farm Centre, Dublin, last week.

James Healy from Kilmartin, Donoughmore, Co. Cork has been declared the 36th Macra na Feirme National President.

Meanwhile Tom ODonoghue from Cappoquin, Waterford has been elected as the Munster Vice-President.

Tom has served as county chairperson for Waterford for the past couple of years. Speaking about the election he said, I love Macra, I have gained so much from my time in the organisation. I will give 110%, to further develop and grow our organisation. I want to see the Munster counties working together for the betterment of our organisation.

Current National President, Sean Finan, who presided over the election said, I would like to congratulate all candidates for the campaigns they ran. This was a great election, highlighting the best of Macra in terms of leadership, debate and enthusiasm. I look forward to the inauguration ceremony at the Macra na Feirme national AGM on the 6th of May in Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim.

Results were also announced in the vice-presidential elections for Macras two other regions, Leinster and the North West.

Sharon Corcoran from Three Lakes Macra in Mayo was declared the winner in the North-West race and Cara OMahony from Naas Macra is the new Leinster Vice-President.

The three new vice-presidents will take up their positions alongside president-elect, James Healy, at Macra's AGM in Leitrim on May 6.
The death has occurred of Tony O'Gorman, one of Clonmel's most prominent businessmen and a lifelong coursing enthusiast.

Mr O'Gorman owned O'Gorman's Bakery in O'Connell Street, one of the best known and most popular establishments in the town.

Mr O'Gorman was a huge coursing fan and in a tribute, the Irish Coursing Club said he wore many different coats.

With his late brother Paddy he won an Irish Cup in 1963 with their dog Rathkeale.

He was a leading light with Clonmel & District Open CC and a chief organiser of the traditional coursing dance which the club held in Hearns Hotel following the Ladies International on the eve of the National Meeting.

A Clonmel Coursing Club photograph from the 1980s. The late Tony O'Gorman is on the extreme right in the back row.

With his wife Mary he ran The Oven Door Bar behind their bakery on OConnell Street and this was a hugely popular venue for visitors to Clonmel for the National Meeting until it closed about 15 years ago.

Another coursing fan remembers huge celebrations there when Big Interest won the Derby for Johnny McCarthy in the 1980s.

Tony also officiated for years as Flag Steward at the National Meeting, a position filled these days by his daughter Mary.

He also made the annual pilgrimage to Southport for the Waterloo Cup.

Mr O'Gorman died peacefully at The Cottage Nursing Home surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Mary and much loved father of Mary, Anthony, Dick and Oonagh. Sadly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren Christopher, Jayne & Hollie, son-in-law Gary, daughters-in-law Miriam and Maureen, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

Reposing at Condons Funeral Parlour on Thursday evening from 6.00pm, with removal at 8.30pm to St Marys Church, Irishtown. Funeral Service on Good Friday at 10.30am followed by burial in St Patricks Cemetery.
(Natural News) Ever since taking the helm of the executive branch, President Trump has had a lot on his shoulders in terms of cleaning up the messes left by his predecessors. One of his main tasks, and one that millions of his supporters are counting on in fulfillment of his campaign promises, is to drain the swamp of our nations regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that have been filled to the brim with Monsanto hacks pushing the biotech and chemical agendas.

Its not only the heads of many of these agencies that are a problem as far as their duplicitous allegiances, but also their everyday working scientists, some of whom are actually embedded moles covertly working towards something other than the good of the public. Recently unearthed court documents from a now-deceased former EPA scientist, for example, reveal quite plainly the level of corruption inside this particular federal agency, which has been deeply infiltrated by special interest goons working on behalf of private industry rather than the common man.

Her name was Marion Copley, and a letter she wrote to Monsanto mole Jess Rowland reveals the tension within this agency between those actually trying to do the right thing, and those merely trying to increase the bottom lines of their corporate sponsors. Rowland had apparently worked as head of EPAs pesticide division, to which he was tasked with evaluating the safety of chemical pesticides and their effects on both people and the environment.

Based on the verbiage contained in Copleys now-revealed letter to Rowland, its clear that Rowland had betrayed the terms of his position, which was to work on behalf of the interests of the American people. Copley had begged Rowland in this letter, the original PDF of which you can view for yourself, to stop pandering to Monsanto, and to instead focus on protecting the public as his job dictated.

For once in your life, listen to me and dont play your political conniving games with the science to favor the registrants, Copley pleaded to Rowland, whose reports appear to have obstructed an EPA study that would have looked into the connection between Monsantos glyphosate herbicide (Roundup) and cancer. For once do the right thing and dont make decisions based on how it affects your bonus.

In the same letter, Rowland also accuses another EPA scientist, Anna Lowit  Lowit is still with the EPA  of pressuring other scientists beneath her to tweak scientific data in order to hide the truth about biotech and chemical dangers. Copley wrote in her letter that both Rowland and Lowit had intimidated staff  to favor industry.

Contact Trump Administration and urge accountability in nations regulatory bodies

These are strong words, but a sentiment reflecting the deep corruption within the EPA that President Trump and his administration have an obligation to properly investigate. Many are calling for a full inquiry into all financial ties between EPA scientists and Big Industry, including uncovering any and all evidence of bribery or coercion to falsify data in favor of mega-corporations like Monsanto. (RELATED: Discover more news about corporate-government corruption at Corruption.news.)

A full audit of not only the EPA but all other agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the only way to ensure that every last swamp creature is dredged out and replaced by folks who respect the Constitution and put the interests of everyday Americans over the dividends of corporate shareholders.

To contact the White House and express your thoughts on this important matter, visit the White House contact page, where you can send a quick email or call the Capitol switchboard.



Sources for this article include:

Glyphosate.news

NaturalNews.com

Bloomberg.com
(Natural News) Schools in Rhode Islands Coventry District are taking the vaccine mandates to new heights. Recently, three middle school students were quarantined at school until a parent or guardian came to take them home. Why? Because the adolescents had not received the HPV vaccine  a questionable-at-best injection that has proven itself to be capable of grievous harm.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that over 100 women and girls in Japan had launched lawsuits against their government and two HPV vaccine manufacturers  GlaxoSmithKline and Merck  due to the harmful effects the immunizations had on their health. Some of the major health conditions the women developed include chronic pain, impaired mobility and severe menstrual pain. One young woman, Erina Sonoda, reports that while she was perfectly healthy prior to receiving the Cervarix vaccine, by the end of the three rounds of injections, she needed a cane to walk. The 20-year-old says that after the second injection, she developed horrible menstrual pain  and by the third, the pain had spread to her entire body. When Sonoda is not able to walk with a cane, she uses a wheelchair.

Clearly, the Rhode Island girls have good reasons to abstain from the HPV vaccine, even if their school system disagrees with them. Gardasil, the other HPV vaccine, has been attributed to a number of ill effects, including paralysis and brain damage.

Last year, the coastal state came under fire for deciding to mandate that all 7th-grade children needed to have the HPV vaccine, regardless of gender. Dr. Ailis Clyne, director of the Rhode Island Department of Healths Immunization Program, states that 7th graders need to have had one dose of the inoculation, while 8th graders will need to have had two.

Unsurprisingly, a number of Rhode Island parents objected to the vaccine mandate, with concerns ranging from personal to religious reasons. Medical and religious exemptions are allowed, and at the time, schools were encouraged not to ask questions even if parents had not submitted exemption forms. That viewpoint, however, seems to have changed.

On April 10, 2017, three girls at a Coventry middle school were removed from their first period classes and detained in the office until someone came to pick them up from school. Apparently, the children were not even allowed to use the restroom. Two of the girls claimed to have gotten the vaccine, but because the school did not have the appropriate paperwork, they were sent home anyways.

One student, Savannah, did an interview with Dan Bidondi of Truth Radio Show. Savannah says that the school had sent home letters and made phone calls to tell her family that if she did not get the vaccine, she would be sent home. According to Bidondi, the Department of Health had previously stated students would not be made to miss school over the vaccine mandate.

The Rhode Islanders Against Mandated HPV Vaccinations group had previously argued that there was no point in a vaccine mandate that would not be enforced, and that this was reason enough for the mandate to be revoked. It seems that at least the Coventry district has devised a response to these assertions, though it is not the answer the anti-mandatory vaccine group had hoped for. Instead of removing the mandate, students who are not vaccinated are apparently going to be removed.

Savannah says that her school principal said that the order to remove her and the other two girls from class was not the schools decision, and that the order had been handed down from the superintendent because it was a state law. Savannah will not be able to return to school without a doctors appointment or a completed exemption form.

This is an obvious violation of parental rights  and a violation of childrens rights. As Bidondi points out, the state law regarding the HPV vaccine explicitly notes that children should not be made to miss school over the vaccine.

Get more news on the dangers of vaccines at Vaccines.news

Sources:

YouTube.com

NoHPVMandateRI.WordPress.com

WPRI.com
A hairy eight-eyed arachnid was discovered inside a cave in Baja California, Mexico.

The spider, which is the size of a soft ball, was named Califorctenus cacachilensis, which is a new species.

Fox News reported that the Califorctenus spider is nearly four inches long. Its head and legs are of an intense brown color, while its abdomen is yellow. To top it all, it was two visible fangs.



According to the San Diego National Museum, the species was found in 2013 when a team of researchers went to the isolated regions of Baja to catalog its existing flora and fauna. However, the findings were only documented and published this year in the journal Zootaxa as the specimen needed to be examined comprehensively.



"I knew the spider was unusual, but [we] needed to get Dr. Maria Luisa Jimenez to look at it to make sure," said Jim Berrian, field entomologist and one of the authors, in a statement.

Jimenez, who is an expert on the spiders of Baja California Sur, was also part of the 2013 expedition.

"When I saw these spiders for the first time, I was very impressed by their size," he shared. "In all my experience over the years collecting spiders on the peninsula, I had never seen a spider this large. I suspected that something new was waiting to be described."

Jimenez concluded that the Califorctenus spider belongs to the same family as the Brazilian wandering spider, which is a notoriously deadly spider. The study, however, clarified that its venom could not kill humans, noting that Berrian was bit once and survived.

Smithsonian noted that while the newly discovered spider species is notably sizeable, it is still small compared to the biggest spider ever found, the Heteropoda maxima, a giant huntsman spider which lives in Laos. Its legs can grow as large as one foot.



Most researchers estimate that there are two to five million insect and spider species in the planet, only about 1.1 million species have been named.
A 9-year-old boy who was wounded in Monday's deadly shooting at a California elementary school is recovering and in "good spirits," his parents said Wednesday.

A gunman opened fire Monday at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, in what authorities described as a murder-suicide.

He killed his estranged wife, Karen Elaine Smith, a special needs teacher at the school, before turning the gun on himself.

The shooter, identified as 53-year-old Cedric Anderson of Riverside, fired 10 shots, police said.

Two students sitting nearby her were also hit by gunfire.

Jonathan Martinez, 8, later died from his injuries. Nolan Brandy, 9, was hit in the upper body, but is now recovering.

Leon and Rachel Brandy, the parents of the surviving victim, released a statement Wednesday thanking the community "for the outpouring of prayers and support."

They said their son Nolan is recovering very well, adding that they are "grateful."

A day after the shooting officials said the boy was in stable condition, watching cartoons and expected to recover.

"Please continue to pray for him and also for Jonathan Martinezs and Karen Smith's families," the Brandy family said.
Many South Bay community groups gathered in San Jose Wednesday for a protest march on renters' rights.

The groups are joining forces to fight no-cause evictions and to push the city to protect renters with a controversial proposal.

The City of San Jose will be considering a proposal on April 18 to provide some protection for renters, including making it difficult for landlords to kick out tenants who have not done anything wrong.

Wednesday's protest kicked off with a small gathering of organizers and evicted tenants at San Jose City Hall.

Groups making up the Silicon Valley Renters Rights Coalition began trying to whip up public support for the march, as well as a proposal from the city's housing department to provide some guidelines for evictions.

For many of the rally participants, the focus is on no-cause evictions, which they call financially and emotionally devastating.

"With evictions now they can evict anybody at anytime, with no real reason," former tenant Danielle Pirslin said. "That's why I feel just-cause evictions are needed."

The group Working Partnerships USA is presenting a report that says, in essence, no-cause evictions have gone up 270 percent since 2010.

"Other reports shows that the majority of these no-cause evictions are not even reported to the city," said Jeffrey Buchanan, policy director for Working Partnerships USA.

Property owners have said the policy could make it difficult to get rid of so-called bad tenants.
Amid the agricultural fields in Sacramentos Yolo bypass where rice, tomatoes and other crops are planted each year, Jacob Katz strolled over to a crop no one would imagine growing in any field.

He waded out into a flooded field where a string of large boxes sat  and dipped a green fish net inside producing a handful of squirming tiny chinook salmon. Katz quickly dumped the fish back into the pen moving on to the next box.

These pens are full of young juvenile salmon, Katz said slushing through the water.

For the past five years, Katz, who is senior scientist for the advocacy group California Trout, has used flooded rice fields to raise juvenile salmon. The experiment, known as Project Nigiri set out to demonstrate that the Yolo Bypass abundant flood plains can also make perfect habitat for fish in the winter. Better even than a river.

What weve been showing out here, Katz said, is that these rice fields in the bypass can grow food for people in the summer, and food for fish in the winter.

Katz believes the rice fields make a better habitat for than their native rivers  which he calls deserts for the salmons key food source  bugs.

To illustrate the theory behind raising fish where few fish have ventured, Katz dipped a small aquarium net in the water and dumped it into a white plastic tray. The tray came alive with thousands of tiny bugs writhing around like specks in a dust storm.

This represents a bug buffet where these fish can get large, they can get strong, Katz said. Those are like a filet mignon if youre a baby salmon.

During some years, Katz has released the tiny fish directly into the water-soaked rice fields. This year hes experimenting with pens to keep track of specific fish. The salmon will later be released into the river to continue their journey to the ocean.

A couple miles away, another phase of Project Nigiri is underway, where a research team from U.C. Davis Center for Watershed Sciences is monitoring three more pens of salmon floating in the Sacramento River. Each week the researchers collect the tiny fish and weigh and photograph them.

We have caged fish in the river, said researcher Eric Holmes, and were looking at growth rates in the river compared to the flood plain.

Katz said in the five years of the project, the fish raised in the flood plain rice fields have grown larger and more robust than their river counterparts. He explained thats because rivers run cold and swift and accumulate fewer insects for the fish to eat than the sedentary flooded fields.

Fish grow much more quickly out here on the flood plain because this is where the food is, Katz said.

Fishing interests have blamed the decline of chinook salmon in the Sacramento River on upstream dams and the construction of levies which Katz said have walled off the rivers from the abundant food source on the flood plains.

The project poses the theory that reattaching the flood plains to the rivers would improve the chances of the salmon as they head to the ocean.

Were trying to improve conditions for the fish before they leave their natal waters, Holmes said.

To punctuate the dire situation on the rivers, California fishery managers recommended canceling most of this years commercial and recreational salmon fishing season because of low returns on the Sacramento River. The news forecasts a bleak summer for struggling fishermen.

Katz said his vision is to refocus Californias water systems which he thinks are antiquated.

What were talking about is gates put in these levies that allow fish and water out into very specific areas at specific times of year, Katz said.

In a time where environmental interests often collide with farming in the struggle for water, Katz said the project might demonstrate the two can work together. In some areas, barren winter fields could become habitat for fish, before returning to agriculture in the Spring.

What wed really like to see is the flood plain and the river channel reconnected, Katz said, eyeing the floating pens, So that the natural food productivity of the Central Valley can once again flow towards the river channel where fish can once again take advantage of it.
A petition created by a UC Berkeley alumna, who is calling for the removal of a professor accused of sexually harassing his research assistant, is gaining traction.

Aarti Kelapures Care2 petition aims to gather 5,000 signatures. As of Thursday afternoon, 4,069 signatories had backed her in demanding that university officials fire professor emeritus John Searle and omit his name from a campus ontology center.

As a Berkeley graduate, I am appalled that the school let Searle get away with such an abuse of power for so long, Kelapure wrote. All students deserve to learn and work in a safe, supportive environment, free from sexual harassment.

The plaintiff is a former UC Berkeley student who on March 21 filed a complaint in Alameda County Superior Court against the professor and university. She is seeking damages and a jury trial.

The complaint alleges 84-year-old Searle, a highly-touted philosophy professor at Cal, sexually harassed the student while she was employed by the university as his assistant. The university did not take any action when she reported the incident, according to the complaint. Instead, the university retaliated against her, according to John Kristensen, the plaintiff's lawyer.

This is another example of the University of California standing idly by as their students or employees are victimized by indifference to the predatory faculty, Kristensen said in a statement. There is a crisis of sexual assault on women at our nations institutions of higher learning. My client had to suffer twice. First, when the assault and subsequent harassment took place. Then again when she reported the misconduct and the responses were; at best, indifference, and at worst, enabling of the inappropriate sexual conduct that led to her original assault.

The complaint also claims Searle groped his assistant and told her they were going to be lovers. The professor also allegedly openly watched pornography in his office and fired the student after she declined his advances, according to the complaint.

Searle, who has taught at Cal since 1959, also serves as a consultant for the John Searle Center for Social Ontology.

"UC Berkeley should honor the female students Searle harassed instead of honoring him, Kelapure wrote on her Care2 petition. Please join me in demanding that Berkeley strip Searle of his professor emeritus title and change the name of the John Searle Center for Social Ontology!

A campus spokesperson said in March that the university is unable to comment on any specific allegations or individuals due to privacy laws and university policy. The university will also investigate the claims made in the complaint, according to the spokesperson.

Since 2015, several sexual misconduct scandals alleging star professors abused students have hit the UC Berkeley campus. And since 2011, 20 Cal employees have been investigated for sexual misconduct, including a former law school dean.

A university spokesperson said sexual harassment and assault are never tolerated.
Police at the University of Texas at Dallas say they're searching for the person who dumped several copies of the Quran in campus toilets.

They call the incident "shocking" and "unusual."

A student recently discovered the books inside a bathroom at the university's Student Union building. After snapping some pictures to document the apparent anti-Muslim act, he immediately reported it to campus security, which got police involved.

UT Dallas junior Mohammad Syed, a Muslim, said he didn't believe the news until he saw photos published in the student newspaper.

"It's definitely saddening and a little disturbing as well," said Syed, who is the President of the UT Dallas Muslim Student Association. "It's something that we do not expect to happen, especially at this campus."

Syed said he's always known UT Dallas as a diverse and inclusive place, which was the one of the things that drew him to pursue a degree in neuroscience there.

"UT Dallas is a very welcoming environment," he said. "And I have nothing but good things to say about it."

And that won't change despite this incident.

"You know, while there is a little voice of hate, there is an overwhelming voice of love and support [here] and we definitely appreciate that," said Syed. "And I'm very happy to say I'm a student, a Comet, over here at UTD."

UT Dallas Police say they are reviewing surveillance video from inside the Student Union building.

They acknowledge they haven't found "anything out of the ordinary" for now, but say they're taking this matter seriously and will continue to investigate.
U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. When it was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use.

The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump called a "very, very successful mission."

Military officials believe it is the first time the weapon was used on the battlefield, NBC News reported.

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been operating. The target was close to the Pakistani border.

The U.S. estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban. Just last week a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, was killed in action in Nangarhar.

The MOAB is a custom-made Air Force weapon that has been in the arsenal for more than a decade but never used on the battlefield, although it was available throughout the Iraq war. It is designed to hit softer targets such as surface facilities, tunnel entrances and troop concentrations. It is pushed out the rear of the launching aircraft, guided to its target by GPS and slowed by a parachute.

A separate non-nuclear weapon known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, which is larger in its physical dimensions but carries a smaller load of conventional explosives, is designed to take out deeply buried targets like reinforced bunkers. The MOP has never been used in combat.

In its 2003 review of the legality of using the MOAB, the Pentagon concluded that it could not be called an indiscriminate killer under the Law of Armed Conflict.

"Although the MOAB weapon leaves a large footprint, it is discriminate and requires a deliberate launching toward the target," the review said. It added: "It is expected that the weapon will have a substantial psychological effect on those who witness its use."

Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said the bomb was dropped from a U.S. MC-130 special operations transport. He said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use.

Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximizing the destruction" of IS fighters and facilities. He said IS has been using improvised explosive devices, bunkers and tunnels to strengthen its defenses.

"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K," he added, using the U.S. military's acronym for the IS affiliate.

Ismail Shinwari, the governor of Achin district, said the U.S. attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no civilian homes nearby and that there had been no reports of injured civilians. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and IS militants.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said IS fighters had used the tunnels and caves in Achin to maneuver freely.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the GBU-43 as the largest U.S. non-nuclear bomb. It is the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military.
Three Dominican brothers and a dozen other people have been arrested in New England as part of a federal investigation into alleged cocaine, fentanyl and heroin trafficking.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday that the suspects ran a Rhode Island-based trafficking organization that imported drugs from Mexico and supplied them to street-level dealers in greater Providence, greater Boston and Connecticut.

Brothers Juan Valdez, 50, of Milton, Massachusetts; 47-year-old Hector, and 44-year-old Claudio, both living in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and unlawful use of communication facilities to commit drug-related offenses. They're also being charged with illegally returning to the United States after being deported to the Dominican Republic.

Twelve other people also face drug-related charges.

During the course of the investigation, which began in September of 2016, the FBI seized nearly four kilograms of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of cocaine, 155 grams of crack cocaine, more than 100 pounds of cutting agents, 12 kilograms of powdery substances that are still being analyzed, about $95,000 in cash and nine vehicles. Five of the vehicles had hidden compartments allegedly used for transporting drugs and money.

"As alleged, the Valdez brothers trafficked in all types of drugs and profited from the addictions that have destroyed lives and torn apart families here in New England. This case illustrates that drug cartels based in foreign countries will go anywhere to distribute their deadly products, said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Field Division. The FBIs Safe Streets Task Force will do everything it can to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods."

The federal public defenders' office, which is representing the Valdez brothers, didn't immediately return a call for comment.
Lawmakers discussed ways the legalization of recreational marijuana could help Illinois state budget woes at a press conference Wednesday.

Two bills now in the General Assembly proposed by Rep. Kelly Cassidy and state Sen. Heather Steans would see a huge cash flow to the state from regulating legal marijuana, the lawmaker says.

Rep. Cassidy and I are committed to gathering feedback about how legalizing recreational marijuana would affect the state from a large variety of interest groups, Steans said in a news release. We have received overwhelming support for this legislation but do not plan to move forward hastily. We want to ensure that there is ample time for organizations and individuals to present testimony and for us to adjust the legislation based on information presented in hearings.

Barbara Brohl, the executive director of Colorados Department of Revenue, discussed how legalizing recreational marijuana has impacted Colorado. Karmen Hanson, the program director of the Health Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures, also spoke about how legalizing marijuana effected other states.

Senator Steans and I strongly believe that its time that Illinois had a new drug policy, Cassidy said in a statement. Legalizing recreational marijuana will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. Were discussing all sorts of proposals to end the budget impasse, and we thought this should be part of the conversation as well.

The first hearing will take place sometime next week.
Nigerian security officials have thwarted plans by Islamic State group-linked Boko Haram members to attack the embassies of the United States and Britain, authorities said Wednesday.

A Department of State Services statement said it broke up a ring that had "perfected plans to attack the UK and American embassies and other Western interests" in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

The statement said five suspects who had been based in Benue state and the Federal Capital Territory were arrested on March 25 and 26. Another 20-year-old Boko Haram member was arrested March 22 in Yobe state and "confessed his involvement in executing the sinister activities of the group."

The statement gave no further details, and officials with the department could not immediately be reached.

The U.S. and British embassies did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The State Department on April 5 issued an updated travel warning for Nigeria, warning that Boko Haram has targeted government installations and other venues in the past in the Federal Capital Territory and elsewhere.

In 2011, Boko Haram attacked the U.N.'s Nigeria headquarters in Abuja with a car bomb that detonated in the reception area, killing at least 21 people.

One faction of Boko Haram is allied with the Islamic State group.

Nigeria's president late last year declared the Boko Haram insurgency "crushed," but its fighters continue to threaten the vast region around Lake Chad in defiance of a multinational force. It has increasingly used children, especially girls, as suicide bombers.

Boko Haram's seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes, with millions facing starvation.
Republicans pulled out a victory in Kansas in the first of four U.S. House special elections to replace GOP congressmen named to top jobs in President Donald Trump's administration, but the next contest for a seat in Georgia could be tougher to hold.

The margin of victory Tuesday for Kansas Republican Ron Estes in the 4th District special election slid to only seven percentage points from a 31-point margin in November, when incumbent Mike Pompeo was running before he was appointed Trump's CIA director.

In a further warning sign for Republicans, Estes narrowly lost the district's most populous county around the city of Wichita to his Democratic opponent James Thompson, a political newcomer. Trump won that county by 18 points.

Trump downplayed the tight victory on Twitter Wednesday, writing: "Great win in Kansas last night for Ron Estes, easily winning the Congressional race against the Dems, who spent heavily & predicted victory!"

The outcome was a shot across the bow of national Republicans as the party faces three more special elections in Georgia, Montana and South Carolina. Republicans now hold a 237-193 majority in the House.

"Republicans nationally should be very worried," said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist. "It's remarkable that Thompson got this close."

Both parties will now turn their attention to Georgia and the extremely competitive April 18 contest to replace Tom Price, who resigned to serve as Trump's Health and Human Services secretary.

Democratic hopes rest with Jon Ossoff, 30, a former congressional staffer turned investigative filmmaker who has raised more than $8 million, an extraordinary amount for a special election. Ossoff is counting on opposition to Trump to propel him to a decisive victory.

All 18 candidates from both parties will appear on one primary ballot, with polls suggesting that Ossoff will lead the first round of voting. Republicans are aiming to keep Ossoff below the majority required to win outright, forcing a two-person runoff  basically a Republican v. Democrat general election  on June 20.

The Republican candidates in Georgia have engaged in a bitter squabble and none of them has clearly emerged to lead the party.

While the Kansas result suggested some blowback against Trump, another important factor was anger with the state's unpopular Republican governor Sam Brownback.

Democrats tapped into voter frustration after Brownback made Kansas a laboratory for sweeping tax cuts that left the state short of revenue and facing a budget crisis. Brownback also refused to expand the Medicaid health program for the poor.

Lucy Jones-Phillips, a 31-year-old insurance representative and Democrat, acknowledged she doesn't vote in every election, but said she voted for Thompson because she wanted to register her disappointment in Brownback, especially his veto of an expansion of Medicaid.

"I can't stand Brownback," she said as she left her polling site in Belle Plaine.

In a sign of nervousness in the waning days of the campaign, Republicans poured money into the race to bolster Estes. Republicans pulled in U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to campaign in Wichita for Estes, and both Vice President Mike Pence and Trump recorded robo calls for him.

Those GOP calls prompted Charlene Health, a 52-year-old homemaker and Republican in Belle Plaine, to cast a ballot for Estes.

"I wasn't even going to vote," she said as she left her polling site Tuesday morning. "I finally did. I realized this was important."

Republicans have represented the south-central Kansas district since 1994. The district has been hurt by the downturn in the agricultural economy and the loss of hundreds of well-paying, blue-collar jobs in aircraft manufacturing plants. Wichita is home to Koch Industries, the company led by conservative billionaire political donors Charles and David Koch.

___

AP Political Writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, also contributed to this report.
A local radio DJ has been arrested by Newington police in connection with a violent assault at a Newington gas station in March and he is on leave from his job at River 105.9.

Joseph Aguiar, 41, of Wethersfield, turned himself in to police on Tuesday.

Aguiar is accused of lunging toward an unsuspecting victim who was sitting in a car outside the Mobil Gas Station at 50 Fenn Road around 10:30 p.m. on March 8, grabbing the man and throwing him to the ground, causing the man to hit his head on the pavement, according to police.

The victim was unconscious for two minutes after the attack, police said.

Aguiar works as a radio personality for River 105.9, according to a representative of iHeartMedia, the company that owns the station. According to his biography on the stations website, Aguiar has been in radio since 1997 and with River 105.9 since 2005.

NBC Connecticut has requested comment from the company on Aguiar's arrest and they provided the following statement:

"We take matters of this kind very seriously. The employee is on temporary leave from his job until we can further review the situation and the we will take the appropriate action." - Steve Honeycomb, Connecticut Regional Market manager for iHeartMedia.

In the police report, Aguiar said believed he was being robbed when he assaulted the other man. Aguiar told police he mistook the victims car for his own, and confronted the man when he got in the vehicle.

He claimed he thought the man was trying to steal his phone and credit cards so he got in the car and checked the center console, but realized his phone wasn't in it. When he got out and looked around he spotted his own car and took off.

Aguiar told police he considered reporting the incident to police that night but decided not to.

Aguiar was identified in images captured by surveillance cameras. Police said they had identified a suspect last month, but did not release his name at the time. They did say he was cooperating with police.

Surveillance video from the gas station shows Aguiar pulling the victim out of the victims own vehicle and throwing him on the ground. Aguiar then got in the drivers seat, closed the door, then exited the car and went to his own vehicle, according to the police report.

Aguiar has been charged with third-degree assault, third-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree breach of peace.

Aguiar posted bond and is due in court on April 25.
A Washington lobbying firm that worked on a covert influence campaign in the U.S. under the direction of two former top campaign advisers to President Donald Trump has registered after the fact with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. It acknowledged its work could have principally benefited Ukraine's government, led at the time by a pro-Russian political party.

The Podesta Group Inc. disclosed details of lobbying it did from 2012 through 2014 on behalf of a Brussels-based nonprofit, the European Center for a Modern Ukraine. The firm, run by the brother of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign chairman John Podesta, reported in its filing that it was paid more than $1.2 million for its efforts. It cited unspecified "information brought to light in recent months" and conversations with Justice Department employees as the reason for its decision.

The disclosure follows reporting by The Associated Press in August, citing emails obtained by the AP, that the firm of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates, who served in a senior role in the Trump campaign, had overseen the lobbying effort, which sought to promote a Ukrainian political party's interests in Washington. President Donald Trump pressured Manafort to resign as his presidential campaign chairman immediately after AP's reporting.

The U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act requires people working on behalf of foreign political leaders to disclose their efforts to the Justice Department. Willfully failing to register is a felony, though the department rarely files criminal charges in such cases. It routinely works with lobbying firms to help them get back in compliance by registering and disclosing their work.

The Podesta Group and another lobbying firm, Mercury LLC, had previously disclosed their lobbying work to Congress under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, but neither firm had registered with the Justice Department. A foreign agent registration requires lobbying firms to disclose more details about their work than is required under the Congressional registration, including the details of the lobbying contract, individual contacts with American officials and any attempts to influence U.S. public opinion.

In a statement to the AP, Kimberley Fritts, CEO of the Podesta Group, said that the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration unit worked with the firm to make sure it was complying with federal law.

"The Podesta Group has routinely filed FARA registrations for our various clients. We have, and will continue to have, no hesitation doing so to underscore our commitment to transparency," Fritts said.

Fritts said that the European Center for a Modern Ukraine had previously certified to the Podesta Group that it was not a vehicle of a foreign government or political party, which is why the lobbying firm only previously registered with Congress. Fritts said that determination changed because of "information brought to light in recent months" but did not specify what information.

As of Wednesday, the Justice Department's database did not list Manafort, Gates or Mercury as registered foreign agents for the same work. Calls and emails to representatives for Mercury were not immediately returned.

Manafort's spokesman said he was in talks with the government about registering as a foreign agent before the 2016 election and is now "taking appropriate steps" in response to "formal guidance" from the government.

The spokesman said Manafort's lobbying work was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government and began before Manafort started working with the Trump campaign.

Gates did not respond to text messages left by the AP on Wednesday afternoon. His voicemail box was full.

The Podesta Group has previously acknowledged that Manafort's firm, DMP International, had provided guidance about the lobbying effort. The Podesta Group said it did not understand that Manafort and Gates were simultaneously being paid by the Party of Regions, the pro-Russian political party of Ukraine's then-president, Viktor Yanukovych.

As the AP reported in August, the lobbying effort which was funded by at least $2.2 million included not only traditional outreach to politicians in Washington but attempts to influence American public opinion and gather political intelligence on competing lobbying efforts in the U.S. The details of the lobbying effort were detailed in emails obtained by the AP last year.
President Donald Trump hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises.

In several interviews this week, the president has forged new positions on topics ranging from NATO to Chinese currency manipulation. They come as other campaign promises lag, including Trump's vow to build a concrete wall along the length of the southern border and have Mexico pay for it.

"One by one we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations," Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Big changes are happening!"

Here are some of the areas where a president who prides himself on his flexibility has been willing to dispense with past positions:

NATO

Trump cemented his shift in posture toward the 28-nation military alliance as he stood alongside its leader at the White House on Wednesday.

As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense.

He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts.

"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office.

Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg.

Currently, just the U.S. and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2 percent target.

LABELING CHINA A CURRENCY MANIPULATOR

During his campaign, Trump insisted that one of his first acts as president would be to direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. It was part of a "contract" with American voters that he pledged to fulfill.

Only days ago, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump reiterated that campaign pledge.

"You know when you talk about, when you talk about currency manipulation, when you talk about devaluations, they are world champions," he said of China. "And our country hasn't had a clue, they haven't had a clue."

By Wednesday something had changed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump declared point blank, "They're not currency manipulators."

Trump told the paper he'd changed his mind because China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months. He said a U.S. declaration of Chinese manipulation could jeopardize efforts to secure the country's help in containing the threat posed by North Korea.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

Trump also appears to have grown fond of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which has been a rallying cry for conservatives who consider it a mechanism of crony capitalism. The conservative political network established by billionaires Charles and David Koch has railed against the agency.

Trump opposed the Ex-Im Bank during his campaign. But he said in the Journal interview that he supports the bank, which helps U.S. exporters by making and guaranteeing loans. Congress allowed the Ex-Im bank's charter to expire in 2015, then eventually revived it over the objections of some conservatives. But it still isn't able to conduct major business due to vacancies on its board, hurting top exporters like Boeing and General Electric.

Trump told the newspaper he plans to fill two vacancies on the board, adding, "It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies."

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

As the U.S. relationship with Russia careens from cozy to frosty, Trump is keeping his distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't know Putin," Trump said Wednesday at the joint press conference with Stoltenberg.

Trump has made conflicting statements about his ties to the Russian leader in the past. At a press conference last July, he said: "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."

But during the Republican primary he boasted of their ties. He said at a November 2015 primary debate, "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night." The two appeared on the same program, but their segments were taped in different countries.

Trump had also previously said the pair met once, a "long time ago."

For Trump, dealing with investigations into possible contacts between his campaign associates and the Russian officials, keeping Putin at arm's length may be the best political play.

U.S. MILITARY PROWESS

The man who once slammed the U.S. military as a "disaster" is singing its praises now that he's in charge.

In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday morning, Trump talked up U.S. military strength, sounding almost in awe of its prowess.

"It's so incredible. It's brilliant. It's genius. Our technology, our equipment, is better than anybody by a factor of five," he said. "I mean look, we have, in terms of technology, nobody can even come close to competing."

Just a couple of months ago, the president was bemoaning the military's state at rallies across the country.

"We're going to rebuild out military. Our military is in shambles," he said at a rally in Delaware last April. "We're going to make it so big, so strong, so powerful that nobody, nobody, nobody is gonna mess with us, folks."

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR JANET YELLEN

During his campaign, Trump was critical of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, accusing her of keeping borrowing rates low to help rival Hillary Clinton and Democrats. Trump said at the time that he would likely replace Yellen when her term as chair ends next year. At the first presidential debate in September, Trump said the Fed was "being more political than Secretary Clinton."

But that was then. Trump, in the Wall Street Journal interview, left open the possibility of re-nominating Yellen for a second four-year term. Asked whether Yellen would be "toast" when her term ends, Trump said, "No, not toast."

"I like her, I respect her," Trump said, adding that they had met in the Oval Office since he became president.

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.
What to Know For cite and release, the person must be in possession of less than four ounces of marijuana.

They must live in Dallas County.

They must not be accused of any other charges.

The Dallas City Council voted Wednesday to approve a cite and release program for people caught with small amounts of marijuana.

Instead of being taken to jail, the person will be given a ticket and ordered to appear in court.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature allowed the use of a cite and release program in the offenses of Class A & B possession of marijuana and Class B criminal mischief, graffiti, theft, theft of service, contraband in a correctional facility and driving while license invalid.

At its final passage, the program will only be for possession of marijuana and not for the other crimes.

Under the program, a person stopped for less than four ounces of marijuana can be cited. "Here might be a misconception in the public that if we have cite and release, it's okay and it's not going to be on their criminal record but it is still going to be on someone's criminal record," argued Dallas City Councilwoman Jennifer Gates. She went on to say that there were too many variables in the program and wanted it reaxmined.

Dozens of supporters wearing Faith Leader t-shirts argued that young offenders are being unfairly targeted. "The implementation of cite and release would be a major step in eliminating the number of black, brown and working class people from being branded as a criminal for the rest of their life and from clogging up the prison system," said program supporter Beth Wise.

"here might be a misconception in the public that if we have cite and release it's okay and it's not going to be on their criminal record but it is still going to be on someone's criminal record," argued Dallas City Councilwoman Jennifer Gates. She argued there were too many variables in the program and wanted it reaxmined, but dozens of supporters wearing Faith Leader t-shirts argued that young offenders are being unfairly targeted.

"The implementation of cite and release would be a major step in eliminating the number of black, brown and working class people from being branded as a criminal for the rest of their life and from clogging up the prison system," said program supporter Beth Wise.

Activist Brittany White called the move a soultion to recidivism. "They have an opportunity to correct their lives, that they will not be branded as a felon, incarcerated, lose their homes, lose their jobs, their cars," White said. "They still have access to a quality of life," she said.

According to the Dallas City Council agenda, the cite and release program will go into effect on October 1st, 2017. "Here might be a misconception in the public that if we have cite and release, it's okay and it's not going to be on their criminal record but it is still going to be on someone's criminal record," argued Dallas City Councilwoman Jennifer Gates. She said she believed there were too many variables in the program and wanted it reaxmined, but dozens of supporters wearing Faith Leader t-shirts argued that young offenders are being unfairly targeted. "The implementation of cite and release would be a major step in eliminating the number of black, brown and working class people from being branded as a criminal for the rest of their life and from clogging up the prison system," said cite and release supporter Beth Wise.

LIVE FREE organizer Brittany White called the move a soultion to recidivism. "They have an opportunity to correct their lives, that they will not be branded as a felon, incarcerated, lose their homes, lose their jobs, their cars," White said. "They still have access to a quality of life," she said.

In order to qualify for this program, a person has to live in Dallas County and not be accused of any other charges.

Dallas police told the council 432 people were arrested for marijuana possession in 2016 that could have been eligible for this cite and release program.

Police said it could save them about an hour for each call. Dallas Police Association President Michael Mata told NBC 5 that he was disappointed in the Dallas City Council's decision on cite and release. Mata said the time saved on a call under the program would be limited.

According to the Dallas City Council agenda, the cite and release program will go into effect on October 1st, 2017.
This love story of the aged is a love story for the ages.

Joyce Kevorkian and Jim Bowman, both 81, were high school sweethearts and prom dates from Illinois, but life took them down different paths. They went to different colleges, married different people and had their own families. But now, 64 years later, the two are married, and its almost like nothing has changed.

"The whole thing happened very quickly," Kevorkian's granddaughter, Anna Harris, 21, told NBC.

Harris said that around the holiday season, Bowman sent Kevorkian a letter asking how she'd been and seeing if they could reconnect. She said her grandmother was really excited and responded right away.

Kevorkian told NBC that the two had good times together when they were younger, and that she thought it would be nice for the pair to see each other again.

They talked on the phone constantly, Harris said, until Bowman finally decided to make the drive from where he lived in Springfield, Illinois, to where Kevorkian resided in South Bend, Indiana.

Harris said her grandmother was initially worried about how the visit would go, but "it was like no time had passed and they reconnected immediately."

"It has been fun," Kevorkian added.

Kevorkian told her granddaughter that she felt like she was 17 years old again--and Harris couldn't agree more.

"She acts a little like a little kid, or a high schooler, who's fallen in love for the first time, Harris said. "It's really sweet."

Harris said that Bowman stepping into her family's life was a good thing. After her grandfather died, she said, her grandmother wasn't really herself anymore. But Bowman, who also lost his spouse, changed that.

"It was like a part of her died also," Harris said. "And once Jim came into the picture, she began having a more positive outlook."

Kevorkian said her granddaughter has told her she's more cheerful than she used to be, too.

Bowmans proposal came around Christmas time, and Harris was in the room for it. However, it wasnt exactly traditional, as he did it through the phone.

"She looks over at me and goes 'Well huh, that was a really strange phone call. Jim asked me to marry him," she said.

Grandma's response?

"Well I said, 'that sounds like a good idea!'" according to Harris.

Harris was charged with keeping the proposal a secret until her grandmother could announce it to her family on Christmas Eve. Initially, Harris said, her family was a little unsure of the situation, as theyd never met Bowman before.

"It didn't take long for everyone to warm up," she said.

Harris added, "It's pretty easy to see when they're together that they want to be around each other...they're clearly in love."

"I think our children just wanted us to be happy in our old age," Kevorkian said.

She added, "We wanted to be together...we picked up where we left off."

The couple still has the same jokes, she said, and they also still have a love for dancing.

The pair also reconnected with old friends from high school, who Kevorkian said were surprised to hear that the two were getting married.

The wedding was held on April 1 at the retirement community where Kevorkian lives in Indiana. Harris said it was a small wedding, but "really sweet."

My grandma is marrying her prom date today... they found each other 64 years after they went to prom & fell in love again  pic.twitter.com/nHrKm4Yj2V  Anna Harris (@annaharriswheel) April 1, 2017

"I think everyone's just so happy to see my grandma happy again," she said.

Kevorkian described the wedding as "perfect."

Bowman's daughter Julie even reached out to Kevorkian in a letter that said, "Thanks for helping my dad smile again."

Harris said when she posted photos of the wedding online, she half hoped it would spread. And now that it has, her grandmother is excited.

"Obviously they're happy," Harris said. "But it's a whole different level for her and Jim to see that their story is touching so many people."

Kevorkian added that she was surprised by the attention her story has garnered.

She thought, "Why should anybody be so entranced with such a simple story?"

UPDATE: I showed the love birds all the attention this tweet got, my grandma says "800 likes? That means only a few million don't like us!" pic.twitter.com/NeeuSeNdKW  Anna Harris (@annaharriswheel) April 4, 2017

Harris said she's been asked a lot about whether Kevorkian is related to the famous Dr. Jack Kevorkian. She's not.

She's also been asked about what it's like having Bowman in her family now. She said she's thrilled to have him in her life, and said that while some people think its strange for grandparents to get remarried, Bowman isnt replacing her grandpa.

"Instead, he just gave my grandma back," she said.
If youre looking for a job, its your lucky day.

Amazon announced Thursday that it would be hiring for 1,000 full-time positions at a new Southern California facility.

All 750,000 square feet of the Redlands location was set to open in the spring.

Workers would be hired for its warehouse to pack and ship large items like patio furniture.

Amazon was offering medical, dental and vision insurance along with a 401K. Employees would also receive company stock awards from the first day of employment.

The company also noted paid leave, and tuition reimbursement perks for employees.

"Amazon currently houses an on-site classroom at its San Bernardino fulfillment center to make it more convenient for associates to attend classes without worrying about commutes or work schedules," the company said in a statement.

There are already facilities in San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Rialto, Eastvale and now Redlands.

Those interested in applying can do so here.
A reservoir system would be built south of Lake Okeechobee to stop toxic algae discharges from fouling coastal communities under a bill that Florida senators sent to the House Wednesday following extensive debate.

The Senate voted for the bill (SB 10) 36-3, giving a victory to Senate President Joe Negron who has made it a priority during the Legislative session.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Rob Bradley, said the project is designed to avoid a repeat outbreak like the one last summer when guacamole-water'' saturated beach communities in Florida, threatening tourism, and the health of residents and marine life.

I am not describing a scene from a third world country, but one of the areas most populated in our state,'' Bradley said.

The bill provides money for the $1.5 billion project, a cost that the state and federal governments would split. The bill would also accelerate the project's completion.

It's been such a political and financial nut to crack, and now we finally have the political will to get it done,'' Bradley said.

As the proposal inched closer to the Senate floor for consideration, it went through a major overhaul including scaling back the project's size to take less agricultural land out of production. The plan would create at least 240,000 acre feet of storage, and would store about 78 billion gallons.

The bill was amended after it received pushback from opponents in the agricultural and sugar industries, but both industries remain hesitant to support the proposal.

Florida Sugarcane Farmers said in a statement the plan has improved but massive job losses'' are still a concern. Bradley said the project could take between 3,000 to 6,000 acres of agricultural land out of production.

Sen. Kevin Rader, a Democrat from Palm Beach who supported the bill, said more must be done to help residents who may lose their jobs.

This is the most blighted area in the state, we don't know if it is 40 or 50 percent unemployment in the area, but there's no economic driver out of there,'' Rader said.

Under the bill, funding would be allotted to train workers who may be unemployed as a result of the project. It would put money into the fostering economic development in the community with an airport and an inland port.
Wednesday's arrest of the man authorities described as "the last of the Cocaine Cowboys" solves one of the remaining mysteries of the notorious 1980s drug era that made some traffickers household names in South Florida.

U.S. Marshals arrested 55-year-old Gustavo Falcon in the Orlando-Kissimmee area after he spent some 26 years on the run. He now sits in a jail in Osceola County, but he fared better than most of his fellow "Cocaine Cowboys," a name based off of a popular 2006 documentary of the traffickers.

The Falcon Brothers and Sal Magluta

Gustavo Falcon is the brother of renowned drug smuggler Augusto "Willie" Falcon who, along with Willie's partner Sal Magluta, were indicted in 1991 for trafficking cocaine on speedboats from Colombia to South Florida during the 1980s. Prosecutors said the group brought about $2 billion in cocaine into Miami.

Gustavo Falcon fled before his indictment but his brother was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003 after making a deal with the government. Willie Falcon is scheduled to get out of prison in June.

Magluta got the worst of the three with a 205-year sentence in federal prison.

Cocaine Godmother

Griselda Blanco, known as the Cocaine Godmother, was a part of the Medellin Cartel and one of the first Colombian women to traffic cocaine into the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.

Blanco, who featured prominently in the "Cocaine Cowboys" documentaries, was a major figure in the violent Miami drug war in the 80s and served more than a decade in prison before she was released in 2004 and deported back to Colombia. Blanco was shot and killed in Colombia in 2012.

Munday and Roberts

Mickey Munday, who also became somewhat of a star after the release of "Cocaine Cowboys," was a drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel and drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. Munday flew loads of drugs into South Florida from Colombia, and served nearly nine years in federal prison.

Munday still lives in the Miami area, and even sat down with NBC 6 in 2013 to talk about his old smuggling days.

Munday's associate Jon Roberts, who was also featured in the documentary, was a flashy drug trafficker who also worked for Escobar. Roberts served more than a decade in prison before his release in October 2000. He died of cancer in 2011 at age 63.

The Hitman

Jorge "Rivi" Ayala, a hitman for Blanco, was interviewed from prison for the "Cocaine Cowboys" documentary. He pleaded guilty in three killings in 1993, but is believed to be responsible for some three dozen murders during the 80s drug war.

Ayala was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years, but lost his most recent opportunity for parole. He's due for another parole hearing in 2019.

The Informant

Max Mermelstein was a high-ranking Medellin Cartel drug smuggler and associate of Munday and Roberts when he was arrested in 1985.

Mermelstein, who was the only American in Escobar's inner circle, became an informant against the organization and went into the Federal Witness Protection Program after helping authorities crack down on the cartel's Miami operations.

Mermelstein died from cancer in 2008 at age 65.
What to Know The body of Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found in the Hudson River off Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon

Abdus-Salaam, 65, was the 1st black woman to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals and the 1st Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge

A medical examiner will determine what killed her; police said there was no obvious trauma but it wasn't clear how long she was in water

As tributes continue to pour in honoring the late Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the pioneering black Muslim judge who rose from humble beginnings in a family of seven children to a trailblazing appointment on New York state's highest court, investigators are beginning to reveal a timeline of her last days.



Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman appointed to New York state's highest court and the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge, was found dead in the Hudson River off Manhattan Wednesday afternoon, a day after she was reported missing, authorities said.



After an unrelated news briefing Thursday, Robert Boyce, the NYPD's chief of detectives, said her body showed no obvious signs of trauma and though there was no early indication of criminality, the investigation is ongoing.



Boyce said Abdus-Salaam spent the weekend with her husband in New Jersey; the husband last saw her Sunday night around 7 p.m. According to Boyce, Abdus-Salaam spoke with her assistant Tuesday morning; that appears to be the last time anyone heard from her before her body was found near West 132nd Street and Henry Hudson Parkway roughly 30 hours later.



Boyce said investigators are focusing on what happened in the hours after she spoke to her assistant; they're also looking for any video that may lend insight to the probe. Police say Abdus-Salaam had her MetroCard on her when her body was pulled from the water; it had last been used at 42nd Street on Monday. Though there were no apparent signs of trauma, investigators don't know how long she was in the water, Boyce said, which could an impact. A medical examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine how she died.

Calling Abdus-Salaam's death a surprise to everyone, Boyce said investigators have a long way to go. Shortly before Boyce briefed reporters on the investigation, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill joined the chorus of those mourning the death of the 65-year-old Manhattan resident.

Abdus-Salaam was elected to the Supreme Court of the State of New York in 1993, where she remained until 2009. She was serving on the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York State, before her death. She was appointed to the position by Gov. Cuomo in 2013.

In a statement Wednesday, Cuomo called Abdus-Salaam a "pioneer" and a "force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come."

Others recalled Abdus-Salaam as an inspiration to all who had the good fortune to know her. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore recalled her "personal warmth, uncompromising sense of fairness and bright legal mind."

A Washington, D.C., native, Abdus-Salaam graduated from Barnard College with a degree in economics in 1974 and went on to receive her law degree from Columbia University in 1977 as a Charles Evans Hughes Fellow.

The president of the New York State Bar Association, Claire Gutekunst, said Abdus-Salaam grew up poor in a family of seven children and "rose to become one of the seven judges in New York's highest court, where her intellect, judicial temperament and wisdom earned her wide respect."



On her block of West 131st Street, Abdus-Salaam was part of a nonprofit called Project Brownstone, which helps under-served youth.

"She was amazing because she really inspired the kids," Project Brownstone Founder Earl Davis said. "She was able to show them something that was outside of their realm."

To those who knew her on a personal level outside the courthouse, it's that spirit they will miss the most.

"It's shocking," Davis said. "I just don't understand what happened."
What to Know A contractor was arrested in connection with a devastating inferno that consumed an apartment building in Queens Tuesday, the FDNY said

About 200 firefighters battled the blaze as it overtook the top floors of an apartment building in Elmhurst

More than 100 units in the building were damaged and dozens were left displaced

FDNY fire marshals arrested a contractor a day after an inferno tore through a Queens building, damaging more than 100 apartments and displacing dozens of people.

Declan Mcelhatton, 53, of Maintenance Asset Management in Yonkers was arrested in connection with the massive blaze, which burned at the six-story apartment building in Elmhurst for hours on Tuesday evening.

Mcelhatton will be charged with arson and reckless endangerment, the FDNY said. He allegedly used a blowtoch on the roof without a permit.

In a tweet Wednesday, the FDNY said the cause of the massive fire was "open flame in close proximity to combustibles."

Building resident Richard Guerrero says the work was being done above his apartment, and that the contractor had been remodeling the floor using blowtorches.

Neighbor Jay Banfield, whose apartment was left waterlogged after the fire, said he's happy an arrest was made.

"We knew something was up," he said.

There was no answer at Mcelhatton's home in Westchester Thursday, and his attorney declined to speak to News 4.

The building on 94th Street had two permits with the city, one for equipment -- a pipe scaffold -- and the other for general construction for facade and balcony restoration. There was no permit allowing blowtorch work on the roof.

Alex Esdelle, who escaped the fire with only the clothes on his back and a cellphone, said of Mcelhatton, "He deserves everything that comes to him."
What to Know The body of Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found in the Hudson River off Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon

Abdus-Salaam, 65, was the 1st black woman to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals and the 1st Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge

A medical examiner will determine what killed her; police said there were no obvious signs of trauma

UPDATE: Investigators Reveal Timeline of Last Days of Pioneering NY Judge Found Dead in Hudson River



The first black woman appointed to New York State's highest court, and the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge, was found dead in the Hudson River off Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found unresponsive in the water shortly before 2 p.m., according to police. Her body showed no obvious signs of trauma, and police declined to speculate on the cause of her death.

NYPD officers were responding to reports of a person floating in the river near West 132nd Street and Henry Hudson Parkway when they found her, authorities said. Her body was taken to the medical examiner's office in Kips Bay, where the exact cause of her death can be determined.

Abdus-Salaam's husband left the couple's home in Harlem on Wednesday night escorted by police and a church bishop.

The 65-year-old Manhattan resident was elected to the Supreme Court of the State of New York in 1993, where she remained until 2009. She was serving on the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York State, before her death. She was appointed to the position by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

Cuomo called her a "pioneer" and a "force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come" in a statement Wednesday.

"I was proud to appoint her to the states highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing," Cuomo said.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, said in a statement he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of her death, calling her "a dedicated public servant who served New York with honor and distinction as the first African-American woman to sit on the Court of Appeals."

A Washington, D.C. native, Abdus-Salaam graduated from Barnard College with a degree in economics in 1974 and went on to receive her law degree from Columbia University in 1977 as a Charles Evans Hughes Fellow.

In Harlem on Wednesday, friends and colleagues remembered her as a kind, gentle and loving fixture of her community.

Neighbor Michele Harris said she was shocked when a neighbor called her and told her the news.

"I feel like I want to cry," Harris said. "It's a loss."

On her block of West 131st Street, Abdus-Salaam was part of a nonprofit called Project Brownstone, which helps under-served youth.

"She was amazing because she really inspired the kids," Project Brownstone Founder Earl Davis said. "She was able to show them something that was outside of their realm."

To those who knew her on a personal level outside the courthouse, it's that spirit they will miss the most.

"It's shocking," Davis said. "I just don't understand what happened."

__

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump in a phone call Wednesday that Beijing is willing to work with Washington on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program but wants a peaceful solution to the escalating conflict.

Xi's comments came after Trump tweeted that China should do more on the issue Washington sees as an increasingly urgent threat, or the U.S. would go it alone.

China's calls for calm come as tensions have risen with the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the area and the conducting of the biggest-ever U.S.-South Korea military exercises.

During their phone call, Xi told Trump that China insists on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and wants to find a solution to the problem through peaceful means, according to a brief description of the call released by the Chinese foreign ministry.

"China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula ... and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula," Xi was quoted as saying.

The two leaders spoke Tuesday night Washington time after Trump said an "armada" of vessels including the USS Carl Vinson carrier was steaming to waters off the Korean Peninsula in a show of force.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday at a regular briefing in Beijing that it was a "good thing" that the two leaders were in touch again days after meeting in Florida.

Regarding the U.S. navy flotilla's arrival in the western Pacific, Lu said: "We hope all parties will refrain from irresponsible actions that would be very dangerous at the moment."

North Korean state media has warned of a nuclear attack on the United States in retaliation for any signs of aggression, a threat that has been made numerous times before.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump suggested the U.S. could "solve" the North Korea issue unilaterally.

"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.

In another tweet, he sought to persuade Xi to put pressure on North Korea in exchange for a good trade deal with the U.S. 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!"

Trump and other U.S. officials have repeatedly called on China to leverage its status as North Korea's biggest economic partner and source of food and fuel aid to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

China says it is in full compliance with sanctions enacted under U.N. Security Council resolutions. In February, China suspended imports of coal from North Korea  a key source of foreign currency for Kim Jong Un's hard-line Communist regime.

However, Beijing also says it will not countenance measures that could bring about a collapse of the regime that could release a flood of refugees across its border, destabilize northeast Asia and result in a U.S.-friendly government taking power in Pyongyang.
Officials say a suspect in a domestic assault died after Reading police used a stun gun on him during a struggle.

The Berks County district attorney's office on Thursday identified the dead suspect as 25-year-old Kenneth Johnston.

Police say a 31-year-old woman reported Wednesday afternoon that Johnston, her boyfriend, had assaulted her. Authorities say a police officer found Johnston in a nearby alley and tried to place him under arrest, but Johnston resisted.

Chief County Detective Michael Gombar says the officer used his department-issued stun gun on Johnston, who fell to the ground and become unresponsive.

Police performed CPR, but Johnston was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy is planned for late Thursday.

The district attorney's office is investigating.
Comedian and actor Charlie Murphy, who stepped out of his brother Eddie's shadow as a talent in his own right, has died at 57, according to his publicist.

Murphy died of leukemia, publicist Domenick Nati told NBC Los Angeles.

Fellow comedian Chris Rock posted a picture of Murphy on Twitter with a message of mourning: "We just lost one of the funniest most real brothers of all time. Charlie Murphy RIP."

Murphy was perhaps best known as an ensemble actor in the comedy "Chappelle's Show," where he told belief-defying stories about spending time with Rick James and Prince. In the recurring segment "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," Murphy would recount how his brother's fame brought him into the orbit of the biggest stars. His versions of the experiences, played out by him, Chappelle and others, became enduring hits.

He appeared in movies as well, like "Mo' Betta Blues" and "Night at the Museum," and was a writer on the Eddie Murphy movies "Vampire in Brooklyn" and "Norbit." He voiced a role in the animated TV series that includes "The Boondocks" and also appeared in the comedy series "Black Jesus."

Born in New York City, Murphy grew up in a tough household and eventually joined the Navy after a stint in jail, he recalled in a 2011 Esquire interview, eventually taking charge of security for his brother after he'd rocketed to fame.

"I was Eddie Murphy's brother, and he'd already achieved notoriety in comedy, and people started asking me to try it out," Murphy said. "I did, and ever since that first day, I've never stopped. I can't really count three weeks in a row where I wasn't doing it onstage."

He had an apparent gift for storytelling. At a 2012 comedy special paying homage to his younger brother, Murphy recalled always losing to Eddie in insult contests.

"When he was 8 years old, he was already telling world-class jokes  about me," Murphy recalled . "He told me my nose looks like an upside-down black power symbol. That jokes still works to this very day."

His Facebook and Twitter accounts have, of late, been full of short, inspirational messages, including this from Tuesday: "One to Sleep On: Release the past to rest as deeply as possible."

TMZ first reported on Murphy's death, citing Murphy's manager.

DL Hughley, who toured with Murphy and other comedians recently, tweeted: "After every gig, he rushed home to be with his kids. He died with gigs on the books."

Murphy's feature films include "Our Family Wedding," ''King's Ransom" and "CB4."

He is credited with appearances to air later this year on the Starz TV drama series "Power."

"He joined 'Power' for our upcoming season, and his talent shines in every scene," the channel said in a statement.
The arsonist who set fire to a home in Maryland with two women inside meant to target someone else, sources say.

The suspect, who investigators say is a gang member, had the wrong address, according to sources.

"He destroyed our lives," victim Natasha Lasley said.

She and her sister were inside their house on the 11500 block of Dunloring Drive in Largo, Maryland, when flames tore through it. Firefighters responded about 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Surveillance footage from a camera mounted on the house shows a man carrying a red gas can and flames leaping from the deck to the roof. At one point, the arsonist appears to look right at the camera.

Investigators believe he strategically set the fire so it would climb up the house and build in strength before it triggered the smoke detectors inside.

Aaron Christopher Davis, 28, was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder and arson.

Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office

Information on his lawyer was not available immediately.

Wearing borrowed clothes, Lasley spoke as she picked through her charred belongings. She lost everything, and she and her sister could have lost their lives.

"His intent was to kill anyone in that house," she said. "It could have been me and my sister. That's a nightmare that we always will have."

By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, all three levels of her home had caught fire. Additional firefighters were called to the scene when the flames began to spread to adjacent homes.

Eight adults and a child were displaced, and two firefighters were treated for minor injuries. The fire caused an estimated $320,000 in damage.

Neighbor Genie Hebron said she's afraid.

"It's scary to me because if he or if his gang members realize they've targeted the wrong home, are they going to come back and get the right home?" she asked.

Fire investigators are still looking for information about this incident and any additional suspects. Anyone with information that can help is asked to call the Arson Tip Line at 301-772-7766.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Lasley and her family.
Police arrested a 20-year-old Virginia man in connection with three recent hate-motivated incidents.

Anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) overnight on the first night of Passover this week. A nearby church was targeted with hateful vandalism the same night.

"Within 48 hours with the help of our community we arrested the offender in this horrific hate crime event, Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler said.

Police arrested 20-year-old Dylan M. Mahone at his Annandale home Wednesday night. He is also suspected of posting anti-Semitic flyers at Northern Virginia Community College in March, gluing the flyers to tables and chairs. He is a student at the school.

All of the incidents occurred within about a mile of Mahone's home, police said.

Among the hateful messages at the JCCNV on Little River Turnpike, "Hitler was right" was spray-painted across an entrance. A swastika and an "SS" symbol were spray-painted onto exterior walls.

The nearby Little River United Church of Christ also was vandalized, with swastikas, anti-LGBTQ messages and anti-Muslim signs. "Defend America; No Muslims," was written across the front door.

The acts of vandalism were discovered Tuesday morning.

Police identified Mahone as a suspect through surveillance video and a Twitter account called Aryan Underground on which photos of the flyers at the community college were posted. Mahone's phone number was linked to the Twitter handle.

Among the items police found in his home were spray paint and clothing seen in the surveillance video.

This includes clothing and the mask the suspect wore, bags the suspect carried, and spray-paint he used to vandalize, police spokeswoman Julie Parker said.

The video shows Mahone acted alone, police said.

He is charged in Fairfax County with two counts each of felony destruction of property, placing a swastika on religious property with the intent to intimidate and wearing a mask in public to conceal his identity. Northern Virginia Community College Police charged him with felony destruction of property and wearing a mask to conceal his identity.

Little River United Church of Christ pastor the Rev. Dr. David Lindsey said he suspects the church was targeted because it is open to diversity.

Members of the community have rallied to help clean up the graffiti.

"Neighbors have literally rolled up their sleeves to clean windows for faith communities that are not even their own," Lindsey said.

Lindsey and JCCNV Executive Director Jeff Dannick said the vandalism forged a new friendship between their communities. The church is holding a vigil at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with support from JCCNV.
A federal grand jury has charged 26 people  including airline employees, airport staff and restaurant workers  with running a $4 million drug smuggling and money laundering operation from Puerto Ricos international airport. The alleged leader of the scheme has not yet been arrested and is believed to be holed up in the Dominican Republic with his pet tiger.

Federal authorities arrested employees of American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, DHL, airport cleaning services and workers at a Margaritaville restaurant before dawn at the Luis Munoz Marin airport in the capital of San Juan.

"Today we have brought their operations to a grinding halt," said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez.

The alleged leader of the operation, identified as Humberto Concepcion Andrades, has not been arrested. The U.S. has filed an extradition request with the government of the Dominican Republic, where Andrades lives with a pet tiger that federal authorities have nicknamed "Tony the tiger," Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Ivan Ortiz said.

The Justice Department has ordered the forfeiture of the tiger as well as luxury cars, properties and high-end jewelry Andrades owns, Rodriguez's office confirmed to NBC.

According to the indictment, 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 Airlines employees who would place stickers on luggage indicating it had been cleared by TSA when it hadn't been, officials said. American Airlines employees also would send the drugs as cargo free of charge, 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 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 of cocaine through Puerto Rico during an 18-year operation that ended last year.
The remains of two women went unclaimed, but loving strangers gave them dignified burials Wednesday at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia.

Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Catherine Lee Beck and Carol Corice Horn, the spouse of a deceased U.S. Navy service member, did not know each other in life. But they shared a lonely title in death: both of their bodies were deemed to be "unclaimed remains."

These are individuals who have passed away, and unfortunately family members are not able to take care of them or are unwilling to take care of the funeral arrangements," Capt. Heath Stearns of the Prince William County Sheriff's Office explained.

The sheriff's office and volunteers with the Missing in America Project stepped up to give both women a proper burial, with full military honors.

Veterans on motorcycles, sheriff's deputies and City of Manassas police officers escorted Beck's and Horn's remains to the cemetery.

A bugler played taps, and Marine spouse Sherry Yetter sang the national anthem. She has volunteered for hundreds of hours, helping lay people's unclaimed remains to rest.

No one deserves to go unclaimed, and so it is my honor to help bring them home today," she said.

An entire section of Quantico National Cemetery, Section 22, is devoted to unclaimed bodies.

The Missing in America Project estimates there are more than 100,000 unclaimed bodies across the U.S. They believe about 30 percent of those belong to former service members.

A coordinator with the project, Forrest Lingenfelter, said the volunteers serve as fill-in family members.

There's just no one to claim them, and if you can step in and be that family, that's special," he said.

Yetter said she continues to pay her respects after the burials.

"We adopt each one of these individuals that have been laid to rest. They become part of our family. So, on the holidays guess who I come to visit? I come visit these individuals who Ive helped laid to rest," she said.

In 2016, the Prince William County Sheriff's Office handled about 40 funerals for people whose remains had not been claimed.

As always, they invite the public to join in paying their respects.
Four members of the Billerica Fire Department in Massachusetts are on leave pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, the town confirms.

Town Manager John Curran says those four employees may not be the only ones involved. He heard rumors of misconduct beginning in the summer of 2016, finally getting enough proof to launch an investigation in January.

"There's no question in my mind that whatever has transpired has had an impact on morale [and] focus in the fire department," Curran said during a press conference Wednesday. "That's a great concern to me and to the chief. We want to make sure that we can deliver the highest level of public safety service to the town."

Authorities said that three male firefighters and one female fire dispatcher were involved. The employees will face disciplinary hearings later this month and could be terminated. Details about the alleged acts and the names of the employees are not being released at this time.

More information could come out of administrative hearings, including whether members of the fire department knew of the situation and did not come forward. Curran said additional employees could face disciplinary action, including management.

"It is apparent from the level of investigation that has already taken place that the mid-level command staff is often unclear of what their role is from a management and command perspective," Curran said in a statement released earlier Wednesday. "Under the direction of Chief Thomas Conway, the town will restructure the mid-level command staff of the fire department to ensure that there is greater opportunity for broad based management experience."

Additionally, the town has scheduled a series of management training sessions to address misconduct, with all fire department staff being retained for training to prevent sexual harassment. A new visitor policy has been put in place, effective immediately.
Maine State Police will file drug charges against a Hiram, Maine, man already out on bail for a fatal car crash in December, after cocaine, marijuana, and guns were found in the mans house.

Troopers conducted a bail check on 29-year-old Philip Macri on Wednesday afternoon at his home at 362 Richardson Rd. in Hiram.

Macri was on bail after being charged with manslaughter, aggravated OUI, and two counts of aggravated assault following a crash in Windham on Dec. 1, 2016.

Killed in that crash was 38-year-old Rebecca Perry, whose teenage daughter was also seriously injured in the crash. As part of his release on bail, Macri was ordered not to use or possess firearms, alcohol, illegal drugs, or marijuana.

While conducting the bail check Wednesday, officials coordinated a search of Macris home and found 72 grams of cocaine, a marijuana grow, several firearms, and $4,700 in cash.

Macri was arrested for violating his bail and was transported to the Oxford County Jail in South Paris. Troopers now plan to charge Macri with Class A aggravated drug trafficking.

It's unclear when he'll appear in court or if he has an attorney.
A prominent Rhode Island business group is endorsing Gov. Gina Raimondo's plan to cover two years of tuition at public colleges for state residents.

The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to announce its support Thursday with the Democratic governor.

Raimondo has been building political support for the plan, which could face opposition in the legislature. Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has called the estimated $30 million-a-year program "unsustainable and fiscally irresponsible."

Raimondo held a rally for the proposal last week with former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, national chairman of the Democratic National Committee. She's also pulled in endorsements from other well-known Democrats, including former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a similar initiative there.
Visitors to Wymondham Abbeys Christmas fair will be able to treat their children to a magic show and fun baking workshop while they browse more than 60 stalls.

Visitors to Wymondham Abbeys Christmas fair will be able to treat their children to a magic show and fun baking workshop while they browse more than 60 stalls.

Salvation Armys new Christmas Appeal in Norfolk The Salvation Army has launched their new Christmas appeal across Norfolk which, this year, has evolved from the much-loved Toys and Tins appeal. Read more

Are we storing up treasures on earth? Rising prices affect us all, and Anna Heydon urges us to spare a thought for those who will be struggling with the cost of living this winter. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

Covid leaf memorial at Norwich church St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19 Read more

Community Chaplaincy Norfolk begins a new chapter Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) celebrated the beginning of a new chapter this week, as the new chair of trustees Chris Tomlinson led his first annual meeting. Read more

Lowestoft Christians launch on-line bible helps app The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth branch of Good News for Everyone (GNFE), formerly the Gideons, have introduced a new mobile phone app called On-line Bible Helps. Read more

Addicts' rehabilitation centre plan for Drayton Hall Christian addiction charity Teen Challenge London is planning to turn Drayton Hall near Norwich into its headquarters and a rehabilitation centre for men, after it was gifted the freehold of the hall by its owner, the Lind Trust. Read more

The power of positive protest Philip Young encourages us to take a stand for what we believe, and has just written to Therese Coffey regarding climate change and the forthcoming COP 27. He explains why we should be prepared to protest. Read more

Norwich church celebrates with cribs and trees Rosebery Road Methodist Church in Norwich will be holding its annual Cribs and Trees Festival in December. Read more

Transforming Norwich lunch offers ministry tips Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Read more

Quiet Waters in Bungay offers healing retreat Quiet Waters Christian Retreat in Bungay is holding a gentle day retreat exploring healing in the Kingdom of God. Read more

Norfolk ministry coaching duo are guest speakers Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21. Read more

Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more

First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more

Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more

South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more

Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more
Samsung is seeing strong demand for its Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones, suggesting that consumers may be looking beyond the companys debacle with the Galaxy Note7.

The companys head of mobile DJ Koh said at a media event in South Korea on Thursday that pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ had outstripped those for its predecessors, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, which were launched in March last year.

A Samsung spokesperson confirmed Kohs remarks but did not provide figures for the pre-orders for the devices. The company disclosed, however, the number of pre-orders for the S8 and S8+ in home market South Korea, which were at over 728,000.

"The news about the S8 is very positive at this point, though we have to see how many of the pre-orders translate into sales," said Kiranjeet Kaur, research manager for client devices at IDC Asia/Pacific. There is a pent up demand for a large screen Samsung phone after the Note7 was discontinued, and the S8 devices meet that requirement, she added.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are scheduled to hit shelves in the U.S. and some other markets from April 21. The new devices have been closely watched because it is the first major launch by the company after battery issues surfaced in the Note7, an earlier flagship device, forcing the company to stop production in October of the smartphone and recall over 3 million units.

Samsung placed the blame for the overheating and sometimes explosions of the Note7 on batteries provided by two suppliers. Koh said the companies had tested over 100,000 batteries internally this time to ensure the problem doesnt recur with the S8, according to a report.

The arrival of the Galaxy S8 has had some setbacks too. The company said Tuesday that the voice feature in its Bixby voice-activated personal assistant won't be shipping in the U.S. with the Galaxy S8 smartphone on April 21, but would be available later this spring.

The company has reportedly had problems with the voice-recognition performance of the English version of Bixby. Other features of Bixby like Vision, Home and Reminder will be available at the global launch of Galaxy S8 on April 21, Samsung said.

The company appears to have recovered financially from the Note7 crisis. It said last week it expects its operating profit in the first quarter was 9.9 trillion won (US$8.8 billion), up 48 percent from 6.7 trillion won in the same period last year, helped largely by growth in its components business. Following the stoppage of the production of Note7, the company reduced its profit forecast for the third quarter of last year by over 2.6 trillion won, while cutting revenue expectations by 2 trillion won.

The company is also better prepared to meet demand for the S8 and S8+ as it is likely to have ramped up production of its curved screens to avoid a re-run of previous disruption of phone shipments on account of shortages of these screens, Kaur said. By narrowing down to a couple of flagship devices, Samsung now has a more streamlined portfolio and will be able to better focus its marketing and other resources on these smartphones, she added.
Youngsters impress European Space Agency scientists

PUPILS at St Nicolas CE Junior School were over the moon after winning a competition to have their idea for an experiment run on the International Space Station.

The group of 11 children, dubbed The Kepler Kids, suggested using the stations computers to measure the magnetic force of Earth while in orbit after entering the European Astro PI Challenge.

The idea was shortlisted for the international competition meaning the seven- to 11-year-olds were then asked to write the computer code for the experiment, with the help of a programme provided by boffins at the ESA (European Space Agency).

And, after again impressing the ESA with the written code, their experiment was selected to run on the ISS along with four others from UK schools.

Deputy headteacher at St Nicolas CE Junior School, Kath Burns, said The Kepler Kids (named after the Kepler Space Observatory  itself named after 17th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler) had worked exceptionally hard for the competition.

She said: The judges felt that our Mission 2 idea was one of the most original ideas they had seen, and we were congratulated on our amazing work.

It involved using the magnetometer, attached to the Pi, to measure the magnetic force of Earth, while orbiting Earth.

The children have coded the experiment which will run or fly on the International Space Station, by May 15  an achievement that many scientists can only dream of.

Its a unique and amazing prize.

The ESA received 180 entries from across the UK alone. Hopefully, this is the beginning of further achievements for our future top scientists.

The code will be run on the ISS before May 15, under the supervision of ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

The data collected will then be beamed back to the group to analyse at school.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Banks sanctioned a little over the targeted Rs 1.80 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in 2016-17 notwithstanding the impact of demonetisation on banking services for at least two months. Loans extended under the Mudra scheme surpassed the target of Rs 1.80 lakh crore, a finance Ministry statement said.

According to estimates, loans totalling Rs 1,80,087 crore were sanctioned under the scheme. Of the total loans sanctioned, Rs 1.23 lakh crore was provided by banks, while Rs 57,000 crore was given by non- banking institutions.

The demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November 2016 impacted banking operations throughout the country, but it did not have any bearing on the operation of the PMMY scheme.

The PMMY data indicate that loans were provided to about four crore borrowers of which over 70 per cent were women.

The statement further said that about 20 per cent of the borrowers were from the Scheduled Caste category, 5 per cent from the Scheduled Tribe category, while Other Backward Classes accounted for almost 35 per cent of the borrowers. "The robust growth in bank loans to unfunded and underfunded segments is an indication of the emergence of this category of borrowers as a key driver of demand for credit," it added.

The Union Budget has announced a lending target of Rs 2.44 lakh crore under Mudra scheme for 2017-18. Mudra Loans are made available for non-agricultural activities up to Rs 10 lakh. These also include activities like dairy, poultry, bee keeping etc, are also covered.

Under the scheme a borrower can access working capital through ATMs and card machines, the statement said, adding "evaluation studies show that banks have been proactive in identifying and disbursing loans to first time borrowers thereby weaning them away from money lenders".

NEW DELHI: Banks sanctioned a little over the targeted Rs 1.80 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in 2016-17 notwithstanding the impact of demonetisation on banking services for at least two months. Loans extended under the Mudra scheme surpassed the target of Rs 1.80 lakh crore, a finance Ministry statement said. According to estimates, loans totalling Rs 1,80,087 crore were sanctioned under the scheme. Of the total loans sanctioned, Rs 1.23 lakh crore was provided by banks, while Rs 57,000 crore was given by non- banking institutions. The demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November 2016 impacted banking operations throughout the country, but it did not have any bearing on the operation of the PMMY scheme. The PMMY data indicate that loans were provided to about four crore borrowers of which over 70 per cent were women. The statement further said that about 20 per cent of the borrowers were from the Scheduled Caste category, 5 per cent from the Scheduled Tribe category, while Other Backward Classes accounted for almost 35 per cent of the borrowers. "The robust growth in bank loans to unfunded and underfunded segments is an indication of the emergence of this category of borrowers as a key driver of demand for credit," it added. The Union Budget has announced a lending target of Rs 2.44 lakh crore under Mudra scheme for 2017-18. Mudra Loans are made available for non-agricultural activities up to Rs 10 lakh. These also include activities like dairy, poultry, bee keeping etc, are also covered. Under the scheme a borrower can access working capital through ATMs and card machines, the statement said, adding "evaluation studies show that banks have been proactive in identifying and disbursing loans to first time borrowers thereby weaning them away from money lenders".
Shruthi H M By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Supreme Courts directive to shut down a BSNL mobile phone tower in Gwalior based on a cancer patients plea that the radiation from the tower was the cause of his health condition, has come as a setback for the telecom sector.Considering the plea by Harish Chand Tiwari, a 42-year-old cancer patient, the Supreme Court in its interim order on Wednesday directed that the tower be shut down. The order has stirred up a hornets nest with industry representatives claiming there isnt enough scientific evidence to back claims about the radiation being hazardous.

Its non-ionising radiation

The potential effects of mobile radiation have been a bone of contention between activists and the telecom sector for a long time. However, this is the first time that the Supreme Court has taken the current approach, pointed out Mahesh Uppal, industry expert. Even though this is a setback, it is unwise to jump to any conclusion on the impact of the order on the industry, he said. Uppal opined that the Supreme Court is not the best judge of the issue and one needs to rely on analysis by competent professionals in the field.

The truth is that energy of the radiation from the tower is not sufficient to break chemical bond; it is non-ionising radiation. However, given the current scale of usage of mobile devices, it makes sense to keep this under review.On the other hand, the SC interim order comes as a welcome move for activists who have been fighting the cause.

It is a fact that health hazards are caused because of the radiation emitted from telecom towers. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from his statement on May 31, 2013 where he had said, Microwaves and radiation through mobile towers proved killers to birds and creatures, Mumbai-based activist Prakash Munshi asked why the government was not willing to accept that the radiation could harm humans.

India wants to reach digital highway even at the cost of citizens. I shudder to think what would happen ten years later where they would be an epidemic of health hazards, he said, adding that the challenge of convincing people still remained as the industry would go for an appeal.

Its an interim order only

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has issued a statement saying that for the telecom industry, consumers interest is paramount. The industry appeals to the public not to panic and read the interim order in its entirety. There are four EMF-related cases, which have been clubbed together. The interim SC order relates to only one of them whereas other cases were left untouched. Meanwhile, eight high courts which have found that the radiation emanating from mobile towers are not hazardous for human health. As a precaution, DoT has already maintained emission limits at 1/10th of the recommended ICNIRP global standards for India, said Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI.

BENGALURU: The Supreme Courts directive to shut down a BSNL mobile phone tower in Gwalior based on a cancer patients plea that the radiation from the tower was the cause of his health condition, has come as a setback for the telecom sector.Considering the plea by Harish Chand Tiwari, a 42-year-old cancer patient, the Supreme Court in its interim order on Wednesday directed that the tower be shut down. The order has stirred up a hornets nest with industry representatives claiming there isnt enough scientific evidence to back claims about the radiation being hazardous. Its non-ionising radiation The potential effects of mobile radiation have been a bone of contention between activists and the telecom sector for a long time. However, this is the first time that the Supreme Court has taken the current approach, pointed out Mahesh Uppal, industry expert. Even though this is a setback, it is unwise to jump to any conclusion on the impact of the order on the industry, he said. Uppal opined that the Supreme Court is not the best judge of the issue and one needs to rely on analysis by competent professionals in the field. The truth is that energy of the radiation from the tower is not sufficient to break chemical bond; it is non-ionising radiation. However, given the current scale of usage of mobile devices, it makes sense to keep this under review.On the other hand, the SC interim order comes as a welcome move for activists who have been fighting the cause. It is a fact that health hazards are caused because of the radiation emitted from telecom towers. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from his statement on May 31, 2013 where he had said, Microwaves and radiation through mobile towers proved killers to birds and creatures, Mumbai-based activist Prakash Munshi asked why the government was not willing to accept that the radiation could harm humans. India wants to reach digital highway even at the cost of citizens. I shudder to think what would happen ten years later where they would be an epidemic of health hazards, he said, adding that the challenge of convincing people still remained as the industry would go for an appeal. Its an interim order only The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has issued a statement saying that for the telecom industry, consumers interest is paramount. The industry appeals to the public not to panic and read the interim order in its entirety. There are four EMF-related cases, which have been clubbed together. The interim SC order relates to only one of them whereas other cases were left untouched. Meanwhile, eight high courts which have found that the radiation emanating from mobile towers are not hazardous for human health. As a precaution, DoT has already maintained emission limits at 1/10th of the recommended ICNIRP global standards for India, said Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which attached the shares of the United Spirits Limited owned by Vijay Mallya under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This was in relation to the appeal filed by the commercially insolvent company United Breweries (Holdings) Limited (UBHL) against the winding up order.

A division bench of Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar issued notice to the ED seeking its response, after UBHL informed that it has shares to sell and can deposit the amount.

During the hearing, the counsel for UBHL informed the court that the company is ready to offer more than million USL shares worth `1,200 crore. In addition to this, `1,280 crore deposit plus `108 crore interest accrued on the deposit is available with the court, the counsel said.

But the counsel for consortium of banks drew the attention of the court and said that the shares were attached by the ED.

Taking note of it, the division bench observed that it cannot accept shares as an offer as their value may change anytime. Hence, the bench issued notice to the ED and adjourned the hearing to April 17.

Earlier, the court had suggested to UBHL to come out with a fair offer of deposit to be paid to the consortium of banks and other creditors for one time settlement.

The division bench was hearing the appeal filed by the UBHL against the single bench order dated February 7, 2017, which had ordered the winding up of the firm, on account of its failure to discharge the guarantee obligations.

The single bench had allowed the petitions filed by the International Aero Engines (IAE) and the consortium of banks. They prayed the High Court seeking directions to wind up UBHL to recover the dues payable by the company, which had given the corporate guarantee to the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Limited (KFAL).

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which attached the shares of the United Spirits Limited owned by Vijay Mallya under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This was in relation to the appeal filed by the commercially insolvent company United Breweries (Holdings) Limited (UBHL) against the winding up order. A division bench of Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar issued notice to the ED seeking its response, after UBHL informed that it has shares to sell and can deposit the amount. During the hearing, the counsel for UBHL informed the court that the company is ready to offer more than million USL shares worth `1,200 crore. In addition to this, `1,280 crore deposit plus `108 crore interest accrued on the deposit is available with the court, the counsel said. But the counsel for consortium of banks drew the attention of the court and said that the shares were attached by the ED. Taking note of it, the division bench observed that it cannot accept shares as an offer as their value may change anytime. Hence, the bench issued notice to the ED and adjourned the hearing to April 17. Earlier, the court had suggested to UBHL to come out with a fair offer of deposit to be paid to the consortium of banks and other creditors for one time settlement. The division bench was hearing the appeal filed by the UBHL against the single bench order dated February 7, 2017, which had ordered the winding up of the firm, on account of its failure to discharge the guarantee obligations. The single bench had allowed the petitions filed by the International Aero Engines (IAE) and the consortium of banks. They prayed the High Court seeking directions to wind up UBHL to recover the dues payable by the company, which had given the corporate guarantee to the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Limited (KFAL).
Abinaya K By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: As a five-year-old, when most of us were watching TV and fighting over who gets the best Boomer stickers, a young Simone Gramaglia, in a town in Northern Italy, was already mastering three musical instruments before getting attached to the viola, while Luigi Attademo was perfecting his guitar strokes. Fast forward to the present day, they eagerly wait to test the Indian version of Italian espresso, even as we warn them that, in Chennai, filter kapi is the better Joe, the Italian viola and guitarist duo discuss music, inspirations and superstitions, amongst other friendly banter.

How did the two of you meet and collaborate with two diverse musical instruments?

Simone (S): Well, we both had our different careers set. Luigi played guitar in orchestras and solo, while I play in a string quartet, Quartetto di Cremona (Luigi: The best quartet in Italy, for the past 15 years). We met in a concert about five years ago and became friends and decided to work together. It is quite unusual for classical music, as the viola and guitar are considered the two most special instruments, but seeing as weve been performing together around the world, it seems to be a hit!

What do you look for in an audience while performing?

Luigi (L): We ask only for silence (laughs). We are transported to special spiritual place while performing, and likewise the audience should also be transported. So its very important they allow us to embrace them with our music.

What would you say was your best audience-experience?

S: Europe and the US were great audiences. China was a very interesting place to perform  they dont clap while you enter the stage but only after the whole performance. It was so new to us! And now were curious to see how the audience here reacts.

But Luigi, you have performed in India before, though?

L: Yes, in New Delhi and Kolkata. The audience was great. Classical guitar was new in India, and there were a few amateur guitarists who were curious to learn. It was interesting to have a connection with a new audience.

Have you travelled around in India?

S: Its my first time here, and I am quite excited to get my share of the Indian experience. I have been told to visit the Kapaleeswar temple, Mylapore and to go for lunch to Sangeetha Hotel. After Chennai, we will be going to Delhi and Pune, and Im excited to see more of it.

Have you ever heard Indian classical music?

S: Not yet, but I would love to soon! To be honest, I dont know much about Indian music, but Im very curious.

Do you have any pre-concert rituals/superstitions?

L: If Simone is not performing with me, then it is bad luck for me (laughs).

S: Ah, hes only teasing! Im not generally a superstitious person, but in Italy we have a saying, Never say good luck to an artist before a performance, it only brings bad luck (laughs). We instead say, In bocca allupo, that means in the mouth of the wolf. It is a bit strange, but there you go!

Is there any one particular composition that is your favourite?

S: Luigi had experimented with a piece written by Schubert, originally for the instruments Arpeggione (an instrument of the early 19th Century) and the viola, where he transcribed the part for the Arpeggione to be playable by guitar, and did a great job of it. The transcribed parts for the guitar are very complex, necessitating a gradual finger movement from one end of the guitar to the other but he plays it easily. Though of course, the guitar is much easier to play compared to the viola (smirks).

Future plans?

L: We have upcoming performances in Stockholm, Istanbul, Madrid and other European cities. Were also looking towards expanding our number of concerts a year to about 120. The first CD we recorded together went very well, so were now looking at recording a transcription of Schubert, sonata which we will be playing in Pune.

CHENNAI: As a five-year-old, when most of us were watching TV and fighting over who gets the best Boomer stickers, a young Simone Gramaglia, in a town in Northern Italy, was already mastering three musical instruments before getting attached to the viola, while Luigi Attademo was perfecting his guitar strokes. Fast forward to the present day, they eagerly wait to test the Indian version of Italian espresso, even as we warn them that, in Chennai, filter kapi is the better Joe, the Italian viola and guitarist duo discuss music, inspirations and superstitions, amongst other friendly banter. How did the two of you meet and collaborate with two diverse musical instruments? Simone (S): Well, we both had our different careers set. Luigi played guitar in orchestras and solo, while I play in a string quartet, Quartetto di Cremona (Luigi: The best quartet in Italy, for the past 15 years). We met in a concert about five years ago and became friends and decided to work together. It is quite unusual for classical music, as the viola and guitar are considered the two most special instruments, but seeing as weve been performing together around the world, it seems to be a hit! What do you look for in an audience while performing? Luigi (L): We ask only for silence (laughs). We are transported to special spiritual place while performing, and likewise the audience should also be transported. So its very important they allow us to embrace them with our music. What would you say was your best audience-experience? S: Europe and the US were great audiences. China was a very interesting place to perform  they dont clap while you enter the stage but only after the whole performance. It was so new to us! And now were curious to see how the audience here reacts. But Luigi, you have performed in India before, though? L: Yes, in New Delhi and Kolkata. The audience was great. Classical guitar was new in India, and there were a few amateur guitarists who were curious to learn. It was interesting to have a connection with a new audience. Have you travelled around in India? S: Its my first time here, and I am quite excited to get my share of the Indian experience. I have been told to visit the Kapaleeswar temple, Mylapore and to go for lunch to Sangeetha Hotel. After Chennai, we will be going to Delhi and Pune, and Im excited to see more of it. Have you ever heard Indian classical music? S: Not yet, but I would love to soon! To be honest, I dont know much about Indian music, but Im very curious. Do you have any pre-concert rituals/superstitions? L: If Simone is not performing with me, then it is bad luck for me (laughs). S: Ah, hes only teasing! Im not generally a superstitious person, but in Italy we have a saying, Never say good luck to an artist before a performance, it only brings bad luck (laughs). We instead say, In bocca allupo, that means in the mouth of the wolf. It is a bit strange, but there you go! Is there any one particular composition that is your favourite? S: Luigi had experimented with a piece written by Schubert, originally for the instruments Arpeggione (an instrument of the early 19th Century) and the viola, where he transcribed the part for the Arpeggione to be playable by guitar, and did a great job of it. The transcribed parts for the guitar are very complex, necessitating a gradual finger movement from one end of the guitar to the other but he plays it easily. Though of course, the guitar is much easier to play compared to the viola (smirks). Future plans? L: We have upcoming performances in Stockholm, Istanbul, Madrid and other European cities. Were also looking towards expanding our number of concerts a year to about 120. The first CD we recorded together went very well, so were now looking at recording a transcription of Schubert, sonata which we will be playing in Pune.
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, should consider itself lucky to have escaped with limited property damage from the fire mishap on Wednesday. Considering the several tonnes of dry debris and green waste still found strewn across the campus even four months after cyclone Vardah hit the city, the fire would have easily turned into an inferno threatening both life and infrastructure worth hundreds of crores.

Debris lying around in the campus in

January | Sunish P Surendran

Heaps of dry leaves, shrubs, branches and chopped tree logs are piled up on roadsides in wilderness, hostel and residential zones. With summer heat beating down, a spark is all it takes for a massive forest fire. One favourable wind on Wednesday night would have stoked the fire.

The students council of the IIT Madras has expressed concern over the presence of large quantum of dry debris waste. The fire mishap should be a wake-up call. The management is taking steps to clear the debris, but the pace in which it is being done is far from satisfactory. The council will raise the issue and seek expeditious clearance, a member said.

The institute has several students hostels, faculty quarters and academic blocks and the campus spread across 236 hectares (583 acres) is located amidst lush green forest. It was carved out of a natural forest that formed part of the Guindy National Park. Both come under Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest  the least common vegetation type seen in India. Any forest fire means serious threat to the rich flora and fauna on the campus and the adjacent national park.

K Geethanjali, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, admitted that it is a threat. These dry waste can easily catch fire. I will speak to IIT authorities and see what best can be done. Since, the campus is home to wildlife, the institute should take permission from the forest department for clearing the fallen trees. They have not approached us yet, she said.

IIT Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi says certain procedures are to be followed. Currently, the tender process is underway and all the dry waste will be cleared shortly. We need to notify the forest department pertaining to specified tree species like sandalwood and teak. In consonance with the Madras High Court order, we are clearing seemai karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees and using bulldozers to uproot the big ones.

To a query, Ramamurthi said about 650 trees had fallen during Vardah and they have been chopped into pieces and stocked in safe locations on the campus. He said only 200 acres were carved out of Guindy National Park reserve, while the rest was a barren land. The permanent land records have classified it as poromboke (unassessed wasteland). The satellite imagery of the 1960s shows no striking resemblance. The greenery has more than doubled. Our 2006 document on biodiversity assessment shows that about 200 acres have been naturalised by invasive tree species, he said.

CHENNAI: The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, should consider itself lucky to have escaped with limited property damage from the fire mishap on Wednesday. Considering the several tonnes of dry debris and green waste still found strewn across the campus even four months after cyclone Vardah hit the city, the fire would have easily turned into an inferno threatening both life and infrastructure worth hundreds of crores. Debris lying around in the campus in January | Sunish P SurendranHeaps of dry leaves, shrubs, branches and chopped tree logs are piled up on roadsides in wilderness, hostel and residential zones. With summer heat beating down, a spark is all it takes for a massive forest fire. One favourable wind on Wednesday night would have stoked the fire. The students council of the IIT Madras has expressed concern over the presence of large quantum of dry debris waste. The fire mishap should be a wake-up call. The management is taking steps to clear the debris, but the pace in which it is being done is far from satisfactory. The council will raise the issue and seek expeditious clearance, a member said. The institute has several students hostels, faculty quarters and academic blocks and the campus spread across 236 hectares (583 acres) is located amidst lush green forest. It was carved out of a natural forest that formed part of the Guindy National Park. Both come under Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest  the least common vegetation type seen in India. Any forest fire means serious threat to the rich flora and fauna on the campus and the adjacent national park. K Geethanjali, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, admitted that it is a threat. These dry waste can easily catch fire. I will speak to IIT authorities and see what best can be done. Since, the campus is home to wildlife, the institute should take permission from the forest department for clearing the fallen trees. They have not approached us yet, she said. IIT Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi says certain procedures are to be followed. Currently, the tender process is underway and all the dry waste will be cleared shortly. We need to notify the forest department pertaining to specified tree species like sandalwood and teak. In consonance with the Madras High Court order, we are clearing seemai karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees and using bulldozers to uproot the big ones. To a query, Ramamurthi said about 650 trees had fallen during Vardah and they have been chopped into pieces and stocked in safe locations on the campus. He said only 200 acres were carved out of Guindy National Park reserve, while the rest was a barren land. The permanent land records have classified it as poromboke (unassessed wasteland). The satellite imagery of the 1960s shows no striking resemblance. The greenery has more than doubled. Our 2006 document on biodiversity assessment shows that about 200 acres have been naturalised by invasive tree species, he said.
Zumbish By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A 38-year-old tailor, Omer Iqbal, who duped a woman on pretext of performing black magic and collected money from her, was arrested by Rein Bazar police on Thursday.



Rein Bazar police inspector Mohammed Javed said they received a complaint from one Razwana Begum stating that they approached Iqbal as they had family issues. They also paid `20,000 to the baba after he promised to perform black magic to rid them of their troubles. However, the baba duped them. Based on complaint, police registered cheating and extortion cases against Iqbal.



This is not a one off case. Old citys witchcraft queen, popularly known as Nagin Bhabhi in Sultan Shahi Basti, is a history sheeter who has undergone police action several times for duping people through witchcraft. However, according to Vijayendra Singh, from the City Civil Court, despite several police raids in the past few years, some also leading to the closure of businesses of many fake babas, ammas and bhabhis, people still flock there for advice and solutions to their problems.



Nagin bhabhi gets at least 50 customers everyday, even educated and well qualified individuals. Being superstitious is the norm here. Whether the victims of these frauds are educated or illiterate doesnt really make any difference, shared Singh, who resides in Sultan Shahi.



Referring to some instances, V Satyanarayana, DCP, South Zone said, The practice of these blackcharmers and magicians is rampant in Old City mainly because majority of population here are illiterates. However, they get educated customers in good numbers also.

This is because these people are greedy, they think the babas would suggest them some shortcut to success. Some of the educated lot also approach these babas thinking they will chant some mantra to punish the other party with whom they are having a feud over property.



Once, a tantrik, Fatyaz Ansari, who was in an illicit relationship with an Old City residents wife, sadistically tortured the mans nine-year-old son for months and even sodomised him.



The victims father who lives in Kuwait told Express, My son once saw my wife in objectionable position with Ansari. He warned that he will tell me about it. Ever since then, with my wifes help, the tantrik started torturing him and threatened him to not tell me anything about them. He stabbed him on his back, stomach, foot, and fingers, using a blade and poured hot wax on him. He even sexually exploited him a few times. Once, he disrobed him and left him lying nude for several hours. My kid underwent torture at their hands for three months, until I visited India and found out about those horrible things. Now, Ansari is in police custody.



A lot of the educated lot approach these babas, I believe, because the institutions of rationale are very thin, said Satish Podwal, the head of cultural studies department at EFLU.



Jameela Nishat, founder of Shaheen Womens Resource and Welfare Association, an NGO, said, Our women field workers and volunteers share stories of how difficult it is to liberate people from the superstitious practices. They feel that the babas are master of words and know how to influence people. They even are capable of hypnotising them to surrender their property.

I remember an NGO founder who had reached out to one choo wali maata to get back her husbands lost attention. The educated ones even fall in their trap as they are either pushovers or are in a haste to make big fortune.

HYDERABAD: A 38-year-old tailor, Omer Iqbal, who duped a woman on pretext of performing black magic and collected money from her, was arrested by Rein Bazar police on Thursday. Rein Bazar police inspector Mohammed Javed said they received a complaint from one Razwana Begum stating that they approached Iqbal as they had family issues. They also paid `20,000 to the baba after he promised to perform black magic to rid them of their troubles. However, the baba duped them. Based on complaint, police registered cheating and extortion cases against Iqbal. This is not a one off case. Old citys witchcraft queen, popularly known as Nagin Bhabhi in Sultan Shahi Basti, is a history sheeter who has undergone police action several times for duping people through witchcraft. However, according to Vijayendra Singh, from the City Civil Court, despite several police raids in the past few years, some also leading to the closure of businesses of many fake babas, ammas and bhabhis, people still flock there for advice and solutions to their problems. Nagin bhabhi gets at least 50 customers everyday, even educated and well qualified individuals. Being superstitious is the norm here. Whether the victims of these frauds are educated or illiterate doesnt really make any difference, shared Singh, who resides in Sultan Shahi. Referring to some instances, V Satyanarayana, DCP, South Zone said, The practice of these blackcharmers and magicians is rampant in Old City mainly because majority of population here are illiterates. However, they get educated customers in good numbers also. This is because these people are greedy, they think the babas would suggest them some shortcut to success. Some of the educated lot also approach these babas thinking they will chant some mantra to punish the other party with whom they are having a feud over property. Once, a tantrik, Fatyaz Ansari, who was in an illicit relationship with an Old City residents wife, sadistically tortured the mans nine-year-old son for months and even sodomised him. The victims father who lives in Kuwait told Express, My son once saw my wife in objectionable position with Ansari. He warned that he will tell me about it. Ever since then, with my wifes help, the tantrik started torturing him and threatened him to not tell me anything about them. He stabbed him on his back, stomach, foot, and fingers, using a blade and poured hot wax on him. He even sexually exploited him a few times. Once, he disrobed him and left him lying nude for several hours. My kid underwent torture at their hands for three months, until I visited India and found out about those horrible things. Now, Ansari is in police custody. A lot of the educated lot approach these babas, I believe, because the institutions of rationale are very thin, said Satish Podwal, the head of cultural studies department at EFLU. Jameela Nishat, founder of Shaheen Womens Resource and Welfare Association, an NGO, said, Our women field workers and volunteers share stories of how difficult it is to liberate people from the superstitious practices. They feel that the babas are master of words and know how to influence people. They even are capable of hypnotising them to surrender their property. I remember an NGO founder who had reached out to one choo wali maata to get back her husbands lost attention. The educated ones even fall in their trap as they are either pushovers or are in a haste to make big fortune.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh police are preparing to reopen 19-year-old B Pharmacy student Ayesha Meeras rape and murder case on the directive of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, after main accused Satyam Babu was recently acquitted of all charges by the Hyderabad High Court.



Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday evening directed the police department to reopen investigations and arrest the actual perpetrators after reviewing the verdict at his office.



Ayesha Meera was found dead in the bathroom of the hostel at Ibrahimpatanm near here, in the early hours of December 27, 2007. The police after investigations concluded that she was first murdered and then raped by Satyam Babu, who they said was given to sexual perversions.



They alleged that Satyam Babu scaled the walls of her hostel, clobbered her with a chutney pounder and then dragged her to the bathroom where he outraged her modesty. The Mahila Court in Vijayawada, on September 10, 2010, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment.



But recently, the Hyderabad High Court acquitted Satyam Babu of all charges and pointed out that in their anxiety to close the case and let the actual accused off the hook, the police had framed Satyam Babu in the case.



Though the police had been hoping that the State government would give them the green signal to go in for an appeal on the High Court verdict, chief minister N Chandrababu naidu had a different view on this.



At the review meeting with Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao, the chief minister is understood to have made it clear that the police should re-investigate the case and bring to book the actual accused.



He reportedly pointed out that framing an old convict in the Ayesha Meera case cannot be condoned and that the police should start all over again and nail the actual culprits, when the police officials tried to persuade him to allow them to go in for an appeal.

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh police are preparing to reopen 19-year-old B Pharmacy student Ayesha Meeras rape and murder case on the directive of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, after main accused Satyam Babu was recently acquitted of all charges by the Hyderabad High Court. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday evening directed the police department to reopen investigations and arrest the actual perpetrators after reviewing the verdict at his office. Ayesha Meera was found dead in the bathroom of the hostel at Ibrahimpatanm near here, in the early hours of December 27, 2007. The police after investigations concluded that she was first murdered and then raped by Satyam Babu, who they said was given to sexual perversions. They alleged that Satyam Babu scaled the walls of her hostel, clobbered her with a chutney pounder and then dragged her to the bathroom where he outraged her modesty. The Mahila Court in Vijayawada, on September 10, 2010, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment. But recently, the Hyderabad High Court acquitted Satyam Babu of all charges and pointed out that in their anxiety to close the case and let the actual accused off the hook, the police had framed Satyam Babu in the case. Though the police had been hoping that the State government would give them the green signal to go in for an appeal on the High Court verdict, chief minister N Chandrababu naidu had a different view on this. At the review meeting with Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao, the chief minister is understood to have made it clear that the police should re-investigate the case and bring to book the actual accused. He reportedly pointed out that framing an old convict in the Ayesha Meera case cannot be condoned and that the police should start all over again and nail the actual culprits, when the police officials tried to persuade him to allow them to go in for an appeal.
By Agencies

SHILLONG: The Centre's decision to observe 'Digital India Day' on April 14, the day observed by Christians world over as Good Friday, was on Wednesday opposed in various quarters in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Prayers and penance are held on Good Friday after the devout have observed 40 or 50 days of fasting to commemorate what is believed to have been the crucifixion of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Good Friday is one of the most important days in the religious calendar for Christians, and a public holiday in India.

The Nagaland government, of which the Bharatiya Janata Party is a part, will not join any activity relating to promotion of Digital India programme. The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has decided not to participate in the Digital Day programmes. The opposition Hill State People's Democratic Party and National People's Party have also opposed the Centre's move.

"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 asked.

Lok Sabha member Conrad K Sangma of the National People's Party (NPP), a BJP ally, on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge him to defer the Digital India Day programme. Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar said the state government will not join any activity relating to promotion of digital payment on Good Friday.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that December 25, Christmas Day, would be observed as Good Governance Day. There was much objection expressed about it but it came to naught.

Curiously, Kerala and Goa, where Christians are a large and influential minority have not raised objections. Some parts of Kerala face another dilemma as the solemn occasion of Good Friday falls on the same day as Vishu celebrations. Movie buffs in central Kerala, where there are a large number of Christians, are waiting to see if movie theatres, which are usually shut on Good Friday will open for the grand Vishu releases.

SHILLONG: The Centre's decision to observe 'Digital India Day' on April 14, the day observed by Christians world over as Good Friday, was on Wednesday opposed in various quarters in Meghalaya and Nagaland. Prayers and penance are held on Good Friday after the devout have observed 40 or 50 days of fasting to commemorate what is believed to have been the crucifixion of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Good Friday is one of the most important days in the religious calendar for Christians, and a public holiday in India. The Nagaland government, of which the Bharatiya Janata Party is a part, will not join any activity relating to promotion of Digital India programme. The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has decided not to participate in the Digital Day programmes. The opposition Hill State People's Democratic Party and National People's Party have also opposed the Centre's move. "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 asked. Lok Sabha member Conrad K Sangma of the National People's Party (NPP), a BJP ally, on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge him to defer the Digital India Day programme. Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar said the state government will not join any activity relating to promotion of digital payment on Good Friday. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that December 25, Christmas Day, would be observed as Good Governance Day. There was much objection expressed about it but it came to naught. Curiously, Kerala and Goa, where Christians are a large and influential minority have not raised objections. Some parts of Kerala face another dilemma as the solemn occasion of Good Friday falls on the same day as Vishu celebrations. Movie buffs in central Kerala, where there are a large number of Christians, are waiting to see if movie theatres, which are usually shut on Good Friday will open for the grand Vishu releases.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: The April 9 byelection to two assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh have turned out to be a mixed bag for both, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

The ruling BJP candidate Shivnarayan Singh won the scheduled tribe reserved Bandhavgarh seat of Umaria district on Thursday by a record margin, defeating nearest rival Savitri Singh of Congress by 25,476 votes.

On the contrary, opposition Congress candidate Hemant Katare (son of former leader of opposition in State Assembly late Satyadev Katare) scraped through to victory by a slender 857 votes margin in the last and 21st round of counting, triggering a hope of revival in fortunes for the principal opposition party ahead of 2018 State Assembly polls.

Battle for Ater between Katare and ruling BJP candidate Arvind Singh Bhadoriya was a gripping contest throughout the day, particularly between the 19th and 21 round, when the Congress lead which stood at 8000-plus votes after 17th round narrowed down to 2810 votes in the penultimate and 20th round of counting.

The next round which was final, further saw the Congress lead shrink, but the BJP's gain was not enough to reverse the lead, eventually seeing the Congress candidate Hemant Katare win the bypoll by 857 votes, ECI sources in Bhopal confirmed to the New Indian Express.

"It's a victory of people mandate and a slap on the face of those misusing official machinery to win. This was not a bypoll, but a battle between Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and our popular leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia," said Katare after the triumph.

Katare who is the son of 2013 Ater winner and four-time MLA from the seat Satyadev Katare, whose death in October 2016 necessitated the bypoll, further announced that the Ater result is a forerunner to BJP's rout by Congress in 2018 Assembly polls under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia.

The Thursday's win in Ater is the first Assembly bypoll win for Congress in MP since 2014 win by party candidate Kunwar Saurabh Singh from Bahoriband seat of Katni district. The Ater win is set to once again spark within Congress circles, the demand to project Scindia (the party's chief whip in Lok Sabha) as the CM candidate for 2018.

Importantly, not only was the Congress candidate for Ater reportedly handpicked by Scindia, but the former Union minister also campaigned aggressively for him.

"It is the victory of people in Ater, but the loss in Bandhavgarh will be reviewed by the party," said Scindia to journalists on Thursday.

While, Ater win is likely to boost Scindia's political prospects in MP significantly, the defeat in Bandhavgarh by record margin is being seen by political watchers as a jolt to former Union minister and Chhindwara MP Kamal Nath's prospects in state politics, particularly as he had reportedly spearheaded the campaign in Bandhavgarh.

Congress national general secretary in-charge for MP, Mohan Prakash, however, played down the political speculations over Scindia and Kamal Nath, saying "Aters is a victory of people. The people of MP and the Congress have won it together," he said.

State Congress president Arun Yadav while hailing Ater win, alleged that the ruling BJP had won the Bandhavgarh bypoll through money, muscle and misuse of official machinery. "Had the ruling party not misused official machinery, we would have won Ater by a bigger margin," said Yadav.

In the ruling BJP, the defeat in Ater sparked despair and anger immediately, with the saffron party supporters misbehaving with journalists after the result outside the counting centre. The loser BJP candidate Arvind Singh Bhadoria (who won the seat in 2008), however, intervened timely to prevent the situation from aggravating.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who had campaigned extensively in both constituencies, particularly Ater, tweeted "We honour the people's verdict, which symbolises the win of people's mandate in democracy." He also expressed gratitude to every BJP voter for having voted for the party on both seats.

Incidentally, Chouhan had done a whirlwind tour of Ater to ensure party candidate's win and camped for a few days in Bhind before the April 9 bypoll. Chouhan had even verbally attacked the powerful Scindia family of Gwalior, stating at a public rally that the Scindias in collusion with British had perpetrated atrocities over Ater people decades ago. The CM's statement didn't go down well with BJP's own ranks, including MP minister Yashodhra Raje Scindia, who hails from the same powerful family.

Meanwhile, two senior leaders of BJP, including state party president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan and senior MP minister Umashankar Gupta dubbed the Ater loss as the win of sympathy vote for Congress candidate Hemant Katare, who lost his four-time MLA father six months back. "We will definitely take stock of the Ater loss, as we were expecting to win there. In 2013, Hemant Katare's father won the seat for Congress by 11,000-plus votes, but despite a sympathy factor aiding the Congress, the opposition party could win the bypoll by just 857 votes," the BJP state president said.

Another senior minister Dr Narottam Mishra, however, used the Congress win in Ater to target the opposition party. "Now since the Congress has won Ater, what will those people say who have been repeatedly raising doubt over the functioning of EVMs. A leader in the morning had even gone on to say Jai ho EVM Mata ki, what will he say now? " said Mishra in an apparent reference to Congress national general secretary Digvijaya Singh's remarks on the EVM on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the record victory of BJP in Bandhavgarh seat of Umaria district, also triggered speculations about Shahdol MP and minister Gyan Singh trying to get his son and winning BJP candidate from Bandhavgarh seat, Shivnarayan Singh, inducted in his place in the next cabinet expansion by the CM.

According to BJP insiders, Gyan Singh, who quit the Assembly seat following election as MP from Shahdol in November 2016, had accepted the CM's request to quit Bandhavgarh seat six months back and contest from Shahdol parliamentary seat only after the party agreed to field his son Shivnarayan in April 2017 Assembly bypoll.

BHOPAL: The April 9 byelection to two assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh have turned out to be a mixed bag for both, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. The ruling BJP candidate Shivnarayan Singh won the scheduled tribe reserved Bandhavgarh seat of Umaria district on Thursday by a record margin, defeating nearest rival Savitri Singh of Congress by 25,476 votes. On the contrary, opposition Congress candidate Hemant Katare (son of former leader of opposition in State Assembly late Satyadev Katare) scraped through to victory by a slender 857 votes margin in the last and 21st round of counting, triggering a hope of revival in fortunes for the principal opposition party ahead of 2018 State Assembly polls. Battle for Ater between Katare and ruling BJP candidate Arvind Singh Bhadoriya was a gripping contest throughout the day, particularly between the 19th and 21 round, when the Congress lead which stood at 8000-plus votes after 17th round narrowed down to 2810 votes in the penultimate and 20th round of counting. The next round which was final, further saw the Congress lead shrink, but the BJP's gain was not enough to reverse the lead, eventually seeing the Congress candidate Hemant Katare win the bypoll by 857 votes, ECI sources in Bhopal confirmed to the New Indian Express. "It's a victory of people mandate and a slap on the face of those misusing official machinery to win. This was not a bypoll, but a battle between Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and our popular leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia," said Katare after the triumph. Katare who is the son of 2013 Ater winner and four-time MLA from the seat Satyadev Katare, whose death in October 2016 necessitated the bypoll, further announced that the Ater result is a forerunner to BJP's rout by Congress in 2018 Assembly polls under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia. The Thursday's win in Ater is the first Assembly bypoll win for Congress in MP since 2014 win by party candidate Kunwar Saurabh Singh from Bahoriband seat of Katni district. The Ater win is set to once again spark within Congress circles, the demand to project Scindia (the party's chief whip in Lok Sabha) as the CM candidate for 2018. Importantly, not only was the Congress candidate for Ater reportedly handpicked by Scindia, but the former Union minister also campaigned aggressively for him. "It is the victory of people in Ater, but the loss in Bandhavgarh will be reviewed by the party," said Scindia to journalists on Thursday. While, Ater win is likely to boost Scindia's political prospects in MP significantly, the defeat in Bandhavgarh by record margin is being seen by political watchers as a jolt to former Union minister and Chhindwara MP Kamal Nath's prospects in state politics, particularly as he had reportedly spearheaded the campaign in Bandhavgarh. Congress national general secretary in-charge for MP, Mohan Prakash, however, played down the political speculations over Scindia and Kamal Nath, saying "Aters is a victory of people. The people of MP and the Congress have won it together," he said. State Congress president Arun Yadav while hailing Ater win, alleged that the ruling BJP had won the Bandhavgarh bypoll through money, muscle and misuse of official machinery. "Had the ruling party not misused official machinery, we would have won Ater by a bigger margin," said Yadav. In the ruling BJP, the defeat in Ater sparked despair and anger immediately, with the saffron party supporters misbehaving with journalists after the result outside the counting centre. The loser BJP candidate Arvind Singh Bhadoria (who won the seat in 2008), however, intervened timely to prevent the situation from aggravating. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who had campaigned extensively in both constituencies, particularly Ater, tweeted "We honour the people's verdict, which symbolises the win of people's mandate in democracy." He also expressed gratitude to every BJP voter for having voted for the party on both seats. Incidentally, Chouhan had done a whirlwind tour of Ater to ensure party candidate's win and camped for a few days in Bhind before the April 9 bypoll. Chouhan had even verbally attacked the powerful Scindia family of Gwalior, stating at a public rally that the Scindias in collusion with British had perpetrated atrocities over Ater people decades ago. The CM's statement didn't go down well with BJP's own ranks, including MP minister Yashodhra Raje Scindia, who hails from the same powerful family. Meanwhile, two senior leaders of BJP, including state party president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan and senior MP minister Umashankar Gupta dubbed the Ater loss as the win of sympathy vote for Congress candidate Hemant Katare, who lost his four-time MLA father six months back. "We will definitely take stock of the Ater loss, as we were expecting to win there. In 2013, Hemant Katare's father won the seat for Congress by 11,000-plus votes, but despite a sympathy factor aiding the Congress, the opposition party could win the bypoll by just 857 votes," the BJP state president said. Another senior minister Dr Narottam Mishra, however, used the Congress win in Ater to target the opposition party. "Now since the Congress has won Ater, what will those people say who have been repeatedly raising doubt over the functioning of EVMs. A leader in the morning had even gone on to say Jai ho EVM Mata ki, what will he say now? " said Mishra in an apparent reference to Congress national general secretary Digvijaya Singh's remarks on the EVM on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the record victory of BJP in Bandhavgarh seat of Umaria district, also triggered speculations about Shahdol MP and minister Gyan Singh trying to get his son and winning BJP candidate from Bandhavgarh seat, Shivnarayan Singh, inducted in his place in the next cabinet expansion by the CM. According to BJP insiders, Gyan Singh, who quit the Assembly seat following election as MP from Shahdol in November 2016, had accepted the CM's request to quit Bandhavgarh seat six months back and contest from Shahdol parliamentary seat only after the party agreed to field his son Shivnarayan in April 2017 Assembly bypoll.
By Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The Opposition parties hit out at the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday for terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser, saying it reflected Amarinder Singhs vindictiveness towards Punjabis living abroad.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Thursday, criticised Amarinder after the latter refused to meet Sajjan during his scheduled visit to India later this month. Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give the defence minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves.

He said, Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgment and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora.

Sukhbir Badal said taking such stands were counterproductive and could come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada.

It is unfortunate. Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian Defence Minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular. They have already proved their mettle in business as well as the political arena by getting elected as MPs to becoming ministers, Punjab AAP spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said.

The outburst against Sajjan, is Amarinder being vindictive towards NRIs living in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit to the country, he alleged.

Reacting to the remarks, the Candian High Commission stated, The comments are both disappointing and inaccurate. Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and looks forward to further advancing this relationship.

CHANDIGARH: The Opposition parties hit out at the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday for terming Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a Khalistani sympathiser, saying it reflected Amarinder Singhs vindictiveness towards Punjabis living abroad. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Thursday, criticised Amarinder after the latter refused to meet Sajjan during his scheduled visit to India later this month. Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give the defence minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves. He said, Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgment and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. Sukhbir Badal said taking such stands were counterproductive and could come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada. It is unfortunate. Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian Defence Minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular. They have already proved their mettle in business as well as the political arena by getting elected as MPs to becoming ministers, Punjab AAP spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said. The outburst against Sajjan, is Amarinder being vindictive towards NRIs living in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit to the country, he alleged. Reacting to the remarks, the Candian High Commission stated, The comments are both disappointing and inaccurate. Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and looks forward to further advancing this relationship.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested four directors of Surya Vinayak Industries Limited in connection with ongoing cases relating to cheating a consortium of banks to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore.

The agency arrested Sanjay Jain, Rajiv Jain, Rohit Chaudhary and Sanjeev Agarwal on a complaint from Punjab National Bank (PNB). The arrested accused persons allegedly used a number of shell companies to launder funds availed through a consortium of banks led by PNB, CBI sources said.

While Sanjay Jain and Rajiv Jain are promoters of Surya Vinayak, Chaudhary and Agarwal are the other directors of the Delhi-based company that deals in making perfumes.

It was alleged during the investigation that the accused persons fraudulently used more than 100 shell companies for round tripping and diversion of bank funds. There was no genuine business transaction between the said firm and shell companies. The said firm also allegedly diverted Rs 376 crore out of the working capital limit obtained from a consortium of banks to six wholly owned foreign subsidiaries based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Indonesia, Ghasa & China. Further investigation is continuing, the CBI said in a statement.

CBI sources said the company had availed credit limits from PNB-led consortium to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore and the company diverted the funds to the subsidiaries owned by it in countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai in violation of bank guidelines for use of loan amount.

The company had defaulted in loan repayments following which it was declared a wilful defaulter by the banks, the sources said, adding that a number of bank officials are also under the scanner of the agency.

In its complaint, the PNB has alleged that the company had diverted bank funds to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore, which resulted in loss to the consortium.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Wednesday sent the four accused persons to 10-day CBI custody.

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested four directors of Surya Vinayak Industries Limited in connection with ongoing cases relating to cheating a consortium of banks to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore. The agency arrested Sanjay Jain, Rajiv Jain, Rohit Chaudhary and Sanjeev Agarwal on a complaint from Punjab National Bank (PNB). The arrested accused persons allegedly used a number of shell companies to launder funds availed through a consortium of banks led by PNB, CBI sources said. While Sanjay Jain and Rajiv Jain are promoters of Surya Vinayak, Chaudhary and Agarwal are the other directors of the Delhi-based company that deals in making perfumes. It was alleged during the investigation that the accused persons fraudulently used more than 100 shell companies for round tripping and diversion of bank funds. There was no genuine business transaction between the said firm and shell companies. The said firm also allegedly diverted Rs 376 crore out of the working capital limit obtained from a consortium of banks to six wholly owned foreign subsidiaries based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Indonesia, Ghasa & China. Further investigation is continuing, the CBI said in a statement. CBI sources said the company had availed credit limits from PNB-led consortium to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore and the company diverted the funds to the subsidiaries owned by it in countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai in violation of bank guidelines for use of loan amount. The company had defaulted in loan repayments following which it was declared a wilful defaulter by the banks, the sources said, adding that a number of bank officials are also under the scanner of the agency. In its complaint, the PNB has alleged that the company had diverted bank funds to the tune of Rs 2,240 crore, which resulted in loss to the consortium. Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Wednesday sent the four accused persons to 10-day CBI custody.
Harpreet Bajwa By

PTI

CHANDIGARH: Taking a cue from his Uttar Pradesh counterpart chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP government in Haryana has launched 'Operation Durga', similar to the anti-Romeo squads in UP under which the State police has nabbed 107 eve teasers.

Under Operation Durga, launched to ensure the safety of women in the State, the Haryana Police arrested 23 persons who were indulged in crimes against women, including eve teasing, and had registered nine criminal cases including three each at Panipat and Gurugram, and one each at Bhiwani, Sirsa and Faridabad districts of the State.

Sources in the police department said that their teams had conducted 41 raids at public places such as schools, colleges, bus stands and railway stations, and nabbed 107 persons. Twenty-four teams formed by the Manohar Lal Khattars flying squad nabbed these people from various districts. The teams comprise policewomen, including nine sub- inspectors of police, 14 assistant sub-inspectors, six head constables and 13 constables, besides other police officers from each district.

A police official said that others were warned to be careful in the future and released by local police after a written assurance by parents, guardians and socially respectable people.

The Haryana government had established women police stations in all districts to ensure womens safety and provide them with a safe place to lodge complaints. However, it had been observed that women hesitated in reporting incidents involving such anti-social elements.

Therefore, the campaign was undertaken after identifying places where such anti-social elements were indulging in eve teasing, vulgar comments, stalking and other similar activities, he added.

In Gurgaon, the CID team carried out this operation at public colleges and outside the schools. An official said that three youth had been arrested by the team and handed over to district police for further action.

In September 2016, Gurgaon police had rounded up 76 people from MG road for misbehaving with women under operation Romeo. Gurgaon police had been conducting such operations regularly but it is for the first time that a Statewide operation has been launched.

CHANDIGARH: Taking a cue from his Uttar Pradesh counterpart chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP government in Haryana has launched 'Operation Durga', similar to the anti-Romeo squads in UP under which the State police has nabbed 107 eve teasers. Under Operation Durga, launched to ensure the safety of women in the State, the Haryana Police arrested 23 persons who were indulged in crimes against women, including eve teasing, and had registered nine criminal cases including three each at Panipat and Gurugram, and one each at Bhiwani, Sirsa and Faridabad districts of the State. Sources in the police department said that their teams had conducted 41 raids at public places such as schools, colleges, bus stands and railway stations, and nabbed 107 persons. Twenty-four teams formed by the Manohar Lal Khattars flying squad nabbed these people from various districts. The teams comprise policewomen, including nine sub- inspectors of police, 14 assistant sub-inspectors, six head constables and 13 constables, besides other police officers from each district. A police official said that others were warned to be careful in the future and released by local police after a written assurance by parents, guardians and socially respectable people. The Haryana government had established women police stations in all districts to ensure womens safety and provide them with a safe place to lodge complaints. However, it had been observed that women hesitated in reporting incidents involving such anti-social elements. Therefore, the campaign was undertaken after identifying places where such anti-social elements were indulging in eve teasing, vulgar comments, stalking and other similar activities, he added. In Gurgaon, the CID team carried out this operation at public colleges and outside the schools. An official said that three youth had been arrested by the team and handed over to district police for further action. In September 2016, Gurgaon police had rounded up 76 people from MG road for misbehaving with women under operation Romeo. Gurgaon police had been conducting such operations regularly but it is for the first time that a Statewide operation has been launched.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India is engaging all options in its arsenal by engaging with the Pakistan government and leveraging it's influence with the US to put pressure on Islamabad to see reason in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

The US National Security Advisor (NSA) HR McMaster will be visiting India on his maiden visit to India on the weekend and he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Doval is expected to raise the 'indefensible' verdict of Pakistan's military court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an innocent retired Indian Navy officer. However, Spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not comment on the issue but assured that "the leadership is seized of the matter. We will do all that is possible. We are engaged, we are pursuing various options."

This is important as the UN has made it clear that it will not intervene in the matter. The Indian Government has also kept the option of communicating with the Pakistan government option as the sense here is that the severe verdict is the result of tussle for power between Pakistan military and government. Meanwhile, at Corps Commander Conference organised in Rawalpindi that was presided by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa, the Pakistan Army showed its rigid position on matter.

The forum concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts". The Indian government also invoked international norms that Pakistan government is flouting by not giving them consular access to Jadhav.

"We don't know where is he (Jadhav) in Pakistan or we cannot ascertain what is his condition. Pakistan Government has also not shared this with us....International Law says when one country's national falls into custody of another for whatever reason," Baglay explained. He further added that it is difficult for India to verify Pakistan's claims that Jadhav, "an alleged serving Indian Naval officer on an alleged spying mission entered Pakistan with original Indian Passport".

India has also raised the matter of disappearance of Kulbhushan Jadhav from Chahbahar Port, where he was doing business legally, with the Iranian government. And now the government would be following it up with Iran to know the findings of its investigations.

As the "national sentiment" in India is focused on Jadhav, Pakistan military has also send feelers that it is not in a hurry to execute him. He is likely to be used as a bargaining chip in larger negotiations. The previous handling of Indians by Pakistan in the past doesn't augur well for Jadhav.

In what is an election year in Pakistan, Jadhav's release anytime soon is an unlikely affair and he is going to be involved in a long drawn process in the country before his fate is sealed. India might be taking a leaf out of its experience with what happened in the case of Surjeet Singh and Sarabjit Singh.

Both of them had spent decades in Pakistan jail before the former was released and latter was killed by jail inmates in a brawl.

NEW DELHI: India is engaging all options in its arsenal by engaging with the Pakistan government and leveraging it's influence with the US to put pressure on Islamabad to see reason in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. The US National Security Advisor (NSA) HR McMaster will be visiting India on his maiden visit to India on the weekend and he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. Doval is expected to raise the 'indefensible' verdict of Pakistan's military court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an innocent retired Indian Navy officer. However, Spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not comment on the issue but assured that "the leadership is seized of the matter. We will do all that is possible. We are engaged, we are pursuing various options." This is important as the UN has made it clear that it will not intervene in the matter. The Indian Government has also kept the option of communicating with the Pakistan government option as the sense here is that the severe verdict is the result of tussle for power between Pakistan military and government. Meanwhile, at Corps Commander Conference organised in Rawalpindi that was presided by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa, the Pakistan Army showed its rigid position on matter. The forum concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts". The Indian government also invoked international norms that Pakistan government is flouting by not giving them consular access to Jadhav. "We don't know where is he (Jadhav) in Pakistan or we cannot ascertain what is his condition. Pakistan Government has also not shared this with us....International Law says when one country's national falls into custody of another for whatever reason," Baglay explained. He further added that it is difficult for India to verify Pakistan's claims that Jadhav, "an alleged serving Indian Naval officer on an alleged spying mission entered Pakistan with original Indian Passport". India has also raised the matter of disappearance of Kulbhushan Jadhav from Chahbahar Port, where he was doing business legally, with the Iranian government. And now the government would be following it up with Iran to know the findings of its investigations. As the "national sentiment" in India is focused on Jadhav, Pakistan military has also send feelers that it is not in a hurry to execute him. He is likely to be used as a bargaining chip in larger negotiations. The previous handling of Indians by Pakistan in the past doesn't augur well for Jadhav. In what is an election year in Pakistan, Jadhav's release anytime soon is an unlikely affair and he is going to be involved in a long drawn process in the country before his fate is sealed. India might be taking a leaf out of its experience with what happened in the case of Surjeet Singh and Sarabjit Singh. Both of them had spent decades in Pakistan jail before the former was released and latter was killed by jail inmates in a brawl.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: An end-of-the-session protest march to the Rashtrapati is par for the course for the Opposition. But what stood out loud on Thursday, more than the leaders at the Bhawan forecourt, was the central point  the tampering of electronic voting machines, in the use for polling for the last three decades.

That a former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi were part of the delegation, seemed to raise the hackles of the Election Commission rather than the Union Government.

The EC issued a counter-statement. In the memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee, the Opposition leaders  of the Congress, the Left Parties, SP, BSP, TMC and DMK  demanded that the clock be set back and the elections be conducted on ballot papers once again. At least, 50 per cent of the polling should be on ballot paper and the rest on VVPAT (paper trail EVMs), was the specific demand.

Also Read: Had EVMs were tampered with I wouldn't have been in power: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

The 16-party oppositions no confidence vote on the EVM, does put the Election Commission in a bind.

It, however, is not batting defensive yet. The doubts about the EVMs first arose out of BSP chief Mayawatis disbelief about the BJPs landslide victory in the UP Assembly and her partys abysmal downslide. This was followed by AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal voicing the same doubts about the Punjab results.

Read: Election Commission's open challenge to hack EVMs to be held in first week of May

The Congress won the Punjab polls convincingly, still the party decided to champion the cause of replace EVM with ballot paper after the vice president Rahul Gandhi picked up the issue. This was after media reports surfaced from Bhind and Dholpur about malfunctioning VVPAT machines through which only BJP symbol could be voted, whichever button was pressed.

The Election Commission teams investigation report on the two incidents failed to wipe the oppositions perception. Congress leader Veerappa Moily appeared to be the lone voice among the Opposition ranks, to say that it was a defeatist attitude to blame the EVMs for the results.

Read: Going back for manual not a progressive step: Moily on EVMs row

But the rest of the Congress leaders do not seem to be bothered that the move to find fault in the EVM, appeared a bit like a search for a fig leaf by Rahul Gandhi whose party won a meager five seats in UP.

NEW DELHI: An end-of-the-session protest march to the Rashtrapati is par for the course for the Opposition. But what stood out loud on Thursday, more than the leaders at the Bhawan forecourt, was the central point  the tampering of electronic voting machines, in the use for polling for the last three decades. That a former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi were part of the delegation, seemed to raise the hackles of the Election Commission rather than the Union Government. The EC issued a counter-statement. In the memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee, the Opposition leaders  of the Congress, the Left Parties, SP, BSP, TMC and DMK  demanded that the clock be set back and the elections be conducted on ballot papers once again. At least, 50 per cent of the polling should be on ballot paper and the rest on VVPAT (paper trail EVMs), was the specific demand. Also Read: Had EVMs were tampered with I wouldn't have been in power: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh The 16-party oppositions no confidence vote on the EVM, does put the Election Commission in a bind. It, however, is not batting defensive yet. The doubts about the EVMs first arose out of BSP chief Mayawatis disbelief about the BJPs landslide victory in the UP Assembly and her partys abysmal downslide. This was followed by AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal voicing the same doubts about the Punjab results. Read: Election Commission's open challenge to hack EVMs to be held in first week of May The Congress won the Punjab polls convincingly, still the party decided to champion the cause of replace EVM with ballot paper after the vice president Rahul Gandhi picked up the issue. This was after media reports surfaced from Bhind and Dholpur about malfunctioning VVPAT machines through which only BJP symbol could be voted, whichever button was pressed. The Election Commission teams investigation report on the two incidents failed to wipe the oppositions perception. Congress leader Veerappa Moily appeared to be the lone voice among the Opposition ranks, to say that it was a defeatist attitude to blame the EVMs for the results. Read: Going back for manual not a progressive step: Moily on EVMs row But the rest of the Congress leaders do not seem to be bothered that the move to find fault in the EVM, appeared a bit like a search for a fig leaf by Rahul Gandhi whose party won a meager five seats in UP.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The opposition parties hit out at the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday for terming Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser", saying it reflected Amarinder Singh's "vindictiveness" towards Punjabis living abroad.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Thursday criticised Amarinder after the latter refused to meet Sajjan during his scheduled visit to India later this month.

Former Punjab deputy chief minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give the defence minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves. He said, Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgment and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner.

Sukhbir Badal said taking such stands were counterproductive and could come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada.

"It is unfortunate. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian defence minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, who have already proved their mettle in foreign land, not only in the business sector but in the political arena by getting elected as MP to become ministers," Punjab AAP spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said.

The "outburst" against Sajjan, is Amarinder being "vindictive" towards NRIs living in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit to the country, he alleged.

"The Captain must understand that the people of Canada not only elected Harjit Sajjan as MP, but he also represents the government of Canada. As Chief Minister, he should welcome the visiting the defence minister," Khaira said.

Reacting to the remarks made by Amarinder, the Candian High Commission stated, The comments regarding Canada's ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate. It also asserted that Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and looks forward to further advancing this relationship.

"We regret that the Chief Minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canada's minister of defence. The Chief Minister is welcome to visit Canada," the High Commission added.

CHANDIGARH: The opposition parties hit out at the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday for terming Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser", saying it reflected Amarinder Singh's "vindictiveness" towards Punjabis living abroad. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Thursday criticised Amarinder after the latter refused to meet Sajjan during his scheduled visit to India later this month. Former Punjab deputy chief minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh not to act petty and spiteful and give the defence minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves. He said, Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgment and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner. Sukhbir Badal said taking such stands were counterproductive and could come in the way of trade and bilateral relations with Canada. "It is unfortunate. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian defence minister, but Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, who have already proved their mettle in foreign land, not only in the business sector but in the political arena by getting elected as MP to become ministers," Punjab AAP spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said. The "outburst" against Sajjan, is Amarinder being "vindictive" towards NRIs living in Canada as they did not welcome him during his pre-poll visit to the country, he alleged. "The Captain must understand that the people of Canada not only elected Harjit Sajjan as MP, but he also represents the government of Canada. As Chief Minister, he should welcome the visiting the defence minister," Khaira said. Reacting to the remarks made by Amarinder, the Candian High Commission stated, The comments regarding Canada's ministers are both disappointing and inaccurate. It also asserted that Canada greatly values its relationship with the people and the government of Punjab, and looks forward to further advancing this relationship. "We regret that the Chief Minister of Punjab is unavailable to meet with Canada's minister of defence. The Chief Minister is welcome to visit Canada," the High Commission added.
Gayathri Mani By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers from Tamil Nadu protesting at Jantar Mantar for loan write-off and `40,000 crore relief package, 61-year-old Nachiamma is the sole woman farmer.

Delhis scorching heat has taken a toll on her health. She suffers from fever and headache. Yet, she exhibits uncompromising determination to get the demands fulfilled.

Nachiamma, who hails from

Thorangudisi | Express

What has taken her to the streets of Delhi? Nachiamma, who has come all the way from Thorangudisi village in Tiruchy, has a sad tale to narrate. Her seven-member family is into farming traditionally. Her only brother committed suicide after he was unable to repay the amount he had borrowed to save the crops. Her sorrows do not end there. She had taken `4 lakh as loan to sink a borewell and the interest has spiked the amount to be repaid to double.

Nachiamma wants justice for her loss, especially her brothers death, which is why she is taking all the heat and putting up with the sufferings in the far away national capital. Coming to Delhi involves money for which again she had borrowed `3,000 at a rate of four per cent interest.

We never have lived a life like this. Ever since our arrival here last month, we are forced to face problems of all kinds, be it using the rest room or taking bath. The public toilet closes at 9 pm and as a woman it is hard to cope up, she laments. The inconvenience is so much that she could take bath only once in three or four days. Earlier, there were five women, but they soon left citing ill health.

NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers from Tamil Nadu protesting at Jantar Mantar for loan write-off and `40,000 crore relief package, 61-year-old Nachiamma is the sole woman farmer. Delhis scorching heat has taken a toll on her health. She suffers from fever and headache. Yet, she exhibits uncompromising determination to get the demands fulfilled. Nachiamma, who hails from Thorangudisi | ExpressWhat has taken her to the streets of Delhi? Nachiamma, who has come all the way from Thorangudisi village in Tiruchy, has a sad tale to narrate. Her seven-member family is into farming traditionally. Her only brother committed suicide after he was unable to repay the amount he had borrowed to save the crops. Her sorrows do not end there. She had taken `4 lakh as loan to sink a borewell and the interest has spiked the amount to be repaid to double. Nachiamma wants justice for her loss, especially her brothers death, which is why she is taking all the heat and putting up with the sufferings in the far away national capital. Coming to Delhi involves money for which again she had borrowed `3,000 at a rate of four per cent interest. We never have lived a life like this. Ever since our arrival here last month, we are forced to face problems of all kinds, be it using the rest room or taking bath. The public toilet closes at 9 pm and as a woman it is hard to cope up, she laments. The inconvenience is so much that she could take bath only once in three or four days. Earlier, there were five women, but they soon left citing ill health.
Abhijit Mulye By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane, along with his son Nitesh, met BJP president Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Ahmedabad on Wednesday night, fanning speculation of his joining the saffron party.

Though TV news channels have been showing a video of the Rane father-son duo travelling with Fadnavis in same vehicle, they have denied that any such meeting happened. Rane had been unhappy with the state Congress leadership for quite some time now. He also met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi earlier this month with the hope that his concerns would be addressed. However, speculation that he might join the BJP grew after this meeting. To add to it, Ranes MLA son Nitesh on Tuesday had said that his family would soon announce a decision that would shatter the state politics.

Sources told The New Indian Express that Rane flew to Ahmedabad from Goa on Wednesday evening. Amit Shah was in town to greet his new-born grand daughter and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too reached Ahmedabad late in the evening. Fadnavis visit was kept under wraps, i.e. protocol department of Gujarat government was not informed about it. But, the intelligence department sniffed it and he was provided with protocol that is generally extended to the Gujarat Chief Minister.

As per initial plan, Fadnavis was to visit Shahs residence at Thaltej locality in Ahmedabad. But the vehicles went to the circuit house. The Rane dou too reached there a few minutes later and all of them then went to Shahs residence. Meanwhile the media got wind of the visit and TV cameras reached the place. Sensing trouble, Fadnavis alone got down from the vehicle, which was later parked in a dark area. Rane duo stepped out of the vehicle only after the media crew dispersed.

The meeting that began at around 10 pm lasted over an hour after which Fadnavis immediately flew back to Mumbai.

Later in the day, Rane addressed a press conference to clear the air and told the media that he had been receiving offers to join from the BJP for over two years now.

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane, along with his son Nitesh, met BJP president Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Ahmedabad on Wednesday night, fanning speculation of his joining the saffron party. Though TV news channels have been showing a video of the Rane father-son duo travelling with Fadnavis in same vehicle, they have denied that any such meeting happened. Rane had been unhappy with the state Congress leadership for quite some time now. He also met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi earlier this month with the hope that his concerns would be addressed. However, speculation that he might join the BJP grew after this meeting. To add to it, Ranes MLA son Nitesh on Tuesday had said that his family would soon announce a decision that would shatter the state politics. Sources told The New Indian Express that Rane flew to Ahmedabad from Goa on Wednesday evening. Amit Shah was in town to greet his new-born grand daughter and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too reached Ahmedabad late in the evening. Fadnavis visit was kept under wraps, i.e. protocol department of Gujarat government was not informed about it. But, the intelligence department sniffed it and he was provided with protocol that is generally extended to the Gujarat Chief Minister. As per initial plan, Fadnavis was to visit Shahs residence at Thaltej locality in Ahmedabad. But the vehicles went to the circuit house. The Rane dou too reached there a few minutes later and all of them then went to Shahs residence. Meanwhile the media got wind of the visit and TV cameras reached the place. Sensing trouble, Fadnavis alone got down from the vehicle, which was later parked in a dark area. Rane duo stepped out of the vehicle only after the media crew dispersed. The meeting that began at around 10 pm lasted over an hour after which Fadnavis immediately flew back to Mumbai. Later in the day, Rane addressed a press conference to clear the air and told the media that he had been receiving offers to join from the BJP for over two years now.
Tom Arms By

As far as the proverbial man in the street is concerned, there is very little that separates the extreme right from the extreme left.

The results are the same: Power concentrated in the hands of a small circle of political leaders, suppression of human rights and academic freedom, political prisoners, torture, absence of a free press,

no free speech, no freedom of assembly, rule by decree, corruption and politically-appointed judges presiding over show trials. That is not say that there are no differences. There clearly are. The Left tends to

find its suppressive roots in an all-embracing ideology orin some casesa religion which claims to offer solutions to all of mankinds problems. You

need only embrace it.

The far-right, on the other hand, is generally based on a belief that one nation or group of people are superior to all the others, and the inferior people should be treated accordingly. These are the ultra-nationalists.

Both groups are adept at conjuring up external threats to justify repression which is really aimed at controlling internal dissent. In modern history, we can point to Adolf Hitler and the Jews, Joseph Stalin and the capitalist West, Joseph McCarthy and the Reds under the beds. In more contemporary times, several countries stand out as examples of

paranoid nationalism grabbing the levers of power. A glaring recent example is Hungary.

In the twentieth century, Hungary suffered mightily from both fascism and communism. After World War I, there was the short-lived Red Terror of Bela Kun before the country was subjected to the White Terror. Then during World War II, it allied itself with Hitler and after the war, it was under the Soviet thumb until 1989.

One of Hungarys more illustrious countrymen is the billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros. He fled German-occupied Hungary during World War II, and eventually made his way to America where his financial wizardry netted him billionsmost of which he has given away to liberal causes around the world.

His biggest single donation $880 millionwas in 1991 to establish the Central European University in his home town of Budapest. Its purpose was to produce a new generation of politicians, lawyers, journalists and civil servants who were so steeped in Western liberal values and democratic traditions that Hungary would never again veer towards the extreme

right or left.

Unfortunately, Soros failed to take account of one Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary from 1998 to 2003 and then again from 2010 until sometime in the future. The leader of the National

Conservative Fidesz Party has summed up his political philosophy with the words illiberal democracy.

He has expanded on it further by rejecting the liberal emphasis on the rights of the individual. In his view, the state is the means of organising, invigorating, or even constructing the national

community. In his view, countries such as Russia, China and Turkey are models to be admired and emulated.

To many world leaders, illiberal democracy is a complete contradiction in terms. How, they ask, can you have a democracy in which liberal institutions such as the press and the judiciary are suppressed?

And Orban is suppressing them. He forced the early retirement of most of Hungarys judges and replaced them with his hand-picked political cronies. He has also forced all media outlets to register with the government. If they print or broadcast something which the government doesnt like, then their licenses can be revoked.

On top of that, Orban has passed legislation making it almost impossible for the Hungarian parliament to amend or repeal laws passed by his Fidesz Party.

Orbans most visible stand has been over the issue of acceptingor rather

rejectingany EU-directed refugees. Razor-wire fences have been strung along the border and any refugee who manages to climb through is chased down by dogs. He has become a talisman for the EUs anti-refugee lobby.

Not surprisingly, one of Orbans strongest critics is Soros. It is also no surprise that the Central European University has become an intellectual incubator for the anti-Orban camp. Demagogues hate dissent, so Orban decided to shut it down.

Of course, he couldnt just throw out all the students and staff and lock the doors. He had to find a legal ploy. As one was not at hand, he created one. The Central European University is based in Budapest but funded from America. Orban this past week pushed a law through parliament banning foreign-based universities from operating in Hungary unless they had a campus in their home country. Surprise, surprise, the CEU was the

only such university in Hungary.

But knowing Soros, the fight is far from over. Soros should be receiving support from EU institutions. Hungary joined the European Union in May 2004 as part of EUs expansion into Eastern Europe to protect the nascent democracies that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

The EU is a democratic club. And like most clubs, it has rules which you sign up to and agree to abide by when you join. These rules are embodied in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and so far it would seem that Hungary is either in breach of orat the very leaston the verge of breaching rules involving personal integrity, freedom of religion,

freedom of assembly, freedom of press, equality before the law, religious diversity and the right to a fair trial.

So far the European Commission, parliament and council have done little more than utter complaining noises. The fate of the Central European University could tip them over the edge and into the murky waters of issuing sanctions against one of its own members.

Tom Arms is the author of Encyclopedia of the Cold War and the editor of

Lookaheadnews.com

Email: tom.arms@lookaheadtv.com

As far as the proverbial man in the street is concerned, there is very little that separates the extreme right from the extreme left. The results are the same: Power concentrated in the hands of a small circle of political leaders, suppression of human rights and academic freedom, political prisoners, torture, absence of a free press, no free speech, no freedom of assembly, rule by decree, corruption and politically-appointed judges presiding over show trials. That is not say that there are no differences. There clearly are. The Left tends to find its suppressive roots in an all-embracing ideology orin some casesa religion which claims to offer solutions to all of mankinds problems. You need only embrace it. The far-right, on the other hand, is generally based on a belief that one nation or group of people are superior to all the others, and the inferior people should be treated accordingly. These are the ultra-nationalists. Both groups are adept at conjuring up external threats to justify repression which is really aimed at controlling internal dissent. In modern history, we can point to Adolf Hitler and the Jews, Joseph Stalin and the capitalist West, Joseph McCarthy and the Reds under the beds. In more contemporary times, several countries stand out as examples of paranoid nationalism grabbing the levers of power. A glaring recent example is Hungary. In the twentieth century, Hungary suffered mightily from both fascism and communism. After World War I, there was the short-lived Red Terror of Bela Kun before the country was subjected to the White Terror. Then during World War II, it allied itself with Hitler and after the war, it was under the Soviet thumb until 1989. One of Hungarys more illustrious countrymen is the billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros. He fled German-occupied Hungary during World War II, and eventually made his way to America where his financial wizardry netted him billionsmost of which he has given away to liberal causes around the world. His biggest single donation $880 millionwas in 1991 to establish the Central European University in his home town of Budapest. Its purpose was to produce a new generation of politicians, lawyers, journalists and civil servants who were so steeped in Western liberal values and democratic traditions that Hungary would never again veer towards the extreme right or left. Unfortunately, Soros failed to take account of one Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary from 1998 to 2003 and then again from 2010 until sometime in the future. The leader of the National Conservative Fidesz Party has summed up his political philosophy with the words illiberal democracy. He has expanded on it further by rejecting the liberal emphasis on the rights of the individual. In his view, the state is the means of organising, invigorating, or even constructing the national community. In his view, countries such as Russia, China and Turkey are models to be admired and emulated. To many world leaders, illiberal democracy is a complete contradiction in terms. How, they ask, can you have a democracy in which liberal institutions such as the press and the judiciary are suppressed? And Orban is suppressing them. He forced the early retirement of most of Hungarys judges and replaced them with his hand-picked political cronies. He has also forced all media outlets to register with the government. If they print or broadcast something which the government doesnt like, then their licenses can be revoked. On top of that, Orban has passed legislation making it almost impossible for the Hungarian parliament to amend or repeal laws passed by his Fidesz Party. Orbans most visible stand has been over the issue of acceptingor rather rejectingany EU-directed refugees. Razor-wire fences have been strung along the border and any refugee who manages to climb through is chased down by dogs. He has become a talisman for the EUs anti-refugee lobby. Not surprisingly, one of Orbans strongest critics is Soros. It is also no surprise that the Central European University has become an intellectual incubator for the anti-Orban camp. Demagogues hate dissent, so Orban decided to shut it down. Of course, he couldnt just throw out all the students and staff and lock the doors. He had to find a legal ploy. As one was not at hand, he created one. The Central European University is based in Budapest but funded from America. Orban this past week pushed a law through parliament banning foreign-based universities from operating in Hungary unless they had a campus in their home country. Surprise, surprise, the CEU was the only such university in Hungary. But knowing Soros, the fight is far from over. Soros should be receiving support from EU institutions. Hungary joined the European Union in May 2004 as part of EUs expansion into Eastern Europe to protect the nascent democracies that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Empire. The EU is a democratic club. And like most clubs, it has rules which you sign up to and agree to abide by when you join. These rules are embodied in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and so far it would seem that Hungary is either in breach of orat the very leaston the verge of breaching rules involving personal integrity, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, equality before the law, religious diversity and the right to a fair trial. So far the European Commission, parliament and council have done little more than utter complaining noises. The fate of the Central European University could tip them over the edge and into the murky waters of issuing sanctions against one of its own members. Tom Arms is the author of Encyclopedia of the Cold War and the editor of Lookaheadnews.com Email: tom.arms@lookaheadtv.com
Could the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy in Pakistani custody, have something to do with the abduction of an ISI operative from Nepal earlier this month? Retired Pakistani Lt Col Mohammad Habib disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Nepalese pilgrim town near the Indian border. Reports in some Indian newspapers quoting intelligence sources say Habib was an ISI agent who apparently was involved in the abduction of Kulbhushan from Iran.

According to Pakistani media reports, Habib was apparently lured to Nepal by a job offer, and the disappearance bore the hallmarks of Indias R&AW. Ergo, the sudden imposition of a death sentence on Kulbhusan is an attempt to raise the stakes for a possible swap. If that is indeed the case, we can expect some hectic lobbying followed by a quiet swap later. Pakistan would then cite its generosity in releasing Kulbhushan, while India would exult over what it would describe as a diplomatic victory. Some signs of a possible thaw over the issue have already started. Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistans Parliament that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days before the countrys Supreme Court. And Pakistans National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua was quoted as saying the two hostile neighbours cannot remain enemies forever and need to engage and resolve their disputes.

Other reports from Pakistan, however, smugly point out that India is isolated over this incident, with no nation commenting on it in any form, which apparently indicates they believe the Pakistani position. Apart from the fact that traditionally no nation comments on such cases given the sensitivities involved, India has always maintained that all India-Pakistan issues should be resolved bilaterally, and there is no scope for third party involvement. At a time when both sides are increasingly raising the ante, it will be interesting to see who blinks first.

Could the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy in Pakistani custody, have something to do with the abduction of an ISI operative from Nepal earlier this month? Retired Pakistani Lt Col Mohammad Habib disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Nepalese pilgrim town near the Indian border. Reports in some Indian newspapers quoting intelligence sources say Habib was an ISI agent who apparently was involved in the abduction of Kulbhushan from Iran. According to Pakistani media reports, Habib was apparently lured to Nepal by a job offer, and the disappearance bore the hallmarks of Indias R&AW. Ergo, the sudden imposition of a death sentence on Kulbhusan is an attempt to raise the stakes for a possible swap. If that is indeed the case, we can expect some hectic lobbying followed by a quiet swap later. Pakistan would then cite its generosity in releasing Kulbhushan, while India would exult over what it would describe as a diplomatic victory. Some signs of a possible thaw over the issue have already started. Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistans Parliament that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days before the countrys Supreme Court. And Pakistans National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua was quoted as saying the two hostile neighbours cannot remain enemies forever and need to engage and resolve their disputes. Other reports from Pakistan, however, smugly point out that India is isolated over this incident, with no nation commenting on it in any form, which apparently indicates they believe the Pakistani position. Apart from the fact that traditionally no nation comments on such cases given the sensitivities involved, India has always maintained that all India-Pakistan issues should be resolved bilaterally, and there is no scope for third party involvement. At a time when both sides are increasingly raising the ante, it will be interesting to see who blinks first.
As India and China duel over the role and purpose of the Dalai Lama, Beijing has quietly stepped up its attempt to co-opt Buddhism. By doing so, Beijing hopes not only to ensure that the next Dalai Lama is appointed by them, but also enhance its soft power and influence not just within China, but in places like Nepal and Southeast Asia where Buddhism is still practiced. Take the attempts by China to invest huge sums of money in Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha.

Earlier in the decade, then Chinese President Hu Jintao began promoting a harmonious society as part of his socio-economic vision, and Party officials started working on the premise that religion, carefully managed, could be used to build such a society. Soon afterwards, Chinese media started describing Buddhism as an ancient Chinese religion. The 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet to India in 1959 following the Chinese takeover of Lhasa, and is seen by the Chinese as a splittist who could cause trouble in what the Chinese now call the Tibetan Autonomous Region, or TAR.

After Chinese attempts to invest $3 billion in Lumbini in 2011which included an airport and allocation of land to senior Buddhist leaders of various sectswere quietly scuttled by India, Beijing has revived it again recently. According to a warning put out earlier by a New Delhi think tank, the Lumbini project would help China achieve its long-term strategic goal of bringing Nepal irrevocably under its influence.

According to one report, there are already 35 Beijing-financed China Study Centres strung along Nepals border with India. Though Nepals PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal accused of being pro-India by Beijing did not sign any agreements during his week-long visit to China in March, he did say the two countries would move together on the path of common prosperity, executing all past agreements. If that includes Lumbini, India, and Buddhism, have their task cut out.

As India and China duel over the role and purpose of the Dalai Lama, Beijing has quietly stepped up its attempt to co-opt Buddhism. By doing so, Beijing hopes not only to ensure that the next Dalai Lama is appointed by them, but also enhance its soft power and influence not just within China, but in places like Nepal and Southeast Asia where Buddhism is still practiced. Take the attempts by China to invest huge sums of money in Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha. Earlier in the decade, then Chinese President Hu Jintao began promoting a harmonious society as part of his socio-economic vision, and Party officials started working on the premise that religion, carefully managed, could be used to build such a society. Soon afterwards, Chinese media started describing Buddhism as an ancient Chinese religion. The 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet to India in 1959 following the Chinese takeover of Lhasa, and is seen by the Chinese as a splittist who could cause trouble in what the Chinese now call the Tibetan Autonomous Region, or TAR. After Chinese attempts to invest $3 billion in Lumbini in 2011which included an airport and allocation of land to senior Buddhist leaders of various sectswere quietly scuttled by India, Beijing has revived it again recently. According to a warning put out earlier by a New Delhi think tank, the Lumbini project would help China achieve its long-term strategic goal of bringing Nepal irrevocably under its influence. According to one report, there are already 35 Beijing-financed China Study Centres strung along Nepals border with India. Though Nepals PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal accused of being pro-India by Beijing did not sign any agreements during his week-long visit to China in March, he did say the two countries would move together on the path of common prosperity, executing all past agreements. If that includes Lumbini, India, and Buddhism, have their task cut out.
By Express News Service

VELLORE: As many as, 11 persons were injured after an under construction, high roof for the portico of a building, collapsed at Korathangal village near Katpadi on Thursday. One of them, Bhakiyaraj, 30, succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to CMC Vellore.

The incident took place at around 3.30 p.m, at an under construction of school building at Tiruvalam road, on the outskirts of Vellore city.

Around six workers were on the top of high roof, while nine persons were working under it. While the workers were on top of the roof and carrying cement mixture, it collapsed and trapped nine persons under it.

Six workers escaped without any injuries, while six others were seriously injured. They were rushed to the Government Vellore Medical college hospital. The remaining five were admitted at a private hospital in Vellore.

"The roof of the portico, which was built to the height of 20 feet, was not supported by iron pillars," workers who rescued from the building told Express.

The school is being built by the management of Pincushion Montessori international school of Vellore.

VELLORE: As many as, 11 persons were injured after an under construction, high roof for the portico of a building, collapsed at Korathangal village near Katpadi on Thursday. One of them, Bhakiyaraj, 30, succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to CMC Vellore. The incident took place at around 3.30 p.m, at an under construction of school building at Tiruvalam road, on the outskirts of Vellore city. Around six workers were on the top of high roof, while nine persons were working under it. While the workers were on top of the roof and carrying cement mixture, it collapsed and trapped nine persons under it. Six workers escaped without any injuries, while six others were seriously injured. They were rushed to the Government Vellore Medical college hospital. The remaining five were admitted at a private hospital in Vellore. "The roof of the portico, which was built to the height of 20 feet, was not supported by iron pillars," workers who rescued from the building told Express. The school is being built by the management of Pincushion Montessori international school of Vellore.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A fire broke out in the Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR) building of IIT Madras in Guindy on Wednesday evening. According to fire and rescue service personnel, the third floor of the building has been completely damaged. The third room reportedly consists of research halls, a couple of classrooms and a conference hall.

The fire service received the alert at around 8 50 pm. Four tenders from Raj Bhavan, Guindy, Teynampet and Ashok Nagar were dispatched to the IIT campus. It took about two hours to bring the fire under control.

According to students of the Institute, the third floor consists of NPTEL National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) which is an online program. The record for NPTEL has been damaged completely in the fire, a student told Express. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and provides e-learning through online courses in Engineering and other disciplines. It is a joint initiative by seven IITs and IISc Bangalore.

According to Krishnan Balasubramanian, Dean of IC & SR, The fire broke out in a studio-cum-classroom. It had computers and other technical equipment like cameras. Two rooms have been affected. There was no other structure near the building. The fire did not spread to other floors. But the third floor has been completely damaged, a fire personnel said. It is suspected that a short circuit might have caused the fire.

CHENNAI: A fire broke out in the Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR) building of IIT Madras in Guindy on Wednesday evening. According to fire and rescue service personnel, the third floor of the building has been completely damaged. The third room reportedly consists of research halls, a couple of classrooms and a conference hall. The fire service received the alert at around 8 50 pm. Four tenders from Raj Bhavan, Guindy, Teynampet and Ashok Nagar were dispatched to the IIT campus. It took about two hours to bring the fire under control. According to students of the Institute, the third floor consists of NPTEL National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) which is an online program. The record for NPTEL has been damaged completely in the fire, a student told Express. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and provides e-learning through online courses in Engineering and other disciplines. It is a joint initiative by seven IITs and IISc Bangalore. According to Krishnan Balasubramanian, Dean of IC & SR, The fire broke out in a studio-cum-classroom. It had computers and other technical equipment like cameras. Two rooms have been affected. There was no other structure near the building. The fire did not spread to other floors. But the third floor has been completely damaged, a fire personnel said. It is suspected that a short circuit might have caused the fire.
By Associated Press

DAKAR: A fire tore through makeshift straw shelters at a Muslim religious retreat in Senegal, killing at least 22 people and triggering a stampede, firefighters and local media said Thursday.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon as worshippers gathered near the town of Medina Gounass in the southeastern region of Tambacounda, a senior official with the firefighting service told AFP. The cause is as yet unknown.

Resident Aziz Thierno Belly Ba recounted witnessing the pilgrims' ordeal to the Observateur newspaper.

"The fire burned through everything in its path. Only the modern tents reserved for the marabouts (religious leaders) were relatively spared from the fury of the flames," he said.

Images of billowing smoke, the charred corpses of animals and burnt-out cars circulated online.

While some victims were badly burned others were hurt in the panicked stampede triggered by the blaze, according to the firefighters' official.

Around 20 of the injured are in a serious state and are being treated in hospital in Tambacounda city, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.

Senegal's President Macky Sall paid his respects to victims in a press conference late Wednesday and is expected at the site on Friday following an imminent visit by his interior minister.

The fire ripped through straw shelters constructed for the multi-day event, according to Senegal's local press, allowing it spread rapidly through an open-air gathering packed with people.

Members of Senegal's powerful Tijaniyya Muslim brotherhood gather in their hundreds, even thousands, to worship at the site every year. Pilgrims were weighed down with food and luggage, the local press reported.

Around 95 percent of Senegal's population is Muslim and most men join Sufi brotherhoods that combine Islam with distinctive local beliefs.

An incident at the same site in 2010 caused the deaths of six people, Le Quotidien newspaper reported on Thursday.

Senegal's poor record on fire safety was also thrown into the spotlight in 2013 when a fire in a Koranic school killed nine children, triggering an outcry and calls for tighter regulation.

DAKAR: A fire tore through makeshift straw shelters at a Muslim religious retreat in Senegal, killing at least 22 people and triggering a stampede, firefighters and local media said Thursday. The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon as worshippers gathered near the town of Medina Gounass in the southeastern region of Tambacounda, a senior official with the firefighting service told AFP. The cause is as yet unknown. Resident Aziz Thierno Belly Ba recounted witnessing the pilgrims' ordeal to the Observateur newspaper. "The fire burned through everything in its path. Only the modern tents reserved for the marabouts (religious leaders) were relatively spared from the fury of the flames," he said. Images of billowing smoke, the charred corpses of animals and burnt-out cars circulated online. While some victims were badly burned others were hurt in the panicked stampede triggered by the blaze, according to the firefighters' official. Around 20 of the injured are in a serious state and are being treated in hospital in Tambacounda city, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) away. Senegal's President Macky Sall paid his respects to victims in a press conference late Wednesday and is expected at the site on Friday following an imminent visit by his interior minister. The fire ripped through straw shelters constructed for the multi-day event, according to Senegal's local press, allowing it spread rapidly through an open-air gathering packed with people. Members of Senegal's powerful Tijaniyya Muslim brotherhood gather in their hundreds, even thousands, to worship at the site every year. Pilgrims were weighed down with food and luggage, the local press reported. Around 95 percent of Senegal's population is Muslim and most men join Sufi brotherhoods that combine Islam with distinctive local beliefs. An incident at the same site in 2010 caused the deaths of six people, Le Quotidien newspaper reported on Thursday. Senegal's poor record on fire safety was also thrown into the spotlight in 2013 when a fire in a Koranic school killed nine children, triggering an outcry and calls for tighter regulation.
By Online Desk

A 16-year old kid who had a simple dream of gobbling up free chicken nuggets all day and all night hit upon an idea to fulfill his culinary wish. Carter Wilkerson from Nevada, US has ever tweeted to Wendy's, an American international fast food chain, one fine day asking, "Yo @Wendys, how many for RTs for a year of free chicken nuggets?"

This is a typical challenge question that does the meme rounds on Twitter often,

"How many RTs for a tattoo on your belly?"

"How many RTs for a dog?"

To everyone's and Carter's own surprise, Wendys replied to his tweet with an unimaginable figure - 18 million RTs.

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3  Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017

The highest RTs anyone has ever got on Twitter, so far, has been Ellen DeGeneres's Oscar image from 2014.

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap  Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014

Undaunted, and seeing heaps of golden nuggets at the culmination of his feat, Carter took up the challenge. It's been exactly a week since he started out on his mission to get 18 million RTs, and he has already amassed 2.7 million so far. The teen has even launched a website called 'Nuggets for Carter' where he began merchandising stuff. Smart as he seems to be, Carter should have probably asked for free nuggets for life.

Not long before, a lot of other people started demanding free chicken nuggets from Wendys and set out on the very same mission.

Interestingly, the person handling the Wendys official twitter page has also been in the limelight for his/her/their witty responses. Usually, business pages on social media don't engage directly with the audience and if they do, it's usually pre-screened formal responses. But Wendy's has been going all out, making people laugh and gaining some brownie points with its customers around the free chicken nuggets buzz.

Here are some of the responses Wendys has been giving-

I just need 18 million RTs and @Wendys will give me back my son  Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) April 12, 2017

@Wendys what's the best thing at McDonald's  Gabrieldagoat (@gdfloyd04_floyd) April 13, 2017

Any idea who runs the @Wendys Twitter account? These responses are amazing: pic.twitter.com/KcozZZjurN  Sean Ludwig (@seanludwig) April 12, 2017

In fact, a report in The Verge, an online news portal, already did the math. Should Carter win, Wendy's could fulfill its debt with, say, a bare minimum of a four-piece nugget order per day, which in Carters hometown of Reno, Nevada, comes out to $395 per year (including tax, but not including the costs associated with ketchup packets). That works out to 12,328.76 retweets for each of the 1,460 nuggets Carter would enjoy.

If Carter does win, this could well become a new internet fad - demands in exchange for retweets.

A 16-year old kid who had a simple dream of gobbling up free chicken nuggets all day and all night hit upon an idea to fulfill his culinary wish. Carter Wilkerson from Nevada, US has ever tweeted to Wendy's, an American international fast food chain, one fine day asking, "Yo @Wendys, how many for RTs for a year of free chicken nuggets?" This is a typical challenge question that does the meme rounds on Twitter often, "How many RTs for a tattoo on your belly?" "How many RTs for a dog?" To everyone's and Carter's own surprise, Wendys replied to his tweet with an unimaginable figure - 18 million RTs. HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3  Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017 The highest RTs anyone has ever got on Twitter, so far, has been Ellen DeGeneres's Oscar image from 2014. If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap  Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014 Undaunted, and seeing heaps of golden nuggets at the culmination of his feat, Carter took up the challenge. It's been exactly a week since he started out on his mission to get 18 million RTs, and he has already amassed 2.7 million so far. The teen has even launched a website called 'Nuggets for Carter' where he began merchandising stuff. Smart as he seems to be, Carter should have probably asked for free nuggets for life. Not long before, a lot of other people started demanding free chicken nuggets from Wendys and set out on the very same mission. Interestingly, the person handling the Wendys official twitter page has also been in the limelight for his/her/their witty responses. Usually, business pages on social media don't engage directly with the audience and if they do, it's usually pre-screened formal responses. But Wendy's has been going all out, making people laugh and gaining some brownie points with its customers around the free chicken nuggets buzz. Here are some of the responses Wendys has been giving- I just need 18 million RTs and @Wendys will give me back my son  Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) April 12, 2017 @Wendys what's the best thing at McDonald's  Gabrieldagoat (@gdfloyd04_floyd) April 13, 2017 Any idea who runs the @Wendys Twitter account? These responses are amazing: pic.twitter.com/KcozZZjurN  Sean Ludwig (@seanludwig) April 12, 2017 In fact, a report in The Verge, an online news portal, already did the math. Should Carter win, Wendy's could fulfill its debt with, say, a bare minimum of a four-piece nugget order per day, which in Carters hometown of Reno, Nevada, comes out to $395 per year (including tax, but not including the costs associated with ketchup packets). That works out to 12,328.76 retweets for each of the 1,460 nuggets Carter would enjoy. If Carter does win, this could well become a new internet fad - demands in exchange for retweets.
By Associated Press

BERLIN: The German government says it would support a ban on the export of boats from the European Union to Libya as part of measures to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.

Smugglers use often rickety vessels to ferry thousands of migrants from the north African country to Europe each month. Mass drownings are common when the overloaded boats capsize or sink.

In a response to questions from Left Party lawmakers, the German government says it considers "imposing restrictive measures" on EU exports of boats, engines and vehicles to Libya to be an appropriate measure to crack down on people smuggling.

The response, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, also confirms that the EU naval mission deployed to stop illegal migration uses submarines for "covert reconnaissance" in the region.

BERLIN: The German government says it would support a ban on the export of boats from the European Union to Libya as part of measures to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean. Smugglers use often rickety vessels to ferry thousands of migrants from the north African country to Europe each month. Mass drownings are common when the overloaded boats capsize or sink. In a response to questions from Left Party lawmakers, the German government says it considers "imposing restrictive measures" on EU exports of boats, engines and vehicles to Libya to be an appropriate measure to crack down on people smuggling. The response, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, also confirms that the EU naval mission deployed to stop illegal migration uses submarines for "covert reconnaissance" in the region.
By AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea's leader were taken to a Malaysian court in bulletproof vests today ahead of a murder trial that could see them hanged.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were taken to the Sepang magistrate's court located close to the airport where Kim Jong-Nam was fatally poisoned on February 13. Prosecutors are expected to apply for the case to be transferred to an upper court, where the women would be tried for murder.

If found guilty, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia. Police accuse the pair of having wiped the nerve agent VX on Kim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The poison is classified as a weapon of mass destruction and banned around the world. Rival South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the death of Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pyongyang denies the accusation.

Some 100 police officers including masked special forces armed with assault rifles were deployed to secure the small court compound where the women were taken for Thursday's hearing. Police are still looking for four North Korean men who are suspected accomplices of the women.

The four, however, are believed to have returned to Pyongyang. Three other North Koreans earlier described as "persons of interest", including a diplomat based in Malaysia, have been allowed to return home.

The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea which saw both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors. The travel ban was lifted in late March after a deal was struck involving the return of Kim's body to Pyongyang.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea's leader were taken to a Malaysian court in bulletproof vests today ahead of a murder trial that could see them hanged. Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were taken to the Sepang magistrate's court located close to the airport where Kim Jong-Nam was fatally poisoned on February 13. Prosecutors are expected to apply for the case to be transferred to an upper court, where the women would be tried for murder. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Malaysia. Police accuse the pair of having wiped the nerve agent VX on Kim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The poison is classified as a weapon of mass destruction and banned around the world. Rival South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the death of Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pyongyang denies the accusation. Some 100 police officers including masked special forces armed with assault rifles were deployed to secure the small court compound where the women were taken for Thursday's hearing. Police are still looking for four North Korean men who are suspected accomplices of the women. The four, however, are believed to have returned to Pyongyang. Three other North Koreans earlier described as "persons of interest", including a diplomat based in Malaysia, have been allowed to return home. The killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea which saw both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors. The travel ban was lifted in late March after a deal was struck involving the return of Kim's body to Pyongyang.
By Associated Press

TEHRAN: Iranian media say more than 600 candidates have registered to run in next month's presidential election.

At least 638 have registered in the first three days of the process through Thursday, more than twice the number that had registered during the same period in 2013. Registration closes on Saturday.

More people tend to run when a moderate is in office because the political sphere is more open. More than 1,000 people registered in 2005, under reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

The Guardian Council, a clerical body that oversees elections, is expected to bar most candidates and will announce an approved list by April 27.

The most high-profile candidate to register thus far is former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, is expected to seek re-election.

TEHRAN: Iranian media say more than 600 candidates have registered to run in next month's presidential election. At least 638 have registered in the first three days of the process through Thursday, more than twice the number that had registered during the same period in 2013. Registration closes on Saturday. More people tend to run when a moderate is in office because the political sphere is more open. More than 1,000 people registered in 2005, under reformist President Mohammad Khatami. The Guardian Council, a clerical body that oversees elections, is expected to bar most candidates and will announce an approved list by April 27. The most high-profile candidate to register thus far is former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, is expected to seek re-election.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises.

In several interviews this week, the president has forged new positions on topics ranging from NATO to Chinese currency manipulation. They come as other campaign promises lag, including Trump's vow to build a concrete wall along the length of the southern border and have Mexico pay for it.

"One by one we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations," Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Big changes are happening!"

Here are some of the areas where a president who prides himself on his flexibility has been willing to dispense with past positions:

NATO

Trump cemented his shift in posture toward the 28-nation military alliance as he stood alongside its leader at the White House on Wednesday.

As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense.

He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts.

"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office.

Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg.

Currently, just the U.S. and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2 percent target.

___

LABELING CHINA A CURRENCY MANIPULATOR

During his campaign, Trump insisted that one of his first acts as president would be to direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. It was part of a "contract" with American voters that he pledged to fulfill.

Only days ago, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump reiterated that campaign pledge.

"You know when you talk about, when you talk about currency manipulation, when you talk about devaluations, they are world champions," he said of China. "And our country hasn't had a clue, they haven't had a clue."

By Wednesday something had changed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump declared point blank, "They're not currency manipulators."

Trump told the paper he'd changed his mind because China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months. He said a U.S. declaration of Chinese manipulation could jeopardize efforts to secure the country's help in containing the threat posed by North Korea.

___

EX-IM BANK:

Trump also appears to have grown fond of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which has been a rallying cry for conservatives who consider it a mechanism of crony capitalism. The conservative political network established by billionaires Charles and David Koch has railed against the agency.

Trump opposed the Ex-Im Bank during his campaign. But he said in the Journal interview that he supports the bank, which helps U.S. exporters by making and guaranteeing loans. Congress allowed the Ex-Im bank's charter to expire in 2015, then eventually revived it over the objections of some conservatives. But it still isn't able to conduct major business due to vacancies on its board, hurting top exporters like Boeing and General Electric.

Trump told the newspaper he plans to fill two vacancies on the board, adding, "It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies."

___

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

As the U.S. relationship with Russia careens from cozy to frosty, Trump is keeping his distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't know Putin," Trump said Wednesday at the joint press conference with Stoltenberg.

Trump has made conflicting statements about his ties to the Russian leader in the past. At a press conference last July, he said: "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."

But during the Republican primary he boasted of their ties. He said at a November 2015 primary debate, "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night." The two appeared on the same program, but their segments were taped in different countries.

Trump had also previously said the pair met once, a "long time ago."

For Trump, dealing with investigations into possible contacts between his campaign associates and the Russian officials, keeping Putin at arm's length may be the best political play.

___

U.S. MILITARY PROWESS

The man who once slammed the U.S. military as a "disaster" is singing its praises now that he's in charge.

In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday morning, Trump talked up U.S. military strength, sounding almost in awe of its prowess.

"It's so incredible. It's brilliant. It's genius. Our technology, our equipment, is better than anybody by a factor of five," he said. "I mean look, we have, in terms of technology, nobody can even come close to competing."

Just a couple of months ago, the president was bemoaning the military's state at rallies across the country.

"We're going to rebuild out military. Our military is in shambles," he said at a rally in Delaware last April. "We're going to make it so big, so strong, so powerful that nobody, nobody, nobody is gonna mess with us, folks."

___

FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR JANET YELLEN

During his campaign, Trump was critical of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, accusing her of keeping borrowing rates low to help rival Hillary Clinton and Democrats. Trump said at the time that he would likely replace Yellen when her term as chair ends next year. At the first presidential debate in September, Trump said the Fed was "being more political than Secretary Clinton."

But that was then. Trump, in the Wall Street Journal interview, left open the possibility of re-nominating Yellen for a second four-year term. Asked whether Yellen would be "toast" when her term ends, Trump said, "No, not toast."

"I like her, I respect her," Trump said, adding that they had met in the Oval Office since he became president.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump hasn't been in the White House for 100 days, yet he's already reversed himself on many of his key campaign promises. In several interviews this week, the president has forged new positions on topics ranging from NATO to Chinese currency manipulation. They come as other campaign promises lag, including Trump's vow to build a concrete wall along the length of the southern border and have Mexico pay for it. "One by one we are keeping our promises  on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations," Trump tweeted Wednesday evening. "Big changes are happening!" Here are some of the areas where a president who prides himself on his flexibility has been willing to dispense with past positions: NATO Trump cemented his shift in posture toward the 28-nation military alliance as he stood alongside its leader at the White House on Wednesday. As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense. He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office. Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg. Currently, just the U.S. and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2 percent target. ___ LABELING CHINA A CURRENCY MANIPULATOR During his campaign, Trump insisted that one of his first acts as president would be to direct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. It was part of a "contract" with American voters that he pledged to fulfill. Only days ago, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump reiterated that campaign pledge. "You know when you talk about, when you talk about currency manipulation, when you talk about devaluations, they are world champions," he said of China. "And our country hasn't had a clue, they haven't had a clue." By Wednesday something had changed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump declared point blank, "They're not currency manipulators." Trump told the paper he'd changed his mind because China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months. He said a U.S. declaration of Chinese manipulation could jeopardize efforts to secure the country's help in containing the threat posed by North Korea. ___ EX-IM BANK: Trump also appears to have grown fond of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which has been a rallying cry for conservatives who consider it a mechanism of crony capitalism. The conservative political network established by billionaires Charles and David Koch has railed against the agency. Trump opposed the Ex-Im Bank during his campaign. But he said in the Journal interview that he supports the bank, which helps U.S. exporters by making and guaranteeing loans. Congress allowed the Ex-Im bank's charter to expire in 2015, then eventually revived it over the objections of some conservatives. But it still isn't able to conduct major business due to vacancies on its board, hurting top exporters like Boeing and General Electric. Trump told the newspaper he plans to fill two vacancies on the board, adding, "It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies." ___ RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN As the U.S. relationship with Russia careens from cozy to frosty, Trump is keeping his distance from Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't know Putin," Trump said Wednesday at the joint press conference with Stoltenberg. Trump has made conflicting statements about his ties to the Russian leader in the past. At a press conference last July, he said: "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius." But during the Republican primary he boasted of their ties. He said at a November 2015 primary debate, "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night." The two appeared on the same program, but their segments were taped in different countries. Trump had also previously said the pair met once, a "long time ago." For Trump, dealing with investigations into possible contacts between his campaign associates and the Russian officials, keeping Putin at arm's length may be the best political play. ___ U.S. MILITARY PROWESS The man who once slammed the U.S. military as a "disaster" is singing its praises now that he's in charge. In an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday morning, Trump talked up U.S. military strength, sounding almost in awe of its prowess. "It's so incredible. It's brilliant. It's genius. Our technology, our equipment, is better than anybody by a factor of five," he said. "I mean look, we have, in terms of technology, nobody can even come close to competing." Just a couple of months ago, the president was bemoaning the military's state at rallies across the country. "We're going to rebuild out military. Our military is in shambles," he said at a rally in Delaware last April. "We're going to make it so big, so strong, so powerful that nobody, nobody, nobody is gonna mess with us, folks." ___ FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR JANET YELLEN During his campaign, Trump was critical of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, accusing her of keeping borrowing rates low to help rival Hillary Clinton and Democrats. Trump said at the time that he would likely replace Yellen when her term as chair ends next year. At the first presidential debate in September, Trump said the Fed was "being more political than Secretary Clinton." But that was then. Trump, in the Wall Street Journal interview, left open the possibility of re-nominating Yellen for a second four-year term. Asked whether Yellen would be "toast" when her term ends, Trump said, "No, not toast." "I like her, I respect her," Trump said, adding that they had met in the Oval Office since he became president.
By PTI

UNITED NATIONS: Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria last week and called on the government there to cooperate with an investigation into the incident.

Russia, a permanent member of 15-nation Council, exercised the veto yesterday when a draft resolution drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the US was tabled here. While 10 of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, Russia rejected the text, as permanent member China, as well as non-permanent members Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained.

"...With its veto, Russia said no to accountability. Russia said no to cooperation with the UNs independent investigation. And Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said after the resolution was failed to be adopted.

"Russia once again has chosen to side with Assad even as the rest of the world  including the Arab world  overwhelmingly comes together to condemn this murderous regime," she said. This was the 8th time during Syria's six-year-old civil war that Moscow used its veto power to block a resolution against Assad's government.

The resolution would have strongly condemned "the reported use of chemical weapons in the [Syria], in particular, the attack on Khan Shaykhun," the site of last weeks incident that has drawn increasing global attention.

The measure would also have called on the Syrian government to comply with relevant recommendations of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission (FFM) and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

Before the vote, Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov said in the course of negotiations between his countrys Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow had suggested a joint communication asking the OPCW Director-General to immediately put together an international mission to visit Khan Shaykhun and the Shayrat air base.

The US Secretary of State was considering that proposal, he said, adding that the whole gamut of issues would be discussed by OPCW on April 13 at The Hague. Putting the draft to a vote a day before that would serve no useful purpose, he emphasised. He said Russia voted against the draft because of its "erroneous" contents, emphasising that his country's concerns and priorities had been pushed aside.

The main problem was that the "troika" of drafters had named a perpetrator before a proper investigation had been conducted, he said, adding that by presenting a "doomed" resolution they had undermined the Councils unity. "I'm amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?" he said. He said the US attack on the Syrian air base "was carried out in violation of international norms". He added that some states had expressed an anti-regime slant and a reluctance to ensure a truly impartial investigation, he said, cautioning that other incidents, involving extremists, could unfold.

Haley said the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have told it many times that Assad will not provide access to investigate. "Russia said this resolution was biased and that the Assad regime was not involved. This resolution simply emphasised the information the regime is already required to provide to investigators," she said.

"Todays vote could have been a turning point. Once more, this vote could have been the moment when Russia saw that its interests do not lie with a murderous dictator, but rather with the many countries in the international community, including those across the Middle East, that want to end this conflict. By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated," she added.

UK's Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft Russia vetoed the resolution that would have supported a swift and independent investigation into the Syrian chemical weapons attack. "Weve once again encountered a Russian veto, the 8th time that Russia has used its veto to protect the Syrian regime. This one is even more regrettable given that Russia was the architect of the 2013 agreement to dismantle Syrias chemical weapons programme, an initiative that has demonstrably failed," Rycroft said.

"It is indefensible that Russia has chosen to protect the perpetrators of these attacks rather than work with the rest of the international community to condemn them," he added.

In February, Russia and China vetoed a measure that would have imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and entities linked to the use of chemical weapons in cases where responsibility was established by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.

UNITED NATIONS: Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria last week and called on the government there to cooperate with an investigation into the incident. Russia, a permanent member of 15-nation Council, exercised the veto yesterday when a draft resolution drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the US was tabled here. While 10 of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, Russia rejected the text, as permanent member China, as well as non-permanent members Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained. "...With its veto, Russia said no to accountability. Russia said no to cooperation with the UNs independent investigation. And Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said after the resolution was failed to be adopted. "Russia once again has chosen to side with Assad even as the rest of the world  including the Arab world  overwhelmingly comes together to condemn this murderous regime," she said. This was the 8th time during Syria's six-year-old civil war that Moscow used its veto power to block a resolution against Assad's government. The resolution would have strongly condemned "the reported use of chemical weapons in the [Syria], in particular, the attack on Khan Shaykhun," the site of last weeks incident that has drawn increasing global attention. The measure would also have called on the Syrian government to comply with relevant recommendations of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission (FFM) and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). Before the vote, Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov said in the course of negotiations between his countrys Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow had suggested a joint communication asking the OPCW Director-General to immediately put together an international mission to visit Khan Shaykhun and the Shayrat air base. The US Secretary of State was considering that proposal, he said, adding that the whole gamut of issues would be discussed by OPCW on April 13 at The Hague. Putting the draft to a vote a day before that would serve no useful purpose, he emphasised. He said Russia voted against the draft because of its "erroneous" contents, emphasising that his country's concerns and priorities had been pushed aside. The main problem was that the "troika" of drafters had named a perpetrator before a proper investigation had been conducted, he said, adding that by presenting a "doomed" resolution they had undermined the Councils unity. "I'm amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?" he said. He said the US attack on the Syrian air base "was carried out in violation of international norms". He added that some states had expressed an anti-regime slant and a reluctance to ensure a truly impartial investigation, he said, cautioning that other incidents, involving extremists, could unfold. Haley said the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have told it many times that Assad will not provide access to investigate. "Russia said this resolution was biased and that the Assad regime was not involved. This resolution simply emphasised the information the regime is already required to provide to investigators," she said. "Todays vote could have been a turning point. Once more, this vote could have been the moment when Russia saw that its interests do not lie with a murderous dictator, but rather with the many countries in the international community, including those across the Middle East, that want to end this conflict. By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated," she added. UK's Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft Russia vetoed the resolution that would have supported a swift and independent investigation into the Syrian chemical weapons attack. "Weve once again encountered a Russian veto, the 8th time that Russia has used its veto to protect the Syrian regime. This one is even more regrettable given that Russia was the architect of the 2013 agreement to dismantle Syrias chemical weapons programme, an initiative that has demonstrably failed," Rycroft said. "It is indefensible that Russia has chosen to protect the perpetrators of these attacks rather than work with the rest of the international community to condemn them," he added. In February, Russia and China vetoed a measure that would have imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and entities linked to the use of chemical weapons in cases where responsibility was established by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.
By AFP

UNITED NATIONS: US Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Thursday that sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" following a media report detailing a child sex ring run by blue helmets in Haiti.

Haley told the Security Council after it voted to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti that many children abused by the soldiers will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

The US ambassador quoted a recent report by the Associated Press news agency on a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers who lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies.

"The children were passed from soldier to soldier. One boy was gang-raped in 2011 by peacekeepers who disgustingly filmed it on a cellphone," Haley told the council.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?"

The United Nations has been badly shaken by a wave of allegations of sex abuse by troops it deploys in missions with a clear mandate to protect civilians.

Last month, a UN report showed an increase in cases, with 145 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in 2016, up from 99 in 2015, although this may be partly explained by the fact that more victims are coming forward.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, has told the United Nations and countries that contribute troops to missions that "these abuses must stop," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognise that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

The United States will continue to push for accountability for soldiers accused of sex abuse in Haiti and other missions, she said, before calling on the council to "join me in this effort."

The MINUSTAH mission in Haiti ranks among those with the highest number of cases of sexual abuse.

UN missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan also have been hit by a wave of sex abuse allegations involving their peacekeepers.

UNITED NATIONS: US Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Thursday that sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" following a media report detailing a child sex ring run by blue helmets in Haiti. Haley told the Security Council after it voted to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti that many children abused by the soldiers will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone. The US ambassador quoted a recent report by the Associated Press news agency on a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers who lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies. "The children were passed from soldier to soldier. One boy was gang-raped in 2011 by peacekeepers who disgustingly filmed it on a cellphone," Haley told the council. "What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" The United Nations has been badly shaken by a wave of allegations of sex abuse by troops it deploys in missions with a clear mandate to protect civilians. Last month, a UN report showed an increase in cases, with 145 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in 2016, up from 99 in 2015, although this may be partly explained by the fact that more victims are coming forward. The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, has told the United Nations and countries that contribute troops to missions that "these abuses must stop," Haley told the council. "Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognise that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said. The United States will continue to push for accountability for soldiers accused of sex abuse in Haiti and other missions, she said, before calling on the council to "join me in this effort." The MINUSTAH mission in Haiti ranks among those with the highest number of cases of sexual abuse. UN missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan also have been hit by a wave of sex abuse allegations involving their peacekeepers.
By AFP

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US military strike, as Moscow digs in to defend its ally despite increasing strains with Washington.

In an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus -- his first since the alleged April 4 attack prompted a US air strike on Syrian forces -- Assad said his army had given up all its chemical weapons and that Syrian military power was not affected by the US strike.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," he said in the interview on Wednesday in reference to the alleged chemical weapons attack.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

Western leaders including US President Donald Trump have accused Assad of being behind last week's attack in the rebel-held town Khan Sheikhun, saying his forces unleashed a chemical weapon during an air strike.

The suspected attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage.

Syria denied any use of chemical weapons and Moscow said the deaths had been the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing "toxic substances".

- 'Fake videos' -

In the interview, Assad insisted it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened.

"You have a lot of fake videos now," he said. "We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?"

He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action.

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," Assad said.

He said his forces had not been diminished by the US strike.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike."

Denouncing a "very barbaric" attack, Trump ordered a strike that saw 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles slam into the airbase in central Syria from where Washington accused Assad's forces of launching the attack.

- Trump bats aside criticism -

It was the first direct US military action against Assad's forces since the start of Syria's civil war six years ago and led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow.

Russia accused the United States of breaking international law with the strike against the Syrian regime, a key ally that Moscow has supported with air strikes since 2015.

Trump gave such criticism short shrift on Wednesday, saying: "I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing."

Standing alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, Trump also said it was "certainly possible" that Russia was aware of the suspected attack.

"I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," he said.

The strains in ties were clear as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson received a frosty reception Wednesday on a visit to Moscow.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson told a Moscow news conference.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed there were many problems, but stressed that Moscow was "open to dialogue with the US in all different areas."

- Russia vetoes resolution -

The polarised positions were evident too at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, when Russia vetoed a Western-drafted resolution that would have required Syrian cooperation in an investigation into the suspected chemical attack.

It was the eighth time that Russia has used its veto power to block action directed at Damascus. China opted to abstain, a move Trump praised.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the veto "puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument," while French President Francois Hollande warned Russia it "bears a heavy responsibility" for continuing to protect Assad.

In a show of continued support for the regime, Moscow will host Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem for talks with Lavrov on Thursday.

On Friday, the two will join a three-way meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, another key ally of the Assad regime.

Since breaking out with mass protests in March 2011, Syria's conflict has spiralled into a devastating civil war that has left more than 320,000 people dead and forced millions from their homes.

The war has drawn in a wide of range of global powers, from Russia and Iran in support of the regime, to Western nations, Turkey and Arab Gulf states in support of various rebel forces.

The war also led to the emergence of the Islamic State jihadist group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014 but has since lost much of the territory it once controlled.

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US military strike, as Moscow digs in to defend its ally despite increasing strains with Washington. In an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus -- his first since the alleged April 4 attack prompted a US air strike on Syrian forces -- Assad said his army had given up all its chemical weapons and that Syrian military power was not affected by the US strike. "Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," he said in the interview on Wednesday in reference to the alleged chemical weapons attack. "Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack." Western leaders including US President Donald Trump have accused Assad of being behind last week's attack in the rebel-held town Khan Sheikhun, saying his forces unleashed a chemical weapon during an air strike. The suspected attack killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage. Syria denied any use of chemical weapons and Moscow said the deaths had been the result of a conventional strike hitting a rebel arms depot containing "toxic substances". - 'Fake videos' - In the interview, Assad insisted it was "not clear" whether an attack on Khan Sheikhun had even happened. "You have a lot of fake videos now," he said. "We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?" He insisted several times that his forces had turned over all chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, under a deal brokered by Russia to avoid threatened US military action. "There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," Assad said. He said his forces had not been diminished by the US strike. "Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike." Denouncing a "very barbaric" attack, Trump ordered a strike that saw 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles slam into the airbase in central Syria from where Washington accused Assad's forces of launching the attack. - Trump bats aside criticism - It was the first direct US military action against Assad's forces since the start of Syria's civil war six years ago and led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow. Russia accused the United States of breaking international law with the strike against the Syrian regime, a key ally that Moscow has supported with air strikes since 2015. Trump gave such criticism short shrift on Wednesday, saying: "I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing." Standing alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, Trump also said it was "certainly possible" that Russia was aware of the suspected attack. "I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out," he said. The strains in ties were clear as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson received a frosty reception Wednesday on a visit to Moscow. "There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson told a Moscow news conference. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed there were many problems, but stressed that Moscow was "open to dialogue with the US in all different areas." - Russia vetoes resolution - The polarised positions were evident too at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, when Russia vetoed a Western-drafted resolution that would have required Syrian cooperation in an investigation into the suspected chemical attack. It was the eighth time that Russia has used its veto power to block action directed at Damascus. China opted to abstain, a move Trump praised. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the veto "puts Russia on the wrong side of the argument," while French President Francois Hollande warned Russia it "bears a heavy responsibility" for continuing to protect Assad. In a show of continued support for the regime, Moscow will host Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem for talks with Lavrov on Thursday. On Friday, the two will join a three-way meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, another key ally of the Assad regime. Since breaking out with mass protests in March 2011, Syria's conflict has spiralled into a devastating civil war that has left more than 320,000 people dead and forced millions from their homes. The war has drawn in a wide of range of global powers, from Russia and Iran in support of the regime, to Western nations, Turkey and Arab Gulf states in support of various rebel forces. The war also led to the emergence of the Islamic State jihadist group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014 but has since lost much of the territory it once controlled.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported. The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland. There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said last night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time." President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week. "We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said yesterday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier." He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy. The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.

WASHINGTON: North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported. The 38 North analysis group described the test site as "primed and ready." "Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said. A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland. There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday. The Voice of America said last night, quoting US government and other sources, that North Korea "has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time." President Donald Trump's administration has been forceful in its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "on the table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week. "We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said yesterday. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier." He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson supercarrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim. The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy. The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said that there is a "very good chemistry" between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that the US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps to tackle the threat of North Korea.

"President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference yesterday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over the phone a day earlier. "I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, we're just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

"That'd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations," he cautioned China if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval. North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US. Trump said he was "very impressed" with Xi.

"I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does," Trump said. In an interview with 'The Wall Street Journal', Trump said the US has "tremendous trade deficits" with everybody, but the big one is with China. "It's hundreds of billions of dollars of the year for many many years. And I told them. I said you know, we're not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say  but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. That's worth having deficits. And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, I'll make great deals," he said.

In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator. This was one of his top campaign promises. "They're not currency manipulators," he said.

"Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea," the report said.

In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear. "You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction. And he doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he  you know he will," he said.

"So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue with North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, it's very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time," Trump said.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said that there is a "very good chemistry" between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that the US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps to tackle the threat of North Korea. "President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference yesterday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over the phone a day earlier. "I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, we're just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President. "That'd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations," he cautioned China if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval. North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US. Trump said he was "very impressed" with Xi. "I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does," Trump said. In an interview with 'The Wall Street Journal', Trump said the US has "tremendous trade deficits" with everybody, but the big one is with China. "It's hundreds of billions of dollars of the year for many many years. And I told them. I said you know, we're not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say  but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. That's worth having deficits. And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, I'll make great deals," he said. In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator. This was one of his top campaign promises. "They're not currency manipulators," he said. "Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea," the report said. In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear. "You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction. And he doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he  you know he will," he said. "So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue with North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, it's very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time," Trump said.
By ANI

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declined to comment on the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, citing the world body was not in a position to judge the case.

We are not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this particular case, The Dawn quoted UN secretary general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as replying to a poser.

Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we underline and continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution and to engage through engagement and dialogue, he added.

Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Diplomatic moves begin to save former naval officer

Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif ruled out any possibility of an immediate execution of Jadhav, citing three appellate forums were available for him under the law.

India has sent out a stern message to Pakistan with the Parliament strongly condemning the Pakistan Military Court's verdict sentencing Jadhav to death on charges of spying.

Replying to the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on April 11, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the government would do whatever is possible to give justice to Jadhav.

Read: India will go out of its way to ensure Kulbhushan Jadhav's return: Sushma Swaraj in Parliament

Singh said India's request for basic consular access to Jadhav was denied several times.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a suo motu statement made in both the Houses of Parliament, warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if death sentence on Kulbhushan Jadhav is carried out.

She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented, it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there is no evidence against Jadhav.

There were also strong protests in front of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

Read: US experts questions Pakistan's decision to execute Kulbhushan Jadhav

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 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.

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declined to comment on the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, citing the world body was not in a position to judge the case. We are not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this particular case, The Dawn quoted UN secretary general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, as replying to a poser. Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we underline and continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution and to engage through engagement and dialogue, he added. Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Diplomatic moves begin to save former naval officer Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif ruled out any possibility of an immediate execution of Jadhav, citing three appellate forums were available for him under the law. India has sent out a stern message to Pakistan with the Parliament strongly condemning the Pakistan Military Court's verdict sentencing Jadhav to death on charges of spying. Replying to the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on April 11, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the government would do whatever is possible to give justice to Jadhav. Read: India will go out of its way to ensure Kulbhushan Jadhav's return: Sushma Swaraj in Parliament Singh said India's request for basic consular access to Jadhav was denied several times. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a suo motu statement made in both the Houses of Parliament, warned Islamabad of consequences in bilateral relations if death sentence on Kulbhushan Jadhav is carried out. She said if the decision of the Pakistani court is implemented, it will be a pre-meditated murder asserting that there is no evidence against Jadhav. There were also strong protests in front of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Read: US experts questions Pakistan's decision to execute Kulbhushan Jadhav 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 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.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. When it was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use.

The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump called a "very, very successful mission."

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been operating. The target was close to the Pakistani border.

The U.S. estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban. Just last week a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, was killed in action in Nangarhar.

The MOAB is a custom-made Air Force weapon that has been in the arsenal for more than a decade but never used on the battlefield, although it was available throughout the Iraq war. It is designed to hit softer targets such as surface facilities, tunnel entrances and troop concentrations. It is pushed out the rear of the launching aircraft, guided to its target by GPS and slowed by a parachute.

A separate non-nuclear weapon known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, which is larger in its physical dimensions but carries a smaller load of conventional explosives, is designed to take out deeply buried targets like reinforced bunkers. The MOP has never been used in combat.

In its 2003 review of the legality of using the MOAB, the Pentagon concluded that it could not be called an indiscriminate killer under the Law of Armed Conflict.

"Although the MOAB weapon leaves a large footprint, it is discriminate and requires a deliberate launching toward the target," the review said. It added: "It is expected that the weapon will have a substantial psychological effect on those who witness its use."

Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said the bomb was dropped from a U.S. MC-130 special operations transport. He said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use.

WATCH VIDEO: US drops 'mother of all bombs' on IS base in Afghanistan

Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximizing the destruction" of IS fighters and facilities. He said IS has been using improvised explosive devices, bunkers and tunnels to strengthen its defenses.

"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K," he added, using the U.S. military's acronym for the IS affiliate.

Ismail Shinwari, the governor of Achin district, said the U.S. attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no civilian homes nearby and that there had been no reports of injured civilians. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and IS militants.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said IS fighters had used the tunnels and caves in Achin to maneuver freely.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said.

WASHINGTON: U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. When it was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use. The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump called a "very, very successful mission." The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been operating. The target was close to the Pakistani border. The U.S. estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban. Just last week a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, was killed in action in Nangarhar. The MOAB is a custom-made Air Force weapon that has been in the arsenal for more than a decade but never used on the battlefield, although it was available throughout the Iraq war. It is designed to hit softer targets such as surface facilities, tunnel entrances and troop concentrations. It is pushed out the rear of the launching aircraft, guided to its target by GPS and slowed by a parachute. A separate non-nuclear weapon known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, which is larger in its physical dimensions but carries a smaller load of conventional explosives, is designed to take out deeply buried targets like reinforced bunkers. The MOP has never been used in combat. In its 2003 review of the legality of using the MOAB, the Pentagon concluded that it could not be called an indiscriminate killer under the Law of Armed Conflict. "Although the MOAB weapon leaves a large footprint, it is discriminate and requires a deliberate launching toward the target," the review said. It added: "It is expected that the weapon will have a substantial psychological effect on those who witness its use." Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said the bomb was dropped from a U.S. MC-130 special operations transport. He said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use. WATCH VIDEO: US drops 'mother of all bombs' on IS base in Afghanistan Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximizing the destruction" of IS fighters and facilities. He said IS has been using improvised explosive devices, bunkers and tunnels to strengthen its defenses. .@USFOR_A #US Forces targets ISIS-K stronghold, drops GBU-43 #MOAB bomb on #ISIS pic.twitter.com/GYjyMLiqUS  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 13, 2017 "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K," he added, using the U.S. military's acronym for the IS affiliate. Ismail Shinwari, the governor of Achin district, said the U.S. attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no civilian homes nearby and that there had been no reports of injured civilians. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and IS militants. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said IS fighters had used the tunnels and caves in Achin to maneuver freely. "The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said.
By PTI

BRIRUT: A misdirected airstrike by the US-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the US military has said.

US Central Command yesterday said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for the strike on Tuesday that was intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa. The strike hit an SDF position instead.

Several nations have lent their air power to the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, and it wasn't clear which air force was behind the errant strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded. Yesterday, the group held funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al- Abyad, the SDF-linked Hawar news agency said, though it did not say whether they were killed in the friendly fire incident.

An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, said three days of mourning had been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF, meanwhile, announced the launch of a new phase of its campaign to retake Raqqa. The Kurdish fighters, with US-led air and ground support, have surrounded Tabqa, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of the city and are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa. The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Its closest position is less than eight kilometers (five miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. Meanwhile, President Bashar Assad said a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town in northern Idlib province last week that was widely blamed on his forces was a "fabrication."

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists," Assad told Agence France-Presse in his first comments since a US missile strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation for the chemical attack.

"They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext" to attack the air base, Assad said in the interview, a video of which was released by his office.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called Assad's comments "an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion."

"There can be little doubt that the recent attacks and the chemical weapons attack in Idlib was by the Syrian government, by the Syrian regime and that it wasn't only a violation of the laws of war but it was, we believe, a war crime," Toner said.

Syria strongly denies it was behind the April 4 chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 87 people, including more than a dozen children. The government says Syrian warplanes struck an al-Qaida arms depot that contained chemical weapons.

BRIRUT: A misdirected airstrike by the US-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the US military has said. US Central Command yesterday said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for the strike on Tuesday that was intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa. The strike hit an SDF position instead. Several nations have lent their air power to the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, and it wasn't clear which air force was behind the errant strike. The SDF acknowledged the strike, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded. Yesterday, the group held funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al- Abyad, the SDF-linked Hawar news agency said, though it did not say whether they were killed in the friendly fire incident. An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, said three days of mourning had been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle. The SDF, meanwhile, announced the launch of a new phase of its campaign to retake Raqqa. The Kurdish fighters, with US-led air and ground support, have surrounded Tabqa, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of the city and are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa. The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Its closest position is less than eight kilometers (five miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. Meanwhile, President Bashar Assad said a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town in northern Idlib province last week that was widely blamed on his forces was a "fabrication." "Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists," Assad told Agence France-Presse in his first comments since a US missile strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation for the chemical attack. "They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext" to attack the air base, Assad said in the interview, a video of which was released by his office. In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called Assad's comments "an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion." "There can be little doubt that the recent attacks and the chemical weapons attack in Idlib was by the Syrian government, by the Syrian regime and that it wasn't only a violation of the laws of war but it was, we believe, a war crime," Toner said. Syria strongly denies it was behind the April 4 chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 87 people, including more than a dozen children. The government says Syrian warplanes struck an al-Qaida arms depot that contained chemical weapons.
By AFP

United Nations: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday agreed to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti after 13 years and replace it with a smaller police-only force.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution that will end the mission known as MINUSTAH by October 15.

The decision provided a boost to the new US administration's hopes of cutting back its multi-billion dollar financial contribution to UN peacekeeping.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley has launched a review of all peacekeeping missions to find ways of cutting back costs and improving the operations, which have been plagued with sexual abuse and corruption scandals.

After the vote, Haley spoke out against sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, saying children in Haiti will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" she asked.

The council agreed that the 2,370 soldiers serving in MINUSTAH will be gradually withdrawn over six months to make way for the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).

That mission will have 1,275 police, which will also be drawn down over two years as the police force is built up in the poor Caribbean country.

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.

- Peacekeeper abuse of kids 'must stop' -

Haley said sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" and that the United States will continue to demand that countries hold accountable soldiers who face allegations while serving under the UN flag.

She cited the example of a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers in Haiti -- they reportedly lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies. Dozens of peacekeepers were sent home over the claims.

"The children were passed from soldier to soldier," Haley told the council.

"Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said.

With its annual budget of $346 million, MINUSTAH does not rank among the costliest peace operations run by the United Nations, but its closure signalled a shift toward smaller missions.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said he expected more cuts and closures of peacekeeping operations.

"Peacekeepers do fantastic work but they are very expensive and they should be used only when needed. So we strongly support the ending of this mission and turning it into something else and we will see the same thing elsewhere," Rycroft told reporters.

In late March, the council reduced the size of its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the ceiling down from 19,815 troops to 16,215.

Missions in Liberia and Ivory Coast will also shut down, while the large joint UN-African Union peace operation in Sudan's Darfur region is also expected to be drawn down.

United Nations: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday agreed to shut down the peacekeeping mission in Haiti after 13 years and replace it with a smaller police-only force. The council unanimously adopted a resolution that will end the mission known as MINUSTAH by October 15. The decision provided a boost to the new US administration's hopes of cutting back its multi-billion dollar financial contribution to UN peacekeeping. US Ambassador Nikki Haley has launched a review of all peacekeeping missions to find ways of cutting back costs and improving the operations, which have been plagued with sexual abuse and corruption scandals. After the vote, Haley spoke out against sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, saying children in Haiti will continue to face a "nightmare" after the troops are gone. "What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" she asked. The council agreed that the 2,370 soldiers serving in MINUSTAH will be gradually withdrawn over six months to make way for the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). That mission will have 1,275 police, which will also be drawn down over two years as the police force is built up in the poor Caribbean country. 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. - Peacekeeper abuse of kids 'must stop' - Haley said sex abuse by UN peacekeepers "must stop" and that the United States will continue to demand that countries hold accountable soldiers who face allegations while serving under the UN flag. She cited the example of a sex ring allegedly run by Sri Lankan peacekeepers in Haiti -- they reportedly lured hungry teenage boys and girls by offering them snacks and cookies. Dozens of peacekeepers were sent home over the claims. "The children were passed from soldier to soldier," Haley told the council. "Countries that refuse to hold their soldiers accountable must recognize that this either stops, or their troops will go home and their financial compensation will end," she said. With its annual budget of $346 million, MINUSTAH does not rank among the costliest peace operations run by the United Nations, but its closure signalled a shift toward smaller missions. British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said he expected more cuts and closures of peacekeeping operations. "Peacekeepers do fantastic work but they are very expensive and they should be used only when needed. So we strongly support the ending of this mission and turning it into something else and we will see the same thing elsewhere," Rycroft told reporters. In late March, the council reduced the size of its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the ceiling down from 19,815 troops to 16,215. Missions in Liberia and Ivory Coast will also shut down, while the large joint UN-African Union peace operation in Sudan's Darfur region is also expected to be drawn down.
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Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6).
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One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
By Keynote Contributor Dr Denize Atan Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in

Neuro-ophthalmology at the Bristol Eye Hospital

Scientists have been working hard to bring about a time in the future when we can grow an eye in a dish and use it for transplantation to restore the vision of someone who is blind, and they are not as far off as you might think.

It is important to understand how eye development normally happens so that we can try to replicate it in the lab. We have identified a number of important genes that have a major impact on eye development when they are faulty.

For example, some genetic mutations lead to anophthalmia (one or no eyes present) or microphthalmia (abnormally small eyes) whereas others lead to cell-specific defects like the absence of rods or cones at the back of the eye, the cells (photoreceptors) that are responsible for detecting light.

T2-weighted MR scan of a patient with unilateral anophthalmia. Note the presence of amorphous tissue and structures resembling extraocular muscles within the anophthalmic right orbit. The right optic nerve/chiasm junction appears attenuated rather than absent suggesting possible residual optic nerve neural tissue.  Verma AS / Wikimedia Commons.

Growing an eye in the lab

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

The genes that determine where an eye develops, how large it will be, the cell types that develop within it and the function of those cells is very tightly regulated, as you might imagine. The key is to switch them on in the right place at the right time and in the right order. Regulatory proteins called transcription factors control this.

Transcription factors are like the conductor in an orchestra, signalling which musicians need to play during each bar of a symphony. Like the conductor in an orchestra, transcription factors regulate which of many thousands of genes need to play during each stage during the development of the human embryo and eye.

Transcription factors and the genes they regulate are all coded in our DNA. DNA is essentially the instruction manual of a developing human that is packaged into the single cell that forms when sperm fertilises egg.

This cell divides into two cells, then four, then eight, until a ball of cells is formed which each have the potential to form an entire human, placenta and amniotic cavity following the instructions in our DNA. These cells are truly omnipotent!

A cavity forms inside the egg, and the embryo develops from a collection of cells inside the cavity called the inner cell mass.

As these cells are limited to growing into an embryo (not placenta or amniotic sac), they are called pluripotent rather than omnipotent. When scientists refer to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), they mean the pluripotent cells of the inner cell mass.

A major scientific discovery was that hESCs could be cultured in the lab to grow into 3D eye-like structures, simply by adding certain nutrients and growth factors into the culture media. It appears that once the hESCs had been set on this developmental pathway, they were able to organise themselves into forming an eye, without the forced expression of any transcription factors.

The drawback is that hESCs are taken from embryos left over following IVF treatment. Their use is tightly regulated and the ethics of using this tissue for research are hotly debated.

A further breakthrough occurred when scientists found that fully differentiated cells, e.g. skin cells, could be reprogrammed to go back in time and become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). All this seems to require is the forced expression of four transcription factors in skin cells that are normally only expressed in stem cells.

This discovery opened up the possibility of taking a skin biopsy from a patient and reprogramming the cells back into iPSCs, so that they could be grown into eye tissues in the lab, using the patients own cells rather than hESCs.

Future challenges

There are still many challenges to address before we can use eyes grown in the lab for transplantation. The retina has a complicated circuitry comprised of nerve cells that are important for processing visual information into a perceived image.

It is not so simple to transplant an eye or individual cells taken from one eye and place them in another, expecting them to connect up perfectly with all the nerves responsible for normal vision.

For example, there are physical barriers that transplanted rods and cones would have to overcome to position themselves in the right place and connect with nerves in the host retina.

The disease processes that lead to blindness in the first place may have led to scarring and remodelling of the host retina, so that transplanted cells have nothing left to connect with.

It is easier to transplant other cell types in the eye that do not have these issues, like retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) which can also be grown from hESCs and iPSCs in the lab.

RPE cells are positioned next to the rod and cone photoreceptors, but they are not involved in the complicated circuitry of the retina. Their role is to supply nutrients to the photoreceptors, take away waste products, and recycle light sensitive molecules.

Some common causes of blindness, like age-related macular degeneration, are actually diseases of the RPE  photoreceptors get damaged as bystanders to the inflammation and bleeding that occur.

That is why clinical trials testing the efficacy of stem cell therapies are transplanting RPE cells and not photoreceptors. So far, the results seem promising and the transplantation of RPE cells appears to be safe.

So the time in the future when we can grow an eye in a dish and use it for transplantation to restore the vision of someone who is blind, is not so very far away.

Acknowledgements

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Further Reading

About Dr Denize Atan

Dr Atan completed her medical training at the University of Cambridge then Oxford.

After specialising in general medicine and obtaining Membership of the Royal college of Physicians (MRCP, UK), she became increasingly interested in the great variety of systemic diseases that affect the eye and vision in general.

She undertook her specialist training in ophthalmology in the South West region, including the Oxford Eye Hospital and Bristol Eye Hospital, and it was in Bristol that her current research interest in ocular genetics was ignited.

Dr Atan completed a PhD in ocular genetics from the University of Bristol in 2008, followed by a Wellcome Trust funded post-doctoral research fellowship in Toronto, Canada. She finished her training in ophthalmology and received the Harcourt Medal for the highest mark in the Fellowship exams of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth).

She later developed her clinical expertise in Neuro-Ophthalmology with a Senior Fellowship in Birmingham and currently works as Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Neuro-ophthalmology at the Bristol Eye Hospital.

Dr Atan actively promotes public engagement with science, equality for men and women in science and the need for vision research.

Disclaimer: This article has not been subjected to peer review and is presented as the personal views of a qualified expert in the subject in accordance with the general terms and condition of use of the News-Medical.Net website.
Efforts to understand what occurs during sleep and its impact on the health of animals and human beings alike have been documented for thousands of years. Even today, researchers are still trying to get a better understanding of sleep and how certain sleep disorders develop.

Image Credit: FamVeld / Shutterstock.com

Ancient observations

Ancient Indian sages, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans have all described sleep in various ways, including naming the gods who brought dreams to sleepers. It was also well known that many people experienced sleep in two shifts, with an hour or three of intervening wakefulness, when one could have quiet time alone or visit ones neighbors, or complete some task.

Around 450 BC, a Greek physician named Alcmaeon postulated that sleep was a spell of unconsciousness brought on by the lack of circulation to the brain because of blood draining from the body surface. Similarly, around 400 BC, it was thought that the drop in the surface temperature of a sleeping person was the cause of sleep.

About 50 years later, Aristotle commented that sleep was an arrest of consciousness in the heart, which, at the time, was thought to be the seat of sense and sensibility, so it would last longer. He connected the digestive process with the onset of sleep as well

It was in 162 AD that Galen identified the brain, rather than the heart, as the seat of consciousness. Over the next 1600 years, however, little progress was made in understanding the nature of sleep. It is important to note that sleep was thought of as a detoxifying process, one which shut down some bodily mechanisms, or as being brought on by the lack of blood.

In the Age of Enlightenment, some science experts started the practice of interpreting their own dreams. The bedroom slowly became a place for sleep and sexual intimacy alone, and sleep itself became regulated. By the 1800s, excessive sleep was regarded as a mark of slothfulness.

Identifying the role of the brain in sleep

In the 1900s, neurons were discovered to be the individual units of the nervous system. The year 1903 marked the formulation of the first sleeping pill, barbital. Within 30 years, it had become one of the most abused drugs in the United States. An even more momentous discovery was that of Circadian rhythms in the body.

In 1911, Henri Pieron et al found that sleep-deprived animals apparently secreted a sleep-inducing molecule into the cerebrospinal fluid which could make alert dogs fall into a deep sleep when injected into them. This was termed hypnotoxin. Two years later, Pieron published the first book to attempt to deal with the physiology of sleep.

Constantin von Economo, a physician, studied patients with encephalitis who displayed sleep abnormalities and identified the region of the brain called the hypothalamus as the center of sleep and wake activity in 1916 and the following years.

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com

By 1925, Nathaniel Kleitman, who eventually became one of the most distinguished scientists in the field, began studying the pathophysiology of sleep. He discovered the existence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and went on to study sleep and wakefulness, cerebral cortical activity in mentation, consciousness, voluntary movement, and the effects of sleep deprivation.

In 1924, the electroencephalogram (EEG) was invented; however, the article on this discovery was published 5 years after its original development. The differing brain electrical waves during sleep and wakefulness were discovered during this process. Around this time, stimulants began to be used to promote wakefulness in narcolepsy patients.

The structure of sleep

In 1935, the German researcher Bunning recognized the existence of the biological clock and found that it is inherited in each species. Just two years later, the team of Loomis, Harvey, and Hobart discovered the five stages of sleep and named the brain waves characteristic of each as alpha, low voltage, spindles, spindles plus random, and random waves. The structure of sleep as we know it today was being unveiled during this time.

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In 1939, Kleitmans Sleep and Wakefulness was published, which covered many years of sleep research, sleep disorders, temperature changes during sleep, and sleep-wake cycles. Further work established the role of the brainstem in skeletal muscle relaxation during sleep, which advanced the understanding of the neurophysiology of sleep.

Understanding REM sleep

It was in 1953 that REM sleep was first detected in a young boy, which was startling to the researcher involved because it contradicted the general impression that brain activity dropped to a low during sleep. The next year, it was found that night-time sleep consists of several repeating cycles. Melatonin was discovered in 1958 and proved to be key in regulating sleep.

In 1959, a crucial distinction was made between REM and NREM sleep by Michel Jouvet. To this end, Jouvet found that the former was not light sleep, but paradoxical sleep, with the increased brain activity being accompanied by skeletal muscle inhibition which prevents the body from acting out the vivid images and sounds in the dreams experienced during REM.

Comparatively, in NREM, this inhibition is not seen and brain activity is low. The same year, Circadian rhythms were named as such by Halberg, who identified and studied them in humans for the first time, thus becoming the father of chronobiology.

Understanding our sleep cycle: REM and non-REM sleep Play

Sleep disorders

In 1962, Jouvet discovered that the pons regulates REM sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea became the poster boy of sleep medicine, with physiological changes being described and studied in detail in connection with sleep and awakening in 1965. This was extended to a systematic study of temperature, circulatory, and breathing changes during sleep.

Parasomnias and bed-wetting were identified to be products of confusional awakening from slow-wave sleep rather than REM sleep in a 1968 paper by Roger Broughton. The following decade saw the setting up of the first sleep research center at Stanford in 1970, the identification of a genetic (per gene) and physical locus (suprachiasmatic nucleus) for the Circadian rhythms, and the evolution of reliable sleepiness measures such as the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).

Following these discoveries, models such as the activation-synthesis model were put forth to explain dreams apart from psychoanalytical and supernatural explanations. These models also provided information on sleep stage switching, such as the reciprocal-interaction hypothesis for REM-NREM alternation.

In the 1980s, the connection between the Circadian rhythm and the duration of sleep was determined, as well as with other cues. The relationship between sleep and learning was studied, and the absolute physiological necessity of sleep to life was finally confirmed. Molecular biology started to play a major role in this field. The most authoritative book on sleep research, Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, was published in 1989.

Modern discoveries on sleep

The 1990s saw the emergence of numerous working theories of sleep, including the neuronal group theory and the brain energy metabolism theory. The so-called sleep switch in the ventrolateral pre-optic area was identified by Saper and his team.

The deficiency of orexin receptor, which is a molecule whose absence produces narcolepsy, was also discovered during this time. Moreover, van Cauter and his group of researchers also started to explore the effects of sleep deprivation on carbohydrate metabolism. The role of light and melanopsin, which is a retinal pigment, in setting the biological clock was also uncovered, thereby shedding fascinating light upon the process of sleep regulation.

In 2003, Tononi and Cirelli proposed the synaptic homeostasis theory, which stated that sleep allowed synaptic networks to recoup and reduce their activation level to conserve their strength. Sleep and memory consolidation, as well as sleep deprivation and the risk of poor judgment and motor errors, were studied and data published.

Conclusion

The search for a single unified theory of the cause and effects of sleep in human life went on, with hundreds of sleep centers currently operating in the United States alone. Current studies on sleep are looking to establish the genetic, environmental, and psychosocial aspects of sleep disorders.

References

Further Reading
Findings offered by a University of Kansas researcher, identified as one of 20 'Must See Presenters' at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in early April, suggest a possible therapeutic intervention for "chemobrain," the cognitive impairment plaguing up to a third of cancer patients following chemotherapy.

"It's something doctors learned about because patients were complaining," said Michael Johnson, associate professor of chemistry. "Symptoms include visual and verbal memory loss -- so if you have a conversation with somebody, you may have difficulty recalling it. You might have attention deficit, so if you're trying to do taxes it might be difficult to focus. It also can result in a decline in processing speed, so it may be more difficult to think on your toes. You may have trouble remembering words. A whole array of things that can go wrong."

Johnson said in model species, biochemical hallmarks of chemobrain include higher levels of hydrogen peroxide in the brain and impaired release and uptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

"These are the first studies to our knowledge that look at what happens to neurotransmitter release events as a result of these chemotherapeutic agents," he said. "It hopefully will open up some options for treatments down the road."

Johnson offered one such possibility for an eventual treatment at his presentation to the national meeting of the ACS. He revealed findings from a just-published behavioral study with rats designed by his colleague David Jarmolowicz of KU's Department of Applied Behavioral Science (corresponding author on the behavioral study). The experiments showed that "KU-32," a compound developed by Brian Blagg, KU professor of medicinal chemistry, prevents cognitive decline in rats caused by chemotherapy treatment. KU-32 works by inducing the heat shock response, which protects cells and may counteract the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide.

"In our preliminary results, we found that hydrogen peroxide temporarily increases in the brains of chemotherapy-treated rats," Johnson said. "Because hydrogen peroxide is a reactive oxygen species and potentially damaging, it may have an effect on cognitive function. Additionally, we may have a therapy that can serve as a preventative in order to treat it. We found that KU-32 prevents cognitive impairment, and our preliminary neurochemical data suggest that it may prevent increases in hydrogen peroxide production."

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The latest findings build on Johnson's investigations into chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, including a recent paper in ACS Chemical Neuroscience investigating chemotherapy's influence on the release and uptake of the central nervous system neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

Johnson and his colleagues employed sophisticated electrochemical methods to look at how the chemotherapy agent carboplatin affected sub-second dopamine and serotonin release events in rats, finding a decline of dopamine release by 42 percent in rats receiving the drug and a 55 percent drop in serotonin release.

"Dopamine is found in many regions of the brain but is particularly abundant in the striatum," Johnson said. "The striatum receives inputs from other parts of the brain, such as the cortex, and filters out the unwanted inputs while amplifying the wanted inputs, which are translated into actions. Dopamine is a key player in how the striatum responds. We felt that alterations in dopamine release due to chemo could potentially play a role in cognitive impairment."

Similarly, the KU researchers found serotonin release was impaired in the rats, and carboplatin seemed to alter cognition when researchers measured spatial learning discrimination in the rats.

"Serotonin is implicated in depression and cognitive function," Johnson said. "We wanted to measure serotonin to see if this was a global effect. It turns out that serotonin is impacted as well, so it's likely that chemotherapy agents act on neurotransmitter systems other than dopamine as well and also play an important role."

Johnson said his work could help guide further investigations by scientists and medical researchers to help cancer patients.

"Certainly, it might be important for researchers interested in developing therapies for chemobrain as well as other disorders that might impact cognitive function," he said.
As the World Health Organization steps up its efforts to eradicate a once-rampant tropical disease, a University of Washington study suggests that monitoring, and potentially treating, the monkeys that co-exist with humans in affected parts of the world may be part of the global strategy.

Yaws, an infectious disease that causes disfiguring skin lesions and bone destruction -- stems from a bacterium, Treponema pallidum, that also has been found in certain primates in Africa and Asia. The disease, treatable with a one-time dose of penicillin or, as part of the renewed eradication effort, the antibiotic azithromycin, has experienced a significant resurgence in the past two decades.

UW researchers and colleagues examined macaques in South and Southeast Asia, where the monkeys live in the wild, temples and villages, or are kept as pets. While researchers could not identify how a particular animal became infected, treponemal infections are known to be transmitted by contact with the skin lesion of an infected individual, so a pet macaque could potentially pick up the bacteria, said Lisa Jones-Engel, a UW research assistant professor of anthropology who led the study.

The study will be published online April 12 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prone to spread in areas that are overcrowded, under-resourced, or have inadequate sanitation, yaws afflicts mostly children. At one time, the disease had a massive reach, affecting more people than malaria in some parts of the world: From 1952 to 1964, the WHO and UNICEF treated 50 million cases and contacts in 46 countries. But officials scaled back efforts when it appeared the disease had been contained, only to see it gradually re-emerge at the end of the 1970s. Today, the WHO estimates tens of thousands of cases in a dozen countries in Africa and Asia, aiming for global eradication by 2020.

While monkeys may be infected with the bacterium, it's not yet clear whether the infection can pass from human to animal and vice versa, said Sheila Lukehart, a UW professor of medicine and global health who co-authored the study. The prevalence of the animals in daily life in many countries makes them an important factor in how to approach eradication efforts, she said.

Jones-Engel pointed to the vast geographic range of the study, as well as the range of environments in which the macaques lived -- both in captivity and in the wild. "Although yaws is endemic in a number of regions that we tested, infected monkeys were seen only in a region that had experienced a recent upsurge in reported yaws cases. So if you go through and treat only the villagers, then your eradication effort may be compromised," she said.

The study, which also involved researchers from universities in Asia, Europe and Canada, examined blood samples of more than 700 macaques. Fewer than 2 percent tested positive for the bacteria -- mostly on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, where a yaws outbreak was active at the time samples were collected.

These circumstances represent an opportunity to take a One Health approach to controlling yaws, UW researchers say. A holistic strategy, One Health calls on professionals at all levels and disciplines to acknowledge the links among human, animal and environmental health, and to collaborate to improve all three.

Treating animals for a disease that can spread to humans is not unprecedented: The rabies vaccine routinely administered to pets in the developed world, for example, prevents the infection in animals, which in turn protects people.

"If you go into a village where you know yaws is prevalent in the human population, and animals are part of that population, then those animals may need to be targeted for treatment," Jones-Engel said. "We tend not to think of animals in these kinds of disease-treatment programs, which is such a human-centric approach. That has to change."
Although global inequalities in survival from childhood leukemia have narrowed, they still persist with five-year survival in some countries nearly twice as high as in others for children diagnosed during 2005-2009, according to a study published in The Lancet Haematology.

While survival has increased in many countries, five-year survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Germany was 92%, compared to 52% in Colombia for children diagnosed in 2005-2009. Additionally, the study finds that survival has improved for most age groups, but it remains lowest for infants under 1.

According to the latest data on global childhood cancer incidence, also published today in The Lancet Oncology, leukemia is the most common cancer in children aged 0-14 years old worldwide  accounting for a third of cancer cases in 0-9 year olds, and a quarter of cases in 10-14 year olds.

The authors of the study on survival used individual patient data for almost 90000 children, provided by 198 cancer registries in 53 countries. They estimated survival for the two most common types of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and for other less common blood cancers.

Taking into account the differences in age and the risk of death from other causes between countries and regions, the researchers found that five-year survival from childhood ALL and AML increased in most countries between 1995 and 2009. However, there were wide international inequalities.

Overall, ALL survival was the highest  with the probability of surviving at least five years ranging from 11% (in China) to 87% (Austria) for children diagnosed between 1995 and 1999. The range narrowed to 52% (Colombia) and 92% (Germany) for children diagnosed between 2005 and 2009.

There was significant progress in five-year survival for AML, but it remained lower than for ALL  increasing from between 4% (China) and 72% (Sweden) for those diagnosed between 1995 and 1999, to between 33% (Bulgaria) and 78% (Germany) for children diagnosed between 2005 to 2009. This is likely to be the result of recent improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

The authors highlight that in some countries, such as Germany and Austria, survival for ALL and AML has consistently been high compared to other nations, which might be due to closer adherence to treatment protocols.

Between 1995-1999 and 2005-2009, five-year survival for childhood ALL increased from 79% to 89% in the UK, and from 83% to 88% in the US. For AML, five-year survival increased from 59% to 68% in the UK and from 52% to 63% in the US. Survival in China increased substantially over the same period  from 11% to 69% for ALL survival, and 4% to 41% for AML survival.

The chances of survival depended on the childs age when diagnosed with leukemia. Overall, children aged 1-9 years old at diagnosis had higher survival for both types of leukemia than those aged 10-14 years old or less than 1 year. Survival has improved for most age groups, for both ALL and AML, especially for children diagnosed with ALL aged 10-14 years. It is still lowest for children diagnosed in the first year of life.

There is room for improvement in the management of childhood leukemia in many countries, said lead author Dr Audrey Bonaventure, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK. These findings show the extent of worldwide inequalities in access to optimal health care for children with cancer. Survival for children with ALL can be as high as 90% at five years after diagnosis, and up to 80% for children with AML, but in some countries, survival remains below 60% for both diseases. We do not yet know how to prevent leukemia in children, but optimal treatment offers the chance of long-term survival for most children. Providing additional resources, alongside evidence-based initiatives such as international collaborations and treatment guidelines, could improve access to efficient treatment and care for all children with leukemia. This would contribute substantially to reducing worldwide inequalities in survival.

The study had limitations in some countries as a result of small numbers of patients and limited data collection. For example, in some low- and middle-income countries, the data were sparse, such that survival estimates could not be age-standardised, limiting the interpretation of survival trends.

Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Philippe Autier, University of Strathclyde Institute of Global Public Health at the International Prevention Research Institute, France, said: These improvements are essentially due to the combined effects of many factors including the increasing precision in diagnosis and the substantial progress in the management of children with cancer, including supportive care provided to children and their families. However, the accomplishment of 5-year net survival of around 80% in many high-income countries should not distract from the dire reality that about 80% of leukemia cases in children occur in low-income and middle-income countries where there is little access to the sophisticated and costly specialised medical resources required for the optimum management of these conditions. From a worldwide perspective, it is the adoption by low- and middle-income countries of affordable, locally adapted, multidisciplinary management programmes that is likely to translate into the largest gains in survival for children with haematological cancer.
Jeep India recently showcased their much anticipated C-segment SUV Compass.One of the most interesting factors about the car is that it is a 'Make in India' product and it's not made just for India. It is, instead, a global product made in India.Producing a car in India is not exactly a new thing as automakers have been doing it for quite some time now but making it in India for a global market, that's something rare. And Jeep has not stopped there as the company seems to have pulled all the stops with the Compass.At the unveil held at Fiat's Ranjangaon plant in Maharashtra, we were also taken for a plant tour. There, we could see first-hand the level of attention to detail that the company has given in setting up the facility for the Compass. Although, clicking pictures were not allowed and some of the processes were not shown, understandably so, there was enough to give an idea of just how important the Compass is for Jeep.To put it into perspective, Fiat India invested 280 million USD into the Ranjangaon plant in accommodating the technology and space needed to produce the Compass.At the Compass showcase, Kevin Flynn - President and Managing Director, FCA India said: "The local production schedule of the Jeep compass is firmly on track and we are all set to begin local production of the Jeep brand's global SUV by June this year. The Jeep Compass will come with several industry-first features and will set benchmarks in the Indian SUV space."The Jeep Compass will come with two powertrain options - a 160+ HP, 250 Nm multi-air petrol and the 170+ HP, 350 Nm diesel engine. Both these engines will be BS VI compliant and will come with the option of a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed dual dry clutch technology automatic (DDCT) transmission option.Kevin Flynn added, "One of the important highlights of the Jeep Compass is that both its export as well as the India models will be identical in terms of build and quality. We will export to International right-hand drive markets from India."When asked about which markets could Jeep be looking at with the Compass, then James Lyijynen  Chief Program Engineer, Jeep Compass, FCA Global said it could include the likes of UK, Australia, Japan and South Africa.The project has taken Jeep over 3 years and the car is expected to be launched in August.The manufacturing plant itself is a state of the art facility.Interestingly, engineers from India were taken to several manufacturing plants in places like Brazil and America to foresee what lies ahead of them. There is also a constant exchange of information between manufacturing plants as to how processes can be made quicker and more efficient, and the setup in Ranjangaon is one of the best in the world.Jeep has also made sure that a substantial part of the plant is automated for best results and quicker production of models off the line. It's not completely left onto robots, though, as there is human intervention as and when needed to keep things in check. Most of the robotic arms doing the jobs at the body shop also have cameras fitted onto them that scan the assembled parts in real time to keep the build quality at an optimum level.There is also a state of the art Metrology department that's been set up. Here, panels obtained from the suppliers are put onto a master body, which is loaded with modules and scanners, that gives Jeep a platform to measure the fit and build quality of all the panels individually. It is from here that Jeep is able to assess, monitor and share feedback with suppliers as to how the process can be improved and made more efficient.Jeep has also introduced a unique door stitching technology, which it claims to be the first one in India, which welds the doors using a laser remotely. This eventually ends up in a precise welding process and also reduces the weight of the door substantially.The SUV will be manufactured in over 50 trims to meet the requirements of different customers and markets.The company also announced that the car will come with over 50 active and passive safety features which include the likes of ESC, ABS, Hill Start Assist and adaptive brake lights. A total of six airbags will be fitted inside the cabin with dual-stage passenger airbags.Sticking true to its off-roader image that comes with every Jeep, the Compass comes loaded with the 4x4 Jeep Active Drive system that's coupled with Select Terrain Traction Management System, which, will help time the car's driving abilities as per the driving mode selected.Add to that the fact that, as Bill Zheng  Head of Design, FCA APAC said during the unveil, the Jeep Compass has taken design inspiration from an SR-71 Blackboird airplane and the lights take inspiration from Iron man himself!All of this has certainly made everyone excited for the Compass in India as it will be one of the accessible ways of owning a badge that comes with its own history and legacy, in a very good-looking package.
An expert panel has said that a world culture festival last year destroyed the Yamuna floodplains, but Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra believes the event should be held again and again.He invited Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who had organised the cultural extravaganza last year, for holding the event again.Unfazed by the alarming contents of the report, including that the restoration of the floodplains may take up to 10 years, Mishra said the festival should be organised on the banks of the Yamuna "again and again"."It is almost as if Dolphins used to swim in the Yamuna before the world culture festival. Tourists from all over the world used to come marvel at it. At that point Sri Sri came and poured gutters into the pristine river. He damaged it so much that it will take 10 years to restore it," Mishra wrote.Yamuna's dissolved oxygen (DO) level, that supports aquatic life, has plummeted to zero at different points in the river's journey through the national capital, a Delhi Pollution Control Committee study found last year, PTI reported.Based on his "12 years of Yamuna activism", he hit out at people "who believe" that the river can be revived by "keeping it untouchable"."History says whenever people and societies are linked to rivers, festivals are organised, rivers remain clean and pristine."My take is that world culture festival should be held only the banks of the Yamuna. Again and again. I reinvite Shri Shri for holding the event again," he said.A whopping Rs 42.02 crore would be required to restore Yamuna floodplains which was ravaged due to the festival, an expert committee has told the National Green Tribunal.The expert panel has suggested that there would be two components of rehabilitation plan -- physical and biological, and they would cost Rs 28.73 crore and Rs l3.29 crore respectively, besides additional ancillary expenses.(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission on a plea filed by the BSP against the use of EVMs without a paper trail.



A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar asked them to respond to the plea by May 8.



During the hearing, senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for the BSP, told the bench that use of EVMs without voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) in the elections creates a serious doubt about the accuracy of voting and paper trail was required so that a voter can get a feedback of the vote cast by him.







He said that to assure accuracy in the voting process, a paper trail is needed as there were chances of tampering with EVMs as there were reports that both the hardware and software of these machines are "vulnerable", PTI reported.



"There is no way that a voter can verify as to whether the vote cast by him has gone to the right candidate. Without a paper trail, there is no way to verify it. In EVMs, a voter is only pressing the button and he does not know whether the machine is recording his voting correctly or not," he said.



At the fag end of the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the apex court that Congress party also wants to intervene in the matter.






The Railway Budget and the General Budget were presented togrther, ending a 92-year-old practice of presentation of two separate budgets.

Altogether, there were 29 sittings, with the Lok Sabha working for 176 hours and 39 minutes and the Rajya Sabha for over 136 hours.



"Of the 560 starred questions, more than 136 were given oral answers, which comes to around 4.68 questions per day. As many as 494 issues were raised under Rule 377 and 158 Private members Bills were introduced in the House," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in her valedictory remarks.



Among the issues which led to disruptions in the Upper House's 242nd session was the "rain coat" jibe the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had at his predecessor Manmohan Singh which triggered protests by Congress members.

Ansari said the members' zeal to raise important issues was manifested in 205 Zero Hour submissions, 76 special mentions, 435 starred and 4,629 unstarred questions.

The Budget session of Parliament which came a close on Wednesday was marked by historic events, including an early start and the merger of the Railway and Union Budgets.The two-part session commenced on January 31 and the Budget was presented on February 1, almost a month ahead of the usual date, as the government wanted to complete the budgetary exercise before the end of March instead of May, the time by which the process would be completed earlier.Four landmark GST bills and several other legislations besides the Budget and the demand for grants of various ministries were passed, PTI reported.The session also saw all the parties coming together in both the Houses over the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court on the charges of spying.The first part of the session was from January 31 to February 9 and the second part from March 9 till Wednesday.The Lok Sabha lost eight hours and 12 minutes due to disruptions, including one by the Shiv Sena over the flying ban by domestic airlines on one of its MPs who had allegedly thrashed an Air India employee.The Upper House lost 13 hours because of furore over different issues.Both the Houses passed four bills of the GST (Goods and Services Tax), the biggest tax reform which would bring India under a uniform indirect tax regime.The Lok Sabha also passed The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017, The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Enemy Property Bill, the Mental healthcare Bill, Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016, HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017 and 123rd Constitution Amendment Bill (to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes).Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP veteran LK Advani were present in the House.Different ministers gave 51 statements during the course of the session and laid 1,864 papers on the table of the House.During the joint sitting of Parliament which was addressed by President Pranab Mukherjee on January 31, Lok Sabha member and IUML leader E Ahamed collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Later, he passed away due to massive cardiac arrest.The Rajya Sabha passed or returned 14 bills, including four GST legislations, the Payment of Wastes (Amendment) Bill, the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment Bill) and Appropriation (General and Railways) Bills during the session.However, the bill to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, could not go through the Rajya Sabha as the Opposition resisted it, after which it was sent to a Select Committee.The other issues which led to disruptions were the demand for swearing-in of VK Sasikala as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, role of Governors regarding formation of governments in Goa and Manipur and the government's proposal for setting up of a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes in place of National Commission for Backward Classes.House proceedings were also stalled over allegations of tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), reported remarks of Rajasthan Home Minister on rape and over "selective targeting" of opposition leaders in cases of land allotments.However, the Rajya Sabha sat late for more than six and a half hours to make up for the lost time.Ministers made nine statements on different issues on issues like killing of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, the killing of a dairy farmer in Rajasthan, hate crimes against Indian citizens in the US etc.In his valedictory remarks, Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari also lauded the backbenchers in the House for their enthusiastic contribution to the proceedings.He said the performance of the members on the last two rows was "remarkable" as they made 86 Zero Hour submissions which is near 42 percent of the total.The back benchers also asked 260 supplementaries, around 48 percent of the over 535 such questions.During the session 33 private members' bills were introduced while there was animated debate on short duration discussions on issues like election reforms and Aadhaar, he said.(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: The government knows neither the location nor the condition of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national sentenced to death in Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.



Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian. We do not know his location or condition as Pakistan is refusing to share details with us, said MEA spokesperson, Gopal Baglay.



The official further said, There is a national sentiment attached to Jadhav in India. What has happened to him is against the principles of justice and international laws, agreements.



The spokesperson added that India had been discussing Jadhavs kidnapping with Iran since last year and that the India-Pak consular access agreements are not being adhered to.



"We are in touch with Pakistan through our High Commission," said Baglay as sources told News18 that India has made 14 consular access requests for Kulbhushan Jadhav, with the Indian High Commission being asked to move another one.



Alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on Monday. The issue has become yet another point of contention among the two countries. Arrested on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, Jadhav was called a serving officer in the Indian Navy and alleged to be deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) by Pakistan. The claim has been refuted by the Indian government, which has stated that Jadhav was a former Navy officer but had nothing to do with the government.



Reacting strongly to Jadhav's sentencing, India has said that if the ruling was carried out, "the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder".



The death sentence awarded to Jadhav recently 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.
Alwar: Registering a strong protest against lynching of Pehlu Khan by cow vigilantes in Alwar, the Meo community in Rajasthan has announced that it will return their cows to the state government.



However, the Alwar district administration has stopped them from doing so.



The Meo Panchayat has demanded the state government to provide compensation and a government job to a member of Alwar lynching victim Pehlu Khans family and immediate arrest of all his alleged killers.



The decision to return the cows to Rajasthan chief minister was taken by panchayat president Sher Mohammad Khan to protest harassment by cow vigilantes.



On Thursday, Sher Mohammad wanted to return two cows but was barred by district administration, and a police contingent was posted outside his house.



The administration has also issued him a notice for not seeking permission for the same.



The panchayat has vowed to return cows to the state government until their demands are met.



The panchayat also alleged that the police is being negligent in arresting the killers of Pehlu Khan even after 14 days of his death.



Muslims are unable to rear cows even in their own homes in Haryana and Rajasthan due to fear, said Sher Mohammad.



Notably, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan had earlier returned his cow to Swami Adhokshanand protesting Pehlu Khans lynching.



Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, an organisation of Muslim clerics, has decided to fight the legal battle for justice to Pehlu Khan.



Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hinds office bearer Moulana Hakimuddin on Thursday reached Pehlu Khans house at Jaisinghpur village in Nuh to condole his death.



Also, the Jamat leader said that the organisation will bear the wedding expenditure of the two kids of Pehlu Khan and provide for the treatment for people injured during violence by cow vigilantes.



Notably, Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur in one of its fatwas had advised Muslims against cow slaughter keeping in view the sentiments of the majority community.
Islamabad: Pakistan's top military Generals on Thursday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, notwithstanding India's stern warning that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties.



The decision was made at a Corps Commanders meeting presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.



The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief Gen Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.



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.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned that 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.



The top Pakistani military officials also reviewed the national security environment and recent developments in the region at the 201st conference of Corps Commanders.



They discussed the progress of nationwide operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' and provision of support to ongoing national housing and population census, the statement said. Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country, it added.
Peshawar: A journalism student of a top university in Pakistan was mercilessly beaten and then shot dead by a vigilante mob of students from the same varsity, suspecting him of publishing blasphemous content online and promoting the Ahmadi faith, police said.



Mashal Khan, who studied journalism at the Abdukl Wali Khan University in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was suspected by the mob of running Facebook pages that published blasphemous content, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Alam Shinwari said.



Khan was assaulted by a large group of students and appears to have succumbed to a gunshot wound, the DIG was quoted as saying in the Dawn newspaper.



Another student, Abdullah, was injured in the clashes. The report said the two students were also believed to be promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook by the mob.



A mob of university students first surrounded Abdullah and forced him to recite verses from the Quran. Although he repeatedly denied he was an Ahmadi, the students beat him nonetheless.



The police, when alerted, reached the varsity and rescued Abdullah, after which the mob set its sights on Khan, who was in the hostel at the time, an eyewitness told the newspaper.



Khan was beaten and shot by the mob. A video footage of the incident showed Khan lying on the ground surrounded by men, who beat him mercilessly with sticks. A student requesting anonymity claimed that several leaders of the university's student bodies were part of the mob.



University administration official Fayaz Ali Shah confirmed that the mob had accused Khan of blasphemy before killing him. He said an investigation is underway.



Hostel warden Muhammad Ali claimed that: "Three to four thousand students were approaching. I was alerted that they were approaching, so I closed the gates but they broke in, found Mashal and fired at him and started beating him."



At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred within the university premises. The campus was shut down until further notice. The hostels were vacated and a search for the remaining culprits was ongoing, police said.



Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, which introduced the draconian laws in 1985 in a bid to appease rightwing parties. These laws have been often alleged to have been misused to settle personal scores. Punjab's liberal governor Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 when he termed the regulations "black law".



And the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan has been repeatedly targeted in sectarian violence in Pakistan for a long time by Islamic extremists, who view them as heretics. On April 7, an Ahamdi doctor was shot dead by unidentified men in Punjab province.



The incident happened 10 days after Malik Saleem Latif, an advocate from the Ahmadi community who was a cousin of Nobel laureate Abdus Salam, was shot dead by unidentified men in Nankana Sahib.



Last year, at least six Ahmadis were killed because of their faith.
Like all festivals in India, Baisakhi too is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm, gaiety and fervour across the nation, especially in the state of Punjab. The day marks the time for harvest of rabi crops and farmers pray to God to thank the almighty for plentiful crop and for equally good times ahead.Aside from this, the day also has a religious significance, as it was on Baisakhi in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh - the tenth Sikh Guru, laid the foundation of Panth Khalsa-the Order of the Pure Ones.Although Baisakhi is a day of devotion, it is celebrated with a lot of joy and exuberance across the country. People wake up early to pray and prepare a series of activities for the day. Several families conduct langar which in fact are also organised by various Gurudwaras in the country. People dress up in new clothes and of course indulge in singing and dancing (Bhangra)."Picking up huge sacks of wheat and carrying to Golden Temple is what Baisakhi was about," said award-winning Michelin starred chef Vikas Khanna in an exclusive interview to News18.com when asked what Baisakhi meant to him. "Rolling breads, large pots of kheer, spring vegetables, singing and dancing, these are some of my fondest memories of Baisakhi," he added.Well, Indian festivals are surely incomplete without good food and since here we are talking of Punjabi food, who better than renowned chef Vikas Khanna, who has his roots in Amritsar, to tell us about delectable Punjabi food.Here are five recipes straight out of chef Khanna's celebrated book Utsav - A Culinary Epic of Indian Festivals - a book that celebrates foods of various festivals in India. The book, in chef's own words, is the tribute of a son to his motherland. I celebrate her every day as a festival. The festival may belong to any religion, belief . . . but for me it only belongs to you, Mother India.Tourists who visit Amritsar make a beeline for the many stalls selling these crisp batter-fried strips of fish all over the city. The aroma beckons hungry passers-by and will always draw diners to a table as soon as a platter of this spicy fried fish appears. The fish of choice in Amritsar is the delicately flavored catfish. Any white fish will do just as well, but avoid oily fish such as mackerel or king mackerel.1 kg (about 2 pounds) catfish or any white fish fillets, cut into strips3 tablespoons vinegar teaspoon saltVegetable oil for deep-frying1 teaspoon chaat masalaPudina (Mint) Chutney (page), to serveLime wedges, to serveBatter4 tablespoons chickpea flour2 tablespoons ginger paste2 tablespoons garlic paste1 teaspoon carom seeds teaspoon garam masala powder1 teaspoon turmericSalt2 eggs, whisked- In a mixing bowl, rub the fish fillets with the vinegar and salt, and leave to marinate for 10 minutes.- Drain away any excess liquid and pat the fish dry. With a sharp knife make slits or gashes in each fillet.- For the batter, in a bowl, combine the chickpea flour, ginger paste, garlic paste, carom seeds, garam masala powder, turmeric and salt to taste. Whisk in the eggs to make a smooth batter. Coat the fish with the batter and leave to marinate for another 20 minutes.- Heat the oil in a wok or deep pan and carefully slide in the marinated fish, one fillet at a time. Fry the fish until golden and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.- Sprinkle the fried fish with chaat masala and serve hot with mint chutney and slices of lime.Somewhere amidst all the Baisakhi festivities is a pot of stew bubbling away the goats meat enrobed in spices and a chile-spiked spinach puree. Most often, the meat is marinated before cooking to tenderize it, but in this case slow cooking will result in melt-in-the-mouth meat submerged in a flavorful gravy.500 grams (about 1 pound) fresh spinach2 or 3 green chiles4 tablespoons vegetable oil1 bay leaf2 green cardamom pods, split openPinch of asafetida2 onions, finely chopped4 cloves garlic, finely chopped2.5-cm (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, finely chopped500 grams (about 1 pound) boneless goat meat or lamb1 teaspoon red chile powder1 teaspoon ground cumin teaspoon ground coriander3 tablespoons yogurt, whiskedSalt1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves teaspoon garam masala (optional)- Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and refresh under cold running water. Drain well and place in a blender with the green chilies and grind to a smooth puree.- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan; add the bay leaf and cardamom pods and saute until fragrant. Add the asafetida, stir and add the onions; saute until the onions turn soft and golden brown. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for a few seconds.- Add the meat, chile powder, ground cumin and coriander and saute until the water has evaporated and the meat has browned. Add the yogurt and saute until well mixed.- Add the pureed spinach, salt to taste and 1 cups water; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, on a low heat until the meat is tender and the gravy is thick, about 45 minutes.- Add the dried fenugreek leaves and garam masala and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Serve hot with Makki di Roti or Roti.This is divine food indeed. Langarwali dal is an integral part of the langar or community meal served in a gurudwara. Langar, a labor of love and service, is provided everyday in Sikh gurudwaras to all visitors irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The meal, prepared by thousands of devotees in an act of selfless service, is infused with their generosity and the grace of the surroundings.The goodness of langarwali dal lies in its simplicity, flavor and nutritive richness. A feeling of quiet comfort follows a meal of this deeply satisfying dish, especially if eaten at a langar. A long list of dos and donts ensures that the food is always of the best quality and free of contamination. One of the precepts governing the preparation of food is that it should never be tasted while cooking it, or before it is served to adjust seasonings, a sure sign that divine intervention (or rigorous control) ensures that each dish has maintained the same consistency and flavor over the years.1 cup whole black lentils, soaked overnight cup split chickpeas, soaked overnight1 large onion, finely chopped5-cm (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, finely chopped5 cloves garlic, finely chopped2 tomatoes, chopped teaspoon asafetida1 teaspoon turmeric1 teaspoon red chile powderSalt2 tablespoons ghee1 teaspoon cumin seeds- In a heavy-bottomed pan, combine the lentils, chickpeas, onion, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, asafetida, turmeric, chile powder and salt to taste with 4 cups water and cook until soft, about 1 hour. Uncover the pan and cook the lentils until thick.- Heat the ghee in a small frying pan; add the cumin seeds and when they begin to sizzle pour them over the lentils and mix well. Serve hot with flatbreads.Does smoky eggplant pulp perked up with spices and herbs sound familiar? No, this is not baba ghanoush of Middle Eastern fame, but a rich flavorful dish of mashed roasted eggplant cooked with tomatoes, green chiles and spices, usually served as a side dish or eaten on its own with roti or naan.Traditionally, eggplants are roasted over hot coals, the charred flavors enhanced by the aroma of burning charcoal. In Punjab, clay sigdi are a common feature in outdoor kitchens and backyards where most of the cooking is done. Cow dung, wood, agricultural waste or charcoal fuel the sigdi that is built to suit a households needs. Today, portable sigdi made by lining steel or aluminum pails with clay allow one to set up a cooking station in smaller open spaces such as balconies or terraces, to give everyday cooking that special, coal-roasted flavor.Make sure you cook plenty of this smoky treat, as leftovers are even more delicious the next day on toast, or wrapped in a hot roti as a snack.2 large eggplants2 tablespoons oil1 teaspoon cumin seeds2 onions, chopped3 cloves garlic, finely chopped2.5-cm (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, finely chopped2 green chiles, finely chopped2 tomatoes, chopped1 cup shelled green peas, boiled1 teaspoon turmeric1 teaspoon red chile powder1 tablespoon ground corianderSalt- Wash, dry and prick the eggplants. Roast them over an open flame or in a preheated oven until the skin chars and the eggplants start to shrink. Cool and remove the charred skin completely. Mash the eggplants coarsely.- Heat the oil in a pan; add the cumin seeds, and when they begin to sizzle, add the onions and saute until translucent.- Add the garlic, ginger and green chiles and cook for a minute. Add the tomatoes and green peas. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.- Add the turmeric, chile powder and ground coriander and mix well. Add the mashed eggplant and salt to taste. Stir to mix and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes.- Serve hot with Roti or any flatbread.Punjabi lassi are legendary not only for their sizethey are often served in half-liter capacity stainless steel glassesbut also for their richness. Not only are they made from whole milk yogurt, but they are embellished with a thick layer of fresh cream on top of each glass.Roses have been used to perfume and flavor sherbets and sweets for centuries. Their subtle floral fragrance lends itself to exotic concoctions and confections. Flavoring the sweet yogurt beverage with rose syrup and garnishing it with rose petals transforms an everyday beverage into one that is worthy of a celebration.4 cups plain yogurt cup sugar3 tablespoons rose syrup4 tablespoons fresh cream810 rose petals- Blend the yogurt, sugar and rose syrup in a blender until the sugar dissolves.- Pour the sweet rose lassi into tall glasses and top each one off with a tablespoon of cream. Garnish with rose petals.(Image credits: Vikas Khanna and Varun Inamdar)
Mumbai: Actress Nargis Fakhri says being in films is not her only aim in life and she wants to pursue other things as well.



The 37-year-old actress says she wants to meet new people and learn new things.



"Acting is not the only thing...I want to do a lot in life. When you are on sets you are always acting you are not interacting with people in life and not learning anything new.



"There is so much more to learn and do different things in life. I want to balance things by doing acting and other things," Nargis said.



The actress says she enjoys being a public figure but travelling and exploring different places is her passion.



"I am a different person. I like to cook, plant flowers and travel. I like to live life. I want to explore other things but not related to cinema as such. I would want to be a public personality on television or do something different," she adds.



After doing back to back films like Azhar, Housefull 3 and Banjo last year, the actress has now decided to go slow.



"Last year I did four films and it's damn tiring. I will never do that again. I will go slow from now on. One film a year will be amazing."



Nargis, who launched her own app last evening, says there are both pros and cons of being on various social media platforms.



"The positive side is you see you are so popular. I did not know I was so popular. I felt I am like a regular person and nobody likes me. But when I see social media and the good comments and when I go out and people talk sweet things to me, I feel overwhelmed. There is a negative side as well."


#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...
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has promised full security and due treatment, as per protocol, to Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on his visit to India, and if he chooses to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. However, Amarinder has said there will be no meeting with the first Sikh Defence Minister of Canada as he is a "Khalistani sympathiser".



The Chief Minister of Punjab went a step further and named several top Canadian government officials for allegedly leaning towards the demand for a separate Sikh homeland in India. Not only Sajjan but other ministers and MPs, including Navdeep Bains, Amarjit Sohi, Sukh Dhaliwal, Darshan Kang, Raj Grewal, Harinder Malhi, Roby Sahota, Jagmeet Singh and Randeep Sari, were well known for their leaning towards the Khalistani movement, Amarinder claimed.



Rejecting Canadas defence of Harjit Singh Sajjan, Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he stood by his principled stand of not associating himself with any Khalistani sympathiser.



Former Punjab Deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder not to act petty and spiteful and give the defence minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves.



Reacting strongly to the statement made by Capt Amarinder Singh, the SAD president said, "Capt Amarinder should not have let a personal incident cloud his judgement and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan as well as all other Punjabi representatives in the Canadian parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner."



The Chief Minister said that while, as a democratic nation, India believed in the freedom of speech, which was enshrined in the Constitution, he would personally not meet any Khalistani sympathisers.



The Chief Minister said while Sajjan was welcome to attend conferences and meetings, and even to visit Darbar Sahib, he would personally not entertain the Canadian minister as he had concrete information about he being a Khalistani sympathiser, just as his father Kundan Sajjan, a board member of the World Sikh Organization, was.



Captain Amarinder also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dal Khalsa for their criticism of his refusal to meet the Canadian defence minister during the latters expected visit to India, later this month. He accused these outfits of playing into the hands of forces inimical to India.



In the run-up to the Punjab assembly polls, Amarinder Singh was denied permission to address rallies in Canada in 2016.



It is unfortunate that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has not only insulted the Canadian Defence Minister, but entire Punjab in general, and Sikhs in particular, who have already proved their mettle on foreign land not only in business but in political arena as well by getting elected as MPs/MLAs to become Ministers, AAP spokesperson and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said.



Captain Amarinder Singhs 'outburst' against Canadian Defence Minister is nothing else, but his vindictive approach towards him as he (Chief Minister) wanted to take revenge from NRIs living in Canada because they did not welcome him (CM) during his pre-poll visit to Canada," added Khaira.


Kolkata: Trinamool Congress' Chandrima Bhattacharya won the Kanthi Dakshin seat on Thursday.



Chandrima won by a huge margin of 42,526 votes while the BJP's Sourindra Mohan Jana was second with 52,843 votes.



Though the TMC retained the seat, BJP leaders were in an upbeat mood after moving ahead of both the Congress and the Left.



The CPIs Uttam Pradhan got only 17,423 votes, while the Congress was cornered to fourth place with only 2,270 votes. Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) got 1,476 votes and 1,241 voters opted for NOTA.



The seat fell vacant after Dibyendu Adikari, who won in 2016, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tamluk constituency.



Chandrima, who got 95,369 votes, said, I am happy that people voted for me. My priority will be development. Thanks to Ma, Mati, Manus (Mother, Land and People).



BJP's Sourindra Mohan said, I was confident of winning but my voters were threatened by TMC goons. Had it been a fair poll, the results would have been different.



State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said the increase in vote percentage is a good sign. Soon the political colour of West Bengal will change. There is a BJP wave in Bengal now.



On BJPs vote share, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said, I am not concerned about which party comes second or third. I am grateful to the people who have given more support to us.



She alleged a nexus between CPM, Congress and BJP. CPM, Congress and BJP transfer votes among each other. We do not do it and we are not bothered about them, Banerjee said during a public meet in Murshidabad.



Chandrima has won the election. There will be a cabinet reshuffle and she will be assigned a new task as a minister, she added.
Why are these stories ascribed to "sources"? How credible are they? Why hasn't EC issued any formal statement? Or is it just a plant? https://t.co/Cxvu4nBUg8  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 13, 2017

Reacting to Kejriwals comment, Union Minister Venkiah Naidu said, Kejriwal is not able to digest Modi's popular win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The opposition raked up the issue once again after a VVPAT machine in Madhya Pradesh dispensed only the BJP slips, no matter what button was pressed.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday questioned the credibility of media reports on the Election Commissions open challenge to prove EVM tampering.Why are these stories ascribed to 'sources'?" he asked, questioning why the poll panel hadnt released an official statement on the challenge.The response came after reports on Wednesday that EC has decided to throw an open challenge to prove that EVMs cannot be tampered with. The exercise will apparently be taken up in the first week of May.Speaking to CNN-News18, Election Commissioner OP Rawat said: Since this controversy, we have been preparing to prove the truth but nothing has crystalised yet. Till the election petition period expires on April 26, the EC cannot touch the EVM, so we cant say anything about May 1 or whatever date is being spoken about.Thirteen parties came and requested an all-party meeting and the EC has agreed. So people are taking bits and pieces of information from that. The commission wants all stakeholders to have belief in the system. Whatever is coming in the media, is just guesswork.Recently, there has been a growing criticism of the EVMs and the call for the return of ballot paper voting has gained momentum. Congress and AAP-led delegations had recently communicated their disapproval of EVMs to the Election Commission.Kejriwal had recently challenged the EC to hand over an EVM to him and he will prove within 72 hours that these machines weren't fool proof and can be tampered with.However, it was BSP supremo Mayawati who first alleged the EVMs were tampered with after her party was reduced to a meagre tally of 19 seats in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday attacked the incumbent CM Mehbooba Mufti, holding her responsible for the persisting unrest in the state.



Abdullah told CNN-News18: "Mehbooba gets away easily, while I was held responsible for everything wrong in the state when National Conference was in power," adding that neither he nor his father supports valley's stone pelters.



When asked about his stand on the sentencing of death to the former Indian Navi official Kulbhushan Jadhav, Omar came out in support of India, saying that the way Pakistan conducted Jadhav's trial raises serious doubts. However, the former CM opined that cutting off communication or ties with Pakistan was not the right option.



Even the surgical strike is not a panacea for all the problems between India and Pakistan, he said, "Has the situation improved in Kashmir after previous strikes?"



Clearing the air on his father's remark - who had said that stone pelters were giving their life for this nation - Omar said that his father was only apprising people of stone pelters' motive. "Youth who are pelting stones are not doing it for the jobs, but because they feel Jammu and Kashmir is not a part of India," he said.



The former chief minister asserted that election in Srinagar, where large-scale violence was reported, was not handled properly. "Seven percent voter turnout was a big blow to democracy."



Omar also hinted at a possible Mahagathbandhan, with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the Opposition.



"It is going to be a tough fight against PM Modi, but the opposition must wake up," he said, also clarifying that his tweets never meant he was going to join BJP. "If I had to join BJP, I could have done it in 2014."










Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane on Thursday refuted speculations of joining the BJP.



The denial came in wake of television channels showing pictures of both Rane and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the same vehicle which was reportedly on its way to BJP President Amit Shah's residence in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.



Talking to reporters, the former Chief Minister admitted being in Ahmedabad last night but denied reports that he met Shah along with Fadnavis.



"There is something wrong in the pictures. They are not true," he said.



Rane said there is no talk of him quitting the Congress.



"There is no proposal or discussion to quit the Congress as yet. When I take such a decision, I will speak out," he said.



Rane said his disillusionment is out of the need for the Congress party to be strong and win the next elections.



"Even though I met (Congress Vice-President) Rahul Gandhi recently, no steps are being taken to strengthen the Congress. Rahul heard me out but there is no solution to my grievances as yet," he said.



In a jibe at Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan, Rane said he has never demanded that Chavan be replaced. "How can I ask for replacement of someone is doing such a brilliant job."



When asked about his son Nilesh Rane leaving no opportunity to target Chavan, Rane said, "Nilesh is a former MP and has a voice of his own. He can have different views."



The Konkan leader also said there was an offer from BJP in 2014 to him to join the party.



"I did not say yes or no. Even Ramdas Athavale wanted me to join his party (RPI-A)," he said.



Rane said he has travelled with Fadnavis on two occasions earlier.



"I was in Ahmedabad yesterday for personal work but did not meet anybody. I was back in Mumbai this morning at 6.45 AM. If I wanted to quit the Congress, I would not have met anybody. I will take a decision directly and my meeting with Fadnavis and Shah would have remained a secret," he said.



Rane said he had a personal meeting at a hotel in Ahmedabad.



"I don't go out after 10.30 pm so there is no question of me meeting Shah at night. Does any one have a video grab of me stepping out of Shah's house. Recently BJP minister Jaykumar Raval met me at my Kankavli home. Will I discuss joining BJP with him sitting in my living room," he asked.



He said he met Fadnavis during the recently concluded Budget session as well.


Apparently, the chief minister didnt step out to campaign in the panchayat polls and left it to his ministers and MLAs.

Certain amount of boredom among voters is bound to have crept in as Patnaik would be completing 20 years in power in 2019. Some amount of fatigue among the BJD leaders cannot be ruled out either. And the Congress has simply fled the ground, thereby creating a big vacuum for someone else to occupy.

Delhi's political circles are abuzz about BJPs chances in two eastern states  West Bengal and Odisha  after the partys spectacular win in Uttar Pradesh.The buzz continues despite Mamatas massive victory in Bengal last year and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) taking pole position in the recently concluded Odisha panchayat and zilla parishad elections. With an eye on Odisha, a resurgent BJP is now holding its national executive in Bhubaneswar on April 15-16.Post panchayat polls, does the BJP have a realistic chance to wrest Odisha from BJD in the 2019 assembly elections? The state elections are being held along with parliamentary polls. Can the BJP build on its showing in panchayat polls and become a strong contender two years later and oust Naveen Patnaik, who is ruling Odisha uninterrupted since 2000?ALSO READ | By-election Results: Jubilation for BJP, Breather for Congress, Humiliation for AAP In the zilla parishad polls, out of 800-plus seats, the BJP won 300 seats to come second behind the BJD, which won close to 500 seats. The Congress was reduced to the third position. In the 2012 zilla parishad polls, the BJP had won only 36 seats.Odisha has 147 assembly seats and 74 is the number required to form the government. In 2014, the BJD had won 117 seats, the Congress 16 and the BJP 10. And in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJD had won 20 out of 21 seats. The BJP won only one seat in a tough fight in Sundargarh. The Modi wave that swept the 2014 elections was clearly missing in Odisha.Earlier, the BJD had won two state elections in 2000 and 2004 in alliance with the BJP before it unceremoniously snapped ties just before the 2009 general elections. The BJD went on to win 103 assembly seats and the BJP only six in 2009.Then what explains this sudden buzz about the BJP in Odisha?First, the BJPs victory in panchayat polls and second is the health of the chief minister. Patnaik, 70, is rumoured to be ailing, despite outright denial in BJD ranks. And third, the anti-incumbency factor.After the polls, BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy engaged in a Twitter war with Kendrapda MP Baijayant Panda, alleging that the BJP is trying to break the BJD with insider help. This episode gave the impression that all may not be well in the BJD.Consider the following before drawing any conclusion. Odisha is largely divided into four regions  coastal, south, central and west. Anti-Congress parties have always dominated the coastal belt of Puri, Cuttack and Balasore. The Congress, in its prime, dominated the southern regions in Ganjam, Koraput, Phulbani along with central areas of Dhenkanal and Keonjhar.The BJP has always done well in the western Odisha districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. The non-Odia business community, which is a dominant factor in western Odisha, has traditionally shown its preference for the BJP, despite not translating into seats. The Congress still used to win most of the seats in western Odisha as the BJP divided the BJD or erstwhile Janta Dal votes. The BJPs strong showing in western Odisha had forced the BJD to enter into alliance in 1999.Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a rising star in the BJP, has been leading the charge in Odisha. One cant miss the huge billboards of Pradhan that adorn Bhubaneswar. Pradhan is credited with BJPs spectacular show in Bihar in 2014 general elections and the recent Uttarakhand assemby elections. He is known to be an influential minister and an effective organiser.So is it the best time for the BJP to strike in Odisha?Itll be surprising if the BJP is able to pull off a strong show in south and coastal Odisha. The party will heavily bank on western Odisha to set it up. If at all it manages to win all 42 seats in western Odisha and few seats in other parts, itll still fall short of over two dozen seats to gain power. But what if the BJP sends its top ministers to camp in Odisha and launch a UP-like blitzkrieg led by the Prime Minister? So far, neither the PM nor other BJP leaders have launched any direct attack against Patnaik. Also, Odisha has a minuscule Muslim population. Hence there is no question of any polarisation. Odisha Muslims are very much part of the mainstream.The BJD has a very strong cadre that is well entrenched across the state. Populist measures like free/cheap rice, laptops, cycles, umbrella, five-rupee meal scheme have worked wonders for Naveen Patnaik. Also what also works in favour of the BJD in 2019 is that the top leaders of BJP may not have that kind of time to spare for Odisha since they would be all busy with the general elections. Amit Shah may not be able to camp in Bhubaneswar and personally choose the candidates for 147 seats when his party will be fighting a much bigger challenge.The BJP certainly has the best chance to push the down-and-out Congress to the third spot. So it remains to be seen if the saffron party can go all the way and win the war for Kalinga. But then who thought the BJP would sweep UP with 325 seats? The times are changing.
The alleged mastermind behind Kelihos botnet, Peter Yuryevich Levashov, has been recently arrested by the United States Justice Department from Barcelona, Spain. This Russian man is considered as one of the world's most notorious criminal spammers.His wife Maria said, The arrest was connected to the FBI's ongoing investigation into potential Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections, in a report by ABC News. However, this claim does not hold water and experts have suggested that his primary motivation wasnt politics.Seen as a cyber-criminal kingpin, his creation--Kelihos Botnet-- is a global network of infected computers involving in spams. Here is everything you need to know about it.Kelihos/Waledac has been active since 2008, highlights cyber security firm Symantec. Its main area of activity has been spamming operations, but it has also been involved in a range of other malicious activity such as downloading and running executables, acting as a network proxy, collecting credentials from compromised computers, and performing denial of service (DoS) attacks.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.This network of infected computers under the control of a cybercriminal 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.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, added Blanco.According to the civil complaint, Levashov allegedly operated the Kelihos botnet since approximately 2010. 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.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 (so-called pump-and-dump stock fraud schemes), work-at-home scams, and other frauds.It Kelihos was also responsible for directly installing additional malware onto victims computers, including ransomware and malware that intercepts users bank account passwords.As with other botnets, Kelihos is designed to operate automatically and undetected on victims computers, with the malicious code secretly sending requests for instructions to the botnet operator.In order to liberate the victim computers from the botnet, the United States obtained civil and criminal court orders in the District of Alaska. These orders authorised measures to neutralise the Kelihos botnet by:Establishing substitute servers that receive the automated requests for instructions so that infected computers no longer communicate with the criminal operator.Blocking any commands sent from the criminal operator attempting to regain control of the infected computers.On April 8, 2017, we started the extraordinary task of blocking malicious domains associated with the Khelios botnet to prohibit further infections, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Ritzman.In seeking authorisation to disrupt and dismantle the Kelihos botnet, law enforcement obtained a warrant pursuant to recent amendments to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.The warrant obtained by the government authorises law enforcement to redirect Kelihos-infected computers to a substitute server and to record the Internet Protocol addresses of those computers as they connect to the server.This will enable the government to provide the IP addresses of Kelihos victims to those who can assist with removing the Kelihos malware including internet service providers.On several occasions, the botnet has been severely disrupted by takedown attempts but always managed to rebuild itself and return. Its original incarnation was the subject of a Microsoft-led takedown operation in 2010 in which hundreds of command and control (C&C) domains were seized.The botnets controllers rebuilt its operations before it was hit by a second takedown in September 2011. Kelihos once again re-emerged only to be hit by a coordinated sinkholing operation in 2012 in which a significant number of infected computers were freed from the botnets control.The efforts to disrupt and dismantle the Kelihos botnet were led by the FBIs Anchorage Office and New Haven Office; Senior Counsel Ethan Arenson and Harold Chun, and Trial Attorney Frank Lin of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yvonne Lamoureux and Adam Alexander of the District of Alaska.Critical assistance was also provided by foreign partners, and invaluable technical assistance was provided by Crowd Strike and The Shadow server Foundation in executing this operation.
Pre-orders for Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone have exceeded those of its predecessor S7, mobile business chief Koh Dong-jin said on Thursday, suggesting many consumers were unfazed by last year's Galaxy Note 7 fires.



The S8, which begin sales in South Korea, the United States and Canada on April 21, will be central to the South Korean firm's recovery from the swift withdrawal of the Note 7 phablet.



The new device has been well-received, and some investors and analysts said it could set a first-year sales record for the smartphone giant.



"It's still a bit early, but initial response to the pre-orders that have begun at various places across the world have been better than expected," Koh said at a media briefing.



The S8 will be the safest Galaxy smartphone to date due to safety measures implemented to avoid the battery failures that caused some Note 7s to spontaneously combust, he said.



Analysts expect Samsung to record its best-ever quarterly profit in April-June, buoyed by strong S8 sales and a memory chip market boom that is widely expected to deliver record revenue for the industry this year.


Washington: US President Donald Trump gave the order to strike Syria with dozens of cruise missiles "during dessert" with visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he said in an interview aired Wednesday.



"We had finished dinner. We're now having dessert. And we had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you've ever seen and President Xi was enjoying it," Trump told the Fox Business television network.



"And I was given the message from the generals that the ships are locked and loaded, what do you do?" Trump said. "And we made a determination to do it, so the missiles were on the way."



"And I said, 'Mr. President, let me explain something to you' -- this was during dessert -- 'we've just fired 59 missiles.'"



Trump said Xi "paused for 10 seconds and then asked the interpreter to say it again. I didn't think that was a good sign."



But then, Trump said, Xi responded that "anybody that was so brutal and uses gases to do that to young children and babies, it's OK.... He was OK with it. He was OK."



Trump had been hosting Xi at his private Florida resort Mar-a-Lago on April 6. The US missiles struck a Syrian air base in retaliation for Syria's alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town, killing 87 civilians, many of them children.



Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Tuesday there was "no doubt" the Syrian regime was behind the chemical attack. But Russia, Syria's ally, disputes that, saying no evidence has been produced.



Trump, in his interview, said all 59 missiles fired hit their targets and called the display of military prowess "unbelievable," "amazing," "incredible," "brilliant" and "genius."



Trump regularly spends his weekends at his Mar-a-Lago resort, which his staff has nicknamed the "Southern White House."

Members of the club pay a $200,000 fee, which gives access to its amenities and its eateries.
Karachi-based underworld don Uzair Baloch, who Pakistan claimed was helping arrested former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav spy on the country, had confessed a year ago to passing secret information to an Iranian agency, according to Pakistan media reports.Pakistans military had on Tuesday announced it had taken custody of Uzair Baloch on charges of espionage and leaking of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies.Baloch, the uncrowned king of Karachis notorious Lyari slums, had also visited Chaman and Chabahar in Iran  areas where Jadhav had operated his dhow business  claimed Pakistan media. Dawn reported that Balochs 13-page, self-written confessional statement emerged hours after late-night tweets by the Pakistan military announced Balochs custody.It was recorded before the judicial magistrate south in April 2016 under Section 64 of the CrPC [Criminal Procedure Code], the report quoted Pakistani Rangers senior special public prosecutor Sajid Mahboob Sheikh as saying. A report in Geo News said Baloch was nabbed by the Rangers on January 30 last year and handed over to the Army later that year. The report said that after the 90-day remand, the gangster had made a confessional statement, where he accepted the charges against him.Baloch confessed that he shared information on the Pakistani armed forces with Iranian intelligence, the Geo News report said. He reportedly claimed that one Haji Nasir, an alleged member of the Iranian intelligence, introduced him to other members of the agency.He had also alleged threats to his life from former president Asif Ali Zardari.Uzair Baloch, the son of a transporter, earned notoriety in Lyari  a Karachi neighbourhood known for gang wars among the various ethnic communities of Baloch, Pashtuns and Mohajirs  after the killing of Rehman Baloch in an alleged encounter with police in 2009.Baloch is allegedly involved in extortion, attacks on security personnel and spying for foreign intelligence agencies. He is booked in over 100 cases involving murders, attempted murders, extortion, arms smuggling, attacks on police and Rangers and spying for foreign intelligence agencies.Dawn report quoted the Lyari gangster as telling a Joint investigations team (JIT) that he fled to Iran after the Rangers launched an operation in Karachi in September 2013.He was living with his friend, Malik Baloch, in Chabahar, where he met Haji Nasir who held dual nationality, it said, adding that Haji Nasir offered Baloch to shift him to Tehran permanently where he would be provided a residence with no cost as he [Nasir] had good relations with Iranian intelligence officers and he can arrange his meeting with them.As Uzair Baloch gave his consent to the offer, the JIT report said, his meeting was arranged with an Iranian intelligence official who tasked him to provide certain information about [Pakistani] armed forces officials besides general security environment of the city [Karachi].Uzair Baloch told the JIT that of his 14 lieutenants six at that time were still living in Chabahar.
Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2017

: US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that things will "work out fine" with Russia and hoped that China would "properly deal" with North Korea."Things will work out fine between the USA and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!" Trump told his more than 27.8 million followers on Twitter this morning.His tweet came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left Moscow following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.A day earlier, Trump had said that the US-Russia relationship are at a low point.Last night he was scheduled to speak to Tillerson. Trump's tweets appear to be a reflection of the talks that he had with his Secretary of State.In another tweet, he hoped that China would act on North Korea."I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with= its allies, will! USA," Trump said.The US president hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar a-Lago residence in Florida last week. The two leaders again spoke over phone this week.Trump has been asking China to act on North Korea and co-operate with it on Syria.Trump had on Wednesday praised China for abstaining a UN Security Council vote on Syria and taking actions against North Korea.
Taipei: Taiwan has banned the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption and increased the penalty for cruelty to animals, according to the island's official Central News Agency.



Taiwan's Parliament amended its Animal Protection Act on Tuesday to ban the sale, purchase or eating of cat and dog meat.



Offenders can now be fined between $1,640 and $8,200.



Violators may also see their names, photos and crimes publicised, the news agency reported.



The amendment also doubled the maximum prison term for animal cruelty to two years and raised the fine up to $65,500 for any act that deliberately harms animals and results in mangled limbs, organ failure or death.



Under the amended Animal Protection Act, the same penalty will apply in cases where dogs, cats or other protected animals are killed.



The new law also bans drivers and motorcycle riders from pulling animals along on a leash, and stipulates a fine of up to $500 for offenders.
"That'd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations," he cautioned China, if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval.



In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator. This was one of his top campaign promise.

US President Donald Trump has offered to have a good trade deal if China helps tackle the threat of North Korea."President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier. "I said, the way you're going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, we're just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US.In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the US has "tremendous trade deficits" with everybody, but the big one is with China."It's hundreds of billions of dollars of year for many, many years. And I told them. I said you know, we're not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. That's worth having deficits. And that's worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, I'll make great deals," he said."They're not currency manipulators," he said."Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea," the report said.In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear. "You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. That's mass destruction. And he doesn't have the delivery systems yet, but he you know he will," he said.(With PTI inputs)
The GBU-43, also known as the "mother of all bombs," is a GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003. It is regarded as particularly effective against clusters of targets on or just underneath the ground. Other types of bombs can be more effective against deeper, hardened tunnels.



During last year's presidential election campaign, Trump vowed to give priority to destroying Islamic State, which operates mostly in Syria and Iraq. He flexed US military muscles last week by ordering a cruise missile attack on a Syrian government airbase in retaliation for a poison gas attack.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the bombing "targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area."

BREAKING: US military drops 21,000-pound non-nuclear bomb -- known as the mother of all bombs  in Afghanistan https://t.co/EOji2tjxzi pic.twitter.com/VlQNjTRnqa  CNN (@CNN) April 13, 2017

"This is a very specialised weapon, we don't have very many of them, you can only use them in a very narrow set of circumstances," said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank

: The United States dropped "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear device it has ever unleashed in combat, on a network of caves and tunnels used by Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, the military said.President Donald Trump touted the bombing as evidence of a more muscular US foreign policy since he took office in January after eight years of President Barack Obama.The 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GBU-43 bomb, which has 11 tons of explosives, was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.It was the first time the United States has used this size of conventional bomb in a conflict.Trump described the bombing as a "very successful mission. It was not immediately clear how much damage the device did."If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and compare that really to whats happened over the last eight years, youll see that theres a tremendous difference," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.The security situation remains precarious in Afghanistan, with a number of militant groups trying to claim territory more than 15 years after the US invasion which toppled the Taliban government.So far, Trump has offered little clarity about a broader strategy for Afghanistan, where some 8,400 US troops remain.Last week, a US soldier was killed in the same district as where the bomb was dropped while he was conducting operations against Islamic State.Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 p.m. local time and described it as "a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon." US forces took "all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage," he said.Afghan soldiers and police, with the aid of thousands of foreign military advisers, are struggling to hold off a resurgent insurgency led by the Taliban, as well as other groups like Islamic State.The US government's top watchdog on Afghanistan said earlier this year that the Afghan government controls less than 60 percent of the country.Foreign policy experts said that it appeared the use of a specialised weapon like the GBU-43 had more to do with the type of target -- tunnels -- than the United States sending any message to other countries by using such a powerful weapon.Cancian added that while sending a message to Syria or North Korea could have been among the secondary factors considered, they would not have been the main reason for using this type of weapon.US Senator Jim Inhofe, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the use of this bomb was a sign that the United States was committed to Afghanistan.But Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a Democrat who was the only "no" vote for authorization for use of military force in Afghanistan in 2001, said the move was unprecedented and asked for an explanation."President Trump owes the American people an explanation about his escalation of military force in Afghanistan and his long-term strategy to defeat ISIS," she said in a statement.The top US commander in Afghanistan said recently that he needed several thousand more international troops in order to break a stalemate in the long war with Taliban insurgents.US officials say intelligence suggests Islamic State is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighbouring Kunar province.Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. US officials have said they believe the movement has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500.The Afghan Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the US-backed government in Kabul, are fiercely opposed to Islamic State and the two group have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence.
WASHINGTON: A U.S.-led air strike mistakenly killed 18 members of a Kurdish and Arab militia backed by Washington south of the Syrian city of Tabqa, the Pentagon said on Thursday.



The U.S.-led coalition forces struck the position on Tuesday after another partner in the fight wrongly told them its was occupied by Islamic State militants, the Pentagon said, underlining the complex nature of the conflict.



"The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position," the statement added.



The SDF is fighting in a campaign to encircle and ultimately capture Raqqa city, Islamic State's main base of operations in Syria.



The militia has closed in on the Islamic State-held Tabqa area, a focus of heavy fighting, about 40 km (25 miles) west of Raqqa.



The SDF said its leadership was working with the coalition to investigate the incident and prevent it from happening again.



"In the area of military operations near Tabqa and as a result of error, a painful incident took place" causing several casualties, the SDF said in a statement.
The town of Bedford has been dealing with gangs since 2005, police told town council this week.

During a Bedford Town Council work session, Bedford Police Lt. Shannon Walker said the Bedford Police Department began seeing gang activity in town in 2005 and since then has done everything it can to identify them.

Walker said home invasions and larcenies, like a 2011 home invasion arrest involving a subject from out-of-state who was living in Roanoke at the time, are just two examples of gang-related activities taking place in town.

The issue has come to the forefront with the recent slaying of Lynchburg teenager Raymond Wood, whose body was found in Goode on March 27. Three men, members of the gang MS-13, since have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to his death.

Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown held a confidential briefing with Bedford County Administrator Carl Boggess, county supervisors and other officials about gang involvement in the area April 5.

He said after the briefing officials likely would come forward with a generic overview of what could be done.

I feel confident that they will agree with me that certain measures need to be considered, he said earlier this month.

Lynchburg Police Department Sgt. Gary Fink has said there are 43 identified gangs in Lynchburg, and until this month, MS-13, a gang made up mostly of Salvadoran nationals or first-generation Salvadoran-Americans, as well as other Central and South American immigrants, was not one of them.

Campbell County Sheriffs Office Maj. L. T. Guthrie said last week, I dont consider us to have a gang issue at all.

Walker said in the town, information gathered on gangs is maintained by investigators and shared with other law enforcement agencies.

Not only are we sharing it, it comes back and goes both ways so we are able to track them that way, he told town council members Tuesday night.

Walker said some families from outside the state have brought gang members with them into town. He said this information was learned from interviews with gang members they have arrested.

Since 2005, there have been 15 known documented gangs in town, but that doesnt mean there currently are 15 gangs at this moment, Walker said. They have included both motorcycle and general street gangs.

We are going off the information the gangs tell us, Walker said. He said Bedford is a wonderful town but by no means [a] utopia.

Just because its Bedford doesnt mean a gang member cant live here, he said.

He said residents dont need to be afraid.

We want to report the truth to the public, he said. They should know there is a gang presence here, but we dont want them to be alarmed.

Community members can educate themselves on gangs and gang activity, Walker said.

We try to be as transparent as possible. Sometimes when you try to get in front of a criminal element, and you get rid of one, its just replaced by another, Walker said. We arent going to lie and say there is not a gang presence, but were doing the best we can to deter criminal activity.

When the department finds a gang member involved in criminal activity, Walker said they are interviewed and documented, and the department uses other agencies intelligence units.

Council member Stacey Hailey asked how the town can let the public know whats going on.

Walker said there are several avenues for informing the public, including neighborhood meetings at the Salem Court Apartments and Josephs Dream senior community in town that are held once per month.

We can hold a town hall at anytime, he said.

He added a lot of information comes from probation officers.

The police department has identified two different groups trying to start up their own gangs in town, one within the last year and another about five years ago.One wanted to be a Bloods gang, and another sought to become a motorcycle gang. Walker said both failed to set up in town.

That by any means does not mean it wont happen, he said.

He said the department has surveillance documentation of gang activity.

This is a red flag to us because the general public doesnt know who they are, but we do, he said. There is a gang presence here in Bedford, and Im never going to tell you theres not.

Council member Bruce Johannessen asked if the gang members are bringing in drugs, to which Walker said, Absolutely.

Council member Steve Rush, a former police officer, said gang members can be identified by tattoos, colors and self-admitting.

One set of the Blood gang cannot like the other, Walker said. Theres no rhyme or reason to it.

He added the MS-13 gang, which Brown previously has said is connected to Woods death, hates everyone.

The News & Advance staff contributed.
After some heated exchanges between supervisors and school officials, the Campbell County Board of Supervisors voted this week to advertise a fiscal year 2018 budget that does not call for an increase in taxes  and does not include an additional $2.2 million in funding requested by the school board.

The budget presented Tuesday evening during supervisors first budget workshop totals $71 million, a 1.9 percent increase over the current years budget, and includes $27.3 million for Campbell County Public Schools, on par with local funding for this school year.

It also includes a 2 percent pay raise for the countys 371 employees, not including school employees. An additional 2 percent raise was proposed for 144 public safety and sheriffs office employees.

The board will have a public hearing on the proposed budget May 2 and vote May 16. The board can lower the tax rate but not increase it above the advertised rate.

Superintendent Robert Johnson said in a presentation to the supervisors Tuesday the school board made teacher salaries the top priority in its budget. The divisions $83 million total budget included a 5 percent raise for teachers and a 2 percent raise for administrative staff and is about 5.7 percent more than 2016-17, an increase Johnson said also is fueled by increases in fixed costs like health insurance and maintenance needs.

The raises will cost about $2.2 million for its 1,229 full-time employees.

In a presentation to supervisors, County Administrator Frank Rogers said fully funding that request without reducing other planned expenditures would require a 6-cent increase in the countys 52-cent real estate tax rate.

There are no new programs, but no programs have been reduced, either  bringing starting teacher salaries up to area median takes additional revenues, Johnson said.

Supervisors Mike Rousseau, Bob Good and Jim Borland said they made campaign promises not to raise taxes, and they plan to keep that promise.

Rousseau, Timberlake District supervisor, said the budget Johnson had proposed was outside the needs of the school division and then asked what Johnson had done to prioritize teacher pay.

Johnson said the proposed raises are structured to bring Campbell County teacher pay up to the Lynchburg-area average.

According to Virginia Department of Education data, local entry-level pay for teachers with a bachelors degree ranges from a low of $37,644 in Campbell County to a high of $44,920 in Nelson County Public Schools. Other local school divisions fall within this range.

Good and Rousseau said at Tuesdays workshop they have been vilified in years past by the school board for proposing cuts to its budget.

The countys fiscal year 2017 budget included a cut of almost $542,000 to the schools level-funding request. In response, the school board cut almost $1 million from its budget, including a required local contribution and state match for a 2 percent wage increase for school employees.

We are doing our best to do right by the schools, just like [emergency management services]. When we do our best to pass the budget, and the response is to cut back bus routes, curtail programs [and] threaten teachers with layoffs, it smacks of politics, Rousseau said.

School Board Chairman Scott Miller said his board has not vilified supervisors.

Since I have been on the board, you have rejected our proposal. That is frustrating and disappointing  this is [a] good budget. I may be mistaken; you have already said you will not honor this budget. I question what this workshop is about, Miller said.

Noting a $2 million increase in state funding in 2017-18, Good questioned why the division needs more local money.

Not another department or agency, that if it was getting any large outside increase in funding  you would try to be a good steward of limited resources. The county has no money, the government has no money; only thing the government can do is take from citizens, Good, Sunburst District supervisor said.

Spring Hill supervisor Borland said he is in favor of increasing teacher pay, but the school board has places in its own budget for the money, such as cutting school resource officers and funding for the early college/dual enrollment program.

Brookneal Supervisor J.D. Puckett said he supported the school budget and recalled when he was a teacher in Campbell County schools for 33 years and all the duties for teachers outside of the classroom. Often, free time would be spent helping individual students.

Lets pay our teachers not just for the classroom but pay them for being a teacher and being that person, he said.

Altavista Supervisor Stanley Goldsmith suggested if a raise was not possible in the fiscal year 2018 budget, a plan should be developed to raise teacher salaries over two to three fiscal years.

Rogers proposed budget included a 10-cent decrease in the personal property tax rate, a measure prompted by a $1.1 million increase in local revenue, he said. The budget also proposed cuts across several departments, including the shuttering of the Patrick Henry Memorial Library in Brookneal for a savings of $17,500 and eliminating a full-time position in the parks and recreation department to save $40,000.

Citing the recent closure of Altavista EMS, Rousseau requested money be set aside for a new county EMS station in Altavista.

He proposed directing the $280,000 from a personal property tax cut and use it to fund an EMS crew in Altavista.

Rousseau and Puckett also asked a route be found to keep the Brookneal library open.

Rustburg Supervisor Eric Zehr made a motion, at the end of a nearly four-hour workshop, that the board advertise a budget that allocates $280,000 for EMS needs in Altavista, restores funding for the Brookneal library and does not include funding for a new full-time position at the Commonwealth Attorneys office.

Campbell County Commonwealths Attorney Paul McAndrews had requested converting one part-time position to full time because of an increased caseload at his office.

The board approved Zehrs motion in a 6-0 vote. Goldsmith left the workshop after a supper recess.
On Aug. 20, 1998, American Tomahawk cruise missiles hit sites in Afghanistan and Sudan in retaliation for attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The targets of the assault, ordered by President Bill Clinton, were Osama bin Laden and his band of terrorists.

In light of what would happen three years later, on Sept. 11, 2001, Madeleine Albright, Clintons secretary of state, was prescient. We are embarked, she said on a venture in which we have to deal over the long run with what is the very serious threat to our way of life at the end of this century and the next one.

One might imagine that Clintons decision was broadly popular. In fact, his move was met with an explosion of querulous partisanship. It occurred at the height of the controversy over his sexual relationship with a young White House intern that would, later in the year, lead to his impeachment. Many in the GOP charged that Clinton was trying to distract the nation from his scandal.

Clinton, as John Harris reported that summer in The Washington Post, was accused of following a Wag the Dog strategy  so-named after the recent movie in which a president tries to draw attention away from a sexual scandal by staging a phony war.

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., who now serves in President Trumps administration as director of national intelligence, was one of the skeptics. After months of lies and deceit and manipulations and deceptions  stonewalling  it raised into doubt everything he does and everything he says, said Coats. He insisted that it is legitimate to question the timing of this action.

John Ashcroft, then a senator from Missouri, asked: Were these forces sent at this time because he needed to divert our attention from his personal problems?

Trumps critics are certainly tempted to pursue a similar line of thinking about the strike he directed against Syria in retaliation for the odious chemical attack on civilians by President Bashar al-Assads government. After all, Republicans paid no price when they questioned Clintons motives, and Trump would sorely love to divert the public from the disastrous opening weeks of his administration.

In particular, he has been happy to level false charges  first against former President Obama and then against Susan Rice, Obamas national security adviser  to shift the focus away from inquiries into whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russias subversion of the 2016 election. The fact checkers regularly remind us that Trump meets the Coats standard of being a politician about whom we can reasonably doubt everything he does and everything he says.

But the Clinton experience should teach a different lesson. Albright was right to suggest that the threat posed by bin Laden should have taken more seriously than our inward-looking political system allowed in 1998, and Syria presents humanitarian and foreign policy problems that must be debated on their own merits.

On the strike itself, many Democrats (including the Senate and House Democratic leaders, Charles Schumer and Nancy Pelosi) had called for proportionate action against Assad back when he used chemical weapons in 2013. Unlike Trump, they chose to be consistent with their past positions. In supporting the president on last weeks military operation, Schumer, Pelosi and many others in their party signaled that upholding American values was more important than partisanship, even when a man they deeply mistrust occupies the White House.

But one military strike does not make a foreign policy, and when you watch Trump speak on the subject, its hard to escape the sense that he has absolutely no idea what hes doing.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson may have inadvertently given Assad a green light late last month by abandoning Obamas stated policy that the dictator needed to be pushed out of power. What was the administration thinking? What comes next, and will Congress be involved? How do his approaches to Russia, Iran and Syria fit together? If Trump is moved by the suffering of Syrias people, how can he keep blocking refugees from our shores?

And, yes, the new crisis over the Assad regime and the backing it is receiving from Vladimir Putin make it all the more urgent to get to the bottom of the relationship between Trumps campaign and Russia.

Trumps opponents should not imitate the shortsightedness of Clintons 1998 critics. They should instead put their skepticism to work in pressing for a coherence on international matters that Trump has, to this point, been incapable of delivering.

Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Email him at ejdionne@washpost.com or follow him on Twitter @EJDionne.
Patrick Earl never planned to torture his wife for an entire year.

Then again, he also never planned on being her sibling or her son either  but that tends to happen when working for a company like Stauntons American Shakespeare Center.

Especially when we get cast as something like Hamlet and Gertrude, I always think that its going to be weird  Oh my gosh, Im going to play his mom  but then when you really just start working on the particulars of each scene, it turns out to not really be that strange, Stephanie Holladay Earl, Patricks real-life wife and frequent costar, says.

Both professional actors, Patrick and Stephanie met as graduate students in the University of Houstons theater department in 2008. A year after graduating in 2010, they were hired by the American Shakespeare Center (ASC).

Its unusual to have a couple or partners get offers from the same company, says Jim Warren, co-founder and artistic director of ASC. Thats always the dream, but it doesnt happen all that often. More often, I hire people who are single and then by the time theyre done, theyre couples.

The Earls, who moved to the area in December of 2015, currently teach at Randolph College, Stephanie as an assistant professor of theater and Patrick as an adjunct professor.

Their eight-month-old son, Arden, is, the departments mascot, they say.

Lynchburg audiences will soon have the opportunity to see the Earls skills live when they make their local stage debut in Endstation Theatre Companys July production of The Complete History of America (abridged).

Before that, crowds will get to see a different side of their theatrical prowess in Randolphs production of Big Love, which Stephanie is directing and for which Patrick choreographed fight scenes.

The students are aware of the Earls professional lives and for the students, thats really exciting on a number of levels because that means they can see that real people they know can do it, can have a happy life.  [It] doesnt mean not having a family, says theater department chair Amy R. Cohen. The Earls are modeling this wonderful combination of skills and [happiness] for our students.

***

Both Patrick and Stephanie studied theater as undergraduates before moving on to the University of Houston  Patrick, as a double major in biology and theater at Aquinas College in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Stephanie, at Greensboro College near hers in Winston-Salem.

They met in August 2008 and started dating around the holidays, got engaged in February 2010 and married a month later.

We always say building a relationship in grad school is like dog years, says Patrick. It just compounds 

Because youre with the same people from eight in the morning until 11 at night, all day every day, Stephanie finishes.

When the University of Houston brought Warren in to audition students and alumni from its program for the American Shakespeare Center, Stephanie and Patrick decided to try out.

A good program will teach actors important grounding principals that they can apply whether theyre doing Shakespeare or modern stuff, Warren says, recalling their auditions.

One thing you cant teach in any school is sparkle, that it factor, that charisma, and they both have it in ways that are wonderful and highly sought after by people like me. Thats what I remember sticking out the most.

Since they started with ASC, the couple has acted in four of the companys touring seasons, performing in festivals and at academic institutions and arts centers across the country, as well as in one resident season at the Blackfriars Playhouse at ASCs Staunton headquarters.

Its so funny because when we left grad school, we were like Well, its been nice working with you, says Stephanie. We worked together so much and the odds [were] not that good that we [would] work together again. And then we did in Houston three times.

In addition to tackling the complex relationship of Hamlet and his mother, Stephanie has haunted Patrick as the Ghost of Christmas Past to his Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, and Patrick has tormented her as Ferdinand to her Duchess in John Websters The Duchess of Malfi.

They have also illustrated the fine line between love and hate as Benedict and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and tempted a foolish soul toward Hell in Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus.

They are multi-talented on so many different levels, Warren says. I view them in kind of rarified air, that they are versatile enough to not only be great in these big roles but  in a bunch of different kinds of roles.

People always ask how they can work together professionally but, the couple says, having such a close relationship and a strong level of trust and comfort actually allows them to delve deeper into their roles when they act opposite each other.

Everythings a shortcut, Patrick says.

This becomes especially helpful when their scenes require violence, like those in Hamlet and The Duchess of Malfi, often allowing them to go to darker places, Stephanie adds.

The same goes for combat scenes and dance stunts.

In some instances, its harder for some actors to get in someones face and get angry with them because when someone does that, youre initial reaction is to go, Whoa dude! and take a step back, says Patrick. If you have to do a moment of violence  itd be better to have someone you trust implicitly rather than some stranger.

Plus, they each have a built-in scene partner when rehearsing lines at home.

There was a time we were working, we were getting ready to do the first run-through of Hamlet-Gertrude, and we were running lines and blocking in our living room and our dog started barking because he thought we were actually trying to hurt each other. It was actually really funny, says Stephanie. We had just gotten him, so he didnt get the weirdness of theater folk yet. Now, I dont think hed think anything of it.

***

The Earls continue to work at the American Shakespeare Center, Patrick as one of its fight directors and Stephanie as its movement choreographer. But, for the time being, their attention is turned to Randolphs production of Big Love.

Based on Aeschylus Greek tragedy The Supplicants, the play follows 50 sisters fleeing impending arranged marriages to their cousins. Focusing in on three of the couples, the dark tragicomedy raises issues of gender politics, feminism and entitlement with a plot that keeps the audience guessing.

As the director, Stephanie says she has focused on combining playwright Charles Mees contemporary, poetic dialogue with his strange and detailed stage directions  which include specific musical choices as well as detailed set design and descriptions of physical action sequences  with sensitive subject matter.

The students have been so brave and so willing to try anything we ask them to do and bringing creative ideas to every rehearsal, she says. It would be easy for them to be like, Oh, this is weird, and be tentative. We havent had any of that. Weve just had complete abandon.

Meanwhile, as fight choreographer, Patrick has the complex task of making every fall, slap and stab look incredibly realistic without putting any of the actors in harms way.

The trick, he says, is to manipulate sight lines, thereby making a punch that is four inches away from someones face look like a perfect hit.

Seeing how Stephanie has put together this big picture and then Patrick is there to make sure the fight choreography happens in a fascinating and safe way  to see how they build on each others work and how their artistry comes together as a partnership is really amazing, says Cohen.

When Big Love ends its run, Patrick and Stephanie will focus on other projects, including Endstations The Complete History of America (abridged) this summer, as well as the shows they will each direct for Randolph Colleges 2017-18 theatrical season.

And they hope to continue to do it all together.

I cant think of many artists that were able to work with their [wives], making a living doing what they love to do for as long as we have been doing it and still are doing it, Patrick says. Were not superstars, but its one of those things where I do feel immense gratitude for having been given these opportunities we have.
A former tourism director has slapped Bedford County and four local officials with a $3 million lawsuit in federal court alleging they violated his constitutional rights when removing him from the post last spring.

Gerald Jerry Ernest Craig filed the civil action in early April in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg, records show.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus interest and costs from Bedford County but also individually names County Administrator Carl Boggess and three county supervisors: Curry Martin, Bill Thomasson and Steve Wilkerson.

Craig claimed Bedford County, by actions of the named officials, improperly removed him from the tourism position in May 2016. He had served in the post, responsible for marketing key attractions like the National D-Day Memorial, since late 2014.

By filing the lawsuit, Craig put on the record his allegations of a thicket of local political infighting and alleged closed-door deals.

Craigs legal action compares the facts of the case to an iceberg with a large share of the background hidden under the water.

The suit alleges a series of actions stemming from a fall 2014 vote in a local Republican party meeting to censure the three supervisors named in the lawsuit over their support for raising real estate taxes.

Craig was among about 60 people identifying themselves as Republicans who voted to censure the three supervisors, according to the suit.

The censured supervisors targeted Mr. Craig even though his GOP involvement was protected political expression, the suit says. The individual defendants did not wish to hire Craig for the tourism position because of his vote in the GOP meeting, despite a three-person hiring team supporting him, he said.

One member of that team was then-County Administrator Mark Reeter, under whom Craig was hired as tourism director.

One allegation in the suit claims Boggess sought Thomassons backing for his own bid for county administrator by agreeing to take part in the alleged plan to target Craigs employment.

Boggess did not respond to repeated calls for comment on the suits allegations.

Martin and Thomasson could not be reached despite calls to each Wednesday. Wilkerson said he could not comment.

In the suit, Craig cited several factors he said demonstrate his termination was not handled properly.

Craig, who worked under the county administrator, claimed he never received a performance evaluation during his tenure despite asking for one, never violated any county policy and never was put on a performance improvement plan.

Craig said he believed no evaluation took place because a plan had been put in place to retaliate against him.

According to the suit, Craig was given a letter when he was terminated detailing a number of alleged issues with his performance he said had never been communicated to him.

Also central to the lawsuit is a letter drafted in November 2015 to the board of supervisors from a group purporting to represent Bedford-area tourism stakeholders like the National D-Day Memorial, Peaks of Otter Winery, Goose Creek Studio, Reba Farm Inn and others.

The letter was highly critical of the countys actions on tourism in general and Craigs performance, the suit notes.

In turn, the complaint says some who signed the letter took part in an effort to have Craig fired, and it was written for the sole purpose of establishing a pretext to political retaliation against Craig.

One of the letters signatories last summer dismissed allegations the letter had anything to do with political motivations.

This is a county issue and a personnel matter that does not involve me, said April Cheek-Messier, president of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, in an email to The News & Advance in July of last year.

Whatever direction the county takes in regard to tourism, I look forward to new initiatives, increased visitation, and exciting plans as the National D-Day Memorial works with the state of Virginia, our tourism department, and our community, she said.

Craigs legal action consists of several claims: First Amendment freedom of expression and association retaliation and wrongful termination; and due process deprivation of a liberty interest.

Filed April 3, the suit seeks back pay, front pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages totaling $3 million, plus interest from the date of the actions alleged in the suit, along with costs such as attorneys fees.

The defendants have 21 days to respond to the suit once served, Thomas Strelka, Craigs Roanoke lawyer, said Wednesday.

Bedford County Attorney Patrick Skelley did not return a call Wednesday for comment.

Staff writer Margaret Carmel contributed.
Bruce fights the Robins and the Alfred question is answered in Batman vs. Robin #3

Bruce Wayne's inner demons are weaponized as he fights the Bat family in Batman vs. Robin #3
CIBC First Caribbean celebrates eight exceptional employees

The five women and three men and their guests embarked on a cruise from Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner in January, as part of their reward for exceptional performance in the areas of leadership, sales, management and process improvement.

They joined hundreds of other winners in the groups Achievers programme from across the CIBC global network, in addition to several senior officers of the banks parent company.

CIBC First Caribbean said the celebrations continued recently in Barbados, when the top performers were given a red carpet welcome and meet-andgreet at the banks regional headquarters, the Michael Mansoor Building in Warrens, to start a weekend of further celebration with the banks senior executives led by CEO, Gary Brown.

Brown said the winners were the best of the best for the bank, and praised them for their commitment and contribution to CIBC FirstCaribbeans success.

These continue to be challenging times in a lot of our markets and relationships with our clients are what will distinguish us from the competition.

We continue to build our business, one client at a time and each of these Achievers has proved that client relationships are paramount. Brown added, I have stressed to our people that we should all be doing something each and every day to positively affect the client experience and that we should all come to work knowing that our clients are pretty much the only reason we have for coming in each day. Through our brand promise we have committed to deliver for our clients, to ensure we are there for them when they need us. Our winners are fine examples of our bank doing that. An awards dinner at Champers Restaurant on Barbados south coast as well as an island tour with lunch at the historic Sunbury Plantation capped the weekend of celebrations.

The winners were as follows: 1) The Bahamas: Lorraine Johnson, Branch Manager for exemplary leadership, Sonia Rutherford, Senior Corporate Manager, for outstanding sales.

2) Barbados: Karen Bannister, Sales Specialist, outstanding sales, Gregory Blackman, Manager, Sales and Business Development, exemplary leadership, Sheldene Pinder, Platinum Relationship Manager, outstanding sales.

3) Cayman Islands: Dallas Neatham, Private Banker for outstanding relationship management.

4) Jamaica: Shaune Sewell, Sales Specialist, outstanding sales, Regional Head Office: Graeme Best, Systems Analyst, for process improvement.
Regus opens in TT

The multinational corporation was founded in Brussels, Belgium, in 1989, and is based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. It is listed on the Stock Exchange and has a market cap of STG2.9B.

Regus TT is located at Level 2 of the Invaders Bay Tower and has 61 offices of varying sizes, 172 work stations, two meeting rooms, including a board room, and two business lounges.

Linehan said, Our objective with this centre was to create a world class working environment where businesses, large and small could come and do what they do best. We at Regus look after the rest.

He said the physical infrastructure was matched by impressive technical features. We have invested heavily in a world class IT infrastructure with Cisco HP, Dell and Canon equipment. High speed Wi-Fi exists throughout the centre and dedicated data points are brought to each office with CAT6 cabling.

Pricing is all-inclusive, covering rent, office furniture, utilities, phones and phone lines, internet and Wi-Fi, access to administrative support, help with tasks like document collation or arranging couriers, access to a printer, scanner and photocopier, kitchen amenities, office cleaning and round the clock building security. It really is plug and play, said Linehan. Regus clients can also access all Regus 3000 business lounges across the world.

Trade Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon thanked Dominic Hadeed, chairman of Domhad Properties Limited and Ralph Bizzy Williams of Williams Officers (Caribbean) Limited, both of whom have partnered with the Regus franchise to TT, for their investments. Thats the kind of versatility that is needed especially to survive difficult economic times, and that is the kind of broad base thinking that we want. It is going to be single-minded as a business person but it is always good as well to ensure that you are very broad based in your operations, so I congratulate both business men on that, the minister said.

Trinidad and Tobago is and continue to be attractive to investors due to the following attributes. Easy access to the Americas; easy location for transhipment for exports; preferential access to the markets of CARICOM and other regional and international markets through trade agreements and arrangements with the US, Canada and the European Union; low cost energy; access to an educated, skilled and competitive labour pool; developed communications infrastructure; access to general physical centres; and more than ever the stability of the current government.
Guyana, the next Caribbean frontier?

The Finance Minister also informed that in 2014 the price of natural gas averaged at US$6 per MMBTU and in 2016 dipped to less than US$2 per MMBTU. It was also reported that Petrotrin had incurred losses of TT$4.2 billion between 2011 and 2016.

On two occasions and within a nine-month period, the government withdrew US$626 billion from the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund. In December 2016, the Central Bank issued TT$1billion worth of bonds on the local market and now there are plans to access a further US$300 million from Andean Corporation, a bank established in 1970 in Caracas, Venezuela.

These economic realities are pressed against continuing forex and natural gas shortages negatively affecting both energy and non-energy industries. Added to this are the recent announcements of closures of State companies, and the creeping but increasing loss of jobs in the private sector. One can therefore conclude that there is an accelerating downward spiralling in our economy.

Contributions from taxation, tourism, and other actors in the service and manufacturing sectors simply cannot offset the loss of substantial earnings from the energy industries. While we are trying to manage our economic woes, right in our backyard, energy giant ExxonMobil has discovered over a billion barrels of recoverable crude oil some 200 km offshore Guyana. Production is set to begin in 2019, with a daily estimate of 100,000 barrels. This discovery has prompted the World Bank to upgrade Guyanas economic classification to upper middle income, thereby improving its eligibility to loans from the World Bank.

What can this mean for Trinidad and Tobago? Firstly, Guyana has no refinery capabilities but is now assessing the feasibility of building one. At the recently held Guyana Oil and Gas Conference Petrotrins VP Refining and Marketing, Astor Harris suggested that Petrotrin has the capacity to refine Guyanas crude by reducing its importation of international crude in preference to Guyanas production, which from all accounts would be economically feasible.

We also know that this year Guyana will start building an onshore US$500 million oil and gas facility to facilitate separation and testing of oil and gas, expected to create 600 new jobs in the short and medium term. This project should be of interest to Trinidad and Tobago, particularly the recently appointed Restructuring Committee whose members are to examine Petrotrins operation.

It is my view that our human capital assets at Petrotrin and the wider energy sector possess the capabilities to be active players in this first project. Is there a plan to exploit this opportunity? We need to beat the iron while it is hot or we may be left behind although we are so geographically close to Guyana.

Already FURGO, an international company established in the Netherlands has formed an alliance with Ground Structures Consultants Ltd to facilitate training of Guyanese citizens and to support local economic development. They provide geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions for large constructions, infrastructure and natural resources.

Such an arrangement, I am sure, must be based on formal arrangements between the Guyana government and these extra-regional service providers. This therefore raises two important questions:

1. Where is the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the governments of TT and Guyana for technical cooperation and support?

2. Does the arrangement with FURGO constitute a breach of the CARICOM Treaty which provides preferential mechanisms between Member States for the supply of goods and services?

With my limited knowledge of the oil and gas business, we could probably do well in outsourcing our energy-based skills and reengineer the use of our refinery, to ensure Petrotrins long-term sustainability. This, I am sure must be at the forefront of the members of the Restructuring Committee as well as the leadership of the OWTU.

Supporting the people of Guyana through our business development and technical expertise should not be limited to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago alone. It is obvious that private sector capital from TT will be more than useful in exploring energy development opportunities in Guyana. Such capital explorations will be bolstered by the fact that it will accompanied with the prerequisite human resource skills and know-how from a well-experienced work-pool. In this regard, it was indeed refreshing to observe Massy Energys presence at last weeks Oil and Gas Conference.

Our government and private sector must proactively and aggressively capitalise on the opportunities Guyana now presents. Although this will result in an outflow of human capital, I am confident that at this time we possess the resources to accommodate such intellectual outflows. Indeed, this could well be a timely and opportune development right on our doorstep with both Guyana and Surinam as Trinidad has a surplus of trained skilled process operators, who, in many instances are head-hunted internationally.

There are many big players in the international market who can offer the Guyanese government much more access and support. The question therefore is can the government and private sector in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago work together so that both countries achieve a win-win for the region as members of CARICOM?
Rowley: NGC facing $4.5B in claims

He also disclosed that notwithstanding energy multinational BPs decision not to fabricate the platform for the Angelin project in La Brea, we did extract a commitment from BP, to give serious consideration for some of these construction projects to be directed to La Brea, at the earliest possible opportunity. Rowley updated the House of Representatives on his discussions with BP and other energy multinationals in Houston between March 29 to 31. Responding to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessars query as why these discussions could not have taken place in TT, Rowley said, the question makes absolutely no sense! This is not a discussion between TT and Trinidadians. This is a discussion between the leadership and decision makers in board rooms abroad...so I had to go there to meet them. Stressing he had no power to bring any of them to TT, Rowley said Persad-Bissessar has clearly shown the country how the PP created major problems in the energy sector, through its actions and inactions.

Reminding MPs that the first gas contract with Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd (MHTL) expired on April 14, 2013, Rowley said, NGC did not negotiate a contract for the MTHL M-iv plant but rather, kept rolling over on a month-to-month basis, while experiencing an increasing shortage of gas. He said failure to deal with gas shortages from 2011 to 2015, resulted in billions of dollars in claims for gas curtailments being made against the NGC. He said MTHL, Caribbean Nitrogen Company, Nitrogen (2000) Unlimited and Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited made respective claims of $2.6 billion, $682 million, $686.6 million and $543.9 million.

The Prime Minister said this resulted in NGC being unable to provide 36 percent of the natural gas it was contracted to supply. He said this led to production in the Starfish and Dolphin fields both dropping to zero. However, Rowley said the Energy Ministry and NGC have successfully negotiated with Shell for, 100 million cubic feet per day until December 31, 2017. Noting that Governments responsibility to the population mirrors the responsibility BP has to its shareholders, Rowley said BP was informed that even as TT seeks to re-establish itself as a place to invest in the hydrocarbon business, Government would not have agreed to a 100 percent tax write off on capital expenditure in one year, as happened under the PP.
Process, fair and transparent

Addressing an installation ceremony for three new appointees as Puisne Judges to the Supreme Court at Presidents House in St Anns, CJ Archie responded to concerns raised by attorney and UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen and others in the legal profession, about the process by which judges are appointed.

Archie said the criteria has been made public, through legal notice, since April 2000. This is no secret, your Excellency (President Anthony Carmona), all of these criteria have been laid bare since April 2000 in legal notice. So, this is information in the public domain and, if anybody wishes, they can check it out and to remind themselves, he said during the simple function.

Those elevated to the position of High Court judge are Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, Registrar Kevin Ramcharan and Acting Senior Magistrate Avason Quinlan-Williams, wife of Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. It was the first time in the history of the TT legal profession that two sitting magistrates were promoted to High Court judge, on the same day.

Archie said the newly-appointed judges each have previous experience as judicial officers and as such, are well-positioned to assume their new roles. Everyone of these candidates has previous experience as a judicial officer, Archie said, adding that candidates for positions on the High Court bench are subjected through, one of the most rigorous selection processes I think you can find anywhere in the region or the Commonwealth. Saying he is well aware of criticisms levelled against him for, my irritation at what I considered to be unfair and uninformed criticism of appointments in the past, the CJ said he felt it necessary to lay bare the process, because we really do take a lot of trouble to find the best people. Archie said the Judiciary is the only branch of Government which has published and publicly articulated the criteria for appointment That is not to say that the other two arms of the State do not have very worthy and competent people.

But we declare publicly what we consider, he said. We consider professional competence, legal knowledge and training, intellectual and analytical ability, communication skills organisational skills, interest in developing the law.

We consider the integrity of applicants , honesty, fairness, ethical standard, independence, commitment to public service.

We look at their temperament, courtesy, humility, emotional balance, authority, social awareness , receptiveness to ideas, ability to listen and reliability and experience. The CJ said applicants also were required to take a written examination.

Every candidate would have been subjected to a rigorous interview, he said.

I am surprised that some of them have not changed their minds. But the fact that they have survived and come through that process successfully I think is testament to the calibre of persons we have appointed to the bench today.
Rio Claro teen missing

A media release from the police service stated that the teen of Enid Village in Rio Claro was last seen in San Fernando on April 10.

Patrick was spotted walking along High Street at about 5.15 pm. She never returned home.

Patrick is of African descent, 5 feet tall, medium build and dark brown in complexion.

She was last wearing a black and white dress with a black hat and sandals.

A Missing Persons report was lodged at the Rio Claro Police Station by her mother Jennifer Byneal.

Anyone with information can contact 800-TIPS, 911 or the nearest police station.
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For such an age-old problem, it's gotten surprisingly little scientific study. But now physicists at Berkeley think they've figured out why the knots of our shoelaces come untied, reports the BBC. Through slow-motion video, they found that it's a complex combination of stomping (your foot hitting the ground) and swinging (your leg gearing up for the next step). The forces exerted on the laces are surprisingly high, "more than twice the g-force astronauts feel during a typical rocket launch," in the words of the Christian Science Monitor. And the unraveling happens in two stages: a slow, gradual weakening followed by sudden failure. The scientists say the work has grand implications, but ordinary folks may be more interested in a takeaway noted at Science: The research confirms that square knots are better than the familiar "granny" knots many people use.

"I've been tying it a new way for about two years now," grad student Christine Gregg, whose running was captured in the video, tells NBC News of her switch to square knots. (A slew of websites explain how to tie one, and Science also directs people to this TED Talk.) The study is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A, and researchers say it's "far from exhaustive" in that it doesn't take into account factors such as shoelace material. But as for those grand implications: "When you talk about knotted structures, if you can start to understand the shoelace, then you can apply it to other things, like DNA or microstructures," says co-author Christopher Daily-Diamond. The study is the "first step toward understanding why certain knots are better than others, which no one has really done." (Another study found that running might actually make knees healthier.)
It was a great ideauntil it really, really wasn't. Burger King on Wednesday launched a 15-second ad designed to promote the Whopper in a wholly 2017 way. A man dressed as an employee bemoans the lack of time available to explain what a Whopper is, then leans into the camera and offers this: "OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?" Any viewer who had a Google Home near the TV would see the device activated, and it would prattle off the Wikipedia entry for the burgerbut things didn't exactly go as planned. As the Verge reports, the trouble with relying on Wikipedia is that anyone can edit it, and it appears that Burger King did just that, perhaps in violation of Wikipedia's rules against "shameless self-promotion."

A first line that once framed the burger as a "signature hamburger product" was altered to reference a "flame-grilled patty made with 100% beef," and the Verge found evidence the edit was made by Burger Kings marketing chief. But the edits didn't stop there. Gizmodo describes the ad as "crashing like the ... Hindenburg" in a piece that rounds up some of the more creative edits the masses then made to the line, which variously framed the burger as being made from "rat and toenail clippings" and "100% medium-sized child" and being topped with "cyanide." But the hijinks were to be short-lived. Google, which had no hand in the commercial, apparently disabled the prompt from working within three hours of the ad's debut, reports the Verge. Wikipedia took action, too, returning the entry to its original format and locking it from editing. (Another burger ad recently made headlines.)
Consumer advocates are accusing the Education Department of caving to pressure from the student loan industry to the detriment of borrowers after Betsy DeVos rescinded two Obama administration memos Tuesday, USA Today reports. According to NBC News, the memos called for government contracts to be awarded to companies that had proven themselves good at helping borrowers instead of companies that were best at collecting debts. The memos were issued by the Obama administration due to a history of student loan companies with government contracts mistreating borrowers, Bloomberg reports.

DeVos says the memos were rescinded because they had a "lack of consistent objectives," and to lessen the burden on taxpayers. One student loan expert says the move shows the government is backing student loan companies over borrowers. "This move is a big win for companies that have run roughshod over borrowers," a former student loan ombudsman for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau tells USA Today. For example, with the Obama administration memos now revoked, one of the favorites to get an upcoming government contract is a company that was sued by the attorneys general of two states and the CFPB in January for allegedly taking advantage of borrowers to increase profits. Last month, DeVos rescinded another Obama-era memo that prohibited charging student loan borrowers huge fees in most cases. (Read more student loans stories.)
The life of a trailblazing New York judge has come to a tragicand currently unexplainedend. The body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old judge on the state's highest court, was found floating in the Hudson River on Wednesday afternoon, around a mile from her Harlem home, the New York Daily News reports. Police say there was no sign of traumatic injuries or foul play. Her husband, who reported her missing Tuesday morning, was brought in to identify the body. Abdus-Salaam became the first female Muslim judge in the US in 1994 and became the first black woman on New York's Court of Appeals when Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed her as an associate judge in 2013, the AP reports.

Abdus-Salaam grew up as one of seven children in a working-class family in Washington, DC. She started out as a public defender in Brooklyn after earning her law degree from Columbia University in 1977, the New York Times reports. "She was a pioneer," Cuomo said in a statement, per the AP. "Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come." The New York Post reports that many lawyers and judges also paid tribute to Abdus-Salaam on Wednesday. "The court has suffered a terrible blow," says Jonathan Lippman, former chief judge of the Court of Appeals. "She was a superb jurist and an even more superb human being." (Read more judge stories.)
It has been a month since Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins disappeared with 15-year-old student Elizabeth Thomaslong enough for the 50-year-old to need a refill of the medication he takes to control his blood pressure. Maury County District Attorney Brent Cooper has asked pharmacists to watch out for customers who look like Cummins or Thomas in case they surface to refill his prescription, reports ABC News. "We knew he was probably due for a refill and there was a good chance he would refill that or try to," the DA says. "If they are in Mexico, he could probably buy them without a prescription." Cummins is wanted on charges including kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.

Cooper tells WKRN that Cummins left a note for his wife the day he disappeared with the teen, saying he had a job interview and would be back later. The teacher, whose wife has filed for divorce, was apparently trying to buy himself time and throw investigators off the trail, the DA says. Cooper, who says he is willing to jeopardize the criminal case if it means getting Thomas home safely, has urged the teen to at least borrow somebody's phone and reassure people that she is OK, Fox 17 reports. "At some point, we're going to find them through good police work or a lucky break," the DA says. "We'll take either one." The only confirmed sighting of the two was at an Oklahoma City Walmart two days after they disappeared. (Read more Tad Cummins stories.)
With thousands of rape kits languishing untested in Texas, one state lawmaker devised a clever solution: crowdfunding. Rep. Victoria Neave came up with the idea after learning that many rape investigations were going nowhere because there was no money to analyze evidence collected from victims, NPR reports. The Dallas Democrat filed a bill that would ask Texans to pony up $1 or more when they stop into the DMV to renew or apply for drivers licenses. The donations would mirror those collected for veterans and other organizations, except they would be used to test DNA evidence collected in reported rapes, such as semen, hair, and fibers. If the measure passesit's cleared the House and is set for a Senate voteNeave says it could generate $1 million a year "and end the backlog of untested rape kits."

The price tag for testing a rape kit can hit $2,000, per NPR, leaving many police departments in Texas and other states balking at the expense. Neave told the New York Times in March that it's tough enough for women to muster the "courage" to report rape. When they do, she adds, "we owe it to them" to ensure the physical evidence is properly tested. It's unclear how many untested kits are in Texas, though estimates sit at about 20,000, the Daily Beast reported last month. Not everyone is impressed with the idea. "It's really horrifying that ... evidence testing for survivors is reliant on charitable donations by the public," says Kristen Lenau, a victims' advocate. "We believe the onus to test this evidence is on the state and local governments." (For one rape victim, even finding a rape kit was an ordeal.)
A Ford Taurus crashed in a yard in San Bernardino, Calif., Tuesday morning, and the accident set off a series of events that ended in a freak tragedy. The Press-Enterprise reports that after the driver lost control and struck a mailbox, his car didn't stop in that home's yard but continued down Adams Street, ultimately hitting a wooden utility pole. The impact broke the pole in two, which moved a wire into the path of the roadway, reports the AP. Minutes later, a motorcyclist identified as Fabian Zepeda, 27, drove into the wire and was decapitated. Police do not believe the driver of the Taurus was intoxicated, and he has not been arrested. (Read more car crash stories.)
Two suburban Chicago men who posed for photos holding a black Islamic State flag at a Lake Michigan beach park were arrested Wednesday on federal terrorist charges, reports the AP. An FBI sting begun in 2015 compiled evidence that Joseph D. Jones and Edward Schimenti sought to provide material support to ISIS, including by providing cellphones to an FBI operative posing as an ISIS supporter, believing the phones would be used to detonate car bombs in Syria, a 65-page complaint says. Jones, a part-time chef, and Schimenti, who worked at a cancer treatment center, drove the FBI operative to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport last week on what they thought would be the first leg of a journey to Syria.

The complaint says Schimenti told him to "drench that land ... with blood." While he helped the man he believed would go to Syria get into condition at a local gym, Schimenti conceded he wasn't close to fighting shape, the complaint says. "I'm all big, fat," he is quoted as saying. "But (God willing), the brothers will just have me be the one to cut the neck." Schimenti, who went by "Abdul Wali," also allegedly suggested homosexuals should be thrown from the Willis Tower. When asked if he ever thought about traveling to Syria, Jones, also known as "Yusuf Abdulhaqq," allegedly answered: "Every night and day." The 35-year-old men appeared Wednesday in federal court in Chicago. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. (Read more terrorism stories.)
In one of several policy shifts Wednesday, President Trump cemented his change in posture toward NATO as he stood alongside the 28-nation military alliance's leader at the White House. As a candidate, Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," saying the post-World War II organization wasn't focused on combating the growing threat from terrorism and complaining that too many members weren't paying their fair share toward defense, the AP reports. He struck an entirely different tone Wednesday, one he had been warming up to during frequent telephone conversations with his world counterparts.

"I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said of NATO at a news conference with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after they met in the Oval Office. Trump still insists that NATO members meet a 2014 agreement to boost defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product within a decade. He has backup on this point from an important ally: Stoltenberg. Currently, just the US and a handful of other countries are meeting the 2% target. (In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Trump had new positions on calling China a currency manipulator and two other policies.)
How President Trump might curtail illegal immigration is laid out in a new Department of Homeland Security memo. How he might afford it is not, reports the Washington Post. The assessment reveals plans to quickly hire 5,000 new Customs and Border Protection agentsjust 500 would cost up to $100 millionby allowing some to bypass polygraph and physical fitness tests. A portion of the entrance exam testing Spanish language skills may also be eliminated, though agents will still be required to demonstrate "the appropriate level of proficiency in Spanish," the assessment reads. A former CBP official calls such changes "preposterous," per the New York Times, but a rep for the department says the assessment is only an unapproved draft.

Though it notes funding is not guaranteed, the assessment also suggests border wall construction begin in the Rio Grande Valley and San Diego sectors. It adds at least 33,000 more detention beds have been found to house undocumented immigrants, though 2,100 remained unused as of late last year. Homeland Security is also considering expanding immigration enforcement powers to local law enforcement in at least 18 new jurisdictions, the assessment notes, while getting Mexico to hold individuals with cases in US immigration courts, who would then appear by videoconference, is another idea included. Video equipment would cost $50,000 per location, as opposed to $400,000 per location for US judges to be sent to courts at US ports of entry. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
President Trump's brief but chilly comments to the New York Post about Steve Bannon had the media scrambling to find sources willing to weigh in on one big question: Is Bannon in or out? The Washington Post spoke with 21 of the president's "aides, confidants, and allies" in a quest to answer that question. Here's what it and other media outlets are learning and speculating:

First, know that Trump added more fuel to the fire later Wednesday with a second set of brief comments about Bannon, this time during a wide-ranging Wall Street Journal interview. An excerpt: "I'm my own strategist. ... Im just saying that [Mr. Bannon] is a guy who works for me, he's a good guy. But, I make my own decision."

Though it calls him a "marked man," the Post hesitates to establish a firm position, allowing that "for now, at least, Bannon may survive the turmoil." But it has two quotes that suggest otherwise: In one, an unnamed friend uses the metaphor of a dying relative being transitioned to hospice in describing Bannon. And there's this from Newt Gingrich: "Bannon is a brilliant pirate ... but White Houses, in the end, are like the US Navy ... very hard on pirates."

The Post also suggests the Bannon-Jared Kushner friction may extend beyond Kushner. It calls out Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Trump Jr. as being bothered by what they see as an appearance of turmoil that could prove detrimental to their legacy and quest to expand Trump-brand hotels.

Though the New York Times reports that Bannon allies (who are major Trump donors) have been holing up in recent days and imagining a path forward for Bannon should he exit, it cites a well-placed source as saying no change is imminent.

And Bannon does have allies: One of them, Jeff Sessions, went to bat for him Wednesday in an interview with Laura Ingraham, per the Hill: "I'm an admirer of Steve Bannon," he said.

At FiveThirtyEight, Perry Bacon Jr. advises us to "watch not for the decline of Bannon, but for the decline of Bannonism," which Bacon names as one of the four ideological styles espoused by those near Trump. He writes that knowing who might replace Bannon would be the biggest clue, and explains the difference between Gary Cohn or Stephen Miller stepping up.

At CNN, Gregory Krieg offers up a sort of answer to Bacon's question, writing the "emerging wisdom" is that Cohn and Kushner will be in and Miller will be out. Krieg largely waves off fears that losing Bannon would mean losing his core supporters, writing Bannon "does not represent the 'silent majority' that turned the 2016 election ... [with] its uniform disdain for the political and cultural establishment. Trump does."

(Read more Steve Bannon stories.)
Nearly 50 years after a 3-year-old girl was abducted from a changing room on an Australian beachher body never foundpolice made an arrest in her murder. Now, police are asking for a family that witnessed Cheryl Grimmer's abduction to come forward. Peter William Aubrey Goodyear, who was 37 at the time, made statements to police on the day the toddler disappeared in 1970, along with wife Mavis and their two daughters, 6-year-old Karen and 5-year-old Jannette. Police are trying to track them down again now, and are asking for the public's help, the Guardian reports.

According to the Illawarra Mercury, Goodyear told reporters at the time, "I saw a little, dark man carrying a limp, blond-haired girl to the car. My daughter said to me, Daddy, why is that man carrying that little girl?'" Per Australia's ABC, a detective says that at the time, Goodyear was standing outside the girls' changing room from which Cheryl disappeared. "His wife and daughters were having a shower, [and] he was waiting outside the changing pavilion." The family is since believed to have moved to the UK. (Police are still getting tips in one of Australia's most high-profile child abduction cases, which rocked the country in 1966.)
Jonathan Martinez, the 8-year-old boy killed in Monday's San Bernardino school shooting, was "the happiest kid you'll ever meet" despite the rare genetic condition he suffered from, says teaching assistant Jennifer Downing. Jonathan was born with Williams syndrome, which affects around one in 10,000 people and causes developmental delays as well as heart problems, the AP reports. But the genetic condition, which the boy's family want to raise awareness of, also makes children friendly and sociable, qualities Jonathan was known and loved for at North Park Elementary, the San Bernardino Sun reports. Downing says Jonathan, who had already undergone heart surgery once, was also the best reader in the class.

Jonathan was killed in his special-needs classroom when Cedric Anderson opened fire on his estranged wife, teacher Karen Smith. Fellow teacher Diane Abrams says the boy's sweet nature makes the violent manner of his death even harder to deal with." He was so special to teach. He was curious to learn and wanted to do his very best," she tells the Los Angeles Times. "He'd sit with his hands folded at his desk and look at me and say, 'Ms. Abrams, am I being an all-star?'" A GoFundMe page set up to help the family has so far raised more than $121,000 of its $10,000 goal. Nolan Brandy, the 9-year-old boy wounded in the shooting, was still in the hospital Wednesday but was recovering and in good spirits, his family says. (Read more school shooting stories.)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned Thursday that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas toward Japan, as international concern mounted that a missile or nuclear test by the authoritarian state could be imminent. "There is a possibility that North Korea is already capable of shooting missiles with sarin as warheads," Abe told a parliamentary panel when asked about Japan's readiness at a time of increased regional tension. A US navy aircraft carrier is heading toward the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang prepares for the 105th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung this weekend. The Guardian reports there is speculation the country could stage a missile test around the birthday celebration or on April 25, which marks the 85th anniversary of the Korean People's Army.

North Korea has been producing chemical weapons since the 1980s and is now estimated to have as many as 5,000 tons, according to a South Korean defense white paper. Its stockpile reportedly has 25 types of agents, including sarin, reports the AP. Japan, under its postwar constitution, has limited the role of its military to self-defense only and relied on the US for offensive and nuclear capability. But recently, Abe's ruling party has proposed that Japan should bolster its missile defense, including upgrading the capability to shoot down an enemy missile. China weighed in on the overall situation Thursday, per Reuters, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying, "Military force cannot resolve the issue. ... Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks." (Read more North Korea stories.)
In a new interview with AFP, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the US, "hand-in-glove with the terrorists," "fabricated" the suspected chemical weapons attack that killed at least 87, including many children, in a rebel-held town. The reason for the "fabrication"? The US wanted "a pretext" for its airstrike on Syrian forces, Assad says. He insists the Syrian government had already given up all its chemical weapons in 2013, and says it's "not clear" an attack even happened on April 4. "You have a lot of fake videos now," he says. "We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhun. Were they dead at all?" CNN notes that Assad's assertion is contradicted by not just eyewitnesses, but independent analysts. Reuters reports that the British delegation at the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW said Thursday samples from Khan Sheikhun tested positive for sarin gas.

As for the US airstrike in response, Assad insists his forces are still as strong as ever: "Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike." CNN notes the restrictions placed on the AFP interview, most notably that it was filmed by the Syrian government, not AFP, and footage of only the first five questions was handed over to AFP. Meanwhile, Russia says the US broke international law with the strike, but President Trump reaffirmed Wednesday that he has "absolutely no doubt we did the right thing." During an appearance in Washington with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump also said that he hopes Russia didn't know about the alleged chemical weapons attack in advance, "but certainly they could have. They were there. So we'll find out." (Click for more on US-Russia relations, which are at a "low point.")
The United Airlines passenger forcibly removed from a plane is speaking out through his lawyer and daughter. Attorney Thomas Demetrio said at a news conference Thursday that Dr. David Dao is out of the hospital but will need reconstructive surgery, reports the AP. The 69-year-old suffered a "significant" concussion, a broken nose, and also lost two front teeth, says Demetrio. He adds that the ordeal was "more harrowing" for his client than fleeing Vietnam decades ago, per MarketWatch. At the news conference, one of Dao's five children thanked people for their support and expressed disbelief at what unfolded.

"What happened to my dad should never have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstances," said Crystal Pepper, per People. "We were horrified and shocked and sickened to see what had happened to him." Demetrio said he likely will file a lawsuit on Dao's behalf, adding that airlinesand United in particularhave long "bullied" passengers. He also said the city of Chicago might be liable given that the officers who pulled Dao off the plane belong to a city police force that guards Chicago's two main airports. United CEO Oscar Munoz has apologized for the "truly horrific" incident and promised a review of policies. One change already: United will no longer ask police to remove passengers. (Read more United Airlines stories.)
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Bengaluru:

The countrys second-largest IT services firm Infosys on Thursday reported a marginal growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,603 crore for the quarter ended March 2017.

Infosys will also pay up to Rs 13,000 crore to shareholders during 2017-18 by way of dividend and/or share buyback. It has named Independent Director Ravi Venkatesan co-Chairman of the company.

Net profit came in 0.2 per cent higher than Rs 3,597 crore in the same period previous year, according to a BSE filing by Infosys.

Revenue of the Bengaluru-based company grew 3.4 per cent to Rs 17,120 crore in the March quarter compared to Rs 16,550 crore in the same period of 2015-16, it added.

ALSO READ | Anonymous parcel containing anthrax powder arrives at Infosys in Chennai, demands Rs 500 crore

Here are the Live updates:

Here is a summary of Infosys' Q4 2017 results and FY 2017 results:

Revenue at Rs. 68,484 crores for year ended Mar 31, 2017; YoY growth 9.7 percent

Net profit at Rs. 14,353 crores for year ended Mar 31, 2017; YoY growth 6.4 percent

Gross addition of 9,130 employees in Q4 FY17

Client count 71 new clients added in Q4 FY17; Total count 1162

Basic EPS at Rs. 15.77; growth of 0.2% YoY



Consolidated revenue of the company also declined 0.89 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and 3.44 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 17120 crore for the quarter under review.

#10:40 AM:

Rs 13,000 crore payout to shareholders via dividend or share buyback in FY18



#10:32 AM:



Revenue growth to USD 20 billion by 2020 is an aspiration, stresses Sikka. We are intensely focussing on cost, he said. Revenue per employee is already more than USD 100,000. Dual focus will be on automation and software, he said.



#10:26 AM:

Capital allocation takes into account capital expenditure requirements, says Ranganath. We generated USD 1.7 billion in cash.



#10:18 AM

Pravin Rao, COO, Infosys, says there have been easing of regulatory pressures in the US.



#10:14 AM

FY17 cash from operations crossed USD 2 billion. The company focussed on efficiency and margins, says Ranganath



#10:05 AM

Revenues were Rs 68,484 crore for year ended Mar 31, 2017; YoY growth of 9.7%.Operating profit Rs 16,901 crore, YoY growth of 8.2%: Infosys

#10:02 AM

Infosys expects revenues to grow 6.5%-8.5% in constant currency(2017-18)

#10:00 AM

Infosys Board has appointed Ravi Venkatesan, Independent Director as Co-Chairman of the board

#09:55 AM

Infosys Board has appointed Ravi Venkatesan, Independent Director as Co-Chairman of the board



The company expects its 2017-18 revenue to grow between 6.1 per cent and 8.1 per cent in dollar terms and 6.5-8.5 per cent in constant currency terms. On a sequential basis, Infosys net profit fell 2.8 per cent while revenue declined 0.9 per cent.

Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said, Unanticipated execution challenges and distractions in a seasonally soft quarter affected our overall performance.

#WATCH LIVE : Infosys announces results for the Quarter & Year ended March 31. https://t.co/hQnj8LrjXV  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

He added: Looking ahead, it is imperative that we increase our resilience to the dynamics of our environment and we remain resolute in executing our strategy, path to transform Infosys and drive long term value for all stakeholders.

In US dollars, Infosys net profit was up 1.8 per cent at USD 543 million for the March quarter while revenue grew 5 per cent to USD 2.5 billion.

For the full year, net profit grew 4.3 per cent to USD 2.1 billion while revenue was up 7.4 per cent to USD 10.2 billion. The board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 14.75 per share for 2016-17.
New Delhi:

Withdrawal of tampered EVMs brought from Rajasthan for MCD polls has been demanded by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He said only VVPAT equipped voting machines should be used in the elections.

In his letter to State Election Commissioner S K Srivastava, he also demanded that state and nationally recognised parties should be allowed to examine EVMs to be used in the elections.

The AAP national convener sought to know why the SEC asked for Generation 1 EVMs, which are most the insecure with the least security features, to conduct MCD elections.

We are really surprised that you (Srivastava) did not ask for VVPAT machines...Recent incidents of EVM manipulations from Dholpur show that the BJP has successfully managed to tamper the code/software of EVMs in Rajasthan because the state has BJP government and all machines are in their custody, he alleged in the letter.

Kejriwal said he strongly opposed the use of machines sourced from Rajasthan for the MCD elections.

Why are you insisting on conducting MCD polls with Rajasthan machines when it is clear that they are tampered. We demand that all these machines should be immediately withdrawn, he added.

Kejriwal said there were around 15,000 EVMs available in the city which were sufficient to conduct the elections.

All state and nationally recognised parties should be allowed for technical examination of the machines which are being used for the MCD elections. We also demand that the MCD elections should be held only and only with VVPAT machines, Kejriwal said.

Noting the Supreme Court has categorically said that all elections should be held with VVPAT machines, he sought to know why the commission did not make an attempt to procure the machines.

You (Srivastava) will have to walk an extra mile to restore that faith. Else it would be very dangerous for our democracy. I hope you accept our demands as promptly as you have been accepting BJPs demands so far, he added.

He said that public faith has been seriously eroded in the entire electoral process and EVMs.

Earlier this week, Kejriwal had hit out at the Election Commission, claiming that the poll body was acting like Dhritarashtra to help son Duryodhana (BJP) win the polls.

The AAP leader had also alleged that the Commissions only intention was to bring the BJP to power in poll-bound states and that is why it was not paying heed to his request to investigate defective EVMs.

Also read: Faulty EVMs: EC is 'dhitrashtra', will do everything to secure win for 'dhuryodhan' BJP: Kejriwal

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Chandigarh:

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser. Amarinder said that he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month.

Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father, the Chief Minister alleged during a programme in a private TV channel.

There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them, he claimed.

On the issue of beef ban, the Punjab Chief Minister said, people has the right to and should be allowed to eat whatever they want.

Amarinder also made it clear he was not in favour of a ban on Pakistani artistes, and said he would be happy to invite them to Punjab and would also love to visit Pakistan again.

Urging New Delhi to be wary of China on the other border, he said it is time to mend fences and make friends with Pakistan.

Also read: EVM tampered? Had machines been fixed, I wouldnt be sitting here: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

Recalling Englands War of Roses, the Chief Minister said the India-Pakistan tension is going the same way and needs to give way to peace.

Asserting that there a deliberate malicious attempt by vested interests to pull down Rahul Gandhi, he urged the people to give the Congress vice president a chance.

Amarinder said he had always found Rahul Gandhi extremely perceptive and willing to listen, besides being open to suggestions and ideas.

He admitted that the AAP had posed a challenge in the recently-concluded assembly polls, and claimed that their failure to project a Punjabi for the Chief Ministers post cost them heavy.

AAP had no future unless they change their style of functioning, the Chief Minister said and states have to work with the Centre and it is important to maintain a working relationship.

Also read: Adani shows investment interest in Punjab, meets Amarinder

Amarinder claimed that He had excellent relations with the previous NDA government at the Centre during his last tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Referring to his government?s crackdown on drugs, he said with the STF launching a crackdown, things were moving in the right direction.

Hundreds of youngsters were voluntarily coming to the rehabilitation centres and the anti-drugs helpline had so far received more than 4,000 calls, Amarinder said.

He, however, ruled out formation of an Unified Command of the northern Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir, to fight drugs and terrorism.

Responding to a question, Amarinder said though the NIA had given a clean chit to former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh in the Pathankot terror attack, he had not done the same and would bring the police officer to book.

On the contentious SYL issue, the Chief Minister reiterated his stand that the state had no water to spare and pointed out that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken note of his concern on the issue.

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New Delhi:

Culture minister Mahesh Sharma on Thursday came under attack in Rajya Sabha as he questioned the mythological history, saying the birthplace of Goddess Sita was a matter of faith and the Opposition saying there was no historic evidence.

The minister, however, defended his written reply claiming there was no question mark over the birthplace of Sita and he had said in his response that the Valmiki Ramayana mentions it.

During the Question Hour, BJP member Prabhat Jha sought details about the development of the Sitamarhi region in Bihar which he said was not a disputed birthplace.

Sharma replied saying that a Ramayana circuit planned by the government which included the Sitamarhi area.

However, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh immediately got up and said he condemns the ministers reply which said that the birthplace of Sita is a matter of faith.

To say that the birthplace of Sita, the wife of mythological king Rama, was a matter of faith, shows that it does not rely on direct evidence, he said.

The Archaeological Survey of India has not carried out any excavation in the district of Sitamarhi so far and hence it does not have any historical proof regarding Sitamarhi as the birthplace of Sita, Singh said.

In his written reply, the Minister had said however, Sita has been mentioned as having been born in Mithila region in Valmiki Ramayana which is presently dated 2nd Century BC.

Attacking the ruling party, Singh said the BJP had raised objections to a similar reply made by an earlier Congress-led government on the Ram Setu between India and Sri Lanka.

It is a chain of shoals from the Dhanushkodi tip of Indias Pamban Island and ends at Sri Lankas Mannar Island.

By saying that it is a matter of faith, is it implied that there is no proof? Does the government have proof of their swayamvar (Rama and Sitas marriage), Singh asked mockingly. He demanded an apology from Sharma for his reply.

Other opposition members including Jaya Bachchan of SP, JD(U) MP Anil Kumar Sahani and Ambika Soni of Congress also raised objections.

However, Sharma maintained that there were no question over Sitas birthplace and that his reply had pointed to the Valmiki Ramayana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi present during the discussion.

Amid the furore, CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury, in a lighter vein, drew the attention of the members to his name, prompting Deputy Chairman M Hamid Ansari to say You can be proud of your name.

BJP member Subramanian Swamy meanwhile said the government should get in touch with Sri Lanka on the Ashoka Vatika and Sanjeevani mountain which find mention in the mythological epic Ramayana.

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New Delhi:

Retirement fund body EPFOs subscribers will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at the time of retirement for contributing to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years, the EPFO board has decided.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisations (EPFO) apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), has recommended a minimum sum assured of Rs 2.5 lakh in the event of death of a subscriber.

The CBT has recommended amending the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) to provide for minimum benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh and loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000 at a meeting held yesterday, a senior official said.

Also Read: 4 crore EPF beneficiaries can soon settle claims through UMANG mobile app

The suggested benefits will be available to members after government approval. Initially, these will be provided for two years on a pilot basis and will be reviewed thereafter.

According to the proposal, loyalty-cum-life benefit will be provided to all those members on retirement at 58 or 60 years who have contributed to the scheme for 20 years or more.

The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability. In these cases, the members who have contributed to the EDLI scheme for less than 20 years will be eligible.

Those members whose average basic wages are up to Rs 5,000 will get loyalty-cum-life benefit of Rs 30,000. Similarly, the members with wages of Rs 5,001-10,000 Will be eligible for Rs 40,000 benefit.

All those members getting more than Rs 10,000 monthly wage will be eligible for Rs 50,000 loyalty-cum-life benefit under the proposed scheme.

The board has recommended such benefits in view of a huge EDLI corpus of Rs 18,119 crore following addition of interest that accrued on investment of this fund.

At present, the dependants of the deceased get a sum assured of up to Rs 6 lakh. There is no provision of minimum insurance and any benefit for surviving members or in cases of permanent disability under the scheme.

Read More: Amazon India to foray into mobile wallet space, gets RBI licence

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya launched Aadhaar Seeding Application after the meeting. The EPFO has developed this application with support of Common Service Centres (CSCs) and C-DAC.

The CSCs are ICT-enabled front-end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of government and private services.

With the implementation of the seeding application, a PF member or pensioner can now walk into any of the field offices of EPFO or CSC outlets with UAN and Aadhaar and seed them.

The EPFO enrolled 49,39,929 workers during January-March 2017. It had launched a special enrolment scheme to cover leftout formal sector workers from January 2017.

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Mumbai:

A special court to hear cases under the PMLA in Mumbai has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in connection with a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate sought the NBW against Naik, saying that the preacher has not joined the investigation so far.



The central probe agency, which moved the court earlier this week, had said that although Naik was served summons repeatedly, he had failed to appear before it.



It said Naik needed to be questioned in connection with the money laundering.



The ED registered a criminal case against Naik and others last December after taking cognisance of an NIA complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

ALSO READ | Mumbai court reserves order on ED's plea for non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik



The ED is looking into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused in the case and the subsequent proceeds of crime thus generated.



Naik, 51, who is said to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after some perpetrators of the Dhaka terror strike last year claimed they were inspired by him, has been booked along with unnamed Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) officials under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) of the IPC, besides various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). \

ALSO READ | Zakir Naik PMLA case: ED attaces Rs 18.37 crore of Islamic Research Foundation

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to include Urdu as language in National Eligibility cum Entrance test (NEET) exam from academic session 2018-19 onwards.

ALSO READ | NEET in Urdu: Student body accuses govt of 'communal thinking'

A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar told the petitioner, who has sought a direction for making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017 scheduled on May 7, that it would not be possible for the government to include Urdu this year.



We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards, the bench said.



When the counsel for the petitioner insisted that Urdu language should be included in NEET examination from this year itself, the bench said, the whole problem is that this year it is not possible.



There are lots of difficulties. Please try to understand that we cant ask them (Centre) to do miracles. The examination is on May 7 and today is April 13. Lots of process is involved in this, the bench said.



Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said that they were not opposed to the suggestion of conducting NEET examination in Urdu medium also from 2018 academic year onwards.



The solicitor general had on March 31 told the Supreme Court that a students body seeking NEET examination in Urdu language has accused the Centre of being communal.



The submission was made while referring to the affidavit filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad.



The Centre had told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year.



On March 3, a bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R Banumathi had issued notice to Centre and MCI and had sought their response on why NEET could not also be conducted in Urdu language, the sixth most spoken language in the country.

The Centre had then argued in apex court that it is open to the idea of conducting NEET exam in Urdu language from 2018-19 and not in the current session (2017).

The Centre had also said that no state represented to conduct NEET exam in Urdu when a meeting was conducted on 16, November 2016, however they later asked for the inclusion of the language in NEET 2017.

At present, NEET is being conducted in ten languages Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada languages.



The court had earlier sought reply from the Centre, MCI, DCI and CBSE on the plea suggesting making Urdu as a medium for NEET 2017.

(With inputs from PTI)



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New Delhi :

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that Pakistan has denied all request for consular access of Kulbhushan Jadhav to India and its so called legal process is opaque. India had made 13 requests for consular access.

While addressing media MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan has not shared any details of Jadhavs location and about his health till date.

Pakistan has not shared with us till now any details of Kulbhushan Jadhav's location or how he is, he said.

Baglay said Jadhav is a retired naval officer and he was kidnapped in Iran and taken to Pakistan. India had informed last year Pakistan about Kulbhushan Jadahav, he said.

Pakistan has not shared with us till now any details of #KulbhushanJadhav 's location or how he is: Gopal Baglay,MEA pic.twitter.com/XQVtnMMWJo  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

He said Pakistan had requested India to help in probing Kubhushan Jadhav's role, and their request itself showed that they had no specific proof against Jadhav. Baglay said if they send Jadhav to gallows, it would be premeditated murder, as India had already stated on the issue.

The MEA spokesperson said Kubhushan has become India's sentiment and his not mere an Indian citizen, but his name himself reflect India as a family (Kul).

"We had also informed the government of Iran As Jadhav was residing in Iran and had operating his business in a legal manner,"he said.

Also Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav row: Not in a position to comment on issue, says United Nations

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Mumbai:

A demonstration was held by members of various right-wing organisations led by the Hindu Jan Jagriti Samiti in central Mumbai on Thursday demanding the release of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been awarded death sentence by a military court in Pakistan.

Organisations like Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti, Swarajya Hindusthan Pratishthan, Bajrang Dal, Sanatan Sanstha participated in the protest, wherein they shouted slogans against Pakistan by holding banners in their hands.

Hindu Jan Jagriti Samiti demanded that Pakistan should rather dare hang the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, and Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who is hiding in that country.

Pakistan has always resorted to oneupmanship while dealing with Bharat. Jadhavs case is an example of this. His case was purposefully heard in a military court so as to refuse him an opportunity to defend himself, and the decision to hang him was taken, said Samiti spokesperson Uday Dhuri.

He said Jadhav was a patriot who had served as an officer in Indian Navy.

Pakistan should rather show the courage to apprehend and hang the Lashkar-E-Taiba co-founder Hafiz Saeed or infamous goon Dawood Ibrahim, instead of hanging Jadhav, Dhuri demanded.

He said, If Pakistan still ignores our concerns, then India should stop Sindhu river water and close embassies in both the countries to teach Pakistan a lesson.

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Chennai :

A delegation of DMK leaders on Wednesday met Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao in Mumbai and demanded dismissal of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisami alleging that he and some ministers in his cabinet indulged in "large scale bribery of voters" in the run up to the R K Nagar Assembly bypoll.

The delegation met the Governor, who also holds charge of Tamil Nadu, at the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum highlighting the party's demands in the wake of tax officials questioning Health Minister C Vijayabaskar in an alleged tax evasion case.

It also demanded a CBI probe in the matter.

The delegation comprised DMK leaders R S Bharathi, TKS Elangovan and Tiruchi N Siva.

The memorandum alleged that there had been "large-scale bribery of voters" indulged in by Palanisami and his Cabinet ministers, including Vijayabaskar in R K Nagar Assembly constituency.

It alleged that there were "corrupt practices, penal offenses involved" and sought "disqualification and dismissal of the CM and other ministers named in the IT raids."

The memorandum was signed by TN Opposition leader and DMK Working President M K Stalin. "I, therefore, request honourable Governor to call for the resignation of Thiru Edappadi Palanisami, Chief Minister, and the following ministers: K A Sengottaiyan, Dindigul C Srinivasan, P Thangamani, S P Velumani, D Jayakumar, Sellur K Raju, M C Sampath, V M Rajalakshmi, Velamandi N Natarajan, S Valarmathi forthwith and on failure to do so, to dismiss them from the office held by them so as to uphold the constitutional values and morality and oblige.

"I also request your good offices to appropriately advise Union government to institute a CBI probe into this massive corruption of the Council of Ministers belonging to AIADMK government in the interest of democracy and the state," said the memorandum.

The Income Tax Department officials had earlier this week questioned Vijayabaskar and actor-politician Sarath Kumar in an alleged tax evasion case.

It also conducted searches at the official residence and properties owned by Vijayabaskar and at Sarath Kumar's home in Chennai on April 7.

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 originally scheduled for April 12.

The Election Commission has cancelled the bypoll, saying the electoral process had been "seriously vitiated" by parties through the use of money power.

"Palanisami and his Cabinet belongs to the AIADMK (Amma) faction headed by one T T V Dinakaran against whom a FERA case is underway," it said.

"Dinakaran began campaigning in the constituency and simultaneously indulged in the bribing of voters. He, along with his puppet Chief Minister Eddapadi Palanisami and his puppet cabinet ministers, particularly Vijayabaskar, appears to have entered into a criminal conspiracy to spend nearly Rs 100 crore of ill-gotten wealth to bribe each voter in the constituency," the memorandum said.

The documents seized by the IT Department in the house of Vijayabaskar show "detailed accounts of bribes given to about 2.24 lakh voters out of 2.63 lakhs voters in the ," it alleged.

"These documents show that the persons involved in the distribution of money are as follows: Chief Minister Eddapadi Palanisami; Ministers-- K A Sengottaiyan, Dindigul C Srinivasan, P Thangamani, S P Velumani, D Jayakumar, Sellur K Raju, M C Sampath, V M Rajalakshmi, Velamandi N Natarajan, S Valarmathi, and R Vaithilingam, Rajya Sabha MP," it said.

The documents show "beyond doubt" that the official machinery of the state has been abused by the Chief Minister and these ministers to bribe voters and they have violated their oaths and thrown to winds constitutional morality, the memorandum alleged.





It urged the Governor to immediately direct the Chief Minister and the other ministers named in the documents seized from Vijayabaskar to resign, and if they failed to do so, dismiss them as they lack proprietary to hold office.

"No other state in India has had the ignominy of having its sitting Chief Minister and Council of Ministers act as bribing agents, shamelessly tarnishing not only the office they hold but also the edifice of democracy which is manifest in the electoral process," the DMK alleged in the memorandum.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the 50th year celebrations of the IMC Ladies Wing. In a tweet, PM Modi said, he will join the programme thorough video conferencing.

The Ladies Wing of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a premier business and professional womens organisation. It has more than 2200 members, consisting of entrepreneurs, managers, professionals and women from leading business houses.

Here are the highlights of his speech:

#Women don't have to submit marriage/divorce certificate for passport. It'll be their discretion to use father/mother's name in passport



#Over 1.20 crore women belonging to weaker sections in rural areas have benefitted through Ujjwala Yojana. We aim to achieve 5 crore mark



#We are initiating measures to empower the women. We want them to shine. Over 70% people who have got loans under Mudra Yojana are women



#We have recently passed the Maternity Bill. Number of leaves have been more than doubled from 12 to 26 weeks



#Mahatma Gandhi advocated women empowerment. At the time when he returned to India, Bapu met Ganga Baa who gifted him the 'Charkha'



#Women of our country have the potential and they strive hard for success in their field

ALSO READ | Israeli Prime Minister to PM Modi: People of Israel waiting for your visit

#From Panchayats to Parliament, wells in villages to Silicon Valley, women are leading from the front

#Any sector we look at today, women are excelling and performing better day by day: PM

#The 50th year is special for any organisation & I congratulate your institution on this occasion: PM

ALSO READ | Budget Session a winner for treasury benches with passage of many bills: PM Modi

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New Delhi:

Baisakhi celebrated on April 13 or April 14, is a harvest festival that marks the beginning of solar year. The festival is generally celebrated in Northern India specially Punjab. It is celebrated to give thanks to God for a good harvest.

The festival is celebrated with zeal. People visit gurudwaras, and participate in traditional performances.

Well the festival is of utmost importance for Sikhs as on this day in 1699, their tenth Guru Gobing Singh Ji gave the order of Khalsa. Sikh community, all over the world, celebrates the festival. The traditional performances include bhangra by men and gidda by women.

So celebrate this Thanksgiving Day with an early bath and offering prayers at Gurudwaras for prosperity and fullness.

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Washington:

Americas relationship with Russia may be at an all-time low, US President Donald Trump has said, but he hoped that it would have been wonderful if the two countries could get along.

It would be wonderful as we were discussing just a little while ago, if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. Right now were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country. Were a very, very strong country. Were going to see how that all works out, Trump said.

ALSO READ | Trump, May agree to convince Russia to end support for Bashar al-Assad

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has just concluded his maiden visit to Russia during which he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ill be speaking in with Rex Tillerson in a little while, calling in. I think he had a very successful meeting in Russia. Well see. Well see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is whats most important, not just talk. And I think that based on everything Im hearing, things went pretty well, maybe better than anticipated, Trump said.

Trump hoped that the European countries would have nothing to fear from Russia.

I want to just start by saying hopefully theyre going to have to fear nothing ultimately. Right now, there is a fear. And there are problems. Theres certainly problems. But ultimately, I hope that there wont be a fear and there wont be problems and the world can get along. That would be the ideal situation, he said.

Stoltenberg said NATO and its member countries need to find ways to talk with Russia.

We believe that the precondition for a political dialogue with Russia is that we are strong and that we are united. That based on that, we can talk to Russia because Russia is our neighbour. Russia is here to stay. So we have to find ways to manage our relationship with Russia, he said.

I am absolutely certain that the US supports this approach, partly because the United States is contributing with forces to our enhanced presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and also in the southeast of the alliance in Romania.

And the US and the President has clearly expressed that they want dialogue with Russia, but based on unity and strength in the alliance, the NATO chief said. Stoltenberg said he strongly believes that the only way to deter Russia is to be strong.

But the only way to avoid a new Cold War, avoid the arms race, and avoid increasing tensions is to continue to engage Russia in a political dialogue and to make sure that what we do is defensive and proportionate in response to a more assertive Russia, he said.

The most important thing is to have a strong alliance, to stay united and be firm and predictable in our approach to Russia. And that means that we have to invest in our collective defence. Thats exactly what we are doing; deploy more troops in eastern part of the alliance; increase the readiness of our forces, and increase defence spending, he said.

Stoltenberg welcomed the very strong message from Trump on the importance of increased defence spending. We have started to do this, so we are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, providing credible deterrence, he said.

But at the same time, we have to find ways to engage with Russia, to talk with Russia. Because Russia will not go away. Russia will be our biggest neighbour. We have to find ways to live with them and to try and avoid a new Cold War, a new arms race, Stoltenberg said.

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Dhaka :

Bangladesh border guards opened fire on Thursday at a boat ferrying Rohingya migrants from neighbouring Myanmar, killing one woman and leaving four others injured, police said.

The border authorities came under fire just after midnight and shot back at two fishing trawlers along a river dividing Bangladesh from Myanmars westernmost state of Rakhine, police said.

The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) later found the boat anchored at a river island. One woman was found shot dead and four were injured, Mainuddin Khan, the police chief in the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf.

Police also discovered 28,000 yaba - or methamphetamine tablets - aboard the boat, Khan said.

Also Read: Pakistan man Saadat Amin arrested on the charges of selling child pornography on Internet

The dead woman and at least three of the injured men were Rohingya, he added.

But the head of Teknafs government-run hospital, Iskandar Mirza, said the woman identified as 50-year-old Jahida Khatun and the four injured were all Rohingya.

Her bullet-ridden body was brought to the hospital, while four injured Rohingya men were brought in, he told.

Some 75,000 Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh since October, when government forces in Myanmar unleashed a bloody crackdown on the Muslim minority.

Many recalled horrific stories of villages being torched, relatives burned alive and the gang rape of women by security forces.

Mos headed to Coxs Bazar, where overcrowded displacement camps have been housing Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution for decades.

Read More: North Korea to launch nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site

The sudden influx in recent months prompted Bangladesh to resurrect a controversial plan to relocate refugees to an undeveloped island in the Bay of Bengal.

The UN rights council has agreed to investigate allegations of rape, murder and torture against the army, though Myanmar has denied its troops have been waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies citizenship to most of the million-strong Rohingya in Rakhine, despite many living there for generations.

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New Delhi:

India will build pipelines to carry diesel and natural gas to Bangladesh as the worlds third largest energy consumer looks to strengthen ties with the neighbour.

While a 131-km pipeline will be laid from from Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in northern Bangladesh to transport diesel, a line from Dattapulia in West Bengal will take natural gas to Khulna, the third-largest city of Bangladesh.

Oil Secretary K D Tripathi on Thursday said the pipelines are part of a non-binding Framework of Understanding (FoU) which India will enter into with Bangladesh for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

The Cabinet had on Wednesday approved signing of the agreement to establish an institutional framework mechanism for facilitating and enhancing India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, he told reporters in New Delhi.

Also Read | GST bill: President Pranab Mukherjee clears four supporting legislations

As part of the cooperation, India is looking at setting up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Bangladesh, supplying diesel from Numaligarh Refineries Ltd and selling LPG, he said.

Sunjay Sudhir, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry, said during the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that a 15-year agreement to supply diesel to Bangladesh was signed.

To begin with, diesel will be supplied through train, moving one rake containing some 2,200 tonne fuel from Numaligarh Refinerys Siliguri terminal to Parbitipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corp (BPC), he said.

Till July one rake per month will be moved and thereafter two rakes a month will travel some 516 km - 253 km in India and 263 km in Bangladeshon an existing rail line to transport diesel.

He said India will bear the cost of laying the Indo-Bangla Friendship pipeline from Siliguri to Parbatipur, with a carrying capacity of 1 million tons of fuel a year.

Also, India is looking at supplying gas to Bangladesh, he said.

Read More: Pakistan has denied all request for consular access of Kulbhushan Jadhav, says MEA

Under the proposal, LNG will be imported at the under-construction Dharma terminal in Odisha and gas transported through pipeline up to Dattapulia in West Bengal. A 70-km pipeline will be laid to Khulna for moving the gas.

Tripathi said an MoU for Petronet LNG Ltd to set up a Rs 5,000 crore LNG import terminal at Kutubdia islands in Bangladesh has also been signed during Hasinas visit.

Petronet was one of the five global energy firms shortlisted for setting up the 3.5 million tonne LNG import terminal. The others shortlisted included Anglo-Dutch super-major Shell, Chinas Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering, Tractebel Engineering of Belgium and Japans Mitsui.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) is looking to transport LPG to north eastern states via Bangladesh.

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Islamabad:

The death sentence given to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav, will not be 'compromised' in spite of India's stern warning, says top military Generals of Pakistan on Thursday. The serious warning from India was that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties.



The decision was made at a Corps Commanders' conference presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military's media wing Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.



The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that "no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts", the statement said.



The Corps Commanders' conference is a key high-level forum in which all corps commanders and principal staff officers take part. Its decisions are announced through brief statements but they are considered very important.



The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief Gen Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.



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.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had warned that 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.



The top Pakistani military officials also reviewed the national security environment and recent developments in the region at the 201st conference of Corps Commanders.



They discussed the progress of nationwide operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad' and provision of support to ongoing national housing and population census, the statement said.



Gen Bajwa lauded the efforts of intelligence agencies and other law enforcers towards the successful execution of counter-terrorism operations across the country, it added.





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Lahore:

A notice has been issued by a new bench of the Lahore High court to the Pakistan and Punjab governments. The notice was issued on a petition challenging detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and his four aides.

The third bench headed by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan on Wednesday held hearing on their petition.

Earlier, the LHC chief justice changed two successive benches hearing this petition for different reasons.

The second two-member bench headed by Justice Kazim Raza Shamsi was changed because one of its members - Justice Chaudhry Mushtaq Ahmad ? was transferred while the first bench headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan was changed as the court termed it a "routine matter".

The third (new) bench headed by Justice Khan heard the arguments of advocate A K Dogar, the counsel of Saeed, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid, Qazi Kashif Hussain and Abdullah Ubaid, who had challeneged their detention under anti-terrorism law.

Dogar said the government had detained the JuD leaders without any justification. He said the UN resolution followed by the government did not seek detention of any citizen.

He alleged that the government had detained the petitioners to please India and the US.

He also questioned the powers of the Punjab government to include any citizen in the fourth schedule without trial, saying the powers solely vested with the federal government.

The court issued notices to the federal and provincial governments for submitting of their replies till next hearing on April 20.

The government on January 30 had put Saeed and the four leaders of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat under house arrest in Lahore under the country?s anti-terrorism act.

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Washington:

North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported.The 38 North analysis group described the test site as"primed and ready."

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site's Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland. There is speculation that the country could be preparinga missile launch, or even another nuclear test -- this would be its sixth -- to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America said last night, quoting USgovernment and other sources, that North Korea "has apparentlyplaced a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonatedSaturday AM Korea time." President Donald Trump's administration has been forcefulin its warnings to Pyongyang that leave military options "onthe table," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

The threat carries extra weight after the US strike on a Syrian air base last week. "We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump said. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."

He was referring to a strike group headed by the USS CarlVinson super carrier that has been re-routed to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Kim.

The strike group, which deployed with about 6,500 sailors, is still some way south, conducting exercises with the Australian navy. The US Navy already has a massive regional presence, including another carrier strike group head quartered at Yokosuka in Japan.

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Lahore:

A 45-year-old Pakistani man has been arrested for running an international child pornography racket online for which he exploited 25 children on the pretext of imparting them computer education, officials said,calling it a first-of-its-kind scandal in the country.

"We have arrested Saadat Amin, 45, from Sargodha district of Punjab province on the charges of selling child pornography on Internet," Federal Investigation Agency cyber crime wing Lahore chief Shahid Hasan told PTI.

He said the FIA has taken action after receiving a letter from the Norwegian embassy that its police had arrested a man- James Lindstone - in connection with the child pornographic content and Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan.

"We traced Amin with the help of the lead provided by the Norwegian embassy," the FIA official said and added that this scandal is a "first-of-its-kind" unearthed by FIA in the country.

The official further said the suspect had been selling child pornographic content online for last few years to customers in Norway and Sweden.

"The suspect used to lure children on the pretext ofimparting computer hardware and software education and even paid their parents. So far we have the information that some 20 to 25 children have been used by the suspect for the sexual act he filmed for the purpose. Besides he hacked thousands ofporn child content from the in accessible websites of Russia and Bangladesh which he sold online and made good bucks," the FIA official said.

"So far we have recovered more than 65,000 porn contentfrom the suspect's computer system," the FIA official said andadded the statements of the affected children will also berecorded.

The FIA said the suspect who is an "engineering graduateand a very good hacker".

"A thorough investigation is underway and we will alsoexpose other persons involved in this heinous crime," the FIAofficial said.

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Lima:

Thousands of children in Peru are at risk of severe malnutrition as a result of floods and mud slides that have killed 106 people and left countless more homeless, says UNICEF.

An estimated 15,000 children under the age of 2 living in the Andean nation's hardest hit regions don't have access to sufficient food, clean water and sanitary living conditions, UNICEF representative Maria Luisa Fornara said on Monday.

"A child can rapidly become malnourished if they don't have needed food or do not eat," Fornara said.

A warming of Pacific Ocean waters along Peru's coast has generated a series of intense storms that officials are calling the worst environmental calamity to strike the nation in nearly two decades. Floods and mud slides have destroyed thousands of homes, crippled roads and bridges and ruined agricultural lands.

Along Peru's northern coast the hardest hit region families left homeless are living in shelters and tents. In those conditions, respiratory and intestinal ailments abound and children are "the first to get sick," Fornara said.

"They live in tents when there are tents and at night they start to get cold," she said.

Also Read : UNICEF asks Myanmar to release detained Rohingya children

Nationwide, nearly 15 per cent of Peruvian children suffer from malnutrition. In many of the areas devastated by floods those numbers are even higher. In Piura, for example, 20 percent of children are considered malnourished.

"In an emergency situation, the situation is even more severe," Fornara said. "Children can fall into acute malnutrition, which is what we must prevent."

Peru's president estimates it will take USD 9 billion for the country to rebuild within five years. Humanitarian organisations are calling the international community to donate $38 million in humanitarian aid, including USD 8 million to combat malnutrition and provide assistance to children.

Yesterday, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger joined theplea for assistance, urging his followers on Twitter to support a fundraising effort to "help relieve the devastating effects of the floods in Peru."

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United Nations:

Russia has rejected a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria last week and called on the government there to cooperate with an investigation into the incident.

Russia, a permanent member of 15-nation Council, exercised the veto on Wednesday when a draft resolution drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the US was tabled in in United Nations.

While 10 of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, Russia rejected the text, as permanent member China, as well as non-permanent members Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained.

...With its veto, Russia said no to accountability. Russia said no to cooperation with the UNs independent investigation. And Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said after the resolution was failed to be adopted.

Russia once again has chosen to side with Assad even as the rest of the world including the Arab world overwhelmingly comes together to condemn this murderous regime, she said.

This was the 8th time during Syrias six-year-old civil war that Moscow used its veto power to block a resolution against Assads government.

The resolution would have strongly condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in the [Syria], in particular the attack on Khan Shaykhun, the site of last weeks incident that has drawn increasing global attention.

The measure would also had called on the Syrian government to comply with relevant recommendations of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission (FFM) and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

Before the vote, Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov said in the course of negotiations between his countrys Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow had suggested a joint communication asking the OPCW Director-General to immediately put together an international mission to visit Khan Shaykhun and the Shayrat air base.

The US Secretary of State was considering that proposal, he said, adding that the whole gamut of issues would be discussed by OPCW on April 13 at The Hague.

Putting the draft to a vote a day before that would serve no useful purpose, he emphasised.

He said Russia voted against the draft because of its erroneous contents, emphasising that his countrys concerns and priorities had been pushed aside. The main problem was that the troika of drafters had named a perpetrator before a proper investigation had been conducted, he said, adding that by presenting a doomed resolution they had undermined the Councils unity.

Im amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that he said. He said the US attack on the Syrian air base was carried out in violation of international norms.

He added that some states had expressed an anti-regime slant and a reluctance to ensure a truly impartial investigation, he said, cautioning that other incidents, involving extremists, could unfold.

Haley said the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have told it many times that Assad will not provide access to investigate.

Russia said this resolution was biased and that the Assad regime was not involved. This resolution simply emphasised the information the regime is already required to provide to investigators, she said.

Todays vote could have been a turning point. Once more, this vote could have been the moment when Russia saw that its interests do not lie with a murderous dictator, but rather with the many countries in the international community, including those across the Middle East, that want to end this conflict. By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated, she added.

UKs Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft Russia vetoed the resolution that would have supported a swift and independent investigation into the Syrian chemical weapons attack.

We?ve once again encountered a Russian veto, the 8th time that Russia has used its veto to protect the Syrian regime. This one is even more regrettable given that Russia was the architect of the 2013 agreement to dismantle Syrias chemical weapons programme, an initiative that has demonstrably failed, Rycroft said.

It is indefensible that Russia has chosen to protect the perpetrators of these attacks rather than work with the rest of the international community to condemn them, he added.

In February, Russia and China vetoed a measure that would have imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and entities linked to the use of chemical weapons in cases where responsibility was established by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Islamabad:

Pakistan on Thursday indirectly pointed fingers on India and claimed that "foreign spy agencies" may have "trapped" and then abducted one of its former army officers.



Lt Col Muhammad Habib Zahir mysteriously disappeared on April 6 from Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site near India's border town

of Sonauli, where he had apparently gone for a job interview.



Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Zahir was "trapped" and Pakistan was in touch with Nepal to trace him.



"He was lured after being offered a job... The role of foreign spy agencies cannot be ruled out," he said, without

naming any country.



But words such as "enemy" and "foreign spy agency" by the foreign office are often used to suggest the involvement of

India and its external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

Zahir, who retired from service in October 2014 from the artillery wing of the Pakistan Army, worked for a private firm

but had posted his profile online seeking another employment.



A caller, who identified himself as Mark Thompson, had reportedly contacted Zahir - via email and telephone - for the

job interview and he was provided an air ticket to travel to Nepal.

Read Also: Pakistan man Saadat Amin arrested on the charges of selling child pornography on Internet



An initial probe by Pakistani security agencies has showed that a phone number registered in the UK was computer-

generated to contact Zahir and emails and website domains were registered in India.



From Nepal, Zahir had contacted his family last Thursday and since his phone numbers could not be reached. His last

message from Lumbini read he had reached his destination.



His disappearance has coincided with the death penalty handed down to former India naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by

a Pakistani army court for his involvement in "terrorism and espionage". But Pakistan has repeatedly refused India any

consular access to Jadhav.



The sentencing has evoked strong reactions from India, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying the

country will go out of its way to secure Jadhav's release.



Today, Zakaria warned against linking Zahir's case with Jadhav's as the Indian national was an "irrefutable proof of

Indian state's involvement in terrorism, subversion and terror financing."



"It would be unreasonable on India's part to link the Jadhav case with Zahir," he said.



He said the "R&AW agent was arrested red-handed", who identified himself and has "confessed" in their custody.



The foreign office spokesperson also said four terrorists arrested by Sindh Rangers yesterday from Karachi have

"confessed" to having "links" with the R&AW.



"India remains involved in subversive and terrorist activities and terror financing in Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav

is an irrefutable proof. The arrest of four terrorists by Sindh Rangers, yesterday, is also a case in point," he said.



"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh [also] confessed to India's involvement in [then]

East Pakistan in 1971," Zakaria said.



Zakaria condemned the killing of what he said were 14 Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the past one week.



He said 250 others were also injured. He called upon the international community to help stop bloodshed in Kashmir.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Washington:

President Donald Trump has told that there is a very good chemistry between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that US will not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helps tackling the threat of North Korea.

President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade. We talked a lot of things, Trump told reporters at a joint news conference on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Trump had spent two days with Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier.

I said, the way youre going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea. Otherwise, were just going to go it alone, Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

Thatd be all right, too. But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations, he cautioned China, if the latter decided not to help him on the issue of North Korea, which has been carrying out provocative missile tests at frequent interval.

North Korea had threatened nuclear war with the US.

Trump said he was very impressed with Xi.

I think he means well, and I think he wants to help.

Well see whether or not he does, Trump said.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the US has tremendous trade deficits with everybody, but the big one is with China.

Its hundreds of billions of dollars of year for many years. And I told them. I said you know, were not going to let that go ahead. Now, I did say but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. Thats worth having deficits. And thats worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make. Ok, Ill make great deals, he said.

In an apparent reversal from his previous stand, Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator.

This was one of his top campaign promise.

Theyre not currency manipulators, he said.

Mr Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasnt been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardise his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea, the report said.

In the interview, Trump insisted that the US will not allow North Korea to go nuclear.

You cannot allow a country like that (North Korea) to have nuclear power, nuclear weapons. Thats mass destruction. And he doesnt have the delivery systems yet, but he ? you know he will, he said.

So, you know we (Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping) have a very open dialogue on North Korea. We have a very good relationship, we have great chemistry together. We like each other, I like him a lot. I think his wife is terrific. And you know, its very rare that he comes and stays with somebody and spends that much time, Trump said.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Washington:

The US military on Thursday dropped what is considered to be the largest non-nuclear bomb on an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb hit a"tunnel complex" in Achin district in Nangarhar province, USForces Afghanistan said in a statement. The strike occurred at about 7:32 pm local time (1502GMT). Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first combat use of the weapon.

The sources in US media dubbed it, saying that US drops the mother of all bombs. The bomb targeted tunnels used by ISIS fighters, target area bordered Pakistan.

Read Also: Islamic State-linked hackers release kill list of 8,700 people from US, UK

According to reports in Reuters, General John Nicholson, the head of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, said the bomb was used against caves and bunkers housing fighters of the Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb.

A MOAB is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is Americas most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

US drops mother of all bombs: The bomb targeted tunnels used by ISIS fighters, target area bordered Pakistan (Source: US Media)  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command, according to the military sources.

This is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said.

The strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximising the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities.

As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, said General John W Nicholson, Commander, US Forces - Afghanistan.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K,? Nicholson said.

The United States Central Command said US Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties in the strike.

American forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan, it said.

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MONTREAL, April 13, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE) will hold its first-quarter 2017 results conference call with the financial community on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 8:00 am eastern.

Participants will include George Cope, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Glen LeBlanc, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis.

To participate, please dial toll-free 1-866-223-7781 or 416-340-2216. A replay will be available for one week by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451 and entering pass code 5361883#.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on BCE's website at: BCE Q1-2017 conference call.

About BCE

Canada's largest communications company, BCE provides the broadest range of broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services to consumer and business customers throughout the country. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Media inquiries:

Jean Charles Robillard

514-870-4739

[email protected]

Investor inquiries:

Thane Fotopoulos

514-870-4619

[email protected]

SOURCE BCE Inc.
OTTAWA, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) is honoured to be named one of the National Capital Region's Top Employers for the fifth consecutive year.

The National Capital Region's Top Employers is an annual competition evaluating employers based on criteria like training and skills development, community involvement, performance management, and benefits.

"Our employees are committed to excellence, which is crucial for a team that plays a hands-on role in shaping and advancing an industry as dynamic as ours," said Tim Lambert, Chief Executive Officer at EFC. "We're a small organization with a large mandate, so our employees are high performers because they see first-hand how their work makes an impact."

EFC provides its nearly 60 employees with ongoing professional development and training, along with teambuilding and staff appreciation events. This vibrant work atmosphere helps employees excel in their roles while driving job satisfaction and loyalty. Employees enjoy a wide range of benefits and on-site amenities, such as a fitness room, free underground parking, ample bike racks, and a rooftop patio.

EFC represents Canada's more than 1,000 egg farmers and farm families who believe in giving back to their communities. "We hire the best and the brightest who share that commitment and believe social license and business success are inextricably linked," adds Lambert. This vision underpins major partnerships with Breakfast Club of Canada, Food Banks Canada, and the International Egg Foundation. The organization supports these initiatives through substantial product donations, fundraising and volunteering, ensuring more people benefit from the essential protein and nutrients found in eggs.

EFC has built a reputation as a leading agriculture organization and as an employer that maintains a progressive and forward-thinking culture. Honours like the National Capital Region's Top Employer, being named by Waterstone Human Capital as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and the Crystal Egg Award further echo EFC's commitment to its employees.

About Egg Farmers of Canada

Now in its fifth decade as one of Canada's leading agriculture organizations, Egg Farmers of Canada manages the national egg supply and promotes egg consumption while representing the interests of regulated egg producers from coast to coast. For more information visit www.eggfarmers.ca.

SOURCE Egg Farmers of Canada

For further information: Lyne Robichaud, Public Affairs Officer, Egg Farmers of Canada, [email protected] or 613-238-2514 ext. 2299

Related Links

http://www.canadaegg.ca


Highlights:

The transaction creates one of the largest gold-copper resource portfolios in Colombias Mid Cauca Belt;

Bellhavens flagship La Mina Project, one of the highest grade gold porphyry projects in the Americas, is located southeast of GoldMinings Titiribi Project in the Mid Cauca Belt, which is seeing increased activity by companies such as Cordoba Minerals and HPX Exploration (San Matias), Continental Gold (Buritica), IAMGOLD and Gran Colombia (Zancudo), and AngloGold Ashanti and B2Gold (Nuevo Chaquiro);

La Mina hosts the Middle Zone and La Cantera deposits and several prospects including La Garrucha , El Limon, El Oso, Media Luna and Buenavista;

and several prospects including , El Limon, El Oso, Media Luna and Buenavista; Bellhaven published a pit-constrained resource at a 0.25 g/t gold cut-off for the Middle Zone and La Cantera deposits in October 2016 totaling 1.01 million ounces gold equivalent grading 1.12 g/t gold equivalent in the indicated category and 0.43 million ounces gold equivalent grading 1.07 g/t gold equivalent in the inferred category as detailed in Table 1 below;

and deposits in totaling grading 1.12 g/t gold equivalent in the indicated category and grading 1.07 g/t gold equivalent in the inferred category as detailed in Table 1 below; La Garrucha aeromagnetic anomaly is substantially larger than those associated with either the La Cantera or Middle Zone deposits. The last drill hole completed at La Garrucha intersected 271 m grading 1.03 g/t gold and 0.13% copper;

aeromagnetic anomaly is substantially larger than those associated with either the La Cantera or Middle Zone deposits. The last drill hole completed at La Garrucha intersected 271 m grading 1.03 g/t gold and 0.13% copper; Follow-up drilling is planned at La Garrucha to extend mineralization identified in previous programs and to provide a basis for calculating an updated mineral resource estimate;

to extend mineralization identified in previous programs and to provide a basis for calculating an updated mineral resource estimate; A total of 106 diamond drill holes in 36,815 m have been completed at La Mina to date;

Exploration applications totaling approximately 4,375 Ha in area and located between Titiribi and La Mina Projects have been submitted by GoldMining to the Mining Secretariat of Antioquia; and

Bellhaven shareholders will receive 0.25 GoldMining shares for each Bellhaven share held, and overall the transaction represents approximately 6% dilution to GoldMining shareholders for a transaction value of $13.5 million based on GoldMinings share price as of the close on April 11, 2017 .

VANCOUVER, April 12, 2017 /CNW/ - GoldMining Inc. ("GoldMining") (TSX-V: GOLD; OTCQX: GLDLF) and Bellhaven Copper and Gold Inc. ("Bellhaven" and, together with GoldMining, the "Companies") are pleased to jointly announce that they have entered into an agreement (the "Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, GoldMining will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Bellhaven (the "Bellhaven Shares") by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Colombia) (the "Arrangement").

Upon completion of the Arrangement, GoldMining will own 100% of Bellhaven and its La Mina Gold Project ("La Mina" or the "Project"), which includes the La Mina concession (1,794 Ha) and the contiguous La Garrucha concession (1,416 Ha).

Amir Adnani, Chairman of GoldMining, commented: "We are pleased to announce our second major transaction in Colombia, which will further expand our significant land package within the Mid Cauca Belt, one of the most prospective and underexplored gold belts in the world. Beyond the current defined resource base, La Mina hosts several underexplored porphyry targets, which we believe offer excellent opportunities for new gold discoveries in an area of excellent infrastructure."

Mr. Adnani, further commented: "I look forward to working with Dr. Paul Zweng, CEO of Bellhaven, who has agreed to join GoldMinings advisory board on closing of the transaction. This acquisition further advances our strategy of acquiring significant gold-copper projects in the Americas, and we look forward to welcoming management and shareholders of Bellhaven as new shareholders of GoldMining."

Dr. Paul Zweng, CEO, Chairman and Director of Bellhaven, commented: "We believe that combining Bellhavens assets with those of GoldMining will place these assets into much stronger hands. As a result, La Mina will have greater market visibility as well as the potential to move forward with more certainty and at a greater pace than what Bellhaven could achieve on its own. There are also potential synergies between Bellhavens La Mina and GoldMining's nearby Titiribi gold property (Colombia) including geological, engineering, environmental, community relations and shared administrative overhead. This combination creates one of the largest resource portfolios and most exciting exploration land packages in Colombia. I look forward to joining GoldMinings advisory board to assist GoldMining in advancing La Mina as well as the rest of its extensive portfolio of gold projects in the Americas."

Transaction Details

Under the Arrangement, Bellhaven shareholders will receive 0.25 common shares of GoldMining for each Bellhaven Share held (the "Exchange Ratio") and existing warrants and options of Bellhaven will similarly become exercisable into GoldMining common shares based on the Exchange Ratio in accordance with their existing terms. There are currently 5,133,750 Bellhaven warrants outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $0.225 to $0.50, which, after closing, would be convertible into up to 1,283,438 common shares of GoldMining. The terms set out above do not apply to the Bellhaven Shares and warrants issued to the Toquepala Fund LP (the "Fund") on conversion of their previously issued US$350,000 convertible loan (the "Convertible Loan"), which Convertible Loan was converted concurrent with the execution of the Agreement.

In connection with the Arrangement, GoldMining has entered into an agreement with the Fund, pursuant to which, concurrently under the Arrangement, GoldMining will acquire from the Fund, the 6,300,000 units of Bellhaven, issued on conversion of the Convertible Loan with each unit consisting of one Bellhaven Share and one warrant to purchase a Bellhaven Share at an exercise price of $0.075 per share, for total consideration consisting of 1,842,750 common shares of GoldMining (the "Unit Acquisition"). The Unit Acquisition is being completed at a discount to the consideration to be received by Bellhaven shareholders generally under the Arrangement. Nancy Zweng and Paul Zweng, directors of Bellhaven, are also principals of the Fund.

The Arrangement will be carried out by way of a plan of arrangement and is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of requisite stock exchange and court approvals and the approval of at least 66% of the votes cast by Bellhaven shareholders at a special meeting (the "Meeting") of Bellhaven shareholders, including approval by a majority of disinterested Bellhaven shareholders. The Meeting is currently expected to be held in late May 2017, with completion of the arrangement expected to occur shortly thereafter following receipt of necessary court approval.

Additionally, Bellhaven has entered into an agreement with Monpal S.A.S., a company controlled by Alejandro Montoya-Palacios, a director of Bellhaven, to amend the terms of Bellhaven's existing option to acquire the balance of the ownership interest in the entity that owns one of the exploration concessions underlying the La Mina Project concurrently with completion of the Arrangement, in exchange for total consideration of US$300,000 and the delivery of 162,500 common shares of GoldMining to Mr. Montoya-Palacios, payable by GoldMining upon completion of the Arrangement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Bellhaven has agreed that it will not solicit or initiate any discussions concerning any other acquisition proposals. In the event that the Arrangement is not completed, Bellhaven has agreed, in certain circumstances, to pay GoldMining a termination fee of $440,000 and an expense reimbursement fee of up to $150,000. GoldMining has agreed to reimburse Bellhaven for its incurred expenses up to $150,000 in relation to the Arrangement if the Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances.

Directors, senior officers and key shareholders of Bellhaven, collectively holding approximately 67.5% of the issued and outstanding Bellhaven Shares, have entered into agreements with GoldMining under which they have agreed to vote their Bellhaven Shares in favour of the Arrangement. Pursuant to such agreements, such Bellhaven supporting shareholders have agreed that GoldMining common shares issued to them under the transaction will be subject to re-sale restrictions, which provide for the release of legend restrictions as follows: (i) 25% of such shares on closing; and (ii) 25% of such shares on each of the dates that are one, two and three months after the closing of the Arrangement.

Recommendation of the Bellhaven Board

An independent special committee of the Bellhaven board of directors has reviewed and unanimously recommended approval of the Arrangement and related transactions to the Bellhaven board of directors. After taking into account such recommendation and considering, among other things, the verbal opinion of Evans & Evans Inc., financial advisor to Bellhaven, that the consideration to be received by Bellhaven shareholders under the Arrangement is fair from a financial point of view to Bellhaven shareholders, the Bellhaven directors entitled to vote thereon have unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Bellhaven and is fair from a financial point of view to Bellhaven shareholders (other than GoldMining and its affiliates).

The Bellhaven board of directors unanimously recommends that Bellhaven shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.

Details regarding these and other terms of the Arrangement are set out in the Agreement, which will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Additional information respecting the Arrangement and the Agreement will be included in the management information circular to be filed by Bellhaven and mailed to Bellhaven shareholders in connection with the Meeting.

The Project

The La Mina Project is located approximately 41 km southwest of the city of Medellin in the Department of Antioquia, in central Colombia and approximately 6 km southeast of GoldMinings Titiribi Project (Fig. 1). The Project is comprised of two concessions that cover an area of 32 km2. Northern Antioquia has seen steadily increasing activity over the last several years including, but not limited to success by Cordoba Minerals and High Power Exploration at the San Matias copper-gold project, Continental Golds recently permitted high-grade Buritica gold project, IAMGOLDs recent option agreement with Gran Colombia Gold on the past producing Zancudo gold mine, and AngloGold Ashanti and B2Golds development stage Nuevo Chaquiro project. The Project is road accessible by paved highway to a junction with an 11 km gravel road that leads to site. Water, power and labour are readily available at the Project site.

La Mina includes the Middle Zone and La Cantera gold-copper porphyry deposits as well as the highly prospective La Garrucha prospect located approximately 800 m to the east. The aeromagnetic anomaly over the nearby La Garrucha prospect is substantially larger than those over both the La Cantera and Middle Zone deposits. It has been partially tested by drilling (6,734 m in 17 holes) and future exploration programs will focus on expanding the area of mineralization in order to complete a revised resource estimate. In addition, there are several prospects including El Limon, El Oso, Media Luna and Buenavista that require additional follow-up exploration (Fig. 2).

The Middle Zone and La Cantera deposits occur within 400 m of each other and were the subject of a resource estimate published by Bellhaven in October 2016 (Table 1). The resource was based on 14,284 m of drilling in 88 drill holes. Block models were created with parent blocks measuring 5 m3 for the Middle Zone and 10 m3 for La Cantera. Inverse distance squared was used to interpolate grade into blocks at the Middle Zone and ordinary kriging was used to interpolate grade into blocks at La Cantera, which in both cases were constrained by geology. Indicated mineral resources, which comprise approximately 70% of the resource, were defined as blocks that are within 35 m of a drill hole and where a minimum of two drill holes were used to estimate grade. Grade-capping was employed at the Middle Zone to limit the impact of high-grade outlier samples. Gold was capped at 4.2 ppm, silver at 25.5 ppm and copper at 3,000 ppm. Densities of 2.65 t/m3 for the Middle Zone and 2.70 t/m3 for La Cantera were used to convert volumes to tonnages and were based on 636 individual measurements of drill-core samples.

The conceptual pit delineated resource used a Whittle-Pit algorithm with the following input parameters to calculate the in-pit resources:

Median consensus long-term projected metal prices of US$1,275 /oz gold, US$17.75 /oz silver, and US$2.75 /lb copper;

/oz gold, /oz silver, and /lb copper; G&A of US$0.98 /t;

/t; Open-pit mining costs of US$1.72 /t;

/t; Processing costs of US$5.83 /t;

/t; Metallurgical recoveries of 93% for gold and 90% for copper; and

Average pit-slope of 50 degrees.

Table 1: Indicated and Inferred Resource at a 0.25 g/t gold cut-off for La Mina published by Bellhaven in 2016.

Deposit Tonnage Grade Contained Metal Mt Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) AuEq (g/t) Au (oz) Ag (oz) Cu (Mlbs) AuEq (oz) Indicated Resource La Cantera 17.984 0.87 2.06 0.32 1.37 503,021 1,191,062 125.344 789,953 Middle Zone 10.186 0.50 1.27 0.11 0.68 163,740 415,899 24.898 223,232 Total Indicated 28.170 0.74 1.77 0.24 1.12 666,761 1,606,962 150.242 1,013,185 Inferred Resource La Cantera 10.806 0.69 1.83 0.29 1.15 239,715 635,766 70.256 400,099 Middle Zone 1.588 0.39 1.19 0.09 0.53 19,911 60,754 3.038 27,309 Total Inferred 12.394 0.65 1.75 0.27 1.07 259,626 696,520 73.294 427,408





Table 1 Notes: 1. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. 2. Gold-equivalent grades were calculated using the following formula: AuEq = [{Au (g/t) + [Cu(%)} x {%Recoverable Cu / %Recoverable Au} x {Cu Price/Au Price} x 22.0462 x 31.1035] + [Ag (g/t) x {Ag Price/Au Price}]. Metal prices used were the median consensus long-term prices as of July, 2016 for gold (US$1,275/oz), silver (US$17.75), and copper (US$2.75/lb). Metal prices are not constant and are subject to change. Metal recoveries of 93% Au and 90% Cu are estimates based on metallurgical results announced in Bellhavens news release dated September 21, 2016. 3. All quantities are rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures; consequently sums may not add up due to rounding.





The resource estimate for La Mina is based on a technical report completed for Bellhaven by Scott E. Wilson, C.P.G. titled "Technical Report for the La Mina Project, Antioquia, Republic of Colombia" with an effective date of October 24, 2016. To the best of GoldMining's knowledge, information and belief, there is no new material scientific or technical information that would make the disclosure of the mineral resources therein inaccurate or misleading.

Exploration Applications

Additional exploration applications covering approximately 4,375 Ha were submitted by GoldMining in March 2017 to the Mining Secretariat of Antioquia for review. The applications cover areas located between the Titiribi and La Mina Projects.

Advisors

Haywood Securities Inc. is advising GoldMining in connection with the transaction, and Sangra Moller LLP is acting as legal counsel to GoldMining. Evans & Evans Inc. acted as financial advisor to Bellhaven and McMillan LLP is acting as legal counsel to Bellhaven.

Qualified Person

Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release for GoldMining. Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Universidade do Amazonas in Brazil, is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.

Mr. Thomas J. Drown, P. Geo., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release for Bellhaven pertaining to La Mina. Mr. Drown has more than 25 years relevant experience and is a B.C. Professional Geoscientist. He has been a senior project geologist with the Company at the La Mina Project and is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About GoldMining Inc.

GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold projects in Colombia and other regions of the Americas. GoldMining Inc. is advancing its Titiribi Gold-Copper Project located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, its Cachoeira and Sao Jorge Gold Projects located in the State of Para, northeastern Brazil, its Whistler Gold-Copper Project located in the State of Alaska, United States of America, and its Rea Uranium Project in the western Athabasca Basin in northeast Alberta, Canada.

About Bellhaven Copper and Gold Inc.

Bellhaven Copper and Gold Inc. is a Canadian-listed (TSX-V: BHV) exploration company exploring for gold and copper in Colombia. Bellhaven's flagship project is the La Mina gold-copper porphyry deposit in the Middle Cauca belt of Columbia. For more information regarding Bellhaven, please visit our website at www.bellhavencg.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining and/or Bellhaven with respect to its business and future events, including expectations respecting the Project, the closing of the Arrangement, potential synergies of the Companies' projects and any future exploration programs and other work on the Project. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which the Companies operate, including that the parties will satisfy or waive all conditions required to complete the transactions under the Agreement, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals and that historical exploration results will be confirmed. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Companies' expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Project, any inability to realize upon expected synergies between the Companies' projects and that the parties may not receive all required approvals or satisfy all conditions required under the Agreement. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in the Companies' filings with Canadian securities regulators, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate. Neither GoldMining nor Bellhaven undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Providers (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE GoldMining Inc.

For further information: GoldMining Inc., Amir Adnani, Chairman, Garnet Dawson, CEO, Telephone: (855) 630-1001, Email: [email protected]; Bellhaven Copper and Gold Inc., Paul L. Zweng, CEO and Chairman, Telephone: (808) 377-1947, Email: [email protected]
OTTAWA, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - As Canadians prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, leading employers in the nation's capital have another good reason to raise a toast. These organizations are among the national leaders when it comes to innovative and progressive HR practices, both in the public and private sector. That's the message from this year's winners of the National Capital Region's Top Employers competition, which was announced today by Mediacorp Canada Inc., organizers of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

"Employers in the National Capital Region provide some of the nation's best examples of setting the bar high when it comes to progressive workplace policies" says Kristina Leung, Senior Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "From strong maternity leave policies to exceptional support for employee training and development, employers in the Ottawa area demonstrate what's possible in terms of progressive HR programs and policies, which contribute to a healthy and productive workforce."

Now in its 12th year, the National Capital Region's Top Employers is a special designation that recognizes employers in the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers throughout the metropolitan area were evaluated by the editors at Canada's Top 100 Employers using the same criteria as the national competition: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The annual competition is open to any employer with its head office in the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area; employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector.

Founded in 1992, Mediacorp Canada Inc. is the nation's largest publisher of employment periodicals. Since 1999, the company has managed the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which includes 19 regional and special-interest editorial competitions that reach over 15 million Canadians annually through a variety of magazine and newspaper partners. Mediacorp also operates Eluta.ca, the largest Canadian job search engine, which includes editorial reviews from the Canada's Top 100 Employers project and is used by 7 million Canadians annually. Together with Willis Towers Watson, Mediacorp also hosts the Top Employer Summit, Canada's largest conference for senior-level HR professionals.

The full list of the National Capital Region's Top Employers for 2017 is attached. The winners were announced in a special magazine published in the Ottawa Citizen this morning. Detailed reasons for selection with hundreds of additional stories and photos were also released this morning at: http://www.canadastop100.com/ottawa

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION'S TOP EMPLOYERS

2017 WINNERS

Algonquin College of Applied Arts & Technology

Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited

Bank of Canada

Canada Foundation for Innovation / CFI

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation / CMHC

Canada Revenue Agency / CRA

Canadian Heritage

Canadian Internet Registration Authority / CIRA

Canadian Security Intelligence Service / CSIS

Carleton University

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario / CHEO

Conference Board of Canada, The

Department of Finance Canada

Egg Farmers of Canada

Engineers Canada

Export Development Canada

Health Canada / Sante Canada

House of Commons, The

Hydro Ottawa

Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada / IRCC

La Cite

Lockheed Martin Canada Inc.

Lumentum

Medical Council of Canada

Micronutrient Initiative

Montfort Hospital / Hopital Montfort

NAV CANADA

Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, The

Ottawa Catholic School Board, The

Ottawa, City of

Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP / s.r.l.

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Trend Micro Canada Technologies Inc.

Universities Canada / Universites Canada

University of Ottawa

SOURCE Mediacorp Canada Inc.

For further information: Richard Yerema, Managing Editor, at 416-964-6069 x1464

Related Links

http://www.canadastop100.com


OTTAWA, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement for Puthandu:

"Today, Tamils in Canada and around the world will welcome the New Year, known as Puthandu.

"On this occasion, families and friends will come together to feast, celebrate, and visit holy sites in a spirit of hope and optimism for the year to come.

"This year, as we mark 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. Our country is stronger and richer because of the contributions of Tamil Canadians.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I wish all those celebrating a peaceful, joyous and healthy New Year.

"Iniya Tamizh Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal."

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/


OTTAWA, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the occasion of Vaisakhi:

"This week, Sikhs in Canada and around the world will celebrate Vaisakhi, a festival that marks the most important date in the Sikh faith.

"Vaisakhi celebrates the founding in 1699 of the Khalsa  the community of baptized Sikhs  by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Family and friends will gather to pray at Gurdwaras and to participate in Khalsa Day parades.

"Next week, we will mark the 35th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Just as the creation of the Khalsa defines Sikhism, the Charter defines our country. It defends our individual rights and freedoms and, for Canadians of Sikh faith, ensures the Five Ks are protected.

"This year, as we mark 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. Canada is proud to be home to one of the largest Sikh populations in the world. Sikh Canadians help make Canada the strong and diverse country it is today.

"On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a joyful Vaisakhi.

"Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh."

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/


NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ -- Virtuoso, the global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, reveals what's trending in family travel this summer vacation season. Recognized as a prominent trend predictor in the industry, Virtuoso surveyed its global advisors in the 2017 Luxe Report to determine the leading destinations for families and the influence Generation Z has over travel decisions.

Generation Z: The New Destination Disruptors

While Millennials previously held court as the leading force in the travel industry, Virtuoso says "Gen Z" is the new buzzword in tourism. Consisting of young people born late in the 1990s to 2010s, this generation holds considerable sway over their families' travel decisions, according to 88 percent of Virtuoso advisors polled. By 2020, this generation will account for 40 percent of all consumers with disposable income to travel (source: Digital Tourism Think Tank).

Gen Zs are well-traveled from an early age and globally minded, and thus interested in offbeat destinations with exhilarating adventures like diving the Great Barrier Reef and kayaking among icebergs in Greenland. The desire for personalized travel experiences, deeper cultural immersion, and Instagram-worthy design continues to drive the popularity of boutique hotels. Gen Z has been hyperconnected to the internet since birth and, like its predecessors, places great emphasis on visual storytelling. Sharing one-of-a kind travel moments with friends on social media is today's postcard. Virtuoso dug a little deeper to find out where they're going this year.

Top 10 Hottest Family Destinations

Italy Mexico Hawaii Orlando, FL England Costa Rica South Africa Turks and Caicos Dominican Republic Australia

Virtuoso Analysis: This is a banner year for American travelers heading overseas. As the U.S. currency is nearly at a one-to-one ratio with the euro  the first time in more than a decade  a trip to Europe is now more affordable. Ripple effects from Brexit linger as a weakened British pound drives luxury hotel rates down 14 percent compared to last year, all leading to increased demand for England. Florida and Hawaii hold their stake as unrivaled popular destinations among families, and Zika-impacted areas, including the Caribbean and Mexico, are rebounding this season with hotels seeing a big uptick in reservations. As adventure travel continues to trend, active experiences in Australia, South Africa, and Costa Rica are also seeing increased interest from travelers.

Top 10 Unconventional Family Destinations

Iceland Africa Antarctica Cuba Galapagos Islands The Arctic India Russia Japan Vietnam

Virtuoso Analysis: In addition to favored family hot spots, travelers are seeking out-of-the-ordinary locales. The polar regions of Iceland, Antarctica, and the Arctic are leading the pack due to the threat of climate change. The United Nations has declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, making green travel to the regions particularly relevant. In the same vein, experiences involving wildlife conservation remain top-of-mind for travelers, so it is no surprise that Africa and the Galapagos Islands snagged top spots. Notably, the strong dollar, combined with the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, has also triggered a renewed interest in visiting the country. Cultural immersion remains one of the leading travel trends, driving families to Cuba before the country loses its historic charm. Trips that are two weeks or longer are also seeing increased demand, with families traveling to far-flung Asian countries including India, Japan, and Vietnam.

To learn more, including finding a family travel specialist, visit Virtuoso.com. For a visual infographic about family travel trends, click here.

A total of 772 advisors from Virtuoso's travel agency partners in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Middle East were surveyed in the 2017 Luxe Report, providing global insights into the year's hottest family trends.

About Virtuoso

Virtuoso is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 770 travel agency partners with more than 15,200 elite travel advisors in 44 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world's best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than (U.S.) $21.2 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.

Media Contacts:

Misty Ewing Belles Lauren Wintemberg Managing Director, Global Public Relations Account Director Virtuoso Alice Marshall Public Relations Phone: 202.553.8817 Phone: 212.861.4031 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Virtuoso

Related Links

http://www.virtuoso.com


Google Glass is becoming successful in the workplace

Its 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.

Google has several corporate partners for Google Glass at work.

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.

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.

Remote scribes saves each doctor 3 hours a day.

Interapt develops solutions that enrich customer and employee engagement, solve operational challenges, and secure new opportunities across a wide variety of industries. Interapt creates and delivers complete packaged solutions including proprietary apps, analytics, and platforms.

 Google Glass enhanced Training (faster and cheaper training)

 Google Glass enhanced collaboration

Pristine created EyeSight, a secure video communication platform for Glass used by healthcare providers, medical device companies, and large enterprises to support front-line staff with the expert help they needinstantly, on demand, and hands-free.

Wearable Intelligence creates Glassware for energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and more. Our workflow, communications, training, and data access products are in the field at some of the worlds best known companies.

Ubimax is a full-service provider focused on creating Glass solutions for order picking, manufacturing, quality assurance, healthcare and more. Ubimax offers custom development services as well as standardized applications.
Japans PD Aerospace and Chinas Kuang-Chi Science are among Asias homegrown private firms planning to offer spaceflight services to civilians.

Elon Musks SpaceX, Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin have a dominant global presence in the New Space Industry.

Shuji Ogawa, CEO of PD Aerospace, acknowledges that its unlikely Asian companies can rival SpaceX, Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin, but he said theres more than enough demand to go around.

PD Aerospace is developing a reusable sub-orbital space plane featuring a propulsion system that alternates between jet and rocket mode. Its expected to carry eight people  two pilots and six passengers  over 100 kilometers above the Earth. The Karman line, which lies 100 km above sea level, is the boundary between Earths atmosphere and outer space.



PD Aerospace  Koike Terumasa Design and Aerospace

PD Aerospace says it intends to conduct its first trial in 2020, with the hope of commencing tourism operations in 2023. Because Japan is small, securing testing areas has been a challenge, Ogawa said. The initial price tag for a trip is set at 14 million yen ($126,639) but Ogawa intends to eventually lower the cost to 398,000 yen ($3,600). We want to offer space tours to ordinary people.

Three Japanese companies said that they agreed in October to work together on space commercialization efforts, including space travel. H.I.S. is investing about $264,000 (30 million yen) for a 10.3 percent share of the venture. ANA Holdings, the umbrella company for the ANA (All Nippon Airways) airline, is putting in about $180,000 (20.4 million yen) for a 7 percent share.

Kuang-Chi Science has built a capsule attached to a giant helium balloon thats capable of taking six passengers anywhere from 20 to 100 km above Earth  an area known as near space.



Kuang-Chi Science. The Traveler by Kuang-Chi Science.

The Traveler has already undergone two unmanned test runs since 2015  the second of which housed a live turtle  and a third is scheduled for later this year, according to the company. It hopes to complete a trial with humans on board by 2020.
Two veteran NASA missions are providing new details about icy, ocean-bearing moons of Jupiter and Saturn, further heightening the scientific interest of these and other ocean worlds in our solar system and beyond. The findings are presented in papers published Thursday by researchers with NASAs Cassini mission to Saturn and Hubble Space Telescope.

In the papers, Cassini scientists announce that a form of chemical energy that life can feed on appears to exist on Saturns moon Enceladus, and Hubble researchers report additional evidence of plumes erupting from Jupiters moon Europa.

This is the closest weve come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington. These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASAs science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not.

The paper from researchers with the Cassini mission, published in the journal Science, indicates hydrogen gas, which could potentially provide a chemical energy source for life, is pouring into the subsurface ocean of Enceladus from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor.

The presence of ample hydrogen in the moons ocean means that microbes  if any exist there  could use it to obtain energy by combining the hydrogen with carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. This chemical reaction, known as methanogenesis because it produces methane as a byproduct, is at the root of the tree of life on Earth, and could even have been critical to the origin of life on our planet.

Life as we know it requires three primary ingredients: liquid water; a source of energy for metabolism; and the right chemical ingredients, primarily carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. With this finding, Cassini has shown that Enceladus  a small, icy moon a billion miles farther from the sun than Earth  has nearly all of these ingredients for habitability. Cassini has not yet shown phosphorus and sulfur are present in the ocean, but scientists suspect them to be, since the rocky core of Enceladus is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain the two elements.

Confirmation that the chemical energy for life exists within the ocean of a small moon of Saturn is an important milestone in our search for habitable worlds beyond Earth, said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

The Cassini spacecraft detected the hydrogen in the plume of gas and icy material spraying from Enceladus during its last, and deepest, dive through the plume on Oct. 28, 2015. Cassini also sampled the plumes composition during flybys earlier in the mission. From these observations scientists have determined that nearly 98 percent of the gas in the plume is water, about 1 percent is hydrogen and the rest is a mixture of other molecules including carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.



This graphic illustrates how Cassini scientists think water interacts with rock at the bottom of the ocean of Saturns icy moon Enceladus, producing hydrogen gas. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The measurement was made using Cassinis Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument, which sniffs gases to determine their composition. INMS was designed to sample the upper atmosphere of Saturns moon Titan. After Cassinis surprising discovery of a towering plume of icy spray in 2005, emanating from hot cracks near the south pole, scientists turned its detectors toward the small moon.

Cassini wasnt designed to detect signs of life in the Enceladus plume  indeed, scientists didnt know the plume existed until after the spacecraft arrived at Saturn.

Although we cant detect life, weve found that theres a food source there for it. It would be like a candy store for microbes, said Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study.

The new findings are an independent line of evidence that hydrothermal activity is taking place in the Enceladus ocean. Previous results, published in March 2015, suggested hot water is interacting with rock beneath the sea; the new findings support that conclusion and add that the rock appears to be reacting chemically to produce the hydrogen.

The paper detailing new Hubble Space Telescope findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reports on observations of Europa from 2016 in which a probable plume of material was seen erupting from the moons surface at the same location where Hubble saw evidence of a plume in 2014. These images bolster evidence that the Europa plumes could be a real phenomenon, flaring up intermittently in the same region on the moons surface.

The newly imaged plume rises about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Europas surface, while the one observed in 2014 was estimated to be about 30 miles (50 kilometers) high. Both correspond to the location of an unusually warm region that contains features that appear to be cracks in the moons icy crust, seen in the late 1990s by NASAs Galileo spacecraft. Researchers speculate that, like Enceladus, this could be evidence of water erupting from the moons interior.

The plumes on Enceladus are associated with hotter regions, so after Hubble imaged this new plume-like feature on Europa, we looked at that location on the Galileo thermal map. We discovered that Europas plume candidate is sitting right on the thermal anomaly, said William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Sparks led the Hubble plume studies in both 2014 and 2016.

The researchers say if the plumes and the warm spot are linked, it could mean water being vented from beneath the moons icy crust is warming the surrounding surface. Another idea is that water ejected by the plume falls onto the surface as a fine mist, changing the structure of the surface grains and allowing them to retain heat longer than the surrounding landscape.

For both the 2014 and 2016 observations, the team used Hubbles Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to spot the plumes in ultraviolet light. As Europa passes in front of Jupiter, any atmospheric features around the edge of the moon block some of Jupiters light, allowing STIS to see the features in silhouette. Sparks and his team are continuing to use Hubble to monitor Europa for additional examples of plume candidates and hope to determine the frequency with which they appear.



These composite images show a suspected plume of material erupting two years apart from the same location on Jupiters icy moon Europa. Both plumes, photographed in UV light by Hubble, were seen in silhouette as the moon passed in front of Jupiter.

Credits: NASA/ESA/STScI/USGS

NASAs future exploration of ocean worlds is enabled by Hubbles monitoring of Europas putative plume activity and Cassinis long-term investigation of the Enceladus plume. In particular, both investigations are laying the groundwork for NASAs Europa Clipper mission, which is planned for launch in the 2020s.

If there are plumes on Europa, as we now strongly suspect, with the Europa Clipper we will be ready for them, said Jim Green, Director of Planetary Science, at NASA Headquarters.

Hubbles identification of a site which appears to have persistent, intermittent plume activity provides a tempting target for the Europa mission to investigate with its powerful suite of science instruments. In addition, some of Sparks co-authors on the Hubble Europa studies are preparing a powerful ultraviolet camera to fly on Europa Clipper that will make similar measurements to Hubbles, but from thousands of times closer. And several members of the Cassini INMS team are developing an exquisitely sensitive, next-generation version of their instrument for flight on Europa Clipper.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.

Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.

A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
Pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has reacted to a statement credited to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, where he stated that Britain is not in support of a divided Nigeria.IPOB warns that Britains insistent on their one Nigeria would be fatal and suicidal because they would never stop until Biafra is actualized.Arkwright had at a public lecture titled Brexit: Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities for Nigeria, at the Federal University, Lokoja, stated that his country will not allow Nigeria to breakup.Reacting to this in a statement signed by IPOB Spokespersons, Dr. Ikenna Chinaka and Mrs Grace Ukpai, the group stated that the diplomat was out to cause amischief.IPOBs statement reads, We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to state that the substance of this press statement is traceable to the diplomatic blunder committed by no less a person than the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Paul Arkwright recently in Kogi State of Nigeria where he was reported to have delivered a public lecture on the topic: Brexit: Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities for Nigeria at the Federal University, Lokoja, on Thursday, 6th April, 2017.Asked about the position of Britain on the groups pushing for independence from Nigeria, the envoy said the UK remained firm in its support for one Nigeria. We have therefore taken time to painstakingly analyse this statement credited to the British Envoy and we find it very unfortunate and distasteful that a seasoned diplomat of Mr. Arkwrights standing could have displayed such ignorance of international law and protocol.From our very careful observation, we are of the view that two factors could have been responsible for Mr. Arkwrights uncharacteristic diplomatic blunder. The first that immediately comes to mind is ignorance and the second, which is equally unfortunate, even more so than the first, is mischief. Riding on these assumptions, we shall now take the liberty of this press statement to address these two possible inadequacies which His Excellency might be suffering from and to clear every doubt his stance may have engendered in the minds of a largely undiscerning and docile populace.We would want to presume that the statement of Mr. Arkwright may have been influenced by that opening phrase in the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Nigerian) 1999 Constitution which reads as follows: We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Having firmly and solemnly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God,We make haste therefore to inform Mr. Arkwright that even the most poorly lettered man on the streets of Lokoja (venue of Mr. Arkwrights public lecture) agree that the Amended Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Constitution lied about itself and that the first lie in that Constitution is the wasteful phrase: We the people.It is the duty of IPOB to clear the illusions this deceptive phrase might have planted in the pliable mind of Mr. Arkwright and others like him. No doubt, the above phrase seeks to convey the misleading impression that ordinary people of Nigeria willingly in a conference, meeting or assembly convened by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar somewhere in Abuja in 1999 agreed to vest immutable non-negotiable sovereignty on the Nigerian nation through the instrumentality of the said 1999 Constitution. This is a blatant lie, deception and fraud concocted by self serving individuals in Nigeria to deceive themselves and those not enlightened enough to know what is being done in their name.Not minding the obvious limitations and inherent defects of the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Constitution by virtue of the lie We the people.. preamble, we recognise the centrality of sovereignty in the field of International law. However, as rigid and important as this concept may be to the proponents of One Nigeria, it still admits and recognises some notable exceptions. It is therefore not immutable and cannot as a result be construed in absolute terms. In other words, sovereignty of states under international law is not cast in iron and can be broken or dissolved.The point IPOB is making here is to the effect that, in the exercise of the sovereign powers bestowed on it, an artificial creation like the Nigerian state or indeed any other country, can limit its own sovereignty or surrender a part of same. The truth as it stands today is that the Nigerian state, has out of its own volition already surrendered Nigerian sovereignty over Bakassi Peninsular, which therefore enables any part of Nigeria or section thereof to secede when they so decide, contrary to the wishes and ambitions of the neo-colonialists like Mr. Arkwright. This is equally true and remains same for even Great Britain whom Mr. Arkwright represents in Nigeria. Let us explain.We will use English judicial authorities to convey the message home to the British Envoy before we turn to the Nigerian judicial authorities. In the case of Blackburn vs. Attorney-General, Court of Appeal (Civil Division) [1971] EWCA Civ J0510-2, [1971] 1 WLR 1037 where Mr. Blackburn was concerned about the application of Her Majestys government to join the European Common Market by seeking to sign up to the Treaty of Rome.He brought two actions against Her Majestys Government Edward Heath through the then Attorney-General, in which he sought declarations to the effect that, by signing the Treaty of Rome, Her Majestys Government will surrender in part the sovereignty of The Crown in Parliament (British people) forever.He canvassed the view that in so doing the Government will be acting in breach of the law. Mr. Blackburn pointed out that many regulations made by the European Economic Community will become automatically binding on the people of Great Britain: and that all the Courts of Great Britain, including the House of Lords, will have to follow the decisions of a foreign European Court in certain defined respects, including the drafting of the Treaty itself.To buttress his point Mr. Blackburn made reference to an earlier decision by the Court of Common Market Costa v. E. N. E. L. ( 1964 Common Market Law Reports, 425) in February, 1964, in which the European Court in its judgment said that:..the member states, albeit within limited spheres, have restricted their sovereign rights and created a body of law applicable both to their nationals and to themselves.When this contention over the sanctity of sovereignty came before the Court of Appeal in England, a majority of the panel of judges (Lord Denning dissenting) reasoned and held that the power to enter into Treaties was itself a power of the Crown acting on advice from ministers. In simple terms, it means that sovereignty can indeed be tampered with by a government and as such cannot be held to be sacrosanct.There is no doubt that the Nigerian Head of State (President) has the powers to enter into treaties with foreign nations (both bilateral and multilateral) which is binding on the whole Nigerian state. Section 12 of the Amended Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Constitution has laid down the procedure for the domestication of such treaties as a condition precedent to their activation as a law in Nigeria.There is no question regarding the binding nature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (providing among others for the right to self-determination) on the Nigerian state. Equally true is the fact that not only that Nigeria is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the Nigerian Parliament has entrenched the said Charter as part of the corpus juris of the country by way of domestication in compliance with the dictates of section 12 of the Constitution earlier referred to. It should be noted that Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right most lucidly proclaims in clear language that;All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.As we earlier stated, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right became part of Nigerian laws by virtue of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act), Cap 10, Laws of the Federation (LFN), 1990. The status of this very important legislation came up for interpretation before the Nigerian Supreme Court in the case of Abacha vs. Fawehinmi (2001) 51 WRN 29; (2000) 6 NWLR 228, (2002) 3 LRC 296, (2001) 1 CHR 95. In answering that crucial question, Justice Ogundare (of blessed memory) delivering the lead judgment of the full panel of the Nigerian Supreme Court had this to say:Where, however, the treaty is enacted into law by the National Assembly, as was the case with the African Charter which is incorporated into our municipal (i.e. domestic) law by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap. 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (hereinafter is referred to simply as Cap. 10), it becomes binding and our Courts must give effect to it like all other laws falling within the Judicial power of the Courts. By Cap. 10 the African Charter is now part of the laws of Nigeria and like all other laws the Courts must uphold it. The Charter gives to citizens of member states of the Organisation of African Unity rights and obligations, which rights and obligations are to be enforced by our Courts, if they must have any meaning No doubt Cap. 10 is a statue with international flavour. Being so, therefore, I would think that if here is a conflict between it and another statue, its provisions will prevail over those of that other statue for the reason that it is presumed that the legislature does not intend to breach an international obligation. To this extent I agree with their Lordships of the Court below that the Charter possesses a greater vigour and strength than any other domestic statue.It is important to point out that the provision of Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution declaring null and void any treaty entered between Nigeria and any other country/countries will not acquire the force of law in Nigeria until domesticated, holds no water in international law, nor before International Courts/Tribunals.What this simply means is that the Nigerian state cannot, under any conceivable circumstance, resign from its obligation to honour any international treaty it freely entered into by citing its anachronistic domestic laws as a defence. In other words, Nigeria cannot point to its own domestic laws as constituting a limitation to the fulfilment of its obligation under any international treaty it freely entered into.Put more correctly, domestic laws cannot be allowed to constitute a drag on the operation of foreign laws under which a state party has undertaken to fulfil international obligations. Indeed, this is the heart and soul of Article 7 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties under International law.The argument put up by the Government of Nigeria to the effect that Bakassi Peninsula could not be yielded up to Cameroun on the principal ground that section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution would need to be complied with so as to effectively delete Bakassi as a Local Government by way of Constitutional amendment was roundly rejected by the International Court of Justice. (See generally Cameroon v. Nigeria, ICJ Reports, 2002, pp. 303, 346.) Today, Bakassi Peninsula, formerly of Cross-Rivers State of Nigeria, is no more a Nigerian territory even without any constitutional amendment. The Nigerian Supreme Court has now accepted this position as a correct representation of the law binding on the Nigerian state.A practical demonstration of this acceptance is made manifest in the case of Attorney-General of Cross-Rivers State vs. Attorney-General of the Federation and Anor (2005) 15 NWLR (Pt.947) pg 71 where the effect of the ICJ judgment on the erstwhile littoral segment of Cross-River State was captured thus;The effect of the judgment of the International Court of Justice dated 10/10/2002 on the land and maritime boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun is that it has wiped off what use to be the estuarine sector of Cross River State as a result of which the State is hemmed in by the new international boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun. That being the case, there seems to not be any estuarine boundary between Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State with the result that Cross River no longer has a seaward boundary.In fact, in a later 2012 case of Attorney-General of Cross-Rivers State vs. Attorney-General of the Federation and Anor, the Supreme Court (SC.250/2009), speaking through Rhodes-Vivour, J.S.C., was more punchy when it eloquently declared with a tone of finality that;This Court has no jurisdiction to decide ownership of oil wells located on oil rich Bakasi Peninsula for the simple reason that Bakasi Peninsula is foreign territory. It is Cameroun land. Supreme Court jurisdiction is restricted to Nigeria land.The jurisprudential beacon offered by the galaxy of authorities examined above leaves us with the only conviction that Mr. Paul Arkwrights position is out of tune with contemporary realities which reflects poorly on his standing as a seasoned diplomat.He must work hard to redeem his image which is being seen by many concerned Africans as one steeped in gross incompetence devoid of any intellectual depth. A good starting point will be for him to acknowledge that this Nigerian state as presently constituted, created by his fellow countryman Frederick Luggard, has voluntarily, by domesticating Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right, accepted to give fillip to any section of the country wishing to secede by facilitating the exercise of that undeniable right through referendum as was recently done in the United Kingdom, where Mr. Arkwright comes from and is representing, regarding Scotland.The second duty on the part of Mr. Paul Arkwright is for him to wake up to his real duties by impressing upon the Nigerian Government the imperative of discharging its obligation (under UN Declaration and African Charter) of facilitating a referendum for a peaceful Biafra exit from Nigeria.It is our hope that Mr. Paul Arkwright appreciates this new reality, otherwise we would be forced to draw the alternative inference that he set out ab initio to cause mischief and test the will and resolve of IPOB.This would be most unfortunate if it were to be so since the pervasive consequences of such an action will not spare anyone trying to subvert the will of the Biafran people. For record purposes, the Conservative Party led British Government of Theresa May has nothing to fear from the emergence of Biafra, after all we Biafrans are the most Anglophile of all races in Africa. Should Mr. Arkwright continue to pursue his flawed and misguided adventure of insisting on the indivisibility of their One Nigeria, it would be fatal and suicidal because we would never ever stop until Biafra is liberated. We wish to stop here.
A clash between soldiers and policemen over a girlfriend left four mobile police officers and one soldier dead in Damaturu, Yobe State c...





A clash between soldiers and policemen over a girlfriend left four mobile police officers and one soldier dead in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, yesterday, with several others injured.Among the wounded mobile police officer is Buba Dauda, the Mobile Commander in Yobe State, whose abduction by the soldiers in the wee hours of yesterday triggered the face-off between the two security agencies.It was gathered from sources that the clash resulted from a misunderstanding that erupted between a serving Army Captain and some mobile policemen over a girlfriend the military officer allegedly snatched from a mobile policeman.The situation did not go down well with the policeman, who mobilised his colleagues to beat the Captain comatose.On hearing what happened to their colleague, some soldiers stormed the residence of the police teams boss in the area in two patrol vans and took him to an unknown destination.It was gathered that the fight began when some mobile policemen also teamed up to confront the soldiers regarding the whereabouts of their Commander.According to a mobile police officer, who spoke to Vanguard at Yobe State Specialist Hospital, where the Mobile Commander is receiving treatment, we received the news that our commandant, CSP Buba Dauda, was abducted by some soldiers and taken to Sasawa village and later taken to 233 Battalion in Damaturu.We then mobilised our men to rescue our commandant, although we did not know why he was abducted.In the process of rescuing him, we met with stiff resistance from the soldiers, which later resulted into full blown clash that left five people dead.We lost four of our men and we later discovered that our commandant, while in their custody, was shot in the abdomen.Confirming the incident, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, said a joint committee, made up of military and police personnel, had been set up to investigate the matter.His words: A joint committee between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police has been set up to investigate the incident.This headquarters wishes to assure members of the public that the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored.
A former Ondo governorship candidate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Jimoh Ibrahim has said former president, Good...

A former Ondo governorship candidate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Jimoh Ibrahim has said former president, Goodluck Jonathan is a notorious armed robber with PhD.This is coming after the House of Representatives ad-hoc panel summoned Goodluck Jonathan over the contract of Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 worth millions of dollars.Recall that Jonathan on Tuesday denied reports that he received $200m as kick-back from the Malabu oil deal, adding that the fake news was the handiwork of those determined to truncate his rising international profile.But Jimoh on his twitter page @JimohIbrahimOFR used the popular phrase gotten from Big brother winner, Efe while in the house to describe the former president.He wrote: Based on logistics, Goodluck Jonathan is an Anini (the notorious armed robber) with PhD.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade is ...

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade is the partys best performing governor.Sheriff spoke yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, when he led the partys leadership on a visit to the governor at the Government House.The PDP chairman, who said he had visited Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi before arriving Cross River, stressed that if I am asked who is the number one governor, I will say Ben Ayade.He added: You (Ayade) have worked and your people have attested to that. Nigerians outside your state have also attested to that. Vanguard is a first generation newspaper, and if it gives you an award, you know that it is an award purely on merit. Therefore, I am very proud that our digital governor is not only digital but Number One governor in terms of performance.The national chairman urged the governor not to rest on his oars, saying: I want to encourage you to continue to do more for the people of Cross River. In so doing, 2019 will be an easy ride for you. The party will be with you and there will be no challenge and no vacancy in Cross River State.Sheriff hailed Ayade for appointing an indigene of Kano State as his Special Adviser on Non-Indigenes Matters.The PDP chairman noted that by the appointment, the governor had set the pace that pleased the Hausa across the country.
About five insurgents suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have been arrested by operatives of the Department of St...

About five insurgents suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).The suspects, who are believed to have links with the Islamic States terror group, ISIS, were arrested in Benue and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on March 26, where they were plotting how to attack the embassies of the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK).Mr. Tony Opuiyo, the spokesperson for the DSS, said that besides the planned attacks on the U.S. and UK missions, the suspects also planned to attack all Western embassies in Abuja.Arrested were: Isa Jibril, Jibril Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, , Halidu Sule and Amhodu Salifu. On March 22, another Boko Haram suspect, Adamu Datti, was arrested at Fika, Yobe State. The 20-year-old Datti allegedly confessed to his membership of the group.Clarifying why the DSS continued to keep former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, Opuiyo insisted the governor will be charged according to the law.He said: The case of former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, is typical The Service has continued to hold him in line with the dictates of the law  more so, that he has not cooperated on the issues concerning the recovery of large cache of arms at his facilities.While investigation is ongoing on this matter, the Service has valid detention warrants to keep him. He will be charged accordingly, once the investigations are concluded.He also said that two suspected Ansaru kingpins, Ahmed Momoh and Al-amin Mohammed Jamin, were arrested on April 4 at Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State.The suspects were later confirmed to be associates of Abu Uwais, a main Ansaru kingpin terrorising residents in Kogi and Edo states.Opuiyo said the DSS has been working hard to eradicate the scourge of kidnapping across the country.Daniel Dibiamaka was arrested on 24th March, 2017 at Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, for his complicity in the kidnap of one Emmanuel Orji Ukah on 20th January, 2017. On that same day, Godsgift Isioma was arrested over his plan to kidnap one Dr. G. N Douglas, Opuiyo said.He went further: Determined to decisively deal with the ugly menace of kidnapping and increasing violence in Benue State , the Service, on 23rd March, 2017 at Bangaji, Gboko, Benue State, arrested Daniel Lorve, a member of the Terwase Akwaaza (a.k.a. Gana)-led notorious kidnapping and terrorist groupFurther investigation in this regard prompted a joint military/Police/Service operation which resulted in the raid on a farm suspected to have housed the armory of Akwaaza known for terrorising Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas of the State.High caliber arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene notably; one (1) General Purpose Machine Gun, three (3) AK- 47 rifles and one (1) SMG rifle, with large quantities of ammunition.In Kogi State, the Service on 29th March, 2017, arrested Abdulmojid Momoh and Ahmed Tijani Dodo at Adavi Local Government Area for their involvement in kidnap activities. In a similar vein, the duo of Salau Yakubu Ontinwa (aka General) and Abdulmajeed Musa were arrested on 30th March, 2017 at the same Adavi Local Government Area for similar kidnap crimes. Preliminary investigation showed that the trio are key members of the dreaded gang terrorising innocent citizens and other travellers across the state.Prior to these operations in the state, a gun runner only identified as Kareem was arrested on 27th March, 2017 for supplying weapons to criminals especially Abu Uwais, the Ansaru kingpin and notorious kidnapper. In furtherance of the Services efforts to check possession of illegal arms, it arrested Chukwujioke Igbru at Ikwo, Ebonyi State in a joint military/DSS operation on 7th April, 2017.The suspect was alleged to be one of the masterminds of the clashes between his Ojenakpa community and neighbouring Isobo community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State. He was arrested in possession of a G3 rifle.The DSS said it made further arrests in Abia State. They are: One Freeborn Chisom Innocent from Ikeduru, Imo State was arrested at Nzaocha Street, Aba for engaging in subversive activities against public servants. Innocent, who is an ICT expert used the social media, especially blogs to launch negative campaigns against the persons and offices of top government officials by telling lies against them and making them appear weak and incapable of holding their posts.He also used his platform to incite one ethnic group to violently attack another, thus creating tension and social disharmony.It has also become instructive to let the public note that the Service has uncovered a racketeering network involved in the issuance of certificates/letters of indigeneship to persons from neighbouring African countries. The Boko Haram terrorist group has become part of this network and uses it to buoy its membership in Nigeria.A particular case was the arrest on 10th April at Damaturu, Yobe State of Jalo, a Jos resident, Guinean and Boko Haram suspect. It is also discovered that these non-Nigerians use their new indigene status to seek privileges, including admissions into the countrys tertiary institutions, Opuiyo said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided a Bayelsa-based construction company belonging to Robert Azibaola...

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided a Bayelsa-based construction company belonging to Robert Azibaola, cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday.The media outfit said the EFCC stormed the premises of the company, Kakatar Group, in Otakeme, Bayelsa state at around 3pm on Thursday.The operatives allegedly damaged equipment and machinery during their search.In March last year, the anti-graft agency arrested Azibaola for allegedly diverting $40 million purportedly meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for Nigerias special forces.The funds were alleged to have been transferred from the account of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).He was later arraigned in court alongside his wife.The anti-graft body had arraigned the duo on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.The offence, according to the EFCC, contravened section 8(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same act.Nnamdi Dimgba, a judge, later granted him bail but ordered that he should be remanded in Kuje prison pending the determination of his bail application.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said negotiations are ongoing for the release of more Chibok schoolgirls still in the cus...





The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said negotiations are ongoing for the release of more Chibok schoolgirls still in the custody of Boko Haram terrorists, expressing optimism that the dialogue would yield the desired result.Vice President Osinbajo made this known, Tuesday evening, at an interaction with journalists and activists at the state house in Abuja.There is a lot of negotiation going on, adding that government had gone quite far with negotiations to free more girls, but did not provide details of the negotiations for apparent security reasons.
Ibrahim Magu will remain the boss at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Presidency has said. Twice the Senate h...



The Presidency does not necessarily need to seek Magus confirmation  going by Section 171 of the 1979 Constitution; and President Muhammadu Buhari is satisfied with Magus response to the report of the Department of State Services (DSS) on which the Senate based its action.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated the governments position in an interview with some media houses.

Twice the Senate has refused to confirm Magu as the agencys chairman, but the Presidency remains undeterred by the rejection.It believes that:According to, an online medium which was part of the interview, Osinbajo said President Buhari did not find the indictment by the DSS a strong reason to replace Magu.The Vice President said the President felt the DSS report was not meritorious enough to withdraw Magus nomination.Osinbajo said: We should commend the president for not interfering with what the DSS said. The DSS came up with a report and the man who was accused refuted it.He explains and gives a reason. When that happened, the president looked at what Magu said and what the DSS wrote and he said I am satisfied with what Magu said.He then decided to retain Magu as the nominee for EFCC. I dont see any reason why that should be contested.The president has not interfered with what the DSS said. If he wanted to interfere, he would have ordered the DSS to keep quiet. He didnt do that, but he said I dont think the DSS report is meritorious enough to withdraw his nomination.The president reserves the right to say, this is who I want. Im fully in support of Magu as the EFCC chairman just as the president is.Osinbajo faulted the Senate for rejecting Magu based on DSS reports claiming that the decision was not in line with global standards. He said it is not only in Nigeria that lawmakers reject nominees based on reports.He cited the nomination of the Attorney-General of the United States, Jeff Sessions who was retained by President Donald Trump despite negative reports.He added: You see the American example There are various reports. People come up with all sorts of things. Look at Jeff Sessions (US attorney-general), for instance. There were many reports. Some accused him of being racist, some of this and that, but he is in office today.The Vice President said in the light of Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, the President can retain Magu as EFCC chairman without confirmation by the Senate.He said the Constitution is much more superior to EFCC Act which recommends the confirmation of the nominee for EFCC chairman.He insisted that the Presidency can represent Magu for confirmation or leave him to do his job.He said: It is up to the Senate to make their judgment, and it is up to us say what we want to do. If our candidate is rejected, we can represent him. No law says we cant represent him. And again, there is the other argument, whether or not we need to present him for confirmation and thats a compelling argument from Femi Falana.His argument is that under the constitution, Section 171, and if you look at that section, it talks about the appointments that the president can make. They include appointments of ministers, ambassadors and heads of agencies, such as the EFCC.In that same Section 171, the Constitution rightly said that certain appointments must go to the Senate, such as ministerial and ambassadorial appointments. Those of heads of agencies like the EFCC do not have to go to the Senate. Thats what the constitution says.But the EFCC Act, which of course as you know is inferior, says that EFCC chairman should go to the Senate for confirmation.I am sure that even a pocket book lawyer knows that when a legislation conflicts with constitution, its the constitution that prevails.I agree with Mr. Falana that there was no need in the first place to have sent Magus name to the Senate, but we did so and it was rejected by the Senate, but I believe that it can be represented.I dont think there is anything wrong about the fact that the Senate has rejected him. The Senate has acted in its own wisdom to say No, we dont want him, and we can say, This is our candidate we like the gentleman and we want him to continue.The Senate has twice rejected the nomination of Magu by Mr. President due to adverse reports from the Department of State Security (DSS). At the last rejection, the lawmakers specifically asked that Magu be sacked and not represented for the position.For the second time, the Senate on March 15 rejected Magu following reports from the DSS.It recommended that Magu be sacked and not re-presented for the position.To make good its threats, the Senate on March 28 suspended the confirmation of 27 newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in protest against the continued stay of Magu as acting chairman of EFCC.
Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has confirmed that she withdrew some money from her unfrozen Skye Bank dom...

Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has confirmed that she withdrew some money from her unfrozen Skye Bank domiciliary account, containing about $5.8 million.She had visited the bank a few days after Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, ordered the de-freezing of the account.A source said that Mrs. Jonathan arrived at the Maitama, Abuja branch of the bank in the company of some aides on Monday. He said that the transaction, which took some time, was successful. However, there were reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stopped the former first lady from making any withdrawal from the account. But Charles Ogboli, Mrs Jonathans lawyer, said she withdrew $100, 000 from the account for medical treatment.She wanted to withdraw $5 million on Friday but unfortunately there were no funds and they (the bank) pleaded with her that she could withdraw $100,000 in order to comply with the order court. They have complied fully with the order of court. Therefore, the notice of appeal (by the EFCC) came late. The notice and stay of execution is a mere application. And we are talking of court order. Appeal has not been entered yet; records have not been transferred from the lower court to the court of appeal.In the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the mere fact that you have an appeal against a proceeding, does not stop the trial from going on. That was what they were acting upon. Unfortunately for them, the order had been executed. Even when you move the motion, it is an exercise in futility. So we are going to court to respond to whatever they filed. The issue is that she went to the bank and applied and the account was debited with $100,000.There were no challenges as to withdrawal from her account. She was not in any pressure to withdraw all the money, after all the money was there. But this is just for her medical treatment and all that. I wonder why some print media will be publishing things that are not within their knowledge or facts. Mrs Jonathan is a law-abiding citizens and she has not done anything which is ultra vires to the laws of the land. Justice Olatoreguns order was sequel to an application argued by Adedayo Adedipe, counsel to the former first lady. Adedipe had urged the court to unfreeze the account on the grounds that Jonathan was not a party in the suit leading to the order made by the court.The counsel, while citing judicial authorities, contended that the order was an abuse of court process as the court had no jurisdiction to make an order against a party that is not a party in a suit filed before the court. Sometime last year, based on an application filed by the EFCC, the court had ordered that the account be frozen on the grounds that it contained suspected proceeds of crime.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has allegedly raided the Kano home of a former Attorney General and Minister of Just...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has allegedly raided the Kano home of a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke in search of vital documents.Sources revealed that the documents could help the security agencies in establishing a solid case against Adoke, who has already been charged along with eight others over the $1.3 billion controversial Malabu Oil payout.The Federal Government through the EFCC had accused Adoke of spearheading the huge payment of $1.3 billion to Malabu, influential individuals and their firms under the guise of settling the protracted legal tussle over the ownership of the lucrative oil block, OPL 245.While the EFCC operatives reportedly stormed the Kano residence of the former minister, located at No. 3 Alu Avenue, Nasarawa GRA in the early hours of Wednesday, reports say nothing incriminating was found at the end of the operation.
The Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Feder...

The Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government of running a Gestapo state.According to the faction, the country is fast drifting into a dictatorship and possible anarchy under the present administration.A statement on Thursday by the spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye complained that prominent individuals that held public office in the last administration are being arrested and detained indefinitely without trial.For instance, the former Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam was arrested by men of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and has been in detention for over two months now without trial.Also, the former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu was arrested on April 5, 2017 by officers of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and like the others, he has been in detention and yet no case has been filed against him in any court by the anti-graft agency.Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki has been in custody for about two years now without trial. Similar brutality, arrest and mindless detention went on with other PDP leaders and members that were arrested by either the DSS or the EFCC, the statement said.The opposition further lamented what it described as media trial and conviction of opposition elements before they are proven innocent or otherwise by the courts.The statement continued, It is also very clear in the Constitution of Nigeria that no security agency has the right or power to detain suspects more than 48 hours without trial.Ironically, while former leaders and members of the PDP are being arrested indiscriminately and detained without trial, other former office holders of the ruling APC who have been accused of various corrupt practices are yet to be arrested. Instead, they are compensated with juicy ministerial appointments -double standards.We are in a constitutional democracy and as such, the present APC administration must lead by example and obey court orders. It is on record that most of these suspects have been granted bail by the courts of the land and the ECOWAS Court in the case of Col. Sambo Dasuki .This is sheer lawlessness!We wish to further assure the public that the PDP is not against the anti-corruption fight. Our stand is that the present APC government must follow due process in dealing with issues of corruption as the PDP did during its governments without violating human rights of citizens, especially those suspects that may later be found innocent by the law court.Accusing the administration of injustice and vendetta, Makarfi called on the government to charge all those in detention to court and those granted bail by the courts must be freed immediately.The party vowed to deploy all constitutional means both domestic and international to seek redress against what it described as Gestapo rule.The party reminded the administration that the country is under a democracy and that Nigerians are fed up with undemocratic rule.We advise this government to stop forthwith; all actions that tend to heat up the system and push citizens into taking extreme measures in self defence.The economic hardship brought upon Nigerians by APC misrule is bad enough, abridging the peoples rights on top of that is like adding salt to injury, the statement added
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft in...

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft into the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.During a press conference in Yola to give an giving an appraisal of the operations of the NAF in the first quarter of 2017, the Air Component Commander (ACC), Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Commodore Charles Owho said the introduction of the new platforms was necessitated by the enlargement of the NAF Area of Responsibility (AOR).The additional platforms deployed would join the now ageing Alpha jets, F9 jets, Mi 35 helicopters which have been in action since the beginning of the war on the insurgency. Already the UCAV CH-3A has already conducted Air Interdiction on March 27, 2017.Air Commodore Ohwo also revealed that several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by the NAF has revealed that following the fall and capture of the insurgents former headquarters in Camp Zairo, most of the fighters fled to the West of Sambisa stretching up to the Southwest of Maiduguri and into Yobe State, while some others had moved to the East and Southeast of Sambisa towards Gwoza Hills and Tagoshe Hills.Owho said the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has concentrated its air power the areaswith a view to further decimating the remaining BHT elements and facilitating the activities of own surface forces in the area.In a series of air operations including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support for ground troops, Air Recce, Combat Air Patrol and ISR, the ACC said the Air Component has successfully prevented the regrouping of Boko Haram Insurgents while providing effective air cover for ground troops for clearance operations.Among the operations conducted by the Air Component was the provision of daily air support for clearance operation in the south-west of Maiduguri at Boko Haram camps in Talala and Ajigin.At the same location, on February 1, 2017, Alpha jets provided Close Air Support for ground troops to repel an attack from Boko Haram. Also, operations conducted by the troops of 21 brigade of 7 Division also provided ISR for the clearance operations in Ngoshe and Mabila high grounds.Also, the ISR platform also conducted various operations in Arege, northern Borno where a platoon of Boko Haram insurgents was sighted. Our ISR aircraft maintained visual over BHTs in Arege and tracked them as shown on the screen. The BHTs took advantage of poor visibility and the terrain to escape imminent air strikes.However, the efficient communication of the ISR ac with MNJTF forces eventually led to the dislodgement of the terrorists in a firefight. In this encounter, about 57 terrorists were killed and many injured while technical, weapons and ammo were recovered, Ohwo said.
A group of youths in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the National Chairman of party Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff must apo...

A group of youths in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the National Chairman of party Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff must apologise to former President Goodluck Jonathan for walking out on him and other PDP leaders at the partys stakeholders meeting in Abuja last week Thursday.The youths, under the aegis of the Almagamated PDP Youth Leaders Nationwide, said that it was an embarrassment for Sheriff to have walked out on the former President who they described as leader of the party.Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the group, Segun Aderemi said that Sheriff disrespected the party by walking out on Jonathan and other party leaders during the stakeholders meeting.Adeyemi added that while the youths would not want anyone to disrespect Sheriff, as a leader in the party he would not be allowed to disrespect other PDP leaders.The group gave the party chairman seven days within which to tender apology to Jonathan and other party leaders, for embarrassing them through his conduct last Thursday.We witnessed what happened that day, when he walked out on the former President. Would Sheriff be happy if any member of the party embarrassed him the way he embarrassed Jonathan that day?He has to tender an unreserved apology to the former President, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other leaders of the party.We insist he should tender unreserved apology. We strongly believe that he is going to do the needful, Aderemi stated.He said the youths dont against have any issues with Sheriff or the chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, stressing that the goal was to ensure timely resolution of the leadership crisis in the party.Aderemi explained that the Almagamated PDP Youth Leaders are made up of youths from Both the Sheriff and Makarfi camps.
Two operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Delta Safe were killed, Wednesday evening, in the creek of ...

Two operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Delta Safe were killed, Wednesday evening, in the creek of Rivers State following a shootout with heavily armed pirates.Three other soldiers reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the deadly clash.It was gathered that the soldiers, deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel were responding to a distress call of pirates attack around Ijaw-Kiri area in Rivers State, bordering Bayelsa when they met their untimely end. The Coordinator, Media Campaign Centre, Operation Delta Safe, Major, Abubakar Abdullahi, in a statement issued in Yenagoa confirmed the incident.He said: Sadly, our troops deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel while responding to a distress call of sea robbers attack around Ijawkiri general area engaged heavily armed sea robbers.Unfortunately, two gallant soldiers exhibited highest point of patriotism by paying the supreme price, while three others sustained gunshot injuries.Effort is ongoing by the JTF to track and apprehend the criminals.
The Police in Ekiti State have arrested six persons including five old men for murder of one Sola Adeniyi in Orisunmibare settlement in Oy...

The Police in Ekiti State have arrested six persons including five old men for murder of one Sola Adeniyi in Orisunmibare settlement in Oye Local Government Area.The suspects cut off the head and arms which they later used for rituals.The suspects are an 80-year-old man, Tijani Arowolo, John Ojo (77), Peter Ajayi (73), Olu Oniyelu (63), Oluwatoba Folorunso (60) and Olaide Dolamu (28).Addressing reporters on Thursday shortly before the suspects were paraded, the Commissioner of Police Abdullahi Chafe, said they would soon be arraigned in court for murder as soon as investigation was concluded.Adeniyi was killed on February 7 in the wake of land crisis involving Itaji and Ayede -Ekiti people.The police boss revealed that all the six suspects had confessed to the crime while two other suspects who also participated in the killing were still on the run.The CP added that the gun used in the murder had been recovered.Tijani said Oniyelu was the head of the syndicate claiming that he (Tijani) had always assisted people to become wealthy.Tijani admitted that Oniyelu cut off the head of the victim which was later roasted to perform the ritual.According to him, Oniyelu was asked to bring the head of a monkey only to produce a human head.Dolamu, who claimed to be a barber based in Ibadan, said he later relocated to Oye Ekiti before he was lured into ritual killing.He added that they had sworn to an oath which made it difficult for him to pull out.
Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, on Wednesday expressed denied alleging his ownership of N15 billion i...

Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, on Wednesday expressed denied alleging his ownership of N15 billion in foreign and local currencies discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in an apartment at Osborne Towers in Lagos.An online news platform has alleged Senator Adeola to have stashed the huge cash in anticipation of using the money to finance his gubernatorial ambition in one the states of the South West.But in a press statement, signed by the Media Adviser to the Senator, Chief Kayode Odunaro, he described the media report as absolute lies and calculated blackmail to dent the image of the lawmaker.We are aware that the satanic report is a conscious antics by some politicians, who are have been having sleepless nights in the rising profile of Senator Adeola, and his impeccable records as a grassroots democrat.These elements are hell bent to eliminate him in their paranoid political equation towards 2019.Senator Adeola said he will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone unjustly tarnishing his hard earned reputation and image pursuant of his fundamental rights under the constitution.
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A candidate in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination has been murdered in Ibeshe Tuntun, in the Ikorodu area of L...

A candidate in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination has been murdered in Ibeshe Tuntun, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, by suspected ritual killers.The pupils parents were also hacked to death in what was said to be a recurrence of the killings perpetrated by the assailants in the community.The teenager, identified as Lucky Ebhodaghe, was the only child of the family.It was learnt that the killers had torn the window net and cut some burglar-proof bars to gain access into the victims apartment late Monday night.They were said to have inflicted machete cuts on the family members, leaving them for dead.Our correspondent gathered that neighbours of the deceased were not aware of the incident until around 12pm on Tuesday, when Ebhodaghes friends and a teacher visited the residence to know why he was not in school for the exams.A resident, who gave his name only as Dosu, said, It was an attack by those criminals called Badoo. They entered the building after cutting the burglar-proof bars. They hacked the couple and their only son to death.The boy was sitting for WASSCE. He was supposed to sit for two exams on Tuesday one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. His friends and one of his teachers were worried when he did not show up for the morning paper. They came to check on him after the first exam and found the door locked.When they peeped through the window, they found him in a pool of blood and raised the alarm. That was when their neighbours knew about the incident. On getting into the apartment, they also found the corpses of his parents. They had cuts on their faces.A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were signs that the hoodlums raped Ebhodaghes mother as her underwear was tattered.He said the case was reported to policemen at the Ipakodo division, adding that the police deposited the corpses in a morgue.The private parts of the woman were messed up. All indications pointed to the Badoo cult group. They usually rape their female victims and use them for rituals.The Ipakodo Divisional Police Officer was here yesterday (Tuesday) and photographs of the deceased family were taken. Their church members were also here. It is sad a whole family can be wiped out just like that.Until this attack, we had enjoyed relative peace in the community for some months. The police are trying, but they need to beef up security in the community, he added.Another resident, who did not want his name in print, blamed the attack on the release of a suspected member of the gang arrested by the police sometime in 2016.He said, Instead of the police to arraign him in the Ikorodu Magistrates Court, he was taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba. The police there arraigned him in the Ebute Meta Magistrates Court without the knowledge of the complainant and other witnesses.The suspect was released on bail and he is back in the community. It seems the gang has connection with some powerful people. Together with this tragedy, no fewer than 10 people have been killed so far by this gang.We have written petitions to Governor Akinwumi Ambode and some other commissioners in the state and carried out protests. The Lagos State Government should rise to its responsibility and secure our lives.The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the killings, said investigation had commenced.He said, A resident put a distress call across to the station that three corpses were found in an apartment. A police team visited the scene where the victims were found in a pool of blood. The corpses have been deposited in the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is in progress.It will be recalled that the gang had stormed a residence in the community in June 2016. They allegedly killed a Ghanaian after raping her and inflicting injuries on her eight-month-old baby.In July 2017, the assailants went back to the community, raped and blinded a 60-year-old woman, Francisca. They allegedly brutalised her 10-year-old daughter for raising the alarm.On October 21, 2016, the gang reportedly attacked a family in Oluwoye community, Ibeshe, killing a 30-year-old pregnant woman, Afusat Yusuf. Her husband, Kazeem, and the couples two kids  Rodiat, six, and five-year-old Opeyemi  were also stabbed to death.On December 26, 2016, the attackers allegedly struck on Saka Adegbose Street, off Olu Odo Road, Ikorodu, killing two siblings, Azeezat Oriade and Abeeb Oriade.On March 1, 2017, they allegedly attacked a family on Masafejo Street, Agbowa, Ikorodu, killing three siblings between the ages of four and nine. Their mother also died.
Human Right lawyer, Femi Falana, on Wednesday disclosed that Federal Government was losing high profile cases due to negligence and lack o...

Human Right lawyer, Femi Falana, on Wednesday disclosed that Federal Government was losing high profile cases due to negligence and lack of inter-agency cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Justice and security agencies.Speaking at a train-the-trainer programme organised by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA, in Lagos, the fiery lawyer said corruption was not fighting back, adding that there was no basis for blaming the judiciary for the cases lost.According to Falana, It is my submission that the courts cannot be blamed for the official negligence as well as lack of inter-agency collaboration and coordination of the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases by the federal government.On some occasions, the State Security Service has refused to produce accused persons in court without any reason whatsoever. The development has led to the unnecessary delay in the prosecution of very serious corruption cases.It is obvious that the federal government wants to eat omelet without breaking eggs. It wont work. Was it not because the accused persons had put together teams of senior and experienced lawyers that the federal government decided to set up a national prosecution agency?But as no fund was made available to the agency, corruption cases have not been assigned to the members of the agency. With the virtual collapse of the agency, the anti graft agencies have been left on their own.Just last week, Federal government lost its cases to senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, former first lady; Patience Jonathan, former minister; Elder Godsday Orubebe and Justice Adeniyi Ademola.Recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had on Sunday revealed that the Federal Government was losing high profile cases because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has failed to engage the services of staunch ogbologbo lawyer.
Description

The Long Island Business Expo returns in 2017 and will be hosted at the brand-new Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

About

The Long Island Business Expo is a one day event designed for business owners & executives of small & mid-sized businesses to gain access to high level education and growth opportunities. This annual business trade show and conference brings together executives from all industries to enjoy face-to-face networking, business education and an expo floor filled with the latest and greatest products and services to help you run a better business.



Networking

There are many opportunities to meet your next business partner or customer at the LI Busines Expo. Network with vendors on the show floor, meet our speakers or exchange business cards with other attendees. Or you can attend the After-Hours Networking Event which is designed to casually promote networking while enjoying some appetizers and a cash bar.
United Airlines

Cranes from the Port of Newark give backdrop to a United Airlines plane taxing at Newark Liberty International Airport, Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

(Julio Cortez)

A passenger aboard a United Airlines flight Sunday was stung by what was believed to be a scorpion, the airline confirmed to CNBC Thursday.

Richard Bell was flying from Houston to Calgary when something fell from an overhead bin and stung him. Crew members consulted with a physician on the ground, who advised them during the incident. Bell's injury was considered non-life-threatening.

The bizarre incident was the latest PR blow sustained by the airline since Sunday, when David Dao, a Kentucky physician, was dragged off an overbooked flight after refusing an offer of cash and a seat on a later flight.

Video of the incident taken by fellow passengers went viral, sparking global outrage and even calls for industry reform as the physical encounter came to symbolize a general dissatisfaction with airline service.

Attorneys for Dao, who was bloodied during the scuffle with police, are preparing to sue, according to published reports.

Also this week, a Warren woman told the Huffington Post about a recent flight aboard United, where she said she was seated next to a man who was highly intoxicated when he boarded. The man, who kissed her hands and made lewd advances, continued to be served alcohol by flight attendants, the woman said.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The man dragged from a United Airlines flight on Sunday spent three nights in a Chicago hospital with a concussion, broken nose, sinus injury and two missing teeth, his lawyer said at a press conference on Thursday.

Dr. David Dao was injured when members of Chicago Department of Aviation police pulled him from his seat and slammed him against an armrest before being dragged down the aisle, CBSNews.com said.

Attorneys Thomas Demetrio (L) and Stephen Golan (C) hold a press conference with Crystal Dao Pepper, the daughter of Dr. David Dao, on April 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Dao suffered a concussion, a broken nose and lost teeth after being forced off a United flight on Sunday, according to his attorneys. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The attorney, Thomas Demetrio, said the 69-year-old father of five was released from the hospital on Wednesday and is now in a "secure location."

Dao will have to undergo "reconstructive" surgery, the lawyer said.

At a one-hour press conference Thursday in Chicago, Demetrio said a lawsuit will be likely filed soon and he likened the officers who pulled his client off the flight at O'Hare International Airport to "stormtroopers."

He added that United Airlines might not be the only defendant in the expected suit, which Dao has two years to file.

The experience of being yanked off the Louisville-bound jet for Dao was more traumatic than when escaped Vietnam in 1975, the lawyer said.

Dao was yanked from the plane after being one of four passengers chosen at random to exit the packed flight to Louisville. United needed seats to move four employees and its requests for volunteers to take a flight the next day went unanswered despite an offer that climbed to $800 along with a free hotel room.

The lawyer went on to call United CEO Oscar Munoz's apology "staged" and he said he hasn't been contacted by the airline's legal team. Demetrio said there is "a culture of rudeness" and "bullying" on airlines.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A 47-year-old New Jersey woman says United Airlines flight attendants did nothing to stop a visibly drunk man from sexually harassing her and kept feeding him more booze on a flight last month, according to a report.

Jennifer Rafieyan says the man was already intoxicated when he boarded the flight from Newark to Phoenix and needed help from two flight attendants just to make it to his seat next to her, according to an account of the incident she provided to HuffingtonPost.com.

Rafieyan said the 64-year-old man rubbed her legs, grabbed her knee, kissed her hands and put his head on her shoulder, the report said. The man then grabbed a pen and notepad out of her hand and wrote "PASIONAT NITE XX," she told HuffingtonPost.com.

Rafieyan, a married mother of three who was traveling with her 12-year-old daughter, said that when she reported the man's behavior to flight attendants they said they were sorry, but that nothing could be done. She was also told the man harassed a flight attendant, the report said.

Despite her complaints, Rafieyan said the man was allowed to continue ordering drinks. He downed three more whiskeys and a small bottle of wine, the report said.

While he didn't touch Rafieyan again, the man got belligerent during the rest of the flight, she said. He accused multiple people of stealing his passport and refused to sit down until a flight attendant said the plane would be diverted and forced to make an emergency landing.

When Rafieyan, a resident of Warren in Somerset County, wrote to United on March 29 to tell them what happened on the flight they responded with an apology by email and sent her four $100 travel vouchers.

The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't allow airlines to board passengers who are visibly intoxicated. United has a similar policy that it can deny entry to a flight to someone who is drunk.

Last week, a man was forcibly removed from a United flight after he refused to exit. The airline said it needed seat on the plane to transport employees from Chicago to Louisville.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
TOMS RIVER -- The township council introduced an ordinance Tuesday night that would ban drones from flying below 400 feet.

Under the ordinance, state agencies and law enforcement will still be able to use the drones in an official capacity. Drones can be flown for educational, scientific, environmental and research purposes, and sporting events. (The ordinance can be found below.)

The ordinance reportedly was introduced as a way to curtail real estate agents from flying an unmanned aircraft over residents' houses. Councilman George E. Wittmann Jr. told the Asbury Park Press the council decided to introduce the ordinance after receiving complaints, many from residents in the North Dover section of town who have spotted them hovering above houses.

North Dover was also the focus of a no-knock ordinance that aimed to keep out real estate agents who township officials said were using "intense, incessant and intimidating" practices. The ordinance, which prohibits real estate soliciting for five years, passed the town council in February 2016 by a 5-0 margin.

Township officials and residents alike have blamed the aggressive real estate tactics on agents from Lakewood who see potential in neighboring Ocean County towns. Lakewood, home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities on the east coast, is the fastest growing town in New Jersey, with a population of nearly 100,000 residents.

Manchester introduced a similar ordinance to ban drones in April 2016, but it was tabled.

The ordinance introduced Tuesday night allows individual residents to fly drones only after receiving consent from the property owner, and the drone must be registered with the township for a $70 fee.

Anyone caught operating an unlicensed drone in a location not permitted by the new ordinance can receive up to $2,000 in fines and 90 days in jail.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3581361/Drone-Ordinance-Toms-River.pdf"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Drone Ordinance Toms River (PDF)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3581361/Drone-Ordinance-Toms-River.txt"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Drone Ordinance Toms River (Text)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Goodbye, tunnel to Macy's Basement.

Hello, tunnel to Brother Jimmy's BBQ.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ sits within the shadow of Penn Station in Manhattan.

It's on a block that would have to be purchased and cleared for the new Penn South station if the proposed $24 billion Gateway tunnel project ever comes to fruition.

I took a walking tour of the area the other day with Joe Clift, a retired Long Island Railroad executive who is a leading critic of the Gateway plan.

We didn't get a chance to try the barbecue at Jimmy's. But I did learn a lot about pork.

That's the problem with the Gateway plan as well as with its predecessor. That's the Access to the Region's Core plan that was derided as "the tunnel to Macy's Basement."

Clift said the tunnel projects share a key flaw: They're not just tunnel projects.

"Calling them tunnels misrepresents them," Clift said of the plans. "The tunneling is a minority of the cost. A majority of the costs are the other things."

In the case of ARC, the other thing was a new station to be built 180 feet underground near the existing Penn Station, not far from a Macy's store.

In the case of Gateway, the big cost driver is again a new station, this one to be built on that city block on which Jimmy's and a lot of other businesses now stand.

When that Gateway plan was unveiled in 2011, the price tag was put at $11.5 billion. But as the goodies got added on the price doubled.

It could go a lot higher when the cost of condemning and purchasing the 64 parcels of Midtown real estate needed for the new Penn Station South, Clift warned. Such projects often go over-budget, he said.

The alternative would be to fix up the existing Penn Station to handle the added trains. That would cost a lot less than building a new station, he said.

"Just fix Penn up," he said. "The cost of fixing Penn is about $3 billion less than building a new station."

That seemed feasible to me after a tour of Penn in which Clift pointed out numerous potential improvements that could increase capacity.

Amtrak will soon be moving its operations from Penn to the new Moynihan Station being constructed at the post office building next door. Meanwhile the projected 2022 completion of the LIRR's East Side Access will free up even more space as Long Island commuters go to Grand Central.

That brings up a question a lot of Jersey commuters would like to ask: If the New Yorkers can go to Grand Central, then why can't we?

That's the "Region's Core" that the ARC project was supposed to give us access to.

But the New Yorkers didn't want us getting there. By 2003, the Grand Central connection had been penciled out of the ARC plan.

Gov. Christie killed that plan in 2010 because of potential cost overruns connected to building that new station.

But the real problem was that it achieved none of the goals of ARC. The tunnels didn't connect to the "Region's Core" of the title and they couldn't be shared with Amtrak.

Clift argues we should start at the beginning, with a return to that perfectly sound 1995 tunnel plan that focused on building tunnels, not stations.

It's a mere 11 blocks from Penn to Grand Central and making that connection would free up all kinds of possibilities for both New Jersey and New York riders.

And making that connection would be a much less costly means of creating capacity than building that Penn South station, he said.

"Why would you build a new station when you have a perfectly good, underused station at Grand Central?" he asked.

All of this would be academic if we had the $24 billion to do Gateway. But we don't.

The feds are supposed to put up half, but President Trump is cutting transit programs, not adding them.

As for New Jersey's half, we're broke. The feds might offer us a loan. But adding $12 billion in state debt to the existing $100 billion pension-fund shortfall is a recipe for yet another credit downgrade.

In the meantime there are those two century-old tunnels that are the heart of this problem. Both were damaged in Hurricane Sandy and are in need of extensive rehab.

We could drill a new one for a couple billion bucks, said Clift, and that would provide an alternative so the old tunnels could be rehabbed.

After that, we could think of building a fourth tunnel and perhaps that long-overdue connection to Grand Central.

Or we could just keep loading up the Gateway project with pork and hope the Donald sends a big check.

That could happen. But to use a term a prior governor made famous, pigs will fly before it does.

I suspect there's no need to rush if you want to try Jimmy's barbecue. Those pigs will be landing there for a long time to come.
TRENTON -- A state Assembly candidate from south Jersey who was once a contestant on Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" is under fire after a video clip surfaced showing him making an obscene comment to a woman.

Brian McDowell, a Republican who is running for a seat in the 1st legislative district in one of New Jersey's most competitive races this year, rejected a request last week from the Cape May County Republican Committee to drop out of the election because of new "issues and information" that came to light.

Instead, the organization withdrew its endorsement of McDowell, 41, a real estate broker who lives in North Wildwood.

The video has been circulating through south Jersey over the last few weeks. The 10-second clip shows McDowell, an unmarried father of three, speaking to a woman, who is not completely visible, at what appears to be a bar.

"Let me tell you right now," McDowell says. "You should (expletive) me. It would really be good. Listen, you never know."

McDowell, a Trump supporter who helped run the businessman's presidential campaign in Cape May County last year, told NJ Advance Media he has no plans to withdraw his candidacy.

"I am not a politician," McDowell said. "I am not trying to be a politician. I am trying to go to Trenton to talk some common sense into people in the system."

McDowell also defended himself against past issues, such as a restraining order filed against him by an ex-girlfriend and an arrest in 2008, saying he has made "human errors."

"Even Jesus dropped the cross three times," McDowell said. "I'm not running to be the Pope. I'm running to make New Jersey more affordable."

McDowell said the woman he's shown speaking to is a friend of 10 years and that their conversation was "in jest." He said he wasn't drunk when the video was taken and does not know who filmed the clip or has circulated it.

"Anybody can take a video and spin it any way they want," he said. "We both had no clue anybody was videotaping us or would blackmail me into withdrawing from the race."

"It shows how rigged and corrupt this system is," McDowell added.

He said he plans to offer a reward for anyone who comes forward with information about the video.

"That's the real important question: Who did this?" McDowell asked.

Marcus Karavan, chairman of the Cape May County GOP, posted a message on the committee's Facebook page on April 6 saying the new information the committee learned about McDowell "places the candidate in a light that is inconsistent with several of the core principles" of the organization.

"Accordingly, we cannot in good conscience support this candidate going forward," Karavan writes.

Karavan said the committee offered McDowell the chance to withdraw his name but he refused, so it filed paperwork to take away the prime ballot placement he received from the group's endorsement.

"I felt I should leave it up to the voters," McDowell said. "If the voters come out and support my message, they're willing to send someone to Trenton to represent their interests."

Karavan did not immediately return messages from NJ Advance Media seeking further comment. He told Politico that the video was the tipping point for the committee to change its mind about McDowell.

The Cape May GOP voted in March to endorse both McDowell and his running mate, Cumberland County Freeholder James Sauro, in their bid to unseat Democratic incumbents Bruce Land and Robert Andrzejczak.

A third Republican Assembly candidate in the district, Downe Mayor Robert Campbell, is running without the county group's endorsement.

The 1st District includes parts of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties and traditionally produces close, expensive races. Each district has one member of the state Senate and two members of the Assembly. All 120 seats in the state Legislature are up for grabs in November.

Chairpeople or the Atlantic and Cumberland county Republican organizations could not be reached for comment about where they stand on McDowell's candidacy.

McDowell admitted that he has a checkered past. He said his name is on a domestic violence registry because more than a decade ago, he proposed to his girlfriend on a bus. He said she filed a restraining order against him because she took it as harassment.

"Apparently some people on the bus ridiculed my ex girlfriend," McDowell said.

He added that they got back together and had a 10-year relationship that produced two daughters.

McDowell also was arrested in Florida in 2008 at the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays for allegedly trespassing because he did not have a ticket. He said the prosecutor later determined it was a wrongful arrest but that his mugshot remains online.

McDowell was a contestant on third season of "The Apprentice" in 2005. He did not win the NBC realty show that Trump hosted years before he was elected America's 45th president last November.

Politico New Jersey was the first media outlet to report on the video.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
TRENTON -- State-run government pension funds spent $10 billion on fees and performance bonuses in 2014 to private managers of their alternative investments, a strategy that has stirred controversy in New Jersey.

The report from the Pew Charitable Trusts found that the 73 largest state and local public pension funds invested about half their assets in stocks, a quarter in bonds and cash, and a quarter in such alternative investments as hedge funds, real estate and private equity.

New Jersey's portfolio at the time varied only slightly from that typical makeup, with 45 percent of its assets in equities, 28 percent in fixed income and 27 percent in alternatives.

Two of the 73 funds didn't invest in alternatives, while 21 had at least 30 percent of their assets invested in them and five had at least 40 percent invested.

According to Pew, New Jersey's returns over 10 years have been above average. The report reflects a fight between the management side of the State Investment Council and union representatives who questioned whether hedge funds' performance was strong enough to warrant the management fees and bonuses.

The council agreed last summer to slash its allocation from 12 percent to 6 percent after union representatives pushed for a reduction to 4 percent. That change will reduce the fund's investments in alternatives from a third to about a quarter of all assets.

"Hedge funds over the past 10 years have underperformed significantly compared with the Standard & Poor's 500 index and commonly used benchmarks, after accounting for fees," Pew said.

Researchers noted that hedge fund investing is "slowing," with pension funds in New York and California bailing entirely.

But for decades funds seeking diversification and high returns were shifting assets into alternatives. As more complex investments than traditional stocks and bonds, they require outside managers who receive fees and performance-based rewards known as carried interest.

Pew found that billions of these fees have gone unreported by pension funds that report their results without subtracting fees and bonuses. New Jersey reports its results after accounting for management fees.

Pension funds were taking on more risk and investment volatility as they chase their long-term rates of return, but "increased allocations to stocks and alternatives ... can heighten volatility and the risk of losses," researchers said.

"Research by investment experts shows that the asset allocation required to yield target returns today is more than twice as volatile as the allocations used 20 years ago."

Gov. Chris Christie's administration recently reduced the fund's targeted rate of return from 7.9 percent, which actuaries considered unreasonably high, to 7.65 percent. Assumed returns that are too optimistic create a distorted view of pension funds' health and allow employers to contribute less each year than is truly necessary.

The investment fees and bonuses paid by the pension funds Pew reviewed increased from 0.26 percent of assets in 2006 to 0.34 percent in 2014, according to the report. And during that same period they boosted their stakes in alternatives from 11 percent of assets to 25 percent.

"Although the increase may seems small, it equates to over $2 billion in total annual investment fees for the 73 plans examined," the report said.

In the 2014 snapshot Pew used, external management fees cost New Jersey's pension fund 0.21 percent of its assets.

Its 10-year returns of 7.05 percent were the 10th highest of the 41 funds that also report their returns after accounting for fees. Only one of the pension funds -- the South Dakota Retirement System -- hit or exceeded its targeted rate of return.

In a report with results spanning five years, New Jersey's Division of Investments said its alternative investments have contributed $9.4 billion to the pension fund, after fees and bonuses, outperforming the total portfolio.

The fund paid $659 million in those expenses in the fiscal year that ended in June, with a small piece going to the division's internal managers and the vast majority representing fees and performance bonuses for alternative investment managers.

That's up from $394 million from five years prior. They peeked at more than $800 million in 2014.

According to the Division of Investment's report, which was requested by labor representatives on the investment council, management fees and expenses actually have dropped as a percentage of assets in alternatives.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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The body of a man was found at a marina along the Salem River in Salem City on Wednesday, authorities said. The marina is north of this spot along the Salem River, seen in this file photo, where it empties into the Delaware River. (Bill Gallo Jr. | For NJ.com)

SALEM -- A body was found in the water at a Salem marina Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The male was discovered in Barbers Basin's docking area near the boat ramp around 1 p.m., according to Salem County Chief of Detectives Brian Facemyer.

An employee of the marina spotted the body and called authorities, he said.

The marina is located on Tilbury Road along the Salem River, a tidal waterway that empties into the nearby Delaware River.

Facemyer said that the county medical examiner's office removed the body from the water.

There was no estimate of an age of the person. The body appeared as though it had been in the water for some time, authorities said.

An autopsy is planned for Thursday, according to Facemyer. He said authorities hoped that would be able to determine a cause of death and lead to an identification of the person.

The Salem City Police Department along with the Salem County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the discovery.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
VOORHEES -- For the sixth consecutive time, Kennedy University Hospital's three acute care facilities -- located in Cherry Hill, Stratford, and Washington Township, -- have again each been honored with an "A" grade in the National Hospital Safety Grades, which rate how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections.

The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health care system, recently released the new 2017 Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide. Kennedy is one of 823 U.S. hospitals to receive an "A" for its commitment to reducing errors, infections, and accidents that can harm patients.

Kennedy President & CEO Joseph W. Devine, FACHE, said that the 607-bed acute care health system is "extremely proud that all three of our hospitals have been again honored with top grades by The Leapfrog Group," adding that it is a "tremendous achievement for all members of our team to receive 'A' grades six times in a row."

Dr. David Condoluci, Kennedy's Senior VP & Patient Safety & Quality Officer, added that the "A" grades in this elite national ratings program "recognizes our continued, strong commitment to patient safety -- Kennedy's top priority as a health care institution."

According to The Leapfrog Group President & CEO Leah Binder, hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, "have achieved the highest safety standards in the country. That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an 'A' Safety Grade."

Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

The Spring 2017 "A" grade Leapfrog Award is the latest in a string of accolades Kennedy has earned for its clinical excellence, including Leapfrog's Top General Hospital 2016 (Kennedy University Hospital - Stratford) and 2016 National Sepsis Hero (The Sepsis Alliance). Earlier this year, Kennedy was awarded the 2017 Excellence in Quality Improvement Award by the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) for its lifesaving sepsis program.

To see Kennedy University Hospital's full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org or follow the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

For more information, visit www.kennedyhealth.org.

This item submitted by Nicole Pennsiero for Kennedy Health.
ROSELLE -- A man's body was found inside a pickup truck parked at the Burger King on St. George Avenue, according to authorities.

Employees said they called police after they noticed the white Dodge Ram had been parked in the lot for several days. The truck had tinted windows, making it difficult for anyone to see inside, they said.

Authorities were able to force entry into the truck and found the body.

Roselle police cordoned off the area of the parking lot where the white pickup truck was parked.

The Burger King remained open, though the drive-thru was blocked by the scene. Several approaching customers turned around and left once they heard a body was found.

Police on scene said information about the incident would likely be released tomorrow morning.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has been uncharacteristically quiet about complaints from City Hall custodians that they are not being paid the "living wage" promised in a 2015 ordinance. (Photo by Maggie Andresen, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
In this March 10, 2017, photo, White House press secretary Sean Spicer talks to the media during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington.(Andrew Harnik)
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.
Seen as a leader by his teacher, Lyryk Mueller looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Mueller is a student at Franklin Elementary School, and the 10-year-old was part of the droves of local fifth-graders who visited the annual Rotary Club fifth-grade career fair at the Mid-America Center yesterday.

Mueller was set to check out three different presentations he picked out of dozens of different career fields; however, he was most excited to see a presentation on banking.

He said he became interested in the field after working as a teller at the TS Bank inside of Franklin Elementary as a fourth-grader. He said he enjoyed the math involved, as well as being able to help people save money to build for a better future.

His teacher, Jessica Aldrich, said Mueller is a student that takes charge in the classroom.

Hes definitely a leader, the 10th-year teacher said. Hes pretty ambitious and always tries to do his best.

And she said she knows that going forward, Mueller will continue to strive to be the best student he can be.

Hes a very easy person to teach, she said. Hes also good at helping other kids that may need redirection in class.
Another busy year is anticipated for the reconstruction of the interstate around Council Bluffs.

The public is invited to learn about upcoming projects at an informational meeting next Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Programs office located in Suite 750 at the Mall of the Bluffs.

The meeting will emphasize National Work Zone Awareness Week, which stresses the need for motorists to pay attention to construction workers and equipment in work zones.

Iowa Department of Transportation staff members will be present to explain the impact of the construction work impact on motorists traveling on the interstate and on local businesses in the areas of Interstates 29 and 80 in Council Bluffs. A short presentation is planned for 5:30 p.m., with a repeat of the presentation at 6:30 p.m.

We anticipate a busy year and significant changes said Mark Pohlmann, the projects design coordination manager.

One change Pohlmann referred to will come late this year when westbound motorists will shift to new westbound lanes now being constructed between Madison Avenue and the South Expressway.

Other 2017 projects that have already started or will soon start include the east system interchange of I-80/I-29, the west system interchange of I-80/I-29, and the interchange of I-29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 that is nearing completion, according to Pohlmann.

An update will also be provided on the ongoing environmental study and preliminary design alternatives for the I-29/I-480/West Broadway project.

The meeting is accessible for people with disabilities, but those needing special accommodations should notify the Iowa DOT contact by Thursday at 712-243-3355, 800-289-4368 or email Scott.Suhr@dot.iowa.gov.

For those who cannot attend the open house, an online meeting will be available beginning April 18 and can be accessed by visiting the project website, CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov, and clicking on the online meeting link on the home page.

By the end of the year we should be halfway done with all of the reconstruction efforts, with six to seven years to go toward completion, Pohlmann said.
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On Wednesday, the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs was packed with students considering their career options.

The eighth annual Rotary Club Fifth Grade Career Fair drew about 1,000 fifth-graders from across the area  hailing from Council Bluffs, Lewis Central and St. Albert schools, as well as Childrens Square U.S.A.

Each student attended three 30-minute sessions after choosing from a selection of 33 careers.

This helps give them an idea of careers they might be interested in, said Rick Stone with the Centennial Rotary Club, which teamed with the Noon Rotary Club to host the event.

Stone said the Rotary Clubs work to update the career list to make sure growing industries are represented. This years crop of presenters included a nurse, hair stylist, biologist, graphic designer and automotive mechanic.

This year, robotics engineering was so popular there were two sets of presentations, each of which drew a large crowd.

Longfellow Elementary School fifth-grader Mason Garreans worked on a station with computer-assisted design software to build a bridge while controlling for material types, cost and other factors.

Were designing a bridge so a truck can drive on it, the 11-year-old said. Right now, I am working on trying to get the price down.

Different material effects the sturdiness of the bridge, as well as the cost, he explained. And engineer might have to consider a variety of parameters in a design, along with other professionals such as architects and construction workers.

Ive been interested in engineering for a while, Mason said, adding that seeing robotics programs was what drew him into the career field.

Troy Solberg with the Henry Doorly Zoo said its just fun about presenting at the fair. Solbergs been with the zoo for 10 years, first as a zookeeper and then in past few years in the zoos education department. Hes been coming to the fair for four years.

Its fun to get the kids involved, getting them thinking about opportunities, showing them theres a whole world out there, Solberg said. Theyre seeing and learning new things.

Diego Rangel, 11, a fifth-grader at Bloomer Elementary School, worked on building a project using Legos as part of a session to highlight careers in teaching.

We learned about how to use Legos to do stories and things we can do over break, Diego said.

He said he was interested in education because it offers an opportunity to give back to others the lessons imparted by his teachers now. He said the Lego activity helped show how learning can happen during what feels like play.

You can teach the other students what you have learned, he said.

One way to liven up a group of fifth-graders? A dog.

Lou Jensen with the Creighton University occupational therapy program brought Jack, a rescued black Lab mix who, with Jensen, is part of a certified therapy team. Some of Jacks duties include working with shy students who are reluctant to read and students with behavioral disorders.

During their sessions, Jensen, Jack and Creighton students put the fifth-graders through four stations: children in occupational therapy, grip strength and joint tests, and everyday activity with an impairment.

Anna Strohmeier and Makenzie Capo, both 11-year-olds at Titan Hill Intermediate School, talked about the fourth station.

We had to see what it was like to be in a wheelchair and use walkers, Anna said.

Makenzie continued, We had to get in the wheelchair to see what it was like to go over rugs.

The goal of the day, Anna said, was to learn what people in different careers did with their days. An occupational therapist, for example, might help go into someones home to reduce mobility hazards.

This is a chance to teach them early about what were all about, Jensen said, noting that April is Occupational Therapy Month. They were so enthusiastic.
Two Council Bluffs school boards recently voted to approve budgets for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Council Bluffs Community School District voters will see their property tax levy go up 15 cents, while Lewis Central Community School District residents will see their property tax levy drop by about 5.6 cents.

Both tax rates are calculated per $1,000 of taxable valuation, which includes a residential rollback from a homeowners assessed valuation.

The Council Bluffs school board held a public hearing at its regular meeting Tuesday night. After no comment was heard, the board voted 5-2 to approve the budget, which includes an increase of 15 cent per $1,000 of taxable valuation to the districts property tax levy. Members Susan Riley and Scott Hansen voted against the resolution.

That increase means the levy will be raised to $17 per $1,000 in taxable valuation  technically, $17.00314  which means residence would see taxes uptick by about a $1.03 per month, or $12.83 per year, for the owner of a $150,000 home.

District Chief Financial Officer Dean Wilson said he proposed the increase to the school board because current state funding isnt adequate to meet the needs of the district.

In February, the Republican-controlled Legislature increased supplemental state aid by 1.1 percent for the next fiscal year, adding an additional $40 million in spending to the states K-12 public schools. Despite the increase, many educators called that rate disappointing.

Expenses are going up between 3 and 4 percent every year, and revenue isnt keeping pace with expenses, Wilson said.

While the Council Bluffs district has worked to reduce expenses where they can, Wilson said services provided to students may eventually need to be reduced if funding stays low.

One way were trying to stave that off is by trying to have a very modest increase in the property tax levy that will help us keep some of those supports in place, at least for now, he said.

The increase to the tax levy is expected to generate $500,000 of additional revenue for the school district.

Hansen said he voted against raising the levy citing concerns to spending cuts in the district.

They are keeping spending constant but, because the revenues have gone down, they are going to raise the revenues because they can, and I find that to be somewhat fiscally irresponsible, Hansen said. Our situation is not dire enough that we need to cut spending, but apparently it is dire enough that we need to raise taxes.

Riley did not return messages Wednesday.

The Lewis Central school board held its public hearing on the districts budget on March 20. During its regular meeting on April 3, the board voted unanimously to approve its budget, which includes a decrease of about 5.6 cents to its levy.

That means the levy will be decreased to $12.34584 per $1,000 in taxable valuation.

District Business Manager Dale Kreher said the district is in good financial condition.

We try to keep the levy fairly constant with not a lot of changes up or down, Kreher said. We try to plan accordingly.

With lawmakers 1.1 percent boost to state aid this year, Kreher said the district has to plan better when it comes to things like raises.

That is definitely lower than weve had in previous years which makes it harder, Kreher said. We have to plan better and be careful, but since we are in good shape we can probably weather that a little better compared to other school districts, but we still need to be diligent and control spending.

School district budgets must be submitted to county auditor offices and Iowa Department of Management by Monday.
A common lament in Iowa and the country at large is that not enough people vote.

Low turnouts for city and school elections are a black eye for the citizenry, one that enjoys the freedoms of democracy while participating in it with appalling infrequency.

In Des Moines, the Iowa Senate has approved a bill requiring city and school elections to be held on the same day in an effort to boost voter participation, according to the Associated Press.

While some have expressed concerns about the bill, we see it as a step that will help in the long run.

The bill passed the Senate 36-13 on Tuesday and now heads to Gov. Terry Branstad, according to The Des Moines Register. Under the measure, school and city elections would be held after the first Monday in November during odd-number years.

The legislation hopes to increase voter participation while reducing taxpayers costs. However, some lawmakers are concerned about possible confusion among voters and poll workers because the district boundaries for city council posts and school board seats are often different.

The Iowa Association of School Boards and the Iowa State Education Association oppose the bill, while the Iowa League of Cities is undecided. The Iowa State Association of Counties supports the measure.

Any changes to voting will always bring with it disagreement and controversy. Often times that is warranted, as with parts of the voter ID bill currently circulating the Legislature, which among many harmful portions would reduce early voting. But an effort to increase voter participation by reducing the large amount of elections held in the state is worthwhile.

The legislation wouldnt combine the administration of city and school elections until July 1, 2019.

Implementation is expected to include the use of specialized Geographic Information Systems mapping work and modifications to statewide voter registration software and poll books, according to the Legislative Services Agency.

The estimated cost will be $50,000, state analysts said. They said the results from combining voting precincts wont be determined until the Geographic Information Systems work is completed.

We encourage Gov. Terry Branstad to sign the bill into law.
A 15-year-old accused of stabbing an Ogallala man to death is being held on a $1 million bail for murder.

Two others were also charged in the crime.

Amadeus Leroux, 15, appeared in Keith County Court on Tuesday. He is charged with second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Leroux is being charged as an adult and will appear again at 1 p.m. (MST) on May 11, said a Keith County Court employee. He can post 10 percent of the $1 million bail to be released.

Raylynn Garcia, 28, and Larry Derrera, 32, also appeared in Keith County Court on Tuesday. Each are being held on a $500,000 bail. They can post 10 percent to be released. Each were charged with accessory to a second-degree murder, intentionally committing child abuse, obstructing a peace officer and false reporting. They will both appear again at 1 p.m. (MST) on May 8, the county court employee said.

Leroux will be represented by Maren Lynn Chaloupka of Scottsbluff and Daniel Stockmann of Omaha. Garcia will be represented by Keith County Public Defender Gary Krajewski. Derrera will be represented by Gregory Beal, also of Keith County.

All three defendants were arrested in connection with the death of John Fratis, 25. According to arrest affidavits, Fratis shared a residence with Garcia, Derrera and two young children.

The three were doing drugs, drinking and watching TV with Leroux on March 28 in front of the children, when Fratis and Leroux got into an altercation. Garcia later found Fratis bleeding, and he told Garcia he had been stabbed. Before he was taken to the hospital, Garcia gave Leroux a ride to Holyoke, Colorado, according to the affidavits.

A search ensued for Leroux until he turned himself in to Denver, Colorado authorities on March 30.
Two Maywood brothers will spend time in prison after being charged with sex crimes.

After pleading guilty to two counts of first degree sexual of a child April 5 in Frontier County District Court, Terry Tobiasson, 27, was sentenced to 60 to 84 months in prison for both counts, to be served at the same time. He was given credit for 149 days served.

In early March, Tobiassons brother Joshua Tobiasson, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography. He was then sentenced to 48-72 months for both counts to be served at the same time, and given credit for 118 days served.

The two men were arrested in November, after a nearly four-month long investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, acting on a tip of possible illegal activity.

At the time of the arrest, authorities with the State Patrol said the case involved multiple victims and declined to comment on specifics.
Burger King

Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of advertising today.

1. Snapchat is letting advertisers track users' store visits. A new tool, called Snap to Store, will allow marketers to draw a connection between foot traffic and ad campaigns.

2. Ad blocking is killing off smaller publishers. The loss of revenue from ad blocking is leading to a drop in traffic.

3. Omnicom-owned consultancy Flamingo Group is shutting down seven of its eight offices. The consultancy, which Omnicom bought for over $18 million, is in serious financial difficulties and will only keep its London office, according to AgencySpy.

4. Burger King made a TV ad that triggers peoples' Google Home devices. The advert triggers a search for "What is the Whopper burger?"

5. Investors only want to know about users in Snap's first earnings call. The company's first earnings call is set for May 10 and analysts are looking at user growth figures.

6. The creator of Wall Street's "Charging Bull" is complaining about "Fearless Girl." The Italian artist says "Fearless Girl" is a bold presence that changes the creative dynamic of his sculpture.

7. Havas Media was selected as Beats By Dre's media agency. The French agency will handle media buying and planning in the EMEA region, according to a report from Campaign.

8. United is reimbursing every passenger on the flight that caused an uproar. It's unclear whether the refund will be in cash, miles, or another form, according to AdAge.

9. NextDoor wants to be the next social media advertising machine. The company's CEO thinks ad revenues will top $1 billion by 2020, according to Ad Week.

10. Jeff Bezos told his employees their biggest enemy is irrelevance. In his latest letter to employees Amazon's CEO explains why an "obsessive customer focus" is the best way to build a company.

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The Titans' injury woes have continued with rampaging centre Konrad Hurrell almost certain to miss the Good Friday clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium due to the recurrence of an ankle injury.

Hurrell was a notable absentee at the Titans' captain's run on Thursday morning with his place at right centre to be filled by either Chris McQueen or Dan Sarginson in his return from a knee complaint that has kept him sidelined since Round 1.



Match Draw Widget

[2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Broncos vs Titans

Coming into the Broncos clash on the back of three straight losses, five straight losses to Brisbane and 10 consecutive losses to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, the loss of Hurrell shapes as another body blow in Gold Coast getting their season back on track.

Having missed last week's loss to the Raiders due to back spasms McQueen's position in the squad won't be definite until he is assessed on Friday morning with Englishman Joe Greenwood given the all clear to return after suffering two concussions.

Hurrell and Daniel Vidot were the two named in the 21-man squad on Tuesday not to train on Thursday with Henry indicating that Hurrell would be unlikely to play.

"Out of 21 named I've got 19 fit, so they're all here this morning," said Henry prior to the team taking to the training paddock.

"Tyrone Roberts will train and we'll see how he's going with his toe as well and we'll make a decision later on.

"Chris McQueen is right to go, [Chris] Grevsmuhl's fine, Ryan Simpkins is fine, Dan Sarginson has had a run, we'll make a decision on whether he can play or not so we've still got a couple of players up in the air but hopefully they all get through and we've got a couple of extra players.

"[McQueen] has had a bit of a sore back and he's training this morning so we've got a bit of an extended squad. He's saying that he's good enough to play.

"Medically [Greenwood] is right to go so we have to make a decision on whether or not it might be him or Max King with the makeup of our bench."

The Titans will go into camp in Brisbane on Thursday night to recreate their away-game routine but Henry said that there will be no mention of the team's recent poor record against the Broncos with so many new faces in the squad in 2017.

"Ten losses doesn't affect our guys at all. They haven't all been part of 10 losses, they just remember the last time they played and it was in the semi-final and even out of that half the squad didn't play that game," Henry said, the Broncos ending Gold Coast's season 44-28 in the Elimination Final last September.

"Talking about what happened when you weren't part of the squad is irrelevant. In a club sense it is but it's not for an individual player. He's thinking about his game, tomorrow night at eight o'clock and what he can do for the team.

"If we're all thinking about putting their best foot forward and playing their role within the team and they're committed then we'll have a game on our hands.

"I'm expecting a committed 17 and for it to be a real tight contest tomorrow."



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Unilever, which has a soap-making factory in Hammond, is cutting costs worldwide after a failed attempted by Kraft Heinz to buy it in a proposed $143 billion deal.

The company's 87-year-old factory near Lake Michigan employs about 250 workers. Hammond says the former Lever Bros. plant at Indianapolis Boulevard and Calumet Avenue is the the 10th largest private-sector employer in the city, just behind nearby Cargill.

Unilever announced a restructuring plan targeting a 20 percent underlying operating margin by 2020, up from 16 percent today, and raising the dividend by 12 percent to appease shareholders who didn't get a payday from the buyout.

With the transformation of Unilever, we have built on a portfolio of strong and growing brands delivered to consumers across the world. We have established a responsible investment-led growth model that is well-equipped with global scale and unrivalled distribution strength in emerging markets," Chief Executive Officer Paul Polman said. "This has resulted in consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible growth and attractive returns for our shareholders. The faster pace of change that we are seeing in our markets and competitive set requires us to continue to set the bar higher."

The British-Dutch multinational conglomerate is known for products like Dove soap and Hellmanns mayonnaise. The company is looking to sell off its spreads business, which includes margarine brands like Country Crock, and I Cant Believe Its Not Butter.

Unilever aims to grow by investing in well-known brands like Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, and focusing on emerging markets, where it makes 57 percent of its sales and has the greatest growth opportunities.

"For 2017, we remain on track to deliver underlying sales growth ahead of our markets, in the 3 to 5 percent range," Polman said. "We feel confident that the changes we are announcing today will accelerate the transformation of Unilever and the delivery of sustainable shareholder value over the long term.

The company is looking to cut as much as $4.2 billion in expenses, largely through the supply chain and more focused marketing.
PORTAGE  Several beaches remained closed Wednesday as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continued intensive monitoring of Tuesdays toxic chemical spill from U.S. Steel into the Burns Waterway, about 100 yards from Lake Michigan.

The EPA had not yet determined the amount of hexavalent chromium  a toxic byproduct of industrial processes  that was discharged into the waterway, Sam Borries, branch chief of the EPAs Region 5 emergency response team, told reporters Wednesday near the U.S. Steel site.

U.S. Steel said an equipment failure at its Midwest Plant in Portage resulted in a chemical leak into the waterway that forced the shutdown of a drinking water intake along Lake Michigan and several nearby beaches.

The spill forced the closure Tuesday of Indiana American Water's intake in Ogden Dunes and several beaches, including West Beach and Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and Ogden Dunes' town beach. On Wednesday, the National Park Service announced the closure of Cowles Bog Beach.

The closure of Cowles Bog Beach was based on a recommendation that all beaches within three miles of the discharge be closed as a precaution to protect the health of park visitors," NPS said in a news release.

Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogenic chemical that appeared in the 2000 biographical film, "Erin Brockovich," and can cause reversible and irreversible skin lesions on direct contact, the nonprofit Save the Dunes said in a news release.

Direct skin contact with hexavalent chromium can cause a nonallergic skin irritation, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Contact with nonintact skin also can lead to chrome ulcers. These are small crusted skin sores with a rounded border. They heal slowly and leave scars.

Save the Dunes warned "people and pets should avoid direct contact with Lake Michigan" until further notice.

A fish kill is expected to be the result, the nonprofit environmental group said.

Investigation ongoing

EPA's Borries said various sampling showed hexavalent chromium was not detected in Lake Michigan, but low levels were detected Tuesday night in the Burns ditch, which flows directly into the lake.

The EPA, the agency leading the investigation into the spill, continues to conduct sampling at the outfall, water intake, beaches and the Burns ditch.

Initial tests at the Indiana American Water intake showed chemical levels slightly above the detection limit, but a subsequent test of the same sample showed it was at or below the detection limit and well below EPAs health-based standard for drinking water.

"Things are improving. The (plant's) processes are shut down. We dont see the discharge occurring at this point," Borries said Wednesday.

Borries said EPA plans to collect sediment samples to determine if residual chemicals settled.

EPAs Borries said he does not expect any additional beach closures, but monitoring is ongoing.

Again, the closings that have occurred have been out of an abundance of caution to make sure no one would be impacted, not knowing what the size of the release was at the time, he said.

U.S. Steel reported the release of wastewater Tuesday from the Tin and Tin Free electroplating process, the company said.

"The wastewater is from the process used to treat the steel strip after electroplating, and the rinse water from this process is conveyed via pipe to a dedicated treatment plant," U.S. Steel said in a statement. "The preliminary investigation revealed that an expansion joint in the rinse water pipe failed and resulted in the water being released to a different wastewater treatment plant and ultimately Burns Waterway through an outfall."

U.S. Steel said it notified several other agencies and shut down all of its production processes.

"Additional steps to mitigate the impact are being taken," U.S. Steel said. "These steps include the isolation and repair of the damaged pipe, recovery of material, and the addition of a water treatment compound, sodium trithiocarbonate (CNa2S3), to the waste water treatment plant to convert and aid in the removal of hexavalent chromium."

Info trickled to residents?

Save the Dunes Executive Director Natalie Johnson questioned Wednesday why the National Park Service was the first agency to issue information Tuesday afternoon about the beach closures and the chemical spill.

The spill occurred at about 9 a.m. Tuesday and EPA was notified at about 9:30 a.m., authorities said. But beach users were not notified of the closures until after NPS issued the release to news media at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Johnson.

Though Johnson applauded the EPAs coordination of monitoring efforts on Wednesday, Johnson said the dissemination of information by U.S. Steel, the EPA and others could have been handled better, she said.

The most alarming event is that the fact that the information trickled to the residents as slowly as it did, Johnson said.

This is a case where we need to better coordinate an action plan. What happens if this happens again? What happens when this happens again? Were an area of industry and these kinds of things, theyre bound to happen, she added.

Water sources

Save the Dunes said Lake Michigan is a primary source of drinking water for many residents of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

Ogden Dunes officials said the town's drinking water is currently coming from Indiana American's plant in Gary. EPA said the water intake at Ogden Dunes was shut down "out of an abundance of caution."

A news release from Indiana American Water stated they opted to shut down the intake based on discussions with IDEM.

We will be consulting with IDEM, EPA and other agencies to confirm there is no threat to the water supply prior before placing the Ogden Dunes water treatment facility back in service, the release stated.

The EPA, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, U.S. Coast Guard, NPS and Indiana American Water were on site Tuesday. The Department of Fish and Wildlife participated via phone, according to U.S. Steel. The company said it would continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to resolve the problem.

Ogden Dunes Town Council President Tim Nelson said town officials are monitoring the situation and awaiting additional information.

"We are gathering information right now. It is too early to tell if there is an impact on the town," Nelson said.

Check back at nwi.com for updates to this story.
CROWN POINT  Police are searching for a 33-year-old convicted felon accused of repeatedly stabbing his wife last week at the couple's home in East Chicago.

Roger D. Denham was charged Monday in Lake Criminal Court with attempted murder, aggravated battery and two counts of felony domestic battery.

A police officer was dispatched at about 8:35 p.m. Friday to a residence in the 4900 block of Olcott Avenue in East Chicago after receiving reports of an open-line 911 call, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Outside the residence, the officer encountered Denham, who claimed he was taking out the trash and then left the scene, the affidavit states.

The officer entered the home and discovered a 32-year-old woman covered in blood in the couple's bedroom, the affidavit states.

The woman was transported to a hospital, where she told police she was stabbed by Denham after she told him she did not believe their marriage was going to work, according to the affidavit.

She said she called 911 after her husband left the bedroom, but when he returned and discovered her phone was missing, he allegedly stabbed her again, the affidavit states.

The woman was treated for 25 stab wounds, according to the affidavit.

Denham was previously charged with murder in March 2003. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in August 2005 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to court records.

East Chicago Detective Sgt. Terrence Fife said Denham remained at large on Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS  Hoosiers arrested for any felony, starting in 2018, likely will have their DNA collected by cheek swab and their genetic record stored in a state police database.

State Sen. Erin Houchin, R-Salem, the sponsor of Senate Enrolled Act 322, said taking a DNA sample from every person arrested for a felony, instead of only those convicted of felonies, will help police solve more crimes  similar to fingerprinting.

Opponents argued the DNA sampling is an illegal search, since police can use the DNA records for investigatory purposes, and not just identification.

"Our Constitution is pretty clear that you can't go and take things from people without a warrant to conduct an investigation. But here we're doing that," said state Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis.

The legislation does contain a process for removing an individual's DNA from the database if the person is not convicted of a felony.

It passed the Senate, 36-13, and the House, 84-13.

Gov. Eric Holcomb now must decide whether to sign the measure into law.
INDIANAPOLIS  State lawmakers are close to finalizing a plan for coordinated transit-oriented development near stations on the existing South Shore Line and its proposed West Lake extension.

A House-Senate conference committee met Thursday to review a draft revision of House Bill 1144 that merged the versions separately approved by each chamber and made additional, minor adjustments.

The proposed changes would restore the maximum size of a transit development district to 1 square mile, in response to a request by Michigan City.

The Senate had shrunk the total possible TDD area to three-fourths of a mile. On creation, all TDDs still only would encompass less than a half-mile of land near the commuter rail stations.

The conference committee also is looking to revive a House provision that gave the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority a portion of the state sales and income tax growth generated in the TDDs, once the state has been reimbursed for its $12 million annual investment in South Shore projects.

Another planned change would require the steering committees, to be created in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties, to comply with state conflict-of-interest, public records and open meeting laws as they advise the RDA on TDD projects.

State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, the sponsor, said the proposed revisions address concerns that he and other Region lawmakers have heard about the plan from local officials and fellow citizens.

"There's still a few incidentals that are coming in; nothing of substance, just some corrections," Slager said. "This has been a terrific testament to Northwest Indiana for coming together to get this done."

The underlying legislation authorizes the RDA to use increment financing to develop areas near rail stations to maximize the economic benefits of double-tracking the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City, and extending service from Hammond to Dyer.

Growth in local property and income tax revenues within each TDD would be used to repay the RDA's transit-oriented development debt.

Once the conference committee endorses a compromise measure, likely Monday or Tuesday, the final text then must be approved by both the House and Senate to go to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature or veto.
CROWN POINT  Lake County has erased a tax break on a house that a Lake County councilman has been calling home.

Councilman Jamal Washington's residence is now liable for thousands in additional delinquent property taxes and will in future be billed at a higher rate, following a Times investigation.

Washington, who represents much of Gary and Merrillville on the County Council and has claimed the Merrillville address as his residence since 2008, declined comment Wednesday.

He said this tax matter is between the county and his father, Harold Washington, who owns the property in the 5600 block of Connecticut Street.

The Times learned in January the property was tax delinquent and enjoyed a questionable homestead deduction never caught under the state's homestead verification program to eliminate tax losses from improper deductions.

Jamal Washington said in January his father became seriously ill three years ago and fell behind on tax payments.

Harold Washington didn't return telephone calls to a Dolton, Illinois, address listed under his name.

Lake County Auditor John Petalas said this week his office recently removed a homestead deduction that had reduced taxes on the Merrillville house since 2002, when Harold Washington first purchased it.

Following Times questions about the Merrillville property, Petalas said he sent notices by certified mail to both the Merrillville address and one in Dolton where Harold Washington also reportedly owns property and has a similar tax break from Illinois.

Indiana only permits homeowners a single property tax break for their primary residence. Rental and recreational "second homes" generally cannot benefit from homestead deductions, which can reduce property taxes by as much as half.

Petalas said he asked Harold Washington in the notices whether the Merrillville property was Harold Washington's primary residence or used for another purpose that wouldn't qualify for the tax break.

Petalas said someone signed a postal receipt accepting one of the notices, but no one provided answers about the Merrillville property's status.

"He never called us. We didn't get a response from anybody. So we backed billed the property for three years. We took the homestead off. It stays off," Petalas said.

Court records indicate the current and delinquent taxes, fees and penalties on the house now total more $10,000.

The treasurer's office said the Merrillville property remains on a plan, available to all delinquent taxpayers, to make up the tax delinquencies in monthly payments.
PORTAGE  Elevated levels of a cancer-causing toxic chemical were discovered in Lake Michigan about one mile north of the site of a chemical spill by U.S. Steel, but levels remain within federal safe drinking water ranges, authorities said Thursday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday the Indiana American Water intake will remain closed until at least Monday as the federal agency continues monitoring the release of hexavalent chromium, a byproduct of industrial processes, into a waterway that flows into Lake Michigan.

Three beaches at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore also remained closed Thursday following Tuesday's announcement that hexavalent chromium, a byproduct of industrial processes, was discharged into the Burns Waterway by U.S. Steel.

"Preliminary data suggests that hexavalent chromium from the spill is not present near drinking water intakes," the EPA said in a news release Thursday afternoon.

EPA collected about 100 samples Wednesday and another 100 samples on Thursday with results expected Friday.

The National Park Service will continue to keep beaches closed while sampling continues, EPA stated.

Elevated levels detected 1 mile north

Chicago's Department of Water Management officials reported samples taken about a mile north of Burns Waterway detected a hexavalent chromium level of 2 parts per billion. Normal levels range between 0.14 to 0.15 parts per billion, according to a news release from Chicago's Water Management Department.

The current federal drinking water standard for total chromium, which includes the more toxic form, hexavalent chromium, is 100 parts per billion, according to the EPA's website.

The National Park Service closed West Beach and the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on Tuesday after learning of the leak. On Wednesday, the park service also closed Cowles Bog Beach, though trails at Cowles Bog remain open. Ogden Dunes also closed its beach Tuesday until further notice.

'Not the time to defund EPA'

Local and national environmental groups have said the spill underscores the danger posed by deregulation and cuts to the EPA proposed by President Donald Trump.

"Now is not the time to defund the U.S. EPA or to minimize the creation and strengthening of regulation. Our health and safety depends on it," Save the Dunes Executive Director Natalie Johnson said.

The Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League said this kind of spill should not be happening in 2017 and warned against insufficient funding and budgets cuts at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and EPA.

These agencies are here to protect us from pollution and they have to be funded in order to be effective, chapter President Jim Sweeney said. We dont want to see more incidents like this.

Colin Deverell, Midwest program manager for National Parks Conservation Association, called the spill "nothing short of a disaster" for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding communities.

The spill also has concerned neighboring communities.

According to a news release, Michigan City has been testing its own drinking waters, which also come from Lake Michigan, but has yet to find any chemical contamination.

What happened

The spill occurred about 9 a.m. Tuesday, and EPA was notified about 9:30 a.m., officials said. U.S. Steel attributed the spill to an equipment failure from the Tin and Tin Free electroplating process at the Midwest Plant in Portage.

The company in a statement Thursday night said U.S. Steel has made the necessary repairs and is reviewing a potential restart plan.

"Extensive testing has been, and continues to be, conducted on the repairs as well as on the water in and around the surrounding area," the company stated.

Indiana American said it was notified of the spill by IDEM about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday.

The EPA is leading the investigation into the spill, officials said.

Indiana American serves customers throughout the Region and acts as a supplier for water systems in Schererville, Crown Point, New Chicago and Ogden Dunes.

Initial tests at the Indiana American Water intake showed chemical levels slightly above the detection limit, but a subsequent test of the same sample showed it was at or below the detection limit and well below EPAs health-based standard for drinking water, officials said.

The water company said its intake at Ogden Dunes will remain offline until water sampling confirms there is no threat to water in the area.

In the meantime, the company's Borman Park water intake in Gary will be able to provide adequate capacity to meet demand for customers in Northwest Indiana, according to a statement.

Indiana American Water is in the process of sampling at Borman Park, too, a spokesman said.

EPA did not say as of Thursday afternoon how much of the chemical was spilled or whether an environmental cleanup will be required.

Water sampling showed hexavalent chromium was not detected in Lake Michigan, but low levels were detected Tuesday night in the Burns ditch, said Sam Borries, branch chief of the EPAs Region 5 emergency response team. The EPA planned to continue sampling at the outfall, water intake, beaches and the Burns ditch.

"Things are improving. The (plant's) processes are shut down. We dont see the discharge occurring at this point," Borries said at a news conference Wednesday.
CROWN POINT  This year's dozen life-size sculptures will be put into place around the downtown square May 22 as part of Crown Point's annual public art project.

Earlier this week, the Redevelopment Commission approved a $51,000 contract with The Seward Johnson Atelier Inc. for the sculptures. The cost will be shared with sponsors of the bronze-colorized sculptures, each representing citizens doing common everyday activities.

Like last year's giant Abraham Lincoln statue, the collection by sculptor Seward Johnson includes a monumental piece. This year it's a giant tooth that includes two life-size statues and a bench. It will be located at the Sportsplex where the Lincoln statue was. The tooth is scheduled to arrive May 24 or 25.

"The tooth will be like the Picasso in Chicago," said commission member Carol Drasga, a city councilwoman who spearheads the project as a member of the Art in Point Project Committee. "I think it's going to be a big 'what the heck is that?' I think it will be fun. I'm looking forward to it."

The tooth is 15 feet tall and has a narrative that includes two life-scale figures  a man and woman. The woman is gesturing with her arms open and a welcoming expression on her face.

According to The Seward Johnson Atelier, one imagines the woman "explaining her enjoyment of this odd and interesting piece of art." The man, meanwhile, has an expression of skepticism.

As the final element, Johnson has added a bench with a bronze magazine on it. It is an art magazine open to an actual article that poses the idea that there is a resurgence in realism in sculpture.

Seward Johnson said he wanted to first catch the attention of people and have them think about art  what they like and dont like  and the tooth invites an immediate reaction. Which is often What!

"I invite them to relate to and laugh about one or the other of the reactions that my bronze humans are having," Johnson said. "Public art should invite conversation, so I hope that it does this summer in Crown Point."

The sculptures will be on display through November.

Sponsorship opportunities may still be available. For more information contact a member of The Art in Point Project Committee, Carol Drasga at 219-662-1126, Kim Geisen at 219-789-2372 or Laura Sauerman 219-663-8731.
Groups collecting bottled water for East Chicago residents received their largest single donation yet Wednesday when the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center gave more than 5,000 bottles.

Ranya Kawamleh, an eighth-grader at Union Township Schools, began raising money to buy the water after attending a rally last month in Valparaiso to show support for Syrian refugees following President Donald Trump's travel ban, said her mother, Khouloud Kawamleh.

Khouloud Kawamleh said she and Ranya spoke to an East Chicago resident during the rally about the lead crisis, and Ranya became determined to help.

"She loves the community," Khouloud Kawamleh said of her daughter, who serves on the board of the Islamic Center's youth group. "She loves to connect with the community around us, to reach out."

Frank Szczepanski, of Blue Valpo, said Khouloud Kawamleh met volunteers at Sam's Club, where they planned to pick up the water. Khouloud Kawamleh immediately offered up her own vehicle when it became clear all 185 cases would not fit in the three vehicles with Szczepanski, he said.

The group dropped the water off at First Baptist Church and St. John AME Church, both in the USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago's Calumet neighborhood. The Rev. Douglas Sloss at First Baptist and the Rev. Bonita Hawkins at St. John AME were on hand to receive the water.

Khouloud Kawamleh, a Syrian American, said it was a joy to see the happiness in the faces of church leaders as the water was delivered.

"I was so happy to be with them," she said.

The center has been working to be more active in the community and has participated in interfaith events, she said.

The Environmental Protection Agency began a cleanup of lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil in the area last summer.

EPA tested water as part of a pilot study to determine if excavation work can cause lead to become dislodged from pipes and enter the water supply. However, the federal agency found elevated lead levels in water at 18 homes before any digging began.

EPA said the problem is likely to be systemwide and has recommended all water customers assume they have lead lines and filter any water used for consumption.

Lead in the water and lead in the soil are not related, but residents exposed to both face cumulative health risks. A contractor for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management began distributing water filters to residents in zones 2 and 3 of the Superfund site Monday.

Blue Valpo has been coordinating with the Community Strategy Group for bottled water donations for residents in all three residential cleanup zones in the Superfund site.

Anyone interested in donating water or volunteering can call Szczepanski at 219-840-0007 or Wanda Gordils at 219-218-2737.
The Calumet Episcopal Ministry Partnership will be gathering at its churches over the next few days in observance of Holy Week.

The ministry partnership includes St. Barnabas in-the-Dunes Episcopal Church in Gary, St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Crown Point, St. Paul Episcopal Church Munster, St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Hobart and St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Griffith.

The Rev. Michael Dwyer is in charge of all five churches and, for various events, the churches split up the services among the five of them.

"During this week, we celebrate the Tridium, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter vigil," he said. "It's one liturgy that takes three days to celebrate."

The Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Christopher's, 12718 Marshall St., Crown Point.

"It's been our tradition on Maundy Thursday to wash the feet of everyone at the service," Dwyer said. "What we do is that we ask all who want to participate to bring a towel. We keep the towels, wash and dry them and donate them to Sojourner Truth House. We feel it is important to participate and to share what Jesus did."

The Good Friday liturgy will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen's, 1360 State St. "We will meditate on the words of Christ," he said.

An important part of the Good Friday Liturgy is the Veneration of the Cross and the cross that will be used is a San Damiano Icon Cross which has been written (painted) under the guidance of Pastor Kris Graunke.

Stations of the Cross will also be held at 3 p.m.on Good Friday at St. Barnabas, 601 Pottawatomi Trail.

The Easter vigil will be held at 7:36 p.m. (after sundown) on Saturday at St. Paul Church, 1101 Park Drive. The service will include the lighting of the Easter fire outside, the blessing of the paschal candle and then the procession into church for the lessons.

"The services at the churches are always open to anyone," Dwyer said. "We are a big group when we come together. It's like a family getting together."
MERRILLVILLE  The Town Council is behind the reopening of Wah Yuen, but concerns about maintenance of the property haven't faded.

The council approved a special exception allowing the Chinese restaurant to operate at 6601 Broadway. Wah Yuen has been closed for about three years, but Bao Yu Zheng, the owner of the business, wants to re-establish the restaurant.

Councilman Shawn Pettit said he received complaints regarding the appearance of the site while it's been closed. Pettit said residents have seen couches and trash outside of the facility.

The council attached a condition to the special exception approval that will have the panel review the operation in six months to determine if there have been maintenance issues there. Any problems will be addressed at that time, Pettit said.

Some town officials have said they believe the maintenance outside of the facility will improve with the building becoming active again.

Pettit said his focus on the appearance of the property isn't an indication he opposes the project. He said the most important issue to tackle is getting the vacant building occupied again.

"Believe me, I want this restaurant to open more than anybody," he said.

Pettit had contemplated requiring the business to install a fence or vegetation to provide a screen between the restaurant and nearby homes. He was concerned creating an additional financial requirement for the business could delay efforts to reopen the restaurant.

In another matter, the town awarded a construction contract to Walsh & Kelly for the first phase of the 86th Avenue road extension project. Merrillville received six bids, and the company submitted the lowest at nearly $473,000.

The first phase will extend 86th Avenue from Merrillville Road to beyond the Indian American Cultural Center. It could be completed in October this year. Merrillville Road tax increment financing district funding will be used to pay for the project.

The next phase will take 86th Avenue through to Broadway, but it isn't certain when the second phase would occur.
Valparaiso police partnered with Kelseys Steak House in Valparaiso to raise money for the Gang Resistant Education and Training Program (GREAT).

Valparaiso Police Department personnel jumped in and assisted Kelseys staff with serving customers and cleaning tables. The annual program called Tip a Cop raised funds for the departments GREAT program, which is taught to all seventh-graders throughout the Valparaiso School system.

The program taught by police provides life skills to seventh-graders throughout the Valparaiso community. A few of the classes taught include, goal setting, anger management, leadership skills, positive decision making skills and preventing bullying in schools.
BEIRUT  A misdirected airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the U.S. military said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for a strike intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa.

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18. Central Command said the strike was launched Tuesday.

Several nations have lent their air power to the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group. It was not clear which air force was behind the strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike on Thursday, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded.

The SDF-linked Hawar News Agency reported the group was holding funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, though it did not link them to the strike. An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, says three days of mourning have been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF meanwhile announced the launch of a fourth phase of their campaign to capture Raqqa, a Euphrates River city that is home to 300,000 people.

The SDF, with U.S.-led air and ground support, has surrounded Tabqa, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Raqqa. They say they are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is less than 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. It is unclear how many stages are planned for the campaign.

In a separate development, President Bashar Assad said a chemical attack on a rebel-held town earlier this month that was widely blamed on his forces was a "fabrication."

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it's fabrication," Assad told Agence France-Presse in his first comments since a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base in response to the chemical attack.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

Syria strongly denied it was behind the April 4 chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 87 people. Syria's foreign minister has said Syrian warplanes struck an al-Qaida arms depot that contained chemical weapons.

Assad denied having chemical weapons and said Syria would only allow an "impartial" investigation into the incident. A video of the interview was released by Assad's office.

The international chemical weapons watchdog is testing samples from the suspected nerve gas attack and could produce a report on the matter within three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday.

The report comes one day after Russia vetoed a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a speedy probe into the Khan Sheikhoun attack. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the veto left Moscow, a key ally of the Syrian government, with "a lot to prove."

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has a standing fact-finding mission on Syria to investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks, but does not apportion blame. The OPCW's executive council met Thursday to discuss the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, in the northern rebel-held province of Idlib.

Britain's delegation to the OPCW tweeted from the executive session that the "Fact Finding Mission is working to gather evidence" and has already started testing samples in a lab.

The U.S. blamed the Syrian government for the attack and fired 59 missiles at an air base in central Syria in response, killing nine people.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he expected the OPCW to conduct an extensive probe into the attack, and insisted the organization visit both Khan Sheikhoun and the air base struck by U.S. missiles.

The Syrian army meanwhile said hundreds of Islamic State fighters as well as civilians were killed when a U.S.-led coalition airstrike hit a militant position in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

It said white smoke billowing from the area of the strike turned yellow, "most likely because of the explosion of a large warehouse containing large quantities of toxic substances." It said that the airstrike showed that militants have chemical weapons in their possession.

Opposition activist Omar Abu Laila, who is from Deir el-Zour and currently lives in Europe, denied that report. Abu Laila is with Deir Ezzor 24, an activist group that has reporters throughout the eastern province.

___

Associated Press writers Sylvia Hui in London and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

BEIRUT  A misdirected airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition earlier this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the U.S. military said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for a strike intended to target IS militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists' de facto capital, Raqqa.

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18. Central Command said the strike was launched Tuesday.

Several nations have lent their air power to the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group. It was not clear which air force was behind the strike.

The SDF acknowledged the strike on Thursday, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded.

The SDF-linked Hawar News Agency reported the group was holding funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, though it did not link them to the strike. An activist-run group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, says three days of mourning have been declared for the town. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 SDF fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The SDF meanwhile announced the launch of a fourth phase of their campaign to capture Raqqa, a Euphrates River city that is home to 300,000 people.

The SDF, with U.S.-led air and ground support, has surrounded Tabqa, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Raqqa. They say they are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.

The SDF says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Their closest position is less than 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under IS control. It is unclear how many stages are planned for the campaign.

In a separate development, the international chemical weapons watchdog is testing samples from a suspected nerve gas attack that killed at least 87 people in Syria last week and could produce a report on the matter within three weeks, the British delegation to the commission said Thursday.

The report comes one day after Russia vetoed a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a speedy probe into the April 4 attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which has been widely blamed on government forces. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the veto left Moscow, a key ally of the Syrian government, with "a lot to prove."

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has a standing fact-finding mission on Syria to investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks, but does not apportion blame. The OPCW's executive council held a session of its executive council on Thursday to address the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, in the northern rebel-held province of Idlib.

Britain's delegation to the OPCW tweeted from the executive session that the "Fact Finding Mission is working to gather evidence" and has already started testing samples in a lab.

The U.S. blamed the Syrian government for the attack and fired 59 missiles at an air base in central Syria in response, killing nine people.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he expected the OPCW to conduct an extensive probe into the attack, and insisted the organization visit both Khan Sheikhoun and the air base struck by U.S. missiles.

Russia has said chemicals were released in Khan Sheikhoun when a Syrian airstrike hit an insurgent arms factory that contained chemical weapons. Syria has denied ever using chemical weapons.

The Syrian army said hundreds of Islamic State fighters as well as civilians were killed when a U.S.-led coalition airstrike hit a militant position in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

It said white smoke billowing from the area of the strike turned yellow, "most likely because of the explosion of a large warehouse containing large quantities of toxic substances." It said that the airstrike showed that militants have chemical weapons in their possession.

Opposition activist Omar Abu Laila, who is from Deir el-Zour and currently lives in Europe, denied that report. Abu Laila is with Deir Ezzor 24, an activist group that has reporters throughout the eastern province.

___

Associated Press writers Sylvia Hui in London and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
Police are investigating after a judge on New York state's highest court was found dead in the Hudson River Wednesday afternoon.

NYPD officials say Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found dead by police near West 132nd Street around 1:45 p.m.

She was reported missing on Tuesday.

Officials say she had no obvious signs of trauma. They are working to determine a cause of death.

Abdus-Salaam was the first African-American woman to serve on the Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court. She was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

She was previously elected to the State Supreme Court in 1993.

She was also a staff attorney for Brooklyn Legal Services, a lawyer for the New York City Office of Labor Services, a civil court judge and criminal court judge.

Sources say Abdus-Salaam's first husband was Muslim, but she never converted to Islam.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam was 65 years old.
Police are still looking for clues in the death of Court of Appeals Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, whose body was found Wednesday in the Hudson River.

The medical examiner did an examination, but says more studies need to be done to determine the cause of death.

Abdus-Salaam disappeared Tuesday morning. Police say she made a call to her assistant saying she would not be coming into work that day.

On Wednesday at about 1:45 p.m., her body was discovered in the Hudson River near her Harlem home.

"There are no apparent injuries to her body. It appears to be un-criminal at this point," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. "There is an autopsy taking place right now as we speak. We will know more. All of her property has been recovered."

Abdus-Salaam was appointed to the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013. Prior to that, she was appointed to the appellate division of the state Supreme Court by former Governor David Paterson, who called Abdus-Salaam a friend.

"The people on the judicial screening panels, the people on the committees, my counsels, whenever they were around her, they had testimonies from losing parties, 'We didn't win our case, but the judge was very fair.' She had outsanding character," Paterson said.

On Staten Island this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio took a moment to reflect on Abdus-Salaam's contributions to New York.

"Always kept her feet on the ground. Always remembered where she came from. And it's just very, very sad," de Blasio said. "Someone for whom so many people in this state, so many young people, had been a role model."

There is no word yet on who Governor Andrew Cuomo will appoint to replace her.

"I don't think it will shake up the court," Paterson said. "That's the great thing about our American jurisprudence. And the Court of Appeals has seven members. The governor, I am sure, can find a talented person."

Cuomo had a public event scheduled Thursday on Long Island, but it was canceled. On Wednesday, he issued a statement calling Abdus-Salaam a "trailblazing jurist."

Abdus-Salaam was the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals. Sources say her first husband was Muslim, but she never converted to Islam.
A Wells Fargo branch is seen in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, U.S. on February 10, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) withdrew its application to the Federal Reserve to boost its ownership stake in Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) above 10 percent, and is instead selling 9 million shares to keep it below that threshold.

Berkshire on Wednesday said it concluded after several months of talks with Fed officials that maintaining the higher stake would "materially restrict" its ability to do business with the third-largest U.S. bank.

The Fed exerts special oversight when investors take large bank stakes. It often allows double-digit stakes not designed to exert a "controlling influence," but has said it would review any resulting business relationship "case-by-case."

Berkshire said "investment or valuation considerations" were not factors in its sale of 7.13 million Wells Fargo shares this week, and planned sale of another 1.87 million shares "in the near future."

The company, which has owned Wells Fargo stock since 1989, also said it will sell more Wells Fargo shares if needed to keep its stake "slightly below 10 percent," including if the bank repurchases its own stock.

According to a regulatory filing, Berkshire owned 504.3 million Wells Fargo shares worth more than $27 billion before the sales, making it the bank's largest shareholder. Buffett, 86, owned another 2.01 million of the bank's shares personally.

Wells Fargo has been beset since September by a scandal over its creation of unauthorized customer accounts.

"We appreciate the confidence that Berkshire Hathaway has placed in Wells Fargo over the years, both as our largest shareholder and a very valued customer," spokesman Mark Folk said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our relationship."

On Monday, Wells Fargo said it would claw back an additional $75 million of compensation from the executives it blamed most for the accounts scandal, former Chief Executive John Stumpf and former community banking chief Carrie Tolstedt.

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The San Francisco-based lender's shares have nonetheless risen 16.6 percent since Donald Trump was elected U.S. president, though they now trade at their lowest level in four months.

Many other banks' shares also rose after Trump's election.

Buffett told CNBC television on Feb. 27 that Wells Fargo made a "huge mistake" by not immediately addressing the unauthorized accounts, and that letting the problem mushroom made its reputation suffer.

Wells Fargo is expected on Thursday to report a decline in first-quarter profit, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Berkshire has large investments in other financial services companies, including year-end stakes of 16.8 percent in American Express Co (AXP.N), 6 percent in U.S. Bancorp (USB.N) and 2.9 percent in Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N).

The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate also operates more than 90 businesses including insurers, utilities, industrial products makers, food and apparel companies, and a railroad.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chris Reese, Sandra Maler and Bill Rigby)
Bob Brody

See that boy riding his bicycle through suburban streets to deliver newspapers? Thats me, age 12, circa 1964, making my morning rounds to one split-level house after another.

Im a kid on a mission, taking The Bergen Record to the neighbors on my route in my home town of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. I fling the latest edition in the air and hear the satisfying smack of the days news landing safely on each customers doorstep. Its my first job, and I pull down $20 in a good week.

Little did I realize I would be doing much the same in my career all these years later.

Newspapers gripped my attention early. When America sent its first astronauts into space, I bought all the newspapers as keepsakes. Back then, New York City had no fewer than nine daily newspapers. Yes, nine.

When my grandmother took me to the New York Historical Society as a boy, all I ever wanted to do was go the library there to admire all the old newspapers. I leafed through tabloids and broadsheets from the Civil War and even earlier, soaking up history as told on the fly.

My grandfather got me a subscription to The New York Daily News at my request. Now I could read all about the New York Yankees, game by game, box scores and all. Dick Young wrote a column and Bill Gallo drew the cartoons. I could find out everything I needed to know about Mantle and Maris vying to break Babe Ruths home run record.

Around the same time, my grandmother bought me an oversize book that showed front pages from The New York Times covering milestone events. Lincolns assassination. The Titanics sinking. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. I pored over every page, a distant witness to convulsive change captured in the moment.

And then I grew up to be a reporter. My first byline appeared in my junior high school newspaper, and my first full-time job after college was with a weekly community newspaper in Manhattan. Later, I freelanced full-time for 10 years, contributing to newspapers and magazines, including  as it happened  The New York Times and The New York Daily News.

But then, with two children now on board and health insurance costs rising fast, I again needed to be gainfully employed. So I took a job in public relations. I never expected to go into public relations. I also never wanted to go into public relations.

But as I soon learned, public relations played an important role in delivering the news. Indeed, public relations gave you the opportunity to hear about the news before almost everyone else  before it hit the papers and reached the public and officially became News.

And so for 26 years now, Ive routinely gotten the scoop. About the philanthropist who pledged to donate $28 million to a cancer facility. About the lawyer who dared, on principle, to decline an opportunity to represent reputed mobster John Gotti. And, yes, about the ex-aristocrat who assaulted her high-society rival at a jet-set party with a champagne glass. And all that happened at my first PR job, at a firm with a staff of three.

Later, representing the maker of an anti-snoring product, I got to spread the news that the worlds loudest snorer according to the Guinness Book of World Records had agreed to endorse it because it had stopped his jackhammer-loud snoring.

Later still, I joined big PR agencies, and handled big clients with big news. Pharmaceutical companies receiving FDA approval for a long-term treatment for asthma. Educational campaigns about arthritis, heart disease and high cholesterol starring Debbie Reynolds, Dick Clark and the former Olympian Bruce (now Caitlyn) Jenner. Oh, and more recently we touted the latest accomplishments of a nonprofit organization known as the American Cancer Society.

Our clients give us the exclusive first. Then they trust us, count on us, to figure out the right story to tell and how to tell it right and do so at the right time with the right media target. And then get results. Tangible, quantifiable results. As in an article in a newspaper.

We go into public relations to advance all kinds of motives. Yes, I wanted to make a good living. I wanted to do something important. And I certainly wanted to keep writing and playing reporter.

But getting the news first, and then putting it out there  thats something special. It still gives me a rush. Others in our profession may feel the same. All these years later, after all, news is still news, however its distributed, whether by smoke signal, drums, town crier, carrier pigeon or Instagram. The means of transmission has changed, but the mission remains the same.

With fake news gaining prominence, facts matter more than ever. And so does the truth.

So as it turns out, Im still pedaling away on my daily rounds, the Internet now the bicycle I ride. Im still devoting my days to delivering the news, still a paper boy at heart.

***

Bob Brody is a media strategist and editorial specialist with Powell Tate, a division of Weber Shandwick. He is the author of the upcoming memoir, Playing Catch with Strangers: A Family Guy (Reluctantly) Comes Of Age.


Bialek Rises to VP at Konnect Fri., Mar. 31, 2017 Amanda Bialek takes the newly-created position of VP and will be tasked with helping to grow the lifestyle PR agency which has 50 publicists at offices in L.A., New York, and Austin, Texas.
Agricultural News

Canola Farmers Expect to Harvest a Fair Crop this Year, No Thanks to the Weather or Insects

Across Oklahoma, the blooming stage of this year's canola crop is in full swing. As producers prepare to get harvest underway in roughly a month's time, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays invited Dr. Ron Sholar of the Great Plains Canola Association to visit him in studio for an update on crop conditions and his expectations for yield performance. To hear their entire conversation about this year's crop conditions plus the benefits canola has to compliment wheat production, click or tap the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.





According to Sholar, this crop started like others from the last three years, under good conditions. But then he said the winter weather proved uncooperative for farmers, holding back much needed moisture from which crops apparently suffered losses. Then spring came and brought with it early warm temperatures, causing the canola to bloom early, which caused concern among growers. Since then, though, the rains finally showed up and Sholar says it has turned things around.





"A lot of good has occurred from this for the canola and the wheat of course," he said. "We are rounding the bend. Fields look good. The crop does not have the height or volume that we have seen in previous years, but the moisture is super beneficial."





While the rains have helped the plants reestablish, Sholar says we were not able to recover as much yield potential as we could have if the rains had come earlier than they did. As an indeterminate plant though, the canola still has the opportunity to continue adding to its yield potential up until the point of harvest. Sholar says they are adding to that every day now, but insists more rain and cooler temperatures would certainly help improve the situation. At this point though, despite harsh weather conditions and relatively high insect populations, Sholar expects this year's harvest will yield average results.





"We're not talking about bin-busting yields this year, but some that growers are going to be proud of," he remarked. "We do have good surface moisture now and some subsurface moisture as a result of the good rain, but we will need some more. The crop I would say looks like an average crop at this point."





If you are a canola farmer or are interested in becoming one, Sholar reminds audiences that in just a matter of days, Oklahoma State University will be hosting a dozen different canola crop tours around the state. He invites those interested to make plans to attend for a chance to talk to their neighbors that grow canola and ask questions from the experts. For details including dates and locations, visit the calendar page on our website, by clicking here.





Dr. Sholar will join Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays for his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.





















Listen to Ron Hays and Ron Sholar talk canola crop conditions this year and expected yield potentials

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Top Agricultural News
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2017 / Canuc Resources Corporation (CDA.V) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to provide further information, previously compiled, pertaining to work done by Santa Rosa Silver Mining Corporation ("Santa Rosa") on the San Javier Silver/Gold project.

Subsequent to the underground sampling program conducted in 2012, a program of reconnaissance mapping, prospecting and sampling was carried out under the guidance of Seymour Sears, P.Geo, whose NI 43-101 report on the San Javier project can be viewed on SEDAR. During this program, a total of 9 prospects were identified within the property. Including the surface exposures at Santa Rosa/Polvorin mine, located near the southwest end of the property, a mineralized "corridor" about 200 m wide extends across the length of the property, a distance in excess of 3,000 m to the northeast.

At least 3 styles of mineralization were identified and sampled. These include vein and vein-breccia zones similar to the main Santa Rosa - Polvorin Zone; alteration zones associated with the margins of felsic to intermediate dykes, as at the Colorado Zone; and quartz stockwork breccia zones as represented by the Carranza Zone. The vein zones range in width from less than 1 m to 4.5 m. The other two styles of mineralization appear to have potential to be much wider.

At Colorado Zone, the silica and clay alteration is at least 11 m wide, and an 11.2 m composite of 4 samples across this zone averaged 284 g/t (8.3 opt) Ag.

The Carranza Zone at one point reaches a width of 31 m. Contained within this section occurs an 11.0 m interval (4 samples) that averages 238 g/t (6.9 opt) Ag.

The Company is also pleased to report that it has granted additional options to Mr. John Nebocat who was recently appointed Vice President of Exploration. The options total 400,000 shares exercisable at $0.50 per share for three years, all of which vest immediately. The new options are in addition to 200,000 options previously granted to Mr. Nebocat which are also exercisable $0.50 per share.

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Mr. Nebocat brings many years of experience in Mexican silver deposits. In addition to extensive surface and underground data compilation, he has undertaken some 3-D modeling of the Santa Rosa silver mine; this work will prove invaluable in designing a maiden drilling program expected to start in the next few months. In the meantime, surface work including chip and soil sampling is continuing, the results of which will be released in the near future. As a reminder, the company recently completed a $2.0 million equity financing in February 2017 and has sufficient funds on hand to complete the current phase of its planned exploration program.

http://canucresources.ca/project/san-javier-project/san-javier-plan-map-1-1/

About Canuc

Canuc is a junior resources company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. In addition, the company is active in the development of a natural gas field in Central West Texas where it has an interest in seven producing gas wells. These wells generate a sustainable cash-flow with the potential to increase income by the drilling and completion of additional wells.

John Nebocat, BSc (Geological Engineering), P.Eng, Vice President Exploration for Canuc, is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release.

For more information on the content of this release or about Canuc, please contact:

Christopher J. Berlet, CFA

CEO

416 525 - 6869

cberlet@canucresources.ca

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the prevailing price of natural gas, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, amount of gas produced that could affect revenues and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Company's annual financial statements and MD&A.

SOURCE: Canuc Resources Corporation
WASHINGTON  Tech companies are pushing the Federal Communications Commission not to water down its rules on net neutrality, teeing up a broader confrontation between Silicon Valley and Washington as the nations top telecom regulator mulls a plan to undo the previous administrations regulations for Internet providers.

In a meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday, the Internet Association  which represents companies such as Google, Amazon and Netflix  said it still maintains vigorous support for the agencys net neutrality policy, which moved to regulate broadband companies, such as Comcast and Charter, like their predecessors in the legacy telephone business. Those rules banned the blocking or slowing of websites, and also prohibited ISPs from charging websites special fees just so that they could be displayed on consumers devices.

Existing net neutrality rules should be enforced and kept intact, the Internet Association wrote in a follow-up transparency filing.

Pai has been consulting with industry groups on a proposal to repeal the FCCs rules, seeking voluntary promises by Internet providers not to block or slow sites rather than imposing preemptive regulations to ensure that they comply. Beyond cutting off a source of potential revenue, broadband industry advocates say, the rules have slowed the pace at which providers build out their networks and upgrade speeds.

Should Pai move forward with his plan, it would trigger a months-long process to solicit public feedback. If the last go-round on net neutrality is any indication, we can expect a high-profile campaign by both sides to shape the outcome.
An Omaha police officer was injured Thursday morning when his police cruiser collided with another car at 120th and L Streets.

Officer Robert Alexander, 48, was heading to a burglary call near 117th and Valley Streets just after 10 a.m., police said in a press release. Alexanders cruiser was turning left onto northbound 120th Street from eastbound L Street. It appeared, the release said, that all motorists had yielded to his cruisers lights and sirens, which were activated. The cruiser was struck in the intersection by a Chevrolet Impala that had been westbound on L Street.

Alexander was taken to Nebraska Medical Center by another police vehicle to be treated for what the release described as relatively minor injuries. A hospital spokesman said Alexander was treated and released.

The Impala driver, who was not named in the release, was taken by an Omaha fire/rescue crew to Bergan Mercy Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries that the release said were a primary result of the airbag deployment.

The collision remains under investigation.
Donald Trump Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be on board with the US when it comes to North Korea's nuclear program.

The Chinese leader said his country "insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula ... and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula," after a call with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Beyond words however, China seems to be making another move that underscores its interest in bringing Pyongyang to heel.

On April 7, Beijing's customs authorities issued an official order directing trading companies to return North Korean coal cargos, according to Reuters. That order came after the late-February ban on coal imports from Pyongyang, which was issued in response to North Korea's missile tests.

Days later, a dozen North Korea ships sailed home from Chinese ports, leaving 2 million metric tons of coal stranded in Chinese ports.

The rejection of North Korean coal marks a shift in China's dealings with its isolated neighbor. Beijing has long used the coal trade to shore up the regime in Pyongyang, which relies on coal for about 40% of its total exports.

While China has been willing to criticize Pyongyang, its past soft-peddling on sanctions and other measures against North Korea have reflected Beijing's desire to balance the need for stability on the Korean Peninsula with moves to temper North Korea's military ambitions.

North Korea China coal imports

In March 2016, weeks after the UN applied a new set of sanctions, Chinese shippers and traders told Reuters that they hadn't gotten any word from Beijing about curbing North Korean coal imports, and observers suggested at the time that China was pushing for or had secured an exemption for its coal purchases.

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"Coal is a big lever for them," Adam Cathcart, a North Korea-China specialist at the University of Leeds, told Reuters in mid-March 2016. "They're wise from the Chinese standpoint to keep some leeway (so) they're not branded as sanctions violators if a train goes from China to North Korea (carrying resources)."

"China fears that harsher sanctions may destabilize its northern neighbor, which could potentially send millions of refugees over the border," Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian wrote this week for Foreign Policy. "But recent missile tests  and growing international pressure  have only narrowed Beijings options."

Now, with Pyongyang's aggressive testing of missiles and Trump's hardline stance on relations with China and North Korea, Beijing appears more willing to push Kim Jong Un's regime.

china north korea

The US's threat of intervention on the Korean Peninsula was probably not the deciding factor in Beijing's change of tone on North Korea, however.

Though China was dismayed by the deployment of the US-made THAAD anti-missile system to South Korea, strategists in Beijing were likely confident the US would be hesitant to launch military action against North Korea.

Prior to Trump's meeting with Xi this month, US officials said a key goal was getting China onboard with using economic leverage against North Korea, and coal would be a central part of that.

The specter of economic retribution from the US  which has become a major source of coal for China  coupled with concerns about Pyongyang's advancing nuclear capabilities probably moved China toward a stricter stance on North Korea.

"I think that [the Chinese] are quite worried about what Trump might do in the area of trade and economics  thats really credible," Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider earlier this month.

NOW WATCH: How the US could prevent a North Korean nuclear strike  according to a former Marine and cyberwarfare expert





More From Business Insider


Last week, an employee at Omahas Election Systems & Software emailed a manager asking a fair question.

Why, the employee wanted to know, had the software company just received a shipment of boxes containing almost 700,000 red, white and blue toy bricks?

The answer: because an Omaha teenager is determined to set the world record for the largest image ever built with interlocking plastic bricks. If John Langs plan comes together, the result will be a 60-by-30-foot American flag, pieced together by hundreds of volunteers in the software companys parking lot.

Its a plan the 17-year-old Lang has had for about two years. And now, finally, he has the means to make it happen.

Last week, toy company Mattel Inc. shipped 676,561 pieces of its newly rebranded Mega Construx bricks to Lang, a senior at Westside High School. On May 27, John plans to execute his Great American Flag Project, a massive building effort that he hopes will draw attention to the causes of veterans and first responders.

Its already attracted plenty of attention. Several Omaha businesses have promised to lend expertise or space. And, not surprisingly, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia has shown interest in the project.

Its pretty amazing, John said. This time last year, we were talking about how we were going to raise enough bricks.

John spent Tuesday, the second morning of his spring break, moving his windfall from the software company into storage, where it will stay until the building date draws near.

Mattel first heard of the project from Johns mom, Bobbi Jo Lang, who used to work for the toy company as a customer service representative.

John presented Mattel with a very detailed plan, a company spokesperson said.

The donation came as a shot in the arm after a period when John thought his dream might fail. The delivery lifted the burden of collecting the bricks and allowed him to focus on recruiting volunteers, he said.

Beyond that, it has proved that others are willing to invest in a project that many may have dismissed as a teenage lark.

It isnt. John has met with staff at HDR to design his flag. Hes tapped potential volunteers and secured the software businesss parking lot as a site to build. Hes even enlisted a land surveyor to take the official measurements when its done.

I thought, If this kids going to do this much work, Id be glad to help him,  said Jason Headley, survey department manager at E&A Consulting Group who has agreed to measure the finished flag.

If all goes according to plan, the flag will measure 1,800 square feet. The current record, set in 2013 by a man in the Netherlands, is 1,687 square feet, according to Guinness World Records.

John has long wanted to break a world record. Originally, he hoped to build the worlds tallest plastic brick tower. But that would mean stacking bricks more than 100 feet high. Building horizontally seemed like the way to go.

The American flag was a natural fit. Johns family has a history of military service, and his father, Tony Lang, was a firefighter and paramedic for more than 35 years.

To date, the project has been no small endeavor. There have been pitch meetings and conference calls and the occasional disappointment. For a while it seemed unlikely that John would be able to collect enough bricks.

There have been times we said, At the very least, itll be a learning experience,  Bobbi Jo said.

But piece by piece it came together. After The World-Herald ran a story last summer about Johns quest for bricks, Dirk Zwart, manager of technical documentation at Election Systems & Software, helped the teen secure the use of the companys parking lot. The Nebraska National Guard has pledged to publicize the project to Omaha area high school students to recruit volunteer builders.

Hes learned more in a year about business than most people do in college, Tony Lang said of his son.

John worked with Ross Miller and other designers at HDR to come up with the plan to build 81 40-by-80-inch pieces that will fit together to make the entire flag. That way, it can be easily disassembled and moved  which could come in handy later.

The Betsy Ross House has been following the Great American Flag Project closely, said Heather Kincade, public relations director. The Philadelphia attraction hopes to host John, and a piece of his project, for its annual Flag Day celebration.

Wed love to be able to work with John whether he sets the record or not, Kincade said.

For now, the Langs are focused on coordinating the May 27 build. They still need to build the base units and rally a crowd of volunteers.

There is one detail, though, that John and his family are sure of: He wants to be the one to lay down the final, world record-setting brick.
LINCOLN  A proposal billed as absolutely essential for future growth of Sarpy County won first-round approval in the Legislature on Thursday.

Legislative Bill 253, which advanced on a 33-0 vote, would allow Sarpy County and communities in the states fastest-growing county to form an agency to finance and build sewers where none now exist.

The lack of sewers across the southern portion of the county is impeding development, said State Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue, the bills sponsor.

If sewers can be built, housing and industrial development will follow, expanding the tax base and helping all taxpayers in Sarpy County and the state, Crawford and other supporters said.

If you truly want economic development in Nebraska, you need to hear what were saying in Sarpy County. We need (this bill) for development. Period, said Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood.

Even though LB 253 is aimed primarily at Sarpy County, Norfolk Sen. Jim Scheer, the speaker of the Legislature, said it is important for the entire state, because if there are more taxpayers, existing taxpayers can get a break.

If youre a (fiscal) conservative and you want to reduce taxes, you do that by growing the state, Scheer said.

About 60 percent of the land in Sarpy County available for development is south of a ridgeline that dissects the county. North of the ridgeline are sewers that connect to Omahas system, but to the south, the land slopes to the Platte River and no sewer system exists.

The problem was illustrated recently when Facebook announced the opening of a sprawling data center along Nebraska Highway 50, just south of the ridgeline. Because the site has no sewer system, a $690,000 pumping station must be built to pump sewage over the ridge to the metro areas existing sewer system.

Crawford said that rather than building a patchwork of pumping stations and sewage lagoons, her bill would allow a coordinated approach to providing sewer service to southern Sarpy County.

Despite the 33-0 advancement of the bill, there were critics.

Sen. Tyson Larson of Bloomfield expressed concerns that the new joint sewer entity could begin levying a new property tax without a vote of the people.

Crawford said that new sewer entity would have the power to levy property taxes. But the senator and Sarpy County officials said that authority is only a backstop in the event that sewer fees from new development arent enough to cover costs of building new sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities.

Supporters of the bill emphasized that the Sarpy County Board, under a law passed in the 1990s, has had the authority to levy taxes for sewer systems but has not used it, because sewer fees have been sufficient.

North Platte Sen. Mike Groene joined Larson in questioning why residents of La Vista should be required to contribute to sewer construction so far from their community.

Crawford said that by allowing new development in the county, tax bills could be cut for residents of La Vista. She added that sewer construction north of the ridgeline, including near La Vista, could also be financed through the new sewer authority.

One state senator, Curt Friesen of Henderson, said that earlier misgivings that hed had with LB 253 have been answered and he now supports the bill.

The (sewer) problem they face there, this is probably the best way to solve it, he said.

Sarpy County officials said that construction of the new sewer system would be done in four stages over several years, and would not begin until 2019 if LB 253 is approved.
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and challenger Heath Mello clashed Tuesday night in their first meeting since last weeks primary election  and even the facts were up for debate.

Stothert spent the night defending her record from Mellos attacks.

They disagreed on Stotherts previously stated position on a proposed streetcar project, whether she had let the citys waste hauler out of its contract and whether she based her campaign four years ago on the restaurant tax.

We took a look at four times the two candidates disagreed, and who was right.

Streetcars

The statements:

Mello: The mayor over this past weekend publicly committed $30 million towards the streetcar project in a GO bond that I came out and said that I would not commit any public dollars right now to the streetcar.

Stothert: What I said is, lets finish the studies (and) get the information out to the taxpayers.

The facts:

Both candidates have expressed strong support for building a streetcar line between downtown and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

But after anti-streetcar candidate Taylor Royal finished with 11 percent in the primary election last week, both candidates have walked back their support.

Mello said the city should slam on the brakes on the project and seek more input.

Stothert replied that nothing has been decided. And, she said, the voters would have the final say  she said if re-elected, she would push to have any streetcar proposal go to a vote. In a press release last week, her campaign said voters would be asked to approve up to $30 million in tax dollars for the project.

Mellos campaign noted that the mayor would have to sign off on putting any issue on the ballot and argues that committing to put the issue on the ballot is tantamount to committing money for the project.

The verdict:

No, Stothert did not publicly commit $30 million to a streetcar project.

She did commit to moving forward with studies on the project, and to putting a yet-to-be-determined financial proposal on a future ballot.

Waste Management

The statements:

Mello: The mayor let Waste Management out of their contract to pick up our yard waste and put it to OmaGro.

Stothert: Mr. Mello is incorrect on that. I did not let Waste Management out of their contract. Thats an incorrect statement. They are still under contract until 2020.

The facts:

In the summer of 2015, Omahans were complaining about significant delays in trash pickup.

Waste Management had recently bought Deffenbaugh, the citys previous trash contractor, and the company was facing a national shortage of drivers.

Stothert fined the company for the excessive complaints. But she also agreed to allow it to collect trash and yard waste together and take both to the landfill.

She described it as a temporary measure and she said the alternative would be for the company to default on its contract, potentially leaving Omahans trash in the street for weeks.

The next year, Stothert said the companys best efforts  which included hiring bonuses and attendance at job fairs  didnt produce an adequate number of drivers.

So she allowed the company to again collect trash and yard waste together.

This year, Stothert said at the debate, Omahans yard waste will be collected separately.

The verdict:

Stothert did not let Waste Management out of its whole contract with the city, but she did lift a significant portion of its contractual responsibility for two summers in a row.

Restaurant tax

The statements:

Mello: The mayors entire candidacy four years ago was based around her opposition to the restaurant tax as a City Council member and then working to repeal it as the new mayor.

Stothert: My entire campaign was not about repealing the restaurant tax. Heath Mello needs to do his homework.

The facts:

Stothert certainly made a name for herself as a council member criticizing former Mayor Jim Suttle. And in the tough, contentious budget battles of the early 2010s, the implementation of a 2.5 percent tax on restaurants and bar tabs gained a lot of attention.

Stothert voted against the tax as a council member and said she wouldnt support a budget with tax increases.

During the mayoral campaign Stothert was careful to make only a broader promise to roll back Suttles tax increases  which also included a hike in property taxes and the wheel tax  rather than to make a specific pledge to eliminate the restaurant tax.

Stothert also now argues that the election was more about the pension crisis than the restaurant tax.

While shes proposed two successful property tax cuts, shes made no move to roll back or eliminate the restaurant tax, which brings roughly $30 million into city coffers every year.

The verdict:

Stothert certainly benefited from Omahans anger at Suttle over the restaurant tax in 2013, and the restaurant tax was a large part of her 2013 mayoral campaign. Some Omahans expected her to attempt to reduce the restaurant tax in her first term.

But to say her entire candidacy was based around the restaurant tax is an overstatement.

ConAgra

The statements:

Mello: I met with their CEO and I met with their executives actually before the mayor did.

Stothert: Mr. Mello is speaking without getting his facts, because he doesnt know. I was meeting with the ConAgra executives for months before they made that announcement.

The facts:

Mello has argued that Stothert should have done more to try to keep ConAgra Foods from moving its headquarters from Omaha to Chicago.

He says she should have met with ConAgra Foods Chief Executive Sean Connolly earlier in its process of deciding to move the headquarters.

Stothert first called Chris Kircher, ConAgras vice president of corporate affairs, about the possibility of the company leaving in late June or early July of 2015.

The two remained in contact for the next few months, touching base in person or on the phone more than once a month, according to both parties.

Mello first met Connolly on Sept. 30 of that year  the day before the company announced its plan to move its headquarters.

I called ConAgra a week before their announcement and got a meeting with them the day before, Mello said in an interview. I got a meeting with the CEO before the mayor did.

Stothert and Connolly first met later that afternoon, at 3:30 p.m.

Stothert says she has continued to meet with officials of the company, now Conagra Brands, about the transition since then.

Kircher said Wednesday that the company wasnt dissatisfied with Omaha or Nebraska, and he noted that 1,200 ConAgra employees remain based here.

This idea that theres something someone could have done or should have done, couldnt be further from the truth, he said.

The verdict:

It is true that Mello met with ConAgras CEO before Stothert did, but its also true that Stothert had been meeting with at least one ConAgra official for months beforehand.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Laying bare deep and dangerous divisions on Syria and other issues, President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that U.S. relations with Russia "may be at an all-time low." His top diplomat offered a similarly grim assessment from the other side of the globe after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

"Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said flatly during a White House news conference. It was stark evidence that the president is moving ever further from his campaign promises to establish better ties with Moscow.

Only weeks ago, it appeared that Trump, who praised Putin throughout the U.S. election campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia. But any such expectations have crashed into reality amid the nasty back-and-forth over Syria and ongoing U.S. investigations into Russia's alleged interference in America's U.S. presidential election.

"It'd be a fantastic thing if we got along with Putin and if we got along with Russia," Trump said. But he clearly wasn't counting on it.

"That could happen, and it may not happen," he said. "It may be just the opposite."

Not long before Trump spoke in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson struck a similar tone after an almost two-hour meeting with Putin, saying the two countries had reached a "low point" in relations.

Trump, who last week ordered airstrikes on a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack, was asked Wednesday if Syria could have launched the attack without Russia's knowledge. Trump said it was "certainly possible" though "probably unlikely."

The newly hardened view of Moscow comes as the president has tried to shake suspicions about the motives behind his campaign calls for warmer relations. As the FBI and multiple congressional committees investigate possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign, the president and his aides can now point to his hard-line stance on Syrian President Bashar Assad as evidence he's willing to stand up to Putin.

More than 80 people were killed in what the U.S. has described as a nerve gas attack that Assad's forces undoubtedly carried out. Russia says rebels were responsible for whatever chemical agent was used, which the Trump administration calls a disinformation campaign.

Not long before Trump spoke, Russia vetoed a Western-backed U.N. resolution that would have condemned the chemical weapons attack and demanded a speedy investigation.

The dim view of U.S.-Russian ties from both Trump and Tillerson reflected the former Cold War foes' inability to forge better relations, as Trump until recently has advocated.

Allegations of collusion between Russian officials and Trump campaign associates also have weakened Trump's ability to make concessions to Russia in any agreement, lest he be accused of rewarding bad behavior. Russia wants the U.S. to eliminate sanctions on Moscow related to its 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Until the chemical attack, the Trump administration had sought to step back from the U.S. position that Assad should leave power. But Tillerson repeated the administration's new belief that "the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end."

Beyond Syria, Russia's alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential election also hovered over what was the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and any Trump administration Cabinet member.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted U.S. claims that it has "irrefutable evidence" of election interference.

"We have not seen a single fact, or even a hint of facts," he said. "I do not know who saw them. No one showed us anything, no one said anything, although we repeatedly asked to produce the details on which these unfounded accusations lie."

He also rejected American claims of certain evidence that Assad ordered the chemical attack.

Still, Tillerson sought to stress the positives from his meetings. He said working groups would be established to improve U.S.-Russian ties and identify problems. He said the two sides would also discuss disagreements on Syria and how to end the country's six-year civil war.

But such hopes appeared optimistic as the diplomats outlined their sharply diverging views on Syria. Tillerson said Syria's government had committed more than 50 attacks using chlorine or other chemical weapons over the duration of the conflict. And he suggested that possible war crimes charges could be levied against the Syrian leader. Russia has never publicly acknowledged any such attacks by Assad's forces and has tried for the past 18 months to help him expand his authority in Syria.

The civil war is separate from the U.S.-led effort against the Islamic State group in the north of the country.

While the most immediate U.S.-Russian dispute concerns culpability for the chemical weapons, broader disagreements over everything from Ukraine to Russia's support for once-fringe candidates in European elections are among other sore points.

Tillerson was greeted frostily in the Russian capital as Lavrov began their meeting Wednesday by demanding to know America's "real intentions."

"We have seen very alarming actions recently with an unlawful attack against Syria," Lavrov said, referring to the 59 Tomahawk missiles Trump launched at an air base to punish Assad for using chemical weapons. "We consider it of utmost importance to prevent the risks of replay of similar action in the future."

Trump and others have indeed threatened similar action. But in a Fox Business Network interview, the U.S. president said he wouldn't intervene militarily against Assad unless the Syrian leader resorts to using weapons of mass destruction again. "Are we going to get involved with Syria? No," Trump said. But, he added, "I see them using gas ... we have to do something."
As he welcomed Egyptian strongman Abdel Fatah el-Sissi to the White House last week, President Donald Trump proclaimed that el-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 Trump cause to reconsider.

The attacks reflected not only the inability of the el-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 promised 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 el-Sissis response to the latest attacks is indicative of why he has failed so exceptionally to stem the violence.

El-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, el-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 el-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. Trump may imagine that el-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. Trump tweeted Sunday that he was confident el-Sissi will handle (the) situation properly. Hes destined to be disappointed.
2002 Gujarat riots probe: SC relieves SIT chief R K Raghavan

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 13: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed R K Raghavan, who was heading the apex-court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe 2002 Gujarat riots cases, to be relieved from the duty of heading the team.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT.

The bench hailed the work done so far by the SIT and allowed the request of Salve while asking A K Malhotra, another member of SIT, to oversee the functioning of the probe team.

It also relieved another member K Venkatesam from the SIT and asked Malhotra to continue filing quarterly status report about the progress in the riots cases in the apex court.

The top court-appointed SIT has been probing nine major post-Godhra riots cases including the Naroda Gam riots case pertaining to the killing of eleven members of a community.

PTI
Aseemanand seeks court's permission to go out of Hyderabad

India

pti-PTI

Hyderabad, April 13: Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, on Thursday moved a local court seeking its permission to go out of Hyderabad to see his ailing mother and for his own medical treatment.

Aseemanand on Thursday appeared before the court of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge and filed a petition through his counsel, seeking permission to visit his mother.

In his petition to the court, Aseemanand requested permission to go out of Hyderabad saying he has to see his aged mother, who is ailing (in West Bengal), and also for the treatment of his own ailments.

The court earlier had granted bail to Aseemanand and Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai, a co-accused in the case, on March 23.

Both of them were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each with two sureties of the same amount.

They were also directed not to leave Hyderabad without court's permission and remain present in the city for the trial when required. Aseemanand was released from Chanchalguda jail here on March 31.

In his petition to the court, Aseemananad also said he has to attend court cases too against him in Panchkula.

The court posted the matter for hearing on April 21. Swami Aseemanand, whose real name is Naba Kumar Sarkar, had been on the run since 2008 till his arrest on November 19, 2010 from Haridwar for his alleged role in the blast at historic Mecca Masjid here on May 18, 2007 in which nine people had been killed.

On March 8 this year, Aseemanand and six others were acquitted in the 2007 Ajmer blast case by a Jaipur court. He was then brought from Jaipur and lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here.

PTI
Ch'garh TV anchor who read news of husband's death also lost her father 4 years ago

India

oi-Madhuri

Chhattisgarh TV anchor Supreet Kaur showed exemplary professionalism when she had to break the news of her husband's death in a road accident in Chhattisgarh on live TV.

As soon as the reporter mentioned about the SUV which met with the accident, Kaur realised that she was reading the news live about the death of Harshad Gawde, her husband, as he was supposed to travel in the same SUV, but she kept herself composed and completed the bulletin.

According to a leading daily, the grieving family said that Kaur had lost her father in a road accident four years ago. They even said that Kaur and her husband never had a child that some media sections were misreporting. Kaur, who is from Bhilai, and Gawde, who was a businessman got married two years ago. She had rented a house in Raipur, where her channel is based.

Kaur's exemplary commitment not only stunned her colleagues at Chhattisgarh's private IBC-24 channel but also the world. Later, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed his condolences over the incident and hailed the woman's courage.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2017, 18:23 [IST]
Chaiwala in Rajasthan under IT radar for paying Rs 1.5 crore dowry

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A tea seller has come under the radar of the Income Tax department after he coughed up Rs 1.51 crore ($ 0.23 million, check and convert currency rates here) as dowry for his daughters for their wedding. Leela Ram Gujjar who is a tea stall owner at Haduata in Rajasthan is seen in a video counting the notes and handing them over to the family of the groom. The video had gone viral.

Immediately after this, he was summoned by the IT officials where he failed to explain the source of the income. The IT department has summoned him once again on Thursday with relevant documents to prove the source of his income.

However, the IT probe is just one of the concerns for Gujjar. He is already under the scanner for getting four of his minor daughters married. He is also under the scanner of paying dowry which is a punishable offence under the law.

Currently, Gujjar is absconding. After the police visited his house only to find it locked, a search operation to trace him and his family has been launched.

OneIndia News
Chennai IT raids: Rs 5-crore tax evasion by Raadhika Sarathkumar?

India

oi-Anusha

Popular actor Raadhika Sarathkumar, who was raided by officials of the Income Tax Department on Tuesday appeared for questioning on Wednesday. Sources from the IT Department reveal that the actor admitted to tax evasion to the tune of Rs 5 crore. Raadhika and her actor-turned-politician husband Sarathkumar appeared before the IT officials on Wednesday after raids were carried out on their media venture.

Officials from the income tax department carried out raids in Raadhika's media venture, Radaan media works office in T Nagar. Following the raids, a summons was issued to the actor to appear for questioning in person. Raadhika is said to have told the IT department that her media company evaded tax for a whopping Rs 5 crore.

Raids were conducted on her office a day after her residence was raided. IT department officials raided actor Sarathkumar's residence in connection with raids conducted at Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar's properties. The by-poll in R K Nagar was called off following documents suggesting bribing of voters in the bypoll during the raids.

OneIndia News
Chennai IT raids: Sarathkumar questioned for the third time

India

oi-Anusha

Actor-turned-politician Sarathkumar on Thursday was questioned for the third time by officials of the Income Tax Department. Sarathkumar, whose properties were raided simultaneously as raids were conducted at Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar's house was issued summons.

On Tuesday, the actor appeared in person for the first time before officials of the IT Department in Chennai. Summoms was issued to Sarathkumar after IT officials suspected him of possessing undeclared wealth. It may be noted that raids were conducted on his properties a day after he extended support to AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran who's minister was accused of bribing voters of R K Nagar bypoll. The bypoll was eventually countermanded by the Election Commission.

Sarathkumar along with his wife Raadhika appeared for questioning on Wednesday and for the third time in less than a week, Sarathkumar visited the income tax office in Chennai on Thursday. The actor couple was summoned by officials after raids at their media venture's office in T Nagar of Chennai.

OneIndia News
Karnataka bypolls: Congress wins both seats, 'unexpected', says BJP

India

oi-Anusha

The Karnataka Congress rejoiced on Thursday after winning both, Gundlupet and Nanjangud assembly constituency seats. In a closely fought contest, Congress' candidate Geetha Mahadevprasad emerged victorious with the Bharatiya Janata Party's Niranjan Kumar. Geetha Mahadevprasad received 90,260 votes while BJP's Niranjan Kumar, B S Yeddyurappa's hand picked candidate managed to poll 79,383 votes. Geetha won by a margin of 10,877

In Nanjangud, BJP's candidate, Srinivas Prasad faced massive embarrassment with managing to receive 64,878 votes while Congress' Kalale Keshvamurthy polled 86,212 votes sealing a victory. With a massive margin of 21,334 votes, the Congress beamed a victorious smile. The result is directly Siddaramaiah's victory and B S Yeddyurappa's defeat. The BJP failed to consolidate the Lingayat votes despite B S Yeddyurappa leading the campaign in both constituencies.

The bypoll had become a matter of dignity to the Congress in Karnataka that was fighting hard to protect its bastion. The loss comes as a massive embarrassment to the BJP and B S Yeddyurappa in specific who had been confident of a victory. As results of round 10 of counting started trickling in, the BJP conceded defeat.

I accept the defeat in byelection,will bounce back in 2018 assembly elections with 150 seats.I thank Karyakartas who worked day & night.  B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) April 13, 2017

Reacting to the massive loss of face in both constituencies of Karnataka, the face of BJP's campaign and state president B S Yeddyurappa said that the results were unexpected. "We expected to win both seats. The result is unexpected and we didn't expect such a huge difference. It doesn't mean that it will affect the next assembly election. We should respect the people's verdict. Congress has spent money here," he said. As counting drew to an end in Karnataka, BJP leaders conceded defeat and congratulated the Congress.

Gundlupet Bypoll Results Parties 2013 2017 INC 73,723 90,260 BJP 1,989 79,383 KJP 66,048 NIL JD (S) NIL NIL

Nanjangud Bypoll Results Parties 2013 2017 INC 50,784 86,212 BJP 7,023 64,878 KJP 28,161 NIL JD (S) 41,843 NIL

The bypoll to the assembly constituency was held on April 9. The seat fell vacant after the death of Mahadevprasad. His wife, an academician was given the ticket to contest the bypoll from the Congress. The sympathy wave that the Congress was banking on has worked in their favour. Niranjan Kumar has lost elections for the seat twice earlier and the BJP was hoping that it could elicit a sympathy wave for him. In 2013, he had contested from a KJP ticket. The BJP's hopes of consolidated the votes that were split in 2013, seems to have failed this time around.

OneIndia News
SC defers matter on highway liquor ban

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Supreme Court has said that it would hear after vacations a matter challenging the decision to denotify highways to overcome the liquor ban. The petitioner challenged a decision which denotified state highways in Punjab to beat the liquor ban. A petition filed by Arrive Safe Society challenged the decision of the Chandigarh administration to denotify state highways and rename them as major district road to overcome the Supreme Court's order which banned liquor shops and bars within metres of state and national highways.

The petitioners pointed out that the administrative order was to overcome the SC order. It is a colourable exercise of power, the petitioners stated.

Further it was pointed out that all six roads connecting Chandigarh to other towns were state highways. However now they have been declared as major roads only to overcome the ban. The petitioners sought that the notification be quashed and as an interim measure be stayed.

OneIndia News
'Distorted' pic row: AAP denies allegations on violation of poll code

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 13: The Aam Aadmi Patry on Wednesday denied charges of putting up 'distorted' pictures of BJP leader Vijender Gupta in its election posters across Delhi while maintaining that it has not violated the Model Code of Conduct and the allegations are 'politically motivated'.

The Delhi State Election Commission had asked the AAP to file a reply over a complaint by Gupta in this regard.

The poster, seen in many parts of the city, carries photos of both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Leader of Opposition Gupta and asks voters as to who they would prefer to hold the reins of the municipal corporations.

In its reply to the SEC, AAP's Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey said, "The photo depicts two different parties, their political ideologies and the work done by them. "All charges levelled against us are baseless. Gupta is the leader of the opposition and all charges by him are politically motivated. We have not violated any Model Code of Conduct," Pandey said.

If the BJP leader found his picture on the posters objectionable then he should 'send his photo, which can be used for ad campaign', he said, adding, 'Gupta's photo, which was used in the campaign, is commonly found on the internet.'

Demanding that the EC get the posters removed and take action against the AAP, the BJP leader had said, "These are elections and not a beauty contest to be fought on photos of leaders."

Elections to all three civic bodies -- north, east and south Delhi municipal corporations -- will be held on April 23. Counting of votes will take place on April 26.

PTI
Don't demoralise the armed forces, overturn AFSPA order: Centre in SC

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Centre sought to overcome a Supreme Court order which had negated the protection against prosecution available to the armed forces personnel under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. In a curative petition filed, the Centre told the SC if the order is implemented, then it would be difficult to deal with counter-insurgency operations especially in states such as Jammu and Kashmir.

"It will be impossible to maintain peace and security," the Centre told the SC. The Centre cited the violence in Jammu and Kashmir to make its point clear.

The Indian Army has to, in given circumstances, take quick decisions which cannot be dissected later on likes an ordinary murder appeal, the Centre argued. "Decisions taken by the army in such situations cannot be put to judicial scrutiny," Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi arguing for the centre said.

The army has to use full force while dealing with insurgents who are armed with sophisticated weapons. "If the army personnel remain apprehensive about using force fearing that a militant's death could lead to the registration of a first information report, it would be impossible to win a battle against the insurgents and militants," the Centre argued. "The army is very sensitive to human rights and was not seeking immunity from inquiry by the army authorities when there are complaints of excesses," the AG said.

OneIndia News
No more lovers enemy? UPs anti-Romeo squad sheds its past image with help from IIM

Haryana gets its own anti-Romeo squad Operation Durga; at least 70 arrests on Day 1

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Chandigarh, April 13: Following on the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, the Haryana government launched its own anti-Romeo squad, with a slight twist in name on Wednesday, say reports.

Instead of calling the group entrusted with safety of women as anti-Romeo squad like in Uttar Pradesh, in Haryana it is known as Operation Durga, based on the Hindu goddess.

Immediately after its launch, members of Operation Durga nabbed 72 people from across the state on Wednesday. Like in anti-Romeo squads, members of Operation Durga belong to the police and they are entrusted with the duty to nab and question eve-teasers and molesters.

The teams comprise woman personnel, including nine Sub-inspectors of Police, 14 assistant sub-inspectors, six head constables and 13 constables, besides other police officers from each district.

On day one, the teams visited public places such as schools, colleges, bus stands and railway stations and nabbed persons indulging in crimes against women, including eve teasing, said a police spokesperson.

He said the Haryana government has set up women police stations in all districts to ensure safety of women and provide them with a safe place for lodging complaints. But it had been observed that women hesitated in reporting incidents involving such anti-social elements, he added.

"Therefore, the campaign was undertaken after identifying places where such anti-social elements were indulging in eve teasing, vulgar comments, stalking and other similar activities," he added.

The anti-Romeo squads started functioning after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed its government under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in UP recently. The formation of anti-Romeo squads was a part of the BJP's poll manifesto.

While many women and girls have welcomed the move to punish eve-teasers and stalkers, many complaints have been lodged against the members of anti-Romeo squads for harassing boys and men for merely talking to girls in UP.

OneIndia News
Here is what India is doing to free Kulbhushan Jadhav

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

There is hectic behind the scenes activity on to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court. Informed sources tell OneIndia that legal and diplomatic options are being explored which includes a high-profile prisoner swap to get Jadhav back.

The two legal options are to file an appeal within the 60-day stipulated period, or seek a pardon by the President. However, both these options would have to be exercised by Jadhav. The Indian government would tell Jadhav's family to appeal in Pakistan's Supreme Court.

India has also begun the process of identifying a high-value Pakistani prisoner. Once this is done and if the legal route fails, then talks of a prisoner swap will commence. The government is also looking to find a way to negotiate a deal which would be beneficial to Islamabad.

India is also likely to get in touch with National Security Advisor of the United States H R McMaster in this regard. If the American NSA is briefed then he could convey the message across to his Pakistani counterpart, Naseer Januja. McMaster and Januja are expected to meet soon.

India's NSA Ajit Doval has sought for a dossier on all the options available for Jadhav's release. India is moving at a fast pace to get these formalities completed. While the death sentence has been announced, Pakistan has not indicated any date as yet on when it would be executed. A senior official in Delhi said that so far no outreach has taken place, but he also expressed confidence that Jadhav would be freed.

OneIndia News
Former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh to be cremated at Rampur on July 10 at 3 pm

Himachal CM fails to keep ED date; agency issues fresh summons

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 13: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued fresh summons to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh after he failed to appear before it in connection with a money laundering probe case.

The fresh summons require him to be present before the Investigating Officer of the case in New Delhi on April 20. Officials said the fresh summons were issued under PMLA provisions after the chief minister failed to keep the scheduled date today.

It was not immediately ascertained if Singh had communicated to the ED about the reasons for this absence today. The agency had, earlier this week, issued summons to Singh for personal appearance for Thursday and in order to question him and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The latest ED action has come close on the heels of filing of a charge sheet by the CBI against Singh, his wife and others for allegedly amassing assets worth around Rs 10 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The agency had summoned Singh earlier also, but then he had excused himself stating his official commitments. The ED has already questioned his wife Pratibha and son Vikramaditya in connection with the case.

It had filed a case under the anti-money laundering law against the Himachal Pradesh CM, his family members and others after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September 2015.

The agency is probing allegations against Singh and his family members of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income between 2009 and 2011 when he was the Union minister of steel. It has also attached assets worth about Rs 14 crore in the case.

The CBI charge sheet alleged that the HP CM had amassed assets worth around Rs 10 crore which were disproportionate by 192 per cent of his total income during his tenure as a Union Minister.

The final report was filed against nine persons for alleged offences punishable under section 109 (abetment) and 465 (punishment for forgery) of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, arrayed around 225 witnesses and 442 documents.

Besides the 82-year-old Congress leader and his wife Pratibha Singh, the report also arraigned Chunni Lal Chauhan, Joginder Singh Ghalta, Prem Raj, Vakamulla Chandrasekhar, Lawan Kumar Roach and Ram Prakash Bhatia as accused. It also named as accused LIC agent Anand Chauhan, who is currently in judicial custody.

Chauhan was arrested by the ED on July 9 last year in this money laundering case.

PTI
Hyderabad: Ex-techie held for 'live streaming' sex with unsuspecting wife

India

pti-PTI

Hyderabad, April 13: A 33-year-old former software engineer was arrested by Cyberabad Police last week for allegedly live streaming sexual acts with his wife, without her knowledge, on a porn site for money, police said on Thursday.

The accused, a resident of Jeedimetla in the city, had been allegedly live streaming videos recorded through his laptop's webcam, which was positioned in his bedroom.

"The woman, working with an IT firm, came to know about the existence of her explicit videos last November after her friend from Kerala informed her," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime Police Station) S Jayram said.

On her complaint, police registered a case under section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

During the course of investigation, the police found that it was the woman's husband who was behind the act. He was arrested on April 7 and remanded in judicial custody.

The officer said that the police traced the IP address of the video link to Thrissur in Kerala.

"When served with a notice, the owner of the IP address told the police that he had downloaded the video from a website and transmitted the same on internet," Jayram said.

According to police, the accused used to position his laptop facing his unsuspecting wife in their bedroom for live streaming the act. The ACP said the woman was not aware of the secret filming as the accused used to play a movie on the laptop.

Police said that the accused had registered himself on a porn website and was paid for posting videos. Besides, he had also offered male escort service.

"His mobile phone and laptop were checked and incriminating evidence was found. His bank accounts were also verified and enough technical evidence was found," the ACP added.

PTI
Is Varun Gandhi joining the Congress?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, April 13: If reports are to be believed, Member of Parliament from Sultanpur Varun Gandhi is all set to leave the Bharatiya Janata Party and join the Congress. According to a report by Daily O, Varun, who is miffed with the BJP for sidelining him by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, is planning his ghar wapsi.

A senior Congress leader told Daily O that the grand old party is also planning to welcome Varun into its fold to save the sinking ship of the Congress. The Congress leader also said that Varun's joining the Congress would be in the party's interest to give a tough fight to Modi and Shah's mission to win 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Varun, the son of Sanjay Gandhi -- the younger brother of former PM Rajiv Gandhi -- shares cordial relationship with his cousins, Rahul and Priyanka. Varun, 37, had a meteoric rise in the BJP as he was well-supported and encouraged by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and late Pramod Mahajan.

However, in recent times, Varun's role in the party has diminished. Reports say PM Modi is 'unhappy' with Varun as he refused to contest elections against his cousin Rahul from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in 2014.

Varun did not campaign for the party in the recently-concluded assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the party registered a thumping victory by winning 325 seats with its allies in the 403-member UP assembly.

When Varun's mother and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi was asked about her son's whereabouts during the assembly elections, she told media persons that the BJP leader was 'too busy' to campaign in the state. "Varun has been very busy. He's been travelling to speak to students across the country at various campuses," said Maneka.

However, reports suggest that Varun, known for his provocative speeches, skipped campaigning as he and his supporters were miffed with the senior leaders in the party for not declaring him as the chief ministerial candidate of the saffron party in UP.

Many also say that the 37-year-old leader was upset when no one from the BJP came out in his support when allegations surfaced that he was honey-trapped into revealing defence secrets last year. Moreover, Varun's name as one of the BJP's star campaigners was declared pretty late by his party.

While Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Maneka don't share a good relationship, Varun is said to be in constant touch with his cousins, Rahul and Priyanka. We have to wait and watch to see how far these reports are true or are mere speculations.

OneIndia News
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Jallianwala Bagh massacre martyrs won't be forgotten: PM Narendra Modi

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, April 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab, saying that their heroism will never be forgotten.

"Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour and heroism will never be forgotten," Modi tweeted.

Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour & heroism will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/WqLhf7mjzO  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 13 April 2017

The massacre took place on April 13, 1919 when a crowd of non-violent protestors, gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army.

IANS
Kulbhushan is an innocent kidnapped Indian: MEA

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

"Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy," said Gopal Baglay, spokesperson for the Ministry for External Affairs. "These facts were communicated to Pakistan over an year ago. We had, in fact, made 13 requests to Pakistan to release him since he was arrested last year," he added.

"The Pakistan government has not shared any specific details about his condition," he said. "We are not aware of where he has been kept and Pakistan has not told us. As soon as the information about his death sentence was passed, the Pakistan high commissioner was summoned. We told him that there is nothing concrete and the farcical nature of the case against him was wrong. We said that we would treat it as premeditated murder," Baglay said.

OneIndia News
* China coal imports up 12.2 pct in March at 22.09 mln T

* First-quarter coal imports at 64.71 mln T, up 34 pct (Adds new details on North Korean imports)

BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) - China did not import coal from North Korea in March, customs data showed, as it bids to comply with United Nations' sanctions against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

The data issued on Thursday did not give monthly imports by country, but China's customs office gave a separate first-quarter volume for North Korea at 2.678 million tonnes, which is the same as its shipments for January-February.

In a news briefing, the General Administration of Customs said China has not imported North Korean coal since Beijing issued a ban on the imports on Feb. 18.

More than 2 million tonnes of North Korean coal did not clear customs before the import ban went into effect and are stranded at ports, two trading sources told Reuters this week.

"It will be up to the trading companies to deal with the cargos that have been shipped to China but did not arrive before the ban," said Huang Songping, a spokesman for customs.

Reuters reported on Monday that China ordered trading companies to return coal shipments received from North Korea after the ban was implemented.

Coal imports from North Korea in the first quarter - without the March shipments - were half of what they were a year ago.

China's total coal imports in March rose 12.2 percent from the same month last year, the customs data showed, reflecting strong consumption from power stations.

The year-on-year increase suggests a sustained appetite in China for lower-priced foreign coal amid a prolonged domestic coal price rally, which has been triggered by the government's curbs on smog and overcapacity.

"The year-on-year increase in monthly coal imports is quite high and quite unexpected," said Zhang Xiaojin, a coal analyst with Everbright Futures. "Demand for imported coal remains strong in April, but shipments could trend lower due to the Australian cyclone."

The monthly imports, at 22.09 million tonnes, were up 24.9 percent from February, the data showed.

Coal imports for the first quarter totalled 64.71 million tonnes, up 34 percent from the same period a year ago. (Reporting by Meng Meng and Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Chrsitian Schmollinger and Tom Hogue)
Maya Kodnani permitted to examine Amit Shah in Gujarat riots case

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Former Gujarat BJP minister Maya Kodnani has been granted permission to examine BJP national president Amit Shah and 13 others in connection with the 2002 Naroda Gram massacre case. A special court hearing the matter permitted Maya an accused in the case to examine 14 persons including the BJP's national president.

In the order the special court judge, Pranav B Desai said, "It is ordered that witness summons be issued on the persons particularized in the application, at the appropriate and relevant stage of the trial."

The judge said that the Special Investigation Team had not filed a reply or objection to the application made by Maya despite being given time.

"In the absence of any objections and while recognising the right of the accused to examine defence witnesses, I am of the opinion that the number of witnesses sought to be examined is neither unreasonable nor unjustified. In the event and more particularly when the prosecution has not raised any serious objection whatsoever to the present application, I am of the opinion that the application is required to be allowed," the court said.

In the application filed by the former BJP minister, she sought that summons be issued to 14 persons including Shah as her defence witness. She said that she wanted to prove that on February 28 2002, the day the riots broke out in Naroda Gram and Naroda Patiya, she was present in the Gujarat legislative assembly. She said after that she was present at Sola civil hospital, her home at Asarva, the civil hospital in Asarva and the then her home.

She says that she met with Shah in the assembly as well as the Sola civil hospital. Maya was accused of leading and inciting a mob. She was held guilty in the Naroda Patiya case and sentenced to life imprisonment. However on the orders of the high court she has been out on bail since July 2014.

OneIndia News
Mumbai: Protesters form human chain against Pak outside Kulbhushan Jadhavs home

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Mumbai, April 13: On Thursday, a large number of Mumbai residents came together outside the house of Kulbhushan Jadhav to protest against Pakistan for awarding death sentence to the 46-year-old former official of the Indian Navy on charges of espionage recently. The Indian government has vehemently denied the charges labelled against Jadhav.

The protesters, belonging to all age groups, formed a human chain right in front of his residence in Mumbai, where Jadhav was staying with his family before he left for a business-related trip to Iran from where he was allegedly kidnapped by Pakistani authorities. The protest was mostly silent and participants carried placards saying 'Bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav.'

"Mumbai: People form human chain protesting death sentence given to #KulbhushanJadhav by Pakistan military court, outside Jadhav's residence," tweeted ANI.

Mumbai: People form human chain protesting death sentence given to #KulbhushanJadhav by Pakistan military court, outside Jadhav's residence pic.twitter.com/VVv0mgkvE4  ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2017

On Wednesday, a group of people in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, performed a havan praying for safety of Jadhav, reported ANI. "Uttar Pradesh: People in Moradabad performed havan for Kulbhushan Jadhav yesterday (Wednesday), given death sentence by Pakistan military court," tweeted ANI.

While Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that all measures would be taken to ensure Jadhav's release, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called the former naval officer the 'son of the soil'.

In the last few days, we have seen several protests in various parts of the country demanding release of Jadhav from the Pakistani jail. Jadhav's friends in Mumbai have started a campaign urging the politicians to save Jadhav getting killed in the neighbouring country. The Indian government has called the death sentence to Jadhav as a 'premeditated murder'.

OneIndia News
NEET exam to be conducted in Urdu from next year: SC

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, April 13: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to conduct NEET examination in Urdu from academic year 2018-2019 onwards but ruled out holding the entrance exam in the language this year.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar directed that NEET entrance exam be held in Urdu this year after CBSE told the court that it was extremely difficult to hold the exam in Urdu this year.

"We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards," the bench said in its order, which came on a petition by filed by the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO).

The possibility of holding a supplementary exam for admission to the current academic year too was ruled out.

At present the NEET is conducted in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telegu, Tamil, Bengal, Oriya and Assamese.

It was in March this year that the top court had asked the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI) to respond to a plea by the SIO for holding NEET examinations in Urdu also.

The government on Thursday told the court that the brochure for NEET 2017-18 was issued in January and the SIO approached the court in the February thus, making it difficult for the language to be introduced this year.

"In the first hearing we had said that it will be difficult this year and we will do it from next year", Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court.

IANS
No, Kulbhushan Jadhav is not related to Ajit Doval

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Contrary to reports in the Pakistan media, the fact is that the Research and Analysis Wing had never hired Kulbhushan Jadhav who is currently on a death row in Pakistam. Indian officials have also rubbished all reports that stated that Jadhav was related to India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The Pakistan media had gone overboard in saying that not only was Jadhav planted in Balochistan by Doval, but was also related to him. "Imaginative journalism," is what a senior officer in Delhi said when asked about these reports emerging from Pakistan.

[The real reason why Pakistan arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav]

India has repeatedly said that Jadhav is a former naval officer-turned-businessman. The video confession that Pakistan put out is completely doctored, India also said. "Words had been inserted which included the name of Doval," officials who did the forensic analysis of the video said.

Jadhav, however, in the past had approached the R&AW desk in Pakistan-Afghanistan to offer his services. However, he was not seen as a reliable asset. He had offered his services in 2010 and 2012 and meetings to this effect had taken place. During a meeting in New Delhi, his services were rejected as he was not seen to be reliable.

A couple of years later when his dhow transport business Kaminda ran into financial trouble, he had once again approached the the agency. He was not hired at that time as well.

OneIndia News
Non-bailable warrant issued against Zakir Naik

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A special court has issued a non-bailable warrant against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The court said that the warrant would be an open dated one.

On Tuesday the Enforcement Directorate had moved the court seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant against controversial against Naik. The application was moved in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Court in Mumbai.

Naik is currently away in Saudi Arabia and has not responded to the summons issued by the ED. It may be recalled that the the National Investigation Agency has issued yet another summons to Naik. Incidentally this was the third summons in the past two months and Naik has been told to appear before the agency on April 17.

Naik suspected to be in Saudi Arabia has dodged the summons issued to him on previous occasions. The NIA had earlier rejected his request to depose through video conferencing while stating that since the charges were serious, the option could not be granted.

Naik had left India and has been living in Saudi Arabia for the past 10 months. He has been repeatedly asked by the NIA to join the probe. He had been told to appear before the NIA on March 14 and when he refused to do so, the agency had given him another date on March 30.

The NIA now plans on moving the court to seek a warrant against him. The warrant would be served on him through the ministry for home and external affairs. If he fails to turn up, then the extradition process against him would begin, NIA sources say.

OneIndia News
Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas

The PM asked his colleagues to work for empowering the OBC community on the lines of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (inclusive growth). In this image, PM Modi is seen arriving at Parliament to attend the function.

Picture credit: PTI

Together we stand united

OBC MPs from the BJP, including Union Minister Uma Bharati, pose for the camera before the function.

Picture credit: PTI

Everyone follows PM Modi

PM Modi with his colleagues inside Parliament after the function got over.

Picture credit: PTI

PM Modi presides over the meeting

PM Modi hosts a meeting with the BJP's MPs from the OBC community.

Picture credit: PTI

Thank you PM Modi!

PM Modi being felicitated by his colleagues at Parliament for the passage of the OBC bill in Lok Sabha which accords constitutional status to the NCBCs.

Picture credit: PTI

Beyond politics

PM Modi looks relaxed as he talks with his BJP colleagues during the function.

Picture credit: PTI

Bless us PM Modi!

In this image, a junior colleague of the PM is seen seeking his blessings with a Namaste.

Picture credit: PTI
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Re-polling in Kashmir's Budgam begins amid tight security

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Srinagar, April 13: Re-polling at 38 polling stations in Budgam district in Srinagar parliamentary constituency began on Thursday amid tight security arrangements.

Re-poll was ordered in 38 polling stations of Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah tehsils of Budgam district where violence had disrupted the process on Sunday.

Voting process started at 7 am and will end at 4 pm.

However, voters did not turnout in big numbers to cast their ballots.

Sunday's polling was disrupted by massive violence in which eight civilians were killed in clashes with the security forces. In widespread clashes with security forces, protesters tried to storm polling stations soon after voting started at 7 am. Responding to the call given by Hurriyat leaders to boycott the polls, youths even tried to set ablaze booths in some areas by hurling petrol bombs.

Separatists on Wednesday called for shutdown in areas of Budgam district in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where repolling is re-scheduled to be held on Thursday.

"Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for shutdown in poll-bound areas on April 13," the separatist groups said in a joint statement.

[J-K: Separatists call for shutdown ahead of Budgam repolling]

Alarmed by the unprecedented violence, the Election Commission decided to defer the Anantnag Parliamentary seat by-poll to May 25.

Voting in Anantnag constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.

Former chief minister and opposition National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah has challenged ruling Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency.

Counting of votes will be held on Saturday and the result would be known the same day.

IANS
Why Punjab farmers burn stubble at this scale when others do not

SC pained at farmers suicide in TN; raps AIADMK govt

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, April 13: The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadu for neglecting the issue of farmers' suicide in the state.

A SC bench asked the TN government to file a detailed reply in the case regarding farmers committing suicide in the drought-hit state. The apex court slammed the state government for not taking enough measures for farmers.

During the hearing of the case, the SC bench said that it was painful to hear farmers are committing suicide and the state government is not taking enough steps. According to an estimate, the crisis in the agriculture sector in TN has reached a mammoth proportion. Since October last year, every day, two farmers are committing suicide in the state, say reports.

In fact, the SC's ruling has come at a time when a group of 80 farmers from the state are agitating at Jantar Mantar in the national capital demanding the Centre to waive off all their loans. The month-long protest, started on March 14, is unlikely to end soon as protesters said they won't give up till all their demands are met by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

Recently, three TN farmers staged a nude protest outside the Prime Minister's Office after they were denied an audience with PM Modi. The peaceful agitation has brought a lot of attention as the farmers are protesting with skulls.

The skulls are the remains of Tamil farmers who committed suicide due to severe drought in the state, say protesters. There are at least eight skulls at the protest site, reminding onlookers how drought forced several farmers in TN to commit suicide as they failed to pay back their loans taken from the banks and private money lenders.

On April 4, the Madras high court in Chennai came to the rescue of drought-hit farmers of the state. In its order, the court directed the ruling AlADMK government to waive off loans of all farmers in cooperative banks. Earlier, the TN government had waived off loans of farmers who owned five-acre of land.

OneIndia News
Indian Army comes to the rescue of 74 stranded tourists in Sikkim

Sikkim bypoll: 69.4 per cent voter turnout recorded

India

pti-PTI

Gangtok, April 13: The by-election to the Upper Burtuk Assembly constituency in Sikkim ended peacefully on Wednesday with 69.4 per cent voter turnout, Election Commission officials said.

The bypoll was the first election in the state, which was conducted using VVPAT (Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) with the EVMs.

The bypoll was necessitated following the disqualification of sitting MLA Prem Singh Tamang (Goley), who was accused of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the state Animal Husbandry department minister in 1996-97.

A case against Tamang, a Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party leader, was lodged by the state vigilance department and a court convicted him on December 28, 2016.

The BJP has fielded Suresh Khanal Sharma, while Sumitra Rai contested on a Congress ticket and Dilli Ram Thapa of the Sikkim Democratic Front is in the fray in the bypolls. Counting of votes will done of April 15, EC officials said.

PTI
S M Krishna who didn't matter in the Karnataka bypolls

India

oi-Anusha

He was given a royal welcome by none other the BJP's national president Amit Shah. In Karnataka, the BJP claimed that it had gained a mass leader who could influence voters in the Cauvery belt. But all the hail and praise on S M Krishna fell flat on Thursday. Even as results of Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls indicated that S M Krishna made absolutely no difference to the BJP's vote share, the party continued to defend him.

"It is not right to blame S M Krishna. He took part only in one rally. Just because we lost here, it doesn't mean that he is not influential. He can't effect change everywhere," said B S Yeddyurappa, the President of State BJP unit. Even as he conceded defeat in both the assembly constituencies, Yeddyurappa maintained that the support of leaders like S M Krishna and Srinivas Prasad will help the BJP bounce back in 2018 assembly polls.

The grand old Vokkaliga leader was of little relevance in the bypolls with Lingayat and Dalit votes making all the difference in Gundlupet and Nanjangud. While a silent vote of the JD(S) that went to the Congress helped the ruling party win big. For the BJP, the dilemma of the Lingayat and Dalit voters in both constituencies became a bane.

The BJP is still hopeful that S M Krishna may influence voters in the Cauvery belt where Vokkaliga votes matter in the upcoming 2018 polls but for now, S M Krishna made absolutely no difference to the BJP.

Meanwhile, Srinivas Prasad who quit the Congress and contested on a BJP ticket in Nanjangud announced that he would retire from active politics but would continue to support the BJP.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2017, 18:30 [IST]
Feature China | Barcroft Images | Getty Images. China's exports rose 16.4 percent in March on-year, beating a Reuters' analyst forecast of 3.2 percent to reverse a decline of 1.3 percent in February, data from the Chinese customs showed Thursday.

China's exports rose 16.4 percent in March from a year ago, beating a Reuters' analyst forecast of 3.2 percent to reverse a decline of 1.3 percent in February, data from the Chinese customs showed Thursday.

The country's imports rose 20.3 percent on-year, down from a surge of 38.1 percent a month ago, but still above the rise of 18.0 percent analysts predicted.

China's trade surplus in U.S. dollar terms was $23.93 billion in March, more than double the $10 billion analysts had forecast. The world's second largest economy posted a rare $9.15 billion trade deficit in February.

Exports in the first quarter of the year rose 8.2 percent from the same period last year, while imports surged 24.0 percent. China's first-quarter trade surplus was $65.61 billion.



In yuan terms, China's imports soared by 31.1 percent, customs data showed on Thursday, with exports up 14.8 percent for the first quarter from a year ago. China reported a trade surplus of CNY454.94 billion in the period.

Meanwhile, China's trade surplus with the United States rose to $17.74 billion in March from $10.42 billion in February, customs data showed.

China's economic data in January and February can be highly skewed by the timing of the long Lunar New Year holidays, when offices and factories shut for a week or more.

The customs data also showed China's trade surplus with the United States in the first quarter was $49.6 billion, compared with $50.57 billion surplus a year ago.

President Donald Trump has focused on China's large surplus with the United States, which was $347 billion last year, and pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting last week to help reduce the gap.

The U.S. and China agreed at the meeting to a 100-day plan for trade talks aimed at boosting U.S. exports and reducing China's trade surplus with the United States.



Reuters contributed to this report.





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Swachh School Awards: Initiative to recognise institutes that promote cleanliness

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Jubilant FoodWorks Limited in association with United Way Mumbai and United Way Bengaluru has launched Swachh School Awards Campaign in support of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Swachh School Awards is an initiative to recognise and award Schools which have undertaken successful interventions for maintenance and promotion of cleanliness and betterment of the environment. Swachh School Awards will acknowledge, inspire and celebrate excellence related to cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene practices in public and private schools within Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Based on a 360-degree platform and criteria, schools shall be awarded for significant steps taken in awareness and education on cleanliness, sanitation, solid waste management, energy conservation, behavior change and capacity building.

The contest covers good practices across categories such as:

Awareness and education on cleanliness

Sanitation and hygiene

Community engagement for betterment of environment

Drinking water

Cleanliness infrastructure

Water conservation

Waste management

Energy conservation

Awards:

The awards will be in the form of support for school infrastructure for promotion of cleanliness and sanitation. This support will be equivalent to the prize money for each category.

Gold: Rs 3 Lakh

Silver: Rs 1.3 Lakh

Bronze: Rs 75,000

Consolation prizes: certificates and trophies (Two schools from each city).

Who can participate?

Swachh School Awards is open to all public and private schools. Schools located within the administrative boundary of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Bengaluru Municipal Corporations) are eligible to participate in this contest from Bengaluru.

OneIndia News
Some CBI officers had 'setting' with TMC, so ED was sent to probe Bengal scams: Dilip Ghosh

TMC councillor files police complaint against Yogesh Varshney

India

pti-PTI

Kolkata, April 13: A Trinamool Congress councillor on Thursday lodged a police complaint against BJP youth wing leader Yogesh Varshney for announcing a Rs 11 lakh bounty on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's head.

Manjushree Majumdar, Trinamool Congress councillor of ward no 83 in the Kalighat area, where the Chief Minister resides, lodged a complaint with the Kalighat Police Station against Varshney, a senior officer of the Force said.

"We have received a complaint from the counsellor of ward no 83 against Varshney. We are looking into it," he said.

Varshney on Thursday offered a bounty of Rs 11 lakh for TMC chief Banerjee's head after the police in West Bengal used batons to disperse a rally raising slogans in praise of Lord Rama on Hanuman Jayanti.

Meanwhile, the state CID is likely to take over investigation against Varshney after a Trinamool Congress leader in Bolpur lodged a complaint against the BJP youth wing leader with a local police station there.

A senior CID officer said the case may be taken up by them and for the purpose of investigation, a CID team may visit Aligarh for further inquiry into the matter. Asked if the BJP youth wing leader can be arrested, the officer said "If it is required, we will arrest him."

PTI
TMC wins Kanthi Dakshin, BJP beats left, Congress in West Bengal

India

oi-Anusha

All India Trinamool Congress' candidate Chandrima Bhattacharya won the Kanthi Dakshin seat in the bypolls on Thursday. With a steady lead from start, the TMC was confident of a victory. What caught the eye on result day was the Bharatiya Janata Party's performance in the poll overtaking left parties and the Congress. Bhattacharya won with a huge margin of 42,526 votes while the BJP's Sourindra Mohan Jana emerged his closest rival.

The TMC retained power in the seat but what came as a surprise was BJP leaving the Left and Congress behind ringing in the new wave of politics in Bengal. BJP's Mohan Jana polled a massive 52,843 while Communist Party's Uttam Pradhan got a mere 17,423 votes. The Congress was pushed to the fourth place with a humiliating 2,270 votes.

After 11 rounds of counting, it became clear that the fight was truly between the BJP and the TMC, rendering Congress and Left parties non-players. The bypoll becomes important for the BJP to establish itself as a force to reckon with in the future. The BJP practically promoted itself as the biggest competitor TMC has in Bengal.

OneIndia News
Why this session of Parliament will go down in history as the most productive

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Parliament had 29 sittings with the Lok Sabha in session for 176 and 39 minutes. The Rajya Sabha sessions lasted 138 hours. The Lok Sabha's productivity was 114 per cent while in the Rajya Sabha it was at 92 per cent. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said this session will go down as a golden chapter in Parliamentary history of the country.

For the first time in Indian legislative history, all financial businesses of the government including the Finance Bill, Demands for Grants and the Appropriation Bill had been disposed of before the beginning of the new financial year, Kumar said.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disposed of 560 starred questions, of which 136 were taken up for oral answers. In the Rajya Sabha there were 205 zero-hour submissions, 76 special mentions, 435 starred and 4,629 unstarred questions.

Among the bills passed were the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill; Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Bill; Constitution (SC) Orders (Amendment) Bill; Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill; HIV & AIDS (Prevention & Control) Bill; Employees Compensation (Amendment) Bill; Central GST Bill; Integrated GST Bill; Union Territory GST Bill; GST (Compensation for Loss of Revenue) Bill; Mental Healthcare Bill; Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill; Finance Bill.

However, the bill to facilitate the new backward classes commission faced a three month delay as the opposition forced the government to refer to a committee. The opposition also scuttled the move to introduce the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The opposition leaders said that it had not been listed in the day's business.

OneIndia News
With new-look 'Himmat' app, cops aim to reach out to women

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, April 13: In a bid to reach out to more women, Delhi Police on Thursday relaunched its Himmat app with more user-friendly features. Launched in 2015, the app saw few takers in the last two years.

A total of 91,682 women have installed it in their phones so far and the app has 31,859 registered users.

Senior officers though felt that the numbers were not satisfactory and the reasons for the "low" installations and less usage were analysed accordingly. It was felt that the registration process for the app needed to be made simpler and it should also cater to the Hindi-speaking women.

Earlier, for registration on the app, one had to fill 13 -14 fields which involved sharing details of travel routes, office address etc. and the user also had to provide five emergency contact numbers. These fields have now been reduced to six and before registration, one will have the option of choosing a preferred language -- Hindi or English.

"The registration facilities have been made smoother and the app is now bilingual. Earlier, only Android users had access to the app but now, iPhone users can also install it," said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, while relaunching the app.

He added that the police will raise awareness on the app by visiting schools and colleges and talking to students. Patnaik was asked if the app, which asks the user to specify his or her gender, will also cater to men.

"It will primarily cater to women for the time being. It is still under consideration whether it will also cater to men. In due course, we will see," he replied.

Shehnaz Bhata, a technical officer in the AIIMS, narrated her experience of using the Himmat app.

"I had used it twice in 2015 and 2016. Someone had rammed my car in 2015 and since I had installed the Himmat app a few days back, I decided to use it. After I pressed the SOS button, I received a call from the control room and the PCR vehicle arrived within seconds," she recalled.

Bhata added that an SMS was also sent to her brother-in- law, whose number she had provided in the 'emergency contacts' section of the app.

The app received a meagre 9,141 SOS calls in the two years since its launch but the officers are hoping that with the user-friendly features and by increasing the number of platforms, they will be able to reach out to more users.

The event also saw the re-launch of the website of the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) with new features. On the occasion, the 'Handbook for Investigation of Crime against Women' was also released.

PTI
Yogi Adityanath seeks views from Muslim women on triple talaq

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to conduct a major drive in which the views of Muslim women on triple talaq will be sought. The same would be presented before the Supreme Court which is hearing a matter pertaining to the Constitutional validity of triple talaq.

The chief minister directed officials in the women and child development department to undertake this exercise. He also directed Women and Child Welfare Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi to speak with women organisations on the matter.

[Talaq over phone: Muslim woman seeks justice at Yogi Adityanath's Janta Darbar]

In this backdrop, a meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board too has been scheduled to discuss the issue. The board had vehemently opposed a ban on triple talaq, citing the Quran. However several others say that there is no such mention in the Quran.

With regard to the decision by the board there was some amount of confusion recently. The board's vice-president, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq clarified that the media had quoted him wrongly, saying that he had promised to end triple talaq soon.

OneIndia News
PFI ban 'dangerous' as every Muslim who speaks his mind can now be arrested: AIMIM chief Owaisi

Muslim man can't remarry if he's unable to take care of family: Allahabad HC

Muslim man donates his land for temple in UP

Why a terror angle should not be ruled out in the Coimbatore cylinder blast case

What if Owaisi had? Muslim users on Twitter blast Kejriwal for asking for Hindu God images on currency notes

Americas' first Muslim female judge found dead in Hudson river

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New York, April 13: Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on New York States highest court and the first Muslim judge in the US, was found dead in the Hudson River, city authorities said.

Officers with the New York police department's harbour unit on Wednesday afternoon responded to a report of a person floating by the shore near West 132nd Street in Upper Manhattan, The New York Times reported.

Judge Abdus-Salaam, 65, was taken to a pier on the Hudson River and was pronounced dead by paramedics.

The police were investigating how she ended up in the river, and it was not clear how long Judge Abdus-Salaam, who lived nearby in Harlem, had been missing.

There were no signs of trauma on her body, the police said. She was fully clothed.

A law enforcement official said investigators had found no signs of criminality. Her husband identified her body.

Since 2013, Judge Abdus-Salaam had been one of seven judges on the State Court of Appeals, reports The New York Times.

Before that, she served for about four years as an associate justice on the First Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, and for 15 years as a state supreme court justice in Manhattan.

She was previously a lawyer in the city's law department.

Governor Andrew M Cuomo said in a statement on Wednesday that Judge Abdus-Salaam was a pioneer with an 'unshakable moral compass'.

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," he said.

IANS
In a U-turn, Trump now says NATO 'no longer obsolete'

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Apr 13: In a major U-Turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is 'no longer obsolete', asserting that he is committed to the military alliance.

"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS," he said.

NATO was formed in 1949 and since then its member states have more than doubled, increasing from 12 to 28. On Monday, he signed the protocol to approve the 29th, the country of Montenegro.

"In the coming months and years, I'll work closely with all of our NATO allies to enhance this partnership and to adapt to the challenges of the future, of which there will be many. This includes upgrading their focus on today's most pressing security and all of its challenges, including migration and terrorism," Trump said.

Observing that NATO countries must work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria, Trump appreciated the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad's murderous attack using the most horrible weapons.

"The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home," he said.

"In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that," he said.

Trump and Stoltenberg agreed that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute two per cent of GDP to defence. If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, they will all be much more secure, and the partnership will be made that much stronger, he said.

Trump is expected to travel to Brussels later this spring to attend the NATO Summit.

"Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that's all throughout the world," he said.

Stoltenberg said a strong NATO is good for Europe, but a strong NATO is also good for the United States.

"I welcome the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe. We see this commitment not only in words, but also in deeds. Over the past months, thousands of US troops have been deploying to Europe, a clear demonstration that America stands with allies to protect peace and defend our freedom," he said.

Noting that in a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it is important to have friends and allies, Stoltenberg said in NATO, adding that America has the best friends and the best allies in the world.

"Together, we represent half of the world's economic and military power. No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage. This makes the United States stronger and safer," he said.

Observing that NATO plays a key role in many other ways also, he said all NATO allies are part of the global coalition to counter ISIL.

"NATO provides direct support to the coalition with training for Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorists, and more intelligence sharing. We have established a new division for intelligence, which enhances our ability to fight terrorism, and working together in the alliance to fight terrorism even an even more effective way," he said.

NATO, he asserted can and must do more in the global fight against terrorism.

"In the fight against terrorism, training local forces is one of the best weapons we have. NATO has the experience, the expertise and the staying power to make a real difference. And fighting terrorism will be an important topic when NATO leaders meet in Brussels in May," the NATO secretary general said.

PTI
How humans have lit up the darkness

They have provided a broad, beautiful picture, showing how humans have shaped the planet and lit up the darkness.

By studying Earth at night, researchers can investigate how cities expand, monitor light intensity to estimate energy use and economic activity, and aid in disaster response.

What happens if night lights imagery could be updated yearly?

These maps are generally produced every decade or so. But NASA's new global map of Earth at night, as observed in 2016, has been released this week just five years after such a map was released in 2012.

A research team led by Earth scientist Miguel Roman of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, plans to find out this year what would happen if night lights imagery could be updated yearly, monthly or even daily.

Imagery is clearer, more accurate and readily available

In the years since the 2011 launch of the NASA-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, Roman and colleagues have been analysing night lights data and developing new software and algorithms to make night lights imagery clearer, more accurate and readily available.

High-definition views of Earth at night

They are now on the verge of providing daily, high-definition views of Earth at night, and are targetting the release of such data to the science community later this year, NASA said.

IANS
Happy Baisakhi: All you need to know about importance of this harvest festival

Indo-Pak tension: Indian festival goers reach Lahore to celebrate Baisakhi

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lahore, April 13: Once again as India and Pakistan are witnessing a new low in their diplomatic ties, the people to people connect still remains intact. On Wednesday, a group of people from India reached Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi festival.

More than 1,400 people belonging to the Sikh community arrived in Lahore from India to participate in the Baisakhi festival at Gurudwara Hasan Abdal in Rawalpindi district of Pakistan's Punjab province.

A bitter diplomatic war has started between India and Pakistan after the latter awarded death penalty to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of espionage by a military court in Pakistan. India has vehemently denied Pakistan's charges and has demanded immediate release of Jadhav.

However, there was no sign of any tension when these festival goers reached Lahore. The Sikhs, who arrived on three special trains, were greeted by the officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee at the Wagah railway station amidst tight security.

"Some 1,430 Sikh Yatrees arrived in Lahore on Thursday via Wagah Border on three special trains. After immigration and serving them food they left for Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hasan Abdal," ETPB deputy director (shrines) Fraz Abbas told PTI.

"We were expecting more than 2,000 yatrees to arrive from India for the festival. However, only six yatrees travelled by the third train," he said. However, he was not aware of the reason as to why less number of devotees reached for the festival.

Abbas said special measures have been taken to provide security to the visiting Sikh pilgrims. "The Rangers and Elite Force besides police personnel have been engaged to provide security to the Sikhs," Abbas said.

In the wake of recent terror attacks in Lahore the government has taken 'extra-ordinary' security measures for the visiting Sikhs. The main event will be held on April 14.

The Sikhs would also visit Gurdwara Janamesthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Soda in Farooqabad, Gurdwara Kartarpur Narowal and Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore.

A seminar titled Besakhi will be held in Lahore on April 20 where Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana will be the chief guest. They will return to India on April 21.

OneIndia News
chris christie

New Jersey governor Chris Christie is reaching out to the Trump administration for help to prevent future incidents like the one this week in which a United Airlines passenger was violently removed from a plane.

Christie sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao asking the department to alleviate overbooking situations, which the governor said led to the United incident on Sunday.

"The recent incident involving United Airlines and David Dao highlights the issue of overbooking of flights," Christie wrote. "As you are aware, every day passengers are 'bumped off' flights under authority given to United Airlines under 14 CFR Part 250. The practice has become unconscionable by United and is abusing passengers coming into Newark Airport and around the nation without cause."

Christie said that since United operates roughly 70% of all flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, the issue is of particular interest to him.

"We would ask, the contexts of the president's efforts on regulatory reform to improve the lives of our citizens, that you consider the immediate suspension of this overbooking authority until a thorough review can be conducted by your department," Christie said.

Airlines overbook flights because many people do not show up for flights or cancel their plans at the last minute. So, carriers often sell more tickets than there are spaces on planes in order to avoid losses due to empty seats, using data from the number of no-shows they get.

After the initial response from United was panned by the public, CEO Oscar Munoz apologized in a statement Tuesday and in an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday.

Interestingly, a poll from Morning Consult/Politico released Tuesday showed that Christie has the lowest approval rating among his constituents of any governor in America.

NOW WATCH: Children who eat too much sugar are developing diseases that only alcoholics used to get





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Kulbhushan Jadhav case : UN calls for India, Pak to engage in dialogue

International

oi-PTI

United Nations, April 13: Amid spiralling Indo-Pak tensions over the death sentence handed down by Pakistan to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, the United Nations on Wednesday underlined the need for the two countries to engage in dialogue.

However, the world body said it was not in a position to comment on Jadhav's case. "We are not in the position to judge the process, to have a position on this particular Kulbhushan Jadhav case," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his daily briefing, in response to a question on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.

"Overall in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, we continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue," Dujarric said.

His remarks has come just days after Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa approved Jadhav's execution after a military court sentenced him to death for 'espionage and sabotage activities', evoking a sharp reaction from India which warned Islamabad to consider the consequences on bilateral ties if he is hanged.

PTI
Now, United Airlines evicts couple on their way to wedding from plane

Man dragged from United Airlines launches legal action

International

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, April 13: A man dragged off an "overbooked" United Airlines flight in an incident which shocked the world has launched legal action against the passenger carrier.

Dr David Dao, 69, refused to give up the seat he had paid for after being asked to leave, and was dragged by his hands on his back off the parked plane, which had been bound for Louisville, Kentucky.

He was left bloodied after the Sunday evening incident at Chicago Airport and the footage provoked international outrage, reported CBS News.

The Dao family issued a statement expressing gratitude for the "outpouring of support".

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, the lawyers want the airline and the City of Chicago, which runs O'Hare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

The filing with the Cook County Circuit Court likely presages an eventual lawsuit against United for the April 9 incident.

Dao is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday, his legal team said.

The airline's chief executive, Oscar Munoz, said in an interview to ABC News on Wednesday that he will not resign.

Munoz said he felt "shame and embarrassment" and vowed it would never happen again.

The airline said it is "reaching out" to customers on Flight 3411 and "offering compensation for their flights".

Much of the uproar stemmed from Dao's status as a paying passenger who was being removed, against his will, to make room for additional crew members on the overbooked flight.

Three security officers have been placed on leave after the incident, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Their names have not been released, according to the report.

On Capitol Hill, powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers denounced how Dao was treated and called for United to explain the situation.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, announced plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would prohibit the forcible removal of passengers already aboard an aircraft "due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers".

Two online petitions calling for Munoz to step down as CEO had more than 124,000 signatures combined by Wednesday afternoon.

@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) 9 April 2017

The backlash from the incident resonated around the world, with social media users in the United States, China and Vietnam calling for boycott of the No.3 US carrier by passenger traffic and an end to the practice of overbooking flights.

IANS
India at UN says priority is to ensure elections in Libya

Over 97 migrants missing after boat sinks off Libya

International

oi-Madhuri

At least 97 migrants went missing after their boat sank off the Libyan coast on Thuurday, a navy spokesman said.

According to survivors, fifteen women and five children are among those still missing.

The Libyan coast guard rescued a further 23 migrants of various African nationalities off the coast of Tripoli.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2017, 20:24 [IST]
Pakistani man confesses to using children for online porn

International

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Islamabad, April 13: A Pakistani man arrested for selling child pornography online has confessed that he lured some 25 children into the heinous act on the pretext of imparting them computer education, the media reported on Thursday.

The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cyber crime wing on Tuesday arrested Saadat Amin, 45, from Sargodha in Punjab province and seized his computer and laptop, reports Dawn online.

FIA cyber crime head Deputy Director Shahid Hasan said the scam is "first of its kind" in Pakistan.

"During interrogation Amin revealed that he had been selling child pornographic content online for the last few years. Amin used to lure children on the pretext of imparting computer education. He even paid between 3,000 and 5,000 Pakistani rupees to the parents of the victims, saying that their children would learn computer hardware and software (skills) at his one-room rented workshop in Sargodha," an FIA official told Dawn.

The FIA cyber crime wing launched a probe into the matter on being informed by Norwegian Embassy through a letter that the country's police had arrested a man in connection with the child pornographic content and that Saadat Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan.

According to Amin, he not only sold his own recordings but also "video clips hacked from the servers of Russian and Bangladeshi porn websites to buyers in Norway and Sweden."

The Norwegian man paid Amin between $100 and $400 for different videos involving young boys, the official said.

So far, the FIA has recovered some 65,000 child pornography video clips from the Amin's possession hacked from foreign websites.

IANS


Syria: Russia, US agree to work jointly to resolve conflict

International

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Moscow, April 13: Russia and the US on Wednesday agreed to keep on fighting international terrorism and continue discussions on Syrian conflict settlement, despite turbulent bilateral relations and a string of pending disputes between the two countries.

In a news conference following talks with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and a two-hour joint meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the discussions were fruitful, underlining good prospects for future joint work.

"It has been a long day...The talks were comprehensive, frank and covered the whole spectrum of issues, which are key to our bilateral relations and interaction on the international affairs," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

"With all the existing problems, both objective and artificially created ones, we still have quite a few prospects for joint work. Russia is open to dialogues with the US in different areas, and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions," he added.

Echoing the Russian stance on cooperation, Tillerson said Russia and the US will continue discussions about how to find a solution to the Syrian conflict.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov and I agreed we would consider further proposals made about the way forward in Syria, including consulting with our allies and coalition members," Tillerson said in the news conference.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have further aggravated over Syria after the US missile strike on a Syrian military airfield on Thursday, which it claims to be in response to the alleged Syrian government's chemical weapons attack last Tuesday in Khan Sheikhoun.

Earlier in an interview broadcast on Wednesday before the meeting with Tillerson, Putin said mutual trust between Russia and the US, especially on the military level, had eroded in the first few months of Trump's presidency.

Putin's view was shared by Tillerson who, on the first visit by the Trump cabinet to Russia, said ties between the two countries were at a low point marked by serious distrust.

"There is a low level of trust between our two countries. The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said in the news conference, adding that Moscow and Washington had agreed to establish a working group to identify problems and improve bilateral relations.

With a shared willingness to mend the battered ties, Russia and the US agreed on Wednesday to work together on an investigation of the Syrian chemical weapons attack, although the divergence in their stances have not changed much.

Tillerson reiterated Washington is "quite confident" that the recent chemical attack was planned and executed by Syrian government forces, which involved chlorine bombs and other chemical weapons on more than 50 occasions.

Calling for an "objective and unbiased probe" into the chemical attack in Syria, Lavrov said Russia has no intention to shield anyone responsible for the incident and repeated Russia's view that the Syrian government was not responsible for the attack.

Russia vetoed a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected chemical attack, saying that Moscow had consistently expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West including the US.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said

IANS
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And here are three things firms can do to help their employees be more engaged.

From Get.com via Yahoo!: Singapore's pride and joy, Changi Airport has once again been named the world's best airport for the fifth consecutive year by Skytrax. Emerging as a winner for the fifth time in a row is certainly no mean feat since the views of 13.82 million travellers across more than 100 nationalities were taken into consideration. Just to put things into perspective, Changi Airport came up tops amongst 550 participating airports.

From PropertyGuru: A 1.87ha residential site at Toh Tuck Road in Upper Bukit Timah attracted overwhelming interest from property developers, with a total of 24 bids submitted after the tender exercise closed on 11 April, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Launched for sale on 28 February, the 99-year leasehold site has a maximum permissible gross floor area of 282,122 sq ft. The future development is expected to yield 325 units.



From MoneySmart via Yahoo!: A recent poll found Singaporean employees to be Asias least engaged. In fact, Singapores employee engagement score fell by 4% in 2016, which suggests that people are becoming even less satisfied at work. For employers, this is a big headache. The cream of the crop tend to quickly get poached by big MNCs, leaving SMEs to fight for the 5 decent employees remaining. But employers shouldnt be too quick to invoke the strawberry generation rebuke or dismiss their employees as useless wastrels.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons.





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FILE PHOTO - The headquarters of Germany's Deutsche Bank are seen early evening in Frankfurt, Germany January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic U.S. senator pressed Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) on Wednesday to release information about issues including President Donald Trump's debt and any bank meetings with Trump administration officials, saying he had "great concern" about possible conflicts of interest.

"I write to you with great concern regarding conflicts of interest between Deutsche Bank and the President of the United States and how these conflicts may impact ongoing investigations and regulatory oversight of your institution," Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote in a letter addressed to the chief executive of Deutsche Bank USA, which he released to the public.

Van Hollen is a member of the Senate Banking Committee.

A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bank declined comment. White House officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Van Hollen's letter said prior financial disclosures listed two loans and two mortgages for which Deutsche Bank was the lender and Trump the borrower. Those loans amounted to about $340 million, with another $950 million extended to a venture in which Trump owns a 30 percent stake, he wrote.

The letter also noted that Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, holds a multimillion-dollar line of credit at Deutsche Bank.

Van Hollen asked for a response by May 12.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Tom Brown)
Matthias Knab, Opalesque:

Mark Rzepczynski, Founding Partner, Chief Investment Officer AMPHI Research and Trading, writes on Harvest Exchange:

An article in the Wall Street Journal , "Why Commodity-Index Investing May be Futile" has gotten a lot of interest by investors although there was not any new information in the story. The reasons for avoiding commodity indices should be taken seriously; nevertheless, the broader issue of differences between commodity and equity investing is actually straight-forward.

Commodity investing in an index of futures is not the same as a buy and hold strategy for an equity index, yet the factors that make it different are also the reasons for the lower correlation of commodities with traditional investments.

Outlined below are the five reasons for why the WSJ thinks commodity index investing is futile and some elaboration on these differences. Simply put, different users and different markets will lead to different return outcomes. [view chart on Harvest]

Is commodity index investing futile? No, but, a buy and hold strategy during a period of market contango and low economic growth is a loser's game. The idea that investors should just hold a long-term investment in a commodity index to get a range of commodity exposure has come and gone.

There are a few key issues that have......................

To view our full article Click here
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For each key district expressed, the client is given statistical data points on the player pool and in addition request, alongside expectations for the same. This can be vital for regional players attempting to extend their points of view in the market.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of ContentsGlobal Breast Implants Market Research Report 20171 Breast Implants Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Breast Implants1.2 Breast Implants Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Breast Implants by Type in 20151.2.2 Silicone Gel Breast Implants1.2.3 Saline-filled Breast Implants1.3 Breast Implants Segment by Application1.3.1 Breast Implants Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Hospital1.3.3 Cosmetic surgery1.3.4 Other1.4 Breast Implants 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 Breast Implants (2011-2021)2 Global Breast Implants Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Breast Implants Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Breast Implants Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Breast Implants Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Breast Implants Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Breast Implants Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Breast Implants Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Breast Implants Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Breast Implants Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Breast Implants Production and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Breast Implants Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.4 North America Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 Europe Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 China Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 Japan Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Southeast Asia Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 India Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Breast Implants Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Breast Implants Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.4 China Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.5 Japan Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.6 Southeast Asia Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.7 India Breast Implants Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)5 Global Breast Implants Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Breast Implants Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.2 Global Breast Implants Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.3 Global Breast Implants Price by Type (2011-2016)5.4 Global Breast Implants Production Growth by Type (2011-2016)6 Global Breast Implants Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Breast Implants Consumption and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)6.2 Global Breast Implants Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Breast Implants Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Allergan7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 Breast Implants Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Silicone Gel Breast Implants7.1.2.2 Saline-filled Breast Implants7.1.3 Allergan Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Mentor Worldwide7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 Breast Implants Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Silicone Gel Breast Implants7.2.2.2 Saline-filled Breast Implants7.2.3 Mentor Worldwide Breast Implants Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business OverviewRead more @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Dystonia Drug Sales Market Report 2017

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Global Dystonia Drug Industry 2017 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2017-2020.A new research report on the global Dystonia Drug market offers a 360-degree overview of it. The report discusses the market in significant details and elucidates all aspects of the gloal Dystonia Drug market likely to impact its growth trajectory in the upcoming years. Major market stimulants and deterrents have also been examined in great detail, with quantitative and qualitative description of their expected impact on the market in the forecast period. This would enable big and small players operating in the market to understand the dynamics and maneuver their moves accordingly.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The different segments of the global Dystonia Drug market have been carefully discussed at length. The product segments, application segments, and end user segments have been detailed in the report, leveraging historical and current figures. The report gauges the growth figures for each of the segments to understand the global Dystonia Drug markets growth prospects. This helps to offer a granular overview of the Dystonia Drug market and areas in which it stands to gain and lose.A detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the global Dystonia Drug market has also been furnished in the report. Chief competitors in the global Dystonia Drug market have been profiled and data about their business and financial activities has been presented. The report also throws light on their strengths and weaknesses. This report has been carefully crafted with data arrived at from primary and secondary research methodologies.The reports primary objective is to help the players operating in the global Dystonia Drug market to gain an insight into the current market dynamics, including opportunities and threats so as to be able to strategize sagaciously. To do, it implements market-leading analytical tools to gauge the current competitive landscape.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Dystonia Drug Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Dystonia Drug1.2 Classification of Dystonia Drug1.2.1 Capsule1.2.2 Tablets1.2.3 Other1.3 Application of Dystonia Drug1.3.1 Hospital1.3.2 Clinic1.3.3 Other1.4 Dystonia Drug 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 Dystonia Drug (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Dystonia Drug Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Dystonia Drug Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Dystonia Drug Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2017)2.1.2 Global Dystonia Drug Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2017)2.2 Global Dystonia Drug (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2017)2.2.2 Global Dystonia Drug Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2017)2.3 Global Dystonia Drug (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2017)2.3.2 Global Dystonia Drug Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2017)2.4 Global Dystonia Drug (Volume) by Application3 United States Dystonia Drug (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Dystonia Drug Sales and Value (2011-2017)3.1.1 United States Dystonia Drug Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)3.1.2 United States Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)3.1.3 United States Dystonia Drug Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)3.2 United States Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Dystonia Drug (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Dystonia Drug Sales and Value (2011-2017)4.1.1 China Dystonia Drug Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)4.1.2 China Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)4.1.3 China Dystonia Drug Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)4.2 China Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Dystonia Drug (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales and Value (2011-2017)5.1.1 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)5.1.2 Europe Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)5.1.3 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)5.2 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Dystonia Drug Sales and Market Share by Application9 Global Dystonia Drug Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Pfizer9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Dystonia Drug Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Capsule9.1.2.2 Tablets9.1.3 Pfizer Dystonia Drug Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Novartis9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Dystonia Drug Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Capsule9.2.2.2 Tablets9.2.3 Novartis Dystonia Drug Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Sanofi9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Dystonia Drug Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Capsule9.3.2.2 Tablets9.3.3 Sanofi Dystonia Drug Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Merck9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Dystonia Drug Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Capsule9.4.2.2 Tablets9.4.3 Merck Dystonia Drug Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.4.4 Main Business/Business OverviewFigure Picture of Dystonia DrugTable Classification of Dystonia DrugFigure Global Sales Market Share of Dystonia Drug by Type in 2015Figure Capsule PictureFigure Tablets PictureFigure Other PictureTable Applications of Dystonia DrugFigure Global Sales Market Share of Dystonia Drug by Application in 2015Figure Hospital ExamplesFigure Clinic ExamplesFigure Other ExamplesFigure United States Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure China Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Europe Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Japan Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Southeast Asia Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Dystonia Drug Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Dystonia Drug Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
The Global Drilling Data Management Systems Market will Grow Impressively at a CAGR of Almost 12.31% by 2020

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ALBANY, NY, April 12, 2017 : The drilling process is one of the most crucial links in not only the upstream segment but the entire oil and gas value chain. Once the presence of a perceived commercial hydrocarbon reservoir is established by the surveying and analysis of the geophysical data, the actual drilling process takes place. As with the process of introduction of any new technology, the implementation of new generation smarter drilling data management systems is contingent upon key factors. These are the factors that are heavily scrutinized by the stakeholders before they actually invest in the purchase and implementation of these systems.Technavios analysts forecast the global drilling data management systems to grow at a CAGR of 12.31% during the period 2016-2020.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global drilling data management systems for 2016-2020. The report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the top vendors operating in the market.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Drilling Data Management Systems 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 vendorsBaker HughesHalliburtonHoneywellIBMNational Oilwell VarcoOraclePason SystemsSchlumbergerOther prominent vendorsEMCSAPSASAccentureCapgeminiWIPROTata Consultancy ServicesInfosysMarket driverStrong focus on asset optimizationFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeCyber security concernsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMake an Enquiry of this report @Market trendSmart oilfield technologiesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States
Market Outlook : Physical Security Market in the Retail Sector Market Globally Grow at a CAGR of 6.67% by Revenue During the Period 2017-2020

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ALBANY, NY, April 12, 2017 : The global retail market will grow significantly during the forecast period, driven by the discount, dollar store, food, and service retail concepts. Restaurants will be the strongest category in terms of overall unit growth among all retail concepts. The demand for physical security deployments will increase in line with the significant growth in the global retail industry. Retail stores face many challenges such as theft and inventory shrinkage, which lead to decreased profits. Retail surveillance using network video solutions such as IP cameras will help protect the business. By preventing crime, retailers can reduce losses and create a safer environment for staff and customers.Technavios analysts forecast the global physical security market in retail sector to grow at a CAGR of 6.67% during the period 2016-2020.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global physical security market in retail sector for 2016-2020. This report provides a list of vendors that are active in providing physical security in the retail sector across the globe. Vendors are identified based on their product features, geographical presence, customer base, and product portfolio.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Physical Security Market in Retail Sector 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 vendorsAxis CommunicationsBosch Security SystemsCheckpoint SystemsCrossmatchHoneywell SecurityTyco SecurityOther prominent vendorsADT Security Systems (acquired by Apollo Global Management in June 2016)A2 SystemsALL-TAG Security AmericasAnixterASSA ABLOYAxxonSoftDelphiFLIR SystemsGallagherGenetecHikvision DigitalIntergraphKetecLenel SystemsNedapNetVersantNortekSecurity (acquired by Melrose Industries and Nevada Corp in July 2016)PanasonicS2 Security CorporationSalient SystemsSamsung Techwin (named changed to Hanwha Techwin)SiemensvideoNEXTMarket driverDecline in prices of security productsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeNon-uniform standards and certification procedures for manufacturing security solutions in EuropeFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMake an Enquiry of this report @Market trendIncreasing integration of video with other physical securityFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States
Metal Matrix Composites Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2017-2027

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Metal matrix composites (MMC) are composite materials consisting of a metal and a secondary ingredient which may be a different metal or non-metallic material such as ceramic or organic compound. The global metal matrix composites market growth is closely correlated with the performance of its end-use industry, and more specifically global automotive market. The key characteristics associated with metal matrix composites is provision of superior mechanical and physical properties such as tensile strength, resistance to fire and moisture and can be used over a wide temperature range. Metal matrix composites also offer the possibility to tailor these properties to meet specific requirements, which makes this material type unique in comparison with its counterparts. Apart from automotive industry,metal-matrix composites are either in use or prototyping for the durable and lightweight parts in a variety of end use sectors such as electronics/ thermal management, aerospace, defense and marine. The rising demand from these sectors is expected to sustain the demand of metal matrix composites in forthcoming years during the forecast period.Metal Matrix Composites Market: Market SegmentThe global metal matrix composites market can be segmented on the basis of product type, end-use, and region. In terms of product type, metal matrix composites is segmented into aluminum MMC, Super alloy MMC, nickel MMC, copper MMC, and others (beryllium MMC, magnesium MMC, titanium MMC, cobalt-nickel, Iron MMC, cobalt, etc.). On the basis of end-use industry, global metal matrix composites market is segmented into transportation, aerospace, thermal/electronics management, and others (defense, marine, industrial equipment, nuclear, etc.).Request Report Sample@Metal Matrix Composites Market: Market DynamicsThe increasing need of high-performance composites material for framing of exterior chassis in aerospace and marine industry is considered to be the key driver of the metal matrix composites market. The increasing trend for weight reduction in passenger cars and commercial vehicles is also expected to enhance the metal matrix composites usage in the automotive industry. The electronics industry is another prominent end use sector which is expected to drive the metal matrix composites market as well. In terms of opportunity, the defense sector is expected to facilitate the use of metal matrix composites in military specific vehicles and aircrafts.The key trends witnessed in the metal matrix composites market include arrival of market entrants as well as expansions by existing manufacturers to address the existing and potential demand of the market. The market has been found to be competitive in terms of pricing and the operating rate for manufacturers. Emphasis on development of high-strength fiber reinforcements has been undertaken on the product development front. Vertical Integration, business process improvement, product development and has been the key focus of metal matrix composite manufacturers to leverage their market footprint and profitability.Visit For TOC@The high manufacturing costs along with limited technological expertise for metal composites are however expected to pose a challenge for the growth of market during the forecast period.Metal Matrix Composites Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market key participants in the global metal matrix composites market include Materion Corporation, GKN PLC, Sandvik AB, 3M, Plansee SE, Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Deutsche Edelstahlwerke GmbH, CPS Technologies Corporation, and 3A Composites, among others.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Blog:
Cloud GIS 2017 Global Market Research In-Depth Analysis, Applications, Forecasts To 2022

Cloud GIS Market

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Cloud GIS Market 2017SummaryWiseguyreports.Com Adds Cloud GIS Market -Market Size, Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.This report studies the global Cloud GIS market, analyzes and researches the Cloud GIS development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeCarto DBESRIHexagonGIS CloudMapboxApple MapsGoogle MapsOpenStreetMapBing Maps.Request for Sample report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Cloud GIS can be split intoPublic Cloud GISPrivate Cloud GISHybrid Cloud GISMarket segment by Application, Cloud GIS can be split intoNatural ResourcesUtilitiesTele-communicationsGovernmentOtherTo get complete report visit@Key Points in Table of Content:Global Cloud GIS Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Cloud GIS1.1 Cloud GIS Market Overview1.1.1 Cloud GIS Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Cloud GIS 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 Cloud GIS Market by Type1.3.1 Public Cloud GIS1.3.2 Private Cloud GIS1.3.3 Hybrid Cloud GIS1.4 Cloud GIS Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Natural Resources1.4.2 Utilities1.4.3 Tele-communications1.4.4 Government1.4.5 Other3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Carto DB3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 ESRI3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Hexagon3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 GIS Cloud3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Mapbox3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Apple Maps3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Google Maps3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 OpenStreetMap3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Bing Maps.3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Cloud GIS Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent DevelopmentsContinued...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
Residential Water Treatment Report Forecast 2017-2019 Expected to Grow at CAGR 12.57%

Residential Water Treatment Equipment Report

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Residential Water Treatment EquipmentThis report studies the Residential Water Treatment on global market, focuses on the top players in US market and also the market status and outlook by type and application.Request For Sample ReportScope of the Report:About Residential Water Treatment EquipmentWater treatment equipment helps in removing impurities found in water bodies. Sea water, groundwater, municipal water, and wastewater are treated using water treatment equipment. Given its huge benefits, water treatment equipment can be used to address the issue of water scarcity in various parts of the globe. Moreover, wastewater that is treated can be reused for other purposes, thereby preventing groundwater depletion.Technavio's analysts forecast the global residential water treatment equipment market to grow at a CAGR of 12.57% over the period 2015-2019.Covered in this ReportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global residential water treatment equipment market during the period 2015-2019. For calculating the market size and vendor share the report considers the revenue obtained from the sales of the residential water treatment equipment.Technavio's report, Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market 2015-2019, 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 in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Vendors 3M EcoWater Systems GE Water and Process Technologies Kurita Water Industries Pentair PhilipsOther Prominent Vendors Bajaj Electricals Brita Duskin Ecowater Elken Eureka Forbes Kitz Micro Filter LG Mitsubishi Rayon OSG Panasonic Paragon Water Pure Residential Water Treatment Equipment Amway Safe Thermax TotoMarket Driver Increased Pollution of Water For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket Challenge Preference for Bottled Water For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket Trend Development of Standards and Codes For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Questions Answered in this Report What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?.Complete Report:Table of Content01. Executive Summary02. List of Abbreviations03. Scope of the Report03.1 Market Overview03.2 Product Offerings04. Market Research Methodology04.1 Market Research Process04.2 Research Methodology05. Introduction06. Market Landscape06.1 Market Overview06.2 Market Size and Forecast06.3 Five Forces Analysis07. Market Segmentation by Product07.1 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market by Product Segmentation07.2 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market by POU Systems07.2.1 Market Size and Forecast07.3 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market by POE Systems07.3.1 Market Size and Forecast08. Market Segmentation by Geography08.1 Global residential water treatment market by geography 2014-201908.2 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market in APAC08.2.1 Market size and forecast08.3 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market in Americas08.3.1 Market size and forecast08.4 Global Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market in EMEA08.4.1 Market size and forecast09. Key Leading Countries09.1 China09.1.1 Market Size and Forecast09.2 India09.2.1 Market Size and Forecast09.3 US09.3.1 Market Size and Forecast10. Buying Criteria11. Market Growth Drivers12. Drivers and their Impact13. Market Challenges14. Impact of Drivers and Challenges15. Market Trends16. Trends and their Impact17. Vendor Landscape17.1 Competitive Scenario17.1.1 Key News17.1.2 Mergers and Acquisitions17.2 Other Prominent Vendors18. Key Vendor Analysis18.1 3M18.1.1 Key Facts18.1.2 Business Overview18.1.3 Business Segmentation by Net Sales 201418.1.4 Business Segmentation by Net Sales 2013 and 201418.1.5 Geographical Segmentation by Net Sales 201418.1.6 Recent Developments18.1.7 SWOT Analysis18.2 EcoWater Systems18.2.1 Key Fact18.2.2 Business Overview18.2.3 Recent Developments18.2.4 SWOT Analysis18.3 GE Water & Process Technologies18.3.1 Key Facts18.3.2 Business Overview18.3.3 Business Strategy18.3.4 Recent Developments18.3.5 SWOT Analysis18.4 Kurita Water Industries18.4.1 Key Facts18.4.2 Business Overview18.4.3 Business Segmentation by Revenue18.4.4 Geographical Segmentation by Revenue18.4.5 Business Strategy18.4.6 Recent Developments18.4.7 SWOT Analysis18.5 Pentair18.5.1 Key Facts18.5.2 Business Overview18.5.3 Business Segmentation by Revenue 201318.5.4 Business Segmentation by Revenue 2012 and 201318.5.5 Geographical Segmentation by Revenue 201318.5.6 Business Strategy18.5.7 Recent Developments18.5.818.6 Philips Healthcare18.6.1 Key Facts18.6.2 Business Overview18.6.3 Business Segmentation by Revenue 201218.6.4 Geographical Segmentation by Revenue 201218.6.5 Business Strategy18.6.6 Recent Developments18.6.7 SWOT Analysis...ContinuedVisit to our official website on Linkedin@Continued.Buy This Report@CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. 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DATA CENTER UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY (UPS) Market Research Report 2017

Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

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Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)Report Details:Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingABBDelta Power SolutionsEatonEmerson Network PowerGeneral ElectricSchneider ElectricTripp LiteActive PowerControlled PowerGamatronicIntelliPowerMetartecPower Innovations InternationalRielloToshibaClick 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 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) 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 intoModular TypeStand-alone TypeOn 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 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for each application, includingCommercial UseIndustrial UseOtherSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Market Research Report 20171 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)1.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Modular Type1.2.4 Stand-alone Type1.3 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Segment by Application1.3.1 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Commercial Use1.3.3 Industrial Use1.3.4 Other1.4 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 ABB7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 ABB Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Delta Power Solutions7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Delta Power Solutions Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Eaton7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Eaton Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Emerson Network Power7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Emerson Network Power Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 General Electric7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 General Electric Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Schneider Electric7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Schneider Electric Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Tripp Lite7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Tripp Lite Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Active Power7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Active Power Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Controlled Power7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Controlled Power Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Gamatronic7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Gamatronic Data Center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)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 and United States High Pressure Washer Market 2017 - Key Players are TE Connectivity, Omron, Panasonic and more

High Pressure Washer Market

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Executive SummaryHigh Pressure Washer 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 @This report studies the High Pressure Washer 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 High Pressure Washer market by product type and applications/end industries.The global High Pressure Washer 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 High Pressure Washer. 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 High Pressure Washer in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States High Pressure Washer market, including Karcher, Nilfisk, Stihl, Briggs&Stratton, BOSCH, TTI, Generac, Annovi Reverberi (AR), Clearforce, Stanley, Makita, Shanghai Panda, FNA Group, Lavorwash, Himore, Alkota, China Team Electric, Draper, Ousen.The On the basis of product, the High Pressure Washer market is primarily split intoElectric MotorPetrol EngineDiesel EngineHydraulic Pressure WasherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversResidential UseCommercial UseIndustrial UseBrowse Full Report Details@Some Major Points from Table of Content:Table of Contents2017-2022 High Pressure Washer Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 High Pressure Washer Market Overview2.1 High Pressure Washer Product Overview2.2 High Pressure Washer Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Electric Motor2.2.2 Petrol Engine2.2.3 Diesel Engine2.2.4 Hydraulic Pressure Washer2.3 Global High Pressure Washer Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global High Pressure Washer Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global High Pressure Washer Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States High Pressure Washer Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States High Pressure Washer Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States High Pressure Washer Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)3 High Pressure Washer Application/End Users3.1 High Pressure Washer Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 Residential Use3.1.2 Commercial Use3.1.3 Industrial Use3.2 Global High Pressure Washer Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States High Pressure Washer Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)5 Global High Pressure Washer Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers5.1 Global High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)5.2 Global High Pressure Washer Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)5.3 Global High Pressure Washer Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)5.4 Players High Pressure Washer Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types5.5 High Pressure Washer Market Competitive Situation and Trends5.5.1 High Pressure Washer Market Concentration Rate5.5.2 Global High Pressure Washer Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players5.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion6 United States High Pressure Washer Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers6.1 United States High Pressure Washer Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)6.2 United States High Pressure Washer Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)6.3 United States High Pressure Washer Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)6.4 United States High Pressure Washer Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 PlayersPurchase 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
Annual Summit on Sexual & Reproductive Health, Oncology & Medicine

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Greetings from Sexual & Reproductive Health 2017..!!Sexual & Reproductive Health 2017 aims to bring together leading academic scientists and researchers to exchange and share their experiences and research results on various aspects of Reproductive Health, Reproductive Biology and Medicine. It also provides the premier interdisciplinary forum for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted in the field of Reproductive Health, Medicine and OncologySexual & Reproductive Health 2017 mainly focuses on current developments, novel approaches and cutting edge technologies in the field of sexual and reproductive health and oncology medicine.Scientific Sessions:Sexual and Reproductive HealthSexual and Reproductive Health and RightsPhysiology of ReproductionStem Cells in ReproductionGenetic Regulation of Reproductive OutcomesReproductive CancerReproductive ImmunologyReproductive Endocrinology and InfertilityReproductive ToxicologyReproductive MedicineEicosanoids and ReproductionGynecology & ObstetricsUrologic and Gynecologic DisordersSexually Transmitted DiseasesChallenges of Human Reproductive HealthEnvironmental Impacts upon Reproduction and Offspring HealthMolecular Human ReproductionWomen and Infant HealthNeonatal CancerFree Benefits Includes:Abstract will be published in the conference Souvenir and respective International JournalEach abstract will be labeled with a DOI provided by CrossRefOur robust online publicity attracts 90000+ users and 160000+ views to our library of abstracts which brings worldwide exposure to the researchers and speakers participate in our conferencesSeparate webpage with photograph will be created in the social website for your abstract with your biographyYouTube video will be created with your name and affiliation, so that all academicians can have a look at your presentationYou can also attend all the other scientific conferences freely as a delegate at the same venue or hotelYou can also submit us your abstract through online with a simple click on Abstract Submission on our conference home pageFor more details regarding conference please clickPlease let us know your interest towards Sexual & Reproductive Health 2017.Who should attend? Adult & women health care nursing Midwifery Gynecologists Obstetricians Public health care professionals Internists Reproductive Medicine Specialists Neonatal oncology specialists Reproductive oncology specialistsRegardsHeidi AndersonEvent ManagerPulsus Group40 Bloomsbury WayLower Ground FloorLondon, United KingdomWC1A 2SEE-mail: reproductivehealth@meetingseries.orgPhone : +1-702-508-5200 Ext: 8115USA/Canada Toll Free: +1-800-982-0387UK Toll Free: +0-800-088-5419Pulsus Group, the medical peer-review publisher, publishes the work of medical researchers in a manner that exemplifies the highest standards in research integrity.Heidi AndersonEvent ManagerPulsus Group40 Bloomsbury WayLower Ground FloorLondon, United KingdomWC1A 2SEE-mail: reproductivehealth@meetingseries.orgPhone : +1-702-508-5200 Ext: 8115USA/Canada Toll Free: +1-800-982-0387UK Toll Free: +0-800-088-5419
Global Organic Baby Formula Market 2017 - Key Players are Holla, Bellamy, Bimbosan, Wakodo, and more

Organic Baby Formula Market

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Executive SummaryOrganic Baby Formula 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 Organic Baby Formula 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 Organic Baby Formula in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Organic Baby Formula market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingHollaBellamyBimbosanWakodoTopferHiPPAbbottBabynatBonmilOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCow MilkGoat MilkOtherOn 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 Organic Baby Formula for each application, includingStage 1Stage 2Stage 3If 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 Organic Baby Formula Market Research Report 20171 Organic Baby Formula Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Organic Baby Formula1.2 Organic Baby Formula Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cow Milk1.2.4 Goat Milk1.2.5 Other1.3 Global Organic Baby Formula Segment by Application1.3.1 Organic Baby Formula Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Stage 11.3.3 Stage 21.3.4 Stage 31.4 Global Organic Baby Formula Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Organic Baby Formula 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 Organic Baby Formula (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Organic Baby Formula Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Organic Baby Formula Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Organic Baby Formula Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Organic Baby Formula Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Organic Baby Formula Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Organic Baby Formula Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Organic Baby Formula Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Organic Baby Formula Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5 Global Organic Baby Formula Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Organic Baby Formula Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Organic Baby Formula Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Organic Baby Formula Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Organic Baby Formula Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Organic Baby Formula Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Organic Baby Formula 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
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As reported by the Republic of Kenya Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Kenya is the largest contributor of the East Africas GDP, accounting for 40%, and has the regions best performing currency.Industrialisation remains a key component in reaching Kenyas 2030s vision of the countrys economic development blueprint and in support of Kenya's Industrial Transformation Programme, Clarion Events Ltd (Spintelligent Pty) and appointed Country Partner, iKapamedia East Africa, will hold the annual Kenya Manufacturing Equipment (KME) Expo at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KCCI), Nairobi, 26 - 28 September, 2017.Aiming to support Kenya's Industrial Transformation ProgrammeCommercial Director, Clarion Events Ltd, Russell Hughes, states, The aim of the KME Expo is to boost local production and improve manufacturing standards through retooling and free training as well as expanding the regional market and providing financing & funding for SME development and machinery acquisition.More than 100 international suppliers and local distributors of machine tools, manufacturing equipment and spare parts from Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, India, China, Taiwan and South Africa are expected to showcase their equipment and provide free training to over 3,000 micro, small and large scale manufacturers across Kenya & East Africas major manufacturing sectors.Kenya has extraordinary momentum today. The foreign direct investment in our country has more than doubled in the past two years and our domestic investment continues to rise says Adan Mohamed, EBS Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development.5,100 registrations for successful 4th editionAfter the widely acclaimed 4th annual edition of Clarion Events Manufacturing Equipment Expo held last month in Lagos, Nigeria where over 5,100 manufacturing professionals registered and over 100 international brands exhibited, preparation for the East African edition is in full swing.AHK-Kenya is participating in the Expo and comment, As cooperation partner at KME Expo the AHK strives at establishing a large presence of German Companies at this prestigious trade fair.David Masai, Strategy & Business Development Officer, Industrial Development Bank (IDB) Capital Ltd, Kenya, states that Delivering on the much desired industrialization in the region requires strategic partnerships. KME Expo is such a timely intervention. We are keen to engage.Not like any other machinery & machine tool exhibition in East AfricaKME Expo will offer funding support & affordable financing to local SME manufacturers for machinery acquisition & factory upgrades from the likes of IDB Capital Limited and private sector lenders.Appointed Country Partner, Managing Director iKapamedia East Africa, Florence Sugut adds: KME Expo aims at spurring growth of industries through development of Cottage industries in the East African regionA CEO & Government Forum (known as mPAD) addressing government policy and strategic-level industry topics will hold concurrently providing exclusive access to senior decision makers, whilst the multi-sector international scale delivers more business opportunities for local distributors of machinery and machine tools.Free training will also be provided for plant managers, procurement officers, technicians and engineers to help, up skill their teams, increase their output and become more competitive locally and internationally.Global & Local PartnershipsThe extensive global network of Clarion Events Ltd together with the regional credentials of appointed Country Partner iKapamedia East Africa partner helps to deliver the highest attendance of international suppliers and local manufacturers & distributors.Event dates and locationExpo and conference: 5th annual mPAD & Kenya Manufacturing Equipment Expo (KME Expo)Dates: 26-28 September, 2017Location: Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KCCI), Nairobi, Kenya.Websites:Press Contact: Victoria.Smart@clarionevents.com | +44 21 700 8033Clarion Events Ltd Credentials:Clarion Events Ltd has been established since 1947 and is responsible for 180 exhibitions a year organised from 13 global offices by 800 staff. There are 2 regional offices in Africa (Lagos and Cape Town) which have been delivering best in class b2b exhibitions across the continent for the past 20 years. Furthermore, the exclusive partnership with Nairobi based organiser, iKapamedia East Africa, enable Clarion Events to deliver an unrivalled regional visitor audience in Kenya for our international exhibitors.Bedford House, 69-79 Fulham High St, London SW6 3JW, United Kingdom
Smart Street Lighting 2017  Global Market Key Players are Echelon, Silver Spring, Philips Lighting, Inteli and more

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Smart Street Lighting Market 2017SummaryWiseguyreports.Com Adds Smart Street Lighting Market -Market Size, Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.This report studies the Smart Street Lighting 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 Smart Street Lighting market by product type and applications/end industries.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 Smart Street Lighting. 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.Request for Sample report @The major players in global and United States Smart Street Lighting market, includingEchelonSilver SpringPhilips LightingInteliOSRAMTelensaLonMark InternationalTVILIGHTCityOSEnGoPlant, GE.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Smart Street Lighting in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe On the basis of product, the Smart Street Lighting market is primarily split intoIncandescent BulbsHID LampsLEDFluorescent LampCFLOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversWi-Fi SystemBluetooth SystemPower Line Communication (PLC) SystemRadio Frequency SystemOthersTo get complete report visit@Key Points in Table of Content:Global Smart Street Lighting Market Research Report 20171 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Smart Street Lighting Market Overview2.1 Smart Street Lighting Product Overview2.2 Smart Street Lighting Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Incandescent Bulbs2.2.2 HID Lamps2.2.3 LED2.2.4 Fluorescent Lamp2.3 Global Smart Street Lighting Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Smart Street Lighting Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Smart Street Lighting Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Smart Street Lighting Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States Smart Street Lighting Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States Smart Street Lighting Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017).7 Smart Street Lighting Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Echelon7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Echelon Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Silver Spring7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Silver Spring Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Philips Lighting7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Philips Lighting Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Inteli7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.4.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Inteli Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 OSRAM7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.5.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 OSRAM Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Telensa7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.6.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Telensa Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 LonMark International7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.7.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 LonMark International Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 TVILIGHT7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.8.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 TVILIGHT Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 CityOS7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.9.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 CityOS Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 EnGoPlant7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.10.2 Smart Street Lighting Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 EnGoPlant Smart Street Lighting Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 GEContinued...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
EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017

EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017

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In this report, the EMEA Powder Injection Molding 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 split EMEA into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, With sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Powder Injection Molding for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast)Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux;Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran;Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria.EMEA Powder Injection Molding market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Powder Injection Molding sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingARBURGDynamic GroupPhilips-MedisizeZoltrixRC GroupAdvanced Materials TechnologiesEpsom AtmixPSM IndustriesPlansee GroupIndo-US MIMOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCeramic Injection Molding (CIM)Metal Injection Molding (MIM)On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Powder Injection Molding for each application, includingElectronic GadgetsMedical EquipmentFirearmsAutomotive ComponentsAerospace & DefenceOtherIf you have any requirement for our report or need more details, please feel free to contact me! tinaning@qyresearch.com orKey Topics Covered:1 Powder Injection Molding Overview2 EMEA Powder Injection Molding Competition by Manufacturers/Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application3 Europe Powder Injection Molding (Volume, Value and Sales Price), by Players, Countries, Type and Application4 Middle East Powder Injection Molding (Volume, Value and Sales Price), by Region, Type and Application5 Africa Powder Injection Molding (Volume, Value and Sales Price) by Players, Countries, Type and Application6 EMEA Powder Injection Molding Manufacturers/Players Profiles and Sales Data7 Powder Injection Molding Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders10 Market Effect Factors Analysis11 EMEA Powder Injection Molding Market Forecast (2017-2022)12 Research Findings and Conclusion13 AppendixRelated Reports:China Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017Europe Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017Global Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017India Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017Korea Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017Japan Powder Injection Molding Market Report 2017USA Powder Injection Molding Market 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:orQYResearch 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 Survey Analysis: Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017

Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017

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In this report, the global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems 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 split global into several key Regions, with sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including3M CompanyHoneywell InternationalKoninklijke PhilipsPentairPanasonicUnileverLG ElectronicsCowayBest Water Technology (BWT)AlticorOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoDistillation SystemsReverse Osmosis SystemsIon Exchange SystemsAir Stripping/AerationOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems for each application, includingResidentialNon-ResidentialcIf you have any requirement for our report or need more details, please feel free to contact me! tinaning@qyresearch.com orKey Topics Covered:1 Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Overview2 Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:China Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017Europe Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017Global Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017India Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017Korea Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017Japan Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market Report 2017USA Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Sales Market 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:orQYResearch 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 Survey Analysis: Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017

Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017

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This report studies sales (consumption) of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in Europe market, especially in Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and Benelux, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringKratos Analytical (Shimadzu)ThermoFisher ScientificULVACScienta OmicronJEOLReVera IncorporatedVSWSTAIB InstrumentsMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxSplit by product type, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoMonochromatic X-ray Photoelectron SpectroscopyNon-monochromatic X-ray Photoelectron SpectroscopySplit by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in each application, can be divided intoBiomedicineChemicalMaterialElectronicOthersIf you have any requirement for our report or need more details, please feel free to contact me! tinaning@qyresearch.com orKey Topics Covered:1 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Overview2 Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) by Manufacturers, Type and Application3 Germany X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 France X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 UK X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Russia X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Italy X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 Spain X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Benelux X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)10 Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Manufacturers Analysis11 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Manufacturing Cost Analysis12 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers13 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders14 Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:China X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017Europe X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017Global X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017India X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017Korea X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017Japan X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market Report 2017USA X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Market 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:orQYResearch 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 Survey Analysis: Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017

Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017

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This report studies sales (consumption) of Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps in Europe market, especially in Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and Benelux, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringXylemGRUNDFOSKSBWILOEBARAFlowserveSPXStandart PompaFranklin ElectricSAER ElettropompeRovatti PompeRuhrpumpenCarver PumpKBLDab PumpsCalpedaCNPGuangdong LingXiao PumpMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxSplit by product type, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoTwo ImpellersMore Than Two ImpellersSplit by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps in each application, can be divided intoMine Drainage EngineeringUrban Drainage EngineeringFactory Drainage EngineeringOtherIf you have any requirement for our report or need more details, please feel free to contact me! tinaning@qyresearch.com orKey Topics Covered:1 Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Overview2 Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps by Manufacturers, Type and Application3 Germany Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 France Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 UK Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Russia Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Italy Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 Spain Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Benelux Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps (Volume, Value and Sales Price)10 Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Manufacturers Analysis11 Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Manufacturing Cost Analysis12 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers13 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders14 Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:China Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017Europe Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017Global Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017India Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017Korea Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017Japan Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market Report 2017USA Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pumps Market 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:orQYResearch 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
Quartz Stone Market Global Industry Trends, Share, Size and 2022 Future Report

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DeepReseachReports.com introduces a research report may focus on Global Quartz Stone Industry 2017 Market Research Report published through its high quality database.The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Quartz Stone manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Complete report on Quartz Stone market spreads across 191 pages profiling 26 companies and supported with 141 tables and figures @Key Companies Analysis: - COSENTINO, Caesarstone, Hanwha L&C, Compac, Vicostone, Dupont, LG Hausys, Cambria, Santa Margherita, Quartz Master, SEIEFFE, Quarella, Samsung Radianz, Technistone, Zhongxun, Sinostone, Bitto, OVERLAND, UVIISTONE, Polystone, Ordan, Meyate, Gelandi, Blue Sea Quartz, Baoliya, Qianyun Other profiles overview.The Global Quartz Stone Industry provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Quartz Stone market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The Global Quartz Stone Industry focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Quartz Stone industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered. With the tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Place a Direct Purchase on this Report @Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Industry Overview2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Quartz Stone3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis4 Production Analysis of Quartz Stone by Regions, Technology, and Applications5 Sales and Revenue Analysis of Quartz Stone by Regions6 Analyses of Quartz Stone Production, Supply, Sales and Market Status 2010-20177 Analysis of Quartz Stone industry Key Manufacturers8 Price and Gross Margin Analysis9 Marketing Traders or Distributor Analysis of Quartz Stone10 Development Trend of Quartz Stone industry2017-202211 Industry Chain Suppliers of Quartz Stone with Contact Information12 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Quartz Stone13 Conclusion of the Global Quartz Stone industry 2017 Market Research ReportList of Tables and FiguresGet more details on this report @Deep Research Reports is digital databank of syndicated market reports for worldwide and China businesses. deepresearchreports.com offers market research reports to businesses, entities and organizations with an objective of assisting them in their decision making process. Our collection of 500,000+ industry & nation research reports shields 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24X7 available, online and offline support to our clients.Ritesh TiwariUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, Hadapsar,Pune, Maharashtra 411013, IndiaTel: +1-888-391-5441sales@deepresearchreports.com
Trends in the Custom Assays Market 2017-2027

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Custom assay services, now a days, are highly trending among life sciences and biotechnology industries due to its cost effective and fit-for purpose nature. Custom assay are specifically designed biochemical or cell based assays provided by the manufacturers of assay kits upon request by the customer to satisfy their purpose or needs. Custom assay provide easy solution to the academic as well as industrial laboratories for qualitative as well as quantitative determination of various biological analytes such as proteins, enzymes, antibodies, biomarkers, antigens etc. Custom assay services are highly beneficial in biotechnology industries for genotyping, HLA tissue typing etc. where quick turn-around time is desired to screen large number of samples and avoid the wastage of chemicals & resources. Introduction of customized multiplex assays is further expected to cut-down the requirement of time and money in the complicated biological assays. Customized assays are also used in the research institutes, diagnostic laboratories, and contract research organizations for analysis of clinical parameters during new drug development or development of new treatment. Customized cell-based assays are used in cancer research institutes, government institutes, forensics, etc. Custom assays are also used in the pharmaceutical and food industries for quality testing.Request Report Sample@Custom Assays Market: Drivers and RestraintsCustom assays market is expected to be driven by increasing research and development activities in life science and biotechnology industry and growing number of academic and research institutes across the globe. Moreover, increasing demand for tissue diagnostic and cell based diagnostics for cancer, HIV, and infectious diseases is expected to fuel the global demand for custom assay products over the forecast period. Availability of custom assay and bulk purchase contracts for huge number of biological samples being screened is proving cost effective for biotechnological companies. Emerging biochip technology would create good opportunity for custom assay providers in the global market. However, challenges in assay optimization and standardization are some of the factors restricting the growth of global custo assay market.Custom Assays Market: OverviewThe global market for custom assay is highly fragmented with presence of local and regional players. However, global players are expected to account for over 50% of the share in the global market. Based on assay type, custom ELISA assays are expected to contribute highest share in the global market owing to huge applications of ELISA assays in different industries. Based on end user, biotechnology industries and diagnostic centers are expected to hold considerable share in the global market for custom assays. Requirement of minimum skills and cost-saving products are the factors contributing high demand for custom assay products in academic and research institutes across the globe.Custom Assays Market: Regional Wise OutlookGeographically, global custom assays market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The market in Asia Pacific and Japan is expected to grow at significant CAGR due to growing number of research institutes in countries such as India, Australia and Japan. North America will continue to hold largest share in the custom assays market as majority of the best academic and research institutes are located in the U.S. which are culture positive to innovation. Europe is expected to take second largest share in the global custom assay market due to large number of global players operating in Europe.Request For TOC@Custom Assays Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players in the global custom assay market are Promega Corporation, Bioassay Systems, Sigma-Aldrich Inc. (Merck KGaA), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., R & D Syatems Inc. (Biotechne Inc.), Fluidigm, Luminex Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, QIAGEN N.V, Quansys Bioscience, BD Biosciences and others. Companies often provide custom assay services, where user can define their requirements and specifications and assay is built accordingly by the manufacturer.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:
Basal Cell Carcinoma Market: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape

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Basal Cell Carcinoma Market: OverviewBasal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is also known as basal cell epithelioma is one of the most prevalent and common forms of skin cancers worldwide. BCC mainly arises from the basal cells, which are small cells that are round in shape and are located within the lower layer of the epidermis. These types of cancers can easily be identified, but if ignored it can cause several consequences with significant morbidity.Basal cell carcinoma mostly affects head area including the scalp, face, neck, and hands. Its characteristic features include waxy papules with central depression, pearly appearance, ulceration, bleeding if traumatized, crusted structures, and translucency, among others. For most of the cancer cases, these types of cancers have been observed that they do not metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.However, they can invade the surrounding tissues by growing and hence causing damage to other neighboring tissues or organs of the body. Presently, basal cell carcinoma can be treated via different techniques, such as, radiotherapy, chemotherapy etc. that are being utilized for the treatment of several types of tumors or cancers. However, several manufacturers across geographies are studying different basal cell carcinomas and developing therapeutic drugs that are in different stages of their clinical trials, which will soon hit the global market.Basal Cell Carcinoma Market: Key Growth EnablersMajor driving factors for the growth of this market include increasing prevalence of several skin cancers, global warming, rapidly depleting ozone layer, rising demand advanced therapeutics, and increasing awareness about several available treatment options. The increasing prevalence of several skin cancers, especially basal cell carcinoma, which accounts for most of the skin cancers worldwide, will continually provide growth towards this market.According to the World Health Organizations estimates in 2012, each year around 2 million to 3 million people suffer from these non-melanoma cancers worldwide. Global warming along with the depleting ozone layer will cause more incoming of harmful solar ultraviolet radiations into the earths atmosphere, which will further increase the number of skin cancer patients worldwide. According to the WHO estimates in 2012, around 300,000 patients will be added each year to the above estimates if the ozone layer is depleted by decreasing ozone levels by 10%. Also, increasing demand for advanced therapeutics, rising number of therapeutic drugs in several phases of clinical trials will continue to provide boost towards the growth of this market in future.Basal Cell Carcinoma Market: Region-wise InsightGeographically, North America and Europe are expected to dominate the basal cell carcinoma market in the near future. Major factors responsible for their dominance in this market include high prevalence of BCC in those regions, high demand for advanced therapeutics and high purchasing power of the population of those regions. However, emerging economies of Asia-Pacific, LATAM and the Middle East regions are also expected to show a rapid growth in this market. Major factors responsible for their rapid growth in near future would be the increasing awareness and demand for advanced therapeutics in these economies, rising medical tourism in these regions and increasing affordability of the people of these regions.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:Basal Cell Carcinoma Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players operating or having their therapeutic drugs in clinical trials, include, 4SC AG, Berg Pharma, LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cannabis Science, Inc., Curis, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Galderma S.A., Graceway Pharmaceuticals, LLC, MediGene AG, Meda AB, Novartis AG, Peplin, Inc., and Oncovir, Inc.The 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.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Blood Preparation Market: Evolving Technology, Trends and industry Analysis  2024

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Global Blood Preparation Market: OverviewBlood components refer to products derived from platelet-rich plasma or whole blood. Blood components such as platelets, plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells are derived from blood by the process of phlebotomy or hemapheresis through the technique of differential centrifugation. These blood components are separated from whole blood in hospital laboratories and blood centers, and are administered to patients suffering from various diseases through transfusion. The whole blood is often collected and separated into major components before transfusion. However, automated collections are becoming increasingly popular nowadays and only blood components that are needed for transfusion are collected.On the basis of product type, the global blood preparation market has been segmented into whole blood and blood components. While whole blood comprises platelets, plasma, red cells, and granulocytes, blood components constitute whole blood components, leukocyte reduced RBC, packed red cells, frozen plasma, and platelet concentrate. According to the antithrombotic and anticoagulant type, the blood preparation market has been divided into anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Major application segments in the blood preparation market include renal impairment, thrombocytosis, and pulmonary embolism.Read Full Report:Global Blood Preparation Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing demand for blood transfusion across emergency departments in hospitals has boosted the growth of the global blood preparation market. The rise in blood disorders such as thrombocytosis and the increasing requirement for blood during accidents and surgical procedures have supported the growth of the market.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) lead to over 60,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Various initiatives taken by the National Institutes of Health and other regulatory bodies to spread awareness about the complications associated with these conditions have also propelled the markets growth.However, during blood transfusion, the chances of transmission of diseases such as viral hemorrhagic fever, HIV, and Hepatitis B are high. This is the single major restraining factor impacting the growth of the global blood preparation market. The overall market has a significant opportunity to grow with the development of high speed technology to separate blood components without losing their activity. The introduction of new oral anticoagulants and the re-launch of drugs such as Urokinase, the growing demand for source plasma, and the need for specific blood components such as packed red blood cells will create new growth opportunities for the market.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:Global Blood Preparation Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global blood preparation market has been segmented into four key regions: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. North America has been contributing significantly to the growth of the market owing to the presence of a robust healthcare infrastructure. In the U.S., the collection, preparation, storage, and transport of blood is regulated by the FDA. Other federal agencies are working toward the implementation of health insurance portability standards to achieve adequate reimbursement for blood components.However, during the forecast period, the Asia Pacific blood preparation market is anticipated to expand rapidly due to various initiatives taken by governments, especially in countries such as India and China. The positive growth of the healthcare sector across Japan and Australia will also support the growth of the regional market.Request For Custom Research:Global Blood Preparation Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players in the global blood preparation market are GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Pfizer Inc., Leo Pharma Inc., Celgene Corp, Sanofi Aventis, Baxter Healthcare Corp., Shandong East Chemical Industry Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., and AstraZeneca Co. The blood preparation market worldwide is being driven by technology. As a result, market players are investing heavily in research and development to introduce novel and cost-effective drugs.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 us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hexane Market - Reporting And Evaluation Of Recent Industry Developments By 2024

Hexane Market

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Hexane is a solvent present in volatile fraction of various plants such as guava, orange, and others. It is a hydrocarbon made of carbon and hydrogen. Hexane is an unbranched isomer (n-hexane), which exists in forms with different arrangements of atoms but with the same molecular weight. Hexanes are significant constituents of gasoline.Hexane is an organic solvent made from crude oil. It is used in various applications. Hexane contains a blend of hydrocarbons with six carbon atoms. It is widely used in the manufacture of industrial products. Two different types of hexane are available in the market: hexane-pure hexane and solvent-based hexane. Pure hexane is only used in laboratories, while, solvent-based hexane is extensively employed in several application.Hexane is used to extract oil from seeds. This increases the cost of the process and also carries the risk of toxicity. An alternative substitute has been developed that helps extract oil from several seeds by using sodium hydroxide and methanol. This process has been implemented with considerable success in soya bean seeds. The only drawback related to this process is the moisture content. Moisture content is the only drawback related to this process. High moisture content results in excess utilization of methanol in order to extract oil from seeds.Browse Market Research Report @Solvent-based hexane; is used to extract vegetable oils from crops such as soybeans, cottonseed, rape seed, mustard seed, and safflower seed, etc. Solvent-chemical hexane is also widely used as cleaning agent in textile, printing, furniture and leather industries. It is also employed in various consumer products including glues, gasoline, rubber, and cement. Several properties of hexane are hazardous to human beings, excess inhalation may result in weakness, numbness, blurred vision, headache, and fatigue.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); has set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 500 ppm for hexane to protect the health of several workers engaged in hexane production facilities across the globe. However, hexane has certain beneficial properties. For instance, it is used in the removal of unwanted taste and odor. This is anticipated to drive the demand for hexane in the edible oil industry, as hexane is used in the manufacturing of several grades of cooking oils. Rising population coupled with increasing demand for refined oil, for cooking purposes is estimated to boost the demand for hexane in the near future.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @In terms of production and consumption, countries is Asia Pacific, especially, China dominates the global hexane market. Asia Pacific has been a lucrative market for the production and distribution of hexane in countries such as China, Japan, and India .Therefore, several manufacturers in Europe and North America are shifting their production facilities to Asia Pacific owing to the availability of skilled labor at affordable rates. The hexane market in North America and Europe is expected to expand at a rapid pace owing to the high demand for rubber products used in the automotive industries.The hexane market can be segmented based on type, and application. In terms of type, the hexane market can be divided into  n-hexane, iso-hexane, and neo-hexane. Based on application, the hexane market can be segregated into  pharmaceutical, cooking oil, automotive, chromatography, textiles, furniture, printing, paint & coatings, adhesives, shoes & leather products, and roofing. Commercial grades of hexane are used as solvents in the manufacture of rubber, glues, cement, adhesives, varnishes, and inks. Hexane is also used as a cleaning agent (degreaser) in the printing industry. It is used as liquid in low temperature thermometers.Prominent players operating in the hexane market include Exxon Mobil Corporation, Rompetrol Rafinare S.A., Chevron Philips Chemicals LLC, Royal Dutch Shell plc, GreenChem Industries, Hukill Chemical Corp., and Continental Chemical.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 UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Telecom Services Revenue in Mali is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2016-2021

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Key Findings from the report:- The overall telecom service revenue in Mali will grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by growth in the mobile segment.- Mobile revenue will account for 92.5% of the total telecom revenue in 2021; mobile data will be the fastest-growing segment over 2016-2021.- 2G will be the most adopted mobile technology through 2021. However, its share of the overall mobile subscriber base will decline over the 2016-2021 forecast period, owing to adoption of 3G and 4G services in the coming years.- The top two operators, Orange Mali and Malitel, will account for 100.0% share of overall service revenue in 2016. We expect the entry of a fourth mobile operator and MVNO will further intensify the competition in the telecom market.- Mobile money services will be a key revenue source for operators to strengthen their market position.Browse the complete report @Telecom services revenue in Mali is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in fixed broadband and mobile data revenue. Mobile voice will continue to remain the largest revenue-contributing segment through 2021. Mobile data will be the fastest-growing segment in the telecom market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18.1% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by operators' attractive data packages to stimulate data adoption. Going forward, operators plan to invest in 3G network expansion, infrastructure development and fiber-optic deployments to increase Internet connectivity, which will create significant opportunities for vendors and investors.Synopsis"Mali: Mobile Data and Value-Added Services to Support Telecom Growth," a new Country Intelligence Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Mali today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, and mobile, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Mali compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Mali.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data markets.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Mali's telecommunications markets.ReasonsToBuy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Mali's telecommunications markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying GlobalData's Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Mali's mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Mali's telecommunications markets.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Mali.Request a sample @Table of Contents:Executive summaryMarket and competitor overviewRegional contextEconomic, demographic and political contextRegulatory environmentDemand profileService evolutionCompetitive landscapeMajor market playersSegment analysisMobile servicesFixed servicesIdentifying opportunitiesOverall market opportunitiesMali telecom market size and growth prospects in a regional context, 2016ECountry indicatorsRegulatory structure and policyMajor telecommunications policy issuesMali communications market revenue, 2014-2021, US$Segment revenue CAGRs, 2016-2021,US$Segment revenues 2014-2021Service revenue mix: voice, data and video, 2016, 2021Service revenue mix: fixed and mobile, 2016, 2021Service revenue by operator, 2016Key telecom market playersMajor telecommunications market playersMobile subscriptions and penetration, 2014-2021Key mobile market indicators, 2016Mobile data revenue mix, 2016, 2021Total mobile ARPS; data percentage of total mobile ARPS, 2014-2021Mobile market shares by subscriptions, 2014-2021Mobile subscriptions by technology family, 2014-2021Fixed-line penetration of population, 2014-2021Key fixed market indicators, 2016Fixed voice revenue, 2014-2021Internet revenue, 2014-2021Fixed market Opportunities in the Mali telecommunications market Mali telecom market size and growth prospects in a regional context, 2016ECountry indicatorsRegulatory structure and policyMajor telecommunications policy issuesMali communications market revenue, 2014-2021, US$Segment revenue CAGRs, 2016-2021,US$Segment revenues 2014-2021Service revenue mix: voice, data and video, 2016, 2021Service revenue mix: fixed and mobile, 2016, 2021Service revenue by operator, 2016Key telecom market playersMajor telecommunications market playersMobile subscriptions and penetration, 2014-2021Key mobile market indicators, 2016Mobile data revenue mix, 2016, 2021Total mobile ARPS; data percentage of total mobile ARPS, 2014-2021Mobile market shares by subscriptions, 2014-2021Mobile subscriptions by technology family, 2014-2021Fixed-line penetration of population, 2014-2021Key fixed market indicators, 2016Fixed voice revenue, 2014-2021Internet revenue, 2014-2021Fixed market Opportunities in the Mali telecommunications marketAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.4144N Central Expressway, Suite 600
Meet Barcodely, The Startup That Wants To Turn Your Email Into A Barcode For Paperless Receipts

Turn your email (or anything else) into a scannable barcode you can use for things like paperless receipts at checkout.

www.barcodely.com

The idea behind this is fairly simple, turn your email into a barcode that can be scanned by already existing technology at retail and grocery stores to get a paperless receipt.Paper receipts account for billions of pounds of waste in landfills around the world. As people and companies start to adapt to getting more receipts electronically, tools like this will become much more of a normality.Barcodely's branding on the website andiOS app is bright and fun, different than the black and white barcode business itself. To use, just type in your email and it will generate your code. You can then have a cashier scan your email rather than spelling it out.The barcode itself is based on a Code 128 barcode language that is used by retailers such as Nordstrom, Whole Foods and Petco.Turn your email (or anything else) into a scannable barcode you can use for things like paperless receipts at checkout. Bacodely.comShawn StolfusBarcodely1765 Santa Ana AveCosta Mesa, CAhello@barcodely.com
Paladion underlines the importance of security analytics for faster detection and response to cyber attacks

Rajesh Gopinath, Pre-Sales Head for MEA at Paladion

Paladion, a global cyber security provider, in its commitment to enabling enterprises with the right tools to combat todays advanced cyber threats, sponsored a two day cyber security conference organized by MESCON on the 11th and 12th of April 2017 . The conference hosted over 200 plus CISOs from different business verticals from the Middle East.Rajesh Gopinath, Paladions Pre-Sales Head for MEA, addressed a packed room of CISOs and shared usable cyber security strategies CISOs can start implementing in their cyber security program. Rajeshs session Using Analytics and Orchestration for Faster Detection and Response deep dived into what existing security operations can do detect low footprint attacks that traditional security technologies are missing.Amit Roy, Paladions EVP and Regional Head for EMEA said, We proud to have played a sponsorship role at MESCON and are delighted to be rubbing shoulders with the brightest cyber security minds in the region. MESCON also celebrated the success and vision of CISOs for their exemplary work across the region. We were glad to have been a part of this awards ceremonyRoy added, Our Managed Detection and Response Service (MDR) received overwhelming response at our booth. Our MDR service uses Paladions proprietary security analytics and orchestration platform and integrates it with our mature SOC talent to improve threat detection and also respond to threats, which is unlike other MSSP services.About Paladion:Paladion Networks is a specialized partner for cyber security providing end-to-end services and solutions in US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Paladion is rated and has been recognized and awarded by Gartner, Asian Banker and Red Herring, amongst others.For over 15 years, Paladion has been actively managing information risks for over 700 customers. Paladion provides a complete spectrum of information risk management comprising of security assurance, compliance, governance, monitoring, security analytics and security management services to large and medium-sized organizations. Paladion is also actively involved in several information risk management research forums and has authored many books on the same. With a staff of over 800 dedicated security experts, Paladion has 6 Security Operations Centers (SOCs) across the world.628, Business VillageTower B, DeiraDubai, UAE
Global GRE Pipes Market Industry Analysis, Segments, Key Players, Drivers, Trends, by Forecast 2016 to 2022

Global GRE Pipes Market

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Market Highlights:Glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) is a combination of two or more materials with addition of high strength E-glass fiber amine cured epoxy resin as basic material. The frangible nature of the material demands careful handling during transportation, fabrication, and installation. GRE Pipes are well suited for environments where corrosion resistance is required at a reasonable price. Main industries in which GRE pipes required are petrochemical process lines, oil and gas systems, fire-fighting systems, offshore and onshore systems, chemical transport and others.The economic growth of oil rich economies has increased the demand for major industrial requirements which add the boom in the water networks, oil & gas sector and petrochemical plants. GRE Pipes Market In Industrial plants pipe systems that are used as circulating water, chemical lines, cooling systems, process piping, and fire water.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 135 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on GRE Pipes Market Research Report by Forecast to 2022Major Key players: Pipex Limited (UK), Future Pipe Industries (India) Tamdid pipes (Saudi Arabia) Epp Composites Pvt. Ltd. (India) Acwapipe (Saudi Arabia) Smithline Reinforced Composites (UAE) National Oilwell Varco (US)Request a Sample Report @Regional Analysis:Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, power & energy and other Industrials are the major end-user industry of GRE pipes due to their less thermal conductivity. The increasing number of applications such as oil & gas, fuel, water, sewage, and chemical industry in India and China is expected to drive the GRE pipes market. Asia-Pacific is the largest market for GRE pipes. The GRE pipes market in these regions is expected to increase in the future.North America witnessed a positive growth due to GRE pipes demand over continues to increase in oil & gas, water, chemical industries. Europe are expected to witness a sluggish growth owing to stringent regulation for producing GRE pipes.Global GRE Pipes Market Players:Key players of the global GRE pipes market are Pipex Limited (UK), Future Pipe Industries (India), Tamdid pipes (Saudi Arabia), Epp Composites Pvt. Ltd. (India), Acwapipe (Saudi Arabia), Smithline Reinforced Composites (UAE), National Oilwell Varco (US) and others.Browse Full Report Details @Segmentation:The market for GRE pipes is segmented on the basis of end-user and by the region; On the basis of end-user the GRE pipes market is segmented as like petrochemicals, oil & gas, power & energy and other industrials. Moreover on the basis of the region of global GRE pipes market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast ModelContinued..List of TablesTable 1 World Population By Major Regions (2015 To 2030) (Million)Table 2 Global Gre Pipes Market: By Region, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 3 North America Gre Pipes Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 4 Europe Gre Pipes Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 5 Asia-Pacific Gre Pipes Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Continued..List of FiguresFigure 1 Global Gre Pipes Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Five Forces Analysis Of Global Gre Pipes MarketFigure 4 Value Chain Of Global Gre Pipes MarketFigure 5 Share Of Global Gre Pipes Market In 2014, By Country (In %)Continued..About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureMarket Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Ethyl Acetate Market: Industry Analysis, Trend, Demand and Global Forecast to 2027

Ethyl Acetate Market

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Market Synopsis of Ethyl Acetate Market:The global ethyl acetate market has experienced a remarkable growth over the last decade owing to its use in the several industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, laboratories and others. Progressive growth in such industries has propelled the demand for ethyl acetate across the world. As per the MRFR analysis, Asia-Pacific is estimated to be the largest producer and consumer of ethyl acetate.Key Players of Ethyl Acetate Market: Jubilant Life Sciences CarbohimWood and Chemical Company INEOS Group Solutia Nippon Synthetic Chemical SIPCHEM Indo Acidatama Chemical Chiba Ethyl Acetate Dairen Chemical EnichemRequest a Sample Copy @Segmentation:The global ethyl acetate markets are segmented into applications. On the basis of applications, the global market is segmented into the industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, laboratories and others.Study Objectives of Ethyl Acetate Market: 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 ethyl acetate market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyse the global ethyl acetate market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country-level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country-level analysis of the market for segment by applications. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analysing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyse competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Ethyl Acetate Market.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Western Europe Fuel Cards Market 2021 Size & Forecasts Research Report

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Key Findings from the report:- In the majority of fuel card markets in Western Europe over 50% of fleet vehicles do not have a fuel card in 2016, accounting for over 2.9 million vehicles. On average every CRT vehicle in Western Europe uses more than one fuel card. The total number of service stations in Austria increased by 0.7% in 2015. Over 23,000 new fuel cards will be issued between 2016 and 2021, totaling to 1,240,248 cards in the market.- Fleet card volumes in Ireland will decline by 0.1% between 2016 and 2021 to total 423m litres by the end of 2021. Esso is the largest fleet card operator in Luxembourg selling 24.6% of fleet volumes and Shell is the largest CRT card operator accounting for 22.3% of CRT volumes sold in 2015. The total number of service stations in the Netherlands rose by 3.2% in 2015.- The total number of service stations in Slovenia will grow by 6.1% between 2016 and 2021 totaling 583 service stations. Fleet card volumes in Switzerland will continue to grow rising 2.6% between 2016 and 2021 to total 794m litres by the end of 2021.Browse the complete report @Fuel Cards in Western European Markets 2016 is invaluable for issuers of fleet cards, fuel retailers, fleet leasing companies and other suppliers to the sector. Based on research with issuers and fuel retailers it provides commercial (B2B) fuel card volume (split by fleet and CRT), value and market share forecasts to 2021, key data on independent and oil company card issuers and an analysis of fuel card competition in Western Europe.SynopsisIn the majority of fuel card markets in Western Europe over 50% of fleet vehicles do not have a fuel card in 2016, accounting for over 2.9 million vehiclesReasons To Buy- Plan effective market entry strategies by uncovering current and future volumes and values of Western European fuel card markets.- Assess whether you should increase network acceptance of your card and identify potential new merchants by uncovering the position of competitors. Whether you are an issuer, a processor, a leasing company or a fuel retailer, make informed pitches to partners by understanding their business.- Enhance fuel sales at your service stations by identifying which fuel cards you should accept based on their market shares and network acceptance.Request a sample @Table of Contents:Market OverviewMarket SizeMarket ForecastChannel SharesMajor Competitors Market SharesAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.4144N Central Expressway, Suite 600
Stone Paper Market : Industry Trends and Developments 2016 - 2026

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Stone paper is neither pulp nor synthetic made paper but it is a kind of extremely durable, highly strong and ecofriendly paper which is also known as rock paper, rich mineral paper, paper from waste marble. Density range of stone paper is 1.0-1.6, which equals to or more than ordinary paper, and a texture somewhat like peel of a boiled egg. The stone paper can be recycled re-formed into stone paper again, which is not recyclable but is photo degradable and compostable under commercial conditions. Stone paper is appropriate for packaging, bags, stationery, wrappers, adhesives, grease proof paper, containers and many other applications. Stone paper market has positive outlook as a result of packaging industries. The escalation in packaging industry attributed by need for effective labelling and high-quality option, to improve the aesthetics of the packaged product.Global Stone Paper Market: DynamicsStone paper is a new type of paper making technology that can be recyclable with modern technology in high polymer interface. Its main raw material is the most abundant in mineral resources calcium carbonate with high polymer material and variety of inorganic matter as auxiliary material. The increasing application scope of the product in the packaging, labeling, and self-adhesive paper is attributed to the slight ecological impacts, with regards to usage of energy, water, carbon emissions, and deforestation. The new product development along with investment in R&D for the advancement in manufacturing techniques have been the major strategy adopted by the manufacturers. The major issues faced by the industry are related to environment regulation on mining activities. The market is highly competitive owing to the presence of large number of suppliers worldwide.Request Report Sample@Global Stone Paper Market: SegmentationThe global market of stone paper market can be segmented on the basis of material type, application and region. On the basis of material calcium carbonate, high density polyethylene and others. On the basis of application labeling papers, packaging paper, self-adhesive paper and others. Among all application, paper packaging is major application of respective product. After packaging application self-adhesive paper segment are expected to register impressive growth during forecast period. On the basis of region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.Global Stone Paper Market: Regional OverviewDue to technology advancement in North America, this region is expected to witness higher growth rate during forecast period. Europe is also expected to account for second highest growth after North America due to demand of packaging application in European countries such as Russia and Germany. Asia pacific, dominated by China is expected to register highest growth in term of volume in global stone paper market during forecast year due to high demand of ecofriendly packaging, easy available raw material in this region, low cost of production and large numbers of manufacturers.Visit For TOC@Global Stone Paper Market: Key PlayersThe main player of this market such are Stone Paper Company Ltd, Soluz Stone Paper S.A, Kapstone Paper, Taiwan Lung Meng Technology Co. Ltd., Gaia-Concept BV, Parax Paper, packaging corporation.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Blog:
Islamic Finance Market High Growth Potential but Serious Challenges Persist

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Key Findings from the report:Covers the background of the Islamic finance industryStates the most common types of Islamic financial servicesOutlines in which countries the industry has grown the most and where it has the potential to continue doing soAssesses serious problems within the industryConcludes that the strong growth potential of this industry cannot be achieved if these serious problems are not resolved.Browse the complete report @The Islamic finance industry has witnessed strong double digit growth in recent years, and yet serious problems persist that are likely to stop it from growing beyond a certain point. These include a lack of access to financial institutions in Muslim majority nations, general instability in large parts of the Muslim world, as well as a lack of concensus amongst the Islamic clergy from their various respective schools of thought, as to what exactly is "Islamic finance".Reasons To BuyWhat is the Islamic finance industry?Which types of Islamic financial services exist?Where is this industry the most dominant?Which serious problems still trouble the industry?Key FindingsWhilst sharia compliant financial services have existed ever since the beginning of Islam in some shape or form, it is only in the 1970s that they were increasingly centralized and adapted to better fit the modern economic system.According to one study around 40% of Muslims rejected non-sharia loans, which is around 700 million people, a massive number.Despite strong growth potential, serious problems persist in this industry. These range from banks and financial institutions often finding themselves unable to reach large proportions of their customer base, to a general lack of scholarly consensus with regards to what qualifies as sharia compliant financeRequest a sample @Table of Contents:OverviewCatalystSummaryIslamic finance - The BasicsHistory of Islamic financeSome major forms of Islamic financeSukukIjarahMudarabaIslamic finance today - the numbersNine countries dominate the Islamic finance industryNon-Islamic banks and countries increasingly opening up to Islamic financeStrong Potential for Growth in the Islamic finance IndustryMENA (excluding GCC), West Africa and Central Asia largely untappedSharia compliant microfinance schemes have large potential, as a third of Muslims live in povertyProblems the Islamic finance industry is facingLack of access to financial institutions in Muslim majority nationsPolitical instability discouraging interestDifferences amongst the clergy with regards to what amounts to sharia compliant financeConclusionsStrong growth potential in this industry if scholarly consensus, political stability and greater geographic reach can beachievedAppendixSourcesFurther ReadingAsk the analystAbout MarketLineDisclaimerAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.4144N Central Expressway, Suite 600
Global Orthopaedic Prosthetics Devices Market projected to reach US$ 1.76 Bn in 2017

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Global demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices market is projected to reach US$ 1.76 Bn in 2017, up from US$ 1.69 Bn in 2016. Demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices will be fuelled by increasing baby boomers & geriatric population. Availability of advanced prosthetics that offer customisation and enhanced functionality will continue to witness increasing demand in developed markets. However, high cost and lack of favourable reimbursement policies will continue to pose challenges to wider adoption. North America will continue to remain the largest market for orthopaedic prosthetics devices, owing to strong demand in the U.S. Sales of orthopaedic prosthetics devices in the Western Europe  the second largest market globally  will remain concentrated in EU5.Other key factors expected to fuel demand for orthopaedic prosthetic devices include increase in the number of accidents, higher emphasis on physical sports, and increase in prevalence of conditions that require amputation. Replacement of older prosthetics with lighter, durable materials is also expected to complement demand during the forecast period.Request Report Sample@FMIs report offers insights on the regulations on orthopaedic prosthetics devices in key markets of the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. In the U.S., orthopaedic prosthetics devices are regulated by U.S. FDA and Centre for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). In Europe, a majority of prosthetic and orthotic devices are class I with CE marking.To provide a detailed analysis on the orthopaedic prosthetic market, FMIs report offers forecast and analysis on the basis of product type, technology, end-use, and region.Prosthetics Devices Market SegmentationBy product type, the key segments include lower extremity prosthetics, upper extremity prosthetics, liners, sockets, and modular components. Among these, lower extremity prosthetics account for the highest demand, followed by upper extremity prosthetics. All the aforementioned product types will lose market share to lower extremity prosthetics during the forecast period.By technology, electric powered prosthetic devices account for the highest demand and the trend is projected to remain unchanged during the forecast period. Electric powered prosthetic devices are expected to gain 467 BPS during the forecast period and account for over 50% revenue share of the market by 2026. Ease of operation is one of the key factors for high adoption of electric powered prosthetics devices.By end-use, prosthetic clinics accounted for the highest revenue share of the global market, followed by hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Prosthetic clinics will continue to remain the largest end-user segment during the forecast period, gaining 293 BPS between 2016 and 2026.Send An Enquiry@North America is the largest market for prosthetics devices market, accounting for a significant share of global revenues. The U.S. is the leading market for prosthetics devices, accounting for over 78% share of the global market in 2016. The U.S. will continue to be the largest market for prosthetics devices during the forecast period.Leading players in the global prosthetics devices market include Hanger Inc., Blatchford Ltd., Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH Ossur, Touch Bionics Inc., and The Ohio Willow Wood Co.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Gynecological Examination Chairs Market Outlook to 2024 Latest Industry Forecast Report

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https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/gynecological-examination-chairs-market-114

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Gynecological examination chair is a chair used to seat the patient so as to aid unobstructed detection of gynecological related issues. These chairs have various features such as adjustable backrest, foamy, seamless, and adjustable seat. Advancements in technology and increasing spending on healthcare is favoring the adoption rate of novel products that can provide better assistance for the examiner. The designing efforts such as modifications in the previous products from manually adjustable rests and seats to automatically adjusting heights and inclination through wireless foot-controlled pedals are providing ease for gynecological examination. This new concept and modifications ensures the patients convenience and work-effectiveness. The rise in vaginal infections such as vaginitis, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer is expected to favor the growth in gynecological examination chairs market.Request for an exclusive sample of this report:Gynecological Examination Chairs Market Segmentation:The Global market has been segmented on the basis of product type and end user:Type of gynecological examination chair:Electric gynecological examination chairNon-electric gynecological examination chairHydraulic gynecological examination chairEnd user of gynecological examination chair:HospitalsMaternity hospitalsDiagnostic centersMaternity clinicsAcute care centersElectric gynecological examination chairs offer various beneficial properties such as wide electromotive adjustment range, adjustment up to shock position, memory control, where examination positions may be stored and called up if requested and thus, are preferred over non-electric gynecological examination chairs. This is expected to be in favor for the growth of gynecological examination chairs industry in the near future.Increasing incidence of gynecological diseases supporting market growth:Increasing incidence of gynecological diseases in women is one of the largest factor fueling global market growth. For instance, in 2015, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the U.S. was around 20cmillion in women between the age of 14 and 49. Also, rise in number of pregnancy cases worldwide, in turn increases need for gynecological examination chair, which ultimately is expected to positively affect the gynecological examination chairs market in the near future. According to CDC/National Center for Health Statistics, data published in 2015, number of births in the U.S.is around 4 million. Also, increase in awareness among women regarding the gynecological problems such as ovarian cancer, vaginal cancer, pregnancy related complications and issues is projected to fuel the market for gynecological examination chairs industry. Though vaginal and vulvar cancers are rare, due to large population pool it accounts for high volume. While all women are at risk of these cancers, its incidence rate is relatively low. In 2015, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaginal and vulvar types of cancers collectively accounted for 6 to 7% of all the gynecologic cancers diagnosed in the U.S. Obesity is another cause for gynecological cancers, such as endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Obesity modifies the hormonal system in female body, which can result in unwanted growth of cells and formation of tumor. According to WHO, in 2014, around 40% of women were overweight. This statistic is expected to favor the market in the near future. However, pitfalls such as less awareness of the various gynecological disease and poor healthcare infrastructure in less developed countries such as India and KSA is expected to impede market growth for gynecological examination chairs in the near future.New and advanced gynecological examination chair:ATMOS Chair 41 Gyne (ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG), MUS4000 V GYN (medifa-hesse GmbH & Co. KG), DH-S104A gynecological examination chair, among others are some of the advanced gynecological chairs in the market. These chairs offer various advanced features such as fully flexible in height with any inclination in any position, these chairs can be quickly and gently moved into an anatomically optimum examination position at the touch of a button. Also, he advancement in technology and design is projected to support the gynecological examination chairs market.Browse Full Report:Key Market PlayersMajor players involved in the market of gynecological examination chairs include Moelis & Company, Wanrooe Medical, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Medifa-hesse GmbH & Co. KG, Inmoclinc S A, Oakworks Medicals, Malvestio Spa, Harbin Howell Medical Apparatus and Instrument Co Ltd, Favero Heath Projects, and Combed, Mediwatch, TECNODENT S.R.L. Majorly players in this segment are doing their bit in every section such as increase in product portfolio, shortening of delivery time, offering services in a reasonable time and value, finances are given to the buyer to promote the product. According to Niall Dyer, Managing Director Plinth 2000, around 80% of their product sales are coming from personal recommendation and repeat business. This effective strategy will favor the adoption rate of the product, which in turn is expected to favor the gynecological examination chairs market over the forecast period.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.CONTACT US:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel : +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:
Radial Head Resection Implants Market: New Market Research Report Announced; Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

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Elbow is a complex joint and a crucial part for forearm function. It has a unique anatomy comprising limited ball-and-socket joint and a hinge type of synovial joint, which allows for hand movement and control. Though radial head fractures are usually not too complicated in nature, various devices and radial head resection implants are available in the market that help address any issues related to the same. Products used in radial head resection are approved and are widely used by orthopedic surgeon and few of the techniques are under section of limited study. However, there are couple of medical procedures that are executed in case of radial head fractures such as closed reduction with casting or early motion and open reduction with internal fixation or resection in which radial head resection implants are mainly used. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, radial head fractures are common worldwide with around 2.5 to 2.8 per 10,000 of incidence per year. Also, due to the patient benefits in terms of no deformity and regaining normal functionality after a relatively short period following the surgery, the radial head resection therapy is gaining wide acceptance across the globe. The use of radial head resection implants are strictly recommended by the orthopedic surgeon by looking at the severity of type III and type IV fractures.Download PDF Brochure @Global Radial Head Resection Implants Market TaxonomyThe global radial head resection market is classified on the basis of following segments:Product Type:StandardReconLateralFracture Type:Type IIIType IVMaterialTitaniumSiliconeEnd User:Orthopedic and Trauma CentersHospitalsOrthopedic ClinicsSignificantly accepted radial head implants: CO5 Series (IMECO), Solar (Striker), RHS (Tornier), Evolve (Wright), Explor (Biomet), etc.Limited data available regarding the upper extremity limb discrepancy under radial head resection implants market:Although the location of the fracture is very crucial in the upper extremity, data regarding the same is limited, which shortens the horizon for market growth in the radial head resection implants segment. However, rise in awareness among the population about consequences of limb deformity if not treated using appropriate implant is projected to support growth of the radial implants market. Furthermore, the concern is more on the altering length of the limb. However, lower extremity is more susceptible in terms of limb-length discrepancies, including abnormal body posture and various other problems. Deformity is a common phenomenon in upper limb fractures as compared to the limb length discrepancies. Furthermore, studies related to radial head fractures further highlight the importance of the radial head resection by the help of prosthesis and implants. Some such studies are short- to medium-term outcomes of radial head replacement Arthroplasty in posttraumatic unstable elbows mentioned in Chang Gung Med Journal in 2010 and resection of the radial head after mason type-III fractures of the elbow mentioned in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published in 1998.Rising incidence of radial head fractures in geriatric population supporting radial head resection implants market growthWeakening of bones is a continuous process with the progression of age, which is further catalyzed by inappropriate healthcare infrastructure and unhealthy lifestyle, especially in emerging economies. Most economies are not balanced with either of the above mentioned criteria. For instance, most economies with a sound healthcare infrastructure have an unhealthy lifestyle and vice versa. In 2015, according to the Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Centre, Freiburg, Germany, the radial head fractures contributes to around 4% of all types of fractures, and within all elbow fractures the radial fractures constitutes to around 30%. It is also diagnosed in around 75% of all proximal lower-arm fractures, securing an incidence of around 25 to 30 cases per 100,000 patients among the adult population. Rapidly aging population in the U.S., Japan, and China are projected position these as major markets for radial head resection in the near future. Incidence rate of radial head resection is especially high among people aged above 44 years.Browse Full Report:Highly consolidated radial head resection implants market with high growth potentialThe global radial head resection implants market is less fragmented as major players account for major share of the market. High entry barriers and stringent regulations such as Medical Device Amendments of 1976 requires mandatory FDA approval to obtain reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness before marketing may hamper the entry of new players as only the well-established players can focus and invest on improving their existing radial head resection implants products, which further brings accuracy in the device. Furthermore, in 2013, there was a product recall for DePuy Synthes Companies, a Johnson & Johnson Company. The reason for recall as cited by the manufacturer was loosening trial head from the implant stem during manipulation of the arm during surgery. However, this incidence has not adversely impacted demand for radial head resection implants. However, it highlights the important checkpoints during production that need to be considered by market players in order to ensure sustainable growth. Major players involved in the radial head resection implants market include Biomet, Inc., Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Smith & Nephew Plc, and Stryker.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.CONTACT US:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel : +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:
Single-use Bioprocessing Systems Market: Customizability as per Consumer Requirements Key Feature Driving Adoption

Single-use Bioprocessing Systems Market

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The world single-use bioprocessing systems market is analyzed to experience an apparent change in adoption patterns on the part of biopharmaceutical firms and biotechnology startups. This shift is primarily steered in the direction of single-use technologies. Over the recent years, there has been an upscale growth observed in the world market, not just on account of the acceptance of single-use technologies. The biopharmaceutical sector is advancing toward maturation at a swift rate. In this regard, novel treatment solutions are being cumulatively concentrated upon by a majority of organizations. Such treatment solutions are esteemed to have a contracted pipeline for development and come across unprecedented compared to those of other competitors in the market.As per the profound analysis performed by the expert researchers at Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global single-use bioprocessing systems market is prognosticated to leapfrog at a decent CAGR of 11.1% between 2016 and 2024. The global market had raked in an impressive US$2.3 bn in 2015 and is expected to keep coining it while maintaining the same pace to reach US$5.9 bn by the concluding year of the forecast period.Read Full Report:The worldwide single-use bioprocessing systems market finds application in a variety of biotechnology segments such as patient specific cell therapies, plant cell cultivation, vaccine production, and monoclonal antibody production. Amongst these, for the forecast period, the monoclonal antibody production segment is anticipated to secure a whopping 66.0% share in the worldwide market at a significant CAGR. The success of this market is stemmed from the important support by the U.S. and Europe governments which gave the green signal in 2015 for 10 antibody therapeutics. The latest consents given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU) for monoclonal antibodies have offered a strong boost to the monoclonal antibody production segment. Much of the demand is also attributed to the clinical trial phases accommodating a robust increase in the count of monoclonal antibodies.Bioprocessing bags are one product which have gained immense impetus in the global single-use bioprocessing technologies market. This could be on account of their extensive usage across a gamut of applications such as transfer, storage, mixing, and filtration during the production of drug molecules, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies. Besides different downstream and upstream functions, bioprocessing bags can be customized as per the requirements of end users.With a swelling awareness about the advantages of single-use bioprocessing technologies, the pharmaceuticals market is envisioned to take grip of a colossal share in terms of end user.Download exclusive Sample of this report:There has been a pilot adoption of single-use bioprocessing technologies by specialized multiproduct biopharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, not to forget contract research organizations (CROs) and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), in Europe and North America. As a result, both the regions had shared their dominance in the global single-use bioprocessing technologies market in 2015 and are predicted to continue with it until 2024. The clustered developments and innovations in bioscience and avant-garde biologics research and development in these geographies could raise the bar of revenue growth. Besides this, most giant vendors in the field have headquartered their companies in Europe and North America, which is undoubtedly prophesied to welcome higher shares in these regions.The elevated unmet need of the developing countries in Asia Pacific regarding revolutionary vaccines and therapies for cancer could offer lucrative hopes for the region in the single-use bioprocessing technologies market. The Asia Pacific market is not only poised on the back of its disease-burdened population but also the resourceful contract research services furnished to China and India by various pharmaceutical organizations.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dental 3D Printing Devices Market Outlook to 2024 Latest Industry Forecast Report

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Dental 3D printing is additive manufacturing used to create 3-dimentional image for incorporating several layer of image for building material. These objects are produced from a digital 3D blueprint like a computer-aided design or MRI scan. These devices allow the designers to make changes in the design without any additional tool or equipment. Dental 3D printing combines high quality 3D printing technology with a wide variety of dental materials. This technology is adopted by dentists, orthodontists, and dental labs. It is cost effective and allows for extensive customizations that allow for better designing. This allows dental practitioners to design the product based on the various factors of patient like age, height, weight, and medical history. These methods can be used by dental practitioners to replace teeth, veneers, crowns, and inlays in a single sitting.Download PDF Brochure @Global Dental 3D Printing Devices Market TaxonomyThe global dental 3D printing devices market is classified on the basis of the following segments product type, technique, application, and end user of the dental 3D printing device:Product Type:PrintersSoftwareComponentsTechnique:Digital Light Projection3D Jet PrintingStereo Lithography Apparatus (SLA) 3D PrintingSelective Laser Sintering (SLS)Direct Laser Metal Sintering (DLMS)Application Type:Orthopedic ImplantsDental RestorativesCrownsSurgical instrumentsOthersDental 3D printing allows designing of dental crowns, prosthetics, implants, bone replacement, and customized devices based on requirement.End Users of dental 3D printing devices:HospitalsDental ClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersOthersAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012, prevalence of cavities was 6090% in children up to the age of 15 years and 100% in adults. Furthermore around 1520% of people aged from 3544 years were suffering from severe periodontal disease that could lead to loss of the affected tooth. This rise in prevalence of dental disorders globally is expected to favor rise in uptake of cosmetic and maxillofacial surgeries associated with mouth disorder, which in turn is increasing demand for dental 3D printing devices.Major dental 3D printing devices: Planmeca Creo (Planmeca), Form 2 (Formlabs), Mysint 100 (Sisma 3D), Moonray (SpintRay), Projet MJP 3600 (3D Systems), Project 6000(3D Systems), Roboze one (Roboze S.r.l.) etc.Increasing influx of dental tourists and cost-effectiveness of 3D printed devices to fuel market growthDeveloped economies such as the U.S., U.K., Germany, and France experience high rate of adoption due to better healthcare facilities and easy availability in these countries. As per the report of the American Academy of Periodontology, in 2012, around half of the adult population in the U.S. suffered from gum disease, of which 47.2% were reported to be suffering from periodontitis. This number is expected to increase significantly over the forecast period, owing to increasing changes in lifestyle and growing geriatric population Increasing number of dental clinics and hospitals and growing number of experienced dental practitioners in Asia Pacific region, supplemented by rising influx of dental tourists is expected to significantly boost growth of the dental 3D printing devices market in these regions.Devices with comprehensive range of featuresCompanies are focusing on launching new devices to the market with advanced features and technology to provide better imaging facilities to the practitioners for service, for instance, GE Healthcare are prepared to utilize 3-D printing technology in ultrasound probes previously used in medical services for diagnosing the health of a fetus, although now the technique is useful where any type of noninvasive inspections are being carried out. Furthermore, in March 2015, Germany-based Bego launched a new system with a unique cartilage system that allow multiple materials to be used at the International Dental Show. In May 2016, Planmeca launched a new 3D printer with powerful 3D features that fulfills demands of cheap and high quality image of additive manufacturing in healthcare.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Fragmented MarketThe global dental 3D printing devices market is highly fragmented, owing to the participation of many established and emerging players in the dental imaging market. Various players in the dental 3D printing devices market are integrating proprietary technologies of 3D printing to develop with novel products and product advancements in order to differentiate their offerings. For example, 3D System Corporation projet 3510 MP would use 3Shape Implant Studio, which includes implant planning and surgical guides for the patient that benefits the patients by reducing chair time and provides digital accuracy by reducing manual errors. The combination is expected to manufacture fully functional dental implants. Some of the major players involved in the dental 3D printing devices market are EnvisionTEC, Javelin Technologies, Formlabs Inc., 3D Systems GMBH, Stratasys, Prodways, Roboze, and ASIGA.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.CONTACT US:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel : +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:
Urinalysis Market will rise to US$ 1.5 Billion by 2024

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The global market for urinalysis has been growing at a fast rate due to increased incidence of diabetes among people across the globe. On a global scale, the major cause of end-stage renal disease and kidney failure is diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) found that approximately 338 million new cases of diabetes were recorded in 2014, while as many as 3.2 million suffered from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2015.Urinalysis is a set of tests for detecting some common diseases such as kidney disorders, diabetes, liver problems, and urinary tract infections. The test consists of several microscopic, visual, and chemical examinations that identify cells, levels of creatinine, epithelial cells, and substances such as casts or crystals in the urine. These detections are crucial in the process of disease diagnosis. These tests are also conducted during routine pregnancy check-ups, when one is admitted to the hospital, and even before a surgery.The global market for urinalysis is expected to grow steadily with a CAGR of 5.4%. In 2015, the market was valued at US$929.9 mn, which will rise to US$1.5 bn by the end of 2024.Read Full Report:In terms of test setting, the urinalysis market was dominated by the laboratory-based segment in 2015 and is expected to continue to hold its dominant position over the coming years. This development is due to the increasing geriatric population, increased frequency of unhealthy lifestyles, and growing incidence of infectious diseases worldwide.On the basis of type of test, the biochemical segment lead the urinalysis market in 2015, on account of the widely accepted usage of dipsticks (reagent strips) that detect the presence of constituents in urine. Also, it is convenient to operate this technique as it is readily available. The hospital segment leads the market in terms of end users in the global market for urinalysis.Among the key products in the urinalysis market, consumables occupy the foremost position. High rate of acceptance of single-use, rigid, and sterile disposable products is boosting the growth of this segment. Under the consumables segment, plastic consumables will emerge as a terrain for immense opportunities.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Among the key geographical segments, it was North America that led the global market in 2015, accounting for a nearly 30.0% share. The U.S. is home to around 26 million kidney patients, according to the findings of National Kidney Foundation. Increasing incidence of urinary tract infections in the U.S. is also responsible for the expansion of the urinalysis market in North America. Latin America, too, will grow at an impressive CAGR between 2016 and 2024. The key reasons for growth are favorable government policies, massive population base, and a large patient pool.Asia Pacific is projected to be a major market furnishing lucrative opportunities, with Japan at the foremost place. An increase in aging population, rapid industrialization, growing number of laboratory diagnosis tests, and high adoption of point-of-care testing have been the major reasons for Japans rise as a key regional market. Apart from Japan, India and China are also expected to expand their urinalysis market on account of numerous infrastructural development projects.The major companies in the global urinalysis market include Danaher Corporation (Beckman Coulter, Inc.), ARKRAY, Inc., Sysmex Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Siemens Healthineers, 77 Elektronika Kft, and Mindray Medical International Limited.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Law Enforcement Robots Market Present Scenario and Growth Prospects 2016

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Law Enforcement Robots Market Professional Survey Report 2017 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.LEXINGTON, Massachusetts (July 20, 2016)  WinterGreen Research announces that it has published a new study Law Enforcement Robots: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022. Next generation law enforcement robots are being implemented as platforms. Platforms are useful for accepting a range of components quickly to repurpose units on the fly. Law enforcement robots leverage better materials, more sophisticated designs, software technology, and tablet remote controls. They are communication devices that support high quality data gathering. Communications are implemented in difficult situations. The study has 649 pages and 327 tables and figures.Law enforcement robotics are slated to increase in value to cities and local communities providing low cost protection and high value capabilities. With the active threat of terrorists attacking civilian populations in every country, law enforcement has become the new military. As terrorists operate outside nationalistic borders and infiltrate into the community, robot systems are needed by local police forces, not just the military. The national priority in every country is to increase the budgets for regional and local law enforcement robotic response.All the major technological developments due to take place in the worldwide Law Enforcement Robots additives market and the way these developments will change the market dynamics form an integral part of this study. The report also consists of data of its key applications, prominent regions dominating the market and its cost structure. The key market trends have also been presented in the introduction of the technical data evaluation related to the global Law Enforcement Robots additives market.In the geographic segmentation, the regions such as North America, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America are given major importance. The top key driving forces of Law Enforcement Robots market in every particular market is mentioned with restraints and opportunities. The restraints are also given a counter act which prove to be an opportunity for this market during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022 respectively.Download sample pages of this premium report:This report on the Law Enforcement Robots market is a unique blend of both primary and secondary research and is an aggregation of various surveys and interviews conducted. It is a particular guide that covers the global Law Enforcement Robots additives markets current state and also presents an extensive overview of its future growth prospects. Market drivers, trends, challenges and opportunities and other key market dynamics, along with their impact on growth of the Law Enforcement Robots additives market are covered in this case study.Get 30 % Discount on this premium report @We offer in depth details of the key players in the Law Enforcement Robots market, which includes their product catalog, revenue channels, also their recent developments. We also help our readers formulate astute and well informed market strategies by analyzing the competitive landscape of the Law Enforcement Robots market.Table of Contents1 Law Enforcement Robots Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Law Enforcement Robots1.2 Law Enforcement Robots Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Law Enforcement Robots by Type in 20151.2.2 Type I1.2.3 Type II1.2.4 Type III1.3 Law Enforcement Robots Segment by Application1.3.1 Law Enforcement Robots Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 32 Law Enforcement Robots Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Law Enforcement Robots Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Law Enforcement Robots Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Law Enforcement Robots Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)3 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Law Enforcement Robots Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Law Enforcement Robots Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Law Enforcement Robots Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Law Enforcement Robots Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Law Enforcement Robots Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.3 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.4 Law Enforcement Robots Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)For More Info on This 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.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Spray Segment to Contribute Larger Revenue to the Global Dry Shampoo Market during 2017  2023

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The study uncovered that the global dry shampoo market is expected to grow at a moderate pace, during the forecast period. Due to significant growth in e-commerce, new hair care product advancements and effective advertising, the global dry shampoo market is gaining traction.Explore Full Report at:Insights on market segmentsAs per the findings of the research, paraben free dry shampoo accounted for the largest revenue in 2016. Among the forms, spray dry shampoo witnessed higher demand during 2013 - 2016, and it is also expected to register higher growth during the forecast period. Spray dry shampoo has been the larger contributor to the global dry shampoo market in 2016. Spray dry shampoo has become popular as an alternative to regular shampoo in recent years. The spray dry shampoo, apart from being handy and easy to use, makes hair look greasy and stylish without washing.Dry shampoo market to witness fastest growth in Asia-PacificGeographically, North America has been the largest market for dry shampoo. However, the market is expected to witness fastest growth in Asia-Pacific, during the forecast period, due to factors such as growth in cosmetics and haircare industry, advancement in anti-dandruff and anti-hair fall dry shampoos, growth in retail channels, and increasing adoption of new hair care products by a large consumer base. Further, due to rapidly changing fashion trends, the region is likely to adopt dry shampoo at a greater scale in near future.The European dry shampoo market has been witnessing moderate growth for past few years. Smoking ban in the U.K., and the trend of working from home has been indirectly impacting the regular shampoo industry in the country. However, this has led to a surge in the demand for dry shampoo in the country, as the shampoo consumers are shifting toward more casual and natural style of hair cleansing. According to an estimate, one out of every five women in the U.K. uses dry shampoo.Explore Report Sample at:Moderate competition among key players in the global marketThe research states that the global dry shampoo market is moderately competitive. The players in the market are developing a new marketing and distribution approach to offer dry shampoo. With the declining growth rate of the normal shampoo market, the shampoo manufacturers have started to increase the brand communication of their dry version with consumers, to retain them. The players in the dry shampoo market are offering innovative products such as tinted dry shampoo and glitter dry shampoo. Some of the key players in the global dry shampoo market are LOreal, Procter & Gamble, Henkel, Batiste, Sephora, Shiseido, and Klorane.Browse Other Related Report at:Most of the existing vendors in the global dry shampoo market are actively participating in organic and inorganic strategies. Many of them are focusing on operational transformation to enhance their capabilities for new dry shampoo offerings.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:AbhishekExecutive  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016
Parenteral Nutrition Market will rise to US$ 6.9 Billion by 2023

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The progress of the global parenteral nutrition market is based on the high prevalence of chronic conditions across the globe. The rise in cancer, AIDS, diabetes, Crohns disease, gastro-intestinal disorders, and short bowel syndrome cases has also led a growth in the consumption of parenteral nutrition in the recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) affirmed this fact with statistics indicating that there will be a 70% rise in the number of new cancer cases between 2025 and 2035. The Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America also provided grim figures indicating that there will be 70,000 new cases of Crohns disease each year. Thus, the rising health complications will propel the demand for parenteral nutrition across health facilities.These supportive factors are expected to create an opportunity for this market, which will be worth US$6.9 bn by 2023 as compared to US$4.1 bn in 2014. Between the years 2015 and 2023, this market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.7%.Read Full Report:North America was the leading geographical segment in the global parenteral nutrition market as of 2014, accounting for nearly 40.1% share. The high rate of approvals from the U.S. FDA and supportive insurance policies that cover expenditure on parenteral nutrition are expected to keep this region in the leading position during the forecast period. The North America parenteral nutrition market that comprises the U.S. and Canada will also be driven by rising number diabetes and cancer cases. Furthermore, companies are also trying to expand their operations in Canada to gain a stronger foothold by meeting the unmet needs of the patients.Meanwhile, the parenteral nutrition market in Asia Pacific is expected to surge at the highest pace of 7.3% CAGR between 2015 and 2023. The emerging economies and developing pharmaceutical markets of countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand amongst others are expected to encourage the growth of this market within Asia Pacific. The rising cases of preterm birth, which leads to malnutrition is the prime reason for rising consumption of parenteral nutrition in Asia Pacific.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Out of all the products available in the global parenteral nutrition market, the single dose amino acid solutions nutrient segment captured a significant share of 34.14% in 2014. Research indicates that this segment will be the leading nutrient segment as several leading players are introducing unique amino acid-based PN products. The abundant availability of these products is expected to be the main reason for their soaring success in the forecast period. Reports also suggest that the parenteral lipid emulsion nutrient segment will grow at the highest CAGR of 6.2% amongst all other nutrient segments between 2015 and 2023.The leading players shaping the vendor landscape of the global parenteral nutrition market are Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Allergan plc (Actavis plc), Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Grifols S.A., Baxter International, Inc., Claris Lifesciences Limited, and B. Braun Melsungen AG, Pfizer, Inc. (Hospira, Inc.) amongst others. Companies are trying to seek approvals for their new parenteral nutrition formulations from concerned authorities such as the U.S. FDA to launch new products in the market. This effort is focused at both grabbing new market shares and providing for the deficit of parental nutrition in developing regions.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Herbal Medicine Market Research Report 2017- Tsumura, Schwabe, Madaus

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Herbal Medicine Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The Herbal Medicine has been expressively dissected in this statistical surveying that has been added to our frequently growing industry knowledge arrangement. The archive takes after an arrangement that gives a careful and scientific diagram of the Herbal Medicine and moreover inspects the main sections, compelling components, and market components that administer the development rate of the market and its competitive and regional scenes.The report offers to its clients an all-encompassing 360-degree point of view of the Herbal Medicine from the back to front, starting with the core values of the mechanical components, then proceeding onward to the examination of information on the different perspectives including as industry chain structure, groupings, industry diagram, arrangements, applications, and late advancements.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The data offered in the report has been accumulated through the assistance of various essential and auxiliary research strategies. Quantitative and subjective information appraisal for key market sections on the regional and the aggregate worldwide front have also been given in the report. The gigantic archives of information that have been sifted through by industry-best investigative techniques will give to the user the points of interest that matter the most.The report also gives a portrayal of the administrative situation of the Herbal Medicine and gives points of interest relating to the more prominent arrangements, approaches, controls, and decides in that effect the numerous business related choices in the market. A point by point outline of the competitive scene of the Herbal Medicine has additionally been given in the report, wherein itemized business profiles, SWOT examination, and numerous different insights about a portion of the real sellers in the market are incorporated.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Herbal Medicine Market Research Report 20171 Herbal Medicine Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Herbal Medicine1.2 Herbal Medicine Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Herbal Medicine by Type in 20151.2.2 Medicine Function1.2.3 Medicinal part1.2.4 Active Ingredient1.3 Herbal Medicine Segment by Application1.3.1 Herbal Medicine Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Western Herbalism1.3.3 Traditional Chinese Medicine1.3.4 Others1.4 Herbal Medicine 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 Herbal Medicine (2011-2021)2 Global Herbal Medicine Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Herbal Medicine Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Herbal Medicine Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Herbal Medicine Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Herbal Medicine Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Herbal Medicine Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Herbal Medicine Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Herbal Medicine Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Herbal Medicine Production and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Herbal Medicine Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.4 North America Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 Europe Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 China Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 Japan Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Southeast Asia Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 India Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Herbal Medicine Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Herbal Medicine Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.4 China Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.5 Japan Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.6 Southeast Asia Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.7 India Herbal Medicine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)5 Global Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Herbal Medicine Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.2 Global Herbal Medicine Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.3 Global Herbal Medicine Price by Type (2011-2016)5.4 Global Herbal Medicine Production Growth by Type (2011-2016)6 Global Herbal Medicine Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Herbal Medicine Consumption and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)6.2 Global Herbal Medicine Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Herbal Medicine Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Tsumura7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 Herbal Medicine Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Medicine Function7.1.2.2 Medicinal part7.1.3 Tsumura Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Schwabe7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 Herbal Medicine Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Medicine Function7.2.2.2 Medicinal part7.2.3 Schwabe Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Madaus7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.3.2 Herbal Medicine Product Type, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Medicine Function7.3.2.2 Medicinal part7.3.3 Madaus Herbal Medicine Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewAbout UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Smart Airports Market Present Scenario and Growth Prospects 2016

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Global Smart Airports Market Professional Survey Report 2017 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Smart Airports market is accounted for $10.25 billion in 2015, and is projected to register a CAGR of 6.0% to reach $15.4 billion by 2022. Growing air passenger traffic, increasing capital investments to modernize airports, and growing concerns for security are the major factors boosting the market growth. Furthermore, raising demand for baggage management, innovative technological advancements in systems & solutions are some of the other factors driving the market. On the other hand, intensified competition, indefinite operational and regulatory guidelines are the restrains limiting the market growth.Airport operations and business models have progressed dramatically over the last two decades to support the rapid growth of the global airline industry. Passengers are keen to induce new services to trim down their travel stress and ease the processing from check-in to boarding the flight. The technological advancements provided by the smart airports help reduce the passengers stress of journey and offers convenience. The Asia Pacific smart airport market is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR amongst all regions. The growth is attributed to increasing in number of airports, raising demand for hassle free air travelling, and growing air passenger traffic.This global study on the market for Global Smart Airports has been assessed for stakeholders by consulting data summoned via primary and secondary research. In the beginning of the study the definition, classification, specification and industry chain evaluation of the Smart Airports global market is covered. The dominant segments such as the parent segment and various sub-segments leading the market and their expected state by the end of the forecast period outlines this study.Download sample pages of this premium report:The current state of the market for Global Smart Airports and its anticipated growth all through the forecast horizon have been covered under the regional section of the report. The regional segmentation of the market also throws light on the top regions leading the market at present and their expected state by the end of the forecast horizon. This report is a detailed study of components such as the major trends in the market, the competitive evaluation, key regions, and future development prospects.Get 30 % Discount on this premium report @Information on the top players dominating the market and their business strategies is offered in the competitive landscape section of this market research report. This case study also provides company profiles of the major market players in this segment and also their primary strategies and financial status. In addition, company profiles, key products, SWOT analysis, import and export and product specifications of the key players are also covered in this part of this market research report.Table of Contents1 Global Smart Airports Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Global Smart Airports1.2 Global Smart Airports Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Global Smart Airports by Type in 20151.2.2 Type I1.2.3 Type II1.2.4 Type III1.3 Global Smart Airports Segment by Application1.3.1 Global Smart Airports Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 32 Global Smart Airports Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Smart Airports Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Smart Airports Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Smart Airports Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)3 Global Smart Airports Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Smart Airports Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Smart Airports Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Smart Airports Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global Smart Airports Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 Global Smart Airports Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Smart Airports Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Smart Airports Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 Global Smart Airports Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.3 Global Smart Airports Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.4 Global Smart Airports Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)For More Info on This 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.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Combined Heat And Power CHP Systems Market: Expected To Observer Major Growth By 2026

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Cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power systems (CHP)) is a cluster of technologies primarily used for the concurrent generation of electricity and useful heat. This combined generation of heat and electricity is much more effective than separate generation of electricity and useful heat in a way that CHP systems offers improved energy efficiency, reduced managing cost, low CO2 emission and others. Growing data center capacity as business operate more processes, handle complex analytics with increasing storage requirements for customer data and employing rich media. Handling of such large data requires continuous supply of reliable power making cogeneration systems of primary importance. Efficiency level for cogeneration systems can reach up to 80 % against separate generation of heat and electricity which provides combined efficiency of 40-50 %. CHP systems for data centers are gaining traction in the market as using such plants as source of data center power leads to energy efficient and substantial cost reduction benefits. However, another technology commercially available for powering data centers includes fuel cells. Although CHP systems are less efficient than fuel cells but requires lesser fuel to generate the same amount of power and has a win when its ability to supply chilled water is factored. Some of the major benefits offered utilizing CHP systems for data centers are limited reliance over external power supply, increased energy efficiency, low site carbon emission and others.Request For Report Sample@Global CHP System market for Data Centre: MarketDynamicsRegions with high electricity cost are readily adopting CHP systems primarily to save on their energy cost to provide base load power and using such systems to provide absorption cooling for the facility. Moreover, government initiatives to install CHP systems in data center facilities due to low CO2 emissions is also expected to increase its adoption rate thereby increasing the adoption of CHP system in data centers.Low economic life of data center IT equipment results in consumer reluctance towards adoption of CHP systems for data centers since these systems have equipment life of around 10-15 years in comparison to economic life of IT equipment which is only 2-3 years.Global CHP System market for Data Centre: SegmentationThe global CHP system market for data center can be segmented on the basis of data center types, facility size, installation type and region. By Data center types the market can be segmented into Telecoms, ISPs (internet Service Provider), CoLos (Co-located server hosting facilities), server farms, corporate data centers, university/ national laboratory and others. Based on facility the market can be segmented into less than 200 sq.ft, 200-700 sq.ft, 700-1,200 sq.ft, 1,200-6,000 sq.ft and more than 6,000 sq.ft. Based on installation type global cogeneration systems market for data center can be segmented into newly installed systems and retrofit systems. By region global CHP system market for data centers can be segmented into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa and Japan.Request For TOC@Global CHP System market for Data Centre: Key PlayersSome of the major players identified across CHP system market for data center includes ENER-G, Korea Electric Power Corporation, National Grid plc, Exelon Corporation, NextEra Energy, Inc., Chubu Electric Power Company, American Electric Power Company, Inc. and 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:
GrayMatter Software Services has achieved ISO 27001:2013 Certification

Now ISO27001 Certified!

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GrayMatter Software Services has achieved ISO 27001:2013 certification for Information Security Management. By achieving this internationally recognized standard, GrayMatter has reiterated its commitment towards information security. This certification demonstrates GrayMatters compliance with globally accepted information security best practices, which in turn acts as a positive reinforcement for GrayMatters clients, prospects, partners and all other stakeholders that their data is secure with GrayMatter.ISO 27001 is the best-known standard in the family of ISO 27000 standards providing requirements for an information security management system (ISMS). The implementation and compliance of ISO includes people, processes and IT systems leading to security of sensitive information of the company, or of a third-party.Mr. Vikas Gupta, CEO & CTO, GrayMatter Software Services, commented This is a very important milestone in GrayMatters journey of achieving excellence in data analytics and will go a long way in achieving our goal of being the most trusted provider of data-driven insightsAbout GrayMatter Software ServicesGrayMatter is a Big Data, Data Science, Analytics & Business Intelligence specialist with a track record of successful implementation of over 170 projects across USA, EMEA & APAC spanning multiple industries. Collaboration with strategic technical partners like Pentaho, SAP and Microsoft besides in-house engineering excellence has given rise to innovative industry specific product offerings like Insurance Analytics (IA+), Finance Analytics (FA+) and Airport Analytics (AA+) which have already taken big strides in the global markets. GrayMatter is headquartered in Bangalore, India with offices in USA, UK, Hungary, Finland, Malaysia, Singapore and Middle-East with Global R & D Centre in Helsinki, Finland. Visit us atGrayMatter Software Services Pvt. Ltd.4th Floor,West Wing, RMZ Ecoworld SEZ, Bellandur, Bangalore, India
Mexico Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Mexico Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "Mexico Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the Mexico Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures. The report provides procedure volumes within market segment - Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) procedures.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology based models to estimate and forecast the procedure volumes. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the procedure volumes.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- Mexico Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures volumes by segment- Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) procedures.- Projections for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business and investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.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
Mexico Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Mexico Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "Mexico Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the Mexico Bariatric Procedures. The report provides procedure volumes within market segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology based models to estimate and forecast the procedure volumes. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the procedure volumes.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- Mexico Bariatric Procedures volumes by segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.- Projections for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business and investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.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
xyzReptiles expecting Baby Ball Pythons For Sale Starting April 14th

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Online Reptile Retails fastest growing site is ready to bring their great customers an opportunity that is only available once a year. It is once again Baby Ball Python Season and that means that hundreds of beautiful baby ball pythons will be available for sale as feeding and well started hatchlings. Baby ball pythons are one of the most sought after snakes for sale and this season will be full of surprising morphs and color combinations.The owners of xyzReptiles have been working hard to bring rare new reptile morphs to the market and have also been making sure that the proper lighting and heating requirements are met for every little baby Ball Python that will be housed at their Miami facility. The proper housing is the first step in ensuring these beautiful baby snakes will feed and thrive as they await to be delivered to their new homes.We are so happy to see baby Ball Pythons back on our site, said Amir Soleymani, Managing Member of the online reptile store. Amir continued to say, These brightly colored reptiles are seasonal and only available as babies once a year so the opportunity to keep and feed them as well as get them to our loyal customers is one that we look forward to every year.Baby Ball Pythons originate in West Africa in the countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana. These small heavy bodied pythons have learned to seek the shelter and feeding opportunity of termite nests in the wild where they can stay out of the sun, find shelter from predators and surprise unsuspecting rodents into becoming nourishing meals.xyzReptiles is an eCommerce company based in Miami, FL. The online reptile store offers quality reptiles for sale and a large selection of reptile pets and supplies at discount prices. All animals are shipped via FedEx Next Day Air and come with a Live Arrival Guarantee. The company was founded in April of 2015 and launched their websitein late July of the same year. While the founding of the company is recent the managing members have over 25 years of reptile breeding experience and husbandry.xyzReptiles305-305-5998142025 SW 142nd Ave Ste 15Miami, FL 33186info@xyzrpetiles.com
India Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title India Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "India Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the India Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Procedures. The report provides procedure volumes within market segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology based models to estimate and forecast the procedure volumes. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the procedure volumes.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- India Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Procedures volumes by segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.- Projections for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business and investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.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
Cardiac Output Monitoring Devices Market 2024: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape

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Cardiac output is known as the volume of blood is pumped by from the right or left ventricle of heart per minute and which is dependent on heart rate, and stroke volume. The cardiac output increases during acute exercise and mental stress, while decreased cardiac output might include physical exercise of a intensity that the patient is not able to bear because of decrease in oxygen supply, obesity, ingestion of large meals that place an added workload on the heart, retention of fluid, emotional stress, hypervolemia, and smoking. It is essential to assess the state of patients blood circulation. Low cardiac output usually leads to a common problem of low blood pressure which might surface occur during surgery, or during postoperative care in the intensive care units.Read Full Report:In high-risk surgical patients and critically ill patients the arterial blood pressure and cardiac output usually are monitored more comprehensively. Cardiac output monitoring devices are used to know the cardiac output of heart and arterial oxygen content which enable the circulation of continuous systemic oxygen supply to the body. Doubling the cardiac output leads to double amount of the oxygen supply to the tissues, while the low cardiac output leads to inadequate supply of oxygen to organs like brain and the low amount of cellular oxygenation can cause tissue and organ failure. The major observed causative factors for the decrease cardiac output are congenital heart defects, pathologic changes in the heart's muscle, blood dyscrasias, chronic pulmonary disease and electrolyte imbalances (as of potassium or calcium). According to North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, decreased cardiac output is defined as a state in which inadequate blood is pumped by the heart to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Cardiac output monitoring devices market is classified on the basis of product type, methods, end-user and geography.On the basis of product type the market is broadly classified into invasive, minimally-invasive and non-invasive cardiac output monitoring devices. The invasive cardiac output monitoring has been traditionally accomplished using the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), but complications associated with PAC has markedly decreased the widespread use of the PAC. The market demand for the non- invasive devices is high followed by minimally invasive devices as compare to invasive devices, due to factors such as ease, accessibility and cost- effectiveness and fast response time. By methods the market is segmented as thermodilution method, pulse pressure analysis, Doppler method, bioimpedance and applied Fick principle. Each methods has its own merits and demerits. On the basis of end-user the market is segmented as hospitals, ambulatory care and critical care centers. By end-user hospitals covers the major market for cardiac output monitoring devices, because of reliability and conjunction of other therapeutic treatments. The factors such as raising incidences of cardiovascular diseases, increase in the number of people suffering from obesity, growing ageing population, and raising healthcare infrastructure facilities are the growth drivers of this market.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:By geography, the market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world. Geographically, North America was observed to have the major share of cardiac output monitoring device market due to high healthcare awareness, prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and technological advancement in the region. Europe contributes to the second largest share in the cardiac output monitoring device market growth with raising ageing population. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing due to the gradual adoption of improved technologies, emerging health care infrastructures, and raising population with cardiac problems and obesity. Followed by Rest of the world.The major key players operating in cardiac output monitoring device market include Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Cheetah Medical, PULSION Medical Systems SE, Philips Healthcare, LiDCO Group plc, Boston Scientific Corporation, GE Healthcare, and others. Bioreactance-based NICOM Cheetah Medical remains the topmost non-invasive market leader.The 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.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cardiac Rehabilitation Market: Aggressive Research Activities Stimulating Market Growth

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Increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases has made the global population realize the importance of physical activities in daily routine. This has increased demand for cardiac rehabilitation programs. Such programs help the patients to recover early from any previous cardiac strokes. A cardiac rehabilitation program is a comprehensive activity, which is continuously monitored in order to assist the population to improve their lifestyle. Various cardiovascular risk parameters are monitored and are tapered to healthy level. Cardiac rehabilitation programs include exercise training, monitoring of body vitals, education about healthy habits, and various other activities that helps the body to retain its healthy state. Cardiac rehabilitation activities help reduce the risk of future occurrence of cardiac strokes, reduce the pain and requirement for medicines in cardiac treatment, improve health status by decreasing the risk factors for cardiac attacks, and help to improve the health status by reducing the risk factors.Cardiovascular diseases have surfaced as a major concern in the medical and healthcare industry. As elderly people are more prone to these diseases, the significant increase in the global geriatric population has augmented the risk of their prevalence, which consequently, is having a phenomenal impact on the demand for cardiac rehabilitation measures across the world.According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for cardiac rehabilitation offered an opportunity of US$1.0 bn in 2015. Boosted by the rising incidence of cardiac arrest, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases, the opportunity of this market is likely to expand at a CAGR of 5.40% during the period from 2016 to 2024 and reach a value of US$1.6 bn by the end of 2024.Read Full Report:Through this blog post, analysts at TMR are answering some of the most important questions about the global cardiac rehabilitation market:What are the key driving forces behind the growth of the global cardiac rehabilitation market?The surge in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases across the world is the key factor behind the tremendous growth of the global market for cardiac rehabilitation. Apart from this, the technological advancements in the medical and healthcare infrastructure, rise in the purchasing power of consumers, and the awareness about the role of cardiac rehabilitation in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases are also boosting this market considerably.Which of the geographical segments is likely to dominate the global market for cardiac rehabilitation?North America, which has been leading the global market for cardiac rehabilitation over the last few years due to the high disposable income of people, enabling them to spend on expensive treatment services, is likely to continue its leading streaks in the forthcoming years with a majority share.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:Other regional markets, specifically Europe and Asia Pacific are also projected to witness strong growth over the next few years, thanks to the growing awareness about cardiac rehabilitation and its advantages. The advancing technology and the state-of-art medical and healthcare infrastructure are expected to support the Europe market for cardiac rehabilitation while the Asia Pacific market is likely to gain from the improving economic conditions in developing nations. Between 2016 and 2024, the market for cardiac rehabilitation is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.80%, higher than all other regional markets.What are the main strategies market players are adopting for the development of their businesses?Mostly, the key players are relying on product innovation for business development. Price competition is another significant strategy, participants are adopting to gain an edge over their competitors. Going forward, the leading companies are expected to shift their focus towards strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions to enhance their visibility in the global market.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Steve Bannon

Political observers have been scrambling to parse President Donald Trumps latest words about rumored fighting within his administration.

Trump appeared to be gradually distancing himself from White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who has been seen as increasingly isolated in the West Wing.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Wednesday, Trump seemed to dismiss Bannon, an aide and campaign confidante he has known for at least five years, describing him simply as a guy who works for me.

The president echoed comments he made in the New York Post on Tuesday. In that interview, Trump attempted to diminish Bannons role in his 2016 election campaign, saying Bannon was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and all the governors and I didn't know Steve.

"I'm my own strategist and it wasn't like I was going to change strategies because I was facing crooked Hillary."

Bannon signed on as Trumps campaign chairman in August.

Despite rumblings that Bannons West Wing days may be numbered, the administration has insisted everything is fine. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the rumors of a rift between Bannon and Trumps son-in-law-turned-top-adviser, Jared Kushner, were overblown.

Reince Priebus, Trumps chief of staff, also rejected the rumors.

But, if Trump's recent equivocations on Bannon and a New York Times report asserting that one of Bannons allies is exploring post-White House options for him are an indication, Bannon's future in the Trump administration is anything but certain.

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows which states are the biggest winners and losers from 'Trumpcare'





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China Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title China Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "China Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the China Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures. The report provides procedure volumes within market segment - Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) procedures.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology based models to estimate and forecast the procedure volumes. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the procedure volumes.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- China Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures volumes by segment - Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) procedures.- Projections for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business and investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.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
Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Industry, 2017 Market Research Report

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Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market report focuses on the major drivers and restraints for the key players. Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Industry research report also provides granular analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market.This report studies the Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle market. Vacuum Bottles are insulating storage bottles that greatly lengthens the time over which their contents remain hotter or cooler than the containers' surroundings. There are double walls designed within one bottle and the gap between the two walls is partially evacuated of air, creating a near-vacuum which significantly reduces heat transfer by conduction or convection. Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottles are vacuum bottles adopt stainless steels.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle 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.Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversNanlongShinetimeHaersThermosZojirushiPeacockPMITIGERLock&Lock (Hana Cobi Plastic)Request a sample copy of Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Research Report @Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Segment by Type, coversChildren ProductsAdult ProductsThe listed pricing for this Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market report starts at $ 3480. Request Discount for Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Research Report @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHouseholdsOutdoorsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle Market Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Rotary claw vacuum pump Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Rotary claw vacuum pump Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Rotary claw vacuum pump industry with a focus on the Chinese market.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:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
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Advancements in the healthcare industry are constantly increasing to provide extra benefit and advance services for the patients. Accordingly, the number of growing diseases and increasing awareness about health has boosted the demand for critical care equipments. Increase in number of health care facilities across the globe is expected to fuel the growth of global critical care equipment market, finds a new study added to the wide repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). The study is titled as Global Critical Care Equipment Market Research Report 2017 which delivers exhaustive information on the global market covering the vital regions such as Europe, North America, Japan, Southeast Asia, China and India.Request Free Sample Report:Moreover, with an extensive forecast up to 2022, the report evaluates the global market size and growth prospects. As per the study key highlights, technological advancements in critical care equipments, government support and growing private sector investments in the healthcare industry, are key factors fueling the growth of the critical care devices market in the emerging nations. In 2016, the global Critical Care Equipment market has gained a significant growth value and is predictable to reach a high value in (USD million) by the end of 2022, rising at a steady CAGR between 2017 and 2022.At first, the report starts with the overall critical care equipment market along with its segmentation by type and application. Critical care units are special departments of health care facilities that cater to critically ill patients or those with life-threatening severe illnesses. For that, much critical care equipments are utilized in applications, such as hospitals and home care. Rising number of hospitals across the world is also a factor contributing towards the growth of this market.On the basis of the type it covers:Infusion PumpsVentilatorsPatient MonitorsFor each type, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share & growth rate which has been analyzed during the period of 2012 to 2017. On the other hand, for each application, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users together with consumption (sales), market share and growth rate.In the next section, on the basis of several key regions, the report also assess the details of production, consumption, revenue (in million USD).Moreover, key players in the global market for critical care equipment highlighted in the report are as follows:Braun Melsungen AGSmiths MedicalAkasmedicalMedtronicNihon KohdenGeneral ElectricKoninklijke PhilipsDragerwerk AG & Co. KGAAMaquetFresenius KABIBPL Medical TechnologiesSkanrayBrowse Full Report With TOC:Further sections of the report cover the following details; manufacturing cost analysis, industrial chain analysis, marketing strategy and marketing effect factors analysis.About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comFollow us on:Twitter: twitter.com/MktResearchHubLinkedIn:Facebook:
Brazil Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Brazil Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "Brazil Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the Brazil Bariatric Procedures. The report provides procedure volumes within market segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology based models to estimate and forecast the procedure volumes. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the procedure volumes.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- Brazil Bariatric Procedures volumes by segments - Gastric Bypass Procedures, Gastric Banding Procedures, Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures and Other Methods.- Projections for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business and investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.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
Global Wound Care Market Growth driven by Rising Elderly Population, Increasing life Expectancy and Diabetic Population

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"The Report Global Wound Care Market with Focus on Advanced Wound Care: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"A wound is any disruption of the normal structure and function of the skin and its architecture. It causes pain, prolonged hospital stays, chronic morbidity and can lead to loss of limb or life. Wound management seeks to prevent or treat wounds by ensuring that it is free of dead tissue matter, infection free and moist. The wounds can be classified as acute and chronic.Advanced wound care products are used to treat more complex chronic and acute wounds using technology to aid the healing process. This category generally includes film and foam dressings, hydrogels, alginates and hydrocolloids. Treating an acute or chronic wound with the appropriate dressing assists the bodys natural healing processes. Using the right wound care products can speed up this process by encouraging new tissue formation. The advanced wound care products are largely focused on keeping the wound hydrated to encourage healing.View Report @The global wound care market is set to experience favourable growth driven by factors such as rising elderly population, increasing life expectancy and rising diabetic population. Further, the scope of growth for this market will be broadened by growing population with ulcer pressures and increasing awareness of advanced wound care products. However, the growth of this budding market will be hindered by high cost of advanced wound care products and complex regulatory approval process.The report Global Wound Care Market with Focus on Advanced Wound Care: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) analyses the development of this market, with focus on the U.S. and Rest of the World. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: Acelity L.P. Inc., Smith & Nephew, Coloplast and ConvaTec are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global wound care market along with the study of the regional markets.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Table of Content1. Market Overview1.1 Wound Care1.2 Advanced Wound Care2. Global Wound Care Market2.1 Global Wound Care Market Forecast by Value2.2 Global Wound Care Market by Region2.2.1 North America Wound Care Market Forecast by Value2.2.2 Europe Wound Care Market Forecast by Value2.2.3 ROW Wound Care Market Forecast by Value2.3 Global Wound Care Market by Segment2.3.1 Surgical Wound Care Market Forecast by Value2.3.2 Basic Wound Care Market Forecast by Value3. Global Advanced Wound Care Market3.1 Global Advanced Wound Care Market by Value3.2 Global Advanced Wound Care Market Forecast by Value3.3 Global Advanced Wound Care Market by Region3.4 Global Advanced Wound Care Market by Segment3.4.1 Global Advanced Wound Care Product Market by Value3.4.2 Global Advanced Wound Care Product Market Forecast by Value3.4.3 Global Advanced Wound Care Product Market by Region3.4.4 Global Advanced Wound Care Product Market by Segment3.4.5 Global Foam Market by Value3.4.6 Global Foam Market Forecast by Value3.4.7 Global Silver/Anti-Microbial Market by Value3.4.8 Global Silver/Anti-Microbial Market Forecast by Value3.4.9 Global Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market by Value3.4.10 Global Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market Forecast by Value3.4.11 Global Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market by Region3.4.12 Global Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market by Segment4. Regional Advanced Wound Care Market4.1 The U.S.4.1.1 The U.S. Advanced Wound Care Market by Value4.1.2 The U.S. Advanced Wound Care Market Forecast by Value4.1.3 The U.S. Advanced Wound Care Product Market by Value4.1.4 The U.S. Advanced Wound Care Product Market Forecast by Value4.1.5 The U.S. Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market by Value4.1.6 The U.S. Wound NPWT Devices Market Forecast by Value4.2 ROW4.2.1 ROW Advanced Wound Care Market by Value4.2.2 ROW Advanced Wound Care Market Forecast by Value4.2.3 ROW Advanced Wound Care Product Market by Value4.2.4 ROW Advanced Wound Care Product Market Forecast by Value4.2.5 ROW Advanced Wound Care NPWT Devices Market by Value4.2.6 ROW Advanced Wound NPWT Devices Market Forecast by Value5. Market Dynamics5.1 Growth Drivers5.1.1 Rising Ageing Population5.1.2 Increasing Life Expectancy5.1.3 Rising Diabetic Population5.1.4 Growing Population with Ulcer Pressures5.1.5 Increasing Awareness for Wound Care Products5.2 Key Trends & Development5.2.1 Favourable Reimbursement Scenario5.2.2 Recent Technological Advancements5.3 Challenges5.3.1 High Cost of Advanced Wound Care Products5.3.2 Complex Regulatory Approval ProcessAbout 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: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Cocoa Market 2017 Share, Growth, Key Manufacturers Analysis and Regional Forecast

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ReportsWeb.com added Global Cocoa Market Research Report 2017 to its vast collection of research Database. The report is spread across 100 pages and supported by 10 company leaders.The Global Cocoa Market Research Report 2017 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Cocoa Market. This report studies Cocoa in Global market, especially North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer covering top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering Nestle, Mars, Cargill, Blommer, Barry Callebaut, ADM, CEMOI, Olam, Puratos and Meiji Holdings.Request a Sample copy of this researchMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Cocoa in these regions, from 2017 to 2022 (forecast), like North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. Firstly, Cocoa Market On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Cocoa Powder and Cocoa Bean. On 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 Cocoa for each application, including Food & Beverage, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals and Other.View more details about this report @Few points from Table of Contents1 Cocoa Market Overview2 Global Cocoa Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Cocoa Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Cocoa Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Cocoa Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Cocoa Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Cocoa Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Cocoa Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Cocoa Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Cocoa Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Cocoa Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Cocoa Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Cocoa Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Cocoa Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Cocoa Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Nestle7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Cocoa Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Nestle Cocoa Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Mars7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Cocoa Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Mars Cocoa Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Cargill7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Cocoa Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Cargill Cocoa Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Cocoa Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Cocoa Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionBuy a copy of complete 100 pages report @Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comOrganization: ReportsWebPhone: +1-646-491-9876ReportsWeb.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
Global Air Drying Equipment Market 2017 : Air and Liquid Systems, Sonic Air Systems, Silicair Dryers Limited

Air Drying Equipment

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A market study based on the " Air Drying Equipment Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Air Drying Equipment Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Air Drying Equipment industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Air Drying Equipment market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research ReportAir and Liquid SystemsSonic Air SystemsSilicair Dryers LimitedThe report studies the industry for Air Drying Equipment across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Air Drying Equipment market & dynamics of demand and supply of Air Drying Equipment into consideration. The 'Air Drying Equipment' research study covers each and every aspect of the Air Drying Equipment market globally, which starts from the definition of the Air Drying Equipment industry and develops towards Air Drying Equipment market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Air Drying Equipment market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Air Drying Equipment market. The geographical segmentation of the Air Drying Equipment industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Air Drying Equipment is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Air Drying Equipment market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Air Drying Equipment market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Air Drying Equipment market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Air Drying Equipment production volume, data regarding demand and Air Drying Equipment supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Air Drying Equipment across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Business are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Business, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries such as Automotive and Aerospace, Medical Devices, Technology, Machinery & Manufacturing.Contact Us :Worldwide BusinessUnited States
Global Air Grinders Market 2017 : ATA Group, Chicago Pneumatic, MONEYIN ENTERPRISE CO.LTD.

Air Grinders

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A market study based on the " Air Grinders Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Air Grinders Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Air Grinders industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Air Grinders market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research ReportATA GroupChicago PneumaticMONEYIN ENTERPRISE CO.LTD.The report studies the industry for Air Grinders across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Air Grinders market & dynamics of demand and supply of Air Grinders into consideration. The 'Air Grinders' research study covers each and every aspect of the Air Grinders market globally, which starts from the definition of the Air Grinders industry and develops towards Air Grinders market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Air Grinders market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Air Grinders market. The geographical segmentation of the Air Grinders industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Air Grinders is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Air Grinders market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Air Grinders market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Air Grinders market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Air Grinders production volume, data regarding demand and Air Grinders supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Air Grinders across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Business are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Business, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries such as Automotive and Aerospace, Medical Devices, Technology, Machinery & Manufacturing.Contact Us :Worldwide BusinessUnited States
Cervical Dysplasia Market: Geographical and Competitive Dynamics 2016 - 2024

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Global Cervical Dysplasia Market: SnapshotCervical dysplasia is one of the fastest growing market in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Cervical cancer is a precancerous stage and it can be completely cured by early detection. Rising consumer awareness in this regard has led to an increased demand for cervical screenings in the past few years. Government bodies in several developed countries conduct screening programs in order to improve the quality of life of population by reducing the mortality rate. Furthermore, recommendations from government organization for early detection of chronic diseases including cervical dysplasia is one of the major factors that is expected to drive the overall cervical dysplasia market over the forecast period.Transparency Market Research states that the global cervical dysplasia market was valued at US$349.0 mn in 2015 and will expand at a CAGR of 7.0 % during the period between 2016 and 2024, to reach US$ 640.2 mn by 2024.Read Full Report:Thanks to High Accuracy and Low Cost, HPV Tests to See Vast Rise in DemandBased on diagnosis, the market has been segmented into diagnostic tests and diagnostic devices. Furthermore, the diagnosis test segment is examined for Pap smear (Papanicolaou) test, HPV (human papillomavirus) test, and biopsy. Colposcope devices are considered as diagnostic devices for cervical dysplasia market in this report. Of these, the segment of diagnostic tests accounted for around 86.3% of the market in terms of revenue in 2015. Availability of reimbursement for cervical dysplasia screening tests in mature markets such as North America and Europe is one of the key factors expected to fuel the sales of cervical dysplasia diagnostic tests market in the next few years.Of the key cervical dysplasia diagnostic tests analyzed in the report, the segment of HPV tests is expected to grow at a higher CAGR over the forecast period owing to the rising aversion to Pap smear tests and advancements in HPV testing technologies. The significant false-negative rate and high costs of Pap smear tests have resulted in a vast decline in their demand, with the more accurate and cost-effective HPV testing emerging as one of the primary screening tool recommended by healthcare providers these days.Developed Economies to Continue Being Most LucrativeGeographically, North America was the dominant market for cervical dysplasia in 2015. The region accounted for a share of over 55.2% of the global cervical dysplasia market in the said year. Rising awareness about cervical dysplasia screening programs and technological advancements in screening devices and other supporting equipment are the key factors fueling the growth of the North America cervical dysplasia market. The diagnosis test segment in North America dominated, accounting for over 85% in the regional market in 2015. The increasing incidence rate of cervical cancer in women above the age of 50 years and favorable reimbursement policies supported by federal organizations such as Medicare are also expected to drive the market in North America in the next few years.Download exclusive Sample of this report:The cervical dysplasia market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the most promising growth rate during the forecast period, chiefly owing to the improving healthcare infrastructure and encouraging government funding on cancer research in the region. The markets in emerging economies such as India and China are expected to exhibit significant expansion in the next few years. Several government-funded cervical dysplasia screening programs in these countries, initiated with the aim of reducing the mortality rate by improving the quality of life of the population will be a key driver of the market.Some of the key players operating in the global cervical dysplasia market are F. Hoffmann La-Roche Ltd., QIAGEN, Becton, Dickinson and company, OncoHealth Corporation, Quest Diagnostics, Inc., Hologic, Inc., and Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Sales of Stent Grafts Market Evaluated by Type, Applications and Regions

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The market research report 2017 Global Stent Grafts Market Status, 2011-2022 Market Historical and Forecasts, Professional Market Research Report aims to offer insights into new business opportunities for companies active in Stent Grafts as well as for those players that are aiming to get an entry into the industry.A stent graft or covered stent is type of vascular stent with a fabric coating that creates a contained tube but is expandable like a bare metal stent. Covered stents are used in endovascular surgical procedures such as endovascular aneurysm repair. Stent grafts are also used to treat stenosis in vascular grafts and fistulas used for hemodialysis.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Stent Grafts 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.Global Stent Grafts Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMedtronicCook MedicalGoreEndologixBardTerumoBolton MedicalJotecRequest a sample copy of Global Stent Grafts Market Research Report @Global Stent Grafts Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Global Stent Grafts Market Segment by Type, coversAAA Stent GraftsTAA Stent GraftsThe listed pricing for this Global Stent Grafts Market report starts at $ 3480. Request Discount for Global Stent Grafts Market Research Report @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPeripheral Stent GraftsAortic Stent GraftsOtherBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Stent Grafts Market Report @Related Reports: -2017-2022 Japan Inulin Market Report (Status and Outlook)The Inulin market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022 in Japan, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) XX% from 2016 to 2022.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:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Global and China Refrigerator Market 2017 by Manufacturers - Haier, SIEMENS, Ronshen, Midea, Whirlpool, SUMSUNG

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Global Refrigerator Market Research Report 2017Global Refrigerator Market 2017, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Refrigerator market globally, providing basic overview of Refrigerator market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure, Refrigerator Market report provides development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. Refrigerator market size, share and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Download Sample Report @Scope Of The Report:This report studies Refrigerator in Global and China market, focuses on top manufacturers in global and China market, involving Refrigerator price of each type, production, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. This report also displays the production, revenue and market share of Refrigerator in USA, EU, China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia, forecast to 2020, 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, coveringSingle-door RefrigeratorDouble-door RefrigeratorThree-door RefrigeratorMulti-door RefrigeratorSplit by manufacturers, this report focuses on the production, price of each type, average price of Refrigerator, revenue and market share, for each manufacturer in 2016 and 2017. Top players, coveringHaierSIEMENSRonshenMideaMeilingSUMSUNGFRESTECHHisenseLGPanasonicBOSCHTCLElectroluxAomaWhirlpoolDIQUAAUCMASAIYITOSHISAWEILIAccess Full Report With TOC @Split by applications, this report focuses on consumption and growth rate of Refrigerator in each application, can be divided intoHomeCommercialKitchenMedicalSplit by regions, this report focuses on the production, revenue, consumption and market share of Refrigerator in these regions, from 2012 to 2020 (forecast), coveringUSAEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Increasing Prevalence of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021)

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"The Report Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a relatively new technology in the field of medical science. It is a less intrusive method of replacing heart valve without undergoing the conventional by-pass surgery. Due to the less invasive nature of the surgery, it has emerged as the more feasible alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is sometimes called as Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). TAVR may be an option for people who are considered at intermediate or high risk of complications from surgical aortic valve replacement. It may also be suggested in certain cases where patient cannot undergo open-heart surgery. The decision to treat aortic stenosis with TAVR is made after consultation with a multidisciplinary group of medical and surgical heart specialists who together determine the best treatment option for each individual.View Report @The global TAVR market is set to experience favourable growth driven by factors such as increasing elderly population, rising health care expenditure, increasing obese population and global economic development. Further, the scope of growth for this market will be broadened by increasing prevalence of aortic stenosis amongst the patients and rising demand for minimally invasive procedures. However, the growth of this budding market will be hindered by the business cycle fluctuations and risk of security breaches such as stringent regulations, high cost of TAVR devices and high risks associated with the TAVR procedure.The report Global TAVR Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) analyses the development of this market, with focus on the U.S, Asia Pacific and European markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, Medtronic Plc. and St. Jude Medical, Inc. are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global TAVR market along with the study of the regional markets.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Table of Content1. Introduction1.1 TAVR Overview2. Global Market Analysis2.1 Global TAVR Market by Value2.2 Global TAVR Market Forecast by Value2.3 Global TAVR Implant Volume2.4 Global TAVR Implant Volume Forecast2.5 Global TAVR Patient Population2.6 Global TAVR Patient Population Forecast3. Regional Market Analysis3.1 The U.S.3.1.1 The U.S. TAVR Market by Value3.1.2 The U.S TAVR Forecast by Value3.1.3 The U.S. TAVR Implant Volume3.1.4 The U.S. TAVR Implant Volume Forecast3.1.5 The U.S. TAVR Implant Volume by Patient Type3.1.6 The U.S. TAVR Implant Volume Forecast-Patient Type3.1.7 The U.S. TAVR Implant Volume by Access Route3.1.8 The U.S. Aortic Valve Disease Patient Population Forecast3.2 Outside the U.S.3.2.1 OUS TAVR Market by Value3.2.2 OUS TAVR Market Forecast by Value3.2.3 OUS TAVR Implant Volume3.2.4 OUS TAVR Implant Forecast by Volume3.2.5 OUS TAVR Patient Population3.2.6 OUS TAVR Patient Population Forecast3.2.7 Europe TAVR Implant Volume by Patient Type3.2.8 Europe TAVR Implant Volume Forecast by Patient Type3.2.9 Europe TAVR Implant Volume by Access Route4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Aging Population4.1.2 Rising HealthCare Expenditure4.1.3 Increasing Obese Population4.1.4 Economic Development4.1.5 Increasing Prevalence of Inoperable Aortic Stenosis4.2 Key Trends & Development4.2.1 Recent Technological Advancements4.2.2 Favourable Reimbursement Policies in Europe4.3 Challenges4.3.1 Stringent Regulations4.3.2 High Cost of TAVR Devices4.3.3 Associated High Risk5. Competition5.1 Global Market5.1.1 Global TAVR Market Share by Company5.1.2 Global TAVR Market-Implanting Centres by Company5.1.3 Global TAVR Market-Total Implants by Company5.1.4 Global TAVR Market-Average Selling Price of Implants by Company5.2 The U.S.5.2.1 The U.S. TAVR Market Share by Company5.2.2 The U.S. TAVR Market-Implanting Centres by Company5.2.3 The U.S. TAVR Market-Total Implants by Company5.2.4 The U.S. TAVR Market-Average Selling Price of Implants by Company5.3 Outside the U.S.5.3.1 OUS TAVR Market Share by Company5.3.2 OUS TAVR Market- Implanting Centres by Company5.3.3 OUS TAVR Market- Total Implants by Company5.3.4 OUS TAVR Market-Average Selling Price of Implants by CompanyAbout 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: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Rising Employment Opportunities Of Remittance Market Analysis & Outlook (2015-2020)

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"The Report Global Remittance Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2015-2020) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The remittance industry contributes to the economic growth of the countries participating in the practice as well as to the livelihood of the individuals involved. The remittance system is comprised of the Remittance Service Providers (RSP), Remittance Corridors, the Remittance Network and the Money transfer system. Remittance Services are divided primarily on the basis of ways a network of access points is created and linked. There are broadly four categories: unilateral services, franchised services, negotiated services and open services.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The key factors driving the growth of remittance market are increasing international migration, growing urbanization, accelerating economic growth and rising employment opportunities. A noteworthy trend of this industry is cost by sending and receiving method, unstable remittance cost, increased access to financial services, changing technology landscape for payments, more convenience and lesser costs, advancement in technology, and maturing of immigrant communities. However, the expansion of the market is hindered by de-risking is threatening the industry and access points establishment.The report Global Remittance Market provides an in-depth analysis of the global remittance market, along with a study of top remittance receiving and contributing countries. The report also includes detailed description of regional markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The industry comprises few large players such as MoneyGram International Inc., Western Union Company and Euronet Worldwide Inc. All these companies have been profiled in the present report highlighting their key financials and business strategies for growth.View Report @Table of Content1. Remittance Market - An Overview1.1 An Introduction1.2 Types of Remittance Services1.3 Remittance Marketplace1.4 Remittance Market Value Chain2. Global Remittance Market Analysis2.1 Global Remittance Inflow2.2 Global Average Remittance Cost by Region2.3 Global Average Cost by Remittance Service Provider3. Regional Market Analysis3.1 Remittance Market by Income Characteristics3.1.1 Low and Middle Income Countries3.2 Remittances Market by Region3.2.1 East Asia and Pacific Region3.2.2 Europe and Central Asia Region3.2.3 Latin America and Caribbean Region3.2.4 Middle East and North Africa Region3.2.5 South Asia Region3.2.6 Sub Saharan Africa Region3.3 Remittances Market by Largest Receiving Countries3.3.1 India3.3.2 China3.3.3 Philippines3.3.4 Mexico3.4 Remittances Market by Largest Contributing Countries3.4.1 The US3.4.2 Saudi Arabia3.4.3 Switzerland4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Increasing International Migration4.1.2 Growing Urbanization4.1.3 Accelerating Economic Growth4.1.4 Rising Employment Opportunities4.2 Market Trends4.2.1 Cost by Sending and Receiving Method4.2.2 Unstable Remittance Cost4.2.3 Increased Access to Financial Services4.2.4 Changing Technology Landscape for Payments4.2.5 More Convenience and Lesser Costs4.2.6 Advancement in Technology4.2.7 Maturing of Immigrant Communities4.3 Challenges4.3.1 De-risking is threatening the Industry4.3.2 Access Points Establishment5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Global Remittance Market Share by Company6. Company Profiles6.1 MoneyGram International, Inc.6.1.1 Business Overview6.1.2 Financial Overview6.1.3 Business Strategies6.2 The Western Union Company6.2.1 Business Overview6.2.2 Financial Overview6.2.3 Business Strategies6.3 Euronet Worldwide, Inc.6.3.1 Business Overview6.3.2 Financial Overview6.3.3 Business StrategiesAbout 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: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
High-end Paper and Board Packaging Market - Technological breakthroughs, Value chain and stakeholder analysis by 2024

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Global High-end Paper and Board Packaging Market: SnapshotHigh-end paper and board packaging are supplies used for the packaging and protection of extremely fragile and expensive products. They are known for providing durability and sustainable packaging for various industrial products. The primary benefits of high-end paper and board packaging include waterproof ability, toughness/softness, recyclability, and reusability. The applications of high-end paper and board packaging are household care, personal care, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, watches, gourmet foods, tobacco, alcohol, confectionery, and cosmetics.For more information on this report, fill the form @The market intelligence report investigates into the conceivable growth prospects for the global high-end and board packaging market and the sequential growth of the market during the course of the forecast period. It also exclusively provisions the mandatory data related to aspects such as the dynamics manipulating the progress in all possible reflective manner. Numerous pervasive and non-pervasive trends have also been stated in the report. An outlook of extensive nature keeping in mind the Porters five forces analysis has been provided to make the vendor landscape transparent to the reader. The report further points out several activities related to R&D, mergers, acquisitions, and crucial conglomerates and corroborations. The companies in attention have been examined on the basis of market shares, prime products, and key marketing strategies.Global High-end Paper and Board Packaging Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for high-end paper and board packaging is expected to grow significantly owing to factors such as growing demand for high-end paper and board packaging from retailers and manufacturers for high quality packaging. The productions of paper and board for packaging have gained momentum owing to the ongoing e-commerce expansions across the globe. The market for high-end paper and board packaging is also likely to be driven by the growing production of packaged food such as ready-to-eat food products, meat, juices, and fruits. High-end paper and board packaging is also used for packing cosmetics as they need non-reactive packaging. The market has also witnessed significant growth due to the shift of consumers towards eco-friendly products and the rise in government regulations owing to environmental concerns.Browse Market Research Report @A sudden rise in the number of supermarkets and hypermarkets has also led to a rise in the consumption of high-end paper and board packaging. A robustly expanding systematized retail sector has also augmented the demand for paper and board packaging in the food and beverages and consumer goods sector. The growing number of consumers purchasing grocery items, chilled and frozen foods is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market.Global High-end Paper and Board Packaging Market: Regional OverviewThe global high-end paper and board packaging market can be broadly categorized into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as a prominent region in the global high-end paper and board packaging market owing to the emergence of a strong retail sector in countries such as China and India. Europe and North America are also likely to contribute significantly to the revenue of the market in the coming years.Global High-end Paper and Board Packaging Market: Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the chief players in the global high-end paper and board packaging market are Smurfit Kappa Group PLC, Metsa Group, Mondi Group, DS Smith PLC, ITC Ltd., Packaging Corporation of America, Clearwater Paper Corporation, Iggesund Paperboard, Cascades Inc., and Amcor 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:
2017 Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market Trend and Forecast to 2022 Insights shared in Detailed Report

Gantry-Cartesian Robots Market

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Orbis Research has Published Latest Manufacturing Market Research Report Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots MarketIn our aim to provide our erudite clients with the best research material with absolute in-depth information of the market, our new report on Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market is an in-depth study and analysis of the market by our industry experts with unparalleled domain knowledge. The report will shed light on many critical points and trends of the industry which are useful for our esteemed clients. The report covers a vast expanse of information including an overview, comprehensive analysis, definitions and classifications, applications, and expert opinions, among others. With the extent of information filled in the report, the presentation and style of the Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Industry report provides key information about the industry, including invaluable facts and figures, expert opinions, and the latest developments across the globe. Not only does the report cover a holistic view of the industry from a global standpoint, but it also covers individual regions and their development. The Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Industry report showcases the latest trends in the global and regional markets on all critical parameters which include technology, supplies, capacity, production, profit, price, and competition. The key players covered in the report provide a detailed analysis of the competition and their developments in the Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market report.Browse the full report @The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market report ends with a detailed SWOT analysis of the market, investment feasibility and returns, and development trends and forecasts. As with every report on Orbis Research, the Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Purchase a copy of this report @Major Points From Table of Contents:Chapter One: Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market OverviewChapter Two: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter Three: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Four: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Five: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter Six: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter Seven: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisChapter Eight: Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter Nine: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter Ten: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter Eleven: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter Twelve: Global Gantry/ Cartesian Robots Market Forecast (2017-2022)Chapter Thirteen: Research Findings and ConclusionChapter Fourteen: AppendixAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com
Know In Depth About Global Flight Propulsion Systems Market Copmetative Landscape And Global Forecast Which Is Projected To Reach USD XX Billion By 2022.

Flight Propulsion Systems

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Global Flight Propulsion Systems Industry 2022 Market Research Report Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.This research, highlighting the current situation of the global Flight Propulsion Systems market, focuses on answering some of the important questions faced by stakeholders. By providing answers to all of these questions related to the key drivers and dominant companies, the reports authors also focus on different factors, which would create new growth opportunities in the global Flight Propulsion Systems_ market. Prepared by an expert team, the report on the global Flight Propulsion Systems market highlights recent developments, key trends, and new project developments in the market. As leading companies take efforts to maintain their dominance in the global Flight Propulsion Systems market, the right way to do so is by adopting new technologies and strategies.Download sample pages of this report:For a stronger and more stable business outlook, the report on the global Flight Propulsion Systems market carries key projections that can be practically studied. The report highlights major technological developments and changing trends adopted by key companies over a period of time. To achieve this, the research segments and sub-segments the global Flight Propulsion Systems_ market by using many criteria. The growth predictions for each of these segments are included in the report.The research on the global Flight Propulsion Systems_ market will be useful to investors, regularity authorities, and policy makers, state the analysts. Independent research institutions, commercial entities, and non-profit organization in this sector can also benefit from the report. Key companies operating in the global Flight Propulsion Systems market are profiled by considering factors such as capacity production, products/services, applications, cost, gross, and revenue.Finally, the research directs its focus towards the possible strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that can affect the growth of the global Flight Propulsion Systems_ market. The feasibility of new projects is also measured in the report by the analysts.30% Discount On This Report Visit:Table of Contents:Global Flight Propulsion Systems Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Flight Propulsion Systems1.1 Definition and Specifications of Flight Propulsion Systems1.2 Classification of Flight Propulsion Systems1.3 Applications of Flight Propulsion Systems1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Flight Propulsion Systems2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Flight Propulsion Systems2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Flight Propulsion Systems2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Flight Propulsion Systems3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Flight Propulsion Systems4 Global Flight Propulsion Systems Overall Market Overview5 Flight Propulsion Systems Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Flight Propulsion Systems Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2012-2017E Flight Propulsion Systems Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Flight Propulsion Systems8.1 Financial Highlights8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Financial Highlights 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Financial Highlights 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 General Electric Co.8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 General Electric Co. 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 General Electric Co. 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 United Technologies Corporation8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.3 United Technologies Corporation 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 United Technologies Corporation 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC.8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.3 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC. 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC. 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 Safran S.A8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.3 Safran S.A 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 Safran S.A 2016 Flight Propulsion Systems Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 Honeywell International Inc.For More Info On This 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.Contact Us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Global Pharma and Healthcare Sales Market Report 2017

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Global Pharma and Healthcare Industry 2017 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2017-2020.This report on the global Pharma and Healthcare market presents an outline of the market from the perspective of key segments, forces defining markets overall development, and scope of growth on global and regional levels in the next few years. The report is a rich data repository including vast qualitative and quantitative insights into the regulatory and competitive landscapes of the global Pharma and Healthcare market and key factors influencing the overall development of the market.The report presents a thorough backdrop analysis of the market, covering essential aspects such industry definitions, product specifications, and supply and demand chain, thus presenting a thorough assessment of the market. The report includes a detailed overview of the key forces shaping present state of the competitive landscape of the market with the help of a Porters fiver forces analysis. As such, the report examines the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants, and level of competition.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also outlines the regulatory landscape of the market, which plays a central role in deciding aspects such as the variety and kind of products that are approved for marketing, the manufacturing and production practices that are followed, and the decisions taken in regards to procurement of raw materials.The report also presents a detailed overview of the competitive landscape of the global Pharma and Healthcare market, wherein detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors operating in the market, recent technological developments, and activities such as mergers and acquisitions that some of the markets notable players were involved in recent times. A detailed overview of the competitive strategies adopted by these players to gain a stronger foothold in the market is also included in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Pharma and Healthcare Market Research Report 20171 Pharma and Healthcare Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pharma and Healthcare1.2 Pharma and Healthcare Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Pharma and Healthcare by Type in 20151.2.2 Healthcare Pharma1.2.3 Healthcare Device1.3 Pharma and Healthcare Segment by Application1.3.1 Pharma and Healthcare Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Home1.3.3 Hospital1.4 Pharma and Healthcare Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Pharma and Healthcare (2012-2022)2 Global Pharma and Healthcare Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2017)2.2 Global Pharma and Healthcare Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2017)2.3 Global Pharma and Healthcare Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2017)2.4 Manufacturers Pharma and Healthcare Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Pharma and Healthcare Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Pharma and Healthcare Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Pharma and Healthcare Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.4 North America Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 Europe Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 China Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 Japan Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Southeast Asia Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 India Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Pharma and Healthcare Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)4.1 Global Pharma and Healthcare Consumption by Regions (2012-2017)4.2 North America Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Pharma and Healthcare Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Pharma and Healthcare Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Pharma and Healthcare Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Pharma and Healthcare Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Pharma and Healthcare Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Pharma and Healthcare Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Pharma and Healthcare Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Pharma and HealthcareFigure Global Production Market Share of Pharma and Healthcare by Type in 2015Figure Product Picture of Healthcare PharmaTable Major Manufacturers of Healthcare PharmaFigure Product Picture of Healthcare DeviceTable Major Manufacturers of Healthcare DeviceTable Pharma and Healthcare Consumption Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Home ExamplesFigure Hospital ExamplesFigure North America Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Pharma and Healthcare Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a 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Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Bacillus Subtilis Market 2017 - Bayer, Basf, Qunlin, Jocanima, Tonglu Huifeng, Kernel Bio-tech

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Bacillus subtilis, known also as the hay bacillus or grass bacillus, is a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium, found in soil and the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants and humans. A member of the genus Bacillus, B. subtilis is rod-shaped, and can form a tough, protective endospore, allowing it to tolerate extreme environmental conditions. B. subtilis has historically been classified as an obligate aerobe, though evidence exists that it is a facultative aerobe. B. subtilis is considered the best studied Gram-positive bacterium and a model organism to study bacterial chromosome replication and cell differentiation. It is one of the bacterial champions in secreted enzyme production and used on an industrial scale by biotechnology companies.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Bacillus Subtilis 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.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversBayerBasfQunlinJocanimaTonglu HuifengKernel Bio-techWuhan Natures FavourAgrilifeReal IPMECOT ChinaMarket 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)Market Segment by Type, covers100 Billion CFU/g100-300 Billion CFU/g300 Billion CFU/gAccess Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFeed AdditivesPesticideOtherThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bacillus Subtilis market.Chapter 1, to describe Bacillus Subtilis Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bacillus Subtilis, with sales, revenue, and price of Bacillus Subtilis, 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 Bacillus Subtilis, 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, Bacillus Subtilis market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bacillus Subtilis sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceAbout Fior MarketsFior 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 Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
With the Boon of Internet Worldwide, Patients from even Small Countries Throng in India for Treatment

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India has gained a significant global prominence because of the brewing interest among patients from countries big and small to have their medical treatment in the country. Vaidam Health, certified by ISO 9001 and 27001, is one of the leading medical travel assistance companies in India.Signing MoUs with more than 70 well accredited and recognized hospitals across the country Vaidam possesses an intricate network of doctors and hospitals in cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Kochi. Established and renowned group of hospitals such as Fortis, Apollo, Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Max Healthcare, Wockhardt form a strong network base for the company.I was given multiple choices of some of the best hospitals by Vaidam for my cardiac treatment, along with the doctors opinions and the cost of my treatment. Vaidam inform guides and assists their patients to make the right choice for their treatment, said Pushpa Kant from Fiji. With Vaidams help she underwent a successful heart bypass surgery in India.As the global platform of the internet plays a major role in connecting people from different corners of the world, its a great advantage for patients from small countries, which lack the required medical infrastructure, to look for better treatment options elsewhere.Being an online medical travel assistance company, Vaidam receives enquiries from patients belonging to numerous small countries whose ailments range from cardiac diseases, neurological disorders to cancer and infertility. The company has already served patients from over 25 countries across the globe. To name a few, patients from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Uganda, Liberia, Fiji, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Samoa and Ethiopia have gained successful medical treatments with their assistance.The assistance provided by Vaidam Health is commendable. I would strongly recommend Vaidam to everyone who wants to have their treatment in India, said Steven Haplet from Zimbabwe who suffered from severe lumbar and cervical spine conditions before coming to India for his treatment.But a lot of factors pose to be possible hindrances for patients to opt for medical travel. Long distances, know-how about the medical travel destination, cost of the treatment and even of staying there during their medical tour leaves a lot of questions in the patients mind.Vaidam strives to maintain clarity in answering all these questions through the different sections of their official website,. The website imparts detailed information regarding the best doctors, the best hospitals, several advanced treatment procedures available in India, the estimated cost of the treatment as well as the whole medical trip.Vaidams website is very detailed and accurate in all the information they put on display. I find them very honest and transparent. It is only after I went through their website that I submitted my enquiry. Their assistance thereafter was also laudable, said Emmanuel and Satta from Liberia who had a successful IVF treatment in India.Pivoting in New Delhi, India, Vaidam.com is an ideal space for patients to seek medical treatment in India.Vaidam Health is an ISO certified medical travel assistant company based in New Delhi, India. As a one year old company Vaidam has contributed about 500,000 USD to the medical industry and strives to contribute a lot more. Their purpose is to assist patients in any corner of the world with the best medical treatment packages.hello@vaidam.com551, Tower B2, Spaze I-Tech Park,Sector 49, Sohna Road,Gurugram, Haryana 122001, India+91 96500 01746
Global Food-grade Alcohol Market 2017 - Cargill, MGP Ingredients, Jiangsu Huating Biotechnology, RoquetteFreres

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Food-grade Alcohol also known as fermented distilled liquor, mainly using potato, Cereals, sugar as raw material after cooking, saccharification, fermentation and processing for food industry using aqueous alcohol, its flavor is divided into four parts: color, flavor and taste, and also refers to the content of distilled liquor in the aldehyde, acid, ester, alcohol and the four main impurities, different tastes and gas will make different flavor liquor.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Food-grade Alcohol 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.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversArcher Daniels MidlandCargillMGP IngredientsJiangsu Huating BiotechnologyRoquetteFreresFonterra Co-operativeCristalcoGrain ProcessingWilmar InternationalManildraMarket 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)Market Segment by Type, coversFoodBeverageHealth care & PharmaceuticalsAccess Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood & BeveragesHealthcare & PharmaceuticalsChemical IndustryThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Food-grade Alcohol market.Chapter 1, to describe Food-grade Alcohol Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Food-grade Alcohol, with sales, revenue, and price of Food-grade Alcohol, 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 Food-grade Alcohol, 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, Food-grade Alcohol market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Food-grade Alcohol sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceAbout Fior MarketsFior 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 Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Ozokerite Wax Sales Market 2017 - IGI, Frank B. Ross, Koster-wax, Poth Hille, M/S Bhakti Petrochem

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Global Ozokerite Wax Sales Market 2017, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Ozokerite Wax Sales market globally, providing basic overview of Ozokerite Wax Sales market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure, Ozokerite Wax Sales Market report provides development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.The research study Global Ozokerite Wax Sales Industry offers strategic assessment of the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market. The industry report focuses on the growth opportunities, which will help the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales industry to expand operations in the existing markets or aid its development of the emerging markets. The study assess new product and service positioning strategies in the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market. Furthermore, the new and evolving technologies and their impact on the market is analyzed in detail in this report.The leading players in the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market have been profiled in this report. The key market players with their business overview, marketing strategies, strategic alliances and acquisitions are included in this report. In addition, the report includes the evaluation of the top market players product and service offering and revenue analysis. The report features significant industry insights, market expectations, and key developments, which will help firms operating in the market to make informed business decisions.Download Free Sample Report @The report also delivers a detailed segment-based assessment of the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market. The segments along with their sub-segments have been analyzed in this report. Furthermore, the report evaluates the trends that will help to fuel the growth of the individual sectors. The key segments of the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market along with their market forecasts both in terms of revenue and volume have been covered in the research study. The report also talks about the emerging geographical sectors in this market and the trends that will drive the industry across these regional segments.The report on the Global Ozokerite Wax Sales market is created using a data collection mix of supply side and demand side. For the purpose of primary research, information and statistics with regards manufacturers, product wholesalers and distributors, and raw material suppliers from the supply side is analyzed. To evaluate the demand trends exhibited by the market, the report studies consumer surveys, application surveys, and mystery shopping. The report also refers to information obtained from secondary data sources. Backed by extensive research, the report delivers valuable market forecasts and estimates.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Digital signage in education Sector Market to Worth at a CAGR 10.36% to 2021: Growth Factors & Trends

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Digital signage in education Sector Market 2017 Market Research Report was a professional and depth research report on Digital signage in education Sector Market industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Digital signage in education Sector Market industry, the main region including (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa).Digital signage is used in navigation, placemaking, exhibitions, public installations, marketing, and outdoor advertising. It uses technologies such as LCD, LED displays, and projection to display contents such as digital images, videos, and information. Digital signage displays make use of content management systems and digital media distribution systems that are installed on PCs and servers to present information. The digital signage market in education sector is growing phenomenally with its unique advertising and communication capabilities in the age of digitized education system. The institutions globally, especially colleges and universities, are actively deploying digital signage systems.The Report analysts forecast the global digital signage in education market to grow at a CAGR of 10.36% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global digital signage in education market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from third-party players who collaborate with educational institutions to design and implement digital signage systems.Request a sample copy of Digital signage in education Sector Market Research Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeNorth AmericaROWThe report, Global Digital Signage in Education 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 vendorsADFLOW NetworksCisco SystemsNEC Display SolutionsSamsung ElectronicsOther prominent vendorsBrightSignDynamax Technical ServicesEclipse Digital MediaMvixScalaDigital signage in education Sector Market driverEnhanced revenue generation capabilities.For a full, detailed list, view our reportThe listed pricing for this Digital signage in education Sector Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Digital signage in education Sector Market Research Report @Digital signage in education Sector Market challengeThreat of product obsolescence.For a full, detailed list, view our reportDigital signage in education Sector Market trendAdvanced display technology.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendorsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Digital signage in education Sector 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) Antivirus Software Market 2017 Forecast to 2022Antivirus software detects, prevents, and removes malicious programs. It enables real-time scanning of the system memory, OS, and files using signature-based detection methods, heuristic detection methods, and rootkit detection tools to prevent computers from being infected with malware. With increased usage of the Internet, the risk of malware attacks is high. Though antivirus software cannot protect the system from every type of malware attack, it can prevent a significant level of intrusions with the help of real-time scanning.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:
ESS India launches ebizframeXPRS, a GST ready ERP software

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Amid a lot of buzz surrounding the advent of GST and how it is going to change the face of taxation in India, Indias leading ERP ebizframe has come up with its state of the art offering called ebizframeXPRS, which is designed specifically to sail businesses through the turbulence of the GST storm. The product is expected to connect all the dots and serve as a perfect solution for businesses that lack clarity on GST and its potential impact.GST calls for a transition which many business owners are apprehensive about. ebizframeXPRS will let them adapt to this transition in an organic fashion. ebizframeXPRS has pitched in perfectly for the prevailing scenario as it is completely GST ready and can be seamlessly implemented within a two weeks time. It covers all the functionalities pertaining to Accounting, Sales, and MM (Procurement and Inventory). All the necessary features have been incorporated to keep it relevant to the times, like Mobility which makes the software easily accessible through Smartphones.On this development, Managing Director of ESS Mr. Sanjay Agarwala said: "The advent of GST has certainly been a disruption and calls for novel ways to let businesses keep up with the trend. ebizframeXPRS is a quintessential solution which will make GST compliance effortless. I would also like to congratulate our team which continues to sustain a drive of innovation to come up with such cutting-edge solutions.About ESS:ESS is a premier IT Products and Services Company having a leadership presence in 25 countries. ESS' flagship product, ebizframe ERP, is the leading web-enabled ERP Suite in India, Middle East and Africa and has been successfully implemented for 1000+ customers in more than 20+ industry verticals.Awards - Company of the Year 2013 & 2014 in the ERP Space by CIO Review. Rated amongst the top 10 ERP companies in India by Express Computersand Frost & Sullivan. Featured on the NASSCOM's site as Indian Products Making a Name forThemselves in the Global market. Featured among Channels Asia's '50 most dynamic companies of Asia Pacific'. Chosen the Best ERP Company by the Computer Society of Kenya. Rated among PC Quest's 'Top 10 World-Class Products from India'. Featured among Dataquest's 'Top 7 Home-Grown Software Brands'. Among Computerworld India's 'Most Powerful ERP Companies, 'Most PowerfulERP Packages'.For more information visit:Eastern Software SystemsB-65, Sector-63, Noida,Uttar Pradesh, IndiaContact Person - Harshit GargEmail - harshit.garg@essindia.com
Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 to its huge collection of research reports.This research report gives an account of the global Vacuum Cavitation System market manages all its basic points of interest with the assistance of an inside and out and shrewd examination. The market is clarified in a comprehensive way and thus permits the report to show an entire examination of the market as concocted utilizing the elements that are required to have a quantifiable effect on its improvement.Despite the fact that a lot of summed up market-oriented data may not a mind boggling undertaking, it is sifting through the redundant parts of the given data to just the key points of interest that matter to a user, or that can settle a business issue. The absence of dedicated assets for undertaking such focused and even altered research procedure might be difficult for a few players in the Vacuum Cavitation System, and thusly can esteem this gathering of the most productive information as a standout from the oversimplified styles of research exercises.Browse Press Release of this Research Report:The report supplies data that may help organizations in dealing with core issues without breaking a sweat and furthermore give an unmistakable subjective and quantitative segment relating to particular components of the Vacuum Cavitation System that associations could be keen on knowing.An association utilizing this report can have increasingly simpler access to the key points of interest of the Vacuum Cavitation System that are sure to have an exceptionally noticeable bearing on its general advancement, alongside its segments that are critical to the market as a whole. The report is made with the aim of satisfying the modified needs of all its readers who are a part of the Vacuum Cavitation System. The report in this way makes an exceptionally ingenious information archive that permits best practices to be framed profoundly and to provide viable business systems.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Vacuum Cavitation System1.1 Vacuum Cavitation System Market Overview1.1.1 Vacuum Cavitation System Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Vacuum Cavitation 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 Vacuum Cavitation System Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 22 Global Vacuum Cavitation System Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Company 13.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Company 23.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Company 33.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.2 Potential Application of Vacuum Cavitation System in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Vacuum Cavitation System5 United States Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)6 EU Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)7 Japan Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook7.1 Japan Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)7.2 Japan Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)8 China Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook8.1 China Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)8.2 China Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)9 India Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook9.1 India Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)9.2 India Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)10 Southeast Asia Vacuum Cavitation System Development Status and Outlook10.1 Southeast Asia Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (2012-2017)10.2 Southeast Asia Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2017-2022)11.1 Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (Value) by Regions (2017-2022)11.1.1 United States Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.2 EU Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.3 Japan Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.4 China Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.5 India Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.1.6 Southeast Asia Vacuum Cavitation System Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)11.2 Global Vacuum Cavitation System Market Size (Value) by Application (2017-2022)11.3 The Market Drivers in FutureQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
United States EU Japan China India and Southeast Asia Student Information System (SIS) Market Size Status and Forecast 2021

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report United States EU Japan China India and Southeast Asia Student Information System (SIS) Market Size Status and Forecast 2021 to its huge collection of research reports.Every key element that has happened so far in the Student Information System (SIS) has been represented in this widely inclusive report. A key portion of these market elements incorporate the key player profiles and the markets general competitive scene, as players are known to have whats coming to them of impact over it. Different courses of the Student Information System (SIS) announced in the report incorporate drivers, restrictions, and key open doors that influence a larger part of the players in it. To totally cover the competitive scene of the Student Information System (SIS), a SWOT examination is jotted down for all players, new and old. This takes into account a clearer projection for the Student Information System (SIS) over the coming years. Extra analyses incorporated the player profiles are their budgetary structures and current vital production arrangements for all the key players in the market.Browse Press Release of this Research Report:The Student Information System (SIS) is additionally investigated on the premise of its perfunctory chain, an entry that utilizes research and information in view of the utilization and production abilities introduced into the market currently. This segment likewise fuses the product depictions and cost structures of the Student Information System (SIS). The report also offers a point by point investigation inside the market to determine its trademark qualities as far as upstream and downstream requests for raw materials are concerned, and in addition the import, and cost drifts that affect them.The report additionally gives the aftereffects of an exceptionally itemized review on the Student Information System (SIS) in view of its provincial divisions. For each key district expressed, the client is given statistical data points on the player pool and in addition request, alongside expectations for the same. This can be vital for regional players attempting to extend their points of view in the market.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Student Information System (SIS)1.1 Student Information System (SIS) Market Overview1.1.1 Student Information System (SIS) Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Student Information System (SIS) 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 Student Information System (SIS) Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 32 Global Student Information System (SIS) Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Oracle3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Student Information System (SIS) Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Ellucian3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Student Information System (SIS) Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Jenzabar3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Student Information System (SIS) Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Student Information System (SIS) Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Student Information System (SIS) Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Student Information System (SIS) in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Student Information System (SIS)5 United States Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)6 EU Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)6.2 EU Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)7 Japan Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook7.1 Japan Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)7.2 Japan Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)8 China Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook8.1 China Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)8.2 China Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)9 India Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook9.1 India Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)9.2 India Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)10 Southeast Asia Student Information System (SIS) Development Status and Outlook10.1 Southeast Asia Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (2011-2016)10.2 Southeast Asia Student Information System (SIS) Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Student Information System (SIS) Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in Future12 Student Information System (SIS) Market Dynamics12.1 Student Information System (SIS) Market Opportunities12.2 Student Information System (SIS) Challenge and Risk12.2.1 Competition from Opponents12.2.2 Downside Risks of Economy12.3 Student Information System (SIS) Market Constraints and Threat12.3.1 Threat from Substitute12.3.2 Government Policy12.3.3 Technology Risks12.4 Student Information System (SIS) Market Driving Force12.4.1 Growing Demand from Emerging Markets12.4.2 Potential ApplicationQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
United States EU Japan China India and Southeast Asia Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size Status and Forecast 2021

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report United States EU Japan China India and Southeast Asia Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size Status and Forecast 2021 to its huge collection of research reports.This examination looks at the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle market in a persistent way by explaining the main features of the market that are relied upon to hold a sizeable impact on its improvements over the given time frame. The key drivers of the markets development, restrictions, and patterns affecting the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle market are surveyed in extraordinary detail, notwithstanding a subjective and quantitative examination relating to the anticipated effect of these elements on its development prospects sooner rather than later.The vast volumes of data on the Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle by and large makes it an intense undertaking to take it down to the exceptionally significant bits of data and the genuine bits applicable to the present business issues in the market. Many organizations are additionally known to not have the fundamental committed assets and aptitude for taking up an illustrative statistical surveying in view of recorded information. Centered statistical surveying procedures can help these associations in framing clearer thoughts on their business systems and gather significant stakes in the market.Browse Press Release of this Research Report:A sweeping volume of information concerning the basic components of the Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle that can impact its extent of development is given in the report. The report in this manner makes for an exceptionally useful review and can successfully permit organizations and their leads in tending to the main difficulties that  as of now  control the market, and deliberately increase greatest conceivable advantages inside the profoundly focused market scene.The report likewise gives data on the current improvements in items and innovations as currently visible in the market, alongside an examination of the general impact that these progressions may have on any future advancements. The report likewise offers its clients a 360-degree examination of the competitive situation in the Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle. This is legitimate for organizations of all sizes and development levels inside the worldwide Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle market and helps different associations get a handle on the main dangers and openings that sellers regularly need to manage.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of Content1 Industry Overview of Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle1.1 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Overview1.1.1 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle 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 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 32 Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 YAMAHA3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Haojue3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 SUZUKI3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in Future12 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Dynamics12.1 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Opportunities12.2 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Challenge and Risk12.2.1 Competition from Opponents12.2.2 Downside Risks of Economy12.3 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Constraints and Threat12.3.1 Threat from Substitute12.3.2 Government Policy12.3.3 Technology Risks12.4 Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Driving Force12.4.1 Growing Demand from Emerging Markets12.4.2 Potential Application13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs Trend/Customer Preference13.3 External Environmental Change13.3.1 Economic Fluctuations13.3.2 Other Risk FactorsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Product ScopeFigure Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Southeast Asia Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 1 (2011-2016)Figure Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 2 (2011-2016)Figure Financial Assessment and Credit Risk Analysis of Motorcycle Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 3 (2011-2016)QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021 to its huge collection of research reports.The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics has been expressively dissected in this statistical surveying that has been added to our frequently growing industry knowledge arrangement. The archive takes after an arrangement that gives a careful and scientific diagram of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics and moreover inspects the main sections, compelling components, and market components that administer the development rate of the market and its competitive and regional scenes.The report offers to its clients an all-encompassing 360-degree point of view of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics from the back to front, starting with the core values of the mechanical components, then proceeding onward to the examination of information on the different perspectives including as industry chain structure, groupings, industry diagram, arrangements, applications, and late advancements.Browse Press Release of this Research Report:The data offered in the report has been accumulated through the assistance of various essential and auxiliary research strategies. Quantitative and subjective information appraisal for key market sections on the regional and the aggregate worldwide front have also been given in the report. The gigantic archives of information that have been sifted through by industry-best investigative techniques will give to the user the points of interest that matter the most.The report also gives a portrayal of the administrative situation of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics and gives points of interest relating to the more prominent arrangements, approaches, controls, and decides in that effect the numerous business related choices in the market. A point by point outline of the competitive scene of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics has additionally been given in the report, wherein itemized business profiles, SWOT examination, and numerous different insights about a portion of the real sellers in the market are incorporated.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics1.1 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Overview1.1.1 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics 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 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 32 Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 F. Hoffmann-La Roche3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Novartis3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in Future12 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Dynamics12.1 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Opportunities12.2 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Challenge and Risk12.2.1 Competition from Opponents12.2.2 Downside Risks of Economy12.3 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Constraints and Threat12.3.1 Threat from Substitute12.3.2 Government Policy12.3.3 Technology Risks12.4 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Driving Force12.4.1 Growing Demand from Emerging Markets12.4.2 Potential Application13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs Trend/Customer Preference13.3 External Environmental Change13.3.1 Economic Fluctuations13.3.2 Other Risk FactorsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Product ScopeFigure Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Southeast Asia Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 1 (2011-2016)Figure Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 2 (2011-2016)Figure Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Therapeutics Market Size and Growth Rate in Applications 3 (2011-2016)QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Global Nano-Enabled Packaging Market Worth $15.0 Billion - 2020

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The global nano enabled packaging market for food and beverages industry was worth USD 6.5 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% during 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 15.0 billion in 2020.Request to view Table of Content @The global progress in technologies is making lives simpler and safer. Nanotechnology is one such field which is dynamically progressing and is contributing to the development of several industries, including food and beverages packaging. Nano-enabled packaging gives longer shelf life to food and beverages as compared to traditional plastic packaging. Food and beverages packaging is done through two different technologies under nano-enabled packaging-active and intelligent packaging. Active packaging has a comparativelylarger market than intelligent packaging.Intelligent packaging is growing at a faster rate as compared to the active packaging. Customers prefer traceable food and beverages packaging, since it offers information such as expiry date and best use period, present state of the consumables. The radio frequency identification (RFID) tags keep customers informed about the state of the food within the packaging. Intelligent packaging is mostly used for fruits and vegetables, meat products, and beverages. Stricter regulations associated with active packaging have been stimulating the use of intelligent packaging in Europe and North America.Intelligent packaging in the U.S. is growing mainly due to the increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. Americans are shifting their breakfast preference from junk foods to fresh alternatives. The U.S. is one of the largest producers and exporters of cherries globally. With the ease in trade regulations, fruit exports of the U.S. have increased. In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that after ten years of negotiations, U.S. cherries can be exported to Western Australia, one of the most important markets for cherries. The increasing demand for intelligent packaging in international trade (especially in fruits) is laying out opportunities for this technology in food packaging.The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) proposed by FDA in 2011 is another growth indicator for intelligent packaging wherein the fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables, are required to be scientifically grown, harvested, packaged, and stored. The farm products that come in the acts domain are lettuce, spinach, cantaloupe, tomatoes, sprouts, mushrooms, onions, peppers, cabbage, citrus produce, strawberries, and walnuts.Nano-enabled packaging finds its application in several industries, including bakery, meat, beverages, fruit and vegetables, prepared foods, and others. The increasing demand for meat products, beverages, vegetables, and prepared foods is expected to drive their respective nano-enabled packaging markets, while the market share of bakery products is expected to decline on account of the rapid growth of other application segments.Nanotechnology is at a nascent stage and, therefore, usage of nano-enabled packaging is low in the food and beverages industry. Limited numbers of buyers have more leverage to negotiate with nanotechnology companies. On the other hand, there is a plethora of companies providing nano-enabled packaging solutions to the food and beverages industry.Sample of this report is available upon request @Nano-enabled packaging market for food and beverage is very competitive with a large number of players offering an array of patented products. The major players in this industry include Amcor Limited, Bemis Company, Inc., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, L.L.C., Klockner Pentaplast, Sealed Air, and Tetra Pak International S.A.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @Below is the segmentation done by Persistence Market Research for global market study on nano enabled packaging for food and beverages:Market Size and Forecast by Technology Market Size and Forecast (by value)o Active Packagingo Intelligent PackagingMarket Size and Forecast by Application Market Size and Forecast (by value)o Bakery Productso Meat Productso Beverageso Fruit and Vegetableso Prepared Foodso OthersMarket Size and Forecast by Region North Americao Market Size and Forecast by technology (by value)o Market Size and Forecast by application (by value) Europeo France Market Size and Forecast by technology (by value)o Market Size and Forecast by application (by value) Asia Pacifico Market Size and Forecast by technology (by value)o Market Size and Forecast by application (by value) Rest of the World (RoW)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Meto labels Market - Technological breakthroughs, Value chain and stakeholder analysis by 2024

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With the increasing importance placed on self- service advertising, the role of packaging has become quite significant. Packaging denotes to the physical appearance of a product when a consumer sees it, and labels works as an informative module of packaging. Today, packaging and labels is not only used to protect or preserve a product, but also for convenience and information transmission. They play a pivotal role in developing the brand image of the product within the market. The packaging and labels are an imperative tools for manufacturers, in order to boost the potential buyers to purchase the product. Meto labels are one such solution which offers a wide range of hand held labeling solutions, such as food safety labeling, date coding, price marking and textile shade marking for the manufacturing, retail and all other markets that require accurate information at product level. Meto labels are very adaptable product labels as they are mostly used for applications with meto guns along with adhesives applied to the different applications. Further, meto labels also comes in a wide range of color and also in various sizes, which make theie adoption higher. Hence, demand for meto labels is anticipated to expand with an impressive CAGR over the forecast period.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Meto Labels Market: DynamicsGrowing demand for convenience products, increasing consumer awareness for product labeling across the whole industries are some of the major reason for the growth of meto labels market. Furthermore, the demand for meto labels is increasing worldwide, which is creating huge opportunity to label converters. The growth in the meto labels is highly driven by the growth of retail industry, where private-label brands promotes the growth of labels industry. Mergers and acquisitions are the key strategies adopted by the labels manufacturers in order to accommodate the rapidly changing technologies in applicable areas and to increase their market share.Meto Labels Market: SegmentationThe meto labels market is segmented on the basis of material, adhesives and end-use industries. On the basis of material type, the global meto labels market is segmented into, paper, polyester, polypropylene and others. On the basis of adhesives, the global meto labels market is segmented into, solvent based, solvent less, water based adhesives and others. On the basis of end-use sectors, the global meto labels market is segmented into, food industry, general merchandising, hospital & medical industry, industrial, manufacturing, pharmacy and retail sectors.Obtain Report Details @Meto labels Market: Region Wise OutlookGlobal meto labels market is segmented into five regions namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Europe is expected to dominate the meto labels market throughout the forecast period of 2016-2024. Though Europe accounts for larger market share in the global meto labels market, but, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region, owing to its growing developing economies like India and China, where the packaging and label market is expected to grow significantly due to rapidly increasing growth of modern trade and retail industry. Next, North America, Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to witness sustainable growth over the forecast period, with North America leading among in terms of demand in the meto labels market.Meto labels Market: Key PlayersManufacturers of meto labels market prefer mergers & acquisitions strategy to gain a larger market share across the globe. Leading meto labels manufacturers are focusing on emerging countries like china, India and Japan that are estimated to show huge potential for industrial development in the near future.Some of the key players of the global meto labels market are:Credo PaperLithotech (Bidvest Paperplus)YenilerLabel It, Inc.Joshen Paper and Packaging Inc.Denbro Retail Convenience Solutions Inc.Gold Star 911SignetAbout 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:
Broadcasting Equipment Market in APAC to Reach US$ 5,104.8 Mn by 2024

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According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research, titled Broadcasting Equipment Market: Asia Pacific Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024, the broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is expected to be valued at US$ 5,104.8 Mn by 2024.The broadcasting equipment market in APAC region was valued at US$ 2487.5 Mn in 2015 and is expected to register a CAGR of 8.1% from 2016 to 2024. The growth of broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is primarily driven by convergence of high definition technologies such as 4K with IP. As per the report, 4K services are expected to be available on IP networks over the next four to five years via satellite launching and cable platforms.The report has segmented the APAC broadcasting equipment market into traditional TV broadcast, traditional radio broadcast, IP converged broadcasting and asset management systems.Traditional TV broadcast segment was valued at US$ 1123 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period (20162024). The traditional radio broadcast segment was valued at US$ 544 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. The IP converged broadcasting is projected to be the fastest growing segment in APAC broadcasting equipment market, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period.Traditional TV broadcast segment accounted for 45.1% share in terms of value of the total APAC broadcasting equipment market in 2015. Consumption of high definition content in APAC region is increasing at a rapid pace, supported by rising sales of HD ready TVs.The traditional TV broadcast equipment market is further segmented into camera, monitors, routers, switchers, cable, transmitter, receiver and other accessories. Routers sub-segment is projected to expand at the highest CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. Content creators across the region are shifting towards 4K cameras in order to capture high definition video. This is being supported by sales of 4K UHD television that has gained momentum due to rising disposable income in the region.Request to view table of content @Key players of the APAC Broadcasting Equipment market include Media Excel Inc.(US), ChyronHego Corporation (US), TVU Networks Corporation (US), XOR Media Inc.(US), FOR-A Company (Japan), ORACLE Corporation (US), Unlimi-Tech Software Inc. (US), Grass Valley (Canada) and General Dynamics Mediaware (Australia).A sample of this report is available upon request @This report covers trends that are driving each segment and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of the broadcasting equipment market in APAC regions.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
kellyanne conway newseum

Kellyanne Conway was asked how she felt about The Washington Post's new slogan, "Democracy dies in darkness," given that the implication was that she was "the darkness."

President Donald Trump's top adviser and frequent spokeswoman talked to journalist Michael Wolff at an event on "The President and the Press" at the Newseum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

"I'm not the darkness," Conway responded. "Just because somebody says something doesn't make it true."

Wolff also asked her to grade Trump's relationship with the media, and Conway gave it an I for "incomplete."

"I think it's way too early to render a specific judgment, let alone a grade, on the relationship between this president, this administration, and the press," she said. "I think it's very important in a healthy democracy to have a free and fair press. Part of that democracy, too, though, is to have a presidency  no matter who the occupant  that is shown respect and is shown an openness to really cover all the items that he has put forth."

Michael Wolff tells Kellyanne Conway: "When they say democracy dies in darkness, you're the darkness." https://t.co/lScxpthUZt  NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) April 12, 2017

Conway said she didn't think "biased coverage" in the press needed to change because Americans could recognize unfair coverage.

But she wants to change what she called "incomplete coverage" and "presumptive negativity." She said she had heard from Americans who were upset that the economy under Trump wasn't getting the same amount of coverage as the investigations into his team's ties to Russian operatives, or his controversial executive order temporarily barring people from six majority-Muslim countries from entering the US.

She then lamented how cable-news interviews now seemed to have the goal of going viral instead of educating people.

"You can turn on the TV ... and people literally say things that just aren't true," she said.

Story continues

The crowd laughed at that, presumably because in February, Conway cited a nonexistent "Bowling Green massacre" as justification for Trump's immigration ban. She later had to clarify she meant to say "terrorists" instead of "massacre," and apologized for her mistake. CNN has since declined to interview Conway in part because of "serious questions about her credibility."

Conway said she didn't think most journalists had made an adequate effort to understand why Americans elected Trump president and that they hadn't started talking to those people either.

"Don't keep getting it wrong by covering the president the way you covered him as a candidate," Conway said. "What's the noise versus what's the news? ... Remember, he's taken dozens and dozens of executive actions, and there's one that's gotten coverage."

NOW WATCH: 'I'm not Inspector Gadget': Kellyanne Conway refutes claims that she suggested Trumps team may have been spied on with microwaves





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Smart Machines Market to Reach US$ 258.5 Bn by 2024

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Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights on the global smart machines market in its upcoming report titled, Smart Machines Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024. In terms of value, the global smart machines market is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 18.8% during the forecast period. This is attributed to various factors, regarding which PMR offers vital insights in detail.On the basis of a component, the global smart machines market has been segmented into hardware, software, and service. Demand for smart machines is enhanced by increasing need to process and analyze big unstructured data among different sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and defense. On the basis of machine type, the global smart machines market has been segmented into robots, autonomous cars, drones, wearable electronics and others.On the basis of technology, the global smart machines market has been segmented into cloud computing, big data, internet of everything (IoE), robotics, cognitive technology and effective technology. Affective technology segment is expected to expand with a substantial CAGR over the forecast period. Various enterprises working on cognitive computing are facing glitches and errors in technology. This, in turn, is encouraging adoption of affective computing. Cognitive computing technology enables emotions linking to a robot, assisting the robot in making rational decisions and performing more complex tasks.Smart machines are deployed to enhance networked resources and implement distributed intelligence in manufacturing industries. Integration of devices provides more accessibility. Smart machines can be easily connected to a broader network of connected devices, enabling users to share data on numerous devices. This ensures users to connect/access their devices from anywhere and anytime. This is expected to fuel demand for smart machines in various industries. The market in Australia is expected to witness substantial growth in adoption rates of smart machines over the next five years. Autonomous robots are expected to find applications in agriculture and commercial sectors to overcome the lack of labor in the country. Australia-based companies have also been investing significantly in advanced technologies such as IoT.Smart machines are programmed to make intelligent decisions in a time efficient manner. They are built to learn from their interactions and their precision increases over time. Hence, new developments in operational intelligence are encouraging companies to adopt systems that are smarter and efficient. Narrative Science Inc., a company that offers analytical solutions uses its virtual assistant Quill, which is programed using natural language processing to provide relevant solutions.Request to view table of content @This report covers trends driving each segment and offers analysis and insights of the potential of the smart machines market in specific regions. The markets in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific are expected to register high growth rates between 2016 and 2024. MEA is a small but significant market for smart machines as governments in the Middle East countries are investing in this sector to digitize government services. The market in Europe is expected to gain substantial market share in terms of revenue. This is attributed to increasing demand for smart machines from the automobile and manufacturing industries in countries such as Germany and France. The APAC accounted for the highest market share in 2015 and is expected to gain 232 BPS by an end of 2024.A sample of this report is available upon request @Key players in the global smart machines market include Apple Inc., Google Inc., Microsoft Corporation, BAE Systems, Creative Virtual Ltd., Digital Reasoning Systems, Inc., IBM Corporation, Narrative Science Inc., Rethink Robotics, ABB Limited, Rockwell Automation, Inc., and General Electric Co. others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market Driven by the High Demand in Medical Device Sector

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In our aim to provide our erudite clients with the best research material with absolute in-depth information of the market, our new report on Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market is an in-depth study and analysis of the market by our industry experts with unparalleled domain knowledge.Request a sample of this report @The report will shed light on many critical points and trends of the industry which are useful for our esteemed clients. The report covers a vast expanse of information including an overview, comprehensive analysis, definitions and classifications, applications, and expert opinions, among others. With the extent of information filled in the report, the presentation and style of the Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market report is a noteworthy.The Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Industry report provides key information about the industry, including invaluable facts and figures, expert opinions, and the latest developments across the globe. Not only does the report cover a holistic view of the industry from a global standpoint, but it also covers individual regions and their development. The Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Industry market report showcases the latest trends in the global and regional markets on all critical parameters which include technology, supplies, capacity, production, profit, price, and competition. The key players covered in the report provide a detailed analysis of the competition and their developments in the Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market report.Purchase a copy of Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market visit @For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com .The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market report ends with a detailed SWOT analysis of the market, investment feasibility and returns, and development trends and forecasts. As with every report on Orbis Research, the Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Browse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:Chapter one: Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market Research Report 20171.1 Product Overview and Scope of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS)1.2 Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cardiology PACS1.2.4 Dental PACS1.2.5 Dental PACS1.2.6 Orthopedics PACS1.2.7 Other1.3 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Segment by Application1.3.1 Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Hospitals1.3.3 Clinics1.3.4 Research & Academic Institutes1.3.5 Other1.4 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) 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 Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For any enquires before buying, connect with us @ enquiry@orbisresearch.comAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter:Like us on Facebook:
Asia Pacific Serves Maximum Demand in Distributed Global Paraxylene Market

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Albany, New York, 13 April 2017: Paraxylene, produced from naphtha, is an aromatic hydrocarbon, which acts as the basic raw material for the commercial production of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and purified telephthalic acid (PTA). These two materials are used for the production of polyester, a highly useful petrochemical that is used in various industrial purposes such as textile manufacturing and packaging. Paraxylene also finds application as a solvent as well as is the raw material for the production of Di-PX and herbicides. Owing to this vast usefulness, a recent study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) projects the global paraxylene market to expand at a healthy CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024. The TMR report estimates the opportunities in the global Paraxylene Market to be worth US$33.03 bn in 2015, and projects the valuation to increase up to US$60.04 bn by the end of 2024.Request for Sample Report:According to the TMR report, Asia Pacific accounted for a dominating 84% of the demand in 2015, with China serving nearly 50% of the demand all by itself. Manufacturing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the primary source of demand for paraxylene in the country, although the recent economic slowdown has hampered the market expansion in the recent times. The report also credits India and South Korea for this significant demand for paraxylene from Asia Pacific, gaining from the demand for PET from the food and beverage packaging industry. On the other hand, the growing awareness regarding ill-effects of plastic in this region is anticipated to moderately hamper the growth rate during the forecast period. The growth of North American and European market for paraxylene is expected to remain sluggish in the near future, owing to stringent government regulations against the use of plastic.Purified Terephthalic Acid Segment Most ProfitableBased on application, the report segments the global paraxylene market into purified terephthalic acid (PTA), dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), and others including solvents. Out of these, the segment of PTA accounted for nearly 97% of the demand in 2015, according to the TMR report. This huge demand was a reflection of continuous demand from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sector and is expected to remain most fruitful throughout the forecast period. Other applications of paraxylene, such as dimethyl terephthalate, coatings, pesticides, and solvents are anticipated to remain negligible as compared to PET in the near future.Browse Full Report with TOC:The global paraxylene market exhibits a divided market with the top three companies accounting for a mere 12% of the overall shares in 2015, according to the TMR report. These three players were S-Oil Corporation, Reliance Industries Limited, and BP plc. Large number of domestic players or the subsidiaries of prominent chemical companies own the most significant chunk of the paraxylene market, forcing global players to collaborate with these domestic vendors to enlarge their geographical presence. Some of the smaller and yet significant players identified by the report in the global paraxylene market include China National Petroleum Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Sinopec Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation, Lotte Chemical Corporation, CNOOC Limited, and BASF SE.About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comFollow Us on LinkedIn-Follow Us On Twitter-
Mobile Payment Transaction Market to Reach US$ 2.89 Trillion by 2020

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Persistence Market Research forecasts the global mobile payment transaction market to register a CAGR of 39.1% through 2020 and reach US$ 2.89 trillion in revenues.The mobile payment is an integrated system linked by various components of value chain which typically includes the merchant, the consumer, the financial institution involved and not to forget the payment gateway and the telecom network.In terms of revenue, the global mobile payment transaction market revenues valued at US$ 549,917.7 Mn in 2015 will possibly reach US$ 2,849,231.4 Mn in the year 2020.Mobile payment transaction volume will grow by a massive 41.7% during the forecast period 2015-2020. In terms of volume, the global mobile payment transaction market volume was 18,969.8 million transactions in the year 2015 and this is projected to increase by 106,001.5 million transactions by the year 2020.Even though there will be tremendous growth in mobile payment transactions market, there are many challenges that are obstructing the growth of this market. A major challenge is the slow adoption of smartphone compatible POS systems by the retailers. If taken at face value, a 41.7% volume growth looks amazing, but there is something to be concerned about. One of the major concerns is that apart from few countries, consumers havent fully accepted the concept of mobile payments, even though the facility is much more secure. However, given the inherent nature of the product, it wouldnt be long before consumers all over the world use the facilities provided by mobile payments, as per the research report of Persistence Market Research.By technology, SMS and WAP/WEB will continue to account for most of the transactions conducted worldwide. Mobile payments conducted through SMS will witness a robust CAGR of 24.5% over the forecast period. In the year 2015, the revenue from the SMS segment was US$ 238,884.3 Mn and this is going to be at the value of US$ 678,117.1 Mn by 2020 end.Mobile payments conducted through WAP/WEB will witness a CAGR of 48.0% during the forecast period. In the year 2015, the revenue from the WAP/WEB segment was US$ 164,386.1 Mn and this is going to be valued at US$ 1,725,209.6 at the end of the forecast period in the year 2020.Money transfer and merchandise purchases account for over 90% revenue share of the global mobile payment transaction market on the basis of end-use purpose. Mobile payments made for merchandise purchases will be worth US$ 323.73 Bn in 2016, up from US$ 228.32 Bn in 2015. Money transfer, the largest end-use purpose in the mobile payment transaction market, will grow by over 38% to surpass US$ 381 Bn in revenues.The market for mobile payments will continue to be robust in APEJ and Africa, as majority of people there dont own a credit card, in contrast of the situation in Europe and United States. So, consumers in APEJ and Africa are making a direct shift from using cash to using mobile payments. Growth in the mobile payments market will be particularly strong in China. This is due to the entry of major market players like Apple and Samsung in the Chinese market, making the competition more fierce and interesting.A sample of this report is available upon request @Due to a strong showing in China, the market for mobile payment will continue to grow in the Asia Pacific region and this region will be the leading market in the world in terms of volume. However, in terms of value, it is Africa that will maintain its number one position in the mobile payment transaction market. This is due to the spectacular success of M-Pesa in Kenya and this has influenced consumers and businesses in other regions of Africa to adopt the technology of mobile payments. This has boosted the market of mobile payment transaction market in Africa. Currently, Africa has nearly 32% revenue share of the global mobile payment market, and boasts of a subscriber base of over 100 million. Other than Asia Pacific and Africa, Western Europe and United States are other lucrative regions for mobile payment transaction market the world over.Request to view table of content @Leading players operating in the global mobile payment transaction market are PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Alipay.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Websri and CSIR-NBRI Lucknow Collaborated for State First Air Pollution Mitigating App

Websri is happy but more proud to announce its first contract with CSIR-NBRI(Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Botanical Research Institute), Lucknow(set up by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh). It is a Government of india undertaking with special emphasis in field of plant sciences, who entrusted Websri with an opportunity to develop an app that will serve a great social cause of eliminating air pollution on national level. The Green Planner is an android based App that provides complete information about plants useful in reducing the air pollution and save us from the potential hazards.These plants are pollution tolerant and have the ability to absorb harmful gaseous emissions and particulate matters to sufficiently mitigate the health hazards via pollution released from industrial emissions, vehicular exhausts and indoor premises. As far as feasibility is concerned plants listed in database are locally available. Development of Green Planner App has provided Websri an edge over Corporate Social Responsibility and reflected our dedication towards social responsibility. We have ensured Green Planner App does not stores any bit information in the cookies as well as no third party service is implemented in the App.The Green Planner is an android based App that provides complete information about plants useful in lessening the air pollution and save us from the potential hazards.These plants are pollution tolerant and have the ability to absorb harmful gaseous emissions and particulate matters to sufficiently mitigate the health hazards via pollution released from industrial emissions, vehicular exhausts and indoor premises. As far as feasibility is concerned plants listed in database are locally available. This app will ensure densely populated metros are free from air pollution hazardsThis application is free to download at Google Play Store. It will be opportunity for government officials, students and common men to minimize the effect of air pollution with little investment.The application also, offers an organised green planner for academics, government officials, students and common public. As per Mr. SK Barik (NBRI director), "Information on the right type of plantation will not only help in reducing pollution but also in the mitigation of harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide."This approach of this app also serves the purpose of limiting the on going problem of persons suffering from respiratory disorders who can now have a positive outlook towards life owing to clean environment surrounding them. The huge amount of experience that NBRI holds in fighting air pollution will now be channelised via this app to benefit rest of the country.A user oriented solution on cutting edge technology to engage customers or boost your brand to eventually edge out your competitor you require customized mobile application, web application or an e-commerce solution. Websri boast best fit developers, designers that were key to partner with multiple Fortune 500 firms for delivering industry oriented mobile, web and e-commerce solution always.Websri(A Unit of SSSPL) is a well established Lucknow based company, operating and performing for 7+ years with 2000+ successful projects delivered. Syncing client idea to reflect their business objectives.Our key strategy to provide solutions that are industry ready and generate high ROI. Our technical expertise and transparent work ethics have been acknowledged by Fortune 500 brands.Websri (A Unit of SSSPL)A-72, Omaxe CityLucknow-226025Uttar Pradesh, India
Security-as-a-Service Market to Reach US$ 16,445.4 Mn by 2026

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Persistence Market Researchs report on the global Security-as-a-Service market titled Global Market Study on Security-as-a-Service: IT & Telecom and BFSI Industry Segments Major Adopters of Security-as-a-Service Solutions , includes a comprehensive study that has predicted the market to attain US$ 3.3 billion in value by the end of 2016. Over a ten-year forecast period of 2016-2026, the global Security-as-a-Service market is projected to expand at a staggering CAGR of 17.1%. Adopting the business model of Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) has become a pragmatic choice for companies looking at integrating security with their business infrastructure. Furthermore, emerging technological trends related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-computing will continue to compel more businesses towards implementation of a Security-as-a-Service business model, which will incidentally benefit them through cost savings.Telecom & IT remains the largest industry for SaaS. Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Goods, and BFSI are the other prominent industries for the global SaaS market. The risks of data loss in the healthcare industry can disrupt dozens of associated businesses such as insurance reimbursement and drug development, and with it, compromise the health of millions of patients. Cloud computing is being merged in the global finance industry, but protection of electronic transactions has necessitated the need for amalgamating a Security-as-a-Service business model. By the end of the forecast period, Healthcare and BFSI industries will account for a market value share of 20.3% and 17.7% respectively, with the global IT & Telecom sector accounting for a revenue share of nearly 30%.Providing security services to large enterprises remains a lucrative revenue-generation business model for leading players. By 2026, large enterprises such as conglomerates or multinational corporations will procure about 50% share of global market value, higher than the collective revenue share of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, companies in the global Security-as-a-Service market have transformed from being service providers, software developers, and security platform providers to managed security service providers and integrators of Security-as-a-Service for client enterprises. Some of the leading market players profiled in this report include Intel Security, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Gemalto NV, Qualys Inc., Alert Logic Inc., Trend Micro Inc., Proofpoint Inc., Zscaler, Inc., and Okta, Inc.Interlinked businesses within a company or within multiple corporations are exposed to the threats of network breach, now that cybercrime is at large. As a countermeasure, business operations need to be integrated with security services that safeguard the companies, not just at the firewall level, but at an out-and-out networking parameter. Fusing a security-based business model in an existing and complicated corporate structure can be really formidable for companies, considering the added expenditure of developing an individual security service.A sample of this report is available upon request @Additionally, companies are not looking to further implicate their operational accountabilities by gaining a total ownership of such developed security services. Ergo, the growth of the global market for Security-as-a-Service will be primarily driven by increasing partnerships of companies with service providers offering subscription-based security. So, cost advantages of integrating a Security-as-a-Service business model will encourage more companies to upgrade security measures of their businesses.Request to view table of content @Cloud-based security services are proliferating the US corporate world; from budding startups to established conglomerates. North Americas robust Telecom and IT infrastructure aids the extension of its Security-as-a-Service market, which is anticipated to garner revenues worth US$ 8 billion by 2026-end. With an estimated global market revenue share of 36.4% in 2016, North Americas Security-as-a-Service market will account for nearly half of the global market by the end of 2026, growing at the fastest CAGR among all the regions. Meanwhile, the Security-as-a-Service market in Western Europe will expand gradually, generating an opportune incremental value of an estimated US$ 3,059.6 million over the forecast period. Other regions analyzed in the report include Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Hydrogen Peroxide Market For Paper & Pulp, Chemical, Wastewater Treatment, Mining, and Other End-users At Global And Regional Level During 2017 - 2023

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ResearchMoz presents this most up-to-date research on "Hydrogen Peroxide Market For Paper & Pulp, Chemical, Wastewater Treatment, Mining, and Other End-users At Global And Regional Level During 2017 - 2023".This report analyzes and forecasts the market for hydrogen peroxide at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) from 2015 to 2023. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global hydrogen peroxide market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for hydrogen peroxide during the forecast period. The report also highlights the opportunities in the hydrogen peroxide market at the global and regional level.The report includes detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global hydrogen peroxide market. Porters Five Forces model for the hydrogen peroxide market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view of the global hydrogen peroxide market by segmenting it in terms of end-users. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual end-user segments in all the regions.The study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global hydrogen peroxide market. Key players profiled in the report include Arkema S.A., Evonik Industries AG, Solvay S.A., Akzo Nobel N.V., Kemira Oyj, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., PeroxyChem LLC, Aditya Birla Chemicals Limited, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL), and Kingboard Chemical Holdings Ltd. Market players are profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report provides the estimated market size of hydrogen peroxide for 2015 and forecast for the next eight years. The global market size of hydrogen peroxide has been provided in terms of volume as well as revenue. Market volume has been defined in kilo tons, while market revenue is in US$ Mn. Market numbers are estimated based on key end-user segments of hydrogen peroxide. Market size and forecast for each major end-user has been provided in terms of global and regional markets.In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, Plastemart magazine, TPE magazine, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases such as ICIS, Hoovers, oneSOURCE, Factiva, and Bloomberg, national government documents, statistical databases, trade journals, market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and face-to-face interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The report segments the global hydrogen peroxide market as:Hydrogen Peroxide Market - End-user Segment AnalysisPaper & pulpChemicalWastewater treatmentMiningOthers (Including textile, electronics, etc.)Hydrogen Peroxide Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeFranceUKSpainGermanyItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanASEANRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & Africa (MEA)GCCSouth AfricaRest of MEAMake 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 @
At A CAGR Of 5.20%, Global Property Management Software Market Will Expand During 2017 - 2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "At A CAGR Of 5.20%, Global Property Management Software Market Will Expand During 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Property management software helps property managers manage their daily operations. These operations include tenant and lease tracking, accounting, and building maintenance. The software solution provides property managers a centralized platform to view all their properties. It also ensures the progress of other property-related operations such as supervising maintenance tasks and addressing the needs of tenants.Technavios analysts forecast the global property management software market to grow at a CAGR of 5.20% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global property management software market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Property Management Software 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 vendorsAppFolioBuildiumConsole AustraliaEntrataLondon Computer SystemsMRI SoftwareProperty BoulevardQube Global SoftwareRealPageRockendTOPS SoftwareYardi SystemsTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsBuilding EnginesGENKANLandlordMAXMaintenance ConnectionProperty MatrixPropertyMeRentec DirectRentPostResManROSMIMAN IWMSSoftera BalticSimplifyEmSS&C TechnologiesTotal ManagementTrace SolutionsValencePMMarket driverAmplified necessity for transparency in property management.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeThreat from open-source property management software vendors.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIncreasing integration of augmented reality in property management.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global 3D Bioprinting Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2021

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3D bioprinting is a process of creating spatially-controlled cell patterns in 3D, where viability and cell function are conserved within printed construct. The 3D bioprinting industry that is currently at the embryonic stage of generating replacement human tissue has been forecast to be worth billion dollars by 2019. 3D bioprinting at present largely involves the creation of simple tissue structures in lab settings, but is estimated to be scaled up to involve the creation of complete organs for transplants. This technology is expected to be used for more speedy and accurate drug testing, as potential drug compounds could be tested on bioprinted tissue before human trials commenced.Request to view Sample Report @3D bioprinting is steadily emerging as an area that is gathering attention from a lot of academicians. Some of the researchers have recently opened start-up firms with aim of commercializing the technology in coming years. A number of start-ups have recently sprung up to build up products based on bioprinting. Some are spin outs from university research. For examples, Aspect Biosystems focused on printing tissue models for toxicity testing TeViDo BioDevices focused on printing breast tissue and SkinPrint focused on developing human skin. The market of 3D bioprinting particularly focuses on the commercial bioprinters and those under development, their applications and the expected future evolution. It is widely predictable that the 3D bioprinting market has great potential. It requires biocompatible materials (bio-ink and bio-paper), software (CAD), hardware (bioprinters); each has the capability to grow into separate niche industries.The market at present has 14 industry sponsored bioprinters, focused on variety of commercial applications. The widen supply-demand gap for organ transplants is an unmet need; the ultimate goal of researchers is to be able to create bioprinted organs for organ transplants. The focus of this market is expected to shift from research to commercialization. At this stage, the applications such as tissue engineering (skin and cartilage) and drug testing (skin and cartilage) are expected to be popular.In coming years, 3D bioprinting to be a multi-billion dollar industry owning to early success of bioprinted organ transplants is expected to offer additional boost in subsequent years. The next generation of bioprinters is to offer additional features such as multiple arms and is expected to be comparatively more affordable driving wider adoption. Aspect Biosystems would dramatically cut the cost and time it takes to develop and test the drugs leading to cures for presently incurable diseases and cheaper treatment options. The companies in bioprinting market include SkinPrint that is developing a replacement skin for the burns patients or for those suffering from skin disorders. Aspect Biosystems that is developing printed tissue for drug testing.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major players for 3D bioprinting market are Advanced Biomatrix, 3D Biotek, 3D Systems, Avita Medical, Bespoke Innovations, Autodesk, EnvisionTEC, Cyfuse Biomedical, CMC Microsystems, Digilab, United Therapeutics, TeVido BioDevices, DTM, Bio3D Technologies, Helisys Inc. CMC Microsystems, InSphero AG and BD Biosciences among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Chipless RFID Market to Maintain Healthy CAGR During 2016 - 2024

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The manufacturers of this market have realized the necessity for reasonable and efficient solutions to trace and track the several applications which includes retail, smart card and supply chain among others. The demand for this market is increasing as it provides the solutions which includes asset tracking, and anti-counterfeiting, to avoid the shrink in retail.Request to view Sample Report @Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses wireless non-contact structure with the help of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. RFID transfers the files from a tag attached to an article, for automatic tracking and identification. Some of the tags need no power source and are run by the electromagnetic fields. Other tags emit radio waves and require a limited power. The tag comprises of electronically stored information which could be read from the distant.The key drivers of this market include decreasing cost, ease in manufacturing technology, compatibility with existing infrastructure and high accuracy data. The main factor restraining the market growth is its low memory. The opportunities in this market is the government policies related to RFID.This market is segmented on the basis of its applications which includes tracing healthcare & pharmaceutical equipment, patient monitoring, smart cards, public transit, retail, supply chain and aviation industry among others. Supply chain, public transit and aviation industry segments would be benefited with chipless RFID by creating hassle-free operations.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in this market includes Alien Technology Corporation, Basf Se, Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Impinj Incorporation, Inksure Technologies Inc., Toppan Forms Co. Ltd., and Zebra Technologies Corporation among Others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Kenya's high court has given parliament 60 days to implement a gender quota rule.

Kenyan lawmakers have about 50 days to figure out a way to guarantee womens representation in parliament. Earlier this month, Kenyas high court ordered parliament to ensure that at least a third of seats are held by women, or risk dissolution.

African countries regularly top lists of governments with the highest female representation. Rwanda, which adopted gender balance quotas in 2003, has the worlds highest proportion, with 61% of seats in the lower house occupied by women. Of the worlds top 20 countries for women in parliament, seven are in sub-Saharan Africa.

But Kenya, a country that prides itself on its progressive reputation, lags behind its peers. Its constitution, adopted in 2010, mandated that no more than two-thirds of the legislature be held by one gender. Yet the government has delayed enforcing that ruling.

Today, women make up 19% of Kenyas upper house, the National Assembly, and 27% of the Senate, a ratio that puts it just behind Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, and ahead of Bulgaria and Kyrgyzstan.

Researchers have found mostly positive effects of gender quotas in African politics. New laws passed to protect women dealing with domestic violence, land disputes, and divorce in Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda have been attributed to having more women in government.

Theres also backlash and questions about the efficacy of gender quotas in countries with weak legislatures or less-than-democratic processes. In Senegal, the word parity in Wolof has reportedly come to mean, I no longer accept my husbands authority, according to Gretchen Bauer, at the University of Delaware, who has written about the gender quotas on the continent.

In Kenya, those same challenges exist. Women who have run for office say that intimidation and violence is common. Female candidates in 2012 received death threats or were pressured by men in their party not to run, according to the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association, and many had to employ private security.

Story continues

Those that do occupy existing reserved seats for women are relegated to a kind of ghetto within the national legislature where they are not seen as full parliamentarians, writes political analyst and writer Nanjala Nyabola. The Kenyan political arena is dominated by mimi ni ndumeI am the bullattitudes, patronage networks, intimidation, and the threat of violence, Nyabola writes.

So far, existing proposals for implementing the two-thirds rule are weak. One lawmakers proposal calls for deferring the issue until 2037. Another, by former house majority leader Aden Duale, would fulfill the quota by allowing winning parties to nominate women to the legislature after the electiona top up approach.

The High Courts threat of dissolution is also something of an empty one. Parliament is already slated to be dismissed in late summer, before Augusts presidential and parliamentary elections.

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Companion Diagnostics Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Companion Diagnostics Market is accounted for $2.62 billion in 2015 and is estimated to reach $9.27 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 19.78% during the forecast period. At present, increasing demand for personalized medicine is mostly contributing to the global companion diagnostics market growth. On the other hand, cost allied with developing drugs could hamper the market. Developing companion diagnostics for several central nervous system conditions and hereditary conditions provide ample of opportunities for players in the market.In terms of revenue, Breast cancer commanded the global companion diagnostics market. However, lung cancer is expected to lead the market in future growing at a significant CAGR owing to the discovery of biomarkers that are precise to lung cancer, and the discovery of myriad pertinent companion diagnostics. Molecular diagnostics is highest revenue generating segment and also expected to grow at a faster rate, mainly owing to the use of techniques such as real time PCR, In Situ Hybridization and next generation sequencing.North America represented the largest market for companion diagnostics, followed by the Europe. The Asia Pacific and Rest of the World regions are anticipated to witness substantial demand for companion diagnostics in the future. In these regions, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, rising disposable incomes, and unexploited potential for companion diagnostics are cited as the major reasons for the market growth.Some of the key players in the market include are Roche Diagnostics, Quest Diagnostics Inc.Qiagen N.V., Labcorp, Genomic Health Inc., Dako (Agilent Technologies), Celera, Biomerieux Sa, Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Danaher Corporation, GE Healthcare, Biogenex Laboratories, Siemens and AstraZeneca.For More, Please Visit:Technologies Covered: Molecular diagnostics In Situ Hybridization (ISH)o CISHo FISH Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Next generation sequencing Other Technologies ImmunohistochemistryApplications Covered: Colorectal Cancer Gastric Cancer Lung Cancer Breast Cancer Melanoma Other ApplicationsIndications Covered: Cardiovascular conditions Inflammation Virology Oncology Other IndicationsEnd Users Covered: Pharmaceutical Companies Reference Lab Physicians Hospitals Academic Medical CentersRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
Global Crowd Funding Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2022

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The term Crowd funding refers to a collection of funds for any venture or project through various sources like equity and non-equity, the platform for collecting funds can be the internet and other social media. These crowd funding platforms help investors to meet entrepreneurs in need of funds for their ventures. Mostly, none- equity sector can be considered as the main source of crowd funding rather than equity sector. The crowd funding market had started in the early or mid of 2000s, and since then it has noticed an enormous growth owing to the increase of Start-Ups and many new projects globally. Moreover, such crowd funding platforms have been able to collect billions of dollars for meeting millions of campaigns in the year 2012. Nowadays, Investors are getting attracted to such crowd funding market because of the potential of the untapped market in many regions. North America is having a greater potential in crowd funding market due to the presence of economically sound countries like the US in this region. Likewise, every year crowd funding platforms are launched, thus globalizing the crowd funding market.Request to view Sample Report @The increase in a number of Start-Ups and many new small projects are responsible for the growth of crowd funding market for their capital needs. Moreover, Real Estate sector is growing with a significant rate in developing regions like North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Hence, increasing fund requirement in Real Estate sector is a driving force for crowd funding market. In addition, this sector is having a good market share in crowd funding market.Besides the driving factors of crowd funding market, there are many stringent conditions of crowd funding platforms which can restrain the crowd funding market in further future. Many entrepreneurs are not aware of the existence of crowd funding platforms which can hamper the growth of crowd funding market. Like Kickstarter launched a mission to empower artists and creative projects owners for their ideas through reward crowd funding, but due to lack of awareness many entrepreneurs were not able to avail the benefits of crowd funding.On the basis of Sources, the crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:Non-Equity Sources.Equity Sources.On the basis of crowd funding platforms, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:Specialized platforms.Activity  Specific platform.General purpose platform.On the basis of allocation of funds, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:The All-or-Nothing model.The keep what you earn model.Request to view Table of content @The global Crowd Funding market is segmented into seven key regions as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Japan. North America is having the maximum market share in the global crowd funding market, specially the US in this region is having a big chunk in crowd funding market because of its higher economy than other countries. North America is followed by Europe in crowd funding market and in Europe also, the best performing countries are UK and France. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a moderate growth in crowd funding market due to many new business opportunities in various sectors.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Coffee Market sizing by value along with the production and consumption analysis, Trends And Opportunities (2016-2020)

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The report titled Global Coffee Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global coffee market with detailed analysis of market sizing and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides the production and consumption analysis of the market. The report provides detailed market analysis of the global retail coffee market by value and volume along with the segments of the market.The report provides detailed regional analysis of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America Middle East & Africa and Australasia for the coffee market. Regional analysis includes market sizing by value along with the production and consumption analysis. It also provides the retail sales value of each region.The report also includes the country analysis of Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ethiopia and India. It provides the production and consumption analysis along with the export-import trends in each of the above mentioned countries.Download Sample Copy Of This Report :Furthermore, the report assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global retail coffee market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in global coffee market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Nestle. Further, key players of the coffee market The J.M. Smucker Company, Mondelez International Inc. and Strauss Group Ltd. are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.Regional CoverageWestern EuropeEastern EuropeNorth AmericaAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaAustralasiaCountry CoverageBrazilVietnamIndonesiaEthiopiaIndiaCompany CoverageThe J.M. Smucker CompanyMondelez International Inc.Strauss Group Ltd.Executive SummaryGlobal coffee market increased at a significant CAGR during the span of 5 years i.e. 2011-2015 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The market can be segmented on the basis of end-users as retail coffee market and food services market, of which global retail coffee market displayed an increase, driving the global coffee market. The increasing consumption of coffee led by the westernization trend in India, China and Latin America drive the market in the positive direction.The growth drivers for the global coffee market are: rise in disposable income, rapid urbanization and increase in the population along with the emergence of caf culture and new consumer base. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: aging of coffee trees, lack of government support, negative impact of climate change, price volatility and increase in production cost.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
SuiteCRM Release Long Term Support Cycle

SalesAgility Ltd. the authors and maintainers of SuiteCRM - the worlds leading open source CRM applications, announced the availability of SuiteCRM 7.8.3 Long Term Support (LTS) Edition for free download on Tuesday 11th April.SuiteCRM 7.8.3 (LTS) adds new features to enhance the performance, stability and security of this fully supported open source Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform. The LTS release sees further expansion of the commercial ecosystem of support and professional services contracts available to users of SuiteCRM.The extended maintenance period meets demand from business users to deploy SuiteCRM widely over a period of years. It also positions SuiteCRM as a platform for innovation and a driver of increased agility and large scale cost-reductions for enterprise-class deployments.SuiteCRM 7.8.3 LTS Edition is built for business, said Greg Soper, CEO of SalesAgility Ltd. This release brings together significant feature and stability improvements to a free and open source CRM application. SuiteCRM is at the centre of a growing ecosystem of applications that serve businesses of all sizes extremely well. We look forward to seeing its adoption grow across each LTS lifespan.As part of its news today, SalesAgility also announced that SuiteCRM 7.8.3 LTS would continue to be 100% upgrade compatible with SugarCRM Community Edition (CE). SugarCRM users who are facing an uncertain future with the withdrawal of all support and updates of CE, can upgrade to SuiteCRM LTS and be confident in the long term security of the platform.Next on the agenda for SalesAgility is looking into a warranted version of SuiteCRMSalesAgility is an employee-owned CRM Consultancy. As such, we are highly invested in developing cutting edged and innovative open sourced CRM solutions for organisations locally, nationally and globally.SalesAgilityThe Steeple, 65 King Street, Stirling, Scotland, FK8 1DTKevin Sharpe - Head of Marketingkevin.sharpe@salesagility.com - 01786 585 499
Global Crystal Oscillator Market Expecting Worldwide Growth by 2024

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Crystal oscillators are the main components of an electronic device. It uses piezoelectricity exhibited by certain crystals. It creates the waveforms which gives exact frequency which is based on mechanical vibration of the precision machined crystal.Request to view Sample Report @The key drivers of this market includes increase in advancement of smartphones and tablets, placement of 3G and 4G networks, advancement in healthcare equipments and increasing demand for sophisticated and discerning automotive customers among others. The main factor restraining the market growth is the development of Si-Mems oscillators in the market. The biggest opportunity of this market is the evolution of Quartz Mems technology.The market is segmented on the basis of applications which includes telecom and networking, aerospace and military, consumer electronics, measurement and research, automotive, medical equipment and industrial among others. In addition, the market is segmented on the basis of technology which includes AT Cut, BT Cut and SC Cut oscillators.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in the embedded system market are Aker Technology, Connor Winfield, Croven Crystals, CTS Corporation, East Crystal Electronic, Fox Electronics, Mercury Electronics, Siward Crystal Technology, Tongfang Guoxin Electronics and Vectron International among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Single Phase Transformer Market key trends and statistics 2024

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The report Single phase Transformer Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Germany, UK, Italy, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa), Application Growth Potential, Competitive Market Growth & Forecast, 2016  2024 Single Phase Transformer Market size is projected to experience considerable growth prospects from 2016 to 2024.The rapid industrialization accompanied by escalating electricity demands across the world may fuel the single phase transformer market size over the coming years. These devices offer numerous benefits such as high safety over liquid-filled versions.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Hence, single phase transformers are likely to witness its prominence and are widely used in marine, mining, oil & gas industrial vectors that have precise voltage requirements due to high fire safety in these industry verticals. The usage of these products in the electricity distribution may further drive the single phase transformer market size during the forecast timeline.These products are commonly used for voltage reduction and power distribution in commercial and residential applications. They ensure high safety against leakage and minimize health & environmental concerns. The capability to endure moisture and exhibit improved short circuit strength and impulse in comparison to liquid filled transformers is likely to increase their applications in both industrial as well as domestic applications. An increasing number of renewable energy and grid upgrade projects may positively impact revenue over the forecast timeline.The high cost associated with these devices and the lack of government investments in grid stability may inhibit the single phase transformer market size from 2016 to 2024. Based on the voltage requirements, the industry can be fragmented into medium and low voltage. The low voltage single phase transformer market is predicted to hold a key revenue share owing to their high efficiency and electric shock risk reduction capability. Safety benefits provided by these devices for the users are the reasons for the industry growth in this segment.Browse the full Single phase Transformer Market report at @Based on the technology, the single phase transformer market share can be segmented into cast resin and Vacuum Pressure Impregnated (VPI). Cast resin transformers are anticipated to witness attractive growth prospects due to features such as substantial safety against corrosive environments, increased compatibility for high vibration levels, negligible damage of wire isolation due to current peaks, and reduction of internal vibrations and noise. The VPI transformers are suitable for installations with respect to minimum flammable materials and the environment.Based on the applications, the industry can be segregated into commercial and industrial segments. The industrial segment is predicted to witness lucrative opportunities owing to the increasing development of electricity distribution networks in the industrial sector. These devices are responsible for power distribution at high voltage, double wiring elimination, operation of 120-volt equipment from power circuits, electrical circuit isolation, separation and the establishment of branch circuits, provide 3-wire secondary circuits, and electrostatic shielding for temporary noise protection.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Key players operating in the industry include ABB Ltd., Hammond Power Solution, General Electric, and Siemens AG. Other prominent industry participants include Jinpan International, Schneider Electric, Eaton Corporation, TBEA Transformer Industrial Group, Voltamp Transformer, and Crompton Greaves. The industry is characterized by wide product offerings. For instance, Eaton offers single phase transformers that are effectively ventilated, encapsulated, and are available in a wide variety of primary and secondary voltage combinations. They also include features, such as primary taps, that ensure compensation for voltage variations. Its core is constructed using high-grade and non-aging silicon steel to deliver high magnetic permeability.About 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:
Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses Segments are likely to dominate Global Vision Care Market

Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses Market Size and Industry Analysis

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APAC is expected to remain as the largest market for eyeglasses in terms of revenues.The North America market is likely to lead the single day use contact lenses market.A recent report, Global Vision Care Market (Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses)  Strategic Assessment and Forecast 2017  2022 released by Beige Market Intelligence provides a detailed analysis and growth forecast of the global vision care market. The report provides a comprehensive market analysis of major segments of the global vision care market.The report states that contact lenses and eyeglasses constitute major segments of the global vision care market. These segments together are expected to contribute a significant revenue to the global vision care market during the forecast period 20162022. It offers exhaustive insights and market analysis of various types of eye glasses and contact lenses.Eye Glasses Market Size and ForecastEye glasses have emerged as the most preferred and affordable vision correction products. They are often viewed as the best alternative as they do not entail daily maintenance and can be easily replaced or upgraded. Geographically, APAC remains to be the largest market for eyeglasses in terms of revenues on account of sheer size of population and incidence of ailments. However, the MEA region is considered as the fastest growing market for eyeglasses. The market research report provides the market size of various types of eyeglasses such as single vision eyeglasses, bifocal eyeglasses, and progressive eyeglasses.View Report Details:Contact Lenses Market Size and ForecastContact lenses, developed as a sophisticated advancement to eyeglasses, have turned to be a rage, particularly in the consumer segment. Contact lenses are used in the similar way as eyeglasses, however, they have double optical power and are considered as the emerging products in the industry. From functionality perspective, the contact lenses market has evolved to innovative variants and segmentation based on material and modality, resulting in a large range of variants for use. The market of single day use contact lens is growing at a CAGR of 7.9%. North America leads the single day use contact lenses market in terms of market share, followed by Europe and Asia.Similarly, in terms of modality, the spherical contact lenses market is expected to witness immense growth. However, the toric lens segment is going to be one of the fastest growing segments in the contact lens market.More information about the market size of eye glasses, contact lenses, intraocular lens, artificial tears and other eye care OTC products is included in the report.View Report Details:Order a free sample report :Source Link:About Beige Market IntelligenceBeige Market Intelligence provides competitive and insightful business intelligence across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the analysis provided is comprehensive, detailed, and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations to make insightful decisions and devise marketing strategies for their businesses. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis at every level of market segmentation in the industry.Our team of experts ensure the analysis is not just analyzed and presented but also can be customized depending upon the clients requirement. When it comes to competitive intelligence, we ensure our clients do not look beyond us.Our employment base is spread across the globe. Our analysts come with numerous quality reports and wide industry experience, which ensures understanding of the client's requirement and delivering high-quality research reports.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapannahalli Main Road, Bangalore - 560037Mail: contactus@beigemarketintelligence.comUS: +1 347 903 9949UK: +44 20 323 99499APAC: +91 99 012 75473
Emerging Demands On Global Elderly Care Services Market Trends And Opportunities (2016-2020)

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The report titled Global Elderly Care Services Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016 - 2020) provides a detailed analysis of the elder care services market with description of market sizing and growth, segmentation of market by products & services and major markets, top market players etc. The report recapitulates the factors that will be responsible for the growth in the market in the forecasted period.The market size and forecast in terms of value for the market has been provided for the period 2016 to 2020, considering 2014 as the base year and the estimated value for 2015 has also been provided in the report. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period 2016 to 2020. In the forecasted period global elder care services market is expected to achieve a double-digit growth.The report provides major market trends, growth drivers and challenges of the global elder care services market. The major market trends of elder care services market are rise of technology-enhanced senior care, booming healthcare industry, federal health care reforms and regulations regarding Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement etc. Rising number of ageing population, increased life expectancy, chronic illness among aged population and increase in health expenditure by senior citizens are the major growth drivers of the market. But the market also has to face lot of challenges in the coming years that will create interruption in the growth of the market. Some of the challenges are lack of qualified employees, less supply more demand and cost affordability etc.Download Sample Copy Of This Report :The report also provides country analysis of the US, Canada, Europe and India in terms of market sizing and growth. The US and Canada (in North America) are the market leaders followed by European countries. Among Asia-Pacific countries, India has been emerged as the market leader in elder care services. In coming years, Asia-Pacific will be the key market player as the growth of ageing population is more than other nations worldwide.Furthermore, the report also profiles key market players such as Extendicare Inc., Brookdale senior Living Inc., Kindred Healthcare Inc. and Genesis Healthcare Inc. on the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Country CoverageThe USCanadaEuropeIndiaCompany CoverageExtendicare Inc.Brookdale Senior Living Inc.Kindred Healthcare Inc.Genesis Healthcare Inc.Executive SummarySenior citizens need assistance with daily activities as well as healthcare requirements who needs a quality life. Due to all these requirements there emerged a market known as elder care services market which is specifically came into existence to serve the ageing population worldwide. Elder care services market has divided into various segments. Elderly care business includes in home care, assisted living, nursing home facilities by skilled professionals, hospital care and pharmaceuticals. Among these, in-home care, assisted living and home healthcare segment are getting popular day by day and provide quality life to senior citizens. Adult day care centres are designed for older adults who are no longer managing independently or who are isolated or lonely. Home care services are provided by family members and close relatives.Global elder care market has shown positive trends over the past few years. The primary reasons behind the growth of the market are increased ageing population worldwide, increasing demand for quality life by senior citizens, positive government regulation in healthcare segment to provide cost-effective medical treatment to the aged population, technological advancement, and chronic illness among old age population etc. the market is expected to achieve a moderate growth in the forecasted period. Global elder care services market continued to expand at a swift pace in 2015.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
Avolution showcases tool for managing smart cities: IT, infrastructure, IoT at Open Group, Berlin

www.avolutionsoftware.com

Avolution will sponsor the Open Group Berlin conference Smart Cities, Making Standards Word on April 24-27, 2017.Avolutions EMEA Regional Manager Peter Collins said: IT systems and services and the complex physical infrastructure which supports smart cities need to be planned, integrated and rationalized. For these large, collaborative projects, the precise engineering-based methods available in ABACUS really come into their own.ABACUS is used to co-ordinate IT systems and business processes for major projects across a range of sectors, including financial services, government and infrastructure. Recently, international engineering, design and planning consultancy Arup used the tool to support planning for Qatars multibillion dollar smart city project.For major infrastructure projects, architects can use ABACUS to manage complex interconnected technologies and services, and plan how to integrate IT with building systems, security systems and fire systems, said Collins. And standards such as TOGAF or ArchiMate are available in the tool to provide clarity and consistency around this planning and modelling process.The detailed digital repository and information about physical assets and IoT which can be captured in ABACUS can also be used to map and monitor services and associated systems across a range of industries and applications.Both TOGAF and ArchiMate users will find that the latest metamodels, notations, sample diagrams and other assets are available in ABACUS, as well as proprietary reporting, visualization and analytics. Avolution consultants will be available to discuss how to leverage these standards for best-practice enterprise architecture.More information on how Arup used ABACUS to plan smart cities is available from Information Age: The Transformation of Architecture in the Age of Smart Cities.The full ABACUS product suite will be available for delegates to view at the conference and Avolution experts will also be available to discuss: Developing an enterprise architecture strategy Using TOGAF and ArchiMate for application portfolio management, tackling technical debt, managing legacy systems, and aligning innovative technologies with business goals Best-practice Enterprise Architecture roadmapping Using algorithms available in ABACUS to calculate business-critical metrics such as Cost, Risk and Reliability, and to inform trade-off analysis Using ABACUS for Enterprise Portfolio Management (EPM), IT strategic planning, Business Process Management (BPM), Solution Architecture (SOA), IT Service Management (ITSM), Business Intelligence (BI), and Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)Visit the conference website for more information.For more a free 30-day trial of the ABACUS toolset plus other enterprise architecture resources visitENDSPress Enquiries:Communications Manager, AvolutionE: comms@avolutionsoftware.comEnquiries during the Open Group conference, BerlinPeter Collins, EMEA Regional Manager, AvolutionEmail: Peter.D.Collins@avolutionsoftware.comABACUS is used by companies worldwide to manage Enterprise Architecture, IT and business strategy and Digital Transformation. ABACUS users deliver insights and value quickly: Import data in minutes from SharePoint, Excel, Visio, Google Sheets and other sources Choose an off-the-shelf framework or metamodel or configure an enterprise specific metamodel Analyze your architecture using algorithms for metrics such as TCO, Performance, Availability, Agility etc. Create future state architectures and roadmaps Report with rich visuals including heat maps, treemaps, timelines, lifecycles, capability spaces, trade-off diagrams, charts and dashboardsABACUS supports Application Portfolio Management (APM), Enterprise Portfolio Management (EPM), Business Process Management (BPM), Customer Experience (CX), Solution Architecture (SA), IT Service Management (ITSM), Business Intelligence (BI), and Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC). It is available either on premise or as a browser-based SaaS tool.AvolutionThe Podium, 1 Eversholt Street, Eusten, LondonNW1 2DN+44 (0)20 7554 5600Communication Manager
Flexible Display Market to Develop Rapidly by 2024

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10804

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10804

A flexible display is flexible by nature. The global flexible display market is expected to grow at a substantial growth rate due to the growing interest of many consumer electronics manufacturers to apply this display technology in mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer electronics. There are various trends which have been driving the technological innovations in the display industry which includes portability, quality, interconnectivity, screen size, user- friendliness, and power savings.Request to view Sample Report @The global flexible display market is segmented into four major categories, on the basis of material into polymer, glass, and glass-reinforced plastic, on the basis of components into organic material, substrate, conductive layer, backlight panel and other components. On the basis of applications the market is segmented into e-reader, smartphone, tablet, laptop, e-paper, and television. The market is also segmented by technology into emissive and non-emissive. The market is further segmented by geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and rest of the world regions.The market is driven by factors such as the rapidly growing consumer electronics goods industry and its distinctive features. Some of the factors inhibiting the growth of the global flexible display market are manufacturing challenges and competing technologies. The growing penetration in multiple applications will serve as an opportunity, fuelling the growth of the global next generation biometric technology market.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players dominating the market are Atmel Corporation, AU Optronics Corp., Corning Incorporated, Delta Electronics, Inc., Dupont Display, E Ink Holdings, Inc., Flexible Display Center (Asu), Hewlett-Packard Company, Kent Displays, Inc., LG Display Co. Ltd., Materion Corporation, Nanolumens, Nokia, Novaled AG and Philips Electronics among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
L3 Technologies, Inc.s LLL business unit, Vertex Aerospace, has won a contract from the U.S. Navy to provide depot level maintenance, logistics, and sustaining engineering services for the C-12 utility lift aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps.



Details of the Deal



The contract is valued at $202.2 million and is awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.



Per the contract, L3 Technologies will provide services including maintenance of site support, aircraft depot and engine depot. Additionally, it will cover modifications of aircraft and aircraft systems, potential site stand-ups and closures.



Work is scheduled to be completed by Jul 2022. Majority of the work will be performed in San Angelo, TX; while the rest will be executed in various locations throughout the U.S., Cuba and Japan.



A Brief Note on C-12 Aircraft



Modeled on Beechcraft Super King Air, C-12 Huron is the military version of an executive passenger and transport aircraft. It is mainly used by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps for a wide array of functions including range clearance, embassy support, medical evacuation, VIP transport, passenger and light cargo transport.



C-12 Huron features a twin-engine turboprop and can carry a maximum of two crew along with 13 passengers or 5,000lb of cargo. This aircraft is manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (RAC), a division of Raytheon Company RTN.



Also, it is equipped with Rockwell Collins Inc.s COL avionics, including Collins WXR-850 weather radar, traffic collision alert and avoidance systems (TCAAS) and an integrated avionics processor system (IAPS). Currently, over 300 aircraft are in service with the U.S. armed forces.



Why L3 Technologies?



L-3 Technologies is one of the prime system contractors for aircraft modernization and maintenance; Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) collection platforms; simulation and training; and government systems support services. In fact, it has also been awarded contract to provide support services for the C-12 aircraft even last year.



Further, the company is a pure-play provider of defense electronics and highly engineered products and services. Moving ahead, it anticipates to gradually transform its business portfolio to focus on defense electronics, communications and ISR markets leading to boost in sales and margins.



Price Movement



L3 Technologies stock gained 38.9% in the last one year, outperforming the Zacks categorized Electronics-Military Systems industrys gain of 30.2%. This upside was mainly backed by major contract wins from the Pentagon. The company also offers tough competition to peer ?? FLIR Systems, Inc. FLIR.

Story continues





Zacks Rank



L-3 Technologies currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.



The Best & Worst of Zacks



Today you are invited to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" free of charge. From 1988 through 2015 this list has averaged a stellar gain of +25% per year. Plus, you may download 220 Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells." Even though this list holds many stocks that seem to be solid, it has historically performed 6X worse than the market. See these critical buys and sells free >>



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



Rockwell Collins, Inc. (COL): Free Stock Analysis Report



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Zacks Investment Research
Simon Smith eVestigator says, "Prime Minister Turnbull and Mr. Tehan lack Cybersecurity knowledge promoting false jobs"

Tehan and Turnbull Cyber Security Diploma Mill - Come one Come all - Free sausage sizzle

www.cybersecurity.com.au

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/turnbull-asks-asd-to-brief-party-leaders-on-election-cyber-threat-448537

www.cybersecurity.com.au

MELBOURNE, Australia - April 12, 2017 - Simon Smith from eVestigator () is truly a seasoned Cybersecurity Master, and Forensic Private Investigator, Reverse Engineer, IT Master/Auditor and Computer Digital Forensics Expert Witness in his field. As the policing of Cybercrime in Australia is inadequate, he himself is often asked to assist by the public to find Cybercriminals, Cyberstalkers, Cyberscammers and Cyberterrorists as the police and AFP simply fail. He is well known to the media and has appeared on three major TV networks.Even after years of citizens begging the police and AFP to perform their role under Acts of State and Federal Parliament, they continue to refuse to do so, despite their ability to access free FBI training. Mr. Smith has seen many cases, and has seen the utter failure of ACORN and its incompetence at its worst. He has over 100 Australian Qualifications and many US Certifications that are recognised by the US Department of Homeland Security.In recent news, the Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Cybersecurity, Dan Tehan, revealed Mr. Turnbull had called a meeting of political party heads with government cyber security experts to "make sure they're fully briefed on what they need to be doing to ensure their systems are safe." Mr. Smith stated, "They are planning on spending millions of dollars on single University courses to combat 'Cybersecurity', which is laughable to any expert in this field."He explains, "It is a discipline that is not just IT, defending router attacks, malware, viruses as explained in their outline. It is about the 'human mind', and understanding what happens on the front line of a 'human mind phishing attack'. I stand on the frontline when I find Cybercriminals and have become an expert Social Engineer. This shows the Government have no idea what 90% of the risk is and what they should be teaching when they plan to recruit people with skills for 'Cybersecurity'."Mr. Smith is concerned they are misleading the younger workforce into false job opportunities that can only be created by spending decades of experience in multiple disciplines to master, and states that this is actually statistically proven in the findings that are present in Mr. Tehan's own statements and articles."By throwing millions of dollars at training institutes and opening up offices in each state to many may sound like a good idea, but as a Master of IT, Programming, Cybersecurity, Forensic Investigator, Cybercrime, IT Security, Malware deobfuscation, Computer Logic, Boardroom, Business, Human Interaction and Process Master with real industry knowledge and history to back me up of over 21 years I cannot fathom how Mr. Tehan thinks you can teach that in 3 years," Mr. Smith jokingly said."It is actually, in my opinion, misleading and deceptive conduct and false advertising a job that cannot exist - as nobody will employ these people. The only winners are the Universities who will be cashing in on the false advertising," Mr. Smith said."Cybersecurity is a boardroom concern. How is it one can gain boardroom skills straight out of Secondary College? How can you gain frontline skills knowing how to perform 'social engineering' - which is 90% of the art of Cybersecurity - an art that goes way beyond Information Technology? It is clear the Prime Minister and Mr. Tehan have no expertise in the area and no real industry experience in the frontline and/or mitigation and lockdown, which is proven below.""It is well known in Cybersecurity that the biggest error and starting point for attacks is 'human error' as quoted directly here,. This is called social engineering. Scammers use 'humans' to get their foot in the door to perform major cyber-attacks and have done for the last major incidents. The average Cyberattack is not known until typically around 300 days after it has occurred. It is well known that social engineering is 'the use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging information that may be used for fraudulent purposes'."He went on to say, "There is no possible way in a three year degree with one discipline or syllabus a student will learn and be employed in this art which consists of 90% of attacks without being an expert in 'finding Cyberscammers', having a 'boardroom level knowledge', as well as, in my case, over 21 years' industry experience as a Master IT & Cybersecurity Expert, Mediator, DRP, Master Programmer and Lecturer, Understanding the foundations of all SDLC roles (inputs and outputs) in a Company, Reverse Malware Engineer, Cybercrime frontline expert with real industry experience and backline expert Mitigating Cyber Crimes with Real Industry Experience, Cyber Response / Counter-intelligence, as well as a Forensic Investigator and Expert Witness experience dealing with real cases for real crimes."Mr. Smith describes that promising jobs is a setup for failure and only very few senior retired high ranking Detectives and rare people with similar backgrounds to himself with strong Computer Digital Forensic backgrounds are likely to only be employable sadly, and this is not ideal for anyone. Mr. Smith offered to help Mr. Tehan in setting up a proper system for future people but Mr. Tehan ignored him.Mr. Smith is of the view that the Prime Minister and Mr. Tehan and the team they have set up would rather engage in Misleading and Deceptive conduct, and breach the Australian Consumer Law promoting false job opportunities, falsely misappropriating taxpayer money than listen to real experts with real results, with real advice.Mr. Smith has a message to Mr. Tehan about his misleading and deceptive statement on Cybercrime training and jobs. "The Prime Minister must have enormous faith to choose you," he says. "I've been coding since 11 years old, and have over 21 years of Industry Experience as a Master Programmer, performing everything under the SDLC and also board level, a Cybercrime Investigator, an IT Auditor, an Expert Witness and 'a real' Cybersecurity expert who has found over 110 of your Cyberstalkers that 'Your Police Fail to Find', as well as >$50m of Cyberscammers that 'Your Police Refuse' and are mostly 'Incapable of Finding' and fail consumers every day (evidence available)."Mr. Smith further says, "In your own article you identify clearly the concept of phishing and 'Social engineering' but you fail in the learning approach thinking computer courses fix this. On your own evidence your graduates will learn of the attack 300 days after 90% of the time they become alerted.""Well done, Australia! Good spending of millions of dollars and a nice way for our Universities to put out some false advertising false careers." Mr. Smith urged the Prime Minister and Mr. Tehan to research more instead of making fake jobs. He stated that you cannot defend against the truth from real practicing experts. "The evidence and contradictions of Mr. Tehan's wasted millions of dollars of trained workforce will be active 300 days later than the 90% of the attacks."Mr. Smith is disgraced in the government on their sheer incompetence and lack of understanding of Cybersecurity and draws their attention to their world known drawback from innovation. He states that Australia is headed for disaster and he tried to assist. He maintains that taxpayers should not have to pay for alleged contraventions of Australian Consumer Law. He expresses an intent to raise this matter with the opposition and Auditor-General for immediate audit.Simon Smith, eVestigator, is a real Industry expert with real cases and real testimonials. He is a Master Programmer, Mediator, Commonwealth DRP, Cyber Intelligence Forensic Investigator, Master of Cybersecurity, and Court Expert Witness. He performs Social Engineering and Cybersecurity testing for companies who are serious about their commitment to their obligations under the Privacy Act.Mr. Simon Smith fromfinds major flaws with the so-called Government's promise to increase Cybersecurity jobs to fix the problem in Australia. He finds Mr. Tehan displays a lack of education in Cybersecurity and is allegedly setting up young people for failure, promoting false job opportunities, and misleading the public.Simon SmitheVestigatorPrivate InvestigatorSenior Cyber Security Social Engineerceo@cybersecurity.com.auBayswater, MelbourneVictoria, Australia3153
Global Personal Care Ingredients Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Personal Care Ingredients (Surfactants, Conditioning Polymers, Emollients, Rheology Control Agents, Emulsifiers, Antimicrobials, and Others) Market for Skin Care, Hair Care, Oral Care, Cosmetics, and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.This report analyzes and forecasts the personal care ingredients market on the global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with forecast from 2015 to 2023 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn).The study provides a decisive view of the personal care ingredients market by dividing it into product, application, and regional segments. Product and application segments have been analyzed based on current trends and future potential. The market has been estimated from 2015 to 2023 in terms of volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn). Regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Rest of Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. These regions have been further sub-segmented into countries and sub-regions with relevance to the market. Segmentation also includes demand for individual product type and applications in all the regions.The study covers drivers and restraints governing the dynamics of the market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. Additionally, the report comprises opportunities in the personal care ingredients market on the global and regional level.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report includes detailed value chain analysis to provide a comprehensive view of the personal care ingredients market. Analysis of Porters Five Forces model has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications have been benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness for future growth.The market has been forecast based on constant currency rates. Prices of personal care ingredients vary in each region and are a result of the demand-supply scenario in the region. Hence, a similar volume-to-revenue ratio does not follow for each individual region. Individual pricing of personal care ingredients for each application has been taken into account while estimating and forecasting market revenue on the global level. Regional average price has been considered while breaking down the market into application segments in each region.The report provides the size of the personal care ingredients market in 2014 and the forecast for the next nine years. Size of the global personal care ingredients market has been provided in terms of volume and revenue. Market volume has been defined in kilo tons, while market revenue for regions is in US$ Mn. Market size and forecast for each product segment has been provided in the context of global and regional markets. Numbers provided in the report are derived based on demand generated from different applications and types of raw materials. Market dynamics prevalent in North America and Europe have been taken into account for estimating growth of the global market.Market estimates for this study have been based on volume, with revenue being derived through regional pricing trends. Prices of commonly utilized grades of personal care ingredients in each application have been considered, and customized product pricing has not been included. Demand for personal care ingredients has been derived by analyzing the global and regional demand for personal care ingredients in each application. The global personal care ingredients market has been analyzed based on expected demand. Market data for each segment is based on volume and corresponding revenue. Prices considered for calculation of revenue are average regional prices obtained through primary quotes from numerous regional suppliers, distributors, and direct selling regional producers based on manufacturers feedback and application requirement. Forecasts have been based on expected demand in personal care ingredients applications. The global product segment and application split of the market has been derived using the bottom-up approach, which is cumulative of each regions demand. Regional demand is the summation of sub-regions and countries in the region. Companies were considered for market share analysis based on their product portfolio, revenue, and manufacturing capacity. In absence of specific data related to sales of personal care ingredients by several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of companies product portfolio and regional presence along with demand for products in their portfolio.The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players include BASF SE, Evonik, Akzo Nobel N.V., Ashland, Dow Corning Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd., Croda International Plc, Wacker Chemie AG, and Clariant. Company profiles comprise attributes such as company overview, brand overview, financial overview (in terms of financial year), business strategies, and recent/key developments.Personal Care Ingredients Market - Product Segment Analysis- Surfactants- Conditioning polymers- Emollients- Rheology control agents- Emulsifiers- Antimicrobials- Others (Including UV absorbers and hair fixative polymers)Personal Care Ingredients Market - Application Analysis- Skin care- Hair care- Oral care- Cosmetics- Others (Including fragrances and toiletries)Personal Care Ingredients Market - Regional Analysis- North America- U.S.- Rest of North America- Europe- Germany- Italy- Spain- U.K.- France- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- China- Japan- ASEAN- Rest of Asia Pacific- Latin America- Brazil- Rest of Latin America- Middle East & Africa- GCC- South Africa- Rest of Middle East & AfricaMake 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 Internet of Things Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Internet of Things Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.The Internet of Things refers to the interrelated devices that are able to transfer data over a network without requiring computer and human interaction devices. Internet of Things is directly and indirectly associated with daily lifestyle products across the globe. Internet connectivity is one of the major requirements of different application as it is expected to grow at high rate in next forecast period. Furthermore, internet connectivity requires more monitoring through applications and human interactions. Moreover, Internet of Things offers an easier and comfortable controlling of different electronic devices from one place. Internet of Things is definite as an invisible and intelligent network of things that correspond directly or indirectly with each other which is fueling the enlargement during the forecast period.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Internet of Things Market: DriversIoT is expected to transform how we work, live and other things. Smart object and their different applications such as smart cities, smart homes, and smart environment is dynamic the evolution of the universal market. Moreover, increasing demand of smart wearable electronic products in different application is boosting the market growth. The prospective for cyber physical systems to improve productivity in the production process and supply chain are growing the demand of industrial sector in Internet of Things market. Additionally, fast technological advancement is increasing the global IoT market growth. Wi-Fi connectivity is growing rapidly and due to various government initiatives supporting the widespread usage of WiFi and collaboration between various companies, market is experiencing a surge and is forecasted to grow considerably during the forecast period. Consequently, all drivers are set to contribute to the expansion of global market of Internet of Things in the upcoming years. Moreover, IoT finds in application such as urban planning and environmental planning, is could create immense opportunities for the IoT market.Growing acceptance in the various industrial segments along with strong economic growth in growing economies are contributing to the prospective growth opportunities of the global Internet of Things market. Internet of Things is anticipated to increase acceptance through end-user applications like medical and manufacturing and this will lead to the increase in the growth of IoT market in the upcoming years. However, the major challenge that Internet of Things markets likely to face is the lack of standardization in IoT products and interoperability problems. The privacy and security problems with usage of cloud technology is likely to obstruct the anticipated growth of IoT market.Global Internet of Things Market: Scope of the StudyBased on application, the Internet of market is generally classified into media, manufacturing, medical and healthcare, consumer application, energy management and others. Geographically, Internet of Things market is classified into Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.The key companies in the global Internet of Things market have been competitively profiled across the five broad geographic regions. This competitive landscape is inclusive of the various business strategies accepted by these key players and their recent developments in the field of Internet of Things. Furthermore, the report contains analysis of market attractiveness of different applications and provides an insight into various application areas of the Internet of Things. A detailed analysis of the various dynamics of the market of global Internet of Things market is provided in the report. Opportunities, restraints and market drivers are also covered in this report. Thus, the report of global Internet of Things offers a detailed report of the market and that includes the projection of the global IoT market revenue-wise (USD Million) from the period of 2016 to 2024.The global Internet of Things market is characterized by the presence of numerous major players in the market. The major players of the market compete their competition on the basis of factors such as price, performance, quality, support services and innovations of product. Major players in IoT market are Intel Corp. (U.S), Amazon (U.S), Microsoft Corp. (U.S), Cisco Systems Inc. (U.S), Google Inc. (U.S), AT&T (U.S) and Apple Inc. (U.S) among others.The global high resolution dispensing systems and equipment market has been segmented into:Internet of Things Market, by Technology- Zigbee- Bluetooth Low Energy- Near Field Communication- Wi-Fi- RFIDInternet of Things Market, by Application- Media- Manufacturing- Medical and Healthcare- Consumer Application- Energy Management- OthersInternet of Things Market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into:- North America- Europe- Asia Pacific- Middle East and Africa- Latin AmericaMake 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 @
Revenue Growth Potential Likely to Attract Vendors Towards Baby Monitors Market During the Forecast Period 20172002

Baby Monitors Market Revenue to Attract More New Vendors

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http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/news/press-releases/revenue-growth-potential-likely-to-attract-vendors-toward-baby-monitors-market-during-the-forecast-period-2017-2002/

Flir Lorex, Mattel, Motorola, Philips, Samsung, and Summer Infant are major vendors in the global baby monitors marketBeige Market Intelligence announces the publication of its latest research report Global Baby Monitors Market  Strategic Assessment and Forecast 20172022. The research report provides a detailed analysis of each segment of the global baby monitors market. It profiles all major vendors that operate in the baby monitors market across all geographical regions.View Report Details :Baby Monitors Market Likely to Witness Consolidation During the Forecast Period 20162022As the global baby monitors market present a lucrative revenue growth potential, many vendors are expected to enter the market during the forecast period, which is expected to make it highly consolidated, says the analysts team at Beige Market Intelligence.Vendors in the baby monitors market are increasingly indulging in the distribution and forming conglomerates to cash on the opportunities. The profitability potential is driving vendors to invest in the market. The competition among vendors is on the basis of the product portfolio, product differentiation, and pricing. The product extension is going to intensify the competition during the forecast period.The present scenario is driving vendors to alter and refine their unique value propositions to achieve a strong market presence. The six major leaders in the baby monitors market are Flir Lorex, Mattel, Motorola, Philips, Samsung, and Summer Infant. Some of the popular baby alarm devices that are dominating the market are as following:Lorex Baby Video MonitorsFlir Lorex offers baby video baby monitors in the market. These monitors use Lorexs digital wireless technology and offer a two-way talk system. It provides both video and audio monitor devices.Mattel MonitorsThe company offers baby monitors in the market via Fisher-Price and Sproutling. Mattel, in collaboration with Silk Labs, Qualcomm, and Microsofts Cognitive Service and Cortana Intelligence, developed the worlds first voice-controlled smart baby monitor, Aristotle. Aristotle is a Wi-Fi enabled monitor with a camera capable of object recognition and motion detection.Motorola Baby MonitorsMotorola Mobility was a global leader in the baby monitors market in 2016. Major products offered by the company are connected baby monitors, smart nursery, video monitor, and audio monitors.Philips AVENT MonitorsThe company caters to the baby care market through Philips AVENT. Major products offered by Philips AVENT are smart monitors, video monitors, and audio monitors.Samsung MonitorsSamsung offers both audio monitors and video monitors. In 2016, the company launched a new baby monitor, SEW3043 BrightVIEW. This monitor is an upgrade of the previous SEW-3037 model.Summer Infant Baby MonitorsSummer Infant is an infant and juvenile products company. Its baby monitors were introduced in 2001. The company offers audio, video, and internet-connected monitors. It has also launched a new wearable audio monitor, Babble Band under Summer Infant brand.Order a Free Sample Here:The report also provides key strengths, strategies, opportunities of the major vendors. It also provides the prominent vendors in the audio and audio and video format. BabyPing, Dorel, Dropcam, ShenZhen Foscam, Graco, VTech, WiFi Baby, and Withings are among the other prominent vendors in the audio and audio and video format. It outlines the prominent vendors in the baby movement monitor format which include Angelcare, Hisense, Mayborn Group, Snuza International, Exmovere, iBaby Guard, Jablotron, MonDevices, Owlet Baby Care, Respisense, Rest Devices, Safetosleep, Tomy International.Source Link:About Beige Market IntelligenceBeige Market Intelligence provides competitive and insightful business intelligence across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the analysis provided is comprehensive, detailed, and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations to make insightful decisions and devise marketing strategies for their businesses. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis at every level of market segmentation in the industry.Our team of experts ensure the analysis is not just analyzed and presented but also can be customized depending upon the clients requirement. When it comes to competitive intelligence, we ensure our clients do not look beyond us.Our employment base is spread across the globe. Our analysts come with numerous quality reports and wide industry experience, which ensures understanding of the client's requirement and delivering high-quality research reports.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapannahalli Main Road, Bangalore - 560037Mail: contactus@beigemarketintelligence.comUS: +1 347 903 9949UK: +44 20 323 99499APAC: +91 99 012 75473
Micro Actuator Market Estimated to Flourish by 2024

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Transducers are those devices which helps to convert one form of energy to another form of energy. Actuator is a type of transducers which helps in producing mechanical movement through converting a source of energy. Here the source of energy may include electric current, pneumatic pressure or hydraulic fluid pressure. Whereas micro actuator helps to transmit a measure or fixed amount of energy for the operation of other mechanism. In other words it is mainly used to produce small forces in entities of small sizes and motions at over small distances. Growing advancement in industries such as automotive, healthcare and wellness is expected to drive the demand of micro actuator in the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report @On the basis of types micro actuator can be segmented as electric micro actuators, functional material based micro actuators, shape memory alloy (SMA) micro actuator, and others. Electric micro actuator can be further sub segmented as electromagnetic micro actuators and electrostatic actuators. Among both these sub segments electromagnetic micro actuator is expected to account for larger market share as compared to electrostatic actuator. Rising wide application of electromagnetic micro actuator devices especially in space crafts is expected to support the demand of electromagnetic micro actuator across the globe. Furthermore, functional material based micro actuator is further sub segmented as piezoelectric micro actuator. Rising application of piezoelectric devices in various applications ranging from energy generation in medical instrument, or gathering of pedestrian traffic to power localized street lightening or portable devices to power the sensors in vehicles is expected to support the demand of functional material based micro actuator in the forecast period. Moreover, shape memory alloy (SMA) micro actuator is further sub segmented as electroactive polymer (EAP) based micro actuator. Rising considerable attention for the use of sensors for micro fabricated devise is driving the growth of electroactive polymer (EAP) based micro actuator in the near future. In addition, the others segment of micro actuator includes bimetallic thermal actuator and magnetostrictive actuators.The micro actuator market can also be segmented on the basis of region which includes North America, Latin America, Easter Europe, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Japan. Among all the regions North America is expected to account for the highest market share followed by Europe. In North America United States is expected to be the major contributor as compared to other countries in the region. Rising demand of automotive products and, health and wellness industry is expected to support the growth of micro actuator market across the region. Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to register a substantial growth in the forecast period. Among all the countries in Asia Pacific China is expected to be the major contributor. Rising number of aging population have led to the increased production of innovative medical instruments, which is expected to support the growth of micro actuator market in China in the forecast period.Rising wide number of application in automobile industry, health and wellness industry and other industry such space crafts or industries where heavy machineries are required is expected to support the demand of micro actuator market across the globe. Moreover, rising demand of micro fabricated sensors in above mentioned industries is also expected to support the growth of micro actuator market across the globe in the forecast period. However high cost incurred in manufacturing of micro actuator devices may hamper the growth of micro actuator market in the future.Request to view Table of content @The key international players operating in micro actuator market includes IBM Corporation, ST Microelectronics, Agilent Technologies, Stmicroelectronics Ltda, NanoSniff Technologies Pvt. Ltd., SAES Group and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Telecommunication Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast 2016 | Professional Survey Report

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Telecommunication Market Professional Survey Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Telecommunication in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2011 to 2015, and forecast to 2021.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringMTN South AfricaVodacom Group (South Africa)Telkom (South Africa)Orascom Telecom (Egypt)Maroc Telecom (Morocco)MTN Nigeria (Nigeria)Orascom Telecom Algerie (Algeria)Mobinil (Egypt)Safaricom (Kenya)Telecom Egypt (Egypt)By types, the market can be split intoType IType IIType IIITo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @By Application, the market can be split intoApplication 1Application 2Application 3By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal Telecommunication Market Professional Survey Report 20161 Industry Overview of Telecommunication1.1 Definition and Specifications of Telecommunication1.1.1 Definition of Telecommunication1.1.2 Specifications of Telecommunication1.2 Classification of Telecommunication1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Applications of Telecommunication1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Telecommunication2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Telecommunication2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Telecommunication2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Telecommunication3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Telecommunication3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Telecommunication Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Telecommunication Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Telecommunication Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Telecommunication Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Telecommunication Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2016E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2011-2016E Global Telecommunication Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Telecommunication Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2016E Global Telecommunication Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Telecommunication Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2016E Global Telecommunication Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Telecommunication Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Telecommunication Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Telecommunication Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis5.2 China Telecommunication Market Analysis5.2.1 China Telecommunication Market Overview5.2.2 China 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Telecommunication Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Telecommunication Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Telecommunication Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Telecommunication Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Telecommunication Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Telecommunication Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis5.6 India Telecommunication Market Analysis5.6.1 India Telecommunication Market Overview5.6.2 India 2011-2016E Telecommunication Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2015 Telecommunication Market Share Analysis6 Global 2011-2016E Telecommunication Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2011-2016E Telecommunication Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Telecommunication Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Telecommunication Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Type I Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Type II Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.3 Type III Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2011-2016E Telecommunication Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2011-2016E Telecommunication Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Telecommunication Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Telecommunication Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Application 1 Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Application 2 Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.3 Application 3 Telecommunication Growth Driving Factor AnalysisMake 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 @
Matrix to Showcase its Well-engineered Telecom and Security Solutions at Change Summit, Saudi Arabia

Matrix, a renowned manufacturer of field proven Telecom and Security solutions has arranged a one day product expo on 1st May17 at Riyadh Marriot Hotel. The product expo is organized with an aim of spreading word in the international market regarding latest innovations from Matrix.Matrix will showcase state-of-the-art Unified Communication solution  SARVAM UCS. With IP at core, the Unified Communication solution caters to the businesses need of accessing real-time communication like Presence Sharing, Instant Messaging, Audio Conferencing and Extended Mobility from a single chassis. Furthermore, Matrix SARVAM UCS improves communication infrastructure in hotels with 20 to 1,500+ rooms. The Unified Communication server offers integration with latest PMS and CAS Software, Staff Mobility Extensions and Voicemail. To help hoteliers offer enhanced experience to guests, Matrix SARVAM UCS offers a broad array of features like Personalized Guest Greetings, Check-in/Check-out, Guest-in/Guest-out, Room Clean, Reservation, Set Wake-up Calls and Reminders.Matrix will also display its office-in-a-box solution  NAVAN CNX200, for small and progressive offices. The solution improves connectivity at offices with up to 24 employees. NAVAN CNX200 is a compact and converged platform offering functionalities of IP-PBX, Data Router, Wi-Fi Access Point, VOIP-GSM Gateway, VPN and Firewall Security. However, High Density Gateways, VOIP and GSM Gateways and User Terminals will be exhibited at the event.Under the Security domain, Matrix will highlight its perfectly tailored range of biometric Time-Attendance and Access Control solution. Mobile being the next generation technology in terms of security, Matrix will display its Your Mobile is Your Identity solution. In Mobile based Access Control, user either scans the QR code through his/her mobile or just twists the mobile to get access using Bluetooth. Using mobile application, a user can mark attendance automatically using GPS or Wi-Fi. Furthermore, Matrix will launch COSEC DOOR FMX  a high-performance door controller with Multispectral fingerprint sensor. The device is powerful enough to capture fingerprint of dry, wet, elderly or oily fingers. In addition, Matrix will unveil Elevator based Access Control, specially designed for hospitality and healthcare industry. Along with new solutions, Matrix will demonstrate its comprehensive web based Time-Attendance and Job Costing solutions. Matrix will also present its standalone Access Control solution capable of managing 255 devices and 25,000 users without a server.In the Video Surveillance category, Matrix will display its entire range of enterprise-grade Video Management System designed, engineered and built specifically for growing multi-location organizations. The entire solution is focused on automating processes and enhancing efficiency of the organisations. Moving away from traditional reactive security, Matrix provides organizations with preventive security by protecting their premises from all vulnerabilities through its advanced video analytics and real-time notifications. In addition to that, Matrix will introduce its feature rich Video Recorders, which are highly reliable and help in optimizing the solution cost. Furthermore, Matrix will launch its 2MP IP cameras equipped with back illuminated sensors to offer crystal clear image in extremely low light conditions. Adaptive Streaming and Smart Streaming are some of the newest features.Change Summit is an ideal platform to unveil the latest Matrix products in the international market. We look forward to meet key decision makers from different industries and let them know how our innovative solutions can help them improve communication and security infrastructure at their facilities, said Sagar Gosalia, Sr. VP Sales and Marketing.Matrix cordially invites you to visit us at Hall: Najd 4 at Riyadh Marriot Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Change Summit held on 1st May and have a hands-on experience of our technologically advanced Telecom and Security solutions.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. An innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization; Matrix is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like Video Surveillance solutions, Access Control, Time-Attendance, IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, Terminals, Convergence solution, VoIP Gateways and GSM Gateways. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global foot-prints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 500 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010
Global Tissue Sales Market 2017 - SCA, Georgia Pacific, Kimberly-Clark, Cascades, Kruger

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Global Tissue Sales Market 2017, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Tissue Sales market globally, providing basic overview of Tissue Sales market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure, Tissue Sales Market report provides development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.The research report titled Tissue Sales has adopted an analytical approach to evaluate the dynamics of the Tissue Sales market. It provides a detailed analysis comprising an in-depth research on the Tissue Sales market growth drivers, restraints, and potential growth opportunities, with key focus on global. In a chapter-wise format, the report evaluates the demand and supply trends observed in the Tissue Sales market, complete with relevant statistics and graphical representation. A detailed investment feasibility analysis and market attractiveness analysis is included in the report, which makes it an executive-level document for players in the global Tissue Sales market.To obtain the Tissue Sales market feasibility report, industry leading analytical tools are used and market-specific database is evaluated. Based on the results acquired through this research methodology, the report presents refined growth forecasts for the Tissue Sales market. Factors such as historical statistics and upcoming trends observed in the global Tissue Sales market is analyzed to estimate market behaviour during the forecast period.The report is separated in sections dedicated to analyzing distinct aspects of the Tissue Sales market. It encompasses the varied product types available in the market and their respective price structure, the factors driving demand for the products, and the future prospects for the same. Other market segments included are elaborated on the basis of application and geography. The report also presents import and export figures for the global Tissue Sales market.Download Free Sample Report @To present a detailed analysis of the competitive hierarchy of the Tissue Sales market, the report profiles the leading market player around the world. Market shares registered by the prominent players are estimated to study the business strategies that have significantly impacted the Tissue Sales market. With its chapters interspersed with tables and figures, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the Tissue Sales industry.A detailed segmentation evaluation of the Tissue Sales market has been provided in the report. Detailed information about the key segments of the market and their growth prospects are available in the report. The detailed analysis of their sub-segments is also available in the report. The revenue forecasts and volume shares along with market estimates are available in the report.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Automotive Components Market 2017 - Mann&Hummel Group, Mahle Group, Johnsons Controls, Exide Technologies, Aisin Seiki

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Global Automotive Components Market 2017, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Automotive Components market globally, providing basic overview of Automotive Components market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure, Automotive Components Market report provides development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.The recent report on Automotive Components market offers insightful information about the present scenario of the market across the global. The report, titled Automotive Components points out the key factors affecting the growth of the market. Latest market trends as well as the future growth opportunities have been mentioned in the report. The report takes into account the various micro- and macro-economic factors governing the overall growth of the Automotive Components market and assesses the valuation and size of the market in the coming years.The report talks about the distinct traits of the Automotive Components market and provides in-depth study of the various segments of the market. The report especially focuses on the development of the Automotive Components market in China owing to the increased demand from the region which has attracted the attention of the key manufacturers. Various regulations directly or indirectly affecting the Automotive Components market in the region have been discussed in the report. The report takes note of the present state of the global economy, which after witnessing double-digit growth for three decades, is slowing down. Governments efforts to push the econo my is expected to positively affect the various sectors and increase demand from the market.The report discusses the competitive vendor landscape of the Automotive Components market in the globe. Some of the key players in the market have been profiled in the report and crucial information about them such as their business overview, revenue segmentation, and product segmentation have been mentioned in the report. The report takes note of the market share held by the key players and estimates their future growth through SWOT analysis. It serves as a useful guide for the new entrants in the Automotive Components market.Download Free Sample Report @Several analytical tools such as market attractiveness analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis are employed to study the global Automotive Components market, whereas SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis are utilized to evaluate the major players in the Automotive Components market in this report.This report not only provides a complete picture of the overall condition of the Automotive Components market, but also assists the players in this market to create profitable market strategies in order to gain a competitive edge.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global PTFE CCL Market 2017 International Industry Analysis, Market Key Trends, Growth, Shares, Current and Future Players

PTFE CCL Market

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The Global PTFE CCL Market 2017-2022 report by QY Research offers a comprehensive assessment of the PTFE CCL market and consists of historical data, scope, significant approaches, and statistical data of the global market. Besides these, it also includes anticipated facts that are assessed with the aid of an appropriate set of postulations and techniques.Read Complete Report @Major Manufacturers Analysis of PTFE CCLRogers Corporation (Arlon)TaconicPark Electrochemical Corp (Nelco)ChukohShengyi TechnologyZhongying Science & TechnologyThe report includes rigorous data, in-depth analysis in two ways, namely, quantitative and qualitative, industry professionals inputs and data given by the industry members and industry analysts involved in the complete value cycle. The report features thorough study of important market and their current trends, coupled with respective market segments. Information about the numerous factors and their influence on the global market and its segments is also mentioned in the report.Check Free Sample Research Report @The PTFE CCL market report is a helpful source which assists manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, customers, and individuals and investors who have interest in this market.The impact of the economic condition prevailing in Globe is assessed in the context of the PTFE CCL in Global 2017-2022 Industry. The report ends with definitive and authoritative conclusions about the PTFE CCL in Global 2017-2022 Industry.Send us your Enquiry @The report provide Vendors, Traders and distributors analysis with contact details. For material and equipment suppliers also, contact details are given. New investment feasibility Studied and Industry growth is included in the report.Abou Us: MRS Research Group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Industrial Semiconductor Market 2017 - Nichia, Toshiba, Xilinx, Microsemi, Micron Technology, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics

Industrial Semiconductor Market

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Industrial Semiconductor Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Industrial Semiconductor Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Industrial Semiconductor industry, and estimates the future trend of Industrial Semiconductor market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Industrial Semiconductor Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportMaxim Integrated ProductsMicron TechnologyMicrosemiNichiaNXP Semiconductors N.V.ON SemiconductorPanasonic Semiconductor SolutionsRenesas ElectronicsSTMicroelectronicsTexas InstrumentsToshibaXilinxThe market research report explores the Industrial Semiconductor market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Industrial Semiconductor Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Industrial Semiconductor market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Industrial Semiconductor. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Industrial Semiconductor market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Industrial Semiconductor is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Industrial Semiconductor market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Industrial Semiconductor market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Industrial Semiconductor market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Industrial Semiconductor production volume, data pertaining to demand and Industrial Semiconductor supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Industrial Semiconductor along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Industrial Semiconductor across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Global High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Market Professional Survey Report 2017

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The market for Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 has been undergoing a transitional phase over the recent past. The continual advancements in technologies and the swift increase in infrastructural development projects have influenced the demand for Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 substantially over the past few years. The swift rise in urbanization and the significant increase in the disposable income of people are likely to maintain the demand pace of Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 in the near future. The augmenting interest of investors, government funding, and the rising trend of automation are also projected to reflect positively on this market in the years to come.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @The research study examines the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 on the basis of a number of criteria, such as the product type, application, and its geographical presence. The whole supply chain of this market has been explained with statistical details with a special emphasis on various upstream and downstream components. The current trends pertaining to the demand, supply, and sales of Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017, together with the recent developments have been given here to provide an exhaustive picture of this market.In this research report, the prominent trends, driving factors, restraints, opportunities, and challenges have been taken into consideration in order to identify the markets future. It also discusses the production cost structure of Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017. As per the research study, raw material and equipment are two major components of the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 manufacturing process. Here, researchers have studied the costs of raw materials and equipment with a special mention to their suppliers. Furthermore, the labor and other operational costs experienced in the production of Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 have also been discussed at length in this market report.The report presents an estimation of the overall market size in terms of value (US$) and in volume (kilo tons) and talks about the key segments and the geographical subdivisions of the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 in details. It presents in-depth information on the development trends and the policies and regulations, concerning Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017, implemented in each of the geographical segments. The predominant applications of the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 have also been talked about at length in this research report.Further, the research study analyzes the regulatory framework of the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017, offering stakeholders a better understanding of the various policies, rules and regulations, and future projects, which are expected to influence numerous proceedings in this market. It also collects in-depth information gained through extensive primary and secondary research methods, which has been assessed with the help of several effective analytical tools. Based on the data attained from such systematic research, the research report presents near-accurate estimates for the market players as well as the readers. Readers will also gain significantly from the references and case studies given in the research study.Browse full table of contents and data tables of Report @The research report also presents a thorough assessment of the competitive landscape of the Global high performance liquid chromatographyhplc market professional survey report 2017 by reviewing the company profiles of the leading players functioning in this market. The market hierarchy has also been identified in this study by analyzing the current developments and future prospects of these players.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.1 Definition and Specifications of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.1.1 Definition of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.1.2 Specifications of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.2 Classification of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.2.1 UVD1.2.2 FD1.2.3 RID1.2.4 ED1.2.5 CD1.3 Applications of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)1.3.1 Pharmacy1.3.2 Biotechnology1.3.3 CROs1.3.4 Academia1.3.5 Chemicals1.3.6 Other Industries1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)8.1 Agilent8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 UVD8.1.2.2 FD8.1.2.3 RID8.1.3 Agilent 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Agilent 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 SHIMADZU8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 UVD8.2.2.2 FD8.2.2.3 RID8.2.3 SHIMADZU 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 SHIMADZU 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Thermofisher8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 UVD8.3.2.2 FD8.3.2.3 RID8.3.3 Thermofisher 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Thermofisher 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Waters8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 UVD8.4.2.2 FD8.4.2.3 RID8.4.3 Waters 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Waters 2015 High-performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) Business Region Distribution AnalysisQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.QYResearchReportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Stem Cell Banking Global Market Trend, Research Approach, Data Analysis and Forecast to 2022

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According to Publisher, the Global Stem Cell Banking Market is accounted for $1.42 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $4.58 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 18.2% during the forecast period. Growing number of newborns, increasing usage of stem cells in disorder treatment and rising disposable income are some of the factors fueling the market growth. However, huge operating price and regulatory changes are some of the factors hampering the market. Rising awareness about potential use of cord tissue and the automation of procedures are creating opportunities for vendors in the market.For more information about this report:Some of the key players in Stem Cell Banking market include Cordvida, International Stem Cell Corporation, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, ReeLabs, Gamida Cell, Cryo Stemcell, Medistem Inc, CordCare, RMS Regrow, Cellular Dynamics International, Arteriocyte, ReNeuron Group, Jeevan Blood Bank Research Center, RhinoCyte, Inc., Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. and StemOne Biologicals.Applications Covered:- Leukemia- Cerebral Palsy- Autism- Thalassemia- Diabetes- Other ApplicationsBank Types Covered:- Cord Tissue- Cord BloodService Types Covered:- Analysis- Collection & Transportation- Storage- ProcessingRequest Sample Copy atRegions Covered:- North AmericaUSCanadaMexico- EuropeGermanyFranceItalyUKSpainRest of Europe- Asia PacificJapanChinaIndiaAustraliaNew ZealandRest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the WorldMiddle EastBrazilArgentinaSouth AfricaEgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsCompany Profiling10.1 Cordvida10.2 International Stem Cell Corporation10.3 BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics10.4 ReeLabs10.5 Gamida Cell10.6 Cryo Stemcell10.7 Medistem Inc10.8 CordCare10.9 RMS Regrow10.10 Cellular Dynamics International10.11 Arteriocyte10.12 ReNeuron Group10.13 Jeevan Blood Bank Research Center10.14 RhinoCyte, Inc.,10.15 Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.10.16 StemOne BiologicalsInquire before Buying 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
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Carbonated ready-to-drink tea Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Analysis For 2017 - 2025

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Ready- to- drink or RTDs are a type of beverages that are sold in packed form and ready for immediate consumption. It has been a recent trend in the western countries to consume beverages that are iced and carbonated in nature. The carbonated RTDs can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic and are usually mixed with tea to develop that flavor. The consumption of carbonates in many developed countries are diminishing, indirectly propelling the demand for other alternatives such as carbonated RTDs tea and other liquids. It has been established in the market that the taste of the carbonated ready-to-drink is refreshing and is available in the market in multiple flavor options. The sodas sold in the carbonated drinks have been stated to be unhealthy due to its presence of artificial flavors, colors and faulty sweeteners. This has heightened the demand for soft drinks manufacturers to allure its customer base with non-soda options for the health-conscious people.Download Research Brochure PDF@The carbonated RTDs tea has been noted to be the most prosperous non-soda alternative that not only gives the drinker a fizzy vibe but is also known for its god health benefits. The growth of on this beverage is high even though it contains sugar or sweeteners and is accepted to be a healthier product that is full of antioxidants. The major driver for aiding the growth of carbonated ready-to-drink tea is the extensive investment on new product development. The new product launches are being copied by other manufacturers, helping the success of the caffeinated beverage in the market. The availability of carbonated RTD tea in variety of flavors and packaging bottles are driving the purchase of this drink in the market. However, in the Asian countries the tradition to drink a hot beverage, especially tea is more common as compared to any carbonated drinks. Due to the growing population of the Millennial in countries like India, China, Japan and few other Middle Eastern countries, the demand for consuming westernized products are increasing. Nevertheless, the carbonated RTD tea is full of antioxidants and contains low calorie, aiding the obese and diabetic consumers to choose as an alternative drink.The carbonated ready-to-drink tea is segmented on the basis of packaging and distribution channel. On the basis of packaging, this beverage is available as plastic bottled or in metal cans. The metal cans are ready-to-go packs and very useful for the individuals leading a fast paced life. The bottled form of the carbonated drink can be used repeatedly and bought for household bulk consumption. Based on the distribution channel, the carbonated ready-to-drink tea is available in offline retail stores as well as online grocery stores. The offline grocery stores include supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and independent retailers. The supermarket and hypermarket stores is estimated to have an augmented growth in the future due to it stocking of variety of carbonated drinks, including different flavors and at different prices.Geographically, carbonated ready-to-drink tea is consumed worldwide and is present in all the major regions like the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Amongst these, North America and Europe are the highest consumers of this type of beverage as they are reported to be more health conscious when compared to the other developing regions.Browse Report@The major players dominating the carbonate ready-to-drink market are Grupo LALA, Lactalis, Nestle, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Suja Juice, Starbucks, Tesco, Unilever, TeaZazz, Talking Rain and Sunny Delight Beverages Co. (SDBC) are a few among other leading producers of carbonated RTD tea in the world. These companies are constantly on the verge of experimenting with new product development in different countries and their localized tastes and preferences.About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
South America Electronic Shelf Label Market - Forecasts From 2016 To 2021

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Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence announces its new report titled South America Electronic Shelf Label Market - Forecasts From 2016 To 2021.The report segments the South America Electronic Shelf Label Market based on product type (Segmented Labels, Full-Graphic Labels, and LCD Labels), application (Radio Frequency (RF), Near-Field Communication (NFC), Infrared (IR), and Others), store type (Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, Minimarkets, and Others), and Country (Brazil, Argentina, and Others). South America Electronic Shelf Label Market is estimated to reach US$24.279 million by 2021, at a CAGR of 14.89% over the forecast period.South America Electronic Shelf Label Market is gaining momentum owing to rising middle-class population and easy credit availability, leading to increased consumption of high-priced and branded items. Setting up of clothing retail chains, and stricter regulations regarding labeling requirement in different industries such as cosmetics, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals among others is also fueling the demand for electronic shelf labels in the region over the forecast period.Some of the major electronic Shelf Label companies covered as part of the report are Altierre Corporation, Pricer AB, Wincor Nixdorf, Displaydata, and Store Electronic Systems among others.Sample request or complete report can be purchased through the link below:The report can be purchased through the link:This 78 pages report contains a wide range of figures and data tables for the forecasted period based on the segmentations listed above.Brief TOC is as below: Market Dynamics Segmentationo By Product Type Segmented Labels Full-Graphic Labels LCD Labelso By Communication Technology Radio Frequency (RF) Near-Field Communication (NFC) Infrared (IR) Otherso By Store Type Supermarkets Hypermarkets Minimarkets Otherso By Country North America U.S. Canada Mexico Others Competitive Intelligence Profiles of key companiesAbout Knowledge Sourcing IntelligenceKnowledge Sourcing Intelligence is a market research and consulting firm based out of India. Driven by industry experts, the company provides syndicated reports, custom research, and consulting services. Our proprietary data analytics model blended with quality primary and secondary research data assists in generating quality reports providing crucial insights to managers and decision makers. The services offered by us help companies to gain required competitive edge. Our expertise across 10 industries such as ICT, Chemicals, Semiconductors, Healthcare among others caters to diverse client needsKnowledge Sourcing IntelligenceAscent Business CenterH-38, Sector 63NOIDA, IndiaContact: +1-866-714-4587
Global Molasses Market Research Report 2017 Industry Types(Cane Molasses, Sugar Beet Molasses) & Applications(Food, Animal Feed) - Top Players : Birla Sugar, Cora Texas, Shree Ganesh

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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Molasses in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Molasses market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value)and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBirla SugarCora TexasShree GaneshEMNZEvergreen Liquid Plant FoodMalt Products CorporationWholesomeSaipro BiotechMahajan MolassesOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCane MolassesSugar Beet MolassesOtherOn 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 Molasses for each application, includingFoodAnimal FeedOtherTo Get Free Sample Copy of this Report Visit @Table of Contents1 Molasses Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Molasses1.2 Molasses Segment by Type (Product Category)1.3 Global Molasses Segment by Application1.4 Global Molasses Market by Region (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value)of Molasses (2012-2022)2 Global Molasses Market Analysis by Application2.1 Global Molasses Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)2.2 Global Molasses Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)2.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities2.3.1 Potential Applications2.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesQYresearchreports.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.QYResearcReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Driving Apparels Market: Trends & Outlook 2024

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Global Driving Apparel Market: SnapshotDriving apparels include gear for protecting the user from injuring during road accidents. These apparels are motorcycle jackets, pants, shoes and helmets among others. Driving apparels areare designed to be thicker and heavier than normal clothing and come with weatherproof closures and pockets, substantial zips, higher collars, and equipped with armor. The increasing adoption of driving apparels in recent years is attributable to the growing number of road accidents. According to the research report, the global driving apparels market is expected to be worth US$17.2 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$11.8 bn in 2015. Between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.6%.Read moreStringent Laws Ensuring Road Safety Trigger Demand for Driving ApparelsThe stringent laws and regulations regarding the usage of helmets, jackets, and other protecting clothing while riding or participating in motorsport is responsible for the growing uptake of driving apparels. The market is also being driven by the increasing popularity of motorsports such as IndyCar, Formula One, and MotoGP has also increased sales of jackets, gloves, knee caps, elbow caps, and helmets amongst others. Growing focus on leading players to introduce technological advancements and product innovation has also boosted the demand for driving apparels in recent years. Analysts expected the market will witness a significant boom in the coming years as rising disposable incomes and improving purchasing power will allow several consumers to invest in quality gear for safety purposes.Protective Gear to Remain Popular Choice amongst ConsumersOn the basis of product, the global driving apparel market is segmented into clothing, footwear and protection gear. Of these, the protection gear segment was the largest contributor in the market in 2015 as it held a whopping share of about 50%. Protecting gear includes accessories such as helmets, elbow cap, knee cap, armor, and spine guard among others. These have been carefully designed to ensure safety of the user prevent vulnerable parts of the body from getting injured. This demand for these items has significantly increased in recent years with the introduction of materials like fiberglass reinforced plastic and carbon fiber, which have drastically reduced their weight. Furthermore, efforts by manufacturers to integrate electronics in protection gears is also anticipated to bode well with the rising revenue of the segment.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Asia Pacific to Dominate Global Market with Emerging Economies of India and ChinaIn terms of geography, the global driving apparels market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. The report stated that Asia Pacific was the largest contributor to the global market in 2015. Increasing penetration of international brands, booming economies such as India and China, increasing government regulations to ensure road safety, and distribution of international brands through various retail outlets is expected to keep Asia Pacific at the forefront of the global market. The report also states that Europe will be an emerging market for driving apparels during the forecast period due to several technological advancements in design and increasing adoption of these products with growing awareness about safety amongst consumers in this region.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market 2017

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The major players in global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management market include Apple Inc., Adobe Systems, EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Realnetworks, Inc., Sony Corporation, Verisign Inc,.On the basis of product, the Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management market is primarily split intoOn PremiseOn CloudOthersRequest more information atOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversMusic/VideoEducationBFSILegal/LawHealthcareSoftwareView full report atTable of ContentsGlobal Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Research Report 20171 Methodology/Research Approach1.1 Research Programs/Design1.2 Market Size Estimation1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation2 Data Source2.1 Secondary Sources2.2 Primary Sources3 Disclaimer1 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Overview1.1 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Overview1.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Segment by Types (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales and Growth (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales Market Share (%) by Types (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 On Premise1.2.4 On Cloud1.2.5 Others1.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Segment by Applications1.3.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Music/Video1.3.3 Education1.3.4 BFSI1.3.5 Legal/Law1.3.6 Healthcare1.3.7 Software1.4 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Size and Growth (%) Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 South America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Middle East and Africa Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Size (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Competition by Manufacturers/Brand2.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Average Price (USD/Gb) by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types2.5 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2017)3.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)3.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)3.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)3.5 North America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)3.7 Asia-Pacific Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)3.8 South America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Middle East and Africa Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales, Revenue, Price Trend by Types4.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)4.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Revenue and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)4.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Price (USD/Gb) by Type (2012-2017)4.4 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales Growth by Type (2012-2017)5 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Analysis by Applications5.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)5.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)6 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis6.1 Apple Inc.6.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.1.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.1.2.1 Product A6.1.2.2 Product B6.1.3 Apple Inc. Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.2 Adobe Systems6.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.2.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.2.2.1 Product A6.2.2.2 Product B6.2.3 Adobe Systems Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.3 EMC Corporation6.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.3.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.3.2.1 Product A6.3.2.2 Product B6.3.3 EMC Corporation Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.4 Hewlett-Packard6.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.4.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.4.2.1 Product A6.4.2.2 Product A6.4.3 Hewlett-Packard Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.5 IBM6.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.5.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.5.2.1 Product A6.5.2.2 Product B6.5.3 IBM Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.6 Microsoft Corporation6.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.6.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.6.2.1 Product A6.6.2.2 Product B6.6.3 Microsoft Corporation Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.7 Oracle Corporation6.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.7.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.7.2.1 Product A6.7.2.2 Product B6.7.3 Oracle Corporation Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.8 Realnetworks, Inc.6.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.8.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.8.2.1 Product A6.8.2.2 Product B6.8.3 Realnetworks, Inc. Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.9 Sony Corporation6.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.9.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.9.2.1 Product A6.9.2.2 Product B6.9.3 Sony Corporation Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.10 Verisign Inc6.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors6.10.2 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Product Category, End Uses and Specification6.10.2.1 Type A6.10.2.2 Type B6.10.3 Verisign Inc Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Manufacturing Cost Analysis7.1 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Key Raw Materials Analysis7.1.1 Key Raw Materials7.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials7.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials7.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials7.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure7.2.1 Raw Materials7.2.2 Labor Cost7.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8.1 Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Industrial Chain Analysis8.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing8.3 Raw Materials Sources of Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Major Manufacturers in 20168.4 Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders9.1 Marketing Channel9.1.1 Direct Marketing9.1.2 Indirect Marketing9.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend9.2 Market Positioning9.2.1 Pricing Strategy9.2.2 Brand Strategy9.2.3 Target Client9.3 Distributors/Traders List10 Market Effect Factors Analysis10.1 Technology Progress/Risk10.1.1 Substitutes Threat10.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry10.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change10.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change11 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Market Forecast (2017-2022)11.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.1.1 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)11.1.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)11.1.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Price and Trend Forecast (2017-2022)11.2 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast by Regions (2017-2022)11.2.1 North America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.2.2 Europe Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.2.3 Asia-Pacific Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.2.4 South America Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.2.5 Middle East and Africa Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)11.3 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Gb) Forecast by Type (2017-2022)11.4 Global Enterprise-DRM/Information Rights Management Sales (K Gb) Forecast by Application (2017-2022)12 Research Findings and ConclusionTo Purchase this premium Report With Complete TOC atAbout Us:Global QYResearch () is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs.Contact Us:Unit1, 26 Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London, E182AN, United KingdomContact: +44 20 32392407Email: sales@globalqyresearch.comFollow us:Twitter:
Immunofluorescence Assays Market Research Report by Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2025

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Immunofluorescence is the specific antigen and antibody reaction where the antibodies are labeled with a fluorescent dye and the antigen-antibody complex is visualized using fluorescent (UV) microscope. Some of the commonly used fluorochromes include Acridine Orange, Lissamine, Rhodamine, and Calcofluor white. Various factors determine the type of immunofluorescence assay used such as time consumed, cost, complexity, flexibility, sensitivity, cross reactivity and many others. It is used in all disciplines of biology including medicine for diagnostics and research. Immunofluorescence assays are used to detect specific proteins in cells that may be in specimen, in culture, in tissues, on microbeads and microarrays, etc. Two types of immunofluorescence assays are usually performed: Direct and Indirect immunofluorescence. Direct immunofluorescence is used less often as the antibody against the molecule of interest is conjugated chemically to a fluorescent dye, so to spot every antigen, the specific antibody will have to be conjugated with FITC. In indirect immunofluorescence assay, the antibody specific for the molecule of interest i.e. the primary antibody is not labeled, and the second anti-immunoglobulin antibody focused toward the first antibody i.e. the secondary antibody is tagged with some fluorescent dye. Indirect fluorescence is used more commonly as the tagged secondary antibody and can be used to detect many different antigens. However, the primary antibody will have to be specific for the antigen to be detected.Inquire for a Sample Copy of Report -The fluorescence can be read as a qualitative result or quantitative result using fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence can also be quantified using a flow cytometer, array scanner or automated imaging instrument.The improved versions of kits and reagents increases its demand. Increase in the number of cancer incidences and various infectious diseases rising the demand. Investments in research by various governmental and non-governmental organizations is upsurging the demand for these kits. Some of the restraining factors include the potential of cross reactivity, lower signal and higher costs in some of the market products available. More safer and effective tests are coming up in the market which diverts clinicians and researchers. Improved kits and protocols would likely help in continuing the market.Immunofluorescence assays has demand in both the research as well as clinical diagnostics purposes. Market includes various antibodies, regents, kits, microscopes, labeling dyes etc. Immunofluorescence preparations can be analyzed by various microscopy techniques such as Epifluorescence, TIRF, and GSDIM depending on the type of application it is used for. Thus, with the increase in immunofluorescence assay, need of fluorescence microscopy increases. Technological development, expansion in the field of immunofluorescence assays, commoditization of products and strong network of distributors at global and regional level also contributing to the growth of market.A geographic condition regarding the Immunofluorescence assays market, it has been segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. High incidences of chronic and infectious diseases, laboratory automation, improved technology and favorable reimbursement scenario are some of the factors which have led North America dominating the immunofluorescence assay market. It is followed by Europe and most of the market in Germany. Asia Pacific is increasing in the immunofluorescence assay market because of the increasing number of market players and rising demand of improved products in diagnostics as well as academic purpose. India, China and Japan are the countries with highest growth rate in Asia Pacific region and increases the chances of business opportunities in these sectors.Browse Report -Some of the global key players in the Immunofluorescence assays market for manufacturing kits and reagents for diagnosis are Thermofischer, Biorad, Universla Biologicals, Perkin Elmer, Maxvision Biosciences Inc., Euro Diagnostica, Sigma Aldrich and others. Some companies involves in the fluorescence microscope market includes Olympus lifescience, Leica Microsystems, EuroImmun AG.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 market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirementUS Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2017 / In the Kyrgyz Republic (previously known as Kyrgyzstan) lies the massive Zijin's Taldybulak Levoberejnyi Mine (TBL Mine), a newly built and producing mine operated by one of China's largest gold producers -- containing 3.2 million ounces in reserves and resources at a grade of 7.2 g/t.

Surrounding that mine is the 164 sq.km. Borubai license, 100% owned by recently TSX Venture listed Kenadyr Mining (KEN: TSX-V). The Company appears to have many planks to eventual success as a global mining operation.

And you've likely never heard the name.

Out of the gate, investors will note that the Company has no debt, $8,5 million in cash, and a peerless management team that brings extensive Asian contacts, both government and industry as well as extensive global mining expertise.

Kenadyr's CEO, Dr. Alex Becker has a long and distinguished track record successfully operating in Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic).

The TBL mine deposit (grey over red) appears to directly connect to Kenadyr's initial drill target (red extension), the south zone, which was previously drilled by the Soviets. The results are illustrative of the potential of the area.

Borubai may be the only junior currently connected to a producing 'super major.'

"The European Gold Forum 2017, recently held in Zurich, reinforced our belief that major and mid-tier gold producers have mandates to replace depleting ounces via acquisition," stated Bryan Slusarchuk, President and Director of Kenadyr.

He continues, "The recent emergence of this trend bodes well for companies with advanced stage gold assets. Kenadyr not only has 100% of a large land package with an underlying geological environment conducive to high grade and size, but the asset is also very strategically located."

Salient Points Regarding the neighbouring TBL Mine:

Built at cost of US$269 million

on August 15, 2011, the national resources table of Kyrgyz Republic stated that the TBL field contains 8,906,100 tonnes of gold ore

average grade is 7.23 grams per tonne

initial mining reserve) is 4,949,754 tonnes of gold ore (the average grade is 7.02 grams per tonne

designed to produce 125,000 ounces of gold per annum.

Story continues

Kenadyr's Borubai Project:

100-per-cent-owned exploration license covering a contiguous 164 square kilometres located in northern Kyrgyz Republic.

extensive historic exploration including drilling (98,200 metres in 184 diamond drill holes)

rock geochemical sampling (2,320 samples), pan concentrate sampling (790 samples), and 100 metres of adits and 184 metres of underground raises

the entire area has been subject to airborne magnetic, radiometric and gravity surveys, as well as ground-based

Mining savvy/accommodating government: No expropriation of mining assets

First mover advantage

Soviet drilling outlined the TBL Mine's gold resources and established that the mineralization continued onto the Borubai license. Drilling by Kenadyr in 2016 at SS proved the presence of significant gold in several RC holes drilled to confirm the previous Soviet work.

TBL boasts a high-grade South Zone alone contains a historic unclassified Soviet Resource Estimate of 900,000 oz. Au @ 8.3 g Au/T, based on a 4 g Au/T cut off.

The Company has plans to begin a drilling program by summer 2017.

The world recently went through a period during which very little exploration work was done on gold assets. Now, with a stealth bull market in gold having commenced, companies are scrambling to play catch up through acquisition.

For context, it is always useful to look at comparables. In this case, the comparison to Kenadyr is a selection of Canadian mines and one in Fiji. In market cap and the all-important cash cost per ounce, Kenadyr, while still technically speculative, makes an extremely compelling case.

*historic estimates should not be treated as current mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined in NI 43-101

One issue that is always top of mind, or should be, for precious metals investors is political stability. Coupled with the fact that Senior management has extensive experience in the area and is located in-country. Advantages for doing business in the Kyrgyz Republic:

Straightforward, supportive, and competitive mining law

Transparent and certainty of title

Absence of excessive bureaucracy and red tape

Low corporate taxes

Modern infrastructure providing for a low-cost environment

Experienced and qualified local workforce

Friendly population: low-risk environment

Kenadyr's Borubai gold project is adjacent to a historic mining community. It is at only 1700 meters' elevation, and has no competing land uses, or water issues  it's only neighbours are Zijin's TBL Mine and a mining town that needs the jobs created by the development.

Kenadyr's Borubai Project already has all the permits required for its programs. Borubai is approximately 100 Km away or about 70 minutes driving by paved dual highway from the capital of Bishkek and has low costelectric power available to it.

Bottom Line

In the soon to be famous investment initialism "MMM" (Money, Moxie and Management) Kenadyr hits all three.

The Company has many unique and compelling qualities and investment drivers. Surrounding and apparently sharing reserves of one of Asia's largest gold mines. While development and eventual production is the goal, the area has had a lot of M&A activity that opens that potential for Kenadyr. Politically, the Company has that covered.

Cash on hand is US$8.5 million and no debt. Moxie and Management are interrelated, as the latter brings one of the strongest features to future success and adding consistent shareholder value.

Brief Bios:

R. Stuart (Tookie) Angus

CHAIRMAN

Mr. Angus is an independent business adviser to the mining industry. For more than 35 years, Mr. Angus has focused on structuring and financing significant international exploration, development and mining ventures. Mr. Angus is the former chairman of the board of B.C. Sugar Refinery Ltd. He is presently chairman of K92 Mining Inc., which operates the Kainantu Gold Project located in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea.

Dr. Alexander Becker

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR

Dr. Becker's distinguished career in mining includes acquiring the gold potential of the Chaarat deposit in the Kyrgyz Republic (gold resource of 6.5 million ounces) as well as a director of Perseus Mining, Kentor Gold, Manas Petroleum (CEO and director), Action Hydrocarbons, Caspian Oil and Gas, and vice-president of geology for Apex Asia (a subsidiary of Apex Silver Mines). Dr. Becker holds a MSc in geology and a PhD in structural geology.

Bryan Slusarchuk

PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR

Mr. Slusarchuk has structured complex debt financing transactions in the United States, Canada and Europe with multiple top-tier banks. This includes negotiating and securing the first-ever financing of a mineral exploration company by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Mr Slusarchuk was a founder of, and is currently the President of K92 Mining Inc, a gold producer in Papua New Guinea.

Brian Lueck

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND DIRECTOR

Mr. Lueck is a Professional Geologist with over 25 years of experience as an officer and director of Canadian and London public companies involved in mineral exploration, resource definition and feasibility studies. He is a practicing member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and a Member of the Society of Economic Geologists. He is an Advisor to the Board of K92 Mining Inc.

Dr. Alexander Becker, Kenadyr Chief Executive Officer stated: "Borubai is situated in a highly prospective geological setting. Kenadyr will benefit from this setting in combination with excellent logistics and the extensive historical capital invested advancing the project. While we were attracted to Borubai due to the underlying geology, we are also aware the project is well situated strategically."

Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. We make no guarantee, representation or warranty and accept no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Baystreet.ca assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Baystreet.ca has been compensated four thousand dollars for its efforts in presenting the KEN profile on its web site and distributing it to its database of subscribers as well as other services. Furthermore, we assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information, provided within this Report.

Contact:

Aaron Bodnar

aaron@baystreet.ca

SOURCE: Baystreet Media Corp.
RESIDENTIAL INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY FACILITIES MARKET - GLOBAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS, TRENDS, OUTLOOK, AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS, 2016-2024

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Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability FacilitiesIntellectual disability refers to people who have been classified by one or more terms such as developmental disability, developmental delay and mental handicap. Recently, people classified as having mental retardation are also being referred as having intellectual disability. Usually, people are considered to have intellectual disability if they have greater difficulty than most people with intellectual and adaptive functioning. These limitations are expressed in the persons conceptual, social and practical everyday living skills. Intellectual disability is usually diagnosed through the use of standardized tests of adaptive behavior and intelligence. The precise number of people having intellectual disabilities is not known. However, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) estimates that roughly 1.5% to 2.5% of the general population have intellectual disability which translates to roughly 4.6 million to 7.7 million people as per the most recent U.S. Census (2011). Over last 30 years, services provided to the people with intellectual disabilities have been changed radically and the institutional care has been replaced by community residential service in several countries.Download Exclusive PDF Brochure of This Report :The global market for the residential intellectual disability facilities can be segmented on the basis of size of facility, type of facility, mode of operation and geography. Based on the number of beds in the residential intellectual disability facilities the market can be segmented further into 4 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 49, 50 to 99, 100 to 199, and 200 & more beds. Besides, there are different types of facilities that provide intellectual disability facilities  hospitals, group homes, private home, intellectual and developmental disability facilities. Based on the mode of operation, the global residential intellectual disabilities market can be segmented into state-run facilities, Medicaid funded services, private large facilities, and privately run small facilities. The demand for these residential facilities is largely dependent on the reimbursement through Medicare and Medicaid programs.Demand-Supply Gap Persist in the MarketSince 2008, increased federal funding for these programs and the additionally enrolled or eligible people for either of the federal programs, have led to the growth of the residential intellectual disability facilities in the U.S. Although the demand for housing or residential facilities for people with intellectual disabilities has been increasing in the recent years, the adequate supply of such facilities has not kept the required pace. Therefore, there is a huge deficit in the demand and the supply of these facilities. Another major restraint in the market growth is the difficulty in avoiding hospital admission for patients with intellectual disabilities who usually present challenges with their behavior and/or mental health problems.Get Exclusive Discount on this CMI Report:Increasing support from Governments across the Globe to aid Intellectually Disable PatientsOn the basis of geography, the global residential intellectual disability facilities market can be segmented into five major geographies - North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of the World. Aging population, particularly in North America, and Europe, provide a good market opportunity for the market players. Another driving factor is the increasing age of caregivers. Presently, most of the people affected with intellectual disability reside with family caregivers. Due to the changing demographics, caregivers will also age in the coming years and the shortage of caregivers will create more demand for the residential facilities for intellectually disable individuals. The market for such facilities has been very insignificant in most of the Asian countries and little progress is expected during the forecast period from 2014 to 2023. There are many local and national centers in the developing economies too which offer such facilities. For instance, Muskaan, Sandesh and Alamara Residential Centre for Persons with Developmental Disabilities are the centers that offer residential intellectual disability facilities in India.Browse Global Strategic Business Report :There are government and private players in addition to local bodies offering residential intellectual disability facilities  NHS Allegheny Valley School, St. Josephs Center, Durham County Community, Residential Support Services, Lutheran Family Services and Arlington County Government.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Coherent Market Insights Blog @Connect with us on LinkedIn @
Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System Market by Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Coronary artery disease in which blood vessels get narrow, artery disease can occurs in stomach, arms, head and legs. Coronary artery disease is recorded in heart. A plaque is formed in the blood, plaque is mainly made up of cholesterol, fat, fibrous tissue, calcium and substance in the blood. The diagnosis is done by ECG, Echocardiography, Intravascular ultrasound and MRI. The plaque is formed in the arteries then the condition is called atherosclerosis, which directly affect the flow of blood to the respective organ and other part of body. The technique used to remove atherosclerosis is known as Atherectomy. Atherectomy is an alternative of angioplasty for coronary artery disease.Coronary orbital atherectomy system is a modern technology used for the treatment of Coronary artery disease in which the plaque is removed from the blood vessels with a very safe and easy way. There are methods of removing the plaque in atherectomies in which the very first one called as rotational atherectomy and the other one is directional atherectomy, in rotational atherectomy the plaque is shave into small pieces by using special burr or drill on the tip of catheter which rotates for cutting, and the other method is directional atherectomy which the plaque is cut away from artery by placing a cutting device. As a report published NCBI (PMID: 8322689) by peoples of Maimonides Medical Center, NY, their study find that the success rate of atherectomy was 99% and angiography success rate was 98%, which reflect value of atherectomy system.Inquire for a Sample Copy of Report -Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System Market is highly valuable market in the healthcare industry for the treatment of artery blocking, as the number of patients are increasing. For instant, a report published by WHO in September 2016, 7.4 million people deaths occurs due to Coronary artery disease. Advance technology are also coming to treat Coronary artery disease many players are coming with the product as in October 2013, Cardiovascular Systems Inc., has come with a product name as Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System which is FDA cleared. Reimbursement are also provided by the hospital, under this various codes, some of the codes are 92924,250, and 92928. This small-small steps are pumping the market for growth, as of restrains the costing of the product is a hindrances and getting the product clinically cleared.Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System Market is a growing market over the forecast period. The players are coming with advanced product and the ratio users for that products are also increasing as the lifestyle of the users are making them to use that product. Orbital Atherectomy system can allow the continuous blood flow during ablation by minimising the potential for ischaemia and thermal trauma. The orbital atherectomy system are better than any other atherectomy. Many player are getting approval for their product in different countries, for instance, in March 2017, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. got approval for his product Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System having micro crown in Japan.As a geography conditions the Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System Market is segmented into: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America is having the market as per the patients number along with the number of players. Asia-Pacific and Europe also have the patients number and also provide a place for clinical trials to the players to come up with clinical report to support their products.Some players in Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System Market is Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Cardiovascular Systems Inc., and Medikit co., ltd.,Read Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Organic tea Market  Overview of Vital Industry Drivers

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Tea is a very popular beverage prepared by boiling leaves and buds obtained from the plant of Camellia sinensis. Cultivation of organic tea is done without the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides which contain harmful chemicals. The harmful chemicals may enter our food chain and can lead to severe health problems.Tea is considered to be a refreshing drink which helps in reducing stress and is consumed worldwide. Organic tea is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. Flavonoids are beneficial in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and also help in lowering cholesterol. They are considered to have anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties which make them a healthier choice.Obtain Report Details @Market SegmentationOrganic tea market can be segmented on the basis of type, form, packaging type, distribution channel, and regions.Based on the type, organic tea market is segmented into five major segments which include white organic tea, green organic tea, black organic tea, oolong organic tea, and others. Out of these, black organic tea segment is estimated to occupy a dominant market position. Also, due to the increasing awareness amongst people about the health advantages obtained from green tea, the organic green tea market is expected to grow in the given forecast period.On the basis of form, organic tea market can be segmented into dried leaf, powder, liquid (organic iced tea) and others. The organic tea available in the dried leaf form is being increasingly consumed and the market is expected to grow at a higher rate.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Based on the packaging type, organic tea products are sold in the form of paper pouches, cans, cartons, tea bags and others. Due to easy storage and greater shelf life, carton packages of organic tea are more preferred over others.On the basis of the distribution channel, organic tea market can be segmented into supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores, online, specialty stores and others. Supermarkets/hypermarkets segment contributes more as distribution channels for organic tea and is expected to grow at a high rate.Market Regional OutlookThe global organic tea market can be divided into major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and the Middle East and Africa. Asia-Pacific is considered to be a potential market for organic tea products, countries like India and China are found to be contributing more to the market revenue. Also, due to the beneficial medicinal properties, North America is expected to expand their organic tea market in the given forecast period.Market Drivers and TrendsOrganic tea has widespread applications as a healthy food and is particularly suited for people suffering from obesity, heart diseases, and high cholesterol. The increasing consumer demand for healthy food and beverage products is a major driver for the organic teas. The tea is very popular for reducing excess body fat and in increasing the metabolic rate without any significant side effects. Due to the organic production of the tea, the prominent qualities and the medicinally important compounds present in the tea do not get lost. This makes it a healthier tea compared to other products.Organic tea is now widely used in various forms. It is also available in the form of oil, as organic tea oil extracts. This form is finding increasing use as it easy to store and has the greater shelf life. Organic tea contains anti-microbial agents making them a healthier drink than others.The other important market trend is the introduction of several new organic tea flavours. Due to the increasing awareness amongst consumers about the harmful chemical constituents of most packaged food products, the global market for organic tea is expected to register a robust growth rate.Organic tea Market Key Players:Some of the key players in the market include Tata Tea Limited (Tetley), Alkaloid AD Skopje (Good Nature), R.Twining and Company Limited, Unilever (Lipton), Organic India, Ceylon Organics Limited, The Stash Tea Company etc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mexico Lottery Market Report Overview by Challenge, Driver ,Trend, Growth, Key vendors , Analysis and Forecast From 2017 to 2021

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The government of Mexico allows lotteries to promote fundraising for charitable organizations. As lotteries are governed by local, state, and national laws, the regulations vary between regions. The government regulations that support lotteries are one of the key drivers of the market growth. Some countries consider lottery illegal and have stringent government regulations related to lotteries. Mexico is one of the premium promoters of lotteries because it is one of the major sources of revenue for the country.analysts forecast the lottery market in Mexico to grow at a CAGR of 9.97% during the period 2017-2021.Request a sample copy of Lottery Research Report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the lottery market in Mexico for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from lottery sales in Mexico.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEALottery Market in Mexico 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.Browse full table of contents and data tables For Lottery Market Research Report @Key vendors Mexico National Lottery INTRALOT Predictions for Public Assistance SORTEO GAMESMarket driver Increased taxes from painless revenue. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Addictive behavior among low-income groups. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing momentum of cloud brokerage services. For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Enquire for Discount Lottery Market Research Report @Related Reports: -Global Antivirus Software Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Antivirus software detects, prevents, and removes malicious programs. It enables real-time scanning of the system memory, OS, and files using signature-based detection methods, heuristic detection methods, and rootkit detection tools to prevent computers from being infected with malware. With increased usage of the Internet, the risk of malware attacks is high. Though antivirus software cannot protect the system from every type of malware attack, it can prevent a significant level of intrusions with the help of real-time scanning.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Antivirus Software in Mexico 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.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 Mexico 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:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Processed Seafood Market: Top Industry in Food sector rising globally!

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Seafood production has gradually increased over the past decade and seafood have grown familiar and appreciated by consumers globally, even in regions situated away from the sea. Since many years, the increase in production of seafood was due to bigger boats, better catching techniques and gears and to the utilization of new fishing grounds. Seafood processing is a technique to add value to the seafood so that it is convenient for the seafood consumers to eat and cook. With progress in time, developed nations has made seafood available in distant places with the help of freezing and transport by truck, rail and air. Numerous socio-economic factors, including urbanization, change in family structure, increase in working population, have contributed to key modification in the demand for sea food products. Increasing disposable income, reduced time for domestic household work, and increase in professional activities have resulted in increased demand for processed sea food products worldwide.Browse Report:The demand is reflected in growing sale of steaks, fillets, small sized fish and fried mixed fish at the expenses of whole larger fish. The development of processed seafood has followed the growing trend of modernized kitchens and has diversified seafood offering with the introduction of multiple products from the same seafood. For instance, a range of canned tuna salads (American, Mexican, Nicoise, etc.), canned tuna in oil or in brine, fresh loins, frozen steaks, sashimi and others. A multiple variety processing system is formulated in which shrimp, fish, algae and mussels are the key stored products. Seafood processing activities include freezing, cold storing, drying, canning and smoking among others. Processing helps in preservation of seafood, which is highly perishable in nature by improving shelf-life. On the basis of equipment type. the global market for processed sea food is segregated into slaughter machines, scaling machines, gutting machines, deboning machines, filleting machines, curing and smoking machines, skinning machines and others.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @Major drivers of the global processed seafood market include rapid urbanization which in turn, raises the demand for processed sea food globally. With people getting less time for domestic work including cooking, processed food is gaining major popularity globally which is therefore, triggering overall market growth for processed seafood. In addition, rapid growth in the aquaculture industry globally is a major driver triggering overall market growth. High cost of preservation is a major restraint to the global market for processed seafood market. Development of food industry in emerging nations of Asia Pacific and Middle East is a major opportunity to the global processed seafood industry. Increasing consumption of instant ready to eat food products in these regions is providing to be a major opportunity to this market.Geographically, the global market for processed seafood is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. North America is the most dominant market among the all the regions of the global processed seafood market. This is attributed to early penetration of food processing techniques in the region and North America being one of the first regions to transport processed sea food to far away regions which are away from the sea. Europe follows North America as the second most dominant region in the global processed seafood market. Asia Pacific is forecasted to witness the most rapid growth rate during the forecast period. This is attributed to rapid rise in consumption in countries such as China and India.Major players of the global seafood market include, Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (Thailand), Grupo Pescanova (Spain), Marine Harvest ASA (Norway), Iglo Group Ltd. (U.K.) and High Liner Foods Inc. (Canada) among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Extend Serial Data Transmission up to 20km over Copper Wire

Serial to Copper Extenders

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NASHVILLE, April 13th, 2017  Perle Systems, a global provider of serial device networking hardware, today announced the launch of Long Range Serial Extenders that will transmit data up to 20km over any copper wiring.The PSI-MODEM-SHDSL/SERIAL transparently extends RS232, RS422 and RS485 data across single twisted pair (CAT5/6/7), coax or any existing copper wiring previously used in alarm circuits, E1/T1 circuits, CCTV and CATV applications.Serial data transmission distances are generally quite limited. The RS232 standard states a maximum cable length of 50 feet. While RS422 and RS485 can go further, they max out at 4,900 feet. With communication demands often outpacing the original design, Network Administrators are frequently challenged to transmit critical data further and faster while avoiding the significant cost, and disruption, of installing new cables.John Feeney, Chief Operating Officer at Perle says. Most buildings have unused copper wiring installations left over from telephones, alarm circuits, serial applications, CATV and other equipment. Using SHDSL, the PSI-MODEM can tap into that existing copper wire to transmit serial data up to 20 km.With two SHDSL ports users can easily set up point-to-point, redundant point-to-point, linear and star topology networks.Learn more about the PSI-MODEM-SHDSL/SERIAL Copper Extender on perle.comAbout Perle SystemsPerle Systems is a leading developer, manufacturer and vendor of high-reliability and richly featured connectivity and device networking products. These products are used to connect remote users reliably and securely to central servers for a wide variety of business applications. Product lines include Console Servers for Data Center Management, Terminal Servers, Device Servers, Remote Power Switches, Media Converters, Ethernet I/O, Serial Cards, Parallel Cards and Multimodem Cards. Perle distinguishes itself through extensive networking technology, depth of experience in major real-world network environments and long-term distribution and VAR channel relationships in major world markets. Perle has offices in 9 countries in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products through distribution and OEM/ODE channels worldwide.Perle Systems830 Fesslers Parkway, Suite 108Nashville, TN 37210Julie Mc DanielVP MarketingPhone: 1-800-46703753pr@perle.com
Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market - Global Industry Volume and Region Analysis - 2027

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Cerebral Somatic Oximeter is a device used to monitor or review the delivery of oxygen to the brain and spine in infants, children, and adults during cardiac and vascular surgeries or complex aortic procedures. Cerebral Somatic Oximeter uses Near Infrared Spectroscopy to calculate cerebral, and tissue oxygenation, as light wavelengths within the near-infrared light spectrum, are so strong that can penetrate through the skull bone and capture the presence of cerebral tissue oxygenation, this represents an important development in the detection of splanchnic and renal ischemia and cerebral ischemia. When oxygenation levels change, deoxygenated hemoglobin level, oxygenated hemoglobin level, and tissue oxygenation substances in the brain have the potential to change light absorption, and this light absorption by them can be calculated to display a percentage of cerebral oxygen present in that particular cerebral light source pathway. This real-time, non-invasive NIRS assessment of cerebral and somatic microcirculatory perfusion represents an important new therapeutic frontier. There is an increasing number of cerebral-somatic Oximeter for infants around the world and domestic prototypes for research use because of its ease of use and non-invasive nature. This is expected to reflect positive growth in the Cerebral Somatic Oximeter market.Obtain Report Details @Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for Cerebral Somatic Oximeter is primarily driven by the increase in population in developed countries such as the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Increasing incidence of neurological disorders and continuous growth of cancers impact on Public Health are another factor responsible for the growth of Cerebral Somatic Oximeter market. Consequently, the global market for Cerebral Somatic Oximeter will witness an upsurge, expected to fuel the market revenue for Cerebral Somatic Oximeter over the forecast period. However, issues of accuracy and precision while calculating or validating Cerebral Somatic Oximeter are few of the factors that can restrain the growth of the Cerebral Somatic Oximeter market during the forecast period.Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market: OverviewCerebral Somatic Oximeter market is expected to witness significant growth due to the technological improvements and medical advancements of Cerebral Somatic Oximeter. Increase cases of cardiac arrest and continuous growth of cancers impact on Public Health are the major factors that drive the Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market. Ongoing efforts by Cerebral Somatic Oximeter manufacturers to provide solutions with better results is also supposed to create huge market revenue potential in the Cerebral Somatic Oximeter market.Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market: Region-wise OutlookA geographic condition regarding for Cerebral Somatic Oximeter market, it has been segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the most attractive market due to increase in the end use of devices, awareness among people and high prevalence of disease conditions such as Parkinsons disease, chronic pain, epilepsy, Followed by Europe. Increase in standards of health care services, increasing population and increase in mindfulness towards the medications in India and China is relied upon to support the market for Cerebral Somatic Oximeter in general Asia Pacific area.Cerebral Somatic Oximeter Market: Key Market ParticipantsMajor players in the tissue processing system market include: CAS Medical Systems, Somanetics Corporation, Medtronic, Nonin Medical Inc., Casmed.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.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Semiconductor Production Equipment Market - Automotive, Consumer Electronics And Internet Of Things Among The Main Application

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Semiconductor is a material that acts as good conductor or insulator and conducts more electricity post addition of heat, voltage or light making changes in electrical properties. Silicon or germanium are used as semiconductor materials that has poor conductivity at low temperatures and is gradually improved with minute additions of certain substances. The electrical properties and conductivity of a semiconductor comes between that of a conductor and an insulator. After electricity is passed to semiconductors their state changes from conductive and non-conductive to reflective and non-reflective. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment are used for the fabrication of semiconductor chips. These manufacturing equipment are used for research and development as well as form fixtures for supporting semiconductor fabrication facility. The global market for semiconductor production equipment has been segmented on the basis of equipment type, application and geography. The global semiconductor production equipment market based on its equipment type has been segmented on the basis of assembly and packaging type, wafer processing type and test equipment among others. Automotive, consumer electronics and internet of things among others are some of the main application areas based on which the global market for semiconductor production equipment has been segmented.Obtain Report Details @Global semiconductor production equipment market on the basis of geography has been segmented into , Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Increase in application of semiconductors across different industry verticals has been a major driver for the rise in demand of semiconductor production equipment market globally. Moreover it is the rise in demand for both electric as well as hybrid vehicles that has more semiconductor content than the traditional cars that is likely to have a positive impact on the global semiconductor production equipment market. Demand for the green hybrid vehicles is also increasing due to rise in stringent government policies for usage of eco-friendly vehicles that is also expected to have a great impact on the overall demand for semiconductor production equipment acting as another important driver for this market. In addition to this, it is the rise in demand for consumer electronics that is likely to further have a positive impact on the global semiconductor production equipment market that has huge applications in the electronics industry. Growing automotive industry along with rising application of internet of things (IoT) has been some other crucial factors contributing to the overall demand of semiconductor production equipment market. With all these drivers it is the dynamic changes in the industry that has posed as a major restraint for the global semiconductor production equipment market. The complex procedures along with the costs associated with the fabrication process has been some other major restrains that restricts the growth of semiconductor production equipment market globally. Expansion and advancement in the research and development facilities is expected to provide huge growth opportunities for the semiconductor production equipment market globally in the coming years.Geographically, it is Asia Pacific region that has been a major contributor to the global semiconductor production equipment market with China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan being some of the major players. Presence of a large number of manufacturing facilities has been a major driver for this market in APAC region. North America and Europe has been some other major regions contributing to the growth for this market. Rising application of semiconductors across R&D and internet of things (IoT) has been some of the other major drivers for the rise in demand of this market.For more information on this report, fill the form @Some of the major players operating in the semiconductor production equipment market include Applied Materials (U.S.), Tokyo Electron (Japan), ASML Holding (Netherlands), LAM Research (U.S.), Mirle Automation (Taiwan), NIKON (Japan), Hitachi High-Technologies (Japan), ADVANTEST (Japan) and Teredyne (U.S.) among others that are present in the market globally.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:
Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market in APAC Forecast Showing 4.75% CAGR to 2021: Analysis of Key Players, Drivers, & Challenges

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Market Research Report on Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market in APAC is a professional and in-depth research report. The Report include basic information like definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview, industry policies and plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures and so on. The Report Spread Across 70 Pages with Tables and Figures in It.The Research Report analysts forecast the commercial vehicles exhaust gas recirculation system market in APAC to grow at a CAGR of 4.75% during the period 2017-2021.EGR is a technique in automotive for reducing the formation of NOx by recirculating a portion of the exhaust gases that come after combustion back into the vehicle's engine cylinders. This system is used in diesel and petroleum engines for controlling emissions. The commercial vehicles EGR system market in APAC is segmented into heavy and medium commercial vehicles. On the basis of geography, the market is divided into China, Japan, India, and South Korea.Request a Sample copy of APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market Research Report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the commercial vehicles exhaust gas recirculation system market in APAC for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: China Japan India South KoreaThe Research Report, Commercial Vehicles Exhaust Gas Recirculation System Market in APAC 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.Enquiry Discount for APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market Research Report @Key vendors of APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market BorgWarner Cummins Delphi Automotive Faurecia MAHLE TennecoAPAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market Other prominent vendors Wuxi Longsheng Pierburg Zhejiang Yinlun MachineryMarket driver Upcoming stringent fuel economy and emission norms for commercial vehicles. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Growth of railway networks for transporting freight and passengers in APAC. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing penetration of Low pressure and Infinitely variable EGR. For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key of APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market trends? What is driving this APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market? What are the challenges to APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market growth? Who are the key vendors in this APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse full table of contents and data tables for APAC Commercial Vehicle EGR System Market Report @Related Reports: -North America Commercial Aircraft Battery Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Commercial Aircraft Batteries are used to start engines while initiating taxiing and auxiliary power units (APUs) for a variety of functions, such as acting as a buffer in regulating DC network voltage, and ensuring acceptable power quality for the equipment connected to it. In case of in-flight general electrical failure, the aircraft depends on batteries to power the essential loads until landing and evacuation.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:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
DENGUE VACCINES MARKET - GLOBAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS, TRENDS, OUTLOOK, AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS, 2016-2024

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Dengue is a mosquito-borne flavivirus debilitating disease with high prevalence in most tropical and sub-tropical regions. Dengue is a painful disease that is also known as break bone fever due to the excruciating bone and joint pain associated with it. No therapeutics have been discovered for treatment of the disease caused by four closely related dengue viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4). Therefore, focus has been mainly on prevention by controlling the vectors being borne. Severe dengue was discovered in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in Philippines and Thailand. The disease has since spread to Asian and Latin America countries and is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and deaths among children and adults in these regions.Download Exclusive PDF Brochure of This Report :Prevalent Scenario in the Global Dengue Vaccines MarketMember states in three of the WHO regions regularly report the annual number of dengue cases. These statistic suggest that the number of dengue cases increased from 2.2 million in 2010 to 3.2 million in 2015. The actual number remains underreported. One recent estimate by Bhatt et al., (also quoted by the WHO) mentions that there are around 390 million dengue cases worldwide each year, with number of cases reported increasing each year. In 2015, 2.35 million cases of dengue were reported in the Americas alone, of which 10,200 cases were diagnosed as severe dengue that led to 1,181 deaths. Dengue is a pertinent health issue affecting people across South America, Europe, and Asia. A large number of dengue outbreaks were reported worldwide in 2015, with over 169,000 cases in the Philippines and over 111,000 suspected cases of dengue in Malaysia. This was a staggering 59.5% and 16% increase respectively in the number of cases compared to that in 2014. The global dengue vaccines market therefore, offers lucrative growht opportunities for vaccine manufacturers.Get Exclusive Discount on this CMI Report:Dengvaxia  the only approved product in the global dengue vaccines marketSanofi Pasteurs Dengvaxia, is the culmination of over two decades of scientific innovation and collaboration. The vaccine received its first marketing authorization in 2015, in Mexico. Dengvaxia is the worlds first licensed vaccine for prevention of dengue. It is a tetravalent dengue vaccine that prevents the disease from all four dengue viruses in people aged 9 to 45 years. Sanofi launched the worlds first public dengue vaccination program in the Philippines (2016), followed by Brazil. Dengvaxia is approved in 10 endemic countries worldwide, namely, Singapore, Mexico, the Philippines, Paraguay, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Peru, and Guatemala. The global dengue vaccines market is thus, expected to expand with growing market approvals.India is however taking a precautionary approach in approving this vaccine due to lack of studies among the population in the country. A scientist in India has developed a dengue vaccine that was successfully tested in monkeys. If successful in human trials, this could be a breakthrough invention for prevention of dengue among the populace in the country. Moreover, various philanthropists and global organizations are investing in developing vaccines for malaria and dengue.Browse Global Strategic Business Report :Dengue Vaccines Market Outlook  Research PipelineThere are approximately five vaccine candidates under evaluation in clinical trials, including other live-attenuated vaccines, as well as subunit, DNA and purified inactivated vaccine candidates. Also, technological approaches, such as virus-vectored and VLP-based vaccines, are under evaluation in preclinical studies. In September 2016, Takeda announced the beginning of the phase 3 clinical trials of its dengue vaccine  TAK-003 vaccine. This vaccine is also aimed at prevention against all four dengue virus strains.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Coherent Market Insights Blog @Connect with us on LinkedIn @
Why Security Monitoring Service is a must have for all CTOs?

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Texas (USA), Canada (Toronto) & London (Business Network)- 12th April 2017:Security Monitoring Service delivers vulnerability research, vulnerability mitigation research, prioritization analysis, solution analysis, solution quality control and compliance checks. It detects malicious data breach to ensure threat-less IT infrastructure. It also involves attackers view and insiders view to ensures all attack surface is correctly monitored.A reliable Security Monitoring service provider performs different functions under the service that include: Firewall Monitoring, Log Monitoring, Vulnerability Scanning and Reporting. Security Monitoring service ensures that threats and advanced attack methods are recognized and prevented before damage is done. Continuous vulnerability scanning and reporting for clients core business applications and servers.Superior Security Monitoring Service includes Advanced protection against security threats Real-time data feeds for proactive threat mitigation  Enhanced network application performanceBenefits of Security Monitoring Service are ...1. Large scale cost saving on infrastructure and manpower2. Unified solution with 360-degree coverage3. Instant roll-out of detection services4. Accountability on attack notification5. All log / events data remain within the organizations perimeter6. Web Applications are integrated with security monitoring7. External Threat Intelligence is applied without any extra effort8. Centralized console for geographically distributed network9. Detection of network worms, brute force attacks, malware10. Embedded scan for running vulnerability scan11. Generate 100+ reportsSecurity Monitoring Service gathers system data for comparison of industry best practices and standards to detect threats within your system. Security Monitoring service lowers response time and travel expenses by delivering remote access for troubleshooting.SumaSoft has been industry-leader in providing Security Monitoring Service across various industry verticals. Here are key features of Security Monitoring Service by SumaSoft1. Robust Website Security Monitoring2. Round-the-clock application security monitoring3. Expert threat monitoring services4. Enhanced visibility and reportingAbout SumaSoft:Suma Soft provides real-time security monitoring with efficient log management, advanced threat management and optimized application management. Providing Security Monitoring Service for 16+ years. Suma Soft has catered to various industry verticals with its expertise in Security Monitoring service for both b2b and b2c environments. Suma Soft has delivered 100+ projects in security monitoring service with 247 Support Team working round the clock.Name: StuartAddress: 7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647Email: info@sumasoft.comPhone: +1 281 764 1825Website:URL: bit.ly/2p0E24N
Oncology Information System Market : Brand Analysis and Forecast upto 2024

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Major players operating in this market include CureMD Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Flatiron Health, Inc., Epic Systems Corporation, Bogardus Medical Systems, Inc., Cerner Corporation, McKesson Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Elekta AB, and Accuray Inc.Oncology information system is an image and information management system that allows to check all parts of oncology care for patients. Oncology information system combines medical, surgical, and radiation oncology information into a comprehensive, oncology electronic medical record that allows to manage patient's details from start of the patients admission through diagnosis and follow-up details.The factors driving the growth of the oncology information system market are increase in technological adaption and technological advancement. Increase in health care infrastructure in developing nations, growth in prevalence of secondary tumor, and rise in incidence of cancer are the other factors anticipated to propel the growth of the oncology information system market during the forecast period. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide; in 2012, there were 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, lack of health care IT professionals and strict regulation are likely to restrict the growth of the oncology information system market.According to a report by the American Cancer Society, 50% of men and 30% of women are estimated to develop cancer in some form or the other in their lifetime. Increase in amount of cancer patients is a major driver of the sales of the oncology information system market. Additionally, rise in amount of tobacco consumption and increase in amount of carcinogens present in the polluted air or in any other form are projected to drive the oncology information system market in the near future. Some of the factors driving the growth of the market are rising disposable income, which enables patients to avail expensive treatments, easily available medical insurance policies, and growing medical tourism activities. Heavy investments in R&D further act as an opportunity for the growth of the market since innovative and technologically advanced products always have the capability of substituting its predecessors.Browse full report on Oncology Information System Market -The oncology information system market has been segmented by product, application, end-user, and geography. Based on product, the oncology information system market is classified into patient information system, treatment planning system, consulting/optimization, implementation, maintenance, services, and others. Based on application, the market is segmented into care management, treatment management, and knowledge management. Based on end-user, the oncology information system market is segmented into hospital, government institution, research center, and others.Geographically, the oncology information system market in segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to account for a large market share in terms of revenue, followed by Europe. The oncology information system market in North America is expected to grow due to technological advancement and increase in demand for advanced product. The growing need to implement advanced systems in the health care sector in the region and, at the same time, deliver quality care to patients are the factors likely to drive the market in the near future. Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a high CAGR owing to increase in adoption of technological advanced products, growth in disposable income, and rise in health care infrastructure in countries such as India, China, Australia, and other countries in the region. The Latin America oncology information system market is mainly driven by the increasing adoption of technological products in countries such as Brazil and Mexico. The Middle East & Africa oncology information system market is estimated to grow in the near future due to rise in incidence of cancer. According to World Health Organization, women in the African region had the highest incidence of cancer of the cervix uteri.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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Disposable Blood Bags Market : Trends, outlook and Opportunity Analysis 2024

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Key players operating in the global critical care diagnostics market are Poly Medicure Limited, Grifols, S.A., Macopharma Bharat Transfusion Solution, Fresenius Kabi India Pvt. Ltd., TERUMO PENPOL Pvt. Limited, HLL Lifecare Limited, and Span Healthcare Private Limited.Disposable blood bags is a term primarily associated with storage, collection, transportation as well as transfusion of blood along with its components viz. RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. These components, in particular, require sophisticated disposable blood bags. Moreover, disposable blood bags have greatly replaced glass bottles for the collection and storage of blood and its components, which would drive the global market for disposable blood bags. Demand for disposable blood bags is rising, due to the increase in demand for sterile processes of transportation and transfusion of blood and its components. The market for disposable blood bags is expected to expand at a significant rate in the next few years. However, lack of unprofessional staff to handle the disposable blood bags can prove to be a restraint for the market, especially in low-to-medium-income countries of the world.However, growing incidence of blood-related illnesses and rising demand for transfer bags are factors expected to drive the global disposable blood bags market during the forecast period. Moreover, the increasing number of blood transfusion procedures is expected to fuel the demand for disposable blood bags during the forecast period. Furthermore, rising incidence of accidents in developed as well as developing countries is poised to augment the demand for blood transportation and transfusion. This is likely to propel the global disposable blood bags market. Different types of disposable blood bags are available all over the world; for example, CPDA blood bags, CPD/SAGM blood bags, and transfer bags.The transfer bags segment is projected to witness rapid growth in the near future. This can be primarily attributed to the storage capacity of these bags, which ranges from 150 ml to 1000 ml. This enables the separation of blood components in a more sterile manner and eliminates the requirement for cleaning processes. The disposable blood bags market is anticipated to expand at a high rate in the next few years, owing to increase in the number of accidents/trauma incidents. Moreover, scientific improvements and increase in the requirement for blood transfusion and transportation worldwide would promote the market growth.Browse full report on Disposable Blood Bags Market -The disposable blood bags market can be segmented on the basis of product type, end-user, and geography. Based on product type, the disposable blood bags market can be categorized into CPDA blood bags, CPD/SAGM blood bags, transfer bags, and others. The product type segments can be sub-segmented on the basis of usage into single, double, triple, and quadruple blood bags. Furthermore, based on end-user, the disposable blood bags market can be segmented into surgery and/or operation units, emergency units, intensive care units (ICUs), ambulatory centers, and others.Globally, North America was observed to be the leading market for disposable blood bags, due to extensive use of blood tests alongside a large number research and development activities in the region. Additionally, the U.S. and Canada have been successfully utilizing a large number of blood bags. This, in turn, would boost the market for disposable blood bags in North America during the forecast period. Moreover, presence of well-established health care organizations, government initiatives in promoting the use of disposable blood bags, and constantly improving sterility aspects would further propel the market in the region in the near future. Europe is likely to be the second leading market for disposable blood bags in the next few years, owing to enhanced health care processes and growing concerns about health in the region.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the rapidly expanding market for disposable blood bags during the forecast period. Major factors that would drive the disposable blood bags market in Asia Pacific include the increasing number of accidents/trauma, and the rising number of blood transportation and transfusion procedures. China and India are emerging economies in the region and hence, they would increasingly contribute toward the growth of the market for disposable blood bags in Asia Pacific. In Latin America, Mexico and Brazil are the countries with significant potential for growth of the market, due to development of medical organizations and rising disposable incomes in the two countries.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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Bluetooth Smart SoC Market to 2025-Industry Analysis, Applications, Opportunities and Trends |The Insight Partners

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The Global Bluetooth Smart SoC Market report categories the global market by Device Type, Application and Geography report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Bluetooth offers exchange of information over short range from mobile and fixed devices. It is a wireless technology developed as an alternative to data cables and it is wireless personal area network (WPAN) topology designed. Devices compatible with Classic Bluetooth (2.0 and 3.0) and Bluetooth 4.0 are identified as Bluetooth smart ready devices. Whereas, devices that supports Bluetooth 4.0 are recognized as Bluetooth smart devices.Furthermore, low power requirement is one of the chief factors for the adoption of Bluetooth smart technology. Presently, wireless sensors are implanted in many of the consumer wearable products and electronic gadgets. With the help of Bluetooth technology, these wireless sensors connects with each other. Therefore, development of smart wireless sensors is a significant driving factor to bolster the growth of global Bluetooth smart system-on-chip (SoC) market. Additionally, the users does not need to incur any extra costs as traditional Bluetooth Smart Ready products are only supported by Bluetooth enabled devices. Low cost coupled with low power requirements are the factors responsible for the increase in growth of Global Bluetooth Smart SoC market. Increasing demand for tables, smartphones and other wearable devices are the key drivers for growth of Global Bluetooth Smart SoC market.With the increased adoption of Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart enabled gadgets and accessories, a connected infrastructure for electronic gadgets has formed. However, Bluetooth lacks in transferring heavy data and has a low streaming capacity, as compared to Wi-Fi and near field communication. Low streaming capacity is a key factor that hinders the Global Bluetooth Smart SoC growth. Also, privacy and security concerns regarding the use to Bluetooth technology can be a major challenge for the industry players.Request Sample Copy @North America dominated the Global Bluetooth Smart SoC market with the increased adoption of Bluetooth smart and Bluetooth smart ready products. Whereas, Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth in the market with the rising penetration of smartphones that support Bluetooth.Segmentations Covered in the Tooth Smart SoC Market Device Type : Bluetooth Smart, Bluetooth Smart Ready Application : Automotive, Healthcare, Building & Retail, Wearable Electronics, Consumer Electronics Geographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America (SAM)Some of the leading players in Tooth Smart SoC Market Report Bluegiga Technologies Oy Nordic Semiconductor ASA Qualcomm Inc. Dialog Semiconductor PLC Broadcom Corporation Texas Instruments Inc. Mediatek Inc. NXP Semiconductors Cypress Semiconductor Corporation CSR PLC Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.Access Full Report @Reason to buy Highlights widely used product offerings thereby allowing organizations to gain revenues by focusing majorly on select products The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Bluetooth Smart SoC market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long term strategies Get reliable information about the strategies manufacturers in this market use to drive revenue Gain insights into the competitive landscape, to strengthen market competitiveness and positioning Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as the those hindering it Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution Examine the current and future impact of the five forces namely: bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants and degree of competitionInquire about discount on this report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Medical Computer Carts Market By Market Share, Size Analysis and Forecast 2024

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Medical computer carts can be defined as medical carts used by medical staff for several day to day activities such as checking electronic medical records, distributing drugs, charting and EMR, medication dispensing, and nursing education. These are suitable for large hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, and psychiatric hospitals.Download The Full Brochure of Report :The global medical computer carts market has witnessed strong growth in the past few years driven by increased adoption of electronic medical record systems (EMR) in hospitals, research institutes, and diagnostic labs, etc. This high-tech system is used to collect, store, and display patients health statistics. Medical computer carts offer ergonomic features and workflow solutions to accommodate and reduce the laborious routine tasks associated with providing enhanced personal and patient care. The capability to move carts from room to room supplements caregivers highly mobile workflow. Mobile carts allow a single computer system to be used in many places in a hospital, lab, and clinic, thereby saving space and time especially in older structures whose setup does not easily accommodate costly new technology solutions.It can lower fatigue, frustration, and stress with a medical/nurse staffs every task at work. This enhancement of health information technology is anticipated to drive the medical computer carts market. Growing significance of fast and easy availability of critical medical equipment and supplies are the key factors that increase demand for medical computer carts in the health care sector. Lack of awareness among medical staff and high cost are the factors restraining the medical computer carts market.Medical Computer Carts Market SegmentationMedical computer carts are obtainable with or without on-board power systems. Hence, based on product type, the medical computer carts market is classified into powered cart and non-powered cart. Medical computer carts have extra features such as height setting for standing or sitting use. Non-powered carts dominated the market in the past few years. The powered cart segment is expected to gain significant share of the global market in the next few years led by upgraded battery management technology. In terms of application, the medical computer carts market has been segmented into doctors use, nurses use, and others. The doctors use and nurses use segments are expected to dominate the market. Usage of mobile carts in hospitals and private clinics is increasing, followed by nurse staff in labs and clinics.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Medical Computer Carts Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America holds major share of the medical computer carts market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. However, Latin America and Asia Pacific hold significant growth potential in the medical computer carts market due to rise in geriatric population, rising prevalence of various disorders, growing medical tourism, increasing government initiatives for investments in health care, and growing demand for quality health care in this region. Most of the medical computer carts products and services in these regions are driven by developing countries such as Singapore, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, and South Korea.Medical Computer Carts Market: Key PlayersThe medical computer carts market is highly competitive due to the presence of a number of small and large scale players in the industry. Key players operating in the medical computer carts market include AFC Industries, Ergotron, Rubbermaid Medical Solutions, Altus, Anthro Corporation, Cura Carts, CompuCaddy, Lund Industries, Modern Solid Industrial, GCX Corporation, Enovate Medical, and Scott-Clark Medical.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Surgical Drills Market By Regional Analysis, Key Players and Forecast 2024

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Surgical drills are used during surgical procedures to drill bone. Bone fracture treatment usually involves repairing of the fractured parts to their initial position and immobilizing them until the recovery takes place. Drilling of bone is common to make a hole for screw insertion to repair the fractured parts for immobilization. Orthopedic drilling during surgical process increases the bone temperature and forces which can cause osteonecrosis reducing the stability and strength of the fixation.Download The Full Brochure of Report :There are two types of surgical drills: pneumatic surgical drills and electric surgical drills. A pneumatic motor is used for pneumatic surgical drill for its high-speed rotations. The pneumatic surgical drills are usually used for oral surgery as well as other dental procedures. The advantage of using this type of motor for a surgical drill is that it offers greater torque as compared to a battery-powered drill, and makes it easier and faster to drill. This means a patient would be under anesthesia for a shorter time and will have a safer experience. Electric surgical drill is an alternative to pneumatic surgical drills and use an electric motor. Electric drills use battery power, though it can be also plugged into wall sockets. An electric drill offers less power as compared to pneumatic drill, but costs less as compared to pneumatic drill.The global surgical drills market is anticipating substantial growth due to innovative technological advancements. Surgical drills are mostly used in neurological and orthopedic surgical procedures. The surgical drills market has been segmented based on application and region. Surgical drills have various applications such as oral surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, cardiac surgery, and neurosurgery. Major drivers of the global surgical drills market are medical tourism, increased health care spending, growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases, rising number of surgical procedures, and rising access to health care facilities across the world. On the other hand, inadequate sterilization processes, insufficient quality assurance, and continuous pressure on health care providers to reduce costs are expected to hamper the growth of the market.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Geographically, North America accounts for a significant share of the surgical drills market owing to extensive research and technological advancement in the region. Presence of health care organizations, increasing surgical procedures, and improving reimbursement scenario are likely to propel the market. Presence of reimbursement policies in this region and regulatory framework highly focusing on patient safety as one of the main objectives in addition to maintaining high treatment efficacy standards are expected to augment the market. Europe was the second largest market for surgical drills due to enhanced health care processes and increasing oral as well as neurological surgery procedures. Moreover, rising geriatric population is expected to propel the market in the region. Improving health care infrastructure and increasing patient awareness about substitute treatment options are projected to drive the market in Asia Pacific. Rising medical tourism in the region is also likely to contribute to market growth. Countries in Latin America such as Mexico and Brazil are expected to have considerable potential in the market due to evolving medical structure and high disposable income.Major players operating in this market include Zimmer Biomet, Stryker Corporation, Surgionix Ltd., LaVezzi Precision, Inc., De Soutter Medical, Medtronic plc, B. Braun, and Rimec.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Artificial Teeth Market: Applications and Global Markets

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Artificial teeth or dentures are custom-made teeth applied to reconstruct or restore missing teeth and their surrounding tissue. Artificial teeth are typically produced from porcelain or resin material. The branch of science that focusses on restoration of intraoral defects such as missing teeth, soft tissue, and part of the missing teeth through various artificial methods is known as dental prosthetics. The global artificial teeth market is growing at a significant pace owing to increase in prevalence of oral diseases, rise in geriatric population, growth in the number of diabetic patients, and improvement in awareness about dental prosthetics among individuals.Download The Full Brochure of Report :Large potential patient base population in countries of the Asia Pacific region and rise in medical tourism are likely to create an opportunity for dental prosthetics product developers to record high growth in revenue and market share in the near future. In addition, rising geriatric population directly affects the growth and development of the artificial teeth market as elderly people are more likely to lose their teeth. However, lack of reimbursement for various dental procedures could restrict the market growth in the next few years.According to the World Health Organization, the global geriatric population was about 524 million in 2010 and is anticipated to reach 1.5 billion by 2050. Moreover, the world is aging at a rapid pace, especially the developed nations such as the U.S., Germany, and Japan. Therefore, consistent increase in the geriatric population across the world has been identified as one of the major factors fueling the growth of the global artificial teeth market. The global incidence of oral diseases such as oral cancer, pyorrhea, and gingivitis is rising constantly. As per the WHO, in 2012, 5% to 20% of adults aged between 35 years and 44 years was diagnosed with severe periodontal diseases that resulted in tooth loss. Moreover, about 30% of people aged between 65 years and 74 years had no natural teeth. Furthermore, according to the Cancer Research UK, about 6,800 people were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2011. Thus, rise in the number of oral cancer cases is projected to lead to higher demand for artificial teeth during the forecast period.The global artificial teeth market can be segmented into type of denture, type of material, end-user, and region. Based on the type of denture, the market can be segmented into partial denture, complete denture, overdenture, and immediate denture. Based on the type of material, the market can be categorized into acrylic denture and porcelain denture. On the basis of end-user, the market can be segmented into hospitals and clinics, dental laboratories, and others. On the basis of the region, the market is segmented into five major geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:In terms of revenue, Europe dominates the market, followed by North America globally. The two regions dominate the market due to increase in geriatric population, high adoption of premium priced innovative dental products, and rise in incidence of dental caries. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a high CAGR in the near future. Rise in prevalence of diabetes is a major factor fueling the growth of the artificial teeth market in the region, as diabetic patients are twice likely to suffer from edentulism. China and India are the major markets in Asia Pacific that exhibit immense opportunities in the artificial teeth market. Additionally, rise in disposable income and increase in health care infrastructure in countries such as India, China, and Malaysia are likely to support the growth of the Asia Pacific market.Avinent Implant System, BioHorizons, Inc., Nobel Biocare Holdings AG, DENTSPLY International, Inc., Institut Straumann AG, Nobel, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., and Ivoclar Vivadent Inc. are the major players operating in the global artificial teeth market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Audio Interfaces Market Trends and 2022 Forecast

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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Audio Interfaces in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanFor more information about this report atGlobal Audio Interfaces market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingFocusriteBehringerUniversal AudioM-AudioApogeePreSonusAvidLexiconMackieNative InstrumentsOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPCI Audio InterfacesUSA Audio InterfacesFireWire Audio InterfacesThunderbolt Audio InterfacesOn 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 Audio Interfaces for each application, includingPersonalCommercialRequest a sample copy atTable of Content1 Audio Interfaces Market Overview2 Global Audio Interfaces Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Audio Interfaces Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Audio Interfaces Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Audio Interfaces Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South Korea Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 Taiwan Audio Interfaces Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Audio Interfaces Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Audio Interfaces Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Audio Interfaces Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Audio Interfaces Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Audio Interfaces Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Audio Interfaces Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Audio Interfaces Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Audio Interfaces Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Audio Interfaces Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Focusrite7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Audio Interfaces Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Focusrite Audio Interfaces Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Behringer7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Audio Interfaces Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Behringer Audio Interfaces Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Audio Interfaces Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Audio Interfaces Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase Complete Report at. And get,Discount on report purchase 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 classcustomer 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
Electric Guitars Market New Tech Developments and Advancements to watch out for 2024

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Electric guitars are a type of guitars in which strumming the strings themselves is not the primary source of the sound. Rather, the vibrations caused by the movement of the strings are captured and magnified electronically in order to produce a louder output.The sound of an electric guitar can also be electrically modified, since an electrical representation of the vibration of the string is produced in electric guitars.Browse Market Research Report:This can then be modulated with the help of dials and other controls on the electric guitar as well as pedals. This is the primary factor distinguishing electric guitars from acoustic guitars; the sound produced by the latter comes directly from the vibration of the strings and thus cant be modulated electronically.The increasing interest held by the global population in music is a major driver for the global electric guitars market. Electric guitars are essential in popular genres of music such as rock and metal.Due to the popularity of these genres, the number of individuals attempting to learn to play the guitar is increasing. This is the prime driver for the global electric guitars market.The report examines the historical trajectory of the global electric guitars market and presents information detailing its development up to the base year. Further, detailed analysis of the current market figures is presented along with forecasts for the markets growth in the coming years.The report uses industry-standard analytical tools and databases to gain accurate information and precise analytical insights. The major segments of the global electric guitars market and the key players operating in it are also profiled in the report to provide a comprehensive coverage of the market.The increasing disposable income of individuals in developing economies is allowing them to indulge in hobbies such as music. This is a major driver for the global electric guitars market.The continued popularity of rock music is another influential factor driving the global electric guitars market, as the two are intricately connected in the eyes of the masses. The increasing number of rock bands also bodes well for the global electric guitars market.On the other hand, electrical guitars can be too expensive for most amateurs. An important reason for this is that, unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars need an amplifier. This is a major restraint on the global electric guitars market, particularly in developing countries.The increasing popularity of acoustic guitars has also checked the electric guitars market, as acoustic guitars are much cheaper than electric guitars and require less maintenance.However, advanced guitar playing techniques are easier to perform on electric guitars, since they have softer strings than acoustic guitars and no frets.The global electric guitars market is dominated by North America due to the high interest in rock music, the high disposable income of the population, and the high number of rock bands in the region.The U.S. has a close relationship with the development of the global electric guitars market, with two of the most popular electric guitar designs  the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster  being designed in the U.S. The U.S. was also where rock and roll music began, providing an immense boost to the global electric guitars market.Fill the form to Gain Deeper Insights on this Market:Major companies in the global electric guitars market include Gibson Guitar Corporation, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and Paul Reed Smith Guitars Ltd.The global electric guitars market is highly competitive, with frequent technological advancements and changes in consumer preference making it hard for companies to maintain a competitive edge.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.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:
Learning Management Systems (LMS) Market Trends and Forecast by 2024

Learning Management Systems, Learning Management Systems Market, Learning Management Systems Industry

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In recent years, the increased efficiency of the Internet has promoted e-teaching and e-learning practices worldwide. This, coupled with advancements in networking technologies has enabled improved communication and integration, thereby resulting in flawless online learning and training sessions. This has had a significant impact on the emergence as well as development of learning management systems (LMS).The global LMS market is projected to witness steady growth over the forecast period. This can be attributed to factors such as the increasing preference for distance learning, developing network infrastructure in developing regions, the adoption of cloud-based LMS by SMEs, and corporate sectors offering online trainings to its employees.The market for learning management systems is projected to amount to US$18.8 bn by 2024, rising from a valuation of US$3.4 bn in 2015. If these values hold true, the market is expected to develop at an impressive CAGR of 19.9% therein.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of deployment, on-premise deployment dominated the market in 2015, especially in the Middle East and Africa and South America. This can be primarily attributed to the adoption of learning management systems by large enterprises. However, analysts predict that hosted deployment is expected to lead the market in the coming years, with the increasing adoption of LMS by small and medium enterprises due to its cost benefits over on-premise deployment.By user group, the education and corporate sectors account for nearly the same share in the global LMS market and are likely to witness high growth during the forecast period. In recent years, corporate sectors have been emphasizing on online corporate trainings and orientation programs for employees. On the other hand, growing educational awareness in developing countries and government initiatives to provide quality education is expected to benefit the education segment of the global LMS market.Make an Enquiry @The Asia Pacific market for LMS is projected to present high scope for growth during the forecast period. Developed countries such as Japan are the leading contributors in terms of the adoption of learning management systems in the region. Ongoing network infrastructure developments in India and Philippines and growing investments in the commercial sector are also anticipated to favor the LMS market in Asia Pacific. Government initiatives to promote digital education is another factor expected to create potential opportunities for LMS vendors in the coming years.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:
Brazil oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., aka Petrobras PBR earned its second credit rating upgrade in the last five years as the rating agency Moodys Investors Service raised the companys corporate debt rating by one level to B1. Moodys has also revised the outlook for all ratings from stable to positive, indicating that the company is no longer faces the risk of being downgraded any time soon. The positive outlook implies that further positive rating actions can occur provided the company's liquidity and overall credit risk continues to improve, making it more attractive for investments.

In Feb 2015, Petrobras lost its investment grade at Moodys due to severe corruption charges against the company. Many of the companys officials were arrested as a part of the Operation Car Wash investigation. In Feb 2016, the company was downgraded to the lowest speculative level. However, in Oct 2016, Moodys had upgraded the companys ratings to B2.

Further, a couple of days back, Moodys upgraded all ratings for Petrobras on account of improving financial metrics and liquidity of the company in the recent quarters. The companys debt refinancing transactions and disciplined operational management also attributed to the ratings upgradation and positive outlook.

Petrobras shares which had plummeted to around $3 in Jan 2016, rallied more than three times, closing at $9.66 as on Apr 12. This can be attributed to the companys lower capital spending initiatives, increase in the oil prices, strengthening Brazilian currency and a favorable regulatory environment in Brazil. These tailwinds have improved the liquidity position and the overall financials of the company to some extent.

The new fuel pricing policy adopted by the company has also helped it to increase margins in the downstream operations. The company which is burdened by huge debt has reduced its capital investment for 20172021 by 25% not only to curb costs but also to clear debts.

Story continues

Currently Petrobras is concentrating on improving its liquidity and operational performance. The companys efforts to deleverage or at least refinance its debt obligations to extend its maturity also work in favor. The companys rigorous divestment goals will help in reinstating its financial health by mitigating the leverage.

However, the company at present is reeling under immense debt burden which cant be resolved smoothly until the cash flow is positive. Petrobras still has $8.8B in debt maturing in 2017 and another $11.3B maturing in 2018. Also, any negative developments from the pending litigation cases against the company may hamper the financials adversely. Therefore the state- run integrated energy company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The company has outperformed the Zacks categorized Oil & Gas Emerging Markets Integrated industry over the past year. During the aforesaid period, while shares of Petrobras rallied almost 46%, the broader industry gained around 28%.

Better-ranked players in the broader industry include Penn Virginia Corp. PVAC, Antero Resources Corp. AR and Crescent Point Energy Corp. CPG. All the three companies sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Pen Virginia reported positive average earnings surprise of 36.67% in the last four quarters.

Antero Resources reported positive average earnings surprise of 239.1% in the last four quarters.

Crescent Point Energy reported positive average earnings surprise of 127.2% in the last four quarters.

The Best & Worst of Zacks

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Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (PBR): Free Stock Analysis Report



Crescent Point Energy Corporation (CPG): Free Stock Analysis Report



Antero Resources Corporation (AR): Free Stock Analysis Report



Penn Virginia Corporation (PVAC): Free Stock Analysis Report



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Bills release multiple artist renderings of new stadium The morning of Oct. 27 was a day Buffalo Bills fans have been patiently waiting for  a reveal of what the new stadium will potentially look like. The team...

County officials, law firm representatives host public hearing on new stadium SEQR Erie County officials, representatives from Phillips Lytle LLP, power players for a new stadium and interested Buffalo Bills fans packed into one of the community rooms of the Brush Mountain...
Kenneth Medenbach, during the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Medenbach was acquitted of all criminal charges stemming from the refuge takeover. But he's on probation for a 2016 illegal camping conviction. He was restricted from leaving the state without prior permission from his probation officer, according to his standby lawyer. (Thomas Boyd|The Oregonian)

Kenneth Medenbach, who was acquitted of all charges in the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge but remains on probation for a separate illegal camping conviction, was taken into custody this week in Las Vegas after he showed up to attend the closing arguments in the Bunkerville federal conspiracy case.

Medenbach, 64, is restricted from traveling outside Oregon, a condition of his probation from a 2016 illegal camping conviction in federal court in Eugene, according to his lawyer Matthew Schindler.

Medenbach had asked his probation officer if he could travel to attend part of the federal trial in Nevada.

The officer told him no, but he went anyway and was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for a probation violation, according to Schindler and court records.

Medenbach had been scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Eugene later this month to address another dispute regarding the conditions of his probation.

Medenbach was given five years of probation for unlawfully occupying and camping on federal public land in Josephine County in May 2015.

Medenbach's probation officer has concerns about letters Medenbach had sent to members of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The probation officer wanted any letter Medenbach intended for the federal agencies to be sent directly to Bureau of Land Management Special Agent Jason Curry, Schindler said. Medenbach was expected to argue he had a First Amendment right to send letters to anyone he wished. That April 19 hearing likely will be delayed as it may take some time before Medenbach is returned to Oregon, Schindler said.

Medenbach has a long history of challenging the government's control of land, starting with his 1988 construction of some cabins and an outhouse on five acres of land he bought for $700 northeast of Crescent, without obtaining any permits from Klamath County.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. PDM recently announced that it has leased around 400,000 square feet in first-quarter 2017. However, the company did not close any investment transaction during the quarter.



A couple of notable first-quarter lease deals included a 52,720-square-foot, 10 year new lease through 2028 with Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner, the General Services Administration (GSA) at 250 E Street, SW, in Washington, D.C.; and a 38,318-square-foot, 5+ year lease extension through 2024 with Futurewei Technologies, Inc. at 400 Bridgewater Crossing in Bridgewater, NJ.



Moreover, the company signed deals with reputable companies for properties at a number of locations including Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA and Chicago.



Regarding capital market activities, the company did not close any investment transaction during first-quarter 2017.



Piedmont is engaged in acquisition, ownership, management and development of high-quality Class A office properties located across major U.S. markets. The continued transactional activity indicates its success in selling non-strategic assets and redeploying the proceeds into targeted submarkets.



Piedmont currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). In the 30 days, the companys first-quarter and full-year 2017 funds from operations (FFO) per share estimates remained unchanged.

Shares of Piedmont outperformed the Zacks categorized REIT and Equity Trust  Other industry in the last three months. While the companys shares rose 8.5%, the industry recorded a gain of 2.4%.







Investors interested in the REIT space, may consider stocks like Global Net Lease, Inc. GNL, CoreSite Realty Corporation COR and CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc. CORR, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



In the last 30 days, Global Net Leases FFO per share for first-quarter 2017 remained unchanged at 60 cents.



In the last 30 days, CoreSite Realtys FFO per share for first-quarter 2017 increased 0.9% to $1.06.



CorEnergy Infrastructure Trusts first-quarter 2017 FFO per share estimates moved up 1.8% to $1.14, in the last 30 days.



Note: FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income. All EPS numbers presented in this write up represent FFO per share.



The Best & Worst of Zacks



Today you are invited to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" free of charge. From 1988 through 2015 this list has averaged a stellar gain of +25% per year. Plus, you may download 220 Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells." Even though this list holds many stocks that seem to be solid, it has historically performed 6X worse than the market. See these critical buys and sells free >>





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



CoreSite Realty Corporation (COR): Free Stock Analysis Report



Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (PDM): Free Stock Analysis Report



CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc. (CORR): Free Stock Analysis Report



Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL): Free Stock Analysis Report



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April 13 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- United Airlines struggled on Wednesday to respond to a third day of public outrage over widely shared videos of a passenger being dragged off an airplane, offering a refund to every passenger on the flight and promising to no longer have the police remove passengers from planes that are too full. http://nyti.ms/2o8SfIb

- Bill O'Reilly left Fox News this week for a long-planned vacation to Italy and the Vatican, with his fate in the hands of a Murdoch family calculating the risks and rewards of keeping him on or forcing him out of the network. http://nyti.ms/2o94MLw

- The Daily Mail apologized to Melania Trump on Wednesday and agreed to pay damages to settle two lawsuits she had filed over an article last year asserting that the professional modeling agency she worked for in the 1990s had also been an escort service. http://nyti.ms/2o8Vq2z

- The accounting firm KPMG has fired six employees, including the head of its audit practice in the United States, after it learned they were given improper warnings ahead of planned audit inspections by its regulator, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. http://nyti.ms/2o95xUT (Compiled by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru)
On Thursday, April 20, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar will host a district-wide listening session at Central Michigan University. The event will be moderated by Art Lewis, the host of The Art Lewis Show, which airs weekday mornings on WSGW News Radio 790 AM. It will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at CMUs Plachta Auditorium, 1200 S. Franklin St. in Mount Pleasant.

Moolenaar said one of the most rewarding aspects of representing Michigans Fourth District is the opportunity to meet constituents throughout the district and hear their concerns on the issues facing our nation. He has hosted 26 listening sessions since taking office and the event on April 20 fulfills the commitment he made to host a formal, district-wide listening session at a large, centrally located venue in the district.
A housing development that could eventually mean 68 new condominiums at the north end of Midland has taken a step forward with approval by the City of Midland Planning Commission.

The commission on Tuesday night voted to approve, with contingencies, a site plan for Forestview Crossings, which will have frontage on both North Eastman Avenue and East Monroe Road. Approval for the site plan was sought by Richard Fosgitt on behalf of Earl D. Bennett Construction.

The plan calls for 34 units  which Fosgitt said would be strictly duplexes  as well as two streets: Clear Spring Circle off Eastman and Grand Forest Lane off Monroe. Part of the southern boundary of the property abuts the Midland City Forest. The development would be built in two phases of 17 units each.

The site does not include the southwest corner of the Eastman-Monroe intersection.

Among the contingencies are Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approval, as the property crosses the Dempski Drain, and a city requirement that a sidewalk be installed along the Monroe frontage.

Fosgitt predicted the required sidewalk will be essentially a sidewalk to nowhere ... for quite some time.

Assistant City Manager Brad Kaye said another contingency is for Midland County Road Commission approval. That commission could require a range of road changes including turn lanes or signal adjustments based on traffic estimates.

Another part of the southern boundary of the project adjoins a single-family property that remains in Larkin Township. Residents Rebecca and Thomas Bentley said they are concerned about the increase in traffic from 68 new housing units. Rebecca Bentley said they have lived on their property for six years and have seen a big increase in traffic during that time.

This is an awful lot of additional housing going out on Eastman, she said. This is a heavy amount of population to add onto Eastman.

Other concerns raised by Bentley included the ditch and tributary issue and questions about wetlands in the area.

We have problems with our driveway and sinkage, she said.

Another concern was whether large trees on the Bennett property adjacent to City Forest may be cut down.

Most developers will try to preserve as many trees as they possibly can, Fosgitt replied.

He said a wetland evaluation is being done by the Michigan DEQ.

After site plan approval was granted, Commissioner Lowell McLaughlin said, Theres a long ways for this one to go yet.

The Midland City Council is scheduled to consider the site plan at its April 24 meeting.

Kaye noted that approval for an assisted living facility nearby  on the southwest corner of Eastman and Monroe  was granted by the commission some time ago but that the approval has lapsed. Kaye said he understands plans for the facility are still in the works but that planning commission approval would be required for that project to move forward.

The planning commission on Tuesday also approved a zoning change for the majority of a long-vacant property stretching from Jefferson Avenue to Bayliss Street, north of Dartmouth Drive and south of the U.S. Post Office.

Approval for the change from Community Commercial zoning to Regional Commercial was sought by David Helgerson.

This part of the city could use some development, Helgerson told the commission.

The zoning change would not affect the west end of the property along Jefferson.

While the differences between the zoning designations are not dramatic, the change does allow for a bit more variety in use, Kaye said.

Commissioner James Bain Jr. said the property has been vacant for the 35 years he has lived in the neighborhood. Helgerson said he has been told there was a church at the site many years ago.

We need to be giving as much latitude as we can to get something going there, Commissioner Dave Heying said.

The Midland City Council will host a public hearing on the zoning change request at its May 22 meeting.
To the editor:

Attention high school juniors of Midland County: Can you imagine a summer camp where you can continue to build personal character and skills for leadership? A way to meet active community leaders? A chance for new and exciting experiences to gain exposure to a variety of issues and people?

What if there were an all-expenses paid, five-day, four-night summer camp close by where you could build your self-esteem and self-confidence and have fun, build friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime?

Sound too good to be true? Its not. Your local Rotary Club offers this wonderful opportunity.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is a leadership training program for high school juniors throughout Michigan, sponsored by Rotary International and hosted by Rotary District 6310. An action-packed program of activities includes meeting teens from all over the state, problem-solving games, challenge courses, conversations with Michigan leaders, group discussion, team building activities, outdoor adventures and lots of fun.

Important RYLA goals are to learn valuable information and leadership skills, ethics of positive leadership, qualities of a servant leader and the importance of communication skills in effective leadership as well as conflict management and problem solving. The Midland Noon Rotary Club is offering three full scholarships to assist eligible students in Midland County to attend the RYLA Camp.

We encourage Midland County students who are currently in their junior year to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for personal development. Two of our students attended RYLA in summer 2016 and were excited and articulate about the camp experience. Both students felt they gained confidence to accept and practice new leadership roles at school during their senior year in high school and skills which will serve them well in college life.

Do not miss this fantastic opportunity for personal development. This years RYLA takes place from June 11-15 at Camp Rotary in Clare. Applications are due to Midland Rotary Club no later than May 8. For more information, contact your school counselor, the Midland Noon Rotary Club at admin@midlandrotaryclub.org, or visit our website at midlandrotaryclub.org/ You may also contact Dr. Betty Jones at bebejo70charter.net

DR. BETTY JONES, chair

Camp RotarylR YLA 2017

Midland Rotary Club
NORMAL  Normal Mayor Chris Koos gave Portillo's his usual advice for new Twin City restaurants Thursday  but it may have been more true than usual.

"Whatever your projections were, they're low," he said. "Normal, and Bloomington, is more than ready for Portillo's to be here."

Minutes later, officials for the Chicago-style hot dog chain broke ground at its future site at 202 Landmark Drive in Normal.

The restaurant is expected to open in August with a 9,000 square-foot building, a double drive-thru lane, seating for 250 and a 1920s Chicago gangster theme. It will employ 200 at opening and 150 over the long term, and many of those will be part time.

Portillo's CEO Keith Kinsey told The Pantagraph after the ceremony the restaurant is already hiring for some positions, and he encouraged potential applicants to keep an eye on portillos.com for more opportunities.

Residents should watch for a trial run before the location officially opens, he added.

"We just started really expanding outside Chicago and found in Central Illinois, Bloomington-Normal is a great place to be part of that," Kinsey said. "A lot of people are transplants from Chicago. You've got a great university. ... It's just a perfect community for Portillo's."

Of whether Portillo's might open a second Bloomington-Normal location, Kinsey said the community "is a perfect size" for just one restaurant.

"That's why it was so important for us to find the right location (in) what I call the focal point of the community. This is absolutely the focal point of the community," he said of the Veterans Parkway spot. "It's a perfect combination of all the things, when you think of restaurants, that you want to be a part of."

The chain also considered a location near The Shoppes at College Hills before opting for what was then a Motel 6 site. The motel was demolished this month to make way for Portillo's.

The town of Normal has agreed to give developer Bloomington Landmark $1.875 million in future sales tax receipts from the restaurant  a cost of as much as $2.5 million with interest  to subsidize demolition and construction.

Bloomington Landmark, which includes frequent Normal developer Tartan Realty Group and its president, Doug Reichl, will own the property and lease it to Portillo's for $220,000 per year.

Novak Construction of Chicago is building the restaurant.

Portillo's, based in suburban Oak Brook, announced last April it would open a Normal location. The company has since started building a Champaign restaurant that is set to open next month as its first downstate eatery.

Koos, who stood next to Kinsey during the groundbreaking, flanked by Normal City Council members, wished the company "best of luck" in Normal.
BLOOMINGTON  No one wants their life's belongings stuffed into a garbage bag.

Yet, that's been the practice for years for many children in foster care.

Thanks to the quiet generosity of several donors  many of them anonymous  that practice is about to change for hundreds of Central Illinois children in foster care.

Nearly 400 pieces of luggage, duffel bags or backpacks have been dropped off or shipped to the McLean County Children's Advocacy Center in downtown Bloomington since CAC Executive Director Judy Brucker asked for new suitcases or duffel bags on the CAC/Court Appointed Special Advocate Facebook page on Feb. 24.

"As of now, 385 (375 new and 10 gently used) have been donated and more are coming in," Brucker said Wednesday. "Almost everybody who has come in here has had a story as to why this touched them."

"I'm overwhelmed," she said. "It underscores for me how a moment of generosity can change things for a child."

A child is taken into protective custody by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after DCFS has determined that it's unsafe for the child to remain at home.

Sometimes, the children are in crisis and there's no time to pack properly, Brucker said. Sometimes, they don't have luggage.

Either way, their stuff gets dumped into a garbage bag or two, said Brucker, whose agency served 418 abused children in McLean, Livingston and DeWitt counties last year.

Central Illinois children then are placed with relatives or in licensed foster homes through DCFS, The Baby Fold, Center for Youth and Family Solutions or Children's Home + Aid, said Brucker and Lisa Pieper, Children's Home + Aid regional vice president.

When children move from foster home to foster home, it's not uncommon for them to carry their belongings in garbage bags, said Brucker and Pieper.

"This has been a problem for the 37 years I've been doing this sort of work," Pieper said.

One Central Illinois foster parent, who declined to be identified, wrote their foster son "was dropped off at our door about as unceremoniously as one could imagine, with two garbage bags of stuff ... his worn clothes, some paperwork and a few toys. ... That his life's treasures apparently deserved no better handling than our kitchen waste was a tragic message."

After Brucker's Facebook request, people  including the above-referenced foster parent  began dropping off or shipping luggage, duffel bags and backpacks to the CAC office. One mother who donated 56 pieces of luggage on behalf of herself and friends said her parents were foster parents and it always bothered her mother that children would arrive carrying their belongings in garbage bags.

One donor, Kelli Zopfi, is a board member for a charity based in Dwight and has collaborated with the CAC. She led a group of family and friends who donated 156 duffel bags.

"I can't imagine my 10-year-old going to a sleepover with a garbage bag let alone a child in foster care," Zopfi said.

Pieper said: "It's wonderful to have this influx so kids don't feel their belongings in garbage bags is an analogy to their lives. We are fortunate to live in a community that cares for kids."

"The community response to the luggage drive has been just incredible and such a blessing for our youth in care," said Molly Evans, DCFS child protection investigator. "As a department, we are so thankful for the individuals who have purchased new luggage and duffel bags for our youth, truly a generous and sincere effort from the heart."

"It's difficult for people to wrap their head around child abuse," Brucker said. "But people understand the difference between garbage in a trash bag and a child's belongings in a trash bag. And people have responded."
BLOOMINGTON  A man charged with driving under the influence of drugs in Mondays single-vehicle crash that took out two utility poles on Airport Road in Bloomington was arrested Sunday on a DUI charge in Woodford County, has outstanding warrants in five other states and reportedly may be involved in a financial fraud scheme.

Joshua Brewster, 33, of Washington remained in McLean County jail Wednesday in lieu of posting $50,035 on charges of aggravated DUI causing bodily harm, aggravated DUI causing injuries to someone under the age of 18 and endangering the life of a child.

Brewster, wearing a sling on his left arm, appeared Wednesday before McLean County Associate Judge David Butler in McLean County Circuit Court via a video link with the jail.

Assistant States Attorney Ashley Scarborough told the judge that around 5 p.m. Monday, Brewster was driving a sport utility vehicle at high speed on Airport Road near College Avenue.

He was traveling over 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, she said.

He collided with a utility pole that was struck so hard that it caused a second pole to collapse," she said. "There were no skid marks anywhere, and it appears that he did not attempt to brake before the collision.

Scarborough said Brewsters wife, Melonie, and their three children, ages, 4, 3 and 2, were passengers in the SUV. The 4-year-old was not restrained and was found by first-responders on the SUV's center console, Scarborough said.

At the scene, police reported that Brewster was exhibiting odd behavior.

He was more concerned about his cellphone and cash than he was about his family, she said.

Scarborough also reported that Brewster admitted taking Adderall, a prescription amphetamine, prior to driving.

According to court documents, Brewster was charged on Sunday with driving under the influence of alcohol in Woodford County. In that incident, he posted $300 bond and faces a 9 a.m. arraignment on May 10.

Scarborough also told the court that Brewster has previous sex offense-related charges in the state of Washington and has active warrants for his arrest there and in Idaho, Florida, Arkansas and Texas.

Further, Scarborough said, authorities are investigating a financial fraud scheme in Indiana.

Its possible that he is cashing fraudulent paychecks from companies that dont exist, Scarborough said.

Because of that claim, Butler ordered a hearing to determine Brewster's source of bail money prior to Brewsters release from custody to make sure the money is not from illegal sources.

The judge also approved a public defender for Brewster, even though Brewster reported making $6,500 per month as an over-the-road truck driver.

Im not sure of the circumstances of your job or how long you are going to be employed because of this, Butler said.

Brewster attempted to argue briefly during the hearing.

I have no idea what you are talking about with all of that financial stuff, he said.

The judge then advised him that anything he said could be used against him in court.

Brewster is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. April 21 in McLean County Court.
BLOOMINGTON  Embracing our natural curiosity can open doors to understanding of others and ourselves, this year's winner of the teaching excellence award at Illinois Wesleyan University told those gathered Wednesday for the annual honors convocation.

Anthropology professor Rebecca Gearhart Mafazy was honored with the 2017 Kemp Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence in a ceremony that included a gamelan musical ensemble performance using traditional Balinese instruments.

Musicians included students from Mafazy's Theater, Performance and Spectacle class and Adriana Ponce's Exploring Music Around the World class. The group was led by I Ketut Gede Asnawa.

Music and facial expressions are part of what tie people together, said Mafazy, whose research focuses on non-Western expressive arts, including music and dance traditions.

We are born with insatiable curiosity, she said. It is our nature.

But while children naturally focus on what makes people similar, too many adults look for what makes us different, she said.

Children have the courage to learn to walk even though they know they will fall and to learn to talk even when they are often misunderstood, she said.

It is important to tap into our innate curiosity people have as children yet tend to unlearn when we get older to recognize we are all related and share vulnerabilities, said Mafazy.

Moments of mutual vulnerability are opportunities, Mafazy said as she related the story of when her husband, Munib, from Africa, met her grandmother Irene from rural Minnesota in 1997.

Her grandmother reached out and touched his hair, saying, It feels like wool, recalled Mafazy, who initially worried about this apparent breach of etiquette. But then Munib Mafazy reached out and touched Grandma Irene's white hair and said softly, It feels like cotton.

Mafazy said, They let down their guard and revealed their curiosity about one another, leading to a closer connection.

Mafazy joined the IWU faculty in 1999. She is the 44th winner of the university's top teaching award. It honors a faculty member who brings spirit, passion and scholarship to the art of teaching.

The convocation in Presser Hall's Westbrook Auditorium also honored students in the class of 2017 and retiring faculty members. Victoria Folse, professor and Caroline F. Rupert Chair of Nursing, was announced as the 2018 Kemp teaching excellence honoree.
- By Alberto Abaterusso





Silver Standard Resources Inc. (SSRI) informed the markets Tuesday of the operating results of its three mines for the first quarter of 2017.

In the first quarter, the Canadian mining company reported a production of 97,851 ounces of gold equivalent.





At the Marigold mine (U.S.), Silver Standard Resources produced a volume of 55,215 ounces of gold, a 7.9% decrease compared to the previous quarter, and sold 52,528 ounces of gold, a 14.3% decrease from the last quarter of 2016.

The decrease in the first quarter production of Marigold mine has been attributed by the mining company to several interruptions at operations caused by bad weather conditions in the first two months of 2017 and maintenance at the mine during March. In addition, the pit phase sequencing caused the mining of the precious metal from those ore body's parts characterized by a lower gold grade.

The second company's mine, Seabee Gold, contributed to Silver Standard Resources' first quarter of 2017 total production for 21.5% and was 21,023 ounces of gold. This was 7% higher than the gold production in the last quarter of 2016 because Silver Standard Resources mined the precious metal according to a higher gold grade at the Santoy mine complex that "supplied 98% of ore milled in the first quarter," the company says.

In the first quarter the company sold 22,411 ounces of gold at Seabee Gold, a 30.1% increase from the previous quarter.

At the Pirquitas mine (Argentina) the amounts of silver produced (1.52 million ounces) and sold (1.443 million ounces) were lower in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the last quarter of 2016, due to the fact that the mill feed was sourced in bulk from stockpiles of medium grade ore as a consequence of the cessation in January of the mining activities at the San Miguel open pit.

Story continues

Paul Benson, Silver Standard Resources' president and CEO, commented on first-quarter operating results: "Our production of 97,851 gold equivalent ounces is a strong start to the year, highlighted by Seabee continuing to demonstrate a capability to produce above historical levels. The sustained contribution from all three of our assets was solidified by our recent announcement to exercise our option on the Chinchillas project to extend the operating life of Pirquitas. This, combined with our focus on safe production and operational excellence, demonstrates the success of our strategy to create value through internal and external opportunities."

Silver Standard Resources is trading at $11.32 per share with a price-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.80 and a price-book (P/B) ratio of 1.50.

The Enterprise Value/EBITDA ratio is 5.34.

The stock has a recommendation rating of 2.6, and the analysts' average target price per share is $13.35, a 18% upside from the current share price.

Disclosure: I have no positions in Silver Standard Resources.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






NORMAL  Parents raised concerns and offered suggestions regarding school overcrowding and bullying to members of McLean County Unit 5 school board Wednesday.

Two Cedar Ridge Elementary School parents asked for changes to be made in the Bloomington school.

Kendra Bull of Bloomington encouraged the board to consider hiring additional full-time teacher's aides for Cedar Ridge to keep extra sets of eyes on the overcrowded classrooms.

While the average classroom size at Cedar Ridge Elementary School is about 21 students, the number is skewed because bilingual classes are small. Classroom size for English-speaking students at Cedar Ridge, especially in kindergarten and first grade, is closer to 27  one of the highest numbers in Unit 5.

I see teachers giving their all, exhausted at the end of the day. I see administration leading with integrity and fully committed to serving our school," Bull said. "I also see a large population of students who are struggling.

These kids need more from us," said Bull.

Kristi Lancaster of Bloomington has a fifth-grade son at Cedar Ridge with high-functioning autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She said her son experienced physical and verbal bullying on the playground and bus.

"I rely on the teachers and staff to protect my child," said Lancaster. "Something needs to change, whether its awareness of special needs, increased staff or better education for staff regarding bullying.

District Superintendent Mark Daniel said parents or students aware of bullying should contact building officials.

Immediately, the principal will investigate the situation and work with Curt Richardson, our HR director and district attorney. All employees of the district know this is not something that will be tolerated and this will be addressed, said Daniel.

Daniel also asked the audience and board to continue to contact legislators about a lack of state funding.

If we do not have a state budget, its only a matter of time before we can say we cannot open doors as a public school, he said.

Daniel said the community has stepped up to support the district. Rivian Automotive donated a forklift for Unit 5s maintenance department, and the town of Normal provided outdoor bleachers.

The board also approved a resolution to purchase 54 buses and six vans for the Unit 5 fleet for $3.5 million.

This is to purchase a second round of school buses through working cash bonds that were approved by the board last year, said Unit 5 business manager Marty Hickman.

After this purchase, the district will own 138 buses and six transit vans. The vans, which will be yellow and clearly marked as school vehicles, will be used for routes with only a few students.

Hickman said the district will own the buses while its busing contractor, Cincinnati-based First Student, will remain responsible for bus maintenance and drivers.

Additionally, the board approved May 25 as the final day of the school year, pending inclement weather.
BLOOMINGTON  The Twin Cities' U.S. House representatives won't be having any public town hall events with constituents during the two-week congressional recess that started Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, a Taylorville Republican, will not participate in any events open to the public through April 24, confirmed his communications director, Ashley Phelps.

"Davis finds small-group meetings with constituents to be more effective. In fact, he has 47 meetings scheduled with constituents this week and next," she said. "Several of those meetings are with people who have requested a town hall to discuss issues like health care and others."

Davis met with "about 20 members of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce" and "about 30 local farmers and ag leaders at the Illinois Farm Bureau headquarters in Bloomington" on Wednesday, Phelps said.

Representatives for Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Dunlap did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. No upcoming events had been posted to his website, Facebook page or Twitter page as of Wednesday afternoon.

Neither man has hosted a local town hall meeting this year despite public protests requesting one. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, held one March 24 at Illinois Wesleyan University.

In response, the Bloomington-Normal chapter of liberal activist group Action for a Better Tomorrow will host "mobile office hours" with "Flat Rodney Davis," a cardboard cutout of the congressman, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Uptown Circle in Normal.

"Our representatives will record your concerns and then deliver them to Rodney Davis' office across the street," according to the event's Facebook page. "Since the real Rodney Davis won't come anywhere near Bloomington-Normal to meet with his constituents out in public, this will be the next best thing."

Davis has referred to town hall meetings as "grandstanding events" and held two public teleconferences in which his staff screened the questions.

JD D'Alfonso, LaHood's communications director, said in late February that LaHood would consider hosting a town hall meeting, but LaHood held a "telephone town hall" March 1.

Voices of Reason, another local liberal activist group, said in February it might schedule a town hall meeting and invite LaHood, but it hasn't done so yet.

"Lots of people have individual appointments with Rodney Davis," said Voices of Reason co-founder Jodie Slothower.
As a fan of Mother Jones magazine, I don't often disagree with the progressive monthly's editor in chief Clara Jeffery. But she asked for it with this breathtaking tweet after President Donald Trump fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase:

"That the missiles are called tomahawks," she tweeted, "must enrage a lot of Native Americans (sic)."

Or maybe not? I suspect fewer Native Americans were upset by the Tomahawk reference than other Americans who were upset by Jeffery's presumption, judging by their snarky responses to her tweet.

Yet her concern is widely shared these days under the heading of "cultural appropriation." It means what it sounds like, the appropriation by a privileged group of an oppressed group's culture without permission.

It used to be discussed in terms of black music, for example, which was appropriated by white performers back in the day when opportunities and audiences were strictly separated by race.

Unfortunately, when taken to extremes, the fight against cultural appropriation can turn into a divisive fight against one of this land's most underappreciated opportunities: cultural sharing.

A surprising example recently came out of Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. in a dust-up over  of all things  hoop earrings.

Yes, some Hispanic students accused white women who wear hoop earrings of appropriating Latina culture, according to Inside Higher Ed, an online publication covering news on higher education. Three Latina students reportedly started the controversy by writing "White girls, take off your hoops" on a campus free-speech wall.

When the story boiled over into the conservative blogosphere, the young Latinas predictably received a wave of nasty emails from off campus. Some sounded threatening enough for the college's president, Melvin L. Oliver, to issue an open letter headlined "Hate Speech is NOT Free Speech."

I agree with that. But the more reasonable conservatives raised a fair point, too. We all should be wary of the thin line between racial pride and racial supremacy.

The hoop earring dispute reminds me of similar complaints raised about Bo Derek's blonde cornrows in her hit 1979 movie "10."

Yet rows over cornrows still erupt today. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs faced charges of "cultural appropriation" last September when he closed New York Fashion Week with a parade on the runway of models, who happened to be white and dressed in wigs that looked like dreadlocks. Culture will not be contained.

Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of ABC's "The View," said as much when she recently called the "cultural appropriation" issue overblown. If black women who oppose cultural appropriation are going to be consistent, she said, they should stop straightening their hair and wearing weaves. After all, "if we're wearing white lady hair," she said, "isn't that appropriation as well?"

Maybe so. Look around. Cultural appropriation is no less American than Apple pie, pizza and spring rolls. America is a land of dynamic innovation in the arts and sciences precisely because we have so many cultures learning from each other, when we're not at each other's throats.

Yes, I, too, want to wince when I see, for example, non-Native Americans wearing sacred Native American artifacts as if they were mere fashion statements.

Or when white college kids think it's cool to wear blackface on Halloween and call themselves Kanye West or Beyonce. (No, that's not cool, kids.) But I am even more disturbed by the recent protests mounted by black artists against a painting by white artist Dana Schutz at the Whitney Museum in New York. The abstract painting called "Open Casket" depicts the mutilated body of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old black Chicago teenager who was lynched by two white men in Mississippi in 1955, allegedly for whistling at a white woman.

Schutz based her work on photographs, published in Jet magazine and the Chicago Defender newspaper at the urging of Till's mother, that were powerful enough to help ignite the civil rights movement.

But now, Schutz's abstract depiction has had to withstand protests and calls for the work to be destroyed, mainly because the artist is not black.

"The subject matter is not Schutz's," wrote one protest leader, Hannah Black, a British-born black writer and artist living in Berlin, in a Facebook message. "White free speech and white creative freedom have been founded on the constraint of others, and are not natural rights. The painting must go."

Yet, mainstream culture won't be made any less white if we African-Americans segregate ourselves into our own monocultural enclaves. We don't have to steal each other's cultures if we learn to share.
Twice in two weeks, United Airlines has flown into a brick wall of public opinion after corporate policies led to head-shaking decisions.

The most recent was Sunday, when a Kentucky doctor was asked to leave a United Express flight because the plane was overbooked and the airline needed to fly a crew to Louisville, Ky.

When the man refused, saying he had to be in Louisville to visit patients, security workers from Chicago's Department of Aviation forcibly yanked the man out of his seat and pulled him by his arms down the aisle and gangway.

On March 26, a United gate agent refused to let two people onto a plane because they did not meet the dress code required of passengers using free company tickets.

Clearly, United has a problem  and it's having a financial impact. On Tuesday, shareholders took note and the airline's market value dropped between $600 million and $900 million.

Some background: Airlines are allowed to "bump" passengers on overbooked flights. They first are required to offer compensation to volunteers; after that, they are allowed to remove random passengers.

In this case, flight attendants made two offers. With no takers, they chose four people to leave. Three did; the doctor refused. That's when security was called.

On the leggings issue, United's dress code for company guests (those who don't pay for their seats) specifically forbids leggings, the tight, stretchy garments that resemble overly thick hosiery. The decision to forbid boarding is left to the discretion of the gate agent.

Both incidents invoked outrage, but the passenger removal caught the world's attention. In China, where United does a lot of business, calls came for a boycott, since the doctor is of Asian descent. American media reports on Tuesday revealed a long-ago felony conviction for the doctor, but tempered that tidbit with a note that his criminal history had nothing to do with what happened in Chicago.

Airlines in general are disliked by the public. We pay a lot of money for a small seat in cramped quarters; wait through delayed takeoffs and landings; have to pay for checked baggage, which then may be lost or damaged; and endure long lines at security checks, which sometimes involve intrusive pat-downs.

And after going through all that, we find an assigned seat in a plane and can be told the flight is overbooked. Passengers are angry and tense before they even board, so it's no wonder someone gets upset when they're told they must leave.

The United problems are emblematic of a larger issue that only will get worse unless airline owners and management rethink their business model when it comes to travelers who keep them in business.




Via the Drawing Center

The Drawing Center (35 Wooster Street)) opens their spring exhibition, "Exploratory Works: Drawings from the Department of Tropical Research Field Expeditions," on Thursday, April 13, 6 to 8 p.m., and on view until July 16. The show includes over 60 drawings and archival materials from expeditions to South America and the Caribbean in the early 1900s. DTR was led by William Beebe, and the expeditions included several women artists and researchers including Ruth Rose, who later worked on the screenplay of the original King Kong (1933). Also check out two installations by Mark Dion that evoke typical field-station interiors including a jungle lab and an oceanographic workshop.

Lee Relvas, Thinking, 2017 (two views), via Callicoon Fine Arts

Callicoon Fine Arts (49 Delancey Street) presents "Some Phrases" -- the gallery's first exhibition by Lee Relvas -- opening on April 13th, 6 to 8 p.m. and up until May 21. The artist's new plywood and epoxy-putty sculptures "look for a language that speaks through bodies' movements, gestures and actions." Relvas has released six solo albums under the name Rind.

Art F City's Goth Benefit is Tuesday, April 18, 6 to 10 p.m., at Collapsable Hole (55 Bethune Street). Joseph Keckler will perform a set of "goth opera masterpieces" and Instagram-star Sean Fader will take your photo and give you a print. Advance tickets ($75 for artists/students/musicians) are HERE, but show up in full-goth garb and you'll get a discount.

Sculpture Center's (44-19 Purves Street, Long Island City) Lucky Draw benefit is Tuesday, April 18, doors open 5 p.m., auction/draw at 7:30 p.m. Following a live auction, purchasers of a $750 draw ticket will receive an artwork, with the order of selection determined by random drawing. Check out the art and buy a ticket HERE. For a $75 donation (includes cocktails) you can also attend and not participate in the drawing. Lowell Pettit is the MC and Sara Friedlander is auctioneer.





Cindy Sherman,Untitled #420, 2004 via Mnuchin Gallery, courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York

Mnuchin Gallery (45 East 78th Street) celebrates Cindy Sherman's take on the female gaze with a show called "Once Upon a Time: 1981 - 2011" opening on April 18, 6 to 8 p.m., and up until June 10. The exhibition, curated by Philippe Segalot and Sukanya Rajaratnam, focuses on three of her series: The Center Folds, The History Portraits and The Society Portraits.

Navine G. Khan Dossos, Good Character, 2017

Fridman Gallery (287 Spring Street) opens their first solo exhibition, "INFOESQUE," by the British artist Navine G. Khan-Dossos on April 13, 6 to 9 p.m., The show includes a series of works on canvas that "explore the design strategies of Rumiyah magazine," plus thirty-six panel paintings that use issue 5 of the now-shuttered Dabiq magazine as source material. On the 13th, there's a conversation with the artist by James Bridle at 6 p.m.

Castor Gallery (254 Broome Street) has a group show called "Tantamount" opening on April 13, 6 to 8 p.m., featuring new work from four artists: Kim Dorland, Jeanette Hayes, Lucas Price and Vanessa Prager. All use unique oil techniques. Up until May 14.

Splash image via Mnuchin Gallery: Cindy Sherman, Untitled #543, 2010/2012, courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures New York


Trailblazer Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on New York's highest court (and the first African American woman to serve on that court), was found dead in the Hudson River yesterday.

Abdus-Salaam's body, fully clothed and without visible signs of trauma, was found floating on the bank of the Hudson River near 132nd Street by residents who called the police. Her husband had reported her missing from her home in Harlem earlier that day. Police are currently investigating the matter.

Abdus-Salaam, 65, made history more than once, in 1994 as the first female Muslim judge in the United States when she took the bench as a New York State Supreme Court Justice, and again in 2013 when she became the first African American woman to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals.

Governor Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the court, mourned the loss of Abdus-Salaam in a statement saying, "Through [Abdus-Salaam's] writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come."

According to the New York Times, Abdus-Salaam was a liberal voice on the court, often taking positions that showed support for marginalized or otherwise underrepresented people:



On the court, Judge Abdus-Salaam was among the most reliable and steadfast liberal voices, regularly siding with vulnerable parties  the poor, impoverished immigrants and people with mental illnesses, for instance  against more powerful and established interests. She also tended to lean toward injured parties who brought claims of misconduct, fraud or breach of contract against wealthy corporations.

Abdus-Salaam grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Washington D.C. and eventually made her way to Columbia Law School, graduating from Barnard on the way. Through some research she discovered that her great-grandfather had been a slave in Virginia, and her family's journey and its representation of the American Dream was something Abdus-Salaam appreciated. "All the way from Arrington, Virginia, where my family was the property of someone else, to my sitting on the highest court of the State of New York is amazing and huge," she said in 2014. "It tells you and me what it is to know who we are and what we can do."[h/t The Cut

Image via Facebook
What do you get when you put together LA's coolest kids and some Americana 90s nostalgia? A pretty damn click-able campaign which is likely why Tommy Hilfiger brought together Lucky Blue Smith, Sofia Riche and, of course, a Hadid (Anwar, to be precise).

For his new Tommy Jeans capsule campaign, the designer is blending the label's "90s heritage" with "exciting pop culture influences", which essentially culminates in a lot of logomania, denim and of course, is entirely red, white and blue.

"Lucky Blue Smith, Anwar Hadid, and Sofia Richie represent the youthful, rebellious spirit at the heart of the campaign, and bring fresh new edge to the denim classics offered in the collection," Tommy said of the collection. "Looking back on this era reminds me of some incredible memories  from our first collaborations with musicians and celebrities to our continued passion to celebrate pop culture."

Tommy has very much been at the centre of the pop culture consciousness of late regardless, recently collaborating with Gigi Hadid for a West Coast-inspired line, who he says has the capacity to heal relations between the Middle-East and the U.S.

Anyway, voila! The Tommy Jeans Capsule campaign, in stores today.

[h/t i-D]

Images courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger
What's better than watching people eat eyeballs and jump into snake-filled pits while Joe Rogan yells catchphrases?

Watching people eat eyeballs and jump into snake-filled pits while getting yelled at by Ludacris. Trust.

MTV is bringing back its iconic reality show "Fear Factor" this May and none other than Ludacris himself will be hosting. The rapper/actor recently signed an overall deal with MTV parent-company Viacom, and the 12-episode installment of the "Fear Factor" revival is the first project he's working on. In addition to hosting, Luda will also be an executive producer of the show.



Each hourlong episode will feature eight contestants paired up in teams of two - think siblings, roommates, coworkers and exes - facing off either supremely gross or super anxiety-inducing challenges. The obstacles have been updated since the show's early aughts incarnation, and will be tailored to target today's audience.

"MTV is about celebrating youth culture, and with the reinvented Fear Factor, we are putting the power in our audience's hands to face and overcome their biggest fears," MTV, VH1 and Logo president Chris McCarthy told The Hollywood Reporter. "We are thrilled to partner with Ludacris, one of the biggest global stars who has a rich history with MTV, to energize this franchise for a whole new generation."

To get pumped for the revival, jump back into Luda Land with his newly released Vitamin D video:

[h/t The Hollywood Reporter]

Image via BFA
A small island in Washington state gained notoriety for having the highest rates of anti-vaccine parents, and despite scientific consensus, these families are continuing to opt out from shots. With Donald Trump in power, non-vax supporters seemed to garner more support after the president argued that vaccines cause grave side effects, including autism.

Countless studies already confirmed the health benefits of vaccination, yet a quarter of residents in Vashon Island voluntarily exempt their children from getting a shot. Per BBC News, one in 10 children in the island did not receive any immunization starting kindergarten. This rate was twice higher compared to vaccination rates across the entire United States.

Mom Molly Matter belonged to the island's infamous non-supporters of vaccine. The law student mother explained that their preference of not getting vaccination bore out of society's value for profit over health. Instead of believing medical professionals pushing for vaccination, she said that parents should do their own research first.

Shamanic practitioner Eryn Defoort also argued that vaccines are harmful based on a substantial amount of evidence. Defoort said that they are not only against the act of it but as well as what these shots contain as these were claimed to cause irreversible side effects.

Just like other medications, vaccines cause minor side effects. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that these mild negative reactions, like low-grade fever or soreness, usually go away in a few days. The organization also confirmed that vaccines may indeed cause major side effects or even death but the chances are extremely rare.

President Trump believed and even promoted that vaccines are harmful despite lack of substantial evidence. Prior to his ascension to the Oval Office, Trump said that it can cause mental disorders after sharing that he personally knew someone who took shots and developed autism later on.

Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2014

Trump's opinion also affected other people's belief on immunization. According to Independent, a recent study said that one in three Trump supporters believe the same idea as the president's when it comes to vaccines.

Resident of the vaccine-skeptic island, Dr. Baruch Roter, explained that unlike others, parents in Vashon Island are not convinced enough to believe what the government and mainstream medicine promote. Roter is among the majority of medical professionals who believe that immunization is an integral part of health.

Roter explained that if there are no enough vaccinated kids, an outbreak may occur and this will affect the herd immunity. Also known as community immunity, this protection is beneficial not only for vaccinated individuals, but as well as non-vaccinated infants, children and adults.

What is your stand on vaccination? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!
Making the choice to adopt a child in a foster care facility is an important and big decision for a family. There are many challenges, especially when dealing with different agencies and people to ensure the process is legal.

Adoption also costs a lot of money, time and effort. Some countries, however, make adoption an easier process. Which countries are these?

China is on the top list of easiest countries to adopt with its "stable and predictive adoption program," as per Insider Monkey. Parents can adopt Chinese infants and kids up to 7-years-old, provided they have been married for two years and are not under 30-years-old.

China also offers a Waiting Child Program for older and more capable couples who want older children or special needs children. "One of the reasons we chose China was because, since the country is communist and highly bureaucratic, we knew the process well and there would be no surprises," one parent said via a forum in Baltimore Sun. Other countries, especially in Latin America, have under-the-table deals, unlike China.

Ukraine's program takes only a year to process. The interested family will be required to travel to the country first so they can bond with the child.

One family spent a month in Ukraine before they welcomed and brought their three girls home. "We got to know their friends, their culture and some of their background," the parent said, as per Mom.Me. "With older children, this is invaluable as it is very much a part of who they are."

Single parents have easier chances of adopting a child from the Philippines, provided the child is at least 9-years-old. The adoption process is longer but it is well-established and organized.

For baby adoptions, couples should be married for three years and over 27-years-old to adopt. Adoptees also have better chances if they present a recommendation letter from a Church group.

Haiti also has its Waiting Child Program similar to China. With more than 200,000 kids living in foster care, however, the country's adoption procedure is simpler and easier.

Couples willing to adopt a Haitian child must be above 30-years-old. The country doesn't limit the number of children, especially if the parents are high-income earners. They must also visit the child in his home country at least three times before the adoption is a done deal.
Kate Middleton is allegedly on a mommy forum anonymously. Sources say she's logged on to online sites to share parenting stories or seek child care tips using an alias.

A source told Reveal Magazine that the Duchess of Cambridge is on the popular Mumsnet forum for U.K. parents, 9Honey reported. The source also said she's chatting up moms in the Babycentre community and sometimes sought guidance on parenting.

"Using these websites has really helped Kate," the source revealed. "Although she'd never admit to using the web for advice - the Royal Family tend to 'just get on with it' when it comes to raising children," the source said, adding the Duchess usually posted questions she and husband Prince William disagreed with when it came to parenting.

Mumsnet regulars, meanwhile, do not doubt Middleton could be among them and posting her parenting stories. Curiously, Mumsnet has a section where community members talk about the Royal Family. Some wonder if Middleton wanders in those discussions or shares her thoughts as well.

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts recently received a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honor from the Queen through Prince William. Roberts joked the Duchess must be a regular on her mommy forum. Prince William apparently told her, "She may well be," according to Mirror.

England's future queen, by virtue of her marriage to the second-in-line to the throne, once expressed that parenting is difficult. Even for someone with a number of people working for her, the Duchess admitted she has parenting struggles like everyone else, as per Vogue. The Duchess acknowledged no one can be prepared for the challenges of parenting and suggested to other moms like her to seek help when they feel overwhelmed.

Her husband, on the other hand, was never remiss in complimenting his wife's skills as a mom. "I'm very lucky in the support I have from Catherine," Prince William said in 2016, ABC News reported. "She is an amazing mother and a fantastic wife."
A sad news recently shocked the nation when a husband killed his wife at a San Bernardino school before turning the gun on himself. The incident led to two students wounded. Unfortunately, one of the victims, who had a rare genetic condition and survived a heart surgery, died while the other young victim survived the shooting.

Reports said the student who died from the shooting incident was eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez. Prior to the shooting, Martinez underwent a heart surgery becauase he was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Williams syndrome.

San Bernardino City Unified School District superintendent Dale Marsden said Williams syndrome included learning delays and heart problems as two of its main effects to a child, New York Post revealed. The North Park Elementary School, where teacher Karen Smith was killed by her estranged husband Cedric Anderson, also catered to special needs kids and those with Williams syndrome.

The school's superintendent said they will honor Martinez by spreading the awareness about Williams syndrome. Meanwhile, North Park Elementary School will remain closed until April 16.

In the United States alone, 25,000 people suffer from the disorder. Most people who have this condition would have to undergo many surgeries related to their heart problems. Older people with Williams syndrome could also suffer from kidney and gastrointestinal problems, depression and anxiety.

As for the other victim, nine-year-old Nolan Brandy, his parents, Leon and Rachel, said in a statement he is now better. They added, "We are grateful. Please continue to pray for him and also for Jonathan Martinez's and Karen Smith's families," CBS News reported.

According to the reports, Anderson concealed the weapon he used to kill his wife. He got past the front desk because he was known by the employees at the school. He told them he would drop something off to his wife but gunshots rang out later. The two have been married for a few months only before they separated. The suspect had a long criminal history including domestic violence and drug-related charges.
New York became the first state to offer free tuition to students taking up four-year courses both in public colleges and universities. Many commended Governor Andrew Cuomo for the initiative but others believe it might do more harm than good.

The project called Excelsior Scholarship got passed in the Senate and the Congress last week. The program could cut the cost of four-year courses from $83,000 minus $26,000 for the whole four years. Students who could avail of the Excelsior Scholarship should come from families who have an income of $100,000 annually or lesser. It will also only be applicable to students who graduated from high school and went straight to a public college or university.

Students who are under the Excelsior Scholarship must attend school full time and finish their course in two or four years. One of the cons pointed out by experts regarding the program is the fact that some students who come from low-income families have to work part-time jobs so they might have a difficult time finishing their chosen degree within the needed timeframe to qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, The New York Times reported.

Another negative requirement that experts do not see helping students is that the Excelsior Scholarship will not cover room or board expenses as well as the needed funds for books. D. Bruce Johnstone, a former State University of New York chancellor, said if the government wanted to help students graduate on time and help them earn a degree while their family has limited and low income, the Excelsior Scholarship is not the answer. He added, "This is going to cost money, and it will make some parents happy, but I don't see it moving the accessibility needle."

After completing the four-year or two-year degree, those who benefited from the Excelsior Scholarship must also live and work in New York for the same number of years they were under the free tuition project. This is one of the most criticized aspect of the Excelsior Scholarship because if the students who got the assistance from the government will not stay in New York after graduating and satisfy that requirement, the money given to them under the program will be converted to student loan, New York Daily News shared.

Despite the criticism, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton celebrated the milestone on Twitter. She wrote, "Let's celebrate New York State getting something important done that we wanted to do nationally. A great step for progressives."
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Patna: With Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagrah's centennial celebration underway in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday flagged off 42 so-called 'Gandhi Raths' purportedly to spread the message of the Father of the Nation, including the message of non-violence and effects of alcohol on the society.

Kumar flagged off these 'raths', a recent phenomenon in the Indian politics to take advantage of the modern tools like Wi-Fi internet, GPS, large screen LED television sets, film DVDs and other items essential for an effective propaganda, from the Adhiweshan Bhawan in Patna in the presence of several Janata Dal  U leaders and top bureaucrats.

The 'Raths', according to the officials, will go to every Panchayat in Bihar for the next 12 months with the aim to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi, particularly the message of universal brotherhood as preached by Gandhi; and the ills of alcohol consumption in the aftermath of Kumar's decision to impose prohibition in Bihar nearly a year ago.

The caravan of the souped -up trucks will be playing favorite bhazans of Bapu as people will be able to see an hour-long documentary along with a photo exhibition on the life of the man who succeeded in gaining independence for India from the British without ever firing a single bullet.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar, his party leader and Babus watched the same documentary and the photo exhibition on Gandhi prepared by the Public Relations department of the state government at the Adhiveshan Bhawan.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders in Patna have accused the Chief Minister of wasting taxpayers' money on various yatras and politicizing Mahatma Gandhi to advance his own political agenda in order to gain a spotlight in the national politics to fulfill his dream of becoming the Prime Minister of India one day.
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Novavax Inc. said Tuesday a late-stage trial of its vaccine targeting the COVID variant omicron supports its continued and future use as a booster. The company said the Phase 3 trial met its main strain-change endpoint. "The data demonstrate that the BA.1 vaccine candidate neutralizing responses in those not previously exposed to COVID-19 were greater than those of the prototype vaccine (NVX-CoV2373), enabling a shift to a new variant vaccine, if necessary," the company said in a statement. The
G-7 countries seek Iran's help to stabilize Middle East

04/12/17

Source: Tehran Times

The Group of Seven foreign ministers who met in the Italian city of Lucca on Tuesday urged Iran to help end the conflicts in the Middle politically, IRNA reported. In their final statement, the foreign minister also requested Iran's help to fight terrorism in the region.







"We want Iran to play a constructive role in the region through support for political solutions, reconciliation and peace in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and other regions....and cooperation in the campaign against the spread of terrorism and extremism," part of the statement said, according to a translation of the statement posted on the IRNA Persian website.



Also on Monday Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano discussed the situation in Syria in a telephone phone call with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.



Italy's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that Zarif repeated Tehran's condemnation of the "unacceptable use of chemical weapons" in a Syrian town last week.



The statement said Alfano urged Iran to use its influence with the Syrian government "to avoid new attacks, completely eliminate chemical weapons and assure a cease-fire."



According to Italy's ministry, the two men agreed to continue their conversation with "a common goal of preventing an escalation of violence" and re-launching a political process for stabilizing Syria.



EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida participated at the G-7 conference.

Seven industrialized nations back Iran's nuclear deal

The G-7 also threw its back behind the international nuclear deal between Iran and great powers, which includes the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union.



The members also said they back the International Atomic Energy Agency in its monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities.



According to the nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran must roll back its nuclear program in return for termination of economic and financial sanctions. The IAEA is tasked to monitor the implementation of the deal.



The statement also said the UN resolution 2231, which bans the shipment of arms, should be fully implemented.



The resolution endorsed the nuclear deal between Iran and 5+1 group.
If a low-cost Microsoft Surface with a cloud-based Windows operating system sounds a lot like a Chromebook, thats probably no coincidence. Windows PCs have lost ground in the U.S. education market to Googles browser-based laptops. As Microsoft sends out invitations for a May 2 event in New York, rumors suggest the company will announce a Surface for schoolsamong other things.

Microsofts invitation to the event included the hashtag #MicrosoftEDU, framing the announcement within the context of the classroom. Microsoft is expected to weave together several announcements: a new Surface device, a new, managed Windows Cloud operating system, and probably a look ahead to the next major Windows update, dubbed Redstone 3. Other possibilities include a quiet refresh of the Surface Pro 4 with a new 7th-generation Kaby Lake chip, as well as an intriguing but unsubstantiated rumor that some form of Windows Cloud could replace Windows Mobile.

Why this matters: Microsoft has repeatedly struggled to compete with Chromebooks. Little more than a year ago, for example, Acer, JP.IK, Lenovo all launched rugged clamshell PCs featuring spillproof keyboards, with prices beginning at $199. Microsoft launched Intune for Education, a version of its Intune management application that was supposed to make managing 30 or so PCs per classroom a snap. Apparently, it didnt help: Chromebook momentum is still climbing, according to Jay Chou, who tracks PC sales for IDC.

Lenovo Lenovos ThinkPad 11e Chromebook. Microsoft wants to get hardware makers to start thinking of Windows instead.

The target: Classroom Chromebooks

Since bursting onto the scene in 2011, the Chromebook has excelled in academia, displacing Apples Macs and iPads, as well as Windows PCs. According to IDC, 7.5 million Chromebooks were sold into the U.S. education (K-12) market during 2016, versus 2 million Windows PCs. Microsoft must chip away at Chromebooks heftier share before Windows PCs drop out of school altogether.

First, though, Microsoft has to convince technology purchasers at individual school districts that Windows machines are a stronger value. It could be a tough assignment.

Chromebooks are successful in education for three key reasons, Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder said in an email. First, a great deal of educational software is now delivered over the web, which satisfies the precondition for using a web-based OS. Second, pricefrom a total cost of ownership perspective, which includes the device but also the manageabilityhas tended to come in lower for most schools. Third (and related), they are secure and manageable: As nearly zero-state devices, its easy to pass a Chromebook from student to student without security issues. And they are far easier to manage and deploy than existing Windows PC management tools.

Microsoft Microsofts Intune for Education attempted to overcome the limitations of Windows and attack Chromebooks.

Windows PCs do offer some advantages, however, according to IDCs Chou. The saving grace for Microsoft right now is that Chromebooks are having trouble at anything outside English-speaking markets right now, he said. They have good traction in the U.S. and Canada, and nothing much more beyond that.

The solution: a cheap, managed Surface?

Its unclear what kids themselves prefer (one source, cited by TechRepublic in 2014, said kids preferred using laptop keyboards versus tablets), which is why some believe a Surface for school could actually be a rugged clamshell. That seems likely if only because the Surfaces existing kickstand doesnt stand a chance against an excitedly flailing third-grader. Detachable keyboards can get lost, too. If Microsoft does release a Surface two-in-one, Id expect it to have rubber bumpers, at the very least.

Rob Schultz Its unlikely this Surface 3 could survive with kids in a classroom.

Expect to see Windows Ink front and center. Microsofts said previously that its inking capabilities are a key advantage over Chromebooks. Most Chromebooks, anyway: Note that Samsungs recently announced Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro have pen capabilities, though more primitive than those found in Windows 10.

Finally, theres Windows Cloud. First discovered earlier this year, Cloud locks down the operating system to just UWP apps that can be downloaded from the Windows Storegreat for administrators who want total control over what students can do on their PCs. Oddly, Cloud was later discovered to have an upgrade path to Windows 10 Pro, though that could be eliminated if it powers an education machine. A Windows Cloud-powered Surface clamshell or tablet with links to a managed version of the Windows Store seems likely.

Heres a quick rundown of other rumors around this event:

A Surface Pro refresh built around Intels Kaby Lake chip is still expected at some point, but the scuttlebutt seems to be turning away from a launch at the May event. A more likely venue for a Surface Pro announcement might be Microsofts Build developer conference, starting just days later in Seattle.

Though Microsofts Windows Mobile champion Joe Belfiore recently resurfaced from a nine-month sabbatical, theres no buzz on a Surface Phone.

Windows Mobile is apparently alive, if not well. We continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile and support Lumia phones such as the Lumia 650, Lumia 950, and Lumia 950 XL, and phones from OEM partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and VAIO, a Microsoft spokesman said recently.

Could Windows Cloud replace Windows 10 Mobile? Probably not, but its an enticing thought if the rumored Surface Phone ends up being a foldable device.

Windows Central also brings word that Windows is revealing more about the Cortana-powered speaker that was announced last year. Device setup features are being baked into Windows. Could Microsoft show off the first Cortana-powered devices in May?

Microsoft is also expected to show off some of the features of its upcoming Redstone 3 release, which includes the My People feature and other improvements that fell through the cracks of the Windows 10 Creators Update. (More mixed reality? Lets hope so.)

Whatever happens, well be onsite at both events to bring you the full report.

This story was updated at 10:36 AM with additional details. This story was corrected on April 24 with the correct date.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has reiterated its total commitment towards ensuring that its operations are defined by the core values of transparency and integrity.



Advisor to the Bank, Catherine Ashley, said it would continue to be guided by these values in every decision it took and whatever it did.



She was speaking at a days sensitization forum held in Kumasi to provide the opportunity to aid people to know more about the commemorative GH5 notes, currently in circulation.



This brought together representatives from the various commercial banks doing business in the Ashanti Region and selected journalists.



It formed part of a nationwide programme launched by the Central Bank to educate the public on the distinct security features of the banknote.



Officials from the Currency Management and Communications Departments of the Bank had already been to Sunyani and Tamale for the purpose.



Ms. Ashley repeated that the commemorative note was not going to replace the existing five cedi note but one-off - collectors item.



She, therefore, encouraged everybody to take good care of the note and to preserve it, telling them that, they could make a fortune from its sale in the future.



She delinked the government from the decision to print it, stating that, it took a minimum of one year to print the currency.



This was not something that could be done in three months because it involved a lot of security, she added.

Again, the Bank opted to print the commemorative note purely on the basis of the cost-effectiveness  it was cheaper to do a note than to mint a gold or silver coin.



Mr Dominic Owusu of the Currency Management Department took the people through the enhanced security features of the new note and ranked the currency among the best in the world.



Its special features include a security thread - when tilted, the black star motif is seen making an up and down pulsing motion, watermark showing the portrait of Dr Kwegyir Aggrey, which is also visible from both sides when the banknote is view towards the light, tactile marks to assist the visually impaired and optically variable ink.

Source: The Finder









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

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Ghana is the fourth best place to invest in Africa, according to a report by RMB Global Markets Research.



According to the report, Ghana beat countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cote d Ivoire and Algeria as it placed among the top 10 countries on the continent.



The West African oil producing nation also ranked fourth as the country to have attracted the highest amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2015 beating only Morocco in the top five recipients of FDIs.



The findings was made known by a researcher at RMB Global Markets Research, Ms Celeste Fouconnier during the 2nd edition of the Economic Business Breakfast meeting hosted by the First National Bank in Accra last Thursday.



According to her, in as much as the outcome of the research may sound unrealistic to some Ghanaians, it must be noted that Ghana is still enjoying a lot of goodwill among investors out there.



This is what the country has to leverage to be able to fix the challenges to position itself to attract more FDIs to help accelerate growth of the economy, she said.



Ms Fouconnier added that during the period under review, Africa as a whole attracted $54 billion in FDIs, representing a 3.1 per cent of the world total FDIs.



According to the report, Accra also beat cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Addis Ababa, Luanda, Kigali among others to rank as the number one for the African Economic Growth hotspots.







Source: Daily Guide









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

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Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, has revealed that government, in collaboration with development partners, is developing a national Financial Inclusion Strategy aimed at increasing access to formal financial services for adult population from the current 58% to 75% by 2023.



She said giving the diverse nature of financial services; the strategy will focus on highly excluded groups, including rural residents, women youth and the poorest quartile of the population.



The minister said this at the 4th National Life Insurance Conference held in Accra yesterday.



According to the minister, the financial inclusion strategy will serve as the driver to the development of an ecosystem of financial service providers and the use of technology- driven channel that will serve consumers better.



Service delivery, according to the minister, remained a critical challenge in the insurance industry, and she was hopeful that customer service and claims management were important issues to be discussed at the conference.



I must commend the National Insurance Commission for the numerous interventions implemented to sanitise the insurance sector. The New Risk Solvency framework requires that insurance and reinsurance companies maintain a minimum capital of Gh15.00 and GHS40.00 million cedis respectively, she said.



It is my desire to see this Bill passed into law soon to deepen the regulations and supervision of the insurance industry, she added.



The minister noted that insurance continues to play a pivotal role in the development agenda of the country worldwide.



She indicated that it serves as a source of refuge in times of disaster and a tool for wealth creation for financial growth of the citizens; adding that as a financial service, the importance of insurance was intangible.



The essence of good governance, she explained, is to provide the enabling environment for the private sector to operate effectively and sufficiently for the common good of the nation.



She said government was willing to support this important sector to make insurance a critical part of national development.





Source: Today









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

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The current investigation into the AMERI deal has raised serious conflict of interest issues.



Media reports alleged that AMERI paid for the hotel and air tickets of the committee members to Dubai to aid the Philip Addison committees investigation.



This has led to people, especially the NDC, to question the credibility of the report issued by the Addison committee.



While the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) welcomes the public debate that has

ensued following the revelation, it is however recommending that investigations into the Philip Addison Committee should lead to the "prescription and adoption of guidelines by which public office holders, institutions, and investigative committees would be held to. As part of remedial measures, the state must be required at all times, to make funding available to sponsor activities of committees set up to investigate cases of corruption, as in the case of AMERI, to prevent creating avenues for possible bribery which leads to loss of credibility of the committees reports. If the government cannot ensure adequate funding is available to sponsor investigations, then they shouldnt set committees up in the first place."



Below is the statement:



AMERIS FINANCING OF INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEES WORK EXPOSES DEEP-SEATED CONFLICT OF INTEREST CULTURE



Hon. Mustapha Hamids admission that AMERI funded the Addison Committees trip to Dubai

as part of investigations into the AMERI deal has raised serious conflict of interest issues.



Media reports alleged that AMERI paid for the hotel and air tickets of the committee members to Dubai to aid the Addison committees investigation. This situation has led to people, especially the NDC to question the credibility of the report issued by the committee.



According to Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the Former Minister Of Power under whom the agreement was signed, AMERIs sponsorship of the Committee compromises the integrity of Philip Addison and his committee to conduct any investigation whatsoever into the deal.



While the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) welcomes the public debate that has

ensued following the revelation, it wishes to point out that, it has unfortunately become the norm, rather than the exception in Ghana for state official and entities to place themselves in positions of conflicting interests.



In 2015 before the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between state-owned distributor, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines And Energy, who were responsible for ensuring due diligence before the contract was signed by the government, and who was saddled with responsibility for ratifying the transaction were sponsored on a trip to Turkey by the very company (Karpowership) that the agreement was to be signed with.



Karpowership paid their airfares, hotel expenses and per diems.



There have also been several cases of government officials who are supposed to have oversight responsibilities over companies and institutions being sponsored by these same companies on trips abroad, serving on boards of these companies or involved with the company for personal gains.



The trend is indeed worrying, as it constitutes a huge impediment to the fight against corruption.



It also constitutes a big blow to the integrity of the personnel and institutions involved, as well as the credibility of their work.



CSPOG recalls that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)embarked on a mission to develop conflict of interest guidelines for public office holders during

the reign of President Kufuor, but wonders what became of the exercise.



Now that CHRAJ is being called upon by the NDC to investigate the Philip Addison Committee,

CSPOG takes the opportunity to urge that, any such investigation must lead to the prescription

and adoption of guidelines by which public office holders, institutions, and investigative

committees would be held to.



As part of remedial measures, the state must be required at all times, to make funding available to sponsor activities of committees set up to investigate cases of corruption, as in the case of AMERI, to prevent creating avenues for possible bribery which leads to loss of credibility of the committees reports.



If the government cannot ensure adequate funding is available to sponsor investigations, then they shouldnt set committees up in the first

place.





Signed





Dr Steve Manteaw

(Chairman, CSPOG)





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has sacked 22 of its students who hacked into the schools computer system to manipulate their results.



A notice of dismissal from the university said it took the decision after meeting on the issue at an emergency meeting on Wednesday, 15th February, 2017 by the Academic Board.



The affected students are to leave with school campus with immediate effect.



UPSA said the dismissed students were found culpable of involvement in various acts to undermine the universitys student information system in order to manipulate various grades in their favour.



The Academic Board took a serious view of this conduct considering the potential it has to damage the credibility of the University, and, therefore, further resolved that seven of the dismissed students who refused to cooperate with the investigation process should have their photographs published alongside their names to serve as deterrence.



All the twenty-two (22) are hereby requested to submit any property of the University including students ID card in their possession to the Registrar without any delay.



The decision of the University is without prejudice to any criminal investigation and prosecution being pursued by the law enforcement authorities, the dismissal notice said.

Source: Classfmonline









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People pass by a T-Mobile store in the Brooklyn borough of New York June 4, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By David Shepardson and Anjali Athavaley

NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) bid $8 billion and Dish Network Corp (DISH.O) $6.2 billion to win the bulk of broadcast airwaves spectrum for sale in a government auction, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday.

The two carriers accounted for most of the $19.8 billion in winning bids, the FCC said. Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) agreed to acquire $1.7 billion in spectrum, AT&T Inc (T.N) bid $910 million and investment firm Columbia Capital offered $1 billion.

The FCC said 175 broadcast stations were selling airwaves to 50 wireless and other telecommunications companies. Companies plan to use the spectrum to build new networks or improve existing coverage.

The spectrum auction's end is widely expected to kick off a wave of deal-making in the telecom industry. Until now, companies participating in the auction have been restrained by a quiet period, but that will end after April 27, when down payments are due from auction winners.

T-Mobile said its $8 billion winning bid would enable it "to compete in every single corner of he country." The company, controlled by Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGn.DE), said the investment will quadruple its low-band holdings.

Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Sprint Corp (S.N) opted not to bid.

What is most interesting to us was (Verizon) was nowhere to be found, Jennifer Fritzsche, an analyst at Wells Fargo, said in a research note, adding that "we continue to believe Verizons interests lay in the higher band spectrum assets."

Craig Moffett, an analyst at MoffettNathanson, said in an email that there were three surprises in the results: Comcast bought less than expected, Dish Network bought more, and Verizon bought nothing at all."

Dish shares fell 2.5 percent to close at $62.38. Comcast, Verizon and AT&T were down less than 1 percent at market close while T-Mobile rose marginally.

Moffett said Dishs spectrum spending underscored "the growing importance of the companys valuation as it relates to their spectrum holdings."

Story continues

Comcast sold spectrum from three of its NBCUniversal owned stations in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago for $481.6 million.

The FCC also announced new channel assignments for 957 non-winning stations that must change channels to clear the new wireless airwaves for use.

Of the $19.8 billion bid, more than $7 billion will go to reduce the U.S. deficit and $10.05 billion to broadcasters relinquishing spectrum. Up to $1.75 billion will go to broadcasters that incur costs in changing channels.

Sellers had initially sought $86.4 billion for 126 megahertz. Many analysts had expected broadcasters to earn more and sell more spectrum.

(Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Tom Brown)
The head pastor and founder of Blessing of Christ Ministry at Gyasikrom near Enchi in the Western Region, Isaac Twumasi and three other suspected armed robbers have been arrested by the police.



The police have however mounted a search for three others, who are on the run.



They have been named as Andrews Boama, Joe Joe and Peter Adu.



Those arrested in addition to Pastor Twumasi are Augustine Kwame, 20, an illegal miner (galamsey), Kofi Abanga, 24, a farmer and Samuel Atongo, 22, also an illegal miner (galamsey).



The suspects led the police to their various homes where the photographs of Andrews, whose is one of the three on the run were retrieved.



The gang of seven robbers who had laid ambush mistook a police night patrol vehicle for that of some Chinese gold miners, who were supposed to be conveying money on the route.



They reportedly engaged the police in a gun battle that led to the death of one of the suspected robbers at dawn on Monday April 10, 2017.



The seven member gang, armed with pump-action guns mistook the police unbranded white patrol vehicle to be that of the Chinese miners.



The miners were said to be returning from the bank in their preparation to vacate their operations as the war on illegal mining activities intensifies in the country.



The police told Graphic Online that the pastor was not at the scene of the incident but their investigations led to his arrest.



The police said, after the exchange of gunfire, they were able to arrest two, Augustine Kwame 20 an illegal miner (galamsey) and Kofi Abanga, 24, a farmer.



The two led the police to the village where Samuel Atongo, 22, an illegal miner (galamsey) was arrested along with Pastor Twumasi.



Atongo sustained gunshot wounds when the police arrived, Pastor Twumasi was nursing his wounds.



When contacted, the Enchi District Police Commander, Superintendent Raymond Kofi Erzuah said those arrested confessed that they assumed the police vehicle was one of the leaders of Chinese miners who was supposed to be returning from the bank with money at about the same time the police got there to pay their workers, therefore they decided to launch the attack.



He said after the arrest, the other three who are currently at large retreated but managed to carried their comrade Samuel Atongo with gunshot wound on the face to a village called Gyasikrom near Enchi, where Pastor Isaac Twumasi had prepare herbal concoction awaiting his arrival for treatment.



He said with the assistance of Sewuam Custom officers in Enchi and neighborhood watch committee members, who led the police to the church to arrest the pastor who was busy attending to the wounded Atongo.

Source: Daily Graphic









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

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has scheduled a meeting with former presidents of the republic on Tuesday 18 April.



Mr Akufo-Addo is expected to tap into the knowledge and experience of former President Jerry John Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor, and President John Dramani Mahama during discussions to aid in his administration.



The planned meeting with former presidents was disclosed by Mr Mahama at a meeting with his former appointees on 28 March.



Mr Mahama said when he gets the opportunity to meet Nana Akufo-Addo during the meeting, he would tell him to call the pro-government vigilante groups involved in the seizure of state vehicles to order and proceed with the retrieval of the vehicles in a civil manner.



Happily hes [Akufo-Addo] asked to meet ex-presidents  myself, President Kufuor and President Rawlings on the 18th  and if I go to that meeting Im going to tell him this cannot continue. This thuggery is not good for our country, he stated.



This will be the first time a sitting president is set to meet all former presidents in the country.

Source: Classfmonline









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The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Osei Assibey Antwi, has been inducted into office.



The programme, which was held in Kumasi on Thursday April 13, was attended by high profile personalities of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region.



Mr Antwi was appointed in March by President Nana Akufo-Addo and received an overwhelming endorsement by the assembly members.



The Assembly had to postpone its first committee meeting because of the delay in swearing in the KMA boss to begin work.



A Presiding Member of the assembly, Abraham Boadi, had expressed worry that the delay in the swearing-in of the KMA boss had stalled progress.



Information gathered by Class FMs regional correspondent, Owoahene Addai Mununkum, indicated that tension was building up between assembly members at KMA and the Ashanti Regional Minister.



According to the Presiding Members, they did not understand why Mr Antwi had not been inducted to begin work. Mr Boadi told Class News that the development in the metropolis had come to a standstill for over two years and further delays could not be tolerated.



Why cant we work? The others are working, Accra is working for the past four years, Cape Coast is working, so we need to speed up development in our metropolis, he lamented.



However, the induction of Mr Antwi is expected to put all disputes to rest.

Source: Classfmonline









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Russias Supreme Court has begun hearing a government request to outlaw the Jehovahs Witnesses and declare it an extremist organisation. The justice ministry has already placed its headquarters near St Petersburg on a list of extremist groups.

An estimated eight million people worldwide are part of the Christian-based movement, best known for going door to door looking for new converts. It has 175,000 members in Russia and 395 branches across the country. As the case began in Moscow on Wednesday, lawyers representing the movement submitted a counter suit, asking the High Court to declare its members victims of political repression and the justice ministrys action unlawful. The court ruled that this was not part of its jurisdiction, but did not say whose it was, Russias legal information agency reported.



The case was eventually adjourned until Thursday. The ministry argues that the Jehovahs Witnesses activities violate Russias law on combating extremism and their pamphlets incited hatred against other groups. Jehovahs Witnesses representative Yaroslav Sivulsky told the BBC that the movement had nothing to do with extremism and he complained that in every case the courts never really listened to their arguments. One pamphlet quoted the novelist Leo Tolstoy, describing the doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church as superstition and sorcery, according to BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford.

Russian struggle for Jehovahs Witnesses The group was founded in the US in the late 19th Century and during Joseph Stalins reign of terror in the Soviet Union it was outlawed and thousands of members were deported to Siberia. Other Christian groups were also persecuted. As the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a revival of Christianity in Russia and the ban on Jehovahs Witnesses was lifted in 1991.

Gradually attitudes towards the movement hardened and in 2004 a group was banned on charges of recruiting children and preventing believers from accepting medical assistance. Witnesses take most of the Bible literally and refuse blood transfusions. They are not seen by traditional Christian Churches as a mainstream denomination. In 2009 a report commissioned by prosecutors in southern Russia found that they undermined respect in other religions. Human rights group Sova has said that an official repressive campaign has been conducted against the movement for years and many of their members have been physically attacked.

Russias Supreme Court Begins High-Profile Case Against Jehovahs Witnesses - jw.org

NEW YORKToday, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation began consideration of a claim from the Ministry of Justice to liquidate the Administrative Center of Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia. The Court announced a recess, and the hearing will resume Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.



The Witnesses had filed a counterclaim with the Court on March 30, 2017, against the Ministry of Justice. Today, however, the counterclaim was dismissed by the Court prior to the recess of the hearing. The Court also refused to allow experts to testify about the basis for the claim of the Ministry of Justice and refused to allow those who witnessed the falsification of evidence against local religious organizations of Jehovahs Witnesses to testify.



The high-profile nature of the case is sparking coverage by international news outlets, including an article in Time magazine posted online on April 4 (Russian Supreme Court Considers Outlawing Jehovahs Witness Worship) and a front-page article in the print edition of The New York Times (Pacifist, Christian and Threatened by Russian Ban as Extremist) on April 5.



We certainly hope that Russias Supreme Court will uphold the rights of our fellow believers in Russia to freely carry out their peaceful worship, adds David A. Semonian, a spokesman at the Witnesses world headquarters in New York. Millions of people around the world will be watching carefully to see how the case progresses and if Russia acts to protect its own law-abiding citizens who are Jehovahs Witnesses.



Media Contacts:



International: David A. Semonian, Office of Public Information, +1-845-524-3000



Russia: Yaroslav Sivulskiy, +7-812-702-2691

Source: BBC









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There was a festival of prayers in Starbow flight S9103 that was en route to Accra from Kumasi. The flight is reported to have been hovering mid-air for close to one hour, causing some passengers to raise their voices in prayers.



The captain of the flight is said to have returned to the Kumasi Airport where he landed safely.



Management of the airline has explained in a statement Monday that the pilot was faced with bad weather.



...The captain decided to return to Kumasi as a safety precautionary measure and all the passengers were disembarked safely without any incident and the flight was not in any danger at all.



Watch the video below:-

Source: JFM Ghana









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Government will today April 13, 2017 at the Art Centre in Accra by authorities of the Centre for National Culture for the construction of an ultra modern structure.



The sod cutting is believed to be part of plans to relocate traders to the Kawukudi park as stated early this year.



The matter therefore triggered a lot of emotions as traders who could not hide their disappointment said they have been betrayed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration for not fulfilling its promise.



Speaking an Accra-based radio station, the Chairman of the Kente Section at the Centre, Mr. Charles Kofi Appiah said he was only informed on Wednesday morning about the sod cutting and therefore quickly informed his people about it.



He indicated that the message did not go down well with his members as most of them shouted in shock and expressed various looks of disappointment.



Expressing worry about the exercise, Mr. Kofi Appiah said the Art Centre currently has over a 1,000 traders at the Kente section and a relocation will collapse a lot of businesses.



He further indicated that there are more than 500 traders at the centre who deal in other crafts and added that the matter if not well handled can cause a lot of problems.



Some traders expressed regret voting for the NPP government adding that we have been betrayed by the NPP.



It would be recalled that Traders at the Art Centre in Accra last February expressed their displeasure about plans by the incoming minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku to relocate the area to Kawukudi.



According to them, they voted against the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) government because it had hinted of ejecting them from their current place.



Nana Addo during his campaign visits promised he was going to refurbish the place and make it more attractive to tourists but the latest plan is averse to the earlier agreement. We will be disappointed if he allows his minister to go ahead to implement this plan, a leader of the traders stated.



The Minister for Toursim, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku, during her vetting revealed that as parts of plans to make Ghana a tourism destination hub in Africa, plans were far advanced to relocate the famous Arts Center to Kawukudi.



This initiative which forms part of the Single Automation Platform, she noted, will enable the country to have a modern arts village that will rival that in Kenya and Senegal.



This will have a bigger space and wider market reach to promote our unique textiles Kente Family  thus Agotime, Kpetie and Bonwire Kente, and smock from the Northern Region.



Commenting further, she said the project will offer an opportunity to work with the Handicraft Association to promote locally made goods in the country.



That aside, there will be the opportunity to create an online platform for them to sell their goods and create opportunities for the people.

Source: mynewsgh.com









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

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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has unveiled a new patients waiting area, emergency unit and X-Ray scan unit for the Iran Clinic in Accra.



According to Dr Bawumia, who was speaking at the event held on Thursday, April 13, 2017, good health is the greatest ingredient of life, and the provision of health infrastructure plays a key part in ensuring quality healthcare.



He explained that the Iran Clinic, under the auspices of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, has been providing affordable healthcare services over the years to thousands of Ghanaians and commended them for such a great humanitarian cause.



Dr Bawumia used the occasion to thank the Iranian Red Crescent Society for their support in the construction of a new headquarters for the Ghana Red Cross Society.









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has descended heavily on the Nana Akufo-Addo administration for the recent acts of "thuggery" the current administration unleashed on members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in their bid to "retrieve" government property.



He prefers the Akufo-Addo administration, finds a more "civilised" way of retrieving state assets, especially vehicles from former government officials; if indeed there are any such vehicles in their possession.



Meeting with former Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State, former appointees and Presidential staffers on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in Accra, Mr Mahama stressed that he would "speak his mind" to President Akufo-Addo when he gets the opportunity to meet him sometime this month.



According to him, the thuggery and raiding of people's residences should not be encouraged because it leaves a sour taste in the mouth of well-meaning Ghanaians, aside setting a bad precedent for the country.



He believed should this trend continue, successive governments would find it difficult to restrain their party supporters.



"So, the government is telling me they can't find a more efficient manner of looking for vehicles than forming storm troops to raid people's houses. And I think that it's wrong. I'm going to have the opportunity to tell Nana Addo that I mean he should stop this," he said.



He revealed that the President has invited him and former Presidents John Agyekum Kufour and Jerry John Rawlings to a private meeting.



He promised to utilize the opportunity to table his concerns before the President.



"If I go to that meeting, I'm going to tell him that this cannot continue. This thuggery is not good for our country. And the point is we thought we had had a good transition but it sets examples that make it difficult in future when there's another transition for another government to be able to restrain party supporters. Because all this thuggery, removing people from offices, beating them and things is unfortunate and so we must say it in the strongest terms", he stressed.



Watch video of the meeting below:





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Ex-President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed accusations he surrounded himself with babies with sharp teeth, who had no experience in governance during his tenure.



He refuted the claims, stressing that all his appointees were 40 years and above and so cannot fall under the category of "young people".



The former President was utterly displeased with such notion of Ghanaians and some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who claim the so-called young people were part of the reasons the party lost the 2016 elections.



"Some say young people surrounded so-so and so. I mean just say I don't like the people, not that they're young because all those people you're referring to are above 40 years. How you can call a 40-year old man with a wife and children a young man surrounding the President. I cannot understand", he stated.



Mr. Mahama made this known during his interaction with former Ministerial appointees and Presidential Staffers on Tuesday, March 28, in Accra.



Speaking on the defeat of the NDC, he asked the party leadership, members and supporters to stop blaming their loss on his appointees.



"Our party has always given opportunity to young people. That is what we are. And so if we lose, we cannot blame young people for our loss. And the point is that the demographic of Ghana is shifting in favour of young people - 35 and below - 60% of our population. So, if you want to appoint appointees, where are you going to get them from? And you need those young people to gain experience to become what you consider the older and experienced people. And so, I think we should stop chasing the wind. This is the time to stand together".





Watch video below:





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is warning of real danger if violent attacks by NPP-linked vigilante groups are not brought to an end.



The party at a news conference in Accra said operations of Invincible and Delta Forces are similar to how Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram, started.



NDC National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy, said the impunity with which the two groups conduct their activities has dented the image of the country.



He warned, The real danger in not dealing swiftly and ruthlessly with insipid domestic political terrorism is that it can easily grow uncontrollably into armed terrorism of international proportion.



There were pockets of attacks on some state institutions and individuals after the NPP was declared winners of the 2016 general elections. Groups linked to the NPP were largely responsible for the attacks.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo The Invincible Forces massed up at the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the guise of protecting it from officials of the past government. Another group, Delta Force, also stormed the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to assault the newly appointed Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei.



Members of the group had argued Mr Agyei played no role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power. They appealed to the President to appoint their leader who was instrumental in the partys 2016 campaign.



There was public outrage following the attack and subsequently, 21 members of the group were arrested. They were arraigned before a Kumasi Circuit court, but out of the 21 only 13 people turned up for the hearing.



Minutes after the Presiding judge had directed the men to be remanded, some Delta Force members numbering 50 stormed the place to free the 13. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, had said the 13 fled through the backdoor reserved for the judge. The 13 men turned themselves in and have been granted bail in the sum of GHC10,000 with two sureties each.



They also pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping lawful custody and were sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units and a bond of good behaviour.



Some of the 13 Delta Force escapees at the court The President after a retreat at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi said the conduct of Delta Force had no place in the law-governed country that he was determined to build.



He cautioned Ghanaians against taking the law into their hands, warning perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with due process.



But the NDC said rather than sounding a loud warning to members of the two groups, the President chose to cynically pontificate.



"As a lawyer, President Akufo-Addo is an officer of the court and should, therefore, be concerned when the court is physically attacked and the Presiding judge threatened, but President Akufo-Addo doesn't seem to care," Mr Portuphy said.



He described the court's judgment on the unlawful escape from custody of the 13 as "shambolic and theatrical," and that it will have grave ramifications for law and order in the country.

Source: myjoyonline.com









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

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* U.S. VP Pence visits Indonesia next week on Asian tour

* Spats with Google, Freeport, JP Morgan weigh on relations

* Indonesia questions Trump policies on immigration, trade

By Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy

JAKARTA, April 13 (Reuters) - Washington has billed Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Indonesia next week as a booster for the Strategic Partnership between the world's second- and third-largest democracies, but a raft of bilateral tensions could sap the goodwill from his trip.

Pence's counterpart in the world's most populous Muslim country has voiced worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which critics say is biased against Muslims, and about his "America First" mantra on trade and investment.

"We in Indonesia never change. The change is there. That's why we're asking them now, 'what is your policy now on the economy, on democracy, now that Trump is in power?'," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told Reuters on March 31.

"What does it mean, 'America first'? I can say, too, 'Indonesia first' if you say 'America first'."

Indonesia is one of 16 countries against which the United States runs a trade deficit that will be investigated by the Trump administration for possible trade abuses.

Trump's combative approach will not sit easily with Indonesia, where economic nationalism and protectionist tendencies have flourished since a slump in commodity prices in recent years slammed the brakes on economic growth.

"Unfortunately I do see a hardening of attitudes on our side," said a senior Indonesian government official, who declined to be named. "And it's of particular concern because we're on that list of 16 countries ... that are going to be investigated."

The official said a tougher stand by Indonesian authorities had also contributed to a series of disputes with U.S. companies, including Alphabet Inc's Google, miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc and financial services giant JP Morgan Chase & Co.

A SERIES OF FACE-OFFS

Story continues

Indonesia has duelled with Google over back taxes and fines running into hundreds of millions of dollars, and with Freeport in a contract row that has crippled operations at the world's second-largest copper mine, Grasberg.

It also dropped JP Morgan as a primary bond dealer after the bank's research analysts issued a negative report on the country in November.

"It's a very unfortunate series of issues which all happen to be American," said the official, who expects them to come up in private during Pence's visit. Indonesia is the third stop on an April 15-25 tour that includes South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Google declined to comment for this report, and JPMorgan did not respond to a request for comment.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said: "This visit is happening entirely independent of our current negotiations with the government of Indonesia."

However, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, Freeport's third-biggest shareholder and now a special adviser to Trump, has described Jakarta's tactics over the mining contract as "disingenuous and insulting", according to the New York Times.

Another potential irritant is biodiesel.

The U.S. National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a producer group, has petitioned the U.S. government to impose anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina, claiming they have flooded the U.S. market.

"This is one of the issues that we have asked the trade ministry to bring to the meeting (with Pence)," Paulus Tjakrawan, a director at the Indonesia Biofuel Producers Association, told Reuters.

"Our hope is for the government to be firm ... Otherwise we will be taken advantage of," he said. "Not to act like thugs but, for example, if they put barriers to our exports, why not stop importing some of their goods?"

Despite the strains, the government official said Indonesia would be careful to start its relationship with the Trump administration on the right foot.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approach to foreign policy has been led more by economic interests than geopolitical considerations: he has pursued increased trade and investment from China but keeps a diplomatic distance from Beijing and established a strategic partnership with Washington under former President Barack Obama.

U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R. Donovan Jr, said in a statement last week that Pence's visit reflected a continued commitment to that partnership, would deepen economic engagement and boost regional security cooperation.

"The U.S. embassy here certainly is going to great lengths to make the visit a success," said the Indonesian official. "My impression is he's (Pence) not going to ruffle feathers in public, he's not going to cause a ruckus." (Additional reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fergus Jensen; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
The Action Movement, a group affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of causing the partys defeat in the 2016 general elections.



The group, described the former President as a weak leader who surrounded himself with sycophant appointees who had no respect for elders and other members of the party.



Addressing the press in Accra Wednesday, Spokesperson for the group, Mr. Kodzo Hamenya Keglo explained how Mahamas appointees, instead of pushing for the interest of the party had their personal interests at heart.



According to him, the leaders at the top ignored the complaints and grievances of party members.



JM appointees disrespected our elders and the grassroots and as a result, our punishment in the 2016 elections. We are telling Ghanaians that JM is the cause of our defeat, Mr. Keglo said. Mr. Keglo cited a former Chief of Staff, Valerie Sawyerr, Stan Dogbey, Dr. Opuni, Kofi Adams, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and Dr. Omane Boamah as leaders whose efforts drove the NDC to its current status (opposition).



He said, the aforementioned and others were power drunk, thus made the party unappealing to the ordinary people the party was founded for, and because the people were not benefiting there was no way they could vote for them again.



Since 2014, the NDC power has only been for only few top members of the party; Stan Dogbey, Dr. Opuni, Kofi Adams, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Dr. Omane Boamah and many others. We dont need them anymore because theyre not helping our grassroots, he revealed.



Mr. Keglo lamented how Valerie Sawyerr who was able to call hard working members of the party chicken thieves, kamkpe, among others could be an advisor to their President. He added, If these people remain in our party and behave the way they are doing, theres no way we can think about 2020. 



Were only wondering that if Valerie, a former Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor in the last two administrations can say all these things about our members, party executives who organized the electorates, guide them to vote for the party, protected ballot boxes, follow the boxes to collation centers and gain history for the likes of Valerie to be appointed then its clear what advise she gave to JM administration, he quizzed.



video below-

Source: ghanaweb.com









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

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The twenty five newly sworn in deputy ministers have pledged to work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in them by president Akufo-Addo.



Speaking Wednesday on behalf of his colleagues after they were sworn in, deputy Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said they were aware of the criticism that greeted their appointment and that they would do everything in their capacity to vindicate the presidents decision.



He said: On behalf of my colleagues; the newly sworn in deputy ministers, I express our profound gratitude to Mr. President for the honour and privilege of appointing us to serve in his government. It is indeed an honour to be identified from these large pool of talent available to assist the honourable ministers in the performance of their functions and for the efficient running of the state.



He added We have sworn the various oaths as required by the constitution and beyond that we commit ourselves to work diligently and faithfully to justify the confidence and honour reposed in us.



Mr. President as you have required of us, we will work with loyalty to our superiors and to the state. We will work with honesty and competence to provide public service and not to our personal gain.



For those who are members of parliament, we will be minded by the twin responsibilities of that you have reminded us of this morning. We are cognizance of the criticisms that is associated to our appointments and Mr. President we will work to vindicate your decision.



In all, 25 deputy ministers were sworn in. They include deputies of the following ministries: Finance, Energy, Local Government and Rural Development; Information, Food and Agriculture as well as Trade and Industry. They were sworn in at the Flagstaff House on Wednesday 12 April.



The others include Roads and Highways, Lands and Natural Resources, Works and Housing and Education.



Speaking after the swearing in ceremony, Akufo-Addo urged the deputy ministers to work to shame their critics, saying he would not countenance any acts of sabotage.



I will not countenance any acts of disloyalty or subversion of your Minister, for I will take such an act as disloyalty to me, and, by inference, disloyalty to the Party and the State. Any deputy who thinks the route to advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your Minister, will be sadly mistaken. You will not profit from that conduct in Akufo-Addos presidency.













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It was a momentous time for Ghanaian rapper Flowkingstone when he won his first ever individual at the Ghana Music Awards last week.



The Kumasi-based rapper of the Bradez fame took home the Hip-life Song of the Year at the 18th edition of the Ghana Music Awards with his Go Low song which received massive airplay and reviews.



After winning the award, Flowkingstone was spotted at the Ciroc Party Grill at the Pent to celebrate and thank his fans for supporting him to win the award.



The party which was headlined by Nigerian music star Bank W took place at the plush Carbon Lounge, Airport City and when Flowkingstone got hold of the mic he called out Bank W, Ciroc Brand Ambassador for Nigeria, to do some acapella of their respective songs to the yeaning party revelers.



The Grill at the Pent is a series of premium parties organized by Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka, the worlds fastest growing luxury vodka and a product of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Do you ever read one of these jobs articles and wish that we, PEDESTRIAN.TV, had a sweet gig going? Well, its your lucky day, folks. Weve got an absolute dreamboat of a gig on offer  were after an almighty Travel Writer (SYD) to join our sweet, Surry Hills HQ. As Travel Writer, youll need to be the sort who loves getting amongst travel ~experiences~, as well as be a witty wordsmith. Youll need to have a cracker sense of humour, be a dabbler in video (editing and shooting) and not be afraid to jump in front of the camera. If you have a tendency to get around (the globe), have your finger on the pulse and froth on a fast paced vibe, get crafting and shoot through that swanky cover letter thats been gathering dust on ya desktop. You got this.

Doughnut Time

is one of the fastest growing brand in hospitality across Eastern Australia. DT work relentlessly to deliver the most delicious hand-made doughnuts to cities around the country, including ya more conventional flavours like the OG, eccentric sorts such as the maple-bacon and even signature shakes. The team at Doughnut Time are looking for a part-time HR Officer (BRIS) to join the drool worthy cause that is nutella-freaking-filled doughnuts. As HR Officer, youll be working across multiple brands including DT, Mister Fitz, Chester Street Bakery, Les Bubbles + Alfred & Constance. Youll have a minimum of 3 years experience under your belt, and have dabbled in one of the above industries. Youll need to have a solid understanding of HR and OH&S and be familiar with regulations governed by Fair Work Aus. If youre comfortable taking care of HR matters on the reg, you froth on all sorts of food (not just doughnuts) and this sounds like your dream stint  shoot your CV through now.

G Adventures is on of ze worlds greatest small-group adventures travel company. G Adventures goes by a work hard/play hard philosophy and is dedicated to showing people the globe. An opportunity has arisen for a Consumer Marketing Executive (MELB) to jump on board. As Consumer Marketing Executive youll be responsible for offline media, direct marketing activity and assisting with the overall direct marketing strategy. Youll be building partnerships and branding opportunities, as well as all print and collateral production in region. If youre looking to join a tight-knit team of creative specialists/travelers, consider yourself an adventurous individual, and youre keen to delve deep into direct marketing land, get applying.

If youre sold on short n sweet sentences over paragraphs, plz see dream jobs below.

Keen on #mycalvins? PVH Brands is after a PR & Marketing Coordinator (SYD) to not only work across Calvin Klein, but other badass brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Pierre Cardin + more. Apply here.

Froth on fashion? Become an Account Manager for NAC Media Group here.

Consider yourself the coordinated sort? Become a Digital Marketing & Events Coordinator (SYD) for Shootsta here.

Got a way with words? Become a Copywriting & Advertising Coordinator (BRIS) for Employment Office here.

Dont let your dream job slip you by  Love your work!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and get yourself signed up to our Daily Job Alerts.
The Daily Mail has issued an apology to Melania Trump for an article last year that asserted shed worked as an escort in her early 1990s modelling days  or, as the Daily Mail put it, provided services beyond simply modelling.



The article  which ran 20th August 2016 with the headline Racy photos and troubling questions about his wifes past that could derail Trump  also suggested that she and The Donald had actually met three years before they actually did (at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998), and in fact staged their meeting as a ruse.

We accept that these allegations about Mrs Trump are not true and we retract and withdraw them, said the Daily Mail. We apologise to Mrs Trump for any distress that our publication caused her. To settle Mrs Trumps two lawsuits against us, we have agreed to pay her damages and costs.

While the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, the now FLOTUS had sought compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million (AU $199 million), according to the lawsuit.

Her lawyers argued that the report damaged her ability to make bank off her role as First Lady. According to the lawsuit:

Plaintiff had the the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model and brand spokesperson, and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. These product categories would have included, among other things, apparel, accessories, shoes, jewellery, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance.

Melanias lawyer John Kelly said the article was published as a two-page spread and accompanied by an old photo of her standing nude against a wall.

Readers of the newspaper that day could not fail to miss the article, he told the court, as reported by the Associated Press. The article included false and defamatory claims about the claimant which questioned the nature of her work as a professional model.

The suggestion that such allegations even merit investigation is deeply offensive and has caused a great deal of upset and distress to the claimant.

As part of the settlement, the Daily Mail was forced to publish the apology right on the homepage.

Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty.
Terrible news, everyone: Shane Warnes planned tea-spilling Warney Uncut tour has been postponed indefinitely, just weeks before it was due to start.

In an Instagram post this afternoon, Warney himself revealed that an overseas publishing company has bought the rights to his autobiography, and is pushing back the tour dates to coincide with its release.

To which we say: booo, Warney! You promised us your side of the story! You promised a real-life glimpse of that famous Advanced Hair! You promised us the world!

Alright, maybe not the world. But a bloody good yarn at least.

Everyone whos already bought a ticket will have the not-insubstantial fee refunded. I guess all we can do now is wait.

At least weve got good company in the Warney fan club: looks like the mayor of Melbourne is just as crushed as we are.

No! My life is on hold till Uncut Warney!! @ShaneWarne https://t.co/nNdL8uqAVQ  Robert Doyle (@LordMayorMelb) April 13, 2017

Source: Instagram.
The Tasmanian government has formally apologised to the LGBTQI community for the many years during which homosexuality was criminalised in the state.

Tassie was the last part of Australia to decriminalise consensual homosexual sex, in 1997. Its wild to think that if youre over 20 years old, youve lived in an Australia where people were still considered criminals due to their sexual orientation.

Acting Attorney General Matthew Groom apologised unreservedly for the pain the gay community had to endure during the years before the laws were repealed:

We are sorry. We hope those affected will accept our acknowledgement that those laws were wrong.

Premier Will Hodgman also said that the Government apologised to those directly affected in this way, to their family and loved ones.

In 2015, it was decided that the records of anyone convicted under the now-repealed laws that criminalised consensual sexual intercourse between males, indecent practices between males and sexual intercourse against the order of nature (wtf) will be wiped, meaning that theyll no longer have their lives affected by a criminal record. This has yet to actually take place, however.

According to Rodney Croome, a gay activist who was arrested under the discriminatory laws in 1997, Premier Hodgman is the first Liberal politician to offer an apology to the LGBTQI community.

3pm Thurs, Will Hodgman, will be 1st Liberal leader to offer apology for anti-gay criminal laws. All welcome to Tas Parl for historic event pic.twitter.com/xxL5O8UtSq  Rodney Croome (@RodneyCroome) April 12, 2017

Its about time.

Source: ABC.

Image: Simon McGill / Getty.
Do not be alarmed, folks. Everythings gonna be fine.

An outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in the Melbourne CBD is being contained and controlled by Department of Health and Human Services officials, after 5 people were hospitalised with cases of the illness.

At least eighty-nine water systems and three buildings are being disinfected following an investigation that incorporated the area of the city lying within a 500-metre radius of the corner of Little Bourke and Russell Streets. The units and buildings being decontaminated cover an area east of Elizabeth Street, right up to Spring Street on the CBDs fringe.

The five confirmed cases concerned men and women between the ages of 51 and 71, all of whom reported visiting or working in the city in the days immediately prior to them falling ill.

All five affected by the disease have successfully been treated by hospital staff with antibiotics, and are expected to recover fully.

Health officials asserted that the number of people affected by the illness in such a short space of time is unusual.

Legionnaires Disease is a rare form of pneumonia that is contracted by inhaling water droplets contaminated with the legionella bacteria. People over 50, heavy smokers, and people with chronic illnesses are considered most at-risk of contracting the disease.

DHHS officials have asserted that the Melbourne CBD is safe to enter, but urges anyone who has visited the Melbourne CBD between late March and early April who is now experiencing flu-like symptoms to consult with their GP.

See? Its fine. Everything is fine.

Source: Yahoo! News.

Photo: Media for Medical/Getty.
Lawyers for David Dao, the passenger dragged from a United Airlines plane in Chicago  resulting in footage that has caused outrage across the world  have filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court demanding that the airline preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

This likely means that Dao intends to launch further legal action against United and wants to ensure all evidence is preserved. Lawyers cited the fact that there would be serious prejudice against their client, and demanded that the airline preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz issued two apologies for the incident this week  one which placed the blame on Dao, then another later taking responsibility for the incident.

US politicians have been considering their own ways of addressing the crisis, with Democrat senator Chris Van Hollen announcing plans for the Customers Not Cargo Act  which would prohibit the forced removal of passengers who have already boarded an aircraft due to overbooking or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers.

Its definitely been a rough PR trip for the folks at United, with shares plummeting, widespread demands for a boycott of the number 3 airline in the United States, and a 125,000 signature petition for Munoz to step down as CEO.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo: Twitter.
Working in any capacity can be a tough gig. Managing stress levels from pressures to know your shit and perform well runs you down, its pretty standard.

Existing with a disability or chronic illness adds a whole other layer of management and self-care that fully-abled people will never quite understand.

But what if this disability or illness isnt visible to those around you? How much do you share with your boss and workmates? What happens when you need to take time to take care of yourself?

Its a very tricky thing to navigate, and its incredible the amount of people that wrestle both their work life and sometimes-challenging health. If you dont have to do this yourself, chances are there is at least one person at work who does.

PEDESTRIAN.TV spoke with a range of people with different invisible disabilities and chronic illnesses about how they manage their work, their life, and what they do to juggle the most demanding parts of their lives.

Emma works in the AFLs media department in Melbourne, and manages the high-stress, high-demand job with her ongoing health struggles.

On a day to day basis, shes working hard on footy broadcasting, websites, and clients whilst also juggling Menieres Disease (which affects her inner ears), IgA Nephritis (which affects her kidneys), Menorrhagia and Dysmenorrhea (chronic pain from her period), severe chronic back, neck, and knee pain, and arthritis forming in her joints. Shes 26.

On top of all of these physical things that affect her daily ability, Emma also manages her diagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Its an absolutely whopping amount of stuff to have on her plate, and she makes sure she takes time to take care of herself when needed.

My kidney issues are really touch and go, I just have to make sure my body stays healthy and pick up on any signals that I can feel will turn into an episode of the disease, which is similar to how I manage my Menieres. The days that I cant manage to get out of bed, I still make myself, because I feel horribly guilty about taking any days off work ever, even though I have such a supportive and understanding workplace.

Emma says that her work is aware of her chronic pain issues and has given her nothing but support and assistance for her physical wellbeing.

She tells us that her favourite trick for when shes not feeling her best is a good session of chick flicks with her friends, and copping some wisdom from her Dad on the phone.

Family is a big support base for Rory, who runs a hostel in Coffs Harbour with her dad, whilst also juggling her photography business, a two-year-old, chronic migraines, severe anxiety, and chronic pain from a traumatic accident in 2011.

I take a lot of pain killers, I use heat packs and mindfulness to try and get through the bad moments. I also have a very supportive partner who completely understands my condition because he is an accredited exercise physiologist, and he is the first person to pick up the slack when Im having a bad day.

Rory tells us that her pain medication is expensive and shitty on her body, but knows that she doesnt have any other options at the moment.

Her specialists have told her that shes too young for pain treatments that are considered quite invasive, but also that she shouldnt be taking medication for too long.

Unfortunately theres not much Rory can do to alleviate the pain beyond her medication and listening to her body when it tells her to slow down, but her favourite trick for a tough day includes a massage, a bath, and a really good doco.

Auto-immune diseases also fall under the umbrella of invisible struggles that a whole lot of folks deal with every day.

These diseases are pretty much the body fighting itself because it thinks that various things like cells and organs (totally normal things that should be there) are enemies, and routinely attack them.

Theyre exhausting, expensive, and typically invisible diseases, and theyre incredibly common  nearly one in 100 people have some kind of auto-immune disease.

For Alana, her body has been fighting itself since she was 13 (shes now 31), and her day to day life is spent managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Liver Disease.

She works as a full time writer and has had workmates not realise how badly she can fall ill, and believe that her late-starts and regular leave are because of hangovers and holidays.

My favourite is when people think Ive had two days off to go on a quick holiday, when in fact Ive taken leave to have a liver biopsy or my annual colonoscopy People often cant see liver and bowel disease, so to most  I look entirely healthy  hence the snarky remarks when Im off a few days at a time.

Catty from Adelaide has a more uncommon auto-immune disease, Microscopic Polyangiitis. Her body is attacking and scarring her blood vessels, meaning she has very low energy and needs to make sure she takes care of her body by taking time to rest while shes in remission.

Sleep is extremely important for me, as is rest in general. If I dont sleep at least 8 hours a night, Ill get some sort of virus or infection.

Catty has a good relationship with her boss, considering she landed her job through a recruitment agency that focuses on people who have a disability that want to work.

There was a benefit to him because theres a wage subsidy for hiring a disabled worker through this scheme.

But he also has a chronic illness and he wanted to give someone who needed a bit of help an opportunity.

Auto-immune issues also mean that Alana and Catty are more likely to get sick than their workmates, and those little sniffly colds that irk the rest of us for a couple of days can mean weeks of exhaustion and pain for them.

Ive made a point of asking people who are sick not to come too close to me. Occasionally when the whole office has been down with a particularly nasty case of lurgy, Ive asked to work from home.



Planning is also something that people managing their work lives and personal health have to work toward, and stick with.

Having a set out, sometimes meticulously planned, day allows little time for a person to dwell on negative thoughts, keeps them moving and active, and always working toward a goal.

For William, planning is a major part of their everyday, from balancing multiple jobs with study and their mental health to planning meals, conversations, and interactions.

Existing on the autism spectrum with Aspergers Syndrome as well as Chronic Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder, having the day planned out allows William to manage their mind by continuously being distracted and keeping busy.

Admittedly, sometimes this means that they can get a little *too* busy, leading to over-working and burning out, so William is constantly walking the fine line between being over and under stimulated.

Too many sources of stimulation  like many people talking at once, changing lights, and music or background sounds  makes this hard. Sometimes I am unable to think clearly enough to have a conversation or finish simple tasks without stopping and calming down.

Similarly to Rory, William works a lot with their immediate family at an espresso bar in the Hunter region, which means theyre comfortable in knowing that their bosses support them if they need time off or need more work to keep them busy.

William tells us that their favourite things to do when theyre having a particularly bad mental health day is to look through photos with their friends and conversations that make them happy.

Reading through positive message conversations and looking at photos that include me and my friends helps to reassure me that these thoughts are unreasonable. I think its the kind of concrete evidence that helps, where just trying to think positively does not.



Its important we open up conversation about these kinds of things because we never know who can be struggling around us  even if they seem perfectly ok on the outside.

At the end of the day, we gotta be each others support if were gunna survive this big world.

If you have any concerns or questions about anything discussed in this feature, you can contact Reach Out or check out Disability Services Australia. If you are in distress, or need urgent help, contact Lifeline here or call them on 13 11 14.
Uber Technologies Inc. has taken another hit to its public image, and this time there might be no one left to clean up the mess. Rachel Whetstone, Ubers communications chief, announced Tuesday she would be leaving the ride-hailing giant while the company faces an onslaught of public relations nightmares.

Whetstone, a former executive at Alphabet Inc.s GOOGL Google who joined Uber in 2015, resigned without giving reason. It is still unclear what prompted Whetstone to leave in the midst of a pivotal time for Uber, but the timing seems a little odd given that PR disasters have piled up recently.

Her second in command, Jill Hazelbaker, is set to take over the position, which has become more important than ever.

Whetstones departure marks the seventh high-ranking Uber employee to depart from the company in 2017 alone. Not all of them left on bad terms, but Ed Baker, head of product and growth, resigned after the companys internal workplace culture investigation ramped up.

Many of the top Uber employees supposedly left on good terms, but it seems hard to think the massive amount of recent public, political, and legal backlash had nothing to do with it.

But does the mass executive-level exodus signal Uber is doomed to fail? Or is the company that is currently valued at almost $70 billion just experiencing growing pains?

Potential Long Term Problems

Among other things, Uber is looking into claims of rampant sexual harassment at the companys corporate offices. The company is also fighting a lawsuit from Googles self-driving leg Waymo, which claims Uber stole a ton of its proprietary self-driving car technology.

More recently, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto voiced his concern that Uber was not pulling its weight financially in the agreement to test its self-driving car technology in the city. Pittsburgh one of the only places in the U.S. willing to let Uber test its new technology.

Travis Kalanick recently apologized for a video that went viral of the Uber CEO berating and demeaning an Uber driver while he was a passenger. In wake of the incident, Kalanick, 40, also recently admitted that he needed management guidance.

Story continues

It is a positive sign that Ubers CEO admitted to needing some guidance in order to help drive his company forward during rocky times. The only problem is that no one with the proper experience has stepped up to the plate yet.

Scandal is not a good thing for any company, and it could prove to very bad for Uber as it looks into the possibility of going public in the next couple of years. Still, despite the controversies and a need to bolster leadership, things are not all bad for Uber.

Its Not All Bad

In todays mile-a-minute world, people simply forget things. It seems like ages since the Delete Uber hashtag first popped up. Even though the company and its controversial CEO are still taking deserved heat almost daily, the rider numbers speak to a different narrative.

The head of Uber North Americas operations, Rachel Holt, spoke with reporters in late March about the ride-hailing companys eye-popping rider numbers. In fact, in our most mature country, weve grown faster in the first 10 weeks of 2017 than in the first 10 weeks of 2016, Holt said. Looking at less-mature regions, trips were up 600% in February, year on year.

Holt did not go into any further details about the privately held companys most recent numbers, but it seems that even as Uber tries to navigate a tumultuous and sometimes toxic road, many riders cannot resist the convenience and ubiquity of the ride-hailing companys service.

Head here for a more in-depth look at Ubers competition, controversy, and the possibility of a 2017 IPO.

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U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for Domestic Finance Randal Quarles speaks during a Reuters sponsored panel discussion on the future of the U.S. housing foundations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in New York, July 19, 2006. REUTERS/Keith Bedford

By Pete Schroeder and Olivia Oran

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former U.S. Treasury official in the George W. Bush administration, a veteran banking lawyer, and a Harvard professor are three leading candidates as the Trump administration looks to fill the post of Federal Reserve vice chair in charge of banking oversight, people familiar with the matter said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that the administration was "very close" to filling the regulatory post, which will play a critical role in President Donald Trumps efforts to revamp regulation of the financial sector.

Randal Quarles, who worked as under secretary for domestic fiance at the Treasury under President George W. Bush, met with Mnuchin and Gary Cohn, Trump's director of the National Economic Council, last week to discuss the role, four sources told Reuters.

Quarles, along with corporate attorney Thomas Vartanian and Harvard Law professor Hal Scott, have all interviewed for the role, according to a source familiar with the talks. Several financial industry lobbyists believe Quarles to be the favorite for the position. But others say it remains unclear who the administration is favoring, and Trump could still opt for another candidate.

Quarles, Vartanian and Scott all did not respond to requests for comment. The Treasury Department and White House declined to comment.

Quarles, who worked as a partner at private equity firm the Carlyle Group, currently runs a private investment firm, the Cynosure Group, from Salt Lake City, Utah. He also served in the Treasury Department under President George H.W. Bush, and was the U.S. executive director of the International Monetary Fund.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in March 2016, Quarles and Lawrence Goodman, another former U.S. Treasury official, argued against breaking up big banks because it risks damaging the wider economy. He has also talked about refining Obama-era financial rules, introduced in the wake of the financial crisis.

Story continues

Quarles is married to Hope Eccles, and works alongside Spencer Eccles, two members of the Utah family that includes Marriner Eccles, the former Fed chairman whose name graces the building that now houses the central bank in Washington.

Vartanian has also been mentioned as a candidate for the vice chair position. A financial services attorney for the Dechert law firm based in Washington, Vartanian has assisted large financial institutions with a host of complex transactions, and written frequently on financial rules. He recently filed a brief on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as part of MetLife's case against federal regulators seeking to impose stricter rules on the insurance company. He also served in President Ronald Reagan's administration.

As director of international financial systems at Harvard Law School, Scott's focus has been on financial firms, regulation and capital markets. Scott is director of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, a research group made up of financial industry representatives and academics that has been critical of financial regulations.

At Harvard, Scott also worked alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has emerged as the Democratic Party's strongest voice in favor of strict rules on the financial sector.

Speculation over who will fill the vice chair post has been intense on Wall Street and in Washington, as the open spot is widely seen as a critical position for Trump to follow through on his vows to relax rules on the financial sector. The position was created as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law, but was never filled by President Barack Obama.

Chatter ramped up after the apparent favorite for the post removed his name from the running. General Electric executive David Nason withdrew his name from consideration in March, after he had been vetted for the post.

Former Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo effectively filled the role as top regulatory voice at the Fed under Obama, but he stepped down at the beginning of April. Current Fed Governor Jay Powell has taken on those issues for the time being.

(Reporting by Pete Schroeder and Olivia Oran; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, center, speaks with audience members after a town hall meeting, Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. Rebuffing President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the GOP health care bill seemed like a major political misstep for Young, who quickly was punished by a political action committee linked to Speaker Paul Ryan. Nearly three weeks later, voters in Young's southwestern Iowa district, Republicans and Democrats, say the GOP congressman made the right move. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
In this 1977 photo serial killer Ted Bundy, center, is escorted out of court in Pitkin County, Colo. The Glenwood Springs Post-Independent discovered the 40-year-old photo of Bundy, along with others, that had been locked in an old safe in the newsroom, which a local locksmith volunteered to open. The photos show Bundy in custody in 1977, the year he escaped from local law enforcement twice while awaiting a murder trial. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent via AP)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that he might consider withholding billions of dollars of Obamacare payments to health insurers to force Democrats back to the negotiating table on healthcare. Insurers and major medical groups have warned that not funding the payments, called cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses for low-income Americans, could wreak havoc in the individual insurance markets. Trump told The Wall Street Journal that by withholding the payments, Democrats will call him to negotiate. Major medical and insurance groups penned a letter to Trump on Wednesday urging him to maintain funding for the subsidies, which amount to about $7 billion a year and are paid directly to insurers. They help cover premiums, deductibles and other medical expenses for about 7 million people who purchase health insurance on the individual health insurance market. [n1N1HK25D] House of Representatives Republicans sued the Obama administration for funding the subsidies, which they argue have to be appropriated by Congress. A federal judge in May 2016 ruled in favour of the Republicans, prompting an appeal by the Obama administration. The case is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Major insurers, including Humana Inc and Aetna, have left or announced their intention to leave the Obamacare exchanges, citing multi-million-dollar losses and patient populations that are far costlier and sicker than they expected. They warned that withholding the subsidies would destabilise the market further and leave millions of consumers with little or no choice in picking a health insurance plan. (Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Leslie Adler)
SITKA - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced April 10 that under Chinook salmon management provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty the 2017 abundance index for Southeast Alaska has been calculated to be 1.27, which results in an all-gear harvest limit of 209,700 treaty Chinook (non-Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook). The preseason troll treaty harvest allocation for 2017 is 154,880 Chinook or 108,320 fish lower than the preseason limit available in 2016.

While there is no ceiling on the number of Chinook salmon harvested in the spring fisheries, the take of treaty Chinook salmon...
JUNEAU (AP)  An Anchorage-based scientist says paralytic shellfish poisoning is to blame for the deaths of more than 300 puffins that washed up in the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea last fall. Ecologist Bruce Wrights opinion is different from most scientists who believe the puffins died of starvation.

Wright, with the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, believes the puffins and the thousands of common murres that died in the Gulf of Alaska in 2015 were affected by the shellfish poisoning.

My colleagues are reluctant to say the things that I am saying because most scientists...
Election explainer: How Michigan's university boards are determined

Michigan's process for determining the members of university governing boards is unique. The state is just one of four that uses a statewide vote.
Saudi Aramco to deliver full crude contract volumes to Asia in May



TOKYO

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

Saudi Aramco will supply full contract volumes of crude oil to at least three Asian buyers in May, steady compared to April, industry sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Despite commitments to cut production in an OPEC deal, Saudi Aramco has kept its supplies to the majority of Asian buyers at contracted volumes, reflecting its strategy of maintaining market share in the fastest-growing market, said the sources, who declined to be identified due to a sensitivity of the matter.

However, the oil kingpin has requested that buyers refrain from using the so-called plus tolerance to buy additional volumes on top of contracted volumes, they said.








Elliott's restructure BHP plan was doomed, but the ulterior motive isn't: Russell



LAUNCESTON, Australia

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

When activist shareholder Elliott Advisors went public with its call to restructure BHP Billiton, it was most likely aware that the world's largest mining company would reject the plan.

Elliott, which manages more than $32.7 billion and holds about 4.1 percent of BHP's London-listed shares, wants the company to end its dual London-Sydney listing, hive off its petroleum assets in a separate listing in New York, and return more cash to shareholders.

By going public with the letter it wrote to BHP directors, Elliott should have known it had no chance of its proposal succeeding. Indeed, BHP soon shot down the plan, saying the costs would outweigh the benefits.

So why bother going to all the rigmarole of working out a restructuring plan, engaging the directors and then going public if there was little chance of success?

Elliott may have been looking for a short-term bounce in the share price, which was duly delivered with the Sydney stock rising 4.6 percent to a close of A$25.73 ($19.30) on April 10, the day the proposal was released to the public.

But more likely is that Elliott wanted to kickstart a debate on how best to unlock value in BHP, and put pressure on management to return more of the benefits of the recent rise in commodity prices to shareholders.

A valid criticism of BHP, and indeed other resource peers such as Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Glencore , is that shareholders largely missed out on the benefits of the massive China-led boom in commodity demand since the end of the 2008 global recession.

This is because the miners chose to expand operations at a cost of billions of dollars rather than return cash to shareholders.

In iron ore and coal, the massive surge in supply led to prices falling for five years from 2011-15, before supply and demand returned to a better balance last year, resulting in strong gains for many commodities.

If an investor has bought BHP shares in Sydney at the height of the post-2008 boom in commodities, they would still be under water.

BHP's Sydney shares reached a closing peak of A$44.89 on April 11, 2011, before slumping to a trough of A$14.21 in January last year. They have since recovered to A$25.57 at the close on Tuesday.

BHP has underperformed its peers on a two-year view, but outperformed on a 15-year basis, according to Thomson Reuters data.

MANAGING THE CYCLE

The bigger question is how should the management and shareholders of a company like BHP deal with the inherent cyclical nature of commodities.

Certainly, most commodity booms are ended when too much supply is commissioned as the miners all expand operations at more or less the same time in order to chase the higher prices.

But equally there is a risk to not investing to boost production when competitors are - you may end up with a smaller market share and lower prices anyway.

It's worth noting that since the recovery in commodity prices in 2016, when spot iron ore rose 81 percent and Australian thermal coal by 87 percent, major mining companies have been extremely cautious.

BHP, Rio and others have all committed in recent financial statements to maintaining strict cost discipline and limiting the amount of capital spending on new projects.

But it's almost inevitable that the tables will turn and resource companies will be tempted to once again seek to ramp up exploration and develop new projects.

In some ways, they have to, merely to replace reserves that are being depleted, but whether this can be done sensibly remains to be seen.

Certainly the track record of resource companies is patchy in this regard. Witness the simultaneous construction of eight liquefied natural gas plants in Australia, the main effect of which was to drive up costs as companies competed for labour while at the same time causing the price of the fuel to slump.

This dynamic was mirrored in iron ore and coal, and to some extent in crude oil as well, with the emergence of U.S. shale producers in the past few years.

What Elliott may be trying to achieve is to keep pressure on BHP's board and management to increase returns to shareholders while the company is generating strong cash flows off the back of higher prices for iron ore, coal and crude oil.

There may well be some merit in BHP spinning off its petroleum arm, much as it did with the aluminium and other non-core operations when it created South 32 in 2015.

But the irony is that by saying BHP should do this, Elliott has probably ensured they won't, as BHP's board and management wouldn't want to be seen doing something that they had earlier rejected.

The real test of whether Elliott's intervention has had any impact will be how much more cash BHP decides to return to shareholders when it announces its next results, due in August this year.

Disclosure: At the time of publication, Clyde Russell owned shares in BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as an investor in a fund.






Heat the 'silent killer' a menaced for hundreds of millions of poor

BANGKOK/BHUBANESWAR , India

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

On a hot, humid afternoon on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in eastern India, construction worker Sabitri Mahanand frets about increasingly "dangerous" summers. Carrying over a dozen bricks on her head, she fears getting sunstroke while at work, but home offers no respite either.

"When the day's work is over, I'm so exhausted that I often don't want to cook food but I have no choice," said Mahanand, 35, wiping the sweat from her face with a cloth wrapped around her waist. "I have to feed myself, my husband and my son."

The ancient city of Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha state - one of the few parts of South Asia that has a heat emergency plan.

Odisha's government departments have been asked to put in place measures in anticipation of heat waves this summer.

The world has already experienced three record-breaking hot years in a row, and the rising global temperature could have profound effects for health, work and staple food supplies for hundreds of millions of people, climate scientists told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The poor in urban slums in developing nations are particularly at risk, they said, while solutions to cool homes and bodies that do not hike climate-changing emissions remain elusive.

Even if the world is able to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - a goal set by governments in Paris in 2015 - by 2050, around 350 million people in megacities such as Lagos in Nigeria and Shanghai in China could still be exposed to deadly heat each year, according to a recent study by British researchers.

Estimates from the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET-International) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), both based in Colorado, are even higher. By mid-century, some 300 million Indians and Bangladeshis in the lower Ganges Valley alone will lack sufficient power to run electric fans or air conditioning to combat rising temperatures, they predict.

Fawad Khan, senior economist with ISET-International - which has conducted studies on heat stress, when the body absorbs more heat than is tolerable - describes heat as a "silent killer" and the world's "biggest impending climate-related hazard".

"First, your quality of life is going to deteriorate. You don't feel well, your children don't perform well at school, your physical and mental ability is affected," he said.

"The husbands work all day and come back tired and cannot sleep, children cry because it's too hot, and women say they have more domestic quarrels. These things take a huge toll, and they're immeasurable," he said.

HEAT INDEX

Contrary to popular perception, temperature alone is not the best indicator of heat stress, and the heat index - a measure that combines temperature and humidity - is more useful, scientists said.

Humidity should be taken into account because it limits the body's ability to cool via sweating, said Tom Matthews, a climatologist at Liverpool John Moores University in England who contributed to the UK research paper.

A 2014 study conducted by ISET-Pakistan looked at two of the largest hospitals in two Pakistani cities, and found heat stroke was occurring not in the hottest month but when the heat index was highest.

Heat stroke occurs when the body overheats and can be life-threatening.

Extreme heat can also lead to heat exhaustion and severe dehydration, and can aggravate cardiac conditions, kidney disorders and psychiatric illness, said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Southeast Asia director at the World Health Organization.

Most warnings about heat stress focus on peak temperatures during the day, but rising night-time temperatures are adding to the indirect effects, said NCAR scientist Caspar Ammann.

A report by Australia's Climate Council estimated that in 2015, nearly 3,500 people died in India and Pakistan from heat waves - defined as three exceptionally hot days in a row.

Recent fatal heat waves were a result of a 0.8 degree Celsius rise in temperatures from pre-industrial levels, the UK study said. Heat waves caused by a further increase of 0.7 degrees - if the world sticks to its 1.5 degree Celsius limit - could be even more severe, it warned.

Vimal Mishra, assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Gandhinagar, said heat stress and heat waves could lead to loss of productivity and earnings, livestock deaths, higher food prices and water shortages.

Raising awareness among the general population and setting up region-wide warning systems will be key, he said.

"We are not acting as fast as we are seeing - every year we see a new anomaly," added Mishra, whose 2015 research found a significant increase in the number of heat waves between 1973 and 2012, while the frequency of cold waves declined.

RECYCLED ROOFS

Scientists say the threat is especially high for the urban poor who live in houses with concrete or tin roofs that absorb heat, and there are few low-energy technologies to counter this.

Roofs made of concrete, the most common material in Pakistan, elevate night-time temperatures indoors by approximately 3 degrees Celsius, ISET-Pakistan found.

In South and Southeast Asia, the heat comes before and with the monsoon, NCAR's Ammann said. The moisture in the air boosts humidity, which shade can combat only so far.

"High humidity limits the radiative cooling at night," he said.

Solutions used in other parts of the world, such as basements dug into the cooler ground, tend to flood in Asia unless they have concrete foundations, which many cannot afford, Ammann added.

One inexpensive measure is to paint roofs white so they reflect the sun more effectively, suggested P.K. Mohapatra, special relief commissioner for Odisha.

Meanwhile, a new modular roofing system made with recycled agricultural and packaging waste, called ModRoof, may offer an option for cooling homes without using electricity.

Produced by ReMaterials, a company based in Gujarat, India, the roofs can lower the temperature inside by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius compared with metal and cement roofing, founder Hasit Ganatra told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

So far 75 roofs have been installed in Ahmedabad's slums, but they aren't cheap, with an average cost of $772 per family.

Ganatra said the company's all-women sales team is working with micro-finance firms to make the product more affordable for the poor.






Cemig, Andrade Gutierrez decline offer for Brazil's Santo Antonio hydroelectric dam, Valor says

SAO PAULO

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

Two of the stakeholders in Brazilian hydroelectric dam Santo Antonio have broken off talks with potential Chinese buyer State Power Investment Corp (SPIC) after rejecting the value and terms of its proposal, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

SPIC made a binding offer last month to pay 8 billion reais ($2.6 billion) and take on the power dam's 15 billion reais worth of debt, according to the report by Valor Economico.

Power utility Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais SA and conglomerate Andrade Gutierrez SA considered the price too low and abandoned the talks, Valor said, citing unnamed sources close to the transaction.

Odebrecht Energia SA, the power arm of engineering group Odebrecht SA, is still negotiating with SPIC, the report added.

Cemig, Andrade Gutierrez and Odebrecht Energia own 10 percent, 12.4 percent and 18.6 percent stakes in the project, according to the website of the Santo Antonio consortium.

The chief executive of state-controlled holding company Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (Eletrobras), a unit of which owns a 39 percent stake in Santo Antonio, said two weeks ago that he expected SPIC to make a binding offer this month.

Delays in the sale could complicate the recovery plans of Andrade Gutierrez and Odebrecht, which are counting on asset sales to shore up their balance sheets as they struggle to win new contracts amid a corruption scandal.

Andrade Gutierrez declined to comment on the matter.

Press representatives for Cemig and Odebrecht were not available immediately to comment on the report.

($1 = 3.14 reais)








FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with his new National Security Adviser Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster after making the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida U.S. February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

President Donald Trump is sending his national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to Afghanistan, according to Military Times.

Trump announced the move during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg. McMaster's trip will focus on assessing whether more US forces are needed to turn around the war in Afghanistan, which has been ongoing since late 2001.

In February, Army Gen. John Nicholson told Congress he needed a "few thousand" more troops in order to break what he called a "stalemate" with the Taliban.

There are about 8,400 US troops there, along with 5,000 from NATO allies.

The situation in Afghanistan is far from a stalemate, however. The latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War released in February shows the situation has been deteriorating, especially since troop levels were lowered significantly after 2011.

Of about 400 districts in Afghanistan, the Taliban controls, contests, or influences 171 of them, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States said Tuesday his country could handle itself without NATO support "for the most part" by 2020.

In 2009, President Obama ordered a troop "surge" of 30,000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan, though some criticized him for announcing his intention to pull them out within 18 months.

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Northern Brazil could go into darkness on Venezuela's crisis

SAO PAULO

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez inaugurated a high-voltage cable providing power to neighboring Brazil in 2001, the leftist leader hailed it as a step toward regional integration that would spur development in South America.

Flanked by his Brazilian and Cuban counterparts, Chavez used the ceremony in the border town of Santa Elena de Uairen to stake Venezuela's claim for membership of the Mercosur trade bloc grouping Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Sixteen years later, Chavez's successor Nicolas Maduro is beset by opposition protests, the country has been suspended from Mercosur for violating its democratic charter, and its Socialist-run economy is on the brink of collapse.

The deepening crisis threatens to plunge Brazil's remote northern-most region, now reliant on Venezuela for much of its electricity, into darkness.

Roraima - known for the thick Amazonian rainforest that carpets the state and the table-top mountain that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's story "The Lost World" - gets much of its power from the cable stretching 680 km (420 miles) from Venezuela's Guri hydroelectric dam.

Residents say power cuts are becoming increasingly frequent and prolonged, causing damage to machinery and discomfort to the 500,000 inhabitants of the tropical region where temperatures average 26 degrees Celsius (78.8Farenheit).

Power supplies have been disrupted in the past due to lack of rainfall at the Guri dam but this time the problem is different.

"They just don't have the resources," said a Brazilian official with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified because of its sensitivity. "They are not doing any maintenance on the power line, so the connection keeps falling."

Years of turmoil in Venezuela have shrunk its oil industry, the bedrock of the economy, leaving companies struggling to pay for essential imports like food and medicine.

Having promoted South-South trade for years, the country now owes billions of dollars to commercial partners, including in Brazil.

The power cable - which stirred controversy by running through an indigenous reserve and nearly doubling its initial $200 million budget - provides valuable hard currency for Venezuela, an OPEC nation that is also struggling with low global oil prices.

But, with supply continually interrupted, Brazilian authorities are starting to look for alternatives.

"If we just sit here with our arms folded, the state of Roraima will slip into darkness," local congressman Izaias Maia warned the state assembly last month, saying the cable was operating at just 2 percent of its capacity.

Venezuela's government did not respond to emails seeking comment.

INVESTMENTS SUFFERING

The cable brings power to Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima - the only one of Brazil's 26 state capitals not connected to the national grid.

Karen Telles, technical coordinator of the Industrial Federation of Roraima (FIER), said the worsening power cuts were harming economic activity and discouraging businessmen from investing.

"One day this week we had three power cuts in 10 minutes," Telles said. "Imagine the impact on an industrial plant. There is a reluctance to invest in machinery - things which could improve production - because you could lose the equipment."

Brazil's Energy and Mines Ministry has established a working group to analyze ways to improve the reliability and efficiency of power supplies to the region.

Data from the National Agency of Electrical Electricity (Aneel) showed the power supply in Roraima - already amongst the worst in Brazil - was already deteriorating sharply last year.

The duration and frequency of power cuts rose by 66 percent and 57 percent respectively in 2016, versus the previous year. Figures for 2017 are not yet available.

Brazilian power companies Alupar and Eletronorte, a unit of state power holding Eletrobras , won a tender in 2011 to build a power line to connect Roraima to the national grid but construction has not started because of problems with the environmental license.

The federal government wants Roraima to be able to use the hydroelectric power that makes up two-thirds of Brazil's production - rather than relying on the supply from Venezuela or local thermal plants, which are expensive and polluting.

Eletrobras President Wilson Ferreira Jr said that if it receives environmental approval, the state company may have to go it alone as Alupar no longer considers the project financially viable.

"This line is extremely important and our partner has pulled out of the project ... Probably it will done by us at Eletrobras alone," he said.






Emilio Lozoya, ex-Pemex CEO says "never received illegal money from Odebrecht"

AFP/ Ben Stansall



Lozaya denies allegations of involvement in Brazil scandal

MEXICO CITY

Petroleumworld 04 13 2017

Former Petroleos Mexicanos Chief Executive Officer Emilio Lozoya denied participating in an alleged bribery scheme involving Brazilian construction company Odebrecht SA in Mexico, after Veja magazine reported the executive was mentioned in connection with an ongoing corruption probe.

"I haven't requested nor have I received illegal money," Lozoya said in an emailed response to questions by Bloomberg News on Wednesday. "I reiterate my interest in having this matter investigated and penalties issued, but without dishonoring and defaming without proof along the way."

In a report this week, Brazilian magazine Veja cited court documents suggesting the former Pemex CEO allegedly requested a $5 million illegal payment to Odebrecht, Latin America's biggest construction company, to obtain benefits in Mexico. Veja says it based its reporting on portions of a plea-bargain agreement between prosecutors and a former top executive at Odebrecht. The allegations are part of a three-year, sweeping corruption probe in Brazil known as Operation Carwash.

In the email, Lozoya said he doesn't know the Odebrecht executive named by Veja and didn't participate in any meeting with him.

Pemex's press office declined to comment on Veja's report about Lozoya, who ran the state-owned oil producer from December 2012 to February 2016. On April 4, the Mexico City-based company said it's committed to cooperating in the Odebrecht case.

The Mexican company also said April 5 that current and former Pemex employees will be called to testify as part of an investigation into four contracts awarded to Odebrecht and its affiliate, the petrochemicals maker Braskem SA, between 2010 and 2015.






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
In an episode of HBO's hit show Big Little Lies, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman's characters both wear blouses to a contentious meeting with their town's mayor.

Witherspoon -- the salty, stay-at-home mom Madeline -- suffers through most of the encounter in a sweet, floral, capped-sleeved Kate Spade, while her attorney, Kidman's Celeste, wears a cream pussy-bow blouse.

As recently as last year, a preppy, suburban mom would have been portrayed on screen in the ubiquitous cardigan, pencil skirt, and ballet-flat combo. A navy, black, or hunter green sheath would have been the go-to choice for a lawyer.

But as blouses  in all of their ruffled and pleated splendor  reemerge this spring on fashion's front lines, they are asserting themselves as a key piece in a feminine suit of armor both on screens and in stores.

"We are seeing a new twist on the classic blouse," said Emily Evans, a New York style expert for Ann Taylor. "This season, look for statement sleeves, pretty back and shoulder detailing, and exciting necklines."

In other words, the blouse is the new dress.

"Blouses are a part of the more structured look that is fueled by the return of separates," said Marshal Cohen, a retail analyst for NPD Group. Sales of women's tops -- a category that includes blouses -- were up 2 percent in the 12 months ended February, from $43.4 billion the prior year to $44.3 billion, according to The NPD Group. "And they serve a dual purpose as they are both dressy and comfortable."

Blouse sales are benefiting from the fact that women need to stock up  they haven't had many in their closets.

I know I haven't.

That's because the dress has had us in its fit-and-flare grip for the better part of 10 years. And when it came to tops, it was all about the turtleneck, followed by a serious peplum obsession.

Athleisure ushered in the cool idea that a scoop neck or trapeze T  paired with a blazer or cardigan  could be the best friend of leather leggings or midi skirts. And despite all of its hard-to-wear qualities, the white shirt is back on the scene.

Now, with their petaled prints and cold-shouldered detailing, blouses are what I'm shopping for to wear with my high-waisted skinny jeans and A-line skirts.

Blouses first appeared in women's fashion in 1860, when France's Empress Eugenie co-opted the Italian folk-hero Giuseppe Garibaldi's deep-red, voluminous, round-necked, long-sleeve top as her own.

The loose-fitting shirt became known as the shirtwaist, and throughout the next century, it was a cornerstone of women's fashion for its role in the blouse-and-skirt combo.

In the 1930s, blouses added a needed feminine touch to what were scandalously new high-waisted trousers. And blouses crept into high fashion again in the 1970s as a necessary underpinning of pantsuits and skirt suits. Blouses stayed around through the 1980s workingwomen era, and, in the 1990s, they were mostly sleeveless shells.

For their spring 2016 runways collections, Rebecca Taylor, Nicole Miller, Tibi, Alice + Olivia, Monse, and Diane von Fursteneberg featured a variety of blouses -- especially the cold-shoulder kind -- in a nod to the 1970s collections. And they have continued to hang around, albeit, off the shoulder.

"It's all about price-per-wear," said Brittany McGinley, owner of women's wear boutique Estate in Doylestown. "You can get several different looks."

Even with all of the blouse-centric looks featured on the Instagram pages of trendy boutiques and trendsetters, it took Melania Trump's appearance at October's second presidential debate in a now-famous pink pussy bow to make us pay serious sartorial attention to this particular separate.

To celebrate the universality of this spring's most versatile top  button-up or pullover  we mixed and matched versions of blouses on real women: Monica Burch, 43, of Pennsauken, a community-development market manager in banking; and Leslie Padilla, 45, of Newtown Square, CEO of her eponymous public-relations firm.

The verdict: Anyone can find stylish solace in a fun and funky blouse.

Feathered and fun

Bold stripes are everything

The cold-shoulder is every woman's friend

Who doesnt love a some pinstriped action?

Soft-spoken drama

Black tie-splurge
Ryan Will, exhibit preparator, looks over the tent as they attach the ropes around George Washington's tent. Read more

The field tent that Gen. George Washington used as home and office for much of the war is the main attraction at Philadelphia's new Museum of the American Revolution, where it is displayed behind glass in an auditorium all to itself and dramatically presented for visitors' consideration accompanied by an 11-minute video.

Conservator Virginia Whelan, who painstakingly stabilized nearly 600 "losses" on the tent's linen top and sides, called it simply "an icon of our country."

Michael C. Quinn, president and chief executive of the Museum of the American Revolution, which owns the roughly 22-by-15-foot tent, stabilized holes and all, believes it may be the only surviving tent from the Revolution.

Formally known as a "marquee," the tent has been called the Oval Office -- before there was an Oval Office. But its aged, weathered sides are more personal than that celebrated space, serving to humanize the sometimes-distant general and future president.

When Washington was encamped at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, he ordered the tent from Reading and then used it after he decamped as the focal point of his life in the field, the one marginally private place he could retreat to for reading, writing, and sleeping.

Wherever Washington was during the war after 1778, his tent served as home; it is where he bunked and wrote during the Siege of Yorktown, Va., which yielded British surrender in 1781.

After Washington's death at Mount Vernon in 1799, the tent passed into Martha Washington's possession. Her grandson George Washington Parke Custis bought the tent from his grandmother's estate and then stored it at his own Virginia home, Arlington House.

G.W.P. Custis' daughter Mary Anna Custis Lee, who was married to Gen. Robert E. Lee, kept the tent, which was seized from Arlington House by federal troops at the end of the Civil War. It was eventually returned to the Lee family and was sold around 1908 to W. Herbert Burk for about $5,000.

Burk saw it as the defining artifact of his Valley Forge Historical Museum -- and he may have believed that Washington used the tent at Valley Forge. He did not.

As steward of Burk's historical society collection, the Museum of the American Revolution has ramped up display of the tent. Burk initially had it set up in a field, and later crammed into too-small quarters at the historical society, but the tent now has its own 100-seat auditorium. The great American artifact and its video presentation are designed to be the end-point and climax of any visit to the museum.

"It is a powerful symbol of American freedom," museum president Quinn said.
In 1783, when Sgt. James Davenport of the Continental Army returned home to Dorchester, Mass., after seven years of war during which two of his brothers died in battle, he brought with him a captured British red coat, the victor's ultimate souvenir of battle.

Upon the birth of Davenport's first child, according to family lore, the proud father had the coat cut up to make a pair of red baby booties, which members of the Davenport clan passed down through the generations.

Pittsburgh resident Jim Richardson, a descendant of Davenport's, donated his ancestor's personal collection of Revolutionary War-era artifacts to the museum: a wing chair, fireplace andirons -- and the baby booties.

According to family stories passed along by Richardson, Davenport would talk about his war experiences while sitting in the chair and spitting at the fireplace andirons until they sizzled.

R. Scott Stephenson, a museum vice president, says the baby booties speak directly to the biblical idea of "beating swords into plowshares."
Don't hate the ratings-hungry TV doctor exploiting the underbelly of our city. Hate the mind-blowing negligence that turned one of our neighborhoods into the kind of pit of desperation that is described in some polite circles as poverty porn.

I was away when Mehmet Oz of The Dr. Oz Show visited Philadelphia last week. Dressed in average-Joe jeans and hiking boots, he toured the notorious drug encampment along the Gurney Street corridor, a stretch of heroin-induced squalor that rivals any zombie apocalypse episode of The Walking Dead.

As expected, haters wasted no time going after the TV doc, who is often criticized for being more entertainer than M.D. How dare this quack exploit our city? Blight porn! Get him out of North Philly.

From afar, I had a similar reaction. We should be horrified, I thought, that one of our biggest failings was now going to be fodder for a cheesy national television show.

But then I realized that our horror is aimed in the wrong direction. We should be horrified, but at the fact that this open-air drug den has been allowed to exist in the city for decades.

Because  news flash! -- despite the encampment being back on people's radar, it's as much a new discovery as America was when Christopher Columbus "discovered" the New World.

But, hey, if Dr. Oz playing Columbus in Philly finally ends this nightmare, then I say: Welcome!

Welcome to him and any other TV personality who wants to turn a reality show spotlight on what ails us, because, really, what have we got to lose?

Beside the drug encampment we've all become desensitized to, there's the 22 percent of people over 16 in Philly who lack basic literacy skills. Would we do more to address this if, say, Oprah decided to start a book club in Philly?

A quarter of Philadelphians are food insecure. But what if celebrity chef Rachael Ray came to Philly to help us cook our way out of hunger with her trademarked 30-minute-meals? And while we're at it, maybe trainer Bob Harper could roll into town to trim down the two out of every five children who are overweight or obese.

Not that I'd ever admit to knowing this for sure, but I hear Dr. Phil seems to put out-of-control teens in their place on his show. So maybe he can get through the young people who blow off school, and sometimes blow each other away?

And what about blight? Maybe we can't fix every dilapidated building in this city, but I'd bet if we gave design star Nate Berkus a shot, he could at least spruce them up. If we're lucky, with reclaimed dumped materials, like tires and mattresses.

It's no more absurd or obscene than the reality so many of our Philadelphians have been forced to live in with lukewarm attention from people who should have made this a priority long ago.

Near the encampment recently, I felt for Joe Walters, a friendly 22-year-old who told me he had turned to heroin after getting hooked on pain meds for injuries he got from a bad car accident.

But I felt even more for Maya Flores, a 4-year-old who walked with her father, past Walters and a couple struggling to stay on their feet with barely a second look, as if it was normal.

I think of that a lot whenever I'm there  the conversations that parents must have with their children. About none of this being normal -- not the drug use, not the omnipresent cops, not the trash, not the city and Conrail clashing over who is responsible for what.

Not the still-smoking charred car that Jose Martinez and I chatted next to the other day. Just another Wednesday.

It kind of is, he said. When someone dumps a car in the neighborhood and neighbors get tired of calling the city to tow it away, he told me, sometimes people hope that an actual fire will light another kind of fire under the city to come haul it away.

When I shook my head, he smiled and offered me some advice.

The key to survival is to not get involved too deep, he said.

If that's the case, then the good news is that Philly will survive.

The bad is that it will never thrive.

Dr. Oz. You there?
MOAB bomb

The US dropped a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided bomb for the first time in combat Thursday on entrenched Islamic State targets in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon.

"At 7:32 p.m. local time today, US forces - Afghanistan conducted a strike on an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, as part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017," US Central Command said in a statement, referring to the Islamic State branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan, ISIS-Khorasan.

The bomb, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, whose acronym inspired the nickname "Mother of All Bombs," is the largest nonnuclear bomb in the US's arsenal.

"We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said at a press briefing. "The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously, and in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did."

"The main attribute of the MOAB is that it causes overpressure," Dr. Adam Lowther, the director of the US Air Force's school of deterrence, told Business Insider on Thursday in a phone interview.

That overpressure, caused when the bomb detonates at a low altitude over its target, is designed to crush underground tunnels and bunkers like the ones often used by ISIS.

"The MOAB has a very narrow target set," a US Air Force official told Business Insider. "Basically," the official said, "targets in an environment like caves or canyons or clearing minefields" are ideal for the MOAB.

Afghanistan march map isw

Story continues

"It was the right munition for what we were engaged in," the official said.

While the attack Thursday was the first of its kind by the US, Lowther said the bomb was "not even close to being a nuclear weapon" and he would "not make the argument that it's a symbol of escalation" in the conflict in Afghanistan.

The nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II had explosive yields of about 15 to 20 kilotons, equal to that of 15,000 to 20,000 tons of TNT. Lowther says the MOAB doesn't even represent a fraction of the destructive power of the US's weakest nuclear weapon.

As the MOAB is a conventional weapon, it also doesn't generate the heat or lasting radiation that nuclear explosions do.

NOW WATCH: How the US could prevent a North Korean nuclear strike  according to a former Marine and cyberwarfare expert





More From Business Insider


Officials say a Florida police officer who shot an autistic man's caretaker is facing criminal charges, reports the Associated Press.

A news release from the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office says North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda was charged Wednesday with attempted manslaughter and misdemeanor culpable negligence.

Authorities say Aledda shot Charles Kinsey in the leg July 18 as he lay in the street next to his adult client. Arnaldo Rios had walked away from the group home where he lives. Kinsey was trying to coax him back when a woman called 911 saying a suicidal man was walking down the street with a gun. Rios was actually carrying his toy truck.
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed on duty in 2010. His death became a political flashpoint after it was discovered he was shot with a gun smuggled into Mexico under an ATF operation. (Photo: U.S. Border Patrol)

A cartel member suspected of shooting and killing Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in 2010 with a gun supplied by the U.S. government through the Fast and Furious operation was arrested in Mexico Wednesday.

The suspect, Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, was apprehended by a joint U.S.-Mexico law enforcement task force that included the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). Terry was a member of a BORTAC unit.

Terry was killed on Dec. 14, 2010 in a gunfight between Border Patrol agents and members of a five-man cartel "rip crew," which regularly patrolled the desert along the U.S.-Mexico border looking for drug dealers to rob.

The agent's death exposed Operation Fast and Furious, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) operation in which the federal government allowed criminals to buy guns in Phoenix-area shops with the intention of tracking them once they made their way into Mexico. But the agency lost track of more than 1,400 of the 2,000 guns they allowed smugglers to buy. Two of those guns were found at the scene of Terry's killing, Fox News reports.
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As Democrats work to find ways to resist Donald Trump and limit the damage Republicans can do with control of all branches of government, Bernie Sanders has some advice for how progressives can regain their power.

On MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes on Wednesday, the Vermont senator said its time for Democrats to speak to all Americans in every state, especially the folks who voted for the president because theyre the ones being hurt the most.

Video:

Sanders said:

Democrats need to do two things, Chris. Number one, a 50-state agenda. Do not surrender parts of the country to right-wing Republicans. Number two, a progressive agenda that makes it clear that the Democrats are going to stand with working families, they are prepared to take on Wall Street and the one percent. We do those things, I think youre going to see fundamental changes in the way politics works in America.

Bernie Sanders is exactly right. Democrats will win elections when they go to all parts of the country and explain that their policies have historically helped average Americans get ahead. They shouldnt be afraid to tell their story.

Nowhere is that more clear than Tuesdays special election in Kansas  which swung toward the Democrats by 20 points since the November elections  as an example of where Republicans can be toppled if the Democratic Party is willing to fight.

This same dynamic will also play out next week in Georgia when Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff makes Republicans sweat out another election night over a contest that shouldnt even be on the map for the Democrats.

The Democratic Party can no longer be reluctant to go to parts of the country that have historically been unreceptive to their message. It is policies that matter, and in the age of Donald Trump  when the president and his GOP allies in Congress are pushing a litany of devastating agenda items  there is no district in the country they shouldnt be fighting for.
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Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove is revealing yet another bombshell in the never-ending scandal surrounding Donald Trumps questionable ties to Russia  and this one is a doozy.

According to The Sun, Dearlove claims the president had to secretly take money from Russia in order to keep his business empire from crumbling.

What lingers for Trump may be what deals  on what terms  he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when others in the west apparently would not lend to him, Dearlove said in an interview with Prospect.

Now its not just U.S. intelligence agencies that believe there is something worth investigating when it comes to the presidents connections with Russia. The former head of the British spy agency thinks there is something fishy here, too.

This is just another reason why Donald Trump needs to release his tax returns so the American people know exactly the extent of his financial ties to Russia or anybody that could have ties to the Russians.

The former spy chief didnt stop there, though. He also weighed in on the presidents claim that Barack Obama ordered British intelligence agency GCHQ to illegally wiretap Trump Tower during the campaign. Dearlove called the assertion deeply embarrassing for the president.

The ex-spy said that its likely Trump started tweeting without understanding the relationship between U.S. and British spy agencies  something he seems to do on just about every issue.

A deeply embarrassing man with sketchy financial entanglements  that about sums up Donald Trump.
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Even though former Trump campaign chairman and foreign agent Paul Manafort resigned from the presidents team last year, his financial connections to Donald Trump were far from over.

According to a new report from The New York Times, the same day Manafort stepped down as campaign chairman, he was hard at work creating a shell company  that soon received $13 million in loans from two businesses with ties to Mr. Trump, including one that partners with a Ukrainian-born billionaire and another led by a Trump economic adviser.

More from the report:

The transactions raise a number of questions, including whether Mr. Manaforts decision to turn to Trump-connected lenders was related to his role in the campaign, where he had agreed to serve for free. They also shine a light on the rich real estate portfolio that Mr. Manafort acquired during and after the years he worked in Ukraine. Mr. Manafort, often using shell companies, invested millions of dollars in various properties, including apartments and condos in New York, homes in Florida and Virginia and luxury houses in Los Angeles. Mr. Manaforts ties to Ukraine and Russia have come under scrutiny as federal officials investigate Russian meddling in the American presidential election. Investigators are known to have examined aspects of his finances, including bank accounts he had in the secretive tax haven of Cyprus; there is no indication his recent loans are part of the inquiry. The source of the money for the real estate purchases is not clear, and Mr. Manafort never filed lobbying registrations for his work in Ukraine that would have disclosed his compensation. Such registrations are necessary for activities that involve influencing policy and public opinion in the United States, and some of Mr. Manaforts Ukraine work appeared to fall into that category 

The money could be considered a form of payment from Trump to Manafort at a time when the former Trump campaign chairman had said he was essentially an unpaid staffer who received no compensation for his work helping Trump get elected.

Last month, when trying to dodge questions about Trumps ties to Russia, White House press secretary Sean Spicer also did his best to downplay Manaforts role in the campaign.

Spicer said Manafort had a limited role for a very limited amount of time.

The fact that, upon leaving the campaign, Manafort received millions of dollars from companies with Trump ties calls into question the claims by the Trump campaign that the former chairman was working for free and that he had a limited role.

The news that Manafort was borrowing money from Trump-affiliated businesses immediately after leaving the campaign comes on the same day that multiple sources report that Manafort will soon register as a foreign agent.

According to The Huffington Post, Manafort received at least $1.2 million of a suspected $12.7 million in off-the-books payments from [former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovychs] political party while the Russia-allied leader was still in power.

Overall, this has not been a good news day for Paul Manafort, but it goes to show that not only does the president himself have questionable and largely unknown financial ties, but he also surrounds himself with people who do.

For anybody who thought Hillary Clinton was the corrupt candidate in last years election, I know someone whos selling bridges.
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Boy, how things have changed since Barack Obama left the White House. Nowhere is that more clear than respect for the free press, which has plummeted since Donald Trump took power.

As Rachel Maddow laid out on Wednesday night, the new administration isnt even trying to pretend they respect the First Amendment. Its particularly clear when one compares it to the way the previous White House treated the media.

Video:

Maddow showed a clip of then-President Barack Obama urging Cuban President Raul Castro to take a question from NBCs Andrea Mitchell, who he called an esteemed journalist, reminding us how American leaders are supposed to act when theyre in countries that restrict reporters rights.

Maddow said:

That is how the U.S. government usually handles foreign leaders mistreatment, foreign leaders disrespect, foreign leaders disregard of American reporters and the whole idea of a press. Thats what we expect of American presidents, of American secretaries of state because we have a free press in this country and ostensibly the United States government believes and promotes the fact that there should be a free press everywhere. Part of the basic way we do that as a government is that our government officials, particularly like the president, the secretary of state, they model what it means to respect the free press, to respond to the free press. We model what that means by, in part, standing up for American reporters when our government goes abroad and leaders from other countries disrespect them.

Fast-forward to present day, when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson went to anti-free press Russia and an American reporter had the nerve to do her job and ask a question. This time, though, there was no respect for her from leaders in either country.

Instead, when the Russian foreign minister shouted at her and questioned her manners, Tillerson simply gave a smug smile and put on his glasses, which was actually pretty astounding, as Maddow pointed out.

Not only is Tillersons behavior in front of the Russians a break from the tradition of previous American leaders of both parties, but it also encourages countries like Russia to continue oppressing its own journalists.

America does it now, so why shouldnt they continue doing so?

If there was ever a time for a secretary of state to promote the universal value of a free and open press, that would have been it. But Tillerson just smiled and ignored the question  essentially validating the Russian ministers despicable treatment of an American reporter.
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Obamacare is much more popular than Republicans counted on. In fact, its coming back to haunt them as they try to take it away from their own voters.

Representative Mike Coffman bravely held a town hall in Aurora, Colorado (unlike so many of his Republican colleagues, who are hiding out in fear of the people) Wednesday evening, but it didnt go well. Angry constituents, both Democrats and Republicans, hammered the Republican for agreeing to try to repeal Obamacare and supporting the wildly unpopular Trumpcare replacement.

Im concerned you dont understand how Medicaid works GOP Rep. Mike Coffman gets pushback, Kyle Griffin wrote above a Morning Joe clip of angry constituents yelling at the vulnerable, moderate Republican during a town hall Wednesday evening.

"I'm concerned you don't understand how Medicaid works" GOP Rep. Mike Coffman gets pushback from constituents at town hallvia @Morning_Joe pic.twitter.com/lgYTSn2lIj  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 13, 2017

Saying that nearly every other constituent brought up healthcare, Rachel Bade wrote in Politico, But not a single one did it to thank Rep. Mike Coffman for backing the House GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Instead, dozens of local residents  Democrats and Republicans  pummeled the Colorado Republican for supporting legislation they said would harm their community.

Bade wrote that the crowd erupted in cheers after this comment from a life-long registered Republican, Im sorry to say I was shocked when you declared your intention to vote for the American Health Care Act, said Steven Haas, a 68-year-old life-long registered Republican. That is not the way we do things here in Colorado.'

We said from the moment Obamacare was passed into law that once people were using it and understood it, they wouldnt want it taken away. And thats whats happening here. Anyone who has gone without insurance or bought insurance that didnt work before the regulations included in the Obamacare law (ACA) should have been able to foresee this problem for Republicans. People will put their own lives and the lives of their family above ideology, once they understand whats at stake.

Here Coffman gets yelled at as he tries to apologize for Sean Spicers Hitler remarks, even as he says Spicer needs to go:

At town hall, GOP Rep. Coffman says Sean Spicer needs to go.' "I just dont think hes serving the president well." https://t.co/tXZOkSvNju pic.twitter.com/iz6uIqcEnn  ABC News (@ABC) April 13, 2017

Coffman is facing a challenge from Democratic Iraq War Veteran and Bronze Star recipient Jason Crow.

Kudos to Coffman for even having a town hall; most Republicans are avoiding their constituents in a cowardly effort to dodge accountability. This town hall didnt go well for Coffman, but he put himself out there to hear feedback and thats the least your representatives should be doing (how else can they represent you?). Just because they arent having town halls doesnt mean this issue isnt going to haunt them at the polls.

This isnt just a Trump branding problem, because Republicans have been running on repealing Obamacare for years. But their own base doesnt want the law repealed only to be replaced with a crap policy like the wildly unpopular Trumpcare that Speaker Ryan failed to even get his own Republican caucus to back.

The Republican replacement has only 17% strong approval. Repealing and replacing is Republicans entire raison detre. This is the only policy that they have been able to say they are for or against as a party to such an extent that it dominated every election since the law was even brought up for debate.

Add to this the GOPs Trump problem, the Russia scandal, and the never-ending incompetency scandal of this administration as well as their ability to bleed taxpayer money for their own purposes and add a huge dash of relentless ethics problems. Now mix in the Republican auto-defense of their own.

Its not pretty. Thats the long term takeaway.

But another takeaway, perhaps most important at this moment when people are suffering due to any of the above, is that people matter. Your voices matter. You can be heard. You can make a difference.

You cant change everything overnight, but you can affect change simply by being involved and speaking up.
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As Canadas PM Justin Trudeau reminds his southern neighbors what progress looks like, the trapped in the past Trump administration is reviving the failed war on drugs.

The New York Times reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had fulfilled a campaign promise by introducing legislation fully legalize marijuana across Canada. The government plan will allow each Canadian province to decide how pot will be distributed and sold. The country will also develop equivalents of breathalyzers and blood alcohol standards so that it can catch impaired drivers. Canada will open up a brand new revenue by taxing marijuana.

As Canada is set to become only the second country in the world to fully legalize marijuana, the Grandpa Trump and his time machine back to decades past are reviving the war on drugs.

Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions is taking steps to revive the war on drugs policies of the 1980s and 1990s that include harsher minimum sentences, and a destruction of the progress that was made on the drug issue during the Obama years. Sessions said during a speech in Richmond, VA last month, Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs is bad. It will destroy your life.

Some of the drugs that are bad and destroying lives are legal prescription opioids.

Trump isnt declaring war on those though because the opioid epidemic is backed by the pharmaceutical industry, and it disproportionately impacts white people.

It is much easier for the Republican administration to send a minority male individual to private prison on a harsh minimum sentence than it is to political justify imposing the same treatment on white painkiller addicts in red states.

Donald Trump is trying to take America back to one of the greatest policy failures of the last thirty years, while Canada is acting like the world leader that the United States should be.

Voters who sat out the 2016 election because they believed that it didnt matter if Trump or Clinton won are being reminded that elections have consequences.

If you want the US to be more like Canada when it comes to drug policy, dont sit out 2018 and 2020.

Reject Trumps ghost of drug wars past, and embrace Canada as the progressive path for what America can become.
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This is an embarrassing level of badly played dodge. Former Donald Trump campaign adviser Carter Page

Carter Page tells me he cant guarantee he did not discuss easing of sanctions w Russian contacts; Lets see what the FISA transcripts say, ABC News George Stephanopoulos wrote after interviewing Page for Good Morning Today.

Carter Page tells me he can't guarantee he did not discuss easing of sanctions w Russian contacts; Lets see what the FISA transcripts say  GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) April 13, 2017

Asked if any of his conversations with Russians had to do with lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia by then President Barack Obama, Page said, I dont recall every single word I ever said. Something may have come up in a conversation. I have no recollection, and theres nothing specifically that I would have done that would have given people that impression.

Someone may have brought it up. And if it was, it was not something I was offering or that someone was asking for Well see what comes out in this FISA transcript.

So thats a yes lifting sanctions might have come up but how can you expect him to remember everything hes ever said, especially if it involved undermining the sitting U.S. President with a foreign power. At any rate, hell wait to see what they have on him before confirming specifics.

Heres Carter Page on MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes in early March, denying categorically (albeit with a frozen smile/sneer and a lot of eye contact dodging, as noted by Chris Sampson, the co-author of Hacking ISIS with Malcom Nance) that there were any back channel conversations with Russia during the campaign.

That eye contact was so good until the most important question was asked by @chrislhayes to Carter Page. pic.twitter.com/hmKcc2N8AV  Chris Sampson (@TAPSTRIMEDIA) March 3, 2017

In that clip, Page went right for the Republican talking point of blaming Obama/Clinton for collusion after looking down at the desk during his denial that he had anything to do with the contacts with Russia.

Yet, Carter Page got busted about ten days ago for having previously met with a Russian spy and then again on Tuesday by the Washington Post for being the subject of a FISA warrant.

To be the subject of a FISA warrant, the judge must find there is probable cause that Carter was working as an agent of Russia while he was advising Donald Trump in his run for the presidency. He has not been accused of any crimes from this surveillance. The 90-day warrant was renewed more than once.

Page lived in Moscow for three years and started his own investment firm, Global Energy Capital, with former Gazprom executive Sergei Yatsenko, according to an in depth report on Page from ABC News.

Page wouldnt tell Stephanopoulos who brought him on to the Trump campaign. He claimed he if told who brought him in to the campaign, there would be dozens of calls to that individual.

Page rolled out the usual Trump Republican references to conspiracy theories and the Obama administration being out to get them, but these sad, empty tropes wont save him if he betrayed his country. They wont save him even if he didnt, because this is a different show than these characters thought they were on.

This isnt the New York mob big money buys you off crowd. In this crowd, these guys are nothing. The Intelligence Community has more power than these guys do, because of the free press. And thats exactly why Trump et al keep undermining Americans confidence in the press.

The press and the intelligence community are the only patriots left in this scenario, as Republicans sold out to Trump and his Russian help and have shown very little interest or even concern over the fact that the Russians interfered in our election.

Image: ABC Good Morning America screen grab
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Under a little pressure, Republicans are letting their smug freak flag fly.

So it was that at a town hall in Jay, Oklahoma, Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said the taxes his companies have paid pay his salary, not the taxpayers in the audience. You say you pay for me to do this? Thats bullcrap!

In fact, this is a service, the Republican told the audience. This is not how he makes his living.

Heres video of the event posted to Facebook, first published nationally by The Hill:

Rep. Markwayne Mullin went off on his constituents at a recent town hall, letting them know that he doesnt work for them. He works for himself, because he pays his own salary with the taxes he paid before he got into office.

I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go.

The crowd wasnt buying it, so Mullin tried to prove his superiority by claiming that even though he takes that salary, this isnt really his job. Its not how he makes a living. Im just saying, this is a service for me, not a career, and I thank God this is not how I make my living.

The audience wasnt impressed.

This is the same Representative who blamed the Cherokee Nation for canceling a town hall just 15 minutes before it was to begin, citing threats and yet no threats were brought up by Mullins security team.

His Chief of Staff released a statement citing safety concerns published in the Tahlequah Daily Press, Due to safety concerns, tonights town hall in Tahlequah was cancelled. Over the past few weeks, we have seen an escalation of protesters at congressional town halls across the nation. We have even seen them right here in the Second District. I have continued to hold town halls and answer questions from constituents across the district, including those who have been vocal in their disapproval of my positions. It is my intent to provide a safe environment for all attendees which is why we have established protocols at each of our town halls to ensure each persons voice can be heard. Despite working with the venue, we could not reach an agreement using our protocols that guaranteed the safety of everyone, so I chose to cancel the town hall after much consideration. As soon as we can secure a new venue and date, we will reschedule the town hall in Tahlequah, OK.

The concern seemed to be about letting people with squares of paper in, and signs. These are the safety concerns for the Republican. Sean Rowley in the Tahlequah Daily Press quoted Sherry Wallis, a member of Cherokee County Indivisible, as saying that the Marshal Service told them, They indicated to us that Mullins office called the day before and said they didnt want any signs or any red or green paper.

Captain Danny Tanner said that he had heard nothing about threats and he was in constant contact with Mullins security team until the event was canceled. Furthermore, We have never had an event cancelled due to security concerns. We had one cancellation due to weather, but never for safety until this one.

Well, Mullin doesnt need to meet with you people anyway, because ignoring you is a service he provides. Sure, youre paying for it, and its technically his job, but he feels entitled to ignore that because he paid taxes previously. Following this logic, all of us who pay taxes are now entitled to be paid by the taxpayers to do nothing.
The global aerospace industry is fast becoming venture capitalists' new frontier, according to Francois Chopard, the CEO of aerospace accelerator Starburst Accelerator.

Speaking to CNBC's "The Rundown" on Wednesday, Chopard said, "We've seen a couple of announcements for start-ups willing to build electric commercial aircraft, so it's not only space that is booming, but more the global aerospace sector that is looking for disruptions."

With Jeff Bezos announcing his plans to sell $1 billion in Amazon stock each year to finance his space venture, Blue Origin, as well as the recent successful launches of Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket, Chopard said he's bullish on the global aerospace sector as a whole.

"We just realized recently that with the success of SpaceX and a couple of others, it was feasible for entrepreneurs with great ideas and great technologies to bring satellites with rockets and send them to space," he said.

April 12 marks the International Day of Human Space Flight, commemorating the first human space flight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961. So in the spirit of space exploration, Chopard said the aerospace industry is seeing more tech-driven breakthroughs globally.

"We've seen from the last five years dozens and dozens of start-ups, not only from the U.S., but also from Europe and Asia," he said.

His company, Starburst Accelerator, was founded in 2012 and has accelerated over 160 start-ups, with a $5 million average funding target. The company has innovation hubs in Paris, Los Angeles, Munich and Singapore.

Starburst Accelerator launched a new venture called Starburst Ventures late last year. It raised $200 million to back aerospace tech start-ups over the next three years. Chopard said the venture is an essential push to help those companies in an increasingly competitive industry.

"It has been very difficult in the past, but we've seen a couple of deals mainly happening in Silicon Valley, so we wanted to leverage that start with more investors and with more focus on the aviation and aerospace."

Despite geopolitical tensions like those between the U.S. and Russia, Chopard said he is optimistic about the future of the industry.

"Space collaboration between the U.S. and Russia is not new, it's been going on for the last 20 years and they have achieved amazing things together, like the International Space Station," he said, adding that the aerospace industry as a whole may have "the capability of making millions."
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The only Democrat to oppose the authorization to use force in Afghanistan, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) is calling for the AUMF to repealed after Trump dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb in US history.

In a statement, Rep. Lee said:



Todays unprecedented use of a MOAB, which is considered the Mother of All Bombs, marks a new front in the almost 16-year war in Afghanistan. President Trump owes the American people an explanation about his escalation of military force in Afghanistan and his long-term strategy to defeat ISIS.

No president should have a blank check for endless war, especially not this president, who is acting without any checks or oversight from the Republican-controlled Congress. I urge Speaker Ryan to call Congress back into session, so we can immediately repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and put real restraints on President Trumps warmongering.

The use of the Mother Of All Bombs feels like escalation, not an ending in Afghanistan. For nearly 16 years, the United States has been fighting a war in Afghanistan. An entire generation of young Americans has been born and nearly reached adulthood while the US has been in Afghanistan.

The big bomb will make Republicans feel like big men and women, but just like the missile strike in Syria, the question what is the end strategy in Afghanistan? How was dropping the Mother Of All Bombs part of the overall Trump strategy in Afghanistan? Does Donald Trump have a strategy in Afghanistan? If he doesnt, maybe it is time for Congress to step in and put an end to this generation of war.

The standard cant be allowed to be set this low for Trump. The administration cant be launching missiles and dropping bombs without a strategy.

Instead of celebrating Americas military strength and technology, we need to be asking questions about how our military is being used and to what ends.

Rep. Lee will be viewed by some as an extreme liberal, but she is raising important questions that deserve to be answered.
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In an exclusive published in The Guardian that discredits even further President Trumps unfounded accusations that President Obama wiretapped him theres a bomb of its own at the very end, with a source claiming that the official investigation now has specific concrete and corroborative evidence of collusion.

One source suggested the official investigation was making progress. They now have specific concrete and corroborative evidence of collusion, the source said. This is between people in the Trump campaign and agents of [Russian] influence relating to the use of hacked material.

This will be the turning point in the Trump Russia scandal if its true. This is the smoking gun, the impeachable offense.

The article notes that at least seven countries tried to alert the United States about the Trump campaign conversations with Russia, which the GCHQ first became aware of in 2015.

Basically the entire Western SIGINT alliance knew there was something rotten between Trump and Russia.

No, Trump et al were not being targeted, as they keep claiming and no, the British spy agency didnt bugged Trump for Obama.

It is understood that GCHQ (British spy agency) was at no point carrying out a targeted operation against Trump or his team or proactively seeking information. The alleged conversations were picked up by chance as part of routine surveillance of Russian intelligence assets, Luke Harding, Stephanie Kirchgaessner and Nick Hopkins wrote in the Guardian exclusive.

They wrote the Guardian was told that due in part to U.S. law that prohibits examining U.S. citizens private conversations, both the FBI and the CIA were slow to appreciate the extensive nature of contacts between Trumps team and Moscow ahead of the US election.

It looks like the [US] agencies were asleep, the source added. They [the European agencies] were saying: There are contacts going on between people close to Mr Trump and people we believe are Russian intelligence agents. You should be wary of this. The message was: Watch out. Theres something not right here.

Insert blaming Obama here, but Obama is not the person who possibly colluded with Russia. Thats Trump.

Malcome Nance pointed out that no matter how troubling the alerts were, FBI is only agency that can touch those foreign intell reports. Until a FISA is obtained allied collection on US citizens is off limits.

Well. We now know that there was a FISA warrant on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. This warrant was renewed more than once. They got the FISA warrant because there was probable cause that the target was a foreign agent.

The Gang of 8 were told in August and September that Putin might be trying to help Trump win the election.

Team Trump keep crying persecution, but there is evidence that they were in constant dialogue with Russia and that Russia wanted Trump to win. The smoking gun is proof of collusion. Thats what the hold up has been.

The Guardians source says they have specific concrete and corroborative evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia relating to hacked material. This claim echoes the spy chatter thats been going on for months now, and also echoes the partially corroborated dossier by the British spy. That dossier has only been corroborated in parts, but many of those parts went to the more important claims rather than the salacious claims that made headlines.

This is but a step in a long investigation, but its a big deal.

Republicans must be so proud to be defending and justifying this, and to have pushed through Trumps Supreme Court nominee to take a seat they stole from the Democratic President, who was elected twice without the help of a foreign power.
Emanuel AMEs former secretary is suing the church and the Rev. Norvel Goff for ending her employment after she questioned the handling of donations that poured into the church after a gunman killed nine worshippers. Read moreFormer secretary at Emanuel AME sues for unpaid wages
An investigator hired in convenience store magnate Greg Parkers effort to turn up dirt on the prominent Murdaugh family was the supplier of confidential materials  including photos of 2019 boat crash victim Mallory Beachs body  that featured in a true-crime documentary trailer last year, according to a sworn affidavit from a journalist who worked on the film. Read moreMurdaugh reporter reveals supplier of leaked court records in 2019 boat crash case
Boeing Co's logo is seen above the front doors of its largest jetliner factory in Everett, Washington, U.S. January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Alwyn Scott

By Ginger Gibson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump plans to revive the hobbled Export-Import Bank of the United States, his office said, a victory for American manufacturers like Boeing Co (BA.N) and General Electric Co (GE.N) which have overseas customers that use the agency's government-backed loans to purchase their products.

Trump first told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday he would fill two vacancies on the agency's five-member board that have prevented the bank from having a quorum and being able to act on loans over $10 million. Trump's picks must gain approval from the Senate, which blocked nominees by former President Barack Obama.

Trump told the Journal that the bank benefits small businesses and creates jobs, a reversal of his earlier criticism of the bank being "featherbedding" for wealthy corporations.

The Export-Import Bank, an independent government agency, provides loans to foreign entities that enables them to purchase American-made goods. For example, it has been used by foreign airlines to purchase planes from Boeing and farmers in developing nations to acquire equipment.

The banks acting chairman, Charles CJ Hall, was not immediately available for comment.

The bank has become a popular target for conservatives, who have worked in Congress to kill the bank, arguing that it perpetuates cronyism and does little to create American jobs.

Trump's about-face on the export bank comes after meeting on Tuesday with former Boeing Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney, who left the company last year but oversaw the corporation's aggressive lobbying effort in support of the bank in 2015.

Trump also met at the White House on Feb. 23 with GE CEO Jeff Immelt and Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) CEO Mark Sutton, both vocal supporters of the bank.

It is not known if they discussed the bank at those meetings.

Large American corporations that do significant amounts of exports say other countries have similar agencies and the export bank levels the playing field.

Story continues

"This is an encouraging development on a key competitive issue for U.S manufacturers and their extensive supply chains," Boeing spokeswoman Kate Bernard said in statement to Reuters.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, which includes companies like Ingersoll-Rand Plc (IR.N), United States Steel Corp (X.N) and Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), cheered the move.

Manufacturers are encouraged by President Trumps vocal support for the bank, said NAM Vice President of International Economic Affairs Linda Dempsey in a statement.

A 2015 fight to shutter the bank led by conservatives in Congress allowed the bank's charter to expire for five months. After overwhelming bipartisan support emerged to renew the bank's charter, which is needed for it to operate, conservatives blocked nominees to the board, preventing it from financing large exports like aircraft and power turbines.

Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity, two groups funded by the Republican donor Koch brothers, worked aggressively for years to kill the bank. Brothers Charles and David Koch have opposed the bank for what they call damaging interference into the free market by government.

Nathan Nascimento, Freedom Partners vice president of policy, called the bank on Wednesday "the epitome of what's wrong with Washington."

"Reopening the flood gates to Ex-Ims corporate welfare is a bad deal for hardworking taxpayers and a bad deal for American businesses, he said.

The Club for Growth, which spends heavily in electing conservative candidates and was one of the few groups to campaign against Trump during the Republican primary in 2016, also lamented the change in position.

"Ex-Im has a long history of cronyism and corruption that is well-known to many in the Trump Administration, and while we hoped it would be done away with, the administration now has taken on the almost impossible challenge of reforming a federal agency whose mission has been to pick winners and losers with taxpayer dollars," spokesman Doug Sachtleben said in a statement to Reuters.

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Additional reporting by Steve Holland and David Lawder; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Republicans want to take over Congress, and come Tuesday they might get their wish. If they win both the House and the Senate, they will face enormous challenges: a country still heading into a recession, inflation still high and rising, government deficits and debt as far as the eye can see Read moreCommentary: Incoming Republicans need to fight inflation, not Democrats
FILE- In this July 27, 2015, file photo, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., center, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. The South Carolina representative who shouted "You Lie" at President Barack Obama during a joint session of Congress was on the receiving end of the same words in his district this week. Wilson heard plenty of boos and chants of "You Lie" during a town hall Monday, April 10, 2017, in Graniteville, S.C. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
AUSTIN  With state lawmakers fighting over funding for early childhood education, one official headed straight for the classroom.

Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius stopped by the Austin Community Learning Center on Wednesday to tour the facilities and interact with staff and students on how pre-K programs affect them.

She spent around two hours joining classrooms and engaging with preschoolers. Cassellius watched the children learn the alphabet and what sounds each letter makes. She helped some students build towers with blocks, and laughed when one child knocked down the structure.

More than that though, the students were learning life skills in a structured environment.

"I've often told people, I'm a Head Start baby myself," Cassellius said, "and so I know personally the great impacts that it has for children being ready for kindergarten. As well as for families to be able to have a place, a safe place, for children to be able to grow, learn, and thrive."

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Funding for pre-K expansion is a subject of intense debate at the Capitol. Gov. Mark Dayton lobbied for more than $700 million in spending for education, and his recommendation included a 2 percent increase to the General Education Basic Formula, and a $175 million increase in pre-K funding.

However, the Minnesota House answered with a $273 million education funding bill in late March. That bill would eliminate the current base funding for voluntary pre-K programs, and move the money to school readiness adjustment credits and early learning scholarships.

The House bill gives a 1.25 percent annual increase to the General Education Basic Formula, a per-pupil formula that covers general operating costs. This includes increases to school readiness programs and teacher loan forgiveness.

In order to fund the increased spending, the bill proposes to eliminate voluntary Pre-K options. Of which, Dayton expressed his concerns.

"Investing $175 million in voluntary pre-K this year will allow more than 17,000 Minnesota four-year-olds and their families to have access to better opportunities to succeed in school, and in our economy," Dayton said. "I am appalled that anyone would use the best interests of Minnesota 4-year-olds as a political bargaining chip. I urge House Republicans to invest in voluntary pre-K opportunities for our youngest learners this session."

Voluntary Pre-K programs now receive $25 million in funding. The funds went to 74 school districts serving 3,300 Pre-K students. Dayton's proposal looks to expand the program to all school districts that applied for the funding, and possibly extending pre-K options to more than 13,000 students.

"The House cuts will affect them negatively, and so we're hoping that they'll go back to the drawing board and look at the governor's proposal for pre-K and know how important it is for children and families," Cassellius said. "We hope to have good support at the Capitol, and I know the governor is going to be pushing for our littlest Minnesotans to get a great starts so it's really important."
In todays news:

Rolling Stone Settles Suit Over Retracted Rape on Campus Article

Rolling Stone magazine has settled a libel lawsuit over its discredited 2014 story about an alleged fraternity party gang rape at the University of Virginia.

The confidential agreement disclosed Tuesday brings to a close the defamation complaint in federal court of a university administrator who was in charge of handling student complaints of sexual misconduct at the school. . .

The settlement comes months after a federal jury in Richmond, Va., found that Rolling Stone had defamed Ms. Eramo and awarded her $3 million in damages, a judgment that Rolling Stone lawyers had been seeking to overturn.
At CNN, liberal Chris Cillizza writes about Sean Spicers Hitler/chemical warfare gaffe:

White House press secretary Sean Spicer forgot the first rule of politics during a press briefing on Tuesday: Never, ever compare anyone or anything to Adolf Hitler.

Has Cillizza just returned from a 20-year exile in Albania? Did he miss #bushitler? Is he really unaware that most of his fellow Democrats cant utter a sentence about President Trump that doesnt include the H-word? What we see here is a bizarre lack of self-knowledge.

Page Six reports that Christian Bale has been signed to play Dick Cheney in a biopic about the former vice president. The film will be directed by Adam McKay, who made, a counterfactual left-wing film about the 2008 financial collapse. Wikipedia describes McKay as a supporter of the Democratic Party and other liberal causes who endorsed Bernie Sanders for president.

Thats not all! Steve Carell will play Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. It shapes up as another balanced Hollywood take on the Bush administration. No doubt it will lose a great deal of money.

The Associated Press reports on outrage that Mexicans are directing toward President Trump. This supplements their daily reports on outrage that American liberals are directing toward the president. The AP says that Mexico is mobilizing to resist President Donald Trumps policies. #Resist!

Faced with the U.S. presidents anti-immigrant stance, Mexico has set up workshops and hotlines to educate migrants about their rights in the face of deportations.

Trump is not anti-immigrant. Actually, I am not aware of a single American who is anti-immigrant. Possibly Pat Buchanan. Conspicuously absent from the APs news story is the word illegal.

We are not accustomed to getting down on our knees, [leftist presidential candidate] Lopez Obrador said of U.S. relations. We are going to defend our migrants. We are going to defend our human rights.

There is no human right to travel illegally from one country to another. Does Mexico not have immigration laws? Of course it does. Does Mexico not enforce its immigration laws? Of course it does. Do Guatemalans have a human right to travel illegally to Mexico? No.

It is one thing for a leftist Latin American politician to traffic in ignorance, but it is sad to see the Associated Press doing the same.
I think I understand the Trump administrations Syria policy. In western Syria, we will assist the forces fighting against ISIS; in eastern Syria, we will enforce former president Obamas alleged red line on chemical weapons, but otherwise stay out of the fight.

However, statements yesterday from top Trump administration officials make me wonder about the second prong of its Syria policy, thus understood. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. sees no further role for Bashar al-Assad as Syrias leader. And U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley tweeted: After todays vote to hold Syria accountable its: A strong day for the US, a weak day for Russia, a new day for China & doomsday for Assad. (emphasis added)

Does this mean that the Trump administration intends to engage Syria (and Russia) militarily in contexts other than responding to the use of chemical weapons? Or is the U.S. simply back in Obama administration mode, delivering Kerryesque utterances about it being time for Assad to go, but declining to undertake action that might topple him?

The missile attack on Assads air base hurt Russias prestige. Yet, Russia still holds all of the important cards in Syria. Putin and his allies are by far the dominant military power in eastern Syria. The U.S. is not a serious military player there.

Unless this changes, it seems silly to talk about Assad facing doomsday or having no further role in Syria. Haleys comment strikes me as particularly naive. Since when do U.N. votes to hold countries accountable spell the end of the offending regime?

I support President Trumps military response to Assads latest use of chemical weapons. It sends the right message  and not just to Syria and Russia  and may well deter future chemical attacks.

But it does nothing to alter the military equation in eastern Syria. That equation cannot be reversed on the cheap.

As long as Trump remains unwilling to undertake a serious military commitment to overthrowing Assad, I dont see the purpose served by the rhetoric of Tillerson and Haley.
The beef between 2face Idibia and his former band mate, Blackface, might not be ending anytime soon. This is because Blackface has once again accused 2face, real name Innocent Idibia, of dissing him in his latest single, titled Holy Holy.

In the lengthy Instagram post on Thursday afternoon, Blackface, real name Ahmedu Obiabo, claimed that he was behind 2faces stardom. He also accused 2face of being behind his stalled career because he allegedly asked promoters not to book him (Blackface) for shows in the last 8 years.

He said, Now for the record 2face if I didnt work with you in Plantashun Boiz and asked you to sing one of the quickest song I ever I wrote, African Queen, you wouldnt have had a big hit as it is termed. Next to that is my song Let Somebody Love You which you sang without my permission and your manager Efe Omoregie published it illegally which we will get to the bottom of.

Speaking further, Blackface also alleged that of all the artistes he had ever worked with 2face gave him the most issues.

This is because youre a lazy artist despite all your gifts and when you found out I was making new artistes famous and I was improving vocally you got jealous and planned the industry to sabotage me and you kept making music about it like one of your lines said dem never know wetin wan hit dem them wan follow them because you and your creepy agents planned it all

He added that 2face sang a lot about him in his songs and that contrary to public opinion, 2face is the one filled with hate and envy and is aware of this fact.

That is why I named you 2face OK. Whats the name of that club you guys had the meeting again? You killed Plantashun Boiz because of your 2face nature and same way you wanted doing a protest for your pocket and it was wrong timing.

I saved you cause you for dey for jail but you never grateful but pained over someone growing and development hence una plan make dem no gimme showwell 8years of sabotage and am still here and am still inspiring you and for that even if you hate me you should still be thankful to me still, Blackface said.

When PREMIUM TIMES reached out to 2faces camp for a comment, repeated calls were not answered. Blackface however agreed to grant PREMIUM TIMES a no holds barred interview when our correspondent contacted him.

The renewed beef between the dancehall veteran, and 2face Idibia began on January 25, 2016 when Blackface in a series tweets lashed out at 2face and his manager accusing them of stealing his intellectual property. He threatened to take them to court.

Not long after, 2face responded to him describing the statements by Blackface as unfortunate.

Blackface is best known as co-writer of African Queen with 2face, a song made famous by the latter after it appeared on his debut solo album Face 2 Face in 2004 to become an international hit.

Blackface was a founding member of the Nigerian band Plantashun Boiz that he formed in 2000 with 2face and musician Chibuzor Oji (better known as Faze).

Blackface and 2face met in 1996 when they were studying at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Enugu. Faze joined a brief while later.

The Plantashun Boiz released two successful albums, Body and Soul in 2000 and Sold Out in 2003. The band broke up in 2004, to be briefly reunited in 2007 for just one more album Plan B.

Although he kept sustainable relations with Faze, his rift with 2face widened, particularly over the rights to the song African Queen.

After the Plantashun Boiz split up in 2004, Blackface led a solo musical career. He released the hip-hop album Ghetto Child in May 2004 collaborating with a number of artists. The album contains Hard Life featuring Alabai as the first single. He also recorded a full album for his crew D Tribunal called What We Are.

After Ghetto Child, he released Evergreen, Jungle Fever, Me, Musiq and I, Dancehall Business and the prospective Defender. In 2013, he made a collaborative album 200 with Maine Eazz.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, management on Thursday confirmed PREMIUM TIMES exclusive reports on the retirement of some of its top officials as a fallout of the recent N14 billion missing petrol scandal that rocked the national oil company.

On Sunday, this newspaper exclusively reported that top officials indicted by a committee constituted to probe the scandal involving Capital Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited owned by businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah, were recommended for immediate retirement. The NNPC, on Sunday, confirmed the compulsory retirement of three of the officials.

Although the committees initial recommendation was for outright dismissal from service of the staff for their alleged roles in the scandal, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the top management of the NNPC later converted their dismissal to retirement.

In a statement on Thursday, the NNPC announced the immediate retirement of three of the officials, and redeployment of four others, in line with the ongoing reforms.

The statement by the NNPC spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, listed the retired staff to include Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, who was the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited; Alpha Mamza, Executive Director, Operations, NNPC Retail Limited, and Kayode Erinoso, Manager, Distribution, NNPC Retail Limited.

Mr. Ughamadu said those deployed to take over from the retired officials included Adeyemi Adetunji as Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited; Lawal Bello, Executive Director, Operations, NNPC Retail Limited; Affiong Akpasubi, Executive Director, Services, NNPC Retail Limited, and Agwandas Andrawus, Manager, Distribution, NNPC Retail Limited.

He said all the appointments take effect immediately.

Until his latest assignment, Mr. Adetunji was the General Manager, Strategy & Planning, Gas & Power and former General Manager, Transformation Office of the NNPC.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, charged the deployed staff to remain committed to their duties in line with the transformation aspirations of his management.

The retired officials were on Tuesday served their letters directing them to proceed on compulsory retirement immediately.

They were found culpable in the scandal involving about 130 million litres missing petrol stored in the tank farms of Capital Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited and MRS Petroleum Limited.

Although MRS Petroleum managed to clear its name over the scandal with the NNPC management, the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Henry Ikem-Obih, said the state oil firm was still having problems with Capital Oil.

Mr., Ikem-Obih said the company Chairman, Ifeanyi Ubah was yet to offer any acceptable explanations as to why the entire stock of products kept in his companys storage facilities were sold off without the knowledge of NNPC Retail and the parent company.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Thursday Mr. Ubah, who has been a guest of the Department of State Security, DSS in the past two weeks since the scandal broke, has not been able to meet the conditions by the security agencies to secure his release.

A source close to the presidency said the security operatives were directed to keep Mr. Ubah with them for as long as it would take to extract from him a commitment to an acceptable repayment schedule for the full value of the petroleum product that was sold from its custody estimated at about N14 billion.

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A former senior legislator in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province was on Thursday sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Gai Ruyin, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial Peoples Congress, was also fined $291,300 and ordered to return all this ill-gotten gains by the First Intermediate Peoples Court of Tianjin, north China.

The court found Gai guilty of taking advantage of his various positions in Heilongjiang to help others secure projects, business opportunities and promotions from 2003 to 2015, according to a press release.

In return, he accepted money and property amounting to more than 23 million yuan personally or through other people, the court said.

The court decided to be lenient as Gai pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, returned his illegal gains and offered information about other crimes.

(Xinhua/NAN)

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The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that Russian authorities handling of the deadly 2004 school siege in Beslan involved serious failings.

In its ruling in a case brought by survivors and victims relatives, the court found that security forces use of weapons such as tank cannon, grenade launchers and flame-throwers was excessive and contributed to casualties among the hostages.

Russian authorities had been aware of plans for a terrorist attack relating to an educational institution in the area, but had not taken sufficient action to stop the terrorists or protect the school, the court ruled.

No fewer than 330 people, including more than 180 children, were killed, and several hundred wounded, in the September 1, 2004, terrorist attack.

Heavily armed Islamists from the North Caucasus region took more than 1,100 hostages at a school in the south-western Russian town.

The situation ended with several explosions and protracted gun fight.

The case brought by survivors and victims relatives argues that Russian security forces excessive use of force caused many deaths and that the negotiations with the hostage takers were conducted badly.

In its reaction, the Kremlin on Thursday denounced the European court ruling.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: it is unacceptable for the European Court of Human Rights to conclude that the Russian authorities did not undertake sufficient measures to prevent a 2004 terrorist attack on a school in the southern Russian town of Beslan.

The case was brought by 409 Russian nationals, who either survived the attack or are related to victims.

(dpa/NAN)

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The Syrian army on Thursday said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition struck a chemical weapons depot controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Syria, killing hundreds, including civilians.

The army in a statement said that the U.S.-led airstrikes targeted the big depot containing chemical materials in the town of Hatleh in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour on Wednesday.

The army added that large numbers of civilians were among those killed due to the suffocation caused by the spread of the toxic materials.

The army said the explosion of the arms depot left a big white cloud, which turned into yellow.

This incident is a sign of the coordination between the terrorist groups and the powers supporting them to find pretexts to frame the Syrian army and accuse it of using chemical weapons, the army said.

On April 5, the opposition accused the Syrian government air force of firing toxic gas on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

At the time, the Syrian government rejected the accusations, blaming the rebels of storing chemical materials in the targeted area.

The U.S. was quick to accuse the government, launching a missile strike against Syrias largest airbase, causing damages and killing six soldiers and nine civilians.

This time, the military statement said that the terrorist groups, including IS and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are in possession of chemical weapons.

The army said terrorist groups are capable of obtaining, and stockpiling such weapons with the help of well-known regional countries and that what Syria has been warning against in every instance the rebels used chemical weapons against civilians and government forces.

(Xinhua/NAN)

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The United States military has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb on an area in eastern Afghanistan controlled by Isis-affiliated militants.

This is the first time the over 10,000 kilogramme bomb which was designed by the US Air Force in 2002 will be used in combat, the Pentagon stated.

The bomb also commonly known as the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) was dropped on a network of tunnels used by the militants in Achin district, Nangarhar Province close to the border with Pakistan.

White House spokesperson, Sean Spicer, in a press conference on Thursday said the military did everything to prevent civilian deaths.

The U.S. takes the fight against ISIS very seriously, he added.

The GPS-guided bomb was delivered by parachute from a C-130 Hercules military cargo plane. The Pentagon said the mission has been planned for moths but did not say whether the planning started during the last administration of President Barack Obama.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against Isis, John Nicholson, a general and head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement.

As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K, Mr Nicholson added.

The U.S. dropped the bomb as it plans to send more military personnel to Afghanistan as advisers to train the Afghan military which has been struggling in recent times against growing ISIS influence in the country.

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Two days after Patience Jonathan was blocked from withdrawing from the $5.8 million she deposited in Skye Bank, the financial institution has explained its action.

Mrs. Jonathan had on Monday visited the Maitama Branch of Skye Bank in Abuja, seeking to withdraw from her account.

The move followed an April 6 court order that lifted restrictions on the former First Ladys account as a result of an ongoing litigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

But bank officials declined to initiate any transaction for Mrs. Jonathan, despite spending time in the banks premises.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Skye Banks head of corporate communication, said the bank had received a stay of execution order filed by the anti-graft agency prior to Mrs. Jonathans visit to the bank.

Mr. Bolarinwa confirmed that the bank was also notified of an appeal by the EFCC against the court order.

The EFCC had told PREMIUM TIMES in a separate enquiry Wednesday morning that it had appealed the order and also asked for a stay of execution of the judgement.

We have appealed the order, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, said in a telephone interview.

The EFCC had in November 2016 filed an application before the court, seeking an order to unfreeze the account.

The commission had contended that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. The court granted the order but reversed it last Thursday on the grounds that she was not a party to the suit leading to the freezing order.

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Two soldiers were killed in Rivers State on Wednesday after they responded to a distress call by heavily armed sea robbers, the Army has said.

Abubakar Abdullahi, a spokesperson for the Army, confirmed the incident in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES.

Our troops deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel while responding to a distress call of sea robbers attack around Ijawkiri general area engaged heavily armed sea robbers, Mr. Abdullahi, a major, said.

Unfortunately, two gallant soldiers exhibited highest point of patriotism by paying supreme price, while three others sustained gunshot injuries.

The spokesperson said efforts are ongoing by the Joint Task Force to track and apprehend the criminals.

Mr. Abdullahi also said soldiers of the Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed 13 illegal refineries also in Rivers State

In continuation of its drive to accomplish its mandate, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE on patrol around Iyalama Adama axis of Rivers State, yesterday discovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries, he said.

Mr. Abdullahi said no arrest was made from the destruction.

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday reassured Nigerians that his administration would do everything necessary to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls.

It will be exactly three years, on Friday, since over 270 girls were kidnapped from the Chibok Secondary School in Borno by the Boko Haram.

About 195 of the girls are still believed to be with their abductors.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on Tuesday told PREMIUM TIMES and others that the government was in negotiation with the Boko Haram to free the remaining girls.

In a message to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, President Buhari noted that his administration was willing to bend over backwards to make the abductors of the girls release them.

According to him, the Federal Government has engaged local and international intermediaries in reaching out to members of Boko Haram for the safe release of the Chibok girls.

Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls.

We have reached out to their captors through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of all the girls.

I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children.

I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities.

Mr. Buhari stated that Nigerians had every reason to celebrate the return of 24 of the Chibok schoolgirls as well as thousands of other Nigerians who were abducted by the terrorists.

He said government was in constant touch through negotiations and local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed.

As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families, he added.

According to the President, government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life.

He expressed appreciation to the parents and families of the abducted girls that had endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children.

He appealed to the parents and all Nigerians not to lose hope on the return of the remaining schoolgirls.

My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children.

I feel what you feel. Your children are my children. On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls.

Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram.

Mr. Buhari commended the Lake Chad Basin countries, friendly nations and international partners, who at various points in the last three years had offered their support for Nigeria.

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Four days after three four police officers and an army captain were killed by armed persons in Lagos, another three police officers have been killed in a different Lagos community.

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the killing of three of its officers and two community leaders by unidentified gunmen at Oko-Asagun village in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the gunmen also abducted four staff of two Telecommunication companies in the Wednesday attack

The Lagos Police Commands Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the incident, said the police officers killed, were taken by surprise.

He said the command was after the suspected gunmen, assuring that measures would be taken to ensure the release of those held captive

The gunmen had stormed the place from Ode-Omi creek, a border town between Lagos and Ogun States, to commit the crime.

A witness, Jude Ajagun, said those abducted were staff of TYDACOM Limited and Erickson Limited.

We were working in a site being developed by one Onoside, who contracted us.

While on duty, we started hearing sporadic gunshots and we scampered for safety; I hid beside some blocks, while I was watching the scene.

I saw about six heavily armed men; three were wearing mask and they sighted three policemen attached to an estate developer and shot them dead.

Two other civilians were also shot while four others were injured.

The gunmen thereafter, abducted four staff of Telecom companies and marched them towards Ode-Omi, Mr. AJagun said.

A staff of Ericson, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had been keeping vigil since Wednesday.

He said that as at Thursday, the gunmen were yet to establish contact with the company.

We are expecting a call from them to know what they want as ransom, but they have not established contact with us.

We are appealing to the kidnappers to tamper justice with mercy as those abducted are innocent.

They should treat them with human face in the spirit of Easter, he pleaded. (NAN)

The latest attack comes four days after the police confirmed the killing of four of its officers and an army captain in Ikorodu area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, said the command was working with sister security agencies to arrest the suspected militants that killed the officials in Ikorodu.

Mr. Owoseni made the promise in a statement on Sunday while responding to the killings.

The commissioner said that the officers were killed while trying to rescue some people abducted by the unidentified gunmen.

At about 1a.m of today Sunday April 9, the Police received distress call that a group of militants/kidnappers had entered Owutu-Isawo in Ikorodu through the thick swampy forest surrounding the area.

They were reported to have kidnapped some residents. In response, the Police and the Army immediately mobilised personnel to the area, where the kidnapped victims were rescued.

Sadly, however, five out of the gallant, brave and patriotic officers lost their lives during the rescue operation. One of them is a Nigerian Army Captain, while the remaining four are policemen. One of the residents in the area also died.

We pray that the God Almighty reward their loyalty to the nation with paradise and grant their souls peaceful rest.

We also pray that God gives their respective families the courage to bear the loss, Mr. Owoseni said.

The Command will like to assure the public that with synergy from sister security agencies, the criminal elements involved in this dastardly act shall be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

We will continue to rely on the good people of Lagos State for useful information and their partnership, he said.

The commissioner said that the officers were killed while trying to rescue some people abducted by the unidentified gunmen, stressing that one army Captain and a civilian were among the six persons killed.

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The whistle blowing policy of the Federal Government appears to be paying off as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday announced that it uncovered foreign currencies and Naira notes to the tune of $43.4 million, 27,800 and N23.2 million at a four-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The total amount of money recovered at the current Central Bank exchange rate is over N13 billion.

The operation followed a confidential information received by the Commissions Lagos office regarding some suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building.

Another source who is conversant with the apartment indicated that a woman usually appeared on different occasions with Ghana Must Go bags, the EFCC said.

She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didnt quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise, the source said.

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On getting to the building, operatives who were armed with a search warrant, met the entrance door locked. The guards at the gate explained that nobody resides in the apartment, but some persons come in and out once in a while. The EFCC operatives used minimum force to enter the apartment, the statement said.

Monies were found in two of the four bedroom apartment. Further probe of the wardrobe by operatives in one of the rooms, yielded three fire proof cabinets hidden behind wooden panels of the wardrobe. Upon assessing the content of the cabinets, neatly arranged US Dollars, Pound Sterling and some Naira notes in sealed wrappers were found.

The funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity while investigations are ongoing, the EFCC said.

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Lectures resumed on Wednesday at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, following the suspension of the one week warning strike embarked upon by the institutions branch of the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria Universities, ASUU.

The suspension of the strike was confirmed by the chairman of ASUU in the institution, Deji Omole.

We have suspended our strike since yesterday after a Congress, the professor told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday morning.

The don, however, warned that the lecturers may go on a full-blown strike soon especially as issues that led to the strike are still there.

When asked how soon they could embark on the total strike, Mr. Omole said, We will submit our Congress resolution to the National body today and we will tell them that the issues are still there. Then we will pick it from there but we may likely go on a total strike.

The don said what the lecturers achieved with the one week strike was being able to tell the public what they face.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the students of the university began to attend classes in their various departments as soon as they heard the news of the suspension of the strike in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mr. Omole had announced on April 4 that the union would embark on the one week strike the following day to compel the university administration to address pending welfare matters affecting its members.

The issues include the shortfall and fractional payment of salaries of members, illegal pension deductions, non-payment of postgraduate supervision allowance, non-payment of promotion arrears, and the refusal of the university to conduct a credible and transparent staff audit.

Others are failure to make regularly available the universitys internally generated revenue, IGR, profile and immediate reversal of illicit deductions.

The nations premier university had been hit by crises lately, especially between the students and the management.

Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of the university recently suspended their three weeks strike.

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The Managing Director of Abuja Investments Company Limited, AICL, Ahmed Musa, has been suspended over his ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Sources familiar with the development told PREMIUM TIMES the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, ordered Mr. Musas suspension on Wednesday with immediate effect.

Mr. Bello directed Salisu Abdulsalam, a lawyer and group company secretary, to act as the MD of AICL during the course of Mr. Musas suspension, sources said.

Mr. Abdulsalam had been with the agency since 2000.

Curiously, he is also being investigated by the EFCC and was recently granted administrative bail, sources said.

Mr. Musa had been under investigation by EFCC on allegations of fraudulent diversion and breach of extant procuremrnt provisions to the tune of N1.1 billion.

His ordeal came as a result of an anonymous petition from an AICL whistleblower, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Mr. Musa, who had led AICL since October 2011, was first invited by the EFCC on March 20 and granted bail three days later.

He was allegedly detained again on April 5 and operatives conducted a search of his properties across Abuja, sources said.

The ministers media adviser, Abubakar Sani, did not immediately return requests for comments.

A spokesperson for the AICL, Segun Ogunsola, declined to confirm or deny the development.

Please write a letter to the office for any enquiry, he said.

Mr. Musa himself declined comments to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.

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As candidates prepare for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has formed a common synergy with Nigerian Army to secure the Computer Based Tests, CBT, centres with a view to having a hitch free examination.

A statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson of JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Is-haq Oloyede, at a meeting with the military high command in Abuja solicited for the intervention and cooperation of the Nigerian Army in the forthcoming examination.

While commending the Nigerian Army for uniting the country particularly the feat it recorded in the insurgency war and restoring peace in other turbulent areas, Mr. Oloyede outlined his mission to the Defence Headquarters.

He said, We are here to thank you for the wonderful job you have been doing, all Nigerians are happy with you for the wonderful feat you have recorded in the discharge of your duties, and your quest for an indivisible and united country.

He pointed out that the mandate of JAMB was to conduct matriculation examination and place suitably qualified candidates desirous of qualitative education to all Nigerian tertiary institutions adding that the Board was at the verge of the first process hence the need to secure the venues, candidates and examination officials.

This need became imperative to seek for security intervention from the Army, particularly in turbulent areas, he said.

The Registrar noted that over 678 centres across the country against the last years figure of 650 CBT centres would be put to use with estimated 1.5 million candidates for the examination, adding that 1.237 million candidates have already submitted their applications.

Mr. Oloyede also told the Chief of Army staff that there was collaboration with Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, to airlift candidates in riverine areas to their CBT centres.

He pleaded that the army chief intervene as the NLNG intervention though noble was not enough.

The JAMB registrar while listing some security prone areas like the North-East, South-South among others, noted that the process of seeking admission through the conduct of examination should not be truncated, adding that the sight of security presence during the examination would give the candidates a high level of satisfaction and confidence.

The JAMB Chief Executive informed the Army management that this year, the Board is capturing candidates ten fingers to forestall any incidence of multiple registration as noticed with previous years registration. He said the Board also insisted on profile creation and other processes to strengthen the education data and ensure that candidates do not go through hell years after graduating from tertiary institutions.

Nigerian were urged to support the Board as the benefits of all these policies to the candidates and national statistics are far much more than the present difficulties being experience by candidates and parents.

In a remark the Chief of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, described the visit as unique and symbolic stating that the military would ensure that there is peace and harmony in the country.

He said as part of their constitutional responsibility, the Nigerian Army would continue to uphold and make sure that the task given to them is accomplished.

He said some of the flash points pointed by the Registrar are not only safe but habitable and he disclosed that normalcy, particularly in the North east has returned even as he promised to deploy troop for more surveillance and protection during the period stated for the examination.

The Chief of Training and operations was directed to liaise with officers and men on ground to strengthen the security of the centres and officials particularly those in turbulent states.

Mr. Buratai pointed out that JAMB examination is a national assignment and as such the military high command would not allow any candidates dream and desire for tertiary education to be truncated because of insecurity.

The Chief of Army staff who was a product of JAMB promised to give all the necessary logistic to make the examination a success.

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Developing countries have been tasked to increase their current national spending to provide safe and reliable service on water and sanitation so as to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets on universal access to safely managed water and sanitation services by 2030.

A newly published report by the World Health Organisation WHO on behalf of UN-Water  the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues, including sanitation, concluded that countries are not increasing spending fast enough to meet the water and sanitation targets under the SDGs.

The report stresses that countries will not meet global aspirations of universal access to safe drinking-water and sanitation unless steps are taken to use financial resources more efficiently and increase efforts to identify new sources of funding

According to the press release by the health agency, in order to meet the SDG global targets, the World Bank estimates investments in infrastructure need to triple to $114 billion per year  a figure which does not include operating and maintenance costs.

Nigeria is one of such developing countries where about half of its over 150 million citizens lack access to potable water. While many of the residents of the urban areas provide water for themselves by either constructing boreholes or buying water from those who construct, millions who live in the villages still get their water from streams and rivers.

Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health said almost two billion people use a source of drinking-water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.

Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause more than 500 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year and is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases, including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, she added.

Statistics from to Water Aid Nigeria, shows that over 63 million Nigerians have no choice but to get water from wherever they can. About 45,000 children under five years old die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

According to the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) 2017 report, countries have increased their budgets for water, sanitation and hygiene at an annual average rate of 4.9 per cent over the last three years.

Yet, 80 per cent of countries report that water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) financing is still insufficient to meet nationally-defined targets for WASH services.

In many developing countries, the current national coverage targets are based on achieving access to basic infrastructure, which may not always provide continuously safe and reliable services as planned investments have yet to take into account the much more ambitious SDG targets, which aim for universal access to safely managed water and sanitation services by 2030, the report stated.

Guy Ryder, Chair of UN-Water and Director-General of the International Labour Organization said this is a challenge the world has the ability to solve as increased investments in water and sanitation can yield substantial benefits for human health and development, generate employment and make sure that we leave no one behind.

According to the organisation, the official development assistance (ODA) disbursements for water and sanitation are increasing, but future investments are uncertain.

Water and sanitation ODA disbursements (spending) increased from $6.3 to $7.4 billion from 2012 to 2015.

However, aid commitments for water and sanitation have declined since 2012 from $10.4 billion to $8.2 billion in 2015, it added.

It stated that due to the multi-year nature of commitments, if commitments were to continue to decrease, it is likely that future disbursements would also decrease and considering the greater needs to make progress towards universal access to safely managed WASH services under the SDG targets, the possibility of future reductions in aid disbursements is at odds with global aspirations.

According to the report, safe drinking-water and sanitation are crucial to human welfare, by supporting health and livelihoods and helping to create healthy environments.

Drinking unsafe water impairs human health through illnesses such as diarrhoea, and untreated sewage can contaminate drinking-water supplies and the environment, creating a heavy burden on communities, it added.

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As the Federal Government begins to implement its innovation and technology initiatives with the establishment of hubs in each of the six geo-political zones, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo announced on Thursday that Yola, Adamawa State would host the innovation hub for the North-East region.

Mr. Osinbajo, who spoke earlier on Thursday in Jimeta, at the commissioning of several road projects completed by the Adamawa State Government, expressed hope regarding the economy that we are seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Below is the speech of the Vice President at the event which was hosted by Governor Mohammed Jubrilla, and attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Minister of the FCT, Muhammadu Bello.



I am very pleased that I am in Adamawa State, the land of beauty and a State that will one day become Nigerias number one state!

I bring you very warm greetings from your great in-law and the President/ Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is an even greater pleasure to be here also to witness the great works of my brother, your governor, Senator Mohammed Umar Jubrilla Bindow. l see for myself that change has come to Adamawa and I am pleased to see also that peace has come even in places like Madagali, which was war-torn and several other places.

I am also pleased to witness peace and love that exists among the political leaders in Adamawa State.

His Excellency Wilberforce Juta, (former Gongola State Governor) made that point very clear that of the governors very many achievements, that of being a bridge-builder and a unifier is perhaps his most important attribute.

During the campaigns in 2014/2015, the President made it clear that he had three major objectives: security, corruption and economy. We have seen the successes in security and the fight against corruption and in the economy, we are seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

A major concern of Mr. President is the issue of unemployment and even yesterday he was talking about what he could do in the short term to create more opportunities for the youths.

One of the programmes of our party and one of the programmes of government is the N-Power programme, which has10,000 spaces for young graduates in this state. l hope that many young graduates would be able to benefit from this scheme.

There is also the GEEP programme of Micro-Credit for market women, artisans, for vocational persons who have vocational skills. A lot of the micro-credit is now available and I am sure that in the next couple of months we would be able to benefit from it in this State.

We started a project with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American University of Nigeria, Yola, and other institutions of higher learning on how we can use technology to solve the humanitarian problems in the North-East.

The Federal Governments proposed innovation hub for the North-East will be here in Adamawa State in partnership with the American University and other institutions.

The first step will be a mega-fund working with the ICRC Global Innovation Team which will give an opportunity to the internally displaced persons to become active part of the process to provide solution to the problem they face every day using technology. This will give Nigeria an opportunity to work with international organisations to export innovative humanitarian solutions to other parts of the world.

But we are here today at the Faro junction to commission this state-of-the-art road network and this again is one of the major demonstrations of the excellent works the governor has been doing and I am exceptionally pleased to be associated with the success he has made in a very short time.

As have been said, l have been here now three times but now that l am the Jagaban of Adamawa State, l intend to get myself a small place here to live so that every once in a while l can come and spend my weekend and holiday here in Adamawa State.

I thank you all for your warm hospitality, let me borrow the words of Senator Jonathan Zwingina, I Thank you very much indeed.

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The suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has said that there is currently no ruling party in the nation, citing disorganisation of the party as reason for his stance.

Speaking at an interview with journalists in Abuja, Thursday, Mr. Frank said the APC was more disorganised than the opposition People Democratic Party, which has been bedevilled by leadership crisis.

Today, practically I dont even think we have a party. The party today is in disarray, there is confusion. I think we are even more disorganised than the opposition, he said.

I challenge anybody who will come out and say we are not disorganised; I have every proof to show that we are even more disorganised than the opposition.

Mr. Frank was suspended last year following the recommendation of a five-member panel, which investigated his alleged disparaging comments against the party in the media.

He did not appear before the committee, which he described as a kangaroo panel.

He had been critical of the partys national leadership, particularly the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, who he repeatedly claimed was not fit to run the ruling party.

Mr. Franks main grouse was that he was not elevated to the position of the national publicity secretary when its former occupant, Lai Mohammed, was appointed information minister in 2015.

The deputy spokesperson of the party told journalists on Thursday that despite his suspension, he was still acting in that office and vowed not to relent in the efforts to put the party back on track.

He expressed disappointment at Mr. Odigie-Oyeguns position on the April convention of the party.

He said, Its very disappointing; if the chairman can come out and say we will have a convention in April; then suddenly he reversed himself with an embarrassing statement that we cannot have the convention because we have no money. This is very embarrassing for a ruling party.

There was no time when we were in PDP, PDP will come out and say such. A party with over 19 governors? A convention is a very important issue. If I was the national chairman I would have resigned. A ruling party does not need to beg for money, all you need is to have a strong agenda.

During the time of Baba Akande, he was acting chairman. That was my best time in the party. During that time, with less governors and no president, but we could come up to hold our convention. the party had money, we were paying salaries at that time, today we cannot pay salaries at the secretariat; even light bills we cannot pay.

On his alleged rift with Mr. Odigie-Oyegun, Mr. Frank said it was not personal, insisting that he only wanted the party to succeed.

My problem with Oyegun is not personal. I want this party to succeed. The role I played to bring this change government, so many ministers did not do that much, but we are not complaining.

The national chairman of the ruling party in Kenya is 30 years old. The party is doing well. If a 30-year-old man can run a party so well, why cant I?

If Oyegun today steps down someone from the South-South where I come from will emerge leader of the party. I am not complaining because I want to be the chairman, there is so much crisis in this party.

You can see that up till now we do not have a BOT. During the days of the PDP, we had the NWC and the NEC. Final decisions were usually taken by the NEC, but today the NWC has been exhibiting so much impunity.

Mr. Frank reiterated his earlier stance that the party might die if it failed to address current challenges militating against the success of this administration.

Until our party we get it right, we should not expect anything good in 2019. The votes of Nigerians will and must count in 2019 as it did in 2015. If the people voted us in, 2015; then they can equally vote us out, if they are not happy, said Mr. Frank.

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The Nigeria Police Force say normalcy has been restored in Damaturu, Yobe after the clash between some personnel of the police and the Nigerian Army.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the clash occurred in the early hours of Wednesday in Damaturu.

A statement issued by the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said that a joint investigation team had been constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff.

This is aimed at uncovering the causes of the incident and deal with the situation appropriately to prevent such occurrence in the future, he said.

Mr. Moshood noted that Police and the Nigerian Army have had a long good working relationship that could not be compromised.

He said that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 12, Bauchi, and the Commissioner of Police in Yobe, to sustain the normalcy that has been restored.

The Inspector General of Police hereby enjoins members of the public in Damaturu and other parts of Yobe State to go about their lawful activities without fear or apprehension Moshood said.

He said that the renewed determination of the police to continue the fight against insurgency with other security agencies remained unequivocal and unwavering.

(NAN)

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Petty traders in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, have protested the demolition of their makeshift shops situated along major roads in the city by the state government.

The shops were demolished allegedly as part of measures to beautify the city in readiness to receive Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is said to expected to visit the state Thursday.

Some of the traders who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES complained that the action of the state government was nothing but wicked, which, they said, has thrown many families into economic hardship.

This Osinbajo visit is more of a calamity to us; they destroyed our shops and forced us out of business, one of the traders who simply identified himself as Vandi said.

Mr. Vandi said the demolition exercise was like a dream to the traders as they always thought Governor Mohammed Jibrilla, who has a business background, would never take any measure that could be detrimental to traders engaged in legal businesses.

Commenting on the development, the chairman of the fruit sellers and vegetables association in the state, Abubakar Maidama, decried that the government did not involve the association in the demolition even if it was taken in good faith.

Mr. Maidama said the action of the government amounts to creating social malice because petty traders who are battling to make ends meet as a result of the present economic crunch have been thrown out of business.

We fruit sellers believe in clean environment, but our grouse is that there was no consultation between our members and the government. So, what do you expect us do? Go to the streets and start begging to survive or take to crime to make ends meet?

Had government consulted us, we could have join hands with them in providing solutions to the problem at hand.

But a situation whereby government just woke up one day and start chasing our members and other petty traders forcefully from the roads without provision for an option leaves much to be desired, Mr. Maidama said.

Another aggrieved petty trader, Abdullahi Didike accused the task force of being selective in their demolition and clearing of roadside kiosks.

Mr. Didike was of the view that if the exercise was genuine, it should go across board, not minding status or political affiliations.

Government gave an excuse that the exercise is for the proposed visit of the Vice President Osinbajo to the state on Thursday.

Does it mean that if the vice president is visiting Adamawa, those that voted for him should be sent packing or they should be cut off from their businesses, he asked.

Defending the governments position, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Abubakar Magaji, said the state acted constitutionally.

Mr. Magaji said the states laws provide conditions that must be met by buildings situated along major roads and that drainages must be protected; thus, hinting that the demolished shops violated state laws.

He also accused the traders of dumping refuse in the recently constructed drainages and that some people had started destroying the newly constructed road networks in the state capital.

The commissioner, however, appealed to the affected traders to understand the governments action which, he said, was made in the best interest of everybody.

He said the action had nothing to do with the vice presidents expected visit.

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The Federal Government is working hard to ensure the reopening of Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok, Borno for normal academic activities in the 2017/2018 session, an official has said.

Tijjani Tumsah, the Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

Some 276 female students of GGSS, Chibok, located in Borno South Senatorial District, were abducted by members of Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, and 50 of them escaped from their abductors.

Among the remaining 219, the government negotiated the release of 21 by the sect in 2016, while three others escaped on their own.

About 195 of the kidnapped students are still believed to be in the custody of the Boko Haram.

Mr. Tumsah said all necessary security measures were being taken to avert a recurrence of the April 2014 incident.

We intend to finish with the school before next session and make it functional for educational activities to pick up.

We have varieties of programmes, including psycho-social and counselling programmes for women and girls and community engagements.

In terms of the structure itself, the school has to be fortified in terms of early warning systems to protect the girls.

A whole lot of issues that have been planned to ensure the safety and comfort of the students of the school judging by the previous unfortunate incident, he said.

Mr. Tumsah said the committee would implement relevant programmes that would boost education, which had suffered a setback through Boko Haram activities in the North-East.

He said the committee was contemplating suitable programmes that would help in de-radicalising the youth in keeping with the Muhammadu Buhari administrations plan of action.

He said some the activities would include providing the youth with opportunities to acquire vocational skills as well as the adoption of steps that would address the causes of the insurgency and charting the way forward.

(NAN)

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Five principals in Ebonyi State have been demoted by the state government for their involvement in examination malpractice in the 2016 Senior Schools Certificate Examination.

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, John Ekeh, announced this while speaking with journalists on Thursday.

The sanction followed the report of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, indicting 20 schools and some officials of complicity in examination malpractice.

According to Mr. Ekeh, a professor, the five principals of public secondary schools indicted have been demoted while 25 other teachers and supervisors involved will be paid half salaries for three months.

He said the 15 private schools indicted in the report will not be allowed to participate in SSCE for one year while they will pay fine of N100,000 into government coffers to serve as a deterrent to others.

He noted that out of the 20 schools indicted, five are public schools while 15 are private schools.

Mr. Ekeh said the five principals indicted were demoted to classroom teachers.

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Five persons, including a toddler, were on Thursday killed and three others injured in an auto crash in new Makun axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Public Relations Officer, Traffic Compliance and Enlightenment Agency, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES, said the accident involved a truck and a passenger bus.

He attributed the crash to heavy down pour coupled with over speeding of the commercial Mazda bus with registration number LSD 454 XT which rammed into the truck.

Mr. Akinbiyi said the bus had no functional wiper for its windscreen during rainfall, which blurred the vision of the driver resulting in the accident.

He said the impact of the collision resulted in the death of the five victims in the bus, who were traveling alongside other occupants.

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who was travelling from Iperu to Lagos met the accident, the official said.

He said the governors convoy had to stop to help take the victims to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Mr. Akinbiyi said the corpses had being deposited in the morgue, while the injured were receiving treatment.

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The presence in Poland of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the US army creates a chance that such dramatic developments in Poland's history like in 1939 and 1940 will never repeat themselves, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday.

President Duda met on Thursday with General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. May be of interest to you President Duda decorates US general

The president told a joint press conference that in a few hours together with the US general they would attend an official welcome ceremony of NATO's Multinational Battalion Battle Group in Orzysz, north-eastern Poland.

President Duda stressed that the moment of the official welcome of the Multinational Battalion Battle Group was in a way historic. "It is also symbolic. Today is the Day of Remembrance of the Katyn Massacre perpetrated in April 1940 on defenceless Polish soldiers, representatives of Polish intelligentsia because the allies had not kept their word, because Poland fell victim to two types of aggression from the two sides, and because Poland was erased from the map and the Polish army was unable to fight against two invaders since the allies did not help", the president stressed.

The Katyn Massacre was a series of executions in which ap. 22,000 Polish officers and members of the intelligentsia were murdered at the hands of the Soviets.

"Today, the presence in Poland of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the US army, the biggest army in the world and the biggest NATO army, is proof that the world has been changing and is a chance that such dramatic developments in Poland's history like in 1939 and 1940 will never repeat themselves", the Polish president said.

Poland is aware of the obligations stemming from its NATO membership, President Andrzej Duda stressed at a Thursday meeting. "Poland understands that apart from the issue of its security, understood directly as strengthening Poland's security here, there is also the issue of building by the Alliance, including Poland, the security in international space". In this context he pointed to commitments made by Poland in the Middle East, where "both Polish soldiers and Polish equipment are present". In this context he reiterated the participation of Polish F-16 fighter planes in reconnaissance missions against the Islamic State and the presence of Polish troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. "We are serious about our allied commitments. (...) We are thinking not only about ourselves, but also about others and we are looking at the Alliance as a single whole", the president assured.



Later in the day the president and the US general will attend an official welcome ceremony of NATO's Multinational Battalion Battle Group in Orzysz, north-eastern Poland. (PAP)
Only together will we be able to create sufficient potential to partner the world's leading powers, President Andrzej Duda said at a Wednesday meeting with Warsaw-convened Visegrad Group (V4) foreign ministers.

Earlier on Wednesday the ministers held talks on EU eastern policy and the future of the Eastern Partnership integration project.

"Only working together will we be able to create sufficient potential to make us a demanding and adequate partner for the leading world powers", Duda told the ministers. He added that unity was especially important in view of the EU's current difficulties connected with military threats, terrorism and the migration crisis.

In this context Andrzej Duda stressed the importance of bringing the Eastern Partnership beneficiary states closer to the EU, and voiced hope that the process will eventually lead to their EU membership.

The Visegrad Group, also called the Visegrad Four, or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states  the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia  aimed at furthering their European integration and military, economic and energy cooperation.

The Eastern Partnership is an EU initiative governing relations between the Community and the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The project's purpose is to provide an avenue for discussions on trade, economic strategy, travel agreements and other issues between the EU and its Eastern European neighbours. (PAP)
The arrival of NATO forces in Poland is a historical moment for which generations of Polish people have waited since the end of World War II, President Andrzej Duda said at the Thursday welcoming of a March-arrived NATO battalion in Orzysz, north Poland.

"Here we all stand before a battalion combat group of the North Atlantic Alliance on Polish soil. It will be no exaggeration when I say that generations of Polish people have waited for this moment since the end of the Second World War, dreaming about Poland's return to membership in the just, solidary, democratic and truly free West", the president said.

Andrzej Duda added that the presence of the battalion in Poland showed that "freedom has arrived after years of waiting for it, and this freedom is strong".

Stationed in Orzysz since March, the NATO unit consists of US, British and Romanian troops. In future it is to be enlarged by Croatian forces.

"I wholeheartedly thank you soldiers and your close ones, who have accepted with understanding that you serve here in my country, on a land foreign to you, but I assure you on a fraternal soil", President Andrzej Duda added.

"I welcome you with all my heart. I am convinced that service here in Poland, in my country will be an interesting experience for you. I am convinced that you will gain new skills, and I deeply believe that you will make new friendships. I wish you would not be never deprived of the extremely important, I would say basic, the so called "soldier's luck", he said.

President Duda expressed his satisfaction that the decisions of the summit in Newport, and above all the one in Warsaw, "became reality".

"As the President of the Republic of Poland, I am proud that Polish soldiers are part of a battalion group headed by a US combat force. I am proud they are also part of the battalion group that is being formed in Latvia. I am happy and proud of them being part of the battalion group created under the Tailored Forward Presence in Romania", he said.

May be of interest to you President: US army presence in Poland a chance President Duda decorates US general

Supreme Allied Commander of the NATO Forces in Europe Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti took part, along with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, in welcoming of a NATO battalion at the Training Center for Land Forces in Orzysz.

He expressed satisfaction with the fact he could witness how the plan adopted at the July 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw had been implemented.

"The fact that allies from different countries work in the framework of reinforced military presence is a proof of the alliance's commitment to art. 5 of the Washington Treaty, which includes the collective defence principle meaning that an attack against one mamber is considered an attack on the whole bloc", Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said.

Gen. Scaparrotti thanked for welcoming the soldiers and expressed hope that the training opportunities would be used. He also expressed his gratitude for Poland's contribution to NATO operations around the world.

"Poland demonstrates its unique commitment to NATO reinforced presence not only as a country that hosts the Battalion Group but also as a country that sends its troops to the Canadian combat group in Latvia," he said. (PAP)
Sherri Saad, broker and owner of RE/MAX Leading Edge in Dearborn Heights and Detroit, was recently honored at the RE/MAX Regional Awards Gala at The Henry Ford Museum.

Saad received three Showcase Awards for superior performance during the event, which celebrated the accomplishments of RE/MAXs highest performers in southeast Michigan.

Showcase awards are based on agent growth, average yearly commission per agent, and average yearly production per agent.

Both the Dearborn Heights and Detroit offices were recognized for achieving the highest average agent transactions in their respective office category. Saad was also recognized during the event for achieving the highest net gain.

It is a great honor to be recognized at the regional level, Saad said We are already off to another strong real-estate season and look forward to achieving continued success this year.

Magnus Sublett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan, said RE/MAX Leading Edge is continually a top performer in southeast Michigan. We are very proud of their success, Sublett said. It is always a pleasure to see this team rewarded for their hard work and commitment to delivering exceptional client service.

Source: RE/MAX
PLEASANTVILLE  An effort to introduce a vote of no confidence in school board President Carla Thomas failed Tuesday night but highlighted a growing chasm among board members and some district officials.

Thomas declined to comment on the vote of no confidence.

In March, an anonymous letter was sent to the state Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance asking for an investigation into alleged illegal and unethical actions by members of the school administration. It is at least the third request for a state investigation into the district in the past year.

New board member Richard Norris said Tuesday the board is not united and has poor community relationships. He said he is concerned about nepotism in job approvals, retaliation against employees and the hostile tone of the board president and her family members toward those who dont agree with them. Thomas father is Pete Callaway and her uncles, David and Craig Callaway, attend many board meetings and are active in local politics. They were not present Tuesday night.

New superintendent in Pleasantville stays positive despite controversy PLEASANTVILLE  New interim school Superintendent Dennis Anderson focused on the positive in

Norris attempted to make a motion for a vote of no confidence in Thomas, but board solicitor James Carroll interrupted, saying it is not proper form for a board member to make motions, which should come from the president or the superintendent. Interim Superintendent Dennis Anderson was not at the meeting.

Norris admitted after the meeting he likely would have only gotten three votes  himself, Lawrence Tony Davenport and Sharnell Morgan, who have been targets of hostile criticism from members of the Callaway family.

I just wanted to get it on the public record, he said.

Former board member Jerome Page attended the meeting, and Thomas accused him of putting Norris up to making the motion.

Page said he believes Norris should have been allowed to introduce the motion.

Norris said he filed a harassment complaint against the Callaways last year but eventually dropped it after it was postponed multiple times and it became difficult to get witnesses to come to court.

Last year some comments got so verbally hostile that the board passed a policy requiring that all public comment be civil. A reminder is read at every meeting that all comments should be courteous and respectful.

The district already has a state monitor, Constance Bauer, who has overruled numerous board votes regarding hirings and terminations.

Morgan said she has been trying to get the board to consider closing school for important Muslim holidays, but she cannot get it introduced. Morgan is Muslim, and several members of the Muslim community also made the request at a previous board meeting.

We do have a lot of Muslim workers and Muslim students, she said. Other religions get days off.

State regulations allow students to take religious holidays off without penalty, but Morgan said they would miss school work. Local boards decide which holidays to close schools.
The Press of Atlantic Citys Bailey Award for 2016 was awarded to Longport resident George Siganos, who was honored for his contributions to the community and his longtime service with his company.

Press Publisher Mark Blum gave Siganos the award Thursday afternoon at Robertas Restaurant in Northfield, with Siganos wife, Patti, by his side.

The Press annual award, named after George Bailey from the Christmas movie Its a Wonderful Life, has been given out each year since 1995 to a local business that makes significant contributions to its community, like Bailey did in his hometown in the movie.

Siganos said Thursday he felt proud and honored to receive the award.

He always wants to better the community, Patti Siganos said. Like George Bailey, he tries to bring the community back on his own.

After starting out in Philadelphia, Siganos moved to Atlantic City to open three restaurants on the pier, now known as The Playground.

Siganos, a native of the Greek island of Crete, immigrated to the United States almost 40 years ago and expanded his business into a food empire of 50 restaurants in five states.

Siganos Management has offices in Northfield, and he is still involved in Atlantic City. He was recognized for his contributions to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, among other local good causes.
MARGATE  A gray seal pup seen Thursday afternoon on the beach is just one of many seals hanging out off the South Jersey shore, said Bob Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

Onlookers said the seal had been there since about 7:30 a.m.

Hes not stranded, said Schoelkopf. Theres nothing wrong with the seal. We picked him up in Wildwood and relocated up north. Hes been in Margate and Brigantine.

Schoelkopf said this is a popular time of year to have seals on beaches, who rest after eating and enjoy lying in the sun.

Weve had five of our seals up and down the coast, said Schoelkopf.

Volunteers for the shelter will go out to calls of seals on the beach to check the scene, but recognized the seal as one marked by the center, which is in Brigantine.

The best thing people can do is stay away, said Schoelkopf.

Gray seals are a protected animal under federal law and the center advises all people to not approach the animals, which can be aggressive.

The center wont relocate an animal unless theres a safety risk for people or the animal.

The seal was a few yards from the surf between Decatur and Washington avenues.
This weekend marks the unofficial return of funnel cake, bumper cars, custard, carnival games, roller coasters and pizza to South Jerseys wooden walkways.

Local boardwalks are set to come alive Easter weekend, with good weather, Easter festivities and amusement park rides open in Ocean City, Wildwood and Atlantic City. The forecast is for one of the warmest Easters in more than five years.

Easter (is) one of those holiday weekends that falls in line with Memorial Day weekend and even Labor Day weekend, said Wes Kazmarck, president of the Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association. Youve got a lot of second-home owners who will definitely come down.

Ocean City spokesman Doug Bergen said the city will host an Easter egg hunt Saturday on the beach between 11th and 14th streets featuring more than 100,000 eggs for children 7 and younger. On Sunday, the annual Easter Fashion Promenade will follow a dueling piano show in front of the citys Music Pier.

Anytime you get a beautiful weekend in Ocean City, it gets to be jamming, Bergen said. This is the time of year when every store will be open, certainly on the weekend.

In Ocean City, Gillians Wonderland Pier and Playlands Castaway Cove, both of which opened last weekend, will offer half-price tickets.

While the date of Easter varies from late March through late April, its often the first holiday weekend that brings warmer weather to the South Jersey shore.

When its later, you have a much better chance of better, warmer weather, Kazmarck said.

Last year, Easter Sunday was March 27, and it was a cooler and cloudy day with some patchy drizzle. This year, the forecast is plenty of sunshine and brisk but warm breezes. Highs are forecast to climb above 80 degrees on the mainland. While still relatively mild, the shore should be cooler, with highs Sunday around 65 to 70.

Atlantic Citys Steel Pier is hoping the sunshine brings crowds to the amusement park on its opening weekend, according to Sharon Franz, the piers sales and marketing director.

The pier will only be partially open, with construction of its new 227-foot Observation Wheel ongoing. Kiddie rides, food venues and games will be open, with buy-one-get-one-free tickets on sale, Franz said.

We want to keep the tradition by opening on Easter Weekend, Franz said. We have a lot of people who come down because its their tradition.

Steel Piers larger rides are expected to open by Memorial Day weekend and the Observation Wheel could be in operation in August or September, Franz said.

In Wildwood, Moreys Piers Mariners Landing, which opened last weekend, will be holding Easter celebrations Sunday.

The Easter bunnies will be on site, along with jugglers, face-painters and other entertainers, said Maggie Warner, a spokeswoman for Moreys.

With the expected warm weather, business owners hope the weekend offers a preview of the coming summer tourism season.

When you get the good weather, its a recipe for some solid business, Kazmarck said.

Press Meteorologist Dan Skeldon contributed to this report.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  A U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient received the keys to a mortgage-free home in the township today, Thursday, April 13 as part of a national program to assist veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The home, located on Pennington Avenue, was donated to U.S. Army veteran Sgt. Earl Anthony McCracken through a partnership between the Military Warriors Support Foundation and Wells Fargo.

McCracken, 33, who grew up in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, where his family still resides, said without the generosity of the foundation and the bank, he would not have been be able to afford a home on his own, especially in New Jersey near his family.

Its a great thing to get to experience, he said. I hope one day to pay it forward to another veteran.

Sandra Ignaszewski, the foundations director of transition and mentoring, said the home was updated to include a new heating and air conditioning unit and new appliances, all of which come with warranties. She said he will also receive three years of financial and debt-reduction mentoring through which other participants have been able to pay down roughly $15 million in debt.

Its a very effective program, Ignaszewski said, nothing that the foundation has another family living in Egg Harbor Township who will be a resource for McCracken as he settles into the area. They build up their credit and pay down debts. A lot of people like Anthony expect to spend their entire career in the military, and then they get injured and their lives change completely. So, they sort of have to start their lives again, and we feel that having a roof over their heads is a good stabilizing factor that helps them do just that.

McCracken joined the U.S. Army in 2004 because he said he wanted to make a difference in the lives of the American people and decided to enlist in the infantry, where he was sure to see military action, a bank press release stated. He was promoted several times during his two tours in Iraq and was awarded several achievement medals until he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device in 2007.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, USA/USAF Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Campaign Star, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachute Badge, the release stated.

Darin Lugat, area sales manager for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage the bank was happy to be able to provide to the veteran realize his dream of homeownership and to partner with the foundation.

Its a great day in Atlantic County, and its a great day for you, Lugat said before handing over the keys to the three-bedroom, ranch-style home. We are just honored and privileged to be part of it. We welcome you to the town and to Atlantic County.

Wells Fargo is one of many companies with which the foundation partners for its Homes4WoundedHeroes program. To date, Wells Fargo has donated more than 300 homes to veterans across the country to the program.

Contact Laura Stetser at 609-601-5194 or laura.stetser@catamaranmedia.com.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan has honored Island Hospital with the 2017 Malaysia Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year award.

The award was presented to Island Hospital at the 13th annual Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards banquet, held at Hilton Kuala Lumpur on April 13.

Ms. Geeta Dhanoa, Associate Director, Transformational Health, Frost & Sullivan said that as medical tourism continues to grow in Malaysia, Island Hospital has solidified its position as a healthcare facility of choice for medical travelers due to the comprehensive healthcare services and the high standard of care that it provides.

"Despite a challenging global economic climate in 2016, Island Hospital managed to grow its medical tourism volumes by double digits through its continuous expansion activities and holistic customer service experience," she added.

She also said that the hospital's continuous efforts with the Penang state government and MHTC, strategic expansion plans and new services, as well as strengthening of its core medical tourism markets overseas, will serve well in its goal to become the top Malaysian destination for medical travelers.

"We are proud to receive the Malaysia Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year award from Frost & Sullivan," said Island Hospital's CEO Mr Mark Wee.

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. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion

About Island Hospital



Based in Penang and founded in 1996, Malaysia, Island Hospital is a 300-bed hospital and one of the leading tertiary care providers in Malaysia with specialists who are highly experienced and renowned in their dedicated fields, most of which have been trained and have worked internationally. Island Hospital has over 50 full-time specialists across 8 Centers of Excellence, offering a wide range of treatment services that are supported by cutting-edge medical equipment and technology, including the 3 Tesla MRI, Fibroscan for liver diagnosis, 3D Laparoscopic Surgery, Anti-Gravity Treadmill, and a state-of-the-art Laboratory & Pathology Center. For more information, please visit http://islandhospital.com/

Media Contact

Adeline Goh

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DID: +604 238 0810

E: adeline.goh@islandhospital.com



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Phone: +603.6204.5910

Email: carrie.low@frost.com

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
ZEIST, The Netherlands, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of the world's leading values-based banks, in the last quarter welcomed its 40th member - The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan. This marks a milestone in membership increase making the Global Alliance bigger as ever. The Global Alliance comprises 40 members and seven partners coming from all around the world. We are continuing our work and a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development, with a focus on helping individuals fulfil their potential and build stronger communities.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160725/392614LOGO )



The newest member, The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan (http://www.fmfb.com.tj/en ) strives to contribute to the economic development of the country and to the improvement of the quality of life of people in Tajikistan by providing access to finance and banking services. The Bank wants to be recognized as Tajikistan's most trusted bank, operating to international standards of ethics, prudence and customer service, through the reliable delivery of high-quality banking services in all regions of Tajikistan to its customers.

Mr. Yenten Lama, CEO of the First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan on joining the GABV stated: "We are enthused to join the GABV family and access the network of peers and colleagues from the Alliance. This will be very valuable for cross learning and paving the way to operate at international standards. Participation in the GABV meetings and collaborating with other members will provide insights into different working models, help in sharing of knowledge resources and building staff capacity."

Dr Marcos Eguiguren, Executive Director, GABV on achieving the milestone and welcoming the newest member said: 'I am proud and honoured to have supported the GABV in achieving this milestone and welcoming the newest member to our family of likeminded financial institutions. As the Global Alliance is growing, we must continue to learn from and support each other and to be more proactive in fulfilling our goals of advancing positive change in the banking sector. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise on how to use finance to create positive economic, social and environmental impact for the individuals, organisations and communities they serve. We are proud to be the link between our members and partners, working to change finance to finance change. Only together we will be able to deliver on our mission to put banking back in service of people, the economy and the environment.'

The Global Alliance will continue to work on expanding its reach to new countries, supporting new members and actively promoting banking on values and the #BankingOnValues movement.

About the GABV

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values is a not-for-profit organisation and independent network of banks and banking cooperatives with a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises 40 financial institutions and seven strategic partners operating in countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe. Collectively we serve more than 24 million customers, hold up to $110 billion USD of combined assets under management, and we are supported by more than 42,000 co-workers. Learn more about the GABV and how we're working to build a growing, global, values-based banking movement.

Latest news:

Massive Open Online Course - Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered is back!

2016 Annual Report Launches

GABV Joins the Global Movement for a New Economy

For the First Time in Europe a Law Recognizes Ethical Finance

Media Relations

Jasmin Panjeta

E: jasmin.panjeta@gabv.org

T: +31-61-525-4228



#BankingOnValues

SOURCE Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)
4WEB's record breaking quarter was highlighted by strong demand for its comprehensive Posterior Spine Truss System product line for TLIF procedures. The company also expanded sales and distribution into dozens of new hospitals during the quarter, making significant investments in sales infrastructure to further its reach into new markets. The first planned U.S. surgeries with the company's new Lateral Spine Truss System in Q2 are certain to further advance its market leading position.

"The proliferation of 3D printed titanium implants across the industry has fueled the market adoption of these devices in spine surgery," said Jim Bruty, 4WEB's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "4WEB's distinct advantages over competitive 3D printed and other titanium implants are clear; increased bone implant surface interface, more volume for bone through-growth, and transference of load throughout the implant to create a mechanical environment for biological fusion to occur."

4WEB Medical is an implant device company founded in 2008 in Dallas, Texas. Thirty years of research in topological dimension theory led to the discovery of a novel geometry, the 4WEB, that can be used as a building block to create high-strength, lightweight web structures. The company leveraged this breakthrough along with cutting-edge 3D printing technology to develop 4WEB Medical's proprietary truss implant platform. The 4WEB Medical product portfolio includes the Cervical Spine Truss System, the Anterior Spine Truss System, the Posterior Spine Truss System, the Lateral Spine Truss System, and the Osteotomy Truss System. 4WEB is actively developing truss implant designs for knee, hip, trauma and patient specific orthopedic procedures.

For more information about 4WEB Medical, 4WEB's Truss Implant Technology, and the Spine Truss Systems, please visit www.4WEBMedical.com.

SOURCE 4WEB Medical

Related Links

http://www.4webmedical.com


WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The AARP Fraud Watch Network brings fraud-fighting efforts to consumers nationwide in "Operation: Stop Scams" -- a month-long series of events in communities coast-to-coast, as AARP state organizations sponsor more than 150 free local events in nearly every state and the District of Columbia from Friday, April 14, through Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

Events include: paper-shredding events, fraud education programs  popularly referred to as "scam jams," Fraud Watch Network background presentations, tele-town halls and phone bank call-out sessions to warn consumers of the latest scams. Consumers can find their closest local event at www.aarp.org/OperationStopScams.

"Many Americans clear out and discard their obsolete financial documents at the end of the tax-filing season in April. Our shredding events in dozens of communities provide a convenient and safe way for people to destroy this sensitive paperwork," said Nancy LeaMond chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP. "April also brings the personal finance awareness activities of Money Smart Week, so we're excited to do our part with events to teach consumers to be smart about avoiding fraud and scams."

Money Smart Week, April 22-29, is a collaborative between thousands of organizations across the United States that offer financial education programs, classes and activities.

Examples of AARP "Operation: Stop Scams" events range from a financial forum in Louisville, Ky.; to a "Scam Jam" in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; to a Clinton Township, Mich., presentation by AARP Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. Paper-shredding events total more than 100. Some 250 tons of sensitive documents were destroyed during a similar AARP National "Shred Fest" in 2016.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages. The website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map, fun educational quizzes, and video presentations featuring Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. Users may sign up for "Watchdog Alert" emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


LOMA LINDA, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In acknowledgement of Earth Day, ABI Document Support Services, the industry leader for record retrieval and document management, urges businesses to reduce their carbon footprints by investing in digital records retrieval and analysis technology.

According to ABI's Director of Field Operations Parviz Rezvani, the investment helps businesses to demand, use, and dispose of less paper.

Parviz Rezvani, ABI's Director of Field Operations

"Cases and claims often result in several boxes of paper files. It doesn't take long for a firm to accumulate hundreds of boxes filled with tens of thousands of paper documents," Rezvani explained. "Obviously, the demand for this much paper has a negative impact on the environment. Any business concerned with protecting the environment has an alternative that makes a difference compared to wasteful traditional practices."

Electronic records will replace paper eventually, but for the time being, the industry still has millions of pages that need to be converted to electronic files. Law firms and claims adjusters can help expedite this shift by ordering, receiving, and analyzing their records digitally.

State and federal courts across the country have recognized the need to cut back on paper consumption as well. Federal courts began accepting electronically filed documents as early as 2001 and have received over 500 million e-filed documents since launching its electronic case files platform. Although paper is still prominent in the legal and claims industries, the demand for digital record retrieval and paperless analysis options has increased as document management solutions like eSummary by ABI lead the industry evolution toward secure digital document review, analysis and summarization.

Many medical professionals and entities have not assigned time or budget to provide copies electronically. "When an insurance company or their defense counsel require copies of the claimant's records, they can rely on a service provider such as ABI to scan, deliver, and host those documents digitally," Rezvani added. "Not to mention, digital records are delivered at a fraction of the cost and time when compared to paper records. It's truly a win-win for both the business and the environment. "

For 2016, rather than generating more paper copies from original paper records, ABI scanned over 7,000,000 documents  and more than half of those pages were scanned at medical provider's offices. ABI's sole corporate focus is records retrieval. That focus, combined with ABI's commitment to innovative document management solutions raises the bar this Earth Day for companies seeking to implement powerful, paperless solutions for records retrieval, review analysis and summarization.

Parviz Rezvani serves ABI as the Director of Operations  California Order Entry, Field & Production. He has more than 30 years of experience in the record retrieval industry and is an integral part of ABI's transition from paper-based processing to a completely digital environment.

About ABI Document Support Services

ABI Document Support Services is the nation's leading provider of records retrieval and analysis technology for the insurance and legal industries. For more than 35 years, ABI has helped businesses by offering innovative processes for efficient record retrieval, online record ordering, and eSummary by ABI for more thorough records analysis and summarization. To learn more, visit www.abidss.com.

Contact:

Jess Passananti

Griffin360

[email protected]

Twitter: @griffin360

212.481.3456 x23



Leslee Detillo

ABI Document Support Services, Inc.

[email protected]

909.762.9448

SOURCE ABI Document Support Services
DETROIT, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adient, the global leader in automotive seating, has a unique partnership with a Detroit high school to bridge the skills gap and ensure success in the workforce.

Adient employs four students from Detroit Cristo Rey, a high school dedicated to providing exemplary education to students from Southwest Detroit. Adient joined the Detroit Cristo Rey work program in 2011. The students spend one day a week at Adient, totaling the work of one paid employee. In this apprentice-like environment, they gain actual business experience and self-confidence. In addition, the money earned goes toward their tuition at Detroit Cristo Rey.

Adient was created in 2016 when Johnson Controls' automotive seating business was spun off as an independent company. The company will move its global headquarters to Detroit in 2019.

"This is one of our best outreach programs," says Rochelle Hunter, community relations manager for Adient. "It empowers young people by introducing them to high level executives, giving them exposure to the workforce, encouraging them to continue their education and by supporting their life beyond high school."

Students go through one month of training, provided by the school, in the summer where they develop computer, social and business skills. Based on their performance, they are placed in a position. Adient student-workers assist in several different departments including accounting, human resources and engineering. Students are given new assignments each week and are provided with the same tools as regular employees.

At the end of the year, students have the option to stay with their current company or move on to another organization. Neidy Jimenez, a junior at Detroit Cristo Rey, has been working for Adient for three years.

"Working for Adient has been a good learning experience for me," says Jimenez. "I enjoy the people I work with, the environment and especially, my mentors. Seeing strong, independent women in the work place has set a positive example in my life."

Four Adient employees are assigned to each student. The first is a direct manager and the other three are mentors. Hunter has been one of Jimenez's mentors for three years.

"I enjoy mentoring young people," says Hunter. "Neidy and I talk about work, but we also talk about challenges she may be facing in her life, where she wants to go for college and how to further her development as an individual. I want her to know her opportunities are endless."

One hundred percent of Detroit Cristo Rey seniors get accepted into college. Eighty-five percent of those students go on to attend college.

"Adient has provided scholarships to a few of our high school workers, but we have yet to hire a student upon college graduation," said Hunter. "Although, Adient would like to in the future."

About Adient:

Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With 75,000 employees operating 230 manufacturing/assembly plants in 33 countries worldwide, we produce and deliver automotive seating for all vehicle classes and all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our integrated, in-house skills allow us to take our products from research and design all the way to engineering and manufacturing  and into more than 25 million vehicles every year. For more information on Adient, please visit adient.com.

SOURCE Adient

Related Links

http://www.adient.com


WALTHAM, Mass., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American DG Energy Inc. (NYSE MKT: ADGE), On-Site Utility, offering clean electricity, heat, hot water and cooling solutions to hospitality, healthcare, housing and fitness facilities will release its financial results for the first quarter of 2017 on Thursday, May 11, 2017. The earnings press release will be available in the "News Releases" section of the Company website at http://investors.americandg.com/. Members of American DG's senior management team will hold a conference call and webcast on the same day at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the company's first quarter financial performance.

The conference call will be available live via telephone and webcast. To listen to the audio portion, dial toll free (866) 364-3819 from the U.S., (855) 669-9657 from Canada, or +1 (412) 902-4209 from other international locations. Participants should ask to be joined to the American DG Energy earnings call. Please begin dialing at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. Alternately, to register for and listen to the live webcast, please go to http://investors.americandg.com/webcast.

The earnings conference call will be recorded and available for playback one hour after the end of the call through Thursday, May 18, 2017. To listen to the playback, dial (877) 344-7529 from the U.S., (855) 669-9658 from Canada, or +1 (412) 317-0088 from other international locations and reference Replay Access Code 10105521. Following the call, the webcast will be archived for 30 days.

About American DG Energy

American DG Energy supplies low-cost energy to its customers through distributed power generating systems. We are committed to providing institutional, commercial and small industrial facilities with clean, reliable power, cooling, heat and hot water at lower costs than charged by local utilities - without any capital or start-up costs to the energy user - through our On-Site Utility energy solutions. American DG Energy is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Learn more about how American DG Energy reduces energy costs at www.americandg.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, as disclosed on the Company's website and in Securities and Exchange Commission filings. This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities by the Company, its subsidiaries or any associated party and is meant purely for informational purposes. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

SOURCE American DG Energy Inc.

Related Links

http://www.americandg.com


CHICAGO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlas Tube division of Zekelman Industries today asked the Commerce Department to ensure that antidumping and countervailing duty orders covering light-walled rectangular tube also apply to octagonal tube, and to retroactively apply duties. The filing targets imports from China, Korea, Mexico and Turkey.

"Octagonal tube is essentially the same as rectangular when it comes to manufacturing methods and costs, and how it's sold," said Tom Muth, President of HSS and Piling at Zekelman Industries. "And it is increasingly being imported and sold for the same application, in solar panel farms. We want Commerce to make clear that foreign interests can't avoid duties by putting a few extra sides in their tubes."

Zekelman Industries' request today asks for a circumvention ruling and a determination by Commerce that imports of welded light-walled polygonal carbon steel pipe and tube are merely light-walled rectangular pipe and tube that have undergone a minor alteration. If Commerce agrees, the antidumping and countervailing duties now applicable to rectangular tubes would apply retroactively to imports of octagonal or other multi-sided tubes, starting on the date Commerce begins to investigate Zekelman Industries' request.

"We believe this is the sort of situation President Trump has been talking about, where we need to step up enforcement of existing measures against unfair trade," Muth said. "Since 2014 there has been an increase in the volume of multi-sided tubing imports, and these imports have been displacing U.S.-made product in the domestic market. We are taking this step to ensure that unfairly traded products do not take jobs from American workers or harm U.S. companies."

Today's allegation was filed through Schagrin Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based international trade law firm. The firm has over 30 years of experience in customs matters and filed the original dumping and subsidies claims against light-walled rectangular pipe and tube in 2007 on behalf of thirteen domestic producers.

About Zekelman Industries

Zekelman Industries includes the operating divisions of Atlas Tube, Picoma, Energex Tube, Sharon Tube, Wheatland Tube, Z Modular and Western Tube & Conduit Corporation. Zekelman Industries delivers a broad range of industrial solutions that build its customers' success.

For more information about Zekelman Industries, please visit zekelman.com

SOURCE Zekelman Industries

Related Links

http://zekelman.com


NEW YORK, Apr. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates reset fresh three-month lows, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.22 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.28 discount and origination points.

The larger jumbo 30-year fixed also dropped, to a four-month low of 4.15 percent, while the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate dipped to 3.43 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates were mixed, with the 5-year ARM nosing higher to 3.46 percent and the 10-year ARM dipping to a three-month low of 3.78 percent.

Mortgage rates slid further over the past week following a disappointing pace of job growth in March and with worries rising about Syria, Russia and North Korea. Anytime investors get nervous, whether it is from tepid economic data or saber-rattling by and between foreign adversaries, it tends to be good news for mortgage rates. Nervous investors clamor for the safe haven of U.S. Treasuries, pushing bond prices higher and bond yields lower. Mortgage rates are closely related to the yields on long-term government bonds. Further uncertainty about when, or if, any substantive fiscal stimulus will arrive and whether or not it will have a meaningful economic impact is also giving investors another reason to further consider bonds.

At the current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 4.22 percent, the monthly payment for a $200,000 loan is $980.37.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 4.22% -- down from 4.24% last week (avg. points: 0.28)

15-year fixed: 3.43% -- down from 3.48% last week (avg. points: 0.18)

5/1 ARM: 3.46% -- up from 3.45% last week (avg. points: 0.28)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in 10 top markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-analysis-041217.aspx

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. Half of this week's panelists expect mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged in the coming week. One-third of respondents forecast further declines and just 17 percent predict a rebound in mortgage rates over the next week.

About Bankrate.com:

Bankrate.com provides consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life's financial journey. For over two decades, Bankrate.com has been a leading personal finance destination. The company offers award-winning editorial content, competitive rate information, and calculators and tools across multiple categories, including mortgages, deposits, credit cards, retirement, automobile loans and taxes. Bankrate aggregates rate information from over 4,800 institutions on more than 300 financial products. With coverage of over 600 local markets, Bankrate generates rate tables in all 50 U.S. states. Bankrate develops and provides web services to more than 100 cobranded websites with online partners, including some of the most trusted and frequently visited personal finance sites on the internet, such as Comcast, Yahoo!, CNBC and Bloomberg. In addition, Bankrate licenses editorial content to more than 500 newspapers on a daily basis including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.

For more information:

Ted Rossman

Public Relations Director

[email protected]

(917) 368-8635

SOURCE Bankrate.com
BMO invites people to make wishes at the BMO200 fountain located outside The Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan Avenue

BMO will be fulfilling wishes made at the fountain over the course of the year in an effort to continue the bank's legacy of giving back to the communities in which it does business

CHICAGO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - To mark BMO's 200th year, and to help communities throughout Chicago, BMO Harris Bank today announced that it is donating $11,200,000 to programs in the Chicago area in 2017. In the spirit of today's announcement, BMO invited everyone in the community to make their own wishes, in person or online, through the BMO200 fountain.

More than 500 local organizations will receive, or have already received, donations from BMO Harris Bank in 2017, including major gifts to:

Chicago Public Library YOUmedia Program, which includes collaborative and independent learning and discovery for teens at numerous CPL locations

Chicago Public School's "CPS SCORE!" Initiative, which promotes increased after-school sports program participation for elementary students

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's Neighborhood Network initiative, which aims to address local community challenges and achieve lasting change

Individuals across North America are invited to join BMO in marking its bicentennial by making a wish at the BMO200 fountain, which stands 17 feet high and is located outside The Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan Avenue, on level 1 nearest the Nordstrom mall entrance. Those who are unable to visit in person can still make a wish by visiting www.bmo200.com. BMO will be fulfilling a number of the wishes, both big and small, across a number of categories, including Green, Togetherness, Legacy and Community.

"For 200 years, we have been financing economic expansion and helping our customers achieve their ambitions along the way," said David Casper, President and CEO, BMO Harris Bank. "A major component of our success has been our steadfast commitment to the communities we serve. From helping the city rebuild after the Chicago Fire with a $5,000 donation in 1871, to being the founding contributor to the Chicago Community Trust in 1915, our ties to the city run deep."

The bicentennial fountain is a modern twist on an old idea that pays homage to the centuries-old tradition of making a wish by tossing a coin into a fountain. That nod to the past is combined with a distinctive look to the future. The fountain has no water, but instead uses thousands of flip dots  the traditional technology used in destination boards at train stations  to create a unique ripple effect every time a wish is made.

"I encourage everyone to visit our fountain, either in person or online, and make a wish," added Casper. "We look forward to bringing some of those wishes to life."

BMO's History in Chicago

Bank of Montreal was established in 1817. In 1861, at the invitation of a group of local grain merchants, Bank of Montreal set up a permanent agency in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune observed that it "will afford proper and much needed facilities to our large and rapidly increasing Canadian trade." Bank of Montreal soon emerged as a leading source of finance for Chicago's export trade. Meanwhile, in 1882, Norman Wait Harris opened the N.W. Harris and Company in Chicago. The firm started off selling municipal bonds to fund the building of roads, schools, waterworks and other such necessities. By 1907, the company became known as Harris Trust and Savings Bank. Years later, in 1984, Harris Bank was acquired by Bank of Montreal.

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through nearly 600 branches and almost 1,400 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local market knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,500 branches, and CDN $692 billion in assets (as of January 31, 2017).

Media Contact:

Patrick O'Herlihy, [email protected] (312) 461-6970

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A prominent Alabama law firm is urging state leaders to pass legislation that protects the citizens of the state from predatory payday lenders. Attorneys at Bond & Botes, P.C. recently launched a Change.org campaign to demand state lawmakers take swift action once and for all against payday lenders who prey on vulnerable, cash-strapped individuals desperate to take a "so-called helping hand" at any cost.

"We believe the predatory payday lenders have been allowed to run roughshod over our vulnerable citizens for long enough," stated attorney Brad Botes. "We believe that our state leaders are not doing enough to protect our citizens from the predatory payday loan industry, and we are working to make our voices heard."

According to a report from the Federal Reserve, nearly half of Americans don't have enough in savings to cover a $400 emergency. That essentially means that 47% of the population is living paycheck to paycheck, forcing many to turn to payday loans. While supporters argue that payday lending is a vital way to help underserved people solve temporary cash-flow problems, Bond & Botes, P.C. believes that the controversial practice creates an even bigger hole for financially-burdened people, putting them further in debt.

"The only option other than paying is to roll over the loan into a new term of several weeks, with an additional fee added," stated Botes. "Many consumers who use payday loans often cannot get loans through traditional sources. In a time of great need, they turn to payday lenders, but it ultimately costs them more in the end."

Payday loan borrowers spend approximately $7.4 billion annually at 20,000 storefronts and hundreds of websites, plus additional sums at a growing number of banks, according to a report by The Pew Charitable Trusts. State regulatory data show that borrowers take out eight payday loans a year, spending about $520 on interest with an average loan size of $375. Payday loan rates allow up to 13 times prior limitations provided in Alabama's Small Loan Act.

"Our state does not have a good track record on this issue. By population, we also have a higher concentration of payday lenders than any other area of the United States," explained Botes.

Ten states, including Georgia, Arkansas and North Carolina, already ban payday loans. Other states, like Connecticut, cap rates at 30 percent. Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon cap rates at 36 percent.

"It's time for our state to take action against predatory payday lending as other states before us have," stated Botes. "We believe that payday loan reform would be a significant, positive step for the citizens of Alabama. We are encouraging everyone to sign our petition to help protect our neighbors and make our state a friendlier environment for working families."

The law firm is hoping to collect at least 2000 signatures. The petition will then be sent to Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh; Senator Slade Blackwell, Chair, Banking and Insurance Committee; Senator Greg Reed, Senate Majority Leader; and Senator Quinton Ross, Senate Minority Leader.

About Bond & Botes, P.C.: At the affiliated law offices of Bond & Botes, our lawyers bring compassion and knowledge to our clients in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. We specialize in bankruptcy, student loan problems, credit report disputes and other consumer financial issues. Our experienced team of lawyers work with clients to help stop garnishments, creditor phone calls, foreclosures and repossessions. To learn more, visit us at www.bondnbotes.com.

Media Contact:

Brad Botes

Bond, Botes Reese & Shinn PC

(205) 802-2200

SOURCE Bond & Botes, P.C.

Related Links

https://www.bondnbotes.com


NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandwatch, the leading social intelligence company, is announcing its full keynote and speaker agenda for the firm's second annual Now You Know Conference on May 8-9 in Denver, Colorado.

Professor Nick Bostrom, global authority on superintelligence and existential risk, and Altimeter CEO Charlene Li, join the Now You Know Conference in Denver as keynote speakers to examine the theme of truth during these complicated times of fake news, alternative facts, and the prevalent question of data validity.

Also featured during the two-day conference is an all-woman panel on creativity and data in marketing including prominent tech and design players Alex Sinclair, Global Creative Director, IBM Interactive Experience, Elizabeth Lukas, CEO of North America at Decoded, Becky Wang, CEO at Crossbeat, and Joanna Pena-Bickley, Global Chief Experience Officer at ThinxMachine.

Hundreds of social intelligence practitioners and marketing professionals from the world's most recognizable brands and agencies will descend upon the southwestern tech hub for two days of riveting talks, interactive workshops, roundtables and masterclasses. Attendees will have the privilege to hear from experts at Walmart, Bank of America, 3M, Metia and many more digitally-savvy companies.

"Leaders are not yet fully embracing the technologies and practices that are driving digital transformation in business today," said Charlene Li, Principal Analyst at Altimeter. "I'm excited to address this important topic in my keynote talk at Brandwatch's Now You Know Conference this May. It's vital for business leaders to acknowledge and adapt to the demands of digital leadership. I'll be sharing how to activate the necessary shift from a traditional mindset to one that encourages engagement throughout the organization."

Reflecting on last year's conference in Chicago, Allyson Hugely, President, Measurement and Analytics at Weber Shandwick, commented it was, "Hands down one of the best informational and networking events I've attended in years."

Partners and sponsors for the event include Turbine Labs, Hootsuite, Accenture Interactive, Uber, FullContact, The Curtis, Revel decor, and InsideHR Communications.

There's still space left at the conference. Purchase tickets here to get closer to the the truth at this year's Now You Know Conference in Denver.

About Brandwatch

Brandwatch is the world's leading social intelligence company. The company's flagship products, Brandwatch Analytics and the Vizia platform, fuel smarter decision making around the world.

The Brandwatch Analytics platform gathers millions of online conversations every day and provides users with the tools to analyze them, empowering the world's most admired brands and agencies to make insightful, data-driven business decisions. The Vizia platform distributes visually-engaging insights to the physical places where the action happens.

The Brandwatch platform is used by over 1,300 brands and agencies, including Unilever, American Airlines, Whirlpool, Asos, Walmart, British Airways, and Dell. Brandwatch continues on its impressive business trajectory, recently named a global leader in enterprise social listening platforms by the latest reports from several independent research firms. Increasing its worldwide presence, the company has offices around the world including Brighton, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Stuttgart, Paris and Singapore.

Brandwatch. Now You Know.

www.brandwatch.com |@Brandwatch |press office |contact

Contact: Dinah Alobeid, 1-917-846-2381 [email protected]

SOURCE Brandwatch

Related Links

http://www.brandwatch.com


EAGAN, Minn., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) today announced the appointment of Cain A. Hayes as executive vice president, chief operating officer and president of the health business. In this new position, Hayes is accountable for the strategic management and oversight of all Blue Cross-branded lines of business, including commercial segments, government segments and the division responsible for medical management, pharmaceuticals, provider network contracting, and health and wellness programs.

Hayes, a 25 year veteran of health insurance and financial services, comes to Blue Cross from Aetna, where he was president of the national accounts business. In this position, Hayes had full operating responsibility for a multi-billion business segment focused on Fortune 1000 employers, including network and medical management for more than 7 million members across North America.

Hayes' tenure at Aetna also included service as president of the company's Mid-America Region and president of the Government-Sector and Labor Division. Before Aetna, Cain held a number of executive leadership positions at Nationwide and Principal Financial Group.

"Cain Hayes is well-known and well-regarded within the health insurance industry as a leader of high-performing teams that deliver innovative and customer-focused solutions," said Michael Guyette, Blue Cross president and CEO. "I am confident that his proven approach to assessing, developing and executing strategies will play a significant role in realizing our vision of becoming a national leader in consumer health."

Hayes earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Drake University and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. Additionally, Hayes earned the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from The American College and the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to bluecrossmn.com to learn more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim McManus, 651.662.2882

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Related Links

http://bluecrossmn.com


SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG), a Smarter Way to Student, today announced that it is scheduled to release its earnings results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 ended March 31, 2017, on Monday, May 1, 2017, after the market close. Chegg will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter financial results at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on the same day.

To access the call, please dial 1-877-407-4018, or outside the U.S. +1-201-689-8471, five minutes prior to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (or 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). A live webcast of the call will also be available at http://investor.chegg.com under the Events & Presentations menu.

An audio replay will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 01, 2017, until 8:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 08, 2017, by calling 1-844-512-2921, or outside the U.S. +1-412-317-6671, with Conference ID 13659999. An audio archive of the call will also be available at http://investor.chegg.com.

ABOUT CHEGG

Chegg puts students first. As the leading student-first connected learning platform, the company makes higher education more affordable, more accessible, and more successful for students. Chegg is a publicly-held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information, visit www.chegg.com.

SOURCE Chegg, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.chegg.com


AUSTIN, Texas, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearDATA announced today that it raised $12 million to support its continued high growth. The proceeds will be used primarily to expand the company's presence in the marketplace and for continued product innovation. The financing will support a significant expansion of ClearDATA's healthcare-exclusive, HIPAA-compliant cloud.

Investors include Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Norwest Venture Partners, Excel Venture Management, Heritage Group, HLM Venture Partners, and Flare Capital Partners. Each of these investors previously participated in ClearDATA's prior $25 million financing.

"ClearDATA has achieved considerable revenue and customer growth year-over-year, in parallel withand influencingthe healthcare industry's mainstream adoption of the cloud," said Robert Abbott, Norwest Venture Partners. "As such, the company's investors are pleased to preemptively add growth capital to accelerate widespread public cloud adoption in the healthcare arena."

Bill Geary, co-founder and partner at Flare Capital Partners, noted ClearDATA's penetration into multiple healthcare markets addressing a broad set of needs.

"ClearDATA's solution offerings are getting impressive customer traction with leading payers, providers and life sciences organizations who no longer seek to just host their data in the cloud, although that remains key. Now organizations are seeing they can use the cloud to aggregate massive data sets for quality predictive analytics, to collaboratively conduct clinical research and to scale virtual care, patient engagement and more," Geary said.

"The healthcare digital revolution is in full swing," said Darin Brannan, CEO of ClearDATA. "But mission-driven healthcare organizations want to stay focused on caring for patients, building great software, or serving their members, not on being IT security or cloud compliance experts. Combining the technology aspect of the cloud with the healthcare aspects of compliance, comprehensive security, and regulatory support has resulted in continued market traction with 98% year-over-year growth in our core subscription services. This is testament to our success in helping healthcare leverage the public cloud for agility, scale, and cost while enhancing security and compliance."

Industry recognition

In 2016, ClearDATA ranked 26th on Entrepreneur magazine's Entrepreneur 360 List, an annual ranking of the best private companies in America, and was ranked the highest in the local Austin, TX market where it is headquartered. This followed closely on the heels of ClearDATA being named in the Gartner "Cool Vendors in Healthcare Payers, 2016" report.

ClearDATA was also selected to participate in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Sector Partner Network, a credential reserved for companies that provide superior customer service and expertise in building and migrating customer solutions on AWS.

Additionally, ClearDATA was one of the first to achieve AWS Healthcare Competency, a distinction that requires companies to pass a stringent healthcare competency audit. AWS introduced the credential to highlight partners with demonstrated success in building solutions for healthcare payers and providers that can securely store, process, transmit and analyze clinical information.

ClearDATA has tremendous support from the healthcare technology industry's leading venture capital firmsMerck Global Health Innovation Fund, Norwest Venture Partners (NVP), Heritage Group, Excel Venture Management, HLM Venture Partners and Flare Capital Partnersall of whom have deep ties with the country's largest and most influential network of healthcare providers, payers and other healthcare entities.

There are now more than 30 major healthcare brands indirectly supporting ClearDATA via these strategic healthcare venture capital firms, including: Intermountain Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Memorial Hermann, LifePoint Health, Health Care Service Corporation, UnityPoint Health, Trinity Health (Livonia, MI), Tenet Health, Community Health Systems and more.

About ClearDATA

ClearDATA is the trusted managed cloud provider, designed for today's healthcare security needs. More than 350,000 healthcare professionals trust the ClearDATA HIPAA-compliant cloud to safeguard their patient data and power their critical applications.

ClearDATA protects sensitive healthcare data using compliance and security safeguards, purpose-built DevOps automation, and healthcare expertise  all backed by managed cloud services. This ensures healthcare organizations, and the technology providers that support them, are adhering to the highest standards in privacy, security and compliance in the cloud. For more information, call (888) 899-2066, visit www.cleardata.com or follow on Twitter @cleardatacloud.

About Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, LLC

Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, LLC (GHIF) invests in emerging companies that deliver breakthrough health care solutions, which advance Merck's mission to discover, develop and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives. For more information, visit www.merck.com/ghi.

About Excel Venture Management

Excel Venture Management builds companies that apply transformative technologies to solve problems in healthcare. The Excel investment portfolio is balanced across healthcare IT and services, diagnostics, and medical devices, plus life science platforms. Example investments include Tetraphase (TTPH), Aileron, Cleveland HeartLab, Qstream, ShapeUp and Synthetic Genomics.

About Norwest Venture Partners

Norwest Venture Partners is a global venture capital and growth equity investment firm that manages more than $6 billion in capital. The firm targets early to late stage venture and growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including: technology, information services, business services, financial services, consumer products/services and healthcare. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Norwest has offices in San Francisco, and subsidiaries in Mumbai and Bengaluru, India and Herzelia, Israel. The firm has funded more than 600 companies since inception. For more information, please visit http://www.nvp.com. Follow Norwest on Twitter @NorwestVP.

About Heritage Group

Heritage Group is a Nashville-based, healthcare-exclusive, venture capital firm with more than 30 years of experience financing and operating healthcare companies at all stages. With $400 million under management in the firm's strategic funds, Heritage provides capital and unique growth opportunities to businesses that improve the delivery of healthcare services. The firm's strategic partners represent a diverse group of the nation's leading healthcare organizations, including nine health systems that account for over 500 acute care facilities and $85 billion in net patient revenue and seven health plans that cover more than 20 million lives. For more information, visit HeritageGroupUSA.com.

About HLM Venture Partners

HLM Venture Partners is a leading venture capital firm providing capital to emerging companies focused on health care services, health care information technology and medical devices. HLM has over $500 million of venture capital under management and works with the leading growth companies that are improving the quality of health care while reducing overall costs. HLM supports entrepreneurs as they turn innovative ideas into market-leading businesses, offering guidance on financial structuring, resource allocation and deployment, strategic planning, strategic introductions, and recruitment. HLM has been a lead investor in some of health care's most innovative companies including: Change Healthcare, Teladoc, Nordic Consulting, ArroHealth, TYRX Medical, MedVentive, Trizetto and Healtheon. For more information, please visit www.hlmvp.com.

About Flare Capital Partners

Flare Capital is a team of proven healthcare technology venture capital investors known for their strategic industry resources, insight and total commitment to the success of its entrepreneurs. Flare Capital raised one of the healthcare industry's largest dedicated venture capital funds focused exclusively on early stage and emerging growth investments in healthcare technology innovation and is privileged to closely partner with founders and management. Selected investments include Aetion, Bright Health, Circulation, ClearDATA, Evolent Health, HealthReveal, HealthVerity, Iora Health and Welltok. Learn more at www.flarecapital.com.

Media contact:

Marcia Rhodes

Amendola Communications for ClearDATA

Cell: (602) 793-1561

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ClearDATA

Related Links

http://www.cleardata.com


The report reveals enterprises have accelerated adoption of encryption strategies, with 41 percent of respondents saying their organization has an encryption strategy applied consistently across the enterprise. Notably, for the first time in the study's 12-year history, business unit leaders have a higher influence over encryption strategy than IT operations. Other critical findings demonstrate that organizations continue to show a preference for control over encryption and key management when those activities migrate to the cloud.

Protecting data at rest in the cloud:

67 percent of respondents take one of two routes: they either perform encryption on premise prior to sending data to the cloud, or encrypt in the cloud using keys they generate and manage on premise.

37 percent said their organizations turn over complete control of keys and encryption processes to cloud providers.

Other key findings:

31 percent are currently using or planning to use Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) with Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) deployments, with 20 percent claiming the same for Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) deployments. Overall, usage of HSMs with CASBs is expected to double in the next 12 months (from 12 percent to 24 percent).

Use of HSMs among organizations grew to its highest level ever, at 38 percent; of those respondents, 48 percent own and operate HSMs on-premise in support of cloud-based applications.

At 55 percent, compliance is the top driver for encryption  followed closely by protecting enterprise intellectual property (51 percent), customer information protection (49 percent) and protection from external threats (49 percent).

Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of The Ponemon Institute, says:

"The accelerated growth of encryption strategies in business underscores the proliferation of mega breaches and cyberattacks, as well as the need to protect a broadening range of sensitive data types. Simply put, the stakes are too high for organizations to stand by and wait for an attack to happen to them before introducing a sophisticated data protection strategy. Encryption and key management continue to play critical roles in these strategies."

John Grimm, senior director of security strategy at Thales e-Security, says:

"This year's findings align with key trends, demonstrating an increased reliance on the cloud, ever-evolving internal and external threats, and new data sources mandating stronger protection. The survey further reinforces that cloud key management offerings are more important than ever  and business-leader involvement is crucial to a sound security strategy. Thales is attuned to this development and to its customers' need for strong and flexible safeguards for the cloud. Recently, for example, we announced integrations with AWS, Google, Microsoft and Salesforce cloud platforms. Our support encompasses BYOK, key management as a service (KMaaS) and RESTful API use cases, with additional collaborations on the way."

The Global Encryption Trends Study is now in its 12th year. The Ponemon Institute surveyed more than 5,000 people across multiple industry sectors in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Brazil, the Russian Federation, Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The new 2017 Global Encryption Trends Study can be downloaded for free at: https://gets.thalesesecurity.com.

Industry insight and views on the latest key management trends can be found on the Thales e-Security blog at https://blog.thalesesecurity.com.

Follow Thales e-Security on Twitter @Thalesesecurity, and on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

About Ponemon Institute

Ponemon Institute is dedicated to advancing responsible information and privacy management practices in business and government. To achieve this objective, the Institute conducts independent research, educates leaders from the private and public sectors, and verifies the privacy and data protection practices of organizations in a variety of industries.

About Thales e-Security

Thales e-Security is the leader in advanced data security solutions and services that deliver trust wherever information is created, shared or stored. We ensure that the data belonging to companies and government entities is both secure and trusted in any environment  on-premise, in the cloud, in data centers or big data environments  without sacrificing business agility. Security doesn't just reduce risk, it's an enabler of the digital initiatives that now permeate our daily lives  digital money, e-identities, healthcare, connected cars and, with the internet of things (IoT), even household devices. Thales provides everything an organization needs to protect and manage its data, identities and intellectual property, and meet regulatory compliance  through encryption, advanced key management, tokenization, privileged-user control and high-assurance solutions. Security professionals around the globe rely on Thales to confidently accelerate their organization's digital transformation. Thales e-Security is part of Thales Group.

About Thales

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 64,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 14.9 billion in 2016. With over 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.

Positioned as a value-added systems integrator, equipment supplier and service provider, Thales is one of Europe's leading players in the security market. The Group's security teams work with government agencies, local authorities and enterprise customers to develop and deploy integrated, resilient solutions to protect citizens, sensitive data and critical infrastructure.

Thales offers world-class cryptographic capabilities and is a global leader in cybersecurity solutions for defence, government, critical infrastructure providers, telecom companies, industry and the financial services sector. With a value proposition addressing the entire data security chain, Thales offers a comprehensive range of services and solutions ranging from security consulting, data protection, digital trust management and design, development, integration, certification and security maintenance of cybersecured systems, to cyberthreat management, intrusion detection and security supervision through cybersecurity Operation Centres in France, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Hong Kong.

SOURCE Thales

Related Links

http://www.thalesesec.com


FORT WORTH, Texas, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) today joined the Lon Smith "Roof for Vets" program to honor Vietnam Veteran Harold Sanders.

"I am so thankful for this new roof," Mr. Sanders said as the workers began the installation process. "I can't thank Lon Smith Roofing enough."

Mr. Sanders was chosen as the first 2017 recipient of the "Roof for Vets" program that selects a veteran who could not afford a new roof on his own. Mr. Sanders recently spent most of his life savings to help pay medical bills as his wife died from cancer.

"What a privilege to be able to help serve Mr. Sanders with a new roof," said Scott Hamilton, Vice President of Lon Smith Roofing. "He served our country in uniform in Vietnam. He has been a productive citizen in his community and in his job. And unfortunately, circumstances with his wife impacted him financially. His roof has severe leaks in it. So we are all too happy to install this new roof for him free of charge. And what an honor to do so with our friend, Congressman Veasey. He has long been a friend to veterans. And we are pleased he joined us today."

"The fact that Lon Smith Roofing goes out of its way to honor our veterans says a great deal about the character of this company," Congressman Veasey said. "And it says a great deal about the people of Congressional District 33."

Scott Hamilton added that the Roof for Vets program selects four recipients a year and that people should feel free to contact the Lon Smith office to nominate a worthy veteran. He also said that Lon Smith recently began a partnership with the Bush Presidential Center Military Service Initiative to do even more to help local vets.

"The Roof for Vets program is just one way we are trying to honor our veterans," he said. "We believe it's the least we can do to serve those who have served us."

SOURCE Lon Smith Roofing
CRANBURY, N.J., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CURE Magazine, the leading consumer digital and print media enterprise focused entirely on patients with cancer, is proud to announce Jessica Kobs, BSN, RN, Sara Sargente, RN, ONC, and Janet Schadee, RN, MHA as finalists for the 2017 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing, announced Michael J. Hennessy Jr, president of Michael J. Hennessy Associates, the parent company of CURE Magazine.

In making the announcement, Michael J. Hennessy Jr. said, "Our finalists have thrived in the challenging field of oncology nursing. They have gone above and beyond to provide the upmost care for their patients and have inspired many to do the same. We are proud to shine a light on these heroes and dedicate an evening to their ongoing efforts."

Each of these three finalists have dedicated their careers to helping cancer patients and their families and have showed incredible passion in the field of oncology nursing.

Jessica Kobs , BSN, RN, works at the UW Health's American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin . Kobs has been an oncology nurse at the children's hospital for eight years, where she loves her job and cannot imagine doing anything else.

works at the UW Health's American Family Children's Hospital in . Kobs has been an oncology nurse at the children's hospital for eight years, where she loves her job and cannot imagine doing anything else. Sara Sargente, RN , ONC, is an Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Head & Neck Cancer Program and Bloodless Medicine Program at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, New York . Sargente provides support, education, guidance and coordination of care for her patients and their families from diagnosis to survivorship. As co-founder of the Oncology Nursing Society's local chapter, Sargente currently serves as its president and facilitates support groups through organizations such as Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer.

is an Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Head & Neck Cancer Program and Bloodless Medicine Program at Orange Regional Medical Center in . Sargente provides support, education, guidance and coordination of care for her patients and their families from diagnosis to survivorship. As co-founder of the Oncology Nursing Society's local chapter, Sargente currently serves as its president and facilitates support groups through organizations such as Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer. Janet Schadee, RN , MHA, serves as a Urologic Oncology Nurse for the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas . Additionally, Schadee is a patient advocate where she helps patients in every aspect of their lives including cancer treatment, emotional support, coordination of care, research and health policy.

CURE Magazine's Extraordinary Healer Award dinner will feature a keynote address from award-winning actor, cancer advocate, and Breakaway from Cancer Ambassador, Patrick Dempsey. In response to his mother's multiple bouts with ovarian cancer, Dempsey founded the Dempsey Center in Lewiston, Maine in 2008 with the intention of giving back to the community where he grew up, and where his mother first received cancer treatment. The Dempsey Center improves the quality of life for individuals, families and communities impacted by cancer through free support, education, complementary therapies, and prevention.

The 2017 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing dinner will take place on May 4, 2017 in Denver, Colorado, and will be held in conjunction with the ONS 42nd Annual Congress. To register to attend, please visit: http://www.curetoday.com/extraordinaryhealer

About CURE Media Group

CURE Media Group is the leading resource for cancer updates, research and education. It combines a full suite of media products, including its industry leading website, CUREtoday.com; innovative video programs, such as CURE Connections; a series of widely attended live events; and CURE magazine, which reaches over 1 million readers. CURE Media Group is part of the Cranbury, New Jersey-based Michael J. Hennessy Associates, Inc., family of businesses, which includes the acclaimed OncLive (http://www.onclive.com) platform of resources for the practicing oncologist. For more information, visit http://www.curetoday.com or http://www.mjhassoc.com.

Cure Media Group Press Contacts:

Theresa Burek/609-716-7777

[email protected]

Surabhi Verma/609-716-7777

[email protected]

SOURCE CURE Media Group
DaDaABC, the leading EdTech company in China, provides unique online professional English training to K-12 Chinese students through its real-time English teaching platform, DaDaABC. Within five years of its launch, hundreds of thousands of students in China have enrolled on this platform to learn from instructors all over the world. As the first EdTech company to provide two-way interactive video classrooms through mobile devices, DaDaABC's platform allows students and instructors to connect and communicate anytime in any location through text messages, emojis, and drawings. DaDaABC believes that this intelligent platform provides more learning possibilities to children.

In addition, unlike traditional English classroom methods, all classes on DaDaABC are one-on-one to encourage conversations between students and instructors, fostered by a pre-class questionnaire to match their personalities, interests, and habits, which boosts the outcome of study while enhancing both the learning and teaching experience.

Instructor Benefits

By being an official partner with American TESOL Institute (ATI), DaDaABC offers online training courses for aspiring instructors worldwide to help such individuals become qualified ESL online English instructors. DaDaABC offers not only a working opportunity to English native speakers worldwide, but also a passionate career for aspiring instructors to connect and help Chinese students in English-learning.

DaDaABC instructors enjoy: (1) the convenience of connecting with the students any time anywhere; (2) receiving timely compensation; (3) accomplishment and great sense of achievement after the teaching experience; and (4) career development that enables the instructor to gain a valuable skill set and experience in online education area in today's ever-changing market.

"We're happy to open up opportunities to instructors who are passionate about teaching the kids. Our goal is not only nurturing the kids through our EdTech philosophy, but we also aim to become a big family that connects our instructors from different backgrounds," said Hui Zhi, the founder and CEO of DaDaABC.

"This job has flexible hours and I particularly enjoy teaching students on a one-to-one basis," said Caroline, a DaDaABC instructor. "This makes me feel proud, successful, and makes me continue to work hard for the future. I like to think that this is not just a job, but a passion of mine. Thank you DaDaABC!"

To become a DaDaABC instructor, please visit: https://www.dadaabc.com/teacher/job/

About DaDaABC

Founded in 2013, DaDaABC is the most innovative English training institution in China, and was established to provide what has become one of China's most successful intelligent English learning platforms for children. Winner of over 15 awards and recognitions in 2016, DaDaABC developed a leading English training system focused on one-on-one online tutoring and encourage youngsters to learn and practice while having fun with instructors, and announced a total capital raising of 500 million RMB in Series B and Series B+, which will be used in market expansion, curriculum development and learning experience improvement. DaDaABC has been helping students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, and other non-English speaking countries. For more information, please visit www.dadaabc.com.

SOURCE DaDaABC

Related Links

http://www.dadaabc.com


DALLAS, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) will host a live webcast of its first quarter 2017 earnings conference call on May 9 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Management will discuss the financial results, as well as comment on the forward outlook. The webcast is expected to last approximately one hour and will be accessible by visiting http://www.deanfoods.com/our-company/investor-relations/ and by clicking on "Webcasts."

In order to listen to the webcast, users will need to have installed either Real Player or Windows Media Player software, which can be detected and downloaded by visiting the site. A webcast replay will be available for approximately 45 days following the event within the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site.

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods portfolio includes DairyPure, the country's first and largest fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo, the leading national flavored milk brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena, Berkeley Farms, Country Fresh, Dean's, Garelick Farms, Friendly's, LAND O LAKES* milk and cultured products*, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms, Mayfield, McArthur, Meadow Gold, Oak Farms, PET**, T.G. Lee, Tuscan and more. In all, Dean Foods has more than 50 local and regional dairy brands and private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas, and bottled water. More than 16,000 employees across the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its brands, visit www.deanfoods.com.

*The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is used by license.

**PET is a trademark used by license.

CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Jamaison Schuler, +1 214-721-7766; or Investor Relations, Sherri Baker, +1-214-303-3438

SOURCE Dean Foods Company

Related Links

http://www.deanfoods.com


ARLINGTON, Va., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three major defense trade associations met with Secretary of Defense James Mattis at the offices of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) today to discuss a broad range of issues critical to the aerospace and defense industry. The CEOs and senior leadership of AIA, the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and the Professional Services Council (PSC) provided Secretary Mattis with their insight into the opportunities and challenges that the aerospace and defense industry faces in today's acquisition and budget environment.

"It's important for industry and government to have a regular dialogue that is open and frank," said AIA President and CEO Lt. Gen. David F. Melcher USA (Ret.). "The growing and changing threats facing our nation require a holistic approach, the right combination of robust, balanced and stable funding, as well as regulatory reform that speeds development and encourages new technology and capabilities. Working side-by-side with our government partners, we can deliver the best possible capability to the warfighter at the best price for the taxpayer."

"We appreciate Secretary Mattis' willingness to meet and speak with us as we work together in the best interest of our national security," said NDIA President and CEO Gen. Craig McKinley, USAF (Ret.). "Strong international partnerships are of particular interest to our industry and are critical to our nation's ability to project our values in a complex world order. A strategic approach to security cooperation objectives with our close friends and allies will yield enormous benefits as we collaborate to achieve our mutual security goals."

"These exchanges between senior leadership in government and industry are key to moving forward on our shared objectives," said PSC Chief Executive Officer David J. Berteau. "Our industry is looking forward to working with Secretary Mattis to address our current readiness situation and to develop high-tech solutions to enhance our capabilities."

Today's meeting is part of an ongoing interchange between these defense industry associations and the Secretary of Defense. AIA, NDIA and PSC are pleased that Secretary Mattis has chosen to continue the dialogue begun by Secretary Gates and embraced by his successors and look forward to maintaining communication across a broad range of important topics.

About AIA: Founded in 1919, the Aerospace Industries Association is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the U.S. aerospace and defense industry on Capitol Hill, within the administration and internationally. As the voice of American aerospace and defense, representing manufacturers and suppliers across every high-technology manufacturing sector, AIA's strong advocacy is essential to protecting the interests of our nation and our industry.

About NDIA: The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is the trusted leader in defense and national security associations. As a 501(c)3 corporate and individual membership association, NDIA engages thoughtful and innovative leaders to exchange ideas, information and capabilities that lead to the development of the best policies, practices, products and technology to ensure the safety and security of our nation. NDIA's membership embodies the full spectrum of corporate, government, academic and individual stakeholders who form a vigorous, responsive and collaborative community in support of defense and national security. For more information, visit www.ndia.org.

About PSC: Now in its 45th year, the Professional Services Council (PSC) is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC's over 400 member companies include small, medium, and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, engineering, logistics, facilities management, operations and maintenance, consulting, international development, scientific, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade association's members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in all 50 states. PSC is at www.pscouncil.org or on Twitter @PSCspeaks.

SOURCE NDIA

Related Links

http://www.ndia.org


NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of evolving business demands and rapid technological disruption, the Robert M. Trueblood Seminars for Professors enhance accounting and auditing education to build the next generation of accountants and auditors to meet the needs of today's capital markets. For more than 50 years, the annual seminars, hosted by the Deloitte Foundation and the American Accounting Association, have provided cutting-edge resources and hundreds of case studies that keep university faculty and their students connected to the real-world issues and challenges currently facing the audit and accounting professions.

"The auditors of the future are not siloed to financial reporting," said Tonie Leatherberry, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and president of the Deloitte Foundation. "Future auditors will need up-to-date technical and data science skills to go along with their deep industry and cross-functional expertise. Moreover, they will need to sharpen their analytical skills and ability to interpret data, and demonstrate strong business acumen, superior communication skills and leadership. The Trueblood Seminars continue a long-standing tradition of assisting those charged with developing curricula that is futuristic and embodies the spirit of innovation."

This year's seminars marked a continued focus on audit innovation as technology continues to change the face of the profession. The proliferation of data analytics and artificial intelligence has enhanced the audit process and has helped open the door to transforming the manner in which an audit is conducted. The result is a new type of auditor and deeper insights that can benefit companies being audited and provide value to capital market participants. Additionally, there is an appreciation among business leaders for the opportunities audits can provide to help companies improve business performance.

Participants analyzed case studies on leasing arrangements, accounting for cross-hedging instruments, business combinations, revenue recognition, and understanding and evaluating control deficiencies during an audit, among others.

"Case-based discussions are a critical component of the seminars because they present realistic, complex, and contextually rich situations that encourage critical thinking and professional judgment," said Michael Iselin, 2017 Trueblood co-chair and accounting professor at the University of Minnesota. "Faculty are able to return to their universities and use Trueblood case studies as an excellent tool to foster critical thinking skills in the classroom."

More than 2,100 professors from across the country are registered users of the Trueblood case studies.

The 2017 Trueblood Seminars were held at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas. More than 60 leading accounting and auditing educators and professionals attended the February and March sessions. The program featured guest speakers from the Financial Accounting Standards Board, accounting professors from several colleges and universities, plus Deloitte subject matter leaders. Deloitte professionals also discussed innovative audit technology and approaches, and shared their experiences through the case studies to illustrate the evolving skillsets needed in the field.

"The skills required to complete a high-quality audit five to 10 years ago are not the same as the skills you need today," says Leatherberry. "It's an exciting time for educators to encourage tech-savvy audit professionals to join the wave of innovation as 'big picture' thinkers."

Through this lens, the Trueblood Seminars continue to give accounting and auditing professors curriculum resources they need to educate the auditors today's business world demands.

The Robert M. Trueblood Seminars have been held annually since 1966 under the auspices of the Deloitte Foundation. In 1975, the American Accounting Association joined the Deloitte Foundation in administering the seminars. Through the years, more than 2,400 professors have attended the program.

The Deloitte Foundation, founded in 1928, is a not-for-profit organization that supports education in the U.S. through a variety of initiatives that help develop the talent of the future and their influencers and promote excellence in teaching, research and curriculum innovation. The foundation sponsors an array of national programs relevant to a variety of professional services, benefiting middle and high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and educators. Learn more about the Deloitte Foundation.

About the American Accounting Association

The American Accounting Association (AAA) is the largest community of accountants in academia. Founded in 1916, it has a rich and reputable history built on leading-edge research and publications. The diversity of the membership creates a fertile environment for collaboration and innovation. Collectively, AAA members shape the future of accounting through leading-edge research, education, publications and a powerful network, ensuring their position as thought leaders in accounting. Learn more about the AAA at http://aaahq.org.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including 80 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across more than 20 industry sectors to deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to make their most challenging business decisions with confidence, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms

SOURCE Deloitte

Related Links

http://www.deloitte.com/us


ATLANTA and PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) completed its 13th Global Build with Habitat for Humanity this week with the construction of six homes in Chulavista, a small community 35 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Sixty-five volunteers participated in the joint build with Delta's alliance partner Aeromexico  a lineup of 45 Delta employees from 23 stations across five countries, two SkyMiles customers, two Delta retirees and 16 Aeromexico employees.

Delta celebrates 13th Global Build with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico Delta celebrates 13th Global Build with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico Delta celebrates 13th Global Build with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico

The effort marks the first in a series of 2017 Delta and Habitat for Humanity initiatives, including a second Global Build in Mexico slated for October, where a volunteer team will return to the community of Chulavista to build six additional homes. In addition, Delta volunteers will build seven homes across U.S. cities this fall, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City and Seattle, marking Delta homes 242 through 248 in partnership with Habitat for Humanity throughout the airline's 15-plus years of support. Delta's partnership with Habitat for Humanity supports the airline's commitment to contribute 1 percent of its net income from the previous year to key charitable organizations.

"As a global carrier, we continue to expand our long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity across global communities and 2017 will be a remarkable year for deepening this commitment," said Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director  Community Engagement. "There is no greater testament to the Delta Difference than our employees, customers and partners coming together to build a stronger community."

The joint Delta and Aeromexico team worked alongside future Habitat homeowners in Chulavista to begin the early construction of six new homes. Volunteers constructed the foundation, bathroom, kitchen facilities and two rooms. Habitat for Humanity Mexico will provide families with the training and guidance to complete their new home with help from local volunteers, architects and engineers.

"This effort marks Delta and Aeromexico's third Delta Global Build together and complements 23 years of partnership," said Mike Medeiros, Aeromexico's Chief Operating Officer, who participated in the build. "A commitment to serving others and giving back to the communities where we live, work and serve is a shared core value among both Delta and Aeromexico. This build allows us to deepen our servant leadership model, while working together for families in Chulavista."

For the seventh consecutive year, a SkyMiles customer who bid for the opportunity to participate through Delta's SkyMiles Experiences online auction was embedded as a volunteer. Diamond Medallion member Ron Berg from Edina, Minn., won the experience with a bid of 321,000 miles, and was joined by his wife, Julie Berg.

"The extraordinary commitment of partners like Delta helps families break the barriers to securing decent and affordable housing," said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, senior vice president of Development at Habitat for Humanity International. "We are grateful for the continuous support of Delta and its employees to make a difference in helping families around the world have a decent place to live."

The latest homes in Mexico marked Delta's 236 through 241 home builds across 12 countries in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Employees have previously participated in Delta Global Builds in Argentina, Chile, China, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand.

Delta and Aeromexico collectively offer 75 codeshare destinations that represent over 1,000 daily flights in six countries.

About Delta

Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 322 destinations in 58 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity has grown from a grassroots effort that began on a community farm in southern Georgia in 1976 to a global nonprofit housing organization in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in over 70 countries. People partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

Related Links

http://www.delta.com


LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EcoSet Consulting was honored this week with the business and private sector 2017 Green Leadership Award for their community reuse center, the Materials Oasis. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Annual Green Leadership Awards recognize outstanding efforts by individuals, businesses and organizations in fulfilling innovative strategies to improve our environmental sustainability.

Creative elements used in commercials and marketing events are kept out of landfills and recirculated to the local community in Los Angeles. EcoSet's Materials Oasis is an award winning reuse center for artists, schools, theaters and filmmakers.

The Materials Oasis provides a bridge between surplus reusable creative materials and the local artistic and educational communities. Through the recovery of used materials from commercial productions and marketing events, EcoSet tackles multiple issues: 1) keeping production discards and creative elements from reaching landfills and 2) providing high quality used resources to underfunded programs and artists.

The Materials Oasis is a companion to EcoSet's ReDirect service. ReDirect offers an alternative to dumpsters for any type of production or event, allowing constructed sets, custom props, displays and decor to be recirculated to indie filmmakers, theaters, schools, non-profits and artists. Since its creation in 2014, the Materials Oasis has facilitated the reuse of more than 145 tons of material. Commonly recovered items include lumber, flooring, sheet goods, textiles, lighting expendables, location protection, packaging materials, art scraps, custom props, platforms, set walls, and other fabricated structures.

About the Materials Oasis

The Materials Oasis is a community reuse facility that connects leftover materials from productions and events to local artists, theaters and educators. Opened in 2014, the reuse center allows non-profits, schools, artists and individuals to select free excess materials such as set pieces, custom built props and other salvaged materials and expendables. To obtain materials at the Materials Oasis schedule an appointment. To contribute excess materials from a production or event to the Materials Oasis, contact EcoSet ReDirect.

About EcoSet Consulting

EcoSet Consulting is a sustainable production resource to the film industry and a direct supplier to advertisers and creative agencies. In service since 2009, EcoSet implements Zero Waste practices behind the scenes of commercial shoots and experiential marketing events across the US, and recirculates reusable materials back into local communities. EcoSet's ReDirect service in Los Angeles keeps set pieces out of landfills and provides 'access to the excess' of discarded creative materials for artists, filmmakers, theaters, schools and non-profits. EcoSet is a certified Woman Owned Business and is a 2013 recipient of the Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles Sustainable Small Business Award.

CONTACT: Kris Barberg, Executive Director

[email protected] / 323-669-0232

Related Links:

http://ecosetconsulting.com/

http://ecosetconsulting.com/reuse

https://www.lacounty.gov/greenleadership

Related Files

Press Release - 2017 GLA Winners.pdf

EcoSet.Materials.Oasis.Intro.pdf

Related Images

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Related Links

EcoSet Website

Materials Oasis Web Page

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE EcoSet Consulting, LLC

Related Links

http://ecosetconsulting.com


MILWAUKEE, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, a leading developer of innovative distributed energy resource (DER) systems and internet of energy (IOE) control platforms for the utility, commercial, industrial and multi-tenant building markets, today announces that it has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a Hawaii-based food processing company. The DER system is designed to provide sustainability and electrical resiliency by adding solar plus storage at the processor's site, while also supporting expansion of grid service capabilities with the local utility.

Based on Oahu, the food processing company selected EnSync Energy's DER platform technologies to expand upon the processing company's sustainability and energy resiliency goals. This project will triple the capacity of the food processor's onsite solar PV array, as well as add energy storage and upgrade their energy management system with new IOE DER Flex software to prepare them for electricity program changes in late 2017.

When the project is complete the company will have more than 600 kilowatts of solar PV onsite and 850 kilowatt-hours of hybrid energy storage to provide for both power and energy requirements. The power controls and energy storage will reside in two EnSync Energy SuperModule, 20' containers that can quickly be placed and connected at the site.

"We're looking forward to helping a company with such deep Hawaiian roots and commitment to sustainability goals further enhance their operations with electricity cost management and renewable energy resilience," said Brad Hansen, CEO of EnSync Energy. "This opportunity, developed by EnSync's project development subsidiary Holu Energy in Honolulu, will meet the processor's desire for uninterruptible power and long term energy resilience, ensuring reliable operation of their refrigeration assets, as well as other critical operations at the food processing and distribution facility."

The system will meet immediate needs by allowing the facility to enroll in HECO's upcoming grid services programs in return for compensation from the utility for operating energy storage in a manner that concurrently supports the grid. When needed, the energy stored in the batteries will help maintain the company's critical operations, such as processing and refrigeration at full operation for several hours.

To prepare the company for energy program changes scheduled later in 2017, and to add more value to their overall system, EnSync Energy's DER Flex IOE technology will be deployed. Specifically, DER Flex makes it possible for the company to participate in upcoming grid programs and in return receive compensation. Enrollment in programs like fast frequency response and non-spinning auto reserves would require the batteries to discharge energy when called upon by a local utility during a grid disturbance.

About EnSync Energy Systems



EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, is creating the future of electricity with innovative distributed energy resource (DER) systems and internet of energy (IOE) control platforms. EnSync Energy ensures the most cost-effective and resilient electricity, delivered from an electrical infrastructure that prioritizes the use of all available resources, such as renewables, energy storage and the utility grid. As project developer, EnSync Energy's distinctive engagement methodology encompasses load analysis, system design consulting, and technical and financial modeling to ensure energy systems are sized and optimized to meet our customers' objectives for value and performance. Proprietary direct current (DC) power control hardware, energy management software, and extensive experience with numerous energy storage technologies uniquely positions EnSync Energy to deliver fully integrated systems that provide for efficient design, procurement, commissioning, and ongoing operation. EnSync Energy's IOE control platform adapts easily to ever-changing generation and load variables, as well as changes in utility prices and programs, ensuring the means to make or save money behind-the-meter, while concurrently providing utilities the opportunity to use DERs for an array of grid enhancing services. In addition to direct system sales, EnSync Energy includes power purchase agreements (PPAs) in its portfolio of offerings, which enables electricity savings for customers and provides a stable financial yield for investors. EnSync Energy is a global corporation, with joint venture Meineng Energy in AnHui, China, and energy project development subsidiary Holu Energy LLC in Hawaii, and DCfusion LLC, a power system engineering and design, consultancy and policy firm. For more information, visit www.ensync.com



Safe Harbor Statement



Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release may address the following subjects among others: our ability to monetize our PPA assets, statements regarding the sufficiency of our capital resources, expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses and our expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.



Investor Relations Contact:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Robert Blum, Joseph Diaz, or Joe Dorame

(602) 889-9700



EnSync Media Contact:

Michelle Montague

(262) 735-5676

SOURCE EnSync Energy Systems

Related Links

http://www.ensync.com


SALT LAKE CITY, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Ventures, a premier venture firm with a track record for launching exceptional technology firms, today reported continued success across its portfolio, including the sale of NetDocuments to Clearlake Capital. The firm has recorded more than three major exits every year from its portfolio for the past 11 years.

"EPIC entrepreneurs and executive teams are committed to success. We applaud the work of the team and co-investors in NetDocuments and expect to see them continue to grow and lead the document management sector," said Nick Efstratis, managing director at EPIC Ventures.

In addition to the acquisition of NetDocuments, recent highlights include two portfolio companies entering the public markets and another portfolio company being acquired. These four exits totaled approximately $1.2 billion in value, and EPIC provided initial institutional capital in three of the four companies.

IPOs

Leading SaaS technology company Instructure in 2015. EPIC made its initial investment in Instructure in 2010.

Leading MRAM solutions provider Everspin Technologies in 2016. EPIC made its initial investment in Everspin in 2008.

M&A Exits

NetDocuments, the leader in cloud-based document and email management, was acquired by Clearlake Capital in 2017. EPIC made its initial investment in NetDocuments in 1999.

Joyent, a leading public and private cloud provider, was acquired by Samsung Electronics in 2016. EPIC made its initial investment in Joyent in 2011.

"We're pleased to extend our strong track record of investing in category-defining technology companies, which have created thousands of jobs for Utah's economy and beyond," said Kent Madsen, managing director at EPIC Ventures. "We strongly believe in being partners with exceptional entrepreneurs in underserved markets to help them build lasting businesses."

EPIC's highly successful investment strategy of investing in early-stage software companies that are based in underserved markets includes additional selected exits, such as Ancestry.com (UT), exit via IPO; Mozy (UT), acquired by EMC; SolutionReach (UT), acquired by Summit Partners; LeftHand Networks (CO), acquired by HP; and Lumidigm (NM), acquired by HID.

The firm's current portfolio includes such industry leading companies as InsideSales.com (UT), which has raised over $250 million, including strategic investment from Microsoft and Salesforce.com; Health Catalyst (UT), which has raised over $200 million; Iovation (OR), Signal.co (IL) and AppDetex (ID).

About EPIC Ventures

EPIC Ventures is a premier venture capital firm focused on emerging startup ecosystems. EPIC backs early stage technology companies selling to the C-Suite (CIO, CTO, CFO, CISO, etc) and platform investments disrupting industry incumbents. EPIC helps to create companies, not just fund them. For more information, please visit www.EPICvc.com.

Press Contact

Alex Koritz

Method Communications

[email protected]

801-461-9795

SOURCE EPIC Ventures

Related Links

http://www.EPICvc.com


The Normandy tour will begin where the first shots of the invasion were fired  at a few minutes after midnight on June 6, 1944  by British troops at the crucial Pegasus Bridge. Guests will tour the British and Canadian sectors and then explore Arromanches, famous for the remains of a "Mulberry Harbor." The group will also make a trip up the commanding bluff where the well-known German gun emplacements at Longues-sur-Mer are located.

The tour's itinerary also includes the unique opportunity to visit Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where paratroopers landed during the predawn hours of D-Day. The following morning, guests will begin at Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach, with visits to Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and Vierville-sur-Mer, which provide a close-up view of the intricate German defense system and give a sense of the overwhelming odds the American soldiers faced on that first day.

With additional stops at Utah Beach, the Musee Airborne, the D-Day museum at Memorial de Caen and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, this D-Day tour is for both the academic and the amateur historian in search of the most authentic experience of Normandy as it was. Quaint, upscale, historic accommodations are matched with regional cuisine, affordability and experiences found nowhere else.

Pricing for the D-Day tour is $3,999 per person based on double occupancy, which reflects a $1000 per couple early booking discount when reserved by May 8, 2017. For a detailed itinerary, testimonials and registration information, visit http://www.ww2museumtours.org or call 877-813-3329 Ext 257.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world  why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today  so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America's National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.

SOURCE National WWII Museum

Related Links

http://www.ww2museumtours.org


ZEIST, The Netherlands, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of the world's leading values-based banks, in the last quarter welcomed its 40th member - The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan. This marks a milestone in membership increase making the Global Alliance bigger as ever. The Global Alliance comprises 40 members and seven partners coming from all around the world. We are continuing our work and a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development, with a focus on helping individuals fulfil their potential and build stronger communities.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160725/392614LOGO )



The newest member, The First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan (http://www.fmfb.com.tj/en ) strives to contribute to the economic development of the country and to the improvement of the quality of life of people in Tajikistan by providing access to finance and banking services. The Bank wants to be recognized as Tajikistan's most trusted bank, operating to international standards of ethics, prudence and customer service, through the reliable delivery of high-quality banking services in all regions of Tajikistan to its customers.

Mr. Yenten Lama, CEO of the First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan on joining the GABV stated: "We are enthused to join the GABV family and access the network of peers and colleagues from the Alliance. This will be very valuable for cross learning and paving the way to operate at international standards. Participation in the GABV meetings and collaborating with other members will provide insights into different working models, help in sharing of knowledge resources and building staff capacity."

Dr Marcos Eguiguren, Executive Director, GABV on achieving the milestone and welcoming the newest member said: 'I am proud and honoured to have supported the GABV in achieving this milestone and welcoming the newest member to our family of likeminded financial institutions. As the Global Alliance is growing, we must continue to learn from and support each other and to be more proactive in fulfilling our goals of advancing positive change in the banking sector. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise on how to use finance to create positive economic, social and environmental impact for the individuals, organisations and communities they serve. We are proud to be the link between our members and partners, working to change finance to finance change. Only together we will be able to deliver on our mission to put banking back in service of people, the economy and the environment.'

The Global Alliance will continue to work on expanding its reach to new countries, supporting new members and actively promoting banking on values and the #BankingOnValues movement.

About the GABV

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values is a not-for-profit organisation and independent network of banks and banking cooperatives with a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises 40 financial institutions and seven strategic partners operating in countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe. Collectively we serve more than 24 million customers, hold up to $110 billion USD of combined assets under management, and we are supported by more than 42,000 co-workers. Learn more about the GABV and how we're working to build a growing, global, values-based banking movement.

Latest news:

Massive Open Online Course - Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered is back!

2016 Annual Report Launches

GABV Joins the Global Movement for a New Economy

For the First Time in Europe a Law Recognizes Ethical Finance

Media Relations

Jasmin Panjeta

E: [email protected]

T: +31-61-525-4228



#BankingOnValues

SOURCE Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)
TOPEKA, Kan., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Payless ShoeSource is closing 389 underperforming stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, providing a rare opportunity for savvy shoppers to snap up footwear for the whole family at liquidation prices. A joint venture between Great American Group and Tiger Capital Group is conducting the store closing sales.

Founded in Topeka in 1956, Payless ShoeSource will continue to operate approximately 3,000 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. The retailer filed a voluntary petition for reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code on April 4 to facilitate the financial and operational restructuring necessary to strengthen its balance sheet and position Payless for long-term success.

"For bargain-conscious shoppers across the United States, the store closing sales represent a pragmatic opportunity to save a significant amount of money on a universal need," said Scott K. Carpenter, President of GA Retail Solutions, a leading provider of asset disposition and auction solutions, and a subsidiary of B. Riley Financial, Inc.

"Everybody needs footwear, whether you're a runner, office worker, parent or maybe all three," said Michael McGrail, COO of Tiger Group, which provides asset valuation, advisory and disposition services to a broad range of retail, wholesale, and industrial clients. "These store-closing sales epitomize the retailer's familiar slogan'Go To, Get More, Pay Less.'"

To see a list of underperforming locations slated for closure, please click here.

During the store closing sales, shoppers will find significant liquidation discounts off Payless' robust selection of well-known and popular national brands. These include brands such as American Eagle by Payless, Christian Siriano for Payless, Airwalk, Dexter and Dexflex Comfort, as well as Brash. Kids' brands include SmartFit, and a range of fun character shoes.

Payless is a privately held company owned by Golden Gate Capital and Blum Capital Partners, and is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 4,000 brick-and-mortar stores in more than 30 countries and about 22,000 employees.

Media Contacts: At Parness & Associates Public Relations, Bill Parness, [email protected], 732-290-0121 (Mobile: 732-673-6852) or Lisa Kreda, [email protected].

SOURCE Tiger Capital Group & Great American Group

Related Links

http://www.tigergroup.com


GREENVILLE, S.C., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenville New Markets Opportunity II, a Community Development Entity dedicated to transforming communities across the state, launched the organization's new brand, The Innovate Fund, to a crowded room at a special event for community representatives, stakeholders, and investors on March 23.

"It is a very exciting time to be a part of this new brand. It truly embodies our focus on connecting with and transforming communities to enable them to thrive," said Doris Shellhorse, Program Manager of The Innovate Fund. "Our new brand reflects the reach and purpose of the company and supports our vision for years to come."

The Innovate Fund leverages federal New Markets Tax Credit dollars by partnering at a local level with community organizations to identify projects that have the potential to be transformative to communities. The Innovate Fund works with potential borrowers and local community leaders who create jobs, improve health and wellness and catalyze further development to ensure that projects financed through New Markets Tax Credits align with community priorities and create meaningful community outcomes.

"We are confident that our rebranding will better encompass our mission as we remain committed to creating quality opportunities for communities across the state," said David Barnett, board chair. "Our company believes that not just more jobs, but quality jobs transform communities, and we are ready more now than ever to gain momentum with our new brand."

"The Innovate Fund invests in borrowers that provide inventive solutions for their companies and their communities, such as operating businesses that create a new product, first-mover real estate projects in distressed neighborhoods, and community organizations that find creative solutions to neighborhood issues," said Tammy Propst, President of Tax Advantage Group and Operating Officer of The Innovate Fund. "We could not have achieved our results without our amazing borrowers, our community partners, in particular our legislative delegation including U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, and our investors."

About The Innovate Fund

Established in 2004, The Innovate Fund and affiliates were created to provide federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing for Disadvantaged Businesses and Communities located in South Carolina's Low-Income Communities. Today, The Innovate Fund has deployed nearly $160 million of NMTC investments to transactions that support 3,370 jobs, provide community goods and services to over 66,000 Low-Income Community residents and Low-Income Persons, and created or rehabilitated over 1.6 million square feet of real estate in South Carolina. The community demographics of The Innovate Fund's current investment portfolio consist of poverty rates as high as 66%, median family income as low as 14.24% of the statewide median family income, and unemployment as high as 23.7%. For complete information, visit our website at www.theinnovatefund.com.

Contact

Nisha Patel

[email protected]

864-232-2302

SOURCE The Innovate Fund

Related Links

http://theinnovatefund.com


VIENNA, Va., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health2 Resources took home the Gold in the Hermes Creative Awards 2017 competition. The award recognizes the Washington, DC-area specialty communications firm's work with Colorado-based Monument Health and its execution of Monument Health's website, www MonumentHealth.net.

The competition, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, received more than 6,000 entries. Other 2017 Gold winners include AARP, AON Hewitt and Mathematica Policy Research.

The website development was part of a larger engagement: Monument Health asked Health2 Resources, which serves clients nationwide, to produce a one-year communication campaign to position the organization and its clinically integrated network for adoption and growth in the community. The resulting First. Achieve. Health. campaign clearly articulated Monument Health's core identity as a high-performing, clinically integrated network. Developing a new website was a core component of the overall campaign; it included production of site content and a resource center that features other Health2Resources-produced material, including blogs, issue briefs, explainer videos and a monthly e-newsbrief.

"We are honored to be recognized by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, an organization known for its exceptionally high standards," says Katherine Herring Capps, president of Health2 Resources. "This award recognizes not only the hard work of our team, but also Monument Health's vision and commitment. We are proud to have helped them achieve their goals."

Health2 Resources and Monument Health created the website to be a beacon, drawing potential customers, brokers, physician groups and consumers to learn more about the distinctiveness of the clinically integrated network. Goals included making the site easy to navigate and ensuring it directly responded to the needs of all these diverse audiences.

"From day one, Health2 Resources acted in partnership with us to understand what we wanted," says Stephanie Motter, RN, CEO of Monument Health. "Through the First. Achieve. Health. campaign, and the website in particular, Health2Resources helped articulate and amplify our vision, mission and goals to deliver appropriate, accessible and more affordable health care."

The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, is an international competition that recognizes outstanding work in the advertising industry while promoting the philanthropic nature of marketing and communications professionals. AMCP judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

About Health2 Resources

Founded in 1998, Health2 Resources is a full-service communications and public relations firm that exclusively serves health care clients throughout the U.S. by offering a full range of research and public relations support. It works closely with local, state and federal policymakers and regulatory agencies to build and improve relationships on behalf of a mix of clients that buy, pay for, provide and evaluate health care. Visit Health2 Resources at www.health2resources.com .

SOURCE Health 2 Resources

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CHICAGO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HighTower announces its intent to acquire WealthTrust, which includes $6.4 billion in client assets nationwide. The transaction is the largest in HighTower's history, bringing the company's total client assets to nearly $46 billionan almost four-fold increase in less than four years.

"This is a transformational transaction for HighTower. Ten years ago, we founded this company upon our core belief that the fiduciary approach is the best for clientsand the best for business," said HighTower CEO Elliot Weissbluth. "We are proof that the fiduciary standard is the future of financial services."

HighTower financed the cash-only acquisition through a $75 million expansion of its credit facility to $245 million, led by BMO Harris and lenders Regions Bank, Fifth Third Bank and KeyBank.

"Our new facility will allow HighTower to fund additional acquisitions and drive greater momentum in the marketplace," said Sagar C. Kurada, Chief Financial Officer, HighTower.

"HighTower's visionary business model, rapid growth trajectory and significant financial strength make it the best buyer to service and grow WealthTrust," said Mark Gormley, Partner, Lee Equity Partners. "We proudly support HighTower in its mission to make the fiduciary standard a universal element of wealth management," he added.

Following the WealthTrust acquisition, about 40% of HighTower teams will originate from Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) backgroundseither as previously independent teams acquired by HighTower or as independent RIAs leveraging HighTower's platform of services.

"No matter what a team's origin is, or how they elect to affiliate with HighTower, we deliver the comprehensive support they need to serve their clients who trust them for vital financial guidance," added HighTower Executive Vice President Matthias Kuhlmey. "The WealthTrust acquisition illustrates the strategic evolution of our business model and rapid growth fueled by advisor demand for the HighTower platform, brand and culture."

Kuhlmey led the WealthTrust transaction for HighTower and plays a critical role in all acquisitions. Over the past 18 months, he led 6 RIA acquisitions for the firm. He previously served as the Head of Global Investment Solutions, spearheading the development of HighTower's sophisticated investment and research platform.

For media inquiries, please contact Melinda Brodbeck, JConnelly, at 973-850-7348 or [email protected].

About HighTower

HighTower is a national firm built by and for elite financial advisors. HighTower advisors commit to the fiduciary standard: a binding promise to put our clients' interests first. Powered by a proprietary technology and investment platform, HighTower embraces bold change to create a culture of collaboration and growth and to meet the evolving needs of sophisticated investors. For more information, see www.hightoweradvisors.com and www.byadvisorsforadvisors.com.

About Lee Equity Partners

Lee Equity Partners is a New York based private equity firm that partners with successful management teams to build companies with strong growth potential. Lee Equity targets equity investments of $50 to $150 million in middle market control buyouts and growth capital financings in companies with enterprise values of $100 million to $500 million that are located primarily in the United States. With a shared vision and alignment of interests, Lee Equity offers portfolio companies an integrated strategy and operational advisory approach to optimize high potential opportunities, accelerate growth and create enduring value. The firm invests in a range of industries where the team has deep relationships developed over decades including Financial, Healthcare and Business Services, Retail and Consumer Products, Media and Specialty Industrial Distribution. www.LeeEquity.com

Melinda Brodbeck

JConnelly

973-850-7348

[email protected]

SOURCE HighTower

Related Links

http://www.hightoweradvisors.com


CLEVELAND, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughie's Event Production Services is excited to announce the acquisition of the scenic production and lighting design resources of Dave Brooks. Dave has spent the last thirty years working as a Scenic and Lighting Designer, Technical Director and Production Manager. A life-long Clevelander, Dave attended Cleveland State University, where he returned, after an internship with the Berkeley Repertory Theater, as the TD for the newly renovated Factory Theater at CSU.

Dave Brooks, new scenic and creative consultant for Hughie's Event Production Services

In addition to designing for the stage, Dave has expanded his repertoire to include corporate and special events as well. His work as a designer and fabricator has helped support meetings for such clients as Sealy, Applebee's, Nestle, Sea World, and many more. His background in both design and fabrication serves him particularly well in the corporate event market. The ability to have some insight into how a project will be engineered and built is vital to keeping both the project and budget on track.

30 years of shows and events can make it hard to pick favorites, but some of Dave's favorite projects would have to include the grand opening of the Akron Art Museum, the 2008 Presidential Debate in Oxford, MicroSoft, The Great GoogaMooga Food and Music Festival, and his work fabricating Studio C for the Fox Sportstime Ohio network.

Hughie's Event Production Services has been considered a premiere source of quality event production service and professional industry equipment in the Ohio and Western Pennsylvania region. With their regional offices in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they are able to serve clients nationally as well as locally. The Cleveland office will be the home base for Dave's design studio.

As Hughie's business relationships have prospered, so has their reputation as a great company to work with. Hughie's has traveled world-wide, fulfilling a variety of event production needs for all types of clients. They have moved beyond "Audio-Visual" and have truly begun to focus on Event Production. They offer rigging, staging, lighting and decor services in addition to traditional audio and video.

Media Contact:

Julie Felder

Phone: 216.361.4600

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Hughie's Event Production Services

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BETHESDA, Md., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hull Street Energy, LLC ("Hull Street Energy") announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the ownership interest in Maxim Power (USA) Inc. from Maxim Power Corp. (TSX: MXG). The acquisition was made by a recently-formed Hull Street Energy affiliate, Milepost Power Holdings ("Milepost"), at a purchase price of approximately $106 million. The assets acquired by Milepost consist of Maxim Power (USA)'s five natural gas-fired electric generation facilities in the United States.

Hull Street Energy, a private equity firm that invests in power generation assets and related businesses, established Milepost as part of its strategy to build and grow a significant presence in the North American middle market power sector. As a result of this transaction, Milepost now owns 446 MW of flexible, dual fueled power generation assets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Western United States.

"The formation of Milepost and its acquisition of the Maxim Power (USA) assets reflect our strategic focus on the investment opportunity created by the ongoing transition to more sustainable sources of electric power," said Sarah Wright, Managing Partner of Hull Street Energy. "As the North American power market becomes increasingly fragmented and decentralized, we are actively pursuing opportunities to acquire middle market power businesses and to enhance their value through asset optimization, customer base expansion and improved management. We believe the industry expertise, analytical capabilities and operational strength of our team will enable Hull Street Energy and Milepost to identify middle market assets and businesses that are positioned to thrive as the power generation sector continues its evolution."

"Due to its advantageous access to fuel and its location, the Milepost asset fleet provides critical reliability service to the power grid in New England. The fleet should be well-positioned as the New England region moves to integrate more intermittent renewable resources such as solar, wind and hydro into its supply mix," noted Mark Orman, a Partner at Hull Street Energy who is serving as Interim CEO of Milepost Power.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Greenberg Traurig acted as legal counsel to Hull Street Energy on the transaction, and Eaton Partners is currently serving as placement agent for the firm.

About Hull Street Energy, LLC

Hull Street Energy is a private equity firm that acquires, optimizes and grows power businesses through the application of industry-leading risk management, efficiency enhancements and commodity contract structuring. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the team leverages its decades of experience and unique knowledge of North American electricity infrastructure, including fuel inputs, generation assets, transmission and distribution systems, and electricity demand-side businesses to build value for our investors and stakeholders.

Hull Street Energy was established by a team with extensive, long-standing expertise in the power industry. Its principals have worked at leading energy-focused institutions such as Goldman Sachs, and Constellation Energy Group. They bring to the firm's investments a unique combination of deep technical and commercial knowledge of the electricity industry, and top-tier financial investment expertise.

For further information about Hull Street Energy please see http://www.hullstreetenergy.com.

Media Contact:

Dukas Linden Public Relations

212-704-7385

[email protected]

SOURCE Hull Street Energy, LLC

Related Links

http://hullstreetenergy.com


ARMONK, N.Y., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today named 11 new IBM Fellows, the company's highest technical honor. The new Fellows are being celebrated for leading innovative work in cognitive computing, cloud, security and design.

The IBM Fellow honor is conferred to IBMers in recognition of exceptional and sustained technical achievements and leadership in engineering, programming, services, science, technology, design and industry solutions.

The title of IBM Fellow is the companys pre-eminent technical distinction, granted in recognition of outstanding and sustained technical achievements and leadership in engineering, programming, services, science and technology. Learn more about notable Fellows and the breakthroughs they've achieved. IBM Honors 11 New Fellows in 2017. L-R: Hugo Krawkzyk, Sridhar Muppidi, Rachel Reinitz, Sam Lightstone, Ed Calusinski, Eric Herness, Matthias Steffen, Dakshi Agrawal, Matt Huras, Hillery Hunter, Charlie Hill

"IBM's continued commitment to research and innovation has been an engine for scientific, technological and societal progress, and for our company's success for more than 100 years," said Ginni Rometty, IBM chairman, president and CEO. "This year's extraordinary group of new IBM Fellows, whose breakthroughs have had a material impact on our leadership in cloud, cognitive, security and quantum, demonstrate once again the critical role our company plays in tackling the world's toughest problems and developing the next generation of leaders."



This year's class of IBM Fellows are transforming business and society via a range of technical advancements, developments and research. The new Fellows are:

Dakshi Agrawal

Distinguished Research Staff Member, Real-Time Cognitive Solutions

IBM Watson and Cloud Platform

Dakshi, IBM's foremost expert in real-time cognitive solutions, is responsible for a range of innovations in real-time analytics and creating solutions to solve complex client challenges. His scientific work in areas as diverse as information theory, systems sciences, and security and privacy has been cited over 5,000 times in academic publications, and he holds 59 U. S. patents.

Ed Calusinski

Vice President, Technology

IBM Global Markets

Ed's inventive architecture, design and development  while focusing on business growth, client satisfaction and loyalty  has made him influential in creating game-changing innovations and a trusted advisor to IBM clients.

Eric Herness

CTO

IBM Hybrid Cloud

As Chief Technology Officer, IBM Hybrid Cloud, Eric is a key leader in IBM's move to cloud and in our clients' evolution to hybrid cloud. Eric was a chief architect and a partner with the other key creators of IBM WebSphere, and ushered in the era of web application serving.

Charlie Hill

Platform Experience

IBM Design

Charlie was instrumental in establishing a scaled program of human-centered design at IBM. He led the creation of IBM Design Thinking, which today is helping all IBMers and many of our clients create more innovative offerings and solutions with a focus on human outcomes.

Hillery Hunter

Director, Accelerated Cognitive Infrastructure

IBM Research

Hillery is a respected industry expert in next-generation memory technology.

Matt Huras

Distinguished Engineer

IBM Hybrid Cloud

Matt is a prolific public speaker, member of the International DB2 User's Group Hall of Fame, chair of the IBM Analytics Technical Leadership Review Board and a Master Inventor with 54 U.S. patents.

Matt is Chief Architect for DB2 LUW, an IBM Master Inventor with 54 granted U.S. patents, a prolific public speaker, and member of the International DB2 User's Group Hall of Fame.

Hugo Krawczyk

Distinguished Research Staff Member

IBM Research

Hugo's fundamental and lasting contributions to the theoretical and practical foundations of cryptography include pioneering designs to internet-wide security protocols and major advances in encryption, authentication and privacy.

Sam Lightstone

Distinguished Engineer

IBM Watson and Cloud Platform

Sam, an expert in analytics, has more than 60 patents issued and pending, has authored four books and has written more than 30 papers.

Sridhar Muppidi

CTO, Cloud Security, Identity & Access Management

IBM Security

Sridhar, an IBM Master Inventor, has played a key role in digital ID transformation projects worldwide.

Rachel Reinitz

CTO, IBM Bluemix Garage

IBM Hybrid Cloud

Rachel helped found eight IBM Bluemix Garages combining IBM Design Thinking, lean startup, DevOps and cloud technologies to transform how clients design and deliver applications.

Matthias Steffen

Chief Quantum Architect and Distinguished Research Staff Member

IBM Research

Matthias has made invaluable contributions to IBM's progress toward offering a commercial quantum computing system.

To be awarded IBM's most prestigious technical honor, an employee must meet four important criteria:

Sustained innovation in some of the world's most important technologies

Significant recognition as a leader among IBM's technical communities

Broad industry acknowledgement of the individual's accomplishments

A strong history of new technologies and business models being deployed at scale

IBM's Fellow program was founded in 1963 by Thomas J. Watson, Jr. to promote creativity among the company's most exceptional technical professionals. IBM has named 289 Fellows since the program's inception. IBM Fellows have been granted five Nobel Prize winners, one Kyoto Prize winner and one Presidential Medal of Freedom. Collectively, the 11 new Fellows have 296 patents.

For more information on the 2017 IBM Fellows, visit: http://ibm.biz/2017fellows

Blog Post: http://ibm.biz/Bdi2H6

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskXDLTDw

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfZhPWq6-3g

Join the conversation on Twitter at #ibmfellows

Media Contact

Chris Blake

IBM Media Relations  Research

[email protected]

415-613-1120

SOURCE IBM
TORONTO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Rogers Communications today announced that Joe Natale will join as President and Chief Executive Officer on April 19, 2017, after a confidential agreement was reached with TELUS Corporation to secure his early arrival.

"We are very pleased to have Joe join Rogers," said Alan Horn, Chairman of the Board of Rogers and Interim President and CEO. "Joe is a highly respected and proven executive with deep experience delivering strong financial results in a competitive and complex industry."

Natale, a well-known executive in the Canadian telecommunications industry, most recently served as President and CEO of TELUS where he held progressively senior roles since joining the company in 2003.

"I'm really excited to join the Rogers team," said Natale. "The history of the company, the incredible mix of assets, and the growth potential are second to none. I look forward to working with Alan and the team to build on Ted's legacy and the incredible progress the company has made."

Natale will be appointed to the Rogers board at its Annual General Meeting next week.

"On behalf of the board and all of our employees I'd like to welcome Joe to Rogers. We are thrilled to have a person of his calibre and experience lead Rogers. I also want to thank Alan for his leadership of the Company since October," said Edward Rogers, Deputy Chairman, Rogers Communications. "Alan, the leadership team and Joe will work together to ensure a seamless transition. When Joe arrives he will build on the momentum that's been established bringing an even greater focus on the customer."

About Rogers

Rogers is a leading diversified Canadian communications and media company that's working to deliver a great experience to our customers every day. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet, information technology, and telephony services to consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, sports, televised and online shopping, magazines, and digital media. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

SOURCE Rogers Communications Canada Inc. - English

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http://www.rogers.com


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LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc. (CxGBS ) is pleased to announce that John Rippel, PE, CxA, CPD, CGD, LEED AP BD+C, has joined the firm. Rippel will help to continue to develop and support CxGBS's growing portfolio of projects managed by the Mississippi Branch Office.

Rippel is a highly-accomplished commissioning professional within the education, healthcare, federal and commercial sectors. He comes with 15+ years of experience and has commissioned more than one million square feet of buildings. Rippel has designed mechanical, plumbing and fire protection systems. He has also commissioned a mix of new and historic buildings for healthcare, higher education, assisted living, federal and commercial construction projects.

Rippel has stated he is excited to join CxGBS, and looks forward to working with the team. Included in his responsibilities will be identifying, documenting, tracking and resolving issues that are important to building owners. The company's team approach to commissioning will help optimize building owner's mission, project risk, energy consumption, occupant satisfaction, ongoing operations and maintenance. His first projects in the area include Johnson Commons at the University of Mississippi and the Animal Dairy Science Building at Mississippi State University.

According to H. Jay Enck, CxGBS Chief Technology Officer, "John's wealth of commissioning experience and industry knowledge will have an immediate impact on CxGBS' projects. As the owner's advocate and a key project team member, our approach to all projects is founded on respect and collaboration. John brings a proven track record as a successful team leader and project manager, which makes him a perfect addition to our team."

Rippel resides in the Jackson area with his wife, Dr. Sara Rippel, and their two children; they are expecting their third child in August.

To learn more about CxGBS please visit www.cxgbs.com or call 866-507-3193.

About CxGBS:

Established in 2002, Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc. a woman-owned small business is, a professional services consultancy that provides innovative solutions to achieve high performing buildings through the process of commissioning. Our Holistic Commissioning process was developed from years of design, construction and operations experience. This comprehensive approach encompasses sustainability, building enclosure, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems integration into harmonic and efficient operating facilities  right from the start. Our process provides a single thread of information, beginning with project concept and the development of the Owners Project Requirements (OPR) and following through the life of a building. Headquartered in the northern Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, GA, CxGBS has branch offices in Austin, TX, Flowood, MS and New York, NY.

Media Contact:

Name: Betsy Rahm

Phone: 770-831-6760

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Commissioning and Green Building Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cxgbs.com


ORLANDO, Fla., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC) will report financial results for the first quarter of 2017 before the market opens on May 4, 2017. A conference call is scheduled to follow at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the company's results.

Participants may access the call by dialing (877) 407-8289 or (201) 689-8341 for international callers. A live webcast of the call will also be available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available for seven days. To access the replay, call (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 for international callers. The conference ID for the recording is 13659218. The webcast will also be available on the company's website for 90 days following the call.

About Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is a leading global pure-play vacation ownership company, offering a diverse portfolio of quality products, programs and management expertise with over 60 resorts. Its brands include Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott. Since entering the industry in 1984 as part of Marriott International, Inc., the company earned its position as a leader and innovator in vacation ownership products. The company preserves high standards of excellence in serving its customers, investors and associates while maintaining a long-term relationship with Marriott International. For more information, please visit www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com.

SOURCE Marriott Vacations Worldwide

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ATLANTA, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) celebrates the generous contributions of Henry "Hank" Aaron -- as the Louis C. Vanguard recipient -- to the Atlanta health community and allows donors to "experience" how the school is leading the creation and advancement of health equity during the 10th annual Hugh M. Gloster Society Celebration on Thursday, April 13. This year's sold-out event, co-chaired by Ted Decker, executive vice president of merchandising for The Home Depot and Dr. Stephen and Mrs. Arnika Dawkins ('87), owner of CaduceusUSA and the Arnika Dawkins Gallery, has raised more than $800,000.

The evening's events will allow attendees to visit and share with faculty, staff and students during a series of interactive "experiences" in the school's Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care.

"This annual celebration is not only a thank you to our members, but a chance to show how their contributions are impacting the lives of students and those most vulnerable in our communities through scholarships, investment of research, healthcare and health," explains MSM President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. "Their generous support is cultivating the next generation of health and science professionals in science, technology, arts, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) programs."

Named for the school's founder the late Dr. Hugh M. Gloster, since 2006 society members have donated more than $10.5 million to support the school's mission. The donations have been used to improve overall health and well-being, diversify the health and scientific workforce and improve primary health care, with emphasis on people of color, the underserved urban and rural populations in Georgia, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about MSM's mission in action and how you can get involved, visit msm.edu.

About Morehouse School of Medicine

Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians and was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine in 2011 as the top institution in the first study of U.S. medical schools for our social mission based on our production of primary care physicians, training of underrepresented minority doctors and placement of doctors practicing in underserved communities. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care.

Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. For more information, please visit www.msm.edu.

SOURCE Morehouse School of Medicine

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CULVER CITY, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NantOmics, the leader in molecular diagnostics and a member of the NantWorks ecosystem of families, announced today the acquisition of Genos, the leading community for next-generation sequencing, personal genetic discovery and research, based in San Francisco.

Genos was spun out of Complete Genomics in 2016 and quickly has become the leader in making next-generation sequencing more accessible and giving individuals access to 50 times more data than current popular sequencing options as well as opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research projects.

NantOmics plans to integrate the Genos technology, technical expertise and data visualization and research platform into its pan-omic analysis tools, further bolstering the company's industry leading precision medicine service that integrates whole genomic sequencing, transcriptomics, predictive proteomics and quantitative proteomics.

"We are excited to integrate the Genos technology and to welcome Genos employees to the NantOmics team," stated Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., founder and CEO of NantOmics. "With the addition of the state-of-the-art discovery and research tools from Genos, NantOmics will enhance its comprehensive diagnostic platform which delivers patient-specific pan-omic information and, ultimately, improves disease diagnosis and treatment."

"NantOmics is a leader in enabling precision medicine and Genos is excited to join forces with NantOmics to help accelerate the field of precision medicine and precision health," said Mark Blumling, co-founder and CEO of Genos.

About NantOmics

NantOmics, a member of the NantWorks ecosystem of companies, delivers molecular diagnostic capabilities with the intent of providing actionable intelligence and molecularly driven decision support for cancer patients and their providers at the point of care. NantOmics is the first molecular diagnostics company to pioneer an integrated approach to unearthing the genomic and proteomic variances that initiate and drive cancer, by analyzing both normal and tumor cells from the same patient and following identified variances through from DNA to RNA to protein to drug. NantOmics has a highly scalable cloud-based infrastructure capable of storing and processing thousands of genomes a day, computing genomic variances in near real-time, and correlating proteomic pathway analysis with quantitative multi-plexed protein expression analysis from the same micro-dissected tumor sample used for genomic analysis. For more information please visit www.nantomics.com and follow Dr. Soon-Shiong on Twitter @DrPatSoonShiong.

About Genos

Genos is a platform for genomics research and discovery. The company's mission is to break down the barriers to accelerate disease research and medical cures. The Genos community democratizes access to comprehensive personal discovery through DNA, and empowers individuals to retain ownership of their genetic data and consent in the research process. Genos is backed by strategic investors with deep roots in health care and technology, and the company's advisors include luminaries in genetics, economics, and consumer technology.

Contact:

Mark Blumling

415-300-4477

[email protected]

SOURCE Genos
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Responsible gun ownership just got a little easier in the Franklin area. Over the weekend Nashville Armory, Nashville's 1st 5-star indoor gun range, finalized the purchase of the "Everything Weapons" building located just south of HWY 96/Murfreesboro Rd in Franklin, TN. This addition to the area gives gun owners a new outlet to not just buy guns or shoot them, but offers a wide range of training courses as well.

As gun ownership trends change in Nashville and the surrounding cities, Nashville Armory focuses on delivering a clean and comfortable environment for a wide range of new shooters. On average, Nashville Armory sees just under 3,000 new shooters a month with over 80% of these new shooters living in Tennessee. Trends are changing and Nashville Armory is ready to bring Franklin an updated feel and look that rivals the typical "gun shop".

The old "Everything Weapons" building will be closed for 6-8 weeks for refurbishments and updates. Once re-opened, it will be a 5-star range titled Nashville Armory: Franklin. The new range will include 11 rifle-rated shooting lanes with rubber bullet trap, custom stone and leather shooting stalls, and high-quality air filtration system. Each shooting stall will have a touchscreen F1 Target Retriever system provided by Fusion Target. This location has shooters in mind with a wide range of training classes and an additional retail space.

For updates to the building and up-and-coming Nashville Armory: Franklin, visit nashvillearmory.com.

Media Contact: Paul Lindsay, 1-615-730-8054, [email protected]

SOURCE Nashville Armory
Building a new 234,500 square foot structure on 15 acres, NewSouth Window Solutions will be able to accommodate and unify all 3 current manufacturing facilities, the corporate offices for NewSouth Window and sister company Doers Window Manufacturing. Included, will be a retail factory showroom for Florida homeowners to come sample products and watch as windows and doors are being manufactured.

Dan Ochstein, CEO and Earl Rahn, President, established Tampa based NewSouth Window Solutions as a manufacturer and installer of energy efficient windows in 2010 and began selling product factory direct in 2011. Dan Ochstein speaks to the rapid growth of the company, "We went from 0 to 40 million in 6 years".

Known for making windows and doors that are "Made in Florida, For Florida Homes, By Florida Workers", NewSouth Window Solutions developed a window specifically for the Florida climate, and markets the factory direct process and installation to the homeowner. NewSouth has expanded rapidly with retail factory showrooms in Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, West Palm Beach and the new Ft. Lauderdale location to open September 2017. NewSouth employs over 165 employees statewide.

The windows for all the locations across the state and all divisions are manufactured in Tampa.

NewSouth Window is also parent company to Doers Window Manufacturing, its wholesale division, specializing in windows and doors for multi-family applications, including apartments, hotels, assisted living facilities and student housing.

Marcobay Construction is developing the full 73 acre Crossroads Commerce Center where NewSouth's new building will constructed, near Martin Luther King and I-75 off Williams Road.

Join NewSouth Window and Marco Bay in celebration of the business growth and development Thursday, April 20 from 1:30-3:00 at 4330 Williams Rd. Tampa 33610.

SOURCE NewSouth Window Solutions

Related Links

http://newsouthwindow.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When weather conditions permit, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed fires on selected state forests and state parks across Pennsylvania, State Forester Dan Devlin announced today.

"Prescribed fire, also known as 'controlled burning,' is an important tool in growing young trees, restoring native plants, controlling invasive species, and reducing wildfire danger," Devlin said. "It is especially important in Pennsylvania because of the large amount of land in the wildland-urban interface -- that area where our neighborhoods meet nature."

The Bureau of Forestry director said highly-trained firefighters use special equipment to carry out these burns. Temperature, wind, and moisture levels must remain within limits defined in an approved plan. Devlin noted these plans also identify burn boundaries; explain reasons for burning an area; and specify the minimum number of firefighters and equipment needed to safely execute a prescribed burn.

"As spring also is our wildfire season, fire managers carefully consider the current and expected weather," Devlin said. "They also notify local fire departments and emergency management officials before conducting any prescribed fire."

State forest and state park resource managers submitted burn plans for 18 of the state's 20 forest districts this year, and prescribed fires could occur in nearly any part of the state. Forest district officials expect to conduct burns on state forests or state parks in the following forest districts: Michaux, Buchannan, Tuscarora, Forbes, Rothrock, Gallitzin, Bald Eagle, Clear Creek, Moshannon, Sproul, Tiadaghton, Elk, Susquehannock, Tioga, William Penn, Weiser, Delaware and Loyalsock.

Local roads and highways may be briefly affected, and travelers should take care if they see road signs warning of prescribed fire activity. Smoke reduces driver visibility, and firefighters often work along edges of roads.

Landowners and managers are reminded it is illegal to start a prescribed fire without prior approval by DCNR officials.

For more information on prescribed fire, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildlandfire/prescribedfire/index.htm.

MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Brady, 717-772-9101

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us


As the first and currently only digital pathology solution in the U.S. to receive clearance for primary diagnostic use, the technology can aid pathologists to view and diagnose digital images of surgical pathology slides. Digital pathology aims to reduce pressure on pathology services by streamlining workflow and extending collaboration with the aim of increasing diagnostic confidence.

"The clearance for Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution marks a major milestone for innovation in pathology services in the U.S.," said Russ Granzow, General Manager of Philips Digital Pathology Solutions. "Not only will it promote increased efficiencies and collaboration between pathologists, but it also opens a complete new dimension towards computational pathology which aims to increase accuracies and ultimately enhance patient care."

The FDA evaluated data from a clinical study of approximately 2,000 surgical pathology cases. This was one of the largest studies ever conducted to directly compare the use of digital pathology to optical microscopes. Sixteen pathologists at four clinical study sites  Cleveland Clinic, University of Virginia, Miraca Life Sciences and Advanced Pathology Associates  conducted approximately 16,000 reads across 2,000 cases. FDA's news release 'FDA allows marketing of first whole slide imaging system for digital pathology' can be found here.

Pathology services are under pressure to meet the increasingly complex demands of cancer care. As the number of cancer cases continue to grow [2], the complexity and number of tests have simultaneously increased to support improved patient care [3]. Pathologists must work as efficiently and effectively as possible to analyze the complex information that influences the design of personalized treatments. Outside the U.S., where CE-IVD mark has allowed primary diagnosis since 2014, digital pathology is recognized for increased efficiencies in the logistics and consultation needs in primary diagnosis of histopathology images [4][5].

Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution is an automated digital pathology image creation, viewing and management system comprised of an ultra-fast pathology slide scanner, an image management system and a display. This solution is complemented by advanced software tools to manage the scanning, storage, presentation, reviewing, and sharing of information. By supporting the transition to digital workflows, Philips seeks to help pathology laboratories simplify access to histopathology information and help staff work more efficiently.

As a leader in the field, Philips is a driver of the adoption of digital pathology, as it is a critical step towards the advancement of the pathology services industry. It also holds promise for enabling the more widespread use of computational pathology tools with far reaching implications such as image analysiswhich could support increased accuracies, predictive health management and better patient outcomes.

Recently, Philips announced further additions to its portfolio of pathology solutions, including expanded offerings in computational pathology to further empower pathologists throughout their routine work. To learn more about Philips' innovation in digital pathology, visit Philips Digital Pathology Solutions website and follow @Philips_Path.

[1] De novo classification is the regulatory pathway for marketing clearance for novel, low- to moderate-risk medical devices that are the first of their kind.

[2] International Agency for Research on Cancer and Cancer Research UK. World Cancer Factsheet. Cancer Research UK, London, 2014.

[3] Testing Times to Come: An Evaluation of Pathology Capacity Across the UK. Cancer Research UK, London, 2016.

[4] Digital First: Clinical Transformation through Pathology Innovation. NHS National Pathology Programme, Department of Health; London, 2013.

[5] Baidoshvili, A. (2017, March 1). The benefits and challenges of digitizing your workflow [Webinar]. Retrieved from tissuepathology.com

For further information, please contact:

Hans Driessen

Philips Digital Pathology Solutions

Tel: +31 6 10610 417

E-mail: [email protected]

Steve Klink

Philips Group Press Office

Tel. : +31 6 10 8888 24

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.

SOURCE Royal Philips

Related Links

http://www.usa.philips.com


NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), a biotechnology acceleration company is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Amy Ripka and Dr. Rick Panicucci, to its board of scientific advisors.

Dr. Amy Ripka is the Executive Director of Medicinal Chemistry at WuXi AppTec. She started her career at Bristol Myers Squibb and over 17 years, has worked in various capacities in medicinal chemistry with many small companies, including EnVivo (FORUM) Pharmaceuticals as Head of Chemistry, Infinity, Daiamed, HydraBiosciences and FoldRx. Her current responsibilities include strategic planning in medicinal chemistry, early library drug design utilizing multiple in-silico methods, hit optimization and overall screening architectures, to advance early stage compounds through Phase I-II clinical development.

Dr. Ripka's therapeutic specialties include Neuroscience, Oncology, Thrombosis and Anti-Infective Disease areas. She has led multiple early stage programs resulting in four clinical candidates, two of which are marketed drugs. Her career has spanned big pharma, biotech and CROs, where she has made significant contributions to each of these.

Dr. Ripka, was elected by her peers to Chair the prestigious Medicinal Chemistry Gordon Research Conference and is currently serving a second elected term as the Industrial Councilor for the MEDI Division of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Ripka, received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a double concentration in organic and medicinal chemistry, and did her post-doctoral studies with Nobel Laureate, K. Barry Sharpless from The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Ripka will advise Mannin's scientific development and growth.

Dr. Rick Panicucci is the Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development at WuXi AppTec. He is responsible for providing scientific leadership in the areas of Developability, Formulation Development and GMP Manufacturing.

Dr. Panicucci plays an important role in the early stages of drug discovery for various companies. His responsibilities include solid state chemistry and formulation development of all small molecule therapeutics in early development, and developing novel drug delivery technologies for small molecules and large molecules, including siRNA.

Prior to WuXi he held the position of Global Head of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Profiling (CPP) at Novartis from 2004 to 2015, where he led the development and implementation of innovative dosage form designs and continuous manufacturing paradigms. He has also held positions as the Director of Formulation Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Senior Scientist at Biogen.

Dr. Panicucci received his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry at the University of Toronto, and has two post-doctoral fellowships at University of California at Santa Barbara and the Ontario Cancer Institute. Dr. Panicucci will advise our technology partner, Mannin Research Inc.'s development, both scientifically and commercially.

Both Amy and Rick have been working with Mannin in the development plan for MAN-01, a novel drug candidate for the topical treatment of open-angle glaucoma. George Nikopoulos, CEO of Mannin stated, "We are very pleased to formally welcome Amy and Rick to the team. Amy and Rick bring unparalleled experience in their respective areas, and their input to our MAN-01 program is tremendously valuable. We are excited to have them both on board and look forward to utilizing their experience beyond MAN-01, as we continue to grow our pipeline."

Denis Corin, CEO of Q BioMed Inc, added, "We are very pleased to welcome Amy and Rick and the extensive knowledge and experience they bring to our advisory board and we look forward to their input in all areas of our expanding pipeline".

Please visit our website www.qbiomed.com to sign up for regular updates and stay up-to-date with our progress.

About Q BioMed Inc.

Q BioMed Inc."Q" is a biomedical acceleration and development company. We are focused on licensing and acquiring biomedical assets across the healthcare spectrum. Q is dedicated to providing these target assets the strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital the need to ensure they meet their developmental potential, enabling them to provide products to patients in need.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:

Denis Corin

CEO

Q BioMed Inc.

+1-888-357-2435



SOURCE Q BioMed Inc.
TEL AVIV, Israel, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

RADWIN (http://www.radwin.com ), the leading provider of train-to-ground wireless communications solutions, today announced that it received the prestigious Passenger Innovation of the Year 2017 Award at the SmartRail Europe Innovation Awards in Amsterdam, Holland.

Luke Upton, Editor of SmartRail World and chair of the judging panel: "A big congratulations to all the team at RADWIN for securing the Passenger Innovation of the Year 2017 award at SmartRail Europe. In a category full of fantastic innovations, RADWIN's Next Generation Train-to-Ground solution which delivers 500 Mbps user throughput to trains - a figure unparalleled in the industry - stood out as a particularly strong entry and a worthy winner. We look forward to seeing what future developments RADWIN will deliver to further advance the transportation industry."

Nir Hayzler, RADWIN's VP and Head of Strategic Industries Business: "RADWIN is honored to receive this award for its FiberinMotion train-to-ground solution. FiberinMotion's ability to provide 500 Mbps for trains on-the-move opens a new world of possibilities for rail and metro operators. With FiberinMotion, transport operators can enhance Wi-Fi connectivity, dramatically improve the passenger experience while differentiating themselves from the competition, and also increase revenue opportunities. The Wi-Fi network deployed by MaximaTelecom and RADWIN onboard the Moscow Metro has set a new industry standard for public transportation Wi-Fi service, winning multiple accolades globally."

FiberinMotion Next Generation Train-to-Ground Solution Highlights:

- 500 Mbps net throughput

- Extensive coverage

- Supporting train speeds of up to 350 KMH/220MPH (To be extended to 500km/h)

- Seamless handover

- Superior performance in non-line-of-sight and tunnels

- IP67 ruggedized units

About RADWIN

RADWIN is the leading provider of the FiberinMotion train-to-ground solution designed for rail and metro operators which delivers wireless broadband in-motion. RADWIN's FiberinMotion train-to-ground solution provides 500 Mbps throughput and superior performance in non-line-of-sight and tunnel topologies, and powers a range of applications including high-speed WiFi, real-time CCTV, PIS and CBTC. http://www.radwin.com

About SmartRail World

Through original reporting, data analysis and exclusive insights, we inform and inspire those at the cutting edge of industry innovation across IT and asset management, signalling, telecommunications, passenger focussed services and more. http://www.smartrailworld.com

For information on Smartrail Europe go to: http://www.smartraileurope.com

Media Contact: Tammy Levy, Tel: +972-3-766-2916, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE RADWIN
DUBLIN, Apr. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Hospital Infection Prevention And Control Market, 2013 to 2024" report to their offering.

The global hospital infection prevention and control market was valued at US$ 142.6 Mn in 2015, and is expected to reach US$ 245.6 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2016 to 2024.



The market experts suggest that healthcare associated infections are a costly issue faced by many hospitals across the globe. Hospital acquired infections are type of infections that are observed in patients during the course of receiving treatment for unrelated conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infectious waste contributes in this way to the risk of nosocomial infections, putting the health of hospital personnel, and patients, at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistically suggested that, with approximately 300,000 occurrences each year, surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second most prevalent HAI in the United States, preceded only by urinary tract infections. At a cost of approximately US$ 10 Bn annually, this high incidence of SSIs significantly impacts the U.S. healthcare system, as well as the bottom line of individual hospitals.



The occurrence of nosocomial infections has been observed worldwide in both developed and resource-poor countries. Key factors assisting the growth of hospital infections prevention and control market are rising prevalence of infections, implementation of stringent guidelines associated with hospital infection prevention and control, developing healthcare infrastructure in emerging countries, and rising number of hospitals across the world.



Companies Mentioned



3M Company

Ansell Ltd.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Belimed AG

Bemis Company, Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Cantel Medical Corp.

Others



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Preface



Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market Overview



Chapter 4 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market, by Infection Type



Chapter 5 Global Hospital Infection Prevention & Control Analysis, by Product



Chapter 6 Global Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Market, By Geography

Chapter 7 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9rdt92/global_hospital

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Who's Who recognizes Roya Yumul, M.D., Ph.D., as a Pinnacle Professional Member in recognition of her contributions to the Medical field.

Dr. Yumul has been an Anesthesiologist for 17 years. She earned both her Ph.D an Medical degree from the University of Hamburg in Germany. After completing her residency in Anesthesiology in Los Angeles, CA, she then moved on to complete a fellowship in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she has been on the staff since 2001. Dr. Yumul is also Board Certified in Anesthesiology, trained in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and recently Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. She currently holds three faculty appointments in Anesthesiology, which include Professor, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Associate Professor, University of California, Los Angeles and Professor, Charles R. Drew University.

Since 2007 she held the position of Director of Academic Educational Programs for Anesthesiology Residency and Fellowship Teaching Programs at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Program Director positions in the Anesthesiology and Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia fellowship and since 2016 the Vice-Chair of Academics and Research in the department of anesthesiology at Cedars Sinai Medical center.

Dr. Yumul's medical articles have been published in numerous accredited journal, as such as, the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, Anesthesia & Analgesia. Open Journal of Clinical and Medical Case Reports and the Minerva Anestesiologica and the Pain Journal. She published over 60 different articles and presented over 100 presentations at national and international scientific meetings between 2000 and 2017, with topics in anesthesiology; cardiac, pain, trauma, critical care, anesthesia in ambulatory surgery, airway devices, perioperative anxiety and various cases that weighed the pros and cons of utilizing anesthesia and medical simulation.

In recognition of her exemplary work, she has received recognitions as the outstanding faculty member in didactic teaching and mentorship and recognition/ appreciation as the outstanding faculty in dedication and support from the residents and fellows of the Department of Anesthesiology Residency and Fellowship Programs. This honor has been bestowed upon her for the past 15 consecutive years. In addition, she has been honored with 4 Cedars-Sinai Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching since she began her teaching career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was selected by the National Consumers Advisory Committee as one of the America's Best Physicians.

To further her professional development, she is an active and longstanding member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the California Society of Anesthesiologists, (CSA) the Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists (SCA), the Critical Care Society (ASCCA), the International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society (ITAC), the Royal Society of Medicine, England, and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) . She has served as a Judge in the Resident/ Medical Student Research Competition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Charles R. Drew University, Western Anesthesia Residency Conference (WARC), California Society of Anesthesiologists and for six years she has served as a Problem Based Learning Discussion (PBLD) Instructor within the American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA). She has actively been participating in oral, poster presentations and PBLD session at several national and international conferences

Simulation training plays a major role in her teaching programs. As the Director of simulation for anesthesiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center she provides a unique opportunity for trainees which allows trainees to practice and have hands on skills sets.

She is deeply committed to the academic and teaching missions as an educator. She feels it is just the beginning of the many years of dedicated services and would like to provide more to the academic teaching programs.

Dr. Yumul dedicates this recognition to her mother, Sarah: her husband, Ata; and her son, Firuz.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


MEDFORD, Ore., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) announced the successful implementation of the TouchPass electronic fare collection system, which allows passengers to purchase fare products online and ride RVTD buses using smart cards and mobile apps. RVTD began piloting the new system last summer and entered an agreement with system provider Delerrok, Inc. (Delerrok) in October. Since then, RVTD has moved its most popular paper passes to TouchPass smart cards and announced availability this week of the TouchPass Transit mobile app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). TouchPass use is growing rapidly and already accounts for over one in three RVTD boardings. "The TouchPass implementation has gone incredibly smoothly, and we can now call it a success," said Julie Brown, RVTD General Manager. "We are delighted to offer our passengers an easier way to ride and the data provided by the system will help us continue to improve service."

TouchPass Reader

To ride, passengers with TouchPass cards or the TouchPass mobile app simply tap their cards or show their smartphones at TouchPass readers onboard buses. TouchPass is an "account-based" electronic fare collection system, so named because account information is held in secure servers rather than written to cards as in older systems. This allows passengers to buy fare products anywhereat ticket windows, online or on the mobile appand use them instantly. Although similar systemscosting tens or even hundreds of millions of dollarshave been deployed at a few larger agencies, RVTD's implementation marks the first such deployment at an agency of its size. Cloud-based design allowed RVTD's deployment to cost far less and move ahead more rapidly than other account-based fare systems. According to Ms. Brown, "We did our homework and found Delerrok's subscription service model offered the greatest value." RVTD Associate Planner Jon Sullivan adds, "We thought we could afford only a mobile ticketing app, but TouchPass gave us all the big-agency features on a small-agency budget."

Delerrok, a San Diego area company, provides electronic fare collection (EFC) as a subscription service. "Offering a configurable cloud service is a radical departure from the high capital costs, long development schedules, and inflexible designs of the turnkey fare collection systems of the past," explains Delerrok Chief Product Officer Gary Yamamura, who founded Delerrok along with fellow transit industry veterans Bob Hamilton and Susumu Kusakabe. The three built the company on the belief that EFC should be available to transit agencies of any size or budget. TouchPass Readers onboard buses communicate directly with powerful cloud servers to avoid the costly agency infrastructure common to other systems. Cloud servers process fare purchases and payments in real time, making data available to agencies and passengers instantly. Agencies are charged low fees based on passenger usage, and constant backend enhancements ensure the secure, end-to-end solution never becomes obsolete.

About Rogue Valley Transportation District (www.RVTD.org): RVTD is the public transportation provider serving Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Talent, Phoenix, White City, and Jacksonville, Oregon. RVTD's mission is to provide quality public transportation, viewed by residents and visitors as a realistic and viable alternative to the personal automobile, and to thereby improve the quality of life in the Rogue Valley.

About Delerrok: Delerrok Inc. (www.delerrok.com), based in Vista, California provides TouchPass, electronic fare collection as a subscription service. The company was founded in 2012 by fare collection industry consultants Robert Hamilton and Gary Yamamura along with Susumu Kusakabe, renowned developer of Japan's FeliCa transit smart card technology and inventor of Near Field Communications (NFC).

Media Contact:

Jon Sullivan

(541) 779-5821

[email protected]

SOURCE Rogue Valley Transportation District
NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, created to honor the father of American old school tattooing, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, has aligned with the iconic, American Harley-Davidson Motor Company for a multi-year partnership. To commemorate the kick-off of the partnership, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will be unveiling a series of twenty-two customized Harley-Davidson motorcycles designed by high profile artists and visionaries from around the United States including Harley-Davidson's own Styling Team, at a celebration this spring.

This 360-partnership will come to life in bars, restaurants, Harley-Davidson dealerships and joint celebrations around the country. Consumers can expect a series of shared events and moments from the two iconic brands, leading up to Harley-Davidson's 115th Anniversary in 2018.

The first official venture together is the series of customized motorcycles created by acclaimed artists from around the country. The participating artists include a range of innovators with backgrounds in tattoo design, mural paintings, street art and automotive design. Acclaimed tattoo artists Jonathan Valena aka JonBoy, Oliver Peck, and Megan Woznicki aka Megan Massacre have designed a selection of bikes as well as popular Miami-based muralists, Alexander Mijares, celebrated automotive designer, Michael "BuckWild" Ramirez and artist L'Amour Supreme. Each artist was tasked with interpreting the infamous flash art style of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins into their unique motorcycle design. Members of the Harley-Davidson Styling Team round out the group of artists and use their deep knowledge of Harley-Davidson history to inspire their unique designs.

The motorcycles will be unveiled in a celebration at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee on May 2, 2017 that will be open to consumers and include exciting festivities for all attendees. Following the celebrations, these bikes will not become a part of the exhibit, but instead be available for viewing around the United States all summer 2017 at liquor retailers, Sailor Jerry's Fleet Week New York celebrations, at the Harley-Davidson Museum and more. Fans of Harley-Davidson and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will have a chance to win a motorcycle through a sweepstakes program kicking off on May 15, 2017. There will be twenty-two total bikes available to win. To enter, participants can log on to www.SailorJerry.com/Harley-Davidson and can receive additional information on the sweepstakes.

"Between our shared American roots, values and traditions, collaborating with Harley-Davidson is an exciting and natural fit," said Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Senior Brand Manager Josh Hayes. "Harley-Davidson shares Sailor Jerry's genuine Americana values for freedom and living outside the lines. With Harley-Davidson, we look forward to a long partnership that celebrates our shared brand beliefs."

The collaboration of these two Americana-steeped brands is a true testament to their rich histories of honoring the traditional values, passions and purposes of the men for whom they are named. After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, Norman Collins dedicated his life honing the art of tattooing out of his shop on Hotel Street in Honolulu. Collins' shop became the must-stop destination for sailors on their shore-leave. His unique flash-art style started a movement that still inspires artists today. Harley-Davidson, named after founders William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson, William A. Davidson and Walter Davidson, has become an American icon since its founding in 1903. Since its first motorcycle, Harley-Davidson has been dedicated to fulfilling dreams of personal freedom  from exceptional custom experiences, innovative products and precise manufacturing. Together, these two brands are excited to begin a partnership that combines their joint passions and values.

"Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and Harley-Davidson are all about freedom of expression and customization, whether that is expressed by a Norman Collins tattoo or a bike," said Scott Beck, Harley-Davidson Director of Marketing. "We are struck by the natural ties Sailor Jerry has to the motorcycle culture."

The three Harley-Davidson models used in this program are:

Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight : With its bulldog stance, fat front tire and narrow profile, the Forty-Eight exudes bare-boned attitude. A new seat, mag wheels, and wider 49mm forks and adjustable rear suspension provide an even more muscular, comfortable ride. The iconic 2.1 gallon peanut tank sports '70s inspired graphics and floating brake rotors and blacked out slotted exhaust add to the fresh new look.

: With its bulldog stance, fat front tire and narrow profile, the Forty-Eight exudes bare-boned attitude. A new seat, mag wheels, and wider 49mm forks and adjustable rear suspension provide an even more muscular, comfortable ride. The iconic 2.1 gallon peanut tank sports '70s inspired graphics and floating brake rotors and blacked out slotted exhaust add to the fresh new look. Harley-Davidson Iron 883: Bare-knuckle minimalism and garage-built style featuring bullet design detailing, straight cut mufflers, a low drag-style handlebar, front fork gaiters, chopped rear fender and a solo tuck and roll seat. All new adjustable rear shocks and front cartridge forks provide stability and comfort. The Iron 883 is a nimble urban machine that kicks asphalt.

Bare-knuckle minimalism and garage-built style featuring bullet design detailing, straight cut mufflers, a low drag-style handlebar, front fork gaiters, chopped rear fender and a solo tuck and roll seat. All new adjustable rear shocks and front cartridge forks provide stability and comfort. The Iron 883 is a nimble urban machine that kicks asphalt. Harley-Davidson Roadster: With a profile reminiscent of racing Sportster motorcycles from the 1950s and 1960s, Roadster joins Harley's Dark Custom lineup with a minimalist design inspired by classic models and current trends in stripped-down custom bikes. A rider's bike, the Harley-Davidson Roadster boasts premium suspension components and a balanced, athletic stance that connects the rider to the road.

To learn more about Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, log onto www.sailorjerry.com

To learn more about Harley-Davidson, log onto www.harley-davidson.com

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts and the world's third largest blended Scotch, Grant's, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie Scotch Liqueur.

William Grant & Sons has been honored as "Distiller of the Year" by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 11 times over the past 16 years.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson's Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Flor de Cana Rum, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

About Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was created to honor Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, a Navy vet who built his rep inking soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu where he established his legendary tattoo parlor and himself as the undisputed father of American old school tattooing. Crafted in the traditional Navy way by William Grant & Sons, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is bold and smooth, with hints of caramel and vanilla. Just like the man who inspired it, this 92 proof rum speaks for itself and holds itself to the traditional values and standards of craftsmanship that Norman Collins espoused. Made in America from Caribbean Rum and blended with spices including ginger, cinnamon, clove and vanilla, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is an exceptionally smooth drink with an ABV of 46%. From the liquid itself to the packaging, every detail of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum stays true to the vision of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. For more information, visit www.sailorjerry.com or follow www.twitter.com/sailorjerry and www.facebook.com/SailorJerry.

About Harley-Davidson

Since 1903, Harley-Davidson Motor Company has fulfilled dreams of personal freedom with cruiser, touring and custom motorcycles, riding experiences and events, and a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, general merchandise, riding gear and apparel. For more information, visit www.h-d.com.

SOURCE Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

Related Links

http://www.SailorJerry.com/Harley-Davidson


WALLDORF, Germany, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced newly expanded responsibilities of key executives. Robert Enslin and Bernd Leukert will shift and expand their portfolios as members of the Executive Board of SAP SE. The Supervisory Board of SAP SE has named Adaire Fox-Martin and Jennifer Morgan to the Executive Board. The moves underscore SAP's commitment to customers' ongoing digital transformation and its effort to foster top talent.

"I am pleased that executives such as Rob, Bernd, Adaire and Jen are stepping into bigger leadership roles to transform the way we drive innovations with our customers," said Hasso Plattner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

In addition, two new leadership assignments were announced for current EMEA President Franck Cohen and SAP Cloud Platform President Bjoern Goerke. Cohen will become chief commercial officer and Goerke chief technology officer.

"We have always considered it a privilege to nurture careers and leaders," said Bill McDermott, CEO and Member of the Executive Board. "SAP is a company focused on innovation, scale and growth. I'm proud of this leadership team and know they are poised to keep SAP on the rise."

The Supervisory Board has asked Enslin, head of Global Customer Operations, to be president of the new Cloud Business Group. He will oversee SAP Ariba, SAP Fieldglass, Concur, SAP SuccessFactors, and SAP Hybris solutions as well as the SMB Solutions Group organization. Leukert, head of Products & Innovation at SAP, will expand his portfolio to accelerate SAP's platform and digital transformation strategy. Enslin and Leukert will jointly lead key growth businesses at SAP, ensuring that development teams and customer-facing teams are in lockstep with one another from the design thinking and innovation process to customer-facing initiatives.

With Enslin's increased focus on cloud businesses at SAP, Fox-Martin and Morgan will ascend to the co-presidency of Global Customer Operations, overseeing all SAP regions and building on their success in the Asia-Pacific-Japan region and North America, respectively. Fox-Martin will oversee EMEA and Greater China. Morgan will oversee the Americas and Asia-Pacific-Japan regions. As chief commercial officer, Cohen will lead SAP's channel business as well as assume responsibility for all sales processes and go-to-market initiatives across SAP. As CTO, Goerke will advance the company's technology strategy and serve as a key external spokesperson.

All changes will be effective May 1, 2017.

Steve Singh, president of Business Networks and Applications, will leave SAP SE at the end of this month. Singh collaborated closely with Enslin, and together they transitioned Concur solutions into the SAP product family. Singh built a strong foundation for business networks at SAP and plans to focus on other entrepreneurial interests outside of SAP.

"Steve Singh's character and entrepreneurial spirit are greatly admired around the world," McDermott said. "When SAP acquired Concur Technologies, we knew Steve would play a significant role in strengthening the SAP cloud portfolio. We also knew he would eventually go back to his start-up roots. We could not be more grateful for everything Steve has done."

SAP will publish its financial results for the first quarter as planned on April 25, 2017.

For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device  SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 345,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

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SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices.

For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

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For more information, press only:

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SAP News Center press room; [email protected]



For more information, financial community only:

Stefan Gruber, +49 6227 7-44872, [email protected], CET

SOURCE SAP SE

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BOCA RATON, Fla., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- California's Silicon Valley is an American success story unlike any other. This unrivaled hub of technology and innovation attracts the best and brightest from around the world, developing products and services that fulfill wishes consumers didn't even know they had.

But it's the one thing Silicon Valley doesn't have that may be the key to its continued success. Non-compete agreements, which prevent employees from accepting employment in a competing firm for a specified period of time after they leave the current employer, are automatically void as a matter of law in California.

By restricting worker mobility, these agreements limit the flow of knowledge to competitors. There are widespread differences from state to state in the extent to which non-compete clauses can be legally enforced. While California has made such contracts completely unenforceable, other states such as Texas and Massachusetts are known for being very permissive in their enforcement of such contractual employment restrictions.

The logic behind these contracts is that firms can invest in these workers without the fear that they will move to other firms and hence make their investments futile. The negative aspect of such contracts is that they in turn forcefully prevent worker mobility, which is extremely important as a conduit through which knowledge is transferred across firms.

After studying these agreements with my colleague Kameshwari Shankar of The City College of New York, we argue that the success of non-compete clauses depends on the industry. In certain labor markets, such as healthcare, where firm-sponsored training for employees is widespread, allowing employers to negotiate mobility restrictions with their workers facilitates such investment that enhances the firm's productivity.

At the same time, if the growth of certain industries is strongly dependent on incentivizing workers to invest and productively use their human capital through a competitive wage-setting process, such as the IT industry, it may be desirable to carve out exceptions to the enforceability of non-compete clauses in those cases rather than weaken enforcement across the board irrespective of industry specifics.

Suman Ghosh is a professor of economics and Stone Fellow at Florida Atlantic University's College of Business. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect or represent the opinions of Florida Atlantic University.

SOURCE Florida Atlantic University College of Business

Related Links

http://fau.edu


COSTA MESA, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Costa Mesa is excited to announce a special dining offer to visitors from partner hotels. From today through May 29, 2017, guests who book a minimum of two consecutive nights with select Costa Mesa hotels will receive a complimentary $100 dining gift card to spend at participating eateries located in Costa Mesa's South Coast Collection (SOCO) and The OC Mix.

Costa Mesa partnering hotels for this offer include:

PACKAGE DETAILS:

Stay a minimum of two consecutive nights and receive a $100 SOCO gift card.

SOCO gift card. Offer is valid April 7  May 29 .

 . One gift card per room booked. Prices are subject to change and offer is based on availability at time of booking. Rules and restrictions apply.

As the up-and-coming culinary capital of Orange County, Costa Mesa has James Beard Award nominated restaurants and celebrity chef personalities. With over 150 restaurants in a 15-mile square radius, it is no wonder Costa Mesa is rapidly becoming a foodie enclave.

Along with an eclectic dining scene that offers an authentic range of delicious SoCal flavors, Costa Mesa is an ultra-hot shopping and culture destination. The award-winning Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of the largest performing arts complexes in the United States, and Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza is one of the premier shopping destinations in the country, with a first-rate cast of the world's most exclusive designers. The city is centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego and just minutes away from beaches and major California attractions.

For more information on Costa Mesa's Dining Package and a list of participating hotels and eateries, visit www.travelcostamesa.com/dineonus.

Travel Costa Mesa was established in 1995. The organization's primary goal is to promote tourism to the city and to fund programs and activities that benefit the hotel and motel businesses within the city of Costa Mesa. For more information on travel to the city of Costa Mesa, visit www.travelcostamesa.com. Travel Costa Mesa is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.

Media Contact:

Jenny Wedge

Travel Costa Mesa

[email protected]

(714) 786.8579

Erin Mullaney

Myriad Marketing

[email protected]

(424) 309.0823

SOURCE Travel Costa Mesa

Related Links

http://www.travelcostamesa.com


PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are in a statistical deadhead when it comes to college and high school students and the social media networks they use, but Snapchat and Instagram jump to a solid lead when it comes to how often they use them.

According to an online survey of 333 college and high school students conducted by SCG, a Parsippany, NJ-based advertising and public relations agency, about 95 percent of students say they use the three major social media platforms, but 88 percent say they use Instagram and Snapchat often, versus 81 percent for Facebook. Twitter trails on all fronts with only 66.6 percent reporting use and fewer than 50 percent using it often. Students report lower usage of Tumblr, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Snapchat wins the battle for daily use, with 78 percent saying they use the service daily, as compared to 76 percent for Instagram, and 66 percent for Facebook. Seventy-one percent say they use Snapchat more than six times per day, and 51 percent says they are on Snapchat more than 11 times per day.

To access the full white paper on the results, click here.

"Students  mostly GenZ  are spending about 11 hours per day in front of up to five different screens. So it should be of no surprise that they are not married to just one platform," said Michael Cherenson, SCG's executive vice president for public relations. "Marketers and brands must be agnostic when it comes to platform. This means being open to use of several social media networks, often in unique ways."

When it comes to Snapchat, respondents say they are most interested in keeping in touch with friends (89.5 percent) and sharing and creating videos, images and stories (56.8 percent). A whopping 49.2 percent say they return to Snapchat daily simply to maintain a Snapchat streak.

"More than half of Snapchat users say they would feel disconnected from friends if not for Snapchat, which speaks volumes about the relationship students have with the platform and their peer networks," Cherenson said. "Almost 25 percent indicated Snapchat is essential to their relationships."

Almost 90 percent of Snapchat users say they enjoy the GeoFilters, while 85 percent say they like the Snapchat Lenses. Students report little to no interest in ads that appear in stories.

There also is a high degree of interest in content, including "Real Stories or day-in-the-life," "Behind-scenes videos," and How-To videos. When asked about what brands or companies use Snapchat well, Cosmo, Buzzfeed and the Kardashians were cited most frequently.

"Brands would be wise to use the platform for storytelling, providing new and interesting perspectives, and for engaging in a thoughtful, interesting and meaningful way with students," said Cherenson. "Cookie cutter content will be pushed aside quickly."

About SCG

Founded more than half a century ago, SCG (Success Communications Group) provides 21st century communication services highlighted by creativity, passion, and innovation. With specific expertise in public relations, advertising, marketing, social media, digital marketing, and recruitment, SCG is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, with regional offices in the metro areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

Additional information is available on our website, as well as our Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Success Communications Group (SCG)

Related Links

http://scgadv.com


NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Forensiq, a leader in ad fraud detection and prevention, is proud to announce today that it has received The Trustworthy Accountability Group's (TAG) "Certified Against Piracy" and "Certified Against Fraud" Seals. TAG is an advertising industry initiative to fight criminal activity in the digital advertising supply chain and the Seals are awarded to buyers, sellers and intermediaries who meet rigorous anti-fraud and anti-piracy requirements.

The TAG Certified Against Piracy Seal recognizes companies that have taken effective steps to help advertisers and ad agencies avoid damage to their brands from ad placement on websites and other media properties that facilitate the distribution of pirated content and counterfeit products. The Certified Against Fraud Seal recognizes companies that have completed the review process and are in compliance with rigorous anti-fraud standards.

TAG was created by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to address systemic issues in digital advertising like fraud, piracy, malware and lack of transparency.

"This is a significant accomplishment in our ongoing work, research and development in combatting advertising fraud," said David Sendroff, Founder and CEO of Forensiq. "Our goal at Forensiq has always been to create a more pure ecosystem for marketers and being certified by TAG proves our commitment in setting comprehensive anti-fraud standards that raise the bar for our industry."

As a certified TAG Anti Fraud vendor, Forensiq is in compliance with The Media Rating Council (MRC) Invalid Traffic (IVT) Detection and Filtration Guidelines. Additionally, in order to receive TAG's Certification Against Piracy Seal, Forensiq was validated as a Digital Advertising Assurance Provider (DAAP). The specific set of guidelines requires proven solutions to identify ad risk entities; prevent advertisements or undesired ad risk entities; detect, prevent, or disrupt fraudulent or deceptive transactions; monitor and assessing advertisement placement compliance; elimination of payments to undesired ad risk entities; and internal procedure, dispute resolution and education.

Last year Forensiq was acquired by premier digital marketing suite Impact Radius, and together the company has experienced phenomenal growth through the adoption of its innovative marketing platform which culminated in the company securing $30 Million in growth funding from Silversmith Capital Partners. Forensiq's TAG recognition comes on the heels of Impact Radius' new office opening on Park Avenue in NYC, solidifying the company's accelerated growth.

About Forensiq

Forensiq, an Impact Radius company, is a fraud detection platform that has developed a series of industry leading solutions to fight online click, conversion, and ad fraud. The firm combines the latest technology with a dedicated team of fraud fighters who are obsessed with helping clients stay steps ahead of bad actors and maximize ROI. Forensiq has joined forces with Impact Radius to create the world's first marketing system of record with built-in fraud detection. Forensiq was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York City with offices in London, Silicon Valley and Cape Town. The company has won three LeadsCouncil LEADER Awards, including Best-In-Class for Fraud Detection as well as DM News Most Innovative Marketing Tech to Watch in 2016. To learn more, visit www.forensiq.com.

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.

SOURCE Forensiq

Related Links

http://www.forensiq.com


Second quarter revenue of $13,727,000 .

Operating profit of $606,000 .

Board declares twenty-first consecutive quarterly dividend of 2.0 cents .

TORONTO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Retained executive search firm The Caldwell Partners International Inc. (TSX: CWL) today issued its financial results for the fiscal 2017 second quarter ended February 28, 2016. All references to quarters or years are for the fiscal periods unless otherwise noted and all currency amounts are in Canadian dollars.

Financial Highlights (in $000s except per share amounts)









Three Months Ended: Six Months Ended:

2.28.2017 2.29.2016 2.28.2017 2.29.2016 Professional fees $13,665 $14,281 $27,294 $28,226 Investment income - $787 - $787 License fees $62 $67 $137 $132

Revenues $13,727 $15,135 $27,431 $29,145 Cost of sales 9,725 11,693 19,946 22,561 Expenses (1) 3,396 2,733 5,780 6,022

Operating profit $606 $709 $1,705 $562 Investment income from marketable securities - $403 - $404

Earnings before tax $606 $1,112 $1,705 $966

Net earnings after tax $267 $764 $1,029 $600

Net earnings per share $0.013 $0.038 $0.051 $0.030





1. Included in Expenses are costs for the firm's annual partner conference held during the second quarter in the current year and the first quarter of the prior year. Expenses of $318 were recorded during the quarter ended February, 28, 2017 compared to the prior year when expenses of $339 were recorded in the quarter ended November 30, 2016. Year-to-date expenses for both periods reflect the costs of the conferences.

"While lower average fees and a slightly lower number of partners during the current quarter put pressure on revenue, this was somewhat mitigated by a growth in search volumes, demonstrating continued strength in the recruitment sector," said John Wallace, chief executive officer. "Additionally, the cost-alignment initiatives enacted over the course of the prior fiscal year enabled us to deliver significantly higher profit year-over-year through the first half. We feel positive about the productivity metrics of our partner and supporting teams, and how that has translated into operating profit, and remain bullish about the direction of our firm."

Wallace continued: "We continue to pursue high-calibre, content-driven professionals to join our firm, partners and teams who will expand the scope of our capabilities and market presence to the betterment of our clients. The additions in March of Matt Comyns (Stamford/New York), Shawn Banerji (Stamford/New York) and Manny Corsino (Miami) to our partner team adds significant depth to our cybersecurity and CIO/CTO functional capabilities; and incorporates regional expertise to further strengthen our already exceptional Latin American presence. The new partners will also contribute positively to our second half revenues."

The Board of Directors today also declared the payment of a quarterly dividend of 2.0 cents per Common Share payable to holders of Common Shares of record on April 25, 2017 and to be paid on June 20, 2017.



Financial Highlights (all numbers expressed in $000s)

Operating revenue:



Second Quarter

Professional fees for the second quarter of 2017 decreased 4.3% (a decline of 0.2% excluding a 4.1% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) over the comparable period last year to $13,665 (2016: $14,281 ).

(2016: ). Second quarter professional fees in the US were down 1.9% (up 3.3% excluding a 5.2% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to $10,621 (2016: $10,828 ). Increases in the Number of Assignments per Partner were more than offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment and a lower Average Number of Partners.

(2016: ). Increases in the Number of Assignments per Partner were more than offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment and a lower Average Number of Partners.

Second quarter professional fees in Canada were up 9.0% to $2,979 (2016: $2,732 ). A higher Average Number of Partners and higher Number of Assignments per Partner were partially offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment.

were up 9.0% to (2016: ). A higher Average Number of Partners and higher Number of Assignments per Partner were partially offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment.

Second quarter professional fees in Europe were down 91.0% (down 89.5% excluding a 1.5% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to $65 (2016: $721 ). During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and first quarter of fiscal 2017, two partners, whose aggregate related costs were significantly higher than the revenue produced, left the firm and corresponding reductions were made to the support staff. As a result, there was a significant decrease during the quarter in the Average Number of Partners, exacerbated by decreases in Average Fee per Assignment and Number of Assignments per Partner. Additionally, with Europe's small partner base, we have limited diversification, and consequently, results will fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.

were down 91.0% (down 89.5% excluding a 1.5% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to (2016: ). During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and first quarter of fiscal 2017, two partners, whose aggregate related costs were significantly higher than the revenue produced, left the firm and corresponding reductions were made to the support staff. As a result, there was a significant decrease during the quarter in the Average Number of Partners, exacerbated by decreases in Average Fee per Assignment and Number of Assignments per Partner. Additionally, with small partner base, we have limited diversification, and consequently, results will fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. License fees from our licensees in Latin America and New Zealand for the use of the Caldwell Partners brand and intellectual property for the 2017 second quarter were $62 (2016: $67 ).





Year to date

and for the use of the Caldwell Partners brand and intellectual property for the 2017 second quarter were (2016: ). Professional fees for the first six months of 2017 decreased 3.3% (1.0% excluding a 2.3% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) over the comparable period last year to $27,294 (2016: $28,226 ).

(2016: ). Year to date professional fees in the US were down 3.0% (0.4% excluding a 2.6% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to $20,178 (2016: $20,801 ). Increases in the Number of Assignments per Partner were more than offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment and a lower Average Number of Partners.

(2016: ). Increases in the Number of Assignments per Partner were more than offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment and a lower Average Number of Partners.

Year to date professional fees in Canada were up 7.7% to $6,568 (2016: $6,102 ). A higher Average Number of Partners and higher Number of Assignments per Partner were partially offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment.

were up 7.7% to (2016: ). A higher Average Number of Partners and higher Number of Assignments per Partner were partially offset by a lower Average Fee per Assignment.

Year to date professional fees in Europe were down 58.5% (down 49.6% excluding an 8.9% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to $548 (2016: $1,323 ), for the reasons described above.

were down 58.5% (down 49.6% excluding an 8.9% variance from exchange rate fluctuations) to (2016: ), for the reasons described above. License fees from our licensees in Latin America and New Zealand for the use of the Caldwell Partners brand and intellectual property for the six-month period ended February 28, 2017 were $137 (2016: $132 ).

Operating profit:



Second Quarter

For the second quarter of 2017, lower revenue ($1,408) , lower cost of sales ($1,968) and higher expenses ($664) decreased operating profit by $103 to $606 over the comparable period in the prior year (2016: $709 ). The higher expenses resulted from increases in share-based compensation expense caused by increases in the share price in the current year compared with share price declines in the previous year and partner conference expenses in the current quarter versus the first quarter in the prior year.

, lower cost of sales and higher expenses decreased operating profit by to over the comparable period in the prior year (2016: ). The higher expenses resulted from increases in share-based compensation expense caused by increases in the share price in the current year compared with share price declines in the previous year and partner conference expenses in the current quarter versus the first quarter in the prior year. The firm held its global partner conference during the second quarter which caused additional expenses of $318 during the second quarter of the current year ( $339 when held during the first quarter of fiscal 2016).

during the second quarter of the current year ( when held during the first quarter of fiscal 2016). Excluding exchange rate variances, operating profit decreased $27 to $682 . On a segment basis, $457 of operating profit was from the US ( $696 net of intercompany license fees), $335 ( $96 net of intercompany license fees) of operating profit was from Canada and Europe's operating loss was $186 from the variances discussed above.





Year to date

to . On a segment basis, of operating profit was from the US ( net of intercompany license fees), ( net of intercompany license fees) of operating profit was from and operating loss was from the variances discussed above. Year to date, lower revenue ($1,714) , offset by lower cost of sales ($2,615) and lower expenses ($242) increased operating profit by $1,143 to $1,705 over the comparable period in the prior year (2016: $562 ). The lower expenses were driven by a decrease in share-based compensation expense caused by a lower average share price in the current year and a reduction in the contingent consideration payable related to the Hawksmoor acquisition based on final earn-out achievement calculations, partially offset by increases in management operating performance bonus accruals.

, offset by lower cost of sales and lower expenses increased operating profit by over the comparable period in the prior year (2016: ). The lower expenses were driven by a decrease in share-based compensation expense caused by a lower average share price in the current year and a reduction in the contingent consideration payable related to the Hawksmoor acquisition based on final earn-out achievement calculations, partially offset by increases in management operating performance bonus accruals. Excluding exchange rate variances, operating profit increased $1,212 to $1,773 . On a segment basis, $1,184 of operating profit was from the US ( $1,639 net of intercompany license fees), $773 of operating profit was from Canada ( $318 net of intercompany license fee revenue) and Europe's operating loss was $252 from the variances discussed above.

Net earnings after tax:

Second quarter net income was $267 ( $0.013 per share), as compared to $764 ( $0.038 per share) in the comparable period a year earlier.

( per share), as compared to ( per share) in the comparable period a year earlier.

Year-to-date net income was $1,029 ( $0.051 per share), as compared to $600 ( $0.030 per share) in the comparable period a year earlier.

Average Number of Partners, Professional Fees per Partner, Number of Assignments, Number of Assignments per Partner and Average Fee per Assignment do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to measures presented by other companies. These operating measures are used by the Company to analyze its results. Please refer to section "NonGAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Measures" in the Company's MD&A for a definition of these terms.

For a complete discussion of the quarterly financial results, please see the company's Management Discussion and Analysis posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

About Caldwell Partners

Caldwell Partners is a leading international provider of executive search and has been for more than 45 years. As one of the world's most trusted advisors in executive search, the firm has a sterling reputation built on successful searches for boards, chief and senior executives, and selected functional experts. With offices and partners across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, the firm takes pride in delivering an unmatched level of service and expertise to its clients.

The Caldwell Partners' Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CWL). Please visit our website at www.caldwellpartners.com for further information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this document are based on current expectations that are subject to the significant risks and uncertainties cited. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "may," "will," "likely," "estimates," "potential," "continue" or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. The Company is subject to many factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward looking statement including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; the performance of the Canadian, US domestic and international economies; competition from other companies directly or indirectly engaged in executive search; the possibility of a significant shareholder impacting shareholder votes; foreign currency exchange rate risks; the Company's ability to invest retained earnings in marketable securities and in short-term money market instruments to generate consistent investment income returns; volatility of the market price and volume of common shares; and legal matters. For more information on the factors that could affect the outcome of forward-looking statements, refer to the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Information Form and other public filings (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com). These factors should be considered carefully and the reader should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although any forward-looking statements are based on what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, we cannot assure readers that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Except as required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf; such statements speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.



THE CALDWELL PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (unaudited - in $000s Canadian)





As at

February 28

2017 As at

August 31

2016 Assets





Current assets





Cash and cash-equivalents 4,467 8,422

Marketable securities 5,076 5,056

Accounts receivable 8,801 10,031

Prepaid expenses and other assets 1,633 2,416





19,977 25,925 Non-current assets





Restricted cash 140 187

Marketable securities 289 573

Advances 143 502

Property and equipment 1,909 1,838

Intangible assets 235 279

Goodwill 2,860 2,920

Deferred income taxes 2,497 2,475 Total assets 28,050 34,699









Liabilities



Current liabilities





Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 2,703 2,384

Compensation payable 9,898 16,125

Dividends payable 403 403

Income taxes payable 627 513

Contingent consideration - 289

Deferred revenue 180 1,187





13,811 20,901 Non-current liabilities





Compensation payable 612 687

Provisions 165 184





14,588 21,772 Equity attributable to owners of the Company





Share Capital 7,515 7,295

Contributed surplus 14,992 15,025

Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,304 1,179

Deficit (10,349) (10,572) Total equity 13,462 12,927 Total liabilities and equity 28,050 34,699



THE CALDWELL PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (unaudited - in $000s Canadian, except per share amounts)



Three months ended Six months ended



February 28 February 29 February 28 February 29



2017 2016 2017 2016











Revenues









Professional fees 13,665 14,281 27,294 28,226

Investment income - 787 - 787

License fees 62 67 137 132



13,727 15,135 27,431 29,145











Cost of sales 9,725 11,693 19,946 22,561 Gross profit 4,002 3,442 7,485 6,584











Expenses









General and administrative 3,116 2,439 5,372 5,474

Sales and marketing 262 270 439 530

Foreign exchange loss (gain) 18 24 (31) 18



3,396 2,733 5,780 6,022 Operating profit 606 709 1,705 562











Investment income - 403 - 404 Earnings before income tax 606 1,112 1,705 966











Income tax 339 348 676 366











Net earnings for the period attributable to owners of the Company 267 764 1,029 600











Earnings per share:









Basic $0.013 $0.038 $0.051 $0.030

Diluted $0.013 $0.038 $0.051 $0.029



THE CALDWELL PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (unaudited - in $000s Canadian)

Three months ended Six months ended

February 28 February 29 February 28 February 29

2017 2016 2017 2016









Net earnings for the period 267 764 1,029 600









Other comprehensive income:







Realization of gains included in net income - (403) - (403) Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities 115 (52) 153 (28) Cumulative translation adjustment (113) (50) (28) (36) Comprehensive earnings for the period attributable to owners of the Company 269 259 1,154 133



THE CALDWELL PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (unaudited - in $000s Canadian)







Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income



Deficit Capital Stock Contributed Surplus Cumulative

Translation Adjustment Unrealized Gains on Marketable Securities Total Equity













Balance - September 1, 2015 (9,843) 7,295 15,025 1,271 841 14,589













Net earnings for the six month period ended













February 29, 2016 600 - - - - 600













Dividend payments declared (806) - - - - (806)













Realization of gains included in net income - - - - (403) (403)













Change in unrealized loss on













marketable securities available for sale - - - - (28) (28)













Change in cumulative translation adjustment - - - (36) - (36)













Balance - February 29, 2016 (10,049) 7,295 15,025 1,235 410 13,916



























Balance - September 1, 2016 (10,572) 7,295 15,025 841 338 12,927













Net earnings for the six month period ended













February 28, 2017 1,029 - - - - 1,029













Dividend payments declared (806) - - - - (806)













Employee share option plan share issue - 220 (33) - - 187













Change in unrealized gain on













marketable securities available for sale - - - - 153 153













Change in cumulative translation adjustment - - - (28) - (28)













Balance - February 28, 2017 (10,349) 7,515 14,992 813 491 13,462



THE CALDWELL PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(unaudited - in $000s Canadian)

Six months ended

February 28 2017 February 29 2016 Cash flow provided by (used in)









Operating Activities





Net earnings for the period 1,029 600

Adjustments for:







Depreciation 265 268



Amortization 47 48



Amortization of advances 337 550



Realized gain on marketable securities - (403)



Change in fair value of contingent consideration (108) 5



Unrealized foreign exchange on subsidiary loans (27) 30



Decrease in long term incentive accrual (74) (533)



Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable 1,285 (1,230)



Decrease in marketable securities 432 -



Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets 454 41



Increase in accounts payable 300 914



Increase in income taxes payable 102 186



Decrease in compensation payable (5,583) (6,084)



Payment of contingent consideration (181) (254)



Payment of compensation payable (709) (449)



Decrease in deferred revenue (999) (332)



Decrease in provisions (19) - Net cash used in operating activities (3,449) (6,643)





Investment Activities





Proceeds from sale of marketable securities - 3,171

Decrease (increase) in advances 350 (592)

Decrease in restricted cash 48 313

Additions to property and equipment (326) (171) Net cash provided by investing activities 72 2,721

Financing Activities





Share issuance from employee share option plan 187 -

Share purchase and cancellation - (1,604)

Dividend payments (806) (828) Net cash used in financing activities (619) (2,432)





Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 41 205 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (3,955) (6,149) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 8,422 9,956 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 4,467 3,807

SOURCE The Caldwell Partners International Inc.
NEW YORK, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), in collaboration with longtime supporter and partner The Edmond J. Safra Foundation, has chosen five academic centers in the United States and Canada to host the third class of The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders.

The centers selected for the 2018-2020 Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders class are:

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Columbia University Medical Center in New York

Medical Center in Massachusetts General Hospital | Harvard Medical School in Boston

General Hospital | in University of Michigan

Toronto Western Hospital in Ontario, Canada

Launched in 2014, The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders aims to bridge the gap in funding to train movement disorder specialists  neurologists who have expertise in diagnosing and managing Parkinson's disease. The program is specifically designed to grow the global base of clinician-researcher movement disorder specialists.

"By working with distinguished academic institutions to increase the number of movement disorder specialists, we can ensure people with Parkinson's have access to personalized care from experts at the forefront of research," said Mrs. Lily Safra, chairwoman of The Edmond J. Safra Foundation. "This program will ultimately benefit people with Parkinson's, who will receive remarkable care and have research designed with their interests in mind."

"We are thrilled to again be partnering with The Edmond J. Safra Foundation on this important initiative," said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. "This program continues to meet a critical need for specialists who can provide individualized patient care and lead research toward disease understanding and therapies to meet patients' needs."

An advisory committee ranked applicants on several criteria, including the quality of clinical education and the research environment, in order to select the top centers. Each institution will now identify a fellow who will begin two years of training in July 2018.

Patients Informing the Research that Impacts Them

Movement disorder specialist clinician-researchers serve as a link between patients and the research necessary to gain deeper understandings of disease and develop new and better therapies. Regular patient interactions provide these specialists with unique insights into the patient experience and perspective that can directly inform their research projects. The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders is helping train experts who can form partnerships with their patients to advance research.

Ongoing Commitment to Parkinson's Research and Care

Late banker and philanthropist Edmond J. Safra's namesake Foundation has long made Parkinson's disease care and research top priorities. Mrs. Safra, chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, has been an MJFF Board member since 2001.

In addition to generous gifts to centers and programs providing direct care to people with Parkinson's disease, Lily Safra and her Foundation have driven vital scientific investigation into new treatments. The fellowship is the latest among many partnerships between the Edmond J. Safra Foundation and MJFF, including the Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, one of MJFF's central grantmaking avenues to support high-impact Parkinson's research projects.

Applications for 2019-2021 Class Opening Soon

The 2019 Edmond J. Safra Fellowship application will soon be open to academic centers. Please check back on our website for more information and to apply.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $700 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

For more information, visit us on the Web , Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation

Edmond J. Safra, one of the 20th century's most accomplished bankers and a devoted philanthropist, established a major philanthropic foundation to ensure that individuals and organizations would continue to receive his assistance and encouragement for many years to come. Under the chairmanship of his beloved wife Lily, the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation draws continuing inspiration from its founder's life and values, and supports hundreds of organizations in more than 40 countries around the world. Its work encompasses four areas: Education; Science and Medicine; Religion; and Humanitarian Assistance, Culture and Social Welfare. The Foundation has provided significant funding for Parkinson's disease research and patient care at dozens of hospitals and institutes in places as varied as Natal (Brazil), Toronto, New York, Grenoble, Paris, London and Jerusalem.

For more information, visit www.edmondjsafra.org.

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Related Links

https://www.michaeljfox.org/


BRAINTREE, Mass., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was off -6.0% in Marchone the steepest monthly declines of recent record, according to the MIB Life Index. At the close of the first quarter, the MIB Life Index was off -4.5% YTD, impacted by consecutive year-over-year declines in the opening three months of 2017. Historically, the composite Index is coming off a record eight consecutive quarters of growth that ended in Q2 2016. Month-over-month, March application activity was -2.7% lower than that of February.

Mirroring the composite Index, U.S. life insurance application activity was off sharply across all three age groups. In March, activity ages 0-44 was off -5.3%, ages 45-59 was off

-8.4%, and ages 60+ was off -4.5%. At the close of the first quarter, application activity ages

0-44 was off -4.3% YTD, ages 45-59 was off -6.4% YTD, and ages 60+ was off -2.1% YTD.

Age Group Trend Summary : In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. application activity ages 0-44 surpassed all other age groups for the first time with leading growth continuing until Q2 2016. In the subsequent quarters' declining environment, application activity for ages 60+ has been the least elastic (showing the smallest declines) and ages 45-59 has been the most elastic (showing the largest declines) with those in the 0-44 age group have shown more moderate losses.

MIB's CEO comments on the 2016 industry in our MIB Life Index Year-in-Review video (http://wi.st/2m3z0mr). Download the 2016 MIB Life Index Annual Report at no charge by registering at the Enhanced Life Index Portal: www.mibsolutions.com/regLI or login at: https://portal.mibsolutions.com/lifeindex.

Monthly Percent Change Composite Index (year-over-year) Mar-17 -6.0% Feb-17 -4.5% Jan-17 -2.6% Dec-16 0.3% Nov-16 -3.3%



YTD - 2017 -4.5% Year End - 2016 1.3%



Q1-2017 -4.5% Q4-2016 -1.2% Q3-2016 -0.6%

% Change

Age Groups

(year-over-year) 0-44 45-59 60+







Mar-17 -5.3% -8.4% -4.5% Feb-17 -5.0% -5.7% -1.0% Jan-17 -2.2% -4.8% -0.2% Dec-16 0.8% -1.3% 1.5% Nov-16 -4.0% -3.3% -0.9% Oct-16 -1.6% -1.2% 1.7%

U.S. Monthly Percent Change vs. Prior Month Mar. -2.7%

Note: Effective January 2017, MIB has reset its benchmark comparison (basis=100) for the MIB Life Index from January 2001 to January 2011. Read more: http://bit.ly/2c908r5.

New Index values (January 2011 forward) are posted on the Enhanced Life Index Portal at: www.mibgroup.com/riskanalytics/portal.html.

About the MIB Life Index

The MIB Life Index is the life insurance industry's timeliest measure of application activity in the United States. Released to the media each month, the Index is based on the number of searches MIB life member company underwriters perform on the MIB Checking Service database. Since the vast majority of individually underwritten life premium dollars in North America include an MIB search as a routine underwriting requirement, the MIB Life Index provides a reasonable means to estimate new business activity. For past releases, methodology or to subscribe visit www.mibgroup.com/lifeindex.



About MIB

MIB is the life and health insurance industry's most trusted and secure resource for data-driven risk management services that protect the financial integrity of its members and address their evolving needs. Owned by its members, MIB is uniquely positioned to securely collect and analyze confidential data. MIB services help to detect fraud, errors and omissions on insurance applications; to analyze industry data needed to manage a variety of financial risks; and to make regulatory reporting compliance less onerous and more efficient. As the life insurance industry's first statistical agent, our MIB Solutions, Inc. subsidiary cost-effectively performs annual data calls for those insurers subject to principles-based reserving. MIB Group, Inc., a membership corporation, provides services through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, MIB, Inc. and MIB Solutions, Inc. For more information, visit www.mibgroup.com.

Contact:

David O. Aronson

MIB Group, Inc.

781-751-6130

[email protected]

SOURCE MIB Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mibgroup.com/index.html


WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Viking Range, LLC, of Greenwood, Mississippi, and Viking's parent firm, The Middleby Corporation, of Elgin, Illinois (collectively "Viking"), have agreed to pay a $4.65 million civil penalty. The civil penalty settles charges that Viking failed to immediately report to CPSC that its gas ranges contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or that the ranges created an unreasonable risk of serious injury.

Between 2008 and 2014, Viking received 170 incident reports of ranges that had turned on spontaneously and could not be turned off using the control knobs, resulting in extreme surface temperatures that posed a burn hazard to consumers. The reported incidents included two consumers who were unable to turn off the range using the controls and were burned while attempting to disconnect the power source. Viking also received five reports that the ranges had turned on spontaneously and caused property damage to the area surrounding the range. Several consumers called 911 for assistance when they discovered that the ranges had turned on spontaneously and could not be turned off or disconnected. Viking knew of this information, but failed to notify CPSC immediately of the defect or risk posed by the ranges, as required by federal law.

Viking recalled 52,000 ranges in May 2015. The ranges were sold at ABT, Ferguson, Morrison, Pacific Sales, PC Richard & Son and other stores nationwide from July 2007 through June 2014 for between $4,000 and $13,000.

In addition to paying the $4.65 million civil penalty, Viking has agreed to maintain an enhanced compliance program to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Viking will also maintain a related system of internal controls and procedures.

Viking's settlement of this matter does not constitute an admission of CPSC staff's charges.

The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission by a 4 to 1 vote. Acting Chairman Buerkle voted to accept a smaller penalty.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m.  5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: 301-504-7908

Spanish: 301-504-7800

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov


HOLMDEL, N.J., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of cloud communications services for business, will hold its annual meeting of stockholders on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM ET. The 2017 annual meeting webcast will be accessible live through Vonage's Investor Relations website at http://ir.vonage.com.

Shareholders at the close of business on Thursday, April 13, 2017 are entitled to attend the virtual annual meeting. Shareholders will be able to vote shares and submit questions electronically during the virtual annual meeting. Non-shareholders will be able to attend the annual meeting electronically, but will not be able to vote or participate.

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-f)

SOURCE Vonage Holdings Corp.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Walter O'Brien, founding CEO of Scorpion Computer Services, received the esteemed Celebrity ICON Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement award at unite4:good's unite4:humanity gala event Friday night. The event was held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, and was well-attended by members of the celebrity philanthropy community.

CBS executive producer Walter O'Brien with actor Glenn Keogh, known for Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Once Upon a Time (2011) and CBS' hit television show, Scorpion.

Walter O'Brien received the Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement award with heartfelt gratitude, as it represents recognition for the decades he has dedicated to saving lives, protecting war fighters and donating to philanthropic causes dear to him. A long-time champion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education for children, O'Brien has donated countless hours to judging competitions, giving speeches, and keynoting events that support this endeavor. Further, he has hosted and participated in science fairs, hackathons and code-a-thons for children with interest and skill in computer science, a field of which he is a leading world expert.

O'Brien joins celebrity-philanthropists such as Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey, Paula Abdul, Gina Rodriguez, Seth Rogen, Lauren Miller, and Olivia Wilde, who have also been honored by united4:humanity for their charity work. Also awarded at Friday's gala were celebrities William Benson, Wilmer Valderrama and Cara Delevingne accepting on behalf of Amber Heard.

The award was presented to O'Brien by his friend and colleague Glenn Keogh, who has starred in Sons of Anarchy, NCIS, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and others, and plays Walter's father Sean O'Brien on CBS's Scorpion, the award-winning show based on Walter O'Brien's life.

O'Brien was honored for youngest recipient of the Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement award by decades. Co-Founder of unite4:good & Founder of main Sponsor Powerteam International, Bill Walsh said of O'Brien that "Walter has accomplished more than most could in several lifetimes with a major impact on national security, military security and the cultural fabric of America. As Americans we're glad to have team Scorpion's computer wizardry as part of team America and moreover--Scorpion is here to help make the world a better place."

ABOUT WALTER O'BRIEN

Walter O'Brien is the founder and CEO of Scorpion Computer Services, Inc., and CEO of Scorpion Studios. He is the Executive Producer and the inspiration behind the hit CBS television drama, Scorpion, with over 26 million viewers in the US and airs in 188 countries. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has certified Walter O'Brien as being a person of national interest to the United States and granted him an Extraordinary Ability EB 1-1 Visa. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, plus Navy and Air Force systems to deploy artificial intelligence that protects American military personnel. Walter was recently recognized by the Fort Wayne Base Community Council for saving countless lives and awarded a member's Combat Infantry Badge and Battle Dress Uniform from Operation Desert Storm. The Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association recognized his tremendous support of defense initiatives. In addition, he has worked with multiple Fortune 500 companies including the world's largest mutual fund, Fujitsu, Trados, Oracle Corporation, Baltimore Technologies and Critical Path. O'Brien serves as chairman or former board member for Strike Force Solutions, Talentorum Alliance, Lawloop and previously served on the boards of Houston Technology Center, American Environmental Energy, Starglobe and Toin Corp.

O'Brien regularly donates his time to charities and the community in general, to encourage all generations to celebrate intelligence. O'Brien provided the seed funding for TaxiWatch Kilkenny, a suicide prevention program that has saved 100 lives since its inception in 2015. Appearing on CNBC Asia, Fox News and CBS as an expert on computer security, in 2015 O'Brien contributed to the next XPRIZE selection as part of XPRIZE Visioneering.

ABOUT UNITE4:GOOD

Unite4:good offers different avenues for individuals to create change and promote social good. We make it easier for our users to connect with like-minded people and organizations to work toward improving the social cohesion of the world. Our ultimate goal is to motivate people to be socially conscious and kind-hearted on a consistent basis, to close the gap on issues that are affecting our society heavily. We are here to give people an environment where it is easier to help others who are in need, celebrate giving back, and live more meaningful lives. Anthony, Natalie Melikhov and Bill Walsh are entrepreneurs, global philanthropists, and the co-founders of unite4:good LLC. They've individually devoted their lives to making their communities a better place, and together, now focus their efforts on building a global culture that embodies the values of kindness and compassion. Utilizing networks of social influencers, governments, world leaders, and businesses, the Melikhovs are working to change the signal of our entire culture and economy from negative to positive.

ABOUT SCORPION COMPUTER SERVICES, INC.

Scorpion Computer Services is the internationally recognized problem-solving consultancy led by computer-security expert and hacker "Scorpion" Walter O'Brien.

Scorpion has won the most innovative product and most innovative company award being named the Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation award winner by Los Angeles Business Journal, for over two decades Scorpion Computer Services has contributed to the greater good by managing geniuses as they transform Scorpion client ideas into reality.

From confronting and solving issues of national security to rescuing failing businesses, Scorpion Computer Services is the brainpower behind solving global issues, proving "smart is cool." The company's clients include government, military, a number of Fortune 5000 firms as well as start-ups and small-and-medium sized businesses with opportunities across cutting-edge information technology solutions, transportation and logistics, business efficiency and marketing.

Press contact:

Jordan French

[email protected]

www.scorpioncomputerservices.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE Scorpion Computer Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.scorpioncomputerservices.com


To earn a spot on the "Best Online Schools in Missouri" list, colleges and universities were judged based on availability of financial aid opportunities, school counseling services, student/teacher ratios and graduation rates. Out of the nearly 200 colleges registered in Missouri, 42 were ranked.

Nationally, 1,461 colleges and universities were ranked. Webster University was ranked in sixth place, just below Concordia University-Wisconsin, Cansius College, Drexel University, Harvard University and University of Southern California.

"When Webster pioneered online learning programs in the 1990s, we did so to meet students' needs. This ranking shows that Webster University has continued to innovate to meet evolving student needs and is at the forefront for offering high quality online opportunities for their education," said Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. "By developing Webster's capabilities in both synchronous and asynchronous modes, we help students complete courses, certificates, and degree programs on their terms in ways that assure their success."

According to AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, Webster's programs were ranked highly in several criteria, including that it allowed both full-time and part-time students in the U.S. and abroad, and that online courses met the same academic standards as the traditional on-campus programs. Webster University offers more than 25 online graduate degrees and five online undergraduate degrees.

"However, the courses are also tailored with online learning in mind. Courses are delivered through WorldClassRoom, where students can access the same faculty who teach the courses in person. Students are able to access their courses digitally from anywhere and at any time. Students also have access to other students for networking opportunities," the rankings review of the program says.

Schools were scored for factors such as cost and financial aid, variety of programs, student-teacher ratios, graduation rates, support services offered, career and academic counseling offered, employment services, and loan default rate.

All the factors were used to calculate a "peer-based value." Webster offers academic counseling, placement services and credit for experience. Approximately 94 percent of online students receive financial aid, the online programs have a student-teacher ratio of about 14 students per instructor, and the graduation rate is approximately 64 percent, according to the survey. Overall, Webster's programs received a 98.67 score out of 100 in the national ranking, and a score of 99.8 in the state ranking.

"We know that not everyone learns the same and for some students, an online program is more convenient as well as more conducive to learning," said Julian Schuster, Webster University's provost, senior vice president and chief operating officer. "Our online programs continue to expand and attract a growing number of students, and Webster University will continue to invest in online to make sure our students receive the best possible experience."

AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org was founded in 2011 to provide students and parents with quality data and information about pursuing an affordable, quality education that has been certified by an accrediting agency. Their community resource materials and tools span topics such as college accreditation, financial aid, opportunities available to veterans, people with disabilities, as well as online learning resources. They feature higher education institutions that have developed online learning programs that include highly trained faculty, new technology and resources, and online support services to help students achieve educational success.

For more details on the annual rankings, including data and methodology used to determine the lists, visit http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/missouri/#best-college-ranking.

To learn more about Webster's online programs and to see a full list of program, visit http://www.webster.edu/online/.

SOURCE Webster University

Related Links

http://www.webster.edu/online/


GREENSBURG, Pa., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), continues to conduct tree trimming work in communities across its 24-county Pennsylvania service area as part of its ongoing efforts to help enhance system reliability.

Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed more than 1,000 circuit miles of electric lines in the West Penn Power service area as part of the nearly $40 million vegetation management program for 2017, with an additional 3,900 miles expected to be completed by year end. The work is done to help maintain proper clearances around electrical equipment and help protect against tree-related outages.

"The tree trimming we have done over the past several years is making a difference keeping the lights on for our customers," said David W. McDonald, president of West Penn Power. "In particular, we have stepped up our efforts to proactively remove tens of thousands of deteriorated ash trees bordering our electric distribution lines that have been killed or weakened by the Emerald Ash Borer. These trees pose a growing risk to our infrastructure, and we want to remove as many as possible before the onset of the summer thunderstorm season."

For 2017, West Penn Power's tree program includes about $7 million to remove more than 56,000 ash trees along distribution lines in western Pennsylvania. As of early April, more than 15,000 ash trees had been removed.

During the upcoming months, West Penn Power will be conducting tree trimming work in the following counties and communities:

Allegheny  Bethel Park , Cheswick , Natrona Heights , Peters Township , Springdale , Upper St. Clair Township

 , , , , , Upper St. Clair Township Butler  Cooperstown , Kaylor, Parker , Portersville

 , Kaylor, , Centre Howard , Milesburg , Spring Mills

, , Fayette  Footedale , Merrittstown , Mill Run , New Salem , Normalville , Republic , Uniontown , Wickhaven

 , , , , , , , Washington Bentleyville, Finleyville , Gastonville , LaGonda, Speers, Washington

Bentleyville, , , LaGonda, Speers, Westmoreland  Greensburg , Herminie , Larimer , Murrysville , Norvelt , Smithton , Stahlstown , Washington Township , West Fairfield .

Tree trimming is done on a five-year cycle. The program includes inspecting vegetation near the lines to ensure trees are pruned in a manner that helps preserve the health of the tree, while also maintaining safety near electric facilities. Trees that present a danger or are diseased also may be removed.

As part of its notification process, West Penn Power works with municipalities to inform them of tree trimming schedules. In addition, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way also are notified prior to vegetation management work being done.

The vegetation management work is conducted by certified forestry experts under the company's direction, including: Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Jaflo Inc., Lewis Tree Service Inc., Penn Line Service Inc., and Davey Tree Expert Company.

West Penn Power serves about 720,000 customers in 24 Pennsylvania counties. Follow West Penn Power on Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and follow on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (NYSE: WGP ) also announced today that the board of directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.49125 per unit for the first quarter of 2017. This distribution represents a 6-percent increase over the prior quarter and a 16-percent increase over the first quarter of 2016. WGP's first quarter 2017 distribution is payable on May 22, 2017, to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 1, 2017.

The Partnerships plan to report their first-quarter 2017 results after the market closes on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 11 a.m. CDT (12 p.m. EDT) to discuss quarterly results. The full text of the release announcing the results will be available on the Partnerships' website at www.westerngas.com.

First-Quarter 2017 Results

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

11 a.m. CDT (12 p.m. EDT)

Dial-in number: 877-883-0383

International dial-in number: 412-902-6506

Participant access code: 5700314

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 the access code when prompted.

To access the live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit the investor relations section of the Partnerships' website at www.westerngas.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for two weeks following the call.

Western Gas Partners, LP ("WES") is a growth-oriented Delaware master limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to acquire, own, develop and operate midstream energy assets. With midstream assets located in the Rocky Mountains, North-central Pennsylvania and Texas, WES is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, and gathering, stabilizing and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids and crude oil for Anadarko, as well as for other producers and customers.

Western Gas Equity Partners, LP ("WGP") is a Delaware master limited partnership formed by Anadarko to own the following types of interests in WES: (i) the general partner interest and all of the incentive distribution rights in WES, both owned through WGP's 100% ownership of WES's general partner, and (ii) a significant limited partner interest in WES.

For more information about Western Gas Partners, LP, Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, and Western Gas Flash Feed updates, please visit www.westerngas.com .

Western Gas Contact

Jonathon E. VandenBrand

Director, Investor Relations

[email protected]

832.636.6000

SOURCE Western Gas

Related Links

http://www.westerngas.com


Eric Howerton, WhyteSpyder CEO, and Joyce Grippi, WhyteSpyder Senior Account Services Director, will be teaching this course at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College in the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies Building. Item Storytelling for the Omnichannel Shopper is a two-part class and will be held on the following dates:

May 2 and 3, 8:30 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

June 6 and 7, 8:30 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

The course will address questions regarding content and data. It will focus on the need for suppliers and manufacturers to emphasize item storytelling for today's omni-shoppers and enhancing the shopper experience. The two-part course is designed to help provide data and content that will attract, convert, and retain shoppers across all channels.

There are no pre-requisites for the course. Participants are required to bring a laptop to class and have a valid Retail Link userid. A write-on participant guide will be provided.

Participants who successfully complete both parts of the course will receive a certificate of completion from the Northwest Arkansas Retail & Supplier Education Program.

WhyteSpyder are leaders in item storytelling for Walmart and its suppliers. Howerton and Grippi's input will provide course participants with insight into what suppliers and manufacturers need in this highly competitive digital world that shoppers live in today.

"I'm happy to partner with NWACC to provide this much-needed training for the Walmart supplier community. There is definitely a massive need for Walmart to receive best in class, unique, item-level data and content to its suppliers and manufacturers to win the omnichannel race," Howerton has said.

WhyteSpyder recognizes the continuing and compelling need for suppliers to comply with Walmart's call for higher-quality data and content and has created this course based on direct feedback from the supplier community.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College seeks to make a difference in the lives of individuals in this community. The Retail & Supplier Education division within Workforce & Economic Development, recognized for the Certified Retail Analyst program helps individuals break into an analytical career in the retail Industry. This division also focuses on Continuing Education for retail professionals seeing to advance their career and improve skillsets. This division is led by Teresa Warren, Director of Retail & Supplier Education.

"A collaboration with WhyteSpyder is a nice fit for us as we expand our focus in Continuing Education. As the retail industry is evolving, we are proud to support this needed initiative in the local supplier community," stated Warren.

The course will be held at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College in the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies in Room B103. This 6-hour course will be $395.00. For more information on this course visit the NWACC website at https://www.nwacc.edu/web/workforce-economic-development/continuing-ed or visit WhyteSpyder's website at http://www.whytespyder.com/nwacc-item-storytelling/. For additional questions or inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 479-619-4116.

About NWACC:

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a smart choice for students wanting to pursue quality higher education. As an accredited institution through The Higher Learning Commission, NWACC is a public two-year institution that serves and strengthens its surrounding communities in Benton and Washington counties by helping our students maximize their potential and exceed expectations. With state-of-the-art facilities, NWACC provides excellent academic instruction and workforce training needed to succeed, offering personalized attention from highly respected faculty, staff, and administrators. For more information, visit www.nwacc.edu.

ABOUT WhyteSpyder:

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Washington, April 8 : US President Donald Trump has accepted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's invitation to visit Beijing, said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Trump hosted the Chinese President for a two-day visit at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Last year Trump said China had "raped the US" and vowed to brand the superpower a currency manipulator.

But the meeting appeared to be diplomatic, with both leaders agreeing to a new format for US-China talks.

Tillerson said President Trump's trip to China would be a "state visit" in 2017, but gave no other details.

"Both the atmosphere and the chemistry between the two leaders was positive... all of us are feeling very good about the results of this summit," said Tillerson.

The leaders of the world's two most powerful economies agreed to a 100-day plan to discuss trade talks directed at boosting US exports and reducing Washington's trade deficit with China, according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

"Given the range of issues and the magnitude, that may be ambitious, but it's a very big sea change in the pace of discussion," Ross told the media.

"I think that's a very important symbolisation of the growing rapport between the two countries."

Trump said that he believed he made "tremendous progress" in the US-China relationship during talks with Xi.

On the night of the Chinese President's arrival, a US airstrike on an airbase in Syria was launched on Thursday in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.

Regarding the US airstrike on Syria, Tillerson said that Xi told Trump that he "understood that such a response was necessary when people are killing children", reported CNN.

Xi expressed "an appreciation" to Trump for informing him of the number of missiles that were launched and explaining the rationale behind the strike, said Tillerson.

The two leaders also agreed on the "urgency of the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme" and agreed to work together to resolve the issue "peacefully", Tillerson said.

"They agreed to increase cooperation and work with the international community to convince the (North Korea) to peacefully resolve the issue and abandon its illicit weapons programmes."

Discussions between Trump and Xi over North Korea came days after Trump warned that the US was prepared to act unilaterally to stop the regime's nuclear programme from advancing further should China be unwilling to use its leverage with Pyongyang.

The White House said Trump also stressed to Xi the importance of creating "reciprocal market access" that did not disadvantage American workers.

Trump repeatedly bashed China on the campaign trail and upon taking office, blaming it for the loss of American jobs, reported Politico news.

Trump urged China to take steps to "level the playing field for American workers", according to the White House statement.

"President Trump noted the challenges caused by Chinese government intervention in its economy and raised serious concerns about the impact of China's industrial, agricultural, technology and cyber policies on US jobs and exports," it said.

Xi and Trump also discussed China's increased militarisation in the South China Sea, with President Trump urging the Chinese to adhere to international norms.
Washington, April 13 : US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he established "good chemistry" with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and repeated that he had offered Beijing a "good (trade) agreement" if it would help with the problem of North Korea.

"We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together. I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade," EFE news quoted Trump as saying at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"I was very impressed with President Xi and I think he means well and I think he wants to help. We'll see whether or not he does," Trump added.

Trump welcomed Xi on Thursday to his Mar-a-Lago private club in South Florida, and on Friday the two leaders continued their first face-to-face talks.

Trump said he had offered Xi a "good trade deal" if Beijing would help with North Korea.

"President Xi wants to do the right thing... We had a very good chemistry together," Trump said, adding "I think he wants to help us with North Korea."

The US leader said he told Xi that "the way you're gonna make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea, otherwise we're just going to go it alone, but going it alone means going it with lots of other nations."

When asked if the cooperation with China would mean that his administration would not declare Beijing to be a currency manipulator, something that otherwise would lead to economic sanctions by Washington, Trump said: "We'll see."

During the 2016 election campaign, Trump lambasted China for manipulating its currency to secure trade advantages and warned that he could impose heavy tariffs on imports from the Asian giant if Beijing did not level the playing field, EFE news reported.

The rise in tensions due to the military sabre-rattling by the North Korean regime, a traditional ally of China, has sparked concern in South Korea and Japan, who are close partners of Washington, and has led the US to reinforce its military presence in the region.
Mumbai, April 13 : Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan has urged people to pray for the safe return of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court for allegedly spying and stoking violence in Balochistan.

The "Sholay" writer said here is a great opportunity for Pakistan to mend its relationship with India.

"Pakistan talks about maintaining a good relationship with India. Here is the opportunity. Let us pray for his safe return. Kulbhushan Jadhav," Khan tweeted on Wednesday night.

Quoting Prophet Muhammad, the veteran writer went on to add: "To kill an innocent is equivalent to killing entire humanity."

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in March last year in Balochistan, for allegedly being an Indian spy responsible for fuelling Baloch separatist movement.

Over the last year, the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav has witnessed several twists and turns.

While the Pakistani government has repeatedly alleged Jadhav is a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent, India had been denying the charges, calling the death sentence a "pre-planned murder".
Washington, April 13 : The US military and intelligence community has intercepted communications featuring Syrian military and chemical experts talking about preparations for the April 3 attack that killed over 80 civilians, a senior US official told CNN.

The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack in Idlib.

"The US did not know prior to the attack it was going to happen," the official said late Wednesday night.

The US scoops up such a large volume of communications intercepts in areas like Syria and Iraq, the material often is not processed unless there is a particular event that requires analysts to go back and look for supporting intelligence material.

So far there are no intelligence intercepts that have been found directly confirming that Russian military or intelligence officials communicated about the attack.

The official said the likelihood is the "Russians are more careful in their communications to avoid being intercepted", reports CNN.

The Russian and Syrian governments have both denied involvement in the chemical attack.

US President Donald Trump told a White House news conference on Wednesday that the Pentagon is looking into the question of Russian complicity in the chemical attack.

"I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have," CNN quoted Trump as saying.

"(Defense Secretary) General (James) Mattis is looking into it with the entire Pentagon group that does that kind of work."

The US now assesses that Syria has re-established a unit of personnel associated with chemical weapons that existed before the 2013 agreement in which the Syrian government pledged to give up its weapons inventory.
New York, April 13 : Software giant Microsoft will hold a hardware and software event in New York City on May 2, but it is unlikely that a Surface Phone or any Surface Pro device will be unveiled.

According to a report in Verge on Wednesday, the software maker has started emailing out press invites after weeks of rumours over Microsoft's plans. The tech journalists attending the event are expecting the company to unveil at least one piece of new hardware.

"It's also possible Microsoft may take this opportunity to reveal the hardware design of its upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio, just ahead of its E3 event in June, or a successor to the Surface 3 which was designed with students in mind," the report noted.

If rumours are to be believed, Microsoft may unveil its Windows 10 Cloud operating system -- an alternative to Chrome OS that runs Universal Windows Apps.

This speculation stems from the fact that the event is codenamed "Bespin" -- a fictional Star Wars planet that includes a "Cloud City".

"Sources also tell that this event will be focused on education, so expect to see any hardware or software be connected to how it can be used in schools," the report added.
New Delhi, April 13 : Google has introduced Areo, one single app for food delivery and home services, currently live in Bengaluru and Mumbai on Android devices.

"Areo lets users search for local restaurants and home services like electricians, plumbers, and painters, and schedule their deliveries or appointments through the app," the company said in its Google Play store.

The app also provides customer reviews of the available companies, eateries to help you make informed choices from product quality to timeliness of service.

The app has pay by card, netbanking or cash on delivery services.
Kuala Lumpur, April 13 : Two women accused in the murder of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, were made scapegoats, a Malaysian advocate said on Thursday Advocate Gooi Soon Seng, leading the defence for the Indonesian accused Siti Aisyah, pleaded not guilty. She along with Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong appeared in a court in Sepang, south of Kuala Lumpur.

The lawyer slammed the Malaysian police for not allowing him sufficient time to meet with his client before the trial, and for not providing CCTV footage which was important in the defence's case.

Gooi also criticised government for allowing three North Korean suspects to return to Pyongyang after recording statements from them following Kim Jong-nam's murder on February 13 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Efe news reported.

Aisyah had named one of the North Koreans -- a man called James -- as a suspect in the case.

Gooi added that the defence had asked the police for copies of the statements but had not yet received them.

The lawyer closed his statement by saying that the providence of the proper evidence and resources is part of a fair trial, and that there must be "equality of arms between the prosecution and the defence."

The Sepang court called for the next hearing on May 30 after which the prosecutors will decide if they need more time to prepare the documentation.

Kim Jong-nam died shortly after he was approached by the two women who sprayed his face with a strong toxic agent, an act for which South Korea blamed North Korean agents.

The two women -- who claim they were tricked into the act saying it was a joke for a TV programme -- were arrested and charged on March 1.

Four North Koreans, accused by police of plotting the murder, are believed to have fled to North Korea which has denied its involvement in the murder and has accused South Korea -- with which it technically continues to be at war -- of conspiring with Malaysia.
Moscow, April 13 : The rift between Washington and Moscow was laid bare as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to ease deepening tensions over Syria.

"There is a low level of trust between our countries," Tillerson said in a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, reported The Washington Post.

"The world's two primary nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," he said.

After Tillerson spent three hours talking with Lavrov and almost two hours at the Kremlin with Putin, conveying Washington's demands that Moscow abandon Syria, the Russian Foreign Minister aired a long list of grievances with the US, some dating back many years.

"Unfortunately, we've got some differences with regard to a majority of those issues," Lavrov lamented.

The only concession that Tillerson appeared to have extracted from the Russians was that Putin offered to restore a hotline aimed at avoiding accidents in the air over Syria, said the report.

Russia had suspended that effort after US missile strikes on a Syrian airbase following an April 4 chemical weapons attack on a village in rebel territory.

Lavrov said the deal would apply only if the US and its allies targeted terrorists, not Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Aforces.

Both the countries agreed to work together on an investigation of the Syrian chemical attack last week.

However, the Russian President and his officials dismissed US evidence that Assad had carried out the attack, and Putin added a "bombshell prediction" of his own: Unnamed forcesA were going to carry out more chemical weapons attacks and blame these on Assad.

Tillerson reiterated the US belief that Assad ordered the attack, though he stepped back from the US charge that Russia was covering up Assad's culpability.

"With respect to Russia's complicity or knowledge of the chemical weapons attack, we have no firm information to indicate that there was any involvement by Russia, Russian forcesA into this attack," he said.

"What we do know is the attack was planned and carried out by regime forcesA at the direction of Assad."

Lavrov retorted by saying: "This is obviously the subject where our views differ."

There were only a handful of issues Tillerson and Lavrov said they broadly agreed on -- that the Korean peninsula should be denuclearized, Syria should be "unified and stable" after the Islamic State is defeated, and that there should be more communication between US and Russian diplomats and militaries.

Tillerson said both nations would set up a "working group" to seek ways to ease tensions.

Shortly after Tillerson and Lavrov finished speaking to reporters, Trump said in a news conference in Washington that the US is "not getting along with Russia at all" and that their relations are at an "all-time low."

Russia also vetoed a UN resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the chemical attack, saying that Moscow had expressed its "categorical disagreement" with the draft resolution, which led to further criticism from the West, including the US.

"The international community has spoken. Russia now has a lot to prove," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said.
New Delhi, April 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Punjab, saying that their heroism will never be forgotten.

"Saluting the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their valour and heroism will never be forgotten," Modi tweeted.

The massacre took place on April 13, 1919 when a crowd of non-violent protestors, gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army.
Islamabad, April 13 : The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday blacklisted an unspecified number of passengers for violating a no-smoking rule and misbehaving with the crew during its Islamabad-Birmingham flight earlier this week.

PIA acting CEO Nayyar Hayat directed airline authorities to ban the concerned passengers for their "unruly" behaviour on PK-791 with immediate effect, Dawn online reported.

"The concerned passengers were not only smoking during the flight but also misbehaved with cabin crew," an airline statement said.

The flag carrier's action comes a day after UK police arrested a British man of Pakistani origin for allegedly verbally abusing an air hostess and smoking during the same flight.

The flight attendant had reportedly confronted two to three men for smoking in the lavatory, a serious violation of global flight rules.

In response, the men had misbehaved with her and one man in particular hurled verbal abuse at her, reports Dawn online.

The air hostess complained about the incident to the pilot, who upon landing in Birmingham alerted the police.

British police personnel then made a number of passengers connected to the incident disembark and later arrested one man from the group.
Chennai, April 13 : Four persons were injured when an under-construction portion of a private school building collapsed in Vellore district on Thursday, an official said.

"As the portico was being constructed, it came down on Thursday evening, injuring four. The four persons have been sent to hospital," an official of the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Service told IANS on phone from Vellore, around 140 km from here.
Kolkata, April 13 : In a renewed confrontation with the Supreme Court, Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan on Thursday passed a "judicial order" against seven Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, for "violating" the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and directed them to "appear" before him on April 28.

It is not clear if the "order" has any legal validity since the apex court had taken away administrative and judicial powers from Karnan.

The seven judges had issued a suo motu contempt order against Karnan in February after he had in January named 20 "corrupt judges", seeking probe against them to curb "high corruption" in the Indian judiciary.

Subsequently, Justice Karnan appeared before the apex court on March 31 following a bailable warrant issued against him by the apex court. The seven justices gave the Calcutta High Court judge four weeks to respond to the contempt notice issued to him. Even as he presented himself before the Supreme Court justices, Karnan told them that he would not respond to the notice.

On Thursday, Karnan said in his purported order: "...I am directing the Hon'ble seven judges to give your replies in person or through your council (Counsel) regarding declaration of guilt and quantum of punishment by 28.04.2017 at 11.30 a.m. at my residence which has now become my make-shift court at Rosedale, New Town, Kolkata."

Karnan held a press conference to give details of this to the media.

In his rare defiance of Supreme Court justices, Karnan said he had "pronounced a judgement wherein the seven judges are accused under the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes Atrocities Act, 1989." He said the justices had "committed heinous crime."

The strong language used, and judicial overreach may not sit well with the apex court.

The Supreme Court, while issuing Justice Karnan a contempt notice, had said he would not discharge any judicial and administrative functions during the pendency of the proceedings. Justice Karnan said the order against him was passed "without following due procedure of law while violating the Principle of Natural Justice..."

In furtherance of his so-called order, Karnan said, "The Hon'ble seven judges... are not permitted to move any court against this Court's order since the first accused namely the CJI (Chief Justice of India) is controlling all courts in India."

Asked whether Justice Karnan, as a sitting judge of Calcutta High Court, had the jurisdiction to pass such an order against the apex court judges, he said: "Their jurisdiction and my jurisdiction are different."

Karnan said while appearing before the Supreme Court bench in relation to the contempt notice, he had sought some clarification from the seven judge bench.

"What relief they are seeking against me. They did not answer," he added.

Karnan is required to be present before the apex court justices by the end of the month.
New Delhi, April 13 : India said on Thursday that it is engaged in efforts to bring back an alleged Indian spy sentenced to death in Pakistan, who it reiterated is innocent of the charges hurled at him.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay, fielding a slew of questions, also said India has no knowledge of where Kulbhudhan Jadhav has been kept in Pakistan or his condition due to Islamabad's refusal to provide consular access to him.

"We are engaged in the efforts (for his release)... I won't like to speculate on the steps about the future at this stage, or who we will talk to and who will not talk to," he said.

Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage and waging war against Pakistan. India has warned that if Pakistan executes Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, it would amount to "premeditated murder".

Asked if the government had any information about Jadhav, the official said New Delhi was not aware.

"We have no information and the Pakistan government has also not shared with us his location and how and where he is held and what his condition is," Baglay told the media.

He reiterated that there was no credibility to Jadhav's secret military trial and described as "baseless" the charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad levelled against him.

He said India had made 13 requests to Pakistan till April 10 for consular access to Jadhav, but Islamabad denied each of them.

Baglay reiterated that it would be considered "premeditated murder if the indefensible sentence is carried out".

He trashed the secret trial by the Pakistani military court as "completely opaque". "There is no credibility in the trial."

Baglay said that not giving consular access to Jadhav "itself exposes the hollowness of the charges".

"In the light of all this, we have said clearly that the proceedings against Jadhav are farcical. The verdict is indefensible. No due process has been followed. It is a violation of the basic normal of international relations and justice," he added.

Asked whether the sentence could be linked to the disappearance of a retired Pakistani military officer - Lt Col Habib Zahir -- in Lumbini, Nepal, Baglay said he had "no information" about the case.

Baglay also said that Jadhav was "legally doing business" in Iran's Chabahar port and the issue has been discussed with Teheran.

"We have discussed the issue with Iran. He was legally doing business there," he said, adding that he had no information about the progress of investigations.

Asked about Jadhav possessing a fake passport under an assumed name, of Hussein Mubarak Patel, Baglay said that they had not seen the passport.
New Delhi, April 13 : As the first lady Chief Justice of Delhi High Court G. Rohini retired from her post on Thursday, the court now will be headed by another lady judge Justice Gita Mittal, the second senior-most judge of the high court.

Chief Justice G. Rohini was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in 2001 and as a Permanent Judge the next year. She was sworn in as Chief Justice of High Court of Delhi on April 21, 2014.

At her farewell function, Chief Justice Rohini shared her experiences of working in Delhi High Court and expressed her gratitude to family and staff.

"It's my great fortune that I became the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court which has carved out a special position for itself not only in India but also internationally. It's a matter of great pride for me to become the first woman Chief Justice of this prestigious court."

She also said that she "always focused on rendering quality judgements rather than quantity".

During her stint as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court for three years, she passed numerous landmark judgements, such as ruling that the Lieutenant Governor is Delhi's administrative head and isn't bound by the advice of the city council of ministers.

Born in 1955, Justice Rohini studied at Osmania University in Hyderabad and then at the College of Law, Andhra University in Visakhapatnam.

Justice Gita Mittal will assume charge as Acting Chief Justice of the high court from April 14.

Justice Mittal, an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, was appointed as an Additional Judge of Delhi High Court in 2004.

Prior to her appointment as Additional Judge, she had an illustrious legal practice in many courts and other judicial forums since 1981.

Justice Mittal is presently chairing the court committees on the Delhi High Court's Mediation and Conciliation Centre as well as the committee monitoring the Implementation of Judicial Guidelines for Dealing with Cases of Sexual Offences and Child Witnesses.

She has spearheaded the Vulnerable Witness Court Project in the trial courts in Delhi leading to the first such court room in India being inaugurated on 16th September, 2012 and the second on 11th September, 2013.

Her judicial pronouncements include judgements on compensation for riot victims, right to shelter of internally displaced persons, right to marriage of a lady member of the Armed Force, the appointment of a person suffering from 'Disorder of Sexual Differentiation' into the para-military force, public interest, communication and commercial disputes of a wide nature.
New Delhi, April 13 : Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to come clear on the issue of triple talaq.

"It is said that after Uttar Pradesh the maximum number of women affected by triple talaq is in West Bengal. What have you (Mamata) got to say about these victims of triple talaq," Prasad said.

"We want to ask the Chief Minister of West Bengal as to what is her stand as far as rank injustice to the victims of triple talaq is concerned," Prasad said.

Mamata Banerjee has sided with Muslim organisations opposing the ban on triple talaq.

"This (triple talaq) is not the question of worship or faith. This is question of gender justice, gender equality, gender dignity. Should a large number of women in India after 70 years of independence live in such injustice that mere three words end their marriage," Prasad said.

He said the practice of triple talaq is as "unconstitutional" as discrimination by an upper caste Hindu against a Dalit.

"We respect faith and worship. But every pernicious practice is not a part of worship," he said.

The Law Minister said that more than 20 Muslim countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, have regulated divorce, so why can't the same be done in a secular country like India.

"If Islamic countries can regulate triple talaq and it is not deemed against shariah, then why can't we do it in a secular country like India," he said.

He said that the Narendra Modi government has challenged the practice of triple talaq in Supreme Court and the apex court is slated to hear the matter soon.
Chandigarh, April 13 : Haryana Roadways staff have decided to call off their indefinite strike after parleys with the government over their demands, a minister said on Thursday.

The government will frame a new transport policy after incorporating suggestions from the Regional Transport Authority and roadways staff union office bearers, Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said here.

Panwar held talks with leaders of roadways employee unions after their strike from April 10 crippled state-run public transport and caused harassment and inconvenience to lakhs of commuters.

He told the media that as many as 853 private buses operating on 273 routes in Haryana will continue to ply as usual.

"Permit holders of private buses will have to allow travel to persons falling in 39 categories like freedom fighters and students who are allowed free or discounted travel on state roadways buses. If any operator refuses to let them travel, strict action will be initiated," Panwar said.

He said the suspension of 120 striking employees would be revoked.

Over 13 lakh people travel daily in nearly 4,200 Haryana Roadways buses, including luxury Volvo buses, on intra- and inter-state routes.
New Delhi, April 13 : The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to conduct NEET examination in Urdu from academic year 2018-2019 onwards but ruled out holding the entrance exam in the language this year.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar directed that NEET entrance exam be held in Urdu this year after CBSE told the court that it was extremely difficult to hold the exam in Urdu this year.

"We direct the Union of India to include Urdu as a language in NEET examination from academic session 2018-19 onwards," the bench said in its order, which came on a petition by filed by the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO).

The possibility of holding a supplementary exam for admission to the current academic year too was ruled out.

At present the NEET is conducted in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telegu, Tamil, Bengal, Oriya and Assamese.

It was in March this year that the top court had asked the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI) to respond to a plea by the SIO for holding NEET examinations in Urdu also.

The government on Thursday told the court that the brochure for NEET 2017-18 was issued in January and the SIO approached the court in the February thus, making it difficult for the language to be introduced this year.

"In the first hearing we had said that it will be difficult this year and we will do it from next year", Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court.
Bhubaneswar, April 13 : The stage is set for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meeting here over the weekend, during which the party leadership is expected to strategise on further expanding its organisational base.

During the April 15-16 meeting, the party would focus on expanding its base especially in states where its performance in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls had been dismal.

The BJP leaders are upbeat about making its presence felt in Odisha and other areas, which were earlier seen as weak for the saffron outfit.

Following its spectacular performance in the panchayat polls in Odisha, the party is to strategise to dethrone the Naveen Patnaik government, which is in power since last 17 years, said a BJP leader.

The BJP leadership is also likely to deliberate on preparing a road-map for the 2019 general elections.

"We want to strengthen our base in Odisha as well as other states. The party will deliberate on this," said Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and several senior party leaders would attend the executive meeting.

Modi is to felicitate members of 16 families associated with the Paika rebellion of 1817 during the meet. Paika rebellion is considered as the first armed mutiny against the British rule in the state. The move is expected to boost the BJP's standing in the state.

The capital city has been decked up for the meet with roads getting a facelift and hoardings, banners and flags seen all over.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across the city ahead of the two-day visit of the Prime Minister.

"A total of 100 platoons of police and two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be deployed in the city. Besides, four IG rank officers will be in-charge of the five sectors in which Bhubaneswar has been divided for security reasons," said Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh.

Special Protection Group (SPG) officers will also provide support to the four IG rank officers to provide security cover to the Prime Minister, he added.

The security personnel on Thursday carried out a dress rehearsal of the Prime Minister's convoy from the city airport to Raj Bhavan and to Janata Maidan, where the executive meeting will be held.
Bhubaneswar, April 13 : The BJP's two-day national executive meeting, beginning here on Saturday, will chalk out a strategy to strengthen the party's base in newer areas, especially the eastern and southeast coastal region, with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Despite the Narendra Modi wave in 2014, the BJP couldn't perform well in the eastern, coastal and the Coromandel region (India's south-eastern coastal region). The party is also apprehensive that it might not be able to repeat its 2014 Lok Sabha success in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in 2019.

Party strategists feel that there will be some fall in numbers in these states in the 2019 elections.

To offset these losses, the party has decided to venture into new territory.

These areas include 25 seats of Andhra Pradesh, 19 of Kerala, 21 of Odisha, 39 of Tamil Nadu, 17 of Telangana, 42 of West Bengal, 40 of Bihar, 48 of Maharashtra and over a dozen states in other parts of the region.

Interestingly, these parts of the country are headed by regional satraps. They include TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, TDP President Chandrababu Naidu, DMK led by K. Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu, TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, JD-U led by Nitish Kumar and RJD led by Lalu Prasad in Bihar and BJD headed by Naveen Patnaik in Odisha.

These areas cover over 200 seats.

Party leaders consider Odisha as a gateway to its entire eastern and coastal area.

The party is also elated about its performance in the Odisha Panchayat polls, where it saw an upsurge in its base - graduating from the third to second spot in the state.

Party leaders selected Odisha for its National Executive meeting, and are anticipating that by 2019 the party would gain top position in the state.

After winning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and forming governments in Manipur and Goa in the assembly polls, the BJP leaders are targeting Odisha as the next target.

The BJP's national executive meeting is scheduled to take place on April 15-16 after a gap of 20 years.

The meeting would be attended among others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and M. Venkaiah Naidu.

Apart from national executive members, senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, party office bearers, MPs and MLAs would attend the meet.

During the meet, Modi will be felicitated by the National Executive for the party's overwhelming performance in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly polls.

Modi and Shah will also express their gratitude to the people of Odisha for their support to the BJP in the panchayat elections.

Apart from passing resolutions for the upcoming Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the party's national executive will decide its strategy to build on its success in Odisha.

Modi is to felicitate members of 16 families associated with the Paika rebellion of 1817 during the meet. Paika rebellion is considered as the first armed mutiny against the British rule in the state. The move is expected to boost the BJP's standing in the state.

The capital city has been decked up for the meet with roads getting a facelift and hoardings, banners and flags seen all over.
New Delhi, April 13 : The owner of a security agency here has been arrested for murdering a woman with whom he was having an extra-marital affair, police said on Thursday.

Accused Dharmender Sirohi, 40, was arrested on Wednesday night from Saket.

He killed Mamta on suspicion she was cheating on him, police said.

The crime came to light after a case was lodged on April 9 by Faridabad police in Haryana. Delhi Police Special Staff in south district was informed since the woman's matrimonial home is in Mehrauli.

Sirohi, a resident of Sunlight Colony in Mehrauli area, was running his security agency since 2004 in Chattarpur.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said Sirohi hatched a plan on April 8 to kill her and took her to Agra from her residence in Faridabad on the pretext of taking a joyride in his car.

"They consumed liquor on the way and once she was inebriated, he stopped his car near a tunnel and slit her throat with a knife. He threw the body in the tunnel and drove back to Delhi," Biswal added.

Agra police found the body and registered a case of murder.
Ghaziabad, April 13 : The parents of students studying in private schools here strongly protested at the district headquarters against the sudden fee hike and submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM).

Leading the protest, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satyapal Chaudhary said that private schools are violating the terms of No Objection Certificate (NOC), which clearly states that the schools cannot charge building, annual, activity fee and other donations. If schools are found charging such type of fees, the NOC is liable to be null and void.

Saying that the schools are continuously flouting the NOC under the nose of the district administration, Chaudhary demanded that the terms and conditions of the NOC must be displayed in the premises of all schools in bold letters.

Meanwhile, All School Parents Association President Sachin Soni announced that he will be on a dharna outside the office of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) on April 17.

Soni alleged that district officials are ignoring the issue and are not initiating any action against schools despite clear intensions of the Uttar Pradesh government.

During the protest, police stopped parents from entering the DM's chamber which lead to a scuffle. After about half an hour, DM Nidhi Kesarwani asked the police to allow a five-member delegation.

During talks, the matter was resolved after a memorandum was submitted to Kesarwani in which the parents demanded to enforce the terms of NOC.

Meanwhile, parents started sitting on a dharma outside other public schools, including DPS Ghaziabad Vasundhara, Children's Academy and Sun Valley at Indirapuram, demanding to withdraw the inappropriately hiked fee.
Chandigarh, April 13 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he stuck to his stand of not meeting Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, scheduled to visit India and Punjab next week.

Defending his "Khalistani sympathiser" remarks against the Canadian Minister, Amarinder Singh alleged that Sajjan and several other ministers and top leaders in Canada were sympathetic to those indulging in anti-India activities, notwithstanding Canada's claims to the contrary.

"Sajjan is welcome to attend conferences and meetings, and even visit Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar. But I will personally not entertain him as I have concrete information about him being a Khalistani sympathiser, just as his father Kundan Sajjan, a board member of World Sikh Organisation, was," the senior Congress leader said in a statement here.

"The state government will provide full security to the visiting minister and also ensure that he gets treated as per the protocol, but I will not be seen hobnobbing with a Khalistani sympathiser," the Chief Minister added.

"Other Canadian ministers and MPs, including Navdeep Bains, Amarjit Sohi, Sukh Dhaiwal, Darshan Kang, Raj Grewal, Harinder Malhi, Roby Sahota, Jagmeet Singh, and Randeep Sari, are well known for their leanings towards the Khalistani movement," Amarinder Singh alleged.

The Chief Minister said on Wednesday that he will not meet the visiting Sikh minister.

The Congress leader cancelled his Canada trip in April last year after Canadian authorities told him he could not allowed to visit that country for holding political rallies and meetings in the run-up to the 2017 Punjab assembly elections.

Amarinder Singh had wrote an angry letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to protest against what he said was "gag order".

Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked Amarinder Singh "not to act petty and spiteful and give the minister of a sovereign country the respect he deserves".

"Amarinder Singh should not let a personal incident cloud his judgement and he should have refrained from making disparaging remarks against Sajjan and other Punjabi representatives in Canadian Parliament. Punjabis worldwide are proud of their elected representatives in Canada and Sajjan is an example of personal accomplishment for the entire Punjabi diaspora. He should not be disrespected in this manner," the former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said.

Aam Aadmi Party spokesman and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said: "It reflects Amarinder Singh's vindictiveness towards Punjabis living in Canada."

He said the Chief Minister should withdraw his remarks against the Canadian Minister.
New Delhi, April 13 : India and the United Kingdom on Thursday agreed to expand thier defence ties with focus on defence industry, counter terrorism, training and maritime security.

"The renewed engagement will place capability and technology development at its core and seek to harness the complementary strengths of both nations in defence manufacturing and use the combined strengths of their respective private and public sectors to develop defence solutions for use in both home and shared export markets," said a joint statement after the India-UK delegation-level talks on Thursday.

The Indian delegation was headed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the UK side was led by Michael Fallon, UK Secretary of State for Defence, who is on a four-day visit to India during April 11-14.

According to the statement, India and the UK will continue to engage each other over global security, especially on international terrorism with the intent of making a more secure world.

On the maritime security, Jaitley and Fallon agreed to strengthen their interaction and improve exchange of information in the maritime domain to track terrorist and pirate vessels.

"The two sides will also develop cooperation in the field of Hydrography," the statement said.

"Both sides will develop capability partnerships, sharing best practices in the areas of counter terrorism (CT), Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED), air force training, air total safety, aircraft carriers, maritime safety, shipbuilding and UN peacekeeping.

"The Ministers tasked the relevant Executive Steering Groups (ESGs) to finalise proposals for consideration at the next DCG (Defence Consultative Group) meeting scheduled later this year," it said.

Acknowledging the British interest in manufacturing in India, Jaitley welcomed the recent announcements including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bharat Dynamics Ltd and Thales UK on technology transfer opportunities for missile systems and efforts to develop an Advanced Hawk jet trainer jointly by the BAE Systems and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

During the talks, the two ministers agreed to expand the MoU on Defence Equipment Cooperation that will allow the British and Indian industries to transfer technology in the areas of mutual interest.

"The two Ministers recognised the potential for further cooperation in defence manufacturing between the UK and Indian companies under the 'Make in India' framework," the statement said.

India-UK would explore establishing a secure communications method in order to share classified material, it added.
New Delhi : New Delhi , April 13 (IANS) Hijacked Indian dhow 'Al-Kausar' has been released by Somalian authorities to the Indian Navy custody on Thursday, official sources said.

"The Indian Navy formally accepted the dhow from the Mayor of Hobyo, Somalia, thus pulling down the curtains on the hijacking saga that commenced on April 1," a Navy statement said.

According to the statement, the Indian Navy ship deployed for the operation has since escorted it into international waters for its onward journey.

A medical checkup of all its crew members was done and provided with necessary supplies for the journey.

On April 1, 'Al-Kausar', with a crew of 10, was hijacked by pirates off the island of Socotra and it was taken to Hobyo port on Somalia's eastern coast.

"The Navy redeployed its ship, operating in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy patrol, to Somalia's east coast to monitor the ongoing situation and remain standby for any other contingency operations," the statement said.

After the negotiation between the owner and the hijackers, the dhow along with its cargo and two crew members were released on April 11. The remaining crew were released the next day.

'Al Kausar' is said to be carrying edible items and foodstuff and was proceeding from Dubai to Yemen's Al Mukala Port when it was hijacked.
New Delhi, April 13 : India and France on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their cooperation in the field of railways and agreed that mutual collaboration and exchange of expertise will benefit both countries.

In a bilateral meeting, Minister of Railway Suresh Prabhu and France's Minister of State for Transport, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Alain Vidalies decided to share their experiences regularly "in order to address the common challenges", a release said.

India has over 66,600 km of railways and over 7,000 stations. It is focused on safety, speed up-gradation, renovation and improvement of stations, passenger amenities, freight transport and network de-congestion.

On the other hand, security and improvement of the facilities is a constant concern in France, which has 30,000 km of railways, more than 2,000 km of High Speed tracks and about 3,000 stations.

According to the release, both sides agreed that mutual collaboration and exchange of expertise will benefit the stakeholders in the two countries.

In the meeting, both sides exchanged views and recalled the long standing technical cooperation between French National Railways and the Indian Railways.

"India and France are committed to developing this cooperation under the aegis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2013 between the Ministry of Railways of India and the French National Railways (SNCF). This bilateral meeting is intended to build upon and deepen the mutual cooperation already existing between the two countries," reads the release.

On semi-speed corridor, both countries had in 2015 decided to carry out a technical and execution study for upgrading the speed of passengers trains on the current rail corridor between Delhi and Chandigarh (244 km) up to 200 kmph.

The study is likely to be completed by September 2017, as per the release.

"The relevant partners, including government entities, agencies and companies, scientific and technical research bodies and private companies, will be invited to join the cooperation, when appropriate, and under the umbrella cooperation program of two sides," the release said.
Washington/Kabul, April 13 : The US military on Thursday dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs", in eastern Afghanistan against a series of caves used by the Islamic State.

The 9,525 kg bomb was dropped in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has confirmed the use of the MOAB, and was assessing damage. General John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, signed off on its use, CNN reported. Authority was also sought from General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM).

An Afghan National Army (ANA) official, who did not want to be named, was quoted by TOLONews as saying that they were not aware of the size of the bomb but that the US had been using different types of weapons against the IS and other militants for the past few months.

Meanwhile, NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan confirmed the strike, and said US Forces-Afghanistan conducted the strike on a IS tunnel complex in Achin district as part of ongoing efforts to defeat the group in Afghanistan.

"The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of IS fighters and facilities," read the statement.

The Air Force developed the MOAB in 2003, but it had never been used in combat until on Thursday.

The use of the bomb comes as the US involvement in Afghanistan heads into its 16th year in the fall, and days after a US Special Forces operator was killed in the same region.

The MOAB was designed to target large below-ground areas. It would have "feel like a nuclear weapon to anyone near the area," Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona (ret.) told CNN.

The GPS-guided munition would have already been in country before it was dropped out of an MC-130 aircraft, operated by Air Force Special Operations Command, military sources told CNN's Barbara Starr.

"The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and US Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of the IS fighters and facilities," CENTCOM said in a statement.

Nicholson described the MOAB as "the right munition to reduce" the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bunkers and tunnels IS is using to "thicken their defence". The bomb will also "maintain the momentum of our offensive against IS," he said.

The Air Force "took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties," CENTCOM said.

A peace conference on Afghanistan is scheduled to begin on Friday in Moscow, involving the Afghan government and representatives of twelve other nations. Neither the Taliban nor the IS were invited. The US was invited to the conference, but reportedly declined to participate.
Lucknow, April 13 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the burden of the Rs 35,000 crore plus loan waiver for farmers announced by the government will not be passed on to the people.

"We have made arrangements for the same and we will also cut short the unnecessary expenses" the Chief Minister said.

The state government had set an aim of providing the best and efficient health care services to the people and to ensure that under all circumstances, these services reach far flung areas to people in need.

Yogi also accused his predecessor Akhilesh Yadav of rejecting the hitch emergency ambulances for the last two years, thus depriving the people of a major life saving facility.

All ambulances will be monitored through GPS and will be run by GVK-EMRI, which will be responsible for proper running of the equipments and in case they are found non-functional, a fine of Rs 10,000 will be levied.

Health Minister Siddharthnath Singh informed that of the 150 ambulances flagged off, 75 were provided by the Central government in 2014-15 and 75 in 2015-16 under National Health Mission but the past government did not use them.
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2014 Perfect Attendance Winner Ira Gilmore Takes Home A Honda Civic LX This giveaway has become one of the most exciting and fulfilling traditions at Honda of Ocala. Investing in our community and its future through education is a priority for us

Honda of Ocala will be giving away a new 2017 Honda Civic LX Coupe to a Marion County high school senior with perfect attendance on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The winner will be randomly selected from eligible entries at 6:00p.m.

This giveaway has become one of the most exciting and fulfilling traditions at Honda of Ocala. Investing in our community and its future through education is a priority for us, said Andrew Vislosky, General Manager of Honda of Ocala.

Now in its seventh year, the Perfect Car for Perfect Attendance Giveaway began in 2011 as a partnership between Honda of Ocala and Marion County Public Schools to encourage better attendance among seniors during their last year in high school.

Morgan Auto Group's Senior VP, Tom Moore spearheaded the initiative. We feel that this program has accomplished the original mission on which it was founded. It makes us especially proud to receive hundreds of entries every year, said Moore.

In order to be eligible, seniors must have registered for the contest between August 15 and August 26 of last year. They were also required to be enrolled and have attended a Marion Country Public High School with perfect attendance from August 29, 2016 through May 5, 2017.

About Morgan Automotive Group

Morgan Auto Group is one of the largest, privately held automotive dealer groups in the nation, recently ranked in the top 50 by Automotive News.

Through its 25 dealerships, the Tampa-based business offers 15 unique brands, from Honda to Lamborghini, with new, certified pre-owned, and quality used vehicles available for lease or purchase. These retail locations also sell car parts, service contracts, along with maintenance and repair services.

The company's famous slogan, "When You Make It Morgan, We Make It Happen" is the basis for all customer service, branding, promotions, and other key operations at its 25 locations from Columbia, Missouri to Naples, Florida.
This Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), foodies can celebrate the Mexican culture at home with a traditional antojitos (snack) recipe courtesy of Frida restaurant at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort.

Contrary to popular misconception, Cinco de Mayo is a day to commemorate the victory of the Mexican army over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862  not a celebration of Mexicos Independence. But today, the U.S. celebrates the holiday as a representation of Mexican-American culture by feasting on Mexican cuisine and drinking traditional Mexican spirits.

Created by Fridas Executive Chef Ricardo de la Vega, the following baby corn recipe is perfect for hosting the ideal Cinco de Mayo celebration or to simply indulge in a new dish.

Baby Corn Topped with Pork Rind (Serves 10)

20 Baby corn pieces

1C Garlic Mayonnaise

C Huichol Hot Sauce or Valentina Sauce (similar to Tabasco Sauce)

1C Grated Cotija cheese

1C Pork rinds chopped and well roasted, to make a crunchy powder

C Epazote leaves

2/3C Olive oil

60 Pieces Epazote Sprouts

4Tbsp Lemon juice

Directions:

Grind the epazote leaves and mix with the olive oil. Marinate the baby corn in the mixture for 2 hours. Mix the pork rind and the Cotija cheese and reserve. Roast baby corn. Cover with lemon juice, garlic mayonnaise and the mixture of pork rind with cheese. Add the Huichol or Valentina sauce. Garnish with epazote sprouts.

For more reservations or more information on Grand Velas Riviera Maya, please email reservations(at)velasresorts.com, call 1-888-407-4869, or visit http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

Set on 206 acres of pristine jungle and mangroves and with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort. Guests can choose among three separate ambiances in this Leading Hotel of the World, including adults only oceanfront, family friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsulas jungle. All 539 designer-like suites are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. All feature fully stocked mini bars, plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, LOccitane amenities, artisanal tequila, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior. Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Xavier Perez Stone, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Grand Velas Spa, a Leading Spa of the World, is the region's largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step water journey. Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids Clubs and Teens Club; Karaoke Bar; Koi Bar; Piano Bar, and business center. The resort offers more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space and outdoor areas for events inclusive of a 31,000-square-foot Convention Center, able to accommodate up to 2,700 guests. The resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and several other magazines and major companies worldwide. This year, the resort entered TripAdvisors Hall of Fame for obtaining the Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years in addition to the Signature Spa being awarded Best Luxury Resort Spa-The Americas at the World Luxury Spa Awards 2014. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, owner, founder and President of Velas Resorts, with his brother Juan Vela, Vice President of Velas Resorts. For more or more information on Grand Velas Riviera Maya, please visit http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/.

# # #
Dr. Arati Chand

Arati Chand, M.D., physician for The Oncology Institute, has made instrumental contributions to the publication of Clinical Breast Cancer's article - Can Locregionally Recurrent Breast Cancer Be Cured? This publication will help other physicians and patients with the research and understanding of how to treat patients with locoregional breast cancer recurrence.

Advances in systemic therapy have had an impact on locoregional disease, and isolated LRRs of breast cancer are dropping in incidence.The biology of the disease is the most important factor in determining the recurrence risk of the individual cancer and the outcome for the patient. Patients who have LRR without systemic recurrence may benefit from multimodal therapy with curative intent. Tumor genomic profiling and next-generation sequencing may be important in clarifying individual tumor biology and identifying patients who will benefit from curative versus palliative therapy.

Abstract:

Locoregional recurrence (LRR) of breast cancer can occur after multidisciplinary treatment of a primary breast cancer.With modern multidisciplinary breast cancer treatment, the incidence of isolated LRR is decreasing. Improvements in systemic therapy are driving the decrease in LRR. LRR does still occur, however. LRR reflects biology of the cancer, as does systemic recurrence. LRR of breast cancer is frequently associated with systemic disease recurrence and poor prognosis. Given this associated poor prognosis, historically, it has been unclear whether patients with LRR would benefit from aggressive therapy with curative intent. Findings in retrospective studies suggest that prognosis for patients with LRR is not universally poor, and some patients may benefit from aggressive locoregional and systemic therapy. The challenge remains to assess prognosis and appropriately treat patients with locoregional breast cancer recurrence.

Arati Chand, M.D., M. Firdos Ziauddin, M.D., Shou-Ching Tang, M.D., Editors. Clinical Breast Cancer. Elsevier Inc. 2017.
Tina Gravel, SVP of Global Channels and Strategic Alliances, Cryptzone By working with sales individuals in Cryptzones partner community, theyll feel confident to represent cloud security solutions in the channel. Cryptzone embraces the role as educator to help our global distribution channel in any way we can.

Cryptzone, the Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) company, today announced that Tina Gravel, Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Strategic Alliances, has been named a Trailblazer in the second annual Cloud Girls Rising: Women to Watch Award presented at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

The Cloud Girls Rising Awards are presented by Cloud Girls, a not-for-profit consortium of women evangelizing the cloud, in collaboration with Women in the Channel (WiC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of female channel leaders in technology, and Channel Partners, the leading resource for the telecom and IT channel community.

The Cloud Girl Rising award was created to honor women in the telecom and IT channel who have shown leadership and innovation in the emerging cloud space as well as to inspire more women to step forward and follow their example. This year the award was given to two Trailblazers and one Rising Star.

Gravel was honored as a Trailblazer, a female technology industry veteran who is paving the way for Cryptzone, its customers and the cybersecurity industry to advance cloud and next-generation technology solutions. She is recognized as a role model and mentor to colleagues and the partner community.

Since joining Cryptzone, Gravel has been an education agent for positive change in the channel about what it takes to protect and secure the cloud. Gravel leads Cryptzones initiatives to create new tools that help cloud sellers understand and guide their clients to secure solutions that protect their clouds. She advises Cryptzone to be a channel first organization and provides incentives to the channel for qualification and identification.

Its an honor to receive this award, as both the channel and the cloud are two areas Im incredibly passionate about, said Gravel. Its only through working together in lock-step with sales individuals in Cryptzones partner community that theyll feel confident enough to represent cloud security solutions in the channel. Cryptzone embraces the role as educator to help our global distribution channel in any way that we can.

Women eligible for Cloud Girls award are in sales, marketing or engineering roles at a channel partner organization  agent, VAR or MSP. The 2016 winners were chosen by a judging panel of Cloud Girls and WiC representatives from applications submitted online from Dec. 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017. The winners were awarded trophies and a one-year complimentary membership in Cloud Girls.

About Cryptzone

Cryptzone reduces the enterprise attack surface by 99% by providing identity-centric network security and compliance software for hybrid environments. Using a distributed, scalable and highly available Software-Defined Perimeter model, Cryptzone protects critical data from internal and external threats, while significantly lowering costs. In cloud environments, including AWS and Azure, Cryptzone provides user access control, increases operational agility and improves regulatory compliance. More than 450 companies rely on Cryptzone to secure their network and data. For more info, visit: http://www.cryptzone.com.

About Cloud Girls

Founded in 2010, Cloud Girls is an open, vendor-neutral, not-for-profit community of female technology advocates dedicated to educating themselves, their organizations and customers about the vast and dynamic cloud ecosystem. By exploring emerging market and technical trends, advocating best practices/reference architectures and building community consensus, Cloud Girls is fostering the next wave of women in technology. http://www.cloudgirls.org

About Women in the Channel (WiC)

Established in 2010, Women in the Channels mission is collaboration through Identity and Relationships to grow business. WiC is a grassroots organization made up of women who are in leadership, ownership and revenue generating roles in the alternate sales channel sector of the telecommunications industry. Month after month, these women are responsible for generating sales for their companies and creating wealth for their families. WiC members are wives and mothers and sisters, and a high percentage of us are the main breadwinners in our families. WiC brings together this group because in an industry that is growing, expanding and changing the number of women at such levels is not matching that growth. To learn more and to become a member, please visit http://www.womeninthechannel.com

About Channel Partners

For more than two decades, Channel Partners has been the leader in providing news and analysis to indirect sales channels serving the communications industry. It is the unrivaled resource for resellers, aggregators, agents, brokers, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and dealers that provide network-based communications and computing services, associated CPE and applications as well as managed and professional services. Channel Partners is the official media of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

Contacts

Jessica Ann Morris

ZAG Communications for Cryptzone

+1.781.608.0499

jessica(at)zagcommunications.com

Cloud Girls & Women in the Channel

Khali Henderson

BuzzTheory Strategies

480-999-5297

khenderson(at)buzztheorystrategies.com

Channel Partners

Lorna Garey

Editor-in-Chief

617-990-4645

Lorna.garey(at)informa.com
We look to work with progressive companies such as DecisivEdge to bring to clients the solutions they need to differentiate, enhance and grow their businesses.

DecisivEdge, LLC, a leading business consulting and technology services company and Gold level member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced the launch of its Lending and Leasing as a Service (LLaaS) product, powered by Oracle. LLaaS is a simple, flexible, securely featured and cost-effective way for small and medium sized lenders to the leverage the capabilities of a world-class solution.

Oracle Financial Services Lending and Leasing (OFSLL) is at the core of DecisivEdges offering. It is hosted in a securely featured cloud and bundled with 24/7 monitoring, support and other value added services. The service is priced based on account volume and service levels selected by the subscriber. This simplifies adoption and dramatically reduces the cost of entry. DecisivEdge is onboarding its first customer, a midsized lessor of residential HVAC equipment, to the platform and is working with several other interested lenders.

We are extremely excited to be working with Oracle to bring this innovative solution to the marketplace, said Andrew MacDowell, Senior Vice President of Business Optimization at DecisivEdge. The traditional model requires a sizable up-front capital expense to acquire the software and infrastructure, often putting such a solution out of reach for small and medium sized lenders, said MacDowell.

We are delighted to collaborate with DecisivEdge to offer an innovative solution alternative to our customers, said Andrea Klein, Vice President, Alliances, Oracle Financial Services. We look to work with progressive companies such as DecisivEdge to bring to clients the solutions they need to differentiate, enhance and grow their businesses.

About DecisivEdge

DecisivEdge is a technology services and consulting company. We support our clients critical business and technology needs by providing them with the customized technology solutions, operational strategies and detailed analytics required to seize their market opportunity.

We are knowledge leaders with deep experience. Our clients benefit from our unique ideas, knowledge of industry best practices and our ability to develop creative solutions to overcome their highest priority business and technology challenges. Our collaborative approach is designed to really understand our clients business objectives, and then deploy a seasoned solution delivery team to get the job done right the first time. To find out more visit: https://www.decisivedge.com/newsroom/decisivedge-launches-lending-leasing-service-powered-oracle/

About Oracle PartnerNetwork

Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) is Oracle's partner program that provides partners with a differentiated advantage to develop, sell and implement Oracle solutions. OPN offers resources to train and support specialized knowledge of Oracles products and solutions and has evolved to recognize Oracles growing product portfolio, partner base and business opportunity. Key to the latest enhancements to OPN is the ability for partners to be recognized and rewarded for their investment in Oracle Cloud. Partners engaging with Oracle will be able to differentiate their Oracle Cloud expertise and success with customers through the OPN Cloud program  an innovative program that complements existing OPN program levels with tiers of recognition and progressive benefits for partners working with Oracle Cloud. To find out more visit: http://www.oracle.com/partners.

Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
At Cypress, we have always aimed to be a source for helping businesses contain the rising costs of health benefits. Cypress University is one more way for us to do that.

Presenting Cypress University to its largest crowd to date, Cypress Benefit Administrators hosted more than 260 attendees at SLS Las Vegas this week while sharing the latest strategies for achieving cost savings and flexibility with health benefits.

The popular annual event filled all available seats less than 10 days after registration first opened. Cypress University kicked off its sixth year with a lively keynote presentation on the future of workplace wellness from award-winning speaker and author Andy Core. This session explored some universal considerations for employers in coordinating a wellness program and followed a high-energy format throughout as Core introduced the latest on program ROI, trends, research and case study examples.

We knew Andy Core would be a fantastic addition to the Cypress University line-up, and the topic of workplace wellness proved to be very timely, said Tom Doney, president and CEO of Cypress. He hooked the crowd with his dynamic speaking skills and provided some invaluable insight on where workplace wellness is headed.

Among the new topics covered at Cypress University this year were fiduciary responsibility with self-funded plans from Tim Callendar of The Phia Group and chronic care and medication management from Larkin OKeefe of Tria Health. Bryan Russo of Zelis Healthcare also presented about out-of-network provider care options for plan members as they travel.

Other presentations in the two-day cost control conference covered a wide range of issues related to administering employee benefits:



Changing Care Management Models, Dr. Michael Burcham of Narus Health

Psychological Health in the Workplace, David Pawlowski of CuraLinc Healthcare

Captive Insurance in the Long-Term, Andrew Clayton of Pareto Captive Services

Innovations in Telemedicine, Scott Sanford of Healthiest You and Todd Heiserman of Teladoc

Provider Transparency, Thomas Grumley of Healthcare Bluebook

As part of the event, Doney shared about the evolution of Cypress, which included a look at how the third party administrator (TPA) has grown from serving as a benefits administrator to a true medical risk management company. He talked about the ways this expanded role is helping clients incorporate a wide range of cost control and quality benefit solutions in their self-funded plans, leading to better employee health and improved bottom lines.

Cypress University also featured a series of Critical Update sessions that re-visited key topics from last year. These follow-up sessions provided actual results showing how Cypresss programs are having a positive effect on clients across the nation in the form of cost savings and quality improvements.

The Critical Update sessions included:

ACA Reporting, Mark Combs of Sky Insurance Technologies

Medical Tourism, Shauna Thomas of Hostcare Resources

Cancer Care Management, John Van Dyke of Interlink

Chronic Kidney Disease, Shelley Grace of Renalogic

Value/Reference-Based Pricing, Ed Day of HST

At Cypress, we have always aimed to be a source for helping businesses contain the rising costs of health benefits, said Doney. Cypress University is one more way for us to do that.

About Cypress Benefit Administrators

A privately held company headquartered in Appleton, Wis., Cypress Benefit Administrators has been pioneering the way toward cost containment in self-funded health benefits since 2000. The third party administrator (TPA) is the countrys first to bring claims administration, consumer driven health plans and proven cost control measures together into one package for companies ranging from 50 employees to thousands of employees. It serves employer-clients across the U.S. with additional locations in Portland, Ore., Omaha, Neb. and Denver, Col. For more information on Cypress and its customized employee benefits, visit http://www.cypressbenefit.com.
The BOMA Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit that trains and mentors women in running their own small businesses across the arid and semi-arid lands of East Africa, announced the appointment of Helena Dalton as East Africa Regional Director. Helena has worked in international development for over 25 years and has held positions in various organizations, including AMREF, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, AED, the Commonwealth Foundation, CRS, in Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Thailand, Iraq, the Republic of Georgia and the UK.

We are thrilled to have Helena join our team in East Africa, said Kathleen Colson, Founder and CEO of the BOMA Project. Helena brings a wealth of experience and we look forward to her leadership as BOMA expands to new countries and regions over the next five years.

As the Country Director for IRC in Thailand, Ms. Dalton led the closure of IRC resettlement and repatriation programs, as the Cambodian and Laotian camps closed, and set up health programs in the newly-established refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. Ms. Dalton was instrumental in setting up the IRC Office in London. In the Republic of Georgia and Iraq, she was able to indulge her deep interest in nurturing citizen participation in democratic processes and strengthening civil society, where she held senior technical positions in two innovative democracy and governance programs. In Kenya, Helena was a senior manager with the Capable Partners Program, working with many local NGOs including including Beacon of Hope, HEART, Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust, Ace Africa and Handicap International, to strengthen the technical and organizational capacity of national CSOs to respond effectively to the impact of HIV on women and children. She also worked on the Yes Youth Can program with local youth groups. Most recently Helena was Chief of Party for a USAID funded program that was designed to improve the health, nutrition, education and psychosocial well-being of vulnerable children, as well as reduce abuse, exploitation and neglect to these children implemented by CRS in Uganda.

Ms. Dalton is a citizen of Kenya and holds an MPhil from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex UK.

For more information, go to http://bomaproject.org/.

Follow @bomaproject and facebook.com/thebomaproject
Mediware Information Systems, Inc., a provider of comprehensive post-acute healthcare software, announces that Action DME has agreed to license CareTend hosted software for its durable medical equipment business.

Action DME was founded in 2015 and provides direct delivery to patients for durable medical equipment, including back, knee, and other joint bracing products to Tennessee residents. When evaluating software, Hunter Cook, owner of Action DME, realized how important it is for his business to have an all-in-one solution with the flexibility of being hosted. I really look forward to using the workflow management tools in CareTend that are very intuitive to how my business operates each day-with the bonus of tracking output in real-time in a single dashboard, says Cook. I also look forward to paperless documentation that will reduce waste and allow our staff to easily locate information within seconds. In addition, the reporting tools in CareTend are a huge plus for me so that I can save hours each week that I typically devote to manual reporting, adds Cook.

We are thrilled that Action DME can benefit from using CareTend software, says Paul OToole, vice president and general manager of the Home Care Solutions division of Mediware. Allowing the software to do the time-consuming work gives providers more time to focus on growing their business and providing the best care possible, adds OToole.

About Mediware:

Mediware delivers interoperable best-of-breed software systems that improve efficiencies and address safety concerns, enabling healthcare organizations to improve care processes while decreasing costs. Core Mediware solutions include blood management technologies for hospitals and blood centers; cell therapy solutions for cord blood banks, cancer treatment centers, and research facilities; medication management solutions for hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and infusion and specialty pharmacy providers; and rehabilitation therapy and respiratory care solutions. For more information about Mediware products and services, visit our website at http://www.mediware.com.
When youre in one of the most competitive markets in Europe, you need to have the right people behind you, and enough manpower.

Planet9, the first cloud-based business energy supplier to deliver wholesale energy in the UK, have been rapidly growing their team in preparation for their official launch this coming October. As additional manpower was needed to continually develop their product, the company graduated from the start-up innovation hub where they were previously based, and moved into new offices on Windmill Lane.

Peter Murphy, MD of Planet9, talks about the rapid growth and recent move When youre in one of the most competitive markets in Europe, you need to have the right people behind you, and enough manpower. Weve doubled our team in just three months, with the brightest and best individuals out there. It also meant we outgrew our start-up title, so weve moved into a new space.

Planet9 were previously located in a co-working office specifically designed for small tech start-ups, an innovation hub called DogPatch Labs. Peter credits this environment as one that helped to foster the culture of innovation that is so integral to [their] product offering. Theyve since moved to a suite of serviced offices called SOBO Works, run by Iconic Offices and known for their excellent service and street-art inspired meeting rooms.

We needed a bigger boat! But the team growth and new move marks a big step in our the companys trajectory. Were moving onto the next phase. After hiring the best people and signing our new customers, moving into our new office just made it official. Kieran Murphy, Head of Sales & Marketing, has been with the company since the beginning and has doubled his team in the last two months.

Planet9 describe their product as the first of its kind in the market of business energy supply. Chief Technical Officer Hugh Sheehy explains, Were harnessing the power of technology to give our customers total control over their energy management. There are a number of unique benefits that we offer, like the ability to accurately forecast and manage your energy costs, to drill down and understand your energy bill, as well as fully verifiable half-hour pricing. But perhaps the main benefit is being able to buy straight from the wholesale market.

Planet9 have already begun supplying energy, and will officially launch this October. To meet the team, visit https://planet9energy.com/company/meet-the-team/ and be sure to check their career page regularly for new opportunities at https://planet9energy.com/careers/.

About Planet9

Planet9 are the first cloud-based supplier to deliver wholesale energy to businesses in the UK. Their user-friendly digital portal provides access to the wholesale electricity market with the ability to hedge prices and budget and forecast all energy costs. Their interface also provides customers with half-hour pricing as well as drill-down digital billing, so users can see and understand where every penny is being spent. All costs are given at pass-through and are fully verifiable, and their management fee is clearly stated so you know exactly what you're paying.

For more information about Planet9, visit: https://planet9energy.com/
Already a leader in international design with over 200 exclusive stores worldwide, Ligne-Roset has entered the world of online furniture sales in unique fashion. Always keeping an eye on the future, Ligne-Roset recently launched a new eCommerce website incorporating innovative, 3D technology from Silicon Valley-based, Cylindo.

Today, 85% of consumers begin their furniture shopping online. Before making a purchase, they interact with retailers an average of seven times between the store and online. To accelerate this process, the French retailer partnered with Cylindo to give their shoppers the ability to interact with their design-forward products from every angle, at the highest level of detail and in any configuration.

We have very ambitious growth expectations for our ecommerce business in the coming years, and we're convinced Cylindo's 360 HD Viewer will play a very important role says Antoine Roset, Executive Vice President at Ligne Roset USA.

The Ligne Roset EVP has good reason to be ambitious, as Cylindo clients consistently experience significant increases in on-line conversion along with lower return rates.

The key components to online success for furniture retailers is giving consumers a delightful experience and easy access to information - product visualization plays a central role here says Cylindo CEO Janus Jagd. If youre buying a $3,000 sofa online, you must truly understand how the product looks and feels and our platform is proven to do just that.

With eCommerce sales expected reach a staggering 32% of total furniture and home furnishing sales by 2020, Ligne Roset is ready to assume a leadership position once again.

About Cylindo

Cylindo is the fastest growing visualization platform for commerce. Founded in 2012 the San Francisco based company is on a mission to make product visualization easy for brands and retailers. Their 3D technology is currently used by leading furniture companies such as Jeromes, Palliser and Gallery Furniture. Learn more at http://www.cylindo.com

About Ligne Roset

Ligne Roset is a French modern furniture company that has over 200 stores and more than 1,000 retail distributors worldwide. The company was founded by Antoine Roset in 1860 in Montagnieu and presently they design and manufacture household furniture, lighting, accessories, and textiles from a team of 50 European designers.

Selected 360 HD Viewer links on LigneRoset.com

https://www.ligne-roset.com/us/modele/living/sofas/togo/37/custom#

https://www.ligne-roset.com/us/modele/living/sofas/ploum/1764/custom
The need for facial training is emphasized in the April 6, 2017 Planet Biometrics article about the new study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which explores the realities involved in real-time and archived video analysis (NIST report underlines realities in facial video analysis, 2017). The article states that while accuracy is important in a facial recognition system, there is also a need to have trained facial recognition experts on hand to ensure that the matches are accurate.

The course is designed to be applicable to personnel at all levels of experience and backgrounds. Most recently, representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the Government of Costa Rica attended the training. The class was comprised of detectives and professionals in the fields of comparison forensics, pathology, anthropology and odontology.

The training was developed and conducted by Lora Sims, who is Chairman of both the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) and the Facial Identification Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). The training reflects the latest thinking and procedures that will be incorporated into the forthcoming certification of face examiners by the International Association for Identification (IAI). Lora is a Senior Biometric Examiner at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Forensic and Biometric Agency (DFBA), an IAI Certified Tenprint Examiner, and a member of the Face Identification subcommittee of the IAI's Science & Practices Committee.

About Ideal Innovations, Inc.

Founded in 1998, I-3 is recognized as an industry leader for biometric examination services, including expert fingerprint identification, latent print identification comparisons, database system administration, information technologies, Automated Biometric Identification System support, and biometric data enrollment services. For more information about the company's services, visit https://www.idealinnovations.com.
This season, I'm especially excited about Unbound, a festival of twelve world premieres by some of the most innovative and forward-thinking choreographers working today.

San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has announced its 2017-18 Season program and schedule. This summer, SF Ballet will return to Festival Napa Valley for one performance only on Friday, July 21, 2017, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. In addition, this October, the Company will once again participate in World Ballet Day LIVE, a day-long streaming event (details to be announced).

The 2017-18 Season will continue with Nutcracker, which runs December 13-30, 2017 for a total of 30 performances. Following the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, January 18, 2018, the Repertory Season will consist of ten programs, from January 23 to May 6. The 2018 Repertory Season will culminate with a previously announced festival entitled Unbound: A Festival of New Works, conceived and planned by SF Ballet Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson.

The festival will take place from April 20-May 6, 2018 and will showcase 12 new works by 12 renowned choreographers. Unbound will be comprised of four programs of three ballets each, for a total of 17 performances, which will take the place of Programs 7 and 8 on the Ballets 2018 Repertory Season. As part of the festival, SF Ballet will participate in a host of new initiatives designed to showcase the organizations commitment to moving the art form forward (see the festival section of this announcement for details).

This season, Im especially excited about Unbound, a festival of twelve world premieres by some of the most innovative and forward-thinking choreographers working today, said SF Ballet Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. This unique festival will offer a glimpse at the future of our art form and Im very much looking forward to it.

Program 1 opens Tuesday, January 23 with the revival of Tomassons The Sleeping Beauty. Set to a score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, SF Ballets production, includes scenic and lighting design by Jens-Jacob Worsaae, with lighting design by Craig Miller. The production, last performed in full by the Company during its 2007 Repertory Season, was called dazzling by The New York Times upon its premiere.

Program 2, entitled Bright Fast Cool Blue, opens on Tuesday, February 13 and includes George Balanchines Serenade, Benjamin Millepieds The Chairman Dances, and the SF Ballet premiere of Justin Pecks Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes.

Program 3, entitled Distinctly SF Ballet, opens on Thursday, February 15 and features Tomassons On a Theme of Paganini, Val Caniparolis Ibsens House, and a work to be determined.

Program 4 opens on Tuesday, March 6 with the encore of Liam Scarletts full-length production of Frankenstein. A co-production between SF Ballet and The Royal Ballet, Frankenstein premiered in London in 2016 and was called lavish by The New York Times.

The 2017 San Francisco Ballet premiere of Frankenstein was made possible by Lead Sponsors Bently Foundation and The Hellman Family; Costume Sponsor E. L. Wiegand Foundation; and Sponsors Ms. Laura Clifford, Stephanie and James Marver, and an anonymous donor.

Program 5 opens Tuesday, March 20 and is a tribute to legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins. This program, entitled Robbins: Ballet & Broadway, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of both Bernstein and Robbins and includes four of Robbins works: Opus 19/The Dreamer, The Cage, Other Dances, and Fancy Free.

Program 6 opens Tuesday, April 3 with the presentation of guest company The National Ballet of Canada. Canadas premier dance company will perform John Neumeiers full-length Nijinsky, hailed as dynamic, rich and gripping theater by The Washington Post.

Unbound: A Festival of New Works

SF Ballet has long been known for breaking boundaries in dance. This season, the Company presents Unbound: A Festival of New Works that includes 12 world premieres by 12 international artists including: David Dawson, Alonzo King, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Ochoa Lopez, Cathy Marston, Trey McIntyre, Justin Peck, Arthur Pita, Dwight Rhoden, Myles Thatcher, Stanton Welch, and Christopher Wheeldon.

The festival will take place from Friday, April 20 to Sunday, May 6, 2018 over four programs of three works each, for a total of 17 performances. The festival schedule is as follows:

Unbound A: April 20, 8pm; April 22, 2pm; April 28, 8pm; May 3, 7:30pm; May 6, 2pm

Unbound B: April 21, 8pm; April 25, 7:30pm; April 29, 2pm; May 4, 8pm

Unbound C: April 24, 7:30pm; April 27, 8pm; May 2, 7:30pm; May 5, 2pm

Unbound D: April 26, 7:30pm; April 28, 2pm; May 1, 7:30pm; May 5, 8pm

Beyond the stage, SF Ballet will host a number of ancillary activities around the festival, with specific dates to be determined. These initiatives include:

A Series of Live-stream Programs: In the summer and fall of 2017, SF Ballet will take audiences into the Ballets studios for a series of behind-the-scenes, live-stream programs that will highlight work by the festival choreographers. These programs will offer viewers an opportunity to meet the choreographers, experience the new works development process, and watch a rehearsal excerpt of each new ballet.

A Dance Film Series: SF Ballet will commission a series of dance films inspired by festival works. The dance films will become the centerpiece of community pop-up events that will introduce audiences to the festival.

Symposia: SF Ballet will host symposia of artists, academics, and critics who will examine issues critical to ballet in the 21st century.

Unbound Opening Event: For the opening night celebration of Unbound, SF Ballet will host a one-time-only event featuring: a performance of festival new works, dance films, educational pop-ups, interactive installations, and a dance party.

For more information, visit sfballet.org/unbound.

Unbound Sponsors

San Francisco Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following for their leadership support of Unbound: A Festival of New Works: David and Kelsey Lamond, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Osterweis, Yurie and Carl Pascarella, Denise Littlefield Sobel, Ms. Susan A. Van Wagner, and Miles Archer Woodlief.

Single Tickets

Individual tickets for SF Ballets 2018 Repertory Season, starting at $28, will be available online at sfballet.org or by calling 415.865.2000, beginning November 15, 2017.

San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States and currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world. For more information, visit sfballet.org.
Mission Microwave Technologies, Inc. (http://www.missionmicrowave.com), a manufacturer of compact, highly efficient Solid State Power Amplifiers and Block Upconverters, announced today that it has reached an agreement to settle an arbitration brought by Gilat Satellite Networks and its subsidiary Wavestream Corporation. All claims among the parties have been resolved without attribution of fault to any party.

About Mission Microwave Technologies

Mission Microwave Technologies demonstrates revolutionary design for RF and microwave electronics, supporting ground-based, airborne, and space-based applications. Utilizing the latest in semiconductor technology, Mission Microwave's focus is to minimize the size, weight, and power (SWaP) for these critical applications, while providing its customers with the best possible reliability. Mission Microwave sets the "new standard" for performance and reliability.

For more information, please visit the companys website at http://www.missionmicrowave.com
Sharon Wise Watching A Letter To Niyyah: Trauma Under the Bridge is chilling because, with a slight change of circumstances, Sharons story could be any of ours."

OC87 Recovery Diaries (oc87recoverydiaries.com), a website dedicated to bringing awareness about mental health through storytelling has released a new short documentary entitled A Letter To Niyyah: Trauma Under the Bridge.

Glenn Holsten, an award-winning filmmaker, whose career is dedicated to producing short and feature-length films about mental illness, has teamed up with Sharon Wise, a mental health advocate, peer facilitator, author, playwright, and artist for his latest, moving project.

In A Letter To Niyyah: Trauma Under The Bridge, Sharon, first diagnosed with a mental illness at age nine and hospitalized in over thirty psychiatric facilities, takes us to a place where she spent her youth, under an urban highway overpass. While recounting her story, she recites the letters she wrote to her daughter, Niyyah, whom she surrendered years ago, unable to care for Niyyah and her brother.

The letters to Niyyah provide the narrative for this tremendously sad yet remarkably hopeful film. They chronicle Sharons lowest points of despair and most optimistic days of possibilities.

Today, Sharon has emerged from life under that bridge a confident, life-affirming woman. She uses her traumatic experiences to teach and train peers, government officials and others about Trauma-Informed Care and substance abuse prevention.

Through this film, and others like it, OC87 Recovery Diaries seeks to bust stigma and educate people about mental health through creative storytelling.

Watching A Letter To Niyyah: Trauma Under the Bridge is chilling because, with a slight change of circumstances, Sharons story could be any of ours. We are incredibly humbled by Sharons journey and her dedication to helping others. It is people like Sharon who make a difference in how our country cares for, and looks upon, those vulnerable and misunderstood because of their mental illness, said Gabriel Nathan, Editor in Chief of OC87 Recovery Diaries

ABOUT OC87 Recovery Diaries

OC87 Recovery Diaries mission is to bust stigma surrounding mental illness. The website aims to touch as many lives as possible and shed light on the lived experiences of recovery from a mental illness: what matters, what helps, what hurts, and what might be next?

Original content is developed by the OC87 Recovery Diaries production team. In addition, the site commissions stories about mental health recovery journeys from those who have lived experiences and a story to tell.
Dagger DogVinci We are thrilled that Dagger has been recognized for his years of community service through this nomination.

Dagger DogVinci a talented Black Lab, Golden Retriever mix who lives on Long Island, NY has been nominated for the prestigious 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards. Dagger gained fame for his remarkable paintings which have helped raise thousands of dollars for charity. In addition to his painting ability, Dagger is also a certified therapy dog and makes regular visits to nursing homes, libraries, and schools bringing love and comfort to everyone he meets.

Yvonne Dagger, the owner of Dagger discovered his painting talent one Summer day while working in her art studio. Dagger would watch me paint intently while excitingly wagging his tail, so I asked him if he wanted to paint. Upon placing the brush in his mouth he immediately went to work creating amazing artwork.

Daggers love for painting has helped various local causes and charities including: Foster Foundation, Canine Companions for Independence, Forgotten Friends of Long Island and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

The American Humane Hero Dog Awards are an annual, nationwide competition that searches out and recognizes Americas Hero Dogs. We are thrilled that Dagger has been recognized for his years of community service through this nomination, said Yvonne Dagger.

Voting is now open on the organizations website at http://herodogawards.org/dog/dagger-dogvinci

You can vote up until 12pm Pacific Time on May 3rd, 2017.

You can learn more about Dagger DogVinci, view his paintings and view the charities he helps support at his website http://dogvinci.com
BountyJobs, Inc., provider of the leading recruiting technology platform for collaboration between employers and search firms with over $1.25 Billion in placement fees to recruiters, today announced a strategic partnership with culture management service Candidate.Guru.

With the partnership, BountyJobs agencies will gain access to Candidate.Guru technology  providing the ability to predict a culture fit between job candidates and their clients, without the need for surveys and assessment tools. According to a recent study by Forbes magazine, 60% of new hires fail because of a bad match with the hiring manager and company. Candidate.Guru is solving this problem and BountyJobs is excited to bring the technology to their users.

Our customers use BountyJobs to facilitate better management of recruitment agencies and to deliver improved placement efficiency and transparency, said Jerry Aubin, CEO of BountyJobs. By partnering with Candidate.Guru, we enable recruitment agencies to leverage the latest artificial intelligence technology to bring the highest level of search execution across a very broad range of jobs, industries, and locations. Our collaboration with Candidate.Guru will also help accelerate our desire to bring the most innovative talent acquisition technology solutions, both in terms improved candidate sourcing and increased candidate data, to the marketplace for our valued clients.

About the partnership, Chris Daniels, CEO of Candidate.Guru said, We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Bountyjobs, a leader in the talent acquisition space. Our partnership will bring access to high quality recruitment agencies from BountyJobs to our platform and drive increased performance for their clients. We also look forward to helping to promote BountyJobs to our customer base so they can leverage their best of breed recruitment agency management solution.

Steve Carter, Co-Founder and EVP of Sales & Marketing of Candidate.Guru said, With successful client relationships with more than a third of the Fortune 500, BountyJobs is clearly respected as a world leader in the recruiting space. We are dedicated to creating a partnership that will unlock significant value for both companies, and our respective clients and users.

The new relationship, which further integrates the emerging world of people analytics and traditional talent acquisition, creates a highly compelling value proposition for growing employers that wish to leverage the value of big data into their talent acquisition efforts.

About BountyJobs:

BountyJobs is the leading technology for collaboration between employers and recruitment agencies. Our web-based platform consolidates 3rd-party search activities into one convenient location, giving talent acquisition leaders the tools to track, manage and evaluate their search spend. The result: better hires, faster. BountyJobs is headquartered in Austin, TX and is backed by Greylock Partners, Accel Partners, and RPM Ventures. Visit https://www.bountyjobs.com for more information.

About Candidate.Guru:

Founded in 2014, Candidate.Guru is a patent pending cloud-based solution that can predict a culture fit between job candidates and companies without the need for surveys and assessment tools. The Candidate.Guru Culture Fit Prediction Engine combines machine learning, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to help recruiting organizations curate and prioritize massive candidate pools based on the best possible fits for their companies. Candidate.Guru is working in partnership with the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition and the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research. Please visit http://www.candidate.guru/ to learn more.
Mystery Trip today announced the launch of miniMystery Trips, a new take on their award-winning events. These self-guided, 3-4 hour walking tours are designed to cater groups of up to 10 people who would otherwise be shut out of having a mysterious experience.

Over the last year Ive gotten a disproportionate number of inquiries for smaller groups, said Dave Green, Chief Mysterious Officer of Mystery Trip. I had been trying to crack the code on this for some time, and finally came up with a solution that Im happy with."

***Discovering the nooks and crannies of Los Angeles and supporting small businesses***

miniMystery Trips are self-led, walking adventures in one of four neighborhoods (DTLA, Hollywood, Santa Monica and Studio City to start, changing every three months). This city is so unique and fun, yet so undiscovered because many people are intimidated or uninformed about different neighborhoods, Green said. My two main goals with Mystery Trip has always been to share the fun nooks and crannies of LA, and highlight the small businesses and people that make this city so great. I hope by having a night pre-planned for them, people will feel more comfortable stepping ever-so-slightly out of their comfort zone, to discover something or someone extraordinary!

***Keeps you guessing until the end***

To keep the mystery throughout, the buyer begins with only one piece of information: a designated starting location (which is only revealed 24 hours before the event begins). From there, texts are received with additional instructions and information along the way. Each trip includes an activity, a reservation at a cool local restaurant and a hip bar recommendation all within walking distance of each other.

***Just show up and have fun***

The value proposition that resonates the most with my clients, Green continued, is when I tell them were going to plan their whole event for them. With miniMystery Trip, I am translating that into helping people plan a unique, fun night out in Los Angeles, with none of the hassle or time to plan it. All they have to do is show up and have fun.

***Pricing and availability***

miniMystery Trips cost $45 per person, and is available now at http://www.mysterytrip.co/mmt. Custom made, guided miniMystery Trips are also available with a starting price of $250 per person.

***About Mystery Trip***

Mystery Trip was founded in 2010 by Dave Green, and won the inaugural grant from the LA Chapter of the Awesome Foundation. It has been featured in LA Weeklys Best of issue (2012), was recognized by BusinessInsider.com as one of the Coolest Small Businesses in LA and by Forbes.com as one of the Five Ways Los Angeles Is Getting More Awesome. Mystery Trip has experience with corporate events (Google, Facebook, YouTube, AirBnB, NBCUniversal, Lyft, TOMS, Kaiser Permanente, Cisco, Movember, Discovery Channel, AOL, and Riot Games), private parties (birthdays, anniversaries, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs) and charities (Susan Koman). Mystery Trip is based in Los Angeles, and works nationwide, having done events in Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Denver, Dallas, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Sonoma County.
Through this new partnership, we are moving forward with our Perform2020 strategic plan to provide North American customers the same level of integrated solutions we offer their European counterparts."

Ymagis Group (ISIN: FR0011471291, TICKER: MAGIS, PEA-PME-eligible), the European specialist in digital technologies for the cinema industry, announced today that it has agreed with Dallas-based CinTech LLC. to form a new, full-service exhibitor services company in North America. Under the terms of the agreement and subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent, a new company, CinemaNext North America, will be created with Ymagis Group acquiring a 75% stake and CinTech the remaining 25%. CinemaNext North America will be managed by industry veteran Stan Hays. Both parties intend to start operations during Q2.

Specialized in cinema installations and the maintenance of digital cinema equipment, CinTech was founded by Stan Hays in the Dallas (Texas) suburb of Rockwall in 2009. From 2010 to 2013, CinTech Services provided digital system services for the cinema and signage industries, and successfully executed over 3,500 digital cinema projection system conversions. The company also acts as a subcontractor to major cinema technology manufacturers for integration, maintenance and network operations center ("NOC") services.

Through this new partnership, we are moving forward with our Perform2020 strategic plan to provide North American customers the same level of integrated solutions we offer their European counterparts through CinemaNext, explains Jean Mizrahi, Founder, President and CEO of Ymagis Group. Stan Hays and his company have been important actors in the successful digital roll-out in the US and enjoy an excellent reputation founded on quality and reliability. With our shared understanding of professionalism and innovation, it is the perfect choice for our North American operations. Additionally, it will help grow our US footprint alongside Eclair's New York office, which is dedicated to theatrical delivery operations.

We are thrilled to join Ymagis Groups cinema exhibition services to form a new US-based entity, comments CinTech founder Stan Hays. In recent years, we were able to satisfy our cinema exhibitor clients by offering high quality services and paving the path to digitalization. As VPF models in North America come to an end and new technologies such as HDR, laser projection, digital signage, immersive sound and new service concepts are coming to the fore, its the right time for us to take this step. This new venture with CinemaNext will strengthen the range of products & services we can offer the market, particularly in a fast-evolving business environment.

With his over 20 years experience in project management and massive roll-out projects for giant exhibition chains, including Carmike, Regal and AMC, our new venture will greatly benefit from Stan Hays extensive skills and in-depth market knowledge, explains Till Cussmann, Vice President of CinemaNext. The development of our North American activities is a top priority for the Group. Our innovative software & hardware solutions with efficient, quality-driven processes will prove to be a very interesting alternative offer for cinema operators in North America. It is ultimately our goal to offer North American customers our recent market innovations, including those we recently demonstrated at CinemaCon such as EclairColor HDR technology, Sphera Premium Format Cinema, boothless projection technology and EclairPlay, a new content platform connecting exhibitors with content owners.

Always on the forefront of new technologies to support customers and improve operational efficiency, CinemaNext North America intends to establish a new customer service center in Dallas, from which it will bring the Groups proven software solutions, including the Melody TMS (Theatre Management System), monitoring tools and customer portal solutions, to the North American market as well as unique products and concepts that forged its success in Europe.

Sphera, EclairColor and EclairPlay are registered trademarks of Ymagis Group.

CinTech is a registered trademark of CinTech Services LLC.

ABOUT YMAGIS GROUP

Ymagis is a European leader in advanced digital technology services for the cinema industry. Founded in 2007, the Group is headquartered in Paris and has offices in 23 countries with close to 770 employees. Our core business is structured around three main units: CinemaNext (exhibitor services: sales and field services, software solutions, customer service/NOC and consulting), Eclair (content services: post-production, theatrical delivery, digital distribution, versioning and accessibility, restoration and preservation) and Ymagis (financial services). For more information, please connect to http://www.ymagis.com, http://www.cinemanext.com or http://www.eclair.digital

ABOUT CINTECH

CinTech is a U.S. provider of integration, maintenance and NOC services for the cinema industry. Founded in 2009, CinTech is located in the Dallas metro area and has remote technicians and support staff throughout the nation. CinTech is responsible for successfully converting one-third of the nations digital cinema systems by focusing on providing only the finest and most knowledgeable technicians in the industry. For more information, please connect to http://www.cintechservices.com
National Housing Tides Index National Infographic April 2017 At 72.4, the Index shows the U.S. housing market remains strong even with a rise in the construction sector unemployment rate and tight housing supply.

This week marks the release of the April Housing Tides Report, featuring an update to the Housing Tides Index, an objective and sophisticated approach to quantifying and comparing the health of U.S. housing markets. At 72.4, the Index shows the U.S. housing market remains strong even with a rise in the construction sector unemployment rate and tight housing supply.

Understanding the health of a housing market and its relationship to other top markets requires an aggregated, comprehensive view of the industry. The Housing Tides Index provides a succinct monthly measure of market health across the top 41 U.S. markets. Referencing 18 market indicators ranging from unemployment rates and housing permits to rental vacancy and mortgage foreclosure rates, the Tides Index helps users understand exposure at a deeper level than is currently possible.



The construction unemployment rate rose to 9.4% in January, up considerably from a 4.5% rate in June 2016. Its difficult to reconcile the reported construction unemployment rate with the tales of labor scarcity coming from the industry in recent years, though part of the disconnect may be due to the grouping of workers into the larger construction supersector; for instance, there may be a relative surplus of unskilled laborers and a simultaneous shortage of skilled tradespersons, a distinction that isnt made in the overall rate.

Median asking rents for two-bedroom units increased nationally in January to $1,536 per month, contributing in part to the fall in this months Index value. Moreover, asking rents increased in 37 of the 41 major metropolitan areas covered by Housing Tides.

Housing inventory remains below our healthy target of six months of supply, and with only 678k homes on the market in February this represents just four months of supply at the current sales rate. For-sale inventory is down 12.9% from February 2016 when there were over 100k more homes on the market.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in February after increasing to 5.1% in January. We interpret this level of unemployment as balanced between supporting wage growth while enabling employers to find needed workers.

Highlighting the Ten Healthiest U.S. Housing Markets - April, 2017 - Please reference the attached graph to view the Ten Healthiest U.S. Housing Markets.

Click here to view the complete Housing Tides Index of the top 41 U.S. markets.

Media Exclusive! Housing Tides Monthly Pulse

Subscribe to our email service exclusively created for media that delivers an updated infographic depicting the latest monthly Housing Tides Index, the complete Index as it appears in the Housing Tides Report, and a brief executive summary. All content can be shared in print and digital publications, with attribution to the Housing Tides Report.

Members of the media can subscribe to the Housing Tides Monthly Pulse here.

About Housing Tides

Housing Tides (Tides) is the only monthly report that provides a comprehensive measure and aggregated understanding of the health of the U.S. housing and home building industry. Designed to take the guesswork out of the vast amount of forecasting information published about this sector, Tides is a sophisticated report that delivers city-specific, updated information when market conditions change. It is the only report that uses natural language processing and machine learning to correctly understand and synthesize large volumes of data, making it more comprehensive, balanced, and reliable than any other report of its kind. More information is available at http://www.housingtides.com.

Housing Tides is proudly partnered with IBM Watson.
Adara Power, a privately-held Silicon Valley company committed to providing safe, reliable, intelligent, and connected energy storage, announces the launch of its second-generation energy storage system, the Adara Pulse. The Adara Pulse is an intelligent, stackable to 20kWh residential energy storage solution driven by Adaras iC3 Smart Controls technology. The Adara Pulse can be ordered now to take advantage of the California Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), a ratepayer-funded rebate program available to customers of the major California investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, LADWP, & SDGE). The Adara Pulse will be scheduled for nationwide delivery and installation during the third quarter of 2017.

The energy storage market is at an inflection point. Energy density and performance of cells have improved and prices now support broad adoption. The Adara Pulse is perfectly aligned with todays market realities, said Neil Maguire, CEO of Adara Power. Flexible and comprehensive software controls tightly integrated with the latest battery and inverter technologies drive down the costs of energy storage solutions and enable a more rapid achievement of our vision  a world powered by 100% local renewable energy.

The Adara Pulse supports AC coupling for off-grid and grid-tied applications. It can be installed with a new solar installation or retrofitted with an existing system. Adaras peak-shifting, solar-charging and self-consumption/non export algorithms ensure compliance with the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and adaptability for a wide range of energy storage use cases. This advanced technology minimizes a homeowners electricity bill in regions subject to Time of Use (TOU) rates and support new net metering programs such as Californias NEM 2.0. And unlike many other energy storage systems currently available, the Adara Pulse has a UPS mode utilizing an 8 millisecond internal automatic transfer switch to keep house loads powered when the grid goes down for maximum back-up power.

The Adara Pulse is being offered as a 5.5kW / 10kWh system with integrated back-up power capability, cellular connectivity, and smart controls priced at $7,560 after the ITC. The 5.5kW / 20kWh system will be priced at $10,850 after ITC. California customers can take up to $6,800 off the system cost by applying for the states SGIP program. Orders for SGIP must be submitted by installers and end customers before May 1, 2017 to maximize these savings (incentives step down over time).

The Adara Pulse tightly integrates all elements of the energy storage system with a modular hardware and software approach, enabling the components to be stocked globally, eliminating the added cost of shipping bulky material to a central manufacturing site and expensive and unnecessary secondary enclosures. The Adara iC3 Smart Controls with cellular connectivity feature out-of-the-box communication between lithium-ion batteries, Schneider inverters and a Cloud-based software platform. The solution minimizes field programming and provides remote programmability.

Renewable energy installers can also join the Adara Partner Program at http://www.adarapower.com. The Partner Program is designed to get medium and large regional solar installers fully launched in the energy storage market, and provide sales and installation training for the new Adara Pulse system.

# # #

About Adara Power

Founded in 2013, Adara Power is committed to providing safe, reliable, intelligent, and connected solar energy storage for commercial and residential renewable energy. Adara Powers Energy Storage Solutions are designed to support consumer self-consumption and enable a resilient, renewable energy grid in order to power a cleaner, sustainable planet. For more information, visit http://www.adarapower.com and follow us on Twitter: @adarapower.
B00Mer said: Ah yeah.. have to agree with the Conservatives..



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Cap and Trade money to balance a budget.. guess it's not about emissions, but tax revenue after all. Click to expand...

Of course its about taxes......AND GRAVY! LIE-berals need another fifty five billion dollars to buy the love of Ontari-owe high school teachers......with another eighteen unions waiting in line for their billions as well! On a related theme-LIE-berals are desperate to buy the love of formerly LIE-beral friendly Toronto Hogs who are finding their gravy supply inadequate-and without union Hogs and Hog town in their pockets LIE-berals are toast in the next election!Hogtown greed is so great and their entitlements so huge they really believe they are being treated unfairly! Consider this:|Here is a nice article illustrating the hypocrisy of Toronto politicians-along with some comments of my own in brackets):Toronto pays more than its fair share. By Jerry Agar, Toronto SunFirst posted: Monday, February 13, 2017 05:15 PM EST | Updated: Monday, February 13, 2017 05:26 PM ESTdowntownIn fact, Toronto is contributing more tax money than it takes back in services, so it is either uninformed or greedy to suggest Torontonians should pay even more. (TORONTO SUN/FILES)A popular argument across Ontario is that residents of Toronto dont pay their fair share of taxes, based on the fact the city has a lower property tax rate than surrounding communities.Some people outside Toronto have contacted me to say if Toronto residents paid more in property tax, the city would not need so much money from the province, which would be better for everyone.Indeed, there are many people who love to insist that other people do not pay their fair share.It is always these other people they believe need to pay more.In the real world, few of us ever say: You know, upon review, I am just not being taxed enough.If someone does ever say that to you, ask them if they have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded to them to send extra money to the treasury of one or more of the three levels of government  municipal, provincial and federal  to which we all pay taxes.In fact few people volunteer to pay more.Toronto itself, for example, offers taxpayers this opportunity and the Toronto Sun reported that in 2013, 218 voluntary donations added up to $19,951.But what we can say about Toronto taxpayers is that they pay more in provincial and federal taxes than they get back in provincial and federal services.(This is utter NONSENSE! This is like the guy who steals your car giving you cab fare to get home! Toronto collects TEN DOLLARS per citizen for every ONE dollar given to other Ontari-owe municipalities in provincial transfer payments. Toronto home owners are the greedy pigs that motivated govt to force MPAC-the municipal property assessment rip off on us-with Toronto IGNORING ORDERS to bring its property tax rates into line with other Ontari-owe municipalities! Scarborough has TWICE the number of hospital beds per population that Durham Region does.)(Toronto happily pays its cops more than other municipalities-with the same deal for fire firefighters and all other Toronto civil servants. Toronto happily gives out a nice array of costly grants to the "arts community" and to assorted loonie un-civil rights groups such as Black Lives Matter. If Toronto needs money so badly then maybe they ought to cut back on funding for idiot artists and lunatic lobby groups! And what about Gay Pride-nobody is throwing this man a party simply because I prefer playing with vaginas!)(Toronto claims the Pride Parade and Carribanna bring in more money than they cost-but this looks a lot like the same sort of accounting that permitted LIE-berals to hand out HUGE bonuses for Pan Am Games because the Game facilities were completed on time and on budget-and of course they were NOT!)(City of Hamilton is discretely launching a lawsuit against construction companies and Ontari-owe LIE-beral govt because of the number of short cuts and shoddy work that were done at the new Hamilton arena to get it ROUGHLY completed on time. With other municipalities in southern Ontari-owe lining up to discreetly claim for their own Pan Am troubles-the Games have left a trail of shoddy work and sports facility deficiencies that govt does not want to talk about!)Studies on this issue are not regularly done, so the numbers I have are not up to date.But I am told by a reliable source at City Hall that the situation has not changed significantly since the study I quote from below was done.It was by University of Calgary economics professor Ronald Kneebone, in a paper published by the C.D. Howe Institute, reported in 2007 by the Globe and Mail.People seem to have forgotten it.It said that, based on averages between 1986 and 2002, Torontonians each paid $1,717 more in taxes every year than they received back in provincial and federal programs and services.That means Toronto residents are already paying more than their fair share.(NO-this is NOT what it means! Toronto taxes must be properly defined! Toronto pays LOWER PROPERTY TAXES than other municipalities. They pay HIGHER INCOME TAXES because there are so many excellent civil service jobs in Toronto thanks very much- in part- to the presencve of Queens Park in Toronto-complete with a horde of highly paid hacks, flacks and flunkies-there is also the matter of the big banks all having headquarters in Toronto and those people are laos nicely paid thanks to relentless fee gouging! There is also the ten to one funding model set up by LIE-berals which allows for higher pay of all connected to govt! One way for over governed Toronto to save would be cutting the number of numbskull city councillors in half-and cutting he number of hacks and flacks by two thirds!)(Bring Toronto civil service Hog pay back to levels paid in surrounding municipalities and watch the rate of tax paid by Toronto denizens drop and watch Toronto tax rates plummet! Cops, parks employees and bus drivers all do the same job across southern Ontari-owe- with NO reason for Toronto workers to be paid as if they had won a municipal lottery!)In fact, Toronto is contributing more tax money than it takes back in services, so it is either uninformed or greedy to suggest Torontonians should pay even more.(What a fine LIE-beral JOKE! LIE-berals INSIST that those who have more money should pay more tax-and then have a melt down when that philosophy is applied to THEM!)The second widely held belief is if property taxes were raised in Toronto it would mean the province would have more money.(ANOTHER LIE-beral joke-tax Toronto more and civil service Hogs will go on strike more often and black mail LIE-berals into giving MORE raises in pay! Govt DRIVES inflation!)But that money would not go to the province, since property tax stays in the city.(Toronto grandly hands out all manner of grants and gifts and vote buying treats-if they want the reward then they should be using THEIR own money and not money thrown to them by the LIE-beral provincial govt in a gross vote buying scheme! And that`s why we are talking about this now! LIE-berals and Toronto Hogs are terrified they have pushed us too far and that LIE-berals are about to be bombed out of office in the next election-with catastrophic results for Toronto finances as the new govt balances it books by giving Toronto a FAIR DEAL for a change! LIE-berals made this mess and now they are afraid they will drown in it!)Whether Toronto should charge property taxpayers a higher tax rate for city services is a fair topic for discussion.But even if it did, it would not benefit Oshawa or North Bay. It would just mean people in Toronto would pay more in property taxes.(And higher Toronto property taxes would mean MORE money to fix roads and bridges in the city-it might even mean that Toronto Housing Authority SLUMS might get some fixing up?)The only way the rest of the province would benefit would be if property taxes were raised in Toronto and the province simultaneously reduced its contributions to the city by the same amount.(Yeah! And that is called FAIRNESS! AND ITS COMING to a dead broke city near you!)But how would that be fair since Torontonians already pay more in provincial taxes than they get back in provincial services?(OH dear-|LIE-beral policy just backfired on itself! LIE-berals insist that those with the most money should pay a FAIR- read LARGER SHARE than poor people-and its doubly fair when the "rich" are getting a larger share of govt transfer money than others!The fact is that provincial services in the rest of the province are funded in part by the massive amount of money flowing to Queens Park from Toronto.(IN case you have not noticed-Ontari-owe is stony broke LIE-berals and their Toronto municipal friends are merely re-arranging the deck chairs on their fiscal ship Titanic.)Instead of pointing the bony finger of blame at someone else, we should all cooperate in demanding politicians stop misspending so much of the huge amounts of money all of us already give them.(OH there is a JOKE! LIE-berals have repeatedly won elections based entirely on turning one group against another! Its why Toronto so loyally votes LIE-beral so often! Its Toronto Hogs against the rest of the province-with that nice Toronto deal maybe coming to an ugly end if McWynnnty cannot smooth the troubled political waters and remedy her current place as most unpopular premier in Cdn history!)
Digital Nomad in Panama City, Panama Digital nomads have offices wherever they open their laptops and they arent constrained by borders. Youll find lots of them travelingand earningoverseas, on white-sand beaches, in tropical mountain valleys, and in vibrant university towns.

All over the world, folks of all ages are turning their backs on the traditional nine-to-five grind and setting off for travel, fun, adventure. And theyre getting paid while theyre at it.

Digital Nomads earn remotelyworking for themselves instead of clocking in at the office, hospital, shop, or factory. Its a trend thats gaining popularity. PeoplePerHour, an online freelance marketplace, forecasts that one in two people in the U.S. and the UK will be freelance by 2020.

Digital nomads have offices wherever they open their laptops and they arent constrained by borders. Youll find lots of them travelingand earningoverseas, on white-sand beaches, in tropical mountain valleys, and in vibrant university towns.

They seek income opportunities onlinewhich keeps them tethered only to an internet connection. Andin the right placesthey can live better while they spend less, earning in dollars and living in places where the cost of living is much lower than in the U.S. It means they keep more of what they earn (or need to earn much less, so they can afford to work much less, too, leaving more time for fun diversions).

Its a lot easier to embrace the Digital Nomad lifestyle than you might think, says Jason Gaspero, who has been working as a freelancer for more than 10 years. You dont need a special degree. You dont need special equipment, other than a laptop and a reliable internet connection. Simply fire up your computer and, boom, you could be making money.

There are all kinds of different ways to make money as a freelancer and some Digital Nomads country-hop every few weeks and live in dozens of countries every year.

Im free, says Nimisha Walji, who took what she knows about yoga and turned it into an online income. I can go where the wind takes me and live any place I choose! If I hear about somewhere nice, or feel like a change, I can pursue that in a matter of days. Sometimes hours.

David and Diane Daniel were early adopters of the Digital Nomad lifestyle. Since 2005, this wandering duo has been traveling to the worlds most appealing destinations and earning a great income at the same time. We were Digital Nomads before it was cool, says 51-year-old Diane. We take home with us. Its just us, together. Thats it!

Since 2005, weve been traveling, spending time in Mexico, Italy, and France, says David.

Ive also worked from Australia, Ecuador, Canada, and England. For the past few months, the pair has been kicking back on an island just off Mexicos Caribbean coast near Cancun.

Weve been to Isla Mujeres several times before, says Diane. Its a great place with mostly stable internet, wonderful restaurants and beaches, and perfect tropical weather. Were housesitting now for some folks who only come down during the winter. Were caring for their dogs, and all we have to do is pay the electricity bill and the internet bill.

When they arent riding their motor scooter around the island or visiting with friends, Diane manages her own online graphic design business and adds photographs to the couples stock- photo portfolios.

10 Top Digital-Nomad Incomes

Working flexible hours and living in an affordable, tropical destination can be an appealing lifestyle option. But many folksstill stuck at the officewonder how theyd ever swing it. Here are 10 top portable opportunities that can produce income fast, and deliver the flexibility to take that income overseas:

1. Sell products online through your website or a third-party site like Amazon.

2. Earn as an online tutor through Skype or udemy.com. Online tutors earn anywhere from $25 to $300 per lesson.

3. Start a blog and earn with affiliate marketing. Earn money promoting a product or company on a blog or website, with a link to the seller. Affiliate networks have different systems. Some pay for every user that clicks on the link, others require the customer buy a product before a commission is paid.

4. Become a freelance copywriter. Copywriters write simple letters and emails for companies to help sell their products online.

5. Provide drop-shipping services. Drop-shipping is a type of online selling, without paying for storage or manage inventory. The drop-shipper markets the products and when somebody buys, ships the product straight from the manufacturer to the customer.

6. Become a stock photographer. Photographers can turn travel snapshots into a passive income that makes money on stock websites.

7. Teach English online. English speakers can earn as much as $30 an hour on sites, teaching English.

8. Become an online researcher performing the behind-the-scenes tasks that ensure the web-based information of businesses and organizations is accurate. With no start-up costs and no specialized education needed, online research is one of the easiest Digital Nomad incomes to get up and running.

9. Provide online freelance services. Freelancing websites like Upwork.com are connecting thousands of freelancers with businesses that need their services every day. From graphic design to proofreading to travel writing, its easier than ever to find work as a freelancer.

10. Earn with e-books. This doesnt require being a bestselling author to make money with e-books. Its about repackaging books that are in the public domain to sell them online or license existing print books, convert them to e-books, and pay the authors part of the royalties.

International Living shares insights and advice about living and earning abroad for both Digital Nomads and those with more conventional businessesanything from B&Bs to dive shops to restaurants. The full Digital Nomad article can be found here: Top 10 Freelance Opportunities Overseas: Earn in Dollars, Live Anywhere.

Editors Note: Members of the media have full permission to reproduce the article linked above once credit is given to InternationalLiving.com.

To learn more, please contact InternationalLiving.com Associate Editor, Carol Barron, (772) 678  0287, CBarron(at)internationalliving(dot)com.

For 36 years, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.
www.symplr.com I look forward to continuing and accelerating symplrs track record of delivering market-leading solutions that help healthcare organizations improve patient and staff safety and security.

symplr, a leading provider of software as a service (SaaS) based healthcare compliance and credentialing solutions, today announced that Julie Walker has joined the company as Vice President and General Manager of Vendor and General Credentialing. Walker manages symplrs Vendor Credentialing sales and operations, including vendor and general credentialing, and visitor management.

Before joining symplr, Walker served in an executive role in business development at ProviderTrust, an industry-leading B2B SaaS organization focused on simplifying healthcare compliance. During her tenure at ProviderTrust, she helped achieve significant year-on-year revenue growth through creative sales and marketing campaigns, high-growth sales tactics, talent acquisition, product development and organizational change. Previously, she was vice president of sales at the National Healthcareer Association, a division of Ascend Learning, a SaaS healthcare credentialing company focused on allied health professionals, where she created a successful, high-growth organization.

Im excited to serve symplrs Vendor Credentialing team as we work to move the needle in healthcare compliance, Walker said. I look forward to continuing and accelerating symplrs track record of delivering market-leading solutions that help healthcare organizations improve patient and staff safety and security.

Walkers background and experience in education, technology, and health care drive her success in applying strategic concepts to business challenges. With a passion for mentoring and teamwork, she inspires others to excel by modeling servant-leadership.

Julies leadership qualities and her experience in healthcare compliance and business development serves symplr well as she leads our vendor credentialing operations, said Rick Pleczko, President and CEO of symplr. We are committed to delivering the most innovative credentialing solutions to help our customers easily and effectively monitor who is permitted into their facility, to ensure compliance with organization and industry standards.

About Julie Walker, Vice President and General Manager, Vendor and General Credentialing

As Vice President and General Manager, Julie Walker is responsible for managing symplrs vendor credentialing operations, including vendor and general credentialing, visitor management and exclusion screening. In her role, she partners with healthcare clients to help them achieve their goals in compliance, safety and security while reducing risk. Walker previously served in a senior role at ProviderTrust, a leading SaaS provider credentialing company, where she contributed to the development of a profitable and scalable business model for monitoring and updating healthcare compliance components and ensuring related healthcare standards were achieved. Previously, she was Vice President of Sales at the National Healthcareer Association, a division of Ascend Learning, a SaaS healthcare credentialing company focused on allied health professionals, where she created a successful, high-growth organization.

Walker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

About symplr

Founded in 2006, symplr is an industry leader in compliance and credentialing Software as a Service solutions that help healthcare organizations mitigate risk and ensure compliance. symplr has a single mission: to make healthcare compliance and credentialing simpler for all constituents of the healthcare community. For more information or to contact symplr, visit http://www.symplr.com/ or (866) 373-9725.
Hemingway Model Only 4 lots left!

Shortly after being honored at the 2017 Parade of Homes, Newberry Homes sold their first home in Ponce Inlet Key.

Newberry Homes was recognized with the Grand Award for Custom Homebuilder between $500,000 to $1Mil at the Volusia Building Industry Association 2017 Parade of Homes Gala Friday evening, April 7, 2017 for their Hemingway model. Ponce Inlet Key had a tremendous showing during the Parade of Homes with hundreds of people discovering this boutique subdivision for the first time and touring the model home, The Hemingway. During the Parade of Homes, Ponce Inlet Keys first homebuyers toured the model home and decided that they wanted that 2-Story home on the ocean lot. They signed the contract with Newberry Homes Monday afternoon, only 3 days after Newberry Homes was honored at the Parade of Homes Gala. There are now only 4 lots available to purchase in Ponce Inlet Key.

Established in 2014, Newberry Homes & Development Group, Inc. (Newberry Homes) is a custom homebuilder and real estate developer serving Volusia County, Seminole County and Orange County, Florida. They specialize in real estate development opportunities like boutique subdivisions, spec homes for investors and luxury custom homes for homebuyers.
With the launch of its responsive website, neohospitals.org, in March, The Center for Health Affairs officially updated its strategy to provide timely, insightful, unbiased information on the healthcare environment with a blog on healthcare topics. Members of The Centers public affairs team, who collectively have over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry, author the healthcare blog, including:



Deanna Moore, vice president, corporate communications

Kirstin Craciun, director of community outreach

Tony Gutowski, director of government affairs

Michele Fancher, grant development manager

The pace of change in healthcare right now is extraordinarily fast. It has challenged us in our traditional avenues of communication because by the time we finish our research, the assumptions we started with have already completely shifted, said Deanna Moore. With blogging, you can have an idea, write about it and post it the same day. Its much more responsive."

Guest authors from both inside and outside the organization will also contribute. Topics will vary but will include:

State and federal health policy

The state budget

Hospital finance

Market trends

Health equity

Population health

The Center's new blog on healthcare topics can be accessed at neohospitals.org/blog. Initial blog posts discuss repeal and replace paths and implications, the 2018 wage index, health equity in Northeast Ohio and CHNAs.

Though The Center plans to continue with its Issue Briefs, its new blog on healthcare topics will take the place of its shorter Policy Snapshots, all of which will still be available in the publications section of The Centers website. For more information, contact Deanna Moore at 216.255.3614.

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With a rich history as the Northeast Ohio hospital association, dating back to 1916, The Center for Health Affairs serves as the collective voice of hospitals and the source for Northeast Ohio hospital and healthcare information. As the leading advocate for Northeast Ohio hospitals, The Center aims to enhance the effectiveness of the healthcare community and the health of the communities it serves by providing expertise, resources and solutions to address the challenges faced by the regions healthcare providers. The Centers efforts focus on areas that benefit member hospitals from a regional approach, including healthcare workforce; emergency preparedness; public policy and advocacy; finance and reimbursement; and community initiatives. And because of its business affiliation with CHAMPS Healthcare, The Center has the resources to provide a broad level of professional services to its members. The Center, located in downtown Cleveland, is proud to advocate on behalf of more than 35 acute-care hospitals located in six counties. For more, visit neohospitals.org. The Center for Health Affairs is honored to be named as one of The Cleveland Plain Dealers Top Workplaces in 2014 and 2015, as well as to ERCs NorthCoast99 List in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
IMSTA FESTA returns to SAE Institute Los Angeles for the fifth consecutive year.

SAE Institute, in partnership with The International Music Software Trade Association (IMSTA), will host their fifth annual celebration of music technology known as IMSTA FESTA at its Los Angeles campus on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 11am  6pm.

IMSTA FESTA is a one-day, free event that fosters learning, relationship building, and networking. The event is open to anyone with an interest in music of all genres and levels including professional, semi-professional, or amateur musicians, songwriters, music producers, audio engineers, music students, and educators.

The days exciting event features educational panel discussions, workshops, master classes, song critiques, and live vendor demonstrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with major industry professionals as well as gain valuable knowledge to enhance their music-making skills, access the latest music technology equipment, experience live interactive product demonstrations, participate in panel discussion, and learn about legal software use.

Los Angeles music community of notable music industry professionals, experts, innovators, and companies will gather under one roof at IMSTA FESTA to discuss and share their knowledge and perspective on the state of the music business, technology, and much more.

Dave Pensado, GRAMMY-winning mix engineer and renowned education, is this years keynote speaker, and he is sure to deliver a speech that will add to the exciting and vibrant atmosphere at IMSTA FESTA LA.

Event Highlights:



Keynote address delivered by mix engineer, Dave Pensado (Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Elton John)

Educational panel sessions on the use of legal software, the state of the music industry, audio technology, and more

Song reviews performed by industry professionals

A chance to enter into the IMSTA FESTA 2017 songwriting competition, with a grand prize trip to Black Rock Studio in Santorini, Greece

Master classes presented by knowledgeable industry experts that will provide valuable tips and strategies on facets of the music industry

Interactive product demonstrations from audio equipment and software vendors

Networking with some of the biggest, brightest and best heavy hitters in the music industry, as well as music industry students and educators

The event will be held at SAE Institutes Los Angeles campus at 6700 Santa Monica Boulevard on Saturday, May 13 from 11:00am  6:00pm. Admission is free and open to the public with online registration at imsta.org.

About SAE

SAE Institute provides aspiring creative media professionals with a foundation of practical theory and valuable hands-on training in their chosen areas of concentration. Under the guidance of industry-experienced faculty, students gain the essential experience they need for entry-level jobs in the creative media industry. Students are supported in their job searches by SAE Institutes international network of alumni, many of who are leaders in the music, film, game arts, and live performance arenas. SAE Institute offers accredited programs in Audio, Animation, Film, Games, and Music Business focused on preparing students for employment in the creative media industry upon graduation. SAE Institute Group, Inc. is a part of Navitas LTD. Learn more at usa.sae.edu.

About Navitas

Navitas is an Australian global education leader, providing pre-university and university programs, English language courses, migrant education and settlement services, creative media education, student recruitment, professional development, and corporate training services to more than 80,000 students across a network of over 120 colleges and campuses in 31 countries. Learn more at Navitas.com.
 Vector Solutions, the leader in eLearning and performance support solutions for the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), industrial, public safety, IT and education fields, has again been recognized as one of the best place to work in the Tampa Bay area, largely for its outstanding company culture.

For the sixth year, Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces 2017 honors Vector Solutions on its list, which is an annual roundup of the very best organizations to work for in the region. This award comes on the heels of Tampa Bay Business Journal naming Vector Solutions and RedVector, the companys founding brand, as a finalist for the ninth year on its Best Places to Work 2017 list, which is also published annually.

We are very proud to be recognized by our peers and employees, said Victoria Zambito, Senior VP of Product, Content and Communication. Fostering a workplace environment that breeds connectivity, acceptance and advancement for all is a fundamental part of our values, and making sure our employees feel valued is a priority. This recognition is an extremely gratifying affirmation of our efforts.

The qualifying lists are compiled based purely on employee opinions, which are gathered through surveys and evaluations by Quantum Workplace and WorkplaceDynamics. The employee surveys measure a variety of workplace elements, such as team engagement, effectiveness, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation and benefits.

Vector Solutions has also been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in Tampa Bay. The company strives to offer the best in performance support solutions and has achieved a high level of success via its in-house product development and content teams as well as its collaborations through recent mergers and acquisitions that bring together some of the best tools and learning platforms available in the continuing education and eLearning field today.

With such rapid growth, Vector Solutions has placed special focus on hiring and maintaining the very best talent and team members, those who understand the company mission and feel passionate about its pursuit. As Zambito explained, the first step to creating an award-winning work environment is undoubtedly its motivated, inspired employees.

About Vector Solutions

Vector Solutions sets the standard for excellence in delivering online continuing education, training and performance support solutions to the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, as well as industrial, public safety and IT fields. Through its brands RedVector, TargetSolutions, LearnSmart, and Scenario Learning. Vector Solutions offers individual courses as well as and large-scale corporate training solutions via a state-of-the-art Learning Management System. With an online library exceeding 5,000 courses authored by more than 200 subject matter experts, Vector Solutions serves professionals and firms across the globe. The recipient of numerous community honors and industry awards, Vector Solutions was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, call 1-866-546-1212 or visit http://www.vector-solutions.com/.

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One of our biggest goals in implementing the brand transformation was to see new and renewed interest in U.S. franchising, and the global prototype has had an immediate impact on our work to grow the Tony Romas American store base.

Romacorp, Inc., the parent company of Tony Romas, announces the signing of a development agreement with Gem Hospitality, LLC, which will bring a new Tony Romas location to fans in South Florida, set to open November 2017. Not only does this historic agreement mark the first domestic deal signed in two years, but it also marks the first development agreement with a new franchisee since Tony Romas brand transformation and the October grand opening of the new global prototype in Orlando, Fla. Following intensive consumer research, the 2016 brand transformation included a complete overhaul of the restaurant environment, service approach and food and beverage offerings to meet the demands of todays consumer.

Since the opening of our global prototype in Orlando, weve seen incredible momentum in our discussions with new and existing franchisees, said Stephen K. Judge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Romacorp, Inc. One of our biggest goals in implementing the brand transformation was to see new and renewed interest in U.S. franchising, and the global prototype has had an immediate impact on our work to grow the Tony Romas American store base.

While domestic franchise growth has been a monumental focus for the company, international growth has seen an impressive increase, as well. Tony Romas recently announced the signing of a development agreement that will bring the restaurants world famous ribs to Nicaragua for the first time in history. The company is also currently finalizing a deal for 15 additional restaurants in Spain, the first of which will be the 24th Tony Romas in the country and the 14th in the capital city of Madrid.

We are thrilled to be part of such a historic development agreement for Tony Romas, a brand that has been the preeminent place for ribs for the last 45 years, said Brian Vermeulen, Owner and Managing Member of Gem Hospitality, LLC. Our location inside the Hilton Hotel at West Palm Beach Airport (PBI) means that fans traveling from all over the world, and those who are West Palm Beach residents, will now be able to enjoy Tony Romas world famous ribs and signature cocktails  an experience everyone should have the chance to delight in.

This string of landmark announcements comes as Tony Romas celebrates its 45th birthday, an incredible milestone unmatched by any American casual dining restaurant chain. Since first opening its doors in Miami, Florida in 1972, Tony Romas has become one of the most globally recognized brands in the restaurant industry. With restaurants in more than 30 countries around the world, Tony Romas continued growth has established the brand as the largest casual dining chain in the world specializing in ribs.

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.
Viansa Sonoma will host a Bluebirds and Bubbles event on the afternoon of May 7, 2017 to showcase the wildlife inhabiting the 97 acres of restored wetlands at the winery. Visitors will get to learn about the local wildlife and ecosystem of the wetlands and help build birdhouses for the resident bluebirds while enjoying light bites. Throughout the festivities, ticketholders (21+) will also have the opportunity to taste a selection of Viansa Sonoma wines, including the propertys Reserve Blanc de Noir sparkling wine.

Nature lovers of all ages are invited to enjoy an afternoon of fun while learning about the stunning Viansa Wetlands from the experts at Sonoma Birding, Sonoma Land Trust, and Ducks Unlimited who will be hosting education booths. This free community event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7th, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the property in Sonoma. Reserve your tickets for this celebration at the following link - http://www.viansa.com/bluebirdsandbubbles.

Scheduled activities are as follows:

2:00pm Guests Registration

2:15pm Educational Presentations/Booths

2:45pm Birdbox assemble (limited quantity; first come first serve basis)

3:30pm Raffle Drawing

4:00pm End of Festivities

Due to the efforts of the Viansa team, the propertys wetlands have restored levees for better water retention and re-enforced multiple water control structure to direct and maintain water levels year-round resulting in a surge of waterfowl activity in the surrounding area. Join the Viansa team in celebrating the Viansa Wetlands and support awareness for the importance of land stewardship in Sonoma County.

About Viansa Sonoma: Viansa Sonoma is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For information on the visitor experience at Viansa Sonoma check out http://www.ViansaSonoma.com or call 800.995.4740. For additional information about Viansa or Vintage Wine Estates, contact Mary Ann Vangrin at mvangrin(at)vintagewineestates.com or Stephanie Peachey at speachey(at)vintagewineestates.com.
The SSAE 16 is the gold standard within the industry and an integral part of our business model and security offering.

Edge Hosting, a leading managed service provider focused on secure and compliant business outcomes, today announced the successful and exception free completion of an annual Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) 16 Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II compliance audit. Assessed by auditors from CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), this certification demonstrates the companys commitment to the highest compliance standards of operational excellence for its customers and partners.

The SSAE 16 is the gold standard within the industry and an integral part of our business model and security offering. This is Edges third consecutive exception free report, which is a clear and convincing signal to our current and prospective clients that Edge takes the operation and management of cyber security seriously. Cyber security is a key strategic initiative across industries and safeguarding data is of paramount importance to our customers. This is especially the case for our clients in industries with high levels of regulatory scrutiny, said Mark Houpt, Chief Information Security Officer, Edge Hosting.

SOC 2 standards are based on the proven SysTrust-derived standards of Availability, Security, Confidentiality, Privacy and Processing Integrity. The SysTrust service is an assurance service that was jointly developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA).

The audit encompassed the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of controls, over all of Edge Hostings cloud and managed services. Specific areas of testing included risk management, monitoring, access controls, network and system operations, change management, security policies and procedures, and overall security design and effectiveness.

About Edge Hosting

Edge designs, operates, and simplifies secure and compliant IaaS and PaaS Managed Cloud Hosting that delivers comprehensive operational coverage of controls for FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI, SSAE 16 SOC 2 Type 2 and EU Privacy Shield Framework. Edges services include Compliance Architecture & Audit Support, Cloud Migration & Design, AWS Managed Services, and Secure Federal/Healthcare Hybrid Clouds.

Our mission is to be the easiest partner to host business critical, secure, and compliant web sites and applications. With a relentless focus on our customers, Edge improves business outcomes by leveraging more than twenty years of experience in highly regulated industries including government, financial services, and healthcare.

For more information about Edge Hosting, please visit http://www.edgehosting.com.
Bandit Da MC, better known as Charles Jacobs, is from Wilmington, NC (The Port City) . This young man is 27 years old and has been grinding hard with Coast 2 Coast for over a year now. Not only is this man an artist, he is also a college student at Cape Fear Community College Majoring in Business. Bandit himself would tell you that Wilmington artist are great! Everyone from the men to the women who utilize their time to perfect their own music no matter what genre have potential.

Bandit has devoted himself to mastering the art of becoming a true master of ceremony (MC). Before Bandit came on board with Coast 2 Coast he was just a student who had planned to do music as a prospective goal after he graduated college. Coast 2 Coast gave him that extra push as if his moment was looming. He vividly remembers listening through 9th Wonder instrumentals to compose his mixtape, Stolen City. Coast 2 Coast has surrounded him with talented producers and allowed him to discover and hone his own sound. Bandits original Hip-Hop style blending with trap beats provides excitement and execution. Bandit believes the Boom Bap sound lives on and will one day return to mainstream prominence.

Bandit has been composing several projects since 2017 kicked off. His most recent project, Stolen City, has been gaining notoriety on the internet, garnering attention from sites such as This Is 50 and I Am Hip Hop. Bandit was also featured on Coast 2 Coast Mixtape Volume 324, Hosted by Troy Ave as well as several other mixtapes released under Coast 2 Coast. He recently worked with DJ Young Cee featuring on the following mixtapes, including Record Labels Need Me Vol 77, 95, 98, and 99. Bandits latest project is his song 420 that is being promoted by coast 2 coast and will be on an upcoming mixtape hosted by DJ Young Cee as well. He most recently dropped his latest music video for the single, What Im About. The video is out now and currently can be viewed in its entirety on Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes.

About Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes:

Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes are the most widely distributed mixtapes in the world, with over 100 million downloads/plays generated by over 300 volumes officially hosted by major artists. Coast 2 Coast has a solid reach in the new music industry with a digital magazine, DJ coalition, industry tips blog, yearly convention, and more. Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes represents a unique opportunity for artists of all urban genres, from major to indie. For more information, visit http://www.coast2coastmixtapes.com
The federal court judge who approved an $875-million deal for Sixties Scoop survivors is facing accusations of bias because of his involvement in other aspects of the agreement.

The settlement reached last week is aimed at compensating an estimated 20,000 Indigenous people who were taken from their families as children and adopted out to non-Indigenous parents between the 1950s and the 1980s, stripping them of their cultural heritage.

Justice Michel Shore approved the deal as it was proposed on Friday, roughly 60 minutes after two days of emotional testimony concluded in Saskatoon. It will see $750 million go to survivors, $75 million to lawyers, and $50 million set aside for an Indigenous healing foundation. But critics are arguing Shore should not have been allowed to preside over last week's hearings, as he was involved in the creation of the proposed settlement last year and sits on the board of a $50-million healing foundation being established as part of the deal.

"The judge's role is to be dispassionate  not to be an advocate or cheerleader for the class-action settlement," said Jasminka Kalajdzic, a law professor at the University of Windsor and one of the country's leading experts on class-action lawsuits.

Some survivors, who travelled from across North America to attend the hearing, said they were outraged by Shore's comments in support of the settlement at the hearings, before it had formally been approved. Others were upset by the three-minute time limit they were given to share their stories.

"It seems like this decision was already made up, and this whole court case was an opportunity to sell the package," said survivor Mary Longman, who testified at the hearings and asked the court to also consider abuses suffered when determining compensation.



'It raises eyebrows'



Like Kalajdzic, Craig Jones, a law professor at Thompson Rivers University and author of the book Theory of Class Actions , says survivors are right to be concerned.

This case is complex, he said, and carries enormous financial, political and societal implications, similar to the residential school or tainted blood settlements.

Jones stopped short of accusing Shore of bias but said he "can see why it raises eyebrows."

Kalajdzic was more direct. "There should be a judge with fresh eyes, who doesn't have a history with the parties, a judge who can exercise rigorous oversight and take a hard look at the case. That, in my view, would have been the more appropriate procedure," she said.

The deal has created a divide among survivors of the Sixties Scoop. Some were elated, saying it is long-awaited recognition of their suffering and a move that will avoid years of costly court battles, with no guarantee of victory.

But others say the settlement is flawed because it excludes non-status and Metis people, caps individual compensation at $50,000 and gives too much money to the lawyers.



No rules broken, says Federal Court official



Andrew Baumberg, a spokesperson for the Federal Court of Canada, declined to comment when asked about the concerns around Shore's objectivity, Instead, he pointed to Federal Court Rule 391, which allows a judge to oversee multiple elements of a case, provided that no parties object.

The law firms representing the class members OK'd Shore overseeing the settlement hearing.

Kalajdzic says Rule 391 should only be used in absolutely necessary and exceptional circumstances and argues that wasn't the case here.

Precedents have made it extremely difficult to appeal an approved class-action settlement, she said, but those unhappy with the agreement have other options.
Periodontists Dr. John Paul Gallardo and William P. Lamas will be hosting their next study club in Miami, FL for Dental ED on May 4, 2017 at CIBO Wine Bar in Coral Gables, FL. The educational event will bring together some of the areas most respected dentists in restorative and general dentistry. The May study club will begin with dinner and social hour at 6pm and the presentation will start at 7 p.m.

Once a quarter, Dr. Gallardo and Dr. Lamas host the Miami Study Club to bring the latest innovations in dentistry to South Florida. Both Dr. Gallardo and Dr. Lamas are authorized periodontists to provide continuing education to other dentists. This courses objectives include learning to combine composites and veneers to preserve dentin, rubber dam placement, difficult case studies, and a conservative approach in management. The course is also designed to stress the essential value of breaking infection at all levels so that doctors attending can return to their offices equipped with practical infection control in the dental setting.

This platform for collaborating with our colleagues allows us to share pearls of wisdom with each other in an intellectually safe and trusting environment, said Dr. Gallardo. This ultimately leads to better patient care, improvement, and the evolution of even the most time-proven treatment strategies.

The Miami Study Club is part of Dental ED, an international organization that brings together a wide range of dental professionals to further their education. Each session starts with the latest in dental technologies, trends, and research. Dental ED was launched in 2004 and has become a leader in dentistry training and education by offering study club courses to professionals around the world. Using advances in technology, teach session connects educators to dentists using interactive-web conferencing technology.

Dr. Gallardo and Dr. Lamas bring patients from all over the world more than 25 years of experience in the field of implant dentistry and periodontics. Dr. Gallardo attended the University of Miami, New York University, and Boston University. Dr. Lamas is an alumnus of Barry University, the Florida College of Dentistry, and Baylor College of Dentistry-TAMUS. Both doctors are highly respected in the fields of periodontics and implant dentistry. The office offers patients, laser periodontal therapy, dental implants, sedation dentistry, the innovative All-on-4, as well as gummy smile correction and wisdom teeth removal.

The upcoming study club will be held at CIBO Wine Bar, located at 45 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Dinner and social hour will begin at 6 p.m. and the educational presentation will follow at 7 p.m. Attending doctors will be awarded with 7.75 continuing education credits. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP by contacting Amelia Gonzalez at Amelia(at)miamiperio(dot)com or calling 305-447-1447.
Boyer's Coffee is the Proud Coffee Partner of the Colorado Rockies Tried-and-true local fans know both Boyers Coffee and the Rockies to be quintessential Colorado brands.

Two Classic Colorado Brands Have Come Together to Properly Caffeinate Fans.

Swing, sip, repeat! Boyers Coffee, known for its deep Colorado roots for more than 50 years, has been officially named the coffee partner of the Colorado Rockies. Boyers will serve as the exclusive coffee vendor at Coors Field, serving a special Rockies Roast throughout the stadium, in addition to a few other selections of Boyers customer favorites, such as Rocky Mountain Thunder, DenverBlend, and Kona Blend.

Partnering with the Rockies is a natural fit, as we infuse Colorado pride into every single cup, said Jason Barrow, Co-owner of Luna Gourmet, Boyers parent company. Tried-and-true local fans know both Boyers Coffee and the Rockies to be quintessential Colorado brands.

Boyers Coffee, located in the iconic historical Old Schoolhouse Cafe at 73rd & Washington in Denver, is family-owned and operated, and proudly part of the Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company family of brands. Luna Gourmet is dedicated to great coffee, serving our coffee communities and making a positive impact globally through coffee.

Boyers Coffee and the Colorado Rockies are a perfect match, offering fans the very best high-altitude, slow roasted coffee on the market, said Douglass Barrow, Co-owner of Luna Gourmet. Watch for upcoming contests, merchandise, cold brew coffee and more  we have a lot of ideas brewing.

This Colorado-crafted partnership is a tremendous win in our book, added Walker Monfort, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships of the Colorado Rockies. We are very excited to bring Boyers on board as a sponsor of the club and an outstanding coffee choice for our fans.

The Proud Coffee Partner of the Colorado Rockies, Boyers Coffee is proudly served on Frontier Airlines and is available across the country at over 400 Taco Johns restaurants. Boyers Coffee is also in a majority of Colorado-area grocery stores and participating Texas H-E-B locations. Our Roastery coffee shop is at 73rd & Washington in Denver, and now in the club level Boyers Cafe at Coors Field. Visit Boyers Coffee to locate the nearest retailer or purchase directly from our online store.

About Boyers Brand Coffees

Since 1965, the Boyers Coffee brand has been built on flavorful coffees using the best 100 percent Arabica coffee beans from around the world. It has pioneered and perfected roasting coffee at high altitude to deliver a smooth, fresh and extraordinary experience. Learn more at http://www.boyerscoffee.com.

About Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company

For over 20 years, Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Company has been committed to great coffee, tea and cocoa while remaining socially responsible throughout the process. As the largest family-owned roaster in Colorado, our brands include Boulder Organic Coffee, Luna Roasters, Boca Java and Boyers Coffee. We are sold in grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and online. Luna Gourmets diverse line-up of products includes proprietary blended roasts, flavored coffee, and imported coffee beans from more than 40 different origins around the globe. Luna Gourmet also offers extra fancy loose leaf teas and fine sipping cocoas. Visit Luna Gourmet and click shop.
CPI invites attendees to make a concept into a concrete solution. Saving money by manufacturing in Mexico is apparent when you look at the hard numbers. We have always offered no-obligation cost analyses to interested manufacturers and are expanding that

Co-Production International (CPI) announces upcoming workshop Discover the Savings: Build Your Own Cost Analysis for Manufacturing in Mexico in Los Angeles, California on May 4th. For over forty years CPI has helped over 200 manufacturers establish operations in nearshore Mexico. As a regional expert in manufacturing, this no-cost workshop and luncheon will teach executives how to fully analyze the benefits and cost savings of expanding manufacturing to Mexico.

CPI invites attendees to make a concept into a concrete solution. Saving money by manufacturing in Mexico is apparent when you look at the hard numbers. We have always offered no-obligation cost analyses to interested manufacturers and are expanding that offer with this workshop and luncheon, says Denisse Martinez, Marketing Director for CPI.

The Mexican state of Baja California, just south of San Diego, California, is home to over 600 medical device, electronics, automotive and aerospace manufacturing companies in Mexico from all over the world. This massive industry force is supported by an over 257,000-strong workforce. The border city of Tijuana has become a crucial global hub for manufacturing with over 50 years supporting industries looking to lower costs while still having next-door access to major North American markets. Over $1.5 billion dollars is traded bilaterally between the US and Mexico every day.

For example, if you compare a company with 100 employees at a US versus Mexican facility, a manufacturer can save around $3.29 million dollars a year in labor costs alone. Come have lunch on us and let us teach you how to run the numbers. Martinez says, adding, the workshop will cover up-to-date labor cost comparisons, as well as transportation, logistics and set-up costs. Additionally, we will highlight the industries currently operating in Mexico, showing attendees that success and a better bottom line are no further than away than next door.

For decades CPI has brought their expertise, network of partners and regional knowledge to companies looking to save money and increase competitiveness in the marketplace. In addition to no-cost analyses for doing business, CPI also offers personalized industrial tours so companies can see manufacturing in Mexico first hand. For companies interested in the cost savings workshop or in touring manufacturing facilities in Tijuana, contact CPI today!

Workshop details:

Date: Thursday, May 4th

Time: 12:00  2:00pm

Location: Downtown Los Angeles, please register for location details!

Cost: No cost! Includes hosted lunch.

To register for the workshop or for any questions, contact:

Denisse Martinez, Marketing Director

(619) 429 4344

denissem@co-production.net

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Co-Production International is an administrative services provider located in San Diego, CA, offering successful business expansion solutions, shelter company services, day-to-day administrative duties, site selection, and the complete set-up of your operation in Mexico. For more information, or if you are interested in a cost analysis for expanding your operations to Mexico, visit http://www.co-production.net or call (619) 429 4344.
According to Aberdeen Group, companies using messaging to communicate with customers outperform those that do not. Messaging provides a level of historical visibility that makes it easier for employees to personalize customer conversations. As a result, messaging helps improve customer satisfaction, enhances employee engagement, and drives real financial results.

For customer-obsessed companies focused on engaging consumers effectively, it is quickly becoming apparent that messaging, via SMS, social media and messaging apps, has shifted the way people communicate with brands. Aberdeen Group launched its new report commissioned by leading enterprise mobile and social engagement platform Sparkcentral, highlighting the benefits of using messaging for companies. The report, entitled Customer Messaging: Happy Customers, Productive Employees, & Better Financials, reveals that companies using messaging apps achieve a 186 percent greater annual increase in customer satisfaction over companies not using messaging.

Moreover, factors contributing to customer satisfaction vastly improve for companies using messaging, such as:



96 percent higher customer win-back rates

111 percent lower customer effort required for customer service

143 percent higher employee engagement

Messaging is successful in improving these customer satisfaction metrics because it offers companies the opportunity to reduce the effort placed on customers. It does this by leveraging the customers preferred channel and format, making it easier for them to communicate. Beyond the end-user benefits, messaging also contributes to internal process and financial improvements for companies. According to the report, companies using messaging achieved 25 percent greater annual growth in revenue and an 8.6 percent increase in the average profit margin per customer. With messaging allowing companies to reach customers and resolve issues faster than traditional communication formats, companies can be better equipped to grow top line revenue while reducing customer service costs.

Customers today expect organizations to know them and address their needs in a personalized and consistent fashion. At the same time, customers want to expend as little effort as possible to make this happen, said Omer Minkara, Principal Analyst at Aberdeen. Messaging allows customers to send a message to an organization and receive support without needing to hold. Benefits to the customer aside, messaging provides a level of historical visibility that makes it easier for employees to personalize customer conversations. As a result, messaging helps improve customer satisfaction, enhances employee engagement, and drives real financial results.

Sparkcentral helps customer-centric brands like Netflix, Uber, Zappos, Delta Air Lines and Western Union realize these benefits by quickly and efficiently addressing customer inquiries directly within Messenger, WeChat, and in-app messaging, as well as text-based social media messaging on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To exceed customers expectations, companies need to evolve their customer support processes as consumers preferences and everyday behaviors change  including their communication styles, said Davy Kestens, founder and CEO at Sparkcentral. We commissioned this Aberdeen report to highlight the value of messaging capabilities for companies, and we look forward to helping our customers enhance their own internal processes, meet the expectations of their customers and improve their bottom lines.

Click here to download the full report: Customer Messaging: Happy Customers, Productive Employees, & Better Financials

About Sparkcentral

Customer-obsessed companies use Sparkcentrals leading mobile and social customer engagement platform to manage and resolve customer service interactions over social and mobile channels in a simple, streamlined and fun way. With the fastest customer routing and prioritization technology in the business and innovative workflow optimization and reporting tools, Sparkcentral helps global brands like Delta Air Lines, Uber, Nordstrom, JetBlue, Emirates, Zappos and more deliver effortless customer service experiences and drive brand loyalty. A recent CODiE Award winner for Best Customer Service Solution, Sparkcentral is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and has its EMEA headquarters in Hasselt, Belgium. To learn more, visit http://www.sparkcentral.com and follow @Sparkcentral on Twitter.
Tiffany Parker

American Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AiAi), the education and research focused institute that prepares business and strategy leaders for the artificial intelligence economy, is announcing the hiring of Tiffany Harrison Parker as its Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Parker brings a wealth of experience from managing Fortune 500 clients. Prior to joining AiAi she was Senior Vice President for Open Systems, a Philadelphia based IT area firm with a major footprint in the DC area.

Tiffany is a perfect fit for our rapidly growing needs for augmenting Fortune 500 strategic capabilities in artificial intelligence. Every business leader needs to discover on how to integrate artificial intelligence with his or her companys core business strategy and AiAi is the only institute that is preparing the business leaders to lead the ai-economy. said Al Naqvi, Professor, Researcher, and President of AiAi. With Tiffany joining us, our ability to reach out to the Fortune 500 will be magnified even more, he added.

I am honored to be part of AiAi. AiAi is taking artificial intelligence to the business setting and preparing the business and strategy leaders for the artificial intelligence driven economy. I am thrilled to participate in shaping the artificial intelligence revolution. said, Tiffany Harrison Parker.

Ms. Parker will be based in the Washington DC office.

About AiAi

AiAi is the worlds only institute that is devoted to developing business and government leaders to shape and lead the artificial intelligence revolution. Through outstanding research, education, and practice, AiAi creates aspiring leaders who specialize in artificial intelligence centric business strategy and management, who inspire innovation and push the boundaries of possibilities, and who do it ethically and responsibly. The institute offers unparalleled research, education, and experience  and a knowledge base that only exists at AiAi. Drawing knowledge base from multiple emerging fields (neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, psychology, mathematics, complex systems, philosophy, management science, robotics, governance, and leadership) AiAi offers numerous business and policy centric courses including: AI in Marketing, AI in Finance, AI in Supply Chain/Procurement, AI and Corporate Strategy, AI and Sales, AI and HR, and AI & Governance/Ethics. The coursework is specifically designed for business executives and corporate/government functional leaders. Besides publishing special reports and an academic journal, AiAi also performs technical research and development and assists with business model development and optimization. http://www.aipost.com
Date aired: April 10, 2017

Guest: Mike Markus, General Manager, Orange County Water District in California

http://www.ocwd.com

As most people know, much of the state of California has suffered from a three-year drought, which has mercifully been coming to an end over the last two months. Sharon Kleyne, the nations foremost water advocate and host of the nationally syndicated The Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water, Global Climate Change and Your Health on VoiceAmerica, sponsored by Natures Tears EyeMist, focused on the latest updates from the state on her program that aired on April 10th, 2017. Helping Kleyne get the scoop was her guest, Mike Marcus, General Manager (since 2007) of the Orange County Water District.

Markus, a Hollywood native who moved as a child to Orange County, explained to Kleyne and her audience that the Orange County Water District manages, replenishes and protects the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which is the countys largest source of drinking water. The basin270 square miles in sizedelivers approximately 75% of the water supply to 2.4 million residents in north and central Orange County. Markus also explained that his district does a great job educating people about where the water comes from. He specifically mentioned one outreach program, the Childrens Water Education Festival, a two-day event attracting thousands of people to talks and interactive displays.

Sharon Kleyne, founder of Bio-Logic Aqua Research Water Life Science, also encouraged listeners and other interested parties to experience a new, healthy Water Life Science lifestyle. She encouraged more education and honest reportage. Too many people are ignorant of the facts, said Kleyne. Then they get dismissive. They say oh, its only water. Well, you might just as well say, its only life. Believe me, said Kleyne, we have run out of wiggle room on this issue. If the global water crisis gets much worse, well have to contend with billions of people whose health will have suffered because theyre dehydrated due to excessive evaporation of their water body vapor. At the same time, Kleyne added, over-evaporation of earths water vapor will severely compromise the air we breathe. Kleyne praised Markus and his district for doing so much to expand education opportunities in water and developing new technology for smarter water use.

Markus shared that the Orange County District has come to rely more and more on recycled water, specifically waste water that is, after an advanced filtration process, converted into distilled water. Orange Countys is the first facility to use reverse osmosis in this process.

People have a right to clean, healthy water, Markus concluded. We have the technology and we have the experience. Now we need the commitment from elected officials to invest in water and water education for all.
We are deeply satisfied by outcome of this study, which has all the signs of long-awaited breakthrough in liver cancer

The overall survival observed in the published study was outstanding  over 90% of patients were alive after median 12 months of follow up  by comparison only about 10% survive after one year of treatment with sorafenib. This study has also shown that after median 2 months of treatment 50 out 75 patients had their hepatic tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein or AFP, declined, which indicates that two thirds (66.7%) of studied population responded to immunotherapy, since the decrease in AFP was correlated with tumor shrinkage. Those who had AFP down to normal levels experienced tumor clearance, implying that they were cured. There were 12 patients (16%) in the study who ended up with normalized AFP below 10 IU/ml. No adverse events or toxicity were observed at any time  an observation in line with the experience in over 10,000 people who took V5 for the past 15 years in more than 30 countries for clinical indications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatitis. Considering that no validated immunotherapy for liver cancer has emerged after 20 years of research efforts, these results are highly promising. An ongoing Phase III study at the Mongolian National Cancer Center is aimed to confirm the potential of hepcortespenlisimut-L in placebo-controlled, randomized setting.

HCC is the second most common cause of death from cancer, estimated to be responsible for 788,000 deaths or 9.1% of total cancer fatalities in 2015. Aside from surgery, the only available option is the FDA-approved chemotherapy, sorafenib (NEXAVAR), which prolongs life by 2.8 months, results in 2% of partial clinical response, but no cure. According to the American Cancer Society 40,710 new cases of HCC and intrahepatic bile duct cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 in the United States. While HCC rates have tripled since 1980, they are still relatively low in North America and most of Europe, but it is a major cause of death in developing countries, said Dr. Allen Bain  director of Vancouver-based Immunitor Inc. Half of liver cancer patients are in mainland China, added Mr. Alan Reid  head of Hong Kong-registered Immunitor China Ltd  a company set up to address the unmet need of Asian market. Africa has the remaining share of burden, joined Mr. Paul Heslop - the company manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Valeryi Kalashnikov  representative in Moscow, Russia  noted: Eastern Europe and Russian Federation are additional target countries with high prevalence of hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dr. Aldar Bourinbaiar, CEO of Mongolia-based Immunitor LLC, commented: The results of this trial are good news to patients with HCC, who now have life-saving option. We are deeply satisfied by outcome of this study, which has all the signs of long-awaited breakthrough in liver cancer. This trial is yet another proof-of-concept for our oral vaccines platform designed to counteract cancer-associated inflammation through induction of immune tolerance, explaining why our vaccine can cure cancer, but without any evidence of toxicity. The co-founder of the company, Mr. Vichai Jirathitikal, concluded: Hepko can control HCC the same way as V5 has shown for hepatitis and cirrhosis.

About Immunitor

Immunitor Inc. is a privately held, commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Vancouver, Canada (http://www.immunitor.com) and offices in Beijing, Johannesburg, Moscow and Ulaanbaatar. Immunitors strength resides in its proprietary oral vaccine platform validated by numerous clinical trials conducted over the past 15 years. Immunitor makes several immunotherapy products addressing major health problems, i.e., in infectious diseases area: HIV, HBV, HCV, influenza, malaria, fungal and microbial infections including tuberculosis; in the area of autoimmune and metabolic diseases: i.e., renal failure, thyroiditis, Alzheimer disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity and diabetes; and recently in oncology space, with several candidates currently being investigated. The immediate goal of Immunitor is to address the unmet need in a wide range of liver-related diseases. A Phase II trial in patients with cholangiocarcinoma  second most common form of liver cancer affecting bile ducts - has been initiated last month. Soon, another immunotherapy will be deployed with intent to treat pancreatic cancer, which has the worst prognosis out of all forms of cancer. Based on encouraging preliminary data in HCC patients, hepcortespenlisimut-L has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which clears the path toward approval in US market.
Knowing that our patients have constant, round-the-clock care by critical care physicians available to them allows our in-hospital team to perform at our best and ultimately improve overall patient care.

Florida Hospital North Pinellas was selected as a recipient of the 2017 I SEE YOU CARE Award presented by Advanced ICU Care, the nations leading provider of high-acuity telemedicine services. The award recognizes outstanding collaboration between in-hospital care staff and Advanced ICU Cares remote critical care team  a partnership that is vital to improving patient care and outcomes in the demanding intensive care unit (ICU) environment. Florida Hospital North Pinellas was one of only 3 hospital recipients across more than 65 hospitals in the United States to be considered the award.

We are truly honored and humbled to receive the I See You Care Award. Working hand-in-hand with Advanced ICU Cares critical care teams enables Florida Hospital North Pinellas to augment the care for our most acute, critically ill patients, said Tricia Williams, Florida Hospital North Pinellas President and CEO. Knowing that our patients have constant, round-the-clock care by critical care physicians available to them allows our in-hospital team to perform at our best and ultimately improve overall patient care.

Florida Hospital North Pinellas was recognized in a ceremony on April 13 and was also honored with a donation to the Florida Hospital North Pinellas Foundation. Established in 2016, the I SEE YOU CARE Award honors Advanced ICU Care tele-ICU partners for their efforts in caring for patients, collaborating across geography and leveraging telehealth to make a profound difference within their hospital. Recognition is given in four categories: hospital, administrator, physician, and nurse.

It is our privilege to honor Florida Hospital North Pinellas for its steadfast commitment to advancing critical care through telemedicine, said Lou Silverman, CEO of Advanced ICU Care. Their commitment to patient care and our partnership reminds us of the great things we can accomplish together. We sincerely value our teamwork-centric partnership with Florida Hospital North Pinellas as we work to improve clinical outcomes and the patient and clinical staff experiences within the ICU.

About Florida Hospital North Pinellas

Florida Hospital North Pinellas, located in Tarpon Springs, is a 168-bed, full-service hospital specializing in cardiovascular medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedics, wound healing, sleep medicine and general surgery including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures. Florida Hospital North Pinellas has been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, The Joint Commission, and The Leapfrog Group, for excellence in providing quality patient care. Florida Hospital North Pinellas serves both the Pinellas and Pasco communities of West Central Florida. Part of the Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital is a leading health network comprised of 26 hospitals throughout the state. For more information, visit http://www.FHNorthPinellas.com.

About Advanced ICU Care

Advanced ICU Care is the nations leading provider of high acuity telemedicine services, serving more than 65 hospitals in 24 states on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis. Advanced ICU Care is a technology-enabled clinical services provider that employs cutting edge tele-technology, U.S. board-certified intensivists, advanced practitioners and nurses trained in critical care, multiple dedicated tele-care delivery centers, and a proven implementation and client service approach to the benefit of patients, families, providers and hospitals. For more information, visit http://www.advancedicucare.com.
Handpoint Mobile EMV Solution.

Companies are demanding more data around their operations in nearly every aspect of their business, and payments is no exception. As the payments industry shifts from selling commoditized standalone processing to building strategic partnerships and delivering integrated solutions, the need for real time feedback about payments and partners becomes increasingly important. With this in mind, Handpoint is proud to announce its new Analytics Dashboard for ISOs, ISVs and VARs. Partners will now be able to see in real time incredible detail, including the kind of transactions, the locations of transactions, transaction volumes, and other valuable data, in one simple dashboard.

Building on its robust Platform as a Service (PaaS), Handpoint's new Analytics feature is yet another innovation for Handpoint partners looking to aide and grow with their merchant partners. With merchants having more choices than ever, payments professionals and resellers need to understand the ins and outs of their merchants' payments activity to know best what upgrades and upsells to offer.

Handpoint CEO, David Gudjonsson, said: "Launching Handpoint Analytics is yet another step in the right direction toward supporting our core value of partner success. With this feature, we're proving our commitment to not just building better payments experiences, but truly helping people do business anywhere."

Combined with Handpoint's remote terminal management system, ISOs have a powerful toolkit to grow their business. ISOs and processors can identify a merchant's payment trends in the Analytics dashboard, upsell the merchant over the phone, and push an update live to the merchant in a matter of seconds. ISOs can evaluate which sales channels, markets, and verticals are performing best to advance their integrated payments strategy. Customer support professionals can review merchant transactions to identify any issues immediately, and provide remote support, including pushing updates to the card readers in seconds.

Handpoints Analytics solution covers a wide swath of data with standardized and customizable formats in order to provide the most amount of value possible to our partners. This innovation demonstrates once again Handpoint's deep understanding of the needs of its integrated payments partners. Handpoint's integrated payments platform is utilized by numerous ISOs, processors, acquirers, and ISVs on three continents. To learn more about Handpoint's analytics feature, please visit us at Handpoint.com or contact us today.

About Handpoint

Headquartered in Iceland with offices in the UK and USA, Handpoint offers a cutting edge and innovative Platform as a Service (PaaS) solution to the payments industry. Handpoint has pioneered major innovations in the payments market, including developing easily integrated mobile EMV payments and has won multiple awards for the high pace of innovation in developing their end-to-end integrated payments platform.
Ben Franklin: The Philadelphian is an exhibit that will take place at the Old Jail during Spring into History Spring into History has over twenty sites organized in a circular route that visitors can begin the tour at any point and all sites have no admission fee...

On April 29, Franklin County springs into history with its sixth annual history ramble-aptly named Spring into History and highlights the Franklin County Old Jail and John Brown House among its stops.

Spring into History has over twenty sites organized in a circular route that visitors can begin the tour at any point and all sites have no admission fee. Traverse centuries of American heritage and culture, see Native American artifacts, frontier and colonial America, secret passages of the Underground Railroad, raids and invasions of the Civil War, and centuries of American military history. See architectural and archaeological history. Discover the foundation of 20th-century forestry conservation. Understand the importance of firefighting history and the turn-of-the-twentieth century evolution of industry.

The Franklin County Old Jail & John Brown House, both located on King Street in Chambersburg, are among the historic stops. The Old Jail, built in 1818 and one of the surviving structures from the 1864 Confederate burning of the town, was used for more than 150 years as a prison. Tradition suggests some of the cells in the basement were used as a way-station in the Underground Railroad to shelter runaway slaves. Nearby is the John Brown House, or Mary Ritner Boarding House. Ritners boarding house served as the northern headquarters of abolitionist John Brown, who planned his famous seizure of the arsenal at Harpers Ferry during the summer of 1859. Brown assumed the alias of Isaac Smith and professed to work for a mining company to disguise the heavy shipments of weapons stored in the railroad warehouses, less than a block from the boarding house.

During Spring into History, the Old Jail will feature a Benjamin Franklin exhibit titled Ben Franklin the Philadelphian, which will be interactive and family-friendly, featuring printing press stamps and magic squares. Visitors can view the recently digitized photos from the Mumper Studio Collection (1923-1947), and guests can request a search for family members' photos as well as other genealogical records. Digital copies and prints will be available for purchase. The nearby John Brown House will be open for tours throughout the day.

Spring Into History helps visitors to explore the history of Franklin County. Other stops on Spring Into History 2017 include the Conococheague Institute in Mercersburg, Mont Alto Historical Society, the Waynesboro Industrial Museum, Allison Antrim Museum in Greencastle and Chambersburg Volunteer Firefighters Museum. Check out these sites by downloading the self-guided tour booklet at https://issuu.com/fcvb/docs/spring_into_history_2017. Or, call the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060 to have a copy mailed.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore Franklin County PA and enjoy the history, arts, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods and warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and an easy drive to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Discover more....plan your visit at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or by contacting 866.646.8060
How could anyone believe in gawd and not the easter bunny? I have seen the easter bunny. True story. When my niece was about three easter morning we were all at drama's and a rabbit hopped across the lawn. We were able to catch it and told her it was the easter bunny.
The Dickinson Wright Womens Network is pleased to announce that it will host its annual Sharing Our Success event on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

This years Sharing Our Success events theme is Spring Fling! featuring a cocktail reception and networking opportunity between the Dickinson Wright Womens Network and other female leaders within the community. The event will also celebrate the charitable work of HAVEN, Inc. with donations accepted for the organization at the door. Below are the event details:

Dickinson Wright Womens Network Sharing Our Success event

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2017

Time: 6:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m.

Location: The Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, MI 48009

HAVEN is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader that provides programs to promote violence-free homes and communities and helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. As Oakland Countys only comprehensive program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, HAVEN provides shelter, counseling, advocacy and educational programming to nearly 20,000 people each year. To learn more, please visit http://www.haven-oakland.org.

The Dickinson Wright Womens Network was formed to support and advance women within the firm and the practice of law. Originally focused on fostering interaction and mentoring among the firms female attorneys, the Network has expanded over the years to include the firms female clients and women in the communities where the firms offices are located  throughout Michigan, and in Austin, Columbus, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Lexington, Nashville, Phoenix, Reno, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. To learn more about the Dickinson Wright Womens Network, please click here.

About Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm with more than 450 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas and 16 industry groups. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has seventeen offices, including six in Michigan (Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw) and ten other domestic offices in Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Nashville and Music Row, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Washington, D.C. The firms Canadian office is located in Toronto.

Dickinson Wright offers our clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise and business acumen. As one of the few law firms with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, Dickinson Wright has built state-of-the-art, independently-verified risk management controls and security processes for our commercial transactions. Dickinson Wright lawyers are known for delivering commercially-oriented advice on sophisticated transactions and have a remarkable record of wins in high-stakes litigation. Dickinson Wright lawyers are regularly cited for their expertise and experience by Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and other leading independent law firm evaluating organizations.
Attorney Christopher Carson It has allowed me the opportunity to help thousands of people navigate the difficult shoals of their legal entanglements. Past News Releases RSS Carson Law Office Helps Soles4Souls...

Attorney Christopher Carson, founder of the Carson Law Office, is celebrating his twenty-fifth anniversary as a legal professional. Its been an amazingly rewarding quarter century of practicing law in the great state of Wisconsin, said Carson, who focuses on criminal defense, family law and bankruptcy. It has allowed me the opportunity to help thousands of people navigate the difficult shoals of their legal entanglements.

Carson is revered for his ethics and understanding of the importance of forensic evidence in any criminal case. With each case, he works to build a strong legal defense by collaborating with highly knowledgeable professionals in forensic science, firearms, toxicology, handwriting, computer technology and any other applicable disciplines in order to discover and adequately analyze all available evidence.

Mr. Carson is a man of fine moral fiber. He possesses strong moral principles in his personal life as well as high ethical standards in his law practice, said client, Lawrence. The quality of his work in the legal system reflects an adherence to an honest, candid distinction between right and wrong, coupled with a sincere sense of compassion and concern for the individual and lifes circumstances.

In addition to law, Carson is a strong supporter of Soles4Souls, a nonprofit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. The Carson Law Office is an official Soles4Souls drop-off location.

About Carson Law Office

Carson Law Office represents clients faced with legal troubles throughout Milwaukee and across the state of Wisconsin. Its services include felony and misdemeanor defense, DWI/OWI defense, domestic violence defense, family law and bankruptcy. For more information, please call (262) 860-8932, or visit http://www.carsonlawoffice.com. The law office is located at 15350 W. National Avenue, Suite 101, New Berlin, WI.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
"I thought that it would be much easier for parents and children alike if drinking vessels were designed to meet a wider age range," said an inventor from Elk Grove, Calif. "I came up with this design so that a child can use the same container for many phases of feeding."

She developed the patent-pending KIDO TO KID 3-N-1 to enable the child to use the same drinking vessel during several phases of feeding. The drinkware fosters a smooth transition from one phase to the next. It adjusts to accommodate the needs of a growing child. The design helps the child maintain a firm grasp on the vessel. The invention saves parents from having to purchase as many drinking vessels. Furthermore, it is designed to be compact and easily portable.

The original design was submitted to the Sacramento office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 15-SAH-1205, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com - https://www.youtube.com/user/inventhelp

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The NewSpace Business Plan Competition is the world's only space-focused BPC Were looking for startup companies, at any stage, that have a technology or product that will significantly advance the new space movement."

Today, the National Space Society and The Center for Space Commerce and Finance announced that this years second regional NewSpace Business Plan Competition will be held in conjunction with the 2017 International Space Development Conference (ISDC) on May 26, in St. Louis. Competitors will present their business plan in front of a panel of investors and the ISDC audience, for a chance to win a cash prize and guaranteed entry into the national NewSpace Business Plan Competition in November.

Were looking for startup companies, at any stage, that have a technology or product that will significantly advance the new space movement, said Joel Vinas, Executive Director of the Center for Space Commerce and Finance, the organization that manages the NewSpace Business Plan Competition. This could be anything from launch and propulsion companies, to small satellite manufacturers, or companies that provide products or services to any sector of the emerging commercial space economy.

Companies with space-scalable technologies are highly encouraged to apply. This includes technologies that are primarily developed to solve problems here on Earth for commercial benefit and profit, but are also scalable to solve key long-range space problems when the demand ultimately exists.

The wide range of companies and technologies that were seeing develop in this industry is indicative of its rapid growth, said Steve Jorgensen, founder of Space Finance Group and chair of the space business track at this years ISDC. Were thrilled to be a part of the competition that helps catalyze this industrys growth by promoting, educating, and connecting the next generation of explorers.

The winner of the St.Louis regional event will receive a $2,500 cash prize, courtesy of the Heinlein Prize Trust. The winner will also be guaranteed the opportunity to compete at the national NewSpace Business Plan Competition, to be held at the New Worlds Conference in Austin, TX on November 10-11, 2017.

As an angel investor myself, Im excited to see a competition focused on space, that is intended to simulate the real world process of entrepreneurs soliciting funding from early stage investors and venture capital firms, said Alice Hoffman, president of the National Space Society. I cant wait to see what exciting companies will present this year!

All interested space startup companies are encouraged to apply on the NewSpace Business Plan Competition website: http://newspacebpc.com/apply/. Interested investors, media, students, and anyone who would like to be in the audience, are encouraged to sign up to attend the International Space Development Conference: http://isdc2017.nss.org. To learn more about this and upcoming competitions across the world, sign up for the NewSpace Business Plan Competition newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bF4MBj

About NewSpace Business Plan Competition

Originally started as a project of the Space Frontier Foundation in 2006, the NewSpace BPC has awarded over $300,000 in cash prizes to space-enabling startups. Now a product of the Center for Space Commerce and Finance, the NewSpace BPC is expanding its reach, hosting regional competitions and raising investor awareness towards space-related startups. Chosen competitors attend a private, 2-day, Boot Camp session, and make a final pitch to investors at the annual New Worlds Conference where a winner is announced. For more information visit http://www.NewSpaceBPC.com.

About the National Space Society

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, educational, grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Founded as the National Space Institute (1974) and L5 Society (1975), which merged to form NSS in 1987, NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen's voice on space. NSS has over 50 chapters in the United States and around the world. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space. Learn more: nss.org

About the Heinlein Prize Trust

The Heinlein Prize Trust honors the memory of Robert A. Heinlein, a renowned American author. The purpose of the Heinlein Prize is to encourage and reward progress in commercial space activities that advances Robert and his wife Virginias dream of humanitys future in space. Efforts include: The Heinlein Prize for Accomplishments in Commercial Space Activities, The Microgravity Research Competition, The Heinlein Commercial Space Activity Prize, and The Flight Into the Future international contests. Find out more: http://www.heinleinprize.com
NAIJA BETA available on VHX and Vimeo "While the characters in NAIJA BETA are Nigerian, the film speaks more broadly to the current wave of Africans in the diaspora who are returning to figure out their place on the continent."

One Day I Too Go Fly Inc, an independent production company creating films exploring new narratives about Africans and Africa in a globalized age, has released its first film NAIJA BETA. The documentary is now available worldwide on the VOD platforms VHX and Vimeo. The release comes after a year of film festival engagements in Europe, Africa and North America where NAIJA BETA garnered several awards.

NAIJA BETA follows a team of Nigerian and Nigerian-American undergraduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who launch and run Exposure Robotics Academy (XRA), a robotics camp for teenagers, in Lagos, Nigeria. Propelling its action through a competition drama set-up, the film explores youth entrepreneurship, STEM education, and African diasporan homecoming in present-day Nigeria.

This heart warming documentary often finds itself deviating from its mission and submerging itself in the complexities of human emotions that are unfolding around it. Fortunately, deviating from its simple set up is what makes NAIJA BETA a masterpiece in its own right. It is a documentary that examines the fears of children of Africa and what lies ahead for them and the ones rediscovering home even while they were not looking, wrote Hafeez Oluwa, reviewing the film at the 2016 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos for Sodas N Popcorn, the largest movie database in Nollywood.

The film premiered at the 2016 Pan African International Film Festival in Cannes, France. Since then, it has won the following awards: Best Documentary Feature - Urban Mediamakers Film Festival 2016; Best Documentary Short - Roxbury International Film Festival 2016; Achievement in Documentary Film, Feature Length - Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2016; and the High Output Director Award - Arlington International Film Festival 2016. It was also nominated for Best Humanitarian Film at RapidLion: The South African International Film Festival 2017.

NAIJA BETA is directed by Arthur Musah, an engineer turned filmmaker whose own journey from Ghana to MIT, where he earned a bachelors and a masters degree in electrical engineering and computer science, informs his films. After studying filmmaking as an Annenberg Fellow at the University of Southern Californias School of Cinematic Arts, Musah returned to MIT to embark on a multi-year study of African youths coming of age at the iconic American college. NAIJA BETA marks his directorial debut, and is the first of two films resulting from the project. The second film, ONE DAY I TOO GO FLY, is in post-production. NAIJA BETA is produced by Arthur Musah and Brook Turner.

While the characters in NAIJA BETA are Nigerian, the film speaks more broadly to the current wave of Africans in the diaspora who are returning to figure out their place on the continent, said Musah. The film documents early efforts by ambitious young African entrepreneurs, and that resonates.

Since graduating from MIT, NAIJA BETA protagonist Obinna Ukwuani and his XRA cofounder Obinna Okwodu have moved to Nigeria to launch new businesses. Okwodu is making rental housing affordable for professionals in Nigeria with his new venture Fibre. Ukwuani continues to impact STEM education in Nigeria with his CNN-featured startup Makers Academy, which recently launched its New Economy Skills Accelerator (NESA) program. NAIJA BETA main character Jemima Osunde was eager to leave Nigeria as a high-school student learning to program robots at the XRA, but now studies at the University of Lagos College of Medicine and is a rising star of Nigerian television and film.

The film has engaged audiences at community screenings such as Girls Day at the MIT Museum and Global Entrepreneurship Week at the African Leadership University. The Yale Undergraduate Association for African Peace and Development will screen NAIJA BETA and host filmmaker Arthur Musah as a panelist at its conference April 14-15, 2017.

NAIJA BETA continues its festival run, making its New York Premiere at the 24th New York African Film Festival. The screening will take place at the Maysles Cinema in Harlem on May 20th, 2017.

For the latest news about NAIJA BETA, please visit http://pidgincinema.com/ or the film's Facebook page.
More than 60 motorcyclists from Ray Price Harley-Davidson & Triumph delivered gifts to youth at Masonic Home for Children the Saturday before Easter. Weve been doing this ride for 11 years now and have a large, committed group of riders every year, said Kris Weiss of Ray Price, Inc. Everyone enjoys providing the youngsters with a unique Easter experience.

One hundred children in need at the Oxford Orphanage received a visit from a group of Easter bunnies in leather on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Motorcycle riders from across the region, including members of Raleigh H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), took to the streets for the 11th annual Ray Price Easter Basket Ride to deliver care packages totaling more than $3,000 in donations to youth at the The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.

Weve been doing this ride for 11 years now and have a large, committed group of motorcycle riders every year, said Kris Weiss of Ray Price, Inc. Everyone enjoys providing the youngsters with a unique Easter experience.

Riders departed from the Ray Price dealership in Raleigh on Saturday morning and arrived in Oxford that afternoon. They delivered special Easter baskets for each youngster that included toys, bedding and everyday hygiene products.

About Ray Price, Inc.

For 35 years, Ray Price Harley-Davidson and Ray Price Triumph have served as the center of motorcycle culture in North Carolina. Knowledgeable staff with decades of riding experience provide award-winning customer service and education programs for beginners-to-expert riders. Founded by hall-of-fame motorcycle racing legend Ray Price, the dealership actively supports nonprofits through weekly fundraising rides and also hosts the annual Capital City Bikefest motorcycle festival in Raleigh. @RayPriceHD

About the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford

The Masonic Home for Children (MHCO) exists to help children who need a stable, caring and loving home. MHCO assists families in need by providing a home-like setting together with community based programs and services for children. It offers a stable, supportive and nurturing living environment so children can reunite with their families or achieve independence. This mission is fulfilled through the support of charitable giving and backed by nearly 150 years of faith, concern, and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of families and children. Learn more at http://www.mhc-oxford.org.
Rendering of the Statue of Liberty Museum from the Statue of Liberty Museum Website Lady Liberty is the symbol of everything America is about: freedom, hope, possibility and resilience.

High Concrete Group LLC, based in Denver, PA, is pleased to announce that they will be providing high performance insulated architectural precast panels for the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

FXFowle (New York, NY) the award winning architectural firm, has created a stunning 26,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building. Every detail has been thoughtfully incorporated to complement and respect the Statue of Liberty and her Island. Phelps Construction Group (Boonton, NJ) was chosen as the construction manager for the project, during the early stages and has played a vital role in the design development.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. seeks to raise $100 million to build the Museum, expected to be completed in 2019.

This is the first new building construction undertaken by the Foundation, which has been responsible for historic restoration and preservation since the 1980s. As the key part of a beautification plan that includes landscaping and lighting, the new museum will give the more than 4.3 million annual visitors to the Statue of Liberty the opportunity to learn about and honor the Statues history, influence, and legacy in the world.

The current Statue of Liberty Museum, located inside the Statue of Liberty monument, is only accessible to a small fraction of the Statues visitors due to the safety upgrades that were put in place following September 11, 2001.

The Statue of Liberty is not just one of the most recognized monuments in the world, but an international symbol of hope that deserves to have her story shared with everyone who visits Liberty Island, said Statue of LibertyEllis Island Foundation President and CEO Stephen Briganti. We are so honored to have Diane von Furstenberg, who was so inspired by the Statue herself when she first arrived in America, leading the fundraising campaign for the new museum.

"Lady Liberty is the symbol of everything America is about: freedom, hope, possibility and resilience. It is She that millions of immigrants saw first as they arrived in this country, their hearts full of dreams for a brighter future. Now it is my hope that the Statue of Liberty and her incredible story will live on and on, inspiring generations for years to come," said Diane von Furstenberg

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Robert Pabst, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of High Concrete Group, and a New York native from the Brooklyn-Long Island area said, A great opportunity indeed. We at High Concrete are proud to be part of this exciting project in homage of Americas iconic Lady of the Harbor.

For more information about the Statue of Liberty Museum and how you can help, visit http:http://www.statueoflibertymuseum.org

About High Concrete Group LLC

High Concrete employs more than 400 co-workers and has provided precast components for more than 5,000 projects since 1977. High Concretes product line includes architectural facades, insulated and structural enclosure systems, parking garages, stadiums and other precast products for commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential applications. High Concrete Group operates plants in Denver, Pennsylvania and Springboro, Ohio; and High Concrete Accessories, a Denver, Pennsylvania-based national precasting embedment supplier for commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential applications. Please visit http://www.highconcrete.com

The High Concrete Group is a member of MAPA which is a regional affiliate of the Precast Concrete Institute (PCI). The mission of MAPA is to advance the use of precast /prestressed concrete for commercial, industrial, residential and transportation design and construction. For more information, please contact Tom Holmes at 717.723.6010 or email info(at)mapaprecast(dot)org. Information can also be found at http://www.mapaprecast.org

About the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to raise funds for and oversee the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition to restoring the monuments, the Foundation created museums on both islands. The American Immigrant Wall of Honor, the American family Immigration History Center and most recently the Peopling of America Center which transformed the museum into the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. The Foundation's endowment has funded over 200 projects at the islands.
Warriors Heart is the first private treatment center for warriors only (military, veterans and first responders) in the US for addiction and PTSD We are extremely fortunate and truly humbled to have such amazing and talented individuals as part of the board from all Warrior classes and the business world with a wide range of backgrounds. ~ Josh Lannon, Warriors Heart Founder

Warriors Heart, a first of its kind Residential Treatment Center solely dedicated to Warriors, announces their new Foundation Honorary Board of Advisors and results of their first official meeting on March 31, 2017. This new board includes a vast combination of experience including Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement, Fire Firefighters, along with business and community leaders.

Warriors Heart Founder Josh Lannon welcomed this new Honorary Board of Advisors, We are extremely fortunate and truly humbled to have such amazing and talented individuals as part of the board from all Warrior classes and the business world with a wide range of backgrounds in starting and selling businesses, venture capital, and experience working on boards of directors for non-profit organizations.

Topics discussed at the first Honorary Board of Advisors meeting with the Warriors Heart executive team included programs for Post-Traumatic Stress and addiction treatment, K-9 Service Dogs Program (healing from both ends of the leash), therapy through art, strategic planning, and a tour of the facility which is located on a 543-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio, Texas.

Warriors Heart Executive Director and US Army Colonel (Ret) Joe Brown explained to the new board members, Warriors Heart provides inpatient treatment for chemical dependency, alcohol abuse and co-occurring psychological disorders relating to PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). As a former executive retreat center, Warriors Heart can accommodate 40 resident patients at a time with separate lodging buildings with private and shared suite-like roomswhich rival any hotel with a top Trip Advisor rating.

Following this meeting, new board member, Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer, published in his blog: and nothing about it screams out medical facility of any typeThe founders of Warriors Heart set out to create a space that looks and feels comfortable because they knew the healing process can be uncomfortable, but the individuals surroundings dont have to be. No white walls or glaring lights here!

After the meeting, Warriors Heart Founder Josh Lannon commented, This group of leaders and experts were invaluable engaging our management team and believing in the mission of Warriors healing Warriors. Their combined executive experience, knowledge, and passion for supporting our nations Warriors are tremendous assets in our early stage as an organization.

Warriors Heart Foundation Honorary Board of Advisors members present included:

Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer

Michael J Bouchard, Sheriff Oakland County Sheriffs Office, MI

MG(R) Charlie Fletcher US Army, Former COO WWP

MG(R) Terry Juskowiak US Army, Former IBM Executive

John Lovett, Founded River City Builders, Inc. in New Braunfels

LTG(R) Ray Mason US Army, CEO Army Emergency Relief Fund

CSM(R) Jeff Mellinger, Former US Army Ranger, Bell Helicopter

Clarence McAllister, Founder & CEO of Fortis specializing in vertical and horizontal construction

Luis Moreno, Bandera County Sheriffs Department

CAPT(R) Mike Plunkett US Navy, President of Alphatec Spine

Rod Sands, Served as President and COO of Pace Picante

MG(R) Sim Trombitas, Chairman of the Board, Green Beret Foundation

Darren Weeks, Entrepreneur and Investor

Tom Wheelwright, CPA, CEO & Founder ProVision - CPA Firm

Additional Warriors Heart Honorary Board of Advisors members unable to attend this meeting include:

Kyle Lamb (SGM (R), Founder Viking Tactics, Inc.)

Max Martini (Actor) Martini starred in Michael Bays 13 Hours (2016) for Paramount Pictures.

Dr Nancy Glass, R.N., Ph.D., Founder Operation Honor Our Heroes; Professor at Austin Community College

COL(R) Chris Elroy Stricklin, Former Thunderbird Pilot and Award Winning Leadership Author/Keynote Speaker

MG(R) Mark Graham US Army, Director, Vets4Warriors

The next Warriors Heart Foundation Honorary Board of Advisors Honorary meeting will be held in the October 2017 timeframe. Prior to this meeting, additional board members will be added.

Media Contact

Liz Kelly, 310-987-7207

About Operation Warriors Heart Foundation

Operation Warriors Heart Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established to help subsidize the cost of treatment for those who don't have insurance or dont have the funds to private pay for treatment or continuation of care. http://www.operationwarriorsheart.org/

About Warriors Heart (Bandera, Texas, near San Antonio):

Warriors Heart is the first private treatment center for warriors only (military, veterans and first responders) in the US for addiction and PTSD founded by Josh Lannon, Lisa Lannon and Tom Spooner. This rehabilitation program provides a peer-to peer based solution to help the over 13.3 million American Warriors faced with the self-medicating struggles of alcohol addiction, prescription and drug addiction, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and mild TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) in a private, 40-bed facility on a 543-acre ranch. While other rehabilitation centers have a veteran track, the veterans are still mixed with civilians during treatment compared to Warriors Heart that is soley dedicated to warriors. Warriors Heart work has been featured in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, CBS Health Watch, KENS5 CBS News San Antonio, FOX 10 News Phoenix, PoliceOne, Womans Day and Addiction Pro magazine. There is a 24-hour Warriors Heart hotline (844-448-2567) answered by warriors. http://warriorsheart.com
LINCOLN  Conestoga High School students showcased their agricultural knowledge this past week at the Nebraska FFA State Convention.

Students traveled to Lincoln for the convention April 5-7. They joined hundreds of other teenagers from across the state at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus for a host of activities.

Six Conestoga students earned the Nebraska State FFA Degree at the convention. Grace Lowe, Jacob Morris, Titus Nolting, Zeke Rouse, Sofia Sedlacek and Jacob Vallery all received the prestigious honor. The State FFA Degree is the highest award the state association can give to a member.

Students must submit at least two years of record books for their comprehensive Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program to be eligible for the State FFA Degree. They must also pass the State FFA Degree Assessment, complete an application form and meet all minimum state association membership requirements.

Jacob Drake earned an award in the State Leadership Events section of the convention. He captured second place in the Extemporaneous Speaking category.

Zeke Rouse also secured a second-place honor during the week. He collected the award in Division V of the Food Products and Processing Systems contest in the FFA Agriscience Fair.

Conestogas Ag Sales team of Drake, Kelsi Weilage, Morgan Wurtele and Sophia Svanda tied for fourth place in the Career Development Events contest. Forty-six schools took part in the Ag Sales competition.

All four members took a written exam and then came together for a team activity. The Cougars had to sell an agricultural product to a judge during a ten-minute session. They had to establish rapport with the judge, answer questions about the product and ensure they would meet the customers needs.

The CHS team of Rouse, Sedlacek, Grace Lowe and Hannah Lowe also posted a top-ten finish at state. They placed eighth in the Food Science competition. Thirty-six schools participated in the contest.

Conestoga State FFA Career Development Events Results

Ag Sales  Conestoga (Jacob Drake, Kelsi Weilage, Morgan Wurtele, Sophia Svanda), 989 points (tied 4th)

Ag Technology and Mechanics  Conestoga (Adam Olson, Wyatt Remmers, Dalton Nickels, Ben Njus), 668 points (25th)

Agriscience  Conestoga (Bella Hogue, Shay Uhe, Matthew South, Alyssa Kellerman), 1,059 points (26th)

Agronomy  Conestoga (Titus Nolting, Jacob Vallery, Wyatt Remmers, Jacob Morris), 345 points (68th)

Food Science  Conestoga (Zeke Rouse, Hannah Lowe, Grace Lowe, Sofia Sedlacek), 973 points (8th)

Conestoga State FFA Agriscience Fair Results

Food Products and Processing Systems V  Zeke Rouse (2nd)

Conestoga State Leadership Events Results

Extemporaneous Speaking  Jacob Drake (2nd)

Conestoga State FFA Degree Recipients

Grace Lowe, Jacob Morris, Titus Nolting, Zeke Rouse, Sofia Sedlacek, Jacob Vallery
This year the Bologna Childrens Book Fair offered a new fellowship for young international publishers to attend the fair. Its modeled on the Frankfurt Book Fairs fellowship program, said Roberta Chinni, the fairs former exhibition director who served as administrator for the project, but our focus is on junior staff in rights or editorial, which is somewhat unique, I think.

Five publishers were selected, including Joao Miguel Vieira Alves, editor with Aletheia Editores, Portugal; Dana Dinca, copyright assistant at Curtea Veche Publishing, Bucharest, Romania; Sahra Correia Vandenbroucke, assistant editor at Clavis Publishing in Belgium; Barbara Margarida Soares, editorial assistant, Grupo BertrandCirculo, Portugal; and Ivelina Tsvetanova Dervisheva, junior editor and rights manager, Hermes Publishers, Bulgaria.

The program included meetings at the offices of major Italian publishing houses, including Mondadori, Giunti and Carthusia, visits to bookstores including Milans La Libreria dei Ragazzithe first childrens bookstore in Italyand Giannino Stoppani in Bologna; and attendance at the Dust or Magic digital publishing workshop held on the Sunday prior to the fair.

The fellowship in Bologna was incredible both on a professional and a personal level, Derisheva told PW. We had meetings which otherwise wouldve never been possible and we actually did business at our first Bologna Fair! The publishing world is huge and overwhelming but now it is a little bit less scary.

The expectation, Chinni said, is that these young publishers would become friends, stay in touch, and grow together in the industry. Funding for the project came from the Aldus Project, also known as the European Book Fairs Network, along with the Italian Trade Commission and the AIE (Italian Publishers Association). The goal, according to Chinni, is to expand the program in the coming years.

Dinca felt that the fellowship gave her a foundation to grow her network and build her career. The most important aspect is that they wanted us to realize that is necessary to keep close relationships and work together to continue improvement in education, arts, and culture in general, she said. It was an amazing experience.
Amazon sets date to open Lynnfield, Mass., store; new kids store lands in North Carolina; Delaware LGBTQ store to close; and more.

Amazon to Open Second Massachusetts Store: Amazon.com will open its second Massachusetts bookstore on April 18 in Lynnfield.

Read With Me Opens in Raleigh, N.C.: The new 1,200 sq.-ft. children's bookstore and art shop is now open for business.

Delaware LGBTQ Bookstore to Close: Founded in 2007, The Proud Bookstore in Rehoboth, Del. will close on April 17.

Billings, Mont. This House of Books Struggles: The community owned bookstore opened since last October has turned a profit for the first time in months, but is still fighting to remain open.

Detroit's My Book Buddy Bookstore Helps Kids: My Book Buddy is an online children's bookstore that donates a book to local students in need for every book bought on the site.

Redmond Used Bookstore Rebranded: The Redmond, Ore. Friends Bookshop has been rebranded reBooks and added art after moving to a new location.
The Bologna Children's Book Fair's official attendance numbers are in. Attendance at last week's show was was up 2% over last year, to 26,743. Overseas and foreign attendees were up 15%, hitting 11,752; foreign attendees accounted for 44% of total attendance.

BCBF's exhibition director Elena Pasoli credited the fair's ongoing focus on bringing in more foreign exhibitors for the upswing in foreign attendance. "We have worked hard to include even more countries," she said, suggesting that the Fair's efforts to go further afieldtouring its annual Illustrators Exhibition to Asia and running the annual Global Kids Connect conference in New York Citywere paying dividends in making the fair more relevant.

Several other factors likely contributed to the jump in overseas guests, including rebounding publishing markets in countries that had previously cut back on exhibitors. These include Spainwith Catalonia's Guest of Honor turn this year bringing several hundred attendees to the Fairas well as Greece and Portugal, which had notably more attendees. A favorable exchange rate between the Euro and other global currencies likely helped bolster the numbers as well, especially for attendees from the Americas and Asia.

Pasoli, who assumed the role of exhibition director last year, also added some new touches to the fair. One thing she did was bring back a focus on young illustrators and publishers. A new "Illustrator's Survival Corner" was created on the show floor, which offered a variety of services to up-and-coming illustrators, from portfolio critiques to seminars on how to pitch publishers.

"We also received a lot of positive feedback about the stronger emphasis we put on the links between creativity and technology, which was one of our main issues this year," Pasoli said. Among the first-time exhibitors in this area were Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo and Milan-based notebook producer Moleskine. The latter was showing off its Smart Writing Set, a bluetooth-enabled pen that digitizes writing so it can be sent to a smartphone or tablet.

The 2018 Bologna International Childrens Book Fair is scheduled for March 2629, with China as the Guest of Honor.
Anybody with any sort of substantial driving experience knows the hassle of getting stopped at a railroad crossing.

It makes people late to work, it slows down meeting up with friends and is generally just a huge pain in the neck. Sometimes it feels like a life or death situation, fuming while a train takes its sweet time making its way down the track, but ultimately, it never really is.

The same cant be said of when first responders are en route to potentially save peoples lives. In this situation, the clock is constantly ticking. And with life and death potentially hanging in first responders hands, every second is of the utmost importance.

During Tuesday evenings Fremont City Council meeting, the Council voted to approve a Railroad Crossing Monitoring System that will be installed at four railroad crossings throughout Fremont (North Somers Avenue, West 23rd Street, Linden Avenue and West Military Avenue), Communications Director Shelly Holzerland said during a Wednesday interview with the Tribune.

The conversation about how to handle railroad crossing delays in the west side of Fremont has been ongoing for years, and while conversation is still happening in regard to an overpass that would stretch over the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad, and the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (FEVR/BNSF) railroad crossing on 23rd Street, project expense increases have delayed progression.

Holzerland, who oversees dispatch for the Fremont Police Department, said that she spent substantial time searching for alternatives to improve reaction times in the west part of town. Finally she found something that she thought would work well.

I was trying to look for a product or solution that another jurisdiction may have used to address this problem, she said. Because any town with railroad tracks has problems with railroad crossing being blocked at certain times, its just something that comes with the railroads.

Holzerland said that she came across research conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. In the late 1990s or early 2000s, she said that the institute started a project in Sugarland, Texas, that was nearly exactly what the City of Fremont is looking to do.

Its a way for a 9-1-1 Center to let first responders know when the crossings are blocked when they are dispatched to a call so that they can choose an alternate route, Holzerland said. So it saves them the time of driving up the blocked crossing and then having to turn around.

The dispatcher can look at a display and see that it is blocked, so when they dispatch them (first responders) they can tell them that it is blocked and they can choose a different way to get there.

The system is not an off-the-shelf product, Holzerland said, rather it was designed specifically by an engineer working with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The system will cost approximately $130,436, and will take 9 to 12 months to be in full effect.

Once installed, dispatchers and law enforcement will be able to monitor from computer screens what railroad crossings are blocked, and which ones would potentially be blocked by the time they needed to cross. Better yet, a separate project is in the works that would enable the public access to the same railroad crossing information by downloading an application to their smartphones.

Holzerland explained: Part of the process is having a display that will be up, available for the dispatcher to see all the time  they wont have to go into a website or open up cameras, it will always be on display in the 9-1-1 Call Center. Each crossing has an indicator that is red, green or gray.

If the equipment is out of service its gray, but if its red its blocked, and if its green its open. And it will start up north of town so we will know that a train is coming.

While the creation of an application used by the public will be a major convenience, the real purpose of the Railroad Crossing Monitoring System is for law enforcement and medical personnel to respond in emergency situations quicker, ultimately having better outcomes.

The purpose of it is to alleviate some concerns we had about trying to get emergency vehicles to the other side of the tracks, she said.
Progress is being made at the intersection of 16th and Broad Streets with the erection of two wooden poles that will hold cabling and a temporary traffic signal.

Following a vehicle accident in early March, the stretch of road that turns into U.S. Highway 77 north and south had its southbound light pole and mast arm damaged beyond repair.

Since then, northbound traffic on Broad Street has had flashing yellow light and east and westbound traffic have had a blinking red light. In addition, stop signs were erected at the east and west intersections of 16th and Broad streets and yellow signs were installed below the stop signs reading, cross traffic does not stop.

And while this served as a visual warning to drivers, one substantial wreck still occurred at the crossing in late March. No one was seriously injured.

With the two wooden poles being installed, Dave Goedeken, director of public works, said that they temporary signal could be installed as shortly as a few days. Replacing the actual light pole and mast arm take time since there is such a high demand for them, and it also takes time to get the right size arm and pole.

There have been several orders in front of Fremonts, Goedeken previously told the Tribune.

While the temporary solution isnt perfect, the intersection will inevitably be safer.

This way we at least have a signal functioning, Goedeken said during a previous interview.
ROCK ISLAND  Bob Frink retired as president of the Crawford Company on March 31 and a retirement reception is planned 2:30-5 p.m. April 21 at 1306 Mill St., Rock Island.

Mr. Frink spent 45 years at the company, 43 of them as president. He joined Crawford in 1972 as an estimator and project manager, becoming president in 1974 when the company's founder, Harvey Crawford, died.

"Its always been about good people doing good work and making sure they had the support they needed to be successful, said Mr. Frink.

The company was founded in 1952 and has been in Rock Island for all 65 years, moving to its current 67,000-square-foot location at 1306 Mill St. in 1965.

In the early 1970s Crawford had fewer than 10 employees and worked primarily in the residential heating, ventilation, air conditioning and sheet metal markets. Today it has 180 employees and specializes in HVAC, plumbing, laser cutting, welding, fabrication, micro-brew equipment, Monoxivent Source Capture Products and fiberglass reinforced plastic products. The company presently competes in residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the U.S. and Canada and has a second location, Crawford North, in Dubuque.

In 1985, Mr. Frink and Jim Maynard, Sr., helped the company evolve into commercial and industrial markets. One year later, the company added a weld shop to grow its fabrication division. In 1990 the company underwent its first expansion, adding 3,200 square feet. Shortly afterwards, Jim Maynard Jr. joined the company's management team. Jim Maynard Sr. retired in 1996.

In 1994 another 3,600 square feet were added for the fabrication division, with a coil line and sheet metal ductwork fabrication was added shortly thereafter.

Office space was added in 1998 and the total footprint at Mill Street became 26,000 square feet. In 2000, Crawford expanded into laser cutting and bought Monoxivent Source Capture Products. Ian Frink joined the company shortly thereafter.

In 2001, the company grew to 47,000 square feet and within two years its workforce had grown to 80. In 2008 the company added fiberglass reinforced plastic products, with a plumbing division created in 2010. In 2013 the company opened Crawford North in Dubuque and began its brewing equipment division.

"Crawfords history has always focused on what works, being prepared to set aside what doesnt, and to embrace change," Bob Frink said at a 2012 groundbreaking. "Crawford has continued to look to the future. We are doing what we always do we make the next step.

The company's current owners are Ian Frink and Jim Maynard Jr., with Larry Anderson on the management team as the chief financial officer.

Jim (Maynard Jr.) and I will continue to strategically grow our company based on the solid foundation that has been built, said Ian Frink. Crawford and its employees will continue to live by our core values: teamwork, innovation, quality, customer service, and integrity.
In response to "overwhelming" participation, the Putnam Museum & Science Center is presenting a second free community-wide photo event April 21-23 to celebrate its 150th anniversary. More than 1,200 people had their black-and-white portrait taken in January.

Tom Styrkowicz, a Kansas City-based photographer, is shooting the photos, and he specializes in highlighting communities of people who have a common interest through his ONEbyONE events, according to the Putnam.

The portraits taken during the free five-minute sessions  sponsored by Regional Development Authority and Scott County Regional Authority  will be added to the photo exhibit in the Grand Lobby, creating a community portrait.

Participants will be able to take home a free print of their portrait immediately following the session. Every portrait will become part of the Putnams permanent collection. The photo shoots will be April 21, 22 and 23 from noon to 3 p.m. on the Putnams indoor balcony. Registration for the photo event will end at 3 p.m. each day.

General admission to explore the Museum and Science Center during the weekend will be just $1.50 to commemorate the historic anniversary. That does not include the traveling Beatles exhibit, which has a separate admission price.
JetBlue, a leading carrier in Orlando, announced plans for a new service between Port-au-Princes Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) later this year. JetBlue intends to launch this route, which currently does not have nonstop service, in December pending government approval. Seats are expected to go out for sale in the coming weeks.

Orlando will become JetBlues fourth focus city with service to Port-au-Prince. JetBlue currently offers nonstop flights to the Haitian destination from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). JetBlue operates nearly a third of its capacity in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Service between Orlando and Port-au-Prince will provide a valuable link between Haitis capital city and many communities in central Florida that currently lack nonstop flights from their closest major airport, said John Checketts, vice president network planning, JetBlue. Now, with flights from four of our focus cities, JetBlue will connect more U.S. cities with Port-au-Prince than any other airline.

Port-au-Prince is set on a natural harbor on the Gulf of Gonave, making it one of the countrys premiere destinations. The citys layout is divided with the commercial areas near the water and the residential areas in the hills. JetBlue was also a large supporter of rebuilding efforts following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, partnering with agencies such as the American Red Cross to help with aiding efforts.
A Davenport man was sentenced Tuesday to 140 months in prison for distributing meth from October 2014 to January 2016.

Gary Eric Arnold, of West 69th Street, no age available, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court, Davenport.

On Tuesday, District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Mr. Arnold to 140 months on the meth charge and 120 months on the firearm charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently, according to court records.

Following his prison term, Mr. Arnold must serve five years of supervised release. He also must pay a $200 special assessment fee.

Police say Mr. Arnold agreed to distribute a substance containing methamphetamine in Eastern Iowa. On Jan. 22, 2016, he sold 1.3 grams of "ice" methamphetamine to a confidential source for $100. On that day he was found to possess about 75 grams of ice methamphetamine, $15,590 cash and a Remington Model 870 shotgun, court documents say.
On Tuesday, Mercer County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person on Bay Island Road near New Boston. They arrested Steven Scott Ellis, 33, of Joy, on two outstanding warrants: a Scott County violation of probation and a felony theft warrant out of Colorado.
Omar Bankhead, 24, is wanted in connection with an armed carjacking in Clinton, Miss., and an armed robbery in San Marcos, Texas, according to Moline Police. The vehicle he carjacking was located in Moline and police believe he may still be in the area.
CHICAGO (AP)  Two suburban Chicago men who posed for photos holding a black Islamic State group flag at a Lake Michigan beach park were arrested Wednesday on federal terrorist charges, and an undercover operative said one of the men suggested homosexuals should be thrown off the city's tallest building.

An FBI sting begun in 2015 compiled evidence that Joseph D. Jones and Edward Schimenti sought to provide material support to Islamic State, including by provided cellphones to one person working for the FBI and posing as an IS supporter believing the phones would be used to detonate car bombs in Syria, the 65-page complaint says.

Jones, a part-time chef who also has been attending college, and Schimenti, who worked at a cancer treatment center, drove the FBI operative to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport last week on what they thought would be the first leg of a journey to Syria. The complaint says Schimenti told him to "drench that land ... with blood."

The 35-year-old men looked tired standing in street clothes with their hands folded behind their backs during a brief initial hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago. When Magistrate Judge David Weisman asked if they understood the charges, both answered calmly that they did.

Schimenti's mother, Joni Schimenti, attended the hearing and told reporters outside court: "Eddie is no terrorist."

If convicted, the two men would face a maximum prison term of 20 years. A detention hearing was set for Monday, after which they would enter pleas.

The complaint includes photos of them holding the IS flag at the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, where they live. It also has postings on their social media accounts.

While he helped the man he believed would go to Syria get into condition at a local gym, Schimenti conceded he wasn't close to fighting shape, the complaint says. "I'm all big, fat," he is quoted as saying. "But (God willing), the brothers will just have me be the one to cut the neck."

Schimenti, who also went by "Abdul Wali," allegedly told one person in on the sting in February that he was angry about a co-worker because the person was gay. Under Islamic Law, Schimenti was quoted as saying, "We are putting you (homosexuals) on top of Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) and we drop you."

A photo posted on Schimenti's Google Plus profile shows a masked man holding a knife, and caption written in capital letters says that if you can't travel abroad to fight, "then slaughter the pagans next to you." After watching an IS video of captured soldiers being burned alive as they spoke a language he didn't understand, Schimenti says, "I don't know what they're saying but I love it," the complaint says.

A video was posted on Jones' Google Plus profile entitled, "Some of the Deadly Stabbing Ways: Do not Forget to Poison the Knife," the complaint says. Another time, a person in on the FBI sting asked Jones if he ever thought about traveling to Syria to live in Islamic State territory. Jones, who was also known as "Yusuf Abdulhaqq," allegedly answered: "Every night and day."

This is the latest of several area cases related to Islamic State. A Chicago federal judge last year sentenced former Illinois National Guard Hasan Edmonds to 30 years in prison and his cousin, Jonas Edmonds, to 21 years for plotting to join Islamic State fighters and to attack a National Guard armory just outside Chicago.

The complaint makes a brief reference to Schimenti allegedly suggesting in March that the Naval Station Great Lakes, a training ground for U.S. sailors just south of Zion, could be a terrorist target.

The sting started in September 2015 when an undercover agent approached Jones at the Zion Police Department  where Jones was being questioned about the killing of one of his friends  and the two began talking about Islam. The complaint didn't offer details about the killing.

Schimenti grew increasingly suspicious about the undercover agents, suggesting that at least some weren't actually Islamic State sympathizers. He once suggested something was "fishy" about them, adding that he had a good sense of such things because of his own criminal history. Jones also spoke about past convictions.
CHICAGO (AP)  Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is dropping the case against two men who've been imprisoned since 1995 for a double murder they say they didn't commit.

Earlier this week, prosecutors argued that Roberto Almodovar and William Negron shouldn't receive a new trial. But in a Wednesday statement Foxx reversed course, saying prosecutors would withdraw their opposition after a "thorough and deliberate" evidence review.

Detective Reynaldo Guevara helped gather evidence against the men. He's since been accused of coercing witnesses. In 2015, a state appellate court ruled the case deserved closer scrutiny.

A final hearing is Friday when Almodovar could be released. Negron is expected to remain imprisoned on a different murder conviction.

Almodovar's attorney says Foxx's office did the right thing and it's been a long struggle for the men.
EAST MOLINE  Residents owning unwanted, abandoned or derelict vehicles will be able to get rid of them for free April 17-21.

City officials in East Moline, in conjunction with QC Towing, will remove vehicles "free of fees, free of charge and free of hassle," according to East Moline Police Capt. Tom Reagan.

Officer Dan Crippen worked with the Illinois Secretary of State's office to allow the city to accept the vehicles, even without a title, Capt. Reagan said. The one-week-only program will save vehicle owners $100 of administrative fees and $125 in towing fees, he said.

And it will help East Moline remove eyesores from the city, Capt. Reagan said.

"Our goal is to clean up the city," he said.

The "Abandoned/Derelict Vehicle Disposal Initiative" is part of this year's annual citywide spring clean up.

"Simply call the East Moline Police Department's nonemergency number, 309-752-1545, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and an officer will be happy to assist you," Capt, Reagan said.
A bipartisan property tax relief bill co-sponsored by two local legislators passed overwhelmingly in the Illinois House last week.

State reps. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, and Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, were among more than 40 sponsors of the bill that would provide widespread property tax relief through new and expanded exemptions for Illinois homeowners. It specifically lists benefits for veterans, the disabled and the elderly.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 108-1 on April 6 and now awaits state Senate action.

"High property taxes are one of the top concerns for constituents in my district, especially for our homeowners who are on fixed incomes," Rep. Halpin said. "Forcing our families, seniors and disabled to choose between basic needs and paying their property taxes is unconscionable. This legislation provides relief to all homeowners."

If approved by the Senate, the legislation would create new property tax exemptions for longtime homeowners and people with disabilities. It would increase the maximum exemptions for the general homestead exemption from $6,000 to $8,000, and the senior citizens homestead exemption would rise from $5,000 to $6,000.

It also would change certain aspects of the veterans homestead exemption. Veterans with a 20-30 percent disability and veterans older than 75 would receive a $2,500 exemption. Through a Long-Time Owner Occupant Exemption, homeowners who earn less than $100,000 and have lived in their home for more than eight years would be eligible for an additional exemption.

Illinois regularly ranks among the top two or three states with the highest property taxes. A property tax freeze is part of Gov. Bruce Rauner's turnaround agenda as part of a balanced budget. A news release from Rep. Halpin, however, said the House bill cuts taxes rather than freezing them.

Rep. McCombie on Wednesday also said the bill provides relief, not a freeze. She said she agreed with the bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, that the legislation is a "start."

"I think it is a wonderful start," Rep. McCombie said. "This is not the answer; this is not the end. It's a start to true property tax relief. That's the key.

"It's not about freezing taxes," she said. "It's not about hurting our schools or municipalities. It's about helping us, then in turn we can help those folks. We don't want to make decisions in the state that go to the detriment of our schools."

Rep. McCombie said property tax relief should be paired with education-funding reform to find "a better way to fund our schools.

"We're looking at the evidence-based model," she said, referring to a pending House school-funding reform bill called the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, co-sponsored by state Reps. Will Davis, D-Homewood, and Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley.

"Relief and reform," Rep. McCombie said. "Everybody -- it doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican -- everybody knows we're paying too high property taxes. And it needs to be a fair tax.

"We're fine if the value is there. We're fine with paying our fair share. That's never the question," she said. "The question is, are we paying our fair share too much? In relation to other states, it appears we're paying too much."

The lone dissenting vote on the House bill was by Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, who called it a "political gimmick." She said a property tax task force should look further into how to create "redesigned property taxes for a modern society."
The Rezidor Hotel Group announced the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Izmir in Turkey. The Rezidor Hotel Group now has a portfolio of 23 hotels and 4,500 rooms in operation or under development in Turkey.

"We are delighted to open our second hotel in Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey. Park Inn by Radisson Izmir will complement the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Cesme, both collectively offering the global travelers a beautiful choice of upper upscale and mid-scale hospitality on the Aegean coast. We see a growing popularity for the Park Inn by Radisson brand as it delivers on its promise of an affordable hotel experience and a focus on all the essentials for the modern-day business or leisure traveler," said Mark Willis, Area Vice President, Middle East & Turkey, The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Park Inn by Radisson Izmir is conveniently located in heart of Izmir, in the Pasaport area and close to the major business district where embassies and international companies reside. The hotel is situated next to Izmir's leisure attractions, including shopping malls and the famous Kordon, the city's famous seafront promenade that offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea and a stretch of charming street cafes. Adnan Menderes International Airport is just 18 kilometers from the hotel, and public transportation options such as ferries, taxis, trains and buses make it easy for guests to explore the city.

The hotel features 137 guest rooms and suites, some of them overlooking the beautiful Aegean Sea. Each room has been designed with comfort and a hassle-free experience in mind. The design elements are unique and include a choice of ceiling colors, a headboard with mood lighting and a colored shower screen.

For dining options, the contemporary, all-day dining restaurant Live-Inn Room serves a selection of international and local cuisine. And for an inspiring start to the day, guests can enjoy the brand's signature breakfast while taking in mesmerizing views of Izmir Bay from the hotel's rooftop terrace. The modern lobby bar provides drinks and snacks in a relaxed environment.

Innovative and dynamic spaces are at the forefront of meetings and events with Park Inn by Radisson. The hotel has four modern and flexible meeting room spaces that can be adapted to accommodate small meetings, training sessions or workshops, while the hotel's rooftop terrace can be used for special events. The hotel also features a well-equipped gym and indoor parking. Guests get free high-speed Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel including meeting rooms.

"Park Inn by Radisson, Izmir is a next generation mid-scale hotel that brings together a relaxed, fun and uncomplicated approach with a healthy dose of style. Guests can expect a great experience with the renowned warm Aegean hospitality delivered by our passionate team," said Ahmet Arikan, General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson, Izmir.

Izmir is considered the transportation hub in the western Anatolia region of Turkey and operates on a relatively new and highly developed infrastructure in transportation, telecommunications and energy. Izmir is a fast growing city with a population of approximately 3.7 million and has the second biggest port after Istanbul.

Click here to book your room at this newly opened property.
ROCK ISLAND -- The city's police and fire pensions take a greater portion of Rock Island's tax levy each year in a trend likely to continue if recommendations from an actuarial consulting firm are implemented.

The pension funds take up more than half of the city's estimated $11.2 million property tax levy, according to outgoing Mayor Dennis Pauley. But if the city contributes more money to the funds, it may not necessarily mean higher property tax increases, according to interim city manager Randy Tweet.

At Monday's city council study session, Heath Merlak of the actuarial consulting firm Nyhart recommended Rock Island make higher contributions to the pension funds.

Across Illinois, municipalities are trying to balance services with its obligations to its retirees. Through the years, municipal contributions via property taxes to pay for pension obligations have jumped.

Contributions by police and firefighters -- 9.91 percent and 9.45 percent respectively -- are supplemented by investment income and city contributions set each year by actuaries to insure sufficient funds for current and future obligations.

According to Nyhart and city officials, the amount of Rock Island's property tax levy dedicated to police and fire pensions has gone from $4.15 million in 2011 to an estimated $6.26 million in 2016. The city's overall tax levy was $11.4 million in 2011 and estimated at $11.2 million in 2016.

Mr. Merlak said Illinois is requiring municipalities to be at least 90 percent funded by 2041. Rock Island's police and fire pensions currently are funded at about 42 percent and 34 percent respectively.

Actuarial value of assets is $34.9 million for police and $23.2 million for firefighters, while accrued actuarial liability is $81.9 million and $68.5 million respectively.

Mayor Pauley said the city has paid everything it has been obligated for police and fire pensions, but it looks like it's going to cost more.

"It's definitely the main challenge for all cities in the State of Illinois as pension costs keep going up," he said.

"This is nothing against the police and firefighters. They deserve them (pensions)," he said. "We have to find a way to pay for it."

Increasing property taxes to pay for the pensions is not a good solution in the long run, he said.

Outgoing Ald. Kate Hotle, 5th Ward, said Rock Island should look at a number of factors affecting the pension funds,including the general assumption that people will live longer.

When a police officer or firefighter retires, they receive a 3 percent annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). Compounded COLAs take more money from municipal services each year.

Ald. Hotle said that, while the city is trying to be more creative with how it funds parks and libraries, "we don't have that flexibility with pensions."

Mr. Tweet said all the proposed changes in city pension funding at some point will result in increased contributions by the city. How that happens, he said, won't be determined until the council acts on city finance director Stephanie Masson's recommendations.

He stressed, however, that it isn't accurate to say increasing the city's pension fund contributions mean higher property taxes.

"When looking at the property tax rate, the council makes decisions based on the entire general fund budget, not just police and fire pension," he said.
AVONDALE, Ariz.  In every room of his stucco two-story house in this Phoenix suburb, Ray Harwood has a clock, or two or three  digital, satellite or with a pendulum. He keeps the time on his wrist, on counters, desks and walls, and even on his bedroom ceiling.

Harwood, 63, has a slight obsession with time and an opinion that we should stop messing with it.

He lives in one of the two states  the other is Hawaii  that dont change their clocks twice a year for daylight saving time. And Harwood has started to wonder why other states do. In the last few years, he has become one of just a few hobbyists who are tracking the movement in states to either abolish daylight saving time or stay on it year-round.

The movement to lock the clock is growing as more research indicates that the biannual ritual of changing the time is not only annoying to some but harmful to public health, productivity and safety. This year, about half of states have considered or are considering time-related bills.

Bills to abolish daylight saving time have been introduced for years, and have always faced opposition, including from sport and retail industries that say the extra hour of evening sun in the summer brings them more business.

But in the past few years, more states are considering another idea: If everyone likes evening sunlight, why not stay on daylight saving time year-round? Bills have been introduced this year in at least six states  including Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and Wyoming  that would effectively move the states to the next time zone to the east.

Under federal law, all states that choose to participate in daylight saving time must do so on the schedule set by the federal government, moving an hour ahead on the second Sunday in March and moving an hour back on the first Sunday in November.

If a state wants to be on daylight saving time year-round, it needs to change time zones. To do this, a state would need to ask Congress to approve a law, or ask the U.S. secretary of transportation for permission. Then, the state would opt out of daylight saving time and stay on the new schedule year-round. On both coasts this year, state lawmakers say they want to team up with lawmakers in other states to ask the federal government for approval.

Some lawmakers who have proposed bills, such as Republican state Rep. Peter Lucido in Michigan, say they dont care which way their states go, as long as they stop changing the clocks. After Lucidos bill to abolish daylight saving time faced opposition, he changed it to keep it in place year-round.

I said either way you want to go, Im fine with it. But lets keep the clocks locked, he said. Set it and forget it.

Countries began adopting daylight saving time in the early 1900s as a way to save energy during World War I. The U.S. followed the trend, passing a law in 1918. In 2008, a study by the U.S. Department of Energy showed that, even though nearly 100 years had passed, daylight saving time still helps save energy.

But other researchers have found that it doesnt. And more people have started questioning the ritual in the last decade as studies have indicated that changing the clocks coincides with negative health effects such as increases in heart attacks and strokes.

The time change in the fall reduces the amount of sleep people get overnight on that Saturday by an average of 40 minutes, which affects behavior the following Monday, according to research co-authored by Christopher Barnes, an associate professor of management at the University of Washington. The loss of sleep does not equal a full hour because the data included the two states that do not participate in daylight saving time, and because some people may change their sleeping habits because of the time change, Barnes said.

Barnes said studies he has co-authored have found that on Sleepy Monday, work injuries increase, time spent browsing the internet while at work increases, and peoples ability to be aware of the decisions they are making drops. In his latest study, he found that judges hand out stricter sentences on that Monday  something he says signals that the change makes people more emotionally reactive.

It wreaks havoc on all sorts of issues, he said.

Similarly, Austin Smith, an economist at Miami University in Ohio, found in a study last year that fatal car crashes increase by 5 to 6.5 percent in the days immediately following the change.

There are some firm believers in the benefits of daylight saving time, such as David Prerau, author of the 2005 book Seize the Daylight. But while he supports it, he said people wouldnt like having it year-round.

When states go off daylight saving time in November, turning the clock back makes morning come an hour later, allowing for lighter, warmer mornings. If states that make the switch were to stay on daylight saving time year-round, winter mornings would be darker and colder.

In 1974, the federal government temporarily made daylight saving time year-round in response to a severe energy crisis, and, Prerau said, it proved to be very unpopular in the middle of the winter, because of the very dark mornings.
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Judith Ripka Sterl. Verona 6/10 ct tw Diamonique Tubogas Cuff is rated 3.0 out of 5 by 4 .

Rated 2 out of 5 by kittyhouse3 from Not Thrilled Received this yesterday and I was non-plused. It doesn't have the impact I expected it would, and honestly for the price I can't justify keeping it if I don't love it. Very disappointed. I agree with another reviewer that this would have more impact if the stones in the hearts were a color. Black would be stunning. Sending back

Rated 3 out of 5 by Barb4 from UNUSUAL DESIGN I looked at this bracelet with interest because the design appealed to me. With no video, it is difficult to get a real feel for an item. I did have a doubt, because the hearts seemed odd to me. Well, I again learned to go with my original opinion. First off the bracelet is well crafted. Love the triangle links and they are grey in color. Very different and appealing. However, the diamonique in the picture looked bad and my bracelet had one bad stone as well that the eye would keep going to.The overall concept looks odd in person. Of course this is my opinion, but the diamonique hearts have a fake look. This bracelet would be stunning with a dark stone such as onyz or hematite. Hoping this bracelet is made again with real stones in dark colors.

Rated 2 out of 5 by cantoramy from disappointed This bracelet looked so beautiful in the picture, but I was disappointed. Very beautifully made in Italy but the Diamonique didn't sparkle at all. I think there weren't enough stones or they were set too deeply. Great design, but sadly it went back.
G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now!
The International Advisory Board Meeting of World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF IAP) was held at Eden Bleu Hotel in Seychelles on April 12, 2017 which is co-hosted by the FORSEAA (Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN).

Mr. Nico Barito Secretary General FORSEAA has invited Mr. Alain St.Ange, former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine of Seychelles, who is a prime candidate for the upcoming UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) elections for Secretary General to voice his call to the friends from Islamic Business Group to look at the new modalities of Halal Tourism as another niche product of tourism which will bridge the tourism between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds towards peace and prosperity.

Alain St.Ange companied by Sherin Francis, the CEO of the island's Tourism Board said as he addressed the delegates present that Seychelles had successfully attained achievement of result to be the destination known simply as another world. Seychelles tourism focuses on niche group and has successfully contributed to the nation economy especially to its people. Our bid for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO speaks of 'Tourism for All' and promotes the concept of tourism without any discrimination. The Seychelles former Minister spoke at length about the island's Statement of Intent submitted to the UNWTO HQ in Madrid. He said niche tourism covers the Halal Tourism or simply Muslim Tourism as much as it covers those with disability, women, LGBT, religion, politics and all this immaterial of the colour of the skin, gender or sexual preference.

For this Seychelles thanks the support of neighbouring Islamic countries that have helped realise adequate air connectivity to the world. "We want to share our experience in profiling our destination as a neutral and peace loving country for all tourists of the world, who deserve a holiday of a lifetime in another world" St.Ange said.

During the dialog with World Islamic Economic Forum, both Mr. Barito and Mr.St Ange raised the issues that the world at large wakes up to everyday on TV Screens. "News is centred on acts of terrorism or radicalism that continues to make would be travellers feel uncomfortable and worry about travel. It is through tourism that we need to correct this vision. When tourism works, economies of so many countries works and the livelihood of millions are cared for. This will bridge the gap between different cultures and help create a climate of peace" Alain St.Ange said.

"Tourism and Culture has proven to be instrument which open the border of any nations to the world. There is no limit for culture and tourism. We want to show case that the new era of Tourism for All brings an industry in all its diversity inclusive of Halal Tourism or 'Muslim Tourism' and not talking merely about investor or a capitalism industry  but it is transition of capacity and best practice to the local communities, to prove their local wisdom, their culture to show case their commitments to promote religious tourism, culture and nature to the open world market of tourism. We want to foster peace and coherence, we want to see the flow of tourism traffic of non-Muslim and Muslim countries and reciprocally enhance the atmosphere of new economic era of tourism. We want to call the upon the world to raise our brothers from the devastated Muslim countries to build their culture and tourism and open their countries as Halal or Muslim Tourism destination. Despite the fact that Halal tourism is now a new trend of niche tourism, we want to look further that the Muslim Tourism should be a new mechanism to foster sovereignty and build dynamic opportunity for the youth and woman entrepreneurship in tourism. For this we call upon the support of all members of WIEF to spread the message from the Small Islands State in the Indian Ocean" said Alain St.Ange and he is firmed to prioritise the Muslim Tourism agenda when he takes the office of SG of UNWTO .

Former Seychelles Minister St.Ange also spoke about the decentralising of the UNWTO Madrid Head Office with the opening of Satellite Offices in key Member States by Region and the desire to have one tourism industry and not two and for this to bring into the UNWTO all the countries who are today not Member States of the UNWTO. He also touched other important points in the Seychelles bid before asking delegates present to go back to their respect countries and to appeal to their Governments to Vote for Seychelles on the 12 May.

The Seychelles former Minister said that the SG of the UNWTO should be beyond politics and the Diplomatic bargaining of Vote for a country and a reciprocal Vote will be given in a future election was a but disservice to the tourism industry because this industry was one that will impact the livelihood of millions if the right person was not elected. "Seychelles breathes tourism, we live tourism, we smell tourism and we depend on tourism. Vote for Seychelles on 12 May and not for those with the biggest budget or those with political muscle only. The vote is by secret ballot and vote with your conscience" St.Ange of the Seychelles said.

The World Islamic Economic Forum, whose patron founder is Prime Minister of Malaysia started off from a modest beginning as the OIC Business Forum, which was held on 15th October 2003, in conjunction with the tenth OIC Summit in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The inaugural OIC Business Forum sought to create a business face of the OIC.

The Forum brought together government leaders, captains of industries, academic scholars, regional experts, professionals and corporate managers to discuss opportunities for business partnerships in the Muslim world and bridges to the Non-Muslim world.

Former Minister St.Ange presented the Chairperson of the World Islamic Economic Forum Seychelles meeting with one of the island's endemic Coco de Mer nut and Sherin Francis on her part presented to the Chairperson a book on the Seychelles.
The 205km first phase will run from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and is expected to be completed October 2019. A $US 1.2bn contract to build this section was awarded to Yapi Merkezi, Turkey, and Mota-Engil, Portugal, in February.

Koreas national railway operator Korail was awarded a contract by Tanzanias Reli Assets Holding Company on April 10 to provide consultancy services. Korail will supervising the design and construction of the standard-gauge line from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, and will begin working on the first section on May 5.

Phase one will be designed for 160km/h operation and will have six stations including a dry port at Ruvu. The line is expected to carry 17 million tonnes of freight annually.

President Magufuli says the Turkish president, Mr Recep Erdogan, expressed an interest in funding the 336km second phase from Morogoro to the capital Dodoma during his visit to Tanzania in January.

Magufuli also revealed that the World Bank is providing Shillings 300bn ($US 134.7m) to assist with the maintenance of Tanzania Railways 2700km metre-gauge network.

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The contract forms part of an engineering, procurement and construction contract awarded to a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese companies on April 4 by the Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC) joint venture. On the same day, the High Speed Railway Contract Consortium (HSRCC) signed a 50-year design-build-maintain-operate concession with KCIC.

The $US 5.5bn project is being financed 75% by China Development Bank, with the KCIC organising the remaining 25%.

The new line will reduce the journey time between Jakarta and Bandung to around 40 minutes, compared with around three hours on the existing 173km 1067mm-gauge line.

For more information on rail projects around the world, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
The LIRR Expansion project involves adding a third track on the 15.7km section from Floral Park to Hicksville, which is used by services from New York to Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, and Montauk.

This stretch of line is used by around 40% of LIRR passengers, but capacity is severely constrained at peak times, when both tracks are used to operate trains either into or out of the city, limiting the potential for journeys within Long Island. The addition of a third track will enable bidirectional peak operation and reduce the risk of delays spreading across the network when failures occur. It will also eliminate seven level crossings on the project section.

New York Governor Mr Andrew Cuomo says the FEIS confirms that the expansion project will improve LIRR service, reliability and safety, for both residents and commuters on Long Island.

Officials say the studys findings demonstrate that the LIRR expansion project will improve service and reduce delays for passengers throughout the network by adding a third track to the bottlenecked, double-track section of the main line in Nassau County.
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This is part one of The Counterterrorism Yearbook 2017: The United States published in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's The Strategist. Read part two 

Much of the focus on domestic terrorism in the US in early 2016 was devoted to an incident that took place in late 2015, when Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California. The subsequent FBI investigation concluded that the married couple were home grown violent extremists inspired by foreign terrorist groups after it found that Malik had posted a pledge of allegiance on Facebook to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of IS.

The shooting prompted further introspection in the US on how government agencies tasked with CT can work effectively to prevent the radicalisation of American citizens and led many to question if the FBI could do more to keep Americans safe. For example, at a hearing in June 2016, Senator Ron Johnson (Republican, Wisconsin) and Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican, Iowa) released statements about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General investigation that discovered a lack of cooperation between DHS entities in the wake of the San Bernardino attacks.

Reminiscent of San Bernardino, the Orlando attack raised concerns about intelligence sharing.

In June 2016, Omar Mateen, an American citizen of Afghan descent, murdered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the worst terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11. Like the San Bernardino attackers, Mateen had pledged an allegiance to IS. Also reminiscent of San Bernardino, the attack saw concerns raised about intelligence sharing. Local police in Florida said that the FBI should have shared more information with them about Mateen, whom the Bureau had interviewed three times in 2013 and 2014, in relation to possible terrorist affiliations.

In September, a stabbing spree at a shopping mall in Minnesota and a series of bomb attacks in New York and New Jersey were linked to Salafi-jihadist ideology. Once again, many people were highly critical of the FBI following these bombing attacks, labelling them an intelligence failure. Before launching his attack in September 2016, Rahami had been investigated by the Bureau, was reported by his own father as a terrorist and had purchased bomb-making materials.

Domestically, the US is still struggling to find an effective way to counter violent extremism and counteract the presence of terrorist groups on social media. In early 2016, a pilot federal program to combat extremist recruitment in Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis was criticised for getting off to a slow start; some labelled the process frustrating, and funding had still not been received months after the program was scheduled to commence. In 2016, the FBI launched shared responsibility committees, which sought to enlist mental health professionals, religious leaders, teachers, local law enforcers and social workers to help develop strategies to counter violent extremism.

The State Department's counter-messaging team has had rapid leadership turnover and fumbled its way through myriad strategies in an effort to discern the most effective way to counter IS and similar groups online. A recent study led by Elizabeth Bodine-Baron found that, while IS opponents generally outnumber IS supporters by a ratio of six to one on Twitter, IS supporters out-tweet opponents, producing 50% more tweets per day.

Despite these negative critiques of US domestic CT policy, there have been notable successes. The FBI reported that in 2016 that it disrupted several plots targeting US military or law enforcement personnel. As at 30 November 2016, 111 individuals had been charged in the US with offences related to IS since the first arrests took place in March 2014. Furthermore, the FBI has confirmed there are active IS-related investigations in all 50 states; a total of 26 states have formally laid charges against suspects. Sixty people have pleaded guilty to charges and the average sentence to date has been just short of 13 years. The vast majority of those arrested are US citizens or permanent residents, and approximately 60% were arrested in operations involving informants, undercover agents, or both.

Even the success of defeating IS on the battlefield is leading to second and third order effects with negative consequences. The FBI Director, James Comey has warned of a terrorist diaspora, which could be triggered if and when large numbers foreign fighters leave the Middle East and return to the West. Another possible endgame for IS could involve its members going underground and working to establish a revitalised global insurgency.

Al-Shabaab used videos of Trump's campaign speeches to recruit new members.

As the Trump administration settles into governing, the threat posed by transnational terrorism remains potent and has perhaps been exacerbated by Trump's efforts at banning Muslims from entering the US. Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, has already used videos of Trump's campaign speeches to recruit new members.

Since the election, IS has voiced a favourable opinion of Trump's victory, asserting that his ascension to power will help the militants recruit new members who want to defend Islam from what they perceive as a continued Western offensive. In an interview with Reuters an IS commander in Afghanistan, Abu Omar Khorasani, stated, This guy is a complete maniac. His utter hate toward Muslims will make our job much easier because we can recruit thousands.

US CT policy will continue to evolve in response to the terror threat, which will remain heavily concentrated its international efforts to limit the threat of terrorism to the US homeland. The key challenge for US policy makers is orchestrating a military defeat of IS in the Middle East whilst effectively mitigating against the risk of blowback domestically in the US at the same time.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist with the RAND Corporation and Associate Fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism at The Hague.

This commentary originally appeared in The Strategist on April 3, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Bribery case launched against ex-head of Russias Mari El Republic

MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI)  Investigators have launched a large-scale corruption case against former head of Russias Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov, lawyer Lyudmila Aivar told RAPSI on Thursday.

According to the Investigative Committee, the probe was opened into Markelov and other persons in relation to alleged reception of bribes, giving a bribe and mediation in bribery. Investigators believe that Markelov has received a 235 million ruble (about $4.1 million) bribe from the head of Akashevskaya factory Nikolay Krivash for patronage and assistance in the property payment of funds provided by state support for development of the agricultural complex.

The lawyer said that Markelov is currently arrested and, according to investigation documents, the alleged bribe reaches nearly 250 million rubles (about $4.3 million).

On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted voluntary resignation of Markelov, who was governing the region for 16 years.
French court releases Moscow Region ex-official Kuznetsov from jail - report

MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI)  A court in Lyon has released former Moscow Region finance minister Alexey Kuznetsov, who faces extradition to Russia, from jail, AFP news agency reported Thursday.

The French court held that the period of his detention had exceeded the reasonable time in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to the agency, Kuznetsov will reside in his apartment in Paris under electronic surveillance of police. Former Russian official is obliged to report to the police once a week. He also was ordered to surrender his passport to the authorities.

Russian investigators claim that from November 2005 to November 2008, a group organized by Kuznetsov deceived several housing and utility companies into selling the rights to over 3.5 billion rubles worth of claims ($51 mln) against the Moscow Region municipal authorities. The group laundered and misappropriated the money. The group members are also alleged to have embezzled 7.2 billion rubles ($105 mln) in assets from Mosobltransinvest, a Moscow regional investment company.

Kuznetsov was placed first on the federal and subsequently on the international wanted list in November 2012 on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement.

The search for Kuznetsov gathered momentum after Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin met with the French police chief in January 2013.

In the summer of 2013, Kuznetsov was arrested at a hotel near the prestigious French resort of St. Tropez. Nevertheless, the French judiciary has so far failed to extradite him to Russia. Kuznetsovs lawyers claim the criminal prosecution in Russia is politically motivated.

In January 2015, Kuznetsov filed an application seeking political asylum, but it was dismissed by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless people (OFPRA). His defense appealed the decision claiming that it was politically motivated.

In March 2015, the French Court of Cassation granted Russias request for Kuznetsovs extradition. However, the ruling has not been executed yet.
Alleged Ukrainian spy arrested in Russia

MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI)  A Ukrainian citizen has been arrested in the Samara region on suspicion of espionage, RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday citing its law enforcement source.

According to recent reports, the 27-year old man was working for the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Main Directorate of Intelligence.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was engaged in visual intelligence and made photos and videos of military and transport infrastructures facilities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Russias Rostov and Samara regions.

According to the agencys source, the man transferred all collected information to Ukraines Defense Ministry.

The suspect may be expelled and prohibited from entry into Russia for 10 years.
A new survey tries to find out the most welcoming countries for families. Just about half of expats around the world (46 percent) have children of their own, but only 21 percent of all expatriates are currently raising their children abroad. So which countries are most friendly for families?

Based on the insights of more than 3,000 expat families given in the annual Expat Insider survey, InterNations, the worlds largest network for people who live and work abroad, has compiled a so far unpublished ranking of the friendliest countries for families.

Apart from exceling in this particular rating, Uganda also does well regarding childrens safety, while Israel impresses expat parents with the quality of education available. Taiwan attracts families with a high quality of life, whereas popular holiday destinations Costa Rica, Thailand, and Greece additionally offer good leisure opportunities for children.

Top 10 Friendliest Destinations for Families Living Abroad

1. Uganda

East African country Uganda tops the list as the friendliest destination for expat families. Every single parent rates the friendliness of the local population towards children positively, and seven out of ten (68 percent) are even completely satisfied with the warm attitude towards families, whereas the global average is only 39 percent. Expat parents do not only perceive this country as a friendly place to raise kids, but also as a fairly safe environment: 81 percent rate their childrens safety positively  more than, for example, in the US (75 percent). Additionally, more than nine out of ten parents (93 percent) rate their childrens general well-being positively. An expat parent from UK currently living in Uganda mentions safety, friendliness, warmth, fun camping trips and nice food among some of the best aspects of living in this country.

2. Israel

Israel is not only one of the most welcoming destinations for families, where 69 percent of all expat parents consider the local population to be extremely friendly towards children. It also ranks high with regard to education and health: overall, Israel places third among the most popular countries for expat families in general. Indeed, 84 percent of respondents with children feel positive about the quality of education, compared to fewer than two-thirds of expat parents worldwide (64 percent). When it comes to childrens health, Israel has an excellent evaluation, with 92 percent of parents rating this factor positively, compared to a global average of 74 percent. A US American expat parent living in Israel specifically praises the weather, living close to the beach, affordable schools and the medical care that is available for children.

3. Taiwan

In Taiwan, 97 percent of parents rate the general friendliness of local residents towards families with children positively. What is more, the country is also the most popular destination among expats around the world and has outstanding rankings for working abroad, quality of life, and personal finances. An impressive 85 percent of expats in Taiwan are satisfied with their financial situation, and 83 percent judge the local cost of living favorably, which expats who raise children in Taiwan can also benefit from.

4. Costa Rica

Sunny Costa Rica has many perks besides its delightful weather. Apart from winning the gold medal as the country with the happiest expat population, it is also rated positively by a remarkable 91 percent of expat parents for a friendly attitude towards families. Additionally, seven out of ten parents (74 percent) are satisfied with the local leisure activities for their kids. Families will benefit from the great climate, too: 96 percent of all expats consider this to be an advantage of life abroad in Costa Rica.

5. Thailand

The Land of Smiles makes the top five of the most welcoming destinations for families, where 85 percent of respondents rate this factor positively. Moreover, expat parents will surely be happy to hear that the quality of medical care receives excellent ratings as well. Thus, it is no wonder that 76 percent of expat residents with kids feel positively about their childrens health. An even higher percentage of them (81 percent) rate their childrens general well-being positively.

6. Greece

While Greece secures the 6th position out of 45 countries worldwide for its friendliness towards families, it does not perform well in many other aspects. This destination ranks particularly low when it comes to the availability of education options, with 59 percent of parents rating this factor negatively. Half of the parents (49 percent) feel negatively about the cost of education too. As a result, Greece is one of the least popular countries for expat families overall, ranking 43rd out of 45 in the Family Life Index.

7. Australia

In addition to ranking among the ten most welcoming destinations for expat families, Australia has above-average results for work-life balance: seven out of ten expat residents (71 percent) appreciate this about life in Australia, and parents in particular will be glad to hear it. And their free time is well spent, as Down Under also offers a great variety of leisure activities for kids, with 94 percent of expat parents rating this factor positively.

8. Mexico

Mexicans do not only welcome families with a friendly attitude, but expats in general: The country ranks first worldwide for finding new friends abroad, second for making expats feel welcome and fourth for friendliness. This puts Mexico first in the global Ease of Settling In Index. As for the friendliness towards families in particular, an impressive 87 percent rate this factor positively, while only four percent give it a negative rating.

9. Turkey

Currently, Turkey ranks 60th for safety and security, partly due to its poor ratings for political stability: 62 percent of expats feel negatively about the latter  more than three times the global average of 18 percent. What is more, the country is rather unpopular among expat families specifically: owing to a poor performance with regard to key factors such as childcare or education, it merely places 41st out of 45 countries. Nonetheless, Turkey is considered one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries for expat families. Nine out of ten parents (89 percent) rate this factor positively and a mere four percent give it a negative rating.

10. Philippines

The Philippines just about make the top ten list, with 86 percent of respondents rating the friendliness of the population towards expat families positively  which is still slightly higher than the global average of 80 percent. Expat families with younger children might also be interested in the fact that the Philippines does very well when it comes to childcare costs: 39 percent of expat parents give this factor an excellent rating, as opposed to 14 percent worldwide.

Where Expat Families Cannot Expect a Warm Welcome

While Greece is the only European country that makes it to the top ten friendliest countries for expat families, European destinations take the inglorious lead when it comes to the least friendly ones  more than half of them are located on this continent. Apart from German-speaking countries Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, the local population in Italy, Russia, Belgium, and the Czech Republic is also perceived as having a rather negative attitude towards families with children.

Switzerland, Russia, and Austria appear to be the countries with the least friendly attitude towards families. However, while Switzerland has the lowest ranking in the world in this respect, over nine out of ten expat parents (94 percent) are satisfied with their childrens health and safety. Russia, coming in second to last for its lack of friendliness towards families, also ranks 59th out of 67 for friendliness in general and 56th for the general ease of settling in. Even though more than 80 percent of parents in Austria are satisfied with their childrens health, well-being, and quality of education, which makes it the fourth-most popular country among expat families, Austria still ranks rather badly (43rd out of 67) for friendliness of the local population towards families with kids.

Similarly, the Czech Republic ranks 36th out of 45 countries for friendliness towards families, and yet it still ends up ranking as the second-most popular country in the world for families living abroad. This success is partly due to the great availability of education and its low costs: 57 percent of parents think that education options are numerous and easy to get, compared to a global average of 49 percent; an impressive 74 percent also consider them affordable, compared to the global average of merely 45 percent.

In expat parents eyes, Belgium has shown great improvements in many respects this year, such as regarding the quality of education, where it climbed from 15th to 7th place. With regard to the availability of childcare and education, it has even moved up 20 positions compared to last years ranking. Nonetheless, Belgiums low ranking for friendliness towards families remains largely unchanged: it ranks only ranks 39th for this factor.
On August 7, 2011, just days before starting college, RaeVaughn Williams, the son of a Bronx school teacher, was gravely injured by a hit and run driver in New York City. Doctors drilled a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure on his swelling brain, warning his mother that he might never be the same. He spent the next week in a coma.

Seven days after the accident, RaeVaughn awoke. His first whispered words to his mother at his bed-side? Im supposed to be at college.

Working with learning specialists to rebuild his motor skills and brain capacity, he attacked rehabilitation with the same ferocity that had enabled his high school success. His first semesters at Franklin & Marshall College were incredibly taxing, and his academic progress was uneven, but RaeVaughn never felt sorry for himself or took his eyes off the prize of a college degree. Aided by the dedicated English professor Patricia OHara, he committed to working harder and smarter, practicing new ways to plan, study, focus, and relax. In 2016, he graduated and now works as Assistant Director of Admissions at Muhlenberg College.

Where did RaeVaughn find the strength to adapt, overcome, and persevere, despite this extreme physical trauma? Where did his drive, determination, and resilience come from? Can these critical attributes be taught and learned?

Over the past decade, innovative scholars and thinkers have analyzed the personal qualities of individuals who overcome substantial obstacles. Angela Duckworth identifies an empowering blend of passion, persistence, and optimism that she calls grit. Carol Dweck points to a growth mindset in high achievers that embraces challenges rather than fearing failure. Malcolm Gladwells classic book David and Goliath profiles high-impact leaders for whom the seeming disability of dyslexia also gave rise to powerful coping and adaptive mechanisms that enabled subsequent world-beating success.

Research on grit and mindset is at an early stage, but at Franklin & Marshall College, we have seen these extraordinary qualities first-hand. Every year we witness incredible achievers who overcome poverty, discrimination, stigma, and even trauma on their persistent climb. There is more to discern about any negative effects of relentless striving, as well as to assess circumstances where success requires other qualities, too. That said, we know these students are inspiring examples to their friends and teachers, and we want to learn from them, confident that their stories will offer replicable lessons.

This week we are launching a new initiative to empower, support, and learn with students who have faced the most difficult of circumstances. Starting with 10 F&M first-year students this year and 30 over the next three yearsmany first in their family to attend collegewe will develop a model program that mobilizes these qualities and applies them to academic and professional settings. Each scholar will benefit from full financial aid, tailored support focused on classroom and workplace success, supplemental faculty and upper class mentorship, and a summer job or internship.

Additionally, our scholars will organize campus-wide workshops each semester to share lessons across the broader campus community. Starting with a lecture by the University of Texas at Austin scholar David Yeager this week, every workshop will invite a prominent speaker who exemplifies or is researching the power of grit, persistence, resilience, and can-do mindsets. We will partner with a third-party assessor to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of this effort, reporting on our findings. Building on F&M's highly successful initiative to more-than double enrollment and success of first-generation college students, we are committed to creating a demonstrably effective and replicable program.

Higher education has long defined talent in terms of grades, SAT scores, and leadership in school-based extracurricular activities. The premise of our work is that we must disrupt the traditional talent paradigm and challenge colleges to see and support other elements of human talent.

As MIT professors Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee persuasively argue in The Second Machine Age, fast-emerging technologies guarantee that rapid disruption is the new normal, both in our economy and across our society. Once secured by degrees, professional success in the future will increasingly depend on coping and adapting to disruption: intellectual agility, determination, self-reliance, emotional intelligence, and the ability to innovate.

Academic institutions need to better understand how to recognize and develop these capabilities. Leaders hoping to improve economic mobility in our nation will need to learn to cultivate them. America needs more RaeVaughns.

Dan Porterfield is the President of Franklin & Marshall College. Ken Mehlman is an alumnus and board member of Franklin & Marshall College who is investing in a new program to learn with and from high achieving students who have overcome obstacles. More about this effort can be found at Slingshotproject.org.
This post is part of a debate on Bobo Lo's Lowy Institute Paper A Wary Embrace. Other debate posts can be found here.

With every energy or arms trade deal and joint veto in the UN Security Council, the question of whether Russia and China have formed an alliance becomes more salient. These two states' shared opposition towards Western political values and norms and their rejection of the US claim to primacy prompt commentators to see their close ties as the key challenge to the liberal international order.

In his recent Lowy Institute Paper A Wary Embrace, Bobo Lo remains sceptical about the prospect of a genuine Moscow-Beijing entente. He argues that the two states do not act as a coordinated geopolitical force, but remain driven by selfish national interests. For Lo, the essential character of the relationship remains unchanged since the post-Cold War reconciliation, despite deepening Sino-Russian cooperation. Moscow and Beijing's emphasis on the unprecedented quality of their relations serves as an element of strategic communication. Building the image of close mutual ties, both states aim first and foremost to improve their relative positions with respect to the West.

Such diagnosis of the Russian-Chinese relationship does not, however, do justice to the evolution of Moscow-Beijing cooperation. Since the global financial crisis, Russia has gradually acquiesced to China's growing power in all three dimensions: bilateral, regional and global. This major shift remains unaccounted for in Bobo Lo's analysis. The soaring asymmetry between the two states has not dissuaded Moscow from deepening its cooperation with Beijing  rather than balance or at least hedge against China's rise, Russia has chosen to embrace it even closer.

In the mid-2000s, there were numerous obstacles to developing closer ties. Russia made genuine attempts to avoid dependence on China. In planning its oil and gas exports to Asia, Moscow reached out to Japan, South Korea and other potential customers. Russia was also unwilling to provide China with the most advanced weapons, leading to a stalemate in arms trade. It was also vocal about its discontent with China's attempts to reverse engineer Russian military technology. Moscow felt uncomfortable with China's growing influence in Central Asia and attempted to offset Beijing by establishing itself as a fully-fledged participant of East Asian politics.

Today, Russia's ties with Asia are centred on China in multiple areas, including geopolitics, security and defence cooperation, trade, arms sales, and energy exports. Russia has resumed exports of advanced arms to China. The existing and planned oil and gas pipelines are mostly bound for China  Russia is now China's largest supplier of crude oil. Joint naval exercises have been tailored first and foremost to meet Beijing's strategic needs. The unintended consequence of ever closer relations with China has been a reduction in Russia's capacity to establish deeper ties with other Asian states. In effect, Moscow's policy of turning to the East has been crippled.

Russia's acquiescence to Chinese pre-eminence has been even more conspicuous in Central Asia. Beijing has established itself as the key economic partner for Central Asian states, seriously diminishing Moscow's leverage over the region. China has built new oil and gas pipelines and opened its market for Central Asian energy resources. China has locked in most of Central Asian gas supplies for its own needs, replacing Russia in this role. Loans from Beijing enabled Turkmenistan to resist Russian pressure during the so-called 2009 'gas war'. Russia attempted to regain initiative in Central Asian politics by creating a regional economic bloc in the form of the Eurasian Economic Union but, faced with China's Silk Road Economic Belt project, Moscow ultimately gave in and the two states agreed to reconcile their projects. China's successes in Central Asia are even more acute when compared with Russia's unimpressive record in East Asia.

Russia's adaptation to the asymmetry in its relationship with China stands in stark contrast to Moscow's clash with the European Union over Ukraine and Eastern Europe in general. It is even more surprising given Russian policymakers' pride in following the Realpolitik tradition, according to which they react to capabilities rather than intentions of other states. The Russian elite's readiness to accept the growing inequality in relation with China can be ascribed to the process of mutual learning. The relationship has survived several difficult tests: China's emergence as the key player in Central Asia, the Russian-American reset under Barack Obama, Russia's annexation of Crimea, and the intersection of two regional initiatives in Eurasia. Beijing has managed to convince Moscow that China's rise does not pose a threat to Russia's ruling elite. Demonstrating self-restraint and some willingness to take Russia's interests into consideration, Chinese policymakers have successfully avoided falling into the Thucydides trap and prevented a backlash from a former great power over which they have been steadily gaining the upper hand.
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A Pakistani man has pleaded guilty to helping smuggle at least 81 people from Pakistan and Afghanistan into the United States by way of dangerous journeys through Brazil and Latin America.

Sharafat Ali Khan, 32, pleaded guilty on April 12 to charges of conspiracy to smuggle undocumented migrants into the United States for profit.

Prosecutors say he schemed with others to bring people from Pakistan and elsewhere through Brazil and Central America into the United States by planes, buses, and on foot.

Dozens of people identified Khan as the person who helped facilitate their travel from Brazil to the United States between May 2014 and June 2016, according to court records.

Prosecutors say Khan, a resident of Brazil, managed safe houses for the travelers and arranged for people in other countries to serve as their escorts on different legs of the route.

Khan told prosecutors the voyage included long hikes with little food and water through the remote tropical forest of Darien Gap, on the border of Colombia and Panama.

Court records show the travelers paid between $5,000 and $12,000 each before their journeys, which sometimes included long days of walking through the jungle.

Khan faces sentencing in July.

Based on reporting by AP and Daily Caller
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Amber Dubey decodes what 100 per cent FDI in airlines really means and why India needs to stop blocking competition if it ever wants to become the top aviation market.

IMAGE: M arking the launch of flights by the British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from London to New Delhi at Heathrow Airport in 2015 . India suffers from poor global air connectivity and it is self-inflicted. While leading airports provide connections to over 200 global destinations, India's largest airport, Delhi, connects only around 70, mostly in Asia. Photograph: Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Images .

Qatar Airways' mercurial chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker set the cat among the pigeons recently when he expressed his desire to set up an Indian subsidiary along with Qatar Investment Authority. What Al Baker perhaps missed out on was that the Foreign Direct Investment Circular of June 7, 2016, allows 100 per cent FDI only if there's no investment by a foreign airline. If a foreign airline is involved the FDI limit is 49 per cent.

This is akin to saying we'll allow 100 per cent FDI in telecom as long as there's no investment by any global telecom company!

The circular also states that substantial ownership and effective control of an airline has to be vested in Indian nationals.

The gazette notification of November 28, 2016, proposed to do away with the Indian ownership clause, but the final decision is yet to be received. An airline cannot have 100 per cent FDI and Indian ownership at the same time.

It's bizarre.

India has opened up sensitive sectors like defence, telecom and banking for 100 per cent FDI. Ditto for aviation sub-sectors like airports, cargo, ground handling, aircraft maintenance. In no sector that has been opened up do we see global brands decimating Indian ones.

There are enough safeguards in anti-competition laws in India that can be used to discourage foreign carriers from "dumping" capacity in India at dirt-cheap airfares.

Some belittle the success of certain Gulf carriers by alleging heavy state subsidies. If subsidies could help create world-class airlines, there are far richer countries that could have become world leaders in aviation.

With the crash in crude oil prices, the ability of Gulf nations to subsidise their carriers is further challenged. The security risk in the Gulf is worsening as has been seen in the case of the e-gadget ban.

This is an opportunity for India to leapfrog.

India suffers from poor global air connectivity and it is self-inflicted.While leading airports provide connections to over 200 global destinations, India's largest airport, Delhi, connects only around 70, most of them in Asia.

India's largest international carrier, Air India, flies to a mere 37 international destinations as compared to over 150 by Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Gulf and Asean carriers cannot increase flights to India as many of them have exhausted their quota.

Long-haul carriers from the US and EU are not expanding their capacity on Indian routes given the extreme competition and price sensitivity.

Indian carriers, especially low-cost carriers, have announced no major plans for long-haul routes.

It's a classic Mexican stand-off and doesn't bode well for India.

Many assert that no country allows FDI in airlines. That's wrong.

What is also conveniently left unsaid is that most leading countries allow "open-skies", despite severe opposition from their own domestic airline lobby. For instance, the USA and European Union, the key architects of Chicago Convention, 1944, junked the bilateral quota system and signed the open-skies agreement in April 2007.

India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) allows "open skies" in India for countries beyond 5,000 km.

Between "open skies" and 100 per cent FDI, the latter has a better impact on investments and jobs and, hence, should be the preferred option. The interests of tourism and associated sectors like airports, cargo, maintenance and ground handling etc are far larger than that of the airlines.

Also read: The trouble with Indian aviation

There's a fear that 100 per cent subsidiaries of foreign airlines would become feeders to their own hubs. This is alarmist and oversimplified.

India allowed 49 per cent FDI in airlines way back in September 2012. Nothing stopped a foreign airline from taking a minority stake in an Indian airline and making it a feeder airline.

On the contrary, Gulf carriers may use Indian airports to launch east-bound flights and Asean carriers may do the same on west-bound flights.

Indian carriers like Air India have the advantage that they offer non-stop flights to the US, EU and Far East, which many corporate travellers prefer.

There's a canard being spread that foreign carriers will "steal" our traffic. Passengers are not sheep that can be stolen.

Tourism is a two-way traffic. Per capita income in developed countries is 25-30 times that of India. India's inbound foreign tourist traffic, therefore, can be several multiples of Indian tourists going abroad.

India has unparalleled tourist attractions to offer -- natural, historical, cultural and religious. Despite this, India's foreign tourist arrivals in 2015 were a mere 8 million as compared to Thailand (30 million) and China (57 million).

Blocking global airlines to prevent "stealing" of Indian passengers has been a self-goal. Ironically, some of us overplay the "swadeshi" card and then happily flaunt our iPhones, Rolex and BMWs.

When all else fails, some bring up the bogey of "national security".

Effective security comes from robust intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination, not by blocking FDI. Security risks can come through airports, cargo, maintenance and ground handling, too, all of which are allowed 100 per cent FDI. Allowing 100 per cent FDI will bring greater investments, competition, tourists and jobs.

Even on international flights from India, many of the pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground handling staff come from India and not just from the home country of the foreign carrier.

India aspires to become the largest aviation market by 2030, from number four currently. It has the economy, demographics and tourism attractions to get there. The only way we can get there is by shunning old mindsets and welcoming the world's best airlines to invest in India. The choice is ours.

The author is India head of Aerospace and Defence, KPMG. S Vasudevan, director, Aerospace and Defence, KPMG India, contributed to the article.
Experts say you may invest in small-sized funds and benefit from their nimbleness, says Sanjay Kumar Singh.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Is big always beautiful? Not necessarily so in the mutual fund industry.

While big fund houses with their strong distribution reach and multiple schemes to match all kind of investors' needs are able to garner most of the money, several smaller fund houses have small schemes with assets of less than Rs 1,000 crore that deliver steady returns to investors.

Funds from fund houses like Quantum Long Term Equity and PPFAS Long Term Value are examples.

Many investors, however, are afraid to invest in these funds because of their small size. Experts say that provided you avoid the minuscule-sized ones, you may invest in small-sized funds and in fact benefit from their nimbleness.

Small means agile

A small-sized fund is nimble and agile.

If a fund has an AUM (assets under management) of Rs 500 crore and wants to invest five per cent of its corpus in a stock, that is only Rs 25 crore.

The fund can deploy the money quickly.

"With small size it becomes easier to time your calls. Real active management is much more possible when your asset size is not very large," says Vidya Bala, head of research, Fundsindia.com.

Consider the converse situation, where a fund has an AUM of Rs 15,000 crore.

Even one per cent of Rs 15,000 crore is Rs 150 crore.

Such a fund will have to let go of many stock ideas because they are too small for it.

Those stocks may not have the required liquidity for the fund manager to be able to deploy enough money in them.

If s/he does buy a stock with low liquidity, the impact cost (price getting driven up due to the fund's purchases, increasing its average cost of acquisition) will be high.

This is especially an issue in the mid- and small-cap segment (not so much in the large and multi-cap space).

A big fund also needs many more stock ideas. Such a fund may become too large to deploy all its money in the fund manager's 25 best ideas.

The manager may hence be forced to invest in ideas that are not as compelling.

Moreover, if a fund manager has to invest in a large number of stocks, tracking them all becomes difficult.

This problem of asset bloat could result in muted performance.

Myths about small size

Investors harbour many fears about small-sized funds from smaller fund houses.

While these issues do exist, one needs to see if they are exclusive to small fund houses.

One fear is that a small fund house could get taken over.

As Rajeev Thakkar, director and chief investment officer at PPFAS Mutual Fund, says: "The issue of viability has been there across size. Many financial powerhouses like JPMorgan, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc set up fund houses in India and then exited after a few years as they couldn't make the business viable."

At the same time, a fund house like Quantum (AUM Rs 1,012 crore) continues to thrive since 2006.

Investors also fear that a fund manager who has proved her/his mettle at a smaller fund house might get poached by a larger fund house. Again, this is not borne out entirely by facts.

Fund managers at smaller fund houses might move to bigger ones, but the reverse also happens.

In recent times, while Vetri Subramanian (from Invesco to UTI Mutual Fund) moved from a smaller fund house to a bigger one, there has also been movement in the reverse direction, with Anoop Bhaskar (from UTI MF to IDFC MF) and Kenneth Andrade shifting to smaller outfits (the latter from IDFC MF to setting up his own PMS firm, Old Bridge Capital Management).

Investors also fear that in a small-sized fund any redemption pressure could force the manager to sell some of the better stocks in the portfolio. This could hurt future performance and be detrimental to investors who have not exited.

"That is more of a fear in debt funds, like liquid and ultra-short term categories, where large institutional investors predominate. In equity funds, you usually have a large number of retail (individual) investors," says Bala.

Redemption pressure is likely to arise in an equity fund only in case of a steep market correction. Hence, Fundsindia.com has a minimum AUM criterion of Rs 200 crore for the large-cap funds and Rs 100 crore for the mid- and small-cap funds it recommends. You, too, could follow this rule.

Performance doesn't always lead to bigger AUM

Sometimes, a fund's AUM remains small despite sound performance due to extraneous factors.

Take the case of Motilal Oswal MOSt Focused 25, a large-cap fund that has given a return of 18.55 per cent over the past three years, beating its benchmark by 7.63 percentage points.

The same fund house's midcap fund, Motilal Oswal MOSt Focused Midcap 30, has given a return of 31.07 per cent, beating its benchmark by 5.08 percentage points.

The large-cap fund has so far managed to garner an AUM of Rs 478.6 crore, while its midcap cousin has an AUM of Rs 1,256 crore.

"Particular types of funds do well in particular periods. Money flows to the segment of the market where returns are higher, while other segments get ignored. In this case, though our large-cap fund has also done well, it has not managed to gather much AUM because a particular style is doing better and is attracting most of the inflows," says Siddharth Bothra, senior vice-president and fund manager, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund.

If a fund's size is small because of such factors, one should not fear investing in it.

Finally, a fund house has many expenses, such as the fund management team's salary, providing the team with research tools such as Bloomberg, allowing analysts to travel and meet sources, etc.

All this makes it essential that a fund house should have a minimum corpus to be able to pay for these.

If it doesn't, it could lead to compromises on quality of work.

Experts, however, say it is hard to stipulate a minimum AUM size a fund house should have. So long as a small fund house runs a limited number of schemes, it may do a good job.

"If a small fund house is focused on the task of asset management, and has good risk management systems, good processes, and a good team, we don't mind its small size," says Amar Pandit, founder and chief executive officer, My Financial Advisor.
Companies are innovating with tech tools to ensure that you spend less time at the cash counter.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

If the quality of products and services is fundamental to successful retailing, minimising the time spent by customers at the till is equally vital, more so in a post-demonetisation scenario in India.

Retail major Shoppers Stop last week announced a tie-up with proximity communications firm ToneTag to introduce the latters sound-based contactless payment system at its stores.

From deploying new technology to upgrading existing tools or launching mobile payment services and closed wallets, companies are keeping pace with innovation to cover a crucial touch point for customer experience.

Govind Shrikhande, customer care associate and managing director, Shoppers Stop Ltd, says the company invests in various solutions to improve in-store checkout experience.

These include solutions around mobile points of sale and associate apps for assisted sales for customers. Besides, there are other initiatives such as integrations with digital wallets, payment apps and contactless cards, thus providing a wider choice of convenient and secure payment methods to customers. These initiatives are in line with our overall omni-channel strategy through which we aim to achieve 20 per cent digital-influenced sales by 2020.

ToneTag, which is integrated with digital wallets or other payment apps, works on any mobile device.

The mobile app communicates with Shoppers Stops POS system using encrypted sound waves.

Shrikhande adds the technology would allow their customers faster checkouts through an anonymous, secure and cashless payment experience.

While, for Shoppers Stop, a mobile POS may seem a natural choice as it caters to a middle-to-premium segment, Future Group with its mass appeal claims to be payment mode-agnostic.

The group, which has flagship retail chains such as the Big Bazaar hypermarkets, aims to cover various payment options including mobile wallets, plastic cards and loyalty programmes.

A spokesperson reveals the company is testing a mobile POS, and that for a hypermarket with a massive size of stock keeping units clearing a test of its scale is critical.

We are constantly upgrading our POS environment, with new generation machines, he adds.

The company introduced quick checkouts around Republic Day sales this year, asking customers on its website to shop fearlessly by not worrying about queues. The customers were told to book time slots for specific days, and thousands responded positively despite any marketing or ad campaign.

Electronics major Samsung, which recently launched its mobile payment service in India, promises its consumers an easy solution to the trick of managing multiple payment instruments such as cards and digital wallets.

Asim Warsi, senior vice-president, Samsung India Electronics Ltd, says, Samsung Pay will create an ecosystem where customers can manage their credit cards and debit cards as well as make payments through their already active payment platforms like Paytm and Unified Payments Interface.

On the other hand, e-commerce start-up ShopX, which caters to small retailers across nine states in south and west India, aims to cover one million outlets and through them 100 million end customers.

With the help of its platform and closed wallet, ShopX has turned the retailer into a multi-service point, claims CEO and co-founder Amit Sharma.

The retailer has an app installed on her smartphone where customers can discover products. The retailer becomes a point of ordering, and also a point of cash payment and delivery and returns, he says, arguing that customer experience is key, even in case of the small mom-and-pop store or consumer in areas largely untapped by online marketplaces.

Malay Shah, senior director at professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, points out that the kinds of technologies being used differ for different formats and categories.

Consumer durables and IT, in case of both organised and unorganised retailers, is a category that will continue to see higher innovation, along with fashion and jewellery, whereas a segment like grocery is witnessing more innovation on the back end than the front end, he adds.

While the time spent at the cash counter is undoubtedly shortened with near-field communication-driven or wireless payments, for an Indian consumer the duration would still remain longer than for a westerner because of the MRP-based pricing system, which causes a clerk with the scanner to match the price on her screen with the multiple MRPs on a product, Shah argues.

Rachna Nath, partner and head, digital consulting, KPMG in India, stresses that the POS is more about experience than sales.

Even as security emerges as a concern for the customer, demonetisation of high-value currency notes last November has hastened the use of new payment mechanisms.

The trend with the retailer is improving customer experience. And payment is a part of that. A lot of them have gone in for what we call omni; hence, the question as to how do they make sure that at every point that the customers interact with the retailer they are getting consistent experience, she adds.
IT stocks have dropped about 3 per cent in the days since the Donald Trump administration took first steps toward visa reform. Saritha Rai reports.

IMAGE: Wipro chairman Azim Premji, the country's fifth-richest man, has also seen his shares slide in the wake of the US action against H-1B visas. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters .

It's hard to overstate the importance of the technology industry to India. Over the past three decades, the information technology (IT) sector has helped drive the country's economic growth, employed millions and made billionaires out of at least seven founders.

Now the industry is at risk from United States President Donald Trump's policies.

The administration is promising a clampdown on the work visas India's tech services companies use to service American customers.

In the days since the US government took first steps toward visa reform, all of India's highest-profile technology tycoons have seen their net worth eroded.

Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, and the country's fifth-richest man, and Shiv Nadar, the sixth-richest person and chairman of HCL Technologies, have seen their shares slide.

Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani and three other founders of Infosys, all among the top 100 of the country's richest billionaires, have taken a hit too.

IT stocks have dropped about 3 per cent over that stretch, while the benchmark index has climbed 0.6 per cent.

"Whether these changes are a precursor for more radical measures is what is worrying companies," said DD Mishra, a Pune-based research director at Gartner.

Infosys, which reported its Q4 earnings today, may have the most at stake.

The Bengaluru-based company is most vulnerable to US visa reforms because it has the lowest percentage of local hires in the US, Goldman Sachs analysts Sumeet Jain and Saurabh Thadani said in a research note last week.

HCL and Wipro also have risks from visa reforms, but they hire relatively more Americans, the analysts wrote.

Infosys kicks off earnings season for the industry this week, giving investors a chance to get more insight into the challenges and corporate strategies for addressing them.

Tata Consultancy Services, the market leader, is scheduled to report results next week.

The debate has been over the H-1B visa programme, which allows companies to bring 85,000 workers into the US from overseas each year.

On March 31, just as companies prepared to file applications for next year's allotment, the Trump administration rolled out a series of policy measures making it harder for firms to use the program for computer programmers and announced measures to fight what it called "fraud and abuse."

In parallel, the Justice Department warned employers applying for visas not to discriminate against US workers. All of this was in line with promises made during Trump's presidential campaign to overhaul the program he described as bringing cheap overseas labour at the cost of American jobs and salaries.

From India, those promises look like threats to the economy.

IT is the largest employer in the private sector, providing a livelihood to nearly 4 million, and contributes about 9 per cent of gross domestic product. India's software and services exports total about $110 billion, with nearly two-thirds of that coming from the US.

Visa uncertainty could wreak havoc with planning and jeopardise profits in the industry. It may also raise risks for customers that depend on such services, from Wall Street banks to retailers and airlines.

"Difficulties in getting visas or rising salaries of H-1B employees will have a material impact on companies," said Rostow Ravanan, chief executive officer of Mindtree, a Bengaluru-based outsourcer that uses hundreds of H-1B visas every year.

Several countries around the world are adopting or considering similar policies. That poses a threat to the business model perfected by Indian companies, Ravanan said.

"These trends are dangerous because the IT industry and its talent serve the entire world," he said.

Leading outsourcers including Infosys, Tata Consultancy, Wipro and HCL Technologies declined to comment on the issue.

Companies have been working on contingency plans. If foreign workers cannot go to the US, it will become more expensive to hire local staff.

Companies may also try to do more work for American clients from abroad, including India.

Nitin Rakesh, chief executive officer of tech services provider Mphasis is optimistic. He said the industry has gone through four or five reincarnations since the outsourcing business began.

A Trump crackdown may lead to more innovation in the model.

"Through leveraging all the possible technology, including mobility and cloud, the growth opportunities are immense," said Rakesh, warning however that some companies will adapt and others may not.
In UP, the BJP focused carefully on the sub-caste divisions within the Dalits and also gave a large number of tickets to SC candidates from sub-castes, asserts Ashok K Lahiri.

Decisive electoral mandates, as in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, are a welcome trend. It denies 'coalition compulsion' as an excuse for non-performance.

After fractured electoral verdicts during 1993-2007, UP returned single party absolute majorities to the assembly in 2007 and 2012. But these two earlier verdicts were not as overwhelming as a single partys victory in three quarters of the seats in 2017.

Dismissing this verdict as only polarisation is an oversimplification. A lot more is at work.

The manifestoes of both the winner and the runner-up, namely the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party, emphasised the development agenda. This included promises of 24X7 power supply, clean piped water and toilets, and four-lane highways connecting cities and districts.

The two main losers -- the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party -- released either a much less well-articulated manifesto only five days before the polls (the RLD) or no manifesto at all (the BSP).

The decimation of the RLD and the BSP, which accompanied the BJP's sweeping victory, may reflect an enduring decline in the salience of identity-based politics.

Take the RLD first. With remarkable flexibility, Ajit Singh, its leader, served as a central government minister under V P Singh, P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

The tenacious loyalty of the predominantly Jat voters in western UP, a patrimony from Chaudhary Charan Singh, helped him to do so. But the loyalty has frayed and its vote share is down from a peak of 3.7 per cent in 2007 to 1.8 per cent in 2017.

Contesting in 357 of the 403 seats, it won only one, and forfeited its deposit in all but three.

Some may have seen the RLD withering away. But the BSP's decline has been as startling as the unanticipated scale of the BJP's victory, even for exit pollsters.

Since its founding in 1984, the BSP's rise in UP in two decades, under Mayawati and her mentor, Kanshi Ram, was meteoric.

From a little less than 10 per cent of the votes in both the 1989 Lok Sabha and 1991 assembly elections, it secured 30.4 per cent in 2007 assembly and 27.4 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

UP gave it absolute majority to rule during 2007-2012, and made it the third-largest national party in 2009.

Equally meteoric has been its decline in UP. Its vote share declined to 19.6 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and in the assembly elections to 26 per cent in 2012 and 22.2 in 2017.

Electoral swings in favour or against a political party are known to have reversed in the past.

After a resounding defeat in the post-Emergency 1977 Lok Sabha elections, Indira Gandhi bounced back to power in 1980. After getting trounced in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections and securing only two seats, the BJP won an absolute majority in 2014.

But, in UP, the swing in the BSP's fortunes is likely to endure. It is going the same way in UP as in Uttarakhand and Punjab in the past.

The BSP's main political plank has been the mobilisation of the Scheduled Castes or Dalits, victims of age-old injustices. With the Dalits constituting 20.7 per cent of its population according to the 2011 Census, UP was fertile ground for BSP politics.

But, UP is not alone in having a large proportion of Dalits in its population. In 2011, SCs constituted 31.9 per cent of the population in Punjab, 25.2 per cent in Himachal Pradesh, 23.5 per cent in West Bengal, and 20.2 per cent in Haryana. In all these states, electorally, the BSP has been a minor player or on the decline.

Take Uttarakhand and Punjab, which went to polls around the same time as UP in 2017.

SCs, a sizable 15.2 per cent of the population of Uttarakhand, are concentrated in about a dozen assembly seats around Haridwar. But the BSP failed to win any seats in Uttarakhand in 2017, and its vote share, around 11-12 per cent in the previous three assembly elections, declined to 7 per cent.

Punjab has the largest concentration of SCs in the country, with the proportion of SCs in its population steadily increasing from 26.9 per cent in 1981 to 31.9 per cent in 2011.

Furthermore, the SCs are mainly located in the districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Sangrur, another favourable factor for their gainful mobilisation.

Still, the BSP not only failed to win any seats in the 2017 Punjab elections, its vote share, after declining from 16.3 per cent in 1992 to 6.4 per cent in 1997, dwindled to 1.5 per cent.

No single caste on its own has the numerical strength to deliver a victory in all but a few constituencies.

Caste mattered in Indian politics, and still does. It matters in the design of winning strategies for mobilising not one but many identity groups. As the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand, and these two and the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, started to accommodate the SCs, the BSP declined in these two states.

It declined in UP as the BJP mastered its strategy of accommodating SCs and emphasising its development agenda.

In UP, the BJP focused carefully on the sub-caste divisions within the Dalits, and worked out alliances with Apna Dal and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, set up by two founder members of the BSP and close associates of Kanshi Ram -- Sone Lal Patel (Apna Dal), a Kurmi, and Om Prakash Rajbhar (SBSP), a Rajbhar.

Furthermore, the BJP gave a large number of tickets to SC candidates from sub-castes such as Pasis, Koris and Valmikis, which are distinct from Mayawatis Jatavs. With some dilution of caste prejudices and alternative parties offering accommodation, many Dalits may have shaken off their loyalties to the BSP.

Furthermore, with some, albeit inadequate, empowerment already achieved, development rather than caste-based politics may have been perceived as not only the most potent tool for further empowerment but also the need.

After all, relative to the rest of the country, in almost every socio-economic sphere, UP, trapped in identity politics, has fallen far behind.

For example, its per capita income, which was more or less equal to the national level in 1951, is down to about the nations two-fifths in 2014-15. The UP verdict may be an ardent appeal for liberation from the stigma of being Bimaru, an acronym covering Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The writer is an economist.

Photograph: PTI Photo.
North Korea considers Assad's Syria an ally, so it views Donald Trump's decision to strike Syria as a message to Pyongyang as well.

In the concluding part of his insight into the North Korea problem, Rajaram Panda lists the complexities that keep the North Korean issue alive, and why diplomacy is the only option that no stakeholder can afford to abandon.

IMAGE: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley holds a photograph of a victim of the Syrian chemical attack at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after the worst use of chemical weapons in Syria since the Ghouta attack in 2013. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Florida summit meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was overshadowed by the US missile strikes in Syria, bringing in a new dimension to the complex situation -- Pyongyang came out with strong reaction to the US actions.

Analysts were quick to read the US action as a signal to the defiant nuclear-armed North Korea, and by extension its ally China, as well as other countries like Iran and Russia of Trump's willingness to use military force.

Trump's decision to launch the airstrike at a Syrian air base seemed to have changed the dynamic of deepened cooperation with Xi on dealing with North Korea with either more sanctions or deeper isolation or both as the missile strike on Syria extended the message to Pyongyang clearly.

As it transpired, the summit ended without any significant announcement of a breakthrough on the North Korea policy.

The announcement of extended cooperation between Trump and Xi meant nothing for Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-un is used to hearing such rhetoric and is immune to such threats. Beijing is unlikely to completely disown Pyongyang; it will continue to remain its lifeline.

Whether China does or not, Pyongyang must be concerned that Trump shall not hesitate to use military power quickly if he so decides.

The US airstrikes were retaliation against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a chemical weapons attack against civilians caught up in his country's civil war.

This being so, Pyongyang's long claim that the US is preparing to conduct similar precision strikes against its territory or even launch an all-out invasion might look credible unless Pyongyang mends its behaviour.

It is precisely because of this reason that Pyongyang justifies possessing nuclear weapons as a necessary deterrent to the US military threat and has warned that the ongoing biggest-ever US-South Korea joint war games held annually have raised tensions on the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.

The US, however, has denied, time and again, that the drills are defensive in nature, and that it has no intention of invading the North.

The Korean peninsula remains technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict was concluded with an armistice, not with a formal peace treaty.

The US military strike against Syria threatened US-Russia relations as Russia denounced Trump's use of force and suspended an agreement to share information about air operations over the country that was devised to avoid accidental conflict.

Russia, which has backed the Assad regime in the Syrian war, threatened the US with 'negative consequences.'

Though Russia did not deploy its air defence system in Syria against the US missiles, it flexed its military muscles after the attack.

Russia sent an armed warship to the east Mediterranean Sea with plan to visit the logistics base at the Syrian port of Tartus, thereby putting it on the path of direct confrontation with US navy destroyers.

It is widely being interpreted as putting Pyongyang on warning over its refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

With this, Trump's hopes for improving ties with Moscow seemed at risk as both sides traded harsh words in a diplomatic confrontation reminiscent of the darkest moments of the last few years.

The US navy sent a carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against North Korea's 'reckless' nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyang denounced the strike as an act of 'intolerable aggression' and one that justified 'a million times over' the North's push toward a credible nuclear deterrent.

Commander Dave Benham of the US Pacific Command ordered the Carl Vinson Strike Group north as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific.

Originally scheduled to make port calls in Australia, the strike group, which includes the Nimitz class aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson headed from Singapore to the Western Pacific Ocean.

Pyongyang considers Syria an ally, and, therefore, Trump's decision to strike Syria is a message to Pyongyang as well to face possibly a similar response.

However, a military action against Pyongyang is likely to elicit a far stronger response than that from Syria as it has the means to strike back.

Besides its rapidly advancing nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, it has artillery and short-range missiles trained on Seoul, a city of more than 10 million people.

In the event of Trump invoking the military option against North Korea, China will not only extend moral support, it is also likely to intervene. It may also announce support to Assad, which has so far remained muted.

Where does Japan find itself in this rapidly evolving scenario?

The North Korean missiles in Japanese water pose a greater threat to Japan's security now than ever before.

Besides relying on the US security umbrella, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is under greater pressure from Trump to do more from Japan's side.

Domestic consensus on assuming a greater security role on overseas operations is a challenge that Abe continues to grapple with. Strengthening the country's own defence capability further remains a priority option for the Abe administration.

That apart, Abe now finds himself in a big dilemma, and all his efforts to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin seem to have come to nought. Japan extended support to the US military action on Syria, which Russia strongly opposed.

Abe is worried that if the confrontation between the US and Russia over the situation in Syria escalates, it could affect the negotiations for the return of the northern territories that he is ambitiously pursuing.

Abe plans to visit Russia on April 27 to negotiate the northern islands issue, but could get caught up in the US-Russia cross-fire.

Trump might not hesitate to interfere if Japan gets too close to Russia.

Certain sections in Japan are enthused that the US action on Syria has terrified North Korea and the nation shall be kept in check. That could be a self-praise proposition.

The truism could seem to be that Pyongyang could feel emboldened to accelerate its nuclear development program as it is likely to feel that Syria was attacked because it did not have nukes.

The real danger is if Trump ever takes military action against North Korea, Japan might become the first target of a retaliatory attack from the North.

For this reason, Trump ought to take Japan into confidence before ever contemplating any military action against Pyongyang.

Though the security-related laws in the past year have expanded the scope of the self defence forces' logistics support for the US military and other forces, the Abe administration should be careful in going afar for fear of creating domestic political backlash, leading to instability as public disapproval for overseas military operation till remains high.

Such complicacies keep the North Korean issue alive, leaving diplomacy and patience as the only options that no stakeholder can afford to abandon.

Dr Rajaram Panda is currently Indian Council for Cultural Relations India Chair Visiting Professor at Reitaku University, Japan. The views expressed are the author's own and do not represent the ICCR or the Government of India.

Please scroll down for more insights into the North Korean issue.
Even as the Opposition has presented a united front over the electronic voting machines tampering issue in the past few days, there seems to be infighting and disunity amongst the Congress party members with some being against their use, while others apparently not.

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh came out in defence of the EVMs, citing had there been any possibility of tampering with the EVMs, he would have not won the Punjab assembly elections, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday said Singh had himself demonstrated as to how the EVMs could be manipulated, when he was the Punjab Congress Committee president in 2001.

"The chief minister of Punjab is a respected leader, but few years back in 2010 and even in 2001, when he was the PCC president, he had himself demonstrated as to how the EVMs can be gerrymandered," Tewari said.

Capt Amarinder Singhs reaction came following his landslide victory in the Punjab Assembly elections, in which the Congress secured 77 out of 117 seats making a strong comeback after a decade.

While reacting on the open challenge thrown by the Election Commission to the opposition to hack the EVMs, Tewari said the poll-watchdog should not act as an advocate for the voting machines.

"It's extremely unfortunate that the Election Commission has taken upon itself the role of being the lawyer for the EVMs. Democracy is based upon public trust. It is based upon confidence which elected representatives have in the process. So, therefore, if there is a lack of confidence in the EVMs, why is the Election Commission holding itself as the advocate of the EVMs? What is the difficulty if the ECI agrees to hold elections by paper ballot? said Tewari.

The Congress leader further said that if the stakeholders were unhappy with a particular process, then a revised decision was needed.

"Democracy is a process which is an in interplay between various stakeholders and if, therefore, the stakeholders are unhappy with a particular process, then I am afraid the EC needs to reconsider its stand," he said.

A Congress-led delegation led by party president Sonia Gandhi had submitted a memorandum on the alleged irregularities in EVMs to President Pranab Mukherjee earlier on Wednesday.

The delegation included several popular Congress leaders including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad among others.

Post meeting with President Mukherjee, Azad said that the alleged tampering of EVMs and the backdoor entry by the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the governments in Goa and Manipur, have raised questions on the electoral process in the country.

Azad said that the united Opposition sought the Presidents intervention to maintain the constitutional safeguards in India.

*****

EC's only aim is to bring BJP to power: Digvijay

Launching a veiled attack on the EC over its open challenge, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Thursday questioned the poll watchdog, citing those who are involved in the roaring business of hacking would never expose themselves.

In a series of tweets, Singh said, Those who are hacking are doing roaring business why should they expose themselves?

Emphasising that the poll panels only aim was to bring the BJP to power at any cost, Singh asserted that the saffron party and the hackers are the biggest beneficiaries.

'BJP and the Hackers are the only beneficiaries. No one kills a Golden Goose?' Singh tweeted.

IMAGE: President Pranab Mukherjee meets a delegation of opposition leaders, led by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi over the allegations of EVM tampering. Photograph: PTI Photo
The United Nations has asked India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue to find a peaceful solution to their problems, but refrained from commenting on the death sentence given by a Pakistani military court to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Were not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this, on this particular case, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefing on Wednesday in response to a question by PTI on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage.

Dujarric was asked that India is strongly disputing the sentence, saying that the due process of law and justice was not observed in this case and that it will consider the sentence as a premeditated murder.

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the death sentence, Dujarric reiterated the need for the two nations to engage in dialogue.

Overall, in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, I think we continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution...through engagement and dialogue, he said.

IMAGE: Ex-servicemen protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, demanding release of former Indian naval commander Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistan court for espionage. Photograph: PTI Photo.
In Odisha and Kerala, the BJP is being accused of engineering splits in the BJD and the Congress, Archis Mohan reports.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has set its eyes on winning seats in states on the Coromandel coast of India in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, particularly in states like Kerala and Odisha.

To compensate for the lack of influential leaders in these regions, the BJP says its doors were open for leaders from rival parties.

In Odisha and Kerala, the BJP is being accused of engineering splits in such parties as the Biju Janata Dal and the Congress.

Recently, Odishas ruling party BJD Lok Sabha member Tathagata Satpathy alleged that the BJP was trying to drive a wedge in his party.

Later, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik blamed the BJP for fuelling such false reports.

There have been reports in Kerala media about the possibility of some of the Congress leaders joining the BJP in the state.

On Thursday, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is fast emerging as the BJPs face in Odisha, said his party would welcome clean and strong leaders from other parties.

"We want to strengthen our party. Whoever is committed to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah are welcome to join us," Pradhan said.

The BJP has identified 120-seats in the northeastern Coromandel coast states for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, to compensate for any losses it might suffer in its strongholds in northern and western India.

Pradhan said the BJPs electoral victories in Assam and Manipur, and recent success in Odisha panchayat polls, were evidence of the partys increasing popularity in its non-traditional areas.

The BJP held its national executive meeting in Kozhikode, in Kerala, in September, while Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, will host the next national executive later this week.

This was with the objective of expanding the partys base in these states, Pradhan, the minister for oil and natural gas in the Modi government, said.

The Bhubaneswar national executive would set the contours of the Modi governments programmes and policies, as well as that of the BJPs for the next two years. The focus would be to celebrate the success of three years of the Modi governments garib kalyan, or welfare of the poor, agenda.

In Bhubaneswar, the BJP chief has asked party cadre to reach out to each of the 36,000 polling booths of the state.

The PM will also meet family members of those who had participated in the Paik rebellion against the British East India Company in Odisha in 1817. The Centre will mark the bicentenary of the rebellion this year, considered the first armed revolt against the British.

Pradhan said the recent panchayat elections have proven that the BJP has emerged as the main opposition to the ruling BJD in Odisha, with Congress pushed to the third place.

If extrapolated to assembly seats, the panchayat poll data indicates that the BJP won 44 seats, while the Congress was reduced to below 10 seats in the 147-member assembly.

The BJD still won panchayat polls in 92 assembly seats. The halfway mark is 74 seats in the assembly.

The BJP bagged 33 per cent votes. The next assembly polls in Odisha will coincide with the Lok Sabha polls in 2019. Odisha sends 21 members to the Lok Sabha. In 2014, BJP won one seat while the rest were won by BJD.
Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria last week and called on the government there to cooperate with an investigation into the incident.

Russia, a permanent member of 15-nation Council, exercised the veto on Wednesday when a draft resolution drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the United States was tabled at the UN.

While 10 of the Councils 15 members voted in favour, Russia rejected the text, as permanent member China, as well as non-permanent members Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained.

...With its veto, Russia said no to accountability. Russia said no to cooperation with the UNs independent investigation. And Russia said no to a resolution that would have helped promote peace in Syria, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said after the resolution was failed to be adopted.

Russia once again has chosen to side with Assad even as the rest of the world -- including the Arab world -- overwhelmingly comes together to condemn this murderous regime, she said.

Shortly after Russia exercised its veto, US President Donald Trump told allies that it was time to end Syria's brutal civil war, as he branded Assad a butcher and questioned Russias role in the chemical attack.

Trump said that America's relationship with Russia may be at an all-time low, but he hoped that it would have been wonderful if the two countries could get along.

It would be wonderful as we were discussing just a little while ago, if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. Right now were not getting along with Russia at all. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia, Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"This has built for a long period of time. But were going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia. Russia is a strong country. Were a very, very strong country. Were going to see how that all works out, Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has just concluded his maiden visit to Russia during which he met Putin.

Ill be speaking in with Rex Tillerson in a little while, calling in. I think he had a very successful meeting in Russia. Well see. Well see the end result, which will be in a long period of time perhaps. But the end result is whats most important, not just talk. And I think that based on everything Im hearing, things went pretty well, maybe better than anticipated, Trump said.

Trump hoped that the European countries would have nothing to fear from Russia.

He called on NATO allies to work together to resolve the disaster in Syria and thanked them for condemning Assads suspected sarin attack.

Vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life, Trump told reporters.

Thats a butcher. Thats a butcher. So I felt we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing, and it was very, very successfully done, he added.

It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists and allow refugees to return home, he said.

Trump said it was certainly possible that Putin knew about the attack, blamed on Assad, indicating Russian officials were present at the source airbase, which Trump later bombed.

I would like to think that they didn't know, but certainly they could have. They were there. So well find out, he said.

Trump also praised China for abstaining during the UN vote.

This was the eighth time during Syrias six-year-old civil war that Moscow used its veto power to block a resolution against Assads government.

The resolution would have strongly condemned the reported use of chemical weapons in the [Syria], in particular the attack on Khan Shaykhun, the site of last weeks incident that has drawn increasing global attention.

The measure would also have called on the Syrian government to comply with relevant recommendations of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fact Finding Mission and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.

Before the vote, Russias deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov said in the course of negotiations between his countrys Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow had suggested a joint communication asking the OPCW Director-General to immediately put together an international mission to visit Khan Shaykhun and the Shayrat airbase.

The US Secretary of State was considering that proposal, he said, adding that the whole gamut of issues would be discussed by OPCW on April 13 at The Hague.

Putting the draft to a vote a day before that would serve no useful purpose, he emphasised.

He said Russia voted against the draft because of its erroneous contents, emphasising that his countrys concerns and priorities had been pushed aside. The main problem was that the troika of drafters had named a perpetrator before a proper investigation had been conducted, he said, adding that by presenting a doomed resolution they had undermined the Councils unity.

Im amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that? he said. He said the US attack on the Syrian air base was carried out in violation of international norms.

He added that some states had expressed an anti-regime slant and a reluctance to ensure a truly impartial investigation, he said, cautioning that other incidents, involving extremists, could unfold.

Haley said the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have told it many times that Assad will not provide access to investigate.

Russia said this resolution was biased and that the Assad regime was not involved. This resolution simply emphasised the information the regime is already required to provide to investigators, she said.

Todays vote could have been a turning point. Once more, this vote could have been the moment when Russia saw that its interests do not lie with a murderous dictator, but rather with the many countries in the international community, including those across the Middle East, that want to end this conflict. By its failure, Russia will continue to be isolated, she added.

UKs Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft Russia vetoed the resolution that would have supported a swift and independent investigation into the Syrian chemical weapons attack.

Weve once again encountered a Russian veto, the eighth time that Russia has used its veto to protect the Syrian regime. This one is even more regrettable given that Russia was the architect of the 2013 agreement to dismantle Syrias chemical weapons programme, an initiative that has demonstrably failed, Rycroft said.

It is indefensible that Russia has chosen to protect the perpetrators of these attacks rather than work with the rest of the international community to condemn them, he added.

In February, Russia and China vetoed a measure that would have imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and entities linked to the use of chemical weapons in cases where responsibility was established by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism.

IMAGE: A man carries the body of a dead child after what rescue workers described as a suspected gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib, Syria. Photograph: Ammar Abdullah/Reuters
The US military on Thursday dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat on an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan, close to the Pakistani border.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs, was dropped on an IS--Khorasan tunnel complex in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb.

A MOAB is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is Americas most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command, according to the military sources.

This is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat Islamic State in Afghanistan, the US Central Command said.

The strike was designed to minimise the risk to Afghan and US Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximising the destruction of IS fighters and facilities.

As their losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, said General John W Nicholson, Commander, US Forces - Afghanistan.

This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against IS, Nicholson said.

The United States Central Command said US Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties in the strike.

American forces will continue offensive operations until IS is destroyed in Afghanistan, it said.

Photograph: US Department of Defence/Reuters
Kulbhushan Jadhav, the retired Indian Navy commander who was sentenced to death in a Pakistan court this week, will celebrate his 47th birthday on Sunday, April 16.

Far away from the Motherland. Likely in a dark, dingy, Pakistani prison.

As the Government of India undertakes its mission to free Commander Jadhav from Pakistani captivity, we must ensure that this Indian patriot is not forgotten.

Please send Commander Jadhav your heartfelt wishes for his birthday.

Whereever he is, he remains in our thoughts, and in our hearts.

Our prayers are with him and his family. And we know he will be with us soon.
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Discovering Florida Birds

This past year I have really gotten interested in photographing birds, so it is only natural that when we were planning a trip to Florida I also planned on discovering a new variety of birds to photograph. I started out by purchasing a good bird book on Florida birds and spent some time reading and studying the different types before our trip. I found that many of the birds common to my area of the mid-west also resided in Florida. Many birds that I commonly see in my own backyard such as the: Cardinal, Robin, Goldfinch, Starling, Robin and several different woodpeckers also call Florida home. Florida, however, also has a wide range of birds that I never see in the mid-west and it was this set of birds that I was interested in photographing. I started my exploration by going to a pier near where the inlet joins the ocean. On the first day I saw a lot of Rock Pigeons and several Brown Pelicans. I was just leaving the pier when the colorful bird in the photo above flew in and landed on the beach. I thought he was very unusual looking with his distinct black and white coloring and the bright orange at the base of his bill and orange legs. With his distinct colorings he was easy to identify in the bird book. My book states that he is 18 inches and has up to a 3 1/2 foot winspan. We were in Florida a month and this was the only time I saw this bird. I feel fortunate to have been able to get a good photograph.





Bird Book for Florida

Here is the book that I used to identify the birds I photographed in Florida. It is laid out with sections on birds of various colors. That made it easy to find a bird from my photo. It also has a great index in the back to cross reference various birds.





Birds at the Beach

When taking a walk on the beach I was delighted to see a wide variety of birds. When I had been to Florida in past years I had noticed the gulls and the little birds that ran in and out of the waves, but I had never really realized how many different varieties there were.



Below are two of the different gulls I photographed and identified.

Laughing Gull

Ring-billed Gull The small little birds that seem to run in and out with the waves are always fascinating. Here are a few I captured in photos.

Royal Tern

Sanderlings

Ruddy Turnstone

Birds by the Lakes



This bird is a Little Blue Heron. It is 24 inches and is a dark slate blue color.



I also took several walks around nearby lakes and found some very interesting varieties of birds. Some of these I had to work a bit harder at identifying.This bird is a Little Blue Heron. It is 24 inches and is a dark slate blue color.





This next bird is a Double-crested Cormorant. I had a bit of trouble deciding on this bird, but after Looking at both of these photos I narrowed it down to a Double-crested Cormorant. When I took the photographs and then went back to our condo to look them up in the bird book, I found there were several different types of gulls and the little birds could be sanderlings, terns, or perhaps even a Ruddy Turnstone. I learned to pay attention to the size and shape of their bills, the color of their legs, their basic shapes and their colorings. Even when I had all these characteristics figured out I learned within each specie there were different colorings for summer vs winter birds, breeding vs non breeding and male vs female birds. Identifing these birds was sure more complicated than it first appeared.Below are two of the different gulls I photographed and identified.The small little birds that seem to run in and out with the waves are always fascinating. Here are a few I captured in photos.

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The ruling Chinese Communist Party has hit out at the country's three megacities for failing to meet pollution targets, while authorities detained 61 people on charges linked to pollution.



Leaders of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing were found to have provided "inadequate" environmental protection to their 85 million residents, according to the country's environment ministry.



Shanghai, home to some 24 million people, was singled out for failing to end all illegal construction and shutter all illegal factories by the end of 2016, state media reported.



The city government had failed to implement orders to shut down some 800 polluting companies, all of which were still in operation, an inspection report by the country's Ministry of Environmental Protection found.



It said inspectors found 976 unlicensed wood-processing plants in the city's Fengcheng township district alone, and 31 of 46 illegal construction sites slated for closure still operating.



"Shanghai has seen some environment work growing slack and some standards have fallen," the ministry said in a statement, while Beijing and Chongqing have also been reprimanded for falling short of pollution targets.



The city's fines for polluters were too small to act as a deterrent, and environmental law enforcement was inadequate across the board, the ministry said.



Failure to implement



All three municipal governments had failed to properly implement some measures aimed at pollution control, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.



Beijing, which has an official population of around 21 million, was also found guilty of failing to treat 18 out of 19 severely polluted rivers, finishing work on only one on schedule, at the end of last year, the report said.



Meanwhile, fine particulate air pollution, or PM 2.5, levels failed to achieve the targeted reduction in Beijing's Shunyi district for the second year running, it said.



Inspectors found some 10,000 small businesses still operating in the city's Daxing district alone, despite having been ordered to close the previous year for breach of environmental regulations.



The city was found to have had the worst air pollution in the country in 2016, the report said.



Meanwhile, in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing, home to some 30 million people, some 28 million metric tons of untreated pollution is being discharged annually from around 100,000 farms within the city's jurisdiction.



Water pollution is also getting worse in some parts of the three cities, whose governments are ranked at the same level as a province in China's bureaucratic hierarchy.



Blocked by local government



Sun Yuanzhao, of the Asia-Pacific Law Center in Maryland, said there is a strong political will to tackle the monumental levels of pollution of China's air, water, and soil.



"But the local governments always allow economic growth and commercial opportunity to trump environmental concerns and won't invest the capital," Sun said.



"There's a huge gap between people's environmental aspirations and their actual actions," he said.



Ran Bogong, former politics professor at Toledo University, said the authorities will need to think of more advanced technology to tackle the problem, which activists say is exacerbated by the widespread falsification of pollution data.



"Progress towards significant environment achievements has been extremely slow, owing to the different circumstances of local governments," he said.



Businesses ordered closed



Meanwhile, authorities in the southwestern tourist town of Dali have ordered the closure of more than 4,000 businesses that were found to be polluting the environment in a mountainous beauty spot popular with tourists.



Some 4,000 restaurants and other businesses in the Erhai lake tourist region have been suspended for four days pending "rectification" of the pollution problem, local business owners told RFA.



"There are a lot less people coming down the street now than there were before [the suspension]," a business owner surnamed Hu said. "There used to be a lot, but the place has been deserted these last couple of days."



"We business owners are demanding a response from the government ... we want to sit down with them and present ... our demands [for compensation]."



An employee surnamed Wang at a hotel in Erhai said the government is requiring local businesses to pay for sewage treatment facilities of their own, or wait until the government builds a community treatment plant next year.



"I think it's fine to close down businesses to fix these problems, but I think the closures were too sweeping and too hasty," Wang said.



Calls to the Dali municipal government offices and to the Yunnan provincial government offices rang unanswered during office hours on Wednesday.



Reported by Xi Wang for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.




An attempt by police in Beijing to encourage ordinary citizens to tip them off about foreign spies with bigger rewards means that foreign journalists and nongovernmental organization (NGO) workers are at risk of detention at any time, commentators told RFA.



Beijing police recently boosted the reward for blowing the whistle on foreigners engaged in "espionage" from U.S. $1,500 to U.S. $73,000.



The move came as the ruling Chinese Communist Party confirmed it is holding Taiwan NGO worker Lee Ming-cheh at an unknown location on spying charges.



It comes amid a "pressing" need for new measures to guard against foreign spies, the official Beijing Daily newspaper said in a recent report.



"Foreign intelligence organs and other hostile forces have also seized the opportunity to sabotage our country through political infiltration, division and subversion, stealing secrets and collusion," the paper said.



The Beijing branch of the state security police now wants citizens to join in with counterintelligence efforts to stop spies working to "encourage defection" and "buy state secrets," it said.



Further rewards may be available for anyone who discovers espionage equipment, including recording and monitoring devices, the paper reported.



Last month, 42-year-old Lee Ming-cheh, a former local activist with Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), became the first overseas NGO worker known to be detained in China since a draconian law gave police control over foreign nongovernmental groups at the beginning of this year.



He was detained by the ruling Chinese Communist Party's state security police on suspicion of "endangering national security" on his arrival in the southern border city of Zhuhai on March 19.



Chinese law allows police to detain those suspected of "national security" crimes and hold them under residential surveillance at a secret location for up to six months, with no access to lawyers or family visits.



Hostile environment



Hu Ping, the New York-based editor of the Chinese-language monthly Beijing Spring, said the tip-off system is likely aimed at creating a more hostile environment for foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and foreign journalists, who are particularly vulnerable to accusations of "endangering state security."



"This way, they will be able to detain anyone that some citizen has denounced as a foreign spy, and take them to the police station," Hu said.



"By the time they have enough information, the person will already have been put through considerable stress and inconvenience," he said. "This is a clear invitation to the lowest ranks to go around detaining people willy-nilly."



"It will have an impact on anyone who needs to be free to act independently, and may even pose a threat to them," Hu said. "Anyone could be targeted by one of these 'tip-offs' at any time."



"We have known for a long time now that the Chinese Communist Party has long been in the habit of detaining people on trumped up national security charges," he said.



Hu cited the case of history professor Shen Zhihua, who was jailed on spying charges for political reasons during the 1980s.



"The government said he was a spy, and locked him up, and he was a second-generation party official, and his dad was the deputy Beijing police chief," he said. "I think it's very clear to everyone now that he was framed."



Citizen tip-offs



Meanwhile, Wu Fan, editor in chief of the overseas Chinese-language magazine Chinese Affairs, said the policy was an admission that the government hadn't succeeded in isolating its citizens from the international community.



"Western democratic nations tend to have very powerful counterintelligence operations, and they don't need to rely on regular citizens for tip-offs about who may or may not be a spy," Wu said.



"It's kind of ridiculous. Only in China, behind the iron curtain, would they take such measures," he said. "What it really shows is that the iron curtain has already been shattered."



Since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2013, the government has arbitrarily detained and prosecuted hundreds of activists and human rights lawyers and defenders, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW).



"It has tightened control over nongovernmental organizations, activists, media, and the internet through a slew of new laws that cast activism and peaceful criticism as state security threats," according to a description on the group's website.



China has dismissed criticism of the new laws by Western governments and last year launched a series of warnings against espionage, publicizing rare details of spy cases in state media, and highlighting how romantic relationships may be used to uncover sensitive information.



Reported by Lin Ping for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong (right) is escorted by Malaysian police after a court hearing in the Kim Jong Nam murder case, in Sepang, April 13, 2017.

Lawyers for two Southeast Asian women charged with the murder of the half-brother of North Koreas leader on Thursday accused Malaysian authorities of withholding evidence for their defense, including statements gathered from three North Koreans who were allowed to go home.

The women, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Hoang, appeared for a hearing Thursday at the Sepang Magistrates Court under tight security. They potentially face the death penalty over allegations that they fatally poisoned Kim Jong Nam with an internationally banned chemical agent at a Kuala Lumpur area airport two months ago.

The attorneys representing the women said police had not responded to requests for evidence vital to the case, including CCTV footage of the attack and statements given to police by three North Korean men whom Malaysian authorities had initially named as suspects in Kims murder.

There shall be no trial by ambush, Gooi Soon Seng, Aiysahs lawyer, told the court.

Gooi added that Ri Ji U (also known as James), one of the three North Koreans allowed to return to Pyongyang on March 30 along with Kims body, was a person central to our defense.

James played a key role in our defense, particularly [for] Siti Aisyah, the lawyer said.

They were no longer persons of interest .... So we should be allowed to have access to the statements.

Justice has to be seen to be done and, importantly, for the accused to be given a fair trial, Gooi said.

The North Koreans were allowed to leave Malaysia as part of a deal that ended a six-week bilateral diplomatic feud following the Feb. 13 murder.

South Korea, the United States and Malaysias prime minister had accused North Koreas government of orchestrating the murder of the half-brother of dictator Kim Jong Un.

We always cooperate with counsels

During the 30-minute hearing, prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad responded by arguing that statements recorded by police were classified as privilege documents under Malaysias Criminal Procedural Code, and therefore police were not obligated to hand them over to the defense.

Judge Harith Sham Mohamed Yasin adjourned the case till May 30.

Doan and Aisyah were both charged with murder on March 1. Apart from the three North Koreans who were allowed to go home, Malaysian authorities named four other North Koreans as suspects in Kims homicide. Those suspects are believed to have fled Malaysia on the day Kim was attacked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.

The four were mentioned, though not identified by name, on the charge-sheets.

Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, the lawyer representing Doan, told the court that he had asked police to furnish evidence such as photos and records of communications on two phones seized from his client.

Her two phones have been confiscated and police should disclose the records as it has vital and important information regarding the case, he said.

Elsewhere, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar responded to the complaints from the defense lawyers by suggesting that their requests might not have gone through the proper channels.

It is impossible because we always cooperate with counsels in terms of providing documents to them, he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. No, there must have been a communications breakdown somewhere.

Yet, Khalid noted, not all documents related to the case can necessarily be released.

It is up to us, with the clearance from AG [the attorney general] what documents can be given and need not be given. You cant be getting everything, the police inspector-general said.

Investigators were satisfied with the information given by the three North Koreans and the case had not been compromised by Malaysias decision to let them go home, Khalid added.

Cousin says suspect is innocent

The two young women, who are the only suspects currently in custody in a case that has grabbed world headlines, have told police they were duped into carrying out the murder by being led to believe that they were playing a prank as part of a TV reality show.

The women were both spotted on CCTV footage during the airport attack on Kim, according to police. The seven North Korean suspects were also filmed by CCTV cameras at the airport on the day of the attack, police said.

Doans cousin, Tran Huy Hoang, 23, who was in Sepang for Thursdays hearing, told reporters outside the courthouse that her family believes she was framed.

She would not participate in the plot if she knew its a crime," Tran said.

His cousin, he said, had graduated from a university in Vietnam and could speak English and Korean.

Tran, however, was barred from entering the court or the courthouse compound because he was not accompanied by Doans father.

The father, Doan Van Thanh, had been advised by his daughter to stay at the Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur for his own safety, Tran told reporters.

Tran and his uncle had arrived in Malaysia on Monday and met with Doan for an hour on Wednesday, he said.

She looked healthy and was eating well, Tran reported.

She wants her father to stay at the embassy until he returns to Vietnam, he said.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Authorities in western Chinas Sichuan province have demolished hundreds of tents set up by Tibetan pilgrims visiting the large Yachen Gar Buddhist Center, citing difficulties posed by the encampments to the orderly management of the complex, a local source reports.



At least 200 tents and other temporary dwellings were torn down after a notice ordering their destruction was posted on April 1, a Tibetan living in the area told RFAs Tibetan Service.



The pilgrims come here for one to two months to receive teachings and accumulate merit by circumambulating and viewing the complex, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



So they build tents just outside Yachen Gar, and the authorities recently cracked down on them and demolished about 200 structures, he said.



Yachen Gar, located in Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) prefectures Palyul (Baiyu) county and founded in 1985, until recently housed an estimated 10,000 monks and nuns devoted to scriptural study and meditation.



County authorities had given a deadline of April 10 for the tents set up outside Yachen Gar to be cleared away, RFAs source said.



Restricted access



Authorities are now restricting access to the sprawling complex and areas nearby, with foreign visitors drawing particular scrutiny from police, sources told RFA in earlier reports.



Chinese surveillance and other tightened security measures at Yachen Gar have become growing causes of concern for the centers resident monks and nuns, RFAs source said, adding, It is difficult for news about Yachen Gar to reach the outside world now.



Though the complex has internet service, residents hesitate to share their stories. Many fear Chinese retaliation at Yachen Gar if stories about the center get out to world media, he said.



Restrictions on Yachen Gar and the better-known Larung Gar complex in Serthar are part of an unfolding political strategy aimed at controlling the influence and growth of these important centers for Tibetan Buddhist study and practice, the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said in a March 13 report, Shadow of Dust Across the Sun.



[Both centers] have drawn thousands of Chinese practitioners to study Buddhist ethics and receive spiritual teaching since their establishment, and have bridged Tibetan and Chinese communities, ICT said in its report.



Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.




The U.S. State Department has dismissed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's claims that accusations of a chemical weapons attack by his forces last week were "100 percent fabrication," and criticized both Damascus and its ally, Moscow, for trying to "bury the truth."

Assad said in an interview with the French news agency AFP released on April 13 that his government had handed over all its chemical weapons stockpiles.

"There was no order to make any attack, we don't have any chemical weapons, we gave up our arsenal a few years ago," Assad told AFP in Damascus.

State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner called the Syrian leader's claims "vintage Assad."

"It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion. Frankly, its a tactic weve seen on Russias part as well," Toner said.

"There can be little doubt that the recent attacks and the chemical weapons attack in Idlib was by the Syrian government, by the Syrian regime, and that it wasnt only a violation of the laws of war but it was, we believe, a war crime."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also said Assad's comments are "100 percent lies."

"It's 100 percent lies and propaganda," Ayrault said during a visit to Beijing on April 14.

"It's 100 percent cruelty and cynicism," Ayrault added, mirroring the language used by Assad himself.

The Syrian government and Russia, Assads main backer in Syrias six-year-old civil war, have claimed the toxic gas that killed more than 80 people in a rebel-held Syrian town on April 4 was released when government bombs struck a rebel-controlled chemical-weapons depot -- an assertion that Western governments reject.

But the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on April 13 that the Syrian government, "abetted by Russia's continuing efforts to bury the truth," still uses chemical weapons.

Addressing a meeting in The Hague of the OPCWs executive council, Ambassador Kenneth Ward criticized Moscow for "straining to absolve the Assad regime again and again of any culpability" and for making "completely untrue" claims regarding Syria's total destruction of its chemical arsenal.

OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told the Hague meeting that the preliminary assessment by the organizations experts investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons in the town of Khan Sheikhun was "that this was a credible allegation."

He said a fact-finding mission had collected samples that have been sent for analysis and that the investigators are expected to "complete their work within the next two to three weeks."

Britain and Turkey say tests show sarin nerve gas or a sarin-like substance was used in Khan Sheikhun in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province.

Also on April 13, British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was highly likely that attack was carried out by the Assad regime.

The comment came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told journalists in Moscow, What we do know -- and we have very firm and high confidence in our conclusion -- is that the attack was planned and carried out by the regime forces at the direction of Bashar al-Assad.

Assad said he would only allow an "impartial" investigation into the incident to ensure it would not be used for "politicized purposes."

His interview was released a day after Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution requiring Damascus to cooperate with an investigation into the suspected attack.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Russia must pay nearly 3 million euros to relatives of victims of a school siege that left 334 people dead in the southern town of Beslan.

In a ruling released on April 13, the court found that Russian authorities failed to protect the schoolchildren, teachers, and others killed in the ordeal, which began when militants seized the school and ended in bloodshed and chaos with a botched rescue bid.

It ordered Russia to pay 2,955,000 euros ($3.1 million) to 409 relatives of victims, plus 88,000 euros in legal costs.

Russia swiftly condemned the ruling, calling it "unacceptable" and vowing to appeal.

Militants stormed into the school in the North Ossetia region on September 1, 2004, the first day of classes, taking about 1,200 children, parents, and staff hostage. They demanded the withdrawal of federal troops from neighboring Chechnya, the site of two post-Soviet separatist wars and then the center of an Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus.

Most of the victims were killed by explosions or gunfire during the Russian special forces' assault on the school on the third day of the hostage crisis. The dead included 186 schoolchildren.

The court said the special forces used "tank cannon, grenade launchers, and flamethrowers."

The response "contributed to the casualties among the hostages" and broke treaty requirements to respect the right to life by using lethal force when it was not "absolutely necessary," it said.

The ruling also said Russian authorities had been aware of the danger of militant attacks on public places such as schools but suggested they had not prepared adequately.

"While certain security measures had been taken, in general the preventive measures in the present case could be characterized as inadequate," it said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Three Days Of Terror In Beslan

Russia's 9/11

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said that Moscow "cannot agree with such a conclusion [about an incident] in a country that has been a victim of terrorist attacks multiple times."

"Unfortunately the list of such countries is growing and is unfortunately growing regularly, so such conclusions for a country that endured an attack are absolutely unacceptable," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russian officials sometimes refer to the Beslan attack as the Russian equivalent of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, and accuse the West of failing to step up cooperation against terrorism in its wake.

Announcing its intention to appeal, the Russian Justice Ministry contended that the ECHR judges failed to understand the gravity of the situation and specifics of efforts taken to free the hostages.

The September 2004 school siege started the day after a suicide bomber killed at least 10 people outside a subway station in Moscow, and a week after bombs authorities said were detonated by Chechen women brought down two Russian passenger planes on August 24, killing 90 people.

The spate of attacks undermined Putin's claims to have reined in militants from Chechnya and other North Caucasus republics during his first term, and prompted him to take measures that critics said tightened the Kremlin's control over politics and rolled back democracy in Russia.

Some of the survivors, victims' relatives, and other Russians blame the authorities for most of the deaths in Beslan, but no Russian official has been held responsible.

More than 400 victims and relatives filed the case with the Strasbourg court after a Russian investigation stalled years ago.

A lawyer who represented victims and their families said the ECHR ruling was only a partial victory, and that the focus would now be on trying to hold Russian officials to account.

"We are not entirely happy with the decision," Sergei Knyazkin, a lawyer for the Beslan Mothers Committee campaign group, told the Reuters news agency. "Three million euros in compensation is not enough, because you cannot measure the death of children in such figures."

"The victims insist that the authorities carry the blame for the badly conducted operation to free the hostages in Beslan," Knyazkin said.

Russia often bristles at rulings against it by the ECHR, claiming they are politicized.

In December 2015, Putin signed legislation creating a mechanism that Russia says allows it to disregard international rulings, including those of the Strasbourg-based court, if they are believed to contravene the Russian Constitution.

With reporting by AFP, BBC, and AP
WASHINGTON -- The director of the CIA has lashed out at Wikileaks and its founder, accusing the organization of being a "hostile intelligence agency" that was used by Russian military intelligence to meddle in the U.S. presidential election.

Mike Pompeo made the comments April 13 in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

Pompeo's remarks echoed longstanding thinking among most U.S. lawmakers and policymakers about Wikileaks and its founder, Julian Assange.

During last year's election campaign, the organization leaked e-mails from Democratic Party officials and from the campaign chief for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

U.S. intelligence agencies in January said the hacks were intended to harm Clinton and benefit Donald Trump, who ultimately won the presidency.

U.S. officials accused the Russian military intelligence agency, GRU, and Russia's leading security agency, the FSB, of being involved in cyberintrusions and other election-year interference.

Trump, for his part, embraced Wikileaks during the campaign, saying he was glad that it released Clinton's e-mails.
The Daily Vertical is a video primer for Russia-watchers that appears Monday through Friday. Viewers can suggest topics via Twitter @PowerVertical or on the Power Vertical Facebook page.

A transcript of today's Daily Vertical can be found here.

NOTE TO VIEWERS: The Daily Vertical and all other Power Vertical products will not appear on Friday, April 14, and Monday, April 17, due to the Easter holiday. The Daily Vertical and all Power Vertical products will resume their regular schedule on Tuesday, April 18.
Well, don't look now, but Vladimir Putin is channeling Leonid Brezhnev again.

And yeah, yeah, I know. It's already getting cliche and old hat to note the ways that the current occupant of the Kremlin is becoming increasingly similar to the long-ruling Soviet leader.

Brezhnev ruled for 18 years, and next year Putin will pass that milestone.

Brezhnev's economy, like Putin's, was fueled by high oil prices -- and it stagnated when energy prices dropped.

Brezhnev presided over a system in which corruption was endemic and an integral part of politics. Sound familiar?

And now Putin has formally revived the Brezhnev Doctrine, one of the cornerstones of late-Soviet foreign policy.

The Brezhnev Doctrine came into effect following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and effectively said that Moscow would intervene militarily in any Warsaw Pact country in which the Soviet puppet regime was threatened.

And this week, Putin said Russia would act to prevent so-called colored revolutions in the countries of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The message was unmistakable: any instability or public unrest in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan would invite Russian intervention.

And given that Russia has already invaded Georgia and Ukraine, and continues to destabilize those two counties, the threat clearly extends to Russia's non-CSTO neighbors as well.

For Brezhnev, Moscow's allies in the Warsaw Pact were not really sovereign countries.

Putin has long had the exact same attitude toward the former Soviet Union.

And now that attitude has been enshrined in official policy. It is now part of the Putin Doctrine.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Azerbaijan must pay 30,000 euros ($32,000) in damages to the widow of well-known journalist Elmar Huseynov, who was shot dead in 2005.

In a ruling released on April 13, the Strasbourg-based court said the investigation into the murder had not been effective, adequate, or prompt, having so far lasted more than 12 years.

The ECHR also said the Azerbaijani authorities had not taken all the measures available to them to ensure that the two Georgian nationals suspected in the case be prosecuted.

According to the court, Huseynov's widow, Rusaniyya Huseynova, was constantly denied access to the case file and no adequate steps had been taken to explore whether her husbands murder could have been linked to his journalistic activities.

Huseynov was known for his criticism of Azerbaijani authorities, including President Ilham Aliyev.

He was 37 when he was shot dead in Baku on March 2, 2005. His colleagues and relatives say his apparently well-planned murder was ordered by Azerbaijani officials.
Hundreds of people have descended on the Russian Embassy in London to protest against the reported torture and murder of gay men in Chechnya.

Russian media and human rights groups have been reporting that homosexuals in the Russian region are being "rounded up" and taken to "concentration camps."

Up to 100 men are said to be held in the camps, and at least three have died.

Demonstrators in London draped in rainbows chanted "close the camps" on April 12 and laid pink flowers as passing drivers beeped their horns in support.

"When there are people elsewhere who are not afforded the same rights as we are, it's important that we stand up for them," protest organizer Steve Taylor told Reuters.

An online petition asking for a full investigation into the "unlawful repression" of the gay population in Chechnya has been signed by almost 70,000 people.

The story broke on April 1 in the respected Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

It claimed Chechen authorities were attempting a "complete cleansing" of homosexuals.

The Chechen Interior Ministry branded the story an "April Fools' joke," while Kremlin-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov said there were no homosexuals in Chechnya to persecute.

Based on reporting by Reuters and the Evening Standard
Russia's chattering classes have been set abuzz by a tirade that Moscow's deputy UN envoy unleashed on his British counterpart, with supporters hailing him as a rising political star and critics condemning him as a thug.

The April 12 speech by Vladimir Safronkov, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, was remarkable for its aggressive, blunt, and highly informal tone directed at Britain's envoy, Matthew Rycroft.

Responding to Rycroft's accusation that Russia is siding with a "murderous, barbaric criminal" in backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Safronkov angrily accused Britain of trying to "sabotage" potential U.S.-Russian cooperation on Syria and proceeded to order the British diplomat to make eye contact.

"Look at me! Don't turn your eyes away! Why are you looking away?" Safronkov said during his speech, which came shortly after Russia vetoed a Western-backed draft UN Security Council resolution on last week's suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria.

Safronkov also accused Rycroft of acting "irresponsibly, offensively, and obscenely."

"Don't you dare insult Russia again," he snapped.

Safronkov's rant stood in stark contrast to Russia's silver-tongued former ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, who died unexpectedly in New York in February. Churkin was known as a pugnacious advocate for his government, but also for his wit and erudition that earned him respect even from UN counterparts who loathed the Kremlin policies he defended.

Kremlin-loyal media generally gave a positive spin of Safronkov's outburst, with national broadcaster NTV saying that he "forbade the British representative to the UN from insulting Russia."

Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected political analyst and former federal lawmaker with President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party, was openly effusive, writing on Facebook that Safronkov's performance marked the "birth of a new politician."

Safronkov's speech was also promoted by the Russian government, which circulated a transcript that excised one of the most striking aspects of his turn at the mic: his use of the informal Russian pronoun "ty" when addressing Rycroft.

It is generally considered rude to use the pronoun except between friends and close acquaintances, and it is virtually never used in public, official settings in Russia.

The official transcript posted by the Russian Foreign Ministry replaced Safronkov's use of "ty" with the more formal pronoun "vy."

Safronkov's coarse tone -- echoing a style that President Putin has himself frequently embraced during his 17 years in power -- triggered criticism from some in Russia, who said they already missed Churkin's professionalism and likened Safronkov to a thug.

Russian-language social-media users subsequently compared Safronkov with Russian hoodlums -- commonly referred to as "gopniks" -- known for their signature track suits, as well as a proclivity for cheap beer and cigarettes.

TRANSLATION: A Russian diplomat on his lunch break.

Russian political analyst Aleksandr Shmelev wrote on Facebook that he had a suggestion for a stunt for Russia's next ambassador to the UN: "[He] should pull boogers out of his nose and demonstratively smear them on his opponents jackets. After that, [he] can start barking and biting the ankles of those next to him."

Oleg Kozyrev, a media analyst and opposition blogger, set Safronkov's speech to a video of Denver the Guilty Dog, a canine Internet sensation who gained fame after appearing to look remorseful after eating a forbidden bag of treats.

(Like Safronkov, the dog's owner tells Denver to "look at me.")

Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov recalled the time that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov -- a smooth-talking, urbane official widely respected by colleagues for his diplomatic savvy -- was caught on a hot mic mumbling the words "f***ing morons."

Gudkov wrote that he hopes Lavrov has already "brushed away a tear recalling his humbly whispered 'f. morons'" after seeing the rough approach openly embraced by his "triumphant student" Safronkov.

Gudkov added on Facebook: "After jurisprudence, next on the list of unneeded cargo in Russia is diplomacy."

Vladimir Solovyov, a popular Russian television and radio personality generally friendly to the Kremlin, seemed bewildered by Safronkov's tirade, particularly his use of the informal pronoun when addressing his British counterpart.

"Someone probably signed off on this, right?" Solovyov said on his morning radio show on April 13, going on to compare Safronkov unfavorably with Churkin and Lavrov.

"I can't imagine such language from Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov -- who can say all sorts of things, like 'morons' and so forth -- but with a very clear stylistic understanding of what, where, when, and how one can speak," Solovyov said.

The Kremlin itself finally weighed in on the matter on April 13 and appeared to be fine with their man in New York.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said it would have been worse had Safronkov demonstrated a "lack of determination."

"He did not say anything insulting. In fact, [UN] Security Council debates are rather heated. They often relate to the essence and the future of international relations. A lack of determination is fraught with very bad consequences," Peskov was quoted by Interfax as saying.
Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai has received honorary citizenship in Canada and become the youngest person to address the country's Parliament.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on April 12 presented her with a framed certificate of citizenship. She's only the sixth person to receive the honor and the youngest ever.

"Malala, your story is an inspiration to us all," he said.

The 19-year-old Pakistani activist was 15 when she shot in the head by Taliban militants while returning from school. She was targeted for advocating women's education.

She won world acclaim for her campaign and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Yousafzai was originally scheduled to receive her honorary citizenship in 2014 but the Canadian Parliament was stormed by an armed terrorist that day.

Yousafzai says that man called himself a Muslim but did not share her faith.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted honorary Canadian citizenship on April 12 at a ceremony in Ottawa led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. An advocate for girls' education in her native Pakistan, Yousafzai was seriously injured in a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012, after which she and her family relocated to Britain. Yousafzai said she hopes Canada will continue to welcome "the world's most defenseless families and children," and that its neighbors will follow its example. (Reuters)
PRISTINA -- U.S. Senator John McCain has reaffirmed Americas commitment to Kosovo and praised the countrys proactive approach in the fight against terrorism.

The United States' commitment to a Europe whole, free, and at peace remains iron-clad, McCain said in an address to Kosovos parliament on April 13.

And, my friends, a strong, democratic, multiethnic and independent Kosovo as a full member of the European family is essential to the success of that vision, he added.

McCain also told lawmakers that Kosovo "is all in in the fight against terrorism and showing the kind of contribution that can make as a full member, a full member of the family of nations."

McCain (Republican-Arizona) is the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

He is on a tour of the Western Balkans that includes stops in Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia.


Montenegrin prosecutors have formally charged 14 people, including two Russians and two pro-Russia opposition leaders, with plotting to overthrow the government last year.

A Podgorica court on April 13 said lawmakers Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic of the Democratic Front, two Russians, nine Serbian citizens, and one other Montenegrin were charged with "creating a criminal organization."

The Russians were also charged with "terrorism."

The court has 15 days to decide whether to accept the indictments.

Montenegrin officials allege that Serbian and Russian nationalists plotted to take over parliament during the October 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russia leadership to halt Montenegros bid to join NATO.

Prosecutors said the Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, were based in Serbia and were allowed by authorities there to return to Russia. They remain at large.

Accused lawmaker Mandic on April 13 called the charges "a staged political process against the opposition."

Montenegro's special prosecutor has said Russian state bodies were involved in the alleged coup, something Russia denies.

On April 12, a senior White House official told reporters that the United States was concerned about credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election-day attack on the government."

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
NATO has activated a new multinational battalion in Poland near the border of Russias Kaliningrad, with the Polish president calling it a "historic moment for the country.

Officials on April 13 said the NATO battalion will be stationed near Orzysz, 60 kilometers from the border with Kaliningrad, a Russian territory on the Baltic Sea separated from mainland Russia.

"It's not an exaggeration to say that generations of Poles have waited for this moment since the end of WWII, generations that dreamed of being part of the just, united, democratic, and truly free West," Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a visit to Orzysz.

The unit will be under U.S. command and have about 1,000 troops, including members from Britain and Romania, with Croatian soldiers expected to join later.

Officials said the deployment is separate from a U.S. battalion of 3,500 troops that arrived earlier in the year and based in southwestern Poland near the German border.

NATO units, led by Germany, Canada, and Britain, are also being deployed this year in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The alliance has bolstered its presence in Eastern Europe to reassure allies in the face of a more-assertive Russia after its illegal 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
A mob in northern Pakistan has killed a university student over alleged blasphemy, officials say.

University and police officials say a group of students at the Abdul Wali Khan University in the city of Mardan beat Mashal Khan to death within the university premises on April 13, accusing him of sharing blasphemous content on social media.

Video footage of the attack shows the victim, identified as 23-year-old Mashal, lying on the floor surrounded by men and being beaten with wooden planks.

At least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, local police said.

Blasphemy is a criminal offense in Pakistan and can carry the death penalty.

It is a highly sensitive issue in the Muslim-majority country where at least 65 people have been murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies.

The government has recently vowed to combat the sharing of blasphemous content on social media.

Based on reporting by Dawn, AP, and Reuters
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
Russia is preparing to move the date of the 2018 election that is expected to hand President Vladimir Putin a new term from March 11 to March 18 -- the day Russia celebrates its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

The State Duma approved a bill on the date change on April 12 in the first of three votes on the issue in the lower house of parliament. It is certain to pass.

Russian law says that presidential elections are held on the second Sunday in March unless that is a working day, in which case the voting must be held a week earlier.

The authors of the bill said that March 11 was likely to be a working day after the March 8 International Women's Day holiday. But instead of holding the election a week earlier, they proposed March 18.

Observers suspect the Kremlin hopes holding the vote on March 18 will boost turnout and attract more votes for Putin because that was the date, in 2014, on which he signed a treaty that Moscow claims made the Crimean Peninsula part of Russia.

Kyiv, the United States, and most other countries reject that assertion. They consider Crimea, which Russia seized after sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by 100 states, to be part of Ukraine.

Putin, in power as president or prime minister since 1999, has not announced plans to run for a new six-year term but is widely expected to do so.

With reporting by RIA Novosti, Interfax, and TASS
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow on April 12 appeared to do little to smooth relations between the two superpowers, with a clear rift remaining over a suspected chemical-weapon attack in Syria and confusion over the direction of U.S. foreign policy.

After the highest-level face-to-face talks between the two under President Donald Trump's administration, officials said both sides cautiously backed efforts to improve ties that were at "an all-time low."

But blaring headlines and analysts' comments from around the world suggested there was little common ground when Tillerson met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and then President Vladimir Putin.

Under the headline Tillerson And Putin Find Little More Than Disagreement In Meeting, The New York Times wrote that the two men appeared unable even to agree on the facts surrounding the alleged chemical-weapon attack in Syria last week that prompted Trump to order U.S. forces to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in that war-torn country.

"Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip to Moscow on Wednesday was further evidence of how low Russian-American relations have sunk," the Times' editorial board wrote in a commentary. "One important question is whether the chill in the relationship will make it harder for Mr. Trump to engage Moscow in the struggle to defeat the [militant group] Islamic State in Syria; cooperation on that front, always questionable, now seems impossible."

Tillerson's trip to Moscow on Wednesday was further evidence of how low Russian-American relations have sunk.

There was no indication that the two sides changed their positions on the issue of Syria, which triggered a spate of mutual rebukes in the run-up to -- and during -- Tillerson's visit.

Tillerson said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government had carried out more than 50 chemical attacks throughout the six-year war in Syria, and that the Syrian leader could face charges of war crimes.

Lavrov, meanwhile, described the U.S. missile strike as an "unlawful attack against Syria" and said such actions must be prevented going forward.

Even Trump himself sounded less convinced of the prospects for improved relations between Washington and the Kremlin. He expressed hope on improved ties with Putin, but quickly added, "We're going to see what happens."

"The sides had been conducting themselves as if they owed each other," Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Moscow Center was quoted as saying by The Guardian newspaper. "Now no one is acting like anyone owes anything."

Russia Unsure What U.S. Will Do

Many analysts argued that the strikes in Syria represented a U-turn in U.S. policy that has taken not only the Russians but much of the world off guard.

This role reversal, according to Mark Galeotti of the Institute for International Relations in Prague, has confused Moscow, which used to feel as though it knew the course that U.S. foreign policy was following.

They're suddenly now finding themselves in a very reacting role. They honestly don't know what to do.

"Up to this point, they [the Russians] had already relied on the fact that they could play the role of the unpredictable one because they felt, with considerable grounds, that they had identified the real red lines of U.S. policy and they knew what the Americans would do in response," Galeotti said.

"They're suddenly now finding themselves in a very reacting role. They honestly don't know what to do."

Further muddling the outlook, Trump said later on April 12 that NATO was now doing more to fight terrorism and was "no longer obsolete," a shift from previous statements that the security alliance no longer served a purpose and a move that is sure to antagonize Russia.

"In Putin's eyes, we are an out-of-control hyperpower that must be opposed," Michael O'Hanlon, a senior foreign-policy fellow at the Brookings Institute, wrote in the Los Angeles Times. "His view is warped, but it appears to be sincere."

Trump could try to deescalate tensions with a broad agreement between NATO states, Moscow, and the neutral countries of Europe whereby NATO would vow not to expand further, O'Hanlon wrote.

Jeffrey Mankoff, deputy director and a senior fellow with the Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, suggested that a lack of predictability in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration is exacerbating the deteriorating level of trust between the countries and could lead to deeper problems.

"Of course, there's also the in-some-ways-more-existential issue of the fact that a direct clash between the U.S. and Russia could be extremely dangerous, given the military -- specifically nuclear -- capabilities of both sides," he said on The World Today radio show.

"And while I don't think that that kind of a clash is likely, it's certainly something that has to be lingering in the minds of anybody who is looking at the relationship."

In the background is the disappointed retreat of Russia's euphoric reception of Donald Trump's election victory.

Trump's November 8 election victory was followed by expectations of a rapprochement between the two countries, given the Republican nominee's praise for Putin during the election campaign.

Since then, a series of issues ranging from U.S. investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the campaign to the Syria bombing have altered the political landscape.

"In the background is the disappointed retreat of Russia's euphoric reception of Donald Trump's election victory. It brought expectations of a relationship reset, perhaps a grand bargain that would lead to lifting the sanctions imposed over Moscow's intervention in Ukraine," wrote BBC State Department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher.

"Trump's top officials eventually burst that bubble."
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did not discuss the prospects for a meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump during their talks in Moscow.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, spoke to reporters on April 13.

He said Putin's meeting with Tillerson the previous day was "fairly constructive."

Putin laid out an "extremely important analysis" of U.S.-Russian ties that he hopes will be passed on to Trump, Peskov said.

Asked whether Putin and Tillerson discussed a potential meeting between Putin and Trump, Peskov replied, "No."

Trump's praise for Putin and calls for closer cooperation in remarks during the U.S. presidential campaign last year raised expectations in Moscow for improvements after he took office, but tension has persisted.

Putin, Tillerson, and Trump all said on April 12 that relations were badly strained, with very low levels of trust.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, Interfax, and TASS
Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov has filed a defamation lawsuit against opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

The Lyublino district court in Moscow said on April 13 that Uzbek-born billionaire Usmanov named Navalny and his corruption-fighting organization in a suit aimed "to protect his honor and dignity."

The lawsuit stems from a March 2 report by Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation that focused on Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and included allegations that Usmanov gave expensive property to a foundation linked to Medvedev at no cost.

Usmanov has denied any wrongdoing.

The allegations against Medvedev helped galvanize nationwide anticorruption protests orchestrated by Navalny on March 26.

Navalny, who was jailed for 15 days over the protests, is calling for fresh anticorruption demonstrations on June 12.

He wants to run in a March 2018 election in which President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to seek and secure a new six-year term.

With reporting by TASS, Interfax, and RIA Novosti
ON MY MIND

The new report by the Bratislava-based GLOBSEC Policy Institute on Russian active measures in the Visegrad countries is disturbing -- but essential -- reading.

The report looks at how internal forces are trying to change the Western geopolitical orientation of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary -- and how those forces are being encouraged, and in some cases manufactured, by Russia.

According to the report, Russia is using diplomatic activity, energy policy, commercial activity, and information warfare to encourage Euroskepticism, antitransatlanticism, and anti-Americanism.

We long knew these things were going on in the Visegrad Four, but the GLOBSEC report's systematic look at the issue is a valuable and important contribution to the discussion of Russian active measures in Europe.

IN THE NEWS

Russia is preparing to move the date of the 2018 election that is expected to hand President Vladimir Putin a new term from March 11 to March 18 -- the day Russia celebrates its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny is calling on "all patriots" in the country to join nationwide anticorruption rallies on June 12.

Hundreds of people have descended on the Russian Embassy in London to protest against the reported torture and murder of gay men in Chechnya.

The death toll in an April 3 bomb blast on a subway train in the Russian city of St. Petersburg has risen to 15.

U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, will register as a foreign agent for lobbying work he did on behalf of pro-Russian political interests in Ukraine, his spokesman has said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States is "not getting along with Russia at all" and that bilateral relations may be at an "all-time low."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the level of trust between Russia and the United States has decreased since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

The White House is concerned about what it says was Russian interference in NATO-aspirant Montenegro's parliamentary elections last year.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has told Russia it is "long past time" to stop covering for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. Senator John McCain has said Montenegro's accession to NATO is crucial to stability in the region in the face of Russian actions abroad that he called "not acceptable."

EU foreign-affairs chief Federica Mogherini will make her first official visit to Russia on April 24.

The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Paul Ryan will head a delegation of U.S. Congress members visiting Europe next week to meet with leaders of NATO allies.

WHAT I'M READING

Today's Must-Read: Visegrad Vulnerability

GLOBSEC has published a new report ranking the VIsegrad countries' relative susceptibility to Russian influence operations. According to GLOBSEC's "vulnerability index," Hungary is the most susceptible to Russian operations, followed by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Emily Tamkin comments on the report in Foreign Policy's The Cable blog.

Estonian Intelligence Report

The Estonian Internal Security Service, Kapo, has released its annual report, covering its activities for 2016.

And Bloomberg reports, citing the Baltic News Service, that Estonia arrested a Russian in January on suspicion of spying, in a case involving an alleged recruit of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU.

Moscow Gridlock

Mark Galeotti of the Institute of International Relation in Prague has a piece in BNEIntellinews and a video explainer on YouTube on the politics of gridlock in Moscow.

Kadyrov's Foreign Policy

Pavel Luzin, a lecturer at Perm University, looks at how Russian foreign policy is becoming dependent on Ramzan Kadyrov.

Why Russia Won't Ditch Assad

Vali Nasr, dean and professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies, explains in The Atlantic why Russia is unlikely to abandon Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign Affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov, meanwhile, argues in The Moscow Times that Russia has backed itself into a corner in Syria.

And in an interview with Bloomberg, Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, says Putin is doubling down on Assad.

The U.K.'s Failed Ukraine Probe

Oliver Bullough has a piece in The Guardian explaining how a U.K. investigation into assets stolen from Ukraine fell apart.

Protests In Russia And Belarus

Hannah Thoburn, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute, looks at the similarities between recent protests in Russia and Belarus.

Reading About The Revolution

In The Guardian, Tariq Ali lists his top 10 books about the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Active Measures In Sweden

The Economist has a piece looking at Russian influence operations in Sweden.

How Moscow Recruits Spies

Natasha Bertrand has a piece in Business Insider on how Russia has changed its method of recruiting spies.

NOTE TO READERS: The Morning Vertical and all other Power Vertical products will not appear on Friday, April 14, and Monday, April 17, due to the Easter holiday. The Morning Vertical and all Power Vertical products will resume their regular schedule on Tuesday, April 18.
U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman will register as a foreign agent for lobbying work he did on behalf of pro-Russian political interests in Ukraine, his spokesman has said.

Paul Manafort's decision to register comes amid investigations by the FBI and Congress into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia.

Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said on April 12 Manafort's lobbying for ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's party between 2012 and 2014 was not done on behalf of Russia.

Yanukovych fled to Russia in 2014 amid massive protests against his rule.

By registering retroactively with the Justice Department, Manafort will be acknowledging that he failed to previously disclose his work as required by U.S. law.

Maloni said there was nothing improper about Manafort's political consulting for Yanukovych's political party, including how he was paid, and the lobbying ended before Manafort began working on Trump's campaign in March 2016.

Manafort resigned from Trump's campaign in August after revelations that he was paid millions of dollars to lobby on behalf of Yanukovych and his party.

AP reported that U.S. prosecutors have been looking into Manafort's work for years as part of an effort to recover Ukrainian assets stolen after Yanukovych fled the country.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his support for NATO following a meeting with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on April 12. Trump said that NATO is "no longer obsolete," reversing comments he made during his election campaign. He also underlined the importance of the alliance in seeking to end the war in Syria. (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an upbeat assessment of relations with Russia in the long term, saying on Twitter: "Things will work out fine between the U.S.A. and Russia."

"At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace!" Trump added in the tweet on April 13.

It came less than 24 hours after Trump told a White House press conference that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip to Moscow had gone "pretty well" and "maybe better than expected" but that U.S.-Russian relations "may be at an all-time low."

Tillerson held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said in an interview published on April 12 that the level of trust between the two countries had "most likely deteriorated" since Trump took office in January.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on April 13 said that during their meeting, Putin gave Tillerson his views on the causes of the current "deadlock" in relations.

"We hope that the U.S. president will become aware of that analysis," Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said it was too early yet" when asked if the Putin-Tillerson meeting had produced any positive change in the situation, although he called the talks "fairly constructive."

He added that there was no discussion of a possible future summit meeting between Putin and Trump.

Trump, in his comments at the White House on April 12, said that it would be "fantastic" if the two powers got along better but cautioned that "it may be just the opposite."

Trump's praise for Putin and calls for closer cooperation in remarks during the presidential campaign last year raised expectations in Moscow for improvements after he took office, but tension has persisted.

Remarks from both sides during Tillerson's visit made clear the two countries are deeply at odds over issues including Russia's backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its interference in Ukraine, and its alleged meddling in the U.S. election.
United Nations human rights experts and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are demanding urgent action from Russian authorities to end the persecution of men perceived to be gay in the Russian region of Chechnya and to "thoroughly" investigate reports of abuse.

The calls on April 13 come after Russian media -- including the respected Novaya Gazeta newspaper -- and human rights organizations reported earlier this month that homosexuals in Chechnya are being rounded up and taken to concentration camps.

Up to 100 men are reported to be held in the camps, with at least three having died there.

The authorities in Chechnya have denied the reports.

Men detained in the Russian Republic of Chechnya simply for being perceived to be gay must be immediately released and their abuse and persecution ended, UN human rights experts said in a statement released by the United Nations' High Commissioner on Human Rights.

The UN experts said people perceived to be gay in Chechnya are living in a climate of fear, fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities.

The Russian Federation must officially state that it does not tolerate any form of incitement to violence, social stigmatization of homosexuality, or hate speech, they said.

The experts added that reports of abductions, unlawful detentions, torture, beatings, and killings of men perceived to be gay or bisexual must be thoroughly investigated.



They said much of the abuse is being conducted at a detention center near the city of Argun, where arrested men are subjected to torture including electric shocks and beatings and also being humiliated and insulted.

The UN experts said they are in contact with Russian authorities and are closely monitoring the situation.

Separately on April 13, the OSCE called on Russian officials to urgently investigate the "horrific reports" of disappearance, torture, and other ill-treatment against men in Chechnya because of their real or perceived sexual orientation.

Given the reported unwillingness of local authorities to investigate and prosecute the serious violations alleged to have been committed by security services, it is incumbent upon Russian Federation authorities to intervene and protect all those remaining at risk, as well as ensure accountability for any violations, Michael Georg Link, the director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said in a statement.

On April 7, the United States said it was "increasingly concerned" by the reports and that it categorically condemns persecution of individuals based on their sexual orientation.
The U.S.-led coalition fighting against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria has rejected a claim by the Syrian army that a coalition air strike hit poison gas supplies and killed hundreds of people.

A Syrian army statement shown on Syrian state TV on April 13 said that a strike late on April 12 in the eastern Deir al-Zor Province hit supplies belonging to IS, releasing a toxic substance that killed "hundreds including many civilians."

"The Syrian claim is incorrect and likely intentional misinformation," U.S. Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said in a statement. He said the coalition had carried out no air strikes in that area at that time.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on April 13 that it had no information on fatalities in a coalition air strike in Deir al-Zor and was sending drones to the area to monitor the situation.

The claim comes after more than 80 people were killed in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province on April 4 in what the United States and other governments say was a poison gas attack carried out by President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The United States responded on April 7 by firing dozens of missiles at the air base where it says the attack originated.

The Syrian government and Russia, its ally, have said they believe the gas was released when Syrian government air strikes hit a rebel chemical weapons facility.

Russia says and its ally Russia deny Damascus carried out any such chemical attack. Moscow has said the poison gas in that incident last week in Idlib Province belonged to rebels.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
KABUL -- The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said his decision to use one of the U.S. military's largest nonnuclear bombs in an attack that reportedly killed 36 Islamic State (IS) militants was done in communication with officials in Washington.

General John Nicholson said April 14 at a news conference in Kabul that the attack was purely "tactical."

"This was the right weapon for the right target," he told reporters.

Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said 36 IS fighters were killed in the blast which hit an IS tunnel and command center on April 13. He said no civilians were harmed.

The death toll could not be independently confirmed.

U.S. and Afghan security forces swarmed over the target site and did not allow reporters or local residents to approach the area April 14.

"We have U.S. forces at the site and we see no evidence of civilian casualties nor have there been reports," Nicholson said. "Let me be clear -- we will not relent in our mission to destroy [IS in Afghanistan].... There will be no sanctuary for terrorists in Afghanistan."

Media reports also said senior IS commander Siddiq Yar was among those killed.

IS issued a statement through its affiliated Amaq news agency denying any dead or wounded from yesterday's American strike in Nangarhar.

The Pentagon said it was the first-ever combat use of the GBU-43/B bomb. The 9,797-kilogram bomb was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of the eastern province of Nangarhar bordering Pakistan. It targeted a complex of tunnels that Afghan and U.S. officials said was being used by militants linked to IS.

Afghanistan's presidency said the bomb was dropped in coordination with the government, adding that "the air strike was designed to support the efforts of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Force) and U.S. forces" conducting an operation in the area.

A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani told Radio Free Afghanistan the decision to deploy the massive bomb in the area was made after repeated air strikes by the Afghan Air Force and the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission's air force had failed to destroy the IS hideout.

The tunnel network included the IS regional command center and weapons depots dug underground at depths that reached 300 meters in some areas, Dawakhan Meenapal, Ghani's deputy spokesman, said.

"Therefore, in consultation with the Afghan government, the final decision to hit that area was finalized in the presence of the Afghan military leadership and officials who were visiting Nangarhar Province yesterday (April 13)."

Meenapal also stressed that the final decision was made "knowing that there were no civilians in the area."

Abdullah Abdullah, the chief executive officer of Afghanistan, confirmed the attack had been carried out in coordination with the government and that "great care had been taken to avoid civilian harm."

Officials hope the bombing will diminish IS's capabilities in Afghanistan and to also send a warning to the much larger Taliban militant group ahead of their annual spring offensive.

The Taliban issued a statement denouncing the bombing.

"Using this massive bomb cannot be justified and will leave a material and psychological impact on our people," the Taliban, who compete with IS in the country, said in a statement.

However, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the use of the bomb on Afghan soil. "This is not the war on terror, but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous weapons," he said on Twitter.

A day after the attack, residents of surrounding villages told Radio Free Afghanistan the targeted region had housed many IS fighters and that the blast shook the ground around their homes in the remote mountainous area.

It was a very powerful and horrific bomb, one resident, who declined to give his name, told RFE/RL. It shook the whole area, including Asadkhel village.

The place where the bomb exploded was the center of Islamic State, another resident said. There is a big tunnel over there, which they used for hiding and for holding prisoners and weapons.

He added that when IS militants had arrived in the area, they took over their homes and looted everything.... Now their own families live there."

The strike came as U.S. President Donald Trump dispatched his first high-level delegation to Kabul, amid uncertainty about his plans for the some 8,400 American troops stationed in Afghanistan.

It also follows last week's death of a U.S. special forces soldier fighting IS militants in Nangarhar Province.



The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), known as "the mother of all bombs," unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

Trump has told reporters that the bombing was another very, very successful mission. He did not answer directly when asked if he had authorized the use of the bomb.

Everyone knows exactly what happened. What I do is authorize my military. We have given them total authorization, Trump said.

The GBU-43/B bomb was developed for use in the Iraq war -- at a reported cost of $16 million each -- and was first tested in 2003, but never used in action until April 13.

The MOAB is the U.S. military's most powerful nonnuclear bomb. However, it is not the heaviest. The Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, is an even bigger bunker-buster bomb which weighs a colossal 13,600 kilograms.

With additional reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters
(Editors Note: It is the policy of the Press-News to not publish the names of sexual assault victims, in order to protect the victim and their family. In this article, we refer to our victim as Ann.")

NORTH IOWA | To have a voice. To share the pain. To have a chance to heal.

For one North Iowa sexual assault victim, this is an opportunity to tell her story, and for once, to be heard.

I want people to know my story and know I matter, Ann said. What happened to me matters, and it happens all too much.

Ann, a North Iowa resident, is in her early 30s, has children and is currently enrolled in college full-time.

After several years of not being able to have any interests of her own, she decided it was time to finish her degree and to do something that makes myself happy, she said.

Anns sexual assault occurred in the summer of 2015. However, the abuse started much earlier.

For many years, I did not have a voice, she said. I was abused sexually, physically, emotionally, verbally and economically, by the same person.

People can wear a mask well and lure you in before you even know what hit you.

Ann has a long history of repeated trauma with the same man and sadly, the abuse is still ongoing in certain aspects.

In 2015, Ann said her assault was violent and disturbing.

The same man sexually assaulted me again eight month later, while I was pregnant, Ann said. The experiences I endured were horrific and I dont wish it on anyone, not even my abuser.

This man stole everything good about me. He ripped it right out of me and stomped it to the ground till nothing was left.

When Ann was finally able to escape her abuser, her first plan of action was to get into a safe environment, which she did. She was then able to report some of the abuse.

No one knew about the sexual assaults until I managed to deal with it mentally, and until I felt it was safe enough to come forward, Ann said. This man had tried to kill me twice, and at that point, I didnt dare come forward.

Knowing what he was capable of, Ann cut off all ties to him, changed phone numbers and accounts, and even had a protective order put in place against him.

Ann said she has good days and bad days. She has lots of nightmares and flashbacks. She triple locks her doors. She is constantly looking over her shoulder.

Little things taken for granted, like swimming and washing hair, are a struggle for Ann.

I end up gasping for air, she said. I guess its understandable after having someone attempt to drown me, but I wish it wasnt a problem.

I have reported the assaults, but its still an ongoing battle, she said. I live in fear every day, and I stay at home a lot because he continues to follow me, no matter where I go.

Ann said if she sees someone who resembles her abuser or she smells a scent related to him, she freezes dead in my tracks. I literally get crippled with fear.

To help with her recovery, Ann said she does a lot of therapy. She works with three different organizations to try to make sense of what happened to me.

I have come across some amazing ladies who have helped me to start healing, she said. They threw me a lifeline when I desperately needed it. I will forever be grateful to them for helping me discover my voice.

Ann said she write a lot, as a way to vent and to say what she needs to say without anyone ever reading it.

I have written things, read them aloud and then ripped them up, she said. I get to say what I need to say instead of being angry.

Ann said her children also help keep her going.

I try to look at the world through their perspective, she said. Innocence is something that was robbed from me, but they still have it. To look at things the way they do is indescribable.

She said she is still trying to figure out what she wants out of life and how to get it.

I want to heal too fast and forget it happened, which isnt working out, Ann said. I have learned you cant feel joy and happiness without feeling the pain and sadness.

Being able to forgive and forget is very hard for me. Some people just dont deserve any kind of forgiveness.

When it comes to her friends and family, Ann said when you experience something traumatic, they do as well. They might not have lived it first-hand, but hearing the gory details make it seem like they have experienced it as well.

She said she had multiple loved ones get upset when they finally heard everything. Ann said she was asked several times why she didnt tell them or ask for help.

I was hurt, at first, but I see the big picture now, she said. I think some of them feel like they failed me because they couldnt protect me.

It was my bad situation, and I had to handle it without letting it hurt them.

Ann said she thinks they are in a better place now she and those close to her have discussed everything. We are starting to get back to where we used to be, before it happened.

I am glad I still have them in my life and I didnt lose them through all this.

Her advice to a victim of sexual assault: Its not your fault. You didnt deserve what happened to you. Nothing you could have done could have changed what happened.

In regards to the attacker, We have no control over what others do. If a person decided they are going to assault someone, they will.

Making it through your experience makes you a survivor. If they couldnt take that away from you, there is still hope.

Ann gave some advice for friends and relatives of a sexual assault victim: Dont tell them what to do. Dont pressure then into doing anything they are not ready to do. Give them a safe place to stay and a shoulder to cry on. Dont speak; just listen. Be understanding, not judgmental.

What does the future hold for Ann? Im not certain I would make a good advocate for other sexual assault victims, she said. I think I would get too emotionally invested in my clients and it would break my heart if something bad happened to them.

Regardless of whether I become an advocate, I still want to make a difference and help others in any way that I can.

Ann said she is slowly picking up the pieces of a shattered existence. I have still have no clue who I am, she said. After all I have been through, I still have a good head on my shoulders. I am still a caring person. I am still optimistic and this something he will never take from me.

It might hurt for now, but it cant rain forever. There is always sunshine after the storm.
Over the past five years, Iranian officials and state media have touted the "indigenous" ingenuity in the Islamic republic's mass-produced Mohajer-6 combat drone, which Russia has deployed in its war against Ukraine.

But a new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, has found that electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 are far from homegrown.



The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of such technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes  dual-use technology.

The presence of these components in the Mohajer-6 does not mean their producers are in violation of U.S. or EU sanctions, and RFE/RL does not have evidence that this is the case.

The investigation also found Mohajer-6 components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm that said it was "very sorry" that its products were being used in war.

At least one major foreign-produced component of the Mohajer-6 has previously been identified by reporters in a Mohajer-6 recovered from the battlefield by the Ukrainian military: an engine made by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products.

But Ukrainian intelligence assesses that the Iranian combat drone contains components from nearly three dozen different technology companies based in North America, the EU, Japan, and Taiwan, the Schemes investigation has found. A majority of these companies are based in the United States.



A Schemes reporter who personally inspected the foreign-made drone parts identified components produced by at least 15 of these manufacturers.

These include parts made by the U.S. technology firm Texas Instruments, which said in a statement that it does not sell into Russia or Iran and complies with applicable laws and regulations.

To identify these components, Schemes reporters examined parts of the Mohajer-6 drone that the Ukrainian military shot down over the Black Sea near the Mykolayiv region coastal town of Ochakiv. They also reviewed Ukrainian intelligence records on the sources of these components.

The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China.

Both Western officials and experts on illicit technology transfers say Iran has built a broad, global procurement network using front companies and other proxies in third countries to obtain dual-use technology from the United States and the EU.

"Exporters will look at the request coming from the [United Arab Emirates] or another third country, and they'll think that they're selling to an end user based there, when really the end user is in Iran," Daniel Salisbury, a senior research fellow with the Department of War Studies at King's College London, told RFE/RL.

In September, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions specifically targeting Iranian companies that Washington links to the production and transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia for deployment in its war on Ukraine. Fighting rages with no sign of an end more than eight months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion on February 24.

"Non-Iranian, non-Russian entities should also exercise great caution to avoid supporting either the development of Iranian UAVs or their transfer, or sale of any military equipment to Russia for use against Ukraine," U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement announcing the sanctions.

Chinese Cameras, California Chips

Development of the Mohajer-6, the latest model in a series of drones Tehran has used since the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, began in 2017, while mass production began the following year. During a ceremony commemorating the Islamic Revolution, then-Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that the new tactical drone could perform surveillance, reconnaissance, as well as help destroy targets.

Hatami extolled what he described as the drones domestic design, a portrayal echoed in later reports by Iranian media.

"The homegrown drone was made through cooperation among the army, Defense Ministry, and Quds Aviation Industries," the English-language Tehran Times quoted an Iranian military official as saying in July 2019.

The dismantling of the Mohajer-6 drone recovered by the Ukrainian military shows that the UAV is packed with foreign components.

One of these parts is a bright-orange real-time mini-camera produced by the Hong Kong-based company RunCam Technology. Documents seen by Schemes show that Ukrainian intelligence has also identified RunCam as the producer of the camera, which likely assists in remote guidance of the drone.

Founded in 2013, RunCam is involved in the development and production of so-called "first-person-view" real-time cameras. "Our users are our friends," the company's website states. The site says that RunCam has two authorized Iranian dealers.

Reached by Schemes for comment about the use of its camera in the Iranian drone deployed by Russia in its war on Ukraine, RunCam said in an e-mailed response: "We are very sorry to know that RunCam's products were used in warfare. RunCam is specialized in producing products for model aircraft hobby. We never contact any customer related to military."

The provenance of the Mohajer-6 drone-s thermal-imaging camera is more difficult to determine. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment reviewed by Schemes indicates it could be the Ventus Hot model produced by Sierra-Olympic Technologies, based in the U.S. state of Oregon, but that it also resembles a cheaper analog available for sale by the Chinese company Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology.

Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology said in an e-mailed statement that the company did not "have any business with Iran," because "it will affect our business." The company said it specializes in marine services and is not involved in manufacturing. It also said that it did not have a single successful order for its online advertisement of the thermal-imaging camera resembling the one recovered from the Iranian drone.

Sierra-Olympic Technologies did not respond to a request for comment on the possible use of its thermal-imaging cameras in Iranian combat drones in time for publication.

Microchips recovered from the drone also featured the logos of the California-based company Linear Technology Corporation and its parent company, the Massachusetts-based semiconductor company Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). ADI did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment on the possible use of its technology in the Iranian combat drone.

Schemes reporters also observed among the components of the Iranian drone a voltage step-down converter produced by Texas Instruments. The company said in an e-mailed statement that it "does not sell into Russia, Belarus, or Iran."

"TI complies with applicable laws and regulations in the countries where we operate, and does not support or condone the use of our products in applications they weren't designed for," Texas Instruments said.

Schemes reporters also saw several components produced by the California-based technology manufacturer Xilinx, whose parent company is the multinational semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), also based in California.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, one of these Xilinx components was integrated into a video data-link module located in the wing of the Mohajer-6 that helped carry out attack missions.

"This module transmits information from the board to the missile head. That is, guidance for the missile. With the help of this module, it was possible to guide the missile to the target," a Ukrainian military intelligence representative told Schemes.

AMD did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

'No Authorization'

Previous media reports about the components of the Mohajer-6 drone, including by CNN, have shown evidence that its engine was produced by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, whose parent company is the Quebec-based Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).

The Canadian company responded to the reports on October 21, saying in a statement that it "has not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia."

"As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we started an investigation to determine the source of the engines," BRP said. .

But Schemes reporters found that the authorized Rotax distributor listed on the Austrian manufacturer's website advertised itself as a Rotax aircraft engines distributor for Iran as recently as December 2020.

The distributor, the Italian company Luciano Sorlini S.p.a., has posted multiple magazine advertisements on its websites in which it describes itself as a Rotax distributor for numerous countries. Prior to January 2021, Iran was listed among these countries.

The Rotax website also lists a Tehran-based company -- MahtaWing -- as an official service center for its engines. The company, known in Persian as Mahtabal, conducts repairs of Rotax engines, including the Rotax 912 iS, the engine that was found in the Mohajer-6 combat drone recovered in Ukraine.

BRP said in an e-mailed statement on November 4 that while Luciano Sorlini S.p.a. is the appointed distributor of Rotax aircraft engines in Iran, "since 2019, no Rotax engines have been sold in Iran, and we will not sell any engines to Iran moving forward."

The Canadian company said it had "internal controls" that "significantly" restrict the sale of its products for military purposes.

"For example, the sale of any BRP product to operators with any military activity in Iran, Turkey, and Russia is strictly prohibited," BRP said. "We conduct our business in compliance with all EU, Canadian, and U.S. applicable regulations."

BRP described the Iranian company MahtaWing as a "local service center" that "offers maintenance services for previously sold aircraft engines."

Shahriar Siami of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report.
The White House is concerned about what it says was Russian interference in NATO-aspirant Montenegro's parliamentary elections last year.

"We are very concerned about Russian interference in the October elections in Montenegro, including credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election day attack on the government," a senior White House official told reporters on April 12.

The comments came a day after President Donald Trump approved Montenegro's NATO accession, and shortly before he met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

A special prosecutor in the former Yugoslav republic said a group of "Russian nationalists" had planned to assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic to get an opposition party into power.

Moscow has denied involvement in any plot, and Montenegrin opposition parties have said the plot was fabricated.

Trump signed ratification papers on April 11 accepting Montenegro into the NATO alliance, saying Montenegro's NATO membership will increase stability and security in the Western Balkans.

"After meeting the rigorous standards to join the alliance Montenegro's accession will make clear that no third country has a veto over a countrys sovereign decision to join NATO. So the door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations remains open," the White House official said.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
MILFORD | A dumpster was determined to be the cause of an accidental fire that destroyed a strip club in the Iowa Great Lakes region Sunday night.

When Milford Fire & Rescue was dispatched to Zippers Gentlemen's Club, 2600 Okoboji Ave., at 7:56 p.m. Sunday, firefighters found a dumpster on the building's northside was on fire. A wind drove the fire into the attic area.

Fire Chief Jim Carpenter said multiple additions and common ceilings made it difficult for crews to section off and stop the fire.

The south end of the building housed the Second Hand Depot antique store and a back building was being used as a warehouse. All of the buildings were connected by common roofs, Carpenter said, and that gave the fire department four buildings to be extinguished.

All of the buildings are considered a total loss, while some areas of the Second Hand Depot and its warehouse have some salvageable items.

Milford Fire & Rescue was assisted in the blaze by Milford Police, Arnolds Park Police, Okoboji Police, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol, Dickinson County Emergency Management, Red Cross, Milford Water and Electric Utilities.
Smithfield Foods Inc., the worlds largest pork producer, said this week it will participate in scientific research that could develop better ways to replace or repair human skin and organs.

The company, which is based in the eastern Virginia town of Smithfield but owned by a Chinese parent company, said Wednesday it has created a new business platform called Smithfield Bioscience, which will use byproducts from the meat-production process for the development of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and medical device solutions.

The division also will explore new methods and technologies for addressing concerns such as tissue regeneration and the availability of viable human organs for transplantation, the company said.

Courtney Stanton, vice president of the new bioscience unit, said it has five employees and is based at the companys headquarters in Smithfield.

With 635 employees in Virginia, Smithfield Foods sells pork products in more than 40 countries and had sales of about $14.4 billion for 2015, but the company also has some involvement in the health industry.

It sells its byproducts, such as tissue and glands, to companies that produce pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, some of which are used to treat indigestion, thyroid conditions and blood clots.

The focus of the bioscience unit will be not so much to do research itself, but to work with partners outside the company to further refine the use of those byproducts, including research on medicines and tissue regeneration, Stanton said.

Everyone is racing to close in on these big challenges, and given our size and geographic scope, we are in a position to help a number of different folks, she said.

The company is not receiving any federal grant money as part of the project, she said. However, the bioscience unit will participate in the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, or ARMI, one part of an initiative established during the Obama administration to stimulate high-tech manufacturing in the United States.

Partly funded by the Department of Defense, ARMI is a public-private partnership of the U.S. government and about 100 organizations including universities and private companies.

The White House announced in December that ARMI will be based in Manchester, N.H., and its research will include developing techniques for repairing and replacing cells and tissues.

The research may one day lead to the ability to manufacture new skin for soldiers scarred from combat or develop organ-preserving technologies to benefit Americans waiting for an organ transplant, the White House said.

The announcement by Smithfield is not a surprise, but it really delights me, said Jeffrey Gallagher, president of the Virginia Biotechnology Association, an organization of about 250 Virginia companies and institutions involved in the biological sciences.

Smithfield Foods is obviously a global player and expert in pigs and pig biology, and pigs have been used in a number of different ways in medicine over the years, Gallagher said, noting that porcine heart valves are used as replacement heart valves for humans. That is just one small example, he said.

This seems to be the application of the current generation of bioscience technology to the areas of expertise of this company, Gallagher said, adding that it represents a great example of the marriage of bioscience and agriculture, which could create jobs in rural, agricultural parts of the state.

Based on research from six years ago, bioscience was a more than $8 billion industry in Virginia, with more than 1,400 companies involved in the field, employing more than 27,000 people, Gallagher said. The average wage in the sector was about $77,000, he said.

Smithfield Foods grew from a small packing operation started in 1936 to become the worlds top pork producer. The company was acquired in 2013 by Chinas largest meat producer, Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd., for $4.72 billion.

Smithfield Foods said the bioscience unit would be focused on the responsible and transparent pursuit of these science-based endeavors.

Our commitment to innovation and sustainability stretches across all aspects of our company, said Kenneth M. Sullivan, the companys president and chief executive officer, in a statement. Smithfield Bioscience reflects these same values by finding new uses for byproducts that benefit the health and well-being of others.
Police have arrested three people in the lunch-hour robbery Thursday of a Wells Fargo Bank in Petersburg.

Petersburg police were called at 12:14 p.m. to the bank in the first block of Franklin Street for a reported holdup alarm. Upon officers arrival, bank employees said a robbery had just occurred and provided a description of a man who presented a note to a teller demanding money, police said.

The teller complied, and the man fled on foot toward East Washington Street with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. No one was hurt.

Roughly two hours later, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Joseph L. Gilliam, 30, of Chesterfield County on outstanding arrest warrants from another locality. Gilliam was implicated in the holdup, and police said authorities would be seeking an indictment against him later in the robbery.

Authorities also arrested Mario D. Roach, 33, of Chesterfield and Marika Hargrave, 36, of Petersburg in connection with the holdup. Roach was charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony, and Hargrave was charged with conspiracy.

All three were being held without bail at Riverside Regional Jail.
A Richmond man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after a Virginia Commonwealth University student from Alexandria was shot early Thursday four blocks north of the schools Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Samuel O. Kwarteng, 20, who died outside a home in the 1200 block of West Moore Street, was studying electrical and computer engineering at the university. Kwarteng lived in the 1700 block of Jacquelin Street, according to police.

Richmond police said Emmanuel E. Jordan, 20, a resident of the block where the shooting happened, was arrested shortly after the incident.

Police were called to the scene at 12:29 a.m. for a report of a person shot. Officers, who found Kwarteng on a front porch, were told that there had been a brief altercation between the two men. The shooting remains under investigation.

Barbara Boyan, dean of the VCU School of Engineering, said Kwarteng was a good student and a wonderful young man.

VCU President Michael Rao sent an email to the VCU community as news of the students death spread.

I am sure you join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to Samuels family and friends in this time of great loss, Rao said. The VCU Counseling Center has been alerted and its services are available to anyone who needs assistance in dealing with this tragic event.

Raos statement, which did not name the suspect, said the person was not affiliated with VCU.

Kwarteng was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, which posted a statement on Twitter saying that this loss has hurt us all.

As a brother, as a student, and as a man, Sam excelled at every part of life, the fraternity wrote. We send our deepest condolences to Sams family, and will do anything in our power to help. Long Live Sam K.

The fraternity has posted a hashtag on its Twitter page in memory of Kwarteng, #LongLiveSamK.

Matt Robinson, a VCU senior, said he was stunned to learn about the shooting, which happened two blocks from his home. Robinson said he didnt know Kwarteng, but he feels bad for his family.

You send a kid to college to get an education, you never expect something like that to happen, said Robinson, who was walking along West Moore Street on Thursday.

Kenny Brown, a graduate student studying sports medicine at VCU, said he usually parks on West Moore Street before walking over to his classes.

Happening so close to the school, that is a heartbreaking situation that someone was killed and had their life taken away, Brown said.

Cosima Gibbs, who lives on West Moore Street, said she heard gunshots when she was about a block away making sandwich deliveries for a Jimmy Johns restaurant. Gibbs said she initially thought it was just firecrackers, but when she got back to the restaurant, the business temporarily halted deliveries to that area.

We did stay away from this area until we got the all clear, said Gibbs, a student at the downtown campus of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Ben Urban, a VCU senior who also lives on West Moore Street, said the news of the shooting of a fellow student was unsettling.

Its usually a safe community, really quiet, but there are definitely things that go down out here, Urban said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes Detective A. Sleem at (804) 646-3871 or (804) 814-7123.
SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man has been placed on probation for seeking two men to drug his wife and have sex with her after she passed out.

Andrew Lofgren, 32, pleaded guilty Monday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of solicitation. District Judge Jeffrey Poulson suspended a five-year prison sentence and placed Lofgren on three years probation.

Lofgren had posted a Craigslist ad seeking two men to bring him Rohypnol, the so-called "date-rape drug." Lofgren was seeking to drug his wife and have the men have sex with his wife without her knowledge while he watched.

Undercover officers responded to the ad and set up a Nov. 17 meeting in which they arrested Lofgren after giving him imitation pills.
BLACKSBURG  Each morning, they move the flowers.

They move the bouquets.

They move the cards.

Its a group of four men on this Tuesday morning, keeping the shrubbery trimmed and the crushed white gravel at Virginia Techs April 16 memorial neat and tidy.

There are 32 polished Hokie Stones, arranged in a semicircle, each engraved with a name of one of the 32 victims of the shooting massacre that took place here 10 years ago.

Relatives, survivors and visitors come here often and place remembrances on the stones.

And with a finesse and care befitting the spot, the groundskeepers at Tech gently lift each item and move it aside, as a hot sun beats down on an unusually warm April day.

When they finish their work, they put each tribute back, carefully, next to the stone where it had been placed.

The stones werent always so polished, but theyve always been powerful.

Within four hours of the end of the shooting rampage that left 32 people dead and 17 others wounded on Virginia Techs campus on April 16, 2007, grief-stricken students had begun assembling on the campus Drillfield.

By the next morning, students had laid stones in an arc  one for each person who died on the schools Southwest Virginia campus.

In those painful first days, the stones were Hokie Stone, taken from campus construction sites. Hokie Stone is the familiar limestone used on the buildings that surround the Drillfield. Its mined from a quarry near Blacksburg thats owned by the university.

When it came time to create a permanent memorial, there wasnt much debate. The schools groundskeepers essentially re-created the impromptu memorial that sprung up that night.

The stones have seen Virginia Tech continue, student Scott Cheatham said at the memorials dedication Aug. 19, 2007. The stones have seen Virginia Tech prevail. That is why these stones were the inspiration behind the design for the memorial before us today.

The permanent memorial includes polished Hokie Stones etched with the names of the victims, laid out in an arc on a bed of crushed gravel. It includes walking paths to and around the stones. A few feet away sit a pair of benches to honor the survivors of the attack.

Cheatham was part of a group called Hokies United, a volunteer student organization widely credited with maintaining the emerging memorial in the week after the massacre.

It was hours after the shooting that the students started to do this, said Dr. James Hawdon, director of the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention at Virginia Tech, housed in Norris Hall, where most of the shootings occurred.

That was powerful, and that was part of the entire public display of grief and solidarity.

The silence is what Angie DeSoto remembers most from the days immediately after the shootings.

DeSoto, now director of sustainability at Virginia Tech, was a junior in the spring of 2007. She wasnt on campus April 16. She watched the horrifying news unfold on television in her apartment.

A day later, she rode a bus to campus, got off at the first stop and walked across the Drillfield, on her way to the convocation being held that day in Cassell Coliseum.

It was such a surreal experience to get on the bus and everyone was wearing maroon and orange and everyone was just silent, DeSoto said. No one knew what to say.

We didnt know what to say to each other. We didnt know what to say to our parents or our friends. You could see your friends, or even strangers, and all you had to do was look at them and you knew that they were feeling the exact same way that you were.

You didnt have to say anything.

But students did find a way to express themselves. They did it when they chanted Lets go, Hokies, at the conclusion of the evenings convocation.

Normally the rallying cry of Virginia Tech fans at sporting events, it took on a deeper meaning when it echoed through Cassell after Nikki Giovannis reading of her now-famous We Are Virginia Tech poem.

And, perhaps most visibly, students expressed their feelings at the makeshift memorial. It was how they communicated with the rest of Blacksburg and the world.

My first glimpses of the memorial was when it was still, it wasnt polished. It was still that first iteration, said Uma Loganathan, whose father worked as a professor at Virginia Tech and was killed during the massacre.

I think thats what really resonated with the community at the time. Its certainly what resonated with the students, since they were the ones who made it. I think that was a way to channel their feelings and create something visual.

Loganathan said she doesnt visit the memorial often. She said its difficult being so close to where her father died and so close to his office, where he proudly displayed his childrens artwork and where she spent countless hours arranging his collection of books.

Its painful for me to go to the memorial, Loganathan said. Its not an easy place to be. Its difficult for me to be on the Drillfield.

But for others, such as DeSoto, the memorial remains a place for reflection, a place to mourn and to appreciate Virginia Tech.

It just wouldnt feel the same if it wasnt what that original idea was, she said. It connects me back to that first experience. And Im glad they tried to capture that and make it permanent.
Daniel Helmer, an Army veteran and Rhodes Scholar emboldened by the election of President Donald Trump, on Tuesday morning announced his campaign to challenge Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th.

On the first day of his campaign, Helmer, a Democrat, said he has already raised $120,000  a number he hopes will set him apart from a crowded field of candidates 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 family's cocker spaniel and English bull terrier padded around the patio of their Fairfax County home. "It's 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 newbies are registering in droves to challenge GOP lawmakers in state House of Delegates districts that voted for Hillary Clinton.

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 Comstock's Sterling, Virginia, 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 House delegation spending the week in the Middle East and was celebrating Palm Sunday mass with troops on Sinai Peninsula at the time of the deadly bombings in Egypt, her spokesman, Jeff Marschner said. The U.S. military organized the trip at taxpayer expense.

Comstock won a second term by 6 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 believe they have a chance to unseat Comstock because Clinton won her district by double digits and they say Trump is unpopular with the affluent, diverse and highly educated population of Loudoun County, in the heart of the district.

Comstock, however, remains popular. Compete reports are due Saturday, but she raised more than $500,000 in the first quarter of the year, according to her campaign.

Helmer, 35, kicked off his campaign with a daylong 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 6 percentage points last year, but Comstock won it by 11 points.

Like Comstock has, Helmer denounced Trump's 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 what's coming," he said.

A native of New Jersey, he and his wife and two sons moved to the district in December of 2013 around the time he retired from active duty as a major. He currently 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 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. 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 candidate to announce his plans.

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 Wexton, an attorney 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 race are Dorothy McAuliffe, the wife of Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Fairfax County Supervisor Kathy Smith; Fairfax County School Board member Ryan McElveen and Jimmy Bierman, an attorney from McLean.
BLACKSBURG  It was in Room 206 of Norris Hall that G.V. Loganathan died.

Loganathan, an engineering professor, was teaching a class on advanced hydrology when he was shot to death, one of 32 who died in the April 16, 2007, massacre at Virginia Tech.

Norris Hall, built in 1960 to house the universitys engineering program, holds painful and nightmarish memories for many.

That its still in use, that professors still go there every day to teach students, however, is a victory to many close to that days tragedy.

Norris Hall is not mine alone, Uma Loganathan, the daughter of G.V. Loganathan, said recently. Norris Hall started off as a building where people go to learn, where staff go to teach. Faculty, staff, students all combined to pursue education.

What happened there was a violation of that. To take it back and turn it into something positive is a very powerful thing.

In all, 30 of the 32 who died in the massacre were killed in Norris Hall, on the second-floor wing of classrooms. The 4,300-square-foot area remained vacant for months after the shooting, as the university grappled with how to use the space  if they should use it at all.

That September, more than five months after the tragedy, a committee that included Dr. Jerzy Nowak, a horticulture professor and department head at Tech, began reviewing proposals for how to use the space in Norris Hall.

Nowak, whose wife was killed in the massacre, proposed a center to study issues of violence and peace, crediting the idea to his middle daughter, Francine.

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak died in Norris Hall, Room 211, as she was teaching an intermediate French class. She tried to save her students and herself by barricading the door to her classroom before she was shot.

Like Uma Loganathan, Jerzy Nowak found triumph and tribute in seeing educational work continue at Norris Hall. The Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention at Virginia Tech opened in 2008, and Nowak served as its director until he retired in 2011. James E. Hawdon, a criminologist who had worked with the center previously, took over Nowaks work.

On the day of the shootings, Hawdon remembers looking out his office window on the top floor of McBryde Hall, overlooking Norris. He had heard a report of shootings on campus.

The next thing I knew, the entire area around Norris was sealed off by SWAT teams, Hawdon said. I watched as they were evacuating the building.

Images from that day, of victims being wheeled out of Norris Hall, of heavily armed police swarming Virginia Techs bucolic Southwest Virginia campus, and of mourners grieving on the schools massive Drillfield, are seared into the nations consciousness.

Like Uma Loganathan and Jerzy Nowak, Hawdon believed the sooner Norris Hall returned to a place of education and collaboration, the sooner the university could heal.

There was no hesitation at all for me, Hawdon said about working in the space where so many people had been murdered. Space has the meaning we attach to it. I attach the meaning of a more socially positive value of education and the pursuit of knowledge.

I refuse to allow a murderous act to define this space for me. We needed to reclaim this space for pro-social forces.

A $1 million renovation has transformed the second-floor classroom wing into a modern research space, with offices, meeting rooms and a state-of-the-art video teleconferencing center.

Hawdons center studies issues of violence at every level, from interpersonal bullying to international warfare. He has one other staff member, four graduate assistants and several dozen affiliates.

Theyve worked on matters of policing, incarceration, community responses to mass shootings and, of course, the epidemic of gun violence in America.

The center hosts conferences to bring together scholars studying these issues across the nation and around the globe.

A decade after one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history, education goes on at Norris Hall.

I think what you see in Norris today is that commitment to continue on with the business of teaching and learning, said Mark Owczarski, a school spokesman who was working at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.

Because thats what brought all these people together. I think that was always a common goal, that that would not be stopped. I think, personally, I take comfort in knowing that those legacies of teaching and learning continue to this day.
One hundred years ago, the United States repaid a debt. Lafayette, we are here, said Col. Charles Stanton after the American Expeditionary Forces arrived in France. His words paid tribute to the French nobleman who lent decisive support to the patriot cause during the American Revolution. The world turned upside down when it did in large part because the French intervened on the Americans behalf.

The U.S. entered World War I late. The war opened in Europe after the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. The killing served as an excuse. Europe had been hurtling toward war for several years. The war in Europe was fought on two fronts  the Central Powers against the Allies in the West and against Russia in the East. It spread to imperial outposts worldwide. Trench warfare, the use of gas, air battles, the introduction of tanks and other factors contributed to great carnage. All sides bled almost to death. Tamburlaine would have been appalled. Sorrows lay siege unto the soul. And what is beauty, saith my sufferings, then? the first genocidaire asked and said.

Although his sympathies lay with Britain and France, Woodrow Wilson took pride in not entering the conflict. He ran for re-election in 1916, as the president who kept the U.S. out of the war. In 1917, American troops landed in France, two years after a U-boat sank the Lusitania. Their arrival helped turn the tide. Intervention elevated the American experience on the global stage; critics feared the U.S. had abandoned George Washingtons advice to avoid entangling alliances.

Eddie Rickenbacker and Sergeant York emerged as heroes. A Farewell to Arms established Ernest Hemingways literary reputation. Willa Cathers One of Our Own captured the wars impact on the American heartland. The conflagration fired imaginations and broke hearts. American industrial capacity received a boost. War generated profits. The U.S. established economic pre-eminence even as blood carnadine still moistened distant fields. The trees themselves wept when a snipers bullet claimed Joyce Kilmer during the Second Battle of the Marne. The war marked the beginning of the end of established religion in Europe. The trenches left scars that mar the landscape. 1937s Grand Illusion is the greatest war movie ever. Only The Deer Hunter comes close. Lotte has blue eyes, the escaped French POW says to the daughter of the German woman who sheltered him and his colleagues while they were on the run from their captors. Their savior had lost a husband and three brothers at battles that were among our greatest victories. The still small voice speaks to receptive hearts.

Quiet eventually fell on the Western Front. Germany surrendered after years of stalemate had been broken by the American presence. The Yankees arrived on the battlefields rested and well fed. After the war, Wilson went to France to participate in the peace conference. Crowds cheered him as a savior. His efforts failed. A punitive Treaty of Versailles fed German resentment and contributed to the rise of the Nazis. Wilsons refusal to compromise with American senators doomed the League of Nations. The victory of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution might have made lasting peace impossible.

Domestically, World War I was followed by the first Red Scare and a Return to Normalcy. The economy roared, then crashed. Storm clouds gathered. Rallies were held in Nuremberg; a man with a funny mustache delivered speeches that hypnotized. Japan invaded China. Hitler and Stalin signed a pact. The war to end all wars ended only illusions.

In D-Day 1944, American forces returned to France to fight in a war bloodier than its predecessor. The Holocaust transformed genocide into an operation resembling modern manufacturing. Never again! the survivors and the chastened vowed. To this very day Israel struggles to defend its right to exist in a hostile world.

Where have all the flowers gone? Pete Seeger sang in a 1950s song. In Flanders Fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row, a poet wrote in a 1915 rondeau. Tears, the Psalmist said, fill bowls.
The White House war between Stephen Bannon and Jared Kushner wouldnt matter in a normal administration with a normal president. But theres nothing normal about the Trump White House, whose major occupant exists in a giant narcissistic bubble impenetrable by anyone but close relatives and a few strong personalities. Which makes this brawl especially important.

Kushner is Trumps trusted son-in-law, a 36-year-old real estate scion who knows nothing about government but a great deal about Trump, and whose portfolio of responsibilities keeps growing by the day.

Bannon is the rumpled hero of the anti-establishment populist base that drove Trumps Electoral College victory, but who appears to be losing clout.

The fundamental difference between Kushner and Bannon is over populism. Kushner is a politically moderate multimillionaire with business interests all over the world  some of which pose considerable conflicts of interest with his current duties  and is quite comfortable with all the CEOs, billionaires and Wall Street moguls Trump has lured into his administration.

Bannon hates the establishment. There is a growing global anti-establishment revolt against the permanent political class at home, and the global elites that influence them, which impacts everyone from Lubbock, Texas, to London, England, he told The New York Times in 2014.

These opposing views could coexist for a time. For example, Bannon explained to the Conservative Political Action Conference in late February that one of his major goals is the deconstruction of the administrative state.

If Bannon meant trimming back regulations emanating from administrative agencies, its an idea that Wall Street and CEOs love.

Trump has wholeheartedly embraced it. We are absolutely destroying these horrible regulations that have been placed on your heads, Trump declared last week to a group of enthusiastic chief executives from big companies such as Citigroup, MasterCard and Jet Blue.

But Bannon actually meant something quite different. To Bannon, deconstructing the administrative state means destroying the state  that is, our system of government.

Im a Leninist, Bannon told a reporter for the Daily Beast a few years back. (He now says now he doesnt recall the conversation.) Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and thats my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of todays establishment.

Under Bannons tutelage, Trump has attacked the core institutions of American democracy. Hes lashed out at judges who disagree with him; called the press the enemy of the American people; denigrated fact-finding groups such as the intelligence agencies, the Congressional Budget Office and government scientists; alleged without evidence that his predecessor wiretapped him; and repeatedly lied about his electoral victory.

And rather than support a full and independent inquiry into whether anyone in his campaign might have conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election, Trump has done everything he can to subvert it.

Does Bannons recent demotion and Kushners promotion mean weve seen the end of these sorts of attacks? I doubt it. After all, Trump originally embraced Bannon because Bannon gave Trump exactly what Trump has sought for decades: controversy, screaming headlines and, above all, the appearance of being an irreverent outsider who rejects politics as usual and rattles Washington to the core.

So its doubtful that either Bannon or Kushner will emerge the winner. Theyll both continue to advance their own views and agendas in Trumps chaotic White House.

Which means that what were likely to be left with  and what Trump is already on the way to adopting  is the worst of both worlds: Bannons brand of anti-establishment populism that seeks to undermine the core democratic institutions of government, and Kushners oligarchical Republicanism that empowers and enriches CEOs, Wall Street and billionaires.

This is exactly the reverse of what most Americans want. Americans hate big money in politics but have deep reverence for the institutions of government  the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, an independent judiciary, the office of the president (regardless of who inhabits it), freedom of the press, the right to vote, and the truth.

Americans are rightfully incensed the system is rigged against them. But theyre angry at the riggers  not at the system. Yet Kushner will protect the riggers, and Bannon is out to destroy the system. And Trump is quite happy to do both.
CHEROKEE | A 43-year-old Cleghorn man faces multiple charges after authorities say he sexually abused a girl under 15 who was "physically incapacitated" after he gave her an alcoholic drink.

Eddie Donovan Delong was arrested April 5 on charges of third-degree sexual abuse and supplying alcohol to a minor causing serious injury.

The charges followed a joint investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation into the incident, which occurred between June 30 and July 1, 2016.

According to court documents, the girl was at Delong's residence June 30 visiting a friend who lives with Delong. Documents say during the evening and early morning hours of the following day, Delong offered the girl a drink with alcohol in it.

Documents say the girl drank the alcohol and later could not move her arms or legs. Documents say Delong began inappropriately touching her and started to remove her pants, at which time the girl passed out.

The next day, documents say, the girl woke up with her pants on backward and pain in her genital area.

Delong was arrested April 5 and was released Friday after posting $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled 3 p.m. Monday.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
STORM LAKE | A Storm Lake man has pleaded not guilty to accepting down payments on a house that he did not own.

Dalton Sassman, 21, entered his written plea Monday in Buena Vista County District Court to single counts of second-degree theft and forgery.

Sassman is accused of meeting with potential buyers for a house for sale in Truesdale and accepting $1,800 as a down payment on Jan. 16.

Sassman used an alias while meeting with the buyers, police said, but he was not the owner of the property and had no authority to sell it.
Camry Campbell looks at each piece of music he plays as a story, and his favorite story is Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

The Johann Sebastian Bach piece feels like a heros quest, Campbell, the lead trumpet player in Patrick Henry High Schools Symphonic Band, said. It reminds the senior of his bands own story.

Toccata and Fugue is the fourth and final piece the symphonic band will perform Friday for its inaugural performance at the National Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall.

The final part of it is a really big victory, Campbell said. We always try to connect to our music, and emotionally, we feel like thats our song.

Campbell and 110 other Patrick Henry students departed for New York City before dawn Wednesday, nervous but mostly excited for their chance to perform at the prestigious concert hall.

Its an experience the students in the symphonic band have worked toward for years, even before the concert date itself was scheduled. Many, like Campbell, were part of the first wave of students in Roanoke who were given the chance to take orchestra or band in elementary school through a multi-year grant from VH1s Save the Music Foundation that started in 2008.

That early music exposure has paid dividends in a lot of ways, said Cari Gates, the school districts coordinator of fine arts.

For starters, its expanded the pipeline. Many more students participate in the districts music programs now than in the past. In 2011, about 3,000 students were enrolled in one of Roanokes fine arts classes, including its music offerings. This year, almost 6,300 students participate.

The early start also gives students more time to practice their craft, Gates said. The programs are stronger now because students have more years of experience.

All of that is important because of the research that shows how influential music education is for students, Gates said. It has positive effects on students math, reading and literacy skills and just generally makes students more engaged.

Its not just a matter of supporting the arts, its believing in the research that it does make a difference, she said. Theyre better students.

This year, the districts band and orchestra programs have hit their stride. The symphonic bands New York trip was preceded a month earlier by the Patrick Henry chamber orchestras performance at the SHIFT Festival at the Kennedy Center. At that festival, orchestra teacher Jeff Midkiff directed the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras performance of his From the Blue Ridge concerto.

The symphonic band was chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall through an application and an audition tape, said Alex Schmitt, the bands director for the last six years. In addition to rehearsing the four pieces the band will perform, the group has spent time talking about what it will be like to play at Carnegie Hall, he said.

Schmitt scheduled practices at the Jefferson Center so students could prepare for the echo of a large auditorium, and hes talked to them about famous performances at Carnegie Hall. At one point, he had students pull out their cellphones to all watch a 360-degree video of another group performing on the Carnegie hall stage.

Weve tried to prepare them as much as possible for the history that theyre stepping into, Schmitt said.

Campbell said he and his classmates are ready for the opportunity.

This band, we always deliver, he said. Were ready. If we performed right now we would be fine because when its game time, we put our faces on and we go out and deliver.
BLACKSBURG  In July, 2012, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam dialed the phone number of the newest member of the fraternity.

The call was accepted by Steve Hogan, the mayor of Aurora, Colorado, the location of a movie theater shooting that left a dozen people dead just days earlier.

Its a fraternity that you dont really want to be a part of but, nonetheless, its something only a few mayors have gone through, said Hogan, who is now in his sixth year in the post. It was comforting. I think thats probably the best word for it.

During the decade since Blacksburg began dealing with what was at the time the worst mass shooting in the United States at Virginia Tech, Rordam said hes attempted to contact fellow mayors anytime there is a gun violence related tragedy in their communities.

I reach out  and just talk to them about what we went through and some of the advice we got and what to expect, Rordam said.

Hogan, as well as Orlando, Florida, Mayor Buddy Dyer and then mayor of Tuscon, Arizona, Bob Walkup have been among those Rordam has reached out to in solidarity, he said.

In January 2011, six people died and a dozen others injuries in a shooting targeting U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot in the metropolitan area of Tucson.

Last June, Orlando replaced Blacksburg as the location of the countrys worst mass shooting when 49 people were killed and 53 others injured at a gay nightclub.

In a statement from his office, Dyer said Rordams call was one of several he received from mayors across the country offering advice, help or just extending thoughts and prayers during Orlandos darkest hour.

On behalf of everyone who calls Orlando home, I want to thank Mayor Rordam and the residents of Blacksburg. I cant tell you how much it meant to us to feel everyones love and support during this unimaginable tragedy, Dyer said.

Rordam provided a sense of camaraderie, Hogan said.

Obviously when something like this happens in your community theres a degree of shock and disbelief and a feeling of being alone and then a fellow mayor reaches out to you and you very clearly understand that youre not alone, Hogan said.

Hogan said he received a similar phone call from current Tucson, Arizona, mayor, Johnathon Rothschild.

Rordam said his phone calls stemmed from his experience with a group of people from Columbine, Colorado, who traveled to Blacksburg following the Tech shooting to discuss how they had coped after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School.

I found that very helpful, Rordam said. I decided to individually then to take that information  and to share that directly with other mayors.

Rordam said his message to the leaders is generally the same.

You focus on your community, you focus on supporting each other. I think thats one thing we did really well in Blacksburg.  Weve focused on all those things that make us strong, he said.

Rordam said he also always stresses the acceptance of the reality of a localitys future after a tragedy.

They need to realize their community will never be the same. Dont try to push. Dont try to say, well get back to where we were, because youre forever changed after that, said Rordam, who has announced he will not run for re-election this year.

Hogan said he clearly remembered hearing that advice from Rordam more than five years ago.

He said, Your community needs a steadying hand. You need to know its going to get better, but its not going to get better right away.  I took that advice to heart, he said.

And in turn, Hogan said he now also attempts to share his experience with mayors of communities in similar situations.

It wasnt even a suggestion, neither [Rordam nor Rothschild] told me to do it.  But them calling told me pretty clear that thats something I should do, too, Hogan said.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Steve Biggs death early Wednesday marked the final chapter of a personal struggle behind his nine-month tenure as Christiansburgs town manager.

The 53-year-old administrator shot himself once in the head early Tuesday. Roughly a month earlier, a 23-year-old woman obtained an emergency protective order against him, culminating the souring of a relationship that both said was friendly but never physical.

He said he gave the woman hundreds of dollars for her rent, new car tires and attorney fees tied to a Christmas Day charge of driving while intoxicated, according to Biggs.

He said that after giving her a second $1,000 check in early March he decided to cancel payment, realizing the relationship was going nowhere.

The original emergency protective order was issued March 8. A judge denied Rachel Waltzs subsequent request for a 15-day preliminary protective order against him, saying there was no credible threat. She wrote in a complaint that he was harassing her. Biggs denied that claim.

Biggs and Waltz both said they met shortly before he began his new job as town manager last July. They both were tenants of a four-unit apartment building on Montague Street.

Biggs wife and three children did not move with him when he left his job as town manager in Clayton, North Carolina, to take the top post in Christiansburg.

He texted Waltz at one point saying he wanted her to have his baby. He referred to starting a life with her and raising a new family.

My wife would definitely leave me, Biggs wrote.

Waltz wrote in the complaint accompanying her emergency restraining order that he texted her saying he loved her, but also referred to her as a piece of s---, just using him.

In addition to money, Biggs said, he gave Waltz jewelry.

Waltz said she refused the jewelry and the money for attorney fees.

Biggs returned over the past weekend to the Montague Street apartment building after moving to an extended-stay hotel in early March. The town council met behind closed doors in mid-March to discuss the town manager job.

State police investigated the harassment claim and turned their findings over to Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt, who declined to pursue charges.

Biggs said he told his family only that hed experienced problems with his neighbors. His family could not be reached for comment.

Twice last week and again Monday, Biggs spoke with The Roanoke Times about the restraining orders, saying his friendly relationship with the woman had fallen apart because hed offended her with his remarks: I offended  I never threatened, he said.

Police were called to Montague Street at 12:07 a.m. Tuesday. At 3:54 a.m., Biggs shot himself.

Waltz said she and her roommate moved from their Montague Street apartment March 31.

Its absolutely horrible something like this happened, she said Wednesday.

Assistant Town Manager Randy Wingfield will fill the top post on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is hired, the town announced Tuesday.

Biggs was paid $140,000 annually.
A brush fire in Goshen Pass in Rockbridge County that has consumed more than 500 acres prompted Virginia Department of Transportation crews to close part of Virginia 39 on Wednesday evening.

At 6 p.m., crews closed Virginia 39 from the eastern overlook area to Virginia 601, according to a VDOT release. The road will be closed until 8 a.m., when officials will re-evaluate whether the closure needs to be extended.

Virginia Department of Forestry spokesman John Campbell said Wednesday afternoon that 42 crew members spent the majority of the day preventing the brush fire from spreading further.

A complete containment line was marked around the fire earlier in the day. Crews are also conducting burn-out operations, or setting fire inside the control line to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line. Bulldozers are working on flat areas, and a helicopter also assisted by dumping water on the flames.

Campbell said the flames are mostly feeding on downed hardwood and pine trees in the area, as well as mountain laurels and leaf litter. No structures are in danger.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries owns the wildlife management area where the fire broke out along Virginia 39 on Monday. Luke Fisher, conservation police officer with the department, said the wildlife management area totals 30,000 acres.

Fisher said preliminary information has led the department to investigate the brush fire as a possible arson case. Anyone with information can call 800-237-5712 or email wildcrime@dgif.virginia.gov. Tips can be anonymous.

Campbell said the rocky and steep terrain has posed a challenge in getting firefighters up the mountain.

Its very dangerous stuff, he said.

No injuries have been reported.
A Davenport woman was sentenced Thursday to up to 15 years in prison in connection with death of an 18-month-old and injuries to another child who were both in her care.

I apologize for making a wrong decision, Stephanie L. Harris said during a short sentencing hearing in Scott County District Court. I apologize to the courts for my stupidity. Im not a troubled person. Its not me.

Harris, 31, pleaded guilty in February to child endangerment resulting in serious injury and child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, both felonies.

According to the court documents:

On Nov. 6, 2014, medics and police were dispatched to Harris' address, 811 W. 14th St., regarding a child having trouble breathing.

The child, an 18-month-old girl, was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, Davenport, and then transported to University Hospitals, Iowa City.

The girl, who never regained consciousness, died two days later. An autopsy showed the cause of death as bleeding on the brain. There also were other marks and injuries to her body that indicated neglect.

Officers who responded to Harris home on Nov. 6 also found another child with swelling and bruising to his head and marks on his face.

Harris told officers she had left the 18-month-old at home with the child's 2-year-old brother. The girl fell down a flight of stairs in the home, but Harris could not specify a date.

The child had trouble walking and swelling on her forehead and behind both ears and had suffered several seizures before paramedics were summoned.

Harris did not attempt to get medical attention for the child despite the symptoms, according to the court documents.

During Thursdays sentencing hearing, Judge Thomas Reidel sentenced Harris to up to 10 years in prison on the serious injury charge and up to five years in prison on the bodily injury charge.

He ordered that the sentences run back-to-back based on the nature of the offense and the fact that the two children had separate and distinct injuries.

You had an obligation to those children, he said. When I think of all the things the law is to protect, I think protecting children should be first and foremost on that list.
A 20-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student from Alexandria was shot and killed early Thursday, the university's president said in an email to the VCU community.

President Michael Rao said according to Richmond police Samuel Kwarteng was shot and killed in the 1200 block of W. Moore Street at about 12:28 a.m. Thursday.

"I am sure you join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to Samuel's family and friends in this time of great loss," Rao said. "The VCU Counseling Center has been alerted and its services are available to anyone who needs assistance in dealing with this tragic event."

Richmond police said Emmanuel E. Jordan, 20, a resident of the block where the shooting happened, was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Richmond police said earlier that officers were summoned at 12:28 a.m. for a report of a person shot on West Moore Street, about a block north of the intersection of West Leigh and North Harrison streets.

Police spokesman Gene Lepley said officers found a male who had been shot outside in the 1200 block of West Moore Street.

Detectives were told the shooting followed a brief altercation between the two men.

Police are still investigating the shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective A. Sleem at (804) 646-3871 or (804) 814-7123 or contact Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or at www.7801000.com.

Submit tips to GUN250 about persons illegally possessing guns by texting Crime Stoppers at 274637, then using keyword GUN250 followed by your tip. Rewards up to $250. Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
As of today, we are two months out from the June 13 primary that will narrow Virginians choices for their next governor down to one Democrat and one Republican.

If you are blissfully unaware of this, then you are effectively letting other people make decisions for you. Theres still plenty of time for things to change, but heres what the two races look like right now:

 A Republican runaway? Yawn. What looked like a potential gut-check for Virginia Republicans is turning out to be not much of a race. Ed Gillespie, the former White House counsellor to George W. Bush who came oh-so-close to upsetting Mark Warner in the 2014 U.S. Senate race, appears to have consolidated support from a reasonably wide swath of Republican voters.

The big question all along was whether Corey Stewart could pose a Trump-like challenge to Establishment Ed. The chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors led Trumps campaign in Virginia last year  until he got fired for being a little too enthusiastic on Trumps behalf. Could Stewart be a Virginia version of Trump who would turn Gillespie into the Old Dominions version of Jeb Bush?

Umm, no. Stewart has proved to be a farcical figure mostly concerned with (a) whether Charlottesville should move a statue of Robert E. Lee and (b) federal immigration policy. Dont candidates for governor of Virginia actually run on state issues anymore? Apparently not.

Stewart used a Facebook Live event to pose with a Confederate flag at a Roanoke event and made news when he used a chat on Reddit to call Gillespie a cuckservative a phrase mostly employed by white supremacists. Stewart said he was merely reciting a word others had used, but no matter. Children repeat words theyve heard; we expect politicians, and adults, to at least know what theyre saying. Its hard to see Stewart as anything more than a joke candidate.

By contrast, the third candidate in the race, state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, is actually talking about things that matter, especially in this part of Virginia. Wagner bills himself as the infrastructure candidate who will widen Interstate 81, get started on Interstate 73 and the Coalfields Expressway, and build inland ports in Southside and Southwest Virginia. Whether he really can is a different question, of course, and probably not one well find out. Wagner started late to pose an effective challenge.

This is Gillespies race to lose. The former national party chairman seems a steady-handed spokesman for mainstream Republican values. Whether thats a good thing or a bad thing is up to voters to decide, but Gillespie is unlikely to make any mistakes between now and June 13. Or between now and Nov. 7, for that matter. By contrast . . .

 A Democratic donnybrook? Yes! Some Democrats were already making plans for a Ralph Northam administration when former 5th District congressman Tom Perriello popped up out of seemingly nowhere (actually, hed been a special envoy for the Obama administration in Africa) to mount an unexpected challenge to the lieutenant governor. This is where all the excitement is  and a fair amount of angst among some Democrats.

Northam is a perfectly acceptable Democratic nominee who simply doesnt excite many party activists. Northam is a doctor by profession, which may prove useful when it comes time to check his own pulse. He is low-key and soft-spoken  all wonderful attributes for a physician and perhaps even a governor, but not necessarily a Democratic candidate in the Trump years.

Perriello comes much closer to channeling the anger and energy welling up from the Democratic base.

Perriello also threatens to pull the Democratic ticket much further to the left. To some Democrats, this is exactly whats needed  to draw a bold contrast with the Republicans. Other Democrats, though, wonder whether this will become a Thelma and Louise moment, with Perriello driving the Democratic ticket over a cliff.

A more apt Virginia analogy would be this: The 1977 Democratic primary, where liberal populist Henry Howell upset Andrew Miller, the moderate favorite of the establishment  and then went on to lose decisively in November. Virginia has certainly changed a lot since then. Has it changed enough to elect a modern-day Henry Howell over a modern-day John Dalton, which is what a Perriello vs. Gillespie race might feel like? We dont know yet.

We know this: An awful lot of national politicians are telling Virginia Democrats how to vote. John Podesta, who chaired Hillary Clintons disastrous campaign. Henry Waxman, the liberal California congressman. Bernie Sanders himself. All have endorsed Perriello. There was a time when Virginians would have reacted negatively to so many outsiders telling us what to do  but these are different times, with different Virginians.

Perriello has an undeniable flair for the dramatic. He vows to do whatever he can to stop the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley natural gas pipelines, a call that endears him to environmentalists, and those reflexively inclined against utilities. Perriello seems to be running against Dominion Resources more than he is Northam. The way things are going, the ghost of Henry Howell might well rise up to endorse Perriello.

Now for the inconvenient details: Perriello probably cant stop the pipelines, if for no other reason than the fact that theyll probably be approved by the time the next governor takes office. Even if he could, there are other questions. Perriello says hell stand up for rural communities being left behind in the economy but some in Franklin County might wonder how he will bring jobs to the countys new business park if theres not a natural gas pipeline running through it. Just a pesky detail, which is one reason why Virginias current Democratic governor has been such a champion of the pipelines.

If the choice this fall winds up being Perriello vs. Gillespie, it will mark a new chapter for Virginia: For the first time since Linwood Holton vs. Bill Battle in 1969, wed have two candidates for governor who have never served in state government. Some might see that as a welcome change, and perhaps it will be. Or it could mark a more worrisome trend: The nationalization of state politics. That seems a bad thing no matter who wins.
Business News Australia S Central Banks Warns On Housing Debt Risks Of Excessive Borrowing | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Australia's 'Big Four' banks will raise their home loan rates by 25 basis points this month, they said on Tuesday, passing on the full quarter-point interest rate hike announced by the central bank a ... Read More The Australian central banks decision to down-shift its pace of policy tightening reflects better-behaved wages and heavily indebted households that set its economy apart from global counterparts. Read More The Australian central ... from the inflationary environment and risks to inflation expectations," according to the minutes. In the end, the central bank's board members said they "recognized ... Read More Surging inflation and expectations for further aggressive policy action from the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks have led markets to wager rates in Australia ... of U.S. News and ... Read More According to a financial stability review on RBA, Australia's higher interest rates will increase borrowers' debt repayments ... too high," the Australian central bank said. Read More Turmoil in UK gilt markets since the governments mini budget threatened to trigger an excessive ... fighting severe risks to UK financial stability, the central bank said today. Read More A combination of photographs shows people using automated teller machines (ATMs) at Australia's "Big Four" banks - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (bottom R), Commonwealth Bank of Australi ... Read More Surging inflation and expectations for further aggressive policy action from the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks have led markets to wager rates in Australia will have to rise to ... Read More
Business News Anc Split In Zuma S Heartland Threatens His Succession Plans | RobinsPost News & Noticias

One is tempted to recall  when thinking about Jacob Zumas miraculous recovery from a life-threatening illness and his desire to get back into politics  the old gag which says the last ... Read More The divisive politician's accusations came just months before the ruling ANC party's year ... has committed treason," Zuma told a news conference in Johannesburg -- his first since he ended ... Read More Zuma should not be an option ... Ramaphosa cited age as a concern in relation to his predecessors plan to contest for the position of ANC chair at the partys December elective conference ... Read More While Zumas medical parole hinges on his alleged severe medical condition/terminal illness, he suggested that he was well enough to run for an ANC leadership position. When asked by a ... Read More Pretoria - ANC national executive committee (NEC) member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zumas presidential campaign has ... for any position in the top six. His supporter, Senzo Nkabinde, sent a letter ... Read More NEW YORK, Oct 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Rupert Murdoch is seeking to stitch his empire back together again. The media moguls family trust wants to reunite News Corp (NWSA.O) and Fox (FOXA.O ... Read More And we have some breaking news ... succession planning. Billionaire Leon Cooperman converted Omega Advisors into a family office because he didn't want to spend the rest of his life "chasing the S ... Read More "Your president is corrupt. Your president has committed treason," Zuma told a news conference in Johannesburg -- his first since he ended his 15-month jail term earlier this month for contempt of ... Read More The divisive politician's accusations came just months before the ruling ANC party's year ... has committed treason," Zuma told a news conference in Johannesburg  his first since he ended ... Read More South Africas former president Jacob Zuma, who himself faces graft charges, on Saturday accused his successor Cyril Ramaphosa of treason just two months before a crunch ANC conference where the ... Read More
Politics News Trump Weighs Sanctions Other Measures Against North Korea | RobinsPost News & Noticias

North Korea threatened to unleash a powerful action if the US does not halt joint military drills with partners including South Korea, in what might be an effort by Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork ... Read More Elon Musk has said he does not want Twitter to become a free-for-all hellscape, appearing to row back on comments he previously made about liberating free speech on the social media platform ahead ... Read More South Africa and Indonesia will each receive $500mn in concessional financing to help them accelerate the retirement of polluting coal-fired power plants and tackle climate change. The investments, a ... Read More
Politics News After Transgender Bathroom Battle North Carolina Looks To Ban Same Sex Marriage | RobinsPost News & Noticias

North Carolinas open U.S. Senate seat is atop ballots statewide. Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd are seeking to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr. The outcome could determine ... Read More
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Elections News Susan Collins Has Potential To Reshape Midterm Elections With Bid For Maine Governor | RobinsPost News & Noticias




An 18-year-old East St. Louis, Ill., man is facing 25 years in prison for selling drugs near Davenports Monroe Elementary School in early March.

Dyon Armongelo Thomas, of 1520 N. 45th St, East St. Louis, is charged with one count of felony distributing a drug within 1,000 feet of a school.

Thomas also is charged with felony possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Detective Bill Thomas, Thomas sold marijuana to a 14-year-old male in the parking lot of the Sugar Shack, 1939 W. Fourth St, at 11:30 p.m. March 4.

The Sugar Shack describes itself as a "convenience store and Christian ministry to the local community" on its Facebook page.

The Sugar Shack is located directly across the street from and within 1,000 feet of Monroe Elementary School, 1926 W. Fourth St. The delivery was captured on video from a nearby business.

Thomas was arrested Wednesday and was being held Thursday in the Scott County Jail on $50,000 bond.
Potus News In Reversal Trump Says China Won T Be Labeled A Currency Manipulator | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A newly obtained Secret Service message from that day shows how angry President Trump was about the outcome. Quote Just FYI, POTUS is pissed  Breaking news  Supreme Court denied his lawsuit. Read More She said no. Almost 40 years later, Xi has created a power structure around him ensuring he wont ... and China have ramped up their joint military drills, too. Countdown on Taiwan. Xi says ... Read More Former President Donald Trump was noticeably angry when the Supreme Court rejected his challenge to the results of the 2020 election and did not want people ... Just fyi. POTUS is pissed ... Read More Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it's going next. President Xi Jinping has promised a slow and steady end to the growth ... Read More The former president said he would "probably decide in the not-too-distant future" on whether to seek the White House again. Trump touted his ... said with a smirk. Fox News' Julia Musto ... Read More According to the testimony of the former chief of the Capitol Police is that she was not involved ... Fox News Chyron Refers To President As "Election Denier" In his letter, Trump does refer ... Read More And the president says, I think it's-- it could have been ... Service message from that day shows how angry President Trump was about the outcome. Quote, "Just FYI, POTUS is pissed. Breaking news, ... Read More China's central government won't likely be spending billions to save the struggling real estate sector, analysts said. "I doubt there will be direct bailouts of property developers by the ... Read More on Sunday did not rule out the possibility of the House Jan. 6 committees taking live televised testimony from former President Donald Trump ... an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press ... Read More "The Court shouldreverse the district court's injunction ... of justice"  pointing to allegations that Trump's team might not have been fully truthful with investigators  and the ... Read More Liz Cheney said Sunday that while the House Jan. 6 committee was "anticipating" that former President Donald Trump would comply with the subpoena the panel issued to him last week, "He's not going ... Read More (Bloomberg) -- The special master reviewing documents seized from Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate warned the former presidents lawyers that their initial efforts to claim certain records were ... Read More
Potus News Trump Sees North Korea As Top Threat | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Animosities on the Korean Peninsula have been running high in recent months, with North Korea testing a string of nuclear-capable missiles and adopting a law authorizing the preemptive use of its ... Read More
Potus News Twitter Divided Over Trump S Bomb Drop On Isis Target In Afghanistan | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Secret Service communications and testimony from bombshell witness Cassidy Hutchinson painted a picture of then-President Donald Trumps meltdown over ... POTUS is pissed  Breaking news ... Read More Donald Trump critics had a meltdown on Twitter Sunday after the former president warned Jews to be more appreciative of him before its too late. Trump posted the startling message ... Read More UPDATE, 7:10 AM Friday: Donald Trump followed up his Twitter rants about the January 6th Committee with a 14-page letter to the committee chairman, Bennie Thompson. The letter begins with Trump ... Read More Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News Live ... with U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie for the Eastern District of New York outlining disputes between the government and Trump over which of ... Read More the Twitter alternative backed by former President Donald Trump, is now available for download in the Google Play Store following months of being blocked over violent content. Google's reversal ... Read More ADAM KINZINGER: At times, President Trump acknowledged the reality of his loss. Although he publicly claimed that he had won the election, privately he admitted that Joe Biden would take over as ... Read More President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to rapidly pull all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Somalia ... of former president Donald Trump over his role in the attack, Rep. Read More MIAMI  Former President Donald Trumps quest to establish a Florida-based social media platform as a conservative alternative to Twitter will ... SEC and published news media reports. Read More WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to rapidly pull all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Somalia ... segments of testimony provided over the past several months by key ... Read More NEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President ... year window to sue over alleged sexual misconduct even if the statute of limitations has expired. Carroll has accused Trump of raping her ... Read More
Product Reviews Demons Navigators And Outbacks Your 2017 New York Auto Show Mega Gallery Roadshow | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 debuts at the 2018 New York Auto Show. Toyota didn't stray too far from the formula that has made the RAV4 America's best-selling crossover. 2019 Genesis G70 luxury sedan has ... Read More Google updated the documentation on how to write product reviews to add examples of kinds of product reviewers and to tighten the focus of the documentation with more precise wording. Overall ... Read More To learn more about NeuroTonix, continue reading this review. Supplementing with NeuroTonix, which is derived from probiotic strains, is a healthy and safe way to boost your brainpower. Read More The new kit looks better ... strong but depending on your needs thats not always best. A cadence based system is great for transportation replacement. Much of this section isnt all that different ... Read More It is rather our version of the EnglandAustralia and AustraliaNew Zealand ... But be sure, all your questions will be answered here. In this Product Launch Formula Review, we will be ... Read More ED: FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THE NEW ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW HAS ... to best promote their products and brand. Simply put, under the current environment the show will not meet the ... Read More Polls show tight race for New York governor 02:29 NEW YORK -- The latest ... "You march to the polls -- Early Voting and on Election Day. Take your family and friends," she said. Read More The New England International Auto show ... promote their products and brand, the organizers wrote in a Facebook posting. Simply put, under the current environment the show will not meet ... Read More Subaru on Thursday confirmed that the 2024 Impreza compact car will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late ... around since the 2017 model year, so its new generation shouldn't ... Read More CNNs flashy new morning show co-hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins bombed in its debut episode on Tuesday. Despite heavy promotion from the network, CNN This Mornings ... Read More Syracuse, N.Y. -- New Hartford finished its marching band season strong Sunday night with a second-place finish at the New York State Field Band Conference championship show at the JMA Wireless ... Read More Running from October 27th through 29th, 2022, The New York City Jewelry And Watch Show, produced by the Palm Beach Show Group featured a roster of international dealers at the Metropolitan ... Read More
Science News Power From California Sun Turns Wholesale Electricity Prices Negative | RobinsPost News & Noticias

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When the sun is high in the sky, California ... power of our Sun. A thin film that turns windows into solar panels, as well as a liquid system that could revolutionize how we use solar energy ... Read More More info Liz Truss has been urged to U-turn on her plans to ... Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent wholesale gas prices soaring, the disparity between solar power and natural gas is now even ... Read More This technology comes at a time when Europe is scrambling to end its reliance on Russian gas, as the war in Ukraine has sent energy bills spiralling in line with the costs of wholesale natural gas. Read More Efficient pricing will be crucial to minimize energy ... charging price -- promoting overall electric vehicle adoption. "The alleviation of required pressure on power grid is great news to the ... Read More How do you wirelessly beam energy across space? It turns out ... now expects the price to come down to closer to $300 a kilogram. Thats the holy grail for space solar power. Read More China bolsters ethics review process on science ... electricity, as well as wireless power transmission. But these systems were rather complex, the researcher said. In contrast, a solar panel ... Read More It's a terrifying prospect, but could a solar ... Science. "You would really need some huge event to do that, which is not impossible," Owens said. "But I would think that knocking out power ... Read More Solar power innovations are ... usher in the necessary renewable energy shift for our species. Andrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular ... Read More Topics of expertise and interest include agriculture, conservation, ecology, and climate science ... According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), higher fuel prices combined with ... Read More renewable power. The best solar generators can reliably and sustainably meet a variety of energy needs, and were here to help you find the right one for you. As an avid outdoorsman, Ive had ... Read More Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST). "Solar technology breakthrough: Scalable perovskite solar cells." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2022.
Science News Us Companies Performed 18 Of R D Outside The United States In 2013 | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The rule would apply to all companies publicly traded in the United Stateseven if they are not U.S. based. In a new commentary published in Science magazine, four researchers, including Edgar ... Read More I want to add one more significant ask to that list: information on technology spending by non-R&D intensive companies ... technology tools to help us: (1) build an interconnected shopping ... Read More U.S. News and World Report released its latest "Best Medicare Advantage Plan Companies" list, which includes a list of the top-rated insurance companies for Medicare Advantage plans in states. Read More EXCLUSIVE: Nineteen Republican-led states are launching ... involvement in the United Nations "Net-Zero Banking Alliance," which they say is "killing" American companies. The states, led ... Read More But the report shows that companies play a larger role in that advancement than is commonly recognized. "Most of us have long had it beaten into us that where you go to college, if you go to ... Read More United States-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase ... In part this is because, outside of the US, users usually have to pay fees in the process of converting their local currency into USDC ... Read More US president announces release of 15m barrels of oil from strategic reserve as he fights to keep gas prices in check before midterms Joe Biden has called on oil companies to pass on their massive ... Read More Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and ... So it is welcome news that California has moved against this cruel situation. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a law to make ... Read More Microsoft Company: Microsoft Country: United States Number of employees: 221,000 3. IBM Company: IBM 4. Alphabet 5. Apple 6. Delta Air Lines 7. Costco Wholesale 8. Adobe ... Read More Intensity of both rain and snow had particularly increased in the East, South, and Midwest, but changes in the western United States were not detected. The western US is currently in the grips of ... Read More Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad ... But those funds are set to lapse in September 2024, leaving states and D.C. with a fiscal cliff of nearly $50 billion. Read More That is the grim reality facing 1 in 3 families of incarcerated people in the United States ... news that California has moved against this cruel situation. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D ... Read More
Technology News Australia Goes Anti Privacy Today Starts Storing All User Metadata | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Australia has proposed tougher penalties for companies that fail to protect customers personal data after two major cybersecurity breaches left millions vulnerable to criminals CANBERRA ... Read More Australia's Medibank Says Hackers Claim to Have ... claimed to have retrieved from the health insurer's IT systems. The news comes six days after Medibank reported an attempted ransomware attack ... Read More Australia's second-largest telecoms provider, which compromised data of up to 10 million customers and triggered an overhaul of consumer privacy rules to facilitate targeted data sharing between ... Read More REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Oct 23 (Reuters) - Australia ... 2022 Technology Apple to expand live TV advertising around new soccer deal -Bloomberg News, article with image ... Read More iTnews is reporting that on Saturday, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the federal government was going to fast-track changes to Australias privacy ... Good news for New South Welshman ... Read More The Australian government will next week introduce legislation to significantly increase penalties for privacy breaches after the huge hack at mobile-phone operator Optus. The legislation will ... Read More SYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - A union representing Australian employees ... The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Technology Musk's Twitter updates app to start charging $8 for blue checkmark ... Read More Apple Store employees stopped work for an hour at Australia's Brisbane ... and labour historians and other people have gone through all the books [and] they cannot find a single event like ... Read More CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia on Saturday proposed tougher penalties for companies that fail to protect customers personal data after two major cybersecurity breaches left millions vulnerable ... Read More YouTube has today ... s 1951 anti-war painting known as Massacre in Korea at the National Gallery of Victoria. The woman is reported as saying, People can believe were idiots all they ... Read More CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia on Saturday proposed tougher penalties for companies that fail to protect customers personal data after two major cybersecurity breaches left millions ... Read More FILE  People walk past a Medibank branch in Sydney on Oct. 20, 2022. Australia on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 proposed tougher penalties for companies that Read More FILE  People walk past a ... Read More
Travel News California Keeps Travel Ban Despite Bathroom Bill Repeal | RobinsPost News & Noticias

(The Center Square)  California ... ban. Among the seven initiatives appearing on the November ballot is Proposition 31. The initiative asks voters whether to uphold or repeal Senate Bill ... Read More The tobacco companies are pushing hard to keep from being shut out of a large portion of California's vast market. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban ... Party wants to repeal the law, saying ... Read More California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill into law that will ban single-use plastic produce bags starting in 2025. The law requires that all single-use plastic produce bags be replaced by ... Read More R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA are underwriting an effort to repeal ... keep from being shut out of a large portion of Californias vast market. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban ... Read More Plastic produce bags will soon be a thing of the past for California grocery shoppers. The state will effectively ban plastic produce bags from supermarkets after a new bill, SB 1046, was signed ... Read More The tobacco companies are pushing hard to keep from being shut out of a large portion of Californias vast market. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban ... Party wants to repeal the law, saying ... Read More
Travel News Us Asks Citizens To Avoid Non Essential Travel To Pakistan | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The United States, has warned against travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and ... situation puts travellers and visitors at risk, and non-essential travel to the destination should be avoided. Read More Concerned over the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, India on Monday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine and asked them to strictly follow the safety ... Read More PTI Moscow, October 10 Concerned over the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, India on Monday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine and asked them to ... Read More "They haven't let us enter because they think we're migrants when really we're only coming to shop," said Amalia Vazquez, a Guatemalan citizen with her baby ... Mexico have had a similar limit on ... Read More except that they are not kept alive by politicians and media for political and commercial gains India on Monday asked Indians to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine as war in the ... Read More The US and UK governments have warned their citizens of ... in Nigeria to avoid all non-essential travel or movement, stay alert, avoid crowds, and follow local news and the advice of security ... Read More Amid the escalating situation in Ukraine, Indian nationals in Ukraine are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within ... in Kyiv advised the Indian citizens to strictly adhere to ... Read More The two most recent advisories, issued by the Indian embassy in Kyiv, followed another issued on October 10 that had urged Indians to avoid all non-essential ... travel to the border. It said ... Read More Concerned over the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, India on Monday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine and asked them to strictly follow the safety ... Read More The alert has come as several blasts hit the centre of Kyiv on Monday New Delhi: Amid reports of fresh and intensified attacks against multiple Ukrainian cities on Monday, the Indian Embassy in ... Read More Concerned over the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, India on Monday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine and asked them to strictly follow the safety and ... Read More
SIOUX CITY | A 42-year-old father is in custody after police say he swatted his daughter multiple times with a belt after she refused to do laundry.

Court documents say Ricardo Cordova-Larios allegedly hit the 14-year-old girl at their home in the 900 block of Eighth Street Sunday.

The blows to the back, neck and upper torso left bruises all over her body that matched the outline of a belt when officers examined the girl.

Cordova-Larios was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Monday on charges of child endangerment resulting in injury and simple assault. His bond has been set at $7,500 and he has a court date April 21.
Travel News California Keeps Travel Ban Despite Nc Bathroom Bill Repeal | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Los Angeles'"Now Playing" ad campaign features iconic L.A. scenery. (photo via Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board) ... Read More The bill was opposed by the California Grocers Association ... CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP New Jerseys ban took effect in May of this year, and lawmakers are already looking to tweak ... Read More (The Center Square)  California ... ban. Among the seven initiatives appearing on the November ballot is Proposition 31. The initiative asks voters whether to uphold or repeal Senate Bill ... Read More R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA are underwriting an effort to repeal ... keep from being shut out of a large portion of Californias vast market. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban ... Read More Plastic produce bags will soon be a thing of the past for California grocery shoppers. The state will effectively ban plastic produce bags from supermarkets after a new bill, SB 1046, was signed ... Read More Among 2022s publicized attacks was one targeting North Carolina A&T University in March, which resulted in the cancellation of classes. I believe (the payment ban) will be a deterrent down ... Read More Avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, has been detected in birds in North Carolina and California as the infectious disease continued to spread across the United States. A backyard ... Read More Editor's Note  Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations ... one of Europe's coolest capitals just keeps getting cooler. Read More The tobacco companies are pushing hard to keep from being shut out of a large portion of Californias vast market. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban ... Party wants to repeal the law, saying ... Read More
Travel News Minnesota Aclu Joins Lawsuit To Obtain Records On Travel Ban Implementation | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The lawsuit ... ACLU also alleges the countys stringent signature verification that allows elections workers to require voters to show an ID if their signature doesnt match the state ... Read More Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News ... A lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of denying nearly all visa applicants from countries under President Donald Trumps travel ban will ... Read More Polls show extremely close races in Wisconsin 01:29 MADISON, Wis.  An open records lawsuit filed against Milwaukee officials by the Republican Party of Wisconsin has been dismissed after the ... Read More ACLU of RI executive director Steven Brown said Tuesday that the goals of the lawsuit are to obtain financial compensation ... Morelli said at a news conference Tuesday at the ACLUs ... Read More Several legal organizations filed a lawsuit Thursday against Immigrations ... According to a press release from the ACLU, research shows detained people with representation are almost seven ... Read More The rural Nevada county filed a response to a lawsuit brought on by the ACLU's Nevada Chapter ... Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national ... Read More Editor's Note  Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and ... Read More The complaint is nearly identical to the ACLU lawsuit that was recently dismissed in Nye County District Court due to technicalities. The district judge there did not receive a record of the ... Read More Thanksgiving airfare prices are currently averaging $281 round trip, up 25% from last year, according to travel booking group Hopper. For Christmas travel, airfare prices are averaging $435 round ... Read More RELATED: Indiana Supreme Court keeps state abortion ban on hold "There's more certainty if you can get the additional injunction, he said. The first injunction is related to a different lawsuit put ... Read More The Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency petition to the state Supreme Court on Monday challenging Nye County and its interim clerk's plan to count election ... Read More The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which is representing the abortion clinics, filed the lawsuit Aug. 31. It argued that the ban would "prohibit the overwhelming majority of abortions in ... Read More
Travel News Travel Q A How To Spend Two Days In Johannesburg Exploring Egypt Safely And Other Travel Questions Answered | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A TRAVEL expert has revealed the two days of the week you should always fly ... Sundays, according to other experts. This is not only the busiest day, but the day travellers are most miserable. Read More Weve all known that there were certain days that were better for flying than others, and now travel news resource The Vacationer ... November 27  in other words, the day right before the ... Read More The Association Les 3 Vallees announces today the launch of a new online travel agency  Les 3 Vallees Travel - to provide consumers globally a simple and direct way to book vacations to the ... Read More Card spending on overseas travel in September continued ... of living uncertainty continuing to impact other sectors. Travel agents saw the largest spend growth per customer at almost 95% last ... Read More Despite feeling the pinch of inflation and its impact on consumer goods, Americans still want to spend on travel, and they increasingly ... a night in a hotel or other paid lodging. Read More Everyone's circumstances (trip length, dates, ages, destinations and other travel plans ... available and how to prepare to travel abroad. Have more questions? Speak to a travel insurance ... Read More A travel expert has shared the best days of the week to fly if you want to get a bargain price and avoid chaos at the airport. The world of plane ticket pricing is a wild and confusing one ... Read More Canadian travel management company Maritime Travel has rejoined GlobalStar Travel Management as a partner in its network, the travel management organization announced. Halifax-based Maritime was a ... Read More "If, for example, you are heading to Florida in two days amid hurricane ... pre-existing conditions, on the other hand, isn't typically included with your travel insurance unless you specifically ... Read More Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments ... back after two-plus-year ... Read More
Travel News Nevada Aclu Suing For Government Travel Ban Documents | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Nye Countys 20-page statement filed in the Nevada Supreme Court came in response to an emergency petition by the ACLUs Nevada chapter asking the court to bar the countys controversial ... Read More The Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties ... The complaint is nearly identical to the ACLU lawsuit that was recently dismissed in Nye County District Court due to technicalities. Read More A rural Nevada county has filed a response to a lawsuit brought on by the ACLU's Nevada Chapter asking ... Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit ... Read More Nye County's 20-page statement filed in the Nevada Supreme Court came in response to an emergency petition by the ACLUs Nevada chapter ... for America Statehouse News Initiative. Read More
Travel News Save Up To 400 On A Tour Of Spain S Camino De Santiago And More Of The Best Travel Deals | RobinsPost News & Noticias

When three siblings hike the Camino de Santiago, the fact that one has Downs syndrome makes some things tricky, but the whole trip far more rewarding ... Photograph: My Travel Lessons/Alamy ... Read More If you want to stick to Spain ... with El Camino de Santiago. The Kumano Kodo is a 70km pilgrimage route located on the Kili Peninsula on one of Japans largest islands. It is made up of several ... Read More U.S. News factored in sights, culture, seasonality and expert opinion to come up with the best places to visit in Spain for all types ... including Basilica de la Sagrada Familia and Park ... Read More We use your sign-up to ... prior to travel. READ MORE: Best country in the world to retire is beautiful and safe Spain is one of the UKs top holiday destinations and the news will ... Read More For example, if you are staying in Madrid and plan to take day trips to Toledo and Segovia, you might normally spend 40 or more ... up for the program. The purpose of Spains new free train ... Read More We use your sign-up to provide content ... You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Spain is one of the UKs top winter holiday destinations. As families prepare to travel for the October ... Read More you are no longer required to complete a health control form prior to travel. "Spains land borders are open. For further details see If youre transiting through Spain." The news will no ... Read More Editor's Note  Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations ... and some of the best nightlife in the western hemisphere," said Time Out's ... Read More Being flexible in your travel dates is the best way to find the best deals on airfare. Book early departures to minimize the chance of your flight getting delayed or canceled. Take advantage of ... Read More So, you may be inclined to deny or refuse travel insurance as a way to cut costs. But sometimes that decision can end up costing ... length of trip and more. According to the U.S. Travel Insurance ... Read More Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful ... Leisures 2023 Worlds Best Awards is now open ... Read More
Travel News Bahamian Culture A Hit With South California Travel Agents | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Guests will get a taste of Bahamian culture through island-inspired hors ... "We're looking forward to ensuring that media, travel agents, industry stakeholders, and more, are aware of the many ... Read More As a travel writer and professional packer ... One of my most recent trips took me to the Bahamas, specifically Harbour Island. Just a half-mile wide and 3.25 miles long, the tiny Bahamian ... Read More For May Wong of California ... TODAY Travel team has been looking into how we can make the process better for everyone involved. To make the process somewhat easier, we asked travel agents ... Read More If a luxury cruise to the Bahamas is your goal, look at the top suite options on a mainstream or premium line. For more cruise news ... new to the Margaritaville travel and hospitality franchise ... Read More To plan a Bahamas vacation with minimal hassle and stress, heres what you need to know about buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy before you flyor sailto paradise. Travel ... Read More Arizona and New Mexico causes winds to rotate clockwise around and hit Southern California with muggy air or rain. L.A. has invested significantly in its water future, but many projects remain ... Read More Scattered thunderstorms and lightning rumbled through parts of Southern California on Wednesday ... Petri covers trends and breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She previously covered live ... Read More Bahamian prep prospects continue to garner attention for their performance on the gridiron at programmes in South Florida. The Miami Jackson Generals look to improve to above .500 in tonights ... Read More Scattered thunderstorms and lightning rumbled through parts of Southern California early Wednesday, with wet weather expected to continue through most of the day. A cluster of storms developed ... Read More A low pressure system will be moving into Southern California, bringing cooler temperatures starting Friday, Oct. 21. Certain areas might see rain over the weekend too. There is a 10% to 30% ... Read More Editor's Note  Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations ... Tucci recently visited on the hit series. And here's another list of restaurants ... Read More
Us News Wisconsin Man Accused Of Robbing Gun Shop Pledges To Spill Blood In Manifesto To President Trump | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A suburban Seattle man accused of threatening to shoot Black customers at grocery stores in Buffalo, New York, and at businesses in other states has pleaded guilty to making interstate ... Read More
Us News Morning Brief North Korea Preparing For Sixth Nuclear Test Says Monitoring Group | RobinsPost News & Noticias

John Kirby, a spokesman for President Joe Bidens National Security Council, told reporters in Washington the US believes that North Korea could conduct a nuclear test at any time. ... Read More U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials are bracing for what would be Pyongyang's first nuclear test in years, amid already heightened global tensions. Read More This suggests North Korea is evaluating its combat-readiness, says Jenny Town of the Stimson ... South Korean spooks believe the North is preparing for a nuclear testits seventhwhich could ... Read More The comments were a fresh sign that North Korea could be preparing for its first nuclear test since September 2017, something the US has been ringing ... Korean Central News Agency reported ... Read More Explainer-When Will North Korea Test a Nuclear Weapon ... WHAT WOULD THE REACTION BE? The United States and its allies in Asia have vowed that a resumption of nuclear testing "would be met ... Read More The U_N_ nuclear chief says a new nuclear test explosion by North Korea would be yet another confirmation of a program which is moving full steam ahead in a way that is incredibly concerning. ... Read More The U.S., Japan and South Korea warned North Korea of conducting a seventh nuclear test this year and said there would be 'unparalleled" consequences. Read More North Korea has said its recent barrage of missile launches were tactical nuclear drills personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, and a response to joint United States-South Korea naval ... Read More The office of the Souths president Yoon Suk-yeol is now preparing for North Korea ... nuclear capable missile over Japan in its biggest ever test - with the devastating weapon capable of ... Read More U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials are bracing for what would be Pyongyang's first nuclear test in years, amid already heightened global tensions. Read More
Us News Colorado College Student Thrown To Ground By Police Says She Was Humiliated Calls For Police Change | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Colorado College students are sparking a movement after multiple students died by suicide this year. Some say the emails the administration sent out afterward were not enough. Like us on Facebook ... Read More COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  Colorado Springs Police officers ... the teen in a patrol car as she yells "Don't f----- touch me." The officers forced her to the ground, the suit said. Read More COLORADO COLLEGE ... policy change". Anna-Grace Keller, a sophomore, says most of the students spearheading the movement are not able to speak publicly about it to news outlets. Read More Colorado Springs police officers took a 17-year-old high school student ... ground, causing the teen painful cuts, scrapes and bruising to her arms, knees and legs, the complaint says. She ... Read More A large group of Black, Brown and White students are rallying for change ... Colorado College also likely will join the Suicide Prevention Collaborative for El Paso County, she said. Read More The U.S. Department of Education officially launched its online application for student loan forgiveness on Monday. President Biden calls it ... Smith told CBS News Colorado. Read More
Us News Essential California Police Say They Don T Enforce Immigration Laws But Some Manuals Say Otherwise | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Even if this administration were willing to enforce our immigration laws and secure the border, the government doesnt have the resources ... So, despite criticism from some conservatives ... Read More Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California ... is the one they call when they have a problem with trash pickup, graffiti removal or building permits. You dont need to call a council ... Read More Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter ... to care about elections. But some of the countrys least experienced voters say they feel unprepared to make such weighty ... Read More Critics say ... laws will affect them, they need to look in the mirror. Major California cities are suffering from police shortages. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore told Fox 11 News ... Read More The vehicle buried in the backyard of a home in Atherton, California ... the mayor said. Police would not say how the owner died as they are still working through the verification process. Read More Law enforcement agencies throughout California ... police departments across the country warned of the threat posed by rainbow-colored fentanyl pills so close to Halloween. However, experts say ... Read More In an exclusive survey of more than 500 sheriffs, The Marshall Project found sheriffs are key to our debates on policing, immigration and much more. Read More A California teacher ... to contact the Rancho Cordova Police Department at (916) 362-5115. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Story tips can be sent to ... Read More A suspect in the killings of three men  who police have said were among six victims of a serial killer in Northern California ... we believe, allow us to add those additional charges ... Read More A womans co-worker tried to kidnap her while she was walking home from work alone, California ... arrived on scene, they located Maxime at a house on Muroc Lake Drive, police said. Read More Police in Stockton, California, said they arrested a serial killing suspect early Saturday morning while he was "on a mission to kill." Wesley Brownlee, 43, was stopped by police around 2 a.m. and ... Read More I just want folks to know that they dont keep us safe, he said of police ... Mingus said Monday that his comment has led some people to say that hes advocating for riots, but ... Read More
SIOUX CITY | A 25-year-old Sioux City man is facing child endangerment and serious assault charges after authorities say he spanked his girlfriend's 8-month-old daughter, causing significant bruising, then tried to blame the injury on his girlfriend's other child, a 2-year-old.

Bryce Albert Bishop was booked into the Woodbury County Jail around 7:30 a.m. Saturday on charges of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury and serious assault. He's being held on $8,000 bond.

According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2016, Bishop was caring for his girlfriend's 8-month-old and 2-year-old children, when he became upset and physically disciplined the 8-month-old child, causing "large bruising" to her buttocks.

Documents say Bishop blamed the injuries on the 2-year-old, who he said had thrown a Barbie doll at the 8-month-old.

Medical analysis of the injuries showed they were indicative of a spank or slap with a hand, and were prevalent four days following the incident, according to the documents.

The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office served a warrant for Bishop's arrest Saturday. His next court appearance will be 9 a.m. April 19.
Us News Bartlett Neighborhood Mourns Favorite Turkey Amid Speculation Of Hit And Run | RobinsPost News & Noticias

AMASRA, Turkey (AP)  My one and only ... I waited and waited and there was no news, he explained. He then received word that his son was at the childrens hospital. Read More With the Internet and cable news, you have the ... Its guesswork at best since nobody knows how anything is going to turn out. Thats why Bartletts has evolved over time. ... Read More Family makes public plea in hit-and-run case 02:05 MIAMI  A family is desperate for answers. The father, Timothy Thompson, told us he lost his only child, Elijah Thompson, in a deadly hit-and run. Read More Search for hit & run driver in Back ... for a driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a man in critical condition in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Around 10 p.m. Monday night ... Read More "There was a very, very similar fatality on this road, three blocks away on this road, like a month ago from another member of the community that resonated through all of us." In August ... Read More That driver then fled the scene. Were on scene at the Rock Rest on S Golden Rd. Initial info indicates a fight broke out that resulted in a hit and run involving multiple people in the parking ... Read More 7 NEWS AT TEN, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT A DEADLY CRASH ... THE PETTY CRUISER THEN HIT A MAN WHO WAS WORKING ON A CAR. HE DIED. THE DRIVER TOOK OFF, BUT WAS LATE The Albuquerque Police Department's ... Read More A mother cried at a cemetery beside a freshly-laid mound of earth AMASRA, Turkey -- My one and only ... I waited and waited and there was no news, he explained. He then received word ... Read More
World News Hungarians Return To Street Protests As Pressure Mounts On Orban | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Budapest saw one of its largest protests in recent decades ... depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban inside a communist-era Hungarian flag. Read More Prime Minister Viktor Orban ... sustained wave of protests by Hungarian teachers and students that began earlier this month. In early October some 40,000 people took to the street, blocking ... Read More Thousands of Hungarians including teachers and students marched through Budapest on Sunday to protest against the ... protesters held up banners like "Orban get lost" and "No teachers, no future ... Read More BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarian students and parents protested ... A pledge by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government earlier this week to raise teachers' salaries to 80% of average ... Read More BUDAPEST - Thousands of Hungarians including teachers and students marched through Budapest on Sunday to protest against the ... protesters held up banners like Orban get lost and No ... Read More BUDAPEST (Reuters) - More than 1,000 Hungarians protested on Wednesday ... Under the rules amended by Conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, pregnant women must submit evidence ... Read More soaring energy prices Orban was reelected in April elections BUDAPEST, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarians including teachers and students marched through Budapest on Sunday to protest ... Read More BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Thousands of Hungarians including teachers and students marched through Budapest on Sunday to protest against ... held up banners like "Orban get lost" and "No teachers ... Read More
World News A 13 Year Old Boy Is Among Four Dead As Venezuela Protests Continue | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A 13-year-old boy died after being shot multiple times on ... 7 p.m. Monday when he was struck in the head. He was pronounced dead at Albert Einstein Medical Center at 9:12 p.m. No arrests had ... Read More A 13-year-old boy was among ... about 4:10 p.m. on Sunday in the Englewood neighborhood. The victim was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Read More A 13-year-old boy was ... after noticing the boy wounded on the bench. The boy was rushed to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead. Get updates on what's ... Read More CHENNAI: A 13-year-old boy was found dead at his home on Wednesday. The deceased is R Deepak, a Class 9 student, from a private school in Kolathur. His parents Raja Guru and Jeyapradha noticed he ... Read More A 13-year-old boy is dead after he was shot multiple times in the head in a Philadelphia neighborhood Monday night, police said. The teen was found with gunshot wounds in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane ... Read More A 13-year-old boy died after being shot multiple times in ... The Philly teen has been identified as Jeremiah Wilcox, 6ABC Action News reported. The shooting occurred on the 6500 block of North ... Read More AGRA: A four-year-old child playing outside his house was abducted and later shot dead by his father's friend ... where to look for the missing boy. On suspicion, police questioned him and he ... Read More Chicago recorded another bloody weekend in which more than two dozen people were shot and nine murdered, including a 13-year-old boy at a park and an 87-year-old woman in a wheelchair, authorities ... Read More A 13-year-old boy is dead after he was shot multiple times in ... Chantal Da Silva Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. Read More
World News Why Russia Might Be Working With Its Cold War Enemy The Taliban | RobinsPost News & Noticias

James Clapper, President Obamas Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that both Russia and China posed the greatest mortal threat to the United ... Read More Had the Russians maintained control, during the Cold War Alaska might ... with Russia's hostility towards the British Empire. Antonson told Newsweek: "Russia did not want to sell its Alaska ... Read More Explainer-What Is a Dirty Bomb and Why Is Russia ... (Reuters) - In Russia's latest advocacy campaign over its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has focused on accusations that Kyiv might be planning ... Read More THE world must be ready for a nuclear war with Russia if Vladimir ... in to churn up the thick mud, this might not slow down Ukraine. "If the winter is cold enough for the ground to freeze ... Read More "We have essentially a war in which Russia feels that this war is at its core of its security interests ... escalation," Pr Sachs said. "Most of the world is terrified now frankly because ... Read More who said at a separate news conference that in thinking about economic responses, "it's obvious what the most important is, and everyone agrees Russia should stop its war on Ukraine." Russia's ... Read More Ukraine's successes, however, have been shadowed by the recent threats from Putin that Russia might resort to nuclear weapons to reverse the course of his war ... enemy's actions," he told ABC News. 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 Putin Says Russia Not Working 'Against Anyone' in Energy Markets (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was not working against anyone on energy markets and was seeking a ... Read More Russia-Ukraine War: Russian forces have carried out a series ... a key bridge linking the Crimean peninsula to Russia "The enemy has one goal -- to sow panic among the population, intimidate ... Read More In most every sense of the term, though ... of the war that Moscow isn't calling a war: Its painful legacy could last generations. Tamer Fakahany, deputy director for global news coordination ... Read More
World News U S China Ramp Up Warnings Against North Korea Ahead Of Celebration | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Now, if there is war, our village will become the first target because of that machine up ... against North Korean aggression. China argued that the United States was using North Korea as ... Read More US Vows Full Military Defense of Allies Against ... Japan-U.S. alliance and other shared goals, including the complete denuclearization of North Korea and their joint response to China's ... Read More North Korea's KPA released another statement on Wednesday afternoon, warning ... Monday. World News // 1 hour ago China's imports, exports shrink in October as demand from U.S. plummets Nov ... Read More We use your sign-up ... against China over Taiwan escalation of tensions and an attempt to get the attention of Washington and Tokyo. In response, Japan, the United States and North Korea launched ... Read More In a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a historic congress ... in the region and the rest of the world, North Korea state news agency KCNA said. The reported expression of ... 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 North Korea issued a veiled threat Tuesday to use nuclear weapons to get the U.S. and South Korea to pay the most horrible price in history, an escalation of its ... Read More North Korea's recent flurry of missile tests were designed to simulate showering the South with tactical nuclear weapons as a warning after ... resolve to the United States and South Korea as ... Read More The latest barrage of missiles using mock nuclear warheads was launched to send South Korea a warning about a possible attack, North Korea ... Independent News Service) Get ahead of the day ... Read More SEOUL, South Korea  The rival Koreas exchanged warning ... U.S. aircraft carrier for the first time in five years. North Korea said its artillery firing drills were staged as countermeasures ... Read More The two officials met ahead ... news conference after three-way talks in Washington, leaving Sherman to make a solo media appearance. Sherman said North Korea needs to understand that the U.S ... Read More
World News What Changes Under Turkey S New Constitution Plan | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has laid out his vision for Turkey in the next century, promising a new constitution that would guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens. In ... Read More which Turkey has signed up to. "The recent amendments also risk opening new avenues for repression of permissible speech under international law," said Hurtado. "We regret that these laws have ... Read More Photograph: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images Turkeys parliament has ratified ... anywhere in the world. TGS recently warned the new law will drastically change the media climate in the country ... Read More Although Airbnb said it has seen promising trends in the first month of the fourth quarter, it warned a strong US dollar will cut into rental income. [Average daily rates] will face some pressure ... Read More Last week, the government proposed a new farm levy as part of a plan to tackle climate change ... in the world. But when its rain, drizzle, and you get home and listen to the news ... Read More TOLO News reported. Politicians said the constitution was one of the main needs of the country and urged the Taliban to make serious efforts in this regard. The previous constitution was formed under ... Read More Russia suspended its participation in the UN-backed deal, which allowed grain exports from Ukraine to be shipped through the Black Sea, on October 30, raising fears of increasing food insecurity among ... Read More A reworked version of Alabamas 121-year-old Constitution will appear on ballots in November, giving voters the opportunity to ratify the changes ... portions. The new version of the ... Read More LONDON  The U.K.s new Treasury chief ripped up the governments economic plan on Monday ... s suggestion that Truss was cowering under her desk to avoid scrutiny. Read More
World News Serious Failings By Russia Over 2004 Beslan Massacre European Court | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on world leaders to declare Russia a terrorist state because of its attacks on civilians and alleged war crimes. Moscows war in Ukraine is approaching its eight ... Read More Accusing Russia of Planning 'Dirty Bomb' Attack ... Volodymyr Zelenskiy did on Sunday, was "not a serious conversation", the Interfax news agency reported. Lavrov was reported to have made the ... Read More Russia's state news agency RIA has identified what it said were the two sites involved in the operation - the Eastern Mineral Enrichment Plant in the central Dnipropetrovsk region and the ... Read More BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union has shown rock-solid unity in confronting Russia over its war in Ukraine, but EU leaders lack that common purpose heading into Thursdays summit to seek ... Read More Baltic states and Poland have a long shopping list, but host of others seen as cautious of new measures Russia-Ukraine war  latest news updates Since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of ... Read More 18 (UPI) --The European Parliament on Tuesday rejected an effort to validate the 2020 accounts of the European Union's border force Frontex over criticism ... Act. World News // 52 minutes ago ... Read More Lativias unicameral parliament, known as the Saeima, approved a resolution noting that Russia has supported and financed terrorist regimes and organizations for years.The Saeima used as ... Read More 20 (UPI) --The European Union on Thursday ... mobilizes troops amid the war in Ukraine. World News // 16 hours ago Nightclub fire leaves 13 dead in Russia Nov. 5 (UPI) -- At least 13 people ... Read More Abbas reiterated his support for the so-called Quartet of international mediators - Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union ... isolate Russia over its attack ... Read More LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday dismissed claims by a former diplomat who resigned over the war in Ukraine, casting him as a low level turncoat who was far less ... Read More Russia's FSB security service said Wednesday ... In two statements carried by Russian news agencies, the FSB said it arrested a Ukrainian suspected of preparing to use a portable missile launcher ... Read More
World News Nigeria Talks With Boko Haram Continue Over Chibok Girls | RobinsPost News & Noticias

He said his administration was prepared to continue talks with the Boko Haram ... to the girls, who had spent over 900 days in the hands of their abductors. Buhari said Nigerias biggest problem ... Read More Nigeria's Boko Haram militant Islamist group has released 21 of the over 200 Chibok ... will continue." BBC News reports a senior government official said the rescued girls are being held by ... Read More Extremist group still holding about 190 Nigerian girls taken from government boarding school in 2014 Campaigners in Abuja react to the rescue of a teenager in May, meaning 218 rather 219 ... Read More Abuja:Jihadist group Boko Haram has freed 21 of more than 200 girls it kidnapped in April 2014 in the northern Nigerian town of Chibok ... against Boko Haram would continue. Read More In 2009 a once quiet local Salafi group called Boko Haram ... on the world stage until the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from the Nigerian town of Chibok in April 2014. Some of these girls are ... Read More A faction of Nigerian militant group Boko Haram is willing to negotiate the release of 83 more Chibok girls, a spokesperson ... Reports about the likely talks between the two sides comes after ... Read More She argues that is is "only through a robust engagement with the tragedy of terrorism in northern Nigeria that ... abduction of 276 girls from Chibok in Borno State, by Boko Haram militants ... Read More The group is forcing local traders to spy on their communities in what observers say is a sign that it is under pressure to find new members Boko Haram appears to be reverting to using cash loans ... Read More It is a sight Ya Lewa Aji says she can never forget: a baby strapped to her mother's back, shot dead while the mother lay lifeless on the floor. Now, after nearly a decade living in refugee camps, Aji ... Read More A Nigerian governor planned to shut all IDP camps in his state by June, but 1.4 million people remain displaced by the Islamist insurgency. Newsweek magazine delivered to your door Unlimited ... Read More It was a sign that there was more to know about Boko Haram terrorism. In a recent study, I argue that the global popularity of the Chibok girls case is due to the hard work of the # ... Read More In 2009, a once quiet local Salafi group called Boko Haram ... Chibok in April 2014. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, used in the international calls for the girls to be rescued, garnered over ... Read More
World News Tillerson Sees Us Russia Relations At Low Point | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News Live Blog Morning ... with the nuclear-armed power. Tillerson is lamenting the sour state of relations with Russia more than half a year into Trump ... Read More Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News Live Blog Morning Memo ... of ISIS or other terrorist groups, Tillerson said. The United States and Russia certainly have unresolved differences ... Read More In September, the US lifted its ... had close relations with Moscow, which was a major arms provider to Nicosia. The island is also seen as a haven for illicit Russian funds. Read More U.S. Sees No Evidence Russia Is Interested in Ending Ukraine Aggression - Blinken WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will consider ... Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear ... Read More It doesn't break our will. So there is no point for Russian Federation to use anything else because it will not stop us in defending our homes." "With regard to the global response, it has to be ... Read More Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says Russia Trying to 'Wipe Us off the Face of the Earth' KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there were dead and wounded in blasts that rocked cities ... Read More but also Russia. "The world is at an inflection point, and the choices we make today will set the terms on how we are set up to deal with significant challenges and the significant opportunities ... Read More The US and Russian defense chiefs ... On the contrary, we see Russia doubling and tripling down on its aggression," Blinken told a joint news conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine ... Read More "The world would see ... Russia-appointed officials were evacuating parts of Kherson on Saturday ahead of what is believed to be bitter fighting this week. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter ... Read More The United States will consider every means to advance diplomacy with Russia if it sees an opening ... 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war and raised ... Read More
World News Battle Between Philippine Forces And Suspected Militants Leaves At Least 9 Dead | RobinsPost News & Noticias

MANILA, Oct 9 ... that suspected rebels had killed two soldiers and wounded six others in a clash in central Philippines. The military said in a report that the fighting first broke out between ... Read More We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can ... Read More MANILA, Philippines  (AP ... Arnel Cabintoy and Feliciano Sulayao Jr., were suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiyah, a Muslim militant group that has been linked to bombings and other ... Read More CAPAS, Philippines (AP)  Truck-mounted launchers blasted off rockets and U.S. stealth fighter jets streaked across the northern Philippine sky on Thursday in a combat drill that marked the ... Read More Philippine police say seven soldiers have been killed when a tire on their truck burst in rainy weather, causing the vehicle to flip over and smash into a parked cement mixer MANILA, Philippines ... Read More THIRTY people are dead and 15 still missing in a tribal machete battle on Papua New ... the stampede could be the world's worst stadium disaster with at least 180 injured, according to cops. Read More Palestinian Militant Leader ... Palestinian health officials said. At least 20 people, including some gunmen and members of the Palestinian security forces, were also wounded in Nablus, which ... Read More The Venezuelan armed forces ... said at the news conference that the authorities were making every effort to get them out alive, but almost two dozen people were known to be dead. Read More Russian, Syrian Forces Kill 20 Militants in Syria - Russian General ... Major General Oleg Yegorov, quoted by Russia's TASS news agency, said the operation took place in southern Deraa province. Read More Radio personality Percival Mabasa, who went by the name "Percy Lapid" in his program, was shot dead in ... making the Philippines among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists ... Read More The EU Military Assistance Mission will train the Ukrainian Armed Forces ... war in Ukraine. World News // 1 day ago Nightclub fire leaves 13 dead in Russia Nov. 5 (UPI) -- At least 13 people ... Read More MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine police killed three detained militants linked to the Islamic State group after they staged a jail rampage Sunday that saw a police officer stabbed and a ... Read More
Bond was set Sunday at $10,000 cash or surety for a Davenport man accused of assaulting a man with a beer bottle, causing him to lose an eye, in February.

Kenneth Obrian Olija Coleman, 23, faces one count of felony willful injury causing a serious injury.

A preliminary hearing is slated for Friday.

Davenport police were dispatched at 1:52 a.m. Feb. 4 to Godfather's Bar and Grill, 1402 W. 7th St., for a report of an assault.

Police say in an arrest affidavit that Coleman assaulted the man with a beer bottle with intent to cause serious injury.

The man sustained a traumatic injury that resulted in him having his left eye removed, according to the affidavit.
World News Heart Stopping Moment Boy Falls Through Gap Between Train And Platform In Sydney | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Network Rail has released footage of the terrifying moment a father leaves his toddler to play on a train track as he stands ... the little boy jumps off the path while his father briefly glances ... Read More The heart-stopping moment a van and a tanker almost crashed ... You can stay up to date on the top news near you with Wiltshire Live's FREE newsletters  enter your email address at the top ... Read More A spine-chilling video footage captured on the CCTV cameras installed at the platform show the woman slipping while trying to get off a moving train and getting stuck between the train and the ... Read More THIS is the heart-stopping moment brave Ukrainian fighters carefully tiptoe around a massive Russian bomb before blowing it up. Dramatic footage shows the bomb experts preparing to detonate the ... Read More The video of how a few RPF officers saved the life of a woman who fell in the platform gap while trying to deboard a train was shared on Twitter. The image, taken from the Twitter video ... Read More THIS is the terrifying moment a nine-year-old ... on Wednesday night and rescued the boy. His eyes had reportedly been covered with a piece of cloth to stop him making eye contact with his captors. Read More This is the heart-stopping moment a motorcyclist is caught running ... The lout was seen overtaking vehicles, speeding through a red light and racing down the street pulling wheelies into the ... Read More THIS is the terrifying moment a climber brawls with a wild bear as he is forced to cling to a rockface to escape. Heart-stopping footage ... Last month a nine-year-old boy was mauled by a grizzly ... Read More If only the world's bad news would take a cue from American public relations firms--and wait till late Friday afternoon to drop its bombs. Then, perhaps, nobody would notice. Alas, the kind of bad ... Read More
World News Nato Deploys Troops To Poland Near Russian Border | RobinsPost News & Noticias

This month, the US Armys 101st Airborne Division deployed to Europe for the first time since the second world war, as part of a major military buildup targeting Russia. Read More Polish soldiers began laying razor wire Wednesday along Polands border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after the government ordered the construction of a barrier to prevent what it fears ... Read More Polish soldiers began laying razor wire Wednesday along Poland's border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after the government ordered the construction of a barrier to prevent what it fears ... Read More The formation, deployment and destruction of the 11th Army Corps tell a story thats bigger than the tragic tale of Russias war in Ukraine. The corps, sandwiched between two NATO countries along a ... Read More A Reagan administration official has suggested that Russian forces could defeat the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, which is currently deployed near the Ukrainian border in Romania. Paul Craig ... Read More On the count of three, Polish soldiers use long spears to lift razor wire and attach it to posts at the Russian border, in a bid to prevent illegal crossings. Read More The battle for the southern region of Kherson is intensifying as Ukrainian forces press forward and Russia increases pressure on residents to leave their homes. Follow live updates here. Read More Russia on Wednesday claimed that the world was on the brink of nuclear conflict, accusing the West of provocation. Read More Russian president reportedly said civilians must be removed from the area after Ukraine launches counteroffensive to take it back ... Read More Yes, we would go to 2023 with sufficient financial support for Ukraine, Georgieva told AFP news agency ... of forces it has deployed in northern regions near Belarus to counter any possible renewed ... Read More
World News Topics Japan Pm Nkorea May Be Capable Of Sarin Tipped Missiles | RobinsPost News & Noticias

TOKYO  Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered on Monday ... Officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the sect was founded in Korea by Sun Myung Moon ... Read More The Japanese prime minister's office also confirmed at ... according to the Kyodo news agency. The missiles, fired toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, seem to have fallen outside ... Read More Japan PM Appoints Ex-Health Min Goto as Next Economy ... A ruling party official on Monday indicated the package may total around 26 trillion yen ($174.56 billion). Yamagiwa became the first ... Read More Move marks a reversal for Fumio Kishida who was reluctant to scrutinise Moonies connections with his own lawmakers Japans prime minister ... Family Federation for World Peace and Unification ... Read More Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed his ... tourism-related ministers on Tuesday to discuss ways to boost Japan's travel demand. The move comes as the government lifted most ... Read More Japan-Australia Relations: "As one of the biggest achievements of this visit, I and Anthony signed a new joint declaration on security cooperation," Japan PM Fumio Kishida. Japan-Australia ... Read More After almost three years, Japan will fully open its borders again to foreign independent tourists and other arrivals on Tuesday  a move that many hope will galvanize the economy and kickstart ... Read More TOKYO (AP)  Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation ... but many Japanese want a further explanation of how the church may have influenced party policies. Read More TOKYO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday ... A ruling party official on Monday indicated the package may total around 26 trillion yen ($174.56 billion). Read More Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation ... but many Japanese want a further explanation of how the church may have influenced party policies. Kishida has come under ... Read More TOKYO (AP)  Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation Monday into the Unification Church in an apparent move to calm the public outrage over his governing partys cozy ... Read More
MASON CITY | A man accused of pointing a pepper spray can while trying to steal a machete and a BB gun from a Mason City store pleaded guilty this week to conspiring to commit forcible felony robbery in the second degree.

Shannon Alton Winters, 41, Rivertown, Wyo., pointed a pepper spray can at employees at Mills Fleet Farm as well as a Mason City police officer during the incident on Feb. 23, according to the police.

Update: Two charged after attempted Fleet Farm robbery MASON CITY | A Wyoming man on parole for armed robbery faces new charges after allegedly try

The state and the defense have agreed to a joint recommendation of up to 10 years in prison, according to the written guilty plea filed in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

The joint recommendation states this sentence should run concurrently with whatever prison time Winters receives for violating his parole on a Wyoming armed robbery conviction.

No sentencing date has been set.

Winter's co-defendant, Mishia Jo Oldaker, 36, of Casper, Wyo., pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree theft and was sentenced last month to 30 days in jail. She was fined $315 with a $125 surcharge and was ordered to pay $99.99 restitution to Fleet Farm.

According to the police, Winters and Oldaker had concealed merchandise with a value of $356.22 and left the store without attempting to pay for the items.

Police say Winters pointed the pepper spray can but did not fire it. They also say he did not pull the BB gun or machete out of his waistband.

Winters originally was charged with first-degree robbery, which carries a maximum term of up to 25 years in prison upon conviction. He agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge.
DES MOINES  Senators began working Wednesday on an expanded medical marijuana measure that would allow making and dispensing cannabis products in Iowa for adults to legally possesses and administer under a doctors direction to treat up to 18 debilitating medical conditions.

But early indications from majority Republicans in the House were that Senate File 506 had little chance of passing there as written.

Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he hoped the Senate had a framework the House could accept to replace the existing but limited cannabis oil law.

We are interested in making law, Schneider told a subcommittee that heard appeals from Iowans seeking cannabis-based options for themselves or family members. This is not just a statement bill. This is something that we would like to get through the House and down to the governors desk.

The bill passed the subcommittee 3-0 and the Senate Appropriations Committee 19-1 and needed one more committees approval to be ready for Senate floor debate.

Under provisions of SSB 1190, Iowa would license up to four manufacturers to possess, cultivate, transport or supply medical cannabis by July 2, 2018, so up to 12 licensed dispensaries could begin distribution to qualified adult Iowans by July 16, 2018.

Patients or primary caregivers 18 or older who are permanent Iowa residents and who have been certified by a health care practitioner would be eligible to receive registration cards to procure medical cannabis to cope with medical conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, AIDS or HIV, glaucoma, hepatitis C, Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder or Tourettes syndrome.

A medical advisory board also would be in place by Aug. 15 to oversee the program and consider adding illnesses.

Reps. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, and Jared Klein, R-Keota, expressed concern the Senate bill did not have a limit of 3 percent or less THC content in the medical cannabis as current law requires, and provided for the manufacture of medical marijuana in resin form. The bill does bar the production in edible form and prohibits smoking as an option.

I think the chance of that passing is very, very, very nil at least in the House, said Baudler. Some time three days after hell freezes over, that bill will pass in the House.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, called the Senate bill pretty broad and not exactly what we had anticipated, perhaps when they discussed the legislation conceptually.

Upmeyer said she was hopeful the Legislature would at least lift the July 1 sunset on Iowas current law and make the pot-based epilepsy drug Epidiolex available if it gets federal approval.

The Senate measure includes a reciprocity arrangement whereby qualified Iowa patients would not be prosecuted for possessing medical cannabis from Minnesota, but the arrangement was opposed by some speakers who worried it might trigger a federal crackdown over interstate commerce.

Iowas 2014 law allows licensed neurologists to certify patients with intractable epilepsy to use cannabidiol products with up to 3 percent THC. The law does not allow other physicians to write qualifying recommendations nor does it let patients with any other conditions to obtain cannabidiol products.

Karrie Anderson, a Grimes resident who has multiple sclerosis, thanked lawmakers for giving Iowans living with chronic diseases a flicker of hope they will have more options.
ENGINEERS have started restoring gas supplies to homes cut off since Tuesday.

The workers from National Grid were called in after a water main burst cut off gas supplies to St Nicolas Walk in Rawmarsh.

Thousands of litres of water which entered the gas mains has had to be pumped away from supply pipes to all the properties on the street.

Extra engineers were drafted in from across the country to assist and the damaged section of gas mains have been replaced.

National Grid is now asking people to arrange for someone to be in their properties so its engineers can switch the gas back on and ensure it is flowing properly.

People should not attempt to switch on their own gas supplies and should wait for an engineer to visit and do it properly.

If people plan to be out, they can let National Grid know so it can make arrangements with them about switching their gas back on. People can contact National Grid on 0845 835 1111.

The organisation is urging people to ask anyone claiming to be from National Grid who calls at their home for official identification before letting them in. An engineers identity can be verified at 0845 835 1111.

A customer centre has been opened at Rawmarsh Community School on Monkwood Road which will be open until 10pm tonight.
THE Duke of York used a robotic arm to unveil a plaque at the official opening of flagship facility Factory 2050.

The 43 million centre, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, helps firms test new production methods.

The Duke (pictured) was shown how work there is enabling robots to accurately machine holes in aircraft parts, a project set to save BAE Systems millions of pounds.

He said: The AMRC is a very important part of the UKs industrial landscape.

It has developed over the last 15 to 20 years from a gleam in the eye and is now at the forefront of research in a whole range of areas.

I would like to congratulate everyone who has done such a lot to build what is a world class establishment doing some fantastic research.

Ive watched the AMRC grow over the years, Ive even opened one or two of its buildings, so its a great pleasure to be officially opening Factory 2050.

The Duke of York previously carried out the same duties at the AMRC Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future in 2008 and the AMRC Training Centre in 2014.

Prof Keith Ridgway, AMRC executive dean, said: Factory 2050 will keep us at the forefront of manufacturing technology and is a beacon for the region, hopefully attracting young people to careers in manufacturing.

It is an absolute honour to welcome HRH The Duke of York to officially open this exceptional facility.

Ben Morgan, head of the AMRCs integrated manufacturing group, said: The work taking place at Factory 2050 is at the cutting edge of manufacturing research and were extremely privileged to be able to demonstrate this to The Duke on his visit here today.

Prof Shearer West, the University of Sheffields provost and deputy vice chancellor, said: Factory 2050s landmark building complements the state-of-the-art technology within, which will help to further revolutionise the UKs manufacturing sector.

Teams at Factory 2050 are working with manufacturing partners on projects spanning robotics, automation and digitally-assisted assembly.

Their work will help to develop ways of meeting demand for high variation and mass customisation.

Factory 2050 was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
A MAJOR town centre street will be closed for more than four months to allow key work in the pioneering tram-train link to go ahead.

College Road will be shut from tomorrow until August 18 as the bridge over the railway is being demolished.

Engineers from Network Rail will replace it with a higher one so that overhead lines which will power the tram-trains can be safely installed underneath.



A temporary footbridge will be installed to allow pedestrians to get to the town centre from Masbrough, while town centre traffic and local bus services coming from Corporation Street will be diverted from Bridge Street to Centenary Way via Greasbrough Road.

Rob Cairns, route delivery director for Network Rail, said: We recognise that 18 weeks is a long time for the road to be closed and thank locals for their patience while we complete this essential part of this exciting project.

Tram-trains will bring new travel choices for people living in South Yorkshire as well as being a first for the UK.

This is a challenging project and there is still much to do, including the construction of the tram-train stops at Rotherham Central and Parkgate and the completion of the overhead line power system.

The work we have planned at the May bank holiday is a crucial step forward as we work with our partners to deliver the full tram-train service from Sheffield city centre to Rotherham Central and Parkgate next year.

On the bank holiday weekend at the end of May \_Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, \_ the old bridge will be demolished using a crane which will be based on council land at the back of George Street.

Work will also be carried out to bring the signalling system which controls tram-train movements into operation.

Trains will be diverted between Meadowhall and Swinton and will not stop at Rotherham Central station.

Buses will run between Meadowhall and Swinton and call at Rotherham Central.

Stephen Edwards, executive director for South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), described the engineering work as an important milestone towards making tram-trains a reality from 2018.

Overhead masts have been installed between Parkgate and Tinsley in the past two months as part of preparation work for the tram-train scheme and the seven Citylink vehicles to be used on the new link have been tested in the past fortnight on Sheffields Supertram system.

They will be able to travel both on tram lines and existing railway lines.

A new section of track called the Tinsley Chord will be built to link the tram system to the rail line between Sheffield and Rotherham, new tram-train platforms will be built at Rotherham Central and Parkgate, and the network will be electrified.
MASON CITY | Zachary Hartley will be remembered by friends as a well-liked, helpful guy who never hesitated to lend a hand.

Hartley, 20, of Mason City, died when a Jeep he was driving went off Sixth Street Southwest and hit a tree early Monday, killing all five on board, police say.

He left a lasting impression on his former co-workers at Hy-Vee grocery on Fourth Street Southwest.

"He was just very humble, very likeable," said Hy-Vee Store Director Ina Cavin. "Always willing to help. Whenever anybody needed anything, he would help."

A 2015 graduate of Mason City High School, Hartley made an impression on state Rep. Sharon Steckman, a former school teacher, during his time at Hoover Elementary.

She last saw Hartley a few weeks ago.

I dont think I had him in class, but I knew him from Hoover," Steckman said. "We reconnected when he worked at Hy-Vee. I would see him when we came there to eat. He was so excited about his new job at McKesson."

Hartley, part-time pay-station clerk in the Hy-Vee dining room, left the grocer for a full-time position at the McKesson Corp. warehouse in Clear Lake.

His departure was on good terms, and he still made time to stop by and chat after he left, Cavin said.

"We loved Zach," she said.

His former co-workers, and Steckman, will miss him.

He was very friendly and always had a smile for me," Steckman said. "This whole thing is so sad, five kids who had so much of their lives ahead of them  and their candles went out.

 Globe Gazette writer John Skipper contributed to this report.
Lucapa Diamond and its partners Endiama and Rosas & Petalas realised $2.5 million from 1,919 carats of alluvial diamonds mined at Lulo project, in Angola that were sold during the third sale for the year.

The ASX-listed company said in a statement that they realised an average price of $1,317 per carat from the sale.

It said the latest sale brought the gross proceeds from Lulo diamond sales to date in 2017 to $13.2 million at an average price of $2.055 per carat.

Meanwhile, Lucapa said the 92 carat D colour diamond recovered after the third sale export from new Mining Block 28 would be included in the next sale.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Diamcor Mining, which is building a diamond mine in South Africa at Venetia Project, said the testing, commissioning and calibration of new facilities continued to progress in a positive manner.

The facilities, it said, had 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.

Meanwhile, Diamcor Mining sold 1,533.37 carats, for gross proceeds of $209,949.02 from its tender and sale of rough diamonds recovered from the initial processing of material in the +1.0mm to -15.0mm size fractions held last February.

This, it said, resulted in an average price of $136.92 per carat.

Its second tender and sale completed early this month saw 2,900.62 carats of rough diamonds being sold for $810,106.26, resulting in an average price of $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, it said.

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 filed by the Company on April 28, 2015, and to aid the company in arriving at initial production decisions for the Project.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Kennady Diamonds Inc. has successfully completed the winter bulk sampling program at its Faraday kimberlite in Canada recovering 555 tonnes of ore.

The bulk sampling was conducted using two large diameter reverse circulation drill rigs. The bulk samples will be processed at the Geoanalytical Laboratories Diamond Services of the Saskatchewan Research Council.

Drilling on the 2017 winter program got underway on January 19 and was completed on April 10. A total of 75 holes were drilled for a total of 8,030 meters of drilling.

Kennady Diamonds CEO Dr. Rory Moore commented: "We are delighted to have successfully achieved all of the objectives set for the 2017 winter program. We expect that over one thousand carats of diamonds will be recovered from the three samples, which will facilitate advancing the Faraday 2 and 3 kimberlites to an inferred resource and the Faraday 1 kimberlite as a target for further exploration."

Kennady Diamonds Inc. controls 100 percent of the Kennady North diamond project located in Canadas Northwest Territories. Kennady North is adjacent to the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine, a joint venture between De Beers Canada (51%) and Mountain Province (49%), which started production in late 2016.



Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow




The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) has published a code of ethics written specifically by Israeli professor Asa Kasher, the IDI portal announced.

IDE President Yoram Dvash said: I am proud to be the first bourse president in the world to launch a code of ethics. It combines very well the IDEs path  a path of transparency and clearly written rules.

At a special signing ceremony at the IDE, Professor Kasher said: The code of ethics shows the bourse in its best light and how you want to appear and what you want to be. The code of ethics newly defines your identity and in accepting and adopting it you take responsibility for the whole diamond sector and are contributing a great deal to the Israeli economy.

Among the persons who took part in creating the code of ethics are IDE President Yoram Dvash, Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Shmuel Schnitzer, IDE Code of Ethics Chairman Asher Dalumi, Emma Yanover and members of the committee.




Thai government agencies, Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA) members and presidents from gems and jewelry associations across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region have gathered in Thailand to promote the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair which is to be held in June this year.

Representatives from various gem & jewellery industry bodies from China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Myanmar have met as a demonstration that the overseas associations and their members fully support the mid-year fair in Bangkok.

Today we are honoured to welcome our friends from China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Myanmar who are showing their support for the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair 2017, said Suttipong Damrongsakul, President of the TGJTA. We hope to strengthen this fruitful relationship between our associations and members, and to see further cooperation among our industry and our countries in the near future. I believe that together we can make ASEAN+6 a strong base for jewelry manufacturing and trading.

The gems and jewelry industry in Thailand employs over a million people, with exports amounting to $14.25 billion in 2016, up 29.6 percent on the preceding year, the TGJTA said. The mid-year fair is expected to stimulate gems and jewelry trading both for domestic and export markets, it added.

The event will be held on June 15 to 18 in Bangkok.



Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow




It was not clear how long Judge Abdus-Salaam, who lived nearby in Harlem, had been missing. Her husband identified the body and no signs of criminality had been found. Her death appeared to be a suicide. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement on Wednesday that Judge Abdus-Salaam was a pioneer with an unshakable moral compass. He added after: Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all. She was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Cuomo in 2013. Countless lawyers and judges began paying tribute to her. She was a superb jurist and an even more superb human being. I knew her for many, many years, Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the state Court of Appeals from 2009 to 2015 told to the media.
Editors Pick

Package delivery and logistic major Deutsche Post DHL Group Tuesday raised fiscal 2022 EBIT guidance after reporting higher third-quarter profit with strong revenues. The company also maintained its mid-term outlook for 2024. CEO Frank Appel said, "The first three quarters of the year were the most successful in our company's history thanks to the international DHL business..."

Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week, mostly starting Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. The layoffs are likely to impact many thousands of employees, and the social media platform is preparing to notify employees of the job cuts, the report said. Employees already have been informed to cancel nones

German biotechnology company BioNTech SE reported Monday sharply lower profit in its third quarter reflecting weak revenues. Looking ahead, BioNTech has raised the lower end of its fiscal 2022 COVID-19 vaccine revenue estimate. In pre-market activity in Nasdaq, BioNTech shares were losing around 3.2 percent.
MASON CITY | A Mason City man who hid bags of methamphetamine and a glass pipe between his legs has been sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Nicholas Dralle, 31, was accused of having several bags of a white, clear, rock-like substance believed to be meth in between his legs while being booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 1:15 a.m. on March 21.

A clear glass pipe containing meth residue also was hidden in between Dralle's legs, according to court documents.

Mason City man accused of hiding meth, glass pipe between legs MASON CITY | A Mason City man who allegedly hid bags of methamphetamine and a glass pipe bet

The sheriff's office charged him with felony possession of contraband in a correctional institution.

However, the County Attorney's Office lessened that charge to misdemeanor meth possession when filing trial information. Dralle pleaded guilty to that charge.

He was fined $315 and ordered to pay a $125 surcharge.

Mason City police had arrested Dralle shortly before midnight on March 20 while removing him from the Super 8 Motel, 3010 Fourth St. S.W.

Motel staffers had asked him to leave because other patrons were complaining about his behavior, according to court documents.

Dralle allegedly tried to eat a small, clear bag with meth residue when contacted by police.

-- Mary Pieper
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) reported a profit for the first quarter 2017 that grew 17 percent from last year reflecting higher trading revenue. Quarterly revenues rose 6 percent from the prior year. The latest-quarter results included a tax benefit of $373 million related to the appreciation of the Firm's stock price upon vesting of employee stock-based awards above their original grant price.

Both earnings per share and quarterly revenues topped analysts' expectations.

Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, said, "We are off to a good start for the year with all of our businesses performing well and building on their momentum from last year. The consumer businesses continue to grow core loans at double digits, outperform the industry in deposit growth, and we once again had very strong card sales volume growth this quarter -reflecting our commitment to providing our customers the innovative products and services they want."

Net income for the first quarter of 2017 rose to $6.45 billion or $1.65 per share, from $5.52 billion or $1.35 per share in the first quarter of 2016. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $1.52 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net interest income was $12.4 billion, up 6%, primarily driven by loan growth and the net impact of higher rates. Non-interest revenue was $13.2 billion, up 6%, primarily driven by the Corporate & Investment Bank, largely offset by Card new account origination costs and lower MSR risk management results.

The provision for credit losses was $1.3 billion, down from $1.8 billion, due to net reserve releases in the Wholesale portfolio,partially offset by an increase in the Consumer provision.

The Wholesale net reserve releases were $93 million in the current quarter, primarily driven by Oil & Gas, versus reserve increases of $713 million in the prior -year quarter. The increase in the Consumer provision included a write-down of the Student loan portfolio, and higher Card net charge-offs, which were in line with expectations.

Non-interest expense was $15.0 billion, up 9%, primarily driven by higher compensation and legal expense, auto lease depreciation, and FDIC-related expense, as well as a contribution to the Firm's Foundation.

Markets & Investor Services revenue was $6.5 billion, up 14%, largely driven by higher Markets revenue, up 13%. Fixed Income Markets revenue, up 17%, reflected robust performance in Securitized Products on strong demand and spread tightening.

Net revenue on a reported basis rose to $24.68 billion, from $23.24 billion in the prior year.On a managed basis, net revenue for the quarter was $25.59 billion up from $24.08 billion in the previous year. Analysts expected revenue of $24.88 billion for the quarter.

Corporate & Investment Bank's Net income was $3.2 billion, up $1.3 billion, reflecting higher net revenue, a lower provision for credit losses, and a tax benefit related to the appreciation of the Firm's stock price upon vesting of employee stock-based awards above their original grant price, partially offset by higher non-interest expense.

In the Thursday's pre-Market trade, JPM is currently trading at $86.10, up $0.70 or 0.82%.

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OSAGE | Ongoing issues surrounding the odor from the wastewater pre-treatment facility is leading to a possible lawsuit against Mitchell County and the city of Osage.

Residents say they feel issues with the facility, which services Valent BioSciences, have dragged on long enough. Recent test results have shown some of the newly-installed systems have been unsuccessful.

Im sick and tired of the odor, said Royce Tack, who spoke to the Mitchell County Supervisors during their meeting Tuesday. "Sunday was bad. Neighbors have arrived at the conclusion nothing is being done, so they are going to talk to an attorney about a suit against the county and city.

Weve gone through this three years now. If I sat on the board, Id have a new engineer years ago. Its sad we have such a wonderful plant and wonderful community and have to deal with odor. It is hurting property values. These people are just not getting it done.

It has been determined the holding tanks at the plant are the cause of the main problem, according to SEH engineer Tom Madden.

Madden said there had been several modifications added to the plant since its initial construction, including sprayers recently installed by Valent.

I guarantee you we are calling constantly, Madden said. You guys are a priority to me but when working with a national company, Osage might not be the priority we want it to be.

In project updates to the board, Madden has repeatedly mentioned suppliers of materials used at the plaint fail to respond to emails promptly or return phone calls. He also said they have yet to provide information on the order materials should be used.

I agree with almost everything you said, Supervisor Joel Voaklander said. But I dont know that another (engineering) firm is not going to run into these same problems.

With warmer weather on the way, the primary concern expressed was the town and surrounding area would again experience odor issues as they have for the past three summers.

The odor, which reaches the fairgrounds during the fair, has been commented upon repeatedly by those in the community, as well as visitors.

The odor isnt going away, and were not going away either," Tack said. I know it's a difficult project, but in this day and age, someone has to have a way to do something.

"We talk about it in the neighborhood," he continued. "We dont know where to go anymore, lots of people feel like they have been lied to.

Summer, in particular, tends to be the worse time of year for the odor, Voaklander said, something that has weighed heavily on the supervisors minds.

Not another summer, Voaklander said. I just wont do it.

Further testing was planned for later in the week, with changes being made to the product being used at the plant. Madden said he would share results with the supervisors once he had received them.
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.
Google has introduced Areo, one single app for food delivery and home services, currently live in Bengaluru and Mumbai on Android devices.

"Areo lets users search for local restaurants and home services like electricians, plumbers, and painters, and schedule their deliveries or appointments through the app," the company said in its Google Play store.

The app also provides customer reviews of the available companies, eateries to help you make informed choices from product quality to timeliness of service.



The app has pay by card, netbanking or cash on delivery services.
Services sector is likely to attract a higher tax rate of 18 per cent from the current 15 per cent under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, thus making services "slightly" more expensive, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said.

"Yes, for the services sector the standard rate may move to 18 per cent," Adhia told media in an interview.



However, those exempted at present -- like healthcare, education and agriculture -- are likely to remain so.



"Whatever is in the present exempt list, we will try to continue it. We would recommend this to the Council and it will take a view on it. Most probably they should agree. Our attempt is not to upset too many things in one go," he said.



At present, the services sector is taxed at 14 per cent with two additional cesses -- Swachh Bharat Cess and the Krishi Kalyan Cess attracting half a per cent each -- taking the burden to 15 per cent.



The GST law says that agriculturalists -- who employ themselves or their family members -- will not come under GST even if their turnover is over Rs 20 lakh annually. Those who are employing persons and have a turnover of over Rs 20 lakh a year will have to register under the GST.



Currently, sericulture, floriculture, dairy, horticulture, fishing that usually employ outside labourers on a large scale are exempt from service tax as they come under agriculture. But whether these will attract tax under the GST is still debatable.



"Those who are dealing in anything except what we have defined as 'agriculturalist' will have to register (under GST). But whether their products are taxable or not will have to be decided by the Council," he said.



"We have not yet decided on the exemption list. That will be decided separately by the Council, I don't think it will want to tax many agriculture products," Adhia told media.



He also said that some services which currently have less than 15 per cent tax rate may attract lower rates.



"Wherever the services at present attract lower than 15 per cent rate of service tax because of certain reasons, we will try to maintain that. Transport sector, for example, attracts lower than 15 per cent tax right now. We will put these in either 5 per cent or 12 per cent," he said.



The Revenue Secretary also noted that since petrol and petroleum products have been kept zero-rated under the GST regime, transport can be a good candidate for 5 per cent tax rate.



Currently, there are about 60 services which are exempt from service tax, including education, healthcare and religious pilgrimage.



In terms of goods, Adhia said that whatever is the exact incidence of excise plus VAT, the fitment will be into a tax slab closer to that. But depending on whether the goods are put in the higher slab or the lower slab, the taxes may increase in a few cases.



"Most of the items will be as per formula, only a few items will need discussion. In a few cases, the taxes may increase, but not in all cases. Every year, the Council will meet and revise rates," he said.



Though the GST Council ' title=' GST Council '> GST Council took 13 meetings to decide on the enabling laws, Adhia said that since fitment of goods and services is a straightforward thing, it should not take too much time.



The Council is slated to meet on May 18-19 in Srinagar to decide on GST Rules, after which the fitment discussions will be taken up.



Adhia said that the government is determined to roll out the GST regime from July 1 despite some industry stakeholders demanding further postponement of the new tax regime.





"We are determined to roll out GST from July 1, it doesn't seem to be a problem. The live testing of GST is scheduled to begin from first week of May," he said.



Adhia agreed that GST will have a greater compliance burden as companies having physical presence in more than one states need to do multiple registrations and pay taxes separately to each state.



"I won't say it will complicate, but yes there is a slightly greater compliance burden on the centralised service sector operators because they have to pay tax to all the states. Centralised registration is not possible in the GST model," he said.



" GST is a consumption-based taxation model, in which states want to calculate how much services are provided in their jurisdiction. That's why the returns have to be filed separately for every state," he added.
T20 World Cup: I am not trying anything different, says Suryakumar Yadav

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A secret team of biomedical engineers at Apple is working on an initiative to develop sensors that can non-invasively and continuously monitor blood sugar levels to better treat diabetes.

According to a report by media on Wednesday, the team is working at a non-descript office, miles from corporate headquarters. The initiative was envisioned by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.



If such sensors are successfully developed, that would be a breakthrough as it is highly challenging to track glucose levels accurately without piercing the skin. It can help millions of people turn devices like Apple Watch into a must-have.





"The initiative is far enough along that Apple has been conducting feasibility trials at clinical sites across the Bay Area and has hired consultants to help it figure out the regulatory pathways," the report quoted anonymous people related to Apple as saying.



Jobs had envisioned that wearable devices, like smartwatches, could be used to monitor oxygen levels, heart rate and blood glucose.



Apple is developing optical sensors, which involves shining a light through the skin to measure indications of glucose, the report noted.
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, who was awarded the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Award on Tuesday, says that she did not feel bad for not winning the National Award for Best Actress this year.

Alia's performance in "Udta Punjab" was received well by critics and audiences alike. At the media interaction after the awards, reporters expressed their sympathy for Alia not getting a National Award.



"Please don't feel bad. I am not going anywhere. There is lot of time. I did not feel bad so even you don't feel bad about it," the "Student of the Year" actress said.



"It's a moment to celebrate as Hindi and Marathi cinema won so many awards and it's a very big moment to celebrate talent," Alia said.

Expressing her joy on winning the Lokmat Award, Alia said, "It's a great moment. Winning this award shows that you are now in the heart line of your country. So it's great."



Alia was last seen in "Badrinath Ki Dulhania", a romantic comedy film directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by her mentor Karan Johar.



Asked when she would start working for her next film "Dragon", she said: "Ranbir is here, I will ask him when he will finish his shooting for 'Dutt' so that we can start the film, I will go and ask for the dates."



"Dragon", a superhero film, will see Alia and Ranbir together on screen for the first time. Written and directed by Ayan Mukherji and produced by Karan Johar, it also stars Amitabh Bachchan.
Cosmetics such as nail polish, antibacterial soaps, anti-ageing creams -- all with high chemical contents -- cause severe negative effects on female fertility besides having several other side-effects, doctors said on Wednesday.

According to them, mounting research on the subject has raised certain concerns regarding the potential side-effects of these cosmetic products. Chemicals in beauty products have complicated effects on women's hormones and reproductive systems.



"Several endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been identified to affect abnormal ovarian function, miscarriages and female infertility. Antibacterial soap can also kill your chances of conceiving," Sagarika Aggarwal, IVF expert associated with city-based Indira IVF, told IANS.



Stating that antibacterial soaps contain chemical triclosan which is linked to endocrine disruption that messes up with the hormones, Aggarwal said the chemical interferes with the reproductive system.



"Parabens are a type of preservative (present in soaps, shampoos and conditioners) used to prevent the growth of bacteria. But too much of it can have an impact on fertility. When hormones are out of balance, the chances of creating healthy eggs or healthy sperm is reduced," said Aggarwal.



A survey by the business chamber Assocham in 2013 had revealed that 75 per cent of Indian youngsters in the 16-21 age group spend over Rs 6,000 per month on cosmetics.

The experts have said that ingredients in nail polish contain a cocktail of chemicals known to cause birth defects and harm fertility, especially a concern with formaldehyde, phthalates like DPT (dibutyl phthalate), toulene and a range of other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).



"Phthalates are connected to both male and female infertility," said Manjula B.C., a Bengaluru-based IVF expert.



Talking about nail polish removers, Manjula said that it contain toxic chemicals such as acetone, methyl methacrylate, toluene, and ethyl acetate.



"Toluene, a commonly used solvent to get glossy finish on the nails, also affects the CNS and causes reproductive harm. Phthalates, most common chemical found in almost every cosmetic product, is found to disrupt the hormone levels, affect fertility and build up in breast milk when you do get pregnant," said Manjula.



Jyoti Tripathy, an Indore-based independent IVF expert, said exposure to these cosmetic chemicals puts women at a higher risk of miscarriage and the baby at risk for physical and mental birth defects.



"It can cause miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, learning problems, behavioural issues and brain, kidney or nervous system damage," said Tripathy.
With lack of awareness on Parkinson's Disease, 60 per cent of people mistake its symptoms for those of old age, thus causing a delay in diagnosis and leads to irreversible position of the disease, doctors said on Wednesday.

"People misunderstand Parkinson's Disease to be old age problems whose symptoms are similar, like shakiness in limbs, tremors, slowed movements, loss of automatic movements. Parkinson's Disease affects only one side of the body unlike in the case of age-related problem where affects the complete body.



"This misconception leads to delayed diagnosis causing complications worse to treat. Our idea is to create awareness among all," said Sumit Singh, director and head of Neurology at city-based Artemis hospital at a awareness lecture on Parkinson's Disease.



The neurosciences team has started a special OPD only for Parkinson's Disease patients from April 10 to 16 at the hospital between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. where patients will be getting free consultation.



According to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, more than 10 million people worldwide are living with the disease. Medication costs for an individual are $2,500 annually, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient.

Aditya Gupta, director, neurosurgery at Artemis hospital said as the stage advances, the effect of medication tends to stop and hinder quality of life and the frequency of medication increases due to several on and off phases.



"This leads to end the medicine effect unpredictable and hence people with advanced stage have to go for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. It is most often offered to people with advanced Parkinson's who have unstable medication responses. DBS can stabilize medication fluctuations, reduce or halt involuntary movements (dyskinesias), reduce tremor, reduce rigidity, and improve slowing of movement," said Gupta.
Only 702 of the 35,169 voters voted on Thursday in the Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.

"About 2.02 per cent voting has been recorded," an Election Commission official told media.



The re-polling was ordered in 38 voting stations. Although the balloting was incident free, few came out to vote in what would have been a prestigious battle involving National Conference President and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and the ruling PDP's Nazir Ahmad Khan.



Hundreds of security personnel checked pedestrians and vehicles in the area. The authorities banned the gathering of four or more people in a bid to curb mob fury.



"The restrictions had been imposed to prevent violence," a police officer said.



For security reasons, polling stations in many places in Budgam were clustered together in a single building.





The re-poll was ordered in Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah areas in Budgam after widespread street protests on Sunday killed eight people and saw only 7.4 per cent voting.



This was the lowest voting in the last three decades anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir, where a separatist campaign raging since 1989 has left thousands dead.



A total of 34,169 are eligible to vote on Thursday but officials said they had their fingers crossed on how many would exercise their franchise.



Separatist groups have called for a boycott of the by-elections.



Alarmed by the violence, the Election Commission also decided to defer the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-election in south Kashmir to May 25 from April 12.



The result of the Srinagar-Budgam by-election will be known on Saturday.
A special court here on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant for arrest against controversial preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik after he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate despite four summons issued to him.

Naik is currently away in Saudi Arabia.



Informed sources said the Enforcement Directorate may now seek Letters Rogatory, or letters of request, from the same court for Saudi Arabia. These letters are a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court.



The ED first issued summons to Naik in January, after which three more summons were issued at regular intervals. The agency had submitted an application for issuance of fresh NBW on Monday.



The central agency registered a criminal case against Naik and others in December last year after taking cognisance of a National Investigation Agency (NIA) complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.



Sources in the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said the 51-year-old preacher established dummy companies in India and abroad for diversion of funds.



As part of its ongoing investigation, the ED last month attached property worth Rs 18.37 crore belonging to the IRF.



The Islamic preacher is also accused of promoting enmity between groups on religious and racial grounds, which are being investigated by the NIA.



The NIA also has sent him several summons to appear at its headquarters in Delhi but he has allegedly avoided them.



All the notices by the Enforcement Directorate and the NIA were served at Naik's Jasmine Apartments in Mazgaon area of Mumbai.



Naik first came into the limelight when his name cropped up during investigations into the terror strike at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 1 last year.



One of the terrorists involved in that attack allegedly claimed to have been inspired by Naik's speeches. Naik is evading arrest after his activities came under scanner.



Though Naik offered to speak to the Enforcement Directorate via videoconferencing or answer a questionnaire, the sources said the agency is not keen on the idea, saying it will "set a wrong precedent".





The Enforcement Directorate revealed that videos of Naik's provocative speeches were produced and exported to Dubai to be telecast.



The agency has recorded the statements of Naik's siblings -- his sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. They two said they were unaware of Naik's financial dealings.



The sources said Naik's overseas properties were also under the ED scanner.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is wins from Bandhavgarh assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh where by-election was held on April 9, early trends showed as counting of votes began at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

BJP was ahead of the Congress in both Ater constiuency in Bhind district and Bandhavgarh constituency in Umaria, the Election Commission said.

BJP's Shivnarayan Singh wins from Bandhavgarh with a margin of 25476 votes.



There were 21 candidates in the fray in Ater, while five contested from Bandhavgarh.



Around 60 per cent voter turnout was reported in Ater during the polling on Sunday while the voting percentage was 65 for Bandhavgarh.



The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail was used in both the by-polls, apart from the electronic voting machines (EVMs).



The main contest in Ater was between the BJP's Arvind Singh Bhadoria and the Congress' Hemant Katare.



In Bandhavgarh, Congress candidate Savitri Singh was pitted against Shivnarayan Singh of the BJP.
Salim Siddiqui, 65, who fixes motorcycles in a Hindu majority area here, the headquarters of the state's largest district of Lakhimpur-Kheri, feels the town lost its innocence since it witnessed its first communal brawl about a month back -- which also spread to surrounding areas.

Now, as life limps back to normal, a lot, along with the state government, has changed for the town as the communal divide is clearly visible.



"A lot has changed... we never viewed our city with this perspective. People of both communities talk and sip tea together, but somewhere, an element of bitterness has been instilled due to that incident," Siddiqui told this visiting correspondent.



On March 2, nine days before the results of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections were announced, communal tension gripped the city after two young men made and circulated an objectionable video of Hindu deities.



A series of incidents followed over a week. Markets were shut, personal disputes were settled through vandalism, mass arrests happened, two gun-shots were fired injuring two Hindu men, and a curfew was imposed for the next few days.



Old timers say they can't recall when a curfew was last imposed.



The young men, in their early 20s, were arrested along with several local thugs and a city-based businessman who allegedly opened fire on a mob that forced him to shut his shop.



"Muslims at large are upset that such a video was made," Siddiqui says.



The derogatory video, many believe, was simply the tip of the iceberg while the root cause of the conflict lies in a two-year-old incident where a minor Hindu girl eloped with a Muslim man -- and also about four years of muscle-flexing in the form of processions by the two communities in the city, Barah Wafat or Eid Milad-un Nabi for Muslims and Shivratri and Ram Barat for Hindus.



"Muscle-flexing during religious processions is worrying... Muslims had been taking out processions on Barah Wafat which became grander every year. In silent response, processions on Shivratri were also much grander last year and this year's processions on Shivratri were the most elegant. People see this as power show," says F.H Khan, a retired banker.



Speaking of the visible differences which would take time to heal, Khan was unsparing of the two youth, both class 12 students, who allegedly made and circulated the video to tease some of their classmates with whom they had had an argument.



"They were idiots who didn't knew what they were doing... they destroyed their careers. Their parents, who were detained, had to suffer the consequences," Khan adds.



Meanwhile, the authorities heaved a huge sigh of relief after the Hanuman Jayanti procession on Tuesday, in which an estimated 100,000 pilgrims participated, passed off without a hitch.



"Now every religious procession here is grand and what used to be friendship is now being viewed with suspicion," said Akshay Gupta, a city-based businessman who believed that had the Samajwadi Party continued in power, there was the possibility of a full-fledged riot in city.



City-based physician Shami-ud-din Khan said that derogatory slogans raised by anti-social elements during religious processions to rile the other community has fuelled the fire of communalism in the town.



"We are now trying to ensure that people from both communities continue participating in each other's ceremonies and functions. This helps in defusing the tension... Even during December 6 (the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992) there was no curfew in the city, such is the moral fibre here... we will bring those days back," the doctor says confidently.



There are many others who also believe that things will improve.



"Definitely, there is animosity due to political reasons fuelled by the muscle-flexing during processions... but we are hopeful that this would melt and people would keep religion at the personal level like they used to," Mohan Bajpai, a socialite and devotee of city's local deity, Sankata Mata, told media.



At the peak of the conflict, while District Magistrate Akash Deep took out a peace march, some devotees like Bajpai performed a yagna at a temple believing that it would bring the situation back to normal.



A month ago, when the city was tense just three days before the election results came out on March 11, Yogesh Verma, the BJP candidate from Lakhimpur, along with some locals, caught an eve-teaser who turned out to be a Muslim. The boy was beaten up and humiliated.



Verma was arrested and beaten after clashing with the police, which let the alleged offender go.



On March 11, as the election results were declared, BJP won all the eight seats in Lakhimpur-Kheri district and Yogesh Verma became the city's new MLA. On March 13, the city marked a "saffron Holi" in the presence of paramilitary forces. Six days later, Yogi Adityanath was named the 21st Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.





"The animosity is still there; things have not improved much," Verma admitted.



With the rise of the BJP and the appointment of Adityanath, people like Salim Siddiqui fear a large-scale communal incident in the near future as anti-social elements continue their provocation, like slaughtering some cows in the neighbouring town Palia a few days after Holi.



"Palia incident is just the beginning, I'm afraid that there would be more such incidents," Siddiqui lamented.



However, many hope the rise of the BJP, headed by a Chief Minister who has promised "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" (government for all, development for all), will bring with it an assurance of peace.
Software giant Microsoft will hold a hardware and software event in New York City on May 2, but it is unlikely that a Surface Phone or any Surface Pro device will be unveiled.

According to a report in Verge on Wednesday, the software maker has started emailing out press invites after weeks of rumours over Microsoft's plans. The tech journalists attending the event are expecting the company to unveil at least one piece of new hardware.



"It's also possible Microsoft may take this opportunity to reveal the hardware design of its upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio, just ahead of its E3 event in June, or a successor to the Surface 3 which was designed with students in mind," the report noted.



If rumours are to be believed, Microsoft may unveil its Windows 10 Cloud operating system -- an alternative to Chrome OS that runs Universal Windows Apps.

This speculation stems from the fact that the event is codenamed "Bespin" -- a fictional Star Wars planet that includes a "Cloud City".



"Sources also tell that this event will be focused on education, so expect to see any hardware or software be connected to how it can be used in schools," the report added.
Google has disabled fast food chain Burger King's recording on Google Assistant after the latter hijacked it to advertise its items.

According to a report in Arstechnica on Thursday, Burger King released a TV ad in which a person asks Google Assistant "OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?"



This statement triggers any Google Assistant devices to read aloud a description of the hamburger's ingredients.



For example, if a person has his Google Home near the TV when this ad plays out, it will prompt the speaker to read out loud the description of the hamburger's ingredients.



Unhappy that a third-party had hijacked its voice-command to advertise fast food, Google issued a server-side update to disable Burger King's recording.

"Before the ad was disabled, the Google Assistant would verbally read a list of ingredients from Wikipedia," the report noted.



As soon as the ad was out, internet users edited the content in Wikipedia page and added "toenails" and "cyanide" in the ingredients. This change made the Google Assistant briefly read out false edit.



After the incident, Google Home will no longer read out the burger's ingredient list, as Google made sure that Burger King's specific recording of the phrase no longer triggers a voice response.



When the Google Home receives the specific query, it quietly goes back to sleep, without any response.
At least 10 Taliban militants were killed during an ongoing military operation in Afghanistan's Helmand province, a military statement said on Thursday.

"Over the last 24 hours, 10 militants were killed and 14 others wounded during a military operation codenamed Maiwand 5 after Afghan security forces made advances in Aynak area," the statement said.



Among the victims was a local Taliban leader named Zia-ul-Haq.

"The security forces also found 54 landmines and roadside bombs and the operation will continue before the area is cleared off militants," the statement added.
The secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India on the Indus Water Treaty in Washington have been delayed, a media report said on Thursday.

The talks were scheduled for April 11-13 but are now likely to be held in the last week of April, official sources told The Nation daily on Wednesday.



Last month, Federal Minister for Power and Water Khawaja Asif had confirmed that after the US' intervention, the secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India for resolving two controversial hydropower projects, including Kishanganga hydro electric project (330MWs) and the under-construction Ratle hydro electric project (850 MWs) was scheculed to be held in Washington in April.



When contacted, Commissioner Indus Water Treaty Asif Baig said that they have submitted their response to the World Bank and now they will contact India regarding their response.



When asked why the meeting was postponed, he said, April 11-13 was not the scheduled date for the meeting as it was just the proposed dates.





He said that the World Bank with the consensus of both countries will provide fresh dates of the meeting. He said that he does not know about the new dates, reports the daily.



Pakistan has been protesting over the design and construction of the two projects on the tributaries of the Indus in the Indian part of Jammu and Kashmir.



The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 and involves six rivers: the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.



Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty gave the right to use waters of the first three rivers to India and of the other three rivers to Pakistan.



India has said it has the right under the treaty to set up hydropower plants on the tributaries of the rivers flowing through its territory.



Pakistan fears this might reduce the water flow of the rivers into its territory.
Salina native to present nature photography seminar

Nature photographers in the Great Plains area are gathering for a seminar and photography contest in McPherson this weekend.
The movement for a more open and transparent government scored at least one concrete victory during the 2017 South Dakota legislative session.

Booking photos of criminals will be opened up to the public starting on July 1, thanks to a bill supported by Attorney General Marty Jackley. This is something for which the newspaper industry in our state has fought for years.

It's been a long time coming and, as Jackley was quoted as saying in the story published in Tuesday's edition of the Capital Journal, making booking photos available to the public makes good government sense.

There are several reasons for this. Perhaps the most important reason for journalists is that being able to secure a booking photo helps to ensure that the right person is identified when we're reporting on crime. That's a big deal to us.

Of lesser importance is the fact that the new law brings South Dakota into line with almost every other state in the country, most of which long-ago passed laws that made booking photos open to the public.

We feel that making booking photos open to the public is a step in the right direction for South Dakota. The more open our government can be at all levels, the better.

This editorial appeared in the March 28 edition of the Capital Journal of Pierre, South Dakota.
Praise is deserved where it is due.

And today we believe the government, the Samoa Shipping Services and everyone else involved in the journey of seafarers who are heading overseas for employment deserve a pat on the back and to be congratulated.

Its such positive developments that should be encouraged and promoted, especially given the ongoing struggles to secure enough employment opportunities locally for our people.

It comes at a cost of course.

Family relationships will be put under enormous strain, men and fathers who are needed at home to help their families will be absent but that is the price to be paid. Indeed, while the income will no doubt be handsome, there are risks and challenges as is the case with everything else in life.

The key is finding a balance and learning to manage these factors.

Now when we talk about seafarers, we dont give these men and women enough credit for what they do.

The fact is without them inter-island travel would not be possible.

Some of us take them for granted most of the time, especially when we travel between Savaii and Upolu  and sometimes Matautu and Pago Pago  ever so frequently because they are always there. Rain or shine, these dedicated men and women are always standing by to cater for the publics transportation needs. We know the ferry will always depart on time and we have this amazing trust that we will arrive safely at our destination. And we do.

But there is more to seafaring than inter-island travel.

Which is the exciting step we want to congratulate everyone involved for  especially the 52 seafarers who are leaving Samoa for greener pastures overseas.

Twenty-one of them will be working on the M.S.C Cruise and the other 31 will be working on Cargo Ships.

On Tuesday, the Samoa Shipping Services Ltd held a special ceremony to bid them farewell . At the same ceremony, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, had a very important message we believe they should take very seriously.

The most important thing that you have to know is to make sure you will not get into trouble and stay away from trouble, Tuilaepa said.

Ninety five percent of the problems is caused by alcohol and that is why in the past years many of the sailors have been sent home.

You have to keep in your mind that the government does not give any second chances to anyone who has been sent home because of alcohol.

The minute you get sent home because of alcohol keep in your mind you will never get another chance to have an opportunity such as this.

Tuilaepa told them to always remember their families, churches, villages and especially their parents.

You have to remember that you are carrying with you the Samoan flag and especially the image of every Samoan living here and around the world, Tuilaepa said.

Well said Tuilaepa. Some of them might think that they are just seafarers but they are more than that. They are Ambassadors for Samoa representing this nation and our proud people. Given that the places they will travel to hardly have any contact with Samoa, they might be the only image of Samoa strangers will have. And they need to make sure the image they present is a favourable one, one that will lure people to visit our shores.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa went on to urge them to be faithful.

Be honest and faithful to your new calling and never forget to pray because that is where your strength comes from and especially your safety while you are on the sea.

Listen to the people who were there before you as they know best. Always remember God in all that you do and wherever you may be because He is will keep you safe.

To the parents and families of each and every one of these boys here thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your patience while the government and the Samoa Shipping Services tried to find work for yours sons here.

Speaking on behalf of all the seafarers, Peter Schmidt said they are grateful for the opportunity.

We will put to good use all the encouragements that you have provided for us today and we will always treasure it in our hearts, he said. Keep us in your prayers always as we depart and leave our families to find a better future for them as well as us.

The people of this nation will continue to pray for your Mr. Schmidt and all the other sons of Samoa who will be joining you. We wish you well and may God guide your paths.
Dear Editor,

Word has it that N.U.S.s laudable achievement in having two home grown PhD candidates was marred by the choice of speaker to deliver the all-important students address at the graduation ceremony last week.

Two women did themselves and the university proud by becoming the first ever N.U.S PhD graduates. One was an international student from the Caribbean and the other was from the bosom of N.U.S. itself, one of its very own senior staff members.

According to those in the know, the local PhD recipient has had a singularly close association with the National University, first as a foundation N.U.S. student back in 1985, when the university was not much more than an idea and a dream with a budget of $5.00.

Since returning home after overseas studies, she has been a full time N.U.S. lecturer, and at one time Dean of the Faculty of Arts, among other foundational roles in the fledgling institution.

No offence to the lady from the Caribbean who was chosen to deliver the address on behalf of the students, but this was an occasion for the N.U.S. to show it understood what its much vaunted indigenization policy really meant.

It was an occasion to, as it were; show it has a soul where its mouth was. The graduation day audience was packed with parents, grandparents, relatives, well-wishers and friends. This was rural Samoa, the heartland come to pay homage to the flower of its youth and the future of the nation.

It also happens to be the home and repository of the Samoan language.

And what better way to show them that in spite of appearances, their university was indigenous as it claims and can speak to them in the only language they understood and love, their own. But alas, the powers that be gave in to petty tribalism, turned its back on its very own, and opted for someone who spoke the language of the urban elite only. She is not to blame for being put in such an invidious position. As Trump will have tweeted; NICE DAY RUINED, SAD, VERY SAD.

Its no mean feat to teach at university full time and at the same time complete PhD studies in regulation time. But doing all that right here in Samoa?

No one has done it before, and quite likely, it will be a while before the feat is repeated. People go overseas from here for higher level studies to be where the places of study are, and to be away from where the distractions to academic studies abound; work, family, church, community, faalavelave, the whole caper. Its just another fact of life, of being Samoan.

But going against the grain is hard, real hard, but its been shown to be doable and more, and is a story worth telling.

Everyone has a story to tell. And the higher the bench mark set, the more compelling the story. And so it is with this milestone in the life of the university with a starting budget of $5.00.

There is in there a story that is of relevance and interest to the students, to the parents, to the university itself and to government. It is a story that would have further embellished N.U.S.s name and profile.

A story that would have added much to the occasion, but for a notable failure of vision and ambition.

Faanoanoa Papau Letofa

Observer of Times and Events
The Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu, has dismissed a claim brought by a matai against the Village Council of Gagaifolevao, Lefaga.

Faumuina Vitale, of Samoa and Auckland, had pleaded three causes of action in tort against the defendants.

These are in the torts of intimidation, conspiracy by unlawful means, and intentional interference with business interests by unlawful means.

He also made substantial claims for special damages, general damages, and exemplary damages against the defendants.

Faumuina was represented by Fotu Vaai-Hoglund while the Village Council was represented by Alalatoa Rosella Papalii.

In his ruling on 14 March 2017, Chief Justice Patu dismissed Faumuinas claim against the Village Council.

It appears from the evidence in this case that there was no legally enforceable contract between the plaintiff and the people of the village that the people of the village would buy from the plaintiffs shop and that the village council induced the people of the village to breach that contract, the ruling reads.

So there was no contract between the plaintiff and the people of the village capable of being breached by the people of the village. The people of the village could not have breached a contract that did not exist between them and the plaintiff.

The evidence shows that there were five or six shops in the village. The people of the village were free to choose which shop to buy from at any time.

There was no contract binding them to buy from the plaintiffs shop or only from the plaintiffs shop and not any other shop in the village. The evidence therefore does not support the first, second, third, and fourth elements of the tort of inducing a breach of contract.

For all the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs claim is dismissed. Counsel to file submissions as to costs in seven days if agreement cannot be reached.

The following is the Courts ruling in full:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF

SAMOA HELD AT MULINUU

BETWEEN:

FAUMUINA VITALE of Gagaifo, Lefaga, Samoa and Auckland, New Zealand, formerly self-employed Businessman, and now Busdriver. Plaintiff

AND: SUA PALA, SUA LAAI, FAUMUINA LOKENI also known as FAUMUINA MOKENI, SUA SAFUNE, FAUMUINA IIGA, SUA AULAGA, TUAOPEPE AFATO, VAOFUSI POGISA, MALAE POFITU, and AFUIE SIU of Gagaifolevao, Lefaga, all Matais sued for and on behalf of the ALII AND FAIPULE OF GAGAIFOLEVAO LEFAGA Defendants

Counsel: F Vaai-Hoglund for plaintiff R V Papalii for defendants

Judgment: 14 March 2017

JUDGMENT OF SAPOLU CJ Introduction

1. In this case, the plaintiff Faumuina Vitale is a matai of Gagaifolevao, Lefaga. As such, he is also a member of the Alii and Faipule of the village. The defendants are the Alii and Faipule of Gagaifolevao, Lefaga. The three paramount matai titles of Gagaifolevao are Sua, Faumuina, and Tuaopepe.

So the plaintiffs title Faumuina is one of the paramount matai titles of the village. In his first amended statement of claim (amended statement of claim), the plaintiff has pleaded three causes of action in tort against the defendants. These are in the torts of intimidation, conspiracy by unlawful means, and intentional interference with business interests by unlawful means. Substantial claims are then made for special damages, general damages, and exemplary damages.

2. At the outset, I must say that anyone who is familiar with this area of the law concerning economic torts would realise that it is complex. It is in a state of some confusion and uncertainty. This is because of recent decisions of the House of Lords. It is therefore possible that the last word has not been said in this area of the law.

The evidence

3. The evidence According to the plaintiffs evidence, he grew up in Gagaifolevao, Lefaga, but migrated to New Zealand in 1984. In 2011, he returned to stay permanently in Samoa and he opened a small shop on 25 April of that year on his familys customary land at Gagaifolevao. The types of goods that were sold at his shop included groceries and freezer goods, masi saina, keke saina, alcohol, cigarettes, and clothing materials.

4. How this matter came about was because of the banishment of one Iputau Letupu (Iputau), a matai of the plaintiffs family from the village of Gagaifolevao by the defendants and the plaintiff as well as Iputaus subsequent reinstatement to the village by the defendants. It appears from the evidence that Iputau was banished from the village in February 2011. The terms of such a banishment if taken literally means a life sentence. In reality that is not so. It is always of temporary and limited duration. In other words, the person banished will always be reinstated to the village after a period of time.

5. According to the evidence of the witness Faumuina Lolesio, a relative of the plaintiff called by the plaintiff, domestic differences arose between the Iputais wife and her mother. Strong words were said by Iputaus wife to her mother. However, Iputau did nothing to stop his wife but simply drove his car several times to the house where his wife and her mother were having their differences and turned around without going into the house to stop his wife. Iputaus wife was reported by her mother to the village council with a recommendation to banish her daughter from the village. The village council or Alii and Faipule comprising of the defendants as well as the plaintiff decided not only to banish Iputaus wife but also Iputau for not intervening to stop his wife. The terms village council and Alii and Faipule will be used interchangeably hereafter. Under cross-examination by counsel for the defendants, the witness Faumuina Lolesio said that the plaintiff was strongly in support of banishing Iputau from the village. He also said under cross-examination that there had already been tensions between the plaintiff and Iputau because of matters before the Land and Titles Court. The village council then decided to banish Iputau and his wife. However, under cross-examination Faumuina Lolesio also said that the offence Iputau was accused of was not very serious and the banishment was not appropriate. He also said that his village is merciful and that even though someone would be banished that person would always be reinstated.

6. The defendants Vaofusi Pogisa a matai of Gagaifolevao and Sua Aulaga a cousin of the plaintiff and another matai of Gagaifolevao were both called as witnesses by the defendants. They testied that the plaintiff was rmly in support of banishing Iputau from the village. Vaofusi Pogisa further said that the plaintiff and Iputau often clash in matters before the Land and Titles Court. Iputau was also called as a witness for the defendants and he said that he and the plaintiff often opposed each other in cases before the Land and Titles Court.

7. As it appears from the evidence of the plaintiffs witness Faumuina Lolesio, after Iputau was banished from the village, Iputau brought the matter before the office of the registrar of the Land and Titles Court. A meeting was subsequently held between Iputau and members of the village council before a deputy registrar. Following this meeting, Iputau was not immediately reinstated to the village. But at the meeting of the village council on 30 May 2011, it was decided to have Iputau reinstated. At that time, the plaintiff was in New Zealand. So he was not present at the meeting of the village council where Iputau was reinstated.

8. When Iputau was formally reinstated into the village on 11 June 2011, the plaintiff had returned from New Zealand. He objected to the reinstatement of Iputau into the village. However, Iputau was still reinstated by the village. The defendant Vaofusi Pogisa said that the Alii and Faipule decided to reinstate Iputau because they observed that peace and harmony had returned to Iputaus family and everything was smooth again. Iputau had also been a useful member of the village and the offence for which he had been banished was not very serious.

9. Then on Thursday 30 June 2011, the village council held its usual monthly meeting. Towards the end of that meeting, the plaintiff voiced his displeasure against the decision of the village council to have Iputau reinstated. As it appears from evidence of Faumuina Lolesio under cross-examination, the evidence of the defendant Vaofusi Pogisa and the defendant Sua Aulaga who confirmed the evidence of Vaofusi, the plaintiff said at the meeting of 30 June 2011 that he was saddened that Iputau who had been banished for life has been reinstated so soon. The plaintiff further said that it seems that gangs have been formed within the village council as a result of which Iputau has been reinstated. He also said that he sees a gang mentality within the village. The question that has been asked by people is, who makes the decisions within the village? The answer is Sua Pala and Faumuina Lipine. This will not achieve righteousness within the village. The question again is who makes the decisions within the village? The answer is Sua Pala and Faumuina Lipine. This is a village of kids (children). I therefore say to the village now that whoever is forming gangs, stop it. Whether it is one or twenty matais who are forming gangs they should be removed from the village. Vaofusi said that the plaintiff spoke in a rude and offensive tone. Apart from the tone, the words were in themselves rude and disrespectful particularly in the context of a village council meeting. It was also a challenge to the decision of the village council to reinstate Iputau. Vaofusi and the witness Faumuina Lolesio both testified that there was no gang or gang mentality within the village council behind the reinstatement of Iputau into the village. So what the plaintiff said about the formation of gangs within the village council resulting in the reinstatement of Iputau would be incorrect.

10. What the plaintiff said made many members of the village council angry. According to the plaintiff s evidence, the defendant Sua Pala then thanked the plaintiff and said that the brains of a dog are better than your brains Faumuina. Faumuina Lokeni, another member of the village council, intervened and said that you Sua Pala and Sua Laai should speak to remove this person. Sua Laai responded that the plaintiff is banished. Faumuina Lokeni then said to the plaintiff to leave. There was no opposition from the other members of the village council. The plaintiff said he then stood up and left. After the plaintiff left, the village council decided to banish him from the village. This decision was formally conveyed to the plaintiff at his house by the defendant Sua Aulaga the same day. This process is called tu le tootoo.

11. The plaintiff must have then sought an interim order from the President of the Land and Titles Court on the same day or early the next day, Friday l July 2011, to stay the decision of the village council to banish him from the village. On Saturday 2 July 2011, an interim order signed by the President of the Land and Titles Court Lesatele Rapi Vaai and dated l July 2011 was served on some of the members of the village council. The interim order was to stay the decision of the village council to banish the plaintiff. A meeting of the village council was then called for Sunday evening 3 July 2011 after church service. The evidence shows that the plaintiff by that time had not left the village or if he had left the village because of the decision of the village council it was only on Thursday night 30 June 2011 because he was seen again in the village on Friday 1 July 2011.

12. It appears from the evidence of the witness Faumuina Lolesio and the defendants Sua Aulaga and Vaofusi Pogisa that the real purpose of the meeting on 3 July 2011 was to discuss the interim order from the President of the Land and Titles Court. It was then decided that the village council would comply with the interim order but it will file a petition with the Land and Titles Court to confirm the banishment of the plaintiff. The following day, Monday 4 July 2011 members of the village council came in the morning and lodged their petition with the Land and Titles Court.

13. Faumuina Lolesio also testified that at this meeting on 3 July 2011, it was suggested by one of the matais present that no one in the village should be allowed to go and buy from the plaintiffs shop and the plaintiff was prohibited from interacting with anyone in the village which was then approved as a resolution of the village council. Those decisions of the village council were conveyed by Faumuina Lolesio to the plaintiff. The defendants Vaofusi Pogisa and Sua Alaga strongly deny that there was any such resolution made by the village council on Sunday evening 3 July 2011. They said that the purpose of the meeting on that evening was to discuss the interim order of the Land and Titles Court and the response of the village council.

14. After the petition by the village council was lodged on Monday 4 July 2011, the matter was set for hearing on Friday the same week which was 8 July 2011. After the hearing, the Land and Titles Court reserved its decision which was delivered on Wednesday 13 July 2011. The Court denied the petition by the village council to confirm the banishment of the plaintiff from the village. It appears from the reasons given for its decision that the Court considered the banishment of the plaintiff to be excessive punishment given the offence alleged by the village council against the plaintiff. I respectfully agree with the Land and Titles Court.

15. Perhaps, it should also be noted here that the decision of the Land and Titles Court shows the plaintiffs witness Faumuina Lolesio to have been on the same side as the village council as a witness against the plaintiff. In the present proceedings, Faumuina is a witness for the plaintiff against the village council.

16. After the decision of the Land and Titles Court, the village council returned to Gagaifolevao and held another meeting in the afternoon. Faumuina Lolesio also attended that meeting. He said that the defendant Sua Pala spoke at that meeting saying that the plaintiff has won but the decision of the village council e tea Faumuina Vitale still remains. He said that he understood this to mean the decisions already made by the village council on Sunday evening 3 July 2011. He further said that the defendant Sua Safune also spoke and said that unless the plaintiff makes a ifoga to the village and pays $5,000 to the village he would not be accepted back to the village affairs. This was also carried as a resolution of the village council. Faumuina Lolesio then said that after the meeting he went and conveyed the decisions of the village council to the plaintiff.

17. The defendant Vaofusi Pogisa testified that the main purpose of the meeting of the village council on Wednesday afternoon 13 July 2011, after the decision of the Land and Titles Court, was to discuss that decision and whether to lodge an appeal. At that time the village council was hurt and saddened because its petition to the Land and Titles Court has been denied. He also said that may be at the deliberations during that meeting the question of banishing the plaintiff was raised because the village council was hurt. But there was no decision made by the village council to banish the plaintiff again. The main subject that was discussed at the meeting was whether to appeal the decision of the Land and Titles Court at First Instance to the Appellate Division of the Court. The village council finally decided to accept and abide by the decision of the Court and not to the lodge an appeal. Vaofusi strongly denied in his oral testimony that there was any decision by the village council to continue the banishment of the plaintiff or to prohibit the people of the village from speaking to the plaintiff or visiting his house. There was also no decision at that meeting to ostracise the plaintiff from village affairs thus banning him from interacting with people of the village while he can still remain in the village. Vaofusi further denied that there was any decision made by the village council that unless the plaintiff makes a family apology to the village council and pays $5,000 he would not be accepted back into the village. The defendant Sua Aulaga in his oral testimony said that at the meeting on 13 July 2011, the village council discussed the decision of the Land and Titles Court whether to appeal it. It was decided that the village will not appeal but accept the decision. He repeatedly denied that the village council also decided to banish the plaintiff again from the village or to prohibit people of the village from speaking to the plaintiff or visiting his house or to prohibit the plaintiff from interacting with anyone in the village. He also said that the only type of banishment (tea) known to his village is that an offender has to leave the village. Ostracism seems to be unknown to this village. Sua Aulaga further said that the plaintiff is presently tea from the village because the village council has twice requested the plaintiff in December 2011 to return to the village but he rejected both requests. He also said that it was not Sua Safune as mentioned in the evidence of Faumuina Lolesio who suggested at the meeting on 13 July 2011 that the plaintiff should not be allowed back into the village unless he makes a ifoga to the village and pays $5,000 but Faurnuina Tavita who made that suggestion. However, the suggestion was not adopted by the village council. The decision reached by the village council was not to appeal the decision of the Land and Titles Court.

18. It is clear from the evidence that the plaintiff continued to remain in the village and to operate his shop until he decided to close it on ll August 2011 and returned to New Zealand. So there could not have been a further decision of the village council to continue its decision of 30 June 2011 to banish the plaintiff from the village. If there had been such a decision, I would have expected the plaintiff to return to the Land and Titles Court to enforce its decision of 13 July 2011. But that never happened. So the reference to tea that Faumuina Lolesio said was made at the meeting on 13 July 2011 could not have been in relation to the decision made on 30 June 201 1 to banish the plaintiff.

19. The witness Faanenefu Taale who was called by the plaintiff testified that on a Sunday evening in 2011 after a meeting of the village council, the defendant Vaofusi Pogisa and another matai Malae Pofitu of their village came to her familys house. They informed her of a decision by the village that her family and herself were prohibited from going to the plaintiffs house, especially herself as she was responsible at that time for cleaning the plaintiffs land. Furthermore, she and her family were also prohibited from going to buy from the plaintiffs shop. Vaofusi in his oral testimony strongly denied having gone with Malae Potu to the house of the witness Faanenefu Taale and informed her of a decision by the village council prohibiting her and her family from going to the plaintiffs house or from buying from the plaintiffs shop.

Discussion

20. After careful consideration of the evidence, I find the following as facts in this case. Iputau who is a matai of the plaintiffs family was banished from the village of Gagaifolevao by the Alii and Faipule in February 2011. The reason for this was because of domestic differences between Iputaus wife and her mother but Iputau did not intervene to stop even though he could have done so. The plaintiff who is also a member of the Alii and Faipule was in strong support of Iputau being banished from the village. There is evidence that the relationship between the plaintiff and Iputau had not been good because of cases before the Land and Titles Court where they opposed each other. In the opinion of the plaintiffs witness Faumuina Lolesio the banishment was an inappropriate and excessive punishment given what had happened.

21. At the meeting of the Alii and Faipule on 30 May 2011, it was decided to have Iputau reinstated into the village. The plaintiff was not present at that meeting as he was in New Zealand. When Iputau was formally reinstated into the villa.ge on 11 June 2011, the plaintiff had returned from New Zealand and he objected to the reinstatement of Iputau. Then at the monthly meeting of the Alii and Faipule on Thursday 30 June 2011 the plaintiff made rude and offensive remarks accusing the village council of forming gangs within the council. The implication was that it was because of the formation of gangs within the village council that had led to the early reinstatement of Iputau. The plaintiffs remarks made the village council angry and the plaintiff was told to leave the meeting. The village council then decided to banish the plaintiff from the village. According to the witness Faumuina Lolesio and the defendant Vaofusi Pogisa no gangs had been formed within the village and there was no ganging up within the village council to have Iputau reinstated into the village. So what the plaintiff had said about gangs within the village council was incorrect. The decision of the village council to banish the plaintiff was formally conveyed to the plaintiff by the defendant Sua Aulaga.

22. After the decision of the village was conveyed to the plaintiff, he left the village for the same night. However, he returned to the village the following day which was Friday 1 July 2011. On Saturday 2 July 2011 the village council received an interim order dated 1 July 2011 from the President of the Lana and Titles Court to stay the decision of the village council to banish the plaintiff. As a consequence, a meeting of the village council was called for Sunday evening 3 July 2011 to be held after church service. There is a conflict between the evidence of the witness Faumuina Lolesio and the evidence of the defendants Vaofusi Pogisa and Sua Aulaga as to what transpired at that meeting. I have decided to accept the evidence of Faumuina Lolesio that it was resolved at that meeting that no one in the village would be allowed to go and buy from the shop of the plaintiff. It was also resolved at that meeting that the plaintiff was banned from going to the house of any family in the village and from speaking with anyone in the village. This is effectively ostracising the plaintiff from village. This part of the evidence of Faumuina Lolesio is corroborated by the evidence of the plaintiffs witness Faanenefu Taale. I am not able to accept the evidence of the defendant Vaofusi Pogisa to the contrary.

23. The main subject that was discussed at the meeting on Sunday evening 3 July 2011 was the interim order. The village council decided that they will file a petition with the Land and Titles Court to confirm the banishment of the plaintiff from the village. On Monday 4 July 2011, the village council filed such a petition with the Land and Titles Court. The matter was then heard before the Land and Titles Court at First Instance on Friday 8 July 2011 and the decision of the Court was delivered on Wednesday 13 July 2011. The Land and Titles Court denied the petition by the village council. It appears from the reasons given for its decision that the Court considered the banishment to be an excessive punishment the circumstances. The Court did not say that the village council had no jurisdiction to penalise the plaintiff because of his conduct. What the Court said was that the banishment was an excessive penalty.

24. When the village council returned to the village, it met again to discuss the decision of the Court and whether to file an appeal. It was decided that the village will accept the Courts decision and not to file an appeal. The village council was, however, hurt and saddened by the Courts decision. l have also decided to accept the evidence of the witness Faumuina Lolesio that at this meeting on 13 July 2011, the village council decided to continue its decision already made (e tea pea Faurnuina Vitale). To the understanding of Faumuina Lolesio that was in relation to the village councils decision on Sunday 3 June 2011, not the decision made by the village council on 30 June 2011 to banish the plaintiff from the village.

Banishment and ostracism

25. Banishment in the context of Samoan custom and village life is a form of punishment which involves the expulsion of an individual from a village for very serious offences like murder, rape and so forth. It may also be imposed for persistent failure to comply with relatively minor penalties for less serious offences. I prefer not embark on any discussion of the issue raised in the submissions by counsel for the defendants that the Alii and Faipule of a village should have the power to impose banishment in an appropriate case. All I say is that in terms of the village Fono Act 1990, S46 provides: Without limiting the power of village Fono preserved by this Act to impose punishments for village misconduct the powers of every Village Fono to impose punishment in accordance with the custom and usage of its village shall be deemed to include the following powers of punishments: (a) The power to impose a fine in money, fine mats, animals or food; or partly in one or partly in other of those things; (b) The power to order the offender to undertake any work on village land.

26. Section 11, insofar as relevant for present purposes, then provides: (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), every person adversely affected by a decision of a Fono (including a decision as to punishment) shall have a night of appeal to the Court against such decision and the Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter

27. It appears to me from the opening words of s.6 of the Act that they preserve the power of the Village Fono to impose punishments for village misconduct in accordance with the custom and usage of the village. This must include banishment as a form of customary punishment. I hope I can be forgiven by saying that as co-drafter of the Village Fono Act 1990 there was no intention that this Act was to remove any customary powers of the Village Fono to impose punishment. The intention was to add to those customary powers the powers provided in ss.6 (a) and (b). One of the reforms which is provided in the Act is the right of appeal in s.11 from a decision of the Village Fono including a decision as to punishment. Previously, there had been no such right of appeal. One of the purposes of this provision is to provide an aggrieved person with the opportunity to appeal to the Land and Titles Court a decision of the Village Fono as to punishment.

28. However, in this case the banishment of the plaintiff by the village council is not a real issue. This is because except for Thursday night 30 June 2011 when the plaintiff le the village, he did not leave the village at any other time and closed his shop. The plaintiff remained in the village at all times and opened his shop. The banishment was also stayed by an interim order dated 1 July 2011 which was served on the village council on 2 July 2011. The village council complied with the order. The petition of 4 July 2011 by the village council to the Land and Titles Court to confirm its banishment of the plaintiff was also denied. So the plaintiff could not have suffered any financial loss to his shop because of the banishment.

29. Ostracism is a less severe form of punishment than banishment. It is intended for less serious offences and involves the exclusion of a person from participation in the affairs of the village. However, that person can still remain in the village and attend church services. An unspoken incident of this kind of punishment is that a person who has been ostracised is not supposed to interact with the other people in the village and the other people in the village are also not supposed to talk with or interact with the person who has been ostracised. Punishment usually follows if these unspoken conditions are not complied with. But such punishment can be only a fine.

30. In this case, what happened was that not only was the plaintiff ostracised but it was also expressly stated in the meeting of the village council on Sunday 3 July 2011 and adopted as a resolution by the council that no one in the village was allowed to go and buy from the shop of the plaintiff. This clearly suggests that the intention of the village council was not merely to punish the plaintiff for his misconduct on 30 June 2011 but to cause his shop financial loss.

31. I will tum now to the plaintiff s causes of action against the defendants.

The plaintiffs causes of action

(a) First cause of action: intimidation

32. The existence of the tort of intimidation was firmly established in the common law by the decision of the House of Lords in Rookes v Barnard [I964] AC I129. It was recently explained in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 where Lord Hoffmann (with whom Lord Walker, Baroness Hale and Lord Brown concurred) said at paras 6 and 7: 6. The tort of causing loss by unlawful means has a different history. It starts with cases like Garret v Taylor (1620) Cro Jac 567, in which the defendant was held liable because he drove away customers of Headington Quarry by threatening them with mayhem and vexatious suits. Likewise, in Tarleton v MGawley (1790) 1 Peake NPC 270 Lord Kenyon held the master of the Othello, anchored off the coast of West Africa, liable in tort for depriving a rival British ship of trade by the expedient of using his canon to drive away a canoe which was approaching from the shore. In such cases, there is no other wrong for which the defendant is liable as accessory. Although the immediate cause of the loss is the decision of the potential customer or trader to submit to the threat and not buy stones or sell palm oil, he thereby commits no wrong. The defendants liability is primary, for intentionally causing the loss by unlawfully interfering with the liberty of others.

9. These old cases were examined at some length by the House of Lords in Allen v Flood [1898] AC 1 and their general principle approved. Because they all involved the use of unlawful threats to intimidate potential customers, Salmond 1st ed (1907) classified them under the heading of Intimidation and the existence of a tort under this name was confirmed by the House of Lords in Rookes v Barnard [1964] AC 1129. But an interference with the liberty of others by unlawful means does not require threats. If, for example, the master of the Othello in Tarleton v MGawley had deprived the plaintiff of trade by simply sinking the approaching vessel with its cargo of palm oil, it is unlikely that Lord Kenyon would have regarded this as making any difference. Salmonds tort of intimidation is therefore only one variant of a broader tort, usually called for short causing loss by unlawful means which was recognised by Lord Reid in J T Stratford & Sons Ltd v Lindley [1965] AC 269, 324: the respondents action [in calling a strike] made it practically impossible for the appellants to do any new business with the barge hirers. It was not disputed that such interference with business is tortious if any unlawful means are employed.

33. It is clear from what was said by Lord Hoffmann in OBG Ltd v Allan that there is a broader tort called causing loss by unlawful means and that the tort of intimidation is only one variant of that tort. In New Zealand, the same tort is referred to as intentionally causing loss by unlawful means and was recognised as such by the Court of Appeal in Van Camp Chocolates Ltd v Aulsbrooks [1984] 1 NZLR 354, 357,- 359. The essence of the tort was stated by Lord Hoffmann in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, para 47, where His Lordship said: The essence of the tort therefore appears to be (a) a wrongful interference with the actions of a third party in which the claimant has an economic interest and (b) an intention thereby to cause loss to the claimant. The old cases of interference with potential customers by threats of unlawful acts clearly fall within this description... Recent cases in which the tort has been discussed have also concerned wrongful threats or actions against employers with the intention of causing loss to an employee (as in Rookes v Barnard [1964] AC 1129) or another employer (as in J T Stratford & Sons Ltd v Lindley [1965] AC 269). In the former case, the defendants conspired to threaten the employer that llI'll6SS the employee was dismissed, there would be an unlawful strike. In the latter, the union committed the Lumley v Gye tort of inducing breaches of the contracts of the employees of barge hirers to prevent them from hiring the plaintiffs barges.

34. Under the current law there are two types of intimidation. There is the two-party intimidation where the unlawful act of the defendant is directed against the plaintiff causing loss to the plaintiff and there is the third party intimidation where the defendants unlawful act is directed against a third party resulting in loss to the plaintiff. The judgment of Lord Hoffmann in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 is concerned with a third party intimidation and it is the same tort that the plaintiff relies upon in this case.

35. On the basis of OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 and Van Camp Chocolate Ltd v Aulsebrooks Ltd [I984] 1 NZLR 354, the learned authors of the The Law of Torts in New Zealand (2009) 5th ed by Todd et al state at 13.3, p 618 the elements of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means as follows: First, the defendant must have intended to cause loss to the claimant. Secondly, in pursuit of that intention, the defendant must interfere with the actions of a third party in which the claimant has an economic interest, using unlawful means. Thirdly, there must be resulting actual damage to the plaintiff. Fourthly, there may in exceptional circumstances be a defence of justification

Intention

36. The first element of causing loss by unlawful means emphasises the requirement for there to be an intention to cause loss to the plaintiff. This requirement of intention in the tort of causing loss by unlawful means was explained in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, 26 by Lord Hoffmann as follows: Finally, there is the question of intention. In the Lumley v Gye tort, there must be an intention to procure a breach of contract. In the unlawful means tort, there must be an intention to cause loss. The ends which must have been intenduced are different. South Wales Miners Federation v Glamorgan Coal C0 Ltd [1905] AC 239 shows that one may intend to procure a breach of contract without intending to cause loss. Likewise, one may intend to cause loss without intending to procure a breach of contract. But the concept of intention is in both cases the same. In both cases it is necessary to distinguish between ends, means and consequences. One intends to cause loss even though it is the means by which one achieved the end of enriching oneself. On the other hand, one is not liable for loss which is neither a desired end nor a means of attaining it by merely a foreseeable consequence of ones actions.

37. By contrast, Lord Nicholls who was in the minority in OBG Ltd v Allan seems to be of the view that intention in the unlawful means tort must be the intention specifically directed at causing loss to the plaintiff, albeit as a necessary means to an end. At paras pp. 164-165, His Lordship said: 164. I turn next, and more shortly, to the other key ingredient of this tort: the defendants intention to harm the claimant A defendant may intend to harm the claimants business either as an end in itself where, for instance, he has a grudge against the claimant. More usually a defendant intentionally inflicts harm on a c1aimants business as a means to an end. He inflicts damage as the means whereby to protect or promote his own economic interests. 165. Intentional harm inflicted against a claimant in either of these circumstances satisfies the mental ingredient of this tort.

38. The case of OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 2] is not binding on the Samoan Courts but it deserves the highest respect as a persuasive authority. After consideration of these aspects of both the judgments of Lord Hoffmann and Lord Nicholls and the relevant commentary in The Law of Torts in New Zealand (2009) 5th ed by Todd et al, para 13.3.01, pp 619-623, I have decided to follow the judgment of Lord Hoffmann regarding the intention required to satisfy the first element of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means.

Unlawful means

39. With regard to the requirement of unlawful means in the second element of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means, the judgments of the Law Lords also do not speak with one voice. In OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKGL 21, paras 49 and 51, Lord Hoffmann said: 49. [Acts] against a third party count as unlawful means only if they are actionable by that third party. The qualification is that they will also be unlawful means if the only reason why they are not actionable is because the third party has suffered no loss. In the case of intimidation, for example, the threat will usually give rise to no cause of action by the third party because he will have suffered no loss. If he submits to the threat, then, as the defendant intended, the claimant will have suffered loss instead. It is nevertheless unlawful means. But the threat must be to do something which would have been actionable if the third party had suffered loss. (emphasise mine).

5l. Unlawful means therefore consists of acts intended to cause loss to the claimant by interfering with the freedom of a third party in a way which is unlawful as against that third party and which is intended to cause loss to the claimant. It does not in my opinion include acts which may be unlawful against a third party but which do not affect his freedom to deal with the claimant.

40. On the other hand, Lord Nicholls in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 adopted a wider interpretation of unlawful means to embrace all acts a defendant is not permitted to do whether by the civil law or the criminal law. At para 162, His Lordship said: [I] accept the approach of Lord Reid and Lord Devlin and prefer the wider interpretation of unlawful means. In this context the expression unlawful means embraces all acts a defendant is not permitted to do whether by the civil law or the criminal law.

41. The difference between the two approaches is that under Lord Hoffmanns approach, the expression unlawful means seems to be restricted to civil wrongs whereas under Lord Nicholls wider approach unlawful means embraces both civil wrongs and criminal wrongs.

42. To throw more light on the scope of what is unlawful means, I refer to what Lord Nicholls said in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, paras 149-151. His Lordship said that there is some controversy about scope of unlawful means in the context of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means. On one view, unlawful means covers common law torts, statutory torts, crimes, breaches of contract, breaches of trust and equitable obligations, breaches of confidence, and so on. Another view is that in this context unlawful means comprise only civil wrongs. A third view is that unlawful means are limited to torts and breaches of contract. I have referred to these different views on the scope of the expression unlawful means mentioned by Lord Nicholls because later on I will have to decide whether the conduct of the defendants in this case amounted to unlawful means.

43. In the subsequent case of Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL I9 which was concerned with the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means, Lord Walker seems to be of the view that unlawful means in relation to the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means embraces both crimes and torts. His Lordship said at paras 93-95: [All] the statements of general principle in the classic cases seem to me to be consistent with the proposition that unlawful means, both in the intentional harm tort and in the tort of conspiracy, include both crimes and torts... provided that they are indeed the means by which harm is intentionally inflicted on the claimant (rather than being merely incidental to it). . . 94. From these and other authorities I derive a general assumption, too obvious to need discussion, that criminal conduct engaged in by conspirators as a means of inflicting harm on the claimant is actionable as the tort of conspiracy, whether or not that conduct, on the part of a single individual, would be actionable as some other I011... 95. In my opinion your Lordships should clarify the law by holding that criminal conduct...can constitute unlawful means provided that it is indeed the means (what Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead in OBG at para 159 called instrumentality) of intentionally inflicting harm.

44. The view expressed by Lord Walker in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL comes close to the minority view of Lord Nicholls in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 as to the meaning of the expression unlawful means. However, the view taken by Lord Hoffmann with whom the majority concurred in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 is that for the purpose of the tort of intimidation as a variant or species of the broader tort of causing loss by unlawful means, the expression unlawful means covers only civil wrongs . With respect, this does not appear to be a satisfactory situation with the expression unlawful means having one interpretation in relation to intimidation and another interpretation in relation to conspiracy by unlawful means. Anyhow, I do not have to decide between the two different interpretations of unlawful means in this case because there is no suggestion that the actions of the defendants in ostracising the plaintiff amounted to a crime.

Discussion

45. As earlier pointed out, ostracism is a form of customary punishment which is imposed by a village council on an individual for less serious offences within a village. It involves the exclusion of an individual from participation in village affairs but he can still remain in the village and attend church services. An unspoken incident of this form of punishment is that the ostracised individual is not supposed to interact with other people in the village, that is to say, he is not supposed to go to the house of any person in the village or to talk to any of them. In this case, the village council at its meeting on Sunday evening 3 July 2011, in effect, ostracised the plaintiff from village affairs following the interim order from the President of the Land and Titles Court to stay the banishment which the village council had imposed on the plaintiff on 30 June 201 l. The village council also resolved that no one in the village was to buy from the plaintiffs shop. It is clear that the intention behind this resolution was to cause financial loss to the plaintiff. On 13 July 2011 at its meeting held after the decision of the Land and Titles Court at First Instance, the village council reaffirmed its decision.

46. As to the first element of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means, namely, that the defendant must have intended to cause loss to the plaintiff, I am satisfied on the evidence that the plaintiff has established that element.

47. As to the second element of the tort, namely, that in pursuit of that intention, the defendant must have interfered with the actions of a third party in which the plaintiff has an economic interest by using unlawful means, I am not satisfied that the means used by the defendants as village council were unlawful. That is because the resolution by the village council to prohibit anyone in the village from buying from the plaintiffs shop would not be actionable as a civil wrong by the people of the village as the third parties against the defendants. As Lord Hoffmann pointed out in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, para 49: 49. [Acts] against a third party count as unlawful means only if they are actionable by that third party the threat must be to do something which would have been actionable if the third party had suffered loss.

48. The people of the village did not suffer any loss, nor could they have suffered any loss because the evidence of the plaintiff and the defendant Vaofusi show that there were four or five other shops in the village that the people of the village could have gone and buy from if they were not to buy from the plaintiffs shop. Furthermore, the village council did not commit any tort, crime, breach of contract, breach of trust and equitable obligation, breach of confidence and the like: see OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21 per Lord Nicholls at para 149. The plaintiff has therefore not established the second element of the tort of causing loss by unlawful means by way of intimidation. In view of this conclusion, it is not necessary to consider the third element of the tort regarding damages and the fourth element regarding the defence of justification.

49. In Samoan custom, it is unheard of that if a village council in ostracising a member of the village is said to be intimidating that person. Ostracism is a form of customary punishment for a wrong done and its purpose is punishment not intimidation. The consequence of the ostracism is that no one in the village is supposed to interact with the person who has been ostracised. In this case, that would necessarily involve not going to buy from the plaintiffs shop for that would be interacting with the plaintiff. It just so happens that the person ostracised in this case has a shop. In my view, a person should not be immune from ostracism simply because he has a shop which may suffer financial loss as a result of the ostracism. If this is to be so, then there will be one customary law for people in the village without shops and a different customary law for people in the village with shops or other businesses which may be affected by an ostracism. This cannot be right. It is also to be noted that any person who is dissatisfied with a decision of a village council, including a decision as to punishment, has a direct right of appeal to the Land and Titles Court under s.11 of the Village Fono Act 1990.

50. The unlawful means which are relied upon by the plaintiff are interference with contractual relations between the plaintiff and people of the village and interference with freedom of speech and freedom of movement under Article 13 of the Constitution. I have already dealt with the meaning of the expression unlawful means in this context as explained in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, para 49 per Lord Hoffmann, para 162 per Lord Nicholls.

51. As to interference with freedom of speech and freedom of movement, Article 13 (1) of the Constitution, insofar as relevant, provides: (1) All citizens of Samoa shall have the right:

(a) To freedom of speech and expression;

(b) ...

(c) ...

(d) To move freely throughout Samoa and to reside in any part thereof

52. It appears from clauses (2), (3) and (4) of Article 13 that the right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to move freely throughout Samoa and to reside in any part thereof are not absolute rights. Reasonable restrictions can be imposed by law on the exercise of those rights. With regard to the right to freedom speech and expression, Article 13 (4) provides that reasonable restrictions may be imposed, inter alia, in the interests of public order, for preventing any offence, or for punishing offenders. So we have such offences as uttering insulting words or threatening words under the Police Offences Ordinance 1990. Article 13 (2) provides, inter alia, for reasonable restrictions which may be imposed by law for preventing contempt of Court, defamation, or incitement to commit any offence. Similar restrictions may be imposed inter alia, on the right to freedom of movement in the interests of rational security, for detaining persons of unsound mind, for preventing any offence, for the arrest and trial of persons charged with an offence, or for punishing offenders.

53. Ostracism is a measure of social control and a fonn of customary punishment for the purpose of maintaining law and order as well as peace and stability within a village. The plaintiff had made rude and offensive remarks at the village council at this meeting on 30 June 2011 accusing members of the council of forming gangs within the council which had led to the early reinstatement of Iputau into the village. The accusation, as the evidence shows, was unfounded and it made many members of the village council angry. As a result, the village council decided to banish the plaintiff from the village. However, the plaintiff did not leave the village except for Thursday night 30 June 2011. He still remained in the village and opened his shop. The village council then filed a petition with the Land and Titles Court to confirm its banishment. This was denied on 13 July 2011 because the Court considered the banishment to be excessive punishment in the circumstances. Upon return to the village, the council decided to ostracise the plaintiff which involved people of the village not talking to the plaintiff or visiting his house and the plaintiff not doing the same thing although he may still stay in the village and move around within the village. Any member of the village who did not comply was likely to be fined by the village.

54. In my view, ostracism is a necessary measure of social control for the purpose of maintaining order, peace and harmony within a village and therefore a reasonable restriction on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Ostracism is not of indefinite duration. An ostracised individual is always welcomed back into the village after a period of time. In the event that an individual is dissatisfied with an ostracism imposed on him by a village council, he has a direct right of appeal to the Land and Titles Court under s.11 of the Village Fono Act l990. I conclude that the decision by the village council in this case to ostracise the plaintiff was not in breach of the plaintiffs right to freedom of speech and expression and his right to freedom of movement provided under Article 13 of the Constitution.

55. I am also doubtful that in this context a breach of the right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to freedom of movement is a civil wrong which would fall within the meaning of unlawful means as explained in OBG Ltd v Allan by Lord Hoffmann with whom the majority concurred. I reserve my position on that issue. The point was not addressed in the submissions of counsel. (b) Second cause of action: unlawful means conspiracy

56. There are two forms of the tort of conspiracy, unlawful purpose conspiracy and unlawful means conspiracy. The plaintiff relies on unlawful means conspiracy in its second cause of action. This tort and its elements were explained in Wagner v Gill [2014] NZCA 336, paras [47]-[50] where the New Zealand Court of Appeal was concerned with unlawful means conspiracy, French J, in delivering the judgment of the Court, said: [47] The tort of conspiracy is one of a group of torts loosely known as economic torts, all of which have as their purpose the prevention or control of conduct that damages or interferes with the business interests of others. [48] There are two forms of the conspiracy tort. The first form is conspiracy to injure, sometimes called predominant purpose conspiracy or unlawful purpose conspiracy. The second form is the tort of unlawful means conspiracy... [49] The tort of unlawful means conspiracy is said to be committed where two or more persons combine and agree that at least one of them will use unlawful means to cause damage to the claimant. The claimant must in fact suffer loss or damage as a result. [50] It was common ground that there are four essential elements or ingredients of the tort: (i) the existence of a combination; (ii) unlawful action (unlawful means); (m) intention to injure the claimant; and (iv) actual damage caused to the claimant.

57. French J then went on in Wagner v Gill [2014] NZCA 336, at para 54: [54] The concept of unlawful means in the context of economic torts is a controversial and difficult one. There are inconsistent authorities. Some limit the concept to torts, others to torts and breaches of contract, and others yet again to any unlawful conduct of any kind, whether civil or criminal. To complicate matters further, recent English decisions suggest there may be different patterns of liability depending on whether it is a three party tort situation or a two party tort situation: OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 2]; and Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19. A three party situation is where the harm is inflicted on the claimant through an intermediary, as distinct from being inflicted directly by the defendant.

58. French J then noted that in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, the House of Lords was dealing with the scope of unlawful means in relation to the tort of causing loss by unlawful means and held by a majority that in a three party tort situation the required unlawful means must be a civil wrong actionable at the suit of the third party. In Her Hon0urs opinion, this would encompass tort and possibly breaches of contract. She also referred to the dissenting opinion of Lord Nicholls in OBG Ltd which suggested that the concept of unlawful means in this context is much wider and could encompass common law torts, statutory torts, crimes, breaches of contract, breaches of trust and equitable obligations, breaches of confidence and so on. French J then referred to Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL I9 where the House of Lords held in relation to the scope of unlawful means in the tort of unlawful means conspiracy, that criminal conduct can constitute unlawful means in unlawful means conspiracy regardless of whether or not that same conduct on the part of a single individual would be actionable as some other tort. In other words, the House of Lords decided in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19 that unlawful means in the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means is not limited to tortuous conduct but would also cover criminal conduct.

59. At para [71] of the judgment, French J said: We accept that Total Network is authority for the proposition that in order to qualify as unlawful means for the purposes of unlawful means conspiracy, the conduct need not be independently actionable at the suit of the claimant...We also accept that Total Network is authority for the proposition that unlawful means is not limited to tortuous conduct.

60. French J then stated at para [73] the following limitations which appear from the decision in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19 : [93] (a) The Law Lords were careful to confine their ruling to criminal conduct, which they saw as the most reprehensible category of unlawful means... (b) It is clear from the decision that not even every criminal act will qualify as unlawful means. It must be a crime that has as its purpose the protection of the particular claimant.

(c) The Law Lords were also careful to limit their comments to the two party tort situation, relying on the fact of there being no third party as additional grounds for distinguishing the case from OBG...

61. In The Law of Torts in New Zealand (2009) 5th ed, by Todd et al, p.641, the learned authors in discussing the Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19 The House of Lords held unanimously that some, but not all, crimes could amount to unlawful means for the tort of unlawful means conspiracy. The primary test apparently, is whether the relevant offence existed to protect the claimant as a victim so as to leave an obvious lacuna if civil liability did not follow. Distinguishing OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, their Lordships held that the concept of unlawful means differed as between the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means and the tort of causing loss by unlawful means...

62. I have referred at some length to the decision in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL and the discussion by the New Zealand Court of Appeal of that decision in Wagner v Gill [2014] NZCA 336 for the assistance of the Samoan lawyers who may be required to advise clients in this area of the law, but that decision is strictly not relevant to this case because there is no suggestion that the defendants committed any criminal conduct. It is also to be noted that in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL, the House of Lords was dealing with the tort of unlawful means conspiracy in a two party situation. This case is concerned with a three party situation.

Appropriateness of unlawful conspiracy in the context of a village council

63. The English cases of Allen v Flood [1898] AC I (HL) and Crofter Head Woven Harris Tweed Co Ltd v Veitch [1942] AC 435, 442 (HL) from which the tort of conspiracy was derived were in the area of commerce and perhaps industrial disputes. So are the New Zealand cases of Van Camp Chocolates Ltd v Aulsbrooks Ltd [I984] 1 NZLR 354 and Pete s Towing Services Ltd v Northern IUW [1970] NZLR 32, 55-56 (a trade union case) relating to economic torts. The present case arose from decisions of a village council exercising its powers of maintaining order within a village which is not a commercial or industrial context. l therefore have reservations whether the economic tort of conspiracy by unlawful means is appropriate in the circumstances of this case where a member of a village is ostracised by a village council for an offence alleged against that member. However, I reserve my position whether there may be other circumstances where the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means is appropriate in the context of decision-making by a village council. It seems that policy considerations play a large part in this particular area of the law.

64. As it was pointed out by French J in Wagner v Gill [2014] NZCA 336, paras [79] - [8l]: [79] An overriding theme, however, in all economic tort cases is that the encroachment of the common law into the regulation of economic competition must for obvious reasons be subject to some limits. In cases such as this one, the drawing of those limits ultimately depends not on close textual analysis of the authorities but largely on policy considerations, having regard to the purpose of the tort. [80] We accept, for the purposes of argument and without deciding the point, that a breach of fiduciary may in principle qualify as unlawful means for the purposes of unlawful means conspiracy. That would be consistent with the statements of principle in two older New Zealand cases, Ruddock v Sinclair [I925] NZLR 677 and Fairbairn, Wright & Co v Levin Co Ltd (1914) 34 NZLR 1. [81] However, in our assessment, there are strong policy reasons why it should not be so recognised in the type of situation before us in this case (emphasis mine).

Discussion

65. In OBG Ltd V Allan [2007] UKHL 21 para 49, Lord Hoffmann with whom the majority concurred said that unlawful means in relation to the economic tort of causing loss by unlawful means of which intimidation is variant means a civil wrong actionable at the suit of a third party. This is in the context of a third party intimidation. By contrast, Lord Nicholls in the same case said that the expression unlawful means embraces all acts a defendant is not permitted by the civil law or the criminal law. This broad view of unlawful means would seem to encompass common law torts, statutory torts, crimes, breaches of contract, breaches of trust and equitable obligations, breaches of confidence and so on. In Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19, the Law Lords unanimously held that in relation to the economic tort of conspiracy by unlawful means, the expression unlawful means encompasses both civil wrongs and criminal wrongs. This comes close to the view of Lord Nicholls in OBG. Because in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Total Network SL [2008] UKHL 19 the House of Lords was dealing specifically with the tort of conspiracy by unlawful means. I will, for the purposes of this pan of this judgment adopt their meaning of unlawful means. But because there is no suggestion of criminal conduct in this case, I will only have to consider whether the conduct of the defendants as village council amounted to a civil wrong. On this basis, I feel compelled to go back to the meaning of unlawful means given by Lord Hoffmann in OBG Ltd v Allan [2007] UKHL 21, para 49. I have already decided in relation to the tort of causing loss by an unlawful means that the village council did not commit any civil wrong. It therefore follows that the second element of conspiracy by unlawful means, namely, unlawful action or unlawful means has not been established.

66. Furthermore, it would not be appropriate as a matter of policy to extend the economic tort of conspiracy by unlawful means to this case given the facts before the Court: Wagner v Gill [2014] NZCA 336, paras [79]-[81]. There is no commercial or industrial flavour about the facts of this case to justify extending conspiracy by unlawful means to it. The plaintiff could have appealed the decision of the village council to ostracise him to the Land and Titles Court under s.11 of the Village Fono Act 1990 just as he had applied to the President of the Land and Titles Court for an interim order when the village council decided to banish him from the village. The tort of conspiracy by unlawful means arose from a very different context and has been applied in overseas jurisdiction in a very different context. However, in saying this, I reserve my position on whether there may be other circumstances where it is appropriate for conspiracy by unlawful means to apply to a decision of a village council. That issue was not raised or addressed in this case.

67. For those reasons, the second cause of action is also dismissed.

(c) Third cause of action: interference with business interests by unlawful means

68. It seems from the 2th, 4th and 5th editions of the Law of Torts in New Zealand by Todd et al that the economic tort of interference with business interests by unlawful means is now classified as a species of the broader tort of causing loss by unlawful means which has already been discussed in relation to the plaintiffs first cause of action pleaded in intimidation. l do not have to discuss the tort of causing loss by unlawful means all over again. But the unlawful means relied upon by the plaintiff are interference with contractual relations and interference with freedom speech and freedom of movement as provided under Article l3 of the Constitution. I have already dealt with these constitutional issues under Article 13.

69. In case I may have misunderstood the submissions by counsel for the plaintiff whether what is intended is the economic tort of causing loss by unlawful means or the economic tort of inducing a breach of contract, I will deal briefly with the tort of inducing a breach of contract. In The Law of Torts in New Zealand (2009) 5th ed by Todd et al, the learned authors state the elements of the tort of inducing a breach of contract at para 13.2, p.606 as follows: The effect of OBG v Allan, then, was to restore the original principles in Lumley v Gye and to confirm that the following elements to liability needed to be shown: (1) There must be a legally enforceable contract in existence. (2) The defendant must have engaged in conduct which in fact induced a breach of the contract. (3) The defendant must have known that his or her conduct would induce the breach. (4) The defendants conduct inducing the breach must have caused loss or damage to the plaintiff (or if an injunction is sought, there must be clear indication that such loss will occur). (5) Even if elements 1 to 4 are satisfied, a defence of justification might arise, albeit only in exceptional circumstances.

70. It appears from the evidence in this case that there was no legally enforceable contract between the plaintiff and the people of the village that the people of the village would buy from the plaintiffs shop and that the village council induced the people of the village to breach that contract. So there was no contract between the plaintiff and the people of the village capable of being breached by the people of the village. The people of the village could not have breached a contract that did not exist between them and the plaintiff. The evidence shows that there were five or six shops in the village. The people of the village were free to choose which shop to buy from at any time. There was no contract binding them to buy from the plaintiffs shop or only from the plaintiffs shop and not any other shop in the village. The evidence therefore does not support the first, second, third, and fourth elements of the tort of inducing a breach of contract.

Conclusion

71. For all the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs claim is dismissed. Counsel to file submissions as to costs in seven days if agreement cannot be reached.

CHIEF JUSTICE
The United Kingdom remains committed to support Samoa .

This is the message from Jonathan Sinclair, British High Commissioner to Samoa, who yesterday declared Britains commitment by announcing that the U.K. will be investing GBP 60,000 (T$190,000) to support Social Enterprise projects in the Pacific.

Mr. Sinclair concluded his visit to Samoa yesterday after a busy week meeting with several key ministers, in an effort to reaffirm the U.K.s commitment to their allies after their decision to leave the European Union (Brexit).

Mr. Sinclair had met with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, as well as the Ministers for Health; Justice; Education, Sports, and Culture; and various other special interest groups.

The primary goal of his visit was about making reassurances, and reaffirming commitments made by the United Kingdom to their allies.

During a press conference yesterday, Mr. Sinclair assures that his government will be sticking to all of their development and trade commitments made before Brexit.

Our government does not take that [Brexit] as an opportunity to withdraw from the world, on the contrary, U.K. will double-down, and look to strengthen its old relationships, he said.

The United Kingdom is committed to strengthening further its relationship with Samoa and the Pacific region.

Mr. Sinclair touched on many other issues such as Climate, Health, and Education.

He even shared his interest in Rugby, and light-heartedly remarked on his support for Wales in their upcoming test against Samoa in June.

However, top of the agenda yesterday for Mr. Sinclair was Britains commitment to Samoa and the Pacific region in the form of a Social Enterprise investment.

Im delighted to announce that the U.K. will be investing GBP 60,000 to support Social Enterprise projects in the Pacific, he said.

The project focuses primarily on social entrepreneurs and youth leadership.

In a press release, the British High Commissioner to Fiji, Melanie Hopkins, also praised the idea.

Many Small Island Developing States have proportionally high youth population competing for highly competitive job markets, Ms. Hopkins said.

[This project] will enable the next generation of entrepreneurs and young leaders to harness their many natural talents in creative and innovative ways. To create business models which generate income for themselves and their communities, and drive youth leadership in society

The first gathering of Britains new initiative, the Social Enterprise World Forum 2017, is due to commence in Christchurch, New Zealand on the 27-29 of September and urges anyone seeking more information to contact the British Council website or www.sewf2017.org for details.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi opened a new $1million home for the Dog Management Unit of the Police yesterday.

The project is part of the governments efforts to address the issue of stray dogs.

The new Unit is located just down the road from Tafaigata Prisons. It is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Police, Samoa Tourism Authority and the Animal Protection Society.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa thanked the New Zealand government for funding the Shelter.

We are indebted to the government of New Zealand for providing one million tala for the construction of the dog shelter which we are witnessing this morning and also further funding for the wider dog control programme as a part of its commitment to support the development of Tourism in Samoa, Tuilaepa said.

Stray and roaming dogs have long been seen as a very negative influence on visitors experience in Samoa. Local and residents alike also have a story to tell of unpleasant encounters with stray or unrestrained dogs.

Since 2013, P.M. Tuilaepa noted that the New Zealand government had been providing expertise and advice to the government of Samoa on the development of a National Dog Control Programme.

This permanent dog control or shelter replaces its temporary shelter established in Vaitele in June 2014, to allow the Samoan police to put in place, effective dog control measures in Apia.

Tuilaepa also used the opportunity to address bad behaviour in relation to dogs.

One thing Ive seen with Samoan people is that once their dogs start chasing and eating their chickens, they take the dogs to town, park in front of Farmers, and wait for the time that no one is looking, then open the door of their cars and let these dogs go off, he said.

They then drive off leaving their dogs in town.

I have witnessed this with my own eyes so now Im advising those who are still doing this, do not leave your dogs in town.

Bring them here instead, and they will be looked after and trained by the people here.

We are at a time where the number of thieves has increased and in a way, these creatures are helping out in that matter, catching those who have this habit of stealing.
The Mayor of Apia Village, Tuiletufuga Siaosi Tuiletufuga, has called on to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with their village to keep the Apia Township clean.

Tuiletufuga made the call when his opinion was sought over numerous complaints about unattractive scenery at black sand beach at Vaisigano.

Tuiletufuga said the village of Apia has been having clean ups on Saturdays to maintain the cleanness of the town of Apia.

However, when it comes to the keeping the beaches clean, that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

I saw it as well and its not a good view I tell you, he said.

But that is something the M.N.R.E should look at. They are responsible for cleaning that up. We had a clean up on Saturday and we picked up the rubbish in front of our houses, and the roads.

He went on to say that the best solution to the problem is if the Ministry would agree to work together with the village and community to keep Apia town clean.

If they can offer to help and assist us in keeping the town and the beach front clean, then we can all work with them.

They are responsible for taking care of our environment and leading the way for others to follow. And I think it would be better if we all work together.

Yesterday, a concerned member of the public, Pale, complained about the unattractive view at the Vaisigano Beach.

He said the view was not only disturbing it was also unpleasant to look at.

Its just sad to have this kind of view especially in Apia, the main town of Samoa. You see a nice hotel on the other side of the road, which is nice and very attractive. But then if you turn to the other side and you cant help but frown.

I mean, look at it, its a very unattractive and disturbing view.

Pale said if the government is serious about promoting and growing tourism in Samoa, they need to look at ways to keep Samoa clean, especially the Apia Township.

Our government and the Ministry in charge of this should look at this carefully.

If they want to attract more tourists, then they need to keep our country clean. We all need to keep this in mind.

Whats the point of having fancy hotels and beach fales out in the villages when the first thing tourists see in town is rubbish lying everywhere.

Its just not right.

Pale said the rubbish on the beach could also harm the environment.

This can also affect the marine environment and the animals living in the sea. Something needs to be done.

The C.E.O of M.N.R.E was contacted yesterday for a comment.

He was not available. The Samoa Observer was told he was busy with the commemoration of the World Water and Forestry Day.
A temporary shelter for Vaitele Market vendors to use for a few weeks has already been set up.

This was confirmed by the General Manager of the Samoa Land Corporation, Ulugia Kavesi Petelo, in an interview with the Samoa Observer.

For your information, the work has begun on the market for a businessman who won the tender to move in soon, Ulugia said.

Theyre covering the whole ground floor of the market and thats why we set up those temporary tarpaulins shelter for vendors to move into.

The Corporation is now working on the extension of the market at the front for vendors (permanent).

Its takes two to three weeks to build.

Those temporary shelters are for them to wait on the completion of the permanent site so they could continue to sell their agricultural products.

As of today, not more than six vendors are covering the ground floor.

The owner of Coin Save won the tender to run their $5.7 million Vaitele Market at the beginning of this year.

Theyre looking at building a warehouse to sell any sort of goods here and the other side for children to have fun.

I think theyre working on something else apart from what other companies and supermarkets are working on.

Thats good, because we all know the competition here in this area is very tight and I think thats why theyre looking at other businesses to set up.

One farmer who spoke to Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity said sales are slow.

The market is alright but the problem is, we hardly have any customers that come here and buy from us and I think this change is another way to approach our customers, she said.

We also hope that this business will bring in more people to the market and buy from us. Not chasing us away from here.
As Samoa pauses today to remember the suffering of Jesus Christ the Saviour, two passionate Samoan Christians whose mission is to tell the world about that love, will join them in thanksgiving.

This Good Friday, Tupetoa Ronji and Rebena Tanielu, will join their families in Samoa for a time of fellowship, worship and sharing about the love of God before they return to their work.

That work is fulfilling the Great Commission by taking the gospel to all corners of the world  including some of the most dangerous places where Christians are persecuted every day.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, the couple shared their experiences after two years of self-funded travel to 33 countries to spread the story of Jesus Christ, and to help some of more than 200million persecuted Christians around the world.

The gospel is the most important thing in our lives in terms of his death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, said Ronji.

A Lawyer by profession, Ronji who was born and raised in Auckland, has roots in Falelatai, Tanugamanono, Safotu, Saleaula and Tokelau. His wife, who is an Accountant by profession, has roots in Salani Falealili and Toamua.

In Auckland, they were running a couple of companies which they have decided to put on the backburner as they respond to the calling for their lives.

But the calling comes with a price. Theyve seen some of the most horrific ordeals of Christians being persecuted.

Some of their travel destinations include countries where the Bible is banned, or Christians are regularly persecuted for their faith.

In terms of persecution of our brothers and sisters, its something that most Christians dont often think or hear about, Ronji said.

In Nigeria for instance, Christians are often brutality victimised.

Ronji recalls one of one of their more heartbreaking encounters with a young Nigerian boy.

We met a young boy named Danjuma who was twelve years old, he said.

He had his left-eye cut out, right eye slashed, beaten all over his body, and his private parts cut off, all because he was a Christian.

This young boy forgives his attackers, and prays that they come to faith in Jesus Christ. Thats the kind of persecution and savagery facing our Christians in Nigeria but thats also Christianity in a nutshell.

Christianity, for us, is really about a God who became a man and then died a horrible death for our sins. We are forgiven despite our trespasses so we should also forgive.

Easter is a great time to reflect on what Christ has done for us.

The encounter in Nigeria is still raw for Rabena, who fought back tears just hearing her husband share the story again.

That is the encounter that had the most impact for us, she said. We also couldnt stay long [in Nigeria], we didnt want to bring any more unwanted attention to the local believers.

Ronji and Rabena say people in Samoa are so privileged to be able to worship God freely. Its something they should not take for granted.

We have this saying that sitting inside McDonalds doesnt make you a Big Mac. Sitting inside the church doesnt get you to heaven either. So really its not about the church building, its really about believing in the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thats what motivates everything that we do, business, our travels, mission our jobs and everything that we do, the gospel is the most important thing even over each other.

This mantra is what motivated the couple to travel and work with persecuted Christians around the globe.

Ronji and Rabena began a worldwide mission in May 2015 with two goals in mind: to help vulnerable Christians, and spread the word of God.

We decided very early on in our marriage that we wanted to serve the Lord, Ronji said.

Church is great part of growing as a believer, but its not the starting or finishing point. Make sure you dont just finish this weekend and then wait for Christmas.

In the past, the Auckland-based couple developed contacts by engaging with multiple organizations and hosting missionaries that visited.

Some of whom have helped them with their travels over the past two years.

We know that most missionaries are generally supported by organizations or their local churches, explained Rabena.

But we found that the Lord has blessed us with a good education and opportunities to self-fund, so that is what we did.

The Tanielus self-funded mission took them to over 33 countries throughout the world, through regions such as Europe, South East Asia, and Africa.

The two mostly stayed with friends, or reached out to organizations and churches while on the move.

In true Christian spirit, the Tanielus strived to share their expertise with locals to improve the lives of people in the places they visited. They are not afraid of getting their hands dirty and helping out in any way that they could.

Ronji has a legal or political admin background, I have a business and accounting background, but however we can serve, is what we will do, said Rabena

In Nazareth, its a very dangerous place for Christians, we worked by picking up rubbish for two months and that is how we engaged with people, added Ronji. We did whatever was needed in that country to spread Gods message.

Nazareth was one of many dangerous countries that the couple visited in their travels.

Mr. and Mrs. Tanielu believe their mission is about growing and sharing their faith and, despite the harrowing encounters, both enjoyed their time as self-funded missionaries.

Mr. and Mrs. Tanielu reflected that their journey had been fulfilling and that their upbringing and culture had a lot to do with their successful mission.

Being Samoan has prepared us to deal with people and cultures weve never been exposed to, said Rabena.

Samoans make the best missionaries. Samoans can eat anything, sleep anywhere, and do any kind of job for the glory of God, joked Ronji.

Despite having just returned, Ronji and Bena are now planning their next mission abroad.

We will be travelling back home to Auckland this Saturday, and we are going to start saving for our next mission, and maybe focus on one country this time, not thirty three.
A top Samoan international model is in the country.

Sam Tautua has teamed up with the Samoa Sinnet Fashion Show (S.S.F.S) to share his experiences with the fashion industry in the hope to inspire and motivate others who are thinking of joining the modelling industry.

A lot of people think I wanna be a model, I wanna be a T.V. presenter, but how do you get there? Sam shared during a press conference at Taumeasina Island Resort yesterday.

So Im here to share that information. Samoa Sinnet Fashion Show shares how you get there with the designers and models and producers behind the big picture. How do we collaborate to get Samoa on the international map?

Fashion Designer and the key woman driving S.S.F.S, Enid Westerlund, said it is important to have Sam in Samoa.

Sometimes when you bring an international model our people dont connect to that. We need our person who has been out there done it, whose been a success coming in to Samoa and giving this talk. 

Sam has come a long way.

To me it was foreign territory, he recalled when he first started. I didnt know any Samoan models, male or female when I entered. Our look wasnt even out there so how will I get work? How will I sustain an income? How would I get paid for doing something like that?

With roots in Fasitoo-Uta, Manono-Tai, and Fallesiu, Sam said being Samoan helped him stand out in the crowd.

When I got discovered they asked me about my heritage and I said Samoan,. Its so rare that our culture, besides the Rock, it is unique. You stand out straight away and so theres room to be unique in being Samoan and the rest is just who you are as a person.

Ive been to a lot of auditions and I spoke in Samoan because they didnt believe me. Its a point of difference and thats what the industry is and you have to be unique.

We grew up really faasamoa, so it was super strict. Part of that is the whole Samoan culture, be humble, be grateful, make sure you dont go crazy with your ego.

A lot of that I had to break in my adult life and it was about really owning what my own passions are. A lot of that was forming my own spiritual belief, so when it came time I have tools to get those nerves in control so it can serve you in the runway.

Starting his career as a model at 33, Sam went through a number of careers until he found his passion.

Theres no age restriction,  he explained. Straight out of school I was a real estate agent for six years. At the same time, I was studying a diploma in financial services. I knew how to sell; it was very natural to me. At the end of six years, I just thought, I dont want to be selling houses for the rest of my life.

I had graduated in finance by then and then I ended up working for the government for eight years doing pro-bate law. Then I was in middle management and managing teams.

Then after I got poached by the biggest trustee company in the Southern Hemisphere and I was one of the senior managers for their national teams.

He was 28 at the time.

I noticed I was given the jobs to present this product and sell it to this platform and so I had people saying you should be a presenter. But I thought, Nah not really.

In my twenties I had two modeling agencies approach me just off the street but I wasnt interested.

Then when I hit my thirties, my intuition was speaking to me. My intuition was saying , This is the time you start taking bigger risks and you start doing whats natural to you.

The rest is history.

He became the first Pacific islander to walk for London Fashion Week 2012, a Nominee for Britains finest Male Model of the year (2012) and the face for Australian Tourism among his many accomplishments.

He has also modeled for some of the most famous runways, peered out from the cover of magazines and has been modelling for global brands such as BMW, Marlboro, MacDonalds, FORD Motor Co., Budlight beer, Nissan, Sony and many others.

His last words for the young people of Samoa?

Dont be shy, be strong with what you want to do in whatever your belief system is. No ones going to believe you if you dont believe yourself. I think its really basic. Be humble. Dream bigger than the island; bigger than the country and go for it.
The Samoa Institute of Accountants (S.I.A.) kick started last week with its first training for 2017.

In collaboration with the Samoa In-country Training Programme (S.I.C.T.P), S.I.A. hosted the Risk Management training.

The four-day course was conducted for two groups of 23 participants each for S.I.A. members and interested non-members.

It focused on building the skills and capacity of staff from the different government Ministries, Corporations and Companies represented, by integrating effective Risk management concepts and practices to implement in the workplace.

The training was delivered by John Vila, a Chartered Accountant by profession from Australia who has conducted previous courses for S.I.A.

The feedback from participants indicated that the workshop was very helpful and informative for the development and upgrade of their Risk Management Plans and Policies.

Soane Leota, A.C.EO  M..OF, delivered the vote of thanks for Group 1 and Nimei Iosefa-Faiilagi of the Samoa Ports Authority, spoke on behalf of Group 2 ,in thanking their trainer as well as S.I.A and the SICTP for the coordination of this wonderful training.

Susana Laulu, S.I.A President, ,acknowledged with appreciation the funding of this training by the S.I.C.T.P through the Education Sector Plan by the government of Samoa and the Developing Partners (NZMFAT & AusDFAT).

This is through budget support to the Oloamanu Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education (OCPDCE), of the National University of Samoa (N.U.S).

Sooalo Sydney Faasau, S.I.C.T.P Manager, delivered the keynote address and presented the Certificates of Participation for both groups.
San Diego Gas & Electrics program aimed at reducing air conditioning usage during the hottest days of the summer is going through a significant reduction of its own.

The investor-owned utility has culled 6,600 customers from its Summer Saver Program after determining those users air conditioning units were providing little or no reduction on days when loads were at their highest.

Whenever we have programs that are designed for energy efficiency and that are funded from our customers, we want to make sure they are achieving what they set out to do , said SDG&E spokeswoman Amber Albrecht.

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There are still 20,000 SDG&E customers enrolled in the plan, most of them residential customers. The move marks the first time customers have been cut from the program.

Chris Landry, a Scripps Ranch homeowner who has received a year-end credit on her SDG&E bill through the Summer Saver Program that she estimated at $200 to $400, is skeptical about the utilitys motivations.

I think the program is costing them too much, she said.

But Albrecht said the cut came after a cost-benefit review of the Summer Saver Program and was signed off by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

We redesigned the program because we didnt want to remove (it) because for the majority of customers who are on it, we are noticing ... load reduction, said Albrecht.

The Summer Saver Program is one of a host of what is called demand-response programs that utilities offer as incentives for customers to reduce energy consumption when demands on the system are at their highest.

The aim is to help increase reliability of Californias power grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Rolled out in 2005, the Summer Saver Program offers customers a deal: If they let SDG&E install a device on their air conditioning units that allows the utility to control the unit on selected days during the summer, the customer gets a credit on their bill at the end of the year.

The credit is bigger if customers choose a 100 percent option in which the device shuts off the air conditioning unit during periods of critical peak demand. A smaller, end-of-the-year credit is given if customers choose a 50 percent option.

However, the device will not turn on an air conditioner.

The program is designed to take AC units that are already running and turn them off at these critical times, Albrecht said. If that AC unit isnt running theres nothing to turn off and theres no load reduction.

The Summer Saver Program runs from May through October and SDG&E says it wont cycle the air conditioning more than 60 hours during that six-month period.

The size of the credit also depends on the size of the air conditioning units, whose one-hour cooling capacity is measured in tonnage. Generally, one ton will cool a residence of 400 to 700 square feet.

SDG&E pays $27 per ton for a customer enrolled at 100 percent and $10.35 per ton for those enrolled in the 50 percent plan.

Landry, who lives in a two-story, 3,800-square-foot home and signed up for the 100 percent option, said she liked receiving the end-of-the-year credit so when she received a letter from SDG&E last month telling her she was being removed from the program, I called them immediately, for an explanation.

After some discussion, Landry was put back onto the plan.

Weve been working with each customer individually through our call center to find out whats the right solution for them, Albrecht said. Other energy efficiency programs include programmable thermostats and a smart thermostat plan that allows SDG&E to control the meter on certain days.

Instead of dropping people, I think they should just lower whatever theyre giving us at the end of the year, said Landry.

Albrecht said the review of the Summer Saver Program was done through the E3 Calculator used by the CPUC.

Its really about saving all of our customers money, Albrecht said. Its our job to really evaluate (how) we are spending these dollars. Is it really resulting in that statewide objective, what our customers are paying for? Are we seeing the results that are needed to preserve the integrity of the power grid during these critical times? And if not, how do we get there?

To help the state meet its clean energy goals, Californias utilities have been instructed to meet a 5 percent target for demand-response resources by 2020. As of mid-2015, the utilities needed another 640 megawatts of demand-response to meet the goal.

Business

rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook threatened to kick Uber out of its app store after it discovered that the ride-hailing company was intentionally violating its privacy rules.

Losing access to millions of iPhone users through Apples app store had the potential to destroy Ubers business, according to the New York Times, which detailed the confrontation between Cook and Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick.

Uber had been secretly identifying and tagging iPhones even after the app had been deleted, the New York Times reported.

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Uber denied the tracking allegations in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.

We absolutely do not track individual users or their location if theyve deleted the app, Uber said. As the New York Times story notes toward the very end, this is a typical way to prevent fraudsters from loading Uber onto a stolen phone, putting in a stolen credit card, taking an expensive ride and then wiping the phone  over and over again. Similar techniques are also used for detecting and blocking suspicious logins to protect our users accounts. Being able to recognize known bad actors when they try to get back onto our network is an important security measure for both Uber and our users.

The previously unreported encounter with Cook was part of a profile of Kalanick, who has been struggling the past few months to quell concerns about his leadership.

Secret Hell tracker

A new report says Uber used a secret software program dubbed Hell to track Lyft drivers to see if they were driving for both ride-hailing services  information that could be used to stifle competition.

The tool allowed Uber to monitor its competitors rates and steer additional fares toward drivers who were using both platforms, which could have influenced drivers to commit to Uber alone, according to a story in the technology trade publication the Information.

Only a small group of Uber employees, including Kalanick, knew about the program, according to the Information, which cited an anonymous source it said wasnt authorized to speak publicly.

The program was discontinued in early 2016, according to the report.

A representative for Uber did not respond to messages for comment Thursday. Lyft said in a statement to the publication that if true, the allegations are very concerning.

This has been a tumultuous year for Uber. In addition to the allegations of the Hell program, the San Francisco companys troubles have included executive departures, backlash over Kalanicks role as an advisor to President Trump, sexual harassment allegations, a video showing Kalanick lashing out at a driver, a lawsuit by Google spinoff Waymo, a potential fine from state authorities and the revelation of a secret program that mined user data in an effort to thwart regulators.

Read more: Ubers self-inflicted controversies come at a price: public loyalty 

Intoxicated-driver complaints

Californias ride-hailing regulator is proposing a $1.1-million fine against Uber for allegedly failing to investigate or promptly suspend drivers accused in complaints of driving while drunk or drugged.

The California Public Utilities Commission said in a legal filing released Wednesday that Uber hadnt taken appropriate action in 151 cases from August 2014 to August 2015, in violation of the states zero-tolerance regulations against intoxicated drivers. The agency also alleged that the companys DUI policies are too lax and do not comply with state rules.

Ubers policy, according to the agency, is to deactivate a driver who is the subject of three unconfirmed zero-tolerance complaints. The regulator said in its filing that the policy is too lenient and that the company doesnt even adhere to it. In at least 25 cases, the agency alleges, Uber failed to suspend or investigate a driver after three or more complaints.

Read more: Uber could face $1.1-million California fine for failing to investigate drivers accused of being intoxicated 

Waymo lawsuit

Google spinoff Waymo sued Uber in February, alleging theft of trade secrets. Thats a big deal, since Uber has pegged its future to self-driving vehicles.

The Waymo suit alleges that Levandowski  the former Waymo employee who now heads Ubers self-driving car division  downloaded more than 14,000 highly confidential and proprietary files shortly before his resignation in January 2016. He went on to found self-driving truck start-up Otto, which was acquired by Uber in August for $680 million. Levandowski now heads Ubers self-driving car division.

Waymo alleges Otto is using its proprietary technology. In addition to punitive damages, Waymo sought a preliminary injunction against Uber to stop the company from continuing development on self-driving cars.

Uber told a federal judge in early April that it didnt use stolen trade secrets for its driverless car project, and that therefore the court shouldnt force it to stop that work.

Read more: Uber says it didnt use secrets smuggled from Waymo 

Diversity report

In a bid to show that it is serious about transparency and cultural turnaround, ride-hailing giant Uber released data March 28 on diversity in its workforce.

The numbers show that Uber, like other technology companies, has struggled to attract women, Latinos and African Americans to its workforce. Nearly two-thirds of Ubers global workforce is male, and more than three-quarters of leadership roles at the company are held by men.

The company didnt release data about the racial composition of its global workforce, but it said that in the U.S., black and Latino workers comprise just 15% of employees. (The data do not include Uber drivers, who are classified as independent contractors.)

Uber executives also introduced a pledge to spend $3 million over the next three years with organizations trying to help underrepresented groups break into the tech industry.

Read more: Uber reveals how white and male its workforce is 

Self-driving car is hit in a crash

Uber suspended tests of its self-driving cars for a few days after one of its SUVs was struck in a high-impact collision in Arizona on March 24. Police in Tempe said that the Uber vehicle was obeying the law and that the driver of the other car, who was making a left turn at an intersection and didnt yield, was cited for a moving violation.

There were two operators and no passengers in the Volvo SUV, Uber said in a statement. No one was seriously injured.

Uber leaders back the CEO

In a March 21 conference call with reporters, Uber board member Arianna Huffington reaffirmed the boards support for Kalanick.

Its clear both Uber and the whole ride-sharing industry would not be where we are today without Travis, Huffington said in response to a question about whether Ubers board of directors would consider asking Kalanick to step down, given the bumpy road down which he has led the company.

The board has complete confidence in Travis. He started as a scrappy entrepreneur and now he has to bring about changes in himself, Huffington said. Im personally a big believer in leaders and companies being allowed to evolve.

Ubers chief human resources officer, Liane Hornsey, was also on the call and said the company would be launching unconscious bias training programs for employees, updating 1,500 job descriptions to ensure they are free of unconscious bias and continuing its search for a chief operating officer.

President quits

Ubers president resigned in mid-March after just six months on the job.

 The New York Times reported that Uber had been using a program to thwart authorities trying to curtail or shut down the service. (March 20, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)

The company didnt provide public comment explaining Jeff Jones departure. But the tech blog Recode, which first reported his resignation, said Kalanick told employees that Jones decided to resign after Kalanick announced his intention to hire a chief operating officer earlier in the month.

Jones, a former chief marketing officer at Target Corp., told Recode that his values didnt align with Ubers.

The beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber, and I can no longer continue as president of the ride sharing business, he said in a statement.

Read more: Uber president quits after six months on the job 

Executive search

In March, a week after saying he would seek leadership help, Kalanick announced he had begun the search for a chief operating officer  a peer who can partner with me to write the next chapter in our journey.

Secret Greyball program

In early March it was revealed that Uber had been wielding a secret weapon to thwart authorities trying to curtail or shut down its ride-hailing service.

The program included a feature nicknamed Greyball that identified regulators who were posing as riders while trying to collect possible evidence that Ubers service was breaking local laws governing taxis, the New York Times reported.

To stymie those efforts, Uber served up a fake version of its app to make it appear the undercover regulators were summoning a car, only to have the ride canceled. The company mined the data that it collects through its real app to pinpoint the undercover agents.

Uber acknowledged it has used Greyball to counter regulators working with the companys opponents to entrap its drivers, saying Greyball was part of a broader program it developed to protect itself and its drivers from fraudulent users who are violating our terms of service.

Less than a week after Greyball was revealed, Uber announced that it would kill the feature.

Read more: Secret Greyball program shows just how far Uber will go to get its way 

CEO caught on video berating driver

A dashcam video, released by Bloomberg News in late February, showed Kalanick arguing with Uber driver Fawzi Kamel over Ubers fares, which Kamel complained were too low.

Toward the end of their exchange, the video showed Kalanick losing his temper. You know what? Some people dont like to take responsibility for their own ..., he says, using a vulgarity. They blame everything in their life on somebody else. Good luck!

After the video became public, Kalanick issued an apology to all employees, saying he was ashamed. I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up, the 40-year-old executive said. This is the first time Ive been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it.

Uber CEO pledges to grow up after video shows him lashing out at a driver 

Executives abrupt exit

Ubers senior vice president of engineering reportedly was asked to leave in late February, just five weeks after Uber announced his hiring.

Kalanick sought Amit Singhals resignation after learning that Singhal had failed to disclose that there was a sexual harassment claim against him at his previous job at Google, Recode reported. Singhal said in a statement that he did not condone nor had he ever committed harassment and that the decision to leave Google was his own.

Read more: Uber executive leaves after failing to disclose sex harassment allegation 

Sexual harassment allegation

Former Uber employee Susan J. Fowler sent ripples through the tech industry in February when she alleged on her personal blog that she had been sexually harassed while working for the company, that other female engineers had reported similar problems  some involving the same manager  and that Ubers human resources department engaged in a systemic cover-up.

Kalanick said in a memo to employees that the blog post was the first hed heard of the incident. The company called in former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder to conduct an independent investigation.

Read more: Uber sexual harassment allegations are a warning for the tech industry and its rock star culture 

Trump-related backlash

Some 200,000 users deleted the Uber app in late January to protest Kalanicks perceived cooperation with the Trump administration, shortly after Trump issued an executive order banning travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The boycott  along with the hashtag #DeleteUber  hit the company after it advertised that it was operating at New Yorks Kennedy International Airport during a taxi strike protesting the executive order. Protesters also were upset that Kalanick was a member of a panel advising Trump on economic issues.

Kalanick soon promised that Uber would create a $3-million legal defense fund to help drivers affected by the travel ban. Within days, he quit the presidents advisory panel and slammed the travel ban in a memo to staffers.

Read more: Travis Kalanick quits Trumps advisory council; Elon Musk will stay 

Times staff writers Tracey Lien, Nina Agrawal, Paresh Dave, Russ Mitchell and Liam Dillon and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

9:20 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Uber.

April 24, 8:05 a.m.: This article was updated with a report that Apple threatened to kick Uber out of its app store for violating privacy rules.

April 13: 2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with a report that Uber used a secret software program to monitor drivers.

April 13, 7:50 a.m.: This article was updated with the California Public Utilities Commissions allegations surrounding intoxicated-driving complaints and proposed fine.

April 7, 6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with new information about the Waymo case.

March 29, 8 a.m.: This article was updated with information about Ubers diversity report and about a crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle.

March 21, 3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with information and quotes from a conference call.

This article was originally published March 20 at 11:30 a.m.
Five years ago, emergency room physician Basil Harris coaxed his siblings to help him build a portable medical device that would enable patients to diagnose 13 conditions and continuously monitor five vital signs.

In other words, a real life tricorder from the Star Trek TV movie franchise.

Working nights and weekends after their day jobs, the tech savvy Harris family team  called Final Frontier Medical Devices  put together DxtER (pronounced Dexter.) Its a cluster of blood chemistry and biological sensors coupled with analytics software that can uncover disorders ranging from stroke to anemia, diabetes to tuberculosis, Hepatitas A to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

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DxtER was named the winner of the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder XPrize contest at a ceremony Wednesday evening in Hollywood.

The majority of patients who come into my ER are just looking for a diagnosis, looking for medical advice said Harris. If they had this at home, they could get this information when they require it, and it would really help them make better decisions about their health.

Harris Pennsylvania-based team won $2.6 million, beating runner up Dynamical Biomarkers Group, a team from Taiwan led by Harvard Medical School Associate Professor Chung-Kang Peng and supported by smartphone maker HTC. Dynamical Biomarkers won $1 million.

Another $1 million was divvied up among semi-finalist teams for hitting technology milestones. Most of the remaining prize money is earmarked for further development, consumer testing and commercialization of tricoder prototypes for the two finalists and four semi-finalist teams.

Much of this work is slated to take place at UC San Diegos Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, which hosted consumer testing for the two finalist teams.

Founded in 1995, the non-profit XPrize Foundation organizes contests designed to spark big leaps in innovation.

Past contests included the Ansari XPrize to build a reusable private spacecraft, the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPrize to measure ocean chemistry and the Progressive Insurance XPrize to design a 100 mph per gallon vehicle.

It turns out designing a portable tricorder was every bit as difficult as building a reusable spaceship.

The contest took a year longer than expected, and the list of required medical conditions was trimmed during the course of the contest.

When the XPrize gets involved, and you put this kind of money at stake, we are trying to solve what appear to be unsolvable problems, said Rick Valencia, head of Qualcomm Life, the companys connected medical device arm.

More than 300 teams took out information about joining the contest. In the end 29 teams qualified from from nine countries. Ten teams made the first cut. A couple of teams joined forces along the way, resulting in six semi-finalists.

According to finalists, melding diverse sensors that diagnose everything from pneumonia to urinary tract infections on a device that weighs less than 5 pounds was tricky.

But perhaps the hardest part was making the tricorders no more complicated to use than a smartphone so patients could test their health at home.

I dont think it would have been bold enough to say lets give better diagnostic tools to doctors, said Valencia. The real bold challenge is lets put this in the hands of consumers and let them diagnose themselves.

Basil Harris grew up watching Star Trek and was always interested in technology. Growing up, he and his brother George built a cotton candy machine using a lawnmower engine and their mothers best soup pot.

Harris began prodding family members and others to enter the contest after reading about it. George Harris is a network engineer. Sister Julia has worked in health policy. Basil and Gus Harris are both doctors, but before they switched to medicine, they studied mechanical and electrical engineering in college.

Our device is unique, he said. It is re-creating what I do in the ER. It is getting to a diagnosis. It is a system that actually works. This is part of a new revolution in medical informatics.

Qualcomm has long viewed mobile technology as key to cutting healthcare costs and improving results.

Creating technology breakthroughs in an industry as complex as healthcare is quite a milestone, said Qualcomm Executive Chairman Paul Jacobs in a statement. What these teams accomplished is a great stepping stone to making mobile health care a viable option across the world.

When the Tricorder XPrize kicked off in 2012, the top prize money was $7 million, according to guidelines on the XPrize Foundation web site.

Now some of that funding has been re-routed toward additional product refinement, regulatory approvals and market development.

Ongoing work to get tricorder technology into the hands of patients includes more consumer testing, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration participating as an observer. The Qualcomm Foundation has committed $3.8 million toward supporting the teams and building the ecosystem..

In addition, the Roddenberry Foundation  created in 2010 by by the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry  has pledged $1.6 million to adapt tricorders for use in hospitals in developing countries.

Although this XPrize competition phase has ended, XPrize, Qualcomm Foundation and a network of strategic partners are committed to now entering a new phase which will support these teams, said XPrize Chief Executive Marcus Shingles in a statement.

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
As the American-born daughter of Palestinian immigrants, Jenny Farhat remembers the stories her father and grandparents would tell her about life underneath their ancient olive trees in the West Bank.

To escape the summer heat, farming families would eat, drink, sleep and even marry in the shade of of their expansive groves. But today many of those trees, including those once farmed by her own family, are gone as the result of the decades-long conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Farhat, 32, hopes to sow some seeds of hope for those dwindling farms with a new import business she launched last month. Harvest Peace, an e-commerce business headquartered in Encinitas, sells organic, fair-trade extra virgin olive oil made from olives grown and hand-pressed on a few hundred farms around the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Jenin in the West Bank.

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The olive oil is sold online at harvestpeace.com at $25 for a 16-ounce bottle. Under an agreement with Canaan Fair Trade and the Palestine Fair Trade Association, Farhat said the farmers receive a guaranteed minimum price for their oil that is more than double what they were earning five years ago. Also, a portion of proceeds from each bottle sold goes to Trees for Life, which is replanting olive trees in the region to help supplement the farmers income.

Although my familys groves have been destroyed in the regions longstanding conflict, there remains a great and vibrant optimism among the many families whose groves still stand today, Farhat said.

Harvest Peace

Founder: Jenny Farhat

Established: 2017 in Encinitas

Product: Organic, extra virgin olive oil produced by Palestinian farmers. A 16-ounce bottle sells online for $25.

Goals: To expand market and improve wages for farmers in Ramallah and Jenin, The West Bank. To donated a portion of proceed to plant new trees on struggling farms.

Where to buy: harvestpeace.com

For more than 300 years, Farhats ancestors farmed olives in the hills around Ramallah. The region is known for its old-growth trees, many more than 1,000 years old, that have grown deep roots to weather the dry, harsh conditions in the West Bank. The trees have continuously produced olives for centuries without imported water or fertilizer.

Farhat said the olive crop represents 45 percent of the cultivated land in the Palestinian territories, but since 1967, more than 1 million olive trees have been lost due to war and disputes over land ownership.

Farhats father and his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1967 and settled in Florida. Her own parents met in college (her mother is American).

After finishing her graduate degree in digital media in her mid-20s, Farhat moved to L.A. for a production job at MTV. Four years ago, she moved to Encinitas, where she works as the creative manager for Vapor Studio, a product design and branding company.

Farhat said she always wanted to find a way to help Palestinian farmers but didnt know how until she saw how e-commerce could be used for good. Working with Canaan Fair Trade, an export business based in Jenin, she was able to establish a working relationship with Palestinian farmers.

The bottles of Harvest Peace olive oil are printed with the latitude and longitude of the region where the olive oil was produced in the West Bank. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

To launch her business this year, she created a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $25,000. That money was used to underwrite the cost of importing the first pallet of olive oil, which was pressed in October and November, bottled in L.A. and went on sale last week. She said the oil is so fresh, it still has the grassy, peppery taste of just-pressed olives.

Already she has sold about 10 percent of the 2,000 bottles in her first shipment. Her goal is to sell about 1,000 bottles a month online. Shes now also considering wholesaling the product to fair trade-oriented merchants.

In the future, Farhat plans to expand her product line with another olive oil blended from olives grown on farms in both the Palestinian territories and in Israel. Later shed like to expand into other war-torn and economically depressed regions like Africa and India to buy locally made products from farmers and artisans.

To kick off her first order, Farhat traveled to Jenin last month. It was the first time shes ever been to her familys homeland.

It was emotional and it was difficult, she said of her trip. But everyone is really excited about the possibilities.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Each year a nonprofit group gives teens from low-income families the opportunity to go to prom by providing them with a dress they wouldnt otherwise have the means to buy.

The Princess Project San Diego chapter is in its ninth year of making prom dreams come true by promoting self-confidence one dress at a time.

Each year usually in the spring, the project holds giveaway events in preparation for prom season.

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The Princess Project donates one dress and one accessory to each eligible teen in grades 9 through 12.

The nonprofit is seeking gently used formal dresses of the prom, cocktail, bridesmaid and quinceanera variety as well as jewelry, purses, evening wraps and other accessories.

The South Chula Vista Library at 389 Orange Avenue is accepting donations by April 20.

The library is open Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Gowns must be in excellent condition and all sizes, fabrics and colors are accepted.

Dresses must be from 2006 to present.

They must be dry-cleaned and on hangers.

Accessories have to be stylish, clean and in excellent condition.

There are multiple dress giveaway dates and sites at several locations in the county, including at the South Chula Vista Library at 389 Orange Avenue on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Others include:

El Cajon County Library (April 22, 23)

Vista County Library (April 22nd)

Westfield Horton Plaza (April 19, 21, 22)

Students looking for a free gown for high school prom can register for an appointment at www.princessprojectsd.org/get-a-dress.

Students without appointments may select a gown between 2 and 4 p.m.

All recipients of prom dresses must bring a valid high-school ID.

The Princess Project was started in 2002, inspired by one young woman in need of a dress to attend her prom. It has grown to serve more than 35,000 deserving teens through five chapters in San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Tracy and Los Angeles.
To the rescue!

In its first year, 2015, Beer to the Rescue raised about $50,000 for the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. A huge success for the foundation, it was a huge problem for its creator.

The first year wore me out so much, with events all year, Brandon Hernandez said. I just got sick too many times.

Hernandez suffers from lupus, a chronic disease in which antibodies attack tissues and internal organs. Theres no known cause or cure, but people with lupus can live normal lives  between attacks.

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They can also fight back. In 2015, Hernandez launched Beer to the Rescue, 12 months of charitable events at local breweries. It was a natural pairing. While he knows the disease, hes also one of the most knowledgeable figures in San Diego beer.

You know this industry, said Hernandez, 40, chief marketing officer for Societe Brewing Co. and a veteran beer writer. People in this community always want to help a good cause.

For the Lupus Foundation, the annual event helps reach young adults.

When it hits the people who are in the Beer to the Rescue group, they dont want to think about lupus, said Hollaine Hopkins, executive director of the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. They want to be out partying. So this has helped us make an impact there.

After an exhausting 2015, Hernandez tinkered with Rescues format in 2016. Now, he believes hes found the right formula for 17: more events in a shorter time frame.

We can go real hard one month, May, Lupus Awareness Month, he said, and then the foundation can focus on spending that money the rest of the year.

The month begins Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m., with a pre-launch party at Gordon Biersch in Mission Valley. It will extend until at least June 1, when a double IPA that Hernandez helped create for Nickel Beer Co. will be poured at La Mesas West Coast Barbecue & Brew.

In between will be events at breweries large (Stone, Ballast Point) and small (Dos Desperados, Duck Foot)  in all, more than 40. For a complete schedule, visit beertotherescue.org.

It was a pretty overwhelming response, said Hernandez, who has worked for Stone and AleSmith. It got so big because the breweries are so generous.

A Hollywood ending

Boo! Kensington Video is in its final days at 4067 Adams Ave.

Hurrah! If this fabled haven for movie lovers has to go, at least its space will be filled by Kensington Brewing Co.s tasting room.

Wed been hunting for real estate for a really long time, said owner/brewer Zack Knipe. We finally found the spot.

These days, Knipes beer comes from a modest brewery in Mission Gorge. But the business got its name when it was launched from even more modest quarters, Knipes garage in the Kensington neighborhood.

Now, hes coming back home. Or will, just as soon as the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control approves his paperwork.

Kings of Beer

As soon as Green Flash bought Alpine Beer, a local brewery with an international reputation, you heard 

 The little East County operation had lost big ambitions.

 The home of Pure Hoppiness had descended into Pure Boredom.

 The Alpine mojo was no mo.

If thats what you heard, you heard wrong. Windows Up (7 percent alcohol by volume) is a warning shot fired across the taste buds, a dazzling demonstration of IPA mastery. Alpines best beer since the Green Flash era began in 2014, its every bit the equal of celebrated predecessors like Nelson, Duet and Pure Hoppiness.

Using Citra and Mosaic hops, Windows blends fresh Cleveland National Forest aromas with whiffs of tangerine and lemon. Citrus and piney flavors follow, with a resinous texture this side of slickness.

Craft beer fans talk of the two-pint test: Does a beer leave you eager for the next one? I drank my Windows Up one at a time  it is 7 percent, after all  but by the sixth day, I was ready for more. This weeks King, it aced the two-six-pack test.

Alas, Seven Kingdoms (6.9 percent)! This Belgian-style pale ale is one of Brewery Ommegangs Game of Thrones-themed beers. In that hyper-violent and addictive HBO series, deposed kings never enjoy the royal treatment.

Words to drink by

Heres to you, as good as you are,

And to me, as bad as I am.

And as bad as I am, Im as good as you are

As bad as I am.  Traditional toast

Did you know

Demand for hops is growing, but so are hop supplies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that hops held by growers, dealers and breweries rose 9 percent from March 1, 2016, to March 1, 2017, from 128 million pounds to 140 million pounds.

Beer Videos

Twitter: @peterroweut

peter.rowe@sduniontribune.com
At a recent event she hosted to honor servicewomen, Second Lady Karen Pence remarked that highlighting military women and families [is] one of her main platforms, and that her role with regard to military women is one of encouragement, its one of gratitude.

As the mother of a newly married male Marine, Ms. Pence has admirable intentions. However, lumping military women and military spouses and families into the same category diminishes the service of women who have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.

These women are military professionals who deserve to have the ear of their commander-in-chief or the vice president -- not be shuffled off to a high-profile spouse who is both not in their chain of command and, as a rule, does not discuss policy matters.

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GUEST VOICES: Authoritative views on the military and veterans issues

Ms. Pences conflation of military women and military families perpetuates the idea that a womans place is in the home, subordinate to her husband, rather than the military.

The failure of political and military leaders to fully embrace servicewomen as necessary and valuable components to our national defense perpetuates a hyper-masculine military culture and gross misperceptions of what a warrior should look and act like.

To that end, female stereotypes are often used to characterize weak, undesirable behavior by service men and result in double-bind or lose-lose scenarios for military women.

Family is perhaps the most prominent of these double binds. If a military woman chooses not to have children or get married, she is subject to undue scrutiny for not measuring up to the conservative ideal of the woman as caregiver and nurturer.

If she does have children, she faces being characterized by military men as either disloyal to her family or more concerned with being a mother than accomplishing the military mission. Its a catch-22, and she simply cant win.

The blurring of the lines between the unique of the roles of servicewomen and the traditional concept of women as mothers and wives also serves to reinforce the strong concern of many military wives that servicewomen are in direct competition with them for the attentions of their spouses.

Oftentimes at military social events, civilian spouses direct antipathy to military women out of misplaced jealousy.

The misconception that servicewomen join the military in order to meet and have relationships with men reinforces the outdated idea that men and women cannot work together. Unfortunately, the Second Ladys world view reinforces this notion.

As recently reported in the media, to avoid temptation or the appearance of impropriety, Vice President Mike Pence does not dine or work late in his office with women who are not his wife.

But given the nature of military service, men and women must work together -- often in close quarters and at all hours of the day -- especially when deployed. Dinners and social functions, most of which involve alcohol, are an essential part of career development and promotion.

The Pences world view on gender and work relations further strain gender relations in the military and make life harder for servicewomen by reinforcing outdated views about appropriate gender roles and interactions.

The Marines United scandal and subsequent events of the past month highlight that now more than ever, servicewomen are in need of a champion in the highest levels of leadership to drive cultural change in the military.

Both the number of women in the military and their importance to mission accomplishment has increased in the past two decades.

Without servicewomen the military, and our nation as we know it, would cease to exist. As individuals who have sworn an oath to protect and defend our nation, military women deserve more than to be lumped together with military families and be shuffled off to the wife of the vice president for photo opportunities.

These women are warriors and it is time that the administration -- and our nation -- recognized that.

Hunter served for over a decade as a Marine Corps officer, including combat deployments as a AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and service as congressional legislative liaison officer. She is a Ph.D candidate at the University of Denvers Josef Korbel School of International Relations.

Germano, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, writes about the challenges faced by service women, the policy change that opened all military jobs to women and the need to desegregate Marine Corps recruit training.
The vaccination rate for Californias kindergartners soared this fall from the previous year, fueled by a state law that made it significantly tougher for parents to exempt schoolchildren from shots.

It was the highest vaccination rate among kindergartners since at least 1998, and comes after a measles outbreak that began at Disneyland in 2014 focused new attention on the issue.

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New data released Wednesday showed that the percentage of Californias kindergartners as of last fall with all required vaccinations rose from 92.8% to 95.6%. Los Angeles Countys rate jumped from 90% to 95%, and Orange Countys from 92.5% to 95.5%.

More kindergartners were also getting the measles vaccination. An astonishing 97.3% of Californias kindergartners reported receiving both measles shots, up from 94.5% a year ago and 92.6% reported in the fall of 2014, just before the Disneyland measles outbreak struck.

Vaccination rates for whooping cough, also known as pertussis, posted similar numbers.

Experts say the conditions for measles outbreaks are enhanced if the vaccination rate is less than 95%.

Lawmakers who authored the vaccination law, known as SB 277, cheered the results.

It is gratifying to see that in the course of just one school year, more children  and the public at large  are now more fully protected from preventable diseases, state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said in a statement.

Great news, tweeted state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who is also a pediatrician.

Pan said in an interview Wednesday that he was encouraged by this years vaccination rates, especially because they are higher than the minimum needed to keep a single measles case from spreading rapidly in California.

Measles certainly hasnt gone away, he said, pointing to outbreaks in Europe and one in L.A. County earlier this year. We need to be sure to have our immunization levels high enough. The fact that this class and the state overall has now achieved this level is one further step to restore the community immunity we had before.

But Pan noted that the law only affects very young children  and there is still a percentage of schoolchildren who are not vaccinated because of the previously lax law. This is one year, one step. We halted the bleeding, he said.

The law requires that kids entering kindergarten and 7th grade have all their vaccinations, so elementary school children already older than kindergarten age will be required to be immunized eventually. But there are thousands of Californians whove already crossed 7th grade or graduated from high school without ever having received a vaccine.

The UC system has said it will require vaccines for all new enrollees, but most young adults wont encounter another vaccination checkpoint once they leave high school.

Thats why its going to take years to restore community immunity, Pan said. So Im really happy about this year, but this is not a declaration that were done and its over with. This shows progress.

He said more than the statewide averages, hes worried about counties with low vaccination rates.

Eight of the states 58 counties had vaccination rates below 90%, according to the new data. Viruses circulate in neighborhoods and communities, so regions with low vaccination rates are at risk, Pan said. We need to shrink those pockets.

State data also show that the percentage of kindergartners receiving a permanent medical exemption from vaccines has risen from 0.2% to 0.5%. Pan said he suspects the increase is primarily because kids who had always qualified for medical exemptions had been using personal belief exemptions because they were easier to obtain.

He said the state has to monitor whether doctors are providing fraudulent medical exemptions, but he thinks its most likely that the increase is due to legitimate medical exemptions.

Kindergartners entering home-based private school or an independent study program that does not provide classroom-based instruction can avoid the state-required vaccinations. The data said that 0.5% of Californias kindergartners were reported as lacking vaccinations under this category.

State health officials said other reasons for the improvement of vaccination rates included audits of schools to ensure they were complying with immunization law. Officials have said that schools often did not follow up on kindergartners admitted on the condition they would eventually receive all their immunizations.

The California vaccine law passed in 2015 was one of the most far-reaching inoculation laws in the nation. It bars parents from using religious or personal beliefs as a reason to excuse their children from enrolling in kindergarten without receiving all state-required immunizations. California joined just two other states  Mississippi and West Virginia  in making such a requirement as a condition for school enrollment.

The law drew hundreds of protesters to the state Capitol, where they argued that parents should have the right to make decisions about their childrens health without interfering with their ability to attend a public or private school.

But most lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown said the public health was too important to allow unvaccinated children who dont have an allergy or other medical excuse to go to school.

The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases, Brown said at the time.

The decline in vaccinations came amid growing public concern about the safety of vaccines and whether they caused autism, a fear that stemmed from a report in a British scientific journal published in 1998. The article was retracted and declared to be a deliberate fraud. Numerous studies have since provided overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe.

But the damage was done. By 2013, Californias kindergarten measles vaccination rate hit a low of 92.3%. A year later, the measles outbreak struck at Disneyland and grew to become Californias worst since 1991, ultimately infecting more than 150 people and spreading to other states. An analysis published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics said the disease spread thanks to parents who declined to vaccinate their children.

In 2010, an epidemic of whooping cough led to the deaths of 10 infants.

Opponents of the law filed a lawsuit last summer claiming the law violated California childrens right to an education under the states Constitution. A judge denied their request for an injunction that would have blocked the laws roll-out, and the plaintiffs later withdrew their case. They also failed to gather enough signatures last year to put a referendum on the November ballot to overturn the law.

soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com | @skarlamangla

ron.lin@latimes.com | @ronlin

UPDATES:

4:15 a.m.: This article was updated with a statistic from Los Angeles and Orange counties and context about a 2010 whooping cough outbreak.

9:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with comments on the vaccination numbers and background information.

This article was originally published at 5:05 p.m. on April 12, 2017.
The head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Los Angeles has sent a memo to Southern California police chiefs and sheriffs saying the agency has found law enforcement officers buying and reselling guns in what could be a violation of federal firearms laws.

The March 31 memo from Eric Harden, the ATFs Los Angeles Field Division special agent in charge, describes the finding as an emerging problem the agency has become aware of, and he expressed concern about the growing trend of law enforcement officials engaging in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing.

He did not say how many officers the agency has found purchasing and reselling weapons, but the memo says some officers had bought more than 100 firearms. Some of the guns have been recovered at crime scenes.

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Harden said this is a training and education problem.

It is our goal to educate, not investigate, to ensure law enforcement officials comply with federal law in order to avoid unnecessary public embarrassment to themselves and your Department/Agency, Harden wrote.

His memo, obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune, focuses on the purchase and resale of off roster firearms. Those are guns that are not on an approved roster of weapons that can be sold to the public.

The California law establishing the roster has an exemption that allows sworn peace officers to purchase such weapons, however. Another exception allows officers to resell the guns under certain conditions.

But if officers are buying and reselling multiple weapons for profit as a business, they need a federal firearms license, or FFL.

The lack of a license is the conduct that ATF has uncovered and is the subject of the memo.

Recently, ATF has discovered that some law enforcement officers who do not have an FFL are purchasing off roster firearms  and reselling those firearms to non-law enforcement entities for a profit, Harden wrote.

That amounts to a violation of federal law of selling firearms without a federal license, the memo said. In addition, if a gun is bought with the intent to sell it later or buy it on behalf of someone else and that was not disclosed on federal transaction records  known as a straw purchase  that also breaks federal law for lying on a federal firearms form.

Selling without a license can carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Lying on the federal form carries a maximum 10-year penalty.

It is unclear when the ATF discovered the problems, nor what specifically prompted the memo.

Ginger Colbrun, spokeswoman for the ATF Los Angeles office, said the agency noticed that firearms recovered at crime scenes were then traced and some showed they had been purchased within the past three years.

That time to crime measure developed by the ATF shows the time frame from when a gun is sold by a licensed dealer to when it is recovered by police during a criminal investigation. The national average is 10 years. A shorter time period can indicate the gun was the product of a straw purchase  bought in order to be sold quickly.

After spotting the trend in routine trace reports, the agency looked closer, Colbrun said. After further investigation, ATF noticed some law enforcement officers had been making significant purchases of firearms, she said.

She declined to be more specific, saying there were ongoing investigations.

Colbrun also said the memo, addressed to Dear Law Enforcement Partner, didnt indicate law enforcement officers who might be breaking federal gun laws were getting special treatment by being offered a chance to be educated by the ATF and not prosecuted by federal authorities.

There is no extra consideration, she said. We believe the most effective way to stop the behavior is to educate law enforcement in what the laws are and arent.

The California Police Chiefs Association, which represents chiefs and sheriffs across the state, emailed the memo to its members Tuesday morning.

Local police leaders, including San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, Sheriff Bill Gore and Escondido Police Chief Craig Carter, then forwarded the memo on to their departments, officials said Wednesday.

Carter said the email was unexpected. We hardly ever get an email (from the ATF) if there isnt an issue, he said. Whether that issue is in this county or somewhere else in the state, I dont know.

He also said he was unaware of any officers or deputies who were being investigated by ATF in San Diego County, but added he may not know of cases being handled by the federal agency.

I sent it out to every single one of my cops saying, Dont forget. This is the way its supposed to be done. I felt (the memo) was a reminder that these are the rules and we are not exempt from them, Carter said.

Representatives of the San Diego County Sheriffs Department and the San Diego Police Department also said there were no ongoing firearm sale investigations that they are aware of involving their officers or deputies.

Federal prosecutions of state law enforcement officers for selling off-roster weapons are rare. The most recent occurred in Sacramento County, when former Sheriffs Deputy Ryan McGowan was found guilty in June 2015 of selling guns illegally and falsifying federal records to do it.

Prosecutors said he sold 25 guns at an inflated price between 2008 and 2011. McGowan also worked with a licensed gun shop to further circumvent federal law.

One sale involved a buyer who converted two guns to assault weapons and later got into a six-hour standoff with a SWAT team, according to the Sacramento Bee.

This past June, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
An Ocean Beach man who fatally shot his roommates boyfriend on the doorstep of his condominium last year was acquitted of murder Thursday and convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

Thomas Francis Burke IV, 33, had argued that he acted in self-defense when he fired two shots at Jess Matthew Robles, 34, of Pacific Beach.

The prosecution argued that Burke was jealous of Robles, and the defendant executed the victim the night of June 22, 2016.

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After deliberating less than a day and half, the jury found Burke was not guilty of first- or second-degree murder but was guilty of manslaughter and a gun-use allegation.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Melinda Lasater scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 11, when Burke faces a possible prison term of six to 21 years.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Kyle Sutterley argued that Burke was obsessed with one of his two female roommates and that he was resentful when she began dating Robles.

There had been tension in the household  which Burke, who worked as a pharmacist, owned  because Burke continued to have romantic feelings toward his roommate and became angry when Robles disrespected him in his home.

There was testimony that Robles had called Burke names and, at one point, went into Burkes room when he wasnt there, which angered the defendant.

Sutterley argued that Burke reached his breaking point the night of June 22, after he received text messages from Robles via the girlfriends phone. In those messages, Robles indicated he knew that Burke was trying to break up the couple.

This is Jess.  Sounds like you have a lot to say behind my back, Robles wrote.

Then later: Lets meet up, bro. I got you covered, (expletive).

Later that night, the roommate went home to the condo on Catalina Boulevard near Voltaire Street. She began gathering her belongings while Robles waited outside in a car.

Meanwhile, Burke had decided he wanted the woman to move out permanently. He testified during the trial that he followed her down a hallway leading to the front door and told her he wanted her to give back her key to the residence.

As she knelt in the hallway to put a leash on her dog, there was a knock  or a bang  at the door. It was Robles.

The prosecutor argued that the door came open and Burke reached through it, firing two shots from a Glock 17 handgun. Robles died at the scene.

He was outside and so was Jess, and thats where he fell, Sutterley said during closing arguments.

Burkes lawyers, Gary Gibson and David Silldorf, argued that when the door opened, Robles locked eyes with Burke and immediately went down into a fighting stance. They said Burke fired the shots as Robles began to rise up and come through the door.

They argued that Burke lawfully protected himself with his own gun in his own home.

Burke fled after the shooting but turned himself in to police about eight hours later. He had walked from Ocean Beach to downtown San Diego, taking a gun magazine with him but leaving the gun behind.

Wednesdays verdict shows the jury did not believe the killing was legally justified, nor did they believe it was first-degree murder, as the prosecutor had argued.

Outside the courtroom, the defense lawyers explained that the panel could have determined Burke was guilty of manslaughter under a theory that he pulled the trigger suddenly in the heat of passion. But they said its more likely the jury believed this was a case of imperfect self-defense, meaning Burke legitimately believed he was in imminent danger, but was wrong.

Burke remains held in county jail pending sentencing.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
Two men were sentenced this week in connection with a 2007 fatal shooting in City Heights after an altercation that began at a taco shop and ended at a nearby doughnut shop.

Santiago Covarrubias, 42, was convicted in March of first-degree murder and a gun-use allegation in the slaying of Damon Green, 38. Covarrubias was sentenced on Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court to 50 years to life in prison.

A co-defendant, Martin Villalpando, 37, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was placed on probation at his sentencing hearing Wednesday. He had credit for several years spent in custody.

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He was ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation program as a condition of probation.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Erickson said Green was killed on March 20, 2007, after exchanging words with Covarrubias inside a taco shop on El Cajon Boulevard.

Green was with a friend when he encountered the defendants, the prosecutor said. Green made comments to Covarrubias, asking about whether the latter was in a gang or sold drugs, which were construed as mocking or poking at him.

Covarrubias interpreted Greens comments as disrespect.

Covarrubias then asked Green, Where are you from? which Greens friend recognized as a challenge, the prosecutor said. Covarrubias and Villalpando left the taco shop and returned about 10 minutes later.

This time, Covarrubias had a gun.

He and Green got into a second confrontation outside the nearby Donuts Plus shop, the prosecutor said. Covarrubias shot Green in the upper thigh, hitting his femoral artery.

After Green turned and ran back into the doughnut shop, Covarrubias fired at least three more rounds through the glass door and windows, hitting Green a second time in his upper back/buttocks area.

Erickson said police linked the shooting to the defendants after Villalpando was arrested at the border in 2013 on a drug smuggling offense. His DNA profile was entered into a database. It matched DNA that was found on a fork and napkin found in the garbage at the taco shop.

Further investigation revealed Villalpandos connection to Covarrubias, who was serving a 12-year prison sentence in a 2001 manslaughter case.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
Local leaders are praising the budget Mayor Kevin Faulconer unveiled on Thursday as a set of reasonable compromises that makes strategic cuts in careful ways and maintains San Diegos recent focus on street repair and neighborhood services.

While the proposal includes the elimination of 60 jobs to help close a projected $81 million deficit, the leader of the citys largest labor union praised the mayor for adjusting reserve policies to soften the blow.

Given what the mayor was facing, I think he did a pretty good job protecting essential services  and our employees are the essential services of the city, said Mike Zucchet, general manager of the Municipal Employees Association.

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Arts groups voice concern about budget cuts

The proposed $1.4 billion operating budget, which would cover the fiscal year that begins July 1, closes some of the gap by wiping out a $16 million pension reserve and cutting the citys workers compensation reserve in half.

We appreciate his thoughtful use of reserves and his creation and use of the pension stabilization reserve and the changes to the workers compensation reserve that are allowing the shortfalls he was facing to have a more moderate impact, Zucchet said.

RELATED: Faulconer budget cuts positions, arts but keeps focus on infrastructure

Councilwoman Barbara Bry, chair of the councils budget committee, said the cuts are regrettable, but minor in comparison to what the city faced during the Great Recession.

She also praised the budgets focus on neighborhoods while maintaining spending on public safety. But she said the fine print will matter.

The council is eager to review the budget with a fine-toothed comb, she said.

Nicole Capretz, executive director of local nonprofit Climate Action Campaign, had a mixed reaction to the proposed budget and how it would impact implementation of the citys ambitious climate action plan, or CAP.

We are pleased to see CAP implementation called out as a specific budget category and the addition of one new CAP staff person, Capretz said. But to reach the CAP targets we need significantly more investment into building affordable housing near jobs and transit, as well as more investment into implementing our bike and pedestrian master plans and our public transportation system.

The budget does include $1.1 million to cover some of the mayors affordable housing initiatives and to launch creation of a parks master plan.

Faulconer said hes disappointed that the budget cuts city funding for the arts by slashing the Penny for the Arts contribution from hotel taxes by $4.7 million, from $15.1 million to $10.4 million.

The mayor noted that arts funding would still remain above the amount spent in fiscal 2015, and contended that his staff had little choice with the citys annual pension payment increasing this year from $191 million to $236 million.

RELATED: San Diego still plagued by pension debt

You dont like to make any reductions, but the fact of the matter is that pension bill came due and you have to deal with that in a way thats responsible and that focused on neighborhood services, Faulconer said after unveiling the proposed budget during a noon press conference at the Malcolm X Library branch in southeastern San Diego.

We are so fortunate to have such a thriving and vibrant arts and culture community in San Diego, he said. The fact that weve added so much in recent years is something that Ive been proud of.

The proposed budget includes far fewer new programs and services than the three previous spending plans Faulconer has proposed since becoming mayor in 2014.

Those budgets have restored hours at libraries and recreation centers to where they were before the Great Recession and sharply increased spending on homelessness, street repair, building neighborhood parks and other infrastructure projects.

He said on Thursday that it was tough to face cuts for the first time as mayor.

We had to make some tough decisions, he said. We had to prioritize whats most important. Thats why this budget is focused squarely on neighborhoods.

Former Mayor Jerry Sanders, who now serves as chief executive of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the mayor struck the right balance.

Paved roads, community parks and reliable infrastructure are good for business, and we appreciate that these priorities are funded in this plan, said Sanders. Its never simple to balance a budget in the face of San Diegos pension obligations, but this plan shields neighborhoods from major cuts and preserves the public services that residents and workers rely on.

Bishop William Benson of Total Deliverance Worship Center in southeastern San Diego said the new budget continues Faulconers focus on boosting the citys low-income neighborhoods.

Since becoming mayor he has consistently said he wants to put the neighborhoods first and he has consistently backed up his word with each and every budget, said Benson, praising the mayor for not slashing hours at library branches and recreation centers despite facing a deficit.

Faulconer stressed that despite the change in reserve policies, the city honored a commitment to increase the size of its general fund reserve to 15 percent in fiscal year 2018, which required an increase of $7 million to $181 million.

Mary Lewis, the citys chief financial officer, said the elimination of 60 jobs wont mean 60 layoffs because many of the eliminated positions are vacant and the Personnel Department will work hard to place workers in cut positions in other city jobs.

The size of the citys general fund budget would increase by 5.3 percent, from $1.34 billion in Fiscal 2017 to $1.41 billion in Fiscal 2018.

When the citys water, sewer and capital improvement funds are included, the overall city budget proposed by Faulconer would be $3.57 billion, a 5.4 percent increase from the $3.39 billion projected for Fiscal 2017.

The capital improvement fund, the citys primary source of money for infrastructure projects, would increase from $421 million to $445 million, significantly more than double the $179 million spent in fiscal 2014.

The operating budget continues to grow in size because city revenue continues its rise since the Great Recession, but officials stress those increases have begun to plateau.

Property tax revenue is projected to increase 5 percent to $531 million, sales tax is estimated to go up 2.5 percent to $277 million and hotel tax revenue, formally called transient occupancy tax revenue, is projected to climb 5.7 percent to $121 million.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
A divided San Diego City Council adopted a new burglar alarm policy this week that aims to reduce false alarms to free up police officers for higher priority tasks.

The council voted 6-3 in favor of the new policy, which sharply reduces permit fees for businesses and homeowners with alarm systems, but hikes fines for false alarms.

The council was divided over whether alarm system owners should be fined for all false alarms, or whether they should be allowed to have one false alarm per year without incurring a fine.

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Council members Chris Ward, Lorie Zapf and David Alvarez wanted no fine for the first false alarm each year.

Accidents happen  false alarms happen, said Ward, adding he expects the new policy to generate many complaints from residents about fines. Not giving people one chance in a 12-month period is a little much for me.

Zapf, who says she has a home alarm system that once got set off by windy weather, agreed with Ward.

Im on the side of one pass per year, she said.

But the rest of the council supported the new policy, which was enthusiastically endorsed by representatives of the alarm industry.

We really want to encourage the good behavior quickly because we want to free up police resources ASAP, said Councilwoman Barbara Bry.

Police Department officials said an estimated 20,000 hours of officer time is wasted each year responding to false alarms, a number they predicted would drop by 70 to 90 percent under the new policies.

There are about 40,000 functional burglar alarms in the city based on how many permits the Police Department issues each year. The annual cost of those permits would be reduced from $50 to $10 for residential alarms, and from just over $86 to $10 for commercial alarms.

Fines for false alarms, which the city hasnt previously issued, would be $100 for the first false alarm, $200 for the second, $300 for the third, $400 for the fourth and $500 for the fifth and beyond.

The city previously charged only when multiple false alarms had prompted revocation of a permit, which happened relatively frequently. Revocation fees ranged from $110 to $2,200 depending on how many times it had happened before.

The new policies would shrink annual Police Department revenue from burglar alarms by $1.7 million  from $2.7 million to $1 million  but boost emergency response times and crime fighting by reducing false alarms.

The reductions in permit fees are expected to reduce annual city revenue by $660,000.

The new approach to false alarms is expected to reduce Police Department revenue another $1.1 million.

Andrea Tevlin, the citys Independent Budget Analyst, said the proposal is based on sound analysis and noted that the financial losses could be smaller than estimated because they are based on projections.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
Jim Ellis, a decorated Navy pilot and small businessman who served on the San Diego City Council and state Senate and Assembly, died Monday at the age of 88.

He was a quiet, not boisterous, kind of legislator, said his widow, Carol Bentley Ellis, who also served in the Assembly. He did an awful lot people werent aware of.

Ellis was born in Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 28, 1928, and grew up in Delta, Colo. He served in the Navy from 1948 until 1970, and his military career included three tours in Vietnam as an aviator aboard F-8 Crusaders. He earned a Bronze Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Navy Commendation Medals and 11 Air Medals.

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After leaving the Navy, Ellis moved to San Diego and opened Pacific Car Rentals with just two vehicles near the airport. By the time he sold the business, his fleet had grown to 200.

Bentley Ellis said he was spurred to run for City Council in 1973 after the city had imposed a special fee on car rentals.

He just thought it was flat-out wrong, so he decided he was going to take on city hall, she said. Hed never been in politics before but thought, I can do this job, probably better than they can.

After three years on the council, Ellis ran for Assembly as a Republican to take on property tax reform, which would become a bigger issue in a couple of years with the passage of Proposition 13.

In 1980, Ellis was elected to the state Senate, where he served until deciding he did not want to seek a third term in 1988. During his tenure in Sacramento, Ellis was described as a low-key but solid member of the Senates bloc of conservative Republicans.

He always took on issues he didnt think were right, Bentley Ellis said about his career.

Ellis worked to change possession of child pornography from a misdemeanor to a felony, and to bring private industry into prisons so inmates could earn minimum wage and get job training.

Although the prison legislation he proposed failed, then-Gov. George Deukmejian brought the idea forward as an initiative, which was passed by voters.

Bentley Ellis said he also did outreach to communities that needed help, and while on the Senate he worked to encourage employers to hire disabled people.

Part of that effort included holding breakfasts with employers, she said. Only two showed up at the first one in 1981, but the last one attracted 150.

For three years he also held a sand castle event with disabled people in Ocean Beach to draw attention to what they can accomplish, she said.

After Ellis retired from the Senate, Deukmejian appointed him to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, which he served on until 1992.

He ran for his old Senate seat that year, but his only election defeat came with a loss to Lucy Killea.

In later years he served on the board of directors for the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

He and Bentley Ellis married in 1997 but had known one another for decades, as she ran his district office in San Diego from 1976 to 1988.

The couple lived in Mission Beach, where Ellis was beloved by neighbors and was a frequent patron of the tavern the Pennant, where a sign in the front window shows a California and American flag above the words, Jim Ellis, We will miss you.

Ellis is survived by sons James and John Ellis, daughters Gay Norton and Merrilee Orcutt, eight grand children and nine great grandchildren.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
A 20-year-old suspect in a Los Angeles homicide was arrested at the San Ysidro border Monday, Customs and Border Protection officials said Wednesday.

Mexican authorities turned over Frank Perez to U.S. customs officers at PedWest, the pedestrian border crossing from Tijuana to San Ysidro, about 9:35 p.m., customs officials said.

Officers took his fingerprint and used it to search a database, which revealed he had an outstanding felony warrant for a homicide, customs officials said. The no-bail warrant had been issued at the request of Los Angeles police.

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Perez, a U.S. citizen, was then turned over to the FBI.

Details of his arrest in Mexico were not released.

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Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A 22-year-old suspect in a hit-and-run crash that left a man dead in Lincoln Park a week ago turned himself in to police Tuesday, authorities said.

Darius Runnells surrendered to traffic investigators at the San Diego police station in the Skyline neighborhood, police Lt. Scott Bender said Wednesday.

The victim, Ruben Meza, 57, was walking away from his parked truck, to his apartment across the street, when he was struck on South 47th Street south of Logan Avenue about 8:15 p.m. on April 5, police said.

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Runnells was identified as the suspect the next day, after police got calls from his mother and a woman who discovered a damaged car.

Runnells mother told police she worried her son may have been involved in the deadly crash that she saw news reports about, Bender said. Runnells, who lives nearby on Solola Avenue, borrowed her car to drive to an ATM on 47th Avenue the night of the collision and did not return home since, his mother told police.

Also on Thursday, a Velencia Park resident called police after she noticed a badly damaged Toyota Corolla in front of her home on Lorenz Avenue near Division Street. The car had dents and a smashed windshield, police said.

Investigators said the damage to the sedan and other evidence led them to believe the car was involved in hit-and-run crash. The car, which was impounded, is registered to Runnells mother, Bender said.

In the days that followed, police tried to find Runnells and contact him, but the attempts were unsuccessful. On Tuesday, he called police and said he would surrender. He arrived at the police station accompanied by an attorney, Bender said.

Runnells was booked into jail on suspicion of felony hit and run causing death.

Breaking News

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A smelly mixture in a chemistry class prompted the evacuation of students at Pershing Middle School in San Carlos neighborhood school Thursday.

Students and staff made their way to a playing field for about 90 minutes while a hazardous materials crew and firefighters checked out the room, a school district spokeswoman said.

Officials believe the chemistry teacher combined some chemicals that created a noxious odor, said Shari Winet, spokeswoman for the San Diego Unified School District. One student complained of a headache and was sent to the school nurse.

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School officials called the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department about 11:45 a.m. Students were already out of their rooms when crews got there. A hazmat crew also was called in and school district police went to assist, Winet said.

The school made sure students and staff had water and food while they waited outdoors, Winet said.

The odor had dissipated and students were allowed to go back into the classroom by about 1:15 p.m.
Dublin, April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Wireless Test Equipment Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022" report to their offering.



The global wireless test equipment market is expected to witness a CAGR of 6.1% during 2016-2022

Most of the developing countries lie in Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World regions. These two regions are expected to account 49% of the global wireless test equipment revenue by 2022. The market for wireless test equipment is expected to witness highest growth in Asia-Pacific during the forecast period. LTE is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. The fixed broadband household and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) penetration is low in most part of Asia-Pacific. Mobile broadband is expected to be the major form of broadband access for majority of people in South East Asia and Oceania.

This is likely to lay opportunities for operators to fulfill the need for home broadband and SME solutions through alternative access technologies, such as LTE. In 2015, a mere 5% of the total mobile subscriptions in South East Asia and Oceania were LTE. This is expected to cross 40% by 2021. This growth is likely to augment the wireless test equipment market in the region during the coming years.



The wireless test equipment market witnessed the launch of an array of products. The needs of wireless telecommunication industry has been changing rapidly, requiring the market players to innovate continuously. The global players are introducing several new products to stay competitive. In 2016, over 13 types of wireless test equipment products were launched by several players. Ixia, Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight Technologies, Anritsu, Viavi and Teradyne were the major players introducing new products in this market. The major types of products launched during 2016 were multi-terabit network security test platform, conformance test solution, BER test solution, and ultraportable millimeter wave (mmWave) power analyzer.



Some of the key players in the global wireless test equipment industry include Ixia, Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight Technologies, Anritsu, Viavi, Teradyne, Spirent Solutions, Cobham Plc, and National Instruments Corporation.



Market Outlook



Opportunities In The Market



Growing Penetration Of Lte In Developing Countries

Prospects From Upcoming 5G Technology

Trends In The Market



New Product Launches

Focus On Technology Enhancement

Drivers In The Market



Growing Demand For Mobile Data Offloading

Surging Demand For Small Cells And Hetnets

Increased Investment In Nfv

Impact Analysis On Market Forecast



Restraints In The Market



Reduced Roi In Wireless Communication Market

Long Testing Time

Impact Analysis On Market Forecast



Company Profiles And Strategic Developments



Anritsu Corporation

Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. Kg

Teradyne Inc.

Viavi Solutions Inc.

National Instruments Corporation

Keysight Technologies Inc.

Spirent Communications Plc

Cobham Plc

Ixia

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/x8cxmv/global_wireless




A robber who fired two shots past a Scripps Ranch store clerk last week was caught on security video, and San Diego police want the publics help in finding him.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the April 6 holdup at the Market at the Ranch gas station and liquor store on Scripps Trail.

The robber cinched a sweatshirt hood tight around his face as he walked into the market holding a pistol about 9:25 p.m. He demanded money from the register, and when the clerk had trouble opening it, the robber fired a round into a cigarette display case on the wall behind the counter, police said.

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He also used his pistol to hit the clerk in the eye. The clerk got the register open and dropped cash into a black plastic bag that the robber brought with him.

Then he wanted money from the safe. When the clerk said he didnt have the key, the gunman fired another round, hit the clerk in the eye again, and kicked him. He left without contents from the safe.

He is described as black, up to 6 feet tall, 165 pounds, with a mustache. He wore a black hoodie, blue jeans and gray gloves. He may have left in a small, silver SUV.

Anyone with information on the case can call San Diego police robbery unit at (619) 531-2299 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or at www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
Downtown San Diego has had not just one renaissance, but two. The first was under Mayor Pete Wilson with the visionary plan to build Horton Plaza. A project that led to the transformation of the surrounding Gaslamp District from blight to a magnet for visitors and tourists alike. The second came under Mayor Susan Golding with the approval of Petco Park and the innovative plan to redevelop 26 blocks of East Village. That project, combined with the last expansion of the convention center, created thousands of jobs and new economic activity. Were there battles over competing visions? Of course. Yet now we see that both visions were transformative.

Today, San Diego has a chance for a third renaissance. Adjacent to the blossoming neighborhoods of Gaslamp and East Village is an area that, despite its apparent potential, has remained underutilized and uninviting for decades. The C street corridor has been plagued by crime, blight and a lack of economic investment.

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Its curtains for the California Theatre

Historic preservation can revitalize downtown San Diego

For more than 10 years, there has been plan after plan with several false starts. The revitalization of this corridor must be a top priority, starting with the reinvigoration of the old California Theatre site.

Once a hub of activity, the celebrated theater sat vacant for more than 25 years. When the property was acquired in 2008, the theater had been shuttered for more than 18 years, and the structural integrity of the building had become compromised beyond repair. In its most recent past, it has been an attractive nuisance and an eyesore for the community.

Thankfully, last week the City Council unanimously approved the Overture project, which will redevelop the site and construct a new mixed-use residential building. In replicating original design elements from the California Theatre, the project will pay tribute to its own past while inspiring future development. The Overture will breathe life into a corridor that currently feels abandoned and at times unsafe.

This is just the beginning.

The mayor should launch a public dialogue on the revitalization of Civic Center, a complex that includes not only city government, but the San Diego Civic Theatre, convention and meeting space, and a 1,200-space parking structure.

Recent facility assessments released show that the City Administration Building and City Operations Building, the two buildings that house the majority of city employees, are crumbling and have hundreds of millions of dollars of deferred maintenance. It would require a minimum investment of $133 million to repair these buildings to a barely acceptable condition.

Investing millions of dollars into crumbling infrastructure is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Now that the city will also own Civic Center Plaza located at 1200 Third Avenue and the old Sempra building at 101 Ash Street, it is time to have a robust discussion on what comes next. This property is also home to the San Diego Civic Theatre which currently hosts the San Diego Opera and Broadway San Diego. The aging facility is ripe for a major renovation that would create a world-class arts venue befitting of a global city. There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a long-term vision that will be as much a catalyst for redevelopment as Horton Plaza and Petco Park.

In 2010, there was an extensive process undertaken to identify a financially feasible deal to revitalize this site. It is time to restart this effort. A final development should include a mix of retail and residential uses to reinvigorate C Street. Private investment follows public investment, and without the city taking a leadership role, this part of Downtowns future will remain uncertain.

The city should begin a process to formally solicit ideas from developers, and its plans shouldnt stop at Civic Center. There needs to be a renewed focus on creating a long-term vision for the entire C Street corridor.

The economic impact of past decisions to close C Street to vehicular traffic, without making the necessary improvements to build a successful pedestrian corridor, still linger. Any effort should include an analysis of undergrounding the trolley  potentially financed through sale of air rights to interested developers  to lay the foundation for creating a more vibrant, pedestrian mall similar to Santa Monicas 3rd Street Promenade and Denvers 16th Street Mall. Both projects started as a kernel of an idea and are now central to each citys economic and cultural identities.

Big things dont happen overnight. They happen like everything else. One step at a time. So lets start the discussion.

Michell is president and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.
The C Street corridor needs exciting architecture and new development, and Save our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) supports this vision. While we care deeply about the past, it is not a sentimental journey. Rather, it is a quality-of-life issue. Plain and simple, historic preservation revitalizes neighborhoods by spurring economic growth, is more aesthetically interesting than new development and makes for better communities by providing the roots any great city needs as it moves into the future.

This is why, for nearly 50 years, SOHO has fought to save the places that San Diegans love the most even though we were told that every single one was not economically feasible or in too poor of a condition to renovate. Places like the Santa Fe Depot, Horton Plaza Fountain, the Gaslamp Quarter, Western Metal Supply Co./Petco Park, the old Police Headquarters and, yes, even the Hotel del Coronado. The California Theatre is a designated historic site and like these other San Diego landmarks, was always held in high esteem, hailed not as a movie palace, but as a movie cathedral when built. At 90 years old, it deserves a second chance.

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Its curtains for the California Theatre

San Diego has chance for another Downtown renaissance

Everyone wants this site to be redeveloped successfully. A rehabilitated California Theatre would not preclude a major housing development, but it would certainly enhance one. Who wouldnt want to live in the rehabilitated office tower of this legendary palace? An adaptive reuse project would be a stunning achievement, highlighting the cultural fabric of the city, and would be an authentic tourism attraction.

The planned demolition of the California Theatre would put one third of a city block into the landfill. To demolish such an architectural gem is remarkably shortsighted for our time. The demolition of the 81,000-square-foot building goes against all common sense and knowledge of best practices in sustainability, not to mention being against the city of San Diegos own climate policies.

City code requires owners of unoccupied historic buildings to maintain them in a manner that preserves their historical integrity. Should the very developer who broke the citys demolition by neglect ordinance for years and years now be rewarded by being allowed to finish off the site? Why has the city not levied fines all these years?

With several legitimate offers to purchase and restore this San Diego icon, SOHO urged the City Council to avoid significant impacts to the unique historic resource by denying the current project and pursuing alternatives as required by CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act) in compliance with long-adopted codes and plans. Translated, SOHO simply and respectfully asked the city to follow its own laws.

These Los Angeles developers are not as experienced as you would want for such a major project of this type. If they were, they would have laid out a comprehensive plan to revitalize this site and provide new housing. It is financially feasible, but they failed to utilize the benefits of historic tax credits and other incentives that promote adaptive reuse.

This type of project is not unique; it is being done all over the world alongside the construction of new housing units and commercial development. Historic renovation creates jobs and requires higher paid skilled workers. If the California Theatre were to be preserved, the end result would be an adaptively reused historic building and new housing that would be the ultimate catalyst to the C Street corridor revitalization.

San Diego marks the birthplace of California, founded close to 250 years ago. Come 2019, how many historic sites will we have left to commemorate such a milestone?

There are very few designated historic sites in the entire city, and they cannot be brought back once in the landfill.

SOHO believes that San Diegos architectural patrimony is worth saving and so do thousands of other San Diegans who wrote and called their council member, signed petitions, and attended public meetings.

MacAskill is president of Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO); Hayes is historic resources specialist for the group.
The 1976 Nuclear Safeguards Act bars new nuclear plants in California until there is a solution to the high-level radioactive waste problem. Thirty-seven years later, there is still none. Two-thirds of a century after the first reactor waste was created, we still dont know what to do with the toxic garbage.

Thankfully, the atomic genie is getting put back in its bottle, and we are all safer for it. The permanent closure of the crippled San Onofre reactors, with more than eight million people living within 50 miles, is but the latest sign. Earlier this year, having developed a containment structure crack in a botched effort to replace its steam generators, the Crystal River nuclear plant in Florida also was shut down forever. Last month, the Kewaunee Power Stations owners in Wisconsin decided to close it. And plans for new reactors keep getting scrapped. The much-touted nuclear renaissance has fortunately never materialized; indeed, the gearshift has been thrown hard in reverse.

Radioactive waste is tremendously dangerous. Plutonium-239, for example, if inhaled in quantities as small as a millionth of an ounce, will cause cancer with a virtual 100 percent statistical certainty. The nations nuclear plants have produced hundreds of tons of plutonium alone. It is among the most dangerous of the waste products, toxic to humans for as much as half a million years. It and the other long-lived radionuclides in high-level waste need to be isolated from the environment for periods vastly longer than any government has even existed. We have no idea what to do with this devilish creation. The latest effort to develop a national storage center in Yucca Mountain, Nev. was finally shelved after considerable expense, because it was not a safe enough site  and already too small.

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Perhaps the biggest problem with nuclear power is its connection to the proliferation of atomic bombs. Each San Onofre reactor, for example, produced enough weapons-usable plutonium annually to make 100 A-bombs. The technology to enrich uranium for power plants can readily enrich to the bomb-grade levels, as demonstrated by the international concerns about Irans activities. The world cannot survive if we do not reverse proliferation risks, and we cannot do that while proliferating civil uses of the same materials and technologies.

Then there is the nuclear terrorism risk. Each nuclear plant is in some fashion a pre-emplaced nuclear weapon for our adversaries. While reactors cannot blow up like an atomic bomb, they can release vast quantities of fallout if a malevolent force successfully disrupted the cooling sufficient to cause a meltdown. Each San Onofre unit, for example, contained a thousand times the long-lived radioactivity of the Hiroshima bomb.

What a terrorist can do by intent, the forces of nature can do by chance. As we saw tragically at Fukushima, an earthquake can destroy the ability to cool reactors core, resulting in meltdowns. Equipment can fail; operators can make errors with catastrophic consequences. Vast quantities of volatile, biologically active radionuclides such as iodine-131, cesium-137, and strontium-90 can be released if the fuel melts. Radioiodine causes thyroid cancer; cesium is a powerful gamma emitter that can irradiate the whole body causing a range of cancers; strontium-90 concentrates in bone, causing bone cancer and leukemia. Thirty years ago, the NRC estimated that a San Onofre accident could result in 130,000 immediate deaths from Hiroshima-type acute radiation syndrome, 300,000 cancers, and 600,000 genetic effects, for more than a million total casualties.

Some will say that global warming is a tremendous risk and that we must, despite these problems, rely heavily on nuclear power. They are right about climate change but wrong about the solution. The choice is not one of picking ones poison  carbon dioxide or plutonium. It is about a third way, relying on safe, renewable energy such as solar. The one nuclear device we should depend upon has an appropriate buffer zone  93 million miles. The sun shines on us all, and for free. A terrorist can do no significant damage by attacking a photovoltaic collector; a windmill cannot melt down and irradiate millions of people; one cant divert home insulation to make atomic bombs.

And, because nuclear is the most expensive energy alternative when all costs are taken into account, pouring more precious resources down the rats hole of nuclear power steals precious resources needed for the transition to a safer future.

The 1976 Nuclear Safeguards Act was prescient. Indeed, our global survival depends on easing the nuclear genie back into its bottle and transitioning to a world of safe, nonpolluting power.
In a win for science and for student safety, school vaccination rates are the highest they have been in California in at least 15 years.

A year after the implementation of tougher state-mandated vaccination requirements, a new report by the California Department of Public Health shows that 95.6 percent of kindergartners in the current school year received all their required immunizations. The state called it the highest immunization rate since at least the 2001-2002 school year when the number of needed inoculations expanded to include the varicella vaccine.

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The 95.6 percent rate is up 2.8 percentage points from the previous year, which itself was up 2.4 percentage points from the year before that, a trend that bodes well for what Dr. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, calls community immunity. Pan sponsored Senate Bill 277, signed into law in 2015, that required kindergartners without medical exemptions to get vaccinations and eliminated personal and religious belief exemptions, making Californias vaccination laws some of the nations toughest.

The new state public health report attributed the uptick over the past two years to vaccination education efforts, increased public awareness after a measles outbreak at Disneyland, compliance audits and new vaccination laws.

Laws such as SB 277 show Sacramento at its finest. Lawmakers recognized a problem, allowed for passionate debate and ultimately took steps to make a bad situation better. If only those same lawmakers could do that for the states housing crisis.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: UTOpinion
Get ready for this.

Syrian President Bashar Assad says a chemical attack in a rebel-held area of the country  which killed dozens of people and was confirmed by eye witnesses  was fabricated by the United States.

This comes after consensus from U.S. and world leaders that his government forces were behind the attack. For example, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May says apart from anything else, we believe it's the only regime that has the capability to make such an attack."

The west, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists, he said in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP). They fabricated the whole story.

We dont have any chemical weapons. We gave up our arsenal three years ago, he added referring to a deal the U.S. helped broker. Even if we had them, we wouldnt use them and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

In Assads version of events, the motive behind the attack was to setup a scenario that would allow the U.S. to strike Assads government forces, which they did, just days later, when President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on the Syrian air field believed to have launched the chemical attack. Assad referred to the aftermath of the attack seen on social media and in the news as a play.

It [was] only a few days, two days, 48 hours, between the play and the attacks, Assad said. No investigations, no concrete evidence about anything, the only thing were allegations and propaganda and then strike.

CNN reporters point out that their news organization actually interviewed victims, and the news organization and many others also report that U.S. military and intelligence officials intercepted communications implicating the Syrian military ahead of the attack.

Christiane Amanpour , a longtime foreign affairs reporter, said CNN wouldnt be airing the interview because it was told by AFP that it took place under draconian restrictions. She called it unchallenged propaganda.

The AFP says the regime allowed only their top five questions and answers to be released and simply kept the rest of their interview under lock and key until it decided to put the rest out on Syrian state television, she said on CNN.

All of this sent people to social media to discuss the comments.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons began an investigation into the chemical attack, but on Thursday, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have pushed the Syrian government to support the investigation.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
The U.S. dropped its massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) bomb on Islamic State targets in Afghanistan on Thursday, letting loose the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, according to an Associated Press report and Pentagon officials.

Officially named GBU-43B, it was dropped on a tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan, and in the words of according to President Donald Trump, it was a very, very successful mission. As of Thursday afternoon, military officials had not released an accounting of casualties or damage following the strike.

Here are 4 things to know about whats being referred to as the mother of all bombs.

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What is it?

The Associated Press reports that it has never been used in combat before and that a review of the weapon by the Pentagon in 2003 found that it is discriminate and requires a deliberate launching toward the target.

That report said it is expected that the weapon will have a substantial psychological effect on those who witness its use.

Other details from the AP:

Its a custom-made Air Force weapon that has been available to the U.S. military for more than a decade.

It unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

How big is it?

This U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) handout photo shows technicians preparing the Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon March 11, 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. (Photo by DoD/Getty Images)

The MOAB weighs 21,000 pounds and is the largest non-nuclear weapon the U.S. has. Its 30 feet long and sends a lethal shock wave more than a mile and a half away.

How was it launched?

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul released a statement saying the bomb was dropped by U.S. aircraft  a MC-130 special operations transport  at 7:32 p.m. local time on Thursday.

It is pushed out the rear of the launching aircraft, guided to its target by GPS and slowed by a parachute.

Specifically, its an air blast-type warhead that explodes before hitting the ground in order to project a massive blast in the surrounding area of the strike. The above ground reaction ignites a flammable fuel mist meant to destroy everything in a 1,000-yard radius.

Why was it dropped?

A U.S. official says it was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of Islamic State fighters and facilities.

As [the Islamic States] losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense, General John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against [the Islamic State].

White House spokesman Sean Spicer added, the United States takes the fight against [the Islamic State] very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did.

Many reports were quick to note that the bombing follows the death of an Army special forces soldier who was mortally wounded conducting counterterrorism operations in the same area of Afghanistan just days ago.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
After a campaign marked by friendly comments about Russia, President Donald Trump sounded a different note on Wednesday about the current state of U.S.-Russia affairs.

Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all, Trump said at a White House press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg . We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia.

As a refresher, these words come amid an investigation into the scope of Russias meddling in the 2016 election and what, if any, connection Trump's campaign staff and transition team may have had with the country as the meddling occurred. Thats all going on behind the scenes and out of the view of the public.

What Americans  especially those who believe team Trump is somehow in cahoots with the Russians  now know for sure is that Trump is openly saying the relationship, which he leads, is terrible.

And Putin said the same thing on Wednesday, particularly that trust between the U.S and Russia has eroded.

Its safe to say this has something to do with Syria. Simply put, the U.S. and Russia have more or less been on opposing sides of the countrys civil war, with the U.S. supporting the rebels and Russia supporting President Bashar Assad s government forces.

After a widely-condemned chemical attack on Syrians in a rebel held area of the country, Trump launched a missile strike last week on the government air field where the attack was believed to have originated. Russia remains furious, and the U.S. and Russia have been confronting each other over it both at the United Nations and in meetings Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had with both Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin in Russia on Wednesday.

All-time low, you say? That  and the rising tension  brings up thoughts about the Cold War and the Bay of Pigs and those 13 days in 1962. Interestingly enough, in the same press conference where Trump said relations were poor, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the comparison.

We dont want a new Cold War, he said standing next to Trump. We dont want a new arms race. And actually we strongly believe that there is no contradiction between a strong NATO, a credible deterrence and defense and political dialogue with Russia.

After weeks of questions  pre-chemical attack in Syria  over whether team Trump was too cozy with the Russians, this clear message on relations is being described by The New York Times as geopolitical whiplash.

Many watching the Trump-Russia storyline online agreed.

Some pondered Trumps motive.

Others said the statements should clear up any doubts about U.S.-Russia relations.

There were a range of other opinions, too.

What do you make of Trumps statement?

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
The rainy season is winding down over Southern California. The abundant wet pattern allowed for most of Southern Californias long-term drought to be eradicated except for areas along the coast near Santa Barbara.

Entering April, the Sierras have had a near record amount of snow depth above 9,000 feet. The regions record-setting rains this winter mean good news  and bad news  for the upcoming fire season, according to firefighters and other experts.

The good news is that our waterlogged environment is going to take longer than usual to dry out, which could push the start of the official fire season into early or mid-summer. The bad news is that all that rain is contributing to a bumper crop of wild grasses and weeds, which could fuel a spate of grass fires once all that greenery has turned brown. Theres already a solid crop of grasses all over the desert floor, which means there could be grass fires in the deserts as well.

Grass is the lightest, fastest burning and most easily ignited of all the vegetation in the county. The brush that feeds San Diego Countys biggest and most dangerous fires probably wont be ready to burn until June or July at the earliest. That doesnt let you or the county completely off the hook where wildfires are concerned.

Once the summer heat and dry winds arrive, the bumper crop of vegetation could mean big trouble. In wet years, believe it or not, we tend to have more wildfires. And not just in the mountains and foothills. Perhaps the biggest break from the rains might be the dampening effect theyve had on the countys thousands of bug-killed trees. Pines, oaks, and other trees stricken by years of drought have been killed by bark beetles, leaving them fire-prone.

Following the destructive wildfire events of 2003 and 2007, it was clear that inadequate Defensible Space contributed to many destroyed homes and other structures. As a result, the County of San Diego has amended an ordinance that requires all residents to keep their property free of fire hazards: including certain vegetation types, green waste, and rubbish.

Residents can comply with this ordinance by creating a Defensible Space around their homes and by taking other preventative steps on their property. www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/fire_

resistant.html.

Ron Serabia, a Ramona resident, is a retired Cal Fire captain.
It honors one of the most important days on Christianitys religious calendar, but Sundays Easter sunrise service at the Mount Helix Park amphitheater in East County will not be big on hoopla. There will be no elaborate banners hanging from the eucalyptus trees, no snowy banks of Easter lilies showing up the manzanita and no fancy Easter bonnets to distract the hummingbirds.

But for the 1,000 or so attendees, there will be an abundance of wonder and a wealth of reverence. When it comes to the spirit of this special day, the mountain will provide. It always has.

You have natures backdrop, and you couldnt ask for anything more, said the Rev. Jeanette Ham, associate pastor at Foothills United Methodist Church in La Mesa, which is in charge of this years Mount Helix sunrise service. It is really a transforming experience for the community and for those of us who are a part of it. The sun always rises and the son always rises. It is one of the best metaphors you can have as a Christian.

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The amphitheaters sunrise service turns 90 this year. In the rustic venues many decades, it has hosted plays, weddings, stargazing parties, childrens art camps and yoga classes. But it has been holding its sunrise service longer than anything else. In fact, if it werent for Easter Sunday, the Mount Helix amphitheater might not exist at all.

Its history stretches back to 1917, when local businessman and developer Col. Ed Fletcher  who owned the Mount Helix summit  suggested holding an Easter sunrise service in the natural bowl on the mountains eastern face. It would replace the service that had been held at the nearby Mount Nebo, which was becoming too small for the Easter throngs.

By the following year, more than 8,000 people were making their way up the Mount Helix hillside path for the early-morning service. In 1923, Fletcher family friend Mary Yawkey White asked Fletcher if he would sell the summit to her. White wanted to create a memorial for her mother, Mary Carpenter Yawkey, a nature lover who had become quite attached to Mount Helix in her later years. Fletcher agreed.

In short order, famed local architect Richard Requa was hired, and by Easter of 1925, Mount Helix had an outdoor amphitheater tucked into its hillside and a 35-foot-tall cross atop its 1,370-foot peak. The service has been held at the Mount Helix Nature Theatre ever since, making it the oldest continuously running outdoor Easter sunrise service in San Diego County. As for the amphitheater, it was just the beginning.

In 1929, Marys brother Cyrus Carpenter Yawkey deeded the amphitheater and surrounding park to the county, with the stipulation that the cross remain as a memorial to his sister. From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the natural stone walls that still surround the park. What started out as a place for Easter Sunday worship was becoming a place where people could commune with nature all year round.

The amphitheater has become an icon that visitors must see and residents can utilize. It represents all of those rural suburban communities that are out there, said James Newland, president of the La Mesa Historical Society. Its their centerpiece and their hub. You can go out there and say, Look at this cool environment that we have here.

The peace was disrupted in the 1990s, as the ACLU and San Diego County wrangled over the presence of a cross on public land. In 1999, the county turned the site over to the nonprofit Foundation for the Preservation of the Mount Helix Nature Theatre, which later became the Mt. Helix Park Foundation. The park continues to be maintained without public funding.

But the communitys dedication to the Easter sunrise service never wavered. And not just because the Yawkey trust required that it be held on each and every Easter Sunday forever.

Its a magical place when people get up there together for the Easter sunrise, said Mark Allen, president of the Mt. Helix Park Foundation and a 25-year sunrise service attendee. They are groggy and sometimes theyre cold, but when they walk up there, I think they feel closer to God. The park gives you the feeling of being closer to what Christ might have wanted an Easter service to be.

The sunrise service is nonsectarian, with a different religious organization hosting the event each year. Each church puts its own stamp on the service, but all of them share the same challenges. How do you get everyone up the mountain and back without frayed nerves and fender benders? What to do about the limited parking? The shortage of restrooms? The crowds?

In advance of the festivities, logistics chief Charlie Roach of Foothills United Methodist arranged for the shuttle buses that will be leaving from the churchs parking lot and the lots at the Brigantine Restaurant on Fuerte Drive and the fire station at the corner of Mount Helix and Vivera drives. (The shuttle service starts at 5:30 a.m.) The California Highway Patrol has been consulted, and porta-potties have been delivered.

If I cant get people up here and I cant get them down at the end, all they will remember is the chaos, Roach said. But there is no other venue like this. And to have the opportunity to come here and experience this whole awakening and this start of a new day, its very special.

When Foothills United Methodist hosted the Mount Helix sunrise service in 2010, they brought in their choir, their hand-bell choir and their adult band. For his first Mount Helix experience since coming to the church two years ago, the Rev. Eric Smith is keeping things simple. Just a brass quartet, the voices of the attendees and the power of the setting.

And as associate pastor Ham can attest, the venue speaks volumes. When she attended a Mount Helix sunrise service in 2006, she was a church staff member charged with working on the newsletter. But as the sun came up over the trees and the words of the Easter sermon hummed in her ears, Ham felt the call to become a pastor. Nine years and one masters degree later, the call is now her calling. The mountain provided. It always does.

When I was part of that Easter experience, I felt such a connection. This is where I was being led. I couldnt spend my life doing anything better than this, Ham said. Being able to be up there again in the role of pastor, it will be a culmination of being called to the ministry and being part of the service. Its a full circle.
Dublin, April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment & Forecast: 2017 - 2021" report to their offering.



Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology market is constantly evolving due to continuous technology upgrades. At least five companies are currently developing novel NGS technology that is anticipated to commercialize during the forecast period. Although currently the market is dominated by Illumina, various other companies are investing in development of novel methods for efficient and cost effective sequencing. Genapsys is currently developing Gene Electronic Nano-Integrated Ultra-Sensitive (GENIUS) technology, a portable sequencer targeted for research and diagnostic laboratory purposes.



The company opened early access registration in 2014, yet commercial launch has not been announced officially. Agilent Technologies invested US$ 80 million in LaserGen for development and commercialization of the proprietary lightning terminators technology. Although Nabsys had closed operations in 2015 after 10 years of struggle in development of its next generation sequencing technology, the company was re-launched as Nabsys 2.0 in 2016. The company also received US$ 42 million in funding from a Chinese company Zixin Pharma. Majority of the sequencing technologies in pipeline are nanopore based.



The market has witnessed series of acquisitions and strategic agreements in the recent past and become more competitive. It is also anticipated that the market would consolidate, remain dominated by the North America region. However, rapid growth is anticipated in Asia Pacific region due to increased adoption of the technology in varied fields. In 2016, China announced the opening of China National GeneBank (CNGB). The bank consists of biorepository, bioinformatics data center and living biobank, and a digitalization platform and synthesis and editing platform. Similar gene banks in Japan, South Korea, India and others are contributing immensely to genetic research in agriculture. Chinese FDA granted Class I status for Vela Diagnostics' Sentosa SX101 instrument for clinical use. In 2015, KEW Group Inc. and Denka Co., Ltd. announced collaborative agreement for evaluation of KEW's CancerPlex NGS Testing in Japanese cancer patients.



Government investment in genome sequencing projects and widespread integration of NGS technology with other research programs are driving the NGS market. Increasing efforts by regulatory agencies in keeping pace with rapid technology developments and proactive approach in approval of NGS based tests in disease diagnosis has encouraged companies and investment firms to consider NGS technology as one of the most lucrative options.



Key players mentioned in the report include Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Oxford Nanopore, Pacific Biosciences, Qiagen N.V., Roche Sequencing, Stratos Genomics, GnuBio and others.



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Preface



Chapter 2 Precis



Chapter 3 Market Dynamics

3.1 Market Drivers

3.1.1 Government funding and initiatives towards gene banking to boost adoption of next generation sequencing technology

3.1.2 Increasing scope of application of next generation sequencing expanding end-user profile

3.1.3 Increasing regulatory approvals for NGS based tests encouraging companies to invest in test development

3.1.4 Next generation sequencing service providers to drive growth in spite of lack of knowledge and expertise

3.2 Market Restraints

3.2.1 Reimbursement challenges for NGS based tests

3.2.2 High cost of set-up for next generation sequencing systems

3.3 Market Opportunities

3.3.1 Opportunities in reagents and consumables segment

3.3.2 Companies engaging in strategic agreements for sharing clientele and developing NGS technology

3.4 U.S. FDA guidelines for next generation sequencing tests

3.5 Recent FDA approvals



Chapter 4 Next Generation Sequencing - Global Market Assessment by Key Players, Forecast: 2017 to 2021

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Illumina, Inc. Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.3 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.4 Roche Sequencing Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.5 Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.6 Qiagen N.V. Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.7 Oxford Nanopore Technologies Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)

4.8 Other Companies Next Generation Sequencing Market Assessment, by Product Type, US$ Million (2015 - 2021)



Chapter 5 Next Generation Sequencing Services - Global Market Assessment by Applications, Forecast: 2017 to 2021

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Next Generation Sequencing Services Market in Diagnosis, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

5.3 Next Generation Sequencing Services Market in Genome Sequencing, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

5.4 Next Generation Sequencing Services Market in Biopharmaceutical Research, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

5.5 Next Generation Sequencing Services Market in Food and Agriculture, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

5.6 Next Generation Sequencing Services Market in Other Applications, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)



Chapter 6 Next Generation Sequencing Instruments, Reagents and Consumables - Global Market Assessment by End-Users, Forecast: 2017 to 2021

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Next Generation Sequencing Instruments, Reagents and Consumables Market at Universities, Academia and Research Institutes, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

6.3 Next Generation Sequencing Instruments, Reagents and Consumables Market at Service Providers, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)

6.4 Next Generation Sequencing Instruments, Reagents and Consumables Market at Other End-Users, 2015 - 2021 (US$ Million)



Chapter 7 Next Generation Sequencing - Global Market Assessment by Geography, Forecast: 2017 to 2021



Chapter 8 Key Player Analysis: Global Next Generation Sequencing Market, 2016

8.1 Global Next Generation Sequencing Market: Recent Developments 2014-2016

8.1.1 Mergers and Acquisitions

8.1.2 Strategic Agreement

8.1.3 Product Approvals and Launch



Chapter 9 Epilogue



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gx5p6m/global_next




LAS VEGAS, April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtus Oil and Gas Corporation (OTCBB:VOIL), has recently completed workovers on three wells and within the next week will have completed necessary work on two additional wells. The Company has also published an Investors Presentation on virtusoil.com.



The Company has successfully repaired the water disposal well. The disposal well is crucial in the Tin Cup field to dispose of production water from the oil and gas wells. Additionally, pumps were replaced on two wells which are now ready for production; revenue is expected soon.

Company SVP Brett A. Murray has put together a Company Investor Presentation per the request of investors high interest in the Company. This 14-page document is available on The Company website. The Board has given approval and Mr. Murray has already presented the presentation to a few private equity funders. The Company will negotiate terms of new cash infusion and present terms for board approval.

About Virtus Oil and Gas Corporation

Virtus Oil and Gas Corp. (VOIL) is a Nevada-based oil and gas exploration and production company currently focused on producing assets in the State of Colorado and Utah. Virtus' strategy is to acquire proven and producing assets and/or develop oil and gas resources in proven, onshore basins in the United States.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as uncertainty of consumer demand for the Company's products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in the Company's SEC reports. The company will need to raise additional financing in order to advance its exploration and drilling program. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

An array of models showed an even wider array of fashions at the unique Ebell Club Victorian & Vogue Fashion Show & Tea, where vintage met the latest clothing trends.

Victorian fashions shared the venue with contemporary togs from Chicos when the First United Methodist Churchs Wesley Hall filled to capacity with guests eagerly looking forward to the April 1 show.

Several guests wore hats including Angela Brinkhoff, who wore her great-grandmothers wedding chapeau, a close-fitting creation delicately ringed with seed pearls.

I dont know how it stays on, Brinkhoff replied when asked if the hat, barely peeping over the crown of her head, was attached, it just does!

Ebell Club President Lynda Hartson offered welcoming remarks noting the groups appreciation for the sold out crowd for the fashion show that, in turn, benefits the Santa Paula High School Band.

Our purpose is raising money for the band, whose members acted as tea servers and raffle prize runners for the event, the latter also benefiting the band, so your money is not going to waste!

I hope you have a wonderful time and consider joining the Ebell Club, that Hartson said meets monthly and whose gatherings include local field trips to unique destinations.

Elegantly attired Victorian fashion maven Carol Beckerdite, famed for her hat creations and others with a retro vibe, presented the models in the fashion show that included entertaining commentary on living in the Victorian era.

The Victorian era was the period of Queen Victorias reign, from 1837 until her death in January 1901. It was considered a long period of peace, prosperity and refined sensibilities.

I love this era, Beckerdite told the guests, it was truly a feminine and lovely era

She noted that the Ebell Club in Santa Paula was founded in 1913, becoming the ninth in the state.
DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crawford Healthcare, Inc. (Crawford or the Company) recently supported a panel of speakers at the Symposium for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) in San Diego, CA. The panel, composed of internationally recognized clinicians and scientists, shared their clinical and in vitro experience in utilizing the patented silver compound, Ag Oxysalts Technology, in the fight against wound infections and biofilms.



The symposium was moderated by Dr. Marco Romanelli, a world-renowned wound physician and an Assistant Professor at the University of Pisa in Italy. The panel also included Lindsay Kalan PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania Department of Dermatology, Catherine Milne from Connecticut Clinical Nursing Associates and Dr. Charles Lee, FACS who is the Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. Marys Medical Center in San Francisco.

Ag Oxysalts was recently combined into a new dressing and cleared by the FDA. This dressing, named KerraCel Ag, combines Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) to handle excess exudate with Ag Oxysalts to manage infection and break through biofilm. The Ag Oxysalts Technology, licensed through Exciton Technologies, has a unique mode of action which makes it significantly more reactive when in contact with wound fluid and up to six times more powerful than traditional silver compounds. The increased reactivity leads to a quick 99.999% kill of bacteria  including superbugs - and the ability to break through biofilm to kill the bacteria within.

About Crawford Healthcare, Inc.

Crawford Healthcare, Inc., is a rapidly growing international company dedicated to developing innovative treatments and effective dermatological, wound care, and diagnostic products for the care and repair of skin. The Company has worked closely with healthcare professionals for more than 15 years from the international head office of its parent company, Crawford Healthcare Holdings Limited (the Crawford Group), in Knutsford, Cheshire, U.K. In early 2013, the Crawford Group expanded its operations and opened a United States office in Doylestown, Pa., that focuses on the Companys portfolio of advanced wound care products. To help lead its U.S. business, the Crawford Group has assembled a skilled management team with long-standing industry backgrounds in the advanced wound care arena. The team offers more than 150 years of collective experience in the field and has deployed a nationwide direct sales team dedicated to wound, skin, and burn care.

About Exciton Technologies, Inc.

Exciton Technologies Inc. (inc. 2001) is a Canadian advanced materials research and development company that focuses on the creation of technologies for preventing and controlling infection. Excitons technologies are capable of bringing silver-based wound care products out of the elite market segment and into broader commercial and consumer applications. Advantages include an advanced higher valence ionic silver state designed to be a broad spectrum antimicrobial barrier.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

There will be an interesting meeting Thursday when residents are expected to square off with the developers of a property approved for residential use years ago.

Aldersgate Investment Company is holding the informational meeting April 6 at 6 p.m. at the Community Center, located at the corner of West Main Street and Steckel Drive.

The meeting will focus on the proposed Arbor Executive Homes, off Cliff and Forest Drives, more commonly known as the Sparkuhl Ranch Project.

The project will be introduced, and there will be time for questions at the meeting, which will also feature architectural renderings for the 19 executive homes on approximately half-acre lots.

The minimum square footage of each home is 2,600 square feet with starting prices, according to a spokesperson, will be in the low to mid-$700,000s.

Over strong objections from surrounding homeowners, the then-called Sparkuhl Ranch project was approved in 2005.

The property does not go right to the creek but to the access to the creek, which becomes unincorporated county area.
Reception for departing City Manager scheduled for April 13

By Peggy Kelly

The City Council offered some parting remarks to City Manager Jaime Fontes, whose day with the city is April 14.

There will be a Best of the Best farewell reception for Fontes, who was hired as city manager in late 2009 and moved into the corner office in February 2010, on Thursday.

A reception for Fontes will be held April 13, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, located at the corner of West Main Street and Steckel Drive. There will be hors doeuvres served and the community is invited.

At the April 3 council meeting during the Communications portion of the agenda, Vice Mayor Ginger Gherardi said she wanted to extend thanks to Fontes and wish he and his family the very best in the future.

Councilman Clint Garman seconded Gherardis remarks and noted he has known Fontes for years.

I always appreciated you helping us to the best of your ability, said Councilman Martin Hernandez and he urged Fontes to let the council know how he and his family are doing.

Fontes announced late last year that with his last child graduated from high school, he was retiring from the post at City Hall.

There are no council members still on the panel that were seated when he was hired, coming from his hometown of Nogales, Arizona.

The biggest accomplishment of Fontes was the citys purchase of the wastewater treatment plant. The council okayed the purchase in April 2015 of the $60-million-plus facility, built and operated by a private entity.
Paleontologists have long wondered what the earliest dinosaur relatives looked like. Most assumed that they would look like dwarf dinosaurs and walk on two legs. The discovery of Teleocrater rhadinus, however, has overturned popular predictions.

Teleocrater rhadinus lived during the Middle Triassic epoch more than 245 million years ago  pre-dating the first true dinosaurs by 10 million years.

This ancient creature appears in the fossil record just after a large group of reptiles, known as archosaurs, split into a bird branch (leading to dinosaurs and eventually birds) and a crocodile branch (leading to alligators and crocodiles).

Teleocrater rhadinus had a long neck and tail and was 7- 10 feet (2.1-3 m) in length. Rather than walking on two legs, it walked on four crocodilian-like legs.

The discovery of such an important new species is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, said Dr. Sterling Nesbitt, a researcher at Virginia Tech and the lead author of a report published this week on Teleocrater rhadinus in the journal Nature.

The discovery overturns widely-held preconceptions about the morphology of early dinosaur relatives, with many paleontologists anticipating that such creatures would be smaller, bipedal and more dinosaur-like.

Teleocrater rhadinus fundamentally challenges our models of what the close relatives of dinosaurs would have looked like, said Richard Butler, a professor of paleobiology at the University of Birmingham, UK, and co-author on the paper.

The late paleontologist F. Rex Parrington first discovered Teleocrater rhadinus fossils in the Ruhuhu Basin of southern Tanzania in 1933. The late Alan J. Charig, then-curator of fossil reptiles, amphibians and birds at the Natural History Museum of London, UK, was the first to study those original specimens in the 1950s.

However, due to a lack of crucial bones, such as the ankle bones, Charig could not determine whether Teleocrater rhadinus was more closely related to crocodylians or to dinosaurs. The new specimens, found in 2015, clear up those questions.

The intact ankle bones and other parts of the skeleton helped Dr. Nesbitt, Prof. Butler and co-authors determine that Teleocrater rhadinus is one of the oldest members of the archosaur tree and had a crocodilian look.

Its astonishing to think that its taken more than 80 years for the true scientific importance of these fossils to be understood and published, Prof. Butler said.

My colleague Alan Charig would have been thrilled to see one of his animals finally being named and occupying such an interesting position in the Tree of Life, said co-author Prof. Paul Barrett, from the Natural History Museum of London.

Our discovery shows the value of maintaining and re-assessing historical collections: many new discoveries, like this one, can be made by looking through museum collections with fresh eyes.

The teams next steps are to return to Tanzania to find missing parts of Teleocrater rhadinus skeleton.

Its so exciting to solve puzzles like Teleocrater rhadinus, where we can finally tease apart tricky mixed assemblages of fossils and shed light on broader anatomical and biogeographic trends in an iconic group of animals, said co-author Dr. Michelle Stocker, a paleobiologist at Virginia Tech.

_____

Sterling J. Nesbitt et al. The earliest bird-line archosaurs and the assembly of the dinosaur body plan. Nature, published online April 12, 2017; doi: 10.1038/nature22037
An Indonesian gay couple was arrested as they were caught having sex. The men were reported to already have received 100 lashing under Sharias law. Yet, the Human Rights Watch in Indonesia appealed for their immediate release.

According to The Guardian, Indonesias Aceh region is allowed to enforce laws based on religion and authority as it is considered to have a plural democracy. However, it was seen that the governments action against the two mens homosexuality to be the province first as the sharia punishment of public lashing was identified to be only given to those who commit adultery.

Fortunately, Human Rights Watch in Indonesia had appealed to the gay couples case. The HRW then demanded their release as what the Sharia law punishment was considered to be as torture. Specifically, the received beating of the gay couple with a stick in public was pointed out.

The Indonesian gay couple being punished were mentioned to be at the age of 20 and 24 and was said to have been caught having sex as their home was entered forcefully by unknown men. The video footage of the couples arrest was then caught on a cellphone. One of the two men was showed to be distressed as he calls the men arresting them brother and asks them to please stop.

Phelim Kine, deputy Asia division director at Human Right Watch stated that the arrest and punishment of the Indonesian gay couple underscore the abuse embedded in Acehs discriminatory, anti-LGBT ordinances. 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, he added per Towler Road.

Andreas Harsono, a researcher for Human Rights Watch in Indonesia then further explained that across Indonesia, there are rising discrimination cases witnessed by others in the name of Islam against women and the LGBT community. Kine then added that Indonesias President Jowoki should put a stop to Acehs discriminatory ordinances to avoid these kinds of arrests.
LANDOVER, Md., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 6, 2017, the Epilepsy Foundation and actor/philanthropist Greg Grunberg will host Talk About It for Epilepsy Presented by Sunovion, the Foundations second online, streaming event. The 8-hour netathon will bring together celebrities, local Epilepsy Foundations, and experts to spread awareness and raise funds for epilepsy. The event will be available on CBS and Epilepsy Foundation digital properties.



An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/822a2010-80b1-45d1-83de-dafe70cc9add

The netathon will feature musical performances and interviews with stars from stage, screen, and music on why talking about epilepsy is important. The event will also include epilepsy and seizure experts talking about key epilepsy-related topics. Musical performances will include Band from TV, DJ HAPA, Jessie Payo, Jason Manns, Louden Swain, Alexi Blue, Ninet Tayeb, and more.

I am really excited to partner again with the Epilepsy Foundation as we talk about it with millions of people. This is a great way to bring together so many of my celebrity friends to rally around a cause so important to me, said actor Greg Grunberg, the father of a son living with epilepsy and the co-creator of TalkAboutIt.org, a website run by the Epilepsy Foundation. When attending epilepsy-related events around the world, I often hear people say, We just need to get people talking about epilepsy. The netathon provides a unique forum to build excitement around spreading epilepsy awareness as well as celebrate the lives of people with epilepsy.

Talk About It for Epilepsy! Presented by Sunovion will take place in Los Angeles, California, and will be viewable around the world. Watch parties will webcast from Chicago, Illinois; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Las Vegas, Nevada; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

The event will be live streamed on epilepsy.com, YouTube, TalkAboutIt.org, Twitch.tv (an Amazon company), and CBSlocal.com/epilepsy. Viewers can use and follow the hashtag #Netathon2017 during the event to engage with the online community. The first netathon in 2015 reached more than 800,000 people.

Thank you to our media partner CBS Local, technology partner OWC, and event production partner Bandwagon Media.

About Epilepsy

When a person has two unprovoked seizures or one unprovoked seizure with the likelihood of more, they are considered to have epilepsy. (An unprovoked seizure is one that occurs for no known reason.) Epilepsy affects 3 million people in the U.S. and 65 million worldwide. This year, another 150,000 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy. Despite all available treatments, at least 3 out of 10 people with epilepsy continue to experience uncontrolled seizures while many more experience less than optimal seizure control.

About Talk About It!

TalkAboutIt.org was created by actor Greg Grunberg in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation. The focus of Talk About It! is to help people better understand and communicate about their epilepsy, raise epilepsy and seizure awareness, and unify the epilepsy community. TalkAboutIt.org features celebrities from television, film, and music alongside epilepsy and seizure experts to fight against misunderstandings and misperceptions about epilepsy.

Like Talk About It! on Facebook at facebook.com/talkaboutitfoundation/.

Follow Talk About It! on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TalkAboutItorg.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with nearly 50 local organizations throughout the U.S., has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit epilepsy.com.

Like the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook at facebook.com/epilepsyfoundationofamerica.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/epilepsyfdn.
The superlative volcanos, namely, Volcan de Fuego and Volcan de Pacaya have been huge subjects of speculations for researchers. Situated in Guatemala, both of these volcanos have been known to have strange nature. Both of these still use to blast very often and suddenly and extract lava. Having such suspective characteristics, both Fuego and Pacaya were two of the hardest places to reach out for any research work. But, not so more, as a team of researchers has been able to reach out to these with the help lightweight modern sensors recently.

According to Phys, the group of researchers including, volcanologists and engineers, coming straight from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol, have been able to examine the volcanos directly from within volcanic clouds. The study was done with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having the visual and thermal camera, which can take snaps even in the harsh atmosphere. The UAVs were able to capture moments from the distance of up to 8 km away, at the height of 3 km from the launch site.

As per a report by BBC News, the UAVs flew just 3700 meters over the Volcan de Fuego, keeping up with the updates of the atmospheric changes of the volcano. It should be noted in this context that, the volcano's violent nature has already threatened up more than 60,000 people living in the different regions of Guatemala. The majority of them are often affected by the sudden strikes of the volcano. The drones have now been initiated with the task of keeping an eye on these dangerous outbursts of liquid lava.

Moreover, the team is also working on to getting more insights about the volcano's measurement of temperatures, thermal conditions, and humidity of the volcano. They have even planned to implement some more such drones equipped with the gas analyzer and more.
A team of researchers has finally found out a comprehensive number of Hong Kong's exclusive white dolphins. There have been loads of speculations about the total number of such dolphins available in the region. But the group, originally belonging from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has denied all the earlier counts presented by other units and has also clarified the reason for the existence of such dolphins in the city.

According to Science Daily, the group has presented such data, which actually differs from all the popular beliefs. Dr. Leszek Karczmarski, Associate Professor at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, HKU rightly said: "it differs very substantially from the estimates reported in Hong Kong for the past many years." He even denied the term called 'Hong Kong dolphin population,' which according to him was a vague thing massively promoted by Hong Kong major media.

As per a report by Phys, Mr. Stephen Chan, a PhD student in Dr. Karczmarski's Lab claimed that the most of the dolphins seen in Hong Kong are the integral parts of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) population. Being unaware of the administrative border between Hong Kong and Mainland water, they come from another bigger sphere of water to the limitations of Hong Kong. Chan further stated that approximately 368 dolphins now permanently live in the waters of Hong Kong.

Chan's knowledge was published as an integral part of their study in 'PLOS ONE' journal. The study which was authored by him was published on March 29, 2017. The publication even reasonably denied the fact of some 60 remaining white dolphins which was earlier claimed by Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). However, the average total number of dolphins has been hinted to change in near future as well.
Earth Day is approaching and Google has plans to make it special for everyone this year. To set things in motion, a new Google Earth is expected to be unveiled on April 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET during an event at New York's Whitney Museum of Art.

As far as the new Google Earth program is concerned, it is said to offer a new level of experience through the use of virtual reality mechanics. However, this is not the very first unveiling of the revamped application as Google Earth developers had already launched a VR-version app on Steam the previous year. The app was limited to HTC Vive headgears back then.

According to Android Authority, Google Earth program, which originally launched as EarthViewer 3D funded by CIA, will feature a whole new experience of exploring the world and beyond through VR. Google will integrate the revamped program with the latest Google Maps and Street View services for users to acquire maximum usability.

Now that Google has its own VR tech device called Google Daydream, the Google Earth developing team plans on implementing the program on the device as well. Further reports note of the program to be a part of platforms as well, adding more diversity to the program. Support for more affordable VR headsets may increase the usability of the program, Engadget reported. Google plans on improving it with more Google Earth updates in the future that will offer a more immersive experience.

Besides the upcoming Google Earth program, Google has been working on augmented reality museum and virtual tour programs as well. These will revolutionize the way users tend to learn about things.

Google Daydream will support such applications and programs in the future as reported by the company. Additionally, Google Earth will mark the starting of a new immersive experience for users worldwide.
Scientists are troubled about the number of calves birthed by endangered north American right whales last winter. The low number may be evidence of the species' population decline.

According to The Seattle Times, there are only about 500 right whales alive today, and each winter, they migrate to the warm Atlantic waters in Georgia and Florida to give birth to their young. On average, there are about 17 newborn whales every year, but only three added to the population this year. It is the lowest since 2000's single newborn.

A single bad year does not automatically mean trouble. After all, reproduction does fluctuate from time to time. However, Clay George, a wildlife biologist and overseer of the right whale surveys for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said that researchers have seen below-average birth rates since 2012.

He said that the preliminary data showed a flat or declining population, but this should not be a cause for alarm yet, as the population did a turn after 2000's all-time low. After the single new calf that year, the whales rebounded, with 31 newborns in 2001. Providence Journal noted that the highest number was in 2009, with 29. But since then, numbers have considerably dropped.

Also for the first time since 2001, there have been no first-time mothers among the birthing whales this season. However, the three whales that did give birth have not had babies for about eight years, which is twice the typical span between whale births.

Another evidence that the right whales may have been struggling is the smaller number seen in waters between New England and Nova Scotia, where they used to be seen gorging on planktons. Philip Hamilton, a right whale researcher from Boston, said that this points to potential food shortage. However, among the reasons for their migration to Cape Cod Bay is the rich plankton bloom.

Unfortunately, there are still concerns regarding the quality of the food supply. While there is no sure reason yet, Charles Mayo, a right whale habitat expert, noted that "it could be climate change, natural variation in the ecosystem, it could be human activity."
Most kids learn how to tie their shoelaces by the time they reach kindergarten. However, no matter how old they get, these laces always seem to end up getting untied. This problem is not something only children struggle with. Even adults have a hard time keeping their shoelaces tied in a perfect knot the entire day with no re-tying.

There is a scientific explanation for that. According to a new study by mechanical engineers at UC Berkeley, the forces endured from stomping and whipping act like an invisible hand to them. These forces then start loosening the knot and tugging on the ends of the laces, until eventually the strings unfasten.

With the help of a slow-motion camera, the study was able to show that such unraveling happens in a matter of seconds, triggered by a complex reaction of the said forces. While this experiment may be simple enough, there are other bigger implications to the explanation, as far as science is concerned.

Christopher Daily-Diamond, co-author of the study and a graduate student at Berkeley, said that once the science of the shoelaces are understood, it is easier to apply it to various aspects of science. Among these, he noted, included understanding DNA or microstructures that are also known to fail under dynamic forces.

BBC News also noted that the group conducted tests with the help of different varieties of laces. While some are better than others as far as knot-tying is concerned, they all suffer from the same cause. Study co-author Christine Gregg noted that what makes this especially interesting is the fact that the mechanism allows laces to stay firmly knotted for a long time. Nonetheless, one motion that can cause the loosening can start an avalanche effect, eventually leading to what they call a "knot failure."
The Samsung's Edge-to-Edge display impressed several fans worldwide, but something more impressive is about to come very soon. The company has been working on foldable display for several years now. The Korean company may be prepared to launch a foldable smartphone that would be called Samsung Galaxy X before the end of the year.

According to an article from Android Central, Samsung is still in the process of requesting components to manufacture 2,000 to 3,000 prototype devices. The foldable handset is said to be part of the company's "Project Valley." The main goal of the project is to create a foldable smartphone that would be called Samsung Galaxy X.

Report claims that the Samsung Galaxy X prototype can be folded open 180 degrees. The device also features a pair of OLED screen panels that are connected with a special hinge in the middle. The company will be using these prototypes to make sure they will actually work and to gather more ideas from them.

The bendable and foldable smartphones are not a new concept in the tech world. The concept has been around for several years. Way back in 2011, Samsung even released a sample of a foldable smartphone with a touch AMOLED display. The device even held together after 100,000 folds, but a slight problem occurred after it. Fans are expecting that Samsung Galaxy X would be the perfect foldable phone first released by the company.

According to Trusted Reviews, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy X prototype might have a bigger display compared to the previous prototype. There might also be two screens that will be designed for multi-tasking rather than being used as one huge screen display. The device might almost have no bezel. Samsung fans seem so excited, but the foldable phones probably would not hit the mass market until the year 2019.
A recent report noted that the multinational aerospace corporation, Boeing, has worked on a new spacesuit for astronauts. Boeing envisions to launch a set of new commercially planned orbital missions for its astronauts on the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The crew capsule, which is expected to begin its orbital missions in 2018, will require upgraded suits for its astronauts.

According to Boeing Starliner Crew and Missions System lead Chris Ferguson, the new spacesuit for astronauts is a big achievement that will offer more mobility to the wearer. The suits are reportedly made of lighter materials, making them more comfortable to wear and move around. Ferguson, who is a former astronaut, noted of how bulky the ones he used to wear were. He has visited the International Space Station three times during his days.

The new spacesuits for astronauts are made by Boeing in collaboration with a Massachusetts-based company known as David Clark Company. The firms noted that the new suits will let astronauts have more comfort while performing various extravehicular activities such as spacewalks.

As far as the new spacesuit features are concerned, it comprises of touchscreen gloves as well as lightweight shoes that resemble common sneakers worn by everyday people. Tech Crunch noted that the new spacesuit is an exercise in safety, comfort, functionality and minimalism. As for statements from David Clark Company's system engineer Travis Ripps, he described that the new layout of the suit enables astronauts to do their jobs without hindrance.

Ripps noted in his statement regarding the new spacesuit for astronauts that it has been designed to offer solid pressurization from the slack at the knees and in the back while the astronauts are in their seated position during launch. He also noted that the new spacesuit ensures comfort when zipped across the stomach that prevents bunching when bent at the mid-section.

Further updates on the new spacesuit for astronauts note of incorporating a simple design. Moreover, the design is noted to be pretty dynamic and can be adjusted to fit various frames as well as six different sizes as per the needs of various astronauts. According to The National, Boeing plans on launching civilians into space by 2019. Hopefully, the new spacesuits are going to accompany those missions as well.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Lanes Professional Pest Elimination, the largest privately owned pest-elimination service in the state, was honored at a ribbon cutting Wednesday afternoon after joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Lanes Professional Pest Elimination has been in business since 1985 and services countless residential and commercial structures from Georgia up to North Carolina. In the Florence area, Lanes keeps unwanted pests from ravaging popular businesses and restaurants including Red Bone Alley and Town Hall.

Roy Snowden, account service liaison for Lanes Pest Elimination, said becoming a part of the Greater Florence Chamber is a welcome step for both him and the company.

Theres dozens and dozens of places that we service here, Snowden said. We do a lot with hospitality and restaurants in the commercial department. It (the chamber) gives them more exposure to people like me that offer services that they can use.

Lanes continually educates its technicians and provides training using advanced pest management techniques and products. The company also offers long-term pest-management plans that can be arranged on a one-time, monthly, quarterly or seasonal basis.

Snowden has worked for Lanes for close to a year and said the company does an exceptional job remaining competitive with its nationally recognized counterparts.

A lot of people think that the national brands are the best way to go but thats not always the case, Snowden said. The national branded pest-elimination companies base their prices on national averages. Our pricing is usually more on point with the area.

Snowden added that the company has a reputation not only for reasonable prices and outstanding results, but also for emphasizing the importance of first-rate customer service.

Our service is second to none, Snowden said. When Lane started this company his first priority was customer service. Second was service. And we still hold true to that.
English Estonian

The Annual General Meeting of Skano Group AS (registry code: 11421437, address: Suur-Joe 48, Parnu 80042, hereinafter the Company) will be held on the 15th of May 2016 at 11.am at the office of Skano Group AS at Suur-Joe 48, Parnu.

The agenda of the General Meeting with the proposals of the Supervisory Board:

1. Approval of the Annual Report 2016

Proposal of the Supervisory Board: To approve the Annual Report of the Company for 2016 prepared by the Management, which exposes the consolidated balance sheet value of 11,964 thousand euros as at 31.12.2016 and the net loss in the amount of 1,045 thousand in 2016.

2. Covering the loss from 2016

Proposal of the Supervisory Board: Transfer the loss 1,045 thousand euros to the retained earnings.

3. Appointment and remuneration principles of auditor

Proposal of the Supervisory Board: To appoint AS PricewaterhouseCoopers (registry code: 10142876, address: Parnu mnt 15, 10141 Tallinn) as the auditor of the Company for the financial years 2017-2019. Public accounting services will be paid for in accordance with the contract to be drawn up with the auditor.

4. Approval of conditions of share options

Proposal of the supervisory board: Pursuant to  298 (2) and  345 (1) of the Commercial Code to approve the conditions of share options to the members of the management board of Skano Group AS as follows:

4.1. Skano Group AS shall be entitled to issue up to 300 000 (three hundred thousand) share options until 31.12.2017. Every share option grants the entitled subject the right to buy 1 (one) share of Skano Group AS.

4.2. The Chairman of the management board of Skano Group AS shall be the entitled subject of the option.

4.3. If the entitled subject wishes to acquire the share options appointed thereto, he shall enter into a written option agreement with Skano Group AS no later than on 31.12.2017. If the entitled subject does not enter into the option agreement within the specified term, he loses the right to acquire the share options appointed thereto.

4.4. Application of the conditions of the share option programme and the procedure for the sale of share options shall be provided for in the option agreement entered into between Skano Group AS and the entitled subject. The representative of Skano Group AS upon signing the option agreement shall be the member of the supervisory board Joakim Johan Helenius.

4.5. The entitled subject of a share option shall be entitled to use the issued option starting from the 37th (thirty-seventh) calendar month after issue of the option. The entitled subject shall lose the right to use the share option if he leaves from the management board of Skano Group AS upon own initiative prior to the thirty-seventh calendar month after the issue of the option or if his board member contract is terminated upon the initiative of the supervisory board within 12 months after the issue of the option. The entitled subject shall have the right to use the share option to the extent of 1/3 if his board member contract is terminated within 13-24 months after the issue of the option and to the extent of 2/3 if his or her board member contract is terminated within 25-36 months after the issue of the option.

4.6. The entitled subject of a share option shall not have the right to transfer the share options issued thereto.

4.7. Up to 300 000 (three hundred thousand) shares of Skano Group AS shall be emitted to fulfil the conditions of the share option.

4.8. The price of one share option is 0.506 EUR (calculated as the average closing price of the Skano Group shares for the last 60 trading days before the announcement of given AGM, i.e. average closing shares prices from 19.01.2017 to 12.04.2017).

4.9. The final term of the share programme is 31.12.2020. The specific schedule of the share programme and the procedure for sale shall be determined by the supervisory board.

4.10. The pre-emptive right of shareholders to subscribe to new shares emitted to fulfil the conditions of the share option shall be precluded.

The documents of Annual Report of Skano Group AS, proposal for profit allocation and auditors report to the Annual Report 2016 will be available at the head office of the Company at Suur-Joe 48, Parnu, starting from 13.04.2017, and on Companys web site www.skano.com.

Information on the procedure for exercising the rights specified in the Commercial Code  287,  293 (2) and (21) and  293'1 (4) is published on the website of the Company www.skano.com.

As of the date of publishing of the announcement, the share capital of Skano Group AS is 2,699,436.60 euros. The company has 4,499,061 shares and each share gives one vote.

The date of closing the list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting will be May 8, 2017 at 23:59.

Registration of the participants in the meeting will begin at 10:45.

To register yourself as a participant in the general meeting, please present:

a shareholder who is a sole proprietor  an identity document

a representative of a shareholder who is a sole proprietor  an identity document and a written authorisation document

a representative of a shareholder who is a legal person  valid certified copy of the registry card (for legal persons in Estonia, certified no earlier than 7 days ago), which entitles the person to represent the shareholder, and an identity document of the representative, or an authorisation document prepared as required and an identity document of the representative. We request prior legalisation or apostille certification of documents of a legal person registered in a foreign country, unless stated otherwise in the international agreement. Skano Group AS may register a shareholder who is a legal person of a foreign country as a participant in the general meeting also in case all required data on the legal person and the representative are included in the notarised authorisation document issued to the representative in a foreign country and the authorisation document is acceptable in Estonia.

If a shareholder has deposited his/her shares on a nominee account, a respective certificate issued by the account administrator shall be submitted, certifying the right of ownership of the shares as of May 8, 2017.

Please present your passport or identity card as an identification document.

A shareholder may notify the Company of the appointment of a representative or withdrawal of authorisation by a representative by submitting respective information to the Management Board of Skano Group AS (in a digitally signed format which can be reproduced in writing on the following e-mail address: Torfinn.Losvik@skanogroup.com, or in writing by mail at the following address: Skano Group AS, Suur-Joe 48, Parnu, Estonia) no later than on 14th of May 2016 (inclusive).

For the appointment of a representative or withdrawal of authorisation by a representative, a shareholder may use the forms available on the website of Skano Group AS www.skano.com.

Torfinn Losvik

CEO & Chairman of the Management Board

Phone: + 372 56 99 09 88

E-mail: torfinn.losvik@skanogroup.com
FLORENCE, S.C.  Barbara Thornton Sylvester died Wednesday in Charleston after an illness. Like everything in her life, she waged that battle with grace and strength.

Sylvester was 88. She left behind accomplishments that changed lives and enriched a community and the state she loved so much.

She was Florences version of Rosie the Riveter, applying her persuasive muscle to get things done. Legislators came to know her as a fearless activist, a switch-hitter who had no qualms about asserting herself in a male-dominated political system.

I really have a reputation at the State House, Sylvester told the Greenville News in 1975. When I walk in, they say, Oh God  how much is it going to cost South Carolina?

Sylvester was one of a trio of women dynamos behind the establishment of mental health programs in the state. When faced with a lack of services for her special-needs daughter, April, Sylvester helped fill the gap by working toward the establishment of the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation and, subsequently, what is now the Pee Dee Center.

We fought a lot of battles together, always on the same side, of course, said Lucy Thrower, a retired Francis Marion University instructor who met Sylvester through political activities. She was the ultimate Steel Magnolia. Sometimes the velvet glove would be on one hand, sometimes it was the other way around. She was very effective, a very public and spirited person.

The widow of an esteemed Florence physician, Dr. Joseph G. Sylvester, who died in 1992, she was an avid supporter of the Sylvester Award, given annually in her late husbands honor to a new McLeod Regional Medical Center nurse for outstanding work ethic.

Never, ever forget that you can never choose another profession in your life that will mean more to you than the one youve gone into, and I thank you, she told nominees during the 2009 awards ceremony.

Sylvester will be remembered in the medical community as a selfless giver.

Barbara had a generous passion to help those in the community who could not help themselves, said Jill Bramblett, executive director of McLeod Foundation. This was evident in her support of the McLeod Foundation. She and her daughter, April, wanted to make a difference, especially for cancer patients. They truly gave from the heart.

When the HIV-AIDs epidemic made its presence known in the region, Sylvester was one of a small group of activists responsible for the establishment of Hope for the Pee Dee, which provided services for those fighting the disease.

Barbara saw beyond barriers, said Nick Townsend, a former board member. She didnt see white or black, didnt see gay or straight, didnt see disabled or able. She was a woman before her time.

The groundbreaking clinic eventually grew to become HopeHealth, a major provider of comprehensive medical services in the Pee Dee.

Barbara raised tens of thousands of dollars for HopeHealth, said Carl Humphries, chief executive officer. HopeHealth considers her a dear friend and we will miss her greatly. We cant express enough appreciation for all she did. She showed us a love that radiated throughout the community.

An advocate for youth, Sylvester served as chairwoman of the South Carolina Board of Youth Services and the State Board of Juvenile Corrections. She was a proud member of the Democratic Party, through which she championed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Barbara will be missed by all whose lives she touched in many ways, said Realtor Pam Osborne, who considered Sylvester a mother figure. If there was a cause dear to her heart, you knew it and she fought for it every step to accomplish the goal and the reverse was also true; you knew what she was against. She was the only true Florentine I knew. Florence and all who knew her lost our Grand Lady.

Politically, Sylvester was troubled by the lack of female representation in the legislature and at the polls. In 1970s, she co-founded the Florence chapter of the League of Women Voters and was thrilled to serve as Democratic national committeewoman.

Her advocacy led to what she called one of her greatest honors when she was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 1977. But when it came to friendship, Sylvester was decidedly non-partisan.

I met Barbara Sylvester as soon as I got involved in Florence politics, starting about 1982, remembered a Florence physician, Dr. Stephen Imbeau. She was not only a prominent physicians wife, but active in politics herself, even running for office at least once. She was a Democratic activist from the old school, not screaming or yelling but always kind, true to her cause and even humorous. Her laugh was music and her eyes always a-twinkle  Barbara and I disagreed about many things, but became close friends and even confidants.

In 2000, Sylvester co-founded a nonprofit, nonpartisan committee that raised money to support the political campaigns of South Carolina women running for office. It was called the B-List in her honor.

Barbara was one of the first people I met when I moved to Florence to marry Mayor Frank Willis in 1999, said Marguerite Willis, attorney and former president of the S.C. Women Lawyers Association, whose own go-getter style meshed naturally with Sylvesters. The two enjoyed a warm friendship. Barbara was, of course, a fixture in the South Carolina Democratic Party. The last time I saw her was after I returned for the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia this summer. She came to my house to see the Girl Power sign I was pictured holding on the front page of The New York Times the night Hillary Clinton received the Democratic nomination. I will treasure the photograph that ran in the Morning News of the two of us with the iconic poster.

In 2002, Gov. James Hodges awarded Sylvester the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolinas highest civilian honor.

Barbara was someone you called when you needed strength and she always had an avenue, a bright side to share, said Joe Bittle, chief of community health at CareSouth and a longtime friend of Sylvesters. She inspired everyone to persevere, to go after what you believe in and what you stand for. She was there for all mankind.

Services will announced by the family later.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Albuquerque March of Dimes has named TriCore Reference Laboratories' Chief Administration Officer, Dr. Nick Dayan, as the 2017/2018 Chair of the Albuquerque March for Babies. TriCore is also the signature sponsor of this year's event.



Dr. Dayan said of being chosen the Chair of the event, "I am so honored to be named the Chair of this marvelous event. By supporting the March for Babies program, we as a community have the ability to affect our newborns for a lifetime."



The March for Babies will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Johnson Field on the UNM Campus. Registration will be at 10:00AM and the walk starts at 11:30AM. Please go to: bit.ly/marchforbabiesABQ for more information or to register to be a participant.



Nearly 4 million babies are born annually in the US. All babies, whether they are born early or on time benefit from advances in prenatal and postpartum care made possible by the March of Dimes. Since 1970, March for Babies has been the biggest fundraiser for the March of Dimes in Albuquerque  last year's event raised $169,000 with the donations going to support the March of Dimes local efforts as well as support the five national Prematurity Research Centers.



Lori Medik, Executive Director of Market Development for the March of Dimes, stated, "March for Babies is an incredible community event that allows us to focus attention on prematurity, birth defects, and infant mortality. Annually, in New Mexico 25,800 babies are born. Of these babies, 2,448 are born preterm, 782 are born with a birth defect, and 139 die before reaching their first birthday. While not everyone has a direct mission connection, everyone is affected by prematurity, birth defects, and infant mortality. Preterm birth alones costs our state $126 million a year, approximately $26 billion nationally. We care about all babies and March for Babies is an opportunity for each of us to make a difference."



About March of Dimes

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.



About TriCore Reference Laboratories

TriCore Reference Laboratories is a clinical reference laboratory providing a complete range of services to health care professionals across the Southwest as well as pathology consultation services to clinicians across the country. For more information, visit www.tricore.org
CLEARWATER, Fla., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 8th, the Herman and Mary G. Allen Community Outreach Organization held a fundraiser and scholarship presentation at the Historic Fort Harrison, the Church of Scientologys international religious retreat. Nearly $10,000 was raised for the non-profit organization by the 100 guests in attendance.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80363442-d685-4d14-ba78-ef2603f9a3e3

Mr. Dylan Pires, the Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology in Clearwater, opened the event and welcomed the guests. Mr. Pires described the Fort Harrisons history of community events.

Since its grand opening in 1927, the Fort Harrison has remained the focal point of community events all over the Tampa Bay area, Mr. Pires said. Following this tradition, the Church of Scientology has continued to host these events. Since its last restoration in 2009, the Fort Harrison has been the venue for over 500 community events  just like this one today.

The Herman and Mary G. Allen Outreach Organization is a non-profit organization that was established to deal with the devastating decline in student achievement. Due to many students being unable to afford academic assistance, such as tutoring, these services are provided to students free-of-charge. They provide a nurturing and safe environment for the students after school hours and days when schools are closed.

Highlighting the need for education, several people spoke its importance to society. Guest speakers included Jacqueline Douglas, Principal of Richard L. Sanders School; Sharon Snow, a retired Pinellas County educator and Dr. Veronica Walters, Founder of the Walters Academy for Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Walters told of the advice she gives to her students; that everyone falls sometimes, but when you fall, fall forward. She encourages her students to keep going and not to give up.

After the guest speakers, Ms. Mary Allen, Founder of the Herman and Mary G. Allen Outreach Organization, presented two college scholarships to high school students. One of the students will be going to college to major in the performing arts while the other will be majoring in mathematics. They were both excited to receive the scholarship and put it towards their college education.

For more information or to schedule an event for your non-profit organization in the Fort Harrison, please reach Dylan at (727) 467-6860 or dylanpires@churchofscientology.net.

About the Fort Harrison:

Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison has been the home for many community events and charitable organizations. The Fort Harrison's current owner, the Church of Scientology, has hosted over 500 community events there since a top-to-bottom restoration in 2009. The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard, and incorporated in 1954. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org.
CLEARWATER, Fla., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 6th, the Manager of the Scientology Information Center, Amber Skjelset, announced that the Center surpassed its next milestone since its ribbon cutting ceremony on July 11th, 2015. As of this past week, the number of the Centers guests, who come from all over Tampa Bay and the world, surpassed the 11,000 mark.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3005ffe7-2698-4dda-a5ac-2cee8669d676

Since the ribbon fell nearly two years ago at its grand opening, the Scientology Information Center has welcomed more than 11,000 guests through it doors. The Center provides answers to questions about Scientology through its gallery of exhibits containing more than 350 videos presentations about basic concepts of Dianetics, Scientology, Churches around the world and the life of Mr. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder.

People are intrigued about Scientology and want to see for themselves what it is all about, said Ms. Skjelset. Its a beautiful space where they can find out for themselves answers to their questions about Scientology through a self-guided tour. They can visit for a few minutes or stay for as long as they want.

To date, guests have visited from 25 of the 50 U.S. states, 40 countries from around the world, and from 6 of the world continents. When they see the sign, Church of Scientology Information Center, they come in to take a look, said Skjelset.

Stan, a long-term Clearwater resident who spent time looking around, watching videos clips and learning about Scientology and its social betterment programs said, Its a really good thing that this center is here so that anyone can find out what Scientology is. He added, I think a lot more people need to open their minds and look for themselves and find out what Scientologys beliefs really are!

Some of the information in the Center covers basic Scientology tenets, what Scientologists believe, short interviews with Scientologists, the Parts of Man, an Introduction to Dianetics, and a brief overview of the life of Scientologys founder, Mr. L. Ron Hubbard.

The center offers tours to the broad public and civic leaders; holds small events and receptions for various community groups; and opens up the use of its conference room to social, civic and non-profit groups.

Upcoming events are:

April 22nd  Church of Scientology, Historic Buildings Tour

April 23rd  Earth Day Awareness Piano Concert

May 13th  Mothers Day Tribute by Broadway and Beyond

For more information on these events please call the manager at 727-467-6966 or via e-mail amber@cos.flag.org.

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization is the international religious retreat for Scientologists all over the world. This Clearwater Church makes its historic Fort Harrison available free of charge to non-profit organizations to hold community events and supports area non-profits. Scientologys founder, L. Ron Hubbard once said, A community that pulls together can make a better society for all.
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The Indonesian shipowner announced it is seeking approval from shareholders to authorise the disposal of the four feeder boxships, all built in 2005 with capacity from 241-287 teu and two 17,726-17,766-dwt oil tankers built in 2000 and 2001.

Singapore-listed Samudera Shipping said the ships are all Indonesia flagged vessels that service the domestic route within Indonesia.

Under the current Indonesian shipping law, the group is restricted from owning and registering new Indonesia flagged vessels. Arising therefrom, the group will not be able to acquire new Indonesia flagged vessel to rejuvenate aging and/or non-competitive Indonesia flagged vessels, Samudera Shipping said.

The group has adopted the strategic approach of gradually selling or scapping Indonesia flagged vessel. Once all the Indonesia flagged vessels are sold/scarpped, the group will cease to provide shipping services for domestic route within Indonesia.

However, the group will continue to provide shipping services for international route from and to Indonesia as well as potentially investing in a minority stake in Indonesian company which provides shipping services for domestic route within Indonesia, Samudera Shipping explained.

The disposal price of each of the six vessels will not be lower than 90% of their respective values as determined by an independent valuer.

The four feeder boxships  Sinar Padang, Sinar Panjang, Sinar Jepara and Sinar Ambon  were making losses in the year ended 31 December 2016, while the pair of oil tankers  Sinar Emas and Sinar Jogya  were profitable in 2016 but they are more than 15 years old.

Over the past 12 months up until February this year, Samudera Shipping has disposed of six elderly feeder boxships.
The two companies said in a joint press release that this design has now also obtained a Lloyd's Register's (LR) Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate. The development project follows an MoU signed last June between the three companies.

The fleet comprises four vessels; a pusher tug, LNG storage barge, LNG regasification barge, and a floating liquefaction natural gas barge. The pusher tug can be used to transport the three barges.

The concept's operational flexibility, combined with competitive capex and opex costs will help to offer global operators a more efficient and economical fleet design that meets current and anticipated environmental requirements according to the classification rules, the companies said.

The concept is also scalable and flexible, it noted, adding that the pusher tug provides mobility to all the elements. As such, the number and type of units can be adapted to the nature of each project.

For example, the concept can be utilized to act as an LNG carrier (using only the pusher tug and LNG storage barge), or it can be used for more complex projects involving liquefaction and regasification systems (using all units).

The modular design of Wartsila's liquefaction and regasification units makes this an ideal concept for gas plants in the 50-200 MW range. The low draft design also makes it very attractive for gas power plant projects in Southeast Asia, the group suggested.

The project has attained the authority of China's National Patent Office and has been conceptualised by CHI. The design and engineering development, especially in relation to the hinge joint, mooring arrangement, ship type and seakeeping analysis, has also been carried out by CHI.

Wartsila is expected to produce much of the technology for the fleet vessels, which will include Wartsila dual-fuel engines and steerable thrusters, the Wartsila LNGPac gas storage and supply system, a Wartsila liquefaction module, a Wartsila LNG cargo handling system, and a Wartsila regasification module.

"This is a new and innovative fleet concept that is designed to create better efficiencies for companies involved in any part of the natural gas supply chain. By combining CHI's know-how in this field with Wartsila' s vast technological competences, we have together taken yet another step forward in creating an optimal LNG supply chain," said Wartsila Marine Solutions Southeast Asia business development director Sanjay Verma.

"We have worked together with Wartsila for many years in various marine and offshore projects. Wartsila has the technical leadership and a broad portfolio of products and solutions in LNG systems for marine applications, and is a partner that we enjoy working with. This natural gas operating fleet concept is a new and exciting development, which should bring extensive customer benefits. CHI will continue to focus on LNG related business, and extend its market influence, research and development for LNG projects," said Zhao Zhijian general manager of CHI technical R&D center.

"LR has completed a preliminary hazard identification (HAZID) study for this innovative design. This study covered the fuel gas supply system, the transfer of LNG between the vessels, as well as the mooring arrangement of the fleet, and as a result the Approval in Principle certificate has been issued," said Wei Ying, principal specialist & general manager, Shanghai Technical Support Office, Lloyd's Register Marine & Offshore.
CLEARWATER, Fla., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over 2000 people from Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark marched in the streets of Florence, Italy last weekend to protest the increasing number of Europeans, especially children, being prescribed dangerous psychotropic drugs. The Italian chapter of the international mental health watchdog group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) organized the march, in coordination with other chapters including CCHR Florida and all across the US. They pointed out that more than 33 percent of Europeans aged 1829 have taken such drugs. CCHR was established by the Church of Scientology and renown psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969.



The march coincided with a European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Congress being held in Florence, with CCHR saying the conference promotes drug and other psychiatric interventions that puts Italians and other Europeans mental health and lives at risk.

Among speakers at the rally was Prof. Vincenza Palmieri, founder of the Living without Psychiatric Drug program: For 30 years I have been seeing families and individuals being trapped in a system that sucks their lives away with the use of mind-altering drugs. We must spread information, knowledge and courage, to oppose this, he said.

The march was followed by the opening of a world-acclaimed exhibition on psychiatry at the Auditorium del Duomo (via de Cerretani 54r - Florence). Called PSYCHIATRY: SOCIAL CONTROL AND VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, it documents the harmful history of psychiatry and its contemporary abuses. This includes Italy being the birthplace of electroshock treatment that the protestors say should be banned. More than 90 clinics in Italy still administer electroshock treatment, which was invented by Italian psychiatrist Ugo Cerletii in 1938. The exhibition is open until April 10 at Auditorium del Duomo, via de Cerretani 54r, with free entrance from 10:00 till 19:00.

Prof. Palmieri; Mr. Francesco Miraglia, a lawyer often engaged in defending human rights; and Mrs. Serena Perini, Councilwoman and President of the Florence Town Halls Committee on Peace, Human Rights, Solidarity, International Relations, Immigration and Equal Opportunities, thanked CCHR for the extensive information in the exhibit. The consensus was that without the exhibit, many mental health abuses would have remained unknown.

The worldwide concern about increasing psychotropic drug use is prompted by the drugs now well documented adverse effects, including suicidal and homicidal thoughts, psychosis, mania, aggression, hallucinations, severe liver damage, birth defects, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.

Psychiatric drug consumption has been increasing in Italy over the past 10 years. In 2015 they represented the fourth highest group of drugs prescribed in the country, at an expense of 3.3 Billion Euros.

Conflicts of Interest Exposed in Psychiatric-Pharmaceutical Industry.

The 25th EPA Congress was held April 1  4, 2017. But as CCHR points out, the psychiatric conference had serious conflicts of interest with at least eight pharmaceutical companies sponsoring it, including Janssen, Lundbeck, Sunovion, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Otsuka, Shire, and Takeda. Many of these companies have paid out millions of dollars to settle lawsuits against them in the United States concerning psychiatric drugs they manufacture.

CCHRs exhibition further exposes the conflicts of interests in the psychiatric-pharmaceutical industry. It comprises 75 panels and 13 video documentaries, covering 300 years of often painful and harmful mental health treatments.

For more information on CCHR Italy: www.ccdu.org

About CCHR:

Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHRs mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections.

It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world. In March 1969, he said, Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the free world tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of mental health.
Whether its learning how to arm knit after work in downtown Birmingham or letter pressing your own business cards on a Saturday morning in Detroits Eastern Market, the options for embracing your inner creative side in Metro Detroit abound. That's because the region is home to a wide array of businesses and organizations that believe in not only supporting and promoting local artists but encouraging patrons to find their own DIY passions, too.

That Detroit is a city of makers and artists is nothing new; it's deeply rooted in the core of the citys DNA, evident in everything from automobiles to music to food. What is new is the area's more recent evolution as a destination? and community? for crafters.



It all started with a fair



Since the mid-2000s, the area has become increasingly connected to the ever-growing craft and maker movement.

The first "indie craft fair" showcasing artists interested in breaking away from traditional craft fair norms took place in 2003 in Chicago. What started out as a neighborhood park craft fair has turned into a global event; Renegade Craft Fair now draws shoppers far and wide. In fall 2017 they'll set their set their sights on Detroit for the very first time. The maker mindset got underway in 2006 with the launch of Maker Faire, a now-global DIY showcase that can be found here in Michigan and around the world.

Detroit has always been a very creative community, and we've seen the passion for DIY grow even more over the years with the modern maker movement, says Bethany Nixon, co-founder of Handmade Detroit and the Detroit Urban Craft Fair.

DUCF was the first indie craft fair of its kind in Michigan when it debuted in 2006, and we have been so thrilled to watch opportunities open up for makers in new locally owned stores and locally produced markets in the area since.

Handmade Detroits DUCF is one of several indie craft fairs in the area that bring together like-minded makers and shoppers every holiday season. Fairs like these and others such as DIYpsi and DIY Street Fair are designed as much to inspire shoppers to support handmade goods as to help them find their own DIY passions.

There is so much innovation and so much drive in the Motor City, says Nixon. I can't wait to see what our community makes in the next decade.

Jodi Lynn Burton is a local craft fair veteran, by way of her Detroit-based Jodi Lynns Emporium of Doodles, and creator of Detroit Craft Academy, a new podcast and blog dedicated to showcasing Detroits ever-growing collection of makers. Shes inspired by the creativity the Metro Detroits area maker community has to offer.



Jodilynn Burton of Detroit Craft Academy. Photo by David Lewinski.

Detroit has changed a lot since I first started living In the city. I fell in love with the DIY community down here, she says. Everyone is really supportive of one another. Maybe it's a Midwest thing, but I feel like people are genuinely excited about what other people are doing.

Museums get in on the maker movement

Meanwhile, businesses and cultural organizations have been keeping an eye on the areas desire to fuel hands-on creative interests. The Detroit Institute of Arts offers drop-in workshops on for kids, adults, and seniors on everything from paper crafting to printmaking. You can learn the art of egg decorating this Friday. And Cranbrook Art Museum now hosts a monthly Museum Makery workshop series which offers attendees an opportunity to learn how to weave, make jewelry, and even needlefelt.



Sarah Doty. Photo by David Lewinski.

The Museum Makery came out of a combination of things  access to a huge pool of talented MFA students at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, an education team interested in object-based learning and teaching directly from pieces in our collection, and what we saw as a community need for more active, hands-on art making opportunities in the area, says Sarah Doty, Associate Curator of Education at Cranbrook Art Museum. It just made sense to act as facilitator, planning and convening these separate parts.

DIY businesses

New business models are evolving as well. The Detroit Artist's Market in Midtown, Berkley's Yellow Door Market and Ferndale's Rust Belt Market provide a craft fair shopping experience year-round.

West Bloomfields Made Studio + Market, founded by residents Christy Brennan and Katheryn Hansen, offers a combination of a local artist's market with regular DIY workshop offerings from area artists and makers, blending DIY goods with hands-on learning.



Christy Brennan at Made Market. Photo by David Lewinski.

Made was developed with the idea of community in mind. We wanted to draw on local talent to stock our shelves. Our goal was to create a destination where our community could gain access to new artist and makers, says Brennan. We wanted to further develop that relationship by inviting the artists to come into the studio where they could present a class or skill to the community.

Ready to learn something new? Heres a collection of must-stop destinations and organizations that will help you embrace your inner crafter, whether its helping you stock your supply shelves or signing you up for a DIY workshop.

All-Around DIY

Detroit Institute of Arts - Detroit (Midtown)

Cranbrook Art Museum - Bloomfield Hills

Tech Shop Detroit - Allen Park

Maker Works- Ann Arbor

Knitting/Crochet

Have Ewe Any Wool?- Berkley

Woolly & Co. - Birmingham

Detroit Fiber Works - Detroit's Avenue of Fashion

Ewe-nique Knits - Royal Oak

Skeins on Main - Rochester

Sewing/Quilting

Haberman Fabrics - Royal Oak

Guildcrafters Quilt Shop - Berkley

Mabelena - Ortonville

Cristina's Quilt Shop - Rochester

African Fabric - Detroit's Avenue of Fashion

All-Things Greenthumb

Pot and Box - Hamtramck

Made Floral - Detroit (Midtown)

Tellys Greenhouse and Garden Center - Troy/ Pontiac / Shelby Township

English Gardens - Eastpointe / Royal Oak / West Bloomfield / Ann Arbor / Clinton Township / Dearborn Heights

Blumz - Ferndale

Goldner Walsh - Pontiac

Papercrafting

Signal-Return - Detroit (Eastern Market)

Ocelot Print Shop - Detroit (Midtown)

Salt and Cedar - Detroit (Eastern Market)

Hollanders - Ann Arbor

Stock Those Shelves

Munro Crafts - Berkley

Greens Art Supply - Rochester

Blick Art Supplies - Detroit (Midtown) / Dearborn / Royal Oak

Scrap Box - Ann Arbor

And the list doesnt stop there. Libraries, community centers, and even your favorite restaurants (check out Holiday Market's DIY cooking classes) in the metro area all offer great hands-on learning events. Wherever you look around Metro Detroit, chances are youll find something crafty.
Belle Isle: Ethan Stanton wanted to give back instead of just wandering through the woods. Photo by Imad Hassan

At 20 state parks and recreation areas across southern Michigan, groups of volunteer stewards regularly roll up their sleeves to help protect and restore natural areas. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Volunteer Steward Program puts volunteers to work, typically removing invasive species, planting native species, and collecting native seed. The program holds about 200 workdays per year.

In Michigan, we have a lot of really nice, high-quality natural areas within our state parks, says DNR Natural Resource Steward Laurel Malvitz-Draper, who manages the program in southeast Michigan. When an invasive plant moves in, it really disrupts the balance of an ecosystem. Invasive plants can outcompete native plants for nutrients and moisture in the soil, which causes ripple effects to insects, birds, and animals, she says. By removing invasive plants, we seek to restore balance to ecosystems so they can provide their normal functions or ecosystem services and provide habitat for a diverse array of native flora and fauna.



Volunteers pull garlic mustard. Photo by Allison Torres Burtka.

At a recent workday at Highland Recreation Area in White Lake, Malvitz-Draper led a team of volunteers in pulling garlic mustard, a non-native invasive plant from Europe, out of the ground in wooded areas. She explained how the plant threatens native plant species, and how one garlic mustard plant can spread thousands of seedsand those seeds can remain viable for up to 12 years in the seed bank (where they are stored in the soil).



Garlic mustard is allelopathic, meaning it secretes a chemical into the soil through its root system that hinders other plants from growingincluding native wildflowers and other plants that serve as food for native insects and animals.

Malvitz-Draper says that keeping invasive species in check preserves and enhances Michigans natural areas, making them more enjoyable for visitors. And in a broader sense, biodiversity is essential.

Simply put, species depend on one another for survival, Malvitz-Draper says. Maintaining ecosystems like wetlands is really important for filtering the water we need to survive and for water storage in the event of storms or severe weather. These are things we take for granted until those ecosystem services are no longer available.

On the west side of the state, the stewardship program manages critical dune habitat. Those areas are a magnet for tourism, says Heidi Frei, a natural resource steward who manages the program in southwest Michigan. The land is part of the local economy and what locals depend on, so its important to preserve and improve those areas, she says.

A cadre of volunteers

Volunteers are trained on their tasks for each 3-hour workday. They get to learn about local ecosystems, play a part in protecting them, and enjoy fresh air and exercise while theyre at it. Bill Burpee and his wife are regular volunteers who initially got involved as a way of giving back, he says. Then we found out that being out in the woods is very pretty.



Volunteers pull garlic mustard. Photo by Allison Torres Burtka.

The Stewardship Unit is part of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, and it is funded through user fees (like camping fees) and the state's Recreation Passport. Frei notes that the DNR is responsible for close to 300,000 acres.

Theres not enough staff to do this work on every acre of land that we manage, so volunteer participation is critical to help get this work done, Malvitz-Draper says, noting that park staff often are focused on maintaining and running facilities such as campgrounds.

The program also helps educate the public about these issues, Malvitz-Draper says.

Having volunteers engaged in this sort of activity is a win-win in terms of getting some hands-on work done in the field, as well as educating our citizens about some of the concerns or impacts to our natural areas.

Plus, its fun, Frei says. Volunteers enjoy working in these areas, and they get to know the park in an entirely different way when they get involved in managing it. The volunteer stewards are this legion of people that really care, and that we can call upon to assist us, Frei says. At the same time, they can be our ambassadors.

The workdays usually bring in about 10 to 20 volunteers, about half of whom are regulars and half of whom are less experienced, Malvitz-Draper says. After being trained, some volunteers may also work independentlymonitoring forests for diseases, surveying birds, redistributing beetles, monitoring insects, planting native plants, collecting native seed, and mapping invasive species.

The program, as it exists today, began in 2006, and has seen noticeable progress since then, Malvitz-Draper says. Having worked in some of these sites for 10-plus years, its really exciting to see the impact and progress weve madeto know that were getting ahead of the seed bank and were really able to protect habitat for our native species.



Volunteers pull garlic mustard. Photo by Allison Torres Burtka.

Over the years, weve been able to broaden our scope and control invasive species in larger areas, Malvitz-Draper says. That's especially true with garlic mustard. Patches that used to take us several workdays now will just take us part of one workday. She attributes this success to the consistency of the effort from year to year.

Park visitors might not know much about invasive plants, but they can tell the difference between a nicely managed area and one overrun with invasive species. When the native species are protected and the natural areas are well managed, people want to recreate more, Frei says.

Its important to safeguard these areas because its just kind of our job, says Nicole Timmreck, a forestry major at Michigan State University who volunteered at the Highland workday. In Michigan, we pride ourselves on our resources and natural areas. Why not take care of them?

Find out more at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Volunteer Steward Program website

.

This story is a part of a statewide Community Impact Series edited by Nina Ignaczak. Support for this series is provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
This is not another sad story about Flint's ongoing water tragedy.

Yes, Flint's manmade crisis--built on a series of shockingly poor, sloppily covered-up decisions--briefly concentrated minds used to filtering out reports from the long-neglected city. Haltingly, against all odds, it precipitated meaningful action by state policymakers. Had "Flint" not gained notoriety as a byword for government indifference to the plight of the powerless, Governor Snyder likely would never have had the opportunity to sign into law a bill mandating timely reporting of elevated lead levels in municipal drinking water supplies. The bill would never have been drafted.

Does more need to be done to aid Flint's recovery and prevent reruns of its tragedy? Yes, obviously. "Never forget," that tired rallying cry, really does apply here.

Is Flint the only water crisis facing Michigan and its neighbor states elsewhere in Great Lakes Basin? Absolutely not. In financial and human terms, other issues threaten even greater harm. The difference is that they're not in local and national headlines day in and day out. Our awareness of them, such as it is, is dim and ill-formed, broken only by the occasional story about a pipeline accident or tailing pond breach.

The same forces that contributed to the Flint disaster are at work elsewhere in Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin: lax regulation and oversight, indifferent policymaking, an uneven political playing field dominated by powerful and well-funded interest groups, a lack of reliable information about conditions on the ground.

The Great Lakes Basin faces a multitude of water threats: mining runoff, agricultural runoff, pipeline spills. Local and national organizations are working to shape environmental policy, strengthen enforcement, and raise public awareness about these issues. But they can't do it alone. They depend on a knowledgeable, active citizenry--including low-key folks who think activism is for other people.

Mining for Water Problems

Miners have plied Michigan's mineral-rich Upper Peninsula since the 1850s. Rich copper veins extend south from the central Keweenaw, through the South Range, and down into the Porcupine Mountains. The region's population centers--Houghton, Hancock, Calumet--were literally built on copper.

Back in the day, getting that copper out of the ground was pretty straightforward. Close to the surface, the lodes were mainly copper oxide, which is easy to extract without lots of water or harmful chemicals. With little more than pickaxes and elbow grease, miners made short work of them.

Once the easy pickings dried up, mining companies turned to a more destructive method: metallic sulfide mining, a water-intensive process with hazardous byproducts including sulfuric acid. Early on, before state and federal regulators got wise, mines simply dumped sulfide-rich tailings into nearby bodies of water, creating highly acidic cesspools lethal to most lifeforms.

Torch Lake, in the Keweenaw, got it bad. "They all but killed the bottom of the lake," says Horst Schmidt, president of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC). Though there's no longer active sulfide mining in the immediate area, the lake remains impaired.

To the southeast, near Marquette and Ishpeming, Deer Lake--once a prized fishery--landed on the Environmental Protection Agency's list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) following an intensive, mercury-aided gold mining binge. The gold is long gone, but Deer Lake remained an AOC for decades before its final de-listing in 2014.

"Even after the mining stops, [lakes] remain polluted and dead," says Schmidt.

Housed within UPEC is the semi-autonomous Mining Action Group, formerly Save the Wild U.P. The Mining Action Group agitates against real and perceived lapses at existing mines, latent environmental threats at shuttered mines, and new mine projects that threaten the Upper Peninsula's forests and waterways.

Those new projects tend to attract the most public support--and outrage.

Even before mines open for business, exploratory drilling and site preparation can leave a mess. Earlier this spring, for instance, the Mining Action Group shared ugly-looking pictures taken at a drilling site near the Porcupine Mountains, in the western U.P. Heavy trucks and equipment tore up the forest floor, leaving a sea of mud sure to run into the nearby Presque Isle River and out to Lake Superior. Though not toxic, topsoil runoff can impede near-shore boat navigation and affect plants and animals that depend on clear watercourses.

At the moment, the Mining Action Group's biggest target is the Aquila Back Forty project, a proposed nickel and gold mine in Menominee County, near the Wisconsin border. It's officially crunch time: The project received the third of four key state permits in early April, with final approval expected by year-end.

"Aquila is very proud of this milestone achievement given that the...permit satisfies both state and federal regulators as it pertains to protecting the Menominee River and surrounding watershed," said Aquila Resources CEO Barry Hildred in the release announcing the approval.

Schmidt isn't convinced. He argues state authorities haven't given enough thought to the risk of aquifer contamination around the mine, which can directly affect river health over time. He, his team at UPEC, and the volunteers at the Mining Action Group are going to keep pushing on this--and on a slew of other mining-related water threats in the Upper Peninsula and beyond.

"Because our state is surrounded by water, we have to be very careful," says Schmidt. "That means pressuring the [Michigan] Department of Environmental Quality and other organizations to do the right thing."

"Regulations only do so much," he adds. "You have to be prepared to defend them."

A Gentler Runoff? Not Really

Mines discharging sulfuric acid into lakes and aquifers? You'd have to be oblivious not to see the problem there.

But what about more diffuse sources of harmful runoff? Modern agriculture is a case in point.

Geneticists have given birth to near-perfect strains of corn and soybeans capable of growing in a stunning range of weather and soil conditions.

Chemists have developed pesticides that kill harmful bugs with pinpoint precision, herbicides that kill weeds without damaging valuable crops, and fertilizers that supercharge plant growth without depleting overworked soils.

Engineers have designed and perfected drainage (or "tiling") systems that minimize flooding and ensure field runoff reaches streams and rivers without carrying too much fertile topsoil with it.

And equipment manufacturers, many with headquarters and/or significant manufacturing operations in the Great Lakes Basin, have constructed ever-larger, ever-more-efficient diesel-powered vehicles for sowing, reaping, and maintaining fields.

You can thank these innovations for putting food on your plate and eliminating the scourge of famine, at least in the developed world. But they have a big downside: in agricultural regions like the southern Great Lakes Basin, chemical-laden runoff threatens ground and surface water supplies, including the Great Lakes themselves.

Phosphorous- and nitrogen-rich fertilizers promote wild algal blooms that drain lakes and ponds of nutrients and oxygen, threatening other life (including game fish). Under the right conditions, toxic blooms poison drinking water supplies; in 2014, a particularly nasty event left the Toledo area without clean water for nearly a week. Pesticides and herbicides compound the damage, killing off sensitive plants and animals, and rendering well water unsafe to drink without filtration or purification. And the older ways aren't without fault, either--excess topsoil erosion caused by old-fashioned farming practices clogs waterways, creating silt dams that hamper navigation and require costly dredging.

These problems are real. Unfortunately, Toledo-style blooms aside, they're also distributed across a wide area. In legal parlance, they're non-point sources, the opposite of the proverbial, highly visible, bright-green sewage effluent.

In Michigan, the most visible advocate for agricultural runoff mitigation is actually a state program: Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).

MAEAP is a voluntary, "proactive environmental assurance program ensuring that Michigan farmers are engaging in cost-effective pollution prevention practices and working to comply with state and federal environmental regulations." Its approach, basically, is "help us help you." Farmers who participate in MAEAP are far more likely to find themselves in compliance with pollution control regulations--and avoid the costly fines and remediation work doled out to scofflaws.

The program addresses four broad aspects of agriculture: farmstead (chemical, fuel, and hazardous waste); cropping (pesticides, nutrients, and erosion control); livestock (manure storage, feed storage, and lot management); and forest/wetlands/habitats (sustainable management plans for sensitive environments). Participating farmers move through a three-step process: an educational deep dive into sustainable farming practices and regulations, farm-specific assessments and recommendations, and on-site verification by MAEAP staffers. Farmers who successfully complete the program can display a "MAEAP Verified" sign to alert visitors and vendors that they're good stewards.

MAEAP is only as strong as Michigan's drainage laws, though. With minor exceptions, those laws have remained roughly static since the late 20th century. The Michigan Environmental Council, a nonprofit coalition of some 70 Michigan-based environmental groups, agitated for ag-related drainage law changes in the wake of the Toledo bloom--without success.

The political landscape is much the same elsewhere in the Great Lakes region. In Minnesota, the Republican-controlled legislature is taking aim at that state's recently enacted "buffer law." The law increases to 50 feet the required natural vegetation buffer between cultivated fields and "public waters," a vague category that includes many drainage ditches on privately held land.

According to Minnesota Public Radio, lack of compensation for affected farmers is a key sticking point. Environmental advocates argue the law is the least that can be done to address a water crisis in Minnesota's southwestern counties, where "no lakes and only a few streams...meet the state's quality standards for fishing and swimming," according to a state environmental report.

With Minnesota farmers facing a November 2017 deadline for compliance, and no MAEAP-like body to coax them along, the buffer law is likely to produce a high-stakes legislative showdown. Fortunately, Minnesota has a $1.6 billion budget surplus; some of that money may end up offsetting buffer losses.

There's Oil in Them Thar Lines

Michigan isn't really an energy state.

Sure, Lower Michigan has some hydrocarbon reserves; drive north from St. Johns, on Highway 127, and you'll catch glimpses of oil derricks and gas pumps working quietly amid the corn and cows. But the state's oil and gas supplies mostly come from somewhere else: the Gulf of Mexico, west Texas, North Dakota, Alberta.

How do they get here? Pipelines. Lots of them. After passing through controversial mid-continent pipelines like Dakota Access and Keystone, Michigan-bound hydrocarbons fan out into a dense network of intra-state pipelines--approximately 125,000 miles' worth.

The vast majority of Michigan's pipeline mileage is given over to natural gas: mostly the mains and service lines that distribute gas to homes and businesses across the state. While gas lines aren't foolproof and present serious risks (namely, combustion) when ruptured, they're not as troublesome as the state's 3,000-plus miles of hazardous liquids pipelines transporting crude oil, refined petroleum products (such as gasoline), and highly volatile liquids. When they rupture, these pipelines can cause major environmental calamities.

For all the notoriety it lacks, Michigan's aging hazardous liquids pipeline network has plenty of vulnerabilities. The state's worst pipeline disaster, which oozed more than a million gallons of heavy crude into the Kalamazoo River, happened just a few years ago, in 2010. Caused by a rupture in Enbridge Line 6b, that mishap remains the worst inland oil spill in U.S. history.

Since the mid-1990s, dozens of smaller Michigan pipeline disasters have collectively cost nearly $1 billion, caused at least one fatality, and spilled more than 40,000 barrels of crude oil or equivalents into surface waterways and aquifers.

Partly because of this dodgy track record, there's no shortage of grassroots action around pipeline safety in Michigan. In northern Lower Michigan, for instance, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council's signature issue is the Straits Pipelines, the two-pronged Enbridge oil pipeline that crosses under Lake Michigan near the Mackinac Bridge.

Under the Straits, the 60-year-old pipelines run underground until the 65-foot water depth mark, then poke above the surface and run along the bottom of the lake. In its exhaustive primer on the lines, Tip of the Mitt warns against future heavy crude transport through the lines, noting that "heavy crude, in general, is heavier than water and will sink if released into freshwater"--a catastrophe in the making.

Enbridge swore off heavy crude in an agreement with the state of Michigan, but Tip of the Mitt finds the document unconvincing: "Under the agreement," says the organization, "Enbridge could transport heavy oil through the pipelines in the Straits if 1) the state approves changes to the engineering or operation of the pipelines that allows for transportation of heavy crude oil or 2) if Enbridge is ordered to transport heavy crude by a regulating agency."

State authorities have taken notice of these concerns. In 2015, the Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force, led by Attorney General Bill Schuette and Department of Environmental Quality director Dan Wyant, released a comprehensive report focused primarily on the Straits Pipelines.

The task force took formal presentations from several Michigan stakeholders, including Enbridge itself and the the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council's Oil and Water Don't Mix campaign. The latter made an expansive, legalistic argument that ended with two big asks: that Enbridge be "required to show that the pipelines will neither substantially affect the public use nor impair the public trust and that Enbridge is taking all reasonable steps to protect public uses," and that the "state should require Enbridge to apply for a permit or other new authorization...as a condition of the continued operation of the Straits Pipelines."

Those arguments proved compelling. Regarding the Straits Pipelines, the task force's findings were frank, even blunt, and probably not what operator Enbridge wanted to hear. Among them:

"Prevent the transportation of heavy crude oil through the Straits Pipelines"--a key victory for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council

"Require an independent risk analysis and adequate financial assurance for the Straits Pipelines"

"Require an independent analysis of alternatives to the existing Straits Pipelines"

The report is more measured on pipelines elsewhere in the state, recommending things like "coordinate mapping of existing pipelines among state agencies" and "ensure coordinated emergency response training exercises and drills." Important steps, but hardly groundbreaking or hard-hitting. Still, it's encouraging to see that grassroots action--and perhaps a dose of bad luck--is creating real movement on this particular water issue.

Do We Really Need All This Water?

The western United States just emerged from a five-year drought that forced draconian water use restrictions in California and exacerbated already-tense relations between irrigation-reliant farmers and latte-sipping urban liberals. Scientists and policymakers say it's just a taste of what's to come.

In the not-too-distant future, will water be the new oil? That's how Paul Huttner, chief meteorologist at Minnesota Public Radio, sees it. He writes about a (literal) pipe dream that some Western futurists want to make reality: a 900-mile water pipeline from the southwestern corner of Lake Superior, on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, to Wyoming's Green River watershed, part of the Colorado River system. If the idea sounds farfetched now, see how it sounds after another decade of serious drought.

Hopefully that won't pan out; the West Coast has already lured away enough of the Upper Midwest's young people. And anyway, there's no shortage of Great Lakes water takers closer to home.

Waukesha, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb, is barely 15 miles from Lake Michigan's shore. But, owing to the vagaries of topography, it's not part of the Great Lakes Basin. When rain clouds darken the affluent town's skies, the runoff traces a tortured course to the distant Mississippi River, hundreds of miles west.

In keeping with the Great Lakes Compact, Waukesha for years drew its city water from the ample aquifer beneath its well-kept lawns. As the city grew, the aquifer strained to keep up with demand. Depleted aquifers are more vulnerable to contamination; in Waukesha's case, groundwater testing lately showed elevated levels of radium, a radioactive element that occurs naturally in Upper Midwestern bedrock.

Unable to rely on groundwater any longer, Waukesha appealed to the governors of the eight Great Lakes Compact states for a waiver to the Compact's strict prohibition on water exports. At a special meeting in Chicago, the governors unanimously agreed to allow Waukesha to pump as much as 10 million gallons per day from Lake Michigan--provided it returns treated wastewater back to the basin.

The decision sparked a backlash--and a rare moment of bipartisan comity, with Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and Republican U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, both of Michigan, issuing a joint statement excoriating the "diversion of the precious, finite resource our magnificent lakes provide."

Ironically, the decision may be a net benefit for the Great Lakes Basin. Groundwater doesn't necessarily follow surface water; Waukesha's decades-long groundwater drawdown actually bled water out of the bedrock surrounding Lake Michigan and across the Great Lakes-Mississippi drainage divide. After emerging from Waukesha's municipal water system as treated wastewater, it flowed out to the west, away from the Great Lakes.

According to the Detroit Free Press, a state of Michigan report on the matter found approving Waukesha's request "will stop the current loss of over half a billion gallons of water per year from the Great Lakes Basin."
CLEARWATER, Fla., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday April 1st, two members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Civil Rights Coordinator Aida Mackic, and Executive Director, Hassan Shibley, toured the Church of Scientologys Flag Building, the churchs cathedral for Scientologists who come from all over the United States and around the world for advanced Scientology services. Located in downtown Clearwater, the Flag Building was opened in 2013 as part of the Church of Scientologys Clearwater campus to some 50 buildings.



Cristian Vargas, Executive Director of the Florida Office of United for Human Rights, which opened new headquarters in downtown Clearwater in July 2015, toured the two Islamic representatives.

Cristian said, It was Mr. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religious faith who said, Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream. By working with religious leaders, like those from CAIR, we can achieve human rights for all religions and all peoples.




Press Release

April 11, 2017 STATEMENT OF L.P. PRESIDENT SEN. PANGILINAN ON V.P. ROBREDO'S RATINGS It is expected that there will be drops as well as increases in her satisfaction ratings. Even the President suffered a 7-point drop. The 11-point drop means that a segment of the population may not be in agreement with a number of positions she has taken, but that is expected as well.
Press Release

April 12, 2017 Legarda on Peace Talks: NDF Agenda is Within Reach Senator Loren Legarda today expressed optimism that the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would finally come up with a peace accord that is agreeable to both parties and beneficial to the Filipino people. Legarda said that many of the NDFP's proposals can already be addressed through existing laws and government programs. The Chair of the Senate Committees on Finance and Climate Change said that the 2017 national budget, and even the 2016 national budget, includes programs and provisions aimed towards rural industrialization and development as well as environmental protection, which form part of the NDFP's social reform agenda. "I welcome the agreements made during the fourth round of peace talks under the current administration. I am optimistic that the matters discussed and those in the NDFP's social reform agenda would already be addressed as many of these are covered by current laws and funded in the national budget," said Legarda. "I commit to work on a national budget for 2018 that would support and advance the gains of the peace process. That is the least Congress can do," she added. The 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has funding for rural industrialization and development. Under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program (AFMP), Php3.9 billion is for the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in support of the programs and projects of the AFMP. Other items in the budget on rural development include the Php2 billion irrigation service fee subsidy and Php1 billion under the Small Business Corporation subsidy for microenterprises. The 2017 GAA also includes a provision mandating the Department of Agriculture (DA) to increase the resilience of agricultural communities through the implementation of disaster-resilient agricultural infrastructure projects and the distribution and development of seeds, which are optimally adaptive to present and to future climate conditions; while the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall provide support to all Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) for them to be attuned to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The DAR shall also capacitate the ARCs in renewable energy and energy efficiency, ecological solid waste management (ESWM), and sustainable land use such organic farming approaches and the use of water catchments. Legarda said that the Agri Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009, which she co-authored, requires all banking institutions to set aside 25% of their total loanable funds to agriculture and fisheries credit. Moreover, post-harvest facilities, irrigation, and farm-to-market roads are funded annually by the National Government through the DA. On the issue of environmental protection, Legarda said that the country has laws in place protecting our natural resources and ensuring the integrity of our ecosystems. She cited the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Environmental Awareness and Education Act, Renewable Energy Act, Climate Change Act and the People's Survival Fund Law, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act. She said that the 2017 GAA funds the implementation of these laws and contains various provisions also aimed at biodiversity protection. "All government agencies are mandated to ensure that the protection of biological diversity is integrated in their development programs and projects. We also sought the support of state universities and colleges (SUCs) through area management and mapping and inventory of biodiversity. SUCs shall ensure the protection and enhancement of protected areas located within the vicinity of their campuses, while the DENR should involve SUCs in the National Greening Program through the establishment of clonal nurseries and conduct of forest research," Legarda explained. Moreover, local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws within their respective jurisdiction. "Many of the items in NDFP's social reform agenda can already be addressed through existing laws and programs. We also have several proposed measures in the Senate that would support these programs. I am optimistic that with the sincere efforts of both parties to pursue just and lasting peace, we will see the creation and eventual implementation of a peace agreement between the government and the NDFP," Legarda concluded.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Out of the 60 nations whose students took the Program for International Student Assessment in 2012 and 2015 U.S. students in 2015 ranked 35th in math, a drop from 28th in 2012. Math anxiety and a lack of interest in math among young learners is commonly recognized as a problem in American education that were struggling to solve.

Enter ThinkFuns Math Dice, and Math Dice Tournaments. In the words of one Arlington County Schools student at the 2016 annual tournament, Its like, a fun way to do mathId much rather learn my exponents doing math dice. Its a lot easier, and much funner. (See more from the 2016 tournament here!)

ThinkFun will be participating as a program collaborator in the 2017 National Math Festival, on April 22nd, held by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), the Institute for Advanced Study and the National Museum of Mathematics at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. In addition to hosting a space filled with a selection of the companys many fun and engaging math games, ThinkFun will be working with local teachers to hold a Math Dice Tournament at the festival.

Every year almost two dozen schools from Arlington County, Virginia, host a Math Dice Tournament, after many months of using Math Dice in the classroom as an instructional tool. Christine Hufnagel, the Arlington Public Schools Elementary Math Specialist, said of Math Dice at the 2016 tournament; A lot of our standards are around fact fluency, the kids learning their addition, subtraction, and multiplication factsbut this is a really fun way to do thatit gives the kids the opportunity and incentive to learn their facts really well in a game environment, so they dont even realize sometimes how much theyre learning when theyre playing, which is awesome.

ThinkFun will be joined at the National Math Festival by Mary Cay Ricci, an author and educator known for her book, Mindsets in the Classroom, where she detailed a growth mindset approach to learning that she implemented in Montgomery County Schools. This approach resulted in improved reasoning scores from students who spent time playing ThinkFuns games while using a growth mindset approach. The growth mindset comes from renowned researcher and Professor of Psychology Carol Dweck.

At the National Math Festival, ThinkFun will be collaborating with other organizations and individuals who are as dedicated to the value of play-based learning as it is, and is excited to bring the fun of a Math Dice Tournament to any young learners who want to participate.

About the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) is one of the worlds preeminent centers for collaborative research in mathematics. Located in Berkeley, California, MSRIs mission is to advance mathematical research, foster talent, and further the appreciation of mathematics. MSRI strives to make mathematics accessible and exciting to those outside the field through the National Math Festival, sponsorship of Numberphile (YouTubes most popular informal mathematics channel, with over 1.9 million subscribers), film production for public television, and the Mathical Book Prize. MSRI has created a national Math Circles movement of small organizations teaching and engaging children in math as a hobby.

About ThinkFun Inc.

For over 30 years, ThinkFun Inc. has been dedicated to creating games that spark curiosity, cultivate confidence, and nurture life-long learners. Its games encourage interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM), while generating excitement for a world of learning through play. Innovation, creativity, value, and fun are the four elements that comprise the development of every game. Ignite the mind, and change the world for each player.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86695795-0463-4ae7-9abc-5edc6e7ef5a5
A dog was killed and five tents were burned after a fire broke out at a homeless encampment in Oakland early Thursday that snarled traffic when thick smoke permeated the air and halted commuters on Interstate 880, officials said.

The fire was reported about 7:15 a.m. on East 12th and 22nd streets, east of Interstate 880, and was under control within 15 minutes, said Battalion Chief Dino Torres of the Oakland Fire Department.
California Highway Patrol / California Highway Patrol /

The driver of a Toyota Camry traveling northbound on Highway 101 overturned Wednesday afternoon near San Francisco International Airport, closing at least one lane as officers responded to the crash.

The wreck near the San Bruno overpass and the North Access Road to the airport, was reported at 1:38 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. Witnesses said the car flipped over at least three times.
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Assemblyman Phil Ting says he wants to hammer down the regulatory delays that can turn constructing housing for homeless people into a slog through bureaucratic molasses, and hes come up with an aggressive approach: a measure that would let San Francisco rewrite the rules to supply roofs quickly for the 7,000 people in the city with no long-term home.

Ting is sponsoring a bill that would let a city throw out all state and local building, health and other regulations for homeless housing or shelters, and make up ones that radically speed up construction. The bill is written for San Francisco but can be amended to add in any city thats game, he said  and already Los Angeles and Oakland are interested.

The San Francisco Democrat stood on a sidewalk just off Market Street on Wednesday and said his bill, AB932, will get its first hearing in the Legislature next week. With him were leaders of San Francisco homeless programs who enthusiastically endorsed the measure and promised to rewrite regulations to slash as much red tape as possible while still keeping buildings safe.

Anybody who visits this city can see we are in the middle of an emergency on homelessness, Jeff Kositsky, director of the city Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said at the gathering in front of the Civic Center Navigation Center shelter. We can solve this problem, but we need to do this in the context of this being an emergency.

This bill could help us with our ability to site shelters, to site Navigation Centers and to build permanent supportive housing, Kositsky said.

Ting wrote the bill without specifying which regulations should be rewritten, saying that will be up to San Francisco to decide, and then for the state Department of Housing and Community Development to approve.

Nobody has ramshackle shacks in mind, he said  just a more streamlined process.

Tings bill would take effect Jan. 1 and stay in place for 10 years.

This takes the shackles off, but its really up to the local advocates like Jeff (Kositsky) as to what they can all agree on, Ting said.

Building housing for homeless people can take about five years in San Francisco. Shelters are quicker, but often not by much. Nobody was guessing how much Tings bill could speed up the timeline, but apparently any help is good.

Just being able to pull building permits quicker would help, said Christy Saxton, a manager at Community Housing Partnership, one of the biggest supportive-housing programs in the city.

The negotiations that have to go on between city departments, after you win a building bid, can take two years and be like herding cats  why not speed that up?

This bill has a lot of potential.

As Ting spoke, Jarvis Ferguson, 55, was just down the block helping a friend clear her shopping cart off the sidewalk under the watchful gaze of city street cleaners. Hes been in the Navigation Center for several months, and before that had been mostly homeless since 1997. Ferguson is more than jaded when it comes to promises of help, but the words of hope coming out of the mouth of a politician he hadnt seen before sounded good.

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.

Speeding things up? What a great idea, Ferguson said. Homeless people like me  were not going away. The only way youre going to get off the street for good when youve been out here as long as me is with some real help, real housing. Just give us a chance, and we can get our lives back together again.

Tings legislation is based loosely on a bill that Gov. Jerry Brown signed in January that allows San Jose to relax regulations for emergency shelters. Planners there hope to use the law to build shelters in all 10 City Council districts.

San Jose declared a state of emergency on homelessness in 2015, and, as with Tings bill, that declaration was required for the law to take effect. San Franciscos Board of Supervisors passed its emergency declaration last spring, and Oakland and Los Angeles issued declarations in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Its all about getting folks off the streets into safer conditions with showers, bathrooms, a temporary roof, said Jennifer Loving, executive director of the nonprofit Destination: Home in Santa Clara County. Its a bridge to somewhere, part of the pipeline.

Just like in San Francisco, what you really need is homes, Loving said. But in the time it takes to build supportive housing, you need temporary housing to alleviate the burden.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com
The San Francisco district attorneys office must still decide whether any charges are warranted against city police officers in the following 10 fatal shootings, which go back to September 2014.

Nicholas McWherter

McWherter, 26, an armed man suffering from an apparent mental crisis, was killed after he shot and seriously wounded Officer Kevin Downs in the Sunset District on Oct. 14, 2016.

Jessica Williams

Williams, 29, an unarmed homeless woman, was shot in an allegedly stolen car by Sgt. Justin Erb in the Bayview on May 19, 2016. Her death prompted the resignation of Chief Greg Suhr, and raised questions about the Police Department policy that allowed officers to fire at moving vehicles.

Luis Gongora

A 45-year-old homeless man allegedly armed with a knife, Gongora was shot by Sgt. Nate Steger and Officer Michael Mellone near a tent encampment where he lived in the Mission District on April 7, 2016. Amid a push for officers to use more de-escalation tactics, video of the shooting showed that it unfolded in 30 seconds, with officers firing beanbags at Gongora before shooting him when he allegedly charged.

Mario Woods

Woods, 26, a stabbing suspect allegedly armed with a knife, was shot by Officers Winson Seto, Antonio Santos, Charles August, Nicholas Cuevas and Scott Phillips in the Bayview on Dec. 2, 2015. Officers first fired beanbags at Woods, who refused to obey commands. Video showed he was shuffling slowly along a wall and not appearing to directly threaten officers when he was shot.

Javier Lopez Garcia

Garcia, 25, was apparently suicidal when he was killed Nov. 11, 2015, after he ascended to the sixth floor of a construction site near St. Lukes Hospital in the Mission and fired a gun. He allegedly said at the scene, Today will be the day that I die.

Herbert Benitez

Benitez, 27, had been in the Civic Center area behaving erratically and allegedly tried to take a police sergeants gun out of his holster when another sergeant shot him Oct. 15, 2015.

Alice Brown

A 24-year-old woman who struggled with drug addiction, Brown was shot by Sgt. Thomas Maguire and Officer Michael Tursi on March 17, 2015, after she allegedly sped away from a gas station at Van Ness Avenue and Pine Street, crashing into vehicles and a building and driving down a one-way street in the wrong direction.

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.

Matthew Hoffman

Hoffman, 32, allegedly pulled a replica gun from his waistband, prompting two sergeants to shoot him outside Mission Station on Jan. 4, 2015. Investigators searching his phone reported finding notes about plans to force officers to kill him in a suicide by cop situation.

OShaine Evans

Evans, 26, was shot by Officer David Goff on Oct. 7, 2014. Police said he was the driver for two passengers who had stolen a laptop out of a car near AT&T Park, and had a gun in his lap when Goff approached him. Goff said Evans pointed the gun at him, forcing him to shoot. Evans family has disputed the account.

Giovany Contreras Sandoval

Sandoval, 34, a suspect in a carjacking, was shot after leading officers on a three-county chase, flipping a sport utility vehicle in the Financial District and allegedly pointing a pistol at officers on Sept. 25, 2014.

 Vivian Ho
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When 17-year-old Nathan Lam started listening to the cast recording of Hamilton at the beginning of his junior year at San Franciscos Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, he quickly found he was hooked.

I couldnt stop thinking about Hamilton. Im sure my grades plummeted, he joked.

Since debuting at the Public Theater in New York City in 2015, Lin-Manuel Mirandas musical about Alexander Hamilton, one of the nations founding fathers and the first U.S. secretary of the Treasury, has become a pop-culture juggernaut. Its turned its creator into a household name and won 11 Tony awards.

Since the opening at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on March 10, ticket prices for performances have shot into the stratosphere, way beyond the reach of students like Nathan.

But on Wednesday, he was among a group of lucky high school students who got to experience the show for free as part of the educational program #EduHam that first launched in New York.

The San Francisco version of the program, which is funded by nonprofits and corporate sponsors, gives 8,500 public school students from throughout the Bay Area the chance to see the show that former first lady Michelle Obama called the best piece of art in any form that I have ever seen in my life.

A group of 2,200 students from 14 San Francisco public schools  including Lincoln, Lowell, George Washington and Mission high schools  watched as the cast put on a matinee performance just for them Wednesday.

By intermission, students said they were decidedly impressed.

The movable floor was really cool, said Loidy Fontanilla, 18, referring to moving platforms that whisked bits and pieces of the elaborate set around the stage. And I liked how well the colors of the lighting corresponded with the feeling of each scene.

By the time the curtains closed, its safe to say they were starstruck.

Soham Bhatt, 16, of Galileo Academy for Science and Technology, was riveted by the lighting effects and the orchestra pit.

The live music coming from under the stage  that was so cool. And the performances were so crisp and on point. Everyone brought something different, he said.

Added 15-year-old Olivia Anderson of Lowell High School, Honestly, I think it was the best thing Ive ever seen.

Before the show began, 17 students from 10 schools took the stage in front of their peers to perform their own original songs, skits, raps and poems inspired by their studies.

This country is like my mother  it built me, Diana Falcon of Downtown High School recited in her original poem.

The shows are the culmination of a course on the founding fathers.

For students in a system like the San Francisco Unified School District, in which about 1 in 4 students is learning English as a second language and more than half qualify for free and reduced lunch, it is not difficult to see how a story that celebrates the role of immigrants in early American history, and champions a man who came to this country a poor orphan and made something of himself, might resonate.

Taking on the emotions really puts you in history, said a Galileo student, 17-year-old Mateo Langston.

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Celeste Guerrero, a 17-year-old senior from Mission High School, and Aila Alli, a 16-year-old junior, performed an imagined dialogue between revolutionary and statesman John Laurens and his father in the afterlife.

I think its very important to feel represented, and with Hamilton, with (the Marquis de) Lafayette  its amazing how much they accomplished, Celeste, an immigrant from Mexico, said.

Emmy Raver-Lampman, who plays the witty Angelica Schuyler and emceed the student performances, said the audience of students was a welcome change.

We all get a kick out of it and love it, she said. Its a chance to see the show through fresh eyes.

EDITORS' NOTE: The above photo gallery has been modified. It originally contained a photo that was not meant to be included.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santa Fe Gold Corporation (OTC:SFEG), a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise with emphasis on Gold, Silver, Copper, Precious, Industrial and Base metals and owner of multiple claims, including the Malone Mines complex incorporating 20 associated mine sites, the Playas Lake Bed area of Hidalgo County, New Mexico and a mine opportunity with a potential major Porphyry Silver discovery, is pleased to announce it is currently developing three mines for production with estimated cumulative revenues of $757 million as part of its ambitious new strategic five-year plan for multiple mine production.



Advanced planning and engineering of mine plans and production methods are already underway, in addition to its just recently announced plans to mine and stockpile ore from its high grade silver mining property, Malone Mines Complex and several other properties as yet unannounced. Preliminary studies already indicate the presence of a significant vein system above a possible major Porphyry Silver Deposit located at depth and adjacent to the upper epithermal vein system as well as economically viable grades at other properties including the Malone Mines Complex and additional mining properties, as yet unannounced, under Santa Fe Gold's control.

As previously mentioned, Santa Fe Gold is already developing feed stock for production utilizing various types of economically viable ore deposits. Production methods contemplated to begin during 2017 include conventional mining and milling, placer production (both wet and dry) and underground mining with direct smelting and leaching, and mine feed is expected to be sourced from at least three mines.

Mine Engineering, Stockpiling and Production Rates

Mine engineering is already underway and all of the material being acquired, researched, analyzed and assembled during this phase of the restart of operations is located in the Southwestern US and is easily accessible with excellent transportation links. Available ore for milling operations will primarily come from the Malone Mines Complex, the Porphyry Silver Mine Deposit and several other additional mining properties, as yet unannounced.

While the near term objective is to build up to 200 tons per day of mill feed ready for processing for the 2nd half 2017, production rates can be expected to increase to upwards of 400 tons per day as operations ramp up for the remainder of Santa Fe's fiscal year 2017 - 2018, and higher levels of production and processing may allow for increasing production even further, as additional mine feed is developed and efficiencies can be maximized as operations continue to scale up to full optimization and potential.

A more extensive engineering study has begun and ore availability at the Malone Mines Complex is currently being evaluated for their suitability for near term production. Management has acquired all of the cores and extensive data from a major drilling program undertaken during 2008 and 2009. Indications and analysis from the drilling results suggest that economically mineable quantities of both gold and silver exist at the historic site. Ore grades as high as 0.60 ounces per ton gold and 11.6 ounces per ton silver are indicated in this drilling and study.

Once mine engineering is complete and geophysical information is completely analyzed and ore body sizes are confirmed, an outside professional mining contractor will be employed to open the property and ensure that maximum production is achieved as rapidly as possible. Permitting is also expected to be completed within the anticipated time line ahead of operations and preparations for commencement of production.

High Grade Silver Mine and Porphyry Silver Discovery Update

The silver property, located above and adjacent to a potentially sizable Porphyry Silver discovery, is also currently under evaluation for startup of mining operations. The analysis will include trenching of a vein that is at the surface followed by further drilling once the vein directions and dimensions can be determined with emphasis on known and recently identified veins. The geology of the district has historically demonstrated unusually high grade vein structures near the surface as well as underground. Preliminary exploration and excavation work on the property yielded samples with over 400 ounces per ton of Silver within the epithermal vein system. More detailed research and analysis of the property has further indicated the existence of ore samples in excess of 2,000 ounces per ton silver concentrated within the particularly promising, exceptionally high grade vein structures, as is common in epithermal systems.

Engineering & Production Methodology

The most favored production methods available for processing such high grade ore would likely be direct smelting of higher grade material (ore in excess of 200 ounce per ton silver). A cost analysis of the direct smelting approach is currently underway. Lower grade ores (< 200 opt ounces per ton) will be available to feed a mill or direct sale to known outsider purchaser(s).

Additional Properties and Revenue Opportunities

Recently we outlined two other properties, as yet unannounced, were also being considered for development of feed stock for milling. These are expected to be in place soon as ore types are identified and become available for production. The most applicable and efficient methods of production will be employed from conventional mining and milling to leaching methods that fit the ore types along with gravity treatment of the available placer ores.

Later this year, it is anticipated that substantial production will be sourced from all three of these properties and additional revenues are contemplated from other sources, including direct sale of high yield tailings that Santa Fe Gold also already has under its control or under acquisition.

President and CEO Tom Laws Comments:

"Santa Fe Gold continues to progress towards a restart of production with important groundbreaking new developments pending and several additional highly significant announcements anticipated in the very near future with a more detailed outline of our ambitious new five-year strategic plan. This strategy will allow Santa Fe to expedite revenue production and capital creation extremely cost effectively, and will also allow for further evaluation and development of affiliated properties derived from revenue-generated funding of, and reinvestment in new projects, leading to additional longer term production for the company as output and revenues build and profits accrue."

$90 Million Tax Benefit

The company has inherited the benefit of a greater than $90 Million tax loss which should mean the company will potentially be the beneficiary of multiple years of tax free income into the end of this decade. As revenues and income increase, this should help differentiate Santa Fe Gold from most other miners and also have the added benefit of affording a significant premium to increasing operations and cumulative reserves over its peers and therefore could accrue as substantial additional valuation to the company over time, especially with incremental revenue growth and resultant higher multiples that usually affords.

Cumulative gross revenues of $757 million are anticipated to produce net taxable income estimated at $184 Million. Given taxes normally applicable, with tax losses applied, taxes should be greatly reduced over the period.

Early Production Plans Underway

Mr. Laws further commented: "Plans to begin production as soon as possible are well under way. We now believe substantial revenues can be generated from these mines over multiple years and are confident of at least a seven-year mine life, with revenues derived from dual processing both from the smelting of high grade ore and direct delivery of suitable ore to a refiner or purchaser."

Audit Completion and Release of Financials Imminent

In closing, Mr. Laws added: "Final reviews of the financials are now complete and it is expected the filings will be Edgarized and released over coming days. Once the audited financials are filed, the company should then be considered fully up to date and in complete compliance. This will enable the company to migrate from its current exchange to the higher OTCQB Exchange Marketplace.

About Santa Fe Gold

Santa Fe Gold is a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise and owns the following mining assets: The Knights Peak region of Grant County, New Mexico comprising the Malone Mines, Patanka, Hillcrest Barranca and Principal Mines, altogether incorporating some twenty mine sites and all located at Knights Peak, together with an extensive expanded area surrounding the Malone Mines in the southern region of Burro Mountains, New Mexico. The companys Development Team continues extremely active in acquiring additional properties over recent months as it finalizes analysis of a number of attractive, economically viable opportunities and executes on the company's acquisition program that is totally focused on positioning the company to resume mining and production operations expected later this year.

For more information and to register for updates: Please visit www.santafegoldcorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Please refer to the Forward Looking Statements link at the bottom left of Santa Fe Gold's website for all relevant disclosures.
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Auto parts supplier Continental started out 145 years ago in Germany, making rubber.

On Wednesday, the company opened a lab in San Jose to develop cars that can communicate with stoplights and drive themselves.

Continentals 65,000-square-foot research center on North First Street will eventually employ more than 300 people, who will develop the companys own advanced gear and seek partnerships with local technology companies.

Weve been on many business trips coming here to San Jose and Silicon Valley for many years, actually decades, said Samir Salman, CEO of Continental North America. We finally came to the conclusion this is the right place to be in, to create innovation.

Many of Continentals competitors and customers have already reached the same conclusion.

Virtually every major global automaker has established a Silicon Valley lab or office in recent years, drawn by the regions pool of talented engineers as cars become increasingly plugged into the Internet. Those labs have also made the Bay Area a worldwide hub for the development of autonomous driving technology.

Continental, which has 220,000 employees in 56 countries, brings a slightly different focus to its Silicon Valley Research and Development Center.

Its engineers will work on self-driving technology and systems that let cars communicate with each other, as well as with roadway infrastructure. They will also focus on electric-car drivetrains, another Bay Area specialty.

But in addition, the center will include people who develop better tires and cooling systems. All of Continentals business divisions  including some that seem far more Michigan than Silicon Valley  will have representatives here.

Much of the research will concentrate on making cars safer and eliminating accidents. Like many of the automakers that the company counts as its customers, Continental sees autonomous vehicles as a way to save many if not most of the 1.3 million people worldwide who die in traffic accidents each year.

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Our vision is no more accidents in the future, said Dirk Remde, the centers executive director. We have a very long way to go, but we have the means to do that.

Continental opened a smaller, 40-person office in Santa Clara in 2014. The new center, which replaces that office, represents a hybrid of automotive and tech architecture. Garages are paired with open-floor work spaces, comfortable chairs and a Foosball-equipped workout room.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who attended the facilitys opening ceremony Wednesday, told Continental executives to consider the city an open-air laboratory for their technologies.

We invite you to use our streets, buildings, our streetlights, our infrastructure in any way that allows you to better innovate in ways that make mobility cleaner, greener, safer, Liccardo said. We know great things will happen.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
The first time emoji appeared as standard fare on iPhone keyboards in 2011, they struck a familiar pattern.

Male-looking emoji were portrayed as police officers, construction workers, runners. Female emoji, meanwhile, were relegated to getting a massage, a haircut or dancing.

It didnt take long for users to call these roles into question and demand more inclusive images.

In the years since, emoji have evolved.

They have become more gender-inclusive, with female emoji being outfitted with the same professional uniforms as their male counterparts, and more racially diverse  all depictions of people have been equipped with a skin-tone option that allows the user to designate one of six skin tones, from the standard Simpsons yellow to pale and different shades of brown.

This years new lineup of emoji may be the most radical yet.

Among the 69 new characters being considered are a woman with a headscarf a hijab, maybe, or a sari  a breast-feeding mom and a third gender option for people who dont fit neatly into the male-female binary.

Experts and emoji aficionados hope that, if adopted by a nonprofit that regulates the images, the new emoji will signal to users that, like language, these tiny pictographic characters can adapt and be used to better honor the unique experiences of all people.

The reason people love to use emoji is it transcends a linguistic barrier, said Yiying Lu, the creative director at 500 Startups who helped design several new emoji, including the long-awaited dumpling. And if youre trying to communicate something that represents you but there is no word for it  because each emoji is a word in this language  that can be very frustrating. It can feel like you dont matter.

Color me! Express yourself by filling in this gender-neutral emoji with hues that represent you. Click the image above to download and save the illustration. Then share it by tagging @techchronicle on Twitter or Instagram. Or mail it to the Business Department, 901 Mission St., San Francisco CA 94103. Illustration by Christopher T. Fong/The Chronicle and Emojipedia

Paul Hunt, a San Francisco typeface designer and font developer for Adobe, pitched the Unicode Consortium, the body charged with adopting the new emoji, on the idea of creating what he has called emoji for the postgender generation.

In the consortiums initial release, three androgynous people are depicted: a child, an adult and an older person. Hunt has said the faces, with big eyes and short hair, were created to be gender-neutral or gender-ambiguous, and could be used by people who identify as neither male nor female.

Hunt hopes Apple and Google will include the new emoji and extend gender-neutral or androgynous versions beyond the three proposed characters. In his vision, a gender-ambiguous emoji would sit in lotus alongside the male and female emoji doing yoga (another one of the new character suggestions) or don a graduation cap or dance between the men and women in bunny ears and leotards.

My wish is that adding more gender options in emoji will help us all to celebrate our unity and our diversity, Hunt wrote in a blog post advocating the third-gender emoji. In terms of emoji reflecting our emerging understanding of gender, the addition of three gender inclusive people emoji is only a first step. For full inclusive gender representation to exist in emoji, there must be androgynous emoji representations corresponding to each man/woman pair.

Every app maker designs its own interpretation of the standard emoji set, which is why smiley faces look different on Facebook, Twitter and in text messages on your smartphone. But most limit their emoji to those the consortium has officially introduced.

Google and Apple have not yet said what they might do with the new emoji suggestions, because the list will not be final until June.

Last summer, 70 emoji were unveiled with Apples latest release of its mobile iOS software, including several of active women working in professions and exercising, a step that many heralded as welcome, if not long overdue.

Associated Press

Theres always been this French dude artist, and, you know, Im not a French dude, so Im not going to use that because its not me, Lu said. It was kind of surprisingly delightful when there was suddenly a female artist emoji that looks like me.

The process of getting new emoji approved by a body made up of technologists, engineers and designers ensures that the so-called language of emoji remains universal and translatable across devices. But it also slows the process of getting an image approved, designers say, stalling the evolution of emoji.

This, said Katrina Parrott, the founder of diversity-focused emoji app iDiversicons, means vendors like Apple and Google cant be as inclusive and diverse as they may want to be. In fact, workers at Google were among the first to champion broadening professional emoji categories to include female characters.

We can literally create anything that we want, said Parrott, who believes her app was the first to offer different skin tones, emoji people with disabilities, same-sex couples and more. When you see people take the time to create something that truly represents them, it gives folks a sense of pride and belonging. Its a great thing. When someone sends me an emoji with dreadlocks or an Afro, something that represents me, it makes you feel good.

Millions of people who engage in online communication use the icons to convey feelings, actions and other sentiments that transcend the written word, emoji devotees said.

An estimated 92 percent of people on the Internet use emoji, according to data from Emogi, a New York City analytics firm. Since Apple added an emoji keyboard to its mobile devices in 2011, about 40 percent of captions on Instagram have contained emoji alongside words.

Of course, emoji still have a long way to go before everyone can feel included.

Red-haired people have long called for the addition of ginger emoji, and emoji users with multiracial families have reported feeling stifled by the single-race family options afforded by the standard lineup.

Those still dissatisfied have options: Design and pitch the consortium on new additions, download an app like iDiversicons or Bitmoji, or wait and hope that the emoji world catches up with the real one.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae

You say you want an evolution

Apple introduced emoji to North American customers in 2011, with Google following on Android devices two years later. Since then, emoji have expanded and transformed to become more inclusive and representative of different people, races, cultures and family configurations.

2011 Apples emoji are released in North America. All people emoji are portrayed as white with fair skin and dark hair.

2012 Apple update includes gay and lesbian couples holding hands alongside the existing emoji of straight couples.

2013 Google updates the Android operating systems to support emoji and integrate them into the Google keyboard.

2015 Emoji become multiracial. All people emoji, including hand gestures, are portrayed as a standard yellow with the option to choose from five other shades in accordance with a skin-tone scale called the Fitzpatrick Scale.

New emoji are introduced, including more smiley face options, gestures and food popular with specific ethnic groups, including the burrito and taco.

2016 Gender equality comes to the new emoji lineup, with female emoji being used to depict roles and activities that had formerly only been portrayed by male emoji, such as athletes, scientists, artists, astronauts, firefighters, judges and pilots.

2017 A third gender option is proposed to emoji vendors: a gender-neutral or gender-ambiguous emoji for users who do not identify with traditional male or female forms. Other emoji include a woman with a headscarf or hijab, a Chinese takeout box, a dumpling and chopsticks.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon declined to file charges against two police officers who killed a man in the Mission District more than two years ago, saying he found insufficient evidence supporting community advocates assertion that officers unlawfully shot the man in the back as he ran away.

The plainclothes officers said they had opened fire to protect themselves and others from a man who was acting erratically and was armed with a knife, according to a long-awaited report that Gascon released Wednesday.

The city medical examiner found that all six of the bullets that struck 21-year-old Amilcar Perez-Lopez came from the back or side. But Gascon wrote in his 25-page report that testimony from several witnesses and other evidence did not show beyond a reasonable doubt that no legal justifications existed for the (officers) actions on Feb. 26, 2015.

The bullet wounds in Perez-Lopezs back, Gascon concluded, may have been the result of Perez-Lopez quickly turning after the first officer decided to shoot. And even if that wasnt the case, the officers are justified under the law to use deadly force not just in self-defense, but in defense of others, Gascon said  if he had been running away from the officers, he still would have been running in the direction of a man he had previously been chasing.

Were not disputing that he was shot in the back, Gascon said at a news conference. What were saying is given the totality of the circumstances, that does not make it an unlawful shooting.

Advocates of Perez-Lopez called this reasoning a stretch and yet another effort to give the officers the benefit of every doubt. Arnoldo Casillas, who is representing Perez-Lopezs family in a federal civil lawsuit against the city, has said the shots to the back are proof that Perez-Lopez was running away from men who failed to identify themselves as plainclothes officers, in particular to someone who could only speak Spanish. Not realizing they were cops, he tried to scare them and keep them back with the knife before trying to flee, Casillas said.

Here, because the killers were police officers, Mr. Gascon has shied away from his duty to do justice, Casillas said. It takes courage and a true commitment to justice to take on the police. Its a shame that the district attorney would not carry out his duty to impartially apply the law.

The district attorney has been under intense pressure not only to make a decision on whether to charge the officers in this case, but also to clear a backlog of 10 additional fatal shootings by police in San Francisco. The Perez-Lopez decision was the first that Gascon has made in a fatal police shooting in almost 26 months, even though such shootings prompted a U.S. Justice Department review of the city force.

The ruling also comes as Gascon seeks to take the lead role in investigating the shootings, supplanting inspectors in the Police Department in a move designed to combat potential conflicts of interest. The district attorneys office now conducts a parallel probe, but it does not control the collection of evidence from the start.

In September, Mayor Ed Lee approved a final round of funding for a unit that would allow the district attorneys office to take the primary role.

In the Mission District case, police Officers Eric Reboli and Craig Tiffe told investigators they were forced to open fire when Perez-Lopez threatened them and another man with a knife on the 2800 block of Folsom Street. They had been responding to a radio call reporting a man chasing another man with a knife when they came across Perez-Lopez and a man identified in the report as Abraham P.

Critics of police and advocates for Perez-Lopez have been skeptical of the police account since former Police Chief Greg Suhr, in the days after the shooting, presented what they considered to be a one-sided and inaccurate story from Abraham that Perez-Lopez had been trying to steal his bicycle.

Friends of Perez-Lopez, a recent immigrant from Guatemala seeking to earn money for his family, said Abraham had been bullying the smaller man, and had possibly stolen his cell phone before the shooting. Gascon said Perez-Lopez had a cell phone in his pocket when he was killed.

What is supported by witnesses and surveillance video, prosecutors said, is that Abraham encountered Perez-Lopez inside the gated area of the home Perez-Lopez shared with several people. Just before 9:45 p.m., Perez-Lopez began chasing Abraham down the street with a large silver knife, prompting a jogger to call 911.

Officer Reboli said he and Tiffe pulled up on the two men, who had paused near a parked blue Nissan. Reboli said he had been wearing his star on his belt and announced himself as a police officer when he grabbed Abraham by his arms in case he was the man with the knife. Tiffe went to speak to Perez-Lopez, Reboli said.

A few seconds later, Officer Reboli glanced over again and saw Officer Tiffe trying to take Perez-Lopez down to the ground and Perez-Lopez violently resisting, Gascon wrote in the report. Reboli ran to assist his partner and saw a flash of a very large silver knife, and thought Officer Tiffe may have been stabbed.

Tiffe said he had his police star on his chest, hanging from a chain outside his jacket, and that he too had announced himself as a police officer. But he thought Perez-Lopez appeared to be in some type of altered state and described the look on his face as bloodlust crazed, Gascon wrote.

The medical examiner determined that Perez-Lopez had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 percent at the time of his death, more than double the states legal limit for driving.

Tiffe said Perez-Lopez had swiped at him with the knife, prompting him to draw his pistol.

Reboli said he had fired to protect himself and his partner, while Tiffe said he had fired moments later as Perez-Lopez stepped between two parked cars. Tiffe said he believed Perez-Lopez was going after Abraham with the knife.

Reboli shot Perez-Lopez five times and Tiffe shot him once. According to the medical examiners report, five of the bullets struck Perez-Lopez back to front, and one struck him from left to right. The findings were consistent with an independent autopsy conducted at the request of Perez-Lopezs family.

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.

Charles Key Sr., a use-of-force expert retained by Gascon as part of the investigation, said it would not be unheard of if Perez-Lopez had faced Reboli when Reboli began to shoot, only to turn at the last moment and receive the shots in the back.

Reboli may have accurately recalled that Perez-Lopez was facing him when he made the decision to shoot and started the process of taking the first shot, but based on action versus reaction time, Perez-Lopez would have been able to turn 90 to 180 degrees by the time the first bullet hit him, wrote Key, a retired Baltimore police lieutenant.

In a brief statement issued Wednesday, the Police Department said, We respect the district attorneys decision and thank his office for its work on this investigation.

Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who has led several rallies calling for charges in this case, said Gascons decision was disappointing.

The fact that the district attorney endorsed a situation where a person was retreating and was shot sends a message that that kind of use of force will be tolerated, Adachi said.

Martin Halloran, president of the Police Officers Association, said in a statement that while the district attorneys decision makes it clear that the responding officers are not guilty of any crime, there is no doubt that this incident was tragic for everyone involved.

We cannot let this pain be a wedge between us, he said. Instead, it should motivate us to work together as a community to prevent future tragedies from taking place.

City officials feared angry protests in response to the decision, but as of Wednesday evening, only a small group that holds a weekly vigil outside Mission Station for Perez-Lopez had assembled.

We expected they would get off, because all of these police officers get off, but it still hurts, said protester Carol Jean Wisnieski.

Chronicle Staff Writer Michael Bodley contributed to this story.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
Vaccination rates for California kindergartners rose to their highest levels in more than 15 years, likely due in part to increased public concern after the 2015 measles outbreak as well as a new law that makes it much more difficult for parents to opt out of immunizing their children, state officials said Wednesday.

Nearly 96 percent of children were fully vaccinated when they started kindergarten in the fall, according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health. Thats up from 93 percent in the previous school year and 90 percent in 2014-15.

Childhood vaccinations became a heated topic two years ago amid a measles outbreak that started at Disneyland and infected more than 130 people in California and dozens more in other states and countries. Infectious-disease and public-health experts warned that vaccination rates had dipped so low that communities around the state were dangerously vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases thought to be nearly eradicated.

The vaccination rate released Wednesday is a positive sign that efforts to increase awareness about the importance of immunization are working, health officials said. But there remain pockets up and down the state where children are under-immunized.

There is still work to done, said Dr. James Watt, chief of the division of communicable disease control with the state Public Health Department.

From a statewide perspective, were above the 95 percent threshold, which is an important marker of the level that you need to prevent disease transmission. But there are still places in the state where were below that level.

In response to the 2015 measles outbreak, state legislators introduced Senate Bill 277, doing away with Californias personal-belief exemptions, which allowed parents to choose not to vaccinate their children for any reason. Such exemptions had become increasing popular, peaking at almost 6 percent of all incoming kindergartners in 2013-14. The 2016-17 school year is the first for which the law took effect.

Medical exemptions, used for children who cannot be vaccinated due to problems with their immune system or other health issues, increased slightly this school year, from 0.2 percent in 2015-16 to 0.5 percent. Some children who previously had personal-belief exemptions may have been allowed medical exemptions instead, Watt said.

A big reason for the boost in vaccination rates appears to be increased efforts to work with schools and families to ensure that children are fully up to date with the wide array of shots they need to meet state requirements.

Children starting kindergarten are supposed to have at least 13 doses for nine infectious diseases. In years past, roughly 5 percent of kindergartners were conditional entrants, meaning they were missing one or more doses but allowed to start school, anyway. This school year, that rate dropped to 2 percent.

Weve definitely seen the vaccination numbers go up at Kaiser  not only the school-age kids, but also kids under 2 years of age, said Dr. Keith Fabisiak, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara.

The new state law explains part of increase, Fabisiak said, but Kaiser also initiated a program about four years ago that keeps tabs on children who are falling behind on vaccinations and contacts their parents to get them on track.

Letting people know why were doing the vaccines and what theyre for, why schools are requiring them, that all helps, Fabisiak said.

Vaccination rates vary widely from county to county, from a high of 98.5 percent in Tulare County to a low of 80.9 percent in Nevada County. In nine counties, less than 90 percent of kindergartners are fully vaccinated.

All nine Bay Area counties had vaccination rates above 90 percent. In Marin County, long known as a center of vaccine resistance among parents, kindergarten immunization rates climbed to 93.2 percent, from a low of 77.9 percent in 2011.

In that year, 15 percent of Marin County children were allowed conditional entrance, and nearly 7 percent had personal-belief exemptions.

This year, 3.1 percent were conditional entrants. Despite the new law, 1.2 percent of Marin children had personal belief exemptions; they were most likely students who were in two-year kindergarten programs and had started in 2015, state public-health officials said.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com

Vaccination study

For the full report, go to http://bit.ly/2p7GBSp. A more detailed report looking at rates for individual schools will be available later this year.
The title says it all. The Fate of the Furious. What is the fate of the furious? Hypertension? The title is deeply stupid, but more than stupid. Its straight-faced stupid. Its stupidity as done by people who are consciously aware theyre doing it and who have higher purpose, which is to raise stupidity to such a scale that it becomes epic, bold, glorious and confounding.

This series is back. We know it from the first moments: Dominic (Vin Diesel) is ambling around Havana with a big smile on his face  Diesel has become the most smiley action hero since Douglas Fairbanks. He mediates a dispute between his nephew and some local tough guy by proposing that he, Dominic, race the tough guy in cars through the streets of Havana.

The screenplay doesnt even try to make sense of the proposal. It comes out of nowhere, apropos of nothing. But then comes the race, and its as good as any you could hope for. The villain is driving a hot rod. Dominic is in a beater, but he has hooked a tank of nitrous oxide to the engine. So the good news is that his car will go fast, and the bad news is that his car will definitely explode. The entire scene is ridiculous and crazy, inventively conceived and impeccably executed, so that even as youre laughing at it, youll probably be on the edge of your seat.

This is a major strength of this movie, starting from this scene and continuing through the finish: The action is not just big  big is easy. Its creative. Its choreographed. Its unexpected and delightful. Its lots of fun and a stark contrast to the previous film, Furious 7, which was huge but flat, just commotion without inspiration.

The series has also recovered from the self-seriousness of the previous installment, which was probably inevitable given that co-star Paul Walker, who was in the original The Fast and the Furious from 2001, died midway through filming. Furious 7 was rendered maudlin and creepy, as a computer-generated Walker kept turning up in scenes, smiling like he wasnt really there  because he wasnt.

Now the series can go back to its true, silly nature. We meet Dominic, happy and smiling through life, enjoying a vacation with his wife (Michelle Rodriguez). But then  oh no  Cipher shows up, an international terrorist in the form of Charlize Theron, and she has something on Dominic, some kind of major leverage. We dont know what it is, but next thing you know, Dominic has turned his back on his crew. Hes doing unexplainable and atypical things, such as stealing the nuclear codes from the Russians.

Its probably best to say it as one blanket statement, so as to not keep repeating it: Nothing makes sense here. Nothing. Cipher is supposed to be a genius, but she forces Dominic into her inner circle, the one man who can tank her operation. The Americans and the Russians are threatened by a dangerous terrorist, and so they leave the fate of the world in the hands of Dominics old crew, a bunch of racing enthusiasts. The list could go on and on, but the point has been made.

Fortunately, The Fate of the Furious shows that absurdity can be a virtue. For example, for the big finish Dominics old crew has to be outfitted with new cars. So what does the government do? Supplying them with custom-made cars would be too easy. Instead the crew is taken to a secret warehouse that holds every car ever confiscated from a drug dealer. Yes, in the world of this movie, drug dealers are the ultimate curators of automotive excellence.

About 70 minutes in, The Fate of the Furious slows down, and it seems as though it might never pull itself out. And then it does. The last half hour is nutty and completely satisfying. To be too specific would spoil things, so lets just say that it involves a chase between a handful of cars and a submarine. No, you dont need to read that sentence again. A handful of cars chase a submarine. You heard it here first.

One more important point. Not everyone will notice this, because not everyone will recognize the cultural significance, but The Fate of the Furious constitutes a breakthrough for bald men. Four of the heroes  Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Tyrese Gibson  are hair free.

And the villains? They have full heads of hair. Its gross.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

The Fate

of the Furious

Action. Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Charlize Theron. Directed by F. Gary Gray. (PG-13. 136 minutes.)

To see a trailer: https://tinyurl.com/gnvogbe
The Berkeley College Republicans have no problem inviting the nations most provocative conservatives to speak on campus  and the more outrageous the better, they say. Its good for business.

The Republican student group at famously lefty UC Berkeley says regular meeting attendance has roughly tripled from 20 to nearly 60 since Feb. 1. Thats when masked agitators infiltrated peaceful protesters and caused $100,000 of damage on campus  smashing windows and setting police equipment ablaze  to stop Milo Yiannopoulos, the self-described dangerous faggot, from giving his pro-Trump, anti-immigration speech. Yiannopoulos, a former columnist for the right-wing Breitbart News site, was escorted off campus for his safety.

Now the Republicans are hosting another columnist and provocateur: Ann Coulter, who labels herself a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative (but a Christian first).

Its only when we invite more provocative speakers that it generates a campus-wide dialogue, said Naweed Tahmas, 20, of the Berkeley College Republicans, noting that his group also invites mainstream conservatives to their weekly meetings: Republican National Committee leaders Harmeet Dhillon and Shawn Steel, for example.

Hundreds of peaceful student demonstrators made clear their views of that strategy on Feb. 1, when they filled Sproul Plaza carrying signs expressing their opposition: Hate Speech is not Free Speech. Fascist-Free Zone. And I Stand for my Muslim Family.

Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle

The strategy has also prompted a perilous backlash: After supporting Yiannopoulos, Tahmas was one of six in the Republican group whose faces were plastered around campus on a poster titled Know Your Local Baby Fascists. A young man in shorts and tank top was filmed destroying the Berkeley College Republicans sign. And students who signed a paper expressing interest in the group got harassing emails after someone stole the sheet the day following the Yiannopoulos event.

Republican students say they hope to avoid rioting and retaliation this time by co-hosting Coulter with a new moderate student group, BridgeCal, born from the riots ashes and the election years ideological war zone.

BridgeCal seeks to fix the political divide, said freshman Pranav Jandhyala, 19, who founded the UC Berkeley chapter of the national BridgeUSA after rioters beat him and gave him a concussion as he videoed the Yiannopoulos violence for the Tab, a campus news site. BridgeCal is a place where political adversaries can discuss issues in an environment that is respectful and solutions-based.

The concept will soon be tested. Coulter is scheduled to speak about immigration on April 27.

A sampling of her thoughts on that subject:

Illegal aliens have killed, raped and maimed thousands of Americans  in America, she opined in a column in 2015. If you dont want to be killed, raped or maimed by illegal immigrants in your own country, I have no tips for you. Theres nothing you can do. Youre on your own. Good luck.

And from a 2013 column: The problem isnt just illegal immigration. I would rather have doctors and engineers sneaking into the country illegally than have legally arriving ditch-diggers.

Coulter has had numerous books on the New York Times best-seller list, including last years In Trump We Trust (No. 17, four spots below the counterpoint Trump Revealed), and her 2006 Godless, which spawned rival best-sellers Soulless and Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter.

All of which leaves college students wrestling with how to deal with the free flow of ideas  and their accompanying emotions  in an era of extremism.

After the collapse of the Yiannopoulos talk, for example, the Berkeley College Republicans declared that the Free Speech Movement is dead on campus.

Ms. Coulters visit is a crucial second test of whether or not UC Berkeley really is the home of the Free Speech Movement, said the Republican groups Tahmas.

To facilitate that experiment, BridgeCal has invited another speaker on immigration for April 17: Maria Echaveste, former adviser to President Bill Clinton and deputy White House chief of staff.

Echaveste questions whether any serious campus-wide dialogue is actually intended around immigration when Coulter and Yiannopoulos are asked to address it. In January, for example, campus administrators felt it necessary to warn students that Yiannopoulos, known for singling out individuals for humiliation, might use his talk to make immigrant students human targets to serve a political agenda.

I dont believe either of those speakers have a solid grounding in how we develop immigration policies, or the complexities of developing solutions, said Echaveste, who managed immigration reform in the Clinton administration. A former corporate lawyer and administrator in the U.S. Department of Labor, Echaveste graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law and lectures there now. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants.

What people miss in the debate about immigration is, they ignore the human spirit, she said. Weve been migrating since the dawn of time  people worldwide are willing to risk their lives to better themselves and flee war and terror. Were never going to quench that spirit. But managing it requires lots of intervention.

Echaveste is speaking for free.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less





Coulter is charging $20,000. BridgeCal will kick in $3,000 of the fee, while the rest will come from Young Americans for Freedom, part of a national lobbying group that operates a conservative speakers bureau for college campuses. The Berkeley College Republicans expect to pay whatever security fee campus police require.

Despite Coulters lack of immigration expertise, Tahmas and Jandhyala say their intention is very much to get students talking with each other in civil tones.

Toward that end, BridgeCal is inviting students who are in the country without documentation to attend Coulters talk to create a dialogue between her and the UC Berkeley community  a community who disagrees with her so vehemently, Jandhyala said.

Tahmas said: The invitation is to pose questions to Ann Coulter and challenge her beliefs. We believe this is crucial so we understand each other better.

One freshman who expects to attend both events asked to be identified by her first name, Kimberly, because she and her family have no immigration papers. They arrived from Mexico when Kimberly was 6.

Unless youre Native American, youre an immigrant. And thats the reality of it, said Kimberly, who hasnt yet decided what question shell ask Coulter. But in response to Coulters emphasis on violent crimes committed by some in the country illegally, she plans to say that just because one person does something inappropriate does not mean that you should assume that of everyone in that culture.

She said she might use her own family as an example, pointing out that they ran away from a country that will never give us what we deserve as human beings.

Meanwhile, Tahmas said the biggest disagreement now is between the Republicans and the administration, which wants to push the Coulter talk to a remote property, while the students want it on the main campus.

The Republican group just canceled a talk by another right-wing speaker, David Horowitz, after the campus gave it a 1 p.m. time slot at its Clark Kerr campus 10 blocks away. Sophomore Pieter Sittler, a vice president with the group, told campus officials that the event wasnt worth the expense because too few students would show up at that time and place.

Conservative bloggers with Heat Street and Breitbart News reported that Horowitz accused the campus of taking a page out of Orwell, censoring him.

But Sittler said his group hadnt given the campus enough time to plan. The university is understandably trying to avoid another Milo Yiannopoulos fiasco. (And campus police) strongly recommended that the event take place during the day.

Tahmas said he has agreed to hold the Coulter event at 5 p.m., instead of 7:30 p.m.

Campus spokesman Dan Mogulof said, This university remains committed to the constitutional guarantee of free speech. But because its on campus, the university cant abdicate its responsibility for safety.

Evidence of a significant Coulter protest hasnt yet surfaced. By contrast, weeks before the Yiannopoulos event, UC Berkeley administrators were bombarded with demands to cancel the talk  which the First Amendment prevented them from doing  and warnings of trouble if they did not.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
When I was a student at UC Santa Cruz in the early 1970s, there were no abortion providers in the county, whose medical system was dominated by the local Catholic-run hospital. So my sister Cindy and several other feminist activists who were also Santa Cruz students founded the first womens health clinic in the county and imported a doctor each week to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Cindy and her feminist health collective were part of the emerging our bodies, ourselves movement that understood  like Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger a half century earlier  that if women did not have control of their own biological destinies, they would never be free. These young feminist health workers were scorned and harassed by the local medical establishment. But they were my heroes.

Cindy later became a family doctor and helped deliver many babies, including Joe -- my wifes and my first son. Ill always remember how she came sweeping into the hospital room in the middle of the night, where my wifes prolonged delivery had become stressful for mother and child, and took charge - even though she wasnt my wifes doctor. Joe was safely born soon after. Like I said, Cindy is my hero.

She also volunteered to work for a time at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the Pacific Northwest, where she had to wear a bulletproof vest and be escorted in and out of the building by bodyguards. This is the courage it takes to help women assume dominion over their bodies and lives.

I think of my sister when I drive by the Planned Parenthood clinic in my San Francisco neighborhood, on Valencia Street.

The patients and staff going in and out of the clinic are often confronted by protesters with banners and signs, who thrust antiabortion pamphlets and paraphernalia at them  including tiny rubber replicas of fetuses  even if the patients are simply coming to the clinic for Pap smears or breast cancer exams.

This gantlet of shame and condemnation can be deeply disturbing to the women seeking help at Planned Parenthood.

But its nothing compared with the nationwide political campaign aimed at restricting womens access to abortion services, which has made it impossible for low-income patients in many areas of the country to get access to the health care they need, by curtailing or shutting down Planned Parenthood clinics.

The defeat of President Trumps health care plan has given some breathing room to Planned Parenthood, which receives about $500 million a year in federal funding. But Republicans have made it clear the organization is still in its crosshairs.

Even in liberal oases like San Francisco, Planned Parenthood provides crucial health services that are not otherwise available to its largely poor and minority clients.

More than 90 percent of Planned Parenthood patients in San Francisco have incomes at or below the federal poverty level. These patients rely on the Planned Parenthood clinic for basic health care needs, including prenatal services, AIDS/HIV screening, treatment of sexually transmitted disease and even some primary care.

Abortions constitute only about 2 or 3 percent of the work that Planned Parenthood Northern California clinics provide, according to the organizations interim CEO, Gilda Gonzales.

Were seeing a higher level of stress at our clinics these days, Gonzales told me. Theres been a sharp increase in the number of requests for IUDs and implants  long-term contraceptive solutions  because women are uncertain about the political future.

Last week, I made my way through the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Valencia to see how patients were responding to the new state of siege in the Trump era. The demonstrators were polite but impassioned, insisting I was entering a killing center, not a clinic.

I found the patients inside equally outraged by the offensive against Planned Parenthood. Everyone has a right to say what they have to say, but Planned Parenthood is trying to make this a safe space for women  and this is not the place to engage in debates that might turn combative, said Whitney Russell-Holcomb, a 23-year-old woman who does customer service for a San Francisco tech firm.

Frankly, its none of these strangers business what I do with my uterus.

Russell-Holcomb, who came to the clinic for a Pap smear, said she chose Planned Parenthood because she had negative experiences with another doctor before. Im a sexual assault survivor, and the doctor made shaming comments about what happened to me. But the people at Planned Parenthood are always welcoming and supportive.

Trump is terrifying, she added. We elected a sexual predator president. What kind of message does that send to other men like him?

There is indeed something deeply unsettling about a man like Trump  whose boasts about what he can do to womens bodies with impunity became a defining moment of the 2016 campaign  again crowing about his control of women, this time through the power of the federal budget.

Women should not be in this battle by themselves. They are our sisters, wives, lovers, friends. How deeply and truly lost and forsaken would men be without them? Thats why I liked talking with Ian Anderson in the clinic waiting room, a 35-year-old Oakland paint contractor and musician who had come with his new girlfriend for STD screenings  kind of a responsible sexual partner date.

Its gross to see middle-aged men out in front of these clinics telling young women what to do with their bodies, he said.

These gray-haired guys cant relate to what its like to be a young woman of color with limited options. Would they be there for her if she were forced to have a baby? Would they pay for the kids education? These women are entitled to their own lives.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Talbot appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Email: dtalbot@sfchronicle.com
The state Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to review the legality of 2013 legislation, challenged by labor unions, that eliminated a pension benefit for hundreds of thousands of state and local government employees in California.

The justices voted unanimously to grant a hearing to the unions and decide whether the law violated the rights of employees to the pension benefits that were available when they were hired.

This benefit, which lawmakers had approved in 2003, allowed employees with at least five years of service to purchase up to five years of additional credits before retiring. A worker who retired after 20 years, for example, could pay for the right to receive a pension based on 25 years of contributions.

The 2003 law did not increase costs to government employers, but it added to pensions at a time that statewide public-retirement systems faced increasing deficits, estimated at $500 billion or more in recent studies. Legislators cited those deficits in 2013 when they barred employees from buying future retirement credits.

ALSO Melania Trump settles lawsuits with Daily Mail

A union of 6,000 state firefighters, supported by other state and local labor organizations, challenged the 2013 law. The unions argued that their members had a legal right to the pension benefits that were in effect when they were hired and that the state broke its contractual promise to them by eliminating those benefits.

The states high court had ruled in 1978 that California could legally reduce current employees future pensions, but only if the employees remained eligible for benefits that were substantial and reasonable when the state acted. Any cutbacks in benefits, the court said, should be accompanied by comparable new advantages.

The states First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled Dec. 30 that the 2013 law satisfied that standard.

The employees are entitled only to a reasonable pension, not one providing fixed or definite benefits immune from modification or elimination, Justice Martin Jenkins said in the appellate panels 3-0 written opinion.

Because the 2003 law allowed employees to buy credits for time they had not actually worked, Jenkins said, it did not serve the usual purposes of a pension system, and lawmakers acted reasonably in repealing it.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The states high court has not yet scheduled a hearing in the case, Cal Fire Local 2881 vs. CalPERS, S239958.

This is the second pensions case the court has taken up in recent months.

In November, the court agreed to review a high-stakes case in which unions challenged a rollback of public employee pensions. That case involved legislation banning a practice known as pension spiking, boosting retirement benefits by taking steps to increase ones pay during the final years of employment. That is often done by cashing out unused vacation time, sick leave and other nonmonetary benefits.

A state appeals court had ruled in August that the law against spiking, which took effect in January 2013, could be applied to employees who were already working as well as those yet to be hired. The states high court has also not scheduled a hearing in this case.
President Trumps sudden missile strike against a Syrian airfield in retaliation for a gas attack on civilians will not change one thing about that sad lands bloody civil war.

It will, however, alter the strategic calculus in many places within but also far beyond the troubled Middle East. Politically, the missiles were a big blast against allegations that Trump is a patsy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Watch upcoming job approval polls for the popular verdict.

The nearly 60 Tomahawk missiles used in the attack, costing $1 million apiece, took out Syrian air force planes, reinforced hangars, fuel storage tanks and ammunition dumps. The intended message to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad: You can no longer use chemical weapons with impunity.

As Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer aptly put it, following eight years of relative apathy and inaction after worse war crimes, the message from the new American president was not that theres a new sheriff in town, but that there IS a sheriff in town.

Trump campaigned against the U.S. military being a global policeman. This single strike doesnt mean thats changed. His justification was based on the paramount importance of U.S. national security.

It is in the vital national security interest of the United States, Trump said, to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.  Previous attempts at changing Assads behavior have all failed and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen, and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.

It does mean, however, that Americas allies, especially Sunni Arab states like Jordan and Saudi Arabia that were awaiting U.S. leadership, are encouraged. In February, the Saudis even offered troops to fight the Islamic State.

It does mean that bad actors such as Syria, Iran, Russia and even loopy North Korea must now factor in Trumps proven willingness to exercise American clout when he perceives a national security threat.

After the sarin gas attack with photos of babies gasping for air, Trump acted swiftly and decisively. But not, as critics fretted last year, wildly. He could have attacked all six Syrian airfields. He could have ordered U.S. Special Forces to simultaneously move in eastern Syria.

Instead, Trump targeted only the specific airfield that launched the gas attack. It was a measured response. No new ground troops. Not even pilots risking capture.

U.S. missiles were programmed to ignore structures storing gas components and barracks housing several hundred Russians. In fact, U.S. officers gave them an hours notice to get out of the way, one reason Moscows subsequent denunciation was measured.

Even chronic critics like Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York found it hard to argue with the approach.

It was in striking contrast to President Barack Obama, who on Aug. 20, 2012, said of Syria, A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation.

That was one of several times Obama got himself in trouble when not using a teleprompter. A year later Assad used chemical weapons again, killing more than 1,000. Obama threatened an attack as Secretary of State John Kerry reassured how minor it would be.

Then they allowed Putin, Assads chief backer, to placate them with a plan to allegedly remove Assads chemical weapons stockpile. In the end, Obama did nothing, blaming congressional inertia.

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.

Clearly, that Russian guarantee was not honored, a point hammered home by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week: Either Russia has been complicit, or Russia has been simply incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement. The Russians responded in kind. Tillerson was visiting Moscow on Wednesday.

Is this the end of it? Not likely. With the help of Russia and Iran, Assad is still winning. He could take the missile lesson. Or he could defy it and risk further attacks, as warned by U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trumps staff must now include congressional consultations on his thinking.

But Trumps action has also now become a new certainty that other international troublemakers must include in their assessments of American power.

 2017 McClatchy

Washington Bureau

Andrew Malcolm is an author and veteran national and foreign correspondent covering politics since the 1960s. Twitter: @AHMalcolm
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPX Corporation (NYSE:SPXC) announced today that it will release its first quarter 2017 financial results after market close on Thursday, May 4, 2017.



SPX Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Gene Lowe and SPX Corporation Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Scott Sproule will discuss the company's first quarter results during a conference call at 4:45 p.m. Eastern time. Those interested in participating in the conference call should dial in five minutes prior to the start of the call. The call will be simultaneously webcast via the company's website at www.spx.com and the slide presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section of the site.

Conference call

Dial in: 877-341-7727

From outside the United States: +1 262-558-6098

Participant code: 91238735

A replay of the call will be available by telephone through Thursday, May 11th.

To listen to a replay of the call

Dial in: 855-859-2056

From outside the United States: +1 404-537-3406

Participant code: 91238735

About SPX Corporation: SPX Corporation is a supplier of highly engineered products and technologies, holding leadership positions in the HVAC, detection and measurement, and engineered solutions markets. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX Corporation had approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue in 2016 and more than 5,000 employees in about 15 countries. SPX Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SPXC. For more information, please visit www.spx.com.
The small but fevered movement to divest California public monies from companies involved with the Dakota Access Pipeline project is ill-conceived, and if successful, will prove injurious to pensioners, retirees and state taxpayers.

Just ask those responsible for investing and safeguarding the $300 billion California Public Employees Retirement System. CalPERS chief investment officer, in a document prepared for and reviewed at the investment committees February meeting, noted the intent of the divestment legislation, AB20, would be an ineffective strategy for achieving social or political goals, and would affect an estimated $4 billion in CalPERS holdings.

The Los Angeles Times, a vocal critic of the Dakota pipeline, was just as blunt in its condemnation of AB20, asserting the flawed and dangerous bill would hurt Californians by blowing a multibillion-dollar hole in the pension funds.

Taxpayers will have to pick up for the tab to meet promised pensions that the investments dont cover. Additional pension-fund shortfalls that divestment would cause are precisely what businesses owners dont need. San Franciscos municipal pension-fund shortfalls alone amount to $5.5 billion, a significant taxpayer burden for our citys residents, our customers. Heaping additional losses on the state level leaves less money in the pockets of Californians on whom we rely to sustain our businesses.

California businesses already labor under some of the most onerous tax and regulatory conditions in the country.

AB20 was preceded by similar actions by municipal governments around the state. San Francisco decided in March to divest itself from companies involved with the pipeline, and that decision has imperiled 14 percent of the citys portfolio, representing roughly $1.2 billion. Other cities include Davis, Alameda and Santa Monica.

State representatives contemplating AB20 have plenty of examples that indicate that divestment is a bad idea. For example, Vermonts Pension Investment Committee contemplated a similar divestment scheme. A feasibility study, however, concluded not only that divestment was not in the best interest of beneficiaries but disputed the idea that divestment reduces demand for fossil fuels  the purpose of the divestment.

As lawmakers contemplate divestment of public monies, they should be reminded that:

1. CalPERS is not an individual with any political views. It is quite simply an enormous public trust with one simple mission: to safeguard and hopefully grow the hard-earned retirement of millions of Californians.

2. Lawmakers have been entrusted with the responsibility to represent the best interests of the public, to which they are accountable. They shirk that responsibility at their peril if they subject our states pensioners and retirees to unsound investment decisions.

3. It is in the interest of business owners that pension managers be left to make the best investment decisions and that investors enact change through corporate engagement, not divestment. Stockholders can, and have, successfully enacted business reforms.

Our elected officials must heed the advice of pension fund managers, respect the evidence and reject divestment of California public monies. Decisions affecting Californias pension funds must be guided solely by what is best for the monies under their management. Anything less will hurt retirees, taxpayers and businesses.

Carlos Solorzano is the CEO of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce of San Francisco.
Not long after scores of U.S. Navy cruise missiles streaked toward Syrias Shayrat Air Base last Thursday, I received a call from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. He told me about the U.S. strike on the airfield and aircraft used in the chemical attack by Syrian dictator Bashar Assad against his own people, and the military and legal issues involved.

When the director, as the head of the intelligence community, stated that the targeted airfield had been involved in the chemical weapons attack, he would have been providing the best assessment of all our intelligence agencies. That view undoubtedly informed the presidents judgment that Assad was responsible, and that his regime  and the Russians  were lying about the attack having been the result of an errant strike on a rebel chemical weapons cache.

This was among the first times the new president relied on the intelligence communitys assessment to make a life-or-death decision. The intelligence agencies could not tell him whether to use force  thats not their role  but they could, and undoubtedly did, convey information about Assads culpability, the likelihood of casualties (including Russian casualties), and the potential reactions of the regime, the Russians, the Iranians, the Turks, the Saudis, Hezbollah and others.

One thing is certain: Before he gave the order, the president had to both trust and respect the work of the professionals who informed his decision. The U.S. intelligence community for years has devoted significant resources to understanding the horrific multisided civil war in Syria and the humanitarian disaster that it has unleashed.

This strike was carried out by U.S. forces alone, but if the president had sought the cooperation of other nations, his success in persuading them of Assads responsibility for the murder of innocents would also depend on whether they too believed that our intelligence was good enough to be trusted. This is why a healthy relationship between the president and our intelligence community is so important.

It is also why the destructive accusations leveled against the agencies by the president must stop. It is one thing to challenge analysis and conclusions; it is something altogether different to damn the entire enterprise and belittle the work of tens of thousands of patriotic Americans.

The widespread media coverage of the gas attack, Assads repeated use of such weapons in the past, and the flimsiness of the Syrian cover story eased the Trump administrations efforts to persuade the American public and the international community that the Syrian regime was the perpetrator.

This will not always be the case, and the president would be wise not to damage the credibility of his intelligence agencies.

When the Transportation Security Administration said last month that it was implementing a laptop ban on certain international routes, the necessity for such a change was greeted with skepticism. Having spent months tearing down the intelligence agencies, the president now needed to implement a policy change based on their reporting and without telling the American people what he knew  only that they should trust him.

The need for others to confirm the intelligence underlying the policy change took a rare turn when the White House press secretary  someone who doesnt often cite my views with approval  used my support for the measure as proof of its legitimacy. I certainly dont mind, but it was yet another indication of why the presidents disparagement of the intelligence communitys work left the White House in need of outside validation.

When President Trump first saw the images of those beautiful children suffocating and dying in their parents arms, he was clearly moved. No longer was he free to criticize his predecessor for even contemplating action against the Assad regime over its use of chemical weapons; now he was the commander in chief and responsible for the consequences of action or inaction.

I hope that it was also the moment he realized that the success of his presidency and our countrys security depends in part on his relationship with the intelligence community. It is a relationship he would do well to cultivate.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Burbank, is the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee.
A homeless shelter in Dogpatch. A childrens museum in Corona Heights. A public plaza in Noe Valley. They were all supposed to be up and running by now, but they are still waiting to open.

The common problem? PG&E wont turn on the lights. And no one can agree on why.

PG&E needs to step up or step aside, said Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who accused the utility of delaying tactics because it is unhappy with the citys aggressive push to sell its own clean energy to PG&E customers in San Francisco. The Randall Museum and Noe Valley Town Square are both in his district.

Mayor Ed Lee said he doesnt think PG&E is purposefully delaying hooking up the power. He attributed the holdup to competition between PG&E and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission over who would power the sites. Lee said he doesnt care who wins, so long as it gets done.

The PUC, on the other hand, is adamant that it power the three sites with Hetch Hetchy hydroelectric power because it is less expensive and cleaner than the energy PG&E sells. But the PUC needs PG&Es cooperation because the utility owns the transmission lines that carry the electricity.

Then theres the utilitys side. Andrea Menniti of PG&E said the PUC slowed down the process, in some cases by not providing necessary information in a timely manner, by changing the scope of the project and by not submitting necessary payments in a timely manner.

In the meantime, city officials are scrambling to get the homeless shelter, childrens museum and public plaza powered.

Of the three, the Navigation Center in Dogpatch is the most politically sensitive. Lee has made the innovative homeless shelters, which provide intensive case management, storage and the ability to move in with pets or partners, a key component of his plan to deal with the homeless problem. The Dogpatch Navigation Center was scheduled to open in March.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Located at 25th and Michigan streets, it is made up of raised trailers connected by elevated walkways. It is designed to house around 70 people.

In November, the PUC submitted its application with PG&E to power the shelter. But it wasnt until last month, after nearly five months of back-and-forth about issues like voltage and the location of electric poles, that PG&E said it needed to analyze the impact on the power grid of providing hydropower, said PUC spokesman Charles Sheehan.

The study could take several months, and the city has to pay PG&E $25,000 to do it.

The goalposts keep moving, Sheehan said. Months go by and we are working with them on fuses, circuit breakers, and then then they ask us to do a system impact study out of nowhere. ... If we sent the application in in November, why tell us we need that in mid-March?

Menniti said PG&E has met or exceeded all deadlines for the project and said the city has not paid the $25,000 fee.

PG&Es demand for a service-impact study also has delayed the reopening of the Randall Museum, a natural-history and arts museum. After nearly two years of renovations, the museum also was scheduled to reopen last month. But in mid-February, PG&E informed the PUC the study would be required before it could turn on the power.

The museum has been connected to the PG&E transmission and distribution grids for decades, Sheehan said. The load really hasnt changed.

Andres Power, a former aide to Sheehy, wrote in an April 4 email to PG&E that the Randall Museum is caught up in what can only be described as a purposeful obstacle by PG&E to delay the opening of a city science museum for youth only because, as has long been the case, the city is choosing to use 100 percent renewable Hetch Hetchy power for this facility rather than less-green PG&E power.

Manetti, on the other hand, blamed the delay on the PUC for not submitting the required information on a timely basis.

PG&E will work to connect service safely and as quickly as possible, but wont compromise any of the mandated steps that ensure safety and compliance, she said.

Then there are the lights at the Noe Valley Town Square, which opened in October. All it would take to turn them on is connecting the lines to the electric box, Sheehan said. The Recreation and Park Department, the PUC and Sheehy, the district supervisor, have been asking for that since early March. A representative for PG&E responded to them in an email that the schedule is currently full and April 20 was the soonest it could do the job.

Menniti attributed the holdup to both a change in scope of project, and delayed submission of the citys application to have the lights turned on.

Sheehy expressed exasperation. If PG&E and the PUC are going to have this fight over clean power, it shouldnt be at the expense of children and the Noe Valley community, he said.

Sheehy linked the dispute to San Franciscos aggressive push into PG&Es business through CleanPowerSF and Hetch Hetchy hydropower. The citys CleanPowerSF program launched last year and sells mostly clean energy  harnessed from sources like wind and solar  to existing PG&E customers.

The city also has begun selling its 100 percent greenhouse-gas-free Hetch Hetchy hydropower to businesses and residents in massive new developments like Hunters Point Shipyard  business for which PG&E also competed. Thats in addition to the hydropower the city already sells to municipal customers, like Muni, schools and libraries.

One has to ask oneself if there isnt a connection between San Francisco implementing its clean-power program and the foot-dragging by PG&E, Sheehy said. It seems like suddenly San Francisco is becoming a low priority for PG&E.

Complicating matters further, the city is fighting the utilitys demand that it spend potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure upgrades to buildings that already receive Hetch Hetchy hydropower through PG&Es transmission lines. That dispute is before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

As for whats next with the Randall Museum and Navigation Center, Lee said his office is working to resolve the delays. The PUC estimates the studies PG&E says are necessary will delay the projects by at least three months.

Meanwhile, Randy Quezada, a spokesman for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said the Navigation Center is still scheduled to open this spring. It remains to be seen how and when that will happen.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Oaklands under-the-radar waiver claim last spring, whisking a minor-league reliever away from Baltimore, has morphed into so much more.

Andrew Triggs is thriving as a starter with the As, and on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, he turned in six scoreless innings in Oaklands 8-3 win over the Royals, the team that drafted him in 2012. He has yet to allow an earned run this season.

You expect some of the righties to take bad swings, but he had some of the lefties taking some bad swings, As manager Bob Melvin said. Ninety pitches, six innings, nothing. Confidence-wise, its big for him to get off to this kind of start.

As a starter, period, Triggs has excelled since the As began trying him in that role last season. He has worked 371/3 innings and allowed eight runs, an ERA of 1.93. He has walked five and struck out 26.

Best known as the man who was recalled by the As an Oakland-record eight times last year, Triggs has worked 112/3 innings this season and has given up eight hits and one unearned run.

Once the lights turn on and the real games begin is when you want to really perform, said Triggs, who had an ERA of 8.10 during the spring. Im pretty pleased with how things have gone.

Kansas City didnt produce its first runs of the series until the eighth inning, scoring twice off reliever Liam Hendriks to end a 19-inning scoreless streak. The As have won eight in a row against the Royals dating to last year.

In the series opener Monday, both of Oaklands runs came on a homer by Khris Davis, but on Wednesday, after a built-in rainout-makeup off day, the As got contributions up and down the lineup.

Everyone had at least one hit except leadoff man Marcus Semien, and he walked twice and scored two runs. It was a particularly good evening for the team when it came to getting leadoff men on and in  the As did so in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth  and when it came to two-strike hitting.

Across the board, our at-bats seem to be better, fighting a little harder, more pitches are thrown, Melvin said.

Trevor Plouffe, off to a creaky start with a .154 average coming into the night, singled to start the third and scored on Rajai Davis double to left on a 1-2 pitch from Jason Hammel.

In the fourth, Khris Davis and Stephen Vogt started things with singles (Vogts on a 1-2 pitch), and with one out and an 0-2 count, Yonder Alonso lifted a soft single to center to send in Davis. Plouffe followed with a sacrifice fly, more two-strike hitting. Ditto Jed Lowries sacrifice fly the next inning, which sent in Semien.

Just nicking them up, one run at a time, Melvin said.

In the sixth, Oakland scored four more runs, with RBI singles from Rajai Davis and Matt Joyce and a two-run double off the wall in right by Lowrie.

We had a lot of chances, Semien said. We probably could have scored even more.

Triggs line  six innings, four hits, one walk, three strikeouts  makes it look as if he had a fairly easy evening, but he did some deft work. He had runners at first and second with one out in the first and got Eric Hosmer to bounce into a double play. Triggs gave up a leadoff double to Salvador Perez in the second, but Brandon Moss grounded out to short, Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out to first and Alcides Escobar hit a drive to center that Rajai Davis snared with a slick diving catch.

Shoot, if that ball falls, its got a chance to be a different game, Triggs said.

The Royals got a leadoff double in the fourth from Lorenzo Cain, but Triggs struck out Hosmer and got Perez and Moss to fly out.

Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser
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People have been flocking to Hippie Hill for years to smoke weed on 4/20, and now someone is apparently trying to capitalize on the occasion by selling tickets.

The only problem? The event in Golden Gate Park is free of charge.

The opportunist is advertising the event as "HIPPY HILL 420 EVENT IN GOLDEN GATE PARK" on Eventbrite. Beyond the fact they misspelled Hippie Hill, the tickets are $20 each.

According to the Eventbrite page, the organizer is "Kind Friends Advertisement." A Google search yields nothing on the organizer, and their profile page on Eventbrite is empty.

"Buy your on-line tickets now to the annual 420 celebration in Golden Gate Park!" the event reads. "Located on Hippy Hill, in Golden Gate Park, this festival is the only one like it in the United States, and only happens once a year. Be sure to buy your ticket here, to avoid standing in line."

While you may stand in line to use the restroom, there is no ticket line to avoid because  as previously stated  4/20 is free.

Further down the event description, the "Kind Friends" admit they're not official organizers (although they call themselves an "official participant") and add in some liability-related language to ostensibly cover their bases.

More for you SF signs up sponsors for 4/20 weed fest in Golden Gate Park

"The ticket sellers will not be held liable and by purchasing you agree to hold Kind Friends harmless, blameless, and free from any claims of any sort which you may, but most likely do not have against the ticket seller," it reads. "The tickets are sold as is, and with the now warning of 'Let the buyer beware.'"

It doesn't seem like the $20 "tickets" are selling well, however. Clicking on the "tickets" option brings up a screen that says 4,997 passes are still available.

Although 4/20 remains free for visitors, this is the first year that the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is issuing permits for Hippie Hill smoke-fest. This year, several Haight Street vendors and local cannabis businesses are sponsoring the day.

The sponsorship money will go toward fences, portable toilets and trash removal.

We've reached out to Rec and Park for comment on the Eventbrite tickets, and we'll update the story if we hear from them.
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John Brooks clutched a photo of his daughter, Casey, showing the 17-year-old smiling as she posed for her high school senior portrait shortly before she jumped to her death from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Brooks and his wife, Erika, returned Thursday to the iconic Art Deco span to commemorate the beginning of construction on a suicide deterrent system they hope will spare other families the pain theyve endured since Caseys death Jan. 29, 2007.

Casey was a fighter, said Brooks of Larkspur. She had a big heart, she was a deep thinker. And she was ruthlessly honest ... with the emphasis on ruthlessly.

Joining Brooks and his wife Thursday were a handful of other parents and friends whose loved ones also committed suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other Bay Area officials were also on hand to launch the construction on what will essentially be a stainless steel net running the length of the 8,981-foot bridge and sticking out 20 feet on both sides to catch anyone attempting to take their life.

What a bittersweet day this is, said Pelosi, D-San Francisco, adding that the families gathered turned their grief into a powerful call for action on our beloved bridge.

The project will cost $211 million and will be funded by state and federal money from several agencies, including Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Golden Gate Transportation Commission, and the state Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

People would say to us, Isnt that a lot of money for a barrier? For a net? And I would say, No its not a lot of money for a life. For all of these lives, said Pelosi, who wore a Suicide Deterrent System pin with a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on the collar of her blue blazer.

The audience agreed.

We did it, everybody! one man in the crowd said enthusiastically.

From January to July 2016, there were 133 attempted suicides on the bridge  112 of those were stopped by Bridge Patrol officers, while 21 people leaped to their deaths, according to officials.

This net is a net whose time has really come, said Feinstein, D-Calif. What youre doing here, what the bridge is doing and what the taxpayers are doing will hopefully turn that number to zero.

The number of people under the age of 25 who annually come to the bridge to contemplate suicide has increased from nine in 2000 to 43 in 2014, and that number is expected to be even higher this year, according to the Bridge Patrol Department of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

It was just really kind of a fog, Brooks said of when the coroner came to his home in Larkspur to notify him of his daughters death. We had no idea that this was such a suicide magnet.

His daughter, who was a senior at Redwood High School in Larkspur, was a voracious debater, tackling every subject from politics to whether her teeth needed to be photoshopped to appear whiter in her senior portrait (they were).

She was a typical teenager. Everything Mom and Dad had to say was wrong. And it was her job to set us straight, Brooks said, laughing as he recalled memories of his daughter.

Contractors Shimmick Construction, an Oakland company, and Dannys Construction, a San Francisco company, will work on the project together.

The completion of the deterrent net, on which work is scheduled to begin in earnest in mid-2018, is projected to be completed January 2021.

Kymberlyrenee Gamboa spoke to the crowd huddled under a tent as she held a photo of her son, Kyle, who died in 2013 at the age of 18.

Soon, no family will experience the devastation and tragedy of a suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge, Gamboa said, her voice cracking as she attempted to stifle her tears.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Representatives from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) touched down in Berkeley on Tuesday to applaud the city's recent ban on fur sales.

Scott Anderson and Tiffany Rose, senior vice president of development and senior action team coordinator, respectively, presented Berkeley mayor Jesse Arreguin with a Compassionate City Award and a box of vegan rabbit-shaped chocolates. PETA says its logo is a rabbit because "rabbits are some of the most abused animals on the planet."
Rallies and protest events are a part of political life in the Bay Area. Heres a roundup of whats happening.

Saturday

Tax march: Protesters will march to demand that President Trump release his tax returns. A San Francisco march will start at 1 p.m. at 11th and Market streets. For information: http://bit.ly/2m5xWOA. A San Jose march is at noon and will begin at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. in San Jose. For information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1424610117577990/.

Pro-Trump rally: The event is to promote free speech. Noon to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley. For information: www.facebook.com/events/185364111955870/?active_tab=discussion.

Monday

Town hall: Hosted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the San Francisco Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2850 19th Ave. in San Francisco. Attendees must have a ticket. Tickets are free. For information: http://bit.ly/2nBgGTa.

Conversation on land use: A discussion on how local communities can make the best decisions to meet regional and local needs on land use and housing. The event is at 6 p.m. at SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets are $10 for non-SPUR members, free to members. For information: www.spur.org/events/2017-04-17/who-should-make-land-use-decisions.

Politics 101: A discussion hosted by the United Democratic Club on the political history of San Francisco, how local and state governments work, and what the future holds for political issues like housing and transportation. The event is free and begins at 6:30 p.m. at 524 Third St. in San Francisco. RSVP: http://bit.ly/pol101ap17.

Tuesday

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Santa Rosa, at 6:30 p.m. at Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, 2277 Napa Vallejo Highway in Napa.

Wednesday

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Santa Rosa, at 3 p.m. at City Hall, 525 Henrietta St. in Martinez.

ACLU event: The League of Women Voters hosts a discussion with Jay Laefer of the American Civil Liberties Union on safeguarding the rights of our entire community. The event is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Woodside Road United Methodist Church, 2000 Woodside Road, Redwood City.

Conversation on Trump resistance: A new event series hosted by The Chronicle is called Chronicle Chats. This event, The Future of the Left: Can the Trump Resistance Grow Beyond Protest, will be moderated by columnist David Talbot and will feature a senior adviser to the Bernie Sanders campaign and other experts and leaders. The event is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Tickets are available at: https://info.sfchronicle.com/chroniclechats.

Thursday

Anti-Trump show: The Museum of International Propaganda is hosting a pop-up art and poetry show called Against Trumpism: The Art & Poetry of Resistance. Bay Area and national artists and poets will present their work from April 20 to 29. The opening reception is on April 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. with a poetry reading at 7:30 p.m. at 1000 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. The event is free and wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact artofresistingtrump@gmail.com.

April 22

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, at 10 a.m. in the gymnasium of Canada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Woodside. Rep. Eric Swalwell also will host a town hall at 4 p.m. at the Dublin High School student union, 8151 Village Parkway in Dublin.

Science march: Marches mark Earth Day. In San Francisco, a march begins at 11 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza, Embarcadero Center at Market and Steuart streets, and ends at Civic Center Plaza. For information: http://bit.ly/2nAcLkN. A march in San Jose will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details to be confirmed. For information: http://bit.ly/2oV8oSu. In Walnut Creek, a march from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will start at Civic Park, 1375 Civic Drive. A Hayward march from 10 a.m. to noon begins at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave. For information: http://bit.ly/2n7oonY.

April 23

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, at 1 p.m. at Newark Memorial High School, 39375 Cedar Blvd. in Newark.

Sexual assault conversation: Loosid Projects, Planned Parenthood and Bay Area Women Against Rape host a discussion called Locker Room Talk: Confronting Sexual Violence in the Age of Trump. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. at 507 55th St., Oakland. Tickets are $10 at the door. For information, contact info@loosidity.com.

April 26

Environment discussion: Marin County Supervisor Kate Sears will discuss the recent findings of the BayWAVE Project, a study on sea levels and rising tides from Sausalito to Novato. Sears will discuss Marins vulnerability and list next steps for how to deal with future issues that could be impacted by rising sea levels. The event is free, wheelchair accessible and begins at 7 p.m. It will be held at Drivers Market, 200 Caledonia St. in Sausalito. RSVP: www.driversmarket.com.

April 27

Comedy night: Hosted by the International Institute of the Bay Area, a Comedy Night for Immigant Rights will feature Bay Area comedians Irene Tu, Johan Miranda and Zahra Noorbaksh. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at BATS Improv Theatre in Building-B at Fort Mason in San Francisco. For tickets: www.iibayarea.org/comedy-night-event/.
Scientists, who have studied most things, have now studied why shoelaces come untied.

A two-year project at UC Berkeley also has found that a lot of people dont know the best way to tie their shoes, including the scientist who performed the study.

Id been doing it wrong, said study co-author Christine Gregg, a mechanical engineering student. This could be the most useful thing I learned in grad school.

Gregg, a recreational runner, had become curious about why her sneaker laces kept coming undone. So, for two years, she and fellow student Christopher Daily-Diamond photographed their shoelaces, filmed their shoelaces, videotaped their shoelaces, and got down on their hands and knees to study every last little thing about their shoelaces. They ran on treadmills and ran down the university hallways and tied and retied their shoes countless times.

We spent hours and hours, she said.

Gregg found that shoelaces come undone because a shoe strikes the ground at seven times the force of gravity, stretching and relaxing the knot. The loosened knot is further undone when the swinging leg applies an inertial force on the free ends of the laces, according to the research.

To untie my knots, I pull on the free end of a bow tie, Gregg said. The shoelace knot comes untied due to the same sort of motion  the inertial forces of the leg swinging back and forth while the knot is loosened from the shoe repeatedly striking the ground.

Gregg, 26, a fourth-year doctoral student from Wilmington, Del., whose earlier research involved typing a letter by blowing on a flute, said her findings could lead to great things. Perhaps surgeons could use her knot research to improve the way they tie sutures during an appendectomy. Perhaps geneticists could better understand how DNA strands become entwined.

Were just at the beginning of understanding what this means, she said.

On a practical level, however, there was one key finding for all shoelace users. Gregg found that there is a strong shoelace knot and a weak shoelace knot. Many people tie the weak knot because they dont know any better.

To tie the strong knot, hold an end of the shoelace in each hand. Wrap the left end over the right end and pull it through. Make a loop with the right end, hold it in your right hand and wrap the left end around it clockwise, not counterclockwise, before pulling it through to finish the knot.

The resulting knot should align along the width of the shoe. Thats a stronger knot, Gregg said, than one that aligns along the length of the shoe  the kind of knot that Gregg used to make before she did the study.

It may seem frivolous, but I think its important, Gregg said. Its basic science. No one really understands how entangled structures interact. This is a first step toward a greater awareness.

Professor Oliver OReilly, whose lab conducted the research, said he sought nothing less than understanding knots from a mechanics perspective. But even after two years, he said he did not understand why the clockwise-wrapped knot was stronger than the counterclockwise one.

We still do not understand why theres a fundamental mechanical difference between those two knots, OReilly said.

The study was published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A of London alongside articles about airbags, tsunamis and the Japanese art of paper folding.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com
HOUSTON, April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LINN Energy, Inc. (OTCQB:LNGG) will host a conference call on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 10 a.m. (CDT) to discuss the companys first quarter 2017 results. There will be prepared remarks by Mark E. Ellis, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David B. Rottino, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.



Investors and analysts are invited to participate in the call by dialing (844) 625-4392, or (409) 497-0988 for international calls using Conference ID: 7613116. Interested parties may also listen over the Internet at www.linnenergy.com.

A replay of the call will be available on the companys website or by phone until May 25, 2017. The number for the replay is (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 for international calls using Conference ID: 7613116.

ABOUT LINN ENERGY

LINN Energy, Inc. was formed in February 2017 as the reorganized successor to Linn Energy, LLC. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the companys core focus is the upstream and midstream development of the SCOOP / STACK / Merge in western Oklahoma. Additionally, the company is pursuing emerging horizontal opportunities in the Mid-Continent, Rockies, North Louisiana and East Texas while continuing to add value by efficiently operating and applying new technology to a diverse set of long-life producing assets.
Sausalito, San Francisco's laid-back neighbor just across the Golden Gate Bridge, has a rich history. From Portuguese boat builders to the houseboats of today, the small city has been home to many interesting characters. But our favorite was "Buddha."

One day in early 1969, an assortment of "free thinkers, lost souls, escapists, artists, social anarchists, aesthetes and nature lovers banded together in Sausalito, CA to save muddy, debris-strewn Sonoma Street from rape by bulldozer," according to a San Francisco Chronicle article.

It was said that Sonoma Street, which is in Gate 5 area, may appear on Marin County maps as a street. But a little sign hanging above it insists "there is no Sonoma Street." The site appeared as more of a slough than a street and became "a repository for a rich collection of rusted bed springs, tin cans, boards, crumbling shacks and just plain junk."

The article went on to say that on that January day, a number of Marin officials arrived at Gate 5 and announced that they were going to clean up the "street." The locals were not happy with that information and began to gather to defend against the "forces of tidiness and sanitation." A good old sit-in ensued, which stopped the bulldozer in its tracks.

By that time, the police also began to appear in numbers, readying for a confrontation. Before that happened, a man in blue leather trousers, cowboy boots and a black leather coat came up with an idea. With "a wave of a hand toward his bearded compatriots," the man, Henry Jefferson Sudduth IV, posed that the locals would clean up the land. Deputy County Counsel Joseph A. Forest agreed to the plan.

The group of locals went to work cleaning up Sonoma Street. When all was done, the pile of debris was said to have risen 20 feet. When asked why they bothered to do all that work, Sudduth, whose nickname was "Buddha," replied that they didn't want the blades of the bulldozer to tear up the earth, and thus saved one "little place of beauty in this world."

The Sausalito Historical Society's website is a good source of information for this picturesque town on the water. You can read some of that here, including the origin of the town's name, and get the full history at their site:

"For over 3,000 years, before white settlers arrived, Native Americans known as the Coast Miwok occupied the stretch of shoreline and hills that is now Sausalito. They were peaceful hunter-gatherers whose shell mounds, artifacts and burial "middens" still reside under the surface of our modern-day town. However, in 1775 the Miwoks' tranquil way of life was forever changed when the Spanish ship San Carlos arrived carrying the first European explorers to enter by sea what is now called San Francisco Bay. From the small willow trees growing along the stream banks of this area, they called it Saucito (little willow), a name that later evolved into 'Saucelito,' and ultimately "Sausalito."

Eventually, which included Portuguese boat builders, Chinese shopkeepers, dairy ranchers, fishermen, Italian and German merchants, boarding house operators and railroad workers. Some of the most notable residents were Sterling Hayden, Alan Watts, Shel Silverstein, Otis Redding and the famous madam, Sally Stanford. The town became an enclave for artists, hippies and other Bohemian types.

Related video: Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito August 20, 1971

Bob Bragman is a producer for SFGATE. His writing reflects his love of the Bay Area, in addition to his passion for vintage pop culture, ephemera and vernacular photographs. To see more of his content, please click here.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)  Deputies need help finding a woman who was reported missing Tuesday morning from northern Sacramento County.

Janet Mejia, 28, was last seen around 9 a.m. leaving her home in the 7200 block of Pepperwood Knoll Lane, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said. She was reported missing that night by her roommate.

Deputies found Mejia's vehicle in the Arden-Arcade area Wednesday afternoon.

Mejia is considered at risk because her disappearance is out of the ordinary for her and she is usually in constant contact with her family.

Mejia is described at a Hispanic woman, 5 feet tall, weighing 120 to 125 pounds, with long black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt with the word "PINK" on it.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to call the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department at 916-874-5115.

This story originally appeared on KCRA.com.
Uber has lost a string of top managers in recent months as the ride-hailing company has dealt with scandals over its workplace culture and its executives behavior. That exodus is continuing with the exit of Rachel Whetstone, the companys head of policy and communications.

In an internal email to employees Tuesday, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said Whetstone was leaving amicably and of her own volition.

Since joining in 2015, Rachel has blown us all away with her ability to get stuff done, Kalanick wrote.

In a statement, Whetstone said, I joined Uber because I love the product  and that love is as strong today as it was when I booked my very first ride six years ago.

But internally, Kalanick and Whetstone had a complicated relationship, according to three current and former employees who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss personnel matters. Kalanick and Whetstone are intense personalities and occasionally clashed over how to handle external communications, especially in times of crisis, these people said.

Over the past few months, Whetstone has steered Uber through several firestorms. A grassroots campaign urged people to delete the Uber app after the company was erroneously perceived to have capitalized on President Trumps executive order to bar immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries. In addition, a former employee, in a public blog post, detailed a history of harassment at the hands of an Uber manager, prompting an internal investigation and questions over the companys culture.

Apart from Whetstone, other Uber executives have recently quit. Last month, Jeff Jones, a former Target executive, left Uber because of what he characterized as disagreements with leadership. Brian McClendon, a top engineering executive working on Ubers mapping projects, also departed the company to return to his home state, Kansas, where he plans to explore politics.

Ed Baker, from Ubers growth and product team, exited in February, and Amit Singhal, a top engineering executive said to have failed to disclose a sexual harassment complaint against him at his former workplace, was asked to resign late that month.

Whetstone, who led communications at Google for a decade before joining Uber in 2015, has not detailed her next move. In an email to colleagues, she said she was looking forward to time off with her family.

Patents

Qualcomm to pay BlackBerry

Qualcomm said Wednesday it has been ordered to pay smartphone maker BlackBerry $814.9 million in an arbitration dispute over patent royalties.

The San Diego wireless giant said the payment was ordered after both companies entered arbitration in a contract disagreement over Qualcomms royalty caps.

The payment comes as Qualcomms patent-licensing business is increasingly under attack from government regulators and smartphone makers.

Qualcomm has been fined more than $850 million by South Koreas antimonopoly regulator, which also is demanding changes in the way the company licenses patents. Qualcomm has appealed to the Seoul High Court.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Apple also have sued Qualcomm over patent licenses. Both cases are pending. Investigations are under way in Taiwan and elsewhere.

Reading

Amazon tool

for parents

Amazon is introducing tools to help parents see what their kids are doing on the companys Fire tablets. As a bonus, the company says its service will also help spark discussions about the books kids read and the videos they watch.

Parents first have to sign up with Amazons FreeTime service, a set of tools for preapproving how much time kids spend on a tablet and what they do with it. The FreeTime service is free, as is the new dashboard tool.

Then theyll be able to view each childs activities through Amazons website. Information will include the amount of time spent on e-books, videos, apps and Web browsing. Parents will also see 90 days worth of details such as the specific books read and videos watched  and how long the child spent on each.

The service will also suggest some questions and activities, with open-ended questions designed to avoid classic single-word responses from kids. For Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man, for instance, suggested discussion topics include questioning assumptions and looking at the role that incorrect assumptions play in friendships.

The dashboard tool also works with FreeTime Unlimited, a $3-and-up monthly subscription that offers access to books, videos and other digital items that Amazon deems appropriate for children at various ages. With regular FreeTime, parents have access only to their own Amazon library of digital purchases.

Airlines

Delta reviews

plane orders

Delta Air Lines is reviewing its wide-body jet orders amid signs that the long-range travel market is saturated, CEO Ed Bastian said Wednesday.

The move is a setback for Airbus, which landed a $14 billion deal with Delta in 2014 after beating out Boeing, the carriers longtime supplier. Delta has no twin-aisle orders pending with Boeing, according to the plane makers online database.

The prospect that Delta could postpone or cancel deliveries heightens concerns that a glutted market is sapping sales of twin-aisle jets. The Atlanta carrier is planning to take the first of its Airbus A350s this year to replace the Boeing 747 jumbos that once shuttled its passengers to Asia and Europe.

Chronicle News Services
Weeks after scores of advertisers boycotted YouTube, Google is still trying to mitigate the damage. Meanwhile, long-struggling competitors in the digital ad market are seizing the moment.

MediaMath Inc., a New York seller of software for automated online ad buying, is introducing a service to ensure that ads only run alongside hand-picked, high quality content. The curated market offering comes amid concern over some big brand ads appearing against racist, violent and offensive YouTube videos.

Were developing for the largest brands in the world who need to be assured of a safe environment for digital advertising, said Erich Wasserman, MediaMaths co-founder. Were happily able to do this at a time when the market is shouting for it.

Google has tried to silence the shouting. After the first wave of advertiser defections, Google introduced new controls to address the problem. When more advertisers left, Google added even more features and shifted resources into new technology that flags offensive videos and disables ads on them.

Most analysts believe the YouTube boycott will have minimal impact on Google sales. Its draw is too large to keep advertisers away permanently, and the boycott has not stopped search ads, Googles bedrock. Yet some marketing agencies and advertisers are reevaluating buying plans, cognizant of the harm poor ad placement can cause. That adds pressure on Google, the biggest division of Mountain Views Alphabet.

If you can create a driverless car and artificial intelligence, you can figure out how to keep a brand safe, Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer of Procter & Gamble Co., said at an interview during an advertising conference last week in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, NBCUniversal announced a deal with mobile ad company Kargo Global Inc. to place ads on 300 premium digital properties from 70 media companies. Persuading advertisers to pay up for premium content was a feat, given the discounts and wide distribution that giants like Google offer, said Kargo CEO Harry Kargman. The YouTube boycott was a gift. We were prepared for a drawn-out fight, he said. Basically, the market has done it for us.

MediaMath, too, views its new service as responding to a market shift. The YouTube crisis wasnt just a backlash against Google, it was a protest against the pitfalls of automated advertising in general  the systems and services that let marketers accurately target consumers but also sprinkle ads everywhere across the web. MediaMath said its new service will limit that sprinkling, sending ads to websites and online videos that it constantly monitors for quality.

The company said it has 7,000 advertisers and 500 publishers on board with the service, although it declined to share its pricing or early revenue figures.

Its likely that shifts in digital spending away from Google, if any, would not appear until later in the year. However, some ad companies said they are seeing efforts to realign spending now to avoid the YouTube fracas. Charles Gabriel, president of Apester, which makes interactive software for publishers, said that over the past two weeks marketers began requesting safety controls on all online videos where they run ads.

Google executives have argued that, given YouTubes size, brand safety guarantees for every single video are impossible. But theyve reassured marketers the issue will subside.

Tara Walpert Levy, Googles vice president of agency and media solutions, told the audience in Los Angeles that many advertisers that left over the issue have returned. But only Johnson & Johnson has said so publicly.

At the conference, attitudes about the YouTube scandal were mixed. Some echoed P&Gs Pritchard. But others dismissed it as an inflated scandal, driven by the television industry, which is hosting its annual ad price-negotiation conference soon.

Michael Roth, head of ad giant Interpublic Group of Cos., admitted as much on stage. Much of the YouTube hubbub, he said, was a behind-the-scenes negotiation from the older industry to compete with technology upstarts.

That leverage, along with pressure from others, is necessary given the rising digital dominance of Google and Facebook. When its a duopoly, you always root for someone else to keep them honest, he said.

Mark Bergen is a Bloomberg writer. Email: mbergen10@bloomberg.net
Miss Kindergarten is in the million-dollar club. So are Lovin Lit, the Moffatt Girls and about a dozen other teacher-entrepreneurs who are spinning reading, math, science and social studies into gold by selling their lesson plans online to colleagues around the world.

Despite worries from some educators, such online marketplaces are booming, driven by rising standards and the willingness of teachers to pay out of their own pockets for classroom-tested materials.

I am so thankful and blessed that it came into my life and that my passion and career can kind of mesh into one, says Miss Kindergarten, aka 32-year-old Hadar Hartstein, of Lake Forest (Orange County), who says she has earned more than $1 million in sales over the past six years, enough to take this year and maybe the next few off from her teaching job to be with her newborn daughter.

Her more than 300 offerings on the popular Teachers Pay Teachers site range from free alphabet flash cards and a $1.50 Popsicle party counting activity to a $120 full-year unit on math and literacy, all of them promoted on her blog and social media accounts.

You definitely have to look at it as another full-time job, she says. You have to put a lot of effort into it.

Teachers Pay Teachers contends that it hit a milestone last year, when its 80,000 contributors earned more than $100 million, and that at least a dozen have become millionaires since the site launched a decade ago. Other major sites including Teachwise and Teachers Notebook, and recently such corporate players as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Amazon, have launched sites of their own.

But some educators worry the increasing monetizing of lessons will stifle the long-standing practice of teachers freely sharing their ideas. And legal experts question whether teachers actually have ownership of the lessons they are selling.

For teachers buying the materials, however, its a major time saver, allowing them to reclaim the nights and weekends otherwise spent starting lessons from scratch, often for no more than the price of their morning coffee.

Ann Arbor, Mich., middle-school teacher Samantha Cucu said that when she started teaching three years ago, she created her own materials but was swayed by colleagues who made a compelling argument: Why are you reinventing the wheel?

She has since bought about 120 resources and gotten 132 others from Teachers Pay Teachers free offerings.

Sometimes theyre super-easy small purchases, like $1.20 here, $2.50 there, and sometimes theyre larger. I try not to spend over $15, says Cucu who estimated that her prep time for school plummets from 20 to 30 hours a week to two hours if she can find what she needs online.

Its huge, says Cucu, who has a year-old baby.

At Teachers Pay Teachers, educators set their own prices for 2.5 million resources and give a commission to the site. With a $59.95 premium membership, the commission is 15 percent. With a free basic membership, its 40 percent.

My first sale was 80 cents. It was the best 80 cents Ive made in my entire life! says Mary Beth Nerone, who has been stocking her online store, Brain Waves Instruction, on the site with writing, poetry and other exercises for three years after budget cuts eliminated her job as a middle-school language arts teacher near Rochester, N.Y.

Some people are psyched and say I get Starbucks money each week ... some people get to a space where they can meet or surpass their teaching income, Nerone says. And some people get to a space beyond their wildest dreams of income.

Teachers trust and support other teachers, says Hanna Hudson, editorial director of the We Are Teachers online bulletin board, and accessing individual resources from the web is less expensive and easier than going to the district for new textbooks or resources.

Honestly, its going after the money that teachers are spending out of their own pockets on their classroom, Hudson says.

But Bob Farrace, spokesman for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, says taking proprietary rights over ideas and lessons could disrupt the traditional collaborative atmosphere of schools. You want teachers to collaborate and share ideas freely.

In fact, some school districts have language in their teaching contracts that bar teachers from selling their lesson plans.

Some legal experts argue that the resources teachers produce while working for a school district may actually be the property of the district.

Mark Bartholomew, who teaches copyright law at the University at Buffalo, says that without explicit contract language, the law looks at factors such as whether products were created within the scope of employment or on a persons own time.

A federal court in New York sided with the Cherry Valley-Springfield school district in 2004 after a suspended teacher tried to claim ownership of tests, quizzes and homework problems left behind in his classroom that he said were prepared outside normal hours. The U.S. Court of Appeals agreed the district owned the materials because the teacher made them for his job.

I never created anything that I was selling while in the classroom, says Miss Kindergarten Hartstein. As a kindergarten teacher, I rarely even had time to sit down and take a breath.

Hartstein says she never looked at selling lessons as a path to riches but as a way for others to learn and benefit from her experience.

If a teacher is already making a resource for her students and its super successful in her classroom, then why not post it for other students to use? And if you make something off of it, awesome.

Carolyn Thompson is an Associated Press writer.
MONROE, Mich., April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE:LZB) today announced that Mark S. Bacon Sr., Senior Vice President and President, La-Z-Boy Branded Business, has resigned from the company, effective April 30, 2017.



Kurt L. Darrow, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of La-Z-Boy, said, Mark made a significant contribution to La-Z-Boy. In his nine years with the company, he played a pivotal role in leading the successful turnaround of La-Z-Boys company-owned retail business and strengthening the overall performance of the companys Branded operations. He was an integral part in the expansion of the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store network through our 4-4-5 strategy, including growing the company-owned store count from 70 in October of 2008 to 142 at the end of the fiscal 2017 third quarter. We thank Mark for his many contributions to the company and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

For the immediate future, the senior leadership members of the La-Z-Boy Branded Business will report to Darrow.

Additional Information

This news release is just one part of La-Z-Boys financial disclosures and should be read in conjunction with other information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is available at: http://investors.la-z-boy.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92596&p=irol-sec. Investors and others wishing to be notified of future La-Z-Boy news releases, SEC filings and quarterly investor conference calls may sign up at: http://investors.la-z-boy.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92596&p=irol-alerts&t=&id=&.

Background Information

La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the worlds leading residential furniture producers, marketing furniture for every room of the home. The La-Z-Boy Upholstery segment companies are England and La-Z-Boy. The Casegoods segment consists of three brands: American Drew, Hammary, and Kincaid. The company-owned Retail segment includes 142 of the 346 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores.

The corporations branded distribution network is dedicated to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 346 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores and 551 independent Comfort Studio locations, in addition to in-store gallery programs for the companys Kincaid and England operating units. Additional information is available at http://www.la-z-boy.com/.




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Actress-turned-wellness-guru Gwyneth Paltrow has been floating around San Francisco's foodie scene this week, and she's hitting all the hyped-up hotspots.

News of the cookbook author and founder of lifestyle website Goop broke on Instagram yesterday, when Paltrow shared a photo from the Matisse-Diebenkorn exhibition at SFMOMA.

"Maybe my favorite show ever," Paltrow wrote of the exhibition, which opened in March.

All that culture consumption can make one work up an appetite, so the notoriously macrobiotic eater headed to Dominique Crenn's Petit Crenn. Paltrow's daughter, Apple, dined alongside her mom at the bistro that serves up organic French food.

See also: Michael Bauer reviews Petit Crenn

Paltrow has become the patron saint of simple, whole food cooking, hallmarked by the 2016 release of "It's All Easy: Delicious Weekday Recipes for the Super-Busy Home Cook." Recipes include everything from zucchini "noodles" to acai bowls. The book also hosts a total of three avocado toast recipes.

More for you Celebrities caught lurking around the Bay Area in recent weeks

See also: Toast doesn't cost $4 in SF anymore ... in some spots, it's way more expensive

After lunch at Petit Crenn, Paltrow shared a photo of Chinatown restaurant Mister Jiu's, wishing the Michelin-starred restaurant a happy first anniversary.

Paltrow rounded out the day at Boba Guys, where SF Eater says she ordered a jasmine milk tea, "zero-percent sweet, with Straus half-and-half."

SF Eater claims the actress was later spotted at Michael Tusk's carb-centric Cotogna, which incidentally does not have zucchini noodles on its menu.

Paltrow hasn't posted since late last night, so there's no telling where the star will turn up next (although one can guess it will probably be a high-end restaurant).

Earlier in February, Paltrow was spotted traipsing around West Marin, where she stopped by Cowgirl Creamery, the Marshall Store, and Osteria Stellina. Read SFGATE's full coverage of the visit here.

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.




Texas' countryside isn't typically referred to as exquisite, but one Victorian home on 18 scenic acres fully embraces the craftsmanship of the style.

A Victorian estate in Dublin, about an hour and a half southwest of Fort Worth, was put on the market for $850,000 a year ago. Recently, the home was reduced to $750,000.
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The path from science fiction to Mars and beyond is paved with wild ideas wrapped in cold hard cash. Sort of like ravioli or inklings incubating under a blanket of gravy.

And, every year NASA cooks up a batch of space ravioli by funding wild-eyed, futuristic, "visionary aerospace" concepts selected by the agency's Innovative Advanced Concepts program.

"NASA is preparing for a future that could include soft robotic spacecraft with flexible surfaces that can anchor to an asteroid, and an artificial gravity device for long-duration, deep space missions, along with other technologies that so far has been limited to the realm of science fiction," the agency said announcing this year's 22 selected projects.

The program bakes projects in two phases. The first phase of finding for 15 projects comes in at about $125,000 for nine months of building up the "initial definition and analysis" of the concepts. Phase two funding for seven projects comes with about $500,000 each to "allow awardees time to refine their designs and explore aspects of implementing the new technology."

All told, the funding cycle will spend about $5.4 million. And that's peanuts compared to the agencies current $19.5 billion annual budget.

Check out this year's funded projects in the gallery above.

Jake Ellison can be reached at jakeellisonjournalism@gmail.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook. If Google Plus is your thing, check out our science coverage here.
WASHINGTON  Democratic lawmakers and activists plan to hit the streets Saturday at Tax Day protests around the country and demand President Trump release his tax returns.

Organizers hope the protests  dubbed the Tax March  will resonate with Americans who think the president should release his returns, as his recent predecessors have done. Rallies are scheduled in nearly 150 cities, including Washington, New York, Boston and San Francisco. Activists in West Palm Beach, Fla., will hold the March a Lago near the resort where Trump plans to spend the Easter weekend.

Were marching on Washington, D.C., and around the country to ask Donald Trump: WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? the organizers say on their website. We need a president who works for all Americans, and a tax system that does, too. Release your tax returns and commit to a fair tax system for the American people.

Jennifer Taub sparked the effort following her participation in Bostons Womens March the day after Trumps inauguration. She concedes she isnt sure what to expect  organizers think thousands will show up at some locations, possibly only dozens at others.

Im just a law professor who sent out a tweet, said Taub, who teaches at Vermont Law School. Im psyched, and I think lots of people are psyched about this. We shall see.

Taubs tweet about planning a #showusyourtaxes protest stemmed from the Womens March and her general interest in financial matters. She has testified before Congress and written a book about the 2008 financial crisis.

Im all about follow the money, Taub said. It tells us the story about peoples priorities.

Liberal advocacy groups and unions have helped spread the word and organized speakers for the largest rallies.

Trump cites an audit as the reason he wont release his tax returns. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday, We filed our financial disclosure forms the other day in a way that allows everyone to understand.

Kevin Freking is an Associated Press writer.
PHOENIX  A Mexican fugitive accused of pulling the trigger to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent was captured more than six years after a slaying that exposed a bungled gun-tracking operation by the federal government.

Mexican authorities arrested Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes on Wednesday as the U.S. government has pushed hard to prosecute the suspected marijuana bandits involved in the 2010 death of 40-year-old Brian Terry.
CHICAGO  The passenger dragged from a United flight lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion, his lawyer said Thursday, accusing the airline industry of having bullied its customers for far too long.

Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle? attorney Thomas Demetrio asked.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, has been released from a hospital but will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said at a news conference, appearing alongside one of Daos children. Dao was not there.

The 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Ky., was removed by police from the United Express flight Sunday at Chicagos OHare Airport after refusing to give up his seat on the full plane to make room for four airline employees.

Cell phone video of him being pulled down the aisle on his back and footage of his bloody face have created a public-relations nightmare for United.

One of Daos five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was horrified, shocked and sickened by what happened. She said it was made worse by the fact that it was caught on video.

For Dao, who came to the U.S. after fleeing Vietnam by boat in 1975 when Saigon fell, being dragged off the plane was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam, Demetrio said.

Demetrio, who indicated Dao is going to sue, said the industry has long bullied passengers by overbooking flights and then bumping people, and it took something like this to get a conversation going.

I hope he becomes a poster child for all of us. Someones got to, the lawyer said.

Early on, United CEO Oscar Munoz added to the furor when he apologized for the incident but accused Dao of being belligerent. Later, Munoz offered a more emphatic mea culpa, saying, No one should ever be mistreated this way.

He promised to review the airlines policies to make sure something like that never happens again, and said United will no longer use police to remove bumped passengers. The airline also said all passengers on the flight would get a refund.

In a statement issued immediately after Thursdays news conference, United insisted that Munoz and the airline called Dao numerous times to apologize. Munoz himself said on Wednesday that he had left a message for Dao.

But Demetrio said neither Dao nor his family had heard from United.

Demetrio said his client accepts the apology. But the attorney questioned its sincerity, suggesting United acted because it was taking a PR beating.

The attorney was unable to say precisely how Dao was injured. Dao didnt remember exactly what occurred because of the concussion he suffered, Demetrio said.

Pepper said her father and mother had been traveling from California to Louisville, Ky., and had caught a connecting flight at OHare. After what happened, Dao has no interest in ever seeing an airplane and will probably be driven to Kentucky, Demetrio said.

United had selected Dao and three other passengers at random for removal from the plane after unsuccessfully offering $800 in travel vouchers and a hotel stay to customers willing to give up their seats.

The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.

At a City Council committee hearing Thursday, aldermen ripped officials from United and the department about the episode.

There are no excuses, Alderman Michael Zalewski said.

Don Babwin and Sara Burnett are Associated Press writers.
NEW YORK  Family tragedy surrounded Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. About three years ago, law enforcement officials said, her brother killed himself. Last year around this time, her mother died.

On Wednesday, after responding to an emergency call, officers with the New York Police Departments Harbor Unit found the body of Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on New York states highest court, in the Hudson River in Harlem with no apparent signs of trauma and no indications of foul play. The police are treating her death as a suicide, although they are investigating.

According to one law enforcement official, Abdus-Salaam called her Midtown Manhattan chambers on Tuesday morning to say she would not be coming in because she was not feeling well. When the judge failed to appear on Wednesday, her assistant sent a text to her husband of eight months, who called 911 to report her missing a short time later. Her body was found that afternoon, floating in the river.

Abdus-Salaam was last seen leaving her office on Monday evening, and investigators tracked her to the subway at about 8 p.m., the official said. Investigators found the judges cell phone in her apartment, another official said, and the door had been locked with keys from the outside. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

She was a lovely, genteel lady, Jonathan Lippman, a former chief judge of New York state, said. Were all just shocked. No one has any idea what happened.

Since 2013, Abdus-Salaam had been one of seven judges on the state Court of Appeals. Before that, she served for about four years as an associate justice on the First Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court, and for 15 years as a state Supreme Court justice in Manhattan. She was previously a lawyer in the New York state attorney generals office.

Zakiyyah Muhammad, founding director of the Institute of Muslim American Studies, said Abdus-Salaam became the first female Muslim judge in the United States when she started serving on the state Supreme Court in 1994.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement on Wednesday that Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all.

Alan Feuer, Matthew Haag And William K. Rashbaum are New York Times writers.
Louisville, KY, April 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After a phenomenal 2016, Louisville Marketing Solutions prepares to exceed last years record setting numbers. Director of Operations, Blake Presley dives into the thick of it, explaining what to expect from the rapidly expanding company in the months to come.

Last year was undeniably successful for Louisville Marketing Solutions, says Blake. We owe a lot of our success to our incredible clients who continuously give us the opportunity to expand locally and nationally. I also believe we have perfected the training process that we offer to our associates, leading to record setting productivity and growth.

During the first quarter of 2017, LMS launched their first national location. Blake led his Assistant Director Cheyenne in an expansion to Chattanooga, TN. This opportunity marks the beginning of Louisville Marketing Solutions expansion outside of Kentucky, opening new and exciting doors across the nation for future growth.

Soon after the company planted roots in Tennessee, Nick Brown, another of Blakes Assistant Directors is projected to take the reigns in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Blake explains, The demand in Elizabethtown is outstanding. Growing into a previously untouched territory sets our associates up for innumerable career growth opportunities as well as unparalleled productivity for both our clients and Louisville Marketing Solutions.

While the company and their multi-billion dollar clients brace for the upcoming changes, last years record numbers are released. Louisville Marketing Solutions accounted for nearly 3 million dollars of profit for their clients in 2016 and are expected to double that this year.

With these projections illuminating LMS reputation, their clients push for more growth opportunities. By the end of the year, the company will double in size, boasting six locations by the turn of the year.

In efforts to pre-empt the rapid growth, Louisville Marketing Solutions opens its doors for the interview process. Blake and his management team suggest graduates from the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, as well as Indiana University submit their resume for their exclusive career opportunities.

With little to no experience in marketing, sales, customer service and business practices, the company offers paid training. For more information on the training process or career opportunities, visit www.LouisvilleMarketingSolutions.com
PYONGYANG, North Korea  North Koreas vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Trump for building up a vicious cycle of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying that his aggressive tweets were making trouble.

In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the U.S. against provoking North Korea militarily, saying, We will go to war if they choose.

If the U.S. comes with reckless military maneuvers, then we will confront it with the DPRKs preemptive strike, Han said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Weve got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a U.S. preemptive strike.

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

Tensions are deepening as the U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea. Pyongyang, meanwhile, recently launched a ballistic missile and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually anytime.

That is something that our headquarters decides, Han said of what would be North Koreas sixth nuclear test. At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place.

Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland on Trumps watch as president  within the next few years.

Han, however, said North Korea blames Trump and the U.S. for the rising tensions. He cited not only the U.S.-South Korean war games and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Trump posted Tuesday in which he said the North is looking for trouble. Trump also tweeted that if China doesnt do its part to rein in Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions, the U.S. can handle it.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, Han said. Its not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble.

The annual military exercises have consistently infuriated the North, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion. Washington and Seoul deny that, but reports that exercises have included decapitation strikes aimed at the Norths leadership have fanned Pyongyangs anger.

Eric Talmadge is an Associated Press writer.
A Santa Rosa native's chance encounter with an Australian couple resulted in a generous tip, but also a generous offer: The two customers wanted to pay off her student loans and debt.

Cayla Chandara was working at one of her two jobs as a server in Honolulu when she struck up a conversation with a couple visiting from Australia. The three "hit it off" and Chandara, 22, told local news station KHON 2 that the two customers asked her about herself and where she was from.
A 74-year-old woman can sue a federal agent who held her for up to two hours, in urine-soaked pants, while he questioned her about a tiny piece of moon rock she has said her late husband received as a gift from astronaut Neil Armstrong, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The agent who interrogated Joann Davis, as she stood in a restaurant parking lot, argued that his actions were justified because lunar material from the space program is government property that a private citizen cannot legally possess. But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said Davis description of the events, if accurate, would show that her detention was unreasonably prolonged and unnecessarily degrading.

However, Davis lawsuit could still be derailed by a federal judges ruling last month that dismissed her separate claim against the federal government for false imprisonment.

Davis and her late husband, Robert Davis, worked at North American Rockwell under a National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract. After Robert Davis died in 1986, Joann Davis became sole owner of memorabilia he had received as an engineer on the Apollo project, including a paperweight containing a fragment of moon rock that she said Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, had given her husband in gratitude for his work.

In 2011, Davis encountered financial problems that included medical expenses for what proved to be her sons fatal illness. She decided to sell the paperweight and a second one that is said to contain a small piece of the Apollo 11 heat shield, both of which she said Robert Davis had received from Armstrong. After getting no response from auction houses, she contacted NASA, which dispatched a team of agents headed by Norman Conley to meet her, the court said.

She and her second husband, Paul Cilley, met with Conley at a Dennys restaurant in Lake Elsinore (Riverside County), with other plainclothes agents and sheriffs deputies seated nearby. After Davis placed the paperweights on the table, Conley identified himself as a government agent, and another agent took the moon rock paperweight, the court said. Meanwhile, a sheriffs deputy grabbed Cilley by the neck and bent his arm behind his back.

After reading Davis her rights, the court said, Conley took her to the parking lot for questioning that lasted between 90 minutes and two hours. She said later that she had told the officers she needed to use the restroom but was turned down before the interrogation.

But her version of events was rejected last month in a ruling by U.S. District Judge Consuelo Marshall of Los Angeles, who held a nonjury trial on Davis separate lawsuit against the government.

Marshall said she believed that Conley had offered to let Davis use the restroom, but she turned him down before agreeing to continue answering questions in the parking lot. Davis was released after questioning.

In a ruling that dismissed the suit against the government, Marshall said Davis had given free and voluntary consent to the agents questioning in the parking lot and was not in custody while being questioned. Conley and other agents were entitled to confine her in the lot while they questioned her, Marshall said.

Conleys lawyer, John Rubiner, said Thursday that Marshalls ruling should lead to dismissal of Davis suit against Conley. Davis lawyer, Peter Schlueter, disagreed, saying his client can sue for an abusive interrogation even if she was not in formal custody.

The appeals court, which heard the case before Marshall issued her ruling, said Thursday that Conley had no apparent law enforcement justification for detaining Davis for two hours while she stood wearing urine-soaked pants ... in view of the public.

Rather than informing Davis that her possession of the paperweight was illegal and asking her to turn them over, Conley organized a sting operation involving six armed officers to forcibly seize a Lucite paperweight containing a moon rock the size of a rice grain from an elderly grandmother, Chief Judge Sidney Thomas said in the 3-0 ruling.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
A State panel of scientists is considering a controversial DNA testing policy that would allow police to investigate the relatives of New Yorkers whose DNA closely matches DNA recovered from a crime scene.

The 'familial searching' method got a strong endorsement from the Queens District Attorney last summer, when police failed to find an exact match for DNA recovered from Karina Vetrano, a Queens woman who was murdered while out on a jog in Howard Beach. "This technology has proven effective at generating important DNA investigative leads in cold cases," said Queens DA Richard Brown. "We have an obligation to use every means at our disposal to identify the murderer."

But legal services organizations have countered that a board of scientists is not qualified to approve a method with serious implications for how New York polices low-income communities of color.

According to the familial searching guidelines being considered, police would be able to pull close DNA matches in certain criminal investigations, generating a list of people with prior convictions, including low-level broken windows convictions like trespassing. Police would then have leeway to investigate close relatives of those near matches (son, father, etc.), in hopes of turning up the exact matcha viable suspect in the case.

In other words, the New York Civil Liberties Union has testified, "criminal suspicion will attach to innocent persons merely because of their biological relation to a person whose DNA is in the state's databank."

"You are creating a 'suspect class' of citizens," David Loftist, attorney in charge of post conviction and forensic litigation at the Legal Aid Society, told Gothamist. "If you have a family member that has been convicted of fare beating, his DNA is in the database. Now all of his family members would be subject to searching in perpetuity."

Loftist added that the majority of individuals arrested for broken windows offenses are low income men of color. Also, the state DNA databank is, like the State prison population, disproportionately black and Latino. "This creates a dragnet for the entire community now," he said. "Now all of their relatives are possible suspects. It's a genetic stop and frisk."

Robert Perry, legislative director of the NYCLU, also cautioned that police could have "enormous discretion" in conducting these follow-up investigations. "What exactly do they mean?" he said. "Can a person be taken in for an interrogation merely because they are related to someone with a close match?"



Karina Vetrano (via Facebook).

The DNA subcommittee of the state Commission on Forensic Science unanimously approved a possible familial search policy in March. Proponents of the method, including the NYPD, have cited a 1996 Bureau of Justice Statistics report that close to half of inmates in the United States have a close relative who has been incarcerated (an argument the Legal Aid Society has dismissed as "a twist of logic"). Eleven states currently use familial searching, including California, where investigators have reportedly used the method to ID two murderers and five people charged with sexual assault.

Vetrano's parents are also proponents of the policy, though a suspect has since been arrested in their daughter's case. Philip Vetrano, the victim's father, told reporters Wednesday that he is "hopeful and optimistic that by the anniversary of Karina's death that we will have familial searching."

"The NYPD supports familial DNA searching which will be beneficial in solving homicides as well as rape, robberies and burglaries," a spokesperson for the department told Gothamist via email. According to District Attorney Brown, NYC could "safeguard" against unfair searches by requiring police and DAs to complete detailed applications for each familial searching instance.

Brown has also argued that many police investigations don't lead to any civilian interaction. He compared the process to that of running partial license plates in a crash investigation. "Do they rush out and accuse or arrest every car owner with a potential match?" he said. "Of course not."

Spokespeople for the Brooklyn and Manhattan DA's offices also confirmed that they support the practice.

"The policy as drafted strikes a balance between enhancing public safety without compromising individual protections," said New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services spokeswoman Janine Kava. "Key provisions include providing investigative leads for serious crimes, detail limited circumstances that must be met before a familial search occurs and when those search results can be disclosed to law enforcement, and require training for police and prosecutors on the proper use of familial search results."

New York's familial searching policy is still pending a vote from the full Forensic Science committee, which met Wednesday. During that meeting, members acknowledged that the threshold for launching a familial search might be too low. Any "crime presenting a significant public safety threat" in which "reasonable investigative efforts" have been exhausted is potentially applicable, according to the draft.

The committee said Wednesday that it will consider holding a public hearing on the proposal, but none has been set. Its next meeting is scheduled for June 16th.

"The hearing was carefully orchestrated to limit open debate and a full, informed deliberation on the implications," Perry, of the NYCLU, charged.

"I think familial searching has been thrown under the radar because the wrong people are being asked [to approve it]," Loftist said. "If it is disproportionately impacting poor folks, the dimensions of familial searching need to be discussed with them, and their representatives."
Haifa is on the "front line" in any action in the north but this blog looks at life in the shadow of danger to all of Israel
President Trumps border wall always has been a hare-brained idea. That, however, hasnt deterred the administration from taking the initial steps to get it built. And, now, folly is inching up to reality. Firms in San Antonio and Texas are offering conceptual plans and are likely to be in the final bidding to build this monument to wastefulness.

Congress should not appropriate a dime on this wall, the first portions of which are likely to be built in the Rio Grande Valley to fill some existing gaps, according to a recent Express-News article by Jason Buch. Congressional consideration will happen this month.

Cost, property confiscation, protracted legal battles, topography, environmental damage and wildlife endangerment are among the factors that render this idea hare-brained. But another big reason this idea should be abandoned is that it will not work.

Simply, there is no physical barrier that cant be overcome by going over  as in catapulting drugs  going under, going around and finding different routes as its being built. Or even blowing it up. Even with the beefed up manpower at the border envisioned, there are not enough Border Patrol personnel to monitor every inch of the wall 24/7. Then theres the matter of about 40 percent of undocumented immigrants coming in legally at regular ports of entry and then over-staying. A wall will do nothing to deter them.

And speaking of the Rio Grande Valley, its called that for a reason. The Rio Grande River is there.

So, does this wall  which will be no less than 18-feet tall and no more than 30  get built in the middle of the river, on the U.S. side or does this country simply appropriate Mexican territory and put it south of the river border? U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, according to E&E News and reported on in the Texas Tribune, seemed to suggest it will be on the Mexican side. How does that happen?

But if it is on the U.S. side, does that mean this country cedes the river to Mexico?. This might satisfy some who still hold a grudge over the Mexican-American War, but ceding this land is no way to honor U.S. sovereignty.

It is full speed ahead anyway on this wall. Congress, with its power of the purse, should torpedo it.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is again reshuffling his congressional agenda, saying Congress should first pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act before measures such as an overhaul of the tax code can be considered.

The reversal comes just weeks after Trump said he was abandoning the health-care repeal effort following a nasty split between Republicans on how to proceed. He wanted to pivot immediately to an overhaul of the tax code, but lawmakers and advisers have convinced him that another effort is needed to repeal the health-care law, which was one of his top campaign promises.

Trump explained his new strategy during a Wednesday interview with Fox Business, though he left open the possibility that he would shift gears again.

"Health care is going to happen at some point," Trump said. "Now, if it doesn't happen fast enough, I'll start the taxes. But the tax reform and the tax cuts are better if I can do health care first."

The new approach reflects a harsh political reality: Congressional budget rules make it much easier to pass a broad overhaul of the tax code once the roughly $1 trillion in taxes that are in the Affordable Care Act have already been repealed. So if the health-care law is repealed and replaced, the tax overhaul becomes politically easier.

Because overhauling the tax code is so popular among Republicans, he could lure them into compromising on the health-care package to pave the way for a vote on tax cuts before the 2018 midterm elections.

"I think he senses maybe there's a little bit of a change as people think through the consequences," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who is close to House GOP leaders. "It's too early in the process to kill this, and it will impact the rest of our agenda. I think other members of different points of view are beginning to figure that out."

GOP aides familiar with the health-care negotiations, however, said Trump's remarks did not reflect hopes of an imminent breakthrough.

White House officials - including Vice President Pence and budget director Mick Mulvaney - remain involved in brokering a deal, speaking on several occasions earlier this week with Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. The Trump administration's efforts over the past two weeks have been focused on persuading Freedom Caucus members to support the bill without driving away other House Republicans.

On a Monday conference call, members of the caucus discussed a pair of tweaks to the bill that they concluded could possibly win their support: One would slightly modify a previous proposal to allow states to apply for waivers from Affordable Care Act insurance mandates, making clear that insurers could not price their products based on a person's health but could use other factors not currently allowed under the ACA. Another would allow ACA-compliant plans to be sold alongside plans subject to the less rigorous mandates.

But the aides said it remained unclear whether either proposal would shift the fundamental intraparty conflict: Hard-line conservatives are eager to reverse as many ACA provisions as possible, while others are concerned about potentially undoing protections for people with preexisting medical conditions.

Trump and many GOP lawmakers have repeatedly pledged to protect those with preexisting conditions, and even a partial move toward undoing relevant ACA provisions could have major political consequences.

One aide suggested that the closer-than-expected results of a House special election in Kansas on Tuesday could make it harder for moderate members to accede to Freedom Caucus demands. A Democratic win in a Georgia special election next week - to fill the seat vacated by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price - could potentially be a fatal setback.

But Cole said the best defense against an electoral backlash would be passing major pieces of legislation such as the health-care bill and a tax overhaul.

"I think that realization is spreading out there: that nobody is going to be safe politically," he said. "The best thing is to get something done, because the Democratic base is fired up, and it's going to remain fired up. The only way we can have comparable intensity on our side in an off-year election is actually deliver and do some things."

Before leaving Washington last week, House leaders suggested lawmakers could be called back to Washington if a deal was struck. But the aides said that was highly unlikely, and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced Wednesday he would be leading a congressional delegation to Europe over several days next week - a signal that any action would come after Congress returns to session.

"Member discussions continue, but we have no schedule updates to report at this time," said Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong.

Trump had three major economic priorities that he wanted to push through Congress this year, and all are off to rocky starts. He promised to repeal the health-care law, overhaul the tax code and then assemble a $1 trillion infrastructure package paid for with taxes and private funding. Republicans are split on each of these measures, though, and Trump has repeatedly changed the approach for each.

Michael Steel, a former senior House Republican aide, said Trump's renewed emphasis on health care reflected "the sense that you ought to accomplish the first thing on the list before moving to the second thing on the list - it doesn't have to be done that way, but it's clearly preferable."

On taxes, congressional leaders have said they want to overhaul the tax code to cut corporate and individual tax rates while also eliminating deductions in a way that doesn't lead to an overall loss of revenue. White House officials have suggested they don't think this approach is necessary, saying in recent days that a sharp cut in tax rates wouldn't necessarily need to be offset by the elimination of deductions.

And on infrastructure, the White House is still designing how to pay for the $1 trillion package while also determining whether to package the effort with something else. On Wednesday, D.J. Gribbin, who is coordinating the White House's infrastructure plans, said administration officials were still working out details and that much was in flux.

Pushing back the overhaul of the tax code also illustrates how much work the White House has to do on this complicated effort. Trump and top aides crafted a tax overhaul package during the campaign, but it is being rewritten now, and many details are unclear.

Trump further muddied matters during his interview with Fox Business, when he said he was circumspect about a key feature of the House GOP tax plan. House Republican leaders have proposed creating a "border adjustment tax" that would essentially impose a new tax on imports and create incentives for U.S. companies to export their goods.

White House officials have been all over the place on the border adjustment tax, sometimes appearing to back it and other times suggesting it won't work. Retailers and other businesses have tried hard to kill the idea of a border adjustment tax, arguing it will drive up their costs.

"I haven't really wanted to talk about it," Trump said Wednesday. "I have my own feelings. I don't like the word adjustment, because our country gets taken advantage of, to use a nice term, by every other country in the world."

Instead, Trump said he wanted something that he called an "import tax" or a "reciprocal tax" or a "mirror tax" or a "matching tax."

"When you say reciprocal tax, nobody can get angry," he said. "Even the other countries, if, like - if they're charging you a 50 percent tax, you say, 'OK, whatever you charge, we're charging.' "

But Trump offered a big caveat: "I'm not saying that's what I'm doing."
LONDON  Russian authorities ignored warnings of an impending terrorist attack and then violated European human rights law when they stormed a school seized by Chechen militants in September 2004, resulting in the deaths of more than 330 hostages, a court ruled Thursday.

The ruling, by the European Court of Human Rights in a case brought by relatives of the victims, amounted to a stinging critique of how President Vladimir Putins government handled the crisis.

The court found that the authorities had received sufficiently specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution, but that they had not done enough to disrupt the plot, prevent the attackers from traveling on the day of the attack, protect the school or notify the public of the threat.

The Kremlin immediately rejected the findings.

Its impossible for us, a country that has been repeatedly attacked by terrorists, to agree with such wording, said the governments top spokesman, Dmitri Peskov.

The school siege, in the town of Beslan in North Ossetia, a part of the North Caucasus region in Russia, began around 9 a.m. Sept. 1, 2004  the first day of school  when more than 30 militants stormed School No. 1, taking more than 1,100 hostages, including more than 770 children.

The courts ruling Thursday offered a vivid account of what quickly became a defining trauma in Russias modern history.

The militants turned the school into an improvised stronghold and mined the gymnasium, the court found. They executed a number of hostages, refused to accept any offers aimed at alleviating the hostages situation and, starting from 2 September, denied even drinking water to their victims.

The Beslan siege stretched across three days. It ended around 1 p.m. Sept. 3, when two powerful explosions were set off in the gymnasium, blasting a hole in the wall through which several hostages tried to escape. Militants fired on them before exchanging gunfire with security forces, who were then ordered to storm the building.

The militants rounded up the surviving hostages, about 300 people, and forced them to go to other parts of the school, while dead, wounded and traumatized hostages stayed in the gymnasium.

Flames spread, and the roof collapsed around 3:30 p.m.

In all, more than 330 people were killed  including 12 members of the security forces  and hundreds of others were wounded. One militant was captured, and the rest were killed.

The security forces were armed with tanks, rockets, grenade launchers, flamethrowers and other weapons. The court found that the use of such lethal force contributed to the casualties among the hostages and violated the right to life by failing to restrict lethal force to what was absolutely necessary.

The court ordered Russia to pay about $3.14 million in damages and about $93,000 in legal costs.

The Justice Ministry said it would appeal.

Sewell Chan is a New York Times writer.
BEIRUT  A misdirected air strike by the U.S.-led coalition this week killed 18 allied fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the U.S. military said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by their partner forces, the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, for the strike on Tuesday that was intended to target Islamic State militants south of their Tabqa stronghold, near the extremists de facto capital, Raqqa. The strike hit a Syrian Democratic Forces position instead.

Several nations have lent their air power to the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, and it wasnt clear which air force was behind the errant strike.

The Syrian Democratic Forces acknowledged the strike, saying a number of its fighters were killed and wounded. On Thursday, the group held funerals for 17 of its fighters in the border town of Tal al-Abyad, the Syrian Democratic Forces-linked Hawar news agency said, though it did not say whether they were killed in the misdirected strike.

An activist-run group, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said three days of mourning had been declared for the town. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in Britain said 25 Syrian Democratic Forces fighters were killed in the last two days of battle.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, meanwhile, announced the start of a new phase of its campaign to retake Raqqa. The Kurdish fighters, with U.S.-led air and ground support, have surrounded Tabqa, about 25 miles southwest of the city and are working to clear Islamic State militants out of Jalab Valley, north of Raqqa.

The Syrian Democratic Forces says it wants to isolate Raqqa before attacking it. Its closest position is less than 5 five miles northeast of the city. But the countryside south of Raqqa is still under Islamic State control.

Meanwhile, preparations were under way for the planned evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from two pro-government Shiite villages in northern Syria, Foua and Kfarya, and the rebel-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani near Damascus.

Dozens of buses entered the areas Wednesday, but by late Thursday people had not boarded them, according to opposition activists in the rebel-held towns.

If the evacuations go through, they would be the first in number of rounds stretching over two months to evacuate some 30,000 Syrians from besieged areas, in a deal struck by rebels and the government. It is unclear whether they will ever be able to return to their homes.

Civilians are being given the option to stay, but activists and doctors said its too dangerous for medical workers to do so.

Philip Issa and Bassem Mroue are Associated Press writers.
1 Transgender rights: Changing the name or gender on a government-issued document like a drivers license has long included a frightening step for transgender people in almost two dozen European countries: mandatory sterilization. But those days may be coming to an end. The European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling last week in favor of three transgender people in France who had been barred from changing the names and genders on their birth certificates because they had not been sterilized. In so doing, activists said, the court set a new legal standard that calls for changes to laws in 22 countries under its jurisdiction. The European Court of Human Rights, in the French city of Strasbourg, ruled that the sterilization requirement was a violation of Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2 Corruption probe: Brazils Supreme Court said in Sao Paulo late Tuesday that it had opened probes into around 100 top politicians as part of the largest corruption scandal in Brazils history. The investigation has already unveiled billions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes paid to politicians by Brazilian companies, including the construction giant Odebrecht. It now threatens to derail President Michel Temers administration and bring Congress to a standstill. The numbers in Tuesdays decision were staggering: Investigations have been opened into 24 senators  one of whom is a former president of Brazil  39 congressional deputies, eight Cabinet ministers and three governors. Brazils highest court also asked lower courts to decide whether to proceed with investigations of 200 other politicians  including three former presidents. The evidence in the cases comes from plea-bargain testimony by current and former Odebrecht employees.
Thomas Hornall/Associated Press

United Nations experts demanded on Thursday that Chechnya halt the abduction, detention, beating and killing of gay and bisexual men, after weeks of reports about violent repression there.

These are acts of persecution and violence on an unprecedented scale in the region, and constitute serious violations of the obligations of the Russian Federation under international human rights law, the panel of five experts, which advises the U.N. Human Rights Council, said in a statement.
In the South, everything is a Coke. Around the middle of the country, its all pop. To most everyone else, its soda. Lately, in Santa Fe, were hearing about sugar-sweetened beverages. It really rolls off the tongue.

Early voting begins today, April 12, in a May 2 special election for a single question: To tax or not to tax this three-word subset of our consumptive culture?

Are you surprised that the city is having an election in an odd year? Special, indeed. Backers just couldn't wait until next spring during the regular city election; their haste will cost you, dear voter, an estimated $85,000 or so.

But fret not. The more than $7 million projected to pour into the city's coffers each year like a two-liter godsend on a hot day is, after all, going to the children.

Well, maybe not straight to the children. Rather, the city aims to spread the cash among various providers of pre-K, a sort of hybrid between childcare and nursery school. The plan, they say, will increase the number of pre-K slots for kids, improve the quality of experience and make it more affordable for parents.

On the surface, it's not hard to agree that too much sugar is bad and that more learning for kids is good. Yet below the surface of this proposal, there's a lot bubbling away.

Let this not be misunderstood: We're as annoyed as anyone about a national group dumping money into a local decision. Ads funded by the American Beverage Association have said things that just are not truelike a recent mailer that said the city had hiked electricity rates. (The city does not control those rates.)

We also firmly believe that the communityspecifically the state and the school boardhave an obligation to do better for our children. We are proud that a group of Santa Feans that includes business owners and retired economists wants the city to take on big problems.

Yet, even with some new faces at the pro-tax Pre-K for Santa Fe, it's still run by the progressive cabal that pulls the strings here. The same consultant behind the political action committee that spent big in the last mayoral election is head of this PAC. That's a turnoff.

And we join others who are suspicious of the mayor's intentions. Javier Gonzales is hedging about his next political step. Rather than declaring his candidacy for another term as mayor in the face of a bold pronouncement from Councilor Ron Trujillo that he'll seek the post in next year's election, Gonzales has hinted that he may run for governor in the June 2018 Democratic primary. We can't help but think the outcome of this election will help him decide.

The last time Santa Fe held a special election for a single issue, the question of a real-estate transfer tax on high-end homes that would have raised money for affordable housing, voters told City Hall "no," and the mayor apparently didn't favor that effort. In fact, Gonzales didn't vote at all. He said in an interview last week that he couldn't remember whether he voted or not, and City Hall spokesman Matt Ross later told SFR that the mayor "missed" that election in 2009.

The tax will hike the price of a product that's not essential to survival, Gonzales argues. In fact, it's a product that's proven to be harmful. We concede that point. Plus, the soda machine company recently took away the vending machine at SFR because we did not empty it frequently enough. (We drink coffee.)

However, even if you remove the issue's political face, this proposal is a "no" for us because it ultimately requires the city to take on a whole new bureaucracy, not just hiring a third-party contractor to collect the tax from distributors, but also overseeing who gets the money and monitoring outcomes.

If City Hall is really thirsty for a pre-K plan, it's worth refining, simplifying and taking another swig with a methodical precision, community buy-in, and fewer questions about political posturing. Come back with a lower tax during a regular election, and partner with public agencies that already specialize in education. It's for the children, after all.



Santa Fe Reporter
The day the art school died

Students, faculty and staff at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design learned yesterday that the school will shutter in May 2018. The for-profit university plans to "teach out" about 170 students who can graduate by then, but is encouraging everyone else to transfer. Declining enrollment is to blame, the school says. Faculty will be phased out, too. Graduation next year seems like it might be pretty sad.

Supreme Court clarifies when to put people behind bars before trial

After district attorneys across the state asked the Supreme Court to clarify procedure for what's called a no-bond hold before trial, the court said judges have to lean on their experience and the facts of the case.

said Chief Justice Charles Daniels. The court said prosecutors do not always have to call witnesses if they want the court to keep someone in jail before they're found guilty. It plans to follow up with a written opinion later this year.

Juvenile justice system set for potential overhaul

The state Supreme Court and the Children, Youth and Families Department plan to

that will study New Mexico's juvenile justice system. The study will focus on ways to improve the system and possible alternatives to traditional stays in juvenile detention.

Higher Ed secretary didn't know about veto

You might think the woman the governor placed in charge of the state's universities would have gotten a heads-up from Susana Martinez before the governor vetoed the higher education budget. You'd be wrong. Secretary Barbara Damron says she got news of the veto just a few hours before it was announced and wasn't consulted. "We've looked at how we can do more with less, and we are doing more with less in many areas. But now we're getting to dangerous territory," she told business leaders yesterday.

Electoral imbalance

Santa Fe's City Council District 3 is booming in terms of population. But when it comes to registered voters, the Southside is dwarfed by the north and east districts. That means the part of town most likely to be impacted by both a sugary drink tax and by more pre-K seats will likely have the least say in whether or not the tax passes.



Boom goes the city's Fourth of July celebration

Councilors learned last night that the Boys and Girls Club has pulled out of sponsoring Santa Fe's annual July 4 fireworks. The nonprofit produced the show with city-bought fireworks and received parking revenue in return. The city plans to pursue a new sponsor and won't yet say if the pyrotechnic display could be canceled.



Homewise gets down payment grant

In happier nonprofit news, Santa Fe's Homewise landed a grant worth several million dollars that it plans to use to help home buyers with a $10,500 down payment. The program will be for home buyers statewide.



The sweet taste of chile victory

Colorado has conceded defeat in the race to become the first state to have a license plate dedicated to chile. All is right again with the chile world.



Thanks for reading! The Word has learned that Puerto Rico is an acceptable destination for public display of Crocs.



Subscribe to the Morning Word at sfreporter.com/signup.

Santa Fe Reporter
As news of Santa Fe University of Arts and Designs upcoming closure rocks the campus on St. Michaels Drive, students left in lurch are frustrated with education company Laureate.I am quite infuriated at the lack of communication and the lack of follow-up questions, film school junior Raven Two Feathers says. Its been stressful trying to juggle this with classes and finals. The school, which had already stalled enrollment last month, announced Wednesday that it would close in May 2018. With final exams mere weeks away, sophomore film student Paris Mancini echoes these concerns. Theyve been giving the students and faculty the runaround, she says. I chose specifically a very small schoolI know what it feels like in an extremely competitive place where teachers dont care too much about teaching or students; we all thought if we signed up for a four-year college, wed finish.Mancini and Two Feathers both say they arent thrilled at the concept or transferring to other institutions, either, but theyre also American students with at least some decent options. Though SFUAD officials have announced theyve worked out formal transfer arrangements with other schools in the area, for Syrian student Rand Hadid, a freshman who attends the university on a full scholarship, the news is bleak.They just literally ruined my future, she says. If my scholarship is not transferred, Im going to lose my visa. I already lost my residency where I live in the Middle East, and when I ask about scholarships theyre like, We dont know, your scholarship is just for this school. Hadid says she delayed plans to return to the Middle East while waiting for official word from the school. Now that the closure is certain, she doesnt know what to do next. If my visa right now gets cancelled, I dont think Im going to get another visa with Trump, she tells SFR. What does sorry give me? Where do I go? This has been a huge slap to my face. Min Kim, a student from South Korea, also feels abandoned by the school. I have to leave America immediately, he says. I dont like it, but I dont really have a choice. I dont really like the fact that I might have to change my degree.Junior David Church will still earn his film degree, but relates his sympathies to students who wont be able to complete their degrees by next May. Although Ill be graduating next year, I feel so sorry for everyone who is already here who wont be graduating, Church says. Wherever everyone ends up, students and staff included, I can only wish them the best of luck.Two Feathers has founded a Facebook group, Saving SFUAD, for students to exchange ideas. Mancini says that administration-run meetings have thus far taken place with select students. Both agree that actual, useful information has trickled out too slowly and with poor timing. For now, students seem to have adopted a holding pattern while they work out next steps. The school has arranged transfer exchanges with UNM, Columbia College in Hollywood and Chicago, and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver. Currently, 682 students are enrolled at SFUAD with roughly 100 graduating this year. 170 students are identified as being at the 36-hour threshold that would allow them to graduate next spring. The university says thats not a hard-and-fast limit and that theyll work with students who are close to see if they can graduate.

Santa Fe Reporter
Simon Upton, the former National Party environment minister and head of the OECD's Environment Directorate, will return to New Zealand to replace Jan Wright as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Parliament passed a motion agreeing to Upton's appointment with all parties agreeing, bar New Zealand First.

The party's deputy leader, Ron Mark, described Upton as a "retread" whose tenure could become a government formation issue after the election.

"There is no way we will accept this appointment standing when in government," Mark said. Wright's 10-year tenure expires in October, weeks after the Sept. 16 election, after which coalition talks are inevitable and, on current polling, will inevitably involve NZ First as a government support partner.

In a statement from Paris, where has been based since leaving Parliament in 2001 after 19 years, Upton said he was "acutely conscious that the office requires a scrupulously independent treatment of environmental issues and must be able to command the confidence of the House and the wider public.

Politicians confront difficult choices and trade-offs. While it is not the job of the Commissioner to campaign for particular policy options, he or she can definitely assist the decision-making and legislative process by ensuring that it is well-informed."

The commissioner is an Officer of Parliament, meaning they report to no minister and have an independent watchdog role.

Wright's tenure has seen a string of reports on a wide variety of topics, including climate change, land use, agricultural intensification, the use of 1080 to restore native bird populations and the safety of fracking that have established a track record of independence and impartiality.

Mark said that could not be expected from Upton, whom he disparaged as "the Nick Smith of his day", mocking his decision to live in France and status as "a Rhodes Scholar with degrees in English literature, music, law and a masters in political philosophy" who had once been president of the Young Nationals organisation.

This role should remain politically independent, but that has been ignored by the government and the Labour and Green Parties," said Mark.

Meanwhile, ACT leader David Seymour criticised all other political parties for supporting NZ First leader Winston Peter's election to Parliament's intelligence committee, where sensitive information of national significance is shared with Opposition parties.

Peters was "not collegial enough to handle the sensitivities of this committee" and lacks the diligence for this role," Seymour in a statement, quoting Simon Upton saying: "There was something genuinely sad about watching him arrive at Cabinet meetings with his papers unread, still tightly secured by their green ribbon."

(BusinessDesk)

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LONDON: A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will increase bilateral trade by 26 pct 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 pct 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 pct 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.

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Staff at the Bimberi youth detention centre are approaching law firms to discuss alleged human rights violations inside the facility.

It is understood some staff have approached a number of firms directly because they do not feel comfortable raising issues with management.

The Bimberi Youth Detention Centre. Credit:Karleen Minney

"I have contacted several firms and encouraged them to look into a law suit for children to sue the ACT for human rights violations," one source told The Canberra Times.

Sources said they were particularly concerned about the use of "squat and cough" searches on children as young as 10 years old and the practice of filming strip searches.
Middle Eastern carriers seized on the social media storm surrounding the forced removal of a passenger from a United Airlines flight to mock one of the arch-critics of their breakneck expansion.

Dubai-based Emirates lampooned United's motto on its Twitter account, urging passengers to "fly the friendly skies with a real airline", while Qatar Airways tweeted an image of its own app, which it said "doesn't support drag and drop".

Royal Jordanian Airlines joked that it's also against dragging in an anti-smoking advertisement, while Turkish Airlines pointed out that it last week added an extra passenger to one of its flights after a baby was born on board.

While most airlines steered clear of commenting on the United debacle, the US giant's embarrassment over the removal of the man to make way for one of its employees was too good an opportunity to miss for Mid-east operators subject to years of gibes over the part played by state funding in their success story.
Insurance companies are exploiting an exemption to unfair contract rules and hiding behind complex product disclosure statements, consumer advocates say.

The Consumer Action Law Centre told a senate inquiry into Australia's general insurance industry that there is currently no legal framework effectively regulating general insurance products, and customers were suffering the consequences.

"Insurance policies are riddled with terms which, on their face, could be unlawful if unfair contract terms laws applied to insurance," Gerard Brody, chief executive of CALC said.

"Insurers enjoy an exemption from the unfair contract terms regime that applies to virtually every other business operating in consumer markets. And it is to the detriment of their customers."
Four months after paying $30 million for new headquarters on Elizabeth Street, the controversial Victorian arm of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is selling its control centre at Swanston Street, Carlton.

The modern 2266-square-metre building is, sources say, under-utilising the 1388 square metre site opposite the former CUB complex, where a 90-level apartment building has been proposed.

68 Drummond Street, Carlton. Credit:Urban Angles

Marketing agency CBRE is targeting developers, specifically for student accommodation  the site being close to campuses for several major universities. The 500 Swanston Street asset, with three street frontages, is expected to sell for about $20 million, sources say.

Paul Farrelly of Sutherland Farrelly is marketing it with CBRE's Josh Rutman, Kiran Pillai and Mark Wizel.
Hundreds of workers from Marcs and David Lawrence stores will still lose their jobs in the next few days despite Myer's last-minute rescue of the high profile brands.

Myer announced on Thursday it would acquire the failed fashion brands which went into administration in February.

The move surprised many retail insiders, who believed the chain was committed to a "wanted brands" strategy rather than investing in private label lines.

Even after the Myer deal some 130 jobs will still go, with the shut down of 36 stand alone stores in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra leaving just three David Lawrence stores and nine Marcs outlets trading in Sydney and Melbourne.
One of Australia's largest container companies, SCF Group, will be restructured after its main backer appointed receivers to the parent companies.

British investment giant Intermediate Capital Group appointed receivers from McGrath Nicol to Popeye Holdco and Popeye Bidco, the entities that own SCF Group.

SCF Group is one of Australia's largest shipping container companies. Credit:SeongJoon Cho

ICG bought into SCF in 2012 after picking up the stake owned by private equity group Archer Capital.

The operating entity SCF Group itself has not been placed into receivership.
One third of mortgage owners have less than a month's buffer against financial instability, the Reserve Bank has warned, in a review highlighting increased risks in the heated Sydney and Melbourne property markets.

The RBA's half-yearly financial stability review, released on Thursday, also took aim at the noticeable rise in investor credit, stating a decline could trigger a sharp downturn in the market.

"The concern is that investors are likely to contribute to the amplification of the cycles in borrowing and housing prices, generating additional risks to the future health of the economy," the RBA said.

"Periods of rapidly rising prices can create the expectation of further price rises, drawing more households into the market, increasing the willingness to pay more for a given property, and leading to an overall increase in household indebtedness."
A few years ago I had cause to caution a member of staff over bullying behaviour towards a colleague. Her first and immediate response was to contact professional standards and make a complaint about me; she alleged that I was bullying her. The complaint against me was dealt with and dismissed and in the fullness of time the employee left our staff.

That employee's tactic provides some insight into the way power dynamics can play out in our community. Over the past few weeks we have seen the Marriage Equality debate become the latest arena in which this power play is occurring.

Peter Catt: Christians are not the victims in the marriage equality debate. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Until the time of Jesus, most people believed that victims were deserving of their fate. Illness was understood to be a punishment and falling under the power of another a sign of faithlessness. This outdated way of dealing with victims is still used by some today when they talk of or to victims.

Victims of rape are told that they 'asked for it', domestic violence victims can be persuaded that they were the cause of their partner's outburst, those who are subjected to school yard bullying can be lead to believe that they attracted the attention of their oppressors, and the suffering we inflict on the people who are seeking asylum, now detained on Nauru and Manus, is justified using similar logic.
In Australia, swearing is ubiquitous. Yet each year, thousands of Australians incur fines or criminal convictions for swearing. The use of offensive, indecent or obscene language in public is punishable in all Australian states and territories. Police typically punish people for saying the words 'f---' and/or 'c---' in their presence.

So should uttering the f-word in public be a crime? And what about the c-word?

Flume's four songs in the Triple J Hottest 100 contained 16 expletives. Credit:Cybele Malinowski

Between July 2015 and June 2016, NSW police issued more than 1836 on-the-spot fines (known as Criminal Infringement Notices) for using offensive language, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

In that year, a further 1,67 adults and 145 children appeared before a NSW court charged with using offensive language. Indigenous Australians represented 17 per cent of these adults, and 26 per cent of these children (despite comprising only 3 per cent of the NSW population).

It is up to the individual police officer (when issuing an infringement notice) or magistrate (when hearing an offensive language charge) to determine community standards on offensive language. In doing so, decision-makers draw on their common sense and everyday experience. Unsurprisingly, judicial opinions differ when assessing community standards .

In 2007, for instance, a Western Australian Supreme Court judge said that language which challenges police authority is likely to be criminally offensive. More recently, magistrates have held that the word prick used to describe a police officer, and the expression f--- Fred Nile exclaimed at an anti-marriage equality rally, were not criminally offensive.
John Stocker was born on June 8, 1929, on the Isle of Wight. His mother was Nora Witt, a cleaner at a guesthouse run by his father, Frank Trigle, then 49 years old and already married. Nora was soon left a 19-year-old single mother struggling to support her son.

After four years she married sailor Harry Muncey and John did not fit into her new family. He was adopted by a 47-year-old war widow, Florence Stocker from Portsmouth, and that is the name he kept for the rest of his life. Sadly, only 16 months later, Mrs Stocker died of kidney failure.

John Stocker, English child migrant who became a professor of English

John was then cared for by Florence's mother, Mrs Adams, who taught him how to read and gave him his lifelong interest in books.

He had three older adoptive sisters and the middle one, Dulcie, put John into the National Children's Home and signed papers for him to become a child migrant to Australia  despite the opposition of the eldest sister. In 1937, John became a member of the first party of emigrants to the Lady Northcote Farm School at Glenmore, outside Bacchus Marsh.
As a general rule, it's probably wise to ignore what Donald Trump tweets. The more he's firing off missives about Snoop Dogg or The Celebrity Apprentice, the more likely it is he's doing something actually significant offline. Like, say, trying to abolish the Education Department or gut the Environmental Protection Agency. But I couldn't help break that rule this week when he indicated he'd be prepared to attack North Korea. Maybe. I mean, who really knows? Anyway, here's the tweet: "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"

It's the ending that struck me; the patriotic flourish more typically beloved of sporting crowds and Homer Simpson. I get that it's just an affectation on a social media post. But I also thought it a telling insight into Trump foreign policy brand; one that might help us understand the whiplash we've experienced this past week, beginning with his stunning reversal on intervening in Syria.

Illustration: Dionne Gain

By now you've heard of his repeated statements chastising former president Barack Obama for seeking approval to attack Syria for its use of chemical weapons against its own people in 2013. You've probably also noted his frequent attempts to describe himself as an opponent of the Iraq war from the very beginning. The fact that he was on the public record having supported the war previously is clearly a problem here, but it also underscores just how determined Trump has been to strike a non-interventionist pose ever since his tilt at the presidency.

Trump is famously unpredictable, but on this he's been remarkably consistent. Bomb IS  maybe even with nuclear weapons  but that's it. That's why, when his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said Bashar al-Assad's future was a matter for the Syrian people (that is, that America had little interest in seeing him leave power), it was so believable. America First. Bashar who?
The most intriguing story on Macquarie Street in recent weeks has been that of the senior government figure allegedly caught in a compromising position in one of Sydney's best known parks.

It's all very NSW politics. Salacious details have travelled like wildfire around media and political circles.

Media organisations have made enquiries that have come to nothing, strongly indicating it is wholly a fabrication.

Yet it persists  propelled by some political operatives talking to journalists  with the attendant damage to the reputation of the person targeted.
This new documentary series about the work of the volunteers aboard one of Mercy Ships' floating hospitals has an immediate emotional impact. From the moment The Africa Mercy docks in Benin the scale of the suffering it's there to alleviate is almost overwhelming. It's most visible in the people suffering from enormous, disfiguring head and neck tumours that would have been removed at much earlier stages in more developed countries. The desperation of the crowd outside the screening centre is such that police are needed to control it. We soon see that the screening teams have one of the hardest jobs  they have to decide who gets a consultation with a surgeon, who goes home heartbroken and who gets referred to the ship's palliative-care team. But this first episode is as uplifting as it is compelling, with some very difficult surgery giving children and adults new chances at life. Brad Newsome

Action Movies (pay TV), 8.30pm

In the wake of the disastrous Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder's noble miss adapting what to many is the Citizen Kane of comic books no longer appears so heinous. A director of particularly American design in that he adored sensation and technology and combined the two to approximate history, conflict and the will to survive, Snyder made "this is Sparta!" a catch-cry with 300. His taste for slow-motion visuals continued with this complex tale, set in an alternate history where caped crime fighters  or vigilantes  have flourished and then been banned. Snyder provides moments of wonder, particularly with the world of Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup), the one true superhero in the story, but the flashbacks confuse the narrative instead of clarifying it and the melancholic sense of time having turned on the former vigilantes is overwhelmed by the action scenes and the misreading of nostalgia. Craig Mathieson

Michael Mosley's Secrets of your Food

ABC, 8.30pm

Medical journo Michael Mosley and botanist James Wong, who both have a fair whack of TV credits, attempt to desconstruct the chemistry of food, why we eat what we eat and how certain foods have particular effects. For example, strawberries are the fruit equivalent of con-artists: they're not really sweet, they just pretend to be. Their true nature is actually quite acidic, a historical device used as a deterrent to being eaten before their seeds are ready to propagate. The fraudsters! It's an interesting show if science captures your interest. There are lots of interesting foods and exotic locations, but the overall premise of the show is a risky one as breaking something entirely pleasurable down into dry explanations about "taste molecules", "receptors" and chemical make-ups isn't necessarily the most thrilling perspective. Good food and flavours are there to be enjoyed, not dissected in a science lab. But it's good to see Mosley, a very sensible Brit, being the only person wearing safety goggles at Spain's messy tomato food fight festival La Tomatina. Sarah Thomas
"Bat poo crazy". "Talking BS". "Doing what ISIS wants".

The Turnbull government has taken its gloves off in the fight against Pauline Hanson, with MPs escalating their attacks on the Queensland senator and her party in the wake of the West Australian election.

When the dust from last year's double dissolution settled, revealing four One Nation senators and a sense public sentiment had shifted in their favour, a somewhat stunned Coalition abandoned attacks against the outlier party whose Senate votes it courted, in favour of olive branches and a search for common ground.

"It is not a single issue party or a single personality party," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in February, less a year after declaring Senator Hanson was "not a welcome presence on the Australian political scene".
Australia has raised concerns with the Kremlin over reports men had been rounded up, tortured and killed as part of an anti-gay crackdown in the semi-autonomous Russian province of Chechnya.

Human Rights Watch says a "brutal campaign" has been waged against LGBTI people in Chechnya in recent weeks, with men severely beaten, "forcibly disappeared" and allegedly murdered on suspicion of being gay.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Media she was concerned about the reports and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had sought assurances from Moscow that no Australians were involved.

"The Australian government is concerned at reports of mass arrests of individuals in the Republic of Chechnya in the Russian Federation due to their perceived or actual sexual orientation," she said.
The editor of Vogue Arabia has reportedly been fired after overseeing just two issues.

Saudi princess and fashion buyer Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz was selected as the first editor of Vogue Arabia in July last year.

Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz will no longer edit Vogue Arabia. Credit:Getty

In a statement to Business of Fashion, Princess Deena, who operates a chain of boutiques in Saudi Arabia, said she was sacked after a conflict with Vogue publisher Conde Nast International over adhering to the "values" of the magazine's readership.

"I refused to compromise when I felt the publisher's approach conflicted with the values which underpin our readers and the role of the editor-in-chief in meeting those values in a truly authentic way," she said.
About 20 million people  the equivalent of nearly the entire population of Australia  is at risk of death in Africa right now as famine ravages Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. It is a frightening story that needs to be told.

"I believe we can make a difference covering stories like this, and it makes a statement about what The Sydney Morning Herald stands for."

Sending our journalists and photographers into world trouble-spots is a big responsibility. But when senior reporter Matt Wade requested approval to go to the Horn of Africa region to uncover the unfolding humanitarian crisis there, he said something that made the decision easy.

What Matt produced was a stunning piece of journalism. Written from Somalia and presented in this beautiful way by our creative teams in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as delivered with an elegance in Saturday's newspaper, the story had the impact it deserved.

I asked Matt to reflect on his trip, undertaken with the Red Cross, and give you an understanding of what such assignments are like on a personal level. Here's what he wrote:

"Somalia is one of four African regions with a food emergency. None of these crises received the attention they deserve. They are difficult places to report on  poor security meant we always travelled with an armed escort.

"In a bid to illustrate the scale of the need I asked many of families that I met to show me the food they had in their houses. I was moved by what I found. When I put that question to Kawsar Muhumed, a 25-year-old mother of three, she pointed to a tatty white sack on the floor of her gloomy dome-shaped humpy and asked me to open it. Inside was half-a-cup of rice. That, and two handfuls of flour, was all she had left. Kawsar told me she and her family were relying on scraps donated by her neighbours to survive.

"Her youngest daughter, nine month-old Moraw, was severely malnourished and only half the normal weight for a child her age. Many mothers were eating little so they can give what they have to their children. Another young mother told me she is only having a meal about once a week.
Cracks and corrosion have been found in the engine of a Regional Express plane that was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its propellers flew off in mid-flight above south-west Sydney several weeks ago.

In a preliminary report released on Thursday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said a fatigue fracture had started within the so-called mounting flange of the propeller's gear box, before spreading to a shaft section.

The Saab 340, carrying 16 passengers and three crew, was forced to make an emergency landing at Sydney Airport on March 17.

The propeller narrowly missed the wing and tail and was later found in bushland in south-west Sydney.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller strongly condemned the views shared in the video. Credit:Steven Siewert "At a time when police are determined to break the cycle of domestic violence, it's disturbing to think there are people who will condone it," he told Fairfax Media on Thursday. "Men need to take responsibility and not receive encouragement to behave violently." The 30-minute video aimed to discuss a contentious verse from the Koran that says: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous woman are Qanitat, and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard. As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, and beat them, but if they return to obedience, do not seek a means against them." Keysar Trad drew widespread condemnation when he tried to explain the same verse to Andrew Bolt. Credit:Brendan Esposito Ms Latifi said that husbands should exercise their three options in order.

First, he should advise the disobedient wife of the rule of Allah. If that doesn't work, he should refuse to share the bed with her. If that doesn't work he is permitted to hit her. Citing two scholars, she said the strike should not cause pain and should be done with an item like a sivaak (a small stick used for cleaning) or a coiled scarf or folded handkerchief. "It is merely a symbolic act," she said. "What a beautiful blessing from Allah, that he said not to take all the steps at one time. It is one after the other." She said examples of disobedience are acts considered a sin rather than something like forgetting to cook dinner.

Ms Allouche said that Allah gave men certain qualities that best placed them to be the leader of the family unit. Therefore, wives were obliged to be obedient to their husband. Among the qualities given to men were slow reaction time, physical strength and the "ability to focus on one matter at one time in a deeper way", Ms Latifi said. Among the qualities given to women were multi-tasking. "Allah assigned this role to the man as he created him with those qualities and greater potential to fulfil this role and he assigned... a differing role to the women according to her characteristics," Ms Latifi said. She said the man's job of "maintaining the marriage" should be seen more as an obligation than a superior status.

"It is an obligation for which he will be held accountable on the day of judgment." If a husband is rebellious to the wife, she can respond by asking a family member to arbitrate or by separating from him, they said. Earlier this year, Muslim community leader Keysar Trad caused widespread outrage when he attempted to explain the same verse on Andrew Bolt's television program. He said that hitting a wife was a "last resort" after trying everything else, such as counselling or buying chocolates. He later apologised for his "clumsy" explanation and condemned all violence against women.

He said the verse must be read alongside other relevant verses such as one that encourages partners to "live amicably (with love and compassion) or separate beautifully". The Grand Mufti and other Muslim leaders have previously released a video explaining the prohibition of domestic violence in Islam. On Thursday, White Ribbon Australia chief executive Libby Davies said the video was abhorrent and "not in keeping with the fundamental right of every woman to live free from violence and abuse". "The use of violence is about power and control and positions women as objects and not as equals," she said. "It is an abuse of their fundamental right to be treated with equality and respect."
Ron Medich leaving King Street Court on April 13. Credit:Christopher Pearce The NSW Supreme Court heard that Mr Medich was enraged over a string of lawsuits in which he and Mr McGurk were embroiled. Accusations of fraud flew back and forth with each claiming the other owed him millions of dollars. The pair were feuding over soured property deals, a loan company and mortgages linked to a house in Point Piper. Slain property developer Michael McGurk. According to Gattellari, by early 2009, Mr Medich had had enough.

After a series of losses in court, Mr Medich complained bitterly to Gattellari that Mr McGurk was making "a fool of me, the laughing stock of the eastern suburbs". Lucky Gattellari was the key Crown witness against Ron Medich. Credit:Daniel Munoz "I want it done," Mr Medich allegedly told Gattellari. Gattellari, a former professional lightweight boxer and one-time Qantas steward, told the court he hoped Mr Medich's desire for the ultimate revenge would blow over. But Mr Medich allegedly continued to badger him about whether he had found a prospective hitman. Gattellari's lifestyle, which kicked off each morning with a cognac and cigar, was funded by Mr Medich's astonishing largesse. Not only did Mr Medich fund their daily boozy lunches, visits to brothels and overseas jaunts, Mr Medich also poured $16 million into Gattellari's failing electrical companies.

With his younger brother Roy, Mr Medich had made his fortune developing industrial sites in Liverpool. In 2008, the brothers fell out and, after selling their interest in Leichhardt's Norton Street Plaza for $112 million, Roy and Ron went their own ways. Around the eastern suburbs, Mr Medich had the unfortunate nickname "Cottee's" after the Thick'n'Rich ice-cream topping. The portrait painted of Mr Medich's business acumen throughout the trial was not a pretty one. He squandered millions of dollars on questionable business deals, with dubious partners and without any documentation. He invested in an Aboriginal funeral business (which was shut down by the corporate regulator), a failed property development with an Aboriginal land council (which was referred to ICAC) and had offered a $25 million loan facility to a pay-day lending company. On top of that, there were the millions of dollars he had invested in Mr McGurk's property deals, the $16 million in Gattellari's companies as well as a host of unsecured and undocumented personal loans to associates and hangers-on.

The cycle of Mr Medich's business failures meant that whoever became his new "best friend" was asked to try to recoup Mr Medich's investments, usually by way of menace, according to the evidence. Gattellari's predecessor was the Scottish-born Mr McGurk who was dispatched to Hawaii by Mr Medich to threaten Paul Mathieson, the founder of Amazing Loans, the court heard. In November 2008, Mr McGurk firebombed the home of Adam and Sally-Anne Tilley in Point Piper. The waterfront house in Wolseley Road had been owned briefly by Mr Medich and his then-wife Odetta. The Medichs had found a superior residence up the road so they lent the Tilleys the money to buy their redundant mansion. However, the Tilleys fell behind with the payments so Mr Medich handed this problem to Mr McGurk to fix.

When legal action against the Tilleys failed, Mr McGurk went to plan B, firebombing their house. Mr Medich posted his $100,000 bail when Mr McGurk was charged with arson in January 2009. The charges were dropped not long before Mr McGurk was murdered. But within weeks Mr Medich had withdrawn the bail surety and the duo were now at war. This meant the vacant position of consigliere to Mr Medich was free for Gattellari to fill. Keen to keep his benefactor happy, Gattellari said he recruited brothers Haissam and Bassam Safetli to murder Mr McGurk. The brothers, who were doing odd jobs for Gattellari's electrical company, set the price for murder at $300,000 plus expenses.

"F---, that's a lot of money," Mr Medich complained, according to Gattellari. After initially baulking at the cost, Mr Medich eventually forked out between $500,000 and $600,000 for the murder of Mr McGurk, the court heard. And, when Mrs McGurk didn't pay the millions Mr Medich felt her husband owed him, Mr Medich instructed Gattellari to have her threatened. Gattellari's evidence was that he organised the murder on behalf of Mr Medich. However, complicating matters for the Crown was that he was recently charged over trying to extort $15 million from Mr Medich to change his evidence (using the now convicted murderers Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara as go-betweens). "Lucky Gattellari is never going to be awarded Australian of the Year," Crown prosecutor Gina O'Rourke, SC, told the jury.

"But who do you go to if you want to arrange a murder and an intimidation?" she posed. "If you are the accused, ladies and gentlemen, you go to Lucky Gattellari. That is exactly what he did." On the evening of September 3, 2009, Haissam Safetli, then 45, and Christopher "The Kid" Estephan, 19, fortified with Jim Beam bourbon from the local Cremorne bottle shop, waited for Mr McGurk. At 6.25pm Mr McGurk and his nine-year-old son arrived home with a takeaway chicken and chips for dinner. As Mr McGurk alighted from his Mercedes he was shot in the head. His terrified son ran up the side path of the family's Cremorne home screaming, "Mummy, mummy, dad's been hurt. There was a pop and there's blood." Mrs McGurk rushed out to find her husband, half out of the car, a bullet hole behind his right ear.
Almost 40 years after first admitting his offences, a Gold Coast man has been convicted of sexually abusing a young girl in the late 1970s.

Edward Sawden, 69, was given a wholly suspended two-year prison sentence at the Southport District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to eight counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16.

Edward Sawdon appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday. Credit:Chris Hyde

Sawden, a surfboard shaper and photographer, who has work on display at the National Potrait Gallery, pleaded guilty to abusing the girl on several occasions between 1977 and 1979.

The ex-competitive surfer admitted to touching and digitally penetrating the girl at several locations including while swimming and in his bed.
Queensland, it seems, is the place to be if students want an enjoyable university experience.

Six of the 16 universities that scored above the average 80 per cent in a newly released Australian university satisfaction survey were in Queensland.

Bond University had a student satisfaction rating of 90.8 per cent.

The private Bond University on the Gold Coast had the highest student satisfaction rating at 90.8 per cent, while Griffith University was the second highest-rating public institution at 84.2 per cent, according to data released by the federal Department of Education.

Griffith University student president Lucas Kennedy said support for the university's students helped the institution stand out.
Three prison guards have been hospitalised after they were bashed at a south-east Queensland prison as concerns about overcrowding continue to escalate.

The Woodford Correctional Centre guards were rushed to hospital on Tuesday after they were attacked by two prisoners.

Prison staff were assaulted at Woodford correctional centre. Credit:Greg Henderson

They were discharged later that day but two of the three won't return to work until next week, while it looks like being even longer for the third.

Queensland Corrective Services refused to detail the guards' injuries, saying the incident had been referred to police.
"Our patent covers cells that split and honey that drains through the comb, which is exactly what they're claiming to be bringing to market first. It looks like a blatant patent infringement to me," he says. The Flow Hive raised more than $13 million in crowdfunding. Credit:Elizabeth Milne Flow Hive made global headlines when its crowdfunding bid broke all fundraising records on platform Indiegogo, raising more than $13 million. The campaign set out to raise $100,000, but astonished even the inventors when it raised $2.18 million in the first 24 hours. Flow Hives have since been adopted by beekeepers in more than 100 countries and boasts more than 40,000 customers, mostly in Australia and the US. The company now employs 40 staff. The Flow Hive taps into the hive and drains honey, without having to stress out the bees. Credit:Elizabeth Milne

Tapcomb claims major differences Tapcomb, however, claims its hive design to be substantially different, conceding that the dimensions are similar to Flow Hive. "Much like lightbulbs, the differentiator is in the internal workings that are the basis for product quality and intellectual property," US director of parent company Beebot Inc, Tom Kuhn says. Tapcomb has been accused of copying Flow Hive with its tappable bee hive. It feels like someone has stolen something from your house and you've got to deal with it even though you really just want to get on with doing a job you're extremely passionate about. Flow Hive co-inventor Cedar Anderson

Tapcomb hives are being tested by beekeepers in Tasmania, Britain, Hong Kong and Greece, he says. "We plan to launch Tapcomb worldwide in order to provide consumers a choice of products." However, Anderson says the internal workings of Tapcomb appear to be similar to an early Flow Hive prototype, adding that his patent covers the moving parts regardless of their depth inside the hive. Inside a Tapcomb hive, which its makers claim is substantially different to rival products. Tapcomb lists its office address as Portland, Oregon, where Flow Hive also has a base. An address search reveals a residential townhouse that sold in late January. Other online searches list Tapcomb as being Hong Kong-based. Kuhn says he has filed for patents in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, China and India. He would not reveal pricing and said he is hunting for a manufacturer. "The main thing for us is maximum quality at an agreeable price point."

Modernising honey harvesting This isn't the first apparent copycat Flow Hive has had to tackle, with strikingly similar products listed for sale on various websites. "There have been lots of very poor Chinese fakes, and it's sad to see other people fall into the trap of purchasing copies, only to be disappointed with poor quality," Anderson says. "Any inventor that develops a new product that has taken off around the world has to expect opportunistic people to try and take market share. Of course, there are always people out there prepared to undertake this kind of illegal activity for financial gain. "It feels like someone has stolen something from your house and you've got to deal with it even though you really just want to get on with doing a job you're extremely passionate about."

China: the Wild West Asserting ownership of IP rights such as patents, trade marks and designs and obtaining appropriate relief can be a challenging exercise for inventors, Wrays patent attorney Andrew Butler says. "It can be difficult to get legal relief in these scenarios. China is pretty much the Wild West when it comes to theft of property rights, even though the Chinese government has taken steps to improve its IP environment. "Chinese counterfeiters are often mobile, elusive and don't have any regard for third party trade mark or other proprietary rights. They are usually well funded and well advised, and are good at covering their tracks, making it difficult to identify the perpetrators or to obtain satisfactory legal outcomes." Save the Bees weighs in
The LIGO gravitational-wave detector in Livingston, Louisiana. Credit:LIGO "It's important because it opens a whole new window on the universe. We are now going to be able to look at the universe in gravitational-wave emissions, a completely different kind of information carrier." Professor Reitze said LIGO is five months into its second run and expects to make further announcements in a month or so about new observations. LIGO director Professor David Reitze speaking about gravitational waves in the Harry Messel theatre, Sydney Nanoscience Hub, University of Sydney. Credit:Chris Angwin/Sydney University Most astronomy up to now  from X-rays through visual light to radio waves  has been in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Gravitational waves are a new kind of source and its great promise is to unlock some of the deepest secrets of the universe. Chief Scientist Alan Finkel and astronomer turned ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt celebrate the detection of gravitational waves last year. Credit:Andrew Meares "One of the holy grails of this field would be to see the gravitational-wave residue of the Big Bang," Professor Reitze said. Extreme environments, nanoseconds after the Big Bang or at the edges of black holes, are where the dynamical strong field regime operates, as opposed to the weak field that governs things like the orbit of planets, or the falling of apples. "By probing the strong field regime using gravitational waves, we might see hints that general relativity isn't quite right and this will point a way towards a more fundamental understanding of gravity," he said.

This could help unite our theories of gravity with electromagnetic and nuclear forces and ultimately with quantum mechanics. There are also technological spin-offs in terms of metrology and optics. "The CSIRO broke world records in optical flatness with the mirrors it produced for us," Professor Reitze said, adding that LIGO requires the most stable lasers in the world, which will have use far beyond astronomy. Professor Reitze, executive director of LIGO, on Tuesday delivered a lecture on their discovery at the University of Sydney as part of its Sydney Ideas series. However, he is also here to build support for construction of a next-generation detector in Australia.

It won't be cheap. LIGO has cost US taxpayers more than one billion dollars over 40 years. In the last round of Australian Research Council funding, a consortium led by Swinburne University was successful in gaining $31.3 million in federal funding to establish OzGrav  a centre of excellence for gravitational wave discovery. The director of OzGrav, Professor Matthew Bailes, said: "There are geometric reasons why it makes sense to have a detector in the southern hemisphere." Professor David McClelland at the Australian National University was the Australian spokesperson for the LIGO discovery last year. He is working on the quantum squeezing of light that should help optimise gravitational wave detection. He said: "Preliminary studies show that Australia is the best place to build the first [next generation] facility. [Given the cost] that would prove difficult, but we are talking about a facility which is some 12 to 15 years in the future."

Professor Reitze said: "I'm having some discussions with some government officials to try to assess the interest and budgets." One of those officials is Australia's Chief Scientist, Alan Finkel, who declined to comment for this story. Professor Bailes said that a detector would be brilliant for the centre, but there was plenty of great science in gravitational-wave astronomy to be getting on with, without one. "This is the dawn of a new age of astronomy," he said. One senior Australian astronomer, who did not wish to be named, said that while it was a terrifically exciting prospect to have a gravitational-wave detector in Australia it was at least a decade away.

"The community's highest priorities are in radio and optical astronomy and we should play to our strengths," he said. Australia is looking to join the European Southern Observatory and the European Space Agency and is a central partner for the world's largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array. Science Minister Arthur Sinodinos said: "A gravitational-wave detector built in Australia could be considered through our support for research infrastructure. Our aim is to ensure our scientists have access to the best research infrastructure in the world so that they are preferred partners in international collaborations." Professor Reitze said: "Australia played a really big role in the discovery, not just in the optics developed by CSIRO. The problem is that CSIRO is no longer in the business of doing the type of optics we need." And what of his chances of winning a Nobel Prize this year?
An Australian "gift to science" has been named the winner of a global competition.

Sandy the purebred desert dingo beat four international finalists to take first place in the World's Most Interesting Genome Competition.

The win will give Australian scientists the opportunity to decode her DNA and test a hypothesis raised by Charles Darwin almost 150 years ago.

The public determined the winner of the annual competition. Sandy edged out a Temple Pitviper snake, a solar-powered sea slug, an explosive bombardier beetle and a pink pigeon to claim 41 per cent of votes. Up for grabs was the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which enables sequencing of the complete genome of an important animal or plant.
One of Australia's worst child-sex offender priests, Gerald Ridsdale, has pleaded guilty to a string of new abuse charges against 11 children.

Ridsdale pleaded guilty on Thursday to 20 historical abuse charges. This included 14 counts of indecent assault, two counts of buggery, two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of taking part in an act of sexual penetration of a child.

Convicted paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has pleaded guilty to 20 more abuse charges. Credit:Damian White

Prosecutors withdrew 18 more charges against Ridsdale.The crimes occurred between 1962 and 1988 in various places around the state, including Ballarat, Edenhope, Merbein, Riverside, Mortlake, Quantong and Burnt Creek.

Former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns - who died last year - moved Ridsdale to various parishes around Victoria over about three decades where he continued to abuse children, despite persistent allegations of child sexual abuse against him.
Police are seeking a burglar who reversed a car into an Altona restaurant before making off with a safe containing hundreds of dollars.

The incident occurred at 3.48am on Monday, February 27 with Crime Stoppers releasing CCTV footage of the burglary in a bid to catch the suspect.

The hooded man is alleged to have reversed a vehicle into the glass doors of the restaurant multiple times to gain entry to the premises.

The footage shows him forcing his way into the building before running straight to the counter area where he kicks in a safe containing cash.
The State Coroner has called to abolish the power of WA police officers to detain people arrested for street drinking, following the death of a Broome woman in custody in 2012.

Balgo artist Maureen Mandijarra, 44, was arrested for drinking on Broome's Male Oval on November 29, and was escorted to the Broome Police Station lock-up.

The Coroner believes police powers to arrest street drinkers affect Aboriginal people disproportionately.

Police were unaware of her pre-existing medical condition, and left Ms Mandijarra to 'sleep off' the effects of her drinking.

Ms Mandijarra was later found unresponsive by a supervising officer, and was pronounced dead on November 30.
Jakarta: Few people outside of Indonesia would have heard of Palangkaraya.

The city on the island of Borneo is a flyspeck by Indonesian standards - in 2014 it had a population of just 250,000.

Palangkaraya is home to only 250,000 people comapred with Greater Jakarta's 30 million. Credit:Yohanes Kurnia Irawan

Most of its land area is still covered by jungle and TripAdvisor recommendations include boat tours, prayer hills and opportunities to see orangutans.

But Palangkaraya holds a special place in the psyche of Indonesians - in 1957 President Sukarno, the nation's founding father, first floated the idea of moving the capital here. It is believed Sukarno's motive was at least in part symbolic. Jakarta, previously known as Batavia, had been the capital chosen by the Dutch and Sukarno was keen to sever ties with the country's colonial past.
New Zealand authorities ordered mandatory evacuations as floods threaten homes after Cyclone Cook arrived in the Bay of Plenty.

Heavy rain and severe gales have begun blasting the coast between Tauranga and Whakatane, with the storm making landfall after 6pm on Thursday evening.

Cyclone Cook is set to be the worst storm system in New Zealand in nearly 50 years and the Fire Service has already received dozen of calls about rising water threatening homes in the Thames-Coromandel District, Matamata and Tauranga, a spokesman said.

More than 1000 homes have lost power across the Bay of Plenty, according to Powerco, with Whakatane District Council reporting multiple trees blown over.
A New Zealand woman who had been living in Australia has been sentenced to two and a half years' jail after a plastic sachet containing 0.43 grams of methamphetamine fell out of her pocket at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport last year.

Myra Lynne Williams wept as she was led to her holding cell after learning in the Denpasar District Court on Thursday she would not be able to go home to her eight-year-old son until 2019.

Myra Lynne Williams listening to her sentence being read in the Denpasar District Court on Thursday. Credit:Amilia Rosa

The 28-year-old had behaved erratically in an immigration queue waiting for her passport to be stamped after alighting from a flight from Melbourne on August 31 last year.

She was taken to an immigration office and offered water. When a customs officer arrived a plastic bag containing the drugs fell out of her pocket.
Bali: With just weeks to go until she will be deported to Australia, Schapelle Corby has asked Bali immigration and corrections chiefs when she will be allowed to return to Indonesia.

Corby, who was arrested with 4.2kg of cannabis in her boogie board bag at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport on October 8, 2004, told officials she would fly back to Brisbane when her sentence ends.

The head of Bali corrections, Surung Pasaribu, told Fairfax Media that Corby had tears in her eyes when he told her on Thursday she would be free as of May 27.

She said her journey had been a struggle and she was grateful she had almost fulfilled her sentence.
Bangkok: Thailand's military government has banned its citizens contacting or sharing social media posts from three outspoken critics living outside of the country.

Under the unprecedented move, online interaction with the critics has been deemed to be a violation of the country's Computer/Cyber Crimes Act, which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years on each count.

In a statement Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society named Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, Somsak Jeamteerasakul, who is living in exile in France and Scottish journalist and author Andrew MacGregor Marshall.

All three are known for frequent online commentary about Thailand.
Washington: The United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb it has ever used in combat, in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday against a series of caves used by Islamic State militants, the military said.

It was the first time the United States has used this size of bomb in a conflict. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.

Also known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) and the "mother of all bombs", the GBU-43 is a 9797kg GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war.

The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, with a number of militant groups trying to claim territory more than 15 years after the US invasion which toppled the Taliban government.
I Am Not Your Negro

At the Myrna Loy

(PG-13)

Grade: A-

James Baldwin spoke truth to power.

To look around the United States today is enough to make prophets and angels weep, said Baldwin. This is not the land of the free The story of the Negro in America is the story of America. It is not a pretty story.

Later on, hell paint our history in black and white.

White is a metaphor for power, he said.

The documentary I Am Not Your Negro features 90 minutes of Samuel L. Jackson reading the words of James Baldwin (1924-1987), spliced with film clips of Baldwin speaking for himself.

Listening to Jackson read Baldwin was deeply moving. I had to remind myself that this was not Baldwin speaking, so compelling was Jacksons narration which was both aesthetically haunting and emotionally disturbing.

I could have closed my eyes an appreciated this film almost as much. Listening to this narration was like absorbing a really captivating audio book  well written and beautifully read.

We are reminded that while some of the outer trappings of racism have been masked in America, that theres still a disturbing core of unwelcoming bigotry in our nation.

The movie focuses on the years when three of Baldwins friends campaigned for racial justice: Martin Luther King (1929-1968), Malcom X (1925-1965) and Medgar Evers (1925-1963).

All three of these men who dared speak up about injustice paid with their lives. Baldwin recounts the day each of those men died  how he heard the news, how he processed the news.

And then Baldwin takes us to all three funerals.

Samuel L. Jackson narrates this dark chapter in our history while vivid photos of those events flow across the screen like a nightmare.

The best way to do justice to this documentary is to revisit some of Baldwins words  not necessarily from the film.

In Native Son Baldwin wrote of the complexity of racism.

In overlooking, denying, evading this complexity--which is nothing more than the disquieting complexity of ourselves--we are diminished and we perish; only within this web of ambiguity, paradox, this hunger, danger, darkness, can we find at once ourselves and the power that will free us from ourselves.

Later, Baldwin talked of the cruel awakening of black children.

It was the Lord who knew of the impossibility every parent in that room faced: how to prepare the child for the day when the child would be despised and how to create in the child - by what means? - a stronger antidote to this poison than one had found for oneself.

When a Yale professor challenged Baldwin to think beyond race, Baldwin launched into a legendary onslaught against the illusion of racial progress.

I dont know if Christians hate negroes or not, but I know that we have a Christian church which is white and a Christian church which is black. I dont know if the board of education hates black people, but I know the textbooks they give children to read and the schools that we go to. Now, this is the evidence. You want me to make an act of faith risking myself, my wife, my woman, my sister, my children on some idealism which you assure me exists in America which I have never seen.

Baldwins incisive critique rings relevant in the age of Black Lives Matter movements.

While its clearly true that we are making progress towards justice for all, its also true that there are still those who would build walls  and we know whos being allowed in and whos being blocked.

The title of this documentary has been sanitized. Baldwins original writings used the N word, not the word negroes. That original profane refrain is much closer to the core of Baldwins indictment.

While Im more optimistic than Baldwin about America, all Baldwins warnings seem as urgent now as they were 40 years ago. The country that shot MLK, Malcom X and Medgar Evers has spilled fresh black blood on the streets in the new millennium.

I Am Not Your Negro does not deny us the right to be optimistic, but does alert us to remain vigilant.
Moscow: After US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson waited for much of the day, wondering whether he would get to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two men sat down at the Kremlin late on Wednesday afternoon in the first official face-to-face meeting between Russia and the Trump administration.

Relations between the US and Russia have grown so tense that it was unclear whether Mr Putin would agree to see Mr Tillerson, a man he once gave a medal of friendship. The Kremlin earlier this week had said Mr Putin would not greet Mr Tillerson on his first official trip to Moscow. Mr Tillerson was to meet his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

In the 24 hours before Mr Tillerson landed, the White House accused Russia of covering up evidence that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for sarin gas attacks on its own people, launched from a base where Russian troops are operating.

But daylong talks between the two top diplomats failed to bridge disputes over Syria and other key issues.
GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that the Ring Road will be closed to motorized traffic on Saturday, April 15.

The closure is scheduled to take place from 7.00am to 2.00pm. The closure will be from the entrance of Salt Pickers Round-a-bout.

The aforementioned closure is related to the grading of the dirt road and will be carried out by Windward Roads.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause.
GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is preparing to host Its Story Time at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library.

The story toddler time will take place on Saturday, April 22 from 10.00am to 12.00pm. Mitsha Giterson will do the reading.

The story toddler time is part of CPSs sustaining breastfeeding together an annual campaign.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old.

Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.

For more information, you can call CPS at 542-3003 or 542-2078.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Workers of GEBE are up in arms because they found out that the company paid the TPI (Natasha Gittens) some $21.000.00 for a two-day training that was held at the Westin Resort sometime in January 2017. The training was for the management team and some supervisors.

According to information received is that the Gittens has good friendship with the CEO of GEBE Kennrick Chittick. The workers further stated that GEBE is a sponsor of TPI but Gittens is now employed at GEBE and while she is paid an enormous amount of monies they cannot get an increase in salaries. It should be noted that the management team could sign off on any payment that is under NAF 50,000.00 without consulting with the supervisory board of directors.

Efforts made to reach Chairman of the Board Roy Marlin on Wednesday evening for a comment proved futile.

SMN News contacted Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel for a comment on the spending of the government-owned company and he said that he is not aware of how much was paid to Gittens to train the management team of GEBE. Minister Emmanuel said that if the company has to pay that amount of monies to train its management then the management is not supposed to be holding the positions they are holding. Minister Emmanuel promised to look into the matter regarding the training and the cost while he intends to look into the travel the members of the supervisory board made to Jamaica recently to look into LNG gas.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Honorable Minister Christopher Emmanuel met with representatives of Vidanova in Curacao to continue discussions regarding the 160 affordable homes. The discussions were very positive and Vidanova expressed how impressed they were with the affordable housing project. They are looking forward to realizing investments in Sint Maarten by funding these affordable homes, not only for their clients in Sint Maarten but as well as the eligible public. In the coming weeks, representatives of Vidanova will meet with the landowner to finalize agreements and prepare for the groundbreaking.

The affordable homes project, namely Valley View Estate in Dawn Beach, consists of 160 homes of which 50 is expected to be completed by December 2017.

For further inquiries regarding the Valley View Estate housing project, please contact the Cabinet of the Minister of VROMI at +1 721 5206573.
Powerpedia Forms Nonprofit and partners with Corazon De Vida

Powerpedia, a San Diego-based renewable energy consultancy has announced the formation of the nonprofit organization GetChargedUp to facilitate a multi-year commitment of providing free solar systems to orphanages throughout Baja Mexico and beyond, under its flagship program EmpowerOrphans.

"I recently had a chance to spend the day with children and volunteers at the Rancho de Los Ninos orphanage in Baja, Mexico and it was an extraordinary experience for me," said Faisal El Azzouzi, Principal at Powerpedia and founder of GetChargedUp. "It is truly humbling to see the hard work put forth by the staff and the passion of the volunteers at the orphanage. Nearly 70 children live there, and they deserve all the help we can give. We couldn't be happier to contribute with clean electricity and high-tech education to take care of some of their basic needs today, and help prepare them for a better tomorrow."

GetChargedUp maintains two goals as their core mission. The first goal is to provide clean electricity to orphanages through solar system installations, and the second is to teach coding and meditation by equipping computer labs and teaching innovative and skill building curriculums.

The first project donation by GetChargedUp is a 10 Kilowatt solar electric system that will provide the Rancho De Los Ninos Orphanage with much needed savings over the projected 25+ year lifetime of the system.

"Having solar power is a wonderful gift," says George Perez who is a Board Member of Corazon De Vida, which provides monthly financial support for its orphanages. "This means the directors of Rancho de Los Ninos can redeploy the money they are saving for food, medical help, water bills, and most importantly towards education so that the children can be prepared for their future."

GetChargedUp is also receiving free services from cThru Media to promote the support of the orphanages needing assistance as well as pointing donors to a crowd funding site via http://GetChargedUp.net. Companies and individuals looking to support children struggling in orphanages are encouraged to visit the website and make a donation.

"We are grateful to GET CHARGED UP for helping the children of Rancho de Los Ninos," added George Perez. "Taking care of basic needs is our most difficult challenge as we help more than 400 children in 10 different orphanages."

About Corazon De Vida

The Corazon De Vida Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization (http://corazondevida.org) providing life changing support for orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico. The foundation's mission is to end child abandonment by breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. Corazon De Vida is located in Irvine, California and currently provides support to nearly a dozen orphanages in Mexico.

About Organizations Helping

Get Charged Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (http://getchargedup.net) created to support disadvantage children by unlocking access to energy and education. Its first project is to support orphanages in Baja, Mexico through the donations of solar systems, technology, and education. GET CHARGED UP is located in San Diego, California.

San Diego, California-based Powerpedia (http://powerpedia.com) is a smart grid and renewable energy full service consultancy that serves leading businesses, investors, government, and not-for-profit organizations.
City Finally Removes Old Growth Redwood Tree on 9th Street in Santa Monica.

If a tree falls in Santa Monica does anyone hear it? 100-year-old redwood tree comes down

As Ecclesiastes said, there is a time for everything under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die. An old growth Redwood tree finally had to be taken down on 9th street. It had died during the drought, 18 or so months ago, and had become a hazard to the neighborhood.

The City of Santa Monica, which has an active tree removal department called "Community forestry," red tagged the tree on October 7, 2016. Several residents appealed the decision at http://www.Santamonicatrees.com.

On October 31st, we called the community forester's office. Peter Provenzale, Urban Forest Supervisor, City of Santa Monica told us "We received another appeal last week as well. The adoration of the neighbors and the charm of the tree, the urban forestry division has decided to leave the redwood standing at this time. The tree is in decline and has significant dieback. We will re-inspect the tree in March 2017. At that point we will reassess the health and its overall vigor."

On March 28, 2017, on a day of high winds, a private crew came to take the tree down. The redwood was undeniably brown, a victim of the drought.

There is something special about redwood trees, which is why people turn them into tables and such. Just one of millions of trees that died in the California drought, the loss of the tree has nevertheless hit close to home. My children used to hide behind it when they were small and playing. And what says "California" better than a Redwood tree

Coast redwood and giant sequoia were jointly designated the state tree of California and are famous California tourist attractions. Redwood National and State Parks and several parks including Giant Sequoia National Monument protect almost half the remaining stands of Coast Redwoods and Giant sequoias.

In Redlands, a group has been formed to save local trees in parks, while in Butte County, a local emergency has been declared over dead trees. http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/environment-and-nature/20161022/what-a-group-of-advocates-is-doing-to-save-redlands-dying-trees
Constellation Software Inc. Announces Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter Results

TORONTO, ONTARIO  (Marketwired)  04/12/17  Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU) announced today it will host its first quarter conference call and live audio webcast on April 28, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

The Companys quarterly results will be disseminated via press release, and made available on the Companys website () and SEDAR, after the Toronto Stock Exchange closes on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Mark Leonard, President, and Jamal Baksh, Chief Financial Officer, will be available during the April 28 conference call to answer questions regarding the Companys results.

To access the call, please dial 416-340-2218 or 800-377-0758. The webcast will be accessible at .

A replay of the conference call will be available as of 12:30 p.m. ET the same day until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 28, 2017. To access the replay, please dial 905-694-9451 or 800-408-3053 followed by the passcode 1286858.

About Constellation Software Inc.

Constellation Software acquires, manages and builds vertical market software businesses.

Contacts:

Jamal Baksh

Chief Financial Officer

416-861-9677
Kavaliro Expands Office in McLean, Virginia to Prepare for Major Growth in 2017

MCLEAN, VA  (Marketwired)  04/13/17  , an award-winning, national staffing and services company, announces today the opening of its newly remodeled Virginia office. Driven by the desire to be better able to serve its client base, the company has renovated their McLean, VA office. With the recent remodel, Kavaliro nearly doubles its desk space to increase the companys internal staff by eight to twelve employees over the next year.

We chose to stay in our McLean location because it allows us to serve both our clients and staff, located in DC, VA, and MD. The location is also accessible by metro and close to the capital beltway, says Suresh Raj, Executive Vice President of Kavaliro. We renovated the office to accommodate our growing team to support new clients. Our new office provides us better space to continue our growth in the DC Metro region.

Kavaliros Virginia office has long been considered one of the top grossing offices in the area and is a top regional delivery center for the companys top accounts. The newly remodeled space allows Kavaliro to further its investment in the community and contribute to the growth in the local market. Kavaliro plans to increase its Executive Placement and Temporary Staffing divisions by 30 to 40 percent in the next 12 months.

Kavaliro continues to see rapid growth across the country and in all of our branch offices, says Bill Peppler, Managing Partner of Kavaliro. We expect to hire an additional 20 team members over the next nine months as we continue to see significant growth in our Technology Staffing and Project divisions. The growth means we needed to expand and reconfigure the space in Virginia to serve the community.

Kavaliro currently boasts a clientele portfolio of 37 Fortune 500 companies and is sourcing high-paying, coveted positions in the tech, IT, engineering and financial industries. Headquartered in Orlando, FL, with additional offices in Jacksonville and Tampa, FL, Petaluma, CA, and Charlotte, NC, Kavaliro has added more than 12 employees to the team across the nation this year alone, maximizing its capabilities for every client in each market.

Kavaliros Virginia office is located at 7927 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100, McLean, VA. 22102

To learn more about Kavaliro, visit .

Kavaliro places personnel across the United States in the fields of information technology, engineering, finance, utilities, accounting, and administration. By using best practices and optimal employee recruiting strategies, Kavaliro provides employers with integrated staffing solutions, offering only the most qualified professionals who can fill both project and permanent positions to ensure the ongoing success of all types of businesses.
Dresner Advisory Services Adds Speaker and Sponsors to Real Business Intelligence(R) Conference

NASHUA, NH  (Marketwired)  04/13/17  Dresner Advisory Services today announced a new industry speaker, six additional sponsors, and a media partner for its Real Business Intelligence conference, scheduled for July 11th and 12th at the MIT Tang Center in Cambridge, MA.

The Dresner Advisory Services Real Business Intelligence conference is the first industry event for business and IT leaders focused completely on strategies for success with business intelligence (BI), advanced analytics, and performance management, focusing on real world best practices and proven methods.

Nathan Kollett, a senior manager in the analytics organization of Wayfair, has joined the lineup of experts at the event and will lead a session on Self-Service Business Intelligence. Mr. Kollett joins renowned industry authors and professionals on the roster of conference speakers, including MIT Professor Thomas W. Malone, Mico Yuk, Chuck Hooper, David Dadoun, and Cathy ONeill, as well as analysts from the Dresner Advisory team.

Alation,Inc., Prophix Software Inc., Pyramid Analytics, and Tableau Software have joined as Gold sponsors, in addition to Dimensional Insight, Domo, Jedox AG, and Trifacta. Platinum conference sponsors include: Information Builders; Pentaho, a Hitachi Group Company; and Salesforce.

TechTarget has joined as a media partner and will be involved in promotion and editorial coverage of the event.

Were excited to have an impressive lineup of speakers, sponsors, and a media partner on board for our inaugural conference, said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory Services. We are focused on creating an intimate event with the right set of speakers and content to help organizations be more successful with their BI and analytics endeavors.

The Real Business Intelligence conference will be held July 11-12, 2017, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Tang Center in Cambridge, MA. The focus of the two-day event will be on what works, with pragmatic and actionable takeaways in each session. For more information, visit .

was formed by Howard Dresner, an independent analyst, author, lecturer, and business adviser. Dresner Advisory Services, LLC focuses on creating and sharing thought leadership for Business Intelligence (BI) and related areas such as advanced and predictive analytics, enterprise planning and end user data preparation.

Danielle Guinebertiere

Dresner Advisory Services

978 254 5587
The ACLU of Montana filed a lawsuit against Cascade County for failing to respond to a request for information on the use of racial profiling and force policies and files on license plate readers which can be used to track a drivers location.

According to a statement, the ACLU sent the first Freedom of Information Act request for the cell site simulators on March 24, 2016. They followed up on April 12, 2016, asking for the Cascade County Sheriff's Office policies on force and racial profiling to make the information available on the ACLU website for public use.

The office didnt respond to either request, the lawsuit alleges.

Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards said on Wednesday he wasn't aware a lawsuit had been filed and would need to do some research before commenting.

Jim Taylor, legal director for ACLU Montana, said the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and the sheriff's office hadn't been served yet. Taylor said the ACLU contacted the sheriff's office through mail each time and never received a response.

Commonly called Sting-Ray devices, the cell site simulators mimic cellphone towers and force a phone to allow police to see its location as well as identifying information. Automatic license plate readers gather information from a plates location and send it to a regional sharing system where its stored for an unregulated amount of time.

The ACLU said this information allows police to essentially track a persons movements.

Taylor said the ACLU has tried to work with agencies that have asked for additional time to meet its requests but is unwilling to continue waiting for agencies that choose not to respond. He said the ACLU plans to also sue the other agencies that havent responded to the same request.

There are 13 other jurisdictions that didn't respond to either request and 24 that only responded to one, Taylor said. There were several who gave incomplete or problematic responses. He declined to specify which jurisdictions failed to respond.

When asked why the ACLU started with Cascade County, Taylor said it was the first major jurisdiction on the list alphabetically.

"It's rare that we send a FOIA and we don't get anything back at all. Agencies have an obligation under state law to respond," he said. "It will cost the ones who don't financially."

While the lawsuit doesn't seek damages, it asks for compliance and legal fees.
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Police in Somerset have opened their books to reveal the number and types of crimes they have investigated since 2014, but are keeping tight-lipped over terror-related arrests.

While Avon and Somerset Police were happy to outline the numbers of assaults, sexual offences, burglaries and other crimes their officers have had to deal with, they said that releasing information regarding terrorist related arrests would undermine the operational activity of the force.

In a statement released alongside the Freedom of Information disclosure, the force said: "By confirming or denying the number of terrorists arrested and for what offences in each Force area would allow criminals to identify where arrests for certain offences were less prevalent across the country as a whole."

The response continued to voice concern that should such information be provided, criminals could use the information to change tactics or location or destroy evidence. Whilst Avon and Somerset Police admits that there is public interest in policing operations, they also highlight that there is a higher level of public interest in safeguarding national security.

A spokesman added: "I would like to reassure everyone that the police, along with the security and intelligence services, are tirelessly working together to deal with the terrorist threat to keep the public safe.

"We urge the public to remain alert and not alarmed. We advise everyone to be vigilant and to report any concerns to the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always dial 999."

The figures that have been released by the police show that since 2014, police have had to deal with more cases of assault by beating than any other, with the crime topping the list in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

There were also 78 cases of possession of a knife or bladed object in a public place, 67 threats to kill and 50 immigration charges.

The data also shows that out of the 14,202 arrests made between 2014 and 2016, almost 13,000 of those were of British nationality with the most common offence being assault by beating.

In 2014, they investigated 4,390 cases of assault by beating, followed by 2,644 thefts from shops and 1,492 cases of criminal damage.In 2015, there were 3,553 incidents of assault by beating, 1,810 of theft from a shop and 1,239 reports of criminal damage across the force area.

And although last year, there was a significant drop in assault by beating cases  down to 1,560 - it was still topping the crime charts, followed by 1,091 people being arrested on a warrant, 1,055 cases of common assault and 812 of theft from a shop.

The nationalities of those arrested was also released as part of the information and shows that in 2016, 12,718 people arrested were from the UK, 407 were from Poland and 187 were from Romania.

This compares to 22,171 UK residents arrested in 2015, 680 people from Poland and 206 from Romania.

To report a crime, call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is in progress; otherwise please call the police on 101.
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A care worker accused of stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly woman with Alzheimer's told a court the money was given to her as a gift.

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 and a second charge of helping herself to 15,500.

She also denied stealing 2,000 on February 3, 2014 and draining the woman's bank account of 32,000 in cash, saying the money had been given to her by the alleged victim as a gift.

The court also heard that the family who employed Hillman had also given a 65,000 donation to an orphanage in Africa owned by Hillman's family.

Giving evidence in her defence, Hillman said she had originally started work as a nanny for the family, before being asked to take on the role of caring for the woman, who had moved from Buckinghamshire following the death of her son.

She said she did not know the woman suffered from Alzheimer's and had not seen any symptoms of the illness while she was looking after her.

"I was employed to take her wherever she wanted to go, to accompany her," she said. "I asked if she had any particular health problems and I was told no."

She also said she had never been given the woman's pin for her bank card or had any dealings with her finances.

"She was a very private person," she said. "She always handled her own money."

Led through her evidence by defense barrister Eiran Riley, she said some of the transfers of money into her account had been repaying moving expenses, or gifts from the woman.

She told the court she had been paid 'cash in hand' or via a bank transfer for her work.

When it came to the 32,000 - which was withdrawn from the woman's bank account, transferred into a second account and then cashed via cheque at The Money Box in Bath - she said the money had been given to her as a gift.

"I was very shocked to receive it," she said. "I got quite panicked. I asked if I could have a meeting with her family about it, but that meeting never happened.

"She said she was very fond of me, that we had a wonderful time togethere. She wanted to do something that would help me - something that would make me happy.

"When I questioned her about it she got angry, he said it was her money and she could do what she wanted with it.

"She had given me gifts before - the family were very rich, very extravagent. She had given me other gifts and that had never been called into question."

When asked by prosecution barrister Nikki Coombe if she was accusing the other witnesses in the case of lying, Hillman responded: "My recollection of events is different to theirs. Mine is very clear."

"If there was an innocent explanation for all of this, why didn't you tell the police when you were arrested and clear it all up?"

The trial continues and is expected to go into next week.
Helena Public Schools Superintendent Jack Copps opened a school board candidate forum Wednesday night by saying he believes public schools are the cornerstone of democracy.

During a Q&A on the $63 million bond election slated for May 2, which was a major focus of the forum, Copps told the crowd of about 75 the bond is needed because the average age of Helena Public Schools school buildings is 69 years.

The newest building, Four Georgians, is 40 years old," he said during the forum at Carroll College, which was hosted by the Independent Record.

The bond would build three new K-5 schools at Jim Darcy and Central schools and one at or near Bryant School.

They would replace the existing schools, which would be demolished. The bond language does not call for renovating any of the three schools.

A special Central School committee is meeting to determine what historical architectural features of the existing building should be incorporated into the new school building.

I was here from 1979 to 1989, Copps said of when he previously worked for the district. He found on his 2016 return to Helena as superintendent that the schools have made few if any changes in the area of safety and security.

The most important thing is to make sure our kids are in a safe and secure environment, he said. The bond would make security, communications and technology upgrades at all of the K-8 schools, including the middle schools, he said.

He called the three new schools a generational investment.

Helena is behind the eight ball. We have more needs than our bonding capacity," he said.

The bond doesnt address all the building issues, he said, but the size of it will reserve some of the districts bonding capacity so it can go forward in a few years with replacing a middle school if it needs to.

The district intentionally delayed doing architectural designs for the new schools, he said. Instead, officials want the four architects hired to do pre-bond work to meet with each schools neighborhood to design the schools.

We want to listen to you, he said, quoting one of the architects. We want to hear from you about what this school should look like.

I strongly recommend the community engage in 10-year master plan, Copps said of how to deal with future priorities.

The district held 147 listening sessions prior to his arrival in planning its priorities and spent $250,000 on the Mosaic Report to analyze data from each school, he said.

This decision has not been rushed, he said.

***

Bond support

All six candidates on the May 2 ballot -- Pam Attardo, Annie Hanshew, Jeff Hindoien, Luke Muszkiewicz, Jason Pettit and Erin Turner -- said they strongly support the bond and would do nothing to hinder it going forward. A lawsuit was filed March 29 seeking to halt the demolition of Central School, which could delay the building of that new school.

The bond is a tremendous first step, said Hindoien, who added he fully recognizes that it doesnt address all the districts facility needs.

Muszkiewicz said he has visited all of the schools that would be replaced and agrees they are the highest priorities. If we build new schools, I think it will change the communitys appetite (to support) public education.

I firmly support three new schools, said Pettit.

Im really, really excited about the bond, said Turner, adding that she knows it doesnt address all the needs.

Shes been involved in this conversation for nine years, she said. I think this is a great starting point that we can all get excited about.

The bond identifies the three schools with the most crucial needs, said Attardo, noting that the district has momentum and should keep going. Personally I would like to see Central School renovated, she said, adding that she will live with the city commissions decision and is on the committee advising on historic features to retain in the new building.

I support this bond and the next one and the next one, said Hanshew. We can be the people who can build great schools. An earlier supporter of saving Central School, she said she is fully on board in support of the bond and going forward.

***

New superintendent

In the coming year, the school board will likely look to replace Jack Copps, who was initially hired as an interim superintendent.

The most important quality to look for, said Turner, is to find someone who speaks plainly and is very straightforward. Shed look for someone who wants to retain the high quality of teachers in the district and has a strong background in education and management.

Attardo would look for someone experienced, who is open to various viewpoints and is familiar with Montana. It should be someone who values community input, has a background in education and preferably has superintendent experience. The person should also value teachers, their individuality, and listen to them.

The superintendent should be a strong leader, said Hanshew, and a strong communicator. As the district plans for its facilities priorities, it needs a superintendent who is open with the community and willing to advocate for these needs, and collaborates well with staff.

Good superintendents are gifted at communication, diplomacy, leadership and problem solving, said Hindoien. He would look for a school administrator with a record of success.

The bottom line is to promote trust and transparency, said Muszkiewicz. Great communicators are not afraid to say what they think and are not afraid to admit if they are wrong. The superintendent should not be looking at Helena as a career stepping stone, and should be someone who understands education at every level.

Pettit agreed that the superintendent should be committed for the long term, communicate a vision to the public and staff and be a strong leader.

***

Background

I can think of no more critical role than being on the board, said Muszkiewicz, a software engineer, of why he is running for the board. I want to be a great trustee.

Pettit, who works in health care, is a parent of four. My purpose in running just to help the schools out, he said, and to give some insights.

Turner, an editor, wants to help the district because shes passionate about education, she said. The school board is addressing bricks and mortar with the school bond, she said, but added we have some equity issues that need to be addressed.

Attardo, a historic preservation officer, said she volunteers a lot in the schools. My kids thrived in Helena schools. Shes running because shes committed to public education, she said. The district has been through some divisive times. I would like to see the community heal.

Hanshew, a historian, is the daughter of a Helena teacher and is a longtime supporter of public education. Shes also taught at the college level, she said, and wants to make sure Helena students are getting the skills they will need to be successful when they leave school.

Hindoien is an attorney who has specialized in giving legal advice to school boards and wants to share those skills as a member of the board. A priority for him would be to focus on future facility needs.

Ballots will be mailed April 17 and must be turned in to the elections office by May 2.

For more information on the candidates, see the survey responses being published daily in the Independent Record this week. Also, watch a recording of the forum on the Independent Record Facebook page.
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A Somerset GP working in the NHS has spoken of increasing workloads, rising stress levels and the problems of recruitment, as a survey of doctors in the south west revealed many were planning to quit.

Dr Andrew Tressider, 58, is based near Chard and has moved away from full-time patient care to focus on other health-related interests, including teaching and appraising GP performance.

He plans to work until his mid-60s, but may move away from patient care altogether later in his career.

He said: "GP workload has increased by a factor of four over the past few years. It's a combination of the complexities involved, the demand for GP services and people living longer.

"With recognised pressure on hospitals, more and more work is coming to GPs in primary care. It's an unfettered rise in workload. It's an unsustainable situation."

One of Dr Tressider's roles is on an action group to examine the mental health of GPs.

He said: "Most GPs have stress levels that are way above acceptable levels.

"All doctors want to help patients. Many of them work well beyond their contracted hours to try and provide the quality of service patients deserve - but it means they risk being burned out by the job."

GPs from across the south west have cited issues with recruitment and retention of GPs, citing the increased expectations of 24-hours access to doctors.

The fact that locum GPs - those unattached to a particular practice or surgery - can earn as much as other GPs has also been cited as a factor.

A survey carried out by the University of Exeter, which questioned more than 2,000 GPs in the south west, found that 40 per cent are intending to leave the profession and seven in ten GPs intend to change their working patterns to reduce contact with patients.

54 per cent of GPs surveyed reported low morale.

The Department of Health has responded that the survey was carried out before recent steps to tackle low morale and train more GPs were unveiled.
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Fromes new bottle shop, cheese and tap bar is set to open imminently offering locals some of the best locally and nationally sourced craft beers, ciders, wines, spirits  and cheese.

Palmer Street Bottle will be opening up shop just off Catherine Hill at 11 Palmer Street in the old Haircare premises.

Local man Simon Bowden, who went to school in Midsomer Norton, is leading the new venture and said hes incredibly excited to welcome the town to his new shop.

After weeks of getting the shop ready, with help from local business owners such as Euan Barker of Moo and Two and the guys at Little Jack Horners, Simon hopes to open to the public on Tuesday (April 18).

(Image: James Wood)

He took Somerset Live on a tour of the shop, in which visitors will be able to come in, relax and have a drink of one of the craft beers, ciders, wines and spirits. They can also enjoy something to eat from a menu showcasing locally produced food, in particular cheeses.

He said: Weve tried to use local materials where possible in the build. The tables, for instance, are being made with wood previously used to store Westcombe Cheddar. You can still see the rings in the wood where the cheese had been.

Euan has helped hugely with creating the seating area and our light fixtures are from a local company.

(Image: James Wood)

The bottle bar will enable locals to take their favourite tipple away with them. The concept has grown in popularity in recent years.

Simon said: You will be able to come in and have a drink and then youll be able to walk away with that drink, too.

We will be offering refills of both beer and wine so people will be able to come back and replenish their stocks.

(Image: James Wood)

Speaking of some of the beers, wines and spirits he will have on offer, he said: We will have gin from Sibling Distillery as well local Electric and Wild beers.

There will be a few from further afield, too. Ive had the guys down from London Fields Brewery and Meantime Brewery, dropping off some stock.

Of course, it wont just be about the drinks for Simon  who grew up working with cheese.

The cheese fanatic, who regularly tours festivals with his cheese offering, will be stocking local varieties in Palmer Street Bottle.

(Image: James Wood)

You will both be able to take cheese away from the shop, or sit down for a bite to eat. Crackers and biscuits will also be sold.

Speaking of the vibe he wants for his new venture, Simon said: "Palmer Street Bottle will have a really unique feel because we're all about locally-sourced food and drink and giving people the opportunity to either sit in and relax or take something delicious home  maybe even both.

"It'll be a friendly, relaxed destination where you can have a delicious bite to eat, try one of the carefully selected beers or wines, or just enjoy a coffee and a chat.

"We want to make Palmer Street Bottle a real destination in the town so we're going to be open until 11pm, five days a week."

(Image: James Wood)

Are you opening up a new shop in Frome? Get in touch using james.wood@westgaz.co.uk
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A gripping new movie set on Somerset's Levels in the aftermath of the 2014 floods is getting its county premiere later this month.

Starring Ellie Kendrick, who played Meera Reed in Game of Thrones and David Troughton (BBC Radio 4, The Archers) and directed by award-winning filmmaker Hope Dickson Leach, The Levelling is described as "a family drama about coping with loss and reconciliation".

Set against the backdrop of some stunning Somerset panoramas it is an impressive debut from award-winning director Hope Dickson Leach.

It's already netted plaudits at the Toronto Film Festival where it had its debut last year, and the London Film Festival, where it had its UK premiere.

Now it's coming back to Somerset where it was filmed, for a special programme of previews and Q&A sessions with some of the cast and crew.

The story revolves around a young woman, Clover (Ellie Kendrick) returns to her family farm in Somerset following the sudden death of her brother. Shocked to find it still devastated from the aftermath of the 2014 floods, Clover confronts her ill-tempered father Aubrey (David Troughton) from whom she is as distant as ever.

But Clover's absence has paid a price and Aubrey, refusing to accept what has happened to his son and the farm, pushes Clover further away.

(Image: SWNS)

As Clover retreats into the daily farming routine, the murky cloud of uncertainty hanging over what happened to her brother further fuels her intent on discovering the truth. She embarks on a rocky and emotional journey of discovery and a reckoning with the land, her father and ultimately herself.

It's been described as "a relevant and heartfelt British drama that explores themes of recession, bereavement, family conflict and reconciliation".

And you can catch the film's Somerset premiere on April 21 with cast and crew in attendance at Strode Theatre.

A selection of other previews with Q&As will then take place in Wells on April 30, during the Wells Festival of Film, as well as in Frome, Bath and Bristol before opening officially on May 12.

Following graduation director Hope Dickson Leach's award-winning thesis film, The Dawn Chorus, played at festivals worldwide.

Screen International made her a 'Star of Tomorrow' and Filmmaker Magazine named her one of the '25 New Faces of Independent Film'.

She has made acclaimed short works for Channel 4, Film London, the UK Film Council and the National Theatre of Scotland.

Her debut feature has been selected to play at festivals worldwide including Toronto, London Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Rotterdam and Gothenburg.
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The community website Craigslist in Bristol is being used to advertise free accommodation in return for "services" which concerned groups say can only mean sex.

Both tenants' campaign group Acorn and homeless charity Shelter have highlighted their concerns after a number of ads appeared on the popular website which started in the US and is now being set up in UK cities and communities.

One advert posted by a man in Crewkerne offers "room for free in return for services".

The landlord describes himself as "a clean, professional, confident and fun loving male, looking to offer my spare room in return for services.

"Frequency of service etc is negotiable, in return you get a free room and no bills."

Another advert from a Clifton poster, offers "free part time accommodation for a female" in that area of Bristol in exchange for "good company three or four nights a week."

The landlord goes on to say he has "big muscles" and tells applicants to "msg me for pictures and a chit chat, maybe go for a drink and see if we click. [sic]"

He also references the fact he has "lots of chicken" as a selling point.

(Image: Craigslist)

Acorn Bristol said the practice of landlords demanding sex for rent in Bristol was "far from unusual" in their experience.

Acorn Organiser Nick Ballard said: "This is something that has been raised in Acorn advice forums a number of times and that others responding said was far from unusual.

"Shelter is a basic human right and this disgusting exploitation of people desperate to put a roof over their head shows the extent to which people are being forced.

"We would encourage anyone who finds adverts of this sort or who has had to go through such an experience to get in contact and discuss ways that the community can protect itself and expose any landlords attempting to exchange sex for shelter."

The charity Shelter first exposed the issue of men offering rooms to vulnerable women for sex in a blog post on their website. In it they said: "This isn't just in bad taste or 'creepy'. It is a dangerous attempt to establish deeply exploitative relationships off the back of homelessness.

"Of immediate concern is the matter of who is being targeted.

"Through these adverts, men are intentionally targeting desperate women who feel they have no other options  and women who may already have experienced sexual or domestic violence."

When the Bristol Post contacted Shelter the charity said it had heard anecdotal evidence people are being forced into taking difficult and high risk decisions owing to the lack of affordable options.
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Yeovil residents have mixed feelings about the food at the towns hospital following our story on the subject this week.

The Sun had incorrectly reported that Yeovil Hospital spends a mere 1.37 food for each patient at day.

The figure was in fact what the hospital spends per meal.

This story, however, sparked a debate on our Facebook page with people having mixed reactions about the quality of the food.

Lots of people jumped to the defence of the hospital and had no complaints with the food.

Jessica Jeffrey said: This must be exaggerated. The meals are far better these days than in the past.

Andrea Laker said: I thought the food was pretty good and quite a choice.

Paula Dennis said: I have no complaints with the food at Yeovil Hospital. The meals I had recently were much better than I had expected and I got to choose.

However, some were more scathing about the quality of the meals provided by the hospital.

Karen Pollard said: What I saw of the meals were uninviting, bland and not cooked enough and puddings never arrive. How are patients supposed to gain weight? Spent enough on a car park, spend some on decent food.

Tracy Crew was another who criticised the food but did not believe the staff were at fault for it.

She said: With such a low budget due to funding cuts I wouldnt be surprised if thats what they actually spend per patient or not far from it.

The cooks in hospitals have a hard enough time preparing food for so many people on such a tight budget (lets be fair, it isnt going to be a big figure to get the best). Its no wonder food looks and quite often tastes unappetising.

A story published in The Sun on Monday (April 10) claimed the hospital was spending 1.37 per patient per day.

This is lower than the 2.02 spent per day by the prison service on inmates.

A spokesman for the hospital said: That figure is incorrect and the article in The Sun was changed shortly after publication online.

The figure we provided was actually per meal, not per patient per day as was reported.

This actually places us favourably against other trusts, whilst still demonstrating we strive for good efficiency as well as quality.

We use an efficient steam system for the majority of patient meals, with individual food choices cooked to order.

This means we only cook the food which is required, ensuring it arrives fresh for each patient, with more nutritional benefits and less waste. These figures relate to meal costs only and don't include preparation and staff costs.

How do you fell about the food at Yeovil Hospital? Get in touch with me via email at josh.fordham@westgaz.co.uk .
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People are being urged to be wary of a new text scam that has seen some conned out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Experts have warned that this text scam is not easily identifiable as fraud as it is not the type of message that would set alarm bells ringing straight away.

The scam has already cost one woman more than 70,000, WalesOnline reported.

The bank is also under no obligation to pay the money back to her.

Here is what you need to know to stay clear of this scam.

What is the scam?

You will receive an inconspicuous text from 'your bank informing you of suspicious activity on your account.

Worryingly, it comes on the same thread on your phone as genuine text messages from your bank because a mobile number is effectively being spoofed.

It looks like it has come from that number if youve saved it on your phone.

The text says your debit card was recently used and names a store and the amount spent.

It then tells you to call a "fraud prevention" number if it's a transaction you do not recognise.

When you click on the number to call there is someone there to answer. In fact, in this victim's case, the call went on for 30 minutes and they discussed her banking details. After the call ends, the fraudsters access your account and drain the funds.

Has anyone been affected by this scam?

Claire Pearson watched as more than 71,000 - an inheritance from her father who passed away last year - was stolen from her account.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning, she said: I received the text, but this wasnt unusual as Ive had messages from them before. It said there had been suspicious activity on my account, asked do you recognise this transaction?, if not call this number.

I clicked the number and it called through, and the call went on for 30 minutes. The man I spoke to was lovely, we built up a rapport and he said they would send me a new card in three days.

When Claire became worried she logged into her online banking and saw her money drained from her account.

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Is there a way to get the money back if you fall victim to the scam?

Santander has declined Claires fraud claim saying she allowed a third party to access her account.

She has been reimbursed 400 from the money lost and the bank has retrieved 1,850 from the receiving account.

How to avoid the scam if you receive a text

On This Morning, consumer expert Harry Wallop said: This text message scamming is known as shmishing and it is the new phishing.

This is so sophisticated - they are spoofing a mobile number, with a message coming in to a string of legitimate texts youve already got from your bank.

Alarm bells shouldnt necessarily have rung when the text come through - but you should always call the number on the back of your bank card, not a number in a text message. The number on the message was a fake number.

The second alarm bell should have rung when they asked for your password - an official bank call will NEVER ask for your password or security codes in full.

You should also follow these safety tips:

Never give out personal or financial information on the phone or by email. Your bank, the police or any other organisation will never ask you for these in full

Never allow someone remote access to your computer following a cold call

Dont rely on caller ID  numbers can be spoofed by fraudsters to make it look like theyre calling from a trusted number

Your bank, the police or any other company, will never call to ask you to transfer your money out of your account for security reasons.

Be wary of all cold calls claiming to be from banks, police, or other trusted organisations  if you have any concerns, call back on an independently verified number

If you have fallen victim to a scam, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
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A new app similar to Tinder but aimed at teenagers could be a new and easy way for paedophiles to contact your child.

Police have warned that this new app could let paedophiles hide behind a profile and become "friends" with young people.

The app itself, linked to Snapchat, is supposed to be a "chat" app rather than dating, but has been compared to Tinder because of its functionalities. It lets you swipe left or right to see users you may want to chat to and if you have a match, you can begin chatting.

As with other social media, there is little way to verify the identity of a user and the simple act of swiping to accept someone as a friend makes it easy for paedophiles to target and get into a conversation with a child.

The app is available for iPhone and Android and is described in the app store as "an easy and free way to make new friends and chat with them.

"Swipe right to like and left to pass. If it's a mutual like, you get a new friend."

It has a 12+ rating for "Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes, Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References, Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity and Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humour".

The app is linked to Snapchat. When two users are matched, they can add each other on Snapchat to send photos or videos.

(Video above courtesy of Newcastle Evening Chronicle).
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A Yeovil man who helped NASA put an astronaut on the moon has died.

Former Aerospace Engineer Donald Howle passed away on March 28, aged 89.

Born on May 6, 1927 in West Yorkshire, Don moved around a lot as a child, growing up in Leigh-on-Sea, Exeter, and Chelmsford, Essex. He became obsessed with planes as he watched the Battle of Britain rage above him.

After studying at King's College, London, he joined the RAF and spent time in India before settling in Yeovil in the 1950's to work for Normalair  formally a part of Westland.

In 1964, Don moved to the USA to work for NCA, which was a subcontractor for NASA. He worked on the radio equipment for the Apollo 11 lunar module, and on the antennae used to transmit colour TV pictures from the Apollo 12 mission.

(Image: AP Photo/NASA)

In an excerpt from Space Flight Magazine, Don wrote: "My first involvement was in thermal-vacuum testing of the solar arrays, antennas and a thermal model of a lunar orbiter, a key project within the overall Apollo Program.

"Later I designed a test rig for simulating the intense thermal flux that played on the back of the lunar module upper-stage rendezvous radar antenna when particular altitude control thrusters were fired.

"I also worked on the thermal-vacuum testing of the automatic deployment of the 10ft diameter erectable antenna, deployed at the Moon to transmit TV pictures back to Earth."

In 1970, Don moved to the Netherlands to work for the European Space Agency, and was heavily involved in the OTS satellite project which was the forerunner of many of today's modern satellites.

After retiring in 1985, Don returned to Yeovil with his wife Linda, and spent many happy years travelling the world.

(Image: AP Photo/HO)

His funeral will be on Friday, April 21 at noon in Yeovil crematorium.

If any readers would be interested in having some of Don's extensive collection of space-related books then please get in touch with his nephew, Simon Berridge, on 07724543714.
After Jerry Bojanowski, 64, retired from his position as a system architect with General Motors in April, he knew he wanted to do something to keep busy. A longtime home chef who enjoyed sharing recipes with his family, Bojanowski (or...
Name: Jeff Hindoien

Age: 52

Address: 1325 Charlie Russell Drive, Helena, MT 59601

Phone: 406.461.4235

Education: B.A., Political Science, MSU Bozeman 1989

J.D., University of Wyoming College of Law, 1994

Occupation: Attorney (Montana Secretary of States Office)

Years Lived in Helena School District: 12

Children in School: One child at C.R. Anderson Middle School

Why are you running for school board?

I am in a position for the first time career-wise to be able to serve on the Board of Trustees, and I have an extensive base of knowledge concerning public school operations.

What makes you a good choice for this position?

Most of my 20-plus year career as an attorney has been focused on providing legal advice and representation to school districts all across Montana, including the Helena Public Schools for many years. My experience in working with a large number of school districts over nearly a decade and a half has involved all aspects of public school operations, including facility design and construction, employment and labor relations, student affairs and discipline, special education, open meetings, elections and finance.

I have been involved in tens of millions of dollars worth of school facility design and construction work in other school districts across Montana, and Ive actually presented at seminars on the processes and legal requirements relating to design and construction of both public school and municipal facilities. Ive also sat in countless school board meetings across Montana over the past two decades and have both observed  and advised  those boards as they have dealt with a wide range of operational issues. Most critically, I have typically been there to advise those trustees as to what their appropriate legal role is as an elected school board member with respect to the particular decision they were faced with at the time. All of that experience has given me a very unique skill set and knowledge base that I would like  if given the opportunity  to bring to bear as an elected trustee in my own home school district.

What are the three key issues you believe are facing the school district?

The condition of our school facilities is an obvious critical issue facing both the elementary and the high school district right now. However, our high school district also has to confront the possibility that the East Helena School District may consider converting to a K-12 district and operating a high school facility itself, and that would have significant impacts on our high school district operations. In terms of a third key issue, we need to be cognizant of the demographics and age of the districts workforce and do what we can to ensure that we can continue to recruit and retain high quality educators, administrators and support staff as the high quality folks that weve had in those positions for years begin to retire.

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 bond proposition and the plan for three new K-5 facilities because it is an appropriate first step in what needs to be a long-range plan to address all of the facility needs across the balance of the elementary district (i.e., the 6-8 facilities) and the high school district. The most important thing as far as Im concerned is going to be the need to carry forward with the momentum of a successful bond proposition for the K-5 facilities and start working towards a plan for the balance of the facility needs.

What is the district doing well?

With the exception of getting behind the curve on long-range facilities planning years ago, I really believe this is a school district that typically does things very well. Weve been blessed with talented and dedicated Trustees, administrators, educators and support staff, and that is entirely a reflection of a community that cares deeply about its schools and kids.

What could the district do better?

Im frankly not running for the Board of Trustees because I perceive one or more specific problems that I personally feel need to be addressed. I have seen more than my share of trustees who ran for (and were elected to) a school board because he or she felt there was a specific problem that they needed to help fix. If there are things that this district can be doing better (and there always are), Im frankly more interested in offering up my experience, skills and judgment to help  as best I can  the collective Board of Trustees that I would be a part of to make sound, reasoned decisions on important issues.

How will you come up to speed on school board issues?

In terms of the routine operational issues that a Board of Trustees confronts at a typical meeting, I have over 15 years of experience as a legal advisor to school boards all across the state and I have seen variations of many (if not most) of those type of issues. In terms of the specific big issues presently facing the Helena Board, I will go back and review the materials and agenda packets that the Board has been working with for the past few months to get up to speed.
A Middlebury man dies in single-vehicle crash in Elkhart County

At the time of the crash, the weather was raining, and the road surface was wet.
After voting to again amend a referendum asking voters if the right to hunt, fish and trap should be expressly stated in the Montana Constitution, lawmakers voted to kill the measure Wednesday.

Senate Bill 236, brought by Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, would have amended the constitutions Harvest-Heritage clause to state hunting, fishing and trapping is a right held by citizens of the state. Fielder says she brought the bill in response to initiatives such as I-177, which sought a ban on most public land trapping but was defeated by voters last year.

The bill initially drew opposition from trapping opponents but also several sportsmen groups and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Concern from the groups and agency centered on unintended consequences of elevating the activities to rights, and what that meant for regulating hunting, fishing and trapping. They also contended that those protections already existed in the Harvest-Heritage clause, which says, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Fielder amended the bill prior to Senate passage to alleviate some of those concerns about changing opportunity to right. The amendment drew additional support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, but continued opposition from FWP and others.

SB236 narrowly passed a House committee on a 10-9 vote Tuesday, after adding clarifying language that the right to hunt, fish and trap did not trump private property rights.

After Rep. Kirk Wagoner, R-Montana City, introduced the bill Wednesday on the floor, Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, brought an amendment to strip most of the bill, and simplify it to say, The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals wildlife through hunting, fishing, and trapping is a heritage that shall forever be preserved.

Wagoner resisted the amendment but it drew support from Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, who said the Constitution should be simple, clean and effective.

The body voted 55-45 to amend the bill.

Rep. Bradley Hamlett, D-Cascade, rose in opposition, saying he still had concerns about elevating hunting, fish and trapping, and what that could mean if, for example, instream flow conflicted with senior water rights for agriculture.

The House then voted SB236 down 48-51.

As a referendum which would then go to the voters, SB236 needed yes votes from a total of 100 lawmakers. After passing the Senate on a 30-20 margin, it needed 70 House votes to pass.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 74F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
A pair of conservation groups filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week, alleging inadequate analysis of an Elliston-area timber project and violation of federal environmental laws and rules.

Three Forks-based Native Ecosystems Council and Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula, challenging the Telegraph Vegetation Project and the USFWS biological opinion of the project.

The 5,700-acre project includes logging and prescribed burning about 15 miles southwest of Helena and 5 miles south of Elliston. First proposed in 2009, the project seeks greater resiliency to fire, insects and drought through diversifying age classes of trees. Reducing fuels adjacent to private lands offers protections while providing an estimated 25 million board feet of commercial timber, according to Forest Service documents.

The council and alliance objected to the project, saying it violated environmental laws while degrading fish and wildlife habitat. The Forest Service added additional information but said it complied with all laws and regulations in its final January decision.

Much of the lawsuit details impacts to grizzly bears, Canada lynx and elk. Project analysis notes some temporary and long-term impacts to wildlife, which while not in itself a violation, leads to the legal contentions that the analysis was inconsistent and inadequate.

The groups argue that the study of cumulative effects from Telegraph and the adjacent Ten Mile-South Helena Project essentially should have been treated as one project. While analysis includes the cumulative effects, the Forest Service has analyzed each project separately, with analysis of Ten Mile yet to be completed.

With grizzly bears, the groups contend that analysis by USFWS is inconsistent with the Forest Services work. The Forest Service found the project as a whole would affect the bears while the USFWS took a more narrow view, the lawsuit says, which did not include much of the logging and prescribed burning, including burning using a helicopter.

The biological opinion for the project is inadequate because it does not address all the effects of the logging project on grizzly bears, including removal of thousands of acres of forested hiding cover in occupied grizzly habitat, reopening and using many miles of closed roads in occupied grizzly habitat, destroying linkage habitat, and using low-flying helicopters to start fires in occupied grizzly habitat, alliance Executive Director Mike Garrity said in an email.

The lynx argument mirrors that of a lawsuit filed for the Stonewall timber project near Lincoln. While rules do allow for logging in lynx habitat near populated areas called the wildland-urban interface, both lawsuits challenge the standards the Forest Service used. Rather than using the federal interface standard, logging extends further by using an interface area developed by local firefighters, the lawsuit says.

The groups criticize logging and burning scheduled for the Jericho Mountain Inventoried Roadless area. The lawsuit contends that Forest Service conclusions about unnatural conditions due to fire suppression and beetle kill conflict with certain fire science.

Finally, the lawsuit challenges the reduction in hiding cover for elk as in violation of the forest plan.

By its own analysis, the agency admits this will drive elk out of public lands, onto private lands, resulting in less elk opportunities for hunters and impacting the ability of Montanas wildlife managers to meet their elk population objectives, Sara Jane Johnson, executive director for the council, said in a statement.

In a news release, the groups are further critical of the project for a more than $4.7 million estimated cost.

When reached for comment, Forest Service public affairs officer Kathy Bushnell called the project community supported and designed to improve the resiliency of the forest to disease, insect, wildfire and drought. The project addresses firefighter safety concerns while providing commercial timber, she said.

Project benefits also include improving 25 stream crossings, decommissioning nearly 34 miles of user-created roads and bridge replacement. Road work and maintenance also improves recreation access, Bushnell said.

We worked diligently with the public and community members, who chose to be active participants in our process, to collectively develop a science-based project that meets a variety of important objectives  ecologically, socially and economically  and we believe that we did that through the design of this project, she said.
New work suggests that ocean asteroid impacts far from a shoreline are unlikely to travel far.

When an asteroid hits the middle of the ocean in Hollywood movies, it creates devastating waves that wipe out coastal cities. But new simulations reveal that real asteroids don't make such a splash. That's because the crash releases most of its energy hurling water up into the atmosphere, and very little on making waves.

"The folklore has been that tsunamis from impactors will be the danger," Galen Gisler, who studies the physics of geological processes at Los Alamos National Laboratory, said at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference last month in The Woodlands, Texas. (Gisler also presented the work at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in December 2016.) He ran 3D simulations that modeled wave formation from falling rocks of various sizes, as shown in this video, and found that the waves formed by smaller asteroids resemble landslide tsunamis on Earth.

"The splash wave can be very dangerous  out to tens of kilometers  but beyond that, they fall away more sharply," he said. [5 Reasons to Care About Asteroids]

Splashdown

Earth doesn't drift alone in its orbit. Hundreds of thousands of near-Earth objects (NEOs) dance near its path, most of them rocky material born from ancient asteroid collisions. Once every 10,000 years or so, objects larger than 328 feet (100 meters) are expected to crash into the planet, with potentially devastating effects, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). With approximately 70 percent of Earth's surface covered with water, the oceans are the most likely landing spots for incoming asteroids.

Asked by NASA to calculate the smallest asteroids that should generate concern, Gisler ran 3D simulations to study the possible effects from an ocean splashdown. Such studies are time-intensive because they require modeling millions of particles, Gisler said; the 11 simulations he ran took him several months. He focused on asteroids with diameters under a third of a mile (500 meters).

Such detailed models are necessary to study the possible effects of the asymmetries that arise from an impact, he said. While asteroids can drop straight down into the ocean, they are far more likely to approach the water at an angle. The resulting impact will push more water in front of it than behind, and Gisler wanted to understand how this would affect any wave formation, like a potential tsunami.

It turns out asteroids are terrible at making waves. Gisler found that most of the energy (80 percent) from an impact is spent vaporizing water and forming a crater. The remaining 20 percent throws most of the liquid water up into the atmosphere, where it has the potential to affect weather patterns, he said. He estimated that only a tenth of 1 percent of the kinetic energy from an impact is spent forming waves. Those waves can still be massive, but they break up quickly.

Gisler found that asteroids approximately 460 feet (140 meters) in size and larger are most likely to cause significant problems. Today, NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies is working to identify 90 percent of the NEOs this size and larger, according to JPL; so far, they've spotted just over half of the estimated population.

If the asteroid impact is within 60 miles (100 km) or so of the shore, it can dramatically impact the coast, Gisler said. Larger objects, around 980 feet (300 meters), can create hurricane-force winds and shock waves in the air, as well as localized waves. But if the asteroid splashes down farther from the coast, the massive waves it forms quickly break in the open ocean.

"It's very ineffective at actually producing a wave," Gisler said. "The waves don't propagate very well."

In fact, the effect is similar to waves produced by landslides around fjords in Norway and Iceland, he said. When material slides down the mountains and into these long, narrow inlets, they can create massive waves that have a large local effect but don't spread very far. In 1934, one such avalanche dropped enough rock to form waves 203 feet (62 meters) high, destroying several inhabited villages. While these landslides can be devastating for those near them, they pose little danger for those some distance away, Gisler said.

Thus, asteroid impact near the shore can wreak havoc, but the limited reach of those farther out in the ocean should cause far less concern.

"If you're more than 100 kilometers from a shoreline, I would be tempted to say let the thing drop and study it," Gisler said.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd at @NolaTRedd, Facebook, or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
A volcanic plume ejects gas and particles about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface of Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system.

The luminous auroras on the surface of Jupiter's explosive moon Io have revealed that the small satellite may not contain an internal magma ocean as previous studies had suggested.

A new study using observations by the Hubble Space Telescope provides a glimpse at oscillations in Io's auroras that are in synch with oscillations in Jupiter's magnetic field near the moon. But the authors of the study say that a subsurface magma ocean should suppress those oscillations.

"Our results indicate that a magma ocean cannot be present, so they contradict previous results," Lorenz Roth, a planetary scientist at Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology and an author of the new study, told Space.com by email. The main reason is that "we see the strong changes in the aurorae, which cannot be there if a magma ocean is present," he said. [Amazing Photos: Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io]

Dazzling Lights

On Earth, the dazzling auroras  also known as the northern and southern lights  form in the sky when charged particles from the sun are accelerated by the planets magnetic field and collide with other particles in the planet's atmosphere. The field lines route the particles toward the poles, where they interact with the atmosphere to create the variety of colors in the sky.

But Jupiter's magnetic field shields its moons from the effects of the sun, blocking charged solar particles from its satellites much as Earths magnetic field protects our planet from some types of solar radiation. Instead, the auroras on Io come from charged particles flowing off the gas giant itself. And unlike on Earth, the auroras shine over the moon's equator rather than its poles. Over the course of Jupiter's 10-hour rotation, the amount of charged particles striking Io varies.

"Io's auroras are always present, and it constantly changes brightness, by about 50 percent, over a rotation period of Jupiter," Roth said. "But it's always there."

During multiple flybys of Io in the 1990s, NASA's Galileo spacecraft measured the magnetic field of the moon. Based on these observations, scientists concluded that a churning magma ocean beneath the crust very likely generated this field. (The circulation of charged particles generates an electric current and a magnetic field, as is the case in Earth's core.) But the spacecrafts measurements were taken at various points in Jupiter's rotation, and may not have revealed how much influence the planet had on the moons magnetic field.

"These measurements are very difficult to interpret, and the existence of a magma ocean is only one possible explanation," Roth said. "But we think it is not the only one."

By turning the Hubble telescope toward Io, Roth and his colleagues captured the aurora through a full Jupiter rotation over five orbits taken at the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. Orbiting Earth, Hubble lies anywhere from 390 million to 576 million (620 million to 925 million kilometers) from Jupiter. Despite its distance, the instrument provided a more extensive and detailed look at Io in ultraviolet light than the Galileo spacecraft was able to obtain.

The team used the aurora to trace Io's magnetic field, and found that, rather than following the currents of a magma ocean, the shimmering particles oscillated in sync with Jupiter's changing magnetic field at Io. If Io boasted a magma ocean, simulations suggest that the fluctuations in Jupiter's magnetic field near Io would be much smaller than Hubble observed.

"An electrically conductive magma ocean should suppress the changes [that cause auroras] but they are observed to be present and strong," Roth said.

Volcanoes on Io

One of the four largest Galilean satellites of Jupiter, Io is covered with 150 known volcanic hotspots. Enormous plumes of dust and gas explode from the surface, stretching into space.

A still from a movie of Io, taken by NASA's Cassini mission, reveals its bright spots and changing auroras around the equator. (Image credit: NASA)

While the new results suggest that a global magma ocean doesn't seem to lie beneath the moon's crust, that magma could still lie in scattered pockets, Roth said. Rock melted by heat inside Io, generated by the tidal pull of Jupiter, could power the volcanoes, Roth noted.

Based on the new research, Io's molten iron core may be larger than scientists previously estimated. According to Roth, gravity measurements place the core anywhere from 37 to 52 percent of the moon's radius, while the new results estimate it at between 38 and 68 percent. He said that a core spanning 40 to 50 percent of the radius  nearly half the size of the moon  would work well with all current theories and measurements.

"This relative core size is larger than for most other bodies," he said, though he pointed out that core size depends on the individual formation process of each object.

Io's auroras, revealed by the Galileo spacecraft, shine around its equator, thanks to interactions with Jupiter. Charged particles colliding within the atmosphere produce the red-and-green glow, while blue light comes from the volcanic plumes. (Image credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Roth said he thinks the new results sufficiently disprove the magma ocean theory. He added that a dedicated Io mission could reveal whether the moon's aurora has fine structures such as arcs or lines, or if it is simply a diffuse glow.

But the puzzle of Io's magnetic field isn't completely solved. Though the new measurements reveal that a magma ocean doesn't lie beneath the moon's crust, they don't fully resolve the earlier observations.

The technique used by Roth and his colleagues focused on the electric conductivity of Io. That means something else must be affecting the moons magnetic field.

"What we need now is a model that can explain both Galileo in situ measurements of the magnetic field and HST [Hubble Space Telescope] remote sensing observations of the aurora  with or without the magma ocean," Roth said.

The results were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
This enhanced-color image of Enceladus by NASA's Cassini spacecraft features the "tiger stripe" fractures, from which geysers blast water ice and other material from the Saturn moon's subsurface ocean out into space.

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is looking more and more like a habitable world.

The same sorts of chemical reactions that sustain life near deep-sea hydrothermal vents here on Earth could potentially be occurring within Enceladus' subsurface ocean, a new study published today (April 13) in the journal Science suggests.

These reactions depend on the presence of molecular hydrogen (H2), which, the new study reports, is likely being produced continuously by reactions between hot water and rock deep down in Enceladus' sea. [Photos of Enceladus, Saturn's Geyser-Blasting Moon]

"The abundance of H2, along with previously observed carbonate species, suggests a state of chemical disequilibria in the Enceladus ocean that represents a chemical energy source capable of supporting life," Jeffrey Seewald, of the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, wrote in an accompanying "Perspectives" piece in the same issue of Science. (Seewald was not involved in the new Enceladus study.)

This enhanced-color image of Enceladus by NASA's Cassini spacecraft features the "tiger stripe" fractures, from which geysers blast water ice and other material from the Saturn moon's subsurface ocean out into space. (Image credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute)

A geyser-blasting ocean world

The 313-mile-wide (504 kilometers) Enceladus is just Saturn's sixth-largest moon, but the object has loomed large in the minds of astrobiologists since 2005.

In that year, NASA's Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft first spotted geysers of water ice erupting from "tiger stripe" fissures near Enceladus' south pole. Scientists think these geysers are blasting material from a sizeable ocean buried beneath the satellite's ice shell.

More than 100 individual geysers blast water ice, organic molecules and other material into space from the south polar region of Saturns moon Enceladus, as seen here by NASAs Cassini spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA/JPL/SSI)

So, Enceladus has liquid water, one of the key ingredients required for life as we know it. (This ocean stays liquid because Saturn's immense gravitational pull twists and stretches the moon, generating internal "tidal" heat.) And the new study suggests that the satellite possesses another key ingredient as well: an energy source.

A team of researchers led by Hunter Waite, of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, analyzed observations made by Cassini during an October 2015 dive through Enceladus' geyser plume.

This plunge was special in several ways. For one thing, it was Cassini's deepest-ever dive through the plume; the probe got within a mere 30 miles (49 km) of Enceladus' surface. In addition, Cassini's Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument alternated between "open-source" and "closed-source" modes during the encounter, rather than sticking to closed source (the usual routine).

INMS is just 0.25 percent as sensitive in open-source mode as it is in closed-source mode, Waite and his colleagues wrote in the new Science paper. But open source has a key advantage: It minimizes artifacts that have complicated previous attempts to measure H2 levels in the plume.

With this analytical hurdle cleared, Waite and his team were able to calculate that H2 makes up between 0.4 percent and 1.4 percent of the volume of Enceladus' geyser plume. Further calculations revealed that carbon dioxide (CO2) makes up an additional 0.3 percent to 0.8 percent of the plume's volume. [Inside Enceladus, Icy Moon of Saturn (Infographic)]

The molecular hydrogen is most likely being produced continuously by reactions between hot water and rock in and around Enceladus' core, Waite and his colleagues concluded. They considered other possible explanations and found them wanting. For example, neither Enceladus' ocean nor its ice shell are viable long-term reservoirs for volatile H2, the authors wrote, and processes that disassociate H2 from water ice in the shell don't seem capable of generating the volume measured in the plume.

The hydrothermal explanation is also consistent with a 2016 study by another research group, which concluded that tiny silica grains detected by Cassini could have been produced only in hot water at significant depths.

"The story seems to be fitting together," Chris Glein of SwRI, a co-author of the new Science paper, told Space.com.

Deep-sea chemical reactions

Earth's deep-sea hydrothermal vents support rich communities of life, ecosystems powered by chemical energy rather than sunlight.

"Some of the most primitive metabolic pathways utilized by microbes in these environments involve the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with H2 to form methane (CH4) by a process known as methanogenesis," Seewald wrote.

The inferred presence of H2 and CO2 in Enceladus' ocean therefore suggests that similar reactions could well be occurring deep beneath the moon's icy shell. Indeed, the observed H2 levels indicate that a lot of chemical energy is potentially available in the ocean, Glein said.

"It's quite a bit larger than the minimum energy required to support methanogenesis," he said.

Glein stressed, however, that nobody knows whether such reactions are actually occurring on Enceladus.

"This is not a detection of life," Glein said. "It increases the habitability, but I would never suggest that this makes Enceladus more or less likely to have life itself. I think the only way to answer that question is, we need data."

Seewald also counseled caution on astrobiological interpretations. He noted, for example, that molecular hydrogen is rare in Earth's seawater, because hungry microbes quickly gobble it up.

"Is the presence of H2 in the Enceladus ocean an indicator for the absence of life, or is it a reflection of the very different geochemical environment and associated ecosystems on Enceladus?" Seewald wrote. "We still have a long way to go in our understanding of processes regulating the exchange of mass and heat across geological interfaces that define the internal structure of Enceladus and other ice-covered planetary bodies."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Three WB-57 aircraft shown flying in formation. Two WB-57s will take to the skies to study the Aug. 21, 2017 total solar eclipse.

Millions of people will turn their eyes toward the August 2017 total solar eclipse, but most of them will be on the ground. Over Tennessee, however, two scientists will be observing the incredible event from the cockpit of a pair of modified bomber aircraft.

Rising above the turbulent atmosphere, the planes will carry high-definition cameras that will observe the structure of the sun's outer layers in remarkable detail. The scientists will also use this unique opportunity to make some less obvious measurements: They'll measure the temperature of the planet Mercury and, if they're lucky, they may even spy remnants of the early solar system.

"By flying in the stratosphere, we can obtain some excellent quality observations," project scientist Constantine Tsang, of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Colorado, told Space.com. Tsang is also hoping that he's one of the scientists who gets to fly with the instruments during the eclipse, rather than waiting for the data back on the ground. [Where to See the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, State by State]

Above the atmosphere

In addition to their stunning visual show, total solar eclipses provide a wonderful way for scientists to study the sun. While the moon blocks light from the star's central body, the fainter outer layers of the atmosphere can be studied in great detail. A number of Earth-based observatories will take advantage of the opportunity to probe the sun on Aug. 21.

Even the highest altitude observatories must contend with the way the Earth's atmosphere can blur light coming from objects in space. By taking flight in a pair of WB-57s, the American version of the British B-57 bombers, Tsang's instruments will rise above much of the atmosphere. The aircraft are part of NASA's Airborne Science Program.

Essentially high-definition television cameras, the instruments will be able to study high-frequency events in the outer layers of the sun, such as the nanoflares that help redistribute energy from the magnetic field to the plasma. The device to be flown on the WB-57s will capture 60 frames per second, Tsang told Space.com. That will allow the cameras to capture short-lived aspects of the corona better than satellite cameras with a slower frame rate, Tsang said.

The bombers will also extend the amount of time available to study the sun's outer layers. The so-called path of totality refers to the region on the ground where the total eclipse will be visible. The moon's shadow will move across the U.S. from west to east. At any point on the ground, the sun will be totally obscured by the moon for a maximum of about 2.5 minutes. But each high-speed aircraft will bump that time up to just over 3 minutes, because they will be able to chase the moon's shadow and briefly extend the duration of totality observed. However, the shadow will move at more than three times the speed of sound (2,400 mph, or 3,900 km/h), much faster than the bombers can hope to keep up with. The two planes will fly in formation, separated by about 50 nautical miles, Tsang said. As the first plane flies out of the path of the eclipse, the second should just enter it, creating back-to-back observations of the corona.

But the sun won't be the only star of the show. While in the air, the cameras will also observe Mercury for 10 to 15 minutes. The closest planet to the sun, Mercury will be only a slim crescent in the sky. Its proximity to the sun makes it challenging to observe from the ground without an eclipse. Tsang and his team will take the opportunity to study the planet in the infrared light, which can be used to reveal the temperature of objects that are not quite hot enough to start radiating visible light. The new observations will help reveal how the planet is losing heat, Tsang said, and combined with previous measurements, they should provide insights about the interior of Mercury.

"These will be the first measurements of their kind," Tsang said, pointing out that the infrared range captured by these cameras is outside the range studied by spacecraft such as NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury and the upcoming BepiColombo, a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Along with gathering new information about Mercury, with a little luck the scientists may catch a glimpse of the early solar system. The eclipse provides an excellent opportunity to hunt for Vulcanoids, hypothetical objects leftover from the beginning of the solar system, Tsang said. Vulcanoids are thought to travel around the sun in stable zones inside of Mercury's orbit, and may have evaded detection, thanks to small sizes and the glare of the sun.

During the eclipse, the sun's bright light will disappear, allowing Tsang's team to search for Vulcanoids by hunting for moving objects across the background field of stars. The process is similar to hunting for asteroids and near-Earth objects farther out in the solar system, though those hunts span days rather than minutes.

"We don't have the luxury of waiting a couple of days," Tsang said.

A WB-57 aircraft, part of NASA's Airborne Science Program. (Image credit: NASA)

Airborne astronomy

Almost since the invention of airplanes, astronomers have taken to the sky to peer at the heavens, according to a report from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). On Sept. 10, 1923, a fleet of Navy planes launched with the goal of determining the centerline of the solar eclipse. (The centerline is the very center of the path of totality; the duration of totality is longest at the centerline, and shortest at the edges of the path).

Solar eclipses remained the primary focus of airborne astronomy until the 1960s, when NASA launched the Galileo aircraft, which was dedicated to studying astronomy, according to the AIAA report. Instruments on the plane studied comets, meteor showers and Mars until Galileo's tragic crash in 1973.

The Kuiper Airborne Observatory, which operated from 1973 until 1995, hosted an open-port telescope that discovered the atmosphere around Pluto and rings around Uranus, among other things. In 2007, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) took flight and is still operational today. Both the KAO and SOFIA allow scientists to ride inside the airplane as passengers, while the instruments take observations. Tsang flew aboard SOFIA earlier this year to make observations of Venus.

But the WB-57s are a different kind of beast.

Based out of Elliston Air Force Base in Houston, the American-built bombers have been flying research missions since the early 1960s. The modified bombers have only two seats, and typically, the rear seat is occupied by a NASA employee serving as a sensor equipment operator, or SEO. If a scientist wants to take the place of the SEO, he or she has to serve as a co-pilot.

Observing scientists must undergo completely different training than required for SOFIA. The WB-57 will fly at 50,000 feet, "just below where you need spacesuits," Tsang said, referring to the protective pressure suits worn by high-altitude pilots. Flying as a participating scientist on one of the WB-57s would require two to three months of training, in addition to the training Tsang has already undergone as part of a private flight aboard an L-29 military jet several years ago. That flight was part of his training for flights aboard suborbital space planes.

Two WB-57 aircraft will carry instruments to study the Aug. 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. (Image credit: NASA)

"This would be new to me," said Tsang, who has a glider license and is working on his single- engine license.

The project combines what he calls his two passions, astronomy and aviation. While most astronomy is stationary and safe, taking place behind a telescope or, more recently, behind a computer screen, co-piloting a WB-57 would be more hands-on, Tsang said.

"I'm a classical astronomer," he said. "I like to come up with an ideal, figure out if it's possible, and make the observations and see what I get. I like the thrill of discovery by getting hands-on and dirty."

In 1997, SwRI scientist Alan Stern flew aboard a WB-57 to observe Comet Hale-Bopp, but when the aircraft take off to observe the eclipse, it doesn't look like Tsang will be in the cockpit. In the past, the pilot and co-pilot could eject themselves separately in an emergency, but since Stern's flight the seats have been refit, and today either one could eject both. Ejecting can be extremely dangerous for the co-pilots, not to mention for people on the ground, and Tsang attributes NASA' rejection of him in large part to this  perhaps more experienced pilots don't want to put their fate in the hands of a less-experienced counterpart.

Tsang, who has been working on this mission concept since 2010, is still hoping the agency will change its mind, but thinks chances are slim. If he can't be inside one of the bombers, he won't be on the ground to see the planes take off without him from Houston. Instead, he'll travel to a location where the total solar eclipse is visible.

"Having fought so hard, it would be hard to watch an SEO enjoy that and know that that could have been me," Tsang said.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
My goal as a legislator is to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars while strategically striving to solve societal problems. The Republican-led House of Representatives voting to increase wages for direct care workers who serve developmentally disabled people is such an instance. Montanas conservative leaders voted on this wage increase in order to solve a problem and save money in public assistance programs in the long run. Its good policy.

There are 3,000 direct care workers in Montana who provide services for 5,800 people. These professionals help people dress, teach, bathe, eat and so much more  activities that empower the disabled in their everyday lives.

Unfortunately, because of low hourly wages starting at $10.15, over half of the providers in Montana struggle to find the staff to fill the incredible need for these life changing services.

The government sets wages through Medicaid when clients cannot pay for services, as is often the case. Therein is our problem: government fixed pricing and the free market have collided. It is more financially rewarding for a worker to take a job at McDonalds for a 40 percent pay raise rather than becoming a direct care professional.

In fact, low wages mean that between 50-60 percent of direct care workers are on some form of public assistance. This is not acceptable.

My proposal to increase hourly wages $5 over the next two years comes out to the same cost to the state as the bevy of social services that direct care workers are entitled to receive. Its better policy to spend the money on wages than on government assistance. The question before this legislature is simple: with limited resources how do we prioritize funds to ensure that disabled people in Montana receive the care that they need? We cannot demand that the disabled pay more out of pocket to raise the wages of direct care workers. We must prioritize raising wages for these important and difficult services.

The goal of government assistance programs is to provide a temporary safety net for its citizens when they need it, and then empower them to move off of these programs as quickly as possible. We need to ensure that there are tools for employees to work hard and advance, not remain subsistent on government.

In passing the direct care wage increase, the Republican led legislature will make direct care jobs servicing the disabled more attractive to the free market. We will also make strides to provide a more solid workforce for the disabled and save money in government welfare programs.

The bottom line is that our direct care workers helping the disabled are living near poverty, not because they are unskilled or do unimportant work. They are living near poverty because state Medicaid policy assures their employers cannot pay them more. This bill changes that and places value on the great work direct care givers provide. It tackles a societal problem and gets individuals off of government assistance, a hallmark of good policy.

Jon Knokey, R-Bozeman, represents House District 65 in the Montana Legislature.
First, they are one of the important institutions in Montana that serve to communicate the values held by the citizens of this State. Im a new immigrant to Montana, and through interesting and educational programs presented by the Montana Historical Society, Ive learned about the people who settled this State or made history in this country through their actions. I have a better understanding of the values that hold Montanas communities together, such as a strong commitment to church and state, independence, strong community spirit and an expectation for citizens to step up and contribute. It is this source of cultural knowledge that allows a newcomer like me to realize what it takes to fit into your community, rather than just residing here as an outsider. Many times I have attended MHS events with standing room only due the high interest of Montanas residents. Museums in every community hold these stories and the MHS is an important central core that assists museums across the State to do the same in each local community.
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I strongly endorse Jeff Hindoien in his campaign to serve on the Board of Trustees for Helena Public Schools. Over the years, I have worked with Jeff in his capacity as an attorney representing school districts. I have always been impressed by his extensive knowledge of the public school system in Montana, his professionalism, and his dedication to the school districts he represented. Even though we have been on opposite sides of hotly contested legal cases, Jeff always remained courteous and respectful. I have no doubt that he would be a tremendous asset to the Board if elected. Jeff has the knowledge and experience to understand and address the challenges our school district faces. He also has the temperament to bring people together to meet these challenges. I hope you will join me in supporting Jeff.
Copenhagen (Denmark), April 13, 2017 (SPS)- The Danish minister of foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen said that his country continues to support the efforts of the United Nations for a political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, which is occupied by Morocco.

The Best way for Denmark to contribute to a solution is to continue supporting the efforts of the United Nations to reach a political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, said the Danish minister in front of the parliament, answering many questions relating to the Sahrawi issue.

Concerning the trial of the 24 political prisoners of Gdeim Izik which took place last March before the court of appeal of the city of Sale (Morocco), Samuelsen said that the Danish government is aware of the case and we are following it through the European Union delegation in Morocco, which attended the trial.

The Danish government reckons that civilian must be tried before civil courts he added, underlining that Denmark asks Rabat authorities questions concerning human rights.

Speaking about the session of the Crans Montana Forum in the occupied city of Dakhla last March, Samuelsen told the parliamentarians we are aware of the forums holding in Dakhla and neither I nor any other member of the Danish government participated in this session. SPS

125/090/700
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BRIDGEPORT  Foregoing the customary formal announcement on the proposed site, Mayor Joe Ganim on Monday casually mentioned in his speech to the business community the name of the grocery store that is to open on the East End.

The announcement  that Gala Fresh Farms planned to open at the proposed Seaview Plaza site on the corner of Seaview and Stratford avenues  was one neighborhood residents have been waiting years to hear, especially those who can spend as long as 45 minutes on a bus to get to the closest supermarket.

But the name left many scratching their heads. The brand is only about a year old and there are none in Connecticut.

The first Gala Fresh opened in December 2015 in Baldwin, N.Y., according to Supermarket News. The brands website, which lists two other locations in New York and two in New Jersey, describes the grocer as your neighborhood food retailer offering fresh, natural and organic products.

Several reports about the brand describe it using the term upscale. This concerns Eneida Martinez, a council member representing the East End.

It sounds like its a high (end) type of store, she said. You have to be mindful that the East End is not a high-income type of area.

Many of her constituents receive state aid, including food assistance, she noted. Theyre on a budget, she said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2011-2015 American Community Survey, the median household income for those in the East End, or 06607 zip code, is $33,233. In the neighboring East Side, the median income is just above $30,000.

Thomas Gill, economic development director for the city of Bridgeport, said he doesnt know the specifics of the grocery stores lease with Seaview Plaza developer, Bridgeport Landing Development, which is running the adjacent Steel Point project.

Weve heard that they would fall in between a Stop & Shop and a Whole Foods operation, Gill said, of Gala Fresh.

He said in order for Bridgeport Landings principals, Robert Christoph Sr. and his son Robert Christoph Jr., to take possession of the site they had to sign a lease for a grocery store of at least 40,000 square feet. That condition appeared to be met when the closing on the property occurred on Monday, Gill said. Christoph Jr. did not respond to requests for comment this week.

Key Food Stores Co-operative, under which the Gala Fresh brand operates, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Gill said he doubts the grocers prices would be out of line with what the local population could pay. I dont think theyre just an organic grocer, he said. I think there will be options there. I think grocers understand their market. They do extensive market studies.

Keith Williams, president of the East End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, said residents have been waiting for a grocer for so long that they will welcome any brand, as long as its affordable and you dont still have to go to Stratford or somewhere else to go shopping.

Martinez said she would like to see something similar to a C-Town, Shop Rite or Price Rite, of which there are two in Bridgeport. She said even Stop & Shop can sometimes be a bit pricey for her constituents.

We need reasonable stores that residents can afford, she said.

ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227
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The latest installment of the Saks Shops Greenwich is open for business.

The Vault, serving as the brands majestic home of the worlds most exclusive jewelry, is open as of May 4 at 200 Greenwich Ave.

It joins The Collective, featuring contemporary fashions, across from Saks main store. A short walk away, Saks first store just for shoes, 10022-SHOE, opened in October.

The Vault held a private preview party on May 3 with live music, passed champagne and a sneak peek at the impressive jewelry on sale, including some exclusive brands to the Greenwich market like Amsterdam Sauer, Anita Ko and Noor Fares.

Some specialty pieces include De Grisogono diamond earrings for $2,571,500, a Bulgari serpent bracelet for $99,000 and a blue Vhernier necklace for $175,600.

The Vault is the only Saks store dedicated solely to fine jewelry. It features jewelry viewing rooms, jewelry design, repair and cleaning and complimentary delivery of purchases

With its 61,500 square feet of space downtown within a two-minute walk, Saks has become the largest retailer in Greenwichs main business corridor. But the brands investment in its Greenwich properties wont be completed until later this fall, when the main store is set to complete a round of renovations.

The store openings are part of the companys efforts to broaden its metro New York City footprint, Saks Fifth Avenue President Marc Metrick told Hearst Connecticut Media last fall.

Greenwich is one of our most productive stores on a sales-per-square-foot basis, he said at the opening of 10022-SHOE.

The February opening of The Collective arrived amid news of many large brands, such as Aeropostale, Macys and Sears, shuttering stores. Regardless, Metrick voiced optimism about his companys future during an interview.

Department stores arent dying, Metrick said. Bad ones are.

Even with the large growth of Saks within Greenwichs downtown area, the brand hadnt seen a slowdown in sales as of February, he added.

With small being the new big, as Metrick said, Saks slate of boutique Greenwich shops aims to encourage shoppers to take advantage of the brands diverse offerings without the big box-store atmosphere.

mbennett@greenwichtime.com
A state lawmaker has found a new way to pay for raises to those who provide direct care for people who have developmental disabilities and the elderly.

The move by Sen. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, comes a week after Republicans killed a tobacco tax that would have increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes by $1.50 and used some of the increase to give raises to people that care for Medicaid recipients who are elderly or disabled.

Caferro on Thursday brought a set of amendments to House Bill 638, carried by Rep. Jon Knokey, R-Bozeman. She said the writing was on the wall that bill wouldnt be able to provide raises with the failure of the tobacco tax.

The first change calls for a $3-an-hour raise phased in over two years, as opposed to the $5 the original bill called for. Without the bump in tobacco tax, Caferro proposed to pay for the increase by allocating a portion of any money the state brings in over what its expected to.

The amendment puts a trigger in place to direct revenues beyond what's projected to wage increases and caps the amount that can go to wages. In the first year, if there are excess revenues, $2.8 million would go to wage increases. In the second year, the cap is $6.5 million.

In the event we leave town and theres extra money I think it should go to pay for these raises, Caferro said. "These are the people who do the important work of caring for those people who have developmental disabilities in our state."

The amendment passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee unanimously.

Sen. Albert Olszewski, R-Kalispell, spoke in support of the amendment, saying that the state in effect rations health care by not paying direct care workers enough, which limits the number of people who go into those jobs.

The infusion of money would end after two years, and Caferro said she hopes in that time the state will find another way to keep the pay increases in place.

The bill does not interfere with a Senate bill carried by Sen. Eric Moore, R-Miles City, that pays for infrastructure projects through bonding. Moores bill also uses excess revenues, in his case to pay down bonding.

Caferro also got an amendment passed that will give raises to direct care workers who care for the elderly. The raises, $1.50 in the first year and 75 cents in the second, would come from the Older Montanans Trust Fund.

The fund was set up from general revenue money in 2007 but was raided in 2011 to make up for a hole in the state budget. Since then, the fund has not taken in any more money and has hovered at around $1.2 million.

Olszewski called Caferro a sleuth in finding a pocket of money that has been stagnant and unused.

Moore said he was concerned that after the trust is spend down the only way to keep paying for the wages is from the general fund.

Caferro said that even without a funding source past 2019, the wage increases are necessary and its up to future Legislatures to figure out how to keep them in place.

Investing in long-term care so people can age in place is less expensive, she said.

Olszewski, who announced his week he is running to unseat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, in 2018, said that the issue of wages for direct care workers will be one of the most important in the 2019 session.

We have to figure out how to provide appropriate free-market wages to the people who take care of our elderly, he said. We need to fix this before we even enter into this question of what we want to do with Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid expansion, which has extended coverage to 71,000 in the state, is set to sunset in 2019 and the state must then decide if it wants to continue the program with a lower level of federal funding.
STAMFORD  A star witness in a Bridgeport murder trial has avoided jail by agreeing to pay restitution for stealing $1.4 million from his former employer.

Jevene Wright, 33, of Bridgeport, agreed to pay $150,000 plus $2,000 per month for the next five years to the Stamford company where he previously worked.

State Superior Court Judge Richard Comerford gave him a five-year suspended jail sentence and five years probation.

He is happy to finally put this behind him, his attorney, Peter Karayiannis, said. He is looking forward to moving on and making restitution in the case.

As a condition of his probation, Wright is required to cooperate with the States Attorneys Office in Bridgeport in the murder trial of Jermaine Richards, who is accused of killing his girlfriend and disposing of her remains in a wooded area in Trumbull in April 2013.

Richards is facing a third trial after the first two ended in hung juries.

Wright testified in 2015 that Richards told him he would kill his girlfriend if she was cheating, and he knew how to get rid of her body because he was a nurse.

However, Wright wavered when he was cross-examined by defense attorney John Gulash after acknowledging he was getting consideration in the Stamford larceny case in exchange for his testimony in the murder trial.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Maureen Ornousky inherited Wrights larceny case when her boss, former Stamford States Attorney David Cohen, retired in 2015.

Wright had already pleaded guilty at the time to first-degree larceny and agreed to pay a lump sum of $650,000 and make payments for the rest of the stolen money. However, Wright was not able to come up with the lump sum and the amount was lowered to $250,000.

But Wright was not able to make that payment. His former attorney, Thomas Murtha, has been accused of stealing $100,000 from him that was supposed to go toward the payment.

Murtha resigned from the bar last year following accusations he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of clients money. Federal authorities arrested Murtha in Michigan last week on wire fraud charges. He is accused of stealing more than $900,000 from his clients.

Wright is required to turn over any payments he receives from the states Client Security Fund, which reimburses victims of crooked attorneys, Ornousky said.

It has never been determined what Wright did with the more than $1 million in stolen money.

The question of where all the money went has not been satisfactorily answered, Ornousky said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvo

cate.com;
T o Brexits true believers, ever-ready to deny economic reality and evidence, it doesnt matter whether or not were in the European Unions single market, or its customs union.

Dont worry, they say, well just strike a free trade agreement (FTA) and continue to trade tariff-free with the EU. But this attitude demonstrates a deep misunderstanding of the difference between an FTA and the single market.

Forget the tariffs: its the single markets removal of non-tariff barriers  the grit of different rules and regulations that hamper trade  which is the real boon to thousands of British businesses, particularly in the services sector.

It goes far beyond the scope of any trade agreement and, after more than 20 years of the single market, the UK economy is inexorably tied to that of the EU. In that sense, pulling out of the EU is more akin to New York deciding to go it alone and erecting barriers to trade with the rest of the US.

Work by Monique Ebell at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) estimates that, even if an FTA with the EU is agreed, Britains total trade with the EU would still fall by 45%. And an agreement which covers only goods, which FTAs usually are limited to, would do nothing for trade in services. The lack of coverage for services exports is particularly damaging for the UK because of its world-class standing in the field.

The share of service sector output in Britain is the highest in the G7; financial services exports are more than four times greater as a share of GDP than for any other G7 country.

In all, leaving the single market and replacing it with an FTA will leave the UK economy significantly smaller (the Treasury estimates by about 6%) in the long term than it would if we stayed in the EU.

But, the Brexiteers say, we can strike FTAs here, there and everywhere, creating a Global Britain to more than make up for the losses associated with leaving the EU.

Sadly that simply doesnt stack up. One of the few certainties in economics is that the level of trade between two countries is heavily dependent on how close they are. When Brexiteers argue that the UK is entering a post-geography world, they are simply wrong. Geography matters now as much as it ever did.

Coupled with the fact that free trade deals do not cover trade in services sufficiently, the benefits from FTAs with other countries, all of which are significantly further away from Britain than the EU is, just arent that great.

A UK Government study to measure the impact of a free trade agreement linking Britain and the US found that, at its most ambitious, such a deal would lead to a 0.35% increase in long-run GDP. Small beer. Similar studies have found that an FTA with Japan would, at best, deliver a 0.76% rise in long-run GDP.

FTAs with Canada, Australia and New Zealand combined could be expected, at best, to raise the long-run level of GDP by 0.1%. A deal with all the Asean economies, meanwhile, would raise it by, at most, 0.2%. Add them all together and, at best, youve reduced the six-percentage-point loss from leaving the EU to a still-chunky 4.5% hit.

Of course, Brexit supporters argue that there are gains to be had from leaving the single market and its regulatory harmonisation. And maybe the boost to productivity from being able to use incandescent lightbulbs while vacuuming with high-powered hoovers will be significant.

But one thing is clear: new trade deals will never be able to make up for what were losing.

Grant Lewis is head of research at Daiwa Capital Markets and is writing in a personal capacity.
S ome of the UKs biggest firms are already routing business through Europe in fear of what a hard Brexit could do to trade, HSBC has warned.

Britains largest bank said some of its top clients arent waiting to see what deal the UK strikes with the EU and are voting with their feet.

Noel Quinn, head of global commercial banking at HSBC, said: A small number of our larger clients are asking us to book more of their trade and foreign-exchange activity in their French operation through our Paris office.

Executives at multinational firms are making plans to ensure they can continue to trade regardless of the outcome. They cant afford to wait for a decision that may not emerge for two years, he told Bloomberg.

The concern for large companies is that they may lose the right to sell services and goods in the EU, which is why they are putting contingency plans in place now.

Quinn says some large companies, which he did not name, are also considering whether to flip their regional head office to a Continental cities.

Larger companies that already have a pan-European presence are going to find it easier to invoke a Plan B than smaller ones, he said. Theyre not losing faith in the UK, but the reality is businesses will start making their decisions before the answer emerges from the Brexit process.
O ne clear ambition of Theresa Mays trip to Saudi Arabia last week was to convince the kingdoms rulers there is no better place than London to list shares in oil giant Aramco. Not only would it reinforce the capitals place as a global finance centre post-Brexit, but just think of the fees associated with launching a 1.6 trillion firm onto the public markets.

There is little downside to hosting other nations get-rich-quick schemes. But going out in the world on its own, the UK could do with some more long-term sources of investment itself. Aramco is being groomed for flotation because the plunging oil price persuaded the Saudi royals it was time to diversify their economy and prepare for the day when the wells runs dry. If only the UK had thought ahead when the North Sea fields were gushing.

Calls for the creation of our own sovereign wealth fund go out every so often to fund essential infrastructure that keeps the UK competitive. The only problem is the mineral wealth that typically seeds these funds is all but gone.

The Centre for Policy Studies returned to the topic in a blog last month, suggesting the New Zealand Superannuation Fund as the model to follow. Last year it was the turn of MP John Penrose. His plan was for a National Debt Charge to be carved out of income tax receipts that would pay interest on the national debt with the surplus building up a UK wealth fund over several generations to underpin state pensions and benefits.

Why bother? The UK is awash with sovereign wealth funds  from other countries. Just one, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, owns the Lanesborough hotel and chunks of Gatwick Airport and Thames Water. The Canadians and Singaporeans have also been free with their cheque books. London remains a magnet for inward investment but that money is not always matched with the projects in most need.

Institutional investors prefer assets that are up and running and generating income but are less keen on funding risky construction. Efforts to persuade UK pension funds to plug the gap have had limited success and a plan to pool local government pension funds and create mini-wealth funds has been slow going too.

Projects are still taking place. The National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline counts 500 billion of work in prospect, most of it in energy and transport, although two-fifths of that figure wont be spent until after 2021. There are wide variations by sector. Most energy and utilities infrastructure spending is privately funded but in waste and education it is predominantly public cash. The governments latest plan is a National Productivity Investment Fund that comes with an extra 23 billion committed to housing, economic infrastructure and research and development from 2018 to 2022. Yet there is always a tendency to meddle. Just as the Green Investment Bank was getting into its stride, the decision was taken to privatise.

Just think what could be achieved by a fund that is as far as possible depoliticised so it can take generations-long decisions  especially as the UK will be free of European state aid rules very soon. Penrose suggests an institution with a board akin to the Bank of England. It is not just about backing domestic projects, but securing the best returns that could eventually offset the cost of soaring welfare and health budgets. Wisely invested, it does not have to begin with a huge sum. A decade ago, the Wellcome Trust was putting 500 million a year into science and medical research. As the value of its fund has grown to 21 billion so has its budget, with plans to spend 5 billion in the next five years. The Wellcome money often catalyses investment from others.

But that does not answer the question of where a new pot of money should come from. A slice of existing government income set aside, a one-off dowry, or some new levy? The figure of 20 billon isnt even 3% of the Treasurys annual 744 billion of receipts - just less than one years contribution from self-assessed income tax or the annual combined haul from tobacco and alcohol duty. But its not so easy to justify when net borrowing is already forecast at 58 billion this year.

Is there anything else to privatise? Former business secretary Vince Cable fancied a plan to sell off the motorways when he was in office. There must be something easier than ripping up the roads. Perhaps some bright spark should look again at Royal Bank of Scotland. Its shares have rallied by a third in the last six months, but waiting until the taxpayer can turn a profit before selling is pointless. Better to cash in the 73% stake  which is worth precisely 20 billion  ringfence the receipts and begin building Britains future today.


H SBC is braver than we thought. Its decision to stick its head above the parapet on Brexit earlier will not go down well in No 10, from where an edict has reportedly declared that any company caught making negative remarks about Brexit will be frozen out of access to Downing Street.

Yet, despite that chilling order, HSBC has gone on the record to declare major corporate clients are already asking for trade to go through its Paris operations rather than London.

Not only that, HSBCs commercial banking head says, but companies are looking to flip their headquarters from London to Europe as the prospect of a hard Brexit becomes increasingly likely.

Business people will not be surprised by anything Noel Quinn says. Pretty much every senior banker privately says the same.

But amid a climate of fear in which anyone casting doubt on the wisdom of breaking away from our biggest single trading partner risks being vilified by the Brexiteer media and MPs, the widespread fears among employers about our EU exit are muffled and wholly underreported.

That reticence to speak up fuels the Brexiteers claims that worries voiced by businesses during the Referendum campaign last year were bogus posturing. Their silence is taken as an admission they were wrong.

In truth, they were right all along. At best, a significant minority of lucrative business will leave the City, for European capitals.

At worst, the Brexit talks will see EU negotiators weaken Londons coveted strength in financial services to such an extent that they cant handle the business anymore and it flees to New York or Asia.

Its important that the public  both here and in Europe  are aware of these dangers so they can put pressure on their politicians accordingly.

Having the greatest experts  those who have spent their entire career actually running the worlds biggest financial institutions in the City  cowed into silence surely helps nobody.

Words, not action

Everyone understands that Royal Mail cannot afford its final salary pension promises.

That includes the unions which, despite what you might think, these days arent entirely unreasonable in their negotiations with company managements.

Increasingly, rather than just saying no to closure, they are open to accepting cheaper alternatives  as long as companies still pay a fair share.

Early signs are suggesting that Royal Mail is heading for a stand-off which will end in strike action. It should be more conciliatory.

Jaw jaw, not war war, is what is needed.
T he University of Oxfords private spin-out incubator Oxford Sciences Innovation has hired City broker Numis as financial adviser in a rare deal underscoring the growth of private capital in the UK.

Oxford Sciences, which was set up in 2015 to commercialise research ideas from the 900-year-old institution, will keep the broker on tap to raise funds from investors and develop its portfolio of 36 start-up companies with a view to taking some of them public.

A lot of our portfolio companies will be looking to raise capital and/or go public in future and we expect Numis to be very involved in that, boss David Norwood said.

The groups futuristic spin-outs range from Oxford Flow, an engineering group which has invented a lighter type of valve, to artificial intelligence firm DiffBlue, which writes computer code on its own.

Oxford Sciences, which has raised 580 million in two years, is backed by a host of existing investors such as Google Ventures, Singapores sovereign wealth fund Temasek, the Wellcome Trust, and hedge fund Lansdowne Partners.

The University owns a golden share in the group.

Norwood said private capital was back in fashion because of tougher times for some public companies although he promised that Oxford Sciences would also list on the market as and when.

The tie-up is a first for Numis, which will be paid a fee to act as retained financial adviser for Oxford Sciences.

Private companies rarely recruit financial advisers on a permanent basis in the way their publicly listed peers do, preferring instead to pick banks each time a deal arises.

Numis co-chief executive Alex Ham said private capital was a big growth area for the firm.

People start talking to investment banks leading up to a flotation but we think we can do a lot more for companies in the meantime with private placements and more strategic work, he said.

The depth of capital in the private markets is getting deeper and more liquid. Thats allowing private companies to stay private for longer.
T he news that London is enjoying an Easter tourism boom, with inbound flight bookings from overseas up by as much as 61 per cent, is a cheering reminder that this city is one of the worlds greatest places to visit, as well as to live. Doubtless many of our foreign guests will be coming to view the many outstanding historical sites, ranging from Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London, with which we are blessed, and to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Thames and a riverside stroll. The cheaper pound, dragged lower by Brexit, will also be helping, with Europeans and Americans alike knowing that their money will now go further than before.

But the most important lesson to learn from this weekends tourist influx is how vital Londons cultural attractions are to its prosperity. Industry experts say that theatre, where Damian Lewis, Daniel Radcliffe, Andrew Garfield and Jude Law are among the stars either already on stage or about to appear, is a key draw, with hit shows such as Kinky Boots and Wicked also popular with visitors. Londons galleries, restaurants, music, dance and fashion provide a further lure, making it little wonder, as City Halls deputy mayor for culture Justine Simons rightly says, that so many tourists choose to come here.

None of this should be taken for granted, however  not least as London faces a loss of jobs and income in other key areas, such as banking, because of Britains departure from the EU. Each of our great cultural industries needs continued access to the worlds best talents to ensure their future success, coupled with continued investment and, when relevant, supportive regulation. Ensuring this is delivered must be a priority for the Government. Culture is undoubtedly fun and makes this city more enjoyable for all who are lucky enough to live here. But as this weekends tourist boom proves, it also brings money. The visitor influx must be kept growing.

Late payment must end

This newspaper has not always seen eye-to-eye with Jeremy Corbyn but the Labour leaders call today for businesses working on public sector contracts to provide good workplace standards and to pay their suppliers on time is praiseworthy. Mr Corbyn says his proposals would lead to more apprenticeships and training, less rock-bottom pay, and the payment by businesses of the appropriate amount of tax. He also wants to bar companies from contracts if they fail to pay the small firms who supply them within 30 days, and points out that Britains approaching freedom from EU competition rules will give this country a greater ability to enforce high standards and block undercutting competitors from abroad.

The detail of his ideas needs examination to ensure there are no counter-productive effects. But the thrust of the Labour leaders argument is certainly in the right direction. It is wrong for big businesses to exploit their suppliers by delaying payment so they can hold on to interest-generating cash for longer, and wrong, too, to scrimp on training or dodge tax. If the Prime Ministers promise of a fairer Britain is to be realised, these are issues that she must address too.

A happy Easter break

The unseasonably warm temperatures of last weekend are no longer with us, but the sun is still shining and the forecast remains fair as Londoners prepare for what we hope will be an enjoyable Easter. Some will spend Sunday in church, while others will enjoy the capitals parks and cinemas, and children will feast on Easter eggs. Whatever you do, we wish our readers a pleasant break.
 I couldn't put out The Sun's Tirade until I got done being in a messed up place, admits Isaiah Rashad.

The rapper first shook up the hip hop scene in early 2014 when he released EP Cilvia Demo, but then took more than two years to put his official debut, The Suns Tirade, last year.

This album is a late message about what happened right after Cilvia. I couldn't put my life into words until I got myself OK, until I stopped doing all the stupid things, he said.

I make music for me before anybody else. After that I try to treat my listeners like anybody that I meet. That's why kids come up to me and are like 'you don't know how important you are to me' but I'm like, you don't know how important I am to myself'.

Sometimes, the only person that can make me feel better is me."

Isaiah also shared that he has received support from Kendrick Lamar, along with other label-mates.

Kendrick has given me the best advice. Ab-Soul will say some stuff to me on the random, he would call me up at 3am but I don't get what hes saying at all till like a month later.

This help is something he wants to pass on through his music. When I make some songs, I address some things that I usually don't talk about, so no matter how hyped or chill it is, it's up to the listener to figure it out, whatever you feel with it, it is that, he said.

He is also keen to offer advice: "Things can change in a day for better or worse but bad news doesn't last as long as good. You have to defeat darkness by staying positive."

Moving on to speak of his musical style, he said: Like Andre 3000 said, 'determine your own adventure'. I cover the hip hop intellectuals' and I cover the average listeners. I've got the Lupe Fiascos and the Lil Waynes!

This abstract approach has given the American a unique connection with his faithful across the pond and has helped him collaborate with Londoners such as Little Simz.

Little Simz is my homie, it's tight seeing her in things like Forbes. If I send her a track to lay a verse on, she sends it back complete with 30 minutes as shes such a hard worker.

Isaiah's Lil Sunny Tour returns to London on 23 April. The Suns Tirade is out now.
L ondoners will be able to take a leaf from the Germans cookbook and learn how to make sauerkraut.

The Waterhouse Cookery School is hosting a pickling and fermentation masterclass with expert Kylee Newton of Newton & Pott that will demonstrate how to prepare the cabbage speciality.

The one-off workshop  to be held as part of London Food Month  will cost 30 and take place at the schools restaurant in Shoreditch.

Guests will learn about fermentation and sterilisation techniques and make their own jar of red cabbage sauerkraut  hailed as a superfood  and a gin-pickled cucumber preserve.

All proceeds will go to host charity Shoreditch Trust, which provides a variety of services to the community to help people lead healthy and independent lives. Katie Edmondson, from the trusts culinary division, Food For Life, said the workshop would be a great opportunity for Londoners to learn about the health  and cost  benefits of pickling. She said: My role is to educate people about eating healthily and it not being expensive. Pickling and fermentation are great skills to help this.

A huge jar of sauerkraut would cost maybe 1 so it is really not expensive. Not only is it trendy, it is a sustainable foodstuff too that makes the most of peoples surplus foods.

Newton said: Fermentation and pickling are the best way to give food longevity.

Experience: Katie Edmondson of the Shoreditch Trust with some of the pickles guests will be able to make in the classes / Matt Writtle

Alongside its Korean counterpart kimchi, sauerkraut now features on menus across Britain. Last month, Sainsburys reported that sales of cabbage were up 39 per cent since Christmas. Richard Mobury, vice

chairman at the British Brassica Growers Association, said: [Cabbage] is very good for you in terms of vitamins and nutrition. Like kale, it is particularly high in vitamin C, vitamin K and anti-carcinogenic properties.

The workshop will take place on June 14 between 7-9pm. Tickets are available via londonfoodmonth.co.uk from May 2. For more information about the charity, visit shoreditchtrust.org.uk
T he Songkran celebration, Thai New Year, is rich with symbolic traditions, with food playing a central part in the celebration.

Thai food is increasingly popular in Britain: we now have more than 2,000 Thai restaurants, second only to Chinese in the Pan-Asian restaurant league. Renowned food bloggers Julie and Amy, also known as the Dumpling Sisters, reveal their insider tips on how to celebrate Thai New Year if you cant make it to Thailand. Here are four Thai recipes to celebrate Songkran .

Vegetable green curry fried rice

Vegetable green curry fried rice / Dumpling Sisters

Everyone's favourite Thai curry reimagined as a fried rice, infused with the smokiness of a hot wok - quick, simple and easily adaptable for meat eaters.

Ingredients (Serves 2-3)

220g jasmine rice (uncooked weight), cooked and cooled

1 red pepper, thinly sliced

160g green beans, sliced into quarters

50g Blue Dragon green curry paste

100ml Blue Dragon coconut milk

80g bean sprouts

1 tsp. Blue Dragon light soy sauce

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1 lime, cut into 2-3 wedges

Crispy fried onions or shallots

1 red chilli, finely sliced

Method

Heat the oil in a wok over a high heat. Add the curry paste and fry until it starts to separate, and then add the coconut milk, green beans and 50ml of water. Stir to combine, then cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes until the sauce has reduced by half and the beans have softened slightly.

Uncover, and then add the rice, bean sprouts, peppers and soy sauce. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the rice is warmed through, the bean sprouts and peppers have softened slightly, and the curry sauce has fully absorbed into the rice.

Serve with a sprinkling of crispy fried onions, sliced chilli and a wedge of lime on the side.

Crispy sweet chilli spring rolls

Crispy sweet chili spring rolls / Dumpling Sisters

Deep fried spring rolls packed with a sweet, spicy and sour minced pork and vegetable filling, served with sweet chilli sauce - a favourite the world over.

Ingredients (Serves 2-3)

2 tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for deep frying

2 cloves garlic, diced

2 tbsp. diced ginger

4 spring onions, sliced

1 tsp. chilli flakes

250g pork mince

150g shredded white cabbage

1 carrot, grated

6 water chestnuts, julienned

3 tbsp. sweet chilli sauce, plus more for dipping

2 tbsp. Blue Dragon light soy sauce, plus more for dipping

1 tbsp. Blue Dragon fish sauce

2 tsp. tamarind paste (optional)

1 tsp. sesame oil

14-16 15cm-square spring roll wrappers

Method

In a wok or large frying pan, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat. Lightly fry the garlic, ginger, spring onions and chilli flakes

Add the pork mince and stir-fry until its lost its pinkness.

Add the cabbage, carrot and water chestnuts and stir-fry until theyve softened slightly, before allowing to cool in the pan. Once cool, stir in the sweet chilli sauce, light soy, fish sauce, tamarind paste and sesame oil.

Wet a piece of kitchen paper and keep it nearby, along with a small bowl of cold water for re-wetting as needed.

Lay a wrapper, one corner facing you, on a clean work surface. Put 2 tablespoons of filling in a sausage shape in the centre of the wrapper, leaving space at each end.

Fold the bottom corner over the top of the filling, tuck it underneath, and then make one full roll upwards.

Wet the side flaps and fold them over the sausage. It should now look like an envelope. Wet the triangular flap, then roll up tightly. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.

Heat a wok or large pan a third full of vegetable oil to 180C/355F, or until tiny bubbles gather around a dipped chopstick. Fry the spring rolls in batches of three or four, for about 2-5 minutes each, turning occasionally, until crisp and golden. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with sweet chilli sauce thats had a little soy sauce mixed in to taste.

Beef and potato massaman stir fry

Beef and potato massaman stir fry / Dumpling Sisters

Fine shreds of flash-fried beef sit among fine shreds of potato, lightly bound together by a rich but mild massaman curry - a twist on the much-loved beef massaman curry.

Ingredients (Serves 2-3)

200g beef rump, sliced

1 tbsp. Blue Dragon light soy sauce

1 tsp. cornflour

1 tbsp. + 1 tbsp. vegetable oil

2 medium potatoes, julienned

100g mangetout

1 medium onion, diced

50g Blue Dragon massaman curry paste

2 tsp. Blue Dragon fish sauce

2 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. tamarind paste (optional)

Blue Dragon Coconut milk, 3-4 tbsp. for drizzling

Method

Soak the julienned potatoes in water for about 10 min to remove excess starch, and then drain in a sieve.

Combine the beef, light soy sauce and cornflour and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a wok over a high heat. Add the potatoes and stir-fry until glossy and slightly softened. Add the mangetout and fry until both are tender, adding in a sprinkle of water if needed. Remove and set aside.

With the wok over a high heat, fry the onions and curry paste in the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the beef and stir-fry for a few minutes.

Return the vegetables to the wok, along with the fish sauce, sugar and tamarind paste. Stir fry until well combined, and then drizzle with coconut milk just before serving.

Red curry salmon

Red curry salmon / Dumpling Sisters

Juicy strips of salmon drenched in a thick red curry sauce, served with a punchy Thai basil and chilli garnish - flavour-packed, vibrant and satisfying.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

2x skin-on, boneless salmon fillets (approx. 260g)

50g Blue Dragon red curry paste

150ml Blue Dragon coconut milk + 2 tsp. coconut milk

1 tbsp. Blue Dragon fish sauce

1 tbsp. sugar

Juice of half a lime

2 pinches of salt

1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil

 tbsp. ginger, finely grated

60g Thai basil, finely shredded

 a red chilli, finely sliced

Steamed rice, to serve

Red Curry Salmon

Juicy strips of salmon drenched in a thick red curry sauce, served with a punchy Thai basil and chilli garnish - flavour-packed, vibrant and satisfying.

Thailand - in pictures 1 /6 Thailand - in pictures Elephants chewing on sugar cane Alamy Mist over the hills near Chiang Mai Alamy Restaurants at the night market, Chiang Mai Alamy Produce and food stalls Alamy A group of elephants

Method

In a small bowl (or pestle and mortar), mash together the basil, chilli and ginger.

Heat the curry paste in a wok over a medium heat until it starts to separate, then add the 150ml coconut milk, fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice. Stir to combine, and then keep the sauce uncovered and simmering while you cook the salmon.

Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. When the oil shimmers and you can see a faint swirl of smoke, sprinkle a pinch of salt onto the skin side of each salmon fillet. Turn the heat down to medium, then add the fillets to the pan skin side down. Push down on the fillets with a spatula to keep the skin in close contact with the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes, then flip and cook on the fleshy side for 1 minute.

By now the sauce should be thick and glossy. Serve the crispy-skinned salmon with rice, a generous drizzle of sauce, and a spoonful of the ginger, basil and chilli mixture. Finish with an extra drizzle of coconut milk, if you wish.

thedumplingsisters.com
F or those still scrambling to hop on a last-minute Easter flight, Ryanair might be the best way to fly.

The budget airline launched a massive sale today, offering seats from just 19.99 to places like Barcelona, Faro, Krakow, Rome and 900 more routes across Europe.

Thousands of customers are looking for a sunny place to spend the holiday, and the airline says their Easter special is just the thing to help wanderlusters get away.

Ryanair customers are hopping off across Europe for the Easter break and its not too late to book a low fare getaway with our Easter specials," Ryanair' spokesperson Robin Kiely said. "Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should get cracking."

The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /33 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr

Contemplating a ticket? Don't waste too much time.

The cut-price seats are available now for travel in April and May, but flights must be booked before midnight Tuesday April 18.

The prices can only be found on the Ryanair.com website.
A former intern bombarded The Apprentice star Claudine Collins with emails in which she threatened to bring rapists to the TV celebritys London office, a court heard.

Charlotte Ashton-Rickardt, 32, pleaded guilty to harassment after sending 50 emails to Ms Collins. The businesswoman has been part of the BBC show since 2013 and grills contestants in the semi-final interview round before reporting back on each candidate to Lord Sugar in the boardroom.

The court heard Ashton-Rickardt had been an intern at MediaCom, a 1 billion media agency for which Ms Collins is the UK managing director.

But after the internship ended prematurely Ashton-Rickardt launched harassment campaigns.

The first series of messages, after her internship in 2013 ended, led to a warning. Yesterday she pleaded guilty over another series of messages, which she sent in February.

Apprentice host: Lord Sugar / BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks

Penny Fergusson, prosecuting, told Highbury Corner magistrates court: The defendant worked very briefly as an intern in 2013. She never met Ms Collins but she was her boss.

It ended prematurely and she sent a large number of emails to Ms Collins which led to her calling the police.

She received a harassment warning but the defendant sent another number of emails after it was issued.

The court heard Ms Collins reported this second batch, but did not proceed with the matter because she wanted the former intern to get help for ongoing mental health problems. But on February 22 [2017], Ms Collins reported the harassment had started again, Ms Fergusson said.

The court heard Ashton-Rickardt sent 50 emails between February 20 and 23 under a fake name and account. Ms Collins believed them to be from Ashton-Rickardt because the writing style was very similar to previous emails. A large number were blank, the court heard. But one said: Im not outside, but I can bring drug dealers and rapists outside... would you like me to bring my friends?

Ms Fergusson told the court Ms Collins was alarmed and distressed by the latest barrage of emails and wants this harassment to stop.

Rebecca Manning, defending, told the court Ashton-Rickardt had been sectioned after being diagnosed with a delusional disorder. The lawyer said: Between 2013 and up to March of this year, things have happened which have seen her sectioned and go through a long process of being diagnosed with a delusional disorder. That would explain her behaviour.

Ashton-Rickardt, from Hambrook near Chichester, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment without violence. Her lawyer told the court she has an advertising and marketing degree and is one month into a treatment course which involves seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication. Deputy District Judge Adrian Turner ordered her to continue with treatment. He ordered her to pay 105 costs and issued a restraining order that she should not contact Ms Collins.
A medicine delivery driver has been found guilty of sex attacks on two elderly and disabled women in west London.

Predator John Muttitt travelled around houses and care homes dropping off vital medication to the infirm and elderly who were unable to get to a pharmacy.

The sick predator used the job to target two women, both aged over 85, in Hounslow and Isleworth, with police warning there may even be more victims who are yet to come forward.

Muttitt, 78, of Walnut Tree Road, Brentford, preyed on a partially blind and deaf woman with mobility issues after pretending to carry out a medical examination.

He inappropriately touched the victim, who reported the incident to her daughter in 2013.

Pharmacy driver Muttitt was arrested but released due to lack of evidence  but then went on to be charged with two more attacks two years later.

During his second attack, he inappropriately touched a woman with cerebral palsy, Parkinsons disease, a speech impediment and mobility issues.

Muttitt eventually appeared in court charged with four counts of sexual assault.

On Tuesday, at Isleworth Crown Court, he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault relating to the two victims.

But the jury failed to reach a verdict on another offence relating to the second woman and he was cleared of attacking a third pensioner.

PC Ben Lawrence-Smith, from Hounslow Community Safety Unit, said: Muttitt took advantage of the fact that these victims were elderly, vulnerable, and often living alone.

Due to having mobility issues the victims used a pharmacy delivery service as a way of obtaining their medication without difficulty and Muttitt abused his position of trust.

There may very well be other victims who have yet to come forward. We know that Muttitt was delivering medication to patients in the Hounslow area between 2010 and 2015 and would urge anyone who has yet to come forward to do so.

Muttitt will be sentenced on Friday, May 26.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police in Hounslow on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A man has been charged with harbouring a prisoner who escaped from Pentonville jail.

Shaun Power, 33, of Kettering Road, Romford, was charged on Thursday, Scotland Yard said.

He has been bailed to appear before Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Police launched a manhunt after Matthew Baker and James Whitlock escaped from HMP Pentonville on November 7 last year.

Scott O'Reilly, 49, of Shepherd's Lane, east London, was charged with assisting an offender last month.

He has been bailed to attend Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 13.

In addition, a 19-year-old was arrested and bailed but will face no further action, and a 24-year-old woman has been bailed pending further enquiries.
A man has been charged with the murder of a lovely young father stabbed to death on a leafy street just yards from his home.

Rene Richardson, 24, died after the attack in Grasdene Road, Plumstead, on Monday afternoon.

He staggered to his house where paramedics fought to save his life but he was pronounced dead.

Neighbour and family friend Shamaher Singh said: He was a lovely quiet, polite boy. My kids went to his first birthday party and then they all played together as they grew up.

I believe he had recently become a dad for the second time. We are all devastated, especially my kids, Rene was not the type to get into trouble, he was a fine young man.

Lennox Appiah, 23, from Plumstead was charged with murder on Thursday.

He will appear in custody at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Enquiries continue.
P olice have warned shoppers to lookout for counterfeit versions of the polymer 5 note just six months after the new fivers entered circulation.

Officers warned the public to be on the lookout for fake banknotes after they were spotted in Wadebridge, Cornwall.

Dorset Police had issued a similar warning in February saying counterfeit notes were found in circulation near Poole.

The new warning comes just six months after the new 5 note was launched by the Bank of England.

It is stronger than its predecessor and boasts new security features which the Bank of England said makes it harder to counterfeit.

Five things to know about the new 5 banknote

PCSO Pete Sobye, of Wadebridge police, said: "If you find yourself in possession of a fake 5 note, contact your bank. Or if you have been given a number of these as payment, contact police on 101."

The old paper fiver and the new 5 note have co-existed since the polymer banknote was first issued by the Bank of England.

But British shoppers have until May 5 to spend paper 5 notes before they lose their legal tender status.

The new banknote has been controversial after it emerged that traces of animal-derived additives were used in its production.

In September this year, the Bank will issue a new 10 polymer note featuring author Jane Austen, recognising "her universal appeal and enduring contribution to English literature".
T he police watchdog has launched a probe after a box of replica guns went missing as officers were taking them to a police station in east London.

Police discovered the ornamental firearms when they were called to reports of a 70-year-old man collapsed at an address on the Isle of Dogs.

Scotland Yard said the man was pronounced dead at the scene in Mast House Terrace by paramedics after emergency services arrived

Police, who attended shortly before midday on Christmas Day, discovered a horde of replica guns which had been used to decorate the mans home.

The unmodified imitation firearms were assessed at the scene and made safe before being taken to the local police station.

But when officers arrived there, they were unable to find one of the boxes of firearms, believed to have contained six weapons.

The Met said the Independent Police Complaints Commission watchdog has been informed and is now investigating.

The man's death was not suspicious.

A Met Police spokesman said: The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was informed and the matter referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The IPCC is independently investigating the incident.

Associate Commissioner Tom Milsom, who is overseeing the investigation, said: While the information we currently have is that the weapons are not viable, it is of great concern that they went missing in the first place and that they have not yet been found.

This investigation will look at what went wrong in allowing the items to go missing and what efforts were made to find them once the officers realised they had gone.

Anyone with information is asked to call officers at Tower Hamlets CID on 020 8217 3722, via Twitter @MetCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A prolific east London gang caught on camera at a McDonalds drive-thru in one of a haul of 3 million worth of stolen cars have been jailed for 46 years.

The eight-person gang broke into peoples homes during the night to steal car keys before making off in expensive Range Rovers, BMWs and Mercedes.

Some of the stolen motors were exported intact to Africa while others were broken down for parts.

The criminals also drove about in minicabs emblazoned with Transport for Londons private hire stickers to steal keyless cars by using technology to spoof the unlocking of the car  a technique often referred to as 'keyless car theft'.

Mugshots: Khuram Zaman and gang ringleader Manji Sandhu. / Met Police

Police caught them after raiding a pub in east Londons Manor Park on August 17 last year, belonging to the father of the gangs ringleader, Manjit Sandhu, 32, where they found bags of stolen car keys in the basement.

Officers also found key programming technology, blank keys and a tool for picking car locks.

Sandhu went into hiding but police tracked him and his fellow gang members down during raids at their home addresses.

Guilty: Sufiyan Mahmood and Faisal Khan. / Met Police

Police discovered the gang had carried out more 120 crimes between March 2015 and August last year, working out as more than seven a month.

A dash cam on one of the stolen BMWs caught the criminals on camera as they got in and out of the car while CCTV footage from McDonalds drive thru pictures two of the gang members in a stolen car.

The prosecution also used evidence from Sandhu's own CCTV system to show him leaving home in the early hours of the morning in order to commit offences.

Gang members: Heena Bux and Geoffrey Cairns. Met Police car theft gang / Met Police

Sandhu's offending was so brazen that he even committed an offence on the very same day that he received a suspended sentence for involvement in the theft of another vehicle. That incident is not related to this case.

Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, who leads the Met's Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, said: "This was an extremely prolific and well-organised criminal gang.

Found guilty: Mohammed Ariful Islam / Met Police

They brought distress to many victims whose homes they broke into, who not only lost their vehicles but in many cases were traumatised by the thought of someone having been in their house while they slept.

Although the case involved over 120 offences, it is clear that this team were responsible for an even greater number of crimes."

Sandhu, of Fairlawns Close in Hornchurch, Heena Bux, 21, of Walwood Road in Leytonstone, Khuram Zaman, 20, of Violet Road in Walhamstow and Mohammed Islam, 21, of Knox Road, Forest Gate, were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal.

Sufiyan Mahmood, 19, of Stracey Road in Forest Gate, and Faisal Khan, 23, of Chestnut Avenue, Forest Gate, both pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit burglary and to steal.

Nicked: Some of the car keys found by police in east London raids. / Met Police

Humzah Bhariwala, 23, of Dunbar Road, Forest Gate, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary while Geoffrey Cairns, 55, of Swindon Lane, Romford was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary after having pled guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Sandhu was sentenced to 12 years in prison, Bux was jailed for a total of nine years and six months, Zaman was sentenced to a total of four years, six months in prison and Islam was sentenced to three years in prison.

Mahmood was jailed for seven years and six months and Khan was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

Cairns was sentenced to three years and six months in prison while Bhariwala was jailed for a total of 18 months.
A Harley Street doctor who helps British soldiers disfigured in battle has launched a charity with his wife to fund their ongoing treatment.

Dr Aamer Khan is working with Afghanistan veterans including Mark Allen, who lost his legs when he stepped on a bomb, and Martyn Compton, who was badly burned when his armoured vehicle was hit by a Taliban missile.

Dr Khan and wife Lesley Reynolds run Harley Street Skin Clinic. They set up the Back on Track charity and want to raise 250,000 a year to fund the treatment of 10 injured soldiers, from facial reconstruction to non-surgical procedures to reduce the impact of scars.

The aim is to provide help that is not available at Headley Court  the defence medical rehabilitation centre near Epsom  or on the NHS.

We realised there was a huge need for helping people in the situation where the NHS had done everything it could and theyd been discharged from Headley Court, said Dr Khan.

They had done the basics of getting them back on their feet, but it wasnt enough to get them back into life. The clinic helped refer Mr Compton for plastic surgery at a specialist NHS unit at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Back on Track: Harley Street's Dr Khan with patient Mark Allen and Lesley Reynolds

He was serving in the Household Cavalry when he was caught in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED). It destroyed his eyelids, meaning his eyes are always open, placing him at risk of losing his vision from chronic eye disease.

Mr Allen, 26, has undergone more than 20 treatments for shrapnel wounds to his arms and neck sustained while serving with 1st battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment in 2010. He first met Dr Khan when his girlfriend bought him a treatment as a gift.

I had lots of scar tissue and shrapnel wounds on my neck and face, Mr Allen said. Its laser treatment. Its been am-azing. Its made me more confident and made it easier to go out in public.

Back on Track and the Irish Guards Benevolent Fund will host a gala dinner next Thursday, with famous names including Patsy Kensit and Claire Sweeney due to attend. The charity also holds an annual celebrity go-kart racing event in September to raise funds.

Dr Khan said: There are a lot more out there who dont know they can get this help. Our charity covers any soldier who is fighting for the British Army and gets injured in action. We also help them get on track with hobbies.

"Soldiers are active people who love doing things. When they are injured they cant get back into hobbies because theres a cost attached to adaptations.

Visit justgiving.com
F ire crews were still damping down the remnants of a major blaze in Brent Cross on Thursday after it caused rush hour chaos on trains and shut the M1 motorway.

Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters spent hours attempting to extinguish the challenging fire at a builders' merchant on Wednesday evening.

Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the scene near Staples Corner as passers-by stopped to share pictures and videos on social media.

Thousands of motorists were forced to seek diversions as the M1 was shut between junctions 1 and 4 for hours. There was also major disruption to train routes  with no services running between Farringdon and Hendon.

The fire brigade was called to the blaze at 3.45pm / Barnet MPS

Patches of the wood-working workshop where the fire began, believed to be part of Busy Bee Builders Merchants, remained alight on Thursday morning.

Firefighters were still on the scene extinguishing the last of the flames in what was left of the 100-metre by 20-metre workshop.

Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing into sky / @MyBarnetTV

Station manager Stephen-Remell Coleman said: "This was a large, challenging fire and crews worked extremely hard to bring it under control as quickly as possible.

Around three quarters of the workshop was affected and at its height the fire was producing a considerable amount of smoke so we advised people living and working in the area to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution.

"Crews will now remain at the scene for some time damping down the fire.

The Brigade worked closely with its partners in the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, the rail network, train companies and Transport for London to bring this incident to a close.

Around 80 firefighters were tackling the fire on Wednesday evening / London Fire Brigade

East Midlands Trains between London St Pancras International and Sheffield, Nottingham, Melton Mowbray and Lincoln Central were all affected, as well as some Thameslink services.

Dom Hyams, 29, a digital director for a disability app, said his 45 minute journey on the Thameslink service from Kings Cross to Harpenden took more than three hours.

He told the Standard: All hell was breaking loose. It was carnage at Kings Cross.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation / London Fire Brigade

Olivia Herbert said it took her and her five-year-old daughter five hours to complete the normally 25 minute train journey from West Hampstead to St Albans.

She said passengers on the train were panicking about making it to Luton Airport on time to catch their flights.

The fire at around 3.30pm and was brought under control by 9pm thanks to 12 pumps and two aerial platforms, the fire brigade confirmed.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation.
E xplosions were heard and plumes of smoke billowed over Enfield after a blaze started in a workshop.

Firefighters raced to the scene of the fire in Windmill Hill just after 2pm on Thursday afternoon.

Nearby residents said they heard loud explosions which shook their houses, while they also described an acrid smell filling the air.

Neil Chandler told the Standard: I was sat working in my home office when I heard a loud bang, and the windows rattled.

I looked outside and a large plume of black smoke was rising from behind the houses opposite.

After the first bang, there were two smaller explosions, just before the fire brigade arrived.

We went around the house closing windows as there was an acrid smell to the smoke, like burning rubber.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters and officers were called to a fire in Windmill Hill in Enfield.

"A single storey storage shed to the rear of a property was damaged by fire.

"The Brigade was called at 2.15pm and the fire was under control at 3.28pm. Fire crews from Enfield and Edmonton fire stations attended the scene.

"The cause of the fire is under investigation."
A man killed by a double decker bus in Oxford Street was a brilliant academic who led research into major public health challenges.

Dr Chesmal Siriwardhana, a researcher and tutor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, was knocked down by a route N98 bus as he made his way home after a night out with friends.

The 38-year-old, who had lived in London for more than eight years, was pronounced dead shortly after the crash at around 2am on Sunday.

Friends and colleagues today spoke of their devastation at the loss of an amazing guy who worked at the forefront of some of the major public health challenges of the day.

Dr Siriwardana lived with his girlfriend in Greenwich, south east London, who it is understood he was with shortly before the crash.

Dr Siriwardhana was an expert on the mental health of people affected by war

He had come to the UK to study at Kings College London in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience as a masters fellow in 2009 and gained his PhD in Psychiatric Epidemiology in 2015.

He then became lecturer in Public Health at the Anglia Ruskin University, before moving to LSTHTM last year.

Among his work he had looked at the mental health needs of people affected by conflict, particularly in his native Sri Lanka.

Friend Sarah Hormozi, 32, who met Dr Siriwardhana at Kings College in 2009, told the Standard: He was a true friend, incredibly skilled and knowledgeable, as well as being incredibly hard-working.

"I always teased him about working too much  he always had deadlines for research funding, and he was leading on for global projects.

He was a very high-achieving, busy person, so it wasnt always easy to see him. I last saw him about a month ago when we went for a drink.

Im just so happy I managed to see him recently. He seemed so happy and content with his life, and his career was going really well. Its so devastating to see what happened to him.

Ms Hormozi visited his native Sri Lanka with him in 2011 where they travelled to see the countrys wildlife.

She added: He was an only child  they are the elderly parents of this really amazing guy, with all their hopes were focused on him and his future, and now hes gone.

Its so devastating to think what they must be going through. I am desperate to know what happened that night.

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Dr Chesmal Siriwardhana.

Chesmal joined the School in 2016 and was a highly regarded researcher and tutor in global mental health.

"Through his work on armed conflict, migration and mental health, he was at the forefront of some of the major public health challenges of the day.

"His important research helped to improve our understanding of the mental health needs of people affected by conflict, particularly in Sri Lanka, and which services are most effective in supporting them.

"Chesmal was a deeply valued friend, colleague and mentor, and he will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends.

The junction of Oxford Street and Holles Street, opposite where Dr Siriwardana was killed, was named Britains most dangerous road junction in 2015.

The Department for Transport data showed 18 people were injured over a eight year period.

Since being hit by a bus at the junction in 2009 and spending two weeks in a coma, former Africa Commodities Group CEO Tom Kearney has campaigned to improve safety for pedestrians on Oxford Street.

He told the Standard: If someone has died from a bus collision at a junction that has been known for years to be the UKs most dangerous, then, in my opinion, it raises serious questions about the safety culture of TfLs contracted bus operations.

Police are appealing for information following the crash. The bus driver, who has not been arrested, stopped at the scene and is assisting with police inquiries.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Merton Traffic Garage are investigating.

Anyone with any information should call 020 8543 5157.
J eremy Corbyn today said Brexit would give a future Labour government more powers to boost workplace rights, create jobs and improve the environment.

In his latest speeches on policy plans, he said Labour could go further outside the European Union in forcing higher standards on companies that benefit from 200 billion in public sector contracts each year.

While Brexit presents many challenges to Britain, it can give us more powers to encourage best practices and support new and existing businesses and industries in Britain, he was due to tell an audience at Wabtec train maintenance company in Doncaster.

Critics of Mr Corbyns ideas say they would land taxpayers with higher annual bills for public sector procurement contracts, which range from massive construction projects to cleaners and paperclips. Companies that have to meet costly new obligations will expect to be paid more.

But Mr Corbyn said the incredible purchasing power of local and national government should be used more boldly. Britain doesnt have to be so meek, and settle for things getting worse and more insecure for so many, he said.

We can make the change we need if we understand the power we already have  and how we can better use it.

Labour would allow councils to insist local jobs be created by firms bidding for contracts, for example, and require better conditions and training.

EU rules already say the widest possible range of social and environmental considerations should be taken into account when setting contracts. But they also require bidding to be open to firms in other EU countries, which Labour says means the gains from higher pay and standards can leak abroad.

Mr Corbyn said best practice in future should include training and apprenticeships, meeting higher worker rights, paying taxes in full, and hitting environmental standards. Earlier this week, Mr Corbyn said paying suppliers on time would be a requirement for bigger firms.

The party also claims boardroom excess would be tackled by setting a maximum 20-1 ratio between the lowest and highest paid people at companies.
F acebook faces new questions from a committee of MPs over claims of child pornography on the website.

Yvette Cooper, the chair of the Home Affairs Committee, said MPs required further answers just weeks after bosses from the social media giant were grilled in Parliament.

The material reportedly includes photographs of children in provocative poses and cartoons depicting the torture of girls.

The committee last month interviewed executives from Google, Facebook and Twitter for an inquiry into whether social media was meeting its obligations to remove hate crime materials and pro-terrorist propaganda. MPs could consider broadening the inquiry after Easter to also investigate child porn and paedophile sites.

Ms Cooper said: This is a huge issue and more examples of illegal content are surfacing on a daily basis.

A Times newspaper investigation said it found images of children plus extremist propaganda that were deemed illegal by a QC. It reported that only some of the content was removed.

Justin Osofsky, Facebooks vice president of global operations, said: We are grateful to The Times for bringing this content to our attention. We have removed all of these images, which violate our policies and have no place on Facebook.
A Labour civil war in London could spread across the country after backers of Jeremy Corbyn used social media to raise nearly 5,000 towards a possible court battle.

In an unprecedented campaign, left-wingers are crowdfunding to bankroll legal action after they were barred from party selections.

The rebels have attracted donations from fellow Corbynites around the country - with many seeing it as a test case for similar challenges in their own areas.

The row erupted when 18 pro-Corbyn members of Ealing Labour Party were told they could not stand in selections for next years borough elections.

What has made the split unusual is that the rebel group, Ealing Labour 4 Corbyn, turned to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to mount a fundraising campaign using professional quality videos. It attracted 4,770 in donations from nearly 200 people in the first week towards a 32,000 target.

Craig Smith, a marketing consultant who joined the party in 2007, said they had been contacted by supporters around London and other cities who also felt they been barred unfairly.

We are realising that there is a pattern emerging in constituencies across the UK, he told the Standard.

He claimed two Ealing Corbynistas were discriminated against because they are disabled, including a woman with a broken leg who was disqualified for not doing enough door-to-door canvassing.

The 18 allege the selection process was manipulated to weed out supporters of Labour leader Mr Corbyn - a claim strongly denied by the party.

A London Labour spokesperson said: The selection process is taking place fully in accordance with Labour Party rules. Any suggestion to the contrary is false.

Ealing North MP Stephen Pound, the shadow minister for Northern Ireland, rejected the groups claims. People who are allied to what appears to be a cult are not doing the Labour Party any good, nor are they helping those people who need a strong Opposition in this country.

But film-maker Toral Dixit, one of the barred candidates, said in a video: I feel really let down because I have been very active since joining the Labour Party ... I think the whole process has been very unfair and I think it has been politically motivated.

Pro-Corbyn meetings in Ealing attracted crowds of 400 in last years leadership election. John McDonnelll used one to suggest that grassroots members would make anti-Corbyn MPs toe the line in future.
A n armed Spanish gunboat has been ordered to leave British waters off Gibraltar for a second time, officials in the territory say.

On Thursday morning, patrol boat Infanta Cristina was ordered to exit the area by the Royal Navy unit stationed in the small British overseas territory  home to just over 30,000 people.

A UK Government spokesman told Sky News: "The Royal Navy challenges all unlawful maritime incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters - and did so again on this occasion."

A tweet by the government of Gibraltar added: "Another Illegal incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish Navy ship Infanta Cristina today."

The Infanta Cristina was involved in a similar incident last Tuesday, amid heightened tensions over the Rock due to Brexit.

Spanish naval vessel ordered to leave UK waters off Gibraltar

Tensions increased after an EU document suggested that Spain would be given a veto on post-Brexit agreements governing Gibraltar.

Since then Prime Minister Theresa May has offered reassurance that the UK remains "steadfastly committed" to the Rock.

Former Tory leader Michael Howard even suggested that Mrs May would go to war to defend the sovereignty of Gibraltar, leading Spanish foreign minister Alfonso Dastis to tell the UK not to "lose tempers" over the situation.

Spain has a long-standing territorial claim on Gibraltar, which has been held by the UK since 1713.
C ommuters faced travel disruption after five huge lorries carrying 45,000 litres of petrol and diesel burst into flames in Essex.

The raging fire broke out at an industrial estate near the River Thames in Purfleet, Essex, on Wednesday night as police issued a major incident warning.

People living miles away could see huge clouds of thick smoke billowing from the massive blaze, which started just before 9.45pm.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) said, when firefighters arrived at Botany Way, they found all five fuel lorries well alight.

Billowing: Smoke could be seen from miles away from the blaze in Purfleet, Essex. / PA

Incident commander Martyn Hare said: "A total of five fuel lorries were involved with the fire.

"One lorry was empty, the other four lorries had a combined load of 45,000 litres of fuel (diesel and kerosene).

"Our priorities were to contain the fire and not let it spread to the surrounding area.

"We also had to make sure we contained the water running off the fire to minimise the impact on the environment.

"Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire extremely quickly."

Rail services on a branch of the London, Tilbury and Southend line were suspended for several hours while firefighters tackled the blaze close to the busy line.

In the early hours of Thursday morning rail operator c2c, which runs trains through Purfleet, said services were back to normal.

Destroyed: Five fuel tankers were burnt to the ground. / Essex Fire Service

C2c said in a tweet: Disruption caused by a fire next to the track at Purfleet has now ended. Services are no longer affected by this problem.

Four fire engines and a number of specialist fire appliances including a foam lorry were involved in the operation.

Essex Police tweeted that officers were "at the scene of a major incident involving a fire at a site in the Botany Way area of Purfleet."

ECFRS said there were no reported injuries and the blaze was extinguished by around 2am on Thursday

An investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire.

Additional reporting by Press Association.
T he Queen has visited the Midlands to hand out bags of money to pensioners for Maundy Thursday.

She gave Maundy money to 91 men and 91 women to mark each year of her life in an Easter tradition which dates back hundreds of years.

Accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Britains longest serving monarch arrived at Leicester Cathedral for a special Maundy service.

Hundreds of people lined the streets outside the cathedral to greet Queen Elizabeth, who was dressed all in green.

The Queen presents Maundy Money to pensioners in Leicester

This years batch of people chosen to receive the Maundy money were pensioners, in recognition of the service they have provided to the church and their area.

Each person was given two purses, a white and a red one, during the service.

Inside the red purse is a 5 coin to mark the centenary of the House of Windsor and a 50p coin commemorating Sir Isaac Newton.

The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh outside Leicester Cathedral. / Joe Giddens/PA

The white purse contains 91p in coins minted especially for the event.

Among the recipients was Ted Cassidy, 70, who said: "It's been such a wonderful occasion - she's amazing because she smiled at every single person and then spoke to the children at the end.

"I thought 'She's just incredible, a wonderful woman'.

"I got a surprise letter four months ago and I couldn't believe it, it was such a wonderful surprise."

Another recipient, Mavis Moore, from Asfordby, said: "It was an experience, I couldn't believe it."

The 86-year-old added: "I've been excited and telling everyone since I found out."

Jane Gumbs, of Beaumont Leys, said: "It was really nice, lovely, and to see the Queen - it was amazing.

Smiling: The Queen on Maundy Thursday 2017. / PA

"She looked young. I never thought I would ever meet the Queen in my life."

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, marks the start of Easter  the biggest feast in the Christian religions calendar.

The tradition of the monarch giving out money dates from the 13th century.

Additional reporting by Press Association.
I n a soft but assured voice, the young woman explains her concerns about Turkeys impending referendum. As the camera takes in glimpses of her pink floral jacket and brown leather bag, but avoids her face, as she says she will be voting No in this Sundays crucial poll on plans to hand unprecedented powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Suddenly, the lens zooms out. The young woman is in fact a well-dressed mannequin. A male narrator cuts in: The person whose voice you hear didnt want to appear on screen. She wanted to avoid being branded a traitor, to avoid losing her job.

The campaign video, released this week, struck a chord with many in Turkey. With just days until the vote, the atmosphere is anxious and tense.

It comes at a pivotal time for this country, a Nato member and host of almost three million Syrian refugees that is seen as a vital  if difficult  partner by Europe and the United States.

Advocates of the constitutional changes say they will usher in a stronger, safer, more prosperous Turkey. Opponents say they will put the country on an irreversible path towards authoritarian one-man rule.

All can agree that the stakes are high. But No campaigners say the vote is anything but fair. It is taking place under a state of emergency  imposed after last summers violent coup attempt  that has been used to sack tens of thousands of public sector workers. Leaders of the second-largest opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, are behind bars, accused of supporting terrorism.

Vast state resources have swung behind the Yes side and cities are plastered with its billboards and posters. Banners for No are much rarer. The opposition has resorted to putting stickers and flyers on lamp posts as if promoting an underground club night.

Mr Erdogan has a phenomenal track record in elections and it seems likely that Yes will emerge victorious on Sunday night. But the uneasy backdrop means no one is certain.

Pollsters have found a sizeable chunk of respondents who say they are either undecided or unwilling to declare their intentions. With just three days to go, the key question is what those people are really thinking. Are they yet to make up their minds? Or are they, like the woman in the video, planning to vote No but too afraid to admit it?
M arine Le Pen's National Front headquarters was targeted by arsonists today who warned attacks would continue every day until the French presidential elections.

Emergency services were called to the central Paris building run by the far-Right party at about 3am, and found the main entrance door and hallway damaged after firebombs were thrown.

A message was left from a group called Fighting Xenophobia, said an investigating source. Damage turned out to be minimal, but this was an attempt to set part of the building on fire.

Reacting on France 2 TV today, Ms Le Pen said she had not been given details of the attack yet, but knew it was an extreme Left-wing group acting with impunity.

The French presidential candidate said: They have destroyed businesses, burned cars during demonstrations, attacked the police. Im not surprised because Francois Hollandes government has let them do this for months while I have repeatedly called for their dissolution.

Arson: The Paris fire department says no one was injured in the incident overnight / AP

Ms Le Pen, who is currently leading opinion polls for the first round of the presidential elections, said she was going to make a criminal complaint.

Fighting Xenophobia (FX) told AFP, Frances national news agency, that their attacks will continue every day until the elections.

Last week, two National Front offices in other parts of France were vandalised, and the party called for better security, including a permanent police presence outside the Paris HQ.

Commenting on the arson attack, interior minister Matthias Fekl said the unacceptable acts could influence peoples decisions at the ballot box.

Mr Fekl said: We were in touch with the National Front candidates team as early as last night and we will see if, in conjuction with them, its necessary to strengthen security arrangements.

The FN has a long history of far-Right extremism, and its honorary president remains the convicted racist and anti-Semite Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pens father.

She has reported a rift with him, but he is funding her election campaign with a donation of some six million euros, and remains a National Front MEP. Ms Le Pen has denied any links with racists, anti-Semities or xenophobes and is convinced she can appeal to moderate voters.
S hocking footage shows the moment a four-year-old girl playing in a barber shop narrowly escaped being shot by wayward bullets.

The girl was sitting on a chair by the window of the shop in Chandler, Arizona, when two bullets suddenly smashed the glass around her. They missed her head by inches.

The video, released by the Chandler Police Department, shows the petrified girl jump up and run around in a panic.

Police said she was hit by shattered glass and taken to hospital, but was not in a serious condition.

Narrow escape: the bullets just missed the girl as they crashed through the shop window / Chandler Police Department

The alleged gunman, a man called David Hart, had allegedly been aiming at the tattoo parlour nextdoor in the attack on Thursday.

The 23-year-old had been told to leave by the owner because he was intoxicated, The Arizona Republic reported.

Instead of leaving, he is accused of getting a gun from his car, driving by and shooting at the parlour.

Chandler police later arrested him at a nearby home.
A couple accused of killing their disabled son and burning the family home down were inspired by the film Manchester by the Sea, a court has heard.

Parents Ernest and Heather Franklin are standing trial after allegedly murdering their 16-year-old adopted son, Jeffrey, in New York.

Mother Heather watched the Oscar-winning film just two hours before Jeffrey was found dead and was inspired by the plot, a jury heard.

The film stars Casey Affleck as a caretaker troubled by his tragic past after accidentally setting his house on fire and killing his children inside.

Troubled: Casey Affleck's character in the Oscar-winning film Manchester by the Sea. / Claire Folger/Roadside Attractions and Amazon Studios via AP

Mr Afflecks character lights a fire in the hearth before leaving the house to pop to the shops. When he returns the house is ablaze.

Prosecutor Joseph McBride in Chenango County, told the court: Within two hours of that movie playing to this defendant, Jeffrey's deceased."

Mrs Franklin, 33, claimed she had visited two shops looking for medicine on the night of the fire while her husband said he was outside the house with his dogs.

Mr McBride said the teenage boy, who had special needs, was badly burned.

He added: Because of the damage to the body by the fire, the pathologist is not able to determine the cause of death.

The barrister for Mrs Franklin said she was being accused of murder before it was known how Jeffrey died.
S yrian president Bashar al-Assad has claimed his government was not responsible for the chemical gas attack which killed more than 80 people in a rebel-held village last week.

He said allegations that his army had deliberately poisoned civilians were 100 per cent fabrication.

In his first interview since the incident, the president said: "Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack.

Mr Assad added that the Syrian government gave up chemical weapons as part of a 2013 agreement, in the interview broadcast by AFP.

The incident in the village of Khan Sheikhoun has been condemned by the international community, with the US striking a Syrian airbase with missiles in retaliation.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll in the massacre in Idlib included 20 children.

Boris Johnson: Syrian chemical attack evidence points to Assad

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Mr Assad is behind the chemical attacks.

He said: We have a big problem. We have somebody that is not doing the right thing. And thats going to be my responsibility.

But Ill tell you, that responsibility couldve made, been made, a lot easier if it was handled years ago.

Mr Trump has told of how he told the Chinese President about ordering a missile strike in Syria while eating "the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake".

The US President told a TV interviewer that he gave the order for a retaliatory strike while having dinner with President Xi Jinping at his luxury Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week.

Asked how the Chinese President reacted to the news, Mr Trump said: "He paused for 10 seconds and then he asked the interpreter to please say it again. I didn't think that was a good sign.

"Then he said to me... 'Anybody that was so brutal and uses gases to do that to young children and babies - it's ok'. He was ok with it."
T he first black woman to be appointed as a top US judge in New York has been found dead on a riverbank in the city.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, was the USAs first female Muslim judge and was reported missing on Tuesday.

The following day her body was found on the bank of the Hudson River near Harlem.

Her cause of death is not yet known and there were no clear signs of trauma, police said.

Ms Abdus-Salaam, who was born in Washington DC, was appointed to the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, in 2013.

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam is applauded after being sworn in to the New York State Court of Appeals. / AP

She was called a trailblazing jurist by democratic governor Andrew Cuomo who appointed her, ABC news reported.

He said: As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the state's Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer.

"Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come."

Jonathan Lippman, former chief judge, said Ms Adbus-Salaams death was difficult to understand and the court had suffered a terrible blow.

Ms Abdus-Salaam was one of seven judges in New Yorks highest court.
W ith Easter weekend approaching its a great time to do those home improvements youve been desperate to get started. DIY and bargain hunting are a favourite weekend activity of ours at Att Pynta. Why not take advantage of those mid-season sales and snap up some bargains to make your home ready for Spring. After scanning the sales, we give you our top homeware picks.

Top trend tip: The Scandinavians love to spend time outdoors, by using raw materials in the home such as solid wood, brushed metals and concrete you can bring the feel of the outdoors in.

1. Emmerson reclaimed wood 3-drawer chest

Made from reclaimed pine shipping pallets certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), showcasing the knots and natural imperfections that make each piece subtly one of a kind.

Now 439.99 (was 899), West Elm, Buy it now

2. Herringbone coasters

These coasters feature hand-inlaid bone tiles set in a bold herringbone pattern. No matter the occasion, the geometric motif adds a striking element to your table tops.

Now 24.95 (was 34), West Elm, Buy it now

3. X-large moss green engraved glass vase

This beautiful large glazed porcelain vase with wide flute and textured finish, will make a true statement in your home.

Now 27.99 (was 40), Att Pynta, Buy it now



4. Green and gold Pendant lamp

This dome-shaped shade has a smooth forest green sofy gloss powder coated exterior and a soft gold spun finish on the inside. The gold interior creates a beautiful warm glow when lit.

Now 65 (was 100), Cox and Cox, Buy it now

5. Tribal rug

For an easy way to add vibrancy to your home, this rug with its acid bright colours patterned against an intricate black and white motif finished with multi-coloured tassels makes a bright and bold statement.

Now 195 (was 325). Graham and Green, Buy it now

6. Gold dipped votives

This glass votive is the perfect holder for a tea light or small house plant. Ideal placed on a shelf or mantelpiece for a glimpse of shine.

From 4.99 (was 10), Att Pynta, Buy it now

7. Marble serving plate

Host the most stylish soiree in town with our super chic serve ware. This marble platter is sure to add a touch of luxe and style to any dining table.

Now 14.40 (was 18), Abigail Ahern, Buy it now

8. Bedouin shag kilim rug

Inspired by traditional Persian carpets, the Bedouin Wool Kilim is a highly textured flat woven, with shag detailing and tasselled edges. Let it add to the unique story of your home.

Now 559.95 (was 749), West Elm, Buy it now

9. Oak chair with natural cord seat

Classic materials are given a contemporary update in the beautifully crafted Oregan oak chair with natural cord seat.

Now 115 (was 130), Habitat, Buy it now

10. Pastel Mint coffee cup

These Mint pastel coffee cups will brighten up your morning, a diamond texture finished with a matte glaze for a contemporary look.

Now 7.99 (was 10), Att Pynta, Buy it now

11. Leaf patterned duvet set

Cotton Double duvet cover set with a jungle life print of palms and parrots, a great way to add pattern and refresh your bedroom your spring.

Now 15.99 (was 39.99), H&M, Buy it now

12. Brass finished measuring cups

These handmade brass-finished measuring cups will add a polished industrial look to your kitchen shelves.

Now 10.95 (was 28), Anthropologie, Buy it now

13. Glass tumblers

The Kartio glassware by Kai frank for the Finnish design brand Iittala, is a true design classic. Modern, elegant and suitable for everyday use.

Now 4 (was 6.50), Future and Found, Buy it now

Kai Price and Amanda Nelson are the founders of e-boutique attpynta.com. Follow them on Instagram for further interiors inspiration here.